"GT5 Prologue" Official Chinese version expected to retail on Jan 17th 2008 in SG.

Yes, Sony is releasing Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (Traditional Chinese version) for the Asian market. It is expected to retail in Singapore on January 17th 2008 at SGD66 (RM150).

As an added bonus for you to buy the "demo", Sony will have a limited edition “PS3™ GT5P special bundle package” where they will throw in a nice black and red windbreaker. That's a real nice incentive for you to pick up the "demo" game, which is expected to be the same "demo" as the Japanese version.

Hurry, pre-order your copy soon as the windbreakers are limited in quantities.

PS3 Firmware 2.10 is available in US

Firmware 2.1 is out in US. It adds DivX (and xviD) and WMV support to the PS3. Also added are Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 which adds features like Pic-in-Pic capabilities (something HD-DVD have long time ago).

Firmware 2.1 is not yet available for Asian region yet (www.asia.playstation.com) but I am sure it will be there few hours later, so check it again later.

Semi-bricked Wii: What is it and how to unbrick it?

With many request for semi-bricked Wii and the solution to unbrick it, I have decided to share on how I semi-bricked my Wii and how I was able to unbrick it later.

Please note that Nintendo Wiis are region locked and accordingly, their firmware is also region locked. This mean that you can only update the Wii by using firmware from the same region. Wiis have 3 main regions: NTSC Japan (3.0J), NTSC US (3.0U) and PAL Europe (3.0E); the alphabet behind the firmware represents the region it beloings to.

Many Wii owners have accidentally semi-bricked their Wii when they installed the wrong firmware that don't correspond regions. Usually, installing firmware from a different region that you Wii will brick the "Wii Setting" menu, basically it gives you an error message stating a problem in accessing the Internet via the Opera browser.

This effectively prevents you from accessing the Wii Settings menu. Games will still load and play, but you simply cant change any settings on your Wii, thus the term "Semi-brick" used by myself.

This happened to me when I inserted Super Mario Galaxy JAPAN without noticing the game's region coding, and proceeded to install the firmware. After installing the firmware, my Wii Setting menu crashed with the prior mentioned error code. The games plays fine, but I am stuck with a locked Wii Setting menu.

The solution to this is rather simple. Just wait for the next Nintendo first party game to be released, get that game and make sure it is the same region as your Wii and load it up. Most first party titles by Nintendo comes with a firmware checker, it checks the firmware in your Wii and updates it to the latest version on the disc. Run the update if the disc prompts you to, and it should install the firmware as per the same region as your Wii, and unlocks the Wii Settings menu.

For me, I used Link's Crossbow Training. It ran on my Wii and asked for a firmware update. I installed the update, and behold, my Wii Setting menu is back up and running Firmware 3.0U.

So for those of you who had semi-bricked your Wii, feel free to try this method as it has proven successful to me and other users having the same issues.

Disclaimer: Following the method mentioned above don't guarantee absolute success, just simply coz it worked for me. Also, this method may not unbrick modded Wii. Leave your comments if it works for you.

Latest Game Titles available in MY stores.

Due to the excessive time from the previous update, the list of games out in MY stores is very long, and I have chosen to simply list the titles without the boxart. Fear not, boxarts will return very soon in the future.

Here's the long list, most of the big games of 2007 are now in stores, good luck in finding some of them.

PS3:
The Orange Box - (ASIAN) FPS
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - (US) Action Shooter
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - (US) Action Shooter
Assasin's Creed - (US) Action
Time Crisis 4 (with Guncon3) - (ASIAN) Light Gun Shooter
Timeshift - (US) FPS
Soldier of Fortune: Payback - (US) FPS
Beowulf: The Game - (US) Action

Wii:
Wii Fit - (JPN) Fitness
Trauma Center: New Blood - (US) Medical Sim
Soul Calibur Legends - (US) Action
Geometry Wars: Galaxies - (US) Shooter
Ghost Squad - (US) Light Gun Shooter
Link's Crossnbow Training (without Zapper) - (US) Light Gun Shooter
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles - (US) Light Gun Shooter
Tomb Raider Anniversary - (US) Action Shooter
Super Mario Galaxy - (US) Platformer

Xbox360:
Black Site: Area 51 - (US) FPS
Mass Effect - (US) Action
Soldier of Fortune: Payback - (US) FPS
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - (US) Action Shooter
Beowulf: The Game - (US) Action
Assasin's Creed - (US) Action
Need For Speed: Prostreet - (US) Racing
Bioshock - (US) FPS

PS2:
Puzzle Quest - (US) Puzzle
Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots - (US) Action
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns - (US) Sports Sim
Need For Speed: Prostreet - (US) - Racing
Petz: Catz - (US) Pet Sim
Petz: Dogz - (US) Pet Sim

Wii Photo Channel 1.1, revert back to 1.0 for MP3 support.

If you prefer to play MP3 music while you view your photos on your Wii, please do not update to Photo Channel 1.1 as this version only supports AAC format music (as reported earlier).

However, if you have update to version 1.1 but still prefer to have MP3 support, then Nintendo have provided the steps you need to perform to revert your Photo Channel back to version 1.0 (that supports MP3).

Here it is (if you dont wish to go to Nintendo's page):-

From the main menu, click the "Wii" button;
Select "Data Management";
Select "Channels";
Select "Photo Channel 1.1" and confirm you want to delete it;
After that, Photo Channel 1.0 will automatically be available again from your Wii menu.
If you ever change your mind, simply go back to the Wii Shop Channel and re-download Photo Channel 1.1!

For Wiis shipped in December 2007 and after, Nintendo have preinstalled Photo Channel 1.1 and you cant perform the steps above to get Photo Channel 1.0. New Wii owners will have to live with AAC support only.

Belkin's 2 - 1 HDMI switch avaiable in US & Canada now.

With limited HDMI inputs in LCD/Plasma TVs, there is a growing need for HDMI switches. Belkin have rolled out their own recently, and while the box are similarly spec-ed as others (HDMI powered, 1080P compatible, IR remote control for switching, housed in a box), its the price that sets Belkin's offering apart.

Retailing for USD$49.90 (RM175), its relatively cheaper than the other options in stores. Available now in the US and Canada, while Europe, Asia, and Australia gets it in March 2008.

Wii Fit out in Japan.

Wii Fit is out in Japan as of Dec 1, 2007. Nintendo of Japan's idea of getting their customers healthy via a console game is shipped with a new peripheral, the Balance Board. The Balance Board is wireless with its own sensors, and connects to the Wii effortlessly powered by 4AA batteries, and weighs slightly more that Wii itself.

Players, or rather users, loads up the game and steps on the Balance Board. Data such as age, height and clothing that you are wearing (it does affect your weight) needs to be entered, and Wii Fit will do the rest. It will give you your weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) and spells out your ideal BMI.

You can then choose to set your target BMI and planned duration to achieve it, and Wii Fit will help you work out towards your target. There are 4 main groups of exercises to be had: Yoga, Balance Training, Cardiovascular Workout, and Muscle Training. Each type has 9 to 15 exercises, and you unlocked new ones with points earned based on the amount of time you've spent working out.

Wii Fit allows up to 8 users with individual password access to secure your data and progress. Retailing at 8300Yen or USD$80 (RM280), the whole package consists of a Wii Fit disc (can call it a game?), Balance Board with wireless sensors and 4AA batteries. US will get Wii Fit sometime in January 2008.