Today's Special Archives: February 2006

News Archives Index Nintendo Official Confirms Rev Functionality for Zelda [ Jeux-France ] In an interview with Nintendo of France's director of marketing, Mathieu Minel, French gaming site Jeux-France asked about the state of the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and whether or not it will have functionality with the Nintendo Revolution. Here's what he had to say: Mathieu Minel: I just know that Nintendo will release either a special edition of Twilight Princess for Nintendo Revolution's controller new functionalities or include these functionalities directly into the original sourcecode, thanks to the compatibility between the two systems. But actually we still don't know which option will be chosen. We don't have any release date as well, but we're already working on all the marketing aspects of Twilight Princess so I think the game will be out soon, even if the exact date is yet unknown. It all depends on the compatibility with the Revolution and a lot of others things. You know, this game will be a full set of surprises, especially with a new and violent battle system but I can't tell anymore." Well, there you have it. There will either be an Revolution re-release with Revolution controller functionality, or the original GameCube release will, in fact, have compatibility with the Revolution and it's controller. While Nintendo has yet to officially confirm this, I'd say this statement is pretty good confirmation that the game will at least work with the Revolution in some way. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will finally hit stores sometime later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 11:26 AM [Top] New Mother 3 Screens [ 1101.com ] Once again, the official Mother 3 site has revealed some new screens of the game. One of the screens gives our first look at the battle system. Check them out below, and remember that Mother 3 hits stores in Japan this Apri l. Images: Mother 3 Screenshot 1 Mother 3 Screenshot 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 11:09 AM [Top] Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers Trailer [ GameCube Café ] The no holds barred, sci-fi fighting franchise is reborn on the Nintendo DS. Guilty Gear Dust Strikers features all 21 Guilty Gear characters from previous versions in a battle that takes place on multiple levels across both DS screens. Navigate different types of floors and traps as you battle against the computer or via wireless multi-player connections. The game features all 21 characters from Guilty Gear X2#Reload, as well as 6 modes of play and several touch screen mini-games. Using new attack items and special signature fighting moves, compete in four-player battles wher the last fighter standing wins. Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers is rated T for Teen and will hit stores for the Nintendo DS on April 3rd. Check out a new gameplay trailer for the game below by right-clicking to save to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers Trailer (8.3 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 3:34 AM [Top] Over the Hedge (GBA/DS) Info and Screens [ Activision ] Based on the highly-anticipated feature film from DreamWorks Animation, Over the Hedge for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance are two unique games that takes players on an interactive adventure beyond the film. Assuming the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle and Hammy the squirrel, players turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their own personal playground. Over the Hedge for the Nintendo DS picks up after the movie ends and adds an all-new storyline in which the characters must figure out how to save their woodland home from being overtaken by a new housing development. Over the Hedge for Game Boy Advance closely follows the storyline of the movie and allows players to experience the adventures for themselves. On the DS, players are challenged with 20 unique, heist-oriented missions in some of the most visually exciting 3D platforming gameplay ever seen on the DS. The game is shown on both screens and players can use the DS microphone to distract and surprise enemies. Gamers can play with a friend in the wireless mini-game with a single Over the Hedge DS cartridge. – In the Game Boy Advance version of Over the Hedge gamers accept challenges and quests that lead them through actual film adventures. Players must master stealth and heist situations each with its own unique location. Traveling from the forest through the suburban sprawl, players use cartoon weaponry in tandem with avoidance techniques to overcome dangerous machines, villainous gadgets and unfriendly animals. Over the Hedge for the GBA and Nintendo DS hits stores this spring. Check out a handful of screens from the GBA version of the game below. Images: Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 1 Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 2 Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 3 Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 4 Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 3:28 AM [Top] New Over the Hedge (GCN) Info and Screens [ Activision ] Based on the highly-anticipated feature film from DreamWorks Animation, Over the Hedge is a wildly adventurous game that takes players on an interactive adventure beyond the story seen in the film. Assuming the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk, players turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their own personal playground. Numerous puzzles and mini-games keep fans busy as they switch between two of the four main characters or engage in two player co-op with friends. In over 30 mission-filled levels, gamers can switch between two characters on the fly, or select multiplayer mode to join forces with a friend. Gamers interact with all characters from the film, as well as all-new characters that live only in the game. The fast-paced adventure takes place in more than 10 new locations not featured in the film including the exterminator's lab, the sewers, and the wild Western theme park. Gamers can unlock fast-paced mini-games like “Golf Cart Derby,” “RC (radio-controlled) Car Racing” and “Suburban Mini Golf” as players take on side challenges to win energy-filled snacks or powered-up weapons and items. Over the Hedge will hit stores for the Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance this spring. Check out some new screens of the GameCube version below. Images: Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 1 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 2 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 3 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 4 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 5 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 6 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 7 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 8 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 9 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 10 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 11 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 12 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 13 Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 14 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 3:06 AM [Top] Rampage: Total Destruction Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Get ready to roam, rage and Rampage your way through cities of the world destroying everything in your path in Rampage: Total Destruction! George, Lizzy and Ralph are back along with 27 new monsters that you can find, collect and play as. Wander through 3D neighborhoods of major cities trashing everything in sight as you uncover hidden monsters and power-ups. As an added bonus the original arcade versions of Rampage and Rampage World Tour are included. Rampage: Total Destruction hits stores for the GameCube this spring and is rated E10 for ages 10 and up. Check out the trailer for the game below by downloading to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Rampage: Total Destruction Trailer (13.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 28 2006 2:45 AM [Top] Super Princess Peach Shows A Real Damsel Of Distinction [ Nintendo ] The life of a princess isn't always an easy one. Nintendo's Princess Peach, for instance, has found herself the victim of multiple kidnappings since her debut in the classic Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. But her frequent nemesis, Bowser, has wised up and instead kidnapped her repeat rescuers, Mario and Luigi. Now it's up to Peach to show she can go from pretty-in-pink to butt-kicking babe without missing a beat. Super Princess Peach, debuting today exclusively for the popular Nintendo DS, sends the parasol-wielding heroine on a mission to rescue the Mario Bros. from the clutches of Bowser. But Peach finds herself mysteriously overwhelmed by strong emotional vibes as she approaches his castle on Vibe Island. Undaunted, she channels these vibes and uses them to defeat her enemies. She floats through the air when she's happy, waters plants with her tears and catches on fire when she's mad. "Peach has never been a pushover, but this classically styled game really lets her put the hurt on her enemies," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Our damsel in distress has become a powerful leading lady." Players must use Peach's newfound powers to help them navigate through eight different areas, where she fights bad guys, collects coins and rescues imprisoned Toads. The side-scrolling platform game will satisfy old-school purists, while everyone will enjoy watching Peach whack enemies with her parasol. Super Princess Peach turns the genre on its crown as only Nintendo can. Super Princess Peach is Rated E for Everyone. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 27 2006 21:34 PM [Top] Capcom Announces Mega Man Battle Network 6 [ Capcom ] Capcom today announced Mega Man Battle Network 6 in two versions - Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar for the Game Boy Advance. The popular net battle series reaches a dramatic climax as familiar heroes, Lan and Mega Man, find themselves on unfamiliar terrain both in the real and cyber worlds. They will face the mightiest threats the series has ever seen but also wield the greatest power ever available. In Mega Man Battle Network 6, a new "Cross System" allows Mega Man to utilize the special power of allies in battle. Mega Man will encounter several "Link Navis" along the way which, when defeated, will lend their own cross ability that can be used in battle. Another powerful advantage is the "Beast Out" system, resulting from Mega Man's absorption of the powerful Cybeasts. The option to use the ancient monster's power during battle will become available, offering a boost in speed, ability to rapid fire Buster shots, double a Battle Chip's attack power and more. However, the use of the Beast Out system is very limited and if Mega Man becomes fatigued, he may succumb to an uncontrollable overdrive mode called "Beast Over." Capcom plans to release Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar and Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Falzar across North America in Q2 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 27 2006 19:29 PM [Top] Updated Nintendo Sales Information [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has released their latest sales information, including Q3 of the 2006 fiscal year (The period from October 2005 to December 2005). Check it out below. Nintendo DS U.S. DS Hardware: 3.97 million units DS Software: 10.46 million units Worldwide DS Hardware: 14.4 million units DS Software: 46.4 million