• Wii News & Updates 2008.07.21

WiiWare

Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-’em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades and ultimately battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a navy captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless pirate in order to seek out and retrieve the Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artifact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship’s crew, gaining performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including rockets, mines, chain shot, saw blades and a flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies. Play against three of your scurvy friends or A.I. opponents in pitched multiplayer battles over 35 levels, set in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. Play in turbo mode if you’re pirate enough.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates:_The_Key_of_Dreams
YouTube "Gameplay": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bTMedkonM

Virtual Console


Super Fantasy Zone (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): The last entry in the Fantasy Zone series, this side-scrolling shooter puts you in the shoes of main character Opa-Opa, who is on a mission to avenge the death of his father. To do so, you’ll have to battle a variety of Enemy Generators to clear out the various levels and finish off the Menon Guardian at the end of the level. Eliminating your enemies will let you rack up some gold, which you can use to buy even better weapons, upgrades and other equipment. Spend your gold wisely, as each different boss you need to defeat presents a unique challenge.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Fantasy_Zone


Gley Lancer (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): In the year 2025, a war breaks out between humans and a hostile alien race, and 16-year-old Lucia and the rest of the starfighter pilots in the Earth Federation must join the battle. When Lucia’s father is kidnapped by the aliens, she decides to take action and hijacks a brand new prototype starfighter, the Gley Lancer, in order to try to save him. In this side-scrolling shooter, step into the cockpit of the Gley Lancer as Lucia, rescue your father and destroy the evil aliens that are bent on destroying the human race.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gley_Lancer

-------------
Wii

SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 IGN
Order Up! GameSpot

Nintendo DS


Final Fantasy IV Official Website; Wiki; IGN; YouTube "Official Movie I"
Izuna 2 The Unemployed Ninja Returns Official Website; IGN; Offcial YouTube

-------------
Japan releases

Samurai Spirit (Rokuban Shoubu) [Wii] YouTube; Official Website; 1UP
Wario Land: Shake [Wii] Wiki; Official Nintendo Page

Metal Slug 7 [NDS] Wiki; YouTube "Mission 7 Gameplay"
KORG DS-10 Synthesizer [NDS] Official Japanese Website; YouTube "E3 Trailer"

-------------
Nintendo Channel Updates

Videos
Get Wii Fit with Alyson: Aerobics
Pirates: The Key of Dreams Info Video
Madden NFL 09 Info Video
GRID Info Video
Hell’s Kitchen The Game Info Video
TNA iMPACT! Info Video
Master of the Monster Lair Info Video
Dinasour King Info Video
Guitar Hero: On Tour Duel Video
Digest Video

DS Demos *expire 7/27
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Wall-E
Contra 4
PICTOIMAGE

--------------
Exclusive Japanese Trailer for Pokemon Platinum (Platine), the remake of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uElgjICioPc&fmt=18

--------------
According to the next issue of Nintendo Power magazine, Sonic and The Black Knight, sequel to Sonic and The Secret Rings, is now official.
Here's an excerpt from press release:

–SEGA of Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced Sonic™ and the Black Knight, an all-new Wii-exclusive adventure. Part of the storybook series of games that began with Sonic and the Secret Rings, this new title brings Sonic into the world of Arthurian legend and offers the worlds most infamous blue hedgehog the chance to become a knight. Using the unique Wii control system, this exciting game will take advantage of both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk to offer an interactive experience that any Sonic fans will love.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_%26_the_Black_Knight
Official Sega page: http://www.sega.com/games/?g=483

Source

--------------
Last week right after Capcom's E3 conference, Famitsu announced in their latest issue that a port of the Xbox360 action adventure/sandbox/survival horror, Dead Rising, is indeed getting a port to Wii under the name Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop. Today, Capcom has made it official.

SAN MATEO, Calif. — July 21, 2008 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Dead Rising™: Chop Till You Drop is in development for the Wii™ home video game system. Based on the critically acclaimed Dead Rising™, which has sold in excess of one million units since its release in 2006, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop is scheduled to hit store shelves this Winter.

Details:
• built on the Resident 4 Wii engine
• additional features including over-the-shoulder camera approach
• New levels of interaction: motion controls utilizing the Wii Remote aim and fire guns, swing and throw weapons and shake off zombie attacksHuge environment – expansive indoor and outdoor areas of the mall provide a variety of different locations to explore
• Improved save functionality allows for more seamless gameplay
• Hoards of enemies on screen at once resulting in non-stop, pulse-pounding action
• Anything in the mall is at Frank’s disposal
• Grab environmental objects like umbrellas and benches to use as improvised weapons
• Snatch items from different stores to use as weapons including golf clubs, lawnmowers, frying pans and more
• Consume food and drink to revive health

Famitsu scans @ http://wiieveryday.blogspot.com/2008/07 … 80718.html
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_risin … l_You_Drop

--------------
If you're still bummed by E3, madfather has made another comic featuring Reggie and Miyamoto telling us pretty much all you need to know at the Nintendo E3 press conference as well as the private conference, Nintendo's Developer Roundtable, held right after E3 including private interviews with IGN, etc.



Basically, everything said there is indeed fact.
Look out for a new Pikmin, Kid Icarus, storage solution, etc.

Nintendo's E3 announcements:
Animal Crossing: City Folk, Wii MotionPlus, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Music, Wii Speak (will be used in Animal Crossing: City Folk, and The Conduit), Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS

You may now view the E3 Media Briefing at http://e3.nintendo.com/

Here are some interesting new Extended Cuts of the GameTrailers TV interview where Reggie tells us more on what "core" gamers can expect in the coming year.
GameTrailers (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 will auto follow): http://www.gametrailers.com/player/37265.html

--------------

Catch up on previous Wii News & Updates at my Xanga, Blogspot, or Multiply.


