Wii-kly Update: April 14th, 2008

by Lockergnome on April 14, 2008 at 5:05 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Danger may not be your middle name, but you’ll find plenty of it in this week’s additions to the Wii Shop Channel. Two classic side-scrolling action titles invite players to blast and battle their way to a thrilling climax. In a spaceship or an assault suit, it’ll take all the grit and gusto you can muster to survive these perilous, heart-pumping adventures.

Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

Fantasy Zone (Sega Master System, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take command of the spaceship Opa-Opa and blast your way through various fantastical levels as you try to take out all the enemy bases in each stage. Once you’ve destroyed the bases, you’ll have to beat the stage boss in order to move on to the next level. By using your guns and bombs wisely, you’ll be able to take down your enemies and explore each of the crazy environments in this side-scroller. You can also buy upgraded weapons for your ship by accessing the shop. Various Sega games through the years have referenced the Opa-Opa-now you can play the game that started it all.

Mega Turrican (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): The Machine has enslaved the galaxy under its tyrannical rule. As Bren McGuire, the last survivor of the United Freedom Forces, it is your duty to destroy the evil forces of the Machine that have devastated the galaxy. Fight through countless hordes of enemies using everything at your disposal. Use the weapons and power-ups of your Turrican Assault Suit, including the incredible Plasma Rope, to fight back the tide of oncoming enemies and find the health and power-ups that will keep you alive. Fifteen levels of chaos and destruction stand between you and freedom.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Wii-kly Update: April 7th, 2008

by Lockergnome on April 7, 2008 at 2:09 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

The arrival of April means springtime fun is officially back in season. To get Wii Shop Channel patrons in the spirit, we’re pleased to offer a pair of lively NES favorites. One is a breezy, puzzle-busting fantasy, the other a classic baseball title to keep sports fans fired up for a new season of nine-inning excitement. Whether your tastes run toward cookies or ballpark snacks, you’ll find hours of gaming enjoyment right at your fingertips.

Yoshi’s Cookie (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take one part puzzle game, combine with intuitive game play, add a pinch of multiplayer action and top with a layer of everyone’s favorite dinosaur. Mix together and let set for roughly 100 stages’ worth of time. If that sounds like a winning recipe to you, then step into the kitchen and get ready for a batch of fast-paced puzzle action. Hunker down to move rows and columns of randomly placed cookies in an effort to align all the cookies of the same type. Successfully assemble a row or column to make the line disappear, then move to a new one. If you’re good enough, you may even be able to make a Yoshi cookie appear! Feel like taking on a friend? Fire up the two-player mode, where you can attack your opponent while competing to match as many cookies as possible. Be careful, though-if your timing is off, you could end up attacking yourself. Who knew dinosaurs had such a weakness for puzzle games and sweets?

Bases Loaded (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Bases Loaded is a baseball game with an arcade feel and plenty of options from which players can choose. Select one of 12 teams, set your lineup from the 30 players available (each with different strengths), then play a single game or try to win the pennant. During game play, the screen shows two different viewpoints: one from behind home plate as you’re batting, and the other from the pitching mound in a television-style shot (unique for its time) as your team plays in the field. Strong play control and excellent graphics add to the excitement as you decide what pitch to throw (you can even try to provoke the opposing batter into charging the mound), control all positions on the field, or do your best to get a hit. So step to the plate and find out why this is one of the most popular baseball games on the NES. Can you pull through in the clutch?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Commodore 64 Titles See Virtual Console Hit 200 Games!

by Lockergnome on March 28, 2008 at 5:56 pm · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

This week sees the 200th title hit Virtual Console as it once again expands its catalogue with the arrival of Commodore 64 games for all to enjoy! As the biggest selling personal computer of all time, the release of the Commodore 64 back in 1982 was a historic moment in the computer and video games industry. Now, for the first time, Wii owners can experience some of the greatest titles from its impressive back catalogue.

First up, get ready for a high-speed galactic adventure! Originally seen on the Commodore 64 in 1986, Uridium sees the solar system invaded by fifteen Super-Dreadnoughts. Players must defend each of the fifteen planets in this classic shoot’em up to stop the enemy fighters draining precious mineral resources from the planetary cores. Developed by 8-bit shoot’em up pioneer Andrew Braybrook, this outer-space title is pure nostalgia! Uridium is available for download now for 500 Wii Points.

Next from the classic Commodore 64 is something a bit more down-to-earth; globe-trotting martial arts title International Karate. Released in 1986 for the Commodore 64, this one-on-one fighting game sees players compete in a karate tournament to become the international karate champion. Players must fly around the globe to various exciting locations, under the watchful eye of the old wise judge, winning bouts as they go. With points awarded for successful hits, either against a second player or the computer, get your black belt at the ready and take on International Karate on Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points.

