That's it! People build Gradius ships out of LEGO for the whole month, post them on Flickr, we all applaud and say together "what a brilliant idea this was, thank you".

Vic Vipers @ Flickr [via Game Informer]

Wait. Didn't we already have a Gradius II Vic Viper? My video game space ship spreadsheet is almost never wrong! In fact, we did. Atelier Sai released the classic blue and white painted version of the Vic Viper quite some time ago. Apparently, the profit margins were too attractive not to see the toy maker revisit the craft.

That's why they released the Gradius III version of the ship too.

If you have both, neither, or are simply green with envy that someone else will own this Vic Viper, check in with your local importer. This one's priced at 5,000 yen (about $50 USD) and will release in September. Who knows what the exchange rate will be then...

ビックバイパー グラディウスII版 明貴美加ver. グリーンカラー [HobbyStock]

On the virtual console side of things we have two TruboGrafx16 titles, futuristic boxing title Digital Champ Battle Boxing (700 points), and Gradius Gofer No Yabou (900 points), the CD-ROM sequel to the original shooter classic, and probably the most exciting game of the week as far as we're concerned. See anything you'll be picking up?

Two WiiWare Games and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

No matter how many years go by, the blocks just never stop falling. Now Tetris Party gives you the chance to show off all the block-stacking skills you have honed through the years while competing with friends in a variety of new challenges. If you’re in more of a solitary mood, see how long it takes you to work your way through The Incredible Maze. The Virtual Console also sees two classic games added. Whether you like to do your fighting with an airship or a pair of boxing gloves, you’re covered.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare™

Tetris Party (Tetris Online, Inc., 1-6 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,200 Wii Points): Tetris Party is a deceptively simple, totally addictive puzzle game that is sure to keep you and all of your friends and family entertained for hours on end. The WiiWare game features 10 never-before-seen single-player and multiplayer variations of Tetris, including Field Climber, Stage Racer, Shadow and Wii Balance Board-enabled modes (Wii Balance Board™ accessory sold with Wii Fit™). Several of the modes give users the chance to take advantage of the unique point-and-shoot capabilities of the Wii Remote™ controller. The party doesn't stop there, though. Take the Tetris fun online via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, where you can play multiplayer Tetris against up to five friends at a time. You can also see how your Tetris Party skills stack up against the rest of the world using the global ranking system.

The Incredible Maze (Digital Leisure Inc., 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Get lost in The Incredible Maze! Simply tilt your Wii Remote controller to navigate a series of exciting and twisted mazes. Entering the maze could not be easier, but finding your way out will require a keen eye and a steady hand. Obstacles and traps are around every corner, so move your ball around the maze without falling off the edge. But watch out, there are lots of surprises in store. You can hunt for gems in a timed challenge, or test your abilities in a race against the clock. The Incredible Maze is also compatible with the Wii Balance Board, so you can really put your weight into it. This is the way in, but you’ll have to find your own way out.

Virtual Console

Digital Champ Battle Boxing (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older – Mild Violence, 700 Wii Points): Set in the near future, Digital Champ Battle Boxing is a first-person-perspective boxing title that plunges players into the raw intensity of the ring! Determined to thwart Mother Computer’s plot to conquer mankind, you infiltrate the enemy’s domain, using your boxing skills to vanquish your foes. Each round is three minutes, with a total of 12 rounds to a match. Advance to the next contest through either a KO or by flattening an opponent three times in a round for a TKO. Utilize an arsenal of left and right jabs, hooks, power-charged crosses and three different kinds of “Devastator” punches. Deftly block and slip your opponent’s attacks, and look for your chance to lay them out. Master these techniques and take down the greatest opponent of them all, DIGITAL CHAMP!

GRADIUS® II GOFER NO YABOU (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): This shooter is the sequel to the seminal masterpiece, GRADIUS. Two years after its last epic battle, the GRADIUS army recommissions the VIC VIPER super-dimensional warplane to combat the invasion of a new nemesis known as GOFER. Piloting the latest model of the VIC VIPER, players can select between multiple WEAPON MODULES and SHIELDS to tackle the varying stages and enemy attack patterns they come up against. With a total of nine stages, this perfect port of the original boasts one of the longest adventures in the series and features more of its trademark fast-paced background music to accompany the intense action.

『オトメディウスG（ゴージャス！）』の発売延期について [Konami] [Pic]

Gradius ReBirth is planned for a summer release in Japan. If it arrives elsewhere, buy it. Convince Konami to restart work on Gradius VI. Seriously.

Gradius ReBirth [Konami]

Check out the gorgeous Otomedius Gorgeous trailer here.

Hori Otomedius [Konami Style via Arcade Renaissance]

Based on the Gradius II design and expected to ship in April, the Atelier Sai distributed ship follows a trio of previous Vic Vipers. Those three were based on Konami's slightly creepy Sky Girls anime, which featured spindly teenage girls in exoskeletons. Targeted at the aircraft fetishists who like women with wings for legs, the Sky Girls Vic Vipers were tainted with off-canon colors, but still looked pretty snazzy.

Fortunately, that's all in the past.

The 7.75" Gradius II Vic Viper model should set you back about $42 US (or 4500 yen) if you find a retailer who stocks it. Play-Asia carried the previous versions, if you're so inclined.

If you want to pick me up a pair—the second for a custom Player Two paint job—I won't refuse.

Gradius II Vic Viper [HobbyStock]

The current lot of goods also includes the "multiple movable system" action figures and a digital manga series featuring the maid-ship ladies of Otomedius. We don't expect it to stop any time soon.

