A French modder has created the Fami-Card -- a fully functioning NES fit into a Super Mario Bros. cartridge.

Industry and multi-console news

New media: Project Origin screenshots, 1942 Joint Strike screenshots

• The CEO of Activision says that more instruments and vocals would be coming to future installments of the Guitar Hero franchise.
• Next Generation has analysis of the March NPD numbers, as well as the new UK sales chart.
• Dan Houser doesn't seem very interested in the idea of a GTA movie. "You lose a lot of what makes it what it is if you move it into being, say, a movie. It just never seemed interesting creatively."
• Although previously announced as a pack-in with the collector's edition of Madden only, EA has now revealed that NFL Head Coach 09 will get its own standalone release for $49.99 on the 360 and PS3.
• The next issue of EGM reveals that the Splatterhouse series is making a return.
• Another unreleased Atari 2600 game has been uncovered at a flea market.
• Rock, Paper, Shotgun has an article on interpreting Hitman: Blood Money as a puzzle game.
• IGN has an interview with Bethesda's Pete Hines about -- what else -- Fallout 3.
• The first photo from the Street Fighter movie has been released, showing Robin Shou as Gen.
• Newsweek's N'Gai Croal looks at the idea of video game monogamy -- that is, buying one game and playing it extensively -- and how developers can cater to it.
• Upper Deck has announced a Call of Duty "real time" collectible card game. Yes, real time, meaning no turns.
• Gamasutra talks to Capcom's Kraig Kujawa about their recent franchise updates like Commando and 1942.
• IGN has a look at the level of detail in GTA4. And GamesRadar has a gallery of user videos from past GTA games.
• MTV Multiplayer talks to three underage gamers about how they get ahold of GTA games. “In my defense, I feel that going to high school has prepared me for the content in M-rated games.”
• The European Union says game makers and retailers have two years to come up with an industry code of conduct to better protect children from violent images.
• Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner has filed for a trademark called Prince of Persia Prodigy.
• A ruling in the Jack Thompson Bar trial may not come until late August, mostly due to the work required to sort through dozens of exhibits and thousands of pages of transcripts, along with 400 “pleadings, e-mails, letters and missives (including pictorials)” filed by Thompson since the trial ended in December.
• If you have a weak heart, you may wish to look away lest the shock overwhelm you: A game based on the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie has been announced.
• Game Daily has an interview with BioWare about narrative, the mainstream press and more.
• Codemasters' upcoming racing game GRID will use the Ebay Motors marketplace in-game as the method by which players buy and sell their cars.
• Alone in the Dark is getting a limited edition box, though it's currently only confirmed for Europe.
• Wal-Mart has begun instructing its employees on how the GTA4 launch will be handled at their stores.
• OXM has an interview with Reality Pump in which they ask why Two Worlds was poorly received. " I can't say for sure, but I suspect that it was unfairly compared to Oblivion."
• Stephen Totilo makes the case that "it's just a game" isn't a valid argument anymore.

PC and mobile news

New media: Wrath of the Lich King leaked screenshots
New content: Galactic Command: Echo Squad SE content, Penumbra: Overture and Black Plague demos for Mac and Linux, UFO: Afterlight 1.6 patch

• 38 Studios has appointed former Everquest lead designer Travis McGeathy as the systems design lead for their upcoming MMO Copernicus.
• Pollux Gamelab has suspended operations due to financial troubles, leaving support for their game Lost Empire: Immortals up in the air. "The support mail is being read but at the moment we cannot guarantee a 100% response rate nor response time."
• Diablo3.com has issued a short explanation of what their countdown is not. "We have made no claims and expect fans to not get caught up with the wave of speculations and rumors in the forums and the web to the point to believe them." Boy, the announcement must be something really crap if they're already backpedaling on their own hype machine.
• Voxelstein 3D is a free Wolfenstein-inspired game in voxels, with fully destructible levels.
• NASA is still looking for someone to develop their educational MMORPG, but apparently they want it done for free.
• A Japanese man has created a free clone of Capcom's Gundam arcade games, complete with online play. There is an English installer available.
• Gameloft has announced Hulkamania Wrestling for mobile phones.
• A group of fans have released Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space, a free adventure game seven years in the making. Unfortunately, right now it's only available in German.

Nintendo news

New media: Summon Night: Twin Age screenshots

• Interplay plans on bringing Earthworm Jim and Clayfighter to Virtual Console, among others. Yes guys, the key to your return to profitability lies in giving people the chance to play Boogerman again.
• Aksys Games will be publishing multiplayer action RPG From The Abyss on the DS in Q4 2008.
• To celebrate the release of Mario Kart Wii, Mario will be in New York on Thursday treating people to free cab rides.
• Baseball fans who bring a Nintendo DS to Safeco Field can log on to the Nintendo Fan Network and access various baseball related content.
• Topless Robot lists the best 10 NES games no one played.
• Square Enix has announced more downloadable content for My Life As A King. There's a newly available 300 point dungeon pack, along with future packs that will include a library and the Infinite Tower. And a pack with a bikini in it.
• Sit and ponder for a moment who would want or need Wii remote cufflinks.
• Amazon's deal of the day is Bleach: The Blade of Fate for $18.99.

Sony news

New media: Metal Gear Online character creation footage

• Sony has extended the closed beta for Home, with the open beta now set for fall.
• Banpresto has announced Super Robot Wars Z for the PS2 in Japan.
• The Konami ID registration site is up again after being hammered by high traffic.
• Mark Rein says not to expect a split-screen patch for Unreal Tournament III, and that PS3 gamers "should be happy" the game has mod support.
• The Escapist has an interview with David Jaffe about his cancelled game Heartland -- the one he was working on before Calling All Cars that was supposed to make people cry.
• Amazon has Resistance: Fall of Man for $49.99 and After Burner: Black Falcon for $11.29.

Microsoft news

New content: Rock Band Judas Priest full album

• Foundation 9 has put Harker on indefinite hiatus. "The best way to put it is that the Harker team rolled into the Silent Hill V team."
• Gamasutra has an interview with Ray Nakazato about Lost Odyssey.
• The first in-game footage of Gears of War 2 will debut May 9.
• A member of the NeoGAF forums claims Rare recently showed Banjo Kazooie 3 to the gaming press and the embargo lifts May 13.
• Best Buy is offering a free $50 gift card for anyone who buys a 360 and a copy of GTA4. Uh.. for the 360, obviously.