Finally, get ready to put pedal to the metal as you head out on the drive of your life across the highways of America in Cruis’n USA. Originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, Cruis’n USA brought the classic arcade hit into the home. Racing along the highways of LA, the deserts of Arizona to the nations capital city Washington DC, get ready to feel the wind in your hair as you push for the finish line to gain glorious victory! Featuring a 14-stage cross country solo challenge, as well as a split-screen two player mode to take on a friend head-to-head, enjoy famous US sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon as you experience the thrill of street racing. Cruis’n USA is available to download now for 1000 Wii Points.

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s titles join the list of 197 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe, bringing the total to 200 games!

Top 5 Favorite Nintendo Consoles

by Lockergnome on March 27, 2008 at 11:30 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Feedback, Nintendo

Gnomie Bruce Vest writes:

Here are what I believe to be the top 5 best Nintendo consoles.

NES
I don’t know a list of great consoles that doesn’t have this. This is probably the greatest console of all time, next to the Atari, as it introduced us to Link, Zelda, Peach, and many, many more characters. This console had breakthrough 8-bit graphics; converging from the Atari to the NES was a masterpiece in itself, as one going from them saw the detail that was surpassed into it just by a glance, as the find textures in Mario and Zelda showed. There is just too much about this console that has been said already that I could say now, as it is a timeless classic, at the top of everyone’s list.
N64
Lots of great games spawned from this, as well as great series. Such games as Jet Force Gemini, Super Smash Bros., Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, F-Zero X, and the list goes on and on, were introduced on this. While there are crappy games, by now, most of these games are now classics, bad or good. Hidden gems are also found; such is the case with Jet Force Gemini, as it didn’t get much exposure.
Wii
Many will ask why this isn’t number 1. Why isn’t it? It not only hasn’t been out for long, but it is dumbfounded by bad games, and this is coming from a Wii owner. One of the many saving graces of this, though, is the Virtual Console, allowing you to download many classics at a very reasonable price. $10 for Super Mario 64? Damn right, and you can’t find it anywhere else for less than that basically. Other reasons why it rocks: awesome games, free Internet, and much more. The future for this console looks very bright, with games like No More Heroes, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and many more to be out soon. This could easily move up in my list, given the test of time.
SNES
Ah, who can make a top 5 list and forget this monumental console? Such games as ActRaiser, Link to the Past, Super CastleVania IV, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4, and many more to that, have came and glorified this console. Also, the fact that this console was the best of its time, as it was only warred with Sega’s consoles, which had many, many mediocre games. There are bad games for this, but there are so many good games to combat those bad ones.
GameCube
The main reason why this is only number 5 isn’t because of any bad games or anything, but mostly because of a bad reputation with crappy games, as there are many, many good games on this. Some of the good games that come to mind frequently are Super Smash Bros. Melee, Twilight Princess, Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, and a plethora of other games. There are many collections as well, 2 Sonic Collections, 1 Mega-Man (to my knowledge), Zelda Collector’s Edition, and many more probably. There are downfalls, though. PN03 has to have the worst GameCube controls ever.

Wii-kly Update: March 24th, 2008

by Lockergnome on March 25, 2008 at 1:43 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

It’s a mad season for basketball lovers, but even the most hardcore hoops fan needs a break from the action this time of year. While they’re a far cry from basketball, the latest additions to the Wii Shop Channel offer plenty of fast-moving fun and high-scoring thrills of their own. Check them out and get a fresh taste of gaming excitement that can last well into April and beyond.

King’s Knight (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): In the kingdom of Izander, the fair Princess Claire has been kidnapped by a foul and insidious dragon, and it is the mission of four brave fighters to save her. Through five thrilling, fast-action stages, our gallant heroes-a knight, a wizard, a monster and a thief-will take on an army of incredible enemies. You must help them reach their goal, as you are now part of the team that will fight to free the princess from her imprisonment. Keep your wits about you, plan your strategy and set off on an exciting adventure.

