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Wii Warm Up: Reusing assets
The unreleased Gamecube Kirby looked to be running on the Super Smash Bros. Melee engine. Most of the character art in Super Paper Mario Iooks a whole lot like that of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, and we don't think that's just consistency in style. Nintendo seems to be reusing art and code from previous games. The advantages of such a practice are obvious: reduced cost, quicker development cycles, and less need for debugging.But does it bother you to have a new game that isn't entirely new? Should Intelligent Systems have redrawn Mario for their new game? Or is there no reason to redo perfectly good work? What do you all think about the reuse of assets in new games?
eBay alert: EVERY SUPER NINTENDO GAME
Remember that scene in The Professional where Gary Oldman turns to a guy and says "Bring me everyone" and the guy is like "What do you mean by 'everyone'?" and then Gary Oldman goes"EEEEEVERYYYYYYYONE"? Well, if you win this auction, the seller will ship you EEEEEVERYYYYYYY ONE of the 720 Super Nintendo games released in the US, all of which are complete, and many of which are sealed. Plus you get 74 duplicates, which you can then use to recoup some of your investment.The collection includes future Virtually Overlooked subjects like Bronkie the Bronchiasaurus, Pieces, and Cacoma Knight in Bizyland. The price is a little high per game, but the convenience factor of not having to comb hundreds of eBay auctions and game stores for a complete copy of Super Troll Island is considerable.If you win, and you don't want your extra copy of Super 3D Noah's Ark or Packy & Marlon, please consider sending it along to your friendly neighborhood bloggers. Just a thought.[Via Game|Life]
GDC 07: Super Paper Mario meta...preview? [update 1]
The RPG-turned-platformer, Gamecube-turned-Wii title Super Paper Mario was on display on the show floor, and it continues to delight hippies gamers everywhere. Several sources have posted impressions of the title, lauding the innovative puzzle mechanic of perspective-swapping and the bright, trippy graphical style. Game|Life's impressions 1up's impressions IGN's impressions But what impressions could be more important than ours? That's right. God's. But that's it. So, stay tuned for impressions of pretty much every Nintendo game you've ever wanted to play but couldn't because you're not at GDC, including yon Super Paper Mario. Word.[Update 1: Thought of a classier post title.]
Wii Warm Up: Tacos, etc.
So the Wii has opened up new gameplay possibilities, new control methods, more immersion, and all that. But, unless the Nunchuk is involved, it's also opened up one of your hands. This has created the possibility for completely immersive snacking, wherein you don't have to stop playing even for a second while you stuff your face full of delicious, crunchy tacos (and, possibly, non-taco food items), totally sabotaging your Wii Sports exercise program.We want to know-- are you guilty of the crime of convenience? Have you succumbed to a sudden banana craving after picking up hundreds and hundreds of them in Super Monkey Ball? Or have you refrained from eating during gameplay, afraid you'll accidentally transfer some Cheeto dust onto the Wiimote?
The big three still on for 2007 [update 1]
According to IGN, "According to German magazine Gamefront, "According to a Japanese retail conference" (translated from German)"", Nintendo has released a list of first-party games tentatively scheduled for release in 2007. The full list can be found after the break, but it's quite notable to see that the big three of Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are still scheduled to be released in 2007.Keep in mind, we still expect one of these games to be delayed into 2008, but the longer we go without hearing that news, the better. Also noted as that Disaster: Day of Crisis (recently screenshot-icized) is also slated for the Year of the Boar. Can it be true?[Update 1: Holy crap. Melee came out six years ago, Jason, get a grip.]
More ESRB ratings found for Virtual Console
The ESRB ratings website is a veritable treasure trove of nuclear launch codes, CIA secrets, and unannounced Virtual Console games. Recently, ratings have popped up for Mighty Bomb Jack, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire. While not all of the ESRB rated games have yet arrived on the console, it's fairly certain that they'll get here eventually.In addition, Super Ghouls n' Ghosts was announced not only for the Wii, but for the 360 and PS3. This would make it the first game to be released on all three systems' classic download services, which then brings up silly flame wars and pointless arguing.But seriously, the Wii version will totally be the best.(Note: The GameSpot article mentions that Galaga was also tagged for release, but we actually caught this back in January. We rock.)
Release dates hit for Super Paper Mario, Mario Party 8
That's right. Super Paper Mario, a positively charming title once scheduled for the Gamecube, has been confirmed by the latest issue of Nintendo Power for an April release. The game, which will use the controller retro-style (read: on its side) to emulate that classic Mario feel, will use the A button to flip-flop between the 2-D and 3-D perspectives. Truly, we haven't seen a game of this particular dimensional scope since Yoshi's Story! For a bit more information on the title, check here.Also, Mario Party 8, the first Wii entry in the seminal series, will be dropping on March 5th, according to Nintendo's official site. Along with Sonic and the Secret Rings, March and April are actually turning out to be some decent months for the little white box. With Wario Ware: Smooth Moves this past month and Wii Play on February 12th, we're set for awhile. You?[Thanks to Ali, Naruhodou, and Castellanos!]
