Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
According to Japanese retailer Enterking, a system update could render your 3DS unusable if you've used a DS flash card.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rumor/25672
A Nintendo 3DS system update could potentially brick the system if the update detects traces of flash card use, which are often used for the purposes of playing pirated software. Japanese retailer Enterking has posted a warning on their website as follows:
"Dear Customers who resell Nintendo 3DS:
In case if you use equipment which is illegal or unapproved by Nintendo, or if you do customization which is unapproved by Nintendo, there is a possibility that Nintendo 3DS become non-bootable by system update."
The warning continues to state that because of this, Enterking is unable to buy a used 3DS if there is any trace of such usage. Users are to format their system before bringing them in to sell them, noting carefully that they will not be held responsible in the case that a user formats their system, brings it in to sell, and is declined, leaving the 3DS owner with a blank system.
Nintendo declined to comment when asked about the potential countermeasures:
"We do not discuss product security details (for obvious reasons), nor can we discuss the details of countermeasures available in the Nintendo 3DS system. Nintendo 3DS has the most up-to-date technology. The security has been designed to protect both the creative works in the software and to protect the Nintendo 3DS hardware system itself."
The first game up for WiiWare is Art Style: Rotozoa, published by Nintendo. This game has you controlling an organism and trying to grow by absorbing enemies. The game has you going through many different stages which present different challenges. As with other Art Style games, the visual style is highly distinct and the controls are simple and easy to learn. Art Style: Rotozoa is available in the Wii Shop Channel for 600 Wii Points ($6).
The second and third WiiWare games this week belong to the The Tales of Bearsworth Manor series, from Square Enix. First up is The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Chaotic Conflicts, and the second game is The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Puzzling Pages. Chaotic Conflicts has the player tossing animated paper bears into a picture book to defend the blue jewels against a young woman residing in a mysterious mansion. Puzzling Pages features a similar setting, but the game plays differently; the player is required to set up candles to manipulate the environment as the story unfolds. Both are available on the Wii Shop channel for 1,000 Wii Points ($10).
The first DSiWare game this week is Spin Six, published by Nintendo. The game contains numbered panels, and the player must rotate them and match up the numbers to make the panels disappear. The game contains almost 200 puzzles, as well as a score attack mode and several other modes as well. The game is only single-player, and is available for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5) from the DSi Shop Channel.
The second DSiWare game this week is Puffins: Let's Fish! from Other Ocean Interactive. This is a single-player game which features the ocean as the backdrop. The player needs to catch and eat fish, notably the capelin fish. The game features 18 different stages with multiple modes. Puffins: Let's Fish! is available on the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The third game for DSiWare this week is Mega Words from Digital Leisure, featuring a number of different word puzzles such as Word Scrambler, Anagram Hunt, and Hangman. The game only supports one player. Mega Words is available from the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The fourth DSiWare game this week is Super Swap, from Teyon. The game is similar to other matching block games, but features an action twist, as more blocks fall from the top of the screen as you play. The game contains combos and power-ups to provide a unique spin on a classic game. The game supports only one player. Super Swap is available on the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The final game for DSiWare this week is Legendary Wars: T-Rex Rumble, from Interplay. The game has you commanding a horde of ancient humans as they defend their village from attacking dinosaurs. The game contains strategy and action elements, and utilizes the touch screen interface to give players direct control over their units. Legendary Wars: T-Rex Rumble is available from the DSi Shop for 800 Nintendo DSi Points ($8).
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NINTENDO LETS THE FUN SHINE IN WITH EIGHT NEW GAME DOWNLOADS
June 21, 2010
This week brings the longest daylight hours of the season across North America. Whether your own neighborhood is under sunny skies or summer clouds, the weather on Nintendo's Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop is always inviting. New additions for the WiiWare service this week include an eye-popping new installment in the Art Style series and a pair of The Tales of Bearsworth Manor action-puzzle games. Hand-held gamers can choose from five new games for the Nintendo DSiWare service, including the puzzle fun of Spin Six, the undersea amusement of Puffins: Let's Fish! and the prehistoric adventure of Legendary Wars: T-Rex Rumble.
We've also got new arrivals in the "Big Name Games" section of the WarioWare: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry's most talented figures. This week's additions come from the Treehouse, Nintendo's game localization team. New "Big Name Games" will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.
WiiWare
Art Style: Rotozoa
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Control a circular creature-like organism known as a rotozoan and nimbly make your way through level after level of primordial ooze. Comprised of only three distinct parts (colored sides, tentacles and life force), the focus of your rotozoan life is simple: grow your tentacles. After playing a few levels and learning the basics of your microscopic world, you begin to unlock additional modes of play and the ability to choose the number of tentacles on your rotozoan. Each mode has its own specific purpose: reach a particular length with your tentacles or grow them to the greatest length possible. In either mode, growing your tentacles means absorbing enemies known as goobugs by touching them. There's just one catch: Successfully absorbing a goobug depends on matching its color to your tentacle. Also, longer tentacles can more easily come in contact with incorrectly colored goobugs (causing damage to the tentacle and decreasing your life force), and the goobugs themselves multiply and begin adapting to your movement. Luckily, objects such as the restorative heart item and special attack-enabling cyclone item can be found floating in the ooze to help your rotozoan survive. With aospheres ranging from peaceful to intensely challenging, Art Style: Rotozoa offers a wide variety of levels. Victory can only be achieved through quick, precise movement and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Are you ready to take on the goobugs? Games in the Art Style series feature elegant design, polished graphics and pick-up-and-play controls, creating an experience focused purely on fun and engaging game play.
The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Chaotic Conflicts
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: A crumbling mansion is home to a most peculiar picture book. Gather your courage and open the door to this odd, unsettling and slightly scary tale. Turn the tide of frantic battles by using the Wii Remote controller to throw animated paper bears into the picture book's unusual pages. Use all the tools at your disposal to defend the shining blue jewels found within against Kina, the mysterious young boy residing in the mansion. Thirty exciting and challenging stages await you.
The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Puzzling Pages
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: A crumbling mansion is home to a most peculiar picture book. Gather your courage and open the door to this odd, unsettling and slightly scary tale. Solve innovative puzzles by using the Wii Remote controller to throw animated paper bears into the picture book's unusual pages. Grab all the red candies found inside, carefully place your bears and cleverly manipulate the unique environments. Delve into the unfolding drama of Pina, the mysterious young girl residing in the mansion. Thirty exciting and challenging stages await you.
