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It's (technically) Virtual Console Monday!
And you know what that means ... new games! Unfortunately, it looks like Nintendo has one hell of a hangover (we can't blame them, we were up till 6 AM ourselves), and they only managed to spit out two rather inauspicious titles: Baseball and Urban Champion, both for the NES. After five hundred points each, we maintain that both playing baseball and punching someone in the face are both far more enjoyable in real life in Wii Sports.And by the way, fellow fanboys, Happy New Year! Did your megaton party involve raucous Wii-playing? As you know, there was a more important countdown in Times Square around a month and a half ago, so if you played right through midnight, wish yourself a happy belated 2007 and check the ball-drop on your TiVo. Just kidding. We know you've already erased that to make room for the next episode of Heroes.
New Zelda for Wii already deep in development?
Scientists have shown that it takes the average human a really really long time to fully complete the spectacular Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Heck, even we're not done with it yet. But our secret source (also known as Game Informer) has tipped us off that the next Zelda, built from the ground up for the Wii, might be a lot closer than we thought. The same article also brought us the possibly distressing news that Phantom Hourglass might be delayed until late 2007. Agh!Is anyone worried that the Zelda series might not be able to top its most recent entry? It may be quite some time indeed before Twilight Princess is knocked off her throne.[Thanks, Andres!]
Jumpin' jinkies, new Wii straps
That was fast! No more than a couple weeks after the first reports of straps snapping, causing Wii-motes to destroy electronics, windows, vases etc., Nintendo is selling new Wii straps. Also, new Wii systems seem to be packaged with the improved strap. Although we still recommend you follow our PSA on proper Wii-mote usage, that was impressively quick turnaround. We had ordered Wii straps (as regular consumers, so that we wouldn't receive reinforced straps from Nintendo) to do some testing on their breaking point right when all this hoopla happened, but the package we received already has the new straps. Like a Folgers commercial, Nintendo secretly replaced the original Wii strap with what looks like an improved model, and they thought we wouldn't notice.
Today's hottest game video: Halo 3 information
Since the top slots everywhere are totally being hogged by the Halo 3 "Starry Night" commercial from last night, we've decided to go with the top rated user-submitted video at GameVideos.com which is -- Halo 3 information by TM22 from Shatter Studios. Looks like it's Haloverload all over again this week. The info in this video is taken from the EGM article, the released screenshots, and some crudely drawn maps, but they've put it all together with pans and zooms and whadda ya know, it actually looks fairly cool. That is, if you can get past the metal soundtrack. Heck, we'd rather watch this with Enya behind it or something because ... daymn. That's just ear-grating. But hey, it's a tradeoff for the Halo goodness in movie form, so we'll crank the volume down and enjoy. Check out the video after the jump, and start your jonesing.
Super Star Soldier now available on Virtual Console
Well, Nintendo sort of promised us Virtual Console updates on Mondays, and no, they technically didn't lie. Late last night, Nintendo added a single new game, Super Star Soldier (of TurboGrafx-16 fame), available for 600 points. For those of you who aren't familiar with the title (you know ... everyone), Super Star Soldier is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter, resplendent with eight whole stages and seven whole bosses. There are even two-minute and five-minute time attack modes! Golly!Cynicism aside, those old 2-D shooters are fan favorites, and may add a lovely bit of retro to your gaming life. Anyone excited? Or just pissed that Nintendo is on its merry way to breaking its ten-game-a-month promise?
New Leopard Build Introduces New Feature, Tweaks
The latest build of Leopard, (9A303) introduced some small but nifty features to the list of enhancements that will ship with the new OS next year. Lets take a look: QuickLook is a new feature which allows users to view a full size preview of any image by right clicking on it, without having to open up the full Preview application. The workflow for creating Dashboard Web Clips has changed. Instead of having to first open Dashboard, users can now create Web Clips directly within Safari. When connecting a new external storage device, Leopard will ask you if would like to use the drive as a Time Machine backup drive. The Spaces switching dialog is now a glossy black. Small news, but news none the less, and we'll take anything we can get until we see some new announcements from Mr. Jobs himself.
Go to NYC for launch, get a Wii handed to you by Reggie
In sitting down with ABC News, Reggie Fils-Aime does the usual PR thing to promote the Wii, talking up the innovative features of the console and the company's goals to bring their product to people in all walks of life, hardcore gamers and those who do not traditionally play games alike, but more interestingly reveals that he will be on-hand at Nintendo's store in New York city to hand out consoles during launch (he says "a store in NYC," but it's safe to assume it'll be at Nintendo's store). Obviously, he makes no mention of needing to kick your ass and/or take your name to get your hands on a Wii, so we assume you'll need your check card, or the good old cash standard. [Note: Read link will take you directly to ABC News' video interview]
DS releases for the week of September 25
Looks like we're facing a March of the Minis this week, with the new Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2. The pitter-patter of mini feet will fill gaming stores across the nation as the well-reviewed title hits the shelves. If that's not your thing, try a little nostalgia with the mediocre-but-old-school Bubble Bobble Revolution. This week's wildcard title is strategy game Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier. Little is known of the turn-based Namco title, but strategy is right at home on the DS, so we have high hopes.So what tickles your fancy? If the word "revolution" in a title does it for you, this could be your week. We've got a long list, so check after the jump for all the games.
