Beatles Rock Band game coming

Beatles Rock Band game coming

The Beatles, a popular British band from the 1960s will be featuring in a new Rock Band game.

Sir Paul McCartney

"This project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and the music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out".

Ringo Starr

"It gives me great pleasure to be part of The Beatles, Apple and Harmonix partnership. The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that The Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in. Let the games commence".

Yoko Ono Lennon

"It's cool. I love it and hope it will keep inspiring and encouraging future generations for many decades".

Olivia Harrison

"People are having so much fun playing Rock Band. Combined with The Beatles tracks, it is a great way to either listen or participate. If you like the music, it doesn't take much persuasion to get you to play".

This is set for release sometime in 2009.




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The Public vs Spiders

Plastic spider, possibly man's greatest foe. In the spirit of Halloween, this is a comical video promoting (in a roundabout way) Deadly Creatures.


The final game won't only include spiders, but a number of other nasties:

Deadly CreaturesWolf SpiderRattlesnakeLarvaeScorpionPill-bugTarantulaGila MonsterBlack WidowLeopard LizardMantisToxic BeetleMankind


DSi photo and sound editing demos
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Shigsy producing Punch-Out!! Wii

Shigsy producing Punch-Out!! Wii

Nintendo's very own Shigeru Miyamoto has confirmed he'll be stepping up to be a producer for the new Punch-Out!! on Wii. Widely regarded as the gaming industry's finest mind, Shigsy said:

"I am working on that game as a producer. I think people who are fans of the original will be very thrilled to see the kind of style we've designed the game in. It will feel very classic. At the same time, with the 3D polygons and the polygonal rendering of the characters, I think it's going to make for some very nice cut-scenes and a bit deeper storyline".

It's coming sometime during 2009, excited much? Admittedly, I've never played a Punch-Out!! game.




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Shigsy happy with Wii Music sales

Sega publishing The Conduit

Sega publishing The Conduit

After some speculation, it's now been confirmed that Sega will be publishing The Conduit. In an interview, Sega's Simon Jeffery spoke:

"The Conduit is one of those few games that comes along that ignites a frenzy of interest across the gaming community. We really liked the way that High Voltage Software was promoting and presenting the game. They had us at 'The?'".

With games like MadWorld and The House of the Dead: Overkill, Sega are doing well to push games of a core nature onto Wii.

"Everyone is churning out wide market and family-friendly titles for the Wii platform, but there are millions of core gamers being underserved right now. Sega was delighted that High Voltage feels the same way".

Based around a dark tale in Washington D.C, The Conduit follows the aftermath of a devastating alien invasion. You take on the role of Mr Ford, an agent from the Secret Service tasked with taking on the alien race, known as "the Drudge".




The Conduit new trailer
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Freeloader future bleak

Freeloader future bleak

A user's correspondence with Datel has shown that the future of the Freeloader disc remains bleak. Nintendo blocked the Freeloader with firmware update 3.3 and since then haven't looked back.

"Unfortunately at this early stage we're unsure when, if ever, we will be able to release a new version of Freeloader that will run on consoles updated with the v3.3 firmware. No refund or exchange is available (outside of the terms and conditions of the returns policy offered by your point of purchase) since the Freeloader continues to be fully compatible with Wii firmware 3.2 and below".

For shame, for shame. When approached for comment, Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata simply said:

"I've done things I ain't proud of, and the things I am proud of are disgusting".

Particularly popular in Europe, the Freeloader is a means of playing imported games, which are cheaper and often available much earlier if bought from the US.




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The Gene Simmons Axe Guitar

The Gene Simmons Axe Guitar

The Gene Simmons Axe Guitar

Kobian USA has brought out a new guitar accessory for the Wii, but this is one with a difference. Available on Amazon for $79.99, it's the menacingly shaped Gene Simmons Axe Guitar.

Compatible with both Guitar Hero and Rock Band.Bi-directional Strum Bar.Ultra Responsive Fret Buttons.Analog Whammy Bar.Holds the Wiimote.


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GH3 guitar works with Rock Band 2

Strong Bad 3 out now

Strong Bad 3 out now

Happy Monday! Three more games on the Virtual Console and WiiWare catalog for people based in the US.

