Tuesday, September 11, 2007

NES Online Status: Terminated

Well guys, I hate to say it. Today, an offer came up and I have accepted it. NES Online has been great and I loved working on it. I loved all the feedback and help I received from people and I enjoyed this experience. Sadly, I will no longer be updating NES Online. Instead, there is a site called Wii-Live. I will be joining that site and post there from now on. The site is run by a more experienced crew and running this site alone hasn't been easy. I will now be able to post more freely and get more out of the experience. I can even request interviews with game developers. To all those that visited NES Online, thank you. I would love it if you would journey with me to Wii-Live, which can be found here. I will now be posting there under the username DarkWish. If you would like to contact me, my AIM screenname is HAVortexDude and my email is darkwish@live-360.net. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this causes, but trust me, you will now be able to get more news than ever this way. So, farewell to NES Online! It's time I start my next journey.

New Super Mario Galaxy Screens




More Pictures Here
Source

Japan Gets Neo Geo for VC Today... Or Not

Today was the launch of a new system for the Virtual Console in Japan. The Neo Geo VC games were supposed to start today with the release of Fatal Fury, but it didn't. Unfortunately it has been delayed. So why was it delayed and when will they get it? And when is the US going to get Neo Geo games too? We don't know.

Source

2 SEGA Genesis Games Announced for US VC

Crack Down - In this one- or two-player adventure, you must infiltrate and destroy different enemy facilities using a series of carefully placed time bombs. Your goal is nothing short of saving the world from a group of evil cyborgs created by a crazy scientist with plans for global domination. By fighting your way through his various labs and bases, you can put a stop to his madness, but there are enemies at every turn. The cyborgs want nothing more than to destroy you and turn you into one of them, so use your cannon, bombs and machine gun to maximum effect as you wipe out the mechanical menace!

ESWAT: City Under Siege - Welcome to the city of Liberty, which is teeming with crime and lowlife scum. As a member of the Cyber Police force, it’s up to you to clear the streets of all the bad guys and make life safe for the law-abiding citizens of the city. Since your body is part mechanical, you have a variety of weapons and armor at your disposal, and you’ll need all of it as you patrol various parts of the city, including a restaurant, stadium, boat dock, and more. Take down the baddies, beat the nefarious bosses, and return sanity to the streets of Liberty!


Source

Best Buy Wii Demos and Wii Sports Tennis Tournament


On September 16th, Best Buy will be showing off some Wii games and hosting Wii Sports Tennis tournaments. And there's prizes, so I suggest going. If you go, let me know and I'll post your review of the event.

Source

New Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity Screens and More




More Pictures Here
Source

Lyn: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/11 Update

New Assist Trophy - Lyn



Source (More Details and Pictures Here)

A Moment of Silence


I don't usually post about these things but 9/11 is a huge deal. Today is the 6th anniversary of the horrible attacks on the World Trade Centers. Please take a moment of your time to pray for those that were killed on that day and for their families. I pray to God that nothing like 9/11 will happen again.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Wii Zapper Details are Real!

It's official. Zelda Crossbow Training is real, but it's actually called Link's Crossbow Training, which makes more sense to me. It will come bundled with the Wii Zapper for $19.99 on November 19th. Here's the press release:

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 10, 2007 - Nintendo announced today that the Wii Zapper™ interface for the hit Wii™ home video game system will come packed with Link’s Crossbow Training™. The software is based on the hugely popular Legend of Zelda® series and provides a perfect demonstration of the way the Wii Zapper could be used in other games. The Wii Zapper casing houses both the motion-sensitive Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers in a single unit for precision targeting. It goes on sale Nov. 19 at an MSRP of just $19.99.

“The Wii Zapper combines our remarkable controllers into one housing with a classic style reminiscent of arcade-style games,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “Both veteran and first-time players will find it brings a whole new dimension to games where targeting is key and provides even more exciting game-play experiences.”

Link’s Crossbow Training drops players into a world in the style of The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess. Players assume the identity of hero Link, who progresses through a series of tests to perfect his crossbow marksmanship. Start with stationary bull’s-eyes and graduate to moving targets before defending Link against all kinds of enemies.

