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Nintendo DS News is a News and downloads site for All Nintendo Handhelds and Consoles including the Gameboy, NES, N64, Snes, Gamecube, Wii, WiiU, NDS, 3DS, GBA and Snes, We have all the latest emulators, hack, homebrew, commercial games and all the downloads on this site, the latest homebrew and releases, Part of the
DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network.
THE LATEST NEWS BELOW
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January 17th, 2012, 01:25 Posted By: wraggster
WiiMednafen is a port of the Mednafen [1] emulator.
Emulators supported:
GameBoy/GameBoy Color
GameBoy Advance
Game Gear
Lynx
Mega Drive/Genesis
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Neo Geo Pocket
PC Engine (CD)/TurboGrafx 16 (CD)/SuperGrafx (Fast version)
PC-FX
Sega Master System
Virtual Boy
WonderSwan
It should be noted that the Virtual Boy emulation included with this emulator is much improved over WiirtualBoy. Most games now run at 100% speed without frame skipping. These improvements are due entirely to Ryphecha (Mednafen) who optimized the core emulation code in addition to eliminating idle loops on a per game basis.
Changelog
0.1 - January 13, 2012
Added support for MegaDrive/Genesis.
Added rewind support for the following emulators:
GameBoy/GameBoy Color
Game Gear
Lynx
Nintendo Entertainment System (excludes FDS games)
Neo Geo Pocket
PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 (excludes CD games)
Sega Master System
WonderSwan (excludes large SRAM sizes: Dicing Knight, Judgment Silversword)
VI + GX scaler (eliminates majority of scaling artifacts).
Default screen sizes per emulator (1x, 2x, Full, etc.).
Full widescreen support
16:9 correction option (displays 4:3 on widescreen displays).
Double strike (240p) mode support (can be enabled globally and per-emulator). By default, is explicitly disabled for handheld emulators.
Color trap filter (Eke-eke implementation)
Master system FM sound support (when region set to Domestic/Japan)
Virtual Boy SRAM bug fix (was not being persisted).
Fixed bug where screen sizing controls were not being properly rotated (games with vertical orientation).
Ability to map "rotate screen" button for WonderSwan (Klonoa, etc.).
WonderSwan control mappings now supports "profile" toggle. Allows for saving mappings for both orientations for a single game (Klonoa, etc.).
Updated Game Gear to display with proper aspect ratio.
Ability to set Volume globally and per-emulator.
Additional SMS/GG compatibility
Fixed bug that prevented certain Ogg Vorbis files (multiples of 1024, go figure) from loading as part of a CD image (CUE sheet).
Fixed bug that prevented some FDS games (Metroid) from properly flipping the disk.
http://code.google.com/p/wii-mednafe...dnafen-0_1.zip
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January 17th, 2012, 00:33 Posted By: wraggster
Rockstar is on the lookout for staff capable of getting the "most from next-gen consoles".
 The Grand Theft Auto developer is currently running a job ad seeking environmental artists to work on an unnamed project.Posted last year, it reads: "We'd like to hear from the industry's most talented environment artists. You will be designing, building and texturing the world, have the technical knowledge to achieve great looking results and the skill to get the most from next-gen consoles."
Could the position relate to Grand Theft Auto 5? It's possible, depending on when the game will be released, or perhaps if it's going to be released on Wii U, which will launch before the end of the calendar year.
Of course, it's all just speculation. It could just as well be Red Dead Redemption 2 or Manhunt next-gen. It's unlikely to be an FPS though, as Rockstar has said it's deliberately avoiding the genre.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-gen-consoles/
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January 17th, 2012, 00:25 Posted By: wraggster
Two versions of platforming classic Prince of Persia will be re-released this week, Nintendo has announced.Wii fans can download Prince of Persia's SNES incarnation from Thursday. And 3DS owners will be offered the Game Boy Color version on the same day.The Prince's Game Boy Color appearance was back in 1999. This week on 3DS the game will cost £4.50/€5.The Wii Virtual Console version, however, is superior. A port of the extended SNES Prince of Persia, this contains almost double the number of levels as well as various other enhancements.It's also slightly more expensive at 800 Wii Points (about £5.60).Two other DSiWare games will be available this week: 40-in-1 Explosive Megamix (800 DSiWare Points - about £7.20) and strategic action title Come On! Heroes (200 Points - about £1.80).
