Topics

[To celebrate the release of Sengoku Musou 3, Koei is releasing three different bundles.]

26

TalkBack / Three Sengoku Musou 3 Bundles in Japan

« on: October 08, 2009, 03:22:07 AM »

To celebrate the release of Sengoku Musou 3, Koei is releasing three different bundles.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20117

 While it isn't very popular in North America and Europe, the Sengoku Musou (known as Samurai Warriors overseas) franchise is very popular in Japan. To celebrate the Japanese release of Sengoku Musou 3, Koei will provide three different bundles for the game.    

   

The first bundle comes with a black Wii, a Sengoku Musou 3-themed Classic Controller Pro, a copy of the game, and three character portrait sheets. The bundle will be available for ¥27,300 (approximately $309 USD).    

   

The second bundle is known as the "Treasure Box". This bundle includes a copy of the game, a Sengoku Musou 3-themed Classic Controller Pro, the soundtrack CD, an art book that doubles as a strategy book, and a miniature character figure. The bundle will be available for ¥11,865 (approximately $134 USD).    

The final bundle is a copy of the game and the Sengoku Musou 3-themed Classic Controller Pro. The bundle is available for ¥8,715 (approximately $99 USD).    

All three bundles will be released alongside the standalone game on December 3 in Japan.

[Namco Bandai announces console and game package along with launch details.]

27

TalkBack / Tales of Graces Gets Wii Bundle and Release Date in Japan

« on: October 08, 2009, 02:46:57 AM »

Namco Bandai announces console and game package along with launch details.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20116

 Namco Bandai announced the finalized release date for Tales of Graces, the next main entry in the Tales series. In addition to the release date, the company has also announced a Wii console bundle including the game.    

The bundle consists of a white Wii, a white Classic Controller Pro, and a copy of Tales of Graces. The package will be available for ¥27,800 (approximately $315 USD), while a standalone copy of the game will be available for ¥7,329 (approximately $83 USD). Both the game and the bundle will be released on December 10 in Japan.

[Namco Bandai is developing a sequel in the Taiko Drum Master series for Nintendo's console.]

28

TalkBack / Taiko: Drum Master Sequel Revealed for Wii

« on: October 07, 2009, 05:00:38 PM »

Namco Bandai is developing a sequel in the Taiko Drum Master series for Nintendo's console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20110

 A new listing  from Japanese retailer Gmstar reveals that a new entry in the Taiko  no Tatsujin (known as Taiko: Drum Master in North America) series entitled  Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Dodon to Ni-Dai-Me will be released on Wii. The title is a follow up to the original Taiko no Tatsujin for Wii released last year in Japan.    

The sequel will include 70 songs spanning different music genres including J-pop and theme songs from various anime series. There will be new modes as well, including a boss mode and daily challenge mode. There are also new sound effects to replace the standard drum sounds.    

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Dodon to Ni-Dai-Me will be released on November 19 and will be available as a standalone game for ¥5,040 (approximately $57) or a bundle with a drum controller for ¥7,980 (approximately $90).

[The next chapter in the OG Saga Endless Frontier spin-off series will arrive on the DS.]

29

TalkBack / Famitsu Reveals Super Robot Taisen Sequel

« on: October 06, 2009, 10:10:56 AM »

The next chapter in the OG Saga Endless Frontier spin-off series will arrive on the DS.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20107

 The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed Super Robot Taisen: OG Saga Endless Frontier Exceed, a sequel in the Super Robot Taisen spin-off series. Like the original title, the game is co-developed by Banpresto and Monolith Soft, the latter being primarily known for the Baten Kaitos series, Disaster: Day of Crisis, and the Xenosaga series.  According to the developers, the sequel will have double the amount of content that was in the original game.    

Super Robot Taisen: OG Saga Endless Frontier Exceed will be released this winter in Japan. While an international release has not been confirmed, Atlus localized and published Super Robot Taisen: OG Saga Endless Frontier in North America earlier this year.

[There's a seminal role-playing game on Virtual Console, a vehicle shooter for DSiWare, and a word search game for WiiWare.]

30

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: October 05, 2009, 02:59:00 AM »

There's a seminal role-playing game on Virtual Console, a vehicle shooter for DSiWare, and a word search game for WiiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20094

 This week in Nintendo Downloads brings us the meager offering of a single title for each of the download services, including the first game in the venerable Final Fantasy series.    

Final Fantasy for Virtual Console is the first game in the ever-popular role-playing series. In this RPG you create a party of four characters from different classes in order to take part in a journey to save the world from evil. Final Fantasy is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

Thorium Wars for DSiWare is a vehicle shooter that tasks you with destroying the evil Thorions before they destroy humanity. You will pilot various vehicles such as skyfighters, tanks, and hovercrafts. The game can be controlled with traditional controls or with the touch screen. Thorium Wars is rated E10+ by the ESRB and is available for 1000 DSi Points ($10).    

Word Searcher for WiiWare is a simple word search game. The title features 100 puzzles with different themes. Word Searcher is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 500 WiiWare Points ($5).    

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: DISCOVER NEW WORLDS, HIDDEN WORDS AND THE FIRST FINAL FANTASY    

Oct. 5, 2009    

Fans of the legendary FINAL FANTASY® series should be especially pleased with this week's downloadable game lineup. Making its Virtual Console™ debut is the original FINAL FANTASY, an NES™ classic that can now be enjoyed on the Wii™ system for the very first time. For hand-held gaming action with a sci-fi twist, this week's new Nintendo DSiWare™ title, Thorium Wars™, lets you take control of an arsenal of vehicles to blast through waves of enemies in a variety of exotic locations. If it's a more down-to-earth experience you're after, check out an engaging new WiiWare™ puzzle game. Consumers should also note that today is the final day of a special promotion: You can receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi™ game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.    

