Siliconera: Will we see Ys Book I&II will we see this on US Wiis? Can you give us an estimate on the time?
SD: You know, Ys is one of our most-requested titles, along with Bonk and Military Madness (which have come out on the Virtual Console, and people are still asking for them on other platforms). We’d love to make our fans happy, so we’re still evaluating if it’s right to bring Ys over.
Protothea
– From Ubisoft (2005 remake), another shooter
– Launch title – 1000 points
– WiiWare could end up with a lot of shooters
– Needs to be faster, more enemies
Castle of Shikigami III
– Great according to Daemon
– Vertical shooter
Boom Blox
– Fun, also good for kids
– A bit overpriced
– Good party game
– Currently embargoed, review tomorrow
– Upcoming events at Sega, Ubisoft, Konami – news out of those events probable
– IGN will have 1 exclusive, Friday – Craig: “Pretty big,” unannounced – Wii & DS game, based off distinct property – video, screenshots
Bionic Games
– There’s a rumor that they’ll be making a game published by Capcom, Capcom won’t comment
– Game the company is making seems more ambitious than other games
– Sci-Fi action-adventure
– Original game
– Retro hiring for positions they lost
– Have a big title down the road most likely
Storage on Wii
– Iwata slightly acknowledged the problem on Wii with storage
– At least “half-recognizing” the problem
– Maybe hear more at E3
3 most anticipated games on Wii, 360, DS, PS3
Matt: Wii – Wii Fit, Pikmin 3, Kid Icarus, 360: Resident Evil 5, Dead Space, Prince of Persia, Too Human, Street Fighter, DS: Guitar Hero, Trauma Center, Moon, PS3: LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Wipeout HD
Craig: Wii – Wii Fit, Animal Crossing, World of Goo, Multi: Ghostbusters, Ninja Gaiden 2, DS: Guitar Hero, Space Invaders Extreme, Bangai-O Bozon: Wii – Animales de Muerte, Kid Icarus, Animal Crossing, Tails of Symp., 360: Left for Dead, Street Fighter IV, Ninja Gaiden 2, RE5, DS: Super Dodgeball Brawlers, Guitar Hero, Trauma Center, PS3: Grid, LittleBigPlanet, Wipeout HD
Daemon: Wii – Wii Fit, Blast Works, Strongbad, Lost Winds, World of Goo, 360 – Bionic Commando (both versions), Fallout 3
– Still need to know about upcoming Wii software
– Craig, Matt think that E3 may end this year (companies dropping out, only 1 hall, etc.)
Iron Man (DS)
– Kinda cool, gameplay happens outside of screen
– Enemies attack off-screen, annoying
– Now super-awesome, but fun
– Lego Indiana, Line Rider, Friday announcement this week (DS/Wii coverage)
Reader mail
– WiiWare Tetris title is coming to WiiWare, online
– Etrian Odyssey 2 feels a lot like the first game, a few new things, holds it own
– FF:Tactics looked like an upgraded version of GBA – not a bad thing
– Tecmo Bowl Kickoff – apparently coming to Wii, haven’t officially announced it though
– Boom Blox is fun in single-player as well as multi-player – doesn’t have “blow-me-away” factor, but still a ton of fun
– Platinum Games (ex Clover Studios) hasn’t said what they’re up to
– Earthbound VC game will probably hit the Wii Shop Channel, but not right away – if it comes out, people need to buy it or more games like this won’t come out
– Factor 5 is not making Pilotwings for Wii – Factor 5 did say they’re be interested in making a flying game
– Donkey Kong Country has a better soundtrack than Megaman X
– Okami better than Mario Kart Wii, No More Heroes (Matt), Craig: No More Heroes is better
– Boom Blox is recommended to non-classic puzzle fans
– WiiWare limit: 43 megabyes, no way to get past that limit yet
– Iron Man Wii review coming out Tuesday
– Nintendo not producing more Wii units because they can’t product them fast enough
– Another game from a developer who couldn’t find a publisher (dark game) will hopefully be unveiled/talked about later this week
– IGN hasn’t seen the Bionic Studio game
– Konami’s projects on Wii will most likely be shown next week
– Blast Works (hopefully) will be great; Should be easy to use, not convoluted – can create all types of content – shooter aspects generic, but creation is great
– Second takes for reviews are added when the review feels like it (sometimes if people disagree, want to elaborate on some points)
– Launch feature on WiiWare is planned on IGN
– Not sure what Monster Games is doing
– Next Metroid game: Nintendo should take it back and do it themselves if not Retro again
– GTA4 – technically amazing, still has some issues like previous iterations
– We Love Golf on the shelves because of other games, Matt is still optimistic – not as excited about it (Matt)
– Scarface is a good GTA alternative on Wii
– More on Moon for DS coming – looking good
– More developers on podcast in coming weeks
Pre-ordering is generally the best way to go these days when a big product is to be launched in the future, as it is the safest way to guarantee (usually) that you will be able to pick up a copy on day one. Unfortunately, those wishing to pre-order Wii Fit from Amazon can no longer do say – at least for now – as the website currently is displaying a “temporarily out-of-stock” message. It is possible that more pre-orders will be allowed in the coming days, but this should be a good indication of how successful Wii Fit will do in America.
