Nintendo Everything

A slew of new Batman: Arkham Origins previews have gone live today. Some information is a rehash of already-known details from the initial Game Informer cover story, but there’s some new information as well.

We’ve rounded up new and old tidbits from IGN’s preview below.

– Begins on Christmas Eve
– Joker’s “present” is a series of explosives tied to a nearby building
– Batman is disarmed and stunned by Bane, so he can only watch as Joker detonates his trap
– Batman is more primal and vicious in this game
– Fighting style is raw and undefined
– Enemies are younger and more vibrant
– Batman’s armor style comes closer to what is shown in Christopher Nolan’s films than anything in previous games
– Black Mask hires eight assassins to kill Batman
– Deathstroke and Deadshot are among those hired
– Police, led by Commissioner Loeb, will pursue Batman and attempt to detain him
– Grappling, gliding, perching atop gargoyles, ambushing thugs, and maneuvering around Gotham works as it always has
– Combat system is back in full force
– Tracking system helps players assess the efficiency of their combat
– This is entirely informational
– Experience points flow into a branching upgrade system
– Gain points by chaining hits into lengthy combos
– New enemy types including the martial artist thug
– This enemy type requires back-and-forth combos until the criminal makes a mistake
– Side quests are back in a significant way, both through a radio scanner that helps track criminal activity, and a ‘Most Wanted System’
– Most Wanted System: hunt villains like Anarchy, who have stories and motivations that are separate from the main Black Mask thread
– Warner Bros. not saying how significant Joker’s role is
– Detective Mode concept is back
– It can now be used to track observations and discoveries, allowing players to ‘scrub through’ a crime as it occurred in the past, discovering where more evidence might be
– When an assassin’s bullet disables a police helicopter causing it to crash, Batman is able to deduce that a nearby SWAT sniper wasn’t responsible – tracing the source of the bullet to what was likely Deadshot
– By scrubbing through different evidence in different places, Batman assembles the truth piece by piece, allowing him to move to his next target
– Fast-travel system
– Remote Claw: attach to two points or enemies and pull them together

Source

Warner Bros. has finally confirmed the situation surrounding Batman: Arkham Origins’ voice actors. Well, somewhat.

Roger Craig Smith (Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio Auditore, Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield, current Sonic, Captain America games/animations) will be voicing Batman in the new game. Meanwhile, Troy Baker will be taking on Joker’s role. Baker’s work includes Booker DeWitt from BioShock Infinite, Snow from Final Fantasy XIII, Kai Leng from Mass Effect 3, Vincent from Catherine, and a whole lot more.

What remains unclear is how Kevin Conroy fits into the picture. Conroy will be back in some capacity, but his role hasn’t been announced.

Source

This week’s UK software sales are as follows:

Individual formats

LW		TW			Title	Format	Label	Publisher
–		1			METRO LAST LIGHT	XB360	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
1		2			DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE	XB360	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
–		3			POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON: INFINITY	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		4			METRO LAST LIGHT	PS3	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
12		5			FIFA 13	XB360	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
5		6			LUIGI’S MANSION 2	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
4		7			LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
2		8			CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3		9			DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE	PS3	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
7		10			GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
8		11			TOMB RAIDER	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
6		12			INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
18		13			THE WALKING DEAD	XB360	TELLTALE GAMES	TELLTALE GAMES
10		14			BIOSHOCK INFINITE	XB360	2K GAMES	TAKE 2
9		15			TOMB RAIDER	PS3	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
13		16			ASSASSIN’S CREED III	XB360	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	UBISOFT
37		17			FIFA 13	PS3	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
26		18			THE WALKING DEAD	PS3	TELLTALE GAMES	TELLTALE GAMES
11		19			CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
19		20			FAR CRY 3	XB360	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
23		21			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013	PC	SEGA	SEGA
21		22			GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
22		23			GRAND THEFT AUTO IV	XB360	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	TAKE 2
20		24			ASSASSIN’S CREED III	PS3	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
14		25			DEFIANCE	XB360	TRION WORLDS	TRION WORLDS
32		26			FAR CRY 3	PS3	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
15		27			INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US	PS3	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
25		28			BIOSHOCK INFINITE	PS3	2K GAMES	TAKE 2
28		29			THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	XB360	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
27		30			FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
16		31			DRAGON’S DOGMA: DARK ARISEN	XB360	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
24		32			HALO 4	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
–		33			GRAN TURISMO 5 ACADEMY EDITION	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
–		34			RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
29		35			HITMAN ABSOLUTION	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
–		36			LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
17		37			PERSONA 4 ARENA	PS3	PQUBE	PQUBE
–		38			KINECT DISNEYLAND ADVENTURES	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
38		39			SIMCITY	PC	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–		40			SKYLANDERS GIANTS	WII	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