Virtual Console    

FINAL FANTASY
 Original platform: NES
 Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
 Players: 1
 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
 Price: 500 Wii Points™
 Description: The world lies shrouded in darkness. The winds die. The sea rages. The earth decays. But the people believe in a prophecy, patiently awaiting its fulfillment. "When darkness veils the earth, four Warriors of Light shall come...." After a long journey, four young travelers did at last appear, and in the hand of each was clutched a crystal.    

Nintendo DSiWare    

Thorium Wars
 Publisher: Big John Games
 Players: 1
 ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
 Price: 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points
 Description: In Thorium Wars, you must stop the Thorions, a super species of Thorium-based machines, from destroying mankind. Blast through waves of Thorions by controlling an arsenal of tanks, skyfighters, hovercrafts, gunboats and starfighters with either the standard or touch-screen controls. In 12 exciting missions, navigate through a variety of combat environments while viewing 360 degrees of the battlefield, fully rendered in 3-D. Toggle between first- and third-person views to destroy the terrifying army of Thorium beasts, from swarms of Redeye Drones to the bone-crushing Manticore Walker. This man-versus-machine battle proves to be the ultimate test for the survival of the fittest.    

WiiWare    

Word Searcher
 Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
 Players: 1
 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
 Price: 500 Wii Points
 Description: You'll need a sharp eye and a quick mind to complete 100 themed word-search puzzles. Word Searcher contains fun words from multiple categories including anatomy, world cities and U.S. presidents. With a huge assortment of subjects to choose from, there's sure to be a puzzle for everyone to enjoy. Help improve your vocabulary, memory and problem-solving skills with these engaging puzzles. Track and try to beat your own play-through times again and again—words are scrambled every time you play.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[Are you a bad enough dude to play this classic compilation?]

31

TalkBack / Majesco Announces Data East Arcade Classics for Wii

« on: October 01, 2009, 12:27:00 PM »

Are you a bad enough dude to play this classic compilation?
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20076

 Today, Majesco officially announced Data East Arcade Classics for Wii. The compilation includes 15 arcade games that were originally released by Data East. Some of the games that will be included in the compilation are Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, Burger Time, Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory, Burnin' Rubber, Heavy Barrel, Caveman Ninja, Magical Drop III, and Side Pocket.  Each game on the compilation will include 2-player multiplayer and can be played with either the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or GameCube controller.    

The compilation will also include extras such as the ability to unlock bonus content by clearing specific goals in each game. Players will also be able to link their high scores to their Mii.    

Data East Arcade Classics is expected to be available in early 2010 for $19.99.    

Collection Includes 15 All-Time Favorite Video Games at an Amazing Value    

EDISON, N.J., October 1st, 2009 - Relive the glory days of video games without the pocketful of quarters as Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Data East Arcade Classics for Wii. Licensed by G-Mode and developed by G1M2, this timeless compilation features 15 arcade favorites with full multiplayer support for only $19.99.    

Players can now enjoy some of the best shooter, sports, puzzle and twitch action video games ever created in one convenient package. Data East Arcade Classics features 15 nostalgic titles, including: BurgerTime and its sequel, Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory, Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, Burnin' Rubber, Heavy Barrel, Caveman Ninja, Magical Drop III, Side Pocket and many more. The collection keeps the classics intact but also includes special updates for the modern gamer: players can link their high scores to their Mii and accomplish 75 different goals across the games that let them unlock a wealth of bonus material, from soundtracks to bezels. Finally, all 15 games support single player and 2-player head-to-head or co-operative multiplayer along with Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller or GameCube controller functionality.    

Data East Arcade Classics for Wii is expected to release in early 2010 for a SRP of $19.99. For additional information about Majesco's exciting line of products, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.

[Who knew that dinosaurs would survive and burst bubbles in space?]

32

TalkBack / REVIEWS: Space Bust-A-Move

« on: October 01, 2009, 02:50:10 AM »

Who knew that dinosaurs would survive and burst bubbles in space?
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=20072

 Bust-A-Move is a long lasting series that is also known as Puzzle Bobble.  The latest entry takes Bub and Bob on a journey in space. Even though the setting is different, the classic "match three" gameplay and addictive nature of the series are retained alongside a lot of great modes and online play.    

Like every other game in the Bust-A-Move series, you try to match at least three bubbles of the same color in order to eliminate them. The other way to eliminate bubbles is making them drop by eliminating all other attached bubbles. Over time, the bubbles that you have to destroy will get lower, and if they reach the bottom of the level, you will lose the game. In addition to standard bubbles, there is an assortment of bubbles with special properties, such as a bubble that eliminates a horizontal line or a bubble that explodes on impact.    

There are three ways to control the game. The D-pad and button controls are like every other Bust-A-Move game. The D-pad allows you to move the launcher arrow and the A button fires your bubble; depending on your settings, you can also use the L and R buttons to make slight adjustments that might be hard to perform with the D-Pad alone. The touch screen controls are worse than the previous Bust-A-Move title on the DS. In the previous title, you essentially controlled a virtual slingshot to launch your bubble, but in this game you touch virtual arrows to move your launcher arrow. If you hold down the virtual arrow, you can move the launcher at a slightly faster pace, and to launch the bubble, you have to touch the bubble in the launcher. If you want, you can use stylus and traditional controls simultaneously; however, I recommend the traditional controls since they are great, while the touch screen controls feels a little sluggish. One nice surprise is that the North American version also supports the Taito Paddle controller (which plugs into the GBA port of a DS or DS Lite), and when using this peripheral, the launcher arrow moves as fast as you turn the knob on the peripheral. [Ed. – The Paddle controller is only sold in Japan but is fully compatible with non-Japanese systems.]    

