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Let's Catch up with Prope's other game
Let's Tap developer Prope is quietly building themselves a series. In addition to the weird hands-off minigame collection, the company has a WiiWare game on the way, also for Sega: Let's Catch. They revealed it in October, but it hasn't gotten the attention of its retail cohort.The official site now has a gameplay trailer available (click on the green buttons with the "NEW" speech bubbles -- the top is for high-speed connections, and the bottom is for dialup). More excitingly, if you click on the far right "New" button on the top navigation bar (the one with "Web" in it), you can play a Flash demo of Let's Catch's "Speed Catch" mode! The game also includes a four-player mode and ... a story mode. Yes.Let's Catch is expected on the Japanese WiiWare service next week, for 1,000 Wii Points.[Via GAME Watch]
Let's prepare to tap with new music
Some of you may disagree with our enjoyment of the Let's Tap soundtrack, but we're of the opinion that Prope's percussive minigame collection features music that even penguins could tap their feet to. These Let's Tap "Rhythm Tap" mode videos are presented as "Rhythm Tap Training" on the website, because you can use them to practice for the actual game! You don't actually touch the Wiimote while playing the real thing, so you can basically play along by watching the video and tapping yourself. You'll just have to measure your own progress. Or you could just enjoy the song, "Milky Way Rendezvous."The same area of the website in which you can find these videos (fifth link from the left in the top navigation bar) features new wallpaper of the various vizualizers from the game. %Gallery-33707%[Via Gamekyo]
Everyone can tap, even you
The ads for Let's Tap seem designed with one objective in mind: convincing us that anyone and everyone can get into the game. You too can tap like a champion, and all with a smile on your face and epic music in the background (provided you're a spiffy, cheerful Japanese person). This latest commercial manages to pack a surprising amount of that anyone-goes attitude into only fourteen seconds of video, and even if you're not impressed with the game, you should at least admire that sort of effort.%Gallery-33707%
Let's Tap this year
This Japanese TV commercial for Prope's Let's Tap just popped up on YouTube. While it contains no notable new footage, we do like the use of the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme, which suggests something EPIC and MONUMENTAL is coming, before you realize that no, it's just a really fun-looking, stylish minigame collection. And a free box. Which is more than good enough for us! Oh, and there's a release date squeezed in there, at least for Japan: December 18th.Past the break, we've posted footage of the game's practice mode -- ideal for starting your tap training early!%Gallery-33707%
Let's Tap with actors pretending to be a family
Although it doesn't take much to explain Prope's minimalist Let's Tap, Sega sent out this promotional video demonstrating its gameplay. This clip highlights the Rhythm Tapping, Tap Runner, and Visualizer modes, offering brief glimpses of other modes, including what appears to be a tapping-based shmup. The overall message, delivered by a family playing together, is that it's quite possible for people of pretty much any age to enjoy Let's Tap together, which is, of course, the goal of many Wii games. Few other Wii games manage such a cool and futuristic look, or such a genuinely unique and interesting input method. Apparently the family in the video enjoys Let's Tap so much that they purchased two copies, because the game only comes with two of those fancy boxes!%Gallery-33707%
Let's Tap to the rhythm
Let's Tap may be most widely known for its wacky input method (see: the title), but the more we see of it, the more we realize that its brilliant music is the true draw, and that the tapping is great mostly because it allows us to interact with that music.These three videos feature Let's Tap's "Rhythm Tap" mode, a Taiko no Tatsujin/Donkey Konga-style rhythm game played with the high-tech "cardboard box" peripheral. This mode would probably be an entertaining diversion at best if not for the fact that the songs featured in those videos are awesome. Of course, one of them is the Let's Tap theme, which we already love. %Gallery-33707%
TGS 08: Let's write an article about Let's Tap
If you've ever drummed your fingers on a table, whether in a physical display of impatience (where is that waiter?) or an attempt to capture an elusive beat, you'll probably be able to understand where Let's Tap is coming from. Specifically, it's coming from Sonic creator Yuji Naka's post-Sega studio, Prope, and hopes to win gamers (and their moms) over through sheer simplicity. Let's Face It: games don't get much simpler than tapping on a cardboard box.Evaluated as a typical Wii game, Let's Tap does little to distance itself from the cavalcade of effervescent minigames swarming the system. But as an experiment in using the Wiimote differently -- that is, to not use it at all -- it certainly warrants further attention. As it requires the Wii controller to be placed on a flat surface, face down and buttons obscured, Let's Tap is a game we can see ourselves introducing to those wracked by a morbid fear of buttons and flailing.%Gallery-33341%
Sonic creator's studio working on Sonic-like game
Shown for the first time at TGS, Let's Tap! and Let's Catch! – the inaugural Wii games from former Sega executive, designer, and co-creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka – were (refreshingly) not what we'd expected from his new studio, Prope. Frankly, we'd expected a Sonic or Billy Hatcher-esque platforming title. Wait – what's that, Gamasutra? Prope's working on a Sonic-style game? Shocking.Speaking to Gamasutra during the show, Naka revealed that, "At Prope, we're actually actually planning on making a game like Sonic right now," when asked about his future with character-based action games. "That's what we're making now," he further affirmed.So ... time for a game of "animal, vegetable, or mineral?" We're going to go with "animal." You can play along in the comments.
