Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!!!

Stocking Stuffers
Gifts 1
Gifts 2

What I got:

Stocking Stuffers
Pens
Pocky Chocolate Candy
Pocky Strawberry Candy
Hot Wheels Cars
Reeses Chocolates
Botan Rice Candy

Gifts
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)
Wii Speak Peripheral (Wii)
De Blob (Wii)
Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes (Wii Import)
Let's Tap (Wii Import)
The World Ends With You (DS)
Kirby Super Star Ultra (DS)
Sony Car Stereo
Ghost Hunt anime part I
Ghost Hunt anime part II

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Nintendo's Early 2009 Release List

New Releases Also Include New Play Control! Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis for Wii, Fire Emblem for Nintendo DS

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 17, 2008 – Continuing its commitment to create fun and engaging experiences for everyone, Nintendo of America Inc. today unleashes a broad list of exciting new games for the first quarter of 2009. Topping the list is Pokémon™ Platinum version for Nintendo DS™, a remarkable new entry in the beloved Pokémon series, slated for a March 22 launch across North America. Nintendo's roster of more than 100 new games includes an impressive array of challenges and experiences for new players and loyalists, as well as everyone in between. Notable titles include the enhanced New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ and New Play Control! Pikmin™ for Wii™, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon, Personal Trainer™: Math and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS.

"Our fans expect a diverse selection of entertainment options, and we're eager to deliver exactly that," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "We're building on the momentum of a strong holiday season by offering new and experienced players an even greater library of game titles in 2009."

Pokémon fans in particular will have plenty to cheer about as Pokémon Platinum is readied for its U.S. debut. Following the vast popularity of Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Platinum is the newest in the core series of Pokémon games. Pokémon Platinum features a new story full of adventure, never-before-seen forms of powerful Pokémon – including the legendary Giratina's Origin Forme – and the Distortion World, a mysterious new world that suddenly appears in the Sinnoh region. In addition, with Pokémon Platinum up to 20 players can interact with other Pokémon fans from around the world in the new Wi-Fi Plaza, featuring mini-games and activities. Players can also enjoy the new features in the Global Terminal, such as posting battle videos using the new "Vs. Recorder." In addition, Pokémon Platinum features a new Battle Frontier, where the toughest Trainers can test their skills in new ways. Pokémon Platinum already has broken previous Nintendo DS sales records in Japan, selling more than 1 million copies in its first two days of release.

For the portable Nintendo DS, Personal Trainer: Math builds on the new Personal Trainer™ series, which launched with Personal Trainer™: Cooking, now extends its reach beyond the stomach to the brain. Personal Trainer: Math introduces 40 fast-paced exercises to give players a fun way to improve their arithmetic skills. The Personal Trainer series is designed to help users enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways. Also for Nintendo DS, fans of the Fire Emblem franchise will enjoy the arrival of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, a revamped and re-imagined version of the NES™ classic, featuring touch-screen controls. Players with a broadband Internet connection can enjoy worldwide battles over Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's online gaming service.

Meanwhile, for the Wii console, Nintendo is offering up two classic Nintendo GameCube™ games: New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis and New Play Control! Pikmin enhanced for play using the Wii Remote™ controller. The enhanced New Play Control! Pikmin game lets players point the Wii Remote controller at the screen and use it as a cursor, making it easy to select either a single Pikmin or an entire army. When a player tosses Pikmin, they fly wherever the cursor is pointing. New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis lets players enjoy an afternoon on the court as their favorite characters from the Mushroom Kingdom, complete with motion-controlled serves and swings. With Wii controls, players can swing the Wii Remote controller to hit forehands and backhands and to apply spin. Experienced gamers can also attach a Nunchuk™ controller for additional precision. Both games are scheduled to launch next March.

Third-party publishers continue to bring diverse, creative games like FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: Echoes of Time™ from Square-Enix for Wii and Nintendo DS. These games offer unique features that allow users to play multiplayer across Nintendo platforms. MADWORLD™ from Sega will be available exclusively for Wii, and the highly acclaimed franchise Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars from Rockstar Games will be available for Nintendo DS.

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.

Wii

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens - March 24

Crave Entertainment
Monster Pals™ - March
Solitaire & Mahjong - February
Puzzle Challenges and More! - February
Crayola Colorful World - March

D3Publisher
Onechanbara™ Bikini Zombie Slayers™ - February
Coraline - January

Destineer
WordJong Party - January
Battle Rage - February
Cradle of Rome - February
Cate West: The Vanishing Files - March
Burger Island - March

Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Winter

DreamCatcher
Play the World - March

Electronic Arts
NASCAR® Kart Racing - Feb. 10
SimAnimals™ - Jan. 27
TRIVIAL PURSUIT - Early spring

Hudson Entertainment
FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR - Jan. 6
Marble Saga Kororinpa™ - Spring

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
DanceDanceRevolution® Disney Grooves - March

Majesco Entertainment
Escape the Museum - January
Major Minor's Majestic March - March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Little King's Story
- Feb. 17
Rune Factory: Frontier - March

Mastiff
Deer Drive™ - Jan. 20

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
We Ski™ and Snowboard - March

Nintendo
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ - March
New Play Control! Pikmin™ - March

Sega
The House of The Dead: Overkill™ - February
SONIC™ and the Black Knight - March
MADWORLD™ - March

Southpeak Interactive
Roogoo Twisted Towers™ - Feb. 17
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball™ - March 17
Brave: A Warrior's Tale™ - Feb. 17

THQ
Paws & Claws Pet Resort - Jan. 5
Neighborhood Games - Jan. 5

Ubisoft
Tenchu™: Shadow Assassins - February
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director's Cut) - March

XS Games
Super PickUps™ - Q1

Nintendo DS

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens - March 24
Pimp My Ride 2™ - March 24
Animal Planet™ - March 10

Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
My World, My Way™ - Feb. 3
Legacy of Ys™: Books I & II - Feb. 10
Trackmania™ DS - March 17

Crave Entertainment
Monster Pals ™ - March

D3Publisher of America
Puzzle Quest™: Galactrix™ - Q1
Coraline - January

Destineer
USA TODAY Puzzle Craze - January
DinoPets - March

Disney Interactive Studios
Phineas and Ferb - Winter

DreamCatcher
Inkheart - January
Learn Math - January
Drivers' Ed Portable - January
Monster Band - January
Zoo Quest - February
My Personal Diary - February
Music Star: Pop Star - February
Paint by DS - March
Matchstick - March
Dreamer: Top Model - March
Sarah - Keeper of the Unicorn - March
Learn Chess - March
Dragon Master - April

Electronic Arts
Zubo™ - March
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure™ - Q1
SimAnimals™ - Jan. 27

Empire Interactive
Jagged Alliance - Feb. 17

Gameloft
American Popstar - Road to Celebrity - March 9

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero™ - Q1
Suikoden Tierkreis - Q1
Little Magician's Magic Adventure™ - Q1

Majesco Entertainment
WonderWorld Amusement Park™ - January
Powerbike - January
Our House™ - Q1
Hot 'n' Cold - March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Avalon Code - February
Flower, Sun, and Rain - March

Mastiff
Moon™ - Jan. 13

MumboJumbo
Chicken Hunter Star Karts - March 10

Nintendo
Personal Trainer™: Math - Jan. 12
Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon - Feb. 16
Pokémon™ Platinum version - March 22

ROCKSTAR GAMES
Grand Theft Auto™: Chinatown Wars - Winter

Southpeak Interactive
Big Bang Mini® - Jan. 6
Roogoo Attack™ - Feb. 17
Brave: Shaman's Challenge™ - Feb. 17

Square Enix, Inc.
FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: Echoes of Time™ - Spring

THE GAME FACTORY
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES™ - Jan. 19

THQ
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets - Jan. 5

TOMY Corporation
My DoItAll™ - February

Ubisoft
Jake Power Fireman - January
Jake Power Policeman - January
Imagine™ Cheerleader - February
JoJo's Fashion Show - February
Petz® Horseshoe Ranch - February
Imagine™ Family Doctor - February
Imagine™ Ice Champions - March
Jake Power Handyman - March
My Fashion Studio Paris Collection - Feb. 17
American Popstar - Road to Celebrity - March 24
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director's Cut) - March

XSEED Games
Retro Game Challenge - Jan. 6

For more information about Nintendo games, visit www.Nintendo.com.

