2008年9月に1000Wiiポイントで配信 [Famitsu]

According to the AP, JV Games, the developer of Beer Pong, has renamed the game to Pong Toss and is removing any and all booze references from its presentation. We'd think total removal of the game would seem like the safest and smartest option. The official JV Games site shows the game as having an E rating, with no listing of the title on the ESRB's official site.

Blumenthal Calls For Changes To Video Game Ratings [Courant.com - thanks, Patrick!]

Another Monday is upon us, and Nintendo is here to brighten our morning with the latest releases for WiiWare and the Virtual Console. Take a seat and place your napkin in your lap as Nintendo lifts the lid on their silver serving tray, revealing...

SPOGS Racing for WiiWare (1,000 points) is an arcade racer featuring what looks like Pogs stuffed into tires. Hmm. The rubber-encased cardboard circles take on other rubber-encased cardboard in a contest of driving superiority, using power ups that I am sure make as much sense as the game concept itself.

Meanwhile, in the past, the Virtual Console gets King of the Monsters for the NEOGEO (900 Points), the classic monster brawler that lets you pit not-really Godzilla against kinda-Megalon against each other in a battle royale to end...Japan, really.

Judging by that SPOGS screen, I'd say the VC is the clear winner this week, unless you're a giant fan of Pogs, in which case you are viewing this through a temporal portal from the 90's.

Wii-kly Update

One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel

This week’s additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel are bigger, stronger and faster. It’s all about excess with these electrifying titles. A new WiiWare™ offering puts you behind the wheel of a high-octane racer with no regard for speed limits. A classic Virtual Console™ game transforms you into a larger-than-life beast with a massive appetite for mayhem. Whichever you choose, there will be no skimping on the action.

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

SPOGS Racing™ (D2C Games™, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Coming at you full throttle is SPOGS Racing, an all-new racer from D2C Games featuring classic arcade racing, pick-up-and-play controls, all-new racing vehicles and Crash N’ Grab™ instant upgrades. Jump in, gear up and modify your ride on the fly as you compete head-to-head for a totally outrageous arcade racing experience on your Wii console. Whether you’re a casual gamer or hardcore racer, SPOGS Racing features fun for all and is a must-have download for your WiiWare digital game library.

Virtual Console

KING OF THE MONSTERS (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released by SNK in 1991, KING OF THE MONSTERS is an action/fighting game that features city-destroying battles between huge monsters. Choose one of six monsters and travel around Japan, stopping to fight in various famous cities with the aim of becoming the ultimate winner. In addition to punches, kicks and other regular moves, each character has the ability to use more devastating maneuvers, like throwing flames and shooting laser beams, to defeat opponents. Wrestling elements are also incorporated, as you must completely exhaust your opponent and get a three-count to pin him and be victorious. Along with the player-versus-computer game, multiplayer options allow you and a friend to enjoy one-on-one matches and two-on-two tag-team matches against the computer. Take on the challenge and claim the title of King of the Monsters.

Mega Man 9 [Go Nintendo]

famitsu 20080704 [Wii@Everyday]

On the WiiWare side we have Magnetica (1,000 points), the DS marbles-in-a-track puzzler redone for the console crowd. It includes 4-player multiplayer and the ability to have your very own Mii launching the marbles. Joy!

This week the Virtual Console library gets padding with Fatal Fury 2 for the NEOGEO (900 points), which introduced five new fighters to the series (including Chesty Mai) and featured the ability to smack your opponent back to another line.

A nice pair, but I got my fill of Magnetica on the DS and Mark of the Wolves ruined me for older Fatal Fury titles forever, so my limited Wii storage space is safe for another week.

Wii-kly Update

One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel

You want fireworks? Look no further than the Wii™ Shop Channel, where vibrant bursts of classic gaming action and fresh WiiWare™ content will help fill your living room with a flurry of ooohs and ahhhs. Puzzle-game mavens can enjoy a wild new addition to the WiiWare library, while the Virtual Console™ brings a truly classic fighting game to the fore. For an added holiday-week blast, fans of the WiiWare hit FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: My Life as a King™ can enhance the action with new Add-On Content.

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

Magnetica™ Twist (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The classic puzzle game Magnetica is now available on WiiWare , putting its own unique “twist” on the puzzle-game experience. You’re surrounded by marbles, marching slowly but surely down a track. Use a launcher (piloted by a Mii™ of your choice) to shoot marbles with matching colors and wipe them out before they reach the end of the track. Control couldn’t be simpler, as all you need to do is twist the Wii Remote™ controller to aim and press the A button to shoot. And the game play remains as addictive and deep as you’ve come to expect in Nintendo’s puzzle games, with five varied play modes, advanced mechanics such as the ability to lob marbles, and a never-ending supply of combos. This definitely isn’t your typical game of marbles.

Virtual Console

FATAL FURY 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1992 by SNK, FATAL FURY 2 is the second installment in the renowned fighting-game series. In addition to Terry, Andy and Joe, who appeared in the original game, another five distinctive fighters gather from around the world to compete for the championship title. Also newly added are stage-specific hazards and the ability to perform desperation attacks when a character’s strength is low. These particularly deadly techniques create the chance for a come-from-behind victory achieved with a single strike. Moreover, the innovative two-line battle, which proved popular in the previous version, also has been radically enhanced. Pressing the weak-attack and strong-attack buttons simultaneously enables players to move their fighters to another line themselves, or to launch an attack that pushes opponents back to another line. This game mechanic, unique to this title in the series, allows the player to take advantage of the depth of the screen and create even more exciting bouts. Can you prove yourself the king of fighters again?