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-3ds-this-week
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January 17th, 2012, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
While Modern Warfare 3, FIFA Soccer 12 and Saints Row: The Third were all topping the PS3 and 360 sales charts in the final week before Christmas, in comparison, the five best selling games on the Wii were Just Dance 3, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Fitness 2 and The Legend of... actually no, the fifth spot went to Mario Kart Wii, while sixth, seventh and eighth went to Skyward Sword, an ABBA dancing game and "Now! That's What I Call Music: Dance and Sing".
As a Nintendo fan who grew up with a SNES and N64, these sales figures are a little hard to digest, because while I'm all for the expansion of the videogames industry I don't want it to come at the expense of core console games. And even though No More Heroes 2, Monster Hunter Tri and Sin and Punishment 2 have helped save thousands of AA batteries from dying in wasteful silence, they've been the exception rather than the rule.
But then August came along and something unusual happened. After being disappointed time and time again by the "Japan-only" stigma that struck Captain Rainbow, Fatal Frame IV and Sandlot's Zangeki no Reginleiv, Nintendo of Europe finally came good by localising Xenoblade Chronicles. Was this the act of a company trying to get back in touch with its core audience, or was Nintendo simply filling in a gap during the yearly summer drought?
Just like an episode of Come Dine With Me where the host undercooks the main but then pulls it back from the brink with an epic dessert, Nintendo of Europe seem to be making amends by giving the fans what they want. The only question is, are The Last Story and Pandora's Tower worth the wait?
[h=3]The Last Story[/h]Coming from the same studio that co-developed Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, The Last Story looks spellbindingly promising on paper. Rather than a typically turn-based affair as you'd expect from its creator, the father of Final Fantasy Hironobu Sakaguchi, this is a tight experience that restricts your sidetracking options.
 Elza and his teammates can be resurrected a maximum of five times each per fight. It's a tad too generous.
It's a less than conventional action RPG that wants you to stay focused on the titular story, and even though the language barrier obscures the finer plot details in our imported copy, we were still able to grasp the general gist as we played through its 43 chapters.
You play the role of Elza, a typical JRPG lead who was orphaned at a young age and now works as a mercenary-for-hire with his eclectic group of friends. This includes a calm but slightly suspicious looking leader, a feisty female brawler who dual-wields a pair of blades, a meek sorceress who's handy with a healing spell and a young magician with a piracy fetish - all replete with trademark JRPG haircuts and outfits with superfluous buttons. The team are then plonked in a cave for the opening chapter where they have to tackle some Uruk-hai lookalikes.
This dungeon introduces you to the core mechanics and while things start out fairly basic - you simply have to walk up to an enemy to clobber them with your sword - a condensed yet flexible selection of techniques gradually emerges. The first is the Gathering ability that lets Elza coerce the attention of nearby enemies, giving your mages a bit of breathing space to work their magic. But rather than the traditional magic missiles, this casting system lets you place areas of elemental potency which can do everything from heal your team to inflicting debilitating status effects.
 The boss battles can seem fairly tricky at first but each of them has a very exploitable weakness. This guy doesn't like bridges.
It's a genuinely refreshing combat system that doesn't involve huge lists of spells or vast spreadsheets of attributes, but instead asks you to put all that crossbow training into practise with an array of venom tipped arrows and banana peel bolts - the latter of which can be used to trip people up. The Last Story surprisingly shares a slither of its genes with Gears of War, as Elza can snap to nearby cover while taking potshots with his rustic sidearm. The game even makes the distinction between so-so shots to the body and booming to the face.
