Wagglefest

Can Nintendo Win E3?

2010-06-09T00:47:00.001-04:00

With the video game industry's biggest trade show, The Electronic Entertainment Expo, just a week away, the rumor mill is abuzz. After dominating game console sales for approximately 3 & 1/2 years, Nintendo's "little white box that could" will be directly challenged by Microsoft and Sony's own motion control devices. Adding further fuel to the fire, Steve Jobs' recent proclamation that the iPone is a gaming device, doesn't enhance things for Nintendo's popular, but aging DS portable. We're left to ask, will Zelda and the rumored glasses-free 3-D portable be enough to keep their strangle hold on the console race?

After 2 consecutive years of lackluster presentations including 2008's "Wii Music" debacle, Nintendo may come out swinging. The recent May release of "Super Mario Galaxy 2" marks the rare third appearance of a main Mario entry in a single console's lifespan. This hasn't happened since the days of the NES, so I suspect Nintendo has a few tricks up their sleeve. Furthermore, the company has only used an hour for previous E3 presentations so the move to 2 hours hints to something big. A far-fetched prediction would be a new hi-def console, but with the Wii still making money hand over fist, its unlikely. Instead, expect the 2nd half of the year to be loaded with huge titles from popular franchises including Zelda, possibly a Star Fox reboot, or even a new Donkey Kong game. We may see new peripherals or better yet, a practical use for The Vitality Sensor. Maybe an operating system overhaul that streamlines shopping and a better integrated online experience. The latter is wishful thinking, but with Apple in their cross hairs, you never know.

On the portable front, it's completely feasible that the 3DS, the codename for the DS successor, could steal the show. The system promises 3D visuals without the need for glasses, and if anything, the blockbuster "Avatar" has proven that people love their 3D. Although not much is known, popular website IGN has stated that anonymous developers claim the system is as powerful as the PS3 and 360. It will be interesting to see if this holds true considering Nintendo's choices with the Wii's tech.

At any rate, we will find out the future and possible fates of all three companies in just a few days. Nintendo will be streaming their entire presentation online at e3.nintendo.com. It begins at 9 AM Pacific time on Tuesday, June 15th. I'll be closely watching. Hopefully, you will too.

Great Times....

2010-02-25T08:25:00.002-05:00

So I called it!!! With Nintendo revealing that both Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M will be releasing this Spring/Summer, Zelda will definitely be coming this holiday season. I can't see anything else realistically happening.

More importantly, 2010 is proving to be an incredible year for Wii owners. We start January with Tatsunoko and NMH2. Although February doesn't have any high profile titles, March sees the release of Red Steel 2, followed by Monster Hunter Tri in April, Galaxy 2 in May, and Metroid in June!!! WHOA!!! That's pretty serious considering March is filled with great WiiWare releases like Mega Man 10 and Max and the Magic Marker.

Great times indeed. I'm excited to see what the 2nd have of the year have to offer

Getting Into Their Stride...

2010-01-28T04:58:00.002-05:00

This week has been a huge week with the release of 2 top tier titles dropping on the same day for the Wii. We had Tatsunoko vs Capcom and NMH2, which both have Metacritic scores of 86 and 89 respectively. It finally seems that some developers have found their comfort zone where they are not only utilizing the Wii's capabilities, but are also putting out quality content. It's only taken 3 & 1/2 years, but here's why this may be Wii's best year yet.

1. It's the year of the sequel
Ok '08 brought us Smash, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit, but other than those heavy hitters from the Big N, there wasn't much else. Sure de Blob and Boom Blox were fantastic and there were a few other gems, but it felt empty from the 3rd party side overall. 2009 was much better with games like Mad World, Punch Out, EA's motion plus efforts, and even the Nintendo's own NSMB, but it still felt blah blah blah. The games releasing this year benefit because developers simply have better knowledge of the hardware for their sequels. If all the glowing reviews are correct, No More Heroes 2 is a more polished, focused, and prettier experience than the first. The same will probably be said for Red Steel 2 as well as Super Mario Galaxy 2, which would collectively represent 3 of the console's more notable exclusives. If Travis Touchdown's 2nd run in Santa Destroy is an early indictation of what's to come, we're in for a fantastic year.