The robot bosses for the new title include Magma Man, Galaxy Man, Jewel Man, Concrete Man, Hornet Man, Plug Man, Tornado Man, and possibly Splash Woman. Splash Woman? Really?

Definitely a strange move, going back in time graphically and gameplay-wise like this, but what better way to return to the classic series than actually returning to the classic series?

Mega Man 9 Confirmed [The Mega Man Network]

Wii-kly Update

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

Everybody loves a classic battle between good and evil. With the latest additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel, your greatest challenge will be choosing where to wipe out the bad guys—in deep space, on mean city streets or in a monster-ridden fantasy world. Whatever the venue, be ready for outrageous enemies and memorable missions you’ll relish from beginning to end.

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™

Gyrostarr™ (High Voltage Software, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points): Gyrostarr challenges you and up to three additional players to pilot your ships through a series of twisting, turning technoplasma tracks while battling a variety of deadly alien foes at ever-increasing speeds. While fighting and maneuvering, you must collect enough energy to activate the ancient warpgate at the end of each track. Succeed, and you can journey to the next, even deadlier track. Fail, and the gate will slam shut, destroying your ship. Enhance your ship with weapon pickups, coordinate attacks with your friends to fire powerful combined blasts and use your grapple to snag energy and pickups in the midst of combat. Control your ship with the Wii Remote™ controller, Nunchuk™ controller or Classic Controller™, or use the “paired” control system that allows two players to use a connected Wii Remote and Nunchuk or Classic Controller at the same time. Offering 50 levels of intense action, powerful pickups, high-speed bonus levels and mayhem for up to four players, Gyrostarr is a killer arcade challenge.

Virtual Console™

Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Sega Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): In this platformer from the 1980s, you’re Alex Kidd, looking for your lost brother Egle. In order to find your brother, you’ll have to contend with the evil Janken the Great, who will send his henchmen and monsters at you to thwart your progress. One aspect of this adventure is that you’ll have to play the classic game of “rock, paper, scissors” against the henchmen in order to defeat them. With 16 different levels to conquer in order to save Egle, this classic is sure to test your skills and your wits at the same time.

BURNING FIGHT (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1991 by SNK, BURNING FIGHT is a side-scrolling hand-to-hand-combat action game. In pursuit of Casterora, leader of a huge syndicate that has escaped from New York to Osaka, the protagonists are three detectives: Duke, Ryu and Billy. Each character fights using a combination of punches, kicks and jumps, plus his own particular special move, activated by simultaneously pressing the jump and attack buttons. These lethal techniques have enormous destructive force, but they also consume a great deal of energy. For this reason, players must use their special moves with skillful timing. Luckily for the detectives, new weapons and additional health can be found by breaking things like phone booths and street signs along the way. A boss, who must be defeated in order to continue the mission, awaits players at the end of each stage. You can also take on the gang with a friend, but beware—attacks by one player can damage the other, so keep an eye on where your partner is in the heat of the battle. End Casterora’s reign of terror once and for all.

The effect is greater for some than others. The number of XBLA games, for example, may be down from Sep/Oct 2007 onwards, but they're still at a fairly healthy figure. Downloadable PS3 games look a little worse, culminating in not a single new game being released for the PSN in May, but then, their numbers were never that high to begin with. Which leaves the Wii as the worst hit, as the number of Virtual Console games has gone from an average of 12-14 per month in 2007 to only 6-8 in 2008.

Sure, the introduction of Xbox Originals and PSP downloads in November helped the 360 and PS3, and as you can see, the launch of WiiWare did the same for the total numbers of games available on Wii, but isn't that just plastering over the cracks? Where are the Virtual Console games? Where are the PSN games? Shouldn't these new offerings be adding to the old ones, instead of augmenting/replacing them?

Three Services, Three Stores: Analyzing XBLA, PSN and Wii Shop Channel [Gamasutra]

On the WiiWare side of things we get an update to the classic block-breaking genre with Gameloft's aptly titled Block Breaker Deluxe (800 points), which adds special bricks, weapons, and the ever-popular ball-speed variations to the standard ball-on-paddle action, along with an exclusive multiplayer mode.

Then we have Neko Entertainment's epic fishing adventure Cocoto Fishing Master (700 points), which casts (ouch) you as Cocoto, a strange little fellow traveling the world in search of the five millennial fish that can save the world. Check out the official website for more info on what could be a rather enchanting little title.

Finally we have the lone VC title, Samurai Showdown for the NEOGEO (900 points), the classic title that launched the revolutionary fighting-game series. It's a cherry on top of a decidedly quality Wii update Monday. Fishing, anyone?

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

This week's additions to the Wii� Shop Channel will have players setting their sights on a wild variety of targets. From solid walls to wriggling fish to fierce samurai warriors, you'll face plenty of fresh and unusual challenges as you master these distinctive games, each featuring an inventive twist on a proven formula. You'll also notice the ongoing expansion of both WiiWare� and Virtual Console� offerings, bringing you the best of what's new along with classic titles that hold fond memories.

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

Block Breaker Deluxe� (Gameloft, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Suggestive Themes, 800 Wii Points): Prepare for the frenzy of the coolest block-breaker game ever. Block Breaker Deluxe is a reinvention of the classic arcade brick-breaker game with a trendy graphical style, fun atmosphere and an exclusive multiplayer mode. Lively characters and amazing graphics provide distinctive settings of the jet-set nightlife, including a cool bar, dance club, casino and more. Special bricks, multiple bonuses, secret weapons, paddle size options and ball-speed variations make this fascinating game even more challenging. The Block Breaker Deluxe rage has arrived.

