Nintendo Offers 10 Downloads to Help You Recover from Your Holiday Weekend

Whether you succumbed to a food coma, found yourself trapped at the mall or just planted yourself in front of the television, clearly you need a break from the exhausting holiday weekend. And Nintendo is here to help, with 10 downloadable games sure to provide a welcome distraction. WiiWare brings the latest installment in the gripping Tales of Monkey Island series, while Nintendo DSiWare serves up some magic along with the popular Bookworm and Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, a game starring...you. And don't forget to take a trip down memory lane with two Virtual Console classics - one from Super NES and one from the arcades.

For you Flipnote Studio fans, there's something "dynamite" on the Nintendo Channel and the Flipnote Hatena Web site this week, so be sure to check it out. You can also watch and download Flipnotes created by renowned artists like Aardman Animations LTD. at the new Flipnote Central section.

WiiWare
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Conspiracies, betrayal and shocking revelations as the Tales of Monkey Island intensity builds. Guybrush returns to Flotsam Island, but forget about a hero's welcome. Handed over to De Singe by the backstabbing Morgan LeFlay, Guybrush is seized by an angry mob and put on trial. With a silk-tongued prosecutor in his face and a hangman's noose dangling over his neck, Guybrush must figure out how to defend himself against grave accusations. Meanwhile, the determined Marquis sets his sights on a new and far more attractive test subject. How on earth will the Mighty Pirate get out of this mess? The monthly Tales of Monkey Island tension continues to mount in The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood. Brace yourself for a shocking revelation that will rock the world of Monkey Island to its core.

My Zoo
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: My Zoo is a relaxing animal sim that puts you in the shoes of an animal breeder, raising up animals you'd normally only dream of. All it takes is a Wii Remote controller for a simple, yet fulfilling, connection with nature. There are 12 animal types in total (four sold separately as add-on content). Select your favorites and nurture them to adulthood. Feeding them, petting them and cleaning up their messes are great ways to form a lasting bond. Each animal's personality will change depending on how you take care of it. Watch them get spoiled, turn into over-eaters and more as they grow on a daily basis. Some animals will even have a baby on occasion, and once it's born, you've got another mouth to feed. Game time passes much more quickly than real time, and the different animal types are active at various hours - some during the day and some at night. Sometimes it's fun to just kick back and watch what they do. So what are you waiting for? It's time to create your own personal zoo.

Copter Crisis
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Copter Crisis puts you in the pilot's seat. As a member of the elite Helicopter Rescue Squad, you'll be assigned to respond to any type of emergency anywhere at any time. As the newest member joining this team, you'll have to complete various missions with the latest in helicopter rescue technology. When you're ready, you'll be tasked with executing rescue missions all around the Black Rock Canyon. Your Wii Remote controller becomes the control stick as you guide your copter along the canyons while avoiding rocks, severe weather and even anti-aircraft fire. Rescue lost hikers, deliver supplies to remote areas, assist on scientific missions and even blast your way into underground cavern systems. Complete all of your objectives and rise through the ranks to take on the toughest rescues and unlock 10 bonus missions. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play allows you to enhance your flight experience with 10 additional copters, which can give you access to unlimited missiles, larger fuel tanks, cargo holds and even mid-air loops.

Christmas Clix
Publisher: JV Games Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Christmas doesn't have to be all work for Santa, does it? Santa's having some fun and wants you to play along too. You can help Santa decorate the tree by removing the presents and ornaments that he stacks. When you consecutively connect packages without missing a beat, you get extra points. Collect as many candy canes as you can because when you collect enough, Santa will add a special star to the game that can greatly help you get through a level or just bring some additional fun.

Nintendo DSiWare
Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Your face, your game, you're the hero. In Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, YOU get to be in the game. Using the camera and microphone, you become the hero in your own game. Unlock a variety of hero costumes as you battle the baddies, search for stars and solve platforming puzzles. The Face Stealer has stolen your identity and is creating trouble - and everyone is blaming you. You have to track him down across 15 action-packed stages. Along the way, you'll come across many memorable creatures, both friend and foe. Use the camera and microphone to create faces and voices for every character in your game. Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes - a game starring YOU.

Bookworm
Publisher: PopCap Games, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Feed your appetite for wordy fun in this download version of PopCap's hit word-puzzle game. Link letter tiles left, right, up and down to build words and feed Lex in Bookworm Classic mode. But watch out for burning letters - they could spell disaster for you and Lex. Use Reward Tiles and spell Bonus Words to boost your score and link your best words to enter the Hall of Fame. Play unlimited levels of word-puzzle fun and learn new words on the go. You'll relax and tune up your brain every time you play.

Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Master of Illusion Express titles are mind-boggling magic tricks that you perform with your Nintendo DSi system. Learn the illusions, practice up and then amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe uses your Nintendo DSi system as a means of detecting information. Ask a spectator to write down a favorite (or least-favorite) item - person, food or color, for example - and then be astonished when the Nintendo DSi system sounds an alarm to indicate when that item is spoken. Use any variation of likes or dislikes to stun the crowd.

Sudoku Challenge!
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Now's your chance to play the brain-busting puzzle game taking the world by storm. With more than 100,000,000 sudoku puzzles, you'll never see the same puzzle twice in Sudoku Challenge! You can select the classic nine-by-nine sukodu game boards as well as Grand Sudoku, which challenges you to complete five intersecting sudoku boards simultaneously. Just a beginner? Don't worry - with three difficulty options, even the most novice player can complete a sudoku with ease. But if you're a seasoned pro, challenge yourself in "Hard" mode and test your true skills. It's time to get your thinking cap on and see how many sudoku puzzles you can conquer.

Virtual Console
The Combatribes
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The evil gang known as "Guilty Zero" rules the city, and it's up to you as one of the members of the Combatribes to take them down. Choose one of three characters and fight your way through the city of New York. Progress through the game by tackling the goons and boss of each stage using your arsenal of kicks, punches, throws and other techniques to beat them into submission. Once your stamina bar is reduced to zero, you'll need to use a continue, but when you're out of continues, it's game over. Can you eliminate the threat of "Guilty Zero" and restore the peace in New York City!?

Solomon's Key
Original platform: Arcade
Publisher: TECMO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Solomon's Key is an action/puzzle game that lets you control the wizard Dana, delving into a labyrinth to seek out a magical tome called Solomon's Key, an item that will help in your quest to drive away evil spirits let loose in the world. The goal of the game is to use the buttons to create and destroy blocks, and use various techniques to find keys to pass through doors. The game has appeared on a variety of platforms, but the arcade version focuses strongly on the action elements of the game, making it more challenging, and allowing players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters, to enjoy it. Settings like the number of lives and difficulty level can be adjusted.

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.

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Monkey Island episode 4 and more

Another healthy selection of new downloadable games released on WiiWare and Virtual Console in North America today.

Tales of Monkey Island 4: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood (WiiWare)My Zoo (WiiWare)Copter Crisis (WiiWare)Christmas Clix (WiiWare)The Combatribes (SNES)Solomon's Key (Arcade)

Be ye satisfied?

