Tag: Wii

This Week’s Videogame Releases

After several weeks of boring releases, mid-May delivers with authority! The Xbox 360 exclusive Alan Wake is out this week and numerous critics have compared it to Sony’s Heavy Rain, but with broader appeal. On the multiplatform kick there’s Red Dead Redemption, Split / Second, and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Last but not least is Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow for Nintendo DS.

With all the great games available this week, I want to know if you’re planning on picking anything up. Please let me know!

NPD Hardware Sales Figures for April 2010

NPD Group released its console sales data for April 2010. This is the first time that I didn’t see any numbers for the PlayStation 2. Is the sun finally setting on Sony’s ridiculously popular console? How did the boys and girls at Microsoft and Nintendo fare? Digest April’s numbers as I digest a Cadbury Creme Egg in honor of Easter month.

  • Nintendo DS: 440,800
  • Wii: 277,200
  • Xbox 360: 185,400
  • PlayStation 3: 180,800
  • PSP: 65,500

It was a slow month for all systems except for the Nintendo DS, which continues to shatter records and sell like MacDoubles. Four months into the year and the PS3 is holding its own against the Xbox 360. Unless it has a killer Q4 — which is certainly possible — I don’t see how the PS3 overtakes the Xbox 360 in North America, as some analysts have predicted.

Now it’s time for you to play Jesse Divnich and Michael Pachter. What do you think of April’s console sales numbers?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of April 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for April 2010. It was a slow month for the business and the list is full of old releases. Check ’em out!

  1. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction (Xbox 360): 486,100
  2. Pokemon SoulSilver Version (Nintendo DS): 242,900
  3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): 200,300
  4. Pokemon HeartGold Version (Nintendo DS): 192,600
  5. God of War III (PlayStation 3): 180,300
  6. Wii Sports Resort (Wii): 179,000
  7. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Xbox 360): 166,000
  8. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii):
  9. Just Dance (Wii): 144,000
  10. Super Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3): 143,000

Unless my eyes are broken — which is entirely possible after way too much Scrabble — Splinter Cell: Conviction and Super Street Fighter IV are the only new games on the list. Again, there weren’t that many big releases in April so  seeing the usual suspects makes total sense. It also makes this month’s list kind of boring. The one thing that makes me happy is seeing Pokemon trounce the world. Tell me again that Pokemon is dead. Tell me!!!

Coffee Talk #141: Who is Nintendo’s Rival?

Batman vs. The Joker, Goku vs. Vegeta, Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates, Ash Ketchum vs. Gary Oak — these are all examples of classic rivalries that will be waged until the end of time. Should Apple vs. Nintendo be added to that list? According to The Times Nintendo no longer views Microsoft and Sony as its primary competition. Instead, it sees Apple as the biggest threat:

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Paul Daley’s awesome sucker punch at UFC 113, Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron reenacting the WWE Royal Rumble, or the brilliance of Intelligentsia’s Los Inmortales El Salvador Finca Matalapa Guayabo, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Batman vs. The Joker, Goku vs. Vegeta, Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates, Ash Ketchum vs. Gary Oak — these are all examples of classic rivalries that will be waged until the end of time. Should Apple vs. Nintendo be added to that list? According to The Times Nintendo no longer views Microsoft and Sony as its primary competition. Instead, it sees Apple as the biggest threat:

Satoru Iwata, the Nintendo president, is understood to have told his senior executives recently to regard the battle with Sony as a victory already won and to treat Apple, and its iPhone and iPad devices, as the “enemy of the future”.

Those comments are a stark contrast from Iwata’s previous statements. In the past he dismissed Apple as competition and brushed off the iPad as just a big iPod. (I wonder why nobody asked, “Then what the hell is the DSi XL?”)

While I think Apple and Nintendo do compete, the overlap isn’t 100 percent. Obviously the Nintendo DS reaches a younger audience than the iPhone, while Apple’s products reach an older audience. (If you’re a parent that has armed your child with a 32GB iPhone then kindly smash your head on a brick wall seven times.) Still, I can’t see Nintendo dismissing Sony like that. Sony has ruled the console world before and all it takes is one great product backed by great marketing to take it back.

