revolution
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Why the expansion isn't revolutionary (and why it shouldn't be)
Big announcements (at events like BlizzCon) about expansions (like Wrath of the Lich King) always bring up the question of whether the planned updates to the game are any good or not. If it were just a regular patch people might complain about a particular buff or nerf, or lament that they have no chance or desire to see a particular new dungeon, but no one would expect a mere patch to totally revolutionize the MMO genre. Expansions though, for some people, are supposed to be the thing that doesn't just expand the game, but changes the face of the entire gaming world. "More of the same" is just not good enough for them. But as much as I, too, would love to see more innovation in MMO gaming, and even World of Warcraft in particular, I have to tell you, folks, Blizzard is made of mere mortals and some of you may be setting your expectations a bit too high. No WoW expansion can ever totally revolutionize the MMO genre, because at this point the genre is mostly WoW. While there are, of course, other games out there, WoW is the current MMO superpower, with a population larger than some countries of the world -- it defines the standard upon which to improve. To "revolutionize" the genre, you'd need a different, better game, because for WoW to change too drastically would mean turning the game into something other than what it is: replacing the current game with entirely different mechanics, ways of playing, even reasons for playing altogether. Expecting WoW to become something other than what it is unfair, even if that were to be an improvement, because then it wouldn't be WoW anymore. It could also be a financial disaster to keep the name but change the game, as the fiasco with Star Wars Galaxies proved (read up here to find out how their "revolutionary" New Game Enhancements turned out).
Dance Dance Revolution: Biggest Heads
Konami has released some screens of their new Wii-style Dance Dance Revolution, entitled Dance Dance Revolution HOTTEST PARTY. And it mostly looks like a DDR game, with some small adjustments. Hottest Party (we're going to stop with the caps, if that's all right) includes the same Free Play and Diet Modes as other DDR games, but also includes simultaneous four-player mode for people with really big living rooms.The most noticeable adjustment is head size. That's funny, and a little weird, but totally cosmetic and won't get in the way of anyone's Dance Dance Revolving. What's a little more interesting than cranial embiggening is the Wiimote/Nunchuk usage. There seem to be special arrows that instruct players to point their hands in a certain direction, much like Samba de Amigo. Sometimes even the on-screen characters hold Wiimotes and Nunchuks.The dance pad has made it to the Wii pretty much unscathed, with no Wiimote-shaped cavities or anything. It's a basic dance pad in a Wii color scheme. It appears to be wired, probably USB. We didn't need more-- with the extra waggling, this game seems complicated enough!
Five handheld accessories you should continue to live without
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Five_of_the_worst_handheld_accessories_ever_PICS'; Portable game systems are completely self-contained. Unlike home systems, which require a TV, multiple outlets, and a separate controller unit, handhelds contain everything you need to play games, built right in to the unit. They are self-reliant. They are also-- and this goes without saying-- portable. They're designed to be small so you can carry them around.Why, then, do jackasses feel the need to make accessories for handhelds? Accessories needlessly add bulk to Game Boys, effectively exiling them from casual pocket-drops. Here are five of the most pointless things you could ever graft onto a handheld system. We're giving a lot of attention to the Game Boy Color, as it turned out to be a focal point for idiotic doodads. Hopefully, these companies are still tired from their furious crap-assembling, and will largely pass over the DS.
Nintendo's annual pre-E3 bummer
N'Gai Croal at Level Up picked up on a trend based on the pre-E3 output of the big game companies: they tend to get their bad news out of the way a week or two before the show. The resulting Level Up article highlights some of Nintendo's recent examples of this strategy, including the unfortunate news this week regarding Super Smash Bros. and Metroid Prime 3. Did anyone else think it was weird whenever a big announcement like this would come out before E3?It makes sense, though, to let us all exhaust ourselves talking about bad news before the show starts. Then we can start being impressed by the actual show content.One interesting note: this implies that Nintendo knew how their choice of console name was going to be received. We still have trouble with the name, and we're ... you know.
Wii Warm Up: Half a game
We don't think this is a controversial statement, although feel free to skewer us in the comments if it is: Pokemon Battle Revolution is not worth having if you don't own and play Pokemon on the DS. If we really wanted to arouse some vitriol, we'd say it's not worth having even then, but that would really just be flame-baiting for its own sake. We don't even actually feel that way.What we want to know is, is it okay in your mind to have a game like this that absolutely depends on another game to be fun? It it okay for such a thing to be full price?Obviously, if you're of the "gotta catch 'em all" persuasion who buys every Pokemon game regardless of quality, your answer is going to be a little different.
