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Wii Warm Up: Watermarkgate
Capcom did a very admirable job of making up for an error that nobody but snarky bloggers actually cared about. A lot more people cared once we found out that beautiful replacement artwork was available! We wonder, however, how many people actually cared -- how many people were offended who either bought Okami twice or dutifully held on to their Nintendo fandom, firm in the belief that Okami wouldn't be any good without waggle? For us, it was just a few seconds of lulz. We didn't hold anything against Capcom or anything, except that, of course, we would have preferred Wii Fanboy watermarks to IGN's.
Capcom fixes Okami boxart goof awesomely
The Okami boxart issue discovered this week, or Watermarkgate, could have been a huge embarrassment for Capcom. Instead, it's become a totally great situation for everyone who bought the game. Capcom announced via their blog that any Okami owner can receive a free replacement boxart in one of three styles. One is just the normal boxart with (presumably) less IGN advertising, but the other two are beautiful art pieces with no Wii box design conventions.So not only do you get amazing new boxart free from Capcom, you also have a highly collectible "error" art. And there's probably something inside the box, as well -- maybe a game or whatever.%Gallery-16485%[Via Capcom Blog; thanks, Roto13!]
Capcom offers box art 'redemption' for Okami Wii
Capcom has responded to the Okami Wii box snafu by offering replacement cover artwork "to better reflect the artistic nature of the game," which we presume is a more professional way to say "to better remove the reflection of the IGN watermark." Head over to the Cover Artwork Redemption page (yes, they call it redemption) to fill out the form and choose one of three designs, including a "redesigned" version of the original. Previews for the other two replacements are shown above. The offer is free and an email confirmation from Capcom states the cover art will be shipping "in the next few weeks."
God of War TV spot rains blood 'en Espanol'
Dios de la guerra en Español! Hopefully, that translated well. Our Spanish-speaking readers will have to point out the possible (read: probable) butchery of their language. Apologies are to be arranged. Anyway, what makes this TV spot so special? Aside from being in a foreign language, this God of War: Chains of Olympus advertisement has blood rain down from the sky. Why is that happening? Haven't got a clue. This ad is pretty interesting to watch, even if it doesn't directly relate to anything that happens in the game.
Uh-Ohkami: Capcom botches Okami Wii box art, inadvertently advertises IGN
With all the work that goes into the designing, writing, and programming of a game (especially for a title as hotly anticipated as Capcom's waggle-infused port of the PS2 under-appreciated gem Okami), we assumed that there would be one person at every video game publisher who would give the final retail packaging a once-over, keeping a keen eye out for any typos, printing errors, or hidden watermarks from popular video game news sites. Then again, maybe that's just us. As is the unfortunate case with the Wii Okami box art -- NeoGAF user Bob Digi discovered that right above a permanent "sticker" promoting the game's high score in Play magazine (an unsightly blemish in its own right) sits a fairly clear IGN watermark, the result of the artwork's background being photoshopped from an image on IGN's Okami PS2 site. Then again, perhaps the game underwent some serious changes in its Nintendo transition, and now features protagonist Amaterasu traveling throughout feudal Japan, devouring the logos of major gaming news sites. [Thanks, Riven.]
Okami got a face lift (comparison video)
Already having Okami for the PS2 is the most valid excuse for not buying the game on the Wii. If you fall into this group, you're probably still tempted to make the purchase because of the added motion controls. Should that not be enough to get your wallets in action, though, you might want to check out this side-by-side comparison video. We already knew that the Wii version looked better, but seeing the two compared with each other shows just how much. The colors are much more vibrant on the Wii, and for a game that's main draw is its beautiful artistic style, that's kind of big deal. The 16:9 support doesn't hurt matters, either. Have any of you played both Okamis and noticed the difference for yourselves?%Gallery-16485%
Metareview: Okami
The beautiful, imaginative Okami was perhaps one of the most-requested ports among Wii fans, and at last we're going to get a chance to get our hands on it. From the early reviews, it looks like it has been worth the wait ... though, surprisingly, the title's lowest score (by far) to date has come from Nintendo Power. As far as everyone else is concerned, Okami seems to be a smashing success.Electronic Gaming Monthly: 94% -- EGM found the Okami port flawed, but worth every moment of the imperfect journey. "Okami's paintbrush-on-canvas mechanics that drive combat and interaction with the world seem perfectly suited to the Wii Remote but simply aren't reliably precise ... Still, it's one of the few games that can overcome shaky fundamentals in light of an astonishingly engaging adventure. Easily my (Nick Suttner) favorite Wii game."Nintendo Power: 75% -- When Nintendo Power recommends the PS2 version of your port, there may be a problem. "Quite simply, the controls just didn't make the jump to Wii as well as they shold have ... Okami is a work of genius, but you should play the original game instead of the Wii version if you can."IGN: 90% -- Matt Casamassina enjoyed the controls, and the port itself, even more* than the original -- which was 2006's Game of the Year at IGN. "Now, you can play the game in 480p and 16:9 widescreen, and you can do so using the Wii remote, which controls Amaterasu's celestial brush with a level of speed and accuracy never before possible. It's implemented so triumphantly that it actually changes the pace of the game, effectively speeding everything up ... Okami's strengths on Wii far outweigh any of its weaknesses. Wii owners can pick the game up for only $39.99 and those who do will be walking away with an outstanding title full of great adventure of a caliber typically reserved for titles starring Link and Zelda. I still think Twilight Princess is Wii's best adventure, but Okami is more than a worthy alternative. Support this game -- it deserves nothing less than your full attention."*Note that despite liking the Wii version more, Casamassina scored this Okami lower due to the time that has lapsed since the original, and due to unchanged and unfixed issues.%Gallery-16485%
