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Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trailer

There is something about this game that looks odd to me.

Super Mario Galaxy Trailer

Wii Virtual Console releases for October 15, 2007

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

Ninja Gaiden II™: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, a new villain, Ashtar, is revealed. Take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa and rescue Irene Lew, a former CIA agent, from Ashtar. Destroy the Sword of Chaos, a weapon of great power forged from the bone of a demon. Use techniques such as the Fire Wheel or the Windmill Throwing Star and attack while holding on to walls and ladders. Use the most innovative technique of all - the ability to create Shadow Clones, orange shadow versions of Ryu that will constantly follow him, repeating previous actions (moving or attacking) in a delayed cycle. Once again defeat henchmen, creatures and bosses with new fighting techniques and even more weapons as you progress through multiple stages on your way to destroying Ashtar, Jaquio and the Realm of Chaos.

Metal Marines® (Super NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Set in the near future, most of Earth’s land has been disintegrated in the chaos of the Anti-matter War. This real-time strategy game portrays the Colonies’ Allied Force - the Metal Marines - in their epic struggle against General Zorgeuf and the Imperial Federation, who are bent on world domination. Commanding the Metal Marines across a series of battles, the player must strategically allocate resources, ready supplies, manage funds and move troops in an effort to outwit and outmove the opponent. The real-time battle system rewards split-second decisions and adaptability in the struggle for military superiority. Unlike most turn-based strategy games, Metal Marines engrosses the player in a fast-paced and frantic battle in which both sides advance simultaneously. A constant eye must be kept on enemy movements to maintain a formidable defense and not miss the perfect chance to strike. Strategic foresight and quick judgment hold the key to victory.

Gate of Thunder (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): The legendary sci-fi shooter is back! Gate of Thunder is a horizontal side-scrolling shooter that places you in control of special undercover agent Hawk, whose mission is to stop the deadly army of Obbellon fighters. Jump into the action as Hawk gets aboard his ship, the Hunting Dog, and heads out toward the enemy. Blast through stages while effectively using all three of the weapons at your disposal and receiving support from ally Wild Cat ships. Switch through equippable power-up options on the fly to change the direction of your attack. You’ll have to blast in front of and behind you to survive all seven stages. Hard-core shooting-game fans looking for a challenge can select HARD or DEVIL mode to experience even more intense action!

Nintendo Reveals Wii, DS Lineups For Holidays And Beyond

Nintendo might have just delayed its biggest Wii title and our favorite new DS title, but it wants you to know that there are still plenty of Wii and DS games on the way for this holiday season and the first part of 2008.

To that end, they’ve released a giant list of games and release dates. There are a few surprises — Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed will be coming to DS in February, for example. For the List read More.

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Only the Facts: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare For The DS

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.
Developer: n-Space
Release Date: Fall 2007
Platform: Nintendo DS
Suggested Retail Price: TBD
ESRB Rating: TBD

The signature Call of Duty chaos of battle is coming to Nintendo DS for the first time in a modern day first-person action experience packed with intense sights, sounds and gameplay. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Nintendo DS delivers an arsenal of modern weaponry, arming gamers with precision controls and touch screen capabilities for battle across the world’s most dangerous hotspots. In an unfolding story that parallels the epic, high-octane PC and next generation console Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the Nintendo DS title enlists players as U.S. and coalition forces against a rogue enemy, where the action rages from land to the skies in all-out combat that threatens the world.

KEY FEATURES:

• Nintendo DS Touch Screen and Stylus – Intuitive stylus-based movement controls allows unique ways to construct explosive devices, disarm traps, and perform hand-to-hand combat.

• Diversity of Gameplay – Delivering a variety of combat, the title takes players from the soldier to the satellite with multiple scenarios. Gamers will experience mobilization as they fast-rope from tactical helicopters, engage hostile forces from an aerial gunship, and experience the ferocity of building to building fighting.

• Instant Action – Featuring the signature Call of Duty epic combat and intensity, the Nintendo DS title delivers an Instant Action mode allowing players to quickly access previously completed missions.

• Multiplayer Support – Leveraging wireless local area network (WLAN) for ad-hoc connectivity, up to four players quickly ease into the visceral action of modern warfare combat.

Panzer Tactics DS Video With Developer Commentary

The first in a new series of four “Producer in a Box” videos for the upcoming strategy title Panzer Tactics DS is now available for download. This first video in the series introduces viewers to the first authentic, turn-based WWII strategy game for the Nintendo DS. In the video, project manager Johanna Schober from Austrian development studio Sproing explains the game’s different play modes and starts one of the first missions.

Story
1939: The world stands on the brink of one of the greatest armed conflicts in the history of mankind: the Second World War. Players assume command of the most powerful armies of the time: The German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Army or the Allied Forces. Experience the demanding strategic level of the conflict n three historically-based campaigns for the first time ever on a handheld platform.

Features

• Three exciting single-player campaigns on the side of the German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Army or the Allied Forces
• 30 nerve-wracking, historical missions, including undercover missions behind enemy lines
• Over 150 different marine, land and air units as well as 20 different special attacks
• 30 heroic officers who provide their units additional motivation
• Exceptional depth of play and complex computer opponent behaviour make the game playable again and again
• Multi-player mode for up to 4 players on 10 different multi-player maps (LAN, Wi-Fi, Hot Seat mode)
• Online ranking table
• Playable using stylus, buttons or a combination of both
• Optional bonus mission goals to unlock additional missions and tactical optimizations
• Wide variety of combat animations for all units and a wide range of special effects for explosion and weather depiction

Nintendo Now Top Dog In Publishing

Game Developer magazine, published by Game Developer Conference organizers the CMP Game Group, has given Nintendo the highest honors in its annual Top 20 Publishers report. The last five years EA has held this honor and this year Nintendo takes it over Previous top publisher Electronic Arts is now ranked second, followed by Activision, Ubisoft, and THQ.

