Today's Dojo update is yet another brand-new stage for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It's The Summit, the official stage of the Ice Climbers. The Summit takes place atop Icicle Mountain (The Ice Climbers' stage from Melee) at first seems to be a normal stage, with some friendly vegetables hanging around. However, the mountaintop then breaks off, and begins sliding down the mountain's face, finally hitting the ocean. Here, one of the Ice Climber polar bears will jump atop the now-formed iceberg, pushing it deeper into the water. Also, a giant fish will attack occasionally. Sakurai says he thinks he's seen the fish somewhere before, and he's right - it's the same giant fish from another classic NES game, Balloon Fight.
Looks like Nintendo has been outed on an upcoming holiday surprise. IGN has gotten their hands on a leaked flier from Sears which reveals that Nintendo has two new bundles for the DS Lite set for the holiday season, just in time for Black Friday in three weeks. First up is a metallic pink DS with a pink dog footprint emblem, packed in with the Nintendogs: Best Friends Edition (previously only available bundled with an original pink DS two years ago). The other bundle, however, is far more exciting: a metallic gold DS Lite with a golden Triforce emblem, bundled with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Both bundles will retail for $149.99. We expect to hear official word from Nintendo soon on when exactly we can expect these bundles to hit store shelves.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, October 30 2007 19:43 PM [Top]
LucasArts and BioWare Team Up for...Something? We Guess? [ LucasArts ]
LucasArts and BioWare Corp. today announced that they have entered into an agreement to create an interactive entertainment product. The product, details of which will be unveiled at a later date, will be developed and published by BioWare and LucasArts, and will push the boundaries of the gaming market by utilizing the strengths of both companies to deliver an innovative, high-quality experience.
Generic quotes from LucasArts and BioWare suggest that both companies are excited to be working with each other on whatever it is they're working on. Nothing beyond the game's "interactive entertainment product's" existence was revealed, including potential platforms. We'll keep you posted.
Capcom today announced that Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition for the Wii video game system from Nintendo has shipped over one million units worldwide.
RE4 Wii Edition retains the intensity of the original Resident Evil 4 while bringing players a totally new play experience through the use of the Wii Remote. In this way, by retaining the interest of the core fanbase and expanding outward toward new casual players through the Wii platform, Capcom has broken the 1 million units milestone, and successfully captured the attention of a new set of users.
It is Capcom’s on-going plan to aggressively pursue the continued creation of unique and inspired creations for the Wii, including such titles as Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, which is set to go on sale on November 13th, followed by We Love Golf! in 2008.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, October 30 2007 15:03 PM [Top]
Today's Smash Bros. Dojo update reveals that an oldie but a goodie is making its way back for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Classic Mode will be making a return, where players choose a character, then smash their way through various stages taking on a variety of opponents, each stage having a different theme. For example, the first stage will be based on Legend of Zelda. In other battles, players will team up with other brawlers against giant opponents, or battle metal opponents. You can also choose the game's difficulty level. Also, at the end of each battle, players will obtain coins, which you can save up. Sakurai that they are used for something, but not at a store - is the Trophy Lottery set to make a return?
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 takes the lightning fast fighting, flying and action that made its predecessor, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi 2, last year’s #1 fighting game and takes it to a whole new level with exciting new features. For the first time in Dragon Ball Z history, the Wii platform will feature online gameplay, connecting DBZ fans around the country.
Capcom and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan have announced coproduction of "Resident Evil: Degeneration," the first full-length CG animation feature based upon the Resident Evil series of games and movies.
Resident Evil began as a hit international video game franchise created by Capcom, then made its debut on the silver screen as a live-action film distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Resident Evil is the first trilogy of live-action movies to have come from a video game franchise. Capcom and Sony Picture's Japanese subsidiary SPEJ have teamed up to give birth to a CG-animated Resident Evil with groundbreaking visual effects and a brand-new story line.
The films "Resident Evil" and "Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse" have each grossed more than US$ 100 million at the Box Office internationally. "Resident Evil 3: Extinction" (debuting throughout Japan on November 3) has been the biggest hit of the series in the US to date, adding to the high performance and public support for this franchise.
The full CG animation feature "Resident Evil: Degeneration" is currently in production, with plans for a terrifying release in 2008.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 29 2007 14:17 PM [Top]
Nintendo Celebrates Halloween with Three VC Releases [ Nintendo ]
Castlevania II Simon's Quest (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): In this one-player adventure, you'll take on the role of Simon Belmont once again and duel to the death with Count Dracula. Grab your legendary whip, Vampire Killer, and roam freely through Transylvania on a quest to find the count's missing body parts-these are the key to breaking an evil curse. This quest won't be easy, though, for you must battle hideous fiends who stalk the land. In addition to the intense action and tight control the Castlevania series is known for, this sequel also introduced several unique game-play elements into the fold. Build experience the longer you play, buy weapons and items from merchants, or talk with villagers to get clues (some of which are false). Watch as day turns to night and then back again. Take a deep breath, steady your nerves, and help Simon end his curse and defeat the count once and for all.
