Qore's first year is coming to an end with Episode 13. The delayed anniversary issue will focus on inFamous, Fight Night Round 4 and the PSPgo. Wait! It looks like the leaked feature has been removed from this upcoming issue. Strange, considering the damage has already been done.

Digital bonuses included with this month's issue include a free Qore t-shirt for PlayStation Home, and a free download of the PSone classic, Spyro (playable on both PS3 and PSP). Episode 13 will be available on the PlayStation Store this Thursday. Check out a trailer after the break.

The ESRB ratings site has once again let slip a couple of upcoming PS1 releases for the US PSN Store. Spyro 2 and Spyro: Year Of The Dragon are both listed as being approved for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. However, judging from the fact that the listings don't include rating summaries, we can assume these weren't added to the database at any point since November 2008.

With titles like WipEout XL, Street Fighter Alpha 2 and 3 -- not to mention European titles on the PEGI like Vib Ribbon and Klonoa -- having been listed for months and, in some cases, over a year, we're not expecting to see these Spyro games soon. If at all. Still, it's nice to know they're already rated and ready to arrive at any time. Possibly.

[Thanks, Darkdrium777]

Found in a smattering of random spots around the web (including a Legend of Spyro fan site, whose existence alone is enough to bring us to our knees) is the poster you see to the right advertising an upcoming film titled, "The Legend of Sypro 3D." Apparently set for release sometime this winter (according to the aforementioned fan site) "The Legend of Spyro 3D" is based on the "hugely popular video game series" -- you know, the series that Activision picked up over Brütal Legend and Ghostbusters -- and is brought to us by the producer of 2006 film "Eragon."

Little is known at this time about the film other than conjecture and as such, we've reached out to Velvet Octopus (the film's financier) for, well, any information at all. We do know one thing for certain: The poster for it looks totally sweet.

Update: Commenter CannabisPrime has pointed out that there is most certainly an IMDB.com page for this movie listing Elijah Wood as the voice of Spyro and Gary Oldman as the voice of Ignitus. So there's that!

There are a lot of games out this week. In fact, it makes other heavy weeks look absolutely empty, and yet, this blogger only has eyes for one game. In the shadow of Castlevania, there is so little room for anything else. Luckily, even with such a big list, there aren't a lot of contenders even trying for the spotlight.

• Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?: Make the Grade
• Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games
• Backyard Football 2009
• Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp
• Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
• Dancing With the Stars: We Dance!
• Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell
• Ener-G: Dance Squad
• Ener-G: Gym Rockets
• Ener-G: Horse Rider
• High School Musical 3: Senior Year
• The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
• Lovely Lisa
• Master of the Monster Lair
• Mechanic Master
• My Baby Girl
• The Naked Brothers Band: The Video Game
• Pass the Pigs
• Smart Girls: Party Game
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
• SpongeBob Squarepants: Nicktoons Globs of Doom
• Tornado
• TouchMaster 2
• Transformers: Animated
• What's Cooking with Jamie Oliver

Oh boy. Not only are there eight new games hitting the Xbox 360 this weeks (and Portal on XBLA, lest we forget), but several of them look to be good games. Heavy hitters like Far Cry 2 and Fable II undoubtedly top the list, but there are some other big names in there as well. Check 'em out:

• Fable 2
• Midnight Club: Los Angeles
• Far Cry 2
• Disney Sing It
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
• The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
• Dance Dance Revolution: Universe 3
• Legendary

Now, the question is are there any "must have" games on this list for you, or are you strategically withholding your funds for something else?

[Via Joystiq]

Spore has been much more than a game over the years - years! -- that we've been talking about it, and it's tough to produce a companion piece in the shadow of such an epic project. From the reception of Spore and the DS crony, it's sadly clear the two were destined to sink or swim together. But Spore Creatures deserves its own time in the sun, despite what you may have heard; for a handheld title, it's certainly ambitious, and the amazing development team at Griptonite Games has done more with less.

