Wiibrew developer Hermes has released an update to WiiEngine, an emulator of the classic PC Engine and Turbo Grafx 16 systems for the Wii. Major updates in this version as it now supports several new compression formats, as well as ISOs. There are new features you won't want to miss as well. Details after the link.

Download: WiiEngine 1.5B

Here's some hope that the Wii could actually support a hardcore shooter playerbase. According to High Voltage Software, WiiSpeak is a go for The Conduit, as well as MotionPlus. I have high hopes for this game. It seems the studio is too - they don't have a publisher yet and they already have a sequel in mind. Details in the full article.

Sega is working closely with ESRB on the development of MadWorld to make sure that the game won't pull a Manhunt 2. I am soooo looking forward to this game. Mario games are fine and all, but Mario games don't have chainsaws.

Rockstar finally gets to release Manhunt 2 in the UK after a long and grueling year-long battle against the BBFC. UK gamers can expect the game to hit shelves on October 31.

Studios and publishers don't benefit from the sales of used games, just ones fresh off the shelves. Finding a way around this, three new games are offering exclusive content - but only once per copy of the game. Meaning that if you want the exclusive content, you'll have to buy yourself a new copy. I hope this trend doesn't catch on.

The three games to offer once-only exclusive content are Gears of War 2, NBA Live 09, and Rock Band 2. Details after the link.

MPlayer seems to be the name of the game this week in the Wiibrew community. Not long after the latest release of GeeXboX, developer fcorbier has released a new version of his media player for the Wii, MPlayerWii. This version gets a speed boost on reading USB devices, and added support for the classic controller.

Download: MPlayerWii v0.06

Third time's the charm for Microsoft. The latest numbers from Japan show that the Xbox 360 has once again outsold the PlayStation 3 for the third week running. And crunching some numbers reveal that the Xbox 360 outsold the PlayStation 3 for the entire month of September.

It's a little too early for Christmas miracles, so I'd say this is... a Halloween miracle?

Despite ramping up supplies for the DS and the Wii for the holidays, and despite the Xbox 360 Arcade now being cheaper than the Wii, it seems Nintendo still won't be introducing a price cut for either one in time for Christmas. What a surprise. Next they'll be saying they'll make another Mario game.

It just drives me bonkers to think that Nintendo waited all this time before they acknowledged the need for this feature. According to their press conference in Japan, and later on in the US, future Wii software from the shopping channel can be downloaded to the SD card.

Wonder if advances in Wiibrew had anything to do with it.

Nintendo's press conference in Japan yesterday left everyone in a frenzy over the new DSi. Now Ninty's press conference in the US might also get gamers in a frenzy, but not for the same reason. It's been announced that the DSi model won't leave Japan's shores until "well into" 2009. More after the link.

Thanks to ISOHaven for sending in the heads up!