"To tell you the truth, I actually wanted to create Link's Crossbow Training 2," he told gamesTM in an interview. "I thought that we should do something more and better in the field of the first person shooter, based on our experience of the first game".

The "more" he wanted was an expanded multiplayer mode, but Nintendo would have none of it. "The fact of the matter is that a lot of people inside Nintendo insisted that I should work on a new Legend Of Zelda title rather than working on more Crossbow Training".

Hey, Aonuma. Back to work.

Anouma Wants Crossbow Sequel [gamesTM, via NowGamer]

In one of his regular "Iwata Asks" columns, the Nintendo president sat down with Zelda mastermind Eiji Aonuma and picked his brains about the development of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. And Aonuma revealed that the latest Zelda game was inspired not by some sweeping work of fantasy, or lasting tale of good vs evil, but by a kids book. About a train, some kids, and some animals.

In "The Tracks Go On And On" (which Aonuma was reading to his son at the time), some kids are running a train, and laying the tracks for it as they went, exploring the land. All cute stuff, with bright colours, small animals, etc. Eventually, they finish up, build a station and a real train comes. Which they promptly board, go home, end of story.

Aonuma says he kept the inspiration a secret, instead pitching the idea of exploring Hyrule on a train as though it came to him in a vision. And now, we have a Zelda game where Link travels around Hyrule on a train.

Iwata Asks [Nintendo]

Click each thumbnail for more information.

Free Realms #4 (of 12)
Written by J.S. Lewis. Drawn by Jon Buran.

Summary Via Publisher Wildstorm Entertainment:
Based on the hit virtual world with over 3 million users worldwide! When Dane and Maya return to Briarwood, Darkthorne's followers accuse them of trying to assassinate the sorceress with a deadly poison. Now the pair must survive the darkest corners of Briarwood as they search for an alchemist who can prove their innocence!

Mirror's Edge (trade paperback)
Written by Rhianna Pratchett. Drawn by Matthew Dow Smith.

Summary Via Publisher Wildstorm Entertainment:
The 6-issue miniseries based on the Electronic Arts video game is collected! Faith is a Runner in the city - a courier who delivers sensitive cargo by traversing the rooftops of the city's skyscrapers. But how did she come by this unique trade...and what secrets from her past may affect her future?

American McGee's Grimm Vol. 01
Written by Dwight L. MacPherson. Drawn by Grant Bond.

Summary Via Website Things From Another World:
In American McGee's Grimm (the popular video game series available at GameTap.com), the player controls Grimm, a dwarf who creates a trail of destruction wherever he goes. Sick of how happy fairy tales have become, Grimm makes it his mission to revert the lighthearted yarns to their darker original versions with his patented butt-stomping chaos. Now he's set his wicked sights on comic books, and the funny pages will never be the same again...

The Legend of Zelda Vol 8: The Minish Cap
Written and drawn by Akira Himekawa.

Summary Via Publisher Viz Media:
On the day of the Picori Festival, Link and Princess Zelda go to watch the sword-fighting tournament. The winner is a strange man named Vaati, who has come to claim the Light Force which is sealed within the Bound Chest. When the Light Force turns up missing, Vaati turns Princess Zelda to stone! To save his friend, Link needs the power of the Picori Blade, but only a certain master swordsmith can reforge it. Can Link find the pieces of the broken sword before Vaati does?

Pokemon Adventures Vol. 4
Written and drawn Hidenori Kusaka.

Summary Via Publisher Viz Media:
Pokémon trainer Red goes off on a training challenge and...never comes back! But a tired and tattered Pikachu manages to return home by himself. A mysterious young trainer in yellow befriends Pikachu, and together they set out to find our missing hero!

And watch out for Team Rocket, Yellow Caballero... Could they be behind Red's mysterious disappearance?

Sonic The Hedgehog #207
Written by Ian Flynn. Drawn by James Fry.

Summary Via Publisher Archie Comics:
"Blackout": The Iron King wants the force-field over Sonic's home city gone, so he heads to its power source: the radioactive remains of Robotropolis! This could spell doom for our heroes - not to mention the surrounding environment! As Sonic races to the rescue, Princess Sally finally comes to a pivotal personal decision.
PLUS: "The Iron Queen:" The second half of this intriguing new villainess' thrilling origin is revealed!

