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Today's Special Archives: March 2006
News Archives Index
Lara Croft Returns to the Cube [ Eidos ]
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Isn't this nice. Just 3 years after Eidos stated they would never support the Nintendo GameCube ever again, they've announced that they are bringing their most beloved franchise over to the system. Tomb Raider: Legend was previously announced only for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PSP, and now Eidos has confirmed a GameCube version of the game is in the works, with all the action, all the raiding, and all the Lara Croft you could ask for. While the previously mentioned games will all hit stores on April 11th, expect the GameCube version to take a bit more time and hit stores after E3 2006. Good to see that some people, even the most unlikely, are giving Nintendo's long-overlooked console a chance.
Update: Looks like that isn't all. In a conference call today, Eidos representatives confirmed the game will be released for both of Nintendo's handhelds as well. Expect more information about the GBA and DS versions as we close in on E3 2006.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 31 2006 17:28 PM
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BioWare and Pandemic Love Revolution [ Gamasutra ]
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One of the biggest surprises with the Revolution has been that developers who were not on board with the GameCube are already dreaming up ideas for Nintendo's latest console. One of the biggest has just come in though, from the recent business merger of two high-profile development studios - Pandemic, developer of such games as Star Wars: Battlefront, Destroy All Humans, and Full Spectrum Warrior, as well as BioWare, the company behind Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire. According to Pandemic CEO Josh Resnick, "The Revolution is a very different platform, and we’ve actually just seen some things behind closed doors that are just mind-blowing. Very very exciting. They’re doing something that’s very different and unique. I agree that it’s going to challenge the notion of just doing a port." Chalk up another high-profile team on Nintendo's next console. Hope we'll see some games soon.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 30 2006 0:49 AM
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IGN has once again delivered some exclusive info on the Nintendo Revolution, and this time it's the info everyone's been waiting for...the initial word on the specifications for the system's CPU, "Broadway", and it's GPU, "Hollywood". However, for those who think they'll be on par with the PS3 and Xbox 360, you may want to keep waiting.
On paper, the Revolution's CPU runs at 729 MHz. This is a little less than twice the power of the GameCube's CPU, which ran at 485 MHz. However, it's, shockingly enough, less than the power of the original Xbox, which ran at 733 MHz. Thus, it goes without saying that the system is a far cry from the power of the Xbox 360, which runs at 3.2 GHz.
As for the system's GPU, things aren't much better. Once again, Hollywood is about twice as powerful as the GameCube's GPU: while the GameCube ran at 162 MHz, the Revolution will run at 243 MHz. Still, that's only a tad faster than the original Xbox, which ran at 233 MHz.
As for the system's RAM, it hasn't changed much since the initial reports late last year. Once again, the system will run with 24MB of internal RAM, and 64MB of external 1T-SRAM, making for 88MB of RAM in total. This is, once again, double that of GameCube (which had 40MB), and better than the Xbox (which ran at 64MB). Still, it's a far cry from the 512MB found in the PS3 and 360.
So, is the Revolution doomed to failure due to its greatly underpowered specs? Not at all. One must remember Nintendo isn't basing this system around graphics, but new, unique gameplay experiences via the system's unique controller. It's also no secret that, time and again, the company has stated that the system will be very affordable, with developers stating the system could be launched at a $149 price range. Combine that with the power of 5 consoles in the Virtual Console lineup, as well as strong third-party support, and you have a system that could make gamers very happy. Not to mention that some GameCube games (RE4, anyone?) look next-gen themselves.
Still, while these specs are all but official, expect Nintendo to drop the bomb at E3 2006, now just about a month away. Get ready...
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 29 2006 23:45 PM
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Iwata Promises Cheap Games and More [ CNN Money ]
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Iwata is making the interview rounds again, this time with CNN Money. In the interview, Iwata states that first-party Revolution titles will not be more than $50, stating "I cannot imagine any first party title could be priced for more than $50." Iwata did, however, say he couldn't guarantee other companies would follow suit (as Nintendo has no control over how their partners price their games). "In the US, we're going to see the next generation cost an awful lot," said Iwata. "I really don't think that there's going to be a lot of acceptance by current customers of the $60 price tag. They may allow that for a limited number of premium titles, but not all."
In addition to a comment on game pricing, Iwata also mentioned that with the USB ports on the Revolution, "practically any storage method can be used." So in addition to 512 Megs of internal flash memory, the Revolution can also use SD cards and presumably external hard drives.
All of this is great news for Nintendo fans, especially ones that don't want to burn a hole in their wallets.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 29 2006 18:29 PM
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Nintendo Adds GBA Games to Player's Choice Library [ Nintendo ]
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For the first time, games from the top-selling Game Boy Advance line will be included in Nintendo's Player's Choice library, a selection of Nintendo video games offered at reduced prices. The Player's Choice library has long offered classic and best-selling Nintendo games at value prices. The inaugural Game Boy Advance titles will be added to the library starting today.
The first three GBA games, available at an MSRP of $19.99, will be Super Mario Advance, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
The Game Boy line remains the best-selling franchise in the video game industry, with more than 188 million hardware units sold worldwide. Game Boy Advance owners enjoy a vast library of nearly 850 games of every kind.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 29 2006 11:10 AM
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While attempting to solve a murder, Harvard professor Robert Langdon and brilliant French cryptographer Sophie Neveu uncover a 2000-year-old conspiracy through clues encoded in paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Da Vinci Code takes you on a heart-pounding non-stop race through Paris and through time to find the truth and protect a secret that could shake the world.
In the game, players will be kept on the edge of their seat with suspense, discovery and survival as they guide Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu on their quest to solve a bizarre murder-mystery and uncover the ultimate treasure protected by an ancient secret society.
Key Features:
- Expands upon The Da Vinci Code universe by giving the player new experiences and locations not visited in the book or the film
- Solve mysteries and puzzles that go beyond anything you have seen or read. Elude danger and stay one step ahead of an enemy that will stop at nothing to protect their secret.
- Combines a unique blend of adrenaline-pumping stealth, frantic chases and combat, diversely cryptic puzzles, and exciting exploration.
- Explore detailed environments and discover hidden clues in world famous locations such as The Louvre, Westminster Abbey, St. Sulpice and more.
- Players must solve a wide variety of challenging physical and intellectual puzzles that will ultimately lead them to the resting ground of the Holy Grail.
- The game will appeal to the hard core fans of the book and movie by offering an experience faithful to the movie. In addition, it will also appeal to gamers who have enjoyed the movie but want new challenges.