In story mode, you travel to different planets in order to collect Cosmos bubbles. There are three levels in each planet, and each stage is made up of a gauntlet of five puzzles. There will be a Cosmos bubble in one of those five puzzles, and the only way to successfully obtain it is to make it drop. If you match it with the same color, then the Cosmos bubble will simply shatter, and you will be forced to restart the whole level from the beginning. Collecting all of the Cosmos bubbles also lets you unlock a special item in the shop.    

Once you clear the three levels in each world, you will be able to fight the boss. The boss battles are very satisfying, as the boss takes up most of the top screen and fires obstacles to the bottom screen. In order to defeat the boss, you have to eliminate all the bubbles attached to its body. The early boss battles are fairly simple and straightforward, but as you progress, the bosses become slightly more complex and difficult.    

Besides story mode, there are five other single-player modes. Three of them must be purchased through the shop by coins, which are earned after playing any mode. The extra single-player modes consist of an endless mode and four different modes that focus on specific types of puzzles.    

The multiplayer consists of local download play, where only one game card is needed to play against three other people. Online play is available for up to four players total. Both multiplayer modes consist of versus matches, where the goal is to make other players lose by filling up their fields with bubbles. The online multiplayer has no lag, although there is a weird delay between firing a bubble and waiting for the next one to appear on the launcher arrow. The delay seems to be some kind of balancing mechanism, but at the end of the day, this feature feels odd.    

Space Bust-A-Move is a great sequel, as it is filled with addicting gameplay that the series is known for, and on top of that, there is a lot content to come back to. The only disappointing thing is to see that touch screen controls have been downgraded; however the inclusion of online multiplayer and Taito Paddle controller support greatly makes up for it. The game is highly recommended for people who are fans of puzzle games or the Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble series.

Pros:
       

Addictive gameplay

 

Great multiplayer

 

Boss battles are fun

 

A lot of compelling modes and content

 

Supports the Taito Paddle controller

       Cons:
       

Poor touch screen controls

 

Weird, artificial online delay

               Graphics:  7.0
       While the game is very colorful and appealing, the graphics aren't anything special.

               Sound:  7.0
       The soundtrack consists of songs that are upbeat and catchy.

               Control:  8.0
       The traditional D-pad and button controls are tight and very responsive. It is also worth mentioning that the game supports the Taito Paddle controller. The touch screen controls are sluggish and at times counter-intuitive, so I recommend sticking with the traditional controls or playing the game with the Taito Paddle.

                      Gameplay:  8.0
       This game retains the simple, fun, and, addictive gameplay that the series is known for. While there are some new gameplay ideas, they never deviate from the core gameplay formula.

 

       Lastability: 10.0
       There are a lot of different single player modes available in the beginning and a lot of extra content to unlock, such as more modes and a lot of customizable bubbles and launcher arrows. The game also features single-card and online multiplayer.

 

       Final:  8.0
       Space Bust-A-Move is a great entry in the series. This iteration retains the great addictive gameplay the series is known for, alongside numerous great modes that will keep you busy.      

[Dragon Quest Wars and more art lessons arrive on DSiWare, a classic Taito franchise and a top-down racing game arrives on WiiWare, and another classic Sega arcade game arrives on Virtual Console.]

33

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: September 28, 2009, 03:00:00 AM »

Dragon Quest Wars and more art lessons arrive on DSiWare, a classic Taito franchise and a top-down racing game arrives on WiiWare, and another classic Sega arcade game arrives on Virtual Console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20055

 This week in Nintendo Downloads once again brings us five new games: two for WiiWare, two for DSiWare, and one for Virtual Console.    

Dragon Quest Wars for DSiWare is the big release this week. The game is a strategy title developed by Nintendo's own Intelligent Systems, famous for the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series. Players chose from various monsters from the Dragon Quest series and assemble a team, and can battle with them in single-player mode, local multiplayer mode, or an online multiplayer mode. Dragon Quest Wars is rated E by the ESRB and available for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).    

Art Academy: Second Semester is the other DSiWare title this week. It is a follow up to the first Art Academy, and features more complex art lessons and more advanced art techniques to learn. Art Academy: Second Semester is rated E by the ESRB and available for 800 Nintendo DSi Points ($8).    

Arkanoid Plus! is the latest classic Taito franchise to be revived on WiiWare. The game features an Arcade Mode that has 61 levels, divided into two versions and two different types of boss characters. Arkanoid Plus! is rated E by the ESRB and available for 600 Wii Points ($6).    

Driift Mania is a top-down racing game in which you can play with up to eight players locally. To accomplish this, players use four Wii Remotes and the other four players can either play with a Nunchuk or Classic Controller. Driift Mania is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Altered Beast for Virtual Console Arcade is the only Virtual Console game this week. This game is the second version of Altered Beast available on Virtual Console, is rated E10+ by the ESRB, and is available for 1000 Wii Points ($10).        