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (WiiWare)Art Style: ROTOHEX (WiiWare)Earthworm Jim (Genesis)

Can't complain about that too much. Big N are doing a good job delivering the goods lately. More on Friday with the Euro/Aussie releases.




Earthworm Jim on Virtual Console
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Shigsy happy with Wii Music sales

Shigsy happy with Wii Music sales

Shigeru Miyamoto, senior games genius at Nintendo recently sat down for a roundtable discussion. He commented that he was pleased with the sales figures for Wii Music, saying they were "not too bad" (or not-o too bad-o?).

Wii Music made it to #1 on the Japanese games chart in its first week, selling close to 100,000 copies. The game is now out in North America as well. Shigsy feels it will be a slow burner, with good sales levels for the foreseeable future.




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Music for Nintendo Stars
Wii Music

Animal Crossing Costume Contest Gives Fans a Chance to Win Prizes, Exclusive Info

Fans of Nintendo's Animal Crossing franchise are some of the most loyal in the world. To reward them for their devotion to these community-building games and to get players fired up for the Nov. 16 release of Animal Crossing: City Folk for Nintendo's Wii console, Nintendo is hosting an outrageous animal costume contest.

Critter lovers can show their creativity by submitting the most original images of animals dressed in costumes or even as characters from the hit video game franchise Animal Crossing. The entrants of the top 50 photos in the "Animal Crossing Welcome Waggin' Costume Contest" will win membership to the exclusive Welcome Waggin' Committee. All committee members will receive a Wii video game system, a copy of Animal Crossing: City Folk, a Wii Speak microphone, access to exclusive information about the game and more.

Expanding on the popularity of the Animal Crossing series, Animal Crossing: City Folk lets every member of the household partake in the fun of a unique animal-filled town. Players use the simple controls of the wireless Wii Remote controller to customize their own characters and surroundings. And for the first time, players can take their adventure to the city, complete with shopping and theater excursions. It's also the first game to make use of the Wii Speak microphone, a new accessory that enables players to use voice chat over a broadband Internet connection. The Wii Speak microphone is sold separately.

Daily photo picks and details about the "Animal Crossing Welcome Waggin' Costume Contest" will be posted at www.WelcomeWagginContest.com. Entries will be accepted Oct. 27 - Nov. 16. For more information about Animal Crossing: City Folk, please visit www.Animal-Crossing.com.




Animal Crossing - City Folk
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DSi photo and sound editing demos

A video from Japan showing how you can have fun with the Nintendo DSi and its impressive photo editing capabilities.

This one shows off how you can play with music's tempo and pitch settings on the fly.




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Tatsunoko vs Capcom arcade stick

Tatsunoko vs Capcom arcade stick

To celebrate the Wii release of Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes in Japan, peripheral makers Exar have created a themed arcade joystick.

Tatsunoko vs Capcom arcade stick

There's also a more generic version available without the game branding:

Tatsunoko vs Capcom arcade stick

They've named it the Exarstick. The plain one is going for 5,229 Yen ($55) while the other is a little more expensive at 6,279 Yen ($66). Exchange rates correct at the time of writing.




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Broken Sword game for Wii and DS

Broken Sword game for Wii and DS

A new update on USK, the German ratings site, has revealed that a Broken Sword game is coming to both the DS and Wii courtesy of Ubisoft. Whether they will be ports or new games is unknown at this time.

Broken Sword is a series of adventure games, typically using a point-and-click interface. It follows the escapades of George Stobbart and his on/off girlfriend Nico Collard as they go about solving mysteries. Much like Scooby Doo, but without the van.. and the dog.

No release dates are currently availabubble.




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Two WiiWare Games and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

Europe has a Tetris Party

Europe has a Tetris Party

Three WiiWare games added to the Europe/Australia catalog today:

Tetris Party (WiiWare)The Incredible Maze (WiiWare)Home Sweet Home (WiiWare)

Have a good weekend, we'll be back on Monday with the US releases.