Powerball (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Eight different teams representing various nations are vying to become the Powerball champions, and you control one of the eight in your quest for the championship. A hybrid of games like rugby and football, Powerball is played on a 100-yard field. Try to score by either carrying the ball into your opponent’s end zone or kicking it into your opponent’s net for points. This one- or two-player game offers both exhibition and league play. Jump into a game of Powerball and try a brand new sport.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Battle Rage: The Robot Wars Coming Soon For Wii

by Lockergnome on March 20, 2008 at 10:01 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Data Design Interactive is pleased to announce that it has secured rights to publish and develop the Nintendo Wii version of Battle Rage through their Popcorn Arcade label. Battle Rage is a third-person PC shooter and has been developed by Destan Entertainment and produced by Teyon Games. The company also announced the games full working title for the Nintendo Wii format: Battle Rage: The Robot Wars.

Data Design Interactive managing director Stewart Green said:

“Battle Rage is already an excellent game on the PC, but we saw the potential for the title on the Wii and jumped at the chance to develop it further for Nintendo’s system. With our proven technology and the GODS engine all aspects of the original game will be effortlessly transferred over to the Wii. The combination of the high-end PC graphics, proven gameplay and addition of motion control will make for a very compelling and enjoyable experience.”

Battle Rage: The Robot Wars the third person shooter with elements of a beat’em’up game that allows a player to control giant robots. Battles between the robots take place on carefully selected battlegrounds (so called “arenas”) and they are short, quick, brutal skirmishes. The player can fight alone (versus one, two or even three opponents) or in a team against a common foe. Every robot has its own weapons (for melee and distance combat), additional weapon types can be collected on the arena.

The player can modify a robot’s parameters in the single player mode as well as in the multiplayer to fit its possibilities to his/her own fighting style. Also many new, powerful robots will wait for the player to unlock in the story mode. The Tournament has begun.

Features:

Single player and Multiplayer modes.
Arcade mode with a separate Storyline for each of the robots characters.
Robot Customization.
Compelling mechanics (Rage, Rush, Power Traingle).
Special Attacks (push, stun and other unique abilities for each robot).
Robots allowed to fight with 3 weapons at the same time (two ranged and one melee).
8 different robots.
20 weapons.
10 arenas.

Opoona, Koei’s Role-Playing Game For Wii Reaches Gold Status

by Lockergnome on March 18, 2008 at 9:56 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Opoona, a new Role-Playing Game (RPG) exclusively for Wii has reached gold status, and is scheduled to ship to North American retailers on March 25, 2008. Gamers can begin their journey at Amazon.com, Game Crazy, Gamefly, and GameStop.

About Opoona
While on an interplanetary family vacation, the young boy Opoona crash lands on Planet Landroll after his family’s spaceship is involved in a mysterious accident. Separated from his family, Opoona is forced to live alone. On the planet, Opoona must find a job, search for his siblings, and defend himself and the people of Landroll against creatures known as the Dark Rogues. Luckily for Opoona, he is the descendant of a long line of warriors known as the Cosmo Guards. Thus, Opoona’s adventure begins as he struggles to establish a new life and reunite his family.

The game’s action-oriented battle system lets players use powerful “Energy Bonbons” against their enemies. Using just the Nunchuk, players can manipulate an Energy Bonbon’s trajectory in a number of different ways. All of Opoona’s commands are also controlled by the Nunchuk, to allow a complete “single-hand control” of the game.

The gameplay in Opoona is not just about battling; it is a “Lifestyle RPG.” As Opoona, players must adapt to a new environment, meet new people, and contribute to society through work, all while becoming aware of the precious world and people around him. As the game progresses, Opoona will develop relationships and uncover a broader range of activities including new jobs and clues to new adventures.

The unique characters and a modern fantasy world created by Art Director, Shintaro Majima, are sure to fascinate gamers. From futuristic buildings to ancient ruins and strange rock formations in the wild, the world of Opoona is a remarkable fusion of both contemporary design and whimsical fantasy.

Developed by ArtePiazza, the team behind four installments of the best-selling DRAGON QUEST series of RPGs, Opoona showcases the talent of some of today’s most creative game designers including: Art Director Shintaro Majima, Planning Director Sachiko Sugimura, and Composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, acclaimed for his contribution to the FINAL FANTASY XII soundtrack.

Opoona is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10+ - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Opoona is a single player game.

Cocoto Magic Circus For Wii Ships To U.S. Retailers

by Lockergnome on March 13, 2008 at 8:53 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Conspiracy Entertainment has shipped its newest title for the Nintendo Wii, Cocoto Magic Circus, to North American retailers today.

Cocoto Magic Circus is an arcade-style shooter featuring 40 unique and exciting mini-games. The game’s four progressive modes — Arcade, Training, Duel, and Tournament — can accommodate up to four players. Children and parents alike will enjoy this collection of mini-games featuring humorous animated characters on a mission to save a magical fairy.

