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Ubisoft has reported financial results for the first half of its fiscal year, ending September 30, 2009. Coming in at €166 million ($246 million), this year's sales represent a drop of 52% when compared to the first two fiscal quarters of the previous year. Second-quarter sales totaled €83 million ($123 million) -- a drop of 53.1%, though one that Ubisoft states falls within previously issued guidance.

Standout titles released during the period include the Western-themed first-person shooter, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (which has shipped 'close to 900,000 units'), reptilian brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up and, "in certain countries," the Pelé-powered Academy of Champions.

Ubisoft points to its fiscal third quarter -- that's October to December on your official Secretive Hunks of Third Echelon Calendar -- as "the most important quarter in Ubisoft's history." Sales are expected to reach €540 million ($801 million) during the period, thanks to Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, Rabbids Go Home and Shaun White Snowboarding World Stage. Ubisoft's also counting on several new casual and self-improvement games for the Wii and DS, which we imagine will help the financialz quite a bit.

Once again proving that regular people don't care about what critics have to say, TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled managed to climb to the top of the PSN download chart for September. With Final Fantasy VII and Marvel Vs Capcom 2 also maintaining enviable positions, it's clear that people love paying for nostalgia.

1) TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
2) NBA 2K10: Draft Combine
3) Final Fantasy VII
4) Marvel Vs Capcom 2
5) Fat Princess
6) Battlefield 1943
7) Zombie Apocalypse
8) Silent Hill
9) Final Fantasy Tactics
10) SimCity 2000

We'd also like to point out that this may be the first month Mortal Kombat II is not in the top 10. Did everyone in the world finally buy it?

Ubisoft is shelling out another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game this year with TMNT: Arcade Attack for DS. As the name implies, the game will feature the arcade-style, beat-em-up gameplay most recently seen in Turtles in Time, but this will be an all-new game. Players take on Shredder (who else?), along with his bebop and rock steady rogue's gallery of baddies, with a friend through local wireless -- or let a turtle-controlling AI buddy help out.

If the game's title sounds familiar, it's probably because we heard some rumblings about it a week ago. Those attending PAX can play the game in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Party Bus, located at the convention's entrance. Drop us a line in the comments if you happen to try it out.

Heroes in a half-shell news now, as we've got a pair of juicy tidbits dealing with the pint-sized martial arts masters. First, we present this OFLC certification which says that recently released downloadable Turtles in Time: Re-Shelled is set to grace the DSi. Sadly, we have nothing else to go on but that, though we must say the prospect of yelling "turtle power!" at our DSi on the subway is an appealing one.

Our second item is a little more interesting. GoNintendo points us toward the latest issue of Nintendo Power, which supposedly reveals TMNT: Arcade Attack, a new title for the DS that utilizes the Turtles in Time formula (see: arcade style beat-em-up). GoNintendo says the game "supports 2-player action, allows you to throw enemies at the screen, and even lets you jump-kick enemies...but in a way that doesn't let you spam the move to victory," though we haven't seen the issue ourselves yet to confirm. If you have it, well, send us a tip!

Source - Turtles in Time: Reshelled OFLC cert [Via Gamerbytes]
Source - TMNT: Arcade Attack in Nintendo Power

If there's one thing worth pointing out in this TMNT: Smash Up trailer from GamesCom, it's those lovely environments. Sure, there's some gameplay and we get to see several different characters lay the smack down, but that collapsing rooftop and intruding Technodrome really add a welcome dose of chaos to the experience. Look for TMNT: Smash Up on September 22.

Break out your old Ninja Turtle Halloween costume -- you know you have one -- because today is the day that TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled hits Xbox Live Arcade. If by chance you don't have a TMNT costume lying around (or a pile of action figures), this week's release might not be for you. Even at a reduced price of 800 ($10), Turtles in Time is really only for those with a glint of nostalgia in their eyes (and wallets). Watch the latest episode of XBLA in Brief and see if there's enough turtle power left in the franchise to inspire one more purchase.

Download the trial version of TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled

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Cowabunga! Bodacious! Other TMNT saying! Pardon the hoopla, but Ubisoft has confirmed to Joystiq that next week's XBLA "Summer of Arcade" release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, will debut at 800 ($10), 400 ($5) less than the originally announced 1200 ($15) price.

