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    Beyonce is in Rhythm Heaven (ads), loves Guitar Hero

    March 19, 2009 - 12:58pm

    How do you market a very cute, but weird, musical microgame collection to the DS's "expanded" audience? For Rhythm Heaven's ad campaign, Nintendo has resorted immediately to plan B ... yonce.The singer is starring in a new TV commercial for the WarioWare team's upcoming game, and spoke to Entertainment Weekly's The Music Mix blog about the game, although the interview got away from Rhythm Heaven and into general gaming fairly quickly. "I have been having a great time," she said about playing Rhythm Heaven on-set. "I've been rehearsing for my [upcoming] tour in stilettos and uncomfortable corsets, learning all these arrangements. Today I was playing the game with my socks on, on the couch, and it was very relaxing!" Beyonce told EW that she likes "all the Wii games," and that Rhythm Heaven reminds her of a portable Guitar Hero, "which is great, because I don't want to carry around a big guitar!" Perhaps somebody handed her Guitar Hero: On Tour instead of Rhythm Heaven?
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    New Punch-Out!! in Europe May 22, Super Punch-Out!! on Virtual Console tomorrow

    March 19, 2009 - 10:45am

    Nintendo recently announced a May release in Europe for Next Level Games' updated Punch-Out!!, and now we are pleased to say we have a specific release date. PAL gamers will be knocking croissants out of Glass Joe as soon as May 22!However, if that isn't soon enough for you to start uppercutting giant stereotypes, the press release also announces that Super Punch-Out!! for the SNES will be released on the PAL Virtual Console tomorrow! This is the first Virtual Console release for the SNES sequel in the world, and we hope it signals a worldwide release as soon as possible.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Fan brings 'Link's Awakening' into the world of 3D

    March 18, 2009 - 7:00pm


    With the power of 3DsMax8 in hand, a Nintendo fan going by the name of MithosKuu has decided to completely render the classic GameBoy title, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening in 3D. After revealing the first pieces of Koholint Island in September 2008, the 3D transformation is complete.Using the freshly made 3D hunting ground, beta testing for the proof of concept zChicken Hunter Extreme (MegaUpload) has begun. MithosKuu is asking all users to play with the beta and report back to help fix issues with the environment ... unless you're a lawyer for Nintendo in which case there's nothing to see here and this has nothing to do with the Link's Awakening you're thinking of.[Via GoNintendo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Get ready for Space Camp! (From Activision)

    March 18, 2009 - 6:00pm


    Activision today announced that it's bringing Space Camp to both the Wii and DS this June. In Space Camp, players assume the role of an astronaut in training and participate in several minigames missions on the moon. How an astronaut still in training wound up on the moon is anybody's guess. The Wii version also features a co-operative mode for two players and a four player party mode.Forget about the game though. It pales in comparison to Space Camp's potential as a hilarious practical joke on children. One example would go something like this:1. Tell child you are taking him / her to Space Camp. Be sure to really sell this.2. Watch child become incredibly excited and happy.3. Give the child a copy of Space Camp.4. Point (optional) and Laugh.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Nintendo icon Howard Phillips joins Epic-owned Chair Entertainment

    March 18, 2009 - 5:25pm

    Undertow developer Chair Entertainment has hired Howard Phillips as its new Studio Director. Phillips is best known for his time at Nintendo, during which he became a spokesman for the company and the star of Nintendo Power's "Howard & Nester" comic strip. Since then, he has worked at LucasArts, THQ, and Microsoft."Howard has a remarkable history in the video game industry, and we expect the talent at Chair Entertainment to thrive under his leadership," said Michael Capps, president of Chair owner Epic. Chair is currently working on games based on Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Empire: Alpha Complex.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    DSiWare Master of Illusion, Brain Age, Art Style rated by OFLC

    March 18, 2009 - 5:00pm

    While we can't be sure what the launch lineup for the DSiWare shop outside of Japan will look like, we can guess that the Australian shop will feature at least one of these games, thanks to OFLC ratings:

    • Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games
    • Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face
    • Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche
    • A Little Bit Of ... Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: Maths Edition
    • D-Code (probably Art Style: Decode)

    The standard ratings board disclaimer applies: we don't know when these will be out, or if this release implies other regions. But if you wanted to know if Nintendo planned to localize any of its Japanese DSiWare lineup, here is evidence that yes, it is.Also found on the OFLC: The WiiWare version of Rainbow Islands (yay!) and Adventure Island: The Beginning. Also, Karate Phants.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Joystiq Review: Trackmania DS

    March 18, 2009 - 4:00pm

    Trackmania DS is a game that wants to be friends with everyone. It's an arcade racer, but one that tries to cater to the wider audience of the DS through the implementation of other genres, like a Puzzle mode and even rally racing. The problem with trying to include all of these things is that the core component suffers, and in this case, the racing could have used a little more TLC.

    Continue reading Joystiq Review: Trackmania DS

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    Project Sora hiring for non-Smash Bros. game

    March 18, 2009 - 3:55pm

    Last month, Nintendo announced the formation of Project Sora, a new studio created from the combination of Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai's Sora Ltd. and a pile of Nintendo's money. This week, the new company took out a full-page ad in Famitsu seeking new employees.The ad reiterates that Sora is working on "something that Nintendo can't create by themselves." Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also has quotes in the ad, which provide one small detail: "I am asking for something special here, something that isn't Smash Bros.," Iwata says. While it's entirely possible Sora or another studio is also working on another Smash Bros. title, the mysterious game that the developer is focusing on right now is something else. We don't even know which system it will involve!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Analyst: Nintendo profits have peaked, stock set to decline

    March 18, 2009 - 3:25pm


    Though Nintendo is currently making money faster than a brothel in shore leave season, Deutsche Bank analyst Satoru Kikuchi has given the company's stock a "sell" rating, usually reserved for companies who are facing an economic decline. Kikuchi foresees a slow trailing off for Nintendo's stock value -- he predicts an 18 percent decline over the next year, and an additional 19 percent drop sometime in 2011. The analyst referenced declining DS and Wii sales in Japan as evidence for his claims, adding that Nintendo's dependence on its few ridiculously successful titles (we assume he's talking about Wii Fit and Wii Play) will ultimately bring it down unless it introduces additional power sellers. Don't fret, Mr. Kikuchi -- we're sure Nintendo's got a Wii Fit 2 or Wii Play Again hidden somewhere up its gilded sleeves.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rock Band Wiikly back to sync: Funk, New Pornographers, Papa Roach, The Who

    March 18, 2009 - 3:00pm


    The sync is back on between Rock Band Wiikly and Rock Band Weekly. There was a little hiccup last week, but it appears Wii rockers are ready to start receiving the "new" DLC again. The Wii's Rock Band Music Store also receives three tracks from The Who, which were previously released on the PS3 and Xbox 360.Individual songs (200 Wii points apiece):

    • "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band
    • "Shining Star" - Earth Wind & Fire
    • "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine - Pt 1" - James Brown
    • "Thrash Unreal" - Against Me!
    • "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" - The New Pornographers
    • "Use It" - The New Pornographers
    • "Last Resort" - Papa Roach
    • "Lifeline" - Papa Roach
    • "My Generation (LIVE)" - The Who
    • "Summertime Blues (LIVE)" - The Who
    • "Young Man Blues" - The Who

    The tracks became available yesterday, March 17. Videos can be found after the break.

    Continue reading Rock Band Wiikly back to sync: Funk, New Pornographers, Papa Roach, The Who

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