More support for Wii than Nintendo GameCube
GamePro staff
Industry analyst Colin Sebastian said more third-party games are coming to Wii despite Nintendo's history of poor external support.
"We believe investors should not be surprised that Nintendo titles are dominating bestseller lists early in the cycle, given the popularity of first-party franchises among Nintendophiles," he said.
"But Nintendo does not want to predestine Wii to the lacklustre market share achieved by the GameCube in the last console generation, and we believe the company has aggressively pursued third-party support and is offering new tools (such as the recently announced WiiWare) to expand content offerings."
In short, Sebastian believes lower cost and a broader audience will continue to "encourage additional Wii support" as many publishers have already begun doing. He estimates that developers need only to sell half of what they do on Xbox 360 and PS3 before seeing profits on Wii, thus more third-party games are expected on Nintendo's machine given its commercial appeal.
Via ; www.pcadvisor.co.uk
วันเสาร์ที่ 7 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2550
The Complete Saga: LEGO Star Wars Wii Controls
GameSpy got some hands-on time with Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for the Wii and talk a bit about how the developers are going to be using the console's motion controls.
The controls will let you do everything from speed up build-time by pumping the remote up and down to swinging around a LEGO lightsaber with the remote.
To use the Wii's functionality, the Complete Saga team essentially added a layer of motion-sensing controls over the primary set.
You can press the Z button to build, but if you piston your arms up and down to pantomime the character's animation, you'll build much faster.
Similarly, you can just press the Z button to use your Force powers, but if you direct them with the Wii's controls you'll get a much faster or more powerful response.
Although it might not make it into the final build, blaster characters will probably be able to fire their grapples by flicking the remote from down to up.
And, finally, you can use the Wii Remote to swing your lightsaber.If you waggle the Wii Remote, a character armed with a lightsaber will swing it with the same abandon you swing.
If you jump or double jump first, you'll perform a slam or super slam attack.
In addition, if you swing when a bolt is incoming, you'll be able to swat away blaster fire (rather than just having to hold your lightsaber still).
Swinging the lightsaber with the Wii Remote is a bit faster than just pressing the trigger, and the effects you generate more powerful, but the real payoff is simply swinging your "lightsaber" in real life.
That could be fun, but it also sounds like it might not really add much.
I think this will be one of those things you can't make up your mind on until you try it for yourself.
Via : www.addict3d.org
The controls will let you do everything from speed up build-time by pumping the remote up and down to swinging around a LEGO lightsaber with the remote.
To use the Wii's functionality, the Complete Saga team essentially added a layer of motion-sensing controls over the primary set.
You can press the Z button to build, but if you piston your arms up and down to pantomime the character's animation, you'll build much faster.
Similarly, you can just press the Z button to use your Force powers, but if you direct them with the Wii's controls you'll get a much faster or more powerful response.
Although it might not make it into the final build, blaster characters will probably be able to fire their grapples by flicking the remote from down to up.
And, finally, you can use the Wii Remote to swing your lightsaber.If you waggle the Wii Remote, a character armed with a lightsaber will swing it with the same abandon you swing.
If you jump or double jump first, you'll perform a slam or super slam attack.
In addition, if you swing when a bolt is incoming, you'll be able to swat away blaster fire (rather than just having to hold your lightsaber still).
Swinging the lightsaber with the Wii Remote is a bit faster than just pressing the trigger, and the effects you generate more powerful, but the real payoff is simply swinging your "lightsaber" in real life.
That could be fun, but it also sounds like it might not really add much.
I think this will be one of those things you can't make up your mind on until you try it for yourself.
