Edit: Apparently I’m once again forbidden from embedding Youtube videos. Gonna have to talk to Valay… Haha.
You can watch it here in the meantime. I wasn’t really too interested in Xenoblade, but after seeing the atmosphere here I’m a lot more stricken with grief that we have no official North American release date!
This is footage from a piece of map that didn’t make it into the final game, being played on a Wii emulator. Looks great, but there could technically be some spoilers in here!

 The graphics on the Wii U sure look nice.
I’ve not had much interest in the Assassin’s Creed franchise since playing the first and second ones extensively at a friend’s house, but it’s turned into something of a massive series, and now it’s coming to Wii U. The question is, which one is coming to Wii U? We’re not sure, but apparently it’s not the next entry in the series, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.
This comes from the Ubisoft CEO who said in an interview that this is something else entirely. Perhaps a mini-game collection? Dance party remake? I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Also, no, that screenshot is not from the Wii U. Don’t be ridiculous. It just happens to be the only AC photo we have in our stock right now.
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D probably isn’t the game most fans were expecting. What originally seemed like a full-on remake, set with a graphical overhaul, is turning out to be an enhanced port. That alone has caused the title to receive some negative attention, not to mention that it didn’t see the most glowing previews at E3.
There’s still time to work through the kinks. Hopefully the development team is taking criticism into consideration. Producer Yoshikazu Matsuhana has also said that Snake Eater 3 will feature “well-received elements from MGS4 and Peace Walker”.
“The player controls and some other well-received elements from MGS4 and Peace Walker have been implemented into the game. The camera from Subsistence has been adopted, as well as elements of the free roaming camera system that was implemented in MGS4 and Peace Walker.”
LTD
DS – 49,155,483
 360 – 27,818,373
 PS3 – 17,153,921
  Wii – 35,894,494
 3DS – 832,000
YTD
DS – 1,850,732
 360 – 2,423,214
 PS3 – 1,691,948
  Wii – 1,744,870
 3DS – 832,000
3D Classics Xevious (3DS: Nintendo, £5.40)
 Game & Watch Gallery (3DS Virtual Console: Nintendo, £2.70)
 99Bullets (DSi, 3DS: EnjoyUp Games, £4.50, 500 DSi Points)
 AfterZoom (3DS, DSiWare: Abylight, £4.50, 500 DSi Points)
 Jagged Alliance (3DS, DSiWare: Cypronia, £4.50, 500 DSi Points)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Other Top 2011 Releases to Make Public Playable Debut at Leading Pop-Culture Event
REDMOND, Wash., July 18, 2011 – Nintendo is returning to Comic-Con in San Diego this year, and fans will have a lot to get excited about. In addition to top Nintendo 3DS™ games releasing this holiday season such as Super Mario™, Mario Kart™ and Kid Icarus™: Uprising, The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword for Wii™ will make its public playable debut in North America, letting players experience Link’s latest motion-controlled adventure firsthand. In addition to Nintendo’s booth at the show (#5135), multiple activities will take place at a special Nintendo Gaming Lounge for Comic-Con attendees in the San Diego Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis & Marina at 333 W. Harbor Drive, adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center.
Games that are scheduled to be playable at the Nintendo Gaming Lounge include:
Individual formats
1		1	 	 	ZUMBA FITNESS	WII	505 GAMES	505 GAMES
 3		2	 	 	TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 2		3	 	 	DIRT 3	XB360	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS
 15		4	 	 	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 10		5	 	 	TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 6		6	 	 	WII SPORTS RESORT	WII	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 8		7	 	 	INFAMOUS 2	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
 5		8	 	 	UFC PERSONAL TRAINER	XB360	THQ	THQ
 4		9	 	 	DIRT 3	PS3	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS
 24		10	 	 	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 11		11	 	 	BRINK	XB360	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
 17		12	 	 	THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME 3D	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 23		13	 	 	JUST DANCE 2	WII	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
 –		14	 	 	EA SPORTS ACTIVE 2	WII	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 35		15	 	 	DUNGEON SIEGE III	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
 21		16	 	 	MARIO KART WII	WII	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 –		17	 	 	EA SPORTS ACTIVE 2	PS3	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 18		18	 	 	ART ACADEMY	DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 7		19	 	 	L.A. NOIRE	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
 13		20	 	 	WII FIT PLUS	WII	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 –		21	 	 	MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3: FATE OF TWO WORLDS	PS3	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
 22		22	 	 	LEGO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN	WII	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
 30		23	 	 	ASSASSIN’S CREED: BROTHERHOOD	XB360	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	UBISOFT
 25		24	 	 	FIFA 11	XB360	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 26		25	 	 	POKEMON WHITE VERSION	DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 –		26	 	 	HARRY POTTER: THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 –		27	 	 	ASSASSIN’S CREED: BROTHERHOOD	PS3	PLATINUM	UBISOFT
 27		28	 	 	LEGO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN	DS	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
 37		29	 	 	LITTLEBIGPLANET 2	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
