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Today's Special Archives: March 2005
News Archives Index
Japanese Sales Figures (3/27) [ Media Create ]
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With the release of new colors for the Nintendo DS last week in Japan, Nintendo truly showed Sony what they can make happen with just a few shades of the rainbow. The DS sold nearly thirty thousand more copies last week than the week before. While the PSP's sales did not fall, the release of new colors seems to always be a sure thing for Nintendo to spike up their handheld hardware sales. New colors will be released in North America sometime after E3. It is likely we will not get the same colors as them but our own unique bold colors. Hit the links to check out the numbers.
Sales Charts:
Software Sales 3/27
Hardware Sales 3/27
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 23:29 PM
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The success of the first five NSA Training videos has lead Ubisoft to extend the series another five episodes. Even though Chaos Theory has already released across all platforms, Ubisoft wants to continue to show the doubters of the game even more of the cool new moves. Unlike the first sequel to the acclaimed series, Chaos Theory is an entirely new and different game which has brought it high acclaims from many print and online publications. Our resident Splinter Cell guru (Marlow) will surely be picking this one up and we'll make sure to beat him with the "cruelty whip" so he writes you guys his impressions and a review. Hit the link to watch it in any browser or right click and save it to your computer.
Video:
Splinter Cell 3: NSA Training Video Part 6 (14.6 MB)
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 23:29 PM
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Nintendo Releases Tentative Zelda Boxart [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo has released a tentative boxart for the new Legend of Zelda game for GameCube. The game is supposedly due to release sometime this Holiday season (2005) for Japan and North America with a European release date early in 2006. The release of this boxart, although not finished (it's missing a title and a rating) comes without shock, as Nintendo stated at the Game Developers Conference a few weeks ago that there would in fact be more updates about the new Zelda game before it's true unveiling at E3 in May. Nintendo also stated that a finalized boxart would be released closer to the release date of the game. Whether that means this is truly just a quick mock up for E3 purposes and the final boxart will be completely different is a mystery. For now, enjoy the awesome boxart!
Images:
The Legend of Zelda Tentative E3 Boxart
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 23:29 PM
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First Details of WWE Day of Reckoning 2 [ THQ ]
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Earlier today at a special press event to promote the upcoming WWE Wrestlemania 21 PPV in Los Angeles, THQ revealed the first look at the hotly anticipated sequel to last year's smash hit WWE Day of Reckoning. Entitled, nicely enough, WWE Day of Reckoning 2, the game will feature a similar story mode from the first game making use of the game's Create-A-Superstar feature. However, this time around the story mode will be much deeper, making use of branching pathways and a story crafted by the actual writers of WWE's "Smackdown!" program. The grappling and striking system will remain unchanged, for the most part, but the game will have no more emphasis on button mashing - things such as kicking out of pins or submission tugs-of-war will be more strategy-based and less about buttons - players will use the C-stick to either make their opponent submit or be pinned or enhance their own stats. The game will also feature highly-enhanced graphics, an enhanced stamina system, and a roster of 45 wrestlers, including such current names as Triple H, Batista, Kane, Booker T, and Chris Benoit, as well as legends such as Hulk Hogan, Mick "Mankind" Foley, and the Ultimate Warrior. WWE Day of Reckoning will release exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube this fall, and we'll definately give what looks to be an incredible WWE experience a full rundown at E3 in May.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 22:14 PM
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Space Invaders Revolution Receives Legendary Help [ Taito ]
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Taito has announced that Tomohiro Nishikado, the legendary creator of Space Invaders, is personally overseeing the project to create the upcoming Space Invaders Revolution for the Nintendo DS. The game, published by Rising Star Games, will feature 20 different locations and 60 different stages, including a "New Era" mode which allows players to blast aliens around the world in levels that often have special conditions. Space Invaders Revolution will be released for the Nintendo DS in Q2 of this year.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 17:46 PM
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Zelda DS to be Four Swords? [ Gamespot ]
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According to Gamespot, retail sources in Japan have confirmed that the inevitable DS Zelda title will be, as rumored, a Four Swords game. Obviously, this game will make use of the DS's strongest features such as the wireless multiplayer, but such things as touch-screen inventory and online play would be absolutely incredible. No info yet on the game, but we'll be sure to see (and hopefully play) what's sure to be a huge DS title come E3.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 17:23 PM
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To go along with yesterday's announcement of the official release date of Dance Dance Revolution with Mario, Nintendo has also announced the official Japanese release date of the latest Mario sports title, Mario Baseball. The Namco/Nintendo co-production will release on July 21st, and will feature a 1-player challenge mode where players guide a team against other squads, a multiplayer versus mode, Trophy mode (for multiplayer tournaments), plus various mini-games. No word yet on a US release date, but we'll be sure to check this title out at E3, and you can rest assured that GameCube Café will have nothing but the best coverage on this and all Nintendo titles on both our site and our upcoming DVD.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 17:08 PM
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According to Gamespot by way of Japanese gaming site Dengeki Online, the new colored Nintendo DS systems in both black and white have been flying off shelves at a rapid pace. Sales of the DS doubled this past week from 21,000 to a whopping 54,000 units, thanks to the new colors released on March 24th. Nintendo will release the system in two more colors - blue and pink, in Japan on April 21st. No word yet on a U.S. release date on the colored DSes, but we expect to hear something by E3. To find out how the increased DS sales faired against Sony's PSP juggernaut this week, tune back in later tonight for the official Media Create sales numbers.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 17:01 PM
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The updates went smoothly and are complete. You can now expect normal performance again.
AJ Henderson
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 15:53 PM
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Over the next 12 hours, there may be periods of slow server response or down time on GameCube Café's server and related services. (These include the website, forums, e-mail, irc.gccafe.com and several other services hosted from the server being updated.) We are currently working on backing up our systems and updating to the latest windows server service pack. In theory everything should go smoothly, but we felt it was best to alert you of the potential for problems.
AJ Henderson
IT Director
GameCube Café
aj@gccafe.com
AJ Henderson
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 14:53 PM
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Following the launch of Nintendo DS in Europe on 11th March 2005, the new hand-held console is proving to be a phenomenal success with European gamers having snapped up over 500,000 units by Easter Saturday – that's 77% of the consoles that were in stores across Europe for launch. Many stores have reported they are out of stock however more deliveries are being made to replenish stocks.
