WiiMote
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Twilight Princess -- new controls in action
With all the commotion regarding the Wii itself, we almost forgot about the games! This video does an excellent job of showing the new way the Wiimote will work with Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Say goodbye to boring button combinations and say hello to slashing the baddies yourself. Gameplay is smokin' and we can't wait to get our Zelda-hungry paws on it. As always, click the continue link to check out this Link-tastic video. [Via Go Nintendo]
More than one level in Red Steel after all
We were pleased to learn that Red Steel is actually a full length game (shocking!) and not just the same level we've seen dozens of times, with dozens of guys bouncing around a set and waving the Wiimote. Can't they find a woman for one of these? Where are your Frag Dolls now, Ubisoft? Or please, get the intense guy again. He was our favorite. And while this new video is quite the sizzler, we're insulted by the fact that the actor left perfectly good sushi just sitting there in favor of picking the game back up. Find the pause button, son. It's all about priorities.Keep going to check out the video.
Wii: last minute rumors [update 1]
It's almost time, fanboys and girls, for the big announcement that is almost certain to bring us the launch details on the Wii. What does that mean for Wii Fanboy?Rumor roundup time! Yee-haw!After the jump, we not only bring you a rumor compendium, but we also offer the official (!) Wii Fanboy predictions on launch and release date.
UK site markets Nintendo in delicious way
To be a fanboy is no small achievement. Surely, every pore on a fanboy's skin secretes a thin, invisible liquid that acts as both shield and weapon. One must be able to defend their beloved at any time, from any attack. It's this kind of unbridled enthusiasm for all things Nintendo that we love and adore. And adore it, we now do.The chaps over at GamePaused have come up with a cool way to market Nintendo's innovative consoles. Taking cues from real-life things and real-life activities, they've come up with 2 posters that take asses out into dark alleyways and kicks them until there is nothing left to kick. Of course, to hang a poster you need walls capable of having posters hung on them plus the light to see it. Sadly, our "offices" are mostly comprised of rats and wet, slippery brick walls. [Via DSx-2]
Wii Sports disappears from preorder lists
With the Japanese Wii event only hours away, even old rumors are new again. There have been rumors about Wii Sports being bundled with the system for as long as we've known about the sports games set, and now those rumors are looking a lot more like facts. A reader tipped us off that Wii Sports disappeared as a preorder option from his local GameStop and we got to work. Though the title is still listed on the web sites (at an exorbitant price, natch) at GameStop and EBGames, our favorite EBGames employee confirmed that the title had disappeared from preorder lists ... and was quick to point out the upcoming Nintendo announcement. It was all very, how shall we say ... conspiratorial?To add fuel to the fire -- at GameStop, several of the other older Wii titles (like Red Steel) have box art images linked. Wii Sports does not. And everyone who is "friends with an insider" seems to be weighing in on the subject. One IGN forum poster claims Wii Sports will be bundled not only because it will sell the system, but to make up for the lack of the classic controller in the launch bundle. Now, we're not at all surprised by this. After all, Wii Sports seems to be one of the best ways to demonstrate the capabilities of the Wiimote for everyone, gamer or not. And Nintendo has relied heavily on Wii Sports in their marketing campaigns -- the Wii site is littered with images of happy groups of families and friends having fun with bighead sports. So it only makes sense. But stick around ... we hope to have all the info very soon![Thanks to TVGenius for originally tipping us off!]
Ubisoft steers GT Pro Series onto the Wii
Ubisoft is all over Nintendo lately. Not only are they dominating the Wii launch lineup, but they're the first to bundle a peripheral not designed by Nintendo with their games. Yes, that's games plural. Their new steering wheel, which cradles the Wiimote like the precious jewel it is, will be bundled with both Monster 4x4: World Circuit and their new racer, GT Pro Series. IGN snagged a short intervew with associate producer Tats Myoio. They didn't cover much, but the screens of the colorful cel-shaded game and the first look at the superfly steering wheel are so exciting that an interview is just the cherry on this Ubisoft sundae.The highlights: GT Pro Series will feature over 80 licensed cars, including Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota. There are 11 different options for customization. The game includes a wide variety of racing modes: Championship (Career) mode, a Quick Race mode, Versus mode (splitscreen only!), Time Attack and Drift Mode. Any race can be saved and replayed later, for your viewing pleasure. GT Pro Series supports 16:9 widescreen, but no progressive scan. The steerig wheel was developed by Thrustmaster specifically for GT Pro Series, but it will work with other Wii titles, like the aforementioned Monster 4x4, Excite Truck, Cars, and portions of Spongebob as well. We're vehemently not going to be the ones who break down and make a Thrustmaster joke. Just in case you were wondering. [Thanks, AssemblyLineHuman!]
Wiimote, sensor bar, and Spore info oh my!