Tetris Party hits WiiWare
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DSi supports hotswapping

A new video released onto the Internet shows that Big N's latest handheld the DSi supports hotswapping. That meaning, you can remove game cartridges while powered on without the machine spazzing out.

Some other small tidbits of info are now known too:

The power button will pop up the menu in DSWare applications (similar to what the Home button does on a Wiimote).Photos taken on the DSi camera can be shown on a daily calendar.Some visualizers revealed for when you play music (see pic below).

DSi supports hotswapping

The Nintendo DSi comes out on November 1st in Japan.




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MadWorld

MadWorld

Here's the box art for MadWorld, likely one of Wii's most violent games yet.

MadWorld




MadWorld working with ratings boards
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Tenchu IV

Tenchu IV

The Japanese box art for Tenchu 4 has been revealed:

Tenchu IV




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Guitar fire hazard

Guitar fire hazard

Up to 57,000 Rage Wireless Guitars for Wii are being recalled, thanks to a manufacturing error which caused burn injuries to one unfortunate player.

Made in China, the guitars have a defective circuit board, making it possible for battery acid to leak out and cause mayhem.

If you own one of these things you're advised to take it back to the retailer for a full refund. Also if you have a Wii Zapper from China, hand it in to the police immediately.




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Datel's Wii remote

A new third-party Wiimote created by Datel is set to hit UK stores, priced at 29.95 GBP (around $43 in USD).

Datels Wii remote

As you can see, the aesthetics are much less pleasing than Big N's effort. Clearly someone at Datel wanted it to be ribbed, this is for enhanced grip. At least that's the official line. Also of note, the device is totally wireless. In layman's terms, that means it has no wires.

In its favor, the remote can be charged up via a USB cable, which is packed in.




Official Wii lens cleaner

Mario Galaxy rated Wii's best

Mario Galaxy rated Wiis best

Consumer advice site TestFreaks has ranked Super Mario Galaxy as the best game on Nintendo Wii. Mario muscled out 340 other games to claim the #1 spot, attaining a perfect FreakScore of 10/10.

Almost a year old, Galaxy was released last November. Since then it has picked up countless awards, and is considered by many to be the best game of all time. Praiseworthy elements include:

Innovative level design.Intuitive control scheme.Beautiful graphics that push the Wii's hardware.

Games like these mean that Nintendo continues to be regarded as the best video game publisher in the world.




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Incredible Maze trailer

This is a trailer for the newly released The Incredible Maze on WiiWare. You'd have to admit the graphics stop far short of the incredible mark, in fact they're some of the most basic on the system. That said, if the controls are well done it could still be a fun title. Anyone downloaded it?




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Sudoku coming to WiiWare

Sudoku coming to WiiWare

Sudoku coming to WiiWare

Digital Leisure, the company that just released The Incredible Maze, have another WiiWare title in the pipeline: Sudoku Challenge.

Sudoku Challenge FeaturesThree separate difficulty settings.Original and Grand Sudoku modes of play.Over 100,000,000 puzzles.

You can pick up Sudoku Challenge in November for 500 Points. Screenshots are already up. To me, the DS seems like a more natural platform for Sudoku antics.




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Wii and DSi points kept separately

Wii and DSi points kept separately

At the DSi's unveiling a week or so back, it was announced that users will be able to download DS games and programs known as DSWare.

Today it's been confirmed that the points cards you buy in stores will be changing. The new type of card can be turned into Wii Points, or DS Points, but not a combination of both.

Wii and DSi points kept separately

This seemingly inflexible system means that you won't be able to transfer points back and forth between Wii and DS. How do you feel about that?




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World of Goo this month
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Tetris Party hits WiiWare

Tetris Party hits WiiWare

It's Monday, that means Virtual Console and WiiWare games have been added to the US lineup, two of each:

Tetris Party (WiiWare)The Incredible Maze (WiiWare)Digital Champ (TG-16)Gradius 2 (TG-16)

There's also some new downloadable content for Mega Man 9:

Hard Mode - Does exactly what it says on the tin, the difficulty of the game is raised.Expert Mode - For psychopaths only, triple the difficulty of the default game.Special Time Attack Stage - Another stage to complete within a time limit. Features a new robot master: "Fake Man".

