Today's Special Archives: February 2009

News Archives Index Final Fantasy IV Sequel Coming to Wii [ ESRB ] The ESRB has leaked yet another major upcoming title, and this time it's a Wii sequel to one of Square Enix's most storied RPGs. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years takes place years after Final Fantasy IV, and was originally released in Japan exclusively for cellphones. The title is listed as "a 2D role-playing game in which players embark on an adventure involving magical crystals and a mysterious kingdom", and is rated E for everyone. One would presume, given the 2D nature of the game that this one is heading to WiiWare, but stranger things have happened. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, February 27 2009 13:32 PM [Top] EA's Tennis and Tiger Woods Debuting First on Wii [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts today announced that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis will be the first two products from the EA SPORTS label that utilize the functionality of the Wii MotionPlus. EA SPORTS has at least five products, including EA SPORTS Active in May, in development that will launch before the end of 2009 designed specifically for the Wii. With the all-new Wii MotionPlus, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 will allow golf fans to experience a near-perfect 1:1 swing – and control to work the ball – from the tee box to the green. The game brings players inside the ropes to experience the drama of PGA TOUR tournament for the first time. Feel the intensity and excitement on every swing as you compete against the leaderboard. EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis, available first for the Wii, puts the racket in the palm of your hand and offers the deepest tennis experience ever for the Wii. As the home to all four Grand Slams, and exclusive to Wimbledon, you can take your customized created player on a quest to win the four slams in Grand Slam career mode. Giving gamers a chance to play at Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court adds a level of authenticity that isn’t available anywhere else. EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis delivers an authentic tennis experience that makes you feel like you are playing with and against the sport’s greatest legends and today’s current stars. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 22:00 PM [Top] New Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Trailers [ Rockstar Games ] Grand Theft Auto is set to slam onto the DS on March 17th with Chinatown Wars, but one worrying aspect of the game is the fact that we have yet to see any footage from the upcoming title. Fortunately, Rockstar Games has rectified this with not one, but two trailers showing off the game's story and gameplay for the first time. Check them both out, via YouTube, below. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 21:49 PM [Top] Punch-Out!! Boxart [ Nintendo ] Along with this morning's announcement of a May 18th release date for the Wii remake of the NES classic Punch-Out!!, Nintendo has revealed the game's official boxart, which you can check out below. Although still little is known about the game, players will be able to trade punches as Little Mac against several of the WVBA's best, including Glass Joe, Von Kaiser, and King Hippo. Images: Punch-Out!! Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 19:15 PM [Top] Upcoming Wii/DS Release List [ Nintendo ] To go along with this morning's announcement, Nintendo has released a list of the major titles on their way to both the Wii and Nintendo DS consoles. Wii 2K Sports Major League Baseball 2K9 - March 3 Don King Boxing - March 31 Activision X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May Ice Age 3 - June 30 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June Aksys Games Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus - May 12 Atari Ready 2 Rumble Revolution - March 17 Backyard Baseball 10 - March 31 Capcom Entertainment Inc. MotoGP - Spring Codemasters Inc Overlord Dark Legend - Summer Conspiracy Games Real Heroes: Firefighter - April Deep Silver, Inc. Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April Fritz Chess - May Disney Interactive Studios Hannah Montana The Movie - April Electronic Arts TRIVIAL PURSUIT - March MySims Party - March EA SPORTS Active - May 19 Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 - June BOOM BLOX Bash Party - Spring MySims Racing - Summer Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Summer G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra - Summer EA SPORTS Tennis (working title) - Summer Hudson Entertainment Help Wanted - Summer Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. DanceDanceRevolution Disney Grooves - April 2 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Wheelie Breakers - May 19 LucasArts Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings - Late Spring NAMCO BANDAI Klonoa - Q2 Nintendo New Play Control! Pikmi - March 9 New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis - March 9 Excitebots: Trick Racing - April 20 New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - May 4 Punch-Out!! - May 18 SEGA of America Virtua Tennis 2009 - May The Conduit - June Let's Tap - June Southpeak Interactive Roogoo Twisted Towers - April 7 Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball - April 21 Zoo Games, Inc. M&M's Beach Party - March 10 Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31 Garfield Gets Real - April 7 Pennzoil's Build-N-Race: "Speed Demons" - April 14 Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21 Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28 Garfield's Pet Force - June 9 Nintendo DS 2K Sports MLB 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars - March 3 Don King Boxing - March 31 Activision X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May Ice Age 3 - June 30 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June