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Rabbids burst onto WiiWare

The downloads for Europe and Australia seem less impressive this week:

Rabbids Lab (WiiWare)Copter Crisis (WiiWare)Dragon Master Spell Caster (WiiWare)Solitaire (WiiWare)Shanghai 2: Dragon's Eye (Genesis)

Yep, no sign of Super Mario Kart or Bit Trip. Here's some footage of Copter Crisis anyway:

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Introducing Pallurikio on WiiWare

Playstos, an independent games developer based in Italy has announced its first WiiWare project, an action platformer called Pallurikio. The zany storyline goes:

While playing a mysterious board game he found with his friends, Jimmy and his dog are taken through a dimensional vortex. They find themselves cast into amystical and wondrous world, where Jimmy assumes the form of a round and bouncing Pallurikio.

Using the Wiimote to point at the screen, make Pallurikio jump, roll and help him find his way through more than 50 challenging levels. All manner of pitfalls and traps can be encountered when traversing environments such as the Bakumbala Jungle, the far reaches of Palluro Prime and many other wild locations. Featuring advanced physics simulation, classic 2D platforming and charminggraphics, Pallurikio is guaranteed to keep you coming back for more of its fantastically fun gameplay.

Pallurikio featuresLong and varied Adventure mode.Time Attack gameplay mode.Collectable cards.

There's also around 2 minutes of gameplay footage in this trailer:

Pallurikio is said to hit Europe on December 11th this year, priced at 1,000 Points. A US release should follow shortly after.

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Calling box art

Hudson is Calling, will you pick up?

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Clergy criticizes Resident Evil Wii

The Right Reverend Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow (real pic) and other members of the clergy have raised concerns about Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles on Nintendo Wii, claiming it glamorizes violence and promotes the occult.

" If we dabble in this area we open ourselves to influences and put ourselves at risk. I would regard any encouragement for children to be drawn into this behavior with extreme horror ".

Leo Tan from Capcom rubbished these remarks and put out a statement defending the game:

" This is scaremongering and typical religious hysteria. You cannot blame society's ills on video games. It's just absurd. Most games (and movies) like Resident Evil show characters fighting evil not supporting it ".

" Unfortunately the clergy is showing a lack of understanding of the video games industry and is too quick to splash the holy water and lump video games players into stereotypical boxes.

 Video games are entertainment and like horror movies or other scary films they are covered by a ratings system. Resident Evil for example is a 15 certificate and not suitable for anyone under that age. Parents have to be trusted to adhere to these age restrictions and use common sense ".

Which side of the fence are you on?

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Rabbids spoof Twilight New Moon

Always ones to keep up with popular culture, Rabbids have put up a comical video clip done in the style of Twilight.

Rabbids, you may remember them from such games as Rayman Raving Rabbids, Raving Rabbids TV Party and the more recent Rabbids Go Home.

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Download New BIT.TRIP Kicks, Speeding Karts, Magic Castles and More

Among the latest downloadable games from Nintendo is BIT.TRIP VOID, a riveting new installment in the extraordinary retro-arcade series for the WiiWare service. You'll also find some remarkable kid-friendly fare on WiiWare this week, including the immersive Harvest Moon: My Little Shop. Race-loving Mario fans will thrill to see the original Super Mario Kart make its Virtual Console debut alongside the imaginative A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia. The Nintendo DSiWare service welcomes Castle Of Magic - featuring some inventive uses for the Nintendo DSi system's built-in cameras - as well as five delightful additions to the Electroplankton series. No doubt, the variety and value found on the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop are enough to keep holiday consumers energized through Black Friday and beyond.

WiiWare
BIT.TRIP VOID
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: The third installment in the retro-arcade BIT.TRIP saga is a synesthetic exploration of rhythm and music as they pertain to our everyday lives and moods. With a control scheme that's new to the series yet wholly familiar to gamers, players have complete freedom to move about the screen wherever they desire, interacting with the music in brand new ways. The classic game-play aesthetic remains as color - and the absence of color - are explored to the fullest. Trip out in four-player co-op and get lost in the beat with a friend. See if you can survive the onslaught of Beats and further your own BIT.TRIP.

Harvest Moon: My Little Shop
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,200 Wii Points
Description: Welcome to Clover Town, where you've just taken over your grandparents' farm and shop. The town has fallen on hard times, though. People are leaving, businesses are struggling and the magic of the Harvest Sprites is gone. Can you turn Clover Town's fortunes around and restore its missing magic? Raise crops and animals, then use what you farm at your shop. Keep your customers happy by making wild fruit juices, towering ice cream cones and extravagantly decorated eggs in a series of fun and fast-paced activities that use the Wii Remote controller to its fullest potential. Chop vegetables in midair, shake your Wii Remote controller to match your cow's moves, roll eggs through tilting mazes and more. Use your hard-earned money to buy new crops and animals or expand and decorate your shop. Along the way, you'll meet and befriend lots of new and interesting characters, as well as several familiar faces from the Harvest Moon series.

Little Tournament Over Yonder
Publisher: Gevo Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: In the world of Little Tournament Over Yonder, play as a young Prince or Princess and lead your team through numerous battles. Plan and deploy your units to gain strategic advantages. Launch real-time battles between units and fight hard, fast and smart. Build your team, hire new units with different powers, then groom them with battle experience to gain level. With strategic planning and real-time, fast-paced fighting, this game is for the complete warrior - one who works his mind and his muscles. Go for Single-Player Tournament glory or challenge your friend in a 2-Player Versus match.

Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1
Publisher: Lexis Numrique
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: EC (Early Childhood)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Welcome to the world of the PooYoos, the first fun, poetic brain trainer for children aged 3 to 6. With the PooYoos, a merry band of adorable baby animals, children will have fun while learning the developmental basics: numbers, letters, lateralization, shapes, colors and more. Children get to dance with their new friends and enjoy lovely interactive rewards. There are two levels of interactivity, so children can play according to their age and level. This game has been designed for use by children who have not yet grasped reading.

Virtual Console
Super Mario Kart
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Get in, sit down, buckle up and experience frantic kart racing in the game that started it all. Select one of eight characters from the Mario series - offering a variety of driving styles - and take on three championship cups in three different kart classes. Win enough and you'll unlock a fourth circuit: the ultra-tough Special Cup. Crossing the finish line in first place isn't an easy task, though, as each track has unique obstacles to conquer. Racers can obtain special power-ups that boost them to victory. For a different kind of challenge, take on a friend in multiplayer races or go head-to-head in a Battle Mode arena, where the object is to pop your opponent's balloons before you lose your own. With more than 15 tracks to master and nearly endless replay value, Super Mario Kart is classic gaming with some banana peels thrown in for good measure.
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Blob has come from the distant planet Blobolonia in search of an Earth boy to help him save his world. Join him on this fantastic adventure, searching for treasures in mysterious caverns beneath the earth, then traveling to Blobolonia to battle the evil emperor. Discover Blob's amazing appetite for jellybeans and the different transformations that occur with each flavor. Use these shapes to overcome even the most outrageous obstacles. A Boy and His Blob is a fantastic journey filled with constant surprises and humorous characters.

