Today's Special Archives: September 2005

News Archives Index Updated Super Mario Strikers Info [ Nintendo ] Introducing Mario characters in a new type of Mario sports game. Select a captain, build a team with favorite characters from the Mario universe and hit the field for five-on-five soccer action in an easy-to-learn, fever-pitched soccer blowout. Armed with an arsenal of power-up items like giant shells, exploding bananas, freeze shells and many others, blow a path downfield and go for the goal. But watch out – that red shell flying downfield has your name on it. Play Grudge Match games against a buddy or grab some friends and extra controllers for fast-paced four-player action. Cup Battles Mode pits a player's team against all others in an electrifying, multi-tiered competition for the coveted Cup Trophy. Play through four different levels of difficulty as the challenge and action continue to build. Characters include Mario, Wario, Peach, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, Daisy, Waluigi, Luigi and other characters from the Mario universe. Play individual grudge matches, compete in tournaments to win cup trophies and play the prestigious Super Cup Battles to progress. Throughout the game players will unlock new cup challenges, new stadiums, power-up item cheats and secret characters. Players can fully charge kicks and sit back and watch as Mario, Wario, Peach, Donkey Kong and the other captains unleash the fury of the amazing Super Strike kick. Use the ultimate slide attack to completely wipe opponents out or knock them into the walls surrounding the field for an electrifying finish. Players fake out opponents as they easily spin away from attempts to steal the ball from beneath their feet. Players must gather their wits for strategic strikes as they drop a not-so-friendly Chain Chomp on their opponents. Strikers lands on December 5. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 14:15 PM [Top] Animal Crossing: Wild World Info [ Nintendo ] Players move into a town, buy a house and then do whatever they want. Time and seasons pass as they do in the real world, so there will always be something unpredictable happening. Collect or buy more than 1,500 items, talk to neighbors, go fishing, catch bugs, dig up treasure or hang out with human friends. Tap the touch screen to type letters, use items, draw designs for clothing or wallpaper, drag clothing or items onto characters, interact with characters or objects or just lead them around the world. Players can hang out in real time with up to three of their friends by connecting locally or by using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. They also can put their DS into Sleep Mode and it will trade messages with nearby Animal Crossing: Wild World players. Wireless Functions: DS Local Area Network When players are within wireless range of other people who have Animal Crossing: Wild World, they can travel to one other's towns. One person will be the host and open up his or her town gate to visitors. Up to three others within range can exit their town gates to travel to the host's town, where they can do all sorts of things: fish, write letters to townsfolk, shop at the store, cut down trees, anything. Up to four players can interact in real time, communicating with text messages and emoticons. (All players must have game cards for multiplayer mode.) -After players visit another town, the following events may take place. -One of the characters in the town they visited might move to their town, and a character from their town might move to the town they visited. -"Bottle mail," a bottle containing a letter written by someone in another town, might wash ashore in their town. -Constellations created by someone visiting their town might appear in the night sky. -This mode is open to anyone in Local Wireless range – there is no need for people to pre-register on friend rosters. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Wireless multiplayer mode plays the same as the DS Local Area Network multiplayer, except that players connect using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players must know one another and register one another to their friend roster before they can connect. For example, if player A plans to visit player B's town, both player A and B need to register each other's names. The friend roster window is accessible anytime during the game. There are two ways to register names to the friend roster: -Register using DS Local Area Network mode. When players visit another town, they can register the host and other visitors to their friend roster, and others in the town can register them to their lists as well. Players also can register anyone who visits their town, and visitors also can register players in the towns they visit. It's very easy to register friends. Players simply tap the friend roster icon, then tap the names of the people they want to register – they'll instantly be added to the friend roster. -Players can register the Friend Registration Key, or password, of a person they want to play with. Players receive Friend Registration Keys when they register their games with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. They can then exchange friend codes with others by phone/e-mail/online bulletin boards and use them to add their friends to their lists. Animal Crossing: Wild World comes to North America DS systems on December 5. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 14:10 PM [Top] New DKC3 Info [ Nintendo ] Return to Donkey Kong Country on Game Boy Advance in the Kremling-crushin' sequel featuring the pony-tail whippin' Dixie Kong and the rollie-pollie Kiddy Kong! The leader of the Kremlings Baron K. Roolenstein, featured for the first time in the original Donkey Kong Country 3, has kidnapped Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. * The beloved side-scrollin' sequel to Donkey Kong Country 1 & 2 is now in the palm of your hands! Play as Kiddy Kong or Dixie Kong and use unique abilities like the water skip and helicopter spin to go ape on the baddies. * A ninth world, Pacifica, has been added to the original eight worlds. It includes six all-new levels—set from the deepest drain pipes to the tallest treetops—and adds two to three hours of brand-new game play. * Play all-new mini-games to earn money and items. Compete is a series of boat races in Funky's Challenge, use a shield to block an onslaught of spiked creatures in Cranky's Dojo, or race through tunnels collecting stars in Swanky's Dash. Look for DKC3 to hit store shelves this November. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 13:07 PM [Top] New Info on Mario Party 7 [ Nintendo ] Toadsworth has invited Mario and all his friends to go on a luxury cruise aboard the MSS Sea Star. However, someone gets left behind: Bowser. Furious at being omitted from the exclusive guest list, the Koopa King vows revenge. When the cruise ship arrives at its first destination, the passengers discover that Bowser has turned their vacation paradise into a stress-filled madhouse. Explore the world with six brand-new game boards. As Mario and friends embark on an around-the-world cruise, each board serves as an exotic port of call: Grand Canal, Pagoda Peak, Pyramid Park, Neon Heights, Windmillville and Bowser's Enchanted Inferno. Each one should be a lovely vacation spot...but Bowser has other plans. Up to eight players can participate in the action – four more than the previous Mario Party titles. In a four-player game, each participant will have his or her own controller. In an eight-player match, participants will share a controller. 86 new minigames, 11 of which use the Nintendo GameCube Mic. From leaping over electrified hurdles to avoiding a mole with a giant hammer, each game is a party in itself. Game Modes: * Party Cruise: Up to eight players will make their way around one of six massive game boards, playing minigames and using items to thwart their opponents' hopes and dreams. (With eight players, they split into two teams of four and cooperate on everything from minigames to rolling the dice.) * Solo Cruise: If players are looking for a one-on-one battle against a friend or the computer, this is the area for them. The contests use the same game boards as Party Mode. * Deluxe Cruise: With free play, tournament, decathlon and dueling options – as well as two brand-new rule sets – players can party to their heart's content. For one to eight players. * The Duty-Free Shop: Exchange mileage points and items for awesome unlockables and other fun prizes. MP7 launches on November 7 in North America. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 13:05 PM [Top] New Mario Tennis Power Tour Screens and Boxart [ Nintendo ] Players can test their backhand in this role-playing tennis adventure. In this sequel to Mario Tennis for Game Boy Color, players have to train hard in the Royal Tennis Academy if they want to be champions. Players gain experience and improve skills through lessons and tournaments, but in the end, they have to beat Mario at his own game if they want to rise to the top of the ranks. Play as Mario, Peach, Waluigi or Donkey Kong in a slew of wild modes. As players advance through the story, they unlock even more characters, all with their own power moves. Link up with a friend or three for even more frantic fun. Mario Tennis Power Tour for the GBA will hit stores on December 5th. Check out the latest screenshots and the game's boxart below. Images: Mario Tennis Power Tour Screenshot 1 Mario Tennis Power Tour Screenshot 2 Mario Tennis Power Tour Screenshot 3 Mario Tennis Power Tour Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 11:44 AM [Top] New Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Character Art and Screens [ Nintendo ] Two classic puzzle games are together for the first time on the Game Boy Advance. In Dr. Mario/Puzzle League, gamers can play as Mario to extinguish evil viruses with the help of some supercharged vitamins. Or, if they want, they can play Puzzle League, known in Japan as Panel De Pon, a classic puzzler which was the inspiration for such legendary titles as Tetris Attack and Pokémon Puzzle League. Check out some screenshots and character art of the game below, and watch for this game to hit stores on December 5th. Images: Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Logo Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Character