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Wii & "Wario Wear" win International Toy Fair award
Nintendo has been bestowed the proud honor of a Spielwarenmesse award, selected as the 'Trend + Lifestyle' winner of this year's annual Nuremberg International Toy Fair. Judges chose the Wii console along with "Wario Wear" for the duo's ability to "encourage playing PC games in groups instead of alone." Judges also found that "the product not only appeals to player types with an affinity to PCs, but also to new age groups." Hmmm, we weren't aware that Wii had become popular in the yoga scene... Maybe Nintendo should start bundling the system with a set of crystals. Winners of a 'ToyAward' are permitted to print the 'ToyInnovation quality label' on retail boxes of winning products. Something tells us Nintendo's gonna pass. [Via Nintendo-Revolution]
Japan not in love with Twilight Princess?
Since the release of the Wii in Japan, sales have been high on several games, such as Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Wii Play, and Wii Sports. But Twilight Princess has been less popular than many would have guessed. While it's not exactly tanked (Link's bringing home the yen, as ever), it has consistently lingered nearer the bottom of the top 20 charts. What's really surprising is that, when it comes to the Zelda franchise, it looks like this trend has been developing for years. Sales of Zelda titles continue to go down. Many factors could be at work here, and we're hesitant to say that it's the decline of the franchise. When The Legend of Zelda first hit, it was an unparalleled phenomenon, so much better than most other games of any type that it's no surprise that gamers gobbled it up. But in the twenty years that have passed, both games and gamers have diversified, and lower sales numbers could be a result of that rather than a lack of love for the Link. Regardless of the reason, the sales charts do make for interesting reading. Let the speculation begin! [Thanks, Andres!]
Australian WarioWare: Smooth Moves TV spot (update 1)
A short Aussie TV spot has hit the intertron for WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Showing a trio of young ladies demonstrate some of the movements the game demands, each with their own cute name (like The Samurai above), the brisk commercial does a good job of stirring up excitement for the game. It'll be available January 25th to Australian gamers and, as always, we've embedded the video past the post break. Update: Embedded video past post break.
Today's least gamey game video: WarioWare Smooth Moves Australian TV Spot
You've got hot girls playing the Wii -- check. The new WarioWare: Smooth moves game that just came out (at least here in the states, they'll get it down under on the 25th) -- check. There's really not much to complain about here, except for the total lack of in-game coverage in this ad.. Still, no one is really complaining about the girls. There's nothing quite like an ad that features absolutely zero shots from the game, right? Where's the love, mate? We want to see what we'll be buying here. This would've been a nice game to have at launch, but it's still about close enough to count.
Wii's Wario wary of widescreen
Weally. In posting his impressions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Chris Kohler at Game|Life adds yet another title to his 4:3 Hall of Shame. Joining Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Wario's waggle-fest only supports a 4:3 display ratio, generally known as fool fullscreen. While it's easy to agree that the lack of proper widescreen support doesn't impact on the game's fun, it still remains an annoying oversight, especially for HDTV owners. The Wii's shunning of HDTV support is an understandable topic (and already debated to death), but inconsistent EDTV and widescreen support just seems lazy in the year 2007. Several Gamecube and PS2 games provided different display modes -- heck, a widescreen mode is one of the selling points for the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Come on Nintendo, put things in perspective here.
Metareview - WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Smooth Moves is certainly no 'Game of the Year,' but it's hard to imagine a Wii owner who won't be adding this game to the collection. It's almost a necessity, as it unlocks all of the wonderful, albeit odd, potentials of Wii's technology. WarioWare is a madcap tutorial tool. It's unfortunate, as Eurogamer seems to allude below, that Smooth Moves has been billed to be more than what it is (a series of microgames). This is Wii's first significant title of 2007; and Smooth Moves will have to carry the associated burden for months to come. As such, the game will surely lead to disappointment for some. Still, there's no denying that WarioWare is capable of offering the premiere Wii experience.
Wii releases for the week of January 15th
It's been too long since we've been able to post about games releasing for the Wii, but finally we have reached the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel. There's only one game releasing this week, however it has been one of our most desired titles: WarioWare: Smooth Moves Who else is going to storm their local retail store to pick this up with us?
WRUP: so close we can taste it edition
That's right, with the impending release of WarioWare: Smooth Moves next week, we find it to be the only thing on our mind. With all the other available games on the Wii, excluding one, being there from day one, we find ourselves a bit parched and in need of a thirst-quenching new release. WarioWare: Smooth Moves is like a pitcher of water in the desert. We can't be the only ones dying for this game?So, whilst waiting, what are you playing this weekend? Will you be hitting up your Gamefly account or stopping at your local rental spot to pick up a new game for the weekend? Or are you still chipping away, ever-so-slowly at another title such as Twilight Princess or Call of Duty 3? Personally, we plan on celebrating the weekend of football playoffs (go Birds!) with a little Madden 07.Previous posts: What were you playing?
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.
