Today's Special Archives: April 2008

News Archives Index Rubik's Cube Solved on Wii and DS [ Game Factory ] The Game Factory today announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Seven Towns Limited to publish Rubik’s World, a 3D puzzle game experience for the Nintendo Wii and DS systems, both inspired by the Rubik’s Cube. For those who have always wondered what the inside of a Rubik’s Cube looks like, the Game Factory will deliver Rubik’s World in the Fall of 2008. Designed for players aged eight and older, this otherworldly game will look and play like no other game on the market. A collection of extremely addictive, easy-to-play puzzle games will increase in difficulty as the player delves deeper into this 3D world. Each version of Rubik’s World will host its own unique and original series of games. Players will test their brainpower by constructing 3D shapes and objects, navigating through mazes and even creating their own soundtracks. The DS version will allow players to connect to a community of Rubik’s World enthusiasts through the platform’s wireless connection. The Wii version accommodates up to four players and will feature an online message board. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 30 2008 20:44 PM [Top] Rascals Roll to DS [ Majesco ] Round up the lost residents of Kololo Kingdom and return them home in Rollin’ Rascals, a puzzle game for Nintendo DS announced today by Majesco Entertainment, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market. Developed by Hoget, Rollin’ Rascals challenges players to reunite matching pairs of adorable critters-from pandas to puppies to pigs-by rolling them around obstacles and into each other to clear the game board of pets before time runs out. The animals of Kololo Kingdom have been kidnapped and the only person who can bring them home is you! Featuring endearing round friends with a surprising amount of things to say, Rollin’ Rascals wins players over with multiple difficulty levels across four modes of nonstop puzzle play: Attack, Challenge, Battle and the bonus Kololohouse mode that lets players create their own custom critter dwelling. Players can earn currency in both Challenge and Attack modes, which they can then use to shop for furniture and goods in Kololohouse mode. More competitive gamers can go head-to-head with a friend in the intense Battle mode and be the first to send all of their cuddly creatures home! Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 30 2008 15:30 PM [Top] Rayman Raving Rabbids 3 Coming Soon [ IGN Wii ] Looks like those Rabbids just won't go away. After the success of the first two Rayman Raving Rabbids games, Ubisoft has revealed a teaser video for what looks to be the series' third installment. What's more, the game will apparently make use of the Wii's Balance Board for some added insanity. For the video, click on over to IGN via the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 28 2008 22:17 PM [Top] Prince of Persia Reborn on DS [ Ubisoft ] While the next official Prince of Persia game won't be hitting the Wii, Ubisoft has stated that a brand-new title in the series will be on the Nintendo DS at the end of the year. Here's Ubisoft's official statement on the matter. Ubisoft will also release a Prince of Persia game specifically designed for the Nintendo DS system, featuring an entirely new storyline and new characters. More details to be unveiled in the future. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 28 2008 22:06 PM [Top] Brett Favre Named to Madden 09 Cover [ Electronic Arts ] Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has enjoyed many an honour, but here's one from the realm of the unusual. Favre will be featured as the cover athlete of Madden NFL 09 video game, coming to stores across North America on Aug. 12 from EA Sports. Madden NFL 09 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video game franchises of all time. This year's Madden game will feature more than 85 new features and enhancements, including the all-new virtual trainer tutorial mode. Utilizing a holographic environment, this mode teaches gamers simple concepts about playing football and how to use the controls in quick, and stylized drills. Madden NFL 09 will also feature a new play-by-play and colour commentary team featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 28 2008 21:18 PM [Top] Mario Kart Wii Races to Stores [ Nintendo ] Since the invention of the automobile, kids have pantomimed driving with pretend steering wheels. Since the dawn of the video game age, people of all ages playing racing games have twisted and turned their controllers to steer their vehicles, even though it had no effect on the action on the screen. Now, Mario Kart Wii makes these fantasies a reality and brings a new level of immersion and interaction to video games. The raucous driving game, which launched Sunday, comes packaged with the Wii Wheel steering wheel accessory that houses the Wii Remote controller and lets players steer just as though they were driving a real car. The accessory has been specifically designed and engineered so that even someone who has never played a video game before can pick up the Wii Wheel and start racing instantly. While newcomers will find it easy to hop into a race, Mario Kart Wii holds plenty of challenges to keep veterans busy. Mario Kart Wii features 16 new tracks, as well as 16 retro tracks from previous Mario Kart games. Dozens of characters from the Mushroom Kingdom are present, and each has his or her own collection of customized vehicles to race. For the first time in the Mario Kart series, racers can compete on either motorbikes or karts as they find shortcuts, grab power-ups and take down other racers in a frantic free-for-all. In addition to the Wii Wheel, players can also choose from three other control configurations, such as the Nunchuk and Wii Remote controllers, Nintendo GameCube controller or the Classic Controller, so everyone will find a suitable setup. Four people can compete on a single Wii system, or up to 12 people near or far can race via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's online gaming service. A new Mario Kart Channel on the Wii Menu lets players compete in tournaments, check rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 28 2008 20:53 PM [Top] Just One For VC [ Nintendo ] Double Dragon (NES, 1-2 players, Rated Everyone 10 — Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): Double Dragon begins with Billy Lee's girlfriend, Marian, being kidnapped by a group called the Black Warriors. They demand to know the secrets of Billy's martial-arts style in exchange for his girlfriend. However, Billy won't stand for these underhanded tactics and decides to rescue her himself. Help him fight through city streets, buildings, jungles, temples and various other locations in a quest to find his girl. He'll gain experience by using different fighting techniques to obtain more hearts, which will unlock more powerful techniques to use against his enemies. Keep an eye out for crates, boulders, whips, bats, knives and even dynamite along the way, as Billy can also use them to annihilate opponents. Armed with his mysterious and powerful martial arts, help Billy pummel his way through an array of goons, gang members and other Black Warrior scum to free Marian from their clutches. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, April 28 2008 13:03 PM [Top] Final Fantasy IV Comes to Europe [ Square Enix ] Square Enix today announces that FINAL FANTASY IV will be released across PAL territories in Summer 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS system. FINAL FANTASY IV, one of the highest rated adventure games of all time, makes an impressive return on Nintendo DS. With improved 3D graphics, fully-voiced dramatic cut-scenes, an inspiring remixed score and additional content never before seen, there has never been a better time to immerse yourself in this masterpiece of interactive storytelling. The game that broke the RPG moulds with its innovative Active Time Battle (ATB) system has been revamped, whilst keeping all the charm of the original release. The gameplay benefits from all the Nintendo DS capabilities and allows for a deeper and richer experience of a tale of exceptional heroes, inevitable betrayal, unforeseen redemption, endless love and colossal magic. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 13:53 PM [Top] Upcoming Euro Release Dates, Brawl Launches June 27th [ GoNintendo ] According to our friends at GoNintendo, Nintendo of Europe has finally announced launch plans for many major upcoming titles. The biggest, of course, is Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which finally has a release date of June 27th. In other news, Wii Fit launches April 25th, the Nintendo Channel on May 30th, and the WiiWare service will launch on May 20th. For the full list, head on over to GoNintendo via the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 13:45 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces Record Profits, More Wii Shipments [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has announced record revenues and profits for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. Nintendo posted sales of more than 1.67 trillion yen, an increase of 73 percent over the prior year. Nintendo also reported FY07 operating profits of more than 487 billion yen, a year-over-year increase of 115.6 percent. The company also increased projected shipments of the popular Wii home video game console for the current fiscal year. During the 12 months ending March 31, 2008, Nintendo shipped 18.61 million Wii console to its distributors and retail customers globally, bringing the worldwide total to 24.45 million since its debut in November 2006. For the fiscal year that began April 1, 2008, Nintendo forecasts global Wii console shipments increasing to 25 million. Nintendo also forecasts shipment of 177 million Wii software units for FY08, while the FY07 shipment was 119.6 million units. Through March 31, 2008, Wii enjoys a life-to-date tie ratio of 6.07 games per system worldwide. During the 12 months ending March 31, 2008, Nintendo shipped 30.31 million Nintendo DS systems worldwide, bringing the total worldwide shipment to 70.6 million. By March 31, 2009, Nintendo forecasts shipments of an additional 28 million Nintendo DS systems. Nintendo also forecasts shipment of 187 million Nintendo DS software units for FY08, while the actual FY07 software shipment was 185.62 million. Through March 31, 2008, Nintendo DS enjoys a life-to-date tie ratio of 5.24 games per system worldwide. The company announced a full-year dividend for Nintendo shareholders of 1,260 yen per share (including the interim dividend of 140 yen already paid), 570 yen higher than the annual dividend of 690 yen paid one year ago. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 13:36 PM [Top] Nintendo Plans Mario Kart Launch Event [ Nintendo ] Nintendo celebrates the highly anticipated release of Mario Kart Wii and the companion Wii Wheel accessory with a fun-packed launch party at the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza. Participants can compete in the Mario Kart Wii Challenge for a chance to compete against racing enthusiast and actor Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills: 90210). Excitement will run high as drivers of all ages gather for a sneak peek at the game, plus an opportunity to wrap their fingers around the Wii Wheel, a wireless steering wheel accessory for the Wii Remote controller that makes it easy for anyone to pick up and play. Fans can enjoy Nintendo-themed giveaways and special premiums such as personalized Mario Kart driver’s licenses. Mario Kart Wii makes its official debut in U.S. stores on Sunday April 27, and will be packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory. For the first time ever in the Mario Kart series, players can control their vehicles with a simple turn of the Wii Wheel. The game also introduces a host of new courses, vehicles and eye-popping battle arenas, plus the ability to compete online with drivers from around the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 0:55 AM [Top] Order Up on Wii [ Zoo Games ] Gamers prepare to feast as Zoo Games today announced Order Up!. Developed by SuperVillain Studios, Order Up! is a full-featured cooking and restaurant management video game that promises players a much richer and more entertaining experience by expanding beyond basic slice and dice gameplay. As a promising new chef on the island of Port Abello, players of Order Up! get to build their own culinary legacy and restaurant empire from the ground up. Rising from humble beginnings as a grill cook in a fast food restaurant, the player comes to grips with dozens of different ingredients and many different cuisines, from classic American Diner food, to Mexican and Italian dishes. During this journey, players will deal with the headaches and hazards of running a working restaurant kitchen, picky patrons, quirky assistant chefs, food critics and health inspectors. Order Up! is a deep, fast paced game, full of personality, which promises to push the cooking genre to its limits. Order Up! is expected to release July 22, 2008 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 0:50 AM [Top] New Horror Game from Square Enix [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu magazine has revealed a brand-new survival horror game from an unlikely source. Square Enix, a company far more known for its RPGs, have announced Nanashi no Geemu for the console, which appears to have mystery-based, adventure gameplay using full 3D graphics. The game uses the DS played on its side, and will use the touch screen to point out things of interest. Also, it appears that the DS's wireless capabilities will be used in some way. The game is set to be released very soon in Japan, on July 3rd. We'll have more on