Well, that is certainly a big list. Anyone notice the lack of Disaster: Day of Crisis, Sin & Punishment 2, Punch-Out!!, Mario and Luigi 3, and Rhythm Heaven. I mean seriously Nintendo, wtf is wrong with you? No Wii games besides GC Wiimakes...

They could and should release Disaster Day of Crisis since the game has been finished and released everywhere except North America...it's not fair. Why should I have to import something that is already in English elsewhere, just release it in my territory. While I am criticizing Nintendo's list, there are games I'm looking forward to anyway, those would be:

The House of The Dead: Overkill™ - February
SONIC™ and the Black Knight - March
MADWORLD™ - March
Tenchu™: Shadow Assassins - February
My World, My Way™
- Feb. 3
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero™ - Q1
Avalon Code - February
Flower, Sun, and Rain - March
Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon
- Feb. 16
Pokémon™ Platinum version - March 22
Retro Game Challenge - Jan. 6

Plus I have Captain Rainbow, Tatsunoko VS Capcom, Let's Tap, Animal Crossing: CF, and The World Ends With You to play, as well as my gigantic backlog of games I have already...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Shaymin Revealed

Well Shaymin was officially just revealed on Pokemon.com. The only information we get is basically it's ability and it's signature move. That is the image below as proof, just in case they take it down.

Hopefully the release date for Giratina and the Sky Warrior as well as when we can get Shaymin will all be revealed soon!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wii and Nintendo DS Set Historic New U.S. Sales Records

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– With more than 3.6 million combined systems sold in November, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ set new hardware sales records, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. The Wii console sold more than 2 million in November, a new all-time record for a non-December month. The Nintendo DS system sold more than 1.56 million in November, which is now the second-highest total for a non-December month in history. The Wii console has sold 15.4 million in the United States since it launched in November 2006, and Nintendo DS has sold nearly 24.6 million in the United States since it launched in November 2004.

“Nintendo’s record-breaking sales demonstrate that consumers are looking for the best value not only among video games, but also among all entertainment options,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Shoppers are looking for gifts that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and Nintendo provides an incomparable range of experiences that gets the whole family involved.”

Four games made for Nintendo systems placed in the top 10 U.S. best-sellers for November, representing the diversity of people who play Nintendo games. These included Wii Play™ (for casual and lapsed players) at No. 3 with more than 796,000 sold, Wii Fit™ (for new gamers) at No. 4 with more than 697,000 sold, Mario Kart™ Wii (for both core and casual payers) at No. 5 with nearly 637,000 sold and Wii Music™ (for everyone) placed at No. 9 with more than 297,000 sold, following its long-tail trend.

Looking at the industry as a whole, Nintendo products continue to fuel the engine of the video game industry. In November alone, Nintendo represented 198 percent of industry growth over 2007. Nintendo systems represented 66 percent of all hardware sales in November, including 59 percent of all console sales and 79 percent of all portable hardware sales.

For more information about Nintendo, visit www.Nintendo.com.

I know most everyone doesn't care about sales numbers, but I really wanted to point out how Nintendo is hypocritical. They say they don't generalize their games into categories like "core, hardcore, casual" yet look at their press release. I mean this is exciting that Nintendo is number 1 (but they have been for a while), so hopefully we keep seeing some great "hardcore" games in the future.

I think Nintendo provides enough for both crowds, but they should've released Disaster: Day of Crisis as their "hardcore" game during Fall 2008. Wii Music & Animal Crossing aren't hardcore...

Oh well guess I'm a hypocrite, I already said I love Nintendo today yet now I'm criticizing them, lol.

Personal Trainer: Walking to Europe as Walk With Me!

11 December 2008 – Put a spring in your step and help to enrich your life in 2009 with the fun new Nintendo DS software Walk with me! Do you know your walking routine? set to launch across Europe on 20 February.

A good active walking routine is recognised as an important part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Now Nintendo’s Walk with me! can help you to get in tune with your personal walking regime, compare it with friends, family or even your pet, and see how you compare to walkers across the globe!

This latest lifestyle software designed exclusively for the Nintendo DS comes with two specially designed pedometers called Activity Meters which measure your daily steps minute by minute.

Slim and convenient, the Activity Meter will fit into your bag or pocket as you walk and will measure your activity through the day. You can set daily walking targets with a basic setting of 3,000 steps which can be increased each day to suit your activity levels.

The data is collected and stored on the Activity Meter for up to seven days and can be easily transferred to your Nintendo DS, so you can track your progress. Simply point the Activity Meter at the Nintendo DS like a TV remote control and with one click of the button on the meter, your data will be sent by infrared signal.

With the ability to store data for up to four users, you can compare your activity with other members of your family or friends– even ranking yourself against the family dog!

Walk with me! also offers a variety of fun mini-games to help motivate you to walk. You can use your collected steps to unlock trivia, create images and find out how much electrical energy your walking would have generated for the day.

Using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, users send their step data to compare with people all over the world and there are two other great ways of bringing your walking routine to life and sharing the fun.

Space Journey

You can post your own step data to combine it with users around the world and create a world step count. This is then used to plot a virtual walk across the solar system. The distance between planets has been calculated in steps and you will see graphically how you and other world users are doing on your journey through space.

World Ranking

Every Sunday the walking rankings for all users will be updated on a global scale with an interim ranking every day covering total steps, highest step count in the world and the previous week’s step count.

Anyone who then updates their game will be able to view the world’s top ranked players and how far they have walked.

Walk with me! is easy to use and will bring fun to your daily walking routine helping you in your journey to a healthier lifestyle. Step on up and get your copy now!

Walk with me! Do you know your walking routine? launches across Europe on 20 February 2009.

Can't say I'm really surprised, we know it's coming to the US under the title Personal Trainer: Walking, which will join Cooking, as well as Math in the next coming months. Nintendo is really pushing this stuff, I don't know if I would buy into this. Like I need a game to tell me how active I am, oh wait I have Wii Fit for that...

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series To Be Continued

It turns out that the latest issue of Coro Coro will reveal a new entry in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. I'm actually not entirely surprised since the Mystery Dungeon games seem to do well around the world with Pokémon branding the front. I actually find them quite enjoyable sometimes, though sometimes I find them annoying... Anyway, here is the image that states this information:

ポケモン不思議のダンジョン <---this part says "Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon" which means "Mysterious Dungeon" I bet we'll probably see a Ranger 3 and maybe a new Pokémon game for Wii after the fact. The DS is set to be around for a long time. It's been around for 4 years, it may very well be around for 4 more years ^_^

I love you Nintendo!!!

Sands of Destruction Announced by SEGA

SEGA ANNOUNCES UPCOMING U.S. RELEASE OF SANDS OF DESTRUCTION ON NINTENDO DS

Splendid visuals, fascinating characters and a high-powered battle system to be featured in the next epic Japanese RPG experience

SAN FRANCISCO (December 4, 2008) – SEGA® of America, Inc. announced today that the exclusive Nintendo DS™ title, Sands of Destruction™, will be releasing in North America. Critically acclaimed in Japan and gaining recognition through the television anime World Destruction: Sekai Bokumetsu no Rokuni™, gamers will experience an action-packed story featuring a unique range of characters, a gorgeous artistic atmosphere and an intense RPG battle system.

“We are very excited to bring this original RPG to the U.S.,” states Yoichi Shimosato, producer of Sands of Destruction. “Our very talented team is eager to showcase the unique world and gameplay experience of Sands of Destruction and they firmly believe we have created an RPG world that can be enjoyed by everyone.”

In Sands of Destruction, a race of powerful beastmen known as the Ferals rule over the human population with tyranny and prejudice. A group of warriors, the World Annihilation Front, believe their only option for ending the corruption of the Ferals is to end the world as they know it. This intense game puts gamers in control of an intriguing cast of characters including the crusading Morte Ashera as well as Kyrie Illunis, who unknowingly holds the key to global destruction. Gamers will explore a fantastic world, traveling across oceans of sand, battling colossal enemy monsters and unraveling the mystery of the creation of the world.

”SEGA is excited to be bringing this innovative, engaging IP to Nintendo DS,” states Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing for SEGA of America, Inc. “With the incredible talent and vision of the development team, Sands of Destruction promises to deliver the next epic RPG experience to gamers everywhere.”

