Tag: Nintendo

‘New Super Mario Bros. 2’ DLC Coming This Thursday!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Nintendo and DLC are two words that probably have never been used in the same sentence together. Now they can be! As Jonathan pointed out on Sunday’s pod, Nintendo is about to enter this decade.

This Thursday, for the low price of $2.50 a piece, you’ll be able to breathe some new life into your copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2. Each DLC pack contains 3 courses for coin rush mode. Nintendo also noted that more packs are on the way!

This is really new for Nintendo, and I couldn’t be more excited. Bring on the DLC!

From the press release:

While normal Coin Rush Mode offers players three levels chosen at random, the ones in the add-on pack are the same three in the same order every time. That gives players the ability to test themselves against one another on an even playing field.

“Nintendo fans have really enjoyed the fun and competition of Coin Rush Mode, recently surpassing more than 100 billion total coins collected worldwide,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “These new packs offer completely new levels that fit into the New Super Mario Bros. 2 world, but offer new challenges that will keep players coming back for more.”

The packs being released on Oct. 4 include:

  • Gold Rush Pack: Fun new courses that give novice players the best chance to collect lots of gold, and veterans the chance to set even higher Coin Rush records.
  • Coin Challenge Pack A: The New Super Mario Bros. 2 website will track the rankings based on the scores for this pack, enabling players to measure their scores against other tallies from around the world in these more open courses.
  • Nerve-Wrack Pack: Intense new courses designed for veteran players looking for new challenges.

These packs can be purchased with the following procedures: Players who are connected to a wireless Internet connection must first activate SpotPass in the game and receive a notification from New Super Mario Bros. 2.* After receiving the notification, the next time the player enters Coin Rush Mode**, a Shop icon will appear in the game. Players who have accessed the shop can then read information about the packs, including descriptions, difficulty ratings and the required storage space. As long as players have enough funds in their Nintendo eShop balance, they can then tap and purchase the packs they want all within the game.

Excited? You should be! Think about the possibilities now that Nintendo has learned that DLC exists!

Steady Your Aim! The Geekscapepod For September 30th, 2012!

by Jonathan

This GeekscapePod is a bit packed! I give an update on ‘Doc of the Dead’ and our friend Matt Mogk’s campaign to get George Romero his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Three really strong movies are out now that you should see: ‘Looper’, ‘Dredd 3D’ and ‘End of Watch’. I list why Rion Johnson should be at the top of the list for Doctor Strange directors! ‘Happy’ is almost more of the same from Grant Morrison! Our ‘Sinister’ screening kicked ass! ‘Marvel NOW’ can’t come soon enough and I take it upon myself to welcome Nintendo into the 21st Century!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:15 — 17.6MB)

Geekscape at Comikaze: Intellivision’s Keith Robinson

by Jonathan

This was a lot of fun! While wandering the floor at Comikaze, I discovered an entire Intellivison booth and met original game programmer Keith Robinson, who began creating games for Intellivision back in 1981! This episode is great for old school and new school gamers alike!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:05 — 5.9MB)

‘Bayonetta 2’ Confirmed As Wii U Exclusive! And We Got A Trailer!

by Shane O'Hare

Whoa. Seriously. Wii U is a fucking Juggernaut! Bitch! With countless AAA titles being announced on launch and a lot of those being M rated and ultra violent, this console doesn’t appear to be stopping. And it hasn’t even started yet!

So now we got some juicy news. The sequel to the hyper stylish Bayonetta will be an exclusive to the newest Nintendo console. Take a peak at the short but flashy trailer below.

Bayonetta 2 does not have a release date yet.

Watch A New Trailer For ‘New Super Mario Bros. U’

by Derek Kraneveldt

It sure has been a big day for Nintendo news!

Earlier today Nintendo revealed both the release date and price of the upcoming Wii U (miss the announcement? Jonathan sums it up here). We also gave you a look at some insane new features coming to Scribblenauts Unlimited, a launch window title for the console.

Nintendo has just uploaded a new trailer for New Super Mario Bros. U, the newest title in their old-school Mario platformer with a new-school feel series. The game looks fantastic, with beautiful, colorful graphics and animations and some fantastic (and often frustrating as hell) gameplay.

Don’t take our word for it! Check out the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

 

The ‘Scribblenauts Unlimited’ Object Editor Looks Like Insanity Unleashed!

by Jonathan

I’m pretty jazzed after this morning’s WiiU press conference, so I’ve been looking at trailers trying to plan out my purchase strategy. 5th Cell’s Scribblenauts Unlimited is an easy first day buy and is also coming out for the 3DS. If you’ve played any games in the Scribblenauts series, you know how much fun they are, and Unlimited looks like it’s going to improve on everything… EVERYTHIIIIIIIING!

Now, Nintendo has revealed the Objects Editor… which seems like it’s going to be complete insanity. What do you think?

And don’t forget that the WiiU version has 2-player co-op, dawg. It’s going to get gangster this holiday. You’re invited to the party.

WiiU Press Conference Wrap Up: System Arriving Nov. 18th In Two Bundles And More!

by Jonathan

The Nintendo Wii U press conference just ended and there was a slew of huge announcements (and a few not so huge ones). The big facts are that the system will arrive on Sunday, November 18th (start planning your camp out now) and that it will come in two bundles:

A Basic Set will come in white for a suggested retail price of $299.99.

There’ll also be a Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity (32GB), additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99. Europe is getting ZombieU as a packaged in title. I hope that’s the same for the US.

The other big announcements were the free inclusion of non-subscription online WiiU TVii and Wiiverse (or whatever their online component is called) and the expansion of Nintendoland. New Super Mario Bros. U will be a launch game and has some amazing features like an interconnected world map and mini-game challenges throughout the main game that will take the first New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii’s “divorce mode” to another level. Good luck having any Bros after this…

The Nintendoland additions of Pikmin and Metroid-themed games definitely have me excited along with the fact that you can play around in Nintendoland at launch. Nintendo TVii doesn’t seem to offer anything new on the programming side, with Netflix, Amazon TV and HuluPlus seemingly already a part of it, but the fact that you can personalize the experience for each person in the household and switch between accounts on the new Gamepad is awesome. It also has some DVR capabilities and social media sharing that’s available at the touch of a finger.

