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Joystiq impressions: Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (WiiWare)
Days before the Nintendo Media Summit, Telltale Games revealed Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. I tried the adventure game at the event and spoke with Telltale's marketing coordinator, Emily Morganti.Strong Bad follows in the game style of Sam & Max and other adventures, but it trades some of the linear, story elements for more random activities. For example, Strong Bad can make prank phone calls; play mini-games, including fake-retro throwbacks from the online cartoon; check in-game email, and otherwise explore his world.Players drive most of the game interaction by pointing and clicking with the Wii Remote, although some mini-games use an NES-style approach. Morganti stressed that for this game and the upcoming Sam & Max conversion, Telltale won't add motion controls for their own sake. Telltale's own team of writers and producers, including many who have been part of Sam & Max, are collaborating the Chapmans, Homestar Runner's creators. But unlike Sam & Max, Telltale plans to have different people lead the production on each of the five, roughly monthly episodes.Morganti explained, "Each episode, a different designer [is in charge], which is more like they do on TV. ... It's still the same team. [But] it'll be interesting to see how the episodes feel as a result. With Sam & Max, we've had complaints that they feel too similar. We might find with Strong Bad, that each one feels very different."%Gallery-20305%
Joystiq hands-on: World of Goo (WiiWare)
Cute graphics and sounds: Check. Clever puzzle mechanic: Check. Irresistible gameplay: Check. World of Goo hits the required bullet points to be an indie game darling. And comfortable Wii Remote controls make it a perfect fit to be in Nintendo's WiiWare lineup.Players build simple structures by pointing and dragging living, bouncing goo balls. These spherical wonders extend a few arms to their closest neighbors, becoming rigid when the Remote button is released. Gamers have to figure out how to build bridges, towers, and other structures without toppling them over, all while trying to use as few balls as possible. In the end, they're trying to lead the remaining balls to a mysterious pipe that sucks them away at the end of the level.I tried the action-puzzler at the Nintendo Media Summit and am anticipating its release sometime this year. (Developer 2D Boy says its work will be complete in the Summer, and Nintendo will schedule the release after that.) World of Goo felt great and could be poised to be an indie game that crosses over into commercial success.%Gallery-20573%
Joystiq hands-on: LostWinds (WiiWare)
Briefly previewed at GDC, LostWinds is a stylish, creative take on platforming. The Nunchuk analog stick moves your small character over obstacles from a side-view. But the the character can't jump or climb very high; he needs the wind to push him up and over pits. The Wii Remote fills this role naturally. A pointer swipe and button push gusts the wind into the world, lifting the small character to higher plateaus. Even ambient background objects like trees and grasses sway with the breeze. Later puzzles require you to guide the wind into other objects, not just the small fellow. These techniques feel fresh and the visuals rival other Wii games. LostWinds was one of my favorite experiences from the Nintendo Media Summit. %Gallery-16523%
GBC cult classic 'Toki Tori' coming to Wii Ware
You could be forgiven for missing out on Toki Tori, a cute little Game Boy Color puzzle-platformer released in 2001, just as the Game Boy Advance was swallowing up everyone's portable gaming attention. You'd also be forgiven for missing last week's trailer announcing that the game is being revamped for Nintendo's Wii Ware service. We sure did!Despite the week-old trailer, Netherlands-based developer Two Tribes for some reason waited until today to issue a press release officially revealing the new game's "Dozens of Levels" and "New Wii Remote Controls." Strangely enough, now that the press release is out, the game's official web site seems to be down for maintenance and a project page about the game on the Two Tribes site is similarly inaccessible. Come on guys ... this is no time to shrink from attention. Get that cute little yellow face out there to the public! Gallery: Toki Tori
Episodic 'Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People' coming in June
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Strong_Bad_episodic_series_coming_to_WiiWare_this_June '; Telltale Games has revealed that the "new WiiWare episode series" hinted at during GDC08 will be Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive people, based on the character from Homestar Runner. The series will be a five-episode season with installments promised monthly on Nintendo's download service as well as the PC. The first episode is due out in June; further release date and pricing details are promised later, according to the press release.If you need a refresher on Strong Bad, we'd appriciate (yes, you read that right) it if you checked out the "sbemail" archives. More details, assets and an official trailer are expected later today.Update: Check out this April 1 video from Homestar Runner that might've hinted at this announcement.Update: Website and trailers launch.%Gallery-20305%
