WiiWare games hacked, pirated, and brought to North American Wii's
Only a few weeks after pirates figured out how to install Virtual Console games on their Wiis for free using the Twilight Hack, a clever trick for running unofficial code on an unmodded systems, hackers have expanded their counterfeit offerings to allow bootleg copies of WiiWare titles.
We're not yet sure if online modes are working, but the fact that pirates can install Japanese WiiWare ROMs/WADs on a US system, as shown above with Family Ping Pong, is impressive (and criminal!). Considering how fast the Wii's piracy scene has been moving, someone will likely soon release instructions on how to bypass microtransactions and install downloadable content updates for free, too.
How long will it be before Nintendo steps in to end these shenanigans? Will that mean the end of Wii homebrew, as well? See, this is why we can't have nice things.
Nintendo Announces Worldwide Mario Kart Wii Tournaments
Looks like Nintendo is trying to hype up Mario Kart by sponsoring some tournaments via the Mario Kart Channel. Interesting that the tournaments will have specific rules like having to use certain controls schemes, Matt must be thrilled to hear that the only way he can compete is with his favorite peripheral… the Wii Wheel! Anyone interested in participating let us know.
Bonus points: Check out the picture and name that driver?
Here is the official word:
Quote:
Nintendo has thrown down the gauntlet for Mario Kart® Wii racers worldwide. Now it’s time to see who’s up to the challenge, as players take on the world in Mario Kart Wii Tournaments.
Every few weeks, a new tournament will appear on the Mario Kart Channel, an online feature that not only allows players to compete in tournaments, but also exchange race data with friends. Tournaments might take the form of a challenge for players to race a certain course as fast as they can with specific characters, or to collect a number of coins on a course using the Wii Wheel™ accessory or another control setup. They can feature unique rules or obstacles on the course.
The first tournament, which appears today, directs racers to compete for the fastest time on the Mario Circuit. Look closely though – something may be different. Players can attempt the challenge as often as they like during the duration of the tournament. Their best time will be recorded and added to the worldwide rankings, allowing players to see how they stack up against the best racers from around the world.
11 signs you're no longer a hard-core gamer And that middle-age is fast setting in…
You used to play videogames all night. Your Quake prowess was unmatched; your skills at Command & Conquer unparalleled. You have a gaming history that stretches back beyond the PlayStation generation to the SNES, Megadrive, Amiga and ZX Spectrum. You were there at the dawn of gaming.
Tick-tock... Time passes. You've quietly come to realise that you're not the hard-core gamer you used to be. Even your Xbox 360 Gamertag seems far too 'sensible'. How do you know that a mid-life gaming crisis is setting in? Watch out for these warning signs…
You prefer playing against the computer
Online gaming against real people has become depressing – it exposes your faded, spoon-sharp reflexes and you abhor the trash-talk from 12-year old fanboys. You prefer playing offline against the computer because a game's algorithms are slightly more predictable. And, once you master the scripted patterns of play, you stand a real chance of being good… of actually winning. And that feels great, doesn't it? Ranking second-bottom on a multiplayer leader board doesn't.
You only play when your girlfriend is out
Because you only have one high-def TV and to play videogames on it while she's at home is 'selfish' and not something the two of you can do 'together'.
You believe that winning isn't everything
It's the taking part that counts. Obviously. And that's not because you're not good at games. You are. But you've found that there's more to life than spending five hours every night killing all of the Templars in Assassin’s Creed. The fact that you can't find the last three Templars is irrelevant.
It's been days, not hours since you last switched on your console
Because things keep getting in the way: TV, movies, books, going out to restaurants, shopping, going down the pub, DIY, dinner parties, the gym, more DIY, your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend [delete as applicable]… oh, and having a job.
