Topics

1

Nintendo Gaming / wtf? Why would Nintendo kill mp3 support in Photo Channel?

« on: November 20, 2007, 10:29:12 AM »

This is an unfathomable decision:

Check out these enhancements to the Photo Channel, which will be available in December, 2007.

Quote

   Personalize your Wii Menu by making one of your favorite digital images from an SD memory card as the Photo Channel icon.
   Consumers with MP3 compatible Photo Channels will have the option of updating their Photo Channel to version 1.1, which replaces MP3 compatibility with the ability to play AAC files. AAC files provide a greater sound quality than an MP3 of the same size. This new compatibility will work with MP4 audio files in the .m4a format. Additionally, you can now choose to have the songs play back in a random order.


*Wii consoles sold in retail stores starting in December 2007 should include AAC file support.

*Starting in early December 2007, Wii Console owners who do not have AAC file compatibility will have the option of updating their Photo Channel to version 1.1 by downloading the new version from the Wii Shop Channel. Please note that once the Photo Channel has been updated to version 1.1, the channel will no longer be able to play MP3 format music files. Wii games that currently have features which use MP3 music files will continue to use the MP3 file format. These Wii games will not be compatible with the AAC files.

Additionally, consumers who purchase a Wii console with the updated Photo Channel (ver. 1.1) already installed will not be able to install the previous version to support MP3 playback.

Um, wtf Nintendo? When getting so many other things so right, why do they insist on messing up no-brainers like this? This will cripple older older game titles (e.g. Excite Truck soundtracks won't work now!) as well, so this really makes no sense to me...Nobody should have to transcode their music just to play it on the Wii. (I really hope this isn't the beginning of an apple deal...)

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Nintendo Gaming / Wii Contests Thread

« on: November 21, 2006, 08:43:06 AM »

a) newegg.com, 2 free Wiis everyday for the next 22 days.

b) Comedy Central: giving out a Wii every hour starting Thursday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.

c) Pringles.com is giving away 100 Wii consoles. The program is supported by 7 million Wii-themed Pringles Snack Stacks packages and an additional 2 million Wii-themed Pringles canisters on display at Wal-Mart stores for the first three weeks of December. The sweepstakes runs now through April 16. (Nintendo Press Release)

d)7 Eleven is giving away 711 Wiis, codes printed on sides of Nintendo-branded slurpee cups.

Any other ones come up, post 'em here?

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Nintendo Gaming / Wii marketing blitz starting tomorrow, says Bloomberg

« on: November 12, 2006, 02:23:01 PM »

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHmN0wRpsctw&refer=home

...we all knew it was coming, and dammit,  it's about time! 80% of that 200mn they're spending'll be targeting adults, too. Keep your eyes on the tube?

4

Nintendo Gaming / VC games: transferrable or locked?...need answers fast

« on: September 19, 2006, 07:27:04 PM »

I've been wondering this for a while; I don't think anyone's made a point about it...
So I'm writing an op-ed on DRM-related tech for my university's newspaper, and I thought to make a pt. about Nintendo's (I'm already grilling Apple and my post is a train wreck on this). So...are we able to save VC games to a memory card, take it, and play it on a friend's Wii?  

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Nintendo Gaming / Speculation: New feature has something to do with online

« on: May 01, 2006, 06:49:23 PM »

Notice how recently, Wii developers have been very ambiguous about online features?
I figure they're all still NDA'd for some reason or other. Now, we KNOW Nintendo is committed to online with Rev outside of the VC. There's no way these features won't exist. So what is so special about online play that the details about it are still being held back?

Hmm...is there any potential for a revolutionary feature in the online field...I feel like it's all been done, but now, with all the news we're getting, it seems as if this is the missing piece of the puzzle, while everyone's distracted by the various other announcements.

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Nintendo Gaming / Revolution Postcards sent out

« on: January 03, 2006, 02:19:39 PM »

Link to 1UP article.


That's one damn cool looking postcard, edgy with those nunchucks.
To the European press only though...they should be starting the hype machine here also. Hopefully a sign of earlier news?  

7

Nintendo Gaming / Non-gamer strategy proving successful?

