Multiple sources have pointed to a 120GB version of the PlayStation 3 replacing the 80GB model, rumored to be extinct at retail soon. According to a report from GameDaily, however, that talk may be premature. The outlet writes that it has a source close to Sony indicating that the company is still working on its product strategy, that "nothing is final yet."

The report goes on to mention that Sony may be looking at differentiating the two versions of the PS3 by including 160GB worth of storage and packing in a DualShock 3 controller. If accurate, it would appear that the successor to the top-tier version of the console isn't arriving any time soon.

Ugh. Someone, please, stop the PlayStation 3 SKU ride. We want to get off.

Source: Sony Mulling Over PS3 SKU Strategy [GameDaily]

2008's best-named title is now also home to 2008's most explosive trailer. In the literal sense, not the PR-speak sense. The whole thing, naught but explosions and fire! The highlight of which is an exploding, thrown gas tank, which as a co-op move looks pretty great (provided they mix it up - you don't tend to run into that many gas tanks in your daily travels).

To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: SSBB Out, Me Bizzy, Head Explodes, Sleepy Time

I had my first guitar lesson last night, which actually only lasted about 15 minutes because I let me son have most of my lesson as well. After watching him learn to hold his guitar by singing Wheels on the Bus, and place his fingers correctly on his guitar, it was my turn. Fortunately, there were no Wheels on the Bus singalongs involved. I am now the master of the D string. Woot!

It's funny, we were practicing together tonight and Tristan kept jumping the gun on when he should strum while following a really basic song. Finally I stopped him, gently holding his hands against the strings.

Do you remember Guitar Hero?
Yes
What happens when you play the note too soon or too late?
It plunks.
Right. That's like this, you have to play it at the right time. That's called rhythm.

He totally got it. Who says games aren't good for something?

What you missed:
Gamertags, Friend Codes, PSN and Steam IDs Hit Kotaku
Parappa Team Creates Major Minor's Majestic March
Dreams Of Halo Wars PC, Shot Down, Trampled, Exploded
How Microsoft Created The Biggest Game Launch Of All Time
Mercenaries 2 Officially Delayed By EA
PlayStation 3 Development Still Problematic For EA
Rock Band Confirmed For Wii And Q2 European Release

Electronic Arts confirmed today that gamers who currently find themselves without a copy of Rock Band, due to either console allegiance or geography, finally have hope. The European market is scheduled to get the game in some form within the first quarter of EA's financial year, which translates to an April to June 2008 time frame. Execs said that the title would ship in the region "across all SKUs."

In addition to the European release of both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, a Wii version of Rock Band has been finally confirmed. While such a product has been discussed by EA and Harmonix in the past, official word that it should ship this year hadn't yet come.

Look at the little PSP go! He's all like "I think I can! I think I can! I think I can reach the number one spot in weekly Media Create hardware sales charts again!" Makes you misty-eyed, doesn't it? Too bad his dreams are about to be crushed by the Wii next week, a console that will surely chart higher than third on Super Smash Bros. Brawl sales. Everyone else on the list is pretty much phoning it in this week, with numbers down across the board week-to-week.

• Nintendo DS Lite - 79,370
• PSP - 77,933
• Wii - 74,544
• PlayStation 3 - 34,363
• PlayStation 2 - 11,364
• Xbox 360 - 4,296

Looking at the full Media Create software sale chart, we see one tragedy. Exit DS was nothing short of a bomb for Taito, debuting at #41. Ouch!

Media Create Weekly Sales

The release of Examu's arcade fighter Arcana Heart on North American shores may not get you hot and bothered, but this is pure girl on girl 2D fighting action we're talking about, kids. Every anime girl archetype you can muster up is covered, from pink-haired teens in school girl outfits to green-haired teens in school girl outfits. Cute ninja girl, cat-eared lass, the odd maiden and vampire girl—they're all in here. And for a budget price of $30? You really can't go wrong.

Atlus is bringing it out of Japan on April 8, so dust off your PlayStation 2s and Hori arcade sticks.

Arcana Heart Official Site [Atlus]

Ever wanted to play the Game & Watch game Octopus on your cell phone? Probably not, but at least one Japanese electronics alchemist has, resulting in this fantastic cellphone mod that not only works as a phone, but as a classic LCD diversion as well. Not only fun and functional, the device folds up nicely and triples as a total pussy magnet. Chicks absolutely dig Game & Watch enthusiasts. Look it up.

Nintendo Game & Watch Modded Into Cellphone (Verdict: WANT) [Gizmodo]

Japanese gamers who are still on the fence about a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 purchase got some good news today, as Capcom is bringing Devil May Cry 4 to electronic dartboards. Specifically, Epoch's PC-Darts platform, which hooks up to Windows boxes via a USB connection. How will it play? Just like regular darts, I suppose, but there will be fantastic Devil May Cry 4 wallpapers and sound effects to enhance the experience. At only 31,290 yen (about $290 USD) I don't know how any Capcom fan could pass this one up.

Capcom Releases DMC4 Downloads For PC-Darts [Game Watch]

Electronic Arts announced its quarterly earnings today, officially delaying Mercenaries 2: World In Flames to fiscal year 2009. The game was rumored to have been pushed back from its February release date to August based on retailer listings, with EA officially now providing an April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 shipping window for the Pandemic Studios shooter. EA execs did not clarify a more specific date in today's quarterly earnings conference call.

The company provided the same window of release for Battlefield: Bad Company, a Digital Illusions co-op shooter originally slated for a 2007 release. We'll, of course, let you know when we hear more solid release dates for these two shoot-fests.

Hey, is that Mario Kart Wii final box art? Maybe! It seems to have all of its facts straight, now that the Mario Kart Wii title has dropped its "tentative" moniker and that the ESRB has given it an "E" rating. The logo is certainly different than the one shown in Nintendo's own press room, but we're willing to let that slide in our evaluation of box art authenticity. Then again, it's box art, so who ultimately cares at this point if it's legit? Kidding, of course, as box art is serious business.

We're certainly down with the rumored look and feel, but that packaging to accomodate a Wii Wheel that we don't really want or need seems a bit excessive.

Fake or True? [Nintenerds]

I just found out that Kotaku has been nominated for a 2008 Bloggie for best topical weblog. Previous winners include BookSlut, PostSecret and The Leaky Cauldron. Not only has a gaming site never been nominated in this category, I believe this is the first time that a gaming site has been nominated for any Bloggie. Kinda cool.

If you're interested in voting for us hit up the site by tonight, when voting closes. I probably should have mentioned this before. And yes, we're up against cute cats.

Bloggies

In its sixth week on Japanese store shelves, Wii Fit retains the honor of being the number one selling title in the nation one more time. New releases starting to creep out, yet nothing can knock the Wii balance board off its feet, despite respectable attempts from a few newcomers. With Super Smash Bros. Brawl now on sale in its homeland, we expect next week to tell a different story.

The best selling games for the week of January 21 to 27 in Japan, courtesy of Media Create, are below.

01. Wii Fit (Wii) - 89,000 / 1,283,000
02. World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (PSP) - 77,000 / NEW
03. Lucky * Star (PS2) - 72,000 / NEW
04. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS) - 50,000 / 140,000
05. Wii Sports (Wii) - 26,000 / 2,714,000
06. Mario Party DS (DS) - 22,000 / 1,581,000
07. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP) - 21,000 / 1,555,000
08. Dorabase: Doraemon Chou Yakyuu Gaiden (DS) - 20,000 / 138,000
09. Yggdra Union (PSP) - 17,000 / NEW
10. Professor Layton and the Devil's Box (DS) - 15,000 / 746,000