Konami have confirmed that they are working on a new instalment in the J-League Perfect Striker series. So what? You would do well to remember that the first game in the series was the basis for International Superstar Soccer, so closer inspection may give us a few clues as to where that series is heading. While details are still sketchy at this time, the game’s developer Major A has let slip that an all-new managerial function is in the works, as well as some kind of story mode. Why don’t they just get Square involved and make a football RPG?

The incredibly sexy Betty Rubble may soon be making her way into our bedrooms, courtesy of SouthPeak Interactive, in a new 3D bowling game. Developed by Adrenalin Interactive, the game will feature Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble (grrr!) and plenty of other characters and locations from the popular cartoon. “We believe gamers will welcome a challenging night of bowling in their bare feet with granite bowling balls and pins chiselled from stone,” claimed SouthPeak’s president Armistead Sapp.

Acclaim Entertainment have signed a publishing deal with a new development house. San Francisco-based Click Entertainment are currently working on the ‘samurai-inspired RPG’, which should be released early next year. The game gives you control of seven warriors, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, in order to defeat the evil that is taking over the land. Sounds a little bit like Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.

Things got off to an astonishing start in the Future Gamer Chat Forum this week. Regulars were among the first to hear the breaking news on Dreamcast 2! Yes, apparently the spec of DC2 was leaked out, and everyone had plenty to say about it. Some were sure it was simply misinformation (believing it be a spec of a new Sega arcade board) while others claimed the ‘leak’ was simply a tactical move by Sega in the wake of the PS2 announcements. Elsewhere, there were many readers in desperate need of gaming help. Titles such as Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, Zelda and GoldenEye have all been giving people headaches. If you need help in any game, head on to the Future Gamer Hints and Tips database. Additional titbits this week included a debate on whether the new PlayStation has the potential to kill off the PC as a viable gaming platform; discussions on the Dreamcast - will you still buy one, or do you wait for the PlayStation 2? Oh, and ‘Clam’ seemed to want death by hanging re-introduced as punishment for software piracy! The only sure-fire way not to miss out on all this heated debate is to drop in and take part yourself. It’s fast, it’s free and it’s fun. Sort of like the bigdipper at Blackpool. Er, if you’ve got a free ticket, that is.