Sunday, April 27, 2008

3...2...1...GO!

Well, I got Mario Kart Wii today thanks to my grandpa. My debit card hasn't came yet since I setup my bank account, so my grandpa bought the game for me. I got to play it for about an hour before he decided to take over watching the TV.

I used the motion controls with the Wii Wheel shell and I really suck at it. Also, I was playing in 50cc so it seemed super slow. I guess I should've played in 150cc. I haven't played on WiFi yet but I think I will tonight. I can say the new levels are interesting enough. I just have to get used to the drifting. I honestly don't want to use the old way of playing Mario Kart because I want more Wii games that use motion controls, and since this game has them, I am using them for sure.

Mario Kart Wii is a great game for me to play on a Sunday after a 10 hour shift at work. I definitely love the Mario Kart games, they are always so fun to play, even many years after each iteration comes out. I still play Mario Kart DS even though it's been almost 3 years since it has came out. The Mario Kart games to me have always been fun, even Double Dash (the game most people dislike).

So for now if you can get Mario Kart Wii, I would definitely recommend it. I can see it being played more than Brawl due to Mario Kart Wii having a better online system. Brawl's online is very disappointing, and I don't know why Nintendo won't do anything about it.

I also forgot to mention that if you install the Mario Kart Channel on your Wii, you can receive invitations from people who are already on your Wii Friend List, with the option of adding them as a friend. You don't have to enter their friend code, the message will do it for you once you push start. Why didn't Nintendo do this for their other games!?

Anyway, go out and get Mario Kart Wii now!!!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Zoo Slaughtering with "Animales de la Muerte" (WiiWare)

Well, High Voltage has revealed yet another one of their WiiWare titles, a game in which you have to kill Zombie Animals at a zoo. The game seems to be Spanish accent themed (hence the title). The animation isn't scary, just cartoonish with lots of blood. You can check it out at IGN here.

It seems pretty interesting, however I wonder if anyone will try to call it racist? Nothing like a good videogame controversy on the Wii!!! I am way more interested in US WiiWare at this point, Japan's WiiWare is so lackluster.

Gyrostarr (WiiWare)

Well, another WiiWare game has been revealed and it is a techno racer (in the vain of Wipeout games) but it seems like it may also be kind of like an old arcade shooter. You can find a video of the game here.

The game will support both Wii Remote motion controls as well as Wii Remote & Nunchuk combinations. Gyrostarr allows up to four players to compete or work cooperatively attacking the tracks, depending on how they decide to play. Weapons and power-ups are all over the stages, and each ship comes equipped with a grapple gun to grab those bonuses before other players can snatch them up. Expect Gyrostarr to debut for only 700 Wii Points when the WiiWare service launches.

Some News & What I've Been Playing

The Everyone's Nintendo Channel is going to be released alongside the WiiWare service in the US on May 12th (or sometime around there) and dropping the name Everyone's from the title. About time Nintendo, we never thought it would be released.

Also, Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be released in Europe on June 27th, and Nintendo Channel will be coming at the end of May to Europe. 3 months after the US is certainly shorter than other games like Super Paper Mario.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I just started the full time position at work and have been busy with that. Mario Kart Wii will be out in a few days, so I'm excited for that. On Minicopter, I have played a few more missions. I can definitely say it makes what seems like boring tasks pretty fun and sometimes challenging. I have crashed into stuff a few times, but the motion control style in the game is great.

I also played a bit of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time as Munchlax and I can say it seems a lot better than the first game. I mean it's the same style of gameplay, but with the added feature of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for having people rescue you when you get stuck so you don't lose your items and money. I can say the story is much more improved, I haven't yet had to walk anyplace. The game is set up in chapters and kind of places me in the mission already. The graphics seem a bit prettier too. I would say this game is pretty good.

Taiko no Tatsujin DS 2 came out in Japan recently. I played a little bit of it today, and I can say I am less than impressed with this game. The music choices seem kind of generic and boring, just not as good as the first games music. I guess it was like that with Ouendan 2 as well. Maybe I just need to play some more? I mean the game won't let me continue any further, and since I lack Japanese skills I don't know what the game is telling me to do. ^_^;

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Take off with Minicopter: Adventure Flight

Well today, I just couldn't wait anymore for another Wii game, and so I went out to get Minicopter: Adventure Flight. First, I went to Walmart to see if they had it, they didn't even have a listing for it. Then I called the GameStop I usually go to and they didn't have it. I remembered there was another GameStop in the mall nearby so I went there only to find that the store had closed up. So I finally went to Best Buy and got it.

For anyone wandering what the game is, it was developed by Japanese companies Sonic Powered and Arc System Works, and published by Aksys Games. Basically, you play as an RC helicopter that goes on missions. If anything, I would say the game is kind of in the same genre as Chibi-Robo games. There are 42 missions in 7 different areas. The game is a budget title and will only cost $30. I haven't played it yet but will definitely be playing it later tonight.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wii Fit Craze

Well, even though a few months ago I was bashing Wii Fit for how useless it looked, I have actually taken a huge interest in the title. One thing was my mom finally decided that she was interested in it because of the yoga poses and the new way to play the game. The other reason is because it could help you tighten up your body so you are more healthy. Those same things interest me.