Third-party publishers have lined up to support the Wii Zapper. EA’s Medal of Honor Heroes™ 2 lets players take World War II into their hands with the Wii Zapper. The game features an all-new Wii-exclusive Arcade Mode that offers accessibility to gamers of all skill levels, a full single-player campaign and support for up to 32 players in multiplayer. Capcom’s Resident Evil®: The Umbrella Chronicles reveals the back story behind the fall of the Umbrella Corporation by exploring locations from Resident Evil 0, 1, 2 and 3, as well as new never-before-seen locations like Umbrella’s stronghold. One or two players use the Wii Zapper to take aim against a horde of zombies in first-person perspective. SEGA’s Ghost Squad™ lets players replicate the arcade light-gun experience at home with the Wii Zapper.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.


Source

9/10 US VC Wii-kly Update: Sonic III, Neutopia II, NES Play Action Football

Football season is here, and whether you’re into high school teams, college or the pros, everyone can use a little gridiron refresher. This week Nintendo’s Wii Shop Channel helps you tackle the challenge with NES Play Action Football™, a classic sure to revive feelings of gaming greatness. If football isn’t your thing, you can always join forces with a speedy hedgehog or explore labyrinths as you try to defeat evil demons.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

NES Play Action Football (NES®, 1-4 players, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): “Ready! Hut hut hut…” Nintendo takes to the gridiron with the classic football powerhouse NES Play Action Football. Featuring a distinct overhead viewpoint that creates an almost 3-D field, the action is more simulation-based than many of the more arcade-based games of the time. Play through four 15-minute quarters (in accelerated time) and even substitute players when your first-stringers get tired. Want more options? Each of the eight available teams has multiple running/passing plays to choose from while on offense, as well as a wide selection of defensive schemes that can be run when you’re on the other side of the ball. And in addition to viewing two full teams on the screen at once without any slowdown, you’ll hear voice snippets at key points of the game. Line up, and see if you have what it takes to win the Power Bowl.

Sonic the Hedgehog™ 3 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): Sonic and Tails are back for another adventure as they again battle the evil Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik), who is desperately trying to collect all the Chaos Emeralds to rebuild his Death Egg. Our heroes must again find the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, but winning the race won’t be easy this time – a new adversary, Knuckles the Echidna, has arrived on the scene and will do whatever he can to keep Sonic and Tails from reaching their goal. Grab all the golden rings, find various bonus zones and overcome Knuckles and Dr. Eggman as you rocket through the third chapter in Sonic’s adventures.

Neutopia II (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): Experience improved graphics and controls in this exciting sequel to the action role-playing game Neutopia. Take on the role of the main hero’s son and watch as the story begins with the apparent revival of Dirth, the evil demon. Once again you’ll need to rely on your magic compass and the information you’ve gathered to find entrances to labyrinths and defeat the bosses in them. Make your way through the field, which can be tricky at times, to search for and find hidden information and items, or move blocks and destroy walls to uncover secret rooms. Like the original, this game has a save function, a finely tuned difficulty level and a fast-paced story, making it truly an RPG that everyone can enjoy.


Source

RUMOR: Zelda Crossbow Training bundled with Wii Zapper

At E3 07, Nintendo revealed their new Wii Zapper, which would cost $20. They also said that it would come with some software, but didn't say what it would be. Well, today in Las Vegas, a GameStop managers' meeting was held and rumor is that the software that will be bundled with the Wii Zapper will be called Zelda Crossbow Training. Here's a quote from someone who apparently saw the preview for it:

“The game looked beautiful. I’m pretty sure it was running on the Twilight Princess engine. It’s a third-person game, and you had some control over Link. While the video was way too short to get a good idea of the gameplay, it looks like a light-gun inspired Zelda title.”

And supposedly, it will still be priced at $20. Sounds awesome, but we don't know if it's true yet.

Source

Munchlax - Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/10 Update

New Pokeball Pokemon - Munchlax
Returning Item - Lip's Stick




Source

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Crimson/Black DS Lite Info Update



So it is true. This October, the Crimson/Black DS Lite will be sold alone. There's your proof.

Source

Mii's: From NES to Wii

Mii's are a bit part of Wii, but I bet you didn't know just how long they have been planning them. Since the Gamecube era? No. Since the N64 era? No. Then how far back? Watch the video below to find out:

Nintendo Magic becomes Master of Illusion


That magic game for the DS called Nintendo Magic has now been renamed to Master of Illusion. If I'm not mistaken, Nintendo Magic was one of the trademarked titles by Nintendo that I recently posted, so it's interesting to see a name change.

