Duke is back. For real! This time on the PSP and DS with Critical Mass.

Believe it or not, there will be at least two Duke Nukem games coming out this year, not counting the perennially delayed Duke Nukem Forever. Apogee Software–which is now a completely separate entity from 3D Realms–has PSP and Nintendo DS adventures lined up for the tough-as-granite game icon, and we managed to get some hands-on time with both today.

Duke Nukem Trilogy: Critical Mass is the first of three planned games for the DS and PSP, and though they may share the same name and some story details, the two are completely different beasts. Although we know only a little of the story so far, we do know that Duke somehow finds himself responsible for the destruction of the entire world (with a little help from aliens, of course). The misogynistic tough guy now has to set things right, travelling back and forth in time throughout the course of his three new game adventures in an effort to foil the evil aliens’ plans.

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It’s time you grab your DS and hit up every Wi-Fi hot spot in town because Aspyr’s upcoming game is full of wonderful goodies.

SAN FRANCISCO–There’s a reason now for you to take your gaming on the go, given that Aspyr’s Treasure World’s main focus is for you to unlock several thousand items by exploring real-life locations. A game that revolves around collecting, customizing, and creating, Treasure World was designed to target a younger audience, but people who have any kind of obsession with collecting and creating will find that there’s always room on their Nintendo DS for treasure. We had the opportunity to meet with Aspyr to see how this gem is shaping up, and though it’s still incomplete, we see the potential in this unique and magical game.

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The title may state the obvious, but firefighting is no easy task, and we find out why in Epicenter’s upcoming first-person action game.

At some point in our lives, we all must have made a trip to the local fire station to stare in awe at the shiny red trucks, and perhaps at the incredibly brave men and women who risk their lives every day to ensure our safety. Formed by industry veterans with plenty of Call of Duty experience, Epicenter Studios plans to focus on fighting fires instead of killing Nazis. It’s a welcome change, especially with the flood of World War II games. Real Heroes: Firefighters is set up like a first-person shooter in terms of controls and plot development, but it’s geared toward a more family-friendly audience. You play as the rookie: young, ready, and eager to save the day. We met with Epicenter to take a closer look at a near-finished version of Firefighters and found an intense action game that would appeal to gamers of all ages.

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Nintendo to reward purchasers of new handheld with downloadable game currency; Wii store welcomes coin-op classics Gaplus, Mappy, Star Force, and Tower of Druaga.

SAN FRANCISCO–Nintendo continued to flesh out its line of downloadable-game offerings with a handful of initiatives revealed today during company president Satoru Iwata’s keynote address.

Mappy’s a loose cannon, but he gets results.

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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s GDC keynote reveals Link’s new portable adventure, Wii sales stats, console’s “complete storage solution” SD-card compatibility; Full Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks trailer inside.

SAN FRANCISCO–Three years ago at the 2006 Game Developers Conference, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata urged developers to “think differently” and disrupt the status quo. In November of that year, his firm did just that with the launch of the Wii. Insanely popular from the get-go, the console was nearly impossible to find at retailers during its first year on the market.

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