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A double dose of Strong Bad goodness
Here are two friggity fresh videos from the third episode of SBCG4AP. So far, the series hasn't disappointed and we're hoping for the same from the third chapter, which, if everything goes to plan, should be dropping on WiiWare very soon. Hit up the video above, then head past the break for more.%Gallery-33956%
Metareview: Sam and Max: Season One
Sam and Max: Season One has finally released on the Wii. We've been talking about the duo coming to the Wii for some time now. Has the wait been worth it? There haven't been that many reviews yet, so we'll keep updating this post when they come in. But, that's not to say a few outlets haven't tossed their two cents in. So, without further delay, let's get to the scores. 1UP (67/100) explains you'll need lots of patience to get through this one: "The game's still fun and unusual, and it's worth checking out if only to enjoy some of the more clever writing in gaming. But don't forget your patience -- you'll need lots." Game Informer (70/100) found the gameplay to be lacking: "When the laughter dies and some of the jokes fall flat, however, Sam & Max teeters as its gameplay is unable to support much interest for some stretches." [Sept 2008, p.105] Nintendo Power (70/100) says the game isn't really that funny: "There are moments of genuine hilarity, but the humor too often feels overwrought or simply falls flat." [Oct 2008, p.89] %Gallery-23759%
Retail and download releases for the week of October 13th
If you've been digging the Strong Bad episodes, then you're definitely going to want to check out Sam and Max: Season One. While the episodes have been available on the PC for quite some time, us Wii owners are finally getting them in the form of this convenient package. All of the episodes in one bundle? Sign us up!Cruise past the break to check out the rest of the new gaming content available for the Wii this week.%Gallery-23759%
GameStop and Telltale team up to sell Sam & Max
Okay, here's the deal: we all thought Sam & Max Wii released, right? Well, it didn't. Instead, Telltale just didn't, uh, tell anyone about it and continued to labor on the title. Now, it's finally revealed the game will definitely be hitting retail shelves next month, on October 7th. Telltale also informs us that anyone who preorders Sam & Max: Season One through GameStop will receive a bonus CD, which has "a behind-the-scenes 'making of' featurette, trailers, concept art, a soundtrack sampler, and desktop wallpapers."For those of you awaiting the game, hit up the trailer above, then check out some new screens in our gallery above. %Gallery-23759%[Via press release]
Wii's Sam & Max Season 1 premieres on Oct. 7
Telltale Games continues to display respectable business acumen by releasing the first season of its episodic adventure, Sam & Max: Freelance Police, on the Wii. You can expect to find the lovable doggy detective and his demonstrably deranged bunny thing in North American stores on October 7th, complete with newfangled "widescreen" support and a tutorial. Remember, point ... then click.If you consider yourself of a fan of the highly untrained duo, you'll want to investigate a pre-order offer from Gamestop, which sweetens the $30 deal with a bonus CD (see: behind-the-scenes "making of" featurette, trailers, concept art, a soundtrack sampler, and desktop wallpapers). Nice, though we would have preferred a Prismatology book.%Gallery-32134%
Wii Fanboy Review: Strong Badia the Free
The Telltale folks have dished out another episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (otherwise known as SBCG4AP). Much like the first episode, Strong Badia the Free has its ups and downs, but, for the most part, is everything you'd expect from the genre. If you had trouble swallowing the first episode, then know that much hasn't changed with the second download.%Gallery-31738%
Retail and download releases for the week of September 15th
As suspected, today sees the release of SBCG4AP's second episode, Strong Badia the Free. What's surprising, however, is the two other games available for download through your Wii. One of them is a WiiWare game we know little about, and the other is an old NES game about a robotic boy that likes the color blue. OMG what is it?!Head past the break and find out!%Gallery-31738%
Strong Badia the Screens [update]
[Update: we've just learned that the game is scheduled for this Monday!]Strong Badia The Free, the second episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People, is expected this month, and Telltale is preparing us to come to the coolest place I know. Where, it would seem, a revolution against the tyrannical, swimming-pool-full-of-gelatin-eating King of Town is brewing.In the screens, we can see that most of Free Country USA is united against the KOT, even The Cheat and Marzipan. They appear to be ready to burn the butter-loving monarch in effigy. But it isn't all bad -- The Cheat appears poised to throw the real rave he's always deserved, instead of just a lightswitch rave.Population: Ti-i-i-iiiiiiire!%Gallery-31738%[Via press release]
Born for Wii: Sam & Max Hit the Road
In 1987 Lucasfilm Games (now better known as Lucasarts) released a little game called Maniac Mansion. And while Maniac Mansion is a great game in its own right, the effects of its creation were considerably more significant -- it kicked off more than a decade of Lucasarts adventure games, launched the SCUMM engine that would form the framework for each adventure, and inadvertently led to the production of some of the best PC games of all time. One of those games was Sam & Max Hit the Road.Arguably released at the height of the adventure game's popularity in 1993, Sam & Max Hit the Road is possibly the zaniest of Lucasarts's adventure titles. The titular characters were originally created for a comic book by artist/writer Steve Purcell, but they eventually found their way into Lucasarts when Purcell began working on games such as The Secret of Monkey Island. Sam, the leader of the pair, is a canine gumshoe decked out in the traditional film noir suit and tie. Max is a lagomorph, though he's often referred to as a "hyperkinetic rabbity thing" who has a penchant for violence. Together, they are the freelance police, and their original 1993 adventure outing is the perfect opportunity for the Wii to catch a classic. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-30959% Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Power Stone 2, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.