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: ART LESSONS, AUTO RACING AND ARCADE ACTION MULTIPLY THE DOWNLOADABLE FUN  Sept. 28, 2009  Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, classic arcade action and a hand-held art course - this week's additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop deliver a wildly entertaining mix. With new WiiWare™, Nintendo DSiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games debuting each week, Nintendo offers downloadable games to please everyone under the sun, and the list keeps on growing. For Nintendo DSi users looking to grow their own game library, here's a valuable tip-off: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.    

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 "Lives" or "Barrier" rules, plus a plethora of exciting items, you're in for hours and hours of block-busting fun.    

DRiiFT Mania
 Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
 Players: 1-8
 ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
 Price: 800 Wii Points
 Description: DRiiFT Mania is the ultimate top-down multiplayer racing experience. Challenge your friends in fast, exciting races and some totally crazy game modes. You'll need to adapt your driving skills to the different racing environments if you want to succeed.    

Virtual Console    

Altered Beast™
 Publisher: SEGA
 Players: 1-2
 ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
 Price: 1,000 Wii Points
 Description: "Rise from your grave!" When legendary Greek god Zeus brings you back to life with those famous words, you set forth on a mission to rescue his daughter, Athena, from the wicked God of the Underworld, Neff. To survive the gauntlet of mythological foes, you must hunt down the three-headed wolves that inhabit each stage and collect the Spirit Balls that they release. The Spirit Balls increase your strength and allow you to transform into a variety of forms, including a Werewolf, Weredragon, Werebear, Weretiger and the ultimate form, the Golden Werewolf. Each creature possesses powerful attacks to help bring an end to Neff's scheme.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[Capcom releases two new trailers for Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All Stars showcasing two new characters.]

34

TalkBack / Two New Tatsunoko vs Capcom Gameplay Trailers

« on: September 24, 2009, 01:21:48 AM »

Capcom releases two new trailers for Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All Stars showcasing two new characters.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20032

 During TGS Capcom has officially revealed two characters for the upcoming fighting game, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars. The two new characters are Frank West, from Capcom's Dead Rising series, and Tekkaman Blade, from the Tatsunoko series that bares its name.    

   

[Instead of a price drop, the UK might be getting a new Wii SKU.]

35

TalkBack / New Wii Bundle in the UK?

« on: September 23, 2009, 11:16:05 AM »

Instead of a price drop, the UK might be getting a new Wii SKU.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20013

 Recently, early listings of American retailer circulars have revealed that the Wii will receive a $50 price drop, lowering its price from $249.99 to $199.99.    

According to MCV UK, retailers have revealed to the website that there will not be a price drop in the country. Instead, there will be a new Wii SKU that will replace the current one.    

The new Wii bundle will supposedly include the following: A Wii console, one Wii Remote, one Nunchuk, one Wii MotionPlus, a copy of Wii Sports, and a copy of Wii Sports Resort.    

It is currently unknown if this bundle will be exclusive in the UK, or if it will be available throughout all of the PAL territories.

[A recent patent reveals Namco Bandai's new Wii peripheral.]

36

TalkBack / Namco Bandai Developing Inflatable Drum Controller for Wii

« on: September 23, 2009, 09:49:36 AM »

A recent patent reveals Namco Bandai's new Wii peripheral.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20012

 A patent that was filed earlier this year by Namco Bandai reveals that the company is developing an inflatable drum controller for the Wii. While the patent doesn't state what game it is for, it will presumably be for their Taiko no Tatsujin series (known as Taiko Drum Master in North America).    

A Wii game in the series was released in Japan late last year, so it is possible that Namco Bandai is looking for cheaper controller alternative rather than creating a plastic drum peripheral that connects to the Wii Remote.    

   

According to the pictures in the patent, the Wii Remote is inserted into a compartment in the drum controller, which is accessed by unzipping a section of the peripheral.    

   

Rather than registering a button press like Namco's existing drum controller, the inflatable peripheral is dependent on the Wii Remote's accelerometer to provide input. Tapping the face of the peripheral registers vibration on the Y-axis, and tapping the side of the peripheral will measures vibration on the X-axis.

[The latest game in the Atelier series will soon be available on the DS.]

37

TalkBack / NIS America Releases a New Atelier Annie Trailer

« on: September 17, 2009, 10:40:00 AM »

The latest game in the Atelier series will soon be available on the DS.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19991

 NIS America released a new trailer for their upcoming DS game Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island. In the game, players are tasked to manage a resort development project in order to earn the privilege to marry the prince or princess of Orde. The twist is that players will have to take advantage of their alchemic powers in order to do so. By performing alchemy players can transforms objects they collect from defeated monsters into more useful ones.    

Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island  will be released in October.    

[The spooky DS RPG will arrive just in time for Halloween.]

38

TalkBack / New Trailer for A Witch's Tale Released

« on: September 17, 2009, 10:10:19 AM »

The spooky DS RPG will arrive just in time for Halloween.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19990

 NIS America released a brand new trailer for A Witch's Tale for the DS. In the game you play as Liddell a trainee witch who aspires to be the best witch in the world. Throughout the game you will encounter fairy tale-like characters. Battles are shown in the first person and make extensive use of the touch screen to select skills and cast spells.    

A Witch's Tale will be released on October 6.    

[Three brand new gameplay trailers for Monster Racers released.]

39

TalkBack / New Monster Racers Trailers

« on: September 17, 2009, 09:40:57 AM »

Three brand new gameplay trailers for Monster Racers released.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19989

 Koei released three different gameplay trailer for their upcoming DS game Monster Racers. Players will collect, breed, and raise monsters in order to ultimately enter them in various races.     The first trailer shows how players will pick one of the three starter monsters when obtaining their monster-racing license.    