Nintendo DSiWare
Spin Six
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Spin Six is a puzzle game in which you rotate numbered panels to line them up and make them disappear. The real challenge lies in your ability to create chains of uninterrupted changing or elimination of panels and to connect many chains to score big points. Puzzle mode offers nearly 200 puzzles to solve, either in the One-Turn or Chain categories, while Time Attack mode allows you to challenge yourself to see how quickly you can eliminate a set number of panels. If you're more into points, the goal of Score Attack mode is to see how many points you can score within a set time limit (make the Spinnerator appear and get into Fever Time to really maximize your score!). Chain Challenge mode is all about the number of chains you can make without interruption. Give Spin Six a whirl to discover its multiple modes and deep yet easy-to-master game play.
Puffins: Let's Fish!
Publisher: Other Ocean Interactive
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Dive into the deep blue sea and fill your belly with delicious fish in Puffins: Let's Fish! This action game has you swimming the beautiful ocean in search of a puffin's favorite meal: the elusive capelin. But watch out! The ocean can be a dangerous place, and you're not the only one hunting for food. Sharks, jellyfish and other fearsome predators are just waiting to take a bite out of you. It's an all-you-can-eat feast with two different and exciting modes across 18 underwater stages. Take a deep breath, jump in and come out with a full belly!
Mega Words
Publisher: Digital Leisure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: It's time to put on your thinking cap and see how many of the hundreds of puzzles you can solve in Mega Words. Three classic puzzlers are included in this puzzle pack: Word Scrambler, Anagram Hunt and Hangman. There's no need for erasers here! These portable editions feature extensive dictionaries to challenge novices and expert players alike. See how fast you can unscramble words, sharpen your vocabulary and stretch your mind with Mega Words.
Super Swap
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Can't get enough of swapping puzzle games but want something different? Swap till you drop with Super Swap, an exciting blend of arcade action and matching fun. Drag colorful blocks in one of four directions to connect three or more blocks and clear the board. As new blocks fall, you'll have to move fast to keep the stack from reaching the top. Experience plenty of twists and never-before-seen game play as you make combos, collect special power-ups and gain additional points in four different game modes. With so much fast and furious puzzling fun, you'll never want to stop the swapping!
Legendary Wars: T-Rex Rumble
Publisher: Interplay
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: In a dark corner of prehistory, a tiny tribe of humans fights for the future of mankind. Struggling to survive, these ancestors of humanity desperately search for food and the means to defend their village. The human race teeters on the brink of extinction. Only inspired leadership can save them. Command more than 20 men to defend your village and simultaneously manage the constant search for food. Lead your warriors against hordes of dinosaurs in real-time battles. Control your tribe's actions to efficiently gather resources and boost their numbers. Gather knowledge to increase their power. Enlist the help of a powerful Shaman and direct his magic to heal your men and confound your enemies. Do all this using a new style of interface to intuitively group your men and issue orders with simple drags of your stylus. Under your leadership, the human race has a fighting chance.
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 or NintendoDSi.com.
To read the entire interview, head on over to Gamasutra.
The game is most likely being developed by the same team behind Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep for PSP. The previous game in the series, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, was developed by h.a.n.d. and released on the Nintendo DS last year.
Nintendo has put "TBA" for pre-installed software, leading to the logical conclusion that they intend to launch the 3DS with some sort of pre-installed games or applications. Nintendo has also not specified the battery life or color selection of the handheld, stating that it will be determined later when the handheld is closer to completion.
Size (when closed)
Approximately 5.3 inches wide, 2.9 inches long, 0.8 inches tall.
Weight
Approximately 8 ounces.
Look
Final design is TBA.
Top Screen
3.53-inch widescreen LCD display, enabling 3D view without the need for special glasses; with 800x240 pixel resolution (400 pixels are allocated for each eye to enable 3D viewing).
Touch Screen
3.02-inch LCD with 320x240 pixel resolution with a touch screen.
Cameras
One inner camera and two outer cameras with 640x480 (0.3 Mega) pixel resolution.
Pre-Installed Software
TBA
Nintendo 3DS Game Card
2 GB Max. at launch.
Wireless Communication
Can communicate in the 2.4 GHz band. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems can connect via a local wireless connection to let users communicate or enjoy competitive game play. Systems also can connect to LAN access points to access the Internet and allow people to enjoy games with others. Will support IEEE 802.11 with enhanced security (WPA/WPA2). Nintendo 3DS hardware is designed so that even when not in use, it can automatically exchange data with other Nintendo 3DS systems or receive data via the Internet while in sleep mode.
Game Controls
Touch screen, embedded microphone, A/B/X/Y face buttons, + Control Pad, L/R buttons, Start and Select buttons, Slide Pad that allows 360-degree analog input, one inner camera, two outer cameras, motion sensor and a gyro sensor.
Other Input Controls
3D Depth Slider to adjust level of 3D effect (can be scaled back or turned off completely depending on the preference of the user), Home button to call system function, Wireless switch to turn off wireless communications (even during game play), Power button. The telescoping stylus is approximately 4 inches when fully extended.
Input/Output
A port that accepts both Nintendo 3DS game cards and game cards for the Nintendo DS family of systems, an SD memory card slot, an AC adapter connector, a charging cradle terminal and a stereo headphone output jack.
Sound
Stereo speakers positioned to the left and right of the top screen.
Battery
Lithium ion battery details TBA.
Languages
TBA
Parental Controls
Parental controls similar to the Nintendo DSi system will be included.
The Nintendo 3DS is rumored to be launching in Japan near the end of 2010.
On the Wii, however, the Mario sports games have been less prevalent, making room for the best-selling Wii Sports franchise. Discounting the Olympic Games that Mario shares with rival mascot Sonic, its been since 2008s Super Mario Sluggers that Mario last had a chance to show his stuff. In 2011, Mario will finally head back into the field of competition with Mario Sports Mix.
Four different sports are included in the game: volleyball, ice hockey, dodgeball, and basketball. Each of the sports supports up to four players in 2-on-2 versus matches, or up to three players for co-operative gameplay. Like the previous Mario sports games, the action takes place in various Mushroom Kingdom-themed venues, such as a volleyball court located on DK Dock which slides left to right during play, or a basketball court on Bowser Jr. Boulevard with bonus and penalty zones that appear during play.
The game is developed by Square Enix, which is notable in that they were the same developer behind Mario Hoops: 3-On-3 for the Nintendo DS, a Mario-themed basketball game which utilized the touch screen heavily. While its unknown how the Wiis unique control scheme will be used in the basketball mode of Mario Sports Mix, its clear that the developer has experience programming this type of game on a Nintendo platform featuring a unique user interface. Although Mario Hoops: 3-On-3 featured some Square Enix franchise characters, there has been no indication of their inclusion in Mario Sports Mix.
As in other Mario sports games, Mario Sports Mix will heavily feature the use of items such as Koopa Shells and Mushrooms, all of which will have different effects depending on the sport being played.
