Wii's World interviews Archer Maclean

Old-school games developer Archer Maclean has a new title called Speed Zone in the works for Nintendo Wii. As the name might suggest, it's a racing game and it's coming out towards the end of July. I caught up with Archer to ask him a few questions.

WW: Hi Archer, how's it going?

AM: Feeling very good having just read this review !!!

There is a low-res video on youtube, but really you need to see the game running on the console because streaming it just doesn't convey the 60fps visuals.

WW: Your new racing game, is it called "Speed Zone" or "SpeedZone"? I've noticed several inconsistencies, even on the official websites.

AM: Either. Anybody commenting on it is bound to subconsciously spell it either way around, but it's the same game at the end of the day and says the same thing. Going back 20 yrs I can remember a No. #1 game I had called 'Arthur Mccleans 3D Pool' since the chart compiler believed that the boxed game had a spelling mistake in the 'archer' part of my real name!

WW: Can you tell us a bit about the game, and what made you pick the Nintendo Wii as the target platform?

AM: I'm a big fan of "casual games" - games that have pick-up-n-play qualities that turn out to be really addictive and without the need to read big manuals or learn some irrelevant storylines in order to play it.

Look back at any of my games and this is the pattern I've tended to follow. Just look at Dropzone on the Atari 800 or IK+ on the Amiga 25 yrs ago, right up to Mercury on the PSP in 2005/6.

Also, I bought one of the early Wii's back in 2006 and found most of the driving games pretty awful hastily converted ports from other platforms, and I knew we could do much much better.

History shows that after a year or two programmers can really get into each platform and work out how to push it, and that's what I believe we have done with Speed Zone. The game has to be seen to be believed, especially when running on a Wii console at a very smooth 60 frames per second in widescreen 16:9 at 480p resolution with the sound cranked up. Unfortunately any low-res video on youtube just doesn't do it justice due to the restrictions of low bandwidth and 15 to 30fps when streaming off the net.

WW: The game features a split-screen option for up to 8 players, isn't that going to look crazy on smaller screens?

AM: It's optional! The game supports all combinations from 1 to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Most people will be zoned out in 1 player mode running at 60fps. But when we've opened it up to focus groups the multiplayer race and battle modes tend to be in 2 player split or quad screen.

And sure, it will also do 8 players simultaneously. On a 50" plasma it looks fine, but if you're really determined to play it on a 14" portable tele, then sure, it will look small.

WW: Are you a Wii fan in general?

AM: Yup! Nintendo games are just soooo well honed, and they know it.

Whilst I admire the vast technical abilities of next gen games on PS3 and XB360, I rarely have time to really get into the monster games available now. The Wii is perfect for fun games where you can pick up and have a blast for half an hour.

Also, from a commercial perspective, making a return on your development investment is more likely on a Wii than the next gen consoles. The dev budgets for many of the latest PS3 games exceed that of some mainstream films and the risk/reward ratio is not so favourable, plus there are many other hindrances to developing on high end consoles. Get it right and the returns are huge, but even some of the huge games publishers are shying away from big budgets now.

WW: In the past you've been well known for doing Pool and Snooker games, did you consider making one for the Wii at any point, given the unique nature of its controller?

AM: Yes, would be a doodle to do, although spare time/money are always the obstacles these days, along with spreading myself too thinly between too many projects. Plus I like to innovate, rather than get stereotyped, and a lot of people still say "oh, yeah, you're the snooker and pool guy" even though that started 20 yrs ago.

WW: You were the brains behind the original Mercury game, did you play the follow-up on Wii, Mercury Meltdown Revolution? If so, what did you think of it?

AM: I did layout the design of what was supposed to be the proper Mercury 2, but this didn't happen for some fairly bizarre reasons worthy of a Hollywood film, and I had nothing to do with the production of 'meltdown' - other than being the person who invented the original, which just looked soooo much better!!!

Modest as ever, many thanks to Archer for taking time out to speak with us.

Shinobu playable in Desperate Struggle

Some further details on No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle have slipped out in the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine.

Shinobu (pictured), a character from the original NMH, will be playable in some segments of the sequel. She has greater speed than Travis and can jump more effectively.

Furthermore, the game's creator Suda51 says he's hoping to include up to 50 boss battles.

" We didn't just want you to be fighting them as the same character over and over. By allowing the player to use a different fighter we can change up the tempo and offer more surprises ".

Are you desperate to get a hold of this game, or do you simply say "no more"?