The Gamepad also keeps cheaters honest by allowing two friends in the same room to be able to play together without using a split-screen, each player with their own screen. The gameplay seemed to work awesome in Activision’s live display of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which also allows a player to use the Gamepad to configure their gaming experience and weaponry on the fly.

Here is the full press release from Nintendo:

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo today revealed full details about how the new Wii U™ home console and its groundbreaking touch-screen Wii U GamePad controller can revolutionize not only video game play but also the way people find and watch TV and video content. The new HD system will offer entirely new ways for consumers to play games and enjoy their favorite programming when it launches in the Americas on Nov. 18. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.

At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favorite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one easy-to-use interface.

Additionally, Nintendo shared new information about dozens of games on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros.™ U, LEGO® City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101™, Capcom’s Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate and Activision’s Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario’s world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo’s greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Mario™, Animal Crossing™ and Donkey Kong™. As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.

“The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations.”

The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI® cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.

Both configurations offer a wealth of one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences, including an online gaming community called Miiverse™ and the new Nintendo TVii application. Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and even their recorded TiVo shows – all from a single starting point.

The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry’s biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS PRIME™. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin’s Creed® III, ZombiU™, Rayman Legends® and Just Dance® 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect™ 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts™ Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.

“The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U,” said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing’s CEO. “We’re excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U.”

So what part of this has all of you excited? Who’s camping out with me?

Wii U Release Date & Price Announcement Coming Tomorrow!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Looks like the Wii U, long known to be due this holiday season, is finally getting an official release date!

Nintendo announced on their official Japanese twitter account that an announcement is forthcoming. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime released this video shortly afterwards, inviting us to check out the North American pricing and release date at 10AM eastern.

I’m really looking forward to this! I’m a sucker for new Nintendo consoles (though I foolishly purchased a Vita instead of a 3DS, what a mistake), and I can’t wait to hear what I’ll be shelling out for this one (hopefully something similar to the Wii’s original pricing!).

Source: Joystiq

Kirby’s 20th Anniversary Celebrated With New World Record!

by Derek Kraneveldt

I couldn’t help but smile when I read this.

In celebration of Kirby’s 2oth, 536 people gathered at PAX to set a new world record. 536 people, most of them in Kirby garb, blew chewing gum bubbles simultaneously. This beat out the previous record of 304 (a difference of 232).

Record Breaking Event

This was a really cool piece of news to me. I have extremely fond memories of growing up with Kirby: Kirby’s Adventure was actually the first game I ever finished. This record was a great idea and hopefully they can hold onto it for some time!

From the press release:

Nintendo fans found a spectacular way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Kirby™ video game character. On Sept. 1 at the PAX Prime conference in Seattle, 536 attendees gathered together and set a new Guinness World Records® achievement for the most people blowing a chewing gum bubble simultaneously. Participants had fun blowing bubbles that resembled the round, pink Kirby and helped Nintendo of America celebrate, after a representative from Guinness World Records confirmed the official record-setting count.

The new world record added to the growing excitement about Kirby at PAX Prime, where attendees had an early chance to experience Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition for the Wii™ system. Launching Sept. 16, this commemorative game collection includes six classic Kirby games on one disc, plus a commemorative booklet, a music CD and an interactive timeline that gives players a fun way to explore Kirby’s colorful history. Since debuting in 1992, Kirby has starred in 22 video games that collectively have sold more than 33 million units worldwide. His distinctive appearance and unique ability to inhale enemies and copy their abilities have made him a fan favorite for two decades.

“Kirby is no ordinary character, so it’s not a surprise that his fans would go to extraordinary lengths to mark his 20th anniversary,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Nintendo is proud to have such a dedicated and enthusiastic following. Between this new world record and the upcoming launch of Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition, it’s turning out to be one heck of an anniversary party.”

According to Guinness World Records, the previous record was 304 participants, achieved by Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Oct. 27, 2010. Participants in the Kirby-themed record attempt were instructed to chew their gum for at least one minute and then blow and hold bubbles for 30 seconds.

Record Breaking for Kirby!

 

You’re Not Prepared For Miami Connection! The Geekscapepod For August 25th, 2012!

by Jonathan

Finally! A brand new Geekscapepod! Scott Alminiana joins me to talk ‘Paranorman’, ‘Expendables 2’ and the awesomeness that is ‘Miami Connection’! We talk about attending the Miami Connection premiere and why Jean Claude Van Damme is easily the best part of Expendables 2! Superman is now banging Wonder Woman! Geekscape wants you to see ‘Sinister’ early! Who’s in Expendables 3? Who SHOULD be? We say goodbye to Nintendo Power! New Super Mario Bros 2 is the same old great game while Papo and Yo is the PSN game that every PS3 owner has to experience for themselves!

NOTE: Yes, I meant to say Mister Miracle when I instead said Mister Terrific. I’m only kind of human!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:06 — 22.3MB)

Geekscape’s Love Letters To Nintendo Power

by GeekscapeStaff

With the news earlier this week that Nintendo Power magazine will be ceasing publication as of December it was yet another sign that print is dying. For years Nintendo Power was one of the only ways to get the inside scope on the latest news about our favorite games. It helped shape and change the lives of geeks everywhere, especially around here at Geekscape. With that said, some of the staff wanted to share some of their memories regarding Nintendo Power. These are their love letters, enjoy.

Ben Dunn

I read Nintendo Power as a kid, not because I needed updates about the games that I would be enjoying soon, or tips on games that I was playing now, but because it was the closest my parents let me get to video games. Yes, I wasn’t allowed to have video games in the house until I was 15. Before that I could only play NES, Super NES or Gameboy  when I went to friends houses. In fact, the only reason I got my first girlfriend was because I was always over at her house playing her NES and I helped her beat Mega Man 3. (With the tips I learned from reading Nintendo Power.) So even though my parents wouldn’t let me have them in the house, they did let me read about all of the great games I was missing.

I think my favorite part was the envelope fan art submissions. I must have drawn the Triforce on at least 15 different envelopes trying to get in there. Never did though. I think it was because I never actually included anything in the envelopes when I sent them and the postal office had them destroyed along with all my letters to Hanukkah Harry. While I haven’t read NP in years, I still have my player card somewhere in a trunk and will never forget the hole it filled in my video game free childhood. RIP Nintendo Power. May flights of winged koopas sing thee to thy rest!