Art 1 Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Character Art 2 Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Screenshot 1 Dr. Mario/Puzzle League Screenshot 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 11:41 AM [Top] New Metroid Prime Pinball Screenshots [ Nintendo ] Samus Aran's entry into the bumper-and-flipper world is a sleek, sci-fi classic gaming adventure that has her careening into gigantic boss monsters and bouncing through a variety of exciting pinball tables. Play tables across two screens at the same time using the touch screen to nudge the pinball table. Battle deadly enemies and experience a number of special modes such as Clone Machine Multiball and the Wall-Jump Challenge while you blast and bomb your high score into a state of pure pinball pandemonium. The game also includes a rumble pack accessory for the DS so gamers can really feel the action. Check out the latest screenshots below, and watch for Metroid Prime Pinball to hit stores on October 24th Images: Metroid Prime Pinball Screenshot 1 Metroid Prime Pinball Screenshot 2 Metroid Prime Pinball Screenshot 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 30 2005 11:35 AM [Top] Iwata Interviewed By G4 [ G4 ] In an interview with video game network G4, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed a few more details about the Revolution system, as well as the unique controller. Iwata says that the motion and visual sensor aspects of the controller were one of many things Nintendo considered putting into the controller, but the "remote" design was chosen due to the fact that it would resemble a remote control, and therefore would be less frightening to the user as it looks like something used in everyday life. Iwata did admit, however, that the Revolution's graphical specs may not reach those put out by Microsoft and Sony for the XBox 360 and Playstation 3, but Iwata doesn't believe gamers will notice a difference. In fact, he encourages gamers to pick up one of the other systems as well, in order to experience both the games of the competitors and the unique games of the Revolution, since Nintendo believes they are not competing on the same level as the other companies next generation. Iwata also stated that he doesn't believe that 3rd party developers will reject the system, simply based upon the fact that developers have shown major interest and want to make games for something this unique. He also said that it is still being decided the controller "skin" that was also announced at TGS will come packed in with the Revolution console. To watch the full interview for yourself, click the source link to head over to G4's website. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 21:08 PM [Top] New Chronicles of Narnia Screenshots [ Buena Vista Games ] Based upon one of the most highly-anticipated films of the winter, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe places gamers in the shoes of the Pevensie children as they travel through a magical wardrobe into the incredible world of Narnia. Teaming up with the heroic lion, Aslan, the four children must battle against the evil forces of the White Witch as they fight to save Narnia at any cost. Check out the latest screenshots of what promises to be an epic adventure below, and watch for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe to hit stores for the GameCube, DS, and GBA this winter. Images: Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 1 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 2 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 3 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 4 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 5 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 6 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 7 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 8 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 9 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 10 Chronicles of Narnia Screenshot 11 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 21:08 PM [Top] New True Crime: New York City Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Players wield the ultimate power as a rogue street cop in True Crime: New York City, the first in a two-part series of True Crime games set in New York. Gamers assume the role of Marcus Reed, a former criminal turned cop, and use and abuse their authority to hunt down the murderer of Marcus’ mentor while also cleaning up Manhattan neighborhoods from Harlem to Chinatown. Undercover investigations weave players through a murderous web of gangs and deceit as they battle crooks, Marcus’ past and everything else the city throws at them. Gamers can race through the streets of Manhattan in shootouts, pulling off stunts on motorcycles or in a variety of vehicles such as customizable black market vehicles and police-issue cars. As a street-smart cop players are able to switch fighting styles– from street fighting to various types of martial arts – on the fly against opponents, opening up an array of moves and strategies designed to take down enemies. Players can earn an arsenal of high-powered police issue weaponry or obtain black market arms like flamethrowers, grenade launchers and more, in addition to dozens of melee weapons like bats and swords. Check out the latest trailer of the game, the second in the "City Guide" series, by clicking on the link below or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. True Crime: New York City will be released for the GameCube this fall. Video: True Crime: New York City Trailer (19.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 20:55 PM [Top] Need for Speed: Most Wanted DS Trailer [ GameCube Café ] While EA has been quick to divulge details on the upcoming Need for Speed game for consoles, the DS version hasn't been heard from except for an announcement. Now, EA has revealed a new trailer concentrating soley on the DS version, and showing off some of the title's new features, including updated touch screen capabilities. Check out the trailer below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive, and watch for Need for Speed to hit the Nintendo DS, as well as the GameCube and GBA, on November 15th. Video: Need for Speed: Most Wanted DS Trailer (6.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 20:39 PM [Top] Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Box Art [ Ubisoft ] Ubsisoft has released the box art for the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, which releases on December 5th. So far all they have released is the Playstation 2 version but the GameCube and Xbox box art for the game will be exactly the same. Prince of Persis: The Two Thrones marks the end of the Sands of Time trilogy. Head on over to our E3 2005 Media section to check out exclusive footage and an exclusive interview with the lead animator of the game. Even though the footage is several months old it is still by far the best footage I have seen of the game. Hit the link for the art. Images: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Box Art Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 4:22 AM [Top] GUN Lassos Up Hollywood Voice Talent [ Activision ] Activision has rounded up some of Hollywood's top talent to lend their voices to its upcoming action adventure game GUN. Developed by Neversoft Entertainment, GUN takes gamers to the untamed West of the late-1800s where greed, lust and murder are rampant. Legendary actors include leading man Thomas Jane, best known for his role as The Punisher, as vengeful gunslinger Colton White; Kris Kristofferson as Colton’s mountain man father, Ned; Tom Skerritt as Resistance Fighter Clay Allison; Brad Dourif as evil preacher Josiah Reed; Ron Perlman as Mayor Hoodoo Brown of Empire, New Mexico; and Lance Henriksen as the obsessive tyrant Thomas MacGruder. In addition to its extraordinary voice talent, GUN boasts top screenwriting and musical scores. Hollywood screenwriter Randall Jahnson (Mask of Zorro, The Doors) penned the engrossing storyline and plot progression that will transport players back in time to the lawless West. Videogame soundtrack veteran Christopher Lennertz produced and composed the score for GUN. The music was performed by the Northwest Sinfonia using an 80 piece orchestra. GUN will hit stores for the GameCube this fall. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 29 2005 0:02 AM [Top] Mana DS Revealed [ Jump Magazine ] Back at Square-Enix Party 2005, Square-Enix officially announced that a new installment in the Seiken Densetsu (known in the US as Secret of Mana) series of Action RPGS was officially on its way to the Nintendo DS, that was all they could say about the title. Now, the latest issue of Jump Magazine reveals the game for the first time. Entitled Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana, the game will be a side-story to the rest of the Mana games. The magazine scan we obtained also shows off another upcoming Mana game entitled Seiken Densetsu 4, although it is safe to say that one will be only for the PS2. Check out the scan below Images: Children of Mana Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 28 2005 22:23 PM [Top] Mother 3 Coming To DS? - UPDATED [ Marvelous Interactive ] A mysterious minisite, which you can reach by clicking the above source link, has opened at the official website of Japanese developer Marvelous Interactive, which features a countdown set to end in the middle of next week, which will apparently reveal the company's upcoming new DS game. What makes this newsworthy is that the doctor typing away at the countdown bears a major resemblence to Dr. Andronuts, one of the main characters from Mother 2, known in the US as Earthbound. Could this mean that the long-awaited and even longer-delayed Mother 3, which has been rumored to be in development for every single Nintendo console since the N64, could finally be in development? Keep it here at the Café for more on this intriguing development. UPDATED: A pair of scans from the latest issue of Famitsu magazine reveal the true purpose of the mysterious countdown, and while Marvelous is indeed working on a new RPG for the Nintendo DS, it isn't a new Mother game. The game is entitled Contact, and will be produced by Suda 51 of Killer7 fame. Check out the first look at the game below. Images: Contact Famitsu Scan 1 Contact Famitsu Scan 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 27 2005 2:28 AM [Top] Mario Kart Arcade GP Comes to US [ Nintendo ] Namco and Nintendo have teamed up again, offering for the first time, a proven consumer franchise for the arcade! Word about this acclaimed title has been on the streets for over 8 months. Namco is happy to announce that Mario Kart Arcade GP will be shipping in October. Mario Kart Arcade GP offers classic Mario Kart action with 11 characters. Familiar Mario Kart characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach and Wario tear up the track with characters available only in the arcade model…. Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Blinky. Each character has unique driving abilities so you'll have to try them all. The Player Continuation feature makes that possible! Mario Kart Arcade GP is a 2-player dedicated game. It's an impressive attraction piece when two cabinets are linked for 4-player thrills and spills. Six worlds offer a variety of racecourses, 24 in all, to challenge both hard-core Mario Kart fans and casual players alike. Add in the variations of time and environment and you get 68 diverse courses! Plus, there are hilarious challenge stages available to those who wins the Grand Prix Mode tracks. This dedicated model features a NamCam 2 to add to the excitement of the game play. You insert your face in the character image of your choice and an image of your marvelous mug appears on screen where your rivals can see you as you leave them in the dust. The game play is fast, furious and FUN! You race around the course and collect crazy items to toss at your adversaries. There are 57 objects available, over 40 developed just for the arcade model! Some items can be thrown forward at the competitors racing in front of you on the course and others can be used to disrupt those who are hot on your tail. There are items that lock on your target and some that provide you with shields to reflect the rival's attack, there's even one that allows you to become invisible! While you're trying to whip around the track and stump your friends you've got to dodge the stuff your buddies are tossing your way! The sophisticated feedback steering will have you wishing you never got hit by that blasted Needle Bomb, Thunder Cloud or Tornado. Gathering coins along the way increases your speed and helps you win the race. Advanced players will be thrilled when they discover the hidden moves and use them to their advantage. Images: Mario Kart Arcade GP Logo Mario Kart Arcade GP Cabinet Mario Kart Arcade GP Artwork 1 Mario Kart Arcade GP Artwork 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 26 2005 22:08 PM [Top] Gearbox to Support Revolution [ GamerCC ] In an interview at gaming site GamerCC, Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, developer of the popular Brothers In Arms military shooter series, has confirmed that he and his team plan to support Nintendo's upcoming Revolution console. Says Pitchford: "I think the Revolution is an interesting device and I look forward to the challenge of making games for it. There are a few ideas I've nurtured over the years that I think would be very appropriate for the interface options the Revolution provides." This is a big addition to Nintendo's portfolio of third-party developers, as Gearbox only developed for PS2 and XBox this gen. The comments also make it seem like some exclusive content is coming as well. Stay tuned as Nintendo more than likely reveals more info on the launch titles for Revolution very soon. Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, September 25 2005 18:14 PM [Top] Super Mario Strikers Box Art [ Nintendo ] Nintendo's foray into sports titles continues with Super Mario Strikers, a new soccer game that's unlike anything ever to hit the pitch. Whether players are freezing their opponents with an ice-cold shell, unleashing a spiny shell on their hapless opponents or making entire teams flee in terror with a roving Chain Chomp, they're sure to see something new around every corner kick. Super Mario Strikers features all the favorite characters from the Nintendo universe, as well as four-person multiplayer action that will have players and their friends cheering all night long. Get ready for the world cup of gaming. Strikers will be released on December 5th. Hit the link to check out the awesome box art. Images: Super Mario Strikers Box Art Matthew Silver -- Posted on Saturday, September 24 2005 15:34 PM [Top] UK Price Drop for DS [ Nintendo of Europe ] Exciting news in time for Christmas as Nintendo today announced that it is cutting the price of its popular Nintendo DS, offering even greater value. From 7th October, Nintendo DS will be available at the estimated retail price of around £89.99. The £10 price drop will take effect on the same day as the launch of Nintendogs, which has become a cultural phenomenon and a sales leader in Japan and North America due its innovative appeal. Even more exciting is news that from October 7th, Nintendo will offer two Nintendogs bundles. Retailing at the estimated retail price of around £99, these offer unbeatable value for money. The fabulous new Dachshund version of the game will be bundled with a pink Nintendo DS console. This comes with a cute line-up of Nintendogs characters such as Shih Tzu and Pugs. But if Pink is not your thing, do not worry as there will be a Labrador version of the Nintendogs bundle complete with a blue Nintendo DS - with breeds such as Labrador Retriever and Pembroke Welsh Corgi to show off to your mates. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Saturday, September 24 2005 9:44 AM [Top] Happy Birthday Kevin! [ GameCube Café ] Today we want to wish our own Editor in Chief a happy birthday. Even more because he turns that ever so important age of 21. I love working with Kevin, and he does a heck of a job as Editor in Chief. Go out and party man, you've more than earned it. You're birthday's on a Friday this year, which makes it all the more fun. Enjoy it! Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, September 23 2005 13:37 PM [Top] New True Crime: New York City Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Players wield the ultimate power as a rogue street cop in True Crime: New York City, the first in a two-part series of True Crime games set in New York. Gamers assume the role of Marcus Reed, a former criminal turned cop, and use and abuse their authority to hunt down the murderer of Marcus’ mentor while also cleaning up Manhattan neighborhoods from Harlem to Chinatown. Undercover investigations weave players through a murderous web of gangs and deceit as they battle crooks, Marcus’ past and everything else the city throws at them. The game will also feature tons of high-level voice talent, including such Hollywood stars as Avery Whitting, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Walken, Traci Lords, and Mickey Rourke. Check out the latest trailer below by viewing it in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drvie, and watch for True Crime: New York City to hit stores this fall. Video: True Crime: New York City Trailer (18.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 22 2005 22:48 PM [Top] Ubisoft Open to EA Takeover? [ Games Industry ] Cryptic comments from the president of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, have made it seem that the highly-lauded 3rd party developer could be on the market. Says Guillemot in an interview with French newspaper Les Echoes, "We are not safe from a hostile action from Electronic Arts, which would be difficult to block if they make a genuinely interesting offer." Considering EA owns a portion of Ubisoft, these words place a considerably black cloud over the possibility of a completely independent future for Ubisoft, as EA most certainly has the money to make a "genuinely interesting offer". Let's hope that for the sake of pure gaming that Ubisoft can hold off EA's advances. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 22 2005 20:26 PM [Top] Microsoft Exec Gives Thoughts on Revolution [ Games Industry ] Peter Moore, VP Microsoft Xbox Division, recently spoke to GamesIndustry.biz at the Tokyo Games Show about his thoughts on the Revolution and Iwata's keynote speech. Unlike in the past, where Nintendo and Microsoft usually exchange negative words, Moore had only good things to say about the Revolution. "I want to give kudos for Nintendo for its attempt at innovation with the new controller," Moore commented, saying that the new device would -"bring people in that, as Iwata-san said, are either lapsed gamers or gamers that are intimidated by the complexity of the controller." He also went on to say, "We said at E3, we want a billion consumers touched in this next generation by our industry. That was an industry message. Certainly, we can see Nintendo rallying to that cry and reiterating what Robbie said on May 16th; I heard the same words come from Iwata-san of Nintendo yesterday." Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, September 22 2005 3:09 AM [Top] Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Gameplay Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Ubisoft has released the first of many gameplay trailers to come over the next two months leading up the release of the game in early December. If you guys remember the amount of media Ubisoft released for Warrior Within and Sands of Time then you know what is in store. This new trailer shows off quite a few new aspects of this edition of the series. The music however is what really drew my attention. I loved the music from both Sands of Time and Warrior Within and it seems that Ubisoft has blended the two styles perfectly. Hit the link to watch the trailer in any browser. Below is a little bit about the plot of the game. The Prince of Persia makes his way home to Babylon, along with him Kaileena, the enigmatic Empress of Time, and unspeakable scars from the Island of Time. But instead of the peace he longs for, he finds his kingdom ravaged by war and Kaileena the target of a brutal plot. When she is kidnapped, the Prince tracks her to the Palace – only to see her murdered by a powerful enemy. Her death unleashes the Sands of Time, which strike the Prince and threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. Cast to the streets, hunted as a fugitive, the Prince soon discovers that the Sands have tainted him, too. They have given rise to a deadly Dark Prince, whose spirit gradually possesses him. Update Two new pieces of artwork, as well as the game's logo, have also been released today for Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. The artwork is of the Prince and Dark Prince each sitting on the throne. Very cool indeed. Images: The Prince Sitting on the Throne The Dark Prince Sitting on the Throne Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Logo Video: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Gameplay Trailer (10.4 MB) Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, September 22 2005 2:57 AM [Top] Nintendo Releases Brighter GBA SP [ IGN Game Boy ] While Nintendo released their newest portable powerhouse, the Game Boy Micro, this week, they were quietly releasing another new handheld...or at least, an update to an older one. Nintendo not only released the Game Boy Advance SP in new colors, Pearl Blue and Graphite, this week, but also with a new, brighter, backlit screen, as opposed to the front light the GBA SP originally had. Obviously, Nintendo didn't want this new development to get out as so not to take away from the launch of the new GBM. The new GBA SPs will stay at their current MSRP of $79.99, which makes one wonder why Nintendo expects people to spend $20 more on a Game Boy with a smaller screen and no backwards-compatibility. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 22 2005 1:17 AM [Top] New Shrek SuperSlam Screenshots [ Activision ] Shrek SuperSlam pits the characters from the Shrek franchise against each other in the only game that combines the twisted humor and pop culture parodies of the Shrek universe with the fast-paced action of a melee fighting game. Signature fighting moves like Shrek’s “Green Storm,” Donkey’s “Juggle Punt,” and Puss-in-Boots’ “Love-Stun” bring variety and personality to the game. Fully destructible arenas like the Poison Apple Inn and Dragon’s Gate have walls toppling and debris flying while a multitude of weapons, potions, and magical items spell endless melee action for up to four players. Shrek SuperSlam will hit stores for the GameCube, GBA, and DS this November. Check out the latest GameCube-specific screenshots below. Images: Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 1 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 2 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 3 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 4 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 21 2005 23:49 PM [Top] New Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshots [ Activision ] While Activision has been heavily promoting Spider-Man's return to consoles with Ultimate Spider-Man, the upcoming DS version has gotten little-to-no attention. Now, we finally can show off some screenshots of the upcoming title, developed by Vicarious Visions. The game looks to be similar in structure to the DS version of Spider-Man 2 released at launch last year, combining a 3D world with 2D beat-em-up gameplay. Like the console versions, the DS version will feature comic-style cutscenes with full voice acting, cel-shaded graphics, and the ability to play as either Spider-Man or his arch-nemesis, Venom. Check out the latest screens of Ultimate Spider-Man for the DS below, and check out the game when it releases next week on the same day as the GameCube version, on September 29th. Images: Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 1 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 2 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 3 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 4 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 5 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 6 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 7 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 8 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 9 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 10 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 11 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 12 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 13 Ultimate Spider-Man DS Screenshot 14 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 21 2005 23:36 PM [Top] New Nintendo Boxarts [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has revealed the boxarts to several of their big holiday games. Check out the boxarts for Mario Kart DS, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Metroid Prime Pinball, and Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix below. Images: Mario Kart DS Boxart Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Boxart Metroid Prime Pinball Boxart Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 21 2005 22:21 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces Nintendogs DS Bundle [ Nintendo ] You'll never find a cuter, more attractive bundle. Starting on Oct. 24, Nintendo will offer a limited-edition bundle featuring a specially colored Nintendo DS system and a "Best Friends" edition of the best-selling Nintendogs. The special bundle-only version of Nintendogs will let owners start with the six most popular breeds chosen from the three Nintendogs editions. Shoppers will get to choose between a Pearl Pink color DS or a Teal color DS, available only in the special bundle, which will sell at an MSRP of $149.99. The special fourth edition of Nintendogs packed in this bundle includes the following starter breeds: Labrador retriever, golden retriever, German shepherd, beagle, Yorkshire terrier and miniature dachshund. As with the other editions, all 18 breeds are unlockable as owners progress. The bundle also includes a Nintendogs-branded Nintendo DS skin and a bone-shaped screen cleaner. Consumers will have to act fast, as supplies are limited. Nintendogs broke sales records when it launched Aug. 22 in the United States. Created exclusively for Nintendo DS, Nintendogs instantly became the hottest video game product on the market. To date, Nintendogs has sold nearly 1.5 million copies in Japan and North America. Images: Nintendo DS Nintendogs Best Friends Edition Bundle Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 21 2005 22:02 PM [Top] Want to Meet Miyamoto? [ Nintendo ] There are two ways to meet Nintendo's legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto: first, you can go to Japan and break into his house, risking injury and/or arrest. However, if you want to do it the LEGAL way, go to the Nintendo World Store in New York City this Sunday, September 25th. The first 200 people in line at the Nintendo World Store are guaranteed an autograph from Mr. Miyamoto, who is making a rare U.S. appearance in support of his latest creation, the blockbuster Nintendogs. Consumers of Nintendo DS systems and Nintendogs also will have the opportunity to use the wireless “Bark Mode” function, meet new Nintendogs owners and let their puppies interact. The first 10 people in line with a DS and Nintendogs will get a chance to use “Bark Mode” with the acclaimed Mr. Miyamoto. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 21 2005 21:48 PM [Top] Prince of Persia 3 Gets a Title [ Ubisoft ] We knew one was coming, and now it's official. The latest installment in the highly-acclaimed Prince of Persia series from Ubisoft will now be titled Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. The new title is obviously a reference to the Prince's new ability to transform into another version of himself, a dark prince with vicious killing ability. The game will also make use of steath-based speed kill system, and will feature an expansive, open-ended world with danger at every turn. Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones will hit stores this November for the GameCube. Keep it with us at the Café as Ubisoft reveals more screenshots and videos of what should be one of this year's best games. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 20 2005 23:55 PM [Top] New Pokémon XD Screens And Art [ Nintendo ] A familiar legendary Pokémon named Lugia has been turned into a new type of Shadow Pokémon, one that supposedly can’t be purified. Using Shadow Lugia, the evil organization Cipher has stolen the Pokémon-carrying cargo ship, the S.S. Libra, to help fulfill its grandiose plan of world domination. Players must save the Shadow Pokémon from a life of evil deeds and thwart Cipher’s plans before it’s too late. As Michael, a young trainer, players must seek to unravel the mystery behind Shadow Lugia. During the journey they will be helped by numerous friends and fight against even more foes as they race against time to snag and purify the Shadow Pokémon and save the world. Experience intense Pokémon action in this full-scale role-playing game with nearly 40 hours of game play, as well as a new Vs Mode that allows players to import all of their Pokémon from Game Boy Advance games like Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon FireRed, Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon Emerald, and battle with them in full 3-D. Check out the latest screens and artwork from the game below, and watch for Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness to hit stores on October 3rd. Images: Pokémon XD Screenshot 1 Pokémon XD Screenshot 2 Pokémon XD Screenshot 3 Pokémon XD Screenshot 4 Pokémon XD Screenshot 5 Pokémon XD Screenshot 6 Pokémon XD Screenshot 7 Pokémon XD Screenshot 8 Pokémon XD Screenshot 9 Pokémon XD Screenshot 10 Pokémon XD Screenshot 11 Pokémon XD Screenshot 12 Pokémon XD Screenshot 13 Pokémon XD Character Art 1 Pokémon XD Character Art 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 20 2005 21:02 PM [Top] Nintendo to Launch WiFi in October [ Nintendo ] Overlooked during Satoru Iwata's keynote, for obvious reasons, was a nice little tidbit of info about Nintendo's upcoming WiFi connection launch. Iwata confirmed the service will launch worldwide next month, which comes as no surprise considering the first WiFi-enabled DS game, Mario Kart DS, will hit stores next month as well. He also confirmed that all the details about the service will be divulged next month as well. Keep it here at the Café as all information about Nintendo's Wifi service is revealed. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 20 2005 20:44 PM [Top] New Ultimate Spider-Man Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Take on the role of the world’s most famous Super Hero, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and one of his most menacing nemeses, Venom, in an original storyline written and illustrated by the creative team behind the best-selling “Ultimate Spider-Man” comic books. Set in a massive free-roaming New York City environment, including the new borough of Queens, the game delivers the most in-depth Spider-Man adventure to date with a variety of demanding missions, diverse gameplay and a new combat system that allows players to face off against the largest number of interactive characters from the Marvel universe ever assembled in a Spider-Man game. With gameplay that unfolds through interactive comic book panels and 3D Comic Inking Technology, players are seamlessly integrated into a virtual comic book experience via simultaneous multiple visual perspectives. Be legendary. Be predatory. Be both. Ultimate Spider-Man swings into stores on September 29th for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. Check out the latest trailer below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Ultimate Spider-Man Trailer (28.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 20 2005 15:59 PM [Top] Nintendo Exec Reassures Fans [ Eurogamer ] Eurogamer got a chance today to sit down and talk to the Senior Director of Marketing for Nintendo of Europe. Highlights from the interview are below, but to read the full thing hit the source link and head over to Eurogamer. Eurogamer: So how long has the controller been in development? Jim Merrick: It's a difficult thing to pin down. I mean, two years ago, Iwata was talking about making a fundamental change in the marketplace and reaching new audiences. And of course, the minute we finished work on the Gamecube, we were thinking, 'Where do we go from here?' I really started seeing references maybe a year ago - the developers started to get information, and then prototypes, and now they're working with what you saw today. Eurogamer: How is the controller going to work with games that aren't designed specifically for the Revolution - multi-platform titles and so on? Jim Merrick: We're producing a classic-style expansion controller, based on traditional designs like the Gamecube controller. It's like a shell with a hole in the top into which you slot the freehand-style controller, and then you can play third-party ported games, and retro Nintendo games you've downloaded. So there's that option - but even while it's inserted into the classic-style shell, the freehand controller will still be able to sense positioning and so on, so there are more options too. It's something that's just as true for the DS - not every game uses the DS's unique features. But some multi-platform titles do, like The Sims 2 for example. We hope other developers will do the same and look at ways their multi-platform titles can make use of the Revolution's features. [End] Well that is quite reassuring. My first impressions of the controller was, "what the hell are they thinking?" But over the last twelve or so hours there have been a lot more in depth reports about the controller which are are settling my stomach and slowly changing my opinion. Something tells me that I won't be taking the controller out its shell very often. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, September 16 2005 14:07 PM [Top] Official Revolution Controller Press Release [ Nintendo ] Every gamer who plays. Every one who used to play. Even those who have yet to play, Nintendo is your bet. As the cornerstone of his speech today at the Tokyo Game Show's annual event, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata elaborated on the theme of the company's aim and proven ability to broaden the population of video game players. Two shining examples highlighted in his keynote include the smash-hit sales of the highly innovative Nintendogs game for the portable Nintendo DS system, and the new controller that will be central to the company's upcoming console system, code-named Revolution. Nintendo breaks with more than 20 years of video game history by abandoning the traditional controller held with two hands and introducing an all-new freehand-style unit held with one hand. The intuitive, pioneering interface allows players to run, jump, spin, slide, shoot, steer, accelerate, bank, dive, kick, throw and score in a way never experienced in the history of gaming. "The feeling is so natural and real, as soon as players use the controller, their minds will spin with the possibilities of how this will change gaming as we know it today," explains Satoru Iwata, Nintendo president. "This is an extremely exciting innovation – one that will thrill current players and entice new ones." When picked up and pointed at the screen, the controller gives a lightning-quick element of interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting dictated by movement of the controller itself. The controller also allows for a variety of expansions, including a "nunchaku" style analog unit offering the enhanced game-play control hard-core gamers demand. The response from all major publishers worldwide has been extremely positive. Beyond its other innovations, the new controller gives third parties flexibility, allowing them the option to use as many or as few of the controller features as they desire. In addition, incorporated technology will easily allow games from the NES, SNES, N64 and Nintendo GameCube generations to be controlled in familiar fashion. "Nintendo has long been a trailblazer, and this controller design reinforces that reputation," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO of THQ. "We enthusiastically support Nintendo's next console because we believe their approach of continual innovation is very much in line with our own strategy of creating unique and innovative games for the next generation of hardware." "What we're seeing from this controller is the same thing we saw with Nintendo DS," said Chuck Huebner, Head of Worldwide Studios, Activision, Inc. "It's a system that's designed with an eye on enticing new players to the video game industry, and that's something we firmly support." "Game control is essential – it's the area where perhaps the most game-play improvement can be made," said John Schappert, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Arts Canada. "While our portfolio represents a full array of titles across all genres, I think our sports titles might be the first to immediately take advantage of what this novel 'freehand' type of control has to offer." "We were among the first publishers to see the control design in action," said Serge Hascoet, Chief Creative Officer of Ubisoft. "We're excited about the new controller and are looking forward to taking advantage of its innovative aspects." Click below for some high-resolution images of the Revolution's unique controller. Images: Nintendo Revolution Controller High-Res Image 1 Nintendo Revolution Controller High-Res Image 2 Nintendo Revolution Controller High-Res Image 3 Nintendo Revolution Controller High-Res Image 4 Nintendo Revolution Controller High-Res Image 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 16 2005 0:23 AM [Top] Iwata Webcast Friday Morning [ IRWebCasting ] A webcast of Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata's Tokyo Game Show keynote speech will be available Friday morning. Click the source link and that is right where that badboy will be. You will be able to see the controller being revealed as well as the rest of his speech. I am not sure if it will be translated into English, but I assume it will. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, September 16 2005 0:17 AM [Top] Revolution Controller Revealed! [ Nintendo ] We said they would show it off, and now, they've delivered. Nintendo has revealed the first look at the Revolution controller, which definitely looks quite unorthodox. The controller is meant to be held in one hand, with a D-Pad, a large A button with a B button on the back, as well as two smalled buttons labled "a" and "b". The controller also features a tilt-sensitive feature, as well as a light-gun-like pointing capability - this will revolutionize popular genres and make new ones. The controller is also capable of being attached to an analog stick attachment (with two trigger buttons) held in the other hand, with the possibility of more attachments to come later. The controller will also be completely wireless, except for the wires for attachments, as well as have the ability to turn on the console from a distance. The controller will also have rumble feedback. Nintendo also showed off several work-in-progress demos, which, while not graphical representations of what Revolution games will look like, give an idea of what the controller is capable of. In one, gamers must shoot various targets as they pop up on the screen. In another, gamers could fly through rigns around Isle Delfino, and in another, players battled through the first section of Metroid Prime 2 Echoes, which showed the controller's capabilites for first person shooters. Nintendo did say that, like the Revolution console, the controller is a work in progress and may be changed. But for now, we know the Revolutionary aspect of the console...and the future is looking bright. Images: Revolution Controller Image 1 Revolution Controller Image 2 Revolution Controller Image 3 Revolution Controller Image 4 Revolution Controller Image 5 Revolution Controller Image 6 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 15 2005 22:50 PM [Top] New True Crime: New York City Screenshots [ Activision ] In True Crime: New York City, unprecedented environmental interaction allows players to access almost everything in the environment that will help them defeat enemies including stove top burners, ovens, industrial machinery, locking a suspect in a freezer and using broken chair legs as clubs. Gamers can race through the streets of Manhattan in shootouts, pulling off stunts on motorcycles or in a variety of vehicles such as customizable black market vehicles and police-issue cars. As a street-smart cop players are able to switch fighting styles– from street fighting to various types of martial arts – on the fly against opponents, opening up an array of moves and strategies designed to take down enemies. Players can earn an arsenal of high-powered police issue weaponry or obtain black market arms like flamethrowers, grenade launchers and more, in addition to dozens of melee weapons like bats and swords. True Crime: New York City will hit stores this fall, and you can check out a batch of GameCube-specific screenshots below. Images: True Crime: New York City Screenshot 1 True Crime: New York City Screenshot 2 True Crime: New York City Screenshot 3 True Crime: New York City Screenshot 4 True Crime: New York City Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 15 2005 18:50 PM [Top] Nintendo Puts Gamers In The Pink [ Nintendo ] Back when Kirby Canvas Curse was released in July, gamers were shocked to learn that the special pink stylus given away to Japanese preorderers would not be brought over to the US. Now, however, Nintendo has finally brought the stylus to the US, available only through a special deal at Nintendo.com. Site members who have registered their copy of Kirby Canvas Curse can obtain the stylus simply by clicking the source link above. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 15 2005 18:31 PM [Top] Microsoft Announces XBox 360 Launch Date [ Microsoft ] Microsoft has made it official - the XBox 360 will hit stores in November, at least in the US. The company has officially announced that the XBox 360 will hit US stores on Tuesday, November 22nd. A European launch will follow on the 2nd of December, while Japan will receive the console last on December 10th. Now that the big announcement from MS is out of the way, hopefully Nintendo will come through with their own: the Revolution controller. GameCube Café is definitely the place to be tonight, so stop by at about 10 PM eastern time to get all the news from Satoru Iwata's keynote in Tokyo as it breaks. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 15 2005 0:15 AM [Top] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare [ Previews ] Leonardo leads. Donatello does machines. Raphael is cool but crude. Michaelangelo is a party dude. Also, their recent games usually suck. Will the 4th TMNT game on consoles change things? Will takes a look at the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare. Will Szwagiel -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 22:20 PM [Top] Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects [ Previews ] EA buys franchises, not makes them, right? Well, now, you'd be wrong. Eric takes a look at the upcoming Marvel Nemesis. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 21:37 PM [Top] New Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Details and Screens [ Activision ] Designed to take full advantage of the Nintendo DS, Tony Hawk’s American SK8Land is the first 3D Tony Hawk game experience for a Nintendo handheld system. Featuring a unique cell-shaded art style, players must prove themselves to Tony Hawk and other legendary pros as they undertake hundreds of skating goals set in seven popular areas of Los Angeles and restore the ultimate skate park, American SK8Land, to its former glory. The game challenges players to complete signature skate tricks that have been made popular by the Tony Hawk franchise, and also includes exclusive features such as wireless online multiplayer, voice in-game and touch-screen capabilities. Fans create a handheld Hawk community where they can skate head-to-head against other DS players online, post and download high scores and statistics, as well as replay “ghosts,” which teach gamers new skate runs, combos and other moves done by others in the WiFi Hawk community. Players can also play against the “ghosts.” Players can also record voices that replay in the game when players bail, perform a special trick, or clear a gap. Also, players earn money through story mode and buy new equipment for their custom skate park. More than 1000 different skate park designs are possible using the intuitive touch screen based create-a-park editor. Tony Hawk's American Sk8land will hit stores for the Nintendo DS this November. Check out the latest screens below. Images: Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Screenshot 1 Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Screenshot 2 Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Screenshot 3 Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Screenshot 4 Tony Hawk's American Sk8land Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 20:31 PM [Top] Xenosaga For DS Confirmed [ Famitsu ] What's with all the RPG love for Nintendo today? Yet another RPG from Namco (more specifically, from Monolith Software) is coming to a Nintendo console, this time the DS. The game will be Xenosaga I II, a remake of the first two Xenosaga games originally released on PS2. The Xenosaga games are known to be titles with heavy reliance on story and graphical excellence, which will make it interesting to see how the title looks on the relatively modestly-powered DS. It'll also be interesting how items like the touch screen come into play. Check out a scan of the title from Famitsu magazine below, and hopefully we'll receive more information about the game this weekend at the Tokyo Game Show. Images: Xenosaga I and II Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 18:24 PM [Top] Final Fantasy IV Comes To GBA [ Nintendo ] Fans of the legendary Final Fantasy series can rejoice. The fourth installment of the wildly popular series will be published by Nintendo and available on December 12th for Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Micro. The GBA version of Final Fantasy IV includes 18 towns and castles, dozens of magical spells and hundreds of monsters, weapons and items to help players on their quests. The game features the astounding music, challenging adventures and interesting storyline that are the hallmarks of the Final Fantasy franchise. Additional game elements also have been added to enhance the Game Boy Advance version. Players can expect 30 to 40 hours of playing time as they journey on land, on sea and in the air, and explore new towns, caves and mountains in their attempt to recover stolen crystals. Twelve different characters with new abilities, spells and items join and leave the party at different parts of the quest to keep the game fresh. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 17:40 PM [Top] Baten Kaitos 2 Revealed [ IGN Cube ] The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed that Baten Kaitos 2 is in production for the GameCube. This is a very surprising announcement, with the magazine claiming a December 2005 release in Japan, which means we'll likely get the game sometime next year (preferrably early next year). As many may also recall, Namco announced Baten Kaitos: The Start of the Wings and the Heir of the Gods for the DS as well, which seems to be a prequel to the series. We'll keep you updated as always. UPDATE: We now have obtained the first scans of this game from Famitsu magazine, which you can check out below. According to the scan, the title will be a prequel to the original game and will still use the card battle system. Namco has also revealed that the first trailer of this title will be revealed this week at the Tokyo Game Show, so stay tuned for that. Images: Baten Kaitos II Famitsu Scan 1 Baten Kaitos II Famitsu Scan 2 Joe McCollum -- Posted on Wednesday, September 14 2005 16:07 PM [Top] Little Micro Gets Big Sales [ Reuters ] Reuters is reporting that the Game Boy Micro, the newest member of Nintendo's portable family, is experiencing great sales since its launch earlier today in Japan. According to retailers, 70% of the system stock were devoted to filling preorders, especially the limited-edition Famicom model. While the launch still isn't on par with the massive launch of the GBA SP 3 years ago, it still is amazing considering the lack of hype and interest from gamers since the system was revealed at E3. Hopefully the GBM will achieve similar success when it launches in the US next week. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 13 2005 15:01 PM [Top] DS Burnout Confirmed [ Electronic Arts ] EA has officially announced that Burnout Legends, initially believed to be a PSP-exclusive, will have a version for the Nintendo DS this fall. The Burnout franchise, developed by Criterion games, is perhaps the best racing series going right now, featuring high-speed arcade racing with awesome graphics and intense crashes. Not much else is known about the game right now, but it is confirmed that the game will hit stores this November. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 13 2005 14:55 PM [Top] New Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Trailers [ GameCube Café ] The legendary Tony Hawk franchise returns to the GameCube this fall with the debut of a brand new series: Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. As a budding Skateboarder (or, for the first time, a BMXer), skate your way through an open-ended world based upon Los Angeles, the birthplace of extreme sport, in the early 90's. Take on missions from some of the world's best pros and gain fame (and oftentimes infamy) as you compete to become the best boarder in history. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland will hit stores this October for the GameCube. Check out a pair of new trailers for the game below by clicking on them to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Trailer 1 (24.2 MB) Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Trailer 2 (26.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 13 2005 14:26 PM [Top] New GUN Trailer [ GameCube Café ] In GUN, players traverse on horseback or foot through a living, populated environment that stretches from the snowy mountains of Montana, to the plains of Dodge City, Kansas and the deserts of New Mexico where danger is at every turn. Experience an extensive variety of missions such as: wage war on horseback, hunt for bounties, play poker, protect ladies of the night, hunt buffalo, and assault a frontier fort. Multiple gameplay styles include: strategic gunplay and precision shooting, stealth tactics, and use of explosives. Embark on numerous side missions to master gun slinging and horse riding. Players can unlock secret weapons and upgrade skills and abilities to improve their weapon and equipment performance. GUN will be released this fall for the GameCube. Check out the latest trailer below by clicking on it to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: GUN Trailer (21.