Today's Special Archives: October 2006

News Archives Index Japanese Virtual Console List Revealed [ Nintendo of Japan ] Dang it Japan! Why do you get all the cool stuff? Looking at the two lists side by side, it's obvious that Japanese Wii gamers will get the much cooler Virtual Console lineup, featuring several games which are notably omitted from our shores (including Street Fighter II, Donkey Kong Country, Castlevania IV, Zelda: Link to the Past, Super Mario World, and even the legendary Super Mario Bros.). Hopefully NoA gets their butts in gear and brings these games over in the coming months after the Wii launches, because our lineup is looking pretty weak in comparison. Add to the fact that Sega Megadrive (that's Genesis to us folk) will retail for a mere 600 yen ($6) as opposed to a full $8 here, and you can just feel the pain already. Anyway, here's the full list. Famicom (NES) * Ice Hockey (Nintendo) * Urban Champion (Nintendo) * Legend of Kage (Taito) * Gradius (Konami) * Go-moku Narabe (Nintendo) * Soccer (Nintendo) * Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) * Xevious (Bandai Namco) * Legend of Zelda (Nintendo) * Solomon's Key (Tecmo) * Tennis (Nintendo) * Donkey Kong (Nintendo) * Donkey Kong Jr. (Nintendo) * Ninja Jajamaru-kun (Jaleco) * Pinball (Nintendo) * Baseball (Nintendo) * Mario Bros. (Nintendo) * Wario's Woods (Nintendo) Super Famicom (SNES) * F-Zero (Nintendo) * R-Type III (Irem) * Super Castlevania IV (Konami) * Contra III (Konami) * Sim City (Nintendo) * Street Fighter II (Capcom) * Donkey Kong Country (Nintendo) * Super Mario World (Nintendo) * Zelda: Link to the Past (Nintendo) * Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo (Nintendo) * Mario Super Picross (Nintendo) Nintendo 64 * Super Mario 64 (Nintendo) Mega Drive (Genesis) * Ecco The Dolphin (Sega) * Gunstar Heroes (Sega) * Golden Axe (Sega) * Columns (Sega) * Shadow Dancer (Sega) * Altered Beast (Sega) * Space Harrier II (Sega) * Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega) * Toejam and Earl (Sega) * Puyo Puyo (Sega) * Ristar (Sega) PC Engine (TG-16) * Bonk's Adventure (Hudson) * Necromancer (Hudson) * Super Star Soldier (Hudson) * New Adventure Island (Hudson) * Dungeon Explorer (Hudson) * Battle Lode Runner (Hudson) * Victory Run (Hudson) * Bomberman '94 (Hudson) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 23:43 PM [Top] Official US Final Fantasy III Website Opens [ Square-Enix ] One of the most anticipated DS games of this fall is Final Fantasy III, the first stateside release of the only Final Fantasy installment never to hit North America. Due to the heavy hype for the game, Square-Enix has come through with an awesome looking official site for the game, featuring new trailers, screenshots, info about the game's story and its characters, details on the new "Mognet" system, and a complete overview on each of the classes players can utilize in the game. Final Fantasy III hits the DS on November 15th. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 23:22 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces Full Wii/Virtual Console Launch Lineup [ Nintendo ] Within the first five weeks of launch, Wii owners can pick from up to 62 games, representing the most diverse, and most exciting, console video game library available. Licensees and developers have lined up to support the Wii launch in unprecedented numbers. Wii and its Wii Remote completely change the way people play and experience video games by making every motion of the controller translate into action on the screen. All at once, Wii makes games both easier to play and more immersive. In the five weeks after Wii launches in the United States on Nov. 19, gamers of all ages and abilities will be telling their friends and family: "You've got to play this!" By year's end, Wii owners will have 32 new titles to play, including industry powerhouse games like The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess, Madden NFL '07, Need for Speed: Carbon and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam; category-redefining adventures like Red Steel, Elebits and Trauma Center: Second Opinion; and Hollywood favorites like Cars, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of these games might be familiar, but if you haven't played them on Wii, you're only getting half the experience. Wii owners also will return to their youth with 30 classic games available for download to play on Wii's Virtual Console. These include games for the NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx16 consoles. Players redeem Wii Points in the Wii Shop Channel and download their games. And that's not to mention the entire library of more than 530 Nintendo GameCube games that can be played on the Wii console from day one because Wii is directly backward compatible. Wii's launch library contains games of all genres, and each one gives gamers a new way to play. While Wii Sports, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and EXCITE TRUCK will be ready to go on launch day, last-minute polishing by third parties means their exact dates will soon be locked down, though most will launch by the end of November. A complete list of launch-day titles will be announced in the near future. Visit www.Wii.com for updates. Third-party publishers have created an impressive list of launch titles for Wii, and their backing will continue steadily into the new year. Before the end of December alone, the following titles will be available: Activision: Call of Duty 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Rapala Tournament Fishing, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions Atari: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 Atlus: Trauma Center: Second Opinion EA: Madden NFL '07, Need for Speed: Carbon Konami: Elebits Midway: Happy Feet, Rampage: Total Destruction, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Ant Bully Sega: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz SNK: Metal Slug Anthology Tecmo: Super Swing Golf THQ: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard, Cars, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Creature from the Krusty Krab Ubisoft: Far Cry: Vengeance, GT Pro Series, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Open Season, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent Vivendi: Ice Age 2: The Meltdown In addition to these new titles, Nintendo is making the greatest video game archive in history available for download to its Virtual Console. NES games start at 500 Wii Points, Super NES games start at 800 Wii Points and Nintendo 64 games start at 1,000 Wii Points. Sega Genesis games start at 800 Wii Points and TurboGrafx16 games start at 600 Wii Points. Wii Points can be purchased online or at retail at an MSRP of $20 for 2,000 points. Before the end of December, the following titles will be available: NES: Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Ice Hockey, Pinball, Soccer, Tennis, Urban Champion, Wario's Woods, Baseball, Solomon's Key SNES: F-Zero, SimCity N64: Super Mario 64 Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Gunstar Heroes, Space Harrier II, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine TurboGrafx16: Bonk's Adventure, Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, Bomberman '93, Dungeon Explorer I think I speak for everyone when I say November 19th can't come soon enough. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 22:46 PM [Top] 2KGames Brings It Big on Wii [ 2K Sports ] 2K Sports announced today a unique, new sports title that adds more explosive excitement to baseball video games than ever before - The BIGS. This over-the-top baseball action title puts an entirely new spin on Major League Baseball as it blends outrageous visuals and intuitive gameplay mechanics to bring fans a brand new MLB video game experience. Developed by Blue Castle Games, The BIGS brings blazing graphics to huge proportions with larger-than-life MLB player models and ballparks. Featuring fantastic pitching, batting, and fielding animations, gamers can also take advantage of spectacular power-ups with outrageous special effects. As a standard for all major 2K Sports titles, The BIGS features online play for up to four players, making it a grand slam for online baseball battles. The BIGS will be available for the Nintendo Wii and is slated for release in summer 2007. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 17:39 PM [Top] Nintendo Makes DVD-Enabled Wii Official [ GamesIndustry.biz ] After this past weekend's rumor in EDGE magazine that a DVD-equipped Wii would be released in 2007, GamesIndustry.biz put the question to Nintendo itself to get a straight answer. Surprisingly enough, Nintendo gave them just that, confiming that a re-release of the Wii with built-in DVD capabilities will be released in Japan next year. However, it's looking like that is where it will stay - similar to the Panasonic Q, Nintendo has no plans to bring the revamped Wii to the US or Europe. The Nintendo rep also denied reports that Nintendo has teamed with CNN for its news content, stating that the company has not announced any deals with any news providers at this time. The rep also denied reports that the Wii was intended to launch at a $199.99 MSRP with pressure from retailers hiking the price to $249, stating that since prices are set by retailers and not manufacturers, there was no chance for pressure to begin with. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 17:15 PM [Top] New Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trailer at Nintendo World [ Nintendo ] Since E3, the game for Wii with by far the largest amount of buzz has been Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the latest in Nintendo's ultra-popular all-star brawler franchise. However, Nintendo has gone completely quiet on the game since its shocking reveal, saying little more about the game's new abilities, its online play, and most importantly, the new characters involved (which include, among others, Wario, Pit from Kid Icarus, and Snake from Metal Gear Solid). However, it's looking like the silence may finally be broken at this weekend's Nintendo World event in Nagoya, Japan, as the official Smash Bros. site has confirmed that a new trailer for the game will be unveiled to the public at the show. No further details were given, except for promising that we will be able to see the game's new characters in action for the first time: however, this was not clarified as if either we will see the characters known since E3 showing off their in-game abilities, or if BRAND NEW characters will be making their debut in the trailer. It's safe to say we're all hoping for the latter. Stay tuned. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 31 2006 15:00 PM [Top] Majesco Cooks Something Up for Wii [ Majesco ] Since its release a few months ago for the Nintendo DS, Cooking Mama has turned into one of the biggest cult hits for the handheld. Majesco is hoping the same success translates to the Wii, as the company has announced their second Wii game: Cooking Mama: Cook Off. The game will utilize the Wii Remote to allow players to chop, stir, fry, and mash together over 300 different recipes from all over the world, and will also allow for two-player cookoffs. The game hits stores in the US in early 2007. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 30 2006 15:37 PM [Top] Dragon Quest and Pokemon? [ IGN Wii ] Don't worry, there's no crossover game yet. Genius Sonority, the developer behind the console Pokemon games, including the upcoming Pokemon Battle Revolution, are working on Dragon Quest Swords for the Wii. The game has a Japanese release date of Spring 2007. Worry not though, some big name guys are supervising the game. Yuji Horii, creator of Dragon Quest, will serve as an advisor. Artwork will be done by Akira Toriyama, who has handled the artwork of previous DQ games (and is of course the creator of Dragon Ball Z). Lastly, Koichi Sugiyama, another DQ veteran, will be handling the music. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Monday, October 30 2006 14:42 PM [Top] In Soviet Russia, Wii Plays You! [ Yahoo! News ] Word from various sources state that Nintendo is planning to open a videogame division in Russia, joining Sony and Microsoft in the area. Similar to Nintendo's recent moves into nations such as China and Turkey, Russia is seen as a growing market with a strong potential for success. No official word yet from Nintendo on the matter, but we'll keep you posted. Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, October 29 2006 23:48 PM [Top] New Wii Details in EDGE Magazine [ EDGE ] The latest issue of the UK's EDGE magazine is devoted to the impending release of the Wii, and reveals a few interesting tidbits about the system. - The Wii News Channel will be powered by CNN, and can be accessed through the Wii's web browser as well. All news will be region-specific. - While the Wii will not initially support DVD playback, an enhanced version of the console could be released in Japan next year including such a feature (perhaps similar to the Panasonic Q). - Sega, seeing the Wii's potential, has moved a number of its development staff from PS3 to Wii development. - The company originally planned to launch Wii for $199.99, but pressure from large retail chains forced them to raise the price. - The Wii Channels are in no way complete, and more will be added in future updates. - Edge also had a mini-review of Wii Sports, saying the game will be what Mario 64 was to the N64 (in showing off the system's potential). Golf had the best single-player mode, but Boxing was the most fun overall. The company also had an interview with Nintendo Europe's new marketing director Laurent Fischer, who spoke on a number of topics. Interestingly enough, he doesn't think non-gamers will be on board day one with the system. However, he anticipates a similar situation as the DS experienced in Europe, with word-of-mouth driving the system's sales. Expect more on the Wii to be revealed as we close in on November 19th. Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, October 29 2006 20:51 PM [Top] Red Steel Multiplayer Trailer [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has given us a brand new trailer for Red Steel, this time focusing on the multiplayer mode of the game. It looks cool, but I'm pretty sure you don't actually have to hide behind your fish tank to avoid fire...but what do I know. Red Steel is a launch game for the Wii in all regions. Video: Red Steel Multiplayer Trailer (11.3 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, October 27 2006 20:30 PM [Top] Two New Zelda: Twilight Princess Gameplay Videos [ Nintendo of Japan ] With perhaps the most anticipated Nintendo-published game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, just around the corner, it's a bit of a surprise that Nintendo has been rather hush on the game with less than a month to go before the game is in our hot little hands and playable on our Wiis. However, Nintendo broke a bit of that silence today by unveiling two new short (and I mean SHORT) gameplay videos of the anticipated title. While there's barely enough footage here to get your mouth watering, any Zelda is still Zelda. Check them out below. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Combat Video Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Horse Combat Video The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as we all know by now, will be released on November 19th for Wii, and on December 13th for GameCube. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 27 2006 2:30 AM [Top] Nintendo Profits Soar [ Reuters ] With the majority of the gaming world psyched for Wii and the DS proving to be nothing short of a legal way to print money, it's no surprise that Nintendo continues to do what it, as a company, does best: profit out the wazoo. The company today announced its first half earnings for the 2006/2007 fiscal year, totalling a whopping 67.11 billion yen ($565 million), up from 19.6 billion yen last year. The primary cause of this is the DS's popularity - with its recent makeover as the DS Lite and high-profile titles such as New Super Mario Bros., Brain Age, and Big Brain Academy, the DS sold 10.09 million units across all regions, up from 3.57 million last year. The company plans to sell 20 million units of the dual-screened handheld, as well as sell-through the 4 million Wiis they plan to ship to all regions by the end of the year. The company also kept with its original end-of-year profit lookout, hoping to gain 100 billion yen ($850 million) by year's end. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 26 2006 22:49 PM [Top] SouthPeak Releases Two Games [ SouthPeak Interactive ] SouthPeak Interactive, a leading independent publisher, and OrbitalMedia, a videogame developer for handheld videogames, announced today that Scurge: Hive for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS™ and Juka & the Monophonic Menace for the Game Boy Advance are now available for gamers who have been anxiously awaiting their release. Scurge: Hive throws gamers into fast-paced action while Juka and the Monophonic Menace is an exciting adventure game for players of all ages. Scurge: Hive features Jenosa Arma, a bounty hunter, whose insatiable appetite for trouble and curiosity could be her very undoing. Forty-eight hours ago, a distress signal was sent from a remote research lab studying a virulent organism identified as the “Scurge”. Scientists have been studying its remarkable metamorphic and energy abilities. Armed with top-secret projectile gauntlets and a prototype battle suit, Jenosa has been commissioned by a black-ops cell from the government to investigate and salvage any research technology from within the facility. Juka and the Monophonic Menace features Juka, a young Alchemist, whose peaceful world is turned up side downwhen local villages start to disappear. Juka must use his power of potion creationand master the ancient art of The Sound Staff if he is to make his way through the many quests, puzzles, and Menace Machines that he will encounter while trying to free the land of Obla from the evil Monophonic Menace. Images: Scurge: Hive GBA Boxart Scurge: Hive DS Boxart Scurge: Hive Screenshot 1 Scurge: Hive Screenshot 2 Scurge: Hive Screenshot 3 Juka and the Monophonic Menace GBA Boxart Juka and the Monophonic Menace Screenshot 1 Juka and the Monophonic Menace Screenshot 2 Juka and the Monophonic Menace Screenshot 3 Juka and the Monophonic Menace Screenshot 4 Juka and the Monophonic Menace Screenshot 5 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, October 25 2006 18:32 PM [Top] Ubisoft to Publish Star Trek on DS [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft today announced that they have reached an agreement with Bethesda Softworks to publish upcoming Star Trek titles, including one for the DS, Star Trek: Tactical Assault. Star Trek: Tactical Assault features real-time spaceship combat from the universe of Star Trek: the Original Series shows and films. With a wide array of authentic Star Trek races, ships, and weaponry, you can engage in single-player battle through either the Federation or Klingon campaigns or in head-to-head wireless multiplayer combat. Star Trek: Tactical Assault is being developed by Quicksilver Software, creators of the highly popular Star Trek: Starfleet Command. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, October 25 2006 13:14 PM [Top] Ubisoft European Boxarts [ Ubisoft ] We've got some PAL boxarts for some upcoming UbiSoft DS and Wii games. Check them out below. Images: Catz DS Boxart Dogz DS Boxart Rayman Raving Rabbids DS Boxart Rayman Raving Rabbids Wii Boxart Open Season Wii Boxart Far Cry Vengeance Wii Boxart Red Steel Wii Boxart GT Pro Series Wii Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, October 25 2006 0:18 AM [Top] Elebits Stuffed Toys with Preorders [ IGN Wii ] Konami has announced through IGN that the company will have a preorder bonus available for their highly-anticipated Wii launch title, Elebits. Gamers who put money down on the game at Gamestop, EB Games, and Gamecrazy locations will score a free plush toy of one of the cute little...erm...creatures when the game hits stores at launch for the Wii. For the images of the plushes, head on over to IGN by clicking the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 23:12 PM [Top] Asphalt 2 DS Screens [ Ubisoft ] Asphalt 2: Urban GT combines the virtues of both simulation and arcade racing for the Nintendo DS. Players will be in the driver’s seat while hitting the streets in a wide range of licensed high-performance cars and motorbikes on tracks from all over the world. Winning races, collecting prize money, and then purchasing new vehicles and/or tuning current ones are the key to success. Asphalt 2: Urban GT is a solid game for both sports car enthusiast and racing fans. With 44 licenseed vehicles, 28 tracks, and customizable cars, along with Wi-Fi play, Asphalt 2: Urban GT should satisfy fans looking for a new DS racing experience. Images: Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 1 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 2 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 3 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 4 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 5 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 6 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 7 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 8 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 9 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 10 Asphalt 2: Urban GT Screenshot 11 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 21:07 PM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Check out the game's launch trailer below. Video: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Launch Trailer (8.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 18:00 PM [Top] New Call of Duty 3 Trailer [ GameCube Café ] The follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, Call of Duty 3 delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the Normandy Breakout, the historic campaign that made the liberation of Paris possible and brought the Allies a step closer to Berlin. Through a seamless narrative that delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action, players assume the roles of four ordinary Allied soldiers—American, British, Canadian and Polish—and are thrust onto an authentic, living battlefield for an unprecedented variety of combat, with advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character animations and explosive on-screen action, delivering the most immersive and cinematically intense war experience ever. Check out the game's official launch trailer below. Video: Call of Duty 3 Launch Trailer (38.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 17:57 PM [Top] Ubisoft Promises Six More Wii Games Before April 2007 [ Ubisoft ] If it wasn't clear before, it is now: Ubisoft loves Wii. In a report made earlier to announce it's 1st half revenue (up 13 percent from last year), the company also announced that several more Wii titles will be rolling down the pipeline after the console's launch, and heading into 2007. Along with the 8 already announced (Red Steel, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Spinter Cell: Double Agent, Far Cry Vengeance, GT Pro Series, Monster 4x4: World Circuit, Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, and Open Season), the company has announced that there will be 6 additional games hitting stores before the end of April, making for 14 total games. Ubisoft did not reveal any specifics on their upcoming games, but did say one of them would be from "an unannounced new brand". Hopefully we'll hear more on what Ubi has planned for Nintendo's new console in the coming weeks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 17:43 PM [Top] Pokémon Ranger Fact Sheet and Images [ Nintendo ] And one more fact sheet for you. This one's for Pokémon Ranger, coming November 1 for the DS. Rated E for Everyone, it supports one player. KEY INFORMATION * Players play as a Pokémon Ranger who works to help people, Pokémon and nature. * The game introduces a new way to catch Pokémon using the stylus called “Capturing.” * This game can be played using only the touch screen and stylus, allowing for a unique experience found only on the Nintendo DS. The player captures Pokémon by drawing circles around them with the stylus. By doing this, they are communicating with the Pokémon and sending it their feelings. * Capturing a Pokémon allows players to use its ability and solve various problems they will face along the way (such as clearing obstacles blocking the path). They also can use their ability to help capture other Pokémon. Game storyline: After Spenser (one of the Ranger Leaders) receives letters about how much the player wants to become a Ranger, he invites the player to Fall City to join. The life of a Pokémon Ranger consists primarily of protecting nature and helping people by using wild Pokémon they have captured. By using the wild Pokémon’s powers, Rangers can solve any number of problems. Just as the player starts to feel comfortable as a Ranger, the Go-Rock Squad shows up and steals the Professor’s new Capture Styler. Characters: As either Lunick (boy) or Solana (girl), players set out to stop the Go-Rock Squad and recover Professor Hasting’s stolen Super Styler (the newly developed version of the Capture Styler). The main character is accompanied by a single partner Pokémon that will always be there, and various wild Pokémon that the player captures as needed. How to progress through the game: As a Pokémon Ranger, players capture wild Pokémon by circling them with their stylus numerous times (the bigger Pokémon take more to capture). Players then borrow their power and abilities to clear obstacles and puzzles they encounter along the way. Once they use a captured Pokémon’s power, it will leave. Players will always have their partner Pokémon with them – it will never leave. There are various “Groups” of Pokémon the player can capture. Some of the Pokémon groups are Grass, Fire, Electric and many more. Each Pokémon group has a unique Poke Assist to help players. There are various “Group Match-up” advantages/disadvantages that make the capture of Pokémon strategic. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: In the game, the player uses what is called a Capture Styler to capture wild Pokémon. Once they are captured, wild Pokémon will follow the player around until their powers are used (either in a Poke Assist or a Field Move). A Poke Assist is when the player uses an already-captured Pokémon to help capture another Pokémon. A Field Move is when the player uses a captured Pokémon's power to clear an obstacle in the way. As the player progresses, the Capture Styler becomes more powerful, giving them more Energy (Hit Points) and allowing them to keep more captured wild Pokémon with them at a time. Images: Pokémon Ranger Logo Pokémon Ranger Boxart Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 1 Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 2 Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 3 Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 4 Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 5 Pokémon Ranger Screenshot 6 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:28 PM [Top] Kirby Squeak Squad Info and Images [ Nintendo ] So here's the new fact sheet for Kirby Squeak Squad, launching December 6 for the DS. It's rated E for Everyone and supports 1-4 players. KEY INFORMATION Kirby's back and ready for a bellyful of adventure as he takes on a diabolical band of thieves called the Squeaks. * Players can expect all the floating, jumping and battling of a classic Kirby game, but now they can even mix abilities and recovery items using the touch screen. With more than 25 upgradeable abilities, including new ones like Animal and Bubble, Kirby will have the tools he needs to defeat his toughest foes yet. * The abilities themselves now affect the environment as well as foes. Players burn trees and grasses with the Fire Ability or freeze water with the Ice Ability as they hunt down every last treasure chest in eight huge worlds. Tons of unlockables await, from music tracks to Kirby colors to secret stages and abilities, so players must explore every nook and cranny. * This game also features three multiplayer sub-games for up to four players, either via DS Download Play or Multicard LAN play. Players test their reaction speed in Speedy Teatime, bump and battle in Smash Ride and aim for snacks in Treasure Shot. Game storyline: When thieving mice called the Squeaks steal Kirby's snack along with a ton of Dream Land treasures, the pink powerhouse sets out after them, copying new skills as he goes. Characters: Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, the Squeaks and many enemies, both new and old. How to progress through the game: Players run, float and fight their way through eight worlds as Kirby, gobbling up enemies as they go. Kirby can inhale enemies and spit them out as stars, but the main game play comes from swallowing foes and copying their abilities, then using the abilities to defeat other foes and advance past obstacles. In each world, players hunt down small treasure chests, each of which holds unlockable bonuses like music tracks, Kirby colors, powered-up abilities or secret stages. They'll also find large chests, which are guarded by the Squeaks. When players find one, they must defeat the Squeak or run for the exit before it catches them. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: In this game, Kirby can mix abilities inside his belly, which appears on the touch screen of the DS. When Kirby collects abilities that float in bubbles around the world, they appear in his belly - drag them together using the touch screen to create a different ability. Players also can power up food items by combining them. Images: Kirby Squeak Squad Logo Kirby Squeak Squad Boxart Kirby Squeak Squad Screenshot 1 Kirby Squeak Squad Screenshot 2 Kirby Squeak Squad Screenshot 3 Kirby Squeak Squad Screenshot 4 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:27 PM [Top] Konami Brings Arcade Classics to DS [ Konami ] Konami today announced Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the Nintendo DS�. Featuring more than 12 of the most memorable quarter-munching arcade hits of all-time, the game will let players enjoy these timeless classics in both their original and remixed dual screen forms and also enjoy them with friends in special wireless modes. Taking advantage of the unique functionality of the Nintendo DS, Arcade Hits lets players choose from a number of screen configurations, including horizontal and vertical combinations to maintain the original screen size of each game at it appeared in arcades. Players can also use the system¹s wireless capabilities to play with friends and share data such as high scores and replays. Arcade Hits also features special modes that let players listen to more than 100 classic songs and sound effects and review the history of each title in the compilation, complete with trivia and vintage artwork. Below is a list of some of the titles included in Arcade Hits: * Circus Charlie: Take control of a clown named Charlie, making your way through a series of circus themed challenges such as jumping on trampolines, tightrope walking and swinging on the flying trapeze. * Contra: In this original arcade shooter smash hit, take on the role of a hard boiled Marine as you single-handedly eradicate a deadly alien threat. * Gradius: Customize the legendary Vic Viper space craft as you fly and shoot through hundreds of space enemies in this timeless shooter. * Roc¹N Rope: Play as an archaeologist and use your harpoon gun to swing across cliffs in search of legendary treasures, avoiding dangerous cavemen and dinosaurs along the way. * Rush¹N Attack: Players take on the role of a tough-as-nails special forces agent, rescuing prisoners of war and going head to head with endless waves of gun-toting enemies. * Time Pilot: Zip back and forth through time in your futuristic fighter craft, saving your comrades while taking on enemies from different moments in history. * Track and Field: Stake your claim for the gold medal, taking part in exciting competitions such as the 100 meter dash, long jump and javelin throw in this classic game of athletic prowess. * Yie-Ar Kung Fu: Deflect shuriken, dodge swords and deliver ruthless high kicks while facing off one-on-one against a host of martial arts masters in merciless kung-fu matches. Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits will launch for the Nintendo DS in March 2007. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:13 PM [Top] Konami Announces Preorder Goodies for Castlevania [ Konami ] Konami today announced that just in time for the 20th anniversary of the Castlevania series, consumers who pre-order Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for the Nintendo DS� at Gamestop, EB Games and GameCrazy locations nationwide will receive, at the time of purchase, a limited edition box set at no additional cost containing items that document the history of this legendary franchise. Highlighting 20 years of one of the most celebrated video game series of all time, the Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin limited edition gift with purchase comes in a highly collectible wax-sealed box and includes the following items: -- Art Book: This 48 page book details the artwork of every game in the Castlevania series and features an embossed cover. -- 20th Anniversary Soundtrack CD: Spanning 20 years of music that has defined the Castlevania series, this soundtrack contains songs from nearly every Castlevania game ever made, including four never before released tracks from Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. -- Stylus and DS Game Case: Emblazoned with the Castlevania logo, this extendable stylus is sure to give virtual vampire hunters the edge in their next handheld encounter with Dracula, while the transparent game case lets gamers keep both Castlevania DS adventures out of harm¹s way. -- Timeline Poster: Detailing key events and characters in the history of Castlevania, this fold out poster features a timeline on the front and a Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin poster on the back. Breaking new ground in the Castlevania series, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin lets players continue the battle against the evil minions of the night as two playable characters, Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin. Players can choose to use Jonathan¹s whip-cracking melee abilities or Charlotte¹s magical prowess individually or team up together for the first time in the history of the franchise as they explore all new levels and environments. Players can also play online with friends and wirelessly trade items using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin will be available for the Nintendo DS this December. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 16:06 PM [Top] Elite Beat Agents Fact Sheet [ Nintendo ] Here's the new fact sheet for Elite Beat Agents for the DS. The game is rated E10 for Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor, Lyrics, and Suggestive Themes. It supports 1-4 players and is part of Nintendo's Touch Generations series. It hits stores n the US on November 8. KEY INFORMATION In a jam? Well, all these guys DO is jam. Prepare to rock as these beat masters use their groovy moves to save the day. * Get ready to roll! As the music plays, players tap the screen, trace rhythmic patterns and keep the beat as the story unfolds on the top screen. They'll rock along to 19 licensed and re-recorded songs across multiple music genres, featuring tunes such as "Material Girl," "Walkie Talkie Man," "Rock This Town" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash." * Every scene is accompanied by rump-shaking tunes, but it's up to players to help keep the Elite Beat Agents grooving. The worse they do, the worse the story might end up. Players also can try their skills in co-op or versus mode with up to three pals via local wireless. * Rhythm games have come and gone, but there has never been anything like the Elite Beat Agents. Whether they're saving a tortured director from a certain flop or helping a babysitter charm a hunky quarterback, no crisis is too weird. Game storyline: The public knows of government agencies like the FBI and CIA, but little is known of this super-secret agency. Code-named "Elite Beat Agents," these men in black are hero's heroes and the coolest group of guys this world has ever known. Of course, according to official records, they do not exist. Their leader, an ex-CIA agent named Commander Kahn, scans the world for cries of help. When he finds one, he dispatches the agents, who assist their targets by performing a song and dance. The hypnotic nature of their rocking revives the targets with groovy energy that boosts their willpower and helps them overcome their obstacles. Characters: Commander Kahn; Derek, Morris and J (the Elite Beat Agents); a ton of other unusual characters. How to progress through the game: The player gets introduced to the target's problem in a comical intro. Commander Kahn dispatches the agents to the scene. The agents arrive in a special "Beat Transport" that is tailor-made for the situation. The song starts as the agents and player meet the target. Game play begins. By tapping and tracing patterns that appear on screen with the stylus, players play along with the song's rhythm. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: The animated story changes depending on how well the player performs. After each section, the player gets judged. Depending on the Elite-o-meter's judgment, the story will go well or poorly. If the player makes it though the whole song, he or she will be judged on the whole thing and get one of three endings. Images: Elite Beat Agents Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 13:11 PM [Top] Updated Info for Children of Mana [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has updated the fact sheet for Children of Mana. The game launches November 1 in the US for the Nintendo DS. It is an action-RPG rated E10 for Language and Mild Fantasy Violence, and supports 1-4 players. Here's the new fact sheet: KEY INFORMATION In the center of the world, the Mana Tree grows, sheltering everyone under its strong limbs. Its magic protects the world, but that power has grown too strong and has begun to surge across the land, corrupting all that it touches. Now, a handful of young heroes must band together to restore the magic of the Mana Tree and save Illusia. * To arms! Take up sword, flail, hammer and bow, and strike back at the evil that corrupts the heart of Mana. * Unlock the power of the gems. Players pick from more than 180 magic gems to customize their characters with new abilities that suit their playing styles and to prepare for intense, fast-paced battles. * Play the adventure solo or with friends in four-player local wireless games. Players take on the most difficult challenges, fight formidable foes and even fight one another for loot. Game storyline: Ten years before the game begins, a great cataclysm struck, and the land of Illusia was besieged by monsters. Now, the Mana Tree has been corrupted by her own power, and mysterious pillars of Mana energy have appeared throughout the land. Each of these pillars has corrupted the power of the guardian spirits in those lands. With the help of the Sword of Mana, the player must free each of these guardian spirits from the corrupting magic and help restore order the Mana Tree and the land of Illusia itself. Characters: Ferrik: When he was little, his life was saved by a nameless swordsman. Since then, he has dreamt of becoming a swordsman himself. He lost his parents and older sister in the cataclysm. Tess: She devotes all of her time to studying the Mana Tree and its relation to the Mana Goddess. Poppen: He is a skilled and fearless magician from the desert of Jadd. Tamber: She's a young and agile dancer and acrobat. She lost her younger brother and parents in the cataclysm. Wanderer: Cast out from the niccolos (a species known for being merchants) for his wanderlust, he is both loyal and compassionate, although he tries to act cool and detached. How to progress through the game: Children of Mana is an action/adventure role-playing game. Players start in a "hub" town in Illusia and travel to different locations (dungeons) throughout the world. Each dungeon contains an assortment of monsters. At the end of the dungeon is a corrupted spirit "boss" they must defeat to free the pure spirit within. All battles are real-time: Players use button combos to attack with different weapons, including flails, bows, swords and mallets. Players can summon elemental spirits to attack enemies as well, or they can use the power of the spirits to enhance their weapons' attack powers. Any of the game's dungeons can be played solo, but one to four players can team up to play dungeons together using DS Wireless Play. Each player needs a separate game card - DS Download Play is not supported. The game's difficulty level scales depending on how many players are involved. Players cannot harm one another, but they can stun each other with their attacks. This gives the game a competitive aspect as players race to grab items for themselves. Players can team up against a challenging boss creature and then scramble to beat one another to whatever rare items that boss drops once it has been defeated. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: As players gain in experience, they will become able to use weapons and armor that they couldn't use earlier. Players can then customize those weapons by adding different gems to a "gem frame." Gems add new abilities to weapons and improve a character's statistics. They can change a character's defense and attack levels or even give their weapons new attacks. There are more than 180 gems of varying rarity, each with a different effect on the player's character. Images: Children of Mana Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 24 2006 13:06 PM [Top] Zelda Box Arts [ Nintendo ] Link, a young man raised as a wrangler in a small, rural village, is sent to bear a gift to the royal family of Hyrule. Before he can leave, tragedy strikes the village and he is yanked into a twilight gloom that has covered Hyrule. When he enters that realm, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. A mysterious figure named Midna helps him break free. With the aid of her magic, they set off to free the land from the shadows. Nintendo has released three versions of the Twilight Princess boxart - one for the GameCube release (December 13) and two for the Wii release (November 19). The difference in the Wii boxes is unknown as yet - will there be a special edition of the game, or is the gold just to celebrate the launch, with the standard coming later? We'll see. Images: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Boxart (GCN) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Boxart (Wii - Standard) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Boxart (Wii - Gold) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, October 23 2006 14:20 PM [Top] Excite Truck Boxart [ Nintendo ] In EXCITE TRUCK, the main goal is to jump and bump to the highest score and best finish. The more points players gain, the higher their status grows - which in turn unlocks new courses. When players first start the game, they’ll need to pass a series of tutorial challenges that teach the basics of driving and racing a truck. After they’ve completed those challenges, they can enter Excite Mode and race against other trucks in a series of globe-spanning races. During the race, they hold the Wii Remote sideways and turn it to steer around corners and fly off of huge jumps. In the air, players can tilt the Wii Remote to control their descent. If they land with all four tires touching the ground, they’ll get a massive speed boost. Each dangerous stunt players pull off will earn stars. The total number of stars players earn determines their race rating. As players complete series of races, they will unlock even more challenging racing courses. Each truck has a turbo charger that gives it a huge temporary speed boost. However, if players use the turbo too much, their engine will overheat. At the beginning of the game, players have access to only a handful of vehicles. As they earn points for completing races, they’ll unlock additional trucks and buggies. During races, they can collect pick-ups that dynamically morph the terrain or make trucks temporarily powerful enough to send trees flying. Excite Truck will be available at Wii launch in the US on November 19. It is rated E for Everyone and supports 1-2 players. Images: Excite Truck Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, October 23 2006 14:14 PM [Top] Updated WarioWare Info and Boxart [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has updated WarioWare: Smooth Move's information with some interest new tidbits. First off, the game has slipped from this year to January 17, 2006. It also lists the game as being mostly one-player, some 2-5 player, and one 12-player game. How this will be worked has yet to be seen. The game carries an E10+ rating for Crude Humor and Mild Cartoon Violence. WarioWare's back with an idea so crazy, it could only be made with the latest technology: the Wii Remote. When Wario stumbles upon a strange device called a Form Baton, he and his friends use it to learn new moves that are as fun as they are wacky. With hundreds of microgames, this game is just as wild as you'd expect from the name WarioWare, but the game play has been revolutionized. Under Wario's tutelage, and with the help of the Wii Remote, players swing, spin and squat their way to victory. With more than 200 lightning-quick microgames and controls that range from scribbling to flailing, WarioWare: Smooth Moves takes interactive gaming to a whole new level. Players steer cars, twirl pizzas, saw logs and dance their way to victory. All they need to be the champ is confidence, a Wii Remote and their best moves. With games that are as much fun to play as they are to WATCH people play, WarioWare: Smooth Moves brings the party to its feet. It's hilarious for players and audiences alike. Game storyline: While pursuing a strange creature that stole his snack, Wario accidentally stumbles into an old building called the Temple of Form. Inside, he finds a mystical treasure called the Form Baton, which looks suspiciously like a Wii Remote. He discovers that the Form Baton gives him special powers depending on his "form" - the way he holds and moves the baton. Wario decides to pocket his new treasure, and soon the form craze spreads through Diamond City. Characters: The cast from previous WarioWare games is back with new microgames. Besides Wario, Mona, Jimmy, 9-Volt, Orbulon, Dr. Crygor and the rest of the old crew, this title also features appearances by Master Mantis, Young Cricket, Penny Crygor and many more. Images: WarioWare: Smooth Moves Boxart Joe McCollum -- Posted on Monday, October 23 2006 14:01 PM [Top] Dead 'n' Furious DS Trailer [ Virgin Play ] Unleash sheer hell in this exciting Arcade style shooter for the Nintendo DS console. In Dead & Furious you play as Rob Steiner, jailed for life for a murder you may not have committed. But now find yourself faced with an evil presence lurking around every corner! From maximum security prisons to research facilities, from swampland to airport, pickup your shotgun and blast your way through this action packed zombiefest. Play alone or with a friend thanks to the DS Wireless Coop Mode. Can you solve the mystery? Can you find the truth? Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, your cell door wide open, good luck or bad luck? Where are the guards? Why is it so silent? Is fate on your side? You stand on the cold damp floor, your nightmare about to begin. A gun lays beside you. One thing is certain, you’re gonna need that weapon! You take your first steps then…you pull the trigger! You are faced by an army of zombies, baying for your blood! Lets face it. You don’t want to end up like them do you? There’s only one solution, keep pulling that trigger!… Find the truth to this nightmare. Where are the clues? Are there others like you? A survivor perhaps? Click here for the full fact sheet, and here for a low-res version of the trailer. I've also uploaded some old images for you to look at as well. Images: Dead 'n' Furious Artwork 1 Dead 'n' Furious Artwork 2 Dead 'n' Furious Artwork 3 Dead 'n' Furious Screenshot 1 Dead 'n' Furious Screenshot 2 Dead 'n' Furious Screenshot 3 Dead 'n' Furious Screenshot 4 Video: Dead 'n' Furious Trailer Hi-Res (10.7 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, October 23 2006 13:02 PM [Top] Ubisoft to Sell Wii Wheel Seperately [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has announced that the steering wheel attachment for the Wii Remote, originally set to only be a pack-in with Ubisoft's two Wii launch racing games (GT Pro Series and Monster 4x4 World Circuit) will be sold seperately as well. The Wii Wheel (Wii-le?) will retail for $19.99 and will hit stores the same day as the Wii console itself. Check out two images of the device below. Images: Wii Wheel Image 1 Wii Wheel Image 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 20 2006 23:02 PM [Top] Call of Duty 3 Site Launched [ Activision ] The updated Call of Duty site provides fans with the latest news, information, movies and more about the upcoming Call of Duty 3. The website offers a bevy of new features, including: * Pre-Order Sign-Up: Secure a foothold to ensure your copy of Call of Duty 3. * Newsletter: Enlist for regular updates about all-things Call of Duty. * News & Updates: Regular briefings on Call of Duty happenings. * Media: Check out the latest movies and screenshots. * Press: What the press is saying about Call of Duty. * Franchise: Delve deeper into each of the Call of Duty games. Scheduled for release this November, Call of Duty 3 is rated “T” (Teen - Blood, Language, Violence) by the ESRB. CoD3 is set to be a launch title for the Wii. The website can be viewed here. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, October 20 2006 13:58 PM [Top] European DS Release Schedule [ Nintendo of Europe ] Never know what to do with all those gift vouchers you get for Christmas? Nintendo has the answer with a selection of top games to look forward to at the start of 2007 including Star Fox Command, Diddy Kong Racing DS, Mario Slam Basketball and Pokémon Ranger. -Nintendo DS Browser - 6 Oct 2006 -Sudoku Master - 27 Oct 2006 -Nintendo DS Lite Pink Edition - 27 October 2006 -Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team - 10 Nov 2006 -Tenchu Dark Secret - 24th Nov 2006 -Yoshi’s Island DS - 1st Dec 2006 -Star Fox Command - 26th Jan 2007 -Actionloop - 26th Jan 2007 -Harvest Moon DS (Rising Star Games/Nintendo) - Q1 2007 -Mario Slam Basketball - Q1 2007 -Magical Starsign (tentative name) - Q1 2007 -Diddy Kong Racing DS - Q1 2007 -Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis - Q1 2007 -Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice For All (Capcom) - Q1 2007 -Pokémon Ranger - Q1 2007 -Children of Mana (Square-Enix) - Q1 2007 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, October 20 2006 13:55 PM [Top] UbiSoft Launches Raving Rabbids Official Site [ UbiSoft ] UbiSoft announced today that it has launched the offiical website for its mini-game filled disc of insanity, Rayman Raving Rabbids. The Wii version is the flagship version of the game and is highly anticipated. Hit the source link and hop on over for some crazy rabbids. Rayman Raving Rabbids launches with the Wii on November 19. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, October 19 2006 18:38 PM [Top] Nintendo DS Becomes the Choice System for RPG Fans [ Nintendo ] Magical Starsign? Children of Mana? To the average person, these game names might sound like they portend the resurgence of the Age of Aquarius. But for video game fans, they mean something great for Nintendo DS. Within a one-week span, starting Oct. 25, two epic role-playing games for the portable Nintendo DS will hit stores. And then the adventures begin. Many people consider role-playing games the most in-depth genre of games. Games like Magical Starsign and Children of Mana involve deep storylines that let players take on the roles of their characters and make decisions affecting the plot direction. Children of Mana builds on a popular role-playing franchise, while Magical Starsign introduces a new game to the genre. Magical Starsign, developed by Brownie Brown, takes the traditional magic and fantasy elements of role-playing games into space. Students from a magical academy head into space to find a missing teacher. Players gain experience and power as they use the system's touch screen to choose attacks and targets. Each character has a sign linked to one of the planets indicating what type of magic he or she can use. As the planets shift in the skies, players must adapt their attacks as one type of magic fades and another rises in strength. Children of Mana, developed by Square-Enix, follows the story of a band of heroes who try to keep the magic of the Mana Tree from being corrupted by evil. Players use hundreds of gems to customize their characters with new abilities suiting their preferences and preparing them for upcoming attacks. Both games contain multiplayer elements that let friends play through these epic stories together. Magical Starsign, Rated E for Everyone, will be available Oct. 25, while Children of Mana, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older, will be available Nov. 1. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 19 2006 14:40 PM [Top] New Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screens [ Sega ] The original Sonic The Hedgehog that broke the speed barrier wide open on the SEGA Genesis is now on the Game Boy Advance! The game has seven original gravity-defying stages that have been perfectly ported over to let players experience this classic on Game Boy Advance. Navigate through loop-de-loops of Green Hill Zone, zoom past waterfalls, and dash over molten lava at Sonic’s trademark super speedy pace while collecting gold rings. In celebration of Sonic’s 15th birthday, Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis includes a special anniversary mode, in which players will be able to use Sonic’s Spin Dash ability to get them out of dangerous situations. Also, for the first time in the original Sonic The Hedgehog, players will be able to save their progress and high scores throughout the seven stages. Play the original that started it all! Check out the latest screens of Sonic's re-debut on the GBA below, and watch for the game to hit stores on November 15th. Images: Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 1 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 2 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 3 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 4 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 19 2006 14:38 PM [Top] Nintendo to Sell Wii Component Cables Online Only [ IGN Wii ] Nintendo has officially announced the details behind the Wii's component cables, needed to get the system to 480p widescreen mode on a high-definition television. The company will sell the cables at the console's launch for $29.99, and shockingly, they will only be available through online retailers such as Best Buy, Circut City, Gamestop, and Nintendo's own official site. Why is this? Doesn't Nintendo realize that a lot more people had HDTVs since the launch of the GameCube? Or could we be seeing another situation where Nintendo removes 480p functionality from the console due to the fact that nobody is taking advantage of the roundabout way to get the cables? More as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 19 2006 14:11 PM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Videos [ GameCube Café ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Below are a whopping FIVE trailers for the game, each showing off a different playable character. The first three deal with characters already confirmed as being playable: Wolverine, Ghost Rider, and Elektra. The next two reveal two brand-new characters, Storm and Luke Cage. The game will hit stores for the Game Boy Advance on October 17th, and then releases at launch for the Nintendo Wii. Videos: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Wolverine" Trailer (9.6 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Ghost Rider" Trailer (9.6 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Elekra" Trailer (9.8 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Storm" Trailer (27.2 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Luke Cage" Trailer (27.0 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 18 2006 23:03 PM [Top] Nintendo Reveals Wii Kiosk Info [ IGN Wii ] In the latest edition of IGN's Nintendo Minute feature, Nintendo VP of marketing George Harrison is quizzed on how the Nintendo's Wii console will be set up in stores so all can try it for themselves. Rather than do some careful dodging (as Nintendo execs so often do), Harrison comes out with the full details on the console's store setup. First, Wii Kiosks will come in two forms, either in a self-contained device with a TV, Wii console, and two Wii controllers, or a Wii console and controllers using one's own TV. Interestingly enough, as rumored, the Wii demo unit's controllers will be wireless and disconnected from the system, and Nintendo is asking extra staff to be on hand so players can have "a successful first experience with Wii." In addition to stores, Wii will be shown off in mall kiosks, as well as on the Nintendo Fusion Tour. With the console set to hit stores in Mid November, we should be seeing demo kiosks start to appear shortly. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 16 2006 22:39 PM [Top] Elite Beat Agents Tracklist Revealed [ Game|Life ] In Chris Kohler's Game|Life blog today, the official tracklist for the upcoming Elite Beat Agents has been revealed. The game, based off of the popular Japanese rhythm game Ouendan, will feature 19 songs from past and present. Check them out below. 1. Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram 2. ABC - Jackson Five 3. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne 4. I Was Born to Love You - Queen 5. Rock This Town - Stray Cats 6. Highway Star - Deep Purple 7. Y.M.C.A. - Village People 8. September - Earth, Wind and Fire 9. Canned Heat - Jamiroquai 10. Material Girl - Madonna 11. La La - Ashlee Simpson 12. You're the Inspiration - Chicago 13. Survivor - Destiny's Child 14. Without a Fight - Hoobastank 15. Believe - Cher 16. Let's Dance - David Bowie 17. Jumpin Jack Flash - Rolling Stones 18. Makes No Difference - Sum 41 19. The Anthem - Good Charlotte The game drops into stores this November. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 16 2006 22:09 PM [Top] Nintendo Teams With Smugmug For Pokémon Contest [ Nintendo ] Whether you're a Picasso or a Pikachu, Nintendo's latest creative contest will help your inner artist shine. To spark the creativity of Pokémon fans, Nintendo and photo-sharing site SmugMug are hosting a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Detectives contest starting today. The new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon video game for Nintendo DS Lite and Game Boy Advance SP asks the question, "What if you woke up one day and you were a Pokémon?" For the first time, players play as an actual Pokémon. They can even talk and interact with other Pokémon. In the SmugMug Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Detectives contest, fans are invited to create photos or artwork depicting their own stories about why they were turned into a Pokémon and what life is like as a Pokémon. The contest runs today through Nov. 5. The most creative entries can win Pokémon prize packages, which include a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game pak, along with a Nintendo DS Lite system. Visit Nintendo.Smugmug.com for complete contest details and prize information. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 16 2006 14:54 PM [Top] Countdown to US Wii Launch [ GameCube Café ] We've put up a countdown to Nintendo's launch of the Wii across the US on November 19 - a day which we have affectionately dubbed "Wiimergence Day." Needless to say, when that counter reaches zero, stores across the United States will be putting out their stocks of Wii units. No need to worry about time zones, the counter works off of your computer's clock, so no matter what zone you're in, the counter will still go to the proper time, assuming your clock is set correctly. And if you're not in the US, we'll be putting up counters to the Japanese (December 2) and European (December 8) releases after this one runs down. It's not far away now, folks. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Sunday, October 15 2006 15:52 PM [Top] Red Steel Music Selections [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft's Red Steel is by and large one of the biggest titles in store for the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Wii. And while the game will certainly be highly-lauded for it's beautiful graphics and revolutionary control system, the game's music will also be certainly worth noting. The game's music will be composed by Tom Saita, who has previously worked on Need for Speed Underground 2 and Ubisoft's own Ghost Recon series, and is an eclectic blend of live traditional Japanese instruments, more contemporary Japanese styles, and traditional symphonic scores. Ubisoft was kind enough to provide three samples of the game's music, which you can check out below. All are mp3 files, so you can download them to play in your mp3 player of choice, stream them through Quicktime by clicking on them, or even download them to your iPod if you feel so inclined. Red Steel will hit stores on November 19th for the launch of the Wii. Music Files: Red Steel J-Pop Theme (1.5 MB) Red Steel Heavy Theme (1.5 MB) Red Steel Choir Theme (2.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, October 14 2006 0:27 AM [Top] E3 Expo Becomes E3 Media and Business Summit [ E3 Expo ] The new E3 Media and Business Summit will be held July 11-13, 2007, in Santa Monica, California, and will combine the best elements of the former trade show into a business event celebrating the video game industry's present and future, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today. The centerpiece of the invitation-only, three-day event will be the opportunity for both ESA members and non-members to stage major press events, and to have intimate meetings in premier hotel suites and meeting rooms with media, retailers, developer partners, and other audiences. In addition, the nearby Barker Hangar will be converted into a software showcase where attendees will be able to casually test drive the featured video games planned for the coming holiday season and beyond. "By combining suite-based meetings with the software showcase in a controlled and business-like environment, we believe we will successfully fulfill our primary objective of giving high-level media the best of all worlds -- the chance to engage in highly personal, one-on-one dialogue with leading game company executives, as well as the chance to demo games on their own time and to check out offerings from both the best known and emerging game publishers and developers," said Douglas Lowenstein, President of the ESA. "It will also provide an excellent opportunity for meetings with retailers, developers and other audiences." The new E3 will also feature a daily luncheon conference session with top executives and/or analysts and a Serious Games showcase. In addition, ESA is exploring adding an independent games showcase and including the highly successful "Into The Pixel" video game art competition and exhibition. Finally, evenings will be a time for receptions and parties so participants can interact at the informal events that have been an E3 tradition. "The new E3 is first and foremost about getting business done. When we asked key audiences what they wanted in the new event, we heard that they wanted opportunities for high-level meetings in a business-like setting, to play games, network, and socialize, to see major company offerings while also preserving the sense of discovery that is so much a part of E3, and to hear substantive presentations on the most important issues and trends facing the industry," said Lowenstein. "We believe the event we have shaped will fulfill all those needs." Lowenstein noted that all the hotels involved will be within easy walking distance of one another, and there will be a shuttle bus system to facilitate movement to the hotels and Barker Hangar, as well as to major off-site press conferences, such as those staged by the major console companies. "The new E3 event will be more personal, efficient and focused, and it will provide the top stakeholders who make games, sell games, and cover games streamlined access to the people and products they most need to see." The Barker Hangar venue, a short drive from the hotels, will allow participating companies to showcase their games in standardized, turnkey displays areas ranging from 100 square feet to 400 square feet. All display areas will be developed by show management to ensure that the venue is staged efficiently. As noted, the event will be open to ESA members and non members alike. Companies involved in console, PC, online, and mobile game publishing and developing, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals will be eligible to participate. Attendance at all events, meetings, and demonstrations will be by invitation only. Transportation between venues will be provided to event participants. ESA expects that event booking will be launched within the next 30 days. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 13 2006 18:00 PM [Top] Nintendo Wii Preorder Story w/Pictures [ GameCube Café ] I hit up a couple of Gamestop/EB Games stores today to check out the goings-on with Wii (as well as preorder one of my own). The first store I checked out had around 6 people to start the day, although when I returned later that number had grown exponentially. The other one I hit up had 9 people waiting, which grew to around 20 by 10:00 (when the store opened). I took a few pictures of the line (my friend Mark, the guy in the black shirt in picture two, held my spot). The first two people in line had been waiting since 6 AM. The employees told me that some stores had up to 40 people waiting, with many having to be turned away. Perhaps the best thing to come out of the day is that the Wii preorders were completely filled in about 35 minutes. The store I preordered from had only 8 PS3 preorders on Tuesday, which were filled in about 45 minutes, with about 5 people waiting. Kinda says something about Nintendo's drive to make gaming affordable, doesn't it? Check out the pics of the Wii preorder line below. The first picture comes from the first store I checked out, before I drove on to the store I actually preordered at (where the second two pics are from). Images: Nintendo Wii Preorder Event Picture 1 Nintendo Wii Preorder Event Picture 2 Nintendo Wii Preorder Event Picture 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 13 2006 17:48 PM [Top] Nintendo DS Leads Video Game Industry Growth [ Nintendo ] As both an entertainment and a business, Nintendo DS today is the powerhouse of the U.S. video game industry, driving nearly all industry revenue growth so far this year. Without this portable system, the video game industry growth overall would be nearly flat when compared with 2005, according to independent sales figures from the NPD Group of Port Washington, N.Y. Through September's end, the U.S. industry overall shows revenue growth of 11 percent when compared with the same period in 2005. Nearly all of the growth comes from the portable DS – without it, the industry would report a mere 1.6 percent growth over the past nine months. DS hardware and software units posted a robust gain of 203 percent when compared to the same period in 2005. The news is the same globally: Nintendo recently announced estimated full-year shipments for DS hardware will grow to 20 million units from 17 million units worldwide, while estimated DS software shipments increased to 82 million units from 75 million. "Numbers dramatically show the value of reaching out to the masses with products that are compelling and comfortable," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "And this perfectly sets the stage for our breakthrough Wii console, which appeals to both core players and current non-players with an intuitive control system and a price everyone can afford." The NPD numbers also indicate that during September, Nintendo DS lifetime U.S. sales surpassed more than 6.2 million units. That total includes more than 1.4 million units of the new Nintendo DS Lite systems, which launched just 16 weeks ago on June 11. It's important to note these numbers represent Nintendo DS systems actually purchased by customers, not ones shipped only to stores. This summer, Nintendo launched its Touch Generations brand to help newcomers to video games identify which nontraditional and pick-up-and-play titles are appropriate for them. The response from consumers has been enthusiastic, as four of the top 10 best-selling Nintendo DS games are Touch Generations titles. Touch Generations games include Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day and the three versions of Nintendogs. And at the same time, avid players also are fueling growth: the New Super Mario Bros. title, exclusively for Nintendo DS, is the third best-seller among all video games this year, including console games. Nintendo's internal statistics show the Touch Generations brand continues to reach more women and older gamers. Nintendo statistics show a significant percentage of all Touch Generations software buyers are female and are age 25 or older, demonstrating the broad appeal of Nintendo titles like Brain Age and Big Brain Academy, which provide engaging and entertaining content for baby boomers and seniors alike. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 13 2006 11:50 AM [Top] Wii Kiosks Only at Gamestop/EB Rumor Debunked [ Nintendo ] One of the hottest topics in gaming in recent weeks has been not only the Wii's preorder status at Gamestop and EB Games (scheduled to kick off tomorrow), but a rumor that Gamestop and EB Games stores would be the only locations where gamers could find Wii demo kiosks to try out the console for themselves. Naturally, having the demo kiosks in gaming-only stores didn't make sense given Nintendo's "all-inclusive" approach for Wii, so we were all skeptical at first. Now, we have official confirmation from Nintendo itself, in a statement the company made earlier today. "Playable Wii setups will be available at a variety of retail outlets. We expect that anyone who wants to try Wii will be able to through multiple different methods. In addition to retail outlets, Wii will be playable at a number of mall tours throughout the country, the nationwide Nintendo Fusion Tour and other grass-roots consumer events." There you have it...fear not, you won't have to trek to your local EB or Gamestop in order to play the Wii, as the company will have demo units in a variety of shops for you to test out the revolutionary console for yourself. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 12 2006 22:47 PM [Top] Nintendo and AiLive Team Up For Wii Dev Tools [ Nintendo ] Nintendo and AiLive Inc. announce the immediate availability of LiveMove, a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence product, that enables the Wii Remote to learn. Instead of complicated programming, developers need only take a few minutes to train the Wii Remote by examples. LiveMove lets developers focus directly on creative work without the burden of onerous coding requirements, helping them quickly unleash the potential of Wii. The only limitation is the game creator's imagination. "The Wii coupled with AiLive LiveMove will usher in a new era of natural game control," commented AiLive Chairman Dr. Wei Yen." Powered by AiLive's patented Context Learning, LiveMove will allow the game industry to move away from indirect digital control to more natural analog control for the first time." "In early 2006, I challenged Dr. Wei Yen and his AI scientists to develop AIware for the Wii Remote. When Nintendo's development teams saw LiveMove, we instantly recognized how it would greatly increase our ability to explore and experiment with new concepts and make our lives easier," says Genyo Takeda, Senior Managing Director/General Manager of Integrated Research & Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. "This revolutionary tool liberates the imaginations of game creators. We are more than happy to share this collaborative LiveMove tool with independent Wii software developers all over the world. From a cowboy's lasso to a samurai's sword or a chef's cooking utensils, we just can't wait to play the developers' new, 'unexpected' applications." Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 12 2006 18:37 PM [Top] GameStop/EB to Begin Wii Reservations Tomorrow [ Joystiq ] Our friends over at Joystiq are reporting that an official email was sent to GameStop stores notifying them to begin taking reservations for the Wii on Friday, October 13 (leave it up to Nintendo to start reserves on Friday the 13th). The article contains a scan of the email sent to stores, which stated that "customers will recieve notification of this plan via email on Thursday, 10-12-06." Looks like tomorrow is the day. UPDATE: I have personally called numerous GameStops and EBs, all confirming that they will be taking reservations on the console starting tomorrow at 10 am. Kevin McGinnis -- Posted on Thursday, October 12 2006 11:16 AM [Top] Clover Loses Its Leaves [ IGN ] As a subsidiary of Capcom, Clover Studios was responsible for some of the best games published by the company, including Okami, God Hand, and most famously, the Viewtiful Joe series. Now, the company has announced that they will be dissolving Clover Studios as a way to "improve it's overall development structure", assimilating the developer's employees into it's own workforce so they can work on other projects. This does not mean we've seen the last of Viewtiful Joe, however, as since the developer and it's brands were owned by Capcom itself, we could still potentially see many former Clover-branded projects down the line, sans the Clover name. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 12 2006 7:57 AM [Top] Nintendo Touts Touch Generations Success [ Nintendo ] Nintendo's popular Touch Generations portable gaming brand includes Nintendo DS video games meant for anyone to pick up and play, regardless of their prior gaming experience. And that easy-to-use philosophy is translating into strong sales. Already, close to 3.5 million Touch Generations games have sold in the United States, demonstrating an expanding audience of consumers' desire for simple, fun games that don't take years of gaming experience to master. One of the most popular Touch Generations games is Nintendogs, an emotionally addictive, portable puppy-training program that took the world by storm last year and redefined the meaning of "video game." A limited-edition version of Nintendogs called Dalmatian & Friends hits stores Oct. 18. The game lets users adopt, train and care for a puppy chosen from one of the six starter breeds: Dalmatian, golden retriever, Yorkshire terrier, beagle, boxer and German shepherd. To date in the United States, the three versions of Nintendogs have sold more than 2.2 million units combined, ranking them atop the list of all-time Nintendo DS best sellers. Another Touch Generations game is Nintendo's new Clubhouse Games. Available now exclusively for Nintendo DS Lite, Clubhouse Games includes more than 40 traditional party favorites like checkers, darts and poker. A highly social product, players can play solo, or with up to seven friends via single-card local wireless play. Or they can log onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service, to challenge friends worldwide. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 12 2006 7:52 AM [Top] Level 5 Brings Wonder Town to DS [ Level 5 ] Japanese developer Level 5 is best known for their array of titles for Sony consoles, including games such as the Dark Cloud series, Dragon Quest VIII, and the upcoming White Knight Story for PlayStation 3. However, Level 5 is ready to branch out to new opportunities, as they are readying their first game to the Nintendo DS. Entitled "Professor Layton's Wonder Town", the game is described as a "puzzle fantasy adventure", whatever that means. No other details about the game were revealed, sans a teaser site you can check out by clicking the source link. The game will hit stores in Japan on February 15th, 2007. No US release has been announced at this time. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 23:35 PM [Top] Wii on Tour in Japan [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo has officially announced a series of events to be held througout Japan to bring the Wii to the masses, in what's being referred to as Nintendo World 2006. Nintendo will be bringing the Wii to three cities on three different days in order to show off the console and it's games. Here are the dates for the events. 11/3: Nagoya, at the Port Messe Nagoya convention center. 11/12: Osaka, at Intex Osaka 11/25 and 11/26: Tokyo, at Makuhari Messe (Same location as the Tokyo Game Show) DS games will also be shown, as well as the first Wii titles. Have we found the new Spaceworld? Stay tuned to find out. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 15:06 PM [Top] GameCube Zelda Online Only in Japan [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo has announced that the GameCube release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be a hard thing to come by in Japan, as the game will be sold only through Nintendo's official site. The reason for this is simple: to put more emphasis on the game's launch for Wii. Fortunately, Japan seems to be the only market where this is effective, as the game is still scheduled to release in stores in the US and Europe, with the US release occuring on December 13th. Stay tuned for more. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 14:53 PM [Top] First Wii TV Spot [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has revealed the first TV spot currently airing in Japan for the Wii. The simple, short ad simply shows a Wii Remote, with a voiceover saying "What is this? A new remote control? The Nintendo Wii Remote Control". Pretty much the definition of "teaser" if you ask me. Check out the ad by clicking the source link above. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 14:30 PM [Top] Nintendo Unveils Japanese Wii Accessories [ Nintendo ] Nintendo of Japan has revealed some of the Wii accessories, as well as their prices. Wii AC Adapter 3000 Yen/~$25 One comes with every system, but if you need an extra. Wii AV Cable 1000 Yen/~$8 Also comes with every system. Wii S-Video Cable 2500 Yen/~$21 Wii D-Cable 2500 Yen/~$21 Japan likes this over the component cable and will probably be totally irrelevant to us. Wii Component Cable 2500 Yen/~$21 SD Memory Card 512 MB (with a spiffy Nintendo and Wii logo) 3800 Yen/~$30 Same functionality as a normal SD card. Wii LAN Adapter 2800 Yen/~$23 Probably the most notable of all these new peripherals is the long awaited ethernet adapter if you don't want/can't use WiFi. Wii Remote 3800 Yen/~$30 Wii Nunchuck 1800 Yen/~$15 Wii Classic Controller 1800 Yen/~$15 Hit the link and check out the new pictures. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 13:42 PM [Top] New Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Media [ Activision ] Choose Tony Hawk or another colorful character: Players can choose to play as Tony Hawk or one of eight original characters. In addition they can create their own character with the Create-A-Skater feature. Arcade-style racing: Players can crouch for more speed, jump or grind over obstacles and pull off all of their favorite air tricks to gain boost as they race down the steepest terrains in the world. Ride a variety of skateboards: Players choose from a wide variety of skateboards such as current, old school “fishtails,” longboards and 70’s skateboards, all of which have different attributes that will have an effect on gameplay. Create-A-Skater: Fans create and customize their own skater with the quick and easy customization menu that allows them to instantly preview items and see them on their skater. The DS version of Downhill Jam will also feature some of the most enhanced Nintendo Wi-Fi features yet, complete with over 20 multiplayer modes and voice chat capability. Check out some new screens, the game's official boxart, and the game's official trailer below. Images: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 1 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 2 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 3 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 4 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 5 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 6 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 7 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 8 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 9 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Screenshot 10 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Boxart Video: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (DS) Trailer (34.9 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 3:27 AM [Top] New Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Media [ Activision ] For the first time ever, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam lets players experience the breakneck speed of downhill skateboard racing as they tear up the steepest terrains in the world while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in locations such as the crowded streets of San Francisco and rocky terrain of Machu Picchu. Developed for the Wii, gamers utilize an innovative and intuitive control system as they take on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters and compete in specific time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes including race, trick and slalom. Gamers can also challenge friends in head-to-head competitions with up to four players as they pull off a variety of high-velocity stunts and crashes in living, populated environments filled with cars, pedestrians and buildings. Check out the latest screens, some character art, a brand new trailer, and the game's official boxart below. Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam skates into stores on November 19th for the Wii's launch. Images: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Screenshot 1 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Screenshot 2 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Screenshot 3 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Screenshot 4 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Screenshot 5 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Character Art 1 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Character Art 2 Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Boxart Video: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Wii) Gameplay Trailer (37.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 3:18 AM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Media [ Activision ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes™ ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Check out some new videos, the latest screens, and a high-res version of the game's Wii boxart below. Videos: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gameplay Footage 1 (17.5 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gameplay Footage 2 (12.4 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gameplay Footage 3 (8.3 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gameplay Footage 4 (11.8 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gameplay Footage 5 (21.7 MB) Images: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 1 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 2 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 3 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 4 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 5 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 6 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 7 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 8 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 9 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Screenshot 10 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Wii Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 2:18 AM [Top] New Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! Screens [ Activision ] Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! is an all-new adventure based on the woodland creatures from DreamWorks Animation’s hit film “Over the Hedge." Fan favorite Hammy the squirrel leads RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle and all-new forest friends on another daring trip into the ‘burbs. When Hammy’s beloved cable TV goes out, his buddies have to scramble through the neighborhood to restore the signal—and Hammy’s happiness. Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! for the Nintendo DS is rated “E" (“Everyone" – Comic Mischief) by the ESRB, and the GBA version is rated “E" (“Everyone") by the ESRB. Check out the latest screens of the DS and GBA versions of the game below. Images: Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 1 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 2 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 3 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 4 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 5 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 6 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 7 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 8 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 9 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (DS) Screenshot 10 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 1 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 2 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 3 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 4 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 5 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 6 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! (GBA) Screenshot 7 Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts DS Boxart Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts GBA Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 1:38 AM [Top] New Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screens [ Activision ] Spider-Man: Battle for New York allows gamers to take on the role of their favorite Super Hero, Spider-Man, and one of his famed nemeses, Green Goblin, in an original storyline which builds upon their legendary comic book rivalry. For the first time in a handheld Spider-Man game, players can personalize their gaming experiences by choosing what abilities and powers to upgrade and when, such as Spider-Man’s web maneuvers or Green Goblin’s fire attacks, as they progress through the game. Playing as both good and evil, gamers will experience levels packed with frenzied action, in-depth combat and a host of unique super moves as they embark on the ultimate quest to save New York City from almost certain disaster. Check out the latest DS screens of the game below. Images: Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 1 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 2 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 3 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 4 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 5 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 6 Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screenshot 7 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 11 2006 1:22 AM [Top] Unconfirmed: Gamestop to Begin Preorders This Week? [ GameCube Café ] A source close to Gamestop has informed us that the company (which also includes EBGames and Babbages) may begin accepting US preorders for the Wii some time between this Thursday and next Tuesday. While we cannot confirm or deny this report, it does come from a usually reliable source. If you're looking to preorder your Wii before it launches on November 19, your best bet it to call the store as much as you can, particularly between Thursday and Tuesday. We'll let you know if we hear any official word (or if any of our local stores start taking orders). Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 10 2006 18:41 PM [Top] Zelda Delayed...Again [ Nintendo ] Looks like Nintendo couldn't release the last big game for the GameCube without one more delay for old time's sake. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, delayed more times that we can remember, has been pushed back yet AGAIN, but this time, the delay is a tad more easier to stomach. According to Nintendo's official press site, Link's last ride on the Cube will now hit stores on December 13th, 2006, two days after the original December 11th ship date. Fortunately, this delay does not affect those who can't wait three weeks, as Zelda: Twilight Princess is also set for November 19th for purchase for your shiny new Wiis. We'll have more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 10 2006 16:52 PM [Top] New Red Steel Trailer [ GameCube Café ] One of the most anticipated titles for the Wii's launch, Red Steel promises to redefine the concept of a first-person shooter, making full use of Nintendo's unique controller. The game will feature the ultimate in gun targeting with the power of the Wii Remote, allowing players to use a variety of weapons...even a sword. Players will even be able to slow down time in order to gain a greater focus against their enemies, giving them the edge against the massive forces of Japan's Yakuza gangs. Check out the latest trailer of Red Steel below. Video: Red Steel Trailer (16.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 10 2006 0:37 AM [Top] New Splinter Cell Double Agent Trailers [ GameCube Café ] Following the Tom Clancy Splinter Cell franchise tradition of innovation, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent will completely revolutionize and reinvent the spy action genre by introducing an unprecedented double agent concept and an entirely new breed of game play that adds an exciting new dimension to the gaming experience. With the entirely new direction of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent, Ubisoft has reinvented the best-selling and highest rated espionage franchise. The revolutionary double agent concept immerses players in the world of international espionage more completely than ever, expanding the story and depth of Sam Fisher's character and evoking players' emotions by drawing them deeper into the gaming experience. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent will push the limits of each platform based on its respective technological capabilities, taking advantage of a collaborative development effort between Ubisoft's award-winning development studios in Montreal, Shanghai and Annecy, France. Across all platforms, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent will have the features that have defined the Splinter Cell franchise - amazing graphics, fluid animations, advanced artificial intelligence and open level design. Furthermore, each platform will feature exclusive content and offer a unique game play experience. Check out two new trailers of Sam Fisher's latest adventure below. The game will hit stores in one week for the GameCube, and will be a launch title for the Wii. Video: Splinter Cell Double Agent Trailer 1 (7.4 MB) Splinter Cell Double Agent Trailer 2 (6.7 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 10 2006 0:29 AM [Top] First Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshots [ Sega ] The original Sonic The Hedgehog that broke the speed barrier wide open on the SEGA Genesis is now on the Game Boy Advance! The game has seven original gravity-defying stages that have been perfectly ported over to let players experience this classic on Game Boy Advance. Navigate through loop-de-loops of Green Hill Zone, zoom past waterfalls, and dash over molten lava at Sonic’s trademark super speedy pace while collecting gold rings. In celebration of Sonic’s 15th birthday, Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis includes a special anniversary mode, in which players will be able to use Sonic’s Spin Dash ability to get them out of dangerous situations. Also, for the first time in the original Sonic The Hedgehog, players will be able to save their progress and high scores throughout the seven stages. Play the original that started it all! Check out the screens of Sonic's re-debut on the GBA below, and watch for the game to hit stores on November 15th. Images: Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 1 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 2 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 3 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 4 Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 9 2006 15:20 PM [Top] New Call of Duty 3 Screenshots [ Activision ] The follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, Call of