Nintendo DSiWare
Castle Of Magic
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Be prepared for anything as you try to save your friend from the clutches of the horrifying magician Nefastax. Stand up to wild monsters in environments that directly influence your movement. As you navigate this universe, the ground will make you stick, slide, sink, swim, levitate and even walk on the ceiling when gravity disappears. A never-before-seen use for the Nintendo DSi Camera application lets you transform yourself into powerful new forms. Visit an in-game Photo Cabin and search for a real-life object that matches the color of the character you want to transform into. Take a picture of a blue object with your Nintendo DSi system and…presto, you're transformed into a swordfish. You can customize game items - from coins to enemies - with pictures of your choice. Our cute hero's adventure is just too big and immersive for one screen, so he'll have to jump between the top and bottom screens of your Nintendo DSi system. Ready to dive into the adventure?
myNotebook: Blue
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off or play your favorite pen and paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 18 unlockable paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make notes or doodles, then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish.
Electroplankton Luminarrow
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Luminarrow plankton are famous for their habit of perfectly following arrow-shaped formations. The plankton spin as they move, changing directions as soon as they come in contact with an arrow that's pointing in another direction. The pitch of the sound they make will change depending on where the arrows are positioned. There are four types of Luminarrow: red, yellow, green and blue. Each type floats at a different speed and makes a distinctive musical tone. The four types of Luminarrow drift together to create beautiful melodies. Completely alter the direction of the arrows to change their sound dramatically.
Electroplankton Sun-Animalcule
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Sun-Animalcule plankton get their name from their tendency to emit light in a sphere around them. The plankton begin as eggs and gradually grow, emitting light and fascinating sounds throughout their entire life cycle. The sounds they make will change as they grow from infancy to maturity, growing very quickly until they disappear completely. Sun-Animalcule plankton only emerge in the morning, noon and evening. They lose strength as the night wears on; that's when the crescent-shaped Falcato plankton take their place. The pitch of the plankton changes depending on where they grow.
Electroplankton Lumiloop
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Lumiloop plankton are curious, donut-shaped aquatic creatures. While stationary, they have the ability to spin at a very high rate of speed. As they spin, the Lumiloop emit unique sounds and a fascinating ring-shaped glow. Lumiloop plankton seem to always grow in clusters of five. They produce sounds at different pitches as they spin together, creating a beautiful harmony. This is called a pentatonic scale. Depending on where they live, Lumiloop plankton that produce several different sounds have been identified.
Electroplankton Marine-Crystals
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Resembling delicate snow crystals, Marine-Crystal plankton float elegantly on the surface of the water. The plankton get their name from their distinctive snowflake shape. They grow in clusters of 35 and line up in very orderly formations. When stimulated, Marine-Crystal plankton spin and produce vibrant sounds. While the plankton do grow in size if they are repeatedly tapped, they gradually return to their original size over time. They are born in four polygonal shapes: triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon. The ends of the crystalline protrusions also take on the same shapes. The tone of the sound they make will change depending on the shape of the Marine-Crystal plankton's body
Electroplankton Varvoice
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Varvoice plankton memorize the sound of human speech and repeat it over and over. They accomplish this amazing feat by oscillating the long flagellum that extends from their heads. By resonating the vibration with their water-droplet-shaped body, the plankton produce sounds that closely resemble the human voice. The body can expand and contract at will. By changing shape, they can easily manipulate the sound of the voice. Words that the Varvoice memorize and play back in reverse have a particularly strange ring to them. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as Varvoice inversion.

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.

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Bits, Blobs, Karts and more

Big N have pulled out all the stops for today's downloadable releases, likely the strongest week we've seen in a long time:

Bit.Trip Void (WiiWare)Harvest Moon: My Little Shop (WiiWare)Little Tournament Over Yonder (WiiWare)Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1 (WiiWare)Super Mario Kart (SNES)A Boy and His Blob (NES)

At least something for everyone in there?

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Alter Ego adventure game on Wii

German publishers bitComposer Games have put out a press release announcing a creepy new adventure game called Alter Ego for Wii and PC. The screenshots are taken from the PC version, but give you an idea of what to expect.

Alter Ego is the latest offering from the Czech studio Future Games, who were responsible for successful adventure titles like Black Mirror and Nibiru. Alter Ego will be released on Windows PC and Nintendo Wii.

Alter Ego takes gamers to the fishy town of Plymouth in the South of England as the 19th century draws to a close. A string of gruesome murders shakes the entire region after a strange aristocrat dies who was the subject of many horrifying myths in his lifetime. Players can discover and investigate the various scenes as they alternate between two totally different heroes, the thief Timothy Moor and Police Detective Bristol, to gradually reveal a dark secret.

Alter Ego is a Point 'n' Click adventure game. This thrilling and sinister detective story takes place across over 80 backdrops and is driven forward by atmospheric cut-scenes. Along the way, the player will meet over 30 NPCs as the story unfolds. Players will also have 150 objects available to combine in order to solve the challenging puzzles.

Alter Ego is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2010.

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Shin'en Art of Balance interview

The lost art of balancing things in stacks is set to see a revival as popular developer Shin'en brings Art of Balance onto WiiWare sometime soon. I caught up with Manfred Linzner for a few questions.

WW: Hello, please introduce yourself and describe your role at Shin'en.

Manfred: My name is Manfred Linzner, I'm one of the founders of Shin'en in 1999. I'm involved in engine programming, gameplay programming, supervising audio, etc.

WW: Art of Balance is looking great, can you tell us about it?

Manfred: Thanks. We really tried hard to make it look lush and brilliant. The idea was to develop a "stand out" look for the game. Not only on WiiWare but for games in general.

Art of Balance was supposed to be really easy to pick up but hard to stop playing. We wanted that "just one more level" feeling. It took quite a lot of effort in polishing and general game play refinement to finally come to that point, but i think we really succeeded.

We wanted to give everything in the game a 'lounge' feeling. The graphics, the musics, in fact the whole package. You should really feel comfortable while playing the game and refreshed when you stop.

Another important aspect was multiplayer. We support coop and versus play. For coop you can drop in/out at any time of the game. When playing together in coop the whole experience deepens a lot. You may now play the levels completely different then alone. You could stack the shapes simultaneously, balance critical situations together or place just one shape after another. Its really up to the gamers. Its also perfect to play along with younger kids as the older ones can do the harder moves and the younger kids can do the easier ones.

In the versus mode you play on a split screen against each other. Its really a blast when trying to be faster then your opponent while still keeping everything in balance.

Art of Balance supports 16:9 and runs in super smooth 60fps.

WW: How do the controls work? Do you twist the Wiimote to turn pieces?

Manfred: One of the first ideas was of course to use motion control, but in the end there was a too much waggling just to make a basic move. We soon figured that motion controls would not make Art of Balance any better but just more cumbersome.

We use the Wii remote pointer for moving the shapes and the A button to drag & drop. Rotating the shapes can be done with the B button or with the control pad. That is pretty simple and works very nice. In fact you adopt very fast to that scheme and don't think about anymore while playing.

WW: What made you decide to go the WiiWare route, as opposed to a budget retail game?

