blue-oasis
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VC Friday: Something fishy
Arguably more a relaxation tool than a game, Hudson's My Aquarium makes its western debut in the latest PAL update today. Its price, just 500 Wii Points, reflects its status as the Endless Ocean of WiiWare; it's definitely a good deal cheaper than the real thing. The in-jokey Strong Bad Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner completes the line-up, while the Virtual Console is put on the backburner for another week.My Aquarium -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii PointsStrong Bad Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii PointsSpread your fins and swim past the break for video of each.%Gallery-29482%
Don't tap the glass in Hudson's My Aquarium
Because you'd probably be scratching your television.As you can tell by the trailer above (and new screens below), Hudson's localized Blue Oasis (at E3 they announced it for North America under the name My Aquarium) doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out. Hudson has gone ahead and basically crafted a virtual fish tank, allowing you to enjoy the serene company of aquatic life without having to clean a pump every month. If you already checked out the tour of the Japanese game, then you know the title is chock full of content. And, if it's priced the same as its Japanese counterpart (500 Wii Points), we won't have to shell out a lot of clams for it. Get it? Hey, where are you going? Hello?%Gallery-29482%[Via press release] Are you crazy about WiiWare? We are too! That's why we've been quick to review as many WiiWare games as possible. Check out all of our reviews on our WiiWare review page. Otherwise, just keep an eye on the WiiWare category for the latest on Nintendo's download service.
E308: Hudson USA reels in two fish games [update]
This week, Hudson Soft announced two new games for North American Wiis, both with distinctly aquatic themes, though viewed from fairly different perspectives. The Fishing Master sequel, Mezase!! Tsuri Master Sekai ni Challenge!, is coming out this winter in Q1 2009 under the title Fishing Master World Tour. The controls have been made a bit more representative than in the previous title (there's less holding of buttons and more just motion), and the backdrops now include exotic locations around the world. Like one might see on a tour of the world. It's also got boss battles and leaderboards. I played it briefly at E3 and found it pretty easy to operate (but really hard to successfully entice a fish in).The other nautical game takes place underwater, and in much smaller bodies of water. The WiiWare aquarium thing Blue Oasis will be released at an undetermined time under the title My Aquarium. The official North American website launched this week.[Update: the release date for Fishing Master was apparently in error.]
Blue Oasis footage is relaxing, blue
Blue Oasis looks like just the kind of thing we could use to contain our CONSTANT ATTACKS OF RAGE. A relaxed Josh from WiiFolder has carried out one of his excellent video tours of the game (we've slotted the video after the break, due to sizing issues), covering its impressively customizable aquariums, the decent range of fish (there are around fifty, some of which must be unlocked), and the ability to share your aquarium with friends via WiiConnect24. The one thing it's missing? Leonard Nimoy.Admittedly, Hudson's virtual aquarium lands squarely in "non-game" territory, but it is cheap -- just 500 Wii Points, or five bucks. As Josh sagely points out: "You can't even buy a fish sandwich for $5 nowadays." Fair point, that.%Gallery-19348%
Immersive new Blue Oasis screens
Hudson's virtual aquarium Blue Oasis will be available on the Japanese Virtual Console tomorrow, and new screens of fake fish hanging out in a fake tank have been released to promote it. The game has nice graphics and a fairly convincing, realistic style -- which makes the gloved pointer controlling the little food container that much more entertaining. It's vaguely surreal. While you're taking care of your fish's nonexistent hunger with insubstantial food, you can listen to some classical music. We don't imagine that the sound quality will be excellent, because there are 36 selections in the game. It'll probably be MIDI unless Hudson has decided to go for the remainder of users' Wii storage fridges. But the number is still impressive!%Gallery-19348%
Blue Oasis to mellow out WiiWare worldwide?
The German USK ratings board site has been updated with a listing for a Wii game called My Aquarium from Hudson, which is probably the Blue Oasis WiiWare game whose announcement was fully and righteously overshadowed by Alien Crush. Blue Oasis hits the Japanese Wii Shop on June 24th, and this rating hints that it could make its way to Europe, at least, soon afterward.Blue Oasis is a customizable virtual aquarium that allows players to change backgrounds and add the decorations and (most importantly) fish of their own choosing. It will feature simulated fish food and varying levels of light based on the real weather conditions reported by the Forecast Channel. Maybe it's because we're kind of high-strung, but an extremely relaxed aquarium sim like this doesn't really sound bad for five bucks.[Via Siliconera]