It's No Reel Fantasy: Water, Sudoku and Silver Stars Can Boost Your Skills

This week's new downloadable games include a trio of WiiWare titles - two built around water-themed challenges and one designed to keep your mental chops in top shape. For Virtual Console, you'll find a memorable SEGA character making his return in a classic single-player sci-fi adventure. Rounding out the lineup is a new Nintendo DSiWare title that's sure to have sudoku fans reaching feverishly for the nearest stylus.

WiiWare
Water Warfare
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Water Warfare is a comical first-person shooter that uses water guns to battle and soak opponents. A map with a particular theme - Playground, Beach, Plaza or Nature Park - is generated automatically when the game begins, so you can think up new strategies each time you engage. Game modes include Single Player Missions, CPU Match and 2-Player Split Screen. On top of that, players with broadband Internet access can use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to battle with up to eight players from around the world, or participate in Ranking Mode.

Reel Fishing Challenge
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game's beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game's numerous fish. Each fish looks and moves like the real thing - it's the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders.

Silver Star Reversi
Publisher: Agetec, Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Silver Star Reversi has two modes: 1-Player mode allows you to play a match against the computer opponent, and 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can choose from five different computer opponents, turn the background music on or off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. During each match, you can also redo your last move, save the game at any point, or resign from the game. After a match has ended, you can review each move and resume the match from any point you choose.

Virtual Console
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Original platform: SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ten years have elapsed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. Now history is repeating itself, and the planets that make up the Fantasy Zone once again find themselves attacked by the mastermind of the Nenon planet forces. This mastermind is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and aims to put an end to their ambitious plans. Just as he did 10 years ago, Opa-Opa must do battle to save the Fantasy Zone.

Nintendo DSiWare
SUDOKU MASTER
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: SUDOKU MASTER offers 150 unique puzzles that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. A handful of tutorials will help you learn the rules and controls as you go, and handy features like Write Mode and Temp Numbers make Sudoku pleasantly user-friendly. Feeling confident? Then try your hand at Title Mode to work your way up from Rookie to Sudoku Master. All puzzles were created by Sudoku veteran NIKOLI Co., Ltd., and tips from Sudoku godfather Maki Kaji are offered between games.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com. For the latest WiiWare games, click here. Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.

Mice Sims Racing

Ehehe, here's a funny video promoting MySims Racing.

Can the game ever live up to it?

Water Warfare and others to download

Monday morning once again and WiiWare is abuzz with three more games. There's also a classic for Virtual Console.

Water Warfare (WiiWare)Reel Fishing Challenge (WiiWare)Silver Star Reversi (WiiWare)Fantasy Zone 2: The Tears of Opa-Opa (Master System)

Anything you plan to pick up in there?

Outdoor fun indoors

We don't have many family-friendly party games on Wii, luckily publishers D3 are plugging this aching void with Family Party: Outdoor Fun.

The title will include a variety of things to do - like athletics, martial arts, team sports and mentally stimulating brain activities. 30 of these games in total.

I have my doubts.

It's being developed by Tamsoft, previously known for Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers and Alien Crush Returns. Family Party: Outdoor Fun will be released this Fall.

Water Warfare out in Europe

Four more games have been added to the Wii download library in PAL regions of the world today, most of them from Hudson.

Water Warfare (WiiWare)Puzzle Bobble Plus (WiiWare)Altered Beast (Arcade)SimEarth: The Living Planet (TG-16)

More on Monday with the US releases, have a great weekend.

Colin McRae DiRT 2 trailer

Colin McRae may not be around any more, but his game franchise lives on in Colin McRae: DiRT 2. Publishers Codemasters have uploaded a trailer showing off what the Wii version can do:

The Conduit sales update

Lots of people are likely getting their hands on The Conduit today, although some may still have trouble since reports suggest that certain stores are selling out. The Conduit has also broken into Amazon's top 25 best sellers list, currently in at #23.

Amazon Bestsellers

Initial reviews are generally positive as well, with scores of 8+ being most common.

Michael Jackson video game

Controversial king of pop Michael Jackson has a video game coming out on Wii, PS2 and PS3.

According to the press release, the game will include many of Michael's songs, trademark dance moves and videos for the "whole family to enjoy" (especially kids?).

Fans of Michael can also catch up with him on his "This is it" tour which kicks off next month.

The Conduit launch trailer

Sega has released a trailer showing off The Conduit for its launch tomorrow.

