Intro Direct Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LorhKSpF5s
When I woke up this morning I did what I do every Monday: I checked the Virtual console for new games. While i wasn’t disappointed at the selection, something did catch my eye which made me very excited:
“Awesome!” I thought. “Now I can preview the games before I buy them on my Wii! That’s so cool!” So I very excitedly clicked the text which I assumed would take me to a page of VC videos…..notsomuch…
Seriously, Nintendo? When you said “Gameplay Video Available” you meant on the PC or internet channel? No shit.
Fricken’ weak. Oh well maybe we’ll get a proper demo/preview system soon. until then there’s always the all-knowing internets.
High Quality and iPod here:
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=4438
In a recent interview with PALGN.com, Mark Cale, CEO of System 3 games (Impossible Mission, California Games) let a detail slip about Nintendo’s future plans for their online service:
“(Concerning Impossible Mission as a download for the Wii) I wouldn’t say Virtual Console, because they’re not actually calling it the Virtual Console, but in the next few months there will be various announcements, I’m sure made by Nintendo that will offer users a system that will be similar to that of what Microsoft is offering at present, which is the ability to download content, which you guys are able to do, but they’ve got to set up their various systems. Microsoft are years ahead of the other two major players in that regard. It really depends on when Nintendo are rolling out their strategy, which I expect will be within the next two months.”
So what we’re basically hearing right now is that Nintendo will provide a service, either as a channel or through the Wii Shop, that will allow users to buy original content. California Games and Impossibe Mission will both be included in this service as well as sold at retail. Also confirmed: California Games will feature online play. Sounds awesome. Microsoft has really set the bar this generation for dowloadable content so I’m really excited to see what Nintendo comes up with. Hopefully you will be able to try out demos, much like Live Arcade. Perhaps We’ll hear something this week at Nintendo’s media summit. Stay tuned for more info.
Or so says IGN’s Matt Casamassina and Mark Bozon in this week’s “Wiik in Review” podcast. They seem to really be hyping the game up saying things like “There’s absolutely no reason to buy the PS2 version” and “One of the better looking games on the system”. They are under embargo from Rockstar about the game but praise them for not just making a waggly Wii port. Because of the embargo we get some cryptic statements like “These are things fundamental to the Wii version that you cant do on PS2″. I did enjoy Manhunt on xbox so I’m looking forward to this game on wii. Expect to hear much more news within the coming weeks.
Or so says IGN’s Matt Casamassina and Mark Bozon in this week’s “Wiik in Review” podcast. They seem to really be hyping the game up saying things like “There’s absolutely no reason to buy the PS2 version” and “One of the better looking games on the system”. They are under embargo from Rockstar about the game but praise them for not just making a waggly Wii port. Because of the embargo we get some cryptic statements like “These are things fundamental to the Wii version that you cant do on PS2″. I did enjoy Manhunt on xbox so I’m looking forward to this game on wii. Expect to hear much more news within the coming weeks.
Well my hopes of another full fledged platforming Rayman game have been dashed once again. N-Europe has some details on the new sequel to Rayman Raving Rabbids. Looks like more party games and not much traditional platforming. Apparantly the Rabbids live under a mall this time around. N-Europe says the graphics have been improved from the last version.
Ubisoft promises that the Rabbids will be given a more detailed background than last time, with a narrative all about their training for world domination (Set in their top-secret camp, situated under a shopping centre) that Rayman infiltrates. Obviously, this will entail many more minigames, and lots of shaking and pointing.The graphics look more polished this time round, and details on new minigames are a bit scarce. We know that one has 4 Rabbids strapped to lab tables, with electricity-throwing cathodes above them. Cue lots of screaming when they get zapped. Another one involves some Rabbids in some theatre seats (naturally, they are wearing costumes like a Pirate, American Sport player, and one in bandages) talking on cellphones. Hopefully there will be some unique usages of the Wii Remote’s Speaker here.
The game is set for release on Wii and the DS.
