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Wii Warm Up: Have you regretted the lack of DVD playback?
Some people considered it a big deal when it was confirmed that the Wii would not feature DVD playback on release, but now that you've had one for a while (we hope), has it bothered you? There's been only one time when this blogger lamented the lack: the DVD player had been unhooked temporarily in order to offer up the progressive scan inputs* for Metroid Prime 3 (y'know, when we bought this television years ago, we thought the bank of connections on the back looked like more than we'd ever use), and we didn't feel like unhooking anything or putting the DVD into another game system due to the unwieldy DVD controls. For a moment, we discussed how convenient it would be if the Wii featured DVD playback -- after all, it's got a built-in remote! -- but it was a fleeting wish, and changing out the hookups isn't much of a problem. Beyond that single time, we've never even thought about the Wii lacking DVD playback.Have you ever wanted to shove a DVD in there, for whatever reason? *Yes, yes, we could get a switch, but it's rare when we really need all the connections at once ... it was really just the one time! Perhaps it's a sign of changing times, however ....
MTV drops new Multiplayer blog (plus BioShock Vs. Mode)
Everyone here knows we're big fans of MTV's excellent Multiplayer blog. Up until now, what that really meant was that we were fans of MTV News' gaming reporter Stephen Totilo who, until today, ran Multiplayer as a one-man show. From here on out, the Multiplayer blog has been expanded by rolling up MTV's other video game blog GameDrop (yeah, they had two). So that means new design (we like!), new writers (we're not sure yet), and of course, new content from Totilo.First, a new Vs. Mode with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal where the two veteran writers discuss the fall's first blockbuster first-person shooters: BioShock and Metroid Prime 3. The first installment expounds some 4500 words on BioShock, with Totilo and Croal both praising the shooter-from-the-deep for its atmosphere, sizing up the world of Rapture to other notable video game settings (is it uniquely memorable?).Also included in Multiplayer's pseudo-inaugural outing is the below embedded video detailing precisely how to pronounce Ubisoft. "Is it YOO-be-soft? Or OO-be-soft?" We won't give the answer away (we'll leave that to Ubisoft's own), but we do want to take this opportunity to say "nyah nyah nyah" to everyone that ever pronounced it wrong. Ever.
August NPD: The view from on high
Even in a month when hardware sales are down, Nintendo's Straight Up Success bus just keeps on rolling. Let's hope this keeps on challenging Iwata and company to avoid "doing the easy." Even the re-priced Xbox 360 couldn't compete with the Nintendo juggernaut. Nintendo Wii: 403K Nintendo DS: 383K Microsoft Xbox 360: 277K Sony PS2: 202K Sony PSP: 151K Sony PS3: 131K In software, however, the story was different. After Metroid Prime 3's moment in the spotlight, Bioshock's longer release window won out between those two. Nintendo games barely even struggled into the top five, with Wii Play and its extra controller snapping up that spot. Madden, which is its own juggernaut, dominated sales last month. To see the top ten titles, slip past the break.
WRUP: Finding something to drink in the desert edition
This week's releases hardly present an opportunity for those of us who want something new to play to enjoy our favorite console. Sure, we could enjoy Sonic 3, but the game isn't something that can't be utterly dominated over the course of a single day. What's a gamer to do?What will you be playing? Going to enjoy some Virtual Console games this weekend, or will you be enjoying a retail release game? Dare we ask if you still have as of yet to complete Metroid Prime 3?
Metroid Prime 3: Corrupted
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Metroid_Prime_3_glitch_could_ruin_one_of_the_best_boss_fights_in_the_game'; Reader fatherb sent in this video of his sad encounter with one of the bosses in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Apparently, he isn't the only one experiencing this horrible glitch in the game, which we won't go into detail about for those of you who have yet to come into contact with this boss. In fact, since this is chock full of spoilers, we've gone ahead and tucked the video past the break.Watch at your own risk.
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.