Activision/RedOctane Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits - June Aksys Games Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles: Memories of the Past - May 26 Rockin' Pretty - June 23 Aspyr Media, Inc. Treasure World - June Atari Backyard Baseball '10 - March 31 My Horse and Me Riding For Gold - March 31 Atlus U.S.A., Inc. TrackMania DS - March 17 Tokyo Beat Down - March 31 The Dark Spire - April 14 Dokapon Journey - April 14 Steal Princess - April 21 101 in 1 Explosive Megamix - April 21 Super Robot Taisen OG Saga:Endless Frontier - April 28 Knights in the Nightmare - June 2 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor™ - June 23 Capcom Mega Man Starforce 3 Black Ace - June Mega Man Starforce 3 Red Joker - June Codemasters Inc Overlord Minions - Summer Deep Silver, Inc. Pet Vet: Down Under - March Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April Elite Forces: Unit 77 - April DJ Star - May Fritz Chess - May The Humans - May Horoscope DS - May Disney Interactive Studios Hannah Montana The Movie - April DreamCatcher Dreamer: Shop Owner - April 21 Dreamer: Babysitter - April 21 Dreamer: Teacher - April 21 Prank'd - May 19 Electronic Arts Zubo - March 10 Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure - March 17 MySims Party - March SCRABBLE - March LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring - March MySims Racing - Summer Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Summer Hudson Entertainment Miami Law - Summer KOEI Monster Racers - June Konami Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times - May 5 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Stardust Accelerators World Championship 2009 - May 19 LucasArts Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings - Late Spring Majesco Entertainment Puffins: Island Adventure - April 14 Powerbike - April 28 Drama Queens - May Marker Man Adventures - May Hot 'n' Cold - May Dawn of Heroes - June MumboJumbo Crazy Chicken Star Karts - March 31 Crazy Chicken Atlantis Quest - April 28 Crazy Chicken The Pharaoh's Treasure - June 2 7 Wonders II - June 30 Nintendo Rhythm Heaven - April 5 Personal Trainer: Walking - May 25 The Legendary Starfy - June 8 PopCap Games, Inc. Peggle Dual Shot - March 3 Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - March 17 Southpeak Interactive Roogoo Attack - April 7 THQ Desktop Tower Defense - April 29 Ubisoft Imagine Makeup Artist - May 5 Imagine Music Fest - May 5 Imagine Boutique Owner - May 26 My Healthy Cooking Coach - June 2 Petz Fashion: Dogz and Catz - June 9 Jake Power Soccer Club - June 16 Valcon Games History Channel: Great Empires: Rome - March 17 Zoo Games, Inc. Yamaha Supercross - March 10 Hands On!: Tangrams - March 24 Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31 Garfield Gets Real - April 7 Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21 Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28 Garfield's Pet Force - June 9 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 12:49 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces Spring Lineup [ Nintendo ] While everyone is still buzzing about the upcoming April 5 launch of the Nintendo DSi system, video game fans will have plenty of great games and experiences to keep them busy. Nintendo has an extensive, diverse library of about 120 games on the way for both the Wii and Nintendo DS systems. Upcoming Nintendo-published video games for Wii include: Excitebots: Trick Racing has elements that make it one of the more unique racing games on the market. It launches April 20 and lets everyone in the family use the Wii Wheel accessory in unique and changing environments, play fun minigames and perform crazy tricks in a game that builds on the Excitebike and Excite Truck franchises. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, originally made for the Nintendo GameCube system, launches May 4 with newly added motion controls. It's the latest in Nintendo's New Play Control! series of games. Punch-Out!! launches May 18 and brings back all of the fun of the beloved, classic NES game that thrilled players in the early 1990s. Boxers battle as iconic hero Little Mac as they fight their way through a cast of new and familiar boxing opponents on their quest to win the coveted WVBA (World Video Boxing Association) Championship Belt. Nintendo's downloadable WiiWare service continues to be a showcase for new games, new concepts and new ideas. A selection of upcoming titles includes: • BIT.TRIP BEAT, developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games: BIT.TRIP BEAT is what you get when you mix classic video gaming with modern gaming sensibilities. What may seem like a simple "paddle" game turns into a psychedelic trip down memory lane which has you hitting "beats" in rhythm to Chiptune style music. While the game can be difficult, if you crank up the tunes and get in the zone, you'll have a great time. Performing perfectly isn't required to experience all the game's content, but the extra challenge will keep score-hunters coming back in search of each level's elusive "PERFECT" score. • Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, developed and published by Semnat Studios LLC: Fight your way through 13 diverse locations on your own or with up to three friends in this frenetic and stylish side-scrolling action game. Play as Eduardo and his fellow toaster buddies as you fire an assortment of pastries at all kinds of dastardly food products. Hop onto laser-mounted scooters and fly across the screen in rocket packs, and learn to cooperate with your teammates or simply annoy each other in an awesomely fun way by throwing each other around the screen. The choice is up to you. • Night Game, developed and published by Nicalis: Exclusively for WiiWare, Night Game (working title) is part action game and part puzzler. It invites players into a beautifully atmospheric world, where they must use real physics to maneuver a mysterious, glowing sphere through vastly different locales. Night Game pushes the boundaries