Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | 1 Comment

Video Channel Headed To Wii

Last week, Dentsu Inc., the largest ad agency in Japan, stated that it would be working with Nintendo to bring an online video service to the Wii system; unlike services such as Youtube, however, this channel will feature original content created specifically for the video channel. Exactly what will be offered has not been decided yet, though Nikkei reports that it will likely include entertainment programs such as cartoons; some of these programs will be offered for free, while users will need to pay to see some others. No North American timeframe for release has been announced, though the companies have stated that overseas distribution is part of the plan, so keep an eye out.

While it’s not quite as cool as using your Wii to order food, an original television channel could be interesting if the programming isn’t terrible.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Wiikly Update: 12/29/08

WiiWare: Maboshi’s Arcade, 800 Wii Points

Maboshi’s Arcade is a curious offering that has three simple arcade games playing at the same time, with you trying to score a million points in each one. Each game is based around a simple shape, either Circle, Stick, or Square, and you’ll be bashing enemies, navigating levels, or burning obstacles depending on the game. Keep an eye out for power-ups, and be careful that one game doesn’t have any drastic effects on the other. You can also use Mii characters, send play videos to friends, or download a version to your Nintendo DS.

WiiWare: Cuesports – Pool Revolution, 500 Wii Points

This billiards title allows for you to play many different game modes, such as 9 Ball, 8 Ball, or Snooker. Play with motion or button controls as you take on friends locally or around the world with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also go into Edit Mode and make up some entertaining trick shots.

NES: Zoda’s Revenge: Startropics II, 500 Wii Points

This sequel to Startropics, also available, boasts the same gameplay as before, albeit with improved controls. Picking up where the last game left off, the evil alien Zoda has returned and is looking to get his revenge, as the title implies; in order to defeat him, you’ll have to travel around the world and even through time.

Maboshi’s Arcade looks like it could be fun, if it follows in the footsteps of the Art Style series with simple fun design. It appears to be crafted well, at least.

Posted by Andrea Campton in Nintendo Wii, Reviews | Comments Off

Review: The Incredible Maze

A maze game that’s vaguely styled after old wooden puzzles appeared on WiiWare.  The Incredible Maze may not win any beauty contests, however it plays nicely.  I also found while reviewing this game, others were drawn in by the simple mechanic and Wii Balance Board control option.

The goal is simple in the game, guide the ball to the goal by using the Wii Remote to tilt the on-screen board.  Sounds simple and at first it is, but as the levels progress it gets a bit more complicated.  In higher levels, gone are the walls that provide safety when you don’t react fast enough and pull back from a tilt.  There are also holes in the floor to avoid which can take a bit of patience to get around.  If you make a mistake and fall off or through, the game puts you a short distance away form where you fell.  This is good because the controls can get a bit twitchy.

While playing I noticed that if you need to sneeze or do anything but focus on your hand and the position at which you’re holding the Wii Remote, it can spell disaster.  When you do fall off, it’s hard at times to find where the centering for the controller is which leads to falling off once again.  This isn’t too much of an issue with the Wii Remote as it is with the Wii Balance Board.  It’s not to say that play with the Board isn’t fun, it is, but you’ll be in for a workout.

While playing the review my father specifically wanted to try out the Wii Balance Board with the game.  We had a mini competition to see who could get to the end in less moves on a level than the other person.  During this time when both attempted the level, falling off the board was happening due to not knowing the center, but mostly laughing.  Yes, don’t laugh while you’re playing or you’ll be adding another "stroke" to your score.  Still, at the end, my father wanted to know when we’d do this again since he had an enjoyable time.

Although it doesn’t push the Wii to the limits, The Incredible Maze is an enjoyable game.  The production values were low and do ultimately hurt your eyeballs after awhile due to dull colors and lack of variety in the levels.  That aside, the gameplay is suitable, basic and to the point.  This is cheap fun on WiiWare, if your expectations aren’t stellar.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News | 1 Comment

Nintendo Reveals Q1 Lineup

Nintendo has released a list of mostly approximate release dates, for games scheduled to come out in the first quarter of 2009. Notable titles include Pokémon: Platinum for Nintendo DS, a new title that uses the general Diamond/Pearl engine; features include a new story, new Pokémon evolutionary forms, a new Wi-Fi Plaza where up to20 players can interact, a "Vs. Recorder" that lets you record and post videos of your battles, and the new, challenging "Battle Frontier".

