Excited by some of the possibilities Kinect offers for non-casual games? Then it looks like you might have a bit of a wait in store. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft's VP for Interactive Entertainment in Europe, Chris Lewis, went to some length to point out that Microsoft isn't ignoring core gamers, but would only go as far as to say that non-casual, "hybrid" games that use both Kinect and a standard controller would likely become available "over the coming 18 months or so." Not many more details beyond that, unfortunately, but Lewis did divulge a bit of UK news, saying that sales went up "1,000 percent week-over-week with an 84 per cent market share" following the release of the new, redesigned Xbox 360.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/microsoft-says-to-expect-non-casual-hybrid-kinect-games-over/

Konami has told Eurogamer that no date has been set for glamorous new PS3 and 360 game Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Therefore, a spokesperson added, talk of an October release must be dismissed as "speculation".

An October launch would put Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in the heart of a busy holiday schedule. Konami must believe that its big-budget, third-person interpretation of the creaky old licence will rake in the big bucks.

Certainly the talent is there: Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima is collaborating - albeit in a hands-off, overseer role.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/castlevania-october-date-speculation

Capcom vs. Namco and Namco vs. Capcom are two games currently in development, US mag Game Informer reckons.

Sources told the mag that Capcom will make Capcom vs. Namco using the Street Fighter IV engine, and Namco Bandai will create Namco vs. Capcom with the Tekken 6 engine.

Rumour suggests Street Fighter main man Yoshinori Ono is in charge of Capcom vs. Namco, and Namco Bandai's Katsuhiro Harada is leading the Namco vs. Capcom charge.

Apparently a fighting game debut trailer will go live on Saturday 24th July during Comic-Con.

We already know Ono will unveil his new game at the show.

A couple of weeks ago he tweeted: "SuperSF4 is nothing compared to what's coming!!"

Fans have speculated that Ono's new game is a Darkstalkers reboot. However, one game Ono has denied he's working on is Capcom vs. SNK 3.

"Personally, I hope for it. But I don't have time. Will anyone make it? :D" he said, once again, via Twitter.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/rumour-capcom-vs-namco-in-the-works

Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada has admitted that Final Fantasy XIII met with a mixed reaction from gamers, and that he's not sure if the long-running RPG series should look to change in the future.

"When it comes to the customers' reaction to the quality of the game, some value it highly and some are not very happy with it," Wada told Gamasutra.

"I think this is a product that was able to meet the expectations for those who know Final Fantasy," he said. "There are all kinds of games around in the market today. Should Final Fantasy become a new type of the game or should Final Fantasy not become a new type of game?

"The customers have different opinions. It's very difficult to determine which way it should go."

Final Fantasy XIII was criticised by many for its slow pacing and linear first half, for adhering too strongly to some Japanese RPG traditions, and for diverging from others. However, Wada pointed out that despite varying review scores, the game was a commercial success.

"Looking at the numbers alone, it is pretty good, because we were able to release the latest Final Fantasy in all three markets of Japan, United States and Europe in a very short period of time, and we were able to reach 5 million units rapidly - and I think this product will grow further."

We suspect that will influence his thinking on what direction Final Fantasy will take more than the complaints of gamers on the internet. Us? We liked it.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wada-usnure-of-final-fantasys-future