Street Fighter: Legends of Chun-Li Vol. 2 (trade paperback)

Summary Via comics website Comixology
:
She's the strongest woman in the world! But before Chun-li was a no-nonsense Interpol officer she was a fresh recruit in the Hong Kong Police. SF Legends: Chun-li takes a trip through Street Fighter history throwing a young Chun-li's into her first encounter with the criminal Shadaloo organization. Expect appearances by Dan, Gen, Fei Long, Sagat, and more Street Fighter favorites!

Street Fighter Vol. 5: Kick It Into Turbo
Summary Via comics website Comixology:
The World Warriors battle across Hong Kong, Japan, and America to secure their spots in the ultimate competition - the Street Fighter Tournament! Fan favorites Ryu, Chun-li, Guile, Sakura, Cammy, and dozens more compete in what might be their final fight! Contains Street Fighter II Turbo #1-6, plus the 6-page Turbo story from Street Fighter Remix #0.

"Whenever we have to think about the remake," Aonuma told IGN, "we have to also think about the background, especially what kind of situation, what kind of period and time that previous game was played in, because, be it Ocarina of Time or any other games, whenever they say they want to have a remake on whichever platform, they have some emotional attachment from playing that game at that particular time or environment." According to Aonuma, that sort of background is always there. "We cannot afford to destroy that kind of emotional attachment."

Another reason is that whenever Nintendo comes up with new technology, the developers are inspired to put that new tech and new ideas into new Zelda games. For example, in the upcoming Legend of Zelda on the Wii, the game features 1-to-1 controls. Players can swing the Wii Remote, and directly control Link's sword play in-game. "It has become very natural," the producer added. "I mean, the movement of your arms are precisely reflected in the gameplay whereby Link is wielding his sword just as you shake the Wii Motion Plus remote."

What's more, game play for the upcoming Wii Zelda title will be different from the traditional dungeon — field — dungeon structure that has dominated Zelda titles in the past. According to Aonuma, expect an announcement at next year's E3 about these changes.

"So that's the current situation and that's the reason why we are not very aggressive in exploring the possibility of remaking the past Zelda series," the producer added. "If I can think how to do it, or if any inspiration comes to me, without destroying the emotional attachment people have to the past game, and I can make some great innovation or renovation on the remake, then I might be able to think about it further."

The Legacy of Zelda [YouTube via WiiNintendo]

Consider that the earliest Zelda game was all caves and magic swords, with nothing more high-tech than a boomerang and a whistle. Several Zeldas later, Link was sailing ships, taking pictures with a camera and, as of a week from today, driving a train in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks on the DS.

So I wrote to Aonuma: "Spirit Tracks features a train, which may be the most modern piece of technology included in a Zelda game. How modern do you think the Zelda universe can get? Could it include, for example, a radio? A car? A gun?"

In an e-mailed response, Aonuma said: "Technology actually was not a major concern for us when we decided to use the train. In The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the boat was the key mode of transportation. Now that Spirit Tracks takes place on land, we needed a new way for players to get around, and felt that the train offered the best sense of exploration and discovery. We don't think it feels out of place in the game world. Trains are also a popular mode of transportation in Japan. My children and I still feel a great sense of adventure when we ride trains in Japan."

Note how un-Zelda-like some of my suggestions were. Final Fantasy can get modern and even futuristic. Even World of Warcraft manages to include motorcycles. But a Zelda game with even more modern technology?

I don't see Aonuma ruling any of it out based on what he then said to me about future tech:

"Regarding use of other forms in technology in the future, as long it adds to the overall game experience and is something we feel the player would enjoy, we wouldn't be afraid to implement it. As a matter of fact, we have used the Hook Shot in several previous games, which would be considered a very modern type of technology, even by today's standards. "

So maybe Link can have a cell phone some day. Though I doubt they'd go that far. I don't see the gameplay benefit of an iPod over a fairy. But a car... then who would need a horse any more?