Games sales have also been outstanding with Super Mario 64 DS alone having sold over 250,000 units and sales of WarioWare Touched! are also extremely strong.
"The launch of Nintendo DS in Europe has been a huge success. European gamers have embraced the Nintendo DS and have left no doubt that it is the new must have console! Nintendo set out to create a new way of hand-held gaming, offering an innovative and enjoyable experience and with the new Nintendo DS, we have certainly accomplished this. With many more great games launching soon, sales of Nintendo DS will just keep growing," says Jim Merrick, Senior Director of European Marketing for Nintendo.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 10:21 AM
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Thanks again to Nintendo Power, we have the very first screens from the upcoming DS strategy game Zoo Tycoon. Based on the hit PC game, Zoo Tycoon will allow players to own and run their very own Zoo, and control every aspect of it, from placing animal cage locations and other attractions, making sure the guests are happy, and of course, avoiding the occasional wild animal on the loose. Zoo Tycoon will be published by THQ for release on the Nintendo DS later this year, and we hope to take a look at this game at E3 come May.
Images:
Zoo Tycoon DS Scan
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 5:17 AM
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Namco Announces Rebelstar Tactical Command for GBA [ Namco ]
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In Rebelstar Tactical Command, the year is 2117, and Earth is under the control of the evil Arelian Empire. A band of rebels has risen to wage battle against the Arelians. Four distinct play modes include campaign, skirmish, hot-seat multiplayer and multiplayer link mode. In hot-seat multiplayer mode, a replay option lets players review the opponent’s last turn.
The game’s RPG elements allow players to develop unique characters and relationships and control individual soldiers. The game also boasts stealth skills, a variety of weapons, and destructible environments where players can strategically use the lines of sight rules to their advantage – or to their opponent’s disadvantage. Namco will release this futuristic turn-based strategy game this August for the Game Boy Advance, and we'll be sure to give the title a full rundown come E3 time.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 5:11 AM
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Dancing With Those Happy Feet [ Midway ]
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Continuing its trend of signing deals for kid-friendly games, Midway has announced they have come to terms with George Miller, the visionary filmmaker behind such movies as Babe and The Witches of Eastwick, to create games based on his upcoming film, Happy Feet. The film features the voice of Elijah Wood as a penguin with a horrendous singing voice, yet a true love of tap dance - I'm not making that up. The film will release in November of 2006, but there was no word on platforms, genres, or release dates announced for the games.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 31 2005 0:07 AM
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Mario Petitions for New Walk of Fame Category [ Nintendo ]
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He starred in dozens of video games. He proved himself a more bankable celebrity than either Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise. Now Mario, the biggest star in video game history, moves to his next challenge: requesting that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce create a new Interactive Entertainment category for its world-famous Walk of Fame. The category would honor video game characters and their creators, who provided millions of fans with billions of hours of immersive entertainment.
"Video games are a huge part of the entertainment industry," explains George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Revenues from the video game industry routinely equal or top revenues from the film industry's U.S. box office. That's how big we are."
"I spent my whole life chasing stars," says Mario. "And now my fans want to give me one? Woo-hoo!"
The Hollywood Walk of Fame now honors entertainment legends from areas as diverse as Film, Recording, Radio, Television and Stage. A new Interactive Entertainment category would recognize the enormous contributions of video games to the entertainment world and make the Hollywood Walk of Fame accessible to new generations of fans.
You can view the petition, and its more than 3,300 signatures here.
Images:
Mario Rides Along Hollywood Blvd.
Mario Walks the Walk in Front of Grauman's Chinese Theater
Mario With LA Mayor Johnny Grant
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 30 2005 18:50 PM
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Believe me when I say this... this may very well be the weirdest thing Nintendo has ever done. Click the above link to go to a new official Nintendo DS site all about the joys of touching, including videos, images, and, if you're a Nintendo.com member, a chance to obtain your own mannequin hand to submit your own stuff to the site. Remember kids, don't listen to your parents... touching is good.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 30 2005 14:25 PM
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Nintendo has announced that the latest in the Advance Wars series, Advance Wars DS (known as Famicom Wars DS: Battle for Omega Land in Japan), will be released in Japan on June 23rd. The game will be the latest in the ongoing Advance Wars turn-based series, this time making use of both the touch screen and wireless multiplayer. US gamers will have to wait until October 9th to play the game, however, the title will more than likely be shown off at E3 next month, so you can expect our full impressions of the game then.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 30 2005 14:11 PM
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DDR With Mario Japan Release Date [ Konami ]
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Nintendo and Konami have jointly announced that Dance Dance Revolution with Mario will be released for the Nintendo GameCube on July 14th in Japan. The game will have the classic DDR feel but to keep the game fresh and free from being the same old bore as past DDR games, Konami has spiced it up with the Nintendo Difference; adding Mario and company. DDR with Mario will likely release in North America sometime during the holiday season this year. This surely will be at E3 and we will definitely be making asses out of ourselves for your enjoyment (none of us DDR but we will simply for humor value).
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 30 2005 12:04 PM
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Create Pocket Picassos With Your DS [ Nintendo ]
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The touch screen of Nintendo DS has created a legion of pocket Picassos. Around the world, artistic Nintendo DS owners have contributed to image galleries that capture the temporary art they created using the system's built-in PictoChat chatting and drawing program. PictoChat was designed to send wireless messages between Nintendo DS owners, but users are turning the touch-screen into a high-tech canvas. Some of the images show simple scenes, while others depict video game and comic book characters in great detail. A variety of galleries can be seen at online fan sites like ndsart.net or in the discussion boards of nintendo.com.
"The creativity shown by these artists illustrates the innovation and new thinking Nintendo DS was designed to inspire," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Nintendo DS fires the imagination with its dual screens -- a touch screen to create the art and a second to display it."
