Tag: Wii

Wii 2 Controller Sounds Insane (in the Membrane)

Kotaku’s Stephen Totilo posted a ton of (rumored) details on the controller for the Wii 2. I really don’t know what to make of it. The controller sounds strange and unusual, but in a very different way than the Wiimote. When Nintendo announced plans for the Wii, I had an idea of what the controller could do and the type of fun it could lead to. The Wii 2 controller sounds a bit…insane:

Its main controller, as rumored, will include a touchscreen, two analog sticks and a camera, we’ve confirmed with our own games industry sources who are familiar with Nintendo’s plans for the machine.

That new controller’s screen will measure 6.2 inches and the controller will also include eight buttons.

I enjoy the simplicity and direct connection of touch controls. I also enjoy the complexity of having multiple buttons. That said, I’m having a hard time blending these two (very) different input methods. Of course it wouldn’t surprise me if Shigeru Miyamoto made a game that made the controller seem brilliant. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the controller was only used in an interesting way in first-party games developed by Nintendo.

What do you make of the Wii 2’s controller?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

While it’s not quite as bone dry as last week, there aren’t a ton of interesting games out this week. I’m curious to see how Michael Jackson: The Experience sells. The King of Pop is gone (rest in peace), but his family is still around to exploit his name. I wonder if Michael’s millions of fans will pick this game up. PSP gamers have a nice sequel (that’s free of Jesus juice) to gobble up this week in Patapon 3.

Any of you guys and gals buying new games this week?

PS3 Overtakes Xbox 360 in Global Sales

Strategy Analytics claims that Sony’s PlayStation 3 has overtaken Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in terms of worldwide installed base. The company’s numbers include sales up until the end of 2010. Here are more details from Gamasutra:

According to the company’s data, the Nintendo Wii continues to enjoy the world’s largest install base with 75.5 million active units worldwide, but the active install base of PS3s reached 43.4 million at the close of 2010 versus Xbox 360’s 42.9.

There are a few things to keep in mind. In America, the Xbox 360 still has a healthy lead over PlayStation 3. Microsoft’s sales have been strong — perhaps surprisingly so — since the release of its Kinect motion controller. While this data set shows the PS3 taking the lead, the Xbox 360 arguably has more momentum.

What do you guys and dolls think of these numbers. Also, “Flame on!!!” and, “Fore!!!”

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

It’s a pretty huge week in the videogame business. The Nintendo 3DS launched and is selling briskly, though it’s not nearly as hard to find as the Nintendo Wii was during launch week. Wrestling fans that want to set up dream matches pitting current WWE Superstars against old-school wrestlers will want to pick up WWE All Stars. As much as I’ll enjoy the gameplay, I think my favorite part will be hearing Jim Ross’ commentary. Racing fans have two styles of automotive action to choose from in Shift 2 and NASCAR The Game 2011. If you prefer motorcycles over cars then you might dig MotoGP 10/11. Fans of adulterers and golf will have a blast with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters. Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky looks like a great old-school RPG.

Last, but not least, is a PSP game that I’m incredibly psyched for: The 3rd Birthday. As a Parasite Eve fan, I’m really looking forward to Aya Brea’s next adventure.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are lots of interesting games dropping this week, spanning a wide variety of genres. I’ve really gotten into this season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, so I’m curious about LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. Graphics whores will want to keep an eye on Crysis 2. Koei is at it again with Dynasty Warriors 7. Do you miss Lara Croft? Well you can relive her greatest adventures in Tomb Raider Trilogy. Square Enix continues its quietly strong Q1 with Dissidia 012 [Duodecim] — it’s always cool to see characters from different Final Fantasy games hanging out together.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

March continues to come in like a lion with a number of strong videogame releases. THQ has high hopes for Homefront and is dropping a ton of marketing dollars on this action game. Yakuza 4 will appeal to gamers that want to spend some time in the world of Japanese organized crime. Top Spin 4 adds motion controls to 2K’s long running tennis series. Warriors: Legends of Troy is like Samurai Warriors, but with men in leather skirts and sandals. Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel adds another installment to this quirky Japanese RPG series. Gods Eater Burst is one of my favorite videogame names in a long, long time — it’s just awesomely weird.

I’m still kicking around Kirkwall in Dragon Age 2, so I’m good for a bit. How about you? Any of you picking up new games this week?

Check Out My Review of De Blob 2 (Please)

If you have a moment, please head on over to Machinima.com and check out my review of De Blob 2. The original was cool and full of potential. The sequel made some improvements, but also took several steps back. I’m going to guess that the publisher didn’t give the developer enough time and/or money to make the game great. There are just too many design flaws that detract from the lovely music and sound. Now it’s time to quote myself:

I wanted to love De Blob 2. I’m a huge fan of the game’s art and setting. Sadly, its targeting and save point distribution make it tough to recommend for all gamers. If you’re a highly skilled player that loves a challenge then you might be able to look past the game’s artificial difficulty. If you play like most mere mortals then the moments of joy you experience will be negated by moments of frustration. With a few more months in the oven, this game could have turned out great. Instead, it’s just conditionally good. It’s such a shame because the highs are really good. It’s just that the lows will probably cause most gamers to break things.

If you have time, head on over and leave a comment (please)!

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

So many great games out this week!!! Leading the way are Pokemon Black/White and Dragon Age II. But wait! There’s more!!! Baseball fans have Major League Baseball 2K11 and MLB 11 The Show to keep them happy until opening day. Whether it’s catching imaginary animals and giving them the Michael Vick treatment, swords and sorcery, or America’s pastime, there’s a hot game for you.

Any of you guys and gals picking up new games this week?

Junichi Masuda Reveals How New Pokemon Are Born

Eurogamer posted an excellent interview with Game Freak director Junichi Masuda, who has been working on the Pokemon series since the very beginning. Masuda covers many topics, including how new Pokemon are created. Here’s an excerpt:

At first I think of ideas about what kind of play I can include. I consider playing content at first, and then what kinds of new elements I can bring in, and the world and communication aspects.

I bring up all the ideas at first. Then I start to think about what the world will be like. Which region? What town should we have? What type of gym should we have? I start to map the world next.

Once those are fixed I can start to think, so, this gym should have this type of trainer, so we should have this type of Pokemon. Then we start to think about the Pokemon characters.

You might think we always start to think from the Pokemon first, but actually we don’t. We do it in this order.

Now you know how new Pokemon are “born”! Seriously though, Masuda is a very cool guy and I highly recommend checking out this interview.

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What’s Your Favorite Zelda Moment?

25 years ago yesterday, The Legend of Zelda was released in Japan. The game was an instant classic and spawned numerous sequels that have sold millions of copies. It’s arguably the most popular and influential series in adventure games. Similar to how we all discussed our favorite Mario moments for his 25th anniversary, I’d love to hear about your favorite Zelda moments.

As for me, I’m going to go with The Wind Waker knocking it out of the park. So many jaded videogame journalists hated the game’s graphics and unfairly dismissed it based off of its art style. I thought that the art was charming and had no doubt that The Wind Waker would contain classic Zelda gameplay. It also gave me one of my favorite videogame tracks ever (embedded below). I enjoyed watching several of my peers eat crow on this game.

Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite Zelda moment?