Developed by The Collective and published by 2K Games, The Da Vinci Code is scheduled to hit all current gen consoles this May.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 29 2006 10:50 AM
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In a recent interview, Nintendo El Presidenté Satoru Iwata said that a simultaneous global launch for the Revolution was unlikely. When the PS3 and its simultaneous launch was mentioned, Iwata said that since the Revolution is so different from the PS3, and they do not consider it a direct competitor in that regard, that they are not worried about following suit just because the other guys are doing it. Iwata did, however, acknolwedge that the Revolution will be competing with the PS3 to get the dollars of gamers.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 29 2006 1:50 AM
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The young general Yamanouchi Kagetora, intent on avenging his father's death, has revived the most ingenious weapon ever to hit the medieval battlefield: the Odama, a gigantic ball powerful enough to destroy whatever it strikes, friend or foe. Players use the Nintendo GameCube Mic to direct their soldiers out of the Odama's way and into the fray, and prove that they have the skill to back up the power of the Odama. Using giant flippers, players aim the giant Odama ball to bowl over enemies, shatter their defenses and wreak havoc on the battlefield. With the Nintendo GameCube Mic, players command men to charge the enemy, defend positions, seize the enemy gates and much more.
Odama is rated E10 for ages 10 and up and hits stores for the Nintendo GameCube on April 10th. Check out a new gameplay trailer for the game below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive.
Video:
Odama Gameplay Trailer (16.6 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 28 2006 20:56 PM
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Co-written by Zak Penn, the co-screenwriter of the movie X-Men: The Last Stand, and legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont, X-Men: The Official Game immerses players in an original storyline that provides the back-story for the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand feature film. For the first time, the game enables players to truly command the powers of popular characters from the X-Men movie universe by allowing players to assume the roles of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they wield and upgrade their signature powers and maneuver through unique environments designed to showcase their superhero abilities. Assisted by other X-Men characters, players will use an advanced control scheme to master and control the characters as they unleash Wolverine’s combat rage, experience Nightcrawler’s acrobatics and teleportation powers, and glide through the air on Iceman’s ice slide.
The game will also feature the return of one of the most fiendish villains from X2: Lady Deathstryke. You can check out a trio of screenshots, plus concept art of the character below, as well as a new trailer which you can view by clicking the link to view in your browser or saving to your hard drive by right-clicking the link. X-Men: The Official Game is set to hit stores for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS on May 16th.
Images:
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 1
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 2
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 3
X-Men: The Official Game Concept Art
Video:
X-Men: The Official Game "Lady Deathstryke" Trailer (14.9 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 28 2006 3:45 AM
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GCCafé Officially Announces E3 2006 DVD! [ GCCafé ]
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Well it is getting very close to E3 2006, by my count less than forty-five days! My God, where does the time go? It seems like we were JUST going to E3 2005. You may be wondering why we haven't put our little countdown up yet as we had it up like one hundred and twenty days prior to E3 last year. Well, we just sort of forgot, we didn't realize E3 was so close. We should have it up sometime this week as well as a banner for our E3 2006 DVD. That was the original plan for this news article. Yes, we are in fact doing an E3 DVD again this year. Hit the link above and you can read our official press release about our DVD and some of our other E3 plans.
Matthew Silver
-- Posted on Monday, March 27 2006 6:37 AM
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First 4 Figures is proud to announce a three-year licensing agreement with Nintendo for the rights to create statues based on The Legend of Zelda franchise, including characters from the hotly-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
“We will be mainly concentrating on doing statues based on the games The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.”
There are plans for single statues, mixed media statues, and VS dioramas.
The first in the series of statues will be previewed at this year’s upcoming E3 on Nintendo’s stand with product anticipated to come to market the third quarter of 2006. They will be available in collectible and specialty stores worldwide as well as directly at the First 4 Figures website.
They will stand approximately 9 to 12 inches tall and will retail for $80 to $120 for single statues and $200 for high end VS dioramas.
Statues planned for release include Young Link, Sheik, Ganondorf vs Link, and Dark Link from Ocarina of Time, Fierce Deity Link and Skull Kid from Majora's Mask, and Zelda and Link from Twilight Princess. We'll be sure to look for these on the show floor at E3, so look for any media we might come up with for them.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Friday, March 24 2006 13:51 PM
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New X-Men: The Official Game Screenshots [ Activision ]
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Co-written by Zak Penn, the co-screenwriter of the movie X-Men: The Last Stand, and legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont, X-Men: The Official Game immerses players in an original storyline that provides the back-story for the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand feature film. For the first time, the game enables players to truly command the powers of popular characters from the X-Men movie universe by allowing players to assume the roles of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they wield and upgrade their signature powers and maneuver through unique environments designed to showcase their superhero abilities. Assisted by other X-Men characters, players will use an advanced control scheme to master and control the characters as they unleash Wolverine’s combat rage, experience Nightcrawler’s acrobatics and teleportation powers, and glide through the air on Iceman’s ice slide. Face off against villains from both the movie and comic book universes as favorite X-Men allies join forces with the player in gameplay that includes fighting, stealth-style action and time-based missions. Uniquely engineered environments empower players to use different gameplay strategies as they harness their superhero powers and defeat enemies. Players will have ultimate control over their heroes as they improve their superpowers over time through the Mutant Evolution System.
X-Men: The Official Game is set to hit stores for the GameCube, GBA, and Nintendo DS on May 9th. Check out the latest batch of screens of the GameCube version below.
Images:
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 1
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 2
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 3
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 4
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 5
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 6
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 7
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 8
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 9
X-Men: The Official Game Screenshot 10
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 24 2006 1:35 AM
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This is exactly the kind of news Nintendo fans want to hear. Activision has stated that it will publish a version of Spider-Man 3 built specifically for the Revolution. Obvious things come to mind here, such as swinging around or shooting your webshot with the controller. It's nice to see the Revolution garnering this kind of support, rather than companies just not bothering to port their multiplatform games at all. Hopefully we'll see far more from Activision in the future, who apparently has another non-Spidey title in the works for the first couple of months of the Revolution's life.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Friday, March 24 2006 1:20 AM
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Iwata Keynote Transcript and Images [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo has released some images and an official transcript from Satoru Iwata's keynote speech held earlier today at the 2006 Game Developers Conference in San José. Check them out below.
PDF Document:
Complete Keynote Speech Transcript
Images:
Iwata Keynote Image 1
Iwata Keynote Image 2
Iwata Keynote Image 3
Iwata Keynote Image 4
Iwata Keynote Image 5
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 23 2006 21:10 PM
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Today at Satoru Iwata's keynote speech at the GDC, the first Zelda title for the Nintendo DS was revealed. Below is the first video for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Check it out by saving it to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser.