But even though this is an action-RPG that breaks the mould with its mesh of gameplay systems - to the extent where one chapter sees you infiltrating a castle with tranquiliser darts that knock out patrolling sentries - its style and story still smack of a traditional JRPG. The aesthetic is best described as a cross between Renaissance art and anime with a magically arcane twist, while the narrative spirals from a star-crossed love story between Elza and a runaway princess into a war between two island nations.
There's also no escaping the fact that this is a fairly linear game. There are a few sidequests and an obligatory battle arena, but there's only one central city with no supplementary towns to speak of.
But Last Story makes its innovations elsewhere, such as an online multiplayer element that lets you play either cooperatively against bosses or competitively in a battle royal. While it'll unlikely offer much more than a distraction when compared to the main quest, it'll be interesting to see how long this story can keep going once the credits have been and gone.
[h=3]Pandora's Tower[/h]On the face of it, The Last Story is the product of a traditional JRPG team who are trying something a bit different, whereas in comparison, Pandora's Tower is coming from a studio trying something totally new.
Ganabrion's previous work includes anime tie-ins like One Piece Grand Battle and the excellent Jump Super Stars on the DS, and while this lack of genre specific experience could be cause for concern, it seems the developer has pulled off a CyberConnect2 (only in reverse) by switching from fighting games to a JRPG without falling flat on its face. And it's all thanks to some good old-fashioned ingenuity.
 If you leave Ceres alone for too long then she starts to go a bit William Birkin. Never a good look...
Pandora's Tower sees priestess Ceres suffering from a nasty curse that's slowly mutating her into a Resident Evil cast-off. The road to her recovery is made up of 13 lofty towers which Ende, a knight, has to summit. But instead of packing a sturdy pair of hiking boots and a backpack full of spring-loaded cams, Ende receives an encouraging smile from Ceres and a length of metal links called the Orichalcum Chain. This isn't a standard piece of climbing equipment, as much like a militarised version of Link's own hookshot, this chain can separate the tower's guardians from their life giving hearts.
The chain also offers some interesting options in the action-orientated combat, as while The Last Story benefits from the more traditional ergonomics of a Classic Controller, Pandora's Tower mixes simple sword combos with the ability to aim and chain with the Wii Remote.
This means you can wrench a sword free from the enemy's hands before swinging it around like a wrecking ball, or simply bind their legs before closing in for some hacking and slashing. There's even a tension gauge that lets you build power by pulling back as your ensnared foe tries to struggle free.
The ascent of each tower is broken up by the occasional perilous platform section as well as some action adventure style conundrums, while the bosses themselves also require a certain measure of lateral thinking. The green giant in the first tower is easily made less jolly, but the demonic crustacean in the third is trickier thanks to a shifting weak-point.
 As well as plucking hearts from enemies, the chain can be used to open doors and swing across chasms.
There's a consistent tug elsewhere that breaks up the exploration of each tower, as with Ceres slowly mutating back at the safe-house you have to make regular trips back home to keep the curse suppressed. And the only way to do this is to feed her the hearts of lesser enemies that you've harvested with the chain. The lengths some people go to in order to keep their youthful looks, eh?
Cementing the mechanic is a relationship system that ranks the bond between Ende and Ceres by how often you visit, the dialogue choices you make in conversation and any gifts you bring back from your travels. This can affect the game's ending, for better and for worse.
It's a cute touch in what looks like a solid action-RPG that's set in a bright yet sinister world of ancient curses and charged chain combos. The only thing yet to prove itself is the quality of the dialogue but, just like The Last Story, we're looking forward to plundering the depths of the English translation in the coming months.
It all marks an unexpected twist of fate for a console that arguably did more than any other in ushering in an expanded and more casual audience. As it shuffles its way into retirement, Nintendo is working to conduct a graceful swansong for the Wii.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...e-last-stories
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January 16th, 2012, 01:43 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has made available some 50 WiiWare demos via the US Wii Shop channel.
