According to the latest numbers from the Media Create marketing group in Japan, it seems like the same old tune was being played about the top contender in both the software and hardware sales charts. The numbers for the week of May 5 to May 11 revealed that both Nintendo's Mario Kart Wii and Capcom's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G are once again the top charting titles in the country. More details about this in our full article after the jump.

A few juicy details about Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots rolled off the tongue of the game's creator himself in a press conference hosted in Tokyo. Hideo Kojima says that the PlayStation 3's potential "hardware base seller" is done, finito, and ready to go. There's just this collection of a couple more details, however, and they're in store for those who brave the full story. Read: SPOILER ALERT.

Wondering how Electronic Arts' Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 is going along? Executive Producer Chris Corry has just published his first ever blog entry regarding the developments of the strategy game. He was able to divulge some interesting information on the game. Read more after the jump!

If you liked last year's undead-slaying offering Vampire Rain, you'll be thrilled to know that its sequel has been announced and is already in the works. Developer Artoon and publisher AQ Entertainment call this prospect Vampire Rain: Altered Species, and it's looking to deliver more stealth-based action than ever before. See the full article ahead for details.

The PSP's on a pretty solid sales streak in Japan. It's been selling more than any other platform in the region since it landed on top last March 16. Sales seem to have plateaued a bit, but it's still leading strong. Another thing of note: ever since January, the PSP has already sold more then the Wii. More in the full article.

Only at its third week out in Japan, Mario Kart Wii has already sold more than a million copies and is keeping its lead in the region. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G is keeping a close second. What other games have made their way into Japan's software charts? Find out in the full article!

Just when you thought that only North America and Japan will be the only ones receiving the much coveted Metal Gear Solid 4 PlayStation 3 Premium Pack, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's (SCEE) David Reeves happily announced that gamers in Europe will also be receiving the premiere hardware bundle. This announcement was made during the recent PlayStation Day event in London earlier. Check out more details about Reeves' announcement in our full article.

There's a lot of Echochrome versions running around (wait, more like walking and falling down holes, rather). It's been found that the US version doesn't have two of the modes that are available on the Japanese version. Details in the full article.

Sony Japan (SCEJ) is readying a special PlayStation 3 Experience event over at the Shinjuku station. Among other titles, visitors can expect to try out Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, currently scheduled to launch in June. Further details are available in the full article.

The PSP is still hot and heavy and in Japan, still being drawn by Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, which refuses to relent in software sales. Check out how the rest of the platforms did in Japan's hardware sales by going to the full article.