Sonic turns 18

Eighteen years ago today, on June 23rd 1991, a blue ball spindashed its way onto TV screens all over the US and Europe - in the form of Sonic the Hedgehog on Sega Genesis / Mega Drive.

Despite troubling times (and some games that are frankly bad), the Sonic franchise has managed to sell over 50 million copies in total.

Happy birthday Sonic.

NEVES, Drill Sergeant and Mini Golf

Another healthy selection to choose from in terms of WiiWare games this week. No sign of Icarian though, which is said to be a good'n.

Neves Plus (WiiWare)Drill Sergeant Mindstrong (WiiWare)Family Mini Golf (WiiWare)SimEarth: The Living Planet (TG-16)

More downloadable news on Friday with the PAL region's releases.

Cut Straight to the Fun with Paper, Planets, Puzzles, Mind Games and Mini Golf

Familiar activities get a funky boost with this week's additions to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. A trio of fresh WiiWare titles will have players wrapping their minds around unique puzzles, entertaining brain drills and awesome mini-golf courses. A new Art Style game for Nintendo DSiWare turns cutting paper into a cool hand-held gaming challenge. And simple things like air and weather conditions become exciting game elements in the latest classic offering on the Virtual Console.

WiiWare
Drill Sergeant Mindstrong
Publisher: XSEED Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Language, Mild Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Line up and get ready to use your mind. Drill Sergeant Mindstrong is a party game that allows up to four people to play at once. Players become boot-camp trainees under the tough Drill Sergeant Mindstrong, going through mind-boggling, mind-training games. The rules are simple, but concentration and quick thinking are key. Become the top boot of your class and earn promotions based on your efforts. This game is best played with friends and family.

NEVES Plus
Publisher:YUKES Company of America
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description:Try your hand at the newest puzzle craze to come out of Japan, NEVES Plus! Enhanced for WiiWare, NEVES Plus not only retains all the simple, mind-bending tangram-based game play from the original Nintendo DS version, but also includes new multiplayer modes wrapped up in an Egyptian theme. This time, you and up to three others can work together to move, rotate and flip the seven Lucky stones into each of the 500-plus silhouette puzzles. You can also challenge one another in new multiplayer modes such as Versus, Speed, Lucky Number and Party Mode. Whether you play every mode by yourself or with friends, NEVES Plus is set to charm you with harder-than-they-look silhouette puzzles.

Family Mini Golf
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are back for some mini-golf action. Play through multiple golf courses that contain obstacles ranging from bumpers to speed ramps to fans and more. Up to eight players can play together using a single Wii Remote controller. You can download new courses to expand your fun-filled mini-golf experience, creating even more complex and difficult challenges to overcome. Can you conquer all the courses and become the mini-golf champion?

Nintendo DSiWare
Art Style: BOXLIFE
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Climb the corporate ladder in the world of BOXLIFE using your wits and... paper? Use the Nintendo DSi stylus to cut and then manipulate the paper into a box shape. Be careful-if you're not efficient with your cuts, you'll waste paper and be penalized. R&D mode teaches you new patterns and challenges you to complete various ranks, while FACTORY mode gives you the chance to earn money by making as many boxes as possible from an endless sheet of paper. Success in each mode brings its own reward: Clear ranks to earn a promotion, change your character's appearance, and use your earnings to acquire new items for your character's miniature garden. With this game's stylish graphics and catchy sounds, thinking inside the box isn't such a bad thing.

Virtual Console
SimEarth: The Living Planet
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Violent References
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: An entire planet becomes your laboratory in this large-scale simulation game. Players help foster new life and promote its evolution into life forms of higher intelligence. Guide civilization along the path of evolution until it can achieve Exodus, the ultimate goal of settling on another planet. The basic challenge of the game is to maintain a comfortable environment for the life forms by adjusting atmospheric and geological parameters. Small organisms called Prokaryote and Trichordate will grow and evolve into a multitude of life forms. Making a drastic change is a recipe for disaster. The key to success is making small adjustments and watching how the life forms react. SimEarth also includes planets with environments different from Earth, such as Mars and Venus. Try your hand at terraforming these planets with harsh conditions and creating a world where life can thrive.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com. For the latest WiiWare games, click here. Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.

Nintendo DSi Mobile Tour Takes Creative Hand-Held Fun from Coast to Coast

The portable fun of the new Nintendo DSi video game system will be on full display in cities nationwide this summer as the Nintendo DSi Mobile Tour rolls through festivals and special events from coast to coast.

