This page of the index features all of our listed NewsBites stories for March 2009 << View news for February 2009 | View news for April 2009 >>
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
"Nintendo DSi Enhanced" titles forthcomingStrikingly similar to Nintendo's latest New Play Control! brand for the Wii, Nintendo has recently announced that a series of titles are lined up for the DSi, titles that would take advantage of features unique to the new and improved handheld. Certain games will be playable on the DS and the DSi however, when played on the DSi, certain features within a game may only be possibly through the use of the DSi, for example, utilizing the camera in a unique fashion. This is a great method of action as it'll ensure that DS/DS Lite owners (who aren't getting the DSi) will not be ignored.
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
FFCC: My Life as a Dark Lord announced; Final Fantasy coming to VC!A sequel to one of the most successful WiiWare games to date (FFCC: My Life as a King) is coming this year! The sequel is known as FFCC: The Dark Lord and will take a completely different direction than its predecessor. Whilst the first game was more of a Simulation game, FFCC: MLDK is more of a real-time strategy, tower-defense game where you must eliminate intruding enemy forces and so in that sense, it seems more of a spiritual successor than a sequel, per se. It seems to share something in common with FFCC: Crystal Defenders, also on its way.
The below press release also has more details on Final Fantasy: The Final Years as well as a confirmation of Final Fantasy finally hitting the VC soon!
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Icarian: Kindred Spirits to hit WiiWare in May A rough translation of a foreign article on Revogamers wields new details on the release of Icarian: Kindred Spirits for the WiiWare service. The game is set to release in May if all goes according to plan for either 1,000 or 1,500 Wii (err... excuse me, Nintendo) Points. The developers say that they would be open to a sequel if the game sells well and they are hoping that they'll be able to release the game in Japan as they've already localized it for both NA and EU regions. Also interesting is that they foresee that the game's sales would break even at approximately 20,000 downloads. It'll be interesting to see how this modest developer's works will be received when it hits the WiiWare service.
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Nintendo Keynote Address at Game Developers ConferenceIwata's keynote address at GDC this year truly was a memorable one for developers and Nintendo fans alike. Yesterday, there was a tip-off from 1UP that today's conference would wield big results and it certainly delivered in that regard. Some of the highlights from this important conference are as follows: - After the DSi launches in North America, those that set up their Internet Connection will be able to receive complimentary 1,000 Points to use at their discretion so long as they do so before October 5th, 2009.
- Art Style Aquia (a.k.a., Aquario), Moving Memo and WarioWare Snapped will be made available when the DSi launches.
- Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be getting a sequel, known as The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, where Link uses a steam train to travel around the world to explore dungeons and seek out treasure!
- The latest Wii Menu update is a biggie as it contains the aforementioned SD Card Solution. It's well integrated and works quite well, albeit seamlessly. Download it now and check it out for yourself! This also means you can download Wii Shop titles straight to the SD Card without having to put them on the Internal Memory first.
- Arcade classic will now be made available on the VC under the new Virtual Console Arcade! 4 titles have been added already to give us a taste of what's to come: Mappy, Gaplus, Tower of Druaga and Starforce. Other titles such as Space Harrier will appear soon. It should be ntoed that Namco, SEGA and Tecmo are all now confirmed to be supporters on the Arcade so you can begin making your VCA Wishlists!
- Rock N' Roll Climber (being developed by Vitei) will use the Wii Balance Board to further simulate the experience of rock climbing in conjunction with the Wii Remote anh Nunchuk.
- Super Punch-Out will be made available on the VC on Monday
All great news as a result of this small conference! Be sure to check below for the full press release!
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
ACCF DLC Update: Red Pikmin HatThe second set of DLC for North America. I'm not surprised this was the next one given the recent release of NPC Pikmin. This will surely please many more than the Shamrock Hat from last week, although some may have connected with other ACCF gamers around the world to get this previously-Japanese exclusive.
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Level-5 localizing more Professor Layton games!This is the news many Professor Layton diehards (like myself) have been eagerly waiting for! Today, it's been confirmed via GoNintendo that Level-5 does have plans to localize the entire Professor Layton series! The localization process has already begun with the second title, Professor Layton and the Pandora's Box (no final name for NA release). The other third title, Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel, has also been released in Japan already and will see localization sometime as well. The recently-announced fourth game that branches off a bit from the first trilogy of games will also see light of day in North America. This is wonderful news but there's still no word on a release date meaning that we'll still have to do some waiting but it's still extremely gratifying to know that they are indeed localizing the series!
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Four DSiWare titles confirmed with NA Launch?Kotaku's recent hands-on with the DSi confirms four different titles slated to appear upon the DSi's launch in North America. These are WarioWare: Snapped, Pyoro (one of the WarioWare microgames Nintendo plans to release seperately), Code 10 (a.k.a., Art Style: Decode) and the Moving Memo pad (which so happens to be a free app). Which ones will you be getting when the DSi launches? UPDATE: Art Style: Aquario has also been confirmed to appear when it launches.
