1126
TalkBack / Re: Miyamoto on Videogames as Art and Teaching Tools
« on: March 22, 2010, 04:10:26 PM »
The can of worms has been opened...
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1127
TalkBack / Miyamoto on Videogames as Art and Teaching Tools
« on: March 22, 2010, 07:52:26 AM »
Mario's creator comments on the subject of art, education, and games.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22786
At a recent BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Arts) ceremony in which Shigeru Miyamoto was honored with its fellowship award, he chatted with the Associated Press about the event. The designer first expressed his desire to bring consoles and handheld into schools and turn them into educational tools.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22786
At a recent BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Arts) ceremony in which Shigeru Miyamoto was honored with its fellowship award, he chatted with the Associated Press about the event. The designer first expressed his desire to bring consoles and handheld into schools and turn them into educational tools.
"That is maybe the area where I am devoting myself (the) most," he explained, saying that Nintendo was already rolling out the DS "in junior high and elementary schools in Japan starting in the new school year."
This initiative first began with the release of Wii Music in 2008, when Miyamoto visited schools and showed off the game.
When asked about his BAFTA award, he says that he feels honored. He then fielded questions about videogames being perceived as art.
"It's a great honor that my name might be listed as a fellowship member along with such a great director as Hitchcock," he said. However, Miyamoto was quick to note,"I have never said that videogames (are) an art.
1128
TalkBack / Re: Sonic and Me: Fanboyism, Brand Loyalty, and One Hella Fast Hedgehog
« on: March 19, 2010, 08:02:46 PM »
Hah, just a few days after I posted this Sony announces the Sonic costume pack for LittleBigPlanet:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/19/littlebigplanet-sack-it-to-me-the-hedgehog-edition/
There was also some new info on Sonic 4 as well.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/19/littlebigplanet-sack-it-to-me-the-hedgehog-edition/
There was also some new info on Sonic 4 as well.
1129
TalkBack / REVIEWS: Junior Brain Trainer
« on: March 17, 2010, 11:40:30 AM »
It has the right ideas, but severely lacks the proper execution.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=22773
With the release of titles such as Nintendo's Brain Age series as well as Big Brain Academy on the DS, the market for educational games has grown in the past few years, with game developers creating games with the purpose of enlightening and educating DS players of all ages. Junior Brain Trainer is one of those games, with its design aimed solely at the elementary school crowd. While its ideas are good, the overall execution limits its value as an educational title.Some fun activities
Cons:
Poor explanation of activities Only one activity can be unlocked per day Made for an unclear demographic
Graphics: 5.0
They are colorful and apt for its intended audience, but may be too childish for older elementary students.
Sound: 4.0
Junior Brain Trainer only features a couple of basic tunes, and they loop endlessly. They aren't annoying, but more variety would have been appreciated.
Control: 7.0
The touch screen controls are what you would expect on the DS, and are well done. The only problem is that some of the input icons are too small, making their selection hard at times.
Gameplay: 5.0
There are some good activities here, but considering that this is an educational title, the lack of proper explanations at the beginning of each exercise is unfortunate. The fact that only one activity can be unlocked per day is also an issue.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=22773
With the release of titles such as Nintendo's Brain Age series as well as Big Brain Academy on the DS, the market for educational games has grown in the past few years, with game developers creating games with the purpose of enlightening and educating DS players of all ages. Junior Brain Trainer is one of those games, with its design aimed solely at the elementary school crowd. While its ideas are good, the overall execution limits its value as an educational title.
When you first start the game you are asked to create a profile. Once you do, you are taken to the main menu. There are four main options: Daily Exercise, Reading and Writing, Games, and Quiz. Daily Exercise is the main mode of the game. It features a series of exercises based on the basic cognitive skills, such as reading, math, writing, critical thinking, and deduction. Once you complete these tests, you unlock one extra activity. This only happens once per day, though. So when you are done with the exercises, you only get one activity per day, though you can go back and replay the activities once more.
And this is where the game's design problems begin to suffice. While the game's method of unlocking bonus content does mean that the replayability is extended, somehow it's discouraging to know that all of the game's activities are locked and that only one can be unlocked per day. Considering that the game's goal is to teach, it is weird that the developers chose such an odd way to present its activities.
The exercises themselves are also part of the problem. As previously mentioned, you will partake in everything from reading and writing to math and deduction. The problem is that these exercises aren't explained very well. Junior Brain Trainer only has a small explanation at the beginning of each exercise, and it barely helps in explaining the players what they need to do. There's no on-screen guide that helps the player along, and there is clear indicator of when you are doing something right or wrong. I also felt that some of the exercises were too complex for the intended age group, being made worse by the lack of proper instructions.
In all fairness, though, Junior Brain Trainer features a lot of exercises to partake in. Even classic games, such as Hangman and Snake make an appearance as learning tools, and provide the most fun out of all the games in this title.
