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Nintendo celebrates Kirby's 20th Anniversary on Wii
Opening up the Nintendo Direct conference livestream, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed the company has big plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kirby. A new Wii game will collect past titles and package them on a retail disc – which classic Kirby titles would be included is a mystery.Outside of the existence of Kirby's 20th Anniversary on Wii, nothing else is known right now.
Nintendo Direct time travels with news tonight, tomorrow, yesterday
Nintendo Direct, the all-Nintendo-news, some-of-the-time video series from official Nintendo headquarters, is hitting the airwaves tonight. Technically, it's noon EST tomorrow, April 21, but folks in the US can expect announcements from the Japanese feed starting at 8:30 p.m. PST tonight, Friday, April 20. The European announcements will hit at 1 p.m. CET (4 a.m. PST), April 21.Nintendo hasn't revealed what it will discuss tonight, but it has left us a trail of clues. CEO Satoru Iwata sent out invitations to this weekend's Nintendo Direct on 3DS' Spot Pass, showing him with a giant, suspicious Kirby plushie. Kid Icarus: Uprising's Masahiro Sakurai tweeted to expect Uprising news and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy's Masanobu Suzui suggested fans should watch the feed, Andriasang translates.We'll have our eyes and fingertips ready to roll for any breakout Kirby-Kid-Icarus-Theatrhythm crossover news tonight, because really, it's not like we had any plans on a Friday night or anything.
Fake Miyamoto takes to Twitter and revitalizes Nintendo franchises in Flash
As if the saga of Fake Peter Molyneux weren't an exciting enough Twitter story, today we were introduced to Faux Shigeru Miyamoto, who creates amazing Flash games using classic Nintendo characters. Both Mario and Kirby are lampooned in Flash on the impersonator's Tumblr site, as well as the legendary creator himself of course. Presumably the totally-not-retiring slash potentially retiring developer isn't just pulling a fast one on us all, and we very much doubt these are prototypes for that original game he's making. Regardless, we suggest one thing before heading into any of the games on said site: turn your volume way, way down. Or up, if you're extremely hard of hearing, but otherwise, ya know, it's super loud. Deafeningly so.
IRL: Kirby Sentria, Sony bloggie-MHS-FS1 and the OLPC XO laptop
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Let's just cut to the chase: this week's IRL is a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, you've got Andy singing his bloggie's praises, Terrence waxing philosophical about his unused OLPC XO and Darren ranting about his grandmother's vacuum cleaner. Do you like camcorders that are not a smartphone? Do you despise door-to-door Sentria salesmen? Good. Let's hit it, then.
Kirby's Return to Dreamland review: Sleepwalking
Kirby's Return to Dreamland is too easy. I know I'm going to have to back that up, given that you couldn't die in the previous Kirby game, and I loved that one -- and given that Kirby has never exactly been synonymous with brutal difficulty, and that's kind of the point. But Kirby's Return to Dreamland, unlike Epic Yarn, centers on giving Kirby the most impressive, most exciting, and most powerful powers he's ever had, and then fails to put them to any kind of interesting use. Really, the only ability you have to master in order to succeed in this game is pushing the attack button. %Gallery-125891%
Kirby: Mass Attack review: Pink, puffy and preposterous
The core conceit of Kirby: Mass Attack was dreamed up by a complete lunatic. That's the only thing I can say about the game with absolute certainty. What sane human being would choose to eschew the time-tested formula of floaty-platforming and adorable mimicry that serves as the keystone for the franchise? Who, in their right mind, would swap that formula out for a bizarre, chimeric blend of the platforming, real-time strategy and mini-game collection genres? That's not a condemnation of Kirby: Mass Attack, of course -- that sort of outside-the-sanity-box thinking also led to the creation of the magnificent Kirby: Canvas Curse. This latest aberration of the powderpuff series doesn't quite reach the heights established by that predecessor; but during those moments where its preternatural ideas work in tandem, it comes awfully darn close. %Gallery-125888%
Kirby: Mass Attack minigames feature minis, games
Historically, very few small pink blobs have done more to further innovation in the field of minigame design than Kirby, and judging from the above trailer, HAL Laboratory's DS swan-song Kirby Mass Attack will continue that proud tradition. Other continuing traditions include: ruthlessly destroying docile forrest creatures via accurately timed button presses, and ruining Whispy Woods' day in as many ways as possible.%Gallery-132563%
New Kirby Wii game coming from HAL Laboratory
There's a new Kirby game coming to the Wii. And this time, it's far more epic than yarn. Tucked inside Nintendo's quarterly report is mention of a new Kirby sequel, developed by series originator HAL Laboratory. As you'll see in the video teaser (after the break), the pink mascot appears much more powerful than ever before. Not only is he seem toting a giant sword, he also summons a fire dragon, sucks in an entire group of enemies, and shoots out a massive death star. "Warm and fuzzy" this is not.