Via : www.addict3d.org
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 5 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2550
NINTENDO WII
Ever since it launched last November, Nintendo's Wii has posted record sales (outselling the PlayStation 3 by as much as 4-to-1) and given the once-struggling company something it lacked during the days of the GameCube: positive press. The system's unique and intuitive motion-control scheme has won over once game-averse consumers who have used the Wii remote to swing a tennis racket (Wii Sports), cook an omelet (Cooking Mama) — and even control an elephant's trunk (WarioWare: Smooth Moves). While the 360 and PS3 battle it out for the hi-def (and high-end) part of the market, the Wii's lower price and innovative style of play has helped the system continue to sell out six months after launch. You'll have an easier time finding an iPhone.
WHAT WE LIKE
With few Xbox 360 or PS3 games really showing off next-generation gameplay, the Wii continues to remind us that fun is what matters most. Quirky mini-game collections like WarioWare and Rayman: Raving Rabbids put the focus on gameplay instead of graphics. To that we say: Hallelujah! The motion-sensing interface has flattened the learning curve to such an extent that many games are true pick-up-and-play experiences.
Best of all, it looks like such third-party developers as Electronic Arts, THQ, and Activision are finally realizing that bringing a title to the Wii means more than just adding a few wrist-flicking motions. Upcoming games like EA's Boogie (a dance and karaoke title) and Playground, THQ's De Blob, and Activision's Guitar Hero 3 (which we haven't seen, but can't wait to play), might dispel the perception that only Nintendo can make quality titles for their own consoles.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
First, let's get the big one out of the way: Where is the online play? For a system that is WiFi enabled right out of the box, it seems almost inconceivable that major titles like Medal of Honor are still shipping without an online-play component. (Here's hoping the recently released Pokemon Battle Revolution marks the start of a trend.) Similarly, the WiiConnect24 service — once touted as a way to update your Wii with new content — seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. When was the last time your Wii had a little glowing blue light announcing a surprise waiting on your hard drive? It's been months since we've seen a new Wii Channel, and while the announcement of Wii Ware (original arcade games for the Wii) is welcome news, Nintendo says it won't release any of those games until 2008.
Admittedly, these are issues that are more important to hard-core gamers than their mainstream Wii-playing counterparts. And because Nintendo wants to keep those newbies happy (after all, they are kinda responsible for the Wii's success), we're sure they're looking for a breakout title geared to those mainstream sensibilities. But, hey, Nintendo: Don't forget the loyal and long-time fans who want a reason to keep their Wiis from gathering dust.
MUST-OWN GAMES
In addition to the pack-in Wii Sports — still one of the best games on the system — there are a number of standout titles. The game that makes best use of the Wiimote is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, a collection of bizarre five-second mini-games. (If you ever dreamed of trimming someone else's nose hair, you're in luck.) Third-party publishers, as we predicted last fall, are still having a hard time producing Wii titles that aren't lame (we're talking to you, Scarface and Spider-Man 3). It only reinforces an old myth, but the three gotta-have-'em Wii titles set to be released later this year — Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Metroid Prime 3 — are all from...Nintendo. Still, if they're as good as promised, no one's likely to care.
WHAT WE SAID THEN
Last fall, we were Wii-k in the knees for the Wii. We admired its ''gesticular mode of interaction'' and Nintendo's quest to reach a new audience. But we also identified some major concerns that Nintendo would have to address. We warned that ''the lack of next-gen graphics will inevitably catch up with the Wii's still way-cool gameplay.'' Our grade then: B+
WHAT WE SAY NOW
While the Wii continues to dominate the sales charts, there are signs that the system is starting to lose a bit of its luster. The reason? Compelling new games have been few and far between. It's not surprising that we find ourselves playing most multi-platform games on the PS3 and 360 instead of on the lower-resolution (and sometimes gimmicky) Wii. Also, the lack of online play or other Wii Channel updates make us wonder if Nintendo is coasting when it should be strategizing to stay on top. Of course, just one hit — be it Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros., or the new Metroid — will have us reaching for the eraser. Our grade now:
Via : www.ew.com
WHAT WE LIKE
With few Xbox 360 or PS3 games really showing off next-generation gameplay, the Wii continues to remind us that fun is what matters most. Quirky mini-game collections like WarioWare and Rayman: Raving Rabbids put the focus on gameplay instead of graphics. To that we say: Hallelujah! The motion-sensing interface has flattened the learning curve to such an extent that many games are true pick-up-and-play experiences.