Despite the game being $90 in the US ($20 more than in Japan), I went and preordered it at GameStop today for $10. Here is another video of the English version from Chechoslovakia:
The game is going to be released in the US last on May 19th, which is surprising for Nintendo. I guess it is because we get Mario Kart on April 27th. Be sure to preorder soon, because you never know how popular the game may become in the month leading up to its release. In Europe, they have pretty much stopped taking preorders for the game because the stores are aware of the allocation they have received. I don't know if it is a small number or if it's a big number, but it sounds like the game is very popular in Europe already.

I still think Nintendo is ripping off the whole rest of the world. A game this cheap to develop is going to cost $90 in the US, and about $140 in Europe. I think that is kind of ridiculous, but with the economy being the way it is, I guess it is okay. But come on, what is with that Euro price being so high. (twice the price of the game in Japan = ouch.) Each region the game is being brought to seems to have produced it's own version with their own voices. The US version will feature a typical American voice while the English in the European version will feature a British voice. The game actually sounds like it encourages you, have you ever seen that in a game before, I really haven't?

I have yet to see Nintendo start their massive marketing campaign. I wouldn't be surprised if it is going to start in the next few days. You would think the best way they could do this is to release the Everyone's Nintendo Channel to the rest of the world with tons of videos and commercials for Wii Fit. Then they could air commercials on TV, and the game will be spread by word of mouth, kind of like how the Wii was when it first launched. All I know is that Wii Fit will be a phenomenon almost as big as the Wii itself. Can't wait!

Monday, April 14, 2008

New Main Pokémon Game this Year says CoroCoro

The latest CoroCoro Magazine is due out in Japan and it simply hints at a new game that is most likely the 3rd game to Diamond and Pearl. I know that people want Gold & Silver remakes, but they are highly unlikely. Next month's CoroCoro will likely reveal the first tidbits on the new game. Here is the scan below that lists all of the main Pokémon RPG's with their year listed next to them, with a spot for 2008 left blank:

Nintendo of Korea - Wii Launch & Video + Software List

Well the Wii is finally heading to South Korea, on April 26th with the price point of ₩220,000 won.


April 26th
Wii Sports (₩39,000)
Wii Play (₩39,000)
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (₩38,000)
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros Treasure (₩39,000)
Fifa 08 (₩45,000)
Elebits (₩43,000)
Namco Museum Remix (₩38,000)
Super Swing Golf 2 (₩48,000)

May 5th
Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock (₩88,000)

Unknown Release Date
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
Big Brain Academy
Super Mario Galaxy

Upcoming DS Games
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario Party DS
Sudoku DS
Brain Age 2
???
Namco Museum Remix
One Piece
???
Kira Kira Music Hour
???
Exit DS
Shinchan
Tank Beat 2
???
Yugioh World Championship 2008
???
???
Cooking Navi

Virtual Console Pricing
NES (400 Wii Points)
SNES(600 Wii Points)
N64 (800 Wii Points)

----------------------------------------
So Korea is getting a pretty interesting launch. However I see they don't have Zelda or Excite Truck on the list yet. Hmm, I guess they think Korea is like Japan and that they won't like these kinds of games? Even though they released Phantom Hourglass...hmm.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Gunshots

Well I just got back from taking Harley for a walk.

Anyway, while I was almost done with the route I normally take I heard 4 gunshots very close by. It scared the hell out of me. So I turned around and started to head the other way when I heard what sounded like a bullet reflected off of something, I didn't hear another gunshot though. I stopped the security person driving the car and told him I heard 4 gunshots. And he said he heard them too and came driving back in the same direction. He asked me if I knew what house it came from and I said I don't know, all I did is hear it, I didn't see anything. I don't know but that seriously scared me.

Anyway I went back the way I came from for fear of being shot. Made it to my house and I heard 5 or 6 more gunshots. The moral of this story is to not wait this long to go walking around at night. It is very dangerous; but still I have never heard a gunshot that close to me before.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Famitsu News via NeoGAF

Lots of new games...

DS
5/29 - Infinite Frontier (BanNam)
6/19 - Puyo Puyo Special Price (Sega)
6/26 - Our Video Game Exam (BanNam)
6/26 - Band Brothers DX (Nintendo)
7/24 - Twilight Syndrome (Spike)
July - MoeSta~Moemoe Tokyo U English Exam~ (Mirai Shonen)
December - Momotaro Dentetsu 20th Anniversary (Hudson)
Summer - Sangokushi Taisen AMA (Sega)
Perfect Prosecutor (Capcom) (Starring Edgeworth & Gumshoe!!!)
5/22 - Glory of Heracles AKA "Eternal Chronicle") (Nintendo)

Wii
6/5 Shiren the Wanderer 3 (Sega)
6/19 Puyo Puyo Special Price (Sega)
‘08 Battalion Wars VS (Nintendo) I believe this is Batallion Wars 2
“Action Game” (BanNam)
Soul Eater: Monotone Princess (SE)
Fire Emblem for Wii - Unmei no Daichi
06/19 - Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball
07/03 - Disaster: Day of Crisis (OMG, I'm gonna import this game if the US release isn't nearby)

Information

PERFECT PROSECUTOR
* A law adventure game where you act as the prosecutor.
* Main characters are Miles Edgeworth, Dick Gumshoe
* You control Edgeworth, searching for overlooked evidence and inconsistencies at the crime scene.
* New search and deduction systems are introduced.