More on Friday with the Euro/Aussie releases.




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Nintendo's Wii Music Lets Players Unleash Their Inner Maestros

The sound of trumpets, the clash of cymbals and the thunder of drums herald today's launch of Wii Music. Just as Wii Sports attracted millions of new players to the world of video games and Wii Fit showed people that fitness could be fun, Wii Music creates a whole new genre in video games, one that lets players have fun experimenting with music as they strive to produce fun, masterful arrangements.

"Music is a universal language that inspires and moves people," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Wii Music provides a fun way for people to play together and be entertained while building a fundamental understanding of musical themes and rhythms. Wii Music can motivate people to learn real instruments or enhance their appreciation of musical performances."

Wii Music brings more than 60 instruments to your living room, where you're free to experiment with them in a variety of different ways. Unlike other music video games, Wii Music lets you put your own spin on songs. It's all about improvisation, creativity and fun. The goal is to explore your inner musician to find creative and interesting new blends of instruments, tempos and styles.

To play each instrument, you use the motion-sensing abilities of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to mimic the real-life motions of instruments: bow a violin, strike a vibraphone or pluck a sitar. The controllers know if you're playing fast or slow, hitting the notes gently or really jamming. Musical novices can understand how to play and start carrying a tune instantly, while people who are really into music will have fun creating mixes, rearranging tunes and sharing them with friends.

Songs in the Wii Music catalog can be rearranged with different instruments for a virtually endless variety of sounds. Imagine putting a reggae spin on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" or turning pop favorites like "Every Breath You Take" or "Please Mr. Postman" into heavy metal tunes. The song list contains everything from American classics like "The Entertainer" to international favorites like "La Cucaracha." Video game fans will find several Nintendo favorites, like the themes from Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and even Wii Sports.

Wii Music builds on the social gaming trend that Nintendo has pioneered. Not only can up to four musicians jam together on the same song, but once you've created your masterpiece, you can send it electronically to friends and family members who have Wii Music so that they can bask in your musical mastery. After they've had a listen, they can take your arrangement and add their own flavor to it with new instruments or a different tempo and send it back to you. This allows you to jam together even if you are miles apart.

Finally, Wii Music includes a variety of mini-games that let players create music videos, conduct an orchestra, play in a handbell choir, test their musical ears or even rock out on a virtual drum set. Drum Mode lets you use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks to play like you have a real-life drum set. Drummers who purchase Wii Fit separately also can use the Wii Balance Board accessory as virtual pedals for the bass drum and the hi-hat cymbal. But the basic Wii Music experience does not require any extra accessories. All 60+ instruments and 50+ songs are included at an MSRP of just $49.99.

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

For more information about Wii Music, visit www.wiimusic.com.




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Syndicate to make a comeback?

Syndicate to make a comeback?

Word has it that EA are working on a new game in the classic Syndicate series.

Released in 1993, the original PC version was a success (and all kinds of awesome), it's a tactical game with an isometric view. Players take control of up to four agents simultaneously and set out to complete missions, the idea being to claim world domination for the 'Syndicate'. Along the way, research allows for upgrading the weapons and implants used by your agents (who are at least partly cyborg).

Note that this new game's existence is just a rumor, no confirmation has been made and certainly no details of potential platforms.

Good times.




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Mart Racer on aisle 3

Mart Racer on aisle 3

Joju Games, a small games development firm based in Berkeley CA have announced Mart Racer for WiiWare.

A racing game with a difference, Mart Racer sees you speeding your shopping cart around a supermarket, your goal being to collect items before your opponents can. Local split-screen mode supports up to four players, or you can take the action online through Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection.

Seems like a fun idea, but the collisions could use some work if you ask me.




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GH3 guitar works with Rock Band 2

GH3 guitar works with Rock Band 2

A developer on the Harmonix forums has confirmed that the Guitar Hero 3 Wii guitar can also be used to play the Wii version of Rock Band 2.

