Today's Special Archives: September 2006

News Archives Index ABC News Interviews Reggie [ ABC News ] ABC News has posted a video interview with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, where he speaks about all things Wii. While most of what Reggie talks about is already common knowledge, he does drop a couple of new Wii details, including revealing that he personally will take on the role of register biscuit at the Nintendo World Store in New York City on November 19th, where he'll be on hand to cash out the first Wii purchasers when the store opens for a special midnight launch. Hopefully he'll be handing out cups of coffee as well. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 29 2006 0:19 AM [Top] Dragon Quest and Mario Team Up on DS [ Famitsu ] In recent weeks, Square-Enix has shown nothing short of pure adoration for the Nintendo DS, having revealed a ton of games for the dual-screened wonder. Now, you can add on another to the pile: Square-Enix and Nintendo's second collaborative effort on the DS (after Mario Hoops 3-on-3), Itagaki Street DS. For those not in the know, the Itagaki Street series is basically Square-Enix's version of the Mario Party franchise, with board game elements and tons of minigames. The DS version will feature characters from Square-Enix's popular Dragon Quest franchise (Jessica from Dragon Quest VIII and the Dragon Quest mascot, Slime, are confirmed) as well as Mario and Luigi themselves. Check out the Famitsu scan revealing the game below. Images: Itagaki Street DS Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 29 2006 0:11 AM [Top] Atlus Announces Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 [ Atlus ] Earlier this year, Atlus brought Summon Night: Swordcraft Story, a unique dungeon-crawling adventure-RPG, to the Game Boy Advance. Now, it appears they're wasting no time in keeping the franchise fresh in people's minds, as they've announced that they will be publishing the sequel in the US as well. Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 will feature players taking the role of two characters, Edge and Air, on the question to find a magic sword which can defeat an ultimate evil. Check out a buttload of screens for the game below, and watch for the title to hit stores for the GBA on October 3rd. Images: Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 1 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 2 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 3 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 4 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 5 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 6 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 7 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 8 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 9 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 10 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 11 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 12 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 13 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 14 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 15 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 16 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 17 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 18 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 19 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 20 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 21 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 22 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 23 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 24 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 25 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 26 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 27 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 28 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 29 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 30 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 31 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 32 Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 Screenshot 33 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 28 2006 23:46 PM [Top] EA Preps Madden and Need for Speed for Wii Launch [ Electronic Arts ] EA today announced that Madden NFL 07, the EA SPORTS best-selling football franchise, and Need for Speed Carbon, the latest iteration in the world’s most popular street racing franchise will be available with the Wii launch on November 19, 2006. “Both Madden NFL 07 and Need For Speed Carbon were able to really bring out the innovation in the new FreeMotion Controller on the Wii and will attract a whole new sector of gamers," said John Schappert, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EA Canada. “We are honored to be a part of the launch of this new exciting platform and are inspired by the new creative ideas it will let us explore." With the launch on the Wii, Madden NFL 07 takes advantage of the revolutionary controller design and all-new Madden FreeMotion controls to create a new controller-focused experience, bringing Madden’s gameplay depth alive in a whole new and immersive way. Key Wii-only features for Madden NFL 07 include exclusive multiplayer mini games designed to support four player gameplay, new multiplayer enhancements including a multiplayer sprint, new play calling system designed for basic football fan knowledge, and Madden in-game tutorials that teach the users how to use new FreeMotion controls and allow users to practice within the game. Madden NFL 07 on Wii will also include the popular key features lead blocking control, NFL Superstar: Hall of Fame mode as well as all-new Highlight moves that allows you to run like the NFL players run. The battle starts on the streets of Palmont city, but is won in the canyons as Need for Speed Carbon immerses you in the world’s most dangerous and adrenaline-filled forms of street racing. Need for Speed Carbon and the Wii introduce the world to a whole new way to play Need for Speed. Offering the classic Need for Speed controls and immersive gameplay experience, with the addition of the Wii's unique Remote style controller scheme takes Need for Speed Carbon gameplay to levels previously not possible. A simple yet intuitive control scheme using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the player will instantly recognize and feel the physics differences between the 50 plus Muscle, Exotic, and Tuner cars, as they use their crew to win Canyon races, customize their cars using Autosculpt, and battle to take control of the streets of Palmont. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 28 2006 18:26 PM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known. Check out a brand-new trailerfeaturing several of the villains players will face off with in the game below. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance releases for the Game Boy Advance this fall, and will also be a launch title for the Wii. Video: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Villains" Trailer (40.