Topics

526

Nintendo Gaming / Soul Calibur 2 Artwork - Next Gen Cel-shading?

« on: May 09, 2003, 10:28:58 AM »

For those of you who haven't seen the two new pieces of Link art for Soul Calibur 2, click the link.

Now this is pure speculation and daydreaming, but I would love it if cel-shading on next-gen systems could make a Zelda game that looks like that.  It would look "cool" enough and you could probably avoid having to get too realistic with things.

[The official announcement from Nintendo and Konami.]

527

TalkBack / Metal Gear Solid Confirmed for GameCube!

« on: May 01, 2003, 06:12:31 AM »

The official announcement from Nintendo and Konami.

METAL GEAR SOLID® EXPLODES ONTO NINTENDO GAMECUBE

Konami and Nintendo Collaborate to Deliver Blockbuster Action Title to Nintendo GameCube

REDWOOD CITY, CA. - May 1, 2003 - Continuing to broaden the Nintendo GameCubeTM library, Konami and Nintendo today announced Konami will publish a new Metal Gear® adventure exclusive for Nintendo GameCube. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM combines the thrilling story of the original Metal Gear Solid® game with the jaw-dropping graphics and unparalleled gameplay found in Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of LibertyTM. The game is scheduled to ship later this year in North America and Europe, followed by the Japanese launch in early 2004.

Bringing heart-pounding espionage action home to gamers, Metal Gear Solid® is one of the most highly-regarded action series ever created. Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube will combine stunning next generation graphics and gameplay, an epic storyline and unmatched content designed specifically for mature gamers.

Under the guidance of Konami's Hideo Kojima and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's exclusive second-party developer, Silicon Knights, is working with Konami to develop the game. Silicon Knights previously developed last year's award-winning Eternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemTM for Nintendo GameCube.

"I am tremendously excited to introduce a unique Metal Gear Solid® experience to a new audience of gamers as well as collaborate with my mentor in game design, Mr. Miyamoto, on Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM for Nintendo GameCube," says Hideo Kojima, vice president, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.

"Mr. Kojima and I have spoken about this project for some time, and I'm excited our ideas have matched so perfectly," adds Shigeru Miyamoto, senior managing director of Entertainment Analysis and Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. "It's this shared passion for game creation that has allowed us to collaborate to bring a special Metal Gear® project exclusively for Nintendo GameCube."

Metal Gear Solid The Twin SnakesTM will be featured at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on May 14 - 16 in the South Hall at Konami Booth 900 and in the West Hall at Nintendo Booth 2816.

528

Nintendo Gaming / OFFICIAL Metal Gear Discussion

« on: April 30, 2003, 10:27:19 PM »

Metal Gear Solid remake on GameCube.  Developed by Silicon Knights.
Be sure to check out our full preview.          

529

Nintendo Gaming / Metroid Prime General Help

« on: April 10, 2003, 10:19:09 AM »

Lots of threads still coming up for Metroid Prime.  Let's keep new questions here.        

530

Nintendo Gaming / Use Gameplay Help for Wind Waker Questions

« on: March 30, 2003, 10:11:06 AM »

A number of people have been posting Gameplay Help questions here, but please keep in mind that we have a specific area set up for that in our Gameplay Help Forum.  There is a main thread for specifc gameplay questions, and a few others dealing with broad subjects like secrets, pictograph quests, etc. Please stop by, and leave this forum open for more general Zelda discussion.    

[If you want to avoid spoilers, simply post your question and watch for replies.]

531

Nintendo Gaming / The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker General Help

« on: March 25, 2003, 08:16:25 AM »

Please use this thread for questions related to the latest Zelda masterpiece.  

If you want to avoid spoilers, simply post your question and watch for replies.      

[Tech TV's Extended Play will be featuring an exclusive interview with Miyamoto, talking about all things Zelda.]

532

TalkBack / Miyamoto on Extended Play this Friday

« on: March 18, 2003, 03:26:44 PM »

Tech TV's Extended Play will be featuring an exclusive interview with Miyamoto, talking about all things Zelda.

In anticipation of The Legend of Zelda's GameCube release, the "Miyamoto on 'Wind Waker'" feature will air on TechTV's 'Extended Play' this Friday, March 21st at 9:30 PM Eastern Time. The interview was conducted during the DICE conference in Las  Vegas.  

Miyamoto speaks not only on The Wind Waker, but also about past Zelda games and the series in general.  Of particular interest is the mention of yet another Zelda game coming to Game Boy Advance.  

You can read the interview, as well as watch a segment in streaming video at Tech TV's website.  

[Nintendo is hosting an exhibition of the pocket to celebrate the European launch of the Game Boy Advance SP.]

533

TalkBack / Pockets

« on: March 16, 2003, 05:00:28 PM »

Nintendo is hosting an exhibition of the pocket to celebrate the European launch of the Game Boy Advance SP.