XGen defends their work on Defend Your Castle
IGN has a rather extensive interview, along with other media, for WiiWare title Defend Your Castle. We don't have to tell you how good this new downloadable title is looking, so when we hear the developers behind it made a conscious effort not to do a quick port of the PC Flash game and instead are working to completely overhaul it, adding in 4-player co-op and the new graphical style we all love, we fall in love. XGen Studios, your chocolates and roses are in the mail. %Gallery-17240%
April Fools' Alert #13: 3D, physics-based Tetris on WiiWare
The problem with all of these April Fools' shenanigans is that some of the fake games, peripherals and features people dream up are actually quite awesome. Case in point is this first-of-April report on the WiiWare version of Tetris which, according to a conveniently broken-linked Famitsu source, will feature 3D manipulation of the pieces in what looks to be a mélange of Jenga and EA's Steven Spielberg's Boom Blox.We get the joke ("what a hilariously awkward take on such a hard-to-mess-up gameplay formula!"), but we have to admit we're intrigued by the potential of taking Tetris in a new direction. Nintendo had previous success with its alternate Tetris modes in the Nintendo DS version of the game. Maybe a physics-based iteration of the tetromino-tilting title isn't such a crazy idea after all.
A welcome dosage of Dr. Mario
Josh Thomas from WiiFolder has compiled an excellent two-part video tour of Dr. Mario's Virus Buster for saps like us who are impatiently awaiting WiiWare's arrival in the west. Sure enough, against all reasonable odds, the footage above and after the break has actually managed to raise our excitement levels for the game -- we now particularly want to try out the Wiimote-specific mode (especially with three other people), and were delighted to hear that online play is totally -- that's totally -- lag-free (despite Josh being based in the U.S. and his opponents being in Japan). Finally, we were less than delighted to learn about Josh's record online -- just four wins from 35 matches. We suspect our own tally will be crushingly similar come May.
Wii getting cell phone shovelware, thanks Gameloft
In companies' rush to capitalize on the industry's fascination with waggle, the Wii has become no stranger to games we'd sooner use to prop up the short leg of our coffee table than play. Much as it seems counterintuitive, novelty has not been par the course for the console so much as it has been quick cash-ins, though we continue to look to the Wii's digital download service WiiWare as the platform's saving grace.It seems, however, that even WiiWare will not be immune to its share of shovelware, with mobile game developer-publisher Gameloft planning to use the service as a receptacle for cell phone games. We wouldn't mind so much if the company had originality on the brain, but its first effort, a Breakout clone going by the name of Block Breaker Deluxe, doesn't give us much hope. The download will be released in Japan in April before launching in other regions at a later date, giving us one to watch out for, if only to know what to avoid once WiiWare launches in North America on May 12.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Wiimote head tracking meets First Person Shooter: die Marshies, die
Remember Johnny Chung Lee's self-made VR head-tracking system cobbled together from a Wiimote and IR-equipped safety glasses? Good, because it's now one step closer to its destiny as the ultimate controller for a first person, Wii shooter. The video experience in a 3D wireframed world does look admittedly rough, but the idea is sound: step forward to move forward, to the sides to turn, and jump to (you guessed it) jump. Fortunately, with Nintendo's WiiWare service now live in Japan, maybe, just maybe someone will see the potential and commercialize this. Watch the Insight VR people hunt down the evil Marshies after the break.[Via Make and Hack A Day]
WiiWare Final Fantasy to charge for downloadable races
We've known for a while that Nintendo's just-launched-in-Japan WiiWare service would require an additional fee for some downloadable content. Little did we know that content would include a pretty fundamental part of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King.SiliconEra is reporting (via Square's Japanese web site) that players who pay 1,500 Wii Shop Points to purchase the ridiculously-abbreviated FFCC:MLaaK will only have access to one of the game's races. Players wishing to recruit any of the other three races will have to spend 100 to 300 Wii Shop Points to construct a home for them. Players will also be able to lay down real money for new character costumes, which don't seem to have any effect on the gameplay.Given the controversy surrounding the pricing of additional gameplay content for Lumines Live, we can't imagine Wii owners will be happy shelling out 1,500 points for what's essentially an incomplete product. Then again, the wide variety of Final Fantasy collectibles suggests a fan base willing to shell out whatever it takes to get their dose of apocalyptic, Japanese RPG goodness. We'll see soon enough, we suppose.