Game Developer decides the winner “by considering number of releases by SKU, average review scores, and estimated publisher revenue from August 2006 to July 2007.” Also this year they also added the publishers “reputations by polling more than 300 individuals from within the industry” to decide the winner.

“As we can see from the new rankings, the rise of casual gaming, coupled with these new reputational elements, has contributed markedly to ranking shifts,” said Game Developer editorial director Simon Carless. “We’re eager to see how these industry changes affect the report in subsequent years.”

A complete listing of this year’s Top 20 Publishers is available in the October 2007 edition of Game Developer Magazine.

Only the Facts: Donkey Kong Barrel Blast

Format: Wii
Launch Date: 10/08/07
ESRB: E (Everyone): Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Game Type: Racing
Players: 1-4
Developer: Paon

Game Information

KEY INFORMATION
Race to victory with the DK Crew! Donkey Kong and friends have located high-powered barrel rockets, and now the battle for king of the jungle is on.

• Donkey Kong is Back! One of Nintendo’s most popular characters, Donkey Kong, is back with all of his friends … and a few enemies as well. Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, King K. Rool and the whole gang appear as playable characters in this fast-paced racing adventure.
• Shake, Rattle, and Roll! Simple Wii controls make racing a snap. Shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to accelerate, then shake one or the other to turn. Press a single button or shake the controller to jump, attack or use items.
• Rocket to Victory! Target enemies with a Pineapple Cannon, skillfully chain together Wild Moves or use the Wii Remote to blast out of a Style Barrel. Multiple game-play modes, 16 awesome courses and a rollicking four-player multiplayer game will keep players coming back for more.

How to progress through the game:

• Grand Prix: Race solo in 12 different cups across a variety of courses and difficulty levels.
• Time Trial: Pick the course and try to set a new record. Players can even save their best times in the form of ghost data.
• Practice: Race across any track without the pressure of time limits or other racers.
• Candy’s Challenges: Help out Candy Kong by taking on 32 unique challenges, such as grabbing 1,000 bananas, beating a course in a certain time or staying in first place wire-to-wire.
• Cranky’s Flight School: Learn how to play from Cranky Kong himself.
• Multiplayer: Players take on up to three friends in a high-flying free-for-all as they bash, smash and rocket their way to victory. Multiplayer is not a separate mode; players can simply choose to play the other modes with additional people.

Characters: Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, Lanky Kong, Tiny Kong, Funky Kong, Wrinkly Kong, Cranky Kong, Kritter, Kopter, Klump, King K. Rool, Kludge, Kalypso, Kip and Kass.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features:

• Wild Moves: Each course is littered with bananas. If players grab 50 of them, they can perform a Wild Move by pushing down on the control stick and then releasing it. Wild Moves propel racers forward at an insane rate of speed for a short period of time – they also allow them to run over enemies, other racers and most obstacles. Skilled players can extend the lives of their Wild Moves by hitting objects to create combos.
• Style Barrels: If players fly into a red Style Barrel, it will fire them high over the course. While in flight, an animation of the Wii Remote will appear on-screen and ask players to shake it in a certain direction. Each time players do so successfully, the rider will pose and get showered with bananas!
• Items: There are 15 crazy items that players can use – everything from offensive weapons like Backward Barrels and Pineapple Launchers to helpful power-ups like Banana Fairies and Crystal Coconuts. Using items effectively can turn the tide of a race.

Japanese Airlines Ban Next-Gen Handheld Gamers

Playing wireless hand-held video games on Japanese airplanes no longer will be allowed after a revised law enforcing an earlier ban went into effect Monday. This includes PSP and the DS (but not Laptops) Also wireless computer mice and headphones that are not provided by the airlines have also been banned aboard flights. Battery chargers and toys that give off electronic sounds can’t be used during take-offs and landings, the ministry said.

Hold on here is the Good stuff - The law also has been relaxed to now allow the use of electric razors, calculators and cassette players. (Give me an F-ing break here!! Cassette players, Does anybody even still own one?)

Previously, passengers were only asked by the airlines to refrain from using gaming systems with built-in wireless functions, like Nintendo’s popular DS or Sony’s PSP.

It seems the problem lies with the handhelds’ built-in wireless functions, which, Japan’s transport minister has declared, have the ability to interfere with aircraft navigation systems and well that could be bad. Passengers will still be allowed to play game devices which don’t have wireless functions, so break out your old Game Boy because that’s about all your going to get to play.

No Slip Wii Remote Jacket available now

The silicone cover for the Wiimote is completely free, and provides extra grip and cushioning to stop you damaging the hardware or accidentally launching it at unsuspecting friends.

“All Wii Hardware, Wii Remote and Wii Play shipped from today will include the Wii remote jacket. This should hit retail shelves in the UK and US in about seven days time.”

“People who already have a Wii can claim their Wii Remote Jacket(s) by going to the official website and filling out the request form. They will receive their Wii Remote Jackets within 28 days.”

Current Wii owners who want to equip their Wii Remotes with the new Wii Remote Jacket free of charge can go to Wii.com or nintendo.com, or call 1-866-431-8367 to place an order. The Wii Remote Jackets will begin shipping the week of Oct. 15.

The Wii Remote Jacket is designed to be added and removed easily, in case users want to slip their Wii Remote into an accessory like the upcoming Wii Zapper.