It sure would be fun to play them SNES games on the go. I ought build me a handheld SNES for carryin' like. But hell, seems like lotsa folks already done that.

Well no mind. I'ma make that sumnbitch outta wood.

Industry and multi-console news

• E3 is returning to the LA Convention Center, but it will still be the new, toned down E3.
• The fifth annual Child's Play Charity dinner auction is over, and it raised over $225,000.
• The success of Assassin's Creed may be the boost Ubisoft needs to fend off an EA takeover.
• Gamasutra has a feature on the history of the Vectrex.
• Take Two says that they are "disappointed" in the BBFC for pursuing a review of the appeal to their ban of Manhunt 2.
• EA is offering a free game to anyone who had to get their Rock Band guitar replaced, and their customer support site now has the full list of games you can choose from.
• Games.net looks at ten game magazines that died fast. Now I know why I could never find an issue of GameGO!
• Next Generation has an in-depth analysis of November's NPD sales figures.
• The Game Career Guide has an article on playing games like a game designer, i.e., studying them as you go. I don't know what it means that I do a lot of the stuff mentioned here already.
• Canadian prostitutes argue that GTA normalizes violence against sex workers.
• The Associated Press names BioShock game of the year.
• The soundtrack for Burnout: Paradise has been announced, and sadly "the sound of DJ Atomica being garroted" is not in the list.
• Harmonix answers some random Rock Band questions.
• After disappearing for more than a year, MMOFPS Huxley resurfaces with new video.
• One study suggests that girls prefer 2D games to 3D.
• Sega could be looking to acquire new products or companies.
• Japanese developers G.rev is working on a sequel to Senko no Ronde.

PC and mobile news

New content: Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2

• Sony Online is reactivating dormant Vanguard accounts for free play from December 18 to January 3.
• Gamasutra lists the five best freeware games of 2007.
• PhysX cards are selling for $50 in Japan.
• Sonic the Hedgehog and Peggle are now available for the iPod. GameDaily talks to Sega about wtf is up with this.
• Verne Troyer's World of Warcraft commercial is now online. Don't make me call him Mini-Me please, I'd like to afford the man some dignity.

Nintendo news

• Infendo lists the 10 most promising DS games of 2008.
• The UK team currently training for the Olympic men's hockey team qualifying tournament use Wii Sports to improve performance.
• Sony Defense Force has given Mario Galaxy a 1 out of 10 and that is delightful.
• According to the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine, there is no Kirby game currently in the works for the Wii.
• Reggie reminds that Nintendo is not a big fan of retail-forced console bundles. When asked if Nintendo was taking any direct action on the issue, Reggie responded: "We don't have to remind retailers of the strength we have right now. We are simply making an observation and that reinforces our point quite nicely with retailers." Ey, it'd be a shame if summin' happent to your nice lil' store 'ere.
• Amazon has the DS Lite Gold with Phantom Hourglass bundle for ten dollars off, putting it at $149.99. They are also selling The Aly & AJ Adventure on the DS for $7.99, and I have no idea what that is.

Sony news

New content: PS3 firmware 2.10, PSP firmware 3.8

• Sony has made Fortune's list of 101 Dumbest Moments in Business of the year not once but twice, for the God of War goat incident and the use of Manchester Cathedral in Resistance: Fall of Man.
• PS3Fanboy looks back at the best PS2 games of 2007. Oddly, most of them are RPGs.
• Jack Tretton says that publishers should not publicly suggest prices for hardware.
• Not that it was in much doubt, but it seems NIS America is hinting at an English release for Disgaea 3.
• You can get Sony's PSP Media Manager v2.5 for free if you're willing to fidget with a Japanese installer.
• Developer Quantic Dream says that "there is no uncanny valley any more", and that their next project will feature "extremely realistic characters that not only move like real actors but express themselves through facial animations and speech like real actors, and are extremely accurate to the actors they are portraying." For the record, these are the people who made the Heavy Rain tech demo shown at last year's E3, though they say their new work is better than that.
• Amazon is offering All Pro Football 2K8 for $9.99.

Microsoft news

• Australian site Gameplayer has a preview of Saints Row 2.
• GameDaily estimates that 52% of 360 owners bought Halo 3. After so many years of suffering as a white male, finally, I get to be a minority!
• Amazon is taking pre-orders for Gears of War 2 for some damned reason.