Manfred: We did many retail games in the past. The problem with retail is that it really takes quite long to get something into the hand of the gamers. With Wii Ware you can develop a good idea much more quickly than with a disc based game.

Also we think the given Wii Ware size restrictions are really generous. We don't feel restricted by them. For DS we usually did marvelous looking games in just 4MB. On Wii Ware we have 40MB! The Wii uses very clever texture compression which in fact gives us even much more room to make everything good looking.

WW: Physics puzzlers now seem to be a popular genre, did you take inspiration from any other games?

Manfred: There are a lot of Physics based games on the iPhone and even as Flash games. People just love to play with something behaving like in the real world. So before developing Art of Balance we looked at many physics puzzlers. There are quite a number of games that use the idea of 'balancing', but we figured that a good idea is not always sufficient. You need really a lot of good content, many different kind of challenges, new game play ideas again and again. Putting then this content into a polished and nice feeling package makes the difference. Many other games just stop where the real fun begins.

WW: Were you worried people might confuse it for a Wii Balance Board game?

Manfred: We had a bit of worry about that, tho in the end we think that people won't have any problems to separate that. The title 'Art of Balance' was just perfect and so we decided to stick with it.

WW: Any idea when Art of Balance will be released? How long has it been in development?

Manfred: We don't have a release date yet but it will be pretty soon as development is as good as finished.

The development started right away after Fun Fun Minigolf in late 2008 with many new features for our internal game engine. Core development then started in Q2 2009.

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Phoenix Wright WiiWare press release

Capcom has put out a press release talking about three Phoenix Wright games coming to WiiWare next year. Rumor has it they will cost 1,200 points apiece.

Capcom, the leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that three classic Ace Attorney games are scheduled for release on Nintendo's WiiWare download service early next year. It kicks off with the one that started it all, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, followed by Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice For All, and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations.

Phoenix Wright's massive popularity and appeal in Japan has caught on in the West and the franchise has now sold over 3.7 million units globally. For the first time ever, this beloved handheld series is making the leap to a home console, giving gamers access to three adventures from the comfort of their own living rooms. Fans and newcomers alike will have a chance to star as the most popular defense attorney in video games, Phoenix Wright ? a man driven by his principles and an ability to separate fact from dubious fiction. Each game in the series presents twisting storylines and intriguing gameplay with a comical anime style. Players must collect evidence, weed through inconsistent testimonies and overcome corrupt agendas to ensure that justice prevails! These games can be played via single-player and have multiple save slots.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Episode 1 through 4) is the first release and is scheduled to hit in early 2010. The story kicks off with Phoenix Wright defending his childhood friend Larry Butz from a murder charge. But this is only the beginning drama for the tenacious legal eagle as Wright faces unexpected tragedies that will test the limits of his incredible deductive prowess. Later, owners of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will be able to download the bonus episode that appeared in the original Nintendo DS version of the game.

Spring 2010 will see Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice For All arrive. Phoenix Wright has six months experience and five court victories under his belt. But none of that will do him any good against the ruthless new D.A. in town. Franziska von Karma wants revenge and she's ready to whip Phoenix down at any cost.

Following this, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations will be next in line for download from the service. Phoenix will face the toughest prosecutor yet as the mysterious hard-boiled Godot is gunning for him with extreme prejudice. Get ready for the most intense courtroom standoffs of Phoenix's career.

Some mixed quality screenshots can be seen on the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney page.

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Try Before You Buy: Nintendo Offers 5 Game Demos to Guide Holiday Shoppers

This week, Wii owners who connect their Wii consoles to the Internet can enjoy demos of five exceptional games for the WiiWare downloadable game service for zero Wii Points: BIT.TRIP BEAT , FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord ™, NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits , World of Goo ™ and a brand new entry in the Pokmon™ game series, Pokmon™ Rumbl e. To get a taste of any or all of these tremendous titles before downloading the full versions, go to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel and search for "Demo." For more information, please visit www.nintendo.com/wii/wiiware/demo.

This week's launch of Pokmon Rumble for WiiWare delivers more than just a fun-packed new addition to the beloved Pokmon universe. Anyone who joins Club Nintendo™ – or is already a member – will have the opportunity to unlock an exclusive Toy Pokmon character that can be used in the game. Simply connect your Wii Shop Channel account to your new or existing Club Nintendo account, use Wii Points to download Pokmon Rumble and watch for an e-mail containing a special password that lets you access the character in the game. More information about this offer can be found at us.wii.com/wiiware/pokemonrumble/register. The offer is available only through April 30, 2010.

In addition to the WiiWare demos and a new Pokmon adventure, visitors to the Wii Shop Channel this week will also find a pair of classic Virtual Console games – one offering irresistible action with the iconic Indiana Jones series, the other featuring the timeless thrills of Capcom's Street Fighter™ series. Meanwhile, Nintendo DSiWare users can visit the Nintendo DSi Shop to discover an eye-popping new Art Style™ game, a fun, arcade-style bowling title and a robot-themed logic game, all available for easy download and playable anytime, anywhere on the hand-held Nintendo DSi system.

WiiWare

Pokmon Rumble

Publisher: Nintendo

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Cartoon Violence

Price: 1,500 Wii Points

Description: Available exclusively for the WiiWare service, Pokmon Rumble is an action game in which you control Toy Pokmon (referred to as "Pokmon") and take on wave after wave of other Pokmon in a variety of stages. You can befriend some of the defeated Pokmon along the way, which lets you add them to your collection and grants you the ability to use them in battle. Switch between collected Pokmon at any time, taking advantage of the fact that the amount of damage you deal depends on the type of move used and the type of Pokmon hit. Be the last one standing to gain the right to compete in the Battle Royale and test your skills against many Pokmon at once. You can also team up with three people for some multiplayer action (additional Wii Remote controllers required), working together to take down tough Bosses and earning points that can be used toward recruiting or training Pokmon. You can even save your favorite Pokmon to your Wii Remote™ controller for exchanges with friends. Combining beautiful cel-shaded graphics and exciting game-play features, this is one rumble you won't want to miss. Note that a demo version of Pokmon Rumble is also available for zero Wii Points.

BIT.TRIP BEAT Demo

Publisher: Aksys Games

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 0 Wii Points

Description: BIT.TRIP BEAT brings retro action back as you use the Wii Remote controller's motion sensor to bounce beats in this rhythm game. Retro visuals, classic game play, four-player multiplayer and an 8-bit soundtrack will get you in the zone and rock your world. Pay attention, though: As with most classic games, the challenges are mighty. If you can stay cool as the difficulty increases, you'll discover the beginnings of the BIT.TRIP saga.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord Demo

Publisher: SQUARE ENIX

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes

Price: 0 Wii Points

Description: Step into the royal shoes of the Darklord's daughter as she installs traps and monsters inside her tower to fight back the endless waves of invading adventurers in this world-conquest role-playing game. Filling your demonic tower with monsters and traps called Artifacts is your only hope to keep the adventurers from destroying the Dark Crystal on the top floor. Fly your tower across the land and conquer every stage on your way to dominating the entire world.

