Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Fable II, now in bite-sized pieces!

I don't really know what to make of this:

Start Transmission

Any “Fable II” fan can share experiences of their life in the rich world of Albion, and wild stories about glory or mischief they’ve gotten into as consequences of their choices in the game. For everyone missing out, Microsoft now presents a completely new way to experience “Fable II” through the power of Xbox LIVE and Games on Demand: “Fable II: Game Episodes.”

Debuting today on Xbox LIVE*, “Fable II: Game Episodes” gives players the choice to purchase and download “Fable II” one episode at a time. This marks the first time in Xbox history that a major blockbuster title will be distributed not only digitally, but episodically as well. “Fable II: Game Episodes” delivers the entire “Fable II” experience in five consecutive installments, with all the Achievements, challenges and excitement of the disc-based game, as well as full compatibility with the previously released Game Add-ons, “Knothole Island” and “See the Future.”

As an incentive for those curious about the adventures that await them in “Fable II,” Microsoft Game Studios is making the first episode free to download. In this initial episode, players are introduced to the vibrant world of Albion where every choice has a consequence, and are able to experience childhood and the trials of being a young adult. Players can then choose to purchase additional episodes on Xbox LIVE at their own pace.

Players who decide to purchase “Fable II” either digitally or on disc after a foray into the first game episode will find their saved progress, character profile, and items from the first episode will be transferred seamlessly as they continue their journey. All editions of the game offer cooperative play with friends on the same couch as well as on Xbox LIVE.**

For more information about “Fable II: Game Episodes” and “Fable III” please visit http://www.lionhead.com.

End Transmission


So it's basically a way to taste F2 without buying into the whole retail package. In a way, I like this a lot- The idea of carrying over all of your decisions and saved games from a demo (which is really what the first episode is) into the complete game (either as a retail box or DLC) is a great one. I often don't play demo's of game that I pretty much know I'm going to get at launch. This isn't because I'm not excited to play, it's because I have no interest in playing the same section twice and I get annoyed when I get into a great game only to have it end at a cliffhanger. I'd rather just wait for the release. This format takes care of half my 'demo issue' quite nicely.

On the other hand, why the hell bother with wasting this on Fable II? The game is a year old. I understand that hype has to build for part 3 but come on, It's a year old!

Power Loader Exoskeleton = Awesome

Read this

Freaking Awesome (<----- words capitalized for awesomeness) There's been a lot of enhanced strength/endurance robotic exoskeleton type stuff popping up in the last few years. It's only a matter of time now until this stuff starts getting used in real world applications. The future is now!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

 Here's a little something from Microsoft about Project Natal's presence at the Tokyo Game Show:

