Tom Ivan of Next-Gen reports that a softening consumer spending environment won't stop annual US software sales exceeding $10 billion for the first time in 2008, says Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets

The analyst forecasts a software sales increase of ten-fifteen percent over 2007, largely driven by rising sales of titles for next generation platforms.

"The estimate excludes the incremental contribution from online, casual, mobile, and advertising revenues, which we believe are key long-term growth and margin drivers for the industry."

According to Sebastian, historically, videogame industry sales are driven by product cycles rather than by consumer spending and GDP growth.

Sebastian lists Blizzard's World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, EA's Army of Two, Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4, LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Wii Fit, Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII and Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto IV amongst 2008's key software releases
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A supposedly leaked screenshot of the Super Smash Bros. Brawl character select screen reveals that the full has got an massive 44 playable fighters. So far only 25 of those have been confirmed on the game's official site, but if this screenshot turns out to be genuine, Nintendo has been keeping a fair bit secret, even when we thought it'd all been revealed. The screen (which can be seen here) shows characters like Baby Bowser, King K. Rool (DK Country), Krystal (Star Fox Adventure), ... » Read More

If the following screens are true gamers, be prepared to be blown away. As if we needed any more reason to feed our need for this game how about 44 of them! 44 looks to be the magic number of characters playable in the new Smash Bros. Brawl, although none of the screens are confirmed as of this point.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is going to be the pinnacle of what the Wii can truly do and is on everyone's most wanted list. For now enjoy the RUMORED screens and I will keep you updated if anything changes gamers. March seems so far away now doesn't it?
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A major RPG developer has entered the brawl.

IGN writes: "When pounding the eggs out of Yoshi as Mario, you'll be experiencing the handy work of the makers of the Grandia and Lunar franchises."
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Nintendo fans with far more time on their hands than anyone in the office have dissected a recent Super Smash Bros. Brawl trailer and have found three previously unannounced characters. In a few frames demonstrating the sticker features in the game, the trailer includes character icons for Pokemon Jigglybuff and Lucario, and Ness from SNES RPG Earthbound, known as Mother 2 in Japan. We say 'included,' because Nintendo has since edited the trailer and replaced the icons with two white bars. ... » Read More

Last week, Smash Bros. DOJO!! revealed that stickers you collect in the single player campaign of Super Smash Bros. Brawl would act as power-ups when applied. However, the website may have inadvertently revealed something much, much bigger.

The stickers can be stuck to the bottom of a character's statue to grant that character certain powers in Subspace Emissary, the single player portion of the game. When viewing the stickers in your sticker book, the bottom of the screen shows what the sticker does and who the power is applied to.

Last week on the Japanese Wii web site, a preview video of Brawl was released. That preview though had been modified at some point so up until about an hour ago, the stickers segment showed Jigglypuff , Ness and a Pokemon known as Lucario as possible playable characters in Brawl.
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CVG reports that stickers will play a prominent part in upgrading your characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the official website revealed today. It might be worth re-reading that sentence to make sure you didn't just make it up in your head.

You can pick up stickers throughout the game and each sticker houses a special power up. Usually the bigger the sticker is, the more dramatic the power-up will be.

To benefit from these power-ups, you must paste the stickers to the bottom of your trophy base, but it only has limited space for a finite amount of stickers. It sounds like yet another RPG advancement system in a colourful and playful disguise.

