Car Battler Joe hitting the North American Wii U Virtual Console tomorrow
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in News, Wii U eShop | 2 Comments
Natsume is bringing another title to the North American Wii U Virtual Console this week. According to Nintendo’s website, Car Battler Joe is due out tomorrow for $6.99.
Here’s the official overview:
Nobody knows why your dad, champion car battler Jim Todoroki, suddenly abandoned the fastest and most popular sport in Galacia. There is a rumor going around that he’s riding around with the most ruthless car-battler gangs in the world. But is it just a rumor, or is there truth behind it?
Play as Joe Todoroki, in his quest to become a car battler—like his father before him. His mother says he has the talent, but hard work will be the payoff. Customize a vehicle in the Garage to enhance or diminish its performance. Sign up for jobs, missions, and even tournaments as Joe explores the dangerous highways and byways that surround his village. Other car battlers fight for money and fame, but Joe has a higher calling: to restore his family’s honor and bring his father home!
Ancient developed Car Battler Joe for the GBA, and it released in Japan through publisher Victor Interactive Software back in 2001. Natsume localized the title for North America a year later.
More: Car Battler Joe, Natsume, Virtual Console
Super Mario Maker directors share tips to improve your levels
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in News, Wii U | 5 Comments
Game Informer recently caught up with Super Mario Maker director Yosuke Oshino and senior director Yoshikazu Yamashita. While speaking with the site, the two developers shared tips to help players improve their levels.
One of the first tips from Oshino and Yamashita is to play through a bunch of courses:
“I’d advise you to play through a lot of courses. Play the 10-Mario Challenge and Course World, and if you find a course you like (I’d recommend a shorter one first), save it and try messing around with it. As you learn how the courses you like were made, and how they can be changed to make them better (or worse), I think you’ll gradually build up a toolbox of ideas on how to build courses.” – Yamashita
“It might also be a good idea to look at what kind of courses people are making with the 10-Mario Challenge, or to go on Course World and check out the world rankings to see how people on there make their courses and get all those favorites.” – Oshino
Oshino also discussed the importance of keeping your target audience in mind:
“I think it’s important that you think about who you want playing your course, and how you want him or her to play it. Think about a course length they’d prefer, and what kinds of enemies or course elements they’d like. I also think people like courses which have that, ‘Let’s try that one more time,’ element to them without being unfair, no matter if they’re easy or difficult.” – Oshino
Also from Oshino, experimenting with different combinations is encouraged:
“[W]hen you combine multiple parts together, you’ll suddenly open up a great deal more opportunities. I found a new way to combine parts myself just the other day. I think players might just invent new ways to combine parts that not even we thought of, too.” – Oshino
“I like the ‘generational change’ of putting Bowser on the back of a large Bowser Jr. (i.e., when you combine Bowser Jr. with a Mushroom), or taking the Queen (high-heeled) Goomba’s Shoe you get by shaking a regular Goomba’s Shoe and adding wings to it to make a Para-Queen Goomba’s Shoe.” – Oshino
Game Informer has a couple of additional tips from the Super Mario Maker developers here.
More: interview, Oshino, Super Mario Maker
Xbox boss thinks Nintendo’s new president will do great, wishes him well
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in General Nintendo, News | 18 Comments
Tatsumi Kimishima was named as Nintendo’s new president earlier this week. Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who never shies away from interacting with fans on Twitter, offered a few brief words about the news.
Here’s the relevant tweet:
@Gabriel_Diaz19 I don't know him but Nintendo is great gaming with amazing track record, I'm sure he'll do great, I wish him well.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) September 15, 2015
It’ll be interesting to see what Kimishima does during his time as president of Nintendo. It’s silly at this point to have any preconceived notions at this point!
More: Phil Spencer, Tatsumi Kimishima
Two more Picross 3D 2 videos
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in 3DS, Videos | 1 Comment
Another couple of Picross 3D 2 videos have surfaced on Nintendo’s Japanese YouTube page. Find both of them below.