This compatibility should come as welcome news to those who are fans of both games, but don't have room / money for separate guitars. Wii bundles for Rock Band 2 are said to be coming out in December, with these suggested prices:

Rock Band 2 bundles for WiiStandalone Software - $49.99Standalone Drums - $89.99Standalone Guitar - $69.99Special Edition Bundle - $189.99

Downloadable content will also feature in the Wii game this time around.




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King of Fighters Collection on Wii

King of Fighters Collection on Wii

SNK and Ignition have announced a new Wii disc containing a collection of KoF games spanning 5 years. King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga includes:

The King of Fighters '94The King of Fighters '95The King of Fighters '96The King of Fighters '97The King of Fighters '98

Fans of the franchise will be able to choose from over 60 different characters across the various games. A color edit mode also allows for customizing your fighter a little. Peter Rollinson of Ignition commented:

"For fans of the KOF series and fighting games in general, this collection is something to look forward to. These titles were the foundation to a franchise that's still going strong today".

It's coming out this Winter.




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Oct 17th PAL Virtual Console roundup

Oct 17th PAL Virtual Console roundup

Virtual Console fans in the PAL regions of the world have three more games available for download today. Although from where I'm standing, it's not much to get excited about:

Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition (Genesis)Space Harrier (Master System)Mayhem in Monsterland (Commodore 64)

More on Monday, with the US releases. Have a cozy weekend.




Earthworm Jim on Virtual Console

Sep 08 NPD - Nintendo smashes rivals

Sep 08 NPD - Nintendo smashes rivals

US console sales figures for the month of September 2008 are now in, courtesy of the NPD group. It should be no surprise by now, but Nintendo came out on top again. By a lot.

Nintendo Wii - 687,000Nintendo DS - 536,800Xbroke 360 - 347,200PSP - 238,100BS3 - 232,400


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Wii Music tracks revealed

Wii Music tracks revealed

Get ready to waggle your motes, a partial list of tracks from Wii Music has been leaked:

Public domainOverture from the opera CarmenTwinkle Twinkle Little StarYankee DoodleLudwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)Richard Wagner's Bridal ChorusNintendoLegend of Zelda Overworld ThemeSuper Mario Bros ThemeF-Zero Mute City ThemeLicensedBobby Helms - Jingle Bell RockChariots of Fire themeDo-Re-Mi (from The Sound of Music)Earth, Wind & Fire - SeptemberKyu Sakamoto - SukiyakiLittle Eva - The Loco-MotionMadonna - Material GirlRitchie Valens - La BambaThe Marvelettes - Please Mr. PostmanThe Monkees - Daydream BelieverThe Jackson 5 - I'll Be ThereThe Police - Every Breath You TakeWham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Do you get the feeling Big N have cheaped out?




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Wii Music

Hudson calling

Hudson calling

An open directory on PR company Clever Comm's website has leaked some videos of a new Wii game by Hudson.

"The Calling" (guessed title, based on the directory name) seems to be a horror. It's assumed Wii is the platform due to on-screen prompts showing the A button and B trigger.




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SimAnimals trailer
The Conduit new trailer

Fragile TGS trailer

Here's a new trailer for Fragile from the Tokyo Game Show press event. I don't know what's being said, but I must say I like its general style.




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The Conduit new trailer
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Official Wii lens cleaner

Official Wii lens cleaner

Pictured on the left is the new official Nintendo lens cleaner for Wii. If you've been having problems with playing your games, a dirty lens could be the cause.

This issue is particularly prominent with dual-layer discs like Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Big N previously had customers send their consoles in for cleaning, but now you can have a try yourself.

The lens cleaner is being released in Japan this month for 800 Yen ($7.80 USD at the current exchange rate). No details of an international release are available yet.




Super Mario RPG on PAL Virtual Console

Time to get gooey

Time to get gooey

It's a very solid Monday for WiiWare and Virtual Console fans alike in the US.

World of Goo (WiiWare)Art Style: CUBELLO (WiiWare)Secret of Mana (SNES)Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition (Genesis)

WW/VC news for the PAL regions coming on Friday.




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High Voltage Hot Rod Show

High Voltage Hot Rod Show

High Voltage Hot Rod Show

Promising developers High Voltage have revealed an upcoming racing game for WiiWare: High Voltage Hot Rod Show.