Throughout the summer, consumers across the United States will be invited to climb aboard a customized, interactive tour bus loaded with Nintendo DSi systems and software. Nintendo ambassadors will be on hand to show visitors the variety of entertainment and creative social fun offered by Nintendo DSi. Consumers will experience the system's built-in cameras, sound-manipulation features and downloadable video games. Attendees also can enjoy access to a wealth of downloadable Nintendo DSiWare games from the online Nintendo DSi Shop. Visitors can print their original Nintendo DSi souvenir photos on the bus or store them online and download them from home after the event.

Some scheduled stops for the Nintendo DSi Mobile Tour include Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisc. (June 25-29), the Rothbury Festival in Rothbury, Mich. (July 2-5), the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, W.Va. (July 9-12), and the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago (July 17-19). For a full list of tour dates and details, visit NintendoDS.com/news.jsp.

Icarian out now in Europe

WiiWare users in Europe and other PAL regions may have something to cheer about this morning, as the long anticipated Icarian is launched. Will it soar, or burn and crash?

Icarian: Kindred Spirits (WiiWare)Let's Catch (WiiWare)

See you Monday for the US releases, have a good weekend.

FFIV tops WiiWare chart

Final Fantasy fans might be pleased to know the franchise's latest game on WiiWare is doing well, currently sitting at #1 in the chart.

Final Fantasy IV: The After YearsTexas Hold'em TournamentSwords & SoldiersMy AquariumWorld of GooTetris PartyBubble Bobble PlusMy Pokemon RanchDr Mario Online RxDefend your CastleOnslaughtAdventure Island: The BeginningPool Revolution: Cue SportsFun Fun MinigolfBrain ChallengeMega Man 9Sandy BeachFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a KingBomberman BlastSilver Star Chess

Valhalla Grudge

Some North American boxarts from publishers Xseed. First we have survival horror Ju-On: The Grudge.

Next, Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga.

Factor 5 legal wars

Former employees of Factor 5 are suing the company's founders over unpaid wages. Factor 5, whose US-based studio was closed down in May, are accused of transferring source code and assets to another studio called White Harvest before declaring bankruptcy. The employees' lawyer James Smith spoke:

" We allege in the suit that Factor 5 and its three founders fraudulently transferred intellectual property to Blue Harvest, which is now known as White Harvest. We believe that Factor 5 and White Harvest are essentially the same company, being run by the same people, being represented by the same sets of lawyers, with all the same management and ownership and control, performing all the same work that they were doing at Factor 5, just now with a new name and a new address. "

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron has been mentioned among the games associated with the fraud. 69 claims are being made in all, for wages totaling $900,000 which were never paid.

Trauma Team trailer

Atlus has released a trailer for Trauma Team (also known as Hospital?) on Wii. It features 6 different types of doctory activities.

Early screenshots are also up on the game's page.

Mega Man 9 secret unfound

A blog post by Seth Killian on the Capcom website says that a secret in Mega Man 9 remains unfound. Mysteriously, he says that fans are about half way to finding it.

" Most MM fans want to strangle me for not spilling the beans, but I love mysteries and they are getting pretty rare in the Internet age. I didn't intend to torture anyone when I mentioned it so long ago, and I'd advise you to just let it go if it's driving you nuts, but to those still searching I promise that the secret isn't a snipe hunt, macguffin, or otherwise faked. And I will tell you when it's discovered ".

YouTube is awash with videos containing useful tips, hidden items, glitches and all sorts of things to make you wonder "how did they find that out". Like this one:

If you're thinking the music sounded familiar, it's from Dead Rising. Just a matter of time until that secret comes out, I'm sure of it.

Mario Calculates the Time Needed to Catch Toasted Rainbows in Space

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.

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!

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!"

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Most used TV web browser is Wii

According to the good people at Opera, Wii's own Internet Channel is the world's most popular app for browsing the web using a TV set. Opera's CEO, Jon von Tetchner spoke highly of their penetration into living rooms and amicable partnership with Big N:

" We have a good relationship with Nintendo. The recent addition of the DSi browser has been provided for free and that's a movement in the right direction. We're extremely happy about the fact that Opera on Wii is the most used device to browse on televisions, that is the biggest volume of users. We feel the browser is a great user experience and working with Nintendo was very good. They challenged us, and we challenged them, it's clear that they're very focused on making easy to use applications for their hardware ".

