Camelot's Golden Sun: Dark Dawn certainly took its sweet time to arrive, with a seven year wait between Golden Sun: The Lost Age and the latest Adept adventure. Now the game is finished, however, what's developer Camelot looking forward to next? Like nearly every Nintendo fan it's the 3DS, of course.
One of the two founding Takahashi brothers, Hiroyuki, was recently interviewed by IGN where he spoke of the 3DS's exciting potential:
Do you think we will ever see the return to some of Camelot's other great games on Wii or even 3DS? What are some projects you'd like to work on for 3DS?
Takahashi: I'm afraid I can't go into detail at this time, but the features of Nintendo 3DS are really exciting to me as a developer. I'm really excited to challenge myself and create something for it.
Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts
Monday, 6 December 2010
Sunday, 28 November 2010
New Conduit 2 Trailer Heavy on Talk, Light on Action
Whilst previous trailers for Conduit 2 have focused on the game's massive amounts of bullets, bangs, booms and bombs, this latest trailer shows off the game's cinematic leanings.
New voice actors take up the story after the final events of The Conduit, with Agent Ford drawn deeper into the conspiracy that threatens to topple the world's already delicate balance. It might not be Shakespeare, but as a prelude to some big explosions it looks like it should do the trick. That and the All-Seeing Eye's new voice saying "hurry Michael" puts us in mind of Knight Rider's KITT, which is always a good association to have.
New voice actors take up the story after the final events of The Conduit, with Agent Ford drawn deeper into the conspiracy that threatens to topple the world's already delicate balance. It might not be Shakespeare, but as a prelude to some big explosions it looks like it should do the trick. That and the All-Seeing Eye's new voice saying "hurry Michael" puts us in mind of Knight Rider's KITT, which is always a good association to have.
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Review - Call of duty: Black Ops
The Call of Duty series has come a long way from its humble origins as a Medal of Honor competitor, now standing as a world-conquering video game superpower able to clear release calendars with the mere threat of its presence in a month. On HD platforms, that is, with Nintendo's little white box relegated to answering the call in a much more limited fashion.
But oh, how far Wii've come from the barebones launch port of Call of Duty 3, with each successive entry bridging the feature gap. World at War brought a limited online multiplayer component, and Modern Warfare Reflex fleshed it out for an admirably close port... two years after the game originally released elsewhere and on the day its direct sequel came out (still waiting on that one, by the way).
This time around, Treyarch has topped Reflex in feature parity with the Wii version of Black Ops, plopping the most robust multiplayer suite the Wii has yet seen in a shooter with virtually every feature intact in some capacity. And yes, that includes zombie Nazis.
Regardless of platform, Black Ops is Treyarch's chance to rid itself of the Call of Duty "off-year" label it's been stuck with, and it does so splendidly by way of one of, if not the, best campaign stories the series has ever had and clever new additions to the franchise's stagnating multiplayer formula.
Black Ops is set against the backdrop of the Cold War, starting with an American assassination attempt on Fidel Castro during the Bay of Pigs and a subsequent tour through the Vietnam War among other locales. Unlike past games where the story weaved between American, British and Russian forces, Black Ops largely focuses on one man: special forces operative Alex Mason. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks as Mason is interrogated by unknown persons, mostly following his exploits as well as a handful of supporting characters. While the action is still fairly bombastic, Treyarch does a better job than Infinity Ward at creating a believable action movie plot — especially after the ridiculous black holes of Modern Warfare 2's script. The entire single-player package buys into the setting wholesale; even the little things, like intel collected in stages to restore text redacted from classified documents, do a lot to sell the story.
Series veterans will find that Black Ops plays by and large just like every other Call of Duty game, with tons of scripted events and action sequences that play out in the way for which the series is known and copied. The biggest addition to the campaign is a helicopter that appears during the Vietnam section, so if you've tired of Call of Duty gameplay and brand of action then you'll not find much new here to convince you otherwise. If you're not, you'll find plenty to love.
And if you're here for the multiplayer (which, let's face it, you probably are), you'll likely find something new to love among the wealth of additions. The biggest fundamental change is related to unlocking weapons, perks and equipment: the new CoD Point currency. Instead of being automatically added to your arsenal at specific stages, items are now made available at certain levels and must be purchased with CoD Points for use. This allows you to buy only what you want to use and build up a character suitable to your own play style much quicker than before, but on the flipside it kills some of the incentive to level up further once you're able to buy the equipment you want. Better weapons and perks unlock the higher you go, but if you don't have your heart set on them then you might peak equipment-wise earlier than you otherwise would. For those in need of some practise and tips for multiplayer, there's a separate training mode to help you learn the ropes and not get crushed online if this is your first Call of Duty game.