POCKETS

AN EXHIBITION FROM NINTENDO
March 2003 - London's West End plays host to an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the humble pocket in all its forms. The exhibition is taking place to mark the launch of Nintendo's sleek new Game Boy Advance SP, and will be open to the public from Friday 28 March until the following Friday 4 April, at 51 Poland Street, London W1.

Opening with an introduction from Wayne Hemingway, designer and co-founder of Red or Dead, this retrospective look at all things pocket incorporates a number of themed multi-media installations, which examine the pocket from a range of intriguing and surprising angles. The first section takes a stroll through time, tracing the origins of the first pockets and how their appearance and use has evolved. A second area takes a closer look at the role of the pocket in the world of fashion and clothing, from its early incarnations, to perhaps the ultimate in trouser storage facility, the cargo pant.

Another part is dedicated to the representation of the pocket in film, music and literature, showing how this simple cloth device has infiltrated the rich cultural tapestry of the world. To really pique the curiosity of visitors, the pocket contents of famous people as they died is also described in detail, revealing the secrets of icons as diverse as Kurt Cobain and Abraham Lincoln.

Pocket sized technology naturally features heavily, with examples of the first machines & gadgets designed (perhaps optimistically) to fit into pockets, through to the latest remarkable advances in miniaturized surveillance technology.  

An area of the exhibition is dedicated to the Game Boy Advance SP, a genuinely pocket-sized games console, giving visitors a chance to try the machine, along with some of the best games available for the handheld. The critically lauded Game Boy Advance SP is designed to appeal to the latest generation of pocket-sized technology users, who demand high performance and dashing good looks from their tiny technology.

The exhibition is open to the public from Friday 28 March which is the launch day of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP, until Friday 4 April, at 51 Poland Street, London W1. Doors are open from 11am until 7pm daily, 11am – 5pm Sunday, and entry is free.

Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.

[Sega's classic racing franchise makes its first appearance on GBA.]

534

TalkBack / Sega Rally Skidding Onto Store Shelves

« on: March 11, 2003, 03:42:33 PM »

Sega's classic racing franchise makes its first appearance on GBA.

SEGA RALLY RACES ONTO THE GAME BOY ADVANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO - (March 11, 2003) - SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced the release of "SEGA RALLY(tm)" for the Nintendo Game Boy® Advance, marking the first time SEGA's classic Rally Race franchise is available on a handheld video game system.

"SEGA RALLY" puts gamers in the driver seat of fully-licensed cars from the sport's top manufacturers including Subaru, Ford, Toyota, Lancia, Peugeot, and Mitsubishi.  Gamers will race around the globe on all-new courses to win the Championship Cup, enduring grueling conditions that range from muddy jungles to dune-filled desserts.  On their quest for the title, racers will earn points to purchase multiple mini-games, new courses, secret cars, and a "SEGA RALLY" history and art gallery.  "SEGA RALLY" also features an all-new 4 Player mode that lets gamers go head-to-head-to-head-to-head for the first time outside of the arcade.

"It's not easy to pack all of the white-knuckled, dune-jumping, tire-squealing action of 'SEGA RALLY' into the palm of your hand, but we managed to do just that," said Mike Fischer, vice president of marketing, SEGA of America, Inc.  "Most people have never had an opportunity to race across the Sahara against four of their closest friends...until now, thanks to 'SEGA RALLY's' addictive 4-player mode for the Game Boy Advance."

"SEGA RALLY" is rated "E" for Everyone and is available at retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $29.99.

[Sammy Studios reveals new projects and plans to begin game development in Los Angeles .]

535

TalkBack / Sammy Studios Expands

« on: March 07, 2003, 04:15:25 PM »

Sammy Studios reveals new projects and plans to begin game development in Los Angeles .

SAMMY STUDIOS EXPANDS VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS

Company Unveils New Team, Additional Projects and Plans for a Studio in Los Angeles at Game Developers Conference  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JOSE, Calif. – March 7, 2003 – Sammy Studios Inc., a developer, publisher and global distributor of interactive entertainment content, today announced that it has expanded its U.S.-based video game development operations. The company unveiled a team based in Los Angeles that is currently working on its second internally developed title, a flight combat game for home consoles, along with plans to launch a state-of-the-art studio located in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley before the end of Q2 2003. Sammy Studios' founding team has been working on the company's first-ever U.S.-developed title, a console-based first person shooter, since launching its San Diego studio last year. Sammy Studios also revealed that it will begin development on two additional titles and will be looking at applicants for all projects in both studios at the Game Developers' Conference (GDC) in San Jose, California, on March 5th - 8th, 2003.  

Sammy Studios is exhibiting at booth # 1821 in the Career Pavilion (CP 1821), where members of existing development teams will be on hand to discuss the company's projects and its plans to continually grow its video game development and publishing business in North America.