UPDATE: We have now obtained a high-resolution version of the Zelda: Phantom Hourglass trailer. This one is in Windows Media format, so the only way to view it is to download it to your hard drive.
Video:
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Trailer Low-Res (4.7 MB)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Trailer High-Res (12.1 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 23 2006 16:31 PM
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Iwata Tells Developers to Create Bold New Games [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today challenged a crowd of game developers to think differently and take a fresh approach to the creation of video games. During his keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Iwata said Nintendo will provide developers with the tools they need to disrupt the traditional methods of game creation, much as the company already has. These tools include the controller for Nintendo's next home console (code-named Revolution), which lets users control the action on their television screens through the motion of the controller itself. The controller lets game developers create new kinds of gaming experiences, ones that enhance the experience for hard-core gamers while making video games more accessible and less intimidating to novices.
The new forms of innovative software that can be created by any size developer will be made available for download via Revolution's Virtual Console service. "This new approach is like stepping onto an unexplored continent for the first time, with all the potential for discovery that suggests," Iwata said. "No one else can match the environment we're creating for expanding the game experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic." Iwata also announced partnerships with Sega and Hudson to offer downloadable access to their classic games via Revolution's Virtual Console. Revolution owners will be able to relive their past gaming glories from the Sega Genesis console by playing a "best of" selection from more than 1,000 Genesis titles, as well as games sold for the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). These games join Revolution's access to 20 years of fan-favorite Nintendo games from the NES, Super NES and Nintendo 64 eras.
Iwata also revealed for the first time that a new game called The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass would be released for Nintendo DS later this year. Iwata, a game developer himself, revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the development of three key initiatives. For the industry leading Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, internal engineers and developers overcame a series of hurdles to make the system seamless and flexible enough to allow players to choose to play wirelessly either with friends or against unknown opponents. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection reached 1 million unique users in just 18 weeks -- nearly five times the adoption rate of the leading online game console network.
He also described a pivotal meeting in coming to agreement on development of the incredibly popular "brain games" in Japan. A leading Japanese scientist attached a sci-fi-looking wired helmet to a Nintendo staffer and then visually demonstrated stimulation of brain activity as the staffer played prototype software. Finally, he described the hundreds of sketches, dozens of prototypes and company-wide collaboration that led to the final form of the unique Revolution controller system, which resembles a traditional TV remote control. He called the related research and manufacturing costs of the new control system, "...our method to disrupt the market...realizing a new way to connect a player to his game."
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 23 2006 15:38 PM
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Okay, Iwata is still speaking, so I'll make this short. Zelda DS has been revealed. It's in 3D, uses the Wind Waker graphic style, and uses the top screen as a map and the bottom screen to draw the action. The name? The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Stay tuned for more.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 23 2006 15:37 PM
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Namco Bandai announced today that its classic arcade series Point Blank DS, will make its debut on the Nintendo DS in Summer 2006. With stages from all three games in the series being included in the new portable collection, fans of the popular shooting series will have their hand-eye coordination tested, by using the DS stylus as their weapon of choice to shoot down everything from clay pigeons to aliens in the fun mini games of Point Blank DS. A fun and addicting game on the go, Point Blank DS will have players tap tap tapping their way to victory as they take on four different difficulty levels in over 40 different stages including Namco’s popular coin-op arcade series digitized for the first time.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 22 2006 15:01 PM
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An intricate and detailed plotline filled with intrigue, tragedy and excitement can mean only one thing, Final Fantasy has returned. As the undisputed father of the role-playing genre, the Final Fantasy series has spanned over a dozen titles, a movie and a huge range of merchandise. Players can now re-experience one of the most famous games in the series, with improved graphics and added content when Final Fantasy IV Advance launches on the Game Boy Advance on 2nd June 2006 across Europe.
As Cecil, the leader of Baron's elite Red Wings force, the king tasks you to recover the world's most powerful elemental crystals, from other peaceful nations, whatever the cost. However, after questioning these actions you are cast out and soon uncover a sinister plot, which left unchecked could result in the end of life as we know it. With your close friend Kain at your side you must set off on an epic adventure that literally takes you from the depths of the earth to the furthest side of the moon.
This game follows the classic roleplaying genre established by its predecessors. Players must travel the world, visiting towns and dungeons and defeating the hostile creatures they encounter. Friendly characters met along the way provide vital information and clues, which help Cecil unravel the mystery surrounding the king's strange behaviour. Each battle won or task accomplished earns the player experience, earning enough points will cause the character to 'level up' making them more powerful. Players can also upgrade their characters with new and better items and equipment.
If you want to re-experience one of the greatest adventures of all time, or simply want to play an enthralling and innovative role-playing game, Final Fantasy IV Advance is a must-have title. Final Fantasy IV Advance launches on the Game Boy Advance on 2nd June 2006 for the estimated retail price of around £30.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 21 2006 19:16 PM
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Delays for Mario and Big Brain Academy [ Nintendo ]
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Unfortunate news from Nintendo today, as two upcoming high-profile DS games have been delayed, according to the company's press site. The first is the highly-anticipated New Super Mario Bros., the first original side-scrolling adventure starring everyone's favorite plumber in almost 15 years. Fortunately, the delay isn't very harsh: instead of hitting stores on the original date of May 7th, the game will now release a week later, on May 15th.
Another minor delay was also given to another major DS release, that being Big Brain Academy: the second in Nintendo's US releases of the smash-hit Brain Training series. The game was originally set for release on May 30th, but will now release, once again, a week later, on June 5th. Nintendo gave no reason for the delay of both titles.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 21 2006 19:00 PM
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Metroid and Tetris Begin a New Era of Competition [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo's wireless gaming service welcomes two incredible new games that will raise the level of competition to dramatic new levels. Metroid Prime Hunters is Nintendo's first real first-person shooter for Nintendo DS, while Tetris DS features classic puzzle action remixed with retro Nintendo themes. Both games launch today, and both are playable on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service. Together they reinforce Nintendo's commitment to making games that appeal to both hard-core and casual gamers.
"These two games really showcase the range of abilities of the world's favorite new portable game system," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "They will further help drive Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as the hottest Wi-Fi format ever introduced to games."