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Wii Connection Ambassador Campaign to hit other regions?This option has been made available to owners of a Japanese Wii for a while now. Basically, by helping someone set up their Wii to head online, you and the person can both earn 500 Wii Points. Sounds like a great promo but the question is, could it hit stateside? Upon changing Region and Language settings, the image you see here is produced. Could this be a hint that Nintendo plans to bring this to NA in the future? 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Wii Play sells 10 Million units in North America!These numbers are so staggering, they are sure to make your head spin! A couple of days ago, Nintendo sent out a press release claiming that Wii Play had set a milestone in selling over 10 million units in North America alone! That's absolutely crazy for a game that many people criticize like crazy. Nintendo's strategy of bundling a game with the Wii Remote has certainly succeeded and then some. The results should certainly motivate Nintendo to do similar accessory bundles in the near future. You can read the full press release below. 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Miles Edgeworth Perfect Prosecutor getting localized for other regionsA recent trademark entry lead Siliconera to report that Miles Edgeworth: Perfect Prosecutor may very well see light in other regions. This is great news for Ace Attorney fans, even if the game is a bit of a spin-off. Since its coming out in May in Japan, it will probably take some time before it gets localized for other regions.
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Disney announces Toy Story ManiaDisney just announced not even a day ago that a Toy Story game will be heading to the Wii for the first time. The game is essentially a mini-game collection (no surprise there) in a carnival setting (sound familiar?) with a mix of some on-rails shooting games. The game's activities are all based on real-life attractions at the new Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The game also promises "eye-popping visuals" with the use of a pair of 3D glasses. This is in preparation for the theatrical re-release of Toy Story in 3D later this year. See below for the full press release with all the details. 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
New developer diary for Roogoo Twisted TowersA new development diary has opened up on Cubed3 for the development team behind Roogoo Twisted Towers, coming to Wii and DS soon. The first entry briefly touches on the game's first environment (known as Grasslands), some of the game's mechanics and the like. Within this entry, they also confirm the existence of a special hidden world that can only be accessed by connecting the Wii and DS versions of the game together, in the same vein as Geometry Wars: Galaxies. It'll be interesting to see what other info comes up within these entries up until the game's release. 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Two Henry Hatsworth developers form a new studioTwo members of the development team behind Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (recently released for the DS) have recently formed a new indie studio known as DreamRift which will be overseen by the lead designer and lead programmer from the EA game. The report adds that they are currently working on their very first project during the GDC (Game Developers Conference). It'll be interesting to see what ideas they come up with and if they plan to bring these ideas to the WiiWare and/or DSiWare services. Shacknews: DreamRift Formed >>
25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Blooper Team site launched, new WiiWare titles revealed!Blooper Team, the developer responsible for the upcoming WiiWare game Last Flight, has recently launched a company website, sporting company info, current projects and the like. This new site has also revealed two previously unknown WiiWare titles that are in development right now. The first title is known as Troopies. Apparently, this new brand will become a series of games released not only on WiiWare, but on XBLA and PSP as well. They compare the game to the style of such critically-acclaimed games as Lemmings and The Lost Vikings, stating that Troopies will "take [a] twist on some of the most renowned game concepts in games history". The twist being that the "main objective is not to save, but kill all mindless creatures on stage". They've already determined that the game is targeted towards Teens and with the addition of Mild (Cartoon) Blood, it'll be interesting to see what the ESRB will rate this game when it gets closer to completion. The second title is more mysterious. The game has no working title at the moment and all the details we are given on it is that it's a Japanese RPG (something sorely lacking on the WiiWare service) complete with a "European" art style. We'll have to wait for more info before we can determine what this will entail and where this art direction will take them. This one will not only appear on WiiWare, but on the Xbox 360 as well. We're not all left in the dark, though, as Blooper does provide this tagline to wet our appetites: - Dark. Mature. Sad. Would you sacrifice half the world to save the other half?
