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Topics - Pale

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26

We didn't get a heck of a lot of nominated games this time. I think that may be a good thing as it will focus the voting a little more.  Vote for all of the games you are willing to play and ONLY VOTE IF YOU CAN PARTICIPATE ON THE 8th!

This poll will run for one week, ending on Monday August 3rd.

Official WiFi Night Rules and Procedures

The process is made of four sequential threads that will show up (stickied) in this forum.

Thread 1: Day voting and game nomination. Users will vote for all days that they are able to play on in a poll. Thread responses will collect game nominations.
Thread 2: Game voting. A poll that consists of each game that was nominated in the previous thread. Players each vote for as many games as they are willing and able to play on the day that was selected in the previous thread
Thread 3: Friend code collection. All (and only) participating players will post their friend code for the chosen game in this thread. This is so people can start updating their friend lists ahead of time.
Thread 4: Gameplay chat thread. This thread shows up on the day of and is used to chat about the action as it is happening.

There are only a few special rules regarding this process.

The same game can not be chosen for two consecutive months. This will force us to experience at least a little bit of variety.

The same day of the week can not be chosen for two consecutive months. People often have regular work schedules that keep them from playing on certain days. It would suck for them if one of those days was chosen every single month.

This should go without saying, but all forum rules apply to every thread involved in the WiFi night.  Don't be a jerk.

27
Nintendo Gaming / Official NWR WiFi Night - August, 2009
« on: July 15, 2009, 05:29:46 PM »

Now that I am happily wed, it's time to get the official monthly WiFi night back up and running again!  As usual, we'll kick things off with a poll to decide the day and a thread to collect game nominations.

The "can't do the same thing we did last month" rule is not in effect because it's been a while since we've done one. So, everything is game!

Vote for every day you are able to play and nominate as many games as you like.  The poll will run until Friday, July 24th.


Official WiFi Night Rules and Procedures

The process is made of four sequential threads that will show up (stickied) in this forum.

Thread 1: Day voting and game nomination. Users will vote for all days that they are able to play on in a poll. Thread responses will collect game nominations.
Thread 2: Game voting. A poll that consists of each game that was nominated in the previous thread. Players each vote for as many games as they are willing and able to play on the day that was selected in the previous thread
Thread 3: Friend code collection. All (and only) participating players will post their friend code for the chosen game in this thread. This is so people can start updating their friend lists ahead of time.
Thread 4: Gameplay chat thread. This thread shows up on the day of and is used to chat about the action as it is happening.

There are only a few special rules regarding this process.

The same game can not be chosen for two consecutive months. This will force us to experience at least a little bit of variety.

The same day of the week can not be chosen for two consecutive months. People often have regular work schedules that keep them from playing on certain days. It would suck for them if one of those days was chosen every single month.

This should go without saying, but all forum rules apply to every thread involved in the WiFi night.  Don't be a jerk.

28
TalkBack / Wii Sports Resort Trailer
« on: June 02, 2009, 07:29:00 AM »
Check out the trailer that was shown during Nintendo's E3 2009 press conference!
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18647

 


29
TalkBack / BlackNMild's Brute Can Beat Your Brute
« on: May 29, 2009, 04:22:21 PM »
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=18587

  We're only days away from E3 at this point and I'm sure many gamers out there are anxiously counting down the minutes to the big press conferences.  Are you looking for something to do in the meantime?  I for one have been enjoying one of the most ridiculous web fads around for the past couple of weeks thanks to a thread by BlackNMild2k1 in the forums.  It's a silly web game called My Brute    


Now, before anyone goes running to the comments section to rant about how it's just a click whoring garbage site with no purpose, I know! Yet, I still find it oddly therapeutic.  For those not in the know, it's a very basic fighting game.  Game is actually a strong word.  It's more like a fighting sim.  The premise is simple. You create a character and then have him/her fight against other characters.  The fights themselves are just little movies. There is absolutely no user input involved. The system decides who will win.  Here's the catch though, after every fight your character will receive experience points.  These experience points will lead to leveling up.  When they level up, their stats increase and they may get a new weapon, ability, or pet.    