Supposedly, this N Gamer magazine had much more info than we previously reported on. A large supply of information from the magazine apart from what we've reported has apparently been confirmed to be true over at Go Nintendo. This information deals with the Wiimote, sensor bar, and Will Wright's Spore respectively.The Wiimote is to take 2 AA batteries and turn them into 60 hours of gameplay. Should the player be using the sensor bar, however, then the time is cut in half to 30 hours. Either way, that's incredible. Also, the 6kb of internal memory confirmed to be included in the Wiimote is going to be used to "personalize your remote," which we assume is code for "store profile settings." As for the sensor bar, the magazine states that the previous version that was seen at E3 has been made smaller. The magazine compares the size to that of a "couple of pencils glued together." The magazine also confirms that Will Wright's foray into playing God through his game Spore is going to be possible on the Wii. Apparently, the Wii version will interact with the DS version by allowing the player to transmit data from one to the other seamlessly. This will allow players to "deform species on the fly." They also speak some on the use of SD cards, reiterating that they will be used to house Virtual Console titles. The problem is that you may not play them on another Wii. They refer to this as "Digital Rights Management."
Rumor: Mario Paint 2 and Shiggy's new game
Got your grain of salt? Good, you're going to need it for this one.Games Asylum is reporting that a quote from Shigeru Miyamoto in N Gamer magazine reveals a sequel to Mario Paint in Marionette. The site purports that this was a term that floated around back in the GameCube days. It was supposedly going to be an internet service for the console.The site also states that Shigeru Miyamoto is working on a new Wii game that will utilize the Wiimote's speaker. The game is supposedly focused on 4-player action where the speaker in the Wiimote will call out the name of the player who has the next turn.Again, all of this is just speculation at this moment as there is no evidence to back up these claims. Anyone care to check out the issue of N Gamer magazine this is supposed to come from?[Thanks AssemblyLineHuman!]
Far Cry: Vengeance revealed
The guys at VGM Daily managed to get some info on the unnamed Far Cry project that has been said to release on the Wii from Andre Vu of Ubisoft. Dubbed Far Cry: Vengeance, the game is not to be a straight port of the Xbox versions. The game is also to support progressive scan (480p) and widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) in the final retail version.Some interesting ways of working the Wiimote's gesture-based functions were also revealed. Thrusting the Wiimote forward will allow you to zoom in, where slashing the Wiimote will allow you to use your knife and/or feral attack. The nunchuk's capabilities will also be used. Pulling up on it will cause Jack Carver to jump.It turns out that Ubi is also testing online for the game. The game is to be officially unveiled on the 14th of this month.
Nintendo Wii: The Movie
This video, chock full 'o footage from the last E3, does a nice job of summarizing what the Wii is and what it is all about. In explaining all the aspects of the console that come together to create such a unique package, this video is perfect for those who still lack the knowledge the common Wii Fanboy reader possesses.The video has been embedded into the post after the break.
Call of Duty 3 scans from Nintendo Power
A lengthy article in Nintendo Power centers around the upcoming Wii launch title and Treyarch-developed game Call of Duty 3. Set after the D-Day landings during the summer of 1944, Call of Duty 3 follows the Allied forces during the Normandy Breakout campaign. While the recent news that the game will hold no inclusion of Wi-Fi gameplay is sad, to say the least, the focus on creating an excellent single-player experience will have to be good enough news during the interim to the game's release until we can all find out if our hope for a great game has been warranted. One thing is certain: the game definitely looks good.More scans are included after the break.
Smokin' hot new Red Steel trailer
Fresh from Leipzig, this new Red Steel trailer makes us wanna grab a shotty and get our vengeance on. Still, we are a little disappointed ... this new ad follows the same format of this older Red Steel trailer. We get it already -- it's immersive. And there's a guy on a roof with a sword. But all grumbling aside, we're ready to get into the game. Just watch that aquarium.
Tantalizing Trauma Center scans
GameFront has a really lush set of scans on Trauma Center: Second Opinion that offer a look at the controls for the Wii. Now if only we could get someone to translate the text! Oh well, the pretty-pretty pictures are enough for a lazy Tuesday afternoon. Look closely, too, for an inset that appears to compare the DS original with the expanded "Wiimake" that will launch with the new console. Is it just us, or could this be one of the best games to introduce a world of irregular gamers to the Wii? Considering the popularity of medical-themed shows, we're thinking the only better possibility could be CSI: Wii. Wait, not better ... make that other.
A closer look at Red Steel
So how did a game like Red Steel come about? IGN has the answers, in a new in-depth feature that covers the artistic side of the development process. There's some discussion as well of the power of the console, and the artistic director, Stephane Bachelet, reports that while the graphical capabilities of the Wii were somewhat limiting, it spurred them to create a slick 'game noir' style that is heavy with shadows and framed in bright neon lights. Artistically, Bachelet says, they were shooting for something that would communicate the culture shock of a Western man thrust into a foreign environment, and how that shaped the atmosphere and setting. Look for a lot of traditional Japanese symbols not from a Japanese perspective, but from a Western perspective. Sounds a lot like what we've come to expect from Hollywood -- which is perfect for an action game so obviously inspired by action films.
