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Why There Are Coins In Super Mario Bros.
One of gaming’s most iconic in-game items are Super Mario Bros’ coins. But why coins? Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto admits that fruits were also a good choice, but tells Nintendo president Satoru Iwata that other items might confuse players, causing them to run away. “Thus, when we were thinking about something that anybody would look…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 22, 2010 -
Game & Watch? More Like Sonic & Watch
It’s holiday season, but if you’re like us, you may still be at work. What you need in that case is something to pass the time on an office computer. Something like, oh, a Game & Watch version of Sonic. Egg & Watch, by Newgrounds user Elratauru, takes the very first boss battle from the…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 22, 2010 -
Super Mario’s Next Sports Game Will Be Out In February
Mario Sports Mix, the Wii game created by the company behind Final Fantasy, will be out for the Wii in North America on February 7, according to a Nintendo press release today. The game features Mario and his extended cast of friends and foes playing hockey, basketball, volleyball or dodgeball in the kind of super-powered…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 21, 2010 -
Retro GTA Homage Delayed On Wii (But There’s Good News)
Retro City Rampage, an ode to both the games and culture of yesteryear, was one of the few WiiWare games we’d been looking forward to as 2011 draws nearer. It’s also now probably one of the last. Why? Because it’s now coming out on Xbox Live Arcade as well. Those who have been following the…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 21, 2010 -
ReviewsReview: Fluidity Is Fun When I’m Not Yelling At It
If a video game kept seeming better and more delightful the more you played it but then it’s final chapter was virtual water torture, could you say you liked the game? Damn the ending. Fluidity is a nutty winner. Fluidity is a downloadable Wii game whose creators bravely thought you might have fun controlling a…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 20, 2010 -
Nintendo To Reveal 3DS Details On January 19
Nintendo’s North American plans for its stereoscopic 3D portable gaming machine will become much more clear on January 19, 2011, when the company holds a preview event for its next big thing, the Nintendo 3DS. The company will be hosting a Nintendo 3DS event packed with “hands-on game play, demos and a presentation by president…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 20, 2010 -
The Nintendo Download: Power Pick Got
Twas the Monday before Christmas, and all through Nintendo’s house several creatures were stirring, including an afro-wearing robot hell bent on rescuing his five foxy girlfriends from the man. While the Virtual Console gets a little love with the release of Mario Party 2 and DSiWare adds Dragon’s Lair II and a Christmas-themed installment of…
By Mike Fahey Published December 20, 2010 -
Next Valentine’s Day, Dragon Quest VI Beats Chocolate
Get ready to fall in love with Dragon Quest VI. In 2011, the DS version of the game is finally headed to North America. On February 14, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie will be getting its official English-localized release. Until now, the Japanese game was only available in English via fan translations. Dragon Quest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 20, 2010 -
The Fellowship Of The Zelda Tattoos
And now they know for sure, there are six guys in the wolf pack. Six wolves, running around the Bay Area together, in San Francisco, looking for rupees and heart containers. So tonight, we make a toast! The six guys (well, five and one lady) — Ashley Raj, Josh Kulinski, Willie Harper, Ehren Tye, Josh…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 20, 2010 -
Demo Now Available For Super Smash Bros De-Make
Super Smash Land, a Super Smash Bros. game remade to the constraints of the GameBoy (but not, literally, for it) has a playable demo now available for free on the PC. Designer/programmer Dan Fornace says the project’s been underway since September, and says in addition to Mario, Kirby, Link and Pikachu, the game will feature…
By Owen Good Published December 18, 2010 -
Nintendo 3DS Cartridges Are So Beefy, They Might Surprise You
Nintendo has contracted the production of its Nintendo 3DS cartridges to Taiwan-based solid-state maker Macronix. And apparently, those cartridges offer enormous memory space. According to Taiwanese-site Gamrade, the 3DS cartridge is able to hold up to 8GB, but it’s rumored Nintendo will be enforcing some kind of 2GB limit on 3DS games (details are few…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 18, 2010 -
Yoshi… Gear?!?
Amazing Custom Yoshi Mech designed by Donald Kennedy! Check out the entire set of photos to really appreciate this custom work of art. Related Rampage: Custom Anatomy of Megaman Custom Yoshi Mech by Donald Kennedy / kodykoala (Flickr) (Twitter) Need your daily fill of geek eye candy? If so, head over to Justin Page’s Rampaged…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 16, 2010 -
Japan’s Biggest Pop Diva Returns To Video Games
Selling over 50 million albums in Japan, Ayumi Hamasaki is one of Asia’s biggest popstars, posting a number one single every year since she debuted in 1998. Now she’s bringing her music to one of Japan’s biggest role-playing franchises During the mid-1990s, she co-hosted a music program that was broadcasted on Nintendo Satellaview, which was…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 16, 2010 -
Kirby’s Epic Yarn Gets Patched At Club Nintendo
Nintendo’s excessively adorable Wii game Kirby’s Epic Yarn provides the latest contribution to America’s version of Club Nintendo, two pairs of patches that will embroider their way into your heart. Visitors to E3 2010 may already have some of these coveted Kirby patches, but Club Nintendo members can swap “coins” for them if they need…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 15, 2010 -
This Is Why I’ll Never Play Luigi’s Adventure 3
A few years ago, someone made Luigi’s Adventure 3, an unofficial riff on Super Mario World that features Luigi. I’ve never played it. Now that I’ve seen it played in an ongoing Let’s Play series at YouTube, I never will. All I need to see is the first minute of action here. That, my friends,…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 15, 2010 -
Pink, Pika And Totally Fake
Hong Kong retailer Milanoo.com has this “Pikachu” costume available for purchase, marked down to a bargain ¥18,000 (US$215). Just in time for…Christmas? The site recommends the outfit for company openings, large scale parties, athletic events and even weddings. Weddings. Just imagine if you saw this at your wedding. And if you think this is scary,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 15, 2010 -
‘The Brothers Mario’ Warps The Mushroom Kingdom Into Liberty City
This may be the best Grand Theft Auto IV machinima we’ve ever seen, dropping the major players of Super Mario Bros. into a gritty, violent world where gangster Bowser is the most feared criminal in the Mushroom Kingdom. While there might be six too many dramatic walkaway explosions in “The Brothers Mario,” by YouTube filmmakers…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 14, 2010 -
The Super Mario Musical Number
Today’s Speak Up contribution comes from reader Orionsaint001, who found that there are more amazing musicals to be made than ones about Spider-Man. This is usually Fahey’s gig to select from the great tips you readers send in. But he’s off this week. Would he have chosen this one? I don’t know. Would he be…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 14, 2010 -
The Embarrassing Things This Man Did For Mario
Shigeru Miyamoto might have created Mario, but he didn’t just draw the character. No, his work on Mario runs much deeper. As the years worn on, Miyamoto wasn’t directing the Mario games any more, but returned to the director’s chair for Super Mario 64, the first game to render Mario in 3D polygons. And he…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 14, 2010 -
Super Smash Bros. Action Figure Brawl
Taking a bunch of tiny, adorable Marvel Super Hero Squad figures as a template, Rust This World has created a line of tiny action figures based on the characters appearing in Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series of fighting games. While not every character is there, plenty of the main ones are, like Pikachu, Mario, Bowser,…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 14, 2010