"It's an exciting time for our company and our parent, Sammy Corporation of Japan," said John Rowe, president of Sammy Studios Inc. "We established Sammy Studios less than a year ago and the progress we've made since then is phenomenal. We have two titles in development, teams at two studios preparing for our first and second volleys of triple-A homegrown titles, and we continue to ramp up our publishing business. We hope the excitement in and around our company inspires the talented and the curious in the industry to come and see what our growing company is about."

Launched last spring, Sammy Studios Inc. represents a major pillar in Sammy Corporation's mission to become a multi-faceted global entertainment and amusement company. Sammy Corp. is experiencing a period of tremendous success and growth, finishing among the top ten public companies in Japan in 2002 and seeing a 120% surge in profit over the previous year. Driven by the vision of company founder and president Hajime Satomi, Sammy is leveraging its success to continue growing, and it established Sammy Studios as a US-based operation headed by seasoned industry veterans to undertake this growth in its interactive entertainment business.  

Sammy Studios established a second location in Los Angeles in fall 2002, bringing on board Hollywood business development talent to license traditional entertainment franchises with cross-over potential into video games. The unveiling of the L.A.-based development team marks the expansion of the company's area operations into a full-fledged game studio, soon to be based at a state-of-the-art facility in the entertainment hub of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. The L.A. team, already in progress with development of a flight-based action game, brings together Hollywood talent and video game veterans from such places as GT Interactive, NovaLogic and Sony Imageworks.  

"We are on a mission to make Sammy Studios a prolific player in the video game industry, and a large component of that will always be attracting top talent to create the type of first-rate content that will help make it happen," said Michael Haller, executive vice president of licensing for Sammy Studios Inc.

[Travel through time and keep Mom from overtaking the world.]

536

TalkBack / GameCube Heads into the Futurama

« on: March 07, 2003, 04:03:51 PM »

Travel through time and keep Mom from overtaking the world.

The award winning Futurama comes to the Next-Gen Consoles.

SCi Games is very pleased to announce its forth-coming release Futurama.

Based on the smash hit and 2002 Emmy® Award Winner for Best Animated Program, Futurama the game is a 3rd person action shooter featuring the four main characters from the show, Fry, Bender, Leela and Dr Zoidberg. Each of these characters will be fully playable and have their own select moves and weapons as well as different playing styles.

The game is very straightforward and easy to pick up and play, featuring a superb mix of action (shooting, flaming, kicking and punching); agility (jumping, climbing); simple puzzle solving (activate generator to use elevator to reach new area) and of course hilarious dialogue.  

The story so far.... The evil businesswoman Mom has bought Planet Express Deliveries from Professor Farnsworth. By doing so she now owns over fifty percent of the Earth, making her the supreme ruler. Her first step is to enslave all humanity and turn the planet into a gigantic warship to conquer the known Universe. The player's goal is to prevent Mom from Universal domination by taking the Planet Express crew back in time to stop the deal from going ahead.

Game play highlights include:

Fight your way through the futuristic streets of New New York, and explore the dark and forbidding underground ruins of old New York.

Travel to the asteroid belt and battle huge robot monsters in an asteroid junkyard.

Avoid the deadly traps and evil Sun Priests of the ancient Sun City.

Battle swamp monsters and alligators in the Bogad bayou at the very edge of the universe.

Meet the irreverently funny characters from the Futurama series.

Play as Fry, Bender, Leela or Dr Zoidberg and explore each of their unique combat styles and skills.

Other great features:

Story and dialogue written by the critically acclaimed writers from the Futurama TV-series.

Design consultation by Matt Groening himself, the creator of Futurama and The Simpsons.

New characters and locations never seen in the Futurama TV-series before and exclusive to the Futurama video game.

All in-game voice-overs are done by the actual voice talents from the Futurama TV-series.

Custom made outline and toon-shading render engine that captures the visual look and feel of the Futurama TV-series.

Easy and straightforward controls make the game easy to just pick up and play.

Futurama will be released on the Sony PlayStation®2, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube in Spring 2003.

[For the first time, Rising Sun takes Medal of Honor to the Pacific and introduces an all new co-op mode.]

537

TalkBack / EA Announces Medal of Honor: Rising Sun

« on: March 03, 2003, 08:23:27 PM »

For the first time, Rising Sun takes Medal of Honor to the Pacific and introduces an all new co-op mode.

EA Storms the Pacific This Fall with Medal of Honor Rising Sun

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 3, 2003 - Step into the boots of a Marine Corporal, survive the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, and drive the Japanese Army from the Pacific in Medal of HonorTM Rising Sun from Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS). Developed by EALA, Medal of Honor Rising Sun creates an immersive and authentic WWII experience in either single-player or multi-player modes. Medal of Honor Rising Sun will be available for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCubeTM and the XboxTM video game system from Microsoft in the fall of 2003.

