There may be a possibility, because there are still two main programmers with the company.

Don't expect that any time soon or like ever, but hey, nice to see that those two main programmers are at Hudson. Loyalty is important.

The Game Master Speaks: Hudson's 'Takahashi-Meijin' Goes Retro [Gamasutra]

Also included in the release list update is Samurai Ghost, the side-scrolling slasher sequel to the Namco release The Genji and the Heike Clans that once graced Namco Museum Vol. 4 in years past. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to start overturning cars and setting them alight based on this exciting news.

List of Titles to be Released [Hudson via 1UP]

Leading the charge this week is the Nintendo 64 classic Paper Mario, the graphically flat but gameplay deep role-playing game that has since spawned a GameCube and Wii pair of sequels. At 1000 Wii points, it's half of what you'd pay for the cartridge on eBay. Worth it for the LOLs alone.

On the NES front is Balloon Fight, the simple, Joust-like 8-bit semi-classic that Nintendo swears is "surprisingly addictive." It too spawned a sequel of sorts, the Club Nintendo giveaway Tingle's Balloon Fight. 500 Wii points? Yup.

Finally, we have the TurboGrafx-16 first-person shooter Silent Debuggers. At 600 Wii points, it might be good for a laugh. This is not an endorsement.

Keep on scrolling for the official line from Nintendo themselves.

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

July 16, 2007

Ready for a fantastical summer getaway? Instead of a travel agent, visit the Wii Shop Channel, where this week's new game offerings invite you to explore some exciting and highly unusual locales. Magical 3-D realms, balloon-filled skies and a perilous space station are just a few of the exotic destinations you'll find.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel 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:

Paper Mario® (Nintendo® 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): Paper Mario is a graphically innovative game that breaks from the confines of the RPG genre. Now slimmed down, everyone's favorite plumber flips, spins, jumps and hammers his way through scads of exotic worlds that teem with a huge and hugely entertaining supporting cast. Players control numerous old and new characters in a complex, nonlinear story that follows different scenarios depending on player choices. A dizzying collection of spells, attacks, skills and special items can be collected by players willing to thoroughly explore the lush 3-D environments.

Balloon Fight® (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Control a character to pop your opponents' balloons before they pop yours. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Don't be fooled by this game's simple premise or cute exterior. Underneath you'll find a surprisingly addictive game with strategy to spare. After mastering the easy-to-learn controls, you still have to get a grip on the game's impressively realistic physics. And if that's not enough, there are the ever-increasing enemies and environmental hazards like lightning and water. Try the game's second mode, Balloon Trip, if you feel like taking a break from the action and just want to see how long you can stay aloft. And hey, who doesn't like popping balloons sometimes?

Silent Debuggers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): Make your way through a dungeon-like space station and defeat the prowling monsters in this real-time first-person shooter. You're a member of the elite Debuggers, a group of warriors who are jacks-of-all-trades. Assigned to inspect an unmanned space station, you have exactly 100 minutes to get in, destroy the monsters lurking in each block, make your way to the lowest level and deactivate the automatic detonator placed there. With each monster that slips by you, the core block becomes harder to survive in, so speed is key in preserving the facility and each separate block. Experience the thrill of survival as the timer ticks away and you uncover the truth of the events that occurred.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com

While Alien Crush follow up Devil's Crush and shooter Air Zonk are probably recognizable to many TG-16 fans, Silent Debuggers and Drop Off—both G-mode developed games—will probably leave others wanting. The only thing I'm wanting is to get my hands on some hellish pinball action. Hail Satan!

Virtual Console Titles [Hudson]

Oh wait. They took the flatulence out of the US version. Jerks.

Say, did you know that J.J. and Jeff is loosely related to America's Funniest Home Videos? It's true. The game was based on the Japanese variety show Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan which later inspired the Vin Di Bona production. Impress friends and acquaintances with that fun fact... and you'll be met with nothing but stares of horror.