Sounds promising, no doubt. The game is being targeted towards those of an older audience, much like Last Flight. In any case, it'll be interesting to hear more info on these titles as well as others they have in store for the future. 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
 Puzzle Bobble Galaxy coming to other regions
The OFLC has recently rated this Japan-only game as has the USK in Germany, which would mean that it won't be too long before it gets rated for NA and EU. It's great to see this DS game come out of Japan and get localized. While the game won't make use of any glaring new features, it has some interesting gameplay mechanics such as fighting bosses and the addition of wireless play. 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Punch-Out!! (Wii) supports the Balance Board accessory - UPDATEDAfter a brief translation of the below press release, you'll uncover that it confirms that Punch-Out! will support the Wii Balance Board allowing you to shift your weight to simulate evasive maneuvers in conjunction with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. I had a funny feeling they'd incorporate Balance Board support, too. UPDATE: The press release has since been removed from the website 25th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
IGN hints at an upcoming third-party title for WiiIn their latest podcast, IGN hints at a third-party game that is in the works for the Wii at this time. Apparently it's a "top secret" game that may surface next month in April. All they really say is that it's a really good, high-quality product, made for the hardcore gamer. They also add that it'll surprise gamers as to how good it is. Maybe this is one of the secret titles from Capcom, EA, Konami or even SEGA! Any guesses? 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Klonoa: Exclusive Feature in NTSC/PAL VersionThe latest entry on the blog of the developer overseeing Klonoa: Door to Phantomile reveals that the versions hitting NA and EU will have an exclusive feature not previously added in the Japanese release. "There is also a brand new feature in the North American and PAL versions of Klonoa. By shaking the Wii Remote or Nunchuk, Klonoa creates a whirlwind attack. When the whirlwind hits an enemy, their speed slows down making it easier to dodge or grab an enemy. The way the enemies spin around is very cute. I think people will enjoy using the whirlwind attack just to watch the enemies become dizzy. For the hardcore gamers we added a Time Attack mode, Reverse Mode and Challenge Rooms Bonus Stages. Of course, the Extra Vision is still available after the game is completed. For those who really want more can find Bonus Stages available in each Reverse Mode Vision after the game has been beaten." Otherwise, the game is pretty similar to its Japanese counterpart, even incorporating both English and Japanese voicework. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Nintendo to unveil new titles at GDC 2009 tomorrow!Check out this tip-off over at 1UP. This gives us so much to look forward to for tomorrow's keynote address. "In terms of highlights coming out of this show, I'd say Nintendo's Iwata keynote is the one that you'll really want to watch (Jeremy will be live blogging it tomorrow morning). I thought he was just going to be talking about Motion Plus and DSi, but it turns out he's going to be announcing quite a few new games -- for Wii, Wiiware, and Virtual Console (and this won't just be Nintendo titles, but also third party stuff). I've already heard about a few of them (including one that makes me all giddy...I can't wait for tomorrow now)." New WiiWare titles, let's hope. But VC, too? Interesting. They'll probably unveil the DSi's VC Details but I'm wondering if they'll use this opportunity to state a couple VC Games that are on their way soon. That would be great. Either way, here's looking forward to tomorrow. You can be assured that you'll hear it from me once I hear it. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Nintendo still recalling lapel pins in North AmericaTraces of lead turned up in certain character lapel pins Nintendo made available to the public via two company-owned stores in 2008. The pins were made available from a third-party supplier and they were sold from April 2004 to November 2007 exclusively at these two stores. Nintendo is still requesting that those who purchased these pins contact them right away, and they are even offering replacements for these pins free of charge. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Budgeting software coming to DSiWareNintendo has recently shown off some of the DSiWare slated to appear on the Japanese catalog in April. There aren't too many things but one thing that is of interest is a budgeting app that allows you to input entries of expenses and help you track and budget your money accordingly. The app will also try to help you determine where you can try to save money. A cool feature is that the data you input can be saved to an SD Card under a format that would be compatible for use on your PC to get this information into other programs that you may already use to budget your money. Nintendo also announced some other things, such as more Animal Crossing and Mario Clocks, and even a special DSiWare dedicated to the Japan-exclusive Band Brothers DX. You can check out the latest DSiWare in the link below for the Japanese site. It would be nice to see this come to other regions as well as it could do well. Ganbaru Watashi no Osaifu Ouendan will cost 500 Nintendo Points. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Grand Slam Tennis to launch with Wii Motion Plus Bundle?Recently, it was rumored that EA's Grand Slam Tennis would be delayed in Europe. Now rumors have spawned concerning the possibility of a bundle with Wii Motion Plus. Over on NeoGAF, it was stated that the game was slated to be released not only on its own but also in a Bundle form which would include Wii Motion Plus. Interestingly, not too long ago in a recent interview with GameSpot, when asked whether or not the game would be bundled with WMP, they didn't answer the question directly. So we definitely shouldn't rule out the possibility but at the same time, we still need to get an official confirmation for this. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Trivial Pursuit has Built-in DLCThis news isn't that recent but given that the game just released in NA, I sought it fitting to mention it. The PS3 and 360 versions feature a "Movie Pack" set that can be downloaded online but the Wii and PS2 Versions don't feature any sort of DLC support. Instead, EA arranged for both versions to get this set off the bat. "Downloadable content: An all-new "Movie Pack" will be a free download for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and bundled at retail with the Wii and PlayStation 2 versions. Additional downloadable content has not been revealed." The question remains, though: Why they didn't incorporate DLC for the Wii version in the first place? 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Hudson announces Military Madness revival for WiiWare Military Madness, a TG16 classic (which so happens to be on the Virtual Console), is getting revived not only for a WiiWare release, but also for a release on XBLA and PSN also. The new game promises 3D environments and new graphics, new features, and even online capabilities. Definitely olds a lot of promise! See below for the press release. 24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Hudson announces Water Warfare for WiiWareHudson's on a roll! They've announced yet another game today that they plan to bring to the WiiWare service. It's a completely new game that actually wields much potential. This game shouldn't come as a huge surprise considering Hudson just released Onslaught not too long ago and this game is inspire by some of its elements/features. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out, especially with 8-person multiplayer. Regardless, I'll be definitely giving this a try when it releases.
