Thursday, June 25, 2009

Australian Government to use Web Filters to Censor Games

The Federal Government has now set its sights on gamers, promising to use its internet censorship regime to block websites hosting and selling video games that are not suitable for 15 year olds.

Australia is the only developed country without an R18+ classification for games, meaning any titles that do not meet the MA15+ standard - such as those with excessive violence or sexual content - are simply banned from sale by the Classification Board, unless they are modified to remove the offending content.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

That is pretty messed up. The Australian government is basically going to block any videogames that do not receive a rating because they do not conform to the Mature 15 and Older rating in Australia. They will use it to block any site that sales import games higher than the 15 rating, as well as flash based games that do not get rated among other things. I really feel sorry for our Australian gamer friends!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Capcom announces Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star

Today, at the World Hobby Fair, Capcom officially announced "Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star" for the Nintendo DS. The title is said to release in 2009.

Yes, it is a crossover game for the DS featuring the Action RPG series Battle Network and Star Force. I really enjoy both series but I never finished the 2nd Star Force game, and want to do so before I buy Star Force 3 Black Ace or Red Joker...





More information on the title will be revealed in the September issue of Coro Coro Comics which will be released in August in Japan.

Source: Protodude's Rockman Corner

Monday, June 15, 2009

Nintendo Download 06/15/2009

Nintendo DSiWare

Mario™ Calculator
Publisher:
Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: N/A
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Mario and Luigi™ take a break from their normal adventures to dedicate their heroic talents to working with numbers. Mario Calculator features the full functionality of a traditional calculator, including a Memory key and the ability to display up to 13 digits, and adds a layer of atmosphere reminiscent of the original Super Mario Bros.™ Use the Unit Converter to turn one unit of measure into another (such as length, weight, volume, age and others), or track the history of calculations you've performed with ease. Listen to the Mario-related sounds and watch the coins fly as calculations are performed. Now, back to adding up those high scores...

Mario™ Clock
Publisher:
Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Turn back time and enjoy a bit of classic game play based on the original Super Mario Bros. with Mario Clock. Help Mario and Luigi collect more coins than ever (POW block anyone?) while they run through a variety of stages. Gather enough coins and you'll be treated to another scene bound to bring back fond memories for many. Mario Clock includes both analog and digital clocks that use the system's internal clock or allow you to offset the time however you like. Program up to three alarms (with snooze functionality for those that need it) and assign them a Mario-related sound or use one created in the Nintendo DSi™ Sound application. You'll find yourself thinking "Just a few more coins..." in no time!

WiiWare

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster
Publisher:
Semnat Studios
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points™
Description: Fight your way through 13 diverse locations on your own or with up to three friends in this frenetic and stylish side-scrolling action game. Play as Eduardo and his fellow toaster buddies as you fire an assortment of pastries at all kinds of dastardly food products. Hop onto laser-mounted scooters and fly across the screen in rocket packs, and learn to cooperate with your teammates or simply annoy each other in an awesomely fun way by throwing each other around the screen. The choice is up to you.

RAINBOW ISLANDS™: TOWERING ADVENTURE!
Publisher:
TAITO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: In Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure!, players control the rainbow-magic-wielding Bubby or Bobby as they climb the seven seamless areas of a tower reaching the heavens while defeating enemies with their rainbow powers. Bosses controlled by the scientific genius Dr. Crescent await players at the end of every area. Race through every area within the allotted time to meet the rainbow-colored Holly's Comet. There are three game modes: Story mode, which tells the tale of Holly's Comet; Challenge mode, where players attempt to climb as high as they can; and Time Attack, where players select an area and see how fast they can climb it. Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! is an exhilarating action game where you use rainbows to climb into the heavens.

Let's CATCH™
Publisher:
SEGA
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Play catch with friends in multiplayer party games and compete for high scores using your Mii™ character and others. Choose from six different single and multiplayer modes such as Speed Catch, which tests your ability to catch a fastball, and Bomb Catch, an elimination party game for up to four players. Select from a variety of characters or use your Mii character to play other favorite catch games. Unlock special features when you own both Let's TAP and Let's CATCH.


Virtual Console

Space Harrier™
Original platform:
Virtual Console Arcade
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Animated Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: "Welcome to the Fantasy Zone. Get ready!" This is the greeting given to you as you start Space Harrier, but you don't have much time to take this advice. Even as the words are being spoken, your Harrier warrior is already charging into battle. Toting a huge laser gun under his arm, the Space Harrier can either run along the checkerboard ground or freely fly through the sky. Either way, he's always heading forward into the hostile 3-D world. As you progress, hordes of strange creatures and robots fly toward you. Fast reflexes are required to dodge their incoming fire. Environmental hazards can be a problem, too. Take care not to run into any trees or stone structures. If you need a bit of a morale boost, just defeat a boss, and the narrator will remind you that "you're doing great!"

Friday, June 12, 2009

My dog Harley is Sick

Hey yall, sorry I haven't updated in a couple of days.

On Monday Harley started having some kind of cough. On Wednesday at 2:30 AM Harley collapsed and had a seizure after climbing the stairs.