Set for the first time in the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 1941-1944, Medal of Honor Rising Sun gives players a sense of the courage it took to fight the Japanese from Pearl Harbor to the shores of the Philippine Islands. Players will assume the role of Marine Corporal Joseph Griffin, as he survives the attack on Pearl Harbor, leads the assault of Guadalcanal, and finally rescues his brother from a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. Armed with his wits and a variety of authentic weapons, it's up to players to stop the Japanese war machine in its tracks. Players can even team up with a friend in the all-new co-op multiplayer mode to battle the Japanese forces. Along the way, players will earn awards and medals for their meritorious service in defeating the enemy.

As with the original Medal of HonorTM, the producers sought council from numerous outside sources to make certain the game is as historically authentic and realistic as possible. EALA continues to work closely with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to ensure Medal of Honor Rising Sun reflects the ideals and integrity of the prestigious Medal of Honor. In addition, Capt. Dale Dye, who served as military technical advisor on the previous titles in the Medal of Honor franchise, continues his efforts with the Medal of Honor Rising Sun team to ensure the authenticity of the game.

538

Nintendo Gaming / Wario Ware

« on: March 03, 2003, 07:47:20 AM »

I can't believe no one's talking about this game yet.  I'm looking forward to it more than anything else coming to GBA.  I played Wario Ware for about an hour straight on Thursday and really couldn't get enough.  If you want to know more details check out my recent impressions on the main site.  

[We're back from D.I.C.E., but there is still a lot of content on its way this weekend. We'll start off with the complete list of award winners.]

539

TalkBack / The Sixth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

« on: February 28, 2003, 11:20:04 PM »

We're back from D.I.C.E., but there is still a lot of content on its way this weekend.  We'll start off with the complete list of award winners.

THE VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY NAMES THE BEST OF THE BEST:  

ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES’ SIXTH ANNUAL INTERACTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PRESENTED IN LAS VEGAS

  Electronic Arts Receives Record 13 Awards including Computer Game of the Year for Battlefield 1942; SEGA®’s Yu Suzuki Wins Hall of Fame Award  

LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 28, 2003 – The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences presented Interactive Achievement Awards in 30 craft, console, and online categories, at a star-studded event last night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  Electronic Arts was the big winner with a record 13 awards.  

Battlefield 1942, published by Electronic Arts and developed by Digital Illusions, took home the most awards, a total of four, including Game of the Year, Computer Game of the Year, Innovation in Computer Gaming, and Online Gameplay of the Year.  Animal Crossing, published by Nintendo of America and developed by Nintendo Co. Ltd., received the next highest number of awards, a total of three, including Innovation in Console Gaming, Console Role-Playing Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Design.  Overall, Nintendo received a very impressive seven awards.  

“These awards are important because they represent the industry’s picks of the top video games from an amazing field of innovation and creativity,” said Paul Provenzano, President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.  “This year’s winners represent a bold and diverse group of games that illustrate how our industry continues to be a pre-eminent force in entertainment.”

SEGA®’s Yu Suzuki, known as a forefather of console video gaming, won the Academy’s coveted Hall of Fame Award.  

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Interactive Achievement Award winners include (in alphabetical order):

Computer Action Game of the Year – 2002
Grand Theft Auto III

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North    

Computer First Person Action Game of the Year – 2002
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: 2015 Inc.    

Computer Game of the Year – 2002
Battlefield 1942

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions    

Computer Role Playing Game of the Year – 2002
Neverwinter Nights

Publisher: Infogrames
Developer: Bioware    

Computer Simulation Game of the Year – 2002
The Sims Unleashed

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Maxis    

Computer Sports Game of the Year – 2002
Madden NFL 2003

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon    

Computer Strategy Game of the Year – 2002
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment    

Console Action Adventure Game of the Year – 2002
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North    

Console Fighting Game of the Year – 2002
Tekken 4

Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco    

Console First Person Action Game of the Year – 2002
Metroid Prime

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Retro Studios    

Console Game of the Year – 2002
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell

Publisher: Ubi Soft
Developer: Ubi Soft Montreal    

Console Platform Action Adventure Game of the Year – 2002
Ratchet & Clank

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Insomniac Games    

Console Racing Game of the Year – 2002
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Black Box    

Console Role Playing Game of the Year – 2002
Animal Crossing

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Nintendo Co. Ltd.    

Console Sports Game of the Year – 2002
Madden NFL 2003

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon    

Family Game of the Year – 2002
Mario Party 4

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Hudson Soft Co. Ltd.    

Game of the Year – 2002
Battlefield 1942

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions    

Hall of Fame Award
Yu Suzuki, SEGA

 

Handheld Game of the Year – 2002
Metroid Fusion

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Nintendo Co. Ltd.    

Innovation in Computer Gaming  – 2002
Battlefield 1942

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions    

Innovation in Console Gaming – 2002
Animal Crossing

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Nintendo Co. Ltd.    