Source

RUMOR: Crimson/Black DS Lite Sold Alone in October

Rumor is that this October, the Crimson/Black DS Lite will be sold alone. Currently, you can only get it in a Brain Age 2 Bundle, but if really don't want Brain Age 2, but want the new colored DS Lite, October is your time. At least, that's the rumor.

Source

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Mario or Metroid Review Coming Soon...


By Mario I mean Mario Strikers Charged and by Metroid I mean Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. My Mom is stopping by Blockbuster to rent a game. My first choice is Mario Strikers Charged because I haven't played it before and I want to test out its online. At first glance, my Mom said they didn't have it, but had Metroid. She's going to ask when she gets to the counter though, so they might have it. Anyways, expect a review in a few days since I only have the rest of today and most of tomorrow to play whatever game she rents.

Nvm, she just called and they don't have either. Apparently she picked up the box cover for Metroid, not the actual game. They do have Super Paper Mario though, so she's getting that. I'll post up a review of that in a few days time.

Friday, September 7, 2007

9/7/07 IGN Wii-k In Review Podcast Summary

Thanks to Go Nintendo, here's a summary of IGN's latest Wii-k In Review Podcast:

Smash Bros. talk, recap of week’s news. Discussion/debate of online play

Smash Bros. Vs. Halo 3 sales talk

Smash Bros. marketing talk

Smash Bros. WiiConnect24 speculation

Worms: A Space Oddity discussion. WiiConnect24, downloadable items, motion/IR

Mario Kart Wii talk, nothing new

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption discussion. Debate on quality of the first “level”. Control talk

Trauma Center: New Blood talk. Co-op mode

Manhunt 2 story delayed until next week due to Rockstar not being able to get everything together

Super Mario Galaxy update. Different gravity levels on each planet/galaxy. Star power-ups. Haunted house level, water levels, some levels on massive scale

Battalion Wars II talk. Naval support (submarines, ships). Multiplayer modes (co-op, assault, skirmish) Co-op - 2 players agaisnt CPU, Assault and Skirmish - 2 online players agaisnt each other.

More Zack and Wiki coverage possibly on the way

Some of Nintendo Power’s best of E3 show

Contra IV
Mario Kart Wii
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams
Super Mario Galaxy
Phantom Hourglass

Third party DS titles at TGS. Tecmo event, Capcom event. Zack and Wiki , REUC most likely to have showing.

Spaceworld discussion, may be coming back.

Reggie news promised for September

Editorial involving headset coming soon, next week most likely

Editorial on hard drive possibly coming

Sept. speculation surprise is unknown

There are a few games that are going to be announced. “Mature (not rated)” title that was looking for a publisher has gotten a publisher. Dark title, spooky

Brawl boxart floating around - Nintendo may have distributed as a placeholder for now. Not on Nintendo press site

More Metroid Prime 3: Corruption advertising discussion. Advertising goal is to get things out to the casual gamer

Street Fighter VC sales are unknown. Sales are “pretty good”. Everyone waiting for Super Street Fighter

Future of Resident Evil after Umbrella Chronicles. Hopefully franchise will continue on Wii as well. Matt unsure, Bozon thinks there will be another RE4 style game.

RE5 cannot be isn’t coming to Wii. It could be done with a lot of time and effort, but most likely won’t happen.

Third party Wii support talk. Devs jumping on board. Spooky game mentioned once more.

Rayman Raving Rabbids success due to game being good, or that it as a launch title. Sequel is funnier than first. Most of the games will be improved from the first title. Shooting mode will be discussed in a couple weeks. Says should be good, but perhaps not as well as the first.

Embargos are a “necessary evil”. Rockstar/Manhunt 2 embargo discussed. Euro Vs. US press discussed.

More Western devs on the VC definitely going to happen. Factor 5 games may be coming soon.

Factor 5 discussion. Julian Eggebrecht is into Wii. Julian says that they would love to work on the Wii. If the opportunity came up they would do it in a heartbeat. Not against working with Nintendo on a title. Matt would love to see them do Pilotwings. Another Rogue Squadron is something Factor 5 would love to do. Pehaps a compilation, perhaps a new game. Start a petition if you want it this to happen.

