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This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Last Week on the Nintendo Channel
Did you miss out on the opportunity to play any -- or even all -- of last week's downloadable DS demos? This week is awesome for you, and only for you. Because the Nintendo Channel features exactly the same demos as last week. Well, it's swapped out the Personal Trainer: Cooking mac and cheese recipe for lasagna, but that happens every week. We're still pretty happy to see Gardening Mama, but our goodwill toward the title is going to diminish as it continues to headline the demo service.At least the videos are new. Check after the break for the list of available downloads.%Gallery-35422%
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: MyDemos Party
A new DS came out this week, as you may have noticed. That means that a lot of DS owners have renewed interest in the system, and that perhaps some new system owners have joined the club. It's a great time to put grade-A demos on the Nintendo Channel -- which Nintendo certainly has with its permanent lineup of first-party titles, including both Brain Ages and Rhythm Heaven. How does Nintendo mark the big week? With two old demos (including Gardening Mama, so we're not too upset) and MySims Party, which is probably a good choice for new audiences! Of course, if you got a new DSi and you want more free games, you've got 1000 Nintendo Points to spend!
This Week in the Nintendo Channel: A new demo blooms
After last week's super-megatons, we half expected to find some more crazy surprises on the Nintendo Channel today. Unfortunately, nothing available qualifies as a crazy surprise, unless you missed the addition of the Rhythm Heaven demo to the lineup last week. It looks like a permanent fixture, like the Brain Age and Flash Focus demos!We were pleasantly surprised to find that the one debut demo today is something in which we have genuine interest: Gardening Mama. The list of demos and new videos is available after the break.%Gallery-35422%
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Punch-Out!!!
Yes, okay, there are three demos for DS games up on the Nintendo Channel, including one for the Monsters vs. Aliens game and the return of TrackMania. Great. Whatever. All of that is just filler for this week's main update: this Punch-Out!! video. The pink sweatsuit is back. The full list of new things that aren't this Punch-Out!! video (and one that is) can be found after the break.
PSN download charges proving unpopular among publishers
While it's the cost to consumers that often drags downloadable content into the internet's argumentative din, the cost to publishers and developers is generally an infrequent point of discussion. Consider that issue brought into the limelight now, with MTV Multiplayer reporting on some brewing dissatisfaction amongst certain publishers offering content on the PlayStation Network.According to comments made by several unnamed publishing sources, Sony's "PlayStation Network Bandwidth Fee," implemented in October of last year, asks publishers to pay 16 cents for every gigabyte of bandwidth distributed through the PlayStation Store. The charge, which applies to everything from demos to game add-ons, is one difference between Sony's network and Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace that's giving publishers pause. "It definitely makes us think about how we view the distribution of content related to our games when it is free for us to do it on the web, on Xbox Live, or any other way - including broadcast - than on Sony's platform," explained one source. "It's a new thing we have to budget. It's not cool. It sucks."Developers that choose to provide content exclusively to the PlayStation Network may be exempt from sticker shock. A publisher of popular PSN-exclusive titles told Joystiq, the fees "are so small [they do] not affect our business or attitude towards releasing games for PSN. The fees are extremely low for PSN-exclusive titles, and only slightly higher for non exclusives."We've reached out to Sony, other PSN developers and content providers to ascertain just how not cool or possibly sucky they find the reported bandwidth fee. The real concern, of course, is whether this dissatisfaction will manifest as fewer pieces of PSN content. Now that would be decidedly not cool.
Demo-rama: Wanted, Wheelman, Legends of Wrestlemania
Usually, we use that header as a cute way of making a story out of two demos you wouldn't necessarily care about on their own. But today, we literally have a feast of free gaming, a carnaval pour les thumbs, if you will. Wanted: Weapons of Fate, Wheelman and Legends of Wrestlemania samples have all landed on Xbox Live and (we're assuming) will be headed to PSN later in the day.As noteworthy as the gaming cornucopia is, we feel like we have to point out the truly historic thing about this post. With the release of the Chronicles of Riddick demo yesterday, this marks the first time that two demos for two separate Vin Diesel games have been released within 24 hours of each other. May we suggest laminating your monitor and putting it in your memory box? You know, for the grandkids.Update: As requested by Jonman:Download -- WheelmanDownload -- Legends of WrestlemaniaDownload -- Wanted: Weapons of Fate[Thanks, Doug]
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Repeat Performance
If you run to the Wii today to check for new demos on the Nintendo Channel, you will face disappointment for two reasons: first, none of the available demos are new, and second, one of them is Imagine Ice Champions again. The good news: if you missed the Avalon Code demo last week, it's back! For the rest of you, it's DS charging time, we suppose.The new videos this week feature footage of the upcoming New Play Control ports of Mario Power Tennis and Pikmin, along with a new Sonic and the Black Knight video and stuff like Henry Hatsworth for DS.%Gallery-22487%
Demo-rama: MLB 2K9 [update]
In the special way that only Joystiq can, we're taking two demos that most of you won't care about, combining them into one post and, with just a little bit of pixie dust, making them newsworthy. It's a dangerous, arcane sort of magic, not to be attempted by novices or those with a heart condition.So, if you'd like a sampling of MLB 2K9 or Monsters vs. Aliens, you maybe be in the minority of people on earth, but you're also in luck. Behold!Update: Yep, we've already posted about Monsters vs. Aliens, but at least there's no chance anyone will miss out now.