SAMURAI-GHOST (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood and Violence, 600 Wii Points): This action platformer features a samurai ghost from the depths of the underworld. In a past war, Kagekiyo managed to defeat the shogun Yoritomo and his clan. However, their evil spirits were not completely destroyed, and now, in the world known as Dark Side, they seek the time of their rebirth. In order to shatter those ambitions, Kagekiyo must make his way across seven zones and head for "The Heart of the Darkside" where Yoritomo lies in wait. Use spirit weapons to power up your sword, or other items, such as candles to recover health, and defeat the endless hordes of enemies. Each zone is not only protected by a boss but also includes demons as well as real samurai from 12th-century Japan. Get ready for some intense one-on-one combat action.
MAGICIAN LORD (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen - Blood and Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1990 and regarded as one of the NEOGEO's earliest signature games, this side-scrolling platformer mixes action with the mystical world of fantasy. A magician named Elta, last descendant of the famed Magician Lord, takes on an epic adventure to save the world from the evil Gul-Agieze. Elta must battle through eight stages, collecting the eight tomes of power that are key to defeating Gul-Agieze and his evil plans. By obtaining orbs in one of three colors (elements) that appear during the game, Elta's offensive powers and jumping abilities can be strengthened. The effect varies considerably depending on the combination of elements, though, and Elta can transform into six different forms: Waterman, Dragon Warrior, Shinobi, Samurai, Raijin or Poseidon. Can you help Elta to become the new Magician Lord?
As if there wasn't enough reasons why Super Smash Bros. Brawl is turning into one of the greatest games of all time, the Dojo has let loose yet another major announcement about the game - the new Stage Builder. In this mode, Smash fanatics can create their very own stages to battle on using various backgrounds, platforms, obstacles, and other elements. You can even select the music for your custom stages - however, you are limited only to songs that you have unlocked within the game.
All that is awesome in and of itself, but the Stage Builder mode gets even better with the numerous ways one can share their custom stages. As well as being able to save the stages to the Wii's system memory, players can also save them to SD cards for additional space, or to bring their stages to a friend's. Also, players can send stages over Wi-Fi to friends that are registered with both a Wii system code and a Smash Bros. Brawl friend code. Last but certainly not least, players can use the "Submit" option to send their stages directly to Nintendo once per day. Nintendo will choose one stage from the submissions, and will send it to all Smash Bros. players for everyone to check out. However, the stage will disappear after one day, so be sure to get your fill of it. You can also submit snapshots using the "Submit" option.
Sakurai does state that this is only the current plan and things are subject to change. However, it's looking right now that this Super Smash Bros. Brawl could become the ultimate multiplayer game of this generation. Check out some screens of the new Stage Builder mode below.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 29 2007 4:46 AM [Top]
Smash Bros. Update - King Dedede's Special Moves [ Smash Bros. Dojo ]
As expected with Thursday's announcement of King Dedede as a playable fighter, today's Dojo update deals with the special moves he'll have available for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His up special is the Super Dedede Jump, which can also be used as a recovery move. Dedede executes a massive leap into the air, then crashes his mallet into the ground, causing damage to all in the area. Dedede is extremely vulnerable upon landing, but you can rectify that by canceling the attack by pressing down on the control stick. Canceling the attack too close to the ground, however, will leave you open to attack even longer, so watch out.
Dedede's side special is the Waddle Dee Toss, where he'll pull out a Waddle Dee (a common Kirby enemy) and toss it at an opponent. The Waddle Dees then waddle around the stage for a few seconds. Dedede can also pull out a cyclops-like Waddle Doo or a spiked Gordo on occasion, which does more damage.
Lastly, Dedede's down special move is the Jet Hammer, where his mallet pops open to reveal a large rocket engine inside. The attack can be charged up, and will unleash a mighty flaming strike on any opponent. You can also move around while the attack is charging, but you cannot save the charged attack by hitting the shield button, like with other characters. Also, charging up the attack too much will damage Dedede as well, so watch out.
Check out some screens of King Dedede's moves below.
SEGA is excited to announce that they are bringing back Samba De Amigo, the Dreamcast classic that helped to create the now-popular rhythm music genre. Created exclusively for the Wii, this vibrant and addictive new game lets players shake to the beats of a samba-infused soundtrack comprised of popular new songs as well as fan-favorites from the original game. The game is being developed by Gearbox Software, best-known for the long-running Brothers in Arms series of first-person shooters.
Playing as the grinning, sombrero-topped monkey, Amigo, players shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like maracas, in time with the visual beats of the music on-screen. The perfect party game, Samba De Amigo is packed with lively stages and a host of colorful characters. More details about this exciting new title including a full song listing as well as new special features will be revealed over the next few months.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, October 25 2007 21:20 PM [Top]
It's that time again, as the Dojo's latest update is all about a brand-spanking-new playable character making his debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This time, it's King Dedede, best-known as the main adversary of Kirby in pretty much every single one of his games. Of course, Dedede will be armed with his trademark mallet, which he can use the whack the ever-loving snot out of anything that stands in his way. He'll be a powerhouse character ala Bowser and Donkey Kong, so while not exactly fleet of foot, he'll have more than enough strength to take on all comers in the Smash arena.
Check out some art and screens of Dream Land's self-proclaimed king below.