Mario Sports Mix promises to serve up good old-fashioned arcade-style sports fun with a low barrier to entry, but enough depth to create a great gaming experience. The game is set for a 2011 release exclusively on Wii.
LOS ANGELES (June 15, 2010) Square Enix Co., Ltd. (SQUARE ENIX) announced today exclusive new titles for Nintendo 3DS (tentative product name). KINGDOM HEARTS 3D (tentative title), which today premiered globally along with never-before-seen footage, is the newest project from the hit series that has shipped over 15 million units worldwide. CHOCOBO® RACING 3D (tentative title) is a racing game featuring the ever-popular Chocobo, a familiar face from the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY® and CHOCOBO series, and is a title in which the speed and intensity of racing can be felt full-force through 3D visuals. In addition, Square Enix has also confirmed their plans to develop Nintendo 3DS (tentative product name) titles from both the DRAGON QUEST® and FINAL FANTASY series. Square Enix will continue to deliver a variety of contents to a global audience.
No further details has been revealed about these games.
TECMO KOEI PROUDLY ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP FOR THE NINTENDO 3DS
Companys Best-Selling Franchises to Expand onto the Latest Handheld System
BURLINGAME, Calif., June 15, 2010 TECMO KOEI GAMES CO., LTD. is proud to announce their platform support for the upcoming NINTENDO 3DS. The company has commenced development on four titles, all of which will bring a new dimension to their best-selling franchises. The titles are:
DEAD OR ALIVE® 3D (working title)
SAMURAI WARRIORS® 3D (working title)
NINJA GAIDEN® (working title)
DYNASTY WARRIORS® (working title)
The recent formation of Tecmo Koei represents a bold new direction for the two gaming companies, Tecmo and Koei, who boasts a portfolio of award-winning interactive entertainment products across various platforms. Utilizing the combined strengths of both companies and the latest in innovative technologies, Tecmo Koei is committed to fully re-imagining the worlds of these beloved franchises on the NINTENDO 3DS.
Details on the four titles including release date, pricing, rating information will be available at a later date.
The game continues the Golden Sun saga, and features lots of 3D overheard action and gorgeous environments. There are also lots of cutscenes that utilize both DS screens.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is scheduled to release this holiday season.
The game features lots of Mario-themed sporting events, such as Basketball, Dodgeball, Ice Hockey, and Volleyball.
Mario Sports Mix is set for release next year.
@Nintendo_NWR
We'll also be using it throughout the show to post our thoughts as they happen!
Enjoy the show!
The title is set to be the latest adventure in the Raving Rabbids series, following the well-recieved Rabbids Go Home. It will feature the Rabbids at various periods throughout time, battling cavemen, gladiators and knights.
Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time is set to launch on November 9, 2010, exclusively for Wii.
The most significant addition to the Rock Band gameplay is the new wireless keyboard controller, which features a 25-key wireless keyboard which can be laid flat on a table or held up with a strap while playing. The keyboard peripheral can also be used to play the guitar tracks. It will be priced at $79.99 if purchased separately, or $129.99 bundled with the game.
The Rock Band 3 drumset features a new cymbal kit, the PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit, which is made to both reduce the sound made when hitting the cymbal and also increase responsiveness. The cymbal kit will be released separately at $39.99, but will also be bundled with the drumset controller.
Perhaps the most impressive new controller is the 120-button Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar, retailing at $150. The guitar is designed after the Fender Mustang, and contains six actual guitar strings and a 17-fret neck with six buttons on each fret. This guitar is meant for the Rock Band 3 Pro mode, which is designed to teach you how to play an actual instrument. The guitar also functions as a MIDI device, like the keyboard.
Finally, at $39.99 is the MIDI PRO-Adapter, which allows players to take any of their MIDI instruments and use them as Rock Band 3 controllers. The MIDI Pro adapter also has a D-pad and controller face buttons so that it can be easily used to navigate game menus.
Rock Band 3 launches this fall for all console platforms.
The first DSiWare game up this week is Flametail, a game set in the year 2099. The game asks you to perform some interstellar clean-up by circling around obstacles and burning them up using the tail of your ship. The game is only single player, but contains two modes: Space Tour and Time Limit. This Nintendo-published game is available on the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The second DSiWare game this week is Don't Cross The Line, from Aksys Games. This puzzle game asks you to draw lines between identical shapes, while not crossing any lines in the process. The more quickly you can complete a stage the better a reward you will earn, including additional unlockable stages. Don't Cross The Line is available from the DSi Shop for 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2).
The third game on DSiWare this week is Fire Panic, from Playtainment. The game places you in the role of a futuristic firefighter, extinguishing flames using the DS stylus. The game is only single-player. Fire Panic is available on the DSi Shop for 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2).
The final DSiWare release this week is Flips: The Magic Faraway Tree, from Electronic Arts. This title is the latest in the Flips series of interactive books. This story takes place at a place called the Faraway Tree, where Joe, Bessie, Fanny, and Rick have some crazy adventures. Flips: The Magic Faraway Tree is available on the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The first WiiWare game this week is Reel Fishing Challenge II from Natsume, Inc. This single-player fishing simulator contains 30 missions and a realistic look and feel. Reel Fishing Challenge II is available from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points ($5).
The second WiiWare game is Lead the Meerkats, from Lapland Studio. The game has you playing the role of a young meerkat who has been separated from the pack. During the game, the player must forage for food, grow a new pack and defeat rival meerkat packs. Lead the Meerkats is available on the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Wii Points ($10).
The final release this week on WiiWare is Zoo Disc Golf from Sonalysts, Inc. This disc golf title allows you to choose from various zoo animals to play as, including a penguin, a kangaroo, and a meerkat. No mention is made of whether or not this game supports Wii MotionPlus, as other Wii disc golf games such as Wii Sports Resort have done. The game has one 18-hole course, and supports up to 4 players. Zoo Disc Golf is available on the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Wii Points ($10).
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: FUR, FINS AND FIERY TAILS BRING FEROCIOUS FUN TO NINTENDO FANS
June 7, 2010 From tidying up the galaxy to trying out life as a meerkat, this week's new game downloads from Nintendo offer a wealth of wonderfully unusual activities. For the Nintendo DSiWare service, Flametail invites players to incinerate all manner of space garbage, while Don't Cross The Line puts timeless puzzle-solving thrills in the palms of their hands. Also, Nintendo DSiWare users have just a few more days to download the hilarious hand-held battle game Photo Dojo for zero Nintendo DSi Points. (Starting June 11, the game will require 200 Nintendo DSi Points for download.) Meanwhile, fresh additions to the WiiWare service include the new fishing-simulation sequel Reel Fishing® Challenge II and the furry fun ofLead the Meerkats.