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Avalon Code
Hey, is that -- could it be -- a demo available for a regular game? Somehow, a demo for Avalon Code, Matrix Software's action RPG designed neither for babies nor grandmas, has slipped past Nintendo's attention and onto the Nintendo Channel. Grab it before Nintendo notices and replaces it with My Fun Facts Coach! Also available is a demo for MLB Fantasy All-Stars 2K9, the sequel to last year's bizarre, cartoony baseball game. Head past the break for the list of available videos! A note about formatting: we've decided not to list the demos that are available every week. You guys know you can get the Flash Focus demo whenever you want, without us telling you.%Gallery-22487%
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Rubik's World
The Nintendo Channel (or, more likely, publisher The Game Factory) is way late to the party with this Rubik's World demo, since the game came out back in November, but we're still glad to see it. Despite being a licensed puzzle game based on the toy, the DS game looks genuinely interesting -- at the very least, more interesting than Imagine: Ice Skating or Whatever, which returns this week. This week's videos include teasers for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Pokemon Platinum, along with the usual weekly WiiWare game video and a random assortment of other stuff.
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Imagine Ice Champions
Last week, Nintendo offered a demo of My DoItAll, and we didn't really mind, because despite being kid-focused and a non-game, it was kind of a novelty, worth trying out for a few minutes. This week, though, we're faced with the dreaded "I" word: Imagine. The one new demo on the Nintendo Channel this week is Ubisoft's Imagine Ice Champions, the sequel to Imagine Figure Skater. Maybe there's some novelty value in getting to try an Imagine game without any commitment -- just to see what it's like -- but we doubt this is going to send anyone running to the Wii.We've got the full list of returning demos after the break, as well as this week's rather large crop of videos.
Get Champions Online swag and beta keys at New York Comic Con
Cryptic Studios will be showing off Champions Online at New York Comic Con (which takes place in February from the 6th to the 8th) and they want you to know that you will be handsomely rewarded if you are able to pay them a visit. Not only will there be new playable demos to explore, but fans will also be treated to swag, and the possibility of beta keys. The beta keys will be awarded to contest winners, but we've got no idea what the contests might be, so you'd best brush up on your feats of strength, eye-laser marksmanship, and flight dexterity, just to be safe. Here are the details for Cryptic Studios at NY Comic Con:Cryptic Meet and Greet: Saturday, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., Room TBD*Champions Online/Star Trek Online Panel: Saturday 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Room 1A24 (view never before seen footage of STO)MMO Round Table: Saturday 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Room 1A24 *Check in at the Cryptic booth (#1341) for the super-secret room location. Oh, and if you happen to be looking for a job in the games industry, it sounds like Cryptic might have some folks at the show on the lookout for new recruits, so make yourself known!
F.E.A.R. 2 demo now on Xbox Live, PC (PSN later today)
Finally, the long, strange journey of the-game-formerly-not-known-as-F.E.A.R.-2 is nearing its end. As the savvy among you already knew, the demo for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin has just arrived on the Xbox Live Marketplace as well as on PCs. Update: We've confirmed that it'll be available on PSN later today.As is so often the case, we've been so busy bringing you the news of the day that we've been unable to carve out a few minutes for ourselves and play it. The responsibility falls to you, beloved readers! What do you make of the demo?Download – PC demo [Big Download]Download – Xbox 360 demo [XBLM]
Skate 2 demo coming Thursday
We tend to think of demos as free gifts from the gaming overlords, which would make the Skate 2 demo coming on Thursday to Xbox Live a gift within a gift, like a Hickory Farms sampler wrapped in a Snuggie. Just for downloading the demo and registering here, you could win MS points and, curiously, one of six custom Skate 2 skateboards, which should look great sitting idly in your garage.Thanks to the Thursday placement, we're assuming this'll pop up simultaneously on PSN, just without all the free prizes.[Via Team Xbox]
Play a bit of Elebits now via the Nintendo Channel
If you're curious about how Konami has adapted Elebits' gameplay to the DS, and you're in North America, good news! Today's Wii Nintendo Channel update features a downloadable demo of Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero. Oh, obviously, in addition to those other conditions, you need access to a Wii, but you've probably got that if you care about Elebits.dThe rest of the limited-time demos (which expire on the 21st) are stuff we've seen before: Soul Bubbles (which you should absolutely play if you haven't!), Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins, and the mac and cheese recipe from Personal Trainer: Cooking.%Gallery-26907%
Want to play that Resident Evil 5 demo today?