Medal of Honor: Heroes 2. Matt not a fan of split screen. No split screen in MoH:H2.

Konami talk. Some kind of Castlevania change goin on, platform unknown.

Devs may always feel that the PS3, 360 are better platforms to express their ideas. On the other hand, there will be other developers that will like working on the Wii better.

DS is the system that changed Nintendo.

Third parties excelling at Wii - Capcom. Exclusive review coming. Factor 5 would be a great dev for Wii.

Matt, Bozon would market Zack and Wiki by drawing parallels to game mascots like Mario and Sonic. Wii demo disc for a demo would be great, in-store demo kiosk would help to. Marketing will be tough due to title, character design, and gameplay.


Source

The Super Smash Bros. Brawl Boxart Rumors Continue

So, a few days ago I posted a possible boxart for Super Smash Bros. Brawl that looked real to me. A few more sites have since posted it, like Amazon. Some even posted a bigger version of it, which you can see below:


I waited on posting more about it because not much else new has been said about it and we still don't know if it's real. Well, something interesting just came up. EB Games just posted the small version of the boxart, but it has a wi-fi logo:


The thing that bugs me is that if the game has wi-fi and if the boxart is real, why does the wi-fi logo have to cover up Pit. I know that's where it usually goes on boxarts but that will suck if it covers up Pit. Anyways, take it for what you want. I think the boxart is real, but I don't know about the one with the wi-fi logo.

Source

Neutopia II comes to US VC this Monday


Thanks to Hudson's site, we now know that Neutopia II will be heading to Wii's Virtual Console this Monday.

Source

Guitar Hero DS Tidbits

- Visuals are consistent with the rest of the Guitar Hero series

- Stylus is not main method of input

- Notes are hit through a brand new peripheral

- Peripheral design is not finalized at this time


I must have missed the memo that there was a Guitar Hero DS coming, pretty cool.

Source

My Music and more: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/7 Update

New Feature - My Music
New Music - Pokemon: Pokemon Stadium/Evolution
New Music - Super Smash Bros. Brawl Main Theme


This is one of my most favorite updates of all time! It's the perfect update for me. See, I'm a huge band geek and I love videogame music. Well Super Smash Bros. Brawl will now feature a My Music option. Basically, each stage will have many different songs that you can choose from. In My Music, you can increase the likelihood one of those songs will appear when you play a certain stage. So, when you play Bridge of Eldin, you can set it so that whenever you play Bridge of Eldin, you want to have the Legend of Zelda Title Theme play or you can set it so that most of the time you play, the Title Theme plays, but sometimes the Legend of Zelda Main Theme will play.



But how do you get more songs? There's an item that's a CD and when you get it, you get more music.

Also, two more songs were put up. One is a new song called "Pokemon: Pokemon Stadium/Evolution". This is the song for Pokemon Stadium and contains the Gym and Evolution themes. The other song is one we've heard before, it's the Super Smash Bros. Brawl Main Theme. We'll be able to hear it throughout the game and Sakurai says it's an important song, so it's up on the site. Lots of music stuff, I like it.

Source for My Music (More Details Here)
Source for "Pokemon: Pokemon Stadium/Evolution" (Listen to it Here)
Source for "Super Smash Bros. Brawl Main Theme" (Listen to it Here)

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Video Games Live CD Coming October 15th

Having seen Video Games Live in June, I have to say that a CD of their medleys is a MUST buy. I'll definitely be getting it, no question about that. Here's a press release:

EMI Classics has collaborated with Video Games Live and IMG Artists to release an album celebrating some of the best known, most popular video game music of all time. Video Games Live: Greatest Hits – Volume One highlights some of the best show segments exclusively created and uniquely arranged with the original composers, most of which have previously never been released. The album is available from 15th October 2007.

Video Games Live: Greatest Hits – Volume One includes medleys from some of the biggest games ever released, including Zelda, Mario, Halo, Warcraft, Sonic, Tron, Myst, Civilization IV and Final Fantasy. The anthology CD was compiled by renowned video game composers and Video Games Live co-creators Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. The album features the Slovak National Orchestra as well as the Crouch End Chorus and the “Video Game Pianist” - Martin Leung. The album was mixed and recorded at the world famous Abbey Road recording studios in London.

