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November 19th, 2006, 19:45 Posted By: wraggster
From what we understand, your chances of snagging a Wii last night or today are, statistically speaking, a helluva lot better than getting your hands on a PlayStation 3. Not that demand doesn't outstrip supply on both. So did you get one? How do you like it? If not, that's cool, no shame in the game if you tried. But we want you to tell us about it. What happened? Did you get bum-rushed and smack into a pole like that one guy? Good luck out there everybody
As i live in the UK im hoping that my over priced Wii from SuccessHK arrvies this week - wraggster
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November 19th, 2006, 19:24 Posted By: gunntims0103
Latest Zelda title available for both Nintendo Wii and GameCube in North America
November 19, 2006
Today, Nintendo released the latest title in the hit Zelda series of games: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The new Zelda title returns to the beloved style of Ocarina of Time with new gameplay and artistic features. The game is available for both the Nitnendo Wii and the Nintendo GameCube consoles.
Twilight Princess is a much-anticipated title for Zelda fans, since it's the first fully 3D Zelda title since the Nintendo 64. The previous GameCube game in the series used a cartoon-like, cell-shaded animation method that left some gamers longing for the epic feel of Ocarina of Time.
The Wii version of the game makes use of that system's improved graphics, as well as the controller style of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to add more involved gameplay.
Zelda arrives on store shelves today alongside the newly-released Nintendo Wii. Most gamers waiting in line to buy a Wii in various locations commented that Twilight Princess would be the first game they play on the new system.
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November 19th, 2006, 19:20 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via computerandvideogames
19-Nov-2006 Wii has landed in the US! CVG brings you the low-down on the hardware and the launch games
The waiting is finally over - for the US anyway. We brits still have three more painful weeks of waiting to endure, but today is the day that gamers all over the US will finally get their hands on the Wii.
If you've been avidly hunting for every scrap of news on the Wii for the past agonising year of excitement and anticipation, there's probably nothing you don't already know about the Wii - except for what it's like to hold it on your hands.
We've put together these impressions to paint you a clear picture of what the hardware is like, how well it functions and, for your purchase-listing convenience, a quick run-through all 20 launch games on sale in the US right now. If you're thinking about getting the Wii, or are already on the pre-order list, this is all you need to know.
In the box
First thing's first, this is exactly what's packed into those lush white Wii boxes:
* Wii Console
* One Wii Remote (and two batteries)
* One Nunchuk expansion controller
* Sensor Bar
* Composite Cable (red, white and yellow connectors)
* Power cable
* Wii Sports (sadly not in its own DVD case)
* Huge wad of user manuals
The Hardware
The Wii is small. That's the first thing that hits you when you remove the packaging and see its tiny frame. You may have heard Nintendo's approximation of the Wii being roughly the size of three DVD cases, but you don't realise how small that is until you sit it next your TV.
It's shiny white casing oozes style, and because it's such a bright white it's not as prone to glaring fingerprinting. We also noted how solid the console feels - it's small but feels weighty enough to give it that 'crammed with technology' feel, if you know what we mean.
Hooking the console up is a fairly ordinary process, the only extra task being to connect and position the Wii's all-important Sensor Bar. The cable connecting it to the Wii is several feet long, so no worries there.
The Sensor, as said before, can go above or below your TV screen, but really should be as central as possible. If your TV is on a large, flat surface you can dump the Sensor on the surface just in front of the screen. But we find placing it on top of the TV, and maybe securing it with a small, unnoticeable strip of double-sided sticky tape helps secure it nicely.
Once set up, you tap the little power button and on comes that slick blue light around the CD bay. That's when you'll another one of the Wii's significant attributes - it's absolutely silent. If the room is completely without sound, you might just hear the soft purr of the tiny fan in the back of the machine - with your ear pressed against the machine.
In fact, the most noise the console makes is the smooth buzz of the front-loading disc drive sucking in a game disc - although not at all an unpleasant sound. The 360 disc drive has a painful 'clunk' as it comes to a complete close, but there's no such discomfort with the Wii.
Inserting and ejecting discs is as smooth as you could ever hope. You barely need to insert the disc before the machine detects it and springs into action, gently taking it from your hands and slotting it into place, ready for play.
Hit the eject button and a few seconds later the disc slowly slides out, stopping with the central hole just outside the drive, so you can take hold of your precious games by the outside edge and middle without fingerprinting the data surface. It accepts the the smaller GameCube discs with equal ease - you insert the disc roughly near the centre of the drive and it'll do the rest.
