We previously announced that the simExchange would be launching a futures market. This market is now ready for testing. If you would like to try this out, head over to the temporary test server.

These futures trade just like stocks except, instead of predicting lifetime sales, these contracts only predict sales for a certain period of time. Currently, all futures listed on the test server are month long future contracts. For example, a PlayStation 3 US March 2007 future contract predicts the number of PS3 units sold in the US in March 2007. The contract will pay 1 DKP for each 10,000 PS3 units sold when the contract expires. All contracts are judged using the source provided on the futures contract. For example, the US futures are judged using NPD data. A more detailed explanation on futures contracts is forthcoming.

The purpose of the test is to test the new futures trading system and the new server hardware. Tweaks have been made to the margin system. None of the trading, content submissions, or discussion posts on this server during the test will count for the simExchange normal game. Please test everything. Creating new accounts is not active on the test server so you will have to have an existing account to participate in the test. If you run into any problems, please report them using the Contact Us form on the regular web site, not the test server. The test will run through Friday night.

April 14 Update: The test is now over.

Sony Corp’s Killzone 2 for the PS3 will debut on the simExchange on Friday, April 13, 2007. The game will be categorized under the Shooter genre. Shares will open for purchase at 200 DKP (forecasts 2 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime).

This stock represents the global sales of the next installment of the Killzone series that will appear on the PS3. Killzone 2 is a working title that is subject to change. The game will be the third in the Killzone series, following Killzone (PS2) and Killzone Liberation (PSP). The game has become notable as its budget has surpassed that of any other entertainment production in the nation of Holland’s history. This edition of Killzone will be translated into 20 different languages for localization around the world.

For those new to the series, Killzone features space-age first person shooter action, often compared as Sony’s response to Halo. The series pits the solders of the ISA against the invading armies of the Helghast Empire. Little is known about the game play of Killzone 2 at this time. The game is expected to feature online multiplayer and downloadable content.

The game listing was submitted by Louchico.

April 12 Update: The IPO price has been revised to 150 DKP.

Nintendo Co Ltd’s (ADR: NTDOY) Pokemon Battle Revolution for the Wii will debut on the simExchange on Thursday, April 12, 2007. The game will be categorized under the Strategy genre. Shares will open for purchase at 250 DKP (forecasts 2.5 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime).

Pokemon Battle Revolution is the next installment of the Pokemon Stadium games for the home console and the first for the Wii. For those new to the series, Pokemon Battle Revolution will have you playing as a human trainer with a collection of Pokemon. You unleash two of your Pokemon at a time to battle your opponent’s Pokemon until one trainer is out of Pokemon.

The game features 10 different arenas, each with their own game play characteristics and destructive environments. You can fully customize the look of your trainer (the human character who collects Pokemon) to personalize your character for online play.

Pokemon Battle Revolution works with Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (DS). You can upload the Pokemon you collect from the DS game to be used in the Wii game. The game can be played either with the Wii-mote or with the DS. If using the DS as a controller, you will have extra information available throughout the battle on you DS screens. If using the Wii-mote as the controller, all information will be displayed on the TV screen. The Wii-mote is used as a poiting device to select different Pokemon attacks.

The game is notable as the first Wii game to feature online play using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Pokemon Battle Revolution was released on December 14, 2006 in Japan and is scheduled to be released on June 25, 2007 in North America. The game listing was submitted by Jaded_Alyx.

Capcom Co Ltd.’s Resident Evil 5 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 will debut on the simExchange on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. The game will be categorized under the Action genre. Shares will open for purchase at 150 DKP (forecasts 1.5 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime) for each version.

Resident Evil 5 is the next addition to the Resident Evil series. The game will be a sequel to the main Resident Evil story, rather than a sequel to the Resident Evil 4 side-story. Resident Evil 5 continues the use of Resident Evil 4’s faster game play in open areas. Enemies will run quickly, as opposed to the slow, stumbling zombies in the early games of the series. The enemies appear to be a cross between the Ganados, parasite controlled humans that will talk to each other featured in Resident Evil 4, and zombies, blood-thirsty but dumb undead featured in the earlier series.

The game’s setting is a hot, desert region. Heat will play a role in your ability to shoot accurately so you will have to find shade. The game should offer more interactive use of the environment.

Resident Evil 5 is expected for worldwide release in 2008. The listing was submitted by myplague.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for the Nintendo DS will debut on the simExchange on Tuesday, April 10, 2007. The game will be categorized under the Role-Playing genre. Shares will open for purchase at 200 DKP (forecasts 2 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime).

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is the sequel to last year’s Final Fantasy XII for the PS2. This edition is designed for the Nintendo DS. The game’s story continues one year following the events of Final Fantasy XII. Once again, you take the role of Vaan with the help of Penelo, Balthier, and Fran. Vaan has achieved his dream to be a sky pirate with his own airship. The story begins with their treasure hunt on the Floating Continent.