In terms of controls, Junior Brain Trainer neither impresses nor annoys. It uses the touch screen for most of its activities. Using the touch screen for writing is a great idea, making it one of the better exercises available. Most of the other motions include clicking and dragging icons into their respective spaces. The only problem with the controls, though, is that some of the input buttons are too small, often making it a chore to select a number or a letter.
The graphics are very simple, but appropriate for the theme of the game. At times it becomes a bit too childish, especially since some of the exercises, namely the logic games, are fit for latter elementary school levels. So, having such colorful graphics to present these complex tasks can be distracting to the player. The music is also quite basic, with a few tunes that loop endlessly, but they don't grate or annoy.
Junior Brain Trainer has its heart in the right place, and many of the included exercises are quite fun and educational. But the overall game is hurt by poor presentation. The lack of clear instructions will confuse younger players, and it's annoying that only one activity can be unlocked per day. This makes Junior Brain Trainer a fun diversion for kids, rather than a full-featured educational tool.
Pros:
Cons:
Graphics: 5.0
They are colorful and apt for its intended audience, but may be too childish for older elementary students.
Sound: 4.0
Junior Brain Trainer only features a couple of basic tunes, and they loop endlessly. They aren't annoying, but more variety would have been appreciated.
Control: 7.0
The touch screen controls are what you would expect on the DS, and are well done. The only problem is that some of the input icons are too small, making their selection hard at times.
Gameplay: 5.0
There are some good activities here, but considering that this is an educational title, the lack of proper explanations at the beginning of each exercise is unfortunate. The fact that only one activity can be unlocked per day is also an issue.
Lastability: 4.5
There are a lot of activities to unlock, though since only one is unlocked per day, it hurts Junior Brain Trainer's overall replayability.
Final: 5.0
Junior Brain Trainer has the right idea , but a poor execution hinders its presence as an educational DS title.
1130
TalkBack / Re: EDITORIALS: At GameStop, Freedom Has a Price
« on: March 17, 2010, 01:15:41 AM »My Gamestop must also be one of those rare "good" stores, because I was in it a couple days before the "official" release date for the demo picking up a strategy guide for an RPG I was playing. I just walked up to the counter, bought my guide, and took one of the demo discs with me without a single word out of the cashier.
Apparently, "good" GameStops aren't hard to find. Out of the three GameStops I attend to out of town none of them have given me any trouble. Sure they ask if I want to pre-order stuff, warranty etc. but they were always courteous to me and have yet to see any incompetence from the employees.
If you don't mind my blunt opinion, while I do agree that the whole chain is guilty of some dubious practices it seems that most horror stories are caused by the employees and not the store itself. And like I said before even the best companies hire the worst employees.
1131
TalkBack / Intelligent Systems Creates Educational Apps for DSiWare
« on: March 16, 2010, 03:17:36 PM »
The team behind Fire Emblem is now releasing educational titles.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22769
Intelligent Systems will be releasing new DSiWare apps in Japan later this week. They are educational titles aimed to develop memory and language skills.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22769
Intelligent Systems will be releasing new DSiWare apps in Japan later this week. They are educational titles aimed to develop memory and language skills.
The first of these titles is "Write and Memorize: English Vocabulary Notebook". The title lets the player create their own flash cards and use them to practice their English and Japanese words.
The second title is "Write and Memorize: Picture Vocabulary Book". This app lets you take a picture with the DSi's cameras, then assign a word to them for picture association and vocabulary development skills.
Nintendo has expressed that these titles can be used to practice for tests, as players can assign a word, erase it, then try and write it from memory.
Both titles will be released on March 17, and will be sold for 200 DSi Points ($2).
1132
TalkBack / Level 5 Confirms Game Announcement in April
« on: March 16, 2010, 03:15:34 PM »
CEO drops the news via his Twitter account.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22768
In a Twitter post, Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino has confirmed that the company, known around the world for the Professor Layton series, will be announcing a new title in April. He explained that "it will become an extremely anticipated title" once it is announced.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22768
In a Twitter post, Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino has confirmed that the company, known around the world for the Professor Layton series, will be announcing a new title in April. He explained that "it will become an extremely anticipated title" once it is announced.
A recent Level 5 trademark, while perhaps coincidental, may also suggest that this title will be a baseball game. The company recently registered the title Sengoku Baseball Team, which could mean a baseball title in the same vein as their Inazuma Eleven soccer-RPG franchise.