“Families nationwide are catching on to the recurring and loveable character Cocoto. The simple, cartoonish and fast-paced style of our latest release is ideal for children six years and up, and its affordable price is sure to make it a hit with families,” said Sirus Ahmadi, president of Conspiracy Entertainment.

Wii-kly Update: March 10, 2008

by Lockergnome on March 10, 2008 at 10:46 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Got enough challenge in your daily routine? Chances are that basic everyday tasks — getting to work or school on time, walking the dog, taking out the trash — aren’t enough to keep you firing on all cylinders. Luckily, Virtual Console is close at hand to help you test your mettle in fresh and unusual ways. Whether you’re rescuing a kidnapped pal or mastering a set of mind-bending grid puzzles, this week’s new arrivals, imported from Japan, offer a refreshing break from the late-winter blahs.

DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone — Alcohol Reference and Comic Mischief, 900 Wii Points): This is an action game where an energetic boy named Milon sets off on a great adventure in a cute fairy-tale world. Piccolo is a village in the country of Fantasia. One day, they hear from the fairy Alis that songs and music have disappeared from the forest. Suddenly, the wizard Amon appears, grabs Alis and vanishes with her. The brave Milon must now go on a journey to rescue his kidnapped friend, with his bubble shooter as his only weapon. Along the way, he’ll need to retrieve five legendary instruments and stars by defeating Amon’s minions. Get ready to enjoy the fun and comical action of this charming game.

Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): The object of this head-to-head puzzle game is to clear your grid of falling patterns called puyos by forming chains of four or more same-colored puyos in a straight line or one of several geometric patterns. What makes this a challenging two-player contest is the fact that when you clear a chain of puyos from your grid, it drops a random piece of filler onto your opponent’s grid. The more puyos you clear, the more you fill your opponent’s grid, and if you can clutter up his grid enough to fill it to the top, you’ve won the game. An intriguing backstory makes this an amusing experience for one or two players.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Top 5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Wii

by Chris Pirillo on March 6, 2008 at 12:23 pm · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Feedback, Wii

Gnomie Samueltehg33k (from our chat room) writes:

The Wii can be used to play .avi movies and .mp3 music files.
If you have either of these two formats of video/audio, you can use them through the Photo Channel. You can access them through your SD card port on the Wii using the Photo Channel 1.0. Photo Channel 1.1 was just released and it supposedly can play more audio formats, but it does not list the file types on the Nintendo Web site.
You can use a wired connection for the Wii.
Nintendo does supply a huge, boxlike thing for your Wii so you can use a wired connection if you do not have a router or the Windows OS to run the Wi-Fi hub on.
The Wii is HD!
The Wii can only go on component cables to 480p, but it is HD compatible — so your dream of having Zelda in High Definition is possible.
Keyboards work with Wii’s Opera Web browser.
The once-free Web browser does work with keyboards using the USB ports. Finally, it won’t take you six minutes to get to live.pirillo.com so that you can watch Chris on your Wii. And yes, Mac fans, your old white keyboard will work and look spiffy next to your Wii.
WiiMail!
Your Wii is also an email machine. Using the Wii message board, you can email all your friends. (Although using an email address with W[insert16 digit friend code here]@Wii.com my not look nice to use on a business card!)

Top 5 Ways To Show Off The Wii

by Chris Pirillo on February 28, 2008 at 4:43 pm · Comments (2) · Related Posts
Categorized in Feedback, Wii

Dear Chris:

Once again it’s SamuelTehG33k. Being the Wii Giik I am, I want to submit to you another top five Wii list — this one about the top five ways to show off the Wii’s muscles. It’s a list of the software and features that best display what the Wii can do.

The Photo Channel! When people see you playing an .avi movie from your SD card or showing your pictures from vacation in a slide show, they’ll be impressed. When first introducing people to the Wii, this is one of the first features I show off. It’s something anyone can relate to.
Super Mario Galaxy. Super Mario is so popular it’s very hard to find someone who has never heard of this Italian plumber. This is also one of the Wii’s best-looking games. People will just be impressed with how the water and grass look. The gameplay is excellent and it’s one of the Wii’s best games to date.
The Mii Channel. This is one my favorite features on the Wii. Making Miis is just pure fun on its own. Also a lot of new games are including Miis as playable characters — the most notable ones are the new Mario Kart coming out soon and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games. There are also several Web sites dedicated to the Mii-making community. People love Miis!
Wario Ware Smooth Moves. This game truly shows what Wii motion sensing can do. Although it’s quite weird, its still one of the most fun assortment of mini games you can have on the Wii. And it proves you can still have fun looking like an idiot!
The Internet Channel. By far the best browser I have ever used on a console, EVER. Since it’s made by Opera you know it has to be good. Using the Wiimote as a mouse is quite fun. And ever since October you’ve been able to use any USB keyboard on your Wii, which brings the deal full circle. Also, you can watch your stream on the TV. Hmm, feels like TechTV again.

