I almost got a Gibson Les Paul several years ago. But then I tried an SG and, well, for my role as the lead guitarist in that band back then, the SG with its double cutaway design was just better suited for me. I love it to death.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that I still intend to get a Les Paul sometime. I might be able to tide myself over when Guitar Hero III lands on the Wii in a few months, as the guitars are slated to be based on the Les Paul. IGN Gear got a chance to check out the current build of the game for the Xbox 360, and while the guitar shown was used for the 360 version, a similar one will likely be used for the Wii.

Head on over to IGN to read more about the guitar controller.

IGN Gear

You know, I don’t really see how something like this is actually efficient in storing anything, but hey, it looks cool. I don’t know that I’d necessarily want to build something of this magnitude when it can’t really fit a TV, or when that 1×4 block doesn’t really seem to be useful beyond the real estate at the base, but maybe a smaller version should be a nice shelf for the wall. You know, for little things.

Siliconera

Most of the newer systems saw an increase this week, while the GameCube and all the handhelds that nobody seems to want anymore saw drops. Surprisingly, the DS Phat saw quite a jump this week over the pathetic numbers it usually posts.

• DSL: 127,461 (+16,248)
  
• Wii: 58,644 (+6,451)
• PSP: 26,097 (-1,408)
• PS2: 11,311 (+430)
• PS3: 9,627 (+978)
• Xbox360: 2,044 (+18)
• GBM: 407 (-21)
  
• GBASP: 288 (-42)
• GC: 256 (-20)
• DS: 81 (+55)
• GBA: 17 (-16)

Media Crate

Yep. I think I’m picking this up.

‘Nother one after the break.

IGN Wii

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For those of you who bought the portable screen for the Nintendo GameCube from JoyTech, it looks like Pega HK will be the first to bring you the same thing for the Wii. Only this time, you’ll be carrying a much more appealing console.

Pega HK will be releasing the 7″ and 8.5″ screens for the Wii, shown below, which feature adjustable volume, color contrast, and adjustable viewing angle.

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GameRush

Looks like CNN Money was able to publish that entire Fortune 500 feature on the Wii online. It’s really in depth and if you’re into business strategy and industry aspects as much as I am, it’s a really good read. Heck, even if you’re not, I suggest you skim it anyway and see if you can find something that interests you. Excerpt and link below.

“At the Nintendo World store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center, shipments arrive nightly. In the wee hours customers begin lining up around the block. Doors open at nine, and a few hours later the consoles are gone. In the world’s gadget epicenter, Tokyo’s Akihabara district, shopkeepers complain about the lack of inventory. Wii displays are covered with SOLD OUT signs, while piles of PlayStation3 boxes carry a different message: 5 percent OFF. Even the Nintendo of America company store near Seattle sees lines of employees, visitors and contractors.”

CNN Money

Activision recently spoke in their quarterly conference call that the reason why third parties have often failed to find success on Nintendo platforms was often two-fold. Clearly, what’s kept them away in recent years but causing them all the come back to Nintendo by the dozens is the fact that Nintendo consoles haven’t sold too well the last couple of generations. Simple math says less systems out there means less people to buy your games.

In addition, third parties have always had trouble competing with Nintendo products. While most of the focus was on the PlayStation brand in the last decade, the fact that the Wii and DS are selling like hotcakes means those developers can put more money into making games for Nintendo platforms, and in turn they can focus on making high quality games. In fact, Activision thinks it’s in a position to take Nintendo’s software titles head on.

“For a few generations, Nintendo software was better than third-party software. When you look at where we are today…we think we’re actually in the best position and probably even in a better position than the first-party to leverage our development dollars….We’re reinvesting against the Nintendo platform in a way that in the last cycle we really did not….There probably is no better product to take advantage of the capabilities of the Wii than Guitar Hero.”

On a side note, Activision in the same conference call categorized Harmonix’s Rock Band game to be a Guitar Hero imitator. I’ll let you think that one over.

Next-Generation

Of course, that’s an average - but it says a lot. If you take into consideration the total number of employees under a company and the total revenues the company takes in over a year’s time, it’s kind of a measurement as to a company’s efficiency. Think about it, when a smaller company can do more, it’s the kind of story that makes you think you can do anything.

Last year, Microsoft averaged about $624,000 of generated revenue per employee. Not bad. Google? They averaged about $994,000 for every employee. Close to a million. Now, we take a look at Nintendo who last year finally saw the Nintendo DS handheld enjoy a full year of red hot success and the launch of their anticipated Wii console. The company took in about $2.5 million per Nintendo employee.

What would you do with $2.5 million? :P

GameDaily

I love Toys ‘R’ Us. They gave me my Wii and a pair of Game Boy micros, all in one week for only $310.

I’m not nearly the only one who turns to Toys ‘R’ Us for a Wii however. The chain restocked its website’s warehouse with a full supply of Wii consoles yesterday, ready to sell them to customers. The Wii units would be unattached to any bundles, and would sell at the requested $249. They’re scheduled to ship within 2-3 days, too - assuming you got one.

The entire supply sold out within an hour. So much for those increased supplies helping the shortages starting in April, huh?

Punch Jump

Tomy and D3Publisher have seemingly announced the first Naruto RPG to ever hit North America. Naruto: Path of the Ninja will be released for the Nintendo DS this fall, and will offer fans a completely new type of gameplay for the series. You’ll be able to choose your character from a selection of six different ones as you explore the Village Hidden in the Leaves and encounter enemies and bosses to test your special powers on while enjoying a new time-based combat system.

Hit the link below to check out some screens of the new game.

IGN DS