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 30 2005 11:58 AM
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Ubisoft Rides and Dies: Updated With Screens [ Ubisoft ]
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Ubisoft has released more information on their upcoming car battle game, 187: Ride or Die. Revealed at last year's E3, 187 is a racing combat game with a decisively urban theme and look with West Coast gang influences. The game will feature voices from actors Larenz Tate and Noel Gugliemi, as well as rapper Guerilla Black. 187: Ride of Die will release for the Nintendo GameCube on August 30th.
Images:
187: Ride or Die Screenshot 1
187: Ride or Die Screenshot 2
187: Ride or Die Screenshot 3
187: Ride or Die Screenshot 4
187: Ride or Die Screenshot 5
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 29 2005 18:25 PM
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Will takes a look at Donkey Konga 2; will it be as good as the first? Head inside to see what he thinks about the sequel to the hit bongo game.
Will Szwagiel
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 29 2005 16:47 PM
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In Donkey Konga 2, performances are graded by how accurately players drum along to the rhythms shown on the screen. In Street Performance mode, players play for DK Coins. The better their performances, the more coins they earn. Coins are spent at the Shopping Mall to purchase expert-level music, alternate sound sets for the DK Bongos controller, and mini-games at the Shopping Mall. The Music Lab features two new mini-games. In Challenge mode, players must match a set performance score to move on to the next song, with the ultimate goal of playing every song in the game in one sitting. Battle mode pits two players against one another to see who can achieve the higher score. Hitting strategically placed POW blocks will lower opponents' scores, and there’s a drum roll contest for bonus points as well. In Jam Session, the more the merrier – up to four players can grab DK Bongos controllers and go bananas!
Images:
Donkey Konga 2 Character Art 1
Donkey Konga 2 Character Art 2
Donkey Konga 2 Character Art 3
Donkey Konga 2 Character Art 4
Donkey Konga 2 Screenshot 1
Donkey Konga 2 Screenshot 2
Donkey Konga 2 Screenshot 3
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Monday, March 28 2005 23:56 PM
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June Forecast Calls for Flurry of Nintendo Games [ Nintendo ]
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If you need a graduation present, a Father's Day gift or a summer travel diversion this June, Nintendo has you covered. A flurry of five new games will keep video game players of all kinds busy, no matter which of the three Nintendo video game systems they own.
On June 13, Nintendo will release the rainbow-rampaging Kirby: Canvas Curse for Nintendo DS, the gyro-sensor-enabled Yoshi Topsy-Turvy for Game Boy Advance SP and the diamond-dazzling Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball for Nintendo GameCube.
On June 27, Nintendo will release the planet-puzzling Meteos for Nintendo DS and the clearly haunted Geist for Nintendo GameCube.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Monday, March 28 2005 23:35 PM
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Mario Delivers Walk of Fame Proposal to Mayor [ Nintendo ]
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You may remember a few weeks ago we posted a story about a petition to put video game characters on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Since then, the petition has garnered over 3,000 signatures from gamers who have voiced their opinions, and the proposal is now ready to be presented to Johnny Grant, Mayor of Los Angeles.
Video game giant Mario will appear in Los Angeles to deliver the proposal to create a new Interactive Entertainment category on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. The new category honoring video game heroes would supplement the current Walk of Fame categories for Film, Television, Recording, Stage and Radio to allow the stars of interactive entertainment to receive stars on the Walk of Fame. The proposal will be given on Wednesday from 9-10:00 a.m. Pacific time. We'll provide full coverage as the events unfold.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Monday, March 28 2005 23:32 PM
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You love Yoshi. I love Yoshi. Yoshi loves you. Yoshi's got a new GBA game. Watch as Eric takes Yoshi Topsy Turvy for a spin.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 28 2005 21:33 PM
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Today a Califonia court ruled in favor of Immersion for the amount of $90.7 million in damages against Sony for the patent infringement of the Dual Shock controllers on its Playstation and Playstation 2 home console units. The courts ruled that in additon to the money damages Sony owes that they are to cease selling both the Playstation consoles as well as over forty games in North America. However, Sony was granted a temporary stay of injunction while their appeal is processing. If the appeal is denied and the original ruling is held up this will cripple Sony in the home console market until their next console hits around 2006 (minus the Dual Shock controllers of course).
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Monday, March 28 2005 15:47 PM
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Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat [ Reviews ]
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Carl finally gets to fulfill his year long dream of beating off with DK. Find out if DK satisfied him enough to want to come back for more.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Saturday, March 26 2005 0:47 AM
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According to this article from the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, the hotly-anticipated Mario Kart DS will be coming to the system much sooner than expected, in June. Also, the game will not only feature 8-player wireless play, but will be one of the first DS titles to support online wi-fi compatibility. While no confirmation has come as of yet from Nintendo itself, we'll keep everyone posted, and look for our full impressions of the game at E3 2005.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 25 2005 20:42 PM
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Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshots [ Sega ]
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A few weeks ago at the Game Developers Conference Sega announced their new game Shadow the Hedgehog for all systems. They also showed a hot trailer for the game as well. The game seemed to take all the aspects everyone liked about the classic 3D Sonic games as well as adding a few new special extras to the game. Not much info was released about the game but we can expect this game to be playable on the show floor of E3 in May. That means you, the reader of the Café, will get to see hot gameplay trailers of the game as well. For now we have the first ever official screens. Hit the links to check them out.
Images:
Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshot 1
Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshot 2
Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshot 3
Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshot 4
Shadow the Hedgehog Screenshot 5
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Friday, March 25 2005 9:21 AM
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Japanese Sales Figures (3/20) [ Media Create ]
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This week had a lot of new entries in the top ten software sales with only Dynasty Warrior 5 and Tales of Eternia making it back. Donkey Konga 3 made a strong showing its first week out in Japan. The PSP also continues to hold onto the number one spot this week but the Nintendo DS is still carrying its own and well ahead of the PSP as far as total sales numbers go. Hit the links for the charts in the new and easy to read format.