Monkey Ball Balance Board game

A trademark filed by Sega has led to speculation that a Super Monkey Ball game that supports the Wii Balance Board may be in development.

The title specified is Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll. Given that the DS game was called "Touch & Roll", the connection is obvious. That said, no further details or platforms are known, so assume nothing.

WiiWare gets toasty

It's quite a busy week in terms of WiiWare games, here's what's new:

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster (WiiWare)Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure (WiiWare)Let's Catch (WiiWare)Space Harrier (Arcade)

More on Friday with the European/Aussie releases.

LazyTown game for real

Back in 2007 there was talk of a video game based on the kids show LazyTown. Fast forward to today, and things are finally coming together. LazyTown Entertainment has cut a deal with Redoubt, allowing for the game to hit Wii, DS and PC. Hrolfur Sigurdsson, a director for LazyTown commented:

" We've had a lot of inquiries about LazyTown licensed video games from companies and consumers alike. We're very excited about working with Redoubt and its parent company Rebellion to make games that get kids off the sofa and moving. The success of Wii Fit and EA Sports Active prove that there is a strong demand from consumers who want to take part in lively games with their families ".

The program features a host of colorful characters, including the uberhealthy Sportacus who jumps around a lot and his arch-nemesis Robbie Rotten.

Metroid Pilates Ninja

How about a boxart roundup? Cozy. Here's the collectors edition for Metroid Prime Trilogy.

Tone up your flab with Daisy Fuentes Pilates.

Cowabunga dudes, nobody living in the sewers should enjoy this kind of lifespan - TMNT: Smash Up.

Reggie summarizes E3

Reggie Fils-Aime talking about Metroid: Other M, their announcements at E3, as well as Nintendo's approach in general.

Damn Reggie, you so smooooooth.

Super Smash Bros on Euro VC tomorrow

The UK's official Nintendo magazine has let slip the supposed details of tomorrow's Virtual Console and WiiWare releases in PAL regions.

Cocoto Platform Jumper (WiiWare)Super Smash Bros (N64)

How about that?

Reggie wants to win over Halo crowd

In an interview, Nintendo of America's President, Reggie Fils-Aime commented that he would like to bring hardcore gamers from other consoles back to Big N's way of thinking.

" We think we can win over the Halo audience with something like The Conduit, a multi-player online shooting experience, or Dead Space Extraction. And you know what? Once those people buy into Wii, they'll go buy Mario Kart Wii or Wii Fit Plus ".

Is the Regginator being a little too optimistic there?

March, Fight and Fish Your Way to World Domination

With this week's additions to the Nintendo DSi Shop and Wii Shop Channel, fun truly comes in all shapes and sizes. A new Mario vs. Donkey Kong title on Nintendo DSiWare features miniature versions of the world's most famous video game icon, while a pair of fresh WiiWare releases invite players to wield a fishing rod or storm a sprawling battlefield. For king-sized thrills, the latest Virtual Console offering lets players don the boots of one of the world's biggest warriors.

Nintendo DSiWare
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Thanks to the runaway success of Super Mini Mario World, Mario and Pauline have expanded their toy-filled theme park and invited everyone to the opening celebration – everyone, that is, except Donkey Kong, who was too late to get in. Donkey Kong decides to crash the party and kidnaps Pauline along the way. Can Mario and his Mini Marios rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong's clutches yet again? Make sure to explore the Construction Zone, where you'll find all the tools needed to make your own original levels. You can then share your masterpieces or download levels created by others, via a local wireless connection or with broadband Internet access and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

WiiWare
Swords & Soldiers
Publisher: Ronimo Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Rewrite history as you take control of the brutal Vikings, the devious Aztecs or the crafty Chinese in their global quest to win the favor of the Gods. Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling strategy game that lets you control an entire army and wield devastating magical abilities. Demolish your enemy's castle at the end of these two-dimensional battlefields and lead your troops to victory. Featuring hours of single-player campaign game play and challenging skirmishes, the game also offers frantic local multiplayer matches that let you take the fight to your friends. If that still isn't enough for you, there are several unlockable challenge modes that will test your abilities even further.

Fish'em All!
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Here's an arcade game with real coin-op flavor. Jack and Walter are two old fishermen in a fantasy world. They've found places where crazy fish leap out of the water all day long – perfect for fishing. It's a shame the other strange creatures aren't going to make things easy. In this surreal action game, you'll experience the excitement of the great arcade classics on your Wii console. Hold on tight to your controller and fish 'em all, featuring nine colorful scenarios, three game modes (Arcade, Challenge and Fishtris) and one- or two-player action.