the game as it becomes available, including a possible North American release. For now, click below for the scan. Images: Nanashi no Geemu Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 0:47 AM [Top] Sega Destroys the World on DS [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu magazine has revealed a brand-new RPG for the Nintendo DS from Sega, developed by Image Epoch. The game, subtly titled World Destruction, reunites much of the staff that worked on the Squaresoft RPG Xenogears, including a scenario by Masato Kato, character designs by Kunihiko Tanaka, an music by Yasunori Mitsuda. The game is set in a world where monsters reign supreme, and a group of brave humans must band together to destroy the planet as a last effort to destroy the beasts. You play as Kirie, a new member of this organization, who also possesses hidden powers. The game uses a unique art style combining 3D backgrounds with 2D sprite animations (much like Xenogears before it). The game also features a turn-based, timing-based battle system. The game is set for a release in Japan this summer, and we wouldn't be surprised for it to show up on our shores soon as well. Check out some scans below. Images: World Destruction Famitsu Scan 1 World Destruction Famitsu Scan 2 World Destruction Famitsu Scan 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 24 2008 0:38 AM [Top] Prince Caspian Game Features Exclusive Scenes [ Disney Interactive ] Fans of The Chronicles of Narnia will get to experience two unique film scenes only one way — on their home consoles or Windows-based PC. Disney Interactive Studios announced today that two original scenes for Disney/Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian video game were filmed exclusively for the product and appear separately from the film. The unique scenes link The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian stories with Dr. Cornelius (Vincent Grass) telling Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) the story of how Narnia fell to the Telmarines hundreds of years ago. The scenes were shot on the film set in Prague, Czech Republic, during principal shooting and feature dialogue revealing plot based on the events of the book, game and film. The creation of the live action content was directed by Andrew Adamson, the film’s director. The two original scenes are part of 18 live action moments in the game, which include 16 excerpts from the feature film. The England-based game production and development teams worked in cooperation with the London-based film crew and Andrew Adamson to assure the game’s overall accuracy to the film. Capturing two original scenes was only possible through the collaborative partnership between Disney Interactive Studios; and Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media. Developed by Traveller’s Tales, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for Wii takes players throughout Narnia and includes a gameplay level, which is unique from both the novel and the film. The level, which is set between the events of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” and “Prince Caspian,” takes place at the castle of Cair Paravel and tells the story of how Narnia fell to the Telmarine hordes. In “Prince Caspian,” Cair Paravel is seen only as abandoned ruins the Pevensies discover hundreds of years later. The action/adventure game offers gameplay for one or two players on the same system and drop-in/drop-out features, allowing either player to join the game and leave. With combat, exploration and puzzle solving that extends beyond the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the ideal complement to the movie-going experience. The game features more than 20 playable characters including the ability to play as Prince Caspian. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian console game is the sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for consoles, which received the prestigious IGN.com Editor’s Choice Award. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS, which is an action/role playing game, will include the debut of DGamer, Disney Interactive Studios’ innovative new technology that provides a fun, connected game community for Disney video game fans. With DGamer, players earn content, interact and chat with others on Nintendo DS through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or on a computer through the Disney.com website. DGamer will be offered in North America in future Nintendo DS games from Disney Interactive Studios with a future launch scheduled in other global regions. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS and DGamer are being developed by Fall Line Studio, the Nintendo platform-dedicated development studio of Disney Interactive Studios. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 21:08 PM [Top] Key Staff Leaving Retro Studios? [ Shacknews ] Shacknews is reporting that Retro Studios, best known for the legendary Metroid Prime trilogy of games, has lost several key members of its staff. Design director Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and principal technology engineer Jack Mathews have all left the Nintendo-owned developer, having all been "escorted off the premises" last Friday. No reason was given for the departure, but Shacknews seems to think this could mean the three plan to form their own development studio. We'll have more on this when it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 21:04 PM [Top] More WiiWare Details Revealed [ Game|Life ] Nintendo execs Reggie Fils-Aime and Cammie Dunaway stopped by the office of Wired.com earlier today, revealing some choice details on Nintendo of America's upcoming strategy with the WiiWare downloadable game service. Unlike in Japan, where WiiWare games are released in a large quantity once a month, the US will see games released in a more staggered, weekly schedule, much like Virtual Console releases. In addition, the Everyone's Nintendo Channel, which currently allows Japanese Wii owners to check out trailers of upcoming games as well as download Nintendo DS demos to the handheld, will be coming to North America upon WiiWare's release, now renamed the Nintendo Channel. The channel will also have the added feature of allowing Wii owners to post reviews of WiiWare games they have played, to give other players recommendations of games to play. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 20:56 PM [Top] Monopoly Goes to Wii, Collects $200 [ Electronic Arts ] From the EA Casual Entertainment Label, MONOPOLY is reinvented with a party twist! MONOPOLY returns in 2008 with a new way to play the classic Hasbro board game. With a host of current-day cities and landmarks from all over the world, this new version will let players wheel and deal and compete to own some of the most recognized locations on Earth. MONOPOLY is the first console game to launch as a result of the EA/Hasbro alliance. Players can now host the ultimate MONOPOLY party with family and friends to experience classic and global versions of MONOPOLY with digital gameplay. • In this all-new, super-fast version, trade properties and compete in exciting mini-games to see who makes the top of the rich list! • Up to four players can simultaneously join in on the “rags to riches” fun (multi-tap support for PS2). • The most extensive collection of MONOPOLY boards all in one package – from the newest MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition to classic MONOPOLY. • Fill up your passport as you play to unlock new and never-before-seen MONOPOLY boards. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 20:31 PM [Top] New Prince of Persia Coming Soon? [ Ubisoft ] Looks like one of the best franchises of last generation is making a comeback, and hopefully not in in the form of an enhanced port. A hidden page at the Ubisoft website (viewable via the source link) reveals a Prince of Persia-like symbol being slowly engulfed by a murky black oil, which could be a hint on the status of the next Prince of Persia game, rumored for several years. A quick look at the site's source code reveals the words "Ubidays 2008", so we can expect the full reveal to happen at the company's press event set for late May. As for if it will come to Wii, we'll just have to stay tuned. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 13:29 PM [Top] Activision Heads Back to Little League [ Activision ] Activision announced today the upcoming release of Little League World Series 2008 for Wii and Nintendo DS. Players will have the ability to bat, pitch and field using intuitive controls developed exclusively for Nintendo's platforms. Little League World Series is the perfect game to play with your friends and family. The game hits shelves August 5, 2008. Little League World Series is the first officially licensed Little League video game to hit next-generation consoles. Bat, pitch and field your way from local sandlot slugger to Little League World Series Champion. Featuring eight U.S. and eight international teams, extraordinarily deep character customization, World Series Mode, and various skill based challenges, Little League World Series offers an exciting, authentic baseball experience. Motion-sensing controls on Wii make it accessible for Little League players and parents, while the DS version gives players the freedom to get on the diamond anywhere. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 13:15 PM [Top] Get a Free Cab Ride from Mario [ Nintendo ] Video game icon Mario treats unsuspecting New Yorkers to a free cab ride. Mario is in New York to promote Mario Kart Wii, the new Nintendo racing game that features Mario and all of his Mushroom Kingdom buddies. He’s helping commuters race through the city before they get racing with Mario Kart Wii. Mario Kart Wii launches April 27 and will be packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory, which lets players control the action on the screen just like they were steering a real car. The game also introduces a host of new courses, vehicles and eye-popping battle arenas, plus the ability to compete online with drivers from around the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. WHO: Mario, everyone’s favorite Italian plumber, and excited (and grateful) New York commuters WHEN: Thursday, April 24 8-10 a.m. and 12-2 p.m. WHERE: Sheraton Hotel 811 7th Ave., between 52nd and 53rd streets. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 0:47 AM [Top] Mariners Fans Get Free Fan Network [ Nintendo ] Nintendo is giving Seattle Mariners fans a gift at every home game this year: free access to the Nintendo Fan Network. Fans who bring a Nintendo DS to Safeco Field can log on wirelessly to the Nintendo Fan Network to access a wide variety of baseball-related content. Some of the many features include access to player statistics, scores from other MLB games in progress, current team standings, chat with other fans and the ability to compete in trivia and other mini games. Additionally, fans can watch the in-stadium live broadcast video and use the Nintendo DS touch screen to order ballpark food and beverages delivered right to their seats. The Nintendo Fan Network made its debut at Safeco Field during the 2007 season. Thousands of fans tried the Nintendo Fan Network for a minimal fee during the 2007 season trial, but fans attending Mariners home games during the 2008 season can access an even wider variety of features for free, just by bringing a Nintendo DS to Safeco Field. Fans can download the Nintendo Fan Network at one of the two kiosks located near sections 127 and 143 or at one of the 15 download stations throughout the stadium. The Nintendo Fan Network will get an additional workout this week, when the Mariners begin a six-game home stand. Nintendo is always adding new features, so every time fans download the service, they might see something new and experience a whole new way to enjoy the game. Can we start a petition for Nintendo to install this in New Yankee Stadium? Please? Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 23 2008 0:29 AM [Top] Guitar Hero Set to Expand [ Condé Nast Portfolio ] Looks like one of gaming's biggest franchises is set to get a little bigger. In an interview with business magazine Condé Nast Portfolio, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has revealed that Guitar Hero IV will be expanding its instruments, much like its main competitor, EA's popular Rock Band. According to Kotick, "It’s not just about guitars. We’ll include a lot of other instruments, vocals. It will help us expand internationally." Could this mean that Guitar Hero-branded microphones and drum kits are on the way? What will this mean for the Rock Band franchise? And how much is this all going to cost? We'll have more on the fourth Guitar Hero title when it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 22 2008 19:53 PM [Top] Spider-Man Swings Back to Wii and DS [ Activision ] Activision has announced a brand-new Spider-Man game set for the end of the year, entitled Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. Unlike previous Spider-Man games, Web of Shadows will be based entirely on the comic book universe, and will feature a darker storyline. The game will likely retain the series' open-ended aspects, now with the ability to choose the web-slinger's attributes and just how he fights. What's more, players will have the opportunity to decide the game's outcome, based entirely on decisions made throughout the game. The game will be developed for the Wii by Treyarch, who worked on previous Spider-Man games, as well as Shaba Games. For more on the game, including a trailer, click the source link for the official site. The site also has a countdown clock ending next week, when more info on the game will likely be revealed Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 22 2008 19:45 PM [Top] New Harry Potter Game Announced [ Electronic Arts ] EA today announced that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game will be released later this year to coincide with the Warner Bros. Pictures film based on J.K. Rowling's sixth Harry Potter book. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simmering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again. In the game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, players will return to Hogwarts to help Harry survive a fraught sixth year. They will also have a chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Players may even get sidetracked by Ron's romantic entanglements as they journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince. Under development by EA Bright Light Studio, the team behind the worldwide success of the Harry Potter library of games, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is scheduled for release in time for the movie launch this fall for the Wii and Nintendo DS. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 22 2008 14:08 PM [Top] Phantastic New Rescue-Based VC Games [ Nintendo ] River City Ransom (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Suggestive Themes and Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): River City Ransom takes place in River City, where our heroes, Alex and Ryan, find a letter on Ryan's locker from a guy named Slick. The letter says that Ryan's girlfriend, Cyndi, has been kidnapped, and Slick has taken River City hostage with the help of countless gangs and evil bosses. It's up to our heroes to save poor Cyndi and free River City from the clutches of Slick and his underlings. You can play as Alex and take on the challenge alone or battle with two players simultaneously as Alex and Ryan. Kick and punch to fight your way through gang members, evil bosses and other goons, or use a variety of weapons including a chain whip, brass knuckles and a tire, to name a few. Raise your stats by eating right, and gain new techniques by reading books. With your fighting prowess and never-ending spirit, the bad guys won't know what hit them. Phantasy Star III Generations of Doom (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): As Rhys, the crown prince of the Orakian kingdom of Landen, you are engaged to be married to Maia, a woman from a rival kingdom. But Maia is kidnapped on your wedding day, setting you on a quest filled with twists and turns that will reintroduce you to people and places from previous Phantasy Star games. This epic spans several generations of characters, and your choices will dramatically impact the way the story unfolds, which makes it a great game to play all the way through more than once. In Phantasy Star III, things aren't always what they seem-check it out and watch the mysteries unfold. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, April 21 2008 12:21 PM [Top] Super Smash Bros. Brawl [ Reviews ] You may have heard of this one. Eric has the final word on if Brawl lives up to the enormous expectations. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 21 2008 1:51 AM [Top] Mario Kart Wii [ Previews ] The Mario Kart series heads to the starting line with the latest Wii installment. Eric takes a look under the hood to see if the game has what it takes to get the checkered flag. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 21 2008 1:33 AM [Top] Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Assets [ LucasArts ] The Star Wars saga continues in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, a videogame developed by LucasArts, which casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice” and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In it, players will assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi – and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. • Learn the secrets of Darth Vader and his Jedi-hunting Secret Apprentice in an all-new storyline that bridges the gap between the Episode III and IV feature films. • Hunt down Jedi masters created just for the game and all new enemies, such as the Force-sensitive Felucians and the junkyard droids of Raxus Prime. • Relive classic Star Wars duels or create your own unique rivalries with the all-new Duel Mode, exclusively for the Wii home videogame system from Nintendo. Challenge your friends and experience all the thrill and intensity of The Force Unleashed in unique fighting game-style combat designed for players of all skill levels using a multitude of characters from The Force Unleashed and the rest of the Star Wars universe. • Tap, touch, and swipe your way through enemies using the Nintendo DS stylus and touch-screen to create seamless lightsaber and Force power combos. • Unleash the Force in five all-new missions not available on next-generation platforms designed to give players added insight into the Secret Apprentice and his dark motives, including an epic battle through the ruined Jedi temple on Coruscant. Check out some screenshots, art, and a trailer of the hotly-anticipated title below. Images: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 1 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 2 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 3 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 4 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 5 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 6 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 7 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Screenshot 8 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Artwork 1 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Artwork 2 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Logo Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Boxart Video: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Trailer (15.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 2:43 AM [Top] Kung Fu Panda Assets [ Activision ] In the Kung Fu Panda video game, players embark on an epic, action-packed adventure as they master the specialized Kung Fu fighting styles of Po the Panda, the unlikely hero, his teacher Shifu, and the legendary Kung Fu masters, the Furious Five: Monkey, Tigress, Viper, Mantis and Crane. Through 13 legendary levels from the movie and beyond, and spanning land, water and air, players must work their way to become the Dragon Warrior and defeat the ultimate enemy, Tai Lung, as they battle a variety of foes, overcome dangerous obstacles, navigate multi-tiered environments and solve challenging puzzles. Featuring a deep variety of gameplay, unique co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, collectibles, and a host of character upgrades, the Kung Fu Panda video game provides an experience gamers of all ages will enjoy. Check out the kung fu action in the new media below. Images: Kung Fu Panda Boxart Kung Fu Panda Character Art Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 1 Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 2 Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 3 Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 4 Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 5 Kung Fu Panda Screenshot 6 Video: Kung Fu Panda Trailer (19.1 MB) Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:55 AM [Top] Guitar Hero: On Tour Assets [ Activision ] For the first time, handheld gamers have the freedom to unleash their inner rock star anytime, anywhere with Guitar Hero: On Tour. Utilizing the revolutionary Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral that fits snugly into the Nintendo DS and a unique Guitar Hero pick‐stylus, Guitar Hero: On Tour brings a new dimension to handheld gaming and gives fans the ability to shred along with their favorite tunes with complete portability. The game delivers a unique experience by challenging handheld gamers to rock out and prove their shredding skills on the most diverse set list of master tracks ever offered in a Guitar Hero game, including classic rock, alternative and pop favorites. Guitar Hero rocks the DS this summer, so get those styli ready and check out the new media below. Images: Guitar Hero: On Tour Logo Guitar Hero: On Tour Boxart Guitar Hero: On Tour Character Shot Guitar Hero: On Tour Screenshot 1 Guitar Hero: On Tour Screenshot 2 Guitar Hero: On Tour Screenshot 3 Guitar Hero: On Tour Screenshot 4 Guitar Hero: On Tour Screenshot 5 Video: Guitar Hero: On Tour Trailer (22.8 MB) Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:44 AM [Top] New de Blob Assets [ THQ ] A mischievous and unlikely hero, only de Blob can flip, bounce and smash his way past the all-powerful I.N.K.T. Corporation to ignite a revolution and save Chroma City from a future without color. Battle against massive tank battalions, speedy I.N.K.T. racers and elite Inky soldiers on your quest to free the citizens of Chroma City. Avoid hot plates, electric shocks and inky turrets to create your own path to the impenetrable I.N.K.T. Fortress. Just remember that the struggle to reclaim Chroma City is to be fought on your terms. Remix the city in your own image using custom paints, patterns and soundtracks. Super-size your blob to attack larger and stronger enemies. Join the Color Revolutionaries to refine your skills while making a mess. The race to rescue Chroma City has just begun, and only de Blob can save the world from a black-and-white future. Check out some new screens and art from de Blob, plus a new trailer below. Images: de Blob Screenshot 1 de Blob Screenshot 2 de Blob Screenshot 3 de Blob Screenshot 4 de Blob Screenshot 5 de Blob Screenshot 6 de Blob Artwork 1 de Blob Artwork 2 de Blob Artwork 3 de Blob Artwork 4 de Blob Artwork 5 de Blob Logo Video: de Blob Trailer (13.0 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:41 AM [Top] Space Invaders Extreme Assets [ Square Enix ] The legendary game returns! With Space Invaders celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008, Taito is offering an all-new, more intense edition of the game that started it all. With all-new, enhanced graphics and sound that preserves the classic design loved by generations of players, Space Invaders Extreme is an exhilarating shooting experience. Whether players were part of the original Space Invaders generation or are fighting against the Invaders for the first time, they can now take Space Invaders Extreme with them anywhere on two handheld systems: Nintendo DS and the PSP system. Images: Space Invaders Extreme Logo Space Invaders Extreme Screenshot 1 Space Invaders Extreme Screenshot 2 Space Invaders Extreme Screenshot 3 Space Invaders Extreme Screenshot 4 Space Invaders Extreme Screenshot 5 Video: Space Invaders Extreme Trailer (11.4 MB) Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:32 AM [Top] Zenses Ocean Assets [ Game Factory ] In Zenses Ocean, players relax themselves playing puzzle games inspired by the movements of the tide, rippling water, riffs and corals, beach vegetation and sea life. An indulgent, soothing experience, Zenses Ocean includes high quality visuals and ambient sounds inspired by the natural sounds of the sea. Subliminal addictive puzzles such as Hot Spot, Shell Twirl, Turtle Turn, Pearl Diver and Wave Breaker (names are currently being reviewed and may change) were created to give players an escape from the stress of every day life. Zenses Ocean will mellow you out this October, but in the meantime, check out the boxart, screenshots, and video. Images: Zenses Ocean Logo Zenses Ocean Boxart Zenses Ocean Screenshot 1 Zenses Ocean Screenshot 2 Zenses Ocean Screenshot 3 Zenses Ocean Screenshot 4 Zenses Ocean Screenshot 5 Zenses Ocean Screenshot 6 Video: Zenses Trailer (9.26 MB) Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:22 AM [Top] Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Assets [ SEGA ] Sonic and his friends have banded together with leading RPG developer BioWare to create a stylish blend of strategy and speed for Sonic’s first RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Exclusively for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Chronicles mixes a rich story, hand-painted visuals, fast-paced team combat, and wireless collectible trading into a uniquely compelling adventure. Players will customize their party and characters, choosing from Sonic, Tails, Amy Rose, Knuckles, Shadow, Rouge, and more, and prepare to defeat a menacing new enemy. Rhythmically tapping and dragging with the stylus in Sonic-style battles, players can level up and use Rings to buy new special attacks as they progress through 20 different and beautifully hand-drawn areas including new and classic Sonic locales. With an engaging storyline, lightning fast attacks, high production values, and impeccable visuals, Sonic Chronicles allows gamers to experience Sonic in a whole new way. Check out some of the amazingly detailed screenshots below. Images: Sonic Chronicles Logo Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 1 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 2 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 3 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 4 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 5 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 6 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 7 Sonic Chronicles Screenshot 8 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:14 AM [Top] Samba De Amigo Screens and Art [ SEGA ] The samba-inspired rhythm music game made popular in the arcades is shaking its way onto the Wii! Keeping the beat with over 40 songs on a Samba-inspired sound track, players shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like maracas and compete with friends to see who has the best moves. Throughout the dynamic songs there will be opportunities to strike a pose for extra points. Friends and family will be thoroughly entertained cheering each other on as they anxiously await their next turn. A Brand New Dual Wii Remote Control Option gives players’ untethered, maraca-shaking freedom with two remotes or