Today's Special Archives: February 2007

News Archives Index SimCity DS Set for North America [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts announced today that SimCity franchise is returning with SimCity DS, developed especially for the Nintendo DS platform. In addition to creating and growing their very own pocket sized city while being on-the-go, players will be able to leverage the unique action features of the Nintendo DS system, discovering an entirely new way to play this internationally acclaimed franchise. The product will make its debut to consumers worldwide in summer of this year. True to the SimCity series, players will be able to create and control their city in the palm of their hands … and much more. Maximizing the stylus and built-in microphone controls of the Nintendo DS, SimCity DS brings to the franchise like never before the feeling of personal involvement with your city — from blowing into the microphone to put out fires in the city to signing off on mayoral proclamations with your stylus. By enabling the players to communicate with each other, the “wireless data exchange" feature brings additional interactivity into the game. As an added bonus to SimCity fans around the world, the game also offers a wide array of recognizable international landmarks to spice up your city. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 28 2007 16:45 PM [Top] Sega Brings The Golden Compass to Wii [ Sega ] Sega today revealed details regarding the development of the video game adaptation of the highly anticipated theatrical release, The Golden Compass, based on the first book in the award-winning trilogy, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. The game is being developed for multiple platforms and will ship in fall 2007, just prior to the opening of the New Line Cinema motion picture on December 7, 2007. Featuring pivotal environments from the movie, the vivid characters are brought to interactive life, featuring the likenesses of the movie ’s impressive cast, which includes Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua. The Golden Compass follows the screenplay adaptation of the first book in the acclaimed trilogy, capturing the exciting fantasy adventure set in a parallel world where giant armored bears rule a kingdom, beautiful witches fly through the frozen skies, and human beings ’ deepest essence is manifest as talking animals that remain their faithful companion for life – their daemon. Players can assume the role of Lyra, a young girl, along with her daemon Pantalaimon (Pan), as she journeys through the frozen wastes of the North to rescue a friend kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as The Gobblers and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. Gamers can also take on the character of Iorek Byrnison, a great armoured polar bear who joins the quest. As Lyra, players will use their daemon and collaborate with in-game characters, collecting special items in order to explore, evade, and deceive their way through confrontations with the Gobblers, the Magisterium, and the horribly dangerous spy fly to find her friend. They can also do battle as Iorek with special attacks and a riding mechanic as he protects Lyra during the journey. Gamers will be able to unlock secrets and mini-games using a mysterious, truth-telling golden compass device called an alethiometer. Players can explore 13 vast locations, including all-new breath-taking environments not seen in the film, on this massive journey of collaboration, exploration and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Developed by Shiny Entertainment (for Wii) and A2M (for DS), The Golden Compass will be released this holiday season. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 27 2007 22:52 PM [Top] EA Announces MySims [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts announced today that the company is developing MySims, the first game in a revolutionary new line from the developers of the blockbuster franchise The Sims, designed especially for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. MySims introduces a charming cast of whimsical characters while delivering the creativity, customization and classic open-ended gameplay that has enchanted Sims players worldwide. Players begin by creating their own toy-like Sim that reflects their personal style and attitudes. From pig-tails and baseball caps to dreadlocks and Mohawks, the options are endless and the style is unlike any Sims game to date. By unlocking cool new clothing, hairstyles and accessories, players explore the game’s incredible depth of customization and expression… and the characters are just the beginning! Transforming the traditional Sims gameplay for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms, MySims moves the player to a delightful but disorganized town where – thanks to the easy and unique controls – they can re-shape everything and make it their own. The town is rundown, but the player can make it much more dynamic. Using a selection of building blocks, unique patterns and engaging creativity tools, players can design furniture and appliances, architect new homes and businesses, and re-define the entire MySims landscape! Design is everyone’s domain in MySims. From building a new Pizza Oven for Gino to putting the finishing touches on a new roof for Buddy’s busy hotel, each completed task will help the town grow. As it expands to new areas, players will receive special building blocks, decorations and patterns which help customize their unique creations. From furniture and buildings to the town as a whole, every choice informs how residents and visitors feel and behave. MySims will be available for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms in fall 2007. Check out a new trailer for the game below. Video: MySims Teaser Trailer (4.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 27 2007 3:06 AM [Top] Nintendo Adds Three More to VC, Including Zelda [ Nintendo ] The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points): The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reveals the genesis of the fantasy land of Hyrule, the origin of the Triforce and the tale of the first exploits of Princess Zelda and the heroic adventurer Link. Vibrant, real-time 3-D graphics transport players into the fantasy world of Hyrule. The quest takes them through dense forests and across wind-whipped deserts. Players swim raging rivers, climb treacherous mountains, dash on horseback across rolling hills and delve into dungeons full of creatures that fight to the finish to put an end to their adventures. With immersive graphics, a sweeping story line, swashbuckling adventure, mind-bending puzzles and a touch of humor, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of Nintendo's most epic challenges ever. Bio-Hazard Battle (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): An army of biogenetic mutants has gone haywire, terrorizing the world and putting the future of the planet in jeopardy. In Bio-Hazard Battle, players must take on the mutant menace and restore order and harmony to the planet Avaron before it's too late. Through eight levels of intense action, they'll be up against some of the nastiest, most vile creatures they've ever seen, including things like mega amoebas, nuclear crabs, electroworms and gut-grabbing insects. They have four different Bioship fightercraft to choose from, each with unique handling capabilities and weapons systems. Hop into a fightercraft and save Avaron from certain doom in Bio-Hazard Battle. Chew Man Fu (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): A novel action-puzzle game set in the sacred towers taken over by the evil sorcerer, Chew Man Fu. It's up to an apprentice female monk to free the towers and lift Chew's curse to bring peace and fried rice back to the land once ruled by the Egg Roll Dynasty. The rules are simple. The objective is to clear each round by pushing or pulling four colored orbs onto their matching colored tiles. Beware the sorcerer's minions in the tower who stand in the way. Players kick the orbs to take enemies out or to break down walls. They must overcome the obstacles and place the orbs on their respective tiles. Chew Man Fu also features the two-player Kick Ball minigame, as well as an Edit Mode for creating unique stages. The fun is endless. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 26 2007 14:03 PM [Top] Surprise DS Title From Sega? [ Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun ] In an interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun, Sega managing director Hideki Okamura had some interesting stuff to say. After confirming that Sega will be moving its resources from PSP to DS development, Okamura stated that there would be a DS title coming this year that will "surprise absolutely everyone." "We have to do a lot of thinking about titles for Nintendo's hardware, because Nintendo's own titles are extremely strong. It really is difficult to sell a title as a third party. What that means is that we've got to go after it with force: 'heave-ho!," Okamura said in the interview. So what could the surprise title be? Sonic? NiGHTS? Phantasy Star? Let the rumors and wild assumptions begin! Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, February 23 2007 15:05 PM [Top] ESRB Lists New Wii/VC Ratings [ ESRB ] Here's a bunch of new Wii/Virtual Console game ratings from the official ESRB website. The list confirms some new games coming to the VC in the upcoming weeks. Wii The Godfather: Blackhand Edition - Mature Bust-a-Move Bash! - Everyone Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Everyone Cooking Mama Cook Off - Everyone Virtual Console Excitebike - Everyone Zombies Ate My Neighbors - Everyone 10 Castlevania - Everyone Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, February 23 2007 14:46 PM [Top] Stop Waiting - Ocarina of Time Confirmed for VC [ Nintendo ] Every form of entertainment has its artistic pinnacles. On Monday, Nintendo will make The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time available for download in the Wii Shop Channel of the hot new Wii video game system. Originally released in November 1998 for the Nintendo 64 console, the game is widely considered by critics and industry observers to be one of the greatest video games of all time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time inspired millions of players around the world with its in-depth game play, rich 3-D visuals and memorable adventures. It set the standard by which all other games have been judged. And now it’s available once again, both for veteran gamers to relive their gaming glory days and for younger players to discover it for the first time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be available for 1,000 Wii Points when it goes live at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Feb. 26. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. The Wii Shop Channel now boasts more than 55 downloadable classic games, in addition to the dozens of new disc-based games available for Wii. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, February 23 2007 14:38 PM [Top] Neo Geo and MSX Coming to the VC (in Japan) [ CVG ] While this is only for Japan for now, it's still possible that other regions may well have their Virtual Consoles updated to include Neo Geo and MSX games. For Japan, this update will be hitting this spring. MSX games, the first of which will be Eggy and Aleste, will cost 800 Wii points. Third party support will also be coming from companies such as Spike, SNK, G-Mode, and Pony Canyon. Come on Nintendo, share the love for your other regions. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, February 23 2007 12:58 PM [Top] Goodbye GameCube [ GameDaily ] In an interview with GameDaily, Nintendo VP of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Perrin Kaplan has come forward with what we have all feared: the GameCube is dead. When asked if Nintendo was producing any more GameCubes, Kaplan responded with a firm "No.", and also confirmed that Nintendo is no longer working on any GameCube titles. While it's certainly en vogue to make comments about the GameCube's shortcomings, the console certainly had its moments. And with the Wii's backwards compatibility with the GameCube, the system's games can continue to be purchased and played for years to come. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 22 2007 22:28 PM [Top] Disney Takes on Prince of Persia Movie? [ Jim Hill Media ] A few months back, we reported that producer Jerry Bruckheimer was in talks with Ubisoft to create a film based on the Prince of Persia franchise. Today, it looks like the Sands of Time might be about to team up with the House of Mouse. Disney insider Jim Hill reports today that the famed film production company, who has previously worked with Bruckheimer with massive film hits such as National Treasure and the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, has revealed through sources that the two entities will team up again to produce a film based on the gaming franchise for a Summer 2008 release. Even better is that the sources reveal that Disney plans to turn the film into a full-fledged franchise of its own. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 22 2007 21:59 PM [Top] Sega Announces Four Classics for VC [ Sega ] SEGA today announced four titles from the SEGA Genesis library that will soon be available for download on the Wii Shop Channel. Prices start at 800 Wii Points for SEGA Genesis titles. Sword of Vermilion - When the evil wizard-king, Tsarkon, invaded Excalabria, King Erik V had no choice but to turn his infant son over to his most trusted warrior, Blade. As his castle burned, King Erik hurriedly gave Blade an ancient family heirloom, the Ring of Wisdom, and asked him to leave at once in the hopes that the young heir to the throne would survive. Blade raised Erik VI as his own, knowing one day the prince would fulfill the prophecy of the Malaga fortune tellers. Now, eighteen years later, Erik VI returns to Excalabria to avenge his father’s death and reclaim the kingdom. Vectorman - In the year 2049, mankind is forced to abandon an over-polluted Earth to seek out other planets for colonization while the mechanized Orbots stay behind to clean up the mess. When the Orbot leader, WarHead, starts blowing a few circuits and a war among the mechanical brethren, a sludge barge pilot named Vectorman is the only one willing to step up and fight him. You'll morph into a speeding train, a power drill, a mechanical fish, or a mighty dune buggy in this warfare adventure. Equip yourself with weapons, pick up morphs and power-ups to defeat WarHead and restore peace on Earth. Sonic Spinball - With his Veg-O-Fortress built high up on an active volcano, Dr. Eggman is turning all the cute, furry creatures of Planet Mobius into robot slaves! Sonic and Tails rush to save the animals and quickly discover the only way to stop the mechanizing madness is to trigger a volcanic eruption. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. However, Dr. Eggman is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the Emeralds and the mountain, and he's set up an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don't go anywhere. Beyond Oasis - You are the young Prince Ali in a desperate fight to defeat the evil that is threatening your island empire, Oasis. Long ago, a war raged between a wicked sorcerer who used a silver “armlet” to unleash destruction on the island and a wizard who defied him with a gold armlet that could summon four powerful spirits. Both armlets had been lost until recently when someone unearthed the silver band and began using it for their evil gain. Just when you think all is lost, you discover the precious gold armlet and finally have the power to combat the wearer of the silver band…but can you stop them in time? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, February 22 2007 21:38 PM [Top] Ouendan is Back [ Nintendo ] Of all the import titles available for the Nintendo DS, there is perhaps none more coveted than Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!. The unique rhythm game, although a low-seller, found a massive cult following on both sides of the pacific due to its unique gameplay and oddball premise - so much so that it was localized into an Americanized sequel, Elite Beat Agents. Now, it appears that the classic title is getting a sequel, as Nintendo has announced it will be publishing Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 (Burn! Hot Blooded Rhythm Spirit) in Japan. Needless to say, this is huge news, as there's numerous importers (myself included) who will likely be trying to get this as soon as humanly possible. Even better, it opens up the possibility for an upcoming Elite Beat Agents 2. Stay tuned for more. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 21 2007 13:14 PM [Top] January Hardware Sales [ NPD Group ] For the first time in a while, the DS did not come out on top in hardware sales for the month of January. That said, Nintendo still dominated, as the Wii took the top honor. Sales figures from the NPD Group point to Nintendo as the big winner for the month. The Wii sold around 436K units, easily beating the 360's 294K units and the PS3's 244K units. And the PS2 also continues to outperform the PS3; Sony's six-year-old system sold 299K units. The DS managed 239K units sold in January after selling like hotcakes in November and December. This beat out the PSP's 211K units and the GBA's 179K units.On a cumulative basis through January, Xbox 360 hardware has sold through 4.8 million units in the U.S., followed by the Wii with 1,516,000 units and the PS3 with 933,000 units. Nintendo pointed out that the Wii's hardware sales were 70 percent higher than any other new video game system in its first January of availability during the last 10 years. Wii's total software sales reached almost a million units at 977,225, while total PS3 software sales came in at 662,847. 2.4 million units of DS software were sold. In combination, Nintendo game systems accounted for nearly as many unit sales (46 percent of the total market) as those of all other manufacturers combined. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, February 21 2007 13:10 PM [Top] Panel De Pon Heads for DS [ Nintendo of Japan ] At a major press conference for Japanese retailers last night, Nintendo showed off several games hitting stores for the Wii and Nintendo DS throughout 2007. One of the biggest was the announcement that a Nintendo Wi-Fi-equipped version of Panel De Pon would be making it's way to the console. Known it our country as both Tetris Attack and Puzzle League, Panel De Pon is a fast-paced puzzler forcing players to eliminate tiles and create combos. The new version of the game will feature brand-new stylus controls and online play, with 4-player simultaneous play and voice chat. No word if the game will come to us as Puzzle League DS anytime soon, but we'll keep you posted. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 21 2007 12:57 PM [Top] Donkey Kong Country, Three Others Added to VC [ Nintendo ] Today Nintendo adds four new classic games to the popular Wii video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are: Donkey Kong Country (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Donkey Kong Country is an incredible island adventure, and the first game to feature Donkey Kong's sidekick, Diddy Kong. Challenged by the crazed tribe of reptilian Kremlings, the Kongs face their cunning adversaries armed with lightning-quick moves, chest-pounding muscle and awesome aerial acrobatics. The duo also gets help from a host of friends and family, from Funky Kong, Cranky Kong and Candy Kong to Rambi the rhino, Expresso the ostrich, Enguarde the swordfish, Squawks the parrot and Winky the frog. This game has more than 30 levels, plus dozens of hidden caves and secret rooms - more than 100 areas in all. Help the Kongs recover their stolen banana hoard! The Legend of Kage (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): This classic ninja-action game first appeared in arcades in 1985 and became instantly popular. As the Iga ninja named "Kage," players embark on an action-packed quest as they move toward a magic castle where the Princess "Kiri" is held captive by "Yohshirou Yukikusa." To stay alive, players move vertically and horizontally through forest and castle environments and execute massive jumps, all the while using throwing-star knives and a sword to take down hordes of enemies. New Adventure Island (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): On peaceful Adventure Island, the islanders are celebrating the wedding of Master Higgins and Tina, the "Miss Island Queen." Suddenly, the celebration is interrupted by the appearance of Baron Bronsky and his henchmen, who kidnap Tina and the island children. Master Higgins must set out to rescue the children and his beloved Tina in this side-scrolling action game. Throw hatchets and boomerangs, hop on skateboards and guide Master Higgins safely to the goal in each area. New Adventure Island consists of seven exciting stages. Each stage is split into four areas, with a boss waiting at the end of the final area. Defeat all the bosses and release the kidnapped children. And waiting in the castle of the final stage - the wicked Baron Bronsky. Help Master Higgins defeat him and reclaim his bride. Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): The city was once a happy, peaceful place...until one day, a powerful secret criminal organization took over. This vicious syndicate soon had control of the government and even the police force. The city has become a center of violence and crime where no one is safe. Amid this turmoil, a group of determined young police officers has sworn to clean up the city. Among them are Adam Hunter, Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding. They've decided to put their lives on the line and take back their city through their special hand-to-hand combat abilities. They are willing to risk anything, even their lives, on the Streets of Rage. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 19 2007 10:40 AM [Top] Happy Birthday, Mike! [ Wii Café ] On this cold February day twenty-two years ago Michael Twomey was born. On this equally cold February day we celebrate Mike's birthday and require of him to sip Bacardi like its his birthday because, well, it is. Mike has been an integral part of Wii Café staff ever since he came on board years ago as our previews writer. I have personally known Mike for an upwards of 10 years now and he is one of my closest and most personal friends. Here's to you, man. Keep it real. As a special birthday present to you, I offer an assignment: we need a preview of the new Harvest Moon game for Wii. Kevin McGinnis -- Posted on Saturday, February 17 2007 10:45 AM [Top] Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 Revealed [ Watch Impress ] It's back. Mario Kart Arcade GP was a major arcade hit last year, and at the 2007 AOU Arcade Show in Japan, it looks like Bandai Namco and Nintendo are teaming up for another lap around the track. Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 will feature new tracks and weapons, as well as new racers Tamagotchi and Waluigi. The camera system will also make a return, allowing players to put their faces into the game. Also, like the original game, the game will run on the Triforce arcade board made by Nintendo, Namco, and Sega for arcades. We'll have more on this development as it becomes available. Images: Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 On Display At AOU 2007 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 16 2007 21:50 PM [Top] Custom Robo Arena Images [ Nintendo ] In the not-too-distant future, mankind relies on tiny, telepathically controlled robots to perform such dangerous tasks as deep-sea research, disaster relief and interplanetary exploration. These popular and easily customized “Robos” also form the favorite sport of tomorrow: battling in the holographic arenas called “holosseums.” Now that criminals have taken to using these mighty miniature machines as weapons, the Custom Robo phenomenon has grown into a problem for the whole of society. Custom Robo Arena hits the DS on March 21. Images: Custom Robo Arena Logo Custom Robo Arena Boxart Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 1 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 2 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 3 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 4 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 5 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 6 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 7 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 8 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 9 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 10 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 11 Custom Robo Arena Screenshot 12 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, February 16 2007 16:34 PM [Top] New Screenshots for Wario: Master of Disguise [ Nintendo ] When Wario sees a television series about a thieving master of disguises, he dives through the TV screen, steals the thief's quick-change wand and takes over the whole show. Episode after episode, he breaks into exotic locations, like a luxury liner, watery ruins and an Egyptian pyramid! Over the 10 episodes of "his" new TV show, Wario travels the globe in search of treasure to steal. Along the way, he discovers that there's a far greater prize to be had: an ancient artifact that grants wishes. Now if he can only find it before his rival, the master thief whose show (and powers of disguise) he's stolen. Check out new screens below. Wario: Master of Disguise lands stateside for the DS on March 7. Images: Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 1 Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 2 Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 3 Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 4 Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 5 Wario: Master of Disguise Screenshot 6 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, February 16 2007 16:17 PM [Top] New Details on Sadness [ Game Informer ] Game Informer Magazine has gotten its printed hands on some brand new details for the survival horror Wii title, Sadness. In Sadness, you take control of a woman named Maria in a pre-WWI time. Maria and her son, Alexander, were in a major train disaster. Alexander is now blinded by the accident and has begun to act "very strangely." The two must use their environment to survive the Eastern European countryside the disaster stranded them in. Gameplay remains a secret unfortunately. As always, we'll keep you up to date on Sadness as more information comes to light. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, February 16 2007 16:04 PM [Top] The Force Is Unleashed on DS [ LucasArts ] LucasArts has officially announced that it's latest Star Wars game will be heading to the Nintendo DS. Entitled Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, players will take on the role of Darth Vader's currently-unnamed right-hand man as he exterminates the last of the Jedi, battling with a variety of force powers. Unfortunately, only the info about the next-gen versions (PS3 and 360) has been divulged thus far, with no information on how the DS version of the game will work. Also, no Wii version of the game was announced - however, it's been heavily rumored that we might be using our Wiimotes as lightsabers very soon. Check back for more as it develops. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 15 2007 10:44 AM [Top] Clover Reverts to Seeds [ Seeds ] Capcom's dissolving of popular internal development house Clover Studios was some of the most disappointing news of the last year, as the team was responsible for making some very popular games, including the Viewtiful Joe series. Well, it appears Clover isn't quite dead yet, as its members have formed a new independent development company, named Seeds. Like Clover, Seeds will be headed up by former Capcom president Atsushi Inaba, who created Viewtiful Joe, as well as other Capcom classics like Resident Evil and Okami. Also on the team will be Shinji Mikami, director of Resident Evil 1 and 4, and Hideki Kamiya, director of Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and Resident Evil 2. The team currently has 51 employees, and is looking to hire more. Also, unlike Clover, Seeds is completely independent from Capcom, but due to its Capcom roots (pun not intended), Seeds will likely continue to work with the company. We'll have more on any games from the company as it develops. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 15 2007 10:25 AM [Top] Activision Officially Announces Transformers: The Game [ Activision ] Based on TRANSFORMERS, DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures’ upcoming live-action feature film due out July 4th, and produced in association with Hasbro, TRANSFORMERS: The Game lets gamers control the outcome in the battle for Earth as they choose to protect it as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. Players will also experience the unstoppable power and massive scale of their favorite ROBOTS IN DISGUISE such as BUMBLEBEE, BARRICADE and others. •Protect Or Destroy The Earth – As the TRANSFORMERS robot’s war comes to Earth, gamers make the choice to join the AUTOBOTS in protecting our planet or to join the DECEPTICONS in destroying it. With dual campaigns, the fate of the world is in players’ hands. •MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE – Instantly change from a larger than life robot to a high-powered vehicle such as a sports car, fighter jet or helicopter. Seamless transformations leave enemies in the dust or enhance players’ combat strategy with a range of options in both vehicle and robot modes that take full advantage of the characters’ dual forms. •The World Is Your Playground – Players crush, topple and wreck every object, including buildings and vehicles, in their path or use the objects as weapons. It is up to the gamer to decide how best to use their surrounding environment. •Freedom of Choice – An unprecedented line-up lets gamers experience the massive scale, unique abilities and sheer strength of an army of characters from the TRANSFORMERS universe when they choose to play as OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, IRONHIDE, STARSCREAM, BUMBLEBEE and more. •Variety of Combat – For head-to-head battles, fans engage in melee combat that reflects each TRANSFORMERS robot’s character, scale, weight and power along with melee weapons and special moves unique to each character. The game’s ranged combat offers a wide array of projective weapons designed to take out enemies from afar. Check out the game's logo, as well as some artwork below. Transformers: The Game will be released for the Wii and Nintendo DS this summer. Images: Transformers: The Game Logo Transformers: The Game Artwork 1 Transformers: The Game Artwork 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 15 2007 0:11 AM [Top] Details on New Wii Channel [ Nintendo ] Yesterday we posted that Nintendo had added a new channel to the Wii Menu - the Everybody Votes channel. Today, Nintendo gives us some more concrete details on the quirky new channel. Up to six people from one household can vote on each question using their Miis. The topics are sure to spark discussions as different users see how their answers stack up against their household, the country and even the world. New regional questions will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Global questions will be posed twice a month. After casting their ballots, users also get a chance to weigh in on how the majority of voters will respond to the same question. Wii owners can even submit their own topics for Nintendo to use in future polls. After polls close, results will be displayed in a pie chart made up of Mii caricatures, to show respondents how their opinions matched those of the total surveyed population. Some polls also will display results by U.S. state or by gender. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, February 14 2007 15:47 PM [Top] Fact Sheet for Pokémon Diamond/Pearl [ Nintendo ] * Collect, Train and Battle with Over 100 New Pokémon: For the first time, player's have the chance to catch new Pokémon, Munchlax, Weavile and Lucario. * New Region: Set in an entirely new region called Sinnoh. * Starting The Adventure: Players can choose to begin their adventure as either a boy or girl Pokémon trainer on a path to becoming Pokémon League Champion. * 3-D World: The game now has a 3-D look to the environments, making the world of Pokémon jump off the screen like never before. * Intense Battles: Many new dual-type Pokémon, new and refined moves and new special Abilities add to the already deep strategy of Pokémon battling. * Bring Pokémon From Your GBA: Players can bring Pokémon from their Game Boy Advance Pokémon games to Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl using the GBA game slot on their Nintendo DS. * Play Via Local Wireless: Play via local wireless with up to eight other trainers while new moves and Abilities deepen strategy. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, February 14 2007 12:53 PM [Top] Fact Sheet for Super Paper Mario [ Nintendo ] Mario and Luigi are enjoying a lazy afternoon at their house when they hear the terrible news: Princess Peach has been kidnapped! The two brothers head straight for Bowser's castle to get her back, but Bowser is just as surprised about Peach's kidnapping as they are. At that moment, a strange top-hatted villain warps in and abducts everyone but Mario. The mysterious villain then forces Peach and Bowser to get married, creating a rift of dark energy that threatens to tear the universe apart. Only Mario can save the day ... but he can't do it alone. * Players run through vibrant 2-D worlds, stomping on enemies and breaking blocks ... then, with the press of a button, they flip into 3-D. In the third dimension, they'll find hidden paths, battle foes and uncover secrets as they explore the previously invisible depth of the 2-D landscapes. * Hold the Wii Remote sideways and control the game in classic Super Mario Bros. style. Players can shake the Wii Remote to pull off stylish moves and break out of frigid ice and even point directly at the screen to get helpful hints from their sidekick. Not only that, but they'll also play as Peach and Bowser, both with their own sets of essential skills. * When a mysterious villain kidnaps Peach and Bowser and forces them to get married, their union creates a rift of dark energy that threatens to tear the universe apart. Hilarious characters, laugh-out-loud plot twists and unforgettable dimensions await as Mario makes his way through eight chapters, each more memorable than the last. Early on, the 2-D side-scrolling game play appears to be reminiscent of New Super Mario Bros. But as soon as Mario learns the ability to flip between dimensions, players will be constantly flipping between 2-D and 3-D to pass perilous pits, find hidden coins and passages and talk to characters who are visible only in 3-D. Players earn points for every enemy they stomp, item they grab and block they demolish. Once players rack up enough points, they level up. Every level gained allows Mario to take more hits and deal more damage to enemies. Later on, other characters join up with Mario. Players can swap between characters and use their unique abilities to solve puzzles and pummel bosses. All characters have their own abilities. Mario is the only character able to travel between the dimensions and flip between 2-D and 3-D. Princess Peach's parasol allows her to glide across gaps. Bowser's fiery breath incinerates enemies. Players will find Pixls hidden throughout various stages. Each Pixl gives Mario (or any of the other characters) access to a special ability. For example, one Pixl lets Mario flip sideways and become paper thin; another lets him grab enemies and hurl them. Items in Super Paper Mario work very similarly to items in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. Some items, like mushrooms, heal Heart Points. Other items, such as the Shooting Star, can be used during battle to destroy enemies. Super Paper Mario hits the Wii on April 9. