Latest Tony Hawk Title Announced
May 15, 2007
Activision officials have announced Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, the latest game in the popular Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise, which will debut for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, and Nintendo DS later this year.
Few details have been announced, but an official statement notes that Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground will give players “the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they choose and the style of skating they use on the proving grounds from Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington, D.C.”
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is also expected to feature deeper character customization than that from previous Tony Hawk games, and it will include a new video editor, as well as a customizable lounge area for players to meet up online and organize games.
In addition, the game’s online component will be featured prominently. Activision notes that players will be able to segue from Proving Ground’s single player mode to the online mode “seamlessly.”
Proving Ground will also offer players the ability to utilize new gameplay mechanics such as skateable terrain altering and building, and bowl carving, as well as more “Nail the Trick” moves “such as Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual intensifying the thrill of pulling off big tricks.”
Neversoft president Joel Jewett claims that Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is “largest, deepest and most compelling Tony Hawk game ever.” He added, “Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground drops players into the skateboarding world like never before…Proving Ground will throw you so deep into the lifestyle of skateboarding that you won’t be able to get out. Hands down, it’s the most exciting Tony Hawk title yet.”
‘EA Playground’ Exclusive to Wii, DS
May 2, 2007
Electronic Arts’ EA Playground, a sports game compendium with playground style games that’s already being compared to Nintendo pack-in title Wii Sports, will be for Wii and Nintendo DS users only.
In an interview with IGN, Electronic Arts revealed the tentatively-titled EA Playground. According to executive producer Dave McCarthy, the game “is all about capturing the sheer fun of being a kid.” EA Playground will employ only the Wii Remote for gameplay. “On Wii, there’s a mix of games that cover frantic actions mapped to gestures (e.g. throwing and dodging in Dodge Ball) and others that take advantage of navigating the entire world (e.g. RC Car Racing),” McCarthy said. Whether the Wii and DS versions of EA Playground will connect is unknown.
EA Playground, which has not yet officially announced by Electronic Arts, is being developed by EA Canada, which handled Madden NFL 2007 on Wii. Games already pictured for the Wii version include tetherball and racing remote control cars, although the preview also mentions a dodge ball simulation. The Nintendo DS version will include several unique games, such as bug hunt, which uses the touch screen, and spit balls, which uses the microphone.
All of the games feature a multiplayer mode, with simple cartoon style graphics somewhat reminiscent of Wii Sports. It is presumed the game will not use Mii avatars, with the initial screenshots picturing a different stylized look for characters. In the single-player campaign, players will choose a character and compete to become the best in the schoolyard. Players will also maintain a sticker book filled by playing various games, completing special dare challenges, and exploring areas of the playground world.
EA Playground is the latest in Wii exclusives from EA, joining SSX Blur, MySims and Boogie. EA’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and The Godfather: Blackhand Edition also make extensive use of the Wii’s unique interface.
Iwata Discusses “Abnormal” Wii Shortage
April 27, 2007
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, following details of Nintendo’s record breaking full year financial results yesterday, has labeled worldwide shortages of the Wii console as “abnormal” and promised to increase deliveries by May next month.
“We must do our best to fix this abnormal lack of stock. We have not been able to properly foresee demand,” Iwata was quoted in an Associated Press report.
Iwata did not confirm Wii’s current monthly production capacity, nor did he give any indication of how much Wii production is set to increase. It has been so tough to get one’s hand on a Wii console since its fall launch that some are accusing Nintendo of purposefully withholding stock to stimulate consumer interest. Iwata did, however, reveal that new Nintendo DS consoles, which are also difficult to obtain in certain markets (e.g. Japan) are being manufactured at a rate of 2.5 million units a month, the highest ever for a Nintendo console. Whatever that means.
Nintendo revealed yesterday that the company’s net profit for the financial year (ended March 31) had risen by 77% to ¥174.3 billion ($1.47bn), with sales up by 90% to ¥966.5 billion ($8.10bn). A total of 5.84 Wii consoles had been sold by the same date – roughly meeting the company’s target of six million.
Guitar Hero III Confirmed for Online, Major Platforms
April 17, 2007
Red Octane reps have confirmed that the latest in its Guitar Hero franchise will be focused on online play and downloadable tracks, and it will hit every major platform.
Red Octane founder and president Kai Huang said that Neversoft would be working to bring the features to Guitar Hero III, the latest in the franchise expected to be released for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, and the PS2 by the end of the year.
