The flashing blue light can mean only one thing (well not really), Nintendo has put out a firmware update.
Firmware 4.2 is said to include behind-the-scenes improvements, one of which makes older game discs run more efficiently.
On the negative side for some, the update also completely removes the Homebrew Channel.
Just a week or so back we heard news of an Earthworm Jim game coming to WiiWare. We later learned it would be a remake of the Sega Genesis version, and it's being handled by Gameloft.
The game is being built from scratch without using any of the original code. Graphics are being spruced up a lot, as seen in this comparison pic:
That's taken from the iPhone version, but we can expect something similar on WiiWare too. Other features reported include:
Smoother animations.A number of difficulty settings."Big Bruty" level included (from the special edition on Sega CD).Neither Dave Perry nor Doug Nepal are involved with the project.Original music by Tommy Tallarico will remain.
Here's a comical teaser clip from the upcoming Ninja Captains on Wii.
Ninja Captains is billed as a frantic series of competitive mini-games, something similar to WarioWare.
Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, classic arcade action and a hand-held art course - this week's additions to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop deliver a wildly entertaining mix. With new WiiWare, Nintendo DSiWare and Virtual Console games debuting each week, Nintendo offers downloadable games to please everyone under the sun, and the list keeps on growing. For Nintendo DSi users looking to grow their own game library, here's a valuable tip-off: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.
Nintendo DSiWare
Art Academy: Second Semester
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that anyone can enjoy. Art Academy: Second Semester provides new and returning students with a larger set of tools and in-depth lessons designed to encourage the creation of more complex artwork. By gaining an even deeper understanding of colors and techniques used by famous impressionist artists, you will be ready to take on more challenging themes that include moving objects, and vast landscapes with distant objects. The openness of Free Paint mode offers plenty of opportunities to hone your skills and boost your confidence as an artist.
DRAGON QUEST WARS
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Language
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: DRAGON QUEST WARS is a grid-based strategy game featuring all of your favorite quirky DRAGON QUEST monsters. Choose from several modes and get ready for battle. While the rules are simple, strategy is the key to victory. The game features single-player and DS Wireless Play, as well as battles with foes worldwide via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.)
WiiWare
ARKANOID Plus!
Publisher: TAITO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: ARKANOID Plus! is an updated version of the original arcade blockbuster. Players must destroy colored blocks by guiding an Energy Ball around the screen using a spaceship called a VAUS. The game features a host of new modes and settings that radically alter the experience: Arcade Mode consists of 61 rounds divided into left and right versions, with two types of boss characters appearing in the last round; VS Mode lets players face off against a friend or the CPU; and the unfailingly frantic Time Mode challenges players to clear rounds within a strict time limit. With the subtle differences arising from the choice of "Lives" or "Barrier" rules, plus a plethora of exciting items, you're in for hours and hours of block-busting fun.
DRiiFT Mania
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: DRiiFT Mania is the ultimate top-down multiplayer racing experience. Challenge your friends in fast, exciting races and some totally crazy game modes. You'll need to adapt your driving skills to the different racing environments if you want to succeed.
Virtual Console
Altered Beast
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: "Rise from your grave!" When legendary Greek god Zeus brings you back to life with those famous words, you set forth on a mission to rescue his daughter, Athena, from the wicked God of the Underworld, Neff. To survive the gauntlet of mythological foes, you must hunt down the three-headed wolves that inhabit each stage and collect the Spirit Balls that they release. The Spirit Balls increase your strength and allow you to transform into a variety of forms, including a Werewolf, Weredragon, Werebear, Weretiger and the ultimate form, the Golden Werewolf. Each creature possesses powerful attacks to help bring an end to Neff's scheme.
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.
Wii Sports Resort is all about getting multiple people involved in friendly sporting competitions. Starting Oct. 12, consumers will have even more incentive to get in on the fun when Nintendo releases a special, limited-edition bundle of the Wii Sports Resort game and not one but two Wii MotionPlus accessories, which bring enhanced precision to games.
The bundle will be available at a suggested retail price of $59.99. Typically, Wii Sports Resort comes with a single Wii MotionPlus unit at a suggested retail price of $49.99, and additional Wii MotionPlus units are available at a suggested retail price of $19.99.