 –		30	 	 	MORTAL KOMBAT	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
 –		31	 	 	JUST DANCE 2: EXTRA SONGS	WII	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
 31		32	 	 	POKEMON BLACK VERSION	DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 9		33	 	 	L.A. NOIRE	PS3	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
 16		34	 	 	RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON	XB360	THQ	THQ
 –		35	 	 	KINECT SPORTS	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
 28		36	 	 	BRINK	PS3	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
 32		37	 	 	WII PLAY: MOTION	WII	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 14		38	 	 	F.E.A.R. 3	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
 –		39	 	 	RED DEAD REDEMPTION	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
 –		40	 	 	XBOX LIVE HITS COLLECTION	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
All formats
1		1	 	 	ZUMBA FITNESS	PIPEWORKS	505 GAMES	505 GAMES
 3		2	 	 	TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON	HIGH MOON STUDIOS	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 2		3	 	 	DIRT 3	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS
 7		4	 	 	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS	TREYARCH	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
 4		5	 	 	LEGO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN	TRAVELLER’S TALES	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
 12		6	 	 	LEGO STAR WARS III: THE CLONE WARS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	LUCASARTS	LUCASARTS
 –		7	 	 	HARRY POTTER: THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2	EA BRIGHT LIGHT	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 –		8	 	 	EA SPORTS ACTIVE 2	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 8		9	 	 	BRINK	SPLASH DAMAGE	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
 15		10	 	 	ASSASSIN’S CREED: BROTHERHOOD	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	UBISOFT
 19		11	 	 	DUNGEON SIEGE III	OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
 11		12	 	 	FIFA 11	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 5		13	 	 	L.A. NOIRE	TEAM BONDI	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
 39		14	 	 	MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3: FATE OF TWO WORLDS	CAPCOM	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
 14		15	 	 	RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON	VOLITION	THQ	THQ
 13		16	 	 	UFC PERSONAL TRAINER	HEAVY IRON STUDIOS	THQ	THQ
 17		17	 	 	WII SPORTS RESORT	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 9		18	 	 	F.E.A.R. 3	DAY 1 STUDIOS	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
 31		19	 	 	MORTAL KOMBAT	NETHERREALM STUDIOS	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
 28		20	 	 	LEGO HARRY POTTER: YEARS 1-4	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
 26		21	 	 	RED DEAD REDEMPTION	ROCKSTAR SAN DIEGO	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
 18		22	 	 	INFAMOUS 2	SUCKER PUNCH	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
 25		23	 	 	MICHAEL JACKSON: THE EXPERIENCE	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
 20		24	 	 	THE SIMS 3	THE SIMS STUDIO	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 33		25	 	 	F1 2010	CODEMASTERS BIRMINGHAM	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS
 16		26	 	 	PORTAL 2	VALVE	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 6		27	 	 	VIRTUA TENNIS 4	SEGA	SEGA	SEGA
 32		28	 	 	BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM	ROCKSTEADY STUDIOS	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
 24		29	 	 	THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME 3D	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 30		30	 	 	JUST DANCE 2	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
 22		31	 	 	BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2	DIGITAL ILLUSIONS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 –		32	 	 	HARRY POTTER: THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1	EA BRIGHT LIGHT	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 29		33	 	 	MARIO KART WII	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 21		34	 	 	DUKE NUKEM FOREVER	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	2K GAMES	TAKE 2
 27		35	 	 	ART ACADEMY	HEADSTRONG GAMES	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 23		36	 	 	WII FIT PLUS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
 35		37	 	 	ALICE: MADNESS RETURNS	SPICY HORSE	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
 10		38	 	 	TOP SPIN 4	2K CZECH	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
 –		39	 	 	OPERATION FLASHPOINT: RED RIVER	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS
 –		40	 	 	TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 12: THE MASTERS	TIBURON ENTERTAINMENT	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
The image above is a snapshot of the latest The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer. As you can see, the eye of the Sheikah made an appearance in the video, though it’s a bit hidden. This doesn’t necessarily confirm that the Sheikah will be a part of Skyward Sword’s story, but it surely makes things more interesting.
This information comes from Xbox CFO Dennis Durkin…
“I would ask you to go and look at some of your data, just to compare first party performance over the course of this lifecycle, because I think our first party performance in terms of quality bars and units per title this shift has been superior to our competition’s.”
Look, I’ll just be honest here. Personally, I wouldn’t say that Microsoft has the best exclusives… this generation at least. I much prefer the offerings on Nintendo’s console and I absolutely love some of Sony’s first-party games. Microsoft has had its fair share of fantastic titles as well, but there aren’t a ton of games that come to mind.
Again, that’s just how I feel! Perhaps you guys would like to weigh in as well.