Nintendo of America is pleased to announce the hiring of two new executive vice presidents. Cammie Dunaway will serve as the company's new executive vice president, sales & marketing, while Shigeyuki Takahashi will serve as executive vice president, special assignment. Dunaway will report to Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's president and chief operating officer, while Takahashi will report to Tatsumi Kimishima, Nintendo of America's chairman and chief executive officer. Both executives will work from Nintendo's new Silicon Valley offices in Redwood Shores, Calif.
Effective Nov. 5, Dunaway will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities for Nintendo in the United States, Canada and Latin America, filling the position vacated when Fils-Aime was promoted to his current positions in May 2006.
Dunaway oversaw Yahoo!'s tremendously successful 10-year anniversary campaign, which earned a 2006 Gold Reggie Award from the Promotional Marketing Association. She was named one of the 100 Top Marketers by Advertising Age and led Yahoo! to widespread industry recognition, including Clio Awards, Obie Awards, the Promo PRO Awards and the DMA Marketer of the Year Award for 2006. Prior to joining Yahoo!, Dunaway spent 13 years at Frito-Lay, supervising prominent brands.
Effective Nov. 1, Takahashi will conduct special research activities and provide perspective to the sales and marketing department using his accumulated knowledge. He also will support Kimishima regarding Nintendo's future business expansion plans. Takahashi joined Nintendo in 2006 and most recently served as the president of Nintendo Research Inc., where he was in charge of exploring and conducting research activities for Nintendo's future business expansion in North America.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, October 25 2007 3:11 AM [Top]
Today's Smash Bros. Update is the return of another popular Super Smash Bros. mode, Target Smash. Like in previous games, the object of the mode is to destroy every target on the stage in the fastest amount of time. However, this time around there won't be a specific stage for each character, but rather 5 stages altogether, with varying levels of difficulty, which you can play on as the character of your choice. The maps are now outside (for a better visual appeal), and as usual, pausing the game gives the player a full view of the entire stage.
Even better, Sakurai takes this time to announce another new feature for Brawl: video replays. Players can now record not only their best Target Smash times, but three minutes of regular brawls as well, and can send them to their buddies over Wi-Fi via their Wii Friend List, or save them to an SD Card or to the Wii's system memory.
The Dojo update for today is a brand-new cutscene from the game's Subspace Emissary adventure mode. The scene features both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong trying to protect their banana horde from an interesting opponent - Bowser's hordes?
Check out the cutscene by clicking the source link.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, October 23 2007 12:38 PM [Top]
Today's Dojo update features what may very well be the strangest stage yet for Super Smash Bros. Brawl - PictoChat. Taken from the DS feature of the same name, the stage is pretty much what you'd expect, as four players do battle in a giant PictoChat box. Of course, stuff will be drawn in and erased as the players do battle, such as flames, blowing wind, a whale, and various other types of terrain. Also, the handy text box at the bottom says when players are leaving or coming into the stage. Last but not least, there's a wide variety of music players can use on the stage, including songs taken from the Mii Channel and Wii Shop Channel.
Check out the PictoChat stage with some screens below.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 22 2007 14:39 PM [Top]
New Umbrella Chronicles Fact Sheet, Trailer [ Capcom ]
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is a brand new game in the Resident Evil franchise, with familiar locales from the entire series. This action/shooter hybrid reveals the back story behind the fall of the Umbrella Corporation by exploring locations from Resident Evil 0, 1, 2 and 3 as well as new never-before-seen locations, such as Umbrella's stronghold. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles combines first-person, light-gun style combat with interactive pathways, multiple weapons and new enemies to create an entirely new Resident Evil experience that could only be delivered on the Wii.
* The overriding story of Wesker's return and the unveiling of new details about Umbrella link together the chapters as players revisit classic scenarios from previous Resident Evil games. * Return to classic locations such as the mansion from the original and RE 0, and elements of Raccoon City from RE 3 that lead players to a brand new chapater set in Russia. * Chris, Jill, Rebecca, Billy and Carlos are all available as playable characters. Other key characters from the Resident Evil series, including Albert Wesker make appearances during the course of the game. * Using the Wii Remote as a gun, players can experience breathtaking combat against a horde of zombies and various creatures in dynamic first-person perspective. * Support for Wii Zapper provides an even more satisfying, immersive experience. * Single player or two-player co-op * 480p and 16:9 Widescreen support * Switch between pistol, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, knife and grenades to defeat enemies * Replay the game to achieve higher rankings and access to upgraded weapons. Master the game and achieve an Excellent Ranking to obtain a secret item. * Destroy items to find hidden pick-ups providing key information that reveal vital details about Umbrella * Certain weapons can destroy environments and items. Shoot objects and watch them splinter, explode and disintegrate. Hidden items may sometimes be found after destroying objects.
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles launches on November 13. Check out a new trailer below, featuring the first footage of the playable Wesker segments, dozens of familiar enemies, including, zombies, Tyrants, the Nemesis, hunters, and more, and some overall cool looking stuff.
Lunar Pool (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Lunar Pool takes the historical game of billiards and reinvents it with a unique and futuristic flair. The rules are simple: All you need to do is use your cue stick to hit the white cue ball, causing it to hit the other numbered balls and make them go into the pockets. You can enjoy nearly unlimited game play with 30 tables, two different ball arrangements, and the ability to change the degree of friction on the table. You can play against a computer or another human player, so try challenging someone once you've got the hang of the game.