We took him to the vet and they said it was his heart. They referred us to a cardiologist for dogs at an expensive medical center.

They did an ultrasound of the heart, x-rays, as well as blood work. It turns out that Harley has the following problems.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease)
Arrythmia (heart murmur which caused the seizure)
some Lung Disease (possibly caused by his past from the heartworms he had 2 years ago)
Coughing (most likely kennel cough)
Shortness of breath

All they could do was give us several kinds of medicines, including an expensive one that we had to buy online from Canada. Basically, if Harley has a seizure, it could often times be fatal, so we can't exercise him too much like throwing around the ball, but they said we can take him for short walks.

I am very afraid what might happen. I know Harley is 9 1/2 years old, and that is the average lifetime for a dog of his breed and size. But, I think Harley still has a few more years to go, which is why I decided I needed to save him again. Harley is my best friend and I don't know what I'm going to do when I lose him, I just hope that isn't for a long long long time.

Please, if you can find it in your hearts to pray for him to be well, I would really truely appreciate it.

Thanks,

Scott

Trauma Team Debut Trailer

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wii Motion Plus now in stores!


The Wii MotionPlus accessory is now out in stores, bundled with such games as Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Virtua Tennis 2009 from SEGA and Grand Slam Tennis from EA also use the accessory.

The Wii MotionPlus peripheral is also available on it's own for $19.99, same as the Nunchuk and Classic Controller accessories. Wii MotionPlus will also be bundled with Wii Sports Resort when it hits store shelves on July 26th.

I myself won't be picking it up until Wii Sports Resort is out.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

I got The Legendary Starfy

I got The Legendary Starfy today! First I called up Best Buy to see if they had it in stock; they said they had 8 copies. So I went there, and it's no where to be found. I ask an employee and they said it would be out tomorrow. Obviously it was sitting in the back room and the employees were just too lazy to dig out a copy...

Then later on I went to Target, it wasn't on the shelf either. Their ad says it was in stores today. The employee spent time looking for it in the display cases, couldn't find it. So he went back to his computer and looked it up, found it was in a storage room. Then he went and got me a copy. I wish I would get this quality treatment at a store that primarily sells Electronics!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Tetris turns 25 Years Old Today!

was the one website that remembered the 25th anniversary of the worlds most popular casual game, Tetris!


I've played many variations of Tetris throughout my gaming hobby, but I only own Tetris DS from Nintendo. I just played it again after not playing for a long time and I am definitely keeping it in my case so I can play it during work. It's just so addictive.

I went online and even though I always get owned at it, (seriously I've only won 3 matches!) I still have fun and keep playing anyway. It's a good game to relax with. Read the Wikipedia article on Tetris right now!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Melee! Pokémon Scramble!


Today a new game for WiiWare called Melee! Pokémon Scramble! was revealed and will be released in Japan on June 16th for 1500 Wii Points. The game has you playing as various Pokémon and you attack the others. Think Smash Bros. but with Pokémon and Hit Points, to make it an Action RPG of sorts. There are also boss battles against big sized Pokémon too. Check out the official Japanese site here.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Nintendo releasing Black Wii & Red DSi in Japan


Remember the original Wii was Black? I wonder what made Nintendo change their mind back then, and then change it again now. Slow Wii sales in Japan


Red DSi was expected at anytime. They should've made it special edition with Mario on it...

The Red DSi will come out on July 11th in Japan, followed by the Black Wii on August 1st.

Other Wii accessories:
Wii Remote w/ Wii Jacket
Nunchuk
Classic Controller PRO

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

NINTENDO INTRODUCES NEW SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES AT E3 EXPO

Nintendo Unveils New Mario and Metroid Games and Pulse-Sensing Device; Integrates Photos with Facebook

LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2009 – For decades, Nintendo has endeavored to provide the most creative and immersive experiences in the world of video games and to lead the industry in new directions. At its media briefing in advance of the E3 Expo, the video game industry's premier trade show, Nintendo announced products for social entertainment that stretch far beyond the current notion of what a video game can be, all while continuing to provide avid gaming fans with the challenges and thrills they desire.

"Nintendo continues to challenge how both new and longtime players perceive – and play – video games," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "From modern updates of our most iconic franchises to the introduction of inventive devices, we are continuing to add entirely new dimensions to the video game experience."

A summary of Nintendo's major announcements:

Wii™

Wii MotionPlus™: Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus accessory offers motion-controlled precision when combined with specially designed games. When connected to the Wii Remote™ controller, it delivers on Nintendo's promise to provide even more immersive physical reality in its games. The device senses subtle motion and can locate where and how players hold the Wii Remote controller in 3-D space. It pushes active gaming to new levels of immersion and a new standard of control. Wii MotionPlus will complement a host of third-party games launching in the next few weeks.

