<![CDATA[Kotaku: we cheer]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: we cheer]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/we cheer http://kotaku.com/tag/we cheer <![CDATA[ Game Moments You Don't Want Your Family Walking In On ]]> Of whatever screen we're looking at, I'd say at bare minimum a good third of the visual information it displays in an hour is not something we want others seeing. Whether that's Thundercats reruns, saucy e-mails or online personals, or certain game sequences that, out-of-context, might make it look like you're up to something else.

GamesRadar, I know I always toss out the lists they're working on, but they have a list of game moments you don't want your family or friends walking in on. Super violence is obvious, especially if you're in a family dwelling. So are strip clubs in Grand Theft Auto and Carla and Lucas having sex in Fahrenheit. But GR also cites "the whole thing" from World of Warcraft — as in, caught playing that is no different than getting busted with porn on the screen.

Age and context matter, I think. If anyone caught me playing We Cheer or Ultimate Band I might be in for an uncomfortable intervention, too. So, have you ever been walked in on at an awkward moment in a game?

Game Moments You Don't Want a Loved One Walking in On [GamesRadar]

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Kotaku-5056017 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:00:00 MDT Owen Good http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5056017&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ We Cheer Track List Revealed ]]> I was going to spend a lengthy paragraph poking fun at the soundtrack to We Cheer, but as I read through the 30-song list I realized that many of these songs are on my iPod right now, so I've no room to criticize. Certainly not "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff, but come on, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"? Everyone needs this song on their MP3 player, just in case the occasion for everybody to dance (now) arises. "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, "Whoomp! (There It Is)", "That’s The Way (I Like It)" - all required listening.

I still wouldn't be caught dead buying the game, but if it were to mysteriously make it's way into the pile of games I pick up at my local game store without me noticing I might secretly play it when nobody is looking. Hit the jump for the full track listing.

505 GAMES REVEALS SONG LIST FOR WE CHEER

Chart-Topping Recording Artists Ignite Namco Bandai's Pom-Pom-Powered Cheerleading Title
Milton Keynes – 505 Games today revealed the track listing for the highly-anticipated cheerleading title We Cheer™ – and, with 30 high-energy songs spanning over four decades of music, there’s something to bring out the budding cheerleader in everyone.

Using two Wii™ Remotes as virtual pom-poms, get ready to lead your own cheerleading squad to victory with a soundtrack of smoking-hot music featuring chart-topping artists such as pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield, US rockers Paramore and 70s disco darlings KC & The Sunshine Band.

Track list includes:
• Walking On Sunshine – Aly & AJ
• It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
• If You’re Gonna Jump (Paul Oakenfold Remix) – Natasha Bedingfield
• Push It ToTthe Limit – Corbin Bleu
• I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
• On Top Of The World – Boys Like Girls
• The Great Escape – Boys Like Girls
• Godspeed – BT
• Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) – C+C Music Factory
• Eye Of The Tiger (Sunset Crew Radio Mix) – Crew 7
• Come Clean – Hilary Duff
• Unbelievable – EMF
• Calabria 2008 – Enur feat. Natasja
• Star – Erasure
• Perfect Day – Hoku
• That’s The Way (I Like It) – KC & The Sunshine Band
• I Say Hey – Kinky
• Footloose – Kenny Loggins
• Bodyrock – Moby
• Born For This – Paramore
• Our Time Now – Plain White T’s
• C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) – Quad City DJ’s
• I’d Do Anything – Simple Plan
• Jump – Simple Plan
• Stamp Your Feet – Donna Summer
• Whoomp! (There It Is) – Tag Team
• In This Diary – The Ataris
• Groovy Train – The Farm
• The Power Is On – The Go! Team
• The Huddle Formation – The Go! Team

We Cheer gives players the chance to jump, shout and shake it all about, just like a real cheerleader. Using the motion-sensing abilities of the Wii Remote, wannabe cheerleaders follow on-screen commands to perform a variety of high-energy spins, kicks and twists, while taking part in professionally choreographed routines.

We Cheer will be exclusively available for Nintendo Wii throughout Europe in Q1, 2009

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Kotaku-5054102 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:40:00 MDT Mike Fahey http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5054102&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Namco Bandai Roundup - Digimon, Naruto, And The Game That Never Ends ]]> My very last E3 appointment was at Namco Bandai on Thursday afternoon, and while the majority of my time was spent getting my ass kicked at Soul Calibur IV, which I will handle in a separate post, they did have several interesting offerings on hand, from the girl-friendly We Cheer to the anime-friendly Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm to the most authentic Digimon experience for the Nintendo DS. Here's some of the titles that Namco Bandai has coming your way.

Digimon World: Championship: As mentioned above, this is the ultimate Digimon experience for the DS, bringing the game back to its handheld electronic pet roots. Use the stylus to capture Digimon in the wild, bring them back to your base to train, feed, and care for them, and then place then in the arena to battle. Includes cleaning up Digi-droppings - it doesn't get any better than that.