Happy funtime Memorial Day video: Rejected Wii Play minigames
A caution to our readers: anyone with a conscience or refined sense of humor may want to stay far away from the above video, which features a host of "rejected" Wii Play minigames to hilarious effect. It even includes Ribbon Dancing Revolution, which we called back in August of '06. The excellent reproduction of the Mii's simplistic style is alone worth the price of admission, so go ahead, click on the play button.We're not watching.[via GoNintendo]
Wii Warm Up: NMS excitement
Fresh from the Nintendo Media Summit, we've quite a few impressions of games coming out in the immediate future. Among them: Mario Party 8 Super Mario Strikers: Charged Big Brain Academy Pokemon Battle Revolution The Bigs Boogie My Word Coach Rayman: Raving Rabbids 2 We're most jazzed for Strikers, especially after reading such effulgent impressions from Penny Arcade. But which game shown at NMS excited you the most? If you were stuck on an island and could only have one game ... you know, assuming you had a Wii and a couple Wiimotes, and a nice TV ... maybe some nunchuks, oh, and the sensor bar, and I guess you'd need a standard 120 W outlet somewhere in the sand ... and a decent supply of food and water, or you wouldn't spend your time playing the Wii ... you know what, never mind.
Rainbow Islands Revolution for $10
If you weren't "lucky" enough to have a glitched copy of Bubble Bobble Revolution and the free Rainbow Islands that came with the replacement, you can get Rainbow Islands now for a very reasonable price. Gamestop is offering Codemasters' sequel for $9.99 new, no broken Bobbles included. It's backordered on the website (which has happened since we started writing the story) but it may be available in a local store or following a restock online.$10 is just about the right price for a game with a Metascore of 54. The original Rainbow Islands is worth like 500 million imaginary Metascore points, and if playing this one even evokes the arcade game a little, it's worth it. Also, $10 is like 1/6 of a copy of Gundam: Crossfire. When you think of it that way, it's quite the bargain![Via CAG]
Friday Video: We said we wanted a revolution ....
As we discussed this morning, it's been a year since Nintendo announced the new "Wii" moniker for their bold new console concept. We thought the weekly video spotlight might offer a good chance to look back at some of the videos, from the Wii's first ad to some fanmade videos both for and against the name switch.
Wii name celebrates first anniversary
It may seem like we've been talking about it forever, but it was just a year ago today that Nintendo revealed the console formerly known as the Revolution would henceforth be called the Wii. Immediate reactions ranged from derisive and disbelieving to defensive on the part of Nintendo itself, but by the time Nintendo's E3 press conference rolled around the initial furor had already subsided into a gentle buzz of Internet jokes.At the time, we confidently predicted that, eventually, "this new name will seem as nifty, familiar and as comfortable as that silly controller once it's all said and done." Well, were we right? Are you able to mention the Wii without snickering like a schoolgirl, or do you still feel vaguely uncomfortable talking about Nintendo's latest console. Lend us your opinion in the comments.[Thanks to vidGuy for the reminder]
Like the Pokerap, but it doesn't rhyme and has no music
If you'd like a crash course on the 107 new Pokemon in the Diamond/Pearl generation, which includes the new DS games and Pokemon Battle Revolution, then this GamesRadar article might come in handy. It's an exhaustive Pokedex of the new creatures, and includes name, type, abilities, location, and information about evolution. What strikes us as we look at this list is how weird the names of Pokemon have gotten. Maybe it's because we've had ten years or so to get used to the older names, but the new ones are jarringly nonsensical. See Bidoof above. Unfortunately, Game|Life's Chris Kohler beat us to the "Let Me Show You Them" headline for his post about the article. We'll try to get the next one![Via Game|Life]
Wii Warm Up: It's been a year
A year ago, Nintendo announced that the Revolution had a name, and that name was Wii. And lo did the voices of a million gamers rise in a chorus of, "WTF?! Wii?? OMG, it's so over for Nintendo!"Obviously, we were wrong. Oh, sure, not everyone thought the name was a bad idea, but it was such an overwhelming majority that the dissenters hardly mattered. A year later, however, it's become apparent that the name that curled so many lips was actually a brilliant move, marketing-wise. But no harm, no foul; we all already admitted that we overreacted. But this strange anniversary still seems a good time to look back at not just the name change, but everything about the Wii. These days, analysts are predicting epic Wii shortages, whereas eight months ago, it was far more popular to predict the Wii to lag behind both the PS3 and the 360. How has your overall attitude changed in the past year? Is there anything you think or predict now that runs counter to your mindset last April?