Apart from normal gameplay, you can boost your CoD Point earnings through Contracts or Wager Matches. Contracts are a great way to add a little extra excitement to your matches: each contract costs a certain amount of Points and if you complete the given task in the time limit given (say, get 25 kills with a certain weapon in 40 minutes of in-match time) you're rewarded with many more Points and even an XP bonus depending on the contract. If you fail to complete the task, then you've lost those Points you invested. Available contracts cycle every few hours so there's usually something new for you to attempt. Wager Matches are new buy-in match types that reward winners with extra Points. Our favourite is One in the Chamber, an intense six-player game of three lives and one-shot kills — the twist is that every player gets a pistol with one bullet, and to get more ammo you need to kill another player.
If you're more of the cooperative type then you can head online (or play offline by yourself) for the popular four-player Zombies mode making its first appearance on Wii. Here you'll need to work together to take out never-ending waves of time-travelling undead Nazis while buying new weapons, rebuilding barricades and generally shooting a lot of things. While welcome, it's a bit disappointing that Wii gamers only get one Zombies map on the disc, but Treyarch's promise of downloadable content through the Wii Shop Channel means that more may come down the line.
Another nice thing about the online modes is that they essentially sidestep all of the things that have given Wii multiplayer a bad name. Friend requests can be made in lobbies without having to send Ally Codes, and you don't have to punch in a 12-digit number to talk to anyone if you use the new Headbanger Headset. Wii Speak owners are out of luck, though, as Black Ops doesn't support that mic. In short, the online experience on Wii is as close as can be to other platforms.
That being said, not all is equal. There are still no killcams, and matches being limited to five on five means that some of the maps feel much too large. A handful of new killstreaks were nixed, as were custom emblems on weapons. Treyarch put in Classic Controller support, and it feels for the most part just the same using a pad scheme on other consoles, although button layout isn't entirely 1:1 due to the lack of clickable analogue sticks — sprint and jump share a button and melee replaces weapon switching, which is now done on the D-Pad. It's still perfectly playable once you're used to it, and pointer players will be happy to learn that those controls feel rock solid with the same degree of customisation as before.
Weapons and explosions sound powerful, and the voice cast puts in generally strong performances. Alex Mason is voiced by Sam Worthington and sounds pretty much like every other role Worthington has ever played. Modern Warfare Reflex did an admirable job downscaling the HD game to the Wii's lesser hardware, and Black Ops is a further step above. Shading and particle effects seem to have gotten a boost and the world looks quite nice running on Wii hardware, although the framerate dips a bit during certain scenes. There are some noticeable cut corners here and there, but nothing that detracts too much. It doesn't look as good as GoldenEye 007, but then again Black Ops wasn't developed with the Wii's strengths in mind.
Conclusion
Thanks to an excessively robust feature suite and developers not treating the console with kid gloves, you're not going to find a finer online multiplayer shooter on Wii than Call of Duty: Black Ops. Solo players looking for an action-packed romp with a strong story will have a grand ol' time digging in to the game's eight-ish hour campaign, and anyone in between will lose hours cracking zombies over the head. Black Ops on Wii may not be the best version of the game out there, but for the console it is unparalleled.
But oh, how far Wii've come from the barebones launch port of Call of Duty 3, with each successive entry bridging the feature gap. World at War brought a limited online multiplayer component, and Modern Warfare Reflex fleshed it out for an admirably close port... two years after the game originally released elsewhere and on the day its direct sequel came out (still waiting on that one, by the way).
This time around, Treyarch has topped Reflex in feature parity with the Wii version of Black Ops, plopping the most robust multiplayer suite the Wii has yet seen in a shooter with virtually every feature intact in some capacity. And yes, that includes zombie Nazis.
Regardless of platform, Black Ops is Treyarch's chance to rid itself of the Call of Duty "off-year" label it's been stuck with, and it does so splendidly by way of one of, if not the, best campaign stories the series has ever had and clever new additions to the franchise's stagnating multiplayer formula.
Black Ops is set against the backdrop of the Cold War, starting with an American assassination attempt on Fidel Castro during the Bay of Pigs and a subsequent tour through the Vietnam War among other locales. Unlike past games where the story weaved between American, British and Russian forces, Black Ops largely focuses on one man: special forces operative Alex Mason. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks as Mason is interrogated by unknown persons, mostly following his exploits as well as a handful of supporting characters. While the action is still fairly bombastic, Treyarch does a better job than Infinity Ward at creating a believable action movie plot — especially after the ridiculous black holes of Modern Warfare 2's script. The entire single-player package buys into the setting wholesale; even the little things, like intel collected in stages to restore text redacted from classified documents, do a lot to sell the story.
Series veterans will find that Black Ops plays by and large just like every other Call of Duty game, with tons of scripted events and action sequences that play out in the way for which the series is known and copied. The biggest addition to the campaign is a helicopter that appears during the Vietnam section, so if you've tired of Call of Duty gameplay and brand of action then you'll not find much new here to convince you otherwise. If you're not, you'll find plenty to love.