 The reappearance of these previously-released demos is a surprise move considering Nintendo was so adamant that demos would only be available for a limited time in the past.We're hoping this is a sign of their permanent availability, but if you enjoy having a quick play of a game before you purchase it you should get all over this quick - they might not be there for long.
Nintendo launched a trial WiiWare demo scheme in 2009 in a bid to stimulate sales of downloadable titles, which it said made up just a small part of its business.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ailable-again/
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January 14th, 2012, 00:34 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has confirmed it will reveal more information on the Wii U before E3 in June.
 Speaking with CNN, Nintendo US boss Reggie Fils-Aime said "Wii U will launch some time between E3 - which is in June - at the end of the year so essentially the second half of the year."We haven't announced pricing and we haven't announced specific details. We'll share more information between now and E3 and after E3."
Reggie's comments follow earlier hints that we might hear Wii U news ahead of the big Los Angeles expo.
Speaking at CES in Las Vegas this week he said: "We will be sharing information throughout the year so I won't say you'll have to wait until E3 but certainly we're not breaking new news here."
Recent reports claimed to have insider information on Wii U's tech specs, allegedly leaked from a 'Japanese developer'.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...et-for-pre-e3/
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January 14th, 2012, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster
In late 2009, Nintendo put five demos for WiiWare games on the Wii Shop Channel. Inexplicably, it was a limited-time deal and they all went away on January 31. Then, in late 2010 (and also inexplicably) the program returned, and WiiWare demos started trickling in at the rate of one a week. These were also intended as limited-time offers, which continued not to make any damn sense.
Now, in the crowning moment of weirdness for the service, all 50 demos that were previously offered in North America are now available on the Wii Shop in a "demo" section found within the selection of WiiWare "genres," with no explanation at all. Of all the bizarre moves related to this service, this is the one we can most wholeheartedly support.
Go try some demos! Lilt Line, And Yet It Moves, Bit.Trip Beat, and more are there to sample. Use your downloads to send Nintendo the incredibly obvious message that people like demos.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/al...-shop-channel/
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January 13th, 2012, 02:10 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo could reveal Wii U details before the expected show-all at E3 2012 in June, Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime has hinted."We will be sharing information throughout the year," Fils-Aime told Spike TV at CES 2012 this week."So I won't say you'll have to wait until E3, but certainly we're not breaking new news here."Nintendo has openly targeted E3 2012 - 5th-7th June - as a destination for new Wii U details.The new console is physically present at CES this week, but only in its old "not final" form. The demos being shown are those we saw last year at E3, too.Fils-Aime explained that Nintendo still wasn't ready to fill in the key blanks - namely a launch date, pricing and launch titles.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...nintendo-hints
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January 13th, 2012, 01:57 Posted By: wraggster
 When I playedKid Icarus: Uprising at E3, I called the circle-pad/stylus-based controls "unwieldy" and "basically only possible if you've put the 3DS on some kind of stand." (I'm going to pretend) Nintendo was listening, as creator Masahiro Sakurai has revealed a stand peripheral, to be bundled with the Japanese release of the game. "Touching the screen works better if it's secured," he said (roughly translated).
Nintendo has yet to make an announcement regarding the stand's inclusion with the American or European versions of the game, but given that this stand was designed to solve an identifiable problem, we'd be very surprised if any region left it out.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ja...-with-bundled/
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January 13th, 2012, 01:52 Posted By: wraggster
Cave Story hitting DSiWare in North America over a year ago, but Europe is still waiting for an official release. It looks like the region will go without the delightful title a little longer, as it has failed certification with Nintendo of Europe. Responding to a question on Twitter, developer Nicalis noted that Cave Story was submitted to NOE in December but failed because of "some really minor crap with the manual." Nicalis hopes to submit the game yet again sometime this month.
