posted 14 Jul 2009 06:26 by Knuckles Sonic8
Those who logged into Club Nintendo this morning would have found an unexpected surprise! As soon as someone logs into Club Nintendo, they'll find a pop-up message which says:
"You have earned a Special Reward. Find out how to redeem your reward by clicking (More Info) below. Important Note: You must redeem your reward by August 11, 2009. The ability to accept a reward will no longer be available after that date."
Clicking the More Info button will take you to a special stage where you can choose one of three prizes available to devoted Club Nintendo users! What are these rewards you ask?
Gold Members get a "Club Nintendo Original Calendar" for the 2010 year. The prize is based on the Club Nintendo prize from Japan for this year. They are promising a new version for North American consumers.
Platinum Members, however, have a much bigger surprise waiting for them! They can choose from either a Mario Hat or an exclusive WiiWare download! The Mario Hat is a one-size-fits-most hat that's intended to be a true "replica" of the Mario's well-used hat! The hat itself is made of polyester and cotton and the dimensions are approximately 8" 1/2 for width, 10" 1/2 in length, and 5" in height. How exciting!
The second choice is a little more unexpected! "Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!" -- an exclusive WiiWare download that is only available to Platinum members! Nintendo even claims that like the G&W Collection, "this gift will not be available anywhere else"! To download the game, you will probably need to make use of the Wii Download Ticket feature in the settings of the Wii Shop Channel in the same vein as downloading the Wii Speak Channel using a ticket with a code on it.
These are quite some prizes, wouldn't you say? The exclusive download was completely unexpected and it's great to see that North American users didn't get the short end of the stick when compared with the prizes Japan has received in the past with their Club Nintendo system.
So, what will you be getting?
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posted 13 Jul 2009 22:07 by Knuckles Sonic8
A couple of ratings have popped up on ESRB's official site with regards to a couple upcoming Ubisoft games for the DS. The first is a title we haven't heard anything about until now. The game is known as "Best Friends Tonight" and it's quite likely this is a DS title to go alongside their other casual titles such as those of the Imagine series. The game is a "social simulation game" that's been rated E10+ for "Comic Mischief and Mild Suggestive Themes". What else does the summary have to say about it? - "This is a social simulation game in which players assume the role of young girl who becomes the producer of a TV show for teenagers. Players interact with crew and cast members by boosting their morale, working on projects for the TV show, and engaging in small talk. Text-based conversations sometimes reference flirting, dating, and kissing (e.g., "he's smart and talented and has perfect kissing lips" and "I guess I'm the only one who can help Penny overcome her kissing obsession."). Characters sometimes use insulting speech (e.g., "loserbag," "psycho," and "stupid jerk face idiot") and make jokes about burping, spitting, and emitting foul smells (e.g., "I wish I could ignore your PUTRID stench" and "TV Producers STINK like FOOT CHEESE!")."
The next title that's been rated is the DS iteration of Where's Waldo: The Fantastic Journey, the very first Where's Waldo game. The game's not due for a bit longer and it's interesting that only the DS version was rated even though is was a multi-platform release which implies that the other versions probably have different gameplay than the DS version. The DS version has been rated Everyone for "Animated Blood and Comic Mischief". Here's what ESRB said in their summary: - "This is a puzzle game, based on the Where's Waldo? series of children's books, in which players search for Waldo in a series of elaborately complex images. Players must scan through pictures of fire-breathing creatures, magic carpet riders, knights in battle, red monks fighting blue monks, wizards, and (of course) vampires. In one scene, a group of soldiers is seen lying on the ground after battle, with "dizzy stars" swirling above their heads. In another image, several vampires hold mugs filled with "red liquid" (implied to be blood) while waiters bring them more of the red beverage."
Two game show-based games have also been rated by the ESRB: the 2010 Edition's for Family Feud and The Price Is Right. Both have been rated E for Everyone but both have different descriptors. Family Feud 2010 Edition contains "Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Comic Mischief, and Mild Suggestive Themes". Obviously this content stems from the questions themselves as confirmed by the summary: - "Based on the TV game show Family Feud, this game challenges players to find the most popular answers to survey questions. Players must find better answers than their opponents in an attempt to earn their way to the "Fast Money" bonus round. Out of the thousands of possible questions and answers, a handful may contain references to beer, wine, and cigarettes (e.g., Q: "Name an odor that's so distinct, you know right away what it is." A: "cigarette smoke"). A few questions discuss suggestive material (e.g., Q: "Name something you wouldn't want to have two of." A: "Spouses/Lovers"); bodily functions/noises may also be referenced (e.g., flatulence and vomiting)."
The Price Is Right 2010 Edition has only "Alcohol Reference" as an additional descriptor due to the showcase products that are shown off during gameplay. The summary states:
- "This is a game based on the TV game show The Price is Right. Players can participate in a variety of "pricing games" to win prizes and earn their way to the final round. Showcase vignettes sometimes reference alcohol products (e.g., "non stop champagne flights" and "your favorite Chardonnay")."