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is also slated to come out during the "Winter" portion of early 2009, and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Personal Trainer: Math are not too far behind. On the Wii side of things, two older titles are seeing new life, as Nintendo releases New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis and New Play Control! Pikmin, two Gamecube games enhanced by Wii motion controls.

Other notable releases include Little King’s Story, The House of the Dead: Overkill, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, Madworld and Sonic and the Black Knight on Wii, as well as Moon, Legacy of Ys: Books I & II, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time and Suikoden Tierkreis on the DS. Bafflingly, American Popstar – Road to Celebrity for Nintendo DS appears on the list twice, under two different publishers and dates.

Wii

Neighborhood Games (THQ) – January 5
Paws & Claws Pet Resort (THQ) – January 5
Fishing Master World Tour (Hudson) – January 6
Deer Drive (Mastiff) – January 20
SimAnimals (Electronic Arts) – January 27
Coraline (D3Publisher) – January
Escape the Museum (Majesco) – January
WordJong Party (Destineer) – January

NASCAR Kart Racing (Electronic Arts) – February 10
Brave: a Warrior’s Tale (Southpeak) – February 17
Little King’s Story (Marvelous) – February 17
Roogoo Twisted Towers (Southpeak) – February 17
Battle Rage (Destineer) – February
Cradle of Rome (Destineer) – February
Crayola Colorful World (Crave) – February
The House of the Dead: Overkill (Sega) – February
Onechanbara Bikini Zombie Slayers (D3Publisher) – February
Puzzle Challenges and More! (Crave) – February
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (Ubisoft) – February

Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Southpeak) – March 17
Monsters vs. Aliens (Activision) – March 24
Broken Sword: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) (Ubisoft) – March
Burger Island (Destineer) – March
Cate West: the Vanishing Files (Destineer) – March
Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves (Konami) – March
Madworld (Sega) – March
Major Minor’s Majestic March (Majesco) – March
Monster Pals (Crave) – March
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (Nintendo) – March
New Play Control! Pikmin (Nintendo) – March
Play the World (DreamCatcher) – March
Rune Factory: Frontier (Marvelous) – March
Sonic and the Black Knight (Sega) – March
We Ski and Snowboard (Namco Bandai) – March

Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Disney Interactive) – Winter
Trivial Pursuit (Electronic Arts) – Early spring
Marble Saga Kororinpa (Hudson) – Spring
Super PickUps (XS) – Q1

Nintendo DS

Paws & Claws Pampered Pets (THQ) – January 5
Big Bang Mini (Southpeak) – January 6
Retro Game Challenge (XS) – January 6
Personal Trainer: Math (Nintendo) – January 12
Moon (Mastiff) – January 13
World Championship Games (Game Factory) – January 19
SimAnimals (Electronic Arts) – January 27
Coraline (D3Publisher) – January
Drivers’ Ed Portable (DreamCatcher) – January
Inkheart (DreamCatcher) – January
Jake Power Fireman (Ubisoft) – January
Jake Power Policeman (Ubisoft) – January
Learn Math (DreamCatcher) – January
Monster Band (DreamCatcher) – January
Powerbike (Majesco) – January
USA Today Puzzle Craze (Destineer) – January
WonderWorld Amusement Park (Majesco) – January

My World, My Way (Atlus) – February 3
Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (Atlus) – February 10
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Nintendo) – February 16
Brave: Shaman’s Challenge (Southpeak) – February 17
Jagged Alliance (Empire) – February 17
My Fashion Show Paris Collection (Ubisoft) – February 17
Roogoo Attack (Southpeak) – February 17
Avalon Code (Marvelous) – February
Imagine Cheerleader (Ubisoft) – February
Imagine Family Doctor (Ubisoft) – February
JoJo’s Fashion Show (Ubisoft) – February
Music Star: Pop Star (DreamCatcher) – February
My DoItAll (TOMY) – February
My Personal Diary (DreamCatcher) – February
Petz Horseshoe Ranch (Ubisoft) – February
Zoo Quest (DreamCatcher) – February

American Popstar – Road to Celebrity (Gameloft) – March 9
Animal Planet (Activision) – March 10
Chicken Hunter Star Karts (MumboJumbo) – March 10
Trackmania DS (Atlus) – March 17
Pokémon: Platinum (Nintendo) – March 22
American Popstar – Road to Celebrity (Ubisoft) – March 24
Monsters vs. Aliens (Activision) – March 24
Pimp My Ride (Activision) – March 24
Broken Sword: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) (Ubisoft) – March
DinoPets (Destineer) – March
Dreamer: Top Model (DreamCatcher) – March
Flower, Sun and Rain (Marvelous) – March
Hot ‘n’ Cold (Majesco) – March
Imagine Ice Champions (Ubisoft) – March
Jake Power Handyman (Ubisoft) – March
Learn Chess (DreamCatcher) – March
Matchstick (DreamCatcher) – March
Monster Pals (Crave) – March
Paint by DS (DreamCatcher) – March
Sarah – Keeper of the Unicorn (DreamCatcher) – March
Zubo (Electronic Arts) – March

