Good news, Hot Shots Golf fans. The new batch of downloadable content for Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds now features one of the most ubiquitous features of online multiplayer games today: voice chat.

Just as always, we're going to have some good gaming this time around with stellar releases such as Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3), and Sega Superstars Tennis (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Wii). Check out the entire list in the  full article!

What we have here is an interview of Clap Hanz Lead Artist Keisuke Futami for the PlayStation 3 exclusive Hot Shots Golf 5. Futami talked about the many improvements they put in the game, with some focus given to graphics, gameplay, and the online components. You can watch the interview after the jump!

Golf game fanatics, now's the time to rejoice: Sony Computer Entertainment and Clap Hanz's Hot Shots Golf 5 (known in Japan as Minna no Golf 5) will now be released in North America. Estimated release date and more gameplay details in the full article!

How strange can Japanese adverts get? After watching these two Minna no Golf 5 (or Hot Shots Golf 5 on North American shores), there's definitely no limit to the weirdness that is the Japanese TV spots.

These videos feature men bathing in a communal bath house - not especially surreal since its part of their culture - but the fact that they're dipping in pools of golf balls is a different story entirely. Add the sumo-sized PlayStation 3 to the mix and you get extreme levels of craziness. Would you jump into a bathtub with a giant PS3?

Anyway, Hot Shots Golf 5 from Clap Hanz is a highly-popular golf game that managed to net 300,000 pre-orders in Japan, and will be released in Japanese shores on July 26. While we're waiting for that, check out the TV spots and tell us what you think.

The second video after the jump!

Fore! Here comes another batch of new Minna no Golf 5 (or Hot Shots Golf 5) magazine scans from Famitsu, courtesy of JeuxFrance.

The scans shows tons of new stuff, including two new characters, one caddy, and some new locations. We also spotted a scan of the online play lobby which can hold up to 50 players - though it is currently being tested to hold up to eight. The new characters look interesting, a guy and a girl golfer plus the bespectacled caddy. Since the resident Nihonggo expert of QJ Central isn't here, we couldn't tell what their names are or where they came from.

Anyway, check out the scans and see for yourself. Clap Hanz' Hot Shots Golf 5 for the PlayStation 3 is set to drop on the shelves this autumn.

The rest of the scans after the jump!

The demo for sports video game Minna no Golf 5 is now available for download over at the Japanese PlayStation Store. This goodie from game developer Clap Hanz was originally scheduled for a later date but Sony decided against it to prevent overloading the PlayStation Network (PSN) servers.

As we all know, our European friends will be joining the ever-growing PS3 community come March 23. Anyway, the demo is around 241 MB in size and will feature main characters Jasmine and Conan. The two will be playing on three randomly selected holes from a single, nine-hole course.

The Minna no Golf 5 demo will also see the introduction of "true shot". This feature allows players to set the power of their swing depending on the character they are using.

Also known as Hot Shots Golf and Everybody's Golf, Minna no Golf is one of the most successful video game series for the PlayStation brand in Japan. Various versions made it to PSOne, PS2, and even to the PSP.

The demo for Minna No Golf is available until May 7. The full version of the game will be released in Japan sometime in July.

According to an IGN report, Famitsu has just revealed new info regarding the very hushed up game currently cooking in Clap Hanz's labs, Minno no Golf 5 (a.k.a. Hot Shots Golf 5).

The two-page feature in the said magazine also included an interview with the game's producer who hinted at having online play support for the game. Here are some of the important details divulged in the Famitsu feature:

• those with a Japanese PlayStation Network account will be able to get a free demo for Minno no Golf 5 which will make its way to the PlayStation Store from March 21st to May 7th
• the demo will include two characters, Jasmine and Conan, who'll battle it out against each other as they play three randomly selected holes from a single, nine-hole course.
• the demo will feature the "true shot," where you'll get to directly set the power of your swing depending on the character you choose.
  

If you can't wait til March to try out the demo (and you're in Japan, more importantly), be on the lookout for PlayStation TV retail demo kiosks this month where the demo will first be distributed.

Where Tiger has the skills, Hot Shots Golf has the charm. Where else can you see rainbow drives, flaming chips, and caddies that run as fast as you can drive the golf ball? They don't call it "Everybody's Golf" for nothing. Oh, you can see these in this TGS 2006 trailer for Hot Shots Golf 5 - that's where else.

The PS3 iteration promises crisper graphics, a point made apparent by the fly-by over two different Golf courses, each in two different times of the day. Hot Shots Golf 5 also promises bigger audiences, who will clap and praise your golfing prowess - in Japanese text bubbles - and will sometimes be in the way of your shots, like at the end of the trailer - (hypothetical dialogue) "Incoming golf ball, RUN!!!"

 

Sony displayed their latest iteration of Minna No Golf (Hot Shots Golf 5) at the Tokyo Game Show 2006. The game still pretty much looks like its predecessors, only this time crisper and cleaner due to the PS3's power. You can still expect all of the old cute stuff like anime heads and big eyes. However, a big difference in this version is that there are a whole lot more spectators, human or otherwise, in the background (bear cheerleaders, anyone?).

The main gameplay difference in this version is that there are loads of new camera angles to check your shot with. In fact, nearly every button is dedicated to changing your camera position. Sad though that they didn't incorporate the tilt mechanics of the controller into the game.

The demo at the TGS has two characters and three courses available for play. All three were relatively easy, and veterans of the series will likely make par. Though not as advanced tech-wise compared to other golf games like say, Tiger Woods, it gives a rather entertaining take on a slow (what some youngsters think) game.

If you think that this is like Mario Golf, all cutesy fun, think twice. Hot Shots Golf 3 received rave reviews for its subtle "depth" (this doesn't come from us check out most user reviews on the net), if developer Clap Hanz does right, the PS3 version should be every bit as good.