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Planar dives head first into high-end home theater market by acquiring Runco
Joining the growing array of recent acquisitions is Planar and Runco International, as just today Planar has written a check for $36.7 million to take on the assets of privately-held Runco International, Inc. Planar, while not a household name in the home theater biz, managed to hold its own amongst competitors in the HT market, and while the majority of its products catered to the mid-range consumer, we suspect that picking up Runco was the easiest way to launch into the high-end realm. As expected, it looks like the Planar, Runco, and Vidikron brand names will remain as they are, and just as Planar will continue to sell through its current network of distributors, it sure sounds like Runco will remain a niche offering rather than bleeding over towards the mainstream.
Friday video: Get down, Boogie oogie oogie
Finally, we can see one of the most important aspects of EA's Boogie: the dancing. Our Featured Friday Video for this week shows off the new rhythm title in motion, and the best description we can think of is "spastic, but in a good way." Also on display: the characters, called Boogs, who can be customized (another EA game that uses cutesy customizable avatars, but not Miis?), and who don't all look like Earl. The factsheet for the game mentions minigames (wouldn't be a Wii game without 'em) and a music video mode that lets players save their performances with added voice and custom camera angles and effects. Unfortunately, you have to check the site for the video, since we can't embed the Vooks player. We do have screens, though, after the break.
Another look at Doki Doki Majo Saiban
We've talked at length about SNK's suggestive Doki Doki Majo Saiban before, mostly about the controversy involved in the game. We've discussed the most obvious feature of the game, which is the witch-hunting mode that has players investigating young girls with the touch screen to determine witchery.Well, we'll focus on the other part of the game today. As self-avowed adventure game freaks, we feel that we should focus on that part of Doki Doki Majo Saiban at least once; we've chosen new screenshots to that effect. We are interested in the adventure aspects of the game. We like SNK, and to be honest, if there's real puzzle solving and item collecting to be found, then we'll actually be interested in Doki Doki Majo Saiban. If it's just a matter of walking from location to location trying to find the right girl to talk to, then we aren't as thrilled. The fact that the main character keeps a log is promising, indicating that there is stuff worth keeping track of. We've been surprised by DS games before. Remember the comedy game about murder trials? That turned out okay. If the gameplay's there, we might even be able to see past the questionable content. With a C rating, the game shouldn't be too out of control. There's always the chance, too, that the game is actually satirical and pokes fun at the assumed perv audience. The website supports that theory.
More Crash screens than you could ever need
Well, these new Crash of the Titans screens did make us giggle, so we have a little hope for this forthcoming Wii title. The flood of screens didn't hurt, either. We've tucked several away after the jump for your viewing pleasure. How's it look? Besides, of course, the funny.
Transformers: The screenshots
Two incredible forces. Two sides in the battle for Earth -- and appropriately, two completely different games for two completely different stories. How ... balanced. We love it. As licensed games go, these don't sound (or look) half bad. After the jump, we've got new screens from both Decepticons and Autobots. We won't even make you choose between 'em; you can ogle both if you're so inclined.
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 screens exist
We don't want to make any value judgments, so we'll stick to the facts. A Wii game based on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End exists in some unreleased stage, and Jeux-France posted two screenshots of it, which we have posted here for you. The screens depict characters from the movie in what appear to be situations from the whole series. Sometimes the characters engage in combat against enemy characters. There is a display on the screen of the appropriate Wii controller motions for the situation.We don't want to speculate too much, but we're guessing that this game will be pressed onto discs and released to retailers near the time of the movie's release (late May). Should people want one of these discs containing the game, they will be able to obtain one in exchange for currency.[Via NeoGAF]
Big Brain Academy screens, WiiConnect24 details
It breaks our hearts to see that only a few games on the Wii's roster support Mii integration and WiiConnect24. Nintendo's lack of third-party cooperation might be to blame, but at least the company will be implementing both features with Big Brain Academy for the Wii. Users will be able to import their Miis when creating a student profile, solving the game's reflex puzzles with their customized characters. According to the latest issue of Nintendo Power, WiiConnect24 will allow other people's Miis to wander into your game, equipped with the student profiles of their creators. You will also be able to test your brain against theirs in any of the multiplayer modes. We're going to be pretty depressed if our friends' Miis turn out to be much smarter than us. At least we have our wit! There's always that, right? Big Brain Academy won't be coming out in the US until June 11, so there's still some time to hit the books and get your brain in shape. Jeux-France has several dozen screenshots of the game in action along with some Mii artwork. Check past the post break for a few of those images.
Incredible barrage of MySims screens
Is it just us, or does MySims look more and more like Animal Crossing with everything we see from it? That's tough, considering it looked like Animal Crossing when it was first announced. But we can't be mad. It's too adorable, and we cannot resist the power of MySims. After the jump, there are enough screenshots to convince even the hardest of hearts.We're really not sure if these are work (or other public place) safe. They are so freakin' cute that they may cause a complete emotional breakdown. You've been warned.
Delicious new Final Fantasy II images
While reading Destructoid, I came across a reference to new screens for Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition at Famitsu. While we've seen plenty of screens for Final Fantasy I, there haven't been many of II. That's some nice looking 2D up there. I especially like the look of the monster. He looks scarier than a male Sailor Moon cosplayer. Is one of these Final Fantasy titles your favorite or is your fav Final Fantasy still not announced for PSP yet?