Cocoto Fishing Master (Neko Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Welcome to the adventures of Cocoto, Fishing Master. Get ready for a completely new experience on Wii. Play the role of Cocoto and travel the world to find five millennial fish. Only they can stop the magic cauldron from overflowing with lava and prevent the world from being destroyed. Thanks to Cocoto Fishing Master for Wii, fishing has never been such fun. Use the Wii Remote� and Nunchuk� controllers like a real fishing rod to catch more than 30 different fish. Discover five enchanted lakes in five different worlds from Cocoto's universe. Confront gigantic bosses to collect each fragment of the statuette that will allow you to wake the great god Geo from his slumber. Meet Cocoto's friends, sell your fish to Baggy and buy new fishing equipment from Neuro's shop.

Virtual Console

SAMURAI SHODOWN (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen-Animated Blood, Crude Humor, Violence, 900 Wii Points): This first entry in the extremely popular and revolutionary fighting-game series was released in 1993. Choose from 12 swordsmen with highly individualistic characteristics and fight furiously, ultimately confronting the evil Amakusa Shiro Tokisada. Each character wields his or her own specific weapon, but you must be careful not to lose it during the heat of battle. Some of the fighters also bring an animal companion into the fray, offering a unique aspect to the quick-paced action. Another significant feature of the game is the anger gauge, which indicates the level of anger felt by each of the combatants as they suffer repeated injuries. If the anger reaches its maximum level, the attacking ability of the character increases, leading to even more intense confrontations. Through it all, the refined camera system smoothly zooms in and out of the playing field, presenting the frenzy of the battle while showcasing the lively background (watch as the referee scores hits). Awaken the samurai spirit within and get ready for a new kind of fight.

“I have huge respect for those who, like me, share a common passion for Nintendo and want to make it clear that I would never use and I didn’t use this terminology in such a context or way to cause offense,” he said.

“I regret that this misunderstanding has created such offense and disappointment within the community.”

You know, in all honesty "geek" and "otaku" are way low in the list of things I've been called that cause me offense, but I can certainly see how some people would get upset. As for Laurent, all I can say is always talk as if what you say is going to end up on the front page of a major gaming blog, because it generally is.

Exclusive: Nintendo’s Laurent Fischer “regrets” geeks and otaku remark [videogaming247]

As is always the case with Nintendo’s press events nowadays, the dirty word ‘casual’ was raised at its WiiWare preview, only to be dismissed in favor of a distinction between gamers and non-gamers. Playing these semantic games is fine, but when a pertinent question about the limited Wii system memory was raised, Laurent Fischer, managing director of marketing at NOE, easily slipped into talking about how “geeks and otaku” were the only people who would want this issue addressed. This is oversimplifying something that will only become increasingly important as Wii developers explore the console’s online service, whether through WiiWare or DLC, and is of concern to not only a niche section of the market that wants to buy into that content.

Because we all know that soccer moms will so be all over those WiiWare games. Laurent Fischer? Marketing genius.

Nintendo's Mixed WiiWare Messages [Next-Gen]

The Telltale folks just sent out this gameplay video and some screens showing off Homestar Ruiner, the first episode of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People. The first episode is scheduled for a July release on WiiWare and the PC.

Check out the screens on the jump.

Essentially, the ranch provides a tooth-jarringly adorable 3D environment for your Pokemon on Wii. Don't have Diamond or Pearl? Ranch-hand Haley, who runs the whole works, will start you off with six random ones, and will bring a new Pokemon to the ranch every day.

For the DS Pokemon fans, though, the DS can link up to the Wii so that you can pick as many Pokemon as you'd like from your storage boxes to drop into the ranch.

Here's what you do when they're there:

First off, Pokemon may either be stored in the ranch or in your DS game's storage box, so you'll have to take the Pokemon back out of the ranch if you'd like to use them again in Diamond or Pearl. And no, you cannot exploit the ranch to swap Pokemon from one of your DS games to another, and you cannot steal Haley's Pokemon and put them in your DS, either, so smack those ideas right out of your head. If you somehow lose your original save game, the Pokemon can never get out of the ranch.

The ranch, basically a barn and a green field with a great big fence around it, will get larger depending on how many Pokemon you put in. In addition to Haley, you can add up to four Miis of your own to play with the Pokemon.

And that's basically it - the Pokemon walk around and interact with each other and the Miis, with captions providing running commentary on who's doing what. Pokemon will ride on top of one another's heads, express interest in each other, sleep, play and even fight or frighten one another. For example, I had an extra Banette that I dropped in, who went about casting ghostly spells on my poor little Pichu and Cleffa.

The type of interaction Pokemon have with one another is often determined by their type - Haley's gapemouthed Magikarp was excessively interested in following Ground-type Phanpy around, usually sending Phanpy fleeing to the corner of the fence, little tears springing out of his face.

Every so often, the ranch interaction automatically pauses so that the Pokemon can act out a little scene with Haley and the Miis - like "Totem," where they all stack up on top of one another for absolutely no reason, or "Attention," where they all turn to stare wide-eyed at the camera from different angles as peaceful music plays.

There isn't too much the player can do - by pointing the Wii remote at a Pokemon or Mii and pressing A, the camera will then follow only that one's movements and interaction, and there's a camera icon that you can press to snap a photo at any time you catch them at a cute moment. The game will also tell you information about each Pokemon and who its trainer is.

You can press a horn icon to gain everyone's attention, making any Pokemon or Miis in the frame look your way for the photo op. You can share albums with your Wii friends, but largely the main point here is to just watch them play around, it seems. You can also pick an option that will let the Miis hold a parade with the Pokemon associated with them, with flags and confetti.