Wii Warm Up: The tapping game
We'll leave the "issues" regarding Let's Tap for later discussion: whether Let's Tap is yet another minigame collection or a clever, unique design; if anything other than a superior mascot platformer is a disappointing post-Sega (sort of) debut for Yuji Naka; and if a game about slapping the table has real potential for fun or if it's just five minutes worth of gimmickry.There's another question that is foremost on our minds: Which do you think is more likely to inspire rhythmic drumming: Let's Tap or its theme song?
Let's tap the Let's Tap box
Do you reside in a house with no flat surfaces whatsoever? Do you awake in your hammock every morning surrounded by nothing but domed, conic or pyramidal furniture? Then good luck playing Let's Tap, chump! As we've already seen, Prope's new game is played by resting the Wiimote face down on a flat surface, and then tapping on said surface to complete minigames.It's barmy and utterly gorgeous, and will also come ingeniously packaged in a box which doubles up as a convenient flat surface for you to play on. We doubt you have a single flat surface in your home as stylish as this.%Gallery-33707%
Six of our favorite Media Summit videos
You've already had the chance to examine scores of wonderful screens from new Wii games announced at the Nintendo Media Summit. This new post is dedicated to displaying thousands of more screens (squashed together to create videos) of some of the bigger titles that have been shown at the event.We settled on placing Nintendo's official Punch-Out!! trailer at the top of this post, but could have easily led with some truly fantastic Sin & Punishment 2 footage, an impressive tech demo of The Conduit, or Yuji Naka's wacky-looking Let's Tap. Instead, all of those (and more) are past the break, and need to be viewed right now. Before you go, though, one final note: if any game released this year has a funkier soundtrack than Let's Tap, we'll be gobsmacked.
Let's Tap, Sonic creator Naka's 'penguin' game, coming Dec. 2008
At last, Sega has finally revealed Let's Tap for Wii, Sonic creator Yuji Naka's game teased as, "World first, the game that even penguins can play." How exactly a penguin does play it is still not explicitly stated, although our marine biologist friends tell us that penguins are prone to waddle, so this inverted Wii remote laying on the ground may indicate that we will be, erm, tapping on our remote somehow.As for the game itself, the available screenshots vary greatly and provide no basis for interpretation. There is a countdown on the official website that expires in seven days. What we do know, according to the info box in the lower right corner: the genre is "tap action," it supports one to four (to infinity) players and will release this December for 5,040 yen (approx. US $48).%Gallery-33341%
Let's tap into the site for Yuji Naka's latest
The first screens for Let's Tap, revealed as the first mystery project from Yuji Naka's new company Prope, have come up at the game's official site. When we saw the video last night (and even before that, when Prope teased a game that "even penguins could play") we assumed it was a Balance Board-type thing, but it would appear based on the background of the site that the tapping is done on the B button of an upturned Wiimote.The site reveals some other interesting tidbits about the game too. Coming out in Japan in December, Let's Tap is listed as a "Tap Action" game that can be played by "1-4 players (up to infinity)." We love the weirdness of the concept, and we love the varying, sometimes abstract, visual styles found in the screens. We'll find out more in a week, when the site opens for reals.
Sonic's creator teases something new
Ms. Naka: Janene, has Sonic seemed a bit ... off to you?Janene: Why, how do you mean? Sure, he's a little rambunctious, but --Ms. Naka: No, it's more than that. He's spinning around town with the wrong crowd, he pawned all my gold rings to buy, well, other gold rings ...Janene: No! His own mother's rings?!Ms. Naka: It's true. Ever since Prope -- you know, Yuji's studio? -- put up that teaser image about a new game it's going to reveal in 17 days, Sonic's just been completely out of control!Janene: Oh, Doris, that's perfectly natural. Yuji created Sonic, and now he's making something new. The little blue guy's just afraid he won't be the favorite any more.Ms. Naka: ... Oh, God, are you joking? We haven't loved him for years. Did you not play Sonic and the Secret Rings?
Yuji Naka -- life after SEGA and Sonic
Legendary game designer Yuji Naka left Team Sonic and SEGA last year to form his own company known as Prope. This guy created Sonic, NiGHTS, and my most ever-beloved and cherished Phantasy Star series. Except the third one, I think. That was someone else. At least, it had a majorly different development team. Anyway, that's not what we're going to ramble on about today. What has Naka and Prope been up to this past year?SEGA is supporting Naka and his new company, acting as a sort of partner. Naka admits that he's got about 26 people on staff right now, most with great experience, some straight outta school. They're not going to be particular about which console they develop for -- it all depends on the type of game they're creating. They'd like as many people as possible to enjoy their games, so expect multi-platform mayhem. No sequels, side-projects, or ports of classics -- everything is going to be original. And to quote Naka's slightly creepy, but well-meaning end on that subject: "We want to make works that have the power to fill the children of the world with dreams." Or fudge. Children are happy when filled with fudge, too. So what do you guys expect out of this team? Downloadable content, games for the younger crowd, or something new and artsy?