Slam the batteries into the Remote and you're almost ready to go. First you have to get the wireless Remote to talk with your Wii, which you do by hitting both sychro buttons - one under the small flap on the front of the Wii and the other under the battery cover of the back of the Remote itself. It only takes a second or two, you're ready to go (you can read a detailed analysis of the look and feel of the Wii Remote here). Then it's onto the games.
The games
There are 20 games available right now in the US, and here's a quick run-down of what they're all about.
Wii Sports: The packaged Wii Sports is the perfect game to both show off the Wii's abilities, and help you become accustom to them. It features simple motion-controlled recreations of five popular sports: boxing, bowling, tennis, golf and baseball. Basic in both gameplay and graphical detail, but great, simple, family-friendly fun.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: After four years of development, Twilight Princess finally arrives and it has been worth the wait. Twilight's new realistic look, epic story, and enormous size are the factors that have fans deeming it the true sequel to the legendary Ocarina of Time. And those who are lucky enough to have finished it already say it's even better. Read our review NOW!
Red Steel: The first-person action game everyone's dying to get their hands on, Red Steel uses the Wii Remote to put a gun and a katana sword in your hands - literally. Shoot with the Remote like a gun or swing it like a sword as you battle a powerful Yakuza organisation in an attempt to save your kidnapped fiancé. Get our full verdict here.
Excite Truck: Nintendo swaps bikes for trucks in the latest of it's 'Excite' series. Tilting the Wii Remote like a wheel to steer your truck, Excite Truck has you rallying around courses at ridiculous F-Zero-like speeds, leaping off ramps and flying hundreds of feet through the air. This is sadly not due out in UK until February 2007.
Call of Duty 3: The latest episode in what is widely considered to be the best WWII series ever, Call of Duty 3 on Wii takes full advantage of the motion-sensing controller, having you point at the screen to shoot your gun, wave the controller to fight, steer it to drive jeeps and much, much more. Look out for the full review on CVG this week.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz: We're massive fans of the Monkey Ball series and couldn't wait to get our hands on the new Wii game, which uses the tilt-sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote to let you tilt the stages with your own hand. And with 50 motion-controlled mini games squeezed into the package too, this is one game we're definitely adding to our Wii collection.
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam: Putting a spin on the traditional Tony Hawk's formula, Downhill Jam sees you grinding and tricking your way through a series of downhill race courses. It also has one of the most interesting control systems, using the Wii Remote like a steering wheel to direct your skater, while the D-pad and buttons perform tricks.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Over 100 Marvel characters appear in this dungeon-crawling-style brawler. As you fight your way through reams of enemies, you earn stat points that allow you to boost your selected team of heroes, and teach them new moves. With the Wii Remote, you have to perform a dramatic range of motion gestures to activate special powers.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2: The Dragon Ball Z fighting games are some of the fastest and most chaotic open-environment fighting games we've ever played, and the sequel comes with more characters, bigger battle environments (they're huge) and, on the Wii, new special moves that are activated by movement.
Trauma Center: Second Opinion: The fantastic surgery sim on DS gets a Wii makeover, using the pointer functionality of the Wii Remote to near perfection. You play as a doctor in a hospital and perform a number of mostly totally unrealistic operations in a strict time limit. It may sound dull but it's one of the most challenging and tense games we've ever played. And great fun.
Madden NFL '07: We Brits don't really care about Madden games, but the Americans can never get enough of it, so getting the latest in the long-running series on Wii for launch is great news for the console. Interestingly, the Wii version has players flicking the Remote in the direction they want to pass the ball. That's cool, but we still don't get the rules.
Rampage: Total Destruction: The old arcade classic is back and looking... mostly the same, actually. Yes, the graphics have been made 3D (yet, still looks shockingly dated) the gameplay sticks to its original 2D format, giving players control of a giant beast and letting them loose to tear down a city and take on the army. It's mindless gaming for the destructive little boy in you.
Happy Feet: The little dancing penguins of the motion picture tap-dance their way into the world of videogames in an adventure that features a range of different gameplay. You will use the Wii Remote to make the penguins swim through water levels, race down icy slopes on their bellies, and dance in rhythm-action stages. One for the kids, no doubt.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy: Based on the Network Cartoon of the same name, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is a battle adventure game that has you waving the Wii Remote to fight your way through hordes of enemies with a selection of 15 playable characters. Another game for the young ones, this is also one of few Wii games that is playable with a GameCube pad.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: While we won't admit to having watched and liked the Nickelodion cartoon, Avatar is... *ahem* a pretty cool series featuring a monk-like boy named Aang who, with the elite power to control wind, is the only hope the world has against an evil empire. Your standard 3D adventure, with four playable characters, big bosses and puzzle-filled levels.