Wii-kly Update: February 25, 2008

by Lockergnome on February 25, 2008 at 4:58 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

This week’s additions take players on a psychedelic trip down memory lane. Kirby is back and armed with a bunch of new talents, including the option to combine abilities. Curious to find out what mixing the Burn and Cutter powers gives Kirby? We won’t spoil that for you here. If the colorful landscapes in the pink sphere’s world are too much for you and you’re looking for straight firepower instead, then try plunging your soul into the mind of a twisted demon. We’ll just see how you fare against wave after wave of bizarre enemy creatures in that kind of environment.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards: (Nintendo 64, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Kirby’s first 3-D adventure is also his Nintendo 64 debut, and it finds the always-versatile hero battling a new enemy called Dark Matter. Dark Matter is after a distant land’s powerful crystal, but a young fairy named Ribbon attempts to save it by escaping with the gem to Dream Land. Now the crystal has been broken, and it’s scattered around the world. Take control of Kirby and help him journey across six worlds, battling a wide variety of enemies and challenging bosses, as he tries to collect all 100 pieces of the shattered crystal. Along the way, you’ll use Kirby’s trademark copying ability to use enemies’ strengths against them. Not only that, but try combining any two abilities to create a brand-new one that is usually stronger than the original. Throw in three exciting multiplayer minigames, and you’ve got a package of which even King Dedede would be proud. Fans of Kirby and action games with bright, colorful graphics should vacuum this one up.

Psychosis: (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): This is a side-scrolling shooter played in a world created from the mind of a twisted demon. Your soul has suddenly wandered into that evil world that exists in every person’s heart. The only way out is to blast your way past the grotesque creatures that block your path in five “causes” (stages). You must face the dangers of this psychedelic world by making full use of three shot types and the satellite option. With power-ups, you can change your shots to a wide-coverage beam, a satellite-generated laser and more. Each shot type can be powered up to three levels. You can also block enemy fire by rotating the satellites to a desired position. How you use these features will be the key to successfully escaping this strange and surreal world.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Commodore 64 Gaming Universe Coming To Wii

by Lockergnome on February 21, 2008 at 10:01 am · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Commodore Gaming teams up with Nintendo of Europe to bring classic C64 games to the Wii!

Already a firm favourite with Wii owners, Virtual Console is once again expanding its catalogue, this time with the addition of a whole new games format. Later this year, Wii owners will be able to enjoy classic titles from the best selling personal computer of all time, the Commodore 64. These titles join classic gems from the likes of Nintendo, SEGA, Turbografx and NEOGEO already available via the Wii Shop Channel.

The release of the Commodore 64 in 1982 was an historic moment for the computer and video games industry. According to the Guinness Book of World Records it remains the best selling single computer model of all time, with an estimated 22 million units sold. Its immense popularity saw an unrivalled collection of over 4,000 rich games titles released through its production lifetime (1982-1994), helping to establish the C64 as a ‘gamers favourite’. Now, some of the greatest Commodore 64 titles will be made available for Wii owners to download and play via the Virtual Console service.

Bala Keilman, CEO of Commodore Gaming, commented, “The massive impact the Commodore 64 had on video-gaming is still evident today with many gamers remembering the computer and its games with great fondness. By working with Nintendo of Europe, we are ensuring that future generations of gamers can play some of the best and most popular titles that kick-started the computer games revolution and so keep the C64 legacy in gamers hearts.”

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of European Marketing & PR of Nintendo Europe adds, “We are extremely pleased to be working with Commodore Gaming to provide even more retro hits for Wii owners to choose from on Virtual Console. With over 184 classic titles now available to enjoy, Virtual Console on Wii is a great way for users to access a breadth of classic retro games. We hope that this great choice of games will bring nostalgia to our gaming fans, while an entirely new generation of video game players can experience a host of classic games for the very first time.”

Among the first titles from Commodore 64 which will be made available on Virtual Console are International Karate and Uridium. These great titles will be bolstered by regular updates to the line-up from the Commodore 64 back catalogue.

Virtual Console games from Commodore 64 will be available from the Wii Shop Channel soon and can be downloaded for 500 Wii Points each. Currently these titles will only be available on the European Wii Shop Channel.