Dragon Master (DreamCatcher) – April

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Rockstar) – Winter
Phineas and Ferb (Disney Interactive) – Winter
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Square Enix) – Spring
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero (Konami) – Q1
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (Electronic Arts) – Q1
Little Magician’s Magic Adventure (Konami) – Q1
Our House (Majesco) – Q1
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (D3Publisher) – Q1
Suikoden Tierkreis (Konami) – Q1

I think I’ll be picking up some of those DS titles; I’m a sucker for fun games that get "portable-ized". I may even get the new Pikmin remake, as that was always one of my favorite Gamecube titles.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Wiikly Update: 12/22/08

WiiWare: Tiki Towers, 500 Wii Points

This title lists itself as "puzzle/platformer" and boasts a rather interesting gameplay description. During your time with Tiki Towers, you’ll build towers out of bamboo and coconuts, explore levels filled with various building objectives, take on enemies who desire to rid the island of your presence, and "get your monkeys to chant for the BananaMana necessary to counter enemy attacks". You can play this title single-player or have a friend try to help you figure it out.

WiiWare: Fun! Fun! Minigolf, 900 Wii Points

This minigolf title features very simple controls; the press release claims that you just aim and swing. Featuring 27 holes from locations around the world, this game lets you play with up to four players, using as few as one Wii Remote.

Genesis: Phantasy Star IV, 800 Wii Points

The final title in the original Phantasy Star series tasks you with saving planet Motavia. You’ll control Chaz Ashley and Alys Brangwin, two Hunters with differing levels of experience, as well as a number of other characters. It’s up to this crew to stop the biocreatures plaguing the planet, and eventually save the solar system.

I have no idea what to think of Tiki Towers; its low price tag just makes me wary. Also, I really need to play a Phantasy Star game, I think.

Posted by Josh Beebe in General News | Comments Off

New Nintendo Section At Time Square TRU

Over in Time Square of New York City inside Toy’s R Us Nintendo and the Toy Store have opened a new Nintendo section for customers to enjoy. Spanning nearly 1,000 square feet on the first floor, it is full fun and interactive ways for shoppers to test out all the latest Nintendo games and products.

Some notable areas are the Wii wall, the DS Gallery which has 8 DS’ set up with a variety of games to try and the Nintendo Gallery showcasing images from all throughout Nintendo’s history of games.

Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing Cammie Dunaway says, "What we’ve been seeing all year long is the expansion of video game fun to people of both genders, and all ages and tastes—there’s literally something for everyone. But in recent weeks, Nintendo products appear to be appealing to even more people, as every form of fun is being measured against a price tag. And that’s what makes this experience in Toys"R"Us so compelling—all the fun and information is available right at your fingertips."

I think I might just have to go to New York City sometime soon. Looks like it could be great fun.

Posted by Josh Beebe in General News | Comments Off

The Speed Gamers Battle Autism And Pokemon!

This weekend the guys over at The Speed Gamers are once again raising money for a charity. For their Christmas special they’re taking 72 hours this weekend to catch all 491 Pokémon without cheating devices. Mission will be accomplished when all Pokémon are on a single cartridge!

Aside from all that excitement though they’re raising money for ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment). These guys are so dedicated they’ll do just about anything to receive the donations! They’ve already done 16 Barrel Rolls!

Just head on over to www.thespeedgamers.com and donate using the ChipIn on the right side. If you cannot donate for any reason, they understand and ask for everyone to just advertise as much as possible.

For anyone who does not know what Autism is read below:

"Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees."

For anyone who is in doubt about The Speed Gamers legitimacy, if you take a look at ACT Today’s website under News and Events it lists The Speed Gamers showing that they know they’re doing this. This is also the 5th event The Speed Gamers have done to raise money for a charity.

EDIT:

The Speed Gamers website is currently down so we will host the ChipIn Widget here so they can still get donations:

I think what The Speed Gamers do is great. They do what they love to do while raising money for charities. And sometimes they just do speed run events for the fans. I myself have donated in the past and didn’t regret it. Even if it did make me poor after.