1133
TalkBack / This Week in Nintendo Downloads
« on: March 15, 2010, 02:55:43 PM »
MotionPlus Gladiators, vampire hunters and mini-golf highlight this week's downloads.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22765
Nintendo has updated their downloadable services with seven new games this week. WiiWare receives two titles this week. First is Rage of the Gladiator by Ghostfire Games. Princed at 1000 Wii Points ($10), Rage of the Gladiator is a MotionPlus enhanced brawler in which the players battle against some of the most famous creatures in Mythology. Players will defend and use magic attacks as well as physical attacks. For more information on this game's creation please read our interview with Ed Roman.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22765
Nintendo has updated their downloadable services with seven new games this week. WiiWare receives two titles this week. First is Rage of the Gladiator by Ghostfire Games. Princed at 1000 Wii Points ($10), Rage of the Gladiator is a MotionPlus enhanced brawler in which the players battle against some of the most famous creatures in Mythology. Players will defend and use magic attacks as well as physical attacks. For more information on this game's creation please read our interview with Ed Roman.
The second WiiWare title this week is Triple Shot Sports by The Code Monkeys Ltd. The title is a targeting shooting game with emphasis on competition. Players will professionally compete in tournaments while facing hazards like winds and distance. The title has been priced at 500 Nintendo Wii Points ($5).
The Virtual Console receives a lone, but notable, game today; Konami's Castlevania: Rondo of Blood for the TurboGrafx 16 CD-ROM. The tenth game in the Castlevania series, Rondo of Blood was released only in Japan, and didn't see a North American release. The title received a remake on the PlayStation Portable, which included the original version as an unlockable. Rondo of Blood can be downloaded for only 900 Wii Points ($9).
Finally, DSiWare receives the most titles this week, with four games ready for download. The first of these is Zoo Frenzy from Gameloft, a zoo and animal simulator. Players can download it for 500 DSi Points ($5). From Teyon comes 101 MiniGolf World, the service's first 3D mini-golf. At 500 DSi Points ($5), players can play in over a hundred holes.
Battle of the Giants, from Ubisoft, is the third DSiWare release this week. The title is a dinosaur themed adventure in which players battle other creatures for species dominance. Players can also create their own dinosaur and enhance its abilities. Battle of the Giants is available for 800 DSi Points ($8).
The final downloadable release this week is Car Jack Streets from Tar Games. Players will work for the Italian Mob as they partake in criminal activities throughout the city. The action title can be downloaded for only 800 DSi Points ($8).
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GAMING
March 15, 2010 How tough do you think you are? This week's roster of new downloadable games from Nintendo gives you several ways to prove it. Now available for the WiiWare service, Rage of the Gladiator puts players face-to-face with flurry of fearsome foes, enhancing the motion-control action with support for the Wii MotionPlus accessory. Meanwhile, Wii owners with a taste for classic gaming can test their mettle against bloodthirsty vampires in CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD for the Virtual Console service. Other fresh releases challenge you to excel as a sharpshooter, a prehistoric beast or a criminal mastermind. Whichever setting you choose, just be prepared to step up and show your stuff.
WiiWare
Rage of the Gladiator
Publisher: Ghostfire Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Animated Blood, Alcohol Reference, Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy-based fighting game in which you must fight for your life in the arena. One of the most gorgeous WiiWare games ever, it features amazing 3-D graphics, animation, lighting, shadows and special effects. Full voice acting means each boss has its own personality and taunts you mercilessly. Discover insane finishing moves: Summon a fiery meteor or savage tornado, or transform into a hulking colossus 10 times your normal size. Customize your character and specialize in skill trees Offense, Defense or Magic to gain new powers. You'll also enjoy epic, blood-pumping music by legendary composer Sean Beeson. For added replay value, unlock Challenge Mode and encounter tougher bosses with new abilities. The game also supports the Wii MotionPlus accessory.
Triple Shot Sports
Publisher: The Code Monkeys Ltd.
Players:1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Triple Shot Sports is one of the most advanced recreational shooting games available for the WiiWare service, immersing players in the world of competitive target shooting. Most competitive events consist of activities that are traditionally derived from hunting and combat skills. Over time, these practices have evolved into a variety of competitive sports that include Archery, Pistol Shooting and Free Rifle. As with real-life shooting events, you will have full control over the aim of the weapon. You must also account for prevailing weather conditions and the athlete's breathing pattern, as these factors can influence the accuracy of your shot.
Virtual Console
CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: This is the 10th action-packed installment in the ever-popular CASTLEVANIA series, which depicts the epic struggle between the Belmont clan and the dark forces of Count Dracula. An instant classic, this title is recognized far and wide for its beautifully rendered world, outstanding game balance and haunting CD-quality music. The player takes control of RICHTER, the clan's ultimate Vampire Killer, guiding him through a total of nine stages filled with treacherous traps and hidden secrets. Using your legendary whip passed on from generations of Belmonts and a powerful selection of Item Crash attacks, it's up to you to destroy Dracula and his evil horde. What's more, rescuing MARIA at some juncture in the game allows you to use her as a playable character for even more vampire-slaying fun.
Nintendo DSiWare
Zoo Frenzy
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points Description: Create the zoo of your dreams and try to maximize your profit by managing tons of parameters. Enjoy five fun mini-games to train and support your animals: Feed them, heal them and even play soccer- or hockey-themed games with them. Your best-trained pets will go back into the wild to fight dangerous monsters and find cute new animals for your zoo. Enjoy use of the Nintendo DSi system's built-in microphone and camera wake up the hero by shouting at him, and see yourself in the game.
