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A very different look at Wiis and projectors
This week's excellent Revolutionary explored the use of projection screens for playing Wii. This item from Yujin, on the other hand, uses a projector to allow you to look at pictures of characters who appear in Wii games. The advantages are obvious: this projector fits on a keychain and comes in packages of eight for only $23. The only setback is that it doesn't do anything but project a single image of a Super Paper Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem, or Wario Ware character.Also in today's NCSX shop update: cheap ($25.90) copies of Escape from Bug Island and Alien Syndrome. For use with actual televisions only, of course.
WRUP: GAME OVER! edition
With this week's release, it's likely that many of you are knee-deep in alien scum, attempting to survive as you battle the many hordes of the alien menace. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. And we're glad you have the guts.Or, maybe you don't? Are you going to leave the alien clean-up to someone else and play something different instead? What will you be playing this weekend?
Wii releases for the week of July 23rd
Unlike last week and the week before it, we're actually able to report on game releases this week. Well, actually it's only a game release, but that's still better than nothing. Releasing on both the PSP and Wii this week, gamers will be able to pick up: Alien Syndrome Are you looking forward to picking up Sega's shooter this week?
PSP vs Wii: graphics showdown
The guys at Sega Nerds have noticed something that may upset some Wii fans. They insist the PSP version of Alien Syndrome looks as good as, if not better than, the Wii one. The Nerds point to cleaner and clearer textures that lead to the improved PSP visuals (though you can use the image above to judge for yourself). Certainly no one thinks of the Wii as a graphical powerhouse, but it should be putting out better graphics than the PSP. So is the Wii's Alien Syndrome graphics a victim of PSP being the primary development platform, an unfinished product, the game engine, an inexperienced developer or something more damning? Either way, the very existence of the Wii means more games for PSP due to several developers' desire for cross-platform releases and in the end, that's all that matters to PSP owners. [Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Comparing graphics on Wii to PSP
Oh, those Sega Nerds are at it again.They're taking a look at Alien Syndrome, a title that was announced mid-December. While they're quick to note that the graphics on the PSP-version of the game are comparable to that of the Wii installment, they fail to realize that both titles use the same engine. In fact, we found out during GDC that the engine itself was specifically designed with the PSP in mind.So, does it bother you that a Wii title looks almost identical to that of a PSP title?
Alien Syndrome controls revealed, screens abducted
With Sega's support of the Wii well-documented, it's been awhile since we checked in on their upcoming title Alien Syndrome. Luckily, the good fellows over at Siliconera have come across a few details on the upcoming title's controls, as well as gotten some new screens for the game. They describe the title as being a kind of Gauntlet clone.The controls are revealed to be rather simple: the nunchuk controls movement (natch), while the Wiimote is used to fire, allowing one to move and fire at the same time. One will also use the Wiimote to craft items, ehnance weapons and perform "1337 haxxorz" on in-game computer systems. Sadly, we do not know how exactly one will use the Wiimote and nunchuk (we assume gesture-based?), so we're still left to speculate. But hey, at least we have some images of the game, available past the post break!
GDC 07: Vicious tries a new control scheme
The Vicious Engine was on display at GDC, and I'd have to say I came away unimpressed. The engine, which is scalable for PSP use, didn't seem to push any "next gen" or even "new gen" graphics. It's currently being used in the WIi/PSP title Alien Syndrome, which may be indicative of a somewhat distressing trend: are graphics on the Wii comparable to those on PSP? Will publishers look to make quick ports that look similarly on Sony's handheld and on Nintendo's latest console?At least the Vicious Engine promises to offer Wii developers the ability to easily create motion controls. The software includes built-in controls that developers can easily access. One interesting control scheme allowed one to control the camera using the nunchuck: tilting the nunchuck would adjust the camera. Certainly, it's an interesting alternative to a dual analog setup, but the build that was playable didn't seem to feel 100% intuitive.
View an Alien Syndrome
IGN has up screens and a trailer for SEGA's upcoming Alien Syndrome. The action-RPG is a continuation of the long dormant Alien Syndrome franchise. It's great to have SEGA bring back some of their old franchises, but the graphics and voice acting seemed below average. Of course the game is early in development and the graphics could improve and the voice actors changed. Even if they stay the same, if the game is fun, that alone will trump the audio and visual short comings. What I want to know is what Alien Syndrome fans think of this new iteration? Are you excited or horrified?
PSP getting ports from new sources
It's no secret that the PSP (as with any system) gets ports of games from other consoles. Most of the ports to PSP logically come from the PlayStation 2. But all that is starting to change. With the PS3 on the rise and the PS2 on the decline, PSP is starting to get ports from some unexpected places. The DS has many a game that it's shared with the GBA, but recently it seems like more and more GBA games are jumping over to Sony's portable. The most obvious of these are all of the recently announced Final Fantasy projects. From Final Fantasy Tactics to just plain ol' Final Fantasy, these GBA remakes are being remade again for the PSP. But it doesn't just end there, the PSP will also see a port of the GBA RPG title Riviera (which is great for me, since I never played that game). Of course, while it seems like quite a few PSP games are from GBA land, that isn't the only system sending off titles to PSP's library. Xbox games like Xyanide and Painkiller: Hell Wars are reported to have versions coming out this year for PSP and the DS racer Asphalt Urban GT 2 will be out shortly. Even the PC isn't exempt as fantastic physics platformer Gish has a release date for our system of choice. The future though seems to be the Wii and PSP connection. While Alien Syndrome is one of the only Wii/PSP games announced so far, the fact that Wii games have to be developed independently from the rest of the home consoles means many developers may be looking to PSP versions as another source of profit. Of course as with any business move, these ports will have to make money if this is to become a serious trend.
Sega bringing Alien Syndrome to the Wii
Sega, who you may know is responsible for those games starring that Sonic fellow, has announced a new game for the Wii. Alien Syndrome, a fast-paced RPG set in a sci-fi universe, is to offer a single-player campaign, as well as a co-op multiplayer mode allowing up to four players to take part in the game's single-player campaign.No screenshots for the game have been released, as well as concept art, but we do know that the game stars Aileen Harding, Earth Command Trooper. As she traverses through several battlefields - including infected space ships and aline planets - utilizing 20 different weapons and a variety of different abilities.