Wii Warm Up: A question of multiplayer
We like online gaming as much as the next set of obsessive gamers; in fact, we even brave the friend code system on the DS every week, like clockwork, just to throwdown via the WiFi network. But just because we like it -- and sometimes prefer it -- does that mean that every game with available multiplayer needs to have online multiplayer? For that matter, does every game even need a multiplayer mode? Obviously, we're thinking here about the recent confirmation that Metroid Prime 3 will have no online multiplayer, but it applies to a lot of things. Let's take Wii Sports, for example. Tons of fun! Could in fact be online! But does it need to be? The philosophy behind Wii Sports seems to be that playing with others -- in person -- is fun. Isn't the philosophy behind the Metroid series pretty centered on the themes of loneliness and isolation, as well as exploration? With games like Saint's Row and Halo on the Xbox, online multiplayer makes perfect sense. Whether we want it or not aside ... is it really right for Metroid?We'll definitely come on board and say that we hope that the Wii boasts many online games by the time its cycle ends. We particularly hope for at least one or two great FPS games with online multiplayer, but perhaps that's a dream. Still, is it worth hoping for online multiplayer when it runs counter to the central idea behind a franchise or game ... and worse yet, should we be hoping for multiplayer from a team who has yet to show us that they can even manage decent local multiplayer, much less online?Sure, online modes add replayability, and that's always nice. But if that's all we need in a game, should Nintendo start tacking online multiplayer onto Zelda games, for instance?
Metroid Prime 3 box art battles evil twin
There's just no trusting those terrible twins, duplicitous doppelgängers and conniving clones, is there? A word of warning to those who may encounter them: If you're striking a dramatic pose in space, chances are your evil double is doing the same... right behind you. The full Metroid Prime 3: Corruption box art is right after the break.
Reggie on the Wii effect at the Nintendo Media Summit
This morning, at the Nintendo Media Summit, NoA President and resident badass Reggie Fils-Aime had some interesting statistics on the Nintendo juggernaut. While a lot of it may not be the best news for the hardcore gaming contingent, the massive revenue increases indicate that the wider potential market may well be what powers the industry in the coming years. One particularly telling statement backed up the figures: "We don't consider Sony and Microsoft as our only competitors. We're competing with other leisure time entertainment. If people stay at home and play Wii bowling instead of going to the movies, we win."It's not all gloom and doom for the hardest of the hard, however. Reggie had some interesting things to say about this summer's highly anticipated Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. It "will reinvent the control scheme for a first person shooter. It's the closest you can get to PC control in a [console] game." A lot of people hoped Red Steel would pull that off for the Wii at launch, but leave it to Nintendo to really show us what the Wiimote and nunchuk combo can do for the FPS.Reggie also added that the DS continues to print money, just in case none of us knew.
New Metroid Prime 3 screenshots rolled out
With less than three months away from its August 20th release date, Nintendo has started to put some push behind Metroid Prime 3: Corruption with five new screenshots. You won't see any previously unannounced features, and these images follow Nintendo's tradition of grabbing awful stills from games that otherwise look great in motion, but uh... the logo artwork is certainly impressive. Considering that we haven't gotten much media from the FPS-adventure series since last September, this will have to suffice for now. %Gallery-3355%[Via Joystiq]
The good, the bad, and the OHGODWHEN
There's an interesting feature over at CVG detailing ten games to watch for on the Wii this year (similar to what we did for the DS). Now, as this is a list from the UK, they've included some games with which we American gamers have already been blessed, but the rest of the lineup is interesting indeed. Of course, they highlight Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (we so can't wait for that), but the lion's share of the list goes to the most obvious -- and long in coming -- games for the Wii, like Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy (and the less talked about, but also cool Disaster: Day of Crisis). Of course these are going to be great games, but on what shall we pin all our hopes and dreams between now and the oblivion of year's end? It hurts to see so many great games on this list when we know they have no firm release date. Reggie promised us that there'd be no drought, but things are looking a little dry from the vantage point of this list. Potentially awesome, yes, but a little dry all the same.