With the recent countdown to the website relaunch of SSB:B (six days from now), the internet has been abuzz with rampant speculation of what this will reveal. There have been some crazy rumors about Brawl since the announcement of the title including the most recent rumor of the addition of Tingle (shudder) as a playable character. Allow me to add my two cents into this rumor mill.
A source of mine has made a pretty believable prediction about SSB:B and as much as I trust and believe him, I HAVE to post this as a rumor (for now). It’s no secret that that Nintendo may be holding a press only event in Washington next week…the same time as the counter on the Brawl site will reach zero. What will this reveal? Well, aside from other announcements about Nintendo IPs, my source believes that not only will Nintendo reveal at least one new character, the will also release details about the controls.
You might remember the comments about Brawl when it was revealed last year. The creator said that they would use the Gamecube controller only for the game. The rumor is that not only will the Gamecube controller be used but that the classic controller will also be supported. He went on to go so far as to say that the Classic Controller would be backed into the box of Brawl, much like the rumble pak with Starfox64 or the Wii remote with Wii play. This would also solve the problem of New Wii users not having a GC controller being able to play the game right out of the box. Along with this Rumor he also said that there would be some Wii remote specific mini games and modes included with the title.
This all sounds like a very feasible and, more importantly, a good idea. Wether it turns out to be true or not remains to be seen. I would expect to hear some announcements about brawl once the site relaunches and Nintendo’s (secret) press event is over.
Dragon Quest Swords, TONS of news, Viewer Mail, some REALLY juicy rumors, Virtual Console Pick of the Week and more!
High Quality here:
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=4438
As you all probably know by now, Project Rygar had been officially announced for Wii. Exciting, I know. I can’t wait either. Rygar is a classic franchise that was recently remade for the PS2. While I’m really looking forward to the project, I’m a little weirded out by the concept art. What looks to be the main character is half naked, filled with far too many muscles than the human body could possibly have and has extremely feminine features. It got me thinking about other remade games throughout the history of video games and the transformations the characters of those games have gone through. Perhaps it’s Japan’s quirky obsession with feminine looking men or perhaps my brash American stereotypical ideas of what a ‘hero’ should be. Regardless, let’s take a look at some famous “Queer Eye” transitions.
Let’s start off with the game in question: Rygar. As you can see on the left we have the original character art from the NES game box. On the right we have the new “Project Rygar” hero. While the original proudly wears a full body red jumpsuit, the new here is almost completely naked with an obscenely low riding kilt of some sort. Our new hero’s hair is feathered and perfectly defying gravity while or old hero’s is hastily kept in place by a manly headband. Personally if I was going to be tossing my Discarmor at someone, I wouldn’t want to have to worry about my kilt blowing up.
Perhaps the series most known for it’s almost transgendered characters (aside from Final Fantasy) is Castlevania. Here on the left is Simon Belmont in all his NES barbaric glory. Animal skin loincloth, bulging muscles and a massive whip. He’s ready to kick some ass and take some names. On the right is Konami’s current art of Belmont. Once again we see long feathery hair, girlish features, and are those fuzzy boots?! The only place this guy is headed is to a drag bar to lip sync to some crappy Donna Summer tune. If you needed Dracula killed, which one of these guys would you call? The guy who looks like he could rip off a bear’s head with his bare hands? Or the guy who looks like he’s afraid to chip a nail just HOLDING that whip?
And yes, even link has had a bit of a makeover. Sometimes he struts around half naked on the farm with the other cowboys. But to be fair, link is an elf of some sort. He’s not human at all. I just included him to make you mad.
So you might be asking yourself: “Does the design of a character affect my connection with the game?” Well, that’s a yes and no answer. Certanly if the game is well made and more importantly FUN, then no. For me it doesn’t. Heck I love the Katamari series….And I’m not even gonna get into talking about the King of the Cosmos.
So what about you guys? Does character design affect the way you play/buy games? Leave some comments or sound off on the message boards.
