Nintendo Wii News…

One Step Forward, One Step Back

 

Earlier this week, the Wii managed to launch its forecast channel in North America, on December 19th, earlier than expected. Users were able to download the channel through a free system update, which could then provide updated weather reports and forecasts, after filling in the proper information. Also, the Wii’s virtual console was updated with three classics; Military Madness, Tennis, and Space Harrier II.

 

Unfortunately for North American Wii owners, Wii Play won’t be available until February of 2007. Wii Play, a game, was slated to be sold along side WarioWare: Smooth Moves on January 15th.

 

However, the game was mysteriously pushed back to February, according to the information available on Nintendo’s official press site. Wii Play contains nine mini-games and comes with a Wiimote (perhaps the reason for the no show).

 

 

 

 

New Titles and Announcements…

From Pokemon Diamond and Pearl to Medal of Honor to Gripshift

 

Releases

 

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl will finally be heading out to the Gameboy DS for the US…in April of 2007. The 22nd to be exact.

 

The new pair of games will be featuring new pokemon and a new region, as seen in the hit anime series, of Sinnoh. Up to eight players can play against each other with wireless networking. And those who preorder will get an exclusive Pokemon themed stylus while supplies last.

 

Medal of Honor Vanguard will be heading to the Wii and the Playstation 2 in March of 2007. The Wii version of the game will utilize the Wiimote.

 

Assuming the role of Frank Keegan, the player will battle their way from Sicily to Nazi Germany, freeing occupied countries as they progress through the game.

 

(Okay, honestly, how many times can the same God damn game be made with different characters. Sweet Jesus. Mind boggling, no?)

 

Line Rider is making the transition from online game to consoles, via the Wii and the DS in Spring of 2007.

 

Using a simple pencil tool, players will map out a series of hills and ramps to send sledder down, said sledder will then interact with the designed course (through a physics-based animation system).

 

GripShift is going to the Playstation 3 (finally, a PS3 game), remixed from its original form on the PSP.

 

Taking the wheel of one of six vehicles, players will race (jump and loop) through 25 levels and more than 100 new and remixed levels. Players can either race the AI or butt heads with up to three friends.

 

(Both titles sound boring and repititive to me.)

 

Novadrome is slated to arrive for the X-Box Live Arcade, on December 20th, at 1: 00 AM PST.

 

As only Game Informer can describe it, “The makers of Carmageddon are returning to their roots with Novadrome, an arena-style competition with a focus on car-combat. Novadrome lets would-be champions pick from more than 20 vehicles as they try to dominate an alien-organized, gladiator-style challenge. At stake? The fate of Earth.”

 

(I honestly tried to do my own summary. But, there are no words. I am sorry. I phail. 🙂 )

Announcements

 

• The Ship has not yet set sail. Those who might wish to board should take advantage of the free trial the multiplayer online PC game.

The game pits player against player, in a murder-mystery set on a luxury cruise liner. The player must find and kill an assigned passenger, while avoiding their own potential assassin.

• A new first person shooter game called “Severity” by John Romero has been announced for both consoles and PCs, with Cyberathlete Professional League. Testing will begin before the end of 2007, with Tom Mustaine in charge of the project, as the Director of Development at CPL.

The game is supposed to be a multiplayer FPS that focuses on team versus team and one player versus one player modes. Also, CPL promised support for players playing online and live competitions, with enhanced tournament support, spectator modes, and player and tournament stat tracking.

• Call of Duty 3 will have downloadable content available after the holidays for the X-Box 360. Containing two sets of maps, the bonus map will be free, while the Valor Map Pack will cost 800 points. The bonus map (Champs) will take players to Port Royal de Champs, France. The VMP will contain five new multiplayer maps that will take players through several French locales.
• The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game, based on the upcoming CGI movie for the series, will be taking a darker tone like the movie.
  

Says Nick Harper, creative director of the game, “The TMNT movie is all about the emotions associated with family and teenage angst. We’ve taken that philosophy and turned it into gameplay mechanics that will be fun and challenging. The direction for the all new TMNT movie and game is a darker, more realistic Turtle experience.”

• The Shield, a video game based on the hit F/X series, has a new trailer.
• Patience is also a virtue for PC Gamers.

 

 

Prince of Persia–Now A Trilogy…

For excited fans of the Prince of Persia series, a new entry for the best-seller is slated for the Wii in March 2007, with an excellent summary available for the title: Prince of Persia: Rival Swords. Expect what you know of the series to stay true. no rebooting or rewrites of the series, same mixture of gameplay and a well-crafted storyline.