Cars: Picking up from where the film left off, the game gives you control of the starring racer, Lightning McQueen, as he races his way toward his ambition of winning the new prestigious Piston Cup. You are free to roam a huge virtual recreation of their home town, Radiator Springs, and many other locations from the film, competing in races with other talking vehicles.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab: The hilarious underwater sponge stars in this action adventure. Essentially a conversion of the GameCube game, each of its many gameplay scenarios will have you using the Wii Remote in various ways to control the action. Sounds like it could be fun although, to be honest, from what we've played it's actually not so good.
GT Pro Series: This is a straight port of the 2003-released Japan-only GameCube game (called GT Cube), with the same cars, tracks and graphics. The only change here is that it uses the Wii Remote like a steering wheel to guide the cars around the courses. We're not believers, but Ubisoft is packaging the game with a free steering wheel controller attachment to temp to you in.
Monster 4X4 World Circuit: Also from Ubisoft, this truck racer is not as fast or extreme as Excite Truck, but does feature a Mario Kart-style weapons system that has you blowing up opposing truck with items picked up on course. It also has an interesting stunt system; move the controller in circular motions as you launch off ramps to flip and spin your truck.
Rayman Raving Rabbids: Instead of your usual 3D platforming adventure, this time Rayman stars in a mini game-based adventure featuring more than 30 different gameplay styles. You complete a wide range of comedy challenges, including cow-throwing, flying and plunger-gun shooting levels as you try to defeat the evil race of Rabbids.
The UK launch
December 8 is the big day for Europe. We'll be bringing you detailed coverage on the Wii in the run up to the launch, reviews of the biggest games, competitions and much more. CVG have got it covered.
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November 19th, 2006, 19:16 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via gizmodo
Despite the cold weather, Nintendo fans lined up outside the Nintendo Store in Rockefeller Plaza Saturday night in hopes of getting their hands on a Nintendo Wii. The party wasn't as big as the official launch in Times Square (and nowhere near as big as Sony's event), but die-hard Nintendo fans like Anthony (shown above dressed as Link) camped outside the store in hopes of snagging one of the first consoles to hit the States.
Hit the jump for a look at other Nintendo characters waiting in line.
Pat (far right) secured the number one spot by arriving at the store Thursday night. He, Mario, and friends assured me they wouldn't sell their Wiis on eBay.
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November 19th, 2006, 19:13 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via gamespot
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.--At the stroke of midnight on the west coast, the launch of the next console generation came and went, as the Nintendo Wii debuted to a crowd of eager fans, many of whom had begun to line up on Friday morning in anticipation. The first Wii sale came as the conclusion of a day-long celebration held at the EB Games retail store in the Universal Studios theme park, just outside of Los Angeles.
Along the way, gamers and passers-by were treated to live music from a deejay, acrobatic performances, loads of Wii-branded schwag and, of course, Wii and Nintendo DS game demos galore. One of the more interesting demos on hand were specially modified Segway scooters outfitted with high definition monitors, periodically winding their way through the crowd and literally bring the games to the people.
As the final hours ticked off, the line, which only hours earlier had featured only a few hundred people had grown dramatically, roughly doubling in size and curling up and over a walkway on the opposite side of the Citywalk shopping area. Late in the day, store employees handed out wristbands to those in line, guaranteeing a Wii for everyone with a wristband. Even after the bands ran out however, folks were still taking their chances and lining up, hoping to get lucky and snag a console.
On hand for the festivities at the launch was Nintendo of America senior vice president of marketing George Harrison, who briefly stepped behind the counter at the EB Games store to help sell the first Wii console. When asked about how production has gone for the first-batch of Wii consoles, Harrison was upbeat, saying the company is still on target to have four million units available worldwide by the end of the year. "It's the first time we've actually launched in all territories at the same time. [In the past] Europe was usually a few months later, but Europe is also launching as well." Harrison went on to say that he expects Nintendo to have shipped two million units in the United States alone by the end of December or early January.
One of the Nintendo fans in the very back of the line was Cynthia Hocker of La Crescenta, Calif., who also happened to be the very last person to receive a wristband, guaranteeing a Wii for her 15-year-old son, who will likely be more excited than most to receive it. "It was a Chrismas present," said Hocker, "but he's going to have heart surgery in three weeks and I'm going to give it to him after the heart surgery so he can play it while he's laying down."
Back in the front of the line, the Mario-hat- and red-suspender-clad Jonathan Mann, who, in front of a throng of camera-toting journalists and Nintendo staffers, proudly walked to the counter just after midnight to purchase the first Wii of the night. Holding the console above his head for all the media to see, Mann was enthusiastic about his purchase, no matter how long it took him to finally get it. "I'm really excited. You have no idea how excited I am. Seriously. I've been waiting for this since 1991."