   

The next shows how players will navigate through various towns and speak with the inhabitants.    

   

  The last trailer shows a set of monster races.
   

 

   

  Monster Racers will be released on August 25.

[The strategy RPG series finally makes its way to North America on the Wii.]

40

TalkBack / Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Trailer Released

« on: September 16, 2009, 09:22:01 PM »

The strategy RPG series finally makes its way to North America on the Wii.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19963

 NIS America recently released a new trailer for the strategy RPG Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love. The trailer highlights various features in the game and details that it will ship with two discs.  Both discs contain the entire game, however; one disc will feature English voice-overs, while the other will have the original Japanese voice-overs.    

The game takes place in New York City, set in an alternate reality in which players pilot various bi-pedal mechs that can transform into fighter jets.    

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love will be released winter 2009/2010.    

Check out the latest trailer at the official Sakura Wars website.

[Nintendo unveils their release schedule for upcoming games on all platforms.]

41

TalkBack / Nintendo Reveals Winter Release Calendar

« on: September 16, 2009, 02:53:41 AM »

Nintendo unveils their release schedule for upcoming games on all platforms.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19957

 Nintendo has released a comprehensive release date calendar that highlights all the first-party and third-party releases during and after the holiday season for Wii, WiiWare, DS, and DSiWare. While Nintendo is only releasing a handful of titles during the holiday season, the release schedule is dominated with games from many third-party publishers.    

One thing of note with this list is that it reveals and confirms WiiWare and DSiWare titles that will be released both this year and next year. Notable first-party WiiWare titles include You, Me, and the Cubes, Evo Shooter: Plant 530, and Pokemon Rumble. All are being released this year. There are a couple of DSiWare surprises as well; Shantae: Risky's Revenge, Art Style: DIGIDRIVE, and a total of 10 Electroplankton titles are going to be released this year.    The list also confirms the release dates of all Nintendo retail games, with the exception of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which still carries a vague "Holiday" launch timeframe.    

The full release schedule is detailed in the press release below.    

NINTENDO'S HOLIDAY LINEUP HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE    

Find Great Gifts for Everyone on Your Shopping List    

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 15 - 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.    

"This extensive lineup will keep players busy throughout the fall and into 2010," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Shoppers know that Nintendo offers fun for everyone in the household."    

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
   

Remember that Wii and the Nintendo DS systems feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about these and other features, visit Wii.com, www.NintendoDS.com and www.NintendoDSi.com.    

For more information about Nintendo, visit www.Nintendo.com.

[This week sees many different types of titles released across all downloadable platforms.]

42

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: September 14, 2009, 09:48:41 AM »

This week sees many different types of titles released across all downloadable platforms.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19944

 This week in Nintendo Downloads brings six new titles: three on WiiWare, two on DSiWare, and one for Virtual Console.    

Art Academy: First Semester for DSiWare is the first title this week. This is educational software that focuses on teaching you the basics of drawing and painting. You will learn techniques such as texturing, blending, and how to portray light and shade. There is also a Free Paint mode, which allows you to draw from pictures in your DSi Camera Album. Art Academy: First Semester is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 DSi Points ($8).    

The other DSiWare title this week is Oscar in Toyland, a 2D platformer. You play as Oscar and navigate through various levels, exploring worlds with themes of toys, amusement park rides, board games, and more. Oscar in Toyland is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 DSi Points ($8).    

Texas Hold'Em Poker is the first WiiWare title this week, and focuses on the Texas Hold'Em variant of the card game. Players will be able to import their Mii character or pick from six different avatars to represent themselves. There is an online mode that lets  you play with up to five other players. Texas Hold'Em is rated T by the ESRB and is available for 600 Wii Points ($6).    

Spaceball: Revolution is the second WiiWare title this week. It features fifteen levels in which you reconstruct various figures with the energy stored in energy balls. The game also allows players to upload their scores to a worldwide online leaderboard. Spaceball: Revolution is rated E for Everyone and available for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Mart Racer is the final WiiWare title this week. In this game you race against three other people to find specific objects in a supermarket before your opponents do. To win you have to find all the items on your shopping list and then successfully go to the cash register. The game supports local and online multiplayer for up to four players. Mart Racer is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 Wii Points ($8)..    

Crash 'N' The Boys: Street Challenge is the only Virtual Console title this week. You play as Crash and his crew, known as the Southside Boys, against teams from several other high schools in various sports challenges including swimming, hurdles, and riding a unicycle across rooftops. Crash 'N' The Boys: Street Challenge is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 500 Wii Points ($5).    

Nintendo Download: Spend a Revolutionary First Semester Racing From Texas to Toyland    

Sept. 14, 2009  Even if you’re no longer a student, the back-to-school season is bringing all kinds of youthful kicks to the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop. The latest Nintendo DSiWare™ titles feature creative art activities and an imaginative, toy-filled joyride. Three new WiiWare™ games invite you to play cards with friends, dodge intergalactic obstacles and compete in wild grocery cart races. A new Virtual Console™ release even challenges players to partake in some heated high school hijinks. And no matter what your grade level, be sure to take advantage of this special offer: Consumers can receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi™ game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com    

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?    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[The Nintendo Channel gets a brand new interface and several new features. UPDATED with official Press Release, and Nintendo Week show information.]