Start Transmission


TOKYO — Sept. 24, 2009 Xbox 360 today announced widespread enthusiasm from the world’s leading video-game publishers for “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play — no controller required. Developers across the globe have embraced the technology and have begun work on titles that will deliver extraordinary entertainment experiences for everyone to enjoy. Coming just three months after “Project Natal” was unveiled at E3, the announcements at the Tokyo Game Show underscore the swift industry support for the revolutionary controller-free experiences being developed exclusively for Xbox 360, the premier games and entertainment system.
Among the elite publishers actively working on games for “Project Natal” are Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, CAPCOM, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft. Together, these publishers account for more than 70 percent of third-party software sales for this generation of console and most of the world’s most recognized video game franchises.
“‘Project Natal’ gives the industry’s creators and storytellers the freedom to dream of new experiences and to tell stories never before possible,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “The support of these creative partners testifies to the excitement that ‘Project Natal’ is generating among the most innovative minds in the industry, and is proof that Xbox 360 not only offers the best games and entertainment today, but will lead with innovation and new ways to have fun in the future.”
Further details of publishers’ new “Project Natal”-inspired projects will be released at a later date.
Underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for “Project Natal” among the industry’s top creative forces, Xbox 360 is hosting a high-powered panel at the Tokyo Game Show featuring three acclaimed Japanese industry luminaries: CAPCOM’s Keiji Inafune, creator of “Mega Man” and “Dead Rising,” Sega’s Toshihiro Nagoshi, creator of “Super Monkey Ball,” and Konami’s Hideo Kojima, creator of the “Metal Gear Solid” series. The three developers will discuss the possibilities for the groundbreaking new experiences that can only be achieved with “Project Natal.”
Unveiled for the first time in June, “Project Natal” is a code name for a whole new way to play. Combining an RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone running proprietary software, “Project Natal” enables gamers to play in a natural and inviting new way, free from the boundaries of a controller through the use of sight, sound and motion.
Publishers, who received development kits from Microsoft in early June, used the opening of the Tokyo Game Show to voice their excitement about “Project Natal.”
Microsoft ‘Project Natal’ could fundamentally change the way players experience sports games,” said EA Sports President Peter Moore. “At EA, some of our top development teams are experimenting with these tools with the goal of delivering a completely fresh take on genres like sports and racing.”
“Activision is encouraged by the innovation that Project Natal will bring to the industry and how it can transform consumers’ video games experience. We have development teams working on Project Natal development kits to explore the creative possibilities this new technology affords,” said Dusty Welch, senior vice president and head of Publishing at Activision/Blizzard.
I strongly feel that ‘Project Natal’ will expand the possibilities of gaming. It’s yet another component that adds to the appeal of Xbox 360 and demonstrates to users the broad level of entertainment it provides,” said Keiji Inafune, managing corporate officer and head of Research & Development Management Group at CAPCOM. “Personally, I too am extremely excited about ‘Project Natal.’ It’s really going to stir up our creative spirits. I think it’s going to bring new ways to play and new surprises to Xbox 360 fans and help further the development of completely original content. ‘Project Natal’ is definitely something people should look out for.”
“Ubisoft sees enormous opportunities with ‘Project Natal.’ With the 3-D camera, your body can become the interface,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer of Ubisoft. “Any barrier related to the use of pad controllers that may have existed for potential gamers is now abolished. Ubisoft is already taking advantage of this major evolution to design new types of gaming experiences and attract more people to play video games.”
In addition to the broad industry support, Microsoft Game Studios is busy at work creating a diverse slate of experiences that will appeal to a wide variety of entertainment interests.
“‘Project Natal’ is enabling our team of developers to create experiences we couldn’t have accomplished before,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Game Studios. “Microsoft Game Studios will help lead the way in bringing ‘Project Natal’ to life.”
While laying the foundation for tomorrow with “Project Natal,” Xbox 360 remains the premier device for home entertainment today. Hot new titles for Xbox LIVE Arcade were also unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show, including “Toy Soldiers,” “Snoopy Flying Ace,” “Bomberman Live: Battlefest” and “RayStormHD,” positioning Xbox LIVE Arcade as the premier destination to enjoy the most innovative downloadable games.
Xbox 360 is also set to deliver the best new gaming, entertainment and social experiences for consumers this fall. Not only is Xbox 360 home to the most-anticipated exclusive games such as “Halo 3: ODST,” “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Left 4 Dead 2,” and new content from Rockstar Games including the Xbox retail exclusive “Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City” featuring “The Ballad of Gay Tony,” which will also be available for download over Xbox LIVE, it will also be the only place to watch instant-on HD in 1080p1 with Zune video, and listen to personalized streaming radio right in the living room with Last.fm on Xbox LIVE. And with new social experiences custom-made for the television, Xbox LIVE continues to offer the most ways of any console to connect and share with friends and family on Facebook, and post tweets on Twitter.2
Additional information about Xbox 360 at the Tokyo Game Show can be found at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/press/2009/tgs.

End Transmission





Uncharted demo on PSN

Just a quick note to let everybody know, the public multiplayer demo (yeah, sorry, no single player yet) is out now on PSN. Even if you're not interested in the multi (like me), this is worth checking out just to see what developer Naughty Dog has done with the series play and graphics-wise.

I hear it's pretty.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Halo 3: ODST release

Start Transmission

The latest addition to the blockbuster Xbox 360 series delights fans and critics alike with a gripping new story and riveting cooperative multiplayer gameplay
The wait is finally over. Today, a new chapter in the legendary “Halo” saga opens up with the highly anticipated launch of “Halo 3: ODST.” After finishing the fight with Master Chief in “Halo 3,” players now have the opportunity to take a step back in time and experience the “Halo” universe from a whole new perspective.
Last night, more than 7,000 retail stores in the United States and a host of retailers in other countries opened their doors at midnight to usher in a flood of fans who sought to be the first to play the critically acclaimed title. Launch festivities were capped off with a “Halo” franchise celebration at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, where Bungie and 343 Industries luminaries were on hand to meet and greet fans and celebrate the launch together.
Xbox 360 exclusive “Halo 3: ODST” is already winning critical acclaim from the nation’s top media outlets. Here’s what they are saying about the game:
“The best Halo game yet,” and “An action-packed thrill ride from start to finish.”
--Game Pro
“It's part Blade Runner, part Saving Private Ryan, and yet in the end it's still definitely Halo.”
--1UP.com
“ODST is simply an excellent game.”
--G4TV’s X-Play
With “Halo 3: ODST,” developer Bungie takes the “Halo” franchise into all new territory. Players are put in the boots of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, some of the toughest and bravest soldiers of the UNSC. Players must search for clues to find out what happened to their squad when a drop into the city of New Mombosa goes wrong, and discover the secret behind the Covenant’s interest in the city.
In addition to a full-fledged campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer mode where up to four players battle waves of unrelenting Covenant onslaughts. The game also introduces three new “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer maps and contains the complete, standalone “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a second disc. “Halo 3: ODST” will also act as a key to entry into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta at a later date.
The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” for Xbox in 2001, the rich fiction of the franchise has since inspired a series of blockbuster Xbox and Xbox 360 video games, New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.
Published by Microsoft Game Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the games are optimized for the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 27 million copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 2 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.
To keep abreast of the latest “Halo” news, follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint. You can also learn more by visiting the Halo Waypoint page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint. For more information about Bungie, visit www.bungie.net.

