Nintendo Debuts New Series on WiiWare/VC [ Nintendo ]
WiiWare
Art Style: ORBIENT (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Explore the universe like never before in Art Style: ORBIENT. Take control of gravity and anti-gravity and carefully maneuver your small star through 50 stages set in multiple galaxies. Collide with other stars to absorb them and make your own star expand in size, or capture the stars in your orbit and have them become your satellites. Space isn't empty, though, and you'll have to avoid bumping into obstacles or getting pulled into a black hole. If you feel like relaxing while still being challenged, this is the game for you. Its combination of simple controls, atmospheric sound and unique environment make for an experience unlike any other.
Bomberman Blast (Hudson Entertainment, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A brand new addition to the Bomberman series is available on WiiWare. Up to eight players can battle online simultaneously via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Simple controls make this a great game for family and friends to enjoy anytime. You can trigger new items by shaking the Wii Remote controller, creating new levels of Bomberman excitement. You can even take the intensity up another notch by adding your own Mii caricatures to the mix. Battle results can be recorded on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Ranking, so you can see how you stack up against others around the globe. This title will prove to be a blast for everyone--from those who've never touched a Bomberman game to the Bomberman masters.
Virtual Console
Super Turrican 2 (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Violence, 800 Wii Points): As the last survivor of the United Freedom Forces, it is your duty to destroy the Machine's forces that have devastated the galaxy. Fight through countless hordes of enemies using everything at your disposal. Use weapons and power-ups to fight back the tide of oncoming enemies. Use special abilities like the Energy Wheel and Cyberfist to find secret areas and score extra lives. When your lives and continues are gone, the mission ends. You are the galaxy's last hope. Are you up to the challenge?
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 29 2008 11:37 AM [Top]
Japanese newspaper Nikkei is reporting that Nintendo will soon announce a successor to the extremely popular Nintendo DS handheld. The new model will feature several new aspects, including wider screens, a built-in camera, SD card support, and MP3 playback. What's more, the new DS will cost "less than 20,000 yen" which translates to about $188. And here's the kicker - it will apparently be released in Japan this year, with a US release also being considered. Considering Nintendo is holding a press event in Japan this week, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the new handheld unveiled then. We'll stay with this potentially huge story as it unfolds, so stay tuned.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Sunday, September 28 2008 1:49 AM [Top]
Today Ubisoft announces the development of Shaun White Snowboarding for the Nintendo DS system. The game is scheduled for release on November 16, 2008.
Developed in close collaboration with Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist and eight-time X Games Gold Medalist, Shaun White Snowboarding for the PSP system and DS allows players to enjoy the thrilling sport of snowboarding anytime, anywhere. Built from the ground up on both platforms, each version includes exclusive and unique features. Using intuitive controls, players can ride and compete on mountains around the world. They can also express their creativity through rides and customization and challenge their friends through wireless multiplayer.
Key features of Shaun White Snowboarding for Nintendo DS:
* Carve Your Path Through Huge Mountain Environments - Create your own runs to suit your personal riding style, and choose your path down four open mountains. Each path offers its own risks, rewards and opportunities. Big airs, dangerous carves, thrilling speed runs and huge challenges await!
* Intuitive Stylus Controls - Be in complete control of your rider using intuitive motion-based controls on the Touch Screen. Simply flick the stylus to jump, draw a circle to spin, or slide it across to control your carves. Experiment with a ton of different combinations and get into the game like never before!
* Wireless Multiplayer for Four - Get your friends together for a snowboarding session using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Up to four players can get in on the action at once - compete in races, point competitions, king of the hill and more.
* Customize Your Rider and Your Gear - You can choose a rider to suit your own personal style and complete challenges to unlock decals. These decals will not only be a way for you to customize your gear and show your accomplishments to the world, but will also help you customize your riding style by granting you new abilities. See a particularly cool sticker on a friend's board? Trade stickers with your friends over a local wireless connection!
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 24 2008 21:45 PM [Top]
With the 2008 Tokyo Game Show upon us, Famitsu has revealed several new titles that are set to make the show floor, and will be released for both the Wii and Nintendo DS. Here's a list of them, with scans for most of the games below.
Resident Evil Wii Edition: Much like Resident Evil Zero: Wii Edition, this game is a straight port of the GameCube's Resident Evil Remake (RE:Make, for short), complete with waggle-fied controls. No word yet on if it'll ever come to the States, but since RE:Zero for Wii never did, I wouldn't put money on it.
Inazuma Eleven 2: One of two new games for the Nintendo DS this week by the extremely popular developer Level 5, this game is a sequel to the just released Inazuma Eleven, a game that somehow was able to combine the genres of RPG and Soccer Game. This one will add a new alien team and should be out in Japan next year.
Ninokuni DS: The other Level 5 game, this title is a co-production with Studio Ghibli, perhaps Japan's most revered anime company, headed up by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The game will come with a book called "The Magic Master" which constantly references the game, and features clues and hints on how to progress through the game. There will also be a console version of the game, but a platform has yet to be decided.