101 MiniGolf World
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: 101 MiniGolf World is one of the first-ever 3-D miniature golf games for the Nintendo DSiWare service. Your stylus becomes the putter for an incredibly fun mini-golf experience. Play more than 100 challenging holes solo or with up to eight players on one system. Send your ball flying through loops, pipes, arches, extreme ramps and mind-blowing obstacles. Enjoy a combination of real golf rules and wacky mini-golf fun.
Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs Fight For Survival
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) Mild Fantasy Violence
Price 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Long before mankind stepped into the world, the Earth was a harsh environment dominated by dinosaurs. Every species of dinosaur had to fight to survive in this hostile environment. Travel through the hostile lands as one of three breeds of dinosaur while battling giant enemies to save your kind. Create and customize your own unique dinosaur. Explore four mysterious territories and discover buried fossils to complete your mission. Enhance your dinosaur's abilities and compete against your friends in epic duels.
Car Jack Streets
Publisher: Tag Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Mild Language, Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: A critically acclaimed game with high-octane action, innovative real-time game play, stunning visuals and an awesome soundtrack, Car Jack Streets will take you to the limit. The Italian mob is calling in your gambling debt of $1 million. Attempt a wide variety of criminal and legitimate jobs to earn as much cash as possible, but remember to avoid attracting attention from the cops and other gang members. Do you have what it takes to stay alive, pay your debt and rise to the top of the criminal underworld?
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 orNintendoDSi.com.
1134
TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Interested in Future Kid Icarus Title
« on: March 15, 2010, 06:33:33 PM »I couldn't beat the 1st level. Why didn't they have a super-guide back then? or a VC super-guide to help you beat all those games you couldn't beat when you were a kid.
Because it would be the bane of stevey's existence.
1135
TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Interested in Future Kid Icarus Title
« on: March 15, 2010, 05:43:59 PM »1136
TalkBack / Re: Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Feature Super Guide
« on: March 15, 2010, 05:40:08 PM »Boycott.
They're wasting value time, money, and resource to make a win button AI that could be spent on other things that the other 99% of the gaming population would use and enjoy; like making the game good for starters.
Did you play NSMB Wii? The "help" feature wasn't intrusive at all, and unless you were a gamer that reads the news you wouldn't know about it until you died more than seven times on a level. And while the game is challenging it isn't impossible that you will die more than seven times. The game even asks you if you want to complete the level FOR YOURSELF once the AI completes it, so the decision of leaving the AI do the work for you IS UP TO YOU.
NSMB Wii was an achievement in level design and gameplay, featuring some of the best Mario levels yet and completely surpasses the DS version in every possible manner. So no, the fact that the help feature was in the game didn't hinder AT ALL its brilliance. So before you boycott anything it pays to investigate what you are boycotting, or else you'll end up looking like a fool with no cause to rebel against.
1137
TalkBack / Sonic and Me: Fanboyism, Brand Loyalty, and One Hella Fast Hedgehog
« on: March 14, 2010, 06:31:15 PM »
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=22760
In the last few days I've been on a Sonic the Hedgehog binge. I have been playing tons of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games on Wii, catching up on his classic Genesis adventures thanks to Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on the Xbox 360, looking forward to playing Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing (which our man Neal recently gave his seal of approval), wondering how good Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 will be, and reading up on Sonic's rich history at the Sonic News Network website. So what inspired this sudden interest in the character? Well, I've always loved the character, even during the bad games he had to partake in a few generations ago. But the real reason why is because he brings back a lot of gaming memories, especially how I liked the character even though deep inside I was a hardcore Nintendo fanboy. 
"PLAY SEGA DREAMCAST HERE!" 
Illustration credit to staff artist Zachary Miller
In the last few days I've been on a Sonic the Hedgehog binge. I have been playing tons of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games on Wii, catching up on his classic Genesis adventures thanks to Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on the Xbox 360, looking forward to playing Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing (which our man Neal recently gave his seal of approval), wondering how good Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 will be, and reading up on Sonic's rich history at the Sonic News Network website. So what inspired this sudden interest in the character? Well, I've always loved the character, even during the bad games he had to partake in a few generations ago. But the real reason why is because he brings back a lot of gaming memories, especially how I liked the character even though deep inside I was a hardcore Nintendo fanboy.
During all of my childhood Nintendo ruled supreme. Both the NES and SNES provided some of the best gaming memories of all time. During the NES era, however, I also had a Sega Master System. I barely cared for it, even if I did play it with my sister and my cousins. Nintendo and Mario was where is at.
Then in 1994, I received a Sega Genesis as a graduation present. Why did I ask for it even though I was a huge Nintendo nerd? Because Sonic the Hedgehog 2 looked really, really good. It was the rare exception in which I wanted to play a non-Nintendo game so badly. I got the system and played the living daylights out of it. The music, the graphics, the character and the gameplay were unforgettable. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was easily the most played Sega Genesis game at my household.