You’re the oldest person trading in games at GameStation
So you lie about why you’re there. "It’s, ahem, my son's birthday. I'd like to trade these in for Guitar Hero please…"
You like your Xbox 360 and your PS3 equally
Being a more 'mature' gamer means you have more disposable income, so you can afford the luxury of owning a PS3 and an Xbox 360. So you've become the gaming equivalent of the United Nations, calming accepting the virtues of both consoles to the deaf ears of Xbox zealots and Sony fanboys (who simply ignore you and carry on their slanging match regardless). Because when you stare at those side-by-side game comparison shots on CVG, you can't see the difference. Maybe the PS3 palette is lighter… maybe… Of course, your eyesight could be failing…
You fondly remember a ‘golden age’ of gaming
You lament the current glut of videogame sequels and often talk fondly of an innovative 'golden age' of gaming. You remember Manic Miner, good ‘ol Chuckie Egg and the Ultimate games on the ZX Spectrum. You played Sensible Soccer the first time around on the Amiga, Elite on your mate’s BBC B, and finished Sonic The Hedgehog on the Megadrive. Happy days… But when modernised versions of these gaming classics turn up on Xbox Live, your excitement quickly evaporates. You quickly realise that, by today’s standards, those cherished oldies are now shallow, repetitive and not much fun.
You avoid playing on the Wii because it’s too much effort
There's no denying that the Nintendo Wii is a revolutionary games machine but… well, it does require a lot of effort. Aren't there times when you just want to slouch into a comfy sofa with a traditional joypad? Times when you can't be arsed with all that wiimote waving and waggling? It's way too energetic – a 20 minute... [Read More]
IGN has just posted a video that compares both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto IV. They mention that the Xbox 360 version does have more vibrant colors and that the Playstation 3 version has slightly better load times. They also mention that the Playstation 3 version has SIXAXIS support.
Alone in the Dark on Wii Interview Everything you need to know about the Wii version of the game.
We all know that the grand daddy of the survival horror genre – Alone in the Dark – is making a comeback, but most of the focus out there to date has been on the Xbox 360, PC and PS3 versions. But what about the Wii? Granted, Wii owners haven't had much luck with multi-system releases so far, with most ports being average at best, but will Alone in the Dark be different? We got in touch with Maxime Loppin, the Producer of Alone in the Dark Wii at Atari to find out.
IGN AU: For hardcore Wii fans who don't know the series or haven't been following this latest game on other platforms, what can they expect in terms of story and gameplay style?
Maxime Loppin: This is the first Alone in the Dark game coming out on the Wii, however there's no need to have played the previous games in the series on other platforms in order to fully enjoy this new instalment. The story will be the same on all platforms but one main variant will be the game experience as the controls have been specifically created for the Wii.
Just to talk a little about the new Alone in the Dark, we wanted to create a game that would live up to the legacy of innovation of the very first Alone in the Dark which means we wanted to break the constraints of genre and challenge what gamers expect from video games. We did this by creating an experience that's much broader than any one genre with a really rich mix of different gameplay and some bold innovations. We also wanted to create something that told a story in a really exciting and new way. We've created new gameplay which relies on the creativity of the player to create tools and weapons using his environment and the things in it, hence there's a level of interaction you won't see anywhere else based on real world rules.
The corridor of DOOM!
The Wii controls lend themselves perfectly to this form of gameplay and total immersion as the player's movements with the Wii-mote and Nunchuck replicate real-life movements. For example, I enjoy driving on the Wii because it really feels like you are gripping the steering wheel with the Wii controllers in each hand. You have to rotate them in order to turn, as you would in a real car. Other cool movements are twisting the Wii controllers to select correct wires, and bringing them together to hotwire a car.
Then for the gameplay there's big action set pieces, exploration, problem solving, driving and visceral combat, which all combines to give a varied experience which can appeal to a wide cross section of gamers.
IGN AU: The Wii has seen a number of lukewarm ports over its lifespan. What will be different about Alone in the Dark? Is it based on the PS2 version?
Maxime Loppin: At the beginning, the original design for the game was the same for all platforms, but was then adapted in order to maximise the potential and the unique features of each platform. Personally, I feel that Hydravision, who were in charge of developing the Wii and PS2 versions, did a particularly great job on the Wii.
The Wii version is more of an adaptation of the next gen versions rather than a direct port. In this sense, the controls are all unique to Alone in the Dark and lead to great immersive gameplay.
Our advice? Get the hell out of the city.
IGN AU: Will the content be functionally identical on Wii? Has anything had to be changed due to storage limitations, ratings concerns or anything like that?
