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After almost six months, we're going to see sales for the PSP Go pick up in Japan starting tomorrow. How can we be so sure? Today, Sony announced that not only is the PSP hit Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (called Monster Hunter Freedom Unite here) being released as a download on March 18 -- a voucher for the title will also be given away with new PSP Gos. The downloadable game by itself will cost ¥1,600 ($17.69) from the PlayStation Store.

Even though over three million people already have this on UMD -- and even though Monster Hunter Portable 3 was just announced for PSP -- we still anticipate a lot of sales for this. People in Japan are just that thrilled about Monster Hunter.

[Via Andriasang]

There are plenty of reasons to be wary about buying expensive electronics over the internet. They could be forever lost to shipping accidents. You could have trust issues about purchasing items from faceless vendors. Or maybe you're just addicted to instant gratification. If brick-and-mortar transactions are your preferred M.O., then you'll be pleased to hear that the formerly Amazon-only 360 Elite Spring Bundle, which comes packaged with Forza Motorsport 3 and Halo 3: ODST, is now available at GameStop for $299.99.

We can't stress this enough -- this is by far the best Xbox bundle ever to hit store shelves, so we suggest picking one up if you still find yourself sans 360. There's no telling when the offer will cease to be ... offered, but if we were to wager a guess, we'd say "around the start of the next temperate season."

[Via Halo.Bungie.org]

Okay, so North America's limited edition Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP pack doesn't include an exclusive camo PSP, or a stand thingy, or a snakeskin-like carrying case. But it does include a "Spirited Green" PSP-3000, a color previously unavailable in America. It doesn't include a PSP Go, so we're guessing the "relaunch" hasn't begun yet.

Launching alongside the standalone game on May 25 June 8, the pack includes said green PSP, a copy of the game on UMD, a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo, and vouchers for both an unidentified movie download (for US residents only) and exclusive in-game items in Peace Walker, for $199.99.

[Update: the game, and the bundle, are actually coming out on June 8.]

Confused about exactly which costumes you'd get from a Resident Evil 5 costume pack? Buy them all! And buy both DLC episodes while you're at it. Capcom just announced that it's bundling the two costume packs, as well as both the "Lost in Nightmares" and "Desperate Escape" episodes together as a single "Untold Stories Bundle."

It'll be available today on Xbox Live for 960 ($12) and tomorrow on PlayStation Network for $12.50. Individually, all that content would add up to $14, and would require up to four tedious menu navigations. Either way, it's still cheaper than buying the Gold Edition disc.

Are you preparing to buy your first ever Xbox 360, and are looking for the best value for your money? Alternatively, did your Xbox 360 just commit ritual seppuku, and now you're looking for a SKU that comes bundled with some good games? Both parties are in luck -- Amazon recently added a listing for an Xbox 360 Elite Spring 2010 bundle, which includes Halo 3: ODST, Forza Motorsport 3 and a 120GB hard drive for just $299.99. According to the listing, this bundle will go on sale next Tuesday, March 9 -- the same day the $399 Final Fantasy XIII bundle hits Amazon's virtual store shelves.

We're extremely excited about this news -- not because it's a great deal (though it really, really is), but because it's allowed us to break the world record for "Most Times Using The Number '3' In A Single Headline." Thanks for making this dream possible, Microsoft.

[Via 1UP]

Walmart just announced an exclusive Wii bundle, containing both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, as well as the necessary MotionPlus attachment. It'll be available in stores today, and on Walmart.com this Sunday. There's no reason not to pick this one up instead of the normal Wii package: this new bundle sells for the same $199 price!

According to Walmart, it'll only be available "while supplies last," which, given the history of the Wii platform, could be a surprisingly short time.

Update: We were additionally informed by a Walmart representative that the bundle contains "[one] normal Wii console you would purchase -- comes with all the same components -- for $199, except that you're getting Wii Sports Resort (with the packaged Wii MotionPlus)." Still quite a deal!

As was foretold, Microsoft has announced a special Splinter Cell: Conviction Xbox 360 bundle set to arrive this April in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The bundle will retail for $399 and will include two controllers, a standard edition copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction and a 250GB hard drive. We should remind readers that, unlike the one offered in the Final Fantasy XIII bundle, the second controller will actually be useful in Splinter Cell: Conviction, thanks to its split-screen co-op modes.

Check out hi-res images of the bundle in the gallery below.

Clearly not content with just one measly Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 mega bundle, it looks like Europe will be receiving a second bundle as well. Europe will be receiving the same Final Fantasy XIII Special Edition bundle that was revealed at X10, which includes the game, a 250GB hard drive, two wireless controllers and downloadable Avatar goodies. Speaking of Avatar items, the release actually reveals what they are: a Rosch outfit, a Nabaat outfit and a Chocobo pet (the same one you might already have, we're assuming). The release didn't specify a price, though Amazon UK lists it for £249.99 ($391).

In addition to that bundle, however, the region will also be receiving the Final Fantasy XIII Elite bundle, which includes the game, a single wireless controller and the standard 120GB hard drive. Again, no price was revealed, though Amazon France has it listed for €249.99 ($340).

Finally, the press release reveals just how you can get your hands on one of the limited edition, promotional FFXIII faceplates. The faceplates will be offered as a bonus for anyone who pre-orders the 250GB Special Edition console. Major Nelson also revealed on Xbox Live that the faceplate will be a pre-order bonus for the North American Special Edition console as well. So, if you really want that faceplate, you'd better be ready to plop down 400 bones for it.