"Shoppers are looking for value as we head into the holiday season, and this Wii Sports Resort bundle is a gift that players of all ages and experience levels can enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Best of all, it instantly gets multiple members of the household engaged in playing as soon as the package is opened.”
The new bundle will be available while supplies last at most major retailers.
Through the end of August, Wii Sports Resort has already sold more than 1.25 million units in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group. Nearly 2.9 million Wii MotionPlus accessories are in the hands of the public. That includes all those sold with Wii Sports Resort, standalone sales of 1.36 million and an additional 257,000 bundled with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10.
For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com.
Two more WiiWare games have been added to the Wii Shop Channel today, along with an arcade classic which will cost you a meaty 1000 Points!
Arkanoid Plus (WiiWare)DRiiFT Mania (WiiWare)Altered Beast (Arcade)Check out the DRiiFT Mania review to see what I thought of it. More downloadable news on Friday with the PAL region releases.
A fresh press release from Nintendo says the Wii console will undergo a price drop at retail, starting on September 27th. The new price point is $199.99.
The new $199.99 price delivers the full iconic Wii gaming experience, including the motion-sensing Wiimote, Nunchuk, Wii Sports software and furthers Nintendo's mission to expand the gaming universe by making video games accessible to more consumers.
Smart move by Big N?
The US release of Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is set to see some brand new playable fighters. The first of these is Frank West of Dead Rising fame.
That doesn't quite look or sound like the Frank West I remember, but oh well. Any love for Frank? He's covered wars y'know.
Square Enix has released a final box art for the North American version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers.
Looking forward to this one?
If you're out and about in one of these locations:
Wednesday, Sep 23: MinneapolisFriday, Sep 25: MiamiTuesday, Sep 29: BostonWednesday, Sep 30: Seattlethen keep an eye out for this guy:
This real-life Professor Layton will be asking riddles, offering you the chance to win a copy of Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box on Nintendo DS.
Beware of falling objects and soaring imaginations with this week's new downloadable game offerings from Nintendo. The WiiWare service welcomes the precarious puzzle action of You, Me, and the Cubes and the court-storming antics of Family Tennis. Commodore 64 favorite Last Ninja 2 arrives on the Virtual Console, pushing players to heroic heights in a classic martial-arts adventure. Nintendo DSiWare users can let the chips fall where they may with Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack or create imaginative pictures with MySims Camera. Another heads-up for Nintendo DSi fans: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.
WiiWare
You, Me, and the Cubes
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Experience a unique combination of strategy and skill as you maintain a level playing field in the physics-based action puzzler You, Me, and the Cubes. The action centers around Fallos, mysterious creatures that resemble humans and have an ability to balance on a playing field of 3-D cubes. First, create a pair of Fallos inside your Wii Remote controller by shaking it up and down. Next, determine suitable places for the Fallos to land, then fling them to the selected cube with a swinging motion. After that, the Fallos are on their own. If your placement is sound, the Fallos will remain stable and you'll clear the stage after tossing a required number onto the cubes. But if the weight or locations of Fallos causes the cubes to tilt and sway too much, the Fallos will lose their balance and fall off. Adding to the challenge, you'll find that some cubes have different properties, making tosses tricky and further threatening the stability of the Fallos. Guide Fallos through dozens of single-player stages or invite family and friends to join you in two-player cooperative mode.
Family Tennis
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy return for some hard-hitting, fast-paced tennis action. Battle it out between the happy family members as you vie for the top spot. Choose from three different modes: Elimination Match, Free Match and Thrilling Rally. Play against the CPU or compete with friends. Elimination Match mode pits you against the CPU to test your skills, while Free Match mode allows you to play against another player under conditions of your choosing. Thrilling Rally mode lets you join up to three other players and rally to see who can get to 100 points first.
Virtual Console
Last Ninja 2
Original platform: Commodore 64
Publisher: Commodore Gaming
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: The ninja known as the Mystic Shadow Warriors were the elite fighting force of ninth-century feudal Japan. The evil Shogun Kunitoki was once beaten, but he has gathered all his mystic powers to create a modern-day tyranny in Manhattan. Face your archenemy Kunitoki in the urban jungle and conquer him with your ninja skills. Transported to 1988 Manhattan by an unknown force, the ninja leader Armakuni must find a way to defend himself against the unknown dangers that lie before him. Will this be the final battle? Can you vanquish the evil Kunitoki once and for all?