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Demo

Publisher: Over The Top Games

Players: 1-2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence

Price: 0 Wii Points

Description: NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits is the awesome story of Nyx, an enigmatic winged girl who must descend from heaven in search of her missing friend, Icarus. Fly over the ruins of ancient Greece and avoid falling into blazing sands or perishing in the claws of cruel harpies and hydras. You'll need the help of Zeus and other benevolent gods from Olympus to summon their powers. They will let you cast rays, modify the scenery and control winds at will. Fly, aim and shoot using the Wii Remote controller. Play with a friend and maximize your abilities: While one player controls Nyx, the other will control the powers from the gods.

World of Goo Demo

Publisher: 2D BOY

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief

Price: 0 Wii Points

Description: World of Goo is an award-winning, physics-based puzzle/construction game made entirely by two guys. Use living, squirming, talking globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins and giant tongues. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore, but they don't know that they are in a game, nor that they are extremely delicious.

Virtual Console

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures™

Original platform: Super NES™

Publisher: LucasArts

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence

Price: 800 Wii Points

Description: Grab your trusty whip and slash your way through all three Indy classics in this no-thrills-barred adventure. If it happened in the movies, it happens here: the giant boulder from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the mine-cart chase from Temple of Doom, the three trials from Last Crusade, Rene Belloq and Colonel Vogel – it's three times the action, all in one fully loaded game.

STREET FIGHTER II': CHAMPION EDITION

Original platform: TurboGrafx16

Publisher: Capcom

Players: 1-2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Blood, Violence

Price: 700 Wii Points

Description: This is the classic PCEngine (TurboGrafx16) version of the two-player fighting game that started it all. At the time, a large capacity HuCARD was used to allow faithful recreation of the dynamic arcade game and its features, including bonus stages and sound effects. In the game, players select one of 12 characters and face opponents in a no-holds-barred battle to decide the top fighter. Master a character's special moves and combos to defeat your rivals around the world. In "V.S. BATTLE" mode, there's a convenient handicap feature. Using this feature to adjust a character's performance, a novice player can be evenly matched against a seasoned player to enjoy an intense, head-to-head combat experience.

Nintendo DSiWare

Art Style™: DIGIDRIVE™

Publisher: Nintendo

Players: 1-2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™

Description: It's traffic control with a twist as you try to direct identical cars down the same road in Art Style: DIGIDRIVE. This constantly moving puzzle game combines an easily understood playing field (an intersection) and a simple goal (create fuel), challenging you to properly guide a never-ending stream of cars. Stack similar cars five deep to create some fuel, then use that fuel to continue your progress in the game. Play in ENDLESS mode to see how long you can last, or compete against the computer or a human opponent in VS mode. Use combos to your advantage and see if your reflexes can handle the intensity of Overdrive mode. When all is said and done, you may never look at gridlock quite the same way again.

Arcade Bowling

Publisher: Skyworks Interactive

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: From Skyworks comes another addictively classic game, Arcade Bowling. It was designed by video game legend David Crane, one of the original founders of Activision and one of the most critically acclaimed game designers of all time. In the tradition of everyone's favorite Boardwalk bowling game, use your stylus and steady aim to flick "laser" balls down the alley and up the ramp into the scoring holes. The farther away the scoring hole is, the more points you'll get. Arcade Bowling features three futuristic sound tracks, state-of-the-art 3-D graphics and two addictive game modes, Classic and Progressive. In Classic Mode, roll up to nine balls to score as many points as you can. In Progressive Mode, enjoy multiple levels of game play with increasing score plateaus and bonus targets.

Robot Rescue

Publisher: Teyon

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief

Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Robot Rescue is a fun logic game based on a simple but entertaining concept. Your mission is to free robots trapped in 45 evil computer labyrinths while avoiding deadly traps. Sound easy? Not so fast. Each robot shares linked controls, so when you move one, you move them all. It will take clever planning and nerves of steel to pull off this electronic escape. You'll need to avoid many traps, such as mines or electrical circuits, and take advantage of special elements like glue stains. Choose one of three difficulty levels and get ready for a 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.

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Nintendo Brings Multiplayer Excitement to the Mushroom Kingdom with New Super Mario Bros. Wii

From fans who grew up playing the NES console to gamers with a passion for the Wii console, generations of Americans have enjoyed the imaginative fun of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. video game series. Now the launch of New Super Mario Bros. Wii heralds the first time in the history of the series that up to four players can compete at the same time, either cooperatively or competitively.

Packed with beloved characters and remarkable new features, New Super Mario Bros. Wii takes the classic side-scrolling adventure of the Super Mario Bros. series and gives it a manic multiplayer boost. Featuring free-form multiplayer action, players can save their companions from danger or literally toss them right into it. While controlling Mario, Luigi or one of two playable Toad characters, players can jump in and join a friend's Story Mode game at the start of any level. The game also features two dedicated multiplayer modes, Coin Battle mode and Free For All mode, that let players easily select their favorite stages and compete across a variety of objectives. Each copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes in a red case with a foil-stamped cover.

Among the new features in New Super Mario Bros. Wii is Mario's ability to transform into Penguin Mario, which allows him to toss snowballs and slide on his belly at breakneck speed. Players also can hop onto a Yoshi character and use his tongue to eat enemies, items and fireballs. The game also makes use of the Wii console's unique motion controls, allowing players to tilt the Wii Remote controller to control seesaw platforms or shake it to send Mario skyward in his new Propeller Suit.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii introduces a new feature called Super Guide that offers players optional game-play tips if they are having trouble getting past particular parts of the game. Super Guide lets players watch as a computer-controlled Luigi character makes his way through any stage that the player finds difficult. At any time in the video, the player can take control of Luigi and complete the stage at his or her own pace.

"As the holiday season draws near, it feels especially appropriate to offer consumers a new Mario adventure that they can enjoy together with family and friends, for the first time in the series' illustrious history," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "New Super Mario Bros. Wii has something special for everyone, and lets players of all abilities explore the imaginative world of the Mushroom Kingdom like never before."

Since the series' debut in North America on the NES in 1986, more than 222 million Super Mario Bros. games have been sold worldwide. Mario remains one of the most recognizable characters in the entertainment world, and stands as a symbol of fun worldwide.

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

For more information about New Super Mario Bros. Wii, visit www.mariobroswii.com.

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Wii beats competition in build quality

In a recent poll, CNET asked the public about their experiences with console hardware failures. Unsurprisingly, the wacky red ringer came out looking the worst, while Wii had the lowest problem rate of all three major home consoles.

60% of Xbox 360 owners had encountered hardware failure.16% of Sony PS3 owners had encountered hardware failure.6% of Nintendo Wii owners had encountered hardware failure.

Anyone here been through a hardware breakdown? I've never had a problem with my Wii (IF Y'KNOW WHA'M SAYIN'!!).

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WiiWare demos go global

Wii gamers in PAL regions like Europe and Australia can now download WiiWare game demos too, the current lineup looks like this:

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a DarklordBit.Trip BeatNyxQuest: Kindred Spirits

Puzzlingly, the demos aren't forever. They will actually expire on January 31st, 2010. A bad move by Big N?