2. They're finally coming out
There are only a few Wii games that have had significant development cycles and they'll finally hit store shelves including the aforementioned Red Steel sequel, Montser Hunter, and a few others. Thank goodness. It's great to see Tatsunoko make it to the West with improvements. It's promising to think Warren Spector wants to outdo Nintendo with Epic Mickey. It's amazing to see quality WiiWare games finally come out at a partially decent rate with some heavy hitters like Cave Story still around the corner. Not to mention, there must be some surprises we're unaware of. (I personally think Capcom is going to unveil a Wii version of Lost Planet running on the RE4 engine, but that's my guess) It's a good time to be a Wii owner.

3. Could it be true
Ok, it may not happen, but maybe we're in some weird Twilight Zone episode where 2010 will see the pillars of Nintendo iconography come together and cause one huge Nintendorgasm. That's right...the megaton. Could Zelda, Metroid, and Mario all be released in the same year? Maybe not, but we'll almost positively get 2 out of the 3which is still epic. Even if the odds are against us, with solid releases early in the year, some highly anticipated titles mid year, and the promise of some popular N franchises, we'll be great.

Here's to hoping I'm right, and that NBA Jam Wii becomes a system seller for old school players. I've always thought that Nintendo should have used the VC as a serious selling point and marketed it more heavily in TV campaigns. We're all suckers for nostalgia, and I'm sure they could have sold more units off the service alone. However, that's a post for another day. Either way, I'm happy developers better understand the "arcade" approach to Wii and are finally providing quality product consistently. I can't remember the last time I was conflicted between 2 great Wii titles because they came out around the same time.

Random Wii Thoughts.......

2010-01-25T02:17:00.004-05:00

-it's been a long time since I posted anything
-2009 was a good year for Wii, but 2010 has me really excited
-I still haven't purchased Dead Space, Muramasa, or King's Story: EPIC FAIL!!!
-I will get Tatsunoko and NMH2 very soon though
-I haven't been this excited about 2 games in a long time
-Rubik's Galaxy Rush for WiiWare is an incredible puzzle game especially at $6
-I've been impressed by WiiWare lately, and can't wait for Max and the Magic Marker
-I still haven't beaten the Conduit; I rarely played it honestly
-I was briefly addicted to Grand Slam Tennis
-I feel like developers have finally gotten what works on Wii; not mini games, but arcade style games
-I canNOT wait for NBA Jam Wii...EA don't disappoint
-it's about time we get a decent basketball game
-I purchased Final Fight 3 on VC and was disappointed, but what did I expect ..
-I also purchased SF Alpha 2 and was impressed despite the loading
-does anyone still purchase strategy guides since we can find everything online
-I actually purchased the Twilight Princess Hardcover strategy guide b/c I thought it was cool
I don't have anything else game related to say...

Have I ever been slacking..........

2009-10-14T01:14:00.002-04:00

time to get back on my A-game. It's been a while, but I have reviews of old games, vids on new ones, and just my general insights coming. So please stay tunes. BTW, Grand Slam Tennis is awesome.

It Is Time To Get More Excited...NMH2!!!!

2009-05-29T11:42:00.004-04:00

From the trailer, you see new animations for Travis including something that looks like the "pro hop" (from NBA Live 05), new baddies to kill, new environments that include a cemetery, a prison, & what seems to be a college campus, and FINALLY dual wielding weapons. WOW!!!!!!!!!! This makes me very happy

More No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle Info

I Must Admit, I'm Excited For Dead Space Now

2009-05-28T13:56:00.001-04:00

Just look at the Walkthrough posted by IGN....it looks really promising

Dead Space Extraction at IGN.com

WOW!!!!! I'm Excited

2009-05-27T00:49:00.008-04:00

I know the Conduit isn't out yet, but I've been following all the coverage the game has been getting since IGN spilled the beans. In certain respects, the game looks amazing, but the environments have always looked a little too geometric and bland for my taste. Either way, I'll support the game because its something new, and it looks promising. I will say though that IGN recently revealed High Voltage's 2 new Wii titles, Gladiator A.D & The Grinder, and they look amazing.

Okay, so this compounded by Famitsu's new No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle scans, which I saw via GoNintendo, leaves me having a Nintedorgasm!!! Really at this point, if The Big N does anything even remotely noteworthy at E3, I'll fall to my knees, bow, and pay homage.