Best of all, it looks like such third-party developers as Electronic Arts, THQ, and Activision are finally realizing that bringing a title to the Wii means more than just adding a few wrist-flicking motions. Upcoming games like EA's Boogie (a dance and karaoke title) and Playground, THQ's De Blob, and Activision's Guitar Hero 3 (which we haven't seen, but can't wait to play), might dispel the perception that only Nintendo can make quality titles for their own consoles.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
First, let's get the big one out of the way: Where is the online play? For a system that is WiFi enabled right out of the box, it seems almost inconceivable that major titles like Medal of Honor are still shipping without an online-play component. (Here's hoping the recently released Pokemon Battle Revolution marks the start of a trend.) Similarly, the WiiConnect24 service — once touted as a way to update your Wii with new content — seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. When was the last time your Wii had a little glowing blue light announcing a surprise waiting on your hard drive? It's been months since we've seen a new Wii Channel, and while the announcement of Wii Ware (original arcade games for the Wii) is welcome news, Nintendo says it won't release any of those games until 2008.
Admittedly, these are issues that are more important to hard-core gamers than their mainstream Wii-playing counterparts. And because Nintendo wants to keep those newbies happy (after all, they are kinda responsible for the Wii's success), we're sure they're looking for a breakout title geared to those mainstream sensibilities. But, hey, Nintendo: Don't forget the loyal and long-time fans who want a reason to keep their Wiis from gathering dust.
MUST-OWN GAMES
In addition to the pack-in Wii Sports — still one of the best games on the system — there are a number of standout titles. The game that makes best use of the Wiimote is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, a collection of bizarre five-second mini-games. (If you ever dreamed of trimming someone else's nose hair, you're in luck.) Third-party publishers, as we predicted last fall, are still having a hard time producing Wii titles that aren't lame (we're talking to you, Scarface and Spider-Man 3). It only reinforces an old myth, but the three gotta-have-'em Wii titles set to be released later this year — Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Metroid Prime 3 — are all from...Nintendo. Still, if they're as good as promised, no one's likely to care.
WHAT WE SAID THEN
Last fall, we were Wii-k in the knees for the Wii. We admired its ''gesticular mode of interaction'' and Nintendo's quest to reach a new audience. But we also identified some major concerns that Nintendo would have to address. We warned that ''the lack of next-gen graphics will inevitably catch up with the Wii's still way-cool gameplay.'' Our grade then: B+
WHAT WE SAY NOW
While the Wii continues to dominate the sales charts, there are signs that the system is starting to lose a bit of its luster. The reason? Compelling new games have been few and far between. It's not surprising that we find ourselves playing most multi-platform games on the PS3 and 360 instead of on the lower-resolution (and sometimes gimmicky) Wii. Also, the lack of online play or other Wii Channel updates make us wonder if Nintendo is coasting when it should be strategizing to stay on top. Of course, just one hit — be it Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros., or the new Metroid — will have us reaching for the eraser. Our grade now:
Via : www.ew.com
วันพุธที่ 4 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Wii Gets Diving Adventure Game
Spiritual succesor of Everblue heads to the Wii
This week's issue of Japanese publication Famitsu has revealed Forever Blue for the Wii. Developed by Arika, the diving adventure game is the spiritual successor to Everblue which was previously released on the PlayStation2.
Players can take pictures and come in contact with marine creatures underwater, go on diving tours and even treasure hunting. Some applications of the Wiimote include patting dolphins, or draw arrows and markers on rocks while venturing in deep waters. You can also dive with friends using WiFi Connection, or listen to your own favorite music by putting MP3 files into SD cards.
No word yet on a North American release, but importers can check the game out when it will be released on August 2 in Japan.
