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Wii Fanboy Poll: New Play Control!: too pricey, or just right?
Next month, Nintendo will debut its New Play Control! (or NEW PLAY CONTROL!) line of games in the west, beginning with Europe. Naturally, we really like the idea of great GameCube games with added 16:9 widescreen support and waggle-based controls, and it could be a licence to print money for Nintendo, if Mario Power Tennis' chart-topping debut in Japan is anything to go by.Will us westerners gobble up these repackaged games as keenly as Japanese gamers? It's likely to depend heavily on pricing -- the games look set to cost $30 in the U.S., and £30 in the UK. Is that too much, just the right amount, or too little (you maniac)?Have your say in our poll past the break!%Gallery-38147%
UK New Play Control prices probably won't be quite so overinflated
Nintendo has responded to UK retailers' pre-release pricing for the New Play Control editions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis, saying that those probably won't be the real prices -- and if they are, it's not Nintendo's doing. "It is up to retailers at what price they sell any item for," a Nintendo representative told Eurogamer. At least retailers will have a lower starting point for their prices: "However, our trade price for these games will be below our usual trade price for Wii games and our present estimate of the likely retail price is in the region of GBP 29.99." This doesn't necessarily mean that retailers really will sell the games at the somewhat reduced price point (which still comes out to $41), but it means that if they don't, they're total jerks. Amazon, at least, currently has Pikmin for £24.99!
New Play Control! High Price Tag!
Nintendo is looking to cash in with their line of GameCube-enhanced-for-Wii games, Play on Wii. Of course, in the UK and North America it's called New Play Control!, as we've already reported. So how much will these games fetch?Well, Pikmin is set for a February 6th release, with Mario Power Tennis releasing on March 6th, and each title has a suggested price of £39.99, according to retailers. Nintendo has stepped in to say that their recommended price is £29.99, but it would seem that retailers aren't following that guideline. Should these games go for full price, even if they've got reworked controls taking advantage of the Wii's unique capabilities?
New Play Video: Pikmin
We're way into the New Play Control version of Pikmin. Even eight years after its original release, Pikmin remains one of the fresher and more unusual Nintendo franchise games, and the Wii version only improves on it!In this video, Wii Folder's Josh Thomas (standing in front of the screen like a weatherman) introduces the game in a manner appropriate for people who have no idea what Pikmin is. While that means a lot of explanation of stuff you know, it also means a ton of game footage (worth seeing even with a dude in front of it), and all the new Wii content is highlighted. While you're watching previews of Wii remakes on Wii Folder, check out the Klonoa footage!
New Play Control! New-ish boxart!
The packages for the Japanese Play on Wii series feature the original boxarts for the GameCube games framed in a new white border, with a blue bar at the bottom explaining that the games have new Wii Remote-based controls. According to teensy preview images found on GameStop.com, the North American New Play Control! versions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis, officially announced just yesterday, will employ the same strategy. As in, exactly the same. The only difference (aside from the language stuff and the fact that the North American boxart images are used) is that the Play on Wii boxes feature a curved top border in the blue area. If we're lucky, the covers will be reversible like the Japanese ones. We probably won't be that lucky!We have yet to see the box designs for the European NEW PLAY CONTROL! series. We'll keep you updated, because we love pointing out that the European title for the series seems to officially be NEW PLAY CONTROL! in all caps.Source: PikminSource: Mario Power Tennis
Nintendo unleashes full Q1 schedule
Nintendo's carrier pigeon just landed on our windowsill with a complete list of Wii releases for Q1 2009. We do actually know most of these dates already (so yeah, maybe the mushroom cloud is a bit excessive), but there's still the occasional scrap of new news buried within.Those Tenchu and Little King's Story dates are fresh to us, and there's also confirmation of the first Play on Wii "New Play Control" games, Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis. For the record, "New Play Control" is a bit of a rubbish name for the series. In our humble opinion, obviously.Make the jump for the full line-up, and remember you can click on a game's name to bring up screens (where available)!%Gallery-22964%
Nintendo dates Play on Wii, other 2009 releases for Europe
Supposedly, a list for what's coming next year in Europe was issued by NoE and it's been found on a few sites. The problem is that none of these sites source anything entirely credible, so we're remaining a bit skeptical on this one. What are you waiting for? Dive past the break for this rather extensive list of what's apparently going to release in Europe, including some Play on Wii titles, next year.