Dandam: Developed by Acquire, this DS-bound RPG/Puzzle game forces players to build a massive dam around their village, keeping monster attacks out but also making sure to keep the flow of water going into the town.
7th Dragon: Developed by Sega, this is the new DS RPG from Kazuya Niinou, best known for the Etrian Odyssey series. The combat is command-based and inspired by D&D-esque myth, with characters choosing from a selection of seven classes: Rogue, Mage, Fighter, Princess, Knight, Samurai, and Healer. The primary villains of the game, as one would surmise, are dragons, and players must defeat them all to obtain more of the land.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 24 2008 13:20 PM [Top]
Tenchu 4 Comes to North America in 2009 [ Ubisoft ]
Today Ubisoft announced that Tenchu 4, the newest addition to the Tenchu franchise exclusively for the Wii system, will launch in North America and Europe in early 2009. The development team behind the original Tenchu, Acquire, brings a fresh new look, feel and motion to the Tenchu franchise.
Tenchu 4 will use the Wii Remote to fight, dash, jump and kill like a true ninja. Players will continue the saga of Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. Playing as both stealthy Rikimaru and aggressive and acrobatic Ayame, players will fight their way through more than 10 missions and 50 side quests and experience the thrilling adventure of being the ultimate ninja.
Tenchu 4 will come to a North American and European audience where it will be well-received by both fans of the series as well as Wii owners who have been looking for an edgy and exciting game. And if it's katanas, throwing stars, daggers and smoke bombs you're looking for, then, yeah, it’s got all those too.
Tenchu 4 has not yet been rated by the ESRB.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, September 23 2008 20:47 PM [Top]
Using Wii Shop Channel rankings from the top American Wii markets -- US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia -- along with historical sales data calculated from Nintendo Channel usage data, VGChartz can exclusively reveal to you today the sales for the first day for the hottest WiiWare title to date:
Day 1 sales for the Americas:
Mega Man 9 (WiiWare, Capcom, 1,000 points): 60,000
Yes, that's right. In one day Mega Man 9 outsold all but six WiiWare titles' lifetime totals. In one day it outsold Strong Bad Episode's 1 lifetime sales from over a month. For the full week it could surpass the lifetime sales of every WiiWare title -- and most Virtual Console titles, as well.
Wario and Kirby Join Forces, Kill Each Other [ Nintendo ]
Today, two popular Nintendo characters launch their new video games on a rare dual-launch day. Conniving Wario appears in Wario Land: Shake It! for the Wii console, while "super tuff pink puff" Kirby arrives in Kirby Super Star Ultra for Nintendo DS. Both characters have millions of fans, and each game plays to the strengths of its lead character.
Wario Land: Shake It! looks like a hand-drawn cartoon that players can control. It's a classic-style side-scrolling game in which players navigate Wario through a series of enemies and hazards. The game features motion controls: Players shake the Wii Remote controller to help Wario shake down his enemies, free coins from treasure bags and even cause earthquakes. Wario's narcissistic personality is on full display as he sets out to get his hands on the Bottomless Coin Sack.
What Wario is to greed, Kirby is to kindness. But the little pink powerhouse is not to be trifled with. Fans know that Kirby has the ability to inhale enemies and copy their abilities, a trait used to progress through the game and defeat anyone who gets in the way. Kirby Super Star Ultra for the Nintendo DS updates the beloved Super NES classic including new graphics, new adventures and new challenges. In local wireless mode, up to four Nintendo DS owners can compete, even if they only have one game card.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 22 2008 12:49 PM [Top]
Mega Man 9 Highlights WiiWare/VC This Week [ Nintendo ]
WiiWare
Mega Man 9 (CAPCOM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Mega Man fans, the wait is over! The classic Blue Bomber that debuted in 1987 is back with the ninth installment in the classic series. It's a new adventure for Mega Man done in an 8-bit style-graphics, music and gameplay are all like you remember them.
PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (Bplus, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint is a crazy, challenging puzzle shooter that delivers more than 100 hours of fun, supporting up to eight players simultaneously. Guard the birth of ZeLeLi and free them from the menace of the evil black Shadow Plättchen. Play as one of the countless FantasyMEs and fight as an astronaut, butterfly, car or football against sharks, cowboys, asteroids and skulls in numerous, fabulous fantasy Worlds. Use items and multipliers in combos to fight yourself to the top of the high scores and find the perfect way to solve a level. Go wild in three completely different game modes of PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint with more than 300 levels. Twist cooperatively with your friends or compete through many multiplayer modes.
Virtual Console
Super Dodge Ball (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Super Dodge Ball, you take control of the USA Dodge Ball team and travel the world in an effort to become the best dodge ballers around. Step onto playing fields in countries all over the globe and use a combination of normal and super shots to help take down your opponents. But be careful, as some destinations have surfaces that can affect your footing. Manage the team as you think best, and swap out characters with other players that better fit your playing style. Two players can enjoy a head-to-head game or play a spirited round of Bean Ball, a six-character free-for-all. Three difficulty levels are available (Easy, Medium, and Hard); which one you choose will depend on your skill and courage. Do you have what it takes to lead Team USA to the ultimate prize and win the world championship of dodge ball?
