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The classic NES title is being reimagined for Wii by WayForward Technologies.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/17864
Amongst the pages of April's Nintendo Power are details on a new title in the A Boy and His Blob series. Developer WayFoward Technologies, who got their feet wet on Wii development while making the recently released WiiWare title LIT, are creating the new A Boy and His Blob, which will be a full-featured Wii retail release this fall.
The NES A Boy and His Blob was the brainchild of David Crane who is famous for programming Pitfall and Pitfall II: Lost Caverns for the Atari 2600. While the game received one sequel on the Game Boy called A Boy and His Blob in The Rescue of Princess Blobette, a more recent attempt at a revival on the DS by Majesco did not come to fruition.
The new game will have a lot in common with its forebearer. Players will once again take on the role of a boy who is on a quest to defeat an evil emperor with his jelly-bean-loving blob friend. Upon eating jelly beans, the blob (named Blobert in the NES title) can morph into a number of useful forms like a rocket, an anvil, a parachute, a trampoline, and even a humanoid-like appearance. Unlike the original title, many of the blob's new transformations will be used for more offensive means such as, in a possible nod to Lode Runner, punching holes in the ground for enemies to fall into. In addition, the game also sports a beautiful hand drawn 2D art style.
WayFoward may be well suited for the new A Boy and His Blob having developed the well received platformer Shantae, which saw release during the twilight of the Game Boy Color. The first artwork of A Boy and His Blob's new look can be seen at Nintendo Power's website.
The latest issue of Nintendo Power has finally unveiled a number of details about Excitebots: Trick Racing. The new game will feature Wi-Fi support, insect-shaped automobiles, and the return of high-flying jumps. All the features people loved from the first game, such as stunts and crazy track deformation are back in full force.
The developers were "bored" with racing games where coming in first was all that mattered. Just like in Excite Truck, it is possible to win without being the first across the finish line as long as you accomplish some wild stunts. "Fast-paced racing combined with insane stunts is what triggers the rush," explained Monster Games President Richard Garcia and Nintendo Supervisor Hiro Yamada.
One of the big differences this time around is that racers will be driving an assortment of robots inspired by the animal kingdom such as a turtle, a ladybug, a frog, and a grasshopper. All of the motorized animals, which have designs reminiscent of Stunt Racer FX, will have their own unique attributes. Players will also be able to get power-ups to make their vehicles change shape for a short time and race on two legs. The decision to drop trucks came when the developers realized that the insane new tracks and tricks they had devised didn't seem to meld well with their existing four wheelers. "We really wanted to create an offbeat, unconventional design that no one would find anywhere else and would fit with the wacky action. That's how we came up with these robot critters," revealed the developers.
Excitebots will have the same control scheme as its predecessor where players hold the Wii Remote NES style and tilt it left and right to steer and forward and back while in the air to help land the vehicle. It appears that the game will also have some interesting new ways to get speed boosts. Scattered throughout the levels will be red bars that a player's robot will hook onto and begin spinning around upon approach. If a player can successfully spin their Wii Remote replicating the motion their bot is making as they spin around the bar, they will earn some extra speed. The game will also support the Wii Wheel and have online play for up to six players.
Developed by Monster Games, Excitebots: Trick Racing will arrive on store shelves April 20.
Thanks to NeoGaf for details on the number of online players.
Just like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions, the game will have tennis greats such as Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, and many others. In addition, the game is slated to include five new Court games along with many classic ones from earlier titles. Virtua Tennis 2009 will also feature over forty different court variants and a World Tour Mode.
The developer of the game has yet to be announced, but it’s highly possible that it is British studio Sumo Digital who created the Xbox 360 port of Virtua Tennis 3 and all versions of Sega Superstars Tennis. Interestingly, Sumo Digital revealed in an interview with Kikizo that Sega Superstars Tennis was originally envisioned as a Virtua Tennis game for Wii.
Virtua Tennis 2009 will hit stores shelves this May.
SEGA'S NUMBER ONE TENNIS GAME SMASHES ON TO Wii
Virtua Tennis™ 2009 is confirmed for Wii release.