And if you're here for the multiplayer (which, let's face it, you probably are), you'll likely find something new to love among the wealth of additions. The biggest fundamental change is related to unlocking weapons, perks and equipment: the new CoD Point currency. Instead of being automatically added to your arsenal at specific stages, items are now made available at certain levels and must be purchased with CoD Points for use. This allows you to buy only what you want to use and build up a character suitable to your own play style much quicker than before, but on the flipside it kills some of the incentive to level up further once you're able to buy the equipment you want. Better weapons and perks unlock the higher you go, but if you don't have your heart set on them then you might peak equipment-wise earlier than you otherwise would. For those in need of some practise and tips for multiplayer, there's a separate training mode to help you learn the ropes and not get crushed online if this is your first Call of Duty game.
Apart from normal gameplay, you can boost your CoD Point earnings through Contracts or Wager Matches. Contracts are a great way to add a little extra excitement to your matches: each contract costs a certain amount of Points and if you complete the given task in the time limit given (say, get 25 kills with a certain weapon in 40 minutes of in-match time) you're rewarded with many more Points and even an XP bonus depending on the contract. If you fail to complete the task, then you've lost those Points you invested. Available contracts cycle every few hours so there's usually something new for you to attempt. Wager Matches are new buy-in match types that reward winners with extra Points. Our favourite is One in the Chamber, an intense six-player game of three lives and one-shot kills — the twist is that every player gets a pistol with one bullet, and to get more ammo you need to kill another player.
If you're more of the cooperative type then you can head online (or play offline by yourself) for the popular four-player Zombies mode making its first appearance on Wii. Here you'll need to work together to take out never-ending waves of time-travelling undead Nazis while buying new weapons, rebuilding barricades and generally shooting a lot of things. While welcome, it's a bit disappointing that Wii gamers only get one Zombies map on the disc, but Treyarch's promise of downloadable content through the Wii Shop Channel means that more may come down the line.
Another nice thing about the online modes is that they essentially sidestep all of the things that have given Wii multiplayer a bad name. Friend requests can be made in lobbies without having to send Ally Codes, and you don't have to punch in a 12-digit number to talk to anyone if you use the new Headbanger Headset. Wii Speak owners are out of luck, though, as Black Ops doesn't support that mic. In short, the online experience on Wii is as close as can be to other platforms.
That being said, not all is equal. There are still no killcams, and matches being limited to five on five means that some of the maps feel much too large. A handful of new killstreaks were nixed, as were custom emblems on weapons. Treyarch put in Classic Controller support, and it feels for the most part just the same using a pad scheme on other consoles, although button layout isn't entirely 1:1 due to the lack of clickable analogue sticks — sprint and jump share a button and melee replaces weapon switching, which is now done on the D-Pad. It's still perfectly playable once you're used to it, and pointer players will be happy to learn that those controls feel rock solid with the same degree of customisation as before.
Weapons and explosions sound powerful, and the voice cast puts in generally strong performances. Alex Mason is voiced by Sam Worthington and sounds pretty much like every other role Worthington has ever played. Modern Warfare Reflex did an admirable job downscaling the HD game to the Wii's lesser hardware, and Black Ops is a further step above. Shading and particle effects seem to have gotten a boost and the world looks quite nice running on Wii hardware, although the framerate dips a bit during certain scenes. There are some noticeable cut corners here and there, but nothing that detracts too much. It doesn't look as good as GoldenEye 007, but then again Black Ops wasn't developed with the Wii's strengths in mind.
Conclusion
Thanks to an excessively robust feature suite and developers not treating the console with kid gloves, you're not going to find a finer online multiplayer shooter on Wii than Call of Duty: Black Ops. Solo players looking for an action-packed romp with a strong story will have a grand ol' time digging in to the game's eight-ish hour campaign, and anyone in between will lose hours cracking zombies over the head. Black Ops on Wii may not be the best version of the game out there, but for the console it is unparalleled.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Nintendo to think about Wii 2 after existing Wii reaches installed base of 45 million
In an interview with Kotaku, Nintendo America Reggie Flis-Aime said that they would start talking about the next generation of the Wii, once the installed base of the games console reaches 45 million in the United States.
The Nintendo Wii 2, the next generation of the games console Wii, has remained a hot topic of conversation in the gaming media over the last few months. The sales of Nintendo Wii are now slowing down as the games console is reaching its saturation point in the market.
Speaking to Kotaku, Reggie Flis-Aime said, “After we’ve reached an installed base of 45 million here in the U. S., we can have a conversation about the next generation. “
He claimed that Nintendo Wii sold 23 per cent faster than PlayStation 2, and added that Wii has many, many more units to offer.