Vectorman (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2049, mankind is forced to abandon an over polluted Earth and seek out other planets for colonization while the mechanized Orbots stay behind to clean up the mess. When the Orbot leader, WarHead, starts blowing a few circuits and causes a war among the mechanical brethren, a sludge pilot named Vectorman is the only one willing to step up and fight him. You'll morph into a speeding train, a power drill, a mechanical fish and a mighty dune buggy in this action-packed adventure. Equip yourself with weapons, pick up morphs and power-ups to defeat WarHead, and restore peace on Earth.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 22 2008 12:44 PM [Top]
Ignition Entertainment, in conjunction with AQ Interactive invite gamers around the world to "Awaken the Power Within" when Blue Dragon Plus for Nintendo DS breathes fire across North America and Europe in March 2009.
Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, Blue Dragon Plus features character designs by Akira Toriyama, and a soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu.
Currently a top-rated show on Cartoon Network in the U.S., the story of Blue Dragon centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends who possess the ability to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters. In Blue Dragon Plus, one year has passed since Shu and his companions defeated the tyrannical remnant of the Ancients, Nene. In the midst of the battle, the world split in two and now consists of a myriad of "cubes" that exploded from its depths. King Jibral notices a mysterious cube in the distance suddenly start to move violently, and from it he sees the Shadow of a Balaur, a three-headed dragon, emerge. The enormous and sinister Shadow is just the beginning of the new turmoil and devastation to come.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 22 2008 10:47 AM [Top]
Wii Sports introduced new players to the world of video games. Wii Fit got even more people interested in fun and fitness.
Now Wii Music builds on that inclusive legacy by letting people turn their living rooms into fun concert halls. It brings the experience of performing music to people who think learning an instrument is too difficult. Wii Music launches exclusively for the Wii console on Oct. 20 and aims to bring a deeper love and appreciation of music to everyone.
Players can improvise jams on the fly with more than 60 instruments. You will find rock favorites like the electric guitar; orchestra standards like trumpet, saxophone and clarinet; and even international instruments like steel drums, marimba and sitar. Players simply select their instruments, and then move their Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as though they were playing the real thing. Wii Music turns players' movements into great music, even if you've never picked up an instrument before.
Budding musicians can play along to the beat of a diverse array of more than 50 songs from a variety of genres including popular, licensed, classical and Nintendo songs. Or players can improvise by adding new beats or creative twists to the songs. The combinations are endless, and it's all for the joy of creating fun new tunes.
Once players have their song the way they like it, they can forward it to friends who are also playing Wii Music via the Wii Message Board. Those friends can then put their own spin on the tune and send it back – or pass it along to their friends.
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Confirmed for Wii [ Famitsu ]
While Wii gamers (at the moment) won't be able to get their hands on Street Fighter IV, Capcom is at least throwing a bone to our Japanese brethren with the announcement of their own 2D arcade fighting game, based upon the company's latest vs. fighting mashup. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes, a previously arcade-only title, has been revealed for the Wii in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, and will feature Capcom legends such as Ryu and Chun-Li from Street Fighter, Morrigan from Darkstalkers, and Mega Man in his Legends incarnation, taking on a who's-who from the famed Tatsunoko anime production company, including Ken from Gatchaman, Casshern, Tekkaman, and Hurricane Polymar. While it's doubtful we'll ever see this game in America, it's good to see Capcom giving some love in the fighting genre to Nintendo's console. Check out the scans below.
Nintendo and its favorite antagonist, Wario, have teamed up with Six Flags to take over 10 theme parks throughout the country this September. In celebration of the release of Wario Land: Shake It!, the new game for the Wii console, Nintendo will be giving park guests the opportunity to check out the game and win prizes.
Wario Land: Shake It! plays like a classic side-scroller, but incorporates motion-controlled elements: Players shake the Wii Remote controller to help Wario shake down enemies for coins or tilt it to help him decide where to toss them. The game launches exclusively for Wii on Sept. 22.
As part of the theme park takeover, Wario Land: Shake It! game-play interactives will be available at the 10 Six Flags parks' Wii Experience areas to allow Wario fans and park guests the chance to experience the game first-hand and reconnect with the long-running Wario franchise.
In addition, on Sept. 27, Nintendo will host a competition at two Six Flags locations: Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles and Six Flags St. Louis. Running concurrently at both parks, competitors will play through a level in Wario Land: Shake It! as fast as they can, just as Wario must race through various levels in the game. At the end of the competition, the player with the best overall time will be Nintendo's guest on a holiday trip to New York and a visit to the Nintendo World store. In addition, one person at each park with the best overall time will win a "Bottomless Coin Sack" containing:
* a Wii system and a copy of Wario Land: Shake It!
