I recall a friend of mine getting a copy of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective for Christmas. Well, that Capcom title for the Nintendo DS is taking a leap onto the iOS platform and is now available on the App Store for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in North America and Europe.

Previously released on Nintendo DS to critical acclaim, the beloved mystery adventure game jumps to iOS. The game features intuitive touch screen controls for easy play and enhanced graphics in a wider viewing area for more immersive puzzle solving and is fully localized in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Created by Shu Takumi, the father of the critically acclaimed Ace Attorney series, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective combines his signature style of quirky humor, logic puzzles and an intriguing story wrapped in a unique art style. Players take on the role of Sissel, the ghost of a murder victim who has lost his memory and must solve the mystery of his suspicious demise.

Gamers guide his blue-flamed soul through dynamic environments, possessing and manipulating inanimate objects found in the world to solve the captivating puzzles he encounters.

The Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective App is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The first two chapters are free with the download of the game. Subsequent chapters will be available in three different packs for $4.99/£2.99/€3.99 each or $9.99/£6.99/€7.99 for all chapters through In-App Purchase. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/ghost-trick-phantom-detective/id489113377?mt=8

You read the title right, the following are video game bargains that are not to be missed this week, and this includes titles for the Nintendo Wii, DS, Sony PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Click on the titles to find out more about each title:

Nintendo Wii

• Metroid: Other M (NTSC U/C) ~ USD 19.90
• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars (NTSC U/C) ~ USD 26.90

Nintendo DS

• Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective ~ USD 28.69
• Chrono Trigger DS ~ USD 21.90

Xbox 360

• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (NTSC U/C) ~ USD 29.90
• Bayonetta (NTSC U/C) ~ USD 22.90

Sony PS3

• Mass Effect 2 ~ USD 24.90
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy HD ~ USD 29.90

I’m off to Jakarta for a business trip for a couple of days and I’m actually a little behind on the iOS video game reviews. The back-log just keeps getting longer and longer but I’m gonna catch up as soon as I’m back on Wednesday. In the mean time, do check out my eBay sales listing.

I’m offloading quite a number of items that I’ve collected over the years since I’ve started Nine Over Ten 9/10, starting with somewhat hard to find Japanese Nintendo GameBoy Advance games such as the bit Generations series, Famicom Mini, Mother 3 and Mawaru Made in Wario.

In the coming weeks I’ll be adding other collectibles like Japanese Nintendo DS games, toys and other space-taking knick-knacks. With the current site’s focus on iOS games and my impending nuptials, I don’t think I’ll be needing those stuff anymore. Do keep the listing bookmarked, who knows, you might find something interesting? http://shop.ebay.com/teaspoon16/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

I think plenty of Professor Layton fans have been waiting for the release of the Professor Layton action figure from Revoltech (Kaiyodo). The good news is it’s out on sale now.

Retailing at USD 31.90, this 125mm action figure comes with 12 joints in his body and various face and hand parts, enabling you to re-create Professor Layton’s thinking poses, his “check mate” moment and various other trademark moves from his Nintendo DS games.

This package also comes with a table, ornate chair and Professor Layton’s tea set, so that you can have a mini diorama.

Interested? Check it out over here.

You’ve got slightly more than 2 days to take advantage of these PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS bargains on Play-Asia. Check out the following games on discount:

Playstation 3

• Final Fantasy XIII (Japanese Language Version) ~ USD 49.90 (Click here for details)
• DJ Hero with Turn Table Bundle ~ USD 99 (Click here for details)
• Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3) ~ USD 49.90 (Click here for details)
• The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena ~ USD 24.90 (Click here for details)
• Mercenaries 2: World in Flames ~ USD  19.90 (Click here for details)

Xbox 360 (All Region Free unless stated otherwise)

• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (Collector’s Edition) ~ USD 24.90 (Click here for details)
• Halo Wars ~ USD 29.90 (Click here for details)
• You’re in the Movies ~ USD 29.90 (Click here for details)
• Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 ~ USD 18.90 (Click here for details)
• Far Cry 2 ~ USD 19.90 (Click here for details)
• BlazBlue Calamity Trigger (Limited Edition)~ USD 59.90 (Click here for details)

Nintendo DS

• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars ~ USD 19.90 (Click here for details)
• Advance Wars: Days of Ruin ~ USD 24.90 (Click here for details)
• Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe ~ USD  19.90 (Click here for details)
• Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga ~ USD 19.90 (Click here for details)
• Prince of Persia: The Fallen King ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• Bangai-O Spirits ~ USD 14.90 (Click here for details)
• Bleach: The Blade of Fate ~ USD 14.90 (Click here for details)
• K-1 World GP ~ USD 19.90 (Click here for details)

I just order what’s perhaps the cutest Snoopy/Nintendo DS merchandise (not that there are many to begin with) from Play-Asia. It’s Snoopy’s dog house with him sitting on it (in his Flying Ace persona) and it doubles up as a Nintendo DS card store, storing up to 10 cartridges!

The DS Card House Peanuts Flying Ace is officially licensed by Nintendo and while its original price was USD 21.90, it’s now selling at a discounted price of USD 5.90! You can check it out over here.

If you’re like me, having a bunch of friends who are obsessed with Professor Layton (the titular character from the Professor Layton games on the Nintendo DS), here would be some great stocking stuffers for them in form of plush toys and keychains

Professor Layton Plush Toys: These come in M and S sizes for Professor Layton and S for Luke.