He further claimed that the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii games consoles were running in the first and second place in the United States, with installed bases of 43.1 million and 30.4 million, respectively.
The Nintendo Wii 2, the next generation of the games console Wii, has remained a hot topic of conversation in the gaming media over the last few months. The sales of Nintendo Wii are now slowing down as the games console is reaching its saturation point in the market.
Speaking to Kotaku, Reggie Flis-Aime said, “After we’ve reached an installed base of 45 million here in the U. S., we can have a conversation about the next generation. “
He claimed that Nintendo Wii sold 23 per cent faster than PlayStation 2, and added that Wii has many, many more units to offer.
He further claimed that the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii games consoles were running in the first and second place in the United States, with installed bases of 43.1 million and 30.4 million, respectively.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
Call of Duty: Black Ops Wii Gets New Details, Will Feature Zombie Co-Op
Call of Duty: Black Ops on the Nintendo Wii has just been detailed by its senior producer, and it seems that the version will have almost all of the features seen in the full pledged PC, PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 editions, including multiplayer, co-operative missions and the special Zombies mode
couple of big leaks happened this week concerning Call of Duty: Black Ops on the high definition platforms, one detailing the co-op Zombies mode and the other the Dead Ops arcade co-op mode.
Now, Activision decided to throw in a few official details about the Wii version, through the voice of Anna Donlon, the senior producer for this specific version of Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Donlon revealed that the Wii version of the highly anticipated shooter will be a full pledged title, with a complete single-player mode, 5v5 multiplayer and co-operative modes, including the Zombies one.
"We're giving the fans the full single-player storyline, with huge maps and an amazing story that I think will really blow them away," she said. "We're also back with 5v5 multiplayer, all maps and all game modes, including the newly introduced Wager Matches and Contracts."
According to Donlon, Treyarch pulled out the stops for the online modes, too. "We pushed things a little harder this year, and can now confirm that the Wii version will have online Co-Op. We're doing this through Black Ops' new Combat Training mode and of course... zombies. That's right, 4-player Co-Op Zombies will have its debut on the Wii this year."
Besides all of these new great features, the Treyarch executive also revealed that headset support will be included for all online modes, thanks to the Headbanger headset, as well as support for the Classic Controller Pro, for those that don't want to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the game.
Those that are fearing that the multiplayer modes in Black Ops for the Wii will require them to input friend codes over and over again needn't worry, as a new Allies system has been implemented.
"We've created a new "Allies" system that allows you to invite recent players to be your allies for text messaging, game invites and more without a need for code exchanges. We have more player customization in Create a Class than ever before and we have enhanced party privacy options for players who want to set up their private matches with a little more control over who they allow in."
It seems that Call of Duty: Black Ops will be offering a great experience no matter the platform.
couple of big leaks happened this week concerning Call of Duty: Black Ops on the high definition platforms, one detailing the co-op Zombies mode and the other the Dead Ops arcade co-op mode.
Now, Activision decided to throw in a few official details about the Wii version, through the voice of Anna Donlon, the senior producer for this specific version of Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Donlon revealed that the Wii version of the highly anticipated shooter will be a full pledged title, with a complete single-player mode, 5v5 multiplayer and co-operative modes, including the Zombies one.
"We're giving the fans the full single-player storyline, with huge maps and an amazing story that I think will really blow them away," she said. "We're also back with 5v5 multiplayer, all maps and all game modes, including the newly introduced Wager Matches and Contracts."
According to Donlon, Treyarch pulled out the stops for the online modes, too. "We pushed things a little harder this year, and can now confirm that the Wii version will have online Co-Op. We're doing this through Black Ops' new Combat Training mode and of course... zombies. That's right, 4-player Co-Op Zombies will have its debut on the Wii this year."
Besides all of these new great features, the Treyarch executive also revealed that headset support will be included for all online modes, thanks to the Headbanger headset, as well as support for the Classic Controller Pro, for those that don't want to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the game.
Those that are fearing that the multiplayer modes in Black Ops for the Wii will require them to input friend codes over and over again needn't worry, as a new Allies system has been implemented.
"We've created a new "Allies" system that allows you to invite recent players to be your allies for text messaging, game invites and more without a need for code exchanges. We have more player customization in Create a Class than ever before and we have enhanced party privacy options for players who want to set up their private matches with a little more control over who they allow in."
It seems that Call of Duty: Black Ops will be offering a great experience no matter the platform.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
GoldenEye 007 Wii launch trailer
Finally! After years of so-so Bond efforts, Virtual Console let-downs and shit, shameless rip-offs, proper GoldenEye is with us and, as we listen to the original N64 soundtrack on YouTube the very minute, we bring you the below launch trailer.