All formats

LW		TW			Title	Developer	Label	Publisher
–		1			METRO LAST LIGHT	4A GAMES	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
1		2			DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE	TECHLAND	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
5		3			FIFA 13	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–		4			POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON: INFINITY	SPIKE CHUNSOFT	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
2		5			CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	TREYARCH	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3		6			TOMB RAIDER	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
9		7			THE WALKING DEAD	TELLTALE GAMES	TELLTALE GAMES	TELLTALE GAMES
4		8			INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US	NETHERREALM STUDIOS	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
7		9			ASSASSIN’S CREED III	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	UBISOFT
6		10			BIOSHOCK INFINITE	IRRATIONAL GAMES	2K GAMES	TAKE 2
12		11			FAR CRY 3	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
10		12			LUIGI’S MANSION 2	NEXT LEVEL GAMES	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
8		13			LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
15		14			LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
14		15			GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION	SCEA SANTA MONICA	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
17		16			THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	BETHESDA	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
20		17			GRAND THEFT AUTO IV	ROCKSTAR NORTH	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	TAKE 2
19		18			GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY	ROCKSTAR NORTH	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
22		19			SKYLANDERS GIANTS	TOYS FOR BOB	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
13		20			DRAGON’S DOGMA: DARK ARISEN	CAPCOM	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
18		21			NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED	CRITERION GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
16		22			DEFIANCE	TRION WORLDS	TRION WORLDS	TRION WORLDS
26		23			LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
29		24			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013	SPORTS INTERACTIVE	SEGA	SEGA
21		25			HITMAN ABSOLUTION	IO INTERACTIVE	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
30		26			RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY	ROCKSTAR SAN DIEGO	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
11		27			PERSONA 4 ARENA	ATLUS SOFTWARE	PQUBE	PQUBE
36		28			SLEEPING DOGS	UNITED FRONT GAMES	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
25		29			SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED	SUMO DIGITAL	SEGA	SEGA
27		30			SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE
31		31			WWE ’13	YUKE’S	THQ	THQ
24		32			STAR TREK	DIGITAL EXTREMES	PARAMOUNT	NAMCO BANDAI GAMES
28		33			DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION	TECHLAND	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
35		34			FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING	INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		35			TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 14	TIBURON ENTERTAINMENT	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
38		36			JUST DANCE 4	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
–		37			MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER	DANGER CLOSE	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–		38			CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3	INFINITY WARD/SLEDGEHAMMER	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
23		39			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	SEGA	SEGA
33		40			HALO 4	343 INDUSTRIES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT

Source 1, Source 2

Fans Can “Donate” to Crowdfarter.com to Support Wario’s Upcoming Wii U Masterpiece Game & Wario and Earn Amazing Rewards

DIAMOND CITY– We here at WarioWare, Inc., are working with our fearless leader, Wario, to create his new Wii U game, Game & Wario – a game that can only be described as incredible, amazing, stupendous… and a bunch of other adjectives! To help Wario achieve his dream of funding this awesome game by his target launch date of June 23, he has created his own special crowdsourcing site called Crowdfarter.com. Here, visitors “donate coins” to the game by “liking” the site and daily updates from Wario via Facebook or by tweeting them to the masses on Twitter. Wario is so excited about bringing his genius vision to reality that he can hardly contain himself.

“Game & Wario is an entertaining collection of uproarious games that uses the Wii U GamePad controller in unique and hilarious ways,” said Wario, CEO of WarioWare, Inc., and all-around amazing guy. “WAHAHAHAHA! THAT WAS MY IMPRESSION OF A SUPER-SERIOUS GUY IN A SUIT! GAME & WARIO IS THE BEST GAME IN THE HISTORY OF TIME! IT’S THE YEAR OF WARIO! WAHAHAHAHA!”

Read More

Well, the games have been voted on and after an extremely tight race, The Starship Damrey was chosen as our second ever NintendoEverything Book Club (for Video Games!) game! Read below for details on how to get it/what to play.

It’s going to be very difficult to divide The Starship Damrey into parts because we all have zero idea exactly how the game is sectioned off (or if the game is sectioned off). What we decided was that we’ll all play roughly two hours of the game, and whoever among the podcast crew got the least far is where we’ll discuss up until.

For you guys? Play as you will. It’s not a very long game from what we’re hearing (2-3 hours), so if you beat it in the first week it’s not a huge deal. Otherwise I’ll try and post more specifics this Thursday or Friday so you have a more concrete idea of where to stop.

Also, please do not send us emails discussing portions of the game beyond where the book club is. We want to avoid spoilers and we don’t want to feel unable to answer your questions/respond to your comments, so if you’ve gotten ahead of everyone (which is fine!) do your best to only talk about the parts that we’ve all agreed upon. :]

Hit the break for info on how to participate in a discussion, plus other ‘Frequently Asked Questions’!

Read More

---

Here it is die-hard Luigi fans, a game that really shows off what our hero is truly made of.

Author: Laura

We’ve had games that show off Luigi’s great personality before– like Mario is Missing and, of course, what started it all: Luigi’s Mansion— but none so far have shown how much personality Luigi really has. Nintendo has stated that 2013 is “The Year of Luigi”, and nothing could have launched that better than Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon.

Read More

Capcom was nice enough to send this game over prior to launch, so I figured I’d capture a little footage for you. What was supposed to be an informative play session with lots of great footage turned into a steaming pile of steamed tamales when I decided to test out the game’s “Infernal” difficulty setting instead of the traditional “Normal” mode.

Shoulda done normal. 🙁

Author: Austin

You already saw snippets of this interview in the Road Redemption preview we put up earlier today, but in case you wanted to hear more about the subjects I touched on there, or a few other Nintendo-specific topics, I’m posting the full interview in straightforward question-and-answer form below.

The developer of Road Redemption (DarkSeas Games) talked with me about developing the game, what sorts of modes might be included, and the possibility of downloadable content, but they also touched on some more general subjects like the future of Nintendo and the Wii U, as well as how they believe Nintendo could kickstart sales of the system. Hit the break for the full interview!

Read More