 End Transmission

Quick Flickers

Here's a few little pieces of news for today:

  • Microsoft has pretty much removed the 150MB limit on Xbox Live Arcade games, games can now be a full 2Gigs (the limit of the system) -- Edge

  • Splinter Cell Conviction will debut on February 23, 2010. Q1 is getting pretty big for it's britches isn't it?

  • Xbox Live has rolled out a mandatory update that preps the console for the debut of Twitter, Last.FM and Facebook. The update itself doesn't do anything tangible to your Live experience yet. 

  • On the fence about a new PSPGo? Dell has your back! Whaaaa? Yep, Dell. They've got a pretty sweet deal that'll net you a PSPGo for $212 instead of the usual $249 by using the coupon code on Cheap College Gamers. Nice!

Third company's a charm (wait... does that even make sense?)

Sony dropped the PS3's MSRP and Microsoft followed suit, now Nintendo is getting in on the act:

Start Transmission

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Beginning Sunday, Sept. 27, the world’s most popular home video game system gets even more appealing. On that day, Nintendo’s suggested retail price for its record-setting Wii drops by $50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point delivers the full iconic Wii gaming experience, including the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller, Nunchuk controller and Wii Sports software, and furthers Nintendo’s mission to expand the gaming universe by making video games accessible to more and more consumers. Wii ownership also opens an avenue for players to the industry’s most diverse and unique collection of home console games. Key upcoming releases include Wii Fit Plus, launching on Oct. 4, and the first truly multiplayer Mario title ever, New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
Both new and veteran players in America can jump into this new Mario action when it arrives on Nov. 15.
And beginning Oct. 2, consumers in select cities will have a new, convenient way to decide which Nintendo adventure to tackle next. On that day, a novel series of sampling events called “World of Nintendo” kicks off in Long Beach, Calif.
“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.”
The inherent social nature of Wii is fully demonstrated in a groundbreaking way with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the first Mario game ever to allow four players to take part in the action at the same time. That same dynamic is propelling the enthusiastic response for Wii Sports Resort, while the release of Wii Fit Plus includes everything you love about Wii Fit, along with new multiplayer elements and the ability to customize workouts to fit individual needs.
See below for full details on the World of Nintendo events that are scheduled to take place in Long Beach, Philadelphia and New York throughout the month of October.
Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.
For more information about New Super Mario Bros. Wii, visit www.MarioBrosWii.com.

End Transmission

There you have it. But were that many folks who wanted a Wii  really waiting out a price drop? I think this'll have less of an effect on sales overall than the Sony & Microsoft drops-

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Nintendo Download

Toppling Cubes, 3-D Characters and Classic Ninja Kicks Lead a Stellar Lineup
Beware of falling objects and soaring imaginations with this week’s new downloadable game offerings from Nintendo. The WiiWare service welcomes the precarious puzzle action of You, Me, and the Cubes and the court-storming antics of Family Tennis. Commodore 64 favorite Last Ninja 2 arrives on the Virtual Console, pushing players to heroic heights in a classic martial-arts adventure. Nintendo DSiWare users can let the chips fall where they may with Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack or create imaginative pictures with MySims Camera. Another heads-up for Nintendo DSi fans: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com
WiiWare
You, Me, and the Cubes
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Experience a unique combination of strategy and skill as you maintain a level playing field in the physics-based action puzzler You, Me, and the Cubes. The action centers around Fallos, mysterious creatures that resemble humans and have an ability to balance on a playing field of 3-D cubes. First, create a pair of Fallos inside your Wii Remote controller by shaking it up and down. Next, determine suitable places for the Fallos to land, then fling them to the selected cube with a swinging motion. After that, the Fallos are on their own. If your placement is sound, the Fallos will remain stable and you’ll clear the stage after tossing a required number onto the cubes. But if the weight or locations of Fallos causes the cubes to tilt and sway too much, the Fallos will lose their balance and fall off. Adding to the challenge, you’ll find that some cubes have different properties, making tosses tricky and further threatening the stability of the Fallos. Guide Fallos through dozens of single-player stages or invite family and friends to join you in two-player cooperative mode.
Family Tennis
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy return for some hard-hitting, fast-paced tennis action. Battle it out between the happy family members as you vie for the top spot. Choose from three different modes: Elimination Match, Free Match and Thrilling Rally. Play against the CPU or compete with friends. Elimination Match mode pits you against the CPU to test your skills, while Free Match mode allows you to play against another player under conditions of your choosing. Thrilling Rally mode lets you join up to three other players and rally to see who can get to 100 points first.
Virtual Console
Last Ninja 2
Original platform: Commodore 64
Publisher: Commodore Gaming
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: The ninja known as the Mystic Shadow Warriors were the elite fighting force of ninth-century feudal Japan. The evil Shogun Kunitoki was once beaten, but he has gathered all his mystic powers to create a modern-day tyranny in Manhattan. Face your archenemy Kunitoki in the urban jungle and conquer him with your ninja skills. Transported to 1988 Manhattan by an unknown force, the ninja leader Armakuni must find a way to defend himself against the unknown dangers that lie before him. Will this be the final battle? Can you vanquish the evil Kunitoki once and for all?
Nintendo DSiWare
Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Prepare yourself for a lesson in tactics as you play through five strategy-based games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Take on an opponent in the classic Backgammon, invade an enemy base in Field Tactics, sandwich your opponent’s pieces to capture them in Turncoat, create strings of five in a row in Connect Five and guess where to attack your opponent’s pieces in Grid Attack. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.
MySims Camera
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: MySims Camera is a camera application that utilizes popular MySims characters. You can take photos and overlay 3-D MySims characters to bring them into the real world. The 3-D characters can be animated, moved, scaled, rotated and cropped. You can also draw on the photos with the stylus or use the stamp tool to add more art and style. Create a unique frame and save the photos to the Nintendo DSi Camera album to share with friends. MySims Camera is a fun, creative experience for the entire family.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Nintendo Holiday Lineup - in full

