supermariogalaxy
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Fan crafts unofficial Super Mario Galaxy box art
Using a combination of GIMP and more time than we care to imagine, N+ member Lutherjw has created a smart-looking mock-up of what the Super Mario Galaxy box could look like. Of course the real thing will probably be half as interesting, but what's a gamer to do when he needs a new 3D Mario fix?Nintendo of America's resident name taker Reggie Fils-Aime promised we would see Galaxy by year's-end, and speculation insists Nintendo will produce a solid release date at Min-E3. Until then, all we can do is sit back and critique Lutherjw's GIMP creation. Needs more Shaq, if you ask us.[Via N+]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl still on for 2007
It's tough going to the party without a date. Earlier this week, Nintendo laid out its release plans up until September 2007, notably leaving a still dateless Super Smash Bros. Brawl out of the whole affair, forcing it to watch as Metroid Prime 3 marched to the ball with an alluring 20th of August on its cannon arm. With no solid release window in sight, the Wii's frantic fighter must have considered going on a lonely drinking binge and slipping into a coma until 2008. That is, until Reggie Fils-Aime administered an unforgiving slap to the face and instilled hope once more. Speaking at the recent Nintendo Summit in Seattle, the Nintendo of America president confirmed that the musically rich Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy would both be out before your Official Iwata Swimsuit 2007 calendar becomes worthless. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS was given similar assurances and will likely join the anticipated Wii duo in this holiday season's battle for shoppers. You'd best start stocking up on that financial ammunition.
The galaxy awaits Mario's big return
With only a few months to go before the release of Super Mario Galaxy, expectations couldn't be higher for Nintendo's flagship hero. The title was recently confirmed for release this year, leaving our Nunchuk thumbs quivering in anticipation.Mario is carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders, however. The groundbreaking titles, from the original Super Mario Brothers through to Super Mario 64 (sorry, Mario Sunshine), were more than great games; they also defined their platforms, setting new standards both technically and in terms of design.It's no surprise then, that bloggers are starting to make demands for what they want to see in the new release. Check the link to see what people want this time around, and let us know what you want included.
Super Mario Galaxy in October for Japan
According to a Dutch gaming site, the latest issue of Famitsu confirms an October release for Super Mario Galaxy. Now, before you get all out of breath, stirring up a sweat as you run around your desk in circles, wildly cackling like an insane hyena, this doesn't mean much to all of us outside of the region. We could get it earlier or later (in the case of Europe, probably later) than October.[Thanks, Mivea!]
Super Mario Galaxy brings on the 2 player fun
If you've made a trip over to the Super Mario Galaxy page at the official Nintendo website, you might've noticed some of the features listed under the title, namely the confirmation of 2-player gameplay. Aside from that, not much else new can be reported on the game. Actually, nothing new can be reported on the game, so won't you sit in the corner with us, huddled in the fetal position, crying your eyes out waiting for this game?See also: GDC07: Super Mario Galaxy screenshots and footage from the keynote
GDC 07: Miyamoto keynote video
There are dozens of clips floating around from Shigeru Miyamoto's keynote yesterday, but IGN has streaming video of the entire event available for your anxious eyes. You won't find any megaton announcements or landmark revelations, but the presentation is full of insights on "the Nintendo Difference" from the company's preeminent game designer. What's Miyamoto's primary focus when developing a game? Why did it take 20 years before he could finally use his face creation software in a complete game? And whatever happened to Mario 128? If you have a free hour and a half, watch the keynote and find out.
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.
Mario takes on the galaxy and black lights
Taken by flickr user illustr8a, this picture of Mario was found at a local karaoke joint. Done with UV light paint (the stuff that glows under the black light), we see Mario, with smile wide, traversing the infinite black void of space. Personally, it makes us foam at the mouth for Mario's upcoming title later this year: Super Mario Galaxy.
The good, the bad, and the OHGODWHEN
There's an interesting feature over at CVG detailing ten games to watch for on the Wii this year (similar to what we did for the DS). Now, as this is a list from the UK, they've included some games with which we American gamers have already been blessed, but the rest of the lineup is interesting indeed. Of course, they highlight Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (we so can't wait for that), but the lion's share of the list goes to the most obvious -- and long in coming -- games for the Wii, like Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy (and the less talked about, but also cool Disaster: Day of Crisis). Of course these are going to be great games, but on what shall we pin all our hopes and dreams between now and the oblivion of year's end? It hurts to see so many great games on this list when we know they have no firm release date. Reggie promised us that there'd be no drought, but things are looking a little dry from the vantage point of this list. Potentially awesome, yes, but a little dry all the same.