Maxime Loppin: Yes, the content will function identically on the Wii as we felt it was key to keep all the next gen features on the Wii. However, the original game design was more tailored towards next gen consoles which are more powerful and have a lot more memory. This is why we consider the Wii version of the game as an adaptation because we adapted the features in order to make them work. A good example is the fire, which propagates dynamically in real time in the next gen games but, unfortunately, is technically impossible to achieve on the Wii. In order to keep this feature, we included fire which gives the impression of propagating dynamically, but in fact propagates in a scripted manner. As in the next gen game, the fire can be used according to its real world properties,... [Read More]
See how the Wii Lightsaber works New Force Unleashed web doc shows off Wii version - multiplayer included
LucasArts has ahem, 'unleashed' the latest web documentary for Star Wars: Force Unleashed, showing just how you swing a Lightsaber with the Wii Remote (and stylus).
Expectedly, it doesn't look like the flawless 1:1 sabre thwoom-fest we imagined in our dreams, but the first proper Star Wars game of the generation definitely looks better in motion on Wii (and stunning on PS3/360).
The video also shows off the game's duelling multiplayer mode, which look a bit like a Star Wars fan's wet dream; pick from one of tens of Jedi or Sith lords, then slash the crap out of each other in famous film locals like Hoth or Tatooine.
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm coming to PlayStation 3
Namco Bandai has announced that the Naruto series is coming to the PlayStation 3 in the form of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm. According to the press release, the game features a 25-character roster, two-player head-to-head combat and a single-player mode that promises open-world exploration and "more than 100 unique missions."
We thought about going the standard route with Naruto game announcements and noting the lack of quality in most-to-all games based on anime series, but we'll admit the trailer had some doubting that for a second -- it actually looks better than the series itself. Still, gameplay is the ultimate decider, not to mention Storm would have a hard time breaking our "anime games" stigma.
Trailer embedded after the break. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm is expected in Q4.
With the Wii consistently selling out as soon as it hits store shelves, and the DS continuing to sell like hotcakes, 2007 was definitely Nintendo's year. According to Daniel Ernst of Hudson Square Research (whose fiscal 2009 outlook we also covered here and here), that momentum will carry Mario and co. right through 2008 as well.
For fiscal year 2008 (which ended this March), Sony sold 9 million PS3 units globally, Microsoft sold 9.5 million Xbox 360s and Nintendo sold 18.5 million Wiis. For fiscal year 2009 (ending next March), Ernst forecasts that Microsoft will sell 11.2 million units of the Xbox 360 worldwide, Sony will sell 12.5 million PS3s and Nintendo will sell 23 million Wiis.
"Microsoft got the jump on the industry with a one-year headstart, but nine months after its the launch, the Nintendo Wii overtook the Xbox 360 on a global basis. While the PS3, has struggled out of the gate, we note that since last fall, the console has been outselling the Xbox 360 in Europe, and in the first two months of this year has even outsold the Xbox 360 on its home turf, in the U.S. (In Japan, overtaking the Xbox 360 was almost immediate). With its strong slate of software scheduled for the coming year, we expect a material acceleration for the PS3 this year, but we believe the Wii will sell more than the PS3 and Xbox 360 combined this year," he commented.
With the DS dominating all hardware sales worldwide, the continued growth of the portable sector will also be a boon for Nintendo.
"With 69.8M Nintendo DSs and 38M Sony PSPs on the market vs. 24.3M Wii's; 20.6M Xbox 360's; and 12.6M PS3's, the addressable market for Portable Game systems is significantly greater than for Consoles," Ernst pointed out. "However, because the price points of portable systems are significantly lower than for consoles, total portable revenues account for just 28% of industry sales – masking the segment's greater contribution to earnings."
He continued, "Given that the development costs for a DS game can come in at less than $1M (vs. $15M to $30M for a next-gen console game), we believe the opportunity for profits in the portable market is significantly greater than the absolute size of the market suggests. Indeed, the DS and related software and royalties accounted for 63% of Nintendo's FY07 results and were the primary driver behind the company's 79% EPS growth in that year. Further... Nintendo platforms account for 69% of the portable market, and their 1st-party software accounts for over 70% of all software sold for DS/GBA portables, the benefits of the portable market have to date largely accrued to Nintendo."
There's little doubt that since its announcement a year ago, Wii owners have been just as hot for Rock Band as everyone else. Now, after a few months of waiting, Harmonix's hit music title is making its way to Nintendo's newest platform. We played it last week at Nintendo's media summit, and honestly, we probably put in more time on it than most of the other games on display. In other words, yes, we liked it.