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November 19th, 2006, 17:30 Posted By: Dee-Lite
Now that the revolution has begun, there's no doubt that many of you Wii owners have been dying to create the ultimate Wii Mii character.
So I ask everyone to post up a photo your Mii for us all to see! Also what is your Mii's name and who is it supposed to look like?
In fact, anything to do with Mii's should be posted here, i.e. what is Mii mingle mode? Have you populated Mii on your Wii yet?
I'm surely many people, like myself, are eager to see a lot more of the Mii features.
As i'm from UK, sadly I can't create my Mii yet so Wii owners have bragging rights for the next few weeks!!
Who's up first? Its over to you now...
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November 19th, 2006, 05:34 Posted By: gunntims0103
Turns out that first update for the Wii did a couple of things. It changed the boot-up screen, tinkered slightly with a couple of menus and added the ability to manage the data on your SD card. In particular, you can now transfer game saves and virtual console games to and from an SD card as advertised.
check out this video through youtube via kotaku
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November 19th, 2006, 05:30 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via gamespy
check out this sleek looking controller
How does the cool-looking new controller perform on those oldies-but-goodies?
I managed to get my hands on one of the brand new Wii Classic Controllers today, so I thought I'd share my initial impressions here along with some super hi-res photos of the device itself. The Classic Controller is expressly designed to work with the Virtual Console games which are purchased via the Wii Shop channel. The CC connects to a Wii remote in the same what that a Nunchuck controller does, which I was surprised to see. I had initially assumed it would plug straight into the console in one of the GameCube ports, but this makes much more sense.
The unit itself feels nice and robust, but is fairly lightweight. The dual analog sticks are a little bit to close together for my own personal tastes, but both are covered in a good grippy rubber cover, making manipulation of the sticks nice and simple. The d-pad doesn't feel stiff at all and actually is very reminiscent of the old SNES d-pad -- this is a good thing. The X, Y, A, and B buttons are a decent size and seem to have a nice amount of travel in them.
There's the plus and minus buttons in the middle along with the home button to access the Wii's main menu. The former also double as the select and start buttons for the classic games. On the top of the controller are the L and R shoulder buttons which again feel quite similar to those of the SNES. Also on top are two smaller ZL and ZR buttons, and slap-bang in the middle is a small release switch which appears to open and close a clasp on the back of the joypad. I'm not too sure what clips in there, but I guess we'll find out in due course!
I have very briefly taken the controller for a spin with my newly downloaded copy of the N64's Super Mario 64. Aside from the game looking awesome (just how I remember it) the controller displayed no signs of compatibility issues, and it worked like a charm. I'm confident that other games (I'm off to grab the SNES' F-Zero now) should work in a similarly pleasing manner.
The Wii Classic Controller looks to be a great addition to the Wii's link of first-party peripherals. You'll be able to check it out for yourselves when the item hits the stores tomorrow along with everything you've been waiting for. It's gonna cost you $20, but I reckon it's well worth the investment. Here's to some great classic gaming!
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November 19th, 2006, 05:22 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via engadget
We realize there are still only a select few of you who actually have Wiis at this very moment (although those on the Eastern seaboard will have theirs in just a few short hours). But you might like to know that our Wii finally got its system update (huzzah) and is able to access the Wii store. The points are valued at a cent per, so 1,000 Wii points will set you back $10 US. Which is also what N64 games cost; SNES games will run $8, while NES and Genesis games run $5. Click on for a tour of the store!
view a full spectrum of images of the wii shop channel featuring downloads, applications, and features via engadget
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November 19th, 2006, 05:16 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via gizmodo
We're here in either one of the best or one of the worst places on the planet, depending on your perspective—Times Square in NYC. The Wii launch party is set to start in about 3 hours, and by my estimation there are at least 1,000 people lined up. Word on the line is that there are 5,000 Wiis inside the store waiting to be snatched up, so there should be a lot less violence and bloodshed come midnight compared to what we saw earlier this week with the PS3 frenzy. Check
back for more reports from this agoraphobics nightmare throughout the
evening.
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November 19th, 2006, 05:11 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via c/net
LOS ANGELES--While the previous few days have been filled with headlines trumpeting the thousands of dollars some people have seemingly been willing to pay for PlayStation 3s on eBay, the same mania doesn't seem to be extending to the Nintendo Wii.
The Wii--which retails for $250--launches tonight across North America. And on eBay, one can buy the rights to one of the pre-ordered consoles for roughly $500.
Now, that's double the retail cost. Which, extrapolated to the PS3's top-end $600 price tag equates to $1,200. And in fact, PS3s are now selling on eBay for just a little bit more than that.
