Ever wanted great games for your PS3 at rock bottom prices? Japan certainly does. A Japanese online retailer recently posted listings for the first set of titles that'll fall under the PlayStation 3 budget lineup for Japan, known as "PlayStation 3 the Best." More on this interesting development after the jump!

With another month (and 20+ days) to go before Europe receives its own PS3s, we'll be announcing another game expected to complement the region's growing launch list. Atari Europe has announced that Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight (aka Gundam: Crossfire) will be featured as a PS3 launch title this coming March.

Published by Namco Bandai Games Europe and distributed by Atari, this Europe port of the Kidou Senshi Gundam franchise allows gamers to experience the now-famous struggle between the Earth Federation Forces and the Principality of Zion, as seen in Yoshiyuki Tomiyo's 1979 TV series.

And of course, it goes without saying the game will be featuring some of the more famous mobile suits many a fan have grown to love, whether it be the infamous Zaku-II, or the now-iconic RX-78 Gundam.

The PS3 was indeed a gamble, not just for Sony but for the developers as well. Whether you like the console or not, there is no denying that the PS3 is paving the way for the real next generation. However, some of its supporters are now at the edge of their seats, with fingers crossed, praying to their gods for profits.

One such example is Namco Bandai. Not to say that they are regretting the decision, can you blame the company if they desperately need to sell half a million copies for each game? "We have to sell at least 500,000 copies per title worldwide to make a profit on PlayStation 3 games," revealed company president Takeo Takasu. Accordingly, the money they had spent for graphics alone totalled 1 billion Yen (US$ 8.6 million).

Also, Takasu expressed concerns whether Sony was able to deliver the promised 400,000 units or not. Analysts are saying that the company was only able to provide around 150,000 units last week. Rocket science is not a pre-requisite for anyone to conclude that console shortages mean lower software sales.

Namco Bandai actually produced two titles for the PS3 namely Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam.

Alright folks, you've seen the mecha roster, we know how heavy, how tall, and what color (even the material they're going to be made from!) the mech models for Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire are going to be. We know what weapons they'll be bringing, how fast they do a 180-degree turn, how far their radars can sense, and even how much power their thrusters can give. We also know that the this game is a PS3 launch title and that it would all be about the never-ending struggle between the Earth Federation Forces and the Principality of Zion...

But then again... some of us just can't take in so much information, so here's some pretty pictures instead taken from Namco Bandai's game.

Yup, more than 30 screenshots from the game, as well as more than 20 character mecha art which should give most Gundam fans enough eyecandy until they collapse from the sugar rush. Mmm... gotta love that alloy.

Enjoy!

Truckload of screens and art await after the Jump!

A lots of screenshots and videos have already been prepping you guys for Gundam: Crossfire when it launches for the PS3, and we gotta admit we enjoyed the trailers for this latest installment of the Kidou Senshi Gundam franchise. But barring the hardcore fanboys of the Gundam series (this author is guilty of being one), most of us don't have any real ideas on what these Mobile Suits will be bringing to the game's multiplayer table.

So, with that in mind, we're providing you with a who's-who of the game's MS, with matching profiles, stats, famous pilots, and series behind each MS. This list is still missing some of the more famous MS seen in the game, such as the Kampher, or even the might RX-78-2 Gundam (AKA "White B*****d" to Zion), so we'll let you know once their data's been picked up.

RGM-79 GM ("Jim")
The bread and butter of the Federation forces, the GM was built as a mass-production model of the famous RX-78-2 Gundam. Being a low-cost model, it doesn't have the Gundam's Luna-Titanium armor, core-fighter system, extra beam sabre or beam rifle. But while it's only outfitted with a beam pistol, a beam sabre, and vulcans, the GM's superior agility and numbers helped the Federation win the One-year war against Zion. Also the butt of a lot of Start Trek "red shirt" reference jokes due to it being a cannon-fodder MS.
Tech Specs:
Head Height: 18.0 meters
Base Weight: 41.2 tons
Full Weight: 58.8 tons
Generator: 1250 kW
Thrusters: 55,500 kg
180° Turn: 1.6 seconds
Sensor Radius: 6000 meters
Armor: Titanium Alloy
Armament: 60mm Vulcan gun x 2, Beam Saber, Beam Spray Gun

On to the Mobile Suit roster after this jump!