What do you think of these provocative comments? Has Nintendo passed Microsoft and Sony by? If so, is Apple really its primary rival? If not, is it foolish to dismiss competitors that could swiftly strike back? I miss having a rival! I’m going to go find bleahy and hit him.

Black Nintendo Wii Coming to America on May 9, 2010

As expected, Nintendo will be releasing a black version of its ridiculously popular Nintendo Wii console on May 9, 2010. The bundle includes Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and Wii MotionPlus.  The ebony Wii was released in other regions of the world, but Americans have been deprived of the dark side of the (Wii) force…until now. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

Previously unavailable throughout the Americas, the black version of the Wii console will offer all the groundbreaking features and functions of its white counterpart in a stylish new color scheme. Whether they aim to color-coordinate with other devices or simply love the way it looks, consumers throughout the Americas can add a black Wii console with matching black Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to their home entertainment lineup. Additional black controllers and accessories can be purchased separately.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to get one of these and sell my white Wii. It’s a completely unnecessary purchase…but it looks so cool! Anyone else tempted by the color or bundle? You know what they say — one you go black, you never go back!

This Week’s Videogame Releases

Iron Man is set to take on the movie world with his repulsor rays and unibeam, but he’s also saving a few blasts for the realm of videogames. Iron Man 2 comes out this week…for pretty much every platform known to man. PSP owners should keep an eye on Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake; if it’s anything like its PS3 counterpart, it will be a delightfully fun action game that oozes charm. Aside from those two titles, there’s not a lot going on this week.

Any of you buying new games this week? If so, kindly share what’s on your wish list.

Zurg Kicks Ass in Toy Story 3 Trailer

Here’s a cute trailer for the upcoming Toy Story 3 videogame. Buzz and Woody take a backseat in this clip, allowing Zurg — complete with maniacal laughter — to shine. The fake AC/DC music is extremely amusing; you need to hear it if you’re a fan of the band. I’m excited for the movie and interested in the game (the tech looks pretty sweet). How about you guys and gals?

Black Nintendo Wii Coming on May 4, 2010?

It looks like the black Nintendo Wii — you know, the one Nintendo of America said wasn’t coming — will hit stores on May 4, 2010. Kotaku has spotted GameStop flyer that touts a black Wii bundle that includes the ebony console, Wii Motion Plus, and Wii Sports Resort.

I would love a black Wii, simply because I’d enjoy having three black consoles in my entertainment center joined in solidarity. How about you? Are you interested in the ebony (Stevie Wonder) Wii? Or are you down with ivory (Paul McCartney)?

Source

Iron Man 2 Dev Diary: Behind the Music with Lamb of God

The latest Iron Man 2 developer diary tells the story of how Sega and Lamb of God teamed up on the game. Members of the band and the dev team talk about the collaboration between developer/publisher and band. Lamb of God’s single “Hit the Wall” is the game’s official theme song. It’s a cool clip and I hope you check it out!

Coffee Talk #128: Predicting the Rest of This Gen’s Console Wars

In preparation for my interview with EEDAR Jesse Divnich, I wanted you ladies and gents to play analyst for a second. This console generation is roughly halfway over, depending on how long you believe this gen will last. The Nintendo Wii has slaughtered the competition. The Xbox 360 has done very well. The PlayStation 3 had been picking up steam since August 2009. How do you think the rest of this generation will play out?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Big Ben’s suspension, Crystal Bowersox almost quitting American Idol, or RIM being stuck in 2002, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Reminder: please submit your questions for EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich here. He’s cool, smart, and awesome. You should ask him some questions.

In preparation for my interview with EEDAR Jesse Divnich, I wanted you ladies and gents to play analyst for a second. This console generation is roughly halfway over, depending on how long you believe this gen will last. The Nintendo Wii has slaughtered the competition. The Xbox 360 has done very well. The PlayStation 3 had been picking up steam since August 2009. How do you think the rest of this generation will play out?

Will Nintendo be able to sustain its ridiculous momentum? If not, will it still be able to edge out the others? Will Natal give Xbox 360 a boost in the casual market? Will the PlayStation 3 be able to do the same with PS Move? Do you think Sony can catch Microsoft?

Let your opinions fly (please) and predict the rest of this generation’s console wars!