We admit that we have an obsession with Little Big Planet, bordering on addiction. It's something with which we're trying our best to cope, a therapy helped somewhat by Media Molecule co-founder and technical guru David Smith. We like to think of his recent interview with Eurogamer as a kind of patch, letting information seep into our bloodstreams, taking the edge off as we pine for the game's October release.

Among the number of topics discussed, Smith spoke out in support of the game's beta testing, something he noted as being "in progress," and -- contrary to earlier reports -- that "it should gradually grow to include more people." In addition, with the recent addition of Trophies, he stated that the team is "having a lot of fun working out what trophies most fit" Little Big Planet, teasing that one will involve "making your sackperson be thrown at some huge velocity." Check out the full interview for more words strung together about Little Big Planet. We'll be quietly twitching in the corner.

Confirming earlier rumors, Konami is giving the Elebits series another go, this time transplanting the game's charming puzzle solving to the Nintendo DS. According to IGN, Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero will once again see players interacting with the titular and tiny electric beings, coaxing them into overcoming all manner of obstacles and challenges. Obviously. What else would you do with them?

Though little is known about the game, it's expected to feature head-to-head competition through Nintendo's Wi-Fi connection, as well as local four-player battles. Look for it on shelves this Fall -- though it might be called "Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero" if you're in Europe.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Video game fans are known to complain about pre-game hype, but, if you would indulge us, we'd like to invite you, Rod Serling-like, to enter into a world where there is no hype: It's called WiiWare. And in this bizarre alternate dimension, games are released with no fanfare and very little information about their actual contents. Take, for instance, today's release:

• Magnetica Twist (Nintendo, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): It sounds quite a bit like the marble-matching gameplay of the DS Magnetica, but with a Mii of your choice manning the marble-blasting cannon. ... So wait, they're allowed to use Miis in games? News to us. You'll have to decide for yourself if this innovative new Mii-in-game technology is worth $10.

For most of our younger readers, school's no longer in session in observation of the midsummer months -- though we're certain that our studious readers won't allow their minds become dull as rusty butter knives during their valuable vacation time. That's why we turn your attention to a fascinating article written by PS3 Fanboy's newest columnist, Ph.D candidate and gaming enthusiast Kylie Prymus, who examines the effect that the Escher-esque Echochrome can have on our perception of our own three-dimensional world.

Prymus posits that Echochrome's unique, manipulatable 2D perspective is not only jarring when compared to the robust 3D engines we've become accustomed to seeing in most games, but it also points out the "frailty of our own perceptual apparatus", which is fundamentally two-dimensional. Those who still possess unblown minds might want to give the article a read -- if only to give you some Hawking-quality discussion material with which to impress your gaming cohorts.

With E3 just around the corner, we've begun to brace ourselves for the deluge of new game announcements that always accompany the annual event, the latest of which has come from Nintendo. This morning the company announced a trio of new titles set to be shown during next month's conference, including Wario Land: Shake It! for the Wii, as well as Kirby Super Star Ultra and Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, both for the company's touchable portable.

As previously announced for both Japan and Europe, Nintendo describes Wario Land: Shake It! as a "classic side-scroller," and notes that the game will have players controlling Mario's portly nemesis with the Wii remote turned sideways on September 25. Kirby Super Star Ultra, on the other hand, will re-imagine the SNES classic platformer starring everyone's favorite perpetually-hungry cream puff when it debuts four days later on September 29. Finally, Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir brings Big Fish Games' line of casual PC puzzlers to the DS earlier in the month on September 8. The games join the previously announced Mario Super Sluggers, giving us an early look at what Nintendo will have on tap at the LA Convention Center in a few short weeks.

It'll come as no surprise to fans that the Wii has sort of a dual nature. On the one hand, it's a platform for some of the most imaginative, creative titles to be released on consoles, but, on the other, it's the Statue of Liberty for ports, accepting the tired, the poor and all of the huddled masses freely. This fall, Lady Wiiberty will open her arms once more for Safecracker, a port of the 2006 PC puzzle adventure.

But this is no mere straight port, there are significant changes from its PC counterpart. For example, at $29.99, it will be $20 more expensive than on Steam. Also ... nope, actually that's it.

Each week Jeff Engel and Geoff Brooks contribute Counting Rupees, a column on the business behind gaming:

Apparently, there were not enough word-spreading mouths to begin with, as it only sold 60k copies in its debut month (which includes almost all of May, since it launched May 6^th). Despite what EA's CEO said, this was probably not what EA had hoped for with a game it had collaborated on with the most profitable director in the world. So, what happened?

Media Molecule's Mark Healey has given our friends at PS3 Fanboy quite the news-splosion. In the latest PS Nation podcast, Healey let loose on LittleBigPlanet details, including:

• There's "a whole heap" of levels that come with the game. "They are strung together in the form of a story," said Healey. "A very loose story, but incredibly funny at certain points."
• You can make private levels and give keys to friends. In terms of riskier, user-made content, Healey said there is a post-grievance system involving sending screenshots to the powers that be. He declined further on what that might mean for the sure-fire controversial level, LittleBigPenis.
• Sackboy plushies confirmed! Said SCEA PR Brandon, "It's on the way. Details will be emerging shortly."
• PlayStation Eye support confirmed. "For example," said Heley, "you can wear a cardboard box and put a sticker of yourself there. And presto, you have a little creepy version of yourself walking around in the game. So yes, you can absolutely do that."