Massively Multiplayer / Persistent World Game of the Year – 2002
The Sims Online

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA MAXIS    

Online Gameplay Game of the Year – 2002
Battlefield 1942

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions    

Outstanding Achievement in Animation – 2002
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Sucker Punch    

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction – 2002
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Sucker Punch    

Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story – 2002
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Silicon Knights    

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design – 2002
Animal Crossing

Publisher: Nintendo of America
Developer: Nintendo Co. Ltd.    

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering – 2002
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell

Publisher: Ubi Soft
Developer: Ubi Soft Montreal    

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition – 2002
Medal of Honor: Frontline

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EALA    

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design – 2002
Medal of Honor: Frontline

Publisher: Electronic Arts
 Developer: EALA    

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering – 2002
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Stormfront Studios    

The Interactive Achievement Awards, which were held during the annual D.I.C.E. Summit (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain), were hosted by comedian and actor Dave Foley, best known as the star of the long-running NBC comedy series, News Radio.  Among the awards presenters were extreme sports personality Tony Hawk; multi-sensory performance troupe Blue Man Group;  actress Kelly Hu, star of the upcoming X2, the sequel to the blockbuster film X-Men; Kristen Dalton, star of USA’s hit Sci-Fi The Dead Zone; Kristina Anapau, star of the VH-1 Original movie, They Shoot Divas, Don’t They?; and Mike Metzger, the undisputed pioneer of freestyle motocross.  The show also featured a special musical performance by the recording act, Unwritten Law.

 

G4, the TV network all about video games, will air a one-hour special on the Interactive Achievement Awards.

[Datel and Prima are teaming up to provide comprehensive catalogs featuring codes for every console Action Replay is available for.]

540

TalkBack / Prima to Publish Code Books for Action Replay

« on: February 25, 2003, 05:13:40 PM »

Datel and Prima are teaming up to provide comprehensive catalogs featuring codes for every console Action Replay is available for.

DATEL PARTNERS WITH PRIMA TO PUBLISH EXCLUSIVE CODE BOOKS  

Clearwater, FL  - February 25, 2003  - Datel Electronics, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of videogame enhancement products has announced a partnership with Prima Games to produce an exclusive line of code books for Datel's Action Replay brand of game enhancers.

 

The upcoming Prima code books will feature codes for every platform that the Action Replay is available for, including the original PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation 2. Even more exciting is the inclusion of Action Replay codes for the GameCube, making this edition the most complete offline code source for next-gen gaming.

 

“Our partnership with Prima Games is another key step in Datel’s mission to expand the Action Replay brand and deliver our unique content through a variety of mediums,” said Ken Tarolla, senior vice president of Datel Design and Development.  “The team at Prima Games has had a very successful track record in marketing code books to support our game enhancement product line in the past and we look forward to even greater success going forward.”

 

Datel's market leading game enhancement technology teamed with Prima's powerful retail presence will ensure the largest user base of game enhancement technology will have access to the most complete collection of Action Replay codes available in a single source.  

 

“Prima Games is pleased to partner with Datel Electronics for an exclusive line of code books,” said Debra Kempker, president of Prima Games. “The Action Reply brand is number one in game enhancement technology and Prima is pleased to bring this rich content to the game enthusiast in this exclusive code book line.”

 

While all Action Replay codes are available online at www.codejunkies.com, Prima code books allow for a portable code archive for gamers on the go, as well as a code source for gamers without access to the Internet. Prima code books are available in most book and gaming retail outlets.

[As Nintendo shows off the arcade version of F-Zero at the AOU 2003 Amusement Expo, they've also opened up the official website with full details on the game. NOW WITH MOVIES!]

541

TalkBack / F-Zero GC/AC Japanese Website Online

« on: February 20, 2003, 07:30:00 PM »

As Nintendo shows off the arcade version of F-Zero at the AOU 2003 Amusement Expo, they've also opened up the official website with full details on the game.  NOW WITH MOVIES!

Nintendo has pulled the covers off the arcade version of F-Zero and opened the official website to the public.  There are full details on both GameCube and arcade versions of the game, videos, pictures of the arcade cabinet, and details on how the games connect.  

There are also several wallpapers that you can download and a contest to win an F-Zero T-shirt and pins.  To top it off, the site features a full interview with Nagoshi from Amusement Vision.  

F-Zero GC/AC is set to release in Japan this May with a US release following soon after.  Our Japanese correspondent Bakudan Yoshinoya will have more details and photos from the AOU 2003 Amusement Expo in the coming hours, but if you can read Japanese, head over to the official site and get your fix now.

Update: They have just posted some movies from the game on the website.  Run, don't walk!

542

Nintendo Gaming / I Wanna Talk About The Bonus Disc

« on: February 12, 2003, 05:35:25 PM »

As you may have noticed, everyone and their entire extended family seems to want to talk about the N64 game coming out on GameCube more than the new Zelda releasing next month.  The fact is that you don't need a new thread to do that.  There are already several.

In Talkback we have four current threads.

Zelda Bonus Shipping Already

Zelda Date Break

Zelda Bonus Disc Details
and
Zelda Pre-Orders Look Strong

And for those of you who want to talk about the preorder bonus right here, I found three main relevant threads.

