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Wii Fanboy Review: Guinness World Records
Back when I got my hands on Guinness World Records at E3, I was surprised at how engaging and fun the title was. Whether that was due to sheer exhaustion or the game actually being that good is anybody's guess. Luckily, the fine folks behind the game sent us a copy to review so we could decide, once and for all, if I was just crazy or if the game really was that good.Which is it? Read on and find out!
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%
PETA plans to continue to use games to spread its message
Following up their recent Super Mario Bros. and Cooking Mama games, PETA has commented to GI.biz that they'll continue this format as a way of "engaging with the public." We guess it's been successful for them, as they say this approach to spreading their message is as "important as music, movies, and television." We can't say we agree, but different strokes for different folks, we suppose. "Many people are unaware of the real-life violence that animals endure on factory farms and in slaughterhouses," a PETA spokesperson said. "We use games to highlight the cruelty to animals because they appeal to people who are interested but may be turned off by more direct appeals." Well, we don't understand the effectiveness of this approach, to tell you the truth, but, then again, we enjoy a burger every now and then. %Gallery-28210%
Dilapidated trains, castles inspire Pit Crew Panic
Before your crew gets to work, pretty much every item that arrives in Pit Crew Panic is in a shocking state of disrepair. Covered in a thick layer of dirt, dented, cracked, and in some cases marred by unfortunate cartoon-face graffiti, they inspire the Panic suggested in the title. In their filthiest states, the objects look like they use Alien Crush Returns textures.In the bizarre WiiWare title, you'll be cleaning and repairing not just cars and motorcycles, but newly-revealed things like train cars, satellites (how do satellites get so muddy?), castles, and battleships. We can't forget about the ones we'd seen before, like flowers and giant toilets, either.%Gallery-36617%
PETA plans on making more games to spread message
PETA intends on creating more games to raise awareness about practices within the meat industry. The organization states that its recent Cooking Mama game wasn't an attack on publisher Majesco, but a way of getting its "Meet your Meat" video -- an unsettling "undercover video" of a corporate turkey farm -- in front of fresh eyes. Speaking with GI.biz, a PETA spokesperson said the organization uses games to raise awareness in people who "may be turned off by more direct appeals." It originally turned to games to attract young males, but has since learned the demographics are much wider. The group believes Majesco took the parody in the way it was intended, which seems like a reasonable assumption considering the publisher's lighthearted response. Despite all the joking, PETA does hope that Majesco makes a Cooking Mama: Vegetarian Kitchen "one day." Source - PETA: We'll keep using games "to spread our message" [GI.biz] Source - Cooking Mama Responds to PETA Parody [PETA]
The games central to Game Center CX 2
The latest issue of Famitsu features images of the new games found in Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2, the sequel to Retro Game Challenge. Like the first game, Game Center CX 2 is a collection of individual challenges regarding specific goals in made-up retrogames. The new games include Triotos, a falling-block puzzle game made to look Game Boy-esque; Mutekiken Kung Fu, a scrolling martial arts action game in the style of Karateka; Wiz-Man, a Pac-Man style maze game starring a ghost wizard thing; Kacho wa Meitantei (The Chief is a Great Detective), a graphical text adventure; and Demon Returns, a cute platformer starring the little demon seen above. Weirdest of all is Kugure! Girijan MAX, a fictional handheld "game training tool" that seems to teach platforming skills. Hit the link for 1up's description of each game![Image via Wii Everyday]
Majesco responds to PETA's Cooking Mama parody
Majesco kept it classy in its response to PETA's Cooking Mama parody. Taking the whole situation in stride, the publisher quoted the fictional Mama as saying, "I would never put rat in my Ratatouille. Like any accomplished cook, I create my recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences. My only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed." Majesco went on to note that the company's latest entry in the franchise, Cooking Mama World Kitchen, features over 25 vegetarian-friendly recipes. It also states that Mama is not a vegetarian, but "fully supports" the humane treatment of animals, as her doggie "protégé" Max will make his debut in the latest game -- hopefully, not as an entrée. Kudos to Majesco for incorporating some flair into what would otherwise have been another boring press release about a game launch. And thanks to PETA for making the whole laugh possible.