I really get the feeling that this and next year are the years when 3rd parties get their acts together and deliver great content. I'm already excited for Grad Slam Tennis, and I hope Wii Motion Plus delivers on Nintendo's original promise of immersion. Long story short, I feel really good. There are literally too many good games to get, and we're only 1/2 way into the year.

Oh, I forgot Tatsunoko is being localized.....GREAT TIMES Nintendo fans...GREAT TIMES!!

What If Nintendo...

2009-05-12T16:45:00.004-04:00

It just dawned upon me that we've already seen the release of Pikmin, Mario Tennis, and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat with "New Play Controls". We definitely know the Prime series is on its way, but what if the big N decided to make fanboys around the world happy? What if they released... now wait for the megaton, Legend of Zelda: Windwaker NPC, but with motion plus compatibility?

I know for many it wouldn't be that huge of a deal because it would be a simple re-release, but with the inclusion of motion plus, it could be a glimpse into the future of the Zelda franchise. I kinda, but vaguely remember hearing many years ago that they excluded a few dungeons in the game. What if they included those? Wouldn't the promise of 1:1 sword fighting and new dungeons be enough to drive fanboys nuts? Of course it would. Wouldn't it be fantastic for Nintendo to even pack in Wii Motion Plus if they decided to re-release the game because it could really serve as a demo for the tech in the same way they used Metroid Prime to show off the Wii remote? Even better, they could put it out during the holiday season alongside the DS's "Spirit Tracks" title, and market them side by side. Just imagine, 2 Zelda games, 2 different platforms, 1 holiday season. Nintendorgasmic!!! LOL

I know this is all just wishful thinking because Nintendo rarely does what would seem logical at times, but its good to hope. With E3 around the corner, you never know what surprises are coming our way, but I do know that Nintendo will try to appease the "core" after last year's lackluster showing. Anyway, just my thoughts...

Epic Fail Vol. 2

2009-05-08T00:05:00.005-04:00

.......and the prestigious award goes to none other than Namco Bandai. Why, you may ask? To put it simply, the same company that Nintendo once outsourced to produce a 1st party title (Starfox Assault back on the GCN) has once again slapped us in the face. Not only did they blatantly diss us when they chose to not bring Soulcalibur 3 to the Cube, despite its predecessor selling most on the big N's last gen console, but they are giving the PSP a full fledged fighting game in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny. How utterly disrespectful. We got Soulcalibur Legends, which based on Metacritic's score, was a critical failure. According to VGChatz, it was also a commercial failure. Problem is, they shouldn't have given us a spin off, but our own fighting game. The Wii was already on its way to being market leader, but this is how they treat us.

Okay, here's my other fear; they'll probably decide to port the PSP game over to Wii. Thing is, its very likely to happen, because many companies do it already. If this does happen, I'll be really upset.

In conclusion...here's a big, humongous, gigantic, gargantuan, middle finger you to the house that Pac Man built, Namco Bandai, for treating Nintendo owners like garbage. I genuinely hope you appreciate being the 2nd recipient of the coveted Epic Fail Award.

... And The Hype Train Starts

2009-03-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

New Punch Out Footage

2009-03-26T11:40:00.006-04:00

Punch-Out!! Wii 'Disco Kid' gameplay

Punch-Out!! Wii 'Von Kaiser' gameplay

Slightly Disappoineted/Moderately Excited

2009-03-12T13:38:00.005-04:00

We knew it was coming, but I wish we would have gotten a full game running on the RE4 Wii edition. It is too much to ask to have a game from the main series' cannon on the Wii? Really? Is it? Here's to hoping they give us one before the Wii's life cycle is over. Umbrella Chronicles was cool, but it definitely wasn't my favorite light gun game. Either way...VOILA!!! The new Resident Evil trailer

MadWorld Video Reviews

2009-03-12T11:10:00.002-04:00

EA's Grand Slam Tennis

2009-03-12T09:57:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty excited for this one. I think it may have some serious potential.

ExciteBOTS Debut Trailer

2009-03-11T20:21:00.002-04:00

I loved Excite Truck, but not quite sure how I feel about this one just yet. I'm pretty sure it will be good, but certain things like the soccer ball and bowling pins throw me off a bit. Hopefully it'll be just for mini-games

Incredible!!!