We Cheer: God help me, We Cheer didn't look all that bad. Using two Wii controllers you follow the motions depicted on-screen in a style reminiscent of Elite Beat Agents as your tiny cheerleader avatar does her thing. I had one of the reps on hand demo the game for me, and when he asked if I wanted to try I was sorely tempted. This scares me.

PowerUp Forever: PowerUp Forever is a game coming to Xbox Live and PSN that combines the frantic shooter gameplay of Geometry Wars with the growth mechanic of flOw to create a game that could literally have you powering up forever. You pilot a small ship that must destroy certain enemies to unleash a boss. Defeating the boss makes your ship grow, enemies scaling as you progress. Large structures eventually become smaller enemies for you to take on, and this continues forever until you lose all of your life. It's a throwback to the games of yesteryear that wouldn't actually end until the machine exploded. Definitely a purchase for me.

Afro Samurai: We posted impressions of Afro Samurai back in April, which is good because some jerk was completely dominating the display kiosk at Namco Bandai's booth. I did get to watch for a bit, and found the game a bit reminiscent of the Samurai Champloo game for the PS2, which was released by Bandai before the whole Namco deal. There's good reason for this too - developer Grasshopper worked on both titles. I was one of the few folks to really love the Samurai Champloo game, and with this knowledge in hand, Afro Samurai is now situated firmly in my radar.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm: I saw characters I can't tell you about, and with my newfound understanding of the series I even know who they are! The game is going to have 25 characters total, a few of which are sure to surprise and delight fans of the series. The game play is extremely solid and entertaining, though I cheated a bit and downloaded the Qore demo on PSN before I played it at the booth, so I knew what to expect. Despite all of the new characters I saw, I will still play as Hinata, because she is so freaking adorable.

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Kotaku-5027296 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:20:00 MDT Mike Fahey http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5027296&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ We Cheer Trailer Hurts ]]>
Either my teeth are rotting from the sugary, sugary visuals, or my heart is hurting because they went for the fat-headed cartoon look instead of the sweaty Eliza Dushku look. Either way, this trailer hurts.

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Kotaku-5026587 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:00:00 MDT Luke Plunkett http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026587&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Namco Bandai Editor's Day: Pom Poms On With We Cheer ]]> When We Cheer first showed up on the screen during the main presentation, it was met with many derisive snickers behind hands. I will admit that I was one of those snickerers although I used a fan and not my hand. I mean a cheerleading rhythm game? And the commercial they showed showing a bunch of teenage girls giggling and flailing their Wii remotes around didn't help matters any.

Once we were allowed to go check out the games hands on however, I swallowed my pride and stepped up to test my cheering skilz. The game can be played single or multi-player and is controlled with the Wii remote and nunchuk combo. Up to four players can play on a team or if you only have two players, one can control the left hand and the other controls the right. As far as gameplay is concerned it plays somewhat like Ouendan and Elite Beat Agents with the player using the Wii remote to trace out various shapes at different speeds. it was really quite a lot of fun after I got over my initial embarrassment. Everyone I spoke to afterwards really enjoyed it as well and we all agreed that this would be the best drunk/guilty pleasure game of 2008. it is obviously aimed at the ten girl market but I'm sure a fair share of units will be sold to "hardcore" gamers who will no doubt pull it out when no one is looking.

The graphics were pretty standard Wii fare with the little cheerleaders themselves looking a bit like Bratz dolls but not quite so slutty. The characters are all customizable and you can change their hair, outfits, pom pom colors, etc. My only real complaint about the game was the lack of male cheerleaders. There weren't any! This is a huge oversight in my opinion and one that they should seriously think about changing. Am I biased? Sure! I happen to know quite a few male cheerleaders who will no doubt be miffed to know that their gender was excluded from the game. I figured I might be the only one who cared about this, but it seems that I wasn't the only one who mentioned it.

So, We Cheer team if you are listening, you have a great game here, but the addition of a few well placed male characters would make the game seem a little more rounded and a little less targeted to one single audience.

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Kotaku-380586 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:05:00 MDT fdemarco http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=380586&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Namco Bandai To Also Bring It On On Wii ]]> IT? WHICH IT?Namco Bandai is planning to bring its own cheerleading title to the Wii, trademarking We Cheer with the US Patent and Trademark Office this week and issuing a challenge to rival Wii cheering game, All-Star Cheerleading from THQ.

No word on release date or how closely it will tie into Namco Bandai's other "We" game, We Ski. We certainly hope its more in line with iNiS's Ouendan than, well, anything really. If this doesn't convince little girls with dreams of pyramid forming to start gaming, we really don't know what will.

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Kotaku-370946 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:40:27 MDT Michael McWhertor http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=370946&view=rss&microfeed=true