Prepare for Wii
Waiting for Wii got you down? Stack some DVD cases together on a shelf, kick the coffee table aside, and grab a remote -- so says Paul Starke in his latest editorial at Nintendojo. He offers a number of tips the desperate fanboy person can look to when the Wii blues gets to be too much of a burden. A few of his recommendations: Wave around a television remote or GCN mic (gotta build that Wiimote muscle). Update your home network for wireless if you haven't already. Choose a color (or start practicing your case mod technique). Our addition:Try not to chew off your own fingernails while waiting for info!
Microsoft planning FPS-centric controller for Xbox 360?
A few juicy hints were dropped by Microsoft's Robert Walker on Monday in regards to a special FPS controller in the works for the Xbox 360. His comments were made at Gamefest in Seattle, and he was quick to clarify that Microsoft has no concrete plans for the device, but that it's more of a long term exploration. Sadly, it's no replacement for the tried-and-true keyboard/mouse combination: Microsoft is merely working on a new right analog stick that would be better with the precise movements required for FPS and game types. The controller wouldn't replace the current, well-praised offering, but would merely be an option for enthusiasts and competitive types. Microsoft is also dropping more hints about some sort of motion sensing technology implementation in a future 360 controller, stating that their experiments with joysticks weren't well promoted to developers, but playing it safe by dissing the sensitivity of the tech for FPS and racing use. The main question seems to be: will it rumble?[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Getting real with the Wii
We know you hate Mondays, heck we hate them too. That's why we try to start things off with a bit of humor and put that spring in your step you'd have on any other day of the week. This morning's laugh is brought to us by an individual acting out his (and our) dreams of using the Wiimote to control things outside of the game. Like our hamster. Or how long we set the timer on the microwave.
Luigi's Mansion sequel coming to Wii?
A forum poster over at Neo GAF has dropped some tidbits from the EGM Rumor Mill to the inter wubs stating that a sequel to the GameCube launch title Luigi's Mansion is in the works for the Wii. Now, should this be true, we're sure that the game will feature even more sucking than the first installment, with a back pack so big that it can be seen from space, which coincidentally is where we predict Luigi's next adventure to be. In fact, Luigi wanted to go to space first, but you know that show-off brother of his just had to beat him to the punch. It's tough living in the portly plumber's shadow (seriously, Mario could stand to lose a few pounds and Luigi's lactose intolerance means he needs sunlight so he can produce precious vitamin D). All fat jokes aside, this is a no-brainer. With the Wiimote, Luigi's Mansion 2: Electric Boogaloo (working title) can be free to traverse into the first-person realm. That's right, you read it here first: the next game to bear the Luigi's Mansion name will be in the first-person view and will have the thin, mustached man capturing space ghosts...and possibly fighting Jason.Luigi Vs. Jason: Electric Boogaloo anyone?
Wii: the fact, the fiction, and the far-out
From all of the recaps, roundups, and rundowns lately, you'd think the Wii launch was approaching or something! Seems like every gaming site out there is scampering, quick like bunnies, to collect the best set of Wii info, and Gameworld Network's compilation of Wii rumors is gunning for the lead on that. Their two part series leaves no rumor unexamined, from the name (RiP Revolution, long live Wii) to the hardware.We can't help but feel somewhat amused at the list-frenzy, however. The Wii isn't even out yet and the gaming press is waxing nostalgic about the good ol' days when we thought the Wii would fry our brains with lasers or feature stressball-like throttle grips. The pictures make the whole thing worth it, though. We'd kinda like to get one of those gyroscopes in a hat.[Thanks to Matt Hestill for this one!]
EA: More support for Wii and DS
Turns out that Nintendo managed to not only convince bloggers and other gaming journalists of the capabilities of its upcoming Wii and incredible handheld DS Lite, but also that of the big publishers. EA, during their latest milling over numbers representing losses and gains for their Q1 business, said via conference call that they plan to ramp up production for the Wii and DS following the amazing show Nintendo had at this past E3. EA, as you may well now, has several titles on the horizon for both platforms, with the company promising 2 titles for the Wii launch (Madden 07 and Need For Speed: Carbon), along with Madden and FIFA installments heading to the DS within the next few months. Also, for the DS, EA will be bringing an expansion focusing around pet care to its popular Sims franchise. Whether you're a big fan of EA or not, the more third-party support for Nintendo the better. Some of EA's franchises could work wonders on Nintendo's consoles, and some brand spanking new content from EA on each of Nintendo's platforms wouldn't be such a bad thing. [Via Joystiq]
