play-on-wii
Latest
Wii Fanboy Poll: New Play Control!: too pricey, or just right?
Next month, Nintendo will debut its New Play Control! (or NEW PLAY CONTROL!) line of games in the west, beginning with Europe. Naturally, we really like the idea of great GameCube games with added 16:9 widescreen support and waggle-based controls, and it could be a licence to print money for Nintendo, if Mario Power Tennis' chart-topping debut in Japan is anything to go by.Will us westerners gobble up these repackaged games as keenly as Japanese gamers? It's likely to depend heavily on pricing -- the games look set to cost $30 in the U.S., and £30 in the UK. Is that too much, just the right amount, or too little (you maniac)?Have your say in our poll past the break!%Gallery-38147%
UK New Play Control prices probably won't be quite so overinflated
Nintendo has responded to UK retailers' pre-release pricing for the New Play Control editions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis, saying that those probably won't be the real prices -- and if they are, it's not Nintendo's doing. "It is up to retailers at what price they sell any item for," a Nintendo representative told Eurogamer. At least retailers will have a lower starting point for their prices: "However, our trade price for these games will be below our usual trade price for Wii games and our present estimate of the likely retail price is in the region of GBP 29.99." This doesn't necessarily mean that retailers really will sell the games at the somewhat reduced price point (which still comes out to $41), but it means that if they don't, they're total jerks. Amazon, at least, currently has Pikmin for £24.99!
New Play Control! High Price Tag!
Nintendo is looking to cash in with their line of GameCube-enhanced-for-Wii games, Play on Wii. Of course, in the UK and North America it's called New Play Control!, as we've already reported. So how much will these games fetch?Well, Pikmin is set for a February 6th release, with Mario Power Tennis releasing on March 6th, and each title has a suggested price of £39.99, according to retailers. Nintendo has stepped in to say that their recommended price is £29.99, but it would seem that retailers aren't following that guideline. Should these games go for full price, even if they've got reworked controls taking advantage of the Wii's unique capabilities?
Nintendo serves up Mario Tennis trailers
Over at the official site for the Wii de Asobu (Play on Wii, or NEW PLAY CONTROL!) series, there's a pair of Japanese commercials for the Mario Power Tennis remake, as well as a far lengthier gameplay trailer.The adverts we can take or leave, consisting as they do of the usual telegenic Japanese families bouncing around their pristine living rooms. The gameplay clip is worth watching, as it displays the various shots that can be achieved through a well-timed flick of the wrist (top-spin, side-spin, slices, drop shots, etc.). We hope mixing up our shots actually has an effect on the game, because we always found Wii Sports tennis to be not-quite-as-advertised in this respect (though we're willing to accept we just may be rubbish at Wii Sports tennis).Oh yes, and these are non-embeddable, so you'll have to go to the site to watch them. And they call this 2009!Source: TV commercial 1Source: TV commercial 2Source: Gameplay trailer[Via NeoGAF]
New Play Control! New-ish boxart!
The packages for the Japanese Play on Wii series feature the original boxarts for the GameCube games framed in a new white border, with a blue bar at the bottom explaining that the games have new Wii Remote-based controls. According to teensy preview images found on GameStop.com, the North American New Play Control! versions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis, officially announced just yesterday, will employ the same strategy. As in, exactly the same. The only difference (aside from the language stuff and the fact that the North American boxart images are used) is that the Play on Wii boxes feature a curved top border in the blue area. If we're lucky, the covers will be reversible like the Japanese ones. We probably won't be that lucky!We have yet to see the box designs for the European NEW PLAY CONTROL! series. We'll keep you updated, because we love pointing out that the European title for the series seems to officially be NEW PLAY CONTROL! in all caps.Source: PikminSource: Mario Power Tennis
Nintendo unleashes full Q1 schedule
Nintendo's carrier pigeon just landed on our windowsill with a complete list of Wii releases for Q1 2009. We do actually know most of these dates already (so yeah, maybe the mushroom cloud is a bit excessive), but there's still the occasional scrap of new news buried within.Those Tenchu and Little King's Story dates are fresh to us, and there's also confirmation of the first Play on Wii "New Play Control" games, Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis. For the record, "New Play Control" is a bit of a rubbish name for the series. In our humble opinion, obviously.Make the jump for the full line-up, and remember you can click on a game's name to bring up screens (where available)!%Gallery-22964%
Nintendo dates Play on Wii, other 2009 releases for Europe
Supposedly, a list for what's coming next year in Europe was issued by NoE and it's been found on a few sites. The problem is that none of these sites source anything entirely credible, so we're remaining a bit skeptical on this one. What are you waiting for? Dive past the break for this rather extensive list of what's apparently going to release in Europe, including some Play on Wii titles, next year.