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (February 13th 2009) – SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that the Virtua Tennis™ series will, for the very first time, be released on the Wii™ system and will hit stores in May 2009.
Wii owners will finally be able to take to the courts in the fan's number one tennis game, boasting all the features and arcade action that has made Virtua Tennis the most critically acclaimed and best selling tennis series available. Virtua Tennis 2009 for Wii includes the same impressive player roster as Virtua Tennis 2009 on other platforms, meaning top stars such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will all be in the game, as well as players new to the series such as Andy Murray and Ana Ivanovic. Over 40 vibrant court environments will be playable within single player, multiplayer and online modes giving Virtua Tennis 2009 an impressive online and offline depth for a Wii title.
"The Virtua Tennis series is perfect for the Wii platform," said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc., "SEGA is excited to be able to bring this uniquely interactive experience to Wii. The multiplayer Court Games in particular will be a feature that family and friends can enjoy together."
The list of Court Games has also been updated for Virtua Tennis 2009, meaning the return of old Virtua Tennis favorites, some revamped classics, and five new games. Virtua Tennis 2009 for the Wii will also include the official Davis Cup® license and the World Tour Mode, which will allow Wii owners to experience Virtua Tennis online.
In addition to the Wii version, Virtua Tennis 2009 is due for release on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC in May 2009. Further information relating to the content of the game will be available over the coming months from the official website of the game – www.virtuatennis2009.com.
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is being developed internally at Sega of Japan, and Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto is overseeing the project. Both versions of the title are being designed to take advantage of their hardware's unique control input. Some of the events featured in the game include Speed Skating and Alpine Skiing. The Wii version will support the Balance Board for select events.
President of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime said, "SEGA has been a valued publishing partner of Nintendo for many years and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the ultimate representation of that relationship." Furthermore, Mr. Fils-Aime said, "We look for this game to continue the tradition its predecessor started by bringing new events, new characters, and new gameplay experiences to fans worldwide."
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winters Games will appear on store shelves all around the world in late 2009. A new trailer for the game is embedded below.
Mario and Sonic Head to the Slopes in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
TOKYO (February 12, 2009) – SEGA® Corporation and Nintendo Co., Ltd today announced that two of the biggest video game heroes, Mario™ and Sonic™, will be coming together again, this time taking their rivalry to the snow and ice in another officially licensed Olympic-themed smash hit Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™. Heading to stores late in 2009 on the Wii™ home video game system and Nintendo DS™, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to Vancouver, Canada, host city of the official 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This gaming experience invites players of all ages and skill sets to face-off in some of the most intense winter competitions available for the Nintendo platforms.
Developed by SEGA of Japan, under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will take players to lifelike Olympic venues where they can choose from a legendary cast of playable characters, including new faces to the series to be revealed later this year. Following the phenomenal worldwide popularity of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, this fresh gaming experience will feature completely new Olympic Winter Games events from the official competition schedule including Alpine Skiing and Speed Skating with more events announced throughout the year.
Tailored to the specific system controls, Nintendo DS and Wii gamers will enjoy completely unique experiences thanks to each platform having its own specific gameplay features and modes. Players of all skill levels will enjoy the intuitive controls of both the Wii and Nintendo DS systems, in both single and multiplayer gaming modes. The Wii game will offer an even richer multiplayer experience offering co-op and competitive gameplay where the Nintendo DS brings an intense competitive element using the Nintendo DS wireless capabilities. Additionally, one of the new features to be found in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the inclusion of the Wii Balance Board™ which can be used in some events featured in the Wii version, allowing for a more interactive and realistic gaming experience.
Published by SEGA® across Europe and North America, and published by Nintendo in the Japanese market, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is again licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"We are extremely happy to again team up with Nintendo and ISM on what promises to be another global success." says Naoya Tsurumi, CEO, SEGA of America and SEGA Europe. "Sonic will partner with Mario once more beneath the spotlight of the legendary Olympic Games. Together they will face new athletic challenges that will provide gamers with more of the exciting experiences unique to this series."
