Wii-kly Update
Two WiiWare Games and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel
Neither sleet nor snow nor ice-cold winter winds shall keep Wii™ Shop Channel users from enjoying the best new and classic games. In fact, this week’s offerings include a hot new strategy-based puzzle game that promises to keep everyone in the household enthused, no matter how frightful the weather outside may be. Harrowing puzzles, hockey pucks and a world-famous hedgehog are all featured in the latest downloadable lineup, providing red-hot gaming thrills to counter the imminent December chills.
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:
SEGA launches new community and gaming site, boasting classic and newly created games exclusively available on PlaySEGA.com
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (December 4, 2008) – SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today launched PlaySEGA™, a completely new SEGA experience for all types of gaming and social networking fans. PlaySEGA is based at www.PlaySEGA.com and is a mini web game portal with a selection of arcade, word, card, puzzle, quiz, Sonic and sports titles, which are available now and completely FREE to all PC and Mac users.
PlaySEGA has an impressive assortment of titles available on the site including Brain Assist™, which was originally released for the Nintendo DS™, and the successful mobile title, Sonic at the Olympic Games™. Brand new SEGA games that have been created exclusively for PlaySEGA are also available such as Ice Shuffle, Hollywood Adventure Quiz and Aquatic Word Burst. In addition, a selection of all-new Guest Games will soon be unveiled, all entirely FREE to each PlaySEGA user.
Satoru Iwata has stated that 800,000 Wii units were sold during the Thanksgiving week, and that’s only counting sales in North America. That figure is more than double the amount Nintendo sold last year. Iwata also discussed sales of the DS. While no solid sales figure was provided, he did mention that sales of the handheld were up 20 percent during the Thanksgiving week than compared to last year.
In a Japanese interview with 4Gamer, it was revealed that Capcom favorites such as Amaterasu from Okami, Phoenix Wright (that’s a joke…Or is it?), and others will not make an appearance in the recently released fighting game, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. In other words, there will be no hidden characters in the game and all characters have been already been discovered.
The reason behind the lack of hidden characters has been translated to, roughly, as the following: “We wanted to put a bang of all characters on the package.”
Best Buy
High School Musical: Makin’ the Cut (DS) – $9.99
High School Musical 2: Work This Out (DS) – $9.99
Lock’s Quest (DS) – $19.99
Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals (DS) – $19.99
Tony Hawk’s Motion (DS) – $29.99
Monster Lab (DS) – $19.99
Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors (DS) – $19.99
Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii) – Free $10 gift card with purchase
Mario Super Sluggers (Wii) – Free $10 gift card with purchase
Rock Band Special Edition (Wii) – $99.99
Circuit City
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play (Wii) – $37.49
Nerf N-Strike (Wii) – $44.99
Rock Band Bundle for Wii – $89.99
Save $5 on all Wii Fit accessories
Little League World Series Baseball 2008 (Wii) – $24.99
Monster Jam: Urban Assault (Wii) – $24.99
Shrek’s Carnival Craze (Wii) – $24.99
Block Party (Wii) – $24.99
Super Mario 64 (DS) – $23.99
Target
Celebrity Sports Showdown (Wii) – $19.99
Hasbo Family Game Night (Wii) – $29.99
Psyclone Starter Kit for Wii – $34.99
Psyclone Starter Kit for DS Lite – $16
Free Wii Zapper with purchase of both Call of Duty: World at War and 007 Quantum of Solace
“The mere thing is that the graphics are now in higher resolution in comparison to the Japanese version so we were able to implement and present something that is more visually appealing.” – Oohashi Toshiro, D3 Japan’s Consumer Business Division
That’s a nice bonus for those who are considering purchasing this game in North America. I suppose there was a feeling that the North American audience would appreciate more impressive graphics.
Just a few days ago, a pretty big boss spoiler was discovered in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. The boss is actually the last boss that is faced in the game. Now, a clear video of the fight can be seen.
Head past the break to see the video. Again, most will probably consider this to be a spoiler so watch at your own risk!
The North American Club Nintendo page is officially live. There isn’t anything to see or do as of yet, but Nintendo has provided a description of what one can expect when the temporary page is removed and the service begins:
* Earn Coins for registering Nintendo products and completing surveys
* Redeem Coins for limited edition Rewards
* Earn a set amount of Coins each year to gain Gold and Platinum status
* Create a Family Account and invite members of your family to join
* Register your newly purchased Wii console or Nintendo DS on Club Nintendo and extend your warranty
Club Nintendo should be up soon. There are only around four weeks left in 2008, and Nintendo has stated that the service would be available in time for the holidays.