Shane O’Hare

The moment I heard Nintendo Power was going to stop, my heart sank. I felt like a great childhood friend was going away for good. I remember discovering Nintendo Power for the very first time. It is one of my oldest and fondest memories.

It was the Christmas of the Nintendo 64. I had it up and open and I was bummed that I had to wait until tomorrow because we didn’t have the RF adapter. Another gift of mine was the Super Mario 64 soundtrack and inside that was an ad to get a 12 month subscription to the magazine. My dad saw it and said “Hmmm this looks cool! You get cheat codes and stuff, Ill mail this out tomorrow for you”.

The next month I had my very first issue. I will never forget the cover. It was Star Wars: Shadows of The Empire and that issue was the reason I bought that game. Since then my childhood all the way up until Junior year in high school was filled with Nintendo Power. I couldn’t wait to see what the next month’s cover was. what the fold out poster was and what were the next games we could expect in the coming months. No other magazine could keep my attention like this. Subs to Popular Science and various car magazines have come and gone, but my good ole’ Nintendo Power stuck by. Any time during middle school, if you walked into my bathroom the floor was covered with back issues, all very well read.

Nintendo Power introduced me to Pokemon, Jetforce Gemini, Forsaken 64, Goldeneye and Turok. My parents played a great prank on me when Super Smash Bros suddenly “showed up” in the mail, only because they had heard me talking all about this amazing next level game while reading about it in Nintendo Power. I would bring my issues to school and be the badass of the playground.

Let me put it this way: I discovered my favorite creators (Mega 64) because Nintendo Power ran a blurb about their Tetris video in an issue. And those guys have been a huge influence on my life. Hearing the news that Nintendo Power is going away made me very sad. I am going to renew my subscription as a last goodbye and that final issue will be framed.

Josh Jackson

 I have two major memories of Nintendo Power growing up, and despite my love for the magazine for so many childhood years, neither of them are good.

The first was introducing me to Earthbound, which was far from bad in and of itself. It was the way they did it.

The magazine had a set of scratch and sniff stickers with the brilliant tag line of, “This Game Stinks!” Needless to say, they weren’t kidding. Those damn things all smelled god awful! Hey Nintendo, that’s a great way to sell a game. Let’s have a sticker with Ness on it that smells like flaming charcoal ass farts. How did that work out again?

The second was Star Fox. Not the space badass that saves the Lylat system from the mad scientist, Andross. No… I mean this guy…

Yes, this Fox. You know, this scary asshole. The one who looks like he’s going to rip your throat out in your sleep. The one who literally had his legs chopped off and replaced with robotic implants. Yeah… That Fox.

So yeah, thank you Nintendo Power. Thank you for giving me nightmares and almost burning out my fucking nostrils.

But seriously, it was a great run filled with many other great memories of running down to the mailbox every month to get the latest news on my favorite Nintendo games and instantly become the coolest kid on my block. If it wasn’t for that, I might not be writing here for Geekscape today.

So cheers Nintendo Power. Thanks for the memories. No matter how messed up they are.

Jonathan London

Gaming news sites these past few days have been lamenting the news that Nintendo Power will end publication this December, but how many of them have voiced responsibility for these turn of events? Let’s face it. With the proliferation of the internet and geek culture news sites such as our own, the need for print publications like Wizard, Electronic Gaming Monthly and now Nintendo Power has gradually (and then steeply) declined. We can voice our sadness, but how many of us still subscribed to any of these publications? Not many of us.

Which really is the irony, since Nintendo Power was the first magazine that I ever had a subscription to. In many ways, those issues from the mid to late 80s inspired the sharing of enthusiasm, knowledge and opinion that you’re experiencing right here at Geekscape. I remember seeing the claymation cover announcing Super Mario Bros. 3 and losing my 11 year old mind. What about the fully realized drawings of game characters like Link and Samus that filled in the gaps left by trying to fully realize something you’d only seen in 8 bits? For me, the highlight was always the multipage game maps that would unfold in each issue, a precursor to the internet’s Walkthrough guides, that showed you were the different platforms and traps were or how to navigate Hyrule in the first Zelda. My friends and I all had that map cut out of Nintendo Power and taped up on our walls or folded in our school folders. The map to Tim Burton’s Batman game saved my life many times, as did the one for the Roger Rabbit and Dick Tracy games.

The one I’ll always remember was the 2D fold out map for some of the stages from Super Mario Bros. 2. As if the game wasn’t already enough of a stylistic departure from the first one, you could now play as different characters with different abilities. Hearing about the end of Nintendo Power this week jarred a memory that I’d forgotten for decades: I created a different Super Mario Bros. sequel (or spin off game) and designed the entire thing on taped together pieces of construction paper designed to imitate one of those Nintendo Power fold out maps. The game was centered around Toad, Princess Peach’s mushroom capped retainer, and was called Toad’s Maze. In reality, it was basically the second Goonies game but with Toad as your main character. You fought bats, collected items, jumped platforms and went through different doors in order to escape a giant cavernous maze. I now realize that calling a game Toad’s Maze, and then having you play as the character of Toad lost in his very own damn maze is pretty stupid. Toad would have to be a complete idiot to get lost in his own maze or even set foot in a maze which he owns that is littered with a zillion death traps.

Come to think of it, the game probably wasn’t that great, but it was an extensive piece of work, probably as lengthy as the fold out maps from each issue of Nintendo Power. I was 10 years old and I had designed my own game. That’s pretty amazing looking back. As listeners of the podcast know, I’m a Nintendo fanboy to this day and have been my entire life. I even competed in the Nintendo Championships back in 1991. But with games at $50 a pop, the 10 year old me had to either borrow friend’s games or make them up himself. For all of my game cravings in-between, there was Nintendo Power magazine.

Like a boss in my Nintendo Championships t-shirt!

‘Nintendo Power’ Magazine To Cease Publication In December

by Josh Jackson

Another gaming print icon is dying out…

Nintendo Power, the long running video game magazine that has dealt with any and all things from the house that Miyamoto built since the late 80s, will cease publication with the final issue being scheduled for December 2012 according to a report from arstechnica.com.