[via Go Nintendo]

"I have an eight-year-old son myself at home, and quite recently he started playing The Phantom Hourglass for DS, because when the software first hit the market he was too young" he says. "When he started playing with the boat, I told him: 'In the next Zelda, you are going to be able to ride on the train.' He answered: 'OK, Dad, first boat, and then train? Surely next time, Link is going to fly in the sky ... '"

Apparently having said that, he lets slip a big grin, before adding "I just don't know. If many people make many speculations ... some of them might be correct. Right now, I have to refrain from commenting on anything."

Now, this is Nintendo. He could just be messing with you/me. And probably is. But with Twlight Princess having some sci-fi elements to it, and with Spirit Tracks featuring trains, the sight of a Hylian dirigible wouldn't be surprising in the slightest.

Eiji Aonuma and the spirit of adventure [The Guardian]

"We haven't committed to Zelda in 2010" he told GTTV host Geoff Keighley. Which will obviously upset those keen enough to hope for Zelda in 2010, but also stupid enough to have expected a game that hasn't even been officially shown off yet to be out in the next year.

Especially when it's a "proper" Zelda game, the last one of which took about 173 years to come out.

[Nintendo On GameTrailers TV]

Green told me that this is part of a trend, one I'd not been privy to. It goes back to Kirby, that pink puffball of a Nintendo character who was given some angry eyebrows for his American release.

Based on Green's comparison of the boxarts I've reprinted here, Europe will be sold the upcoming DS game The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks with Link the train conductor. America gets a swordsman. For a little more on the comparison and its history, check out the original article.

American Link Is Hardcore [Press The Buttons]

Click the thumbnails for more details.

Free Realms #1 (of 12) Written by J.S. Lewis. Drawn by Jon Buran.

Summary Via Publisher Wildstorm Entertainment:
SONY teams with WildStorm and best-selling fantasy author J.S. Lewis (the Grey Griffins series) for an exciting adaptation of Free Realms, their new MMORPG! This 12-issue series mirrors the nonstop action of the game, offering exciting adventures, battles with vicious monsters and, of course, the allure of gorgeous fairies!

The story begins when a young boy is abducted and dragged into a darkened forest teeming with twisted monsters. It's up to a relic hunter and a pixie to save him, but their mission is cut short when a horde of troll-like creatures captures them!

The Legend of Zelda: Vol 7...

Summary Via Publisher Viz Media:
Four Swords, Part 2

The Green, Red and Blue Links reach Death Mountain, where they challenge Shadow Link and Violet Link in battle. Then, inside the Fire Temple they learn a terrible secret about the Dark World and the evil power behind Vaati. To defeat this great enemy, the different colored Links must find a way to become one again in order to harness the power of the Four Sword!

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventures Vol 5...

Summary Via Publisher Viz Media:
R to L (Japanese Style) New friends, new lands, and all-new Pokémon-the next chapter of one of the greatest adventures! Most kids spend their days at school, but not Hareta. Raised in the wild by Pokémon, he can climb as high as an Aipcom, swim as fast as a Magik

Who will catch the Legendary Pokémon Dialga?Hareta's battle with Mitsumi comes to an end, but will Mitsumi stay loyal to Team Galactic or her old friend Hareta? Either way, the race to find the Legendary Pokémon Dialga continues! Cyrus, Team Galactic's leader, is determined to catch Dialga and seize its power for himself. Can Hareta and his friends beat Cyrus to the final prize? New friends, new lands, and all-new Pokémon: Return to one of the greatest adventures!

Sonic the Hedgehog #205... Written by Ian Flynn. Drawn by Steven Butler

Summary Via Publisher Archie Comics:
"On the Run Part One": Bunnie is back, but worse for wear with her wounds being tended in the hospital. Luckily, her friends are by her side... but not for long, as a less-than-lucid Eggman attacks in his Egg-Tortoise walker! Sonic and Tails spring into action, while Iron Queen and crew watch with wide eyes. Why are they so interested in seeing Eggman captured? It's the start of a new pulse-pounding tale guest-starring Nicole, Antoine, Monkey Khan, Espio and more!

PLUS: "Birthright Part One": Now it can be revealed: the long-held secret of the disappearance of Lien-Da's father!

All photos from Kiddy Land, a toy store in Tokyo's Harajuku district.