2009-03-11T20:16:00.000-04:00

New Conduit Trailer

2009-03-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

New Boom Blox Trailer

2009-03-07T08:07:00.001-05:00

New Guitar Hero

2009-03-06T11:31:00.006-05:00

... and I can't wait. I never had the opportunity to play the 1st installment of the series, and it wasn't until earlier this week that I played Guitar Hero 2. So now there's a compilation featuring the best songs from the previous games which can be played by a band. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a Nintendo loyalist, but at least we have the #1 selling console, so we'll never be neglected again. As long as "My Name Is Jonas", "When We Were Young" and "Miss Murder" make the track list, I'll be happy.

MadWorld Commercial

2009-03-05T22:56:00.001-05:00

My Reviews : House of the Dead : Overkill

2009-03-04T01:06:00.006-05:00

Just as the instruction booklet explicitly stated, I vowed to not "comment" until I had beaten Director's Cut mode. So I have, and I can safely say, this game is fantastic. By now you've probably read reviews somewhere else and already heard about the game's shortcomings. So yes, there is some occasional slowdown and I even encountered some shooting issues when playing with 2 players, but this game rocks!!

Here's a simple run down.. The game has gratuitous cussing, laugh out loud dialogue, an over the top storyline that borders on incoherent, while managing to be the MOST enjoyable light gun shooter I've played on Wii. The graphics are good, really good in fact. The zomb..mutant models are fantastic, and the body dismemberment is so enjoyable to watch. There is nothing better than triggering slow-mo, and watching limbs fly at you; its utterly hilarious and satisfying. The movie filter gives it a great feel, and the soundtrack is one of the most fitting for any game I've played. Even the song lyrics are over the top, but they capture the vibe which they pay homage to so well. The presentation is legitimately top notch, and everything from navigating menus to volume adjustment is implemented well. However, I wish the Carnival and Lake stages weren't so dark because I had trouble seeing some enemies. I also think pre-rendered cut scenes would have been better because the in game graphics are far superior than those in the cut scenes...but that's my opinion. Other than that, the game is an absolute blast to play.

So here's what it really boils down to: gameplay and fun factor. The game works! You point at the screen and shoot the hell out of hordes of "mutants". It does what its supposed to very well. Ultimately what hooked me beyond everything else is the replayability. I loved Ghost Squad, but even that doesn't hold a candle to this game. You are given incentive to play over and over, and it never gets stale. I swear I have played the hospital stage (which is my favorite) countless times in an attempt to maintain a "Goregasm", which is achieved by consecutive kills without being hit, through the entire stage. Little touches like seeing that flag wave in the upper left corner of my TV keeps me coming back. I wish I had the testimonials of the men & women who are not even Nintendo purists like myself, that fought to play the game damn near all weekend. The game is fun, and I can't stress that enough. Its enjoyable beyond anything I imagined, and I was excited for this one. I applaud Headstrong and Sega for literally crafting a game that I can see myself playing for a really long time. Just to reiterate, I own Link's Crossbow Training, HOTD Return, Ghost Squad, and Umbrella Chronicles, but none.. and I mean none of them are as enjoyable as this. If you like on rail shooters, you'll be impressed. True Story!!

My Score: 8.6/10

More Mad World Goodness

2009-02-28T01:05:00.000-05:00

courtesy of IGN

Punch-Out!!! Box Art

2009-02-27T12:49:00.002-05:00

I like this ... think its pretty cool

Platinum Games (Mad World) Studio Tour

2009-02-27T12:01:00.001-05:00

I'm too excited for this game

New Classic Controller

2009-02-27T11:53:00.002-05:00

I doubt I'd be investing my money since I already own 2, but it looks alright

Its Been A While

2009-02-27T11:52:00.001-05:00

Tons of stuff to catch up on, including my review of House of the Dead

Mario & Sonic...Now At The Winter Olympics

2009-02-14T01:55:00.003-05:00

I never played the first, and I heard I was okay. Hopefully they improve on what seemed to be a solid engine, and make an even better title.

House of The Dead Review

2009-02-14T01:49:00.003-05:00

courtesy of X-Play & Gamespot

OMG!!! Mad World Is The TRUTH!!!!