In Metroid Prime Hunters, the legendary Metroid franchise continues with new hunters, new abilities, new weapons and new alternate forms. With worldwide Wi-Fi connectivity, there's always a band of hunters eager to challenge a player's skills. Metroid Prime Hunters is also the first Nintendo DS game to offer real-time voice chat, letting players talk to one another before and after they face off in a multiplayer match. The chat technology functions much like a two-way radio and lets players intimidate opponents with some friendly trash talk. With this free service, players who have exchanged their Nintendo DS friend codes can converse through Nintendo DS across the Americas. Players must be logged on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to use the chat feature.
Metroid Prime Hunters lets players battle in more than 20 action-packed arenas across seven multiplayer modes, including Battle, Capture, Bounty, Survival, Defender and Nodes, as well as the exciting Prime Hunter mode, where players battle to become the most powerful hunter in the arena. New hunters join the Metroid universe, including Trace, Sylux, Noxus, Spire, Kanden and Weavel, all battling against Samus in both single-player and multiplayer games. Each new hunter has a unique background, fighting style and individual alt forms to match up against Samus' Morphball.
Not to be outdone, Tetris DS includes six modes, each based on a theme from a famous Nintendo character or game. The classic block-building game finds new ways to entertain. Some of the modes make use of the Nintendo DS touch screen. Newcomers and longtime fans alike will find new surprises. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, up to four players compete in two- or four-player battles against friends or strangers. And with just one game card, up to 10 players can clash using DS Download Play.
The wildly popular Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection recently reached an all-time gaming record of more than 1 million unique users worldwide in less than four months. That represents more than 29 million game-play sessions. In November 2005, Nintendo of America's agreement with Wayport brought free wireless access to users at participating McDonald's restaurants in the United States. Since that union, players have connected at almost 6,000 McDonald's locations across the country.
Metroid Prime Hunters is Rated T for Teen and Tetris DS is Rated E for Everyone.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 20 2006 19:36 PM
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Co-written by Zak Penn, the co-screenwriter of the movie X-Men: The Last Stand, and legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont, X-Men: The Official Game immerses players in an original storyline that provides the back-story for the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand feature film. For the first time, the game enables players to truly command the powers of popular characters from the X-Men movie universe by allowing players to assume the roles of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they wield and upgrade their signature powers and maneuver through unique environments designed to showcase their superhero abilities. Assisted by other X-Men characters, players will use an advanced control scheme to master and control the characters as they unleash Wolverine’s combat rage, experience Nightcrawler’s acrobatics and teleportation powers, and glide through the air on Iceman’s ice slide. The Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS versions also offer exclusive X-Men characters to play, and for the first time, use the Nintendo DS touch screen to control the X-Men.
X-Men: The Official Game will hit stores for the GameCube, DS, and GBA on May 9th. Check out the first trailer for the hotly-anticipated game below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive.
Video:
X-Men: The Official Game Teaser Trailer (21.0 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 17 2006 15:12 PM
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New Over the Hedge (GBA/DS) Screenshots and Boxart [ Activision ]
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Based on the highly-anticipated feature film from DreamWorks Animation, Over the Hedge for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance are two unique games that takes players on an interactive adventure beyond the film. Assuming the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle and Hammy the squirrel, players turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their own personal playground. Over the Hedge for the Nintendo DS picks up after the movie ends and adds an all-new storyline in which the characters must figure out how to save their woodland home from being overtaken by a new housing development. Over the Hedge for Game Boy Advance closely follows the storyline of the movie and allows players to experience the adventures for themselves.
Check out some screens of the GBA version of Over the Hedge below, as well as the official boxarts of both the GBA and DS versions. The game will hit stores on May 2nd.
Images:
Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 1
Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 2
Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 3
Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 4
Over the Hedge (GBA) Screenshot 5
Over the Hedge (GBA) Boxart
Over the Hedge (DS) Boxart
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 17 2006 15:07 PM
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New Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshots and Boxart [ Activision ]
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Based on the highly-anticipated feature film from DreamWorks Animation, Over the Hedge is a wildly adventurous game that takes players on an interactive adventure beyond the story seen in the film. Assuming the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk, players turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their own personal playground. Numerous puzzles and mini-games keep fans busy as they switch between two of the four main characters or engage in two player co-op with friends. In an attempt to free captured friends and rob the humans of their beloved food, players master each character’s special moves and learn how to use them to work together. Special moves include: RJ’s “golf ball barrage,” Verne’s “spinning shell attack,” Hammy’s “Hammy time” which allows him to streak around and overcome opponents in the blink of an eye, and Stella’s “stink.” Players move on to gain new abilities that allow each animal to perform advanced combo attacks as well as pick up hidden tools and armor.
Over the Hedge will be released for the GameCube on May 2nd. Check out the latest screens of the game below, as well as the game's official boxart.
Images:
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 1
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 2
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 3
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 4
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 5
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 6
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 7
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 8
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 9
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 10
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 11
Over the Hedge (GCN) Screenshot 12
Over the Hedge (GCN) Boxart
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, March 17 2006 14:57 PM
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New Brain Age Fact Sheet & Info [ Nintendo ]
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Give your gray matter the workout that it needs to stay sharp, focused and young. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day is inspired by a book that was written by Professor Ryuta Kawashima, a prominent Japanese neurologist. His theories revolve around keeping brains young by performing mental activities quickly.
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day is a series of mini-games designed to give brains a workout. Activities include performing simple math problems, counting people going in and out of a house, drawing pictures on the touch screen and reading classic literature out loud.
When users start a new game, they will take a series of tests and get a score that shows how old their brains are. This number is called the “Brain Age.” As they use the software over a series weeks and months, their mental acuity will improve and the Brain Age will drop, indicating a younger, healthier brain. Progress is charted in graph form.
Users can keep up to four save files on one game card. Sharing a game allows them to compare their results with those of family and friends. Users also can send a demo version of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day to friends or compete with up to 16 players in a battle to see who can solve math problems the fastest.
When users first start a new game, they will be given a Brain Age Check that determines the age of their brains. Each day, they can compete for the high score in any activities that they have unlocked. They also can check the age of their brains once per day. The more training they do, the more activities they will unlock. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day is designed to be played in small chunks over a long period of time and can hold data from a year of activity.
If users send their friends a wireless demo or have multiple people playing on one game card using DS Download Play, they can compare their scores to see who has the youngest brain.
The entire game is played with the DS turned sideways to make it feel more like a book.
Activities:
Syllable Count – Count the syllables in well-known phrases.
Reading Aloud – Read classic literature as fast as possible.
Stroop Test – Say the names of colors as they appear.
Word Memory – Memorize words that appear on screen.
Speed Counting – Count to 120 as fast as you can.