Virtual Console
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: KOEI
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: In Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf, unite the scattered Mongol tribes under your banner and conquer the world as Genghis Khan. Choose from two riveting scenarios: Mongolia and all of Eurasia. It's up to you to take your fledgling empire from humble beginnings on the Mongolian plateau and expand your borders across the land. As your rivals look enviously upon your domain, you must struggle to weather the assaults of your opponents and carve out a living for your people. Engage in diplomacy to forge alliances and organize your troops to defend the prosperity of your empire. If you can manage to spread the borders of your empire to the corners of the world, all will pay homage to your might.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com. For the latest WiiWare games, click here. Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.

Nintendo's Newest Star Shines in The Legendary Starfy

The newest hero on the block might not seem like a powerhouse at first blush, but don't let him hear you say that. Starfy has long been a five-pointed hero in Japan. The Legendary Starfy, a new game now available for the portable Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems, marks Starfy's U.S. debut and proves that good looks and toughness make a star-studded match.

The Legendary Starfy asks players to help Starfy make his way through a variety of challenges in and around the ocean. Starfy is on a quest to help a mysterious character named Bunston, who crashed through Starfy's ceiling. Players must figure out how to navigate Starfy to the end of each stage by swimming, jumping and bouncing him over, under and through obstacles.

"Starfy makes a great addition to Nintendo's roster of iconic characters," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Starfy's underwater adventures have long been enjoyed by fans in Japan, and his U.S. debut is sure to provide families with hours of summer fun."

Starfy's abilities keep players engaged and bad guys running for cover. His Star Spin, for example, lets him burst through walls and barriers, or power through strong ocean currents. When Starfy teams up with Bunston, he can change into four powerful forms that help him overcome any hindrance and defeat enemies who dare to float in his way. Starfy can become Monstar, a dragon that spits fire; Starpedo, an Arctic seal with acrobatic abilities; Starfright, a spooky specter or Roostar, a super-squawking chicken that lays sonic eggs.

The Legendary Starfy also includes multiplayer options that let up to four friends or family members link up and play a variety of fun mini-games. Players can also team up to play through many of the game's stages cooperatively as Starfy and his sister, Starly. There's enough action to keep everyone busy during summer travel excursions. Starfy's ready for action anytime, anywhere.

For more information about The Legendary Starfy , visit www.Starfy.com.

Okami soundtrack discontinued

According to online retailing mammoths Amazon, the official soundtrack to Clover's masterpiece Okami has been discontinued.

Spanning 5 discs, it's likely this soundtrack will now become a collector's item and prices will probably soar.

Vitality Sensor info

At this year's E3 Expo, Nintendo revealed a new peripheral for Wii called the Vitality Sensor. This little gizmo fits on the end of your index finger and can measure certain stats about your body's state. Now some extra info has come out describing how it all works.

The Guardian newspaper says this device uses a small light sensor to look at your blood flow and calculate things like how hard you're breathing.

With no actual software examples demonstrating the use of the Vitality Sensor, it's hard to imagine how much potential it has. Do you think it will take off?

Nintendo Introduces New Social Entertainment Experiences at E3 Expo

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 Fit Plus

• 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

• Pokmon 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 Crossing Clock

• Animal Crossing Calculator

• 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

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

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo has sold more than 2.9 billion video games and more than 496 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, as well as the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Super NES, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokmon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

Autopilot in New Super Mario Bros Wii

Shigsy has revealed that Mario's latest side-scrolling platformer will have a "demo" function which allows the cpu to take over if the player is struggling to get past any part of the game.

" In New Super Mario Bros Wii, if a player is experiencing an area of difficulty, this will allow them to clear it and then take over when they are ready. We are also looking into this for future games ".

Of course this is entirely optional, but is giving people an easy way out a good idea?

Raise your hands for DJ Hero

Activision's next musical sensation DJ Hero will be hitting Wii in the third quarter of this year. Similar to Guitar Hero, it will ship with its own unique peripheral, the turntable:

Equipped with only three buttons, compared to Guitar Hero's five, the higher difficulty levels of the turntable are said to be achieved using the crossfader and mixing functions on the black section. Players can also choose to plug in a microphone or guitar and play along using those.

