I was never one for football video games (with the exception of an old FIFA N64 game), and as the result I have never played an iteration of the sport on Wii. Apparently, however, many owners of last years, “FIFA ’09” were having difficulties with the online play, and now an EA employee has issued a statement regarding the bugs and what is being done to fix them in FIFA ’10.

It’s a day before I can officially start posting stuff about what we have done with the FIFA Wii game this year, but since online is such a hot topic I wanted to share some info specific to online a little earlier – it deserves it’s own post!

Goals for FIFA 10 Wii Online

First let me tell you what my goals were for online this year (it’s pretty simple really) – if you and your opponent have decent internet connections, then the game should play as well online as offline and you should be able to complete the games! And because the game plays so well online, a larger online community starts to build for FIFA Wii. That’s it (told you it was simple!).

So what happened with FIFA 09?

Ok, so before I get to the news I wanted to share with you all, let me also tell you that the disconnect issues with FIFA 09 Wii were a result of an error in the code. I noticed reading through the FIFA 09 Forums that there was some confusion as to people’s internet connections or what-not, and while that might have caused some problems, the big one was on our side. We’ve fixed it.

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WHAT: Nintendo is transforming New York’s famed Military Island in Times Square into an urban island getaway to celebrate the launch of the Wii Sports Resort™ video game. On July 23, anyone who visits this Manhattan landmark will be treated to a mini-vacation, complete with a sandy beach, swimming pool and tropical lounge — all smack dab in the middle of the city — plus a chance to play Wii Sports Resort in advance of its U.S. July 26 release date. Based on the imaginative Wuhu Island locale featured in the game, this interactive oasis will also offer game demonstrations, giveaways (while supplies last) and a bar serving tropical non-alcoholic drinks.

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Named “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad”, “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Let’s Go! Stormy Adventure Squad” and “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad”

– Due out in Japan on August 4th for 1,200 Nintendo Points
– Based on the story & legend of the Pokémon Arceus.
– Dungeons and characters are 3D
– Pokémon Tower allows for 4 moves consecutively
– Gastrodon Judgment House where your treasure chests are judged
– Blazing Adventure Squad will focus on Fire types, Stormy Adventure Squad on Water types and Light Adventure Squad on Electric types

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“We may not find a particular type of game amusing or appealing, but that doesn’t stop them from being a game of equal worth to those titles that we do. These are criticisms that nobody would level at the output of a supposedly ‘casual’ game developer such as PopCap. Make the game you love and people who enjoy the things you enjoy will be the audience. If a game is fun people will buy it whatever the label.” – Dave Thomson of Scottish games developer Denki

I couldn’t agree with Mr. Thompson more. The only thing that these labels create is an assumption that certiain types of games are better than others, which I think is a bit ridiculous. Good games are good games, regardless of whether they’re hardcore or not.

As many of you already know, Warner Bros. and Fujisoft are collaborating to release various blockbuster movies on the Wii’s “Everyone’s Theater” service. Here’s a partial list of a few of the movies that will be available tomorrow on the channel.

Batman Begins, Contact, Last Samurai, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Goonies, Free Willy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

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The Guitar Hero World Tour guitar slider was sending analog values. The Guitar Hero 5 guitar controller’s slider is digital, reducing the chance for error and latency. On the surface of the slider we added slight reliefs (like the one on the yellow fret button) to the middle slider fret and the top and bottom slider frets. This way you can feel exactly where your fingers are. There are also colored dots on the neck of the guitar controller near the slider that correspond to the colors of the frets. This allows you to quickly look down and see where your fingers should be (if the reliefs aren’t enough for you). All of these changes to the slider allow you to hit the tapping sections with better precision – we also removed the purple rope in the tapping/slide sections of game play by the way :). For those who are musically inclined, GHStudio’s all new expressive guitar controller capabilities is where the slider will really shine.

I can’t say this makes a difference for me personally, as I didn’t intend to purchase the game in the first place, but perhaps for some people this will be a major selling point of a new guitar, rather than sticking to the World Tour guitar.

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– Entei, Suicune and Raikou will be at Level 40.
– two newly revealed Pokethlon sports: Snowball Fighting and Wrestling
– Pokegear contains Phone, Map, Radio Item Finder and Pokewalker stats
– X and Y buttons allow for assignment of items
– Notch-eared Pichu is unlocked when you trade over your Pikachu colored Pichu. Notch-eared Pichu cannot be traded and does not evolve
– Notch-eared Pichu knows Pain Split, Volt Tackle, Helping Hand, and Swagger
– The Kimono Sisters play a bigger roll
– Team Rocket may have infiltrated the Kimono Sisters house.
– It rains at the Lake of Rage when you encounter Red Gyarados
– Mother will save your money buy rare items from time to time
– PokeWalker features an Item Finder that allows you to scan/pick up items while you wakl
– Two PokeWalkers can connect via infrared in order to get items
– The PokeWalker keeps track of your daily activities and updates your PokeGear when you connect to HeartGold/SoulSilver

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Nintendo has revealed which prizes are available for Platinum/Gold members of Club Nintendo. Make sure to pick your prize by August 11!

Platinum prizes

– Doc Louis’s Punch-Out!! (WiiWare)

“It’s Little Mac vs. Doc Louis!! Step into Little Mac’s shoes and challenge your mentor and coach, Doc Louis, to prove you have what it takes to become the World Video Boxing Association World Champion.

This unique one-on-one bout builds off of the fun and excitement found in the retail version of Punch-Out!!™ for the Wii™ console, and is designed exclusively for 2009 Club Nintendo Platinum Members (USA and Canada) as a free download. This gift will not be available anywhere else!”

– Mario hat

Gold prize

– Club Nintendo Original Calender – 2010