"We wanted to give something to the loyal TMNT fans in honor of the 25th anniversary," Ubisoft responded when asked about the last-minute change. Then again, dare we really question the generosity of a mega-publisher when it actually want us to shell out less for its games? (Oh, and for those eyeing the 800 [$10] rebate from MS for buying everything in the Summer of Arcade lineup? Well, it just got $5 cheaper to buy "everything.")

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

The latest TMNT Smash Up trailer introduces Donatello and ... uh ... some other people. Man, we have been out of touch with Ninja Turtles for a long time. Who are all these people? We recognize Karai from Tournament Fighters (you may recognize her from the comics or whatever), but we totally had to look up "Nightwatcher," who turns out to be Raphael in a costume. That's really weird.

The good news is that even if you don't follow the TMNT cast of thousands, the characters look fun to play. A turtle superhero! A woman with a sword! A robot! Totally great. And if you do know the characters, hey! There they are! See the trailer after the break.

As if this Friday wasn't freaky enough, Xbox Live's Major Nelson has alerted us to a schedule swap occurring within the "Summer of Arcade" lineup. 'Splosion Man has taken the July 22nd spot previously held by TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-shelled, which will now release on August 5th. The full Xbox Live Arcade release list -- excluding next week's Monkey Island revamp -- is as follows:

• July 22: 'Splosion Man 800 ($10)
• July 29: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 1200 ($15)
• August 5: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-shelled 1200 ($15)
• August 12: Trials HD 1200 ($15)
• August 19: Shadow Complex 1200 ($15)

We're happy to experience Twisted Pixel's self-destructive efforts sooner, if only to ease us gently into a rather extravagant spending spree.

Microsoft's Major Nelson has revealed the full details of this year's "Summer of Arcade" ... and it's going to be mighty expensive if you're interested in the whole kaboodle.

• July 22: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-shelled 1200 ($15) 'Splosion Man 800 ($10)
• July 29: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 1200 ($15)
• August 5: 'Splosion Man 800 ($10) TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-shelled 1200 ($15)
• August 12: Trials HD 1200 ($15)
• August 19: Shadow Complex 1200 ($15)

The only difference from this list and the previously announced lineup is the absence of Monkey Island Special Edition, which is scheduled for release next week on July 15.

[Update: Release schedule revised!]

You know what the best thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is? Throwing enemies into the screen. Thankfully, that feature is retained in the upcoming XBLA remake. The HD remake is obviously going to be a much prettier version of the original game -- but how good does it really look? The fine folks at GameVideos have made a stellar comparison video that highlights the sleek new look of this 2.5D remake. Watch all the way to the end to see how even the voice overs have -- for better or for worse -- changed.

Excuse us as we take a deep breath in order to introduce one of XBLA's upcoming titles for the "Summer of Arcade" -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled. The ridiculously long-titled downloadable is a complete HD remake of the classic Konami arcade brawler, coming first to the Xbox 360 (a PS3 version is in the works).

Our time with Ubisoft's TMNT update was brief, but only because the game suffers from what all arcade brawlers in downloadable form do -- the levels are extremely short. Coming from an age where difficulty was ramped up to suck as many quarters as it could from a player's pocket, the new version of TMNT allowed us to quickly blaze through two levels of the game without pumping another 25 cent piece into the Xbox 360 console.

Kotaku is reporting that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled has received a release date of July 22, and will be a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360. Since we're not in the business of just believing everything we read, we decided to contact Ubisoft for some clarification.

Our rep at Ubisoft indeed did confirm the release date and the timed exclusivity on Xbox Live Arcade, which is likely to tick off a few PS3 owners out there. We'd suggest copious amounts of Infamous and, if you're lucky enough, the Uncharted 2 beta to get you through these tough times.

Eager to promote their upcoming Wii title TMNT: Smash-Up, today, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo made a special appearance at Ubisoft's E3 booth. The reason? A photo op, of course. They probably figured they'd swing by the convention to help spread the way of the ninja, meet with their fans and try to get into as many tabloids as possible. Turtle power!