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BBC iPlayer gets a Wii channel

According to a news update on the BBC website, they've been working in partnership with Nintendo and will be releasing a special iPlayer channel on the Wii.

UK Wiiers won't have to wait long for the new channel, as it's expected to launch at midnight on November 18th, 2009. It features a full-screen interface designed to give the end user a faster and higher quality experience.

The BBC's Erik Huggers (nice) commented:

" It's important that we can offer audiences more ways to access the huge range of BBC content available, this improved version of the BBC iPlayer underlines our commitment to reaching new audiences by making BBC iPlayer viewable on as many platforms as possible ".

iPlayer on Wii will be downloadable free of charge from the Shop Channel.

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Pokemon Rumble and first WiiWare demos

It's the start of a brand new week, and Nintendo has pushed out the first batch of "try before you buy" WiiWare demos.

Pokemon Rumble (WiiWare)Bit.Trip Beat (DEMO)Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord (DEMO)NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (DEMO)World of Goo (DEMO)Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (SNES)

Demos, it can only be a good thing?

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Shin'en's Art of Balance

Shin'en Multimedia, you may know them from such games as Fun Fun Minigolf and Nanostray, has announced a new game coming to WiiWare.

Art of Balance is a physics-based puzzle game with an emphasis on being addictive. Gameplay involves putting objects on top of each other to create a balanced stack.

100 levels to play.Single player and multiplayer modes (including co-op play as well as versus).Exclusive to WiiWare.

More screenshots can be seen on the Art of Balance page. If physics puzzlers are your thing you might also want to check out Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity.

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October NPD figures

As expected, Nintendo sees a return to the top of the hardware sales charts after a recent blip. Here are the numbers, as tracked by the NPD Group.

October 2009 hardwareNintendo Wii - 506,900Nintendo DS - 457,600Sorry PS3 - 320,600Xbroke 360 - 249,700PSP - 174,600

Big N has already put out a press release talking about how cool they are:

Nintendo's Wii and DS systems claimed the top hardware sales positions for October 2009, making them well positioned to become one of the must-have holiday gifts for the fourth consecutive year. North American shoppers snapped up nearly 507,000 Wii consoles in October, bringing lifetime sales to over 22 million, according to the independently awesome NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the US. Wii sales spiked more than 9.5% over September, a remarkable result considering that September was a five-week reporting month for NPD, while October included just four weeks. Consumers were attracted by top software like Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus, as well as the system's new suggested retail price of $199.99.

Nintendo's handhelds, the DSi and DS Lite, combined to sell more than 457,000 units, and placed second in overall video game hardware sales. The Nintendo DS franchise has sold through nearly 34 million units in North America since its launch in 2004 and is poised to surpass the all-time single-year US hardware sales record, set in 2008 by the Wii console, with more than 10 million units sold.

"Nintendo's year-to-date share of total game sales and total industry revenues are up over the same period last year" said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. "We're very appreciative of the continued, strong consumer response to both of our systems as we head into the holidays, and are excited to bring to them our key games, like New Super Mario Bros Wii, which launches this Sunday, and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which launches December 7th."

Four games published for Nintendo systems finished in the top 10 best-sellers of October in the US. These include Wii Fit Plus at #5 with nearly 232,000 sold, Wii Fit Plus (with the Wii Balance Board? accessory) at #6 with more than 209,000 sold, Wii Sports Resort with two Wii MotionPlus accessories at No. 8 with nearly 179,000 sold and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for Nintendo DS and DSi at #10 with more than 169,000 sold.

Along with Wii Sports Resort, which launched in July, games such as Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Play, Pokemon Platinum Version and Mario Kart DS currently sit in the top 10 best-sellers for all of 2009.

Sunny times for Shigsy and co.

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Zelda Spirit Tracks artwork

Here's a few more videos showing off insane New Super Mario Bros Wii skills, including one where Luigi gets spat around for an entire level.

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More NSMB Wii skill videos

Here's a few more videos showing off insane New Super Mario Bros Wii skills, including one where Luigi gets spat around for an entire level.

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New Super Mario Wii red case

Nintendo are pulling out all the stops to make New Super Mario Bros Wii a game to remember. Gone is the usual white packaging, in place of a vibrant red one seen below:

How do you like it?

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Criterion revamping Need for Speed

Criterion, the makers of the popular video game series Burnout, will be taking the helm for the next installment of Need for Speed in 2010.

Frank Gibeau, president of EA Games, confirmed that development has already been going on for some time. He admitted that the quality of newer NFS games had suffered due to inadequate resources behind them.

Many NFS fans have long felt the game needed a change, will Criterion bring that to the table?

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Excitebike WiiWare trailer

If you haven't picked up Excitebike: World Rally yet, Big N has released a trailer hoping to persuade you.

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Excitebike revs onto WiiWare

If you don't like Mondays, and you want to shoot the whole day down, here are today's WiiWare and Virtual Console releases to cheer you up:

Excitebike: World Rally (WiiWare)Frogger Returns (WiiWare)Dragon Master Spell Caster (WiiWare)Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap (Master System)Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine (Commodore 64)

Anybody downloaded Excitebike yet?

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Load Up on Excitebike Action, Musical Plankton and More

Rev up your engines for a huge week at the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop, starting with the launch of a pulse-pounding revamp for the WiiWare service, Excitebike: World Rally. For the Nintendo DSiWare service, you'll find five new titles in the mesmerizing Electroplankton series – available at just 200 Nintendo DSi Points apiece – plus the irresistible multiplayer mayhem of Bomberman Blitz. With two new classic Virtual Console offerings to sweeten the selection, there's truly something for everyone to download and enjoy.

WiiWare
Excitebike: World Rally
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Prepare to face daredevil jumps, crazy obstacles and other racers in the newest installment in the venerable Excitebike franchise, available exclusively on the WiiWare service. Choose from multiple camera angles as you tilt your way to smooth landings using motion-sensitive controls. Compete in races around the world in four championship circuits. Use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to invite friends to a race. Or if you're feeling brave, take on anyone else looking for a match. Feel like tackling a challenge of your own design? Use the intuitive Track Editor to choose from the available obstacles and put together your dream course, then share courses with friends to see whose creation skills reign supreme.

Frogger Returns
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Frogger Returns takes the heart-pounding challenge of arcade Frogger and moves it into the next dimension. Classic top-down 2-D game play is updated with colorful 3-D graphics, a new perspective, new levels, new enemies and game-changing power-ups. A local multiplayer mode lets you race a friend.

Dragon Master Spell Caster
Publisher: Stickmen Studios
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: The Dragon Lords have returned to the magical world of Nakiha, bringing ultimate power to whoever controls them. Choose your champion, then master amazing magic and fierce dragon attacks to defeat the rival Champions and their Dragon Lords. Choose from four different paths and decide the fate of the world in the fantastic story mode. Battle your friends in two-player split-screen arcade mode and tailor your tactics with different dragon and rider combinations, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Marvel at the effects of mind-blowing spell collisions. Mix spells and unleash their ultimate power. Control your Dragon Lord and crush, bite and burn your way to victory.