When will the Zelda Presale start?

Does anyone know if europe is getting the Zelda OOT/URA bonus disk?

Zelda: WindWaker bonus disk booklet preview pics(possible spoilers)

There are even a couple of others if you look, but please no more new threads on an old game.        

[Well, there will be no lack of gadgets, gizmos, or doo-dads when you get your shiny new GBA. Intec is releasing a full line of shiny goods as well.]

543

TalkBack / Intec to Release Accessories for GBA SP Launch

« on: February 11, 2003, 03:46:28 PM »

Well, there will be no lack of gadgets, gizmos, or doo-dads when you get your shiny new GBA. Intec is releasing a full line of shiny goods as well.

Intec Leads the Way on GameBoy® Advance SP Accessories

Miami, Florida, February 11th, 2003 – Intec, Inc., a leading manufacturer of cross-platform video game accessories, announced today that it is finalizing the development and production of its full line of innovative accessories for the launch of Nintendo’s GameBoy® Advance SP.

 

Intec is creating a full line of accessories customized for the new GameBoy® Advance SP, which will provide gamers with a variety of choices to maximize their gaming experience.

 

“Our engineering and design teams came up with unique accessory ideas we never thought possible,” said Kevin Resnick, Intec’s Sr. Vice President of Sales. “Some of these new designs are creating a huge buzz among GBA gamers, and we are excited at the opportunity of once again delivering the best quality and functionality in the market.”

 

Intec’s unique designs will allow gamers the opportunity to customize their GameBoy® Advance SP to fit their own gaming style. The full line of new accessories will include carrying cases, charger kits, sound systems, magnifiers, link cables and more. Intec’s full line of accessories will be available at retail stores for the launch of GameBoy® Advance SP in March.

[3 points (After 8 tie-breakers, mudskip just decided to call it a night.)]

544

Podcast Discussion / Radio Trivia Scoreboard 'Lite' February 7, 2003

« on: February 07, 2003, 09:05:02 PM »

The first TYP/Bloodworth co-host went fairly well despite TYP getting lost in traffic, technical difficulties, and THE NEVER ENDING TIE.  Score-keeping was also a challenge since we were both on the same system, so unfortunately this is one of the poorest scoreboards I've ever posted.  Still it was a lot of fun having the whole Mario cast to banter with.

3 points (After 8 tie-breakers, mudskip just decided to call it a night.)
mudskip
carlos

2
dilbert627
Elzie_Ann
MarioLinkSamus
Tavir
TKnHappyNess
ulanshad
Tricube
Sswan117
PowderedToastMan

1
BIGmog
DK745
GorillazFan87
Mumbo
Rimmer
Stu
NintendoNateCube
TheGSpot
Fster
Cell84
Shanic
Edweirdo
rndmperson
BobbyRobby
FoxWing
gcgp88
NightsB
fudge

Games:
1. Luigi's Mansion (GC)
2. Sparkster (SNES)
3. Virtual Boy Wario Land (VB)
Halftime: Zeruda no Densetsu: Kaze no Takuto
4. Startropics (NES)
5. Uniracers

8 TIE BREAKERS (Way too many to keep track of, sorry. )

545

Announcements / Stop Stealing Content From Other Sites

« on: February 01, 2003, 04:59:50 PM »

*Rick posted this originally on the old board, but from what I've seen already, it needs repeating.

Cutting and pasting content from other websites and posting it in our Forums is a BANNABLE offense. It's stealing, whether you give credit to those sites or not. Websites live and breathe on advertising revenue, and when you steal their content, they don't get the hits, so they don't get paid. I've already banned a few repeat offenders, but we will now start banning ANYONE who steals content from other sites, unless you can prove that you had permission.

You can link to web pages all you want.  What you can't do is paste blocks of text, stream pictures from their webspace, or link directly to their media (of any type).  If you want to direct people to another site's media, make a link to the webpage on which they can find links to the media.  You may post pictures from another website provided they are stored on your own personal webspace and that you provide a link and full credit to the place where you got them.

And to clarify, this is NOT a new rule. The rules have always stated quite clearly that reposting copyrighted information is bannable, we will simply be enforcing this rule more strictly now.

Have a nice Day!

[be sure the subject line contains both the game title, and the subject of your question]

546

Nintendo Gaming / Gameplay Help Guidelines

« on: February 01, 2003, 03:55:05 PM »

As always before posting a new topic, please check previous posts to make sure the info hasn't already been covered.

When you post your topic be sure the subject line contains both the game title, and the subject of your question.

For example, titles should read, "Rogue Leader: Razor Rendevous" or "Wave Race: Passwords." It should be broad enough to keep a conversation going, but specific enough for people to find what they need quickly.

Please do not vent your frustration in your thread like this: "I need rrouge advice!!!!!!!" That will not only cause others to get annoyed by having to read info they may not need, but someone else may post on the same subject by accident because he/she couldn't tell that the info was already covered.