43

TalkBack / Nintendo Channel Update Live in North America

« on: September 14, 2009, 01:40:38 PM »

The Nintendo Channel gets a brand new interface and several new features. UPDATED with official Press Release, and Nintendo Week show information.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19942

 A few months ago, Nintendo updated the Everyone's Nintendo Channel in Japan. Today, Nintendo released this update in North America. If you try to launch an older version of the Nintendo Channel, you will be prompted to go to the Wii Shop Channel and download the update. The new channel boasts many new features and enhancements, such as USB keyboard support for text input.    

Nintendo is also premiering Nintendo Week, a weekly show dedicated to Nintendo news.  This week's show features a story on Mario & Luigi 3, a look at the development of Guitar Hero 5 for Wii, and a preview of the new Nintendo DSi colors and DSi games.    

When you access the updated the channel for the first time, you must choose between high video quality and normal video quality. If for some reason you need to change the quality later, you are able to do so in the channel settings.    

The interface has received an overhaul and is now much easier to navigate. The available videos are prominently displayed in the center, and if you hover over the listing with your cursor you will see the listing expand to display more information about the video.  If the channel is left idle, it will automatically cycle to the next page of videos. Each page contains six videos, and the top of the channel contains a Wii button to go back to the Wii menu along with a wrench icon to access the channel settings.    

The bottom of the channel contains six buttons. New Arrivals shows new game releases and new video releases on the Nintendo Channel. Find Titles for You allows one to search for games by Name or Category, and also lets you view more information about a title. DS Download Service allows you to download DS demos from the channel.    

Recommend Titles is self-explanatory, allowing you to recommend Wii or DS titles that you have played for at least an hour.  To recommend a DS title, you need to have the game card in your DS and then follow the instructions displayed on the channel.      

Everyone's Recommendations shows games that others have recommended.  The recommendation system now ranks games with medal designations of bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.    

Records displays your gameplay records, showing how much time you have spent on a game or Wii channel and how many times you have booted it up. Recommendation Records displays all the recommendations that you have made (you also have the option to delete all the recommendations). Finally, the Favorites option displays a list of games that you have marked as your favorites in the channel.    

The update is available now.    

NEW-AND-IMPROVED NINTENDO CHANNEL GETS UPDATED FEATURES AND WEEKLY SHOW    

Sept. 14, 2009 - 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. For more information about the Nintendo Channel, please visit www.NintendoChannel.com.

[Spike to publish Sega's ultra-gory Wii title in Japan.]

44

TalkBack / MadWorld Coming to Japan

« on: September 14, 2009, 11:02:00 AM »

Spike to publish Sega's ultra-gory Wii title in Japan.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19941

 While Sega has released MadWorld in North America and Europe, the publisher has yet to release the title in Japan.  Famitsu has revealed that Spike will be publishing the game in Japan.      

A copyright notice on the Famitsu source reveals that Sega still owns the rights to the franchise. MadWorld will be rated Cero Z (the equivalent of the ESRB's AO rating), and will be released in Japan this winter.

[The ratings board reveals another classic Konami franchise will be released on WiiWare.]

45

TalkBack / ESRB Reveals Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth for WiiWare

« on: September 13, 2009, 04:35:42 AM »

The ratings board reveals another classic Konami franchise will be released on WiiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19938

 Konami has recently released new games classic Gradius and Contra franchises for WiiWare, under the ReBirth label. According to a new ESRB listing, the next ReBirth title will be Castlevania the Adventure Rebirth. The listing describes the game as a 2D side-scrolling action game where you fight against monsters such as skeletons, flying eyeballs, and bats in Dracula's Castle.    

While there are no additional details, the title suggests that the game might be a remake or follow-up to Castlevania: The Adventure, which was released in 1989 for the Game Boy.

[All for one, and one mediocre game for all.]

46

TalkBack / REVIEWS: The Three Musketeers: One for All!

« on: September 12, 2009, 02:28:19 AM »

All for one, and one mediocre game for all.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=19937

 It is common for video games to be based on a famous property or movie. The Three Musketeers: One For All! is a PC-to-WiiWare port of a 2.5D action platformer loosely inspired by Alexandre Dumas'  Three Musketeers novel. Unfortunately, the game's archaic design and several other issues cause it to fall far short of the classic status of its namesake.    

You play as Porthos in his quest to save the two other musketeers, Athos and Aramis, and the musketeer's protégé d'Artagnan from the villain, Count Xavier. Throughout the game you will encounter different types of stages, all presented in a 2.5D set-up. While the platforming is done on a 2D plane, the camera occasionally pans in a 45-degree angle, and archers occasionally fire arrows from the background to the foreground.    

The game is reminiscent of an 8-bit era action platformer such as Castlevania, but isn't nearly on the same level of quality. For the most part, level design is very bland and repetitive, with the path only occasionally branching in order to have you fetch a key or unlock a door.  The puzzles are limited to pushing a crate to the right place in order to access a higher platform or a ladder.  It's all very simple.    

The enemy AI is also extremely basic, only noticing your character when you walk to a specific spot close to them.  When you move back out of their range, they return to their original location. Some enemies simply charge at you until they fall in a hole, which results in a replacement quickly respawning and doing the same thing.      

Character movement is mapped to the Nunchuk.  The only attack that Porthos has, an upward sweep, is mapped to shaking of the Wii Remote. While this in itself isn't a bad thing, it is not reliable. Most of the time attacks register correctly, but sometimes there is a little lag between shaking the controller and seeing attacks happen, and occasionally they fail entirely. Unfortunately there is no way to map the attack to a button, so players must tolerate this unreliability. Porthos also has a very short melee attack range, and his sweep attacks occasionally miss short enemies.    