Once owned directly by Nintendo, ownership of the magazine has since shifted to Future Publishing, who has decided to close the doors of the longest running gaming magazine in the United States. As of now, Nintendo has shown no interest in taking back the publication, so the end of the year, for all intents and purposes, will be the last time we can relive our childhoods by running to the mailbox or the local news stand to grab the newest issue for the latest reviews, news, tips and tricks for our favorite Nintendo games.

Or at least they would have been the latest updates back in its prime, but the sad reality is that in the digital age, having to wait monthly for printed updates is obsolete when you can get your information instantly on the web. It’s sad for me because aside from Gamepro, (another gaming magazine that has bit the dust,) Nintendo Power was a childhood favorite that I always relied on to help keep me in the know, not to mention helping my stuck up ass know more than my friends.

While it’s been years since I’ve read it, you better believe that I’m going to enjoy these final months of its run.

Nintendo To Make Wii U Announcement On September 13th!

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo has said that their follow up to the wildly successful Wii console, the Wii U is scheduled to be released by the end of 2012. Well… it’s August, and not a word has been spoken in regards to the status of the launch. According to a press release from the Big N however, that’s set to end on September 13th.

Shacknews.com and various gaming outlets have been contacted, informing the press that a presentation led by Nintendo of America COO, Reggie Fils-Aime, will take place in New York. Could this mean the Wii U will finally get a launch date? I’ll finally know how fast I’ll have to find someone to buy this damn kidney so I can afford the damn thing.

As always, Geekscape will be here to deliver all the details as they become available.

SOURCE: Shacknews.com

‘Hyrule Historia’ The History Of Zelda Is Getting A US Release!

by Shane O'Hare

An intrepid user over at the Zelda Universe Forums linked to a PDF from Diamond Distributors (link is currently dead as of writing of this post) that tells us all some GOOD NEWS! The complete history of Zelda, the Hyrule Historia is going to be released in the good ol’ USA! Check out the quoted portion of the release below.

Dark Horse Books and Nintendo team up to bring you The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia,
containing an unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda franchise.
This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the
official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the
legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda,
Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link’s
adventures from the creators themselves! As a bonus, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
includes an exclusive comic by the foremost creator of The Legend of Zelda manga — Akira
Himekawa!

KEY SELLING POINTS:
• The Legend of Zelda franchise has sold 68 million copies since the release of the first game,
with the original Legend of Zelda being the fourth best selling NES game of all time, and The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time holding the record for the highest reviewed video game of all
time.
• Covers the full history of The Legend of Zelda franchise.
• With an introduction by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.
• Includes the official timeline of The Legend of Zelda games, never-before-seen concept art, The
Legend of Zelda manga, in-depth information on the making of the The Legend of Zelda
franchise, and art by some of the most storied concept artists in video games.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61655-041-7
Price: $34.99 ($38.99 CAN)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Imprint: Dark Horse Books
Writer: Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji
Aonuma
Artist: Akira Himekawa
Size: 9 x 12
Page Count: 272
Carton Qty: 8
Format: Hardcover, Full Color
Recommended Age: 8+
Comparison Title: The Art of the
Mass Effect Universe
(ISBN-13 978-1-59582-768-5,
$39.99), The Art of Alice:
Madness Returns
(ISBN-13 978-1-59582-697-8,
$34.99)
Genre: Art, Coffee Table,
Popular Culture
Ship Date: 1/29/2013
Rights: World except territories
specified elsewhere in rights
statement

‘Goldeneye: 007’ Nearly Didn’t Have Multiplayer

by Josh Jackson

Aside from the occasional dabbling through hell in Doom, Goldeneye for the N64 was essentially my first experience with a First Person Shooter, especially since I never had a kick ass PC like all the cool kids had. I remember losing hours upon hours with my friends fighting through science labs, forests and tight corridors fragging each other left and right. But to think these memories that I share with countless other gamers almost weren’t possible.

At GDC Europe, game director Marin Hollis spoke about how the feature was a last minute addition that was slipped in on the side. Stating that it was added in around “March or April,” a mere four months before release, he also went on to explain how the rush job led to some of the game’s infamous imbalance.

“We didn’t have time to balance all the characters. Really we just threw them in. But these little quirks and bits of sketchiness really bring personality to the game.”

We’re looking at you, Oddjob! But to think one of the most legendary multiplayer experiences of all time almost never was. I don’t care if it was an imbalanced mess in retrospect, (the laptop gun, proximity mines, the karate chop of DOOM!) It was damn fun.

What’s your favorite memory of Goldeneye?

SOURCE: shacknews.com gamespot.com

US Release Dates Set for 3DS Professor Layton, Paper Mario and More!

by Jonathan

This morning, Nintendo issued a press release about their upcoming 3DS Fall releases. And included on the list are retail dates for two of the most anticipated titles: Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask on Oct. 28 and Paper Mario: Sticker Star two weeks later on Nov. 11. Both titles were part of the 3DS’ original 2011 E3 presentation (Miracle Mask was even playable) but fans have had to wait a long time for the eventual release date.

It feels good to finally have them. As has been proven time and time again, if it’s got the names Mario or Professor Layton in the title, it’s going to sell well to the Nintendo fanboys. I’m looking forward to seeing how a Layton title plays on the 3DS with the accelerometer, camera and other system capabilities. The news that there’ll be a new puzzle available every day for a year is reason to celebrate as well!

Here’s the entire Nintendo publishing lineup from the press release:

Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! (Oct. 1) – Users of any artistic skill level can learn painting and drawing techniques that can be applied to real-life art projects, with optional, additional lessons available for purchase.* The game also lets users share and download certain game content via SpotPass.*

Crosswords Plus (Oct. 1) – More than 1,000 professionally designed crossword puzzles will challenge players at any skill level. They can also receive and share bonus puzzles via StreetPass or connect their Nintendo 3DS to the Internet to receive free additional puzzles via SpotPass.* The game also includes other game play modes such as Wordsearch, Anagrams and the new Word of the Day.

Sparkle Snapshots 3D (Oct. 18) – Launching exclusively in the Nintendo eShop*, this downloadable game is a fun photography application that lets you personalize your 2D photos by adding 3D layers of stickers, ribbons, pens and other effects. Users can then share creations wirelessly with friends or transfer them to an SD card and email them.