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posted 13 Jul 2009 21:49 by Knuckles Sonic8
Two of Nintendo's upcoming first-party DS titles have been rated by the ESRB recently. First we have Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion. The game has been rated Teen for "Alcohol Reference, Blood and Mild Violence". The summary sheds some light on the reasons behind their rating: - "This is a seek-and-find mystery game in which players search for specific items/clues on a screen full of objects. The story revolves around a string of murders committed against beautiful women in various locations around San Francisco. Images of victims' bodies and the circumstances surrounding their death are depicted in still-frame panels. Players must visit the crime scenes to gather clues, interrogate witness and suspects, and solve various mini-game puzzles (e.g., chemical analysis, matching fibers, and running ballistics) to analyze the evidence and find the killer. Some murder scenes depict red bloodstains on the ground or faint streaks of blood smeared on walls and floors. During the course of the game, the protagonist-investigators discuss getting together for dinner with alcoholic beverages (e.g., "An evening with you guarantees a morning hangover," "I've got the champagne on the way," and "You don't have to drink all three shots at once!").
Style Savvy has also been rated by the ESRB but with no additional descriptors. The summary is pretty concise by stating: - "This is a simulation game in which players assume the role of a clothing store employee trying to make her mark on the world of fashion. Players can assist customers in coordinating and purchasing clothes, put together their own outfits, and even enter fashion competitions."
It's still quite some time before we see Style Savvy but Women's Murder Club will be heading our way sooner, around Fall of this year |
posted 13 Jul 2009 21:45 by Knuckles Sonic8
Legendo, the developers of the upcoming platformer, The Three Musketeers: One for All have confirmed that the game will be releasing in all regions very soon. Specifically, they claim that although they can't confirm a date just yet for all regions, they can say that the game can be expected during the last week in July and for North America, that would point to July 27th. Keep your eyes open! The game's been confirmed to be 900 Points in Europe so we'll see what Nintendo decided to price it at for NA. |
posted 13 Jul 2009 21:21 by Knuckles Sonic8
Wasn't expecting to see this one too soon. Looks like Gameloft is almost ready to bring this over to the WiiWare service but hopefully not before UNO is released. The game has ended up with a "Mild Cartoon Violence" descriptor, the same as Mario Party 8. The summary describes the game a bit more: - "This is a "party" game in which players move around a game board in a haunted mansion, collect tokens, and search for hidden treasure. Players can engage in a variety of mini-games that include popping balloons, smashing "cartoony" skeletons, and completing carnival-style shooting games. In one mini-game, players must target bazooka-wielding blue ghosts that disappear with a popping sound when hit."
It'll be interesting to see how this one turns out. It's likely that this game can be expected during the summer. |
posted 13 Jul 2009 11:10 by Billy White
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updated 13 Jul 2009 12:29
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Sega have revealed the box art and date for the European release of Mario and Sonic's latest crossover. Subtitled the Olympic Winter Games, the box art is different for each console, the DS one seemingly more action packed to that of the Wii's, presumably to show off how different they are, with one notable difference being how Mario has an open hand on the DS one, whereas he and Sonic swap poses for the Wii one. You can also see that the Wii version includes the Balance Board logo, and both games are official viedo games of the olympics, and Vancouver 2010. They also both have the wi-fi connection logo, as well as the disgusting new green PEGI image.
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posted 13 Jul 2009 07:24 by Billy White
Here's a new feature that we're just giving a spin looking at the latest Virtual Console and WiiWare charts in the UK. In the video below, you can see the top twenty games listed from most to least popular on the Wii Shop Channel. Let us know what you think in the comments over on YouTube, and we'll try and continue this feature in future.
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posted 7 Jul 2009 21:24 by Knuckles Sonic8
XSEED really is on top of things these days. First, they're localizing Fragile for NA (a game many thought would never see the light of day overseas) and now Sky Crawlers! This is simply fabulous especially since I, personally, had my eye on Sky Crawlers and thought it looked really really good. Given its success in Japan, it's not a big surprise that it's coming here but what is surprising is that XSEED will be responsible for it. They really are making us here in NA happy with localizations! They had better get the support they deserve for all of this. Check the press release out! Read the full press release here
XSEED Games today announced that they have secured the North American publishing rights to The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, an intense flight simulation game on Wii™. Originally released in Japan by NAMCO BANDAI Games, this latest title from Project Aces, will be available Holiday 2009 exclusively for Wii.
After decades of constant war and fighting, the world has finally come to a lasting peace. But with war being an integral part of their lives for so long, the citizens of the world are desperate for a solution to solve this newfound peaceful life of calm and tranquility.
To ease this tension and to appease its citizens, the government has started pursuing a new round of wars. These new campaigns are not a power struggle between hostile countries, but rather sponsored events between private corporations with military-trained personnel contracted by each side to do their biding for them. It is the battles fought by these war contracted corporations such as Rostock and Lautern and the constant media reports on them that satisfy and replace the basic human instinct to fight using the war as a show.
