Nintendo Channel launches in Europe

The pally PAL regions of Europe and Australia can now use the Nintendo Channel, which allows access to news, videos and downloadable DS demos. The initial selection of stuff looks like this:

Wii videos

Shigeru Miyamoto discusses Wii FitDiscover Wii FitWii Fit TV CommercialWii Fit Launch EventMario Kart Wii TournamentMario Kart Wii TrailerMichael Owen & Ian Wright play PES 2008 Wii

DS videos

Zelda Phantom Hourglass TV Commercial 1Zelda Phantom Hourglass TV Commercial 2Nintendogs TV commercial 1Nintendogs TV commercial 2

WiiWare videos

Have you heard about WiiWare?WiiWare Media Summit

DS demos

Big Brain AcademyDr.Kawashima's Brain Training42 All-Time Classics (Checkers)Mario Kart DSProfessor Kageyama's Maths TrainingSight TrainingPicross DS

I hope you keep a clean fridge.

Nintendo Channel launched in the US

Wii overtakes Xbox 360 in the US

According to VGChartz, Nintendo Wii has now overtaken the Xbox 360 as the most popular home console in North America. The Wii, depicted as a blue line above, has been gaining ground fast since its launch in November 2006.

The figures determined by VGChartz aren't entirely accurate, but it's expected next month's NPD numbers will confirm this news. Note these statistics are focused on the US. In worldwide terms, the Wii has been number 1 for a while.

Kore and the gang

Snowboarding with Shaun

Earlier today, Ubisoft confirmed that Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist and 8 time X-Games gold winner would put his name to a snowboarding title on Wii - that name namely being the name Shaun White Snowboarding namely name name. Ubisoft's Tony Key spoke:

"Shaun White Snowboarding will turn all of the traditional ideas and experiences of past action sports titles upside down. The combination of Ubisoft's innovative approach and the influence of Shaun's lifestyle and perspective make this gaming experience like no other".

This is a multi-platform effort, the Wii's version being built from scratch and will offer support for the Wii Balance Board. Some screens are already up on the game's page.

WiiWare launch titles in Europe

SimCity Creator on Wii

Japanese magazine Famitsu has revealed some information about a new SimCity game on Wii called SimCity Creator.

Similar to previous games in the series, this one has you building a city on a grand scale. In addition to regular cities, a number of 'themes' are available, including:

GreekEgyptianJapanese (traditional)FuturisticCrystalSweet (cakes and candy etc)Las VegasJungleHinduMediterranean

Many types of buildings can be created - residential homes, shopping centers, sport stadiums. It's not all smooth sailing though, as your city will be attacked by a number of strange phenomenon. These include the likes of dinosaurs, UFOs and asteroids - all with the potential to wreak great havoc and give your citizens a bad time.

The game aims to take advantage of the Wii's unique capabilities. Players will trace roads, lay tracks and cables using the Wiimote. When you're satisfied with your work, you can fly around your creation in the Mayor's helicopter. There's also the option of using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to post your city online and have it rated by others.

Eeeexcellent

SimCity Creator hits Japan this September. A 2008 release for the US is likely.

Hitler gets blue-shelled
Picross coming to WiiWare

Rabbids invading the airwaves

The most recent issue of Nintendo Power reveals that a new Rabbids game is coming, this time without the Rayman branding.

Raving Rabbids TV Party is the title (for now at least), and it focuses on the Rabbids' attempt to take over TV. Some snippets of info are known:

65+ minigames.In Story Mode, players play through a week of television, where new games are shown each day.Wii Balance Board is used in a number of games, one where you sit on it and use your ass to guide a wild animal.Ubisoft focusing more on single player this time around.Some first-person shooting games still included.No FMV.Music will play a big role. There's also a Weather Channel, Movie Channel and "Trash TV".Rayman not very involved, reduced to cameo appearances.Online leaderboards will feature.

Raving Rabbids TV Party should be out during the fourth quarter of this year.

Nintendo Channel launched in the US
Nintendo Reveals Its Next Engaging Experiences

Kore and the gang

A title previously intended for the original Xbox is now being overhauled for the Wii. KORE (previously known as The Kore Gang) is a wacky action platformer.

The previous developers went out of business and so the Xbox project was canceled. Now ZOINK and SnapDragon Games have taken the helm, adding more features and graphical sheen.

The story revolves around three characters: Pixie, Madboy and Rex, all of whom are trapped inside a metal suit and have varying skills. They set out to save the world from the evil Krank brothers. Here's an old trailer from the Xbox days:

ZOINK are currently seeking publishing partners to help distribute the finished game. Creative Director of ZOINK, Klaus Lyngeled commented:

"KORE stands out not only for its rich gameplay experience and signature art style, but also for its wacky scenario and sense of humor. During the last years, a vast amount of work has gone into the design as well as into the story and cinematics. I'm sure the audience will appreciate the way we poured our heartblood into it".

You heard the man. Heartblood.

EA wants you to get fit too
Wave to Mummy

Picross coming to WiiWare

According to the official WiiWare page, a version of Picross titled Drawing Logic will be available in Japan tomorrow, on May 27th.

The game has been developed by G-Mode and will cost 500 Wii Points. Cheap you may think, but over the next few months at least five additional puzzle packs will be made, costing 300 Points each.

Picross is a logic puzzle game where players fill in a grid to make up a predetermined picture.

Beer Pong on WiiWare
Happy WiiWare day!