24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Diner Dash coming to WiiWare Diner Dash has quickly become a popular game. From its modest beginnings as an online flash game, to coming to the DS, Hudson Soft now plans to bring Diner Dash to the WiiWare service, and I must say, it's a perfect fit. With revamped pointing and dragging controls, it certainly has potential. The game is also being released on XBLA and PSN. Although local multiplayer is promised, there's no talk on Online Play just yet but don't be surprised if it does get confirmed.
24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
The Three Musketeers: One for All! coming to WiiWareA PC game known as The Three Musketeers: One for All! is coming to Wii sporting new motion controls, challenging gameplay, as well as some puzzle elements as well. The game's graphics look decent and it certainly has potential, especially since its the only WiiWare game of its kind. That being said, the entire thing could flop if the game doesn't run smoothly and if the gameplay is lacking in the fun department. That being said, it seems to be an interesting fit for the WiiWare service.
24th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
DSi to get its own Virtual Console!This news is sure to cause many Nintendo fans to become giddy with excitement! Many have wanted this rumor to become true and now, all we need is an official confirmation from Nintendo themselves and we'll all have reason to be ever so happy. This past weekend, Nintendo held a special, seemingly "exclusive" event for selected Platinum and Gold Club Nintendo members to give them a taste of the DSi. Someone over at Kombo was privledged enough to attend such an event and had some interesting details to share! Read the quote for yourself. - "[T]he big piece of good news to surface from this event is that downloadable Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles are coming. I'll just let that soak in for a minute. Finally, we may have a shot at playing some portable classics again, and without the hassle of gambling with eBay's counterfeits or peeling stickers off of GameStop's cartridges... which could also sometimes be counterfeits. To start with, however, there will only be first-party Nintendo titles. Which, if you ask me, there is absolutely no problem with."
This is great news. First-party titles gives us more reason to look forward to VC Releases on the DSi knowing that it could be a Nintendo game we're waiting eagerly for. Question is, will the DSi Shop have at least one VC title guaranteed in each Weekly Update? Time will tell. Notice, though, some other tidbits in the article: - "Just like everything else, though, these will be region locked. As a plus, you'll be able to save and run the games from an SD Card-- a feature we're still waiting on for the Wii. What's more, for those worried about space, the DSi will support SD Cards of capacities greater than 2GB, which is the current limit for the Wii."
 Support for SD Cards greater than 2 GB? Run O FF the SD Card? Can this really be happening? And on the DSi, too! This could be a huge hint at what Nintendo plans to do with the so-called storage solution. This "solution" for the Wii was supposedly just a way to make things easier, not necessarily a "solution" by definition. Specifically, it was to allow Shop titles to be downloaded straight to an SD Card so as not having to spend time downloading them and then transferring them from the Wii Menu to an SD Card. Nothing has been heard since then with regards to what Nintendo plans to do with the solution and if this really IS the solution or if they have other plans in store. We can only hope! One can imagine that this VC would not only include (Original) Game Boy titles but Game Boy Color titles as well. But will GBA titles really be downloadable? Maybe the reporter meant Game Boy Color titles, instead? Again, we'll find out soon enough. On another site, someone else who was also privledged to attend the event had this to say: - "[T]he rep there told us the same thing, that like the VC you will be able to download gb/gbc games. Now I don’t remember if he mentioned gba but he DID say that supposedly sega was interested in bringing Game Gear games to the dsiware too. Nothing set in stone but they are looking into it."
To see SEGA support the DSiWare in such a way would open up even more possibilities. I can't wait to see what SEGA plans to do with DSiWare! All in all, this is awesome news and I'm sure you'll be excited by this. So, the DSi is about to launch in less than 2 weeks. What can you do to help with the wait? Why not start compiling a VC Wishlist (i.e., a list of all the VC Games you'd like to see made available on the DSI's VC)? The DSi launch is nearly here!
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Parappa sequel being considered if Major Minor sells wellApparently, a sequel to the hit PSX game Parappa the Rapper may be considered if Major Minor's Majestic March sells well. Personally, I hope they consider it regardless of whether or not Major Minor sells well, especially since there's a possibility that it may not sell well. "Of course, Matsuura's commonly asked if among the new discoveries, beloved Parappa might make a return. "We are pretty open," he says. "We have discussed sometimes about that. And maybe... but currently we are not making the new Parappa game. If Major Minor pushes the market to remember Parappa, that kind of influence makes him appear again!"" It would be great to see Parappa the Rapper revived on Wii like Klonoa. It would certainly do well on the Wii!