"SEGA has been a valued publishing partner of Nintendo for many years and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the ultimate representation of that relationship," said Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO, Nintendo of America. "We look for this game to continue the tradition its predecessor started by bringing new events, new characters, and new gameplay experiences to fans worldwide."
"To once again have Mario and Sonic and friends compete in Olympic sports and events in a winter setting is tremendously exciting for the Olympic Movement and the millions of gamers worldwide who enjoyed the characters' previous match up", says Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman & CEO of ISM.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games will be in stores late 2009. For more information about the game, please visit www.sega.com or http://www.olympicvideogames.com">www.olympicvideogames.com.
Will Wright, the creator of SimCity 2000, The Sims, and Spore, has long supported Nintendo with his games appearing on everything from the SNES to the 64DD. Since 2007, Wright has stated that a version of Spore was in development for the Wii, but it was not officially unveiled until earlier today. Spore Hero is an adventure game that will transport players to a colorful world. The game's control scheme is being specially designed to take advantage of the Wii.
Likewise, Spore Hero Arena for the DS is a successor to last year's Spore Creatures. Players will be able to create a variety of 3D creatures and have them face off with creatures from all over.
Both games are expected to place a stronger emphasis on story compared to the PC version of Spore.
Create, Play and Share With Spore Franchise as EA Unveils Diverse Software Line-up for 2009
Four Unique Launches Prove That Possibilities in Spore are as Infinite as the Cosmos
EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Spore franchise is evolving! With more than 65 million pieces of user-created content shared online, fans from around the globe have gravitated to the game's powerful creativity-centered experience and massively single-player content sharing site. This year, the award-winning Spore franchise continues to evolve as Maxis, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) studio announces four new titles, each designed to deliver a unique experience to a specific audience; Spore™ Galactic Adventures, Spore™ Creature Keeper*, Spore™ Hero* and Spore™ Hero Arena*. This roster offers unique gameplay for space hunters, creature creators and action adventurers, proving that Spore has something for everyone – gamers, kids and Nintendo fans alike.
"Last year was a very exciting year for Maxis with the release of Spore. We were overwhelmed by the massive response to the game from the millions of people that created, shared and played in the Spore universe," said General Manager of Maxis, Lucy Bradshaw. "This year we're going to experiment with new experiences that extend the powerful creativity tools of Spore to all-new audiences. With the universe as our backdrop, the only limit in the Spore universe is your own imagination."
The next big bang for Spore on PC comes this spring with the deeply immersive and customizable expansion pack, Spore Galactic Adventures. Spore Galactic Adventures adds a tremendous amount of variety and depth to the original "space game" in Spore, allowing players to beam down to planets, play mission-based adventures and even create their own customized adventures for the first time. Each adventure has a unique reward to upgrade a space creature with special accessories – from an Energy Blade and Stunning Charm to a Jump Jet and more. Players can fight their way to victory as a Warrior, dance with new friends as a Bard, and much more. With an almost unlimited number of user created adventures, there's more to play than ever before. The "adventure creator" in Spore Galactic Adventures gives gamers the tools to make their own missions and share them with friends via http://www.spore.com.
Younger Spore fans will have a blast with the Spore Creature Keeper, a stand-alone PC game that has players nurturing, training and playing with their own personally-created creature. With lots of toys, clothes and gizmos to play with, players can pamper their pets to perfection! With Spore Creature Keeper, fans can play with their creation alone or have a play-date online for endless creature fun. Spore Creature Keeper brings all the fun of creature creation to a new level by adding nurturing, teaching and social components to the experience.
Spore will make its highly-anticipated debut on the Nintendo Wii with Spore Hero, an all-new adventure game focusing on creativity and evolution that was built from the ground up for the unique controls for Wii™. Spore Hero takes players on an exciting adventure through a beautiful, colorful world. Spore Hero Arena for Nintendo DS™ builds on the success of 2008's hit Spore™ Creatures and allows players to create fully-3D Spore creatures and take them into battle with an array of other creatures across the galaxy. Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena offer two all-new Spore experiences available exclusively for Nintendo platforms this fall.