A new week also brings a new addition to the "Big Name Games" section of the WarioWare: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry's most talented figures. Nintendo Powermagazine staffer Chris Hoffman is the creator of this week's featured game, Power Surge, which asks players to locate and match various Nintendo Power staffers. New "Big Name Games" will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcasesoftware for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.
Nintendo DSiWare
Flametail
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: The year is 2099, and the solar system is littered with space junk. Our best hope for a tidier cosmos is to send the Flametail incinerator pod from planet to planet for a little fiery cleanup. Take control of the Flametail pod and start winding your way through obstacles, then watch as your flaming tail ignites blocks of troublesome debris and eventually eliminates them. Be careful not to work yourself into a dead end, and don't let the hazard line that follows you catch up to your tail or reach any leftover garbage. Luckily, you can find useful items (such as bombs or score multipliers) along your path and earn special power-ups (like radar or a missile) by collecting letter panels to spell particular words. Effectively burn up the floating garbage in the game's two modes - Space Tour and Time Limit - and earn new graphics and other surprises as you progress. The straightforward controls make it possible for anyone to take on the job of restoring space to pristine condition. Do you have what it takes to make your way to the outer reaches of the solar system?
Don't Cross The Line
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Don't Cross The Line is a puzzle game in which the player must connect lines to various boxes, from one identical box to another, without crossing the lines they draw in the process. There are roughly 50 stages in all. Depending on how quickly you complete each stage, you'll be awarded with a bronze, silver or gold award. To unlock additional stages, players must achieve a certain ranking in previous stages. Can you outwit the puzzles at hand and receive gold awards all around?
Fire Panic
Publisher: Playtainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As a futuristic firefighter in Fire Panic, you face the continuous challenge of extinguishing more and more fires that keep flaring up. To do this, use your Nintendo DSi stylus to mark the fastest route for your fire engine to reach each blaze. The engine will follow the line you draw and automatically douse each fire it passes along the way. It's a thrilling experience every time you play.
Flips: The Magic Faraway Tree
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Jo, Bessie and Fanny take their cousin Rick on an adventure he'll never forget to the magic Faraway Tree, where he meets Moon-Face, Silky the fairy and Saucepan Man. They visit all the different lands at the top of the Faraway Tree, including the Land of Spells, the crazy Land of Topsy-Turvy and the Land of Do-As-You-Please, where the children ride a runaway train. The newFlips range brings modern classics to the Nintendo DSiWare service. Readers can collect, solve, interact and learn as they progress through various stories and challenges.
WiiWare
Reel Fishing Challenge II
Publisher: Natsume Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing is back! This sequel to the smash-hit fishing game takes you to a pristine new freshwater environment teeming with fish that look and move just like the real thing. You'll go after these wily lunkers with a huge variety of lures and refined controls that provide the most natural and realistic fishing action yet. You'll need every advantage you can get as Reel Fishing Challenge II's 30 varied missions put your angling abilities to the ultimate test. This stunning, true-to-life fishing experience will have you hooked.
Lead the Meerkats
Publisher: Lapland Studio
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Animated Blood, Mild Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: In Lead the Meerkats, you are a young meerkat with a lot to accomplish. You've been separated from your pack, and the time has come for you to form your own meerkat pack. Are you ready for the challenge? Name your pack and its meerkats. Dig burrow networks and enlarge your territory. Forage for food and grow your pack size. Stay on guard and be ready to make quick decisions. Run to the safety of the burrows or fight your enemies. Go head-to-head with a rival meerkat pack. Lead your pack to victory and rule the savanna. Lead the Meerkats is the first game to simulate the exciting life of meerkats, offering fun game play for animal lovers of all ages.
Zoo Disc Golf
Publisher: Sonalysts, Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Each zoo enclosure is a "hole" in the Zoo Disc Golf course. The objective of the game is to get your disc into each "goal" using the fewest number of throws - the "goal" being the Emergency Animal Control station in each enclosure. A throw of the disc is equivalent to a stroke in golf and counts as one point. Available characters are the Rockhopper Penguin, Kangaroo, Panda and Meerkat. The Zoo Disc Golf course is made up of 18 holes. Each player is allowed a maximum of 10 strokes on each hole. When players reach 10 strokes, they move to the next hole with those 10 points added to their score.
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 or NintendoDSi.com.
With Neal on vacation, we bring in RFN host Jonathan Metts to sit in and chat about the latest in news and releases.
In Whatcha Reviewin', Zach gives his impressions of Dementium II, and Andy talks about the worst DS game featuring a piano attachment that he's ever played.
News stories discussed include the DS Price Drop in Japan, Spirit Hunter for 3DS, Fire Emblem for DS, and much, much more!
Email the NWR Newscast crew at newscast@nintendoworldreport.com
Follow the Newscast on Twitter!
Credits:
This podcast was edited by Andy Goergen.
Check out Zach's side project podcast, Dinorama.
Music for this episode of NWR Newscast is used with permission from A Boy Named Earth.
The game promises to be much darker and action-oriented than other installments in the series, both due to the source material and also due to the fact that the game already has a built-in audience that has likely played previous games in the Harry Potter series.
EA and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announce Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Videogames
Get Ready to Fight for Your Life
GUILDFORD, England, Jun 01, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today the EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that two Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM videogames are in development to coincide with the much-anticipated final adventure in the Harry Potter film series from Warner Bros. Pictures which will be told in two full-length parts. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 videogame will be released this autumn on all major gaming platforms.
With all the action taking place outside of Hogwarts for the first time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 represents a shift in tone for the Harry Potter games. On the run with a horde of merciless enemies on their tail, players will find themselves in unknown territory, far from the safety of the school grounds, fighting for survival at every turn.
"The final Harry Potter adventure has given us the opportunity to make a darker and more action-oriented game than we have before," says Jonathan Bunney, VP, Head of Production at EA Bright Light. "We believe we are creating a Harry Potter game that the HD console gaming generation will appreciate and enjoy. We have built new technology specifically to allow us to prove that magic is a truly potent force and, in this game, players will need to use all their skills if they want to survive."
"We have enjoyed a tremendous partnership with EA in collaborating on the Harry Potter videogames," said David Heyman, Producer of the Harry Potter films series. "Over the years, the games have grown ever closer to the films in their art direction and in their spirit so it is exciting to know that the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 videogame will capture the action and suspense of the upcoming film."
The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 videogame is packed from start to finish with action and combat. Players will be on the run, fighting for survival on a desperate and dangerous quest to locate and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes, engaging with Death Eaters and Snatchers in epic battle sequences at every turn. To amplify the action, players will encounter ferocious creatures from the previous films in addition to the adversaries Harry faces in the seventh film. They will need to muster their most powerful magic against relentless assaults from all sides. There are no more lessons, no more training. This time the danger is real. It's time for players to fight for their lives.