Wii Mario & Metroid, DS Zelda in late '07
Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will arrive in late 2007 according to the latest round of whisper down the lane. CVG reports that "sources close to Nintendo" have cited the delays and have also verified that Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be released at the tail-end of next year.Officially, Nintendo would only acknowledge that Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Phantom Hourglass would debut in 2007. But the holiday stretch (October-December) is the obvious release window. Be patient.
Mario Galaxy given 9-month release window
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has updated Stephen Totilo on the planned release for Super Mario Galaxy. Mark your calendars with a big sharpie drawn across many pages: Fils-Aime expects the game to come out sometime between the end of March and Christmas.Why not say "by the end of 2007?" Well, it's bad business -- Nintendo has three titles (WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Wii Play, and Mario Party 8) coming out between now and March, and then Metroid Prime 3 seeing a release sometime after March. To say Mario Galaxy is coming out before Christmas gives analysts the clue that it might be poised to elevate their holiday lineup, unless Smash Bros Brawl or some heavy-hitting third-party titles can step up to the plate by then.Past March 2007, we don't yet know Nintendo's first-party lineup. Fils-Aime hints that some announcements will be coming in January. If Nintendo has learned from their follies with the GameCube, then we should have a consistent release schedule for the next year. If not, then we'll probably get one hit game every now and then, followed by long intervals of drought.[Update 1: It's StePHen Totilo, not SteVen. The change has been made, you can call your snipers off at anytime now.]
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.
Nintendo denies Space World, speculates on Mario at launch
There is no Space World planned for 2006, according to Nintendo of America PR Manager Matt Atwood. The confirmation, told to Advanced Media Network, dispels some speculation as to when Nintendo would announce the Wii's launch details. As there is no Space World, and no one from Nintendo speaking at the Tokyo Games Show, the likely location for launch announcements will be at the Leipzig Games Convention during the August 23 "Wii Prove our Promise" presentation. As goes Nintendo's modus operandi, the secretive company cannot destroy a rumor without spawning a replacement. Atwood also told AMN that, since the official launch lineup has not been announced, Super Mario Galaxy might still make launch lineup. "Anything is possible," he said. That is not a confirmation by any stretch of the imagination, but just enough to tantalize the masses. O, Nintendo, why must you torment us so?[via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Mario Galaxy, Wii details predicted in '91 by modern day Nostradamus
The December 1991 issue of Nintendo Power was recently unearthed, revealing eerie similarities between lil' Jimmy Peterford's "ultimate game system" fantasy and Nintendo's forthcoming Wii. As it turns out, Peterford nailed the Super Mario Galaxy name and likely came within a few dollars of the actual Wii launch price with the $259.95 figure he offered up. But the connection between Peterford's seemingly innocent wish and Wii doesn't end there...
Footage of every Wii game at E3
Gameworld Network (which is either a network of gameworlds or a gameworld of networks) has posted an epic collection of streaming E3 videos which clearly depicts each and every playable Wii game and how exactly one has to swing, wave, shake, point, wiggle and/or jostle the Wiimote in order to play. Feel free to grab a nearby TV remote and mimic the action. Sure, you'll get absolutely no response, but in the case of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, that's a pretty good approximation.[Via Infendo]
Wii impressions: Super Mario Galaxy
Though players have long become accustomed to controlling Nintendo's iconic and portly plumber, Super Mario Galaxy marks somewhat of a departure from that tradition. You still control Mario's movements with the analogue stick on the left nunchuck, but the wiimote in your right hand actually allows you to exert an influence on the world itself. A little on-screen star indicates where the wiimote is pointing and by holding down the B-button, you can grab onto various items and structures. For instance, if you run the cursor through a patch of flowers, it willl gently rustle in reaction to the presence of your invisible hand. While you have Mario running and jumping about and doing his usual platforming, you can manipulate objects in the environment in order to help him out.The game world seems to be comprised of a bunch of little planets floating in space, with Mario seeking out different ways to travel between them. One method of transportation is what appears to be a giant elastic plant. Mario climbs to the top and, using your wiimote, you grab onto the plant, stretch it into one direction and then release the button to have Mario slingshot to a different panet. It's an extremely intuitive experience and really creates the impression that you are reaching into Mario's little universe and making things a little easier for him. You can also stun and tip over the meandering Goombas by running your cursor across them, allowing Mario to finish them off with a good 'ole butt-stomp. Mario's usual repertoire of moves remains intact, with a vigorous shake of the wiimote activating a furious spinning attack. It's effective for clobbering enemies and activating the various star lifts scattered across the levels. The levels themselves look excellent from a graphical standpoint, boasting some stylish lighting effects and crisp and colorful textures. As far as depictions of plumbers in outer space go, I'd say this is probably the best one I've seen. Super Mario Galaxy really does make up for a lot of the graphical shortcomings of other Wii games. In fact, its unusual and engaging control system provides one of the best glimpses of the system's potential we've seen so far.