Nintendo DSiWare
Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Prepare yourself for a lesson in tactics as you play through five strategy-based games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Take on an opponent in the classic Backgammon, invade an enemy base in Field Tactics, sandwich your opponent's pieces to capture them in Turncoat, create strings of five in a row in Connect Five and guess where to attack your opponent's pieces in Grid Attack. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.
MySims Camera
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: MySims Camera is a camera application that utilizes popular MySims characters. You can take photos and overlay 3-D MySims characters to bring them into the real world. The 3-D characters can be animated, moved, scaled, rotated and cropped. You can also draw on the photos with the stylus or use the stamp tool to add more art and style. Create a unique frame and save the photos to the Nintendo DSi Camera album to share with friends. MySims Camera is a fun, creative experience for the entire family.
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.
The first trailer for WiiWare's Super Meat Boy has been released by Team Meat. It shows off some great looking gameplay and an old-school intro sequence which may seem familiar.
Excitement++;
Two WiiWare games released in North America today, along with an oldie for the Virtual Console.
You, Me and the Cubes (WiiWare)Family Tennis (WiiWare)Last Ninja 2 (Commodore 64)"You, Me and the Cubes" is a puzzle game published by Nintendo. You can see a Japanese trailer below, but it's not easy to see exactly what's going on.
Here's an interesting interview with Reggie Fils-Aime, covering all sorts of stuff while he did the rounds at PAX.
Team 17 has put out a press release announcing a new downloadable Worms game on WiiWare, Worms: Battle Islands.
Prepare to rally your worm troops and battle your way through Worms: Battle Islands on WiiWare! Take control of a secret island base, which you can see on a global map. From here, plot to defeat your enemies, expand your territory and win buildings and items that will give you a strategic advantage in every game of Worms: Battle Islands you play.
Create your own weapons of mass destruction in the weapon factory using the "technology crates" collected from the single player campaigns. And take advantage of an all-new game mode that offers unique tactical possibilities with a range of special abilities that can be deployed before each match even begins.
Choose well from a selection of all-new weapons such as the never-seen-before Flare, and the high-tech EMP Grenade to add to an armory that's already packed full of destructive firepower.New to the game? Not a problem! Each secret island comes with a retinue of staff to guide you through every aspect of the game.Play the game using either the motion sensing controls, or turn the controller sideways and use the classic control scheme.Play multiplayer with your friends via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection!This latest Worms offering should be coming out towards the end of this month.
Majesco today released screenshots from Flip's Twisted World for the Nintendo Wii. A unique puzzle platformer with an innovative gameplay mechanic, Flip's Twisted World requires players to "think outside of the box" in order to escape a crazy cubed universe where nothing is at it seems.
In the game, Master Fulcrum's curious apprentice, Flip, messes with the wrong magic artifact and gets sucked into a cubed universe. To escape, Flip must turn the world any which way he can to reveal new paths and overcome obstacles. While adventuring through five bizarre puzzle worlds - such as an arctic glacier and a clock tower in the sky - Flip must stop the destruction of the universe and restore The Master's home to normal before he returns!
Players can twist the Wiimote to rotate the colorful worlds 90 degrees whenever they need to. Along the way they will collect five magic tools to aid in their quest home while meeting unique characters such as slugs, penguins and spiders, some that help and some that harm.
This game is said to be released during the first quarter of 2010. The screenshots mentioned can be seen on the Flip's Twisted World page.
Publishers Interplay have put out a press release saying they intend to renew the classic SNES beat-em-up Clay Fighter for a modern WiiWare audience. The original featured wacky animated clay characters like a snowman, a clown, an Elvis impersonator and others.
Clayfighter will be developed by StudioBlack Games' Eric Hart, the original programmer of Clayfighter for Super NES. Interplay CEO Herve Caen commented, "We're very enthusiastic to resurrect Clayfighter's crazy characters and unique humor. Eric Hart's involvement in the previous Clayfighter titles makes StudioBlack the logical choice to give this classic franchise a well-deserved makeover." Fans can expect improved graphics and revamped gameplay to take advantage of Nintendo's current generation hardware.