A new game engine built specifically to leverage the technology of HD consoles ensures high definition graphics and intense combat gameplay that will immerse players in the action like never before! Under development by EA Bright Light Studio, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 are being developed for the PLAYSTATION(R)3, Xbox 360(TM), Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), Windows PC, and mobile devices.
The game, announced in 2006, was to be a black and white survival-horror game from Polish developer Nibris. The blog that Reikowski contacted states plainly that the project was abandoned, but no official cancellation from Nibris has ever been released. In February 2008, footage of the game appeared to surface, but was shortly pulled. In February 2010 the games website vanished, fueling speculation that the plug was officially pulled at that time.
The released tracks were meant to echo the styles of Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoki and Siren:Blood Curse composer Hitomi Shimizu, while still containing elements that were unique to Sadness. The music can be downloaded from the Polish blog where the tracks were leaked.
The first title up on DSiWare this week is Metal Torrent for 500 Nintendo DSi Points. ($5) This Nintendo-published game is a vertical scrolling shooter, complete with online leaderboards. The game is single-player only, but features eight stages to play through, as well as many different power-ups.
The second DSiWare game this week is World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em, from Hands-On Mobile. This poker simulator supports up to six players via local wireless play. For single-player games, two different tournaments are offered. This game is officially endorsed by the World Poker Tour, and bills itself as one of the most authentic poker simulators ever brought to the Nintendo DSi. World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em is available on the DSi Shop for 500 Nintendo DSi Points. ($5)
The third title on DSiWare this week is Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper, from Virtual Playground. This hidden-object game has a deep plot which follows the real story of Jack the Ripper. The player must uncover clues by finding hidden objects, and try to discover the true identity of Jack the Ripper. Boasting hours of gameplay, Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper is available on the DSi Shop for 800 Nintendo DSi Points. ($8)
The last DSiWare title for download this week is Advanced Circuits, a puzzle game from BiP Media. The game has players connecting pieces of tracks together to complete a circuit. The game is only single player, and is available from the DSi Shop for 200 Nintendo DSi Points. ($2)
The first WiiWare game up this week is ArtStyle: Light Trax, from Nintendo. This game has you controlling a beam of light in a race to the finish. The game contains a techno soundtrack, and a unique art style that shines as placers race with different beams of light. ArtStyle: Light Trax is available from the Wii Shop for 600 Wii Points. ($6)
The second WiiWare game released this week is Manic Monkey Mayhem, a title from The Code Monkeys, Ltd. This party game for up to four players features eight different arenas, and three different difficulty levels. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is also supported for up to four player online gaming. The Wii Balance Board is an optional control option. Manic Monkey Mayhem is available from the Wii Shop for 800 Wii Points. ($8).
The final WiiWare game for the week is Viral Survival, from NIS America. This action game has you dodging enemy attacks as you try to save DNA units. The game contains five modes, and online leaderboards, allowing you to compete with your friends across the globe. Viral Survival is available from the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Wii Points. ($5)
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NINTENDO'S DOWNLOADABLE GAMES SEEK TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED
May 24, 2010
This week the Nintendo DSiWare service asks players to try their hands at a number of divergent occupations. You might pilot a ship in Metal Torrent or try a bluff at the poker table in World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em. Once you master those, you can try your hand at solving transportation problems through deductive reasoning or go on a hunt for the notorious Jack the Ripper. Over on the WiiWare service, things get a little more "natural." You might play as a monkey or as a unit of DNA. You can even become a trippy beam of light in ArtStyle: light trax, the latest title in the critically-acclaimed Art Style series. Don't forget to download the hilarious new Photo Dojo game, available for zero Nintendo DSi Points through June 10 (the game will require 200 Nintendo DSi Points for download as of June 11).
This week also brings new additions to the "Big Name Games" section of the WarioWare: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry's most talented figures. This week's featured game, Funky Boxing, was created by Chris Slate, editor in chief of Nintendo Power magazine. Funky Boxing is an homage to Punch-Out!! and asks players to score three hits on the Champ. New "Big Name Games" will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.
Nintendo DSiWare
Metal Torrent
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Prepare for a high level of intensity as you pilot a solo ship deep into enemy space in this vertically scrolling shooter. Battle wave after wave of relentless attackers aiming to do one thing - destroy you! Your goal, beyond mere survival, is simple: Get the highest score possible and earn bragging rights in online leaderboards. Two powerful fighters are at your disposal: the Accipiter and Bateleur, tailored for beginner or expert players. Progress through eight phases of action and take out enemies by tactically using your weapons: an unlimited-fire blaster weapon available to both ships and an energy-consuming special weapon unique to each craft. Absorb energy cubes from destroyed enemies to replenish your energy gauge and increase your score. Collect a series of consecutive cubes to create a chain and boost your score even higher. Choose from pattern or random modes to vary the level of challenge, but the real indication of skill comes from competing with players around the world for the highest score possible. Use Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to upload your score to the online leaderboards to see where you stack up or even view replays of top-ranking players' games and study their secrets. Do you have what it takes to be the best?
World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em
Publisher: Hands-On Mobile
Players: 1-6
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Play like the pros in World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em on the Nintendo DSiWare service, the official game tested and approved by the experts at the World Poker Tour. Whether you're just learning to play or you're an old-school player wanting to hook some fish, Texas Hold 'Em has tables for all players. Choose to play solo in two unique tournaments designed specifically for the Nintendo DSiWare version or use a local wireless connection and play with your friends and take down monster pots. The action is in your hands in one of the most authentic poker games ever brought to the Nintendo DSi system.
Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper
Publisher: Virtual Playground
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Mild Sexual Themes, Violent References
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper - the fabulous, chart-topping hidden-object game with amazing graphics is now available on the Nintendo DSiWare service. One of the first and best games of its type, Jack the Ripper features numerous atmospheric 3-D locations and oodles of hidden objects to find. The realism of the scenes and the accuracy of the storyline will fascinate all ages from young teen to adult. Travel back to 1880s London to help Scotland Yard's detectives solve the crime of the century. Visit world-famous landmarks such as Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace. Search crime scenes and solve mini puzzles in your hunt for clues. Was Jack a doctor, a royal prince, a barber or something else? Was he mad? This game will tell you. Enjoy hours and hours of game play in this truly absorbing game. Whether you are an experienced player or a newbie, once you start your investigation, you will be on an adventure you won't want to stop - until you discover Jack the Ripper's true identity, that is.