Featuring an all-star team of Japanese RPG developers, Sands of Destruction utilizes the upper and lower DS screens for its dynamic battle system, including major boss battles where elite monsters take up both DS screens. Mixing traditional turn-based tactics with fighting game mechanics to create an intense gameplay experience, Sands of Destruction also features an innovative “Quip system” where characters utter inspiring battle commands that enhance abilities and boost attributes to give them various advantages during battle. As the story unfolds new battle commands will be discovered and gamers will be able to customize the different commands to each character.

Sands of Destruction will be released in fall 2009, exclusively for Nintendo DS™

I am actually very excited for this game. But seriously, Fall 2009? Why would it take another year for the game to come out? Come on now SEGA, Nintendo doesn't take a whole year to get games out...anymore at least. Give this to us early next year please :)

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Dragon Quest 10 for Wii

Dragon Quest X was just announced for the Wii at the Dragon Quest event in Japan. Here is the Japanese live-blog of the show here.

The following text announces Dragon Quest X:

「次のドラゴンクエスト10はWii」と思わず堀井 雄二氏がもらしてしまいました。「まずはドラゴンクエスト9をよろしくね!」だそうです。
“Wii moat well Yuji leaked the following dragon QUEST 10” unintentionally. Don't you think? “dragon QUEST 9 to be possible first!”It probably will put out, is.

I know machine translation fails, but this is on a Japanese live-blog so it must be true.

Pokémon Platinum & Fire Emblem Release Date?

Overnight, Circuit City.com revealed a page for Pokémon Platinum, with a specific release date of March 22nd, 2009. The page has since been removed, so the game may very well be coming out then. Here is the image below:


Pluto is known as "Charon", Handsome is known as "Looker", and the Torn World is known as the "Distortion World". I don't understand why they would change Pluto's name in the US as Pluto is a Galaxy admin. I am so excited, I can't wait to play this game. I hope the release date ends up being true.

Update: They can't use Pluto as a character name because of the Disney character having the name trademarked back in 1930. It really sucks, though Charon is the name of one of Pluto's moons.

Circuit City also has a page up for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, complete with boxart and a release date of February 23rd, 2009. It's starting to make the Pokémon date look more likely, and this sounds very likely as well. All we need to know is what game for DS that might be released in January. I have a feeling it could be Rhythm Heaven, since Mario & Luigi RPG 3 isn't even out in Japan yet.

Tatsunoko VS Capcom Intro

As you can tell I love this game, but I'm buying it for my brother, not myself. I can always import it later when it falls in price or something. Anyways, here is the opening for the game below:

Friday, December 5, 2008

Backlogs


If you are a gamer, than you probably have a backlog.

A backlog is basically games you haven't played until completion. Getting to the credits simply means you have beaten a game. But to complete it, it means unlocking all the extra characters/modes/stages and finishing them all. Mastering is where you get perfect ranks/scores on each stage/mode you are playing.

I myself have a huge backlog of games that I haven't even made it to the title screen in. I basically got caught up in each new game that was coming out and then ignored the ones I had already in my possession. I am what you call a Gaming Shopaholic. I buy all the cool games that come out (for DS/Wii) even when I'm not finished with my old games, which led to my backlog.

Recently I was directed to a site called The Backloggery. This site lets you add your games for each system to help you keep track of what is Unfinished, Beaten, Complete, or Mastered. Most people won't have any mastered games, but many people will have Complete.

The Backloggery also has a random game generator for whatever game you might want to play. Recently I used it and it brought up Minicopter: Adventure Flight. The toy RC copter game is actually a budget title, and thus very short. So I went back to play it tonight and I just Beat the game. I didn't Complete it though, as there were Treasure stages I didn't finish and ofcourse I haven't collected all of the different RC helicopters.

So do you have a backlog? If so, how many games are in it?

Thursday, December 4, 2008

World Destruction coming to US as Sands of Destruction

Apparently a NeoGAF member was browsing Sega's FTP site and came across a game called Sands of Destruction. Said member clicked on it and up came image links, and they turned out to be English screenshots of World Destruction. That pretty much tells you right there that the game is coming to the US.

However since anyone can edit images, I'm going to mark this as a rumor for now, but I'm sure it's real anyway. Siliconera and Nintendo Power have both stated the game is headed stateside, with the former saying that there are going to be numerous changes to the English version.


You can checkout the topic that spreaded this news here.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Let's Tap Trailer


I am really considering importing this game. I have no idea if SEGA will bother releasing the game in the US, and it looks really fun for a mini-game like collection. Also, the music is just awesome! Plus it's only $50 to import it, but if SEGA brings it to the US after I imported it, it's going to make me angry. It is however an awesome game though!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Fatal Frame IV is coming to Europe & America


This comes from the latest edition of Official Nintendo Magazine in the UK. The game is set for a February 6th release according to Play.com (UK site), while ONM says the game will be out in February, which makes it more likely that it will be released.

Also, if you think it is fake, than you are wrong. In Japan the series is called "Zero" and in Europe it is called "Project Zero", but it seems that they are relaunching the series as Fatal Frame in Europe starting with the latest game in the franchise.

In another story, XSEED Games is a publisher in the US who is releasing a bunch of Marvelous games. They recently posted on their website for gamers to email them about what they should localize for US release. One of the most requested games was Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse for Wii. XSEED confirmed that the game is already being published for the US by another publisher, here is that email.

Hi Andrew,

If you're talking about Fatal Frame 4 for the Wii then it's coming to the US, even though it won't be by us.

Can't tell you who's bringing it over, but keep your eyes peeled for an official announcement, hopefully sometime soon.

Ken @ XSEED Games
Fatal Frame IV is considered a "hardcore" game by the gaming community, so hopefully Nintendo of America will reveal it soon. JC Rodrigo of Nintendo Treehouse localization team said they were localizing a game for Wii, while initial thoughts pointed to Captain Rainbow, it sounds like they might be bringing Fatal Frame IV to the US.

At first I couldn't really care about the game, but since I am one of those people looking for more hardcore games (even though I bought Wii Fit & Wii Music), so I will definitely be picking this up if and when it hits the US!

Image Link: Imageshack

Pokémon Ranger 2 New Wi-Fi Mission


The newest Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia download mission is now available through Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. The mission will appear under your Ranger Net menu after you have downloaded it. It is called "Liberate the Tower!" and allows you to catch a Darkrai to send over to Diamond/Pearl. The mission will be available until January 30, 2009, so hurry up and get it!


Darkrai
Level: 50
OT: Almia
Attacks: Dark Void, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Double Team

Wii-kly Update 12/01/2008

WiiWare

SPACE INVADERS GET EVEN (Taito, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): The Space Invaders are back, and this time they're out to get even. Take control of a UFO and make those Earthlings pay by unleashing your fleet of heroic invaders against their puny tanks, fighter jets and artillery-but watch out for the massive boss awaiting you at the end of each stage. Use your invaders' five attack types and the might of the mother ship to rack up high scores, then upload them via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and see where you stand in the global rankings.

Pit Crew Panic! (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Pit Crew Panic! is a frantic, action-packed game that unfolds on the racing circuit. During the game, the pit crew is not only faced with repairing vehicles, but also various WHATSITs. Handling the WHATSIT repairs is a pit crew made up of legendary beauties. The controls are simple: Just grab a member of the crew with the Wii Remote™ controller's A Button, then release the button when the Pointer is over the damaged PART, and that crew member will begin repairs. Assign repairs to the members of your team and provide support using the Wii Remote to send a fully repaired WHATSIT out of the pit as quickly as you can. The game features Normal mode, which can be played using one of two rules: Abnormal mode (players split into two teams and compete against each other) and Ranking mode (compete with players around the world for the top record). Each mode can be played with a maximum of four Wii Remote controllers, allowing you to team up with friends and family. Your teamwork could lead to outstanding records.

Virtual Console

METAL SLUG 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen-Blood and Gore, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1998 by SNK, METAL SLUG 2 is a side-scrolling military-action game. Players choose from Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio, setting their sights on wiping out Morden's newly remobilized Rebellion Army. Just like the original METAL SLUG, players blaze a trail by shooting and jumping, but METAL SLUG 2 adds a new arsenal for you to command, including a heavy machine gun, a shotgun and even a laser gun, providing players with rich variety. Battle effects are packed in, as well-players turn into mummies after getting caught in poison gas coughed up by mummies. After picking up too many food items, characters turn fat, but they get an attack-strength upgrade. Two-player action is supported, too, so players can have a blast with their friends.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Import Games

Do you own any import games for Wii or DS?