To learn more about Spore, to download a free trial of the Spore Creature Creator, or to visit the more than 65 million player-created creations to date, please visit http://www.spore.com. For screen shots or press materials about Spore, please visit our press web site at http://info.ea.com
Since the mid-1990s, it has become very common for arcade games to run on hardware that is based on a popular home console. For example, Namco games such as Tekken 2 and Soul Edge utilized the Namco System 11 arcade system board which is little more than an enhanced Sony Playstation. Another example occurred last generation when Nintendo teamed up with Sega and Namco to create an arcade board based on the Gamecube called the Triforce. According to the coin-op centric website Arcade Heroes, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes is the first known case of an arcade game that uses technology based on the Wii.
In Japan, a port of Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom was released for the Wii this past December. While Capcom has said the fighter may see release in North America, there are a number of license issues that would have to be resolved with the rights owners of the Tatsunoko animation characters.
According to Iwata, the DS market has not become saturated. He pointed out that Nintendo has successfully sold over 23 million DS units in a country with only 127 million people. "Sales of the [DS] could grow further in foreign countries," Iwata said, citing the high populations of the European Union and the United States. He also mentioned that Nintendo is interested in selling their video games systems in "emerging markets such as Russia and India."
Iwata explained that owners of the DSi will be able to personalize their console by downloading programs off the internet. Nintendo aspires to "create a trend in which each family member will have his or her own DSi with their favorite software installed."
In addition, Iwata feels that the video game industry will continue to be strong in 2009. "It seems more and more people are enjoying games instead of traveling or eating out to save money," said Iwata. However, he realizes that the current recession is a rare occurrence and stated that Nintendo is closely watching the market. "Nintendo workers who know only the good times of the company are increasing," Iwata admitted, "I hope to give them a sense of the potential critical nature [of the economic situation]."
In early 2005, Daniel Coleman and Robert Demaria formed Colorado based Semnat Studios. Coleman explained in an interview with Gamasutra that the idea for their game originated when Demaria, "jokingly suggested that [they] work on a platformer where you play as a toaster that fights magical fairies." After working on multiple iterations of Eduardo the Samurai Toaster for the PC, they decided to contact Nintendo and Sony about publishing the game on their digital services. While they never reached Sony, Nintendo of America quickly got back to them. Coleman told IGN that it was a "huge break" when Semnat Studios became an officially licensed WiiWare developer. Coleman also said that Eduardo the Samurai Toaster has only four people on its development team.
During a conversation with WiiWare World, Coleman compared Eduardo the Samurai Toaster to classic shooters like Metal Slug and Gunstar Heroes. Up to four players will find themselves battling as anthropomorphic toasters that must complete thirteen levels filled with evil fruits, veggies, and pastries. Coleman explained that the team is trying to include the best elements of the action shooter genre while taking out "everything we thought wasn't necessary." For example, there will not be a score system. One aspect of Gunstar Heroes that the team is including is the ability to grab and throw objects. "You can throw any enemy, teammate, or projectile in the game," said Coleman. Also, just like in classic arcade titles such as TMNT: Turtles in Times, additional players will be able to join a game already in progress. The game is designed to be played with the Wii Remote held NES style or with a Classic Controller.
One of the game's most interesting features is the unique visual style. Coleman created the art for the game using a variety of tools such as charcoal and acrylic paint. When asked what inspired the innovative and experimental artistic style featured in the game, Coleman said, "I'm a huge fan of foreign cinema and especially 50's and 60's Japanese movies, so I wanted to create areas in the game that would look like they came out of an old samurai flick." Other influences on the visuals include Chinese ink paintings and games like Shadow of the Colossus and Okami.
Currently, Eduardo the Samurai Toaster is only scheduled for a North American release because Semnat Studios simply can't afford to release it elsewhere. Coleman hopes that the game will be available on WiiWare before April and for a low price, but Nintendo has the final say on both matters.