Wii news and how the DS was affected
Nintendo's US press event recently concluded and while all of your Wii information needs have probably been satisfied, nothing else was discussed about Wii-DS connectivity. We know that Iwata already said that the WiiConnect24 service could be used to download content to the DS, whether it be a demo or something else, and also that the DS could also be used as a controller through the Wii's menu interface, but this was not demonstrated at the event or further discussed there.So what does this mean? Probably nothing. We should still see Nintendo's handheld play a large role in the Wii's interactivity and extra content. We should still see the DS downloading demos from the WiiConnect24 service. We should still see the DS being used as a controller to navigate menus in the Wii's interface. Just because Nintendo didn't show any of the features you'll be able to access on the Wii through the DS doesn't mean they aren't coming. We should be seeing and hearing more on the two consoles interacting as the launch date for the Wii draws near.
Reminder: Grandparents contest tomorrow
We've already informed you of the contest and like the tough, determined reader you are, you've no doubt abducted your grandparent of choice from their nursing home or other place of residence and put them on a strict gaming regimen much like that of a fictitious boxer. We know you take these things seriously and look forward to winning those 2 DS Lites and 10 games. But, in case you decide you'd rather disappoint us, you could stop by for the 10% discount on all things purchased. Any of you readers planning on stopping by the event? Take some pictures and send them in. Maybe tell us how the competition went down?
A tourney for the older folk
On the 9th of September, Nintendo plans to hold a contest for "Coolest Grandparent of the Year." Now, visions of beautiful pageantry are most likely flooding your head as you soon violently cringe, thinking to yourself of how the swimsuit section of the competition might go, but rest assured that this contest is more a tournament of gaming prowess than vocalizing a desire to shelter the homeless. To Nintendo, in order to be the coolest, you have to showcase some skills in Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. At the Nintendo World store in New York City, between 12 pm and 5 pm on the aforementioned day, Grandparents with the "skillz to pay the billz" will walk away with 2 DS Lites and 10 DS games, making for one happy Matlock fan club back at the home or a few happy grandchildren.[Image credit: Old Grandma Hardcore]
Gaming has image problem, Nintendo to fix
Seth Schiesel, a writer for the NY Times, recently put up an article about the image problem with the videogame industry and how it was, for the most part, its own fault. An attendance at the recent Ziff Davis Electronic Gaming Summit provided the inspiration for this piece, which talked about the state of gaming and its effect socially. Stating that gamers are often outed as socially inept at the mention of enjoying video games, the writer claims that even given the financial success the industry has seen, its still not the mainstream and widely-accepted activity that we all think it to be. Seth noted that Nintendo was the only company who seemed to "get it."Enter Carl Howe of Blackfriars Communication, who agrees that the industry is not innovating like it should beyond first-person shooters and becoming the entertainment power house it needs to be. Carl sees hope, however, in a company who decided that the standard controller just wasn't cutting it and that people don't just want flashy graphics on their handheld. They might want to teach a puppy to sit or see how quickly they can solve 100 math problems. And Nintendo is going to be the one to reach out to those looking for entertainment beyond plasma grenades and rocket launchers, to casual gamers who might be curious, but aren't looking for a free-for-all deathmatch where whoever gets the sword first wins.We can still have those games, but we want something new, something fresh, something that will once again make our eyes open wide and our mouths fall to our chest, something that will make that small stretch of hair on the back of our necks straighten and cause a chill to run down our spine. We want to experience the feelings we did when we first got into gaming and if anyone can make that happen, it's Nintendo. Maybe then your dad won't laugh at you when you say you've been playing a game for the last few hours, instead asking if he can give it a whirl.[Via N-Sider]
Love Mario, win 2 DS Lites
Do you love those Mario brothers? Do your dreams encapsulate not the sheep languidly springing over an undefined, isolated wooden fence, instead opting to fill your mind with the pleasing sounds of a fat plumber and his skinny brother stomping Goombas to death and riding around in pipes? Are you a sick, obsessed fan with a ridiculous mural of Luigi on your wall? If you've sat there anxiously reading that above paragraph, feverishly biting what little bit of nail you have left on each of your fingers, sweating that someone might find you on a site called DS Fanboy only to out you to your friends and family, then how about signing up for this contest? That way, when people look at you with disgust in the street, you can hold your head high and say "Yeah, well who bought you 2 DS Lites?!" You'll likely then proceed to jump on the person's head.[Via DS-x2]
Universal Binary of Flash Player 9 released
Adobe has cranked out a Universal Binary of Flash Player 9 for Intel Mac consumption. Strangely, a PowerPC-only build is still available on the download page, though Insanely Mac is reporting that it's an earlier build.If you're interested in what's actually new in this latest version, check out Adobe's page with the full details.