Sales Charts:
Software Sales 3/20
Hardware Sales 3/20
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Friday, March 25 2005 8:44 AM
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Atlus announces Snowboard Kids DS [ Atlus ]
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According to a teaser site you can reach by clicking the above link, Atlus is bringing their popular Snowboard Kids series to the Nintendo DS. Supposedly, the first info on the game is set to be revealed in this month's issue of Nintendo Power. We'll keep everyone posted and have our full impressions of the game when it is probably shown off at E3 this year.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 25 2005 3:17 AM
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Shadow the Hedgehog Official [ Sega ]
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Sega's made Shadow the Hedgehog official, and it's coming to GCN, PS2, and Xbox. Shadow will have to go through 50 unique missions (wow, 50) and collect an arsenal of weapons, vehicles, other objects along the way. Shadow is caught between Dr. Robotnik, the G.U.N. Army, and aliens. Shadow may be the element that can tip the scale between good and evil. Is Shadow just an android created by Dr. Eggman, or is he original suffering from amnesia? Or is the truth even more sinister? Gamers will be able to play through multiple routes and have multiple endings affected by critical decisions at every stage of the game. Sega says gamers will have ultimate control over his past, with the ability to rewrite history time and time again.
Shadow the Hedgehog is due for a release at the end of the year.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Thursday, March 24 2005 15:35 PM
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This EB Games listing for Kirby DS doesn't seem to reveal anything new at first, but take a look at the page's title bar. According to it, the brand new Kirby game for the DS (called Kirby's Magical Paintbrush in Japan) will be called Kirby Canvas Curse. No official word on the title yet from Nintendo yet, but it's safe to assume this is somewhat official. More info to come, and we'll have impressions of the game at E3.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 24 2005 14:03 PM
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Near a mercenary stronghold in Crimea, a kingdom on the continent of Tellius, a soldier named Ike rescues a woman he discovers to be the princess of Crimea. She reveals to him that the neighboring Daein kingdom has invaded, and she must travel to Gallia, home to the half-man/half-beast demihumans. War spreads across the continent as Ike and his swords-for-hire fight to protect the princess and confront headlong the racial tensions and prejudices that have torn a rift between humans and demihumans. As they fight, they learn the true reason for the war, as well as the mystery behind the very creation of their divided world. Fire Emlem for GameCube will be released in Japan next month (April 20th). It scheduled to release in quarter two for North America. Hit the link below to watch the awesome movie.
Video:
Fire Emblem GC Trailer (9.2 MB)
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 24 2005 4:22 AM
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Datel Announces New Action Replay Device for DS [ CodeJunkies ]
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Datel, the company behind the Action Replay line of game-enhancement (read: cheating) devices, has announced plans to release a new Action Replay for the Nintendo DS. Called the Action Replay Duo, the device will plug into the Nintendo DS's GBA port, and can support both DS and GBA titles on the unit. The device is also compatible with the original Game Boy Advance and GBA SP units. The device should be released in a few weeks, but no specific release date or price was announced.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 16:18 PM
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Vivendi Universal has announced that they have purchased Radical Entertainment, developer of such previous GameCube titles as Simpsons Road Rage, Simpsons Hit & Run, and The Hulk, as well as the upcoming Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Also announced was another upcoming Radical project: Crash Tag Team Racing, which it can be assumed will be a racing title in the same vein as Crash Team Racing and Crash Nitro Kart (although it already sounds like a ripoff of Mario Kart Double Dash), and is presumed to be coming to the GameCube as well (in the fall). Look out for more info and full coverage of all of Vivendi's GameCube titles when the Café hits E3 2005 this year.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 16:13 PM
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Silicon Knights Finds a New Partner [ Sega ]
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Since Silicon Knights' apparent falling out with Nintendo, it became a major question as to where the developer would go next to publish its games. That answer came today when Sega announced they will partner up with Silicon Knights to develop a new franchise for next-gen consoles, which will be published and distributed by the former console maker. This is not a buyout, however, as Silicon Knights will still remain an independent developer. Also, no word on if the "new franchise" is in fact the long-delayed Too Human, but hopefully it is, and hopefully it's coming to Revolution.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 16:00 PM
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More SCIII Rumors Than You Can Shake a Stick At: UPDATED [ GameCube Café ]
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It came to my attention today that the new Game Pro magazine just coming out features the first screenshots of Soul Calibur III. Now, not only is this game PS2 exclusive (which to be fair, the arcade does operate on PS2 components), but has three new characters and a create-a-fighter mode. While the magazine is the "May 2005" edition, I'm not quite buying this yet. I don't know when Game Pro does their April Fool's joke every year, and I haven't heard of one from the issue prior to this.
I've been doing some digging around the internet, and this is what I can surmise. While I saw a couple of crazy "Xbox exclusive" bits, most things seem to strongly suggest that SCIII will be coming out this October on all three consoles and each will again have their own exclusive character. This seems more plausible to me. In an interview with Namco producer Hiroshi Yamaguchi going around, he mentions that for Devil May Cry 3, they let Capcom style a boss battle in the style of the Soul Calibur battle system. In return, he almost flat out says Danté may appear in the PS2 version (better than Heihachi if you ask me).
Take from all of this what you will. Me, I'm waiting for E3 and am thinking we may have a year-end release for Soul Calibur III. Hey, maybe us Cube-goers can get Ganondorf this time?
UPDATE: Looks like it's official, kids. Namco officially announced today that Soul Calibur III is in fact a Playstation 2 exclusive. Perhaps they wanted to go with the system with the bigger fighter userbase. Or Sony probably just paid them a crapload of cash. I prefer the latter explanation.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 0:57 AM
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NBA Goes Non-Exclusive [ NBA ]
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The NBA has announced it will remain a non-exclusive license beginning in October 2005, and has signed deals with 5 companies to provide its games: Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Sony, Midway, and Atari. This goes against the exclusivity deals signed by Electronic Arts for the NFL, and Take-Two for (at least partially) Major League Baseball. All companies will be allowed to produce their NBA titles without restricition. It's good to see a major pro sports company decide to allow various companies to make games for them, rather than go to the highly-limiting route of exclusivity.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 0:44 AM
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EA has announced that they have tapped John Millius, a noted writer in the movie industry who as worked on such films as Apocalypse Now, Conan the Barbarian, Jaws, and Dirty Harry, to write the latest console title in the Medal of Honor franchise, called Medal of Honor: European Assault. Millius is supposedly a huge military history buff, and looks to make the latest Medal of Honor title as true to form and realistic as possible. Medal of Honor: European Assault will be released for all consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube, this summer, and will be doubtlessly shown off this year at E3.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 0:39 AM
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The Pac is Back [ Namco ]
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Namco has announced that, in celebration of the 25th birthday of everyone's favorite gluttonous incomplete circle, they will release Pac-Man World 3 for all consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube, this fall. Pac-Man World 3 will be a 3D plaformer where Pac-Man must do battle with the evil Irwin, and his army of ghosts, while teaming up with some ghost friends himself. Expect the game to see release this fall, and expect more on this game with the arrival of E3.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 23 2005 0:26 AM
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Mario Party Advance Screens and Character Art [ Nintendo ]
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Mario Party Advance takes all the fun of the home console game and puts it in your hands as a fun-filled single-player experience! Hop in your car and hit the road as you travel through Mario Party World, solving mysteries and meeting new people along the way. As you complete quests, you’ll play dozens of new mini-games – including Duel games that can also be played by two players – and earn coins to buy Gaddgets, the unique trinkets and toys designed by Professor E. Gadd. Mario Party Advance ships on Monday to the US.