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
 Boxart Updates: The Munchables
The game is approaching it's release in NA and as such, the final boxart rendering has been released. I personally think it's quite good. It has a distinct Pacman-esque feel to it. But then again, it is Namco who's overseeing the project, after all. As for the game itself, it certainly holds promise and it could hold up well. Time will tell!
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
RUMOR: Strong Bad to get a Disk Release?Many have heard this rumor many times and in different forms. The latest manifestation of the rumor is about a month old but still worthy or note. USA Today cites Strong Bad's Game for Attractive People as being slated to receive a disk release. Notice the following quote: WiiWare allows small developers to distribute original games, with nearly 60 offered thus far. Telltale Games' five-part Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People episodic series, which ended in December, will be released on disc next month. Very interesting that this was stated, as if the reporter had some sort of insider information to confirm this. Did you also notice that he says that it would be coming soon, that is "next month"? This article was written in February, meaning that according to this source, SBG4AP is to get a Disk Release in March (or at least an announcement of said release). It'll be interesting to see how things play out. I've been keeping my eye open since I read this when it was first reported last month. I have no idea how credible this source is but if we don't hear anything within the span of 3 months, I'd say it's safe to say that the basis for this information wasn't that solid to begin with. It's possible that Telltale may be, indeed, planning a Disk Release but may be one or two months longer than this source stated so again, we'll have to keep our eyes open.
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Zack and Wiki could appear again After reading some recent interviews with Capcom, you can't help but wonder what Capcom has up their sleeve. In preceding interviews, when the idea of a Zack and Wiki sequel was touched on, they completely denied it, even citing its low sales numbers. Now, take a look at this excerpt from yet another interview: "Well, you know, Zack and Wiki…Another one in a long line of very highly rated Capcom games that unfortunately did not sell very well... [It's] a personal favorite of a lot of people in Capcom, so don’t be surprised if you see it again but we have nothing in the works at the moment." Now keep in mind that Capcom has been confirmed to be one of the publishers to have some secret title(s) brewing for Wii gamers (the others being the likes of EA, Konami and even SEGA). Now at least we get a confirmation that there is, indeed, a strong likelihood that they'll re-appear, but the whole "we're not working on anything at this time" raises an eyebrow. Other developers (including Nintendo themselves) have said the same thing in the past only to cover their behinds. Whether this will develop into something or not remains to be seen but certainly, this creates more than a shred of hope for the Zack and Wiki fanbase.
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Excitebots: Trick Racing - Teaser Site launchedA teaser site for Excitebots: Trick Racing has recently launched in preparation for its release. The game is confirmed for a NA release on April 20. The site itself doesn't have much to it but we are promised that a full site is on its way with some (new?) info.
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Daft Punk rumored to be featured in DJ HeroKotaku reports that Z-Trip and DJ Shadow are said to be playable avatars in the game whilst Daft Punk is rumored to be have some part in the game (most likely in the form of music selection). Seeing a Daft Punk song in the game would be no less than awesome. Question is, will they choose the right song? See below for the story over on Kotaku and be sure to check out the source linked in that article to see where the story originates from. It should also be noted that Mixmaster Mike was also rumored to have a part in the game but he will be appearing in Scratch: The Ultimate DJ.
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Eduardo the Samurai Toaster progressing well towards releaseCheck out this quote from Semnat Studios: "Today we passed a huge milestone and can finally, thankfully, take a break. For a bit, while we work on the final trailer and then get to work on translations and ratings stuff for other territories. Celebration will take place when we get a release date, however." It's great to hear how the game is coming along. The fact that their next objective is to get to work on the final trailer is a good sign that the game is at least 80% done. It's also good to hear that they plan to release it on other regions, not just in North America. Still no news on a release date but that's not something to fret over since Nintendo is in control of that anyhow.