I am very familiar with importing since I've bought some cool DS games that were exclusive to Japan.

Nintendo DS
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
Slide Adventure: Mag Kid

I'm also thinking of purchasing a few other games such as Chousojuu Mecha MG and Taiko no Tatsujin Wii.

I just bought the skip/Nintendo game Captain Rainbow for the Wii from Play-Asia for only $30. Captain Rainbow most likely won't come out in the US because it doesn't have western appeal, and it features Birdo's gender discussion. In Japan, Birdo is a transexual, in the US it is simply female.

Recently I started dabbling in homebrew on the Wii, and I played a few homebrew games like a homebrew Duck Hunt. I also played a DVD on my Wii, proving that the Wii doesn't need a hardware update to play DVD's on it. Homebrew is a blast, but the only reason I really wanted it is so I can play import Wii games. I doubt I'll be importing most games since most get released. But the really niche one's wont be released, and if I want them, I'm gonna have to import them and play them in Japanese.

At one point I was considering importing Disaster: Day of Crisis from Europe, but recently it was revealed that the game is announced for the US. There is no release date yet to my disappointment however.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Finished Ranger 2!!!


Yes, I've basically been playing the game everyday and I finished the story mode of Ranger 2. I mean sure I need to do the downloaded missions, finish the rest of the quests, and fill the Ranger Browser...but me finishing a game so quickly is a rare thing. I can count on one hand how many games I've finished in just a couple of days.

Let me tell you, if you are looking for a DS game worth the time and money, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is one you need to pick up. While the concept may sound dumb to you, it's the story that drives the game and the tough battles you have to face throughout the game. Plus with extra downloadable missions in the future, you will have extra replay value mixed in.

Maybe I should write reviews again? I work alot and don't get to play games as much anymore, and I'm very tired. Hmm...what to do.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I got Sonic Unleashed

Yes, I was supposed to wait until my brother got it until Christmas, but I wanted to play it now. I'm still getting him the game for Christmas too, but I've been eagerly awaiting this game since it was revealed!

Can't wait to play it until tonight!!! I hope it's awesome :D

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I got Pokémon Ranger 2 & Kirby Super Star Ultra


Circuit City is having a sell for certain DS games - a 2 for $40 sale. I picked up Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia & Kirby Super Star Ultra on the DS. The following list of games are the ones where you will save money.

Spore Creatures
LEGO Batman
Kirby: Super Star Ultra
Drawn To Life: Spongebob Squarepants Edition
Super Mario 64 DS
Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals
Nintendogs: Chihuahua & Friends
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Nintendo Looking into Band Brothers DX Localization


“No matter what kind of music, if we tried to do this in other countries it would be very difficult. Therefore, we are currently researching what would be required and what allowed in each region and individual country. If we find an agreeable answer, we certainly want to develop. If we could somehow put together a good deal with one particular music label, it would somewhat reduce the number of choices available [to players], but I believe we could create a game that still offers a variety of possibilities.” - Satoru Iwata
Well it looks like Iwata is thinking about bringing Band Brothers DX to the US, albeit it'll have to have different music. Lets hope it does come to the US! Also Iwata, why not bring Soma Bringer, Kaseki Holder, and Glory of Heracles to the rest of the world! :)

Source: GameCyte via GoNintendo

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I got Wii Music!


Remember how I bashed Wii Music in the past after the horrid E3 conference? Well I ended up changing my mind after seeing Nintendo's videos on the Nintendo Channel. Now don't go calling me a casual because I own Wii Fit & Wii Music...I'm still a core gamer...honest!!! Anyway, I'm gonna go play Wii Music now, hope it's fun! ^_^

Animal Crossing City Folk & Wii Speak Bundle


I was wondering when it was going to be revealed. Amazon has a page up featuring the box bundle, looks the same as the one from Japan. The bundle will run $69.99 on Amazon. Rumor has it that the price will be $49.99-$59.99 on GameStop, but no word yet on the release. You can check out the Amazon order page by clicking here.

SEGA is publishing The Conduit

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON, Oct 29, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — SEGA(R) of America, Inc. and SEGA(R) of Europe Ltd. today announced a worldwide partnership with High Voltage Software to publish and distribute the Wii(TM) home video game system-exclusive title, The Conduit. The first-person shooter garnered multiple awards at E3 2008, including Best Wii Game by GameTrailers and three awards from IGN: Best Shooting Game (Wii), Best Graphics Technology (Wii) and Best Overall Wii Game. The Conduit is a stunning, futuristic title powered by a new game engine technology that delivers remarkable visuals and effects, as well as a rich interactive experience that is unlike any other title on the Wii.

“The Conduit is one of the most talked-about Wii games this year and High Voltage Software has only scratched the surface of the game in terms of what they have shown so far,” says Simon Jeffery, President of SEGA of America, Inc. “They have proven that graphical and technological innovation can be exciting to the Wii market, and SEGA is thrilled to partner with a team that truly shares our belief in the Wii’s gaming potential beyond the casual market.”

“High Voltage Software’s partnership with SEGA to publish The Conduit represents an important milestone for this studio,” said Kerry Ganofsky, CEO and founder of High Voltage Software, Inc. “SEGA shares our vision for the title and its tremendous potential, which is why we chose them from a long list of potential partners. With their support, we are confident that The Conduit will deliver the definitive shooter experience that Wii fans have been waiting for.”

The Conduit takes players into a dark story in Washington D.C. after a vicious alien invasion has rocked the country. An organization called the Trust has sent in Secret Service agent, Mr. Ford, to go up against the insect-like alien race known as “The Drudge.” Armed with an array of futuristic weaponry and an intelligence-gathering device simply called the “All-Seeing Eye,” players follow an intricate storyline filled with conspiracy, shady government activity and terrifying aliens.

The Conduit’s detailed control system allows players to customize and configure look sensitivity, turning speed, the dead zone and much more. As players delve further into the mystery behind the extraterrestrial invasion, shocking details reveal that the invasion may have been brought on with help from the government itself.

Powered by High Voltage Software’s groundbreaking Quantum 3 engine, The Conduit ensures that players will experience single and multiplayer gameplay with graphical fidelity never seen before on the Wii. The Conduit will also support the recently announced Wii Speak peripheral, allowing online multiplayer gamers the ability to chat as they destroy aliens in each terrifying level. Additionally, the game will take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus for optimal control.

The Conduit, exclusively for the Wii, is slated to ship in spring 2009. For more information on the game, please visit www.conduitgame.com.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Wii-kly Update 10/27/2008

WiiWare

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Rock and roll! Hurting for cash, Strong Bad sets out to dominate the “Battle Royale of the Bands.” Can he rule the stage and win the big prize? Or will he be drowned out by the competition? Find out in this high-voltage episode.

Art Style: ROTOHEX™ (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Use colored triangular panels to create a vibrant mosaic of stained glass in Art Style: ROTOHEX. As triangles fall from the top of the screen, rotate them to group six panels of the same color and create a matching hexagon, or HEX. Once the HEX has been formed, it will disappear, allowing the existing panels to shift and more panels to fill the playing field. A clear-cut goal and two different styles of intuitive controls allow you to focus solely on the game play-which is vital, as the playing field will be full of panels before you know it. With multiple modes (unlock more as you progress further in SOLO mode), special item panels at your disposal, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively with a friend, there will always be another HEX to create.

Virtual Console

Earthworm Jim (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things, such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outer space fight, a suit drops to Earth and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero. Play as Jim in this Sega Genesis classic. When Jim learns of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, he decides to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat, and Bob the Killer Goldfish.

Sears gets Limited Edition DS Lite's on Black Friday


Do I even need to say words? We aren't sure if this is Sears exclusive yet. I doubt it is) Nintendo is trying to push the DS Lite through the holiday season so I doubt they will give it to only one retailer. This makes me want to buy another DS Lite for myself. I already own the Dialga & Palkia DS Lite from Japan and just bought my brother the Cobalt/Black DS Lite so.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Wii-kly Update 10/20/2008

WiiWare

Tetris Party (Tetris Online, Inc., 1-6 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,200 Wii Points): Tetris Party is a deceptively simple, totally addictive puzzle game that is sure to keep you and all of your friends and family entertained for hours on end. The WiiWare game features 10 never-before-seen single-player and multiplayer variations of Tetris, including Field Climber, Stage Racer, Shadow and Wii Balance Board-enabled modes (Wii Balance Board™ accessory sold with Wii Fit™). Several of the modes give users the chance to take advantage of the unique point-and-shoot capabilities of the Wii Remote™ controller. The party doesn't stop there, though. Take the Tetris fun online via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, where you can play multiplayer Tetris against up to five friends at a time. You can also see how your Tetris Party skills stack up against the rest of the world using the global ranking system.