LOOK! It's that dam section. Ooh, and there's the new Surface level. Oh, and there's... just watch it. It's Daniel Craig's face instead of the blatantly slicker, more Bond-like Pierce Brosnan, but only in cutscenes - it's an FPS game. We can deal with that.
LOOK! It's that dam section. Ooh, and there's the new Surface level. Oh, and there's... just watch it. It's Daniel Craig's face instead of the blatantly slicker, more Bond-like Pierce Brosnan, but only in cutscenes - it's an FPS game. We can deal with that.
Monday, 25 October 2010
GoldenEye will make a killing
Activision thinks upcoming FPS can be one of the year's best-sellers on Wii
Move over Mario – James Bond is going to be the top dog on Wii this year.
Activision claims the new GoldenEye will rival hits like Mario Galaxy 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Wii Party, Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey.
“Our expectations are that GoldenEye 007 will be one of the best-selling games for the year on the Wii,” said David Tyler, general manager for the firm’s Licensed Business Unit.
GoldenEye 007 is a re-imagining of the film and the classic N64 game, which includes new sections, modes and gameplay. It will be available as a standalone game or bundled with a gold Classic Controller Pro on Wii.
Actor Daniel Craig has lent his likeness to the game, which mark Bond’s return to video games.
Move over Mario – James Bond is going to be the top dog on Wii this year.
Activision claims the new GoldenEye will rival hits like Mario Galaxy 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Wii Party, Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey.
“Our expectations are that GoldenEye 007 will be one of the best-selling games for the year on the Wii,” said David Tyler, general manager for the firm’s Licensed Business Unit.
GoldenEye 007 is a re-imagining of the film and the classic N64 game, which includes new sections, modes and gameplay. It will be available as a standalone game or bundled with a gold Classic Controller Pro on Wii.
Actor Daniel Craig has lent his likeness to the game, which mark Bond’s return to video games.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Netflix Brings Disc-Free streaming
Netflix announced Tuesday that it is bringing disc-free online movies and TV shows to Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3.
“The availability of Netflix right on the Wii menu adds significantly to the ease and convenience that attracts our members to the Netflix streaming experience and is an important step in our efforts to continuously improve the service,” said Reed Hastings, CEO of Los Gatos-based Netflix.
Netflix plans are available to subscribers who will pay at $8.99 a month or more. In addition to the usual games, the online streaming service also works on computers and mobile devices including Apple’s iPad.
The new Netflix app can be freely downloaded by subscribers through the Wiimote and consumers must sign up for a plan to stream Netflix content on any device.
“The availability of Netflix right on the Wii menu adds significantly to the ease and convenience that attracts our members to the Netflix streaming experience and is an important step in our efforts to continuously improve the service,” said Reed Hastings, CEO of Los Gatos-based Netflix.
Netflix plans are available to subscribers who will pay at $8.99 a month or more. In addition to the usual games, the online streaming service also works on computers and mobile devices including Apple’s iPad.
The new Netflix app can be freely downloaded by subscribers through the Wiimote and consumers must sign up for a plan to stream Netflix content on any device.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Conduit 2, New Release Date Announced With First Trailer
Sega has announced that Conduit 2, the sequel to the Wii-exclusive first person shooter from 2009, will be released in February 2011.
High Voltage Software are once again handling the development duties and the game will be remaining a Wii-exclusive project. The title was originally due this autumn, but the developers claim that feedback at trade shows has lead to many "new ideas" being added - we can expect additional modes, weapons and boss fights.
Despite the delay, a first trailer for the game has been released. Click below to watch.
High Voltage Software are once again handling the development duties and the game will be remaining a Wii-exclusive project. The title was originally due this autumn, but the developers claim that feedback at trade shows has lead to many "new ideas" being added - we can expect additional modes, weapons and boss fights.
Despite the delay, a first trailer for the game has been released. Click below to watch.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
PDP introduces headset for Wii's Call of Duty: Black Ops
Yes, you'll be able to play the Wii version of Call of Duty: Black Ops online and even use voice chat, if you happen to have the proper equipment. To that end, PDP has announced the $25 "Headbanger Headset."Conveniently, PDP is releasing the headset on November 9, timed with the release of the game. It'll be available in white, or in a "limited edition" Call of Duty: Black Ops version -- meaning: in black with the game's logo printed on it. That way, when someone asks you what you're playing, you can simply point at the side of your head, without the need for more conversation; which is good, because nobody would want to talk to you after that.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
PES 2010 Wii
Konami are back with the annual installment of popular football sim Pro Evolution Soccer. See how the Wii version looks in action.
Aside from the usual improvements and refinements, players will also be able to take on the classic approach that mirrors its HD brothers or continue to dabble with Wii remote and nun-chuck innovation. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is out this Friday in the UK, and is available on multiple consoles including Wii.
