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Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 6/16-6/22
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Well, except for the PSP, that is. Sony's handheld is still as mighty as ever. Even so, the Wii toppled all the other home consoles once again last week, reclaiming its second-place spot: The new Wii kid on the block in the charts is Mario Super Sluggers, which didn't sell as well as we thought it would, considering that it's a baseball game -- one published by Nintendo, no less. That's why we love Japanese sales so much, though. Just when we think we have the country all figured out, it goes and surprises us again.Everything else Wii related is pretty much just business as usual, but check past the break to see where the games ranked in the top thirty and how much the top tenners sold.
A guided tour of Mario Super Sluggers' stadiums
With the recent news that Nintendo's Mario Super Sluggers is only 2 months away for those of us in North America, you're probably too busy dancing and making noise in a fit of excitement to actually be reading this. That's okay, we'll leave you to that.As for the rest of you, check out the lengthy video above. It documents all of the stadiums and their unique hazards, as well as showing off their look during both day and night in-game. If you don't want the stadiums ruined for you, then we suggest you check out some of our screens below for your fix on Mario Super Sluggers.%Gallery-24326%[Thanks, Josh!]
Wario Land, Mario Super Sluggers dated for U.S.
Click to enlarge. Nintendo just sent news that Wario Land: Shake It would be hitting North America this September 29th, three days after Europe (as this is Nintendo's own game, we trust that this information is accurate). Little new information about the gameplay was ensconced in the details we received -- we already know that we'll be using the Wii Remote side-on, and that shaking the controller helps Wario take out enemies, empty bags of treasure, or trigger earthquakes -- but we did get a new, much larger screenshot. We advise clicking the above image to take in all the detail.In less-important-but-still-great news, Mario Super Sluggers will be touching down in the States a month before Wario Land arrives, on August 25th. There's plenty of time to save for both, then!%Gallery-24326%[Via press release]
Nintendo announces new Wario Land for Wii, Kirby for DS
With E3 just around the corner, we've begun to brace ourselves for the deluge of new game announcements that always accompany the annual event, the latest of which has come from Nintendo. This morning the company announced a trio of new titles set to be shown during next month's conference, including Wario Land: Shake It! for the Wii, as well as Kirby Super Star Ultra and Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, both for the company's touchable portable.As previously announced for both Japan and Europe, Nintendo describes Wario Land: Shake It! as a "classic side-scroller," and notes that the game will have players controlling Mario's portly nemesis with the Wii remote turned sideways on September 25. Kirby Super Star Ultra, on the other hand, will re-imagine the SNES classic platformer starring everyone's favorite perpetually-hungry cream puff when it debuts four days later on September 29. Finally, Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir brings Big Fish Games' line of casual PC puzzlers to the DS earlier in the month on September 8. The games join the previously announced Mario Super Sluggers, giving us an early look at what Nintendo will have on tap at the LA Convention Center in a few short weeks.
Mario Super Sluggers in action, biggity baseball bat
Yoshi seems to be pitching the winners in this latest footage from Mario Super Sluggers. The poor batters can't do a thing right, as time after time the fielders rush in to catch the ball and pelt it towards any base at lightning speed. It's like, hello? Why is a baby playing baseball?It's nine minutes of Sluggers action, and includes character selection and menu screens, which are all pretty straightforward. You might not want to rush out to import the latest Japanese RPG, but Sluggers looks simple enough to enjoy right off the ... bat? Haw haw, haw.Put on your importing hat if you want this right away, because it's out now in Japan and it won't be hitting the stores in North America until August.%Gallery-24326%[Via GoNintendo]
At bat in Mario Super Sluggers
The latest screen line-up from Mario Super Sluggers, which is out this week in Japan, shows off a little gameplay, a few menus, and a lot of very familiar characters. Included is a bigger version of the recently-revealed roster, just in case there was anyone you weren't sure about. While you're spending some time on the diamond, check out the trailer, too! %Gallery-24326%
Nintendo says core gamers will get new titles at E3
According to an article over at Gamepro, core gamers shouldn't fret going into E3 this year. Even though Nintendo just unleashed Wii Fit on us, the focus for their newest console isn't going to be entirely casual. "We recently announced the upcoming release of Mario Super Sluggers," said Marc Franklin, director of public relations at Nintendo, to Gamepro. "Additionally, we will be announcing several new titles that core gamers will be interested in around the time of E3."This is likely to be music to the ears of fanboys who've wondered where stellar-looking titles such as Disaster: Day of Crisis have been for their beloved console. But, this goes against what Reggie said, in a good way. Where the resident ass-kicker, name-taker said we should expect one big title from Nintendo at E3, we're liking the idea of "several new titles" that Franklin said. Let's hope we get a bunch of new games next month when the show goes down![Thanks, Sonic_13!]
Mario Super Sluggers features new characters, super moves
Mario's baseball-oriented outing hasn't exactly been as hotly anticipated as his other platforming, racing, and fighting adventures. Perhaps that's the reason info on Mario Super Sluggers has been a bit slow since the first mild announcement last October. Those who do have a penchant for wacky sports titles will be elated at these few new details, courtesy of Siliconera.According to their report, the game's cavalcade of Super Mario staples will each have their own unique batting and pitching powers. Mario swings away with a feisty fireball, while Yoshi pitches in an arching rainbow.Tiny screens also reveal a number of less-than-obvious character additions, like the residents of Delfino Island, Dixie Kong, and... Goombas. If anyone knows how the armless baddies of Mushroom Kingdom are expected to either bat, throw, or catch, please let us know.