This week's issue of Japanese publication Famitsu has revealed Forever Blue for the Wii. Developed by Arika, the diving adventure game is the spiritual successor to Everblue which was previously released on the PlayStation2.
Players can take pictures and come in contact with marine creatures underwater, go on diving tours and even treasure hunting. Some applications of the Wiimote include patting dolphins, or draw arrows and markers on rocks while venturing in deep waters. You can also dive with friends using WiFi Connection, or listen to your own favorite music by putting MP3 files into SD cards.
No word yet on a North American release, but importers can check the game out when it will be released on August 2 in Japan.
Months after release, demand for Nintendo’s Wii high
NEW YORK -- By 9 a.m., the line outside Manhattan’s Nintendo World store was snaking down the block. More than 100 hopeful Wii owners came from as far as New Jersey — some as early as 6 a.m. with kids and grandparents in tow — to get their hands on the gaming console best known for its wireless, motion-sensitive controller.
It’s been more than seven months since Nintendo launched the Wii, but the consoles are selling so well that supply still hasn’t caught up with demand. You can get one, sure, but be prepared to call around and arrive promptly when the shipments do.
“I had to get permission from work,” said Regina Iannuzzi, 23, in line since 6:20 a.m. on a recent morning. She’d been looking for a Wii, a 25th birthday present for her brother, for two weeks. Every place was sold out.
Like sleeping in? Wiis are also available online, but at a hefty premium to the console’s $250 retail price. A slightly used one from an Amazon.com seller called “Hard-To-Find-Stuff” recently listed for $595 plus $3.99 shipping. Another cost $398 from a different seller.
“The PlayStation 1 was certainly a big introduction, but I don’t recall any game system more than six months after its launch still having this kind of demand,” said Chris Byrne, an independent toy analyst.
Back in April, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata acknowledged an “abnormal” Wii shortage. Since then, the company has increased production “substantially” to help meet worldwide demand, said spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan.
But Nintendo also has to manage its inventory, said Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets.
“Unfortunately you can’t ask a contract manufacturer to make a million a month, then 5 million,” he said.
Sony’s PS3, which launched within days of the Wii last fall, is readily available in stores and online, but sales have been lagging behind the Wii. Cost could be one reason for this: the PS3 retails for up to $600.
More than 2.8 million Wii consoles have sold in the U.S. since the November debut, according to the NPD Group, a market research company. That’s more than double the number of PlayStation 3 consoles sold. And Nintendo plans to sell 14 million worldwide in the current fiscal year, which ends next March.
“You see it and you want it. Kind of like the iPhone,” said Robert Marcus, waiting to buy a Wii with his wife and three young sons.
Nintendo’s selling point for the Wii has been that it’s for everyone: not just hardcore gamers or young men with impeccable hand-eye coordination. Its intuitive motion-sensitive wireless controller lets players mimic movements for bowling, tennis or sword-fighting instead of pushing complex combinations of buttons.
Twelve-year-old Gabriel Benitez, in town from Florida visiting his grandmother, stood in line outside Nintendo’s flagship New York store.
“We finally got enough money for it,” he said, glancing at his grandmother who was waiting with him. “The last two stores were sold out.”
Gabriel likes the Wii’s wireless controller and the mini-workout he gets while playing a game.
“I just hate what you have to do just to get one,” he said.
It’s not just kids who want it.
Rein Auh, 30, never owned a console, but he decided to buy a Wii so he and his wife could have some fun and get some exercise. He spent $350 at the Nintendo store on a Wii and some extras. Walking out of the store, he looked back at the crowd of people still waiting.
“It’s kind of crazy,” he said. “I mean, it’s been 7 months.”
For its part, Nintendo says demand for the consoles has absolutely exceeded expectations.
“We are trying to move them as fast as we can,” Kaplan said.
Demand for video games usually soars around the holidays and tapers off for the rest of the year. Not with the Wii.