On a more positive note, One for All! has a very distinct cel-shaded look, reminiscent of a European cartoon.  The characters and environments look exceptionally good.  The game also has a unique story telling mechanic that has Porthos narrating the story through comic book panels in first person, and it doesn't feel out of place. The voiceovers are well done, using authentic sounding French pronunciations.    

Still, there are a couple of technical issues that hinder the experience. The first annoyance that players will encounter are lengthy load times; it takes about twenty to thirty seconds to load a level, and there are other occasional loads in specific parts of a level. There is also no proper way to pause, with the only method of stopping gameplay being the pressing of the Home button to bring up the Home Menu.        

Ultimately, The Three Musketeers: One For All! is a mediocre game with numerous issues, both technical and design-related. It is also hard to recommend it due to its bland and archaic gameplay design.  There are much better titles on WiiWare.

Pros:
       

Great cel-shaded graphics

 

Great voiceovers

       Cons:
       

Old school gameplay feels…old

 

No native game pausing functionality

 

Inconsistent motion controls

 

Rudimentary enemy AI

 

Irritating load times

               Graphics:  8.0
       The cel-shaded graphics in look beautiful, giving One for All! a unique European cartoon graphical style. The cut scenes are presented in a comic format, which looks great.  There are occasionally minor framerate hiccups.

               Sound:  7.0
       Even though the soundtrack tends to loop, it never becomes annoying. The voiceovers are great, although it can be annoying hearing Porthos say a specific one-liner repeatedly.

               Control:  5.0
       The biggest flaws here are the inconsistency of the motion controls while attacking, and the lack of a pause button.  At least the controls are simple.

                      Gameplay:  5.0
       The gameplay feels outdated, and while it's similar to an 8-bit action platformer like Castlevania, it doesn't retain the same charm.

 

       Lastability:  5.0
       The game lasts approximately five to six hours, and there isn't any incentive to replay the adventure.

 

       Final:  5.0
       The Three Musketeers: One for All! contains several flaws that prevent it from being a quality action platformer title. Its inconsistent controls and uninsipired, outdated gameplay make it a title that most Wii gamers can safely pass on.      

47

TalkBack / Wii Price Drop in the First Week of October?

« on: September 11, 2009, 10:36:47 PM »

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=19934

 

Since its November 2006 release, the Wii has maintained its original price point of $249.99.    

Kotaku received an early version of an October Walmart advertisement that announces a Wii price drop. The advertisement specifies that it isn't a temporary "price rollback" which are often advertised.    

Unfortunately, the early version of the advertisement doesn't specify the new price point or if anything will be omitted, such as the Wii Sports pack-in game.    

Nintendo will be attending the Kyoto CMEX 2009 event, which could provide for the  opportunity to formally announce a price drop. The event runs from September 26 to October 4.

[Contra is reborn with flying ColorZ on WiiWare, the Star Wars SNES trilogy is finally complete on Virtual Console, and another bite size game comes to DSiWare.]

48

TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads

« on: September 07, 2009, 08:56:35 AM »

Contra is reborn with flying ColorZ on WiiWare, the Star Wars SNES trilogy is finally complete on Virtual Console, and another bite size game comes to DSiWare.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19925

 This week in Nintendo Downloads brings four new titles: two on WiiWare, one for Virtual Console, and one for DSiWare.    

Contra Rebirth is this week's most anticipated title. You play as Bill Rizer and Genbei Yagyu as Bill's former partner Lance Bean has suddenly disappeared. In the game you will travel to various locations on Earth to defeat Neo-Salamander's army. Contra Rebirth is rated E10+ by the ESRB and is available for 1000 Wii Points ($10).    

ColorZ is this week's second WiiWare game. You control three space ships that have a specific color, each of which absorbs viruses of the same color. In later levels, players must combine ships in order to create a new color and to absorb specific viruses. If controlling three ships simultaneously is challenging, you can play with two more friends so that each player will control their own ship. ColorZ is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 700 Wii Points ($7).    

The release of Super Return of the Jedi for the Virtual Console marks the completion of the SNES Star Wars trilogy on the Virtual Console. In the game players will join the rebellion in hopes to finally destroy the Death Star. You will be able to play as five different characters ranging from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia and face off against bosses such as Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt. Super Return of the Jedi is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites is the latest bite-sized game for DSiWare. The game offers five various games: Hearts, Contract Bridge, Dots and Boxes, Dominoes, and Ludo. The game also features the DS Download Play feature so that you can play with up to seven friends with just one copy of the game. Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 500 DSi Points ($5).    

  NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: FROM FARAWAY GALAXIES TO THE FAMILY ROOM, START FALL ON A FUN-FILLED FOOT    

Sept. 7, 2009    

As you bid farewell to summer, you can also greet the fall season with a great big smile, thanks to a fresh lineup of downloadable games from the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop. Super Return of the Jedi™ for the Virtual Console™ offers memorable space-themed action for Wii owners, while WiiWare™ welcomes a brand new entry in the classic Contra franchise. On Nintendo DSiWare™, you'll find a portable version of the popular Clubhouse Games to help keep your autumn lively. Speaking of Nintendo DSiWare, time is ticking away on a special offer: Consumers can automatically earn 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi™ game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com    

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.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[The latest game in the Bit.Trip saga will draw you in.]

49

TalkBack / Aksys Games Announces Bit.Trip Void for WiiWare

« on: September 03, 2009, 06:53:22 AM »

The latest game in the Bit.Trip saga will draw you in.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19905

 Gaijin Games and Aksys Games recently revealed Bit.Trip Void, the latest game in the Bit.Trip series, for WiiWare.  In this game, players will control a pixilated black hole that adjusts in size in attempt to absorb black beats while avoiding white beats.    