Oh, so that's where the user interaction comes in! You can decide how your character levels up! Nope! Not at all. Even these new skills are totally random.  It's hard to say why I still like such a passive experience so much.  The competition, race for high levels, and anticipation for new abilities really keeps me coming back though.    


At first glance, My Brute may appear to be nothing more than a competition to see which players have the most time on their hands. That's where the best feature comes in.  Each Brute can only fight three fights per day.  Because wins grant more experience points than losses, this is where the race for high levels comes in.  This is also the primary reason I find it so therapeutic.  At lunch time every day I can hop on and watch these little cartoon characters beat each other up for a few minutes.  It's a great way to break up the day.    


Anyway, NWR has a clan you can join that BnM runs.  Make sure you post in the thread if you are trying to get in though.  Otherwise he won't know to accept you.    


One last thing.  If you become a pupil of another character, you help that character level up faster.  If you want to do BnM a solid, you should create your character under his using the link below.    


Lil Boy Blu    


However, if you want to help me get ahead, you could do so under one of mine.  This is probably the better option.    


PaleHero
  Mr. Buckethat    


Join in the fun!  Wow, I can't believe I just said that much about a game that completely plays itself.  I'm kind of embarassed I'm having so much fun with it.


32
Here is the friend code thread for this week's WiFi night which happens tomorrow night.

Post your friend code here only if you are playing tomorrow.


I've gotta buy the game and get my friend code. =P

33
One thing has been really bothering me and I'm sure there is a simple answer...

Why do some people appear on the "who's online" list in italics?

Right now it's mop_it_up and goldenphoenix on my list.

I don't get it.

34
As stated before, this month we are definitely playing a WiiWare game!  Pick your favorite!

Voting will end at some point on Wednesday morning.

35
Nintendo Gaming / Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Echoes of Time
« on: March 29, 2009, 07:15:58 PM »
So my fiancee and I are playing this right now and I'm going to do a review on it. So far it's an extremely strange game.  Unlike the last crystal chronicles DS game, you CAN play the story mode in this one multiplayer.... but it doesn't seem near as fleshed out as Ring of Fates. Echoes of Time feels more like a series of missions than a full RPG...

Anyone else playing it?  The connectivity is extremely confusing as well.

This is in the DS section because even though there is a Wii version it is literally a port of the DS game in EVERY way.

36
Well it's time for another WiFi night! Vote for all of the days you can play! Thursday has been removed because it won last week.

As for game nominations, we are trying something different this month.

In honor of the new SD storage solution from Nintendo, we are going to be playing a WiiWare game!

Therefore only nominations for WiiWare titles will be accepted.

This poll will end at some point on April 1st.

37
TalkBack / DSi May Face Shortages
« on: March 27, 2009, 02:21:45 PM »
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=18060

  I'm sure most of our dedicated readers remember how wrong most of the people on staff here were when it came to the Wii's launch.  What was the line?  "You'll be able to walk into any Wal-Mart on launch day and pick one up."  Boy were we way off, and we still take crap about it to this day!  Well this time I'm here to tell you the opposite for the DSi.  We are hearing some rumblings from a well placed source that the system is receiving a very small initial shipment.    


So what does this mean for you? It may already be too late but you should probably try and find a place to pre-order as soon as possible if you want to get a system next week.  If that fails, just try and get to the store as early in the morning as possible.  I personally pre-ordered my system on Amazon.  Right now it is saying my expected ship date is April tenth even though the system comes out on the fifth.  Does this mean I'm not getting one from the first batch or is Amazon just being slow? It's hard to say, but I placed my order on February 24. That's pretty early to not have one shipped on the release day.    


The larger screens, downloadable games, and rumor of a possible Game Boy Virtual Console must be making the new DS quite the hot commodity.