Aside from the usual improvements and refinements, players will also be able to take on the classic approach that mirrors its HD brothers or continue to dabble with Wii remote and nun-chuck innovation. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is out this Friday in the UK, and is available on multiple consoles including Wii.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Nintendo conference reveals 3DS, Wii and DS secrets
Nintendo yesterday announced that the new 3DS portable console would go on sale in Japan on 26th February, with a Western release date sometime in March. The Japanese price tag is ¥25,000 (£189) - although there's likely to be some mark up in price from there to here.
With all the information coming through Nintendo's Japanese headquarters it's been difficult to keep up with (and translate) everything, but you should find this video of all the top titles speaks for itself.
There's also a second video on Nintendo's Japanese website that illustrates some of the built-in features (except of course the 3D effect, which is impossible to replicate without an actual 3DS in front of you).
One feature not mentioned in the video is the ability to transfer your downloaded games from a DSi or DSi XL to the 3DS (the 3DS is backwards compatible with all DS cartridges as well). This option was notable by its absence in previous Nintendo portables, which meant your downloads were tied to the console you bought - not a moveable online account.
The bad news is Nintendo are warning that not all downloads will be moveable and there will be a limit on the number of times you can transfer them.
But while Nintendo still doesn't seem to entirely grasp the whole online thing they do appear keen on the concept of augmented reality games (things like Start The Party! and Invizimals where computer-generated graphics are superimposed on a camera view of the world around you). In fact they're releasing something called AR Games for the 3DS, although they haven't yet provided any real details.
The 3DS can also use QR codes (the square next gen barcodes that Japan has been obsessed with for years) and Nintendo has already been illustrating this with collectible cards that feature a code that when scanned unlocks new items or features.
In terms of actual new games though, the biggest news remains Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and Mega Man Legends 3 Project from Capcom.
As for non-3DS news Nintendo did have a few announcements to make. The Wii will be getting its first taste of the surreal music game Rhythm Paradise, as well as a new entry in the Project Zero (aka Fatal Frame) survival horror series.
There's some confusion over what exactly the latter is, especially as Nintendo refused to release Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in the West. The early screenshots suggest the new game may simply be a remake of Project Zero II on the PlayStation 2/Xbox.
Finally, Wii exclusive role-playing game The Last Story, from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, will be released on 27th January in Japan - although that probably says little about any potential European release date.
The only announcements for the Nintendo DS were a new Kirby game, where you get to control up to 10 of the little pink blobs at once, and a typing game called Battle & Get: Pokémon Typing DS - which comes bundled with its own wireless keyboard.
With all the information coming through Nintendo's Japanese headquarters it's been difficult to keep up with (and translate) everything, but you should find this video of all the top titles speaks for itself.
There's also a second video on Nintendo's Japanese website that illustrates some of the built-in features (except of course the 3D effect, which is impossible to replicate without an actual 3DS in front of you).
One feature not mentioned in the video is the ability to transfer your downloaded games from a DSi or DSi XL to the 3DS (the 3DS is backwards compatible with all DS cartridges as well). This option was notable by its absence in previous Nintendo portables, which meant your downloads were tied to the console you bought - not a moveable online account.
The bad news is Nintendo are warning that not all downloads will be moveable and there will be a limit on the number of times you can transfer them.
But while Nintendo still doesn't seem to entirely grasp the whole online thing they do appear keen on the concept of augmented reality games (things like Start The Party! and Invizimals where computer-generated graphics are superimposed on a camera view of the world around you). In fact they're releasing something called AR Games for the 3DS, although they haven't yet provided any real details.
The 3DS can also use QR codes (the square next gen barcodes that Japan has been obsessed with for years) and Nintendo has already been illustrating this with collectible cards that feature a code that when scanned unlocks new items or features.
In terms of actual new games though, the biggest news remains Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and Mega Man Legends 3 Project from Capcom.
As for non-3DS news Nintendo did have a few announcements to make. The Wii will be getting its first taste of the surreal music game Rhythm Paradise, as well as a new entry in the Project Zero (aka Fatal Frame) survival horror series.
There's some confusion over what exactly the latter is, especially as Nintendo refused to release Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in the West. The early screenshots suggest the new game may simply be a remake of Project Zero II on the PlayStation 2/Xbox.
Finally, Wii exclusive role-playing game The Last Story, from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, will be released on 27th January in Japan - although that probably says little about any potential European release date.
The only announcements for the Nintendo DS were a new Kirby game, where you get to control up to 10 of the little pink blobs at once, and a typing game called Battle & Get: Pokémon Typing DS - which comes bundled with its own wireless keyboard.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
You Can Stop Waiting for Worms: Battle Islands on WiiWare Now
It's been a long old time since we heard anything about Worms: Battle Islands but we were expecting it to launch on WiiWare this month. Sadly, the downloadable service just got a little duller, as THQ has announced the game is on its way to Wii as a retail release.