units Nintendo GameCube U.S. GCN Hardware: 10.95 million units GCN Software: 88.86 million units Worldwide GCN Hardware: 20.61 million units GCN Software: 184.36 million units Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Advance SP/Game Boy Micro U.S. GBA/GBA SP Hardware: 32.06 million units GBA Software: 141.89 million units Worldwide GBA/GBA SP Hardware: 74.25 million units GBA Software: 319.31 million units Total Worldwide Sales Total Hardware: more than 363 million units Total Software: more than 2.1 billion units Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 2:36 AM [Top] MLB 2K6 "Fielding" Trailer [ GameCube Café ] The old adage "defense wins championships" applies to every sport, especially in the game of baseball. Whether it's the groundball that rolled through Buckner's legs that cost the Red Sox a game or the miraculous home plate cutoff by Jeter that saved a game from Oakland A's, solid fielding fundamentals are crucial to winning a game. Major League Baseball 2K6 brings numerous new additions to playing the field, delivering amazing animations and realistic controls that make fielding in a baseball game an exciting challenge. How a player moves on a ball is an important aspect to fielding and with Major League Baseball 2K6's Pure Motion Physics, gamers will experience the fun challenge of getting the proper jump on a fly ball. Fielders now have movement tied to momentum, bringing much more realistic movement to the game. This new movement system brings a ton of new animations ranging from new diving catches, double play animations, and even catch attempts while leaning into the foul seating section. Player collisions bring even more realism to the diamond, as fielders must be aware of their positioning to avoid being on the highlight "blooper" reel. All these elements and much more lend to a challenging and fun baseball fielding experience. MLB 2K6 is rated E for Everyone and hits stores for the GameCube on April 10th. Check out a new trailer showing off the game's fielding aspects below by clicking on the link to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: MLB 2K6 "Fielding" Trailer (5.3 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 2:18 AM [Top] Tales of Phantasia Gameplay Trailer [ GameCube Café ] When young swordsman Cress Albane returns home to find his village torn asunder and his parents killed, he is forced to set out on a quest through time and space to uncover the villains behind the tragedy. This classic role-playing game from the popular "Tales" series comes to the United States for the first time. The Linear Motion Battle System puts the emphasis on action as players attack their enemies without the use of menus. New game events, dialogue sequences and other features enhance the adventure on this release. Players can crack open the Monster Dictionary to view the strengths and weaknesses of the enemies they meet in battle. Players will want to collect data on them all. Players also use the innovative Cooking System to collect ingredients and recipes to brew up meals that restore their health and magic. Tales of Phantasia, developed by Namco, is rated E10 for ages 10 and up and hits stores for the Game Boy Advance on March 6th. Check out a gameplay trailer of what promises to be an amazing RPG adventure by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Tales of Phantasia Gameplay Trailer (5.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 2:12 AM [Top] New Super Princess Peach Screens and Info [ Nintendo ] After Bowser gets hold of something called a magical Vibe Scepter, he kidnaps Mario and Luigi and heads back to his castle on Vibe Island with an emotional troop of minions in tow. Intent on rescuing the Mario Bros., Peach gives chase, only to find herself affected by the emotional vibes given off by the island. Using these newfound vibes to channel special abilities, she sets off to rescue Mario and Luigi. Players play through eight areas, each composed of several stages and a boss, as they search out imprisoned Toads and collect coins. While running and jumping through stages, players must use Peach's vibes to break through impediments, conquer impossibly high cliffs and defeat enemies. To build up Peach's vibe powers, players collect gems or pick up enemies with her magic parasol and absorb them. Peach can run, jump and slide, not to mention use her parasol to whack things, pick items up and even float across water. Besides that, she has four vibes that give her special abilities. Joy: Peach whirls about like a cyclone, creating air currents that will spin windmills, clear away enemies or even lift her high into the air. Rage: Peach catches fire, burning enemies and wood impediments. Gloom: Peach weeps and runs incredibly fast, during which time she's invincible. Her tears can cause plants to grow, among other things. Calm: Peach becomes invincible and slowly regains health. Super Princess Peach ships for the Nintendo DS this coming Monday, February 27th. Check out the latest screens of the game below. Images: Super Princess Peach Screenshot 1 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 2 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 3 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 4 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 5 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 6 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 7 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 8 Super Princess Peach Screenshot 9 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 2:01 AM [Top] New Pokémon Trozei Screenshots and Info [ Nintendo ] Lucy Fleetfoot is a secret agent for Secret Operations League ("SOL"), whose mission it is to rescue stolen Pokémon from an evil organization known as the "Phobos Battalion." In story mode, the player's goal is to stop the Phobos Battalion and to discover why it is stealing Pokémon. Using the stylus, players can line up four Pokémon puzzle pieces in a row (vertically or horizontally) to create a "Trozei" and add Pokémon to their Trozei List. Once a Trozei happens, it can be turned into a chain reaction by lining up three in a row, and then two in a row, to clear those pieces from the screen. The longer a player keeps a Trozei going, the higher the score. However, if the pieces stack up too high and reach the top of the screen, the game is over. Another game objective is to complete the Trozei List. This list contains all Pokémon that a player has been able to Trozei. Some Pokémon are harder to Trozei than others. Players can increase their chances of finding rare Pokémon by playing wirelessly with friends. Players also can frequent the "Agent Café" and use the "Espionage Mode" to exchange "Agent Cards" with friends for a chance to catch other rare Pokémon. There are four modes to play in Pokémon Trozei: two single-player, a battle mode for two players to go against each other and a mode for teaming up with a friend. The multiplayer modes use the DS wireless function. The game also has a wireless distribution mode where players can relay a playable demo version of the game – Pokémon Trozei Mini – that allows other players the opportunity to experience the game. Pokémon Trozei will be released for the Nintendo DS on March 6th and is rated E for everyone. Check out the latest screens of the Pokécritter action below. Images: Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 1 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 2 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 3 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 4 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 5 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 6 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 7 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 8 Pokémon Trozei Screenshot 9 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 1:54 AM [Top] Big Brain Academy Boxart and Logo [ Nintendo ] Big Brain Academy (known as Brain Flex in Japan) offers players 15 fun activities that test their brain powers in areas like logic, memory, math and analysis. Up to eight people can play with a single game card, and each activity takes less than a minute to complete. The game, the second in the the US release of the Brain Training series, is set to hit stores for the Nintendo DS on May 30th. Images: Big Brain Academy Boxart Big Brain Academy Logo Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 1:18 AM [Top] Tetris DS Boxart, Screens, and Info [ Nintendo ] Tetris DS will have players humming along as their thumbs move at lightning speed. On March 20, Tetris DS launches exclusively for Nintendo DS with six game modes, each themed with classic Nintendo characters and remixed classic Nintendo music. The new ways to play reignite the addictive passion of one of the most popular games of all time. Players can connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless gaming service, or choose one of six other ways to play: Mission: In this Legend of Zelda-themed mode, players race the clock to complete the missions that appear on the top screen before time runs out. Catch: In this Metroid-themed mode, players try to land Tetriminos (falling blocks) on any side of an ever-growing floating pile of Tetriminos. Once players complete a 4-by-4 square, the Tetrimino will explode in all directions and earn points. Puzzle: Players solve up to 200 tricky Tetris puzzles at their own pace with the help of just a few Tetriminos provided. Players tap the orientation they want to use and then the Tetrimino will automatically fall into place as Yoshi monitors the action. Standard: This Mario-themed mode features the same addictive game play that made the original Tetris so wildly popular. Players guide Tetriminos and form horizontal lines to clear them away. Mario runs around Super Mario Bros.® levels in the background. Touch: This unique Balloon Fight-themed take on Tetris really shows off the touch-screen capability of Nintendo DS. Players use a stylus to drag and move a giant stack of Tetriminos to make them fall into horizontal lines. In early levels, they can tap to spin them just the way they need them. Players have as much time as they need to carefully plan their moves. Push: The goal of this multiplayer Donkey Kong-themed mode is to clear two lines at a time to push the group of Tetriminos into an opponent’s red zone. Players can’t let their own Tetriminos build up too high, or it’s game over. Tetris DS hits stores for the Nintendo DS on March 20th. Check out the latest screens of the game, each showing off one of the game's different modes, as well as the game's official boxart, below. Images: Tetris DS Boxart Tetris DS Screenshot 1 Tetris DS Screenshot 2 Tetris DS Screenshot 3 Tetris DS Screenshot 4 Tetris DS Screenshot 5 Tetris DS Screenshot 6 Tetris DS Screenshot 7 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 1:16 AM [Top] Metroid Prime Hunters Boxart [ Nintendo ] In the most distant reaches of space, beyond the territories controlled by the Galactic Federation, is the Tetra Galaxy, once home to a mighty race known as the Alimbics. An advanced civilization, peaceful, prosperous and powerful, the Alimbics maintained stability over the region forcefully but judiciously. They reigned over a vast region known as the Alimbic Cluster. One day, perhaps thousands of years ago, perhaps tens of thousands, they simply disappeared, leaving behind artifacts, all scattered across the Alimbic Cluster, all protected by a lethal arsenal of the Alimbics' most advanced weaponry. Today, for the first time in centuries, the long-dormant Alimbic System is stirring, delivering strange tidings. A telepathic communiqué, originating in Alimbic Cluster, has downloaded into the brains of some of the most exceptional beings in our