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When the Going Gets Tough… Let the Game Play Itself
Like many younger brothers I had a contentious relationship with my older brother. We butted heads, fought, lied, accused each other of unimaginable atrocities and genuinely despised one another — while secretly caring deeply what the other thought. But there was one thing that always brought us together: Difficult video games. In the 70s and…
By Brian Crecente Published October 9, 2009 -
Reviews
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Review: Crisis Hearts
Our time with the Nobody Roxas in Kingdom Hearts II was far too short. Square Enix rectifies this oversight with Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS. 358/2 Days tells the tale of Sora’s Nobody Roxas from the time he first came into being up until he finds himself among friends at the beginning…
By Mike Fahey Published October 9, 2009 -
No Plans for Layton on Wii
In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, the Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino has said the studio has no plans to bring Professor Layton to the Wii, despite the series’ strong popularity on the DS. Hino said the current trilogy will close out with “Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel,” and a new one…
By Owen Good Published October 8, 2009 -
Someone Just Paid $20,000 For This NES Game
Spending $15,000 or even $17,500 on a collectible Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge, that we can understand. They’re covered in gold! But $20,100? That’s simply too much, even factoring in Nintendo Campus Challenge 1991’s rarity. But spend $20,100 on said ultra-rare NES game someone did, snapping up the “one of a kind” item on eBay. That…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 8, 2009 -
Frankenreview: Wii Fit Plus
Everybody back on the balance board! Wii fit is back and packed with so much additional content that Nintendo had to add a Plus to the end of the title. Wii Fit Plus is an enhanced version of the game that saw people who normally wouldn’t be caught dead in a video game store flocking…
By Mike Fahey Published October 8, 2009 -
Beyonce Would Like To Make A Fitness Game
After trying her hand at fashion design and acting, songstress Beyonce has expressed interest in making a fitness video game. “I’d like to get involved in video games, since I really love Wii Fit,” the diva recently said. “I think it would be a great idea to incorporate choreography, because, for me, my workout is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 8, 2009 -
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Dated, Priced For Japan
According to news apparently leaking out of a Nintendo retailer meeting, New Super Mario Bros. Wii now has a release date. It is December 3, and the game will be priced at ¥5,800 (US$66) Other news that supposedly leaked out include new Wii Remote colors hitting Japan that same day in shades of pink and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 8, 2009 -
The First Four Letters Say it All
Dumbbells – two pound dumbbells, to be exact. Your Wiimote is waiting to pump (clap) you up with this $20 “peripheral” available from Everlast, said to be compatible with a slew of exergaming titles. The listing says the weights don’t interfere with the IR capability so, hell, why not hook it up to Dead Space:…
By Owen Good Published October 7, 2009 -
NieR Developer Calls The Wii’s Graphics “Harsh”, Wants HD Wii
Taro Yoko from Tokyo-based developer Cavia is hard at work on upcoming Square Enix published title NieR Gestalt and NieR Replicant. While at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Yoko blogs, he caught some of the trailers at the Square Enix booth, including Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers for the Wii. “Honestly,” he writes, “Crystal Bearer’s graphics…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 7, 2009 -
Is Metroid Prime The Citizen Kane Of Video Games?
If Orson Welles’ groundbreaking, multiple award winning film Citizen Kane has an analogous counterpart in the video game space, one ABC News report argues that it’s Nintendo’s Metroid Prime Trilogy. It’s IGN’s Michael Thomsen that makes that argument, saying that the “dark and lonely world” of Welles’ film is comparable to the environments presented in…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 6, 2009 -
Nintendo Expects Wii, DS To Be In Ample Supply This Holiday
Unlike previous holiday shopping seasons, Wii gift givers may be able to simply waltz into their nearest retailer to grab the bestselling console, or so Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime believes. Despite the recent price drop that’s sure to spur sales and the release of Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 6, 2009 -
Wii Tony Hawk Rides With Your Mii
The Wii version of Tony Hawk Ride might not have the stunning graphics and online multiplayer of the HD versions, but who cares about all that when you can skate with your Mii? IGN spills the beans on this new feature unique (obviously) to the Nintendo version of the game. Wii owners will be able…
By Mike Fahey Published October 6, 2009 -
Eight Minutes With Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
G4’s look at this new section of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories shows just how disorienting and unnerving the Wii game can be. In Shattered Memory you’ll be running around in the dark, your only light source a flashlight you aim with the remote. The mechanic does a great job of immersing you in the gameplay.
By Brian Crecente Published October 6, 2009 -
Nintendo: “Millions” Waiting For Nintendo Wii
Wii sales have been relatively sluggish this year. That’s changing as the Wii with its new price-cut heads into the holiday season. Nintendo dropped the price in North America from US$250 to $200 — similar price-cuts were announced for Japan and Europe. “There are literally millions of consumers out there who want a Wii and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 -
Nintendo Is The Best Company… IN THE WORLD
So says a ranking in business publication BusinessWeek. The top forty companies were rated on 2008 sales and international sales percentage. Consulting firm A.T. Kearney picked the best of the best from 2,500 companies worldwide. According to BusinessWeek, “Kearney then only considers those companies with 2008 sales greater than $10 billion, with at least 25%…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 -
The Nintendo Download: The First Of The Final Fantasies
The Final Fantasy that started it all makes its way to the Virtual Console this morning, and you all know the drill by now. First one to rescue the princess gets a bridge! I hope I didn’t just spoil a major plot point of Final Fantasy for you guys, but after playing it on the…
By Mike Fahey Published October 5, 2009 -
Ready To Rat Out R4 Sellers? Nintendo Is Here To Help
Earlier this year, Nintendo announced that it and 54 software game companies were filing a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against companies that import “R4 Revolution”-type devices, using the Unfair Competition Prevention Law as the legal grounding. According to Nintendo, such devices hurts the growth of the entire game industry and steps must be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 5, 2009 -
Princess Peach In A Kimono! Nintendo’s Kyoto Event
Over the weekend in Kyoto, Nintendo participated in the Kyoto Cross Media Experience 2009. There were demo kiosks as well as an exhibit about Nintendo video game history, dating 1983-2009. More pics from Japanese site Inside-Games in the link below. 【KYOTO Cross Media Experience 2009】京都でNintendoゲームイベント！朝から多くのファンが駆けつける | インサイド [Inside-Games]
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 5, 2009 -
No Fee, and Maybe WiiSpeak, for Western Monster Hunter 3
Capcom’s considering both adding Wiispeak support to and removing monthly fees for online play from its Western release of Monster Hunter, according to a couple of separate reports. In Japan, Monster Hunter 3 will carry a fee for online play, a detail that arched some eyebrows on this side of the Pacific. Speaking at TGS,…
By Owen Good Published October 4, 2009 -
Scribblenauts’ Original Name Sounded Like a Gameshow
Scribblenauts is People’s Exhibit No. 1 for giving a game a great name. It’s a unique word, hinting strongly at the quirky adventures you’ll have. Good thing, too, because the original name sounded like something Wink Martindale would host. “Wordplay” was the first title, according to the 5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka. Yeesh. Slazcka…
By Owen Good Published October 3, 2009