Remember Pokemon? They're back ... in pog form!
Well, not pogs exactly, but somewhat less-exciting pog-like pucks that are still a lot more fun-looking than the usual cards used in Japanese arcade games. Pokemon Battrio is a new arcade game created by Tomy that allows 3-on-3 Pokemon Battle Revolution-style battling against random arcadegoers! In Japan, obviously, since there are no arcades in the US.Here's how (it looks like) it works: you buy random packs of coins, each one corresponding to a Pokemon. Then you set them down on the machine, the machine "senses" your coins, and then they appear, ready for battling! Then some older kids run by and steal your coins.
Mass Effect prequel novel announced
Mass Effect lead writer Drew Karpyshyn has been working overtime, penning two novels that will tie into the Xbox 360 action-RPG trilogy. The first, Mass Effect: Revelation, is described as a prequel novel following Alliance Commander David Anderson as he uncovers a "sinister conspiracy" that spans a galaxy of uncharted worlds. Ooh, nothing like a lil' cliché sci-fi lit to get you in the mood...The Mass Effect novels will be published by Del Rey, an imprint of Random House. Revelation is due in May, followed by the second book Mass Effect: Revolution (TBD).
Wii Warm Up: So how is the name?
Once upon a time, the Wii was known as the Revolution, and it was good. Then Nintendo announced that the console's real name would be Wii, and the backlash rocked the media and gaming community. Also, there were a lot of anatomical jokes.But here we are, not quite a year later, basking in the success of the new system ... when we can stop playing it, that is. We've had a little time to get used to the new name, but we have to ask -- how is it? Do you like "Wii" now? Does it suit the system? Or has the Wii succeeded thus far in spite of the name?We also recommend going back and looking at the comments on that old post, as they're certain to make interesting reading alongside what is said here today.
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Wii anticipation: preparing for launch
So here we are -- just a few days until the heralded launch of the Wii. We've been waiting so long that it hardly seems real, but there's no time to waste. We have to make plans for the penultimate event: the act of obtaining the Wii. The ultimate event is, of course, getting it home safely and plugging it all in. But first ... parties! Camping! Meteor showers! The popping of champagne bottles (if you're doing this, can we come over?)! Where will you be come midnight, November 19? We want to know.The Wii Fanboy staff will be positioned hither and yon, jockeying for our own sainted items, and will we provide as much live and almost-live coverage as we can cram onto the site from various wifi hotspots. At least one of our minions (don't you wish you knew who?) will be on the ground in Times Square. But enough about us. We want to know about you, dear reader. Where will you be at the moment of truth? Tell us, tell each other, network and plan to meet up. Remember: it's harder to trample new friends, so make nice and try not to stampede when the clock slides on over to midnight on Sunday.It's been fun, anticipating the Wii with everyone. We've talked about our homes, ourselves, and our plans for games. Now that we're on the brink of fulfilling our motion-sensing dreams, we feel a little ... empty. It's been a long road from the beginning until now, and yet it all feels somehow like a rehearsal. The real show doesn't begin until Sunday, and what a show it's going to be.But before we look ahead, let's recap where we've been.
Pokemon site rolls out the updates
The site dedicated to all things Pokemon has just shoveled out a whole ton of updates regarding the latest, and first on the Wii, Pokemon adventure. While all of the updates are media-related, they still manage to reveal some secrets the game was hiding. We've done the responsible thing and busted out the bullet points because, frankly, there are a lot of updates. Battle images Shop screen Roster Trainer customizations New trainer Battle stadium So, does this get you pumped for the game or turn you off? Any Pokemon haters out there thinking the game might not be so bad or vice versa?
Pokemon Battle Revolution site gets plenty of updates
The Japanese Pokemon site has received a huge update including videos and some graphics displaying combat coliseums and attacks for some of the Pokemon. The videos, which there are 4 of, are short and only show some in-battle action, however we find ourselves enjoying the graphics quite a bit.The site also updated some of the DS-Wii connectivity information, which you can check out here.[Via Go Nintendo]
DS controls Pokemon Battle Revolution
Right from the you knew it file comes this latest tidbit of info regarding Nintendo's latest Pokemon title Pokemon Battle Revolution for the Wii. The DS is to be used as controller, it turns out, allowing players to choose actions and view stats on pertinent Pokemon while the battle plays out on their television set. Sounds good to us, but we'd like to see some more features utilized between the handheld and console. The game is to release during the Japanese launch window for the Wii and is scheduled for a 2007 release in North America.