Unfortunately, stickers can only be used within the single-player mode The Subspace Emissary and will have no use in standard brawls.
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From Worthplaying:
"Yesterday, we revealed the bottom half of the top 20, and today we announce what the WP staff considers to be the 10 most anticipated games for the upcoming year. Cue the drumroll, and head on over to our Most Anticipated Games of 2008 section for the final results"
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- Wal-Mart wants to apologize with a $10 electronic gift card to those who acted on the long-shot dream of purchasing Super Smash Bros. Brawl for $19.82 last week due to a error last week. Wal-Mart shoppers who had their orders canceled by the corporate overlords have now made $10 out of deal, which can be put toward purchasing Brawl for $39.82 from Walmart.com. Brawl buyers who jumped at the error deal, keep an eye on your email, Uncle Wally's sending you a $10 gift card soon.
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The Super Smash Bros. website has confirmed that the developer has somehow shoehorned in Captain Olimar's shuttle as his final smash in the game. Think we're joking? Take a ... » Read More

Game giant promises at least 65 new Wii games and 80 new DS games in the first half of the year.

"Our momentum is not limited to one system or one game," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's marketing replacement for Perrin Kaplan. "We're going broad and bold in 2008, with something for every member of the family."

First-party highlights from the release list include Advance Wars: Days of Ruin and Crosswords for DS, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit headed to Nintendo's fifth-generation console.
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Jan 16, 2008 Sheik, Zelda's alter ego in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, has been confirmed as a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda can transform into Sheik by triggering her down move. With Needle Storm, Chain and Vanish powers, she sounds like she can hold her own, although we have no idea what any of them do. The screenshots of the Smash Bros. version make Sheik look fairly feminine, but apparently Link still hasnt caught on ... » Read More

After numerous rumors of being in the game, Sakurai has finally revealed the first details and screens of Sheik in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. By using Zelda's down special move to transform into Sheik! Once you do so, you'll have access to a new character completely unique from Zelda.

Sheik will have the same acrobatic style from Melee, which should keep hardcore fans happy.

Sheik's Special Moves
Standard Special Move Needle Storm
Side Special Move Chain
Up Special Move Vanish
Down Special Move Transform
Final Smash Light Arrow
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Super Smash Bros Brawl is now the 7th title to take away a perfect score from Japanese Magazine Famitsu. In new scans unveiled today the magazine has given the game the perfect score.
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Videogamer writes:

"Nintendo UK has refused to comment on whether the recent official delay of Super Smash Bros. Brawl in Japan and the US will impact on the game's as yet unannounced European release.

Earlier today we reported on word from Nintendo that the North American release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii will now be on March 9, a month later than the previously confirmed February 10 date."
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Jan 15, 2008 Nintendo has confirmed that Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been delayed once again. It's now slated for March 9 in the States. "Due to delays in the completion of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we've had to change the release date of the game to Sunday, March 9th," director Masahiro Sakurai has said on the official Super Smash Bros. Brawl website. "I deeply apologize to the people who have looked forward to playing the game for so long and ask that you hold on just a little longer. ... » Read More

The official Smash Bros Website updated today with a surprise that no one truly expected. Outside of the daily update, the site also revealed that Brawl will now be delayed until March 9 for North America.

Due to delays in the completion of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we've had to change the release date of the game to Sunday, March 9th.

I deeply apologize to the people who have looked forward to playing the game for so long and ask that you hold on just a little longer. Thank you for your patience.
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Trophies, stickers, music¿

Super Smash Bros. Brawl certainly has its share of "rewards" for you to collect. Among them all are several for which Sakurai set certain appearance conditions.

So, to help you manage these performance-based rewards, Sakurai has created the Challenges mode. This mode gives you hints about what you need to do to unlock these items!
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Apparently, the rumors could be true. It is such a shame that we have to find out this way. Piling up rumors from different retailers. But, keep in mind, it is just a rumor, and we still have hope that it will release February 10th, seeing as Nintendo still has yet to say anything about this.
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Wii Fanboy writes:

"Disaster!

Just as we assumed, the epic Super Smash Bros. Brawl preorder deal we featured this morning was a total boner on Wal-Mart's part, as evidenced by the now-missing product page. But instead of honoring the $19.82 price for anyone who ordered the game before its listing was pulled -- like we all hoped the retail giant would do, despite our usual pessimism -- Wal-Mart has canceled the reservations, presumably refunding all charges."
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