The Incredible Maze (Digital Leisure Inc., 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Get lost in The Incredible Maze! Simply tilt your Wii Remote controller to navigate a series of exciting and twisted mazes. Entering the maze could not be easier, but finding your way out will require a keen eye and a steady hand. Obstacles and traps are around every corner, so move your ball around the maze without falling off the edge. But watch out, there are lots of surprises in store. You can hunt for gems in a timed challenge, or test your abilities in a race against the clock. The Incredible Maze is also compatible with the Wii Balance Board, so you can really put your weight into it. This is the way in, but you'll have to find your own way out.

Virtual Console

Digital Champ Battle Boxing (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Violence, 700 Wii Points): Set in the near future, Digital Champ Battle Boxing is a first-person-perspective boxing title that plunges players into the raw intensity of the ring! Determined to thwart Mother Computer's plot to conquer mankind, you infiltrate the enemy's domain, using your boxing skills to vanquish your foes. Each round is three minutes, with a total of 12 rounds to a match. Advance to the next contest through either a KO or by flattening an opponent three times in a round for a TKO. Utilize an arsenal of left and right jabs, hooks, power-charged crosses and three different kinds of "Devastator" punches. Deftly block and slip your opponent's attacks, and look for your chance to lay them out. Master these techniques and take down the greatest opponent of them all, DIGITAL CHAMP!

GRADIUS® II GOFER NO YABOU (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): This shooter is the sequel to the seminal masterpiece, GRADIUS. Two years after its last epic battle, the GRADIUS army recommissions the VIC VIPER super-dimensional warplane to combat the invasion of a new nemesis known as GOFER. Piloting the latest model of the VIC VIPER, players can select between multiple WEAPON MODULES and SHIELDS to tackle the varying stages and enemy attack patterns they come up against. With a total of nine stages, this perfect port of the original boasts one of the longest adventures in the series and features more of its trademark fast-paced background music to accompany the intense action.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Tatsunoko VS Capcom Trailer


I know I never posted a story about this game, but it features anime characters from the anime company Tatsunoko and Capcom videogame characters, in a fighting game. I know fighting games can't beat Brawl...but this one certainly looks good for an "anime" style fighting game. Hopefully Capcom manages it to bring it to the US, licensing issues aside.

Mother 3 Fan Translation out now!

The long awaited fan translation of Mother 3 (Earthbound to the western world) is now out. You'll have to patch a rom of the game yourself, but it is a very simple process. Click here to see the news story and get the patch for your rom. You'll have to find your own rom somewhere on the internet, but because it's against terms of service I cannot post a link to roms.Happy camping! Nintendo doesn't seem to be against the idea, the fan translation group has been featured in Nintendo's own magazine, so I don't think this will be shot down. Besides, they aren't selling the game!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

No More Heroes 2


OMG YESSSS!!!!! I have been waiting for this game to happen and it is happening. Thank you SUDA51, you rule! I am so happy right now. No More Heroes is my favorite 3rd party game on the Wii and looks like I'll have another one. I am so happy that I am not even pissed about Disaster: Day of Crisis anymore!!! ^_^

Sonic and the Black Knight - TGS Trailer


Wow this game actually looks pretty good. It looks much better than Secret Rings already, and looks like Sonic is actually running at full speed instead of that slow motion thing he does in Secret Rings. Somehow the game is almost looking better than Sonic Unleashed. Hopefully these 2 games will help put Sonic back on the map...but I doubt it because Sonic still has slowdown moments like the Werehog in Unleashed and beat-em-up style of Black Knight. Oh well they look fun to me anyhow :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Nintendo releasing less games in US

Anyone notice how Disaster Day of Crisis still hasn't officially been revealed for US release? Well I certainly have. I mean the game was announced before Wii was released for the US then it disappeared off the radar. Then just a couple weeks/months ago it fly's into the radar once again so we were all expecting it to be released soon.

Well, the game has been released in Japan (Sep. 25th) and coming to Europe on October 24th. Nintendo just had a stripped down media conference of what was announced in Japan (DSi and tons of other games.) Now the only games revealed for release for next year on DS is Mario & Luigi 3, Rhythm Heaven, and Fire Emblem: Shadow Light. For Wii next year...only Sin & Punishment 2 and Punch Out Wii. Nintendo announced like 13 games for Wii they are publishing in Japan, and we only get 2 of them, what the ****!?

Anyone notice how Europe is starting to get alot more games before the US, after years of neglect by Nintendo of Europe. Now that NOE is getting games, looks like the US is getting the short end of the stick.

Also, notice how tons more games were localized in 2006 than in 2007, and it's gotten even worse in 2008. Nintendo going on without several months of game releases? I think part of it is to blame on our weak economy, which makes the dollar weak. The housing market collapsed, and we are in a recession. I also think there is another unknown reason why Nintendo is releasing less and less here. Maybe for fear of oversaturation of the market? Where are all those cool DS games that came out in Japan like We Are Fossil Diggers, Glory of Heracles, Card Hero, etc? Also, why the heck hasn't Pokémon Platinum been announced for the US? >_>;

Today Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, was asked about Disaster Day of Crisis & Fatal Frame IV. Reggie stated that they are waiting to see how Disaster does in Europe before they consider US release. (The game is set in America, has an American former marine character, and American English voice acting, seriously WTF?.) He also said to ask the Publisher about Fatal Frame IV. If one recalls the past, Tecmo told the fans to ask the Publisher about Fatal Frame IV (Nintendo) So which is it...who the hell is bringing over Fatal Frame IV if at all?

This rant was inspired by this topic over at the NeoGAF forums.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Nintendo US Conference Fall 2008

Nintendo Announces 'Significant Increase' in Q4 Wii Supplies over 2007

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 2, 2008 – Nintendo today disclosed a number of surprises, including new games, the ability to use the Wii™ console to chat with friends near and far, and the expansion of the popular Club Nintendo rewards program to North America.

Continuing its commitment to supply new game experiences for every level of player, Nintendo revealed a wide range of games for the 2008 holiday season and beyond. A number of games are slated for 2009, including a new Punch-Out!! ™ and Sin & Punishment 2 for Wii, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon and Mario & Luigi™ RPG 3 for Nintendo DS™. Consumers also can expect a new "Personal Trainer” series of titles designed to help users enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways.

Nintendo also announced that North American supplies of the Wii video game console between October and December will see a significant increase from 2007's levels, and that Nintendo DS will also be available in greater abundance than ever before.

"We have new games and new experiences for every kind of player this holiday season, and that will certainly fuel increased interest in Wii and Nintendo DS,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "While there's no way to gauge total demand for our hardware systems, we're trying to satisfy as many of those players as possible.”

The new Wii Speak™ Channel arrives on Nov. 16 and uses the Wii Speak™, a microphone that sits on top of your television. This accessory is sold separately at an MSRP of $29.99. People who buy the microphone are given a code that allows them to download the Wii Speak Channel from the Wii Shop Channel at no charge. The Wii Speak lets people in up to four locations who have traded Friend Codes chat with one another at no extra cost. When you use Wii Speak in real time, your Mii™ appears on your TV screen and mimics your chat. You also can leave audio messages for your friends and family members or use Wii Speak to narrate captions for your photos.

Gamers have longed for the expansion of Club Nintendo to North America for years, and now Nintendo is making it a reality for everyone. Club Nintendo rewards Nintendo loyalists who complete surveys and register Nintendo products with loyalty coins that can be redeemed for exclusive items available only to Club Nintendo members. Club Nintendo is set to debut in North America this holiday season.

Key software available for Wii this holiday season includes:

  • Wii Music™: It's a new Wii experience that launches on Oct. 20 and gives you the ability to play a wide variety of musical instruments by using the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers to mimic the motions used to play real instruments. Everyone in the family will enjoy jamming together, while music fans will enjoy creating their own fresh, stylized takes on a variety of songs. Songs range from classical favorites like Beethoven's "Ode to Joy,” to pop hits like "Material Girl” or "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” to Nintendo standards like the Super Mario Bros.® theme.