It's penciled in for a Summer 2010 release. Do you remember this game? I never had the original Clayfighter, but enjoyed Claymates, which was a platformer in the same vain.
Sure, he's a villain, but Bowser is one of the most beloved characters in Nintendo's imaginative Mushroom Kingdom. Now, with today's launch of the Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story game for the hand-held Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi video game systems, fans will get to know the cantankerous King Koopa inside and out — literally. The new game finds Mario and Luigi getting inhaled by Bowser, sending players straight to the belly of the beast for an outrageous hand-held adventure.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story lets players adventure through two fun and hilarious storylines at the same time, taking control of the famous Mario brothers and even Bowser himself. Not only must players control Bowser to win back control of his castle from the evil Fawful, they've also got to muster the guts to help Mario and Luigi as they try to escape from Bowser's body. Players can switch between the two storylines independently as they attempt to rescue Princess Peach and restore order to Mushroom Kingdom.
In addition to its inventive dual storyline, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story makes creative use of the unique interface capabilities of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi. Players will press buttons with precise timing to enhance their attacks, tap the touch screen with the stylus, blow into the built-in microphone and even turn the whole game system sideways and hold it like a book in order to successfully overcome obstacles and advance the plot. A lively mix of puzzles, character battles and humorous dialogue and storyline delivers all the action and amusement fans can stomach.
"The imagination and humor of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story make it a can't-miss adventure," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Featuring some of Nintendo's most iconic characters, the game is full of hilarious surprises for fans and newcomers alike."
For more information about Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, visit www.BowsersInsideStory.com.
Even if you're no longer a student, the back-to-school season is bringing all kinds of youthful kicks to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. The latest Nintendo DSiWare titles feature creative art activities and an imaginative, toy-filled joyride. Three new WiiWare games invite you to play cards with friends, dodge intergalactic obstacles and compete in wild grocery cart races. A new Virtual Console release even challenges players to partake in some heated high school hijinks. And no matter what your grade level, be sure to take advantage of this special offer: Consumers can receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.
Nintendo DSiWare
Art Academy: First Semester
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that replaces the lecture-like structure of art school and the trial-and-error of working on canvas. Art Academy: First Semester can guide you through the basics of pencil and paints, using Nintendo DSi controls to draw like the real things. With your own paintbrush set and color palette, you'll learn texturing and blending techniques, plus ways to depict light and shade. There's also Free Paint mode, which allows you to select and draw from photos in your Nintendo DSi Camera Album. In just a few lessons, you'll be discovering your inner artist and creating your own masterpieces with art skills that you can apply with real-life materials.
Oscar in Toyland
Publisher: Virtual Playground
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Meet Oscar, the new kid on the block. This fabulous jump-and-run game is easy to play, packed with hours of fun and nonstop action, hundreds of collectibles and surprises. In psychedelic worlds of candy, soda pop, amusement park rides, board games, fairy tales and more, you'll meet cool toys and animals in hidden rooms, bonus and bogus mini games. Use Wings to fly, Springy Shoes to jump, and Oscar's secret weapon, his magical Yo-Yo, to swing and zap enemies in some of the craziest platform levels you'll ever play.
WiiWare
Texas Hold'Em Poker
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-6
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Prepare to experience the intensity of a real Texas hold'em poker tournament. Whether you're a poker novice or a veteran, you'll enjoy Tournament, Cash Game and Heads-up modes with the simple-to-use Wii Remote controller. Hit the tables as one of six fun and charismatic characters, or import your own Mii character to really put on your poker face. Take on the world's most prestigious casinos, from Monaco to New York, and challenge opponents who won't hesitate to taunt or comment on your style, creating a very realistic poker atmosphere. You can also impress friends with wild poker parties, thanks to an online mode that allows you to play with up to five friends and create your own tournaments or join official Gameloft tournaments. You can even challenge random online opponents of any skill level. Even if you've never played poker before, you can learn all the rules and strategy with an Advanced Tutorial that teaches you everything from winning hands and betting to bluffing. Broadband Internet access required for online play. For more info, go to www.Nintendo.com.