2009-02-14T01:45:00.000-05:00

So I Was Right....

2009-02-14T01:42:00.003-05:00

My prediction of Dead Space coming to Wii was on the money. I can't take the credit, as Matt, of IGN, hinted at it and I simply put the puzzle pieces together. Either way, here's some interesting footage of the game which was originally built for the Xbox. Hopefully, we can expect something like this on the Wii

Mad World Media Blowout - Comic Con 09

2009-02-07T21:23:00.005-05:00

Imports via Chris Kohler

2009-02-04T16:19:00.002-05:00

Oh Goodness Gracious......

2009-01-30T15:31:00.005-05:00

Damn you Don King Boxing!! I wasn't excited for this game on ANY level. After the other versions came out and completely dropped the ball, I lost any hope for the Wii version. Now we have this new trailers, and some really fugly screens...

Secondly, as a Hip-Hop fan, who in the world chose that awful song for the trailer? Now I'm not knocking the artist or their work, but I will say that the song doesn't complement the mood or feel for a boxing video game. C'mon 2K, you could have done alot better. Especially considering how awesome the GTA soundtracks are.

I don't have high expectations for this one. Unless the game plays flawlessly, which I doubt it will, I'm writing it off. The game was announced a long time ago, and only now we are getting screens and trailers. I think I know what that means.

New Mad World Trailer

2009-01-30T15:25:00.001-05:00

This is HILARIOUS!!!

Boom Blox 2 Is Coming

2009-01-29T13:40:00.004-05:00

This is GREAT news!!! The 1st game was a blast to play, and I loved making stages. I can only imagine how the sequel will be better.

Hmmmmmmmm..?? Dead Space Wii?

2009-01-28T21:15:00.008-05:00

Is it me or is IGN's Matt Casamassina hinting that EA will be bringing Dead Space to the Wii? After listening to their podcast yesterday, it sure sounded like it. Maybe I'm wrong....who knows. I do remember reading somewhere that EA is committed to bringing core games and franchises to the Wii, and this seems like the perfect franchise. Hell, they can even use the RE4 engine, which I believe Capcom was making available to other developers.

Exhibit A: Here's what he said...
"We keep saying like look out for major IPs from some publishers. Check our "prediction piece" and if you look at my top 10 games for the year, you can start piecing together."

Exhibit B: An excerpt from their "prediction piece"
"EA will reveal a few titles that'll please gamers who aren't looking for wimpy games on the Nintendo console. Gritty games aren't just for the Xbox and PS3 crowd, and EA will make sure Wii owners get their intense experience too"

Exhibit C: Matt's # 1 of 2008
Dead Space....Boyaa!!!

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but if there were ever a game that could be made on Wii using the RE4 engine, it would be Dead Space.

What do you think? Huh?

Making Of House of The Dead: Pt. 1 & 2

2009-01-28T16:15:00.004-05:00

....And It Lives

2009-01-28T15:59:00.004-05:00

but I'm not impressed. The characters look very low poly. By no means am I a poly whore, but I swear Square's PS2 efforts 4 years ago looked better. I don't think its ugly, it just isn't as good as I would have expected. Some of the environments looks cool, and the play mechanics, from what I can gather, seem alright, but overall...BLAH!!

Am I The Only Person Excited For Ready to Rumble?

2009-01-27T16:35:00.006-05:00

I would not discount this game just yet, and my reason is simple. So simple in fact, it can be summed up in 3 letters: AKI. If you are unfamiliar, they are the company behind what many consider the best fighting/wrestling engine out there. They're responsible for all the classic N64 grapplers like WCW Revenge, Wrestlemania 2000, and No Mercy. Last generation, EA's Def Jam games used it, and were successes. Knowing that AKI's involved, I'm cautiously optimistic, if not not out right excited. Check out the videos from Gametrailers

Who Says Wii Titles Don't Sell?

2009-01-27T16:23:00.005-05:00

According to IGN, Ubisoft's Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip has moved close to half a million units since its release mid November. Publishers always claim that only Nintendo titles sell on the console, but they neglect the fact that they make good games, and market them well. I think Ubisoft did a good job in marketing the title, and because of it, they found an audience. Most importantly, they didn't half ass the game like most of their Wii efforts. Their strategy for approaching the multi-platform title was well executed, and obviously paid off. Instead of trying to downgrade a port of the other versions, they took the high road (forgive the pun) and created something that would resonate with Wii owners. Congrats. I hope you've learned something from this and apply it to your future Wii titles Ubisoft.