Rumorang: NiGHTS 2 spotted on game mag cover
Apparently, world exclusives just aren't what they used to be. Shortly after Official Nintendo Magazine teased readers with "world exclusive" information on a new game, only to backpedal once internet speculation deemed the game to be NiGHTS 2, comes this image of an upcoming issue of Swedish mag, Game Reactor. Their exclusive is right there on the cover -- the androgynous acrobat himself sporting a grand new costume. No mention of platform is made, though most online pundits point to Wii.The image, which was posted on the NeoGAF forums and the Game Reactor website, has since been replaced on the latter page with a version containing an empty outline of NiGHTS. Is that the official motif for teasing gamers with the sequel to a deeply loved Saturn classic? Caution requires us to continue labeling this as an unconfirmed rumor, but we think it's about time we changed our line of questioning.It's not a question of whether NiGHTS 2 exists now, but rather a question of how completely modern Sega (sans Yuji Naka) will mangle a cherished property. We say it in jest, but deep down, we can already picture an Afterburner clone, complete with fly-by shootings and bordello bombing runs.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Yuji Naka not involved in any new NiGHTS game
As dubious as we find this NiGHTS rumor, the community love for the game has kept it alive and kept gamers hopeful. However, the one man who could truly make a high quality NiGHTS game has no intentions of returning to the franchise.Speaking to CVG, Yuji Naka, the former leader of Sega's Sonic Team, has stated quite bluntly that "at present, I have no intentions" of revisiting any of his old Sega franchises, which includes Sonic and NiGHTS. Granted, Sega could make a new NiGHTS title without Naka, who left the company in May 2006 to form his own studio Prope. But the quality of Sonic Team's work has been questionable at best since his departure.If all these rumors lead to a NiGHTS virtual console release, then consider us excited. However, if Sega looks to add another entry in the series, then we hope the hype wears down (not likely) or that Sega gives this to a new studio. Considering recent releases, we're not sure a NiGHTS game from the Sonic Team will be capable of living up to the fanbase's high expectations.
Rumorang: Yuji Naka says no new NiGHTS (from him at least)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Rumorang_Yuji_Naka_says_No_New_NiGHTS_from_him_at_least'; Responding to the rumors about a new NiGHTS game on the Wii, Yuji Naka, formerly the head of Sonic Team, told CVG that even if such a thing exists, he's not a part of it, and has no plans to be. Naka recently left Sega to form his own studio called PROPE, so for him to rejoin Sega for a project so soon would be slightly unusual.The other major figure involved with NiGHTS is Naoto Oshima, who is now head of Artoon. If the two of them were to reunite to work on a NiGHTS game, then we'd really have something! But the fact that these two esteemed developers no longer work at Sega casts more doubt on the NiGHTS rumors, or at least makes them less exciting if true.
Brand new NiGHTS "confirmed" by SPOnG
We were a little doubtful that NiGHTS would actually come to Wii. Sure, the latest rumor shows some compelling evidence, but too often have Nintendo fans been burned by dubious anticipation. SPOnG, the gaming equivalent of the National Enquirer tabloid, has boldly "confirmed" that NiGHTS is, indeed, heading to Wii. If that didn't raise a red flag, their "anonymous insider" quote certainly did: "Yes, there is a new NiGHTS coming, and coming quite soon actually. It's a full game too, not a rehash of old NiGHTS for Virtual Console as some have said it might be lately. It's a whole new game."SPOnG notes that former Sega mastermind Yuji Naka is supposedly helming the project with his new company Prope. While the wise will cast a great shadow of doubt on anything SPOnG has to say, a glimmer of hope remains that the April exclusive reveal in Official Nintendo Magazine will be everything we've hoped for.
Yuji Naka confirmed to be leaving Sega to form Prope
Back in March, we heard rumblings that Sega stalwart Yuji Naka was planning to leave Sega to start his own studio. Today, that rumor's been confirmed. According to Next Generation, Naka's new company is called Prope, which means "'beside' and 'near' future." Prope's web site (not linked on Next Gen) apparently explains that the name was chosen "in the hopes of bringing game entertainment much closer to users, establishing closer ties between users and us, and creating near future entertainment." We're just happy that Naka is retaining some ties to his old corporate home thanks to a 10% contribution on Sega's part to prop up the emerging new independent studio (a concept which Sega seems to support with its developers). Unfortunately, as the firm "will commit to new IP," you shouldn't expect updates of Sega classic franchises from the old hand anytime soon. It will also be interesting to see who's guiding the new Sonic games as well. Prope will open for business on June 1st. [Thanks, Sense; via 8-bit Ninja] See also: Rumor: Yuji Naka set to leave Sega NiGHTS Into Dreams, onto Revolution? Next-gen Sonic to be "re-invented" for PS3 and Xbox 360