Nintendo Reveals Its Next Engaging Experiences

by Lockergnome on February 20, 2008 at 5:24 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Nintendo, Wii

The Game Developers Conference in San Francisco attracts the top creative minds in the video game industry. With that audience on hand, Nintendo announces news that reinforces its commitment to provide entertaining and enriching experiences for veteran and new gamers alike. WiiWare, Nintendo’s new downloadable game service, launches May 12 and expands development opportunities for developers the same way Wii expanded the world of video game players. Wii Fit, the upcoming title for Wii, launches May 19 and introduces the Wii Balance Board peripheral. And Super Smash Bros. Brawl draws in fans of all kinds.

“We are excited to participate in the Game Developers Conference this year to share with developers and consumers alike our upcoming unique services and products,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We are hopeful that they will appreciate our offerings of WiiWare, Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which represent a trio that will continue to attract new players to the world of video games.”

At the conference, Nintendo speakers will outline a number of plans for the coming months on their respective panels:

WiiWare: Nintendo’s upcoming WiiWare changes the way both developers create and consumers access video games. Through WiiWare, Nintendo hopes to offer developers a virtual laboratory that serves as a breeding ground for new games, which encourages great ideas that creators always wanted to develop. The combination of low development barriers and unique game experiences found only on Wii should enable developers to try new ideas with lower risk in a quicker, more creative and affordable way.

Meanwhile Wii owners can download a multitude of cool new games from different genres, including some that are unprecedented, which can be purchased from home at a dynamic price range. WiiWare also empowers consumers to determine with their Wii Points which games have the right stuff to become the next big thing.

WiiWare will be a repository for all types of experiences — literally, something for everyone. Early WiiWare games will come from celebrated developers like Square Enix, which is creating FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King, a simulation game for all ages. Also watch for games from up-and-coming developers like Frontier with its fresh, enchanting platform adventure LostWinds and a new episodic game series from Telltale. The first U.S. WiiWare games will be available on May 12.

Wii Fit: Wii Fit demonstrates Nintendo’s commitment to gamers of all kinds. It combines fun and fitness for every member of the family to keep active and play together. Wii Fit launches May 19 in the United States and comes with the weight-and-motion-sensing Wii Balance Board that Nintendo representatives demonstrated could hold great promise for future game development as well. Third-party publishers are already working on new games and applications that will make use of the Wii Balance Board. Additionally, Wii Fit includes access to the Wii Fit Channel, an interactive channel that lets users check in each day to track their fitness progress through weight and BMI. In Japan, Wii Fit has sold more than 1.4 million units since its Dec. 1 launch.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl: This action game launches March 9. With dozens of characters, settings, options and ways to play, it has something for everyone. The game includes characters from all across the Nintendo universe. The previous installment in the franchise went on to become the best-selling game of all time for Nintendo GameCube.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

Wii-kly Updates: February 18th, 2008

by Lockergnome on February 19, 2008 at 10:27 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

Some gamers get skeptical when Roman numerals populate the title of a game. But make no mistake — this week’s offerings are no mere sequels. They are some of the most highly regarded classic games around. So stock up on some Wii Points to battle the Dark Force or complete an action-packed trilogy.

Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom: (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone — Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): Join master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, last member of the famous Dragon Clan, in the third and final chapter of the legendary Ninja Gaiden saga. Ryu is framed for FBI agent Irene Lew’s murder, and it’s up to him to clear his name. Defeating superior life-forms created out of “life energy” called BIO-NOIDs and avoiding enemy ambushes are among the many obstacles which Ryu faces in this unpredictable adventure of mystery, deceit and destruction. Noticeable changes to the game-play mechanics include Ryu’s ability to grab on to horizontal surfaces, his reduced falling speed and altered jumping maneuvers, and visible power-ups. Help Ryu defeat the forces of evil once more and discover the real culprit behind Irene’s death as one of the most loved trilogies in video-game history comes to a close.

Phantasy Star II: (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone — Mild Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by fans and media alike, Phantasy Star II is an RPG that features an epic story line and turn-based battles. Play as Rolf, Nei, Rudo or several other characters as you navigate through the Algol star system battling the evil Dark Force. Build your characters, select the right weapons and armor, and take on the forces of evil through various missions as you find the right combination of characters to complete each objective. Experience the magic once again in this great sequel.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Deadly Creatures Exclusively For Nintendo Wii

by Lockergnome on February 18, 2008 at 8:28 am · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

THQ Inc. has announced Deadly Creatures, an original action thriller title coming exclusively to the Nintendo Wii console in 2008. Developed internally by THQ’s critically acclaimed Rainbow Studios, Deadly Creatures throws players into a venomous world of desert terror, where the greatest victory is survival. Players will follow the entwined adventures of an armored scorpion and a stealthy tarantula as they struggle against a variety of creatures including vicious Gila monsters, tarantula wasps, black widows, and the most dangerous predator of all — Man. Deadly Creatures takes full advantage of the Wii’s unique motion-based control scheme and allows players to fully experience every pounce and tail sting.