The first in the one-quarter scale "Master Arts" line of licensed Twilight Princess center pieces, Zant will set serious Zelda fans back $349 USD, but will clearly present a nerdy conversation starter at your next cocktail party. At an impressive 21 inches tall, it's unlikely that anyone will miss it. Especially if placed between a set of Legend of Zelda salt and pepper shakers.

Plus, Zant comes with an alternate head, ensuring that dinner guests will be wowed by your decorative skills time and time again. Or at least twice.

We're a bit sceptical about the item's selling spiel:

The Bit Legend of Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal is an intense sawtooth shaping fuzz that creates tones reminiscent of C64, Atari, and other old video game consoles. Operates on standard 9 volt battery.

That might be a bit of a stretch for a humble effects pedal, but hey, as has been pointed out, it's got a Zelda theme on it as well as the word "fuzz". That should be good enough for most.

Devi Ever The Bit: Legend of Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal [Musician's Friend, via Insert Credit]

Ash Ketchum and Link, otherwise known as ArachnidianDream and Lennart Jansson, arraigned music from Mario, Kirby, Tetris, Zelda, Pokemon, Halo, and yes...Pong, for Seattle's Marrowstone in the City program. The Nintendo-themed tunes are nicely done, but once you get to the stirring Halo solo you'll need a tissue to soak up the happy tears. Then, once you've recovered from Halo and feel as if you're in the clear, Pong sneaks up behind you, tackles you to the ground, and stuffs wads of melted awesome into your gaping maw. Don't try to scream; it's already too late.

Stop Playing Homework and Do Your Video Games - A Video Game Quintet [YouTube via Destructoid]

Click the thumbnails for more details.

Street Fighter IV #3 (of 4)... Written by Ken Siu-Chong. Drawn by Joe Ng.

Summary Via Publisher Udon Entertainment: It's bad girl VS school girl as Crimsom Viper makes Sakura her latest target! How does Sakura fit into the S.I.N. organization's plan.. and why would they want Dan Hibiki as well? The answers could be DARKER than anyone suspects!

The Legend of Zelda, Volume 6: Four Swords - Part 1 ... Written and Drawn by the duo known as Akira Himekawa.

Summary via publisher Viz Media: Four Swords, Part 1. Link, now a Hylian Knight, serves Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle. When Shadow Link kidnaps Princess Zelda, Link once again must prepare himself to defeat the forces of evil. To do so, he needs the legendary Four Sword, but getting it means releasing and then battling the ancient evil power Vaati. The Four Sword also splits Link into four different versions of himself, and these new Links aren't team players! Rescuing Zekda, beating Vaati, and getting his wild alter-egos under control isn't going to be easy!

Sonic The Hedgehog Archives Vol. 11... Written by Ken Penders, Kent Taylor. Drawn by Kyle Hunter, Art Mawhinney, Manny Galan, Patrick Spaziante, Harvey Mercadoocasio, Andrew Pepoy .

Summary via publisher Archie Comics Media: The Sonic Archives series has emerged as one of Archie's best-selling trade paperbacks, as fans both new and old can relive the glory days of Sonic the Hedgehog in these high-quality, digitally-restored graphic novels, complete with all the classic Sonic stories from the 1990's! Now with Sonic Archives Volume 11, Sonic lovers can add to their collections issues 41-44, stories which are almost impossible to come across now. And best of all, the colors are completely re-mastered to give the issues a brand-new look!

Stories include: "... And One Shall Save Him" - Sally, Sonic and Geoffrey attempt to save King Acorn, but will they survive the Zone of Silence as past and future collide? "In Every Kingdom There Must Exist a Little Chaos" - the epic "Sword of Acorns" storyline begins here, as Knuckles searches for the fabled sword against staggering odds! "The Dream Zone" - the story that introduces the "Dream Watcher" device that will play a major role in the "Endgame" saga! "Black & Blue & Red All Over" - Evil Sonic is back... and it looks like Knuckles is helping him!

The demo lets players walk around a dungeon and attack baddies from The Legend of Zelda all from a first person p.o.v. and in 3D.

FPS Zelda [Phenex via Infendo]

Employment Agency Has Job Seekers Sad [Fox, via Go Nintendo]