Keep the faith, European Cave Story fans! Or you could always pick up the 3DS version.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ca...e-but-delayed/
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January 13th, 2012, 01:23 Posted By: wraggster
Though the PlayStation Vita is still suffering from low sales in Japan, Sony has been encouraged by the improved fortunes of the 3DS.
That’s according to SCEE president and CEO Jim Ryan, who told MCV that Nintendo’s success bodes well for the portable market.
“One of the encouraging things about 3DS’ sales performance at Christmas is that it is confounding the naysayers who say that there is no room in the market for a dedicated handheld gaming device,” he told MCV in an exclusive interview.
“And to that extent we were encouraged by how 3DS did over the last month.
But doesn’t the appetite for 3DS pose a danger to Vita? Apparently not.
“There are two distinct markets,” Ryan added.
“The quality, the immersiveness, the richness of the experience that we believe we are going to offer on Vita, way exceeds anything that we believe to be available on any smartphone.”
You can read MCV’s full interview with Ryan in tomorrow’s issue (which should be with subscribers today) or read the full thing online tomorrow.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/3ds-p...ys-sony/089678
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January 12th, 2012, 01:23 Posted By: wraggster
Keen with desire to own a golden Nunchuk to match the golden Wii Remotereleased for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword? Well, you can't get an official golden Nunchuk outside of Japan's Club Nintendo, but that can't stop you from making your own.
Enter Reddit user alycenwonderland, who crafted a very slick custom Nunchuk that, dare we say it, looks even better than the official peripheral. Of course, should you decide to make one yourself, it will likely take hours of monotonous work before you can reap the sweet payoff -- not unlike the latest Zelda.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/ho...real-treasure/
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January 12th, 2012, 01:17 Posted By: wraggster
We're always wary to talk numbers and Europe in the same breath, mostly because numbers over there don't mean the same as they do here. "One pound is a half kilogram? What does that even mean?" Luckily for us, there's no way to misconstrue the fact that the Wii is now the best-selling console in Europe this generation.
The European chapter of the Wii Defense Force is popping the bubbly now, we imagine, celebrating the 30 million Wii consoles in the region as of 2011's end.New console bundles brought a new "value Wii" into the region, The PS3 isn't far behind, however, with reports of over 22 million consoles sold at the end of August. But, the Wii figure looks even better when compared to the GameCube, which sold 4.7 million throughout its five year lifetime in Europe and Australia, combined.
On the peripheral front, Nintendo's also got robust sales figures for its Wii Balance Board and its bundled titles, Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus, to celebrate. 22.67 million copies of Wii Fit and 19.31 million copies of Wii Fit Plus have been sold worldwide.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/wi...ole-in-europe/
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January 12th, 2012, 01:14 Posted By: wraggster
 If you'd rather use your Club Nintendo coins to get actual video games than exclusive swag, you have some new choices, as Nintendo has cycled in some different 3DS eShop, WiiWare, and Wii Virtual Console games for redemption.
For 100 coins, you can get Dr. Mario Online Rx (WiiWare) or the Virtual Console version of Kirby's Dream Land (3DS). For 150 Coins each, you can get The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Wii VC) or Dr. Mario Express (3DS). Note thatDr. Mario Express is actually a DSiWare game, but this offer can only be redeemed for a 3DS download code.
If you're interested in turning your coins (which you got from buying games) into one of these games, you have until January 31. Nintendo will cycle in more games after that point.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/bu...intendo-coins/
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January 12th, 2012, 01:12 Posted By: wraggster
You'd think that Japan would be fresh out of monsters at this point, considering that they've been ruthlessly hunting them without rest since 2004, but that's not the case. In fact, it seems the monster birth rate is so high over there, that over a million blademasters and gunners have been recruited for the latest hunt.