Spaceball: Revolution
Publisher: Virtual Toys
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Steer your way through 15 diabolical levels in which you'll have to reconstruct impossible figures with help from space energy balls. Race against the clock and evade obstacles to activate the correct boxes. Spaceball: Revolution will put your ability and your concentration to the test. The game also lets you compare your score with the best players around the world in various difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Advanced and Master.
Mart Racer
Publisher: JoJu Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: You're a sharp-elbowed shopper racing through the store to find items before your rivals do. Use your Wii Remote controller like a handlebar to control your shopping cart as you race through different types of stores. Vex your competitors by stunning them with plungers and stealing groceries out of their carts. Outrun them by using your drifting and aisle-jumping skills. Keep away from the security guards who want to stop the mall melee. The first player with a completed shopping list at the cash register wins. A simple and fun game that's suitable for all ages, Mart Racer pits you against the computer or up to four players. Play with your friends and family on a split screen or compete online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.)
Virtual Console
Crash ‘N The Boys Street Challenge
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Todd Thornley, son of the head of Thornley Industries, has had it with Crash and the Southside boys. With help from other high schools, Todd decides Hiller High will take down Crash and his Southside High cronies in an unsanctioned street challenge. Take control of one of four high school teams (with four playable characters per team) and make your way through five different sporting events. Dash and bash through the 400 meter hurdles; swing to victory in the hammer throw; swim and knock out your opponent while swimming; pole vault, jump and ride a unicycle across rooftops; and use judo to fight your opponent in a one-on-one brawl. Can you lead your high school to the top of the Street Challenge?
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.
The Nintendo Channel has been given a fresh interface and some new features:
Higher quality streaming videos.Viewer recommended top games list.Rate and recommend Nintendo DS games.There's also a new weekly show called "Nintendo Week". This week's episode focuses on Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and an interview with the developers of Guitar Hero 5.
Aliens and monsters may have a bad rap for all the evil mischief they get up to, but on weekends they're just like regular folk. They enjoy nothing better than to hit the local bowling lane and knock down some pins.
League night at the lanes just got a lot more interesting! Join a cast of characters that ranges from creepy to out of this world in Alien Monster Bowling League. Play against classic monsters like zombies, werewolves (or SPAREwolves!.. huh?.. huh? ^_^ - WW) and vampires or go up against creatures from outer space. The competition's not the only thing that's twisted. New twists on gameplay include special Sonic, Split, Nitrous, Clone and Ghost Balls that do extra damage and Whammies designed to mess up your opponent.
AMBL featuresQuick Play Mode - Get a fast bowling fix.Campaign Mode - Compete against bigger and better bowlers.Regular Mode - Roll without the fancy extras.Which famous alien or monster would you like to bowl with?
The Wii console's Nintendo Channel is getting a makeover. On Sept. 14, the channel, which provides users with videos and information about current and upcoming Nintendo products, re-launches with a new look and feel. Some of the upgrades include higher-quality streaming videos, lists of top games that other viewers recommend and a new ability to rate and recommend Nintendo DS games.
Current features of the Nintendo Channel will remain, including Nintendo DS demo downloads and an extensive lineup of videos about Wii and Nintendo DS games.
As part of the update, Nintendo Channel will also premiere Nintendo Week, a weekly, hosted series about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. The premiere episode includes an in-depth look at Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, an interview with the developers behind the Wii version of Guitar Hero 5, plus coverage of the new Nintendo DSi colors, Nintendo DSiWare games and other surprises.
Nintendo Channel is available free of charge to Wii owners, and can be downloaded by going to the Wii Shop Channel and following the on-screen instructions. For more information about the Nintendo Channel, please visit www.NintendoChannel.com.
Three whole WiiWare games to choose from in today's releases, in addition to an interesting sounding NES game on Virtual Console.
Spaceball: Revolution (WiiWare)Mart Racer (WiiWare)Texas Hold'em Poker (WiiWare)Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge (NES)
A unique partnership between Nintendo and acclaimed designer Charlotte Ronson is putting an interactive twist on this year's Fashion Week festivities in New York. To celebrate the upcoming launch of Style Savvy, the new fashion game for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi hand-held systems, Ronson and Nintendo will give attendees a sneak preview of the game at the Sept. 11 runway show after-party for Ronson's hotly anticipated spring 2010 line.