Advanced Circuits
Publisher: BiP media
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Whether with a train, a car or a tank, are you ready for a new challenge? This brain-boggling puzzle game will put your powers of deduction to the test. Complete the circuits by connecting squares on the game board with pieces of track. Some pieces of track are already shown on the board at the beginning of the game to give you a head start. There is only one solution to each puzzle. The rules are simple but the challenges are tough.
Challenge mode features 60 predefined game boards of increasing difficulty. Free Play mode lets you select the game board size and practice on any number of randomly generated puzzles. 72 awards to be won. Also features a tutorial, hints and tips and even the solution if you feel like giving up.
WiiWare
ArtStyle: light trax
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Art Style: light trax takes racing to whole new (and very surreal) levels as you control a white beam of light moving perpetually forward while your viewpoint shifts between 2-D and 3-D perspectives. Start by choosing one of the two main modes of game play, each with its own distinct goal. In light tours mode, you vie with other light beams for the most points in a three-course racing tour. Watch out for obstacles, use items and strategically use your dash ability to finish first. In freeway mode, your objective is to set a high score by traveling the greatest distance within a set amount of time. Mastering the intricacies of each setting is crucial: you'll have to alternate between them in order to progress through the game and unlock all of its modes. With precise controls packed in and a driving techno soundtrack, Art Style: light trax offers an experience unlike any other. Are you ready to compete in a mind-bending race at the speed of light? Games in the Art Style series feature elegant design, polished graphics and pick-up-and-play controls, creating an experience focused purely on fun and engaging game play. For more information about Art Style: light trax and other games in the Art Style series, please visit artstyle.nintendo.com.
Manic Monkey Mayhem
Publisher: The Code Monkeys Ltd.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Controlling one of eight monkeys, you will do battle with up to seven others across eight differently themed landscapes. In single player, battle through three increasingly difficult campaigns of missions ranging from survival to coconut fights, or have a one-off battle against the clock as a team or in a standard deathmatch. Connect additional Wii Remote controllers (each sold separately) to battle against up to three additional players or compete against anyone or your friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Connect an optional Wii Balance Board accessory to add more mayhem to the fun.
Viral Survival
Publisher: NIS America
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Viral Survival is an "escape" action game where you control a special DNA unit and dodge through enemy virus attacks. If you save a friendly DNA unit they will connect to you, creating a tail. The more you save, the higher point total you will accumulate. There are also four other game modes, including one where you can shoot the enemy down and compete for number of kills, and a time attack mode to save 128 DNA units in the shortest time possible. For all five game modes your score can be ranked online. Try your best to become number one in the world.
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 or NintendoDSi.com.
For those familiar with Picross DS (or its lesser known predecessor, Marios Picross), these new 3D puzzles will feel immediately familiar. Although the clues are changed slightly in the new game, the logic needed to solve them is the same. Along with width, height, and depth, each row of blocks has a number on the outside signifying how many blocks must remain. A circle around the number indicates that the blocks must be split into two separate, but not necessarily equal, blocks. A square around the number indicates that the blocks must be split into three or more groups. As you begin to chip away blocks that cannot logically remain in the puzzle, the clues from other rows begin to take shape. Before long, youve taken a solid 10x8x8 block and chipped it away into the shape of a race car, puppy, or household appliance.
Each time you solve a puzzle you are awarded one, two, or three stars, depending on your performance. Each puzzle has a target time, and if you solve the puzzles within that target time (usually within 5 minutes for easy puzzles, sometimes as high as 20-25 minutes for more difficult puzzles) you are awarded a star. Another star is awarded for completing the puzzle without making any mistakes. The third star is awarded for simply completing the puzzle.
As you move through each stage, collecting stars allows you to unlock bonus puzzles. Most stages have a Silver bonus puzzle and a Gold bonus puzzle, and each difficulty level has 10 stages. While none of the puzzles are so hard that you wont solve them, getting all three stars on some of them gets very difficult as you ascend through the upper end of Medium difficulty and into Hard. This is a game that does a great job of catering to all skill levels, allowing you to enjoy the game at your own pace, and not rushing you too quickly into overwhelmingly difficult gameplay.
Picross 3D comes with an optional tutorial mode, referred to as Beginner difficulty, which has about 25 puzzles/screens to help you learn the logic necessary to play the game. Playing through the entire tutorial will take you around an hour or so, but for beginners its definitely recommended.
One problem with the gameplay progression is that you are not allowed to jump ahead to a harder difficulty if you are finding the game to be too easy. In order to play any of the puzzles in the Medium difficulty tier, you must first solve every one of the Easy puzzles - a feat which can take several hours.
The control interface is solid, but not without flaws. Spinning the puzzle around with the stylus works very well, but as the very first thing you do in each puzzle is knock out any 0 rows, the option to lock the puzzle onto an axis would have been much appreciated. The game lets you merely hold down the stylus to knock out every block in a given row, but that trick only works if the puzzle is lined up directly in front of you at no angle. The ability to zoom in and out would have been really nice as well, as the blocks are small enough that occasionally its easy to chip away the wrong block, costing you one star in the process. Overall, the game is better suited to a touch screen interface than Picross DS, but a little more polish would have been nice.
A Create-A-Puzzle mode is provided for those who wish to try their hand at designing a 3D puzzle. The interface is a little clunky but certainly workable, using the same control scheme as the regular game with the addition of a place a block control. After youve created a puzzle, the game will generate clues for you and assign a time-limit to the puzzle youve created. Created puzzles can be sent to a friend via DS wireless mode.
The game supports the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, but not for online multiplayer (which was available in Picross DS). There are Picross Challenges, which allow you to submit your own created puzzles to Nintendo, and eventually download puzzles submitted by users (at the time of this review no user-created puzzles were available).
However, there were three downloadable Puzzle Packs from Nintendo, containing 5 puzzles each at no additional cost. The downloads were very quick, and the puzzles within were of wildly varying difficulty; the first was very easy, while the fifth was quite difficult. The downloadable puzzles take up available slots in your Create-A-Puzzle library (which has a limit of 240), so if you plan on creating a lot of puzzles of your own you might want to shy away from downloading many of the provided Packs.
Although it may lack a few of the frills of its predecessor, Picross 3D feels like the more polished game. The animations that play after solving a puzzle are fun, the amount of puzzles is staggering, and the process of solving the puzzles is a blast. Taking Picross into the third dimension ended up being a fantastic idea, and the execution shines.
Pros:
Lastability: 10.0
Picross 3D has over 300 puzzles, free downloadable content, a puzzle creation mode, and on top of that, the gameplay itself is infinitely replayable.
Final: 9.0
This is a game that any logic puzzle fan should have in their collection. The hours youll put into this game are fun, and will make you feel sharp as a tack.