Images:
Mario Party Advance Screenshot 1
Mario Party Advance Screenshot 2
Mario Party Advance Screenshot 3
Mario Party Advance Character Art 1
Mario Party Advance Character Art 2
Mario Party Advance Character Art 3
Mario Party Advance Character Art 4
Mario Party Advance Character Art 5
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 22 2005 11:52 AM
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Kill Dracula for the eight billionth time... but this time with TWO screens (or touch him in his naughty places, you sick degenerate)!
Chris Hofer
-- Posted on Monday, March 21 2005 23:30 PM
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From the same Nintendo Power that gave us our first looks at Goldeneye: Rogue Agent and Age of Empires II for the Nintendo DS, we have our first look at Shogun Warrior, published by Namco. Shogun Warrior is a real-time strategy game for the DS where players must guide their armies to conquer feudal Japan, making use of both military tactics and diplomacy. And hey, you can even hire ninjas! The game will feature touch-screen minigames and wireless multiplayer for up to 16 players. Check out the first look below.
Images:
Shogun Warrior Scan
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 21 2005 22:47 PM
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Getting a Bit Dark In Here... [ Majesco ]
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Majesco has announced their first game for next-gen consoles, which is a game based on the popular comic book "The Darkness". Developed by Starbreeze, the game will combine 3rd person adventure gameplay with 1st person shooting, as well as single, multiplayer, and online play. No word on platforms yet, but hopefully this title will see its way to the Revolution. We also hope to see more (and possibly get our hands on) this game at E3.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 21 2005 21:06 PM
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Is Nintendo's new baseball series going to matchup with the likes of MVP 2005 and the other recently released baseball games? Mike tells you what to expect.
Mike Twomey
-- Posted on Sunday, March 20 2005 21:41 PM
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Nintendo Reveals Tracklist for Donkey Konga 2 [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo has released the tracklist for the upcoming Donkey Konga sequel, Donkey Konga 2. Here's your first look at the songs you'll be bongo-ing to soon.
Habanera
The Minute Waltz
Donkey Konga 2 Theme
Trepak
Rock The Boat
Why Don't We Fall In Love
Hit 'Em Up Style
Full Moon
Send The Pain Below
Born Too Slow
High Roller
Predictable
The Anthem
Come Clean
Pieces
Drive
Wish You Were Here
No More Drama
Trouble
La Bamba
Boombastic
It's Been Awhile
Road Trip
Sidewalks
I Don't Want To Know (If You Don't Want Me)
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
Unpretty
Headstrong
U Don't Have to Call
Contact
All Star
Losing My Religion
Shiny Happy People
Of course, none of these songs will be performed in the game by the original artists (except for the Donkey Konga 2 theme, of course). Donkey Konga 2 will be released for the GameCube on May 9th.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, March 19 2005 16:48 PM
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Thanks to scans and info obtained from Nintendo Power by way of GamesAreFun, we have obtained new information on games coming out for the Nintendo DS, as well as an update on Nintendo's online plans. Confirmed games in production are Baten Kaitos DS, Xenosaga DS, Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, Age of Empires DS, Pac & Roll, Shogun Warriors DS, and, according to this scan, and revealed for the first time, Katamari Damacy DS! Also, according to this scan from the magazine, it has been confirmed that Nintendo is currently working with noted gaming site Gamespy in getting the DS online. We can also confirm information on two of the games - Goldeneye: Rogue Agent DS will feature wireless multiplay for up to 8 players, and Age of Empires DS will feature it for up to 4 players. Check out the first scans below taken from the magazine for the first look at both Age of Empires DS and Goldeneye Rogue Agent DS, and expect full coverage of these and all DS games when E3 arrives this May.
Images:
Age of Empires DS Screenshot 1
Age of Empires DS Screenshot 2
Age of Empires DS Screenshot 3
Goldeneye: Rogue Agent DS Screenshot 1
Goldeneye: Rogue Agent DS Screenshot 2
Age of Empires/Goldeneye Info Scan
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, March 19 2005 16:36 PM
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According to CommanderBond.net, EA has now confirmed that legendary actor Sir Sean Connery will be returning to the role that made him immortal (and that he made immortal in return). EA's From Russia With Love, based on Connery's second Bond outing in 1963, will feature the likeness and voice of Connery, in his first return to the role since 1983's Never Say Never Again. Sir Sean will reportedly record his entire voice track in the Caribbean some time in the next few weeks.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Friday, March 18 2005 19:02 PM
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Japanese Sales Figures (3/13) [ Media Create ]
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PSP sales in Japan have finally hit the one million mark with the Nintendo DS well on its way to the two million mark. With the release of DS in Europe last week it will have sold around six million units worldwide by the end of the month. The PSP is set to release next week in North America and the race will really finally begin.
You might be wondering right now where the charts are and why there are links below. Well, after almost three years of doing charts the same way I decided to finally actually make real charts. If you click the links you will see a nice and neat format for the sales figures. Now you can easily look at the numbers and tell whats going on instead of having to study them for ten minutes to understand them. Yes, I realize I should have done this ages ago, but most of you know I don't like change. However, that is not the reason for the Soul Calibur II layout still. We had Webmaster problems and design problems for the new layout. Rest assured the new layout is like ninety five percent done and will be up shortly. It's totally kickass.