We will probably edit subject headings, lock threads and delete threads liberally in this area to be sure that everyone can find the info they need quickly. Duplicate threads will be locked or deleted. Please do not take personal offense at this, we're just tidying up.

Please don't copy/paste from sites like GameFAQ's. It kind of defeats the point of having this area on our space.

So members can ask questions without having to worry so much about spoilers, please use the quote button when replying to someone's question.  This way they can ask a question without reading the previous posts and then look for their name in the replies.

Also, don't use any sort of spoilers in the subject line. I know for some topics it's kind of difficult, but we'd rather people not accidentally run across something they didn't want to know while they're looking for info on a different game.

That's all. Stick to those friendly guides and we should all benefit from each other's advice. See you around.            

[Mega Man is headed to GameCube for the first time, and four new Mega Man games are headed to GBA - all to celebrate Mega Man's 15th anniversary.]

547

TalkBack / A Whole Lot of Mega Man

« on: January 23, 2003, 08:01:27 PM »

Mega Man is headed to GameCube for the first time, and four new Mega Man games are headed to GBA - all to celebrate Mega Man's 15th anniversary.

CAPCOM’S FAMOUS ‘BLUE BOMBER’ DEBUTS ON NINTENDO GAMECUBE IN MEGA MAN™ NETWORK TRANSMISSION

LAS VEGAS — January 15, 2003 — Capcom® today announced plans to bring its famous blue bomber to the Nintendo™ GameCube in Mega Man® Network Transmission. Featuring a new visual presentation for the blockbuster franchise, Mega Man Network Transmission promises to provide classic Mega Man action with cel-shaded characters and sharp 3D environments. This latest incarnation will create a story that smoothly combines familiar characters and elements from both ‘Mega Man Battle Network’ Game Boy Advance games that clarifies what happened in-between the two titles. Mega Man Network Transmission is scheduled for release in North America in the spring 2003. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) rating is pending.  

Mega Man Transmission introduces the following:
* First Mega Man game for the Nintendo GameCube
* New visual design – All the characters have a 3-D cel-shaded art style.
* Utilizes the popular chip system from Mega Man Battle Network
* Customize attacks – Select and arrange which chips are used in battle
* More than 100 different attacks and a wide array of playing styles
* New storyline – Know what happened in between Mega Man BattleNetwork and Mega Man Battle Network 2  

Mega Man Network Transmission takes place following the events in Mega Man Battle Network and before the clash in Mega Man Battle Network 2. A month has passed since the nefarious WWW organization tried to commandeer a military satellite. Now, cyberspace is about to encounter another menace, a new virus known simply as the “Zero Virus.” Once again, it is up to Lan and Mega Man to defeat this latest threat, battle bosses and solve problems in the ‘virtual’ realm. Players must communicate with Lan, Mega Man and other characters, to gain pertinent information that holds vital hints to solving various predicaments that may occur.  

Mega Man Network Transmission uses the popular chip system introduced in the original Battle Network RPG. By collecting chips, players equip Mega Man with special weapons and support items that can enhance his abilities or provide a defensive advantage. One chip can upgrade his jumping abilities; another can create a protective shieldthat immediately inflicts damage when attacked by enemies. The new enhanced backgrounds will create multiple levels of effects that add a new exciting element to the game play as enemy’s fire shots or explode.  

Mega Man Network Transmission will also be included in Capcom’s yearlong plans to celebrate Mega Man’s 15th anniversary. Capcom will honor Mega Man’s birthday with the help of a massive marketing campaign and the release of six new titles to the franchise in 2003. The six new titles includeMega Man & Bass, Mega Man Battle Network 3: White and Blue versions and Mega Man Zero 2 for the Game Boy Advance; Mega Man Network Transmission for the Nintendo GameCube and Mega Man X7 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system.

[Mission-based driving action hits Game Boy Advance.]

548

TalkBack / Driver 2 Ships for GBA

« on: November 04, 2002, 04:48:10 PM »

Mission-based driving action hits Game Boy Advance.

THE WHEELMAN HITS THE ROAD IN DRIVER 2 ADVANCE FOR GAME BOY ADVANCE

Portable Version of PlayStation Greatest Hit Brings Driving Excitement to Handhelds

LOS ANGELES - Nov. 4, 2002 - Infogrames (Nasdaq: IFGM) has brought one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, DriverT, to Game Boy® Advance with shipment of Driver 2 Advance to retail stores this week.

Developed by Sennari Interactive, Driver 2 Advance leverages the full power of the Game Boy Advance to recreate the same intense attitude and feel of the original game through realistic, action-packed single-player missions and dedicated multiplayer modes.

