Just in case you were curious, and I know you weren't, I got my replacement 360 from Microsoft yesterday. January 26th to February 12th isn't a horrible turn-around time. Certainly much better than I was expecting.

Industry and multi-console news:

• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is coming to the 360 and PS3.
• Popular Science has a long interview with Will Wright.
• Electronic Arts has acquired online karaoke community SingShot. It isn't entirely clear yet what they plan on doing with it.
• Jeremy Parish argues how Sega can save Sonic. Unfortunately, I think we've all been saying this for at least six years.
• GameDaily asks Ubisoft's CEO just exactly what they have planned for their new CGI studio.
• Age of Conan 360 and PC players might be able to play together. Might. It's an issue the developer is still feeling out.
• In case you're getting confused by all of them coming out in such short order, this blog post sorts out the five documentaries about arcades in the works or out already.
• The video game bill introduced in Mississippi that would've fined retailers $100 for selling M-rated games to minors has died in committee.
• Students of Loyola-Marymount University will be debating First Amendment issues and video game violence tonight in Los Angeles as a part of the school newspaper's First Amendment Week.
• After their game franchise dried up, apparently Billy and Jimmy opened a Chinese restaurant.

PC news:

• The non-disclosure agreement on the beta test has lifted, so all sorts of sites are chiming in with impressions of Lord of the Rings Online.
• There are ten new screenshots up for Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike.
• In a press release announcing the release of Myst Online: Uru Live, GameTap provides a short history of the Myst series.
• New screenshots are up for Unreal Tournament 3.

Nintendo news:

• When buying Kid Icarus through the Virtual Console, players are warned that the VC version does not support the game's "secret passwords." Some say it's because the original game used a seperate module to handle passwords, but even if that's true, I don't see why they couldn't figure out a way to emulate it. Does anyone know if Kid Icarus ROMs used with emulators support these passwords?
• IGN says a "reliable industry insider unaffiliated with Capcom" claims Capcom could be working on a Wii version of Okami. Seems rather shakey.
• Microsoft's Shane Kim says that "a Kameo or a Viva Pinata on the DS makes a lot of sense."
• This summer, those bankrupt of imagination will be able to better visualize their sporting activities with the Nerf Sports Pack for use with the Wii. If nothing else, having a big wad of foam on your remote may save your TV screen.
• Capcom's Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Research says that most of their games coming to the Wii are not mature titles, adding "I don't see the Wii being home to a sizeable mature playerbase outside of some of the early adopters."
• Level 5 has provided a web demo of Professor Layton. It's in Japanese, but you can figure it out.
• Once again, 4 color rebellion has provided Nintendo-themed Valentine's cards for the dork in your life.
• Apparently the BBC gets their news from the Wii News Channel.

Sony news:

• IGN has retracted the statement about God of War 2 in 720p on the PS3. The game will run in 480p on the PS3, but not 720p.
• Sony has confirmed that Gran Turismo 4 HD will be available for download at launch in Europe.
• A Sony exec has revealed that the company plans to cut back on chip spending, and may decide to no longer produce the Cell processor in-house.
• Sony Computer Entertainment UK's Commercial Director has left the company five weeks before the PAL PS3 launch.
• Karaoke game SingStar Pop is coming to the PS2 April 3.
• Of course, video of God of War 2's sex minigame has to circulating around the Internet before the game's release. And I'm linking it too! OH GOD I'M PART OF THE PROBLEM

Microsoft news:

• This Wednesday's Live Arcade release will be Paperboy.
• Microsoft has announced that the last Phase 2 Halo 3 beta invitations have been sent out, so if you didn't get one, buying Crackdown is the only option you have left.
• Microsoft's Phil Spencer says all 360 games should have matchmaking like Halo 2.
• BBC program Watchdog will be looking at the 360 red ring issue (and how the UK gets screwed out of Microsoft's extended warranty on early 360 units).
• Gamespot has the details on the new Rainbow Six Vegas downloadable content pack.
• Universal and Fox are now arguing over who has to pay the $12 million in pre-production costs on the Halo movie that they dumped last year.
• A patch for Crackdown will be waiting for the game the day of release.
• Amazon has Phantasy Star Universe marked down to $19.99.