galaxy. The message translates into a thousand different languages on a thousand different worlds. But the message always is the same: "The secret to ultimate power resides in the Alimbic Cluster." This message has intrigued and enticed some of the most formidable bounty hunters in the galaxy to make the long journey to the Alimbic Cluster, each of these great warriors motivated by a different reason. Some desire power for themselves, or for their planet or people, while others simply have a relentless desire to hunt, or to kill, along with a fierce determination to prove themselves the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. Now, it's a race against time to see which bounty hunter will triumph over the others, who will discover the secret behind this promise of "ultimate power." Metroid Prime Hunters is set to hit stores for the Nintendo DS on March 20th. Check out the updated boxart, changed to reflect the game's Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection capability, below. Images: Metroid Prime Hunters Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 1:06 AM [Top] Odama Boxart and Screenshots [ Nintendo ] The young general Yamanouchi Kagetora, intent on avenging his father's death, has revived the most ingenious weapon ever to hit the medieval battlefield: the Odama, a gigantic ball powerful enough to destroy whatever it strikes, friend or foe. Players use the Nintendo GameCube Mic to direct their soldiers out of the Odama's way and into the fray, and prove that they have the skill to back up the power of the Odama. Using giant flippers, players aim the giant Odama ball to bowl over enemies, shatter their defenses and wreak havoc on the battlefield. With the Nintendo GameCube Mic, players command men to charge the enemy, defend positions, seize the enemy gates and much more. Odama, created by famed developer Yoot Saito and his team at Vivarium games, is set to hit stores for the Nintendo GameCube on April 10th. Check out a new batch of screenshots, as well as the game's official boxart, below. Images: Odama Boxart Odama Screenshot 1 Odama Screenshot 2 Odama Screenshot 3 Odama Screenshot 4 Odama Screenshot 5 Odama Screenshot 6 Odama Screenshot 7 Odama Screenshot 8 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 25 2006 0:50 AM [Top] DS Lite Delayed...Sort Of [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo has announced that those in Japan looking forward to the pair of blue-hued DS Lites hitting stores on March 2nd will have to wait a little bit longer. The company has announced that, due to a manufacturing error, the DS Lite models with the colors Ice Blue and Enamel Navy will have their launch delayed until March 11th. The Pearl White version, however, is still on target to launch on March 2nd. Due to the massive popularity of the DS in Japan, many stores are not taking preorders in order to allow everyone to get a shot at purchasing a DS. This staggered launch might work in the DS's favor, allowing those who miss out on one on the 2nd to try again on the 11th. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 24 2006 12:35 PM [Top] IGN Reveals Information on Revolution Dev Kits [ IGN Revolution ] IGN's always-reliable Revolution site has once again scored some inside information about Nintendo's next console, more specifically, the system's development kits. In an interview with Engadget, Nintendo Vice President of Sales and Marketing Reginald Fils-Aime confirmed that over 1,000 dev kits had been shipped out to third-party developers. IGN reports that these kits have come in three forms: a basic kit which simply consists of a GameCube console and a wired Revolution controller, the second a minor revision of the first, and the third the same, but with a boost of CPU power. However, some sources are reporting that yet another dev kit has been released, with much more powerful hardware and a wireless controller, which has been sent out to major third-parties. Another dev kit, which will supposedly deliver 90-95% of the system's power, will be sent out soon to major developers as well, such as EA and Ubisoft, so that they can show off playable demos of their games at E3 2006. As expected, the Revolution development kits are very similar to the GameCube's architecture, so anyone with knowledge of GameCube hardware will have no problem getting a game to work on the console. Shockingly enough, developers are not worried about the system's supposedly lacking hardware, claiming that the emphasis on the system's controller makes the graphics not matter. Once again, developers echoed previous statements that Revolution could launch at a mere $200 or even a $150 price point, still allowing Nintendo to make a substantial profit off of each unit sold. Even more amazing is the miniscule cost of the dev kits: each retails for around $2000, which is far cheaper than a development kit for the PS3, Xbox 360, and even the PSP. We here at the Café will make sure to report all information relating to the Revolution when it becomes available, especially at GDC next month, and, of course, E3 this May. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 22 2006 22:04 PM [Top] n-Space Expands, Working on Revolution Games [ Orlando Sentinel ] An article in the Orlando Sentinel today reveals that n-Space, developer of the Nintendo-published GameCube shooter Geist, is expanding to hire 20 more staff members in the fields of art, production, and design. The big news? The article also reveals that n-Space is developing games for the Nintendo Revolution. Could one of these games be Geist 2? It's no secret that the Revolution's controller is begging for a first-person shooter. We'll make sure to keep an eye on any future developments with n-Space, and you can expect whatever the company is cooking up will be revealed when Nintendo blows the lid off of the Revolution at E3 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 22 2006 0:13 AM [Top] Crave's Chip VanDeVelde Passes Away [ Crave Entertainment ] Sad news from Crave Entertainment today, as they report that one of their vice presidents, Mark "Chip" VanDeVelde, passed away this past Saturday. An industry veteran, Chip had been a part of the SVG Distribution / Crave Entertainment family since 1998 and was the national sales manager for Konami before joining the company. Mr. VanDeVelde is survived by his 11 year old daughter, Callahan. SVG Distribution / Crave Entertainment will be starting a scholarship fund for Callahan VanDeVelde. Here is the information regarding the fund: If by check make check payable to: Crave Entertainment Group, Inc. FBO Callahan N. VanDeVelde Please mail check to: Crave Entertainment Group, Inc. Attn: Lynda Broderick 4 San Joaquin Plaza Drive, Suite 200 Newport Beach California 92660 If by wire please send to: Crave Entertainment Group, Inc. For the benefit of (FBO): Callahan N. VanDeVelde ABA # 121100782 Account number: 751-000373 Bank of the West 300 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90071. The VanDeVelde family requests that donations be made to the scholarship fund in lieu of sending flowers. We at GameCube Café offer our deepest sympathies to the friends, family, and colleagues of Mr. VanDeVelde, and particularly wish the best of luck to his daughter. He will be missed. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, February 21 2006 22:54 PM [Top] New Mother 3 Screens and Special Game Boy Micro Revealed [ 1101.com ] Shigesato Itoi has revealed more screens of Mother 3, plus a special surprise for Mother 3 fans. Along with the game, Nintendo will also release a special Mother 3 Deluxe Box including the game, a bonus badge, and a special edition Game Boy Micro with a special edition faceplate. The Deluxe Box is limited to preorderers only and will be released on the same day as the game itself, on April 20th. Images: Mother 3 Screenshot 1 Mother 3 Screenshot 2 Mother 3 Screenshot 3 Mother 3 Game Boy Micro Image Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 21 2006 14:26 PM [Top] Nintendo Dates New SMB and Announces Magnetica [ Nintendo ] It's been more than 20 years since Nintendo's highly acclaimed franchise, Super Mario Bros., first hit store shelves. On May 7, eager fans from Mario's classic days must wait no longer to see the brothers return in an all-new platformer with the launch of New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS. On the heels of Valentine's Day, romance is in the air, even in the Mushroom Kingdom. But Princess Peach wasn't able to celebrate with her special someone, seeing that she's been taken prisoner by Bowser and Bowser Jr. Only the Mario Bros. can rescue the princess from her evil captors as they battle familiar enemies like Goombas and Koopas along with new foes and big bosses. New Super Mario Bros. is loaded with features and characters that could only exist in the Mushroom Kingdom, including all-new power-ups like the Blue Shell, in which Mario can ride, and a massive Mushroom that makes him ultra-huge. The title features stunning 3-D models moving through lavish, cleverly designed 2-D worlds, culminating in a final showdown for the freedom of Princess Peach. Then, on June 5, another title launches for Nintendo DS. In Magnetica, the American release of the Japanese puzzle title Puzzloop, marbles roll down a twisted path toward the goal and it's up to players to stop them by launching new marbles into the oncoming ones. The marbles will disappear if players match three or more in this massive marble elimination. All actions are controlled with the stylus in this title that satisfies even the strongest puzzle addiction. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 21 2006 14:00 PM [Top] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Delayed Again [ Spike TV ] Nintendo Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Reginald Fils-Aime gave an interview last night on Spike TV's "Game Head." The show's host, Geoff Keighley directly asked Reggie when the game would be released and Reggie said that it would be out this Fall. In addition, he also stressed that it would in fact still be released on GameCube, contradicting rumors lately that it had in fact been moved over to Revolution. I for one really see no point in releasing it on GameCube anymore, unless of course the release of Revolution has been delayed as well. Another possible reason for them to keep on saying it will be on Cube is that if they announce it has been moved to Revolution, that pretty much means that GameCube is dead. It is no secret that there are hardly any titles coming for the the little purple lunchbox this year. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Sunday, February 19 2006 4:49 AM [Top] Happy Birthday Mike! [ GameCube Café ] Mike has been a part of the Café family since the very begining, which is quite impressive considering how many staff members we have seen come and go over, holy crap it has almost been four years. Recently Mike has been promoted (finally) to the position of Senior Editor. Unofficially he has been doing that job for about two years but for some reason we just never gave him that nice pretty title. Mike is an awesome writer and definitely a hard worker, his contribution to the Café over the years has been invaluable. He is one of the original staffers to make the Café's first journey to the promised land of Los Angeles for E3 back in 2003 and this year will be his fourth year attending. His writing and reporting at E3 is some of the best and most respected in our industry and we know you look forward to seeing what he has to say come E3 time. Mike, all of us here at the Café wish you a happy twenty-first birthday. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, February 17 2006 10:51 AM [Top] MechAssault: Phantom War Officially Announced [ Majesco ] Majesco today announced MechAssault: Phantom War for the Nintendo DS will ship to stores later this year. The first handheld installment of the critically acclaimed series, MechAssault: Phantom War features popular franchise elements while utilizing the Nintendo DS touch screen to deliver a new level of control and maneuverability. "MechAssault: Phantom War fuses the best game play elements from the series with new features that take advantage of the unique mechanics of the Nintendo DS," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing for Majesco Entertainment. "The touch screen lets players intuitively 'touch' the cockpit controls to hack into giant 'Mechs, eject pilots, switch weapons and check battle techniques." Developed by Backbone Entertainment, a division of Foundation 9 Entertainment, MechAssault: Phantom War brings the future of interstellar combat to today's handheld gamers in a third-person futuristic shooter. Players assume the role of a MechWarrior, an elite fighter trained to control the ultimate war machine of the 32nd century...the BattleMech. Gamers experience fast-action, 3D 'Mech combat on the top screen, while the lower touch screen positions them inside the cockpit at the controls. The game will also feature wireless multiplayer for up to four players. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 16 2006 18:00 PM [Top] Tecmo To Support Revolution [ Tecmo ] Tecmo has announced that it will be supporting Nintendo's Revolution console. The first title it will be publishing on the system will be Pangya, a golf game. While it was not announced what control method would be used, the Revolution controller certainly suggests swinging the motion sensitive device like a golf club. Pangya was originally developed by Tecmo with the help of a Korean company and was first published on the PC. The online-only title was driven by micropayments from players buying in-game items, though it is unknown if the Revolution version will function the same way. Pangya is currently scheduled to be a launch title when the Revolution releases in 2006. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, February 16 2006 12:36 PM [Top] MLB 2K6 "Payoff Pitching" Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Without a doubt, pitching is the most important element in a baseball game -- there are few sports that demonstrate the same amount of drama contained in a 3-2 count. Success in these payoff situations is what separates a good pitcher from a "great" one, as the "great" ones get better and better in pressure situations. It also helps when a teammate catcher can help him spot his pitches and guide a pitcher to the best strikeout pitch. The complete pitching experience is fully realized in Major League Baseball 2K6 through the exciting and innovative Payoff Pitching system. Recreating the realism of how a pitcher spots his pitches, the Payoff Pitching™ system keeps pitching controls elegantly simple while delivering the total pitching experience of the Big Leagues. Players start pitching by picking a spot where the pitch will break and choosing a type of pitch by tapping the corresponding pitch's button. A yellow circular cursor will appear and quickly shrink; as it shrinks, gamers simply tap their chosen pitch-type face button again to execute the most precise pitch possible. To put more effort into pitches, players hold down the face button. As the yellow circular cursor expands to the desired effort, users must then release and tap the face button to lock the pitch. Putting maximum effort into a pitch will put more oomph on a fastball or more movement on a breaking ball, but also makes it more difficult to pinpoint to a location. So, pitching becomes much more strategic as pitchers need to figure out how much a pitch will break when spotting his pitches. Check out the latest trailer showing off the game's payoff pitching feature below by viewing in your browser or downloading to your hard drive. MLB 2K6 hits stores for the GameCube on April 10th. Video: MLB 2K6 "Payoff Pitching" Trailer (9.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 16 2006 0:02 AM [Top] Metroid Prime Hunters: Meet the Hunters [ GameCube Café ] Who is the Galaxy's Most Elite Bounty Hunter? Before Metroid Prime Hunters, the answer was easy. Now that six other ferocious bounty hunters have gathered to challenge Samus, the title is up for grabs. Metroid Prime Hunters delivers the most intense first-person multiplayer action ever experienced on a hand-held system, and with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection you can test your skills against players from around the world. Battle with seven elite bounty hunters, each with unique alternate forms and specialty weapons. Customize your multiplayer matches with over 20 expertly designed arenas and seven intense modes of play. Plus, you can unlock more multiplayer features by completing an all-new single-player mission in Adventure Mode. You can check out a new trailer for the game below introducing you to the playable characters in Metroid Prime Hunters: Noxus, Kanden, Weavel, Sylux, Spire, Trace, and of course, Samus Aran herself. The trailer is viewable by clicking the link to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Metroid Prime Hunters is rated T for Teen and hits stores on March 20th. Video: Metroid Prime Hunters Trailer (10.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 15 2006 19:40 PM [Top] Stormfront to Develop Eragon Game - Updated [ Game Informer ] In Game Informer's recently released March issue, it was revealed that Stormfront Studios, developers of the game adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, is teaming up with author Christopher Paolini and 20th Century Fox to bring a game based on the international best-selling novel and soon-to-be movie Eragon, about a young farm boy who inherits an ancient dragon egg and soon learns that he is to be the first of a new generation of the legendary Dragon Riders. The game, for current-gen consoles, with no news of next-gen plans, will release this fall in conjunction with the movie, starring Ed Speleers and Jeremy Irons. As a huge fan of the book, and its sequel, Eldest, I'm extremely excited for the movie, and just really hope that it, and the game, don't suck. If you haven't checked out the books, you should definitely consider it, particularly if you've enjoyed the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter series. UPDATE: Thanks to Eragon fan site Shur'tugal, we now have a scan of the Game Informer article. Not much to see, but there's at least a game logo and a bit of info. Images: Eragon Game Informer Article Scan Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, February 15 2006 17:06 PM [Top] Nintendo Reveals Web Browser, TV Tuner for DS [ Nintendo of Japan ] Earlier today in Japan, Nintendo held a press conference formally introducing the Nintendo DS Lite to Japanese media. Not only that, they revealed some information about upcoming DS games, as well as a few extra hardware additions coming soon for the DS. First, Nintendo has announced that it has teamed up with software company Opera to create a web browser for the Nintendo DS. The browser will be sold in stores on a normal DS game card, and will work in conjuction with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to allow DS owners to surf the web from any wi-fi-enabled area. The top screen will show the actual content, while the touch screen will act as a keypad similar to a PDA. The browser has only been announced for Japan thus far, but expect information on a US and European release to come soon. No information on a release date for the browser was announced. Second, the company announced they are working on a TV Tuner with 1seg, a mobile broadcasting service in Japan. By purchasing a device that plugs into the DS game card slot, DS owners will be able to access 1seg content directly onto the system. The device will hit Japan by the end of the year (as the 1seg service is set to launch on April 1st, 2006), and will probably remain that country until 1seg makes the trip to either the US and Europe, which isn't set at this point. Furthermore, the company announced Japanese releases for some highly-anticipated DS games: Tetris DS will be released in April at a budget price of 3800 yen, while the highly-anticipated New Super Mario Bros., the latest Mario side-scrolling adventure, will be released in May at a pricetag of 4800 yen. Furthermore, a new game was announced to have Nintendo Wi-Fi functionality: Winning Eleven DS, the latest in the long-running soccer series from Konami. Also shown off were Super Robot Wars DS, the first DS game in the popular strategy series from Banpresto, and Dynasty Warriors DS, the latest in the action series from Koei. Finally, two new DS titles were officially announced: Calligraphy Training, the latest in Nintendo's highly-popular Brain Training series, as well as a new Cooking game. As for the DS Lite itself, Nintendo is planning to go all-out with the first shipments of the hardware, planning to ship between 500,000 and 1 million units to stores for its release on March 2nd. Stay tuned as Nintendo reveals more DS info, including if whether or not any of the items revealed will in fact hit North America or Europe. Images: Iwata With The DS Lite DS Web Browser DS TV Tuner Image 1 DS TV Tuner Image 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 15 2006 3:18 AM [Top] New Tetris DS Gameplay Trailers [ GameCube Café ] It's Tetris like you've never seen it before! Each of the six modes of play features a theme based on a classic Nintendo game, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda or Metroid. The traditional Tetriminos (falling blocks) and line-clearing strategy remain the staples of the game, but the touch screen adds a new element of interactivity. Some modes give players special Tetris puzzles to solve. Others feature head-to-head action between two players, or massive wireless battles between 10 DS users, even if only one player has a game card. Players also can log onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to compete in two- or four-player battles. Tetris DS even includes a point-based rating system based on players' battle results. Opponents can see one another's ratings, which indicate their skill levels. Every gamer, whether competitive or casual, will find a way to reconnect with one of the most popular puzzle games in history. Check out three new gameplay videos of Normal, Push, and Touch mode below by downloading them to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Tetris DS Gameplay Trailer 1 (3.7 MB) Tetris DS Gameplay Trailer 2 (3.8 MB) Tetris DS Gameplay Trailer 3 (3.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 15 2006 2:59 AM [Top] Japanese DS Lite TV Spot [ GameCube Café ] Nintendo has released the official Japanese TV Spot for the upcoming release of the Nintendo DS Lite. The console, a revamped version of the DS, launches on March 2nd in Japan and everywhere else, later this year. As expected, the commercial is full of much weirdness that can only come from Nintendo. Check it out below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Nintendo DS Lite TV Spot (2.