Those three Tecmo arcade games all spawned NES ports, with Ninja Gaiden remarkably different from its arcade predecessor. While we haven't seen an announcement for those three newly rated titles, Tecmo recently brought the arcade version of Tecmo Bowl to the Virtual Console Arcade. It appears its plans don't stop there.

No word yet on when we can expect to see the arcade versions of Ninja Gaiden, Solomon's Key and Rygar available via the Wii Shop Channel, but we're just glad to see something happening on the VC Arcade front.

Roenick retired this past week, and Patrick Hruby (Hey! I know that guy!) writes an eloquent tribute to one of the last deities of sports gaming. Roenick had the fortune of being written into a game back when sports titles' gameplay were still loosely based in reality. Of course, none can eclipse Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson. But Roenick's retirement leaves very few of these athletes still active, and blessed to be remembered for otherworldly talents within a video game.

By my count, only two remain: Ken Griffey, Jr., completely superhuman in his eponymous game for the Super Nintendo; and Michael Vick from Madden 2004 probably the only modern game player whose skills just turned everything into a cartoon, like Jackson, or Lawrence Taylor, or the run-and-shoot Houston Oilers of Tecmo.

As sports game developers perfect, incrementally, the realism of games, we will still be able to play as the greatest performers of our time. But their performances will not dominate the screen the way Roenick did in NHL '94. His talent was so pure, white-hot and lasting, it transcended a single sport, and put him and his game into one of the most memorable sequences of a cult classic.

Remembering Jeremy Roenick: The Video Game God [ESPN, via Wired]

North America gets its first M-rated WiiWare title this week in Gameloft's Sexy Poker (500 Wii points), which features six anime-flavored women stripping to their underwear if you're good enough at poker. Despite the preponderance of porn freely available on the internet, thousands of you will discuss how stupid this game is over the internet and then quietly download it, playing when no one else is looking.

There's other stuff coming this week as well, for those of you still reading this and not refreshing the Wii Shop Channel over and over. Stuff like Studio Zan's Overturn (800 Wii points), a robot-on-robot fighting game with online play and Wii Balance Board support. Or there's Art Style: precipice for DSiWare (500 DSi points), a climbing puzzle in the same vein as all of those other Art Style games we've come to enjoy so much.

Plus, this week sees the return of the Virtual Console, with the arcade version of Tecmo Bowl (600 Wii points)!

I'd bet you buy Tecmo Bowl if the football players were half-naked anime women. Hmph. Official descriptions follow.

WiiWare

OVERTURN
Publisher: Studio Zan Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points™
Description: OVERTURN is a futuristic robot-versus-robot fighting game. Choose from eight different robots to pilot and master, using various close-range and long-range weapons to blast away enemies in six single-player tournaments. Unlock secret modes and up to 12 new weapons. Customize your robot's color and weapons to prepare for your next battle. Then take the action online to play in a two-player Versus battle or a four-player Battle Royale match. Search the world for Friends or other players who are online and ready for battle. Players with the optional Wii Balance Board™ can use it to control their robots by shifting their weight.

Sexy Poker™
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature) - Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Get your pulse racing with a game of strip poker against a selection of six lovely manga-style women who may wind up in nothing but swimsuits or underwear when the final hand is dealt. Choose the classic Texas Hold'em Poker to be thrilled as the bets increase, or try the Black Jack game for a mix of chance and strategy. Discover the girls' personalities: they'll bluff you! Enter the photo gallery to see the pictures you've unlocked by playing and winning. If you're good enough, Emi, Sakura and their seductive girlfriends will bet their clothes to stay in the game.

Virtual Console

TECMO BOWL
Publisher: Tecmo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Released in 1987, the football game that took America by storm is back. This arcade version required a custom-made dual-screen cabinet and was popular for its large characters and intense graphics. The game is filled with great action as players take control of receivers and running backs, quickly moving the controller to break a tackle. Play alone or with up to four players in a two-on-two match. Experience the best moments of both competitive and cooperative play, finding holes in your opponent's defense, then savor the thrill of receiving a pass thrown by your teammate. In addition, game options such as play time, team division and difficulty level can be adjusted.