Skylanders Giants from Activision Publishing, Inc. (Oct. 21) – Fans can look forward to more than 20 new inter-action figures to collect, including Giants that are twice the size of regular Skylanders and new LightCore Skylanders that light up both in the game and in real life when they are placed on the Portal of Power.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters (Oct. 22) – Players can run their very own full-scale fashion shop and spark a fashion revolution by helping customers keep up with current trends, buying new clothes for their customizable store and sharing their creations with their friends online.

Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (Oct. 28) – Experienced fans and newcomers to the Professor Layton series can solve dozens of fascinating puzzles as they work their way through a new mystery storyline. Players can even download one additional puzzle per day for 365 days, starting on game launch day, at no additional charge.*

Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! (Nov. 5) – Players can create their own creatures and use them to explore a planet that they customize. Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! contains new features not found in the original downloadable title, such as dungeons to explore, enhanced creating capabilities with more parts to choose from and new special powers that can be used to further personalize the creatures. The game also features Download Play, which allows players to share the creative experience with friends who do not have a copy of the game.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nov. 11) – Nintendo’s classic Paper Mario franchise gets a fresh 3D look in its hand-held debut. Stickers are the backbone of Mario’s newest adventure in which players use stickers found in the game to not only win battles, but to solve puzzles as well.

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion from Disney Interactive (Nov. 18) – Inspired by the classic Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, this game features new ways for Mickey Mouse to interact with a 3D game world using paint and paint thinner.

Pokemon Black & White Version 2 Gets US Release Date

by Shane O'Hare

That’s right boys and girls. You get the chance to return to the Unova region. Two years after the events in the first B&W. October 7th!

Though the game is played only in 2D, 3DS owners get some nifty additional perks.

If they are playing on Nintendo 3DS, players can transfer Pokémon they have caught with Pokémon Dream Radar into their Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2games (visible in 2D only). Pokémon Dream Radar lets players use several different features of the Nintendo 3DS system, including the Nintendo 3DS camera, motion control and augmented-reality technology, to discover and catch Pokémon. The game includes hard-to-find Pokémon such as the new Therian Formes of Legendary Pokémon Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus.

For more deets check out the official website 

Brian Gilmore Will Crush You! The “Geekscapepod” For June 24th, 2012!

by Jonathan

Geekscape mainstay Brian Gilmore visits the Geekscape couch to talk some serious news and reviews! We discuss spammy Russian sex dealers, rural Chinese sex toys and reminisce about the growth of Geekscape! “Taken 2” and “Dredd” get trailers but which is worth watching? Jonathan talks “Safety Not Guaranteed” while Gilmore tears up at “Brave”! Are Firefly fans the most pathetic fans in Geekdom? The Nintendo 3DS XL sounds lame while a Castle Greyskull card holder sounds awesome! PLUS! How 60s TV Batman saved Batman, Marvel Mania Hollywood menus revealed and a Pixar artist draws R Rated movie scenes!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:53 — 26.1MB)

Everybody’s Gaming For The Weekend – 6/22/2012

by MoreLikeAndy

I wasn’t satisfied with starting one new feature this week at Geekscape. So to keep myself busier than I should be, I created ‘Everybody’s Gaming For The Weekend.’

Essentially, this will be a weekly feature that will contain games that I am going to play every weekend. What I want to try to do with this feature is to not only show you some games you might be missing out on, I also want to get our community (THAT’S YOU) involved. It would be nice to see what everyone is currently playing. Hopefully, this will spark conversation among us.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Demo

After last night’s Nintendo Direct announced that Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance demo was live on the eShop, I finally thought I would dip into the world since my initial try with the first Kingdom Hearts left me motion sick. I am not sure if I’m going to be lost in the story since I have no knowledge of the universe. Only one way to find out.

Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles

I mentioned this wonderful pinball add-on  earlier in the week for Pinball FX2 (Marvel Pinball on PSN) and I need to play more of this. Although I am not a trophy/achievement hunter, something about Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles makes me want to get them all. That, and I want to get the highest score possible so I pose a challenge to anyone on my PSN friends list.

Pocket Planes

Finally getting over my slight addiction to Tiny Tower last year, NimbleBit decide to introduce a new addiction. Everyone I follow on Twitter is buzzing about Pocket Planes and from what I gathered, this is Tiny Tower with planes. I wonder if I can buy John McClane in-game to be my airport security chief?

I might try to fit some GAMER and Diablo III time in just to see what kind of adjustments went into the OSX version of the game. That’s what I’m gaming for the weekend. What about you?

Postgame Analysis of Tonight’s Nintendo Presser aka Where’s My Zelda 3DS?

by Jonathan

Nintendo is a sensitive company, some say the heart of the video game industry. That’s pretty apparent when you factor in that they obviously scheduled their North American Nintendo Direct press conference for midnight EST tonight to steer clear of all those hardcore Nintendo fans who were also watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals… RIGHT?!? Well, that one didn’t go into overtime… or even into a Game 6. Regardless, I’m STILL going to provide a little “postgame” as I address the positives and negatives of Nintendo’s presser.

If you want to watch the entire Nintendo Direct press conference for yourself, here it is:

– Let’s start with the “Who Gives a Damn?”

The new Nintendo 3DS XL will be released on August 19th for $199.99

It comes with a new 4.88 inch top screen (up from 3.5 inches) and a bottom screen of 4.18 inches (from the original 3). Let me tell you why I don’t care.

Because if you’re the kind of Nintendo nerd like me who watches an online streaming press conference… you already own a 3DS and you have for a year (or at least since the “games” came out in November). On top of that, the idea of a bigger 3DS really defeats the point of a portable system. I look at the kids playing their Nintendo DS XLs at our local meet-ups (yeah, I go to 3DS meet-ups… fuck you) and they look like they’re playing Angry Birds on an iPad. I don’t want a bigger 3DS. I’m not 90 years old. A 3DS XL is the equivalent of those enormous remote controls they sell to old people at Bed Bath and Beyond. No. Gracias.

The biggest missed opportunity here is that they didn’t take the time to add a second analog pad (ie. what the hardcore Nintendo gamers wanted). Whoops!