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Take on the role of a ninja called JaJaMaru and rescue the captured Princess Sakura from the evil Namazu Dayuu in this action-packed game, previously unreleased outside of Japan. JaJaMaru must use his throwing stars to defeat the monsters lurking in each of Dayuu's many hideouts. JaJaMaru has to be careful though, as each monster has its own unique weapon and method of attacking. The only way for him to advance is to break the floor bricks above him and move up and down between the levels of each round, defeating monsters as he goes. To help him, broken bricks sometimes reveal items that JaJaMaru can use to his advantage, possibly leading to the ultimate power-up: a ride on Gamapakun, the giant frog. Throw in some bonus stages and you've got a game with a style all its own.
Golden Axe III (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E10 for Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): The once-peaceful kingdom so familiar to fans of the original Golden Axe is under threat once again. The Prince of Darkness has stolen the invaluable Golden Axe, taken over the kingdom and rendered its warriors harmless with an evil curse. One warrior breaks free from the curse and must defeat the prince and regain the Golden Axe to save the kingdom. In this one- or two-player action game, play as a giant, a panther or a sword-wielding human and fight your way to victory once again.
SEGA Superstars Take to the Tennis Courts [ SEGA ]
SEGA today announced SEGA Superstars Tennis, starring some of the most recognized characters in the SEGA universe playing on some of the most unusual courts and outrageous settings imaginable. SEGA Superstars Tennis will be released in early 2008 on the the Wii and Nintendo DS.
SEGA Superstars Tennis includes over 15 playable SEGA characters – like Sonic The Hedgehog, AiAi from Super Monkey Ball fame, Ulala of Space Channel 5 and Amigo from Samba De Amigo, each of whom have their own unique attributes, and superstar tennis skills. The game’s arcade style matches are played out on courts based on environments from Sega games of the past such as the lush tropics of Sonic’s Green Hill Zone or the street fair fiesta of Amigo’s Carnival Park to name a few. In addition, there are a host of cameos and other surprises for fans of Sega games. Details on the gameplay modes and online play will be revealed in the coming months.
SEGA Superstars Tennis is being developed by Sumo Digital Ltd., the developer behind the acclaimed Virtua Tennis series.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, October 19 2007 16:34 PM [Top]
Super Mario Galaxy is looking like it might be the best game released this year. That's pretty much all we need to say about it. Check out the latest trailer below, direct from YouTube, which shows off new worlds, and some of the game's new power-ups for the first time.
Video:
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, October 19 2007 16:27 PM [Top]
It’s finally time to experience the magic of Okami as it was always meant to be played. Capcom’s award winning game is set for release on the Wii home video game system in Spring 2008. Featuring a re-imagined control scheme built around the intuitive Wii Remote, Okami offers players an unparalleled level of control and an opportunity to rediscover a critically-acclaimed and beautifully crafted adventure.
Okami tells the story of a mythical sun god who sets out to restore a dismal world, decimating the forces of evil who stand in the way by commanding the elements and mythical abilities the deity possesses. Mixing Japanese folklore and a stunning traditional Japanese art style, players must utilize an inventive control scheme to overcome the challenges and evil that await. By enhancing the unique gameplay, visual style and story line of Okami with the control of the Wii Remote, it is sure to be the ultimate version of the game.
Originally designed for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and released in 2006, Okami now comes alive in an entirely new way on the Wii with its visually stunning art style and beautiful scenic 3D levels that have the appearance and texture of paper scrolls brushed with watercolor-like calligraphy art. Throughout the vibrant and distinctive surroundings, players must use the Wii remote to interact with a dynamic world and cast of characters. The blend of stylized graphics, movements and unique gameplay will result in a rich and dynamic experience never seen before.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, October 19 2007 15:30 PM [Top]
Today's Dojo update features the Final Smash of Princess Peach, the Peach Blossom. When Peach grabs a Smash Ball, she begins dancing as the screen frame changes to pictures of her. Then, everyone falls asleep as peaches (the fruit, not the princess) fall from the sky. Then, all opponents fall asleep, and Peach can either eat the peaches (to restore health), or gleefully smash her opponents away.
One must be wondering what Sakurai was smoking when he thought up this one.
Nintendo fans have reason to celebrate, as Capcom has announced that they will be porting the critically-acclaimed PS2 action-adventure game Okami to the Wii. Fans have wanted a Wii version of the title for since the game released last year, due to how the game's drawing aspect plays in with the Wii Remote. Using different drawing motions within the game, players can interact with the world, like repairing bridges or attacking enemies. The game also uses a very unique cel-shaded visual style, and is highly based upon Japanese mythology.
The port is being handled by Ready at Dawn Studios, best known for their work on the PSP game Daxter and the upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus. It's set to be released sometime next year.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, October 18 2007 21:51 PM [Top]
Punch-Out! fans have reason to rejoice today, as Little Mac, the legendary player character from the classic NES title, will be making his Smash Bros. debut. Problem is, he won't be a playable character. Instead, Little Mac will be one of the many Nintendo characters that can be released from Assist Trophies. Although small in stature, Mac will quickly rush forward and attack the nearest opponent with two quick jabs, finishing him with his trademark jumping uppercut. His design is also based upon his appearance in the original Punch-Out!, not his later appearance in Super Punch-Out!
