The Phoenix Wright musical that ran in Japan last month was a success for the all-female Takarazuka Revue theatre troupe, with tickets selling out on opening day. If you thought an operatic, all-female performance of stories based on video game characters couldn't be a hit, TAKE THAT! In its press release about the show, Capcom described this presentation as part of its "One Property with Multiple Uses" strategy, in which Capcom properties are marketed for multiple media. Because of the success of the courtroom crooning, Capcom and the Revue have announced plans for a sequel! The revue will perform Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 2 (which, like the first one, will probably be an original story) at the Takarazuka Bow Hall from August 20 through August 31, and at the Akasaka ACT Theatre from September 5 through September 15.

Play war or "play ball" -- this week's releases are highlighted by Halo Wars and the start of (virtual) spring training. (Alas, with the East Coast blanketed in snow, real baseball seems a long way off.) Also this week: HAWX (PS3/X360), Empire: Total War (PC), Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii), Peggle (DS), and the resurgence of multiple -- yes, multiple -- PSP releases.

There's certainly something comedic about a guy with 13 road signs sticking out of his head. There's something even funnier about launching that guy into a wall of spikes. Such is the over-the-top violence of next week's release, MadWorld. The developers behind the title aren't laughing with us, though. Platinum Games' Shigenori Nishikawa explains that the goal for the development team in Japan was to make the game over-the-top, but not to "ever aim to get laughs." He points to the first showing of the signpost-in-head maneuver, which was seen as "mean-spirited" and "left a bad taste" in Japanese mouths. When foreigners caught a glimpse, however, they were laughing it up, so Platinum Games decided to keep it in.

This week's downloadable titles on Wii are a mixed bag. We get what appears to be some shovel(Wii)ware, but a tried-and-true classic on the Virtual Console. Sure, it's a niche genre, but it's still 100% classic. Virtual Console Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen (SNES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): The classic strategy title finally comes to the Virtual Console. Personally, our own experience with the franchise has been mainly through the N64 sequel, so we're anxious to give this one a whirl. Look for it in our VC in Brief segment later today.

A rating for the DS Game & Watch Collection has popped up on the Australian OFLC ratings board, along with a bunch of other stuff, including Boom Blox Bash Party (under the bafflingly different title Boom Blox Smash Party). The collection, featuring Oil Panic, Donkey Kong, and Green House, has been used as a Club Nintendo reward in Japan and North America. News about Australia's Club Nintendo rewards program was expected last week, so this confluence of events suggests that this is to be handed out as a reward for Aussie gamers soon. That is, whenever Nintendo of Australia gets around to setting up the Club Nintendo program.

Drive through the largest GTA environment ever -- The game has three cities players can explore, for a gaming area 5 times larger than Vice City

Recruit new characters into a street gang and take over by leading drive-by shootings against rivals

Steal all-new vehicles, including bicycles

Improved fighting elements -- smoother hand-to-hand combat, plus the ability to hold a weapon in each hand

New graphics elements as cars get dirty and even rust, the longer you drive them

Fly at anytime - Players can now fly at any time with Spyro and Cynder

Co-op Play - Players have the option of completing the game as either Spyro or Cynder, giving them more freedom to explore Spyro¿s world in completely new ways

Simultaneously charge and play with the PS3 wireless controller

Can be used for various USB compliant devices. Extra long 10ft cable

Includes Velcro wrap for clean and convenient storage

Unique woven cable shielding improves cable durability

Can be used with other Mini USB devices such as the PSP and Digital Cameras

Supreme Commander

Planetary warfare on a Galactic scale-zoom from the tactical unit level all the way out to the full theatre of war in one seamless motion.Includes full naval, ground and air combat.

3 unique factions that each appeal to different player personalities with approximately 80 units/structures per faction.

3 story-driven single-player campaigns with a detailed and rich background history that weaves into gameplay

Intuitive & customizable gameplay interface with unsurpassed command and control features let you quickly and efficiently maneuver troops across the battlefield. It also includes dual-monitor support!

Simple controls make the game easy and fun to play, so that players of all skill levels can swing and climb their way to new heights!

Team up with Diddy Kong for even more attacks and abilities, or call on Cranky Kong for some quick tips and advice. The whole Kong crew is here to help—even Funky Kong chips in to fly you off for exciting minigame challenges!

If you're more in the mood to rumble, you can take on up to three friends in fun multiplayer challenges using DS Download Play and local wireless. Pick from DK, Diddy, Dixie, and Funky, and let the monkey business begin!