The game is now scheduled to release in November.
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - Delivering an arsenal full of laughs, explosions and over-the-top turn-based strategy gameplay this November, THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that Worms: Battle Islands is currently in development for Wii. The franchise that has sold more than 25 million units at retail over its lifetime and provided countless hours of strategy fun returns with classic Worms gameplay, all-new extensive online multiplayer support, customizable weapons and environments to blow to bits. Worms: Battle Islands is being published through the THQ Partners program.
About Worms: Battle Islands
Rally your worm troops, plot to defeat your enemies and battle your way through 30 single-player campaign mode missions, 30 brain teasing single-player Puzzle challenges and five different multiplayer game modes on or offline as you fight to take control of a secret island Worms™ base. Packed with more than 40 different in-game weapons and utilities, a deep customization tool set that allows users to personalize their Worms appearance and create their own weapons of mass destruction in the weapon factory, Worms: Battle Islands will quench all gamers thirst for ammo and destruction.
The game is now scheduled to release in November.
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - Delivering an arsenal full of laughs, explosions and over-the-top turn-based strategy gameplay this November, THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that Worms: Battle Islands is currently in development for Wii. The franchise that has sold more than 25 million units at retail over its lifetime and provided countless hours of strategy fun returns with classic Worms gameplay, all-new extensive online multiplayer support, customizable weapons and environments to blow to bits. Worms: Battle Islands is being published through the THQ Partners program.
About Worms: Battle Islands
Rally your worm troops, plot to defeat your enemies and battle your way through 30 single-player campaign mode missions, 30 brain teasing single-player Puzzle challenges and five different multiplayer game modes on or offline as you fight to take control of a secret island Worms™ base. Packed with more than 40 different in-game weapons and utilities, a deep customization tool set that allows users to personalize their Worms appearance and create their own weapons of mass destruction in the weapon factory, Worms: Battle Islands will quench all gamers thirst for ammo and destruction.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Itagaki Makes Curious Remark about Nintendo's Next Console
Wii is approaching its fourth birthday across the world, with no announced successor currently on the horizon. We know it's in development but there's been no clue as to its form or any such thing. So when an industry figure such as Tomonobu Itagaki, former head of Team Ninja, makes cryptic comments about the company's next home console it makes interesting reading.
Itagaki, whose new game Devil's Third was shown off at this year's Tokyo Game Show, spoke about how the game's technology was scalable so it could be brought across to other platforms. When quizzed if this meant 3DS, Itagaki responded cryptically:
More than that, although I can't say this easily because I don't have any information, it's possible that Nintendo could release a higher end console. Something like that.
Whilst admittedly there's precious little information there – it's a little more than possible that Nintendo will release a higher-end console – for a developer such as Itagaki to be developing his latest game with one eye on the future console is perhaps a hint it's on the way sooner than some might believe. Or he genuinely has no information and is just speculating, or possibly a combination of both. We'll have to wait and see.
Itagaki, whose new game Devil's Third was shown off at this year's Tokyo Game Show, spoke about how the game's technology was scalable so it could be brought across to other platforms. When quizzed if this meant 3DS, Itagaki responded cryptically:
More than that, although I can't say this easily because I don't have any information, it's possible that Nintendo could release a higher end console. Something like that.
Whilst admittedly there's precious little information there – it's a little more than possible that Nintendo will release a higher-end console – for a developer such as Itagaki to be developing his latest game with one eye on the future console is perhaps a hint it's on the way sooner than some might believe. Or he genuinely has no information and is just speculating, or possibly a combination of both. We'll have to wait and see.
Friday, 17 September 2010
GoldenEye Online to Keep You Addicted with Killstreaks, Perks and More
Ah, Activision: we should have known you'd come up with this. Whilst its Call of Duty series continues to devour gaming hours like nobody's business, the publisher has taken some of the series' winning elements and slotted them neatly into upcoming Bond 'em up GoldenEye.
Not only will the game feature an online experience system opening up new perks and killstreaks as you level up, there's also online-only game types including GoldenEye Control, an objective-based scenario that tasks you with nabbing several stations in order to fire the titular laser into your opponents' base. If that doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, perhaps this isn't the game for you.
Anyone wanting to play offline will still be able to have a good old knees-up, with Melee Only channelling the classic slap-happy game type, plus Golden Gun offering one-hit kills to anyone sharp enough to nab the eponymous firearm. Developer Eurocom is promising 17 different modifiers, including Invisibility, Tag Mode and Paintball as well as 50 characters to choose from, hopefully paving the way for plenty of split-screen gaming goodness.
Not only will the game feature an online experience system opening up new perks and killstreaks as you level up, there's also online-only game types including GoldenEye Control, an objective-based scenario that tasks you with nabbing several stations in order to fire the titular laser into your opponents' base. If that doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, perhaps this isn't the game for you.