Guess who's in Mario Super Sluggers
Sports nuts and Nintendo fans alike are probably anticipating the release of Mario Super Sluggers, which hits the streets of Japan on the 19th of this month. Mario won't be the only one slugging, though. You can expect his usual posse of Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Wario to join in on the fun.Yet, you might be wondering who else is coming to play ball. Thanks to some tiny screens from the game's exposition mode (as well as perusing our gallery and other media), we can get an idea of a few playable characters. Unfortunately, the screens are so small that it's difficult to make out everyone.For the spoiler sensitive types, we've posted the pictures and dropped some names after the break. %Gallery-24326%
Famitsu pitches us fresh Mario Super Sluggers shots
Famitsu has posted another line-up of Mario Super Sluggers screens, covering everything from minigames (which look, erm, totally unrelated to baseball) to a few of the character-specific moves (such as Luigi's "tornado" pitch that you see above, and one of Mario's fiery shots) to some of the game's varied arenas, which include Yoshi Park, a jungle-themed Donkey Kong stage, and a pitch set entirely on ice. Hit the "Source" link to see all sixteen shots. In case you needed reminding, Mario Super Sluggers launches in Japan ten days from now, though we're still waiting on an official release date for the U.S. and regions that will probably never understand or care about baseball the rest of the world.%Gallery-24326%
Experience Mario Super Sluggers' site
The Japanese website for Mario Super Sluggers has gone live and it's chock full of those experience videos we saw awhile back. Also at the site, you'll find a trailer for the game, but most of you probably saw that yesterday.But, if there's one thing these experience videos show us, it's a real-time representation of how the game will be played when it finally gets in our hands. And, that couldn't be soon enough. We can only take so many extremely short games of baseball in Wii Sports.%Gallery-24326%
Slug it out with the new trailer
Mario must be single-handedly keeping all his local sporting goods stores in business. He is no stranger to picking up any random game, throwing an item or two into the mix and giving it a go with all his friends. We're happy about that, because it usually turns out pretty good.Now we can finally bring you some goodies for the latest foray into sporting superstardom. We've got the brand new trailer for Mario Super Sluggers, along with some captures in the gallery.The trailer is very comprehensive, and shows off several cutscenes along with a demonstration of the all-purpose Wiimote controls. We don't have any idea what the guy is saying, but the movements displayed alongside the game speak for themselves. Of course, there'll be explosions and interference blasting every which way, so this isn't your typical Mom n' Pop baseball game.We'll be on top of all Mario Super Sluggers information (and English content, geez) as it arrives. In fact, you could say we have all bases covered. Ha. That's funny.%Gallery-24326%
Fresh Mario Super Sluggers scans step up to the plate
Courtesy of CoroCoro Comics, we've got some more to gawk at concerning the once-named Super Mario Stadium. Now it's being call Mario Super Sluggers, which is an improvement in our eyes, and is to feature, as you'd expect, a plethora of characters from Nintendo's famous franchises. We're glad to see Mario is heading back to the diamond again!The scans show off some interesting aspects of the game, including what looks like a kind of special catch system when playing in the outfield, which lets you rob players of home runs. Also, the player-specific abilities seem to be returning, as well as the themed stadiums in which you'll play ball. In the scan, you can see what appears to be Luigi throwing a kind of tornado pitch. Interesting, to say the least.
NMS 08: Mario Super Sluggers sliding into homes this year
The first news out of this year's Nintendo Media Summit is that the Namco Bandai-developed Mario sports game Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball will see a U.S. release "sometime this year" under the title Mario Super Sluggers.Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen demonstrated the game for press in attendance, showing unique fielding mechanics in which shaking the Wiimote signals the fielders to go, and a throwing motion sends the ball to the correct base. Pitching and batting seem to be pretty much what you'd expect! According to IGN, the cast will include the usual suspects: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, the Wario Bros, Donkey Kong, Baby Mario, Toad, Toadette, Boo, and a Shyguy. More details about Sluggers should come out sometime next week.[Via Joystiq; press release available here]
Mario Super Sluggers on deck for Wii
Previously revealed as "Super Mario Stadium Baseball" last October, and now apparently dubbed, Mario Super Sluggers, the Wii sequel to Mario Superstar Baseball has been confirmed for US release, likely later this year. Nintendo briefly demonstrated the game today at a media summit in San Francisco, IGN reports. As expected, the majority of gameplay is controlled by flicks and waggles (think: Wii Sports' baseball with shaky fielding), but some of the demonstrator's motions were "unrecognized by the game," IGN observed. "Not a very good sign."In addition to the known cast of playable characters, IGN confirms that Sluggers will feature Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Waluigi, Toad, Toadette, and Boo.Update: There's been some confusion about the game's title. Is it Super Mario Sluggers? Or Mario Super Sluggers? We're going with the latter for now. It's Mario Super Sluggers -- for sure![Note: Image is a previously released screenshot of "Super Mario Stadium Baseball."]