Nintendo DSiWare

Art Style: precipice™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: The sky is falling in the form of cubes in the action-oriented Art Style: precipice. Watch for the telltale shadow to avoid seeing your character get crushed by a falling cube while climbing the stacked cubes to ascend to the floors above. Push, pull or shove cubes to make your climb easier. Try to gain extra points by stepping on five cubes in a row on the same floor. In addition, you'll encounter special cubes that can either be helpful or harmful to your effort. Choose from either TEN FLOORS mode, which challenges you to reach the tenth floor while scoring as many points as possible, or TOWER mode, which gives you the chance to climb as high as you can. Do you have what it takes to make it to the top, or will you be crushed?

Tecmo recently announced the development of Family Fun Football for the Wii, a title that sounds perfectly in line with the jolly kinds of games many publishers produce for NIntendo's console.

But wasn't there supposed to be a Tecmo Bowl being made for the Wii? A DS iteration was released last year, after all.

The Wii projects are one and the same project, it turns out. Family Friendly is what has become of the remake of Tecmo Bowl, a company spokesperson told G4:

"As much as we'd like to say this [Family Fun Football] is a completely different game, it did start out as the 'Tecmo Bowl Wii' project... However, given the recent trend on the Wii and its target audience, Tecmo made a business decision to switch the project into a family oriented football game."

Family Friendly Football is slated for a fall 2009 release.

G4 also reports that a Tecmo Bowl is coming to Xbox Live Arcade.

Tecmo Bowl Wii' On Hold, But 'Tecmo Bowl' Hitting Xbox Live Arcade In Early 2010 - G4

To: Tecmo
From: Crecente
Re: TECMO BOWL: KICKOFF FOR THE NINTENDO DS COMING THIS FALL

Dear Tecmo,

Don't you dare fuck up Tecmo Bowl. No story, no graphic overhaul, don't touch the soundtrack, no DC comic characters... and god help you if you include Mii.

Signed,
Brian
(Delivery confirmation requested)

TECMO BOWL® IS BACK!
The Legend Returns With TECMO BOWL®: KICKOFF For the Nintendo DS™

TORRANCE, Calif. May 1, 2008 — Leading video game developer and publisher Tecmo® today announced TECMO BOWL®: KICKOFF, exclusively for the Nintendo DS™. Based on the most popular Tecmo Super Bowl™, KICKOFF will deliver to long time fans and newcomers easy to employ controls, fun, huge plays and exciting cut-scenes. The classic, over-the-top, all-American football game enables players of all levels to engage in a fun filled, fast paced, arcade style of football.

“We are extremely excited to bring back everyone’s favorite football game to the Nintendo DS,” said Ryan Gilbo, executive producer, Tecmo, Inc. “KICKOFF is packed with everything that fans wanted to see in this revival. No other football game will ever compare to TECMO BOWL as this is the game that started it all.”

TECMO BOWL: KICKOFF brings a host of new features that will further enhance the gameplay experience, including:

• Customizable Teams: Choose team colors, emblems, player names, team cities and abilities.
• Super Abilities: Tactically use over-the-top plays to take over a game.
• Wi-Fi and Wireless Multiplayer: Play against friends across the country or across the room.
• Stylus Control: Feel the action by using the stylus to control your player.
• Variety of Teams: Choose from 32 different teams.
• Cut-Scenes: All-new cut-scenes showing off the dramatic presentation of various plays.
• Customizable Playbook: Prepare for gridiron greatness by customizing your playbook.
• Music and Sound Effects: Turn up the heat on your opponent as you play the game to rock ‘n’ roll remixes of the most memorable tunes in football gaming history!
TECMO BOWL: KICKOFF is scheduled to launch Fall 2008. The game has not yet been rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

The monthly rumor column from Quarterman says that a "classic version" of Tecmo Bowl is coming to the DS, with a "modern remake" Wii-bound. Considering that 1UP's account says that we can expect info in an upcoming issue "very soon" I suspect they know what they're talking about.

