Full FeedNintendo Downloads for June 29, 2009
Can you say, “the dog days of summer”? This Nintendo download update is certainly on the sedate side, with 2 water-based titles on WiiWare (including a fishing game!) and Sudoku (yes, Sudoku!) on DSiWare. I’m interested in the sole VC release, Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa, and potentially Silver Star Reversi on WiiWare, but if you’re still not satisfied, hell, Natsume does make a mean fishing game. Nintendo adds to it’s virtual game stores each Monday at 9 AM Pacific, and Wii points may be purchased at a rate of $1=100.
Nintendo’s Descriptions:
Fitness games generating big business for the industry
Remember that moldy stereotype that gamers are all overweight, couch-crusty adolescents? Well, we actually have financial proof that it’s not the case anymore (not that it ever was) - in a recent story at 1Up, it was revealed that the new genre of fitness games has created an incredible $2 billion in revenue. The report originally comes from the Games for Health Project, and the figure was generated in just 18 months. Holy guacamole.
Michael Jackson in videogames
Today was not a good day to be a celebrity - not long after it was confirmed that actress/advocate Farrah Fawcett had died, the shocking news came that Michael Jackson (the “King of Pop”) had died suddenly. He was 50.
Ponged launches, offering hand-picked free flash games
Is there anything better than free games? I mean, it’s a rhetorical question, but when you have good, free flash games that you can play in a browser, it’s hard to complain. Today, GameFly (the generally excellent game rental service) launched Ponged, which offers “over 500” games, all free to play in any flash-capable browser, all of which were reportedly selected by “hardcore gamers”. According to Joystiq, everything should work just perfectly in browser windows on your Wii or PS3, and there’s even a quick-conceal “boss button” so those who game at work can easily avoid getting caught.
Bethesda’s parent company purchases id Software
This one came out of nowhere - ZeniMax, the parent company of Fallout 3 and Oblivion developer Bethesda, has just announced its acquisition of id Software (best known for the Doom and Quake franchises). According to a report at Gamasutra, Bethesda will publish all of id’s currently unsigned projects (EA already has the upcoming Rage), and the move is being seen as the company really stepping up it’s publishing side.
GTA: Chinatown Wars is headed to PSP in fall 2009
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was, by most accounts, a completely awesome game. Released on the DS last March, critics loved the gritty, comical portable version of everyone’s favorite open world series, though it didn’t sell well - at all. According to 1Up, Rockstar will release the title on PSP this fall, in hopes of boosting sales on the presumably slightly older-skewing handheld.
Nintendo Downloads for June 22, 2009
We’re entering summer 2009 with a rather bizarre mix of downloadable games. But on WiiWare/Virtual Console/DSiWare, that’s pretty much par for the course, no? The smart money is on the funky sounding new puzzler from YUKES (NEVES Plus) and potentially the new Art Style game, though if you’re really dying to see if Family Mini Golf is better than the abysmal Family Pirate Party, well, knock yourself out. Nintendo adds to it’s virtual game stores each Monday at 9 AM Pacific, and Wii points may be purchased at a rate of $1=100.
Nintendo’s Descriptions:
StarCraft II is still a fall 2009 release
StarCraft is almost religion (well, especially in Korea), so the long awaited sequel has just about everyone weak in the knees. Despite the fact that we really haven’t heard all that much from Blizzard (which we all know is the developer behind the series, along with those little games like World of WarCraft and Diablo), the game is still slated for a fall 2009 release.
However, 1Up is reporting that the team is adamant that they won’t put out an incomplete product, so if it slips past the season, then it slips. According to the post, Lead designer Chris Sigaty simply stated “We’re not going to ship the game if it’s not ready”. Simple, straightforward, and frankly, not a bad thing.
Nintendo Downloads for June 15, 2009
It’s another insanely eclectic week on Nintendo’s downloadable game services. WiiWare is boasting a new Sega game, fighting kitchen appliances and rainbow islands, DSiWare has your ripoff clock and calculator needs covered, and the excellent Arcade version of Space Harrier wraps up the pickings. Personally, I’m all for the toaster, the catching and the Harrier. Nintendo adds to it’s virtual game stores each Monday at 9 AM Pacific, and Wii points may be purchased at a rate of $1=100.
Hidden gems of E3 2009
By now, we all know the big games of E3 2009 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii, BioShock 2, Mass Effect 2, Assassin’s Creed 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction, God of War III, and oh yeah, that game with the Beatles. But there were plenty of under-the-radar surprises at this year’s show - quality games that looked great without the benefit of the hype machine. The following are my top three picks that came right out of left field and made a major impression.
Important Importables
Jenni Lada brings us information about all of the groovy new gaming imports from around the world.