Twilight Syndrome: Legend of the Forbidden City (DS/スパイク/7-24)
* New work within the series
* Main character, schoolgirl Mizuki, is led on a chain of horror after receiving a strange chain mail.
* Mizuki: UENO Mami, Riko: HORI Yuri, Reika: SHIHONO Ryo
* Scrolling right and left, you can examine interesting places, checking the truth of rumors

Band Brothers DX(DS/Nintendo/6-26)
* Over 30 tracks chosen from classical and J-pop
* Over 50 different instruments usable
* NES is a usable instrument
* Play guitar by strumming with the pen
* Up to 6-player local jam sessions
* Singing mode with karaoke for both base game and DLC
* Over 100 tracks through DLC

Bomberman WiiWare
Wifi 8-Man Battle Bomberman (WiiWare/Hudson/June)
* Miis usable as player characters

Alien Crush WiiWare
* Pinball game first appearing on the PC Engine in ‘88
* Upgraded graphics

Blue Oasis WiiWare
* Software where you breed fish
* You can watch their movements
--------------------------------------------------------------------
As always with NeoGAF. Some people could be making up things, but most of the information so far seems to be factual. I mean even another Fire Emblem for Wii, that is a sequel to Radiant Dawn is confirmed by the Japanese producers blog.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 7th, 2008 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 for Nintendo DS(TM), a direct sequel to the 2005 smash hit. The fast-paced medical action that made the handheld original a classic is back, along with all of your favorite Trauma Center characters. Rejoin Derek and Angie as they deal with the unpredictable aftereffects of GUILT. With numerous enhancements, including new difficulty modes and new operations, handheld surgeons have a lot to be excited about.

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 is currently scheduled to release on July 1.

Visit the official Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 website:
http://www.atlus.com/tcutk2

Check out GoNintendo's FLICKR set for screenshots here.

About Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
GUILT is no more. Dr. Derek Stiles and Nurse Angie Thompson faced humanity’s greatest threat and triumphed. Now, in the aftermath, they find themselves in unknown territory, forced to deal with the disastrous consequences of the killer virus. Join them as they scramble to address questions left unanswered and put an end to the mystery behind the disease.

Key Features
  • True sequel to Under the Knife - Scrub back in to Nintendo DS for the next chapter of the award-winning Trauma Center: Under the Knife that returns to the tactile stylus-based experience that made the original a smash hit.
  • Derek and Angie are back - Caduceus’ preeminent surgical team returns to confront the aftermath of the devastating GUILT epidemic in a brand new story.

  • Just what the doctor ordered - With a new easy-play mode, improved tool utility, and clearer directions, playing doctor has never been so much fun.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 has been rated “T” for Teen with Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Mild Violence by

Friday, April 4, 2008

Work

Well if you noticed I haven't been posting much on my blog lately ever since I got a job. I mean like I said, every once in a while I will post an article about something in the gaming world that might be interesting to the five or so readers that visit this blog.

My job is only 3 hours a day, Monday-Friday and yet I still don't feel like I'm doing good. Today I was complimented by the owner of the restaurant saying that I am doing very good. But like a few minutes later he was trying to tell me that he is missing $8 out of the register that according to the machine run-through, isn't there. He's not accusing me of stealing or anything like that, he said when I mess up that I don't need to panic and just need to think it through and try to fix it. Hopefully he doesn't deduct the $8 out of my paycheck, but I know that the register isn't missing any money, it's just the computer says it is. Computers aren't very helpful to you if you mess up on them.

He also asked me if I could come in tomorrow and to let him know if I wanted anymore hours. Full time schedule is sort of random which is why I didn't take it yet. But so far I haven't been yelled at or anything, and this is my first job, so that is very good for me. Every once in a while I get some rude customer but I just let my thoughts about them stay in my head until the customer is gone and I tell my coworkers about it, to warn them and just have a laugh about it.

Also, I haven't been playing any games lately, even Super Smash Bros. Brawl. So I don't really have anything to write about either. Maybe when I get out of my gaming slump I will have something to write about. The next game I plan to buy is Mario Kart Wii, which will be released on April 27th, can't wait!!!

Anyway, for those 5 or so readers that visit this blog, thanks for staying with me. One of the reasons I started this blog was to get my opinions on the Gaming Industry out there, and since I can't find a website that would just have me write for them (even for free.) I'm merely doing this as a hobby, not for profit or anything. However, if anyone donates to me by buying through my Play-Asia account, your name will be featured on the site as a contributor.

So I still don't know what else to do, should I write reviews? Let me know in comments, and please let others know about my blog.