Revenant Wings features the Active Dimension Battle System from Final Fantasy XII, but is controlled entirely by using the stylus. You will be able to see the enemy and engage them like in Final Fantasy XII. Once again, you can program your characters to react by using gambits. You can override commands by choosing them with the stylus.

The game will feature more Espers, which you unlock by placing Auracite in the new License Ring system. The Espers now come in 3 levels, for example: Baby Shiva; Darling Shiva; and Shiva, Queen of Water. Building on the loot formulas concept, Revenant Wings has a synthesis concept in which you combine materials based on formulas to create better equipment.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is scheduled to be released in Japan on April 26, 2007. The game’s listing was submitted by Jaded_Alyx.

Marvelous Interactive Inc’s No More Heroes for the Wii will debut on the simExchange on Monday, April 9, 2007. The game will be categorized under the Action genre. Shares will open for purchase at 50 DKP (forecasts 500,000 copies sold worldwide over lifetime).

No More Heroes (formerly known as “Heroes”), is a new game from Goichi Suda (SUDA-51), who created Killer7. The game is exclusive to the Wii and promises to be one of the more graphically intense games for the Wii. You take the role of Travis Touchdown an aspiring assassin who won a katana through an Internet auction. He dreams to become the world’s #1 ranked assassin.

You can freely roam the city Santa Destroy. Combat involves using the Wii-mote in sword fights. However, rather than having the player use the controller as a sword, you merely have to press A to swing the sword and shake the controller to execute a finishing move. Raising the Wii-mote will change Travis’ battle stance to raising the sword over his head. The game features cel-shaded graphics.

The listing was submitted by Jaded_Alyx.

You may have noticed that the bright blue boxes containing cube ads that were strewn across the right side of each page have now gone away. We are streamlining the look and cleaning up a bit. Instead, all those ads have been replaced by two sponsorship spots at the top right of each page.

If you would like to sponsor the simExchange, please contact us. Sponsoring the simExchange will give you a permanent ad spot for a specified period of time. You can put your logo or a small 125x125 pixel ad there and it will appear to every visitor on every page for a week or a month. This image will link directly to your web site.

This can be a cheap way to get the word out about your web site and at the same time support the simExchange. If you have any questions, just contact us and we can talk things over.

Take-Two Interactive Inc’s (NASDAQ: TTWO) Grand Theft Auto IV for the PS3 and Xbox 360 will debut on the simExchange on Friday, April 6, 2007. The stocks will be categorized under the Action genre. Shares will open for purchase at 680 DKP (forecasts 6.8 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime) for the PS3 version and 730 DKP for the Xbox 360 version.

The next major release of the Grand Theft Auto series since Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This edition is planned for simultaneous launch on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Both consoles will have their own exclusive downloadable episodes. The setting of the game is Liberty City, a New York-like city. It is the fifth game in the series to feature Liberty City. The game will run on the RAGE engine which was featured in Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis.

The game is scheduled for release in North America on October 16,2007, in Europe on October 19, 2007, and in Australia on October 23, 2007.

This listing was submitted by Cabbage1012 and supported by Joe80.

You’ve probably seen some kind of console wars charts somewhere on the Internet by now. The simExchange now has its very own Console Wars page, but instead of recounting the past bloody conquests of the war, the simExchange organizes trading data to compare forecasts of the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii consoles this generation. If the other console wars charts are the bards that sing past tales, the simExchange is the Oracle manifesting visions of the future. Enjoy!

Microsoft Corp’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Shadowrun for the Xbox 360 and PC will debut on the simExchange on Thursday, April 5, 2007. This stocks will be categorized under the Shooter genre. Shares will open for purchase at 80 DKP (forecasts 1.3 million copies sold worldwide over lifetime) for the Xbox 360 version and 35 DKP for the PC version.

Shadowrun is a multiplayer first-person shooter based on the cyberpunk world of the Shadowrun pen and paper role-playing game. The setting is 2031 Brazil in which an armed conflict between the RNA Global mega-corporation and The Linage resistance group has erupted. You can play as a human, elf, troll, or dwarf. Each race features traits that will aid you in the game.

Between each round of combat, players can purchase magic, technology, and weapons. Spells can enable you character to teleport or resurrect other players. You can summon monsters to attack your enemies or a tree of life to heal your allies. Technology includes x-ray vision, implants that improve your reflexes or accuracy. Weapons include submachine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns, and even swords.

Shadowrun will be the first game to take advantage of Live Anywhere, which allows players on the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista to play together. The game will balance controller vs keyboard and mouse players to be on an even playing field.

This listing was submitted by ChickaJackeen.