of design with its unique art style, and professionally produced music score. This title is a 2009 Independent Games Festival Seumas McNally Award nominee and from the same developers responsible for Cave Story on Wii. • Swords & Soldiers, developed and published by Ronimo Games: Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling real-time strategy game, in which three distinct factions battle for the powers of the gods. The goal is to destroy the enemies' castle on the other end of the level, while protecting your own. This can be done by training powerful units or casting devastating spells. The game will feature a single-player campaign and a competitive split-screen multiplayer mode as well as several other game modes. Great titles are also on the way for the portable Nintendo DS system. Some Nintendo-published video games for Nintendo DS include: Rhythm Heaven is an infectious video game that has been a huge hit in Japan. Players tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to the beat. This fun, stylized game launches April 5. A new entry in the Personal Trainer series is Personal Trainer: Walking, which launches May 25. Personal Trainer: Walking tracks users' progress and makes going for a walk a little more fun. It comes with two pedometers that users can wirelessly connect to their Nintendo DS system when they return home. In The Legendary Starfy game, which launches June 8, players dive into a spectacular undersea adventure with Starfy, the legendary hero of Pufftop. Players swoop into enemies like a shooting star, glide over bottomless chasms and transform into powerful creatures to help a mysterious, bunny-eared visitor find his lost memory. In recent weeks, multiple third-party publishers have announced plans to boost their support of Nintendo systems. Between now and June, Nintendo fans will enjoy games like: The Conduit, a first-person shooter from Sega that pits players against a terrifying group of alien invaders intent on taking over a futuristic Washington, D.C.; EA SPORTS Active, a Wii exclusive from Electronic Arts that offers players fun, easy-to-learn exercises and activities that users can do with family and friends; and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10, the newest iteration of the popular golf game from Electronic Arts that lets players hit the links to prove their driving and putting prowess. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 12:27 PM [Top] Nintendo Reveals New Classic Controller [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo's Classic Controller attachment for the Wii Remote is currently the only way to play classic SNES and N64 games without the use of a GameCube controller, but the device has always been burdened with numerous design flaws that keep it from being far from an optimal solution. Well, Nintendo has apparently taken notice of this, as they have officially announced a redesign of the Classic Controller, the new Classic Pro. The device retains the same basic face buttons of the original Classic, moving the ZR and ZL buttons behind the L and R buttons, much like a PlayStation or GameCube controller. In addition, the Classic Pro features handgrips for enhanced comfort, and perhaps best of all has its wire coming out of the top of the controller, rather than the bottom. The Classic Pro is set for release this summer, and as of now is only heading to Japan. For an image, click below. Images: New Classic Pro Controller Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 26 2009 12:15 PM [Top] New Japanese DSi Colors Announced [ Nintendo of Japan ] While we here in North America are still waiting to get our hands on Nintendo's latest handheld bundle of joy, Japanese DSis are already getting a storied Nintendo tradition: new colors. Starting March 20th, the DSi will be available in hot pink, lime green, and navy blue to go alongside the already-available white and black. No word yet on if these colors will hit North America at this time. For the first look at the new colors, click below. Images: New Nintendo DSi Colors Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 25 2009 14:33 PM [Top] Activision Gets Bakugan [ Activision ] Activision announced today an agreement with Corus Entertainment Inc.’s Nelvana Enterprises to develop and distribute video games based on the breakout hit toy and wildly popular action animated television series Bakugan. The first Bakugan game will be released for Wii and Nintendo DS in the fall of 2009. Bakugan tells the story of Dan and his friends as they battle their Bakugan Brawlers to save the planet of Vestroia and, ultimately, Earth from destruction. The series airs on Cartoon Network in the United States and internationally, and on TELETOON in Canada. The toy line, developed by Spin Master Ltd., brings action to the popular genre of collectible trading card games with marble-like Bakugan spheres that transform into “battle brawling” action figures when rolled onto special game cards. A genuine toy craze in the 2008 holiday season, Bakugan recently won three “Toy of the Year” awards from The Toy Industry Association: overall Toy of the Year, Boy Toy of the Year, and Property of the Year. The video games, under development by veteran Japanese studio NOW Production, will render the elements that made Bakugan a worldwide phenomenon into mind-blowing digital experiences. Everything a Bakugan enthusiast and gamer would love is here - intense battles, the ability to create your own Brawler, cartoon quality graphics and multiplayer combat. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 25 2009 14:21 PM [Top] Commodore 64 Onslaughts Download Monday [ Nintendo ] WiiWare Onslaught (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen—Animated Blood, Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Onslaught is an FPS that puts you in the middle of a futuristic war between humans and insectoid aliens. Become part of the Elite Interstellar Strike Force and fight against an overwhelming onslaught of alien life forms. Enjoy the rush of mowing down wave after wave of aliens with machine guns, grenades and more. Feel your heart pound as you battle gigantic boss aliens. Beyond the normal game, Onslaught includes additional modes that let you play with rivals from around the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Team up with as many as three other players in Free Battle mode, or compete on special maps to see who can get the most points by killing enemies before time runs out in Ranking Battle mode. (Router and broadband access required for online play. For more info, go to www.nintendo.com.) Virtual Console The Last Ninja (Commodore 64, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older—Animated Blood, Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): The evil Shogun Kunitoki has long envied the powers of the Ninja brotherhood and would do anything to acquire their knowledge. To this end, he has sworn an oath to their total destruction. Once every decade, all Ninja must travel to the Island of Lin Fen, where they pay homage to the Shrine of the White Ninja and receive further teachings from the Koga Scrolls. Seizing the opportunity, Kunitoki summoned forth all the spirits from the depths of the Nether World and flung their full force against the amassed Ninja. None escaped the wrath of Kunitoki. Word of this unnatural disaster soon reached Armakuni, the last Ninja. Gathering all his courage, he has sworn to wreak a terrible revenge on the Shogun and all his followers. What unforeseen hazards await him? INTERNATIONAL KARATE (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): INTERNATIONAL KARATE is a simulation of a karate tournament in which one person can play against the computer or two players can compete against each other. During the game, you'll fly to various locations around the world. In all stages of the game, a wise old judge will watch over you and award you either a half-point or a full point, depending on how successful a hit has been. Pitstop II (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Pitstop II was the first game that brought serious auto racing action to the computer screen—the thrill of battling an opponent, the excitement of fighting for the lead out on the track, and the suspense of struggling to be the first out of the pits. Third-person graphics and a split-screen display allow one or two players to experience the challenge of car racing head-to-head. Six of the world's toughest tracks are waiting, from Brands Hatch and its hairpin turns to the mile-long straight of Vallelunga. You can practice against the computer, but nothing will compare to the fun of racing against another person. Indeed, Pitstop II proves that car racing was never meant to be a solo sport. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 23 2009 12:21 PM [Top] New Overlord: Dark Legend Trailer [ Codemasters ] Designed and developed exclusively for Wii, Overlord Dark Legend is a brand new action adventure steeped in fairy tale lore with sinister, satirical twists. Set in a time before the original game (Overlord, 2007), players step into the role of a new younger Overlord and revel in command of the most vicious, yet lovable little critters in gaming – the Minions. Forming a unique rampaging army, the Minions are a demonic, slavish and loyal horde of imp-like critters predisposed to violence. No matter: they’re always ready and willing to follow even the most suicidal order, whether it’s raiding villages for kicks and giggles or hurling themselves at enemies in the face of kamikaze odds in the beautifully rendered game world. With a story and characters that poke playful fun at fantasy cliché, our trainee tyrant will be able to take his growing pains out on the local fairy tale inhabitants as he protects his castle and lands. • Seize the Power: Donning the armour of the Overlord, players become commander-in-chief of a fighting, thieving and pillaging horde of crazed minions (with hundreds more waiting in reserve) – a force quite unlike any other. Send out your minions to crush rock giants, gnomes, halflings, elves, dwarves, peasants and more. Become a new Overlord, conquer realms and grow your castle from dilapidated ruins to glorious expression of your absolute power. • Pillage and destroy with the Wii Remote: Controlling the minions is slick and devastating, requiring a flick of the Wii Remote to send the raucous rabble into battle. Whether you’re swishing the remote to sweep the horde into battle or pointing it to direct magic spells and fireballs at enemies, the Wii Remote becomes the perfect extension of the Overlord’s despotic will. • Throttle Your Minions: Individual Minions can be plucked from the horde, held by the neck and then, by vigorously shaking the Wii Remote, throttled! This stirs up the volatile lifeforce within them and they become a manic minion missile. With a now-explosive body, the insane little critter can be guided into enemies with hilarious, if rather fatal, consequences for both parties. • A twisted fairy tale: With a rich, tongue-in-cheek story written by award-winning games author Rhianna Pratchett, this exclusive Overlord adventure for Wii tells a new and twisted fairy tale. The lead character is in a Cinderella scenario with his elder and rather unpleasant brother and sister. He is the forgotten child while his father is away, and his wicked twin siblings are plotting to take over the kingdom with their own perverse alliances with elves and dwarves. The story game also introduces wicked witches, gingerbread men and Lil’ Red, the seeming sweet girl with a lupine side to her personality. • Meet the Minions: The Brown Minions are the fighters and the strongest minions in general combat. Red Minions are fire throwers and act like archers by hurling blazing fireballs as a long range attack. Green Minions are the assassins and love to use stealth attacks. Blue Minions are the smartest of the minions and have healing powers and can resurrect their fallen minion comrades and bring them back into the fight. Check out the game's first official trailer, available from YouTube, below. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 21 2009 21:07 PM [Top] Wii Digs Up Spectrobes [ Disney Interactive ] The Spectrobes universe is coming to living rooms worldwide. Disney Interactive Studios today announced Spectrobes: Origins, the next adventure in the top-selling action adventure franchise, appearing exclusively on the Wii home video game console from Nintendo. Spectrobes: Origins will be released in autumn 2009. Spectrobes: Origins brings the successful series to the Wii with a new story that reveals secrets from the past through flashbacks of significant events. In Spectrobes: Origins, players will use the unique Wii controls to explore vast worlds, excavate three-dimensional fossils and unravel an engaging story while discovering the key to preventing a galactic threat. While immersed in the universe as never before, players will fight enemies in large-scale, action-packed battles in real time. Developed by Genki Co., Ltd., and published by Disney Interactive Studios, Spectrobes: Origins will be available only for Wii. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, February 21 2009 20:36 PM [Top] European DSi Launch Announced [ Nintendo of Europe ] Nintendo will launch its new handheld console, the Nintendo DSi, in Europe on 3 April 2009. The Nintendo DSi will be available in black or white and is the thinnest and lightest member of the Nintendo DS family. The console is packed with new features that will excite fans of and newcomers to the Nintendo DS range. There are many ways to have fun with the Nintendo DSi, from creating, customising and sharing photos with friends & family or listening to and experimenting with your favourite music, to playing more than 1000 Nintendo DS games and downloading new Nintendo DSiWare games directly onto your console. The Nintendo DSi also features built-in Internet browsing capabilities, meaning the fun begins the moment you switch it on! Although not mentioned in the press release, retail sources are confirming the DSi will be priced at £149.99. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 19 2009 11:47 AM [Top] EA Announces Dead Space: Extraction [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts has officially released the first details on the previously announced Dead Space spin-off coming exclusively for the Wii. The game, entitled Dead Space: Extraction, will be a prequel to the events of Isaac Clarke's adventures in the original game, taking place on the Aegis VII mining colony, and featuring an all-new female protagonist. What's more, it will be a first-person on-rails shooter, featuring several of the same conventions as the original 360/PS3 title, including Strategic Dismemberment, with new Wii Remote conventions. What's more, co-op will be featured, so you can blast through necromorphs with a friend. EA has also promised this will not be a watered-down experience, and will feature the same amount of violence and scares as the original. Dead Space: Extraction is a co-production of EA Redwoord Shores and Eurocom and will be released later this year. For the first trailer, via IGN, click below. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 18 2009 13:32 PM [Top] Sakurai Returns to Nintendo [ GamesIndustry.biz ] In some of the best news that Nintendo fans have likely heard in a while, the company has announced that Project Sora, the studio headed up by Super Smash Bros. Brawl producer Masahiro Sakurai, will now operate as a Nintendo subsidiary based in Tokyo, Japan. This marks Sakurai's return to the company after leaving in 2003 to seek new endeavors, which led to him teaming up with his former employers (and becoming a household name) with Brawl in 2008. The studio, which now has a staff of 300, has immediately begun work on a brand-new game, described by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata as a "a new experiment, both for Mr. Sakurai and for Nintendo", which will not be a part of Nintendo's Touch Generations series - meaning something for the hardcore. We're excited to see what Sakurai and company can come up with, although it'll probably be a quite a wait before we see anything at all. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 18 2009 12:10 PM [Top] DSi North American Launch Announced [ Nintendo ] Nintendo pioneered hand-held entertainment in the '80s and made it fully mobile with the Game Boy video game system. Now, Nintendo is transforming the way people access, experience, create and share content with the new Nintendo DSi system, the third iteration of the world's best-selling portable video game system. Nintendo DSi launches in the United States on April 5, 2009, at an MSRP of $169.99. The colors available at launch will be Blue and Black. Some features that will be built into the system and ready to enjoy upon purchase include the Nintendo DSi Camera, Nintendo DSi Sound and Nintendo DSi Shop. The most noticeable feature of the slim Nintendo DSi system is its two cameras – one camera is on the external body, and the second one points at the user when the device is flipped open. As the first truly interactive digital camera in a video game system with 10 different interactive "lenses" that can manipulate your photos, the Nintendo DSi Camera offers an easy way to take and share your photos with family and friends. The cameras also present people with unprecedented ways to interact with their games while giving developers a new tool to devise creative games and experiences. If the touch screen gave Nintendo DS a sense of feel and the microphone allowed it to hear, the two cameras give Nintendo DSi the sense of sight. Another enhanced feature is the Nintendo DSi Sound application, which serves as both an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows users to play with their music while they listen to it. Users can access different audio filters or control the pitch and speed of recorded voice or music files to alter voices