After taking last episode off, Andy rejoins the Newscast Trio for another look back at the last two weeks in Nintendo news. Discussion of the latest downloads, releases and headlines abound!
In Whatcha' Reviewin, Andy talks up Picross, Zach talks down TAC Heroes: Big Red One, and Neal wins the gold medals at Nintendo HQ.
Email the NWR Newscast crew at newscast@nintendoworldreport.com
Follow the Newscast on Twitter!
Credits:
This podcast was edited by Andy Goergen.
Check out Zach's side project podcast, Dinorama.
Music for this episode of NWR Newscast is used with permission from A Boy Named Earth.
The game, which pits players on an epic role-playing quest, will launch in North America exactly one year after the Japanese game, which launched July 11, 2009. The game has gone on to sell more than four million copies in Japan.
This ninth installment marks a return of the Dragon Quest mainline series to Nintendo platforms. The last brand new game in the Dragon Quest series to appear on a Nintendo platform in North America was Dragon Quest IV on the NES. In Japan, Dragon Quest V and Dragon Quest VI were released for the Super Famicom, then later ported to the Nintendo DS. With Dragon Quest VII, the series moved to the PlayStation platform.
DRAGON QUEST IX: SENTINELS OF THE STARRY SKIES LAUNCHES ON JULY 11
Character Customization, Cooperative Multiplayer Adventuring and an Epic Story Make for a One-of-a-Kind Nintendo DS Experience
REDMOND, Wash., May 19, 2010 - Launching in the United States on July 11, DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies for the Nintendo DS family of systems lets players enjoy an adventure that is entirely their own, yet can be shared with others anywhere, anytime. Developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., this game has already become a phenomenon with players of all ages and backgrounds in Japan, with more than 4.2 million units sold.
Before setting off on their adventure, players can create their own heroes, deciding how they would like their face, hair and clothing to look. As the story unfolds, players become stronger, smarter and more powerful, and can customize companions who join their group. Players will have fun discovering more than 1,000 pieces of clothing, armor, weapons and other items that will provide them with a unique appearance and special abilities. Players can also change the class of their character at any time, choosing from a variety of vocations that will affect their abilities and strengths in the game.
In DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred tree's fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.
DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies contains special modes that let players share their adventure with others, allowing up to four players to team up via a local wireless connection and experience the fun of tackling challenging monsters and dungeons cooperatively with their own characters. Players can even leave the game active in their backpacks, pockets or purses and still interact with other players via an interactive "Tag Mode." Information about players' characters can be wirelessly transmitted to others, and treasure maps and customized greetings can be exchanged automatically by players who come within range of one another when their games are set to Tag Mode.
Players looking to enjoy a variety of different game activities can take on special side quests. Some of these quests will be earned by progressing through the game, while additional quests will be made available for free download for players with broadband Internet access after the game launches, providing hours of additional content for virtual adventurers to enjoy either on their own or with friends. Some downloadable quests will continue the main storyline of the game, while others offer standalone missions.
"DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the biggest games ever to hit Nintendo DS, with an incredible amount of content for every kind of player to enjoy," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "This new game has all of the elements of an instant classic: customization options, a great story, and the ability to share a nearly limitless experience with friends."
For more information about DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, please visit dragonquest.nintendo.com.
The new game will focus on improving the formula that made the original title a million-seller, by adding improved touch screen controls and the use of adjectives to modify the objects created in the game. The use of adjectives will dramatically increase the distinct number of creations the game allows. Some examples include adding "flaming" or "flying" before a word, to completely reinvent the object or person being created. The game also supports the use of multiple adjectives per object.
Although the original Scribblenauts was well received commercially, it was widely criticized for its implementation of touch screen controls. The new game promises to fix those issues.
The original game was released in September 2009, and sold 1.1 million copies worldwide.
WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES SUPER SCRIBBLENAUTS THE FOLLOW-UP TO THE REVOLUTIONARY GAME FOR NINTENDO DS HAS AN OFFICIAL NAME PLUS MORE WORDS, ADJECTIVES AND LIMITLESS CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES FOR GAMERS OF ALL AGES Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces Super Scribblenauts as the title for its follow-up to the groundbreaking hit video game. In the first game, players used their imagination to write any word to bring that object to life and use it to solve puzzles. The original Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS has sold more than 1.1 million units worldwide since its launch in September 2009.
Available in autumn 2010, Super Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS expands the innovative elements from the acclaimed first title, offers upgraded controls and provides gamers with hours of original entertainment with ingenious, fun-filled new features. In Super Scribblenauts, created and developed by 5TH Cell, players use the stylus and touch screen to help Maxwell, the games hero, acquire the Starite, the prize earned from solving the puzzle in even more robust challenges and redesigned levels.
All-new for Super Scribblenauts, players now have the ability to write any object that comes to mind and modify it in any way they desire using adjectives to reach the goal in many levels. Adjectives can change the colour, size, style, behaviours and many other aspects of the object they are describing. Multiple adjectives can be combined together to produce incredibly creative objects, such as gentlemanly, flaming, flying zombies and purple, obese, winged elephants, allowing the players imagination to run wild for an even more inspired and individual experience than ever before.
First up for DSiWare is Looksley's Line Up, published by Nintendo for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5). This game has you following Looksley the rabbit on a journey through a fairy-tale themed world to help him finish the story he's writing. The game has you moving the DSi to look at 3D dioramas from various perspectives. This is a single-player game, which features a spin on the classic "hidden picture" puzzle game.
Also on DSiWare we have Frogger Returns, a top-down Frogger spin-off with all new levels, 3D graphics, new enemies, and even power-ups. The game features four different stages, all based on parts of the original Frogger game, such as the highway. Frogger Returns is available for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
The third DSiWare game this week is A Topsy Turvy Life: Turvy Drops, a Tecmo game for 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2). This game has you playing your DSi Upside down, and drawing objects on the touch screen to fill spaces below. The game has 30 different puzzles, and also an endless mode. Topsy Turvy is a single-player game, and is available now on the DSi Shop.
The last DSiWare title for the week is Flips: More Bloody Horowitz, another interactive book in the Flips series. More Bloody Horowitz presents stories by Anthony Horowitz, best-selling author and creator of Alex Rider. Three horror stories are included, set at a total price of 200 Nintendo DSi Points ($2).
On WiiWare we have two games. The first is Bit.Trip Runner, the latest in the Bit.Trip series from Aksys Games. Bit.Trip Runner is a platformer which has you running and jumping in rhythm through the Robotic Mines, and across the surface of the moon. The game features 50 stages, and sports a slick retro style. Bit.Trip Runner is available for 800 Wii Points ($8).