But pure numbers show that the buzz--at least in terms of what people are forking over to get their hands on one of the consoles now--is still in the PS3 column.
On the other hand, that could well be because Nintendo hasn't been predicting the kind of supply shortages that Sony did. Thus, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a Wii in the coming weeks. The PS3? Not so easy.
Anyway, this likely means that the folks lining up across this great land to buy a Wii might actually be keeping their Wiis. Unlike the PS3 queuers, who said, en masse, that their newly-bought booty was going straight up for sale.
Ah, supply and demand.
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November 19th, 2006, 05:09 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via today.reuter
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than 1,500 die-hard Nintendo fans, some of whom camped out overnight, eagerly awaited the Sunday release of the company's Wii video game console, the latest entrant in the $30 billion global game market.
At the Times Square Toys "R" Us in New York, where a midnight(0500 GMT) launch party was planned, a line of approximately 1,000 gamers snaked around the block on Saturday.
More than 500 enthusiasts gathered for the West Coast release at the GameStop store at Hollywood's Universal City Walk.
Game Console Wars
Photo
The video game industry's own clash of the titans reboots this week with the midnight launch of Sony's PlayStation 3 and Sunday's debut of Nintendo's Wii.
Full coverage
"We have enough product to satisfy the demand that's anticipated," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime told Reuters.
Instead of trying to steal hard-core gamers from Microsoft and Sony, which have already released the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, Nintendo hopes to expand the traditionally male video game audience by luring new players.
Nintendo priced the Wii at $250, compared with the $600 premium PS3 and the $400 top-end Xbox 360.
The Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. Ltd., which created video game characters Super Mario and Donkey Kong, has hooked girls and seniors with its "Nintendogs" pet training games and its "Brain Age" cognitive fitness title for its hand-held DS machine that is a break-out hit.
The device offers touch-screen and voice recognition capabilities that allow users to "pet" and speak commands to their dog or to write and speak answers to brain teasers.
Nintendo has taken a similar approach with the Wii.
'MAKES YOU FEEL IN THE GAME'
The console's computing power is dwarfed by the Xbox 360 and the PS3. And the Wii does not offer the lifelike, high-definition graphics its bigger rivals boast.
Still, the Wii has captivated cynical gamers with its one-handed, motion-sensitive controller that lets users simulate fishing, playing tennis or shooting a bow and arrow.
Game Console Wars
Photo
The video game industry's own clash of the titans reboots this week with the midnight launch of Sony's PlayStation 3 and Sunday's debut of Nintendo's Wii.
Full coverage
"That's what makes you feel in the game," said Sergio Gonzalez, 18, who along with friends Anton Stockton and Tulgat Vandandorj, has been at the front of the Wii line at a Los Angeles Best Buy since Friday afternoon.
Gonzalez and his buddies say they will not flip their Wiis on Internet auction site eBay.com -- where people are selling reserved Wiis at an average price of $605, according to eBay Market Research.
Waiting in line in Times Square, 17-year-old Xavier Herrera had the same plan: "I'm playing it tonight."
People who got their hands on the PS3 early also sold the system on eBay, reeling in more than four times its retail price.
Nintendo expects to ship 4 million Wii consoles globally by December 31, double the number of PS3s expected by year end.
Nintendo's last console, the GameCube, sold 21 million units globally to land in third place, behind Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox. The company sold 11 million GameCubes in the United States and intends to double that number with the Wii.
Video game analyst David Cole, president of DFC Intelligence, said Nintendo is offering a one-two punch at launch with its games "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Wii Sports."
"I'm a 'Zelda' fan. I have to get 'Zelda'," said Isaiah Johnson, 29, first in line at Times Square.
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November 19th, 2006, 02:19 Posted By: gunntims0103
The Wii Channel has officially launched. I just loaded up a meek 2,000 points onto my Wii and purchased Donkey Kong for my Wii. This video gives you a quick overview of the channel and the process of finding and downloading a game. Kinda cool stuff, though getting into the Channel takes a bit too long. I suspect it's that initial connection that's slowing down the process.
This means that the wii channel has officailly launched view a youtube video via kotaku
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November 19th, 2006, 02:15 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via playfuls
Even before the actual launch of Nintendo's console in the US (morning is almost here), several Wii games could already be acquired this week in North American shops. In just a few hours, their number will reach 20, and they will be joined by another 13 by the end of this year, plus 30 classic Virtual Console games for the Wii, in the likes of Mario or Zelda. Clearly a richer collection than the one offered by Sony, but only in terms of quantity. The quality of the Wii launch line-up, on the other hand, looks more diluted than the PS3 one, as it includes plenty of shaky titles based on cinema and TV licenses.