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 15 2006 0:23 AM [Top] First Mother 3 Screenshots [ 1101.com ] It has finally happened. Itoi has released the very first screens of Mother 3 for GBA. It has been very a long time coming, but what many thought might never happen has. Itoi has posted three screenshots of the game, and for the most part it seems to keep the style of Mother 2. This is sure to please fans of the Mother series, which as many know, has a cult following. Enjoy them, and wait for more. Images: Mother 3 Screenshot 1 Mother 3 Screenshot 2 Mother 3 Screenshot 3 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 23:38 PM [Top] Activision Transforms and Rolls Out [ Activision ] Activision has officially announced that they have obtained the rights to Hasbro's popular Transformers line of toys and cartoons, and will now create games based on the property for consoles and handhelds. The first game will be released in 2007, around the time of the upcoming Transformers live-action film's release. Says Activison CEO Mike Griffith, "Transformers has all of the elements necessary to translate incredibly well into video games. We look forward to bringing the Transformers robots to life with the latest interactive technology and graphics." With Transformers the kid-friendly property it is, it certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see Transformers games pop up on the GBA, DS, GameCube, and perhaps even the Revolution. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 19:37 PM [Top] Pokémon Plans Four For 2006 [ Nintendo ] In a press release issued today, Nintendo revealed their 2006 plans for arguably one of their biggest brands, Pokémon. In addition to new Pokémon events and products such as two new movies, a new mall tour, and Pokémon Mobile: customizable Pokémon content for cell phones and other handheld devices. However, the big reveal was when it was announced that four Pokémon games are set to hit stores in the US in 2006. Obviously, one of these is the already-revealed Pokémon Trozei!, set to hit stores next month. It's also likely that another of the four is Pokémon Ranger, an action-RPG for the Nintendo DS previously released in Japan. However, the other two create an interesting possibility: the two games could perhaps be the two Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon titles released in Japan late last year. However, they could also be the two games considered by many to be the DS's biggest trump cards: Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, the brand-new Pokémon RPGs. It remains to be seen how things will play out for the rest of the year, but gamers can expect a lot of Pokécritter lovin' to come. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 18:09 PM [Top] Blitz Games Plans Revolution Title [ Blitz Games ] Blitz Games, developer of such titles as Glover for the N64 and Pac-Man World 3, has officially announced it is in production with a game for the Nintendo Revolution with a "major publisher". The mystery publisher will release information on the game "soon". Andrew Oliver, co-founder and Development Director of Blitz Games commented, "We're genuinely very excited to be working on the Revolution. Nintendo's innovation over the years has trail blazed new concepts and the new controller is no exception. It will give people new ways to play existing genres but moreover we hope it will spawn altogether new gaming experiences." Expect info to come on Blitz Games' Revolution title later this year, most likely at E3 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 17:59 PM [Top] Shaun White Shreds With Ubisoft [ Ubisoft ] Shaun White may have just won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Torino, but he isn't exactly heading to Disney World. Instead, he's announced he's teaming up with Ubisoft to deliver a brand-new series of Snowboarding games featuring his likeness and name. White will collaborate closely with Ubisoft's award-winning development teams to create video games for current and next-generation consoles. "I'm stoked to be working with Ubisoft to develop a video game that captures the thrill of snowboarding like no game has done before,"� White said. "I'm a huge fan of Ubisoft games like Prince of Persia, so I'm excited to be able to combine what I love about snowboarding and gaming into an experience for everyone to enjoy." The first game in the series has been set for release sometime in 2007. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 17:56 PM [Top] DS Lightens Up With Boktai [ IGN DS ] The Nintendo DS Lite may be hitting stores soon, but that's not the only way the DS will lighten up this year. IGN, via the latest issue of Japanese publication Koro Koro Comics, has officially revealed that Boktai, the action-adventure series created by famed game designer Hideo Kojima will be indeed making a debut on the Nintendo DS. The series has always utilized the innovative addition of a solar sensor to react to the sun's light, allowing the game's hero, Django, to destroy evil vampires and other assorted baddies. This time around, no sunlight is needed: the game will instead make use of an artificial sun on the top screen. During the day, Django can progress normally, but at night or when the sun is blocked, he'll have a rough time. The game is without a release date in Japan, but expect it to hit stores there (and probably here in the US as well) sometime this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 13 2006 17:48 PM [Top] Super Mario Strikers [ Reviews ] Mario and company hit the pitch (what the hell does that mean, anyway?) with Super Mario Strikers. Eric sees if the game scores or gets the red card. Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 18:46 PM [Top] Sonic Rush [ Reviews ] Well I'll be. It's a Sonic game that doesn't suck! Eric takes a look the blue hedgehog's first DS adventure, Sonic Rush. Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 18:43 PM [Top] Naruto: Clash of Ninja Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Ready to get schooled? This isn't just any school. At Ninja Academy, students are instructed in powerful and deadly subjects such as summoning a doppleganger, casting illusions, and throwing deadly blades known as shuriken. Now you can fight in an arena style competition as Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and others and square off against rivals, friends and villains. Only you can decide who is the greatest ninja ever! Playing as 7 of the anime's most popular characters including Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi, players take on each other in one-on-one battles to determine the strongest of ninja. Featuring six gameplay modes, cel-shaded anime-style graphics, and tons of bonus features, Naruto: Clash of Ninja should be a fighting game to please any fan of the anime. The game is rated T for Teen and hits stores exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube on March 7th. Check out a trailer for the game below by clicking the link to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Naruto: Clash of Ninja Trailer (3.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 1:13 AM [Top] Naruto: Ninja Council Trailer [ GameCube Café ] The Village Hidden in the Leaves is home to the stealthiest ninja in the land. But twelve years earlier, a fearsome nine-tailed fox terrorized the village before it was subdued and its spirit sealed within the body of a baby boy. Now that boy, Naruto, has grown up to become a hyperactive ninja-in-training who's more interested in pranks than schoolwork...but Naruto is determined to become the greatest ninja ever! Playing as either Naruto or rival ninja Sasuke, players battle opponents through 7 levels of side-scrolling action. Naruto: Ninja Council is rated E10 for ages 10 and up and hits stores for the Game Boy Advance on March 7th. Check out the trailer for the game below by right-clicking to save to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Naruto: Ninja Council Trailer (3.9 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 1:07 AM [Top] First Look At Tenchu: Dark Shadow [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu reveals that the popular Tenchu series of action-adventure games is making its way to the Nintendo DS with the upcoming Tenchu: Dark Shadow. Developed by From Software, the game will feature a unique touch screen-based gameplay feature allowing players to assasinate enemies by slashing the screen. The game will also feature well-designed 3D graphics and fully-animated cutscenes. Tenchu: Dark Shadow will hit the Nintendo DS in Japan sometime later this year. Expect a US release to be announced possibly by E3 2006. Check out the Famitsu scan revealing the game below. Images: Tenchu: Dark Shadow Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 0:58 AM [Top] Pokémon Trozei! Gameplay Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Experience endless Pokémon puzzle action in Pokémon Trozei, a brand-new puzzle game only for Nintendo DS. Using the stylus, slide Pokémon puzzle pieces and line up four in a row (horizontally or vertically) to make a "Trozei" and clear the screen. Find a line up over 380 Pokémon puzzle pieces to complete your Trozei list. Battle or cooperate wirelessly with friends to help uncover rare Pokémon for your collection. Rescue stolen Pokémon and uncover the evil plans of the Phobos Battalion in Adventure mode. Distribute a version of Pokémon Trozei with limited functions to friends, allowing you to compete or cooperate with a friend using just one game card! Pokémon Trozei! is rated E for Everyone and is set to hit stores on March 6th. Check out a new gameplay trailer for the title below by clicking the link to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Pokémon Trozei! Gameplay Trailer (8.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, February 12 2006 0:51 AM [Top] Lego Star Wars II Officially Announced [ LucasArts ] A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...well, last year, Eidos Interactive teamed up with LucasArts to release Lego Star Wars, an action-adventure combining the story and characters from the prequel movies with Lego bricks. While this may seem a strange concept to most, the game was a huge sucess, and even moved LucasArts back to the GameCube with a belated release of the title. Now, the company is back once again, and has revealed the anticipated sequel: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. As if the title didn't give it away, the game will center around Episodes IV, V, and VI, as players take Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and others through the battles making up the classic series. Also featured in the game will be improved space battles, a brand-new character customization mode (where players can build their own original character from Lego bricks), 2-player co-op gameplay (4-player on the DS version), and yes, a Hoth level. While the GameCube was late to the Lego Star Wars party in 2005, LucasArts will release that version of the game with the other console versions as well - not to mention the game will hit for the GBA and Nintendo DS as well. LucasArts itself will publish the title with Traveller's Tales, the company behind the original as well as the recent Chronicles of Narnia game, developing. The game will hit stores this fall, and you can expect that a full hands-on preview as well as exclusive videos will be made available here at the Café website and on our 2006 DVD. Check out the game's first screens below. Images: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Screenshot 1 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Screenshot 2 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Screenshot 3 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Screenshot 4 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 10 2006 22:59 PM [Top] Age of Empires: The Age of Kings Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Age of Empires: The Age of Kings for the Nintendo DS is based on the best-selling PC RTS title of all time: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Players command five different civilizations, build armies and take them on scores of campaigns. Boasting turn-based strategy game play, Age of Empires: The Age of Kings allows players to move from the Dark Ages through the Middle Ages with one goal in mind: domination of the known world. Command one of five different civilizations: the Britons, Franks, Mongols, Saracens, and Japanese. Take control of special ‘Hero’ units like Richard the Lionheart, Minamoto Yoshitsune, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, and Saladin among others who command special ‘hero’ powers affecting the entire battlefield. Command over 65 different types of units from bowmen and monks to hand cannoneers, mercenaries and samurai. Turn-based combat, new to the Age of Empires franchise, keeps the battle moving at the player-preferred pace. Players construct & upgrade buildings like town centers, mines, universities and ‘wonders’ to help units learn new skills and create resources for their civilizations. Players research over 50 different technologies like chemistry, ballistics, siege craft and spying among others to take their civilization into the next age. Get help from the new Combat Advisor who provides advice on certain campaign strategies and an indication of how the battle will go. The game also feature multiplayer scenarios allowing up to 4 players to battle each other wirelessly. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings from Majesco is rated E10 for ages 10 and up and will hit stores on February 14th, 2006. Check out the latest trailer for the game by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Age of Empires: The Age of Kings Trailer (28.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 23:01 PM [Top] DS Lite Colors Revealed - UPDATED [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo has officially announced the three colors the resdesigned DS, the Nintendo DS Lite, will launch in when it hits stores. The colors are the already-seen Pearl White, as well as two new colors, Ice Blue and Enamel Navy. Check out the images of the new DS Lite colors below. It remains to be seen if these will be the colors the DS Lite launches in when it makes its US and European debut later this year. For now, the DS Lite is set to make its Japanese landing on March 2nd. UPDATE: Nintendo has also revealed some more images of the DS Lite from various angles. These images look a lot better than the ones from the FCC we showed you yesterday. Check 'em out below. Images: Pearl White DS Lite Ice Blue DS Lite Enamel Navy DS Lite DS Lite Image 1 DS Lite Image 2 DS Lite Image 3 DS Lite Image 4 DS Lite Image 5 DS Lite Image 6 DS Lite Image 7 DS Lite Image 8 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 22:05 PM [Top] Voice Chat for Hunters and DS Demo Kiosks [ Nintendo ] Lovely bit of information from Nintendo today with some news on Metroid Prime Hunters, amongst other things. Nintendo will enable online voice chat for Hunters before and after a matchup with people on their friend list. So of course, friend codes return. Metroid Prime Hunters is set for release March 20. In addition to the news of Hunters, Nintendo will also begin offering demo kiosks at retailers next months. Users can bring their DS systems to places like GameStop or EBGames and donwnload demos to their systems. Such demos will include Mario Kart DS, Pokémon Trozei, Tetris DS, True Swing Golf, Metos, Brain Age: Train Your Brain Minutes a Day, and a video clip of Metroid Prime Hunters. The selection at the kiosk will refresh quarterly. Now if we can just get some Revolution information... Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 15:30 PM [Top] The Movies Not Dead Yet [ Lionhead ] We reported the other day that the console version of The Movies from Lionhead studios had been cancelled. Today we have received a clarification from a source inside Lionhead that this is not the case, exactly. In a post on the official Lionhead message boards, the insider had this to say: "Activision will not be publishing the console version of The Movies but that does not mean the project is dead. I'd like to add that PC sales for 2005 have been dissapointing (especially during Christmas) for everyone in this industry. Rest assured that the team at Lionhead Studios are as dedicated to The Movies as they've ever been; an expansion pack is currently in development (which will be announced very shortly) and we are continuing to support The Movies Online!" In short, Lionhead still intends to release the game on all consoles, just as soon as they can find a publisher for the game, as Activision has pulled out. We will keep you up to date on the game as new details surface. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 12:28 PM [Top] First Real DS Lite Images [ FCC ] While so far the only images of Nintendo's redesigned DS, the DS Lite, have been in mock-up form, now we finally have some actual pictures of the console, from an unlikely source. See, since the Nintendo DS transmits a wireless signal (for its multiplayer features), it is therefore by law forced to submit itself for approval to the FCC. Well, it appears the FCC's approval images have appeared on the web, and they give us the first look at the console in full, as well as reveal some of the system's changes from the original DS, not to mention shed some light on some of the mysteries surrounding the console since it was unveiled last month. First, the power switch, as said, has been moved from the front of the device (near the D-Pad) to the system's right side. The stylus holder has also had a location change, as it is now also on the system's right side for easy stylus removal in the heat of the action. The system's AC Adapter port is now the same as that of the Game Boy Micro, and the system now makes use of a cover on the GBA game slot to preserve the form factor of the console, as well as protect the slot from dust. The headphone jack and volume slider are still in the relative same place. Check out the images of the DS Lite below. The console launches in Japan on March 3rd, with US and European launches to come most likely soon after. Images: DS Lite Image 1 DS Lite Image 2 DS Lite Image 3 DS Lite Image 4 DS Lite Image 5 DS Lite Image 6 DS Lite Image 7 DS Lite AC Adapter Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 3:45 AM [Top] MLB 2K6 Swing Stick Trailer [ GameCube Café ] In baseball, no part of the game gets more attention than batting. The science of getting the perfect swing on a 90 mph fastball is perhaps the hardest thing to do in any sport, which makes the athletes in Major League Baseball some of the best athletes in the world. There’s nothing like watching a big league batter timing his step, turn on the spot, and launch the ball high and fast into the outfield. And no baseball video game captures the essence of the batting experience than Major League Baseball 2K6’s Swing Stick mechanic. Major League Baseball 2K6 delivers intuitive and natural controls in batting with the Swing Stick. Using the C-Stick, gamers simply pull back to have the batter start pulling back for the swing. As the baseball is about to cross the hitting zone, releasing the Swing Stick will make the batter swing the bat for a contact swing, while pressing forward on the Swing Stick will result in a power swing. The Left Analog Stick can be used in conjunction to guess where a pitch is going and when contact is made, users can influence a hit to a specific direction on the field. These new control mechanics not only deliver a unique gameplay experience, but bring the most natural and intuitive controls to one of the most important parts of the game. Check out a new trailer showing off the Swing Stick feature below. MLB 2K6 will hit stores for the GameCube on April 10th. Video: MLB 2K6 "Swing Stick" Trailer (7.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 9 2006 2:51 AM [Top] New Sonic Riders Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Dr. Eggman has thrown down the gauntlet, calling out Sonic and friends to join his World Grand Prix. But, just what is the egg-shaped genius really planning? And who are the legendary riders known as the Babylon Rouges that beat Sonic to the signup? At unparalleled breakneck speeds, you’ll catch the turbulence air stream of your board-bound opponents and blaze past them while busting out wild stunts and tricks. Take full advantage of your characters’ talents in Speed, Power, or Flight and challenge up to three friends to find out who really is the fastest rider in the world! Check out a new trailer featuring the game's opening cutscene below. Sonic Rider rides into stores for the GameCube on February 21st. Video: Sonic Riders Opening Trailer (18.7 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 8 2006 19:25 PM [Top] FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshots [ Electronic Arts ] EA has revealed that FIFA Street 2, the sequel to last year's urban take on the beautiful game, will be making it's debut on handhelds this year with versions scheduled for both the Nintendo DS and PSP. The DS version of the game will feature not only wireless multiplayer capabilities for head to head matches, as well as all the players and modes as the console versions, but an innovative new manual thumbstick control making use of the touch screen for precision passes and shots. FIFA Street 2 hits stores for the GameCube and Nintendo DS on February 28th. Check out the first screenshots of the DS version below Images: FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 1 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 2 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 3 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 4 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 5 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 6 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 7 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 8 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 9 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 10 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 11 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 12 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 13 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 14 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 15 FIFA Street 2 DS Screenshot 16 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 8 2006 19:07 PM [Top] Nintendo Introduces New Line of Robot Helpers [ Nintendo ] This week a legion of diminutive Nintendo robots invades American homes. Chibi-Robo, made exclusively for Nintendo GameCube, puts players in control of a 4-inch-tall robot who travels back in time, meets aliens and blasts robotic spiders, all in a day's work. The cute anime cartoon style of Chibi-Robo belies a bizarre, creative storyline that revolves around little Chibi-Robo, who only wants to bring happiness to his human family. With the help of his lounge-singer-wannabe sidekick Telly, Chibi meets and communicates with a host of wacky toys that come to life at night. These include a pirate, a mummy, Space Hunter Drake Redcrest (a legendary action hero) and the Free Rangers, a battalion of egg-shaped soldiers. Each character has a distinct personality that shines through as Chibi works to help his family achieve happiness. That's not always easy to do in a home where the parents are having marital troubles, their daughter thinks she's a frog and the teddy bear has an unhealthy addiction to honey. "Chibi-Robo represents a great blending of American and Japanese pop-culture sensibilities," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Its freewheeling approach lets players progress at their own pace while they explore a huge, adventure-filled world." Chibi can don a variety of different suits that give him new abilities and help him communicate with other characters in the game. For instance, while wearing his dog outfit he can interpret what the family dog is saying when he barks. Chibi can scare people while wearing his ghost outfit or even turn day into night after putting on his pajamas. Players can focus solely on their main goals or wander off to do side tasks that help increase the happiness of the household. Whether they fly through the air on their Chibi-Copter or target small obstacles with their Chibi-Blaster, the only restriction they have is a limited power supply. If it runs low, they just plug themselves into the nearest outlet. Chibi-Robo offers the kind of nonlinear approach that Nintendo has pioneered with other games, such as the puppy-training Nintendogs or the music-making Electroplankton. Players can proceed at their own pace and decide how much they want to accomplish at a given time. Chibi-Robo is Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older. For more information about the game, visit the game's official site. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 8 2006 18:34 PM [Top] THQ Rides In Cars [ THQ ] THQ has officially announced that they will publish the video game tie-in to the latest film from Disney and Pixar, Cars. The game will be an "open-ended racing adventure", as players take on the role of racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced in the movie by Owen Wilson), as well as 9 other characters, as they race through over 50 races through a free-roaming environment. The game will also be fully voice-acted by the film's cast. Cars will hit stores later this year, probably in time for the movie this Summer, for the GameCube, GBA, and Nintendo DS. Check out the game's first screenshots below. Images: Cars Screenshot 1 Cars Screenshot 2 Cars Screenshot 3 Cars Screenshot 4 Cars Screenshot 5 Cars Screenshot 6 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 23:09 PM [Top] Iwata's GDC Keynote Officially Confirmed [ Nintendo ] Iconic game developer and president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. Satoru Iwata returns for the second consecutive year to deliver the keynote address of the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC). GDC, the world's largest event exclusively devoted to the art of game creation, will take place at the San Jose Convention Center Monday through Friday, March 20-24. In his keynote, entitled "Disrupting Development," Iwata will inspire developers to take risks and mine the depths of their imaginations to create innovative games regardless of the size of teams or budgets. He will point to the Nintendo DS "brain-training" games and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to prove it is still possible to succeed at engaging new players and surprising existing players. Iwata will also share his thoughts on the role Nintendo's video game systems will play in expanding the market and widening the possibilities for developers. "We are extremely honored to feature an experienced platform leader such as Satoru Iwata as a keynote speaker," said Jamil Moledina, director, Game Developers Conference. "As Nintendo reinvents the scope of what games can be, it is ever more crucial to share their creative and market-growing philosophies with the other leaders of the game creation industry." Satoru Iwata's keynote, "Disrupting Development," is scheduled for Thursday, March 23, from 10:30 to 11:30am PST. Expect GameCube Café to provide full coverage of this keynote, including any news or revelations Iwata may make on the Revolution. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 17:32 PM [Top] Nintendo's Drill-Driving Jill is a Girl Gone Wild [ Nintendo ] Ever have one of those days when you just want to trash everything in sight? Every day is like that for young, pink-haired Jill, the star of the new Drill Dozer game for Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Advance SP. She spends her days piloting her Drill Dozer robot and leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. Just like Nintendo's critically acclaimed Metroid series, Drill Dozer features a strong female protagonist. Jill's not a bad girl, she just has some issues. A gang attacked her father and stole her precious red diamond. Really, what's a girl to do? Drill Dozer was developed by GAME FREAK, a company known for its top-selling Pokémon games. In this side-scrolling platformer, players use the shoulder buttons to rotate the drill as they search for hidden gears to power up the Drill Dozer. The game combines elements of action, adventure and exploration, and comes with a built-in rumble pak that really lets players get a feel for the devastation they're causing. Drill Dozer, Rated E for Everyone, launched Feb. 6. For more information about Drill Dozer, visit the official Drill Dozer website. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 9:39 AM [Top] Activision Reveals New Tony Hawk and Marvel Games [ Activision ] Also, as a part of Activision's conference call this afternoon, the company revealed that they are in the works with two new games for 2006 from two of their biggest licenses. First off, skating legend Tony Hawk will once again make a return to his board with the upcoming Tony Hawk: Downhill Jam. While the game will be filled with plenty of classic Tony Hawk skating action, Activision also revealed that this Tony Hawk game will be marketed towards a younger audience. They also said they are considering it a new intellectual property, as opposed to this year's installment of Tony Hawk, meaning the company is planning on another Tony Hawk game this year as well. Next, the company revealed they were expanding the popular X-Men Legends series to the entire Marvel Universe with Marvel Legends. With gameplay similar to previous X-Men Legends games, players will be able to choose from an "ensemble cast" of Marvel heroes. It's unknown if Raven Software, developer of the X-Men Legends series, will return for this game, but that seems a safe bet. Lastly, the publisher revealed that they are, not surprisingly, in the works with games based on two of 2007's biggest films, Spiderman 3 and Shrek 3. Expect full coverage on Activision's entire 2006 lineup when it is fully revealed at E3 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 0:33 AM [Top] X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art [ Activision ] Players will immerse themselves in the signature powers of their favorite X-Men heroes -- hack and slash with Wolverine’s brute strength to decimate foes; as Nightcrawler, players will scale walls, spin and BAMF through environments to stay one step ahead of enemies; and experience incredible speed on Iceman’s ice slide while shooting ice beams and creating hailstorms to freeze the opposition. For even more power, players can utilize fury and adrenaline modes to launch devastating attacks. Experience events leading up to the X-Men: The Last Stand feature film and play beyond – Players will experience epic Super Hero action as the game explains Nightcrawler’s mysterious absence from the movie, and in-game events foreshadow the roles of the X-Men and Brotherhood in the film. The game’s climactic ending sets the stage for the movie with intersecting characters and storylines intersecting. Embark on a globe-spanning conflict that delivers every element of the X-men universe—from costumes and enemies to the voice of Patrick Stewart. Explore Alkali Lake, the Statue of Liberty, Dark Cerebro and more. Battle fierce enemies, join forces with X-Men comrades — Face off against villains from both the movie and beyond as favorite X-Men allies join forces with the player in gameplay that includes melee fighting, stealth-style action and time-based missions. Experience gameplay environments specifically designed to showcase each character’s Super Hero abilities – Uniquely engineered environments empower players to use different gameplay strategies as they harness their Super Hero powers and defeat enemies. Players will have ultimate control over their heroes as they improve their superpowers over time through the Mutant Evolution System. The Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS versions also offer exclusive X-Men characters to play, and for the first time, use the Nintendo DS touch screen to control the X-Men. X-Men: The Official Movie Game hits stores in May 2006 for the GameCube, DS, and GBA. Check out a batch of concept art for the game below. Images: X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 1 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 2 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 3 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 4 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 5 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 6 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 7 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 8 X-Men The Official Movie Game Concept Art 9 X-Men The Official Movie Game Logo Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 0:22 AM [Top] Activision Announces X-Men: The Official Movie Game [ Activision ] Co-written by Zak Penn, the screenwriter of movies X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand, and legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont, X-Men: The Official Movie Game (working title) immerses players in an original storyline that provides the back-story for the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand feature film. For the first time ever, the game enables players to truly command the powers of popular characters from the X-Men movie universe by allowing players to assume the roles of Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Iceman as they wield and upgrade their signature powers and maneuver through unique environments designed to showcase their Super Hero abilities. Assisted by other X-Men characters, players will use an advanced control scheme to master and control the characters like never before as they unleash Wolverine’s combat rage, experience Nightcrawler’s acrobatics and teleportation powers, and glide through the air on Iceman’s ice slide. Check out the first screens of the game below. X-Men: The Official Movie Game is set to hit stores for the Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance in May 2006. Images: X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 1 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 2 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 3 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 4 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 5 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 6 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 7 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 8 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 9 X-Men: The Official Movie Game Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 7 2006 0:16 AM [Top] Activision to Fully Support Revolution [ Activision ] While Activision's conference call this morning was mostly concerned with the company's financials and not upcoming titles, they did drop one interesting tidbit about the company's support for the upcoming Nintendo Revolution console. Namely, the publisher is indeed working on at least one game for the system specifically catering to its capabilities, which will be released within 4 months of, or possibly at the system's launch. Activision made no further comment on the game, which leads many to wonder if the game could be a new Spiderman, Call of Duty, or Tony Hawk game, or perhaps something completely new. Expect Activision to reveal the game when Nintendo comes out full-force with all the info on the Revolution console at E3 2006 in May. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 6 2006 20:28 PM [Top] The Movies to Never be Televised [ Activision ] Activision announced today that The Movies, originally set for all consoles as well as the already-released PC version, will in fact never leave the computer screen. The company has announced that the movie director-simulator's console versions have been cancelled, due to the weak sales of the PC version. While this is certainly a hit to game-starved GameCube owners, look at the bright side: it isn't coming out for Xbox or PS2 either. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 6 2006 19:34 PM [Top] New Lostmagic Screenshots [ Ubisoft ] Yesterday, Ubisoft revealed that they would be publishing Taito's RPG Lostmagic in the US this spring. Now, they've revealed the first english-language screens of the game. Check them out below. Images: Lostmagic Screenshot 1 Lostmagic Screenshot 2 Lostmagic Screenshot 3 Lostmagic Screenshot 4 Lostmagic Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 4 2006 1:29 AM [Top] Atlus Announces Yggdra Union [ Atlus ] Atlus today announced that Yggdra Union, a strategy role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2006. Developed by STING, the developer behind last year's acclaimed Riviera: The Promised Land, Yggdra Union is a card-based tactical RPG featuring over 30 attack, defense, and support skills and gorgeous, anime-based graphics. Ruled by a royal family said to be descendants of the gods themselves, Fantasinia is a prosperous and peaceful land -- until the peace is shattered by the invading forces of the Empire of Bronkia. Led by the young emperor Gulcasa, who seized control of the Empire in a brutal coup d’etat, Bronchia’s Imperial Army cuts a bloody swath through the people of Fantasinia and the Royal Armies of King Ordeene. Amidst the chaos, a young woman escapes from the besieged capital of Partina -- a woman with innocence in her face, and a sword in her hand. The girl’s name is Princess Yggdra, the last surviving member of the royal family; the sword is the Gran Centurio, a legendary blade once wielded by the founder of Fantasinia, and passed down through generations of royalty. Fleeing to to a remote valley at the southern tip of the continent, Yggdra meets up with Milanor, the charismatic leader of a band of thieves, and readies herself for a war of liberation... Yggdra Union will be released for the GBA this fall. Expect Atlus to reveal more information on the game soon. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 4 2006 0:34 AM [Top] Iwata to Keynote GDC Again? [ MCV ] Last year at the 2005 Game Developer's Conference, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata's keynote speech wowed audiences revealing such choice details as backwards compatibility and Wi-Fi support for the Revolution, as well as a brand-new Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess trailer. Now, it looks like Iwata will be returning for another go-around - European gaming site MCV is reporting through sources that Iwata will once again be a keynote speaker at the 2006 GDC. However, while Iwata's speech last year focused on numerous topics, this year's GDC speech will be solely focused on the Revolution console and its capabilities, before the big reveal in May at E3. No official word yet from Nintendo or from the GDC themselves on Iwata's keynote, but expect that to come sometime soon. If Iwata is indeed set to speak at GDC, you can expect GameCube Café to provide the absolute utmost coverage of the event when it rolls around on March 20th-24th. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 4 2006 0:27 AM [Top] New Tetris DS Screenshots [ Nintendo ] It's Tetris like you've never seen it before! Each of the six modes of play features a theme based on a classic Nintendo game, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda or Metroid. The traditional Tetriminos (falling blocks) and line-clearing strategy remain the staples of the game, but the touch screen adds a new element of interactivity. Some modes give players special Tetris puzzles to solve. Others feature head-to-head action between two players, or massive wireless battles between 10 DS users, even if only one player has a game card. Players also can log onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to compete in two- or four-player battles. Tetris DS even includes a point-based rating system based on players' battle results. Opponents can see one another's ratings, which indicate their skill levels. Every gamer, whether competitive or casual, will find a way to reconnect with one of the most popular puzzle games in history. Tetris DS, rated E for Everyone, hits stores on March 20th, and you can check out the latest screens below. Images: Tetris DS Screenshot 1 Tetris DS Screenshot 2 Tetris DS Screenshot 3 Tetris DS Screenshot 4 Tetris DS Screenshot 5 Tetris DS Screenshot 6 Tetris DS Screenshot 7 Tetris DS Screenshot 8 Tetris DS Screenshot 9 Tetris DS Screenshot 10 Tetris DS Screenshot 11 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 3 2006 19:53 PM [Top] New Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshots [ Nintendo ] A mighty race, now extinct, has left behind relics of their once-powerful warrior culture. Now bounty hunters from across the galaxy are racing against each other to lay claim to these relics to harness their power for themselves. Compete in a series of action-packed arenas with multiple modes of multiplayer challenge. Link wirelessly with up to three friends or play over the Internet via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Six new bounty hunters, including Noxus, Spire and Kanden, fight against Samus in both single-player and multiplayer modes. All hunters have their own unique stories, weapons (from sniper beam to mortar to shotgun) and fighting styles (stealth, melee, sniper, etc.). The game also features an engrossing single-player adventure. Metroid Prime Hunters is rated T for Teen and hits stores for the Nintendo DS on March 20th. Check out the latest screens of what promises to be a must-have DS hit below. Images: Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 1 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 2 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 3 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 4 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 5 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 6 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 7 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 8 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 9 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 10 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 11 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 12 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 13 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 14 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 15 Metroid Prime Hunters Screenshot 16 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 3 2006 19:37 PM [Top] Super Princess Peach Gameplay Trailer [ GameCube Café ] When Bowser kidnaps Mario and Luigi and gets hold of the magical Vibe Wand, he heads off for Vibe Island with a troop of minions in tow. Intent on rescuing the Mario Bros., Peach gives chase, only to find herself affected by the vibes given off by the island. Using these newfound vibes to channel special abilities, she sets off to rescue Mario and Luigi! Super Princess Peach features classic Mario Bros. style side-scrolling action. Each world is composed of five levels and a boss. As you look for Mario you'll also find imprisoned Toads and collect coins. While you run and jump through levels, you must use Peach's vibes to break through impediments, scale impossibly high cliffs, and defeat enemies. To build up Peach's vibe powers, collect gems or pick up enemies with your magic parasol and absorb them. Check out the latest trailer for Super Princess Peach below. The game is rated E for Everyone and hits stores on February 27th for the Nintendo DS. Video: Super Princess Peach Gameplay Trailer (5.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 3 2006 19:02 PM [Top] Ubisoft Finds Some Lostmagic [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft announced today that they will publish Taito's DS RPG Lostmagic in North America and Europe. The game combines real-time strategy elements with over 350 combinations of spells and an epic story, as a young wizard, Isaac, must collect the seven lost wands with the power to defeat the forces of evil. The game will also feature multiplayer combat in Wi-Fi mode. Lostmagic hits stores for the Nintendo DS this spring. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 2 2006 19:21 PM [Top] MechAssault Coming to DS? [ Gamestop ] A pair of listings at both Gamestop and Amazon.com have revealed that the Nintendo DS may soon be seeing an installment of the popular MechAssault series, previously exclusive to the Xbox and PC, coming to the handheld with MechAssault: Shadow War. While the Xbox and PC versions were usually handled by Microsoft's own gaming studios, the DS version looks to be produced and published by Majesco. While this is to be taken at face value for now, considering the listing showed up on two sites, not to mention the past legitimacy of Gamestop and Amazon's listings, it's pretty safe to say this is in fact legit. The listings reveal a release date sometime in May, so expect Majesco to release more info about this game soon. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 2 2006 12:56 PM [Top] New MLB 2K6 Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Over the years, broadcasters have played a key role in how sports fans experience baseball. Major League Baseball 2K6 enhances gamers' baseball experiences by using broadcast-quality presentation style and featuring the best commentary team in major league baseball. New action replays of strikeout pitches include detail of the speed of the pitch as well as how much movement for breaking balls. In addition, new Flashback Highlights show off replay highlights of important events that took place in an inning including big homeruns, close plays at the plate, or fantastic diving catches. Calling the balls and strikes on the field, the great play-by-play announcing of Jon Miller alongside Half of Fame legend Joe Morgan, will offer their familiar candor and great insight as all the action unfolds. New to the commentary team are Jeanne Zelasko and Steve Physioc, as they lend their voices to introduce every game with great excitement and enthusiasm as they provide analysis of off-season movement, key pitcher-batter matchups, and rivalry history. No other baseball title offers the presentation style and quality of Major League Baseball 2K6. Check out the latest trailer about the presentation aspects of MLB 2K6 below. The game will hit stores for the GameCube on April 10th, 2006. Video: MLB 2K6 Presentation Trailer (7.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 1 2006 23:05 PM [Top] New Sonic Riders Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Dr. Eggman has thrown down the gauntlet, calling out Sonic and friends to join his World Grand Prix. But, just what is the egg-shaped genius really planning? And who are the legendary riders known as the Babylon Rouges that beat Sonic to the signup? At unparalleled breakneck speeds, you’ll catch the turbulence air stream of your board-bound opponents and blaze past them while busting out wild stunts and tricks. Take full advantage of your characters’ talents in Speed, Power, or Flight and challenge up to three friends to find out who really is the fastest rider in the world! Sonic Riders will be released for the Nintendo GameCube on February 21st. Check out a new gameplay trailer below by saving it to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Sonic Riders Gameplay Trailer (4.7 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 1 2006 21:10 PM [Top]