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Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/25-3/2
People interested in Japanese game sales probably have one question on their minds: Did Super Smash Bros. Brawl hold onto the top spot last week? Well, the answer is, no. The new Gundam game for the PS2 managed to end Brawl's reign, and end it convincingly. In fact, Smash barely stayed in second, with Wii Fit being right up the fighter's grill.The Wii itself also lost the top spot last week, overtaken by the PSP in hardware for the first time since Brawl's release. Aside from those major changes, though, everything looks to be what we'd expect, with Winning Eleven and Family Ski continuing to champion the cause for third parties.Go on and take a look at the numbers after the break ... or else.
Best Buy's Brawl gift card doesn't come cheap
The cheapest way we've found to get Super Smash Bros. Brawl so far is through Gamestop, but if you're not looking to trade in games, you can look to Best Buy instead. The retailer isn't cutting the price of the soon-to-be-beloved Nintendo fighter, but they're offering a $10 gift card when you buy Brawl and another game that's over $39.99.That's still not as good as the Circuit City deal, which also will net you a $10 gift card, but without making you buy a second game. The deal at Circuit City, though, is for preorders only.So, if you don't intend to preorder the latest Smash Bros., Best Buy may be your best bet. The offer lasts from 3/9-3/29 in stores only, and you must show them the promotional coupon (click the picture to the right).[Via GoNintendo]
Dojo update: Picture perfect
This is it, folks: the final dojo update before Brawl hits the U.S., and there's a definite "last day of school" feel to proceedings. Rather than deal with the drudgery of introducing new stages or describing individual items in fine detail, Sakurai and his team of translators have just loafed around with their shirts hanging out, flicked ink at girls, and uploaded around a hundred of the goofiest images that users have taken using Brawl's Snapshot mode (unfortunately, because we have a blog to run here, we only found time to upload around half).Some of these made us titter, some missed the mark, and others really need to be viewed with their caption (you'll have to go to the dojo itself for that) for the full effect. Oh, and you can forget shots of Peach's underwear, or of Snake and Pikachu in compromising positions. The dojo is a place for all the family, after all. Not some depraved message board thread populated by the likes of us. %Gallery-16727%%Gallery-10206%
Metareview -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
The time of Super Smash Bros. Brawl is almost upon the North Americas. Sunday, in fact, in case you're just waking from a coma (welcome back, btw). We've given our initial impressions of the game, but the reviews are coming in and they look smashing (sorry). The only real complaint leveled against the game is that it doesn't move the series forward, but merely refines what's there. We're pretty sure the many who plan on playing all Sunday night and are calling in sick for Monday don't care. GamePro (100/100): "From the fighting mechanics to roster of players Brawl is a well-rounded game that I just couldn't put down. The only downside to Brawl is that it doesn't do anything to reinvent the series. It takes elements of past SSB games and refines them, which is great, but players expecting an entirely new experience won't find it here. Still, it is a well round game that doesn't disappoint and it's a must buy for every Wii owner." IGN (95/100): "You will play the game to death when you get it. But unlike so many single-player hits, Metroid and Mario included, you will still be playing and consequently loving Brawl in the months and years to come. It is one of the great multiplayer titles of the generation and simply not to be missed." GameTap (90/100): "That's the beauty of Brawl: It's a game that keeps on giving. The game supports online matchups via the Wi-Fi Connection, of course, but even when you're not focused on the primary game modes, you can spend hours just playing with extra features or hunting down a ton of unlockables. ... Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a Wii game you can play forever...or at least, until the next Nintendo console arrives." %Gallery-8530%
'Free for All': Our favorite rap song about Smash Bros. Brawl
A question for you, dear reader: What is your favorite rap song about soon-to-be-released fighter Super Smash Bros. Brawl? ... Oh, really? That's interesting. We can't actually hear you, but you should know that unless you just answered "Free for All" by the rapping pride of West Virginia, The Covenauts, you are terrifyingly, heart-breakingly wrong. Having been recorded before the game's character list was announced the song is a bit outdated now, but you know what's not outdated? That flow. Please, enjoy with our compliments, and just try to deny that there's a better song that involves lyrical acrobatics and battling Nintendo characters.