« on: December 26, 2005, 04:56:59 PM »

Reuters - Nintendo has sold 5 million DSs in Japan

It took Nintendo 14 months to hit that mark with the GBA and Sony 17 months to hit that with the PS2 (though isn't really a valid comparison; considering the price difference between a DS and a PS2.)

So what does this mean? Is the non-gamer idea working, or is this just a bunch of PR spin?

P.S. - I don't own a DS because I don't have enough time for the games I already have, let alone the myriad more titles I'd wanna get on the DS.  

[The DS gets a redesign.]

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Nintendo Gaming / E3 Surprise Predictions

« on: December 20, 2005, 10:25:00 AM »

We all know Nintendo is going to pull out all the stops this E3 (or so help them if they don't.) Since we're not gonna get a lot of news, we might as well start the E3 speculation early:

1. The DS gets a redesign. - We all know this one is coming sooner or later. Since its been 1.5 yrs since DS launch already, and Reggie himself has hinted at a redesign already...this is probably gonna come as part of the one-two punch (the other part, obviously, is the Rev unvealing)

2. Metroid Prime 3 for launch - They've been working on it for long enough, haven't they? This could part of the Rev's killer app line up.

3. Surprise new franchise? - It could be anything. This one is not so much a predicition as a given.

4. Some kick-arse online multiplayer. - This is basically key for Rev launch. What exactly it is is anyone's guess. I would say Smash Bros., but it looks like they haven't really begun serious work on that until just recently.

5.  Footage of next Mario. - Somehow, I don't think this'll come at launch, though it should.

6. DS 'connectivity'. - This won't be as extensive as GBA connectivity. Rather, it might allow big screen play of GBA games, or DS if it could manage it. Maybe it could be used as a controller for downloaded games. Maybe it'll even be possible to download the games off of the Rev and play them on the go; though conventional wisdom states that Nintendo is too cheap for that.

7. The unvealing of Zoonami's games, whatever they are. - It's pretty ridiculous how long Martin Hollis and Co. has kept his games under wraps. I think something will definitely be revealed by them, whether its for the Rev or not.

8. Third party exclusives - not more than two for launch frame. - I think that's fare, considering how they haven't gotten the 'real' kits yet.

9. Rev's secret feature(s)? - At first I thought it'll just be some stupid sparkling innovation; now I'm not so sure.

10. One pack-in VC game per console..

11. Price pts.: $199 for decked out console (with DVD dongle, shell and nunchuck controller, pack-in VC game. Controller = $34.99. Games = $49.99. VC games = $5 -10.

Aight, that's enough for now. I know a lot were no brainers...but cut me some slack yo, I made it pretty quickly.

Thoughts?  

9

General Chat / On so-called "Gamers"

« on: December 10, 2005, 04:59:43 PM »

This is completely ridiculous. (The link to to nytimes.com, you need to do free registration to see it.)

This is about the saddest thing I've read in a while (hot on the heals of watching "Requiem for a Dream".) PC games are a mystery to me, but really, if you need to pay a person in China to play the game for you, then either you shouldn't be a gamer, or the game isn't really a game, in which case you shouldn't be playing it at all. If this is what MMORPGs are all about, then count me out, thank you very much. Sickening

Here's the beginning, for the lazy:


"One of China's newest factories operates here in the basement of an old warehouse. Posters of World of Warcraft and Magic Land hang above a corps of young people glued to their computer screens, pounding away at their keyboards in the latest hustle for money.

Workers have strict quotas and are supervised by bosses who equip them with computers, software and Internet connections to thrash online trolls, gnomes and ogres.

The people working at this clandestine locale are "gold farmers." Every day, in 12-hour shifts, they "play" computer games by killing onscreen monsters and winning battles, harvesting artificial gold coins and other virtual goods as rewards that, as it turns out, can be transformed into real cash.

That is because, from Seoul to San Francisco, affluent online gamers who lack the time and patience to work their way up to the higher levels of gamedom are willing to pay the young Chinese here to play the early rounds for them.

"For 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, my colleagues and I are killing monsters," said a 23-year-old gamer who works here in this makeshift factory and goes by the online code name Wandering. "I make about $250 a month, which is pretty good compared with the other jobs I've had. And I can play games all day."