Anyone wanting to play offline will still be able to have a good old knees-up, with Melee Only channelling the classic slap-happy game type, plus Golden Gun offering one-hit kills to anyone sharp enough to nab the eponymous firearm. Developer Eurocom is promising 17 different modifiers, including Invisibility, Tag Mode and Paintball as well as 50 characters to choose from, hopefully paving the way for plenty of split-screen gaming goodness.
Monday, 13 September 2010
GoldenEye 007: Blowing Up Helicopters and Jungle Fever
Sometimes, James Bond sneaks into a hostile situation without being detected, noiselessly disposing foes wherever he goes. And other times, the secret agent feels like tearing down an entire city in his wake.Graham Hagmaier, a producer at Activision, explained that giving the player options in the way Bond tackles a level was one of the main goals for the project.
“One of the big keys [for developer Eurocom] in regard to game design is player choice,” said Hagmaier. “[The game] has multiple routes through areas, so you can take the stealthier route and kind of use close-quarter combat — such as takedowns. Or you can go in guns-a-blazing — American style, as I like to call it — and just firefight and take out enemies.”
Nintendojo reported a new level starts with Bond, in a tank, chasing an automobile. You can hear Daniel Craig as Bond in a voice over, detailing the events happening. Craig’s performance sounds top-notch, equivalent to something straight from a movie. But before you hear too much from 007, a helicopter blows a bridge sky high, leaving you without a tank and a lot of ground to catch up.
The pursuit that follows displays the impressive visuals for the game. The tank smashes everything in sight, like cars and enemy trucks. Even better, the armored vehicle blasts through cement pillars underneath buildings throughout the level. But that’s not all. Huge skyscrapers and buildings tumble down, blanketing the ground with dust and rubble. The effects are pretty stunning, and the frame rate seems to hold steady.
The cause of this destruction rests with an army of trucks and helicopters attempting to stop Bond in his tracks. The whirlybirds flutter above in the sky, launching missiles at the secret agent. The missiles display realistic smoke trails, and then boom, spectacular fire explosions. Once again, the graphics are definitely something to talk about.
As for destroying these enemies, you have the tank at your disposal. You primarily keep your foot on the gas moving forward with the control stick, with the right analog stick navigating your reticule (with missiles and a submachine gun). Obviously, the game was demoed, once again, with the Classic Controller Pro.
GoldenEye 007’s single player campaign looks to be a pretty spectacular experience. The level showcased some memorable and stunning scenes, as well as capture the Bond feel and look. The developer Eurocom seems to be on the right track with James Bond’s adventure for Wii.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Wii Party Preview
Mario had a good run. After nearly a dozen games in the Mario Party series across the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Wii, Nintendo's giving the plumber a break and putting its Mii avatars to work for the latest collection of four player mini-games. The Japanese version's been available for a few weeks now, but Wii Party is yet to release in North America & will hit shelves on October 4th.Wii Party features 13 game modes that utilize approximately 80 different minigames that pit as many as four players against each other in both videogame challenges as well as physical competitions that use the Wii remotes in unique fashion.
Just like Mario Party, Wii Party's core experience is in a board game presentation. Roll the dice, walk the path, land on a space, and compete in a randomly selected mini-game. Unlike Mario Party, however, there's really only one board game map on this island – it resembles WuHu Island from Wii Sports Resort but officially the place has nothing to do with that location. For a little board game variety, there's another mode called Glob Trot where you'll wander around the entire world competing against other opponents instead of just a single volcano-and-dinosaur infested island in the middle of nowhere.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
The Conduit 2 Delayed till 2011, Classic Controller Compatible
SEGA have confirmed that the upcoming sequel to High Voltage's alien shooter will be touching down in Q1 2011.
The second attempt at cracking the fairly sparse Wii FPS market was originally set to invade in November this year, but has been pushed into the early months of 2011 for unknown reasons.
It's highly likely though with Goldeneye 007 pumping bullets before Christmas, and around the same time as the original Conduit 2 launch, that SEGA felt it would be more appropriate to release the new game once the nostalgia dust has settled slightly.
According to Nintendojo, there's also been confirmation of Classic Controller (Pro) support for multiplayer, in addition to the regular Wii Remote and nunchuck.
The second attempt at cracking the fairly sparse Wii FPS market was originally set to invade in November this year, but has been pushed into the early months of 2011 for unknown reasons.
It's highly likely though with Goldeneye 007 pumping bullets before Christmas, and around the same time as the original Conduit 2 launch, that SEGA felt it would be more appropriate to release the new game once the nostalgia dust has settled slightly.
According to Nintendojo, there's also been confirmation of Classic Controller (Pro) support for multiplayer, in addition to the regular Wii Remote and nunchuck.
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