Sonic confirmed for SSB: Brawl?
People have speculated for quite some time on what out-of-company characters would be joining Solid Snake in the upcoming Super Smash Bros: Brawl. Sonic was an obvious choice, of course, but check out the above picture, seen in the Swedish Nintendo mag +N.Yes, readers, we know, it's still quite dubious. Still, we can't resist such a beauty of a rumor. Now we just need a NiGHTs 2 confirmation, Goldeneye on the virtual console, and the ability for the Wii to hack into our brains and overwrite our senses with direct input from the game.
A very merry Virtual Console Christmas [update 2]
Hold on to your mistletoe, folks, Nintendo is dropping all kinds of radiological bombs come Christmas morning. Let's skip the preamble and just head right on in: Super Mario Bros. (NES) - Finally, is all we have to say. The defining "retro" title in video gaming history is finally up for grabs, and you might not have a soul if you don't pick it up. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (SNES) - One of the most influential titles in the 16-bit era, Street Fighter II is revered by millions of angry, violent gamers worldwide. And Chun-Li is still hot. Super Castlevania IV (SNES) - The beginning of the modern Castlevania games, this title features more hot whip action than your mistress on Friday night. And unholy werewolves, too. Toe Jam and Earl (Sega Genesis) - We've been raving about this funkotronic title for weeks, and it's finally here come Christmas morn. Get your groove on and ignore your holiday dinner ... that's what we're doing, anyway. R-Type (TG-16) - An apparently famous shooter that we ourselves have not played. We hear it's quite the hit, though. Any takers? This is gonna be one hell of a Monday. Who said presents needed to be encased in paper and under a tree?[Thanks, Benny!][Update 1: Also, on January 1st, Nintendo will be releasing both Baseball (NES) and Urban Champion (NES). Not that it'll matter. We'll be too busy playing these games to bother.][Update 2: And no, none of these games are free. Cheapskates.]
Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption to be released in late '07?
Le sigh. There was a point, if we here at the Fanboy offices can remember correctly, that both Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption were both possible launch titles. Now, according to some whispers over at CVG, neither title will be released (along with the eternally delayed Zelda: Phantom Hourglass) until the holiday season of 2007.Patience is a good thing, and we're more than willing to wait until both of these quadruple-A titles are as shiny as can be. Still, unless Super Smash Bros: Brawl can make it out either in summer or even earlier (something we highly doubt), Nintendo is going to be going quite some time without a big first-party title. Memories of the typical Gamecube release schedule are coming to mind, but alas ... at least we've got the Virtual Console to keep us busy...[via Joystiq]
Super Star Soldier now available on Virtual Console
Well, Nintendo sort of promised us Virtual Console updates on Mondays, and no, they technically didn't lie. Late last night, Nintendo added a single new game, Super Star Soldier (of TurboGrafx-16 fame), available for 600 points. For those of you who aren't familiar with the title (you know ... everyone), Super Star Soldier is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter, resplendent with eight whole stages and seven whole bosses. There are even two-minute and five-minute time attack modes! Golly!Cynicism aside, those old 2-D shooters are fan favorites, and may add a lovely bit of retro to your gaming life. Anyone excited? Or just pissed that Nintendo is on its merry way to breaking its ten-game-a-month promise?
The REAL party is in my DS
We're not based in Kansas City, which isn't so much a bad thing, but it does keep us from receiving certain newspapers on a regular basis. One writer for the Kansas City Star had a few things to say about the DS Lite and a certain game for it known as Super Princess Peach. Stating that she "never thought I'd be one of those people who would choose a video game over a party," Jeneé Osterheldt has first-hand felt the fever we all so frequently fail from: Nintendo fever.So whether you want to consider her personal experience a downward spiral of self-loathing and disgust akin to how one gets hooked on, and subsequently dies from, drugs or a clever look at the appeal of gaming in the modern world, it's all an interesting read.[Via Go Nintendo]
New Smash Bros. trailer reveals return of Fox
Just like we thought, another trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl was unveiled in Japan today and, in a way, it revealed a new character. In the trailer, we not only see a lot of the new characters' attacks (is Snake's sneaking pose going to be useful?), but also new environments as well (destructible FTW). We've included the trailer, You Tubed for your convenience, embedded into the post after the break.[Thanks to all who sent this in!]
