“As soon as we completed Super Mario Galaxy, we thought we weren’t able to include a lot of the new ideas that we really wanted to. As soon as the project was over, we started making something that we might call version 1.5. We did things like moving or adding stars to levels that were already available. As we made progress with this 1.5, we realized that there were too many things to fit into a version 1.5. That made us realize we should start from scratch and make Super Mario Galaxy 2. That’s how we started working on the game…. Usually we wait until the advent of new hardware, but for this time around, because there were so many ideas we were not able to include in the first volume, we thought we should make a sequel to that.” – Shigeru Miyamoto
I don’t think something like Super Mario Galaxy 1.5 would have sat well with fans. It’s definitely a good thing that we’re getting a full-blown sequel with new levels, new ideas, and new mechanics.
“I haven’t decided if I’m going to make a sequel or not, but, for now, there are no plans.” – Creator of Cave Story, Daisuke Amaya (Pixel)
Right now, I don’t need a sequel. I’m just happy Cave Story was finally released on WiiWare. For awhile, it seemed like the game was never going to come out!
Thanks to Robert for the news tip!
– 31.03.10: Mega Man 10 (Xbox 360 Xbox Live)
– 14.04.10: Final Fight: Double Impact (Xbox 360 Xbox Live)
– 15.04.10: Final Fight: Double Impact (PS3 PSN)
– 23.04.10: Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)
– 30.04.10: Super Street Fighter IV (PS3/Xbox 360)
– 18.05.10: Lost Planet 2 (PS3/Xbox 360)
– Sommer 2010: Mega Man Zero Collection (NDS)
– 2010: Sengoku BASARA Samurai Heroes (PS3/Wii)
– 2010: Ghost Trick (NDS)
As part of the build up to the launch of Sniper EliteTM on Nintendo Wii in Q2 this year, exclusive screens of the new bonus level, Flak Tower, have been revealed for the first time.
Taking place after the original 28 missions, Karl Fairburne has re-entered Berlin to assist in the destruction of the formidable ‘Flak Tower’; an impenetrable fortress armed with battery upon battery of anti-aircraft cannons which is decimating the Allied airborne assault. His mission: get through to one of the most heavily guarded facilities in Berlin without being seen and destroy it from within!
Thanks to Ross M for the news tip!
Reggie on the PlayStation move…
“It’s certainly me too or Wii too, as I like to say. There is nothing that they showed that is surprising. There is nothing that they showed that is innovative and in the end it will come down to how much fun the software is. How entertaining the experience is and I’ve yet to see anything that highlights this as an entertaining experience.”
Reggie on the future of Wii…
“[The Wii has a] very long, very vibrant life in front of it.”
“You can think of it in terms of something similar to Super Mario World or New Super Mario Bros. Wii, where you will have a rather convenient map to navigate. We want players to focus on the joy of the action instead of getting to each game course. We wanted to make it as accessible as possible and as easy as possible for the players. Also because we’re going to incorporate a number of different stars and conquering all the stars is going to be one of the most challenging missions for the player, we want them to understand as easy as possible where they should go next and which places they should go back to in order to get access to the remaining stars.” – Shigeru Miyamoto
Man, I’m actually very disappointed by this news. Even though the Comet Observatory was my least favorite hub in a Mario game, I still enjoyed exploring it. I wonder if this is the end of hubs in 3D Mario titles…
Some of the video game industry’s brightest talents are contributing to a unique series of microgames for the upcoming WarioWare™: D.I.Y. game for the Nintendo DS™ family of products and the downloadable WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase game for the WiiWare™ service. Starting March 29, consumers who own either of the games and have a broadband Internet connection will be able to download microgames created by several acclaimed developers, each of whom has been invited to create an original microgame using Nintendo’s new WarioWare: D.I.Y. game. New microgames by the developers listed below and many others will be available for download under the “Big Name Games” banner every Monday through July 26, at no additional cost to users with broadband Internet access.
The list of “Big Name Games” participants reads like a roster of gaming all-stars. Pixel aka Daisuke Amaya (Cave Story), 5TH Cell (Scribblenauts), WayForward (A Boy and his Blob), Gaijin Games (BIT.TRIP series) and Team Meat (Super Meat Boy) will be featured in the weekly series. To kick things off in grand style, Nintendo will debut new games by Japanese designers Masahiro Sakurai (Super Smash Bros. ™) and Yoshio Sakamoto (Metroid™) on March 29. Fans can also visit the Nintendo Channel on the Wii™ console to view exclusive videos and behind-the-scenes peeks of some of these remarkable games. The first video, featuring Masahiro Sakurai, is now available on the Nintendo Channel.
“Red Steel 2 isn’t really a ‘do-or-die’ situation. What I meant by my comments was that the desire to make another game in the series will depend on whether or not Red Steel 2 is a success. Fact is, that’s always true. If the fans don’t want us to make a sequel, we generally won’t. See, because we know they won’t buy it. Which is sort of the point. So, in that way, this situation isn’t really all that different from any other first or second releases in a franchise. As far as pressure goes, believe me when I tell you that the pressure here at Ubisoft is a light, airy breeze compared to the kinds of pressures I grew accustomed to at other companies I worked for. The pressure was all focused in the same place: the game had to be fun. We knew that, and so it led to us shaping our dev process around iteration, playtest, and gameplay. That’s a good thing.” – Red Steel 2 creative director Jason Vandenberghe
If you were to have asked me if I would like to see a sequel to Red Steel, I probably would have said that it wouldn’t interest me. Red Steel 2, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I see no reason why the series shouldn’t continue, unless Ubisoft was extremely disappointed with the game’s sales.
Pre-order offer and exclusive European bundles available
22nd March 2010 – Monster Hunter Tri, the game everyone is talking about, roars into life across Europe on 23rd April 2010, and hunters that snap up a copy of the game or any bundle early will receive a stunning free Rathalos head figurine.
Gamers across Europe also have the opportunity to become the ultimate hunter by picking up the exclusive Monster Hunter Tri bundle, which includes the game, a black Classic Controller Pro, Wii Speak accessory and a Lagiacrus head figurine. The ultimate hunter pack bundle will be available from launch.