Kirby's Epic Yarn to wind up in Europe Feb. 25
While it still stings, we're sure, to have to wait until 2011 to play Kirby's Epic Yarn, Nintendo revealed a European release date today that isn't too far into next year: February 25. You won't be able to get it for Christmas, but you could conceivably have some gift cards left over from the holiday, at least. Perhaps it took Nintendo a while to translate all the cutesy descriptions of the collectible furniture items. Or perhaps it's taken Nintendo of Europe several months to stop hugging all the copies of the game long enough to get them into boxes.
Video: Sonic, Samus, Mario and more race to the finish line
Animator Steve Williams has made a plethora of 16-bit characters compete in a cross-cartridge race. Oh, Donald Duck, you have a turkey's chance of winning today.
The Epic Yarn of how Fluff's game became Kirby's
Kirby's Epic Yarn bears little resemblance to traditional Kirby games, and it partners the beloved pink sphere with a new character, Prince Fluff. It turns out, according to an Iwata Asks interview with Good-Feel and Nintendo staff, that there's a good reason for both -- Epic Yarn was originally Prince Fluff's game. Wario Land: Shake It! director Madoka Yamauchi came up with an idea for "World of Fluff" and designed it around the Prince Fluff character. Nintendo loved the idea, but thought something was missing from the "warm" world Good-Feel had created. Nintendo proposed turning it into a Kirby game last year. Producer Etsunobu Ebisu said that having Kirby in the world gives Epic Yarn "a greater feeling of existing." Also, we're sure, Kirby gives it a greater feeling of hope for good sales.
Footage of Nintendo's 3DS, DS and Wii lineups
Nintendo produced a few slick videos of its various console lineups for its conference, now embedded after the break. In addition to footage of known 3DS games, including Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, the 3DS video reveals a second Resident Evil game, Biohazard: The Mercenaries 3D. The Wii video offers the first look at the new Fatal Frame and Rhythm Heaven games, among many other first- and third-party titles. And though you have to wait until the end, you will see clips of the new Kirby game and Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS in the DS video.
Kirby, Pokemon Typing (!) on the way to regular old DS
Despite the 3DS making its big appearance at Nintendo's conference and dominating the news, that system doesn't get to claim the weirdest story of the night. The humble DS gets that honor, thanks to "Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS," which is exactly what it sounds like. Judging by the screenshots (available here), you type Pokemon and attack names when prompted, using a virtual keyboard. Wacky! Also wacky: Kirby (tentative title), a new DS game which appears to have the player managing a team of up to 10 Kirbies at a time. We sincerely hope there are no restaurants in the game. Both games will be released in 2011. There's also a training game about dogs who know English, but considering America's widespread knowledge of English -- and the partnership with the Japanese NHK television network -- it's safe to say that one is Japan-only.
Thank Japan for this new Kirby's Epic Yarn trailer
Nintendo announced the Japanese release date for Kirby's Epic Yarn -- October 14 -- and released a new trailer for the occasion. We've embedded it after the break, but we encourage you to go to Nintendo's site anyway, for the most charming video controls you'll ever, ever see.