(Seriously, if you buy China Warrior I'm taking your Classic Controller and beating you with it.) Michael McWhertor

Next slate of Wii TurboGrafx-16 games revealed [Gamespot]

On tap for the Wii Shop Channel are NEC's awesome old-school vertical shooter Blazing Lazers and the pretty ninja platformer Ninja Spirit from Irem. I recall EGM giving the latter a ridiculously high score back in the day which ensures that I have to finally try this one out.

Also coming in may is the Namco shooter Ordyne and World Sports Competition, a Summer Olympics-style game with the typical track and field fare. Yes, dry as dust, but BLAZING LAZERS. Come on! Michael McWhertor

The 1991 platformer leads the charge of TG-16 fare, with Bravoman, Shockman and Battle Lode Runner filling out the rest of April's planned releases.

According to Hudson's list, next Monday should also see action RPG Dragon's Curse hitting the Wii Shop Channel. All titles are 600 Wii Points or six regular American bucks. Now where's my JJ and Jeff, damn it?! Michael McWhertor

Virtual Console Titles [Hudson]

From the folks at Hudson:

On Feburary 9th 2007, Hudson released an updated version of "Military Madness". This update more closely resembles the original emulated version of the game which launched on the TurboGrafx-16 system. While it is not required to download this update, users who purchased the game before Feb 9th 2007, are entitled to upgrade their software free. All customers who purchase the game for the first time will automatically download the updated version. Go to the Wii Shop Channel:Account Activity. Click on Military Madness, then click on the Update Tab. You will be asked if you want to Download (0 points), click on Yes.

Don't worry, your current game saves won't be affected. As a suggestion, Wii owners sans Military Madness looking for a cheap, old school, hex-based strategy game should drop the Wii Points already. Nintendo? How about sending us updates via Wii messages for things like this. It would be greatly appreciated. Michael McWhertor

Yardarm51

I know a lot of people were excited about Nintendo's generic Icy Hockey hitting, but Tennis, I really did despise that game, even when it was cutting edge. Fortunately, they make up for the offensive Tennis game by also releasing Sega Genesis classic Space Harrier II and Military Madness from the TurboGrafx16.

Hit the jump for the prices and official descriptions... Tennis, phhhht! Brian Crecente

Tennis (NES(R), 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Players slam a serve, fire a
blazing backhand and smash a forehand volley on their way to winning the
victory cup. Players can choose between five different levels of difficulty,
ranging from Beginner all the way up to Advanced. If players want to become
true champs, they should be ready to show off their most brilliant lobs and
most powerful smashes. Play a singles match or grab a partner for doubles, and
then choose an opponent. Players control the moves in tennis action so
intense, they'll almost believe they're at center court.

Space Harrier II(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Fantasyland
has been taken over by destructive forces, and a call for help comes from deep
in the universe. Space Harrier is quick on the scene, armed with his laser, to
defeat wave after wave of destructive forces through 12 thrilling stages, with
a dangerous boss waiting at the end of each round.

Military Madness(TM) (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Military
Madness is a futuristic simulation game that throws the player into the middle
of a war on the moon's surface. The rules are simple, making it easy for
newcomers to enjoy the thrills of this war-strategy game. Players can see
easy-to-understand, detailed instructions from the Title screen. Military
Madness is also turn-based, allowing players to devise their strategy before
they move. To top it off, the units players have for each stage are already
decided, allowing them to concentrate on commanding. Use the terrain and
surround enemies to claim victory. Fight through all 16 stages and thwart the
enemy's ambitions!

Clearly it was referring to page 46 of the May, 1990 issue of Videogames & Computer Entertainment. One quick look up on the Magweasel wiki nailed it. This issue contained a cover story, preview and strategy guide for NEC's Military Madness, the classic turn based strategy game for the Turbografx 16.

Did I mention this particular title is in my personal all time top 10? Well it is! Let's party hard! Michael McWhertor

BIG SURPRISE! NEW Virtual Console Game Coming on Next Week!

Hudson Entertainment staffer John Master Lee gave salivating Wii games a taste of what to expect with the upcoming weekly Wii Virtual Console update. Calling the release "one of the most requested games" from TG-16 fans, he hinted at Monday's new release with the following:

Here's a tip: All brain, no skull. All eyes, no nose.