Like we did in our previous story with the PlayStation 3 games, we'll jump right to the point:
Wii launch games:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Call of Duty 3
- Cars: The Videogame
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
- Excite Truck
- GT Pro Series
- Happy Feet
- Madden NFL 07
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- Monster 4X4 World Circuit
- Rampage: Total Destruction
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
- Red Steel
- SpongeBob SquarePants: The Creature from the Krusty Krab
- Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
- The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
- Trauma Center: Second Opinion
- Wii Sports (inclus cu fiecare consolă Wii)
By Christmas, the list will strenghten with titles such as Elebits, Far Cry: Vengeance, Need for Speed Carbon and Splinter Cell Double Agent, and like I said some other sub-par games. Midway and THQ are the main culprints for poluting these lists with all sorts of junk, while Ubisoft remains the third-party publisher with the most solid games catalogue for this launch.
In the future, however, things could easily change, because Namco-Bandai recently announced that they will support the next-gen consoles with 10 PS3 / Xbox 360 games, and 30 Wii games! Some of them are listed on GoNintendo, but the vast majority are still shrouded in mystery.
For those of you taking a keen interest in classic games, most of these have already been known for some time: Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog, Golden Axe any many more. A more complete list can be found on CVG. And speaking of which, the Wii manual (actually Joystiq) warns us that some Virtaul Console games can only be played using a classic controller, which is sold separately for the Wii console (even though Nintendo previously annouced that all retro games will be playable with a GameCube controller).
And that's about it, for now, about the Wii games. But there's still plenty left to say about the new Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles... *yawn* maybe tomorrow... *yawn* or the day after tomorrow.
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November 19th, 2006, 01:50 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via mercurynews
EASE OF PLAY FOR NOVICE GAMERS VALIDATES NINTENDO'S CLAIMS
By Mike Antonucci
Mercury News
Nintendo's Wii will be out in stores tomorrow.
NINTENDO
Nintendo's Wii will be out in stores tomorrow.
* Nintendo Wii: The games
Nintendo's heralded new game machine, the Wii, must pass one test above all others:
It has to prove that its much-vaunted ease of use makes it possible for anyone -- absolutely anyone -- to play video games.
The Wii (pronounced ``we'') goes on sale Sunday and features a one-hand, motion-sensing controller. Swinging and gesturing with it is all that's required to play some games.
There also will be plenty of complex games that use the controller in sophisticated ways. But the essence of the Wii is its ability to appeal to novices as well as veteran gamers.
And by novices, we mean totally raw newbies. Handing the Wii controller to someone who regards it as alien technology is the experiment of the moment for Wii reviewers. That's what I did almost immediately after Nintendo provided a Wii I could hook up at home.
I used a family member as my test subject. Any further identification would be cruel, although I have to note that I considered the person to represent an enormous challenge for the Wii. I thought this person might be so far out on the non-gamer end of the population that no controller -- no matter how magical -- would be able to compensate for a lack of, er, aptitude.
I was wrong.
My tester -- who was an exceptionally good sport about agreeing to this experience -- was able to immediately play a full game of tennis. We're talking about the Wii Sports brand of tennis, which boils down to just swinging the controller with the motions of a racket. You need a sense of timing, but the game is extremely forgiving of poor physical coordination. Getting a serve in is all but automatic.
And that's to the Wii's credit. Because the fun was ample, even though the game was anything but sophisticated or realistic.
Based on my own sampling of the tennis game -- and, no brag, I'm reasonably coordinated -- it takes some effort and ingenuity to win consistently. The game is ideal for casual family competition (which means buying extra controllers for the multi-player modes), but the computer controlled opponents are definitely not pushovers in the single-player mode.
Other newbie-inviting sports games include baseball, bowling and golf. They come with the console, no additional purchase required.
As for other launch games, which do require shelling out additional bucks, the two most prominent are Nintendo's ``The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,'' an adventure fantasy, and Activision's ``Call of Duty 3,'' a World War II shooter. Also highly anticipated: Ubisoft's ``Red Steel,'' which uses the controller as a sword.
``Zelda'' requires an enormous commitment of time I didn't have right now. But based on many factors, including the ``Zelda'' series pedigree, it's almost certainly a four-star game. I don't yet have the Wii version of ``Call of Duty 3'' or ``Red Steel.''
Two games were available that I could sample extensively:
• ``Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz'' (Sega, available at launch). This features monkeys inside balls, which you roll through twisting, sloping courses. I'm simplifying, but trust me, for many adults and children this will be a sensational party game, in part because of the directional waving you have to do with the controller.
Unfortunately, the game highlights how retro -- and not in a good way -- the Wii's graphics can be. Fair warning: I've never played any curving-spinning-undulating ``Monkey Ball'' game without getting dizzy and almost nauseated within five minutes.
