The FX7020 boasts the latest quad-core processor from AMD, the 2.3GHz Phenom 9600. It has four processing cores, 2MB of L3 cache and is air-cooled. Gateway?s new FX 7020 desktop is not really in competition with the likes of the XPS 720 or HP?s Blackbird 002. Instead, it?s a high-end gaming PC with very good specs, offered at a decent price. It features a revamped chassis, and upgraded hardware throughout.

AusGamers has learned the New Zealand release of GTA 4 will carry the same omissions as the Australian version, so anyone in Aus thinking of importing from closer to home should probably think again...

VGChartz reports for the week ending Dec 30th in Japan the Hardware sales were as follows:

Wii: 352,766 (+41%)
DS: 259,892 (-16%)
PSP 200,838 (+18%)
PS3: 57,906 (+4%)
PS2: 20,946 (-7%)
360: 7,022 (-15%)

Interesting Side note:

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 360 sold: 23,694
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare PS3 sold: 20,802

Although Warner plans to stop releasing new titles on HD DVD as of late May, the studio says it's still formulating plans for how it will issue HD DVD titles until then.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is almost upon us, and what, if anything, does this annual Geek Nirvana hold in-store for the HD DVD vs Blu-ray war.

The CES show starts January 7th in Las Vegas, and as tech fiends from around the world descend on Sin City, rumors are abounding about what will happen in the high definition format war. Of course the question remains if consumers will even care, but only time will tell on that front.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
January 7, 2008
By Todd Bishop

Las Vegas ? One of Microsoft's key technological positions has taken a blow as a result of Warner's decision to choose Blu-ray in the battle over next-generation DVD formats.

The implications extend beyond movies to the hotly contested video-game console market. That's because Sony has integrated a Blu-ray drive into the PlayStation 3.

Depending on the circumstances, Sony may enjoy a "huge competitive advantage" over Microsoft in the video-game console market if Blu-ray becomes standard, said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities.

The key question, Pachter said, would be timing.

Next-Gen's release guide is now up-to-date to the best of their knowledge, with information regarding the publisher, developer, platform, description and US/UK release dates. The list can be found at source.

The beloved rumorreporter Bruce Kelly has expired

GameDaily writes:

It's no Halo, but for a new IP in the RPG genre, Mass Effect's sales were truly outstanding this holiday season. We speak with Microsoft about the keys to the game's success.

Mass Appeal

According to the NPD, Mass Effect sold 473,000 copies during its debut month of November. This made it the third best selling game on the 360 and the sixth best selling title overall. Microsoft confirmed this past December that Mass Effect had already sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

Will EA affect Mass Effect massively?

With BioWare now officially a subsidiary of Electronic Arts, it is unknown if this Microsoft published title will suddenly be going multiplatform. EA certainly isn't known for making many console exclusive releases when they can help it, and any future titles by BioWare are likely to appear on PS3 and Xbox 360. Regardless of whether the series will continue to be exclusive to the 360 or not, it has been confirmed that it will continue, and that's a fact that all RPG fans can certainly celebrate.

- They didn't quite make the top 10 list for December on US NPD charts, but Mass Effect, Mario Party DS and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune also performed well during the holiday month.

Xbox 360 exclusive Mass Effect sold 401,000 during December, according to NPD numbers provided to virtual videogame stock market The simExchange.

Sony and Naughty Dog's critically-acclaimed action adventure game for PlayStation 3, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (also released November 20) sold 206,000 copies during the month.