*Spoilers*

On his way home to Babylon with Kaileena, the Empress of Time, the prince finds his homeland embroiled in war and Kaileena the target of a nefarious plot. Eventually, Kaileena is abducted…and when the Prince finally tracks her down, she is killed by a new enemy. With her death, the Sands of Time is unleashed and threatens to destroy all.

Now fugitive, the Prince learns the Sands have tainted him and have created the Dark Prince…who may soon be taking over. Him.

*End Spoilers*

Looks to be an interesting game for sure. And with the Wii’s Wiimote, I am expecting to be hearing about a ton of broken electronics and bruised people when this game is released.

That’s No Surprise…

Nintendo Intends to Replace 3.2 Million Straps…

 

And there you have it. The whole of a post in a title.

 

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What? Fine, fine, fine.

 

Now we all heard how people have been bashing TVs, fans, themselves–whatever managed to get caught in their rampage of playing Wii sports. Heh, or maybe Red Steel or Twilight Princess. 🙂 J/k.

 

In any case, most likely to avoid any lawsuits (gawd, I hate frivolous lawsuits), the gaming giant Nintendo is going to replace the straps on the Wiimote to make them stronger and less likely to break away.

 

The new strap will be twice as thick (as seen in the GI article).

 

But I am thinking they might as well go ahead and make the strap an adjustable, velcro one that you can wrap around your wrist and secure. Maybe that just too expensive or tacky to implement.

 

Whatev, as long as people can play the game and not break the TV or other furniture.

Still only a matter of time before Sixaxis accidents occur.

Why I Love Game Informer…

 Do Wii Want More…

There is no such thing as flawless, but I wonder if other Wii owners would like similar changes/upgrades to the Wii (systems). An interesting article on Game Informer on what they would like changed about Wii, since invariably, consoles DO change from their initial launch.

Also, the article takes a very nice look at the Wii (moreso than previous articles), so take a gander at it owner and non-owner alike.

It points out some of the quirks the mega-popular console has with it’s virtual console features, the need for rechargable battery packs and a power station, online issues, and some of the console’s special features (i.e. Gameboy hook ups, lack of music channels).

It also complains about the lack of accessories available for the console. And–taken from the article–that hard to find component cables for the Wii would be available December 15th, today! Yes, GameStop/EB would be a nice place to start your search if you’re lookin’. Third party component cables will be available on December 20th.

It was nice to see a breakdown on how good Wii features like the vitural console are. I hope Game Informer does the same for the PS3 when its more widespread.

Wii Woes…

To Borrow From Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann

 

Somehow, I am not surprised to learn that people have been maiming and destroying their TVs (plasmas and High-Defs) using the Wiimote. Heh.

 

It doesn’t surprise me in the least that people have gotten over excited and have bumps and bruises from gaming. No, nun-uh. Not even in the least.

 

Now, I am not picking on Nintendo, but come on. You all know that reports (and compliants) would be coming in sooner or later. What I am really surprised by was Nintendo’s lack of attention to the Wiimote’s strap.

 

Actually, I am surprised there was even a strap. But that Nintendo didn’t make the strap durable enough: from far away it kinda looks like a thread, upclose its thick-ish, but not nearly enough. I hope Nintendo didn’t honestly think people would be gently waving the things around.

 

Whoa-no.

 

Never trust people not to use excessive force and never trust them to use common sense. 🙂 I am not saying people are overly reckless, but people tend to get “lost” when they’re moving around (as evidenced by America’s Funniest (Home) Videos). They’re not looking out for stuff, so things tend to get broken.

 

That said, I don’t think Wii is at all dangerous (to TVs or people). I just people are careless, so when you’re using the wiimote, don’t get “lost”. Lost as in they’re so busy concentrating on the task at hand, they don’t notice physical barriers or boundaries, such as the TV, chairs, or a table. So, they’re failing about all willy-nilly and then BOOM, something happens.

And the same goes not only for the Wii, but cellphones and handhelds, or even just playing with someone else. Hey, I once ran into a TREE, a TREE, playing tag with my sister when I was little. It happens.

 

On that note, I wonder how many people broke they’re TVs playing the Wii sport games (bowling, golf, baseball) versus the number playing Red Steel and Twilight Princess.

 

Also, I want to know how many people will hurt themselves using the Sixaxis.

