Topic: The OFFICIAL Big N rumor thread *bring your own salt*

[Smash_Brother]

You should be able to play Table Tennis in GTA4.

[Louieturkey]

You probably will be able to play TT in GTA4.   TT sales are dying down so just throw the game into GTA4 and add a feature with ease.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Harmonix & MTV's Rockband coming to Wii?

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A focus group participant said that testers specifically said the game, already announced on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, would be coming to the Wii as well. On top of that, they were told that the game's set list will feature nothing but original artists, and that the drum peripheral (which Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos promised would be "a really impressive piece of hardware") will feature a drum with a kick pedal and real sticks.

The group was asked what it thought about a bundle including the game, a wireless guitar, a drum kit, and a microphone being priced at $200. The notion wasn't terribly popular, but it became slightly more appealing to the group when the price was lowered to $175. At $150, the reader said everyone in the group was on board.

So in summary:
-Coming to Wii
-Drum peripheral comes with kick pedal and real sticks ("real impressive piece of hardware")
-All about original artists
-Bundle with game, wireless guitar, drum kit, micrphone with possible price range of $150-$200

Hopefully it ships fully featured like the 360 and PS3 counterparts (that means fully online enabled - no shortcomings ) and also comes out at the same time as the other two versions too.  

edit: apparently I've been sleeping for the last couple of weeks, as I guess this has already been confirmed by Harmonix.

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US, April 2, 2007 - During a conference call to announce its latest music game Rock Band for release on Xbox 360 and PS3, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos hinted strongly that a Wii-specific version of the title would be coming out in the future. When asked if there was any chance Rock Band would arrive on Wii, Rigopulos said without hesitation, "Absolutely."

"We will, at some time, bring Rock Band to every [important] platform," Rigopulos said. He added that Harmonix would optimize future versions of Rock Band to fit the strengths of the platform. "I think the Wiimote is something that holds enormous promise."

[ShyGuy]

Ghastly rumor that will spread like poison!

Crysis Screenshot on the Wii?

[Adrock]

This one is worse

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Link then appears screaming for a very brief second before the screen turns black and a tri-force slams onto the screen and smashes in to pieces.

If the character model used for Link is any indication of where this series is headed, expect ultra-realism, grittiness, and a very dark feel.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......... Oh dear, that'll be the day. Frank Miller's The Legend of Zelda.

[Caterkiller]

You know, most of that seemed pretty legit, but when I read the Zelda part, im like "maaaan!"

Honestly, does anyone wan't Zelda to get any darker than it has in TP? I think where its at is fine, and I don't mind things being upped a notch here and there, but ultra realism? come on guys!  

[Adrock]

I didn't think Twilight Princess was that dark. Nintendo didn't really push the limits as far as what I expect in a Zelda game. Comparatively, Wind Waker had a more brutal death scene. They didn't even show Ganondorf getting stabbed at the end of Twilight Princess. Even Ocarina of Time's ending was edgier.

Still, I wouldn't say I want Zelda to be "dark." Some things need work, but making a game dark isn't the only way to go.

[Shift Key]

I'll believe that Zelda news when I see the video. Until now all I smell is lies - or maybe that's the GAF part of the story.

[Smoke39]

TP wasn't very dark at all.  I wouldn't mind a darker Zelda, but I don't think I'd like a Zelda game that had a more realistic look than TP.

Either way though, it sounds pretty bogus.

[mantidor]

Anyone who thinks downloadable content is a nice idea should be shot, I want a complete game. I really have no idea how to apply the connect24 thing to games, the only thing is having feedback from the weather channel to change the enviroment of the game, but I don't know if it would fit with Metroid well, besides that, I really don't know.

Sounds like a lot of educated guesses to support the absurd idea of hyperrealist screaming Link, but no one is buying it.

[Smoke39]

It is possible to release additional content for a complete game, you know...

[IceCold]

From the rumour thread.. (re: Disaster)

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The game still appeared to be very much “in development” due to the lack of playable areas, but featured graphics much improved from the E3 Trailer.

Heh. E3 trailer? More like a three second FMV clip..

[Ghisy]

From that thread on neogaf, seems like everyone is excited about the game "BS".
I wonder what it could be...

[Ceric]

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Vision Red – Original Nintendo RPG. Looked similar to Final Fantasy VII in terms of character design and style of play.

That is the only thing in there that was remotely not just something from the rumor mills or a forgone conclusion.  I'll still wait and see.  When is E3 again?

Edit:
Also on the Crysis front.  I could see that happening. I could actually see that happening with a few games.  If MS spins it right having some online enabled game be 360,PC, and Wii and then leveraging their whole Live their trying to do might make them some money.  The whole idea was that this was suppose to appeal to you if you like to play a certain style.  Since I personally don't think it be in MS's best interest to emulate the Wiimote anytime soon this would be a way to offer that style of play to their online customers.  Yes I could see that happening.  I could also see that if it really took off and was popular for the control scheme we would eventually see a Halo3 Multiplayer game on the Wii.  It wouldn't have the single-player portion at all.  Just a tutorial for the new controls and Multiplayer.  The more people on Live the better for MS and if they can get companies to use the service for a competing system as well all the better.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I was originally gonna post that [strike]dream scenario[/strike] rumor, but all of the following was why I didn't bother:

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......... Oh dear, that'll be the day. Frank Miller's The Legend of Zelda.