or change the tempo of a song. The mic is located between the two screens when the device is flipped open, and there is also a stereo headphone output that lets users listen to music saved on an SD card, even with the screen shut. In the world of software, Nintendo DSi will be the platform for the most relevant and fun on-the-go games and applications. The Nintendo DSiWare application will populate Nintendo DSi with software that can be downloaded using Nintendo DSi Points directly to the portable system, just as WiiWare has with Nintendo's Wii console. Developers big and small are invited to create software that makes use of the properties and functions of the hardware. Nintendo DSiWare games and applications will be available at a range of values, starting at 200 points. In addition to downloadable games, Nintendo DSi is able to play games made specifically for the system and sold at retail. The system can also play most Nintendo DS games, and will have access to a library of more than 850 titles originally made for that system. Also on April 5, a new Nintendo DS game, Rhythm Heaven, will join this roster of games available for both Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS owners in the United States. Having sold more than 1.6 million copies since its July 2008 launch in Japan and still increasing sales today, this infectious game challenges players to tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to original music created by legendary Japanese pop-star producer TSUNKU♂. Simple gestures with the stylus combined with fun music and quirky visuals make Rhythm Heaven a completely unique musical experience for players of all ages. Additional features and news of Nintendo DSi will be revealed as April 5 approaches. Images: Nintendo DSi Image 1 Nintendo DSi Image 2 Nintendo DSi Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 18 2009 11:54 AM [Top] Fire Emblem Takes to the Battlefield [ Nintendo ] Nintendo DS system owners take note – the next game to engage your brain has arrived: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. A unique strategy adventure, the game grants players full control over a powerful fighting force in a captivating fantasy setting, putting virtual tacticians to the test as they implement creative battle strategies, improve the skills of their warriors and outthink their opponents on the way to glory and victory. The Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon video game lets players alternate turns with opponents, moving their units to attack enemies on the battlefield and advance to more advantageous locations. There are dozens of units with different weapons and magic spells to wield, each with their own strategic benefits: high-flying Pegasus Knights move effortlessly over varied terrain, Archers can attack from a distance with their bows and arrows, and unarmed Curates use healing staves to help the wounded. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and local wireless play modes, players can now test their skills against opponents, borrow units from others to use in their armies, talk with friends using the built-in Nintendo DS microphone and even use in-game currency to buy rare and powerful items from the Online Shop. Building upon the series' storied history, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon tells the tale of Marth, a young prince with wisdom and valor beyond his age. Marth has appeared in the Super Smash Bros. series and has earned a loyal fan following, but Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon marks his first appearance in a Fire Emblem game in the United States. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 16 2009 13:54 PM [Top] Nintendo Powers Through January [ Nintendo ] Nintendo kicked off 2009 the same way it finished 2008: with a bang. While the video game industry grew by $150 million (12 percent) year-on-year, Nintendo's total sales grew by $300 million in January, offsetting declines on other platforms. Sales of the Wii console in January were up 148 percent over January 2008, with nearly 680,000 units sold, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. Since Wii launched in November 2006, it has sold more than 18 million units in the United States. Sales of the Nintendo DS system in January were also up 99 percent over January 2008, and it once again was the top-selling portable system with more than 510,000 units sold. Since Nintendo DS launched in November 2004, it has sold more than 28 million units in the United States. Similar momentum was witnessed in software sales, with 20 of the top 30 games of January made for Nintendo systems. Of those, five games made for Nintendo systems finished in the top 10 best-sellers of January. These games include Wii Fit at No. 1 with more than 777,000 sold, Wii Play at No. 2 with nearly 415,000 sold, Mario Kart Wii at No. 3 with more than 292,000 sold, New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS at No. 7 with nearly 135,000 sold, and Mario Kart DS at No. 8 with more than 132,000 sold. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 16 2009 12:36 PM [Top] Space Games for Download Monday, Surprise Coming? [ Nintendo ] Before we tell you what's for download this week, Nintendo's got an interesting message up regarding their "Wii-kly Updates:" In other news, the Wii-kly Update has a fun surprise coming soon for all our fans. We can't tell you the secret just yet but maybe we’ll offer you some hidden clues. From AZ to NC, if you’re a fan, your applause could rattle your walls, windows, door. You might enjoy this news whether you live in a brick house or Vanderbilt dorm. Even people living along Route 286 in rural Pennsylvania ought to be excited. It’ll feel like a bunch of birthday greetings and, really, who could ask for more? But that's about all we can say for now, so be sure to check future Wii-kly Updates. What's this about? Who knows...we'll keep you informed. Now for the update: WiiWare Evasive Space (Yukes Company of America, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Launch a one-of-a-kind mission to rescue the stars. The universe is going dark, and it’s up to you, Konki the Stellar Guardian, to set things right. Dr. Dark Matter and his roving band of space thieves have stolen many of the Constellation Stones that make up the heavens. It's time to suit up, power up, recover the Stones and once again bring light to the night sky. Using the Wii Remote controller's unique pointer capabilities, simply point and thrust Konki through 20 dangerous time- and collection-based missions in the harshest of environments. Navigate through narrow, mazelike astral caves riddled with space worms, steam pipes and mining drills. Explore vast space stations while avoiding turret fire, mines and huge crushing gears. Weave through cluttered asteroid fields and gaseous planetary rings. Evade the hazards, pick up precious items and ship upgrades, and save the Constellation Stones before the night sky is lost forever. Virtual Console Life Force (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): This classic shooter, originally ported to the NES in August 1988, is a spin-off of the seminal Gradius series. Pilot the Vic Viper through six stages of intense action, alternating between horizontally and vertically scrolling environments, and take on wave after wave of enemies. Destroy particular enemies throughout the game (which takes place within the body of an enormous alien) to release power-up capsules and equip your ship with your choice of more powerful weapons, extra speed and shields. Utilize the power-ups carefully, though, as a fearsome guardian lurks at the end of each stage and won't be easily defeated. You can go it alone or bring along a friend to take on the challenge simultaneously. Do you have what it takes to save your planet? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, February 16 2009 10:41 AM [Top] Mario & Sonic Head Back to the Olympics [ Sega ] SEGA and Nintendo today announced that two of the biggest video game heroes, Mario and Sonic, will be coming together again, this time taking their rivalry to the snow and ice in another officially licensed Olympic-themed smash hit Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Heading to stores late in 2009 on the Wii home video game system and Nintendo DS, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to Vancouver, Canada, host city of the official 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This gaming experience invites players of all ages and skill sets to face-off in some of the most intense winter competitions available for the Nintendo platforms. Developed by SEGA of Japan, under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to lifelike Olympic venues where they can choose from a legendary cast of playable characters, including new faces to the series to be revealed later this year. Following the phenomenal worldwide popularity of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, this fresh gaming experience will feature completely new Olympic Winter Games events from the official competition schedule including Alpine Skiing and Speed Skating with more events announced throughout the year. Tailored to the specific system controls, Nintendo DS and Wii gamers will enjoy completely unique experiences thanks to each platform having its own specific gameplay features and modes. Players of all skill levels will enjoy the intuitive controls of both the Wii and Nintendo DS systems, in both single and multiplayer gaming modes. The Wii game will offer an even richer multiplayer experience offering co-op and competitive gameplay where the Nintendo DS brings an intense competitive element using the Nintendo DS wireless capabilities. Additionally, one of the new features to be found in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the inclusion of the Wii Balance Board which can be used in some events featured in the Wii version, allowing for a more interactive and realistic gaming experience. Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is again licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 12 2009 19:09 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces New Wii Title - Kensax [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu magazine gave new details on one of Nintendo's newly-announced games for the Wii, Kensax. Unfortunately, this game seems to drive towards more of the casual style, or perhaps more of the completely unusual. Kensax is a game driven around search engines, as players try to find words with greater hit values, as use them to gain points in a multiplayer vs. mode. Players will initially be able to choose from 3,000 words, but they can go online to update their word counts and their hit values. The game is set for a Japanese release later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, February 12 2009 17:58 PM [Top] WayForward's New Game Headlines Download Monday [ Nintendo ] WiiWare LIT (WayForward Technologies, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older—Violence, 800 Wii Points): Dark creatures have taken over Jake's high school, and it's up to you to guide him through each classroom in order to be reunited with his girlfriend Rachael. Existing light sources must be used smartly to create bridges of light for Jake to cross. One false step and Jake gets pulled into the darkness. Along the way he'll encounter twisted versions of his school's faculty, which must be battled in order to advance. LIT is a horror/puzzle game that requires the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. It contains 30 levels, five boss battles, replay modes and several unlockables, including multiple endings, Dark Mode timed challenges and an unlockable character. Virtual Console Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS (SEGA GENESIS, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Violence, 800 Wii Points): Following a rash of terrorism outbreaks and increasing opposition from guerilla fighters, the U.S. government has decided to hire a group of professional mercenaries to undergo secret missions, battling through enemy lines to go where no ordinary soldier would dare to go. Based on the popular arcade game, the SEGA GENESIS version of MERCS lets you play as a MERC and also adds an original mode, allowing players to choose from five different characters. Take no prisoners as you shoot, drive jeeps and tanks, and clash against huge bosses to accomplish your mission. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 9 2009 14:50 PM [Top] LEGO Goes to Battle on DS [ Warner Bros. Interactive ] Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are teaming up with The LEGO Group to deliver LEGO Battles for Nintendo DS, a videogame based on classic play scenarios in evergreen themes that include LEGO Castle, LEGO Pirates and LEGO Space. Produced by TT Games, developed by Hellbent Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, LEGO Battles pulls three LEGO themes together to create a unique extension of the LEGO build-and-play experience that stays true to the customization and humor that are the foundation of LEGO videogames. LEGO Battles offers a new kind of “build and battle” LEGO gameplay. Through six distinct story lines, players build their own LEGO bases and battle teams as they engage in over 70 different levels, mixing and matching units to create the ultimate customized LEGO squad. These unique LEGO battles teams see pirate swordsmen fighting side-by-side with wizards and aliens; dragons battling ninjas; and pirate ships launching broadsides against spacecraft and knights! Players can also challenge friends on the battlefield in multiplayer mode through wireless DS multi-card play. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, February 4 2009 15:03 PM [Top] First Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings Details [ LucasArts ] Lucasarts has revealed the very first details behind the anticipated video game excursion for the legendary Indiana Jones, the Staff of Kings for Wii and DS. As expected, the Wii Remote will be used for full control over Indy's whip, although there will be gunplay and melee weapons used as well. Apart from being a third-person action game, Staff of Kings will also feature other forms of gameplay, including battles in Nazi tanks, taking to the sky in biplane dogfights, rafting down raging rivers, and even racing giant elephants. What's more, the tank and biplane battles can be unlocked for four-player multiplayer skirmishes, and there will be co-op play as well featuring a new character to the Indiana Jones universe. However, that's not even the best part. LucasArts has announced that the classic PC adventure game Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, released in 1992, will be unlockable in the game. This alone is making this game look to be a must-buy for Wii owners when it releases this Spring. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 3 2009 20:06 PM [Top] Dead Space Rises on Wii [ IGN Wii ] While the majority of Electronic Arts' third quarter earnings call was lacking in surprises, EA dropped a bombshell at the end when it revealed that one of its biggest new franchises was heading to the Wii. Dead Space, the survival-horror space opus that rocked the PS3 and 360 last year with tremendous shooting gameplay and a horrifying atmosphere, will be seeing a release sometime in the near future. What's more, that won't be all: EA CEO John Riccitiello has confirmed that since Wii is the market leader, it will receive increased emphasis from the company in terms of content. Whether or not this means more of EA's biggest franchises (Burnout? Battlefield? Mirror's Edge?) remains to be seen, but we'll certainly keep our eyes open. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, February 3 2009 19:08 PM [Top] Snowboarding, Sonic, and LONPOS for Download Monday [ Nintendo ] WiiWare Snowboard Riot (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): This snowboard racing and battle game can be enjoyed by multiple players and is compatible with the Wii Balance Board accessory. In an intense scramble for first place, guide your character down the slopes while snatching up items to attack and defend against rivals along the way. Up to four players can battle and participate in various ranking modes via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. LONPOS (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Looking for a puzzle game that anyone can play, but still offers plenty to master? Look no further than LONPOS, with its straightforward premise and large variety of puzzles to solve. Each puzzle revolves around a rectangular playing field of 55 spaces. Using a set of 12 pieces, the goal is to place every piece into the playing field, filling it completely. The higher the level, the more pieces you'll need to fit correctly into the playing field. Challenge yourself with two single-player modes or bring a friend to compete against or cooperate with. When you think your skills are worthy, use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to check out how you compare with other LONPOS players or download additional puzzles and backgrounds. (Router and broadband access required for online play. For more info, go to www.nintendo.com.) Virtual Console Sonic Chaos (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Play as Sonic or Tails in Sonic Chaos, which was originally made for the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM. Dr. Eggman (a.k.a. Dr. Robotnik) has stolen the Red Chaos Emerald to create nuclear weapons. This has thrown the remaining Chaos Emeralds off balance, causing them to transport to a parallel universe. As a result, Sonic's home, South Island, is sinking into the ocean. Speed through various levels in your crusade for the six Chaos Emeralds. Perform Strike Dashes and Super-Peel Outs as Sonic, or Spin Dash and Fly as Tails, and restore order in Sonic Chaos. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, February 2 2009 15:01 PM [Top]