Pro Evolution Soccer 2009’s been confirmed for an Autumn release in the UK. They promise a complete graphical overhaul and more tweaks to make the game even more like the real thing. Konami, please sort out better set plays and non-jerky online play.

Update: Amazon limited deal – PES 2009 Pro-Evolution Soccer from only $19.99

Ends December 30th – We’ve discovered a great promotional deal over at Amazon, head to the Pro Evolution Soccer 09 Amazon page and get the game for only $19.99 when you spend $50 or more, pay with Bill Me Later then enter the code BMLSAVES at checkout for $10 off the game, you’ll even get super saver shipping thrown in. This offer is limited to one per customer and valid until December 30th 2008.

Buy Pro Evolution Soccer 09 now
New: Buy Pro Evolution Soccer 09 from Amazon.com

Tags: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, Pro Evo 2009

Log into the PlayStation store now and you can download an encyclopaedia for Metal Gear Solid 4 for your Playstation 3. If all those long cut scenes confused you, you can read everything about the game and Snake’s history from 1987 to the present day at your leisure for free!

Buy Metal Gear Solid 4 now
New: Buy Metal Gear Solid 4 from Amazon.com

Tags: Metal Gear Solid 4, encyclopedia

Sony have just confirmed that the free version 2.40 firmware upgrade for the PS3 is available from the first week of July including limited in-game XMB access, PS3 gaming trophies and the friends list capacity will double to 100 Friends. The release date of the 2.40 firmware upgrade is July 2 and from past experience we anticipate 2.41 will be available a day later covering ‘bug fixes‘ and ‘compatibility issues‘. Rumble fans will also be happy that the Playstation 3 DUALSHOCK 3 Sixaxis Controller will be available to pick up from stores on the same day.

Games announced to support trophies include:-

• BUZZ! – Quiz TV
• LittleBigPlanet
• MotorStorm – Pacific Rift
• NBA 09
• PAIN
• PixelJunk Eden
• Resistance 2
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
• Warhawk

Tags: in-game XMB, PS3, XMB, ingame XMB, trophies, DUALSHOCK, trophy, DUALSHOCK sixaxis, Playstation, XMB

Nintendo’s evil mascot Wario returns for another 2D side-scrolling adventure on Wii. Wario Land Shake It is a breath of old school fresh air, take your Wii Remote and play NES style as you smash around the levels bopping enemies and loot treasure by shaking the Wiimote up and down to cause earthquakes and other havoc across the entire screen. The graphics are looking nice and with 2D not being too taking on the Wii hardware you can expect a super smooth framerate and plenty of action on-screen. I’ll certainly be fighting Matt for the review disc when it hits the Gamesweasel doormat in the next few months.

Tags: Wario Land, wario, wii, nintendo

Geeks and Rockers have a big reason to celebrate today, Blizzard (the guys behind World of Warcraft) are teaming up with Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock to bring you free downloadable content in the form of a thrash metal track called “I am Murloc”. This download is free for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on their respective online stores and is a nice little gift to keep us busy while we wait for the upcoming Guitar Hero Aerosmith, Guitar Hero On Tour for the Nintendo DS and of course Guitar Hero 4 World Tour.

Related: Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock review, Guitar Hero DS version, Guitar Hero III record breaker, Rock Band review

Tags: Guitar Hero III, Guitar Hero tracks, free Guitar Hero music

Nintendo have been kind enough to supply us with their release dates for the rest of the year, sadly though it doesn’t contain the details of their top secret games that are to be revealed at E3 but it’s a start. Notable entries (by which I mean the ones I can’t wait for) include:

• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo) – 27th June 2008
• Okami (Capcom) – June 2008
• Pipe Mania (Empire Interactive / Kochmedia) – 14th September 2008
• Wario Land: The Shake Dimension (Nintendo) – 26th September 2008

You can find out more about the full release schedule for Wii and DS on the Nintendo UK web site.

Related: Nintendo release schedule

Tags: Nintendo, Nintendo release schedule