I haven’t done a feature for NintendoEverything in weeks now, and I have no idea why. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve been busy doing so much OTHER writing (it’s my job, after all!) that by 4PM I’m tired of sitting in front of a computer screen, if it’s because I have nothing to write about, or if it’s due to just a complete lack of inspiration in the realm of video gaming. Whatever the reason is, I figure I need to snap myself out of this rut right this second, and you guys are going to help me! How?
I just want to talk with you guys about video games. Namely, what we’ve all been playing. I’ll start, but basically if we could kick off a discussion in the comments section, maybe I’ll find my inner gamer somewhere between trading sentences. I don’t care whether it’s for a Nintendo system or another system, and I honestly don’t even care if you’d rather chime in with your opinions on another gaming related subject. Let’s just talk, shall we?
In case you haven’t already heard, EA is a big supporter of the Wii U. So much so that EA CEO John Riccitiello took the stage at Nintendo’s E3 2011 media briefing to talk about the potential of the console. Riccitiello once again demonstrated how excited he is about the Big N’s new system in an interview with IndustryGamers, even say that it “transcends anything I’ve ever done before.”
“It’s a high definition platform and I love the controller. I just think it’s cool. You’re a gamer – so you’ve got the screen here [in your hands] and you’ve got the [TV] screen there and you’ve got full control. Personally, while there’s some great experiences on Move, and there’s some great experiences on Kinect, I’m not a motion control guy. It’s still too imprecise for me. I like shooting something and hitting it. I like turning a corner and feeling precision. So I still like my swizzle sticks and my shoulder buttons and my Xs and Os, etc. But there is something about having that second screen that transcends anything I’ve ever done before. I can draw a pass pattern for Madden, I can be playing an FPS up here while I’m calling in air strikes or whatever I want to do. I can give all the detailed control off the screen, I can see another part of a map… I always find it breaks the spell for me when I’m playing a game with a squad and I have to stop the action and move up for them. Now I can just move them down here [on the tablet]. I think there’s something really powerful about a second screen that I think really matters. I think we’re just beginning to realize what we can do with it and I think it’s obvious we can do a lot with it.”
Cambridge, Mass. – Harmonix today announced that singles from P.O.D., Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Erasure will be available beginning July 12th in theRock Band 3 Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii.
Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 900 artists and more than 2,800* tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. More than 100 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch Nov. 20, 2007.
Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii
As promised, some Club Nintendo users are reporting that Nintendo has started to ship soundtracks for registering The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Other members, such as myself, are still waiting for an update. Just keep in mind that there are still many users who haven’t received a shipping confirmation yet. Don’t freak out if your status still says “Preparing Order”!
Awhile back, Codemasters said that they’d be bringing F1 2011 to the 3DS. The company recently allowed members of the press to preview all versions of the game, including a build for Nintendo’s portable. Gamesradar has the first details below.
– Issue with the PSP version of F1 2009 in which the car would slow down when you turned it has been fixed for 3DS
– Front end will be similar for all versions, meaning the red and black-themed menus are present
– Quick Race available
– Can play through challenges
– Career mode
– No full-length grand prix events
– Dev. team has worked on the AI coding a great deal
– Monaco, Silverstone and Albert Park are some of the tracks available
– Features low-angled cameras
– Team is being careful with the 3D effect so that they can maximize its usefulness without appearing odd
– Four-player online mode planned
– TV Pod cam shows angle above the driver’s head
Cliff Bleszinski continues to throw his support towards Wii U. The Gears of War creator likes the idea of being able to play a console game on the controller and also believes that those who have been hateful of the system thus far will eventually purchase it. Bleszinski made a… somewhat humorous remark when discussing how you’ll be able to take the game with you even if there isn’t a television in sight:
“From what I’ve seen, it looks pretty cool. It seems like you can stream your game from your television directly to your [tablet] controller, so if you have irritable bowel syndrome, or a small bladder, you can still play it in the toilet. That’s great. But, you know, from what people are saying online, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s just a DreamCast, whatever.’ But it’s like, ‘Dude, what’s old is new sometimes.’ The Power Glove [back on NES] led to the Wii, right? The Virtual Boy led to the 3DS, right? A lot of these older technologies that you forget about are [the technological predecessors]. The Kinect is a sophisticated webcam, right? So I’m just dying to see it. It’s Nintendo. I’ll buy it. I know I’ll buy it. They’ll (skeptical gamers) talk sh*t but they’ll buy it.”