First impressions: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/First_Impressions_Smash_Bros_Brawl'; Update: Wii Fanboy has some impressions of our first friend-code-enabled Wi-Fi match. The result: Relatively lag-free.Yeah, we've given you the hands-on impressions before, but now that we've gotten the final retail version into our metaphorical Joystiq HQ, we thought we'd share some quick opinions on the full Brawl experience. Click the continue link to find out our thoughts on the Subspace Emissary mode, Online play, the various control options, and more.Warning: Spoilers ahead!%Gallery-8530%
GameStop holding Smash Bros. Brawl tournament, midnight launch events
GameStop announced today that it will hold Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournaments and midnight launches this Saturday at 2,500 of its stores. The single-elimination tournaments will begin at 10PM (local time), but contestants are asked to check with their store for exact time and must be there 30 minutes before the event.Winners of the local GameStop store SSBB tournaments will continue up a chain, with a few more qualifying rounds, leading to the finals on April 12 in San Jose, CA. The last brawler standing will receive an LCD-TV (that's what the release says, but the flyer after the break says plasma), a Wii console plus accessories, "an entire Nintendo Wii Software Library" and $5,000 in cash. The second and third place finishers will receive a gift card, and will likely be asked if they'd like to pre-order any games.
Dojo update: The final brawler
Looks like we may have our final character, folks! Hit the break to find out who it is!
Introducing the Joystiq Smash Bros Brawl page
If you hadn't heard the news, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is coming to North American shores next Sunday, March 9. If you're looking to keep up to date with everything surrounding the title, check out our game page for all things Brawl. Seriously, this is everything we've written on the game. Bookmark the page, as we'll be constantly updating.
Dojo Update: Continuing will cost you
Ah, where would we be without continues? You'd probably find us taking an anger management class or two if they didn't exist, truth be told.Of course, you shouldn't rely on continues. Even though you can use them, you should certainly try to get by without them. Sakurai seems to feel the same way, which is why you get punished for using continues in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.Not that the punishment is all that bad -- Kirby won't puff into your home and slap you in the face, for example. Yet, in Classic Mode, each continue comes at the cost of points and coins. Your score will automatically get cut in half, and the amount of coins you owe is based on the difficulty you're playing in. Naturally, easy playthroughs cost less coins than difficult playthroughs. And yes, these are the same coins that you'll be using in Spectator Mode. Just like an arcade game, if you don't have enough coinage to continue, it's game over.As for Adventure Mode, the consequences aren't as bad. You don't have to spend your coins to continue, but you'll lose half of the trophies and stickers that you've collected on your current quest. You'll also receive less coins when you beat stages after continuing. We wonder just how hard these single player modes are going to be. Until we figure that out, you can bet that we'll be big penny pinchers.%Gallery-16727%%Gallery-10206%
Joystiq attends Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament in pseudo-Boston
Nintendo of America's official Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament finals occur this Saturday in New York City after qualifying events last month in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. This past Saturday an official qualifying event was held in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, a well-sized burg about an hour outside of Boston. And although Worcester does have its own distinct identity, don't tell that to the emcee of the Nintendo Brawl event who kept telling "Boston" to "make some noise." For those who need further explanation, that would be like attending an event in Newark, New Jersey and having someone awkwardly scream, "Manhattan, make some noise!"So, how did such a must-attend event for gamers to get their hands on Brawl a week before launch end up being hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute? Turns out, it's a classic tale of who you know. Jaime Barriga, a senior at WPI who heads the Game Development Club, won a photo contest Nintendo held last year. Since that time he stayed in contact with the Nintendo PR team and kept trying to get some kind of event hosted at the school. As luck would have it, this Smash Bros. Tournament landed at their feet.%Gallery-17328%
Dojo update: A new stage: let us show you it
Would you believe Brawl contains even more Pokemans? It's true! See which of the other critters made the cut after the break.