Check out some art and screens of Little Mac in action below.
The Dojo has another two-for-one update today, detailing two new features for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. First up, Meowth will be making a return as one of the many Pokémon that will pop out of the Pokéball item, after sitting out Super Smash Bros. Melee. Like in the original Smash Bros., Meowth will use his Pay Day attack, tossing coins at unsuspecting opponents.
Second, Sakurai has finally detailed just how players will be able to play the game simply using the Wii Remote by itself. As shown, the game is played with the Remote turned on it's side (classic position), with the D-Pad controlling most movement. Pressing left or right on the pad moves the player in that directing, with a double tap making the character run. Pressing up executes a jump, with down exectuing a crouch. The 2 button is the primary attack button, while 1 executes special attacks in conjunction with motions on the D-Pad. The A button is used for taunting, the B button activates the shield, and last but not least, the - button executes a grab. Players can also execute smash attacks by either pressing the 1 button with forward on the D-Pad, or hitting the 1 and 2 buttons together.
Also, Sakurai has a little note about Smash Balls. As has been reported, Smash Balls must be attacked before they can be collected, so all players should make a point to go after the item once it appears. Once it is obtained, executing a normal special move unleashes the Final Smash.
Also, fans who are attending the E for All expo should take note of the Wii Remote's configuration when playing the game - it will be the only way to play when it is shown off this week.
Great news for fans of Melee today, as the Dojo has confirmed that the popular Home Run Contest will be making its return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Once again, the object of the contest is to beat up the sandbag as much as you can in the ten seconds allotted, then grab the Home Run Bat and smash the sandbag to get the longest distance. In Brawl, however, the contest will be going through a few changes. First, there'll be a shield around the launch pad, making it easier to smash the crap out of Sandbag without worry of falling. Second, there will be different forms of multiplayer. Players can either go co-op and take out Sandbag together, or they can play alternating to see who gets the greatest distance. Also, both of these multiplayer modes will be playable online and off as well.
Even better, the Home Run Contest is listed as a "Stadium" event, so likely there's more minigames like this to come.
TNA Wrestling is the fastest-growing wrestling organization in the United States, and Midway has officially announced a TNA game set for May for this year, coming to the Wii. While little is known about the game, it will feature over 20 TNA wrestlers including Sting, Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles, and Samoa Joe, as well as several TNA trademarks such as the league's unique six-sided ring, and match types like the Six Sides of Steel and Ultimate X matches. Check out the first screens, a trailer, and a special making-of video below. The videos are in .wmv format, so you need to download them to your hard drive to view them.
Everything you love about Mario Party...in the palm of your hand! The party boards and minigames are crazier than ever in a new title that shrinks down the whole Mario crew for whimsical party play.
With 70 minigames and five themed game boards, Mario Party DS packs all the goods for portable play. And it’s brought to life with fun surprises players can see only on Nintendo DS, such as touch control, microphone control and dual-screen challenges. Users can play as one of eight characters: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, Wario and Waluigi. They’re all ready to foil Bowser’s latest scheme. He seeks five powerful crystals and shrinks down the crew so they can’t stop him. But each of the tiny heroes wants to be the one and only Superstar that brings down Bowser.
Mario Party DS makes the series’ multiplayer action portable at last, from playing with friends on the game boards to challenging them in favorite minigames. And now players can throw a party anywhere and play wirelessly with friends, since much of the game can be shared to other Nintendo DS systems from just one game card.
Did you know Nintendo DS was magic? It is now, as Master of Illusion first teaches users how to perform incredible magic and card tricks, then acts as an assistant as they perform for others. Once users learn how to secretly read the enclosed cards, they'll become master magicians in no time.
Master of Illusion puts an entire magic show in the palm of your hand. Master of Illusion contains step-by-step tutorials on more than 20 different tricks, allowing budding magicians to master the nuances of performance long before show time. Tricks use all facets of Nintendo DS – magicians will draw faces that speak the name of the audience's card, or audibly instruct a dog to fetch a selected item. There are also several solitaire games for downtime between performances. Amaze, and be amazed! Many of the tricks are auto-performing, so users will be wowed long before they learn how it's done. Once they do, they can hand the DS off and watch others be amazed as well.
Check out the game's official boxart and logo below.
Take command with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk: Command and control everything from tanks and helicopter gunships to naval battleships and submarines, and deploy an array of different soldiers. Connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to battle against other players all over the world, or join with friends to play co-operatively. Battalion Wars 2 features three multiplayer modes and 16 unique multiplayer levels. Battle head-to-head in the skirmish and assault modes or team up with another player in co-op mode.
Tactics are everything: Players control every aspect of the battle as they command units, capture facilities and advance toward their primary objectives. When not actively commanding, players can take direct control of any soldier or vehicle in the field and leap into the fray. Combat rages on land, sea and air as players command six different armies through five theaters of war, each with its own unique commanding officers.