The most interesting part is how ranch-hand Haley will give you instructions and a deadline for catching DS Pokemon that aren't already in your Dex. She'll give you a list, and the in-game BBS will show you location information on each Pokemon. The location info in words is a bit easier to read than the multicolored, flashing Diamond and Pearl map, so it can help you zero in on the Pokemon you're missing. Nothing like getting a mission to rekindle your "Gotta Catch 'Em All" obsession. Haley says if you catch the ones she's asked for and bring them to the ranch, then "something good" will happen.

It seems that Haley will trade you one of the Pokemon she has, if you don't have one yet, when you bring her the ones she asks for.

Finally, every time you leave the ranch, Haley asks you for some hints about what kind of Pokemon she should bring next time ("A scary Pokemon?" "A paralyzing Pokemon?"), and you can tell her yes or no. Once you've decided, a silhouette is shown of the next Pokemon who'll be arriving - like during the commercial breaks of the TV show.

You know, not that I know about that kind of thing. Anyway, My Pokemon Ranch seems like a good way for DS Pokemon players to re-engage with the game, and it makes for cute background TV. I can't see those who don't play Diamond or Pearl finding that the Pokemon Ranch is worth an entire 1000 Wii Points, though - unless they really just like getting their cute on.

The version I played was but one level, in which you control Angel with the keyboard and his heart-target wielding companion with the mouse, reflecting the nunchuck/Wiimote control scheme of the WiiWare version. As expected, the artwork really shines, with Bernard's distinct style oozing out of every background and enemy. This really comes as no surprise to anyone who has caught the screenshots we've posted on a regular basis. The art really melds with Sean Beeson's music, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

So looks great, sounds great...how does it play?

So far the gameplay is relatively simple. You control your character as he navigates platforms while pointing and shooting at enemies with the mouse cursor. The mechanic works alright on the PC though the real fun here will be in the WiiWare version, where two players can take up one of the controls to navigate the levels cooperatively.

The game does need a bit of polish, as Bernard readily admits. There are some animations that need work, and shooting at certain bigger enemies doesn't seem to have any impact on them whatsoever until they eventually explode. The level I played through was large and sprawling, but I sometimes found that the next jump I had to make was so far off screen that I needed to make a leap of faith, praying that I landed somewhere safe.

The game has a great deal of potential, and I look forward to playing through a more complete version in the near future.

First and foremost, WiiWare gets one of its most eagerly anticipated titles with My Pokémon Ranch (1,000 points), the prequel to My Pokémon Creamy Caesar. This relaxing title lets your Miis and Pokémon hang out together on a ranch, which sounds like a splendid way to spend an afternoon. Players will be able to link up with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for the DS and deposit up to 1,000 Pokémon onto your ranch, leaving you up to your neck in Pokémon droppings.

On the older games front we have two NES games at 600 points each, Dig Dug, which involves inflating your enemies until they are dead, and the Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa, a game never released outside of Japan that involves inflating your enemies and riding on top of them. Two games whose heroes truly blow.

Wii-kly Update

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

The latest additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel offer a remarkable array of characters you won’t find just anywhere. A fresh WiiWare™ title gives Pokémon lovers a whole new way to wrangle and enjoy their little pals, while a pair of imported Virtual Console™ releases will pump up the action quotient—literally—for fans of NES® classics.

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™

My Pokémon™ Ranch (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The Pokémon phenomenon debuts on WiiWare with My Pokémon Ranch, a game that lets you watch as Pokémon and Miis interact with each other for the first time. Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon and Miis you bring to your ranch, the more fun it becomes. My Pokémon Ranch can be linked with the Nintendo DS™ Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon® Pearl Game Cards to deposit the Pokémon you’ve caught in these games in your ranch. You can deposit a maximum of 1,000 Pokémon from up to eight different game cards. Make your ranch livelier by playing with your friends and family.

Virtual Console™

DIG DUG™ (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Become Dig Dug, the champion of love and justice, as you drill up, down, left and right, defeating any enemies in your path. Avoid the persistent Pooka and the deep-dwelling but whimsical Fygar as you defeat all the enemies in order to clear each stage. Defeat enemies by hitting them with the harpoon and pumping air into them, or by dropping rocks on them from above. Receive bonus points by getting the vegetables that appear in the middle of the stage. Receive high points for defeating deep-dwelling enemies or by defeating Fygars from the side with the harpoon. Pass through inflated enemies or defeat enemies in an adjacent passage for an even higher score. Lure multiple enemies and defeat them with a single rock from above in this thrilling action game.

BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points): BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA is an action game released in 1988, but it was never available outside of Japan. Players take on the role of baby Upa, a prince of the Akuyo kingdom. Prince Upa must take on an adventure spanning seven different worlds in order to rescue the kingdom from the dangerous demon Zai. Upa must defeat the enemies he meets along the way by inflating them. Upa can then use these floating enemies to his advantage by bouncing off of or riding on top of them. The prince must also avoid deadly thorns and pits while keeping an eye out for helpful items such as milk (to restore health) and bells (for temporary invincibility) if he hopes to succeed. If you’re looking for a cute and solid platformer with a hero unlike those in most other games, then look no further than BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA.

The conference, supported by Nintendo, will explore how technology can be used for learning.

Graham Brown-Martin, founder of Handheld Learning, said: “Providing teachers with free Nintendo DS Lites is not intended to be a gimmick, we expect our delegates to use them during the conference and experience an environment that would typically not be allowed in a classroom.”