There's really not a ton of  first party stuff here but it's very solid nonetheless. Nice to see DSi Ware getting some good releases- more please!

Wii

 
 
Publisher

Game
Available
2K Sports
NHL® 2K10
Sept. 15

Baseball Blast!
Sept. 28

NBA 2K10
Oct. 6
2K Play
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom
Fall

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day
Fall

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Fall
505 Games
My Ballet Studio
November

Baby and Me
November
Activision Publishing, Inc.
Animal Planet Vet Life
Sept. 15

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
Sept. 15

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010
Sept. 22

Rapala We Fish
Sept. 22

Bakugan® Battle Brawlers
Oct. 20

iCarly
Oct. 20

Madagascar Kartz
Oct. 20

Mountain Sports
Oct. 20

Hidden Mysteries Titanic
Oct. 27

Barbie and the Three Musketeers
Oct. 27

Jurassic Hunter
Oct. 27

DJ Hero
Oct. 27

Chaotic: Shadow Warriors
Nov. 10

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
Nov. 10

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Reflex
Nov. 10

Tony Hawk®: RIDE
Nov. 17

Band Hero
November

Guitar Hero® Van Halen®
Dec. 22
Aspyr Media
My Baby and Me
Nov. 17
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
101-in-1 Party Megamix
Oct. 27

Trauma Team
Spring

Shiren the Wanderer
Spring
Capcom® Entertainment, Inc.
Spyborgs
Sept. 22

Resident Evil®: The Darkside Chronicles
Nov. 17
City Interactive USA, Inc.
Chicken Riot
November

Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII
January

Art of Murder
March
D3Publisher
Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun
Sept. 22

Astro Boy®: The Video Game
Oct. 20

THE SECRET SATURDAYS: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN
Oct. 20

BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: Vilgax Attacks
Oct. 27

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
Winter
Destineer
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Oct. 13

Buck Fever
Oct. 20

Alien Monster Bowling League
Oct. 27

Marines: Modern Urban Combat
Nov. 3

Satisfashion
Nov. 17

Rec Room
Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Sing It: Pop Hits
October

Princess and the Frog
November
Electronic Arts
MySims Agents
Sept. 22

Dead Space Extraction
Sept. 29

Spore Hero
Oct. 6

CHARM GIRLS CLUB Pajama Party
Oct. 20

SimAnimals Africa
Oct. 26

LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS
October

NERF 2: “N-Strike” Elite
October

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2
October

FIFA 10
October

Need for Speed Nitro
Nov. 17

EA SPORTS Active More Workouts
November
Knowledge Adventure
JumpStart® Escape from Adventure Island
Nov. 1
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Walk It Out!
October

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
November

Storybook Workshop
November

Karaoke Revolution
November

Ultimate Party Challenge
November

DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3
November

pop’n music
November

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
Q4
LucasArts
Star Wars® The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
Oct. 6

LEGO® Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Fall
Majesco Entertainment
Our House: Party!
Sept. 22

A Boy and His Blob
Oct. 13

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010
Oct. 20

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Dec. 1

The Daring Game for Girls
Holiday
Mastiff
Shimano Xtreme Fishing
Sept. 29

Remington Great American Bird Hunt
Oct. 27
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc
Dragon Ball®: Revenge of King Piccolo
October

Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked
November

We Cheer 2
November
Nintendo
Wii Fit Plus
Oct. 4

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Holiday
Playlogic
Sudoku Ball Detective
Sept. 22
SEGA®
Wacky World of Sports
Sept. 22