Sales Charts:
Software Sales 3/13
Hardware Sales 3/13
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Friday, March 18 2005 4:18 AM
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Hello all. I'm Jason Burkey, the latest addition to the staff. I was referred to this site four months ago by a friend and instantly fell in love with its charm. Well, recently I was given the opportunity to write reviews for this prestigious site, so I accepted the offer. I'm a game player of fourteen years who specializes in adventure and Role Playing Games, but I don't stop there. I find it hard to find games I just can't put down. I'm a big fan of the MegaMan series, specifically the Zero series. I'm a big fan of Video Games and I hope my reviews are helpful to you all.
Jason Burkey
-- Posted on Friday, March 18 2005 1:55 AM
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Square-Enix has announced Slime Morimori Dragon Quest 2, the sequel to the Japan-only GBA title from two years ago, for the Nintendo DS. The game features Slime, the mascot character of the popular Dragon Quest series, as he adventures across the land making use of his elastic body to defeat enemies. No release date was announced for either Japan or the United States.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 18:20 PM
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Majesco Reveals New DS Titles [ Majesco ]
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Majesco has announced today that they are working on two more titles for the Nintendo DS - Texas Hold'em Poker and ATV: Quad Frenzy. Texas Hold'em Poker, sequel to the GBA title from last year, features the ability to play against up to 10 computerized opponents, and also features wireless multiplayer for up to 6 players and touch screen controls. ATV: Quad Frenzy, sequel to the GBA title ATV: Quad Desert Racing, will feature more than 40 different tracks, wireless multiplayer, and touch-screen upgrading. No dates were revealed for either title, but we'll be sure to learn more when E3 rolls around.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 18:15 PM
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Ubisoft Confirms New Titles [ Ubisoft ]
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Today Ubisoft has released a list of the games that are upcoming in 2005 and 2006. Rainbox Six: Lockdown has been confirmed that it will in fact be coming to Cube (read or preview for it below). Some big things to note is that Ubisoft will be making a basketball game titled AND 1 but sorry to say, it will NOT be coming out for GameCube. Ubisoft is currently working on another installment of Ghost Recon for all systems. They are also turning Peter Jackson's King Kong into a game for all systems as well as working on Prince of Persia 3 for all systems and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within for the Nintendo DS. Those titles are listed right now as being released this Fall. For early 2006 they have confirmed that a new Splinter Cell game will be released as well, which means they are more than likely working on it right now. There is a high probability that all these games will be shown off at E3 and the Café will have media for all them!
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 17:39 PM
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It was kind of a mystery if Lockdown was going to come to Cube, but with Ubisoft officially announcing it is today, we can safely put up our awesome preview for it.
Mike Twomey
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 17:23 PM
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Yeah, what can I say, Ubisoft likes to release a lot of media for their hit games. One thing is for sure, they have convinced me that this game will be so cool that I have no choice but to pick it up and play the hell out of it. I played the other Splinter Cell games and just couldn't get past the control scheme, but I think for Chaos Theory I can overlook that. This new trailer shows off several locations that you will be going to throughout the game and ends with Sam successfully taking out a group of terrorists on guard very stealth like. This is the trailer that will make you decide to go pick this game up. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory will be released on March 31st. Hit the link below or right click and save it to your hard drive.
Video:
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Official Trailer 4 (22.7 MB)
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 17:18 PM
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You saw what Joe thought of Star Fox Assault, now take a gander at what another long-time Star Fox fan has to say.
Will Szwagiel
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 15:58 PM
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One day at drum practice, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong begin arguing over each other's playing. Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong happen to walk by and see the two embroiled in a heated exchange. Dixie settles the spat by showing off her stunning skills. That's when Cranky comes up with a brilliant idea: It's time for the Kongs to go on tour!
In Donkey Konga 2, performances are graded by how accurately players drum along to the rhythms shown on the screen. In Street Performance mode, players play for DK Coins. The better their performances, the more coins they earn. Coins are spent at the Shopping Mall to purchase expert-level music, alternate sound sets for the DK Bongos controller, and mini-games at the Shopping Mall. The Music Lab features two new mini-games. In Challenge mode, players must match a set performance score to move on to the next song, with the ultimate goal of playing every song in the game in one sitting. Battle mode pits two players against one another to see who can achieve the higher score. Hitting strategically placed POW blocks will lower opponents' scores, and there’s a drum roll contest for bonus points as well. In Jam Session, the more the merrier – up to four players can grab DK Bongos controllers and go bananas!
Images:
Donkey Konga 2 Boxart (without Bongos)
Donkey Konga 2 Boxart (with Bongos)
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 13:01 PM
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Iwata Confirms Revolution Dev Kits [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, in his GDC address, said that development kits for the Revolution would be sent out shortly after the conference. What he didn't say was that "shortly" meant almost immediately. Iwata recently confirmed in an interview that the major game developers and producers now have their hands on development hardware for the upcoming Revolution system. "Development kits are already out there, depending on which stage you're talking about," he told the publication. Based on what Iwata has said, it is safe to assume that development has begun on several games for the next-generation console.
"Working on more intense graphics is not the only path we can take anymore. Simply relying on the sheer horsepower of the machine will not bring the industry a bright future. Whether Nintendo is a winner or loser on Revolution totally depends on how our customers react to it, and since they do not know much about it, I can't respond," continued Iwata. "A year or two from now, it will be interesting to know who ultimately made the right choices. I'm confident we have made the right decisions," said Iwata, in regards to Nintendo's long-term future.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 12:51 PM
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Purchase one of several breeds available at the beginning of the game, then start spending time with your pup. Throw flying discs and balls to improve the pup's agility, bathe it when it gets dirty, and repeat voice commands to train the dog to do tricks. If you train it well enough, you'll excel in dog shows and agility contests, which will earn you money and unlock other items and puppy breeds. When you earn enough cash, you can buy even more puppies to live with yours.