Connect Maze – Draw lines to connect letters and numbers in alphabetical and numeric order.
Calculation – Perform simple math problems quickly.
Head Count – Count people as they enter and exit a house.
Triangle Math – Solve math problems in a certain pattern.
Low to High – Memorize the position of numbers, then touch them in order from lowest to highest.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 16 2006 18:01 PM
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Girl gamers and spring fashion fans get their wish on March 27 when Nintendo introduces the latest color in the Game Boy Advance SP palette: Pearl Pink. It's the latest in a line of pink high-tech products designed specifically to cater to the tastes of girls and the people who shop for them. The Pearl Pink version features the recently upgraded screen that displays games in brilliant color. The system will retail at an MSRP of $79.99.
Girl gamers represent a growing demographic. According to a survey by the Entertainment Software Association, 43 percent of video game players are female, while women over the age of 18 represent a greater portion of the game playing population (28 percent) than boys from ages 6 to 17 (21 percent). In addition, a February 2006 survey by Zanthus shows that nearly a quarter (24 percent) of Game Boy Advance SP owners are female.
The Game Boy line remains the best-selling franchise in the video game industry, with more than 188 million hardware units sold worldwide. Game Boy Advance owners enjoy a vast library of nearly 850 games of every kind.
Images:
Pearl Pink Game Boy Advance SP Image
Pearl Pink Game Boy Advance SP Boxart
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 16 2006 0:32 AM
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First, it was rumored by many major Nintendo news sites and magazines. Then, Reggie Fils-Aime hinted at the possibility in an interview. Now, we have confirmation straight from the horses's mouth, as it were. In an interview with Nintendo of Europe, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto was asked how Zelda was progressing. He stated, "I would say that we are progressing well with completing it. And one of the most important features is that, because Revolution can run GameCube software, when you play Twilight Princess on Revolution you can take advantage of the Revolution."
This of course backs up earlier rumors about Revolution features in the new Zelda. No further specifics were given, but you can expect that Satoru Iwata will divulge details about these features when he speaks at GDC next Thursday.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Wednesday, March 15 2006 15:09 PM
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Get set to experience a whole new dimension to the world of Pokémon, as Pokémon Link! the all-new slide action puzzle adventure launches exclusively on the Nintendo DS. Providing an exciting new addition to the Pokémon series, Pokémon Link! is available across Europe on the 5th May 2006.
Featuring over 380 characters from the Game Boy Advance Pokémon video game series, Pokémon Link challenges players to line up four of their favourite Pokémon icons in a row as they drop onto the game screen. Using the Nintendo DS’s stylus and touch screen, players must move the icons horizontally or vertically to join up four of the same type. Once a line is formed ‘Link Chance’ occurs and the icons are cleared from the screen and collected in the players ‘Link List’. By strategically moving Pokémon into certain formations, players can obtain higher scores with a ‘chain reaction’ where icons falling into cleared spaces create further ‘Links’. To help form chains, for a short time after a successful link, a link of three Pokémon instead of four will clear, followed by a link of two.
Further to the sliding puzzle mode, an all-new adventure mode brings this exciting and unique new Pokémon world to life. Fans must guide secret agent Lucy Fleetfoot through this world on a mission to rescue stolen Pokémon from the evil organisation, “Phobos". In this epic adventure she will encounter Pokémon of all shapes and sizes from every previously released game. With four exciting modes to experience and new and exciting visuals, Pokémon Link! will appeal to young and old Pokémon fans alike when it launches across Europe on the Nintendo DS from 5th May 2006 for the estimated retail price of around £30
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2006 20:50 PM
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MLB 2K6 Goes Back, Back, Back, Back... [ 2K Sports ]
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2K Sports has officially announced that the hotly-anticipated MLB 2K6, the only baseball title for every major console officially licensed by Major League Baseball, will be delayed for a couple of weeks to work out the kinks in the game. It was also made official this week that the GameCube version will ship later than the ones for the Xbox and PS2 (bastards), and will ship on the same date as the Xbox 360 version: April 24th. A 2K Sports representative stated the delay was to make sure the game was up to quality standards. Expect more info on the game to be revealed as 2K Sports makes it available.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2006 20:47 PM
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The wait for the interstellar bounty-hunters, and gaming's toughest heroine is finally over as Metroid Prime Hunters launches across Europe on 5th May 2006. This game features touch-screen controls, Wi-Fi game play, a fully-fledged single player 3D first person shooter mode as well as an extensive online multiplayer first person shooter mode. For the first time on a Nintendo DS game, Metroid Prime Hunters include wireless voice chat technology allowing players to talk with friends before and after battle, whilst using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and microphone, wherever they are in the world.
Raised by an ancient alien race, Samus is the galaxy's top bounty hunter, utilising her advanced Varia suit to give her near super-human powers and using an arm mounted cannon to blast her way past any opposition. Now Samus has been hired by the Galactic Federation to recover powerful alien artefacts before deadly bounty hunters get their hands on them. In space there's no law and no back up, Samus will have to use all of her skills to return alive.
Featuring some of the most advanced 3D graphics for a held-held system, playing Metroid Prime Hunters brings you the great graphics seen in Metroid Prime on Nintendo GameCube with the added benefit of it being on a portable handheld system. The vast single-player mode in Metroid Prime Hunters is among one of the most exciting seen on a hand-held console to date and the game can also proudly claim to be the first multiplayer first person shooter to grace a hand-held system. While playing, the fast-paced seamless levels are displayed with perfect clarity on the top Nintendo DS screen, while a map and radar showing enemy locations is visible on the bottom.
The fun doesn't stop there either! You might have proven yourself against intergalactic bounty hunters in the game's single player mode, but there is still much more to experience with the game's expansive multiplayer modes. Metroid Prime Hunters features numerous online and offline multiplayer modes, allowing players to compete locally with friends using the Nintendo DS wireless link and then battle people across the globe thanks to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.
Prepare for the ultimate space mission as Metroid Prime Hunters goes on sale across Europe on 5th May 2006 at the estimated retail price of around £30.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2006 0:09 AM
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Based on the long-running stealth series, Tenchu: Dark Shadow hits the Nintendo DS with all of the fury of the ninja. Utilizing touch screen slashing, Tenchu: Dark Shadow gives gamers the utmost control in killing opponents, as well as delivering some of the best graphics ever seen on the system. The game, developed by From Software, will be released in Japan on April 6th. No US release has been scheduled, but one should doubtlessly be announced soon. Check out a trio of trailers for the game below by right-clicking to save to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser.