For the first time in the series, the object you control can be moved anywhere. In order to address one chief complaint that existed in the first two Bit.Trip games, Void features mid-level checkpoints so that you don't have to start over from the very beginning when you fail a level. The game also supports the Nunchuk and Classic Controller, which gives players more flexibility in controller options.  Like the rest of the series, the game features four-player co-op and retro-inspired graphics and soundtrack.  Currently, there is no release date for Bit.Trip Void.    

  Torrance, CA (September 2th, 2009) - Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment software, is proud to announce the next evolution in CommanderVideo's journey, BIT.TRIP VOID! Developed exclusively for WiiWare TM by the crazy brains at Gaijin Games, BIT.TRIP VOID is the next entry in the critically acclaimed retro-arcade BIT.TRIP series which follows CommanderVideo on his epic journey from the ethereal to the corporeal, and beyond...    

THE VOID AWAITS...    

BIT.TRIP VOID is a synesthetic exploration of rhythm and music as they pertain to our everyday lives and moods. In a control scheme brand new to the series, yet wholly familiar to gamers, the player is given complete freedom to move about the screen wherever they desire, interacting with the music in brand new ways.  The classic gameplay aesthetic remains, as color-and the absence of color-are explored to the fullest. Trip out in up to 4-player co-op and get lost in the beat with your friends! See if you can survive the onslaught of Beats and further your own BIT.TRIP.    

"BIT.TRIP VOID completes the first chapter in CommanderVideo's journey with a synesthetic exploration of mind/beat interaction. But as one chapter ends, another begins.." states Alex Neuse, Designer, Gaijin Games. "We hope that you find this game as beautiful as we do, and we can't wait to make another one for you. Keep rockin'!"    

Key Features:    

• You Are Not Alone...

   

Trip out in up to 4-player co-op and get lost in the beat with your friends!    

• Keeping It Real!

   

BIT.TRIP VOID expands on the retro style with the blending of Synesthetic Music & Art and hyper-realistic retro cutscenes!    

• Dance To These Killer Grooves!

   

Aficionados of chiptunes will definitely want to grooves to the beats of chiptunes master, "nullsleep"!    

• Get Hyped!

   

Nunchuk TM & Classic Controller TM support, mid-level checkpoints, epic boss battles...what else can you ask for?!    

BIT.TRIP VOID has not been rated by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games, please visit www.aksysgames.com or www.explorethevoid.com for BIT.TRIP VOID.    

Nintendo trademarks used under license. WiiWare is available through the Wii console.

[The Wii's Internet Channel gets an update and a new price tag.]

50

TalkBack / Updated Internet Channel Now Available

« on: September 01, 2009, 02:10:34 PM »

The Wii's Internet Channel gets an update and a new price tag.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19892

 Today Nintendo updated the Wii Internet Channel in all regions. The new version of the Internet Channel upgrades the Adobe Flash Player from version 7 to Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, the Lite equivalent of Adobe Flash 8.  Flash 8 includes H.264 support, which means that most modern Flash videos should now work with the browser.      

The channel is also available for free once again (it was originally free for a limited time). If you previously paid 500 Wii Points for the channel, Nintendo will allow you to download one 500-point NES game of your choice from the Virtual Console free of charge starting at the end of October.    

To update the Internet Channel you must re-download the application from the Wii Shop Channel.    

NINTENDO MAKES IT EASY FOR WII OWNERS TO ACCESS THE INTERNET    

Internet Channel for the Wii Menu Now Available at No Cost    

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 1, 2009 – Nintendo is offering an easy way for Wii™ console owners to access the Internet without a computer. Effective immediately, people who want to browse the Internet using their Wii consoles will be able to do so at no added cost.    

The Wii Menu houses a variety of informational and entertaining channels, such as the News Channel and Wii Shop Channel, that users can visit to enhance their Wii experience. Wii consoles that are linked to a broadband Internet connection have even greater access to additional content and channels. For example, the Nintendo® Channel is an interactive guide to what's new in the world of Nintendo that lets consumers watch trailers, mini-documentaries, product demonstrations and game-play videos, while the Check Mii Out™ Channel allows users to show off their Mii™ creations and download Miis that others have created.    

The Internet Channel, which can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel, allows Wii owners to browse the Internet on their televisions from the comfort of their couches. Users can check their e-mail, make purchases or travel plans, and surf their favorite Web pages by pointing and clicking with the Wii Remote™ controller.     "Wii has truly changed the way people play games, but it is more than just a game console," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Wii owners have access to a wealth of fun entertainment, information and practical tools like the Internet Channel, which is another great way for the whole family to enjoy their consoles with no additional costs involved."    

When Wii launched in November 2006, Nintendo initially offered the Internet Channel as a free download as a promotional incentive to get people online. Starting in July 2007, the Internet Channel could be downloaded in exchange for 500 Wii Points™. Effective immediately, the Internet Channel is again available for zero Wii Points, and it has been updated to support an upgraded version of Adobe® Flash® player.    

Starting at the end of October, consumers who have previously exchanged 500 Wii Points to download the Internet Channel will be able to download, at no cost, one NES™ game of their choice valued at 500 Wii Points from Virtual Console™. Details of this download offer will be provided via the Wii Message Board and on Nintendo.com.    

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.    

For more information about the Internet Channel, visit www.nintendo.com/wii/channels/internetchannel.