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, February 14 2007 12:51 PM [Top] Nintendo Adds New Wii Channel [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has long since stated that new channels would be added for the Wii over the system's lifespan. Well, now we can add the first new channel to the list - the Everybody Votes Channel. After downloading the channel from the Wii Shop and running a Wii system update, Wii users can vote on various polls with other Wii users around the world, as well as predict the poll's results. Users can even suggest their own questions. This would sound cool if the polls were actually, y'know, Nintendo-related. Unfortunately, they're mostly dumb questions like "What's a more romantic Valentine's gift?" or "Do you prefer dogs or cats?" Hopefully Nintendo will make it so we gamers actually get an opinion (online play, Nintendo, and soon) in the coming weeks. Either way, the channel is free, so download it if you have the space. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 13 2007 22:43 PM [Top] Brunswick Pro Bowling Wii-Bound [ Crave Entertainment ] Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of console videogames, today announced Brunswick Pro Bowling for Wii. Brunswick Pro Bowling will give players a detailed, realistic bowling-center experience, complete with authentic sights and sounds, and official Brunswick bowling gear. Brunswick Pro Bowling will be highly customizable, allowing players to choose everything from their character’s appearance and accessories to ball styles. In Career Mode, players work their way from amateur to professional by competing in a year’s worth of bowling tournaments. Ten authentic bowling centers, modeled after actual Brunswick locations, will set the scene. Up to four players can face off in Multiplayer Mode, and Quick Play Mode allows for a fast round of bowling. Other Brunswick Pro Bowling features include: * Realistic physics engine simulates real-time changing lane conditions and accounts for momentum and spin. * Unlockable content includes a variety of Brunswick balls, additional bowling centers, equipment and apparel. * Players in career mode will face rivals, who seek out and challenge them throughout their careers. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, February 13 2007 15:29 PM [Top] Three NES Classics Added to VC [ Nintendo ] It's a good week for NES lovers, as three classics are making their way to the Wii's Virtual Console. Kirby's Adventure (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Not everything is well in Dream Land. For some mysterious reason, the Dream Spring, a magical well that is the reservoir for all the dreams of the citizens of Dream Land, is no longer working. Everyone is being subjected to their worst nightmares every time they go to sleep. Upon reaching the Dream Spring, Kirby finds out that evil King Dedede has stolen the Star Rod, thus depriving Dream Land of the magical energy that feeds its spring. Using 20 unique tricks and the ability to steal enemies' powers by swallowing them, players have to make their way through a horrific land filled with all kinds of nightmares. Recover the broken pieces of the Star Rod and everyone in Dream Land will sleep peacefully once again. Fail and the citizens of Dream Land will be subjected to a lifetime of terrible nightmares. Ice Climber (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): As Popo, players use a trusty mallet to work their way up the mountain. They chip away at the blocks overhead, then jump up through the resulting hole to the mountain's next level. Once Popo reaches the top level, he enters a fast-moving bonus stage in which he can pick up veggies and, hopefully, reach the summit for a big point payoff. Of course, not everyone's supportive of Popo's pastime. Toppies fill Popo's holes, so players must jump through the gaps quickly. It's easy to slip off some of the icy levels, as Polar Bears, Toppies and other ferocious fauna don't want players up there. There are 32 challenging peaks to scale – players can face them alone or with a friend. Kid Icarus (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): In a time when men and gods lived in harmony, the kingdom of Angel Land was ruled by two goddesses: Palutena, the Goddess of Light, and Medusa, the Goddess of Darkness. Unlike Palutena, Medusa despised all humans and enjoyed destroying their crops and turning them into stone. One day, Palutena decided to punish the evil Medusa and banished her after turning her into a hideous monster. But Medusa would not go without a fight. She created an army of monsters and evil spirits and captured Palutena. Players play as Pit, a young angel trapped in the Underworld, and Palutena's only hope. They use a magical bow to retrieve the Sacred Treasures, defeat Medusa and restore peace to Angel Land. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 12 2007 12:30 PM [Top] New Artwork, Release Confirmation for Super Paper Mario [ Nintendo ] A rather odd message from Nintendo was left for us - check it out. Nintendo of America Requests the Pleasure of Your Company at the Marriage of Peach to Bowser on the 9th Day of April 2007 The nuptials will take place at the beginning of Super Paper Mario, which will be available for Nintendo's hot new Wii home video game system. Those who wish to attend - or thwart - the ceremony will need to switch between 2-D and 3-D. In short, this is a confirmation that Super Paper Mario will indeed be making its way to Wii rather than the Cube (something we've known on an unofficial level for several weeks), and that it will be coming out on April 9. As far as the wedding...that's just creepy. We've also got a small boxart - we'll get you the larger one as soon as Nintendo makes it available. Images: Super Paper Mario Boxart Super Paper Mario Character Art 1 Super Paper Mario Character Art 2 Super Paper Mario Character Art 3 Super Paper Mario Character Art 4 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 12 2007 12:19 PM [Top] First Transformers: The Game Details [ IGN Wii ] It's been known for quite some time that Activision was in the works with a game based upon the upcoming Transformers movie. Now, IGN has obtained the first details from the game, which is indeed heading to both the Wii and the Nintendo DS. On Wii, the game will be developed by Traveler's Tales, best known for their work on both Lego Star Wars I & II, as well as Chronicles of Narnia and Bionicle Heroes. The game will be an open-ended action-adventure title, where players can choose between either the Autobots (good guys), or Decepticons (bad guys), and play as a variety of characters from the film including Optimus Prime and Megatron. Players can transform between robot and vehicle mode at any time, and also use various character-specific attacks. The game also features fully-destructible environments, which can then be used as weapons upon destruction. The DS version will be handled by Vicarious Visions (Activision's usual DS developer of choice), however no details on the dual-screened version of the game were made available. Transformers: The Game should hit stores around the movie's release in early July. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 10 2007 0:17 AM [Top] Buena Vista Games Gets a New Name [ Disney Interactive ] Looks like change is afoot in the House of Mouse. Buena Vista Games has announced that, effective immediately, the publisher will now be known as Disney Interactive Studios, named after parent company Walt Disney. Graham Hopper, Senior VP of the newly-renamed company, said on the change: "This change reflects our focus on creativity, the weight of Disney content in our portfolio, and the enormous value consumers see in the Disney brand." Disney Interactive has a host of games planned for Nintendo systems in the coming months, including games for Wii and DS based upon the upcoming films Meet the Robinsons and Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, as well as Spectrobes, the first original videogame IP from Disney, set for a DS release next month. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 9 2007 0:35 AM [Top] Activision Shows Love to Nintendo [ Activision ] In a conference call, Activision announced plans to "aggresively target" Nintendo platforms, including both Wii and DS. The company is set to release 60 individual products, with a vast majority going to Nintendo's systems, including several of the company's biggest franchises, such as Spider-Man, Shrek, Transformers, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty, and Guitar Hero. While this does not explicitly confirm we'll be rocking out on our Wii Remotes and touch screens in the near future, it's as good of a confirmation as any. However, with all the love comes some bad news, as Activision has announced that due to the relatively low sales of the game, the company will be porting Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam from the Wii to the PS2. While not exactly a major blow to the Wii's exclusive lineup, it does hurt to see a supposedly next-gen game be ported onto a last-gen system. We'll have more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 8 2007 11:53 AM [Top] Manhunt 2 Teaser Trailer [ Wii Café ] Rockstar Games shocked the gaming world yesterday when they announced that Manhunt 2 would be coming to the system that could potentially bring all of its grotesque murders to life, the Wii. Now, we have the first teaser trailer for the anticipated title, which you can check out below. The game's official site is also open, and you can check it out right here. Manhunt 2 hits the Wii this summer. Video: Manhunt 2 Teaser Trailer (13.