 

…What? I am serious! Never doubt the clumsiness of people. The Sixaxis may look beneign now. But I assure you, someone, somewhere will be playing a racing game on their PS3, movin’ all over the place with the wireless Sixaxis, and end up hurting themselves.

 

I am serious! It happens all the time! Read the Darwin Awards if you don’t believe me.

 

 

Looking Forward…to About Sunday

Tempus Fugit

 

 Ah, it only seemed like yesterday that the E3 conference was occuring, and everyone was reaming Sony for this and that. The Nintendo Wii was basking in the light of greatness, and Microsoft was still sitting in its oddly popular corner. I mean that in the nicest of ways, honestly now.

 

In any case, its somewhat hard to believe that was four months ago. What a wonderful time it was four months ago. For the first time in a very long time, I had bought a print magazine, Game Informer. I was reading the letters to the magazine and most people had thank GI for running their article on how to go about becoming an game designe/game artist.

 

Yes, yes. In any case, now that the PS3 has launched in Japan and the U.S. (so, so, sorry Europe), its time to look forward to the Nintendo Wii’s launch. Its exciting, no?

 

Recently, I’ve been going back and playing some of the more classic games. And its just been AMAZING to see just how far everyone (games, systems)  has come. Seriously. Its akin to going through a time warp and then realizing you’ve only gone back several years.

 

Its one thing to go back and play Final Fantasy VII, but its truly something to go back and play Final Fantasy VI. Its one thing to play Sonic Adventure 2, and another to play Sonic the Hedgehog. Its truly and experience, just in terms of game play and game mechanics, let alone cutscenes, full motion videos, graphics, music and sounds, among other things.

 

If you have an older game, a la Final Fantasy V, Super Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog, or other lesser known titles, you should go back and play them. They’re truly amazing titles even if the graphics are “dated”.

 

Its just interesting to see what elements have been reused or reinvented. For instance, the Gambit system in Final Fantasy XI actually takes its cue from auto-battle in Final Fantasy Tactics (PSOne).  Of course, the auto-battle system in Final Fantasy Tactics was limited, but there’s nothing quite like the original “Gambit”.

 

Of course, when I say such things, I have the benefit of nostalgia. But over Thanksgiving weekend, if you have the chance, just get a really old game and you sit there and play it. And soon enough, graphics and all those little other things won’t even matter. You’ll be so caught up in the story and the plot, everything else will be irrelevant.

 

As I was saying, looking forward to the Nintendo launch, I am excited. Already the Wii is going to bring some gameplay innovation to the forefront with it Wii controller. But the more things change, the more they stay the same, it all just happens again way down the line.

 

In any case, with the Wii launching, things ought to get interesting. In any case, when the news about the Console Wars starts to dry up, this blog will probably shift away from games and more towards…other Japanese imports/exports.

 

Good luck, Sony. Good luck, Wii.  Good luck, Microsoft.

 

On that note, I would just like to leave with this:

 

I honestly think that the Playstation 3, and maybe the X-Box 360,  will last for quite some time (aside from being new and fairly new). I don’t know about the Wii, I am not sure if it uses cartridges and I am not sure if Nintendo plans on upping its graphics. I think that consoles are reaching their peaks in graphical capabilities.

 

So, I don’t see Sony or Microsoft releasing another console for like several years. I don’t think PCs and Macs are going to be able to push further in gaming graphics either. But I could see Nintendo releasing another console a la the PS2 slim. Until rather than being thin, the console would be more powerful… Like a Wii 2 or something.

 

But either way, I would definitely count on your PS3 or 360 lasting a while.

 

Also, I feel sorry for peeps buying a PS3 then trying to sell it for $4,000. No. I don’t think that many people want one so desperately, that people are gonna pay and extre $3,000 for it.

 

Currently replaying: Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV, Sonic Adventure II, Streets of Rage II, Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy IX, Yoshi’s Story, and Super Mario 64

 

 

 

Of Crimes and Of Console Launches…

And Costs…

Sorry, Floridians, but y’all serious some have problems down there. But honestly, California and Oregon might have y’all beat today. Apparently, four PS3 consoles were stolen by three men who held up a Gamestop in Elk Grove, California. They were armed, of course.

The PS3s were not the only items taken, several X-Box 360s were also taken. This news is not so surprising since the PS3 has been “fetching thousands of dollars on E-Bay”. And here I thought E-Bay was on top of that situation.

Meanwhile, in Eugene, Oregon, three men who had been camping outside a Circuit City for the launch were ROBBED early Friday morning. The three men has left the line temporarily (bathroom?) and while walking past a Target, encountered two masked men.

