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Reader UI of the Week: A distraction-free hunter UI
Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter. Welcome back to Reader UI of the Week, where your awesome UI creations go out for the world to see and learn from. I must stress again that this is a learning experience, people. Learn. Adapt. Thrive. Evolve into user interface greatness. Our submission this week is one of those examples of coolness and tidiness that many people could get some cool ideas from. Sigkill is a hunter with a distraction-free UI. His email subject started to pick at my mind: distraction-free. Are there really distractions out there that are part of a user interface? Why would a game distract you from, say, playing the game? Are there addons that are distracting you during serious raid play or just flashing when things shouldn't be flashing? Am I being too nitpicky? Well, I might have figured it out, and with your help, I think we'll be on the road to distraction-free UIs for all of us.
Reader UI of the Week: Going transparent with Quatho's UI
Each week, WoW Insider brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com. Welcome to Reader UI of the Week, WoW Insider's weekly user interface column, where your UI is the star! Last week's edition changed the format up a bit, but this week we're going back to form and checking out a pretty cool setup by Quatho. I chose Quathos' user interface for a couple of reasons, most notably to highlight how cool transparency can be when crafting your user interface, as well as working from a laptop. Many people email me asking for laptop user interfaces, and whenever I can, I do like to oblige. So sit back, relax, and let's jump into Quatho's UI.
Addon Spotlight: Grab Bag 3
Each week, WoW Insider brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same. This week, Grab Bag Part 3: The Search for More Money. With Cataclysm a mere four days away (and a super-special live WoW Insider Show tomorrow), excitement is at an all-time high. It has been a while since we've had this level of excitement, and believe me, I have not been immune to it. I've been pouring over quest progression, making wish lists for gear in Atlastloot, and just generally anticipating an awesome Cataclysm launch. I still can't believe it's happening so soon. People seem to enjoy the grab bag Addon Spotlight features, especially when they find something brand new that changes the way they play WoW in some fashion. This week, I've got a diverse grab bag for you. We're going to look at one addon used for interface customization, a pet/mount addon you might not have heard of, and something for you paladins out there.
Today's please-play-play-better-in-person video: DK Bongo Blast
Is the Wii doomed to half-baked waggle games, or will developers harness the awesome power of apples gestures? For a game from Nintendo, Donkey Kong Bongo Blast doesn't give us a lot of hope, at least in video form. Watch the spastic drum-roll gesture to start Donkey Kong racing in addition to other control ... um ... schemes. (And we were sick of the drum roll after Rayman Rabbids, even with the reward of kicking a bunny or launching one off a train cart.)Oh, waggle, prove us wrong.See the video after the break.
He's finally back to kick some tail
DK! Donkey Kong! DK! Donkey Kong is here! Sorry, we can't think about Donkey Kong anymore without the DK Rap blaring in our heads. Much like how Rare permanently left their mark on DK through his character design, the rap has been irrevocably stuck to the character. Having the horrifying song stuck in our heads is the price we pay for playing Donkey Kong 64 or Super Smash Bros. Melee. Luckily, scanned images don't have audio tracks, so we can live without fear of coconut guns that can fire in spurts.Jeux-France has some magazine scans of Donkey Kong Jungle Climber, the sequel to the GBA's King of Swing, and it looks as good as any game that features a giant talking banana as a character, which is to say it looks excellent. And they kept the shoulder-button control scheme instead of tacking on a touch-screen system! Good Nintendo.%Gallery-3481%
DK Bongo Blast fires off the screens
These new screenshots of Nintendo's Gamecube-turned-Wii racer haven't completely alleviated our fears over its new control setup, but we're excited to see that animal-riding has been included! With the game's Japanese release date (6/28) only a few weeks away, we can look forward to seeing a lot more revealing previews and gameplay videos soon. Head past the post break for rhino-riding images from DK Bongo Blast.
Rare on Banjo VC: "It's possible"
In a response to a young Rare fan's letter posted in their Scribes column, Rare discussed the possibility of some of their franchises coming over to the Virtual Console. The Donkey Kong Country sequels are likely, because Donkey Kong is a Nintendo-owned property. But games starring Diddy Kong, the Rare-created pal of DK, are not as clear-cut.The main focus of the letter was Banjo-Kazooie, which is a Rare-owned property. The Rare "scribe" diplomatically said that "it's possible" for Banjo games to appear either on the VC or on the Xbox 360 Live Arcade. Our advice? Don't wait for any N64 games to come to VC, because they are slow in arriving.[Via Play-Nintendo]
Giant Wii remote
This image brings so many things to mind. The first thought that jumped into our head was the ultimate match of Wii Sports ever, where Godzilla takes on King Kong in a match of Tennis that is being projected against the Empire State building. The match ends with Godzilla being the victor, only because on the Game Point he turned to Kong and melted his face off with his laser breath.If you think we're crazy, know that Godzilla's cheating tendencies have been well-documented the world over for many years.
Mystery sequel to be announced shortly?
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Mystery_sequel_for_Wii_to_be_announced_shortly'; Japanese mag Nintendo Dream (truly, if only such wondrous publications were here in America as well) has related a tantalizing morsel. According to a ghetto Google translation (check after the break), a successor to a famed and well-known Nintendo franchise is coming to a Wii near you. What could it be? Donkey Kong? Kid Icarus? Such teasing articles are better left unpublished; we lose sleep over this stuff, you know. Cold sweats in the middle of the night kind of stuff.There will be no posts between 3 and 4 today, due to therapy sessions.
