Month: August 2006

Ars Technica has debunked the latest round of “leaked specs” for the Nintendo Wii using the tried and true forumla of “Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V.” The specs, leaked by a poster at MaxConsole.net, were really nothing more than what critics of the Wii have said since the beginning: That Nintendo’s next-gen console was an overclocked GameCube with a DVD player. But not so fast. Say...

MSN Money explores the importance of Nintendo first-party titles to the success of the DS and upcoming Wii. From the article: “DS is a game console that has become a mainstream success basically on the back of the software sold by the console provider. In Japan, Nintendo has sold more than 21 million units of DS games — the second-biggest DS software supplier has moved only 2 million u...

Here’s a nice little video showing the responsiveness of the Wiimote. Got me a little more excited for this title. Hoping Activision can deliver.

Ryan’s GoBlog has compiled six reasons why the Wii will be a success: The Wii’s motion sensor device will not be optional Developers will have to cater for the Wiimote The Wii will be a lot cheaper than its competitors The DS has reestablished Nintendo’s credibility Nintendo ain’t just going for the hardcore gamers The Wii will be an online-enabled console What would you ch...

There’s an interesting column at Next Generation about console design and its effect on a system’?s popularity. Since I think Sony’s system looks exactly like the bloated joke that it is, I thought I’?d share my thoughts. After walking us through a history lesson of consoles past (wood-paneled Atari 2600’s anyone?) columnist Eric-Jon Rossel Waugh says console design i...

GameSetWatch writes: “When asked why Miyamoto was attending [a classic nude studies] exhibit, which included more than one portrait which literally included a woman with no clothes on, the seminal creator of the Mario series replied that he found the artwork ‘inspiring’… While there has been no official announcement from Nintendo of Japan, the Internet forums are already ab...

Wired magazine explores the concept of downloadable games and how it might affect the industry. From the article: “Nintendo looks especially poised to benefit from downloadable retro games. At E3, geeks waited in line for hours to play 1991’s Super Mario World on the Wii.” That last line is hilarious. Virtual console and WiiConnect24, here we come! Which are you more excited abou...

Japan + DS = crazy popularity. Gamasutra writes: “According to a report from Japanese newspaper Kyoto Simbun, the Nintendo DS has become the fastest console or handheld ever to sell 10 million units in Japan, taking just 20 months to reach the milestone, an extremely impressive feat for the Kyoto-headquartered firm.” Will the DS ever be as successful world-wide as it is in Japan?

Famitsu, the Japanese gaming mag made infamous for its harsh review scores, has given Star Fox DS a 32/40 (8’s across the board). The solid score could be indicative of a resurgence of this franchise, which has struggled ever since the popular Super FX chip original for the SNES. That said, I’m still on the fence about the control scheme for this game. My wrist and hand are still cramp...

GameWorld Network explores the failed attempts of motion-sensing gaming products in the past as we near closer to the Wii launch later this year. From the article: “I also have to admit that the Wii is different from the examples I used in that it is a console based around a new control scheme as opposed to an optional accessory. But even so, history shows that each time something like this ...

What’s the deal with Tingle? No, I’m not talking about that feeling you get when you use Head and Shoulders, I’m referring to the green guy that has showed up in every Zelda title since The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (he’s even in Super Smash Bros. Melee, in the Termina Stage). Both 1UP and Cubed are reporting that Tingle, the asexual creature spawned in Zelda tit...

From an EA conference call via Gamasutra: “…we have ramped up [game] production for the Wii and DS Lite”, following significant excitement over the Nintendo-created consoles at E3. It revealed that it would probably ship 2 titles for the Wii launch period (Madden and Need For Speed), and 5 titles over the fiscal year ending March 2007. Regarding Wii pricing, EA execs simply comme...