* a Nintendo DS system
* a gift certificate for Six Flags merchandise
* fun premium items
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 17 2008 11:45 AM [Top]
Nintendo Invites Fans to "Celestial Event" [ Nintendo ]
WHAT: Authorities at Nintendo are forecasting an extraordinary celestial event this season. Expected to be visible on Sept. 18, this eye-popping occurrence will be best viewed from a handful of specific U.S. locations (see below). Experts are still deliberating over the scientific significance of this rare phenomenon, but evidence points clearly to the reemergence of a luminous entity that citizens from all walks of life will appreciate.
WHO: Fun-seeking families and anyone who loves a spectacular event
WHERE: Optimum viewing locations are as follows and within a one-mile radius:
* Kirby Middle School – 1328 28th Street, Birmingham, AL 35234
* Kirby Historical Mill – 275 Church Road, Medford, NJ 08055
* Kirby Park – 301 Northampton Street, Kingston, PA 18704
* Kirby Gate Shopping Center – 6548 Quince, Memphis, TN 38119
VISUALS:
* A luminous spectacle that onlookers from coast to coast will be talking about
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 17 2008 11:15 AM [Top]
Suikoden: Tierkreis Confirmed for North America [ Konami ]
Konami today announces Suikoden: Tierkreis, the latest iteration of the celebrated Suikoden series, will mark the franchise's debut exclusively on the Nintendo DS. Encompassing a variety of different characters while exploring many exotic locations and cultures across the game's universe of parallel worlds, Suikoden: Tierkreis will expand the bounds of the handheld RPG. Featuring the franchise's established gameplay while maximizing the technological capabilities of the DS to provide all-new online elements, this epic RPG consists of many cinematic experiences that will drive the grand storyline of the 108 Stars of Destiny as they battle to thwart the powerful One King.
Using the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, Suikoden: Tierkreis offers a rich online community experience that allows players to send their characters on quests that other members of the community will complete for them, eventually returning the player to their party with new abilities and treasures.
With its grand adventure and larger than life scale, this story is told through rich animation sequences and a gripping dialogue, allowing gamers to fully immerse themselves and experience the world of Suikoden. For the first time ever, players will begin with the last three members of the Stars of Destiny and are tasked with resurrecting the other 104 in order to restore order in the universe and defeat the almighty One King.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, September 16 2008 21:30 PM [Top]
First Details of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars [ Nintendo Power ]
The latest issue of Nintendo Power has been released, and as promised, it reveals the first details for what may be the most anicipated DS title of the year, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. The first GTA game for a Nintendo platform in nearly 4 years, Chinatown Wars is built from the ground-up for the system and will combine aspects of classic top-down GTAs and more recent 3D installments, using a cel-shaded 3D graphics engine combined with an isometric perspective of gameplay while driving or on foot. The game will take place in the entirety of Liberty City, with all of the city's areas in GTAIV recreated on the DS hardware. Players will take on the role of Huang Lee, a member of the Chinese Triad gang, who must strike against other gangs after the murder of his father.
In addition, the game will primarily use the DS's buttons for controls, but the touch screen will play a role in specific minigames. Players can break their windshield to escape a sinking car, hotwire a car in order to steal it, dig through trash to find weapons, build bombs, or even design a tattoo all using the touch screen and stylus. The game will also feature the ability to upload stats to Rockstar Games' Social Club website using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game will also have all of the GTA amenities, such as real-time weather changes, a bevy of missions and bonus missions, and other surprises. The game is set to release this winter, and you can get the full scoop in the latest Nintendo Power.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Tuesday, September 16 2008 20:28 PM [Top]
Two WiiWare & Mega Man 2 on VC This Week [ Nintendo ]
WiiWare
Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone 10 and Older-Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Use of Alcohol, 1,000 Wii Points): Strong Badia the Free is the second of five monthly episodes starring Strong Bad-the self-proclaimed "coolest person ever"-and the rest of the cast from the popular Homestar Runner Web cartoons. When Strong Bad fails to obey the King of Town's totally unfair e-mail tax, he's placed under house arrest. Once freed from his wrongful imprisonment, Strong Bad goes on a mission to unite the local warring factions under the Strong Badian flag. Is Free Country USA ready for such an awesome ruler? Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free also has the Videlectrix arcade classic "Math Kickers Featuring the Algebros," plus all-new achievements, collectibles, costumes and Teen Girl Squad comics. You can even use Strong Bad's Lappy to send e-mails and pictures to your Wii Friends™. So what are you waiting for? Fire up Strong Badia the Free and get ready to kick some doughy King of Town butt.