Monster Hunter Tri-G has sold 1.08 million copies as of January 8, according toAndriasang, making it the first third-party release (and third 3DS title overall) to break the million-sold milestone in Japan. It is distinct from some other million-selling 3DS titles (Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land) in that it does not feature an Italian plumber, but rather focuses on monsters and the hunting thereof. Wait, isn't Mario technically a monster hunter as well? Maybe there is a common thread here.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/mo...sold-in-japan/
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January 11th, 2012, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster
The man behind Kid Icarus' return has confirmed that upcoming 3DS title Uprising will be compatible with the new Circle Pad Pro.
The game's director Masahiro Sakurai said the add-on will allow left-handed gamers to control the action shooter in a way that will be much more comfortable to them.
"The way we are using the Circle Pad Pro in the game is to provide support for left-handed gamers," he told Official Nintendo Magazine. "We've made it possible to use the right Circle Pad in place of the left one."
He went on to add that the Circle Pad Pro had not been an option when development on Uprising began, and that he doesn't believe the peripheral is essential for the game.
"I didn't know the specs of the Circle Pad Pro, or what it looked like, until Monster Hunter 3G was announced, so we weren't able to do anything big with it in the time we had," Sakurai explained.
"Even if we had known about it from the start, I don't know whether we woudl have used both Circle Pads in that way."
Kid Icarus: Uprising is currently due for release in March. The Circle Pad Pro debuts on January 27th, alongside Resident Evil: Revelations.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/kid-i...support/089601
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January 11th, 2012, 23:53 Posted By: wraggster
Since Wii Fit in 2008, fitness games have established themselves as evergreen titles for a new type of gaming consumer.Zumba Fitness’ chart dominance over the summer allayed fears that the industry was losing the expanded audience cultivated by Wii Fit and Just Dance.
And it is around New Year that workout games sales really take off. Much like in the DVD and books market, the Christmas season’s many excesses triggers a public demand for self-improvement products. Dieting guides, exercise videos and gym equipment become must-have items – and games publishers aren’t about to miss this window of opportunity.
This year, games companies are using the annual fitness blitz to give their Q4 titles a second lease of life at retail.
REVAMPED WORKOUTS
Microsoft, for example, has already been advertising Kinect Sports: Season Two and Dance Central 2 – games that wouldn’t be traditionally considered workout titles – as new ways to shed the pounds.
“Fitness is front of mind for a lot of people in January,” explains Stephen McGill, director of Xbox and Entertainment. “We’re running an activity with a celebrity trainer to show people how they can use Kinect as part of a healthy lifestyle.
“We’re very proud of the success of these games, both of which have calorie counting modes. Ubisoft’s Your Shape: Fitness Evolved franchise has also been enormously popular, so it’s fantastic to see people enjoying fitness experiences that are exclusive to Kinect.”
Ubisoft’s senior PR manager Louise Marchant adds: “The first Fitness Evolved was the best-selling fitness title on Kinect, and we are looking to build on that success this year with a solid marketing campaign for Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012.”Even mega-seller Zumba Fitness is getting a shot in the arm with more ads planned for the sequel.
“Zumba is a powerhouse of a brand throughout the world with over 10m class participants each week, so it was a natural progression to see the same success with the video game,” said 505’s senior product manager Juliette Green. “The momentum behind Zumba is certainly not going to stop.”
DANCE OFF
Zumba Fitness is a perfect storm of exercise and dancing. Could it be that its appeal is based on the popularity of dance games rather than its fitness benefits?
After all, the genre stole the thunder from Wii Fit as the industry’s blue-eyed broader market success story. And with Dance Central 2 and the Just Dance series incorporating calorie counters and other metrics, has the swell of dance games cannabilised the sales of fitness titles?
No, says Sony’s UK?product manager John Aikins, who explains: “Dance games provide an experience that engages the cardio vascular system while fitness games incorporate a well rounded fitness experience with resistance, plyometric and cardio elements.
“Dance games can be a great entry point into incorporating fitness in your lifestyle.”
