Singapore has first access to an Item World Command Attack upgrade which inserts a Scorekeeper in the hub world and an online ranking mode into Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice. Players can compete in the Item World Command Attack challenge, which isn’t a direct battle of might. This event counts every move you make and measures your efficiency at completing the item world.

You can select one of three difficulty levels: beginner, intermediate, or advanced then enter a special version of the item world. This world does not have automatically accessible gates to the next floor. Randomly placed exits would defeat the purpose since blind luck could put a gate right next to one player and far away for another. You must meet specific requirements to make a gate appear and all gates are under control of an enemy gate keeper. Alternatively, you can just beat every enemy instead of dashing to the gate. Once ten floors are completed you get an assessment and a ranking.

Players that get a high score in the Item World Command Attack challenge get to use the Angel Soldier, an additional character, as a reward. Angel Soldiers are proficient with bows and staffs. Their native evilty is Angelic Protection and it reduces non-elemental damage to a nearby ally by half. This class can also learn spells like heal, fire, ice, and wind.

The patch costs $6.19 SGD ($4.30) in Singapore. Solo cameo characters are sold for around $2.49 SGD ($1.75 ) in the region. NIS America has not announced if they will release this patch in North America, but chances are we’ll see it soon.

Images courtesy of Nippon Ichi.

This contest is being run internationally. A similar announcement just popped up in Japan without naming the game. Right now the game is considered an unknown Sonic title for the Wii there. Unless Sega has two Wii Sonic games in development we know what the unnamed game is.

Images courtesy of Sega.

Konami hasn’t said much about Gradius ReBirth, but it’s one of next week’s three WiiWare titles in Japan. Midnight Bowling (aka Hamaru Bowling) and Strongest Silver Star Reversi are the other two sold for 1,000 Wii Points ($10) and 500 Wii Points ($5) respectively. The sparse description makes it sound like Gradius ReBirth is, in fact, Gradius with a fresh coat of paint and some mysterious Nintendo Wi-Fi connective feature. I presume this will be used for online leader boards. Gradius ReBirth supports four control schemes: a lone remote, a remote/nunchuck combo, the classic controller, and a Gamecube pad. While we’re digging around for more information before Gradius ReBirth debuts on September 2nd check out some of more screenshots.

Images courtesy of Konami.

The only reason you might want to import is for the pre-order bonus. Reserve Chrono Trigger and you get a two track Chrono Trigger Orchestra: Extra Soundtracks audio CD. The first track is Chrono Trigger: Orchestra Version. The second song is Chrono Trigger -Medley- Orchestra version, a compilation of: a Premonition, Guardia Millennial Fair, Wind Scene Frog's Theme, Magus Battle, Epilogue - To Good Friends, and To Far a Way Time. As of this writing this bonus is only for Japan and Square Enix has not announced if the re-release of Chrono Trigger will have a similar or any pre-order bonus in other regions.

Images courtesy of Square Enix.

Marvelous will release Avalon Code in Japan on October 16 and Xseed will publish the game in North America early next year. 

Images courtesy of Marvelous.

Namco Bandai has a similar strategy with the release of Gundam Musou 2, but they’re announcing all of the versions from the start. Gundam Musou 2 will be a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2 game when it comes out on December 4 in Japan. Gundam Musou Special must have sold decently for Namco Bandai to consider this three pronged strategy, but this doesn’t guarantee Namco Bandai will release the PS2 version of Gundam Musou 2 outside of Japan. As of now there are no plans for Namco Bandai or Koei to publish Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Special in any other region.

Images courtesy of Namco Bandai.

Images courtesy of Square Enix.

Since Secret of Mana is being released as a Virtual Console game in Japan it should get similar treatment in North America. Remember, Kings Knight and ActRaiser showed up in North America shortly after they were released in Japan. Before that happens, Tantei Jinguuji Saburo: Yokohama Harbor Serial Murder Case will be the lone Virtual Console game to kick off September’s schedule.

Here's the complete schedule: 

Famicom (500 Wii Points / $5)

Tantei Jinguuji Saburo: Yokohama Harbor Serial Murder Case*

Wagan Land

Super Famicom (800 Wii Points / $8)

Secret of Mana

Space Invaders: The Original Game

Nintendo 64 (1.000 Wii Points / $10)

Mario Golf 64

Mega Drive (700 Wii Points / $7)

Sorcerian

Forgotten Worlds (600)

Last Battle (aka Fist of the North Star)

PC Engine (600 Wii Points / $6)  

The Ninja Warriors

Super Dodge Ball (aka Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball Bu: PC Bangaihen)

Final Blaster

Mizubaku Daibouken

Images courtesy of Square Enix.

Earlier today Microsoft announced the co-published Ninja Gaiden II sold one million copies worldwide. According to the current stock price one copy of Ninja Gaiden II bought at MSRP is equivalent to around seven shares of Tecmo stock.

Images courtesy of Tecmo.

Sony Computer Entertainment Asia announced their plan to get PlayStation 3 users into the PlayStation Home beta. One of them is a quick way way to access to all of those virtual Namco arcade machines. If you spend $60 HKD ($7.70) or $12 SGD ($8.50) in a single transaction during August 29 to September 12 you will automatically be included into the PlayStation Home Closed Beta Test. So, if you buy a PlayStation Network game like Bionic Commando: Rearmed or the Last Guy in the next two weeks you get access to PlayStation home this fall. Access information to PlayStation Home will be sent through e-mail.

This could be a path for adventurous gamers in other regions to get access to PlayStation Home too. If you want to try your luck you need to sign up for a PlayStation Network account in Hong Kong or Singapore, purchase PlayStation store credit for the region, and buy a game. While this should work it’s not guaranteed to work for other regions.

Sony Computer Entertainment Asia will also provide free access to PlayStation Home with the help of local newspapers, magazines, and an online survey for the first 100 who PS3 owners living in Hong Kong or Singapore to fill it out.

Images courtesy of Sony.