New Tamagotchi Party On screens
If any Wii games have been lacking in vibrant color, it's because Tamagotchi: Party On! took all the color from a year's worth of games. Seriously, this game more than cancels out Sadness in mood and, especially, in color saturation. In these screens, we can see what looks like a game board-- we would guess it connects the minigames, in the style of another well-known minigame collection.This is, at least in terms of visuals, the most charming minigame collection we've seen since Incredible Crisis. Will it be as much fun? At least minigames have the potential to be more interesting with unique control schemes like the Wiimote provides. Check out some screens after the break!
GDC 07: Super Mario Galaxy screenshots and footage from Miyamoto's Keynote
Scrutinizing Miyamoto's GDC keynote for information on upcoming games might have been about as productive as trying to squeeze water from a rock, but the new Super Mario Galaxy gameplay trailer and screenshots that were brought out did not disappoint.Along with the clips of planet-hopping and lava stages that we've already seen, we were treated to shots of climbable vines, menacing Thwomps, and ... Planets made of fruit? There are a lot more surprises in the video, but don't take our word for it! Check it out and let us know what you think.
First screens for Blazing Angels on the Wii
Ubisoft has finally gotten around to release some screens for the upcoming Wii version of Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII. While there aren't as many screens as we would've liked, we're still holding out hope that the updated controls and other improvements being made to the game will add some value. We tried the game when it was on another console, and honestly, it wasn't too great. Actually, it downright sucked.We've included the other screens past the post break.
First Disaster: Day of Crisis screenshot
Nintendo released a single screenshot of Monolith Soft's Disaster: Day of Crisis, the natural-disaster survival game announced at E3 2006. We now have our first indication of how the game will play-- that arrow suggests a Quick Timer Event. Whether that means an action/adventure game with occasional quick-button-press segments, or a Dragon's Lair-style game, we don't know. What is surprising even to us is that we're kind of hoping for the latter. We miss those laserdisc games! Are we the only ones?
Bomberman Land Wii is adorable
It shouldn't be noteworthy that a Bomberman game is cute, but recent developments have called the cuteness of all future Bomberman games into question. Thankfully, we can confirm that yes, we have confirmation on big-headed characters, and we are go for cuddliness.We are also go for minigames, which makes us a little nervous. We kind of have enough minigames already on the Wii, and we don't need much content from Bomberman other than multiplayer bombing. Online bombing would be great, of course, but that might be too much to ask.Exclusive "scrolling through some screenshots" minigame* after the break.*by which we mean "screenshots for you to scroll through, and not a game at all."[Via QJNet]
Bratz Ponyz screenz cause complex emotionz
It's ... it's not even a Bratz game. It's a Bratz spinoff game. It's more than likely a terrible cash-in game built around a horrible property, presented to little girls in the most insultingly manipulative way possible. It's way beyond the cliche of guys thinking girls' toys are gross; Bratz are just icky and wrong.Still, somewhere in these Bratz Ponyz, obscured by the corporate-designed horrible character art, we see a mid-90s PC-game/ToeJam & Earl art style peeking out. Seriously, those brightly-colored, cartoony backgrounds would easily be classified as good game art if it weren't for all the Abominationz treading their cloven, chibi hooves all over it. We can't believe what we're saying, but it looks kind of nice. What is happening?The screens are after the break, in support of the poor artist who got stuck on this project. Chin up, DS-game-artist-guy. You'll get away from the extraneous Z's one day. We also can't help but point out how the game apparently encourages kids to get "tatooz"-- for their horses.[Via NeoGAF]
New Virtua Tennis 3 screens
Everything I know about tennis I learned from The Prince of Tennis so I'm not the most knowledgeable about the sport. But I do know that Virtua Tennis 3 looks amazing. If you're looking forward to getting your top spin on, than these screens will either hurt or help the wait until the game's March 20th release. Screens after the jump ...
View an Alien Syndrome
IGN has up screens and a trailer for SEGA's upcoming Alien Syndrome. The action-RPG is a continuation of the long dormant Alien Syndrome franchise. It's great to have SEGA bring back some of their old franchises, but the graphics and voice acting seemed below average. Of course the game is early in development and the graphics could improve and the voice actors changed. Even if they stay the same, if the game is fun, that alone will trump the audio and visual short comings. What I want to know is what Alien Syndrome fans think of this new iteration? Are you excited or horrified?
New Final Fantasy Anniversary screens
The fine folks over at Game Watch have put up some new screens from the Final Fantasy PSP rendition. The screens show combat, a cinema scene and the screen above. The game is scheduled to hit Japan April 19th, though no US date has been set yet. It's looking very nice considering, but I think the main deciding factor in these releases will be the price point. Will you be buying these releases and what Final Fantasy number would be your dream port to PSP?
Asphalt Urban GT 2 Screens
Gamespot has some Asphalt Urban GT 2 screens up now and while they don't look terrible, they certainly don't compare to the looks of Burnout Dominator. Graphics aren't everything certainly, but the PSP is capable of some very nice looking games and it's difficult to not form comparisons. I've never played the first game though, so maybe the gameplay will more than make up for any graphical short comings. Anyone played this series? If so, was it worth your time?
Lost in Lost in Blue 2 screens
DS-x2 got a hold of some screens for the upcoming sequel to Lost in Blue. What's the most surprising about them is the confirmation that the game will take place on a desert island. We totally didn't see that coming! Now, we never played the first game, so we have no frame of reference on whether to be excited or disappointed at the idea of a sequel, but that's why we have you, fine reader!Continue past the jump to catch the screens and leave a comment telling us how you feel about a Lost in Blue sequel. What did you love/hate about the first game?