Nintendo DSiWare
Bomberman Blitz
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Bomberman makes his downloadable debut on Nintendo DSiWare with Bomberman Blitz. Dive into a classic multiplayer Bomberman experience with eight-player local or online multiplayer using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Hone your skills and learn the maps, then take the battle online. Change map and item preferences for enhanced customization. Delivering unparalleled multiplayer excitement, Bomberman Blitz lets Nintendo DSi users enjoy the addictive fun of Bomberman anytime, anywhere.

Electroplankton Trapy
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Trapy plankton make sounds as they swim over graceful lines made up of linked triangles. The creatures follow the lines you trace along the water. There are six types of Trapy in all, each with a unique color and sound. All Trapy plankton produce different tones depending on the direction they swim. They produce the lowest-pitched sounds when they swim to the right and produce higher-pitched sounds as their path veers to the left.

Electroplankton Hanenbow
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Normally aquatic creatures, Hanenbow sometimes use floating leaves to launch themselves out of the water, creating strange sounds and melodies as they bounce off the leaves. Entire schools of Hanenbow have been known to launch out of the water, one after another. As a leaf is repeatedly hit by flying Hanenbow, it gradually changes color. This also alters the sound made by bouncing Hanenbow. When all the leaves turn red, a flower will bloom. It remains unclear why the Hanenbow display this curious behavior.

Electroplankton Rec-Rec
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Rec-Rec are fishlike plankton that feed on sound waves. They absorb sound waves transmitted through water and use them as a form of nutrition. The sound waves that the Rec-Rec eat are then stored inside their bodies until they have been digested. Once the digestion process is complete, they play back the sounds in perfect four-second intervals. While these sounds are playfully emitted, wave patterns can be seen pulsating on their bodies. Rec-Rec always swim side by side in schools of four. When they swim at different speeds, the frequency with which they emit sounds also changes.

Electroplankton Nanocarp
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Nanocarp have very sensitive hearing. Using their two ears to sense vibrations coming through the water, these plankton can distinguish sound quality and frequency. They display very interesting reactions to the sound of humans clapping or breathing. Nanocarp are also excellent swimmers. They have a tendency to swim in formations of 16 and react together when they detect sounds. These plankton emit sounds on their own when they sense waves on the water's surface. When this happens, the pitch of sounds they produce changes depending on where the Nanocarp is located.

Electroplankton Beatnes
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Beatnes are curious plankton with geometrically shaped heads that form vertical strands like seaweed. Their bodies are made up of eight sections, each featuring a distinctive diamond-shaped tail. The sound of a Beatnes can vary wildly depending on which segment of the body is tapped. However, all of the sounds closely resemble the short-wave and triangular-wave sound effects from a Nintendo Entertainment System sound chip. When Beatnes are tapped in time with a rhythm, they continue to repeat the sounds in perfect time for a short period.

Virtual Console
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Original platform: MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence, Tobacco Reference
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is widely considered to be one of the best games produced for the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM. The direct sequel to Wonder Boy in Monster Land, it starts in the final lair of the previous game. This game is the first in the series to allow Wonder Boy to roam freely by using various animal forms, but as with previous games in the series, Wonder Boy can also buy various weapons, armor and items to help him in his quest.

Cybernoid
Original platform: Commodore 64
Publisher: Commodore Gaming
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Federation storage depots have been raided by pirates, who've taken valuable minerals, jewels, ammunition and the latest battle weaponry. You have been commissioned by the Federation to retrieve the cargo and return it to storage within a specified time limit. The pirate craft have activated all planetary defense systems, which you must negotiate along with the pirates themselves. If you fail to reach the depot within the time limit, or if the value of your retrieved cargo is insufficient, you must forfeit one of your Cybernoid ships.

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.

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Michael Jackson moonwalking onto VC

HEE-HEE! Seen below is a listing taken from the PEGI website, which suggests that Michael Jackson's Moonwalker game from the late 80s may be heading onto Wii Virtual Console.

Three versions of the Moonwalker were available back in the day, one being an arcade game and the other two were on Sega Genesis and Master System. Currently there are no details on which will be released on VC, but the Genesis one seems most likely.

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PokePark video

This Japanese video shows us some footage from PokePark on Nintendo Wii.

Creatures Inc are developing this game, they're the guys behind the handheld Pokemon titles so there's some hope this will be a good'n.

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New Nintendo DS Game Helps You Put Some Style in Your Stylus

Nintendo's new Style Savvy video game puts you in the role of the manager of a chic clothing boutique. Your customers look to you to help find cool outfits that match their style while staying within their budget. The game, which launches today exclusively for the portable Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems, blends elements of fashion smarts and business know-how with the fun of finding ways to help people look their best.

"Style Savvy inspires players to help customers express their style and creativity, all while managing a store, including budget and inventory," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "The game includes more than 10,000 clothing items, shoes and accessories, which invite endless creative possibilities."

Style Savvy includes 16 different in-game designer labels, each with its own distinct style and price point. The customers who visit your shop have different personalities, needs, interests and budgets, and it's up to you to make them look their best in your clothes so they come back for more.

Once your store collects enough money, then it's time for you to go shopping to replenish your stock. You'll find different clothing options and styles available at various times of the year, as the game adapts to the change in real-world seasons based on the calendar settings of your Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system.

If you make a local wireless connection, you can invite up to three friends who have Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems and copies of the game to compete in a fashion runway contest to see who has the best eye for fashion. If two players have the Style Savvy game, and are within 30 feet of each other, they can connect their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems locally to visit each other's stores.

To celebrate the launch of Style Savvy, Nintendo held a fashion challenge and runway show on Oct. 29 at JCPenney in Manhattan. Ten mother-daughter teams competed to see who had the savviest style. Virginia F. and her daughter, Dontaya M., of New York walked away with the grand prize: a $500 JCPenney gift certificate, a gift bag from Sephora, two Nintendo DSi systems, two copies of Style Savvy, and clothes and accessories from the event.

Style Savvy players will also be able to access Charlotte Ronson Designer Downloads created by top designer Charlotte Ronson. Players with wireless broadband Internet access 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.

For more information about Style Savvy, visit www.StyleSavvyDS.com.

‘New Moon’ Star Ashley Greene Picks Her Favorite ScenesLink and Zelda Join Forces in The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Link and Zelda Join Forces in The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

It was among the most heinous incidents in video game history: In 1986, Princess Zelda was kidnapped from the land of Hyrule, setting off an intrepid rescue adventure for young hero Link. Unfortunately for Zelda, this offense has been repeated more than a dozen times since, leaving her largely out of sight while Link traversed dark dungeons and confronted monstrous enemies alone in order to save her.

This time, in the new Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi adventure The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, that all changes.

For the first time in the 23-year history of The Legend of Zelda series, Princess Zelda is leaving the villainous clutches of the underworld behind and joining the adventure with Link. In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the spirit of Zelda accompanies Link on his quest to save Hyrule. Directly impacting game play like never before, Zelda's spirit can take control of hulking suits of armor known as Phantoms, allowing the player to direct both Link and these new allies as they battle enemies, solve puzzles and uncover secrets. Zelda also rides alongside Link on his customizable train, offering wisdom that will help players find new areas, storylines and items. The team of Link and Zelda presents countless new storyline details for fans to enjoy, including a closer look at Princess Zelda herself, one of the most iconic video game characters of all-time.