23rd Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
ESRB Ratings: Klonoa, Pool Hall Pro Recently, Klonoa got rated by the ESRB for North America. Apparently, the game will be E10+ which should come as a bit of a surprise. "Mild Cartoon Violence" and "Tobacco Reference" are the reasons cited for the rating. Here's the summary they wrote for it: "This is side-scrolling platformer game in which players control the title character as he explores levels, collects gems, and solves puzzles, while trying to save the state of dreams. Enemies can be grabbed and tossed at one another, or in certain areas, used to traverse distances or break obstacles. Bosses howl in pain and fall to the ground when defeated. During one sequence, a villain destroys a character’s house with a giant laser beam, resulting in an explosion and the dramatic death of the character. An older character is depicted with a pipe in his mouth and a tobacco-like substance in the bowl." It's also worth noting that the ESRB has also rated Pool Hall Pro, a game that wasn't confirmed for a NA Release... until now. The game's been rated E for Everyone.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Boxart Update: Boom Blox Bash Party
Here's what the current render of the boxart for Boom Blox: Bash Party looks like. Thoughts? Personally, I thought the first one was more appealing but at the same time, it didn't strike out and I'm sure many overlooked it because they passed it off as a "kiddie" game or maybe because they had no clue what it was about. At least this one is more striking and although in some respects it may not be as strong, it certainly is more likely to attract new players than the first one. After all, their not making the boxart with for those that already played the first one. If they loved the first one, they're going to get it irregardless or what the boxart looks like. Obviously, they're trying to appeal to the same audience using a different method and although it may not be as conventional, it's certainly taking a risk.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
OFLC Ratings: Master of Illusion Express, Kawashima's Brain TrainingTwo new games have recently been rated by the Australian Rating Board for DSiWare, confirming that a total of 4 DSiWare games will see a mark in other regions. Master of Illusion Express consists of 3 different, separate titles that will cost 200 Points a piece. All three titles (i.e., Funny Face, Shuffle Games, and Funny Face) feature mini-games in the form of magic tricks that can even be tested on friends. This makes Master of Illusion the second Touch Generations game by Nintendo to get an "Express" form on DSiWare, the first being Clubhouse Games. It would be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to bring more titles over with the same strategy. The second title is entitled A Little Bit of… Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training Maths Edition, which could insinuate that this won't be the last time we see of these mini Brain training games on DSiWare. It's very likely that these titles will hit North America.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
ESRB Ratings: Wonder Boy III, Silver Star ReversiWonder Boy III: Monster Lair for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Silver Star Reversi for WiiWare have both been rated by the ESRB this week. Both games are due on the North American catalog at some point and time. Although Wonder Boy III doesn't look that big of a deal (even if it IS an import title), the rating of Silver Star Reversi makes it the second game in the Silver Star series to get localized for NA, the first being Silver Star Chess. It would be nice to see both games appear in the same update and it would also be interesting to see how both titles manage here in NA as far as sales numbers go.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Surprise DLC coming for Animal Crossing: City FolkNintendo has recently created a new sub-page leading from their Animal Crossing: City Folk game page. It focuses solely on upcoming DLC that Nintendo plans to have available for ACCF players in North America. This is a nice addition since many have been upset over Japan getting all the DLC meanwhile NA gets ignored. If you haven't heard already, the latest DLC is that of a Hamrock Hat as part of St. Patrick's Day. With this new site, Nintendo of America promises to keep gamers posted on new and upcoming DLC deliveries. If you haven't already done so, be sure to get the latest accessory by booting up the game. Feel free to check out the site (link has been psoted below) as it even goes into details about certain conditions that you must meet in order to obtain DLC as well as how to go about getting it.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
New Details on Excitebots: Trick Racing!After reading IGN's recent preview of Excitebots: Trick Racing, it's quite easy to see that Excitebots, the spiritual successor and sequel to Excite Truck, is shaping up really well. The preview goes into great depths of how the gameplay works and the different features of the game, even detailing which robots you start out with at the start. One portion in particular that is of interest are some details on one of the online modes featured in Excitebots. In addition to the standard excitement-filled races (excuse the pun), there are also other modes to participate in online. Although Nintendo is being tight-lipped about said modes (something we should be used to by now), IGN has revealed that within the game, there's an interesting mode that involves collecting cards and developing a Poker Hand whilst racing at the same time. Here's an excerpt from the article:
Poker Race mode... combines classic five card draw with in-level cards and a "hand" for each player. In these three specific tracks, players have a hand of five cards, and the ability to highlight those cards one at a time with left and right d-pad taps. When colliding with other cards in the world, your on-screen hand is updated, swapping out the new card for the highlighted one. Basic poker rules apply, with the A button used to "cash in" a hand and score points, getting a new stack of random cards immediately after. It's still a conventional race in the sense that you want to be in first to have your pick of the available cards on the track, but more importantly the different hands yield huge amounts of stars, and the racer with the most stars at the end of the track takes the gold. It's a lot to take in, since you'll be racing and trying to think strategically as well, but the game keeps your hand (as well as on-screen prompts for upcoming lines of cards) on-screen to streamline the experience.
Sounds quite unique, wouldn't you say? But let's just hope it isn't too complicated for your liking. Check out the rest of their preview for more detailed information about how the game is holding up.
21st Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Free 1,000 DSi Points Confirmed with NA Launch!
When the DSi launched in Japan, first-time users of the DSi Shop would get a complimentary 1,000 Points to spend on whatever they wished. This, however, was only for a limited-time, much like how the Internet Channel Demo was free for a limited time on the Wii. In the same vein, it has been confirmed that Nintendo plans to do the same in North America. The confirmation comes from the American-based store, Target. Their website had this to say on the DSi pre-launch page:
Upon initial access to Nintendo DSi Shop, 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points will be credited to your account, which you can then use to download your free Nintendo DSi-exclusive games and applications. Wireless broadband connection and acceptance of user agreement required. Nintendo DSi Shop must be accessed to receive free points. Limited time offer. For full details, please visit DsiOffer.Nintendo.com.