Quartermann: Downloadable Ratchet & Clank Sequel Coming [1UP]

Hit the jump for a YouTube clip of it in action.

To be honest that was a totally different division that made that announcement, so I have no idea what's going on with that... I'm in a tough position because when I am making Dead or Alive, for instance, all the Ninja Gaiden fans say quit messing around with Dead or Alive and make a sequel to Ninja Gaiden. When I'm making a new Ninja Gaiden, all the Dead or Alive fans are like, "You have to quit that and start making Dead or Alive. And that's tough enough as it is, but I also get letters all the time for the past 10 years from Tecmo Bowl fans saying, "When are you going to resurrect that franchise?" So it's tough being in my position.

Rygar has made only a handful of home appearances over his 21 year history, once each on the NES, Atari Lynx and PlayStation 2. The new Rygar, as you can see in the early artwork, looks quite different from his arcade and console predecessors. One could say extremely different.

Tecmo also announced at the event that an update to the Tecmo Bowl series was currently under development for one console, but no target platform was revealed.

Tecmo Bowl, eh? Whatever! Rygar!!! Michael McWhertor

Live From Tecmo's Nite Out 07 [IGN]

First up is this Punch Out!! inspired crewneck from L&D. It comes in three colors, with Mike Tyson's busted grill smack dab in the middle of the chest. Mike isn't always green, just in this variation.

Also from L&D is a nod to Tecmo Bowl in this less inspired sweatshirt that requires knowledge of street fashion and classic NES football games.

Similarly, No Mas is bringing that Tecmo Bowl flair to their hoodie (brown or black) with front and back 8-bit graphics. For our Hawaiian readers, a t-shirt of the same "Tecmo Bo" design is also available.

No Mas' other sports game piece features a classic fight from EA's NHL 94 for the Sega Genesis, which comes in two colors, one of which plainly doesn't quite work out. Like their other design "Goons" comes in a short sleeve tee.

All this stuff can be picked up at stores like Digital Gravel, Krudmart, The Red Lemon Store, and Turntable Lab.

Thanks for going window shopping with us. Let us know if you pick up any gear. Michael McWhertor

Kotakuite Rikku noticed an extremely odd challenge issued on Tecmo-Bowl.com:

Let's play for money? I play Tecmo Super Bowl on the Nintendo IN PERSON.

I fly to you... in the Continental USA — Any team you want, but you pick your team first. —-Any team I want after u choose :)

for... $1000 Best 3 out of 5 games. contact me... crazyleg -at- gmail . /com

How... odd. Either Crazyleg has some amazing Techmo Bowl skills, or this is a strange money-making scam. The "I can play any team after you pick yours" provision makes me think there must be some Tecmo Bowl goof or cheat that would allow him to easily win, but a cursory browsing of GameFAQs doesn't turn anything up.

But wait, another wrinkle! At the bottom of the page, Crazyleg notes:

I am also available for tap dance and comedy shows.

Anyone in the Continental United States with a grand to burn and some mad 8-bit football skills care to take Crazyleg up on his offer, or hire him for a tap-dancing vaudeville show or two? Florian Eckhardt

Mark Bottrell went through the painstaking (by Kotaku worker standards) process of determining what pro athlethes on the NES sports game rosters were still kickin' in the major leagues. While R.B.I. Baseball still features a pair of still active players, the NFL classic Tecmo Bowl is nothing but an archive of now retired players and fondly remembered has-beens. Check out Mark's post for the fully, but paltry, line-up. Michael McWhertor

Active Players In R.B.I Baseball, Tecmo Bowl, & Tecmo Super Bowl