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 27 2006 3:36 AM [Top] New Spider-Man: Battle for New York Screens [ Activision ] Spider-Man: Battle for New York allows gamers to take on the role of their favorite Super Hero, Spider-Man, and one of his famed nemeses, Green Goblin, in an original storyline which builds upon their legendary comic book rivalry. For the first time in a handheld Spider-Man game, players can personalize their gaming experiences by choosing what abilities and powers to upgrade and when, such as Spider-Man’s web maneuvers or Green Goblin’s fire attacks, as they progress through the game. Playing as both good and evil, gamers will experience levels packed with frenzied action, in-depth combat and a host of unique super moves as they embark on the ultimate quest to save New York City from almost certain disaster. Check out the latest GBA and DS screens of Spider-Man's portable-exclusive adventure below. Images: Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 1 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 2 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 3 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 4 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 5 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 6 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 7 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 8 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 9 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 10 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (DS) Screenshot 11 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (GBA) Screenshot 1 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (GBA) Screenshot 2 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (GBA) Screenshot 3 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (GBA) Screenshot 4 Spider-Man: Battle for New York (GBA) Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 27 2006 2:08 AM [Top] Opera Reveals Details on Wii's Web Browser [ Opera ] Opera Software today announced details on its browser for Nintendo’s soon-to-be released game console, Wii. Opera’s full Web browser is available for download from the "Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo has stated that they will offer Opera free of charge as a temporary promotion for all Wii users until June 2007. From July 2007, users can purchase the Opera browser using Wii points. Wii points are credits users can buy that allow them to add new games or the Opera browser to their Wii consoles. The number of Wii points required to purchase Opera has not yet been announced. With support for Flash and AJAX-based content such as Google maps, Wii users will benefit from a feature-rich Internet experience that is uniquely customized for the Wii. Opera for Wii boasts the same complete standards support as the Opera 9 Desktop browser, and includes the added functionality of "Zoom" and "Bookmarks". The Wii remote control will also be an integral part of browsing, allowing users to intuitively control the Web with their Wii remotes. Nintendo has previously announced that Wii will be available in the U.S. on November 19, 2006, Japan on December 2, 2006, and in Europe on December 8, 2006. The cost for the console is $249.99 or 25,000 Yen. Opera did not specify if the browser must be purchased by all to continue use after July 2007, or if the browser will be permanently complimentary for all Wii early-adopters. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 26 2006 15:08 PM [Top] More Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screens [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has revealed some more screens of their anticipated racing game for Wii, Monster 4x4 World Circuit. Check them out below, and watch for the game to hit stores November 19th Images: Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screenshot 1 Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screenshot 2 Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screenshot 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 26 2006 0:16 AM [Top] Capcom Announces Mega Man Star Force [ Capcom ] Capcom today announced Mega Man Star Force for the Nintendo DS, the first game in a new Mega Man series making its debut in three versions – Pegasus, Leo and Dragon. Mega Man Star Force introduces all new characters and a fresh storyline with interspatial themes of astronomy and electric wave signals. Developed by the team behind the popular Mega Man Battle Network series, the game marks the start of a new era for Mega Man, which celebrates his 20th anniversary next year. The first playable demo of the game will be available in the Kids Corner at Tokyo Game Show 2006. Capcom plans to release Mega Man Star Force in fall 2007. The year is 22XX. Viruses and cyber crime have been eliminated from the net and technology has advanced to an unprecedented level. The world of tomorrow is one where people use mobile computers called "Trancers" and are able to change various navigation systems into electromagnetic waves (EM waves). These EM waves are known as the Wave Road. The Wave Road exists in the real world, however it is only visible to those from the mysterious planet FM and the game’s hero who, through a twist of fate, transforms into EM waves himself. Mega Man Star Force introduces a new lead character, a boy named Subaru Hoshikawa, whose astronaut father has disappeared after a mysterious incident at the satellite station. Fond memories of spending time with his father have inspired Subaru’s interests in the stars and what lies beyond. One day, Subaru heads to the observation deck and puts on a pair of “visualizer" glasses that had belonged to his father. These allow the wearer to see all the electric connections that exist between spaces. When he puts on these special goggles, a specific wave is triggered, summoning the presence of a mysterious alien life form named Warlock who had escaped from the planet FM. Dangerous creatures from that planet have come to attack Earth, so they must join together in order to defeat these menacing forces. Combining with Warlock enables Subaru to transform into Mega Man and enter the Wave Road. Check out the first screens of the game below. Images: Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 1 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 2 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 3 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 4 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 5 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 6 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 7 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 8 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 9 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 10 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 11 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 12 Mega Man Star Force Screenshot 13 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 25 2006 23:04 PM [Top] Ice Age 2 Unthaws on Wii [ Vivendi ] Sierra Entertainment announced today that the video game Ice Age 2 The Meltdown, based on the worldwide blockbuster animated film from 20th Century Fox is being developed for Nintendo’s highly anticipated Wii console and will be available at retailers nationwide this holiday season. Ice Age 2 The Meltdown for Wii will utilize the full capability of Wii and its unique controller. “We are excited to bring such an entertaining game to such an innovative platform," said Cindy Cook, chief strategy and marketing officer, Vivendi Games. “Ice Age fans and gamers of all ages will without a doubt enjoy embarking on this new adventure, within the game itself and as part of the truly unique Wii experience Nintendo is bringing to consumers." Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 25 2006 22:44 PM [Top] North America Gets 1 Million Wiis [ IGN Wii ] While it was heavily assumed that the Nintendo Wii, being much cheaper to produce than the PS3 and Xbox 360, was going to be in plentiful supply this holiday season, we didn't know how plentiful. Now, we do, as Nintendo of Canada vice president Rob Bertram has officially announced that Nintendo will have 1 million Wiis available in North America at the console's launch on November 19th. This is more than twice what Sony will be offering for the PlayStation 3 (only 400,000 units), as well as much more than Microsoft offered for the 360. This would make Wii's launch the biggest in Nintendo's history, and Bertram states the company will be able to meet demand, including the 4 million units set to ship by year's end. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 25 2006 22:40 PM [Top] Red Steel Boxart [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has revealed the official boxart to one of the most anticipated launch titles for the Wii, Red Steel. An exclusive FPS built from the ground up for the console, Red Steel will see players battling through the streets of Tokyo against members of various Yakuza gangs, trying to fight for the one you love. Players will both use an array of weaponry and a katana in order to cut down enemies...or if they choose, disarm them. Red Steel will hit stores with the Wii on November 19th. Images: Red Steel Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 25 2006 16:07 PM [Top] Happy Birthday Kevin! [ GameCube Café ] So it's 22 today, huh? It seems like we're always making birthday posts. Man, we're getting old. But that's okay, that just means we can celebrate faster every year. After finally getting to hang out with you at E3, it's too bad I can't be there to celebrate with you this year (and help you out with your computer while I'm at it). But one of these days we'll have to do something like that. All in all, have a good one this year. I'm glad to know you, and we're certainly glad to have you as part of GCC. Have a happy birthday, mang! Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, September 23 2006 13:05 PM [Top] New Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Media [ Konami ] Celebrating 20 years of vampire hunting action, the legendary Castlevania series is back with an all-new action packed adventure. Take control of two heroes, Jonathan Morris, a vampire killer and his close friend Charlotte Orlean, a girl with tremendous magical ability. Amidst the chaos of World War II, two mysterious sisters emerge, working to resurrect Dracula and David and Charlotte are all that stand in their way. * Two new playable characters, each with their own unique style of play and abilities. * Strategically switch between characters in the heat of the action. * Call on your partner and execute Summon Attacks to decimate your enemies. * Collect items, weapons and magic as you explore the castle. * Explore several environments new to the series, such as the Desert, abandoned cities and more. Check out two new screenshots and a new trailer of the game below. Watch for the latest Castlevania for the DS to hit stores this December. Images: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 1 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 2 Video: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Trailer (22.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 23 2006 1:26 AM [Top] Slug Another Into Metal Slug Anthology [ SNK Playmore ] SNK PLAYMORE announced today that they will add the latest game in the series, METAL SLUG 6, to METAL SLUG ANTHOLOGY for the Wii. METAL SLUG ANTHOLOGY will now feature seven great METAL SLUG titles. Included in the collection will be METAL SLUG, METAL SLUG 2, METAL SLUG X, METAL SLUG 3, METAL SLUG 4, METAL SLUG 5, and METAL SLUG 6. METAL SLUG 6 was released in the arcades earlier this year and expands the cast of playable characters by two. In addition to the METAL SLUG regulars – Marco Rossi, Tarma Roving, Eri Kasamoto, and Fio Germi, METAL SLUG 6 includes Ralf Jones and Clark Steel of IKARI WARRIORS. The METAL SLUG 6 storyline returns to the Rebel-Martian alliance featured in Metal Slugs 2, X, and 3, but now players have to team up with the Rebels and Martians to defeat an even greater threat. METAL SLUG ANTHOLOGY will ship in November 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 23 2006 1:10 AM [Top] New Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Videos [ GameCube Café ] For the first time ever, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam lets players experience the breakneck speed of downhill skateboard racing as they tear up the steepest terrains in the world while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in locations such as the crowded streets of San Francisco and rocky terrain of Machu Picchu. Developed for the Nintendo Revolution, gamers utilize an innovative and intuitive control system as they take on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters and compete in specific time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes including race, trick and slalom. Gamers can also challenge friends in head-to-head competitions as they pull off a variety of high-velocity stunts and crashes in living, populated environments filled with cars, pedestrians and buildings. Check out two new videos for the highly-anticipated Wii launch title below. One is the second demonstration video for the game, taking players to Rio De Janiero, Brazil and Edinburgh, Scotland. The second video goes in-depth with the various locations players will see in the game. Both can be viewed by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Demonstration Video (43.3 MB) Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Location Showcase (50.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 23 2006 0:58 AM [Top] Train Your Brain with Majesco [ Majesco ] Want to improve your basic thinking skills and cognitive reaction time? Then Majesco may have the two perfect games for you: Brain Boost: Beta Wave and Brain Boost: Gamma Wave. Both Brain Boost games are being developed under the consultation of renowned researcher and author, Dr. Makoto Shichida, creator of the Right Brain Development Theory. "Each Brain Boost game offers a completely different set of fun, yet challenging, brain training problems that are designed to enhance your mental acuity," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco Entertainment. "We believe a growing number of consumers are looking for more diversified game play experiences and the Brain Boost games will help attract a new audience to the category." Both games focus on improving memory, concentration and judgment through progressively difficult brain training games where speed and accuracy count. Brain Boost: Beta Wave focuses on stimulating parts of the right brain that are often associated with active concentration and busy thinking. Brain Boost: Beta Wave includes Find a Match, Shape Recognition, Addition, Remember Sequence and Moving Dots training games. The brain's gamma waves appear to be involved in higher mental activity, including perception and problem solving. As such, Brain Boost: Gamma Wave includes training games for remembering Circumstances, Faces, Images, Numbers and Colors. Developed by Interchannel-Holon Inc, both Brain Boost: Beta Wave and Brain Boost: Gamma Wave are scheduled to ship in November for a suggested retail price of $19.99. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 23 2006 0:19 AM [Top] First Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screenshot [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has revealed the first screenshot of the upcoming monster truck racing title for Wii, Monster 4x4 World Circuit. The game will be optimized for Wii remote racing, and will also be packed in with a special steering wheel attachment to bring the Wii's racing games to life. Check out the first screen of one of Ubi's 8 Wii launch titles below. Images: Monster 4x4 World Circuit Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 23:07 PM [Top] TGS Trailers for Sega's Wii Lineup [ Sega of Japan ] Sega has revealed some trailers for their upcoming lineup for Wii, from the launch of the console to the months after in Japan. Check out the latest trailers of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Sonic & The Secret Rings, and Bleach Wii below by clicking the links to stream the trailers in Windows Media Player. Videos: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz Trailer Sonic & The Secret Rings Trailer Bleach Wii Trailer Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 22:56 PM [Top] Marvelous Interactive Inc unveils Wii, DS Titles [ Rising Star ] Marvelous Interactive Inc, the Tokyo-based parent company of Rising Star Games has disclosed details of its Nintendo DS and Wii line up at the Tokyo Game Show. Title: Rune Factory - shin Bokujou Monogatari Platform: Nintendo DS A new RPG based on the Harvest Moon series. Discover a completely new world of Harvest Moon with monsters to fight and dungeons to explore. Title: Luminous Arc Platform: Nintendo DS A new dramatic, real time tactical RPG for Nintendo DS. Lose yourself in a deep story, train your team, learn special attacks and combine objects to progress through the game. Then go head to head with your friends over Wi-Fi Title: Bokujou Monogatari - Kimi to sodatsu shima (Harvest Moon) Platform: Nintendo DS Have you ever wanted to have your own island? With this brand new episode of Harvest Moon on DS, build your own island and discover new characters in 3D for the first time on DS. Title: Bokujou Monogatari (Harvest Moon) Platform: Wii Recreate the movements on the Wii controller to actually sow seeds, plough the land, cultivate crops, etc.These are some of the farm tasks you will have to actually do in this very first next-gen Harvest Moon. Title: Heroes Platform: Wii Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 10:19 AM [Top] First Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Square-Enix has unveiled the first trailer for the highly-anticipated DS side-story to the upcoming Final Fantasy XII, entitled Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. As has been previously stated, the game will follow Vaan and Penelo, two characters from the first game, on their quest as air pirates. The title will also apparently feature other characters from the original game as well. No gameplay is featured in the trailer (typical Square), but it's worth a look nontheless. Check it out below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Trailer (6.