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Oct. 13

Planet 51
Nov. 17

Jambo! Safari: Animal Rescue
Q4

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Feb. 10

Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll
Early 2010
SouthPeak Games
My Baby First Steps
Holiday

Sushi Go Round
Holiday
Square Enix
FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS®
Dec. 26
Storm City Games
The Island of Dr. Frankenstein
Oct. 6

Vegas Party
Oct. 27

Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral
Nov. 9
Tecmo
Family Fun Football
Sept. 29
THQ
The Biggest Loser
Oct. 6

Cars Race O Rama
Oct. 13

Marvel® Super Hero Squad
Oct. 20

WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010
Oct. 20

SpongeBob Truth or Square
Oct. 26

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time
Oct. 26

World of Zoo
Oct. 26

All Star Cheer Squad 2
Oct. 27

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter
Oct. 27

Daniel X
Jan. 12

World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars
Feb. 2
TOMY Corporation
NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution 3
Nov. 17
Ubisoft
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Sept. 15

Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey
Sept. 22

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-up
Sept. 22

The Price is Right ® 2010 Edition
Sept. 22

Family Feud® 2010 Edition
Sept. 29

CSI: Deadly Intent
Oct. 20

Monster 4x4 Stunt Racer
Oct. 27

Rabbids Go Home
Nov. 3

Academy of Champions
Nov. 3

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage
Nov. 8

Just Dance
Nov. 17

James Cameron’s Avatar The Game
Nov. 24

Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy
Nov. 24
UFO Interactive Games, Inc.
Army Rescue
Sept. 29

Rock Blast
Oct. 20

Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo
Oct. 27

Geon Cube
Oct. 27

Smart Series Presents: JaJa’ Adventure
Nov. 10
Vir2L® Studios
Medieval Games
Oct. 20
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Scooby-Doo! First Frights
Sept. 22

Where the Wild Things Are
Oct. 13

Game Party® 3
October

LEGO® Rock Band
Holiday

SCENE IT?® BRIGHT LIGHTS! BIG SCREEN!
Holiday
XSEED Games
JU-ON: The Grudge
Oct. 13

Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga
Fall




 
WiiWare

 
 
Publisher
Game
Available
Aksys Games
BIT.TRIP VOID
Q3

BIT.TRIP series (3 additional titles)
Q4, Q1
Broken Rules
And Yet It Moves
Q4
Frontier
LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias
Q4
Gameloft
Ghost Mansion Party
Q3

The Oregon Trail
Q4
Ghostfire Games
Rage of the Gladiator
Q1
Incredible Technologies
Carnival King
Q3
Konami
Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth
Q3

Frogger Returns
Q4
Nabi Studios
Toribash
Q4
Natsume
Moki Moki
Q3

Harvest Moon: My Little Shop
Q4
Nicalis
Cave Story
Q3

Night Game
Q1

La Mulana
Q1
NinjaBee
The Amazing Brain Train
Q4
Nintendo
You, Me, and the Cubes
Q3

Eco Shooter: Plant 530
Q4
Nintendo/TPC
Pokémon Rumble
Q4
Press Play
Max & the Magic Marker
Q4
React Games
Archon: Classic
Q1
Taito
Arkanoid Plus!
Q3
Team Meat
Super Meat Boy
Q1
Telltale Games
Tales of Monkey Island: Lair of the Leviathan
Q3

Tales of Monkey Island: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood
Q4

Tales of Monkey Island: Rise of the Pirate God
Q4




 
Nintendo DS/Nintendo DSi

 
 
Publisher
Game
Available
2K Play
Dora the Explorer: Dora Puppy
Oct. 26

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year’s Celebration
Oct. 26

The Backyardigans
Oct. 26

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Fall
505 Games
My Ballet Studio
November

Discovery Kids SpiderQuest
November

Dream Diary
November

Picture Perfect Hair Salon
November
505 Games
IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Sept. 15
Activision Publishing, Inc.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
Sept. 15

Animal Planet Vet Life
Sept. 15

Bakugan ® Battle Brawlers
Oct. 20

iCarly
Oct. 20

Madagascar Kartz
Oct. 20

Barbie and the Three Musketeers
Oct. 27

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Mobilized
Nov. 10

Chaotic: Shadow Warriors
Nov. 10

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
Nov. 10

Band Hero
November
Aspyr Media
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Oct. 26
City Interactive USA, Inc.
Sushi Academy
Oct. 13

Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple
Oct. 27

Animal Country: Life on the Farm
November

Party Designer
November

Art of Murder
February

Jewels of Sahara
March
D3Publisher
Astro Boy®: The Video Game
Oct. 20

THE SECRET SATURDAYS: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN
Oct. 20

BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: Vilgax Attacks
Oct. 27

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
Winter
Destineer
Satisfashion
Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
October

