MarioGalaxy
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Super Mario Galaxy DS video a hoax
About ten days ago, we got our first glimpse of a video showing a downloadable, Nintendo DS version of Super Mario Galaxy, supposedly hidden inside the Wii version of the game. We watched with rapt attention as the shaky-cam footage showed Mario and Luigi jumping from the Wii to the DS using a previously unknown, hidden galaxy and the DS' WiFi download capabilities. We were surprised to see low-resolution versions of Mario and Luigi running around low-resolution versions of familiar Mario Galaxy levels. We were shocked and hopeful when the video promised each DS star would be redeemable for 10 Wii shop points.We weren't ready to definitively declare the video real or fake at the time, but now, after some digging, we're ready to set the record straight on this hoax. Read on for our evidence and thoughts on the matter.
Super Mario Galaxy sells 250K first week in Japan
Super Mario Galaxy, also known as the game Wii owners have been waiting for, is #1 on the Japanese sales charts. Galaxy sold a quarter million units its first week of release. But, but, but "Teh Haloz" sold much more than that the fanboys will scream. Yes, but that's a launch in the US and we're talking about one island in the Pacific currently. A quarter million units in the first week is a good start.The Galaxy sales were equal to the rest of the top ten selling games combined. The full top ten list by Media Create can be found after the break. November will certainly be an interesting month to see the NPD numbers in the States ... oh right, that might not happen.
Famitsu gives Super Mario Galaxy 38/40
The first Japanese reviews of Super Mario Galaxy are trickling in in advance of the game's Nov. 1 Japanese release, and so far they're looking pretty good. Venerable game rag Famitsu's four reviewers gave the game two nines and two tens for a total score of 38/40. This puts the game just under Super Mario 64's 39/40 and just above Super Mario Sunshine's 37/40 from the magazine. Overall, the score puts it behind just 22 games in the magazine's history.A partial review translation by 1UP reveals nothing but praise for the new Mario game, calling it "a game anyone can really play" and urging that "every game fan should play this game." Of course it's hard to imagine Famitsu giving the high-profile game a bad review -- the magazine has been accused of doling out scores based mainly on hype and sales expectations. Despite this, there's a part of us that just wants to believe that the high praise is based on genuine enjoyment and not marketing dollars. We'll find out for ourselves when the game reaches our shores Nov. 12.
New Mario Galaxy scans show Boo costume, cubed planets
New scans from the latest issue of Famitsu have popped up on the NeoGAF forums with new pictures and information on Super Mario Galaxy (which, as we all know, was originally just two Super Mario Star Clusters duct-taped together). Shown in the new scans are cube- and torus-shaped planets, Mario in his bee costume and also a few images of Mario as a Boo. According to translations found on Go Nintendo, Bee Mario can use his stinger and Boo Mario will be left alone by other Boos (though one of the Boo Mario images show him apparently getting hurt by another Boo). Also according to the translations -- we haven't verified the information ourselves, so we can't confirm its validity -- is that six worlds will be in the final game, each with multiple planets. Also, as per the usual post-N64 Mario game, Galaxy will feature 120 stars you can collect.Super Mario Galaxy is hoping to move a few units when it's released November 12 in North America.[Via NWF]
Wii Warm Up: Keeping those fingers crossed
So what game -- Nintendo or third party title -- do you hope to see the most of of at this year's E3? Or rather, read the most news about, considering the new format. What game does it for you? Are you hoping for all the details on the new Metroid that are fit to print? Is it Boogie that gets you excited? Are you hoping Take-Two will reveal their plans for Manhunt 2 after the ESRB debacle? Are you crossing your fingers for some sign of Super Mario Galaxy? Or is it something else that gets you going? Let us know what game you hope shows up in the news this week.
Rumors: Mario Kart Wii, dates for Smash and Galaxy at E3
French gaming site JeuxFrance is reporting on a few rumors involving the house that N built, mostly revolving around a portly plumber. They're stating that Nintendo is planning on whipping out some big guns at the show, revealing the next installment in the Mario Kart franchise for the Wii, as well as solid release dates for Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Galaxy. As if that weren't enough, they're also reporting that Nintendo will have some big hardware news for us.Maybe they're going to reveal a headset add-on for the Wiimote? As for the other rumors, it's a safe bet that Nintendo will be giving us the goods on release dates for its hottest games this year, already providing us a release date for one of this year's most anticipated games, but the Mario Kart news is anyone's guess. It would make sense for Nintendo to bring a Mario Kart game to the Wii, but is the timing right?
'The big three' ARE coming in 2007 (to Japan)
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Nintendo confirmed that they do in fact plan to release Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3 Corruption, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl by the end of this year, as well as pretty much every Nintendo game announced for the Wii. This corroborates an IGN report to the same effect, and is also totally, totally rad. Here's the full list of Nintendo's planned 2007 releases. Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race is slated for June 28, and the rest are all "2007": Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race Wii Health Pack Disaster: Day of Crisis Mario Party 8 Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Wii Music Super Mario Galaxy Super Smash Bros. Brawl Battalion Wars II Forever Blue Mario Strikers Charged Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Keep checking with us for news of the inevitable delays of about half of these. Seriously, that's a lot of first-party Nintendo games for just half a year or so. Aw, we just made ourselves sad with our own skepticism. Still, if half of this stuff does get released in Japan this year, it'll be great news and do a pretty good job of ending any drought that may or may not be happening.Update: fixed some italics and formatting.
Mario Galaxy given 9-month release window
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has updated Stephen Totilo on the planned release for Super Mario Galaxy. Mark your calendars with a big sharpie drawn across many pages: Fils-Aime expects the game to come out sometime between the end of March and Christmas.Why not say "by the end of 2007?" Well, it's bad business -- Nintendo has three titles (WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Wii Play, and Mario Party 8) coming out between now and March, and then Metroid Prime 3 seeing a release sometime after March. To say Mario Galaxy is coming out before Christmas gives analysts the clue that it might be poised to elevate their holiday lineup, unless Smash Bros Brawl or some heavy-hitting third-party titles can step up to the plate by then.Past March 2007, we don't yet know Nintendo's first-party lineup. Fils-Aime hints that some announcements will be coming in January. If Nintendo has learned from their follies with the GameCube, then we should have a consistent release schedule for the next year. If not, then we'll probably get one hit game every now and then, followed by long intervals of drought.[Update 1: It's StePHen Totilo, not SteVen. The change has been made, you can call your snipers off at anytime now.]
A hint at some Wii power
Nintendo has been mum, more or less, as to the exact power and capabilities of their next console, Wii; however, slowly but surely, little hints are starting to drop in. The latest comes from Gamasutra, who report that electronics firm MoSys "will be using the company's patented 1T-SRAM technology to implement the high performance memory within the Wii's graphics system." Worth noting: "The newest 1T-SRAM implementations embedded within the Wii console are fabricated using NEC Electronics' advanced 90nm CMOS-compatible embedded DRAM process technology. These high speed and ultra low latency memories are used as the main embedded memory on the graphics chip and in an additional external memory chip."An official from MoSys goes on to say: "Designing the Wii console required an incredible list of breakthroughs in technology and innovation. ... The graphic performance of Wii benefits from MoSys' ability to develop highly innovative and dependable embedded memory products." Self promotion aside, it appears that Nintendo just may have a final ace up their sleeve as we come closer to seeing the final version of Wii.