I think it's a great idea. In fact in my recent conversation with Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway I was telling her that Nintendo should work to get some WiiWare educational games out and then provide the Wii to schools around the country. It worked for Apple, so why not Nintendo? Personally, I think all three hardware companies are obligated, as good corporate citizens, to create educational games for their download services. They may not make money, but I can't imagine it would cost them that much and think of the good will, both to the company and the industry.

Nintendo to hand out free DS consoles [Digital Spy]

Currently, there are about 100 games in development for WiiWare at various stages of completion.

The main saving grace here that will keep you from having to buy too many SD cards for backup storage, is that odds are not all of them will be worth purchasing. Of course without demos going up before hand we've no way of knowing for sure, but at least we'll have a revolver with a very large bullet capacity when we feel like playing a little WiiWare roulette. Hit up the IGN link below for a full interview with Prata.

Nintendo: 100 WiiWare Games in Queue [IGN Wii]

On the WiiWare front we've got the puzzle platforming goodness of Two Tribes' Toki Tori (1,000 points), which features more than 70 levels of gameplay involving gadgets and chickens. For those of you who'd rather solve your problems with guns, this week also sees the release of Ubisoft's scrolling shooter Protöthea (1,000 points), with 10 missions spanning four unique worlds.

For those of us who like our games older (like our women), the Virtual Console receives the NEOGEO classic Ninja Combat (900 points), which stars ninjas Joe and Hayabusa along with a group of unlocked ninja pals to help you fight your way through the evil forces of the Kage Ichizoku.

Ninja, spaceships, and chickens. It doesn't get any better than this.

Wii-kly Update

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

From family-friendly puzzles to crackling combat, this week’s additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel offer a mix of downloadable delights. Fight fans can even choose between futuristic space missions and retro-styled martial arts battles. Take your pick and kick off the summer with an invigorating dose of Wii action.

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™

Protöthea™ (UbiSoft, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Protöthea is a top-down scrolling shooter game with free movement that puts players in complete control of a last-generation spaceship. The mission is to destroy the asteroid called Maqno 01 and finish with the plans of The Core. UbiSoft’s Protöthea introduces new concepts to a beloved, classic game style while mixing genres and utilizing the full capabilities of the Wii console, from graphics to controls. Players of all ages and experience levels will enjoy taking command of their ship, blasting through four different worlds in 10 challenging missions. Use your weapons arsenal and the special bonus items to help you accomplish your mission, and don’t forget to slow down time and take an edge over the enemy.

Toki Tori (Two Tribes, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Toki Tori is his name, and collecting eggs is his game. In this puzzle/platform game, players use a variety of items such as the Telewarp, InstantRock™ and Slug Sucker. Clever use and combination of these items are needed to solve all the game’s levels, of which there are more than 70. Levels range from easy to brain-teasingly hard, resulting in dozens of hours of puzzle play time. Toki Tori makes the most of what Wii has to offer. It uses the Wii Remote™ for a unique control scheme, which offers players a new and more relaxing play style. A second player can help you out by drawing hints while you are playing. The game even uses the Wii Message Board in a unique way.

Virtual Console™

Ninja Combat (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Suggestive Themes, Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1990, Ninja Combat is a side-scrolling combat-action game. Take control of the ninjas Joe (one player) and Hayabusa (two players), and enter into battle against a group of evil ninjas called the Kage Ichizoku. Make your way into their home fortress, Ninja Tower, which dominates a big city of the near future. Fight using normal attacks, jumps, special movements and ninja materials that deliver damaging blows to all enemies on the screen. In addition, you’ll find weapons and items to aid you along the way. Even better, as you progress in the game, reliable allies such as Musashi, Kagerow and Gembu will emerge to fight alongside you, allowing you to choose a new character in each stage. Ninja Combat also supports simultaneous play with two players, so you can grab a friend and defeat the Kage Ichizoku together.

The Star Soldier R "Shoot Now, Win Prizes Later" kicks off today and runs through June 24th, when players with certain scores in five-minute mode being awarded prizes. The reason I say certain scores, is that Hudson, attempting to be crafty, is awarding prizes to 1st, 10th, and 16th place, with ten users chosen at random out of the remaining players who register to win random prizes.

Up for grabs? The grand prize is 16,000 Wii points and "Hudson's Top 5 Wii Games", which pretty much equates to 16,000 Wii points, give or take a few bucks. Head over to Hudson's web page to sign up for the festivities, and don't be afraid to use the death blossom maneuver if you find yourself in a pinch.

Star Soldier R Tournament and Sweepstakes Announced
Sign Up Today on Hudson's Website

“SHOOT NOW, WIN PRIZES LATER”
TOURNAMENT & SWEEPSTAKES FOR STAR SOLDIER R ANNOUNCED

Players Can Sign Up on Hudson’s Website Beginning May 27

REDWOOD CITY, CA – May 27, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that registration for both a tournament and a sweepstakes for the recently launched galactic shooter, Star Soldier R for WiiWare™ on Wii™ begins May 27, 2008 and will go through June 24, 2008, concurrent with the contests.

For players who want to see if they can achieve the highest score in Star Soldier R in the nation, Hudson Entertainment is hosting the 'Star Soldier R "Shoot Now, Win Prizes Later" Tournament & Sweepstakes', beginning at 12 a.m. May 27, 2008 and runs through 7 p.m. on June 24, 2008. Gamers will have one month to vie for the high score in Star Soldier R’s “5-Minute Mode” where the top players on the ranking leaderboards have the chance to win prizes. Two rounds of tournament prizes will be awarded based on players' scores. To sign up, players must register on the tournament registration page, located at (http://hudsonentertainment.com/tournament_register.php?tournament_id=2).