38
General Gaming / I made a Flash game...
« on: March 27, 2009, 10:18:19 AM »
So over the past couple months in my spare time at work and at home I threw together this silly Star Formation game.

Discover Magazine "published" it on their site.  Check it out if you want. =P

http://discovermagazine.com/interactive/star-formation-game/

39
TalkBack / DSi Hardware and Software Trailers
« on: March 25, 2009, 05:06:56 PM »
Nintendo also released a couple trailers that show off the hardware and software of the DSi. Check them out here.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18037

 Included in Nintendo's 2009 Game Developer's Conference press kit were two DSi B-Rolls.  B-Rolls are given out to press so that portions of them can be edited in to video productions.    


That said, we thought we might as well present them to everyone in their entirety.  The first features lustful pans of the hardware itself. The second includes shots of people enjoying DSi software.  Enjoy!    


 

 


40
TalkBack / The Legend of Zelda: Spirt Tracks Trailer
« on: March 25, 2009, 04:12:34 PM »
Nintendo released the first official trailer for the next DS Zelda game today!
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=18035

 Nintendo included the official trailer for the upcoming DS game, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, in their GDC 2009 press kit.  It is embedded below.    


The trailer features the train traveling gameplay as well as some classic Zelda-style dungeon action. It includes many stylus oriented puzzles, just like Phantom Hourglass.    


According to the keynote Spirit Tracks will ship for DS later this year!    



41
NWR Forums Discord / Bizzarre Cell Phone Event... What th?
« on: March 24, 2009, 08:28:10 PM »
So I'm wondering if anyone can shed any light on this strange event that just happened....

Now, my fiancee and I are on the same cell phone plans.  We happen to be sitting at the computer together, with both phones on the table right next to each other.

Suddently, both phones rang simultaneously. Pretty strange right?

It gets weirder.... the caller id number on each was the same!  So I had to act fast and decided the best thing to do would be answer both phones at the same time, one in each ear, with a simple, "Hello?"

After saying hello my fiancee's phone gets hung up on.  Through my phone I hear a "Hello? Michael?" and then it hangs up to.

What the hell? How is that even possible?

The number that called me was 866-205-9915.

Is this some bizarre scam thing?

42
TalkBack / REVIEWS: New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis
« on: March 12, 2009, 10:12:20 PM »
Are tacked-on motion controls an invitation for disaster?
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=17962

 You know how when you first try bleu cheese it's way too potent and abrasive, but then when you eat some more of it you realize it's the greatest cheese of them all?  Hmm...no? Maybe it's just me.  Regardless, that has been my experience with the New Play Control release of Mario Power Tennis. We already have a couple of reviews detailing the original Mario Power Tennis on the site, so this review will focus on what the Wii Controls bring to the table.    


If you get the itch to try out tennis as a sport, after buying a racket and putting on some nice white shorts, it doesn't take long to grasp the different possible shots. Top-spin, back-spin, lob, drop shot, overhead smash...they all make perfect sense. Understanding how to execute them is a different beast, though.  You can try again and again, and maybe one out of twenty drop shot/back-spin attempts will land so perfectly that it immediately bounces right back into the net, making it impossible for your opponent to return it.  Even though it's far from repeatable, that one moment makes you feel like an all-star.  The Wii controls bring this level of realism to Mario Power Tennis. While at first this was extremely frustrating for me, I grew to love it.    


The first two releases of Mario Tennis featured a pretty significant learning curve. Michael Cole compared it to a fighting game in his review of the GameCube version, and I think that comparison works extremely well.  It is very easy to tell the rookies from the experts in the Nintendo 64 and GameCube releases, and this often leaves rookies frustrated and walking away.  A skilled player can run his opponent all over the court with a mix of perfectly timed lobs and drop shots that alternate between left and right court.  While these early games are great in multiplayer if the skill levels are similar, it isn't the greatest party game if there is a gap.    


