Today's Special Archives: September 2009

News Archives Index Dragon Quest Wars with Beasts for Download Monday [ Nintendo ] Nintendo DSiWare Art Academy: Second Semester Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that anyone can enjoy. Art Academy: Second Semester provides new and returning students with a larger set of tools and in-depth lessons designed to encourage the creation of more complex artwork. By gaining an even deeper understanding of colors and techniques used by famous impressionist artists, you will be ready to take on more challenging themes that include moving objects, and vast landscapes with distant objects. The openness of Free Paint mode offers plenty of opportunities to hone your skills and boost your confidence as an artist. DRAGON QUEST WARS Publisher: SQUARE ENIX Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Language Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: DRAGON QUEST WARS is a grid-based strategy game featuring all of your favorite quirky DRAGON QUEST monsters. Choose from several modes and get ready for battle. While the rules are simple, strategy is the key to victory. The game features single-player and DS Wireless Play, as well as battles with foes worldwide via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.) WiiWare ARKANOID Plus! Publisher: TAITO Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence Price: 600 Wii Points Description: ARKANOID Plus! is an updated version of the original arcade blockbuster. Players must destroy colored blocks by guiding an Energy Ball around the screen using a spaceship called a VAUS. The game features a host of new modes and settings that radically alter the experience: Arcade Mode consists of 61 rounds divided into left and right versions, with two types of boss characters appearing in the last round; VS Mode lets players face off against a friend or the CPU; and the unfailingly frantic Time Mode challenges players to clear rounds within a strict time limit. With the subtle differences arising from the choice of Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 28 2009 16:02 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces Wii Sports Resort Bundle for Wii [ Nintendo ] Wii Sports Resort is all about getting multiple people involved in friendly sporting competitions. Starting Oct. 12, consumers will have even more incentive to get in on the fun when Nintendo releases a special, limited-edition bundle of the Wii Sports Resort game and not one but two Wii MotionPlus accessories, which bring enhanced precision to games. The bundle will be available at a suggested retail price of $59.99. Typically, Wii Sports Resort comes with a single Wii MotionPlus unit at a suggested retail price of $49.99, and additional Wii MotionPlus units are available at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The new bundle will be available while supplies last at most major retailers Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 25 2009 2:20 AM [Top] Discover a New Assassin's Creed on DS [ Ubisoft ] Today Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed II: Discovery for the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS systems will launch on November 17 for the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $29.99. Assassin's Creed II: Discovery takes players through an untold chapter from the Assassin's Creed II console storyline utilizing the unique strengths of the Nintendo DS platform. In this new adventure, Ezio travels to Spain to rescue fellow assassins being held under the guise of the Inquisition, only to uncover a Templar plot to sail west and discover the New World. The game takes platforming into the next generation with an emphasis on exhilarating speed and breathtaking acrobatics. The in-game animations provide players with a true visceral experience and the intuitive controls enable players to easily execute assassinations and nimbly navigate obstacles reaching daredevil speeds. Nintendo DSi owners will be able to take pictures of themselves and put them directly into the game as "WANTED!” posters. Assassin's Creed II: Discovery is being developed by Griptonite Games. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 24 2009 19:07 PM [Top] Konami Brings Those Damn Sparkly Vampires to Wii and DS [ Konami ] Konami and Screenlife today announced the availability of the long-awaited Scene It? Twilight game, the latest member of the Scene It? family of entertainment trivia games. Scene It? Twilight will be available on Wii this Fall. The Scene It? Twilight game will arrive just before the next installment in Summit Entertainment's TWILIGHT film, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, debuts in theaters on November 20, 2009. A few weeks later, for the first time on Wii, fans will put their knowledge to the test to determine who will be the ultimate TWILIGHT expert. Scene It? Twilight will challenge Wii players' powers of observation, memory and puzzle solving, as it transports them to Forks, WA and creates an interactive multiplayer trivia experience brought together seamlessly on Wii. Fans can learn more about Bella Swan, TWILIGHT's heroine or test their memories on Edward Cullen, the dark and unlikely love of Bella's life. Scene It? Twilight for Wii features will include: Rich-media trivia content: Over 500 multiple choice questions based on movie clips, music and audio from the TWILIGHT movie. New user interface: The new Scene It? Twilight Wii version presents a new look and feel, giving fans a great reason to play both the Wii and the DVD boardgame versions. Motion functionality: Use your Wii Remote to buzz in and beat your opponent! New gameplay modes: Single and multi-player modes and new scoring systems keep the game close, exciting and challenging enough to please all TWILIGHT fans. Scene It? Twilight players will be completely submerged into the TWILIGHT universe as they interact with some of the most iconic locations, characters and scenes from the first film. Fans will put their knowledge to the test to determine who the ultimate TWILIGHT expert is! Scene It? Twilight for Wii is planned for release in Fall 2009. Scene It? Twilight for the Nintendo DS will be available early 2010. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 24 2009 19:04 PM [Top] New Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Trailers [ Capcom ] Capcom has released two new trailers for Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, direct from the Tokyo Game Show. The trailers reveal the game's new, original scenario, called "Operation: Javier", which avid Resident Evil fans may recognize as the ill-fated 2002 mission in South America that paired Leon S. Kennedy up with Jack Krauser. The trailer also reveals a mysterious new female character, named Manuela. Check out the two new trailers below. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 24 2009 1:09 AM [Top] Tatsunoko vs. Capcom TGS Trailer Reveals New Character [ Capcom ] Capcom has released the newest trailer for their upcoming Wii-exclusive brawler Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. The trailer features some new gameplay footage, shows off the previously-revealed new character Tekkaman Blade, and also confirms another new character: Frank West, best-known for his appearances in Dead Rising and its Wii-make, Dead Rising: Chop 'Till You Drop. Frank brings his trusty camera into battle, and can throw shopping carts full of weapons at his opponents. For his super moves, he can transform into Mega Man X and unleash the Mega Buster cannon (not joking), or attack the foe with a Servbot head, knocking them around (still not joking). Feast your eyes on the awesome new trailer below. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 24 2009 0:01 AM [Top] Capcom Brings Two from TGS Outside Japan [ Capcom ] Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, announced today that two titles on display at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show will be coming to North America and Europe in 2010. New Capcom titles Sengoku BASARA Samurai Heroes and Ghost Trick (working title for North America and Europe), displayed to the Japanese gaming public for the first time in Tokyo, will be making the transition to western gamers next year. Sengoku BASARA Samurai Heroes, the latest in Capcom’s popular samurai action series, for the Wii. Set during a tumultuous period of Japanese history, Sengoku BASARA Samurai Heroes allows players to take up the swords of more than a dozen fierce samurai warriors in huge battles against hundreds of opponents. Players will be able to unlock playable characters, as well as supporting generals who will make it easier to command and lead armies with the ultimate goal of re-writing history to rule all of 16th century Japan. The action is fast-paced and stylish, taking combat cues from producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi’s other big series, Devil May Cr. Ghost Trick combines mystery, logic puzzles and the supernatural into a new experience on Nintendo DS. Part adventure game, part puzzle game, Ghost Trick’s gameplay will challenge player’s brains while its distinctive art style and character designs courtesy of members of Capcom’s Ace Attorney series, will please the eye. In Ghost Trick, players become Sissel, an amnesiac ghost who must use his ghostly powers to protect the lives of several people while attempting to uncover the secrets behind his own untimely demise. Sissel can “possess” items within the world, such as flicking a switch to shock an unwary assassin or floating a bike through the air to scare mortals and even rewind time by four minutes to prevent further deaths. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 23 2009 23:24 PM [Top] Official: Wii Drops to $199 on 9/27, New Mario Dated [ Nintendo ] Beginning Sunday, Sept. 27, the world's most popular home video game system gets even more appealing. On that day, Nintendo's suggested retail price for its record-setting Wii drops by $50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point delivers the full iconic Wii gaming experience, including the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller, Nunchuk controller and Wii Sports software, and furthers Nintendo's mission to expand the gaming universe by making video games accessible to more and more consumers. Wii ownership also opens an avenue for players to the industry's most diverse and unique collection of home console games. Key upcoming releases include Wii Fit Plus, launching on Oct. 4, and the first truly multiplayer Mario title ever, New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Both new and veteran players in America can jump into this new Mario action when it arrives on Nov. 15. And beginning Oct. 2, consumers in select cities will have a new, convenient way to decide which Nintendo adventure to tackle next. On that day, a novel series of sampling events called "World of Nintendo" kicks off in Long Beach, Calif. The inherent social nature of Wii is fully demonstrated in a groundbreaking way with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the first Mario game ever to allow four players to take part in the action at the same time. That same dynamic is propelling the enthusiastic response for Wii Sports Resort, while the release of Wii Fit Plus includes everything you love about Wii Fit, along with new multiplayer elements and the ability to customize workouts to fit individual needs. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 23 2009 22:13 PM [Top] You, Me, and Download Monday [ Nintendo ] WiiWare You, Me, and the Cubes Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief Price: 1,000 Wii Points Description: Experience a unique combination of strategy and skill as you maintain a level playing field in the physics-based action puzzler You, Me, and the Cubes. The action centers around Fallos, mysterious creatures that resemble humans and have an ability to balance on a playing field of 3-D cubes. First, create a pair of Fallos inside your Wii Remote controller by shaking it up and down. Next, determine suitable places for the Fallos to land, then fling them to the selected cube with a swinging motion. After that, the Fallos are on their own. If your placement is sound, the Fallos will remain stable and you'll clear the stage after tossing a required number onto the cubes. But if the weight or locations of Fallos causes the cubes to tilt and sway too much, the Fallos will lose their balance and fall off. Adding to the challenge, you'll find that some cubes have different properties, making tosses tricky and further threatening the stability of the Fallos. Guide Fallos through dozens of single-player stages or invite family and friends to join you in two-player cooperative mode. Family Tennis Publisher: Aksys Games Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes Price: 500 Wii Points Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy return for some hard-hitting, fast-paced tennis action. Battle it out between the happy family members as you vie for the top spot. Choose from three different modes: Elimination Match, Free Match and Thrilling Rally. Play against the CPU or compete with friends. Elimination Match mode pits you against the CPU to test your skills, while Free Match mode allows you to play against another player under conditions of your choosing. Thrilling Rally mode lets you join up to three other players and rally to see who can get to 100 points first. Virtual Console Last Ninja 2 Original platform: Commodore 64 Publisher: Commodore Gaming Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Violence Price: 500 Wii Points Description: The ninja known as the Mystic Shadow Warriors were the elite fighting force of ninth-century feudal Japan. The evil Shogun Kunitoki was once beaten, but he has gathered all his mystic powers to create a modern-day tyranny in Manhattan. Face your archenemy Kunitoki in the urban jungle and conquer him with your ninja skills. Transported to 1988 Manhattan by an unknown force, the ninja leader Armakuni must find a way to defend himself against the unknown dangers that lie before him. Will this be the final battle? Can you vanquish the evil Kunitoki once and for all? Nintendo DSiWare Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1-8 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Prepare yourself for a lesson in tactics as you play through five strategy-based games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Take on an opponent in the classic Backgammon, invade an enemy base in Field Tactics, sandwich your opponent's pieces to capture them in Turncoat, create strings of five in a row in Connect Five and guess where to attack your opponent's pieces in Grid Attack. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends. MySims Camera Publisher: Electronic Arts Players: 1 Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points Description: MySims Camera is a camera application that utilizes popular MySims characters. You can take photos and overlay 3-D MySims characters to bring them into the real world. The 3-D characters can be animated, moved, scaled, rotated and cropped. You can also draw on the photos with the stylus or use the stamp tool to add more art and style. Create a unique frame and save the photos to the Nintendo DSi Camera album to share with friends. MySims Camera is a fun, creative experience for the entire family. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 21 2009 10:15 AM [Top] Best Buy Joins the Wii Price Drop Party [ Kotaku ] As if the evidence ponting towards a price drop for the Wii couldn't mount any higher, Kotaku has again obtained a leaked ad from a major electronics retailer, Best Buy, that shows the Wii dropping to $199 on Sunday, September 27th. I think it's become pretty much open-and-shut that the Wii will be getting 50 bucks cheaper on that date, so stay tuned for the official announcement. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 18 2009 21:06 PM [Top] Pearl Harbor Comes to Wii (Thankfully sans Michael Bay) [ Legendo Entertainment ] Legendo Entertainment, an independent publisher of computer and video games head-quartered in Sweden, today announced that Pearl Harbor Trilogy, an episodic air combat action game series, is in development for Wii. Pearl Harbor Trilogy is a re-interpretation of Legendo’s popular PC title “Attack on Pearl Harbor” – with the first episode, “Red Sun Rising,” planned for a winter 2009 release on WiiWare. The game is being developed by Legendo in cooperation with Arcade Moon, the Wii specialist label of 3D People, an independent game developer located in Slovakia. A website for the game has been launched and can be reached by hitting the source link. Other information will be posted continuously throughout the development phase. Stanislav Petri, Aerial Star Programmer at Arcade Moon had this to offer, “We have tamed the innards of the Wii to make its GPU glow red-hot as we’re shooting for 60 FPS aerial dogfight action using all the tricks in the book.” Bjorn Larsson, Executive Producer and head of lots of other things at Legendo Entertainment said, “The Wii Remote controller is a perfect match for aerial combat – we are currently trying a variety of control-schemes to see what works best, we want to bring players as close as possible to flying in their living rooms.” In the premiere episode, “Red Sun Rising,” players will be dropped into the cockpit of famous USAAF World War II fighter aircraft — including the legendary P-40 Warhawk and the carrier-capable F4U Corsair as they battle with Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters and Aichi D3A Val dive-bombers in daring dogfights during bitterly contested air battles of the Pacific Theater, including Pearl Harbor, Wake Island and the Battle of Midway. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, September 17 2009 16:47 PM [Top] Target Also Advertising Upcoming Wii Price Cut [ Kotaku ] Lending further credence to a prospective Wii price drop, Kotaku has obtained a leaked Target circular for Sunday, September 27th, advertising the Wii at $199. The ad joins like company from Toys R Us and Wal-Mart, who are also showing a $50 drop on the same date. Again, both the Tokyo Game Show (which Nintendo will not be attending) and the Kyoto Cross Media Experience (which they will) are next week, so if Nintendo will be announcing something, expect it there. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 17 2009 15:05 PM [Top] Nintendo Begins Wii Connection Program in Europe [ Nintendo of Europe ] Nintendo announced that it will launch a ‘Connection Ambassador Promotion’. The rewards scheme for loyal fans of WiiWare will start in Europe this October and will allow players to become Ambassadors by encouraging friends and family to get connected with their Wii. The Ambassador, as well as the player they help connect, will both receive 500 Wii Points for connecting one person. When the Ambassador helps connect 20 people (which is the maximum number for the reward), the total amount of Wii Points received will equal 10,000, which can be spent on fun and unique WiiWare games. Even better, if the Ambassador helps 10 people connect; they can attain gold status, which will then enable the Ambassador to download all Nintendo first party NES games for free on Virtual Console! If, however, they help 20 people connect, they will be given platinum status and will be able to download for free all first party and third party NES, SNES and N64 games on Virtual Console! Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 16 2009 15:50 PM [Top] Konami Reflects on DSiWare [ Konami ] Konami has announced its first DSiWare download title, in the form of Reflection– a platform game with puzzle elements designed exclusively for the new Nintendo handheld. Reflection is a clever take on the platform genre, wherein players control a female character and her mirror images as they play through two stages simultaneously. Players take on the role of an adventurer named Kirra who is charged with retrieving a magical mirror that has been broken, unleashing a shattered reality which has also split Kirra into two pieces: one good, one evil. Players are essentially forced to control both a normal character and an upside-down mirror image simultaneously with the same set of controls, all the while solving puzzles that involve manipulating both characters. As the game alternates between these two sub-mechanics, gamers will have to learn to use both characters in order to prevail. Reflection has been developed by Intrinsic Games, its beautifully-realised levels take the form of forests, cities and castles, and hidden within each are pieces of the shattered mirror. Once retrieved, the player is then faced with their mischievous alter ego, who must be defeated before the game continues. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 16 2009 14:33 PM [Top] Clayfighter Gets Remolded on WiiWare and DSiWare [ Interplay ] Interplay today announced it will update Clayfighter for play on Wii and Nintendo DSi. Clayfighter will be developed for Interplay by StudioBlack Games' Eric Hart, original programmer of Clayfighter for Super NES. Interplay CEO Hervé Caen commented, "We are very enthusiastic to resurrect Clayfighter's crazy characters and unique humor. Eric Hart's involvement in the previous Clayfighter titles makes StudioBlack the logical choice to give this classic franchise a well-deserved makeover." Fans can expect improved graphics and revamped game play to take advantage of Nintendo's current generation hardware. Clayfighter is planned for a Summer 2010 release via digital download through Nintendo's WiiWare and DSiWare services. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 16 2009 11:50 AM [Top] Nintendo Announces Holiday 2009 Lineup [ Nintendo ] As summer draws to a close, the air begins to chill and people begin to turn their thoughts to holiday gift lists. Whether the people on your list have been playing since the 1980s or only since last week, Nintendo has you covered. The Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems have a huge selection of games for everyone on your list, including many that you won't find anywhere else. Upcoming Nintendo-published games for the Wii console include Wii Fit Plus (Oct. 4) and New Super Mario Bros. Wii (holiday 2009). These games will join the current hot seller, Wii Sports Resort, which comes with the new precision-control Wii MotionPlus accessory. Fans of portable games will enjoy Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (Oct. 12), Style Savvy (Nov. 2) and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Dec. 7) in addition to the just-released Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, all playable on both Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems. The changing autumn leaves will be in good company with some new colors for the Nintendo DSi system and the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. New White and Pink Nintendo DSi systems made their debut on Sept. 13, while a Black Wii Remote controller and Wii MotionPlus accessory package will be available this holiday season. A Black version of the Nunchuk controller will be sold separately as well. Third-party publishers are supporting Nintendo platforms with impressive quality and wide-ranging titles. Wii exclusives like Dead Space Extraction from Electronic Arts and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS from Square Enix will provide thrills that can't be found elsewhere. At the same time, Nintendo DS owners are anxiously awaiting another powerhouse release: KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS from Square Enix. And Activision's Band Hero, available on both Wii and Nintendo DS, features compelling interactivity between the two hardware systems through wireless connectivity. Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii, the WiiWare service, Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DSiWare service. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change. Wii 2K Sports NHL 2K10 - Sept. 15 Baseball Blast! - Sept. 28 NBA 2K10 - Oct. 6 2K Play Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom - Fall Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day - Fall Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus - Fall 505 Games My Ballet Studio - November Baby and Me - November Activision Publishing, Inc. Animal Planet Vet Life - Sept. 15 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Sept. 15 Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010 - Sept. 22 Rapala We Fish - Sept. 22 Bakugan Battle Brawlers - Oct. 20 iCarly - Oct. 20 Madagascar Kartz - Oct. 20 Mountain Sports - Oct. 20 Hidden Mysteries Titanic - Oct. 27 Barbie and the Three Musketeers - Oct. 27 Jurassic Hunter - Oct. 27 DJ Hero - Oct. 27 Chaotic: Shadow Warriors - Nov. 10 Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 - Nov. 10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex - Nov. 10 Tony Hawk: RIDE - Nov. 17 Band Hero - November Guitar Hero Van Halen - Dec. 22 Aspyr Media My Baby and Me - Nov. 17 Atlus U.S.A., Inc. 101-in-1 Party Megamix - Oct. 27 Trauma Team - Spring Shiren the Wanderer - Spring Capcom Entertainment, Inc. Spyborgs - Sept. 22 Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles - Nov. 17 City Interactive USA, Inc. Chicken Riot - November Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII - January Art of Murder - March D3Publisher Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun - Sept. 22 Astro Boy: The Video Game - Oct. 20 THE SECRET SATURDAYS: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN - Oct. 20 BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: Vilgax Attacks - Oct. 27 Kamen Rider Dragon Knight - Winter Destineer We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Oct. 13 Buck Fever - Oct. 20 Alien Monster Bowling League - Oct. 27 Marines: Modern Urban Combat - Nov. 3 Satisfashion - Nov. 17 Rec Room - Nov. 17 Disney Interactive Studios Disney Sing It: Pop Hits - October Princess and the Frog - November Electronic Arts MySims Agents - Sept. 22 Dead Space Extraction - Sept. 29 Spore Hero - Oct. 6 CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ Pajama Party - Oct. 20 SimAnimals Africa - Oct. 26 LITTLEST PET SHOP™ FRIENDS - October NERF 2: "N-Strike" Elite - October HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 - October FIFA 10 - October Need for Speed Nitro - Nov. 17 EA SPORTS Active More Workouts - November Knowledge Adventure JumpStart Escape from Adventure Island - Nov. 1 Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Walk It Out! - October Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - November Storybook Workshop - November Karaoke Revolution - November Ultimate Party Challenge - November DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3 - November pop'n music - November Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 - Q4 LucasArts Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes - Oct. 6 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues - Fall Majesco Entertainment Our House: Party! - Sept. 22 A Boy and His Blob - Oct. 13 Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 - Oct. 20 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - Dec. 1 The Daring Game for Girls - Holiday Mastiff Shimano Xtreme Fishing - Sept. 29 Remington Great American Bird Hunt - Oct. 27 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo - October Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked - November We Cheer 2 - November Nintendo Wii Fit Plus - Oct. 4 New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Holiday Playlogic Sudoku Ball Detective - Sept. 22 SEGA Wacky World of Sports - Sept. 22 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Oct. 13 Planet 51 - Nov. 17 Jambo! Safari: Animal Rescue - Q4 Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing - Feb. 10 Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll - Early 2010 SouthPeak Games My Baby First Steps - Holiday Sushi Go Round - Holiday Square Enix FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS - Dec. 26 Storm City Games The Island of Dr. Frankenstein - Oct. 6 Vegas Party - Oct. 27 Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral - Nov. 9 Tecmo Family Fun Football - Sept. 29 THQ The Biggest Loser - Oct. 6 Cars Race O Rama - Oct. 13 Marvel Super Hero Squad - Oct. 20 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 - Oct. 20 SpongeBob Truth or Square - Oct. 26 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time - Oct. 26 World of Zoo - Oct. 26 All Star Cheer Squad 2 - Oct. 27 Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter - Oct. 27 Daniel X - Jan. 12 World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars - Feb. 2 TOMY Corporation NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 - Nov. 17 Ubisoft Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Sept. 15 Where's Waldo: The Fantastic Journey - Sept. 22 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-up - Sept. 22 The Price is Right 2010 Edition - Sept. 22 Family Feud 2010 Edition - Sept. 29 CSI: Deadly Intent - Oct. 20 Monster 4x4 Stunt Racer - Oct. 27 Rabbids Go Home - Nov. 3 Academy of Champions - Nov. 3 Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage - Nov. 8 Just Dance - Nov. 17 James Cameron's Avatar The Game - Nov. 24 Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy - Nov. 24 UFO Interactive Games, Inc. Army Rescue - Sept. 29 Rock Blast - Oct. 20 Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo - Oct. 27 Geon Cube - Oct. 27 Smart Series Presents: JaJa' Adventure - Nov. 10 Vir2L Studios Medieval Games - Oct. 20 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scooby-Doo! First Frights - Sept. 22 Where the Wild Things Are - Oct. 13 Game Party 3 - October LEGO Rock Band - Holiday SCENE IT? BRIGHT LIGHTS! BIG SCREEN! - Holiday XSEED Games JU-ON: The Grudge - Oct. 13 Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga - Fall WiiWare Aksys Games BIT.TRIP VOID - Q3 BIT.TRIP series (3 additional titles) - Q4, Q1 Broken Rules And Yet It Moves - Q4 Frontier LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias - Q4 Gameloft Ghost Mansion Party - Q3 The Oregon Trail - Q4 Ghostfire Games Rage of the Gladiator - Q1 Incredible Technologies Carnival King - Q3 Konami Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth - Q3 Frogger Returns - Q4 Nabi Studios Toribash - Q4 Natsume Moki Moki - Q3 Harvest Moon: My Little Shop - Q4 Nicalis Cave Story - Q3 Night Game - Q1 La Mulana - Q1 NinjaBee The Amazing Brain Train - Q4 Nintendo You, Me, and the Cubes - Q3 Eco Shooter: Plant 530 - Q4 Nintendo/TPC Pokémon Rumble - Q4 Press Play Max & the Magic Marker - Q4 React Games Archon: Classic - Q1 Taito Arkanoid Plus! - Q3 Team Meat Super Meat Boy - Q1 Telltale Games Tales of Monkey Island: Lair of the Leviathan - Q3 Tales of Monkey Island: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood - Q4 Tales of Monkey Island: Rise of the Pirate God - Q4 Nintendo DS/Nintendo DSi 2K Play Dora the Explorer: Dora Puppy - Oct. 26 Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration - Oct. 26 The Backyardigans - Oct. 26 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus - Fall 505 Games My Ballet Studio - November Discovery Kids SpiderQuest - November Dream Diary - November Picture Perfect Hair Salon - November IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey - Sept. 15 Activision Publishing, Inc. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Sept. 15 Animal Planet Vet Life - Sept. 15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers - Oct. 20 iCarly - Oct. 20 Madagascar Kartz - Oct. 20 Barbie and the Three Musketeers - Oct. 27 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized - Nov. 10 Chaotic: Shadow Warriors - Nov. 10 Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 - Nov. 10 Band Hero - November Aspyr Media Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain - Oct. 26 City Interactive USA, Inc. Sushi Academy - Oct. 13 Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple - Oct. 27 Animal Country: Life on the Farm - November Party Designer - November Art of Murder - February Jewels of Sahara - March D3Publisher Astro Boy: The Video Game - Oct. 20 THE SECRET SATURDAYS: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN - Oct. 20 BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: Vilgax Attacks - Oct. 27 Kamen Rider Dragon Knight - Winter Destineer Satisfashion - Nov. 17 Disney Interactive Studios Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure - October Disney's A Christmas Carol - November JONAS - November Princess and the Frog - November Electronic Arts MySims Agents - Sept. 22 Spore Hero Arena - Oct. 6 CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Show - Oct. 20 CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Mall - Oct. 20 CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Perfect Prom - Oct. 20 SimAnimals Africa - Oct. 26 LITTLEST PET SHOP CITY FRIENDS - October LITTLEST PET SHOP COUNTRY FRIENDS - October LITTLEST PET SHOP BEACH FRIENDS - October HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 - October FIFA 10 - October Ignition Entertainment Nostalgia - Oct. 20 Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. WireWay - November LucasArts Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes - Oct. 6 Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron - Nov. 3 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues - Fall Majesco Entertainment Our House - Sept. 22 Sideswiped - Sept. 29 Cake Mania 3 - Oct. 13 Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 - Oct. 20 Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop - Oct. 27 My Hero: Astronaut - Nov. 3 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - Dec. 1 Dawn of Heroes - Dec. 1 My Hero: Firefighter - December The Daring Game for Girls - Holiday NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans - November Nintendo Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Oct. 12 Style Savvy - Nov. 2 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks - Dec. 7 NIS America A Witch's Tale - Oct. 6 Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island - Oct. 27 PopCap Games, Inc. Bookworm - Dec. 1 SEGA Bleach: The 3rd Phantom - Sept. 15 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Oct. 13 Phantasy Star Zero - Nov. 10 Planet 51 - Nov. 17 Jambo! Safari: Animal Rescue - Q4 Sands of Destruction - January Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing - February Infinite Space - Spring SouthPeak Games Montessori Music - Oct. 20 My Baby First Steps - Holiday Sushi Go Round - Holiday Crime Scene - Holiday Square Enix KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS - Sept. 29 SPACE INVADERS EXTREME 2 - Oct. 20 Storm City Games Hands On! Tangrams - Oct. 13 Jewel Master Egypt - Oct. 20 Flaw - Oct. 27 Foto Frenzy - Nov. 2 Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral - Nov. 9 THQ James Patterson Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion - Sept. 15 Fabulous Finds - Sept. 21 Just in Time Translations - Sept. 21 The Biggest Loser - Oct. 6 Cars Race O Rama - Oct. 13 Marvel Super Hero Squad - Oct. 20 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 - Oct. 20 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time - Oct. 26 World of Zoo - Oct. 26 SpongeBob Truth or Square - Oct. 26 Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter - Oct. 27 MX vs. ATV Reflex - Holiday TOMY Corporation NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 - Sept. 15 Ubisoft Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Sept. 15 Where's Waldo: The Fantastic Journey - Sept. 22 The Price is Right 2010 Edition - Sept. 22 Family Feud 2010 Edition - Sept. 29 Battle of Giants: Dragons - Sept. 29 Imagine Salon Stylist - Sept. 29 Imagine Sweet 16 - Oct. 4 Imagine Zookeeper - Oct. 6 PETZ PONY BEAUTY PAGEANT - Oct. 13 Imagine Fashion Designer World Tour - Oct. 20 CSI: Deadly Intent - The Hidden Cases - Oct. 20 Jam Sessions 2 - Oct. 20 PETZ DOLPHINZ ENCOUNTER - Oct. 27 Might and Magic Clash of Heroes - Oct. 27 Imagine Artist - Oct. 27 C.O.P. The Recruit - Nov. 3 Rabbids Go Home - Nov. 3 Imagine Babyz Fashion - Nov. 3 Fairyland Melody Magic - Nov. 8 Style Lab Jewelry Design - Nov. 10 Style Lab Makeover - Nov. 10 PETZ NURSERY - Nov. 10 PETZ DOGZ TALENT SHOW - Nov. 17 PETZ HAMSTERZ SUPERSTARZ - Nov. 24 James Cameron's Avatar The Game - Nov. 24 Virtual Play Games Junior Brain Trainer - Nov. 10 Junior Classic Games - Nov. 10 UFO Interactive Games, Inc. Smart Boy's Gameroom 2 - Sept. 29 Smart Girl's Playhouse 2 - Sept. 29 Smart Kid's Mega Game Mix - Sept. 29 Reversal Challenge - Oct. 13 Balloon Pop - Nov. 12 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scribblenauts - Sept. 15 Scooby-Doo! First Frights - Sept. 22 LEGO Rock Band - Holiday Where the Wild Things Are - Oct. 13 TouchMaster 3 - Oct. 27 XSEED Games THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road - Sept. 29 Nintendo DSiWare Gameloft Uno - Q4 Hudson Entertainment Bomberman Blitz - Q4 Nintendo Art Academy: Second Semester - Sept. 28 Art Style: DIGIDRIVE - Q4 Electroplankton (10 titles total) - Q4 Picturebook Games: The Royal Bluff - Q4 Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon - Q4 Sparkle Snapshots - Q4 Subatomic Studios Fieldrunners - Q4 WayForward Technologies Shantae:Risky's Revenge - Q4 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 15 2009 15:31 PM [Top] Rogue Trooper Reborn on Wii [ Graffiti Entertainment ] Graffiti Entertainment today announced that it has secured an exclusive distribution deal with Reef Entertainment to publish Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Zone Massacre in North America. This Wii game has been developed by UK developer Rebellion. Rogue Trooper is a genetically engineered soldier of the future, and is unique in videogames as he has an distinct armoury; a rifle, helmet and backpack, which contain the ‘personalities’ of his fallen comrades, providing him the capabilities of 4 soldiers in one. A ‘biochip’ is installed within each ‘Genetic Infantryman’ or ‘GI’ from birth which then records their personalities and training upon their death. These biochips are then removed and can then be inserted within energized slots on a fellow GI’s rifle, helmet or backpack to secure them for their return to base and re-cloning. Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Zone Massacre is the story of how Rogue Trooper and his comrades are betrayed by a traitor general on their first mission to an area on Nu Earth known as the Quartz Zone. Only Rogue survives, and joined by his fallen comrades within his equipment, he begins a journey across Nu Earth to find the general and unleash his revenge! Rogue Trooper is one of the 2000 AD’s most endearing characters. First appearing in 1981, he was created by Gerry Finlay-Day and Dave Gibbons of Watchmen fame and was intended to run only a few years, but fans continually demanded more adventures. Rogue Trooper® has also enjoyed many reincarnations as a videogame throughout the last 20 years, most recently as the critically acclaimed and BAFTA nominated 3rd person shooter on PS2, Xbox and PC. The Wii version promises to provide even greater immersive gameplay with the unique Wii control interface where kill shots are more accurate. In addition, Rebellion has provided additional tweaks and polish to the overall game so ensuring the Wii version of the game is the very best yet. Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Zone Massacre will be released in Q4 2009. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 15 2009 14:53 PM [Top] Bomberman Blows Up DSiWare This Year [ Hudson Entertainment ] Prepare for epic online multiplayer action on Nintendo’s DSiWare service in the form of Bomberman Blitz. Published by Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, Bomberman Blitz will provide the classic Bomberman action that gamers have loved for more than 20 years to Nintendo’s download service available on the DSi. With Wi-Fi play and 8-player multiplayer action available, bombers around the world will be blasting each other away in Bomberman Blitz. Bomberman Blitz will allow on-the-go gamers the opportunity to showcase their bombing skills locally or across the world with the ability to play up to 8 players at home or online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Bomberman Blitz will feature the ability to do battle in 10 unique locations, all making good use of the DSi’s capabilities with dual screen spanning arenas. The power-ups that Bomberman fans have come to love are also all there, including the chance to increase the number of bombs, strengthen blast range, boost running speed and much more. For those who have always wanted to get in on the Bomberman action but didn’t know how, a training mode has been included that allows newcomers to learn the easy-to-play Bomberman gameplay and get in on the fun. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 15 2009 14:50 PM [Top] Toys R Us Advertising Wii Price Cut [ Kotaku ] With the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 both dropping to a price within the Wii's wheelhouse last month, most were expecting Nintendo to follow suit with a long-overdue price cut of its super-popular console. Now, it looks like it will be happening sooner rather than later, as an upcoming Toys R Us ad shows the Wii will soon be receiving a price drop to $199.99. The console's accessories will also remain the same, including a Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and a copy of the biggest-selling game of all time, Wii Sports. Nintendo will be exhibiting at the new Kyoto Cross Media Experience convention in Japan, so that could be where they announce the price drop - but one could also expect the return of Nintendo's traditional October Retail Conference. When it breaks, we'll be sure to report it to you. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 22:14 PM [Top] New Castlevania Coming to Wii [ ESRB ] The ESRB's website has struck again, this time giving an early reveal to a new Castlevania game making its way to Wii. Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth, according to the description, is "a side-scrolling action game in which players battle against monsters in Dracula's castle. Players use a chained whip to fight their way through halls and dungeons filled with zombies, skeletons, flying eyeballs, and bats." Based on the side-scrolling aspect, it sounds like this one will be heading for WiiWare, adding another high-profile game to Nintendo's downloadable lineup. However, considering the title, it could be a remake of the original Castlevania: The Adventure, originally released for the Game Boy in 1989. We'll have to wait and see if this is the case. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 20:01 PM [Top] Download Monday: Oscar Goes to Toyland (Babes Not Included) [ Nintendo ] Nintendo DSiWare Art Academy: First Semester Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that replaces the lecture-like structure of art school and the trial-and-error of working on canvas. Art Academy: First Semester can guide you through the basics of pencil and paints, using Nintendo DSi controls to draw like the real things. With your own paintbrush set and color palette, you'll learn texturing and blending techniques, plus ways to depict light and shade. There's also Free Paint mode, which allows you to select and draw from photos in your Nintendo DSi Camera Album. In just a few lessons, you'll be discovering your inner artist and creating your own masterpieces with art skills that you can apply with real-life materials. Oscar in Toyland Publisher: Virtual Playground Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Meet Oscar, the new kid on the block. This fabulous jump-and-run game is easy to play, packed with hours of fun and nonstop action, hundreds of collectibles and surprises. In psychedelic worlds of candy, soda pop, amusement park rides, board games, fairy tales and more, you'll meet cool toys and animals in hidden rooms, bonus and bogus mini games. Use Wings to fly, Springy Shoes to jump, and Oscar's secret weapon, his magical Yo-Yo, to swing and zap enemies in some of the craziest platform levels you'll ever play. WiiWare Texas Hold'Em Poker Publisher: Gameloft Players: 1-6 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling Price: 600 Wii Points Description: Prepare to experience the intensity of a real Texas hold'em poker tournament. Whether you're a poker novice or a veteran, you'll enjoy Tournament, Cash Game and Heads-up modes with the simple-to-use Wii Remote controller. Hit the tables as one of six fun and charismatic characters, or import your own Mii character to really put on your poker face. Take on the world's most prestigious casinos, from Monaco to New York, and challenge opponents who won't hesitate to taunt or comment on your style, creating a very realistic poker atmosphere. You can also impress friends with wild poker parties, thanks to an online mode that allows you to play with up to five friends and create your own tournaments or join official Gameloft tournaments. You can even challenge random online opponents of any skill level. Even if you've never played poker before, you can learn all the rules and strategy with an Advanced Tutorial that teaches you everything from winning hands and betting to bluffing. Broadband Internet access required for online play. For more info, go to www.Nintendo.com. Spaceball: Revolution Publisher: Virtual Toys Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence Price: 800 Wii Points Description: Steer your way through 15 diabolical levels in which you'll have to reconstruct impossible figures with help from space energy balls. Race against the clock and evade obstacles to activate the correct boxes. Spaceball: Revolution will put your ability and your concentration to the test. The game also lets you compare your score with the best players around the world in various difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Advanced and Master. Mart Racer Publisher: JoJu Games Players: 1-4 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief Price: 800 Wii Points Description: You're a sharp-elbowed shopper racing through the store to find items before your rivals do. Use your Wii Remote controller like a handlebar to control your shopping cart as you race through different types of stores. Vex your competitors by stunning them with plungers and stealing groceries out of their carts. Outrun them by using your drifting and aisle-jumping skills. Keep away from the security guards who want to stop the mall melee. The first player with a completed shopping list at the cash register wins. A simple and fun game that's suitable for all ages, Mart Racer pits you against the computer or up to four players. Play with your friends and family on a split screen or compete online via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.) Virtual Console Crash ‘N The Boys Street Challenge Original platform: NES Publisher: Aksys Games Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence Price: 500 Wii Points Description: Todd Thornley, son of the head of Thornley Industries, has had it with Crash and the Southside boys. With help from other high schools, Todd decides Hiller High will take down Crash and his Southside High cronies in an unsanctioned street challenge. Take control of one of four high school teams (with four playable characters per team) and make your way through five different sporting events. Dash and bash through the 400 meter hurdles; swing to victory in the hammer throw; swim and knock out your opponent while swimming; pole vault, jump and ride a unicycle across rooftops; and use judo to fight your opponent in a one-on-one brawl. Can you lead your high school to the top of the Street Challenge? Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 16:56 PM [Top] "New and Improved" Nintendo Channel Goes Live [ Nintendo ] The Wii console's Nintendo Channel is getting a makeover. On Sept. 14, the channel, which provides users with videos and information about current and upcoming Nintendo products, re-launches with a new look and feel. Some of the upgrades include higher-quality streaming videos, lists of top games that other viewers recommend and a new ability to rate and recommend Nintendo DS games. Current features of the Nintendo Channel will remain, including Nintendo DS demo downloads and an extensive lineup of videos about Wii and Nintendo DS games. As part of the update, Nintendo Channel will also premiere Nintendo Week, a weekly, hosted series about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. The premiere episode includes an in-depth look at Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, an interview with the developers behind the Wii version of Guitar Hero 5, plus coverage of the new Nintendo DSi colors, Nintendo DSiWare games and other surprises. Nintendo Channel is available free of charge to Wii owners, and can be downloaded by going to the Wii Shop Channel and following the on-screen instructions. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 16:53 PM [Top] Bear the Crystals on December 26th [ Square Enix ] Square Enix announced today that FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS for Wii will be available at North American retailers on December 26, 2009. This latest installment in the franchise offers a fresh take on the beloved CRYSTAL CHRONICLES universe, launching the series into the action-adventure genre and onto the Wii system. FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS combines the storytelling depth, immersive event scenes and graphical quality of the FINAL FANTASY franchise with motion-driven gameplay and the ability to freely explore the game world. Enter a world where realistic gameplay and fantastical art direction combine for a truly unique experience on Wii. Accessible for gamers of all ages and levels of expertise, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS invites players to embark on an unforgettable adventure this holiday season. A thousand years have passed since the events of the original FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES. The destruction of the Yuke Crystal during the Great War had at once brought the victorious Lilty Tribe prosperity, the defeated Yuke Tribe apparent annihilation, and the world a new age of science and reason. In this new era exists a rare breed of powerful beings called "crystal bearers," whose seemingly magical abilities have led them to be feared and scorned by the public. The young mercenary Layle is one such crystal bearer, who has been hired to escort the new passenger airship Alexis, the pinnacle of Lilty technology and a symbol of their current dominance. However, when the Alexis is suddenly besieged by a horde of monsters, Layle comes face-to-face with an adversary thought to have vanished from the pages of history, on a quest that may threaten the future of the world Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 12:56 PM [Top] Go Inside Bowser (Ew) This Week [ Nintendo ] Sure, he's a villain, but Bowser is one of the most beloved characters in Nintendo's imaginative Mushroom Kingdom. Now, with today's launch of the Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story game for the hand-held Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi video game systems, fans will get to know the cantankerous King Koopa inside and out — literally. The new game finds Mario and Luigi getting inhaled by Bowser, sending players straight to the belly of the beast for an outrageous hand-held adventure. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story lets players adventure through two fun and hilarious storylines at the same time, taking control of the famous Mario brothers and even Bowser himself. Not only must players control Bowser to win back control of his castle from the evil Fawful, they've also got to muster the guts to help Mario and Luigi as they try to escape from Bowser's body. Players can switch between the two storylines independently as they attempt to rescue Princess Peach and restore order to Mushroom Kingdom. In addition to its inventive dual storyline, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story makes creative use of the unique interface capabilities of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi. Players will press buttons with precise timing to enhance their attacks, tap the touch screen with the stylus, blow into the built-in microphone and even turn the whole game system sideways and hold it like a book in order to successfully overcome obstacles and advance the plot. A lively mix of puzzles, character battles and humorous dialogue and storyline delivers all the action and amusement fans can stomach. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 14 2009 12:52 PM [Top] New Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Character Revealed [ Famitsu ] When Capcom shockingly announced Tatsunoko vs. Capcom would be coming stateside at E3 2009, they also promised that patient North American Wii owners would get the special reward of online play, as well as new characters for their version of the game. Today, the newest issue of Famitsu magazine reveals the first of these characters, coming from the Tatsunoko side of the fray. Tekkaman Blade, known in North America as Teknoman, joins the fray from his eponymous anime, released in 1992. He also joins fellow Tatsunoko character Tekkaman, whom his series is a sequel to. Three more characters are also set to be revealed at the Tokyo Game Show, one more from Tatsunoko, and two from Capcom. Expect more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 9 2009 16:32 PM [Top] Sonic Returns to 2D with Project Needlemouse [ Gamespot ] Today marks the tenth anniversary of the release of the Sega Dreamcast, and in turn, marks another anniversary: the end of Sonic the Hedgehog as a viable game character and the beginnings of a slow, agonized decline in game quality from the once-legendary mascot. Well, Sega looks to be trying to take the first steps to changing that opinion with their announcement of Project Needlemouse, an all-new high-definition Sonic title featuring the hedgehog speeding along the way he always has meant to be - in 2D. Of course, the statement of "high-definition" is worrysome, considering the Wii cannot output in high-def unlike its console competition. Then again, Sonic has made a majority of his appearances on Nintendo platforms since Sega gave up consoles in 2001, so a Wii appearance for this upcoming game probably isn't so much in question after all. For the teaser trailer of the game, set for release in 2010, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 9 2009 16:15 PM [Top] Conta Reborn, Jedi Return In This Week's Downloads [ Nintendo ] WiiWare Contra Rebirth Publisher: Konami Players: 1-2 ESRB Rating: E10 (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence Price: 1,000 Wii Points Description: Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 A.D. to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the "Contra" on Earth. The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite "Contra" warriors, to save the day, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and samurai Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth. They must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost. Experience the fast-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure that pioneered the run-and-gun genre. ColorZ Publisher: Exkee Players: 1-3 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief Price: 700 Wii Points Description: With ColorZ, go forth in your spaceships on a mission to clean up virus-infested planets. Immerse yourself in a new gaming experience that will reveal mind-hand-eye coordination skills you never knew you had. Absorb viruses of your own color, but steer clear of the others. If necessary, you can cleverly merge your ships together to create new colors. Buzz past your enemies to keep your combo and clock up a new high score. Explore an extra dimension with the game's multiplayer mode and share the unique experience of cooperative play between friends. Pool your forces, synchronize your movements and become a unified team of up to three players to meet the challenge together. Virtual Console Super Return of the Jedi Original platform: Super NES Publisher: LucasArts Players: 1 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Fantasy Violence Price: 800 Wii Points Description: Join the Rebellion and crush the Death Star in a giant universe filled with all the action and adventure of the Star Wars finale. Take command of five different characters - from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia - and go up against the Empire's worst, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. You're going to need every ounce of Force you've got in you. Battle in actual movie locales, from Jabba the Hutt's palace to the Forest of Endor and the Emperor's Tower. Cross sabers with the darkest of the dark side: Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, the rancor, Darth Vader and the Emperor. Nintendo DSiWare Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites Publisher: Nintendo Players: 1-8 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Choose from five family-friendly games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Play classic card games like Hearts and Contract Bridge; connect bones to other bones in Dominoes; think strategically in the simple but addictive Dots and Boxes; and move your pieces towards a common goal in Ludo. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, September 7 2009 12:16 PM [Top] New No More Heroes 2 Details and Trailer [ IGN Wii ] IGN Wii has released a new preview of the hotly-anticipated No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, revealing some new key details about the game. Most notably, hitting the B button on the Wii Remote while in combat allows lead character Travis Touchdown to use melee attacks, as well as pull off a new array of pro wrestling finishing moves. Also, players can switch between the single and the new dual-wielding beam sabers with a simple press of the 2 button. The game will also feature multiple new beam sabers, including a massive one that, while slowing Travis down, gives him a huge reach. Perhaps the most awesome change, however, comes from the newly-available job minigames. While these were merely an extension of the game in the original No More Heroes, in Desperate Struggle they are in 2D, styled after old NES games. ...You know what, I honestly can't describe how awesome this game is looking via words alone. Check out the new trailer, direct from IGN, below and see for yourself. Video: Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, September 6 2009 0:58 AM [Top] TMNT Arcade Attacks DS [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft today announced that it will be releasing an all new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adventure game in honor of the 25th anniversary of the brand. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack, developed exclusively for Nintendo DS system, has an original storyline and is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game. It is a tribute to the original coin-op classics that made the Turtles into video game legends. The game pits the four Ninja Turtle brothers against their old nemesis, Shredder, and his many villainous henchmen. Available this Holiday, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack will feature an all-new combination system, enabling players to string together uppercuts and roundhouse kicks to unlock a series of moves powerful enough to take out even the strongest enemy. In addition, the game will include a cooperative mode, allowing for arcade action with either a friend via local wireless, or a system-controlled Turtle brother. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 4 2009 1:57 AM [Top] Nintendo Brings Artists, Games Together at PAX [ Nintendo ] The upcoming Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle will give consumers their first-ever chance to play key upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. The recently launched Metroid Prime: Trilogy, Wii Sports Resort and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box will also be on hand at the Nintendo booth (#352). Additionally, Nintendo will debut a new WiiWare game at the booth: Pokémon Rumble. Pokémon Rumble lets you battle with Pokémon like never before. Up to four players at once can team up and unleash powerful attacks as enemies surround them in this action-packed game. In addition to the playable games at the booth, Nintendo has invited artists to create one-of-a-kind animations using the Flipnote Studio application for the Nintendo DSi system. Throughout the Sept. 4-6 show, a professional artist will be on hand nearly every hour at a special area in the South Lobby (#S-3) to showcase the many ways that people can use Flipnote Studio to create original works of art. Some of the artists scheduled to be on hand include creative talents from the world of comic books and video games like Scott Kurtz (PvP), Eric Jones (DC Comics: Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade), Christina Strain (Marvel Comics: Runaways), Mike Choi (Marvel: X-Force), Edison Yan (5th Cell: Scribblenauts) and Ryan Jones (Telltale Games: Tales of Monkey Island). So, I'm apparently an artist who makes comics about prepubescent superheroines. You learn something new everyday, I guess. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 3 2009 11:53 AM [Top] Lost Winds 2 Teaser, Images, More [ Frontier ] LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is the follow up to 2008’s best-selling, award-winning WiiWare launch title ‘LostWinds’. This all-new game is packed with intuitive new gameplay mechanics, and feels as fresh and compelling as the original. Wield your Wii Remote to use the elemental powers of Enril the Wind Spirit to protect and guide the young boy Toku - power his jumps and glides, suspend and smash new enemies, and explore all-new expanses of the stunningly presented, magical land of Mistralis as you experience Toku and Enril’s continuing quest to overcome the evil Balasar. LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias will be available to download directly to your living room exclusively via Nintendo’s WiiWare service. Hit the source link for a short teaser trailer, images, and other info on the upcoming sequel to one of WiiWare's best games. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, September 2 2009 17:39 PM [Top] Wii Gets Scene It [ Warner Bros. Interactive ] Screenlife today announces the latest home console iteration of the bestselling Scene It? brand. Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! will be the first videogame in the Scene It? franchise available for Wii. Previous product success on the Xbox platform combined with casual gaming’s explosive growth create a tremendous opportunity for Screenlife to bring its unique brand of entertainment trivia game play to millions of new consumers. Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! offers a wide variety of media-rich trivia that provides movie fans and social gamers with a lively, competitive group gaming experience. Trivia content in the game will include recently released 2009 movies as well as fan favorite Hollywood hits from the last four decades. There are numerous game improvements, including: * Thousands of new questions * A new and improved single player option * Party play modes * Many new puzzle types * 12 all-new player avatars * A simplified game interface * A new, very entertaining game host * New, unique mini-game content Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! brings it all together and provides incredible fun for the whole family. Single-player mode challenges player speed and entertainment trivia know-how, while multi-player mode creates a challenging social gameplay experience. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 2 2009 12:55 PM [Top] Wii Internet Browser Updated, Now Free [ Nintendo ] Nintendo would like to inform you that an update to the Internet Channel is now available. Included in this update is a newer version of Adobe Flash, making even more website content available to you. Until now, the Internet Channel was available to download from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points. However, as Nintendo encourages all customers and their families to enjoy browsing the internet from their sofas, the Internet Channel can now be downloaded for free. For those who have purchased the Internet Channel for 500 Wii Points before, a special offer will be available from late October until the end of December. During this time period, you will be able to download a Virtual Console NES title worth 500 Wii Points for free. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 1 2009 14:35 PM [Top] Okami Drawn to DS [ Famitsu ] Japanese gaming mag Famitsu has revealed that an apparent sequel to the critically-acclaimed Wii and PS2 title will be making its way to the Nintendo DS, and will release in 2010. Entitled Okamiden, the game will be published by Capcom, but will not be developed by series creator Clover Studio (now called Platinum Games). One would presume that the DS's touch screen would be the perfect compliment to the game's trademark gameplay mechanic of using an ethereal paintbrush to affect the world around them. We'll likely be able to hear much more about the game this October at the Tokyo Game Show. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 1 2009 10:55 AM [Top] Wii Fit Plus Dated, Black Wii Remote, New DSi Colors Coming [ Nintendo ] Nintendo today announced that the new Wii Fit Plus game will launch in North America on Oct. 4, and also revealed new colors for its popular Nintendo DSi system and for the revolutionary Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers and Wii MotionPlus accessory. Starting Sept. 13, Nintendo DSi will be available in White and Pink, joining the Blue and Black versions already on the market. Additionally, this holiday season, Nintendo will release a new Black version of the Wii Remote bundled with a Black version of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which brings precise motion control to games that have been designed for it. A Black version of the Nunchuk controller also will be available for the holidays. Nintendo of America President & COO Reggie Fils-Aime made these announcements in his keynote address at the 2009 GameStop Manager Conference. Here are the details of today’s announcements: Wii Fit Plus: This enhanced version of the top-selling game offers a range of new features, along with new exercises, yoga activities and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. For the first time, users can customize their workouts to target specific areas of their bodies or to fill specific intervals of time. Wii Fit Plus will replace the current Wii Fit configuration at retail, and will be bundled with the Wii Balance Board accessory at a suggested retail price of $99.99. For people who currently own Wii Fit and want to add the expanded options to their fitness regimen, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available on its own at a suggested retail price of $19.99. White and Pink Nintendo DSi colors: The two new colors give consumers even more options to personalize their experiences. All models of the Nintendo DSi hardware come with two cameras and interactive options to let users create and manipulate pictures or sound in fun and creative ways. All versions of Nintendo DSi are available at a suggested retail price of $169.99. Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus Black bundle: The Black bundle is the first new color for the Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus. Black Nunchuk: The Black Nunchuk will be available as a standalone purchase. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 1 2009 2:39 AM [Top] First DSi-only Games This Fall? [ Kotaku ] While we knew that DSi-exclusive titles were coming soon based on this year's GDC, we didn't think it would be this soon. Kotaku is reporting, via various sources, that Nintendo will indeed begin rolling out games that will solely work in the Nintendo DSi, and will do so this holiday season. Like with Wii MotionPlus, it seems as if Nintendo is depending on third parties for the roll-out of DSi-exclusive games. Already confirmed are several games that will have added features when played in the DSi, such as Ubisoft's Jam Sessions 2. Fortunately, DSi-only games will apparently be clearly marked with warning labels clearly stating that the game will only work on the DSi itself. Also, the case and game cards will be made of white plastic, rather than the matte black currently used. Stay tuned for more as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 1 2009 1:44 AM [Top]