The Game Looks Okay...

2009-01-27T16:16:00.004-05:00

I may have prematurely written this one off, but EA may be on to something with this NASCAR Kart racing game. Check out the trailer.... doesn't look too bad

Mad World Previews

2009-01-15T23:40:00.003-05:00

So the previews are coming from all of the major outlets, and they all seem very positive. Well I have a lot of faith in Platinum games, formerly Clover studios. They've made incredible games in the past such as Viewtiful Joe and Okami, and expect nothing less from this game. Check out the previews.

IGN
1up
Gamespot

Incredible Conduit Videos

2009-01-15T23:36:00.003-05:00

courtesy of IGN

Dear Capcom,

2009-01-09T16:41:00.007-05:00

Over the years you have been easily one of my favorite publishers and development houses. Since the days of the SNES, if your name was attached to a game, I trusted it would be of high quality. I've even purchased Street Fighter numerous times over whether on virtual console or on compilations. I've purchased almost every one to touch a Nintendo console except Alpha 2, which you should bring on the VC soon, including the 3 SNES games, the 2 GBA games, 1 Cube game, and 2 PS2 compilations. Point is, please....pretty please, figure out a way to bring Tatsunoko over. Why go through the headache of creating a game that will be limited to only a certain region. I thought the focus of all businesses were the "bottom line" which should make you reconsider your strategy and bring the game stateside.

Furthermore, one of my most beloved franchises, Final Fight, has been thrown to the waste side. Here's another game I've purchased numerous time over. Here's a suggestion. Why don't you create a true sequel? You know, numero quatro. Just imagine a game that used the Alpha sprites, as you did in the GBA game, but with 4 player multiplayer for Wii Ware. You could even possibly go for 3d models but have 2d gameplay. I think the world needs another great beat'em up, and you can provide this. Just recently, you pointed out how many of your games were on Xbox Live's top 20, but did you notice what the number one game was? Castle Crashers.... a multiplayer beat'em up. Considering you don't do much for Wii Ware, this could be the perfect opportunity. Please....pretty please, answer my prayers to do a spinning piledriver in a simple 2 button combo sequence.

If you doubt how many games I've owned from your comapny, here's a brief rundown.

Super Ghouls and Ghosts- SNES
Aladdin -SNES
Street Fighter 2 - SNES
Street Fighter 2 Turbo - SNES
Super Street Fighter 2 - SNES
Final Fight - SNES
Final Fight 2 -SNES
Devil May Cry - PS2
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection -PS2
Capcom Classics Vol. 1 - PS2
Marvel vs Capcom 2 - PS2
PN03 - Cube
Viewtiful Joe -Cube
Viewtiful Joe 2-Cube
Resident Evil 0 - Cube
Resident Evil -Cube
Resident Evil 4 - Cube
Capcom vs Snk 2 - Cube
Megaman Anniversary Collection - Cube
Killer 7 - Cube
Final Fight One -GBA
Megaman & Bass -GBA
Super Street Fighter 2 Revival -GBA
Street Fighter Alp[ha 3 -GBA
Megaman ZX -GBA
Power Stone -DreamCast
Resident Evil 4 - Wii
Zack & Wiki - Wii
Okami -Wii
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles -Wii
... and more I've probably forgotten.

I would hope this accounts for something.

-sincerely a huge fan & loyal customer, despite the BS ports on Wii
The Incomparable Shakespeare

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

2009-01-06T19:36:00.002-05:00

So EGM is officially no more...its a sad day. I grew up reading this mag, and believed it to be the most reliable and unbiased source for gaming. Whether it was Sushi-X's rumors or the editorials, this mag helped turn me into the game fiend/nerd I am today. Farewell. You will be missed.

Epic Fail 1: Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop

2009-01-06T12:39:00.008-05:00

Okay, I'm no game developer or programmer, but I'm smart enough to know that Capcom's approach is all wrong here. So I was on Gamasutra, and Minoru Nakai, producer of Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop, had this to say in an interview. Please bear in mind these are only excerpts, and it is advised you read the entire interview.