Chance meeting at Game Developers Conference led to Okami Wii
Our waggle-loving friends at Nintendo Wii Fanboy had a chance to sit down with Didier Malenfant, Ready at Dawn's president and co-founder, to talk about the developer's port of Okami for Wii (also dubbed "Okam-Wii"). Malenfant talked about, among other parts of the porting process, the origins of the project -- turns out it was a chance meeting with Capcom's Christian Svensson at a Game Developers Conference party. Behold the power of an industry-wide networking opportunity, folks.
Wii Fanboy interview: Ready at Dawn's Didier Malenfant on Okami
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Ready_at_Dawn_talks_Wii_Okami'; Complaining about ports has become increasingly common amongst Wii owners, but few would have anything bad to say about Okami, which will complete its transition from PlayStation 2 to Wii next week when it launches in the U.S.If anything, Okami is the perfect example of how porting games can be a force for good. One of the most notable critical darlings of the last few years, sales of the title were sluggish on Sony's platform, yet its appearance on Nintendo's console will give it another opportunity to attain commercial success. We can't think of many other games that are so deserving of a second chance.Recently, Wii Fanboy got a chance to chat with Didier Malenfant, President and co-founder of developer Ready at Dawn, who filled us in on why those who played the PS2 version should return to the Wii edition, on how his company ended up working on the project, and on the future of lengthy adventure games.%Gallery-16485%
Immerse yourself in the art of Okami
If there's one thing to be said about Okami, it's that the game is stunningly beautiful. The cel-shaded characters and environments evoke a lovely, traditional feel that would be soothing if it wasn't quite so incredibly kick ass. If Capcom's new Okami art site is any indication, it's also incredibly inspirational, because there's a section dedicated to fan art, as well as a number of official pieces. And if you're interested in brushing up your desktop, there are several gorgeous wallpapers, available in sizes to suit even the biggest desktops. We've got previews tucked away in our gallery below.If the web site isn't enough to fulfill all your visual Okami needs, you can order the official art book for $39.99. That only seems like a lot until you get a peek at the package.%Gallery-16485%
Lead Artist Nathan Phail-Liff talks about working on God of War
We're sure a lot of you are snickering right now, because Ready At Dawn's lead artist's last name is an internet-savvy spelling of "fail"; we snicker at you though, since this man got to work on God of War: Chains of Olympus and thus earns the respect of millions. What did he do on the project? How does he feel about it now that it's out? We're glad you asked.For the first eight months, Nathan was actually programming tools to bring what we see in the final product to life. After he programmed all the necessary components, then he went back and actually used them to help create what ended up in our hands. That's pretty impressive. Working on an existing IP, he said, is a blessing and a curse. Especially for God of War since there are so many expectations surrounding it. The stylistic guidelines they used to keep the game familiar to fans is pretty clever.The challenges faced by the staff for making the PSP game were numerous -- insert all sort of technical mumbo-jumbo here. Cramming the game onto the PSP is one thing, but only having 15 artists to do it really puts the workload into perspective. If you want to hear more about his experience programming for the game, or his proudest accomplishment, read the full interview. It's really quite entertaining.
Please, don't buy this Wal-Mart GOW PSP
No Wal-Mart! Perhaps trying to capitalize on the recent announcement of Sony's real PSP God of War bundle, Wal-Mart has created its own "exclusive" bundle for those interested in picking one up. Not only is it hideous, but it actually costs more than Sony's upcoming official bundle, doesn't include any extras (such as UMD movie, downloadable game). But, unlike the official bundle, this is available now. [Via GT Forums] %Gallery-16984%
Daxter plushie is incredibly adorable
What an adorable Daxter plushie. It's so cute you just want to grab it and squeeze the life out of the thing. It's a really sweet ode to the weasel-like hero. In case you're wondering, this cuddly little snuggle toy was made by Deviant Art member Chao-Fangirl. We wonder if she'll make us one of her plushies. Maybe she will ... if we ask really nicely. [Thanks Max! Via That Girl's Site]
God of War PSP bundle box art revealed
Click for high-resolution image. What an eye-grabber. The upcoming God of War Entertainment Pack gives bloodthirsty players a brand new red PSP, a copy of Chains of Olympus, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops and the UMD movie Superbad -- all for $199. The problem? It won't be available until May.