• ``Excite Truck'' (Nintendo, available at launch). Although this game has elicited months of raves in preview sessions, it's still surprising how good it is. Playing it at length creates a near addiction.
It's the kind of arcade-style racing game that makes crashing part of the strategy, as well as going airborne at nutty speeds. You hold the controller in a horizontal position with two hands -- a steering bar instead of a steering wheel.
That works so well that it instantly raises a question that probably will become famously repeated among Wii owners: Why didn't anyone do this with a game controller before now?
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November 19th, 2006, 00:28 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via 411mania
Find out just what he had to say inside.
In an interview Greg Johnson, co-creator of the cult-classic Sega Genesis game Toe Jam & Earl confirmed he was developing an exclusive DS game, saying:
"I can probably say it's a game for the Nintendo DS and it involves very emotionally expressive AI stuff. It's really targeted at non-gamers, and like ToeJam & Earl it's quirky and kind of off-the-wall. I have a little development studio - just eight of us - in Point Richmond called HumaNature Studios and I work with a great bunch. It's been worth the wait to do this."
411 Mania Games will bring you more news on this as-yet untitled game as it develops.
Source: Gamasutra
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November 19th, 2006, 00:21 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via shacknews
Some have wondered whether Wii's backwards compatibility supports the Game Boy to GameCube link cable. We tested the connectivity functionality in Square Enix's Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and determined that, yes, it does. There did not appear to be any problems, and it should work in any connectivity-compatible game.
Yes, you can fit up to four Wavebirds on a Wii. Though the Wii's GameCube port plate looks different than GameCube's, the dimensions between the ports are the same, so anything that plugs into the Cube controller ports will plug into the Wii. Note that you will only be able to play GameCube games with an actual GameCube controller, so if you're planning on ditching your Cube when you pick up a Wii, keep at least one controller around. Accessories that plug into the memory card slots, such as Odama's microphone, also work. The Game Boy Player, however, will not, since that is specifically designed for the Cube's form factor.
If you keep a lot of GameCube peripherals plugged into the system, you may want to remove the hinged flaps that cover up that section of the machine. The Wii is actually designed for those to be easily removable. If you keep the system lying horizontally rather than vertically, you will be required to remove those if you want it to remain flat while the flaps are open.
GameCube games run in whatever output settings they originally supported, so if they supported widescreen on GameCube, they will support widescreen on Wii; if they didn't, they won't. Simple as that.
Heat and sound emissions
The Wii is very quiet. When it is not reading from a disc, any sound it makes is almost imperceptible unless you're right up there listening to it. When it is reading from a disc, there's a standard light operational whirring, but it is very minor. As far as heat, there is surprisingly little even during gameplay. You can feel some warmth around the back of the machine but it too is very minor.
SD card and flash memory functionality
Several questions were asked regarding what can be saved to SD cards. Unfortunately, many answers to these questions are not yet known. According to the manual, you can put game save data and Virtual Console games on your SD cards, and we already know that SD cards are used to to view pictures and movies, listen to MP3s, and load custom soundtracks into games (currently, only Excite Truck supports this). However, with the online network not going live until launch, we have not been able to test putting Virtual Console games on SD cards, and the system currently only seems to support saving games to the system's internal memory. Since the manual indicates greater SD card functionality, those options may be coming in the system's first update, coming at launch. This should eliminate the problem of running out of space on the internal 512MB of memory (although, to be honest, that should be plenty for a lot of people considering how small legacy games are). Nintendo has stated that though Virtual Console games can be stored on SD cards, they will be tied to the console on which they were purchased.
As far as saving GameCube games to the internal memory or to SD cards, this does not appear to be possible. The system actually goes into a separate backwards compability mode to run GameCube games, so it does not have access to SD card and flash memory. Those options may potentially be added in a software update at some point in the future, but that is speculative.
Nintendo DS connectivity
Though Nintendo has promised extensive connectivity between Nintendo DS and Wii, there does not currently seem to be any way to broadcast a wi-fi signal from a Wii to a DS that allows the DS to go online. That particular funtion is also not something Nintendo has ever specifically mentioned, so while it may be coming, we have no indication as such. What is more likely, and has indeed been stated as an idea on Nintendo's part, would be things like downloading demos and other content to a DS from a Wii system. Obviously, specific games will also have their own connectivity features; in the upcoming online Pokemon game for Wii, you are able to battle using Pokemon transferred from the Diamond and Pearl versions of the game on DS.