The latest rookie pilot to join the Sky Crawlers, codenamed “Lynx,” is working his way up the ranks and becomes involved in a secret new military project with the goal of making pilots immortal. Join Lynx on his journey to conquer the skies while unraveling the mystery behind the military’s covert new project.
”I’m extremely pleased to be able to confirm The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces for gamers in North America,” said Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games. “The innovative control scheme and gorgeous visuals just go to show what a top-notch development team can do when creating a new game from scratch specifically for Wii.”
In The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, players hold the Nunchuk in the right hand as the flight control stick which is tilted to roll, pitch, and yaw, while the Wii Remote™ held in the left hand is titled up to accelerate and down to decelerate in its role as the throttle. The somber story of a world that needs war to survive, based on a novel series by Hiroshi Mori and adapted into an animated film released by Sony Pictures in the US, is told with a combination of animated cut-scenes and voiced in-game sequences during battle.
XSEED Games partnered with NAMCO BANDAI Games to secure the North American rights to publish and distribute The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces. The title is being developed by Project Aces , the forefront developer of flight simulation games behind the Ace Combat series, and garnered a Famitsu Gold Award upon release. |
posted 7 Jul 2009 21:20 by Knuckles Sonic8
Looks like Nintendo is already preparing for their next set of apps for DSiWare over in Japan. A series of Electroplankton, music-based apps will be hitting their service soon for 200 points a pop (yes, separately). On July 8th, Trapy, Hanebow, Nano-carp, and Beatnes will be released; July 22nd will have Rec-Rec and Lumiloop released; and sometime in August there will be releases of Luminarian, Sun Animalcule, Volvoice, and Marine Snow. It's very likely this will be hitting our way also.
Question is, when? And, what's to follow after these? |
posted 7 Jul 2009 21:13 by Knuckles Sonic8
We already knew "SimAnimals 2" was coming since last year when they confirmed it sometime after the first one was released and now we get the final word on EA's plans for a sequel to the original game. Turns out it'll be known as SimAnimals Africa and it's heading to Wii and DS this Fall. see below for the press release which contains more details on the upcoming game.
Read the full press release here
Pack your bags for an African adventure as EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced SimAnimals Africa for the Wii and Nintendo DS, the sequel to the highly enjoyable SimAnimals game. In SimAnimals Africa, gamers play with and tame all new exotic animals including lions, elephants and gorillas as they explore exotic landscapes from savannas to jungles. This must-have Wii game for the holidays is great for kids and features challenges and mini-games that players solve to unlock new items, animals and levels to explore!
"SimAnimals Africa offers players a whole new, wild world to explore, take care of, and discover," said Tim LeTourneau, General Manager of the SimAnimals Franchise. "Kids are in for hours of entertainment as they explore new terrain, and for the first time, play as wild animals where they can run, jump, kick and charge, adding another dimension to the fun."
SimAnimals Africa for the Wii With a playful new art style, SimAnimals Africa allows players to play with wild African animals while they venture across jungles, deserts, savannas, river deltas and more! Each brand new animal has their own unique skill and it's up to you to find their secret abilities. Kicking zebras, rock-breaking rhinos and crocodiles that excel at hunting will assist players in keeping the environment happy and unlocking new areas, animals, and special items. New mini-games give players more ways to interact with the animals. The ring toss, drumming, and petting games help the animals hone their unique skill and assist players in achieving their goals more quickly. Additionally, there are over 70 rare objects for players to collect including bugs, fruits and flowers. If players feed one of these rare items to an animal they may get an unexpected surprise! Kids can now choose to play as an animal. Will they water the terrain with their trunk as an elephant, kick fruit off trees as a zebra or jump over riverbeds as a gazelle? Players will have fun developing relationships with wild animals and their babies, and experience the humor and drama of life in Africa.
SimAnimals Africa for the Nintendo DS SimAnimals on the Nintendo DS allows players to bring the African adventure with them anywhere and play with friends! Featuring all of the animals included in the Wii adventure, the DS version also features exclusive animals such as parrots, cheetahs, meerkats, aardvarks and even a surprise secret animal as a reward for finishing the game! Build relationships with these wild, African animals, discover their secret abilities and use them to help solve challenges. Collect items to earn each reward badge in the game. The stylus and microphone allow players to interact with the animals and environment in a totally unique way. The friendly parrot is your guide through the African landscape. Talk to him through the DS microphone and he'll repeat back what you said! Conquer the African kingdom in co-op mode, where friends can trade plants and animals and play together to achieve goals faster.
Developed by The Sims Studio in the EA Play Label, SimAnimals Africa is scheduled to be available worldwide fall of 2009. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For more information about SimAnimals Africa, visit www.simanimalsafrica.com. For game artwork, visit http://www.info.ea.com. |
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