Today's Special Archives: May 2007

News Archives Index The Bigs Gets Big Sound [ IGN Music ] Some big names have signed up to be in The Bigs from 2K Sports. Take a look at what you'll be rocking out to while slamming those homeruns: Stone Temple Pilots - Plush Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You Jane's Addiction - Ocean Size Killing Joke - Millennium Rollins Band - Tearing White Zombie - More Human than Human Midnight Oil - Dreamworld Fu Manchu - Hung out to Dry Motorhead - Ace of Spades The Stooges - Down On The Street Primus - Jerry Was A Racecar Driver Blue October - Somebody Satellite Party - Insanity Rains Highbench - Satisfied The Bigs slides into retailers on June 25, 2007 for Wii, PS2, PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, May 31 2007 22:25 PM [Top] Mushroom Men Coming to Wii/DS [ Gamecock Media Group ] Gamecock Media Group has announced the fanatical fungi war of Red Fly Studio’s Mushroom Men will take place on the Wii and Nintendo DS. Mushroom Men utilizes all the unique control elements of both systems, allowing for amazing gameplay that draws players into an incredibly lush and treacherous stylized world. Mushroom Men gives players the opportunity to jump into the fantastic microcosm that is the backyard battlefield. Take control of the crusade, creating devastating weapons from everyday items and teaming up with other sentient plant forms that'll leave the enemy sliced and diced. Let the stylus be your rapier and the Wii Remote your bazooka as you cut down the multitude of household pests that threaten our very existence! Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, May 31 2007 21:59 PM [Top] Need for Speed ProStreet Announced [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts announced today that the blockbuster Need for Speed franchise is introducing a new version that drives the series in a new direction. Need for Speed ProStreet is a ground-breaking Need for Speed experience where you’re thrust to compete head to head against the best street racers in a multitude of racing showdowns. The game is being developed by EA Black Box in Vancouver, B.C., and is slated to ship this fall. Need for Speed ProStreet boasts impeccable precision and impressively detailed photo-realistic graphics, effectively transporting you to the center of the action. It pushes the “Autosculpt” technology to a new level, allowing you to directly impact your car’s performance for the first time as well as personalize its appearance. Need for Speed ProStreet is a true taste of raw adrenaline and racing with consequences. Every dent, every scratch and every crumpled body panel is a battle scar, proof of your commitment and competitive mettle. With an aggressive and skilled AI system, you become immersed in an unmatched believable race experience. Add in a revolutionary online mode that will redefine the meaning of competitive social play, and Need for Speed ProStreet is the ultimate formula for an emotionally charged street racing showdown. Need for Speed ProStreet will be available for just about all consoles and handhelds, including the Wii and Nintendo DS. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 31 2007 12:57 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - The Cracker Launcher [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] The official Super Smash Bros. Brawl website's latest update concerns another of the game's new weapons. This time, the Cracker Launcher is featured: a large cannon that can fire massive bursts of fireworks at unsuspecting opponents. Like with all shooting weapons, the players can move while firing the Cracker Launcher, and can also aim their attack with the analog stick. Check out some screens of the Cracker Launcher below. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Artwork Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 31 2007 12:54 PM [Top] Nintendo Wi-Fi Breaks 5 Million [ Nintendo ] Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has crossed two huge milestones within just days of one another. Worldwide, since its launch in November 2005, Nintendo's wireless gaming service has now connected more than 5 million unique Nintendo DS owners, and those gamers have racked up more than 200 million game-play sessions. Worldwide, nearly 65 games can be played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The five most popular globally are Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. Nintendo DS continues to enjoy record-breaking success. According to new figures from the independent NPD Group, DS was again the top-selling video game system in April, with more than 470,000 units sold in the United States alone. That's nearly 16,000 per day. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 30 2007 13:03 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Update - Moving and Shooting [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Once again, the official Smash Bros. Brawl website has updated, this time with more details on the game's weaponry. Today's entry reveals that the Super Scope will make its return from Melee, and will be joined by other "rapid-fire items". However, now players will be able to fire these weapons while moving forward and backward, and even while jumping. This, according to game producer Masahiro Sakurai, will improve ease of use, as well as increase possible strategies. Check out some new screens below. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 30 2007 12:44 PM [Top] New DS Lite Colors for Japan [ Nintendo of Japan ] At a retail conference held today in Japan, Nintendo announced that the family of DS Lite colors will be getting a little bigger on June 23rd, when the new Metallic Rose and Gloss Silver colors launch. Both colors will retain the standard DS Lite price of 16,800 yen, and both will likely fly off of shelves as soon as they are released, as has been the case with the DS Lite since the console launched more than a year ago. Nintendo also took the time to confirm some Japanese release dates for some upcoming Wii and DS titles. Chibi Robo: Park Patrol will be released on July 5th, while Donkey Kong Jungle Climber releases on August 9th. Two new, likely Japan-only games were also revealed, as My Housekeeping Diary releases on July 12th, and Slide Adventure Magkid is released on August 2nd, packed in with a special slide controller. Lastly, Mario Party 8 will release for the Wii on July 26th. We'll have more as it breaks on if these two new DSes will be coming to America any time soon. For now, check out the first images of them below. Images: DS Lite - Metallic Rose DS Lite - Gloss Silver Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 30 2007 1:53 AM [Top] Mario Strikers Charged [ Previews ] Mario and friends return to the pitch with their first sports title on Wii. Can the Wii Remote improve on an already-great soccer game? Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 29 2007 21:13 PM [Top] More Words from George [ GameDaily Biz ] Nintendo's VP of Marketing George Harrison has once again chimed in with his thoughts on the future of Nintendo and the industry. After George's claim last week that Nintendo would sell 35 million Wii in the US by 2011 or 2012, he now makes yet another bold prediction: that first, the Wii would overtake the 360 in total sales this year for first place in the console race, and that Nintendo would eventually own as much as FIFTY PERCENT of the total hardware market. Here's the quote, in which he also has some choice things to say about Sony and Microsoft: "First of all, I'm not sure it's going to be a typical lifecycle. In the past, we've always had five- to six-year lifecycles which were sort of forced by someone jumping ahead and using a new piece of technology... So we have a great expectation that this lifecycle's actually going to last more than five years.... "We also have a belief that we can be, of this lifecycle, 40-45% of the hardware that's being sold. And that would be a phenomenal increase for us over the GameCube era. But on the other hand, we could get over 50%. And a lot of that depends on what our competitors do. If they only focus on the Grand Theft Autos and the Halos and things of that nature, they're focusing on a very tiny part of the market. The overall market is growing so dramatically that they're going to miss out on the opportunities that we're seeing in the expanded audience.... "So far, they (Sony and MS) haven't spent a lot of time focused on us. Now that we're having some success, they probably will. We can already see some of the things that they've tried. For last year's E3, at the last minute, Sony rushed out their Sixaxis controller as an effort to respond to the Wii remote.... We saw Microsoft roll out Viva Piñata as their killer app for the Pokémon set. And neither of those worked really well. Part of it is, I think it's not in their DNA. They're really good at reaching a certain customer, and have a real difficulty understanding how we succeed with the customers that we have." Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, May 29 2007 18:46 PM [Top] Mario Parties it Up Again [ Nintendo ] Nintendo is bringing the carnival to town, and this time the party is going to get players up and moving. Mario Party 8 is the first Mario Party game for Wii from Nintendo, and the first in the series to incorporate motion controls. In this carnival-themed excursion, players might use the Wii Remote to punch the air to chip away at a statue, point it at the screen to shoot at targets or balance it like a tightrope walker's pole. The amazing functions of the Wii Remote add a new level of hilarious competition. This new Mario Party installment includes new boards, characters, moves and minigames. Since the original Mario Party debuted in 1999 on Nintendo® 64, the franchise has been a perpetual fan favorite, selling nearly 6.5 million in the United States alone. It's the video game version of a board game, where each player takes a turn moving spaces. Then everyone competes in a fast-paced minigame at the end of the round. Its controls are fun and easy enough that every member of the family can join in. Mario Party 8 lets players get into the action like never before, and is a great follow-up for gamers and families who had fun competing in Wii Sports. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 29 2007 14:27 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Brawl Site Update - Final Smashes [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] The Official Smash Bros. website has updated yet again, this time with info on one of the coolest parts of the first trailer; where Mario grabs an item shaped like the Smash Bros. logo and proceeds to blow away his opponents with a massive tornado of fireballs. This item is called a "Smash Ball", which, when collected, allows the player to unleash a mighty attack exclusive to that character, called a "Final Smash". In game producer Masahiro Sakurai's words, a Final Smash is "kind of like a powerful and personalized hammer. (Or maybe not…)." The blog also details Mario's aforementioned Final Smash, called the "Mario Finale". According to Sakurai, "The explosion launches out and expands vertically as it travels, so in order to inflict the most damage possible on enemies, it’s best to release this from a slight floating or midair position on either the left or right side of the screen." Check out some new screens, as well as some artwork of the Smash Ball, below. Images: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Artwork Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 1 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 2 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 3 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screenshot 4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 29 2007 14:04 PM [Top] Super Smash Bros. Brawl Website Update [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] Nintendo has yet again updated the Super Smash Bros. Brawl website with a new blog entry, once again focusing on new character Pit. This time around, the blog looks at a couple of his special abilities. Pit's normal special move is the Palutena Arrow, seen in the first two screens. It apparently works similar to Link's bow and arrow attacks from Melee, with the exception that the arrow can be steered up or down when fired. However, since the arrow moves extremely fast, players must be quick with their aiming. Pit's up special ability are the Wings of Palutena, which allow him to fly through the air. This can save him if he gets knocked off of the stage, however he can only fly for a limited time. Check out some screens of Pit's abilities 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 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 28 2007 14:03 PM [Top] Three Added to Virtual Console [ Nintendo ] Kid Chameleon (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): The local arcade is packed with kids, all lining up to play the latest, most realistic video game they've ever seen. It's called Wild Side, and it uses holographic images to immerse the player in a strange world. But there's a problem... Kids are literally getting sucked into the game, and now several of them are trapped. Throughout more than 100 levels, you'll take on several different forms, such as a Berzerker, a Micromax, a Maniaxe, or a Skycutter, which will make you much more powerful. It's up to you, Kid Chameleon, the best gamer in town, to get yourself inside the game so that you can defeat the game's boss and bring your friends back to reality. J.J. and Jeff (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): This comical action game features two bungling detectives, J.J. and Jeff, as they travel through a total of 6 fields. One day, a request comes into their office to take a case that requires them to "rescue a wealthy man who's been kidnapped." Choose between the two characters and set off alone or outwit your partner to save the day. Each field is broken into 4 areas, where enemies, as well as your partner, will try to keep you from your goal. There are many items throughout each area. Kick around in various locations to make them appear. Jump and spray-pint your way toward your goal! If you find a hidden room, you can regain health while being completely entertained by its short sketch and surreal allure. ActRaiser (SNES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): A masterpiece of game design originally released in the early days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, ActRaiser's enduring popularity stems from its revolutionary combination of action- and simulation-based game play. The user plays the role of the Master, a dethroned deity whose once idyllic world has fallen under the control of the Evil One. Stripped of godly power, the Master must somehow put an end to the Evil One's reign and rebuild his desolate realm. Game play alternates between two modes: Action and Simulation. In Action mode, the Master must battle against impossible odds to pacify six lands. Pacifying a land unlocks Simulation mode. In this mode, the Master must oversee the development and repopulation of the territory he has reclaimed. In doing so, he will gain followers who gradually restore his godly might, empowering him to take back the next land and, ultimately, defeat the Evil One. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, May 28 2007 13:06 PM [Top] Mario Strikers Charged Artwork [ Nintendo ] We've got some nice new artwork to go along with the Mario Strikers Charged fact sheet and screens. Check them out. Images: Mario Strikers Charged Boxart (small) Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 1 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 2 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 3 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 4 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 5 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 6 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 7 Mario Strikers Charged Artwork 8 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 22:36 PM [Top] Smash Bros Update [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] The latest update to the Smash Bros. Dojo has some info and new images on Pit, one of the new fighters introduced in Brawl, and the first confirmed new item - the Gooey Bomb. Pit: The protagonist in Kid Icarus. Pit's Sacred Bow of Palutena is actually two blades combined. He can separate them or unite them at will for use in battle. The arrows Pit's bow unleashes shoot out like beams of light. Players can control the curves of their trajectories. Gooey Bomb A bomb that adheres to most things. It's an explosive encased in a gummy goo. It's a little different from a Motion Sensing Bomb in the sense that it can attach itself not only to the terrain, but also to opponents. When you hit someone with it, it sticks to them! Get... GET IT OFF! Then it explodes! Oh, the horror! However, it's possible to get a Gooey Bomb that's stuck to you to stick to someone else. Touching someone as you pass by may very well cause it to migrate when you least expect it! Pass it on! It may even get returned to sender... 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 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 20:30 PM [Top] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers Trailer [ Square-Enix ] Square-Enix has released the first trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles game coming exclusively to the Wii. While the game doesn't reveal anything on the game's Wii Remote functionality or Nintendo Wi-Fi capabilites, it most certainly looks downright stunning. You can see it for yourself by clicking the source link, then on the image in the news post. The game should be released in the US sometime next year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 20:23 PM [Top] Mario Party 8 Screens and Artwork [ Nintendo ] The world's enormously popular party video game is getting a lot crazier in Mario Party 8. Whether you're shaking up cola cans or lassoing barrels, you and your friends will be drawn into the action like never before using the Wii Remote. In Mario Party 8, a hyperactive emcee has invited Mario, Peach and the rest of the crew to his carnival, a perfect setting for the dynamic spectacle of the Wii game play. Mario Party 8 keeps the surprises coming with minigames that draw upon the Wii Remote's motion, pointing and button control in a variety of ways. Players always know how to jump into the action by watching an animated tutorial that shows how to use the Wii Remote. How to progress through the game: Following tradition, Mario Party 8 takes the social, strategic game play of board games and adds breaks for quick, action-oriented minigames. In the main mode, players travel across six boards in search of Stars, landing on spaces that are helpful (example: giving coins) or a hindrance (example: sending Bowser in to mess with the player). Several variations for these boards tweak the main goals to enhance game play for solo sessions, two-player games and three- to four-player games. In addition, Mario Party 8 includes four more minigame-infused kinds of special games, such as Tic-Tac Drop, where players earn the right to put the next mark on the board by winning a minigame. Mario Party 8 releases for the Wii next week, on May 29th. Check out the latest screens and some character art of the game below. Images: Mario Party 8 Character Art 1 Mario Party 8 Character Art 2 Mario Party 8 Character Art 3 Mario Party 8 Character Art 4 Mario Party 8 Character Art 5 Mario Party 8 Character Art 6 Mario Party 8 Character Art 7 Mario Party 8 Character Art 8 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 1 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 2 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 3 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 4 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 5 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 6 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 7 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 8 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 9 Mario Party 8 Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 20:13 PM [Top] Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screens [ Nintendo ] The Wii sequel to Big Brain Academy for Nintendo D includes three multiplayer modes for up to eight players. Players also can exchange student-record books with other players over WiiConnect24 and compete against their save data. With 15 new activities that challenge the brain in single-player Test and Practice modes, Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree sees how players measure up in five categories: Identify, Memorize, Analyze, Compute and Visualize. All activities are designed around the Wii Remote's pointer. Players can play solo with one Wii Remote, or pass it around like a relay baton in group competitions. When players start a new game, they'll meet the whimsical Dr. Lobe, who will suggest that they take on the Test mode challenge: playing all 15 activities that span the five brainy categories. He'll tell players how big their brain is based on how well they did and how fast they did it. He'll encourage players to take the Test often and to use Practice mode to beef up their skills in all 15 of the activities. Practice mode also offers three difficulty levels for each activity, and Dr. Lobe will award several medals for high achievement in each one. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree launches for the Nintendo DS on June 11th. Check out the latest screens of the game below. Images: Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 1 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 2 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 3 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 4 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 5 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 6 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 7 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 8 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 9 Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 20:10 PM [Top] Mario Strikers Charged Screenshots [ Nintendo ] The captains from Super Mario Strikers are back, joined by four new ones, and now players can create their own original teams by mixing and matching their captain with a new cast of sidekicks. All characters have their own sets of special abilities, making each one play completely differently from the others. New captain super-abilities and sidekick skill-shots add a new level of depth to already crazy soccer battles on the most unpredictable and hazard-filled pitches in the Mario universe. Each field features its own set of interactive hazards that alter game play during the course of the game. There are tons of new single-player modes, from tournaments to challenges to tutorials, but the game truly shines in multiplayer. The game features a robust multiplayer mode: Up to four players can battle locally, or they can go on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for one-on-one matches. Building on the frantic fun of Super Mario Strikers, this game gets players into action only possible on Wii. Primary game-play controls use both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Players use the Nunchuk to control their characters and deploy items. Flick the Wii Remote to perform the defensive "Big Hit" move and flatten foes. To defend against a "Mega Strike" goal attempt, use the Wii Remote to point at the screen and manually defend against multiple balls as they rocket toward the screen. Game storyline: Characters from the Mario universe clash in a sensational battle-sport based on Super Mario Strikers. In the Road to the Striker Cup mode, players take their favorite captain and compete through a set of tournaments. Players must first battle their way through the Fire Cup and the Crystal Cup, eventually reaching their goal of competing for the Striker Cup. The competition is fierce, and the difficulty grows as they battle their way through the tournament ladders on their way to the Striker Cup. How to progress through the game: There is tons of fun to be had just playing a single match in single-player or multiplayer modes, but players also can settle into tournament play in the Road to the Striker Cup. Or they can try to finish 12 of the toughest game situations in Striker Challenges. Beating either of these modes will unlock new stadiums, new captains and player cards useful for game cheats. Characters: Mario Strikers Charged welcomes eight new characters to the field of play: Petey Piranha, Diddy Kong, Bowser Jr. and Bowser are the new captains, and Dry Bones, Boo, Monty Mole and Shy Guy join the roster as sidekicks. Back from the first Strikers are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, Donkey Kong, Waluigi, Yoshi, Daisy, Koopa, Toad, Birdo and the Hammer Bros. Stadiums: Mario Strikers Charged features 17 total stadiums. Nine of them are new, each with its own terrain and set of perils that affect the game play. New stadiums include the Sand Tomb, Thunder Island, the Vice, the Lava Pit, Galactic Stadium, the Wastelands, Crystal Canyon, Storm Ship Stadium and the Dump. Also included are the classic stadiums updated from Super Mario Strikers and a new Strikers 101 field. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Mario Strikers Charged is all about maximizing the abilities of the different characters, as each character has a unique set of abilities and skills, not to mention super-abilities like Donkey Kong's Thunder Wham or Bowser's Fire Storm. Charging a ball provides a more powerful shot for both the captain and sidekick characters. A fully charged captain shot will result in a devastating Mega Strike goal shot. A successful Mega Strike can split into six different balls, all of which must be blocked by the defensive players by using the Wii Remote to point at the screen. Practice passing and charging the ball to increase the chance of scoring. The player can charge the ball by completing a series of successful passes and avoiding steals, or by holding the B button to charge the ball quickly. The interactive stadiums, each with its own pitfalls, make each game an exercise in chaos. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Play: Players climb the rankings boards as they compete on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection specific to the region they are playing in. They earn ranking points by scoring goals, posting game wins and even just competing. Players can earn up to 20 points total: 10 points for a win, 1 point for a loss and 1 point per goal, to a maximum of 10 points. With a positive structured rankings system, players are rewarded for playing games in their entirety, creating better online experiences for all participants. The ultimate reward is watching a player"s rank climb the leader board. Players are matched up with opponents of similar skill levels through a rankings-based matchmaking system. The player who has earned the most points for that day will be rewarded the title of Striker of the Day. To keep the ranking system honest, players earn points only when competing in ranked games, not when playing against friends. Community: Mario Strikers Charged will offer a strong sense of Wii community, as players will be able to create Mario Strikers Charged profiles using Mii characters for their online identity and create Friend Roster to manage their social community. Using their Mii profiles, players can track their progress on the ranking leader board and their performance against their friends specifically. The goal is to build a community that is accessible and friendly to new players, yet also rewarding for more advanced players. Mario Strikers Charged rushes into stores on July 30, 2007. Images: Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 1 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 2 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 3 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 4 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 5 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 6 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 7 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 8 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 9 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 10 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 11 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 12 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 13 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 14 Mario Strikers Charged Screenshot 15 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 20:07 PM [Top] Picross DS Screenshots [ Nintendo ] Fill in squares using simple hints to reveal the hidden picture. Players need both puzzle-solving skills and creativity to earn a picture reward. Creating puzzles is a snap. Players design their puzzles by hand or draw any picture they like and convert it automatically into a Picross puzzle. Trade puzzles with friends using local wireless or Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or download free bonus puzzle packs. Play with up to five friends in Picross-themed minigames over local wireless, or race to complete puzzles against other gamers on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. How to progress through the game: Each puzzle has a sequence of numbers written in the margins of each column and each row. Those numbers show how many squares within that column or row need to be filled in. Players must deduce where each filled square is based on the numbers in the puzzle. Incorrect guesses earn the player a time penalty. If players solve the puzzle in under one hour, they earn a reward picture, an animated illustration of the thing represented in the puzzle. Puzzles range in size from simple 5x5 squares to much more challenging 15x15 squares—and larger. Players can create and swap puzzles with one another. My Picross: With My Picross, players can create their own puzzles, complete with reward pictures, and transfer them to friends using either local wireless or Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Because making a good Picross puzzle can be challenging, Picross DS automates the process and helps correct errors in homemade puzzles. Additionally, Picross DS can automatically generate puzzles from any drawing made in this mode. Daily Picross: Daily Picross features a series of quick-play puzzle sets that players can return to day after day to test their skill over time. The longer players have the game, the more activities open up. Each activity features a special challenge that builds Picross skills. Daily Picross modes include Nonstop Time Attack (players solve a series of simple puzzles as quickly as possible), No X Marks (players cannot make notes on the game screen), Error Search (in which players must find the incorrect squares in a puzzle) and more. These challenges open up over time. Local Wireless: Host a game with up to four friends (a total of five people), and test their Picross skills with Multi-Picross word and picture challenges. In word challenges, the host writes out a word that gets divided into a series of Picross puzzles (one for each letter), and players must solve the individual letters until they can guess what the word is. In picture challenges, the host draws a picture that gets converted instantly into a Picross puzzle. As players solve the puzzle, they’ll also uncover the host’s original drawing—the player who correctly identifies that drawing wins. Multiplayer matches can be played using only one game card, so anyone with a DS can join in. And, of course, players can exchange puzzles they’ve created with one another, opening up a new world of challenges and, if their friends are curious about Picross, they can send a downloadable demo puzzle. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection: By logging onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with one another in puzzle-solving races or download new puzzle packs from the Picross community. The puzzle-solving races pit two players against one another to compete to finish two puzzles. Players also can upload their own, homemade puzzles to a special Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection storage area where people on their Friend Roster can download their puzzles. (Note: puzzles cannot be shared with people not on a player’s Friend Roster.) Picross DS hits stores on July 30, 2007. Images: Picross DS Screenshot 1 Picross DS Screenshot 2 Picross DS Screenshot 3 Picross DS Screenshot 4 Picross DS Screenshot 5 Picross DS Screenshot 6 Picross DS Screenshot 7 Picross DS Screenshot 8 Picross DS Screenshot 9 Picross DS Screenshot 10 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 19:55 PM [Top] Planet Puzzle League Boxart and Screenshots [ Nintendo ] Combining addictive puzzle action with simple touch-screen controls, Planet Puzzle League couldn't be easier to play. Players use the stylus to grab blocks and slide them left and right. If they match three or more blocks of the same color, the blocks will vanish. Form chains and combos to create an avalanche of blocks and rack up high scores. Up to four players can battle over local wireless, and two can slug it out over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Wi-Fi Novice mode even lets newcomers learn the ropes in a stress-free environment. Planet Puzzle League supports full voice chat over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Once players and friends have exchanged Friend Codes, they can talk for free while they battle each other. The voice chat feature is also compatible with the Nintendo DS Headset. How to progress through the game: Planet Puzzle League features different-colored blocks on the playing field, and a two-block cursor that is controlled by the player. The player puts the cursor on blocks and drags left or right with the stylus to swap their positions. When three or more of the same-colored blocks line up, they disappear. Skilled players can use this to match multiple tiles without a break, creating combos and chains for bonus points. If the stack reaches the top of the screen, players have a few seconds before the game ends. Modes: There are six single-player modes: Puzzle, Endless, Time Attack, Garbage, Clear and Vs. Com. In addition, there is a daily mode where players play three two-minute games each day. This mode tracks a players' overall scores on a graph, letting them view their progress over a period of weeks and months. The game also sports a robust training mode, with dozens of tutorials and demos to experience. Local wireless mode lets up to four players compete in three different games, while the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode has the same number of games, but is for two players only. Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Gamers can battle against other players in a wide variety of modes via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Novice mode allows newcomers to the series to try it out in a friendly environment. Once they get enough wins under their belt, they will be unable to access Novice mode. Players also can take on strangers from across the globe, or compare scores with people who share their birthday. Planet Puzzle League also sports full voice chat functionality, so players can talk to their friends while they play (players must exchange Friend Codes to chat). Planet Puzzle League comes to our world June 4, 2007. Images: Planet Puzzle League Boxart Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 1 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 2 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 3 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 4 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 5 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 6 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 7 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 8 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 9 Planet Puzzle League Screenshot 10 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 19:49 PM [Top] Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshots [ Nintendo ] Welcome to Pokétopia. There are 10 different Colosseums to battle in, and the objective is to win all the Colosseum battles and become the Pokétopia Master. Players use Pokémon from their Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games (sold separately) and battle them on the big screen. Pokémon Battle Revolution is the first title where players can link Wii with Nintendo DS. Players can connect Nintendo DS to Wii (compatible wireless router or Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector and broadband access required for online play). DS Battle Mode (requires DS systems for all players, sold separately): Four players can gather together and battle while using Pokémon from their Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl video games. All players use the DS as their controller in this mode, and it uses the same battle interface found in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. Players can customize their Trainers in the game. Colosseum Battle Mode: There are 10 Colosseums (Battle Fields) altogether throughout Pokétopia. Many will need to be unlocked by playing through the others. Nintendo DS Battle Mode: This multiplayer mode is for those who also own Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl as well as Nintendo DS systems. Four players can get together and battle while using their very own Pokémon from their Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games. All players use the DS as a controller in this mode. The same battle interface that is used in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl is used while battling with friends. Battle Passes and Trainer Customization: Players can create and customize their own Battle Pass by transferring their favorite Pokémon onto the Pass. They can then save the Battle Pass to their Wii Remote and take it to a friend’s house to battle with them. Get ready to battle them all over again on June 25, 2007. Images: Pokémon Battle Revolution Boxart Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 1 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 2 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 3 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 4 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 5 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 6 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 7 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 8 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 9 Pokémon Battle Revolution Screenshot 10 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 19:41 PM [Top] Brain Age 2 Screenshots [ Nintendo ] The game that launched a new generation of gamers is back. Based on the theories of neuroscientist Dr. Kawashima, Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day contains all-new activities to challenge a player’s gray matter. The title is a series of trainings designed to give the brain a workout. The 17 new, engaging activities are all designed to help work the brain. Whether players are playing simple songs on a piano keyboard or monitoring the photo finish of a footrace, they’ll love this new mental workout. When starting a new game, players take a series of tests and get a score that shows how old their brain is. This number is called the “DS Brain Age.” With daily training over weeks and months, players strive to improve their mental acuity and lower their “DS Brain Age.” Progress is charted in graph form. Players can keep up to four save files on one game card. Sharing a game allows players to engage in a picture-drawing quiz or other challenges with family and friends. Players also can use DS Download Play to send a demo to friends or compete with up to 16 players in one of four fun modes. Players who play wirelessly with friends or have multiple people playing on one game card can compare scores or rank other people’s creative efforts. Solo players also can unlock a mode called Virus Buster, which is a new take on the Nintendo classic Dr. Mario (to relax the brain after the training). Activities: Rock, Paper, Scissors: Speak the symbol that beats the one on the screen, but be careful. Players may be asked to lose as well as win. High Number: Locate the number with the highest numerical value and touch it with the stylus. Serial Subtraction: Quickly subtract a small number from a larger one over and over again. Number Memory: Memorize a set of 25 numbers and their locations, then write down as many as you can remember in two minutes. Symbol Match: Examine the key to the left, then write the symbols that correspond to numbers as they appear. Piano Player: Play notes on a keyboard as the cursor scrolls over the sheet music. Memory Sprint: Follow the progress of a runner as he competes in a frantic race, then write down the place in which he finished. Math Recall: Math meets memory in this fun challenge. Solve a math problem, then remember the scribbled-out number and use it to solve the next problem. Sign Finder: Fill in the mathematical symbol that correctly completes the equation. Clock Spin: Examine clocks that are sideways, upside down or inverted, and write down the correct time. Word Scramble: Unscramble the letters and write down the word they spell. Word Blend: Listen to the overlapping words that come from the DS speakers, then write down the words on the Touch Screen. Change Maker: Touch coins and bills with the stylus to make the correct change. Block Count: Watch blocks that fall into columns, then write down the height of one of the columns. Calendar Count: Solve problems based on the calendar, such as “What day was it three days before yesterday?” Other modes include a picture-drawing challenge, a connect-the-dots exercise, and an acrostics activity. Brain Age 2 will also come with more than 100 new sudoku puzzles. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day will be released for the Nintendo DS on August 20th. Check out the first screens of the game below. Images: Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 1 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 2 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 3 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 4 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 5 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 6 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 7 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 8 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 9 Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 25 2007 19:26 PM [Top] Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga Announced [ LucasArts ] LucasArts and TT Games celebrated today the 30th anniversary of the classic movie series that spans generations with the announcement of LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Building on the success of both LEGO Star Wars “block-buster” videogames, each complete with LEGO action and minifigure humor, The Complete Saga enables families to play through the events of all six Star Wars movies in one videogame for the first time ever. Developer Traveller’s Tales takes full advantage of the unique capabilities of all three next-generation consoles, while also adding new characters, new levels and new features. Players can build and battle this fall on the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360. Traveller’s Tales is also creating an entirely new Nintendo DS version, developed brick by brick from the ground up. From the Trade Federation’s “negotiations” with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace to the space battle above Endor in Return of the Jedi, The Complete Saga allows players to kick some brick through 36 Story Mode levels, including Episode II’s newly added high-speed pursuit of bounty hunter Zam Wessell. Traveller’s Tales has revamped levels from the original LEGO Star Wars to match the gameplay evolutions found in LEGO Star Wars II, and Prequel Trilogy characters can now be mixed and matched with those from the Original Trilogy – more than 160 in all. The unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. For more information on LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 24 2007 13:56 PM [Top] EA Announces FIFA 08 [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts today announced that two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho will headline a global lineup of superstar athletes to be featured on the front packs of FIFA 08, the next chapter in the internationally acclaimed videogame franchise that will be available this Autumn on Nintendo DS and for the first time on Wii The spotlight will shine on FC Barcelona’s world-class midfielder Ronaldinho who will be the center-piece of FIFA 08 global packaging and marketing campaigns. Selected FIFA World Player 2004 and 2005, and a finalist last season, Ronaldinho will take his place on FIFA 08 covers alongside star players from other select teams in countries around the world. Ronaldinho will join 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner Miroslav Klose of Werder Bremen on packaging in Germany, rising star Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid on the cover in Spain, attacking midfielder and captain of the Austrian national team Andreas Ivanschitz of Panathinaikos FC on the cover in Austria, and Swiss national Tranquillo Barnetta of Bayer Leverkusen on front packaging in Switzerland. Midfielder Florent Malouda of Olympique Lyonnais and winger Frank Ribery of Olympique Marseille will be paired with Ronaldinho on covers in France. The athletes appearing on the cover of FIFA 08 in North America and the United Kingdom will be revealed next month. EA also revealed that many of the players who will be appearing on its FIFA 08 covers are participating in state-of-the-art body motion capture today at a private facility in Barcelona, Spain. Cover stars Ronaldinho, Klose, Ramos, Barnetta, and Ivanschitz are being motion captured today for the EA SPORTS FIFA videogame development team. The body movements, individual moves and playing style of each athlete is being captured, digitized and will become the life-like movement of the virtual players in future versions of EA’s FIFA games. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 24 2007 13:51 PM [Top] Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 Official [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has announced Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 exclusively for the Wii and Nintendo DS systems. Those mischievous bunnies are back in a hilarious sequel, a party comedy game that is guaranteed to be even crazier and funnier than the first with even more insane games to play. Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 will push the envelope of the Wii gameplay experience by continuing to make innovative use of the Wii Remote. It will deliver fun, intuitive games that feature the wacky humor that Rayman and the Rabbids are known for. In development at Ubisoft’s Paris studio, Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 is scheduled for a fall 2007 release. After invading the world of Rayman, the insane Rabbids have a new objective: THE INVASION OF PLANET EARTH! Setting their home base at a shopping mall, the Rabbids try to study human behavior and mimic everything humans do in funny, illogical ways. As part of their training, the Rabbids must carry out several missions around the globe to prepare themselves for world domination. Rayman will attempt to infiltrate the Rabbids, disguised as one of them, in a mission to foil their crazy plans and save Earth. Game features include: • New wacky games - 60 brand-new games that spoof popular culture and are even wackier than those featured in the first Rayman Raving Rabbids. • Unique use of the Wii Remote – Discover new, innovative ways to play, with eight types of gameplay, including shaking, precision, dexterity and balance. • Travel around the world - Take Rayman on a world tour to defend Earth from the Rabbids invasion. Travel to five different regions such as the USA, Europe and Asia, where players will challenge the Rabbids in the local environments. • Customize Rayman and the Rabbids - Use more than 110 items (skins, hats, accessories and clothes) to dress Rayman and create your own Rabbids. Unleash your creativity with over 540K customization combinations. • Multiplayer experience – Play co-op or battle up to three friends in all the games unlocked in the single-player campaign. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 24 2007 13:48 PM [Top] Reggie Speaks at Nintendo Media Summit [ IGN Wii ] Nintendo President Reginald Fils-Aime met with journalists at Nintendo's Media Summit to discuss all things Nintendo, and while he didn't say much we didn't already know, we were privy to some tidbits on what's coming soon for Wii and DS. First off, he made it known that all of Nintendo's major upcoming titles will see release in this calendar year, including Metroid Prime 3 Corruption (coming August 20th), Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii, as well as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS. Also, it appears that Pokémon Battle Revolution will not turn out to be the first online Wii game. Although it will not have online play, Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree will actually feature online leaderboards where players can compare scores with gamers across the country, as well as 8-player simultaneous play. Stay tuned for more from Nintendo's press event as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 24 2007 0:03 AM [Top] New Super Smash Bros. Brawl Screens [ Nintendo ] The official Smash Bros. site has updated again with two new entries, the first of the "Characters" section. Not surprisingly, the first two characters featured are arguably Nintendo's two biggest names: Mario and Link. You can check out some new screens of both characters 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 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 23 2007 23:51 PM [Top] First Guitar Hero III Details [ Activision ] After warming their amps in the basement garage to rocking sold out shows at Stonehenge, fans of Activision's wildly popular Guitar Hero franchise will now be able to shred like never before with the next iteration of the game that will be available this fall. The new game will be released on the Wii, as well as the PS3, Xbox 360, and PS2 Turning it up to 11, players will experience an incredible number of newly added features and explosive content including a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the gnarliest rock songs ever recorded. Delivering more master tracks than ever before, strategic partnerships have been secured with all the major and independent music record labels and publishers to allow unrivaled access to their deep history of music catalogs, along with supplying artists' original recordings for even greater authenticity. The initial list of face-melting awesomeness includes: * Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones) * Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins) * Sabotage (by Beastie Boys) * The Metal (by Tenacious D) * My Name is Jonas (by Weezer) * Knights of Cydonia (by Muse) * Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss) * School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper) * Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat) * Cult of Personality (by Living Colour) * Barracuda (as made famous by Heart) For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The exclusive Gibson guitars will include innovative features such as removable faceplates that will allow fans to later personalize their guitars and make it their own, and a new button color design that will be integrated for an even greater authentic feel and rock experience. Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model will be the battle axe of choice, and an industry standard for all rock gods on the Wii. The next iteration of Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 23 2007 23:06 PM [Top] A Red Mile to Sin City [ Red Mile Entertainment ] Red Mile Entertainment today announced it has entered into a multi-year, worldwide license agreement to develop and to publish video games based on the Sin City series of graphic novels by writer/artist and film director Frank Miller. The winner of multiple awards in its original comic-book and graphic-novel forms, the Sin City property achieved even greater public awareness with the 2005 release of the successful Frank Miller’s Sin City live-action theatrical feature film. Release date and target console information was not released. We'll keep you updated on anything as it breaks. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, May 23 2007 18:38 PM [Top] George Looks into his Crystal Ball [ Bloomberg ] In a new report from Bloomberg, Nintendo's marketing chief, George Harrison, made a prediction of the future of Wii sales. According to Harrison, anticipation is that Nintendo will sell 35 million Wii consoles in the US by 2012, perhaps even 2011. Nintendo has ramped up production in their China factories in order to meet demand for Wiis all over the world. For perspective, to date the PS2 has sold about 38 million units. "We're starting to see in the performance of the PS3 and Xbox 360 that that's not necessarily motivating the market the way it used to," added Harrison. "So we're going to start work on future technology only when we believe it's necessary." Nintendo is sure confident about the continued success of the Wii over the next several years. It'll be fun to see if George's predictions prove accurate. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, May 23 2007 18:34 PM [Top] All The Carnival Fun, Minus the Crappy Food [ Global Star Software ] Global Star Software announced today that Carnival Games is coming this summer exclusively for Nintendo's Wii. The title is being developed by Cat Daddy Games, the Take-Two studio that created the popular "Deal or No Deal" PC game. Designed for families and children of all ages, Carnival Games brings home all the excitement and fanfare of a day at the carnival. The game will premiere among a select group of titles chosen by Nintendo at the May Media Summit on May 22 and 23 in Seattle. Carnival Games is designed for up to four players and features over 25 of the most popular games seen in midways and boardwalks throughout the world, including Clown Splash, Milk Can Toss, Nerves of Steel, Lucky Cups, Hoops, Day at the Races and the crowd-favorite Dunk Tank. To add to the festivities, you can win over 250 unique, upgradeable virtual prizes in Carnival Games, from a goldfish to a giant stuffed animal twice as big as you are. Additionally, you can win rewards to customize your in-game characters, ranging from a Pirate's wardrobe to Viking horns. No carnival experience would be complete without a mysterious fortune teller. Drop a ticket into the Great Swami machine and your future - whether the boy in your class has a crush on you or if you are going to get that promotion at work - may be instantly revealed. Carnival Games is not yet rated by the ESRB and will have a suggested retail price of $39.99. The title is planned for release this summer. Please visit the game's official site to view the gameplay trailer. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 22 2007 13:10 PM [Top] New Metroid Prime 3 Screens and New Logo [ Nintendo ] If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo's revolutionary controller. Players control Samus by moving with the Nunchuk controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a level of immersion unlike anything they have ever experienced. Through the eyes of Samus, players experience a quantum leap in first-person control as they wield the Wii Remote controller, the ultimate device for the first-person shooter genre. Samus will employ well-known power-ups like the Grapple Beam and Morph Ball, as well as a bunch of new surprises, to help her survive her coming trials. Six months have passed since the events on the planet Aether. The Galactic Federation’s network computer, Aurora Unit, is suddenly and completely corrupted with something like a virus. The Federation believes Space Pirates may be behind the problem and, beginning with Samus, starts to contact bounty hunters. As they explain the situation to the assembled hunters, the Federation is attacked by the pirates. Samus and the other hunters leap to the defense of the Federation capital, only to find that the enemy the hunters face is the presumed-dead Dark Samus. Dark Samus is armed with immense power that no one can withstand. It soon becomes obvious that the forces controlling Dark Samus and the terror of the contaminated Phazon are a dire threat that could corrupt the entire universe. The war initiated by Dark Samus and the Space Pirates rages across many planets as they attempt to corrupt each with Phazon seeds. Players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to explore alien landscapes, hunt for weapons and information, and destroy the seeds. Saving the planets from corruption isn’t enough, though. Eventually, players must take down Samus’ mortal enemy, Dark Samus. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, players will be able to grasp and pull things by using actual arm movements, as well as execute amazing feats like aiming and blasting in midair or at a full run. The game also incorporates a new system involving Phazon. If you fill Samus’ Phazon supply to a certain level, Samus will temporarily go into hyper mode, a state in which she can pull off incredible feats; on the flip side, if she exceeds the maximum Phazon level, she’ll perish. Also, for the first time in the Metroid series, Samus’ ship will be used in active game play Check out some brand-new screens from the anticipated title, as well as the game's new logo, below. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption releases into stores on August 20th. Images: New Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Logo Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Screenshot 1 Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Screenshot 2 Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Screenshot 3 Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Screenshot 4 Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 22 2007 13:00 PM [Top] Smash Bros. Website Reopens [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] As promised, the official website for Super Smash Bros. Brawl has reopened. Unfortunately, not much has been revealed with the site's revamping, but this may change soon. So far, what we have is some info on how to play Smash Bros. (with some small screenshots), and some info on the game's new "Battlefield" stage, revealing that in Brawl, stages will go through various times of day as games are played. Most notably, the site features the colossal list of the game's composers, featuring some of the industry's biggest names, including Koji Kondo (Mario, Zelda), Akihiro Honda (Metal Gear Solid), Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts), Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger), and Motoi Sakuraba (Mario Tennis, Golden Sun). Also, you can check out the official Brawl menu song, which definitely takes influence from the menu theme from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Lastly, the site confirms that Brawl is still on track for a 2007 release. Of course, the site is far from complete, and, according to the front page, game producer Masahiro Sakurai will be giving updates every weekday as to the game's progress. Already there are blanked-out links for Characters, Game modes, and Items, so we can expect there will be much more news to come in the future. Stay tuned! Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 22 2007 3:12 AM [Top] Geometry Wars on Wii and DS [ Nintendo Power ] Xbox 360 fans know very well the addictive nature of Geometry Wars, an arcade-style shooter with unique vector graphics and extremely fast-paced gameplay. Now, us Nintendo fans will get a chance to experience the phenomenon as well, as the latest issue of Nintendo Power reveals that a version of Geometry Wars is set to release on both the Wii and Nintendo DS. Called Geometry Wars: Galaxies, the game will feature the original game, as well as a fleshed-out single player campaign and extensive multiplayer modes, with new Wii Remote and touch screen controls. It will be developed by Kuju Entertainment - the same team behind the upcoming Battalion Wars II. No publisher was announced by the mag, but it was stated that the game will be released this fall. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 23:47 PM [Top] Disney Sets Up Pirates Download Stations for DS [ Disney Interactive ] Gold doubloons have lost their luster as Nintendo DS owners search for a different kind of hidden treasure. Timed to the release of the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End video games, Disney Interactive Studios announced today a partnership with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to release exclusive content for the upcoming Nintendo DS video game at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort where wireless capabilities are in beta testing as part of ongoing New Media enhancements. Beginning May 22 with the release of the video game, Disney park guests who bring their Nintendo DS and a copy of the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End DS video game with them during their visit can download new video game content at specific “X-marks-the-spot" hotspots hidden near the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions. This download unlocks new content such as unlimited health and “savvy" as well as fun extras, including additional costumes. This special content is only available to Disney park visitors and can be accessed with a Nintendo DS. The program is scheduled to run through Labor Day. On May 22, Disney Interactive Studios will also release Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End video games developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software for home consoles, including Wii. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 23:27 PM [Top] The Indy 500 Races to Wii and DS [ Destineer ] Are you ready to careen around the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a hand-built 1960s speed machine that hits speeds of nearly 180 mph, yet rides only 7 inches off the ground? Can you survive a moving minefield of crashes, spinning cars, rolling tires, oil slicks and 32 rivals competing for the perfect racing line? You’ll learn these answers and more as Destineer today announces Indianapolis 500 Legends for the Wii console and Nintendo DS. Set from 1961-1971, a period of loose rules and ever-faster cars, Indianapolis 500 Legends lets players experience the traditions, rivalries, terrifying speeds and jaw-dropping maneuvers of the world famous Brickyard as they take on the arcade-style gameplay inspired by the birth of modern racing. In Indianapolis 500 Legends, players assume the roles of 30 of the sport’s most daring real-life legends like Al Unser, A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones as they draft, dodge and slingshot through a virtual minefield on a track where speeds of up to 180 miles per hour defined racing’s frontier mentality. Experience crashes, upsets and thrills with mission-based racing that puts you in the middle of some of the Indy 500’s most famous and infamous moments. Drive the last of the front-engine roadsters; experiment with the first turbine cars or strap on the earliest sets of bolt-on wings. But buckle up - back then the rules were few, protection was a luxury and making it to the finish line was never guaranteed. Rounding out the experience are pit stop mini-games that include changing tires and refueling via the Wii remote and Nintendo DS stylus. Players can even unlock historic Indy memorabilia. The game is set for release for both systems this holiday season. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 23:16 PM [Top] Transformers Gets Voice Talent [ Activision ] TRANSFORMERS: The Game, from Activision, is bridging the gap from “G1" (Generation One) to the present day TRANSFORMERS by casting the upcoming live-action film leads Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox alongside legendary voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, the original voices of OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON. Based on “TRANSFORMERS," the highly anticipated live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Hasbro, the game allows players to relive their favorite movie moments and go beyond in a movie-inspired storyline penned with the help of Flint Dille, best known as the writer of the acclaimed “TRANSFORMERS" animated series. In TRANSFORMERS: The Game, players choose to protect the Earth as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. Playing as OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, MEGATRON, BARRICADE and other characters, gamers will experience the unstoppable power and massive scale of their favorite ROBOTS IN DISGUISE as they battle for Earth. TRANSFORMERS: The Game is in development by Traveller’s Tales for the Wii, with Vicarious Visions making two versions of the game for Nintendo DS. The game releases this July. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 23:12 PM [Top] Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition [ Previews ] Eric returns to the famed village to preview Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. Can the Wii Remote improve one of the greatest games ever made? Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 22:56 PM [Top] Biohazard 4 Wii Edition Trailer [ Capcom Japan ] Capcom's Japanese site for Biohazard (Resident Evil) 4 Wii Edition has just added a new trailer for the game, showcasing some of the Wii Remote functions added to the game, including running, dodging, and, awesomely, the famous knife fight with Krauser, as well as some footage from the previously PS2-exclusive Ada subquest. Check out the trailer by clicking the source link and letting the Flash player load. Is it possible that they've actually improved on one of the best action games ever? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 11:54 AM [Top] DBZ Returns for Wii [ Atari ] Atari today announced that Dragon Ball Z : Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is in development for the Wii and PS2. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 combines the lightning fast fighting and action that have made Budokai Tenkaichi 1 and Budokai Tenkaichi 2 the #1 fighting games of 2005 and 2006. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Spike, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is slated to release during the 2007 holiday season. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme 3D fighting experience, improving upon last year's game with over 150 playable characters, enhanced fighting techniques, beautifully refined effects and shading techniques, making each character's effects more realistic, and over 20 battle stages. In addition, an improved control system for the Wii will allow players to easily mimic signature moves and execute devastating energy attacks as they are performed in the Dragon Ball Z animated series. In addition to the unprecedented number of characters and improved Wii control system, the environments have also been enhanced to feature day and night stages. The power of the moon in the night stages gives players additional ways to transform their characters and lets fans recreate some of their favorite memories from the show. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is set for release this holiday season. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 11:37 AM [Top] Nintendo Announces Summer Lineup [ Nintendo ] Whether you're a longtime gamer who likes classic franchises or a newcomer aiming to keep your brain sharp, Nintendo's summer lineup of games has something for you. Nintendo's offerings are anchored by key Wii games like Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Mario Strikers Charged. Nintendo DS owners can challenge their minds with games like Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day and the new picture-based puzzle game, Picross DS. Licensees also are demonstrating a strong commitment to Wii and Nintendo DS by announcing more than 40 titles in all genres. The unique controls of Wii and Nintendo DS make the Nintendo platform versions of these games entirely new experiences. No matter what your taste or experience level, you'll keep busy this summer! Wii July 30: Mario Strikers Charged - Nintendo Aug. 20: Metroid Prime 3 Corruption - Nintendo September: Battalion Wars 2 - Nintendo Aug. 14: High School Musical: Sing It! - Disney Interactive Studios Aug. 14: Madden NFL '08 EA August: Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08 - EA August: Space Station Tycoon - Namco Bandai August: Brunswick Pro Bowling - Crave August: Dave Mirra BMX Challenge - Crave August: Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection - Crave September: Brothers in Arms - Ubisoft September: Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal - Warner Bros. September: George of the Jungle - Crave Fall: Boogie - EA Nintendo DS July 30: Picross DS - Nintendo Aug. 20: Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day - Nintendo Sept. 10: DK Jungle Climber (formerly DK King of Swing 2) - Nintendo Sept. 24: Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol - Nintendo July: SimCity - EA July: Namco Museum DS - Namco Bandai July: Drake & Josh - THQ July: Glory Days 2 - Eidos Aug. 14: Madden NFL '08 - EA Aug. 14: High School Musical: Makin' the Cut! - Disney Interactive Studios Aug. 14: Heroes of Mana - Square-Enix August: I SPY: Fun House - Activision August: Jewel Quest Expedition - Activision August: Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08 - EA August: Worms: Open Warfare 2 - THQ August: Luminous Arc - Atlus August: Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus - Capcom August: Mega Man Star Force: Leo - Capcom August: Mega Man Star Force: Dragon - Capcom August: Operation: Vietnam - Majesco August: Turn It Around - Majesco August: The Wild West - Majesco August: Fulllmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game - Destineer September: Drawn to Life - THQ September: Zoey 101 - THQ September: Crayola Teasure Adventures - Crave September: Nancy Drew and The Deadly Secret of Olde World Park - Majesco September: Holly Hobbie & Friends - Majesco September: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations - Capcom September: Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck - Warner Bros. September: Pet Luv Spa & Resort Tycoon - Activision September: Animal Genius - Activision September: George of the Jungle - Crave September: Jam Sessions - Ubisoft September: Professor Brainium - Destineer September: Indy 500 Legends - Destineer Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 10:54 AM [Top] Today's VC Games [ Nintendo ] Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the sequel to the immensely popular Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong gets the spotlight, along with his girlfriend, Dixie Kong - a great little monkey with a dangerous ponytail. The action starts on the wreck of King K. Rool's Gangplank Galleon that has apparently broken up on a reef offshore from the Kremlings' Island. Diddy and his friends will have to work together to rescue Donkey Kong, exploring all the hidden areas of the Kremlings' island: a spooky haunted forest, treacherous swamps, a giant beehive oozing with sticky honey and lava-filled caves, just to name a few. Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): To celebrate their defeat of the Syndicate exactly one year before, Blaze, Adam and Axel met for drinks. The next morning, Axel received a frantic phone call from Eddie "Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, whom he was living with on the edge of the city. Blaze and Axel found Adam and Skate's house wrecked, and a picture showing Adam chained up at the feet of Mr. X. The city then once again returned to its nightmarish state as criminals ran rampant. Unable to contact their old friend in artillery, Axel and Blaze team up with Skate and Max Thunder to free the city and rescue Adam from the Syndicate. It is up to you to take down Mr. X once and for all. Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Blazing Lazers is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was praised for surpassing the limitations of the hardware of its time. Players control the extraordinary firepower of their Gunhed Star Fighter to take on the Dark Squadron that has begun its invasion of Earth. Collect power-ups to increase your ship's battle strength so it can cut through enemies and defeat the bosses in all nine areas. Of course, as part of the "Soldier" series, the game contains a good combination of fast-paced speed with catchy, drum-propelled background music, coupled with the Field Thunder that can be used to destroy enemies in one fell swoop for the ultimate sense of satisfaction. With its fine-tuned difficulty levels, Blazing Lazers is a shooting game that anyone can enjoy. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 21 2007 10:51 AM [Top] The Rabbids Return [ NGamer Magazine ] While Zelda was easily the highlight of the Wii's launch lineup, perhaps the biggest surprise was Rayman Raving Rabbids: a game which featured tons of oddball minigames, great multiplayer modes, and of course, the completely nuts and strangely charming bunnies. Well, Ubisoft seems to be willing to keep a good thing going, and, according to the new issue of NGamer magazine, is in development with a sequel: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2. This time around, the Rabbids are gearing up for an attack on a shopping mall, and Rayman must jump in to save the day. Little else is known about the game, but it will be for both Wii and Nintendo DS. When we hear something official from Ubisoft, we'll let you know. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 18 2007 22:03 PM [Top] Final Fantasy VI Hits Europe [ Nintendo of Europe ] The FINAL FANTASY series returns to the Game Boy Advance and in its latest instalment is bigger, better and more thrilling than ever before! Packed with new features, astonishing gameplay and legendary tales of heroism, its easy to see why it is one of the most critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY adventures to date. FINAL FANTASY VI ADVANCE will be available to put in your pocket across Europe this summer on 29th June 2007. True to form, FINAL FANTASY VI ADVANCE is independent of other FINAL FANTASY episodes. However, players will encounter compelling similarities as they meet complex new characters with whom they will embark on spellbinding adventures. The story is set in a mysterious world governed by an evil dictatorship known as the Gestahlian Empire. ‘The Empire’ is determined to strengthen its domination of the world by harnessing the power of the Espers (powerful magical creatures) and using them as weapons. Endangered rival sovereigns, brave rebels and a handful of outcasts must now unite forces to stop the Empire fulfilling its ambition. The story begins with a treasure hunter called Locke and an amnesiac magician called Terra, who are forced to flee from the Empire. As the game plots its course, Locke and Tina will encounter a large cast of diverse characters, all of whom assume a crucial role in freeing the world. If you want to experience this ultimate fantasy adventure, or simply want to play a diverse and action-packed role-playing game, you won’t be disappointed when FINAL FANTASY VI ADVANCE launches on Game Boy Advance across Europe for the estimated retail price of around €40 (£30 UK). Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 18 2007 15:56 PM [Top] Chocobo Tales Into Europe [ Square-Enix ] Square Enix today announces the release of FINAL FANTASY FABLES: CHOCOBO TALES (CHOCOBO TALES) on May 25th exclusively on Nintendo DS. CHOCOBO TALES is a magical adventure for all ages that takes place in a fun and enchanting world filled with loveable characters from the FINAL FANTASY series. Players will challenge over 40 minigames and microgames as they embark on a journey to rescue their lost friends and restore peace to the land. Featuring innovative stylus and Touch Screen functionality, CHOCOBO TALES looks set to be one of the most enjoyable and impressive Nintendo DS titles of the year. John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. declared, “I am confident CHOCOBO TALES will be a pleasant surprise for everybody. Fans of FINAL FANTASY both old and new will especially enjoy the vivid cast of characters and fun minigames. Our charismatic chocobos are the stars of this adventure where they encounter puzzles, multiplayer competitions and impressive Pop-Up Duel Card Battles. There is something for everybody in CHOCOBO TALES." Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 18 2007 14:29 PM [Top] Nintendo Dominates Sales Again [ Nintendo ] Already riding a streak as America's No. 1 seller of video game consoles, No. 1 seller of portable game systems and No. 1 publisher of video games, Nintendo added more chips to its pile in April-with not just one, but the country's four best-selling games. According to independent sales data gathered by the NPD Group, the two best-selling games in April were Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, exclusively for the Nintendo DS hand-held game system, followed by Super Paper Mario and Wii Play for the Wii home video game system. Combined sales for the two related Pokémon titles exceeded 1.75 million units in just 14 days of availability during the reporting period. The DS remained the most popular game system of any kind in April, with projected sales of more than 470,000 units. At the same time, the Wii from Nintendo, despite nearly universal sold-out status, was still purchased by twice as many consumers as any other home game console, according to the NPD data. Unit sales of 360,000 Wii systems in April bring the console's installed base in America to nearly 2.5 million in less than six months on the market. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 17 2007 20:14 PM [Top] Project Treasure Island Z Gets a New Name [ Capcom ] Capcom today announced its first original title exclusively for the Wii video game system, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (formerly Project Treasure Island Z), an innovative, full-length puzzle adventure game that utilizes the unique control mechanics of the Wii Remote and challenges gamers to “play different.” Capcom plans to release Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure this fall. Legend has it that a revered pirate named Barbaros once stole the world’s treasure and hid it on a mysterious island. Though no one knows of its exact location, stories about the untold riches that lay in wait have been passed down through the ages, driving pirates from all walks of life to pursue the alluring prizes. One of these treasure seekers, a young apprentice pirate named Zack happens upon a mysterious talking skull, the skull of Barbaros himself. Barbaros promises to reveal the key to the island, if Zack will help to lift the curse he is under. Players will explore a variety of wondrous environments and stages, solving puzzles and interacting with the world in search of vast riches and the ultimate pursuit of becoming the greatest pirate the world has ever seen. Inventive gameplay mechanics and controller movements allow players to move and open objects, transform items, unlock new pathways and navigate through perilous stages based on a variety of themes including a jungle, ice temple, volcanic caves and more, each with multiple sub-areas. Players will use the Wii Remote controller in various ways - rotate handles, turn keys to open doors, play a piccolo and much more in order to solve the progressively difficult puzzle stages and collect key items that will lead to the legendary pirate ship. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, May 17 2007 12:23 PM [Top] Fight Charlie on Your DS [ Majesco ] Majesco Entertainment Company today announced the latest addition to its popular line of Nintendo DS games, Operation: Vietnam. Developed by Coyote Console and scheduled for worldwide release this autumn, Operation: Vietnam drops players into the war-torn jungles of Vietnam as they try to escape enemy territory. In Operation: Vietnam, a chopper flight over the thick jungles of worn-torn Vietnam goes horribly wrong as the transport is shot down deep inside Viet Cong territory. Surrounded by the enemy, players must rally their squad and lead them back to safety. Along the way, players must fend off repeated assaults while liberating oppressed villagers. Exciting features of Operation: Vietnam include: * Use the Touch Screen to issue commands, access inventory, view maps and select which squad member to control; * Utilize your squad to combat multiple enemy types including: soldiers, tanks, turrets, enemy barracks, etc.; * Take advantage of different specialties and weapons per soldier: long range rifle, grenade launcher, automatic weapons, and more; * Flush out enemies with smoke grenades or take them out with fragmentation grenades. No release date was announced for the game. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, May 17 2007 12:13 PM [Top] Smash Bros Countdown [ Smash Bros. Dojo ] The official Super Smash Bros. website, and the official site for the new game, Brawl, has been shut down and with a splash page of the site's English and Japanese logos and an ominous countdown. We're not entirely sure what it's counting down to, but we'll find out when it hits 0 six days from now. It's probably a relaunch of the site, with hopefully some new content and info on Brawl. We'll be sure to keep you updated. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, May 15 2007 17:16 PM [Top] Nintendo Seeks Filmmakers for "Short Cuts" [ Nintendo ] Nintendo is searching for the next great director. Lead by Nintendo's flagship store, Nintendo World, the Nintendo Short Cuts Showcase invites filmmakers from all walks of life to demonstrate their passion and skills by creating a Nintendo-themed short film or video. The top three films will be chosen by a panel that includes a Tribeca senior programmer, an entertainment industry reporter and a Nintendo executive. The final films will premiere as a part of the inaugural short film showcase at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center during Rock Center's annual summer film showcase, June 19-22. The first-place winner will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize along with a lunch meeting with the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, Craig Hatkoff, and a trip to New York to see the winning entry shown at the Rock Center's annual summer film showcase. In addition, the top three winners will all receive Nintendo hardware and games. The short film submissions must be less than five minutes long and Nintendo-themed in some way. The rest is up to the imagination of the filmmakers, who can explore themes using the new Wii home video game system, the hand-held Nintendo DS or even classic Nintendo characters and systems. The entries can be comedies or dramas, live action or animated – the options for cinematic creativity are almost endless. For an official entry form, a list of approved film formats and a list of the contest rules and regulations, visit the Nintendo Short Cuts website. Filmmakers must be 18 or older. Entries are due on or before June 6. The Nintendo Short Cuts screening at Top of the Rock will be a special feature and an addition to the annual summer film series at Rockefeller Center, a unique outdoor event showcasing four nights of independent movies. While at the Top of the Rock, movie fans can check out a selection of cool Nintendo World merchandise. And once folks head back down to ground level, the full Nintendo World store is just a few steps away at 10 Rockefeller Plaza. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, May 15 2007 11:45 AM [Top] Nintendo Power No More? [ IGN Wii ] According to IGN, one of the most famed publications in the history of the industry could be closing its doors. Nintendo Power, started in 1988 by Nintendo to give the company's fans an insight into the latest Nintendo happenings, will either be shut down or face a massive restructuring, with the magazine's employees apparently being told to look for new work by September. Some have stated that Nintendo will possibly jettison the magazine, and allow it to continue on independently of Nintendo. While this is all rumor and speculation, we certainly will keep our eyes on this major story as it develops. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 21:00 PM [Top] Emergency Mayhem Revived for Wii [ Gamespot ] According to Gamespot, one of Acclaim's long-dead titles will apparently be getting new life on the Wii. Developer Codemasters has picked up Emergency Mayhem, a crazed action-driving game where players must answer and eliminate various crises, and have retooled what was previously a PS2/Xbox game as a Wii-exclusive. Warner Bros. Interactive will publish the game. Expect more information on the title as it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 20:50 PM [Top] Duck Hunt Comes to Wii...Sort Of [ Detn8 Games ] It's seemingly a crime that, sans what could barely be considered an appearance in the Wii's minigame fest Wii Play, that an updated version of the classic NES game Duck Hunt has yet to be released on Wii. Heck, we'd even take a rerelease of the original on Virtual Console. While Nintendo has denied us, however, upstart PC developer Detn8 Games has decided to fill the duck-hunting void with a Wii port of their PC title, Ultimate Duck Hunting. Set for release in July, 2007, Ultimate Duck Hunting is a realistic hunting simulation that features both shooting and retrieving. Choose your dog (yellow, chocolate, or black Labrador retriever) and train him to respond to your commands, all controlled by player motions using the Wii remote. Gear up with name-brand guns, camouflage, and decoys – then it’s off into the wilderness to set up decoys, use duck calls, and ultimately become a crack shot using the Wii remote to aim and fire at tough-to-down mallard, hen, black, and teal ducks. Ultimate Duck Hunting features four modes of play: Single Hunt where you score points by shooting a required number of ducks, Career Mode in which you hunt over several seasons, create your own hunter and dog, and can improve your dog by earning points, Muliplayer Mode where two players compete head-to-head on a split screen, and Training Mode, a mini-game for training your dog. Players hunt and retrieve ducks in six environments, including Stuttgart (Arkansas), Oacoma (South Dakota), Oak Island (Minnesota), Old Harbor (Alaska), Coldwater (Mississippi), and Halifax (Virginia). Here's hoping Detn8 lets you shoot said dog. Check out some screens of the game below. Images: Ultimate Duck Hunting Screenshot 1 Ultimate Duck Hunting Screenshot 2 Ultimate Duck Hunting Screenshot 3 Ultimate Duck Hunting Screenshot 4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 17:52 PM [Top] Tony Hawk Returns to Wii and DS [ Activision ] This fall gamers will be able to command their skating destiny in Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground from Activision. For the first time, players will have the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they choose and the style of skating they use on the proving grounds from Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington, D.C. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground features deeper customization than ever before, including a Video Editor with full-featured editing tools and visual effects for creating “epic skate videos,” and a fully customizable online Skate Lounge where players can skate with friends in the ultimate pad. In addition, players will have the freedom to skate from single player to online seamlessly, as well as utilize new gameplay mechanics such as skateable terrain altering and building, and Bowl Carving, delivering the most empowered skating experience ever. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground also features even more Nail the Trick moves such as Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual intensifying the thrill of pulling off big tricks. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is in development by Neversoft for all major consoles, including the Wii and Nintendo DS. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB and is scheduled for release later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 17:25 PM [Top] Tomb Raider Anniversary Hits Wii [ Eidos ] Eidos Interactive has officially announced that a Wii version of the upcoming Tomb Raider Anniversary will be released later this year. Already set for release next month for the PS2, PSP, and PC, Tomb Raider Anniversary will be a retelling of the original Tomb Raider on Playstation 1 starring the lovely Lara Croft, with updated graphics and new missions. Eidos did not confirm what forms of Wii Remote functionality were in the works for the game. Expect more info as it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 14:33 PM [Top] Square-Enix Announces Upcoming US Lineup [ Square-Enix ] Hot on the heels of the recent Square-Enix Party in Japan, Square-Enix USA has come through with a list of upcoming titles set for the US this year and into the next. Check out the ones coming Nintendo's way below. DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: JOKER - Platform: Nintendo DS: The latest installment in the venerable RPG franchise that has sold more than 41 million units worldwide. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS and arriving in North America in Q4 2007, players assume the role of a monster hunter as they capture, train and breed a powerful army from more than 200 classic DRAGON QUEST creatures in order to become the world's greatest monster trainer. Already achieving sales of more than 1 million units in Japan, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS - Joker is a breakout title that combines the depth of a classic DRAGON QUEST RPG with the addictiveness of a monster catching adventure. DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors - Platform: Wii - Developed from the ground up to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii and its motion sensing technology, the worldwide phenomenon that has captivated more than 41 million players across the world slashes its way onto Nintendo's next- generation platform in 2008 in the form of DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors. This exclusive title utilizes the Wii's motion sensing controls as players use the Wii remote to slash, parry and slice their way through a land filled with trademark DRAGON QUEST foes. Developed with both longtime fans and casual audiences in mind, DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is poised to take video gaming to an entirely new level of fun and interaction. FINAL FANTASY XII REVENANT WINGS - Platform: Nintendo DS - Continuing the story of the beloved classic that captivated more than 5 million players around the world, FINAL FANTASY XII REVENANT WINGS progresses the tale that won numerous accolades from the industry's top publications. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS, FINAL FANTASY XII REVENANT WINGS is a sophisticated experience that commands full use of the Nintendo DS functionality. Featuring full Touch Screen functionality, FINAL FANTASY XII REVENANT WINGS allows players to control massive armies, utilize special moves and activate Gambits, all with the use of the stylus. The world of Ivalice comes alive through the classic musical composition of Hitoshi Sakimoto and the direction of Motomu Toriyama, the director of FINAL FANTASY X-2 and the upcoming FINAL FANTASY XIII. The game will release this winter. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 12:48 PM [Top] Three for the VC [ Nintendo ] Pac-Man (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Move Pac-Man through the maze, avoiding ghosts and eating all the Pac-Dots. Beware, each of the ghosts behave differently. When Pac-Man chomps a Power Pellet, he becomes invincible and is able to eat the blue ghosts. The more ghosts Pac-Man eats in a row, the higher the score. Don't forget to eat the bonus fruit too. Released in 1980, Pac-Man is the most well-known video game on Earth and is also commonly acknowledged as one of the most successful coin-operated games in history. Enjoy this masterpiece of gaming history today. Ninja Gaiden (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Players take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a rising warrior in his family's clan whose main role in the world is to protect the Dark Dragon Blade from falling into the hands of evil. Ryu travels to America to seek vengeance for his father's death. Players fight their way through 14 challenging side-scrolling levels while defeating gangs of street thugs, battling evil ninjas and fighting barbarian bosses by using the deadly Dragon Sword, ninja skills and Ninpo (ninja magic). Players can run, crouch, jump and climb as they make their way through each stage and collect items to gain points, strength and weapons. Ninja Spirit (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Ninja Spirit is a side-scrolling action game that amazed the gaming world with its precision graphics and quality game play. Play as the ninja Moonlight and engage in a fierce battle to avenge his father's death and unlock the secrets of his birth. Select between the original ARCADE MODE and PC-ENGINE MODE, which includes a life gauge. Use four types of weapons: katana, shuriken, bombs and chain and sickles to battle your way through the enemies. Pick up power-up items and switch between weapons to give you the advantage. You'll need to consider the enemy attacks and your weapon's abilities in order to deftly make it through all seven stages. Use your skills and attacks to get through the game's boundless enemies and traps. That's what ninja action is all about. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, May 14 2007 9:41 AM [Top] Tecmo Announces Project Rygar for Wii [ IGN ] Tecmo held their "Nite Out 2007" event in Japan last night, and revealed a ton of new games. The biggest is a Wii-exclusive: Project Rygar, a new installment of the classic franchise that began way back when on the NES. For the uninitiated, Rygar stars a big burly hero who uses his unique weapon, a "diskarmor" (basically, a giant, bladed yo-yo), to attack enemies, swing from ledges, and all other sorts of fun stuff. The game will feature a new hero and new enemies, and of course, plenty of swinging action with the Wii Remote. No release date was announced, but we can expect to see more later this year. Tecmo also revealed another shocker last night - the return of the legendary Tecmo Bowl franchise. While no platforms were announced, we're keeping our fingers crossed that this one comes to Wii. Don't expect to see this one until 2008. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 11 2007 12:27 PM [Top] Mario Takes the Party to Europe in June [ Nintendo of Europe ] You’d better be in the mood for fun, as Mario Party is back! This classic party game series provides hours of fun for everyone regardless of age or gaming ability and Mario Party 8 is no exception. This fast paced and crazy game is the first Wii installment of the popular series and is the perfect game to play with family and friends. Join the party this summer with Mario Party 8 when it launches across Europe on 22nd June 2007. All the old favourites including Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi are back in this latest Mario Party installment, along with a couple of new faces, such as Blooper and Hammer Bro, who previously appeared for the first time in the original Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Players must move around the board by throwing a dice and at the end of each turn they are faced with a humorous yet challenging mini-game. This really is the perfect game to play against friends and family thanks to the multiplayer mode which allows you and your friends to team up against each other in both two versus two and one against all challenges. The newest installment in the Mario Party series sees the latest developments in technology combined with a classic gaming formula and is set to become the best in the series yet! Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 11 2007 0:19 AM [Top] Chocobos Are Loose on Wii [ Square-Enix ] At Square-Enix's "Square-Enix Party 2007" press conference held earlier today in Japan, the company revealed several new titles, including a brand-new game starring everyone's favorite Final Fantasy birds for the Wii. Chocobo's Dungeon Toki-Wasure no Meikyuu will be developed by the same team behind the recent Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales for DS, and will be an adventure title where a Chocobo must reclaim a village's lost memories. We'll have more on the game as it becomes available this weekend. No release date was announced. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 23:51 PM [Top] New Details and Screenshots of Sonic Rush Adventure [ SEGA ] Sonic returns to the Nintendo DS with all the classic 2D, dual screen action the fans loved in Sonic Rush, as well as a new high-seas adventure where he clashes with ruthless pirates. As Sonic, players will set off from Windmill Village to explore seven action-packed levels featuring the classic 2D gameplay that the Sonic series is known for. Now players will get to explore the action stages to uncover valuable items and materials which allow Tails to build new ships that help Sonic explore the high-seas. With a fleet of up to five ships, including a submarine, water bike, and hovercraft, players will use the touch screen technology in exciting new ways to control their ships as they race across the ocean gathering rings, busting tricks, and torching pirate ships in fierce ship-to-ship battles. At the end of each level, players will test their skills in epic 3D boss battles that span both screens, including the ultimate showdown with the evil pirate, Captain Whisker. Let the adventure begin! Key Features •Classic Sonic 2D Gameplay with improved action stages. Sonic returns with his signature 2D gameplay presented seamlessly across both screens on the Nintendo DS. New action-packed gameplay will have gamers snowboarding down an avalanche, springboarding off giant mushrooms, and hang gliding across wide gaps. •A high-speed ocean adventures. Sonic travels from island to island in search of objects and materials to build up to five different ships and battles with wicked pirates both on land and at sea throughout 14 stages. •Enhanced touch screen controls. Players will navigate the oceans and perform aerial tricks to avoid treacherous water mines and aim their cannons during ship-to-ship battles by using the stylus and touch screen on the Nintendo DS. •Compete with friends via DS Download Play in two battle modes. Two players will face-off in intense dual screen races or collect the most items spread throughout the map in exciting mission battles. Look for Sonic Rush Adventure to hit the DS this fall. Don't blink though, or you might miss it. Images: Sonic Rush Adventure Screenshot 1 Sonic Rush Adventure Screenshot 2 Sonic Rush Adventure Screenshot 3 Sonic Rush Adventure Screenshot 4 Sonic Rush Adventure Screenshot 5 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 21:01 PM [Top] Sega Brings Ghost Squad to Wii [ Sega ] The Ghost Squad is a Special Forces unit established in strict secrecy by the U.N. to combat terrorism and carry out special highly-classified missions without leaving a trace. As an elite member of the Ghost Squad, players will complete dangerous missions such as eliminating terrorist groups, releasing hostages, deactivating bombs, and even rescuing the US President when terrorists hijack Air Force One! Using the Wii Remote, players will utilize revolutionary selectable weapons including a high powered rifle, sub machine and shot gun, or even engage in hand-to-hand combat. KEY FEATURES: ·4 gameplay modes – Includes the full arcade version of Ghost Squad, a Multiplayer mode for 1-4 players and more ·3 dangerous missions to complete - with multiple levels that increase in difficulty as the player progresses. Players will also unlock a variety of alternate routes, different player choice scenarios, and secret weapons and costumes. Time of day for certain missions can also be effected ·Alone or with up to three squad mates, players will rescue hostages, apprehend suspects and deactivate bombs as you eliminate terrorist threats around the world ·25 different tactical weapons to unlock and use during operations ·Special assistance devices such as night vision, thermo vision and a flashlight will ensure that the operation is a success ·One of the first light gun games to make the leap from the arcades to the Wii – using only the Wii Remote Images: Ghost Squad Logo Ghost Squad Wallpaper Ghost Squad Artwork 1 Ghost Squad Screenshot 1 Ghost Squad Screenshot 2 Ghost Squad Screenshot 3 Ghost Squad Screenshot 4 Ghost Squad Screenshot 5 Ghost Squad Screenshot 6 Ghost Squad Screenshot 7 Ghost Squad Screenshot 8 Ghost Squad Screenshot 9 Ghost Squad Screenshot 10 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 20:54 PM [Top] Sega Announces The Golden Compass [ SEGA ] SEGA today revealed details regarding the development of the video game adaptation of the highly anticipated theatrical release, The Golden Compass, based on the first book in the award-winning trilogy, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. Featuring pivotal environments from the movie, the vivid characters are brought to interactive life, featuring the likenesses of the movie’s impressive cast, which includes Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua. Produced by New Line Cinema and Scholastic Media, The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people’s souls manifest themselves as animals ("daemons"), talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who’s been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers – and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. Players can assume the role of Lyra, or the character of Iorek Byrnison, a great armoured polar bear who joins the quest. As Lyra, players will use their daemon and collaborate with in-game characters, collecting special items in order to explore, evade, and deceive their way through confrontations with the Gobblers, the Magisterium, and the horribly dangerous spy fly to find her friend. They can also do battle as Iorek with special attacks and a riding mechanic as he protects Lyra during the journey. Gamers will be able to unlock secrets and mini-games using a mysterious, truth-telling golden compass device called an alethiometer. Players can explore 13 vast locations, including all-new breath-taking environments not seen in the film, on this massive journey of collaboration, exploration and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The Golden Compass opens in theaters December 7, 2007. The game will hit Wii, DS, PSP, PS2, Xbox 360, this holiday season. Images: Golden Compass Artwork Golden Compass Screenshot 1 Golden Compass Screenshot 2 Golden Compass Screenshot 3 Golden Compass Screenshot 4 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 20:50 PM [Top] THQ Gets Drawn to Life [ THQ ] THQ today announced that Drawn to Life, the first-ever action adventure game that lets players draw their own hero, is currently in development exclusively for the Nintendo DS. Drawn to Life provides an unprecedented gameplay experience where players traverse numerous worlds with a hero they create using the Nintendo DS stylus. Players will also draw environmental elements that will aid their hero to success throughout their journey. In Drawn to Life, players will help save a distant village from the shadow-like evil that has covered it in darkness. Using one of four different Hero forms, including Flying Hero and Aquatic Hero, players will create their own unique hero to conquer a variety of different environments including snowy fields, tropical islands and dark forests. The robust drawing tool contains different methods of creation in addition to numerous colors, brush types and stamps that will allow for complete freedom to develop one-of-a-kind characters and game elements. Drawn to Life will also feature the ability for players to trade their created heroes with friends via the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi function. Developed by 5TH Cell, Drawn to Life is expected to be available this fall. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 1:14 AM [Top] EA Does the Bartman [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts today announced the upcoming release of THE SIMPSONS GAME (working title). Created in partnership with Gracie Films and Twentieth Century Fox Television and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, THE SIMPSONS GAME features a hilarious, sprawling, and mind-busting storyline crafted by the TV show’s Emmy Award-winning writers. The action-comedy will also feature the full cast of voice actors from the TV show who will reprise their roles for the game. In THE SIMPSONS GAME, Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa use exciting, all-new powers to save the world from rising chaos. To help the Simpsons, gamers at home must journey through all of Springfield (as well as vast worlds beyond!), vanquish an amazing array of villains, and fight their way through parodies of multiple popular games. Under development by EA’s Redwood Shores Studio, THE SIMPSONS GAME is scheduled for release in Fall 2007 for both the Wii and DS. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, May 10 2007 1:11 AM [Top] Q&A With Satoru Iwata [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has made available a lengthy Q&A session with company president Satoru Iwata. Iwata discusses the latest financial success of Nintendo, the future of the company, the recent acquisition of Monolith, and much more. It runs 22 pages, but it's definitely worth at least taking a look at. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it. PDF File: Nintendo Financial Results Briefing Q&A - April 27, 2007 Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, May 9 2007 20:11 PM [Top] Final Fantasy IV Coming to DS [ Famitsu ] We knew Square-Enix was going to reveal a major Nintendo bombshell this week, and here it is: Final Fantasy IV, considered by many to be one of the best games in the famed series, is set to be remade on the DS. The game will be worked on by the same team behind the acclaimed remake of FFIII, and will feature new areas, 3D graphics, and newly-redesigned characters. We expect more to come on this game during this weekend's Square-Enix Party in Japan, so stay tuned for that. For now, check out the scan from the latest issue of Famitsu below. Images: Final Fantasy IV DS Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 9 2007 14:06 PM [Top] Soul Calibur Comes to Wii [ Famitsu ] Perhaps one of the most popular titles released for the GameCube was Soul Calibur II, which found the greatest success on Nintendo's platform thanks in part to an appearance by Legend of Zelda's Link. However, Namco shocked everyone when they announced that the series' third installment would be exclusive for the PS2, seemingly throwing away what would have been even more success on the GameCube. However, that changes today. Soul Calibur is back, and it's coming exclusively to the Wii. However, it's not in the form you may expect. Soul Calibur Legends will be a third-person action-adventure utilizing Wii Remote controls as well as the Nunchuk. Little is known about the game, except that there will be a multitude of playable characters: so far, series mainstays Siegfried and Ivy have been confirmed. Hey, maybe Link will even show up. Expect more on this bombshell as it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 9 2007 13:57 PM [Top] THQ Announces Nickelodeon Titles for 2007 [ THQ ] THQ today announced the company’s 2007 Nickelodeon video game lineup. The upcoming portfolio will include the debut of El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, as well as all-new titles based on some of the top-rated kids TV shows including SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon fans can also look forward to a new installment of the popular Nicktoons. In addition, THQ plans to release new adventures based on highly-rated Nickelodeon live-action TV shows Zoey 101 and Drake and Josh. Here's the full list of games: Nicktoons 2007 (Working Title) -- Players must defeat Professor Calamitous’ vast army of evil toys based on the Nicktoons Heroes in this fast-paced action platform game. Featuring the largest selection of playable Nickelodeon characters from the most popular TV shows including SpongeBob SquarePants, Danny Phantom and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Nicktoons 2007 (working title) is scheduled to release for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance this fall. SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePantis -- The game will follow SpongeBob and the rest of the Bikini Gang as they leave Bikini Bottom and journey to the legendary city of Atlantis. Players will discover the treasures of Atlantis, while experiencing new game mechanics and multiplayer features. SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePantis is scheduled to release for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance this fall. Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Burning Earth -- Based on the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series, players will follow the second season storyline as Aang teams up with friends to defend the greatest Earth Kingdom city against a deadly Fire Nation threat. Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Burning Earth is scheduled to release for Xbox 360, the PlayStation 2 system, Wii, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance this fall. El Tigre (Working Title) -- Based on the animated series, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, players will follow the adventures of Manny, the son of a superhero and the grandson of a supervillain. Players will help Manny as he must choose to use his El Tigre superpowers for good, or let his mischievous side take over. El Tigre is scheduled to release for Nintendo DS this fall. Zoey 101: Field Trip Fiasco -- Players will take on the role of Zoey Brooks, played by Jamie Lynn Spears, as she embarks on a field trip to Red Stone Gulch Canyons with her friends. Zoey 101: Field Trip Fiasco is scheduled to release for Nintendo DS this summer. Drake & Josh: Talent Showdown -- Featuring all of the humor from the hit TV series, players will enjoy adventure-style gameplay as they help Drake and Josh win the infamous talent show, “Teen American Talent," by avoiding sabotages from other contestants and by perfecting their music skills. Drake & Josh: Talent Showdown is scheduled to release for Nintendo DS this summer. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 8 2007 21:45 PM [Top] Metroid Prime Pinball Finally Rolls to Europe [ Nintendo of Europe ] The ultimate pinball game is about to hit the Nintendo DS and this time it is set in the vivid and exciting sci-fi world of the Metroid franchise. In Metroid Prime Pinball players venture onto exciting Metroid Prime themed tables and take control of Samus Aran in her morph ball form. Whether you are a pinball or Metroid fan you can now enjoy classic pinball in the palm of your hand, all with a sci-fi twist as Metroid Prime Pinball launches itself across Europe on 22nd June 2007. Inspired by the successful Metroid franchise, which has defined the action game genre for nearly twenty years, Metroid Prime Pinball allow players to experience a whole new pinball sensation, only on the innovative Nintendo DS. With tables spanning across the dual screens, players follow the pinball action whilst controlling numerous flippers to keep the ball in play. Metroid Prime Pinball also allows players to bend the rules and tilt the table using the innovative touch screen. To really make players feel part of the action, the game even comes with a free Rumble Pak, which will vibrate in time with bumps and explosions. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 8 2007 21:40 PM [Top] Super Paper Mario [ Reviews ] Mario on an acid trip? That's only the beginning. Grab a warp pipe and come see the verdict on Paper Mario's latest adventure. Here we go! Joe McCollum -- Posted on Monday, May 7 2007 17:54 PM [Top] Virtual Console Monday Update [ Nintendo ] Mighty Bomb Jack (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Mighty Bomb Jack is an action/adventure game that was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 by Tecmo. The hero of the game, Jack, must make his way through 16 levels of a pyramid in order to defeat the demon Belzebut and rescue the royal Pamera family. Each level is split into two parts; an action zone and a Royal Palace room. Action zones can be split up into several portions, and contain power-ups usually hidden in treasure chests such as money bags, Mighty Coins, and Mighty Drinks. Mighty Coins allow Jack to change colors; blue allows Jack to open orange treasure chests, orange allows him to open any treasure chest by simply touching it from the side, and green transforms all enemies on the screen into coins for 5 seconds. Mighty Drinks add 10 seconds to the game's timer. Final Fight (Super NES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Jessica had it all. She was the daughter of former wrestling star and mayor of Metro City Mike Haggar and girlfriend to Cody Travers, one of the coolest and toughest boys around. But now she has been mysteriously kidnapped! Take to the streets with either Haggar or Cody and fight your way across town, deep into the turf of the Mad Gear Gang. As you cross the town, fight with all your strength to save the one you love. Enjoy unmatched beat 'em up action in this arcade classic and discover just who is behind the Mad Gear Gang in what may be Metro City's final fight. Ordyne (TurboGrafx16, 2 players, 600 Wii Points): Ordyne is a port of the popular side-scrolling arcade shooter that includes simultaneous two-player co-op play as well as impressive visuals and catchy background music. The evil Kubota has kidnapped Dr. Tomari's fiancée, Kana, and taken the colossal nuclear reactor Ordyne. In order to reclaim them, Dr. Tomari and his assistant Felix take to their battleships and head off in pursuit. Avoid enemies and advance through seven different levels that take place on land, sea, and air. Collect crystals from defeated enemies and use them to buy items or upgrades for your ship at the Space Inn. Do you have what it takes to defeat the boss at the end of each level and ultimately reach Kubota in the final stage, Kubota World? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, May 7 2007 14:40 PM [Top] NOA Sales and Marketing Set to Move? [ Game Informer Online ] According to sources close to Game Informer Online, part of the Big N could be set for a big move. Nintendo has apparently told workers in its sales and marketing division to be prepared to relocate by June 1st, or accept a severance package. Possible locations for the move include San Francisco and New York. Nintendo of America's headquarters not only includes the sales and marketing division, but also its testing, customer service, event planning, and localization division, as well as being home to Nintendo Software Technologies (NST), Nintendo's US-based development house. We'll have more on this major story as it becomes available. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, May 4 2007 12:16 PM [Top] One More from Data Design [ Data Design Interactive ] Data Design Interactive is pleased to announce that they have secured rights to publish and develop the Nintendo Wii version of the PC game Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars, a 3D RPG action game set in a fantasy world developed by Quotix Software. Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars for Wii is due for released in fourth quarter 2007. Story: Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars is a third-person action game with RPG elements. The game places players in a fantasy medieval world, where a dimensional portal to the Outer Worlds has opened, and an enemy from the darkness has encroached the world. Led by a demon named Pompolic, the armies of demonic hordes have taken over most of the planet. With mysterious origins, Pompolic’s malevolent spiritual being possesses supernatural powers. His desire is to possess the people and turn them into minions of his dark army, as he wields his power through his servants, the Dark Souls. These Dark Souls - protected by a horde of monsters - are poisoning the minds of his victims and making them slaves of evil. The denizens of this world are on the edge of total annihilation. However, a little hope still exists in the heart of the remaining citizens. They believe that there are brave hearts who can save the world from the source of the evil power. If the Dark Souls were to be captured, the onslaught would stop, and Pompolic would be defeated; the call for heroes is made... Features · 2 unique characters to choose from · Each character has unique weapons, items and special abilities · Character gains experience which will help him to upgrade his strength, armor and health · 15 special abilities per character · Fantasy/medieval type world divided into 15 levels · 18 different types of monsters and 3 bosses at the end Check out the official site for the game by clicking the source link in the headline, and see some screenshots here. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, May 3 2007 12:51 PM [Top] ESRB Reveals New Wii Games [ ESRB ] The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has struck again, revealing several new games heading to Wii that we were unaware of. First off is the Yukes-developed puppy adventure game The Dog Island, which was just released in Japan. The game places you in the role of a dog exploring a massive world, with 48 different breeds to choose from. According to the ESRB site, Ubisoft will be handling the publishing, and the game will be rated E for Everyone. Also, two major Virtual Console releases have been unveiled. First off, Tecmo's classic NES ninja action game Ninja Gaiden, widely considered one of the pinnacle titles of the NES, has been confirmed to have an ESRB rating of E. Also revealed is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game, Konami's NES port of the arcade classic, which will be rated E10 for ages 10 and up. While we're not sure when any of these games will be released, you can be sure we'll hear more soon. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 2 2007 20:51 PM [Top] EA Heads to the Playground [ IGN Wii ] IGN has revealed that Electronic Arts has revealed a brand-new franchise exclusively for the Wii and Nintendo DS. Tentively titled EA Playground, the game will be EA's take on Wii Sports, allowing players to recreate the feel of a variety of classic playground games using the Wii Remote or the DS touch screen. Both versions will feature different games, with the Wii version's games concentrating on gestures (throwing in dodgeball, driving RC cars, hitting a teatherball), while the DS version concentrates on stylus and microphone usage (hunting bugs, shooting spitballs). Both games will also feature multiplayer support for up to 4 players on both platforms; however, online play was not confirmed. You can check out the game's first screens, as well as an interview with the game's executive producer, Dave McCarthy, by clicking the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, May 2 2007 20:41 PM [Top] Mario Party 8 [ Previews ] Mario Party has been around the block a few times, but is the Wii Remote enough to make you want an invite? Eric takes a look at the series' upcoming debut on Wii. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 1 2007 21:33 PM [Top] Data Design Hops on the Wii Wagon [ Data Design Interactive ] Data Design Interactive, a successful video games publisher and games developer, has announced that not only have they have secured developer status, but they have also achieved publisher status for Nintendo Wii. Data Design Interactive are currently in the process of porting 12 of their leading titles onto the console, the first six titles are due for released in second quarter 2007. Data Design Interactive will follow with another 6 titles later in the year. The first six titles we can expect to see include: Billy the Wizard It’s no fairytale when there’s an evil force around. Use your magical spells to attack evil dragons that have taken over the skies above ‘The Wizards Castle’. Or take part in the sorcerer’s ultimate challenge as you race alongside other wizards in the enchanting Broomstick Grand Prix. Myth Makers Super Kart GP Fantastic friendly fun and mad cartoon racing, rolled into lots of exciting challenges against characters, with unique abilities. Challenge your friends to leagues, cups or time trails or face a solo challenge to try to defeat the evil Mumbra. Anubis II The evil spirit has risen again and taken physical form. A ‘Pharaohs Curse’ has been placed over the fastest, strongest and most poisonous of Egypt’s inhabitants. The Gods have called on the only warrior that could rid the sands of these evil monsters and return peace to Egypt… The mighty Anubis. Ninjabread Man Candy Land is under attack! This once sweet and tasty land has been taken over by hordes of snapping Cup Cakes, Angry Bees and Jelly Monsters. Only one man can stop this evil army of monster cakes. He’s one tough cookie; a guy that won’t crumble under the pressure...... ’Ninjabread Man’ is here! Monster Trux Extreme This is the super-charged turbo-driven world of Monster Trux Extreme - you and your friends will be racing huge V8 powered Monster Trucks around rugged terrain, including islands and volcanoes. Race well and earn prize money, which you can use to unlock extra Trucks, levels and bonus features. Elviz: Rock N Roll Adventures Bash and Trash crazed instruments with Elviz's legendary guitar, or strum those strings for a bolt of Sonic Power to blast away Deadly Drums, Run, Push, Swipe and Jump your way through the massive levels with moving objects, intelligent enemies and hidden rooms! Its time to ROCK N ROLL! Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Tuesday, May 1 2007 12:59 PM [Top] Gilbert Arenas Headlines NBA Live 08 on Wii [ Electronic Arts ] Electronic Arts announced today that Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas will be the cover athlete and spokesman of EA SPORTS NBA LIVE 08. This season Arenas displayed tremendous determination to emerge as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players, rising to No. 3 in league scoring and leading the Wizards into the playoffs for the second straight season. NBA LIVE 08 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC, and will ship to stores worldwide this fall for Wii. Arenas finished the 2006-07 regular season averaging 28.4 points and 6.0 assists per game. Arenas was the first player from the 2001 draft class to be named to the All-Star team in 2005 and now has three consecutive All-Star appearances. In the ultimate salute to his climb from relative unknown to NBA All-Star, fans voted Arenas a starter on the Eastern Team at the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, May 1 2007 1:10 AM [Top]