The album release coincides with the Video Games Live event on October 19 at the Nokia Theatre during the EForAll Expo in Los Angeles and on 22nd October as the opening event of the London Games Festival where it will be performed by members of the Philharmonia Orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

The album is the first global campaign of its kind, linked to the Video Games Live events planned in North America, Europe and Asia over the coming months and aims to appeal to a broad audience of gamers, non-gamers and music lovers of all kinds.

Music in the interactive entertainment industry has come far in the past 35 years, from beeps and electrical impulses to early digital synthesis and sampling to pre-recorded soundtracks. As the games themselves have become more sophisticated, so has the music that drives them and a generation of composers are devoting their energies to writing for the video game medium.

Video Games Live is the largest and most successful video game concert in the world, having already been performed around the globe to over 100,000 people. The debut performance took place on July 6th, 2005 at the world famous Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic. Over 11,000 people attended making it the biggest video game concert in the world. Video Games Live followed with the first ever game concert performances in countries such as Brazil, New Zealand, Spain, Canada and England.

The spectacular visuals, lighting effects and interactivity have drawn audiences worldwide with multi-thousand venue seats selling out in hours or days of being announced. Confirming their growing popularity and the increased demand, Video Games Live in partnership with IMG Artists (Europe and Asia) and the William Morris Agency (USA) will host the event from over 21 locations around the world from Munich to Manchester, Indiana to Milan.


Source

Nintendo Says No Metroid Dread

“Nintendo is not making the 2D Metroid at this point in time” - Nintendo of Europe rep

After all the rumors from the past year or two, and after the hidden message in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, I don't buy this. I think there is a Metroid Dread. Maybe they're saying that cause the game is already done, hence them not making it at this time. All I know is, I think it exists. Believe Nintendo if you want, but I'm not.

Source

Mario Kart Wii 16 Player Online and More - All Speculation

Well, this sucks. ONM (Official Nintendo Magazine) printed a short note about Mario Kart Wii in their latest issue saying it would have 16 player online, stunts, and online battle mode. Well, it seems that was all speculation on their part:

“The details printed in Official Nintendo Magazine 21 regarding Mario Kart Wii were healthy speculation on our part and are in no way an official announcement from Nintendo. We are sorry if we have mislead anyone. We do not set out to mislead our readers. ONM apologises profusely for any misunderstandings that this has caused.” - ONM

So what will it really have? My guess is 12 player online and online battle mode. As for stunts, I don't know about that one. Even so, it'll be a great game.

Source

Nintendo brings you from the lands of Twilight Princess to the stars in MP3

Here is a picture of an email that Nintendo sent out to some MyNintendo account members:


Source

DS Download Stations at Airports

Taking a flight on Delta Airlines anytime soon? Well if you, look for a DS Download Station because they're starting to pop out now. Here's a picture that Chris Kohler of Wired took at the Atlanta Airport:


Source

Pokemon Stadium 2 and Mario's Special Moves: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/6 Update

New Stage - Pokemon Stadium 2
Mario's Down Special Move - F.L.U.D.D.


The previous game, Super Smash Bros. Melee, featured Pokémon Stadium, but it’s been upgraded for this game into Pokémon Stadium 2. This time around, you’ll see guest Pokémon appearing in the background. But as time passes, the terrain transforms into four different types:
"Electric," "Ground," "Flying," and "Ice." For these four transformations, we’ve chosen types that were not present in Melee.




Mario's Down Special Move is now F.L.U.D.D., but he can still use his Mario Tornado (his previous Down Special Move) though it's unknown how he can.



Source for Pokemon Stadium 2 (More Details and Pics Here)
Source for Mario's Down Special Move - F.L.U.D.D. (More Details and Pics Here)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Mario Kart Wii Gets 16 Player Online!


Wow, that sounds awesome. MKDS had 4 players online and that was fun. I tried imagining 8 players online and thought that would be the best. But then the Mario Kart Wii trailer came and it showed 12 people racing and many figured 12 players online. I thought that would be amazing. But now this... 16 players online! That is going to be so much fun. I can not wait to race against 15 others from all over the world.

Not only that but this stunts thing and battle mode online are going to make this the best Mario Kart EVER.