  • Animal Crossing™: City Folk: This game lets you live your life in a virtual community that's all your own. You can interact with the fun characters in your town, customize everything from your house to your clothing and even chat with other friends in the game using the Wii Speak. Animal Crossing: City Folk launches on Nov. 16.

    • WiiWare delivers great new games directly to Wii consoles that are connected to the Internet. Nintendo's downloadable game service will see games like:

    • Tetris Party: This game will feature 18 game modes, including 10 never-before-seen single-player and multiplayer variations of Tetris. Some modes will use the unique capabilities of the Wii Remote and the Wii Balance Board™.

    • Strong Bad Episode 3: This third episode in the series features humorous story-driven game play, music-themed collectibles and achievements and an old-school side scrolling shoot 'em up mini-game, as well as a special celebrity guest appearance by rock gods Limozeen!

    • World of Goo: This title is an award-winning, physics-based puzzle/construction game. Grab living, squirming, talking globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins and giant tongues.

    • Cave Story: This title is an action-adventure game with new, exclusive content and features created only for the WiiWare version.

    • Boingz: Developed by the award-winning studio NinjaBee and published by RealNetworks®, Inc., Boingz introduces players to bendy, stretchy little critters who've found themselves scattered about an alien world. Using the Wii Remote, players can grab, stretch and fling the rubber-band bodies of the Boingz to bounce them around the environments and help them find their way home.

Key games planned for Wii in 2009 include:

  • Punch-Out!!: Nintendo is reviving one of its most storied and popular franchises with the first new Punch-Out!! boxing game in 15 years. Players will once again follow the exploits of the up-and-coming challenger, Little Mac, and take on a series of opponents, including favorites from the past like Glass Joe and King Hippo.

  • Sin & Punishment 2: The announcement of a sequel to one of the most popular Japanese import titles ever is a dream come true for avid Nintendo fans. This new sequel blends intuitive Wii Remote pointing controls with the shooting and sword-swinging game play that made the original an instant classic and fan favorite.

Some Nintendo products available this fall for Nintendo DS include:

  • Personal Trainer™: Cooking: This title launches on Nov. 24 as the first in Nintendo's new Personal Trainer series. Personal Trainer: Cooking includes more than 200 recipes from around the world and transforms the Nintendo DS into an electronic, interactive cookbook, complete with a glossary of terms and even instructional videos. In 2009, the Personal Trainer series will expand with Personal Trainer™: Math, a collection of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division drills based on the Kageyama method. Meanwhile, Personal Trainer™: Walking will introduce a wireless pedometer, letting consumers not only track every step they take, but also turn walking into interactive entertainment.

  • Pokémon™ Ranger: Shadows of Almia: On Nov. 10, this new installment in the Pokémon Ranger series allows you to use the power of Pokémon to protect nature and help people in need as you strive to become a Top Ranger. Use the DS stylus to encircle and capture Pokémon with the "Capture Styler” as you explore the vast new Almia region.

Key games planned for Nintendo DS in 2009 include:

  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon: A reinvention of the original NES™ titles with revamped graphics and intuitive touch control, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will finally introduce longtime fans to the stories that gave birth to the series nearly 20 years ago in Japan, while introducing the Fire Emblem franchise to a broader audience of strategy and chess fans. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon also reveals the back story of Marth, the original lead character in the Fire Emblem series introduced and made popular in North America by the Super Smash Bros.® series of fighting games.

  • Mario & Luigi RPG 3: The acclaimed Mario & Luigi series returns with another hilarious action role-playing game. Join the Mario Bros. as their travels take them far and wide.

  • Rhythm Heaven™: If you can snap your fingers in time to music, you're ready to play this simple but infectious rhythm game. Just tap your stylus on the touch screen to the beat of the music.
Nintendo has a strong lineup of legacy games and accessories that have continued selling well, even a year after they launched. These include Super Mario Galaxy™, the Wii Zapper™ accessory, Wii Fit™, Super Smash Bros.™ Brawl and Mario Kart™Wii. These five products are expected to remain in high demand as shoppers look for ways to make their holiday dollars go further.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about these and other Nintendo products, visit www.Nintendo.com.
Now the real question is after all that news is...where is the US release date for Disaster: Day of Crisis? The game is out in Japan, coming to Europe & Australia this month, but no US date still >_>;

Wii Software Lineup



2008 Games
Wii Music (Nintendo) 10/16
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nintendo) 11/20
The Melancholy of Haruhi (Kadokawa Shoten) 11/27
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes (Capcom) 12/11
428 (Sega) 12/4
Samba de Amigo (Sega) 12/11
Let’s Tap (Sega) Dec. 2008
Cooking Mama 2 (Taito) 12/4
Rygar: Muscle Impact (Tecmo) Dec. 2008
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (Activision) 10/16
Karaoke Joysound Wii (Hudson) 12/18
Sky Crawlers (Bandai-Namco) 10/16
Happy Dance Collection (Bandai-Namco) 10/23
Family Ski: World Ski & Snowboard (Bandai-Namco) 11/13
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (Bandai-Namco) 12/4
Taiko Drum Master Wii (Bandai-Namco) 12/11
Tenchu 4 (From Software) 10/23
Harvest Moon: Exciting Animal March (Marvelous) 10/30
Rune Factory Frontier (Marvelous) 11/27
Shape Boxing (Rocket Co.) 10/30

2009 Games
Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo) Spring
Start w/ 100 Conversations! English Conversation (Nintendo) 2009
Punch-Out!! (Nintendo) 2009
Trace Memory: R, Gateway of Memory (Nintendo) 2009
Kensax (Nintendo) 2009
Cosmic Walker (Nintendo) 2009
Spawn Smasher (Nintendo) 2009
Dynamic [illegible] (Nintendo) 2009
Takt of Magic (Nintendo) 2009
Sin & Punishment 2 (Nintendo) 2009
Forever Blue 2: Beautiful Ocean (Nintendo) 2009
Everyone’s the Star on the NHK Red-and-White Quiz Battle (Nintendo) 2009
Line Attack Heroes (Nintendo) 2009
Castlevania: Judgment (Konami) Winter 2008-2009
Dead Rising: Zombies’ Sacrifice (Capcom) Winter 2008-2009
FFCC: Echoes of Time (Square-Enix) 1/29
Sonic and the Black Knight (Sega) Spring
Fragile (Bandai-Namco) Winter 2008-2009
Arcrise Fantasia (Marvelous) Winter 2008-2009
Oboro Muramasa (Marvelous) Spring

Nintendo DS Software Lineup


Wagamama Fashion Girls' Mode (Fashion game from Nintendo)
Aruite Wakaru Seikatsu Rhythm DS (Game with Pedometer)
Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Deluxe (Kirby Super Star Ultra)
Sekai no Gohan Shaberu! DS O-Ryouri Navi (Version of Cooking Navi that features Cooking Guide Recipes)
Taboo: The Sixth Sense 2K9! (fortune telling, tarot card)
Tomodachi Collection (Mii Interaction game)
Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Mario & Luigi saga continues!)
Made in Wario (WarioWare)
3D Picross

Plus all of the 3rd Party Games

Nintendo DSi

Yes, I know I am late with this, but Nintendo revealed yet another DS redesign, called the "Nintendo DSi", which totally looks like it is copying the iPod revolution.

This new DS features 2 built in cameras, built in web browser, SD card slot & support, built in memory, DS Store (download apps and games that are free, 200, 400, or 800 Nintendo Points), music playback, bigger screens, synch with Photo Channel on the Wii, and a new interface. The system is also thinner, and thus the GBA slot was cut from the system. :(

The DSi will be released in Japan on November 1st, with the rest of the world to receive it sometime next year. It will be launched in two colors, White, and Black.

Nintendo has stated that the system is not a priority for the US at this time, due to the sales of the Nintendo DS Lite still being strong. The system has lacked sales in Japan for a while now, so Nintendo has announced this new DS in order to gain more sales over competitors.