Style Savvy, which launches this holiday season, invites players to create a fashion-forward boutique, help customers in the game find their perfect style using 16 different brands and compete in glamorous runway contests. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and a broadband Internet connection, players can also connect wirelessly with friends to shop in their boutiques and join up for multiplayer runway shows.
"Style Savvy transforms some of my fashions from the real world into a portable fashion experience that players can take with them anywhere," Ronson said. "Now everyone can explore their creative instincts and become a fashion stylist."
Later in the year, Style Savvy players will be able to access Charlotte Ronson Designer Downloads. Players will be able to download items from her fall 2009 line directly into the game. It's yet another way that Nintendo gives consumers the tools to completely customize their video game experiences.
Consumers have the option of playing Style Savvy on some new, fashionable hardware as well. Starting Sept. 13, the Nintendo DSi system will be available in White and Pink, in addition to the Blue and Black versions already on the market.
For more information about Style Savvy, please visit Nintendo.com.
A listing on the ESRB website shows that Konami are continuing their "rebirth" series on WiiWare with Castlevania Rebirth.
This is a side-scrolling action game in which players battle against monsters in Dracula's castle. Players use a chained whip to fight their way through halls and dungeons filled with zombies, skeletons, flying eyeballs and bats.
The enemy creatures frequently shoot projectiles and attack players in hand-to-hand combat. If players sustain too much damage, they keel over and emit a burst of red blood. Some rooms in the castle also have spikes or spears stained with red, blood-like splotches. What a terrible night for curse.
Up next, Track & Field Rebirth?
The latest sales numbers from the NPD Group suggest that Nintendo are still printing money, taking both of the top spots.
August 2009 US figuresNintendo DS - 552,900Nintendo Wii - 277,400XBox 360 - 215,400PS3 - 210,000PSP - 140,300
The arcade versions of some old classics pop up on Virtual Console in Europe today, along with one WiiWare game.
Spaceball: Revolution (WiiWare)Rygar (Arcade)Solomon's Key (Arcade)Anything there that you'll be picking up?
According to the official Twitter, there has been at least one confirmed case of swine flu from an attendee of the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), and many more reports of people feeling sick.
If you attended the event and are undergoing fever-like symptoms, it's advised that you call your doctor. There's also a swine flu hotline, but all you get is crackling.
The recent update to Wii's Internet Channel caused some things to not work any more, for example the BBC's iPlayer service for people in Britain.
The BBC addressed this in an FAQ on their website:
The latest Nintendo Wii software upgrade has caused BBC iPlayer to cease working. Users that have not upgraded can continue to use the BBC iPlayer website.
We are currently investigating and hope to resolve these issues with the BBC iPlayer. Later this year we will be launching an all-new BBC iPlayer designed specifically for the Wii.
So the wet dreams of Okami fans worldwide have come true: Capcom are working on a direct sequel, something we never expected to see. This time around though, it's on the handheld Nintendo DS.
Okamiden takes place three months after the first game, with a young wolf cub as the protagonist.. Chibiterasu. Here's a trailer:
Impressive? The DS stylus seems a good fit for handling the celestial brush, which also makes a return.
Okamiden is said to hit Japan in 2010, no further release details are known.
As you bid farewell to summer, you can also greet the fall season with a great big smile, thanks to a fresh lineup of downloadable games from the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. Super Return of the Jedi for the Virtual Console offers memorable space-themed action for Wii owners, while WiiWare welcomes a brand new entry in the classic Contra franchise. On Nintendo DSiWare, you'll find a portable version of the popular Clubhouse Games to help keep your autumn lively. Speaking of Nintendo DSiWare, time is ticking away on a special offer: Consumers can automatically earn 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com
WiiWare
Contra Rebirth
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 A.D. to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the "Contra" on Earth. The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite "Contra" warriors, to save the day, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and samurai Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth. They must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost. Experience the fast-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure that pioneered the run-and-gun genre.