But once I completed it, my interest on the Genesis quickly waned, and I went back to being a Nintendo fan 24/7. I still played the game whenever I felt nostalgic and even got to play Sonic and Knuckles thanks to a friend, but I had my fun, now it was time to go back to reality.
This would last all of junior high and high school. The Nintendo 64 was my idol and the system I supported the most, despite the harsh reality of delays and lack of software. But one day something happened that changed my fandom forever. I would no longer be a Nintendo fanboy and decided to embrace all forms of gaming. That day was when I first played the Sega Dreamcast. A video store opened a few blocks away from my high school. I had visited it and thought it was neat but nothing special. But one day the owner put up a sign that made me glee in excitement
The owner had bought a Dreamcast and set up a huge game station for it, complete with a big screen TV and speakers. I quickly went to play it during my lunch time (as well as many other classmates). That day I witnessed the beauty of House of the Dead 2, Power Stone, Ready 2 Rumble and
Sonic Adventure. There he was, the Blue Blur, back again in full force and in beautiful 3D. I suddenly went back to 1994 when I first played Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It was the game that sold me a Dreamcast and the one game that rekindled my love for Sega and Sonic.
I saved up all of my money (which includes the winnings of a local short story contest I had entered) to buy a Dreamcast, a VMU (Visual Memory Unit) and a copy of Sonic Adventure. It didn't matter that the story was bad, that it had awful camera issues and that the Big the Cat, Amy and Knuckles levels were some of the worst things ever conceived in gaming, it was Sonic and I WAS GODDAMN HAPPY! I couldn't stop playing it, I kept replaying it even I had finished it. I showed it to family and friends! So much so that I ignored my N64 for a long while!
The bottom line here is that my love for Sonic had re-awakened after being dormant for years and he would become one of my all time favorite heroes.
But dark clouds were looming in the horizon
The imminent launch of the PlayStation 2 along with the failure of some games (like the overly ambitious Shenmue) the Dreamcast would be no more by the end of 2001. Sega then announced that they would become a third party developer. It was during this time that Sonic's games were declining in quality, ending in the unplayable mess that was Sonic the Hedgehog Next Gen. It was a hard era for me as a Sonic fan, seeing the character being tossed around like an used dirty rag with no clear purpose or direction. Where was the creativity, the magic and wit that made Sonic a hero for me?
Because of this, my interest in Sonic began to wane once more and was quick to dismiss any new game he was in. It would take one company for me to enjoy the blue blur once more
Nintendo.
A few games played a big role in my decision of accepting the Blue Blur into my fandom once more. The first was Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii. It was a very controversial title that received mixed reviews. But I loved the concept. I thought it was great how Sonic was sucked into the worlds of the Arabian Nights. The gameplay, while rough around the edges, was very fun and I thought it was a step in the right direction. The second game was Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Yet another game with a mixed reception, it was important to me because for the first time ever my two gaming heroes were appearing in the same game. So what if it was a mini-game collection? It was very surreal to see Mario share the screen with Sonic and it's a gaming event I shall never forget.
Then it was confirmed that Sonic would be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl which sweetened the deal further. Even if Sonic isn't one of my main characters (his moves are weak and take forever to knock a player out in my honest opinion) he is still fun to play as.
The DS, of course, had its role in the story. Sonic Rush on the DS was the first Sonic title I played on the DS and I thought it was a magnificent title that came very close to achieving Sonic awesomeness. It reminded me a lot of Sonic and Knuckles due to the inclusion of Blaze the Cat. I know many gamers didn't warm up to it that much, but I still greatly enjoyed this title. I recently played Sonic Rush Adventure and while it's very fun, the extended adventure and boat building sequences lower its value, since the best thing about the original Rush was how classic it felt.
Sonic Unleashed was a mixed affair, however. I loved the day time stages due to how excellently designed they were and the fantastic sense of speed they inspired, but as cool looking as the Werehog was, his stages overpowered the game and were a huge chore.
Sonic and the Black Knight was pretty fun and I enjoyed it, though I agree that the combat feels a tad broken. As a bit of a tangent, I personally like the idea behind the Sonic Storybook series. Both Secret Rings and Black Knight took advantage of their respective settings and made the games feel more special. Maybe with all the hype going around the new Alice in Wonderland movie we could see Sonic in Wonderland someday?
Finally, I thought Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winters Games was a huge improvement over the original game due to some great Balance Board controls, much more refined Wii controls and a great selection of events to choose from.
