Industry and multi-console news:

• The New Yorker profiles Will Wright.
• ScummVM, a program for running old LucasArts adventure games on newer hardware, has been updated. Among other things, it now has an official Nintendo DS version.
• Halloween is a time for game-related Jack O' Lanterns.
• 2K Games has announced The Bigs, an "over-the-top baseball action title" along the lines of Blitz and Hitz. Then shouldn't it be Bigz?
• Eidos confirms a Tomb Raider: Anniversary game that is a kind of sort of but not exactly remake of the first game.
• Employees at various retail outlets like Circuit City and Best Buy are being locked out of buying PS3s and Wiis. That is, if they're caught.
• Gamespy looks at the scariest moments in games. If you called "Eternal Darkness bathtub" before you even clicked the link, give yourself a point.

PC news:

• The packaging for Windows Vista. Yep, it's a slow news day.
• A kid phishing for Steam accounts gets screwed by his own game.

Nintendo news:

• NGC France has comparison shots between the Gamecube and Wii. Just look at all that.. uh.. difference.
• The first gameplay footage of Smash Bros. Brawl will debut at Nintendo World 2006, which runs November 25 and 26.
• Nintendo has confirmed the plans for a DVD-playing Wii for Japan next year, but there are no current plans to release it in Europe or the US.
• Continuing to push the "gaming for everyone" mantra, Nintendo was out pushing the Wii at a recent seniors event sponsored by the AARP.
• Similar to the Snakes on a Plane campaign, but less entertaining, you can get the Sensei from Red Steel to call your friends. Or enemies, I suppose.
• Nintendo is up to part five in a series of interviews conducted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata with Nintendo designers, developers and engineers about various elements of the Wii, its interface, its games.. just about anything, really. The latest installment is about the indefinable essence of Zelda.
• According to the knuckleknobs at Digg, you can print out this barcode, take to to Wal-Mart, have an associate scan it, and they can tell you how many Wiis are coming to their store. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary, especially since half the time the numbers the Telzon gives them aren't accurate anyway.
• Speaking of Wal-Mart, here's a full scan of all 30 pages of their Wii buyers guide.
• IGN's Matt Casamassina expresses some concerns over Wii Sports.
• Oh God, Nintendo fanboys are writing rap songs now.

Sony news:

• One Ebay user is selling a metric assload of rare Metal Gear Solid promotional materials.
• 18 Best Buy stores will be getting midnight openings for the PS3 launch.
• Fortune magazine examines the high stakes for Sony and the PS3.. and for the ad agency that has to sell it.

Microsoft news:

• The fall dashboard update is bricking modded consoles.
• Production on the Halo movie has been halted while they try to find a new studio.
• Saints Row has been patched.
• You can play Gears of War (and listen to "Megadeath") at Six Flags New England tonight.
• The upcoming Platinum Hits version of Perfect Dark Zero will include the four maps already released on Xbox Live and two new ones: Remakes of the original Perfect Dark maps Facility and Ruin. If you already own the game, you'll be able to get the maps over Live free of charge.
• Got the red lights of death on your 360? Well, might as well cut your losses and fry an egg on it.