ColorZ
Publisher: Exkee
Players: 1-3
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: With ColorZ, go forth in your spaceships on a mission to clean up virus
infested planets. Immerse yourself in a new gaming experience that will reveal mind-hand-eye coordination skills you never knew you had. Absorb viruses of your own color, but steer clear of the others. If necessary, you can cleverly merge your ships together to create new colors. Buzz past your enemies to keep your combo and clock up a new high score. Explore an extra dimension with the game's multiplayer mode and share the unique experience of cooperative play between friends. Pool your forces, synchronize your movements and become a unified team of up to three players to meet the challenge together.
Virtual Console
Super Return of the Jedi
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Join the Rebellion and crush the Death Star in a giant universe filled with all the action and adventure of the Star Wars finale. Take command of five different characters - from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia - and go up against the Empire's worst, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. You're going to need every ounce of Force you've got in you. Battle in actual movie locales, from Jabba the Hutt's palace to the Forest of Endor and the Emperor's Tower. Cross sabers with the darkest of the dark side: Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, the rancor, Darth Vader and the Emperor.
Nintendo DSiWare
Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Choose from five family-friendly games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Play classic card games like Hearts and Contract Bridge; connect bones to other bones in Dominoes; think strategically in the simple but addictive Dots and Boxes; and move your pieces towards a common goal in Ludo. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.
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.
A Wii channel which tells your fortune was released in Japan late last year. Now we've gotten news that the channel is heading to Europe as well.
Possibly titled the "Today & Tomorrow channel", it's free to download. The software takes details like your date of birth and calculates your fortune in five categories:
LoveWorkStudyCommunicationsMoneyI'm picking up some mystical vibes in the air.. yes.. the channel will be available to download tomorrow, on September 9th 2009.
A press release just issued details Nintendo games that will be playable at PAX.
The upcoming Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle will give consumers their first-ever chance to play key upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS games like:
New Super Mario Bros WiiThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit TracksMario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryThe recently launched Metroid Prime Trilogy, Wii Sports Resort and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box will also be on hand at the Nintendo booth (#352).
Additionally, Nintendo will debut a new WiiWare game at the booth: Pokemon Rumble, which lets you battle with Pokemon like never before. Up to four players at once can team up and unleash powerful attacks as enemies surround them in this action-packed game.
In addition to the playable games at the booth, Nintendo has invited artists to create one-of-a-kind animations using the Flipnote Studio application for the Nintendo DSi. Throughout the September 4th-6th show, a professional artist will be on hand nearly every hour at a special area in the South Lobby (#S-3) to showcase the many ways that people can use Flipnote Studio to create original works of art.
Some of the artists scheduled to be on hand include creative talents from the world of comic books and video games like Scott Kurtz (PvP), Eric Jones (DC Comics: Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade), Christina Strain (Marvel Comics: Runaways), Mike Choi (Marvel: X-Force), Edison Yan (5th Cell: Scribblenauts) and Ryan Jones (Telltale Games: Tales of Monkey Island).
The short clip below has a bit of gameplay taken from LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias. It shows off Toku's new abilities like swimming and changing the season from Summer to Winter.
Some promising new releases out across North America today, for both WiiWare and Virtual Console fans.
Contra Rebirth (WiiWare)ColorZ (WiiWare)Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (SNES)Good week?
Good news for movie buffs, the popular DVD board game scene it? is coming to Nintendo Wii, courtesy of creators Screenlife.
Previously an exclusive for Xbox 360, the newly updated version will feature movies released this year and some dating back four decades. There will also be options for single players, plus new modes, puzzles and mini-games.
Are you a fan of scene it?
Suda51 presents this fun video about his latest game, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. He describes a heap of new features, including dual-wielding Katanas, improved enemy AI and 2D job missions, all while sitting on the toilet.
Desperate Struggle, one to look out for.
If you've been wanting more Bit.Trip action on WiiWare, Gaijin Games has got you covered, unveiling the next title in the series called Bit.Trip Void.
Void has you controlling an adjustable black hole, swallowing up black dots but staying away from white ones, as seen in the trailer below:
Bit.Trip Void features4 player co-op action.Chiptunes provided by Nullsleep.Nunchuk and Classic Controller support.Mid-level checkpoints, boss battles and more.
Observant fans have noticed a small degree of censorship has been applied to the new Metroid Prime Trilogy, removing the word "damn".