New Smash Bros. trailer and character revealed Friday [Update 1]
You know that game called Super Smash Bros. Brawl featuring Nintendo characters and Solid Snake duking it out across a wide variety of environments? No? Okay then ...Well, all horrible attempts at being humorous aside, it turns out another new character is coming to the game and will be revealed in a new trailer, set to release this Friday during the kickoff of Nintendo World 2006. Time to let the speculation begin (we're assuming you all think it will be Sonic?) and the comments fly![Thanks Franky Digital; via Go Nintendo][Update: Turns out our translation of the page was inaccurate as 1UP says this will be footage of the new characters moving in-game, not the unveiling of new characters for the game. Bummer ... ]
Big Brain Academy headed to the Wii?
One of our wonderful readers sent us in a tip (note: sending in news tips may or may not increase your chances of becoming a billionaire) regarding Super Mario Galaxy. Turns out, Nintendo's listing of Wii titles has Super Mario Galaxy as only being a temporary name. More importantly, however, is the listing that shows Big Brain Academy (also a temporary name) is headed to the Wii.Could this mean that a Brain Age sequel will not be releasing on the Wii, with Big Brain Academy being the only brain-training game to hit the platform?[Thanks Modano!]
Japanese software sales chart, Oct. 2-8: The Gundam Strikes Back
The last time a PSP title was this high in the Japanese software sales chart, it was SD Gundam G Generation Portable, and it was the fastest-selling PSP game to date. And now it's Gundam Battle Royale's turn at trying to upset Nintendo's DS games, which Andrew predicted more than a month ago. Is the guy psychic or something? 1. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (PS2) - 263,897 / *NEW* 2. Pokemon Diamond (DS) - 254,080 / 1,074,127 3. Pokemon Pearl (DS) - 212,193 / 980,881 4. Gundam Battle Royale (PSP) - 64,986 / *NEW* 5. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - 40,114 / 3,233,793 6. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Kounin: KanKen DS (DS) - 38,799 / 84,091 7. Minna no Tennis (PS2) - Sony - 32,962 / 416,507 8. Final Fantasy III (DS) - Square Enix - 30,418 / 781,713 9. Brain Training 2 (DS) - Nintendo - 26,600 / 3,288,248 10. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) - Nintendo - 22,787 / 3,305,244 While Gundam Battle Royale's sold less than half of what SD Gundam G Generation Portable (155,634) sold in its first week, it was still enough to capture the fourth spot. It seems the Japanese eat up these Gundam games faster than my fat uncle Johnny at Thanksgiving. Has Sony finally found its PSP cashcow? Hmmm.
Super Mario Galaxy video in HD
We've seen tons of Mario and the more we see, the more we salivate for his new game Super Mario Galaxy. As an astronautical platformer (we made that up), the game was an absolute blast when we played it at E3. It ended up being our absolute favorite Wii title on-hand at the show.This latest trailer, in spectacular high definition, shows a lot of gameplay that those keen on Mushroom Kingdom's greatest hero might have seen before, but being in beautiful HD this time around, it's worth the possible revisit. Obviously, due to the video's resolution you'll have to head over to Game Trailers to check it out as we cannot embed it into the post as usual.
Super Paper Mario scrapped for Cube, coming to Wii
According to the latest Wii Mailbag over at IGN, Super Paper Mario, the sequel to the awesome game that is Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, is to release on the Wii and not the GameCube. The game was supposed to release next month, but according to retail listings and the fact that Japan has yet to receive the game, we doubt this is still the planned release date.Given all of this, we can safely assume that gesture-based controls will somehow be implemented into the final game. We can see ourselves utilizing the Wiimote as if it were a hammer, gripping it tightly with both hands above our head and swiping it downward to squash Goombas. Flicking the nunchuk attachment upward could naturally cause Mario to jump in-game. In what other ways could the Wiimote's unique control scheme improve the game experience?
Marching band plays gaming hits
Sure, we could make jokes about how being in a marching band is lame and one's only choice should they be horrible at sports, but we aren't that kind of judgmental blog. Instead, we're the type of blog to pay homage and respect those who manage to convince their superiors that a videogame-inspired medley of tunes should be the focus of the half-time show. That's what this wonderful MSU marching band did, playing tunes from awesome Nintendo games such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.They also played something from a Microsoft game, we believe. Something having to do with angels?
Sonic in the next Smash Bros. game?
According to the September issue of Tips & Tricks, one Shigeru Miyamoto and Masahiro Sakurai have gone on record stating that they would both like to see other third-parties step up and ask to include their characters in the Smash Bros. experience. In citing that Kojima asked to have Snake involved in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the magazine says that the request was made too close to deadline, so they were unable to include him. Shiggy and Sakurai have said that they are close to including one other outside character, and commented that the most requested character is none other than Sega's mascot, and Mario's old rival, Sonic the Hedgehog.Now, we've all heard about the April Fool's joke about Sonic being unlockable in SSBM, but with strong support of the new console from Sega with some launch title, one of which being an all-new Sonic adventure, we're inclined to say that this is likely to happen. Is the character they're in talks to include none other than the speedy, ring-obsessed Sonic?[Via QJ; Thanks vidGuy!]
