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    DSiWare purchases locked to hardware, only Nintendo can transfer

    September 30, 2009 - 11:30pm


    If you're bored with your black or electric blue DSi and looking to trade-over to one of the newly released white or pink models, your DSiWare purchases won't be able to make the journey. UK site Nintendo Life has confirmed that, with the exception of a broken handheld, purchases made from the DSi Shop are permanently "locked" to the system they're downloaded onto.Unlike Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP there's no method for transferring the rights to downloaded software from one machine to another by the end user. In fact, Nintendo Australia informed the site that, should a DSi break and its owner want its DSiWare moved to a new unit, both must be mailed in to Nintendo, which will perform the process. We've asked Nintendo of America if it has a similar policy for what should be a matter of a simple phone call to de-authorize one DSi and authorize another to download content you've already paid for. We're anticipating a "yes" in response. Then again, as GameSpot points out, NOA's end user license states "software downloaded from Nintendo DSi Shop is licensed to you, not sold." Pays to read the fine print.[Via GameSpot]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Hands-on: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

    September 30, 2009 - 6:45pm


    If there's one thing to be thankful for in the face of Capcom's steady stream of Resident Evil games, it's that we've all been given a fairly comprehensive education on the undead blight. We can see a zombie coming a mile away, which presents an odd sense of frustration when the game's own characters fail to do the same. No, that person isn't sick. It's a zombie and it's going to bite your neck off. Just shoot it!The Darkside Chronicles, an instantly familiar follow-up to the Wii's Umbrella Chronicles, often hesitates to pull the trigger. It takes a leisurely stroll when least appropriate and it's slow to react when things do get exciting. You might think that your friends Survival-Horror and On-Rails Shooter would get along just fine, but leave them both in the room while you go to the toilet and it's just awkward silence.

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    Darth Vader senses your Wiimote's presence

    September 30, 2009 - 4:14pm


    With the economy the way it is, even Sith Lords are having to work second jobs. Take Darth Vader here, who's moonlighting as the absolute coolest Wii sensor bar holder ever. (We're sure his supervisor will say something similar on his quarterly performance report.)You can hire Lord Vader for the sum of $49.99 from the official Star Wars Shop website, and he'll drop out of hyperspace (a.k.a. arriving via FedEx) sometime in November. Just be forewarned that his heavy breathing might ruin the atmosphere during those quiet, extremely tense gaming moments. But hey -- as much as old "Iron Lung Ani" needs the work, nobody's Forcing you to hire him.[Via Gizmodo]
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    Snap Judgment: Dead Space Extraction

    September 30, 2009 - 2:20pm


    When we review a game without finishing it, we call it a Snap Judgment. Read why here.
    Time played: 3 hours I'm personally a big fan of on-rails shooters, a genre that I think rarely gets its due. I'm not all that big on exploration, and I'm lazy, so having someone else take the reigns for me is a welcome relief, allowing me to focus on the all-important business of murder. So it's quite a treat to see a game like Dead Space Extraction that strikes a blow for lazy guys everywhere by finding the strengths of the genre and running with them.

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    TGS 2009: Interview: Little King's Story's Yoshiro Kimura

    September 30, 2009 - 11:45am

    Yoshiro Kimura is the creator of Little King's Story, likely the only game in history to be the inspiration for a giveaway of one hundred hamburgers, one hundred bananas, and one hundred coupons for a visit to a spa -- all simultaneously. We spoke to Kimura during Tokyo Game Show about the secrets of the Wii game, about that rather strange contest, and about a can't-miss concept for a game about an old man drinking on a bench.

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    Feign surprise: DJ Hero 2 allegedly in the works

    September 30, 2009 - 10:30am


    With Activision already asking consumers to plunk down over $100 for the DJ Hero peripheral later this month, it's only fair that more games use it -- but only if those titles belong to the publisher. With that, GI.biz reports that "at least one independent UK games developer" is working with Activision's Freestyle Games on DJ Hero 2. Go on ... pretend you're in any way surprised.Considering what Activision has done with the Guitar Hero franchise, it wouldn't exactly be a shock if DJ Hero 2, DJ Hero 3 and DJ Hero: Scratch the '80s all hit within a year of each other.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Closing Game Crazy stores begin clearance sales this weekend [update]

    September 30, 2009 - 9:35am


    The 200+ Game Crazy stores expected to close by the end of October will begin a liquidation sale, starting this weekend. Locations expected to shutter have received boxes and a list of items that are to be sent back for redistribution, which allegedly includes "all systems, major first party accessories (controllers, memory, etc)." The "majority" of games released within the last year will be also be sent out, "both new and used." Several employees have commented that closing stores will likely be "pretty bare" by the time the sale starts.The timetable for the liquidation, corroborated by several sources:

    • 10/3-10/11: 30% off everything in the store
    • 10/12-10/18: 50% off everything in the store
    • 10/19-Closing: 80% off everything in the store

    There doesn't seem to be a consistent date for when the stores will close, but we haven't heard of any location staying open beyond October 27. We continue to work on getting a master list of which stores are closing, as well as a list of items sent back for redistribution. Request for official comment from Game Crazy corporate on several issues, including what customers with pre-orders at closing stores should do, have gone unanswered. If you're a Game Crazy employee with more details, please feel free to contact us*. *Tips will remain confidential, please leave a valid email address in case we have further questions. Thank you!Update 2: If you know of specific locations closing, click here.Update: Adjusted liquidation dates slightly following new information.[Thank you to everyone who contributed to this story!]Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Japanese Nintendo Downloads: Galaxian heads to the Tecmo Bowl

    September 29, 2009 - 4:45pm


    Following last week's drought due to the public holiday, Nintendo has turned the download faucet back on in Japan. It's another week free of WiiWare, but there's certainly enough Virtual Console material to make up for it. Outside of a trio of VC Arcade titles, we've got a Super Famicom tactical RPG classic:

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    TGS 2009: Interview: Suda 51

    September 29, 2009 - 2:56pm

    When we came into Marvelous Entertainment's hotel room, we witnessed another outlet recording a video interview with Suda 51, producer of No More Heroes and its sequel. Marvelous brought this, well, marvelous beam katana prop, which lights up and makes appropriately lightsabery noises, and someone pretended to attack him in the conclusion of the video interview. Suda gamely displayed mock fright at the beam katana attack for multiple takes while someone waved the device around in front of him.All we did was ask him some questions about No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle and Grasshopper's other work.

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    Professor Layton is in Boston today ... somewhere

    September 29, 2009 - 12:15pm


    It appears that Professor Layton is in Boston today, working the streets to promote his latest adventure, The Diabolical Box. Those who track down the professor will receive a "fun Nintendo gift," as well as entry into a draw for five Nintendo DSi systems. Check out the official rules for all the details.The latest clue at 11AM EST states: "Professor Layton is wandering on a cobblestone promenade similar to the one in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box and watching a street performer." That means the professor is very likely right outside of Quincy Market. If you get a lock on Layton, holla back. Also, send us pics! The professor will hop on a flight and be in Seattle tomorrow.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments