NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of April 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for April 2010. It was a slow month for the business and the list is full of old releases. Check ’em out!

  1. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction (Xbox 360): 486,100
  2. Pokemon SoulSilver Version (Nintendo DS): 242,900
  3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): 200,300
  4. Pokemon HeartGold Version (Nintendo DS): 192,600
  5. God of War III (PlayStation 3): 180,300
  6. Wii Sports Resort (Wii): 179,000
  7. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Xbox 360): 166,000
  8. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii):
  9. Just Dance (Wii): 144,000
  10. Super Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3): 143,000

Unless my eyes are broken — which is entirely possible after way too much Scrabble — Splinter Cell: Conviction and Super Street Fighter IV are the only new games on the list. Again, there weren’t that many big releases in April so  seeing the usual suspects makes total sense. It also makes this month’s list kind of boring. The one thing that makes me happy is seeing Pokemon trounce the world. Tell me again that Pokemon is dead. Tell me!!!

RPad.tv Chick Magnet Uses the Force Thanks to TheJediRevan

Today’s RPad.tv chick magnet pictures are from TheJediRevan. It’s a great pair of photos that lets you know what he’s about. On top of the Jedi robe and the lightsaber is…a “me” magnet! These are pretty awesome! Thanks for sending them in!!!

Keep serving up these excellent photos guys and gals. I’m really digging them!

T-Mobile to Release UMA Android Phone?

Here’s a rumor that I really, really, really hope pans out. According to Boy Genius Report, T-Mobile has a UMA (unlicensed mobile access) Android phone in the works. As some of you already know, this is one of my favorite features about T-Mobile. UMA lets you use WiFi signal in place of your mobile signal. In addition to being fantastic for indoor reception or areas with poor reception, this feature is brilliant for international travel — as long as you’re calling through WiFi, calls made from other countries to America count against your bucket of minutes. Anyway, here’s the word from BGR:

We have just heard T-Mobile is going to begin testing UMA calling on Android devices starting in Q3 of this year. Finally.

Please, please, please be true!!!

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Speculation: PSP2 Coming at E3 2010?

I know you’re all looking forward to what’s new with Nintendo’s Vitality Sensor at E3 2010, but MCV has speculated on something a wee bit more interesting — a PSP2 announcement! According to its sources, heavy marketing dollars from two Sony publishers are being allocated for Q4 2010 and they might be used to support games for new hardware:

MCV has been informed of a significant increase in marketing spend at two key publishers for Q4 2010. At a time when the PSP is languishing in Western markets — and its most recent iteration, the PSPgo, is falling flat — it is being speculated that publishers are laying the ground for an offensive on a brand new iteration of Sony’s handheld.

The way E3 is shaping up, you pretty much know what’s going down on the hardware side. You have Sony’s PlayStation Move, Microsoft Project Natal, Nintendo’s 3DS, and the Wii Vitality Sensor you all love. A PSP2 announcement would be a most welcomed and very intriguing surprise. The timing is about right, but do you think it will happen? Speculate people (please)!

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Killzone 2 Helghast Featured in Hot Shots Tennis for PSP

In a supremely cute crossover, the Helghast from Killzone 2 are playable in the upcoming Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip for Sony PlayStation Portable (available June 2010). Sony Computer Entertainment America producer Chris Hinojosa-Miranda hinted at additional unlockable characters on a PlayStation Blog post. As a huge fan of the Mario Tennis series, I’m really looking forward to this PSP game and am very curious about the other unlockable characters.

Are there any Sony characters you want to hit tennis balls with? I bet Sly Cooper has a wicked slice backhand. Clank’s precise movement probably rivals Roger Federer’s. Kratos probably has some mad power. The possibilities are awesome!

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Rumor: Apple Orders 10-Million CDMA iPhones From Pegatron

Here’s some interesting news for those of you wishing for an Apple iPhone on Verizon — Apple has allegedly ordered 10-million CDMA iPhones from Pegatron. Pegatron was formerly a division of Asustek and is not a Transformer. According to DigiTimes:

Pegatron Technology has received orders for an iPhone based on CDMA from Apple with annual shipments expected to reach 10 million units. The orders should start contributing to the Taiwan-based company’s revenues in August or September, according to sources from component makers.

As I mentioned the other day, Verizon’s ad agency is supposedly working on a campaign for an iPhone launch. The Pegatron rumor fits in nicely with that rumor to create a lovely iPhone-is-coming-to-Verizon-rumor sandwich.

Anyone else hungry?

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Android 2.2 (FroYo) Features Built-In Tethering and WiFi Hotspot

The next version of Google Android — nicknamed FroYo or Frozen Yogurt — will feature built in tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality according to TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington. The other day I mentioned one web site claiming a 450-percent performance improvement from Android 2.1 (Eclair) to 2.2. Being able to use your Android phone as a wireless modem or hotspot is a brilliant feature. I’m hoping that Google will have more Android surprises at next week’s Google I/O conference.

It will be interesting to see how carriers react to this new addition (as opposed to New Edition). I’m guessing that the feature will be removed on phones using a custom Android build. I don’t see mobile providers wanting to give away that functionality for free. A handset like the Nexus One will be much more difficult for carriers to handle since they have no control over plain vanilla Android. (Perhaps this was one of several reasons Sprint and Verizon told the Nexus One to piss off?)

It’s funny, I was extremely impressed with the HTC Incredible on Verizon and pretty much crowned it the best Android handset on the market today. The one issue I had with it — and really any phone using a custom interface like HTC Sense or Motorola Blur — is that new features would take longer to implement due to the customization. FroYo is restoring my love for stock Android. Why yes, I will have plain vanilla frozen yogurt, thank you very much.

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Coffee Talk #144: Do You Like Mediocre Games/Music/Movies?

I’ve been questioning my taste in movies for the last year or so. I think it started when I saw Semi-Pro on cable. I really enjoy Will Ferrell movies, but this one got panned so I didn’t see it in theaters. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it on cable. It wasn’t a great movie, but it certainly entertained me. It was the same exact thing with Forgetting Sarah Marshall — totally enjoyed it, despite the poor reviews. Next it was Role Models, I Love You, Man, and Land of the Lost.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Ken Griffey, Jr. sleeping in the clubhouse, whether Lebron James should ditch Cleveland, or Howard the Duck, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been questioning my taste in movies for the last year or so. I think it started when I saw Semi-Pro on cable. I really enjoy Will Ferrell movies, but this one got panned so I didn’t see it in theaters. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it on cable. It wasn’t a great movie, but it certainly entertained me. It was the same exact thing with Forgetting Sarah Marshall — totally enjoyed it, despite the poor reviews. Next it was Role Models, I Love You, Man, and Land of the Lost.

Initially I was worried that getting older has made me lower my standards, but I don’t think that’s the case. I realize that some of these movies aren’t the best; I just happen to find a lot of the writing and scenes entertaining. Perhaps I’m just drawn to Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segel. I don’t know and really, I don’t care anymore. I accept that I enjoy these movies and I’m comfortable with it.

Today I want to know what movies, games, music, etc. you enjoy, even though you know they’re not the best. Let’s celebrate mediocrity on this fine Thursday!!!

HTC Evo 4G Available Through Sprint on June 4…With Caveats

Sprint has announced that the HTC Evo 4G will be available on June 4, 2010 for $199.99 on contract. If you’ve been keeping up with this hot Android phone then you’ll know that it’s America’s first 4G handset and uses Sprint’s WiMax network for speedy data. The faster speeds come at a price — a $10 a month premium on top of the 3G data rate. If you want to use the phone as a mobile hot spot, that’ll run you an additional $29.99 a month. Here are some bullet points from the press release:

  • Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while the conversation continues.
  • Offering a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles(TM) works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and wine labels.
  • Superfast 1GHz Qualcomm(R) Snapdragon(TM) processor, ensuring a smooth and quick movement within phone menus.
  • Two cameras – an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.
  • Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
  • Integrated HD video capture with the ability to capture and share live video via the Qik Web site, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter(TM).
  • Ability to easily watch video with the device on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
  • Custom Web browser optimized for the 4.3 inch display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience.
  • A handy kickstand built into the back, making it easy to watch videos on-the-go.
  • Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen.
  • Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views.

The phone looks fantastic on paper, but I’m really not high on these premium charges. What do you think of the phone and its pricing? Any of you tempted to pick it up?

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Pokemon Black and White Starters Revealed + A Poll

The excellent people at Serebii have translated a recent issue of CoroCoro magazine that revealed information on the starter Pokemon in the upcoming Pokemon Black/White. As expected, you can choose from a fire, water, and grass Pokemon. (In my best Bob Sheppard voice) And now…your starting lineup…for Pokemon Black/White:

  • Tsutaja — A snake-like grass Pokemon
  • Pokabu — A pig-like fire Pokemon
  • Mijumaru — An otter-like water Pokemon

I’m really digging the new starter Pokemon designs. I have a soft spot in my heart for grass starters (bulbasaur and chikorita rule!) and Tsutaja seems like an interesting choice. However, the concept of a fire pig is just awesome. Otters are also amusing to me, simply because of a term I learned a few years ago from a San Francisco bear (bonus points if you know what an otter is in the context of the gay community).

Now for the poll!

[poll id=”45″]

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