Way to go NoA! There was much speculation over whether or not they would actually give us the same reward and it looks like they have. Let's just hope that this same strategy applies to other regions also, hm?
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Future Bit.Trip titles hinted!A recent interview with Gaijin Games held by TWG News reveals a couple of possible inspirations for future titles for the Bit.Trip series as well as a hint for the next title.
The biggest thing I’d like players to know about the second installment is that... we’re changing the gameplay entirely from one episode to the next. [I]t will offer up a new challenge at its… core.
The word "core" seems to be our hint for the next Bit.Trip title. However, that's not all. He goes on to add:
As far as a side-scrolling adventure goes, all I can confirm at the moment is that I’m a big fan of classic side-scrollers like Pitfall!, H.E.R.O., and Jungle Hunt and that if I were to design some side-scrolling action into the series it would take inspiration from those early forays into the genre. You can definitely expect to see more of CommanderVideo in subsequent entries in the series, although I must say, you’re currently seeing a lot of him in BIT.TRIP BEAT. But players may not recognize that fact until later…
It'll be interesting to see the path the Bit.Trip series takes but so far, it's off to a great start!
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Phantasy Star Zero Mini coming to DSiWare
Famitsu reveals in their latest issue that SEGA plans to bring a game from the Phantasy Star series over to the DSiWare service in Japan this March. For only 200 Nintendo Points, the game will have you fighting a creature named Raven in a score attack session similar to the likes of Star Soldier R for WiiWare. The game will feature 4-person wireless local play with voice/text chats. It'll be interesting to see if it'll come to other regions, and if SEGA has more plans in store with the DSiWare service for not only the Phantasy Star series but its other franchises as well.
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Majesco trademarks Crafting Mama
Apparently, Majesco has listed a trademark that may suggest where they plan to take the Cooking Mama series next following Gardening Mama(which has yet to be released on the DS). The trademark listing is for " Crafting Mama". It begs the question, though: Is Majesco going a little too far with the Cooking Mama franchise? What do you think?
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Klonoa Release Date revealed (NA)It breaches on Q2 even though sources led us to believe it would have a Q1 release but nevertheless, Klonoa seems to be slated for a North American release date of May 5th, 2009. How many of you are looking forward to this?
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Swords & Soldiers sequel being consideredJust like with what happened with LostWinds and Toki Tori, the game isn't out yet and they're already considering a sequel. The source comes from an interview on TWG News. Feel free to read the full interview with Ronimo games via the link listed below. Here's the key quote:
Although we have another cool project in the works at the moment and we need to see how good Swords & Soldiers is going to do, I am sure we will make a sequel of the game, we already have pages and pages filled with ideas for that game.
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Major League Eating coming to JapanThere was talk of this game coming to Japan since around Fall of last year but now there's a confirmation via Famitsu, the well-known Japanese magazine, that it is indeed coming. Will you be taking the plunge? Naturally, one would wonder how this will do over there. Also notice that the game comes with a decreased price tag of 900 Points (1,000 in North America). Interesting.
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Sonic Chronicles coming to Japan!
Both North America and Europe have had Sonic Chronicles released for quite some time but the game never made its way over to Japan.... until now.
The game still doesn't have a definitive release date just yet but it's definitely coming sometime after April.
A teaser site has been released in preparation for the game's release. You can check it out below.
19th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
1000 and 3000 Nintendo Points Cards coming with DSi Launch
According to NoE, when the DSi launches in your area, not only will 2000 Nintendo Points Card be available for purchase, but 1000 and 3000 Points Cards will also get added to the mix. It's great to see these cards leave Japan but will the 5000 Points Card be made available also? Time will tell. The DSi launches April 2nd in Australia, April 3rd in Europe and April 5th in NA.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Spectrobes coming to WiiThe hit DS series by Disney is coming to the Wii! See below for the official press release. The game is slated for an Q3 release in North America. No word has been mentioned regarding online play but it would be reasonable to conclude that they'd add it considering the first two games had it. It'll certainly be interesting to see how Disney approaches online play with the Wii for the first time.
The game was announced on February 20th but the news may still be new to many.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Big Bang Mini sequel coming to WiiNot too long ago in a recent interview, it was stated that Wii work would be a possibility. Now, we get a confirmation that Big Bang Mini is indeed Wii-bound!
Arkedo is working on a new entry in the newly-christened "Big Bang franchise" that will release in 2010. SouthPeak will once again be doing the publishing duties.