New features for Pikmin, Mario Tennis Wii-makes revealed
When Nintendo announced that they'd be porting GameCube titles to the Wii with updated features, many responded with trepidation, fearing Nintendo was attempting to fix things that were far from broken. Japan will see if these fears are merited as the first of these Wii-makes hits store shelves tomorrow in the form of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, but Famitsu recently dropped some details about changes in two titles that might be more successful in tickling your fancy -- Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis. Famitsu reveals that Nintendo's floral take on Lemmings (which is dropping in Japan on Christmas) will feature a new save system that stores day-to-day records of your play time. Whenever you boot up Pikmin, you can continue your game by jumping back into any day of your choosing. Unsurprisingly, a new feature revealed for Mario Power Tennis is a renovated, Wii Sports Tennis-esque control scheme -- though the new title will be compatible with the Nunchuck, likely giving you control over your character's movements on the court. Japanese racqueteers can pick up Mario Power Tennis on January 15.
Pikmin just got a little more perfect
It seems we were hasty when we wrote that the "Play on Wii" version of Pikmin would feature "no new content, the modified control scheme aside." The latest Famitsu, as translated by IGN, reveals that the game's save mechanism has also been updated, and now allows you to restart play from any day you please. So, if 98 of your 100 precious plant warriors get singed by a troublesome Fiery Blowhog, you can avert disaster by turning back time. Nice to see Nintendo adding some worthwhile changes to more and more Wii de Asobu titles!%Gallery-27598%
Play on Wii Donkey Kong has new stages, drastic changes
According to a Famitsu article translated by IGN, at least one game from Nintendo's forthcoming Play on Wii series will feature deeper modifications than slapped-on Wii controls. We've often questioned how well Donkey Kong Jungle Beat would work with the Wiimote and Nunchuk (given that the original game was played with plastic bongos), and Nintendo also seems unsure.Because of this, the remade Jungle Beat is being moulded into a more traditional platformer, with repositioned enemies, new mid-level checkpoints, and only a handful of motion-controlled moves (The nunchuk's analog stick moves Donkey Kong, and the A button makes him jump). Significantly, there will also be completely new stages, though Famitsu didn't reveal further details (such as how many). The remake of Pikmin, incidentally, will feature no new content, the modified control scheme aside.Can Jungle Beat work as a traditional platformer? We'll hold judgment on that, while noting that the DK Bongos played a major role in making the original game fun.
Pikmin, Mario Power Tennis revealed as first 'Play on Wii' titles for US
Tucked away in a newly released Nintendo software schedule PDF is the first confirmation that the "Play on Wii" series of GameCube Wiimakes is US-bound. Re-tooled versions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis are listed among other titles due in North America during 2009, although no specific dates accompany them.'Play on Wii' Pikmin hits Japan on Dec. 5 for ¥3800 ($38). If Nintendo can bring it and other GCN ports Stateside for $29.99, will you bite?[Siliconera via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Point/Counterpoint: Yea or Nay -- Play on Wii?
At their October media summit, Nintendo announced plans to release Wii ports of some GameCube games as the Wii de Asobu (Play on Wii) series. Today, we found solid evidence of a North American release. While GameCube games are, of course, currently playable on Wii, these new ports will enable motion and pointer-based control schemes, allowing new players to use the "simpler" Wii controls, and existing fans to play favorites in a new way. At least, that's the idea, we think.But is it a good idea to port these games and try to sell them again? Is it good for the fans? For the games? For the Wii? For the win? We say yes! And also no. That's kind of how debating works! NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; }
Nintendo directs Pikmin remake to North America
Nintendo has published a list of Wii releases for 2009, and while it's some way from being a complete list, the news for North America ranges from great to ominous. We want to start this post on a happy note, so we'll begin by saying: the Play on Wii remake of Pikmin -- just the first game -- is totally coming to the U.S. The schedule also confirms the Mario Power Tennis remake for the States, so it looks like those two will lead the brand off here.But there's worrying news as well. For one, Disaster: Day of Crisis still isn't down for a North American release. Okay, so this isn't actually that surprising, as Reggie (who isn't the title's biggest fan, remember) has said all along that any U.S. release hinges on the performance of the game in Europe. As Disaster only came out in Europe last Friday, we still don't know how it fared, though will find out soon enough. Also missing are numerous Play on Wii remakes, including Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Chibi-Robo, and the two Metroid Primes.We'll say this again, just in case: this is definitely a bare-bones list, with not every Wii release of next year featuring. We're not about to give up on getting Disaster just yet.[Via Siliconera]
'Play on Wii' Pikmin ports possibly US-bound
The ESRB's listings for Pikmin and Pikmin 2 have been updated: they haven't been re-rated AO due to recently-uncovered adult content or anything like that, but they're now listed for both GameCube and Wii! This makes it very likely that Nintendo of America is at least planning to release the ported 'Play on Wii' versions of those two games.None of the other Play on Wii games, including Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Chibi-Robo, Mario Power Tennis, and Metroid Prime 1 and 2, are currently listed on the ESRB as Wii games. Chances are that the Pikmins are the ones most Nintendo fans were most interested in anyway. [Via OMGNintendo]
Cammie: Pikmin Wiimake 'not the Pikmin Miyamoto referred to'
If you were overcome by that sinking feeling -- more like a freefalling plummet -- after reading yesterday's news, fret not, Cammie Dunaway has confirmed that there is a true Pikmin sequel in the works. "It's not the Pikmin that Mr. Miyamoto referred to, no. Mr. Miyamoto referred to a new Pikmin, as opposed to the classics that are being rereleased on Wii," Dunaway reassured IGN. See? Nintendo does care about you. Just be patient. There are a lot of exciting projects holding up the queue.