We've seen the Federation's assault on Zion's jungle base. The bitter rivals are both relentless, but when mechs start dropping one by one, it doesn't take a genius to figure out who emerged victorious in the battle.

Namco Bandai has released yet another Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire gameplay video that shows the grim result of gun and sword combat. Early in the video, the enemy threat seems to be something which can easily be thwarted. But boy oh boy, there's just no telling when these Federation mechs start a full assault. What this tells us is that strategy and a little bit of stealth could go a long way. Deviate from a plan and you'd find your energy reading drop to that dreaded critical point, rendering you incapable of defending your base.

We're pretty sure, you don't want to hear "Commander destroyed, mission failed" just five minutes into the game, don't you?

Here are some new screenshots from Namco Bandai's PS3 offering, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire. This time around, you will be seeing how the versus mode looks like. The split screen system enables you to see what your opponent is doing, just as much as he sees where you're heading. So the trick there really is to employ smart strategy to be two steps ahead of the enemy.

In this Gundam title, there are two existing factions: the Earth Federation Forces (E. F. F.) and The Principality of Zeon. There will be over 30 different types of Mobile Suits from both factions, all at your disposal. But of course, you have to be able to earn them, as the more powerful types will be accessible to you only as you complete a variety of missions.

Get your gears going, 'cause it's heading out to Japan in just a matter of days. November 11th, in fact. As for the U. S. release, the date to mark red on your calendars is November 17th. It has yet to be announced when it will be available in Europe.

  

Gundam and mech fans are going to have a field day once the next-gen member of the Gundam line of games finally makes its entry into the gaming world via and with the PS3 this November. Two more long weeks to go!

Anyway, this PS3 launch title, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire (a.k.a. Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In Sight in Asia), will have the Earth Federation Forces up again the Principality of Zion once again, and it's up to the pilots of either side to bring home the victory to their respective colonies. The story will be set in the first Gundam Era, and the EEF will have various Gundam models on its side, while the Zeon will have Zakus and Gelgoogs ready for deployment.

Charge up those beam sabers and ready the beam rifles since it's going to be another tight space battle for everyone, and as we wait and get ready for war, here's some screenshots to inspect for now.

More screenshots after the jump!

There is beauty in violence. Agree? Wait, wait, before all hell breaks loose and the anti-violence-in-gaming communities get on our backs, let us explain.

See when you have mechas, explosions, and war zones rendered with top-notch graphics and stunning visuals -- that's beautiful. It's almost like appreciating modern futuristic art...but in motion. But before we get to the whole video games as art debate, all we're really trying to say here is that Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire is one of the games that exemplify this beauty in violence, what with the weather effects and the beautifully-rendered visuals...all combined with the power of the PS3.

You know what, before we get into trouble, we'll just stop talking and let you guys check out this 'beauty' that we're gushing about. Click on the download link below and you'll get two new gameplay vids of MSG Crossfire running on the equally beautiful PS3. Watch the vids and let us know what you think, alright?

Download: [Mobile Suit Gundam Crossfire PS3 videos]

Again, more of the kindness of strangers who read the magazines for us. And if EGM can review Wii launch titles, why can't Famitsu review PS3 launch titles? And let's thank the strangers, more specifically wotter of E-mpire Forums and Jonnyram of NeoGAF, who revealed what Famitsu thought of each launch title:

• Miyazato Golf Club = 7, 7, 7, 7
• Genji: Days of the Blade = 7, 7, 7, 8
• Resistance: Fall of Man = 9, 8, 8, 8
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire = 8, 8, 8, 8
• Riiiiidge Racer 7 = 9, 9, 9, 9

Here's what Famitsu had to say about each title (from wotter):

• Sega Golf
• Good tempo
• You can't accurately determine where your shot will fall
• Doesn't really look next-generation
• Genji
• Camera sucks, but looks great
• Challenging for beginners
• Good amount of content
• Good controls

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