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 2:27 AM [Top] Official Spectrobes Website Opens [ Buena Vista Games ] Buena Vista Games today announced that "Spectrobes," the highly anticipated anime-inspired action/role-playing game, will ship worldwide on March 15, 2007. "Spectrobes" is being developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS by Kyoto-based Jupiter Corporation, the makers of the bestselling "Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories." "Spectrobes" is the first video game based on original intellectual property to be created and published by Buena Vista Games. The game will be distributed in Japan by Sega, and will be displayed in the Sega booth during the Tokyo Game Show, September 22-24. The Spectrobes web site features webisodes designed to give gamers insight into the adventures and characters of the "Spectrobes" world. Six webisodes are planned for release over the next six months, culminating with the game's launch. The two-minute videos will introduce junior Planetary Patrol officers, Rallen and Jeena, as well as reveal the intriguing story behind the fossilized Spectrobes and their mysterious powers. Check out the game's official site by clicking the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 1:53 AM [Top] Lego Star Wars II Sells One Million in One Week [ LucasArts ] After only one week on store shelves worldwide, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy has already established itself as one of 2006’s strongest forces in video games. Since its release by LucasArts and TT Games on September 12, the biggest family game of the year has sold more than 1.1 million copies spanning eight platforms (PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Windows PC, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Game Boy Advance). “There’s definitely something for everyone in LEGO Star Wars II, and the sales and reviews so far are proving it," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “This is the type of fun, accessible game everyone in the family can enjoy. It appeals to so much more than just the traditional gaming audience." Set in a tongue-in-cheek Star Wars galaxy, LEGO Star Wars II allows gamers to build and battle their way through the events of Star Wars: Episodes IV through VI. It has earned rave reviews from both consumer and trade press, largely because it is designed for the entire family. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 0:53 AM [Top] Far Cry Vengeance Officially Announced [ Ubisoft ] Today, Ubisoft officially announced the title and details for its upcoming Far Cry video game for the Wii: Far Cry Vengeance. Based on the highly successful Far Cry Instincts Evolution, Far Cry Vengeance expands on the experience with a new storyline, new maps and new weapons. The game takes advantage of the revolutionary Wii Remote and Nunchuk allowing players to drive, shoot, slash, jump and climb their way through a rebel-infested, tropical hell. Far Cry Vengeance will be a Wii launch title. About the Game The incident at Jacutan Archipelago changed Jack Carver's life forever. Jack has had little choice but to embrace the disturbing talents unleashed by Krieger's unique brand of folk medicine. Back at his home port in Micronesia, Jack thought he had finally found paradise. But when a gorgeous woman draws him in on a dangerous heist, their sun-drenched days take a chilling turn. Hunted for a murder he didn't commit, Jack must draw on his most savage instincts to make his predators his prey. Game features include: --Wii Unleashed: Dig deeper into the power of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk through survival tactics that include driving, shooting, jumping, balancing, climbing, throwing grenades and Far Cry's ever-popular Feral attack. --Weapons: Choose from a variety of weapons in a struggle to endure the rebel-infested jungle. Take down an unsuspecting victim from behind with a machete or meet the fight head-on with your machine gun. --Vehicles: From ATVs to hovercrafts, pickup trucks to Jet Skis, drive over, around and through vicious combat situations. --Interactive Environments: Utilize the lush, tropical surroundings to your advantage, using stealth to sneak through the foliage past unsuspecting rebels. --Unleash the Wrath: Feel what its like to be the predator, not the prey, as you unleash the beast within. Jump higher, run faster and slash with more fury than all of your enemies combined through the animalistic Feral abilities unique to the Far Cry series. --Multiplayer: Challenge your friends in Far Cry Vengeance's frenetic Chaos mode as you battle to be the last person standing. Check out the very first screens from the game below, and watch for Far Cry Vengeance at launch for the Wii. Images: Far Cry Vengeance Screenshot 1 Far Cry Vengeance Screenshot 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 0:51 AM [Top] Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshots [ Koei ] Sengoku Musou Wave is Koei's first title for Wii, based in the Samurai Warriors world. Using the Wii Remote players can simply cut the screen to utilize the player's katana to cut down wave after wave of men. Or something like that. Look, we're not going to lie to you. The game looks like crap. I seriously was wondering at first if this was a DS game or not. The fact that Koei is putting it on Wii is just an insult, and if I was Nintendo I wouldn't let this anywhere near the console. Anyway, if you like pain, check out the game's screens below. Don't say I didn't warn you. Sengoku Musou Wave should come to the US sometime next year. Images: Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 1 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 2 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 3 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 4 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 5 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 6 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 7 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 8 Sengoku Musou Wave Screenshot 9 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 22 2006 0:48 AM [Top] TMNT: The Game Screenshots [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has now revealed the very first screens of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game set for release next year, around the time of the upcoming cgi-animated feature film's release. The first two screens are platform agnostic, but give a good idea what the game will look like on Wii. Check them out below. Images: TMNT: The Game Screenshot 1 TMNT: The Game Screenshot 2 TMNT: The Game (GBA) Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 21 2006 14:52 PM [Top] Splinter Cell 5 Concept Art and Logo [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has now revealed some concept art and even a name for Sam Fisher's first next-gen exclusive outing. Entitled Splinter Cell: Conviction, the game will apparently be set