The game launches at the end of the month, but you can check out some new screens below
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007 20:18 PM [Top]
New Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Screenshots [ Nintendo ]
Three years have passed since the great war that ended in the death of Mad King Ashnard. His country of Daein suffers under the rule of the war's victors. Now, a small band of freedom fighters struggle to end the long, dark night of Daein's oppression. Micaiah, Sothe and a host of others – the infamous "Dawn Brigade" – rally under the banner of Daein's long-lost prince to bring a new day to this ravaged land.
Command the Dawn Brigade and learn the story of their struggle. Then, gain a new perspective by joining Ike and the Greil Mercenaries as they watch Daein's battles spread throughout all of Tellius. Players can shape their armies to suit their strategy by choosing from dozens of unique characters. Should they use close-range attacks, like the brash Edward's sword, or attack from afar using Leonardo's bow or Ilyana's lightning magic? Players can build support relationships between their characters – as their relationships grow, so do their strengths as they fight together on the battlefield. Players should guide their armies wisely, because if a character falls on the battlefield, he or she is lost forever.
The best-selling strategy title makes its Wii debut, with 16:9 widescreen support, newly added for the North American version, bringing a truly epic experience. Check out some new screens below.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007 19:52 PM [Top]
New Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Artwork [ Nintendo ]
Two groups dominate the storyline: the Dawn Brigade, made up of Micaiah, Sothe and other new characters, and the Greil Mercenaries: Ike, Mist, Shinon, Rolf and other familiar faces from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. Additionally, the laguz characters from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance return. Ranulf, of the beast tribe, is joined by the new Skrimir. The leadership of the other tribes also appear in critical roles. Zelgius, who (as the Black Knight) killed Ike's father, returns in his true identity as one of the primary antagonists.
In addition to the traditional game play seen in previous Fire Emblem games, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn introduces new strategic elements. For example, the magic system from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance now includes elemental magic that follows the "trinity of magic" from earlier Fire Emblem games. Players familiar with the series remember that healing units and untransformed laguz were unable to counterattack when struck by foes. Now, these units have a special move that can be used only when attacked. These units can defend themselves, even if they cannot initiate an attack.
New skills customize units with special abilities that allow them to attack multiple times, move through foes (who typically block the path) and much more. Skills can be assigned to any unit, but because each unit can have a limited number, players will need to be careful in how they assign them. Additionally, the game now includes a terrain-height system that allows characters to move from low ground to high (on certain levels). High ground features special advantages against foes below.
Check out some new character art from the game below.
It's time for a new stage to be revealed in today's Smash Bros. Update, and it turns out it's the official stage of Lucas, New Pork City, taken from Mother 3. The stage is massive in size and scope - comparable to the Legend of Zelda Temple level from Super Smash Bros. Melee, says Sakurai. It's so large, it's easy for enemies to run away, making it like a giant playground. Also, periodically, a massive monster called the Ultimate Chimera will make an appearance on stage. Touching it means instant death, so watch out!
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007 15:09 PM [Top]
Nintendo Shows Off New Vision With Flash Focus [ Nintendo ]
The new Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day is like nothing you've ever seen before. Just as Nintendo's brain-training games gave your gray matter a workout, Flash Focus aims to train users' eyes in areas like hand-eye coordination, peripheral vision and visual acuity. It launches today, exclusively for Nintendo DS.
It might sound like a strange concept, but top athletes have long used high-tech computerized visual training programs to give them an edge on the baseball diamond, basketball court and football field. Now Nintendo makes this remarkable technology available to anyone who wants to have fun while tracking improvements in the various visual exercises. It's a great tool for moms who like to keep a "peripheral vision" watch on their kids or for people who want an edge spotting holiday sales.
The first time users pop in Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day, they take a series of tests to determine their DS Eye Age. As users spend a few minutes each day with the activities, they get better and better at the exercises and their Eye Age lowers to demonstrate their improved focus abilities.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007 14:02 PM [Top]
Advertising Age, one of the longest-running marketing publications in the country, has officially named Nintendo as its "Marketer of the Year" for 2007. The company beat out marketing luminaries such as Apple, Nike, and Al Gore (yes, Al Gore) for the honor. AdAge praised Nintendo specificially for the Wii console, saying it has "broke open a market long confined predominantly to young men and welcomed in the rest of the family."
In the article, there's an interesting statement from Nintendo's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Perrin Kaplan. She states that most gamers, before they played Wii, were "bored and didn't know it yet". Thanks a lot, Perrin, for the insight.
Anyway, congratulations to Nintendo's marketing team on a job well done. Who's up for some coffee at Reggie's house?
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, October 15 2007 14:00 PM [Top]
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, a new villain, Ashtar, is revealed. Take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa and rescue Irene Lew, a former CIA agent, from Ashtar. Destroy the Sword of Chaos, a weapon of great power forged from the bone of a demon. Use techniques such as the Fire Wheel or the Windmill Throwing Star and attack while holding on to walls and ladders. Use the most innovative technique of all - the ability to create Shadow Clones, orange shadow versions of Ryu that will constantly follow him, repeating previous actions (moving or attacking) in a delayed cycle. Once again defeat henchmen, creatures and bosses with new fighting techniques and even more weapons as you progress through multiple stages on your way to destroying Ashtar, Jaquio and the Realm of Chaos.