// Roth

• E3 2008 Damage

Yeah, I know everybody's bummed about this year's E3.
Clearly the event is no longer how it used to be since last generation.
Because of its popularity, now there are newer faces and more press to amuse.
The real games were actually off the stage for anyone who's actually gone to this event.
-- namely Mega Man 9, The Conduit, Wario Land Shake, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Elebits 2 and Pokemon Ranger 2. Of course for HD gaming, there's Street Fighter IV, Soul Calibur IV, and Call of Duty.

The actual show is mere meaningless now because of the majority of the new audience while the real gamers are actually playing the games at the booths rather than sitting through a conference.

But let's lighten up, we'll still have E for All, Spaceworld, and Tokyo Game Show to look forward to.

Here's the E3: Wii Release Schedule for 2008:
http://wii.ign.com/articles/889/889814p1.html

and E3: Nintendo DS Release Schedule for 2008:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/889/889804p1.html


// Roth

• Wii News & Updates 2008.07.15

WiiWare

Major League Eating: The Game™ (Mastiff, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Crude Humor, 1,000 Wii Points): The ultimate chomp-off is about to begin. Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and dig into 12 different foods as you compete against the greatest major-league eaters in the world. This isn’t just a race to stuff your face-you’ll need strategy to master a smorgasbord of digestive attacks, defenses and counters. These include the Mega Burp, Gas Attack, Antacid and more. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your Barf-O-Meter, because if the food hits the plate twice, you’re out. Unlock more than 10 characters in single-player career mode, go gut-to-gut against your friends in versus mode, or compete online using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Online play supports friend codes, random matchmaking and leader boards.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Leag … :_The_Game
Official Website: http://www.mlegame.com/

Virtual Console


Donkey Kong™ 3 (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Based on the third game in the enormously popular arcade series, Donkey Kong 3 introduces an exterminator named Stanley as he desperately tries to protect the flowers in his greenhouse from Donkey Kong. Armed only with a can of bug spray, Stanley must force Donkey Kong higher and higher into the greenhouse rafters until Donkey Kong is off the screen and the next stage is reached. Not surprisingly, Donkey Kong isn’t going to move without a fight, so he sends wave after wave of bugs, bees and other creatures toward Stanley. Not only must Stanley repel the insects in order to save the flowers, but he’ll also have to keep an eye out for projectiles thrown by Donkey Kong himself. If Stanley is good enough, he’ll be able to grab a can of more powerful bug spray and really get Donkey Kong moving. It all adds up to frantic fun that anyone can enjoy.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_3


NINJA COMMANDO (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Language, Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): NINJA COMMANDO is a vertically scrolling action game released by ADK in 1992. Players choose from among three ninjas-Joe, descended from the Koga ninja; Rayar, a woman who has learned the ways of the Iga ninja; and Ryu, descendant of the famous ninja Fuma Kotaro-as they pursue the merchant of death known as Spider, who plans to use a time machine to bring havoc to the world. The battle spans seven time periods, including the Stone Age, the Egyptian era and the Japanese Civil War era. Each hero features a variety of attack options in addition to their own normal attacks, including a deadly attack that inflicts damage upon all enemies on the screen, special ninja-arts attacks performed by inputting specific commands, and a powerful attack unleashed by taking on the “shape of the beast” when three scrolls have been collected. The game also supports two-player cooperative play, so you’re welcome to bring a friend and enjoy taking on the evil Spider together.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja_Commando

---------------
Wii
Rock Band Track Pack Vol 1 IGN
The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects
We Love Golf Wiki; YouTube

Nintendo DS
Mr. Slime IGN

----------------
Call of Duty 5: WWII

Wii
* They believe that the Wii has not been pushed to its limits yet;
* The Wii version will support everything that has been put into the other home console versions;
* There is a secret concerning the co-operative play mode, which is to be revealed at a later stage;
* World at War for the Wii will be using a revised version of the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine;
* Camera and controls are taking a top priority “For example, if you are climbing on a hill, in a game, you would have to adjust the point of view manually…but that is not as in reality, where you would instinctively look a bit higher over your head. That is the kind of adjustment we have obtained working on cameras on the Wii version;”
* There will be much more fluid movements for the shooting aspect;
* Support for the Wii Zapper was once again reconfirmed, although details are currently unclear, yet there will be a case of players doing typical Zapper movements, such as aiming off-screen to reload weapons;
* The main game runs at a solid 30FPS, with the online element being set at 30FPS as well.

Nintendo DS
* There will definitely be online play included;
* The combat system will be improved over last year’s excellent n-Space developed Call of Duty DS title;
* In terms of the Nintendo DS touch-screen interactions, “We cannot tell you anything, but let me tell you: it is NOT just about cutting the right cable, turning off a device or a bomb… we want you to put your hands in the real war!”

---------------


Castlevania Judgement screenshot gallery @ IGN:
http://media.wii.ign.com/media/142/14262760/imgs_1.html

---------------


Yesterday morning, Nintendo announced Wii MotionPlus, an accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller, which again redefines game control by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Source

--------------
Alright enough news, the Nintendo Press Conference is about to start in less than 30min.
So if you guys are reading, watch the Live feed right now at either IGN's Live Wire, GameSpot, or just tune your TV into your G4TV channel.

I'll be on either one of these streams:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/e3
http://www.lithcast.com/


LITHCast Live- Broadcast your self LIVE

Also, do join us on Skype for a group voice chat during the show. Just add my Skyename: rothsothy

// Roth