Preview: Kirby's Epic Yarn
click to see Kirby's Epic ScreenshotsThough Nintendo announced games in all its major franchises simultaneously, it's not playing it safe within those franchises. Kirby's Epic Yarn, for example, is still a cutesy side-scroller, like other Kirby games, but it presents a new art style that seems pretty far out for such a mainstream game, one that has charmed me to an uncomfortable degree. The game also adds a new gameplay gimmick that, while it's not as drastic a change as Canvas Curse, still alters the basics of Kirby. And, like every new 2D platformer announced at E3, it has co-op.%Gallery-95460%
Kirby's Epic Yarn coming to the Wii this fall
Nintendo has announced a brand new Kirby game, coming to the Wii this fall. Kirby's Epic Yarn features an all-new art style for Kirby, with the character drawn in yarn and threads, and the backgrounds of the game looking as if they were created with sewn fabric. The game has Kirby wandering a 2D platform world, whipping characters and projectiles with his yarn, and taking on various ships, from a car and blimp to a gigantic screen-filling tank. There was also a second character shown, and a little bit of co-op play, with the two characters helping each other to reach platforms and separate areas. Nintendo says the game is due out sometime this fall -- we'll keep an eye out for the game on the floor of E3 today.
Cool iPad decals from Etsy
We've spotlighted vinyl decals for MacBooks before, but comic art blog Super Punch has spotted a few fun iPad decals on sale over at the homemade crafts site. This Joker iPad one is probably my favorite, but there are plenty more, including a Kirby version, one for Lego fans, and a nice Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference (which you could maybe even pair up with some "nice friendly letters" on a wallpaper). I've got a much more rugged case on my iPhone, just because I bring it everywhere with me, but an iPad seems a little more ideal for something artistic -- stick it in a case while traveling, and you can be a little more careful with it while actually using it. And there's a lot of empty space back there, too -- just the thing to fill with a little artistic flair.
Nintendo report hints at new Wii titles, Other M release
Nintendo is one of a few companies to release its earnings report earlier this week, and a supplemental report released today has some surprises and new information for Wii owners. Not only does it finally list a target date for Metroid: Other M (you can expect it as soon as summer of this year if all goes according to plan), but there are two brand new names in the list as well: Xenoblade and The Last Story. Xenoblade is listed for a Spring 2010 release, so we should be hearing about that one soon, and The Last Story is listed for sometime this year, with both slated for release on the Wii in Japan. There's reason to believe these are just new names, as both Monado: Beginning of the World and Cosmic Walker are missing from the report, and Monado was being developed by Monolith Soft, known most notably for another Xeno- title you may have heard of. But Monado is still listed for a release in the US this year, so who knows? Other than that, the report lists some titles we expected to see soon: A new Kirby Super Star title, Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Wii's Legend of Zelda, Golden Sun for DS, and a few other releases scheduled in 2010. Full list of Japanese Wii releases is after the break.
Viz publishing Kirby manga in North America
Do you ever want to go beyond the Kirby games, and explore the deep backstory and complex, rich cast of characters in the Kirby universe? If so, you'll be pleased to hear that manga/anime publisher Viz Media is releasing a 25-volume Kirby manga in North America, joining Zelda and Pokemon manga. The manga by Hirokazu Hikawa follows "Kirby and his friend, Chirby," trying to return the Star Rod while being pursued by King Dedede. Essentially, it's Lord of the Rings, but with an infantile pink monster who devours everything instead of a hobbit. The first volume will be out September 2010. [Via Anime News Network]
TripleSpeedRunners take on Nintendo trio for charity
Harnessing the power of Nintendo franchises for charity, the folks at TripleSpeedRunners will be spending 48 hours this weekend speed-running through games from the Donkey Kong, Star Fox, and Kirby series. Live streaming of the event will be handled on the crew's website, with live commentary and chat available to cheer the players -- or jeer 'em if you're a player hater.All proceeds from donations during the event will go to DC Outreach, an organization that provides worldwide support to families affected by Dyskeratosis Congenita. Last time TSR got together, it raised $1,140 for the DC charity, but we know with the full support of the Joystiq BioMass behind them we can help them double that. Right, folks?The speed-runs kick off this Friday at 7PM ET sharp.