More: HAL Laboratory, Japan, Picross 3D 2
Girls Mode 3 adds Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer items
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in 3DS, News | 2 Comments
Girls Mode 3 has been updated with six items from Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. Nintendo has added in three furniture pieces for the in-game dollhouse: an amiibo phone, Nook’s Home car, and a copy machine. Players also have access to Isabelle’s spring shirt, Lottie’s long sleeved shirt, and a Nook’s Home blazer.
More: Girls Mode 3, Japan
Video: Nintendo’s Damon Baker interviews Shin’en about FAST Racing Neo
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in Videos, Wii U eShop | 2 Comments
Nintendo’s North American YouTube page now has a video interview with Shin’en, which was conducted during PAX Prime 2015 a few weeks ago. Naturally, the discussion focused on FAST Racing Neo. Check out the full video below.
More: Damon Baker, FAST Racing Neo, indie, interview, Shin'en
Amazon: Disney Infinity 2.0 Starter Pack for $14.22
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Disney Infinity 3.0 just came out, but if you’re looking to save on the series’ previous entry, Amazon has you covered. The Disney Infinity 2.0 Starter Pack is down to $14.22. You’ll be $45.77, or 76 percent.
Europe’s best-selling games during the first half of 2015
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in 3DS, News, Wii U | 21 Comments
The latest issue of GamesMarkt has a report on the European video game software sales during the first half of the year. In it, we learn that both Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D both made the list in terms of best sellers, coming in at #14 and #16 respectively.
The full chart is posted above. GamesMarkt’s results are based on data collected between January and June.
We also have a look at the top ten publishers for software market share (value):
01 (01) Electronic Arts – 15,05% (18,58%)
02 (03) Nintendo – 12,57% (12,32%)
03 (06) Take-Two Interactive – 10,79% (5,77%)
04 (10) Bandai Namco Entertainment – 9,52% (3,18%)
05 (07) Warner Bros. Interactive – 9,35% (5,26%)
06 (02) Ubisoft – 8,67% (15,07%)
07 (04) Activision Blizzard – 8,19% (9,76%)
08 (05) Sony Computer Entertainment – 7,62% (7,54%)
09 (09) Microsoft – 3,08% (3,59%)
10 (__) Bethesda Softworks – 2,50%
Shovel Knight amiibo can now be pre-ordered on the Nintendo UK store
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in General Nintendo, News | 1 Comment
Stella Glow coming to North America on Nov. 17, launch edition, battle trailer
Posted 8 years ago by Brian in 3DS, News | 3 Comments
In a new announcement published today, Atlus confirmed that Stella Glow is due out in North America on November 17. The game will be sold in stores and on the eShop for $49.99 / CA $59.99.
For the retail version, Atlus is preparing a special “Launch Edition”. This will be available to those who pre-order the game “and a small quantity of launch day copies.”
Here’s an overview of the different goodies included inside:
Hilda’s Crystal Garden Cloth Poster — This is a large poster made of cloth (so it won’t permanently crease by being folded in the package!) that features the striking image of Hilda, the Witch of Destruction posing with her scythe atop a seat of crystals.
Bubu Flexi-Charm — Bubu is the pet pig of the Witch Popo, and hopefully by now you’ve insinuated that it’s super cute (because it is!). The charm is soft vinyl and since Bubu is such a loyal companion, the charm can be attached to whatever needs more piggy goodness. Oh, and it’s a real porker too at approximately 3″ x 3″.
“Song Magic” CD — This is a 5-song disc featuring the vocal themes of the five Witches. The CD will arrive in a separate sleeve featuring artwork from the Witch Tuning sequences from the game.
Collectible Outer Box — Similar to what we did with The Legend of Legacy, all the aforementioned premiums will be included in a large outer box. We didn’t just reuse the 3DS game cover either — the outer box is a new design featuring the protagonist, Alto, and the five Witches. Lisette on the spine of the box is a nice touch, and I once again salute our designers for putting together such a great-looking package.
Check out a new Stella Glow battle trailer below. We also have an overview of the game after the break.