This information comes from Nintendo’s Kensuke Tanabe…
“I absolutely believe so (important to strengthen relationships with foreign developers). I work with other development partners, such as [Punch Out!! developer] Next Level Games in Vancouver and Monster Studios [of Pilotwings Resort] in Minneapolis. And they, much like Retro, really get our development philosophies. I want to find as many people as we can, as many great companies as we can to get involved with. I’m really looking for developers with a sense of craftsmanship. …there’s a real increase in the number of companies that look like they’re really running a business for business’ sake. There are many of those certainly within the midst of the gaming industry as a whole, or at least I feel that way.”
It’s important to note that Nintendo’s involvement with the projects being worked on by foreign developers is very important. Consider Next Level Games, for example. They created a standout title in Punch-Out!!, yet some of their other games such as Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and Transformers: Cybertron Adventures have been mediocre.
“They’re starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond. I mean, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I’m doing true accurate motion gaming?” – Sony boss Jack Tretton
Of course, he talks about the DS too:
“Our view of the ‘Game Boy experience’ is that it’s a great babysitting tool, something young kids do on airplanes, but no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those. He’s too old for that.”
Well then Mr. Tretton, I reckon there are a LOT of self disrespecting twenty-somethings out there! Good lord…
Cambridge, Mass. – April 8, 2011 – Harmonix today announced that a six pack of songs featuring Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac will be available beginning April 12 in the Rock 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 800 artists and more than 2,600* 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 75 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
– Retailers say the game is releasing on July 7
– 5,880 yen
– SpotPass support
– View party information of players you encounter through SpotPass
– Other players’ characters will appear in your game
– “Around View System”: Look around the dungeon for secret items
– “Support Pet System”: Pets appear in support roles
– These pets provide bonuses in combat (such as strengthened stats)
– These abilities can be changed by feeding the pets different foods that you collect
– One support pet for each character
This is pretty historic! I believe this is the first time a Virtual Console game will be supporting Wi-Fi for online play (you can check out one screenshot of this above). It’ll be released next Tuesday in Japan for 800 points. King of the Monsters 2 will also be available for 900 points.
Multiplatform
North America:
1. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
2. Kinect Sports (Microsoft, X360)
3. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo, DS)
4. Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures (Microsoft, X360)
5. Pokemon Black Version (Nintendo, DS)
Japan:
1. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2: Professional (Square Enix, DS)
2. Ebikore+ Amagami – Limited Edition (Kadokawa Games, PSP)
3. Chikyuu Boueigun 2 Portable (D3 Publisher, PSP)
4. Ebikore+ Amagami (Kadokawa Games, PSP)
5. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (Capcom, PSP)
UK:
1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games, Wii)
2. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo, DS)
3. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts, Wii)
4. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
5. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo, Wii)
Nintendo Wii
North America:
1. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
2. Zumba Fitness (Majesco)
3. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Nintendo)
4. Michael Jackson: The Experience (Ubisoft)
5. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Japan:
1. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
2. Wii Party (Nintendo)
3. Fitness Party (Namco Bandai)
4. Karaoke Joysound Wii Super DX (Hudson)
5. Donkey Kong Returns (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
2. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
3. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
4. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
5. Just Dance (Ubisoft)
Nintendo 3DS
North America:
1. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (Capcom)
2. Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
3. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)
4. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
5. Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
Japan:
1. Nintendogs + Cats: Shiba & New Friends (Nintendo)
2. Layton Kyouju to Kiseki no Kamen (Nintendo)
3. Sengoku Musou Chronicle (Koei)
4. Gundam: The 3D Battle (Bandai)
5. Nintendogs + Cats: Toy Poodle & New Friends (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
2. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (Capcom)
3. Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
4. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
5. Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends (Nintendo)
Nintendo DS
North America:
1. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo)
2. Pokemon Black Version (Nintendo)
3. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
4. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
5. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Japan:
1. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2: Professional (Square Enix)
2. Kimi ni Todoke: Tsutaeru Kimochi (Bandai Namco)
3. Eigo de Tabisuru: Little Charo (Nintendo)
4. Pocket Monsters Black (Nintendo)
5. Pocket Monsters White (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Pokemon White Version (Nintendo)
2. Pokemon Black Version (Nintendo)
3. Art Academy (Nintendo)
4. Let’s Draw! (Majesco)
5. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
