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Is Pokemon Still Gaming’s Monster King?
From Godzilla to Gamera, Japan loves its monsters. Pokémon, or Pocket Monsters, is no exception. But Pokémon’s days as Japan’s reigning video game monster ruler could be over. This is anecdotal evidence at best, and in no way am I trying to imply that Pokémon is no longer popular in Japan (that would be insanity!),…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 2, 2010 -
Isaac Clarke Vs. the Necromorphs of the Mushroom Kingdom
Artist Sheridan Johns puts Donkey Kong, Yoshi and a flock of Goombas through a warp pipe and onto the USG Ishimura for an unexpected and awesome video game mash-up entry in this deviantArt contest. Even scarier than Dead Space? Maybe. DEAD SPACE BROS [deviantArt via RampagedReality]
By Michael McWhertor Published December 1, 2010 -
Turning A Nintendo Console Into A Skate Park
Settle in for nearly five minutes of some guy using an old Famicom (Japan’s take on the NES) and its game cartridges as a skate park for his fingerboard antics. It’s great stuff. If you like skateboarding (or miniature representations of it!), you’ll love it. And if not? Well, hopefully you’ll just enjoy looking at…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 1, 2010 -
What’s The First Wii Game To Reach 4 Million Sold In Japan?
Here’s a hint: It’s one of these 408 titles. (Oh, that top pic is a hint, too!) According to Japanese publisher Enterbrain, New Super Mario Bros. Wii has crossed the 4 million sold mark in Japan, making it the first Wii title to do so in The Land of the Rising Sun. New Super Mario…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 30, 2010 -
Is This The Biggest Wii Bundle Ever?
One Wii console, one Wii Balance Board and apparently all 408 games released in Japan. Yours for a cool one million yen. That’s over US$11,000. Japanese used game shop Enterking is offering this limited one-off bundle for the Japanese New Year sales period. The complete bundle is largely used, sure, but Japanese gamers tend to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 30, 2010 -
True Love Is Found In Nintendo Classics
Get ready for some feel-good times, as a man and his lady agree to be wed after a night spent dining, drinking wine then playing classic Nintendo RPG series Earthbound. This kind of stuff is sweet at the best of times, but hacking a copy of Mother 2 (or, as it’s known in the West,…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 30, 2010 -
Salman Rushdie’s Simple Theory On Peace Through Nintendo
Booker Prize-winning author and famous fatwa target Salman Rushdie has a simple solution for how one should liberate Iran, the country whose former Supreme Leader once issued a death sentence against the novelist. Rushdie puts his faith in Nintendo. “I often think that the best way to liberate Iran is to just to drop Nintendo…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 29, 2010 -
The King Of Donkey Kong Country Returns References
Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Country Returns makes homage to on-again, off-again Donkey Kong high score champ Billy Mitchell, Steve Wiebe’s nemesis in the documentary The King of Kong. How so? See the patriotic neckwear worn by this giant monkey idol? Eagle-eyed NeoGAF member Lijik spotted the reference to hot sauce maker and Donkey Kong master Billy…
By Michael McWhertor Published November 29, 2010 -
The Nintendo Download: Two Cave Stories Are Better Than One
Nicalis’ adorable retro adventure Cave Story returns to the Nintendo Download in two new flavors: A double-screened DSiWare version and a free WiiWare demo. Only a raccoon playing disc golf could make this week any better. If you own an internet connected Wii console and haven’t downloaded Cave Story yet, you should probably get right…
By Mike Fahey Published November 29, 2010 -
Black Friday Week Was Very Good To Nintendo
Fueled by new hardware colors and special holiday bundles, Nintendo had a very happy Black Friday week indeed, with 1.5 million video game systems finding their way into the hands of gaming-hungry shoppers. What systems sold the most? Nintendo’s handheld gaming systems won the week of Black Friday, according to the company’s own internal sales…
By Mike Fahey Published November 29, 2010 -
Diehard Nintendo Fans Debate Whether Donkey Kong Is Good Or Evil
Nintendo’s famous ape seemed like a villain back in the original Donkey Kong game, but he’s been a good guy recently. Which is it? We asked people who would know, some of whom were dressed as Nintendo characters. This video was shot in November at the Nintendo World Store. Thanks to all who agreed to…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 29, 2010 -
ReviewsReview: Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Relives The Glory Days
In the first two Golden Sun games the Heroes of Vale restored the awesome power of the Golden Sun, saving the world of Weyard from impending doom. Are their children up to the task in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn? Thirty years have passed since the events of puzzle-heavy role-playing games Golden Sun and Golden Sun:…
By Mike Fahey Published November 29, 2010 -
Watch Helen Mirren Earn Money Right Before Your Eyes
Oscar-winner Helen Mirren was reportedly paid £500,000 (US$800,000) to appear in a Wii Fit Plus ad. This is that ad! “Nintendo insisted they wanted Helen and no one else,” a friend of Mirren’s is apparently quoted as saying. “They wanted an older, more attractive woman to show that the Wii isn’t just for children.” The…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 29, 2010 -
Mario Kart Goes 3D (But Not The Way You Think)
Takara Tomy’s remote-controlled Mario Kart toys may have looked great, but they shipped without a decent track. These Spanish guys certainly took care of that, building a custom course for the toys that would do a video game proud. Of course, a real Mario Kart would require better handling from its vehicles than these tiny…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 29, 2010 -
For A Moment, You Will Believe Samus Is Real
Swedish student Jenni Källberg – otherwise known as the world’s greatest Metroid cosplayer – is back, taking imitation of Nintendo’s sci-fi starlet to a whole new level. Over the past two months, Källberg has hit the streets for two shoots, one showing off Samus’ Gravity Suit in a winter wonderland, the other a vastly-improved Varia…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 29, 2010 -
Kinect Hacked To Play Super Mario Bros.
This unholy marriage of Microsoft technology and Nintendo software comes from Yankeyan, who probably just gave Shigeru Miyamoto an inspiration for the Wii’s next exergaming title. Yankeyan programmed this with OpenKinect drivers and Nintendo emulation, so that Kinect recognized his motions and virtual button presses onto the emulator. “I could have placed a simulated keypad…
By Owen Good Published November 27, 2010 -
ReviewsReview: Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem Is More Donkey Kong Than 2010’s Other Big Donkey Kong Game
Some other Donkey Kong game came out from Nintendo in November 2010. Donkey Kong Country Returns, they call it. Yeah, sure. Like the essence of Donkey Kong is running to the right. The ape must stand defiant. Mario must run. Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem is the third fourth of the Mario Vs. DK…
By Stephen Totilo Published November 25, 2010 -
Next January, Play The Nintendo 3DS For Free!
To stir up interest in its upcoming 3DS, Nintendo is holding “Nintendo World 2011” at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. Admission is totally free. The event is open to the public and will run from January 8 to January 10, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Nintendo hasn’t not yet revealed what titles will be on display.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 24, 2010