The various Sonic collections also helped me stay in touch with the Sega franchise. Sonic Mega Collection for the GameCube was one of the first that I owned and thought it was a fantastic package. Sonic Gems Collection, however, was the one that brought me very close to the Sonic games I missed due to rarity. For the first time ever I was able to play Sonic CD and I thought it was a fantastic game. I wish Sega would use the time traveling mechanic once more. The idea of visiting the past and future by running really fast intrigued me when I first saw it. Sonic the Fighters was a neat little game, and the less said about Sonic R, the better.
So that's my Sonic fandom in a nutshell. Despite all the turmoil he suffered as a videogame mascot due to the poor decisions of his creators Sonic still means a lot to me. He, along with Mario, created a lot of great gaming memories. I still believe that Sega will once day create a game worthy of the Blue Blur's legacy (Sonic the Hedgehog 4 looks promising but I am keeping my expectations low), and when that day comes I will celebrate it!
1138
TalkBack / Re: Fun With Faceez
« on: March 13, 2010, 03:58:18 PM »
I would have mentioned that those that loved the GameBoy Camera back in the day should like this as well, since it seems to be following the same design choices.
1139
TalkBack / Re: REVIEWS: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
« on: March 12, 2010, 03:02:00 AM »
While the overall reception for NyxQuest has been great I have met gamers who HATE this game based solely on the demo. They played it and decided to hate it for the rest of their lives. In my honest opinion it's ridiculous. I personally enjoyed the demo and made me want to explore it a bit more.
1140
TalkBack / Aragorn's Quest No Longer Wii Exclusive, To Be Released Fall
« on: March 11, 2010, 02:20:43 AM »
The once Wii-exclusive Lord of the Rings title will make an appearance on the PlayStation 3 and use the PlayStation Move.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22747
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest will no longer be Wii exclusive. The motion-based title will also be making an appearance on the PlayStation 3, using the recently unveiled PlayStation Move motion controller. Aragorn's Quest will also see release on the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation Portable, and the DS.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22747
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest will no longer be Wii exclusive. The motion-based title will also be making an appearance on the PlayStation 3, using the recently unveiled PlayStation Move motion controller. Aragorn's Quest will also see release on the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation Portable, and the DS.
Aragorn's Quest is an action/adventure game that takes places during the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some of the actors from the Peter Jackson films will reprise their roles in the videogame. Sean Astin will be voicing Samwise while John Rhys-Davies will voice Gimli. Exclusive to both the Wii and PS3 versions of the game is a family friendly two-player co-op mode featuring Gandalf.
Aragorn's Quest will be released fall 2010.
WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: ARAGORNS QUEST VIDEOGAME FOR PLAYSTATION®3 SUPPORTING PLAYSTATION'S UPCOMING MOTION CONTROLLER TECHNOLOGY
WIELD ARAGORNS SWORD ON PLAYSTATION 3, PLAYSTATION 2, PSP, Wii AND NINTENDO DS IN FALL 2010
Burbank, Calif. March 10, 2010 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, The Saul Zaentz Company and New Line Productions, Inc. announce today that The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame will launch on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system with full support for PlayStation's upcoming motion controller technology at the controllers launch. This family-friendly action-adventure game, based on the films and literature of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will ship in fall 2010 for the PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Wii and Nintendo DS system.
In The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame, players become the legendary hero Aragorn and relive his most daring battles from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The action-packed sword, bow and horseback adventures will be enhanced for players of all ages through high-quality graphics and gameplay created especially for the PlayStation 3 system. Utilizing PlayStation's upcoming motion controller for precision through mastery, The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame engages players with intuitive motion-control gameplay where every controller gesture instantly and accurately translates to weapon strikes in the game. Exclusively for the PlayStation 3 system and Wii, two-player motion controlled co-op gameplay featuring Gandalf allows kids, families and friends to battle side-by-side in the heart of the action.
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame will feature the voice talents of actor Sean Astin (Rudy, The Goonies, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and actor and vocal artist John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy). Both Astin and Rhys-Davies will reprise their on-screen roles of Samwise Gamgee and Gimli. The game also showcases original in-game music tracks along with music from The Lord of the Rings film scores created by composer Howard Shore.
The release of The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest videogame will be preceded by two highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings home entertainment offerings as well as collectible merchandise. Warner Home Video will launch Peter Jacksons The Lord of the Rings trilogy on Blu-ray Disc April 6, 2010 as The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy. The set will also be available day and date on Video on Demand from cable and satellite providers. The literal adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkiens classic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings Animated Version will be released in an all-new Deluxe Edition on Blu-ray Disc for the first time on April 13, 2010.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed up with top licensees Games Workshop Ltd., Tonner Doll Company, Inc., Sideshow Collectibles, The Noble Collection, WETA, Pez Candy, Funko, LLC, Bioworld Merchandising Inc. and WMS Gaming to create an array of merchandise supporting The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, including apparel and accessories, novelties and collectibles, stationery and paper goods, toys and games.
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is developed for Wii by Headstrong Games and for the PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation 2 system, PSP system and Nintendo DS by TT Fusion. For more information visit www.aragornsquest.com.