Griptonite Games has worn several nametags in the past few years. When last we spoke with them, they were Amaze Entertainment, and their own identity as Griptonite was shelved. Now, Amaze is a part of Foundation 9 and the Griptonite name has been dusted off. In all the chaos of nomenclature, one thing has remained a constant: this little corner of the development world has been responsible for some real gems. We recently sat down with studio head J.C. Connors to discuss Spore Creatures, our Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (GBA) withdrawals, and the unexpected excellence of Disney Friends (yeah, man, Disney Friends).

DS Fanboy: Spore Creatures is an interesting companion to the main title. What can you tell us about the best aspects of the DS game?

J.C. Connors: Hands down, the creature creator. It's one of the coolest features ever seen on the DS.

NEXT >>

If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? Ghostbust ... er ... well, maybe not.

With the Blizzavision merger, a few Sierra titles (like Ghostbusters) may get the axe. When it comes to efficiency, Sierra has been deemed a "non-strategic business unit," which (we're sure we don't have to tell you) is not good. While the recently merged publisher reports that Sierra franchises like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro will be safe, the fate of Ghostbusters is still up in the air.

Offering a bit of reassurance, Sierra claims, "[Ghostbusters] is not cancelled and will not be cancelled." Some words from the people with the money, though, would probably make us feel better.

We have a love-hate relationship with Activision-Blizzard; we love Blizzard and their games, but really rather hate Activision. This confusing dichotomy was further cemented today with the announcement that the company is streamlining their output by holding on to a few key Sierra franchises. Namely, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, Prototype, Ice Age and an as-yet unannounced property, leaving Tim Shafer's Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, WET, and Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena abandoned at the side of the road.

However, there's still hope for these games if another publisher swoops in and picks them up. Actiblizz will also be shaking up its Sierra-based internal development studios, with plans to "realign staffing at Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios" (Prototype and Bourne) and to explore "options regarding Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios" (Wold in Conflict and 50 Cent). For the full skinny check out the Yahoo Business report.

It's sad to see interesting games like Ghostbusters and, particularly, Brutal Legend get poor treatment in favor of dead franchises such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. It's a world gone topsy-turvy, where EA are developing interesting and innovative new IPs and Activision is "streamlining" anything that stands out in favor of safe, boring franchises.

[Via Joystiq]

Hopefully you are prepared (we did give you enough of an advance warning), because today it's time for another amazing Xbox Originals release! Celebratory vanilla cake and party poppers for all! And this week's Xbox Originals are none other than Arc System Works' Guilty Gear X2 #Reloaded and Krome Studios' The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. Each will cost you 1200 Microsoft points and some hard drive gigage, but also a cautionary note. Those who decide to jump into the Xbox Originals mix, be on the look out for "some minor irregularities with audio/video for brief periods" while playing. Hey, we're just saying.

Source - Guilty Gear X2 #Reloaded
Source - The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

Major Nelson announced this morning that Guilty Gear X2 #Reload and The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning will release will become Xbox Original titles on Monday, June 16. As usual with all Xbox Originals, each title will set virtual wallets back 1200 MS space-bucks and offer the same interactivity as the original retail release.

Guilty Gear X2 #Reload, which we reported would see life as an Xbox Original in February, was a critically acclaimed fighting title when it hit retail and includes full Xbox Live support. Fighting game fans should take note as GGX2#R is one of the better titles the genre saw last generation. The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning is a Spyro game. So, make of that what you will. As always we recommend poking around your local game stores and compare prices if either title is something you'd like to add to your gaming collection.

We'd love to meet the person who's choosing what games to re-release as Xbox Originals. Because, to be perfectly honest, we just don't get how they're deciding which games will get the treatment and in what order. Take, for example, this new coupling, arriving on your 360 on June 16:

• Guilty Gear XX #Reload (1200 Microsoft Points, WW except Europe): "Guilty Gear X2 #Reload makes its Xbox® debut, and, for the first-time ever, introduces online play with head-to-head Xbox Live™ support! Play over 20 different combatants and hidden characters, and devastate your opponents with an arsenal of eye-popping, jaw-dropping moves and combos-it's good to beat each other!"