Oh, and this little tidbit is perhaps worse than all that:

"On eBay, for example, 100 grams of World of Warcraft gold is available for $9.99 or two über characters from EverQuest for $35.50. It costs $269 to be transported to Level 60 in Warcraft, and it typically takes 15 days to get the account back at the higher level.

In fact, the trading of virtual property is so lucrative that some big online gaming companies have jumped into the business, creating their own online marketplaces.

Sony Online Entertainment, the creator of EverQuest, a popular medieval war and fantasy game, recently created Station Exchange. Sony calls the site an alternative to "crooked sellers in unsanctioned auctions.""


 

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Nintendo Gaming / December 2005 issue of Edge - anyone got it?

« on: November 27, 2005, 08:54:38 AM »

Dec. 2005 issue of Edge has controller impressions. Probably not anything new, but more perspective:

http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2005/10/edge_156.php

They're one of the only game mags around that isn't full of it. I'd subscribe if it weren't $110 for 13 issues, which is bloody murder.

So...does anyone have it?

11

General Chat / Finally, a VG movie that maybe won't suck: PJ to do Halo

« on: October 05, 2005, 06:24:48 PM »

Here's the link to yahoo news.

I'm dissappointed, sort of, because I want Jackson to get back to making original stuff instead of transfering stories from one medium to another or remaking existing movies.

Still...gives some credibility to the whole enterprise. I know he's only producing, etc, but still.
Who's supposed to be directing/producing the Metroid movie?

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General Chat / MIYAMOTO IS COMING TO MANHATTAN - will sign nintendogs

« on: September 21, 2005, 05:30:52 PM »

Holy sh*t!

Miyamoto is coming to the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Center this Sunday, 11AM-1PM. He's gonna be signing autographs for the first 200 customers and trading Nintendogs with the first 10 people. Everyone is gonna get a special 'Mr. Miyamoto' DS skin as well.

Sorry if this is old news...but damn, this is the best chance I have of meeting the dude.

This news curtesy of Nintendo's mailing list that I almost delisted from (hehe)...

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendogs Chihuahua - $15 at Amazon?

« on: August 21, 2005, 03:33:15 PM »

I was looking at pricewatch today...I didn't know DS games get this cheap...maybe its a pricing mistake...more likely everyone knew this and I look like a fool...

linky.

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General Chat / SK updates its site, finally

« on: July 21, 2005, 12:37:30 PM »

The guys finally got rid of the Nintendo logo, and makes mention of it's deals with Epic, Sega, and Microsoft to make games for them. Pretty slick actually, the content remains the same though...boy do I miss those dudes...

15

General Chat / Sin City...!!!

« on: April 14, 2005, 02:02:41 PM »

Wow, this movie totally blew me away. Can't speak about the actual comic, but this is probably Robert Rodriguez's best movie since El Mariachi, if not, his best ever. The only other movie in recent memory I could compare to it is Kill Bill, and Quentin Tarantino actually had a hand as a special-guest-director on this project- you definately see his influence. It's so artistic, and is the most symmetrical movie I've seen in a while...every episode goes full circle, as does the movie as a whole. You really feel like you're watching a moving comic-book also - most of it is black and white, with spots of color. I'm not going to go into the specifics...but all of you, if you haven't gone to the cinema in a while, now you have no excuse. (You don't have to wait till May 19th hehe) See it. See it now!!!!

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General Gaming / GameCube disc cover won't close - Eject button stuck

« on: September 12, 2004, 07:26:52 AM »

One of my brothers accidently slammed the disk cover down too hard, and now it won't close at all. It seems the Eject button
is stuck- it won't let the cover close. Does anyone have a solution to this- either to 'unstuck' the button or to keep the cover down?

Thx,
bilditup1

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General Gaming / PS2 import questions...Please Answer!

« on: March 17, 2003, 03:55:40 PM »

Hyey, just a little question...

A friend of mine wants a PS2; he lives in Turkey, so I'm getting it for him.
I know they use PAL in Turkey and that the Action Replay should make it region free.

Is there such a thing as an NTSC to PAL adapter? Are they expensive?

Also, are Euro games compatible with a US PS2, outside of the NTSC/PAL problem?

Thanks alot, I appreciate it.