1141
TalkBack / Forbes Interviews Reggie Fils-Aime
« on: March 11, 2010, 02:14:51 AM »
The Nintendo of America President discusses new hardware, high definition gaming, and Netflix.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22746
Forbes Online recently interviewed Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime about recent Nintendo news and the future of the company.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22746
Forbes Online recently interviewed Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime about recent Nintendo news and the future of the company.
When asked about the motion control alternatives Nintendo's competitors will soon be releasing, Reggie was confident in stating that the company has been very successful thanks to their innovation. To date, the company has sold more than 27 million pieces of Wii hardware in the United States, and more than 10 million Wii MotionPlus accesories.
"Our competition will face their own challenges," Fils-Aime said. "They'll have to create compelling software. They'll need to offer it at a price point that makes sense. They will be separately challenged because the motion-enabled part of their business will only be a small part of their line."
Forbes asked Fils-Aime about innovation, wondering if Nintendo will once again innovate with their next console in the same way that they did with the Wii. While Fils-Aime did agree with the idea of innovating once more with the console, he elaborated that in order to create a new system, an idea that can't be done on the current console must come forth. With the Wii, he said that "We're not there yet."
One topic that came forth in the discussion was Nintendo's slow adoption of social features on the Wii, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix.
"The way that we think about these new experiences is, for us, they need to make sense with the system and from a consumer-experience standpoint. For example, take Facebook. The ability to take a pictures and manipulate it on your DSi or DSi XL and upload it immediately to Facebook, for us, was just a great seamless experience," he said.
During his answer, Fils-Aime goes on to confirm that the Netflix application is going through final test, and says it will arrive in the spring. When asked about implementing a virtual goods system, such as clothing for the Miis, Fils-Aime commented that these goods have no value for the average consumer. "And candidly," he added. "If you really challenge the competitors who are playing in this space, I think they would be hard-pressed to show any true value from a consumer standpoint."
Finally, 3-D and High Definition gaming was brought up. Once again, Fils-Aime reiterated that Nintendo isn't interested in adopting said technology just yet unless they create new experiences. "So when people talk about high definition for the Wii console, our feedback is that that by itself will not create a brand new experience. Therefore, we're not interested."
1142
TalkBack / The Penguins of the Desert Announce Mystery Marathon for Charity
« on: March 11, 2010, 02:12:06 AM »
The team returns to marathon gaming, with mystery being the theme this time around.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22745
Right after the success of their first gaming marathon, the Zelda Marathon last November, which earned the team over $3,000 for charity, the Penguins of the Desert have announced their second charity gaming marathon. Titled "The Mystery Marathon," the team will once again play through as many games as possible in the set amount of time.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22745
Right after the success of their first gaming marathon, the Zelda Marathon last November, which earned the team over $3,000 for charity, the Penguins of the Desert have announced their second charity gaming marathon. Titled "The Mystery Marathon," the team will once again play through as many games as possible in the set amount of time.
The team, however, will do things differently this time around. They have compiled a list of 50 games across many of the major video game consoles. Players will then get to vote which games the team should play. The top 20 games will be selected to be played on April 30 starting at 6:00 PM eastern time. The marathon will last 125 hours.
The goal for this marathon is collect 5,000 dollars to support Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Catharines, a non-profit organization that supplies mentors to children in need. Like the previous marathon, it will be broadcast live at the Penguins of the Desert's website. Players who wish to vote on the games they want to see played they can find the poll here.
In addition to the event, the Penguins of the Dessert have created a two part short film promoting the event:
"Penguins" team to host "The Mystery Marathon" in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Penguins in The Desert Productions team will be holding "The Mystery Marathon" to support Big Brothers Big Sisters St.Catharines - Thorold & District. The event will begin April.30th at 6 p.m. ET. Watch the event at www.penguinsproductions.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) Mar 08, 2010 The Penguins in The Desert Productions team will be holding "The Mystery Marathon" to support Big Brothers Big Sisters St.Catharines - Thorold & District. The event is a third party fundraising effort that is being put together to aid in mentorship programs, future fundraising efforts and making successful matches for children. This is the groups second video game marathon event. Last November's "The Zelda Marathon" was the very first production put on by Penguins in The Desert Productions. It was incredibly successful and raised nearly $3000.00 for the charity. The Mystery Marathon will begin on April. 30th at 6 p.m. ET at www.penguinsproductions.com. Once again, the team will be broadcasting the event live from the headquarters of Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Catharines - Thorold & District. The Mystery Marathon aims to break new ground for video game marathons, by allowing the fans to vote in which games will be played. The team has compiled a list of 50 popular games spanning all the major video game consoles. The top 20 highest voted games will be entered into a lottery, and the team will play which ever games are drawn. The Penguins will do this for 125 hours consecutively. The team is raising the bar high, and aiming for a $5,000.00 goal. Donations can be made at the time of the event via a "Chipin" widget on their website. For more information contact Penguins in The Desert Productions at penguinsproductions@gmail.com. You can vote for which games you would like to see in The Mystery Marathon here:http://penguinsproductions.com/vote.php The team has also produced a short film in support of The Mystery Marathon. Part 1 and Part 2 may be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/tnichs
# # #
Penguins in The Desert Productions is a new production team based out of St.Catharines, Ontario. Our goal is to create new and innovative ways of connecting the community with the entertainment world.
