Easter-relevant observation of the day: Vandal Hearts' title song Burning Sorrow and Sandi Patty's weepy Jesus wonder hit Via Dolorosa -- same song or exact same song?

Industry and multi-console news:

• One would normally go into a series of YouTube videos called Street Fighter: The Later Years fearing the worst, but they're actually really well made and very funny. Shocking!
• THQ is making a multiplatform sequel to their Cars game. You can't really blame them, considering that the first Cars sold about five trillion units.
• Wired asks the question: Now that gamers are getting older and having families of their own, what will they let their kids play?
• John Romero has joined the choir of PC people proclaiming that consoles pretending to be computers, like the 360 and PS3, are going to "undergo a massive rethink or go away altogether." I guess you could say they're DOOMed! Aha ha, ha, ha ha haseriously Romero go make another game people actually want to play.
• Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester is the first player in Madden history to have a perfect speed rating.
• The Get Well Gamers Foundation is facing the threat of shutdown due to lack of space, time and volunteers.
• 1up lists the top 10 video game character resurrections. I submit that the whole feature was concocted as an excuse to show that Chu-Chu crucifixion scene from Xenogears in the sidebar.
• Gamespot has a new video series called Indievelopment, which follows "trials and tribulations of a brand new independent development studio."

PC news:

• Epic's Mark Rein and Tim Sweeny aren't completely sold on Games for Windows Live, arguing that "any feature that Microsoft implements and charges for, the developer can’t implement themselves." Not only does the developer no longer have full control over all features in the game, but Microsoft risks alienating gamers by charging for things that were formerly free.
• A Shangai newspaper reports that EA is set to buy a 19% stake in Chinese MMO firm The9.
• The list of achievements for the PC version of Halo 2 is now online.

Nintendo news:

• This week's new Virtual Console titles: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Bravoman, and Galaga. Is it GALaga or GaLAga? The world may never know.
• Nintendo is offering replacements for buggy Twilight Princess discs.
• Bloomberg reports that third parties are rushing to get more games on the Wii after underestimating the system's appeal. Which means more rush-job PS2 ports for all!
• An interesting idea, in a fan mod, never going to be completed kind of way: A SMB1 texture conversion for Mario 64.
• True Swords is selling a full-sized Zelda shield replica.
• Wii title Sadness has lost its publisher.
• GameCrazy has a listing for Phoenix Wright - Trials and Tribulations on the DS with a release date of September 25. None of this is official, of course.
• In other news of games that may or may not exist, both Gamespot and Gamefly have a listing in their systems for Assassin's Creed on the DS.
• GAF has new It's a Wonderful World scans.
• Importer NCSX has added several kinds of new Mario toys.
• Gamespot maintains the title of most fantastic game retailer ever by showing the last ten minutes of Twilight Princess in-store on their TVs.

Sony news:

• The developers of Ninja Gaiden Sigma admit that they've "made a couple devkits smoke." Peer pressure?

Microsoft news:

• The spring Dashboard update has been detailed, with things like Messenger integration and a low-power download mode. I still don't see anything about fast-forwarding or rewinding mp3s, dammit. You can also watch a leaked video from Gamespot explaining the new Dashboard features.
• Also newly announced is the Xbox 360 QWERTY thumb keyboard, which is basically a 360 controller with a mini-keyboard jammed between the hand grips. Kotaku has a few real world photos to better judge what it will be like in your Cheeto-encrusted hands.
• Bungie has said "big changes and big news" are coming this week. Who knows what they mean by that.
• Red Octane has confirmed that there are two defective models of Guitar Hero II controllers.
• Epic says upcoming Gears of War maps will be available for a "reasonable price" at first, and free a few months later.
• Speaking of which, the free Gears update that adds Annex is available now.