Launching simultaneously with Final Fantasy XIII in the US is a limited edition 250GB Xbox 360 console. Included in the box is a copy of the game, two wireless controllers, a headset, a FF-branded hard drive, and "exclusive downloadable avatar items" -- perhaps something to go with your pet Chocobo. All of this will be packaged together for $399, according to Major Nelson.

Microsoft is trying to make sure Final Fantasy fans from the PS2 generation will choose Xbox 360 as their console of choice. The carefully worded press release notes that this is "the only console outside of Japan to be bundled with the game." In other words, don't expect the limited edition PS3 to make its way Stateside. Ever.

In addition, Microsoft also plans to release a Final Fantasy XIII faceplate designed by Tetsuya Nomura and not included with the special edition bundle. The press release doesn't explain exactly how to get one, only stating that a "very limited number" will be available "promotionally in fixed quantities across select retailers in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand."

We wouldn't blame you if you're hesitant to trust your cold, unfeeling game console with your credit card information -- when that thing inevitably goes sentient, you just know its just going to go on an overpriced accessory-shopping spree. Fortunately, there's other ways to obtain content on the Xbox Live Marketplace; for instance, a recently added GameStop listing has revealed that Borderlands' two DLC packs, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, will soon be bundled together in a retail package for the 360 and PC.

The bundle, which is set to drop February 23, will be priced at $19.99, which is how much the DLC would cost if purchased separately on the Marketplace. Only, now you're also paying sales tax, meaning you're buying an expansion pack and paying for a few pages of a public elementary school textbook. How nice of you!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Here's some awesome news: according to a press release sent out by Nintendo, Monster Hunter Tri will be available in North America this April -- which means that Capcom essentially delayed it as little as possible. Here's some more awesome news: it'll be available in a bundle with the Classic Controller Pro, the upgraded version of the Classic Controller that was previously only available in Japan. The set will cost $59.99.

Even if you're not interested in Monster Hunter, you'll be able to get one separately, in black or white, for the same $19.99 price Nintendo charges for the regular Classic Controller.

The Pro might not do anything different than the original, but it's laid out a bit more comfortably, with the analog sticks spread out further and the shoulder buttons moved out of the Classic's ridiculous single-file configuration. It's no coincidence, given Monster Hunter's PS2 origins, that this new controller is essentially identical in layout to a Dual Shock.

If given one adjective to describe Metal Gear Solid's eyepatched protagonist, Solid Snake, most people would probably use the word "stealthy." While appropriate, we prefer to think of him as "efficient" -- after all, if he wastes his precious rations, tranquilizer darts or porno mags, he's just as good as dead.

If you want to be like Snake in every aspect of your life, we suggest adopting his efficiency when purchasing video games. You could start with the Metal Gear Solid PSP bundle which includes Portable Ops, Portable Ops Plus and MGS: Digital Graphic Novel for the reasonable price of $29.99. With that, you won't waste any time adding a bunch of games to an intangible check-out cart. Just one thing -- boom -- and then you're ready to do other Snake-ish things. Like blowing up tankers! Or swallowing gravel.

The excitement over those two Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP bundles was tempered somewhat by the fact that they were revealed in one tiny, blurry magazine scan. Now that Konami has released images of both camo PSP sets, nothing is stopping us from our blissful retail fantasies. Can't you just imagine buying one?

Like the Portable Ops packs before them, these are two different bundles. The ¥26,980 (~$295) "Premium Package" includes a PSP-3000, Peace Walker, a camouflage cleaning cloth (so you can remove fingerprints from the screen incognito), a carrying case, and a wrist strap. The ¥36,980 (~$400) "Konamistyle Package" (pictured above), only available from Konami's website, includes the same PSP and cleaning cloth, a leather case and strap, a neat-looking, numbered PSP stand, numbered dog tags, and a booklet.

[Via GAME Watch]

If you're in Europe, you'll have the option to buy an even bigger, more expensive, but less crazy God of War III box than the "Ultimate Trilogy Edition." An Amazon.fr listing for a God of War III PS3 bundle has been spotted, complete with very believable image. According to Amazon, it'll be available March 17 for €349.95 (roughly $490) and will include the game and a 250GB PS3.

A similar bundle will also be released for Heavy Rain on February 24 for the same price, according to Amazon France -- and wouldn't you know, the bundle box image is classier than the North American game box. There's also a supposed MAG bundle due out January 29, but Amazon just shows the bundle as a regular 250GB PS3 and a copy of MAG.

[Via Kotaku; thanks francisco dang!]

Konami is looking to release a pair of new Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker bundles in Japan. There will be two options: an expensive bundle featuring a custom PSP-3000 emblazoned with skulls, a copy of the game, a carrying case and a cleaning cloth -- all together costing 26,980 yen ($296). Then there's an even more expensive bundle that features everything in the first bundle, but also tosses in a custom strap, an original PSP stand, some dog tags, and a few other unrevealed items. The latter package (only 1,974 of which are being produced) will be available exclusively through the KonamiStyle website for 36,980 yen ($405). You'll be able to grab either (or both, if you're Richie Rich), when the game releases on March 18.

There hasn't been mention of any kind of custom bundle for the U.S., but considering past bundles, we'd say it's a safe bet to go ahead and assume one is coming our way. Commence Operation Finger Cross ... now!

Source - 1UP
Source - Image of cheaper bundle at Kotaku