The full audio interview can be found in tomorrow's PS Nation podcast, but for now, you can check out a text transcript of the highlights.

Far too often we don't know what the heck we're looking at when we load up the new WiiWare entries for the week, so it's nice to see some familiar names this week. You're sure to remember Block Breaker Deluxe from its appearance on cell phones all over this great land. And Cocoto Fishing Master originally appeared on the PS2. Welcome home, guys, welcome home.

• Block Breaker Deluxe (Gameloft, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): They say: "Prepare for the frenzy of the coolest block-breaker game ever. Block Breaker Deluxe is a reinvention of the classic arcade brick-breaker game with a trendy graphical style, fun atmosphere and an exclusive multiplayer mode. Lively characters and amazing graphics provide distinctive settings of the jet-set nightlife, including a cool bar, dance club, casino and more." We say: If you wanted to pay $8 to play Arkanoid, you should just invent a time machine and go buy it in the Sears bargain bin in 1986.

• Cocoto Fishing Master (Neko Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): They say: "Welcome to the adventures of Cocoto, Fishing Master. Get ready for a completely new experience on Wii. Play the role of Cocoto and travel the world to find five millennial fish. Only they can stop the magic cauldron from overflowing with lava and prevent the world from being destroyed. Thanks to Cocoto Fishing Master for Wii, fishing has never been such fun. Use the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers like a real fishing rod to catch more than 30 different fish." We say: At least it's a buck cheaper than Arkanoids: Urban Nights.

A Kotaku tipster seems to have stumbled upon a casting call for "a character for a new game in the Portal series from Valve Software" on subscribers-only actors resource Breakdown Express. The posting is loaded with character details for the game's "principal antagonist," including his history, demeanor and general outlook on life. The posting even details how the character's psychology changes as the story progresses, hinting at some intriguing story possibilities for the sequel to our top game of 2007.

If you don't mind having such important details spoiled at least seven months before the game is released, follow the read link and, er, read all about it. Or, if you're a voice actor who can handle "dark comedy ... with occasional dramatic moments" starting next month, why not try out for a piece of video game immortality?

First off, let us congratulate you for making it past the headline. We know that it takes a pretty special sort of person to read on in the face of a title like Neopets Puzzle Adventure, but believe us when we say that you will be rewarded for your perseverance.

As you may already know, NPA is the non-Galactrix follow-up to Puzzle Quest: Something Something Warlords by Australian developer Infinite Interactive. And even though the setting may not be our cup of tea, the game itself looks to be equally addictive.

So, let's say you're a company called Infinite Interactive. You're riding on a wave a fanboy love for your brilliant game Puzzle Quest: Forgettable Fantasy Subtitle, and you need two projects to follow it up. How do you do it? Well, you could go with a sci-fi re-imagining of the series, but what else? ... What's that, peanut gallery? Did we hear "a game based on Neopets"? ... No? Well, tough noogies, because that's what you're getting during this year's holiday season on DS, Wii and PC.

You know the scariest thing? We played Neopets Puzzle Adventure at Capcom's Captivate 08 in Las Vegas last week -- and we liked it. Like, a lot. Check back for our hands-on preview later today and understand the full extent of our shame.

If you've got Microsoft Points burning a hole in your pocket, and are left wanting for yet another Xbox Live Arcade puzzler, next Wednesday's release of Roogoo may be just up your alley. Publisher SouthPeak has announced that it will drop the puzzle game onto the service for 800 MS Points ($10), promising all the fun you and up to three other players can have by sliding pegs of different shapes into their appropriate holes ... all while trying to save an alien race.

While the game draws more than a little influence from toys aimed at toddlers, our recent hands-on time with Roogoo still managed to keep us entertained, though you can judge for yourself when the puzzler drops onto XBLA on June 4.

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that six months from now Warlords will be plenty eligible for delisting. Let's just say that deathmatches have come along way since 1980. But if you choose to respectfully disagree, you can pledge your feeble support to give this Atari classic a permanent home in the XBLA catalog by plunking down a five-spot (400 Microsoft Points). Just remember, some games are better left to memory -- and paddle controllers!

As for Buku Sudoku? Well, there's a reason this is the "first and only" Sudoku game on XBLA. Leave the number crunching to the pencil and paper, and go shoot some more hookers.

Electronic Arts has finally revealed the fruits of its recent partnership with board game evangelist Hasbro, announcing Hasbro Family Game Night, a collection of classic board games for the Wii and PlayStation 2. Shipping this fall, the game will include a wide assortment of Hasbro properties -- six in all -- from Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, and Connect Four to Sorry! and its more recent incarnation in Sorry! Sliders.

Purists will be happy to know that they'll be able to play the classic games as they remember, though EA notes that new versions will also be included as well for those looking for a different way to play. In addition, the collection will let players build and decorate a virtual game room, earn trophies, and play various mini-games once they tire of sinking each other's battleships. However, even with support for between two and four players, we doubt the compilation will have us tossing out our boxed favorites just yet, though at least with this game we know we'll never have to go searching though couch cushions for missing pieces before we can play.