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Nintendo, Microsoft Sued Over Parental Control System
All three current generation consoles have a form of parental lock-out controls. They’re a good idea. A good idea that has, however, landed Nintendo and Microsoft in court. Around Christmas time, 36 companies – including Best Buy, Dell, DirecTV, Motorola, Tivo and Wal-Mart – were sued by Guardian Media Technologies, who hold a patent for…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 9, 2009 -
Relax, Klonoa Is Getting An American Release
Klonoa is coming to the Wii. We learned that at TGS last year, but seeing as the PlayStation original was so roundly ignored, there was never a guarantee they’d bother with a Western release. BUt it’s OK! Namco Bandai have confirmed today that, yes, Klonoa will be coming to North American Wiis sometime in 2009.…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 9, 2009 -
CES 09: Microsoft Responds To Sony’s Console Add-On “Peddling” Claims
Earlier this week, Sony sent us an oddly timed media bulletin, trumpeting the PlayStation 3’s value versus the Wii and Xbox 360. It also accused Nintendo and Microsoft of “peddling add-ons.” What say you, Microsoft? “First, I would say we absolutely would not want to trade places with Sony,” said Aaron Greenberg, group product manager…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 9, 2009 -
Can 2009 Innovate Itself Out of a Recession?
The past week in gaming news gave us a glimpse into 2009. It’s a year that could witness plummeting sales with Rock Band on the sidelines, Sony’s continued struggle to reinvent itself and Nintento working again to innovate with an eye toward new gamers. It may be Nintendo’s greatest stumbling block. How do you appeal…
By Brian Crecente Published January 9, 2009 -
Developers Respond To Nintendo’s Hint System Patent
Today a Nintendo patent came to light for a hint system which would allow gamers to essentially let games play themselves. We reached out to game developers for their opinion on the patent. The patent, filed by Nintendo Creative Director Shigeru Miyamoto on June 30, 2008, outlines a gaming system more akin to DVD playback,…
By Mike Fahey Published January 9, 2009 -
Atlus Delivers Old School Tokyo Beat Down To DS
Atlus delivers old school beat ’em up gameplay with a badass 70’s cop show vibe to the palm of your hand, announcing Tokyo Beat Down, coming in March to the Nintendo DS. It’s a 3D beat ’em up with shoot ’em up tendencies, allowing players to punch, kick, shoot, stab, parley, and explode their way…
By Mike Fahey Published January 9, 2009 -
Phantasy Star Zero Heads West
Phantasy Star fans rejoice! The Nintendo DS entry in the series that hit Japan last month is coming to America, as Sega announces Phantasy Star Zero for U.S. and European release next winter. Phantasy Star Zero is set on an alternate Earth 200 years after a massive war called “The Great Blank” brought civilization to…
By Mike Fahey Published January 9, 2009 -
Nintendo Patent Reveals Potential Paradigm Shift in Design
Call it hints 2.0. Nintendo is working on a gameplay system meant to ease the pain of completing a difficult game, without watering it down so much that it turns hardcore gamers off. The new system, described in a patent filed by Nintendo Creative Director Shigeru Miyamoto on June 30, 2008, but made public today,…
By Brian Crecente Published January 9, 2009 -
Build Your Own Profanity-Filled Mario Level
Retro Sabotage, back at it. Their latest work? This create-a-Mario tool, which allows you to customise a few lines of text that appear in-game as giant banners. Made of coins. So you can fill in your name, your mum’s name, a season’s greeting, whatever tickles your fancy. Your imagination’s the limit! Golden Words [Retro Sabotage]
By Luke Plunkett Published January 9, 2009 -
Cave Story Wii Has A Little Extra Something
Cave Story Wii isn’t the same Cave Story you already know and already love. For starters, it’s getting a graphical facelift, character art and all. But that’s not all; it’s also getting downloadable content. Yes, posted on the game’s official blog yesterday was the following: We’re still working away at Cave Story trying to make…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 9, 2009 -
Nintendo Patents Show Wii-mote Originally Designed For GameCube [Update]
A Nintendo patent from March 2006 shows that the company originally intended a Wii-mote style device for the GameCube. A patent drawing shows how the Wii Remote could link with the GC. A Wavebird-like adapter would be attached to the GameCube console, which would interface with the wand remote. There appears to be two separate…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 9, 2009 -
The Ten Biggest Selling Games In Japan For December
Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has crunched data for December sales, and tallied up the ten biggest games in Japan. Wonder what’s number one with a bullet? Sure ya do! Here’s the list for the December 1 to December 28, 2008 sales period: 1. DISSIDIA (PSP) Square Enix Launch: 12/18/2008 December Sales: 660,262 units Total Sales: 660,262…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 8, 2009 -
Here’s Your 2009 Consumer Electronics Show Coverage
The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show officially kicked off today and our very own Mike McWhertor is feet down, hands-on at the show with an eye towards gaming do-dads, announcements and goodies. Even though we’re only one day into the show there has already been some interesting news shaking loose from the show. Here’s a break…
By Brian Crecente Published January 8, 2009 -
Play Wii Tennis With Australian Open Champion
Nintendo is giving one gamer a chance to take on Australian Open Champion, and third best tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic in a game of Wii Tennis. But wait, there’s quite a catch. To be eligible to enter you must be able to travel to Melbourne any day during the first week of…
By Brian Crecente Published January 8, 2009 -
Nyko Waves Their Wand At CES
Debuting along with a few Wii charge kits at CES 2009, The Wand is Nyko’s answer to the Wii Remote, featuring the ability to electrically replicate vibration feedback and control in attached devices. Nyko’s The Wand is a Wii remote alternative that features the company’s all new Trans-Port technology. While current attachments to your standard…
By Mike Fahey Published January 8, 2009 -
Nintendo Does Not See Decline In Sight For DS Sales (World Domination)
After selling millions and millions of DS units, you’d think Nintendo president Satoru Iwata would be bracing himself for a decline in sales. Heck, no! Iwata sees DS sales as something that will continue to grow. His logic: Some say the market for the DS is saturated, but I disagree. In Japan, a country with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 7, 2009 -
Dead Rising Wii Costumes Are 50% nothankyou.jpg
Dead Rising Wii has more costumes. But what kind of costumes? The latest issue of Famitsu has pictures revealing two of them, one familiar, one…unwanted. As you can see, one costume follows the lead set by the Mega Man gear in the 360 version, and is there to shill the upcoming launch of Grin’s take…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2009 -
Reggie: Nintendo Listens To Its Fans, Honest
If you’re feeling a bit neglected by the folks at Nintendo of America, now that it’s at the top of the console market heap, President Reggie Fils-Aime wants you to know that they’re listening. Fils-Aime tells GameDaily that Nintendo that “We listen to our fans all the time.” But what about the grumble-inducing decisions? Things…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 7, 2009 -
Wii Fit Sells Three Million In Japan
Wii Fit was released in Japan in December 2007. Proved to be, despite its liberal use of the word “fit”, a hit. So much so that it’s now sold three million copies. Yup. Three. Million. Which is up 200,000 from the last round of numbers we saw (gotta love those Christmas sales!) Think Iwata &…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2009 -
Game Sales Up 17% In The UK
Music sales are down, movie takings are down, consumer spending is down…lucky for British retail, then, that game sales are on the up! In fact, they’re so up that it’s making everything else look good. Data released today by Britain’s Entertainment Retailers Association show that total entertainment sales – which combine the sales of DVDs,…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 7, 2009