Potpourrii (Abstraction Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): In the puzzle game Potpourrii, everything revolves around the seasons. For centuries, the seasons have followed a set pattern. But then things start to go awry in the forest. Suddenly it's snowing while the sun shines and flowers bloom while leaves are falling. Then a strange purple goo appears. The leprechauns are stunned. Even worse, the magic oak of life loses its power. It all turns out to be the fault of an evil wizard. You must help the leprechauns defeat him and restore natural order. To do this, you need to collect seasonal spirits. Pick them up with the spirit cannon, shoot them at the center of the screen, group them and make them disappear. But watch out-they get faster and faster. In short: Potpourrii is a puzzle game that keeps you hooked with its colorful visuals, beautiful effects and easy-to-use controls using the Wii Remote controller. Play alone or with a second player, and even use your Mii character.
Virtual Console
Mega Man 2 (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Widely regarded by fans as one of the greatest action games of all time, Mega Man 2 is the second title in the seminal NES series. With even more stages and robot masters than the previous installment, its sheer size and scope are enough to get any action gamer's heart palpitating. The year is 200X. Dr. Light's super-robot, Mega Man, has succeeded in smashing the evil ambition of the nefarious Dr. Wily, and peace reigns over the planet. However, Dr. Wily proves to be a hard man to keep down and has returned with a new army of robot masters in tow to challenge our hero. Can Mega Man save the world again?
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 15 2008 12:34 PM [Top]
In a statement to GoNintendo, the increasingly lackluster "E for All" event has just become even more pointless:
According to the blog, "Nintendo has chosen not to participate in E for All, as it did not fit into our plans for the year. We wish the participants and show organizers good luck with the event."
So, with Nintendo's presence at E3 being all but shit on a stick, and now pulling out of E for All, the supposed E3 substitute for anybody who wants to participate, one has to wonder: When will the ESA realize they totally frakked up and bring back the E3 we all want?
Now we just have to wait and see when the hell Nintendo will choose to announce what games it has coming up before we all drown in a sea of shovelware and mediocre crap.
Carl DeNovio
-- Posted on Saturday, September 13 2008 12:00 PM [Top]
Gutar Hero: World Tour Full Tracklist Revealed [ Activision ]
Delivering unparalleled depth and diversity featuring some of the most prolific artists of all time including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Van Halen, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Michael Jackson and more, Activision today revealed the highly-anticipated full set list for Guitar Hero World Tour, the definitive rock ‘n’ roll music videogaming experience. Spanning over 40 years of rock history and featuring 86 tracks, comprised entirely of master recordings, the game will deliver Guitar Hero fans the largest selection of on-disc music in the music-rhythm videogame genre to date.
The complete Guitar Hero World Tour on-disc set list available this autumn will include:
• 311 - “Beautiful Disaster”
• 30 Seconds To Mars - “The Kill”
• Airbourne - “Too Much Too Young”
• The Allman Brothers Band - “Ramblin’ Man”
• Anouk - “Good God”
• The Answer - “Never Too Late”
• At The Drive-In - “One Armed Scissor”
• Beastie Boys - “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”
• Beatsteaks - “Hail to the Freaks”
• Billy Idol - “Rebel Yell”
• Black Label Society - “Stillborn”
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - “Weapon of Choice”
• blink-182 - “Dammit”
• Blondie - “One Way or Another”
• Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - “Hollywood Nights”
• Bon Jovi - “Livin’ On A Prayer”
• Bullet For My Valentine - “Scream Aim Fire”
• Coldplay - “Shiver”
• Creedence Clearwater Revival - “Up Around The Bend”
• The Cult - “Love Removal Machine”
• Dinosaur Jr. - “Feel The Pain”
• The Doors - “Love Me Two Times”
• Dream Theater - “Pull Me Under”
• The Eagles - “Hotel California”
• The Enemy - “Aggro”
• Filter - “Hey Man, Nice Shot”
• Fleetwood Mac - “Go Your Own Way”
• Foo Fighters - “Everlong”
• The Guess Who - “American Woman”
• Hush Puppies - “You’re Gonna Say Yeah!”
• Interpol - “Obstacle 1”
• Jane’s Addiction - “Mountain Song”
• Jimi Hendrix - “Purple Haze (Live)”
• Jimi Hendrix - “The Wind Cries Mary”
• Jimmy Eat World - “The Middle”
• Joe Satriani - “Satch Boogie”
• Kent - “Vinternoll2”
• Korn - “Freak On A Leash”
• Lacuna Coil - “Our Truth”
• Lenny Kravitz - “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
• Linkin Park - “What I’ve Done”
• The Living End - “Prisoner of Society”
• Los Lobos - “La Bamba”
• Lost Prophets - “Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Sweet Home Alabama (Live)”
• Mars Volta - “L’Via L’Viaquez”
• MC5’s Wayne Kramer - “Kick Out The Jams”
• Metallica - “Trapped Under Ice”
• Michael Jackson - “Beat It”
• Modest Mouse - “Float On”
• Motörhead - “Overkill”
• Muse - “Assassin”
• Negramaro - “Nuvole e Lenzuola”
• Nirvana - “About a Girl (Unplugged)”
• No Doubt - “Spiderwebs”
• NOFX - “Soul Doubt”
• Oasis - “Some Might Say”
• Ozzy Osbourne - “Crazy Train”
• Ozzy Osbourne - “Mr. Crowley”
• Paramore - “Misery Business”
• Pat Benatar - “Heartbreaker”
• R.E.M. - “The One I Love”
• Radio Futura - “Escuela De Calor”
• Rise Against - “Re-Education Through Labor”
• Sex Pistols - “Pretty Vacant”
• Silversun Pickups - “Lazy Eye”
• Smashing Pumpkins - “Today”
• Steely Dan - “Do It Again”
• Steve Miller Band - “The Joker”
• Sting - “Demolition Man (Live)”
• The Stone Roses - “Love Spreads”
• Stuck In The Sound - “Toy Boy”
• Sublime - “Santeria”
• Survivor - “Eye of the Tiger”
• System of a Down - “B.Y.O.B.”