Namco Bandai is teaming with Project Sora for a new Smash Bros. game

This game will be for the 3DS and WiiU. And you’ll probably get to beat the crap out of PacMan. I’ll say it right now. I don’t like the Smash Bros. games. I could care less. I’m sorry. But I’m not a 16 year old Asian kid playing in a sweaty tournament in the basement of a Motel 6 out off the 60 freeway. If you kids want to watch a bunch of button mashing ridiculousness while yelling at each other about how close that last save was (umm… there are a LOT of saves in these games) then knock yourself out. No. Actually knock yourself out… with a human fist. Then you’d actually feel something for once.

Let’s be clear: Fighting games are for gamers who were too afraid to play contact sports. First Person Shooters are for gamers who at one time tried contact sports but were embarrassingly awful at them.

The New Super Mario Bros. 2 3DS game available August 19th will have paid DLC

Nintendo drew a line on DLC… but it looks like that line is starting to bend towards breaking. The new Fire Emblem game will supposedly have some DLC as well. Not cool, Nintendo. New Super Mario Bros. 2 is already looking like a thinner version of the original with the Golden Shower Coin Grab Mode a not that fun attempt to add Street Pass features to the game. That WILL get old fast. Please prove me wrong and make this game as substantial as the original DS title. But something about the sound of “future DLC” and “day and date downloadable and retail title” have me worried.

And no DLC on games like Mario Kart!?! I know. You’re sick of me bitching on Geekscape about wanting downloadable tracks for Mario Kart. It HAS to happen one day. It HAS to.

New Pokemon Stuff

Sorry, Pokemon fans. I got to this part of the press conference, my wife entered the room and realized what I was watching and I felt like a complete loser. I turned it off because I couldn’t care less about the Pokemons. I know that at one time I had TWO Mewtwos and was the elite trainer on my block (and easily the oldest) but that was 13 years ago. That ship has sailed for me and you’d already cost me any chance of having sex tonight. I had to bail.

By the way. Huge surprise. There’ll be new Pokemon stuff.

– Okay. So what was The Good?!?

Animal Crossing 3DS is coming and it will have Streetpass

Great. A bunch of strangers can visit my town and threaten to chop down all my trees via Streetpass. I’m cool with it. There’ll also be tarot card readings. I knew that this game (especially Tom Nook) was evil and Satanic but now it’s starting to all come to light. I skipped City Folk on the Wii but sign me up for this one. You had me at Streetpass. And Satanism.

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance has a demo NOW on the eShop

I still want to call this game Kingdom Hearts: Egg Drop Soup. In any event, it’s coming and it’s coming soon. You can wet your appetites already. Say what I will about Nintendo and their eShop but these demos have been great and they’ve been treating them in a fantastic way. Keep them coming.

Professor Layton is finally coming to your 3DS

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle was a Japanese 3DS launch title. So why haven’t we seen it in the States yet? Has localization really taken this long? Whatever the puzzle may be, I’m glad it’s finally solved. We’ll be seeing this game in November (news to which my wife responded with “Merry Christmas!”). I’m already giving thanks.

New Titles Coming to the 3DS Virtual Console

The big ones are that Legend of Zelda is coming July 5th for Non-Ambassadors (jerks… I’ve been playing it for months!) and that Super Mario Land will have a price drop to $2.99 through the end of June. Also, new games will be arriving once a week this summer, including Kid Icarus: Of Myths, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Sonic Blast and Sonic Labyrinth (which 5 people played).

– Now for The Inexcusable…

STILL NO WORD ON A 3DS SPECIFIC ZELDA TITLE! COME ON!!!!

WTF. It didn’t happen at E3. It didn’t happen tonight (which we could have guessed). But this is something that Nintendo has been hinting at for months. We loved the 3DS port of Ocarina of Time (it’s easily the best version of the game) but that’s a game that’s 13 years old now. I know that it wasn’t a Nintendo 64 launch title and we had to wait a while for that too but does the 3DS have that kind of time? Do portables have the same lifespans as consoles? This is something that has to have a 2013 release date on it or it runs the risk of becoming yesterday’s news (especially if the WiiU sports a console Zelda title).

Skyward Sword was a complete fetch quest of a game. It’s really one of the worst of the series and I’d only list it as playable for it’s motion controls, final dungeon and final fight scene. A 3DS port of Majora’s Mask would only stop the bleeding for a month or two. A new interpretation of Link to the Past would be interesting. But really, what any Zelda and 3DS fan wants is a true 3DS designed Zelda game. And not something like Spirit Tracks or the other DS title. Those were fun but got buried in their own backtracking (although using the Wind Waker art direction was great). Give us something that uses the system properly, 3DS, Streetpass, camera and all. We’re waiting, Nintendo. Make it happen. The clock on this system started ticking when you announced the 3DS XL.

Amazon Cancels Preorders for WiiU

by Shane O'Hare

Yesterday online retailer Amazon had the Nintendo WiiU for sale as a preorder for 199 GBP (roughly $300). Today it has taken down the listing and canceled all orders.

An email sent out to customers was posted on the NeoGaf forums.

We’re writing to you regarding your order for the Nintendo Wii U console. Your order has been cancelled as this product was listed on Amazon.co.uk in error. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

“You will not be charged for your order.

“If you’re interested in ordering the Nintendo Wii U console when it becomes available, you can sign up to receive an email here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004Y59P3A

“We hope to see you again soon.

“Warmest regards,

“Customer Service Department.”

Now this begs the question, what kind of error was this? Was it the “Shit, we put it up for too cheap” error or was it “Shit, we put it up for sale way to soon”. Let the Amazon deal speculation being.

Source: Eurogamer

E3 2012 – Geekscape Games Plays SiNG!

by Josh Jackson

Amid the many games to play at the E3 show floor, there was one section of the floor that intrigued me. At the corner of the Nintendo booth, there was a small living room set up with a group of people having the time of their life in it. In a convention full of people who seemed to either hate their jobs or were too concerned with nabbing free stuff to actually take the experience in, actually watching people having fun was a change of pace. As they say, (and by they I mean me,) a party’s not a party until I’m there, so I walked into the SiNG demo booth for WiiU and tried my hand at being the next singing sensation.