DJ Hero aims to bring dance music, hip hop and electronica to the table. Over 80 "mashups" have been created especially for the game, from renowned DJs like DJ Shadow, DJ AM and DJ Z-Trip. Eminem and Jay-Z are executive producers for the game and will also be providing some exclusive material.

Black Wii and controllers

At a retailer meeting over in Japan, Nintendo has revealed the first alternative color choice for the Wii console. It's black, and it looks sleek. Indeed, if Darth Vader owned a Wii, this would be the one.

Black Wii

Of course, the controllers have also been made available in black.

Black Wiimote

Black Nunchuk

Black Classic Controller Pro

These badboys are all hitting Japanese store shelves on August 1st, 2009.

Zelda Wii artwork

In a roundtable discussion with Nintendo at E3, when asked about the Zelda game on Wii, Shigsy produced this artwork:

Link looks a little older than we've seen him before. Some people are saying the glowing figure in front is a living Master Sword, morphed into a human shape.

Hold the Line Attack

Japanese developers Grezzo Games have been showing off a Wii-exclusive title called Line Attack Heroes.

Nothing to do with line dancing, it's a fast-paced game with melee combat. It also seems to feature a healthy amount of pirates. As the player you command a team of warriors, launching attacks using the Wiimote.

Your quest (should you choose to accept it) is to find the missing pieces of a dragon statue. Along the way you'll encounter a variety of enemies, each time you defeat one you gain any special abilities they may have. Like Kirby when he eats something. Boss fights also take place. Formation plays an important part in battle, how you line up your warriors can decide whether you succeed or fail.

Click through to the Line Attack Heroes page for screenshots.

E3 2009 Trailers

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Sin & Punishment 2

Monado: Beginning of the World

Monkey Island goes WiiWare

Guybrush Threepwood, star of the old Monkey Island games is coming to WiiWare in a new adventure series called Tales of Monkey Island. President of LucasArts, Darrell Rodriguez spoke:

" We couldn't be any more excited about bringing Monkey Island to today's gamers through our collaboration on the episodic series. We can't wait for Guybrush and LeChuck to return to our screens ".

This will be an episodic series with 5 installments, one released each month. Telltale Games are in the development seat, and their team actually includes some of the designers and artists that worked on previous Monkey Island titles.

The storyline is all new. Tales of Monkey Island is expected to start in a few weeks.

World of.. Zoo

At E3 today, publishers THQ announced another animal-centric game in World of Zoo.

Available on both Wii and DS, the game allows you to take charge of your own zoo. Obviously, looking after animals is a big part of this, and there are over 90 types to choose from. Animal facts from National Geographic are also included for edumacational purposes.

Coaxing bears down slides, that's what I call gameplay. World of Zoo is being worked on by Blue Fang Games, known for the Zoo Tycoon series.

LEGO Harry Potter confirmed

Another announcement from Warner, this time they've teamed up with TT Games and the LEGO Group to bring us LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. No that's not the recommended age, it's a game that covers the first four Harry Potter books. Tom Stone, a managing director at TT Games commented:

" With LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 we aim to create an open, wide-ranging experience within Hogwarts that's full of fun and LEGO magic. Harry Potter is among the most beloved and well-respected characters, we look forward to bringing gamers a new way of interacting in the universe with the usual LEGO games' fun humor and exploration ".

A trailer is also available.

Target platforms have yet to be announced, but I'd bet my teeth Wii will be one of them.

Span Smasher Wii

3rd party developers Artoon are working on a Wii game called Span Smasher, as revealed at this year's E3.

The main character, if you can call it that, is Smasher (pictured). Gameplay revolves around using the Wiimote to send him flying into brick walls, collecting items and avoiding hazards.

Span Smasher requires the Wii MotionPlus peripheral to work. No release date is available, but screenshots are up.

New Mario and Metroid for Wii

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Nintendo had several cool announcements to make during their presentation earlier at the E3 Expo. Among the biggest of these, Super Mario Galaxy2 is coming to Wii. Judging by the video, it's more of the same (not a criticism) but this time Yoshi plays an important role.

Metroid: Other M

Team Ninja, the well respected developers behind franchises like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are on board with Big N to make a new Metroid game. That game is Metroid: Other M. Touted as a brand new type of experience, it promises to draw the player further into the Metroid universe than ever before. Reggie's words, not mine.

Some screenshots for both games are up on their respective pages.

No More Heroes Desperate Struggle

An E3 trailer for No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle has been put on YouTube. Travis Touchdown and Sylvia both make a comeback, along with a host of new characters driven by a revenge-fueled storyline.