As the New Play Control moniker suggests, the controls of the Wii release of Power Tennis are significantly different.  You control your character with the joystick on the Nunchuk.  Yes, you can move yourself.  That alone gives this game a significant leg up on Wii Sports Tennis.  For those looking for a less complex experience, if you unplug the Nunchuk the character's movement goes on autopilot.  While in this mode the D-pad can be used to move your character, which is most useful for bringing your player to the net.  The autopilot is a bit too good though, as it can often result in seemingly infinite volleys.    


Advanced techniques, such as power shots and lunges are still controlled with buttons, but these abilities can be automated based on the control mode selected. There are four options: easy, normal, technical, and manual.  I found myself preferring normal, which makes my character automatically lunge and decide which type of power shot to use, but leaves the actual performing of a power shot up to me.    


  Obviously, the racquet controls took on the biggest overhaul.  All standard swings are done with a swinging motion of the remote.  The force of your swing determines the speed at which the ball is returned.  The manner in which it is swung determines to the type of shot, and there are quite a few. They are as follows:    


     
  • A horizontal swing does a standard shot.
  •  
  • A horizontal swing going from low to high gives the ball top-spin.
  •  
  • A horizontal swing going from high to low gives the ball back-spin.
  •  
  • A vertical swing from high to low does either a smash or a drop shot, depending on the height of the ball.
  •  
  • A vertical swing from low to high does a lob shot.
  •  
  • Hitting the ball late or early in a swing sends it toward or away from the court's center, respectively
  •  
   


When Wii games try to differentiate among this many different gestures at the same time, the effect is rarely perfect. The first few times I tried to lob the ball over an opponent's head I instead performed a soft back-spin shot, giving him a nice piece of cake to slam back down my throat. I was ready to write the entire experience off as frustrating garbage.  However, a few hours of gameplay later I began to notice something incredibly intriguing.  I found my ability to hit consistent lob shots improving slightly.  Was I actually getting better at my virtual tennis swing through practice?  This is some amazing stuff.    


Don't get me wrong. The imprecision of the controls will most likely keep all players from ever reaching the level of shot selection fluency possible in the original GameCube game.  This isn't a bad thing, though.  Being able to take on a strategy knowing that your opponent cannot always execute the perfect shot really adds the realism, and not always being able to hit the perfect shot makes the moments where you do all the more exciting.    


Sadly, while I appreciate the realistic imprecision during a normal tennis match, it makes most of the mini-games worthless and frustrating.  Given that these were originally designed with extremely precise traditional controls in mind, and those controls are not present in this re-release, they devolve into unpredictable and frustrating chores.  For example, the wall-painting game tasks the player with hitting paint balls of varying colors into the proper regions to color the picture.  After many attempts I came to the realization that all I was doing was randomly returning the shots and waiting until I got lucky enough to hit all of the proper spots.  While this can be good for general practice, going for the fastest time is all but worthless.  It might as well have been a dice rolling mini game.    


Thankfully, this disparity in difficulty isn't as apparent in the computer-controlled A.I. during regular tennis matches.  While the most difficult tournaments feature opponents that consistently pull off perfect shots, they don't require a similar level of perfection to be defeated.  The difficulty also ramps up very evenly, allowing you to get better at the shots right along with your opponents.    


There are a few other notable changes in the Wii version.  Firstly, all menus are navigated using the pointer. While it would be a glaring omission if they failed to implement this, it's still nice to have it.  The sound effects have also been modified to make use of the Wii Remote speaker: it's nice to hear Yoshi's patented grunt come through the remote as I hit the ball.  The effect is really cool when playing four-player, as you can hear which of your friends is swinging their racket.  The graphics don't feature any major changes, but the original was a great-looking game, and this version looks great on old and new televisions alike.    