The first place winners will receive Hudson's Top 5 Wii Games along with 16,000 Wii Points™, 10th place winners will receive 10,000 Wii Points, and the players in 16th place will win 4,000 Wii Points. For the sweepstakes, 10 users will be picked in one random drawing to win prizes. For more information about the contests please visit the registration page.

On the old side of new stuff, this week sees the release of that classic NEOGEO shooter Metal Slug (900 points), along with the NES version of City Connection (500 points), which has you touring famous cities as a platforming far challenged by police, spikes, and of course, cats.

There you have it. Four new games for the Nintendo Wii all at once, all for you. Now I head back to bed. If you need me I'll be snoring so loud I wake myself up every five minutes.

When you've had your fill of virtual binging with Major League Eating, why not virtually purge with a round of Beer Pong? Thanks to the power of WiiWare and Frat Party Games, the thrill of tossing ping pong balls with a femme wrist snap at Solo cups can be experienced without the threat of alcohol poisoning. To sum up, Beer Pong, Frat Party Games, WiiWare and no, this isn't something you're going to wake up from.

US, May 21, 2008 - JV Games Inc. is pleased to announce Frat Party Games - Beer Pong. Beer Pong, a game born on a college campus in the early 80s, has grown from a college drinking game to a competitive sport in bars across the country. In mid June 2008, Beer Pong is going to be available for WiiWare, Frat Party Games - Beer Pong is the first slated game in the Frat Party Games™ series.

Featuring two distinct competitive games, Frat Party Games - Beer Pong will offer a traditional tournament-style game of Beer Pong for one to four players and Speed Pong, during which two to three players compete at the same time, each trying to be the first to eliminate all of his or her cups.

Frat Party Games - Beer Pong has been designed exclusively for WiiWare, with accurate and easy to use controls. Frat Party Games - Beer Pong will feature three different play environments and allow players to choose from multiple tabletops to enhance the playing environment.

"Beer Pong is quickly becoming a worldwide sensation, from high-stakes competitions being held here in Las Vegas to more and more establishments creating Beer Pong environments to attract new customers," says JV Games VP Jag Jaeger. "Being Beer Pong players ourselves, we realized this is a game niche yet to be filled, and the Wii® is the perfect system to replicate the game. We created a very accurate and realistic throw system. No buttons to time your throw with; just hold the Wii Remote like you would a normal ball and throw."

Early response has been overwhelming. The Frat Party Games MySpace site (www.myspace.com/fratpartygames) experienced much activity, and staff is having a hard time keeping up with e-mail inquiries. "People are anxious to get their hands on the game," Jaeger says.

JV Games, Inc. is an electronic entertainment company that develops computer, console, and handheld video games. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada; JV Games has been developing premier titles since 1989.

Nintendo's WiiWare games are disappointing... None of the six games in the WiiWare launch lineup is as addictive as, say, "Puzzle Quest" or "Geometry Wars," but there are many more offerings on the way.

Definitely, there are more on the way! WiiWare is just finding its feet, so it's a bit premature to nix Nintendo's effort. Want to see how the Associated Press rated the current WiiWare titles? That, after the jump.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
"You can build a respectable town fairly quickly, and if you get hooked, you can buy more content online. But it’s hard to escape the feeling that all the real fun is happening offstage."
Two stars out of four

LostWinds
"The wind controls are innovative but frustratingly imprecise, making it hard to pull off basic moves just because the wind doesn’t act the way you expect. It’s an interesting experiment, probably worth the $10."
Two and a half stars

TV Show King
"Here’s a decent trivia quiz for your next party."
Two and a half stars

Defend Your Castle
"'DYC' builds slowly into complete chaos, and benefits from clever graphics that look like the scrawlings of a bored schoolboy.
Two and a half stars

Pop
"It’s much too simple to hold your attention for very long, and just doesn’t have the addictive quality of the best puzzle games."
One star

VIP Casino: Blackjack
"There’s no tournament play, no online competition and not much in the way of visual distraction. It’s amusing for about 10 minutes."
One star

Fret not! The WiiWare games will get better. It's called progress!

AP Reviews WiiWare Games [The Boston Herald via Gay Gamer]

As for the launch lineup, while original reports had the service launching with eight titles across the PAL regions, the Australian launch only features six games, though that's no indication the European launch won't have all eight. The games on the Australian WiiWare store today are:

Lost Winds
Star Soldier R
Dr. Mario & Germ Buster
Toki Tori Take 2
TV Show King
Final Fantasy: My Life as a King

Oh, before we wrap this up, there was an interesting little note attached to the end of the Nintendo Australia press release. It reads:

WiiWare also empowers consumers to determine with their Wii Points which games have the ability to become the next big thing. Consumers will assist in the creative process as their choices will directly determine the success of current projects and direct the plans for future ones.

On the WiiWare side of the fence we have Konami's Critter Round-Up (1,000 points), and action puzzle game that has you mending fences til the cows come home, or the penguins, dingos...the game has several exotic locations included. 50 different levels plus mini-games like Snowball Soccer and Predator Rampage.

Joining Critter Round-Up is Hudson's Star Soldier R (800 points), offering you classic shooting action in 2 and 5 minute chunks.

Finally we have more scrolling-shooter action with Sky Kid for the NES (500 points), the original bird-flying-a-biplane game.

I know, it's a lot to take in, and with my Wii memory dwindling perilously I'm not sure if I can get any of these games this week. I suppose it's nice to know they are there.

And as studios consider smaller, digitally-distributed formats as a lower-risk avenue for new game concepts, launching Wiiware with a title like LostWinds might herald further potential for the service and those like it.