• Ted Nugent - “Stranglehold”
• Ted Nugent’s Original Guitar Duel Recording
• Tokio Hotel - “Monsoon”
• Tool - “Parabola”
• Tool - “Schism”
• Tool - “Vicarious”
• Trust - “Antisocial”
• Van Halen - “Hot For Teacher”
• Willie Nelson - “On The Road Again”
• Wings - “Band on the Run”
• Zakk Wylde’s Original Guitar Duel Recording
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Saturday, September 13 2008 2:53 AM [Top]
Nintendo DS and Wii again topped the hardware sales charts for August, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. In August, more than 514,000 portable Nintendo DS systems sold in the United States, bringing the lifetime U.S. total to nearly 22 million. In August, more than 448,000 Wii consoles sold in the United States, bringing the lifetime U.S. total to nearly 12 million and extending its lead as the best-selling video game console of this generation.
Five games made for Nintendo systems placed in the top 10 best-selling games of the month, including Wii Fit at No. 4 with nearly 395,000 sold, Mario Kart Wii at No. 5 with nearly 329,000 sold, Wii Play at No. 6 with more than 200,000 sold, Madden NFL 09 All-Play for Wii at No. 9 with nearly 116,000 sold and Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS at No. 10 with more than 111,000 sold.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, September 12 2008 1:30 AM [Top]
Hot on the heels of Suikoden and Shining Force, yet another classic RPG franchise will be revived on the Nintendo DS, with Sega's Phantasy Star Zero coming to the handheld in Japan this winter. Developed by Sonic Team, Zero will be in the vein of the Phantasy Star Online series featuring online co-op and a multiplayer focus, along with the ability to send messages to friends via the microphone and a PictoChat-style system.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 10 2008 19:44 PM [Top]
Nintendo Making Wii Storage Solution, "Better" Than HDD [ GoNintendo ]
Nintendo is known for its mascots, but its two most famous real-life characters were interviewed in the latest issue of Latin America's Club Nintendo magazine: Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime and legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Of most interest in the interview, which was translated by our friends over at GoNintendo, was the official announcement by Reggie that Nintendo is in fact creating a storage solution for the Wii console, whose mere 512 MB of space is proving itself to be far less than what is necessary for the many Virtual Console and WiiWare titles being put up for download. Interestingly, Reggie states that the storage system will not be a hard drive, but will be "better", which opens up a host of possibilities as to just what the company is cooking up. Stay tuned for more as it breaks.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 8 2008 20:11 PM [Top]
Nintendo Announces New Wi-Fi Network Adapter [ Famitsu ]
Nintendo announced late last night that the company will be releasing a new piece of hardware for the Wii, one that should greatly enhance accessibility for Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service. The router plugs directly into a PC, and like the original Nintendo Wi-Fi Adapter, helps to connect both one's Wii and DS to the online service. However, it also will work with any wireless-enabled PCs and laptops, and also features an ethernet port in the back for LAN connections.
The new Network Adapter launches in Japan exclusively through Nintendo's Japanese website on September 18th at a cost of 5800 yen. No word yet on if the device will be making its way to our shores.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 8 2008 19:56 PM [Top]
Solve Mysteries On DS With Millionheir [ Nintendo ]
There's a mystery afoot, and only someone with a keen eye and attention to detail can solve it. Today's launch of Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir brings a new style of puzzle-solving adventure game to the portable Nintendo DS. The game begins with instant intrigue: Eccentric millionaire Phil T. Rich has disappeared and only you – the Master Detective – can find him. Players progress through an interactive detective story, visiting more than 30 richly illustrated environments to find more than 1,000 cleverly hidden objects in an effort to find the rightful heir to Phil T. Rich's fortune.
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir is part of the popular Big Fish Games franchise. This new mystery was developed exclusively for Nintendo DS.
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir is a fun addition to family game night. Using multiplayer modes, players can challenge up to three Nintendo DS owners to see who can find the most objects or work cooperatively to solve a puzzle.