Disney’s A Christmas Carol
November

JONAS
November

Princess and the Frog
November
Electronic Arts
MySims Agents
Sept. 22

Spore Hero Arena
Oct. 6

CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Show
Oct. 20

CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Mall
Oct. 20

CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Perfect Prom
Oct. 20

SimAnimals Africa
Oct. 26

LITTLEST PET SHOP CITY FRIENDS
October

LITTLEST PET SHOP COUNTRY FRIENDS
October

LITTLEST PET SHOP BEACH FRIENDS
October

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2
October

FIFA 10
October
Ignition Entertainment
Nostalgia
Oct. 20
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
WireWay
November
LucasArts
Star Wars® The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
Oct. 6

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Nov. 3

LEGO® Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Fall
Majesco Entertainment
Our House
Sept. 22

Sideswiped
Sept. 29

Cake Mania® 3
Oct. 13

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010
Oct. 20

Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop
Oct. 27

My Hero: Astronaut
Nov. 3

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Dec. 1

Dawn of Heroes
Dec. 1

My Hero: Firefighter
December

The Daring Game for Girls
Holiday
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc
Dragon Ball® Z: Attack of the Saiyans
November
Nintendo
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Oct. 12

Style Savvy
Nov. 2

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Dec. 7
NIS America
A Witch’s Tale
Oct. 6

Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island
Oct. 27
PopCap Games, Inc.
Bookworm
Dec. 1
SEGA®
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom
Sept. 15

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Oct. 13

Phantasy Star Zero
Nov. 10

Planet 51
Nov. 17

Jambo! Safari: Animal Rescue
Q4

Sands of Destruction
January

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
February

Infinite Space
Spring
SouthPeak Games
Montessori Music
Oct. 20

My Baby First Steps
Holiday

Sushi Go Round
Holiday

Crime Scene
Holiday
Square Enix
KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS
Sept. 29

SPACE INVADERS EXTREME 2
Oct. 20
Storm City Games
Hands On! Tangrams
Oct. 13

Jewel Master Egypt
Oct. 20

Flaw
Oct. 27

Foto Frenzy
Nov. 2

Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral
Nov. 9
THQ
James Patterson Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion
Sept. 15

Fabulous Finds
Sept. 21

Just in Time Translations
Sept. 21

The Biggest Loser
Oct. 6

Cars Race O Rama
Oct. 13

Marvel® Super Hero Squad
Oct. 20

WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010
Oct. 20

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time
Oct. 26

World of Zoo
Oct. 26

SpongeBob Truth or Square
Oct. 26

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter
Oct. 27

MX vs. ATV Reflex
Holiday
TOMY Corporation
NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2
Sept. 15
Ubisoft

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Sept. 15

Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey
Sept. 22

The Price is Right® 2010 Edition
Sept. 22

Family Feud® 2010 Edition
Sept. 29

Battle of Giants: Dragons
Sept. 29

Imagine® Salon Stylist
Sept. 29

Imagine® Sweet 16
Oct. 4

Imagine® Zookeeper
Oct. 6

PETZ® PONY BEAUTY PAGEANT
Oct. 13

Imagine® Fashion Designer World Tour
Oct. 20

CSI: Deadly Intent - The Hidden Cases
Oct. 20

Jam Sessions 2
Oct. 20

PETZ® DOLPHINZ ENCOUNTER
Oct. 27

Might and Magic® Clash of Heroes®
Oct. 27

Imagine® Artist
Oct. 27

C.O.P. The Recruit
Nov. 3

Rabbids Go Home
Nov. 3

Imagine® Babyz Fashion
Nov. 3

Fairyland Melody Magic
Nov. 8

Style Lab Jewelry Design
Nov. 10

Style Lab Makeover
Nov. 10

PETZ® NURSERY
Nov. 10

PETZ® DOGZ® TALENT SHOW
Nov. 17

PETZ® HAMSTERZ® SUPERSTARZ
Nov. 24

James Cameron’s Avatar The Game
Nov. 24
Virtual Play Games
Junior Brain Trainer
Nov. 10

Junior Classic Games
Nov. 10
UFO Interactive Games, Inc.
Smart Boy’s Gameroom 2®
Sept. 29

Smart Girl’s Playhouse 2®
Sept. 29

Smart Kid’s Mega Game Mix
Sept. 29

Reversal Challenge
Oct. 13

Balloon Pop
Nov. 12
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Scribblenauts
Sept. 15

Scooby-Doo! First Frights
Sept. 22

LEGO® Rock Band
Holiday

Where the Wild Things Are
Oct. 13

TouchMaster® 3
Oct. 27
XSEED Games
THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
Sept. 29




 
Nintendo DSiWare

 
 
Publisher
Game
Available
Gameloft
Uno
Q4
Hudson Entertainment
Bomberman Blitz
Q4
Nintendo
Art Academy: Second Semester
Sept. 28

Art Style: DIGIDRIVE
Q4

Electroplankton (10 titles total)
Q4

Picturebook Games: The Royal Bluff
Q4

Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon
Q4

Sparkle Snapshots
Q4
Subatomic Studios
Fieldrunners
Q4
WayForward Technologies
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge
Q4

Friday, September 11, 2009

Interesting...