Joystiq talks with Telltale about Wii and the future
No, they aren't predicting the apocalypse or anything, but their future on the Wii seems almost certain. When asked if SBCG4AP sold more on the PC or Wii, they were quick to note that performance on Nintendo's system beat the PC. How was it to work with Nintendo? "Working with Nintendo's been pretty good," commented designer Mark Darin. "All the help that Nintendo's been giving us and allowing us the opportunity to be on WiiWare has been great for our company and great for getting titles like SBCG4AP out there to a new audience who maybe isn't used to Adventure games. It's been a great partnership with Nintendo so far." Telltale also goes on to talk about the system's hardware and what challenges that presented, as well as Sam & Max on the console. So be sure to read the full interview over at Joystiq.
PAX 2008: TellTale talks Wii, IP licensing and the future
TellTale, purveyors of all things pointy and clicky, were kind enough to have a natter with us on the PAX show floor. Designer, Mark Darin, and PR Manager, Emily Morgant, chat to us regarding developing for the Wii, how deals for the Sam and Max, Homestar Runner and Wallace and Gromit franchises came about and plans for the future. Hint: we won't be finding out about any more TellTale products for a little while. Are there any plans to bring any of TellTale's properties on to XBLA or PSN?Mark: Start with the hard questions! I don't really have too many answers to that. I know that we're looking to get on as many platforms as we can. We're talking to people about opportunities but no solid plans right now. Emily: I would add to that that when we announced that we coming out with a WiiWare game and it was already in production and that it would be coming out a few months later, everybody was very surprised. We do things and don't talk about them.How has your experience been with Nintendo's platform versus the PC?Mark: Working with Nintendo's been pretty good. Actually our production process is kind of streamlined and our TellTale Tool is created to work well with multiple systems. So for us there's really no bottleneck, it's the same as working on the PC environment. All the help that Nintendo's been giving us and allowing us the opportunity to be on WiiWare has been great for our company and great for getting titles like SBCG4AP out there to a new audience who maybe isn't used to Adventure games. It's been a great partnership with Nintendo so far.
Telltale dishes out new Strong Bad trailer, screens
Telltale has just sent out a press release, which was chock full of screens for the next episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. As you all know, we found the first episode to be quite good (although, we never did have our copy freeze on us), so we're looking forward to this month's new episode. Oh, and along with those lovely screens (check them out in the gallery below), we've also got a new trailer for you above this very post. Did you download the first episode? Enjoy it?%Gallery-30447% Strong Bad's Game for Attractive People isn't the only notable WiiWare title. Capcom's upcoming Mega Man 9 has managed to turn a few heads (and might have even gotten other companies to think about retro revivals). There's also the upcoming Tetris Party and Alien Crush Returns, both from Hudson. Oh, and let's not forget Space Invaders Get Even!
Metareview - Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People (Wii, PC)
We, like many of you, we'd imagine, have been spending some time this week with Strong Bad's first WiiWare/PC adventure. On the whole, we've been really impressed by how well it captures the world of its cartoon source material (it's actually funny!) though we far too frequently find ourselves with no idea of what to do next. But what matters our opinion? Let's consult the internet hive mind for a giant slice of their style. IGN (81/100): "Like most games in this genre, some of the solutions can be a bit esoteric. But that comes with the territory, and a little trial and error will get you past any obstacles." Giant Bomb (60/100): "Based on the just-past-their-prime animated shorts found on Homestarrunner.net (it's dot com!), Strong Bad seems to demand a little more familiarity with the source material than Telltale's Sam & Max series did. As someone who went through a serious Strong Bad phase, I've found the initial experience to be amusing at best, and mildly pleasant at worst." Gamervision (70/100): "I had faith, because Telltale has yet to let me down, but I was definitely skeptical about the game. Now, having played through the first episode, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner, I am happy to report that they did a pretty nice job."