Columbia Records & Apple offer exclusive pre-order of Bob Dylan's new album, ticket promo
I guess the times certainly are a changin', as the man Bob Dylan himself has hopped on board with Apple and the iTunes Music Store to offer an exclusive pre-order ($13.99) of his upcoming new album, Modern Times, which lands on August 29th. Ticketmaster has even tossed their hat in, just like with the Red Hot Chili Peppers promo back in April, and is offering a pre-sale ticket opportunity for select dates on Mr. Dylan's tour to fans who pre-order the album.Now if that isn't enough Bob for you, Apple has also created a digital box set simply called 'The Collection' which boasts 800 songs, but be careful using that one-click purchase option: it's $199, and also lands on the 29th. "Bob Dylan is one of the most respected poets and musicians of our time, and he is a personal hero of mine," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, calling this opportunity a "a real thrill for us."Modern Times (iTMS link) is available for pre-order today, and fans who purchase it will receive a Ticketmaster code by email which can be used to get in on that pre-sale at Ticketmaster.com starting August 30th, while the tickets go on sale to the public September 9th. More information can be found at bobdylan.com, as well as ticketmaster.com/bobdylan.
iLounge releases The Free iPod Book 2.2
Those iPod-obsessed kids over at iLounge have updated their Free iPod Book to version 2.2 (yes, books can have version point updates too). Four all-new sections are included in this updated version: Nike + iPod Sport Kit Troubleshooting Your iPod U2 iPod + iPod Pack-Ins Backstage at iLounge You'll also find the typical kinds of updates to previous content you would expect. This 200+ page "free manual on getting the most from your iPod" is available from iLounge's update post, as well as from the iLounge Library. Enjoy.
Nintendo's top 10 games of 2006 (so far)
With the year half-way over, Nintendo of America's Rufus has seen fit to put out his list of top 10 games so far this year. What's surprising is that Big Brain Academy comes in at the number one spot, a place which we're fairly sure should be given to New Super Mario Bros. instead. What isn't surprising, however, is that the list is dominated by DS titles. Big Brain Academy (DS) New Super Mario Bros. (DS) True Swing Golf (DS) Drill Dozer (GBA) Super Princess Peach (DS) Chibi Robo (GCN) Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll (DS) Tetris DS (DS) Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS) Odama (GCN) What would your own personal list look like?[Via Infendo][Note: This has nothing to do with sales numbers. This is a list purely based on personal opinion of one Nintendo of America employee.]
VH1's Best Week Ever spoofs the new Mac ads
Hooray for music television stations that do anything but these days: VH1's 'Best Week Ever' has spoofed the new Mac ads, and we have to say: they're pretty darn funny. They might not be safe for work (mild language), but they did a good job of capturing the somewhat pretentious and put-off attitude of 'the Mac'. Enjoy.
Dan Lurie Incoming
Macs are beautiful. Macs are elegant. Macs embody the spirit of technological innovation and cultural progress we find so readily in this exciting period of human history. As we as a civilization explore and find new ways to interact with and manipulate information, we must have tools that allow us to stretch the boundaries of conventional thinking. Since its founding over 30 years ago, Apple has constantly been on the bleeding edge of design, technology, and communication. It is my passion for these things that drive my fascination and love of all things Apple. I want to share that passion with you, and as the newest TUAW team member, that exactly what I'll be doing from now on.Now, enough with that pseudo-intellectual gobbledygook, time for me to introduce myself. I'm a Graphic Design student in Denver, CO, much like one of my fellow bloggers. Before coming to TUAW, I blogged for The Apple Blog and co-hosted the MacNN Podcast. I eek out my meager existence by fixing Macs and iPods at a local Mac repair shop, as well as the odd design or photography gig on the side. The tools of my trade are my faithful 15" PowerBook, my camera, and my sketchbook. All of which travel everywhere with me in one of my many messenger bags (it will soon be discovered that I'm a horrendous bag geek).In any case, I'm greatly looking forward to writing for TUAW, and hope I'll be able to provide you all with some quality content.
Mario site is updated yet again
During all the chaos that was E3, we totally neglected to check the New Super Mario Bros. site for updates. That's where trusty reader Jeremy swooped in, wet fish firmly gripped in hand, and waved the large tuna directly into our collective faces screaming "post it!" Not one to ever turn down a crazed madman fan, we happily report that the site has received a major overhaul, but if you're too busy actually playing the game to check it out, we'll understand and suffer our fate as best we can. [Thanks Jeremy Hall!]