I got Sonic Chronicles


Well, my mom went and picked up Sonic Chronicles for me yesterday from GameStop. I also got the preorder bonus. I'm hoping this game turns out to be really good :)

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I got Samba de Amigo


Well I finally got the long-awaited Samba de Amigo game for the Wii. I've been interested in it ever since it was announced, as I never got to experience the Dreamcast original. The game also has Downloadable Music Content, which is a first for the Wii. (Guitar Hero III & Rock Band don't have DLC of any type) I have yet to play it but I hope it is worth what I paid for it, and I'm sure it is. ^_^

Monday, September 29, 2008

Wii-kly Update 09/29/2008

WiiWare

Art Style: ORBIENT (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Explore the universe like never before in Art Style: ORBIENT. Take control of gravity and anti-gravity and carefully maneuver your small star through 50 stages set in multiple galaxies. Collide with other stars to absorb them and make your own star expand in size, or capture the stars in your orbit and have them become your satellites. Space isn't empty, though, and you'll have to avoid bumping into obstacles or getting pulled into a black hole. If you feel like relaxing while still being challenged, this is the game for you. Its combination of simple controls, atmospheric sound and unique environment make for an experience unlike any other.

Bomberman Blast (Hudson Entertainment, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A brand new addition to the Bomberman series is available on WiiWare. Up to eight players can battle online simultaneously via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Simple controls make this a great game for family and friends to enjoy anytime. You can trigger new items by shaking the Wii Remote™ controller, creating new levels of Bomberman excitement. You can even take the intensity up another notch by adding your own Mii™ caricatures to the mix. Battle results can be recorded on the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Ranking, so you can see how you stack up against others around the globe. This title will prove to be a blast for everyone--from those who've never touched a Bomberman game to the Bomberman masters.

Virtual Console

Super Turrican 2 (Super NES™, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Violence, 800 Wii Points): As the last survivor of the United Freedom Forces, it is your duty to destroy the Machine's forces that have devastated the galaxy. Fight through countless hordes of enemies using everything at your disposal. Use weapons and power-ups to fight back the tide of oncoming enemies. Use special abilities like the Energy Wheel and Cyberfist to find secret areas and score extra lives. When your lives and continues are gone, the mission ends. You are the galaxy's last hope. Are you up to the challenge?

Saturday, September 27, 2008

I got Time Hollow


Well I looked at all the stores the other day trying to find this game, with no luck in site. I called GameStop and they said they had a gutted copy left, so I ended up buying it.

I played the game for several hours today and I can say that the gameplay mechanic is pretty interesting. You can change events in the past to recorrect bad stuff in the present, but sometimes there are further consequences caused by changing something in the past. I know this kind of plot has been redone, but he actually reaches into the past instead of fully traveling, using the Hollow Pen.

I would say if you like the Ace Attorney series or one of the other point-and-click games on DS, then this game is for you! I enjoy these games with stories like this.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I got Wario Land Shake It


I headed to GameStop after not being able to find it at Best Buy. Walked in and out, with only a little preorder push for Guitar Hero World Tour, but I was like nah I don't like Guitar Hero. I didn't have my coupon with me to get Kirby for $5 off at GameStop since they are selling it for more, so I'll just wait on that game.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Tenchu IV confirmed for US


Well, Ubisoft is once again bringing over another game for the Wii, this time Tenchu IV, which will be out in the US in Early 2009. I am actually interested in this game, I've never really played a stealth game, and this has beat-em-up elements which I am a fan of; that means me = happy!

Mega Man 9 Downloadable Content

1. Endless Attack
2. Hero Mode
3. Superhero Mode
4. Proto Man Mode
5. Special Mode

Endless Attack
Test your skills on a stage without end. Try to break the record for getting the farthest. Results will be displayed in the Rankings. Not compatible with Challenges.
Sale Date: 10/06/2008
Wii Points: 300
Required Blocks: 3

Hero Mode
Play the game with a more difficult level of enemy distribution. Not compatible with Rankings or Challenges.
Sale Date: 10/20/2008
Wii Points: 100
Required Blocks: 2

Superhero Mode
Play the game with a super difficult level of enemy distribution. Not compatible with Rankings or Challenges.
Sale Date: 10/20/2008
Wii Points: 100
Required Blocks: 2

Proto Man Mode
Play the game as Proto Man. You can use the shield while jumping. Some of Proto Man’s abilities may differ from Mega Man’s. There is no story for Proto Man. Not compatible with Rankings and Challenges.
Sale Date: 10/06/2008
Wii Points: 200
Required Blocks: 2

Special Stage
Give you another Time Attack Stage to try, including a new Boss at the end! Results will be displayed in Rankings. Not compatible with Challenges.
Sale Date: 10/20/2008
Wii Points: 100
Required Blocks: 2

Wii-kly Update 09/22/2008

WiiWare

Mega Man™ 9 (CAPCOM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Mega Man fans, the wait is over! The classic Blue Bomber that debuted in 1987 is back with the ninth installment in the classic series. It's a new adventure for Mega Man done in an 8-bit style-graphics, music and gameplay are all like you remember them.

PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (Bplus, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint is a crazy, challenging puzzle shooter that delivers more than 100 hours of fun, supporting up to eight players simultaneously. Guard the birth of ZeLeLi and free them from the menace of the evil black Shadow Plättchen. Play as one of the countless FantasyMEs and fight as an astronaut, butterfly, car or football against sharks, cowboys, asteroids and skulls in numerous, fabulous fantasy Worlds. Use items and multipliers in combos to fight yourself to the top of the high scores and find the perfect way to solve a level. Go wild in three completely different game modes of PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint with more than 300 levels. Twist cooperatively with your friends or compete through many multiplayer modes.

Virtual Console

Super Dodge Ball™ (NES™, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Super Dodge Ball, you take control of the USA Dodge Ball team and travel the world in an effort to become the best dodge ballers around. Step onto playing fields in countries all over the globe and use a combination of normal and super shots to help take down your opponents. But be careful, as some destinations have surfaces that can affect your footing. Manage the team as you think best, and swap out characters with other players that better fit your playing style. Two players can enjoy a head-to-head game or play a spirited round of Bean Ball, a six-character free-for-all. Three difficulty levels are available (Easy, Medium, and Hard); which one you choose will depend on your skill and courage. Do you have what it takes to lead Team USA to the ultimate prize and win the world championship of dodge ball?

Vectorman™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2049, mankind is forced to abandon an over polluted Earth and seek out other planets for colonization while the mechanized Orbots stay behind to clean up the mess. When the Orbot leader, WarHead, starts blowing a few circuits and causes a war among the mechanical brethren, a sludge pilot named Vectorman is the only one willing to step up and fight him. You'll morph into a speeding train, a power drill, a mechanical fish and a mighty dune buggy in this action-packed adventure. Equip yourself with weapons, pick up morphs and power-ups to defeat WarHead, and restore peace on Earth.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Ike

Well Hurricane Ike is basically here, it hasn't rained where I'm at yet but it will start soon. We have just been having heavy gusts of wind, power has flickered like a couple of times but that is it.

I don't know what game to play during my long weekend (since work was cancelled.) Pokémon Platinum came out early (illegally) and I'm wondering if I should bother playing it. I mean I want to, but I own too many legal games that I haven't finished yet. So I'm kind of wondering what I should play, lol.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Disaster: Day of Crisis TV Commercials


Well, apparently the Japanese version has English voice acting with subtitles, ala No More Heroes. Maybe that means we'll get the game before the year ends in the US (atleast I hope so!) I mean seriously, the voice acting isn't bad :)

Monday, September 8, 2008

Wii-kly Update 09/08/2008

WiiWare

Groovin' Blocks (Empty Clip Studios, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): A music-based game like no other, Groovin' Blocks adds innovative musical game play to an addictive action/puzzle game foundation. Play to the rhythm of the music to increase your score, and try to hit "Superbeats" to double your multiplier. Go for the high score in each of the 27 stages as you collect stars to unlock 15 levels of power-ups. Groovin' Blocks features three skill levels, from the accessible Casual to the fiendish Hard mode. Play with your friends in co-op mode or against them head-to-head. Head-to-head brings it up a notch as the power-ups now become attacks on your opponent. Play head-to-head with people of all skill levels using a golf-style handicapping system.