The other WiiWare game for download this week is Blood Beach from Coresoft, Inc. This violent action game pits you against the Japanese Navy, mowing down as many soldiers as possible to fight your way out of hopeless peril. The game gives you plenty of different guns to choose from, and also saves high scores. Three difficulty levels are available. Blood Beach is available for 1,000 Wii Points ($10).
The lone game on Virtual Console this week is Kirby Super Star, a Super NES classic from 1996. Kirby Super Star features eight different games, six of which are full platform games, and two of which are mini-games. Each of the games plays slightly differently, and Kirby is given some new and interesting abilities, such as being allowed to give up a power in order to turn an enemy into a helper. Kirby Super Star is available from the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Wii Points ($8).
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NEW DOWNLOADABLE GAMES WILL BLOW YOUR MIND, NOT YOUR BUDGET
May 17, 2010
Just because Nintendo offers a rich selection of downloadable games doesn't mean you have to be rich to enjoy them. Available for just 500 Nintendo DSi Points apiece, Looksley's Line Up and Frogger Returns for the Nintendo DSiWare service offer immersive virtual world fun and arcade-inspired thrills, respectively, at a budget-friendly price. Check out the complete lineup of incredible titles for the hand-held Nintendo DSi system, and while you're at it, be sure to download the hilarious new Photo Dojo game, available for zero Nintendo DSi Points through June 10 (the game will require 200 Nintendo DSi Points for download as of June 11).
BIT.TRIP RUNNER marks a fresh installment in one of the WiiWare service's most acclaimed game series, while the Super NES classic Kirby Super Star arrives on the Virtual Console service, each available to download for only 800 Wii Points. Also, fans of Band Hero for the Wii system can be among the first to play the new Band Hero 1 Track Pack, featuring music from Miley Cyrus ("7 Things"), Selena Gomez ("Falling Down") and Demi Lovato ("Here We Go Again"). This pack will be exclusive to Wii for one week starting May 18, 2010.
This week also brings new additions to the "Big Name Games" section of the WarioWare: D.I.Y. series, featuring downloadable microgames from some of the industry's most talented figures. Gary and Allison, hosts of the Nintendo Channel's "Nintendo Week" program, have each created an original microgame to add to the series' wild mix. New "Big Name Games" will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games and to get a look at Gary and Allison's imaginative creations.
Nintendo DSiWare
Looksley's Line Up
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Looksley the rabbit needs your assistance to finish the story he's writing. Guide him through a world based on famous fairy tales and folk stories from around the globe, helping him to gather inspiration by finding hidden items along the way. In this unique take on hidden-picture games, you'll move the Nintendo DSi system to change your view of various 3-D dioramas. Peer deeply into the scene as you shift the system, watching as layers within the diorama move to reveal previously unseen letters and objects. As you collect these letters and objects, you'll meet new characters and spell words that will open additional stages with more sets of hidden items to find. Particular stages contain secret pictures, testing your observation skills even further. Scour each scene's incredible depth and detail as you lend Looksley a hand in completing his masterpiece. Players of all ages will love this visual puzzle challenge and be amazed to see that even the same spot can look different from another angle.
Frogger Returns
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Frogger is coming to a Nintendo DSi system near you! Frogger Returns takes the heart-pounding challenge of arcade Frogger and moves it into the next dimension. Classic top-down 2-D game play is updated with colorful 3-D graphics, a new perspective, new levels, new enemies and game-changing power-ups to dodge and use. Four stages take the original journey of Frogger from highway to home through a new adventure. Use multiple modes to attack your top scores, race against the clock or just get Frogger to his home pad.
A Topsy Turvy Life: Turvy Drops
Publisher: TECMO KOEI GAMES
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Turn the Nintendo DSi system upside down and draw blocks on the touch screen to fill spaces in this topsy-turvy take on puzzle games. Play "Endless Mode" to see just how many points you can get as the blocks on the bottom screen fill faster and faster. The more blocks you clear at once, the higher your score. Play "Puzzle Mode" to test your brain against 30 mind-bending puzzles. Clear all the blocks within the specified time and turn limits. Can you solve the puzzles before time is up?
Flips: More Bloody Horowitz
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Anthony Horowitz, the best-selling creator of Alex Rider, gives horror a whole new look in this mischievous collection of macabre tales, exclusive to the Flips series. Including three new stories each with its own unique feature, such as illustrations and sound effects Flips: More Bloody Horowitz finds Horowitz at his most wicked. The Flips series brings modern classics to the Nintendo DSiWare service, allowing readers to collect, solve, interact and learn as they progress through the various stories and challenges.
WiiWare
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Discover the fastest, most exhilarating action-platformer to hit the WiiWare service. Race across the moon, kicking down crystal walls and sliding under chomping moon-slugs. Bound through the Robotic Mines and face off against the MinerMech. Dash through the Big City on a quest to find friends and defeat the final boss together. RUNNER is the fourth entry in the award-winning and critically acclaimed BIT.TRIP series. You control CommanderVideo as he runs, jumps, slides and kicks. With exciting modern and retro challenges, you can move through more than 50 levels of addictive game play. Chiptune supergroup Anamanaguchi makes a guest appearance. Join CommanderVideo on his most epic journey yet!
Blood Beach
Publisher: Coresoft Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Blood, Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: You are hopelessly outnumbered and have no choice but to fight and win. Just you, your guns and the thin stretch of Blood Beach stand between you and the entire Japanese Imperial Navy. You have an impressive arsenal of weapons, including the M2 BMG, 40mm M1 and, of course, your Thompson SMG. But the Imperial Japanese Navy will hit you with everything they can muster "Zeros," "Bettys" and even Takao-class battleships in their methodical and relentless push to recapture the Solomon Islands. High scores can be saved for Easy, Normal and Hard levels of difficulty.
Virtual Console
Kirby Super Star
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: That awful King Dedede is at it again he's stolen all the food in Dream Land. It's up to Kirby to get it back and ultimately save Pop Star from being overtaken. In what may be the most diverse adventure yet for the round, pink hero, Kirby journeys through six main games and two minigames, finishing with the ultimate showdown in The Arena. Each game offers its own story and style of platforming action, as well as unique environments and an assortment of enemies. Swallowing an enemy allows Kirby to copy the abilities of that enemy, granting him the power to perform special attacks and giving him a new hat to don. In a strategic twist, Kirby can now give up an acquired ability and use it to turn an enemy into a helper. The helper will follow Kirby around and automatically fight as his ally or offer a second player the chance to join in the game by controlling it. There's never a dull moment as Kirby dashes, flies and swallows enemies in his battle against King Dedede, Dyna Blade and Meta Knight.
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 or NintendoDSi.com.