in a war-torn United States, and more that likely Sam Fisher will be right in the middle of the fight. Check out some concept art and the game's official logo below. Images: Splinter Cell: Conviction Logo Splinter Cell: Conviction Concept Art 1 Splinter Cell: Conviction Concept Art 2 Splinter Cell: Conviction Concept Art 3 Splinter Cell: Conviction Concept Art 4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 21 2006 14:49 PM [Top] Prince of Persia Next-Gen Concept Art [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft made just about everyone happy when they announced that the popular Prince of Persia franchises would be making its way to next-gen consoles, including the Wii. Now, they've released some concept art of the game, including the logo, two shots of the Prince in his new, next-gen form, and a mysterious woman. Check out the artwork below. Images: Prince of Persia Next-Gen Concept Art 1 Prince of Persia Next-Gen Concept Art 2 Prince of Persia Next-Gen Concept Art 3 Prince of Persia Next-Gen Concept Art 4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 21 2006 14:28 PM [Top] New Yggdra Union Screenshots [ Atlus ] Ruled by a royal family said to be descendants of the gods themselves, Fantasinia is a prosperous and peaceful land -- until the peace is shattered by the invading forces of the Empire of Bronkia. Led by the young emperor Gulcasa, who seized control of the Empire in a brutal coup d'etat, Bronkia's Imperial Army cuts a bloody swath through the people of Fantasinia and the Royal Armies of King Ordeene. Amidst the chaos, a young woman escapes from the besieged capital of Partina—a woman with innocence in her face, and a sword in her hand. The girl's name is Princess Yggdra, the last surviving member of the royal family; the sword is the Gran Centurio, a legendary blade once wielded by the founder of Fantasinia, and passed down through generations of royalty. Fleeing to a remote valley at the southern tip of the continent, Yggdra meets up with an unusual thief named Milanor, a chivalrous young man destined to help her liberate the people of her kindgom... - Strategic card-driven gameplay! - Decks of "Tactical Cards" are used to determine battlefield movement, special attacks, and more! - Stunning artistry in every aspect of gameplay!Character design by manga artist Satoko Kiyuzuki and card design by Sunaho Tobe, character designer of Riviera: The Promised Land! - Over 30 attack, defense, and support skills! - Join forces with other allies to form an unbeatable Union! Check out the latest screens of the game below. Images: Yggdra Union Screenshot 1 Yggdra Union Screenshot 2 Yggdra Union Screenshot 3 Yggdra Union Screenshot 4 Yggdra Union Screenshot 5 Yggdra Union Screenshot 6 Yggdra Union Screenshot 7 Yggdra Union Screenshot 8 Yggdra Union Screenshot 9 Yggdra Union Screenshot 10 Yggdra Union Screenshot 11 Yggdra Union Screenshot 12 Yggdra Union Screenshot 13 Yggdra Union Screenshot 14 Yggdra Union Screenshot 15 Yggdra Union Screenshot 16 Yggdra Union Screenshot 17 Yggdra Union Screenshot 18 Yggdra Union Screenshot 19 Yggdra Union Screenshot 20 Yggdra Union Screenshot 21 Yggdra Union Screenshot 22 Yggdra Union Screenshot 23 Yggdra Union Screenshot 24 Yggdra Union Screenshot 25 Yggdra Union Screenshot 26 Yggdra Union Screenshot 27 Yggdra Union Screenshot 28 Yggdra Union Screenshot 29 Yggdra Union Screenshot 30 Yggdra Union Screenshot 31 Yggdra Union Screenshot 32 Yggdra Union Screenshot 33 Yggdra Union Screenshot 34 Yggdra Union Screenshot 35 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 21 2006 1:25 AM [Top] Tom & Jerry Tales GBA and DS Screenshots [ Warner Bros. Interactive ] Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment gives their fans the chance to get into the chase themselves, when the two hilarious, chase-filled TOM AND JERRY TALES games for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS ship on October 31! Putting an emphasis on what Tom and Jerry are all about - the chase - the TOM AND JERRY TALES games allow gamers to play as Jerry who must make his way through the house to survive, running through mouse holes, destroying the house through interactions with Tom and recovering the precious cheese Tom has stolen along the way. Each version of the game features exclusive content-the GBA version includes various mini-games to keep the chase moving, while the NDS version includes touch-screen activated events that require players to use lightening quick reflexes to cleverly avoid Tom and create general mayhem in the house. This is a big season for the duo, as "Tom and Jerry Tales," their first new U.S. television series in more than 13 years debuts on Saturday, September 23 at 8:30am as part of the "Kids WB!" cartoon block!!! Then, the beginning of October brings the DVD debut of "Tom and Jerry Tales." (Of course, fans of the iconic superstars can always catch classic Tom and Jerry action Mondays through Thursdays at noon on Cartoon Network.) Images: Tom and Jerry Tales GBA Screenshot 1 Tom and Jerry Tales GBA Screenshot 2 Tom and Jerry Tales GBA Screenshot 3 Tom and Jerry Tales DS Screenshot 1 Tom and Jerry Tales DS Screenshot 2 Tom and Jerry Tales DS Screenshot 3 Kevin McGinnis -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 21:29 PM [Top] More New Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screens [ Konami ] Castlevania is back on the DS with an all-new adaptation of the award winning action exploration gameplay that has held fans captive for 2 decades! Take control of two heroes, Jonathan Morris, a vampire killer and his close friend Charlotte Orlean, a girl with tremendous magical ability. Amidst the chaos of World War II, two mysterious sisters emerge working to resurrect Dracula and David and Charlotte are all that stand in their way. Check out the latest screens of the game below. The title will hit stores for the DS this December. Images: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 1 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 2 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 3 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 4 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:43 PM [Top] New Details on Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings [ Famitsu ] New details have arose in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine dealing with one of Square-Enix's big surprises for the Nintendo DS, a spin-off game from the PS2's Final Fantasy XII, entitled Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. The game will be completely controlled with the DS's touch screen and stylus, and will be set during no specific timeframe in the Ivalice universe (For the unitiated, FFXII, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are all set in the same world). In the game, the two lead characters in FFXII, Vaan and Penelo, are 18 and 17 years old respectively, and both are rather famous air pirates. The game is also being given the grand treatment as far as production goes, with several of S-E's biggest names signed on to work on it. The game's director will be Motomu Toriyama, who previously worked on Final Fantasy X-2 and is now working on Final Fantasy XIII. Ryuma Itou (Final Fantasy Tactics Advance) will handle the character design. The game's music will be composed by Hitoshi Sakamoto (FFXII, FFT, FFTA), and Akitoshi Kawazu, creator of the SaGa series, will be Executive Producer. Expect more on the game this weekend at the Tokyo Game Show. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:38 PM [Top] Front Mission Hits the DS [ Famitsu ] Square-Enix has been giving the DS a lot of love lately. In only the past week, the company has announced new Final Fantasy and Mana games, as well as a brand-new IP for the dual-screened wonder machine. Now, you can tack on yet another game, as Square-Enix has officially announced Front Mission 1st for the DS. Like the other Front Mission games, this one will be a pure turn-based strategy title, with armies facing off in giant mechs. Front Mission 1st will actually be a remake of the first Front Mission game way back when for the SNES, revamped with new touch-screen controls. No further details on the game were available, but we should find out more this weekend at the Tokyo Game Show. Check out the scan of the game below. Images: Front Mission 1st Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:24 PM [Top] Guitar Hero to Play on All Consoles [ GamesIndustry.biz ] According to Activision CEO and chairman Robert Kotick, Guitar Hero is set to rock all the consoles in 2007. He claims that Guitar Hero will appear "on every significant format." Guitar Hero II is coming for the PS2 in November, and listed in the UK as coming for the Xbox 360 in the first part of 2007. Here's to a Wii Guitar shell peripheral. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:21 PM [Top] Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy Boxart [ Destineer ] Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy integrates an innovative twist via the use of alchemy - which is the ability to transform objects from one form into another - and its strategic impact on the game. Whether repelling defenders, removing obstacles or engaged in battle, all six characters have unique and devastating alchemy attacks, which range in scope from bolts of fire and stone spikes, to monstrous cannons and gigantic fists. By holding down the alchemy button on the Nintendo DS touch screen, players can transform their initial alchemy creation into a mega-weapon of tremendous proportions and impact. Covering the entire Fullmetal Alchemist storyline, Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy has two modes of play: Story Mode, which follows the saga of the Elric brothers and includes cinematics and battle sequences from the TV series; and Character Mode which allows players to assume the role of one of the six characters. Upon finishing the game with a particular character, players are rewarded with a special character cinematic from the TV show. Additional exciting features of Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy include: * Ability to play as one of six characters: Edward or Alphonse Elric, Roy Mustang, Alex Louis Armstrong, Izumi or Scar; as well as acquire the special moves of the other characters; * Voice-over from the stars of the Cartoon Network series; * A host of unlock-able content, including talking character alarm clocks, character galleries, video and sound libraries, and more; * More than 10 touch screen mini-games, including “Whack-A-Homunculus” and “Fullmetal vs. Flame” all add exciting new challenges between battles. Check out the game's official boxart below. Images: Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:07 PM [Top] Final Fantasy III US Boxart [ Square-Enix ] The only Final Fantasy that was never localized—the third installment of the original series—will finally reach North American shores! Lauded as “legendary” by the Japanese fan base, Final Fantasy III has been reborn, incorporating the latest in portable gaming technology. Using the features of the Nintendo DS to their fullest, Final Fantasy III features graphics that have been reworked and remodeled in 3D, while maintaining the mythical Final Fantasy look and feel. Now is your chance to complete the circle. The legend of Final Fantasy III is reborn. The missing link in the evolution of Final Fantasy is unveiled—North American gamers experience a legend reborn. A dynamic job-changing system brings a nearly infinite number of party variations. The touch screen interface takes full advantage of the DS capabilities—explore dungeons, dispatch foes and cast spells by using the stylus. A complete visual overhaul breathes new life into a classic—colorful 3D graphics bring Final Fantasy III into the new millennium. Take advantage of the DS Wi-Fi feature to access the Mognet and communicate with other players as well as NPCs, and uncover hidden dungeons, quests and items. Check out the game's official US boxart below. Images: Final Fantasy III US Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:03 PM [Top] New Wing Island Details and Screens [ Hudson ] The Nintendo Wii is fast approaching and Hudson has claimed a stake in its launch titles with Wing Island! Clamored for at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Wing Island was nowhere to be found. Now, we bring you an exclusive preview of what is sure to be the one of the top flight simulators of the season, due in part to Nintendo's innovative Wii remote controller. The Wii controller features an accelerometer (yes, that's a real word!) that senses motion, allowing users to control aircraft like real pilots. Forget the analog stick. The Wii controller acts as the yoke of a plane! Tilt it up and planes climbs in the air. Tilt it down and planes dive. Twist it left or right and planes performs barrel rolls. In Wing Island, you're not always flying alone. Take command of an aircraft squadron and change formation with the press of a button. Flick your wrist and your squadron will perform special tasks specific to the formation they're in. With incredibly intuitive controls, anyone can pick this game up and have a blast. What's more, two players can go at it in a series of competitive tournaments! The storyline revolves around conquering islands that each contains missions. Missions range from popping balloons to putting out fires to dropping cargo. Earn money by completing missions and upgrade your plane. Salivating? How about a mission where you must save an ocean liner in distress as a fire blankets its exterior hull? Too much excitement for you? How about a mission exploring the island in search of an elusive cow? As you progress in the game, the islands become increasingly difficult. With missions like these, however, there's always fun along the way! - Nintendo's Wii remote acts as the yoke of the plane! A motion sensor relays aircraft control, producing flight simulation like never before! - Multiplayer support! See who can pop the most balloons or have a sky racing derby! - Unlock more planes! Planes get faster, stronger, and even easier to control. - A variety of missions and environments await you and your team of sky workers. Do you have what it takes? Check out the first screens of the game, as well as the game's logo and some artwork of the game's cast below. Images: Wing Island Screenshot 1 Wing Island Screenshot 2 Wing Island Screenshot 3 Wing Island Screenshot 4 Wing Island Screenshot 5 Wing Island Screenshot 6 Wing Island Logo Wing Island Cast Artwork Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 22:43 PM [Top] New The Sims 2 Pets Trailer [ Electronic Arts ] Create pets for your Sims to train, play with, and love as their own. Choose from popular dog and cat breeds or customize their features to create a unique pet for your Sim to raise as one of the family. Whether Sims are romping with their pets in the central town park or searching the shops for the perfect pet accessory, keep one thing in mind-Sim pets have minds of their own, so expect the unexpected! EA has revealed a roster of more than 25 songs that will be featured in The Sims 2 Pets. Fans of The Sims will be thrilled to learn they can hear the latest hits from hottest musical acts including the Pussycat Dolls, Aly & AJ, The Flaming Lips and Hot Chip, in addition to theme and mode music from Mark Mothersbaugh. With songs that represent a variety of genres from indie and hip hop to country and pop, every Sims player will find something they adore! Check out the latest trailer for the game below. The Sims 2 Pets hits stores this October for the GameCube, DS, and GBA. Video: The Sims 2 Pets Trailer (15.