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 13 2005 7:08 AM [Top] Sega Announces Casino Game for DS [ Sega ] Sega has announced a brand new Casino game for the Nintendo DS for release in the US. Called Sega Casino, the game will feature a host of classic casino games, including Roulette, Craps, Blackjack, Poker (in both Video and Texas Hold 'Em forms), Baccarat, Keno, and many more. The game will also feature wireless multiplayer support for 4 players, making use of only one DS cartridge. Sega Casino will hit stores this holiday season. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, September 13 2005 3:33 AM [Top] New Trauma Center: Under the Knife Media [ Atlus ] One of the most unique games to be announced for the Nintendo DS, Trauma Center puts players in the role of a young surgeon faced with numerous crises. When a massive viral outbreak infects the entire city, it's up to you to save it using the power of the DS stylus to cut, disinfect, and suture your way to victory! Trauma Center: Under The Knife will be released for the Nintendo DS on October 4th, 2005 and is rated T for Teen. Check out the latest screens and some new gameplay videos below. Videos: Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 1 (7.1 MB) Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 2 (13.1 MB) Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 3 (4.2 MB) Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 4 (8.1 MB) Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 5 (3.4 MB) Trauma Center: Under The Knife Video 6 (8.5 MB) Images: Trauma Center: Under the Knife Screenshot 1 Trauma Center: Under the Knife Screenshot 2 Trauma Center: Under the Knife Screenshot 3 Trauma Center: Under the Knife Screenshot 4 Trauma Center: Under the Knife Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 12 2005 16:17 PM [Top] New Sonic Riders Screenshots [ Sega ] Last week, Sega announced a new Sonic racing game for the GameCube entitled Sonic Riders. Now, the game has been officially announced by the company, and will feature Sonic and friends racing through high-speed 3D courses. Check out the latest screens of this title below. Images: Sonic Riders Screenshot 1 Sonic Riders Screenshot 2 Sonic Riders Screenshot 3 Sonic Riders Screenshot 4 Sonic Riders Screenshot 5 Sonic Riders Screenshot 6 Sonic Riders Screenshot 7 Sonic Riders Screenshot 8 Sonic Riders Screenshot 9 Sonic Riders Screenshot 10 Sonic Riders Screenshot 11 Sonic Riders Screenshot 12 Sonic Riders Screenshot 13 Sonic Riders Screenshot 14 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, September 12 2005 11:22 AM [Top] New Ultimate Spider-Man Media [ Activision ] Ultimate Spider-Man is looking like the best game ever starring thw world-famous wallcrawler, and it should be a massive hit when it is released. Activision has now released some new media from the game, centering on some of the game's villains. Check out character art, videos, and screenshots starring Beetle, Rhyno, and Electro below. Images: Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 1 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 2 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 3 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 4 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 5 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 6 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 7 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 8 Ultimate Spider-Man Screenshot 9 Ultimate Spider-Man Character Art 1 Ultimate Spider-Man Character Art 2 Ultimate Spider-Man Character Art 3 Video: Ultimate Spider-Man Villain Trailer - Beetle (8.5 MB) Ultimate Spider-Man Villain Trailer - Rhino (7.8 MB) Ultimate Spider-Man Villain Trailer - Electro (6.9 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, September 11 2005 22:29 PM [Top] THQ to Support Revolution [ IGN Cube ] Third-party support for Nintendo's upcoming Revolution console seems to be few and far between, but it looks like yet another name has thrown its hat into the ring. According to IGN and THQ President Brian Farrel, THQ is currently at work at numerous Revolution games. Obviously, the company could not say more than that due to NDA's, but did say some welcome words: "Nintendo is waking up...We're seeing more from Nintendo now than we have an any other Nintendo platform." Could the Revolution be THIS amazing? We'll (hopefully) find out in about a week's time at the Tokyo Game Show where Nintendo President Satoru Iwata will give a keynote speech where he is expected to reveal all on Revolution. As always, GameCube Café will provide full coverage of what's sure to be a momentous event in Nintendo's long history. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, September 9 2005 12:27 PM [Top] Tony Hawk for DS and GBA Gets a Name Change [ Activision ] Activision has revealed the boxarts to the upcoming Tony Hawk games for the GBA and DS, and it appears that both games will have a different title from their console brethren. As opposed to Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, the games will be called Tony Hawk's American Sk8land. Yes, the games are spelled with an 8, apparently because it's extreme and cool. Or something. Anyway, both games are developed by Activision's usual portable developer of choice, Vicarious Visions, and will feature the usual modes of a Tony Hawk game packed into a portable package. The GBA version probably won't be too different from previous GBA Tony Hawks, but the DS version will feature numerous upgrades including 3D cel-shaded graphics, touch-screen trick control, and best of all, the fact that it will be the first 3rd party game to make use of Nintendo Wifi Connection. Tony Hawk's American Sk8land will hit stores for the GBA on the same date as the console versions, October 18th, while the DS version will hit stores about a month later on November 15th. Check out the boxart of both games below. Images: Tony Hawk's American Sk8land DS Boxart Tony Hawk's American Sk8land GBA Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 8 2005 22:00 PM [Top] New Metroid Prime Hunters Trailer [ GameCube Café ] It's been a damn long time since the First Hunt demo that we've all played the hell out of, but Metroid Prime Hunters is finally coming out...next year. Yeah, thanks Nintendo. The good news is that the highly anticipated FPS (it ain't an FPA this time, no sir) will not only feature a huge single-player mode as well as numerous multiplayer modes, but will be compatible with Nintendo Wifi Connection, so you can blast your buddies anywhere on the globe! Oh yeah, and it's looking a lot prettier too. Check out the latest trailer below by clicking on it to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive, and watch for Metroid Prime Hunters to hit stores next year. Video: Metroid Prime Hunters Trailer (8.4 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 8 2005 21:42 PM [Top] News Corp Buys IGN Entertainment [ Yahoo News ] News Corp., the media conglomerate headed by Rupert Murdoch, said Thursday it will buy Internet company IGN Entertainment Inc. for about $650 million in cash. San Francisco-based IGN and its network of sites, most devoted to video games, will become part of News Corp.'s Fox Interactive Media unit. This deal marks News Corp.'s third Internet-related acquisition in recent months. The company is in the process of closing its purchases of Intermix, operator of the MySpace.com social-networking site, and college-sports company Scout Media. With the addition of IGN, Intermix and Scout Media to existing Fox-branded sites, News Corp. said its U.S. Web traffic will increase to nearly 70 million unique monthly users and more than 12 billion page impressions per month. To read the rest of the press release, hit the source link. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, September 8 2005 21:36 PM [Top] Sonic Rides Again [ Famitsu ] With the next-gen upon us, many believed that the upcoming Shadow the Hedgehog would be the last time the Sonic series would hit current-gen consoles. Not so, says Sega, as the latest issue of Famitsu reveals a brand new Sonic Racing game for the GameCube. Entitled Sonic Riders, the game features Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and several new characters racing through various stages. Instead of the characters using different vehicles, like in Sonic R (recently re-released as part of Sonic Gems Collection), each uses a special airboard which allows for high-speed thrills and high-impact stunts. Check out the first look at this game below via some scans from Famitsu magazine. Sonic Riders will hit stores in Japan later this year so we should expect it to hit the US sometime next year. Images: Sonic Riders Famitsu Scan 1 Sonic Riders Famitsu Scan 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 8 2005 21:14 PM [Top] Peter Jackson's King Kong [ Previews ] At this point in his career, Peter Jackson can do pretty much whatever he wants. So he put Jack Black in King Kong. And not as the giant ape. There's also a game coming out. This is a preview of it. Read it. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, September 8 2005 13:16 PM [Top] New Nintendo Game Scans from Famitsu [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed some new scans for some upcoming Nintendo games. Check them out below for some new looks at Mario Party 7, Super Princess Peach, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Drill Dozer, Battalion Wars, Mario Tennis: Power Tour, Touch Golf, Polarium GBA, and Hamtaro DS. Images: Nintendo Famitsu Scan 1 (Mario Party 7 & Super Princess Peach) Nintendo Famitsu Scan 2 (Mario & Luigi 2 & Drill Dozer) Nintendo Famitsu Scan 3 (Battalion Wars & Mario Tennis: Power Tour) Nintendo Famitsu Scan 4 (Battalion Wars, Touch Golf, Hamtaro DS, and Polarium 2) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 7 2005 22:43 PM [Top] New Gundam Game for GameCube [ Famitsu ] The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed that Bandai and Nintendo are co-developing a band-new title based on the legeandary Gundam series of super robot anime. Called SD Gundam: Gachapon Wars, the game looks to be a revival of the Gatchapon Wars game released way back when on the original Famicom system, and since re-released on the GBA as part of Nintendo's Famicom Mini series (AKA the Classic NES Series here in the states). The new game will combine turn-based simulation RPG gameplay with fast-paced multiplayer battle sequences. Tsutomu Koganezawa, producer of Nintendo's Custom Robo series, will produce this game, and his influence looks to be felt on the multiplayer action scenes which look to be very similar to Custom Robo's. The game will hit stores in Japan this winter, and will doubtfully see release in the US. Check out the first look at this game thanks to a trio of scans from Famitsu below. Images: SD Gundam: Gachapon Wars Famitsu Scan 1 SD Gundam: Gachapon Wars Famitsu Scan 2 SD Gundam: Gachapon Wars Famitsu Scan 3 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 7 2005 22:19 PM [Top] New DS RPGs from Konami Revealed [ Famitsu ] A couple of weeks ago, Konami revealed the games they were showing off at the Tokyo Game Show, with two mysterious DS titles listed: Iron Feather and Lost Magic. Now, we know what these games are: a pair of RPGs. Not much is known about the games at this time, but you can expect much more next week at TGS 2005. For now, check out some scans of both games from the latest issue of Famitsu below. Images: Iron Feather Famitsu Scan 1 Iron Feather Famitsu Scan 2 Lost Magic Famitsu Scan 1 Lost Magic Famitsu Scan 2 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 7 2005 21:20 PM [Top] Super Monkey Ball DS Revealed [ Famitsu ] The latese issue of Famitsu magaine has revealed that the highly-lauded Super Monkey Ball franchise from Sega will be hitting the DS sometime next year. Super Monkey Ball DS, as the game is tentatively titled, will combine 3D worlds with sprite monkeys, which should make for an innovative graphical experience, and will also feature touch screen control similar to the recently-released Pac'n Roll. Check out the first look via Famitsu magazine at what promises to be a unique DS experience below. Super Monkey Ball DS should hit stores in Japan next year, meaning we should expect to see it around the same time as well. Images: Super Monkey Ball DS Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, September 7 2005 20:53 PM [Top] Various New Logos, a Boxart, and a Name Change [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has released a new slew of logos and one boxart for their upcoming titles. Among them are Super Mario Strikers, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing DS (now called Animal Crossing: Wild World, apparently), and others. Take a look below. Images: Super Mario Strikers GC Logo Mario Kart DS Logo Animal Crossing: Wild World DS Logo Mario Tennis: Power Tour GBA Logo Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time DS Logo Donkey Kong Country 3 GBA Logo Donkey Kong Country 3 GBA Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, September 7 2005 12:47 PM [Top] Happy Birthday, Silver! [ GameCube Café ] That's right. Twenty-one years and nine months ago, something so creepy and gut-wrenching happened that I can't even begin to explain it to you. But, from those unholy acts, came a child destined for greatness. Unfortunately, Matthew Silver doesn't believe in destiny, so he decided to make a website instead. Ok, kidding aside, today is Silver's 21st birthday, and we couldn't be more upset...he was the last person in our group of friends that we could make fun of for not being able to drink legally. Anyway, I've known Silver for longer than I care to remember, going back to grade school and little league baseball. How we came up with the brilliant idea to start a website, I still don't know, but we did it, and now we're dealing with all kinds of lawsuits and federal agents who apparently think certain lewd acts aren't appropriate for the Internet. We also decided to do a more family-friendly Nintendo website, and that's the one that you're looking at right now. If you want to wish Silver a happy 21, pop into the forums or chatroom. If you want to speak with him personally, though, don't wait too long, as we're planning on going out with our friends and drinking until we can't feel feelings anymore. Happy birthday, buddy! Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, September 5 2005 13:02 PM [Top] Shrek SuperSlam Boxart and Screenshots [ Activision ] Shrek SuperSlam pits the characters from the Shrek franchise against each other in the only game that combines the twisted humor and pop culture parodies of the Shrek universe with the fast-paced action of a melee fighting game. Signature fighting moves like Shrek’s “Green Storm,” Donkey’s “Juggle Punt,” and Puss-in-Boots’ “Love-Stun” bring variety and personality to the game. Fully destructible arenas like the Poison Apple Inn and Dragon’s Gate have walls toppling and debris flying while a multitude of weapons, potions, and magical items spell endless melee action for up to four players. Check out the latest screenshots of the GameCube version of the game below, as well as the boxarts for the GameCube, GBA, and DS versions of the game. Shrek SuperSlam will smash its way into stores this November. Images: Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 1 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 2 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 3 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 4 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 5 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 6 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 7 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 8 Shrek SuperSlam Screenshot 9 Shrek SuperSlam GameCube Boxart Shrek SuperSlam DS Boxart Shrek SuperSlam GBA Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, September 3 2005 2:39 AM [Top] New X-Men Legends II Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Experience the amazing saga of X-Men and Brotherhood rivals bonded by a common enemy in theatrical-quality FMV created by Academy Award nominee Blur Studios. Create, customize and control a punishing team of 4 powerful Mutants, selecting from 16 playable characters—several playable for the first time. Choose from your favorite X-Men characters—including Wolverine, Bishop, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Storm—and Brotherhood mutants—such as Magneto, Toad and Juggernaut. Instantly switch between team members mid-fight to take full advantage of their unique abilities. Combine their powers for even more bruising combo attacks. In X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse each character has more than double the arsenal of superpowers at their command than in X-Men Legends. The game features an all-new, flexible storyline that lets you select missions in the order you choose, whether you want to dive into the action or explore. X-Men Legends II will be released later this month for the Nintendo GameCube. Check out the latest trailer by clicking on the link to view it in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: X-Men Legends II Trailer (5.8 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 1 2005 23:09 PM [Top] Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire Trailer [ GameCube Café ] It's now Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwart's, and this one promises to be his most interesting yet! The Tri-Wizard Cup, a legendary tournament between wizards from all over the world, has begun, and with it Harry has been thrown into a new adventure. Teaming up with your loyal friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, battle against hordes of enemies and evil forces until you meet face-to-face with the ultimate evil: the dark wizard Voldemort himself! Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire will hit stores this fall for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS consoles. Check out the trailer for the GameCube version below by clicking on the link to view it in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire Trailer (10.6 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, September 1 2005 23:08 PM [Top] Afro Sam Jackson Gets Video Game [ Namco ] Global video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. and leading Japanese animation studio, GDH K.K. announced today that GDH has granted Namco the exclusive interactive entertainment rights to "Afro Samurai," the gritty manga series created by Takashi Okazaki. The agreement gives Namco rights to publish two different "Afro Samurai" video games over the next five years. “'Afro Samurai' is a visually striking and rich story.” said Jeff Lujan, business director at Namco Hometek Inc. “With its gritty and unique mix of hip-hop and samurai styling, 'Afro Samurai' is perfectly suited for video games. We are looking forward to working with GDH in bringing this exciting new property to life.” One of my life long desires has been filled, I will be able to control Samuel L. Jackson with an afro and carry a sword. The MOVIE Afrosamurai is scheduled for a 2007 release, so we can expect the game to be released around that time as well; for next generation systems. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, September 1 2005 22:54 PM [Top] Nintendogs Surpasses All Expectations [ Nintendo ] With sales of a quarter of a million units in its first week of availability, Nintendogs is not only America's hottest-selling video game, but the best-selling new game franchise ever for a portable system. Retailers already are reporting that Nintendogs, made exclusively for the hand-held Nintendo DS, has sold out in numerous locations across the country, and Nintendo will deliver more shipments as soon as possible. The three versions of Nintendogs and the DS unit itself consistently rank at the top of Amazon.com's best-selling list of all video game products. "Nearly 15 percent of all DS owners bought Nintendogs in just a week, a virtually unprecedented adoption rate for any title on an established system," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "And it's also helping sell new DS hardware. Coupled with a price drop to $129.99, retailers are reporting DS sales up between one and a half and three times previous levels, and last week DS comfortably outsold our portable competitors." People who like traditional hard-core video games have plenty to enjoy as well. Retailers also report that the new Advance Wars: Dual Strike military strategy game for Nintendo DS has become one of Nintendo's top sellers. For downloads, video diaries and fun Nintendogs extras, visit the official Nintendogs website. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Thursday, September 1 2005 10:54 AM [Top]