“Deadly Creatures is an amazingly innovative game concept, and exemplifies THQ’s commitment to creating original new IP for the Nintendo Wii platform,” said Randy Shoemaker, director of global brand management, THQ. “With Deadly Creatures, we are raising the bar for all 3rd party Wii titles, and focusing on deep, compelling gameplay for a largely untapped audience of Wii gamers.”

“Deadly Creatures is a creepy, cinematic thrill ride, where the distinction between predator and prey can shift around every corner,” said Nick Wlodyka, executive producer and general manager, Rainbow Studios. “With brutal motion-controlled combat, a dark compelling story and some of the best visuals to date on the Wii, we are excited to bring Deadly Creatures to a large core Wii audience that hungers for a new experience.”

About Deadly Creatures

Deadly Creatures is a 3rd person action thriller set amidst a desert world of venomous terror, built exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. Players will control an armored Scorpion and a deadly Tarantula as they fight for survival against Gila monsters, lizards, black widows and many more terrifying creatures. Featuring intuitive motion controls and a deep combo-based combat system, Deadly Creatures is a thrilling mix of brutal creature-crushing action and suspenseful exploration of vast 360 degree desert and man-made environments. Gamers will explore this darkly compelling story through the eyes of two of the world’s most deadly creatures.

Wii-kly Update: February 11th, 2008

by Lockergnome on February 11, 2008 at 9:18 am · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

The two games joining the lineup this week are considered cult classics, yet they deal with topics as varied as farm management and shooting enemies to the strains of heavy-metal tunes. Just don’t get the two mixed up, since most livestock don’t like heavy metal and it takes more than turnips to defeat fire-spewing sea serpents.

Harvest Moon (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): You bought the farm, so now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and try living off the fat of the land. Fresh air and the beauty of the outdoors will be fulfilling, but a successful farm needs a lot of working capital as well. There are buildings on your property, but they are in need of livestock. You have a modest house, but if things get lonely in the field, it’s going to take a remodel to woo a female farming companion. Your challenge is to dig in and build your life as a farmer from the ground up. How you manage will determine the outcome, but remember: You always reap what you sow.

Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes. Your enemies are plotting to revive Zaggart, “The Dark One,” who was sealed beneath the six continents of Mistral. It’s up to Landis, descendant of the heroic Dyu, to stop them. Choose the order in which to attack the six stages. Before each stage, select one of four magic armors and use crystals you’ve collected during your battles to buy items. Selecting the right armor for each stage is the key to your ultimate victory. Then get ready to face awesome enemies like a fire-spewing sea serpent or a giant insect. Whether it’s the fast-paced shooting or breaking into the fortress of a stage boss, you’ll be blown away by the intensity of Lords of Thunder.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Opoona Lifestyle Role-Playing Game Coming Exclusively For Wii

by Lockergnome on February 8, 2008 at 8:15 am · Comments · Related Posts
Categorized in Wii

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Opoona, a new Role-Playing Game (RPG) exclusively for Wii is scheduled for a North American release on March 25, 2008.

“With Opoona, developer ArtePiazza had a masterful approach to creating an Action RPG for Wii that includes intuitive and interactive controls using just the Nunchuk,” said Amos Ip, Senior Vice President at KOEI Corporation. “Opoona will give video gamers a refreshing and new perspective on the Role-Playing genre. The ’single-hand control’ combined with the modern fantasy world of Opoona is sure to captivate both veteran gamers and newcomers alike.”

About Opoona
While on an interplanetary family vacation, the young boy Opoona crash lands on Planet Landroll after his spaceship is involved in a mysterious accident. Separated from his family, Opoona is forced to live alone. On the planet, Opoona must find a job, search for his siblings, and defend himself and the people of Landroll against creatures known as the Dark Rogues. Luckily for Opoona, he is the descendant of a long line of warriors known as the Cosmo Guards. Thus, Opoona’s adventure begins as he struggles to establish a new life and reunite his family.

Opoona is not just about battling; it is a “Lifestyle RPG.” As Opoona, players must adapt to a new environment, meet new people, and contribute to society through work, all while becoming aware of the precious world and people around him. As the game progresses, Opoona will develop relationships and uncover a broader range of activities including new jobs and clues to new adventures.