Posted by Josh Beebe in General News, Nintendo DS | Comments Off

Gamestop Announces In-Game Preorder Bonus For Chinatown Wars

Gamestop has announced that anyone who preorders the latest Grand Theft Auto entry-Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars-will receive a helping hand with their copies. By preordering from Gamestop players will be able to start off their games with $10,000 already and full access to the games arsenal of weapons.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is set to release in March 17, 2009 for the Nintendo DS.

It’s not too shabby. I think I might preorder this game afterall instead of just buying it. Of course, in every GTA game, part of it’s challenge it never having enough money or weapons in the beginning so I don’t know if this’ll detract some fun from the game

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Peek At What Club Nintendo Will Be Offering

Nintendo of America hasn’t officially launched Club Nintendo yet, however a few eager web surfers have caught glimpses at what will be offered. NeoGAF user CoilShot posted an image of what was available before the site went down, although at this time there’s no way to verify this image.

The FAQ for the program has also been made available to read.  In the pages, point values can be found to be:

• Wii games = 50 Coins
• Nintendo DS games = 30 Coins
• Wii Shop Channel games and Wii Channels = 10 Coins

Other information such as what can be registered and if it qualifies can be found on the FAQ.

I’m getting excited for this program!  I wonder though if the items will be in very limited quantities.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Wiikly Update: 12/15/08

WiiWare: Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People, Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough, 1,000 Wii Points

The final episode of this season has the mighty dragon Trogdor somehow escaping the confines of his video game and burninating the countryside; when he burninates the great nation of Strong Badia, however, it’s up to Strong Bad to take up arms and send Trogdor back where he came from. This game is filled to the brim with video-game-based humor and entertaining gameplay; be sure to check out NintendoGal.com’s review of the title when it goes up later today.

WiiWare: Big Kahuna Party, 700 Wii Points

Reflexive Entertainment has sought to make the "ultimate party game" with Big Kahuna Party, the latest addition to their Big Kahuna series. This puzzle game is based on the simple match-three concept, proudly featuring multiplayer that can be cooperative or competitive, depending on your mood. The game features 99 levels, as well as 20 sea creatures for you to collect and the somewhat foreboding Tiki Pole.

Master System: Enduro Racer, 500 Wii Points

Enduro Racer is an arcade hit that was ported to the Master System in 1987. The racetracks of this game feature "diverse and rough terrain", and you’ll have to have quick reflexes if you want to make your way through this game. Avoid obstacles and launch yourself off of big jumps, but make sure your bike doesn’t blow up in your face, as the press release warns.

If you’re going to get any one episode of SBCG4AP, definitely make it 8-Bit Is Enough. Besides that, I’m not sure how Big Kahuna Party is going to go over, I can’t really imagine the gameplay in my head.

Posted by Jim Avery in Nintendo Wii, Reviews | Comments Off

Review: Strong Bad Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough

At the end of my last SBCG4AP review, I expressed my hope that the final episode would be even better than Dangeresque 3, even though at the time I didn’t think it would be. After seeing the preview, I was expecting a typical episode full of fanservice and inside jokes I wouldn’t understand; I certainly didn’t expect 8-Bit Is Enough to be the superlative achievement of the Brothers Chaps’ videogame outings, which, incidentally, is what it is. This final episode of the season is by far the funniest, the most clever, and the most relatable to video game players.

The story picks up right where Dangeresque 3 left off, though this really isn’t important; all you need to know is that Strong Bad had to jump. He ends up bashing his head on his Trogdor!!! machine, which somehow brings the Burninator into the real world, where he proceeds to cause havoc. After the nation of Strong Badia gets burninated, however, Strong Bad vows to kill the dragon once and for all. He immediately sets out on a quest that crosses between the real world and that of his favorite video games, in search of a way to bring down Trogdor and restore reality. As you play through this title, you’ll venture through numerous different video games, collecting objects in order to make it to the action-packed final battle with Ultimate Trogdor; this episode has a distinctly climactic vibe to it near the end, something I was very thankful for, and which I’m sure all will appreciate.

If you’ve shied away from previous entries in this series because you weren’t too familiar with the universe of Homestar Runner, I assure you this episode is much more palatable. The focus of this episode is on video games, notably old-school video games, and the Brothers Chaps lampoon everything from region locks to piracy protection to shovelware, even taking an ironic jab at licensed software. You’re certain to enjoy the numerous jokes scattered throughout this title, but that’s only part of the reason why this game is the best.