Today's hottest game video: WarioWare
Gamers have WarioWare on the mind; yesterday's multiplayer footage is today's most-watched YouTube game video. But Wario haters, don't think you're out of Wario's woods yet. After a long debate, with lots of wild gesturing, we decided that the most-viewed GameTrailers video -- also WarioWare -- would take today's "hottest" crown. The GameTrailers sequence is worth watching for its exposition about the game. Much of it is obvious to WarioWare: Smooth Moves fans, but a few new kernels of information -- like surprise Mii appearances -- pop up about the upcoming Wii game, soon to be available outside of Japan. We liked WarioWare's first GBA outing, but we've been wary of the formula since then. Maybe Smooth Moves will draw us back into the series. See the full video after the break.
WarioWare multiplayer video
Siliconera breaks down the 12-person gameplay of WarioWare: Smooth Moves on the Wii, including a video of the various games. The main multiplayer matchup requires players to pass a controller between the up-to-12 players when it's the next person's turn. (That seems to make more sense than trying to divide four controllers.) The video shows the process in action, with quick glimpses into hula-hooping, whack-a-mole, grabbing fish, and many other mini-games. WarioWare could be a fun party game, but we're holding our applause until we try the game at home; we can't always predict which games will keep our gamer and non-gamer friends engaged. See the video after the break. [Via Aeropause]
12 player multiplayer in WarioWare: Smooth Moves
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_Wii_How_about_a_12_person_multiplayer_game'; Siliconera has uploaded a video explaining how twelve person multiplayer is going to work. First, everyone makes an angel, then the game randomly chooses an angel and makes them play a minigame. In full-on elimination style, the last angel standing comes out the victor. We've embedded Siliconera's video into the post, past the jump.
Upcoming release schedule for Europe
NoE put out a list of their upcoming games for the European market, and while it may not be quite as filled-to-bursting as the DS list there's certainly plenty to be excited about. Upcoming with a quickness is the exquisite Wario Ware and -- ooh! we're jealous -- colorful Kororinpa. Loads of titles undated as well. Check after the jump for the full list.
New Smooth Moves trailer excites
In this latest video for WarioWare: Smooth Moves (which is embedded into the post past the jump, as always), we get a good glimpse at one of the game's lengthier minigames. A rhythm-based, dancing exercise, this minigame looks pretty fun. We already knew that we would be picking this up, but it's nice to find more positive things to say about the game. We can't be the only ones excited for this game, amirite? [Via Go Nintendo]
New HOT PXL trailer
With WTF come and gone, another game must fill its shoes. HOT PXL attempts to emulate Nintendo's successful Wario Ware formula by adding an Atari twist. With its expanded media profile, and skateboarding attitude, does this game have what it takes to stand out in an ever-growing crowd of genre clones? Well, watch the trailer and judge for yourself.
Nintendo Wii Fanboy at the Nintendo Fusion Tour: Orlando
Yes, these Fusion Tour events have been going for several weeks now, I know. And you've probably read plenty of impressions, too. But not from Nintendo Wii Fanboy, you didn't, so grab a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite fuzzy slippers. It's time to read. I, like most of you, had never played with the Wii before tonight. I was unable to attend E3, and despite my posting nigh every single day on the strange little machine, I had no idea if it could actually fulfill my every expectation. Would I have to convince myself that the controls would work, as opposed to just knowing that they would? It was almost nervewracking ... waiting to see if all that I work on and write about would be somehow validated.
New WarioWare Smooth Moves video
Coming at us again with yet another video from their local Nintendo Fusion Tour stop, the guys at Go Nintendo take a crack at WarioWare Smooth Moves this time around. A few minigames have already been revealed, however most interesting is the Japanese equivalent to Driving Miss Daisy in boss fight, minigame form. Continue into the post for the video, which is embedded after the break. [Via Go Nintendo]
Smooth Moves through smooth video
OK, we enjoy the quick, pick-up-and-play style that the WarioWare games have presented in the past, but Smooth Moves might be taking things a little too far in terms of content. We've watched this video several times and are certain that a minigame does, in fact, ask you to spray down naked men with champagne.Yes, you read that right.While it isn't gratuitous and we assume the video is safe for work overall, just a word of warning to some of you who are incredibly scared at the prospect of shaking a bottle of champagne and letting it loose upon unsuspecting, naked men.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves to use Mii avatars
Another juicy tip sent in by one of our readers, this bit of news pertaining to the upcoming Wii title WarioWare: Smooth Moves is that the game will allow players to utilize their own Mii. If you're unfamiliar with the term Mii, then you weren't paying attention yesterday. This information was found via the Wii Preview 2006 online press kit, which is available here. No examples were given of how Mii functionality would be implemented into the game, just that it will be a "special feature."[Note: The Read link and link in the post to Nintendo's online press kit requires a username and password.][Thanks Nushio!]
Japanese launch list unveiled
Nintendo of Japan's website offers a list of those purported sixteen launch titles...and they're not all necessarily what you would have expected. Take a look! The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii Sports (including boxing and bowling to round out tennis, golf, and baseball) WarioWare Wii Play Red Steel SD Gundam Revolution Tamagotchi Ennichi no Tastsujin (a drum game, along the lines of Taiko Drum Master) Trauma Center: Second Opinion Elebits Necro-nesia Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz Super Swing Golf Pangya Wing Island (demoed at E3 2006, the "plane game") Kororinpa (a Marble Madness-type game of some sort) Machariku Domino (a domino game) Interesting! It's good to see a rhythm/music game so early, and we'll post details on some of the more mysterious entries as we receive information.
