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Shiren The Wanderer: Don’t Call It A Roguelike
Atlus’ upcoming Wii RPG Shiren the Wanderer has all the trappings of a roguelike dungeon crawler, but Atlus notes key differences that set it apart from other roguelike games. For instance, it’s much easier. I participated in an online demo for Shiren the Wanderer yesterday, with Atlus playing through the game while the company’s PR…
By Mike Fahey Published December 18, 2009 -
Nintendo Raises The Bar For Game Kiosks
For the past few decades, Nintendo has pushed video games forward. Now, it’s doing the same with retail kiosks. These new kiosks will be outfitted with touch screens and cameras. Users can use the fairly standard touch interface to learn more about Nintendo’s titles, recommendations, sales figures and whatnot or they can wave a DS…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 18, 2009 -
2010: The Year of Better Nintendo DS Games?
As the Nintendo DS enters its sixth year on the market, introducing its fourth major iteration, the Nintendo DS XL, the software line-up is looking good, especially if you’re a fan of portable role-playing games. The DS’s 2009 was solid and varied, with an all-new Legend of Zelda, Rhythm Heaven, and Mario & Luigi Bowser’s…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 18, 2009 -
Well, Excuuuuuse Me, Hulu!
The Legend of Zelda, that Friday special cartoon that ran on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show back in the late 80s, is now on Hulu for your trip down memory lane pleasure. I feel kind of silly now, having bought the whole thing on DVD some years back. At the time I thought it…
By AJ Glasser Published December 17, 2009 -
Starship Patrol Brings More Tower Defense To DSiWare, Q-Games Style
The official Nintendo Europe web site has given us a better look at Q-Games next original DSiWare effort, the downloadable DSi game known as Starship Patrol over there, Starship Defense over here. Like Q-Games’ PixelJunk Monsters, Starship Patrol is a classic tower defense style game, but with a focus on resource management, strategic weapons placement…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 17, 2009 -
New U.S. Club Nintendo Rewards Are In The Cards
Nintendo has updated its list of rewards for U.S. based Club Nintendo members with extra coins in their virtual bank account. Sorry, no Wario-themed GameCube controllers here, but plenty of greeting cards, folders and bookmarks. Folder sets and bookmarks with Toad & Friends, Mario & Friends and Bowser themes will hit Club Nintendo members in…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 17, 2009 -
What Won’t Be Coming To Video Gaming In 2010
2010 will bring us many, many things. Some good, some bad, but all of them, things. We’ll be dealing with a lot of that this week, but for now, I’d rather talk about things we won’t be seeing. As we’ve seen this holiday season, a year can be as notable for what didn’t show up…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 16, 2009 -
2010: The Year Of Better Wii Games?
The Wii had a good 2009, thanks to the arrival of Nintendo fan-pleasing releases like Punch-Out!! and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. But 2010 should one-up this year’s showing thanks to Nintendo and third-party publishers. 2010 may get off to a slower start—and we may only get to sample the next Legend of Zelda game…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 15, 2009 -
Dragon’s Lair Does DSiWare Next Week
Digital Leisure is bringing Dirk the Daring to the DSiWare service next week, with the DSi becoming the umpteenth platform to receive a port of Don Bluth’s classic laserdisc game Dragon’s Lair. t’s hard to say how many platforms exactly the game has been ported to already, with some computer platforms receiving multiple versions of…
By Mike Fahey Published December 15, 2009 -
Robotic Hamsters Get Real Activision Games
Activision takes on EA’s Littlest Pet Shop with games based on Zhu Zhu Pets, robotic hamster toys with a life of their own. How was I unaware of robotic hamster toys? Zhu Zhu Pets are, apparently, one of the hottest toys of the holiday season, and I should probably count myself fortunate that I was…
By Mike Fahey Published December 15, 2009 -
Nintendo Patents “Zii” In Japan [Update]
Zii? Like “Wii” with a “Z”? Japan’s Nintendo Co., Ltd. filed a trademark on October 30, 2009 for “Zii”. The trademark recently popped up on the Japanese trademark database. The filing, which covers video games and electronic devices, contains little information. Wonder what it could be. Update: Looks like Nintendo is attempting to block the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 15, 2009 -
Nintendo Dominating U.S. Game Sales Through November
The U.S. video game industry may have a down year and Wii sales may have dropped considerably from 2008, but Nintendo still has something to brag about this year. Sales of its video games are still kicking everyone else’s ass. According to updated figures from the NPD Group, as reported by IndustryGamers, Nintendo is set…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 14, 2009 -
DSi LL Was Almost Called ‘DSi Executive’
Other names batted around for the big-screen handheld: “DSi Comfort,” “DSi Premium,” and “DSi Living.” And Shigeru Miyamoto proposed “DSi Deka.” that’s according to the latest Iwata Asks roundtable, discussing the DSi LL. There are more fun facts from this talk (translated from Japanese; the English transcript is not up yet.) Evidently Nintendo had been…
By Owen Good Published December 14, 2009 -
Boys Can’t Play Majesco’s Dance Sensation!
Young girls can live out their dance fantasies in their living room with Majesco’s Dance Sensation! for the Nintendo Wii. Young boys will just have to keep hiding their passion for creative movement from a world that just wouldn’t understand. It’s just not fair. Girls get to play with adorable animals in the Littlest Pet…
By Mike Fahey Published December 14, 2009 -
Nothing Says I Love You Like Pink And Blue Wii Remotes
While announcing its early 2010 software lineup this morning, Nintendo also announced a February 14th North American release date for the pink and blue Wii remotes, giving the significant others of Nintendo fans the perfect Valentine’s Day gift idea. Sure, Japan got them first, but here in North America we get the pink and blue…
By Mike Fahey Published December 14, 2009 -
Nintendo Lists Names And Dates For Wii, DS Winter 2010 Games Line-Up
A pair of March Pokemons and a February deep-sea diving sequel were among the highlights of the DS and Wii games listed by Nintendo today for release in early 2010. Third-parties have some possible gems for Wii too. Highlights include: -Strong support from Capcom with Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom on Wii, Phoenix Wright on WiiWare and…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 14, 2009 -
Sony Swag Contains Nintendo Horror
I received a very strange package in the mail today. It was from Sony. Yet contains one of Nintendo’s less savoury moments. Opening up the envelope, I was presented with a copy of Daredevil, circa December 1989. An original, pre-owned copy. It was a promo for Sony’s upcoming PSP comic store, and as far as…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 14, 2009