WiiWare Japanese launch info round-up
The day you've been waiting for is here -- if you're a Japanese Wii owner with a hankering for downloadable games, that is. Yes, Nintendo's game download service WiiWare has finally launched in Japan and, with the help of our friends over at Wii Fanboy, we've rounded up a bunch of information on the roll out from around the web, including: Video of the download process (which is rather slow on Nintendo's currently overwhelmed servers). A description of the shopping process from SiliconEra. Impressions of a few launch games (including one that actually sounds fun) over at Wired's Game|Life. Screenshots galore from Famitsu. Videos galore, gathered by Wii Fanboy from NintendoWorldReport. We're also following news about the service's implementation of downloadable content, which has shown up in three games so far. Look for more on that in a bit.
WiiWare launched, impressions rounded up
While most of us were sleeping -- like a bunch of chumps -- Nintendo launched its WiiWare service in Japan early this morning. As expected, the WiiWare servers are taking a beating from thousands of gamers hoping to try out the new downloadable releases, but Siliconera's Spencer Yip and Wired's Chris Kohler were still able to grab a few games and write up their impressions, all of which you can peruse below.A few surprises revealed themselves with the service's launch: My Life as a King is rife with microtransactions, offering additional costumes, dungeons, and races (Yukes, Selkies, and Lilties) for 100-300 Wii Points. Star Soldier R features three light modes -- a two-minute mode in which you play through a quick stage for a high score, a similar 5-minute mode with two levels and boss encounters, and a "Fast Shot" mode for testing your button-tapping skills. Saku Saku Animal Panic, the only WiiWare launch title from a US developer and a game we haven't paid any attention to at all, is apparently "pretty fun!" Judging by Chris Kohler's impressions, it sounds a lot like Jezzball, minus the balls ... And the Jezz. Now all we need are detailed Dr. Mario, Okiraku Ping Pong,and My Life as a King impressions!Read - The WiiWare Shopping experienceRead - WiiWare Impressions: LonposRead - WiiWare Impressions: Angel's SolitaireRead - WiiWare Impressions: Saku Saku Animal PanicRead - WiiWare Impressions: Star Soldier RRead - Extra content in My Life as a King explainedRead - Lonpos has pay-to-play content too
Takahashi Meijin to show off Wii Ware in Japan
Hudson's Takahashi Meijin, the star of Adventure Island, will be a featured guest at a Wii Ware event hosted by Japanese cell phone company KDDI. The KDDI Design Studio will take place on April 1st and 2nd in Harajuku, and will feature playable versions of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As a King, Dr. Mario & Bacillus Extermination, and Hudson's Star Soldier R. Admission will be free. Plane tickets to Japan continue not to be. Takahashi will participate in a "talk show" as well as game demonstrations. He rose to fame with his Star Soldier shooting skills, so attendees should expect some feats of button-mashing from the Meijin on the new version.