The end
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November 19th, 2006, 00:16 Posted By: gunntims0103
news via shiny shiny
Now, I know we can sometimes be a suspicious of companies who think all they have to do to sell to girls is to create a gadget that's a) pink and b) covered in Swarovski crystals (or "bling" as they like to call it), but even I have to admit that the people who "blinged" the DS Lite did a pretty good job. Lookit!
There are over 1,200 crystals on each limited edition console, all in varying shades of - what else? - pink, and you'll find them at the Multipazz boutique in Central London, where they're selling for £360. I'm deducting a few points for the fact that this design was apparently inspired by Paris Hilton, but other than that, good job done.
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November 18th, 2006, 23:50 Posted By: wraggster
Spinal has posted a Beta of his game SensitiveDS, he says its not really in a playable state but you can try it out nonetheless.
Download and Give feedback Via Comments
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November 18th, 2006, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo Co. is launching its Wii game console on Sunday, accompanied by a swell of buzz about its unusual motion-sensing controller.
While many Americans got their first taste of console gaming on Nintendo's products in the early 90s, it's now the underdog, trying to catch up to Sony Corp.'s PlayStation franchise.
Sony on Friday launched the PlayStation 3, a technical tour-de-force that costs between $500 and $600.
Nintendo's strategy is radically different. Its console costs $250 and doesn't boast the computing muscle of the PlayStation, but comes with a controller that the company says will revolutionize game play.
The Associated Press sat down with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime for some questions on the eve of the launch.
AP: How will the Wii compete with the PlayStation 3?
Fils-Aime: I don't think the question is so much how are we going to compete with them, as how are they going to compete with our strategy: our strategy of going to the mass audience; our strategy of having a fantastic price point right from the start; our strategy of including a great pack-in game called "Wii Sports;" our strategy of having a wide range of support from all of our licensees. That really spells a successful approach for us.
AP: What makes the Wii special?
Fils-Aime: What makes the Wii so special is obviously the Wii Remote: the ability to play tennis with a flick of the wrist, to play baseball like you do it on the ball field. That allows the consumer to get more in the game by having a totally different type of interface, plus it allows game developers to create all new different types of games.
AP: Could you give some examples of these new games?
Fils-Aime: We have everything from a game like "Trauma Center," from Atlas, where you're the doctor, and you're using the precision of the Wii Remote to stitch up a patient and take shards of glass out of their arm — things of that nature. The new way to play "Madden Football," a brand new "Madden," where you act like the quarterback, where you hike the ball, pass. All of that allows for totally unique game play. ... That type of experience is why we think the consumer is so excited.
AP: Why does Nintendo have a lot more units available at launch than Sony?
Fils-Aime: I guess the question is why 'Why do they have so few?' We have properly executed our manufacturing and distribution system. We are going to have 4 million units worldwide by December 31, we're going to have 6 million units by March 31. We're starting, on launch day here in the Americas, with anywhere between five to ten times the volume that Sony had their first day, and we feel very good about that. Even with all that supply, though, we will run out of stock.
AP: Why is the price much lower than the PlayStation?
Fils-Aime: We specifically worked to create a value right from the start and so we made some very tough choices. Tough choices about not including a DVD player at the start, tough choices about not including high-definition capability at the start. That's because we wanted a mass-market price, and we believe the market will validate those decisions, come launch day on this Sunday.
AP: Why are you launching the Wii first here in the U.S., and only later in Japan, the opposite of what Sony is doing?
Fils-Aime: Well, the holiday time period really starts much earlier here in the Americas with our Thanksgiving coming next week, so it was imperative that we be in marketplace to support that holiday. It's not as important in Japan, where the holiday selling season doesn't kick off until early December, and then obviously we made the strategic decision to launch in Europe this year, and that's very important to us.
AP: You've announced a DVD-playing Wii for Japan. Is that something that's going to come to the United States?
Fils-Aime: The interesting thing is we've announced the capability to have a DVD-playing Wii. We haven't made specific announcements regarding timing or location. In terms of here in the Americas, the fact is that more than half of consumers here in the United States have more than two DVD players in the household, so we don't think the DVD-playing capability is something that's important, but it may be important in Japan or parts of Europe.
AP: I've noticed when trying out the Wii that the remote seemed to be fooled by lights in the background, and other reviewers have noted problems with sunlight. Is that something to take seriously?
Fils-Aime: In terms of the remote, we've done a tremendous amount of testing for the sensor bar as well as the remote itself, and any light sensitivity is very modest. We in our instruction manuals give the consumer information on how to really optimize for wherever they place it in the house. And we're confident that with that information the consumer will be just fine. It includes information on how to calibrate the Wii Remote so that any light interference is minimal.
AP: How long will it be till the next console?
Fils-Aime: For Nintendo? I mean, quite frankly, let us enjoy the launch of this one
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