Cammie Dunaway clears up Pikmin confusion
When Play on Wii was announced, we all wondered if this was the Pikmin that Shigeru Miyamoto talked about back at E3. According to Cammie Dunaway, it is not and Nintendo is in fact working on a brand new Pikmin game. When asked about the confusion, Cammie said this Play on Wii game is "not the Pikmin that Mr. Miyamoto referred to" and that "Mr. Miyamoto referred to a new Pikmin, as opposed to the classics that are being rereleased on Wii." So, aside from selling us old games again, Nintendo also wants to sell us new games. Sounds good to us!
Play on Wii: New videos of old games
Nintendo has released the first (silent) videos of the Wii de Asobu (Play on Wii) series, and, well, it's a nice feeling to know ahead of time that a Wii game is going to look just like a GameCube game, and for that to be okay. We have video of the first two games in the series: one of which is a shining example of the potential of pointer control to rejuvenate a GameCube game, and one is a mistake. In the Pikmin video above, you can see the pointer-controlled cursor in action, looking pretty much like it was always supposed to be there. After the break, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, the equivalent of rereleasing Guitar Hero as Hero.
Nintendo dates Pikmin port, names other Play on Wii titles
IGN has confirmed that the "Play on Wii" Pikmin port is more than just a repackaging -- it and the other Play on Wii GameCube games will have updated Wiimote controls. Pikmin is actually the second of these to be released, and it'll hit Japan on December 25 of this year for 3,800 yen ($36). It'll be preceded on December 11 by the game we officially nominate Least Likely to Benefit from New Controls: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. If these games are released here, we would expect them to be slightly cheaper than the Japanese price (like all games). Titles announced for 2009 include Mario Tennis, Metroid Prime 1 and 2, Pikmin 2, and -- best of all -- Chibi-Robo! It'll be interesting to see if Skip makes it a point-and-click like it was originally. [Via Joystiq]
Pikmin remake launches Dec. 25 in Japan, Nintendo unveils more 'Play for Wii' titles
This Christmas, Japanese gamers will be able to waggle flowery lemmings to their hearts content. Nintendo has announced (via IGN) that the Pikmin remake for Wii will launch December 25 in Japan for 3,800 yen (approx. US $36). The game is part of Nintendo's new "Play for Wii" series, which will be a collection of GameCube titles revised with Wii controls. Before Pikmin (and not counting previous Wii remake Resident Evil 4), Nintendo will re-release Donkey Kong Jungle Beat on December 11. Upcoming titles in the collection include Chibi Robo, Pikmin 2, Mario Tennis GC, Metroid Prime, and Metroid Prime 2 Dark Echoes. No word on any release dates outside of Japan, but we'll be live at Nintendo of America's press conference in San Francisco later today.
Nintendo unveils new WarioWare, Mario & Luigi, more
Not content with announcing a new DS iteration and a few franchise updates, Nintendo has used its Japanese press conference to reveal approximately 3 bajillion more new titles, including new editions of WarioWare and Mario & Luigi. Highlights include:DS (Expanded List, Video) Mario & Luigi RPG 3 Made in Wario/Wario Ware Wii (Expanded List, Video) Pikmin remake New Punch-Out!!! Sin and Punishment 2 Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Another Code (Trace Memory)