To top off a "MillionHeir" look, players may want to pick up the newly released Metallic Silver-colored Nintendo DS.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 8 2008 11:21 AM [Top]
Groovin' Blocks (Empty Clip Studios, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): A music-based game like no other, Groovin' Blocks adds innovative musical game play to an addictive action/puzzle game foundation. Play to the rhythm of the music to increase your score, and try to hit "Superbeats" to double your multiplier. Go for the high score in each of the 27 stages as you collect stars to unlock 15 levels of power-ups. Groovin' Blocks features three skill levels, from the accessible Casual to the fiendish Hard mode. Play with your friends in co-op mode or against them head-to-head. Head-to-head brings it up a notch as the power-ups now become attacks on your opponent. Play head-to-head with people of all skill levels using a golf-style handicapping system.
Virtual Console
Final Solider (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points): A vertically scrolling shooter from the well-known Soldier series. In the 23rd century, invaders from the future suddenly attack Earth. Controlling a fighter created by the world's scientists, you rise to meet the enemy. Collect power-up units, such as LASER, E-BEAM, FIRE and MISSILE, and then equip them in Options to launch a variety of attacks. For each of these weapons, you can freely select from three different types in SET-UP. Anticipate enemies' strikes and deftly switch between weapons to defeat the invaders. In addition to NORMAL GAME, there are also 2 MINUTE GAME and 5 MINUTE GAME score-attack modes. The most perfect blend and balance of any game in the series, Final Soldier is a title you don't want to miss.
Cho Aniki (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E10 for Everyone and Older—Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 900 Wii Points): The odd world in this shooter made for quite the conversation piece in its day. Players control either Idaten or Benten, celestial warriors out to bring an end to the tyrannical rule of the emperor of Planet Builder, who holds muscular prowess to be the supreme virtue of the universe. Aided by able-bodied muscle-head options Adon and Samson, they must battle to defeat the emperor's army across five stages. Use the buttons to fire away and lay into the Builder forces. Power up your character and options with protein from defeated enemies to have them "bulk up" with a yell, and take their macho battle to the next level.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Monday, September 8 2008 8:49 AM [Top]
Today, we want to wish co-owner and head overlord Matthew Silver a happy 24th birthday. I've known Silver for nearly 5 years now (how the hell did that happen?), and while he doesn't do as much (read: zero) work for the site anymore, he's still one of our dearest friends and one of the premiere cogs in the Wii Café operation. Come into the chat to wish Silver a happy birthday.
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Friday, September 5 2008 16:16 PM [Top]
One of the biggest Wii games you may not have heard of is Namco Bandai's Fragile, an exclusive survival RPG. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, players take the role of Seto, the apparently sole suvivor, and, using his Wii Remote-controlled flashlight, try to find clues as to what happened to the world...and who is left within it. It's being made by Baten Kaitos developer tri-Crescendo and should be out in Japan by the end of the year. Check out the trailer via YouTube below.
Video:
Eric Jones
-- Posted on Wednesday, September 3 2008 21:41 PM [Top]
Once considered to be a bastion of Strategy RPG excellence, the Shining Force series fell off in recent years with lackluster titles like Shining Force NEO and Shining Tears. Now, the series returns to the Nintendo DS with an attempt to bring back the magic of yesteryear with Shining Force Feather, revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine. The game, which is set 3000 years after the original Shining Force, tells the tale of Gene, a down-on-his-luck treasure hunter who finds a mysterious girl who is the key to unlocking a legendary airship. The game will be a strategy RPG like the very first games in the series, and will also use cel animation and 2D art. The game will also feature an isometric, top-down view of the battlefield, switching to a side view when a battle is initiated.
Check out the scan of the game below. Shining Force Feather, developed by Flight Plan and published by SEGA, will launch for the Nintendo DS in Japan in Spring 2009.
Earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, flood, hurricane… and the small matter of an ex-military terrorist group with their hands on some nuclear weapons - and all in just 24 hours?! Welcome to Disaster: Day of Crisis, the action adventure game on Wii from Nintendo and Monolith Soft., sweeping across Europe on 24th October 2008 guaranteed to bring out the survival skills in everyone.
Stepping into the shoes of Raymond Bryce, a traumatized but highly decorated retired US marine and former operative of the International Rescue Team, prepare for a day like no other. Called back into action to deal with the threat of SURGE, an ex-military terrorist unit led by former elite forces specialist Colonel Hayes, Ray must overcome personal tragedy and numerous devastating natural disasters to prevent the threat of nuclear warfare.
Wracked with guilt over the loss of his best friend in the line of duty, Ray finds out that SURGE has kidnapped a leading seismologist and his assistant to predict the arrival of an earthquake, which will act as a diversion for their plan to seize the nuclear weapons. However, upon finding out that the assistant is his lost friend’s sister, Lisa, the mission turns personal and offers Ray the chance of redemption he’s been craving for.
Disaster: Day of Crisis is a dedicated single-player all-out action adventure blending a variety of exciting gameplay activities around an intense and absorbing 23-stage storyline. In addition to vanquishing the SURGE threat, players must come face-to-face with a series of daunting natural disasters and take full advantage of Ray’s survival expertise to rescue stranded civilians left helpless.