1143
TalkBack / Bit.Trip Runner GDC Gameplay Footage
« on: March 10, 2010, 06:37:11 PM »
GDC attendees get first look at the Commander's new running adventure.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22742
Bit.Trip Runner, the fourth game in Gaijin Games' Bit.Trip series, has made its playable debut at GDC. Nintendo World Report was there to witness the first footage of the game.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22742
Bit.Trip Runner, the fourth game in Gaijin Games' Bit.Trip series, has made its playable debut at GDC. Nintendo World Report was there to witness the first footage of the game.
Please forgive our video quality:
1144
TalkBack / Re: Shin'en Announces 3D Platfomer for WiiWare
« on: March 09, 2010, 04:30:58 PM »Since for me a big part of 3d platformers is the environment, I doubt anything that would fit in a wiiware sized download would catch my eye. I suppose all we can do is wait and see.
I think they look pretty damn good for a WiiWare game...
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/gameArt.cfm?artid=22698
1145
TalkBack / Shin'en Announces 3D Platfomer for WiiWare
« on: March 09, 2010, 06:55:25 AM »
The creators of Art of Balance reveal their next WiiWare project.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22718
Shin'en, the company behind Fun! Fun! Fun! Mini Golf and Art of Balance, announced their latest WiiWare game, Jett Rocker.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22718
Shin'en, the company behind Fun! Fun! Fun! Mini Golf and Art of Balance, announced their latest WiiWare game, Jett Rocker.
The title is a 3D action/platformer that will have players visiting the planet Yoroppa as it is attacked by the evil Power Plant Posse. Jett will use a Jet Boat, parachute from giant cliffs, use a snowboard, and fly with his Jet Pack.
Shin'en is also working on two other WiiWare titles, but they haven't been announced yet.
There is currently no set release date for Jett Rocker.
1146
TalkBack / Re: Cing Files for Bankruptcy
« on: March 09, 2010, 02:12:10 AM »Insert snarky comment about third parties on Nintendo systems.
Except they were almost a second party to Nintendo with a lot of titles, including the Nintendo embraced Hotel Dusk and Trace Memory, being Nintendo exclusive.
1147
TalkBack / Re: Cing Files for Bankruptcy
« on: March 08, 2010, 09:45:07 PM »Give me a name so I can BLAME!
Nintendo.
1148
TalkBack / Cing Files for Bankruptcy
« on: March 08, 2010, 08:55:03 PM »
The creators of Nintendo's Hotel Dusk and Trace Memory suffer financial troubles in Japan.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22715
On March 1, developer Cing began the process of declaring bankruptcy in Japan. The company currently lists a debt of 256,000,000 yen (2.5 million USD), and their case is being handled by Japanese legal firm Mihoko Kido.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=22715
On March 1, developer Cing began the process of declaring bankruptcy in Japan. The company currently lists a debt of 256,000,000 yen (2.5 million USD), and their case is being handled by Japanese legal firm Mihoko Kido.
Cing is best known for creating the DS titles Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Trace Memory. They also produced a Wii sequel to Trace Memory (released in Japan and Europe, but not the Americas), and co-developed Little King's Story for Wii along with Town Factory. Their last DS titles, Hotel Dusk sequel Last Window: Midnight Promise and Again: Eye of Providence, will be released later in the year.
1149
TalkBack / Re: This Week in Nintendo Downloads
« on: March 08, 2010, 04:36:02 PM »The only time the title was released here with it's Japanese name though was with Final Fantasy IV Advance. I am not saying it isn't becoming more known, I just think that right now it (and III/VI especially) is still better known by it's on-Japanese name.
Wrong. Final Fantasy IV was released as four in Final Fantasy Chronicles for the PSone (along with Chrono Trigger) and the remake was named Final Fantasy IV. Not to mention that in all the FF retrospectives, both by Square and by other companies, FF IV is properly labeled as four.
So, Final Fantasy IV is pretty much official here, regardless of what history says.
1150
TalkBack / Save the Turtles Interview with John Pollono Talkback Thread
« on: March 07, 2010, 09:49:36 PM »
Save the Turtles is an upcoming DSiWare puzzler by Latin American developer Sabarasa. We sat down with John Pollono and chatted about the challenges of being a Latin American game developer, the creation of Save the Turtles and DSiWare in general.
To read the interview click the link below...
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/specialArt.cfm?artid=22692
To read the interview click the link below...
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/specialArt.cfm?artid=22692
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