The original Mario Power Tennis was a great game on the 'Cube. This remake maintains the same charm and is definitely worth owning for someone who missed it the first time around. With its additional shot possibilities (and the ability to control your movement), Wii Sports Tennis looks downright primitive by comparison. If you still get a lot of play out of that game, you should consider moving up to Power Tennis.  Similarly, if you are unhappy with the lack of depth in Wii Sports Tennis but like its premise, Power Tennis is right for you.

Pros:
       

  • Motion controls make tennis matches more realistic and fun
  •  
  • It's like Wii Sports Tennis, but with more shot options and you can move
  •  
  • Multiplayer games are an absolute pleasure


  •        Cons:
           
  • Imprecise controls make mini-games extremely frustrating


  •                Graphics:  8.0
           While it is just a port of a GameCube game, the original was beautiful. It also looks very nice on an HD television.

                   Sound:  8.0
           The music is catchy and pleasant. There are a ton of great sound effects, many of which come through the Wii remote speaker for a very cool effect.

                   Control:  8.5
           While the imprecision of the motions may not work for the mini-games, it makes for a more realistically error-prone and fun experience in the standard tennis matches. While this can be off-putting at first, getting better at the different tennis shots can be extremely rewarding.

                          Gameplay:  9.0
           While the extremely frustrating mini-games stink, the primary tennis experience is so good that it overcomes them. I don't plan on ever playing Wii Sports Tennis again.

     


           Lastability:  9.0
           Good multiplayer sports games always make good party games at home in most gamers' collections. The imprecise controls will prevent most players from ever mastering the game, but the challenge of learning them over time only increases the longevity of the game.

     


           Final:  8.5
           There is a lot to like about New Play Control: Mario Power Tennis. It takes an already great game and adds active and fun motion controls consistent with the Wii's philosophy. Any game that can take something as fun as Wii Sports Tennis and make it all but obsolete is worth owning. If only those mini-games weren't so frustrating...      


    43
    Here's the chat thread for tonight's WiFi night! You can talk here, or, better yet, hit up the official NWR chat...

    http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/chat.cfm


    Here are all of the friend codes from the last thread. If you didn't get yours in in time to make this list, just add it to this thread.

    2535-5752-8263 - vudu
    3866-8431-9583 - UODuck02
    1118-1159-8102 - Mop_it_up
    3308-4897-8243 - Dasmos
    3652-0916-9074 - GK
    4898-1639-1082 - TJ Spyke

    Sorry I can't make it this month guys. Harass some other staffers and try and get them to play in my stead. :)

    44
    Well everyone called it and Mario Kart Wii won!  Maybe Smash Bros. won't win next week! =P

    Drop your friend code in this thread ONLY if you are playing on Thursday!

    45
    TalkBack / New Play Control! Wii Game Unboxing
    « on: March 05, 2009, 10:57:31 AM »
    http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=17884

      I've been pretty excited about the New Play Control! games coming to Wii. When I heard about the reversible cover arts, I figured a video unboxing was in order!    



    46
    So here are all the games... man there are a lot of them.

    Vote for the game you want to play ONLY if you are sure you can play on the Thursday, March 12.  That's the day that won the voting!

    Voting will end at some point Monday morning.

    47
    It's time for another official NWR WiFi night. It's happening next week and let's start things out as usual with a poll for which day we play.

    We are implementing the "Can't do the same thing twice" rule this month for both day and game, so you will notice that Friday is not an option in this poll.

    Voting will end at some point Thursday morning.


    This is also the game nomination thread, so throw your desired games up in here.


    Sorry this is happening the second week of March and not the first.

    48
    Announcements / FORUM RULES AND MODERATION POLICY UPDATED!
    « on: March 02, 2009, 02:10:15 PM »
    PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THEM!

    http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=24657.msg415458#msg415458

    Questions or concerns? Send me a PM.

    50
    NWR Forums Discord / UGH, WHY AM I HERE?
    « on: February 18, 2009, 12:46:28 PM »
    I'm on vacation in Florida and I'm arguing with Deg in the forums. Alright, computer is going OFF!

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