the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Fun for Two Players in competitive or cooperative multiplayer modes, including Love Love mode where two players synch up their moves to earn points and test their compatibility. The Samba-infused Soundtrack features over 40 upbeat, festive favorites from the original game, plus many new tunes. Online Leaderboards and Friends Lists let players post their best scores and compare them to their friends’ scores. Multiple Game Modes include Career, Single Player, Multiplayer, Training and Records. Special Modes expand gameplay with Quick Play, Classic, Battle, Survival, Hustle and Mini-games. Check out some screens and art from the game below. Images: Samba De Amigo Screenshot 1 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 2 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 3 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 4 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 5 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 6 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 7 Samba De Amigo Screenshot 8 Samba De Amigo Artwork 1 Samba De Amigo Artwork 2 Samba De Amigo Artwork 3 Samba De Amigo Boxart Samba De Amigo Logo Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:08 AM [Top] My Weight Loss Coach Assets [ Ubisoft ] Ready to shed the pounds? Ubisoft's My Weight Loss Coach might be for you! The next installment in Ubisoft's popular Coaching series is ready to help you lose those love handles. Obviously it's no Wii Fit, but hey, you have to start somewhere right? Images: My Weight Loss Coach Logo My Weight Loss Coach Character Art 1 My Weight Loss Coach Character Art 2 My Weight Loss Coach Character Art 3 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 1 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 2 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 3 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 4 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 5 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 6 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 7 My Weight Loss Coach Screenshot 8 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 1:05 AM [Top] New Boom Blox Assets [ Electronic Arts ] A must-have Wii game for Summer 2008 is on its way! BOOM BLOX, the first game developed in collaboration between EA and director and producer, Steven Spielberg, is a high-energy game featuring over three hundred levels, a variety of activities, a cast of over thirty wacky characters, and an easy-to-use in-game editor that allows players to express their creativity. BOOM BLOX will be available in May 2008 for the Wii from Nintendo. Fun for kids and the entire family, BOOM BLOX offers action-packed interactive activities that takes Wii play to a new level of creativity and fun with single player, co-op, and versus gameplay. Explore the visceral gameplay—perfectly suited for the Wii’s interactivity—that keeps you destroying your way through brain-twisting challenges. Interact with entertaining characters such as the Blox-laying chickens or the baseball throwing monkeys, who bring personality to the Tiki, Medieval, Frontier, and Haunted themed environments. Additionally, remix any level of the game in Create Mode using props, blocks, or characters that have been unlocked during the game. You can virtually build anything you can dream up. Plus, your designs can then be shared with friends or used to challenge others to solve your newly created puzzle via WiiConnect24. Check out some new screens, art, and a new trailer for Boom Blox below. Images: Boom Blox Screenshot 1 Boom Blox Screenshot 2 Boom Blox Artwork 1 Boom Blox Artwork 2 Boom Blox Boxart Boom Blox Logo Video: Boom Blox Trailer (29.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, April 19 2008 0:03 AM [Top] WiiWare: SBCG4AP Assets [ Telltale Games ] Charming. Suave. Muscular. Awesome. These are just a few of the words that Strong Bad would use to describe himself. In a world gone mad, only one man can be trusted to save the day... for himself. A man with a mask. And boxing gloves. And an attitude. A man called Strong Bad. Telltale Games brings that man to WiiWare with Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Images: Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Artwork 1 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Artwork 2 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 1 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 2 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 3 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 4 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 5 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Screenshot 6 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:54 PM [Top] WiiWare: FFCC:MLaaK Assets [ Square Enix ] FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King, the latest entry from Square Enix, takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Available only on the Wii Shop Channel as a WiiWare download, this new chapter in the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES saga challenges players to rebuild a kingdom and lead its young king on a path of discovery. Bristling with mystery and intrigue, this all-new adventure is set to captivate and charm gamers of all ages. STORY According to legend, a deserted town now serves as the lifeless reminder of a once powerful kingdom. The young son of an exiled king reaches this land after a long journey, finding only an abandoned castle – and a magic crystal. Though tarnished by years of neglect, the crystal has maintained its luminous glow and bestows upon the boy the power of architek, the ability to manifest memories into reality. With the help of loyal servants and audacious adventurers, the new king dutifully prepares to rebuild his people’s homeland in this new realm. FEATURES •Square Enix unveils its first WiiWare title, delivering an all-new adventure via direct download •Scenario created by Motomu Toriyama, the acclaimed director of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY XIII •Groundbreaking graphics optimized for the Wii enable players to journey through a world filled with memorable characters and architectural splendor •Rebuild a nation by building houses and shops, carefully considering the best interests of the citizens. If the player’s nation regains its former glory, the secrets of the land may be revealed •Enlist adventurers with varying levels, jobs and profiles to carry out dangerous missions in return for rewards •Be mindful of the passage of time, and plan each day accordingly in order to efficiently carry out construction efforts Images: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Artwork 1 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Artwork 2 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 1 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 2 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 3 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 4 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 5 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 6 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 7 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 8 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 9 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Screenshot 10 Video: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King Trailer (51 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:44 PM [Top] WiiWare: Pop [ Nnooo ] What is "Pop" from developer Nnooo? It's a game for WiiWare... What do I do? -You pop bubbles to score points, chains and multipliers How do I do that? -You move the pointer and press A to pop them How many people can play? -Up to 4 people can play at one time What other features are there? -You can pump up bubbles until they explode -There are a selection of powerups for use in multiplayer and single player -More details in the coming weeks Images: Pop Screenshot 1 Pop Screenshot 2 Pop Screenshot 3 Pop Screenshot 4 Pop Screenshot 5 Pop Screenshot 6 Pop Screenshot 7 Video: Pop Trailer (10.1 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:34 PM [Top] WiiWare: Major League Eating: The Game Assets [ Mastiff ] Mastiff's Major League Eating: The Game will make its debut as an exclusive on WiiWare, Nintendo's new downloadable game service which launches May 12 in North America. The game will make extensive use of the Wii Remote to simulate the fast and furious action of a professional eating competition. The game is for one or two players, offers online play and a leader board. Images: Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 1 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 2 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 3 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 4 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 5 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 6 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 7 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 8 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 9 Major League Eating: The Game Screenshot 10 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:28 PM [Top] New Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2 Screens/Trailer [ Nintendo ] For years, Pokémon fans have captured and battled with Pokémon. Now, a pair of new games invites players to become Pokémon, returning to a fantastic land untouched by humans and inhabited only by Pokémon. Players must join a Pokémon guild and start a journey to find out why they've been turned into Pokémon, all the while trying to stop a misguided thief bent on stopping time and plunging the world into darkness. In both games, randomly generated dungeons make every mission unique-players never see the same dungeon twice. Strategic battles enhance the adventure, and with hundreds of Pokémon, items and moves, the action has never been so intense. With more than 490 Pokémon appearing in the two games, players are sure to find their favorite Pokémon. All of these Pokémon can eventually join players' expedition teams, offering limitless options when forming a team for their next journey. Players now can use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to rescue friends in trouble, or send out an SOS Mail if they are in need of rescue. Rescue notification messages can be received via PC or cell phone, so players always know when a friend is in trouble. There are also new special items that can be traded wirelessly. Check out some screens, artwork, and a new trailer for both games below. Images: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 1 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 2 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 3 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 4 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 5 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 6 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 7 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 8 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 9 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Screenshot 10 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Artwork 1 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Artwork 2 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Artwork 3 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Artwork 4 Video: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Trailer (40.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:25 PM [Top] WiiWare: LostWinds Assets [ Frontier ] LostWinds is an enchanting adventure from Frontier bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the innovative controller of the Wii - it puts “the power of the wind in the palm of your hand”. You wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit - from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze – to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis by evil Balasar. Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. History of Mistralis. The game’s novel, playful control mechanism lets you use Enril’s elemental powers to help Toku in your quest to overcome Balasar – powering his jumps and glides through Mistralis’ different regions, buffeting and smashing enemies, and solving puzzles. LostWinds is self-published and developed by Frontier and will be available via Nintendo's WiiWare game download service, exact release date and pricing to be announced. Images: LostWinds Logo LostWinds Artwork 1 LostWinds Artwork 2 LostWinds Artwork 3 LostWinds Artwork 4 LostWinds Screenshot 1 LostWinds Screenshot 2 LostWinds Screenshot 3 LostWinds Screenshot 4 LostWinds Screenshot 5 LostWinds Screenshot 6 LostWinds Screenshot 7 LostWinds Screenshot 8 LostWinds Screenshot 9 LostWinds Screenshot 10 Video: LostWinds Trailer (10.9 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:20 PM [Top] Rock Band Screens and Trailer [ Electronic Arts ] Rock Band is the collaborative, competitive, or single player music game that lets you and your friends form your own band and live out your rock and roll fantasy. Created by Harmonix, developers of the blockbuster Guitar Hero franchise, Rock Band is an all-new platform for gamers to experience music, giving players the chance to rock out in the shoes of the biggest guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time – as a solo superstar or as part of a hard rocking band. Rock Band delivers the most authentic music game ever – by challenging rockers to master lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Built on unprecedented deals with top record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists. Rock out your way! Players can beat on drums, sing along, groove as a bassist and shred riffs as guitarists (using a licensed replica of the legendary Fender Stratocaster) – either in single player career mode leading a band, in multiplayer as part of the band, or against each other. Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists – from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, such as: Nirvana’s “In Bloom”, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”, Queens of the Stone Age’s “Go With The Flow”, Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly”, The Hives’ “Main Offender”, Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen”, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”, The Strokes’ “Reptilia”, The Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach”, Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So”, David Bowie’s “Suffragette City”, Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”, Stone Temple Pilots’ “Vasoline”, Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”, The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” – AND MORE! The massive song list grows even larger, with 5 additional songs for the Wii. Check out the first screens and a trailer for the Wii version of Rock Band below. Images: Rock Band Screenshot 1 Rock Band Screenshot 2 Rock Band Screenshot 3 Rock Band Screenshot 4 Rock Band Screenshot 5 Rock Band Logo Rock Band Artwork Video: Rock Band Trailer (13.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:19 PM [Top] WiiWare: World of Goo Assets [ 2D Boy ] World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game from developer 2D Boy. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. Images: World of Goo Logo World of Goo Screenshot 1 World of Goo Screenshot 2 World of Goo Screenshot 3 World of Goo Screenshot 4 World of Goo Screenshot 5 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 23:11 PM [Top] Crosswords DS Screens, Logo, Boxart, and Trailer [ Nintendo ] In Crosswords DS, you'll find puzzles perfect for everyone regardless of age or experience. Exercise your word skills in more than a thousand touch-control word puzzles to challenge every skill level. Crosswords DS offers crossword puzzles at multiple skill levels to engage any player, all controlled with the Nintendo DS stylus. Simply use the stylus to write your answers on the touch screen. Erase your mistakes with a quick tap on the screen, or write new answers directly over old ones. An interactive hint system helps you move along at your own pace. For particularly puzzling problems, tap the "Hint" button to receive an additional clue, reveal a letter or have the word solved for you—the choice is your The wordplay doesn't stop with crosswords. "Wordsearch" challenges you to find words hidden among random letters, while "Anagrams" will stretch your imagination to see how many words you can assemble from a group of letters. Check out some screens of Crosswords DS, the game's official boxart and logo, and a brand-new trailer below. Images: Crosswords DS Screenshot 1 Crosswords DS Screenshot 2 Crosswords DS Screenshot 3 Crosswords DS Screenshot 4 Crosswords DS Screenshot 5 Crosswords DS Logo Crosswords DS Boxart Video: Crosswords DS Trailer (12.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 22:49 PM [Top] New Wii Fit Screens, Boxart, and Trailer [ Nintendo ] Step onto the Wii Balance Board and into a fun way to get fit. Control on-screen action with your movements on the balance board as you work your way through a variety of challenges aimed at getting you off the couch and into the action. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI), see your Wii Fit Age and keep tabs on your daily progress towards a more fit you. Get fit with more than 40 activities and exercises, including strength training, aerobics, yoga and balance games. Whether you're doing a yoga pose or snowboarding down a slalom course, there's an activity for everyone. Challenge your family and friends to get in shape! Create your own personal profile and set goals, test your balance, track your progress with daily workouts and unlock new exercises and activities. Check out some new sceens of Wii Fit, a trailer, and the game's official boxart below. Images: Wii Fit Screenshot 1 Wii Fit Screenshot 2 Wii Fit Screenshot 3 Wii Fit Screenshot 4 Wii Fit Screenshot 5 Wii Fit Screenshot 6 Wii Fit Screenshot 7 Wii Fit Screenshot 8 Wii Fit Screenshot 9 Wii Fit Screenshot 10 Wii Fit Boxart Video: Wii Fit Trailer (19.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 22:35 PM [Top] New Mario Kart Wii Screens, Art, and Trailer [ Nintendo ] The worldwide race is on with a whole new set of tricks, tracks and ways to play. The Wii Wheel transforms the Wii Remote controller into a steering wheel that feels natural in anyone's hands, while the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller offer a classic control style for the Mario Kart veteran. In either configuration, players can perform speed-boosting tricks with a shake of the Wii Remote. Players can race as their favorite Nintendo character, or even as themselves! Mario Kart Wii lets players race with their personalized Mii characters. And racers will see other Mii characters they have created cheering from the sidelines on some race courses. Players can compete with up to three friends in their living room. Or challenge up to 11 opponents via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in the biggest Mario Kart race yet. All tracks and modes of play are available via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and players can visit the Mario Kart Channel to compete in tournaments, check rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data. Check out the latest screens, artwork, and a brand-new trailer for the hotly-anticipated racer below. Images: Wii Wheel Image 1 Wii Wheel Image 2 Mario Kart Wii Artwork 1 Mario Kart Wii Artwork 2 Mario Kart Wii Artwork 3 Mario Kart Wii Artwork 4 Mario Kart Wii Artwork 5 Mario Kart Wii Screenshot 1 Mario Kart Wii Screenshot 2 Mario Kart Wii Screenshot 3 Mario Kart Wii Screenshot 4 Video: Mario Kart Wii Trailer (17.0 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 22:21 PM [Top] Space Invaders Get Extreme on DS [ Square Enix ] The legendary game returns! With SPACE INVADERS celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008, TAITO is offering an all-new, more intense edition of the game that started it all. With all-new, enhanced graphics and sound that preserves the classic design loved by generations of players, SPACE INVADERS EXTREME is an exhilarating shooting experience. Whether players were part of the original SPACE INVADERS generation or are fighting against the Invaders for the first time, they can now take SPACE INVADERS EXTREME with them anywhere on Nintendo DS. Experience this simple but addictive game as never seen before. Shoot, attack, and stave off the assault by defeating all the Invaders on the screen. After annihilating a battalion of Invaders and defeating the Boss, players move on to the next stage. But beware of different types of Invaders, each with their own unique abilities – it’s “Game Over” if players lose all of their stock cannons! The game is set for release on June 17th, 2008. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 18:33 PM [Top] Dragon Quest IV DS Confirmed for US [ ESRB ] Once again, the ESRB has come through with revealing a game before a publisher gets the honors, and this time Square Enix is the lucky victim. The ratings board's official site has confirmed that Dragon Quest IV, the DS remake of the classic NES RPG, will in fact be coming to North America with the new title Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen. Featuring revamped graphics and new content, the DS version of DQIV is sure to be an RPG smash hit whenever it is released, which is looking like sometime at the end of this year. Stay tuned for more info. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 18 2008 18:27 PM [Top] Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness Facts [ Nintendo ] For years, Pokémon fans have captured and battled with Pokémon. Now, a pair of new games invites players to become Pokémon, returning to a fantastic land untouched by humans and inhabited only by Pokémon. Players must join a Pokémon guild and start a journey to find out why they've been turned into Pokémon, all the while trying to stop a misguided thief bent on stopping time and plunging the world into darkness. In both games, randomly generated dungeons make every mission unique-players never see the same dungeon twice. Strategic battles enhance the adventure, and with hundreds of Pokémon, items and moves, the action has never been so intense. With more than 490 Pokémon appearing in the two games, players are sure to find their favorite Pokémon. All of these Pokémon can eventually join players' expedition teams, offering limitless options when forming a team for their next journey. Players now can use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to rescue friends in trouble, or send out an SOS Mail if they are in need of rescue. Rescue notification messages can be received via PC or cell phone, so players always know when a friend is in trouble. There are also new special items that can be traded wirelessly. The same engaging storyline drives both Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness: Waking up on a beach with no recollection of how they got there, players suddenly find themselves being addressed by a Pokémon - proof that they've been turned into Pokémon themselves. After a brief and bewildering conversation, this friendly Pokémon encourages players to join an exploration guild and seek out the reason for this mysterious transformation. But there's more than one Pokémon who's out of place in this world: Someone has traveled back in time and is trying to steal special items called Time Gears, thus halting time and blanketing the world in perpetual darkness. Players must rally their exploration teams and, with the help of the guild, find and prevent their enemy from destroying the world. Set in a land inhabited solely by Pokémon, it's a deeply moving story of exploration, betrayal, adventure and - most of all - friendship. Players join an exploration guild and set out on a mission to find treasure and help other Pokémon in trouble. There are many dungeons and various floors to explore, and because the layout of each dungeon is randomly generated, they're different every time. When players perform an action such as walking or attacking, the opponent Pokémon in the dungeon will perform an action, no matter where they are in the dungeon. To clear dungeons and complete missions, strategy and logic are key. By answering a series of personality questions at the start of a game, players become one of 16 different Pokémon that best suits them. Players then must choose one Pokémon to be a partner. More than 490 Pokémon can become players' friends and join their exploration teams, including all of the new Diamond and Pearl Pokémon. The graphics have been greatly improved from the last Dungeon games. More detailed dungeons and environments draw players even further into the fantastic, vibrant world of Pokémon. The new games also employ a turn-based battle system that is far different from other traditional Pokémon games. As in the previous Pokémon Dungeon game, players can ask other players to come to their rescue when their team is defeated in a dungeon. Normally, when players are defeated, they lose their money and some items. However, if a friend succeeds in rescuing them, players now can continue their adventure from where they left off without losing any money or items. Also, instead of the previous password system, players now have the option to send out a rescue request using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or an e-mail message, so help is never far away. Because players have become Pokémon, they now can fully communicate with other Pokémon. Instead of using a Poké Ball to capture Pokémon as in past games, players must use diplomacy to recruit them to join their expedition team. They also have the ability to link together a Pokémon's moves and use up to four together for a devastating combo. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 17 2008 23:37 PM [Top] Spogs Racing Drives to WiiWare [ D2C Games ] D2C Games today announced SPOGS Racing, a frenzied, arcade-style racing game set to hit WiiWare. The game features high-speed arcade racing and Crash ‘N Grab battling action as players dash around a dozen unique and challenging tracks. Race along in distinctively unique SPOGS Racers that can be personalized, customized and modified with in-game images and vehicle parts. Gamers will control their SPOGS as they try their best to smash into their opponents to steal upgraded parts on-the-fly in the title’s innovative Crash ‘N Grab gameplay. Featuring several game modes, a variety of track types including outrageous stunt tracks with loops and jumps, multiple difficultly modes and control schemes, racing power-ups, weapons, and head-to-head multiplayer, SPOGS Racing offers plenty of fun for gamers of all ages and experiences. A library of game images lets you customize and personalize your racing experience. Intuitive Wiimote game controls and a robust feature set delivers the fun of arcade racing with hours upon hours of entertainment. Race across 12 different tracks filled with loops, jumps, weapons and power ups. Battle it out in head-to-head split screen action. Or challenge yourself in Season Mode and race to be the best. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 17 2008 23:33 PM [Top] Konami Rounds Up Critters on WiiWare [ Konami ] Konami today announced plans to bring the first of several Wiiware titles developed for North America. Known as Saku Saku Animal Panic in Japan, Critter Round-Up will be Konami’s first Wiiware title in North America. Developed by Los Angeles, CA-based Epicenter Studios, Critter Round-Up is a puzzle game for up to four players. Players are challenged with building fences to separate different critter species into their own area, while avoiding predators and other mischievous animals attempting to stop you from rounding them up. Players can corral exotic critters from five environments encompassing 50 levels, with gameplay modes including a co-op Adventure Mode as well as special co-op challenges for up to four players. There’s also a Marathon Mode that supports up to four layers on a nearly infinite number of levels, as well as a collection of Critter Games, an entertaining selection of mini games such as Snowball Soccer and Predator Rampage. Critter Round-Up is the first of several planned Wiiware titles to be distributed by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Future planned releases include Crescendo (working title), a musical experience fused with quick, frantic action of classic arcade action, and Fresco Beach (working title), a game where players create their own sandcastles and maintain their structure amidst the dangers of the beach. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 17 2008 23:22 PM [Top] Izuna, Still Unemployed, Returns to DS [ Atlus ] Atlus today announced Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns for Nintendo DS, starring everyone's favorite careless, jobless, and penniless female protagonist with a love for dungeon crawls. Combining zany characters and hilarious dialogue with hardcore dungeon RPG gameplay, Izuna 2 stands out from the crowd with its unique and memorable RPG experience. This sequel offers more game content, combat options, and RPG depth. Also, the lead character's a sexy, self-absorbed ninja. Izuna and her gang are back - and just in time for a wedding! Lured by the promise of free food (Why else would Izuna attend?), the festive event becomes a puzzling mystery when Izuna's sidekick Shino suddenly disappears, off in search of her long-lost sister. And making matters worse, the foreign gods have also arrived on Japanese soil, and they aren't very happy with the meddlesome, unemployed ninja. With disgruntled deities on the warpath, a sidekick to track down, and a missing sister out in the wild, it could all shape up to be one of Izuna's more exciting adventures. Sounds like a lot of work for a girl out of a job! Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns is currently scheduled to release on July 22. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 17 2008 23:14 PM [Top] Nintendo Smashes Records in March [ Nintendo ] In March, Nintendo again defined industry momentum in both home and portable video games sales, according to the independent NPD Group, which monitors retail activity in the video game industry. More than 720,000 Wii systems sold in March, representing the highest monthly sales total outside of holiday months (November or December) to date, while Nintendo DS also sold through nearly 700,000 systems. Nintendo also finished with the top-selling U.S. game of March. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which launched March 9, came in at No. 1 with 2.7 million units sold. Three Wii games finished in the top 10, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl at No. 1, Wii Play at No. 4, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock at No. 7. Also, the Nintendo DS has now sold more than 19 million units in the United States alone since it launched in November 2004. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 17 2008 23:07 PM [Top] Wii Fit to Launch at $89.99 [ Nintendo ] In anticipation of the U.S. launch of Wii Fit, the new interactive fitness game for the popular Wii system, Nintendo of America Inc. has announced pricing details for this groundbreaking release. Available at Nintendo World store starting on May 19, Wii Fit and the innovative Wii Balance Board accessory will be bundled and sold together at a suggested retail price of $89.99. Boasting a dynamic mix of more than 40 yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance activities, Wii Fit provides consumers with a fun, easy and affordable way to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. Using the included wireless Wii Balance Board accessory, every member of the household can step up and stay active, setting individual fitness goals and tracking their progress over time. Consumers in the New York area who pre-order Wii Fit from the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza will receive a special bonus item. From April 18-20, the first 1,000 consumers who place a $5 deposit for Wii Fit will receive a limited edition Wii Fit T-shirt featuring the image and reproduced autograph of legendary Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 15 2008 12:34 PM [Top] Pipemania Flows to DS and Wii [ Empire Interactive ] With a new twist to classic favorite, Empire Interactive will heat up the puzzle game genre with the summer release of Pipemania for the Nintendo DS and Wii. As they race against time, puzzle game fans of all ages and experience will be able to enjoy hours of brain-teasing fun in this frantic series of quests and puzzles that uses updated gameplay mechanics to build on one of the most poplar franchises of all time. Pipemania is a fast-paced puzzle game in which players lay down a pre-ordained set of pipes on a tiled grid in order to keep the Flooze, a constant flowing substance that speeds up with progression, moving through the pipes as long as possible without overflowing. Players will need to be fast with their fingers and utilize quick and forward thinking, precise coordination, and keen awareness if they plan to survive the time constraints, pressure and accuracy needed to navigate through the game. There is no chance for players to let their guard down, as complication increases with new elements as players progress through the game. Pipemania tests players’ skills in five different game modes - world, arcade, bonus, multiplayer, classic, and best of the all - the original Pipemania game. Players will navigate through more than 70 levels with seven different themes in order to build their Island World. The frantic puzzle game offers hours of entertainment with enhanced visuals, new play mechanics, multiple attacks and damages, various Floozes, and an army of characters for players to help and hinder along the way. The entire game can be played in single player or in co-op for competitive play between two players. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 14 2008 15:37 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Smash Trivia [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today marks the end of an era, with the final update for the Smash Bros. Dojo. Today, we get Smash Trivia, with a ton of fun little tidbits and tricks in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. To check them out, click the source link. With this final update, we'd like to thank Masahiro Sakurai and his team on their hard work for bringing the Dojo to us. As it turns out the site had a maximum of 7,150,000 users in one week, worldwide, which is impressive to say the least. Sakurai states that this isn't the end though...he may need to reopen the Dojo for some added info at some point in the future. Until then, we hope you've enjoyed reading these updates just as we've enjoyed bringing them to you. For now, sayonara, and keep on Smashing. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 14 2008 15:33 PM [Top] Castlevania Headed to DS Again [ ESRB ] A quick search of new DS games to become rated by the ESRB reveals that Konami is prepping Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for release. Previously seen only in new registered trademarks for Konami, the game is still shrouded in mystery, with storyline, characters, and setting all remaining unknown. As soon as we get word on the game from Konami, we'll let you know. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, April 14 2008 13:56 PM [Top] First Sadness Screen, Engine Announced [ Nibris ] Color us surprised. About a week ago we obtained a supposed screenshot from the hotly-anticipated Wii survival horror title Sadness, the first game developed by upstart Polish developer Nibris. However, the developer stated the screen was a clever fake - or so we thought. Turns out the screen WAS real, and today comes with word that Nibris has chosen the engine for the unique black-and-white adventure. Check out the info and screenshot below. Emergent Game Technologies announced today that the highly-anticipated psychological thriller Sadness for Wii is being built on the Gamebryo game development platform. The first Wii title to be presented entirely in black-and-white is in development by Poland-based game studio Nibris. Taking place prior to World War I, Sadness is a crime noir thriller with richly detailed characters and an engaging storyline. Sadness is a horror adventure game aimed at adults with strong nerves. Players will need to confront their greatest fears and protect themselves in hopes of not getting trapped inside the main character’s nightmare. The game has eight different extreme endings each with their own premise, which are assigned to a player based on specific factors during the game. To compliment the intense gameplay, the Wii-mote and Wii Nunchuk control the main character’s hands so players feel as though they are in the psychological thriller. Images: First Sadness Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 14 2008 13:48 PM [Top] Fantasy Zone and Mega Turrican Added to VC [ Nintendo ] Fantasy Zone (Sega Master System, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take command of the spaceship Opa-Opa and blast your way through various fantastical levels as you try to take out all the enemy bases in each stage. Once you've destroyed the bases, you'll have to beat the stage boss in order to move on to the next level. By using your guns and bombs wisely, you'll be able to take down your enemies and explore each of the crazy environments in this side-scroller. You can also buy upgraded weapons for your ship by accessing the shop. Various Sega games through the years have referenced the Opa-Opa-now you can play the game that started it all. Mega Turrican (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older-Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): The Machine has enslaved the galaxy under its tyrannical rule. As Bren McGuire, the last survivor of the United Freedom Forces, it is your duty to destroy the evil forces of the Machine that have devastated the galaxy. Fight through countless hordes of enemies using everything at your disposal. Use the weapons and power-ups of your Turrican Assault Suit, including the incredible Plasma Rope, to fight back the tide of oncoming enemies and find the health and power-ups that will keep you alive. Fifteen levels of chaos and destruction stand between you and freedom. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 14 2008 13:22 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - More Snapshots [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] With the popularity of the Dojo's first Snapshot Gallery for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sakurai and company have decided to give it another go-around. This time around, however, they've included all the hidden characters, plus taken all the shots from US players. There's a separate gallery for Japanese players, which you can view here. For the American one, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 11 2008 23:46 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Subspace Emissary Secrets [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today's Dojo update reveals some of the secrets behind the Subspace Emissary adventure mode, which is helpful considering it's nearly impossible to understand what is going on without dialogue. Sakurai gives us some new insight on the game, including giving info on some removed cutscenes. To check it out for yourself, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 11 2008 2:48 AM [Top] Toki Tori Comes to WiiWare [ Two Tribes ] Two Tribes today announced the imminent release of Toki Tori for Nintendo Wii. The game is to be made available through the upcoming WiiWare downloadable game service. Toki Tori for Nintendo Wii marks the entry of Two Tribes into the world of home-console games. Based on the critically acclaimed Game Boy Color game, this update improves the original on every front. Sporting a new look, updated content and a completely overhauled Wii Remote control scheme, the game offers players of all ages a classic gaming experience while making the most out of Nintendo's Wii console. The gameplay in Toki Tori is a blend of two genres. While it looks like a platform game, it's a puzzle game by heart. Players will have to look and plan ahead carefully while using a variety of items, such as the Telewarp, Freeze-o-Matic and InstantRock to name but a few. Toki Tori will be made available through Nintendo's WiiWare service, which is scheduled to launch on the 12th of May in the USA. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 10 2008 20:55 PM [Top] Final Fantasy IV Comes to DS This July [ Square Enix ] Square Enix announced today that it will launch a completely re-envisioned FINAL FANTASY IV for Nintendo DS on July 22, 2008. A new generation of gamers will now have the opportunity to experience a legend reborn. The team that brought FINAL FANTASY III to Nintendo DS comes together once again to breathe new life into a classic that broke convention and introduced a wide array of innovations to the RPG genre. With its groundbreaking Active Time Battle(ATB) system and an engrossing, character-driven plot, FINAL FANTASY IV was a stunning step forward for role-playing games when it was originally released for the Super NES in 1991. Now featuring full 3D graphics, fully-voiced dramatic cutscenes, and added content, FINAL FANTASY IV for DS is a must-play for those looking to jump into the best-selling RPG franchise in the world. Four elemental Crystals, each possessing awesome power, lie scattered throughout the realm. However, men are quick to covet things which offer strength, and easily corrupted by the might which they possess. Seduced by the promised power of the Crystals, the kingdom of Baron begins employing unprovoked force to seize them from peaceful nations. The dark knight Cecil - Lord Captain of Baron's elite force, the Red Wings - is ordered by his king to obtain the Crystals, but soon begins to question the monarch's motives. Stricken with grief at his own actions, yet burdened by his loyalty to his country and his personal sense of honor, Cecil at last decides to turn from the path of darkness and destruction. Enraged, the king accuses him of disloyalty, strips Cecil of his command, and sends him off to slay a mysterious beast that lurks in the nearby Valley of Mist. Cecil embarks on a fateful journey that will bring trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Can Cecil open his eyes and become the man of honor that he must be? FINAL FANTASY IV is rated is rated E10 (Everyone 10 and older) and will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $39.99. The official website can be foundright here. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 10 2008 20:36 PM [Top] Telltale Games Brings Strong Bad to WiiWare [ Telltale Games ] Telltaleis pleased to announce Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (SBCG4AP), a new series of episodic games for WiiWare, in partnership with Videlectrix. Starring Strong Bad, the self-proclaimed coolest person ever, the series is based on Matt and Mike Chapman's online animated series, which has been running at Homestarrunner.com since 2000. SBCG4AP will launch on WiiWare this June. As the very first episodic series for connected consoles, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People has been designed specifically for WiiWare, with easy-to-use controls and WiiConnect24 features. Like Telltale's popular Sam & Max series, SBCG4AP will be released as a five-episode "season" akin to a season of television. The episodes will come out on a monthly schedule. Release dates and pricing details will be revealed in a future announcement. Telltale is working closely with the Chapmans on the series' art style, storylines, and scripts. This hands-on collaboration will deliver long-time fans the ultimate Strong Bad experience and give new players a crash course in the series' offbeat and unusual humor. The episodes play like extended cartoons, during which the player assumes the role of Strong Bad—controlling his actions, hearing his innermost thoughts, and becoming part of his awesome world. SBCG4AP features the cast of characters and locations from the Homestarrunner.com cartoons, and the games are fully voice acted by Matt Chapman and the rest of the original cast. Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is a story-driven series with a comic spin that's undeniably Strong Bad. The player uncovers each episode's comedic plot through character interaction, dialogue-based puzzles, and the use (and abuse) of inventory items. In addition, each episode will be crammed with time-wasters to keep players poking around in the world, including Strong Bad emails to check, prank phone calls to place, and mini-games styled after the arcade games on the Homestarrunner.com website. "Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years," laments thousandaire gadabout Strong Bad, "but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D point-and-click-em-up adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool." Check out the game's first trailer in Flash form by clicking here. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 10 2008 20:16 PM [Top] Mario Slugs His Way to Wii [ Nintendo ] The ongoing excitement over Nintendo’s groundbreaking Wii system gets a suprise springtime boost with the announcement of a new game. Kicking off its semiannual media summit in San Francisco near the company’s new sales and marketing offices in Redwood City, California, Nintendo of America today revealed plans for Mario Super Sluggers for Wii, giving baseball fans even more reason to root this season. In the same spirit as other sports-themed Mario games on Wii like Mario Strikers Charged and Mario Kart Wii, Mario Super Sluggers blends richly interactive baseball action with eccentric characters and elements from across the popular Mario universe. Players can swing the wireless Wiimote just like a bat or wave it toward the plate to deliver a masterful pitch, enjoying the same intuitive, easy-to-learn controls that helped make Wii Sports a living room hit. With Mario and his unpredictable pals filling out the roster, imagination and active-play innovation are sure to dominate the diamond in this lively title, scheduled for release later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 10 2008 15:25 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Sticker Checklist [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Like yesterday's update for Trophies, today's Dojo update is a full checklist of all collectible Stickers in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As with the Trophy list, you can print it out to keep track of how many you have. Click the source link to check it out. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 9 2008 19:56 PM [Top] New Japanese Release Dates from Famitsu [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed some release dates for some hotly-anticipated upcoming Wii games, that certainly give hope for these games coming out in North America sooner rather than later. First up is Super Mario Stadium Baseball, which will release in Japan on June 19th. Next is a game that Wii fans have been waiting to hear from, Disaster: Day of Crisis. The game will be hitting stores on July 3rd. Stay tuned for more as it breaks, including if either of these games will be announced for a US release. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 9 2008 19:43 PM [Top] New GameCube Controller Announced [ Nintendo of Japan ] Since the Wii's release, and due to the fact that one can only play GameCube games on the console with them, GameCube controllers have been highly-coveted items, especially considering Nintendo stopped producing the controllers when the GameCube ceased production. Well, those days seem to be at an end in Japan at least, as Nintendo has announced it will produce a new GameCube controller specially-made for the Wii console. White in color (to match the Wii), the controller will also work with the GameCube console itself, and will release later this month for a price of 2,000 yen. No word on if the controller will be making it to the US anytime soon. Check out an image of the controller below. Images: White GameCube Controller Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 9 2008 18:59 PM [Top] New Band Brothers Announced [ Famitsu ] Back when the DS launched in Japan many moons ago, the console brought with it a unique rhythm title named Daigasso! Band Brothers, which allowed players to perform and compose music to their hearts content, complete with multiplayer with each player taking a different instrument. The game was even scheduled for a US release under the name Jam with the Band, before it was apparently canceled not soon after. However, it appears Nintendo is set to give the series a try again, with the release of the sequel, Daigasso! Band Brothers DX. Band Brothers DX plans to go above and beyond the original, with 30 songs available from the start, including genres such as J-Pop and classical. Over 100 additional tracks will also be available as downloadable content through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game will also feature over 50 instruments, including NES tones. Also, the game will feature a karaoke mode using either the DS headset or built-in microphone, where players can either sing along with or put lyrics to their music. Also, the game will feature a 6-player jam mode. The game is set to release in Japan on June 26th, with no word on if this game will hit America or not. Check out the scan from Famitsu below. Images: Band Brothers DX Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 9 2008 18:49 PM [Top] New Ace Attorney Announced [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu reveals that Capcom is once again making a new Gyakuten Saiban game, a series better known in America as Ace Attorney. However, the new game will have quite a twist: rather than take on the role of lawyers Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice, players will be able to see a case from the other side of the courtroom. In the new game, titled Gyakuten Kenji (Turnabout Prosecutor), players will play as prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, accompanied by bumbling detective Dick Gumshoe, both of whom made appearances throughout the Ace Attorney series. Instead of the standard first-person viewpoint used throughout the series, investigations will be done from a side-scrolling perspective, as Edgeworth looks around a room for clues. There will also be new interaction and deduction systems for the game as well. The game is currently without a release date for Japan, although it will hopefully come out by the end of the year, with an NA release not soon after. Check out the scans from Famitsu below. Images: Gyakuten Kenji Famitsu Scan 1 Gyakuten Kenji Famitsu Scan 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 9 2008 18:31 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Trophy List [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today's Dojo update reveals every available trophy that can be obtained in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, both hidden and captured through the game's Coin Launcher. The list even comes with a handy-dandy checklist, which you can print out and see just how many trophies you've collected. To check out the list, click the source link. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 8 2008 19:06 PM [Top] Trauma Center 2 Officially Announced [ Atlus ] Atlus today announced Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 for Nintendo DS, a direct sequel to the 2005 smash hit. The fast-paced medical action that made the handheld original a classic is back, along with all of your favorite Trauma Center characters. Rejoin Derek and Angie as they deal with the unpredictable aftereffects of GUILT. With numerous enhancements, including new difficulty modes and new operations, handheld surgeons have a lot to be excited about. Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is currently scheduled to release on July 1. GUILT is no more. Dr. Derek Stiles and Nurse Angie Thompson faced humanity’s greatest threat and triumphed. Now, in the aftermath, they find themselves in unknown territory, forced to deal with the disastrous consequences of the killer virus. Join them as they scramble to address questions left unanswered and put an end to the mystery behind the disease. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 8 2008 0:54 AM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - All Secrets Revealed [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today's Dojo update is a full list of all the available secrets in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. By clicking the source link, you'll not only see how to unlock all of the secret characters, stages, and modes, but also how to unlock all of the hidden trophies, secrets, and features. It's certainly worth a look if you don't mind spoilers. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 7 2008 15:44 PM [Top] DS Needs Food Badly [ Eidos ] Eidos has today confirmed that Gauntlet, a modern reworking of the classic fantasy hack and slash arcade game from Midway, will be released on Nintendo DS later this year. Gauntlet is set in a fantasy-themed universe where evil cloaks the world from the high clouds of Ascendia to the depths of the lava-ridden Abyss. Players can choose from the four classic heroes, Elf, Warrior, Wizard, and Valkyrie, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities. Throughout the journey, the heroes will slash their way through demonic foes and gain up to four power move abilities to aid them in their battle with evil. One of the few titles taking full advantage of the hardware capabilities of the Nintendo DS, Gauntlet offers Voiceover IP (VoIP) which allows voice communication through the Nintendo DS microphone, giving players more options to interact with their friends online. Featuring 40 maps across three realms, Gauntlet offers fast-paced, retro RPG crusade-style gameplay in addition to new and in-depth multiplayer features including cooperative play and competitive multiplayer. The arcade style competitive multiplayer feature strengthens the addictive Gauntlet experience by introducing ranked multiplayer games like - Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Treasure Hoard game modes, hosted with local Nintendo Wireless play or via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, April 7 2008 12:32 PM [Top] Two New Games for VC [ Nintendo ] Yoshi's Cookie (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take one part puzzle game, combine with intuitive game play, add a pinch of multiplayer action and top with a layer of everyone's favorite dinosaur. Mix together and let set for roughly 100 stages' worth of time. If that sounds like a winning recipe to you, then step into the kitchen and get ready for a batch of fast-paced puzzle action. Hunker down to move rows and columns of randomly placed cookies in an effort to align all the cookies of the same type. Successfully assemble a row or column to make the line disappear, then move to a new one. If you're good enough, you may even be able to make a Yoshi cookie appear! Feel like taking on a friend? Fire up the two-player mode, where you can attack your opponent while competing to match as many cookies as possible. Be careful, though—if your timing is off, you could end up attacking yourself. Who knew dinosaurs had such a weakness for puzzle games and sweets? Bases Loaded (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Bases Loaded is a baseball game with an arcade feel and plenty of options from which players can choose. Select one of 12 teams, set your lineup from the 30 players available (each with different strengths), then play a single game or try to win the pennant. During game play, the screen shows two different viewpoints: one from behind home plate as you're batting, and the other from the pitching mound in a television-style shot (unique for its time) as your team plays in the field. Strong play control and excellent graphics add to the excitement as you decide what pitch to throw (you can even try to provoke the opposing batter into charging the mound), control all positions on the field, or do your best to get a hit. So step to the plate and find out why this is one of the most popular baseball games on the NES. Can you pull through in the clutch? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, April 7 2008 12:14 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Final Smash Trophies [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today's Dojo update reveals the Final Smash Trophies, which are special trophies you obtain from beating All-Star Mode. Depending on which character you use, you get a trophy that shows off that character's Final Smash. To see some examples, click below. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 3 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 4 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 5 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 6 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 7 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 8 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 9 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, April 5 2008 13:58 PM [Top] Sam & Max Take the Case on Wii [ Telltale Games ] As part of a continuing effort to extend episodic gaming to new audiences and platforms, Telltale is officially announcing that Sam & Max Season One will be coming to Wii. This collection of the first six Sam & Max episodes will introduce a brand new audience to the popular and critically-acclaimed game series. Sam & Max for Wii is expected to ship to retail stores worldwide this fall, thanks to a partnership between Telltale and JoWooD/DreamCatcher. Sam & Max’s journey to the Wii console has been fueled by fan excitement. Just before the episodic series’ PC debut, fans launched an email campaign clamoring for a Wii version of the series. Continuous rumors and rampant speculation online led to developer and publisher enthusiasm for the title. With Telltale now focusing on console development in addition to PC, the company can finally bring Sam & Max to Wii in response to this overwhelming demand. The Sam & Max episodes let players guide the Freelance Police through a series of bizarre—and often sidesplitting—mysteries. Sam & Max Season One has already experienced enormous success, both as an episodic series available for download through Telltale’s website and other services, and at retail. Honors include Adventure Game of the Year from GameSpy and IGN, and inclusion on Games for Windows’ list of Top 10 Games in 2007. The Wii console is a perfect fit for the Sam & Max games. The series’ story-driven gameplay and episodic structure has often been favorably compared to TV sitcoms. The new Wii version will present Sam & Max in a format that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the living room, either alone or with a group of friends—a setting perfectly suited for this kind of experience. The game’s easy-to-use interface is ideal for a broad consumer audience. Sam & Max Season One for Wii will be published by Dreamcatcher/The Adventure Company in North America, and by JoWooD in Europe. In addition to English language, the game will be fully localized in French and German, and subtitled in Italian and Spanish. All versions are expected to ship during the fall 2008 season. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, April 4 2008 18:26 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Full Music List [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] The Dojo's latest update reveals Super Smash Bros. Brawl's full list of music, with a handful of exceptions. For those that haven't seen it, it's worth checking out simply for the unprecedented list of songs and composers in the game, as it's truly something incredible to behold. To see it for yourself, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 3 2008 20:21 PM [Top] Sonic is Officially Unleashed [ SEGA ] SEGA today announced that everyone’s favorite hedgehog is once again breaking new ground in the upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed. The latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise starring the beloved blue hedgehog will take players on an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe in a way never before experienced in the world of Sonic. Fans will be treated to an array of new, exciting and unique next generation features to heighten their experience. Sonic Unleashed is currently under development for the Wii. Having been broken apart by the evil Dr. Eggman, it’s up to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds! In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. Both day and night play different, yet important, roles in Sonic’s newest quest… as the sun sets, a new adventure awakens. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic’s amazing abilities to save the world, and himself! Players will have an opportunity to engage in ways never before done with the Sonic franchise, so in addition to running at high speeds, which will be highlighted in four new speed mechanics, combat fighting now becomes possible. New combat, movement, functional abilities and platforming will be introduced to offer increased depth and variety. Sonic Unleashed will offer a re-defined experience for fans and newcomers of the franchise alike by combing picturesque & detailed scenery, an expansive world with multiple paths to choose from and dynamic viewpoints for an immersive and renewed gaming atmosphere. Along with seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, the game is built on a powerful, new proprietary “Hedgehog Engine,” which introduces impressive lighting abilities and new technology tailor made for Sonic’s new speed capabilities. Under development for approximately three years, the Hedgehog Engine will help to produce a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay components. Check out the first official screens and trailer for the game below. Images: Sonic Unleashed Screenshot 1 Sonic Unleashed Screenshot 2 Video: Sonic Unleashed Trailer (32.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 3 2008 20:11 PM [Top] THQ Constructs Combat on DS [ THQ ] THQ today announced Construction Combat: Lock’s Quest, a new game for the Nintendo DS that is being developed by the team behind Drawn to Life. Construction Combat: Lock’s Quest will let players create a virtual world block-by-block to defend their homeland against invading enemies. By using the Nintendo DS stylus in Construction Combat: Lock’s Quest, players will be able to have the tangible feeling of building and creating structures themselves. Elements of strategy and puzzle-solving are also incorporated to reward more sophisticated players. Those same players also appreciate the ability to battle with friends through multi-card play or Wi-Fi. Playing as the hero Lock, who’s part architect and part engineer, players will use different materials such as stone, metal or wood to create and design defense towers in the battle field. Gamers will also be able to use quirky weapons such as quicksand traps and glue cannons to attack enemies. The DS game will ship this fall. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, April 3 2008 0:41 AM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - All-Star Mode [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Today's Dojo update reveals the final unlockable mode, All-Star mode, obtained when you unlock every character. This mode is similar to how it was in Super Smash Bros. Melee, as players must battle every character in the game, without being defeated even once. A resting area between stages gives players a break, as well as allowing them to refill health using one of three available Heart Containers. What's unique about Brawl's version, however, is that the characters will be met in the chronological order of their first gaming appearance. For the full list of characters and details, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, April 2 2008 14:39 PM [Top] Mario Kart Wii US Trailer [ Wii Café ] To go along with today's fact sheet, Nintendo has put out the first trailer of the US version of Mario Kart Wii. Since we already have the fact sheet posted below, I won't bore you with it again - just watch the trailer and wait impatiently for the 27th to come. Video: Mario Kart Wii US Trailer (16.7 MB) Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, April 2 2008 0:07 AM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Eighth Hidden Stage [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] (WARNING: The following Smash Bros. update reveals one of the game's hidden stages. If you'd rather not be spoiled, please don't read on.) Today's Dojo update reveals the final hidden stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, The Pirate Ship. The official stage of Toon Link, the Pirate Ship is a representation of Tetra's ship from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, using it as a battlefield. The King of Red Lions will occasionally appear behind the ship as a lifesaver for players, and the catapult on the bow will launch them. In addition, the stage will be bombarded by a watchtower, capsize on rocks, and even float into the sky on a whirlwind. Check out some screens of the stage below. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 3 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 4 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 5 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 6 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 7 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 1 2008 20:41 PM [Top] Mario Kart Wii Fact Sheet [ Nintendo ] The worldwide race is on with a whole new set of tricks, tracks and ways to play. * The Wii Wheel transforms the Wii Remote controller into a steering wheel that feels natural in anyone's hands, while the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller offer a classic control style for the Mario Kart veteran. In either configuration, players can perform speed-boosting tricks with a shake of the Wii Remote. * Players can race as their favorite Nintendo character, or even as themselves! Mario Kart Wii lets players race with their personalized Mii characters. And racers will see other Mii characters they have created cheering from the sidelines on some race courses. * Players can compete with up to three friends in their living room. Or challenge up to 11 opponents via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in the biggest Mario Kart race yet. All tracks and modes of play are available via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and players can visit the Mario Kart Channel to compete in tournaments, check rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data. There are two options for races and battles over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection: up to 12 people via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or up to 10 people via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection with two people playing locally. * Cruise new tracks and arenas or tour classic courses from Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS. Tired of riding on four wheels? Bust out one of the new motorbikes for special tricks and techniques. How to progress through the game: Place first in Grand Prix circuits or clear skill-based missions to open up increasingly difficult and thrilling circuits. Players can have multiplayer races on any open courses or battle in arenas. Characters: Nintendo favorites Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Bowser and Toad, plus a host of new faces-including your own! Get into the game and put your Mii character behind the wheel. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Whether racing around an obstacle-filled track or battling in an arena, drifting and tossing items are the keys to Mario Kart success. Players can shake the Wii Remote while launching off a ramp to pull off a trick that will temporarily boost their speed. When riding a bike, players can gain additional speed by flicking the Wii Remote up and popping a wheelie. Control: Mario Kart Wii is compatible with four different control schemes, so players can customize how they want to play: * Wii Remote Controller (with or without Wii Wheel): Steer by tilting the Wii Remote left and right. Or snap the Wii Remote into the Wii Wheel to transform it into a steering wheel for an intuitive, motion-based control scheme. * Nunchuk Controller: Steer with the Control Stick on the Nunchuk and use the Wii Remote to accelerate, perform tricks and drift. * Classic Controller: Mario Kart veterans can let their thumbs do the driving with the Classic Controller. However, players cannot perform certain moves with this control scheme. * Nintendo GameCube Controller: Experienced Mario Kart fans may also enjoy this familiar scheme, although some maneuvers cannot be performed. Watch for Wii Cafe's preview of Nintendo's anticipated racer, coming soon. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, April 1 2008 18:23 PM [Top]