Source

Boogie DS Screens

Here are some screens from the new, upcoming DS version of Boogie:




Source (More Pictures Here)

Boogie coming to DS and PS2

Here's a press release saying boogie is coming to the DS and PS2, but of course, only the DS version matters:

Chertsey, UK – September 5, 2007 – Shake it. Sing it. Create it. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Boogie™, which shipped for the Wii™ in August, is taking its dancing act on the road with a unique Nintendo DS™ version that features the first 3D gameplay on the handheld system. All the new modes in the game can be experienced in full 3D using special glasses packed in to the retail box. Boogie is also shipping on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and brings both singing and dancing gameplay to one of the world’s most prevalent hardware systems. Both titles will ship to retail stores this holiday 2007

Boogie on Nintendo DS introduces new gameplay modes and mini-games not found in the Wii version for easy gaming on the go. The game’s unique modes include DS Download Play and Multi-Card Play, three main dancing gamplay modes including Copycat, Freestyle and Choreography as well as more than 10 mini-games. Players can also dive into the career mode for a deeper experience as they embark on a quest to become the Boogie Master.

Boogie on the PlayStation®2 showcases the game’s signature dancing and singing gameplay. Players can sing along to their favorite tunes or dance to the latest hit songs as well as catch their best dance moves, record their own voice and make music videos with the music video creator.

Boogie features new versions of tracks made popular by hit bands such as The Jackson 5, Kool & The Gang, Black Eyed Peas and Britney Spears. An all-new intellectual property developed at EA Montreal, Boogie is the perfect party game for gamers of all ages. For more information on the game, please visit the website at http://www.boogie.electronicarts.co.uk


Source

Nintendo Conference News.... Disappointing

Well, apparently the conference is over and apparently this is all that we got:

Mario Galaxy - 1st of November (5800 yen)
Mario Party DS - 8th of November
ASH - 4th of October
New Crimson Black DS Lite (like the Brain Age 2 one) 4th of October
Literature Collection DS - 18th of October (2800 yen)

All of those are Japanese release dates just so you know. I have a feeling we're not getting anything else new from this conference unfortunately. *cries* Reggie, where's my September surprise? There is no other show in September besides the Tokyo Game Show and Nintendo isn't going to that, so who knows when more stuff will be shown.

Source

Meta Knight: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/5 Update

Character Profile - Meta Knight

It's Meta Knight, whose introduction was delayed for some reason. He's Kirby's...rival?

Despite being almost all head, his mask and cape exude coolness. He overwhelms enemies with his mach-speed sword!




Source (More Pictures Here)

Nintendo Conference Rumors

So, Nintendo is having their conference in Japan in a few hours, though the exact time I do not know. A few rumors have popped up as to what they will reveal at the conference:

Mario Party DS - 11/8 (Japan date)
Mario Galaxy - 11/15 (Japan date)
New Wii color
DS price drop
possible big game announcement


Hopefully this and more turns out to be true.

Source

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Picross DS Gets Downloadable Puzzles!


Picross DS, what is it? Well, if you haven't heard of it, you NEED to read on. It's a highly addictive puzzle game. I had heard about it before but never really believed the hype or anything. A few days ago I downloaded a demo of it from Target and it was so much fun. You basically have to fill in a certain number of squares vertically and horizontally. It's hard to explain, so if you haven't played it yet, I highly suggest going to a store near you that has a DS Download Station and downloading a demo of Picross DS so you can learn how to play it and get addicted to it.

So anyways, one cool feature of Picross DS is that it uses Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can create your own puzzles and send them to others with the game. And you know what's even better? Over time, Nintendo will send out new puzzle packs that you can download and play. Well, if you have Picross DS, now is your chance to download some puzzles online. The Mario Picross Packs 1 and 2 are available for download, so go download them and have fun, umm... picrossing. Yea, that's doesn't work. I have to look into buying this game cause it was a lot of fun.

Source

Guitar Hero III Official Boxart (Has Wi-Fi Logo)


The Boxart has the wi-fi logo so I guess it is online. Yay! I did hear a rumor that it will be online, but won't have downloadable content. I can see that happening, though I wish it wouldn't, but that's just a rumor. At least it is online.