More like Whoa-kami
Capcom has made another set of lush, gorgeous Okami concept art available, and again we're awestruck by the beauty of the game's design. Stuff like this is how we always imagine "next generation" games to look, rather than the shinier, browner look new games are going for now. Even though we had plenty of time to gawk at Okami back on the PS2, we're still amazed by it now.The latest set of art displays Okami's beautiful environments, which put the backdrops in games that are not Okami to shame. If these don't make you want to play the game, then you have probably just completed Okami within the last day or so.%Gallery-16485%
Okami artwork descends from the heavens
Or from Capcom's servers -- we get them confused. We've been blessed with the gift of a ton of gorgeous watercolor-style Okami character art, most of which features the wolf/goddess Amaterasu in various forms or with divine weapons. It is almost guaranteed that you'll find something in the set that you'll want to use as a desktop wallpaper.Looking at all this amazing art -- to which the game's visuals hold up pretty well -- just reminds us of what a shame it was that Okami didn't sell, and what a shame it will be if it doesn't sell again. Maybe it'll do better now that it doesn't have to compete with Zelda. %Gallery-16485%[Via press release]
Okami shots pounce, leave us stunned
Capcom's press site just yielded 64 dazzling screens of Okami, showing off the PS2-to-Wii port in its full, 480p glory. Admittedly, it's not looking wildly different from the PlayStation 2 version -- this is, after all, a Capcom port -- but the Clover Studio original was such a striking game that we care not a jot. You owe it to yourselves to browse the gallery below, and for heaven's sake, if you haven't already, check out the game in motion and prepare to gasp.%Gallery-16485%[Via press release]
Chains of Olympus dev says PS3 will win
Ready at Dawn, makers of the PSP-exclusive God of War: Chains of Olympus, is hard at work on new projects for the home consoles. In an interview with Next Gen, Didier Malenfant notes that: "We've got the third version of the Ready at Dawn Engine running on both the PS3 and the 360 ... If you see what they did on PSP it's easy to imagine that it's going to be quite something.Although Ready at Dawn has been earning rave reviews with Chains of Olympus, they admit that there was some frustration with SCEA in the development process. They had to "fight the powers that be at every step of the way with what we wanted to do with the franchise."Regardless, Ready at Dawn seems to be favoring PS3 in this current generation of consoles. Didier predicts a victory for Sony: "PS3 will win this generation when all is said and done." However, what about the PS4 generation? "Microsoft made a dent this time around and can stand to finally get the upper hand if they stick it out and/or if Sony stays complacent like they did early on in this generation. That's where the real fight is going to be in my opinion."
God of War composer talks about Chains of Olympus, future projects
God of War games, as you all know, are epic. A major contributing factor to that legendary atmosphere is undoubtedly the game's musical score -- to that we have Gerard Marino to thank. In a recent interview with Music 4 Games, Marino discussed what went into making the music compositions for Chains of Olympus as well as shed some light on his future projects.Marino says that the music in Chains of Olympus is "a bit lighter" than the previous games. The reason for this is that there's a certain character in the game that isn't as grim as the usual cast of war-hardened soldiers, and the apathetic Pantheon. Despite only composing fifteen minutes worth of new material, the game's sound should have enough freshness to it. This has to do largely in part by a huge effort to remix old tracks; they take the old tracks apart, restructure them, and then use the various arrangements in a way that ensures each scene has its own unique sound. He also calls the music on Chains of Olympus "more intimate" than what we've seen previously. Marino also revealed some interesting trivia about the God of War series. For example, did you know that Kratos was originally supposed to be named Dominus? Now how about the future you ask? Marino shared that he will be indeed working on God of War III for the PS3. Another epic game, another rocking music score. There are a lot of other alluring tidbits in the interview, so why not have a read of it for yourself?
Ready at Dawn ready to move away from PSP
Having broken free from the Chains of Olympus and creating another popular portable game with Daxter, Developer Ready at Dawn says it's done making titles for the PSP. Speaking with Next-Gen, GoW: Chains of Olympus' director Ru Weerasuriya expresses that he hopes other developers continue to up the ante on the PSP, but concludes, "As for us, our work on the PSP has come to an end. But who knows, we might come back to it in the future if the right opportunity arises."Ready at Dawn is currently putting the last touches on its recently "delayed" port of critical darling Okami. Up next for Ready at Dawn is ... well, actually we don't have a clue.