Colorado, USA - January 5th, 2009 – Indie developer Semnat Studios is excited to finally announce the upcoming Wii™ release of Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, an incredibly fast and frenetic sidescrolling, run'n'gun 2D shooter. The game will be released exclusively for WiiWare™ this winter, developed and published by Semnat Studios.
With visuals drawn and scanned in from several different art mediums such as pen & ink, acrylic paint and charcoal, Eduardo sports an untraditional aesthetic design for a videogame. Jump, shoot, whip, drive, fly and throw your way through hordes of Peking Opera pastries, spear toting carrots, robotic mangos, and more. Play with friends as you learn to cooperate effectively, or be annoying by throwing each other around the screen and attacking one another.
FEATURES
Eduardo the Samurai Toaster has been Rated E for everyone by the ESRB.
In addition to keeping all the content of the Playstation 2 version, this port of Monster Hunter G will have some new features. For example, players will be able to immediately send newly acquired items to their item box. However, the game does not appear to take advantage of the Wii Remote and Capcom recommends gamers use the Classic Controller to play.
Monster Hunter G will feature an online mode for up to four players. While players of the PS2 iteration needed to pay a monthly fee to battle monsters online, it is currently unknown if Wii owners will have to do the same.
The short synopsis of Modern Hits from the ESRB website does not make it seem like the game will revolutionize the Guitar Hero series: "players follow on-screen prompts to hit notes in-time with the music and are scored based on their accuracy." However, the ESRB does give some insight into the track list for Modern Hits by mentioning some of the objectionable lyrics that led to the game's E 10+ rating. Expect the game to include Franz Ferdinand's "The Fallen," Sum 41's "Still Waiting," and Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer."
The last two Guitar Hero games for the DS utilized a Guitar Grip accessory that slides into the GBA slots of the DS and DSLite. However, Nintendo's upcoming DSi version of their portable game player does not feature a GBA slot. Whether Activision has found a workaround to this obstacle is unknown, as is any release date for Modern Hits.
The insurance company wants $236,304 from Nintendo for the damages they awarded French Harmon, the owner of the home that was ravaged by flames. Many charges are made in the complaint, including the claim that fire was the direct result of Nintendo failing "to adequately, properly and safely design, manufacture, assemble inspect and test" the DS AC Adapter.
One piece of evidence that the complaint mentions to support its case is that Nintendo had previously recalled DS Adapters for their "their risk of overheating and fire." However, the suit fails to mention that the DS Lite chargers that were recalled had solely been sold in Japan.
Over the course of the marathon, The Speed Gamers plan on catching the 491 Pokémon that are possible to catch without special means. This will be accomplished by playing through a multitude of games including Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia and Pokémon Ranch.
Their progress through the Pokémon titles can be watched live on their website. Also, contests will be held for viewers and donors during the marathon, with the prizes available ultimately including the game card of Pokémon Diamond containing the 491 pocket monsters that they hope to collect.
In order to place the reservation, buyers must put down the full $129.99 price tag for the DS. Customers who make DS reservations will immediately receive a special gift card tin. The reserved systems are expected to arrive sometime between December 28th, 2008 and January 15th, 2009.
DS reservations can be made at any Gamestop store in the United States of America.
GameStop Announces Holiday Nintendo DS Reservation Program
GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today announced a reservation program to assist customers wishing to give the highly sought-after Nintendo DS this holiday season. This program, created by GameStop, specifically focuses on the metallic rose, cobalt/black and crimson/black Nintendo DS systems. Reservations must be made in-person at any GameStop location in the U.S., including those in Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
The reservation process requires payment in full at $129.99 plus tax, with projected delivery between Dec. 28, 2008 and Jan. 15, 2009. Customers will receive a co-branded GameStop and Nintendo DS gift card tin to ensure that special someone has a great gift to open this holiday season.
When the reserved Nintendo DS system arrives, the gift-giver will receive a telephone call indicating that their system is available for pick-up. Nintendo DS systems must be picked up at the store location where the reservation was placed.