The original Metroid Prime: Corruption game has a cut-scene in which Admiral Dane says the following line:
" Damn! They're targeting the planetary-defense system ".
In the trilogy compilation, this has been changed to:
" No! They're targeting the planetary-defense system ".
You have to ask yourself, was this really necessary?
Nintendo today announced that the new Wii Fit Plus game will launch in North America on Oct. 4, and also revealed new colors for its popular Nintendo DSi system and for the revolutionary Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers and Wii MotionPlus accessory. Starting Sept. 13, Nintendo DSi will be available in White and Pink, joining the Blue and Black versions already on the market. Additionally, this holiday season, Nintendo will release a new Black version of the Wii Remote bundled with a Black version of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which brings precise motion control to games that have been designed for it. A Black version of the Nunchuk controller also will be available for the holidays.
Nintendo of America President & COO Reggie Fils-Aime made these announcements in his keynote address at the 2009 GameStop Manager Conference.
"All of these announcements bring more options and more choices to consumers as our industry heads into its busiest time of the year," Fils-Aime said. "Each of these products allows consumers to enjoy a more personal gaming experience, no matter how they choose to play."
Here are the details of today's announcements:
• Wii Fit Plus: This enhanced version of the top-selling game offers a range of new features, along with new exercises, yoga activities and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. For the first time, users can customize their workouts to target specific areas of their bodies or to fill specific intervals of time. Wii Fit Plus will replace the current Wii Fit configuration at retail, and will be bundled with the Wii Balance Board accessory at a suggested retail price of $99.99. For people who currently own Wii Fit and want to add the expanded options to their fitness regimen, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available on its own at a suggested retail price of $19.99.
• White and Pink Nintendo DSi colors: The two new colors give consumers even more options to personalize their experiences. All models of the Nintendo DSi hardware come with two cameras and interactive options to let users create and manipulate pictures or sound in fun and creative ways. All versions of Nintendo DSi are available at a suggested retail price of $169.99.
• Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus Black bundle: The Black bundle is the first new color for the Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus.
• Black Nunchuk: The Black Nunchuk will be available as a standalone purchase.
Remember that the Wii console features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about Nintendo products, visit www.Nintendo.com.
Monster Hunter 3 players in Japan are advised not to try cheating, as doing so is likely to bring up a ban screen similar to the one seen below:
Whether or not that's supposed to be 2009, I'm not sure. One thing is clear, MH3 will be nice and retro by the time 9999 rolls around.
Nintendo has made Wii's Internet Channel free once again for all to download.
As a gesture of good will, people who paid 500 Points for it can download a free Virtual Console game (from the NES range).
The channel, based on Opera, has also had an update which means it supports a newer version of Flash, which was a common complaint from users in the past.
Do you use your Wii to browse the interwebs?
In what could be considered a shock move, the Disney corporation has bought Marvel in a deal worth an estimated $4 billion USD.
The buyout means that Disney will have total control over all of Marvel's superheroes, including the likes of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. Lowell Singer, Disney's senior VP of investor relations spoke:
" On the video game front, Marvel has some smart licensing agreements with some of the best manufacturers in the business. While we've been steadily moving in the direction of video game integration, we don't rule out the blend of licensing and self-produced and distributed video games. As these licensing deals expire we have the luxury of considering what's best for the company and the products ".
A new press release from Big N has a few announcements to make.
Nintendo today announced that the new Wii Fit Plus game will launch in North America on October 4th, and also revealed new colors for its popular Nintendo DSi system and for the revolutionary Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers and Wii MotionPlus accessory. Starting September 13th, Nintendo DSi will be available in White and Pink, joining the Blue and Black versions already on the market. Additionally, this holiday season, Nintendo will release a new Black version of the Wii Remote bundled with a Black version of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which brings precise motion control to games that have been designed for it. A Black version of the Nunchuk controller also will be available for the holidays.
White and Pink Nintendo DSi colors: The two new colors give consumers even more options to personalize their experiences. All models of the Nintendo DSi hardware come with two cameras and interactive options to let users create and manipulate pictures or sound in fun and creative ways. All versions of Nintendo DSi are available at a suggested retail price of $169.99 USD.
