Bits And Bobs: Monday News Roundup

SNK Playmore has apologised to hardcore NeoGeo fans for problems in the home edition of Samurai Shodown V Special, and instigated a recall in order to make up for them. "We deeply apologise that we could not meet up to our customers' expectations on our last game release for the NeoGeo," the company said of SSV Special, which reportedly suffers from bugs in practice mode, abnormal damage rates and hang-ups, amongst other things. Fans are also disappointed at the absence of fatality moves from the arcade version, having not been told about their absence and then forked out around £200 for a cartridge. It seems, however, that the recall will not only fix the bug issues, but also reinstate the fatalities, so there is at least some sort of lining around this particular cloud - despite doubtless incessant flaming within recent days.

With the title of Episode III now in the open (it's Revenge Of The Sith, if you missed it), LucasArts and the Lego Company have announced plans to produce another Lego-based Star Wars title based on the spin-off Star Wars Lego range. The as-yet untitled game will be developed by Traveller's Tales alongside publisher Giant Interactive, according to reports, and should mix and match characters and vehicles from the prequel trilogy, using Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn from Episode I as the main characters.

From Software has posted a teaser page for a new PS2 samurai title it's developing. Called The Story of Hero Yoshitsune, it's a "turf-war action game" featuring a main character based on a samurai general from the late 12th century, who committed suicide after his brother betrayed him. The game will be released in January 2005 in Japan according to the teaser, and we will presumably learn more soon. That's not the only teaser From Software managed to erect this week either. Head here and you'll see a similar arrangement for Armored Core: Nine Breaker which, at a wild guess, is the latest title in the Armored Core series. That one's due out this autumn in Japan, and judging by previous titles could well be picked up for the West at some point. We'll let you know. Okay tanks.

Iron Lore Entertainment has signed a publishing deal with THQ, the two companies announced... well, last week, but we were busy, you know? Iron Lore is a studio set up by Age of Empires co-creator Brian Sullivan, and its first PC title, a blend of action and strategy in a role-playing game, apparently, will be released in late 2005. It's been in development for some years now, believe it or not, and we should learn more about it later in the year.