“People are looking at it as something they really want to have in their home,” said Byrne, the toy analyst. This means people aren’t just buying them as gifts, and the shopping frenzy usually reserved for the holiday season has stretched into the summer.
Toys “R” Us gets regular Wii shipments in all its stores around the country, but demand is so great they sell out immediately, said spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh. On the toy store chain’s Web site, the consoles have usually been “temporarily not available.”
On a Sunday morning in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, the Toys “R” Us opened an hour early for Wii buyers only. Though nothing like the bustle of Manhattan, a small line of teenagers, 20-somethings and families formed outside as a clerk handed out numbered slips of paper.
Inside the store, like two weeks earlier at the Best Buy across the shopping center’s parking lot, the systems didn’t even make it to the shelves before they sold out.
At some point, of course, supply will catch up with demand. But some analysts don’t see this happening until next year.
“I don’t think by the holidays,” Sebastian said. “But maybe by the middle of next year, perhaps they can add another production line.”
By ;Barbara Ortutay
Via :pantagraph.com
It’s been more than seven months since Nintendo launched the Wii, but the consoles are selling so well that supply still hasn’t caught up with demand. You can get one, sure, but be prepared to call around and arrive promptly when the shipments do.
“I had to get permission from work,” said Regina Iannuzzi, 23, in line since 6:20 a.m. on a recent morning. She’d been looking for a Wii, a 25th birthday present for her brother, for two weeks. Every place was sold out.
Like sleeping in? Wiis are also available online, but at a hefty premium to the console’s $250 retail price. A slightly used one from an Amazon.com seller called “Hard-To-Find-Stuff” recently listed for $595 plus $3.99 shipping. Another cost $398 from a different seller.
“The PlayStation 1 was certainly a big introduction, but I don’t recall any game system more than six months after its launch still having this kind of demand,” said Chris Byrne, an independent toy analyst.
Back in April, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata acknowledged an “abnormal” Wii shortage. Since then, the company has increased production “substantially” to help meet worldwide demand, said spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan.
But Nintendo also has to manage its inventory, said Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets.
“Unfortunately you can’t ask a contract manufacturer to make a million a month, then 5 million,” he said.
Sony’s PS3, which launched within days of the Wii last fall, is readily available in stores and online, but sales have been lagging behind the Wii. Cost could be one reason for this: the PS3 retails for up to $600.
More than 2.8 million Wii consoles have sold in the U.S. since the November debut, according to the NPD Group, a market research company. That’s more than double the number of PlayStation 3 consoles sold. And Nintendo plans to sell 14 million worldwide in the current fiscal year, which ends next March.
“You see it and you want it. Kind of like the iPhone,” said Robert Marcus, waiting to buy a Wii with his wife and three young sons.
Nintendo’s selling point for the Wii has been that it’s for everyone: not just hardcore gamers or young men with impeccable hand-eye coordination. Its intuitive motion-sensitive wireless controller lets players mimic movements for bowling, tennis or sword-fighting instead of pushing complex combinations of buttons.
Twelve-year-old Gabriel Benitez, in town from Florida visiting his grandmother, stood in line outside Nintendo’s flagship New York store.
“We finally got enough money for it,” he said, glancing at his grandmother who was waiting with him. “The last two stores were sold out.”
Gabriel likes the Wii’s wireless controller and the mini-workout he gets while playing a game.
“I just hate what you have to do just to get one,” he said.
It’s not just kids who want it.
Rein Auh, 30, never owned a console, but he decided to buy a Wii so he and his wife could have some fun and get some exercise. He spent $350 at the Nintendo store on a Wii and some extras. Walking out of the store, he looked back at the crowd of people still waiting.
“It’s kind of crazy,” he said. “I mean, it’s been 7 months.”
For its part, Nintendo says demand for the consoles has absolutely exceeded expectations.
“We are trying to move them as fast as we can,” Kaplan said.
Demand for video games usually soars around the holidays and tapers off for the rest of the year. Not with the Wii.