Video:
Tenchu: Dark Shadow Trailer 1 (13.1 MB)
Tenchu: Dark Shadow Trailer 2 (3.8 MB)
Tenchu: Dark Shadow Trailer 3 (3.4 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2006 0:09 AM
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This May appearances are going to be deceptive, as Super Princess Peach fires her way into Europe exclusively on Nintendo DS. At first glance Peach definitely looks like a gentle girly kind of girl, with her bright pink dress, long white gloves and sun umbrella. Don't let that fool you though, because when Mario and his friends are kidnapped, Peach sets out to save the day and she means business!
Super Princess Peach is a classic 2D platform game, featuring vividly colourful worlds and enemies reminiscent of those seen in the Super Mario Bros. series. However, Peach has a few tricks up her sleeves thanks to her new Vibe powers. Using the Nintendo DS touch-screen, players can use these abilities to interact with the environment. Joy creates a small cyclone of happiness, which Peach can both wield as a weapon and use to lift herself up to previously inaccessible platforms. When pushed too far our heroine can use her Rage to burn through enemies and wood barriers. She can also use Gloom to burst into tears causing plants to grow and making her invincible. Finally if things get a little too hot players can use Peach's Calm ability to take a time-out to regenerate health.
Super Princess Peach will ignite onto the Nintendo DS across Europe from 26th May 2006 for the estimated retail price of around £30.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 14 2006 0:04 AM
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Shigeru Miyamoto is one of the few game designers that could be easily called a legend. With Mario, Zelda, Starfox, and many more of gaming's most classic franchises under his belt, it was only natural that one day he would receive a high accolade for his years of work. Well, now he has. You can officially call Shigeru Miyamoto a knight.
Well, technically. See, Shiggy wasn't exactly touched by Excalibur in Westminster Abbey by Queen Elizabeth: rather, he was given a much-less cooler award - membership in France's Order of Arts and Letters. Yep, he was knighted in France, you may commence with the jokes. Miyamoto is one of the first three game developers to ever receive the accolade, as he goes into the Order with fellow designers (and native Frenchmen) Michael Ancel (King Kong, Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil), and Frederick Raynal (Alone in the Dark). While it would be certainly awesome to start calling him "Sir Shigeru", that's something still up in the air. Still, we give our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Miyamoto, as he most certainly deserves it.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 13 2006 21:33 PM
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Codemasters has announced that a new Micro Machines game is in the works. Mixing miniature mayhem with maximum multiplayer racing, Micro Machines v4 will arrive packed with knockabout, breakneck racing in the fastest scale miniatures, complete with explosive weapon power-ups. Letting players loose with hundreds of vehicles, each with distinctive performance abilities, they will be racing their inch-long miniature motors on the wildest tracks where everyday household objects appear immense in size and can become lethal hazards.
Sport cars, street racers, stock cars, 4x4s, beach buggies, lowriders and muscle cars are just some of the models gamers will be taking out on the improvised tracks around the house, garden and – for the first time – beyond! Fans of classic Micro Machines games will rejoice in the return of some of the series’ most popular racing arenas. Spin out around the breakfast table littered with cereal spills, tear through the kitchen, turbo boost around the pool table (while avoiding the treacherous pockets), or hit the gas during the drive around the rim of the bath, carefully negotiating the ferocious waters pouring over the edge of the bath.
As well as the familiar feel-good environments, Micro Machines v4 sees the racing world expand further than any previous game. Go beyond the house and garden tracks and discover what it’s like to race across house roofs, in the sewers, through supermarkets, museums and even down to the farm, with its danger-packed chicken coop!
Micro Machines v4 is set to capture the dynamic, fast, fun gameplay of its classic predecessors when it launches in summer 2006 for the Nintendo DS. Check out the first screens of the game below.
Images:
Micro Machines v4 Screenshot 1
Micro Machines v4 Screenshot 2
Micro Machines v4 Screenshot 3
Micro Machines v4 Screenshot 4
Micro Machines v4 Screenshot 5
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, March 13 2006 2:00 AM
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Running a baseball franchise successfully is no easy feat for the general manager; whether it’s scouting the opposing team, looking for new trades and new potential talent, checking up on the overall morale of the team, or dictating the goals each week, this complex puzzle has several types of solutions. This is what makes running a baseball franchise in Major League Baseball 2K6 so entertainingly challenging.
Knowledge is power and that’s very well demonstrated when running a baseball franchise, as players can utilize Inside Edge reports to get the latest information on opposing teams. Players can purchase Inside Edge reports but must be careful to watch their budget. In addition to looking out for other teams, players should also keep tabs on how their team is both performing and the overall attitude of each athlete through the Team Pulse feature. With Team Pulse, gamers can see each player’s attitude and try different things to boost the overall morale of the team, one of which is to hold Team Meetings each week. In Team Meetings, gamers can choose from different types of meeting whether it’s a supportive pep talk, a passionate rally, or even badmouthing each player’s mommas. Lastly, if nothing is working to get the morale boosted up, there’s always trading a player and through MLB 2K6’s Trade Finder feature, gamers can easily find and receive offers from other clubs by dictating specific types of players and trade picks. Running a team successfully is never easy, but it’s always an entertaining ride and Major League Baseball 2K6 delivers the franchise options and features that make it the deepest in any baseball game.
Check out the trailer showing off MLB 2K6's new Franchise Mode below. The game will hit stores for the GameCube on April 10th.
Video:
MLB 2K6 "Franchise Mode" Trailer (4.1 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Sunday, March 12 2006 19:50 PM
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DS Lite Launches Again...And Sells Out Again [ IGN DS ]
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Today in Japan, the Nintendo DS Lite launched for a second time, as due to a manufacturing error only the Pearl White version of the handheld was available at launch. The other two colors, Ice Blue and Enamel Navy, hit stores today in Japan, and like their colorless brother, sold out in mere hours. In fact, according to IGN, demand for the system was even GREATER than it was for last week's launch. Pretty shocking for a system pretty much everyone in Japan already has. Nintendo is still yet to announce a US date for the DS Lite, but it's doubtful that what that system can do will look anything like it does in Japan.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, March 11 2006 1:52 AM
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Miyamoto to Chat Live With Fans [ Webchats ]
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Nintendo has announced that Shigeru Miyamoto will be participating in a webchat with fans. The legendary designer will be participating on Friday, March 17 at 7 PM Eastern time (8 PM CT) on webchats.tv The webchat will be rebroadcast on the same day.