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 7 2007 21:20 PM [Top] Diddy Kong Racing DS Drives Fans Wild [ Nintendo ] An array of cute monkeys, tigers, turtles and crocodiles (who were somehow granted licenses to drive) populate Nintendo's newest Wi-Fi-enabled game for Nintendo DS Lite, Diddy Kong Racing DS. The racing adventure further revs the engines of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which already has connected more than 3.5 million unique users worldwide for more than 100 million online game-play connections. Diddy Kong Racing DS adds another classic to this portable wireless community, complete with new tracks, upgradeable vehicles and a course-design mode. Racing games have always been a popular choice for competitive gamers, particularly for Nintendo fans. From Mario Kart DS, which has sold more than 1.5 million units in the United States to date, to the original Diddy Kong Racing for Nintendo 64, which was one of the best-selling racing video games for N64, Nintendo's racing games are ranked among the top. The newest addition to this genre of games, Diddy Kong Racing DS, available Feb. 7, is expected to race to the top of the charts as well. With its new characters, gamer tags and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection capabilities, this DS version will re-energize fans who remember the original, while attracting new ones to join in. Diddy Kong Racing DS takes place on Timber's Island, which has been invaded by an evil space pig. Unlike traditional racing-only games, the game is a true adventure. Players explore the island and complete a series of racing challenges while piloting cars, hovercrafts and planes. The game features 38 different tracks and upgradeable vehicles with improvements in speed, durability and looks. Players can even create their own tracks using touch-screen controls and share them with others wirelessly. Up to six players can compete online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and eight can race via local DS Download Play, even if only one player has a game card. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 7 2007 21:07 PM [Top] Manhunt 2 Kills On Wii [ Rockstar Games ] Rockstar Games is proud to announce Manhunt 2 for the Nintendo Wii. The Wii version is being developed by Rockstar Toronto. Manhunt 2 will be available this summer. "With Manhunt 2 we have tried to create a game that stays close to the original concept of chilling suspense and stealth, whilst pushing the game design and storytelling forward," said Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games. For those that don't know, Manhunt was by and large one of the most violent, sadistic games released in the last generation, allowing players to kill in numerous creative ways. I think we can all imagine just how much the Wii Remote opens up this possibility, and possibly how much controversy it will cause. Even so, it's great to see Rockstar back in Nintendo's good graces - could a new Grand Theft Auto be heading the Wii's way? Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 6 2007 14:47 PM [Top] Zorro Slashes onto Wii [ Zorro Productions ] With the Wii's unique new controller, it would seem that sword-fighting games would be a natural for the system. Finally, a company is taking advantage of that, as Zorro Productions, the company that owns the rights to the famed Spanish swashbuckler, has announced they are teaming up with developer Pronto Games to bring a Zorro game to Wii. Entitled The Destiny of Zorro, the game will supposedly be easy enough for novice gamers, but challenging enough for the hardcore crowd. The game will also feature "instantly engaging gameplay". The Destiny of Zorro is yet to have a publisher, but it will be in stores this Christmas. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 6 2007 13:58 PM [Top] Fact Sheet for Mario Party 8 [ Nintendo ] The world's most popular party video game is getting a lot crazier in Mario Party 8. Whether you're shaking up cola cans or lassoing barrels, you and your friends will be drawn into the action like never before using the Wii Remote. * Play with motion control: Players row their way through a river race, punch a statue to pieces, steer race cars, mopeds and go-karts and handle a balancing pole while walking a tightrope. * Play using the Pointer: Shoot at Boos in a haunted house, rag and drop toppings in a cake-decorating competition, select the correct answers in game show challenges. * Play using the Wii Remote's buttons: Players jump and pummel their way through a football brawl, hop and run across a field of spinning platforms * Mario Party 8 also includes dozens of new minigames, six new party boards and many new game modes. In a series first, players can transform their characters into many forms, such as player-smashing boulders and coin-sucking vampires. Mario Party 8 also includes "extra-large" minigames like Star Carnival Bowling and Table Menace. One to four players can play Mario Party 8, each with a Wii Remote. Mario Party games are a celebration of all things Mario, so you can play as 14 classic characters, the widest selection yet for the series, including newcomers Hammer Bro and Blooper. You'll also bump into many old friends and foes that span 20 years of Mario games. Beyond using the Wii Remote's motion and pointer control, this eighth game in the Mario Party series goes its own way with two major changes: * Players can transform their character using candy power-ups. Examples: When Peach eats Bowlo Candy, she'll turn into a Peach-faced ball and bowl over characters to get their coins. When Wario eats Vampire Candy, he'll sprout wings and fly off to suck the coins from all other players. * A more engaging view of the action puts the player "on the board" with his traveling character, no longer far above the whole board looking down. Mario Party 8 launches in the US in Q2 of this year. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, February 6 2007 10:46 AM [Top] Fact Sheet for Wario: Master of Disguise [ Nintendo ] When Wario sees a television series about a thieving master of disguises, he dives through the TV screen, steals the thief's quick-change wand and takes over the whole show. Episode after episode, he breaks into exotic locations, like a luxury liner, watery ruins and an Egyptian pyramid! Over the 10 episodes of "his" new TV show, Wario travels the globe in search of treasure to steal. Along the way, he discovers that there's a far greater prize to be had: an ancient artifact that grants wishes. Now if he can only find it before his rival, the master thief whose show (and powers of disguise) he's stolen. * Draw Wario's eight disguises: By sketching a symbol on Wario, the player puts Wario in outfits that give him powers, such as Thief Wario's tackles and Cosmic Wario's laser blasts. The player also uses the stylus to wield the powers. * Explore environments: Wario travels the globe in 10 missions that span nine exotic locations. The player must attack many enemies found in each location and also use Wario's disguises to get past puzzling obstacles. * Play minigames to unlock chests: To pick the lock of each chest, the player must play one of eight stylus-driven minigames that grow more difficult as the game progresses. Using the Thief Wario disguise, players run, high-jump and tackle their way through each episode. They'll need to switch to other disguises, frequently one after the other, to fight and puzzle through rooms full of obstacles and enemies. Players use buttons to run and jump while using the stylus to affect Wario and his environment, and they can watch the top screen map to keep their bearings in the levels. At the start of the game, players will have only one disguise (Thief Wario) and will discover more as they proceed through the game. Players can return to previous episodes with the power to use all currently held disguises, making it possible to explore more areas and gather even more hidden treasures. Each episode ends in a boss fight that challenges players to use a variety of disguises to defeat it. Wario: Master of Disguise hits store shelves in the US on March 7. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, February 6 2007 10:42 AM [Top] Fact Sheet for Wii Play [ Nintendo ] Wii Play includes nine quick and addictive games that are easy to pick up and play and hard to put away. Thanks to the intuitive controls of the Wii Remote, even the most inexperienced gamers will have no trouble mastering the controls. Every game features a multiplayer mode, so friends can compete for the high score or go head to head to see who's the best. Wii Play comes with a Wii Remote so that friends can join in the action. Shooting Range: The player shoots down targets ranging from clay pigeons to ducks to UFOs. In the final stage, the Mii a player is using appears on the screen, wandering in a field and being abducted by UFOs. If the player shoots that UFO down, the abductee returns to the field. To shoot targets, the player points at them with the Wii Remote pointer and presses the B button to fire. Players earn bonuses for not missing any shots. Find Mii: The player must find and select specific Miis from a crowd within a set amount of time. If the player has any user-created Miis, they appear in the crowd as well. The crowds grow larger and start moving as the player clears more levels. The player selects Miis by pointing at them with the Wii Remote and pressing the A button. Table Tennis: Players rally the ball back and forth, shooting for the longest sustained rally. In the multiplayer version, players compete to score points, as in traditional table tennis. Players use the pointer to move the paddle. The paddle swings automatically when the ball is close. Pose Mii: The player moves his Mii on the screen, rotating it and changing its pose to match the silhouettes inside falling bubbles. The player must pop the bubble by matching its pose before the bubble hits the bottom of the screen. The Wii Remote's pointer moves the Mii, and twisting the Wii Remote rotates the Mii on-screen. The A and B buttons change between three different poses. Laser Hockey: Players move paddles on an air hockey table, trying to hit the puck past the opponent's goal. The puck's motion is affected by the angle of the paddle and the speed with which the puck is hit. The Wii Remote pointer moves the paddle, while twisting the Wii Remote rotates the paddle on the screen. Billiards: The player must sink all nine balls in the proper order. In single player, if a player fails to hit the correct ball or sinks his cue ball, the player's score drops; in multiplayer, the other player can place the ball anywhere on the screen before taking a turn. The Wii Remote pointer marks where the cue will strike the cue ball. While the cue is marked, moving the Wii Remote back and then swiftly forward slides the cue into the cue ball. The Control Pad controls where the ball is aiming. Fishing: Players must catch the fish indicated at the top of the screen. This game uses the Wii Remote: The pointer moves the hand holding the fishing pole. Moving forward places the hook farther out in the lake, while moving back places the hook closer. When a fish bites, the player yanks the Wii Remote back, pulling the fish out of the water. A "bonus" fish appears in a window on the screen, and catching that fish earns double the points. Charge!: The player controls a charging cow, guiding it into scarecrows and knocking them over. Players control the cow by tilting the Wii Remote on its side and turning it like a steering wheel. Tilting forward speeds the cow up, and tilting back slows it down. Quickly raising the Wii Remote make the cow jump. Tanks!: The player controls a tank and must shoot other tanks. The shots rebound once off the walls before disappearing. The player controls his tanks with the Control Pad (Note: players can also use the Nunchuk's control stick to steer the tank) and aim the tank's cannon using the Wii Remote's pointer. The A button fires the tank's cannon, and the B button drops a mine with a large blast radius. Each minigame in Wii Play teaches players another aspect of the Wii Remote. The first time playing, a player must complete a game before the next game opens. Shooting Range is first, and the games unlock in the order listed above. Players also can earn medals (bronze, silver, gold and platinum) as they improve their scores. High scores and accomplishments are posted to the Wii Message Board (see below). In most two-player games, players compete for the highest score. However, in Laser Hockey and Tanks!, players compete directly against one another. Wii Play hits the US on February 14, and comes packaged with a Wii Remote. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, February 6 2007 10:39 AM [Top] Southwest Fliers Get Free DSes [ Nintendo ] Nintendo and Southwest Airlines are giving some of the airline's most-traveled flyers a surprise gift, and we're not talking peanuts here. Fifty of Southwest's Rapid Rewards Members have been mailed a Nintendo DS Lite and a copy of Brain Age™: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, marking the first time that Southwest has partnered with an outside company to provide a special treat for Rapid Rewards Members. The gifts are being offered both as a thank you and to help these travelers pass the time during their next trip, which no doubt is coming up soon. "We are helping our Members welcome the New Year with low fares, frequent flights and, of course, exercise...exercise for their mind while they travel," said Blair McGrain, Director of Marketing Planning and Customer Loyalty. "We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo to give our Members some FUN in the New Year." Selected by Southwest Airlines for their longtime loyalty and accumulated miles, the Rapid Rewards Members who received the Nintendo DS and copy of Brain Age have collectively flown more than 79.2 million miles, spent more than 132,854 hours in the air and represent more than 600 years of membership. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 5 2007 15:59 PM [Top] Final Fantasy VI Fact Sheet [ Nintendo ] Ages ago, the War of the Magi pitted three gods against one another. They waged battle by enslaving magical beings called espers and using them as soldiers in their battle. After the war's end, the gods freed the espers, who then retreated to a new world of their own. Centuries later, the Gestahlian Empire has breached the boundaries of the espers' world and captured many espers, using their magic to fuel the Empire's Magitek research program. When an enslaved woman named Terra frees herself from the Empire's mind control, she joins a band of rebels called the Returners, who seek to enlist the aid of the espers in their struggle to prevent the Empire from taking over the world. * Players command a ragged band of heroes in a desperate quest to free the world from the Empire's grasp. With Edgar's tools, Terra's magic, Sabin's fists and the skills of more than a dozen additional characters, the Returners need only one thing to seize victory from the Empire: you. * Summon the power of the espers, magical creatures enslaved by the Empire. Enlist several new additions to the roster, like Leviathan, Cactuar and Gilgamesh, to help tackle challenges like the all-new Dragon's Den dungeon. * Just because the adventure ends doesn't mean the action has to. Players can study their foes in the Bestiary and then face them all in a continuous battle in the Soul Shrine, or enjoy their favorite songs in the bonus music player. * Featuring bonus content, a new translation and a remixed soundtrack, Final Fantasy VI Advance is the definitive version of this classic role-playing game. Final Fantasy VI Advance is a turn-based RPG with gameplay broken down into two distinct phases: exploration and battle. In the exploration phase, players wander through towns or dungeons, sail through the sky or travel across the "overworld" (anywhere outside of a dungeon or town), speaking with the people they meet to gain clues and advance the story. In certain locations, players will get into battles, either randomly (when wandering freely) or by design (when they fight a creature as part of the main story). Players can equip their characters to customize their arms and armor as well as their relics and magic. Heroes: Terra, a young former slave of the Empire who is connected to the espers. Locke, a treasure hunter (read "thief") skilled at stealing from enemies. Edgar, King of Figaro and master of various tools. Sabin, twin brother of Edgar who abandoned his claim to the throne to pursue a life of freedom as a martial artist. Shadow, a mysterious assassin who travels with his dog, Interceptor. Celes, a Magitek knight who abandons the Empire after she learns of Kefka's plan to poison an entire kingdom. Mog, a world-traveling moogle who has left the caves where his people live to see more of the world beyond the caverns. And many, many more! Final Fantasy VI Advance features 14 "main" characters, even though the players can have only four characters in their party at any time. The story branches in several key points, and the player must break the party into separate groups, splitting time between each of the groups and seeing their aspect of the story. Each character possesses a special ability, like Locke's Steal (which grabs items from enemies) or Mog's Dance (each dance has a different effect). Players find and equip magicite crystal pieces to their characters. Magicite teaches spells to the characters equipping it and allows them to summon espers in battle as well. The espers have different powerful effects, ranging from healing the whole party to attacking large groups of enemies with different physical or elemental attacks. FFVI Advance releases across the US on Wednesday for the Game Boy Advance. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 5 2007 14:53 PM [Top] Super Mario World, Two Others Added to VC [ Nintendo ] Super Mario World (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): During a vacation in Dinosaur Land, Princess Toadstool gets kidnapped and a spell is cast on the inhabitants of the island. When they stumble upon Yoshi, a young dinosaur, Mario and Luigi learn that Bowser is responsible for the terrible misdeeds. Now, all Yoshis are trapped in magical eggs that Bowser has hidden throughout seven castles. Many hidden paths aid Mario in making his way to Bowser's castle, completing 74 areas and finding all 96 exits. Discover items, including a feather that gives Mario a cape that allows him to fly, or a flower that shoots fireballs in layers upon layers of 2-D scrolling landscapes. Players can even ride Yoshi and swallow their enemies. VIGILANTE (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Brave the streets of New York City in this side-scrolling beat-'em-up game. Thugs kidnap the beloved Madonna, and it's up to players to become vigilantes. Players fight their way into enemy territory to get her back. Enemies attack with weapons like iron pipes, chains, guns and motorcycles. To fight back, players can punch, kick or use the "nunchaku" item that appears in the stage. Players must use each of the attacks effectively to defeat their enemies. To clear a stage, defeat the boss that waits at the end. Players fight their way through exciting stages that include the City Streets, Junkyard, Brooklyn Bridge and the Backstreets. Gain Ground (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): It's the 31st century, and science and technology have progressed to the point that the human race is approaching perfection: no war, no poverty and no conflict. With nothing to worry about, the human race seems destined to live forever in harmony. But what if Earth came under attack? By this point in time, people did not know how to cope with problems or conflicts, and had completely lost their survival instincts. In response to this, the United Earth Government created the Gain Ground system, a war simulator that would help humans rediscover their lost instincts. After several terrible malfunctions, the creators became prisoners in their own creation. Now it's up to players and two courageous comrades to go into the Gain Ground system, rescue their fellow humans and destroy the system. Players battle through different periods in history as they revive their survival instincts, while trying to live. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 5 2007 12:50 PM [Top] New Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screens [ Konami ] Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits compiles 15 of the most memorable quarter-munching arcade hits of all-time on the Nintendo DS system. Experience the sights, sounds and magic of classic Konami arcade games arcades and relive your arcade memories with a full collection of in-game music and even send demo versions of each game to your friends to share in the fun. No quarters necessary... * 15 timeless arcade classics from the 80's on one cartridge - Contra, Gradius, Time Pilot, Scramble, Rush'N Attack, Horror Maze, Pooyan, Roc'N Rope, Track & Field, Circus Charlie, Basketball, Road Fighter, Yie Ar Kung Fu, RainbowBell, Shao-lin's Road * Customize your view of the game with several different vertical and horizontal screen configurations * Extensive support for wireless play - compete with friends in cooperative or head to head action, send demo versions of each game to other players and share replays with others via local wireless connection * Listen to tracks from any of the 15 included titles in Jukebox Mode or close your system and listen to a random selection of music with headphones Check out the latest screenshots of the variety of games available on this compilation below. Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits will be released on March 28th. Images: Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 1 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 2 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 3 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 4 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 5 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 6 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 7 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 8 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Screenshot 9 Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 2 2007 17:50 PM [Top] New Lost in Blue 2 Screens and Info [ Konami ] Washed ashore after their cruise ship goes down at sea, young Jack and Amy must struggle to survive as they search for a way off a deserted island. The teens confront their worst fears as they discover the secrets and dangers that lurk behind every corner of the mysterious island. * Play through the entire game as either Jack or Amy, each with their own set of survival skills and unique endings * Keep an eye on your thirst, hunger and stamina levels as you explore the island, from sandy beaches to lush jungles * Battle wild animals and overcome extreme weather conditions such as tsunami and earthquakes as you try to survive on a harsh and unforgiving desert island * Use the touch screen and microphone to take part in new mini-games such as diving, archery and carpentry as well as returning favorites such as cooking and tool crafting * Compete in survival mini-games with a friend via local wireless connection Check out the latest screens of the game below, and watch for it to be released on March 27th. Images: Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 1 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 2 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 3 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 4 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 5 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 6 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 7 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 8 Lost in Blue 2 Screenshot 9 Lost in Blue 2 Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 2 2007 17:43 PM [Top] New Lunar Knights Screenshots and Info [ Konami ] Descend into the gothic Sci-Fi world of Lunar Knights and take control of two warriors on a quest to reclaim the world from the vampiric legion. Spin together tornados, guide down flaming meteors, and blow together snowstorms in Kojima Productions' first ever title on Nintendo DS! * Two different heroes with unique powers and weapons * In-game day/night cycle and weather affects gameplay * Use the touch pen to solve puzzles and guide your vehicle through 3D shooter mini games * From the renowned design studio Kojima Productions Check out the latest screens from the anticipated DS title below, and watch for it to hit stores next week, on February 6th. Images: Lunar Knights Screenshot 1 Lunar Knights Screenshot 2 Lunar Knights Screenshot 3 Lunar Knights Screenshot 4 Lunar Knights Screenshot 5 Lunar Knights Screenshot 6 Lunar Knights Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 2 2007 17:25 PM [Top] Konami Announces Time Ace for DS [ Konami ] In 1914, eccentric scientist Dr. Hugo Clock created a time machine with the plans of going back in time and preventing World War I from happening and preventing millions of needless deaths. However, his sneaky assistant, Dr. Klaus Scythe, hijacks his time machine with a plan to acquire an arsenal of history's most powerful weapons in order to rule the world. Now Dr. Clock must pursue Scythe through time and prevent him from unleashing the aerial war machines of the future on an unsuspecting era. * 3D aerial shooting action across more than 18 levels and 9 historical eras * Acquire and fly the aircraft of the past, present and future, from World War II bombers to modern fighter jets and futuristic marvels of airborne destruction * Collect power-ups to modify the speed, durability, firepower and maneuverability of your aircraft * High-flying mini-games for up to four players, including races and intense dogfights via local wireless connection Check out the first screenshots of the game below. Images: Time Ace Screenshot 1 Time Ace Screenshot 2 Time Ace Screenshot 3 Time Ace Screenshot 4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 2 2007 17:03 PM [Top] Konami Brings Kororinpa to US [ Konami ] Published and developed by Hudson, Marble Mania is a fun and addictive action puzzle game that lets players tilt and rotate the Wii Remote to roll a ball around a maze to reach the goal. Using an intuitive control scheme, gamers of all ages and skill levels can pick up a Wii Remote and immediately join the fun. * Simple and intuitive control system! * 20 kinds of marble variations with different control, playability and look and feel * Full 3D control, tip the world on its side, and even upside down! * Over 40 diverse stages packed with tricks, traps and secrets * Compete against a friend with a 2-player race mode Developed by Hudson Soft, Kororinpa: Marble Mania should be out for Wii later this year. Check out the first screens of the game below. Images: Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 1 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 2 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 3 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 4 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 5 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 6 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 7 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 8 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Screenshot 9 Kororinpa: Marble Mania Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 2 2007 16:58 PM [Top]