There's also an indication that NMH:DS will support MotionPlus, which would make sense for the combat aspects. This time around, Travis has the ability to wield two Katana beams at once. The game is still on track for a 2010 release.

Dash, Shuffle and Flip Your Way to Fantasy

This week's downloadable game releases include a spellbinding new installment in the FINAL FANTASY series. This first true sequel to FINAL FANTASY IV is sure to get RPG fans' blood pumping. Nintendo DSiWare users will find a challenging new puzzle game to help keep their minds spinning. A slick new poker title from the WiiWare service raises the stakes for virtual card sharps, while the Virtual Console debut of a classic Commodore 64 game puts players in pursuit of precious gems. With so much variety on the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop, your odds of having a humdrum summer are getting slimmer by the hour.

Nintendo DSiWare
Mighty Flip Champs!
Publisher: WayForward Technologies
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Are you ready to become a Mighty Flip Champ? Take control of Alta and page-flip through a series of action-packed mazes. The touch screen reflects a preview of the next chamber and shows Alta's projected destination within it. When it's time to flip, use Alta's Magical Warp Wand to replace her world with the next one. Will she land safely on solid ground or be crushed under it? By cycling endlessly through room after brain-busting room, you'll match wits with some of the most devious traps in puzzle/platforming history.

WiiWare
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is the sequel to the hit RPG FINAL FANTASY IV. The story takes place many years after the original and centers on a young man named Ceodore, son of the paladin Cecil and the white mage Rosa, who, along with their loyal and steadfast friends, once saved the world from evil born of the second moon. Now, monsters are reappearing in a world that had finally attained peace. The second moon has returned anew. What tidings does this ominous harbinger bring? Familiar faces and new allies join the battle to save the Blue Planet once more.

Texas Hold'em Tournament
Publisher: Digital Leisure, Inc.
Players: 1-6
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: The deck is shuffled and the blinds are in – it's your move. Call, raise or even bluff your way "all in" with Texas Hold'em Tournament. You'll start off in the small Nevada gaming halls and work your way up to the Las Vegas Championship. Multi-round, no-limit hold'em game play ensures hours of serious poker action. Think you're the best poker player out there? Using broadband Internet access and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, start climbing the worldwide rankings by winning online tournaments, and see how your poker skills stack up by viewing the online leaderboard. Texas Hold'em Tournament also lets you play multiplayer poker with up to five friends, and with full Mii character support, you can truly bring yourself to the table.

Virtual Console
Boulder Dash
Original platform: Commodore 64
Publisher: Commodore Gaming
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Originally released in 1984, Boulder Dash is one of the big computer-game classics. It is one of the very few computer games ever to be ported from home computers to arcades, not the other way around. The hero of the game is the brave prospector Rockford. He must dig through caves to collect diamonds while avoiding various types of dangerous creatures and obstacles such as falling rocks. He is in constant danger of being crushed or trapped by an avalanche or killed by an underground explosion. Strategy and planning are the keys to mastering Boulder Dash. Once enough jewels have been collected, the door to the mysterious escape tunnel is revealed and Rockford can explore another cave.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com. For the latest WiiWare games, click here. Click here for a list of games available on Virtual Console.

Bit Boy, Bit Boy, whatcha gonna do

Indie development superstars (slight exaggeration) Bplus have revealed another game coming to WiiWare. Bit Boy is a retro-styled homage to games of an age gone by.

Bit Boy features a hero by the name of Kubi, not the biggest of fellas, he's actually one pixel in size. In order to rescue his equally pixely friends, Kubi must take a journey through the history of video games.

Kubi will have to fight it out with a whole slew of monsters in:

4-bit dungeons8-bit caves16-bit strongholds32-bit mazes64-bit arenas128-bit worlds

Bplus' drunken art director Bernd Geiblinger had the following to say:

" Everybody knows that Bplus really is a crazy company. We lifted up a gearwheel to the top of evolution and let it fight against evil Plattchen 6 billion years in the future. We transformed a boy into a ball, only to let him become a rock to stand up against metal crabs and flying trees. With Bit Boy, we are creating a fantastic arcade adventure delivered together with all its never-before-seen prequels from the various video gaming eras. Each Bit Generation will spark true retro feelings in all players aged 14 to 40 when they set off in the ultimate pursuit of fruits and high scores ".

Bplus also has a game called "Vektor Tank" in the pipeline. Watch this space. And this one.