• 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

• Wii News & Updates 2008.07.11

Here are the releases for this Pre-E3 2008 week. (What is E3?)

WiiWare


SPOGS Racing (D2C Games, 1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Coming at you full throttle is SPOGS Racing, an all-new racer from D2C Games featuring classic arcade racing, pick-up-and-play controls, all-new racing vehicles and Crash N' Grab instant upgrades. Jump in, gear up and modify your ride on the fly as you compete head-to-head for a totally outrageous arcade racing experience on your Wii console. Whether you're a casual gamer or hardcore racer, SPOGS Racing features fun for all and is a must-have download for your WiiWare digital game library.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOGS_Racing

Virtual Console


King of the Monsters (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): Released by SNK in 1991, KING OF THE MONSTERS is an action/fighting game that features city-destroying battles between huge monsters. Choose one of six monsters and travel around Japan, stopping to fight in various famous cities with the aim of becoming the ultimate winner. In addition to punches, kicks and other regular moves, each character has the ability to use more devastating maneuvers, like throwing flames and shooting laser beams, to defeat opponents. Wrestling elements are also incorporated, as you must completely exhaust your opponent and get a three-count to pin him and be victorious. Along with the player-versus-computer game, multiplayer options allow you and a friend to enjoy one-on-one matches and two-on-two tag-team matches against the computer. Take on the challenge and claim the title of King of the Monsters.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Monsters

----------------
Wii
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Dungeon Official Website; Wiki; YouTube
Wonderworld Amusement Park IGN

Nintendo DS
Carnival Games GameSpot
Ducati Moto IGN

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

This is probably the biggest news all year so far. Some of you may already know that the SNES cult classic RPG Chrono Trigger is making its reappearance onto the Nintendo DS.

Video game blogs from all over the net were raving when news broke out last week when Square Enix announced and launch the new official Chrono Trigger website.

Official Press:

CHRONO TRIGGER Returns! The Timeless Classic Teleports to Nintendo DS This Holiday Season

LOS ANGELES, CA USA
Journey Through Time with the RPG Masterpiece that Started It All

LOS ANGELES, July 2 /PRNewswire/ — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix(TM) interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that it will release CHRONO TRIGGER(R) in North America this Holiday season. Remastered exclusively for Nintendo DS(TM), this marks the first time that the groundbreaking RPG will be available on a handheld console.

Originally released in 1995 on Super NES(R) and shipping more than 2.5 million copies worldwide, CHRONO TRIGGER has been hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by critics and fans alike. With a unique and multifaceted storyline, the game revolutionized the world of RPGs with
never-before-seen features, including an unprecedented soundtrack and multiple endings determined by side quests and the player's actions.

With artwork by famed manga artist Akira Toriyama and an unprecedented and inspiring musical score created by Yasunori Mitsuda, CHRONO TRIGGER represents the best-in-class of the video game world. This newly revamped edition maintains all of the game's original elements and spirit while
introducing the portability, dual-screen presentation and Touch-Screen functionality of Nintendo DS. Players will soon be able to rediscover the exhilarating RPG experience, breathtaking storyline and innovative gameplay in the palm of their hands.

STORY
When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial Fair, young Crono must travel through time to rescue his misfortunate companion from an intricate web of past and present perils. The swashbuckling adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world, triggering Crono's race against time to change the course of history and bring about a brighter future.

FEATURES
— A masterpiece with an engaging and unparalleled storyline, leading to the discovery of multiple epic conclusions to a journey that transcends time
— An unprecedented and inspiring musical score created by Yasunori Mitsuda
— Intriguing battle system made possible by the unique combination of the Active Time Battle system and Tech skills
— Famed character designer Akira Toriyama lends his signature art style to create the vibrant world that has captivated gamers around the world
— Taking advantage of the Nintendo DS hardware, CHRONO TRIGGER makes its way onto the portable platform with all-new dual screen presentation and Touch-Screen functionality
— A brand new dungeon and a Wireless Play mode adds exciting new dimensions to this timeless classic

CHRONO TRIGGER has not yet been rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board website at http://www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. The official website can be found at
http://na.square-enix.com/ctds.

US Debut Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir3sV0xHaeU
Japanese Debut Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqUdmHLITKY

Official North American Website: http://na.square-enix.com/ctds/
Official Japanese Website: http://www.chronotrigger.jp/

----------------
According to Famitsu magazine, there will be download content available for Mega Man 9, upcoming WiiWare title in 8-Bit proportions. Nothing has been said what they will be, but with the game coming in just a couple of months, anything can be possible. Mega Man 9 will be available on WiiWare for 1000 Wii Points as well as on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Capcom announced that Mega Man 1 and Mega Man 2 will be on Virtual Console soon to promote the new title.