It's for real this time: Virtual Console Mondays are a go
So, last week's rather spasmodic Virtual Console releases were a bit strangely timed. Still, it's hard to fault Nintendo, who has very little online console experience and consumer demand out the yin-yang. Still, they promised us Virtual Console Mondays, and by golly, here they come. From a press release:Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii™ video game console's Wii Shop Channel. Four games will be added at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Dec. 4. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are: Donkey Kong Jr. (NES): 500 points Victory Run (TG-16): 600 points Columns (Sega Genesis): 800 points Ristar (Sega Genesis): 800 points A nice little addition! We're particularly looking forward to Columns, a very relaxing and satisfying puzzle game. With several new games being released every Monday, it won't be long until we see our promised Toe Jam and Earl action, or some of those rumored Virtual Console releases we keep hearing about. And look! A Christmas present! Keep 'em comin', Nintendo.
Metareview: Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis
In the sequel, the roles have reversed and now the Mini Marios must save the day. With several obstacles in their path, players must guide the Mini Marios using the stylus and touch-screen. More interesting, however, is the ability for players to create custom maps and send them to other users via Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connect service. Overall, the game has received favorable scores: Gamespot - 82%: "Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 may not play quite the same way the original game did, but the new take on the formula is a fun and refreshing one. The touch-screen controls are easy to get a handle on, and with more than 80 different stages to play through, as well as the construction mode, you'll find yourself with plenty to do. It's simply a great time for Mario fans and puzzle fans alike." IGN - 70%: "The original Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a far better puzzle game than March of the Minis is, but that doesn't make this game a bad one. It is a clever Lemmings-inspired, touch screen design with a great focus on user-submitted content to keep the game going on and on. Its similarities to the first game are only in looks; the concept goes in a refreshingly different -- but just not as successful, addictive or challenging -- direction for Nintendo DS gamers." Gamepro - 85%: "As a sequel, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis surpasses the original by leaps and bounds backed by the capabilities of the Nintendo DS, however the new control scheme does take some getting used to." So there we have it. While many agree it's not as good as the first game, would you be inclined to agree, fine reader? Or has Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis surpassed the greatness of the first game?
Mario vs. DK 2 Wi-Fi details and site launch
The site for Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis over at nintendowifi.com has launched and in the process reveals some of the specific features that will utilize the Wi-Fi functionality of the title. In being able to design and upload/download custom-created levels over the service, Nintendo will include unlockable templates, some including hidden characters. Players will only need to use the touch-screen to do everything from drawing platforms and bridges, to including elevators and enemies in these templates. Upon successfully creating a level, the player may save it then log onto the Wi-Fi Connection service to either upload the map for their friends to download or peruse their friends' created maps.
Leipzig: DS games overview video
In this small snippet of footage for already-released and upcoming games for the DS from the Leipzig Games Convention, we see titles such as Mario Vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and Hotel Dusk: Room 215, which has players looking for a lost friend during the late seventies in Los Angeles. With some stylish noir overtones and an interesting story, it's clearly our pick for best game of the bunch in this video.
Mario Hoops site updated
The pre-launch extravaganza for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 continues with the latest video update centering around another simian slam-dunker in Dixie. The video, which shows Dixie's Barrel Drop maneuver, allows us to enjoy the carnage resulting from the massive alley-oop as Dixie sits atop the giant wooden barrel, blasting the ball to Peach, who then rocks the rim with the kind of authority that could put Shaq to shame. See also: Get schooled at Dunk U
Game & Watch compilation coming soon?
Nintendo of Japan recently announced that through its Club Nintendo program, gamers over in Japan would be able to acquire Game & Watch Compilation, which features three classics in Donkey Kong, Oil Panic, and Greenhouse. In purchasing Japanese Nintendo games, there are included inserts that equal a certain amount of points, 500 to be exact, will score the gamer a copy of this compilation. As of now, there is no word on a release for the US, but here's to hoping it's successful over there as I know I'm not the only US gamer who would love to get their mitts on a copy.[Via Game Brink]
Game and Watch DS mod
In our continuing coverage of cool things that can be done with your old DS once you purchase a DS Lite (and you will), we bring to you the Game and Watch Donkey Kong mod. This fine french modder, who goes by the name of Kotomi, was responsible for the old school modded DS and seems to be keeping busy. If you check out other posts on his blog, you'll also see a Zelda Game and Watch mod along with some other cool stuff. For those of you without the ability to read French, try Babel Fish.
Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis opening CG
This video shows the intro movie, taken straight from the show floor of E3, for the upcoming Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis. All I want to know is what do I have to do to get a couple wind-up toys like those?[Via Go Nintendo]
Donkey Kong swinging onto the Revolution
N-Sider reports that Nintendo's own Shigeru Miyamoto announced that a new Donkey Kong title would be gracing the Revolution and it would be helmed by none other than the Jungle Beat team led by Takao Shimizu and Yoshiaki Koizumi in a Famitsu magazine piece. The game is being released in the console's launch cycle and will be present at E3, although in what capacity we can only speculate. The game is to forgo the bongo interface of previous titles and adopt a new control interface on the Revolution.It's smart for Nintendo to come out in full force with all of their strongest first-party titles for the Revolution, which is something the GameCube failed to do during its launch. Donkey Kong has been a fan favorite for years and, should the game feature the same polish as past games bearing the gorilla's mug, will be sure to be one of the Revolution's best titles. What kind of game do you want to see DK in next? Another platformer?