Quote
I'll believe that Zelda news when I see the video. Until now all I smell is lies - or maybe that's the GAF part of the story.

Quote
Either way though, it sounds pretty bogus.

Quote
Sounds like a lot of educated guesses to support the absurd idea of hyperrealist screaming Link, but no one is buying it.

Quote
From that thread on neogaf, seems like everyone is excited about the game "BS".
I wonder what it could be...

Maybe I should have just posted it for the laughs and giggles.

As for the Crysis thing, lets hope that it is true, and I will but it in support for more developers of that type just to support the Wii.
It would be kinda like why I'm gonna buy Manhunt 2 for Wii... just to show that games for mature gamers will sell to all of us older gamers on the Wii.  

[Ceric]

I like to send that message that mature games are indeed welcomed but I ain't touching Manhunt 2 with a ten foot pole unless I'm made to.

[Spak-Spang]

Newest Rumor posted at GoNintendo talks about a possible Hard Drive announcement for the Wii.

Before you just cast the rumor away it comes from speculation from the IGN staff, whom are a little better source than most rumors.

The thought is that with Neo Geo VC games about to come out a new hard drive attachment could help out the problems with Wii Storage.

This could a very good thing for the Nintendo Wii, and lets discuss what will also have to come with this update.

First, we will most likely see an firmware update to the Wii that will allow for game saves and virtual console games to be saved to the hard drive, and be played from the hard drive.  So with this upgrade we could see some other huge promises for the system.

1) New Wii Internet Browser that will allow you to cache web pages, download save movies, and actually have more of the functions we expect from all web browsers.

2)The 512 FLASH RAM could eventually be used as Virtual memory to provide more RAM for the Wii.  This is unlikely, but could be plausible if a new Wii console is built that combines the hard drive.

3)Original VC console games on the way with higher size limitation.

4)Downloaded Preview Channel

5)Music/Movie Channel

6)New version of Mii with more options, and perhaps a chat program

Obviously, this E3 could have huge announcements as several of these ideas will appeal to Non-Gamer and Gamer alike.  And if Nintendo could release a nice hard drive for around $50-79.00   Then it could be a huge success.  Nintendo could even package it hard drive with a free download card or game stored right on the hard drive already.

[Chozo Ghost]

Doesn't the Wii already have USB ports that allow external hard drives to be hooked up? I could be wrong on that, and if so please forgive my ignorance. I just think it would be better if Nintendo let us use our existing USB storage things instead of buying somethnig new that would only work with the Wii...

[Adrock]

A lot of people hate the idea of a hard drive for Wii. I don't really see why. If you don't want it, don't get it. I think Wii could use a hard drive and that it could open up a multitude of possibilities. I probably wouldn't buy one or if I did, I'd need a good reason to, but I'm not opposed to Nintendo releasing one.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Unfortunately that is not a NEW rumor

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Originally posted by: BlackNMild2k1 March 18, 2007
The rumor comes from the Japanese gamer mag - GameLabo

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The meat of the rumour, which has been doing the rounds on several US and European websites over the weekend, suggests that a Nintendo meeting took place recently to discuss the subject of an external hard drive for Wii.

While the story might sound a bit ridiculous on the face of it, fact is that many Wii gamers have already hit their limit on the Flash memory that comes with the console - especially if you've been downloading as many VC games as you can get your hands on.

Source - Computer&Videogames.com

But it is good to hear it is still floating around, hopefully it come true. E3 is now too far away, we shouldn't have to wait till the end of summer to find out about all the good stuff.

[ShyGuy]

I would like to see a game come with a 2gb SD card for a swap file of sorts. Animal Crossing came with a memory card, so I don't think it's out of line. A $60 MMOG with a 2gb SD card for storage; yep that would be tops.

[Spak-Spang]

I understand the concept behind not wanting a hard drive.  It is an additional cost to your system.  Personally though, I don't mind it...if it means that Nintendo can do more things than it could before.

Like mentioning creating virtual RAM so games can be bigger or better...or improving several key functions to the Wii that need fixing.  The problem isn't the hard drive it would be pricing it, and creating it as an acceptable upgrade for the system.  

I remember when Nintendo added the 4 MEGS of RAM with Donkey Kong 64.  It created new life for the Nintendo 64, but everyone feared it would divided the N64 audience and confuse developers because some would program for the additional RAM and others wouldn't.

Well, it turned out not to be a big deal at all.  And helped bring about many a great game.  Why can't the Wii benefit from such an upgrade?

I can see either having a very affordable standalone price $59.99-79.99 with some sort of additional little benefit attached to it like a free $10.00 download card, or new software already installed on it.  (Just the idea of having a more advanced Mii system would make me buy it.)  