The point-and-click adventure puzzles are the most prominent feature of the game, as usual, and fortunately the solutions aren’t too difficult to ascertain, though I do remember one instance where you could not proceed without investigating a certain random object. In this episode, however, you’ll find yourself utilizing some other interesting control setups as well. In one portion of the game, you’ll have to use your Wii Remote as a light gun in order to scare away ghosts, pointing at the screen and shooting to chase them away. Later on in the game, you’ll switch to FPS controls in a parody of the original Wolfenstein 3D. The Brothers Chaps have gone the extra mile in pushing their video game theme, and it pays off in spades.

Presentation is, none too surprisingly, not very different from the previous games. 8-Bit Is Enough reverts to the minimal 8-bit music themes from the first three episodes; while it’s a little disappointing after the entertaining spy soundtrack from Dangeresque 3, all in all it’s pretty fitting given the theme of this episode. The graphics haven’t been improved really, but the world is an entertaining blend of the typical SBCG4AP cartoon style and horribly low-resolution game elements. Lastly, the replay value is also exactly the same as you’ve come to expect of SBCG4AP, though it’s hard to begrudge it this when you’re paying $10 for a three-hour adventure title, especially one as well-done as this.

If you’re going to only get one episode of Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People, make it this one; the humor, gameplay, and general awesomeness are all above that of any other entry in this series. NintendoGal.com gives 8-Bit Is Enough a spirited Yay!, and I encourage that anybody with a good sense of humor and a little patience pick it up and play. If you’re looking for a good game and good laughs, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News | Comments Off

November 2008 NPD Group US Sales Numbers

Hardware

Wii – 2,040,000
NDS – 1,570,000
360 – 836,000
PSP – 421,000
PS3 – 378,000
PS2 – 206,000

Software

1. 360 Gears of War 2* – 1,560,000
2. 360 Call of Duty: World at War* – 1,410,000
3. Wii Wii Play – 796,000
4. Wii Wii Fit – 697,000
5. Wii Mario Kart Wii – 637,000
6. PS3 Call of Duty: World at War – 597,000
7. Wii Guitar Hero: World Tour* – 475,000
8. 360 Left 4 Dead – 410,000
9. PS3 Resistance 2* – 385,000
10. Wii Wii Music – 297,000

*Includes all versions of that game for that system, except for versions bundled with consoles.

^The numbers on the right represent units sold.

The console discrepancy is now bordering on absurd; the Wii outsold the 360, PSP, PS2 and PS3 combined, and the DS nearly did the same. You can hardly call it competition anymore; Nintendo has a whole different audience to cater to and its sales are in an entirely different league. Software, though, is a bit of a different matter; while certain titles may heftily overtake Nintendo’s titles as they did this month, the same few Nintendo mainstays are constantly on the top 10 software chart for long-term selling power. Interestingly, though, the Wii build of Guitar Hero: World Tour was the most popular one this month; I suppose that game has built up quite the casual audience as well, which, as a very hardcore player of the game, I often forget.

On a related note, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King dominated the PC world with 1.4 million units sold, to nobody’s surprise.

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Wii Fit Girl Interview

Recently Green Pixels had a word with Lauren Bernat, known for her Wii Fit playing while dressed in underwear and a bright yellow top. 

Original video of the Wii Fit Girl

In the interview, Bernat revealed that she didn’t feel she wanted to separate after her boyfriend of three years, Giovanny Gutierrez, filmed her and made the video available for millions of viewers.  She also expresses delight in getting her revenge on Gutierrez by having him drop his pants on national TV.

It’s interesting that she was able to meet a few famous people just because of this video.

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Pool Revolution: Cue Sports First Look

Hudson released the first screenshots of their upcoming WiiWare game Revolution: Cue Sports. Twelve pictures in all were released.

More images can be found in the Media section of the site.

Hudson so far seems to be the best when it comes to 3rd party usage of Miis, but I’m not sure that’s saying much considering they’re not used for much.

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Evasive Space Trailer

A new trailer was released yesterday for Evasive Space from High Voltage Software.  Although the video is short, it contains gameplay footage.

Evasive Space is still set to be released to the Wii Shop Channel sometime in January 2009.

Posted by Josh Beebe in General News, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Nintendo Sells 800,000 Wii Consoles

This year it seems people were doing more than preparing and eating food all of Thanksgiving week. A lot of people were out there buying up Nintendo Wii’s and DS’. Nintendo Wii sales more than doubled from Thanksgiving time last year (350,000 to 800,000) while Nintendo DS sales were up 20 percent.