Wii Sports Resort: Nintendo showcased the versatility of the Wii MotionPlus accessory in demos of some of the activities included in Wii Sports Resort, an immersive, expansive active-play game. Wii Sports Resort includes a dozen fun resort-themed activities that maintain the wide-ranging appeal that attracted millions to the original Wii Sports. Wii Sports Resort is easy to pick up and play, but comes coupled with deeper levels of play that are sure to challenge even the most experienced gamers with precise controls. The Wii MotionPlus accessory will help players come much closer to the physical reality of engaging in the actual sports. The Wii MotionPlus accessory launches June 8 at a suggested retail price of $19.99, and comes bundled with Wii Sports Resort on July 26 at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Wii Fit Plus: Wii Fit™ attracted millions of new players to the world of video games, and now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. Players will find an additional dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized daily workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available. Users will also be able to choose from specialized workout routines that help players strive toward specific objectives, like toning tummies, tightening arms or even reducing stress. Workouts combine the original Wii Fit activities and selections from 15 new balance games and six new strength training and yoga activities. Wii Fit Plus will come packed with the Wii Balance Board™ accessory, and also will be sold separately as software for people who already have a Wii Balance Board at home. Both will be available in fall 2009.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Developers at Nintendo have dreamed of creating a simultaneous multiplayer Super Mario Bros. game for decades. The Wii console finally makes that dream come true for everyone this holiday season. Now players can navigate the side-scrolling worlds alone as before or invite up to three others to join them at the same time on the same level at any point in the game for competitive and cooperative multiplayer fun in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. With the multiplayer mode, the newest installment of the most popular video game franchise is designed to bring yet another type of family entertainment into living rooms and engage groups of friends in fast-paced Super Mario Bros. fun.

Super Mario Galaxy 2: This upcoming adventure for the Wii console marks the first time a second 3-D Mario game has arrived in the same console generation. In the game, Mario rides his trusty dinosaur companion, Yoshi™, to new stars and the fantastic worlds found there. This 3-D platforming adventure provides longtime video game fans with a fresh round of out-of-this-world challenges in the style introduced in the critically acclaimed original. The game is planned for 2010.

Metroid: Other M: Nintendo showcased a trailer for a new installment in its acclaimed Metroid franchise for the Wii console. Metroid: Other M marks an unprecedented collaboration with world-renowned developers Team Ninja, and provides fans with high-energy, action-packed game play as it delves deeper into the back story of famed deep-space bounty hunter Samus Aran. This game is scheduled for release in 2010.

Wii Vitality Sensor: Nintendo's newest groundbreaking product, the Wii Vitality Sensor, expands the appeal of video games. It will initially sense the user's pulse and a number of other signals being transmitted by their bodies, and will then provide information to the users about the body's inner world.

Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!: This game marks the third installment of this franchise and, more importantly, the first Nintendo DSiWare™ game to let players design levels from the ground up. Mario will need to dodge obstacles to confront his longtime nemesis Donkey Kong™, but this time the players will have full control over where to set traps, enemies and a host of power-ups in the construction zone. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! will be available in the Nintendo DSi Shop beginning Monday, June 8, for 800 Nintendo DSi Points™.

• Integrating Photos with Facebook: For its Nintendo DSi™ system, Nintendo announced the ability for users to upload pictures taken with the system's built-in camera and interactive lenses directly to Facebook. Using Facebook Connect, the integration will be available this summer with a Nintendo DSi system update, making it even easier for people to personalize and share their photos with friends and family on Facebook.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: Nintendo revealed Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, a new chapter to the popular role-playing franchise that places players into the belly of the beast – literally. Players will get to enjoy trademark hilarious dialogue in the fall of 2009 as they juggle two concurrent storylines. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is playable on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems.

Golden Sun DS: After going dark six years ago, 2010 will see a new dawn. Golden Sun DS updates the popular portable Golden Sun role-playing series with an impressive graphical style. This installment follows the story of the previous heroes' descendants and immerses players into the magic of its adventure by pushing the boundaries of intuitive touch-screen controls. Golden Sun DS is playable on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems.

WarioWare D.I.Y.: This game, which puts the concept of user-generated content on center stage, allows players to design their own micro-games from scratch. Every element, such as the characters, the environment, the actions and even the purpose of the micro-game itself, is controlled entirely by the player. Players will then be able to share their completed micro-games with other WarioWare D.I.Y. owners. The latest game in the WarioWare™ series is playable on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems.

Nintendo-published games available to play on the show floor:

Wii:
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Wii FitPlus
Wii Sports Resort
Sin and Punishment 2
Endless Ocean 2
Line Attack Heroes
Span Smasher

WiiWare:
PictureBook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit
You, Me & the Cubes
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
BIT.TRIP.CORE
Icarian: Kindred Spirits
Sword & Soldiers
Military Madness: Nectaris
Cave Story

Nintendo DS:
The Legendary Starfy
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Fossil Fighters
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Style Savvy
Glory of Heracles
Golden Sun DS
Picross 3D

Nintendo DSiWare:
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
Flipnote Studio
Animal CrossingClock
Animal CrossingCalculator
Photo Clock
Mario Clock
Mario Calculator
Six in One Translator (working title)
Crash-Course Domo
White-Water Domo
Hard-Hat Domo
Rock-n-Roll Domo
Pro-Putt Domo