Walking your pup around the neighborhood is vital, as you'll find items and meet other dogs. Over time, your pup's stamina will increase so you can explore farther and farther. You also can interact wirelessly with your friends' Nintendogs – you can set your DS to bark at you whenever another puppy is within wireless range. Nintendogs will be released in Japan on March 21st and later this year in North America (the date has yet to be determined). Hit the links below for awesome wallpaper and three new videos. The videos cannot be saved (they are flash videos) so just hit the link to go straight their location at Nintendo of Japan's site.
Videos:
Nintendogs Trailer 1 (10.2 MB)
Nintendogs Trailer 2 (9.4 MB)
Nintendogs Trailer 3 (10.4 MB)
Images:
Nintendogs Wallpaper 1
Nintendogs Wallpaper 2
Nintendogs Wallpaper 3
Nintendogs Wallpaper 4
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 5:15 AM
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Japan's creation of an Information Self Defense Force is deemed a violation of international law and of their own Constitution and ignites rising tensions between Japan, China and North Korea. Facing North Korean and Chinese blockades of shipping across the Korea Strait, Japan requests US assistance in accordance with American obligations under Article 9 of the Japanese Post War Constitution. Mounting evidence gathered by the I-SDF indicates that the devastation of the Japanese economy on the now infamous ‘Black Gold Day’ may have been caused by intentional Information Warfare attacks. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory will be released for the GameCube on March 31st. Hit the link to check out the new trailer and if you have liked the NSA Training videos keep watch out for five more of them coming in the next few weeks.
Video:
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Trailer (4.3 MB)
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Thursday, March 17 2005 4:59 AM
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Ubisoft Serious About Sports [ AND 1 ]
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Today, Ubisoft, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to make videogames with AND 1, the performance basketball footwear and apparel company best known for its Mix Tape Tour property and its more than 100 endorsers in the NBA. Ubisoft's agreement with AND 1 is the second sports license deal inked since the announcement of the company's entrance into the sports videogame market. Ubisoft recently announced an exclusive licensing deal with one of the world's premier golfers, Vijay Singh.
"Ubisoft is thrilled to be adding the AND 1 license to its line-up of sports videogames. The strength of the AND 1 brand and the creativity Ubisoft brings to the table make this agreement exciting news for the sports genre," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.
Every summer AND 1 hosts the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour, which raises the bar for the brashest and most innovative playground moves ever invented. This summer-long roadshow pits the best players each city has to offer against the AND 1 playground legends such as The Professor, Spyda, Half Man-Half Amazing, AO, Sik wit It, Main Event and others. Held in more than 50 cities around the world each year, the AND 1 streetball events are featured on the ESPN television network series: Street Ball: The AND 1 Mix Tape Tour presented by Mountain Dew.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 16 2005 20:04 PM
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The upcoming April issue of the Game Informer magazine has some great new info on From Russia With Love, EA's next Bond outing based on Sir Sean Connery's second outing as the famous spy. You can watch for our full preview of the game in the next couple weeks, but for now here are some of the juicier tidbits.
-Cars and gadgets will all be true to the 1960s era of the film, with vintage car models and "bulkier" gadgets for Bond to use, including the famous jetpack.
-The final fight of the game will be loosely based on Bond's fight with Rosa Klebb (the crazy Soviet broad with the knife in her shoe), but much more fleshed out and involved.
-Bond will be able to jump into and out his car almost whenever he wants, much like Grand Theft Auto. This, plus other things, allows for non-linear gameplay in which the player is free to choose his own path.
-Sean Connery has lent his likeness to the game, and has reportedly been in talks to supply his voice as well, though nothing official on that yet. Daniela Bianchi, who played Bond's love interest in the film, will also offer her likeness.
That's it for now. Expect much more detail on this game when we give you our full preview, and expect full coverage from the E3 floor. FRWL is expected to land for all consoles later this year.
Images:
Game Informer, April 2005 Issue: From Russia With Love Cover Art
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 16 2005 19:59 PM
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Acitivision Says Game Prices Will Go Up [ Activision ]
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According to a report in the Investor's Business Daily, discussions over pricing of next-generation console games are starting to solidify, with Activision CEO Robert Kotick commenting that the company intends to raise its wholesale prices by $10 for next-generation console software, largely due to the increasing costs of next-gen development.
"We haven't raised prices as an industry in 20 years," Kotick mused in the piece. "Look at the movie business as an analogy. You're not getting any more hours of entertainment, it's the same two hours of a motion picture, and yet you're spending twice as much as you did 10 years ago."
The next generation of software definitely could see a price hike but other game publishers have said that they plan to lower the prices of their games if they were to change the price of software. It looks like the next generation could see prices in a variety of ranges just like the N64/PS1 days. It seemed only too good that game prices weren't set at anything higher than fifty dollars. But with the average gamer age increasing with every year a price raise of ten dollars probably won't effect sales at all.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 16 2005 19:56 PM
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Electronic Arts announced today that Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects under the EA GAMES brand will be released this fall for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox videogame system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube and the PSP handheld entertainment system. The game will feature Super Heroes from the Marvel Universe as well as a new set of characters created through collaboration with EA and top comic book industry talent.
"Marvel Nemesis delivers the definitive Super Hero videogame allowing gamers to play as and against the world's greatest Super Heroes," said Marc Aubanel, Executive Producer, EA Canada. "Marvel Nemesis truly captures the Marvel Universe offering players an authentic Super Hero fighting experience that comic book fans and gamers have been asking for."
EA is calling on the talent of top comic book writers and concept artists, such as Jae Lee, for Marvel character and game design as well as renowned artist, Paul Catling, among other industry talents, to create a new family of Super Heroes that will go face to face with an all-star line-up of Marvel characters for the ultimate showdown. Hit the links below for the awesome screens.
Images:
Marvel Nemesis Screenshot 1
Marvel Nemesis Screenshot 2
Marvel Nemesis Character Art
Marvel Nemesis Comic Page 1
Marvel Nemesis Comic Page 2
Marvel Nemesis Comic Page 3
Marvel Nemesis Comic Page 4
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 15 2005 16:28 PM
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Marketing Blitz Showcases Systems [ Nintendo ]
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An early spring marketing blitz is bringing Nintendo everywhere teens and college students play. From the beaches to the slopes and college campuses in between, Nintendo is targeting teens and is part of the hippest scenes.