In an interview with GameSpot, Huang also confirmed earlier suspicions regarding a handheld version of the game, saying the company was “looking at a DS version, for early next year.”
Last September, Activision chairman and CEO Robert Kotick said at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV Conference that Guitar Hero will be released “on every significant new format.” The game was also recently announced to be in development for mobile phones by San Francisco mobile developer Hands-On Mobile.
Huang added that new Guitar Hero developers Neversoft would be “focusing on online play, of course, and that includes both co-op and competitive modes. We’re looking at more downloadable content, and more music, because we know that’s one of the things the fans want–as soon as they finish playing Guitar Hero, they want more music.”
Huang also told IGN that for the Wii version of the new game, while Red Octane was “really excited about the Wii game because there are so many options for the Wii remote,” players would still “play the game with a guitar peripheral and it will be similar to a guitar you’ve seen in the past.”
On former Guitar Hero developer Harmonix’s recently announced Rock Band, now positioned as an MTV- and Electronic Arts-backed competitor to the Guitar Hero franchise, with additional drumming and vocal features and full online play, Huang said, “I was very excited to hear about Harmonix and EA working on the game Rock Band. I think Guitar Hero was really the first big game that defined the music rhythm genre… So we’re excited that Harmonix is working on it. They’re a fantastic developer, we’ve had a great relationship working with them in the past, and we know that they’re going to do a great job with the game.”
Sonic Returns To DS
Sega has announced that Sonic the Hedgehog will be returning to the DS this fall with a new 2D game entitled Sonic Rush Adventure, including multi-player races both locally and via Nintendo Wi-Fi.
Sonic Rush Adventure, developed by Sega Studios, promises to bring “dizzying dives, near vertical curves and brain twisting loops” through standard sidescrolling play, as well as a new “high seas adventure” with Sonic battling a horde of pirates.
Sega says that as players progress throughout the 2D action stages, they can unlock new items and materials to help his sidekick Tails build new ships, including a submarine, water bike, and hovercraft, which players then use in touch-screen controlled ship races and battles, ending with “epic” 3D boss battles spanning both screens.
Finally, Sega has announced that players will be able to compete in multiplayer racing and mission based battles both locally and through the internet using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Capcom Reveals New Titles
April 16, 2007
As part of its Gamer’s Day event, Capcom revealed a number of new titles for multiple devices.
Capcom dabbled in PC gaming but never made a strong commitment to PC games, so releasing Lost Planet for PC is cool. Lost Planet will feature DirectX 10 and Shader Model 3.0 support as well, making one of the best looking console games one of the best looking PC games ever made. Lost Planet is a good sign that we will be seeing more Capcom titles coming to PCs in the near future. Also coming to PC (and PSN and Xbox Live) is Talisman, Games Workshop’s hybrid board and RPG.
For many, Wii is making out the best with the new Capcom titles. Lets’s start with Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. Using the Wii Remote as your boomstick, players will gun down zombies and other monstrosities. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition might be the best Resident Evil of all time! It includes everything from the previous versions, utilizing the Wii Remote to point and blow apart the armies of the undead. Also coming to Wii is Project Treasure Island Z, a series of puzzles and mini-games centered around the antics of a pirate in training, Zack, and his magical monkey, Wiki. Younger gamers will be entertained.
Newly announced titles for Nintendo’s handheld DS system include the third chapter in Capcom’s cult Phoenix Wright legal adventures, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations. Set for release in September 2007, Trials and Tribulations will continue the tradition of the first two chapters of the series, with a new “mysterious hard-boiled” prosecutor named Godot, and a return of the second game’s “pysche-lock” interrogation tool. Also coming to Nintendo DS, in October, is the latest in the decades-long running Mega Man franchise, Mega Man ZX Advent, which includes a new “biometal” system that allows players to change into different forms and utilizes the DS touchscreen to switch between ‘Biometal’ and map navigation screens. Not a bad way to celebrate 20 years of Mega Man, I’d say.
Capcom also revealed that it was working with Cartoon Network to deliver a game based on the Adult Swim original cartoon Harvey Birdman to both the PSP and PS2 by developer High Voltage (Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude), though no further details were yet revealed.