Since this was an early build of the recently announced title, there were only a handful of songs to choose from. Of course, there’s only really one choice when Call Me Maybe is on the list, so to show how hip I am with the music the kids listen to these days, destiny decided that would be the song that my voice would lead a room full of Japanese businessmen into a giant dance routine.

The lyrics appeared on the game pad while the screen featured a dancer showing my backup what to do. When the lyrics flashed yellow during the chorus, it meant it was time for the whole room to join in and sing along! It was a simple set up, especially because we were playing in Party Mode, which doesn’t score you and just focused on having fun with the song. It’s a unique way to free up the TV so multiple play styles can converge into one, but while the details behind the game say that there will be a scored singing mode featuring unlimited players for dancing, I hope that’s not PR speak meaning that dancing won’t be scored at all.

Regardless, even though I was surrounded with highly produced, multi million dollar blockbuster games, SiNG with its simplicity was some of the most fun I had all show! I’m looking forward to how the game will develop as it advances, so you can count on a follow up as more details become available.

http://youtu.be/HV93svATZgs

E3 2012 – Geekscape Games Plays Pikmin 3!

by Josh Jackson

I along with pretty much every gamer here at Geekscape backflipped in excitement over the announcement of Pikmin 3. Partially because Pikmin has become a beloved member of the Nintendo household, with two fantastic games from years past, and partially so we won’t have to listen to Jonathan beg for it for another year. But as soon as I hit Nintendo’s booth, I had one priority, which was to see if this long awaited title still had it.

If you happened to catch the E3 reveal, the biggest addition to the game revealed so far is the inclusion of rock Pikmin. These guys can destroy enemy armor as well as crystalized walls that block your team of astronauts from advancing. Rather than collecting set items like before, the Pikmin were tasked with bringing various fruits back to the ship, each one worth a different value of money. Everything from cherries, strawberries and… enemy corpses (?) awarded me more money. Money that I had no idea what to do with, but I’m guessing that will be revealed in time.

One interesting thing was that there were no pods that grew new Pikmin for your team. All of the ones in the demo were already plucked and were just waiting to be found. When the enemies gave me money instead of seeds, I was wondering if we would still get to grow Pikmin at all. Unfortunately, that information wasn’t available yet, (i.e… the demonstrator didn’t know,) so I’ll just hope there will be a better way of expanding other than just coming across them.

Using the game pad as a map proved to be a big help as well, giving you a view of where each fruit was located and allowing you to plan a proper attack. After the stage was over, I had the ability to watch my playback to see where weaknesses in my paths were and try to find how to gather more in less time if I decided to play again.

So essentially, Pikmin 3 felt very familiar, which isn’t a bad thing when you’re as good as Pikmin. With improved graphics and mechanics that make the world feel more real, (like with your characters actually needing supplies to build,) on top of the addition of the Game Pad and motion controls to make playing more efficient, it’s looking like Pikmin 3 just might be worth the wait.

E3 2012 – Geekscape Plays Project P-100!

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s E3 showing undoubtedly received a mix reaction, but there was one thing that was unanimous; a new title from Platinum Games was a reason to lose your mind. Tentatively titles Project P-100, the developer is definitely showing its Clover roots, with a unique play style to match artwork that looks like a certain Viewtiful hero. But once the game started up, it was something truly special.

Playing as a small super hero, this brave little soldier must fight off hoards of evil robots attacking the colorful town in the demo. He’s not very strong on his own however, so what’s one to do when getting slapped around by killer robots? In P-100, you’ll enlist help from various heroes scattered throughout the town. Like a more action packed Pikmin, gathering a group of heroes gives players the ability to create weapons with them. By drawing on the WiiU Game Pad, your army can morph into a giant fist, a sword that reaches the heavens, a giant pistol or even bridges! Using these powers need batteries though, so when you’re running low, rushing into the enemies with a mighty battle cry will recharge them quickly.

Did I mention the boss fight in the demo was huge? Fighting on top of a giant mech that acted as both an obstacle course and an all out battle was a hell of a lot of fun. All while it was towering over the city below. If these are the heights the game hopes to reach in just the demo, I can only imagine what the final product will be.

Platinum is known for its creativity, and P-100 is looking to be no exception. While it may not have received as much attention as your Mario and Pikmin titles, this game is looking like it could be THE reason to own a WiiU when it’s released. And as always, when more information becomes available, make sure to check back here for the latest updates.

E3 2012 Continues! The “Geekscapepod” For June 6th, 2012!

by Jonathan

E3 2012 continues! Sony’s press conference snoozes! The Nintendo WiiU innovates! The return of the Pikmin! Is Star Wars 1313 the Star Wars we’ve wanted for so long? New trailers for Django Unchained and Wreck-It Ralph! New directors for Captain America 2! Is a Justice League movie coming soon? First Class 2 and Black Panther movie rumors and goodbye Mr. Ray Bradbury!

Find it on iTunes

And check out my very limited E3 photo gallery!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:56 — 20.2MB)

E3 2012 – Geekscape Goes Hands On With Pikmin 3 And The WiiU!

by Jonathan

I’m going to put fuller thoughts into the podcast later today but, without the presence of Team Ico’s “The Last Guardian” or “GTA 5”, Nintendo’s WiiU was my main focus at E3 this year. And when Nintendo’s press conference started with the short clip of Miyamoto’s office and little Pikmin running around I lost my damn mind. Just ask Brian Walton. He was sitting right next to me and I was literally screaming. Not one of my prouder moments, but fuck it, I’m getting Pikmin 3!

When the convention doors opened, I b-lined it for Nintendo and stood in line for Pikmin 3. Unlike last year, I only had to wait through two people to get my chance with Pikmin 3 and the new WiiU tablet controls. Really, Pikmin is still Pikmin and I’m 100% okay with that. The Wii-mote controls handle just like Pikmin 1 & 2 do on the current Wii and the first batch of the game that I played was an exploration/collection run through a small map. The biggest boost is the graphics. The game looks gorgeous. The plant leaves and other environmental elements look photo realistic and the animations are smooth. Controlling is really easy and I could actually stay on top of my team of Pikmin a lot more fluidly with the Wii-mote. And the Rock Pikmin are a great addition for delivering damage to enemies and breaking down barriers quickly. The new elements of having your Pikmin also build bridges and other items is fantastic as well.