How are clean, compact ideas like these born? We spoke in-depth to developer Frontier about the possibilities for WiiWare and the inspiration for LostWinds' breezy world; hit the jump for the full interview.

David Braben, chairman of Frontier, said it often takes the failure of countless other ideas to create the success of one, and LostWinds rose to the top in the studio's internal "game of the week" competition. "We all suggest game ideas, and we criticize them furiously and the ones that survive... are the ones that are quite good," said Braben. "It's a very constructive, open and positive thing."

The concept for LostWinds actually predates the Wii, said lead designer Steven Burgess. "Then, once we'd seen the Wii, it all clicked together."

The game's mechanic of "drawing" gusts of wind in the air to guide the player character could only have been achieved on the Wii, Burgess said. The control scheme and game mechanics were laid out first over the first few weeks of development, initially just using blocks and triangles to get the feel just right.

"In trying to make a world that fit the design of the wind, we wanted to have lots of things the player could interact with and blow around and move," said Burgess.

LostWinds' standout aesthetic, with its high blue skies, tall grasses and cherry blossom trees that can be gently rustled in the wind, grew later. The visual style, which has a naturalistic tribal feel in its character design and environment, was the domain of artist Chris Symonds.

"The culture is very based on the idea of the wind," Symonds said. "It came very naturally to have a culture that lived in high, indigenous environments, and we immediately centered it to an area thinking of a Tibetan culture, or cultures in the Andes. And so there was a cultural influence from those areas, and a blending and emerging of some of those aesthetics that they have. The world developed from there, quite organically, really."

Added chairman Braben, "The organic feel of the whole thing also fits in well with those cultures, and trying to make sure that the puzzles vaguely center around that sort of gentle mechanic."

LostWinds teaches the player the gameplay gradually through its narrative, rather than through a separate tutorial phase, so learning to play doesn't feel divorced from the game itself. Despite having an objective in mind, the player is generally free to navigate the game's areas on his or her own, and the world opens up over time as the player learns new skills, enhancing the sense of discovery.

"I was very conscious, because I don't like being led by the hand," said designer Burgess. "It's better to let the player learn about how to do something through experience, rather than being told 'this is how you're meant to do it'. It has a bunch of things lying around, and you don't necessarily know how they all fit together, but you discover eventually."

The game industry is riding high on a wave of large budgets - but with that comes large risk. WiiWare, along with the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, hope to offer developers the freedom to test out new ideas and to develop the games they'd personally want to play - to write for themselves, in Braben's words. Burgess is certain that without the unique opportunity afforded them in WiiWare, LostWinds might have never been made.

"Trying to describe a game about the wind to a publisher... the word 'platformer' alone kind of scares them," Burgess said. "Experimenting with the Wii... scares publishers. [WiiWare] is small enough that we can experiment without failing miserably and spending millions of pounds and not having a result. It's a really good platform for new ideas - hopefully, other people will start experimenting, and it will result in better games."

Braben said the comparatively small file sizes were not an issue, as every project always has some type of constraint. "Fantastic" support from Nintendo also helped the Frontier team turn out the project on a tight time scale. "I think what's happened is this wonderful virtuous circle, because we all care about the game. It's a very interesting opportunity that's only coming up now because of local storage on machines, and how the service is managed in the future is going to be really key."

"I'm very hopeful about WiiWare... as a player, rather than as a developer. From a developer point of view, it means if we do a good game then it will be seen and it will be found and it won't get lost in the morass. It's not marketing dollars anymore that's going to sell it... quality is the ultimate test where it's worth going the extra mile."

Burgess said WiiWare could play a role in legitimizing Wii as a "serious" platform. "It's doing serious numbers... but there haven't been as many titles that you expect to use the Wii the way its designed to. I'm hoping that WiiWare will help make developers and publishers realize that it's actually got more legs than they're giving it."

Finally, with all this enthusiasm, what about those LostWinds sequel hints we saw recently?

"We would be mad not to consider following it up," said Braben, "But we're still in that gray area... where we really want to push for it, but we still have to wait for our figures to come back. But we're very excited by how the game's being received so far... there's much going on that we can't really say."

"If the response we have gotten so far is reflected in sales, we think we're on a good push for that one," said Burgess.

Unless of course you play it on your PC. Here, screenshots.

Dr. Mario & Germ Buster - 1000 Wii Points
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix) - 1500 Wii Points
LostWinds (Frontier) - 1000 Wii Points
Pirates: The Key of Dreams
Pop (Nnooo) - 700 Wii Points
Star Soldier R (Hudson) - 800 Wii Points
Toki Tori (Two Tribes)
TV Show King (Gameloft) - 1000 Wii Points

European WiiWare launch line-up [Eurogamer]

Defend Your Castle: 121 blocks [121 needed]

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King: 287 blocks [287 needed]

LostWinds: 258 blocks (1 save block) [259 needed]

Pop: 110 blocks (2 save blocks) [110 needed]

TV Show King: 290 blocks (1 save block) [290 needed]

V.I.P: Casino Blackjack: 207 blocks

5/12/08 Releases [Virtual Console Database, via Go Nintendo]

You'd think it'd be hard for Square Enix, whose titles are known for their size and spectacle, to make such a comparatively teeny game. Was it? Says Shiraishi:

"It actually wasn't that difficult. I think we designed the game to fit in the memory space. It wasn't so much that we had a game and had to squeeze it down. If anything, I think the size restriction helped us. I don't think we would've had this game design idea if we didn't have the memory restriction to begin with."

Once we had the restriction, we had... all our artists are veterans, so if you tell them the size, they'll hit it right on. And once we started making it, in the beginning, a lot of people didn't think we could fit this game in the given size, but we were actually quite a bit under. It uses a little bit of compression, and a little bit of techniques. You can fit a lot of game in a small size."