If you've heard of Rock Band but aren't too familiar with how it works, check out our reviews of each version to see how it fares. We've put in our fair share of time on it across each platform, and like Nintendo's console, this version has its own distinct quirks that separate it from the others.
Visually, the display is cleaner than the PS2 game's, but is still a far cry from the detailed backdrops of the HD versions. Its tracklisting boasts tunes that aren't available on the PS2, such as Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger" and The B-52's "Roam" that are only available as downloadable content for 360 and PS3. However, it looks like Harmonix won't even bother to wrestle with the headache of Friends Codes; Rock Band for Wii is going to be an offline affair. The question of downloadable content is also rather vague at this point, although we're a bit pessimistic about it, considering that Guitar Hero III hasn't gotten any new tracks in its Wii version.
The peripherals all work fairly well, although the prototype drum kit on display seemed to have some problems with the kick pedal. We're willing to give Harmonix the benefit of the doubt, however, since some players reported the same problems yet others blazed through drums on Expert with scores above 90%. Rock Band Wii's Special Edition bundle will contain a microphone, wireless Fender guitar, and white drum kit (how Apple!), as well as a USB hub to expand the console's limited ports.
Unlike Guitar Hero III, which plugged a remote into the guitar controller, Rock Band employs an approach similar to the PlayStation versions: its wireless guitar connects to the console via dongle. Fortunately for Wii owners, there won't be several months' wait for extra peripherals. All of the game's extra accessories are slated to ship with the game, so if you're just looking for a microphone and a guitar for two-player action, you won't be restricted to spending big cash on the bundle (although we'd recommend the package deal for the drums).
We'd been looking forward to trying out Rock Band for Wii since Nintendo announced its presence at the company's media summit early last week. It's a bit odd that in the presence of party games like Mario Kart and Boom Blox we'd keep going back to a game that we've all played voraciously since Thanksgiving, but that's a testament to the best qualities of Harmonix's game. We had some initial misgivings about the pre-release drums but we don't think that our kick pedal issues will be indicative of the final drum kit. It looks like America's white-hot party game will fit Nintendo's white console like a glove. A finger-less one, actually; that's more rock star.
A downloadable demo for the Xbox 360 edition of Alone in the Dark will not arrive until the title nears launch, according to a forum post from Atari Europe community administrator Tenebra.
Tenebra had previously indicated that a demo was in the planning stages for PC, X360 and PS3, with a debut planned for early May. Claiming they were given incorrect information, the administrator later clarified that an Xbox 360 demo would hit around the game's release, with "no confirmations on other formats."
Today we received 27 screenshots of the Wii exclusive Sadness, an upcoming horror/thriller game, developed by Nibris. The game will feature graphics deemed 'impossible' on the Wii, and makes use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck in an unique way. With the controllers, you will be able to move the hands of the character.
The images don't only show some footage of the game, but also a woman playing the game, holding a Wiimote and Nunchuck in her hands.
New Nintendo DS To Feature Mii Integration With Wii
Sources state that the new version of the Nintendo DS to be revealed at E3 2008 will feature Mii integration with the Nintendo Wii console, as well as other features.
It was reported on earlier today Nintendo is getting ready to unveil a brand new Nintendo DS at E3 2008 in July.
Sources are beginning to reveal further information in regards to what the new handheld could feature.
The most likely add-on will be Mii integratioin with the new Nintendo DS. This means that users will be able to create a Mii on the Wii or DS, and then have that Mii go back and forth between the two consoles.
This could allow Nintendo to create something along the lines of the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live where users can have their Mii act as their user name for online games via the Nintendo WiFi Connection.
We have already begun to see the Mii characters used in online games with Mario Kart Wii.
The Mii characters are also rumored to be involved in a new version of Pictochat, which will enable chat over a WiFi connection.
The new Nintendo DS and Wii may also be able to share messages of text, pictures, etc. Currently users can send messages from one Wii to another Wii. This could expand by sharing messages from the DS to the Wii.