You may have heard that we in America were going to have to wait a bit longer for the Resident Evil 5 demo than those in Japan, where it arrived this morning. But that's the thing about us Americans: We're unwilling to wait for anything we want, and we're exceedingly crafty. Those are actually two things, but you get the idea.Our friends at Planet Xbox 360 have laid out all the steps you'll need to play the demo today, but be aware that it may not be for everybody, as this is a pretty elaborate process. See, that's the thing about us Americans: We can also be kind of lazy.[Thanks, Matt M.]
New PS3 owners in Japan get promo demo discs, including Resident Evil 5 demo
SCEJ is pumping up the completely commercial Japanese Christmas season with new promotional material. The company is offering free demo discs to new PS3 owners in Japan upon the purchase of their system. These discs will contain demos and promotional trailers for both already released and upcoming PS3 titles. Buyers have a choice of either the red disc, which contains family friendly content, or the white disc, which includes more mature content. While majority of the demos to be found on either disc are already currently available on the PS Store, there is one demo of note: Resident Evil 5 with offline and online co-op. Previously, it was announced that a demo for RE5 was to release on December 5 for Xbox Live Gold Members; however, it looks like the PS3 will also be getting in on the action as these discs hit as early as December 18. The demo discs apparently will be only available in-store and while supplies last. See the full disc content listed after the break.[via press release]
Naruto: The Broken Bond demo now on Xbox Live
If there's one thing we love in our demos it's disembodied Republic Commando heads. But if there are two things, they're disembodied Republic Commando heads and bitter, cruel irony. Take, for instance, this morning's announcement of an Xbox Live demo for Naruto: The Broken Bond, which included the following line:"Not available in Asia."Really? Asia loves Naruto. Did you know that Sakura Haruno was recently elected mayor of Asia? It's true. So, denying them the demo just seems ... mean. In fact, we're not even sure the game's being released in Asia! Of course, North America never got Pepsiman, so we guess it all works out in the end.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts demo on Xbox Live
There's now a demo for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts on Xbox Live and you may just want to prepare yourself. Even if you've never had any patience for a game about a bear wearing a bird-stuffed backpack (which is still not a good idea for a game, bee-tee-dub) you might just find yourself, as we did, happily slapping together vehicles with a stupid grin on your face.Go ahead, ignore our warnings and download the 1 gigglebyte slice of joy. Just don't come crying to us when everyone you know starts judging you. Harshly.[Thanks, Travis!]
The voice of the Headless Horseman
It is over, your search is done! Let fate choose now, the righteous one."Over here, you idiot!" ring a bell? We've had a bunch of readers ask us lately just who does the voice for the Headless Horseman -- corny poetry aside, players are really loving the laugh and timbre of the guy who doesn't even have a throat to speak with. The most common guess we've heard is Gerard Butler, star of 300, but that doesn't really compute, as Blizzard usually uses lesser known voice actors and even most of their sound crew and artists (Chris Metzen does quite a few voices, actually, including most of the Orcs in game).We've got two guesses for the Headless Horseman: the first is voice actor Michael McConnohie -- he's done a few other voices for Blizzard before (including Kel'thuzad). While his voice is definitely recognizable (he sounds like the Human male to me), the other strong male voice we know has worked for Blizzard is Mark Graue, who runs a voice studio in LA, and has worked on WoW since the beginning (he did the Undead emotes). Here's Graue's demos -- he sounded to me like the Horseman for sure when I first listened, but a few times in, I'm not so sure any more.You can listen to the voice demos for both those guys and judge for yourself. Again, those are just guesses, based on who's worked with Blizzard in the past -- we don't really know for sure who it is. But we do have a query in to Blizzard on just whose manical laugh that is you hear when you throw a Jack-o-Lantern on your friend's head, so if they get back to us with a name, we'll post it here.