Aside from sales figures, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata states that they’re always aiming at big sales numbers and even with all the sales so far, they’re not running out of momentum for getting those numbers.

Competition with Sony and Microsoft is briefly discussed too and they compare Nintendo’s strategies with Sony and Microsoft’s. In the article it states that while Sony and Microsoft chose to upgrade speed and power of their systems, Nintendo went the other route and is delivering an engaging experience with such games as Wii Fit and it’s Balance Board. Further more, an analyst from Nomura Securities, Yuta Sakurai, goes on to say, "The spread on shipment volumes is so large that it’s not even worth talking about it. They aren’t rivals."

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Nintendo DS | Comments Off

Lux-Pain Debut Trailer

Ignition Entertainment today launched the official US site for their upcoming DS adventure game Lux-Pain.  Visitors to the site can view screenshots and the debut trailer.

Lux-Pain will be available in March 2009 for the Nintendo DS.

I get a definite Phoenix Wright vibe from the screenshots.  That’s not a bad thing either, but I wonder what other elements will be in this game.

Posted by Jim Avery in General News, Nintendo Wii | 1 Comment

Wiikly Update: 12/8/08

WiiWare: Hockey Allstar Shootout, 500 Wii Points

In this hockey game, it’s you against the goalie, in an attempt to score as many goals as you can. Use the Wii Remote as a hockey stick to deliver the best shots you can, either against a goalie, or against a series of targets; if you want, you can try hitting the hardest shot you can in Power Shot. This game supports two-player mutiplayer, with one player as the goalie and the other as the shooter.

WiiWare: Bruiser and Scratch, 1,000 Wii Points

In this game, the two title characters, Bruiser and Scratch, find themselves stranded in a world comprised of numerous massive puzzles. The press release did not indicate the nature of these puzzles, but there are 48 of them in the story mode, as well as 75 more in Challenge mode.

Master System: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, 500 Wii Points

Dr. Robotnik has kidnapped Tails, as well as several other of Sonic’s friends, and he won’t give them back unless he gets all six Chaos Emeralds. Play as Sonic as you travel through six different worlds, be they underground or in the sky, searching for the Emerald hidden in each world.

I have fond memories of playing Sonic 2 on my Game Gear, until the batteries burnt out, that is.

Posted by Andrea Campton in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

NintendoGal Podcast #3

Once again we have Mark Surber from Nintendo Players in the mix along with The Sound Defense and I for a quick chat about a few Reggie quotes and what we’ve been playing.

The runtime is for this episode is 37:28.

Download Podcast #3

Or stream it right on this page:

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Miscellaneous | 1 Comment

Games & Candy Giveaway ENDED

Do you enjoy games and have a sweet tooth?  Then this is the contest for you to enter!  One lucky winner will win this games and candy prize pack.

Sure, the games have been opened, but the candy, shirt, and wrist bands haven’t!  Here’s what the winner will get:

- Big Brain Age Academy Board Game
- Donkey Kong Jenga
- Nintendo Uno
- Mario Kart Candy Container
- 3x Mushroom Candies & Tins
- DK/Mario lolipops
- Nintendo Shirt
- 3 Rubber Wrist Bands

Here are the rules:

Staff of NG are not eligible for the contest and these rules can change at any time.  One entry per person.  NG will not keep your e-mail and any information we collect will only be used to dispense your prize to you.  Contest is scheduled to end December 10th.  Winner will be announced shortly after that date.

To enter:

CONTEST IS OVER THANKS FOR ENTERING!

Good luck to everyone who enters!

I’m happy to announce the winner of this contest is:

Gerudor

Congratulations, expect that package to arrive within a few weeks.

To everyone else, be on the look out for our next contest!

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Club Nintendo Coming Soon

Nintendo of America has launched a placeholder website for the upcoming Club Nintendo program.

The site briefly covers the ways to earn Coins that are used to get the limited edition merchandise that will be available.  No date was given however as to the date of the full launch.

Extending your warranty?  I wonder if they’ll simply replace the system they have now with Club Nintendo to unify things and make it smoother.

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Nintendo Wii | Comments Off

Amazon Gold Box & Wii Lightning Deals

Amazon.com currently has Wii Lightning Deals where buyers can purchase select games at great prices.  Although a few sales have already passed, there are still more to go for the rest of the day.  At the time of this article being published, Wario Land: Shake It! was available for $34.98.

Also on sale in the Gold Box is Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for $25.98.