Wii Strong Bad glitch making you Strong Mad? Try this un-awesome fix
So you're jauntily making your way through the first "episode" of Strong Bad's video game debut on your Wii and ... freeze. Sadly this can't be remedied by shouting "UNFROZEN!" at the screen in your best imitation of the luchador-masked star's mighty voice.Nope, according to some sleuthing by ThatVideoGameBlog, the freeze – which happens at the exact same point in the game for everyone, it seems – can only be avoided by following the advice on developer Telltale Games' message board. And what might that be? Oh, just setting your Wii to output in ye olde 4:3, 480i mode. Evidently, turning off widescreen and progressive scan output solves the problem. We'd much rather, oh, download a patch. Unfortunately, Telltale isn't telling tales of such a fix yet.[Via NWF]
Strong Bad burninates WiiWare today
It's been delayed more times than we can count with our boxing glove hands, but, finally, the moment you've waited for since the beginning of the millennium has arrived: The Homestar Runner universe has made its way to video games with Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (Telltale Games, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) on WiiWare and PC.We, like most of you, we'd imagine, have been a little slack in our Homestar Runner patronage in recent years. But we've been visiting lately to get prepped for the game and trust us, it still holds up enough to have us plenty excited for the game. Will you be picking it up? (Update: Our friends at Nintendo Wii Fanboy have a review of the game, calling it a "quite fun and an excellent piece of fan service.")
Strong Bad finally arriving August 11
As you might have noticed, the first episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People, "Homestar Ruiner," did not make its target month of July. Maybe he was too busy pining for Trevor or [insert more recent Strong Bad reference here], who knows? Thankfully, the wait has nearly ended: Telltale has announced on its site that the first episode will arrive on WiiWare and PC Aug. 11.We're happy to finally see SB make the leap to the somewhat larger, yet still small screen. But we're more hopeful that the announcement means Telltale can now move on the to the episodic Teen Girl Squad game we all secretly crave.
Telltale tempts fate, names release date for Strong Bad
In what seems like an especially Dangeresque move after Nintendo's total dis of third parties' Virtual Console scheduling, Telltale Games sent out a press release announcing the release date for the first episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People.Assuming that Telltale has paid proper tribute to their feudal lords at Nintendo, Homestar Ruiner will be out next Monday in North America for 1,000 Wii Points. Future episodes should release every month after that. We hope it's true. We feel like we've been waiting since last month for this game, and we'd be pretty sad if Nintendo SBLOUNSKCHED the release.%Gallery-20307%
Play it again, Sam ... and Max
While the first Wii media for the upcoming Sam and Max: Season One wasn't particularly enlightening, it was pretty funny -- a staple of the S&M (wow, bet Telltale didn't think that one through) series. That has all changed with the latest trailer, as the titular characters give us a sneak peek at their entire adventure catalogue.Many gamers may have missed out on the comedy duo's episodic capers during its run on the PC, so the chance to pick up the entire first season on the adventure-capable Wii is a no-brainer. You'll find noir-style music, wisecrackin' rats and beating up old people in the promising video, so there's no reason it won't be totally awesome. Look out for Reality 2.0 in Q3 2008.%Gallery-23759%
E308: Finding clues in Sam & Max screens
Not a PC gamer, eh? Don't worry -- one of the best (and funniest) PC adventure games is heading Wii-ward this August. There's not much that Telltale or Dreamcatcher can reveal about Sam & Max: Season One, considering it's a port and all. To make up for it, though, they tossed in some fresh screens for adventure fiends to check out.They're in our gallery below, so hit that up for new pics.%Gallery-23759%
Top 5: Anticipated WiiWare Games
Every Monday, Wii Fanboy brings you the Top 5. Inspired by sages such as David Letterman and John Cusack, the Top 5 will give us a chance to share our opinions on the numerous facets of a vast video game culture. And after all, who doesn't like reading these kinds of lists (and then bitching about them afterwards)? So jump right in, agree or disagree, and maybe leave a comment with your own personal Top 5. The first batch of WiiWare was released awhile ago, and there have been high-profile releases, as well as a few future cult-classics. Despite the plentiful start, there are still many more titles on the horizon. Here's a look at what we are anticipating the most. 5. Bomberman - Since 1983, not much has changed in the Bomberman universe. This has its pros and cons. It's good because the basic Bomberman formula is not one that needs tinkering with. It's bad because, well, it's a little ridiculous to shell out full retail price for the same game generation after generation. Then along comes Bomberman for WiiWare. Nintendo's downloadable service is the perfect platform for a game such as this. With online multiplayer for 2 - 8 players, this release should be everything we need out of Bomberman: simple, classic gameplay for a reasonable price. The reduced cost should be wonderful news for wallets that were unfortunate enough to weather Bomberman, Super Bomberman, Bomberman 64, and Bomberman Generation.