• Layton Kyouju Plush Doll: Professor Layton (M Size) (USD 19.90) ~ Click here for details
• Layton Kyouju Plush Doll: Professor Layton (S Size) (USD 12.90) ~ Click here for details
• Layton Kyouju Plush Doll: Luke (S Size) (USD 11.90) ~ Click here for details

Professor Layton Key Chain Plush Dolls:

• Layton Kyouju Key Chain Plush Doll: Professor Layton (Mini) (USD 6.90) ~ Click here for details
• Layton Kyouju Key Chain Plush Doll: Luke (Mini) (USD 6.90) ~ Click here for details

Christmas is just a few weeks from now, and while people seem to forget the true meaning of Christmas (God’s gift to the world), it doesn’t seem to dither them from buying presents for their loved ones and friends.

So welcome to another edition of Nine Over Ten’s Christmas Gift Guide, I think I did the same last year, or the year before, but nevermind, lets get on with the Handheld Gamer Edition of the guide.

2009 is a bumper year for handheld gamers, not only did Nintendo and Sony released new versions of their respective handhelds with the Nintendo DSi, the DSi LL and the PSP Go, but Apple also joined in with an upgraded iPod Touch, bringing it up to speed with the iPhone 3GS.

So what do you get for the handheld gamer? Plenty of choices.

Nintendo

As a result of the introduction of the Nintendo DSi, the price for the previous mainstay, the Nintendo DS Lite, has fallen and you can pretty much get this console (if the recipient doesn’t have one already) for less than RM 500. But if you want to stay on the cutting edge, the NDSi and NDSi LL, with its pair of larger screens wouldn’t go wrong as stocking stuffers.

• Nintendo DSi LL (Wine Red) ~ USD 269.00 (Click here for details)
• Nintendo DSi LL (Dark Brown) ~ USD 269.00 (Click here for details)
• Nintendo DSi LL (Natural White) ~ USD 269.00 (Click here for details)
• Nintendo DSi ~ USD 249 (Lime Green, Metallic Blue, Pink, Red)

As for games, there are plenty of excellent titles released in 2009 so much so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Check out Nine Over Ten’s Top 10 selection:

• Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Insider Story ~ USD 39.90 (Click here for details)
• Pokemon Soul Silver (Jap) ~ USD 59.90 (Click here for details)
• Pokemon Heart Gold (Jap) ~ USD 59.90 (Click here for details)
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor ~ USD 34.90 (Click here for details)
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box ~ USD 39.90 (Click here for details)
• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars ~ USD 39.90 (Click here for details)
• Retro Game Challenge ~ USD 24.90 (Click here for details)
• Scribblenauts ~ USD 34.90 (Click here for details)
• Space Invaders Extreme 2 ~USD 24.90 (Click here for details)
• Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)

Sony

The PSP GO eliminates the need for buying UMDs, but will require plenty of PSN Top-Up cards which are available here. However, you won’t go wrong with the following list of games for users of the PSP 3006, 2006 and 1001 (all of which have the UMD drive):

• Macross Ultimate Frontier ~ USD 54.90 (Click here for details)
• LittleBigPlanet Portable ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)
• Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)
• Persona (with Bonus Full 2-Disc Soundtrack) ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)
• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)
• Dissidia: Final Fantasy ~ USD 44.90 (Click here for details)
• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite ~ USD 29.90 (Click here for details)

Check out the following collectibles, featuring the likes of Monster Hunter, Mario, characters from Jump All Stars and cars from Amamiya and Ridox featuring the girls from the anime K-On!

First up is the Lagiacrus Fossil, an official Monster Hunter Statue featuring Lagiacrus the legendary sea king dragon. You can actually see him on the cover of Monster Hunter 3 (in it’s full-fleshed form). This fossil statue is 12 centimeters long and looks pretty intricate. Price? USD 22.90. Click here if you are interested.

Next you have the Super Mario Galaxy Figure Vol 1. Key Chains. Featuring the a plethora of characters from the game, there are a total of 9 different kinds of keychains to collect. The best part about this collection from Banpresto? They are selling at a discount! One will set you back just USD 3.49. Click here for details.

The next collectible bunch of items would be another set of Mario Key Chains, but this time, they are from Epoch. The DS Super Mario Bros. Phone Strap Gashapon feature 6 different designs at just USD 1.49 each for these scaled down DS case replicas. Click here for purchase information.

The characters from Jump All-Stars! take the keychain route as well with Bandai’s Jump All Stars ! Mascot With Jump Key Chain Candy Toy collection. Going at a price of USD 3.90 each, there are 10 different characters to collect, among them are Rurouni Kenshin, Luffy (One Piece), Goku (Dragonball) and Naruto! Click here for details.

Last but not least, the girls from K-On! are featured as part of the livery of cars from Amamiya and Ridox in the K-On! 1/64 Itasha Miniature Collection Trading Figure. There are 10 different designs to collect, including a really nice RE Amamiya RX-7! Price? USD 7.90. Click here for details.

Super Mario fans out there, it’s time for more chocolate egg goodness from Furuta with the all new Super Mario Bros. Chocolate Egg 3rd Edition Candy Toy.

Not familiar with Furuta’s Chocolate Egg? Basically it’s a shell made out of chocolate, with a toy contained within. There are a total of 12 figures, all of them look like from the Mario & Luigi RPG games, and all of which will require some assembling.

Retailing at USD 2.90 each, a purchase of a box of 10 pieces will net you a factory sealed container. Click here for purchase information.