Posted by Andrea Campton in Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Holiday Gift Guide 2008

Shopping season is underway and there are many games and related merchandise available to buy.  We’ve put together this guide to help those who aren’t sure what to get others for the holidays.  It contains a broad selection of titles for each Nintendo platform along with related goods.  It’s our hope that this will lend a hand to a few during this crazy time of year.  All items listed below are in no particular order.
 

Wii

Rock Band 2 – Although this version won’t have quite the same content as the 360/PS3 flavors of the game, Rock Band 2 can be a fun experience with friends or even the family.  With the variety of songs and modes, there’s something here for everyone to rock out with.
 
Animal Crossing: City Folk – If you’re looking for a game that has you playing consistently, even for short bursts of time, Animal Crossing: City Folk might be for you.  The main purpose is to collect Bells and pay off your mortgage on your house so you can expand it.  Decorating is also a fun past time since you can be rewarded by your floor plan.  Veteran players might enjoy the city, though it admittedly is simply putting the past features of previous games in one easy to reach spot.  Still, even for a sequel, it’s just as enjoyable as the GameCube and DS outtings were.

de Blob – This colorful, funky platformer challenges you to restore color to a drained city. Featuring simple but addictive gameplay, this is a title that everyone in the family can play and enjoy.

Sam & Max Season One – Humor isn’t often found in many games, but with Sam & Max Season One, it’s one amusing moment after another.  In this point and click adventure game, you’re freelance police duo who’s goal is to solve puzzling crimes.  It seems straight forward, but with Sam’s serious nature mixed with Max’s zany comments and actions, it blends into great comedic value.  It is made for one player, but it’s fun to sit around with friends to figure out clues and move on.

Wii Periperals

Logitech Cordless Keyboard – Having reviewed this recently I can say this is probably the best keyboard for using with the Wii and games.  Its compact and light nature makes it a good fit for living rooms, but isn’t so small that one is unable to type.  Setup is extremely easy and typing works from a good distance away from where it would usually be stationed.

Nyko Charge Station Quad – If you know someone who’s been going through the AA batteries then you may want to have a look at this.  With two more slots than the previous model, the Quad will allow for four controllers to be charged simultaneously.  Great for those who use their Wii consoles as a party machine.

WiiWare

Boingz – Extremely colorful and highly addicting, this puzzle game with cute characters will bring a smile to those who play it.  For experienced players, but also those who don’t game often can find something of interest here.

Tetris Party – It’s Tetris with so many modes, it’ll make your eyes spin.  If someone you know doesn’t have this and love puzzle games, get it.  How can you go wrong with Tetris?

Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People – For that geek that you’re not sure what to get them, but loves a good laugh.  Previous to his games on WiiWare and PC, Strong Bad could be found reading e-mails over at HomeStarRunner.com.  Now this adventure allows us to look a bit more closely at his world and inhabitants who have their own quirks.  Much like Sam & Max, this is a point and click adventure where you control what happens.

World of Goo – Delicious soft drink balls help form structures to get from point A to B.  Play is setup very simply, but can become complex due to restrictions of the levels.  WiiWare version features co-op play so two can build together.

Mega Man 9 – Anyone on your list who’s been after a good action platformer that happens to love old-school style?  Mega Man 9 goes back to the roots of prior games on the Nintendo Entertainment System and sports 8-bit graphics and similar gameplay.  Added features include saves, a shop, and achievements.  It’s a bit more than its NES counterparts and has a bit of kick to it in the difficulty department at times.

The Incredible Maze – The production values on this title aren’t that wonderful, but even so for only 500 Wii Points, this is something that can provide entertainment for awhile.  If you’ve ever enjoyed those wooden mazes with metal balls that you tilt, then this will be a familiar concept.  Instead of moving the board with knobs on the side, you use the Wii Remote to perform the same action.
 

Nintendo DS

Personal Trainer: Cooking – Just to be clear, this is not a game (though it has one in it).  It’s an interactive cookbook for the kitchen.  If you know someone who don’t bother to flip on the kitchen light and bask in the refrigerator’s glow, this might be something to consider.  This provides tips on how to make recipes and even offers voice commands so you can use it while you’re in the kitchen whipping up some delectable treat.

Soul Bubbles – This was put here because one of our readers, n00b, felt so strongly about the game he wrote a glowing review for it.  A unique IP with great gameplay is becoming increasingly rare.  If you’re feeling adventurous about game gift giving, this could be one to experiment with that may not backfire.

Metal Slug 7 – Action platforming shooting.  Metal Slug fans will enjoy this along with those who feel the need to kick some butt with some heavy weaponry on the DS.