Mama responds to PETA
Mama, lovable cook and Majesco mascot, wants us all to know that her latest game, Cooking Mama: World Kitchen, isn't all about killing animals and preparing them as tasty dishes. No, the Mama has a bunch of vegetarian recipes, as well, evidenced by the press release sent over to GoNintendo. What kind of veggie dishes can be prepared in Cooking Mama: World Kitchen? Well, there's miso soup and rice cakes, just to name a few. "I would never put rat in my Ratatouille," said Mama, wrist-deep in her latest recipe. "Like any accomplished cook, I create my recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences. My only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed." We imagine PETA's next step is a Flash game where Mama viciously murders piles and piles of octopi for their ink so she can write out a press release. %Gallery-28210%
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%
Cooking Mama vs. Regular Mama
We're so pleased to present this upbeat, non-disgusting trailer for Cooking Mama: World Kitchen. However, even this innocuous "As Seen on TV" style video is not without controversy: certain statements are made regarding your mama. Specifically, her ability to cook, contrasting with the abilities of the game's fake cartoon mama. The trailer disclaims these statements, but it's possible that by then the damage could already be done. Consider yourselves and your mamas warned. Hopefully we can look past this shocking material and enjoy the gameplay footage and cute presentation. Because it is really cute, and it would be a shame if some kind of awful publicity marred such cuteness. %Gallery-28210%
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%
PETA Flash game puts us off Cooking Mama, food
Ready to be sick? Coinciding with the release of Cooking Mama: World Kitchen, PETA has wielded the Awesome Power of Copyright Infringement to make a Cooking Mama Flash game about the preparations involved with cooking turkey. Combining an impressively accurate facsimile of Cooking Mama gameplay with horrifying, bloody visuals, Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals is intended as an appeal to Majesco to create a vegetarian-only version of Cooking Mama. In Mama Kills Animals, a sadistic Cooking Mama guides you through the process of defeathering, preparing, and stuffing a turkey. Between levels, the game presents horrifying facts about the meat industry as well as videos we didn't dare watch. Apparently, at the end, Mama reforms and becomes a vegetarian. In case you didn't get our subtle hinting, this game can be really upsetting. Keep that in mind should you decide to click.
PETA parody grills Cooking Mama
PETA's parody on Majesco's Cooking Mama franchise may be the best Flash-based game we've seen from the activist group yet. Following up on its Bloody Burberry and Super Chick Sisters games, Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals takes a stab at soon-to-be-released Cooking Mama: World Kitchen, not to mention the main course of most Thanksgiving meals. The game is done in perfect Cooking Mama style - having the player pull out the bird's feathers and then scoop out its innards. Whether you agree with the message or not, it's the medium and style that got our attention. PETA does give some constructive feedback to Majesco, asking if it could make an all vegetarian-recipe version of Cooking Mama. Considering how important Mama is to Majesco's cash flow, a vegetarian version might be a good marketing ploy. PETA's Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals can be played after the break (Warning: Sound auto-plays and is loud).* *The "Meet your Meat" video, which becomes available after finishing the game, may be difficult to watch. Don't click the link if you're not interested in seeing what a corporate turkey farm looks like.
Blue Mars beta and launch dates disclosed
When it comes to virtual worlds, Massively's main focus to date has clearly been on Second Life, but we're also interested in some of the other choices that are becoming available to residents in virtual spaces. Blue Mars from Avatar Reality is one that's caught our eye -- it's a sci-fi themed virtual world, set on a terraformed Mars in the year 2177 AD. The potential is there to have some stunning visuals, as Blue Mars is built on CryEngine2, best known for giving Crysis its look. The official Avatar Reality site lists a beta release for the end of 2008, but they've told Eurogamer that Blue Mars enters beta in January 2009. "The first-time developer expects this to last for around three months, before the full game launches in April," Eurogamer's Rob Purchese reports.
