wii-zapper
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Washington Post expects Wii Zapper backlash, too gun-like
The Wii Zapper/Link's Crossbow Training bundle drops tomorrow -- a relatively surreptitious release considering some of the other holiday giants coming out this week. However, something tells us that the political backlash to Nintendo's kinda-gun-shaped-but-not-really peripheral will be anything but furtive -- and Washington Post writer Monica Hesse agrees.In her article, she gives a brief history of toy guns, and how the Zapper fits into the grand saga of controversial faux weaponry. Some of her sources are firmly opposed to the idea of bringing a gun attachment to the otherwise kid-friendly system, but we feel that 14-year-old Damian Crisafulli's response to paranoid parents is the most insightful soundbite in the whole story: "It's plastic that clips to a video game controller." Well said, Damian.[Via GamePolitics]
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Wii-vived in early '08
GameFly has listed House of the Dead 2 & 3 for the Wii as launching March 31, '08. After contacting Sega, Joystiq has confirmed that this game is real, though the publisher isn't ready to make the "official" announcement yet. GameFly has a good record when it comes to revealing new titles companies aren't ready to talk about, mostly due to its robotic nature of tossing up the info as soon as it comes down the supply chain. GameFly does not lie -- unless the publisher has no idea what it's doing.Wii detractors will be quick to point out that House of the Dead 2 & 3 aren't the latest in the series (that would be HotD 4) and are considerably "last-gen" at this point. House of the Dead will join Sega's other light-gun title, Ghost Squad, and Capcom's Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles in giving purpose to the Wii Zapper. As much as getting half-decade old arcade ports makes us roll our eyes at the Wii, it's still cool to play House of the Dead without having to hunt down one of last arcades left in the States (and it's not like traditional lightguns work on our fancy HDTVs either!)[Thanks, Hvnlysoldr]
New Link's Crossbow Training screens show us old haunts
Those of you salivating for a quick dose of Link's Crossbow Training, fret no more! New screens have arrived, for your viewing pleasure. The quality of these shots aren't as nice as the ones we previously showed you, but you can get the gist of the game. For the most part, you're put in Twilight Princess environments (like the Snowpeak Ruins, shown above). This makes sense, considering the game is only a pack-in using the Twilight Princess engine, but it might not be enough to inspire Europeans to shell out the extra cash for a zapper. We suppose only time will tell.
Wii Warm Up: On design
We know a lot of you don't much care for the design on the Wii Zapper. No worries -- not everyone around here is sold, either. Even people who've had their hands on it don't always seem to like it. Which aspect is it, exactly, that turns you off, if you are in fact turned off? Is it the simple fact that it seems unnecessary with the pointing power of the Wii remote? Is it a specific part of the design? Point it out. Feel free to scribble pictures; we love to see your creative powers at work.If you do like it, what about the design appeals to you?
Link's Crossbow Training trailer hits the mark
We have no idea why Nintendo decided to use house music for this Link's Crossbow Training trailer, but if it bothers you that much, you could always just turn down the volume on the Flash video player and make "pew pew" noises, like we did, to go along with the action instead. The minute-long clip has a lot of scenes recognizable from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but they've been refitted to accomodate the new Wii Zapper and Link's mounted bow. You'll be able to shoot birds flying overhead, Duck Hunt style, and gun down a line of Stalfoses in the pack-in game's three different modes; let's just hope that this synth-heavy song won't be included on the soundtrack when the bundle shows up at stores this November 19th. [Via Kotaku]
Joystiq hands-on: Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
Reaching back to the glory days of light guns, the Wii Zapper steals the name of Nintendo's classic NES controller, but the two are fundamentally different. The previous light gun used a mechanic to essentially see what was on-screen, so the gun sight actually corresponded with the action. The Wii Zapper instead is just a plastic shell to hold a Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The Wiimote pointer continues to work through IR triangulation; players can't sight down the new attachment.I recently played the Wii Zapper pack-in, Link's Crossbow Training, and was surprised at how good the Wii Zapper felt and how well the game responded. Shooting from the hip -- sometimes literally -- I maintained good control over the on-screen cross-hair. I still prefer the precision of a light gun's sight, but knocking down Zelda-themed bad guys in a series of game scenarios was still fun.%Gallery-8658%
Link's Crossbow Training aims screenshots at your eyes
GoNintendo posted some new screens of the game that's riding along with the Zapper "peripheral", Link's Crossbow Training. And this shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given its provenance, but it looks a whole lot like Twilight Princess! In these screens, we can see the "Stalfos Defender" game, which looks pretty much like anyone would imagine it: a bunch of Stalfoses walk up to you crossbowably, and you shoot them-- with a crossbow. Other events depicted include a balloon-shooting game, a bird-shooting game, and, of course, the game in which you shoot Gorons in the junk. Basically, if it's in Twilight Princess, and it doesn't seem like it would enjoy being crossbowed, you can crossbow it in this game. We can get behind a concept like that.
American Nintendo Media Summit reveals Crossbow Training details
IGN editors and other not-us members of the press are at the American equivalent to yesterday's crazy megaton-tastic Nintendo conference, and they thoughtfully liveblogged the presentation for the rest of us. It sounds like they're embargoed against revealing too much or publishing detailed videos, which means that, for now, we've got textual reports of the news. Luckily, most of the event consists of a Smash Bros. gameplay demo, which we don't really need to talk about in detail. Guys are playing Brawl! UPDATE: They are enjoying themselves! There's also a short demo of Super Mario Galaxy in much the same vein. The newest news is about the Zapper pack-in Link's Crossbow Training, about which we formerly knew almost nothing, and now know some things. Matt Casamassina mentions in passing that the game will feature "Score attack. Multiplayer, etc." though it isn't known if this is true for all of the game's modes or only for certain exercises. One gametype is based on the Ordon Target Training sequence in Twilight Princess, and rewards you for shooting targets while penalizing you for shooting chickens. The "Defender" mode is actually called Stalfos defenders, and has Link defending against skeletal Stalfoses by, well, shooting them with a crossbow.