Opoona is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10+ - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Opoona is a single player game. For updates on Opoona, please visit koei.com.

Top Five Comparisons Between PS3, Xbox 360, And The Wii

by Lockergnome on February 4, 2008 at 10:05 am · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Feedback

Gnomie Dave (aka Apple_pie in our chat room) writes:

These are my top 5 comparisons between PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii. Hope they’re useful!

Motion Sensoring:
Obviously the Wii will come out on top here because of its almost perfect controller that follows your moves well. The PS3 has some motion sensoring in its controller, which is quite limited, but it’s still a great feature and enables some extra edge in the interactivity. The Xbox 360 unfortunately has no motion sensoring, which is quite disappointing.
Memory Size:
The Xbox 360 Elite comes out on top here having a massive 120 GB hard drive allowing massive amounts of downloads and demos. The PS3 is second here with its largest available memory being 60 GB; this is still large but not massive. And the Wii, the smallest in memory, has memory cards that are 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB. The Xbox 360 Elite 120 GB hard drive is 2.6 times the cost of the 4 GB Wii memory card, but it has 30 times the memory.
Graphics:
I agree with people who say PS3 is superior in this area, but not by much. The Xbox has good graphics but not as defining as the PS3. The Wii is very low in this category; a lot of its graphics, like with Wii Sports, have very pixelated graphics. But some games, like Mario Galaxy, have very smooth lines making the graphics look good, though not in a real kinda way.
Games:
The quantity of games available to a console is a major factor. Xbox 360 easily has the most amount of games for being out longer than either of the other two consoles, yet compared with each other at the beginning when they all came out Xbox had the most, plus the 360 has a large variety of games from Halo 3 to Viva Pinata to Burnout Paradise. The PS3 also has some good games like Resistance: Fall of Man and Drake’s Fortune, but there is not a great variety with most games being shooters. The Wii has not as many games as either of the other two and having less shooters and more sort of innocent games like Carnival Funfair and Boogie.
Online:
The Xbox 360 has the best online capabilities with relatively cheap options. PS3 hasn’t got the best online features but it’s free, so that makes up for the inferior setup. The Wii has very minor online features that don’t allow for large amounts of gamers to play one game together, but it’s still fun.

Top Five Tips For Guitar Hero 3

by Lockergnome on February 1, 2008 at 10:03 am · Comments (1) · Related Posts
Categorized in Feedback

Gnomie Blair Fraser writes:

Hey Chris, after having Guitar Hero 3 for the Xbox and Wii for a while now, I made a top 5 list to help others.

This game is more challenging than Guitar Hero 2; if you have trouble with that do not get this game.
The new Les Paul guitar has a detachable neck, however, do not remove it unless you have to as it builds up dust inside and the guitar does not respond well and you can’t play.
The new boss battles are fun playing against true Guitar Heroes, however, they are very difficult. Every boss has a special way of being defeated. With Tom Morello, you save up your powers and unleash them at the end. With Slash, you must attack him just before he gets his powers and Lou is all about luck.
You can hold two or more frets at once and when playing it will use the furthest right note, so to save precious time playing instead of moving your whole hand you can just put down another finger — useful to build up your note streaks.
On expert, don’t stretch your pinky as that makes it harder. Move your hand down.

BONUS TIP! To help you get better at boss battles for the PS3 and Xbox 360, download free boss battles online. There are also other free songs to download.

1 2 3 ... 999999 ►

Wii-kly Update: April 14th, 2008

Wii-kly Update: April 7th, 2008

Commodore 64 Titles See Virtual Console Hit 200 Games!

Top 5 Favorite Nintendo Consoles

Wii-kly Update: March 24th, 2008

Battle Rage: The Robot Wars Coming Soon For Wii

Opoona, Koei’s Role-Playing Game For Wii Reaches Gold Status

Cocoto Magic Circus For Wii Ships To U.S. Retailers

Wii-kly Update: March 10, 2008

Top 5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Wii

Top 5 Ways To Show Off The Wii

Wii-kly Update: February 25, 2008

Commodore 64 Gaming Universe Coming To Wii

Nintendo Reveals Its Next Engaging Experiences

Wii-kly Updates: February 18th, 2008

Deadly Creatures Exclusively For Nintendo Wii

Wii-kly Update: February 11th, 2008

Opoona Lifestyle Role-Playing Game Coming Exclusively For Wii

Top Five Comparisons Between PS3, Xbox 360, And The Wii

Top Five Tips For Guitar Hero 3

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