Archive for November, 2008:
Wanted - New Trailer - Wanted - Trailer 1
The Wanted video game will feature intense third-person action, taking combat to a new level.
Watch it
Batman: Arkham Asylum - New Trailer - Batman: Arkham Asylum - Teaser
A dark, action packed videogame adventure.
Eiji Aonuma Looks Back at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for 10th Anniversary
Yesterday marked a significant day for many gamers: The North American release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was ten years ago yesterday (with Japan getting it on the 21st and Europe on December 11th). And to celebrate the occasion, people have been… talking. A lot, about this game which still holds the position of highest rated game of all time on GameRankings.
Nintendo Power celebrated in its own way, with a special feature about the revolutionary title which included an interview with system director Eiji Aonuma. A few excerpts from that interview, courtesy of GoNintendo and Nintendo Everything.
Dallas Columnist Says Nintendo Partly at Fault for Developers ‘Not Getting It’
Recently, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime was quoted as telling Forbes “I will be able to say our licensees ‘get it’ when their very best content is on our platform. And with very few exceptions today, that’s not the case.”
However, Victor Godinez of The Dallas Morning News seems to believe that the root of the problem goes a little deeper, and that some of the blame lies with Nintendo:On the surface, it certainly seems odd that the best-selling console in the world doesn’t get the best programming teams.
But I think most game creators got into the industry in the hopes of writing the next Doom or Halo or Command & Conquer and not the next Hannah Montana video game adaptation. So the best game makers gravitate to the consoles that seem to specialize in the kinds of games they like.
Nintendo ‘Battling Outselves and Our Sense of Complacency’
With Nintendo moving Wii consoles hand over fist and leading the way, one has to wonder what they’re really battling, what they find themselves up against. Perhaps their rivals in Sony and Microsoft?
According to Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Denise Kaigler, the idea of “console wars” is one generated by the media; they themselves don’t see the industry in such terms.Have your readers noticed that it’s usually members of the media who love using terms like “console wars.” Like “auto wars” or “cola wars,” they conjure up strange images of corporate titans clashed in some epic battle, or masterminds and their henchmen wringing their hands as they plot world domination. So let’s all take a deep breath and put it into perspective. It’s not a war. It’s entertainment, it’s videogames … it’s fun! — Denise Kaigler, to IGNSo then, is there anything challenging Nintendo right now?The problem with words like “wars” and “winning” is that they imply a sense of finality, an end. Yes, while Wii and Nintendo DS continue to do very well, there’s never going to be a day when Nintendo looks at the sales numbers, kicks back and declares, “well, we’re done.” That’s the challenge and the fun of the video game industry. We must constantly remember to push ourselves to try new things. If there’s a battle going on, it’s with ourselves and our sense of complacency. In this industry, if you think you have everything figured out, that’s when you’re really in trouble.
And as I’ve said before, it’s not up to Nintendo to determine how long we will be in this position. That’s the job of consumers, the people who buy and play our games. All we can do is try to keep pushing the envelope, whether it’s experimenting with new kinds of games, developing new experiences or finding ways to draw new players into this form of entertainment that you and I enjoy so much. — Denise Kaigler, to IGNSo there you have it: Nintendo’s greatest potential challenge is Nintendo itself.
WiiWare Space to be Invaded as Space Invaders Get Even on Monday
Does anyone know what Space Invaders have in common with EA’s All-Play Wii athletes?
They don’t get mad.
Does anyone know what the difference between the two is?
Space Invaders? They’re getting even.
Square Enix and their subsidiary of Taito are bringing the new WiiWare-exclusive semi-sequel of the classic arcade title to the service next Monday:The game, announced earlier this year exclusively for the Wii’s downloadable game service, puts players on the invading side in a war against Earth’s defense forces.
Space Invaders Get Even will hit WiiWare on December 1 capping off the Space Invaders 30th anniversary product flood. While a price point wasn’t provided for the standard edition of the four mission-long game, Square Enix did let us know that three mission packs will be released in the future for 500 Wii Points each. Yes, this is starting to sound like an expensive game, in the Square Enix WiiWare fashion.
Why EA’s Wii All-Play Athletes are So Damn Happy
What is it that sets EA’s “All-Play” sports titles for the Wii apart from their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 contemporaries? Could it be the motion controls? The less-powerful hardware? The lack of HD output? Well, yeah, sure…
Or could it be that the cover of every EA “All-Play” sports title for the Wii features the athletes… smiling? A creepy, unnerving grin which eats straight to your very soul… or maybe just makes you want to say “why so serious? It’s just a game, let’s have some fun!”
…right before you start asking people if they want to hear the story of how you got those scars…
Prince of Persia - New Trailer - Prince of Persia - Trailer 4
A new chapter in the legendary franchise to debut towards the end of 2008.