Pikmin just got a little more perfect
It seems we were hasty when we wrote that the "Play on Wii" version of Pikmin would feature "no new content, the modified control scheme aside." The latest Famitsu, as translated by IGN, reveals that the game's save mechanism has also been updated, and now allows you to restart play from any day you please. So, if 98 of your 100 precious plant warriors get singed by a troublesome Fiery Blowhog, you can avert disaster by turning back time. Nice to see Nintendo adding some worthwhile changes to more and more Wii de Asobu titles!%Gallery-27598%
New and (graphically) improved Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
You may or may not like the changes that are coming for the Play on Wii release of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, but we're willing to bet that you'll like at least one thing -- the game's updated look. While the changes aren't particularly obvious at a glance, when they're side-by-side with the originals, you can easily see the refinements and additions, which is why we've got a few comparisons here, just for you. You can even see some of the refinements in the tiny image above, like the scales, but if you want the full effect, you're going to want to step into our gallery below.%Gallery-38147%[New images via Dengeki; old via GameSpot]
Surprisingly rare and expensive GameCube games
We love a lot of GameCube games. In fact, when Play on Wii was announced, it felt like a dream come true. See, we imagine many GameCube games being retooled for Wii. Now, we're glad its actually happening for some of those games.But, not all titles are destined to get that touch of Wii magic. And, what if you never had a chance to try some of them? Well, unless you've got a suitcase buried in the back yard, there are a few titles that might be a bit out of reach, according to the list over at Video Game Price Charts. Of all of them, which would you say is the "must own" title?[Via digg]
Mario Tennis: How to Play on Wii
We didn't really need help to figure out that Play on Wii Mario Tennis GC (or Mario Power Tennis, as Camelot's mascot tennis game is known over here) would use Wiimote motion controls, since that is, like one hundred percent of the point of the Play on Wii series (and Wii tennis games, for that matter). But we welcome solid information anyway, which Japanese online retailer Neowing has provided.According to the product description, Mario Tennis GC enables players to wave the Wii Remote to execute forehand and backhand shots and direct the ball toward the left or right side of the court. Motion will also determine the addition of topspin and slice spin. Buttons are still used to deploy each character's unique special moves.If the (possible) second coming of Wii Sports tennis doesn't excite you, hang on to your GameCube version: Play on Wii Mario Tennis GC does not support GameCube controllers.[Via Inside-Games]
Born for Wii: Cubivore
Some games are a little out there. You've got your No More Heroes brand of weirdness, where collecting coconuts is as commonplace as mass murder and sexual innuendo. On another level, there's Katamari Damacy, where rolling entire cities into a ball is a perfectly acceptable way to repair the cosmos. And then there are the games that are so bizarre, so inexplicably removed from the norm, that they transcend weirdness in a way few things ever have. One of the games is Cubivore.Though it was released for the GameCube six years ago, it's still hard to believe that Cubivore found its way to the West. Thanks to Atlus, a company known for publishing titles that don't exactly have mainstream appeal, one of the most inherently Japanese games ever made was displaced from its home turf. Cubivore's eccentricity is also its greatest strength -- those few gamers who weren't turned off by its quirkiness discovered an adventure like no other, a fight to survive and evolve into a stronger, faster animal...thing. Its unique, hilarious, downright fun, and Born for Wii. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-37135% Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Contra, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.
Play on Wii Donkey Kong has new stages, drastic changes
According to a Famitsu article translated by IGN, at least one game from Nintendo's forthcoming Play on Wii series will feature deeper modifications than slapped-on Wii controls. We've often questioned how well Donkey Kong Jungle Beat would work with the Wiimote and Nunchuk (given that the original game was played with plastic bongos), and Nintendo also seems unsure.Because of this, the remade Jungle Beat is being moulded into a more traditional platformer, with repositioned enemies, new mid-level checkpoints, and only a handful of motion-controlled moves (The nunchuk's analog stick moves Donkey Kong, and the A button makes him jump). Significantly, there will also be completely new stages, though Famitsu didn't reveal further details (such as how many). The remake of Pikmin, incidentally, will feature no new content, the modified control scheme aside.Can Jungle Beat work as a traditional platformer? We'll hold judgment on that, while noting that the DK Bongos played a major role in making the original game fun.