Or actually creating a must own game that requires the hard drive and having it packed it...this could go for $79.99-89.99.  This would be a dangerous way to go because of the cost of the game...but as Guitar Hero has shown us people are willing to pay for a great game.  The real importance would be showing gamers the additional benefits of the hard drive beyond that one single game.

The SD card idea is nice, but it isn't perfect.  Several things you can with a large hard drive that an SD card just won't do as easily.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I thought I would waste some more time and update this list.

07/09/2006
-An Actual Pokemon RPG may be in the works (?)
-A WiiDS connectivity game is in the works (true)
-Lots of side-quest still being added to Zelda: Twilight Princess (true)
-Tingle is also in Zelda: Twilight Princess (false)
-Many peripherals are in the works and a Mic may even be added to the Wiimote (true and false)

7/14/2006
If DQ Wii and DQ DS sell well then Dragon Quest IX will be exclusive for Wii (false, it ended up on DS)

07/25/2006
-Wii could be more powerful than we have been led to believe(Broadway 1.5ghz & Hollywood 555mhz) (false)

7/31/2006
Official Nintendo docs leaked to reveal Wii specs? (true, I think)

8/04/2006
Sources close to Nintendo of Europe tell IGN that the company is underway with a sequel to the hit GameCube sports title Super Mario Strikers. Furthermore, insiders allege that the title could be unveiled later this month at the Games Convention 2006 in Leipzig, Germany (this happened right?)

08/11/2006
- Possible delay for Metroid Prime 3 (true)
- Dragon Quest Swords probably not going to make launch (true)
- THQ Wii exclusive event next Tuesday (true, but it wasn't Wii exclusive)

8/15/2006
- Larger order of chips = lower price for Nintendo (makes sense)
- Wii could launch @ $199 US (it could have)
- Nintendo developing Brain & Diet Training games for Wii (true?)
- BT & DT aimed for pre Christmas release (didn't happen)

08/27/2006
-Sept. 14th Nintendo will reveal the last secret of the Wii (I've heard no secret)
-The last secret is a Head Mounted Display (false?)
-Disaster: Day of Crisis is the first game to use this HMD (?)
-Disaster is to release in January 2007 (false)

10/28/2006
-CNN content provider of news contendt for news channel (false)
-Spin the globe to find news stories around the world (true)
-Sega moved most of it develepment from PS3 to Wii over summer (true, but probably not as early as last summer)
-DVD capable Wii for Japan in 2007 (was announced, could still happen)

01/03/2007
-DQ Swords to be a Wii pack-in in 2007 (not gonna happen while Wii is still being sold out)

01/06/2007
-Fire Emblem has two parts (false)
-NiGHTS Wii (true)
-SE & Disney to put KH on Nintendo consoles (lets hope so)

01/09/2007
-SE to sell two franchises (KH & Mana to Disney?) (Most likely false)

01/24/2007
-Nintendo to release Wiimote v2.0 (rubber grips & rechargeable batteries)(False, but 3rd parties have provided those upgrades)

01/29/2007
-New colors for Wii Q4 2007 (very likely, but we'll see)

01/31/2007
-Konami to announce a "flood" of games for Wii (I wouldn't call it a flood, but it was related to water)

02/03/2007
-Guilty Gear coming to Wii (true)

03/10/2007 technically from 02/25/2007
-EA developing a dancing game for wii that uses a microphone (true)

03/18/2007
-Nintendo to release an external HDD for Wii (waiting for E3, but rumor just resurfaced by IGN editors on 06/02/2007)

04/09/2007
-Assasins Creed coming to DS & Wii (waiting for E3...)

04/10/2007
-Free Radical has a Wii exclusive FPS on the way, could be TimeSplitter 4 (waiting for E3...)
-A Wii Nascar game is being held back to incorporate online capabilities (waiting for E3...)
-Capcom is to revamp an old franchise into the 3D 3rd person realm (waiting for E3...)

04/12/2007
-Sega to make a game that will have you "shaking to beats" this year <Samba De Amigo?> (waiting for E3...)

05/07/2007
-RockStar to bring TableTennis to the Wii  (waiting for E3...)
-Dreamcast shooter Karous may be headed to Wii  (waiting for E3...)

05/26/2007
-Crysis in development for Wii (waiting for E3...)

thats not all the rumors, but its most of them.    

[Spak-Spang]

Great update on the rumors.  It is always great to see that some rumors do come true, and the outlandish ones always seem to be false.  The lesson is to try to evaluate everything you read with a question of plausibility.  

[vudu]

This isn't a rumor, but since we've talked about it a bunch on here, might as well post this here.

Wii Blaster for sale at EB Games for $19.99; available 6/26/07.  Compatible with Wii shooting game software such as Wii Play, Nintendo Duck Hunt, Resident Evil 4 – Wii Edition, Chicken Shoot, Brothers in Arms: Double Time, and more.