Japan - Brawl disc read errors return, but this time it’s Mario Kart
The exact same issue that happened to Japanese gamers that bought Brawl is now happening with Mario Kart Wii. Some people that purchased the game are complaining that their Wii cannot read the disc, and the game is freezing/crashing. Nintendo has once again stated that the problem is due to Mario Kart Wii being a double-layer disc. Nintendo will clean your Wii for you, which should do away with the problem. I would be very interested to find out if the people experiencing the Mario Kart Wii problem also purchased Brawl.
Famitsu magazine has revealed new screenshots for One Piece: Unlimited Cruise planned for a release this summer in Japan. The screenshots take place in the world of One Piece, in the game you play as pirate named the Monkey D. Luffy also called Straw Hat. The game is coming out for the Nintendo’s Wii and is based on the popular manga and anime One Piece . Screenshots: 1234567
Dualshock 3 U.S. launch with list of compatible games
Rumble is back with the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller for PLAYSTATION 3. These are shipping to store shelves as we speak, so be on the lookout for them next week. Now I know that the list of compatible games is the most important thing to you, so we’re including that at the bottom of this post. The titles with an asterisk in the list below will require a patch in order to activate the rumble feature. The patch will automatically download to your PS3 if your console is connected online. If you are not connected online, check our PlayStation Knowledge Center for more information.
We will be launching have launched a web page on the PlayStation website later this morning dedicated to informing you of what titles use force feedback. This list will be expanding as new titles become compatible, so be sure to be sure to check back. You can also keep an eye out for this icon:
This will be located on all new software releases that are DUALSHOCK 3 compatible.
Just to give you a small refresher course, the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller includes pressure sensors that rumble with each action. SIXAXIS technology is also included, so you can still use motion control, and the controller features Bluetooth technology for wireless gameplay. You can pick it up at any of the major retailers and at a cost $54.99 MSRP.
Here’s the complete list of titles supporting the DUALSHOCK 3 at launch:
SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition* (PS3)
SCEA - MotorStorm* (PS3)
SCEA - PAIN (PSN)
SCEA - High Velocity Bowling (PSN)
SCEA - MLB 08: The Show (PS3)
SCEA - Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man* (PS3)
SCEA - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
this looks alot better than previous installments to the series, especially the 3 dimensional ones.
"The title of the new Sonic game has been doing the rounds on the trademark circuit for a while now. But as of today we can confirm that Sonic Unleashed is the next game in the blue hedgehog's shaky 3D platforming career - because half a ton of screenshots have been leaked to the internet.
The official word from Sega is "no comment," but apparently the mass of screenshots appeared on a Sega FTP by accident, and now the internet is going mental.
The last instalment was disappointing, but from theses images Unleashed is looking like good news for the blue fella; sunny skies, wicked platforming circuits and absolutely no useless friends with guns at all.
The first details, according to Sonic Stadium, are as follows: For the next outing Sega's apparently taking loads of elements from Secret Rings on Wii, including (cue applause) the occasional 2.5D platforming sequence.
Check out this video and be shocked and surprised at being excited over a Sonic game again.
There are also whispers of another new character and a Sonic werewolf form. We'll pretend we didn't read that bit.
There's no official word from Sega yet, but it looks like Sonic Unleashed will be out on all three consoles (that's 360, PS3 and Wii) before the year's end. Let's hope the second character is Super Sonic."
After much talk, hype, and some more talking WiiWare has now gone live in Japan and games are available for all to download. Nine separate games have been made available for the debut of the service. We are not sure what game we’d download first if we could, maybe it might be Dr. Mario. If you’d also like to pretend what game you’d like to download there is a full list of what is available posted below. US and Europe will not be getting WiiWare until May, so we all have some waiting to do. We’ll probably get a vastly different list of games when the services debuts over here too.
Okiraku Ping Pong Wii (500 Wii Points)
Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Wii (1,000 Wii Points)
Saku Saku Animal Panic (1,000 Wii Points)
Star Solider R (800 Wii Points)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (1,500 Wii Points)
A Better Look At MGS4's "Steel" Limited Edition PS3
We've seen scans, but they were small. And the colours looked a bit off, didn't look very "steely". Here, then, are some proper shots of the "Steel" edition of the PS3, which will be available as part of the Japanese Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. Looks...well, like gun-metal, really. Highly appropriate. Console's above, with a pic of the "Steel" DualShock 3 after the jump.