The press release promises a number of off-road courses and high speed action, including ramps, stunts and boosts. Single player and offline multiplayer modes are featured. Although there's no online play, you can post your best times onto a leaderboard.

High Voltage Hot Rod Show

Track stylesIslandDesertForestRuins

HVHRS also supports a number of control methods, including the Wiimote on its side (Wii Wheel compatible), or a nunchuk can be connected for analog stick steering. Classic Controllers and GameCube pads can be hooked up too.

It's coming out during the fourth quarter of this year, some early screenshots are up now.




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No More Heroes 2 details

No More Heroes 2 details

Some new info on No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle has arisen from the TGS press event and various interviews with the game's creator, Suda51.

First off, the development team from the original No More Heroes are in place to work on the sequel too. Publishers in the US will not remain the same however, with Ubisoft being ditched in favor of a co-publishing deal between Marvelous and Xseed Games. Rising Star will again handle publishing in Europe.

NMH:DS will be exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. Suda51 considered the Xbox 360 as a potential platform but felt the motion controls of the Wii were a better fit:

"We don't have plans for an Xbox 360 No More Heroes. There is nothing of that sort scheduled in our development cycle. There is still room for the Wii's graphics to get better and better".

The developers Grasshopper don't often work on sequels, but the team were keen to do another game featuring Travis Touchdown, the lead character. Details on the storyline are scarce, but Travis is motivated by revenge this time out, and will be taking his fighting more seriously.




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Bowling and Potpourrii on PAL WiiWare

Bowling and Potpourrii on PAL WiiWare

Two WiiWare games have hit the PAL system this morning, but it's probably not too much to get excited about.

Midnight Bowling (WiiWare)Potpourrii (WiiWare)

More WiiWare and/or Virtual Console news for the US on Monday. Have an alright weekend.




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Disaster Day of Crisis new trailer

Here's a new trailer for Disaster: Day of Crisis showing Ray's battle against mother nature and SURGE, and guess what? They kidnapped... her.

Europeans can expect to see DDoC hit the shelves on October 24th, 2008. Not long to wait.




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Disaster - Day of Crisis commercials
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Castlevania Judgment

Castlevania Judgment

The US box art for Castlevania Judgment has been revealed by Konami:

Castlevania Judgment

The game's release date is currently set at November 18th.




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No More Heroes 2 announced

No More Heroes 2 announced

In some surprisingly good news for fans of Suda51, a sequel to No More Heroes has been announced - No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle.

The teaser trailer below is all that's been revealed at this stage, leading to speculation that it could be on a different platform. Note that "Desperate Struggle" could potentially mean it's DS game.




‘Eagle Eye’ Sets Sights On Box-Office Crown

Two WiiWare Games and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

Pop quiz: What do you get when you add together 10 pins, 18 holes, two stolen jewels and hundreds of tumbling blocks? Never mind arithmetic-the answer lies in this week's excellent additions to the Wii Shop Channel. Wii lovers on the lookout for fresh gaming thrills can take their pick from a lively lineup that includes electrified bowling, Mario-styled golf, inventive puzzles and fantastic battles. Better yet, try out all four games and watch the fun grow exponentially.

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

WiiWare
Midnight Bowling (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Plunge directly into the trendy and electric atmosphere of Midnight Bowling. With awesome playing sensations, prepare for ultra-fun gaming thanks to a new physics engine that lets you control your throws precisely and easily with your Wii Remote controller and make spectacular spins that will impress your opponents. Face up to three friends in the fun party mode, where your playing abilities will be put to the test. Whatever your experience level, launch yourself into the immersive career mode, where you will play in the trendiest bowling spots on the planet against charismatic characters that will give you a run for your money.