As for PS2, Capcom has announced that the company as acquired PlayStation rights to the motor sport MotoGP, and will be publishing its first PlayStation 2 game based on the sport this year, tentatively titled MotoGP 07.
Capcom also revealed a number of digitally distributed titles coming throughout the year for PC, Xbox Live, and the PlayStation network. Foremost amongst these is the return of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix coming to all three digital platforms this fall, including newly redrawn 1080p HD graphics from the backgrounds and blocks, handled by developer Backbone and all new character portraits, done by Udon Entertainment (the company responsible for the official US Street Fighter series of comics). The game will also see “improved game balance,” and, most importantly, online play — a feature fans of the cult puzzler have been asking for since it first appeared. The game will also be including the X, Y, and Z-’ism’ modes from the Dreamcast’s “For Matching Service” version.
Also coming are two more original titles, with WizKids’ Rocketmen: Axis of Evil arriving on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network as an arcade shooter as up to four players battle cooperatively through multiple levels in a struggle to ‘free the Solar System.’
Mario and Sonic Hit the Olympics
March 28, 2007
Nintendo and Sega icons Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog will reportedly appear in a new game to be developed by Sega Japan that is based around the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be released this Christmas on Wii and Nintendo DS, and will be published by Sega in the West and Nintendo in Japan, according to an official joint statement by the two companies.
The game uses an official International Sports Multimedia (ISM) license, the interactive entertainment software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ISM has previously overseen the video game adaptations of the recent Olympics and Winter Olympics games, starting with the Sydney 2000 Games.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will feature various Olympic events including the 100m sprint, swimming, and table tennis. The game will feature both Mario and Sonic, as well as secondary characters from both franchises including Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, and Tails.
“Mario and Sonic have been respectful rivals since the early days of video games,” said Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto. “In fact, for a long time they have been discussing the possibility of one day competing against each other. Now that they have been given the perfect opportunity to meet at the Olympic Games, we may finally learn who is actually faster, Mario or Sonic?”
Konami Announces New Projects
February 2, 2007
Konami, at its recent Gamer’s Day, revealed two major new releases for the upcoming year: an original Wii and a remake of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood for PSP. Both games were announced without release dates but are expected in 2007.
Konami’s new Wii game, from Elebits producer Shingo Mukaitoge, was revealed to be Dewy’s Adventure, marking the second original IP from Konami for Nintendo’s Wii console.
Players are to use the Wii controller for nearly all of the in-game puzzle-solving and platforming interactions, such as tilting it to roll the titular Dewy character, a living water droplet, around his environment, using the d-pad to heat or cool Dewy to steam or ice, or fanning the controller to create gusts of wind.
The game will also include an edit mode in the same manner as Elebits, and will also make use of the Wii’s internet connectivity in a yet-unannounced way.
Konami also announced the long-anticipated official debut of its classic Castlevania franchise for the PSP with Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Unlike recent DS adventure originals, the first Castlevania PSP outing will be a remake of the PC Engine Super CD cult hit Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo, also known as Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. The PSP remake of Rondo is being done with fully 3D assets, but maintains the 2D perspective.
Also included in The Dracula X Chronicles will be a portable version of PlayStation classic Symphony of the Night, featuring a reworked localization and slightly reworked graphics, making it the second forthcoming release of the game, alongside the Xbox Live Arcade Version, which is also due soon.
Nintendo Replaced Wii Strap Replacements, Recalls DS
December 15, 2006
After continued reports of them snapping during play, Nintendo Wii straps are being replaced by Ninetendo on a voluntary basis, with the company denying that any active recall is in place.
Nintendo executives responded quickly to the reports of breaking straps, with legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto advising fans to “calm down.” Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented, “Of course before the launch of the Wii hardware Nintendo had a number of tests on the durability of everything, including the strap, but our understanding right now is that even beyond our expectations people are becoming more and more excited playing with the Wii.”
In North American, the company is already offering to send a newly strengthened strap to any customer who applies online; the newer versions of the console shipped from the beginning of December already contain the new straps.
Nintendo of Japan has announced a recall for 200,000 AC/DC power adapters for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite consoles. The recall involves adapters supplied by Nagano Japan Radio (JRC) between January and October this year, which could generate excessive heat and potentially cause burn injuries while charging.
Nintendo has reported nine incidents of overheating, including one where a hole was burned into the console itself. No injuries have been reported, though, and the defective adapters have not been sold outside of Japan.
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