The masked men lead the trio behind the store and mugged them. However, police were able to use survellience tapes to track the criminals after the crime and managed to return some stolen property (including a wallet).

Wow, just wow. In any case, elsewhere in New York and San Francisco (and of course other places), the PS3 enjoyed a flawless launch.

But here’s I guess some real news. Now, I’ve (and others) have known Sony is losing money on its PS3 venture. You’ve got to spend money, to make money, yes… But you’ve also got to make a profit (to repeat the cycle).

Well, here’s the story. Last year, BusinessWeek commissioned iSuppli to take apart the X-Box 360, see how much the console cost to put together. Well, the X-Box 360 with all pack-in accessories set Microsoft back about…$126. Welp, iSuppli has done something similar with the PS3.

“The size of Sony’s loss per unit is remarkable, even for the videogame console business,” read the iSuppli report.

Wanna know why iSuppli is so surprised?

Well, the hardware for the PS3 (20 GB version) costs $805.85 alone. The 60GB version costs about $840.35. That’s $306.85 and $241.35 more than the $599.99 high end model’s sticker price, respectively.

While hundreds of dollars will be lost by Sony, the multimedia/electronic giant hopes to make thousands on its consoles. Inspite of it all, iSuppli thinks the PS3 will deliver and become a good decision for buyers of the pricey, next-gen console.

“The reason why the PlayStation 3 is so costly to produce is because it has incredible processing power,” said teardown services manager and senior analyst for iSuppli, Andrew Rassweiler. “If someone had shown me the PlayStation 3 motherboard from afar without telling me what it was, I would have assumed it was for a network switch or an enterprise server.”

In case you’re curious, Microsoft makes about $75.70 per X-Box 360 sold. And iSuppli has no plans to do similar with the Wii (although, I would love to know what’s in that remote and how much it costs).

Japan PS3 Launch…

Without a Hitch, ‘Cept, You Know, Production Woes…

Wow, just wow. Looks, like Sony’s making a comeback with its PS3 in Japan. How exactly does a never before released console like the PS3, make a comeback (since it never really was), I don’t know.

But, so far the thing has sold 88,400 units in Japan. Not bad considering all the publicity, naysayers, and all the mistakes Sony made. The high end model (60GB) made up over 62% of those sales.

If you’re curious, Rrrrrriiiddddggggeee Racers 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire from Namco Bandai were the top selling launch games in Japan.

Let’s all say it together: “STFU Nintendo/Microsoft fanboys. Oh, and ‘Ha!'”
🙂

That said, in the U.S., things aren’t looking so hot. Well, sales are good, but supply might not meet demand. While Toys R Us is assuring preorders, Gamestop (and possibly by extension EB) won’t be getting enough PS3 to fill preorders.

Don’t get so cocky though. Many customers wanting a PS3 in Japan went home empty handed. 😦 Sorry, y’all. But that’s not anything new anyway…

Nintendo/Microsoft fanboys can rally around this: “That sucks, yo. Oh, and ‘Ha!'”

Meanwhile, it seems the Wii is going to also have a sort of high-end model in 2007. Yes, the Wii will come with a DVD player (or rather have DVD playback features) around then.

This blur of technology is somewhat irritating. Do we REALLY need a device to play video games and DVDs. Or a phone that take pictures and video, play music, access the internet, text message, play video games, AND play music? Or a handheld that can do similar things as the phone and translate several different languages eventually? Save me, Jeebus!

Also, Wikipedia closed down the Wii, PS3, and Sony articles due to vandalism. I was wondering when that would happen.

Don’t forget, the PS3 arrives in the U.S. in three days. Be thankful, because Europe ain’t supposed to get it for a while.

Clover Studios Is Gone…Wii Preorders Available

Yes, the studio whose efforts created Viewtiful Joe and Okami is gone now. But fear not, just because the Studio has been closed, doesn’t mean Viewtiful Joe or Okami won’t ever see the another entry on its list. Capcom, which was in charge of Clover, wholly owns Viewtiful and Okami. So, there hopes for both series to continue.

In other news, the Wii can be preordered tomorrow! That’s right, only three days after the PS3 preorders, gamers who want the Wii will have their shot.

Interesting, reserving a Wii will cost only $50. But the reserve for a PS3 was $100. It used to be that preorders were universally $50. I suppose it could be due to the scarcity of systems (i.e. the PS3 will have 8-16 systems, launch day. Wii will have 20-30).

And um, that’s it…for now.