Duty 3 delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the Normandy Breakout, the historic campaign that made the liberation of Paris possible and brought the Allies a step closer to Berlin. Through a seamless narrative that delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action, players assume the roles of four ordinary Allied soldiers—American, British, Canadian and Polish—and are thrust onto an authentic, living battlefield for an unprecedented variety of combat, with advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character animations and explosive on-screen action, delivering the most immersive and cinematically intense war experience ever. Check out the latest screens of the Wii version of Call of Duty 3 below. The game will be a launch title for the console. Images: Call of Duty 3 Screenshot 1 Call of Duty 3 Screenshot 2 Call of Duty 3 Screenshot 3 Call of Duty 3 Screenshot 4 Call of Duty 3 Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, October 9 2006 14:44 PM [Top] New Final Fantasy III Screenshots [ Square-Enix ] The only FINAL FANTASY that was never localized—the third installment of the original series—will finally reach North American shores! Lauded as “legendary” by the Japanese fan base, FINAL FANTASY III has been reborn, incorporating the latest in portable gaming technology. Using the features of the Nintendo DS to their fullest, FINAL FANTASY III features graphics that have been reworked and remodeled in 3D, while maintaining the mythical FINAL FANTASY look and feel. Now is your chance to complete the circle. The legend of FINAL FANTASY III is reborn. The missing link in the evolution of FINAL FANTASY is unveiled—North American gamers experience a legend reborn. A dynamic job-changing system brings a nearly infinite number of party variations. The touch screen interface takes full advantage of the DS capabilities—explore dungeons, dispatch foes and cast spells by using the stylus. A complete visual overhaul breathes new life into a classic—colorful 3D graphics bring FINAL FANTASY III into the new millennium. Take advantage of the DS Wi-Fi feature to access the Mognet and communicate with other players as well as NPCs, and uncover hidden dungeons, quests and items. Check out the latest screens below. Images: Final Fantasy III Screenshot 1 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 2 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 3 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 4 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 5 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 6 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 7 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 8 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 9 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 10 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 11 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 12 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 13 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 14 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 15 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 16 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 17 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 18 Final Fantasy III Screenshot 19 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, October 6 2006 2:05 AM [Top] First GT Pro Series Screenshots [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has revealed the first screenshots of GT Pro Series, a Wii-exclusive racer which is one of 8 titles the company will have on day one of the console's launch. The game will feature cel-shaded graphics and numerous licensed vehicles, as well as 4-player split-screen multiplayer action. The game will also make full use of the Wii Remote, including a specialized attachment which turns the controller into a steering wheel for the ultimate in driving realism and control. Images: GT Pro Series Screenshot 1 GT Pro Series Screenshot 2 GT Pro Series Screenshot 3 GT Pro Series Screenshot 4 GT Pro Series Screenshot 5 GT Pro Series Screenshot 6 GT Pro Series Screenshot 7 GT Pro Series Screenshot 8 GT Pro Series Screenshot 9 GT Pro Series Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 5 2006 15:15 PM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Trailers [ GameCube Café ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Check out two new trailers below of two of the game's starring super heroes, Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance releases for the Wii and GBA this fall. Video: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Iron Man" Trailer (14.4 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Mr. Fantastic" Trailer (13.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, October 5 2006 2:39 AM [Top] Codemasters Brings Heatseeker to Wii [ Codemasters ] Codemasters has announced their first title for the Nintendo Wii: a flight combat simulator called Heatseeker. Developed by the team behind WWII flight combat game Heroes of the Pacific, IR Gurus, Heatseeker will allow gamers to fly in numerous licensed aircraft, such as American jets like the F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, and the brand-new F-35 Lightning II, as well as other aircraft like the MIG-29 and Su-47. The player will fly through various missions in various locales such as deserts, mountains, the Caribbean, and even Antarctica. The game will make use of the Wii's unique controller in some way (the developer hasn't decided the official control configuration), and will also utilize the revolutionary "Impact Cam", where gamers will be able to see their kills, up close and personal, rather than catching a mere glimpse of them. Heatseeker will be released for the Wii, PS2, and PSP next March. UPDATE: Codemasters has now released the first screenshots of the game. Check them out below. Images: Heatseeker Screenshot 1 Heatseeker Screenshot 2 Heatseeker Screenshot 3 Heatseeker Screenshot 4 Heatseeker Artwork Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 4 2006 23:36 PM [Top] Yoshi's Island DS Updated Info and Screens [ Nintendo ] Yoshi's Island 2 has now been renamed to Yoshi's Island DS. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island for the SNES was revered as one of the greatest side-scrolling platformers ever made. The lighthearted art style and compelling game play defined a genre. Now, return to the colorful wilds of Yoshi's Island in a new platforming adventure for the Nintendo DS. Kamek has captured Baby Luigi, and now Yoshi and his band of babies must rescue him. -This time, Baby Mario, Baby DK, Baby Wario and Baby Peach are along for the ride. Each one gives Yoshi access to unique powers: While they cling to his back, Baby Mario gives Yoshi speed, Baby DK gives him strength, Baby Peach gives him the ability to fly and Baby Wario gives him magnetism. -All of Yoshi's classic abilities are on full display. Players gobble enemies and either spit them out immediately, or turn them into eggs that they can throw at items and enemies. Pound the ground to flatten whatever's underneath, and flutter jump to traverse precarious heights. In certain areas, Yoshi can even morph into special vehicles. -Thanks to the power of the Nintendo DS, all of the lush vistas and perilous paths of Yoshi's Island span two screens. Players hit objects on the top screen while using the touch screen, and tackle super-tall enemies that fill both screens. -Hidden in every level are flowers, stars, red coins and character coins, so even after players finish the game, the challenge continues. Game storyline: A mysterious floating castle has suddenly appeared over peaceful Yoshi's Island. Soon after its arrival, kids begin to disappear. Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Wario and Baby DK manage to avoid being kidnapped, but Baby Luigi isn't so lucky. Now Yoshi and the four young superstars and must set out on a wild and colorful quest to rescue the kids and investigate the ominous castle hovering overhead. Images: Yoshi's Island DS Boxart Yoshi's Island DS Logo Yoshi's Island DS Screenshot 1 Yoshi's Island DS Screenshot 2 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Wednesday, October 4 2006 16:24 PM [Top] Japan Lurves Pokécritters [ IGN DS ] It was pretty much doubtless that the nation of Japan has something approaching a sexual obsession for all things Pokémon. The little monsters debuted in Japan 10 years ago, and now, their next evolutions, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, have been released into stores. And subsequently, let loose from stores - Japanese sales tracker Enterbrain is reporting that both games combined sold a whopping 1.5 million in their first week of release, making them the fastest selling DS games ever, as well as the fastest selling Pokémon titles ever: Gold and Silver for the Game Boy Color were the previous record holder, selling just over 1.4 million units in their first week of release. The new Pokémon iterations will hit America in 2007, but it remains to be seen if a subsequent episode of pure insanity will occur at that time. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 4 2006 0:50 AM [Top] More Details on Mii Revealed [ Nintendo ] In the latest installment of "Iwata Asks", a roundtable discussion between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and the Wii's hardware development team, the gentlemen behind Wii have revealed some new details on one of the console's most unique features - that being the Mii avatars. The first info is on what is called "Wii Parade", which is an online community which will allow Miis to mingle and meet with each other. The console's own saved Miis can be found in the console's Mii Plaza, where various Miis will meet with each other - you can even invite in a friend's Mii with WiiConnect 24 (with permission, of course). The exchange of Miis can potentially have gamer's Miis all over the globe - however, these will merely be copies, as the original Mii will never leave the Wii console. As stated, Miis can also be stored on the Wiimote to bring to another friend's house for a few rounds of Wii Sports. Nintendo has also stated that they are allowing third-parties access to the Mii information, so your Mii could show up as a character even in games not made by the Big N. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, October 4 2006 0:16 AM [Top] Nintendo Ups Profit Forecast Thanks to Weak Yen, Wii, and DS [ Reuters ] Nintendo of Japan announced today that they would be upping their profit forecast for the 2006/07 fiscal year by 20.7% due to a weak yen in exchange rates, as well as the incredibly strong sales of the DS handheld, and the anticipated sales of the upcoming Wii console. Nintendo's Touch Generations series has been the focal point of Nintendo's DS dominance, as titles like Brain Age, Big Brain Academy, and Nintendogs continue to sell high numbers across the board in the US and Japan, along with Mario's latest adventure, New Super Mario Bros. According to Nomura Securities analyst Yuta Sakurai, Nintendo initially anticipated that DS sales would drop once the Wii released this fall, but this appears to not be the case. Nintendo is anticipating a net profit of 100 billion yen ($850 million) at the conclusion of the year, beating most's analysts consensus of a 84.6 billion yen profit for the company. The company increased the DS's sales forecast to 20 million sold before year's end (up from 17 million), and increased the GBA's expected sales to 3.3 million, even with the latter handheld's lack of upcoming titles. It will be interesting to see how the Wii's release affects this forecast. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 3 2006 17:22 PM [Top] Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Edition Details Announced [ Capcom ] Capcom today officially divulged the information on the mysterious Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Edition, a GameCube-exclusive revealed via a mysterious page at GameStop's official site last month. It turns out that the collection is a box set of the 3 (originally) GameCube-exclusive Resident Evil games, with Resident Evil Zero, RE:Make, and Resident Evil 4 (later ported to PS2 and PC). Each version of the game will be in their original packaging with no additional content, but this should still be an excellent combo for anyone looking to play three of the best games to ever grace the Cube. Resident Evil 10th Anniversary Collection will be released exclusively to EBGames and GameStop stores nationwide on October 24th at a price of $39.99. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, October 3 2006 16:58 PM [Top] Gamestop to Have Only Wii Kiosks, No Preorders? [ Gamestop ] At GameStop's annual sales conference in Dallas, Texas, it was confirmed that Gamestop is in talks with Nintendo to be the exclusive carriers of playable Wii consoles during the launch window. Also discussed were the possibilites of Gamestop stores accepting preorders for the system, where it was confirmed that it had been "not yet decided when, or even if, it will offer pre-orders" for Wii consoles. So, those of you holding out to preorder your Wiis may be disappointed...you may need to spend a day camping out for a midnight launch. Again, none of this is set in stone, just being discussed. We'll let you know if we hear any more. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, October 3 2006 12:54 PM [Top]