Source

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law to Wii

SAN MATEO, Calif — Sept. 4, 2007  Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, announced today that Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law™ is now coming to the Wii™ video game system from Nintendo. The Wii version of Harvey joins the previously announced PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system versions of the game. The Wii version of Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law will carry a suggested retail price of $39.99, while the PS2 and PSP versions will have an SRP of $29.99. Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law will be available for all three platforms on November 13.

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is a fully animated interactive adventure game that merges the fun and mayhem of the popular Adult Swim TV show with Capcom’s unique style of gameplay. Players will step into the shiny wingtips of Harvey Birdman, a third-rate superhero turned third-rate defense attorney charged with exonerating parodied classic cartoon characters.

Over the course of the game, players must guide Harvey through a series of odd and comical cases. Each of the game’s five interactive stories takes the winged crusader of justice to familiar locations from the TV show. In order to prove his client’s innocence, Harvey must peruse the scene of the crime, gather evidence, talk with other cartoon characters, occasionally have drinks with opposing council, and of course, tear holes – no matter how ridiculous – in the testimony provided by the witness for the prosecution. Harvey must bring the whole story together to defend his client in a court where anything can happen… including a confrontation with the prosecution who brandishes a Shrink Ray Gun. With outrageous gameplay and the comical antics of hilarious animated characters, players and fans alike will feel that they are not just taking control of a character, but actually taking part in a brand new episode of Harvey Birdman.


Source

New Nintendo Trademarks

Here are some new localized and protected trademarks that Nintendo has made:

- Mii Contest Channel
- Nintendo Magic
- Wii Body Controller
- Mii Audition
- Wii Handle
- Pikmin
- Soma Bringer


Mii Contest Channel? Possibly a name change for Check Mii Out.
Nintendo Magic? A Japanese DS game about magic now coming to the US maybe.
Wii Body Controller? Possibly the new name for the Wii Balance Board.
Mii Audition? Maybe this is a new name for the Check Mii Out channel.
Wii Handle? A replacement for Friend Codes possibly.
Pikmin? Possibly, and hopefully, a new Pikmin game coming.
Soma Bringer? No clue.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what they are, though we could find out about some of them at Nintendo's conference tomorrow.

Source

Diddy Kong's Special Moves: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/4 Update

Diddy Kong's Standard Special Move - Peanut Popgun
Diddy Kong's Up Special Move - Rocketbarrel Boost




Source (More Pictures and Details Here)

Monday, September 3, 2007

Guitar Hero III for Wii to not have online... "initially"

Here's a part of an interview with the President of RedOctane, Kai Huang:

Pro-G: What systems will gamers be able to venture online with? Anything planned for the Wii?

KH: There is online for the PS3 and Xbox 360. There won’t be online initially for the Wii, but we are working with Nintendo to see how we can get those features in.


Could this mean a downloadable patch that adds online support? I think it more likely means we're not getting online, unfortunately.

Source

9/3 VC Wii-kly Update: 4 New Games Added!

Sept. 3, 2007

Everyone believes education is important, even apes. To celebrate the back-to-school season, Donkey Kong Jr.™ Math is now available on the Wii Shop Channel. It'll help you get those math skills back in shape after their summer slumber. After that, there's still plenty of adventure, treasure seeking and a never-ending supply of bad guys to fight. Good thing it's a holiday today, huh? Enjoy.

Four new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Adventure Island (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): A mysterious tropical paradise known as Adventure Island is the setting for this side-scrolling action game. The evil Witch Doctor has kidnapped Tina, the true love of Master Higgins. To save her, you must safely guide Master Higgins through eight perilous stages - including dense forests and creepy caves - while defeating all of the enemies in your path. Each area is made up of four rounds filled with enemies determined to stop you in your tracks. In addition, as time passes, Master Higgins's vitality is automatically drained. To keep going, he must eat constantly by grabbing fruit, milk and whatever other goodies he can as he races toward his goal. Sometimes eggs containing miraculous items like axes to throw at enemies or honey that grants temporary invincibility will appear. Use items skillfully to help you clear the areas. At the end of each area you'll face the Witch Doctor, who you must defeat to advance. Go, Master Higgins, go!

Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Learning can be fun, especially when you play along with Donkey Kong Jr. Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division by directing Junior, a cute little monkey who must climb up and down vines to collect numbers and math symbols to solve the math problems his father gives him. Compete with a friend in a race to solve problems in Game A or add more challenge with Game B. Of course, you can also practice on your own. This game is perfect for younger players who are looking for a fun and easy way to develop their math skills.

Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): After hearing of the legendary treasure of King Nole, the elvish treasure hunter Nigel undertakes a quest to gather various pieces of the famed loot. His journey takes him through Mercator Island's villages, caves and dungeons that hold King Nole's riches. Along the way, he'll have to help the inhabitants of the island while fighting against the treachery of Duke Mercator, who is searching for the treasure as well. A variety of obstacles and foes will try to deter Nigel, who must use all his wits and skills to defeat Duke Mercator and uncover the secret of King Nole's treasure.

Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points): The hard-headed hero is back for more side-scrolling action in the third installment of the popular Bonk series. It's up to Bonk once again to thwart the plans of the relentless evil King Drool. There are seven rounds scattered throughout the Dinosaur Kingdom, each one filled with fun contraptions and comical enemies. Grab a Flower Copter or exchange 16 Smileys at the end of each round to play up to eight different bonus stages. Or you can change the size of Bonk by grabbing the new red or blue candy items. Depending on the situation, you can change your size to bonk your way through a dead end or to get a hard-to-reach item. And if that's not enough, you can grab a friend and put your heads together to defeat King Drool in the new two-player mode.


Source

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Boxart?


I think we may have our official Brawl Boxart. There's no official confirmation yet and the picture is pretty small, but all the signs lead to it being real. I sure hope it is real because it looks awesome.

Source

Pit's Descent: Super Smash Bros. Dojo 9/3 Update

Today's update is a new video called Pit's Descent. It shows Pit watching the Subspace Army invasion. Palutena then comes and sends Pit to go stop them. You can see the video here or on YouTube below:



Source

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Red Steel 2 Details on September 28th?



Take a look at those screenshots from ONM (The Official Nintendo Magazine, which is sold in the UK). That exclusive title they're talking about? It looks like Red Steel 2 to me. I mean, it has a red dot and a Japanese word next to it (could it say steel?). And the tagline says "Bigger. Better. Bolder. Bloodier. And oh - it's online." It sure as heck sounds like Red Steel 2, and it's online! So, September 28th is the day we'll get our first screenshots and Hands-on impressions of what is most likely Red Steel 2. I'm excited! I bought Red Steel and despite its few flaws, I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be buying Red Steel 2.

Source

The "Wii Would Like to Play" Song

I'm sure you've all seen the Wii Would Like to Play commercials. They include two Japanese guys going to random places saying "Wii Would Like to Play". The original few, which you can see in the video below, showcased various Wii games and they later came out with other "Wii Would Like to Play" commercials for Mario Party 8, Mario Strikers Charged, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and other games. If you haven't seen any of them, which I find unlikely, watch an extended commercial below:



The reason I posted this is because of the music in the commercials. I came across a link to the actual guys that play the song. The artists are known as the Yoshida Brothers and the song is called Kodo. It is really cool and you can watch/hear it below:



I enjoy the music and I look forward to hearing more "Wii Would Like to Play" commercials with this music in it.

IGN's Wii-k In Review Podcast Highlights

-Metroid Prime 3 talk
-talk of third parties flocking to the Wii
-Zack and Wiki talk
-Manhunt 2 info next week possibly
-SMG graphics compared to power of Xbox
-LucasArts talk
-Arcade mode in Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 is better than RE:UC
- (Complete rumor)The next Zelda game may star Zelda for the first time in the actual Zelda series
- My Sims is linear
- MoH: Heroes is close to mouse and keyboard controls
- Phantom Hourglass talk
- RE:UC in-depth talk
- Good exclusive stuff next week and stuff lined up until 2008


A Zelda game that stars Zelda? Sounds interesting. Exclusive stuff next week? Could it be related to Nintendo's conference on Wednesday? Possibly. I don't know about you, but I'm excited.

Source

Jam Sessions Bundle Pack Information


Heard of Jam Sessions? If not, it's a DS game where you use the touch screen as a guitar basically. What's interesting though is this bundle. It appears to come with an amp for the DS. How much does it cost? $69.99 according to GameStop. It does look interesting.

Source