Rumor: Wario's Woods coming to Wii Ware
Update: Wishful thinking be damned -- seems this thing it an early April Fools jokeTrivia time, kiddies. All right, what was the last Nintendo-published game to appear on the NES? Need a hint? It also might be one of the the first Wii Ware game to feature Mario characters. Still need another hint? Um ... look in the headline.Our colleagues at Wii Fanboy got these purported photos of a Wii Ware Wario's Woods from an anonymous Japanese tipster who didn't give many details on their provenance. It's entirely possible they're an elaborate hoax, but if so they show an incredible attention to detail and a talent for capturing the aestethic shown in other Nintendo-published Wii Ware titles. We won't know for sure until an official announcement comes out of The Big N, but for the time being please indulge our wishful thinking in hoping that these screenshots do indeed represent an actual, in-development game. In the meantime ... to the Virtual Console we go! Gallery: Wario's Woods (Wii)
Defend Your Castle Wii Ware trailer is super-cute
We've known about its existence for about a month, and now we get to know what cult classic Flash game Defend Your Castle will look like when it come to Nintendo's Wii Ware service. The answer, it turns out, is pretty freakin' cute. Compared to the original Flash version, the Wii Ware Defend Your Castle sports a significant lack of blood, perhaps not surprising for the family-friendly system. What is pleasantly surprising is the new paper cutout aesthetic, which reminds us of a cross between Paper Mario and Pencil Whipped. We're also fond of the robust more robust animation, which doesn't miss a beat even when hundreds of stick figures storm the castle in the trailer's thrilling multiplayer co-op finale. We haven't seen such an effective mix of cuteness and carnage since the town's last kitten massacre (warning: this last link is not for fans of kittens).
Defend Your Castle trailer storms the Internet
We weren't exactly hard to convince, since we already loved the "sweded" look of the Wii Ware version of Defend Your Castle, but we think that had we been in the "do not want" camp, seeing the game in motion would have melted our hardened hearts. Every interface is made to appear as if it was crafted from household items. The temple, where you convert enemies into followers, is a paint can. The battering rams are popsicle sticks. The cursor is a bread clip. It's as if you made a found-art collage depicting a Wii game! And then, uh ... made it move and stuff. %Gallery-17240%
Hudson bringing triple-dose of Bomberman to Wii
Wii owners and fans of the adorable lil terrorist Bomberman will be pleased to learn that not one, not two , but three different Bomberman titles are currently in development for the Nintendo console. The latest two include the traditional WiiWare version already announced, as well as a less traditional retail version, due out this June in Japan.If you're a bit confused, don't worry. The two titles were mixed up in the original Famitsu report, but a representative from Hudson has set the record straight. The WiiWare Bomberman is the classic throwback, while the retail Wii Bomberman will feature 8-player online multiplayer, with new items and Mii support. This appears to be a different retail title than the minigame-centric Bomberman Land, meaning that Hudson's "big plans" for Bomberman were apparently viciously milking the franchise for all it's worth.[Via Wii Fanboy]
LostWinds creator describes a very complicated-sounding game
We thought we understood LostWinds. There's a guy, controlled with the Nunchuk, and then there's wind, controlled with the pointer. But when we hear Frontier Developments' David Braben explain the game, we aren't so sure anymore. About the basic gameplay: "Toku is relatively small and vulnerable yet he has physical presence in the world, whereas Enril has no physical presence, just a localised sphere of influence of wind power around the shard of Spirit Stone that Toku is carrying." And it's not just simple platforming made to sound more complex. There's actually a lot going on in LostWinds other than jumping and gusting. You can use the wind to interact with the environment, including blowing water into the ground to grow an assortment of seeds that you can then use. The interview goes on to discuss the importance of audio and narrative in games, and LostWinds' stylized appearance. Braben also denies (for now) a Virtual Console release of his Commodore 64 classic Elite.
WiiWare dev: XBLA is 'full of sh*t'
A little friendly trash-talk is to be expected between game developers and their various digital distribution platforms, but one anonymous WiiWare developer seems fiercely devoted to the potential of Nintendo's platform, calling Xbox Live Arcade's lineup "full of shit."The comment comes from a discussion of Nintendo's aggressive strategy for bringing developers to the WiiWare platform. According to Develop Magazine, Nintendo is taking advantage of frustrations with Microsoft's service to entice developers over to WiiWare. According to the anonymous developer, the sheer glut of retro titles on XBLA makes it difficult for new properties to stand out (a grievance similarly aired by Jeff Minter following poor sales of his retro-styled title Space Giraffe).Of course, any digital distribution platform is bound to eventually find itself congested with titles, a problem the brick-and-mortar retail chains have dealt with for years. Only after some time will we be able to see if WiiWare handles this title saturation any differently than XBLA.