Debut Mega Man 9 Trailer now on IGN: http://wii.ign.com/articles/888/888041p1.html
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man_9

Source
----------------
IGN released a new footage on The Conduit, an upcoming first-person shooter for Wii. IGN also posted some new screens and an interview.

New Gameplay Footage: http://wii.ign.com/dor/objects/14248157 … ignne.html

Details:
* The Conduit will be shown at E3 behind closed doors and demos will be given to a select few, like IGN.
* The E3 demo, which is what the video is of, is of the first half of one of the later missions in the game.
* Demo is set on the Easy difficulty.
* Currently, the single player is just being tested for bugs and being fine tuned, and the majority of development is focused on multiplayer now.
* The controls will be fully customizable, like mapping buttons and motions as well as cursor settings and more.
* Currently, online play features 16 players and will have Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.



Screenshots @ IGN: http://media.wii.ign.com/media/142/14248157/imgs_1.html
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conduit

----------------
Wario Land: Shake It! / Wario Land: The Shake Dimension



Debut Gameplay Footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNVX_qhl0MU
Extended Japanese Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0kKeu4UnNw
Prologue Animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKDKv7i7Few
Screenshots: http://www.gamekyo.com/news28216_wario- … -pics.html
Famitsu Scans:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/ … shake1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/ … shake2.jpg

Release dates:
JP - July 24, 2008
EU - September 26, 2008
NA - September 29, 2008
AUS - TBA

Official Japanese Website: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/rwlj/index.html
Japanese Wii Hub Page: http://wii.com/jp/articles/wariolandshake/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wario_Land_Shake

----------------
New details arose on Castlevania Judgement, an upcoming 3D fighter for Wii.

- players will be able to interact with real-time environments by picking up weapons or set traps
- online mode has been included
- connectivity to the forthcoming DS title, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, to unlock a "very exciting bonus"

Screenshots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25792657@N … 068972854/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania_Judgement

----------------
The Japanese site for Fatal Frame IV / Zero ~Mask of the Lunar Eclipse~ is now updated with character profiles.

Of these four characters, it's known that Ruka and Choushiro will be playable. The game is supposed to have a number of playable characters, so perhaps the other two will be playable as well.

This is a Suda 51, Grasshopper Manufacturer, Tecmo, and Nintendo tag-team production. Player can expect the game in just a 3 weeks.

Release date:
JP - July 31st, 2008

Official Japanese Website: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/r4zj/character/index.html
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_Frame_4

----------------
The Japanese site for Fire Emblem DS has opened, and you can find a ton of goodies to check out. There are screens to view, videos to watch, new character art by Masamune Shirow to look at, and much more.

Official: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/yfej/
Videos: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/yfej/firststep/index.html
Art: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/fe/fet_info.html

Details:
- a remake of the first Fire Emblem
- Story: Marth is forced out of the kingdom of Altea when it’s attacked by the empire of Dolua
- Multiplayer battles via wi-fi connection
- new character classes
- new plot elements
- game kicks off with a prologue tutorial where you play as Marth and a few allies leaving Altea
- side-story can be unlocked while playing through, if conditions are met
- new recruitable characters (Etzel: a wizard)
- August 7th release in Japan

---------------
New details of Pokemon Platinum from the latest CoroCoro magazine have been revealed.

* Pokemon Platinum will release in Japan on September 13th, 2008 for 4,800 yen.
* Team Galactic is the villain once again, but they have taken things up a notch.
* The Battle Frontier returns and is located in the Fight Area. There are various areas in the Battle Frontier, and one of them is the Battle Tower.
* The WiFi area has more features and can now host up to 20 people.
* There’s more to making Poffins now, and it involves throwing berries into a Swalot machine. This can be done in the WiFi area as well.
* You can now record your battles with the Battle Recorder. You can go to the improved GTS in Jubilife City and send your battles to your friends as well.
* Both of Shaymin’s forms will be in the game, as well as both of Giratina’s forms.
* Shaymin’s Sky Form’s ability is Serene Grace and Giratina’s Origin Form’s ability is Levitate.
* There are new sprites for Pokemon.
* Of the new characters that were revealed in the past, one is from Team Galactic and another is from a police force hunting down Team Galactic.

Scans available at PokemonPlatinum.net

Source
---------------
First 4 Figures have just announced their new Metroid Phazon Suit figurine statue.
- 11 inches in length
- Price of $225
- available Q1-2009



Source: IGN (includ. more screenshots)

---------------
Starting now (12PM), the guys over at Shamoozal is running a 24-hour NES marathon to raise money for Child's Play Charity.
Watch the live video feed and chat: http://www.shamoozal.com/nesathon/
They're running ustream, so here's the direct URL for that if rather: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/29053

All donations go directly to Child's Play Charity.

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

Catch up on previous Wii News & Updates at my Blogspot, Xanga, or Mulitply.
See you all next week when they announce new games at E3 2008! \/


// Roth