Wii

Left Field Productions announced today that Battle Poker has been released for digital download on WiiWare.

Battle Poker for WiiWare is a family friendly card game with up to four players battling against the clock to make the best five-card hand possible. Battles are played across multiple rounds with points scored for each round based on the quality of the hand. Each player uses a Wii Remote to point and click on a standard deck of cards laid across the screen. The first click flips the card over at which point it can be grabbed by anyone else. You've got to have fast fingers and eyes if you're to grab the cards you need before someone else snatches them from you.

In the United States in June, the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems combined to sell more than 766,000 units, more than all current-generation consoles combined, according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. U.S. consumers purchased more than 424,000 Nintendo DSi systems and more than 342,000 Nintendo DS systems in June.

Wii marked its 21st consecutive month as the top-selling U.S. home console, with nearly 362,000 sold. Consumers also snapped up nearly 374,000 Wii MotionPlus accessories, including nearly 205,000 packaged with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 from Electronic Arts and 169,000 additional accessories sold on their own. The Wii Sports Resort game launches July 26 and comes packaged with Wii MotionPlus.

EA SPORTS announced today that Madden NFL 10 has officially gone gold. To celebrate this development milestone, fans can look forward to two separate opportunities to play Madden NFL 10, on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, before it is available at retailers nationwide on Friday, August 14th.

A free Madden NFL 10 demo will be released to Xbox LIVE Silver subscribers and the PlayStation Store on July 30th, featuring a night game in heavy snow with the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants.

Reserve Madden NFL 10 at GameStop, and on July 23rd, receive an exclusive demo featuring four, 5-minute quarters in a Super Bowl XLIII rematch, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. Visit GameStop.com or your local GameStop retailer for additional details.

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that three packs from new power group The Dead Weather, metal legends Judas Priest and indie rockers Big Dipper will be added to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content next week for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

Additionally, back-catalog tracks from The Pixies, Foreigner, The Killers, Spinal Tap and more will be available in the Wii Rock Band Music Store, and tracks from Radiohead and Killswitch Engage will be available for Rock Band Unplugged.

New Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 System

Another year of American independence isn't the only thing we're celebrating this week. With new releases, including the hotly anticipated game BIT.TRIP CORE, Nintendo crosses the 100-game mark in its ever-growing WiiWare game library, a milestone that ought to keep fans ooh-ing and ahh-ing long after the Fourth of July. Other WiiWare offerings this week will have players bursting bubbles and racing in chariots, whether solo or with friends. Nintendo DSiWare welcomes a new Art Style title and a unique auto racing game, while a classic Commodore 64 title will have Virtual Console users tearing it up California style.

WiiWare

BIT.TRIP CORE
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points

Neko Entertainment announced today the upcoming release of Heracles Chariot Racing on WiiWare, a racer that will drive players new and old to distraction. Featuring ten circuits in five mythological fantasy settings, players take control of one of eight gods or legendary creatures from Heracles to Poseidon as they race to become Champion Charioteer. Heracles Chariot Racing will be released on July 6th on WiiWare, first in the Americas, then later in Europe.

Natsume announced today that Reel Fishing Challenge has been released for digital download on WiiWare. The latest entry in the best-selling Reel Fishing series brings the most true-to-life fishing experience yet to the Nintendo Wii.

"We are excited to bring the respected Reel Fishing series to WiiWare," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "The Wii's motion-sensitive controls have allowed us to create a true fishing experience!"

Today Ubisoft announced that Dawn of Discovery, a real-time strategy and simulation game specifically designed for the Wii system, the Nintendo DS hand-held system and PC, is now available in stores. Dawn of Discovery gives gamers the opportunity to explore new civilizations and build their own empire like never before, through the immersive action of the Wii Remote and the Nintendo DS stylus.

Game features include:

Build and sustain your own expansive empire
. Explore the beautifully detailed world and discover new places to create your civilization
. Set up trade posts in the spice mines of the Orient and explore new trade routes to keep your nation growing
. Learn from other nearby cultures to expand your horizons and master the challenges of establishing a prosperous society