In order to receive the replacement disc, a Let's Go to the City owner must contact Nintendo Australia Customer Support and give them the serial numbers of their game and their Wii console. Once Nintendo has this information, they will send out an express post bag for players to ship off their defective discs, after which Nintendo will send a brand new disc.
Sadly, players who have already started up a game in Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City will need to begin again if they wish to use their Wild World data.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a collaboration between Rockstar North, creators of Grand Theft Auto 4 and Space Station Silicon Valley, and Rockstar Leeds, co-developer of the PSP GTA games. Just like in Grand Theft Auto 4, players will have the freedom to cause mayhem in Liberty City, a fictional land that closely resembles New York City. The developers are working hard to make Chinatown Wars a full featured Grand Theft Auto with all the mature content one would expect, including drug dealing and a story centered on gangsters and revenge. Using the stylus, gamers will be able to hot wire cars, create tattoos, and use a PDA. In addition, the game is in full 3D using a top-down isometric view and a cel-shaded art style.
Rockstar Games Announces Release Date for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS™
Critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto franchise makes its DS debut this March
New York, NY – December 15, 2008 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce the release date for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the latest entry into the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto series. Developed by Rockstar Leeds, in conjunction with series creators Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be available for the Nintendo DS™ on March 17 and 20, 2009 in North America and Europe, respectively.
"Rockstar Leeds have once again created a game that far exceeds our standard for deep and innovative entertainment," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "We are incredibly excited to share this enormous and uncompromising Grand Theft Auto experience with DS fans."
Edge Magazine commented, "How does Rockstar follow Grand Theft Auto IV? By rebuilding Liberty City from the ground up on DS - and not compromising its vision one iota."
Nintendo Power added, "...it's undeniable that Chinatown Wars is doing something no other DS game has come close to: creating that living, breathing world the Grand Theft Auto games are known for."
For more information about Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, please visit: www.rockstargames.com/chinatownwars.
Modchip makers do not appear to be daunted by the new drives and are already working on new ways to modify the Wii.
Similar to the Viewtiful Joe and Smash Bros series, the game is rendered in 3D, but gameplay occurs on a 2D plane. Up to four players will be able to fight it out in a variety of interactive stages and modes, including Battle Royale, Story, Tournament, and VS. Additionally, the developer is promising that the finished product will have a better online mode than the one featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The new title is far from the first fighting game to include the anthropomorphic turtles. Konami previously released TMNT: Tournament Fighters in the early 90s and TMNT: Mutant Melee in 2005.
The currently unnamed TMNT fighter has been in development since early this year and is scheduled to hit store shelves in September 2009.
Iwata seemed confident that the recession would not have a negative effect on the sales of Nintendo products. "When the economy is strong, people tend to buy three things from the top of their wish list. But when things are bad, people often buy only the first thing on their list," he commented. "Fortunately for us a lot of shoppers put our products at the top of their list."
While it seems likely that Nintendo will surpass the 981,000 Wii consoles they sold last November, it won't be confirmed until the NPD Group releases their video game sales numbers on Thursday, December 11th.
Many of the fake game systems had been purchased at bargain prices from Asian websites which had claimed that they were "genuine Nintendo products." HMRC's Pamela Rogers implored consumers to "buy from a reputable or regulated site." Mike Rawlinson, Managing Director for the UK's Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) also advised caution despite the holiday rush. "We are asking all concerned parents to be diligent," he commented, "often when a bargain seems too good to be true it actually is."
Video game designer Yuji Naka has been involved in the creation of many of my favorite games of all time. If it weren't for his programming prowess who knows if games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Nights: Into Dreams would have ever been made. Did you know he may have programmed an NES emulator for the Sega Genesis?
After leaving Sonic Team in 2006, Naka-san created the independent development studio Prope. Because of the wonderful titles he helped to create in the past I am extremely excited about Prope's first game, Let's Tap. Please enjoy this lovely new Let's Tap trailer and this link to a 2001 Planet GameCube interview with Yuji Naka.
Also, I must mention that the lesser known participants in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, Naoto Oshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara, are awesome.