"Mr. Miyamoto will be giving fans the chance to ask him the questions they really want to ask, including ones relating to Nintendo's most recent handheld console, the Nintendo DS, as well as the new types of games that Nintendo are creating such a Nintendogs, Animal Crossing: Wild World and Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?. Fans will also be able to ask about the eagerly anticipated New Super Mario Bros."
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Friday, March 10 2006 9:48 AM
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Underworld Director Handles Hunters Spot [ IGN DS ]
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First and foremost, it should be said that we here at the Café are huge fans of the film Underworld, and its sequel, Underworld: Evolution. Thus, this is some pretty cool news: Len Wiseman, director of the films, is also directing the new TV spot from Nintendo for the highly-anticipated Metroid Prime Hunters. The ad features a gravedigger digging a grave in a futuristic area, when a bounty hunter falls out of the sky - right into the freshly-dug grave. The tagline? "More bounty hunters. More ways to die." Pretty cool. The spot will start airing on March 13th, so make sure you check it out when you can. Metroid Prime Hunters is set to hit stores on March 20th.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 9 2006 21:31 PM
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Since the unveiling of the Revolution, everyone has pretty much assumed that the system would have an optional dongle to play DVDs. Now it may not be so. There has been a discovery in some text from Nintendo's official description of the system:
"Two Disc Formats, One Slot: Instead of a tray, a single, innovative, self-loading media bay will play both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system as well as Nintendo GameCube discs. Owners will have the option of equipping a small, self-contained attachment to play movies and other DVD content."
So could the Revolution see some sort of add-on attachment to play DVDs? Hopefully, we'll find out in May.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Thursday, March 9 2006 21:23 PM
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Upstart game developer Nibris has at least two Revolution projects underway. Both games are in very early pre-alpha form, but look and sound promising. Upstart claims that it has many ideas that they can only bring to life with the Revolution.
The first game, Raid Over the River, also has a DS version in development. Currently Nibris is working with GameCube hardware and is in talks with three publishers about its Revolution projects. Raid Over the River is a vertical shooter that is "easy to learn and hard to master."
The other game by Nibris is called Sadness, and isn't as far along as Raid Over the River. Sadness is described as a gothic horror game that will scare you not with blood, but pure atmosphere. Instead of weapons, you must defend yourself with various objects around you, maybe you'll have to swing a torch or stick, slit a throat, or swing a broken piece of glass.
Raid Over the River might make an appearance at E3 2006, which as always, GCC will be on hand to cover for you.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Thursday, March 9 2006 21:16 PM
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It's easy to tell when your body is out of shape, but what about your brain? International Brain Awareness Week begins March 13 as baby boomers and others are looking for the best way to exercise their brains.
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day for Nintendo DS launches April 17 on the heels of the week designed to increase public awareness about the brain. Users write their answers or draw a picture on the portable Nintendo DS touch screen to keep their "DS brains" young and fit by performing mental activities quickly.
Dr. Elizabeth Zelinski, dean and executive director of University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, says games like Brain Age can help keep older generations of Americans' minds active. "Americans can do a great deal to maintain and even improve their mental abilities," Zelinski explains. "Aging is about taking on new challenges for our minds. Nintendo's Brain Age is a great way to do that."
Americans of all ages are always looking for ways to get a mental edge and Brain Age acts as a treadmill for the mind.
In Brain Age, first-time users take a few tests to establish their DS brain age. Holding the DS like a book, users perform activities like drawing lines to connect letters and numbers in order, counting the syllables in well-known phrases and other brain-stimulating activities. Sharing a game card allows users to compare their results with family and friends.
Check out the latest screens, as well as some photos showing off the the proper way to play the "game" below. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day makes its North American debut on April 17th.
Images:
Brain Age Screenshot 1
Brain Age Screenshot 2
Brain Age Screenshot 3
Brain Age Screenshot 4
Brain Age Screenshot 5
Brain Age Screenshot 6
Brain Age Screenshot 7
Brain Age Screenshot 8
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Brain Age Screenshot 11
Brain Age Screenshot 12
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Brain Age Screenshot 14
Brain Age Screenshot 15
Brain Age Screenshot 16
Brain Age Screenshot 17
Brain Age Screenshot 18
Brain Age Screenshot 19
Brain Age Screenshot 20
Brain Age Screenshot 21
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Brain Age Screenshot 24
Brain Age Screenshot 25
Brain Age Screenshot 26
Brain Age Screenshot 27
Brain Age Screenshot 28
Brain Age Photo 1
Brain Age Photo 2
Brain Age Photo 3
Brain Age Photo 4
Brain Age Photo 5
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Thursday, March 9 2006 21:14 PM
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Pangya Japanese Site Launches [ Tecmo ]
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The Japanese website for the Tecmo golf game Pangya has launched. The site shows a couple of screenshots from the game, but from the PC version. The Revolution build should look very similar to this, but will most likely use the controller in a swinging fashion of some sort. Pangya is described as a "casual golf game." Pangya for the Revolution will also support WiFi, which is a very welcome addition. Pangya Golf is set to debut at the Revolution's launch. Let's hope Tecmo brings some more games to Nintendo's consoles in the future.
Joe McCollum
-- Posted on Thursday, March 9 2006 21:07 PM
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Multi-directional platform games are very much alive and kicking thanks to the launch of the much anticipated Drill Dozer on the Game Boy Advance. Dig, grind and drill your way to victory in this highly addictive platform game when it launches on 26th May 2006 across Europe.
Following the traumatic loss of his wife, renowned archaeologist Big Boss Doug goes underground and forms a gang of thieves known as the Red Dozers. Sworn to protect the mysterious 'Red Diamond' once belonging to Doug's wife, the Red Dozers are spurred into action when it is stolen. Now Big Boss Doug's only daughter Jill must put down her school books and use all her Drill Dozer piloting skills to recover the lost gem.
In Drill Dozer players must pilot their Dozer robot around six large multi-directional levels, each with multiple stages. Players use their drills to cut through rocks and defeat enemies, which stand in their way. However, the objective of each level isn't as simple as just charging to the goal. On each level players must find different gears allowing their drill to spin faster and cut through harder material, before returning to old areas to solve previously inaccessible puzzles. The culmination of each area pits Jill and her Dozer against a sinister boss character from the Skulker gang. Defeating them will allow the character to progress to the next level.
Drill Dozer launches across Europe on 26th May 2006 for the Game Boy Advance at the estimated retail price of around £29.99.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 7 2006 17:45 PM
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If you like puzzle games you are in for a real treat this year, with the launch of the highly addictive Polarium Advance on the Game Boy Advance. What's more, this game has 365 different puzzles meaning you can challenge your brain with a new one every single day of the year. Polarium Advance launches across Europe on 7th April 2006 exclusively on the Game Boy Advance.