MadStone (Riverman Media, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Time is short. Earth trembles as the forces of nature stir and grow restless. Can you turn the tide? In this dynamic puzzle game, you must clear the path for your elemental MadStones to reach the bottom of the screen. Blocks can be broken by striking them directly or by the force of falling objects. The novice tries frantically to break enough blocks, while the master sets up cascading collapses with only a handful of direct strikes. As two sides struggle for domination, titanic forces build, only to be unleashed in an earth-shaking final confrontation. Experience the mystical single-player journey, or challenge a friend in competitive two-player mode

Virtual Console
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Mario takes a well-deserved break from his role as the Mushroom Kingdom's busiest hero and returns to the links for some world-class golfing action. Since no one likes to hit the fairways alone, he's brought along a group of friends-both familiar characters and brand new ones. Choose from 10 different modes of play and six 18-hole courses in a variety of environments for a golfing experience with endless replay value. Add in fun, colorful graphics with a Mario touch (a Boo indicates wind direction), intuitive controls, incredibly deep game play and multiplayer support (taunt your opponents), and you have a game anyone will enjoy-even if you've never played a round of golf. Fore!

Shining Force II (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): It's a dark and stormy night in the kingdom of Granseal when a thief steals two jewels from the Tower of the Ancients. He sets in motion strange events that lead to the resurrection of Zeon, the Devil King. Granseal's king falls sick, the princess is kidnapped, and a door to Arc Valley, the Devil King's home, is opened. The young swordsman, Bowie, realizing the grave danger Granseal faces, must lead the Shining Force to find the Holy Sword and the stolen jewels, and protect Granseal against the invading armies of Zeon.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.
For the latest WiiWare games, click here.
Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.




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Mario Golf and MadStone

Mario Golf and MadStone

One N64 game and a Genesis title added to the US Virtual Console lineup this morning, in addition to two WiiWare games. Also, according to Capcom, a couple of downloadable content packs for Mega Man 9 will be available.

MadStone (WiiWare)Midnight Bowling (WiiWare)Mario Golf (N64)Shining Force 2 (Genesis)Endless Attack (Mega Man 9 pack)Proto Man (Mega Man 9 pack)

More downloadable news on Friday for those in the PAL regions.




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DSi has some region locking

DSi has some region locking

It's been revealed by a spokesman that Big N's new handheld, the DSi, will have some restrictions when it comes to region locking. General DS games will continue to be region-free, but titles specific to the DSi will have locks in place.

"DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for individual regions. DSi is region locked".

"Also because we're including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its own age limit set by different independent bodies".

Does this sway your opinion on the DSi at all?




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Cave Story site opened

Cave Story site opened

The official site for Cave Story on WiiWare has been opened, and can be seen here.

Since being released as Freeware on the PC, Cave Story has built up a large following. What's remarkable about it is that the entire game was created by one person, Daisuke Amaya (also known as Pixel). Cave Story is to be ported over by a small team of indie developers known as Nicalis.

The PC version of the game will continue to be available for free, but WiiWare buyers should apparently have some added extras thrown in.




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World of Goo this month

World of Goo this month

2D Boy's much anticipated World of Goo has been finalized for WiiWare and is set to hit the service on October 13th. Whaddya know, that's only one week away.

Pricing is set at the higher end of the scale, costing 1500 Wii Points if you want it.




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Virtual Console roundup + MM9 DLC

Virtual Console roundup + MM9 DLC

Two Turbografx-16 games added to the US Virtual Console lineup this morning. Also, according to Capcom, a couple of downloadable content packs for Mega Man 9 will be available.

Gradius 2 (TG-16)Digital Champ (TG-16)Endless Attack (Mega Man 9 pack)Proto Man (Mega Man 9 pack)

More downloadable news on Friday for those in the PAL regions.




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DSi launch schedule

DSi launch schedule

These are being reported as the launch periods for the new Nintendo DSi in major regions:

Japan - November 1st, 2008.Europe - Spring 2009US - Late 2009

These things aren't concrete and are subject to change. It would seem unusual for Europe to get it before the US? But stranger things have happened.

Earthworm Jim on Virtual Console

Earthworm Jim on Virtual Console

He's such a groovy guy, apparently. Two classics from the Sega Genesis era now available on the Virtual Console in Europe, Australia, and likely any other region of a PAL disposition.

Earthworm Jim (Genesis)Shining Force (Genesis)

See you Monday for the US releases, have another weekend.




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