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 21:58 PM [Top] Wii Playable at Nintendo Fusion Tour [ Nintendo ] Groupies following the Nintendo Fusion Tour have a new superstar to watch for. Nintendo's remarkable Wii console is joining the tour to give video game and music fans a chance to play it before it launches in the United States on Nov. 19 at an MSRP of $249.99. The Nintendo Fusion Tour blends the best of hot new music and the coolest new video games. Starting Sept. 27 at each of the tour's 35 stops around the country, multiple Wii consoles will be hooked up and ready to play, along with a variety of hot Nintendo DS games like Elite Beat Agents. Concert attendees can pick up the unique Wii Remote controller and start playing, regardless of their video game experience. Some of the Wii titles scheduled to make the rounds on the tour include Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Wii Sports, Excite Truck, WarioWare: Smooth Moves and Activision's Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. Note that the lineup of Wii games is subject to change without notice. Hawthorne Heights headlines the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour, with support from Relient K, Emery, Plain White T's and The Sleeping. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 14:22 PM [Top] GDC is the New E3 [ Game Developer's Conference ] The CMP Game Group, organizers of the Game Developers Conference (GDC), announced today that they are more than doubling their show floor to accommodate the game industry market need for a single, one-stop shop event. The Game Developers Conference will take place March 5-9, 2007 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. With E3 moving to a 5,000 person media-centric event, GDC has been elevated to the world's largest trade event dedicated to the game industry, with attendees numbering more than 12,500 including more than 1,000 members of the working press. 2007 will be the first year of GDC's long-term relocation to San Francisco, after its high growth trajectory necessitated the move to accommodate the expanding attendee base. When GDC was last in San Francisco in 2005, the show occupied the three floors of Moscone West. For GDC 07, the organizers reserved both Moscone West and Moscone North. With the Moscone West show floor virtually sold out, the organizers have now additionally secured the keynote hall in Moscone South in order to convert Moscone North into a second dedicated show floor. This will allow the GDC to accommodate the voluminous requests coming in for exhibition space and to include fresh exhibitor opportunities, such as the all-new Game Demo Theater. "As GDC enters its 20th year, it emerges as the event with the largest gravitational pull of any other game industry-only event," said Jamil Moledina, executive director of the GDC. "While it remains our primary goal to serve the game development community and ensure that the session-based half of GDC remains unchanged, we also believe it is time to dramatically upgrade the range of expo opportunities. The result of our expansion is that GDC becomes the natural choice for all companies in the game industry ecosystem to exhibit and conduct business." The new show floor is built around a core of existing GDC expo suites and a networking lounge, surrounded by publishers, developers, outsourcers, middleware providers, peripheral companies, component companies, mobile game companies, casual game companies, serious game companies, online game companies, licensed IP holders, and international consortia. These groups complement the existing GDC exhibitors of platform companies, tool providers, and technology providers. Vendors on the new floor have a choice between booth space, expo suites and meeting rooms, while publishers and developers have the chance to demonstrate upcoming games in the brand new Game Demo Theater. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 14:18 PM [Top] Bioware Works on DS [ Bioware ] BioWare, a leading video game developer, and the minds behind such games as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Repubic, Jade Empire, and Mass Effect, has announced the formation of a new handheld game development group. Their first game will be produced for the Nintendo DS system and marks BioWare's debut in the handheld game space. The group will be led by project director, Dan Tudge, former president and founder of independent video game developer, Exile Interactive, Inc. Dan has overseen development of AAA titles for such major publishers as Nintendo, Microsoft, THQ and Sega Sports. "We're thrilled to have Dan leading our new handheld group," said Ray Muzyka, CEO of BioWare. "Dan has an exceptional pedigree of game development, and we're excited to have him bring his proven track record of successful games to BioWare's new DS project!" "As always, we are committed to creating the best story-driven games in the world, and the Nintendo DS offers us an exciting new platform to engage," said Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare. "The new project offers tremendous opportunities, and we're looking for talented and passionate developers to become part of that." Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 14:15 PM [Top] Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam to Be Online? [ EB Games ] Yet another Wii boxart has come from EB Games, and this one may be the most shocking of all. The official boxart for Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam features a little something in the top-left corner sure to draw your interest: a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection logo. Could Tony Hawk's first racing excursion for Wii be online after all, even though Nintendo has stated that no games will be online until after launch? Stay tuned for more info. For now, check out the boxart below Images: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 14:13 PM [Top] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii Boxart [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has revealed the official boxart of the most anticiparted title for the Nintendo Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The boxart was confirmed at the official Nintendo press conference in New York City, so this is the real deal. Check it out below. Images: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 13:57 PM [Top] New Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Screenshot [ Nintendo ] Killer robots are attacking major cities across the United States, and the military is powerless to stop them. Players control one of Project H.A.M.M.E.R.'s cyborg prototypes: half-man, half-machine, with an extraordinary weapon - and the power to save the world. Grab the Wii Remote and start swinging. Equipped with a hammer of amazing strength, players represent the only hope against an unstoppable army of marauding automatons. Players use the Nunchuk controller in one hand to maneuver through a variety of vast and detailed environments. They use the Wii Remote in the other just like a real hammer to control the hero's weapon. Swing the controller side to side to make the in-game hammer send enemies flying. Lift it into the air and bring it down to smash robots to smithereens. Use the A button for quick hammer flurries. Enter a world of nonstop action, excitement and relentless destruction. Players will reduce rampaging robots to scrap metal as they battle their way across the United States. If they see an enemy, they smash it. And they continue to smash until every city across America is saved. Check out the latest screen of one of the newest franchises coming to Wii. Images: Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Screenshot Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 13:52 PM [Top] Become a Pokémon in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon [ Nintendo ] Pokémon fans have dreamed of this moment, and now Nintendo is making it a reality. Starting Sept. 20, players who pick up a copy of the new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team for Nintendo DS or Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team for Game Boy Advance SP will for the first time experience the game as an actual Pokémon character, which allows them to interact with - and even talk to - other Pokémon. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon asks the question, "what if you woke up one day and you were a Pokémon?" Pokémon Mystery Dungeon starts players on an adventure unlike those found in any previous Pokémon game. Players awake to find that they have been transformed into a Pokémon. They choose one other Pokémon as a partner and set off to form a rescue team in a land ravaged by natural disasters. The players chat with Pokémon and make friends with more than 380 other Pokémon along the way. Players can accept rescue jobs to help fellow Pokémon who are in trouble. The deep storyline draws players in, while randomly generated dungeons keep them coming back for more. An exciting feature in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon lets friends who each have a copy of the game come to each other's aid. If a player loses a battle in a dungeon, another player can come to his or her rescue. Fallen players who are rescued do not lose their money or items, and can restart their games from where they left off. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team for Nintendo DS and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team for Game Boy Advance SP will be available Sept. 20, and are Rated E for Everyone. Both games are almost identical in content, allowing the players to choose either one for the system they want to use. The Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is now available at retail. For more information about the games, visit the games' official site. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 19 2006 13:41 PM [Top] New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Media [ Activision ] Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil – the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled – have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Check out 3 new character specific trailers, as well as the game's GBA boxart below. Images: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (GBA) Boxart Video: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Spider-Man" Trailer (10.1 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "The Thing" Trailer (9.0 MB) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance "Thor" Trailer (8.7 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 18 2006 23:47 PM [Top] Australian Launch Details [ Nintendo ] As part of a global launch period, Wii will arrive in Australia on December 7th. Wii will be sold as an affordable, mass-consumer product at an SRP of just $399.95. The price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchuk controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc, which anyone can play using simple movements, experienced or not. Between launch day and Dec. 31, Wii owners will enjoy a robust lineup of around 20 software titles, with selections for everyone from video game veterans to newcomers. Some top Nintendo launch titles include Wii Sports, a compilation of tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and boxing and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, September 18 2006 10:42 AM [Top] Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles Details [ Video Game Blogger ] It looks like some details are beginning to surface for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. The game looks to fill in some of the holes left by the Resident Evil series over time. It will be divided up into four chapters. Chapter 1 - Resident Evil Mansion - Stars Jill and Chris Chapter 2 - Resident Evil 2's RPD - Stars Leon and Claire Chapter 3 - Resident Evil 3's City Areas - Stars Jill and Carlos Chapter 4 - Resident Evil 4's Village and Surrounding Areas - Stars Leon and Ada RE:UC will link RE4 and the Umbrella's status in it more closely to the rest of the games in the series. Other details include: -Unlocking other characters later after playing through the game, such as Rebecca Chambers, Hunk, and Wesker -Gameplay is like RE4. Press B to go over the shoulder, point, and shoot with A -Motions, rather than a button press, with the Wii remote get you through Quick-Time Events -All characters will have strengths and weaknesses, as well as melee attacks -Each character has a unique set of weapons and can carry two at at ime -There is an Arcade Mode, similar to the Mercenaries from RE4 Definitely a lot to look forward to. If Wii also gets RE5 later, it will be quite a treat for Nintendo fans. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, September 16 2006 20:36 PM [Top] Full Translated List of Japanese Wii Launch/Upcoming Titles [ Eurogamer ] Eurogamer has posted the full, translated list of launch and upcoming Wii games, as posted on Nintendo's official Japanese Wii site. The list reveals that not only will Super Paper Mario be moved to Wii, but Donkey Kong: Bongo Blast will as well: an interesting choice, as the Wii has no bongo controller (yet), excluding the GameCube controller (which can be used on Wii). Also to be moved to Wii will be the long-hidden Kirby game, also previously a GameCube title. Also officially announced is Mario Party 8, the latest in the long-running series of party games, now hopefully optimized for the Wii-mote. Check out the full list below. Launch titles Elebits (Konami) Ennichi no Tatsujin (Namco Bandai) Wii Play (Nintendo) Kororinpa (Hudson) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo) Machi-Kuru Domino (Success) Necro-Nesia (Spike) Red Steel (Ubisoft) SD Gundam Revolution (Namco Bandai) Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (SEGA) Swing Golf Pangya (Tecmo) Tamagotchi no Pikapika Daitouryou (Namco Bandai) Trauma Center: Second Opinion (Atlus) Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (Nintendo) Wii Sports (Nintendo) Wing Island (Hudson) December 6th titles Bleach Wii (SEGA) Cooking Mama (Taito) Crayon Shin-chan (Banpresto) Furifuri (Taito) Mahjong Wii (KOEI) Need For Speed: Carbon (EA) Pokémon Battle Revolution (Nintendo) Rayman Raving Rabbids (Ubisoft) Sengoku Musou Wave (KOEI) Sudoku (Hudson) Tsuri Master (Hudson) 2007 (working titles where staggeringly obvious) 3D Action game (Takara Tomy) 3D Boxing Action game (AQ Interactive) Action Game (ASNetworks) Action Game (Epoch) Action game (Takara Tomy) Action Game (Banpresto) Action Game (From Software) Action RPG (From Software) Bachindaa (Hudson, February) Barnyard (THQ) Baseball Game (Konami) Battle Action game (Takara Tomy) Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicles (Capcom) Bokujou Monogatari Wii (Marvelous Interactive) Bomberman Land (Hudson, March) Call of Duty 3 (Activision) Cars (THQ) Crossword (Hudson, March) Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo) Densha de Go! (Taito) Disaster (Nintendo, spring) Donkey Kong Bongo Blast (Nintendo) Doubutsu no Mori (Nintendo) Dragon Ball Z Sparking! NEO (Namco Bandai, January) Dragon Quest Swords (Square Enix, spring) Excite Truck (Nintendo, January) Eyeshield 21 (Nintendo) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearer (Square Enix) Fire Emblem: Akatsuki no Megami (Nintendo, February) Fishing Game (ASNetworks, summer) Forever Blue (Nintendo) GT pro series (MTO) Gun Shooting game (SEGA) Harry Potter (EA) Heroes (Spike) Horse Racing Action game (KOEI) Kirby (Nintendo) Java (Spike, spring) Jigsaw Puzzle (Hudson, March) Kawano Nushi-Tsuri Series (Marvelous Interactive) Mario Party 8 (Nintendo) Mario Strikers Charged (Nintendo) Marvel Ultimate Alliance (Activision) Metroid Prime 3 Corruption (Nintendo) Mobile Suit Gundam (Namco Bandai) Music simulation game (Konami) New Action Adventure Game 1 (Konami) New Action Adventure Game 2 (Konami) New RPG (KOEI) Noumiso Konekone Puzzle Takoron (Compile Heart, summer) One Piece: Unlimited Adventure (Namco Bandai) Original Action game (D3 Publisher) Original Simulation game (Marvelous Interactive) Pac-Man Carnival (Namco Bandai) Princess Company (Starfish SD) Project Hammer (Nintendo) RPG (Konami) San-X Allstar for Wii (MTO) Shooting Game (ASNetworks, summer) Simple series (D3 Publisher) Soccer Game (Konami) Sonic and the Secret Rings (SEGA) Soothing character action game (MTO) SpongeBob SquarePants (THQ) SSX (EA) Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo) Super Paper Mario (Nintendo) Sword Fighting Action game (Interchannel-Holon) Sword of Legendia (Namco Bandai) The Dog Island (Yuke's) Tiger Woods PGA Tour (EA) Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (Activision) Totsugeki Famicom Wars W (Nintendo) Wii Music (Nintendo) Wii Yawaraka Atama Juku (Nintendo, spring) Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 16 2006 14:00 PM [Top]