Nintendo’s Style Savvy Hits the Fashion Week Runway with Charlotte Ronson
A unique partnership between Nintendo and acclaimed designer Charlotte Ronson is putting an interactive twist on this year’s Fashion Week festivities in New York. To celebrate the upcoming launch of Style Savvy, the new fashion game for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi hand-held systems, Ronson and Nintendo will give attendees a sneak preview of the game at the Sept. 11 runway show after-party for Ronson’s hotly anticipated spring 2010 line.
Style Savvy, which launches this holiday season, invites players to create a fashion-forward boutique, help customers in the game find their perfect style using 16 different brands and compete in glamorous runway contests. Using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and a broadband Internet connection, players can also connect wirelessly with friends to shop in their boutiques and join up for multiplayer runway shows.
Style Savvy transforms some of my fashions from the real world into a portable fashion experience that players can take with them anywhere,” Ronson said. “Now everyone can explore their creative instincts and become a fashion stylist.”
Later in the year, Style Savvy players will be able to access Charlotte Ronson Designer Downloads. Players will be able to download items from her fall 2009 line directly into the game. It’s yet another way that Nintendo gives consumers the tools to completely customize their video game experiences.
Consumers have the option of playing Style Savvy on some new, fashionable hardware as well. Starting Sept. 13, the Nintendo DSi system will be available in White and Pink, in addition to the Blue and Black versions already on the market.


Nintendo and high fashion? Well, I guess it's good that gaming is branching out if nothing else.

Nintendo Download

From Faraway Galaxies to the Family Room, Start Fall on a Fun-Filled Foot
As you bid farewell to summer, you can also greet the fall season with a great big smile, thanks to a fresh lineup of downloadable games from the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. Super Return of the Jedi for the Virtual Console offers memorable space-themed action for Wii owners, while WiiWare welcomes a brand new entry in the classic Contra franchise. On Nintendo DSiWare, you’ll find a portable version of the popular Clubhouse Games to help keep your autumn lively. Speaking of Nintendo DSiWare, time is ticking away on a special offer: Consumers can automatically earn 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com
WiiWare
Contra Rebirth
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 A.D. to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the “Contra” on Earth. The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite “Contra” warriors, to save the day, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and samurai Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth. They must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost. Experience the fast-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure that pioneered the run-and-gun genre.
ColorZ
Publisher: Exkee
Players: 1-3
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: With ColorZ, go forth in your spaceships on a mission to clean up virus-infested planets. Immerse yourself in a new gaming experience that will reveal mind-hand-eye coordination skills you never knew you had. Absorb viruses of your own color, but steer clear of the others. If necessary, you can cleverly merge your ships together to create new colors. Buzz past your enemies to keep your combo and clock up a new high score. Explore an extra dimension with the game’s multiplayer mode and share the unique experience of cooperative play between friends. Pool your forces, synchronize your movements and become a unified team of up to three players to meet the challenge together.
Virtual Console
Super Return of the Jedi
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Join the Rebellion and crush the Death Star in a giant universe filled with all the action and adventure of the Star Wars® finale. Take command of five different characters — from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia — and go up against the Empire’s worst, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. You’re going to need every ounce of Force you’ve got in you. Battle in actual movie locales, from Jabba the Hutt’s palace to the Forest of Endor and the Emperor’s Tower. Cross sabers with the darkest of the dark side: Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, the rancor, Darth Vader and the Emperor.
Nintendo DSiWare
Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Choose from five family-friendly games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Play classic card games like Hearts and Contract Bridge; connect bones to other bones in Dominoes; think strategically in the simple but addictive Dots and Boxes; and move your pieces towards a common goal in Ludo. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.


Sorry it took me so long to get this one up- but if you haven't heard elseware by now... go buy Contra. That is all.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Nintendo happenings at the Penny Arcade Expo

If ye be going to the PAX show (Tomorrow through the 6th in Seattle, WA. So if you're one of my regular readers you're probably not going to attend- but anyway...) you might be interested to know that Nintendo's booth will be having some really cool stuff going on. What kind of 'stuff '? Glad you asked.