KORG DS-10 – This is rather complicated, but those who are into creation of music will get a kick out of this.  It’s extremely advanced, so it might not be for all music enthusiasts, but those who understand it will be able to create fun and unique tunes.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia – Extremely easy to get into and rather addicting when you do start playing, for anyone who enjoys action platforming with a bit of an RPG twist to it will find this wonderful.  There’s no need to play the previous games on the DS as well to enjoy it.

DragonBall Origins – For big Dragon Ball fans, this action platformer has you playing as Goku in the early episodes of the popular anime. This game features fun stylus-based gameplay but may have content inappropriate for young children.

Kirby Super Star Ultra – One of Nintendo’s most classic games is given new life on the Nintendo DS. The gameplay is simple but wildly addictive, and you’ll spend hours playing through the numerous game modes by themselves or with a friend.

Ultimate Band – The music creation tool is great in this.  If you know someone who’s somewhat musically inclined, this might be a good medium for them to explore.  Aside from that mode, there’s also the regular game to play through!
 

Physical games

Jenga: Donkey Kong Collector’s Edition – Check out my review of this!  I think the review of the game is enough reason to purchase this as a gift.

MONOPOLY: Nintendo Collector’s Edition – With so many varieties of Monopoly out there, why not give a version of the iconic game that everyone can be amused with and enjoy.  Featuring Nintendo themed tokens and pieces, it’ll be sure to be a hit with anyone who’s into collecting Nintendo merchandise.

Big Brain Academy Board Game – Maybe Nintendo themed games don’t tickle your fancy.  There’s always Brain Age Academy.  This board game takes elements from the videogames and makes them physical.  Some activities will have you moving while others will test your brain.  It has a bit of everything and may appeal to a broad range of folks.

Toys

Plush – Big or small, plushies of Mario and the gang can be a good fit for both sexes.

Nintendo Race Set Mario Kart – Great for the young ones, this slot car race set includes two karts and accelerating control so siblings can battle it out for first place.

Keychains -  These might be more suited to a stocking stuffer than a full blown present.  Nintendo themed keychains are nothing new, but in recent times have begun to pop up more and more.

Candy

Nintendo 3D Gummy Candies – In the shape of Nintendo characters, these gummis don’t taste half bad.  Another decent stocking stuffer.

Wii Candy Dispenser – Can’t find a Wii or simply want to put something other than coal in a stocking?  These Wii Remote look-alikes can provide false hope or a clue to what’s in the big box.

Mushroom Candy Tins -  I can’t really recommend the taste of the candies, however the tins are great looking and would sit great on a desk as a paperweight.

Posted by Andrea Campton in General News, Nintendo Wii | 1 Comment

Profit Of $6 For Each Wii Sold

According to Forbes who cites David Gibson, an analyst at Macquarie Securities, Nintendo is getting approximately $6 of operating profit for each Wii sold.  With nearly 35 million Wii units sold, this amounts to nearly $200 million on hardware sales alone, without operating costs figured in.

Forbes also mentions that Nintendo sells 60% of software for Wii itself which is much more than the competition is doing currently.

Yes, I’ve seen $6 lattes around my area, I do live in Washington after all.  As for the estimate, I’d say at this point it’s slightly out of date due to the system being a few years old now.  That should bring costs down a bit.

Posted by David Craig in Nintendo Wii | 1 Comment

RE’s City Folk Journal: Day 3

Today was another fairly ho-hum today. I’m getting used to the routine of checking turnip prices, harvesting fruit, making a quick run around town looking for anything new or suspicious. It’s still entertaining, but it’s feeling more and more like the same old same old everyday.

There really aren’t enough special events every month to participate in. In December, for example, there are three events, one of which is a bug catching contest. And for this game, that’s really fairly busy. Sure, K.K. comes every Saturday, and Joan every Sunday, but frankly it’s just not enough. Your neighbors seem to repeat themselves more often than in previous games. There are more bugs and fish than there used to be, and I do enjoy gathering new furniture. But there’s only so much money that can be made in a day, and, just like in real life, a lot of the best things to do require dough.

I know this entry has been mostly complaining, and I do apologize. As I said earlier, I still do look forward to playing each day. Today I made a flag featuring Marin from Link’s Awakening, and a shirt modeled after Spike’s from Cowboy Bebop. Dr. Shrunk also taught me some new emotions, including anger, which I can display when someone shows up in my town and starts digging up my fossils.

Goodnight!