This is definitely great news. It's a little old, but still great for those who have yet to hear of it.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Club Nintendo Update (NA)Everyone in North America should take note! The "Intend to Buy" promotion on Club Nintendo has been updated with two new games. The two games you can choose to get Bonus Coins for are Pokemon Platinum and Rhythm Heaven, both for DS. As you know, these are limited time offers. Pokemon Platinum's will expire on March 21st and Rhythm Heaven's promotion will expire on March 29th. Once you state that you plan to buy either/both titles, you'll be given a short little survey to complete. One of the fields asks you to list what your comments are about the game before the game has been released. Here's what I put:
It's one of my most anticipated titles for the DS. WarioWare mixed with rhythm-based gameplay. What a winning formula! I'm definitely getting it. The game's gonna be awesome. Everything I've seen thus far have me convinced that this is definitely a must-have title and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Also, it should be noted that Nintendo didn't bother to use this feature for the NEW PLAY CONTROL! titles that we recently got. Interesting. We'll have to see if they choose to use it with the next set of titles or not. Until then, though, if you plan to get either title, be sure to indicate so in order for you to gain some bonus coins when you do get it.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Club Nintendo launches in Australia!
Australians have much reason to rejoice! Club Nintendo has finally launched over there, only 3 months following the North American launch. Now all major regions have some form of Nintendo's latest royalty program. Now that they've completed launches, the next logical step would be to add even more rewards, wouldn't you say?
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum to get a sequel
The sales for this game have been quite surprising. According to their recent fiscal report, the team responsible for overseeing the game is very proud of the sales the game has achieved. According to their report, the game has sold "approximately 500,000 copies" to date and it's beacuse of these strong sales numbers that seem to motivate them to speak about the likelihood of a sequel.
I’m sure we’ll be co-announcing a full-blown sequel in the future. For now we’re working with Jillian’s team to increase the target audience for her video game franchise. There will be more information available at some point in the near future.
Interesting that they're considering a sequel for this game. Certainly, those who enjoyed Wii Fit would eat this up. In fact, if they released it close to the time of EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer, that would stimulate even more sales.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Carnival Games ships over 4 million!Carnival Games has become quite popular since it was released. Its sales have spawned two other entries in the series: Carnival Games for DS and even a spin-off, Carnival Games Mini-Golf for Wii. According to 2K Games' most recent fiscal financial report, the game has been quite successful! Here's what they had to say:
2K Play’s wholly owned Carnival Games™ franchise, including Carnival Games for Nintendo’s Wii™ and DS™, and Carnival Games™ MiniGolf for Wii, has shipped over four million units worldwide.
Although this is a combination of sales from all titles, the numbers are still quite staggering, no less.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
WiiWare to get Flash SupportIn Nintendo's most recent gaming summit with WiiWare developers, Nintendo revealed that developers will soon have access to Flash support for the WiiWare service! The source comes from the dev blog by the team overseeing Cave Story WiiWare. Within their blog, you'll find the below extraction:
I think it’s great that Nintendo announced Flash support for game developers. It’s pretty exciting for the Wii and especially for developers who can make games directly in flash.
While this could mean even more potential, this could also mean that we may recieve more duds on the service. We'll certainly have to see how things play out but it's nice to see Nintendo expanding their audiences and their dev kits. Question is, will this support stretch over to the Internet browser - the update we're still waiting for?
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
NEW PLAY CONTROL! Two new titles announcedNintendo announced yesterday that Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat is coming to the NEW PLAY CONTROL! brand but so is Pikmin 2. It's great to hear Pikmin 2 confirmed because many were a tad worried that it would stay in Japan. Nevertheless, Nintendo assures us that both are planned for release. They also reveal some new features for each game. Most notably, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat has been completely re-designed from the Gamecube original it originates from, along with new stages.
You can read more about these new features in both Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat and Pikmin 2 in the Press Release found below. Both have been confirmed to be releasing on April 24th in Europe and yet, still no word on the North American release date.
14th Mar 2009 | Posted by KnucklesSonic8
Bit.Trip Beat coming to WiiWare on MondayAksys Games has recently confirmed the Bit.Trip Beat is indeed coming to the WiiWare service on Monday, March 16th! But rather than simply stating so, they decided to create an interesting, cryptic message for readers, which was as follows: USER:00COMMANDERVIDEO11 PASS:00************11 11 11MISSIONENGANGE1–BTB1–MARCHSIXTEENTH1–COMMANDERVIDEO11 Upon first glance it may seem a little weird but read it slowly and you'll see it explains itself. It seems that much like Snowboard Riot and Evasive Space which were both slated for a January release but released a month later, Bit.Trip Beat got delayed or bumped back for one reason or another. But nevertheless, it's still great news. Aksys promises more Art Style-like games in the future depending on the success of their games. Bit.Trip Beat will be available on the North American catalog for 600 Wii Points. No word has been stated yet as to when it'll appear on the European/UK catalog.
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