Rumor: New Wii SKU to hit this holiday
According to an anonymous supplier, Codename Revolution has the scoop on a supposed new SKU coming to retail for the holiday season. Currently dubbed "New Pack," no word yet on exactly what this new SKU could mean. All we know now is that it has a UPC of "045496880088,″ which comes back as being owned by Nintendo. Whether this is a new bundle (we're betting it's a bundled Super Mario Galaxy or Smash Bros. Brawl bundle, or perhaps one including the Wii Zapper), has yet to be determined. Don't hold your breath for a new Wii unit itself, as it's unlikely Nintendo will do a hardware revision to the console this early in its lifespan. Especially considering the popularity of the console as it is now.
Wii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training packaging, details
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Wii_Zapper_boxart_revealed_details_on_Link_s_Crossbow_Training'; Along with releasing a boxart preview of its upcoming Wii Zapper (due 11/19/07), Nintendo also shed some light on its bundled game, Link's Crossbow Training, earlier today. The shooter will have 27 stages in total over three different modes -- Target Shooting, Defender, and Ranger -- all of them multiplayer, but played one at a time. Target Shooting plays as expected, asking you to hit bull's-eyes as they pop up and move around the screen. Defender pits you against a variety of enemies charging towards you from all directions; you can to aim off screen to turn Link and face your attackers. While playing in the Ranger mode, you can actually move Link by using the nunchuck's control stick, exploring and fighting your way through the different missions. Blast past the post break for close-up shots of the Wii Zapper logo and the Link's Crossbow Training bit.
Wii Warm Up: Zapper, board, or wheel?
We don't much discuss the Zapper, balance board, and steering wheel accessories coming down the pipe by themselves -- usually, we discuss them in relation to various games. However, considering them on their own, how do you feel about these accessories? Is there one you find yourself more interested in than the others? Personally, we like the balance board, despite the hefty price tag (in comparison), and think it seems to have interesting potential. But we're only one voice. How do you feel?
New Jersey parents fret over Wii's 'gun-like' Zapper
New Jersey's The Star-Ledger ran a poll on its "Parental Guidance" blog earlier this week, asking its readers to comment on Nintendo's Wii Zapper, a peripheral meant to house the Wii remote and nunchuck in a vaguely rifle-like shape. Describing it as a "gun-like remote" and a "wand in the shape of a weapon" certainly didn't help matters, as the poll was duly inundated by parents wary of their children becoming vicious, gun-toting mini-gangsters. One reader inadvertently praised Nintendo's clumsy plastic shell design by failing to discern a difference between it (see above image) and a real weapon. "Great, this is what we need. Children with guns learning how to aim and shoot. Then we can sit back and wonder what is happening to our country with kids killing kids......what's next?" A fair question to ask, especially when you're a powerless parent forced to sit back and wonder "what is happening" in a world where video games poison our armed children. Not that the Zapper can teach anybody to operate a gun on the outset -- it's really more of crossbow training tool. Another parent was a little more introspective and wondered, "What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?" Aside from highlighting mommy's inability to say "No, you can't have that," past experience with the Zapper would reveal the message to be a compelling argument for hunting ducks and, failing that, any stupid-looking dogs in the neighborhood. Kids shoot the darndest things.[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Wii Zapper, with Zelda minigame, shipping 11/19 for twenty bucks
As much fun as Wii Sports, Wii Play, and all the rest of the PG games on Nintendo's latest console are, we suspect that what gamers have really been waiting for is the ability to shoot all manner of enemy on-screen a la the Duck Hunt days of old, so itchy trigger fingers will be pleased to learn that we've finally been clued into the enabling Wii Zapper's $20 pricetag and November 19th release date. In announcing this all important info, Nintendo also revealed that the plastic housing for Wiimote and Nunchuk will ship with Link's Crossbow Training, which sounds like an archery sim set in the exciting world of Zelda. Other games that will support the Zapper include Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, Sega's Ghost Squad, and various other titles that will surely push Wii Chess even lower down your stack of games.
Wii Warm Up: Zapper pack-in revealed?
According to a rumor attributed to an EB/Gamestop conference in Las Vegas, the game that'll come with the Zapper is ... Link's Crossbow Training. Yep.
Nintendo reveals Wii Zapper
Ducks beware. Described by Reggie as the "first offspring of the Wiimote and the Nunchuk," the light gun accessory will launch later this year for a paltry $20. Games to take advantage of the new accessory is the upcoming Wii-exclusive Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Ghost Squad, and Medal of Honor (which will support up to 32 player multiplayer!). The Zapper looks suspiciously like the PS3's GunCon 3, but considering our somewhat unhealthy love of light gun games, we're okay with that.
Nintendo Wii Zapper announced
It took them a while, but Nintendo is finally busting out its Wii Zapper accessory for housing the Wiimote and Nunchaku in a FPS-friendly shell. It'll be out this year, shipping for free with a "far along" unannounced title from Nintendo, and selling stand alone at retail for $20. Other games with announced compatibility include "Ghost Squad," "Medal of Honor" with 32 person online matches, and "Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles." More pics after the break.
