Your weekly update of GBA news and screens.

Last week was a bit late because of some minor problems, this week's edition of Advance Weekly is a tad late because I wasn't around for two days myself. Nonetheless, you're about to read yet another edition of Advance Weekly...

First a small hardware section since we haven't seen this for a while. Maybe you can remember a special (limited) edition of the GBA SP: the 'Game Boy Advance SP Gold', which was only available in Japanese Toys'R'Us stores. Nintendo of Australia has announced that this special edition will be available 'down under' pretty soon aswell. No price is set yet, but the 'poser-SP' as some already called it is scheduled for March 2004.

Last week, Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green were released in Japan. Within two days, Nintendo was able to sell over 500.000 copies in the land of the rising sun. While sales are decreasing already (which is quite normal), both games were good for selling over 1.000.000 copies combined. If that's still not enough for you, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire reached a new level in salesfigures aswell. At the moment I'm writing this, the counter is somewhere at 5.000.878 copies sold in Japan alone. It looks like the Pokémon hype is far from over.

On to the GBA games themselves. First of all, I've got some information about a nice new game (including screenshots and a gameplay movie). However, a few days after we received the information and other assets, the developer already claimed the game as 'cancelled'. I'm talking about a title which might sound familiar to XBox-gamers: Tork. Tork is a caveboy using his bolas to overcome enemies as he travels through time to rescue his father and stop the evil that invaded his village. Featuring three different game play modes (isometric levels, 3D racing and Pandemonium-styled towers) and three different transformations Tork can undergo (a Yeti, an armadillo and a squirrel), the game started to sound nice. Looking at the screenshots only strenghtened these feelings, while watching a gameplay-movie almost made me cry of happiness. As cruel as it may seem, a publisher (we weren't given a name) abandoned the game. Let's hope someone else might pick up this title.

Next up: Megaman Battle Network 4: Red Sun and Blue Moon (2 distinct versions). Megaman Battle Network 4 sees the introduction of a new "Soul Unison" system � sometimes during battle Megaman's soul will "synch up" with those of his opponents. When this happens, Megaman will be able to transform and use the special abilities of these souls during battle. Players must be careful though, as there are forces of good and evil pulling at them throughout the game. In contrast to the "Soul Unison" system, there is a "Dark Soul" system in place. At times when Megaman is experiencing difficulties, a powerful and attractive "Dark Chip" will appear to tempt him. The more times these chips are used, the more Megaman's Net-Navi will become affected by evil with damaging consequences, including the inability to perform vital "Soul Unisons".

There are some distinct features for the 'Red Sun' and the 'Blue Moon' versions. First of all, both games will feature a different storyline throughout the game. Secondly, each version will have a set of 6 souls (yes, there are 12 souls in total). And finally, both games will features enemies and battle chips unique to that version. Luckily for the Megaman Battle Network fans that they can use the Game Link cable to overcome all of these three (and also to abttle your friends of course).

Ok, quiz time... From which popular tv-series do these quotes come from? "Jeepers!", "Zoinks!" and "Yikes!"... That one shouldn't be too hard, it's Scooby Doo! The Mystery Inc gang returns for an eerie new game based on the all-new live action movie Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed (also the name of the new GBA game). When a pair of ghouls humiliate the gang and ruin the opening ceremony for Coolsville's Coolsonian Criminology Museum, the gang is shaken. With their reputations on the line, it's up to you to help Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Fred, and Daphne track down the spooky monster making criminals from their past. Gather clues, set traps, use disguises and avoid some of the scariest monsters from the past.

Time for some uncertainty. During the last week several names of possible GBA titles flew by. First of all there's Prince of Persia: Sands of Time 2. According to IGN, Ubi Soft's report on its financial results 'strongly suggests that the company has already started development of a sequal'. Well, it would make sense...

The second title mentioned this week, came from EBGames. EBGames has listed a new Dragonball Z game: Dragonball Z Super Sonic, which is supposed to be in development at the Atari studios. No info yet, except that the game is listed as an RPG and is scheduled for a US-release on June 29, 2004. Atari did mention 5 new DBZ games last week (without mentioning any titles), so there's a pretty big chance this game is also not a rumour. Finally, there's a joint venture between EA and Marvel going on. Electronic Arts and Marvel Enterprises announced today that they have entered into an agreement, whereby EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Super Heroes from the Marvel Universe against a new, original set of EA heroes. The license grants EA the rights to develop game titles for all current and next generation videogame consoles, handheld platforms and PCs. I smell a EA vs Marvel coming up...

Just like in every edition, I'll end with a small list of screenshots:

• Kirby: Labyrinth of the Mirror (movies)
• Megaman Battle Network 4 (info, screens)
• Metroid: Zero Mission (US commercial)
• Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed (info, screens)
• Tork (info, screens, movie)

And that was really everything for this time. Comments (especially positive ones) are always welcome, so send them along.

Dennis Stam (aka Blackbird on the boards)

[email protected].