"The worldwide Driver fan-base continues to grow as Driver 2 for PS one remains at the top of the sales charts.  It was only natural to bring the game to today's top-selling portable game system," said Paul Rinde, senior vice president and head of Infogrames, Inc.'s Minneapolis studio.  "With the power of the Game Boy Advance, we've been able to recreate the same addictive game play and pulse-pounding missions the franchise is known for. Everyone who enjoys the game on the home system will really love the portable version.  Those who haven't tried it out yet - now is the time!"

Driver 2 Advance faithfully re-creates the original's bumper-to-bumper action in a portable package.  As Tanner, an undercover cop posing as a driver for hire, players take on a variety of missions and game-play modes including such favorites as Trailblazer, Checkpoint, Quick Chase, Survival and more.  Ramping up the intensity is a variety of multiplayer modes that allow up to four players to scream through wide open city streets in Cops N' Robbers, Free for All and more.

As a result of Sennari's proprietary X2 engine technology for the Game Boy Advance, Driver 2 Advance features superior driving physics including sliding and crashing, as well as visible vehicular damage, and special effects such as engine and tire smoke, fire and car shadows.

Underscoring the on-screen mayhem is an R&B soundtrack as well as in-game audio that realistically recreates the tire-screeching, engine-howling roars, with drivers pushing their machines to the limit.

Driver 2 Advance shipped to most retail stores this week with an estimated retail price of $29.99 and an ESRB rating of "T" for TEEN.

[Sega showed off the final version of PSO Episode I & II in San Francisco and Los Angeles tonight. Read the full press release inside.]

549

TalkBack / Sega Demonstrates PSO Episode I & II

« on: October 22, 2002, 07:42:08 PM »

Sega showed off the final version of PSO Episode I & II in San Francisco and Los Angeles tonight.  Read the full press release inside.

SEGA TAKES THE NINTENDO GAMECUBE ONLINE WITH PHANTASY STAR ONLINE EPISODE I & II

SEGA’s 20th Online-Enabled Game is the First Online Title for the Nintendo GameCube

SAN FRANCISCO – (October 22, 2002) – SEGA of America today demonstrated the online capabilities of “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II™” for the Nintendo GameCube™, hosting a multi-city online demo, presided over by the game’s creator, Yuji Naka. The event gave editors in San Francisco and Los Angeles a chance to play the game online with SEGA’s SONICTEAM in Tokyo. “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” will be the first online-enabled game for the Nintendo GameCube when it is released in the U.S. on October 29.    “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” delivers an all-new full-length Phantasy Star adventure. In addition to all the content from “Phantasy Star Online™” and “Phantasy Star Online™ Ver.2” which is contained in Episode I, Episode II thrusts gamers into the perilous search for a mysterious scientist who has gone missing in the vast unexplored wilds of the planet Ragol.    Gamers can sign up to play “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” over the Internet using Nintendo’s dial-up modem or broadband adaptor for the Nintendo GameCube. The online service carries a monthly service charge of $8.95 and is available through Sega.com™. The price includes a hunter’s license and access to online-exclusive content, including seasonal quests, downloads, special in-game items and more.    “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” can also be played for free offline with up to four-players using an all-new four-way split-screen mode.    “Hundreds of thousands of gamers have already experienced the “Phantasy Star Online” universe for SEGA Dreamcast™, and now Nintendo GameCube owners have the chance to play this legendary RPG adventure series,” said Mike Fischer, vice president, entertainment marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “With 20 Internet-ready games under our belt, SEGA is now bringing our unrivaled online experience to the Nintendo GameCube.”    “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” also features a universal translation that lets gamers chat online, whether they speak English, German, Spanish, French, or Japanese, through a series of hundreds of pre-programmed phrases and expressions.    “Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II” is rated “T” for Teen and will be available at retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $49.99 on October 29.

Stay tuned to PGC for impressions and media from the final version of PSO Episode I & II.

Special thanks to Sega and Dolby Laboratories for hosting the event.

[Joel Simon from NOA took a moment to talk with PGC about Cube Clubs, product testing, and Metroid. Listen to the interview inside!]

550

TalkBack / PGC Interviews Joel Simon

« on: October 20, 2002, 06:39:47 PM »

Joel Simon from NOA took a moment to talk with PGC about Cube Clubs, product testing, and Metroid.  Listen to the interview inside!

On the opening night of the L.A. Cube Club, we met up with Joel Simon, and chatted with him for a few minutes outside.  Check out the link below to download the interview. It runs about five and a half minutes.  

Also, we have a minute of footage from the L.A. Cube Club so you can get the full the experience.  By the way, in L.A. we have a real club - not some tent like those guys in Minnesota.

Don't forget to right click and save these files to your computer.

*Download the latest Winamp Player to listen to the interview and the latest Windows Media Player to see footage of the L.A. Cube Club.

PGC Interviews Joel Simon: Audio 1 (5.1MB mp3)

L.A. Cube Club Footage: Video 1 (1.7 MB Windows Media File)

Once again, we'd like to thank Joel for doing the interview with us and Chad at US Concepts for arranging everything.