Dojo update: The Pokemon ranks swell
The 31st character to be revealed on the dojo might not be who you expect -- go past the break for the full, spoiler-filled lowdown.
Brawl effect: Wii outsells PS3 4-to-1 in Japan
Wii outsold PlayStation 3 nearly 4-to-1 in Japan during the four weeks ending on February 24, reports Japanese magazine publisher Enterbrain. What else is new? Actually, it's a 'real' game, for once, that appears to be driving the ongoing sales surge. Super Smash Bros. Brawl has managed to move 1.33 million units since its January 31 release, no doubt contributing to sales of 331,627 Wii consoles during the period tracked. In comparison, PS3 conjured up a mere 89,131 units sold.Additionally, Nintendo managed to unload nearly as many Balance Boards as it did Wiis, with Wii Fit selling 309,311 units to become the (distant) second best-selling 'game' during the four-week period. As for Xbox 360...? Put it this way: Wii outsold the poor thing more than 23-to-1. Damn, yo.
Dojo update: 100%
Fancy some quick tips on how to complete -- and by that we mean fully, 100% complete -- The Subspace Emissary? Hit the break!
Dojo update: An old hand (or two)
Hit the break to learn more about the latest Smash Bros. veteran to appear on the dojo, but be warned: if you're showing spoilers the hand (oof), you'll want to stay put.
Dojo update: Another veteran returns
The spoiler barrier is back down for today, after Masahiro Sakurai revealed another unlockable character in Brawl. To find out who, go past the break! To remain free of spoilers, stay here!
GDC08: Super Smash Bros. Brawl after hours tournament
Turns out that – while technically volunteers – the Conference Associates (or CAs as they're known) at this year's GDC didn't go uncompensated. In addition to getting a free pass to the not inexpensive conference (a great opportunity to network and learn a great deal about making video games!) they also earned something many of you may be far more appreciate of: A chance to play the highly-anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl two-and-a-half weeks before its tardy North American release. We sent Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont to the tournament's secret location to see what happens when the volunteers get the place to themselves.[Note: There may be some spoilers in the above video, if you're paranoid about that sort of thing. But really, c'mon.]
GDC08: Sakurai on Super Smash Bros. Brawl development
At a surprisingly sparsely attended Friday morning session (relatively speaking), Masahiro Sakurai detailed the development processes behind upcoming super smash hit, Super Smash Bros. Brawl. First, he apologized for the game's North American delay, saying "Reggie said he would make a whole lot of extra copies to make up for that." Well, thanks ... we guess? First, he explained the construction of the team, saying they were "structured like mercenary horde." Since Sakurai works as a freelance designer (his company is really just two employees, including himself) he assembled the 100+ person team for Smash for this project, and not everyone was full-time. Moving onto the most obvious topic: character selection. With Smash's extensive roster, Sakurai said most of the characters were "finalized in planning documents" before production even began. One of the few exceptions was Sonic, says Sakurai. "To tell you the truth, the decision to include Sonic was not made until 2007." Apparently, even some Nintendo characters could not be included because of "rights issues" -- we're not sure which characters he may be referring to. %Gallery-8530%
Dojo update: More on Bowser and Meteor Smashes
We're lifting our spoiler barrier for today's dojo update, simply because there's a complete lack of stuff to spoil. Bowser's special moves -- the Flying Slam and the Bowser Bomb -- have long been available on his dojo character profile.The former replaces Koopa Klaw from Melee, and sees Bowser grab his opponents (either on the ground or in mid-air) and slam them back down to earth, providing the victim doesn't reverse the move and clamber on top of Bowser (damage will play a part in how strong any resistance is). The Bowser Bomb, meanwhile, is much the same as it was in Melee.Elsewhere, Sakurai discusses Meteor Smashes, maneuvers that let you spike already stricken opponents, sometimes with devastating effect.Read: Bowser: Special MovesRead: Meteor Smash%Gallery-10206%%Gallery-6869%