The new friends I made at E3…

I also got to play through the boss battle, commanding my Pikmin to take down a giant armored caterpillar. I handled this one like a Nintendo vet, first using the Rock Pikmin to shatter the boss’ exterior and then using my Red Pikmin to cling to him and dispense some damage. I know that only two players had stepped up before me… but you’re reading the words of a writer who wrecked that boss in record time. I throttled him.

I slaughtered this thing… SLAUGHTERED IT.

The Wii-U tablet ads a lot to the game. Not only can you control your reticle using the tablet’s gyroscope and accelerometer, but the tablet’s display screen doubles as an overworld map that helps you keep track of your various Pikmin scattered around the map. I found the tablet to be lightweight and really easy to use. Having a map of the entire area at my finger tips also helped the game a lot. You don’t have to go into sub-menus  now in order to access your inventory or select commands. It made the entire experience much more fluid. I hope this is a Day 1 release.

On the other hand is Tank! Tank! Tank!, a competitive port of a popular Japanese arcade game that left the person next to me asking “is this a downloadable title?” Yeah. I agree. Between the graphics and the thin gameplay, there’s not a whole lot here. It is cool to use the camera on the Wii-U pad to take a photo to use as your avatar, but the game itself feels like something you would have played on the PS1. You literally pilot a tank against 3 other characters, or cooperatively work with them to take out enemies, while blasting a ton of junk and picking up power ups. The graphics weren’t great, the game wasn’t that unique and if it wasn’t for the controls, and the fact that I could play and pilot through my Wii-U pad screen instead of share a screen with the other players, I’d say it was completely forgettable.

Tank! Tank! Tank! kinda tanked tanked tanked…

Beyond that, I played around with a graphics display demo called Wii-U Panorama, which showcased the 360 degree graphics capability of the system. I watched pre-filmed demos of real world locations and events and could turn the Wii-U pad in 360 degree directions to get better vantage points on everything I was seeing. It was graphically impressive, but I don’t see anyone buying this unless there’s a way to add your own footage (I don’t possibly see how). I do hope it comes packaged with the system, because it’ll make it a lot easier to explain the technology to house-guests who heard about the Wii-U on the local news.

Okay, those are my hands on thoughts. I didn’t get to visit NintendoLand in my short time but I did experience a few more things. Check out my Geekscapepod Podcast later today with some further thoughts on E3, etc. and keep checking the site for my thoughts on the mech battler Hawken and Star Wars 1313!

E3 2012: Pikmin 3 is Coming to Wii U!

by Josh Jackson

After years of speculation. After two remakes. After an appearence in a freakin fighting game! Pikmin 3 is finally… FINALLY announced, and it’s coming to the Wii U!

During Nintendo’s E3 conference, video game demigod Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage and went over the new details in this long awaited sequel. Using the motion controls, players will be able to aim Pikmin at specific spots on the enemies for added stretegic elements. Want to keep enemies from eating your new found friends? Bombard their eyes with Pikmin! And speaking of new Pikmin, Rock Pikmin were formally introduced, which seem to have the ability to destroy enemy armor and stone walls.

All of this destruction looks gorgeous with the new, updated graphics. Small things from breaking down walls to actually gathering materials to build bridges makes the world look more immersive. That’s great considering that playing with the Game Pad allows you to view the whole map at once. There’s a hell of a lot to explore, which is why players can swap between four different captains, each with their own Pikmin to command. Coming off like a more traditional RTS in this sense, covering multiple sections of the map at once looks like it will be the key to victory in this newest Pikmin expedition.

Overall, Pikmin 3 is looking like a bigger, prettier, more strategic game. Check back for hands on updates as we get more time with the game.

 

http://youtu.be/eI87_YzSlIM

What’s Wrong With Batman? The “Geekscapepod” For June 4th, 2012!

by Jonathan

E3 2012 has begun! In this episode, I give my thoughts on the Nintendo WiiU announcements from yesterday as well as my thoughts after attending Microsoft’s E3 press conference! Have they gone completely towards peripherals or are there actually any games coming out? PLUS! Why Batman doesn’t work!

Find it on iTunes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:54 — 18.1MB)

Metroid/Starfox Crossover a No-Go

by Josh Jackson

Last week, the internet was set ablaze by rumors of a Star Fox and Metroid crossover being developed by Retro Studios. While gaming rumors are a dime a dozen around E3 season, considering the last time Retro was said to be working on a mystery game, those stories were true when the announcement of Donkey Kong Country Returns hit our ears with that sweet, sweet sound of confirmation. So let’s just say I had my hopes up to see the two series in the very capable hands of Retro while bringing some noteriety back to the Star Fox name.

Sadly, it’s apparently not meant to be.

Over at the Paul Gale Network where the news originally broke, the blog has updated its site with the following message:

“This game is not what Retro Studios is currently working on and it will not make an appearance at E3 next week. Now depending on what side of the fence you were on in regards to whether or not you wanted this game to be real is where this news might be personally good or bad to you. If you hated the idea, then rest assured that the game isn’t happening. If you liked the idea, then at least I can leave you with a bit of cushioning.”

Whether or not Retro is working on something else for the WiiU at E3 is yet to be seen. All I know is that we NEED a new Star Fox game after so long. The Nintendo 64 version collectively blew gamers away with its level design, game play and humorous voice acting, but has yet to reach such heights since, but I’m not sure pairing it with Metroid would make much sense. If Samus were to pair with anyone, it would be with another long forgotten franchise in F-Zero. I mean think about it, Captain Falcon is a bounty hunter. He has a ton of bad ass moves in Smash Brothers that he’s never shown off in his own series since he’s behind the wheel the whole time. Why not show how he would fare against another bounty hunter?

Even Star Fox would make sense pairing with F-Zero. Between a character named James  McCloud in both titles and a strong connection in some of the endings of Star Fox Command, The Lylat System might just be a furrier version of where the F-Zero Grand Prix takes place!

Regardless, it seems like we’ll have to wait assuming we’ll ever get this title at all. I hope the idea will see the light of day, but for now, consider this one of the many rumors that has proven to be false.

SOURCE: http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/2012/05/30/confirmed-status-update-on-retro-studios-making-star-fox-metroid-fusion-saga-for-wii-u/