Bits And Bobs: Monday News Roundup

Somewhat inexplicably, SEGA Europe has announced plans to release House of the Dead III on the PC, giving beige boxers the chance to tackle the company's most recent zombie lightgun shooter, which was released on Xbox in early 2003. The PC port will turn up next February, some two years late, and there's no word on the pricing; however SEGA has said the PC port will feature all the new bits that help it to stand out from HOTDs 1 and 2, including a big-old shotgun. We'll doubtless have a look at this when we can, but in the meantime you might like to refer back to Kristan's review of the Xbox version for a proper grounding.

Digital Jesters' second rugby management title has been renamed and, much like the abovementioned zombie shootery, should be available in Europe next February. Having previously gone by the name of Pro Rugby Manager 2005, the nextun's now called Pro Rugby Manager 2 - which is refreshing, given the amount of game series turning to yearly monikers these days. We're not that big on our rugby here at EG, but we're sure those of you who are will find the following quite enlightening: 40 fully licensed club and national teams, code for the upcoming Six Nations tournament, authentic stadia based on all the real Zurich Premiership venues, 18 other rugby landmarks including Headingly and Vicarage Road, and tinkering with training regimes and injury management. You can find a lot more on the game at the game's official website.

Increasingly visible UK publisher Ignition Entertainment has announced that The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact will be released in Europe on PlayStation 2 in - surprise surprise! - February 2005. As well as the expected fisticuffs, PS2 owners can also look forward to finding a bonus "Making of..." DVD in their game-box having slapped down a suggested retail price of £39.99 or thereabouts. As SNK fans well know, Maximum Impact is the long-running King of Fighters series' first foray into the land of 3D. However those same fans would probably also point out when cornered that the US version of the game picked up distinctly middling reviews. We'll let you know what we think nearer its European release.

Last week, Namco surprised and excited us all with news of its plans to release XenoSaga and Baten Kaitos for the Nintendo DS. So surprised and excited were we, in fact, that we totally neglected the slightly less exciting news of the company's plans for Game Boy Advance titles in 2005. However, according to a release that popped up on this writer's birthday last Wednesday (another potential reason we missed it, eh?), there are quite a few of them, and they're not unexciting either. Ace Combat Advance will bring the flight simmery that PS2 owners love so much to the handheld arena, with 10 planes and 12 missions, due out in the US in [gasp, shock, fall over] February 2005, while Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament will finally provide a satisfactory answer to the question, "How come Namco hasn't made another Klonoa GBA game when the first one was so effing brilliant?" In, er, February 2005. Elsewhere there's Pac-Man Pinball and Mr. Driller 2, both of which are due simply in 2005. Undoubtedly in February. Along with Jesus Christ Mk.2. Namco is also keen to remind people that Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits is out on the Nintendo DS in the US, and that Ridge Racer DS should follow later this month.

Finally, lots of games have been patched recently. Normally we'd generously give them all a paragraph each, but if Ace Combat and Klonoa 2 have to put up with sharing then lord knows this lot can cope. So then, if you need to un-break any of the following PC games, just click the name and off ye'll fly: The Sims 2, Pro Evolution Soccer 4, Battlefield 1942, and Battlefield Vietnam.