Ubisoft brand manager Rachael Grant adds: “There is a place for dance games and fitness games to sit alongside each other. The popularity of dance games is merely expanding the audience, rather than taking away from fitness games.”
NEW CONTENDERS
That major companies like THQ and Sony have entered the fitness market in the last year is further proof that the industry still sees strong potential in the genre.
With its new PlayStation Move motion controller now in its second year, Sony launched a brand new franchise in November.
“Move Fitness offers a fun and exciting entry point into the genre, and provides us with a significant point of interest during January,” says Aikins. “This has helped to establish Move Fitness as a credible fitness product.”
Meanwhile, THQ adapted an already well-established brand to serve as a fitness title with UFC Personal Trainer.
THQ’s senior product marketing manager Mark Fisher says: “UFC Personal Trainer is a unique offering that appeals to a wider audience than the generic fitness title. The New Year sales window is a great opportunity to re-engage consumers with the product, so we are focusing our efforts to ensure that UFC Personal Trainer maximises its potential during this busy period.”
FIGHTING FIT
But few titles have been able to match the success of Zumba or even Wii Fit. And publisher back catalogues are teaming with the early titles in fitness franchises that never truly got off the ground.
Could Zumba’s triumph be hiding the real situation: that the public’s appetite for workout games has dissipated?
“Anything will get a bit stale if you just keep putting out the same game time after time, but we’ve come a long way since the first console fitness titles,” says Marchant. “Fitness is like any other genre: it needs to develop and evolve to provide something new and relevant for the consumer.”
McGill says: “The real key to success, beyond innovation and approachability, is about making it fun. People turn to fitness games because they offer an enjoyable way to stay healthy and within the warmth and comfort of their own home.
“The fact that Zumba Fitness topped the charts for 13 weeks this year tells me there is very much still a market for these games.”
With these companies and so many more finding new ways to get consumers exercising through video games, retailers can expect a strong sales rush for fitness titles over the next month, not to mention in the years to come.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/featu...s-games/089604
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January 11th, 2012, 23:48 Posted By: wraggster
Wii sales surpassed 30 million units in Europe during the week ended December 25, 2011, Nintendo said today.
Somewhat bizarrely, the milestone figure was announced in a press release trumpeting the fact that the Wii Balance Board has been awarded a Guinness World Record for becoming the best-selling personal weighing device, after consumers snapped up over 32 million units worldwide between launch and November 2010.
Nintendo also said that Wii Fit and follow-up Wii Fit Plus had sold a combined total of close to 42 million copies as of the end of September 2011.
Nintendo of Europe marketing and PR boss Laurent Fischer said: “The launch of Wii Fit with the Wii Balance Board revolutionised the way people got active at home, making it fun and easy to exercise in the comfort of their own living room.
“As the Guinness World Record shows, sales of both Wii Fit andWii Fit Plus have remained healthy since the day they first went on sale and, with Wii now having sold over 30 million units across Europe, Nintendo hopes this trend will remain strong.”
2011 was a quiet year for the Wii, with headlines naturally focused on its successor, which was officially unveiled at E3 in June. Nintendo of Europe launched a revision of the ageing Wii hardware, available at a lower price with Wii Sports and Wii Party but no backwards compatibility with GameCube titles, in early November.
http://www.edge-online.com/news/euro...top-30-million
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January 10th, 2012, 01:33 Posted By: wraggster
Activision, by proxy, has bought BlackOps2.com. Fusible did the detective work on this, which posits Activision bought up Black Ops domains last year -- up toBlack Ops 6 -- through brand protection company MarkMonitor. Black Ops 2domains were missing from the previous list, but it appears that's being rectified.
Now, none of this guarantees that Black Ops 2 is on the way as this year's Call of Duty, but it does mean that MarkMonitor is under orders to protect the brand for the future.
Call of Duty: Black Ops had a record-breaking debut of $650 million in sales during its first week at retail in 2010, which it held for one year until Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 crushed that with $775 million.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/re...blackops2-com/
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