“People are looking at it as something they really want to have in their home,” said Byrne, the toy analyst. This means people aren’t just buying them as gifts, and the shopping frenzy usually reserved for the holiday season has stretched into the summer.
Toys “R” Us gets regular Wii shipments in all its stores around the country, but demand is so great they sell out immediately, said spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh. On the toy store chain’s Web site, the consoles have usually been “temporarily not available.”
On a Sunday morning in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, the Toys “R” Us opened an hour early for Wii buyers only. Though nothing like the bustle of Manhattan, a small line of teenagers, 20-somethings and families formed outside as a clerk handed out numbered slips of paper.
Inside the store, like two weeks earlier at the Best Buy across the shopping center’s parking lot, the systems didn’t even make it to the shelves before they sold out.
At some point, of course, supply will catch up with demand. But some analysts don’t see this happening until next year.
“I don’t think by the holidays,” Sebastian said. “But maybe by the middle of next year, perhaps they can add another production line.”
By ;Barbara Ortutay
Via :pantagraph.com
วันอังคารที่ 8 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Nintendo Confirms Free Online Play For Wii We will offer online-enabled games that the consumers will not have to pay a subscription fee for. They'll be able to enjoy that right out of the box. The Wii console is going to be Wi-Fi enabled, so essentially, you'll be able to plug it in and go.
Nintendo Wii Virtual Console Images Gamers Reports have some images of the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console interface and say it works very well. It even makes games like Mario 64 look better than usual.
Nintendo Wii Virtual Console Images Gamers Reports have some images of the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console interface and say it works very well. It even makes games like Mario 64 look better than usual.
Introducing Nintendo Wii
Introducing Nintendo Wii Revolution gets an official name. Not much info on this yet, but I for one think that Revolution was a perfectly good name for the system.
Wii Sports Experiment, Results! Six weeks ago, I began what has become a huge obsession of mine. It is called the “Wii Sports Experiment”. I outlined a 6 week game plan for myself, the idea being that I would continue All normal activity and eating habits, and simply add 30 minutes of Wii Sports to my day.
A Wii experience: getting screwed, getting a crowd A "gaming dad" tells how he got screwed by Toys R Us, wonders if Nintendo has heard of "plug and play", compares his experience with the Xbox 360, and tells how a console filled his house with laughing kids and adults for the first time. Boo on you, Toys R Us.
Nintendo Wii Classic Controller Revealed!
The classic non remote Wii controller has been revealed by Nintendo, check it out exclusivly first here!
Women Dies after a "Hold your wee for a Wii" Radio Contest A preliminary autopsy states that a woman died of "water intoxication" following a water drinking contest for a Nintendo Wii. News10 in Sacramento reports Station 107.9 The End's "Hold your wee for a Wii" contest had contestants doing exactly what the title says. The winner was the person who didn't release their bladder the longest. + Video
Wii Sports Experiment, Results! Six weeks ago, I began what has become a huge obsession of mine. It is called the “Wii Sports Experiment”. I outlined a 6 week game plan for myself, the idea being that I would continue All normal activity and eating habits, and simply add 30 minutes of Wii Sports to my day.
A Wii experience: getting screwed, getting a crowd A "gaming dad" tells how he got screwed by Toys R Us, wonders if Nintendo has heard of "plug and play", compares his experience with the Xbox 360, and tells how a console filled his house with laughing kids and adults for the first time. Boo on you, Toys R Us.
Nintendo Wii Classic Controller Revealed!
The classic non remote Wii controller has been revealed by Nintendo, check it out exclusivly first here!
Women Dies after a "Hold your wee for a Wii" Radio Contest A preliminary autopsy states that a woman died of "water intoxication" following a water drinking contest for a Nintendo Wii. News10 in Sacramento reports Station 107.9 The End's "Hold your wee for a Wii" contest had contestants doing exactly what the title says. The winner was the person who didn't release their bladder the longest. + Video
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