As the story unfolds, the player’s skills are thoroughly tested as Ray finds himself in increasingly hazardous situations. Gameplay varies from exploring devastated city streets for survivors to thrilling shooting sequences, as well as driving, swimming and intense quick time events all intuitively controlled with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Players are awarded Survival Points and Battle Points which are vital for improving Ray’s abilities and ensuring he has the skills needed to overcome the game’s hard-as-nails bosses, survive the effects of each disaster and ultimately, rescue Lisa.
During the majority of stages, players will find themselves searching for civilians in need of rescuing, which will help improve Ray’s skills. With each civilian saved, Survival Points are awarded that can then be freely distributed amongst five critical skills such as Strength for unarmed combat and lifting objects, Firearms for handling weapons and Mental for Ray’s ability to concentrate his mind.
Along the way, Ray will face adversity from SURGE, at which points the game automatically switches into combat mode. Similar to an on-rails shooter, the action becomes fast and furious where players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to dispatch enemies with a variety of lethal weaponry including handguns, automatics and shotguns. Once every hostile is taken down Battle Points are yielded that can be used to purchase new weapons or tune current equipment to perfection.
Even after the main storyline is completed, there are numerous incentives for players to keep coming back for more. With additional modes such as a shooting range and a staminas campaign, and a wealth of hidden content covering unlockable weapons and costumes to the extra hard ‘Real Disaster Mode’ difficulty, Disaster: Day of Crisis will keep gamers entertained for many months to come.
So are you ready to step into the shoes of an action hero and emerge victorious after one hell of a day? If the answer is yes, then Disaster: Day of Crisis is crying out to be rescued from your nearest retailer across Europe on 24th October 2008.
Nintendo Announces Metallic Silver DS Lite [ Nintendo ]
In some venues, silver is the color of second place. For Nintendo DS, silver is No. 1. Starting Sept. 7, Metallic Silver joins the Nintendo DS color palette. The new Metallic Silver version makes a nice addition to any tech collection, whether you're a gadget hipster or fashionista. Watch for the Metallic Silver DS to be featured in the new upcoming Nintendo DS print ad featuring actress Liv Tyler.
Millions of people around the world, from core gamers to new players, have discovered Nintendo DS. Some like to play traditional games like New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS or The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Others use it to train their brains with Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day or solve puzzles with Crosswords DS. With a library of more than 600 games in every conceivable genre, there's a game or experience for everyone.
My Aquarium (Hudson Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): With swaying aquatic plants and fish idly swimming about, My Aquarium is a relaxing Wii experience that allows you to enjoy a virtual aquarium in your spare time. Whether freshwater or saltwater, you can select from over 40 popular types of fish, including favorites like the Ocellaris clownfish, the freshwater angelfish and the Asian arowana. You can also create up to six different aquariums and personalize them by adding decorations like seaweed and driftwood. In My Aquarium, you can send aquariums to your registered Wii Friends. The aquariums can even be set with special dates, such as a friend's birthday, that the fish will commemorate with a dance. Feed your fish and watch them steadily grow from fry to adult. Then, after meeting certain conditions, you can breed them. Another feature will allow you to interact with your fish using your Wii Remote controller in fun ways, like "tapping" the glass of your aquarium.
Virtual Console
Clu Clu Land (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take a deep breath and prepare for a puzzle game set in the underwater kingdom of Clu Clu Land. The greedy Sea Urchins have stolen all of Clu Clu Land's gold bars and buried them in a series of mazes. As Bubbles, a brave bubble fish, you'll set out to uncover all of the gold bars in each maze. But you'll have to be careful: Sea Urchins will relentlessly pursue Bubbles, and there are also dangerous black holes that must be avoided. Bubbles isn't defenseless, though, as she has the ability to stun Sea Urchins with sound waves and quickly change direction using posts scattered throughout the stages. Not only that, but the locations of the gold bars in each maze form the outline of another object—once you know the object, you're well on your way to finding the gold. With 20 stages to complete and increasingly complex conditions (like having to pass over the gold bars twice to uncover them), you might just want to bring along a friend for help.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Set in the Mushroom Kingdom and featuring its cast of well-known characters, this adventure RPG begins with a familiar scenario: Mario must rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser. However, a mysterious new enemy named Smithy soon appears, and Mario and Bowser are forced to fight as allies for the first time in their long history. In the quest to defeat their powerful new foe, they'll journey across a wide variety of locations (a town of mining moles, a tropical forest, a thundering waterfall—just to name a few) and tackle a mix of obstacles requiring both expert timing and strategy to overcome. Along the way, they'll gain experience and grow more powerful, while also meeting new characters whose unique abilities will be needed to take on Smithy and his gang. Striking a perfect balance of traditional RPG elements and the action-packed game play Mario is famous for, it's easy to see why this title has earned "legendary" status.
Nintendo Debuts New Series on WiiWare/VC [ 