Virtual Console

Final Soldier (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points): A vertically scrolling shooter from the well-known Soldier series. In the 23rd century, invaders from the future suddenly attack Earth. Controlling a fighter created by the world's scientists, you rise to meet the enemy. Collect power-up units, such as LASER, E-BEAM, FIRE and MISSILE, and then equip them in Options to launch a variety of attacks. For each of these weapons, you can freely select from three different types in SET-UP. Anticipate enemies' strikes and deftly switch between weapons to defeat the invaders. In addition to NORMAL GAME, there are also 2 MINUTE GAME and 5 MINUTE GAME score-attack modes. The most perfect blend and balance of any game in the series, Final Soldier is a title you don't want to miss.

Cho Aniki (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone and Older—Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 900 Wii Points): The odd world in this shooter made for quite the conversation piece in its day. Players control either Idaten or Benten, celestial warriors out to bring an end to the tyrannical rule of the emperor of Planet Builder, who holds muscular prowess to be the supreme virtue of the universe. Aided by able-bodied muscle-head options Adon and Samson, they must battle to defeat the emperor's army across five stages. Use the buttons to fire away and lay into the Builder forces. Power up your character and options with protein from defeated enemies to have them "bulk up" with a yell, and take their macho battle to the next level.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Disaster Japan Date

Well, Nintendo went ahead and revealed the Japanese release date. Even though the game is more of a western game, it is going to be released in Japan first on September 25th. I have a feeling the US will get it around the middle of October, but we will have to wait and see. I'm sure it's only a matter of days before Nintendo reveals the US release date. Keep an eye out for the release date!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Disaster: Day of Crisis confirmed for Europe

2nd September 2008 – Earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, flood, hurricane... and the small matter of an ex-military terrorist group with their hands on some nuclear weapons – and all in just 24 hours! Welcome to Disaster: Day of Crisis, the action adventure game on Wii from Nintendo and Monolith Soft., sweeping across Europe on 24th October 2008, guaranteed to bring out the survival skills in everyone.

Stepping into the shoes of Raymond Bryce, a traumatised but highly decorated retired US marine and former operative of the International Rescue Team, you’ll prepare for a day like no other. Called back into action to deal with the threat of SURGE, an ex-military terrorist unit led by former elite forces specialist Colonel Hayes, Ray must overcome personal tragedy and numerous devastating natural disasters to prevent the threat of nuclear warfare.

Wracked with guilt over the loss of his best friend in the line of duty, Ray finds out that SURGE has kidnapped a leading seismologist and his assistant in order to predict the arrival of an earthquake, which will act as a diversion for their plan to seize the nuclear weapons. However, upon finding out that the assistant is his lost friend’s sister, Lisa, the mission turns personal and offers Ray the chance of redemption he’s been craving for.

Disaster: Day of Crisis is a dedicated single-player, all-out-action adventure, blending a variety of exciting gameplay activities around an intense and absorbing 23-stage storyline. In addition to vanquishing the SURGE threat, players must come face-to-face with a series of daunting natural disasters and take full advantage of Ray’s survival expertise to rescue stranded civilians left helpless.

As the story unfolds, the player’s skills are thoroughly tested as Ray finds himself in increasingly hazardous situations. Gameplay varies from exploring devastated city streets for survivors to thrilling shooting sequences, as well as driving, swimming and intense quick-time events all intuitively controlled with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Players are awarded Survival Points and Battle Points which are vital for improving Ray’s abilities and ensuring he has the skills needed to overcome the game’s hard-as-nails bosses, survive the effects of each disaster and, ultimately, rescue Lisa.

Along the way, Ray will face adversity from SURGE, at which points the game automatically switches into combat mode. Similar to an on-rails shooter, the action becomes fast and furious where players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to dispatch enemies with a variety of lethal weaponry including handguns, automatic weapons and shotguns. Once every hostile is taken down, Battle Points are awarded and can be used to purchase new weapons or tune current equipment to perfection.

Even after the main storyline is completed, there are numerous incentives for players to keep coming back for more. With additional modes such as a shooting range, a stamina campaign and a wealth of hidden content from unlockable weapons and costumes to the extra-hard ‘Real Disaster Mode’ difficulty, Disaster: Day of Crisis will keep gamers entertained for many months to come.

So are you ready to step into the shoes of an action hero and emerge victorious after one hell of a day? If the answer is yes, then Disaster: Day of Crisis is crying out to be rescued from your nearest retailer across Europe on 24th October 2008.

Well now the game is 100% confirmed. I just find it odd how Nintendo didn't even mention it at E3 or anytime at all, and it's all of a sudden coming out in Europe next month? I hope we get a US release date soon, or I will be 100% po'd. I guess we'll just have to wait a few days until Nintendo of America finally reveals it to us!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Wii-kly Update 09/01/2008

WiiWare

My Aquarium (Hudson Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): With swaying aquatic plants and fish idly swimming about, My Aquarium is a relaxing Wii experience that allows you to enjoy a virtual aquarium in your spare time. Whether freshwater or saltwater, you can select from over 40 popular types of fish, including favorites like the Ocellaris clownfish, the freshwater angelfish and the Asian arowana. You can also create up to six different aquariums and personalize them by adding decorations like seaweed and driftwood. In My Aquarium, you can send aquariums to your registered Wii Friends. The aquariums can even be set with special dates, such as a friend's birthday, that the fish will commemorate with a dance. Feed your fish and watch them steadily grow from fry to adult. Then, after meeting certain conditions, you can breed them. Another feature will allow you to interact with your fish using your Wii Remote™ controller in fun ways, like "tapping" the glass of your aquarium.

Virtual Console

Clu Clu Land™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take a deep breath and prepare for a puzzle game set in the underwater kingdom of Clu Clu Land. The greedy Sea Urchins have stolen all of Clu Clu Land's gold bars and buried them in a series of mazes. As Bubbles, a brave bubble fish, you'll set out to uncover all of the gold bars in each maze. But you'll have to be careful: Sea Urchins will relentlessly pursue Bubbles, and there are also dangerous black holes that must be avoided. Bubbles isn't defenseless, though, as she has the ability to stun Sea Urchins with sound waves and quickly change direction using posts scattered throughout the stages. Not only that, but the locations of the gold bars in each maze form the outline of another object—once you know the object, you're well on your way to finding the gold. With 20 stages to complete and increasingly complex conditions (like having to pass over the gold bars twice to uncover them), you might just want to bring along a friend for help.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Set in the Mushroom Kingdom and featuring its cast of well-known characters, this adventure RPG begins with a familiar scenario: Mario™ must rescue Princess Toadstool™ from Bowser™. However, a mysterious new enemy named Smithy soon appears, and Mario and Bowser are forced to fight as allies for the first time in their long history. In the quest to defeat their powerful new foe, they'll journey across a wide variety of locations (a town of mining moles, a tropical forest, a thundering waterfall—just to name a few) and tackle a mix of obstacles requiring both expert timing and strategy to overcome. Along the way, they'll gain experience and grow more powerful, while also meeting new characters whose unique abilities will be needed to take on Smithy and his gang. Striking a perfect balance of traditional RPG elements and the action-packed game play Mario is famous for, it's easy to see why this title has earned "legendary" status.

Disaster: Day of Crisis Screens

Well, the german wesbite for Nintendo has a Disaster Day of Crisis page up, and you can check out 90 screenshots of the game here.

The main character who used to be known simply as "Ray" has his named revealed to be Raymond Bryce. The translated info from the German website is below.
"Ex-US-Marine Raymond Bryce will drive, swim, run and shoot through 23 sections, while they are being destroyed by volcanos, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Furthermore he'll have to fight a dubious terrorist organisation called SURGE.

Ray will have to find fresh air when his lungs are filled with smoke and he'll have to eat to regain his strength. The player will have to save citizens from various dangerous situations and even apply first-aid measures. He'll also have to defuse bombs and whatnot using the Wii-mote and nunchuck."

Also, there is a rumor going around that a person emailed Nintendo's German website and found out that the release date for the game in Germany will be October 24th 2008. Here is the unofficial translation of the email below:

"Very honored Nintendo customer,

Many thanks for theirs eMail.

At first we would like to apologize for the fact that we come only now to the answer of your writing.

The offer of Nintendo plays is extended constantly. The title “Disaster : Day of Crises” called by you will be available from the 24th October, 2008 at the German market."

I don't know what to believe, but the screenshots are proof the game does in fact still exist and that the information is 100% confirmed. However, until Nintendo releases an official press release, take the release date as fan speculation for the time being. We'll have more information as soon as it arrives