Metal Marines (Super NES, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Set in the near future, most of Earth's land has been disintegrated in the chaos of the Anti-matter War. This real-time strategy game portrays the Colonies' Allied Force - the Metal Marines - in their epic struggle against General Zorgeuf and the Imperial Federation, who are bent on world domination. Commanding the Metal Marines across a series of battles, the player must strategically allocate resources, ready supplies, manage funds and move troops in an effort to outwit and outmove the opponent. The real-time battle system rewards split-second decisions and adaptability in the struggle for military superiority. Unlike most turn-based strategy games, Metal Marines engrosses the player in a fast-paced and frantic battle in which both sides advance simultaneously. A constant eye must be kept on enemy movements to maintain a formidable defense and not miss the perfect chance to strike. Strategic foresight and quick judgment hold the key to victory.
Gate of Thunder (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): The legendary sci-fi shooter is back! Gate of Thunder is a horizontal side-scrolling shooter that places you in control of special undercover agent Hawk, whose mission is to stop the deadly army of Obbellon fighters. Jump into the action as Hawk gets aboard his ship, the Hunting Dog, and heads out toward the enemy. Blast through stages while effectively using all three of the weapons at your disposal and receiving support from ally Wild Cat ships. Switch through equippable power-up options on the fly to change the direction of your attack. You'll have to blast in front of and behind you to survive all seven stages. Hard-core shooting-game fans looking for a challenge can select HARD or DEVIL mode to experience even more intense action!
Huh? What? How the heck did we end up here? My head's killing me. No matter, we're back, and that's all that counts. Join us once again for another edition of Open Mic Night. Tonight we tackle a range of topics from Smash Bros. to Nintendo having $18 million to blow, and we don't even mention Manhunt 2. Hit the link and check it out. If we can't get away, you certainly can't either!
Fans of Super Smash Bros. Melee's Camera mode have reason to rejoice today, as the mode will find an enhanced version in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. By simply pausing the game, players can snap a photo of whatever they'd like by pressing a button. While players can save snapshots to the Wii's system memory, they can also save them to SD cards, if extra space is necessary. Even better, Wii owners can also send snapshots to their friends over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, as long as they have each other's Brawl friend codes. Last but not least, another feature is still yet to be shown off for the mode, but Sakurai isn't ready to show it off yet. It may not even be in the final game, which Sakurai apologizes for in advance.
Oh yeah, and the game's been delayed until February 10th, and will be playable at E for All. Thanks, Masahiro!
Check out some screens below, including one of Link checking out Zelda's ass. Good times.
First George, then Beth, now we have confirmation from Reuters that the final piece in Nintendo's former circle of execs, Perrin Kaplan, is officially retiring from her post as VP of Marketing after 15 years with The Big N.
"I finally will be leaving Nintendo at the end of the year. Until then, I am focused on getting a great transition team in place and handling all of my normal responsibilities as well," Kaplan said in an e-mail to Reuters.
We here at Wii Café hold nothing but the highest regard for Perrin, as well as George and Beth. While it's a shame to see such great people go, we understand that it's well past due time for a change, both for Nintendo and these individuals. We wish them nothing but the best. Good luck to you, Perrin, and enjoy your retirement.
It's been a few years coming, but Nintendo has finally given Wars fans a new installment of the hugely popular Advance Wars series. Not much is known about the game other than the title, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, and what the screens may reveal at this point, but we do know it's scheduled to launch January 21 next year. Other than that, you get to look at 15 new screens.
Link returns from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to pick up the Wii Zapper and take aim at a host of targets in this shooting-gallery-style game. Link's Crossbow Training contains three basic game styles: target shooting, defender and ranger. There are 27 stages in total, and these categories represent only generally how each individual stage operates. Each stage's goal is to earn the highest score possible within the time limit. All rounds can be played with multiple players: Players pass the Wii Zapper around and then play one at a time and compete for the high score.
No, this isn't today's Smash Bros update, it's just four new screens and a teeny tiny boxart from Nintendo. The screens show some cool things like Giga Bowser in action and the Cracker Launcher. Check em out.
Nintendo Reveals Upcoming Wii and DS Releases [ Nintendo ]
Wii and Nintendo DS continue to appeal to every kind of consumer. As Nintendo's list of upcoming games demonstrates, Nintendo has a game or experience for everyone, no matter their taste, age or video game playing acumen. Wii games like Super Mario Galaxy anchor Nintendo's lineup for the holidays, as Wii adds games faster than any other system in this generation. For Nintendo DS, Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day and Master of Illusion again will make people think of video gaming in a whole new way.
Major publishers worldwide are making games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Shoppers will find dozens of options through the holiday shopping season and into 2008. By the end of 2007, the library of Wii games is expected to grow to 140, not counting nearly 200 downloadable Virtual Console titles, while the Nintendo DS library should be nearly 450. The following is a partial list of the upcoming games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.