From the release:

The upcoming Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle will give consumers their first-ever chance to play key upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. The recently launched Metroid Prime: Trilogy, Wii Sports Resort and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box will also be on hand at the Nintendo booth (#352).
Additionally, Nintendo will debut a new WiiWare game at the booth: Pokémon Rumble. Pokémon Rumble lets you battle with Pokémon like never before. Up to four players at once can team up and unleash powerful attacks as enemies surround them in this action-packed game.
In addition to the playable games at the booth, Nintendo has invited artists to create one-of-a-kind animations using the Flipnote Studio application for the Nintendo DSi system. Throughout the Sept. 4-6 show, a professional artist will be on hand nearly every hour at a special area in the South Lobby (#S-3) to showcase the many ways that people can use Flipnote Studio to create original works of art.
Some of the artists scheduled to be on hand include creative talents from the world of comic books and video games like Scott Kurtz (PvP), Eric Jones (DC Comics: Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade), Christina Strain (Marvel Comics: Runaways), Mike Choi (Marvel: X-Force), Edison Yan (5th Cell: Scribblenauts) and Ryan Jones (Telltale Games: Tales of Monkey Island).
Flipnote Studio is a Nintendo DSiWare application that is available for download at no cost. Nintendo DSi owners can download Flipnote Studio and draw a series of images that, when animated, resemble looking at pictures drawn on a notepad. Users can share their Flipnotes with others using the Nintendo DSi local wireless feature or through a broadband Internet connection. Flipnote Studio makes it easy for anyone to jump in and create animations, regardless of their artistic abilities.


That Flipnote thing with the comic artists sounds like a lot of fun, such a sucker for that kind of thing. Not going to be there of course... sigh...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

New Upcomin's from the Big N

  Here's the rundown from the release:
  • Wii Fit Plus: This enhanced version of the top-selling game offers a range of new features, along with new exercises, yoga activities and balance games designed to keep workouts fun. For the first time, users can customize their workouts to target specific areas of their bodies or to fill specific intervals of time. Wii Fit Plus will replace the current Wii Fit configuration at retail, and will be bundled with the Wii Balance Board accessory at a suggested retail price of $99.99. For people who currently own Wii Fit and want to add the expanded options to their fitness regimen, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available on its own at a suggested retail price of $19.99. 
  • White and Pink Nintendo DSi colors: The two new colors give consumers even more options to personalize their experiences. All models of the Nintendo DSi hardware come with two cameras and interactive options to let users create and manipulate pictures or sound in fun and creative ways. All versions of Nintendo DSi are available at a suggested retail price of $169.99. 
 
  • Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus Black bundle: The Black bundle is the first new color for the Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus. 
  • Black Nunchuk: The Black Nunchuk will be available as a standalone purchase. 
I've gotta say that the black Wiimote and 'chuck is freakin awesome. Now, listening Nintendo? Release the Black Wii in the US! It'll sell a billion units all over again as everybody sells their old white one on eBay and gets the new one. Trust me.

Nintendo Download

Pirates, Puzzles, Rattlers and Role-Playing
“All for one and one for all” is an apt way to describe the latest lineup of downloadable games from the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. Each of this week’s new titles is a single-player affair, but they’re all quite different in genre and style, offering something special for a variety of gaming tastes.
WiiWare
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Alcohol Reference, Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Guybrush’s adventures continue on the high seas as pox-plagued pirates lay siege to the innocent Mer-People. Between defending the Mer-People and dodging the persistent pirate hunter hot on his trail, Guybrush manages to catch up to his beloved wife and despised arch-nemesis, but the reunion is short-lived. Now Guybrush must focus on eradicating the Pox of LeChuck before more harm can be done. And as the Mighty Pirate draws closer to a cure, the waters will only grow murkier in this thrilling chapter of the epic saga.
3-2-1, Rattle Battle!
Publisher: Tecmo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: 3-2-1, Rattle Battle! is a party game packed with exciting mini-games. Intuitive controls mean that anyone can enjoy playing – just grab the Wii Remote and shake it to “rattle.” Great fun for single players, but the party really gets started when you register high scores on Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to see how you measure up against players from around the globe.
Virtual Console
Phantasy Star
Original platform: SEGA Master System
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone 10 and Older) – Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Originally released on the SEGA Master System, Phantasy Star is a pioneer in the role-playing game genre. Alis is the fearless female protagonist out to avenge her brother’s death at the hands of cruel dictator King Lassic. Players must guide Alis and her troops through the sprawling environments of the Agol solar system in an attempt to defeat King Lassic and liberate the people of Agol. Engage in dynamic turn-based combat with dragons, ghouls, giants and magicians by using unique weapons such as glowing daggers, crossbows and magic spells.
Nintendo DSiWare
Puzzle League Express
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: The ever-popular Puzzle League comes to Nintendo DSiWare. As it is with all good puzzlers, the concept is simple: Connect blocks of the same color to clear them from the screen and prevent your stack from becoming too high. There are four single-player modes to choose from: Endless (survive to earn a top score), Clear (eliminate all blocks above the line), Score Attack (score as high as possible in two minutes) and Vs. COM (use items and combos to attack a computer opponent). You can choose from a variety of background music to help get you in the zone, and even play in horizontal or vertical mode by holding the Nintendo DSi system normally or like a book. Whichever way you play, you’re guaranteed maximum fun.