The Wii has gone through a number of ports since its release, even one developed by Nintendo themselves (Twilight Princess.) However, one port you can expect never to appear in the future on Wii is the next-gen Prince of Persia.
“We ported Two Thrones to the Wii. It was a quick and dirty port, I can say. With that we saw a lot of potential. The controls were not fully optimized, did not take full advantage of the Wii, but a lot of people saw the POP universe could certainly have a home on Wii. Since then people have been looking into that, but there’s no formal announcement. We are investigating it very seriously. You would never see a port of the game we’re making however. That’ll never happen.”
Although I’m pleased that Wii owners will not have to sit through another lacking port, it’s impossible to say what can happen in the future. Publishers/developers have previously promised certain games to be exclusive to Wii, yet they’ve ended up on other systems. So, it does seem plausible that the same could happen with a Price of Persia port.
Cambridge, MA – May 5, 2008 – Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii™ home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99. Complete details are as follows:
Release date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tracks:
30 Seconds to Mars The Kill
All American Rejects Move Along
Blink – 182 All the Small Things
Boston More Than a Feeling
David Bowie Moonage Daydream
Faith No More We Care A Lot
Grateful Dead Truckin’
The Hives Die, All Right!
KISS Calling Dr. Love
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gimme’ Three Steps
Nine Inch Nails March of the Pigs
Oasis Live Forever
Paramore Crushcrushcrush
The Police Synchronicity II
Queens of the Stone Age Little Sister
Ramones Teenage Lobotomy
Smashing Pumpkins Siva
Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
Weezer Buddy Holly
Wolfmother Joker & the Thief**All 20 tracks utilize original master recordings**
** All tracks are available as DLC on competing platforms**Price: $29.99 MSRP
Rock Band is the ultimate platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock, to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.
Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.
Rock Band will be available for the Wii starting June 22, 2008. Rock Band is currently available on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®.
EA is the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band.
For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.
Source: GamesPress
Jeux-France reports that Valve – known for innovative titles such as Portal – is currently expressing interest to develop a game for the Nintendo Wii. On the downside, however, there are no apparent plans to release such a game until 2010 at the earliest. Also, the same report suggests that the game would be intended for children.
Regardless of the intended audience, I’m quite interested as to what Valve could brew up for the Wii. If Portal was any indication, it will be unique.
Wii Fit 4/5
Mario Kart 4/5
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword 4/5
The World Ends With You 4.5/5
Emergency Mayhem 1/5
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Mario’s parent company (8 letters). Letter-based puzzles (10 letters). Dual screen, abbr. (2 letters).
Today’s launch of Crosswords DS for the portable Nintendo DS™ video game system puts more than 1,000 crossword puzzles into the palm of your hand. Crosswords DS includes puzzles at multiple skill levels, so anyone from beginners to experts can give it a try. As you progress, the puzzles get bigger and more challenging. Because you write all your answers directly on the touch screen with your stylus, there’s no need for erasers – just write your new answer over your old one. Crosswords DS also includes a sophisticated hint system if you get stuck. Just tap the Hint button with your stylus and choose to receive another clue, reveal a hidden letter or solve the whole word.
“Crosswords DS brings crossword puzzles into the 21st century in a way that’s accessible to everyone,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “And because Nintendo DS is so light and portable, you can play it anywhere at any time.”
Crossword puzzles aren’t the only classic word games found in Crosswords DS. There are also more than 200 Wordsearch puzzles that let you hunt for hidden words amid a jumble of letters. For more word fun, you can turn to Anagrams and construct almost endless combinations of words from a handful of letters.
Crosswords DS, with its quick and accessible word challenges, is the latest in the Touch Generations line of Nintendo DS games. Previous games include Brain Age®: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Brain Age® 2: More Training in Minutes a Day and Flash Focus™: Vision Training in Minutes a Day.
For more information about Crosswords DS, visit www.NintendoCrosswords.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.5 billion video games and more than 430 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario™, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda™ and Pokémon®. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company’s Web site at www.nintendo.com.
Source: Nintendo PR email