Retail and download releases for the week of November 17th
Just as we all found out last week, today marks the release of the fourth episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Oh, and we're also getting a bunch of other games. This week, seriously, has a lot of games. Head on past the break for the full list. Also, our apologies. There likely won't be a VC Monday Madness video today, but we'll try to get it up as soon as we can. Sorry! %Gallery-27704%
GameStop letting the rabbids out of the bag early?
Reader Joshua is one lucky dude. He managed to score a copy of Raving Rabbids TV Party from his local GameStop. Being that they specialize in games, we're surprised to hear about them violating the street date for this title. Sure, it's only a week early, but while Joshua is sitting at home, enjoying his game, we're writing about him enjoying his game. Oh, how we wish we were him!If you're looking to score a copy early, you might want to hit up your local GameStop, as Joshua suggests. They might do the same thing for you. And if you're looking for some video from the game, hit up Joshua's site here.%Gallery-23883%
New Viewtiful Joe (mini) game (in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom)
First off, there is a new video of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes at Famitsu, featuring Saki from Quiz Nanairo DREAMS and Viewtiful Joe vs. Ippatsuman and Doronjo. Joe's Mach Speed super combo is expected, but delightful.In addition, screens reveal another set of character-specific minigames. For free extras included in our cool fighting game, they all look pretty excellent -- and there are now more minigames in Tatsunoko than in many dedicated minigame collections. Saki has an enjoyable-looking asteroid shooting gallery game, Ippatsuman has a baseball pitching game, and Doronjo has some kind of bomb-throwing platformer in which her and her goons Boyacky and Tonzler ride through a valley on unicycles. Viewtiful Joe's minigame is the standout of the group: a sort of "shooting" game in which you attempt to snap photographs of a running Joe, with the ability to take three photos in rapid succession.%Gallery-32421%
Delightful deal on bundles at Amazon
If you're in the market for a new DS Lite for yourself or a lucky giftee, you may want to have a look at this Amazon deal. From now until November 15, if you purchase a DS Lite and one of a selection of games, the game's price will be knocked down to $4.99. The eligible games include, among others, Millionheir, Flash Focus, Cooking Mama, Clubhouse Games, and both Brain Ages. It's clear that these selections were chosen with the "expanded audience" in mind, and consequently, this deal is a great way to get someone started with the DS. Oh, and if you want a second $5 game, today's Deal of the Day is The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
Mama cooks up a recipe for cuteness
Cooking Mama: World Kitchen is almost here, and that means the powers that be are working very hard to convince Wii owners that Mama is cute as ever, even if she's had a little work done. These latest screens do an excellent job of proving their point, with their adorable high fives and Mama poking herself in the eye. Guess those fleshed-out limbs take a little getting used to. Check out the gallery below for new screens, and if those aren't enough to satiate your appetite for Mama, head on over to GAME Watch to see more. %Gallery-28210%
Hudson announces one for Wii, three for WiiWare in North America
Last week, Hudson announced new three new WiiWare games for download in Europe. This morning, the company sent out a press release confirming the (eventual) WiiWare release of all of those games in North America. Pool Revolution: Cue Sports is a pool game featuring online play and a puzzle mode in which players attempt to successfully sink prearranged trick shots.Snowboard Riot is a snowboard racing game "utilizing weapons such as homing bullets and invisibility!" It has 1-4 player online play and, continuing with Deca Sports' vaguely silly athletic-wear advertising, allows players to customize their avatars with Oakley sunglasses and outerwear.Pit Crew Panic is a game about all-female racing pit crews fixing what Hudson refers to as "WHATSITS" -- bridges, cakes, toilets, aircraft carriers, and all manner of non-race-car items. Pit Crew Panic also features four-player online functionality, with 2-on-2 and 3-on-1 teams.The company also confirmed a North American release of Hard Working People, the retail Wii game about taking on various part-time jobs, for summer 2009 under the title Help Wanted. It will come out in Europe in March 2009 as Job Island. Head past the break for more screens!%Gallery-36617%%Gallery-36618%