Wii Mario & Metroid, DS Zelda in late '07
Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will arrive in late 2007 according to the latest round of whisper down the lane. CVG reports that "sources close to Nintendo" have cited the delays and have also verified that Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be released at the tail-end of next year.Officially, Nintendo would only acknowledge that Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Phantom Hourglass would debut in 2007. But the holiday stretch (October-December) is the obvious release window. Be patient.
A smorgasbord of mini-rumors
A recent IGN Podcast has unveiled some interesting tidbits related to the Wii. Now, we all know IGN's information comes from the shadiest of places...scarred men whispering secrets in dank alleyways, unnatural seances with souls departed...but if they're willing to dive into hell's inferno to obtain some info, then we're certainly willing to take all the credit relate it to you, the faithful reader. So, without further ado: Nintendo may decide to move Super Paper Mario directly to the Wii, as the Gamecube is essentially dead in the water. This would not only make financial sense, but finally allow us at Wii Fanboy to cover this excellent looking game. We want to believe it. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption may not make the Wii launch after all. This is directly contradicting several months' worth of continuous confirmations by Nintendo and Retro Studios, and would take a lot of steam out of the superlative launch lineup. We doubt it. Dragon's Quest: Swords also may not make the launch window. We see no reason to disbelieve such a thing; Square-Enix loves their delays. Excite Truck has been confirmed as a launch title. Why not? LucasArts has indeed been developing a lightsaber game for the Wii. Yeah. We know. Publisher THQ has 6 to 8 titles in development for the Wii. Seeing as how they're handling the more lighthearted affairs (Cars, Spongebob), it seems plausible, but none too exciting. At the Leipzig Games Convention (coming soon!), Nintendo and third parties will reveal exactly how they intend to port more traditional game fare from the PS3 and Xbox 360 over to the Wii. Uhhh...sure. And, there you have it. As a special bonus gift from us at the Fanboy, here are some complimentary grains of salt.
The FPS conundrum
When the Wii controller was first revealed to the world, it seemed as though it would be the end-all-be-all for first-person shooter controls. Many even claimed it would be superior to the industry standard mouse and keyboard (causing many PC gamers to violently explode). After countless debates in message boards and chatrooms between legions of fanboy armies, E3 2006 rolled around. Surely, this would put our doubts and fears to rest. The show was all about the Wii: hardware, software, and six hour lines. Perhaps the greatest desire of all, however, was to finally feel how wonderfully games like Red Steel and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption handled.
Footage of every Wii game at E3
Gameworld Network (which is either a network of gameworlds or a gameworld of networks) has posted an epic collection of streaming E3 videos which clearly depicts each and every playable Wii game and how exactly one has to swing, wave, shake, point, wiggle and/or jostle the Wiimote in order to play. Feel free to grab a nearby TV remote and mimic the action. Sure, you'll get absolutely no response, but in the case of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, that's a pretty good approximation.[Via Infendo]
Overheard at E3: Japanese don't accept first-person shooters
While waiting impatiently to try out Metroid Prime 3: Corruption at the Nintendo booth, I eavesdropped on overheard a Japanese developer explaining to a friend how first-person shooters aren't too hot in Japan."This Metroid game is a first-person shooter. They're very popular in America, but not in Japan. We don't accept these kinds of games because you cannot see your character on the screen."The spectacular failure of the Xbox brand in Japan would seem to lend this line of thought some credence, but there are several other factors worthy of consideration, pontification and other things that you do with your brain. It's odd that Metroid Prime would be the game to spur on the man's comments, as the series has always emphasized exploration and platforming over frantic shooting. Is it really just the perspective that causes Japanese gamers to shake their heads in disgust, or do first-person shooters merely have a bad reputation? Why is it important to constantly view your character on the screen? And, if this is such a prominent issue amongst Japanese gamers, why would Nintendo present one of their cherished franchises in a way that would be the least popular?