Did you work on the original 360 version of the game?

MN: I did not participate in the original.

How in the world do you have someone produce a game that wasn't involved with it from conception. As a recording artist, that's comparable to having a songwriter giving their song to a stranger. Something will ultimately be lost in translation. That's mistake number 1, and this is why the game will likely to fail.

On one hand, a Wii game should have very Wii-like controls and be very fun to play -- but on the other hand, Dead Rising was originally designed to be played with button presses, which are more precise and faster. Can you talk about how you were able to change the controls and still make the game feel accurate and fun to play?

MN: Last time, with the Xbox 360, we had buttons, and it was very complex. Of course, you could do whatever you wanted at the press of a button, but the controls were very difficult, so they were really more for hardcore users.

For casual gamers, we wanted it to be easier to understand and easier to use, so of course, even hardcore gamers will be able to point and do whatever they want to do very quickly, but this also makes it more accessible for the casual users.

OMG. What don't you get about it Capcom? Now granted this is just my opinion, but if you really believe "casuals" are going to buy this title, you're wrong. You simply can't assume a tile which has hardcore and graphic themes will appeal to "casual gamers". I'm pretty Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition didn't move too many copies across that demographic. The people playing this are not the same folks buying Carnival Games. Despite sharing shelf space, basic marketing should have taught you enough about segmentation to know that the audiences are radically different. We don't need commercials of families sitting around in the living room playing Dead Rising...it's not real. Develop and market the game for its intended audience. If you pour enough love into it, maybe it will surprise you in sales. Stop downgrading existing titles in an attempt to find market share. EPIC FAIL!!!!

I really hope this game turns out better than I anticipate because right now, its future seems bleak.

This Game Needs to Come to the US

2008-12-23T03:49:00.002-05:00

Here's the tournament courtesy of the great folks over at 1up

New House of the Dead: Overkill Videos

2008-12-20T02:13:00.003-05:00

courtesy of IGN. Be sure to read Bozon's preview.

Instrument Compatibilty CONFIRMED!!!!

2008-12-16T01:17:00.011-05:00

So I saw this apology letter from Harmonix over at GoNintendo where they basically admit to messing up for releasing Rock Band 2 on Wii so late. I'd admit to making a mistake as well after seeing Guitar Hero: World Tour sell close to 500k on Wii in a month. Regardless, the important thing to note is that this "apology letter" confirms that the game is compatible with other instruments. YAY!!! Another point of interest is the claim that "our DLC catalog (will work seamlessly with an SD card)". I hope this means we can run songs off an SD card similar to how you can in World Tour. If so; automatic purchase. If not, I'm gonna have rotten food in "my fridge".

Coincidentally, Jeremy Parish of 1up & Wired fame, also did a piece on this. You can check it out HERE.

Club Nintendo

2008-12-16T01:12:00.005-05:00

is officially up, but having tons of problems. So I've transferred my account over, but I don't have any coins despite having quite a few registered games. I'll wait a few days, weeks even, in the hopes that this is rectified. I highly doubt Nintendo would screw over their loyal fans. Ninty.... I hope you're listening. I WANT MY FREE STUFF!!

Conduit Preview

2008-12-16T00:10:00.002-05:00

courtesy of the good folks at X-Play

Wii Gaming Moment of '08 (SPOILER ALERT)

2008-12-15T16:22:00.006-05:00

I don't care what anyone says, but when I discovered this I laughed hysterically. This was easily the most memorable moment from any game I played this year...
In the event you haven't purchased No More Heroes yet, please do, its an incredible game.

New Mad World Trailer

2008-12-15T16:02:00.014-05:00

If Sega were smart, they'd do commercials in the same vein as this trailer. It would be utterly hilarious, and simultaneously get people unfamiliar with the title excited. You know the saying, "less is more". By hiding the violence, people will naturally want to see what's actually going on.

Ghostbuster Wii Footage

2008-12-13T20:49:00.001-05:00

This has actually piqued my interest for the game. It looks much more promising than I expected.

It's Here...

2008-12-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

My video game blog, and its dedicated to my system of choice, The Wii. Be mad haters...be very mad