Brawl Once "Had A Lot More Characters"

Smash Bros. Brawl has more characters than you can shake a lamb's tail at. Too many, perhaps? Don't dare suggest that, the series' fans will string you up. Instead, suggest that the game doesn't have enough characters. That'll wash over well. With fans and the game's creator Masahiro Sakurai, who says that earlier in the game's development he "had a lot more characters", but had to trim the numbers as they got closer to release. So which ones made the cut? Sakurai's not telling, leaving you free to chime in with your own hair-brained speculation. Me, I was hoping for one of the Rito postmen to make an appearance...

[Official Nintendo Magazine, via Wii Fanboy]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Producer Pines For New Nintendo Characters

Nintendo fans may not be the only ones growing ever weary of Mario's sports, kart and paper-based adventures. With almost nothing in the way of new franchise characters coming out of Nintendo in the past decade, it's enough to make even the hardened Nintendo devotee hope for something exciting and new. That includes Super Smash Bros. Brawl producer Masahiro Sakurai, who ends today's Smash Bros. Dojo with an aside. He highlights the characters in Brawl's All-Star mode, expressing what seems like frustration at Nintendo's lack of new icons.

When they're all lined up like this, it becomes obvious that there is roughly 6-year blank before and after Pikmin. While there have been big series since then like "Animal Crossing," "Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day," and "Wii Sports" it does seem that coming up with a completely new character-driven series has gotten more difficult recently.

Sakurai Apologizes for No Voice Chat

Super Smash Bros. Brawl creator Masahiro Sakurai had the best intentions, really. Like, when he started making SSBB, he thought it would be great if the online battles between friends had voice chat and possibly even keyboard chat. Hey, that sounds pretty great! What the hell happened?

But there are all sorts of rules and regulations regarding communication on the Wii platform and so it was apparent to me that it just wouldn't come together, we weren't going to be able to do it, so we decided to cancel that feature. I'm very sorry about that. But if you're really desperate for it, you could set up Skype by your game station and go at it with a friend if you like.

Dojo Dump: Enter The Spoiler Era

This week has been a rocky road for those looking for an unspoiled Super Smash Bros. Brawl experience. Just prior to the game's official release in Japan, the full details of Brawl's roster, its bosses, its numerous stages were all revealed by those who got their hands on it early. Even on the official Brawl web site, the Smash Bros. Dojo, producer Masahiro Sakurai has begun to reveal the game's hidden fighters. If you're the least bit concerned about that, it's time to move into the bunker.

But for those looking to relish in every detail, every screen shot, every word from Sakurai, savor the Dojo Dump. We've only got two more months together.

Super Secret Super Smash Bros. Brawl Developer Revealed

Sure, apologies are appreciated when it comes to Super Smash Bros. Brawl shipping even later in North America than promised (twice!). However, the juicy, meaty portion of Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata's interview with the game's producer Masahiro Sakurai is the ultimate reveal of the team responsible for the Wii brawler. It's not HAL Laboratory, obviously, and Sora Ltd. weren't officially involved. Game Arts, of all folks, is the developer responsible. Didn't see that one coming.

You may (or may not) remember Game Arts from its development on the Lunar and Grandia series, both quite aged, both essentially the opposite of a lightning fast, multiplayer fighting game. Why the secrecy? It couldn't have anything to do with the overreaction found on the internet. Could it? Nah. The full interview, if you missed it before, is worth the read.

Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl [Wii.com]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl *Hearts* All Controllers

I guess I have no choice but implement them all!

Kojima's Super Smash Bros. Brawl Hands On Opinion