"Thousands of teens and college students will have the opportunity to sample, play and enjoy the hottest new Nintendo systems and games," describes George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Nintendo is reaching out to teens and college students, and now they're making us a part of their lifestyles."
Each popular location will have members of the Nintendo Street Team on hand to demo the latest games for Nintendo DS and Nintendo GameCube, as well as a tricked-out Nintendo SUV.
--On the sand: Looking for a way to put those winter blues behind you? Join Nintendo's wild spring break bash. Through March 26, Nintendo will join tens of thousands of partiers as they invade Panama City Beach, Fla. Nintendo's presence will be felt throughout the month at the Boardwalk Beach Resort and at Hammerhead Fred's, which will house Club DS, a showcase for Nintendo DS. Roving teams will take to the beaches to show off the latest and greatest Nintendo products, all while Nintendo sponsors main-stage contests twice a day. For more information, log on here.
--On the go: Nintendo Street Team members also will be at other trendsetter locations and events like South Padre Island, Texas, through March 26, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, from March 16 to March 19, Daytona Beach, Fla., from March 15 to March 31 and the Winter Music Conference in Miami from March 22 to March 26.
--On the slopes: Don't want to leave your favorite games at home while heading to the slopes? No worries. You can try them right on the mountain. Nintendo is the official video game partner of the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships from March 17 to March 20, and the Burton Demo Tour. For more information, log on here.
--On the stage: Looking for a way to get your groove on this winter? Nintendo is sponsoring Taste of Chaos, a 39-city winter music tour featuring six well-known and up-and-coming screamo/punk bands like My Chemical Romance, The Used, Senses Fail, Killswitch Engage, Saosin and Underoath. Attendees can check out the latest, greatest Nintendo games on the concourse. The Taste of Chaos runs through April 2. The first 10 and last five stops of the tour already have sold out. For more information, log on here.
--On campus: Too busy studying to check out the newest video games? Nintendo will bring them to you. Nintendo is a sponsor of the spring TKO Tour, the nation's largest free traveling technology tour visiting more than 120,000 students on 15 college campuses through mid-May. The Nintendo Street Team will be on site demonstrating games, plus the Nintendo DS and Nintendo GameCube will be featured in the tour's high-tech Ultimate Dorm Room display. For information about the tour, log on here.
--On the road: Nintendo will be a part of the SoBe Beverages Love Bus Tour. Six large SoBe vehicles outfitted with Nintendo video game kiosks will tour the country from March 17 through October to show off Nintendo games at some 500 sports, music and lifestyle events.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 15 2005 16:09 PM
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Do you know whether Zigzagoon is an appropriate choice to defeat Regirock in a head-to-head Pokémon battle? If so, you're the kind of person that Nintendo is looking for. The brains of North American Pokémon fans will be put to the test as thousands compete to see who knows the most about the ever-popular Pokémon phenomenon.
To celebrate the upcoming launch of the new Pokémon Emerald video game for Game Boy Advance SP, the Pokémon Emerald Frontier Battle Brain contest invites Pokémon experts in the United States and Canada to test their knowledge against their fellow Pokémon geniuses. The top 14 Pokémon competitors will travel to Seattle (the Emerald City) to engage in an all-out, winner-take-all competition to win the trip of a lifetime: a trip for two to the Pokémon Park in Nagoya, Japan. Visitors to the Pokémon Emerald Frontier Battle Brain contest site also can enter for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Seattle to watch the final battle at the famous Space Needle.
Pokémon Emerald, Rated E for Everyone, will be available on May 1. Starting March 20, when buyers place a deposit for Pokémon Emerald at a participating retailer, they will immediately receive their Battle Gear:
--A VIP card that gives the user online access to an exclusive Web site with unique content.
--A special collector's tin case with enough room to hold important supplies like a Game Boy Advance SP and a Pokémon Emerald game pak.
--An official Frontier Battle Pass, a guide to the new, more challenging Battle Frontier of Pokémon Emerald.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 15 2005 16:03 PM
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Pac-Pix Box Art [ Namco ]
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DS Central got their hands on the box art for Pac-Pix, which is still yet to have a release date. Here is a little bit about the game. Hit the link for the box art. One day a mischievous wizard came up with a mysterious invention called “Ghost Ink.” When something is drawn using this ink, it turns into a Ghost. These ghostly tricksters would then jump into pictures and books, to pull pranks and cause havoc around the world.
Our hero, Pac-Man, has taken his mighty Magic Pen – the only weapon that can defeat these Ghosts, and locked all the Ghosts inside a book. But before he could turn the Ghosts back into the Ghost Ink, he was also captured within the book! You must now take over Pac-Man’s quest to defeat the mischievous Ghosts. Use the stylus to draw Pac-Man, control his movements to eat up all the Ghosts on the screen. Travel from the lower to the upper screen to collect items and accumulate points. Can you bring peace and quiet back to the world with the Magic Pen?
Images:
Pac-Pix Box Art
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 15 2005 1:39 AM
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The Nintendo DS hit shelves in Europe on Friday and we have the first sales numbers for the UK. The DS has become the best selling system for its launch day with 87,000 units sold on Friday. The record was previously held by GameCube surprisingly with 69,000 sales its first day and then Game Boy Advance with 67,000 its first day. The total numbers for the rest of Europe have not been confirmed but it is believed to be around the one hundred thousand range. Surely the Nintendo DS is a huge success in Europe. Keep checking the Café in the weeks to come as we will continue to watch European DS sales.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Monday, March 14 2005 23:20 PM
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When Nintendo said that they would begin to focus more on "non-game games" for the Nintendo DS, they weren't kidding. Nintendo has announced that they are producing new software for the DS - however, it is unlikely that any of these titles could be considered a game. First is DS Rakubiki Jiten, which translates to "DS Easy Dictionary". Users will be able to input characters using the DS touch screen and find their definitions, and the title also includes chat features. Next is Nou wo Kitaeru Otona no DS Training, which translates to "DS Training For Adults: Work Your Brain". This is an educational title that quizzes users in various subjects. Lastly, there's | |