Otomedius Goods [Konami]

Still, if you're into this sort of thing, they're shipping in January of next year and run 4,725 yen each. Check with your favorite importer to secure 'em.

Otomedius Action Figures [Hobby Stock]

New York based importer Nation Console Support is now taking pre-orders for the first releases in the series, listed below.

R-9A Arrow-Head from R-Type
0F-1 Daedalus from Image Fight
Vic Viper T301 from Gradius
Metarion from Gradius II
Silver Hawk from Darius Gaiden

At $20 for all five, with an estimated ship date of early December, you're looking at the perfect stocking stuffer for the shmup lover in your life. I'm looking at you, Mom.

SR Shooting Video Game History Gashapon [NCSX]

A brief update, yes, and disheartening in its lack of anime girl cleavage. Note that Konami promises more updates "comming soon" so keep your eyes peeled and huggable pillows within easy humping distance.

Otomedius Official Site [Konami.jp]

The game is scheduled for a 2007 release in Japan, but I have a hard time believing that it will make its way out of Japan. It's weird and Konami USA avoids weird like the plague. It's unknown what hardware platform Otomedius is running on, but it takes advantage of the e-AMUSEMENT system which adds network support to arcade games.

We'll keep you update on any and all breaking Otomedius news. Believe me.

Otomedius [Gpara]

Battle Lode Runner (TurboGrafx 16 - 600Points): Never released stateside, Battle Lode Runner is a PC Engine version of the classic platformer. The original PC title was one of the first games to come with a level editor, and so does this one, along with a five-player battle mode which promises you'll have great bouts of fun until you stop. Back in the day there were no Halo VS Metroid debates. It was all about Lode Runner versus Jumpman. Jumpman 4 life y'all.

Gradius III (SNES - 800 Points): One of my personal favorite entries in the Gradius series, II introduced a customizable powerup bar to aid those of you who always went one past the laser power up. Hours of fun blasting moai statues in your trusty Vic Viper.

Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis - 800 Points): Oh Wonder Boy...what is the secret of your power? This is the second Wonder Boy title from Sega, also released as Super Monster World: Super Wonder Boy and Super Wonder Boy in Monsterland. No matter what you call it, this platformer with RPG elements can kill a yak from 200 yards away...with MIND BULLETS. That's telekinesis folks.

So there you go, a lovely assortment of classic gaming this week. It's a pity you'll all be far too busy playing with your pocket monsters to notice. Don't lie, you know you love the Pikachu. Michael Fahey

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

Admit it. Somewhere deep inside, you've always wanted to go for the gold, take down Monster World, and have people call you Vic Viper. How cool would that be? Well, pay a visit to the popular Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel, and all those fantasies can now come true.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(TM) to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Gradius(R)III (SNES(R), 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Return as the pilot of the Vic Viper starfighter to battle the onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire. Blast through 10 action-packed levels in space, destroying everything in your path. Customize and power up your ship with weapons and upgrades including speed-ups, missiles, lasers, options, and shields.

Wonder Boy(TM) in Monster World (Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Monster World was a peaceful, happy place until one dark day when an army of BioMeka monsters invaded. As a young man named Shion, you've vowed to defeat the hostile foes and make the land peaceful again. You'll attack enemies with swords and spears and guard against incoming projectiles with shields and armor. As you travel through the many different regions of Monster World, you'll talk to the townspeople, collect money to buy items, and gather a large variety of weapons and magic. The further you venture, the more powerful your weapons and equipment, including suits of armor and boots, will become.

Battle Lode Runner(R) (TurboGrafx 16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): This upgraded edition to the famous Lode Runner series includes a 5-player versus mode. Gold funds have been stolen from the Time Machine Research Center, and the group responsible used a time machine to escape and hide the gold throughout time. The center sends an elite team of "Runners" to go and retrieve the gold.

In addition to the familiar Puzzle mode, the game features Battle mode, where up to 5 players can compete, and Edit mode, where you can create your own original stages. You can enjoy Battle mode in a number of different ways. Be the last one standing to win in Survival. Grab items from enemies and escape to win in Escape. With 4 players, you can separate into two teams to do battle in Tag Match.

Arcade play testing has become for Konami's moe-meets-Gradius boob bullet hell Otomedius. Here's footage of the game on "expert", which I hadn't seen before. It looks like a solid shooter from Konami, but that touch screen is a definite turn-off. Just imagine how smudgy with finger oil it gets. And during Japan's humid summer? GROSS. Brian Ashcraft

Otomedius Location Test [via Sazanami]

While Gradius fans will feel right at home, Parodius afficionados will feel even more at ease as the upcoming arcade shooter eschews serious space battles for cutesy settings, en vogue coin collecting and battles against pengiuns, crabs, and flying fish. End stages look to feature showdowns against busty bosses while screen clearing attacks add strategy. Otomedius also takes advantage of Konami's e-AMUSEMENT system for save data and internet rankings.

Let's hope that after Konami bleeds the Otomedius well dry with capsule toys, garage kits and hump pillows, they'll give us a home console port. Michael McWhertor

More On Konami At AOU 2007 [Game Watch]

Keep in mind, though, that many ESRB rated titles are currently not yet available for the service, including Gradius, Pilotwings, Kid Icarus, Punch-Out!! and Pro Wrestling. But with two Nintendo published titles already planned, I suspect we'll see a handful of third party games slip out.

Bring on that SNES love! Michael McWhertor