Gotta be Alien Crush. Gotta be!

While Alien Crush is near the top of my list, as is Devil Crush, games like Legendary Axe, Military Madness, Neutopia, Splatterhouse, and Ninja Spirit trump the video pinball classic easily. Hell, I might even be ready for a little JJ & Jeff just for laughs. Michael McWhertor

INSIDE SCOOP! Unannouced TurboGrafx game coming to VC!

Hmm. The press release says Donkey Kong Jr. is for the Super NES, but I'm going to assume that's a misprint, unless there was some re-release I'm unaware of. Anyone gonna pick any of these up?

Corporate messaging follows after the jump. Michael McWhertor

Nintendo News: Four New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii video game console's Wii Shop Channel. Four games will be added at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Dec. 4. 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:

Donkey Kong Jr. (Super NES , 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular arcade game, Donkey Kong Jr. is the sequel to the immensely successful Donkey Kong . Players play as Donkey Kong's son, Junior, and rescue his dad, who has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a cage by Mario . Players use their jumping and climbing abilities to clamber up vines and chains, gather vital fruit and keys, and open the cage to free their father. Make sure to avoid the pesky birds, nasty electric sparks and creepy chompers. Four different worlds filled with numerous climbing and jumping puzzles await in this timeless classic.

Victory Run (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Victory Run is a rally racing game, made up of eight different stages set in different countries from Paris to Dakar. Players can race across highways, deserts, savannahs and coastlines. In order to advance to the next stage, players must dodge traffic and cross the finish line within the time limit. Players can upgrade their race car with such parts as tires, gears, engines, suspensions and brakes. Driving on rough courses and hitting obstacles will cause damage to individual parts, so making repairs is critical. Choosing the right setup of parts may be the difference between winning and not finishing the race at all. So go out there and prove to the world that you have what it takes to take raise the gold cup in Victory Run!

Columns (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Players test their hand at the ancient Phoenician game of Columns. Multicolored gems drop from the top of the screen into a pit. It is up to players to quickly arrange the order of the jewels into lines of three or more as they fall. If gems pile up and reach the top, the game is over.

Ristar (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Greedy, an evil space pirate, has corrupted the kings of the Valdi System's seven planets and enslaved the people who live there. The plea for a hero is answered by Ristar, who uses his amazing extendable arms and courage to save Valdi from Greedy.

As soon as I locate my own Wii, I'm going to work on my Bonk speed runs. If you're not buying these games, I'll be deeply offended. Go download now!

Thanks for the heads up, Douglas! Michael McWhertor

Where Are The TurboGrafx Virtual Console Games? [Kotaku]

Hudson Entertainment's marketing director Jason Master Lee responded officially in the company's forums:

I just got word that the TurboGrafx games are still in queue to be launched. I should have a more clear answer on why this is case on Monday. I was playing a batch of the games in the office over the weekend on one of the dev kits, so the hold up may be an issue with the certification process.

In addition, it appears that the initial two games that will be available will be Bonk's Adventure and Bomberman 93. The other games will be rolled out over the holiday season.

Looks like one of those last minute changes that helps build character and/or puts hair on your chest.

Personally, I can't wait! I haven't had a functioning Turbopad in about 10 years, so I'm ready to headbutt some stuff. Michael McWhertor

No TG-16 games in the Wii Shop Channel!?

During Ken Kutaragi's TGS keynote, the Sony Computer Entertainment leader stated that Mega Drive (Sega Genesis) and PC Engine (NEC TurboGrafx 16) games would be downloadable over the PS3 network. Game site WORTHPLAYING claims that Sega Japan has released a statement saying this option is still being considered and currently "under examination." The site unfortunately didn't provide any links to show where they got the info, so we've contacted Sega to see what the official word is. We'll keep you updated should we hear back. Brian Ashcraft

Update: The official word is currently a "no comment."

More Here [VGB]