Wii Warm Up: Other new old games
In the wake of Mega Man 9, and after Friday's discussion about Play on Wii, we thought we might ask what other franchises you'd like to see redone, either as Play on Wii titles, or in a classic, old school style, as was done with Mega Man 9. Want to see the other Metroid Prime titles given a motion overhaul ... or do you want to see a very small Samus putting the Metroid back into Metroidvania? Gallery: Mega Man 9
Pikmin, Mario Power Tennis revealed as first 'Play on Wii' titles for US
Tucked away in a newly released Nintendo software schedule PDF is the first confirmation that the "Play on Wii" series of GameCube Wiimakes is US-bound. Re-tooled versions of Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis are listed among other titles due in North America during 2009, although no specific dates accompany them.'Play on Wii' Pikmin hits Japan on Dec. 5 for ¥3800 ($38). If Nintendo can bring it and other GCN ports Stateside for $29.99, will you bite?[Siliconera via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Point/Counterpoint: Yea or Nay -- Play on Wii?
At their October media summit, Nintendo announced plans to release Wii ports of some GameCube games as the Wii de Asobu (Play on Wii) series. Today, we found solid evidence of a North American release. While GameCube games are, of course, currently playable on Wii, these new ports will enable motion and pointer-based control schemes, allowing new players to use the "simpler" Wii controls, and existing fans to play favorites in a new way. At least, that's the idea, we think.But is it a good idea to port these games and try to sell them again? Is it good for the fans? For the games? For the Wii? For the win? We say yes! And also no. That's kind of how debating works! NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; }
Nintendo directs Pikmin remake to North America
Nintendo has published a list of Wii releases for 2009, and while it's some way from being a complete list, the news for North America ranges from great to ominous. We want to start this post on a happy note, so we'll begin by saying: the Play on Wii remake of Pikmin -- just the first game -- is totally coming to the U.S. The schedule also confirms the Mario Power Tennis remake for the States, so it looks like those two will lead the brand off here.But there's worrying news as well. For one, Disaster: Day of Crisis still isn't down for a North American release. Okay, so this isn't actually that surprising, as Reggie (who isn't the title's biggest fan, remember) has said all along that any U.S. release hinges on the performance of the game in Europe. As Disaster only came out in Europe last Friday, we still don't know how it fared, though will find out soon enough. Also missing are numerous Play on Wii remakes, including Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Chibi-Robo, and the two Metroid Primes.We'll say this again, just in case: this is definitely a bare-bones list, with not every Wii release of next year featuring. We're not about to give up on getting Disaster just yet.[Via Siliconera]
Born for Wii: Eternal Darkness
It's almost Halloween, gamers: are you ready? For most of us, the approach of Halloween signifies a few things: a chill in the air as winter crawls ever closer, overdosing on candy, and concerned parents fretting over how many razor blades they're going to find lodged in seemingly innocent candy apples. For a few of us, it means wild parties and crazy costumes. But for all of us, it's the season for scares.Of course, how you get your fair share of hair-raising excitement is up to you, but we here at Nintendo Wii Fanboy think there's a better way for you to spend your time than seeing Saw V this Halloween weekend. Close the blinds, turn off the lights, crank up the sound and settle down with one of the scariest, most original games of last generation: Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. Everyone's favorite purple lunchbox was often criticized as being a kiddie platform to the chagrin of Nintendo fans everywhere, and Eternal Darkness did its best to challenge those claims when it was released in 2002. The game's rich narrative and diverse gameplay were a large part of its appeal (and critical acclaim), but being one of the downright creepiest games of all time sure didn't hurt. For messing with our heads and making us afraid to sleep at night, Eternal Darkness is the scariest game that's ever been Born for Wii. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-35492% Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Discs of Tron, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.
'Play on Wii' Pikmin ports possibly US-bound
The ESRB's listings for Pikmin and Pikmin 2 have been updated: they haven't been re-rated AO due to recently-uncovered adult content or anything like that, but they're now listed for both GameCube and Wii! This makes it very likely that Nintendo of America is at least planning to release the ported 'Play on Wii' versions of those two games.None of the other Play on Wii games, including Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, Chibi-Robo, Mario Power Tennis, and Metroid Prime 1 and 2, are currently listed on the ESRB as Wii games. Chances are that the Pikmins are the ones most Nintendo fans were most interested in anyway. [Via OMGNintendo]
Rumor: Rogue Squadron compilation locking S-foils in attack position
According to the latest issue of EGM, which just arrived in our mail box, Wii owners could be seeing Rogue Squadron make a return to a Nintendo console, as Q from the Rumor Mill is reporting that Lucasarts has licensed out the Rogue Squadron series of games. Sadly, we're not talking about a brand new game, but rather a compilation of the N64 and GameCube titles, all on one Wii disc. With the whole Play on Wii thing, it seems like this has a good chance of becoming true.Head past the break for the excerpt from the magazine.