Polarium Advance is a tile based puzzle game, where you must turn reversible black and white tiles to complete identical coloured horizontal rows. However, the twist with Polarium lies in the fact that the player only gets a single stroke. Therefore they must map out an intricate route which flips all the tiles into mono-coloured horizontal lines.
The game's main Stage Mode pits players against a total of 365 puzzles at their own leisure. All of the puzzles are individually dated by the game meaning that players can set themselves the challenge of solving a new one each day of the calendar year. The Daily Polarium setting however, is only a guide - players can complete as many or as few puzzles as they like, unlocking new ones by completing the ones before. Each completed puzzle is automatically added to Polarium Reference Mode, where they are available for selection any time.The fun doesn't stop there either! Owners of the original Nintendo DS Polarium game can share all of their custom puzzles with Polarium Advance using the Password input menu. This game really does have enough tricks up its sleeve to keep even the most avid puzzle fan busy all year!
Polarium Advance launches on 7th April 2006 for the Game Boy Advance at the estimated retail price of around £29.99. With the game coming to Europe, you can expect Nintendo to deliver information about the game hitting North America sometime soon.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 7 2006 17:44 PM
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Nintendo Wi-Fi Hits the Million Mark [ Nintendo ]
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Nintendo's wireless gaming service has hit an all-time gaming record of 1 million unique users, in less than four months in operation.
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection lets Nintendo DS owners log on cost-free to compete or interact in a variety of games, from racing in Mario Kart DS to community-building in Animal Crossing Wild World. The 1 millionth user was a player in Japan, who logged on to play Animal Crossing: Wild World.
"Players are embracing our model of a compelling, safe, easy-to-use wireless gaming service," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "Those 1 million users represent more than 27 million game sessions."
On March 20, two new Wi-Fi-enabled games arrive in the Americas to draw even more players to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Tetris DS brings a twist to the addictive classic puzzle game. Up to four players can compete against friends or strangers, near or far. Tetris DS features multiple modes themed with retro Nintendo characters and music.
Also launching March 20, Metroid Prime Hunters features competition using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, but players get an added bonus: the ability to chat with one another before and after battles, using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Players can use this Metroid chat feature to agree on match parameters and to relive their battle glories. This riveting first-person shooter lets players choose from a variety of characters and weapons, with extensive replay options.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, March 7 2006 17:37 PM
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UK retail site Gameplay.com recently began showing an interesting listing, for Star Wars: Shadow Strike for the Nintendo DS, for release May 26. The game, if it exists, is to be published by Ubisoft, possibly developed by the team that gave us the Episode III game. No other information is available at this time, but we'll be sure to keep our eyes open and let you know of any further developments on Star Wars: Shadow Strike.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Monday, March 6 2006 19:55 PM
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Imagine a lineup with Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, and Miguel Tejada. Picture a pitching rotation of Dontrelle Willis, Billy Wagner, and Roger Clemens. Now envision all the different styles of play, the crowd chants, and the excitement of baseball on an international level as it becomes realized by the World Baseball Classic, one of the most highly anticipated baseball events in baseball history.
The World Baseball Classic is a 16-nation tournament featuring the World's best players competing for their home countries or territories. The tournament will debut in March 2006 and gamers will be able to experience this milestone event exclusively in the World Baseball Classic mode in Major League Baseball 2K6. As the only major league baseball video game to feature the World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball 2K6 catapults baseball fans into all of the excitement of this new event with updated rosters and all the unique World Baseball Classic jerseys for each team, faithfully replicated into the game, delivering a unique international taste to baseball. For pride, for country, and for baseball, the World Baseball Classic is just another exclusive feature found only in Major League Baseball 2K6.
Check out the trailer showing off the game's WBC mode below. MLB 2K6 hits stores for the Nintendo GameCube on April 10th.
Video:
MLB 2K6 "World Baseball Classic" Trailer (4.7 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Sunday, March 5 2006 22:49 PM
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The latest in the Mega Man series is making its way to the Nintendo DS. Playing as either Van or Ale, a pair of super-armored heroes, battle through numerous levels, using the Nintendo DS touch screen to find weaknesses and hidden areas. The game promises to bring back the classic Mega Man action we know and love. The trailer below is cam footage, so don't expect the best quality, but it still gives a good idea how the game will turn out. Mega Man ZX has not been set for a US release, but expect future information about the game to come at E3 2006. For now, check out the trailer by downloading it to your hard drive.
Video:
Mega Man ZX Teaser Trailer (8.0 MB)
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Sunday, March 5 2006 22:46 PM
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Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time [ Reviews ]
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What's red and green, has 8 legs, fights crazed mushrooms, and likes to create temporal paradoxes? No, it's not a drunken, mutated, and stoned Michael J. Fox...
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, March 4 2006 22:15 PM
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Animal Crossing: Wild World [ Reviews ]
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Eric takes a trip to Wild World to hang out with some of the oddest looking things ever. Does he survive? Read his review to find out.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, March 4 2006 22:08 PM
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Atlus Brings Super Robot Taisen to US [ Atlus ]
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Atlus today announced the acquisition of the North American publishing rights to Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation and Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 for the Game Boy Advance. Both games were developed and published in Japan by Banpresto.
Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation is scheduled for release in the summer of 2006, followed by Original Generation 2 in the fall of 2006.
"The Super Robot Taisen franchise has been entertaining Japanese gamers for more than 15 years," said Yu Namba, Project Lead of Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation. "We’re very happy to bring this incredible strategy RPG series to the United States for the first time."
Nearly two centuries ago, humanity advanced into space, ushering in the dawn of a new era—the Space Era. But mankind's technological progress came to a near-halt after the devastation and turmoil caused by two meteors that struck the Earth in the early years of the 21st century.
In 179 S.E., a third meteor, Meteor 3, landed near the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. A research team dispatched by the Earth Federal Government discovered that the "meteor" contained technology previously unknown to man. An investigative committee was formed to analyze Meteor 3 and the technology within, which became known as Extra-Over Technology.
Dr. Bian Zoldark, head of the committee, reported to the EFG that the creators of Meteor 3 would almost certainly come to Earth to reclaim their technology. The EFG heeded Dr. Zoldark’s warning, and began the development of humanoid mobile units called Personal Troopers.
Now, the human race watches the skies and waits for an invasion from beyond...
Check out the first screens of the game below.
Images:
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Screenshot 1
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Screenshot 2
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Screenshot 3
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Screenshot 4
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation Screenshot 5
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