Wii Oct. 16: Thrillville: Off the Rails from LucasArts Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts Oct. 23: The Sims 2 Castaway from Electronic Arts Oct. 23: Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis from Rockstar Games Oct. 23: The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night from Sierra Entertainment, Inc. Oct. 23: NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution from TOMY Corporation Oct. 28: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock from Activision Oct. 29: Battalion Wars 2 from Nintendo Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts Oct. 31: Manhunt 2 from Rockstar Games October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision October: Namco Museum Remix from NAMCO BANDAI Games America October: Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth from THQ October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis from THQ Nov. 5: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn from Nintendo Nov. 6: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga from LucasArts Nov. 6: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games from SEGA Nov. 12: Super Mario Galaxy from Nintendo Nov. 13: Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 from Atari, Inc. Nov. 13: Godzilla Unleashed from Atari, Inc. Nov. 13: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary from Eidos, Inc. Nov. 13: BLOCKS from Electronic Arts Nov. 13: MEDAL OF HONOR HEROES 2 from Electronic Arts Nov. 13: Geometry Wars: Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc. Nov. 19: Link's Crossbow Training (packaged with Wii Zapper) from Nintendo Nov. 20: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords from D3Publisher of America November: Trauma Center: New Blood from Atlus USA November: Star Trek: Conquest from Bethesda Softworks November: Ghost Squad from SEGA November: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 from THQ November: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 from Ubisoft November: CSI: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft December: MX vs. ATV Untamed from THQ December: Super Swing Golf Season 2 from Tecmo, Inc. December: Rygar: The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc. December: Nitrobike from Ubisoft Holiday 2007: NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams from SEGA Winter '07: SoulCalibur Legends from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Jan. 21: Endless Ocean from Nintendo Feb. 10 : Super Smash Bros. Brawl from Nintendo Feb. 19: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity from SEGA February: No More Heroes from Ubisoft Q1: One Piece: Unlimited Adventure from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Spring '08: Mario Kart Wii (name not final) from Nintendo
Nintendo DS Oct. 15: Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day from Nintendo Oct. 16: Thrillville: Off the Rails from LucasArts Oct. 22: EA PLAYGROUND from Electronic Arts Oct. 23: THE SIMS 2 CASTAWAY from Electronic Arts Oct. 23: FRONT MISSION from Square Enix, Inc. Oct. 23: NARUTO: Path of the Ninja from TOMY Corporation Oct. 30: NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET from Electronic Arts Oct. 30: THE SIMPSONS from Electronic Arts Oct. 30: Puzzle de Harvest Moon from Natsume Inc. Oct. 31: Dementium: The Ward from Gamecock Media Group October: Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys from Activision October: Tony Hawk's Proving Ground from Activision October: Touch Detective 2˝ from Atlus USA October: Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth from THQ October: SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis from THQ Nov. 6: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga from LucasArts Nov. 6: DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker from Square Enix, Inc. Nov. 13: BOOGIE from Electronic Arts Nov. 13: ORCS & ELVES from Electronic Arts Nov. 13: Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends from Majesco Entertainment Nov. 13: Geometry Wars: Galaxies from Sierra Entertainment, Inc. Nov. 19: Mario Party DS from Nintendo Nov. 20: Godzilla Unleashed Double Smash from Atari, Inc. Nov. 20: FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS from Square Enix, Inc. Nov. 26: Master of Illusion from Nintendo November: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare from Activision November: Contra 4 from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. November: Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command from THQ November: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 from THQ November: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc. November: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 from Ubisoft Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo January: Miami Nights from Ubisoft Feb. 4: Professor Layton and the Curious Village from Nintendo Feb. 19: Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer from SEGA February: Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft March: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group Q1: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games from SEGA
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, October 12 2007 1:10 AM [Top]
Hot on the heals of the announcement that the OTHER pairing of Mario and Sonic would be delayed, we now get word from SEGA that the plumber and the hedgehog's Olympian escapades will be gracing store shelves a bit earlier than expected. Here's the release:
SEGA of America today announced that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Wii home video game system has gone gold and will ship to retail in North America on November 6, 2007 - two weeks earlier than originally anticipated. Bringing gamers the epic face-off between Team Sonic and Team Mario, this exceptional game is one of this Holiday's most anticipated titles for any platform. With an impressive list of Olympic events, the game is packed with exciting sports action, offering the ultimate competition for Gold.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has not only a full line-up of real-life Olympic events, but also a unique series of exclusive "Dream Events". These Dream Events - which are both single and multiplayer - are based in colorful game-like universes that include objects and power-ups that will either improve a players game or bring down their opponent.
The four Dream events are:
-Dream Race (Sandhill Race Course) - Get on your marks for this intense power-up filled race course made for either one player or as many as four. -Dream Platform (Tropical Reef Diving Area - 10,000M Diving) - More like skydiving, soar through hoops and perform aerial tricks while avoiding obstacles and opponents to reach the finish line first. -Dream Fencing (Duel Wharf Fencing Beach) - With unique special attacks for each character, this jungle-inspired world offers the ultimate duel. -Dream Table Tennis (Speed Rally Table Tennis Stadium) - A sci-fi wonderland, this magical table tennis extravaganza offers a special ability for each character - so move fast!
EA Picks Up Bioware and Pandemic Studios [ Electronic Arts ]
Electronic Arts Inc. today announced an agreement with Elevation Partners to acquire VG Holding Corp. -- the owner of both BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios. T
Smash Bros. Update - The Summit [ 