"More than two decades into its rich history, The Legend of Zelda has introduced another historic first for players as Link and Zelda unite to save Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Combining these unprecedented new story and game-play elements with the series' innovative touch-screen interface on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, the game is sure to surprise and delight new and longtime fans."

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks launches in North America on Dec. 7. For more information, visit www.zelda.com/spirittracks.

Phoenix Wright game on Wii?Common Says He’ll ‘Definitely’ See ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’

Phoenix Wright game on Wii?

Phoenix Wright games may be synonymous with the DS handheld, but the listing shown above is taken from the German USK board which has rated Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for Nintendo Wii.

The excerpt describes an adventure game, but it's unclear whether or not it will be downloadable on WiiWare or a full disc release. There's also the possibility this whole thing is an error, but we don't want to believe that.

Any objections?

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Iwata - Wii is not in a healthy state

Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata has come out with a statement describing the Wii's lack of good fortune in its homeland Japan.

" As you probably know, the current situation of Wii cannot be defined as healthy. The price cut seems to have the least impact here than other parts of the world. It is our urgent mission to recover the momentum of Wii during the holidays utilizing Nintendo's strength. The total Japanese market size is less than one sixth of that of the US, and about one fourth of the four major European countries. There exists major differences in market size today. When we compare the unit hardware sales, Japanese sales are about two-sevenths of the US, and more than half of the four major European countries. It can be said that Japan today is the challenging market for home console software to sell. Since the software we launched at the end of 2008 did not go on to sell for an extended period of time, and we were not able to launch very strong titles in the first half of this year, we have seen a significant drop in software sales this year. As a result Wii Software unit sales share is just below 50 percent of the entire home console software market so far in 2009 ".

What can Big N do to win over the hearts and minds of Japanese gamers?

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WiiWare game demos to be trialled

Users of other downloadable game services may take free demos for granted, but so far this is something yet to appear on WiiWare. Things may be about to change, as in a Q&A session with investors, Satoru Iwata said Nintendo would be putting up a few of their own WiiWare games as downloadable demos for gamers to try.

WiiWare demos are said to start appearing towards the end of the month, but currently there are no details on which region(s) this will happen in, or which games will feature.

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This Week's Downloadable Lineup Truly Sparkles

Why just take photos with your Nintendo DSi system when you can have access to a virtual photo booth? Sparkle Snapshots, a new Nintendo DSiWare application, lets you customize pictures with fun extras like fancy frames and stamps. On the other hand, if you're more of a fan of Nordic pillaging and/or dragons, you're going to want to check out this week's Nintendo DSiWare offerings of both Viking Invasion and Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition.

Three fun WiiWare games are added to the ever-growing library, including Carnival King, which turns your TV into a carnival midway. And the Virtual Console delivers its usual quality classics, including Fighting Street, a port of the original arcade version of STREET FIGHTER.

Nintendo DSiWare
Sparkle Snapshots
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Take photos and embellish them to your heart's desire with Sparkle Snapshots. Choose from a large variety of fancy frames, backgrounds, stamps and funny outfits to decorate your photos, or use the powerful paint program functions to manipulate them in detail. Want to take a new photo and add it to your collection? Adjust the lighting conditions and lens type to match your subject and even use a shutter timer to allow yourself some extra time to get everything perfectly in place. Save your favorite snapshots in your Nintendo DSi Camera album and use Nintendo DS wireless communications to send your masterpieces to your friends. It's all the fun of a photo booth – and more – in the palms of your hands.
Viking Invasion
Publisher: BiP Media
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: They come from the North, and they're about to invade your Nintendo DSi system. Beware of Olaf the Viking and his motley crew. Even now, their drakkars are sailing up the rivers to attack your castles. It's up to you to construct fortifications to prevent them from pillaging everything you own. The more you defend yourself, the more ferocious they'll become. Before you know it, they'll be invoking legions of fantastic creatures straight out of the mythical land of Asgard. Fortunately, the experience you gain will help you to build even more powerful defenses. Thwart all your assailants' ruses and unlock new kinds of buildings: tornado-blowing windmills to repel the ships, monoliths that strengthen your fortifications or canons that shoot studded shells. Discover more than 10 levels, tons of units, a Campaign mode, a Survival mode and three difficulty levels. There's even a little surprise at the end. Can you rise to the challenge and stop Olaf from taking your treasure home to his sweetheart Olga?
Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As last of the noble and rare Bronze Dragons, you must defeat the evil SALMU dragons and reclaim the 25 exclusive bronze gems they stole. Explore 10 maps and travel through the great jungles of Earth, the scorched grounds of Fire, the frozen wastelands of Ice and the floating islands of Wind. Customize your dragon's appearance by changing its body, wings, tail shape and colors – even add stripes. Test your dragon's fighting skills against your friends in head-to-head combat or four-player tournaments.

WiiWare
Carnival King
Publisher: Incredible Technologies
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: Carnival King is a fun-for-all-ages video game that brings the spirit and energy of competitive carnival games to the screen. Players compete for top scores and prizes while visiting three different amusement parks: Arcadia, Dreamland and Lagoon Park. Each park has four sets of games and a Bonus Round to test players' speed and accuracy. For novices or sharpshooters, the games are continually challenging, and the difficulty level can be adjusted to match each player's growing confidence.
"Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game
Publisher: Ateam Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Play alone or with family and friends to solve this puzzling adventure game. Today is Milo's birthday, and he just got an amazing present from his dad: a room full of puzzles. Milo needs to solve all the puzzles to escape from the room. Shake, push and twist the Wii Remote controller to collect and use in-game items. There's plenty to solve – see if you have what it takes to figure it all out.
Family Card Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are back for some good ol' card game action. Try your hand at one of three card games: Daifugo, Speed or Memory. Family Card Games offers appealing cel-shaded graphics, endearing music and friendly, competitive match-ups. You can play one-player Daifugo or play against up to three other random players in an online match. You can also view your ranking and see how you match up with players around the world. Test your reflexes against another player in Speed and see who truly has the fastest hands. Memory will test your mental capacity as you try to remember where cards and their respective matches are.

Virtual Console
Fighting Street
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Blood, Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: A port of the arcade version of STREET FIGHTER, the legendary fighting game that started it all. Players control RYU or KEN and battle against unique fighters from all over the world. The first fighter to knock out an opponent and win two rounds is the winner. Power up your attack to three different levels – the longer you hold a button, the stronger your attack. Input commands to perform special attacks and deal serious damage to your opponent. Combine your normal and special attacks effectively to fight your way to victory.
R-TYPE
Original platform: SEGA Master System
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: R-TYPE is a classic, side-scrolling arcade shoot-'em-up that was developed by Irem in 1987. It's the 22nd century, and you are humanity's last hope against the evil Bydo Empire. Your ship is called the R-9a "Arrowhead" and comes with a standard gun, but power-ups and upgrades are available in each mission. Navigate through eight challenging levels that will test even the best gamer's reflexes. The SEGA Master System version features an exclusive secret level not found in any other release.

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.

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