• The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (1200 Microsoft Points, WW except Germany, Japan, and Korea): "Explore the origins of the one and only powerful purple dragon in The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. Uncover Spyro's secret history as you embark on a dangerous quest to face off against the ultimate creation of the Dark Master, Cynder."

Really guys? Spyro and Guilty Gear? We've only got two questions -- well, no, we have dozens, but here are the two we're dying to ask: Just how big does a dartboard have to be to fit all the Xbox games on it? And which blindfolded intern is chucking the darts?

Gamers of the PS1 era might remember Spyro rather fondly in their hearts. The original titles were developed by Insomniac (Ratchet & Clank series, Insomniac) and they featured some impressive visuals, animation and voice acting for its time. Since then, Spyro was picked up by a few other developers and faded into obscurity.

Well, could the fire-breathing dragon be making a comeback? We were surprised (we still are) by the startling transformation the series is experiencing with its upcoming PS3/360 game. Like many, we didn't know that Dawn of the Dragon is the end of a trilogy. Who knew that this supposed children's series could look so inspired?

The production values extend to far beyond the visuals. Elijah Wood, Gary Oldman, Cristina Ricci, Blair Underwood, Mark Hamill, and Wayne Brady all have voice roles in the upcoming game. With such star power, and incredible visuals, it seems like Spyro is ready to return to its PS1-era glory. Let's hope Dawn of the Dragon can make Insomniac Games proud when it releases later this year.

Despite its fanboy following and favorable reviews from critics, the GBA adaptation for The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night will not see a follow-up on single-screen portable, according to Sierra's 2008 Spring Event held over the weekend.

Interestingly, of all the platforms The Eternal Night released on (PS2/Wii/DS/GBA), the GBA version, a 2D platformer/brawler some described as Devil May Cry meets Astro Boy: Omega Factor, has the highest average review score by a large margin. Quality doesn't equal quantity sold, however, especially on a dying console, and we're not surprised that Sierra opted to not complete its The Legend of Spyro trilogy on the GBA.

Dawn of the Dragon for the DS is scheduled to ship in fall 2008. Based on the screenshots released so far, it looks to be another 3D action platformer with occasional sidescrolling stages. Mark Hamill will reportedly lend his voice to one of the game's characters, and Elijah Wood will return to voice Spyro. Christina Ricci will take over Mae Whitman's role as Cynder. We can imagine her disbelief over the replacement : "Her?"

For reference, we gave the DS version of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night a 5.0/10 in our review (GBA version: 9.5).

Few games appeal to adults and kids, but The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon could please both audiences. The younger group gets its beloved purple dragon and familiar platforming. The older crowd will like the depth in gameplay; among other changes, Spyro can now fly at any time.

After recently seeing a demo of the game, I was most impressed by its style and art; adults will find a lot of nuance here, too. Spyro mixes a lot of brightness and darkness in its style, reminding me of Fantasia or other old-guard Disney animations. Grasses leaned back as the wind raked over them, in a saccharine outdoor scene. But in another moment, sharp, muted stones matched the danger from an attacking monster.

Due in Fall, 2008 for 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, and DS, Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon could even interest players who know nothing of the character.

2007 is almost over, and the end of the year brings joyous tidings of List Season. It's the time for taking stock of the last 12 months of gaming, and trying to make sense of it by putting things in numerical order. Join DS Fanboy for our best-ofs, worst-ofs, and other categories-ofs.

We cranked up our review quotient in 2007 (and hope to do even more in 2008!), but we still can't review everything that comes out, to our chagrin. We wouldn't have time for anything else! However, we did try to hit a wide variety of titles this year, from the biggies like Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Phantom Hourglass, to some smaller titles, like WordJong and Duck Amuck. We even worked to review some more off-the-wall things, like the Nintendo Fan Network at Safeco Field -- you know, in case you happened to find yourself in the Northwest with a hankering for a day of DS and baseball.