"I'd like to make an ActRaiser sequel. That would be kind of fun."

Content Kings: Square Enix's Shiraishi And Tsuchida On WiiWare And Risk [Gamasutra]

The six titles are:

Final Fantasy: 1500 Wii Points
LostWinds: 1000 Wii Points
Defend Your Castle: 500 Wii Points
Pop: 700 Wii Points
VIP Casino Blackjack: 700 Wii Points
TV Show King: 1000 Wii Points

[UPDATE] - Obviously, no Dr Mario on the list. Nintendo have let us know that despite a release date appearing in the trailer, at no stage was Dr Mario announced as a launch title.

Nintendo Launches WiiWare: An Open Playground for Creativity

Downloadable Game Service Delivers Developers' New Ideas Directly to Consumers

REDMOND, Wash.- Nintendo's Wii™ console has already changed the way people play games. Now its new WiiWare™ service decisively tears down limitations for how developers create games - and the way people receive them.

Starting today, Wii owners with an Internet connection can download new, creative games from a wide range of developers, from large publishers to indie shops. By reducing the barriers that make console game development prohibitively expensive, WiiWare showcases original ideas in the most democratic environment in industry history, connecting the people who make games more directly with the people who play them.

WiiWare frees developers from the traditional constraints of video game development. WiiWare lets developers experiment with big ideas and small budgets to the benefit of players everywhere. Newer, smaller teams now have an outlet for their creative ideas. The constantly growing WiiWare library will have a regular flow of unique video gaming experiences consumers might not otherwise have access to.

"WiiWare is to the video game industry what independent films are to Hollywood," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "WiiWare lets developers experiment with new ideas and experiences. Combined with our collection of classic Virtual Console games, Wii provides one-stop shopping for the greatest games of the past - and the future."

WiiWare games are easy to download. Just go to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel, find the game you want, redeem Wii Points™ and start the download. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. New games, at various Wii Point values, will be added to WiiWare on Mondays. The newly launched Nintendo Channel on Wii will let people view videos of and read information about WiiWare games and other Nintendo products. Users also can see player opinions to help them decide what to play next.

Today, the inaugural lineup of WiiWare games is just a taste of things to come:

FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: My Life as a King™ (Square Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.

LostWinds™ (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand - from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze. You'll wield your Wii Remote™ controller to power Toku's jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and solve puzzles using LostWinds' novel, intuitive and playful control system.

Defend your Castle™ (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone - Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?

Pop™ (Nnooo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone - casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.

V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack™ (High Voltage Software®, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen - Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.

TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where you'll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use your Wii Remote controller in original ways to make it to the finals to see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one final, deciding duel.

For more information about WiiWare, visit WiiWare.com. Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

• Dr. Mario Online RX
• LostWinds
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King
• Defend Your Castle
• Critter Round Up

Dr. Mario Online RX is shown priced at 1000 Wii Points, more commonly referred to as $10 USD. While we're not taking this as 100% confirmed yet, we will continue to be able to sleep soundly tonight assuming that the five titles listed above are prime candidates for next Monday's launch.

"Ubisoft is excited to bring Protöthea exclusively to the platform and we feel it's a must-have WiiWare title,” shared James Regan, vice president of third party operations, Ubisoft. "Protöthea really reminds me of some of the best arcade games, with the Wii Remote as an added dimension. It's just a flurry of fast-paced action that anyone can simply pick up and enjoy.”

In the game players control a "last-generation" spaceship with the Remote and Nunchuk as they try to destroy asteroid Maqno 01 and stop the plans of The Core. The game includes multiple missions, eight different air-to-air weapons, two bombs, as well as a special power that slows time.

Hit the jump for a second vid of the game and fact sheet.

Protöthea™

Product Description
Protöthea™ is a top-down vertical scrolling shooter game putting players in complete control of a last-generation spaceship, with the challenge to destroy an asteroid called “Maqno 01” and sabotage the plans of the political faction called “The Core.”

Ubisoft’s WiiWare™ exclusive launch title introduces new concepts to a beloved classic game style while mixing genres and utilizing the full capabilities of the Wii™ system, from graphics to controls.

Players of all ages and experience will easily jump right in and guide their ship through multiple missions on futuristic planets in a complete 3D world featuring non-stop action.

Key Features

Pick Up and Play
Protöthea takes full advantage of the Nintendo Wii Remote™ and Nunchuck giving players total control of their ship via an easy-to-play and extremely intuitive control scheme.

Graphical Prowess
The game takes place in a complete 3D world packed with graphically rich environments, non-stop action featuring explosions and cool special effects.

Enemy AI
Unlike traditional scrolling shooters where enemy paths and maneuvers were predictable, the enemy AI in Protöthea is dynamic and changes based on the player’s actions.
Complete Arsenal of Weapons
A wide range of eight different air-to-air weapons and two different air-to-ground bombs give players a variety of options at their fingertips as they can use any given weapon they’ve obtained at any given time; the slow-down special power gives the spaceship the ability to decelerate time and avoid enemy fire while rapidly moving and attacking enemies.

Storyline and Missions
Protöthea boasts four unique planets where players will battle through ten levels and two difficulty settings to destroy the plans of “The Core,” a faction that plans to use the minerals extracted from the Maqno asteroid to build an army of bio-machines with the objective to control the Free Planets Federation – yeah, totally evil, right?

Product Specifications:
Developers: Sabarasa & Digital Builders
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: May 2008
Category: Action Shooter
Rating: “E” for Everyone
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Web site: www.ubisoft.com