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    Get a grip: Nintendo reveals Wii 'Classic Controller Pro'

    February 26, 2009 - 4:00am

    Nintendo's Japanese site is now showing a new version of the dual-analog Classic Controller for Wii. The "Classic Controller Pro" replaces the original's tiny secondary shoulder buttons with a traditional Dual Shock style "two rows of buttons" set up, moves the two analog sticks out a bit from the center, and adds some hand grips. Hand grips are for pros.Basically, if a Dual Shock and a Wii Classic Controller had a baby, it would be -- a disgusting thing to think about. But if someone were to design a video game controller that used elements of both of those controllers, it would be the Classic Controller Pro.Nintendo plans a summer 2009 release for this controller, which should dovetail nicely with Monster Hunter 3 -- no doubt irritating Capcom, who is bundling a port of its predecessor, Monster Hunter G, with a special blue version of the original Classic. No pricing or information about a release outside of Japan is given.[Via Kotaku; thanks, Face]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Get juiced for Ubisoft's 'Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout' on the Wii

    February 26, 2009 - 1:01am

    YES! CARDIO BOXING ON THE WII! FROM UBISOFT AND GOLD'S GYM, YEAAAHHHH! AWESOME! Sorry, we were just doing our best to get your heart rate up. Consider it a free cardio workout from Joystiq, because Joystiq Cares[TM] about your health!Ubisoft announced a partnership with Gold's Gym to market the new Wii exercise game Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout, due out March 31. The Balance Board-compatible game includes "cardio boxing, running, sit-ups and other activities" as well as calorie and weight tracking. The new game will include a coupon for one week at Gold's Gym, and in turn, Gold's locations will feature advertising for the game.Wii nerds (like us) may remember developer Rocket Company's Japanese release Shape Boxing Wii de Enjoy Diet, which featured cardio boxing-based exercises and a few wacky minigames. Screenshots of Cardio Boxing (via Amazon) reveal it to be a localized version of that game. We have yet to determine whether the bear-punching minigame is still present. We can only hope.
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    Mark it in your datebook: Avalon Code coming March 10

    February 25, 2009 - 4:30pm

    The Marvelous/XSEED publishing superteam has announced a release date for Matrix Software's action RPG Avalon Code. Should you RPG fans finish Blue Dragon Plus and Legacy of Ys this week, you'll still have Avalon Code to look forward to on March 10.Avalon Code tasks players with filling a magical "Book of Prophecy" with monsters, people, and everything else found throughout the world. Once profiled, the pages from this book can then be used to alter the game world and "influence a myriad of parameters from monster attributes to weapon strength." The book is also useful for identifying stats and elemental weaknesses about monsters you encounter. Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Free Blue Dragon anime appears from the shadows

    February 25, 2009 - 3:00pm

    Joystiq PSA: An episode of Blue Dragon anime is available as a free (and 100% legal) download.The Blue Dragon anime's pilot episode, "The Shadow Comes Forth", can be grabbed from the iTunes Store for free, through March 10. That's a savings of $1.99. We can only hope that watching an episode of Shu search for the Night Master, while attempting to prove he isn't a child, doesn't involve any form of digital disc swapping.Source - iTunes StoreSource - What They PlayRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    MadWorld's controls designed by sane people

    February 25, 2009 - 1:30pm

    IGN posted this control diagram as part of their week of MadWorld coverage, allowing us to breathe a sigh of relief at the non-gimmick controls. We particularly enjoy the fact that, rather than "light" and "heavy" attacks, the buttons correspond to regular attacks and the chainsaw -- which can only be used for five seconds at a time before requiring a recharge. There is some waggle, but it's not the main method of attack, and its mapping to the "uppercut" move means it will probably finish combos, much like the control scheme in the sublime No More Heroes. Swinging the nunchuk initiates a, uh ... "buck flip."In addition to the basic controls, IGN posted a more detailed rundown of Jack's abilities, including a description of MadWorld's lock-on feature, and tweaking punches with the analog stick. We're happy to hear about some depth in the controls, because while the black-and-white look is stunning and the overdone violence is funny, what we really want out of MadWorld is solid, complex brawling.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Nintendo offers free DS, Personal Trainer: Math to math-loving kids

    February 25, 2009 - 12:30pm

    What's the best way to entice middle-schoolers into their schools' math clubs? How about the promise of a free Nintendo DS -- and a math game? Personally, we think the best way would be to move the meetings to Steak 'n Shake and replace the "math" part with "vanilla malts." But, while delicious, it's not exactly educational, and wouldn't really make for a good PR opportunity for Nintendo. Instead, the company has partnered with MATHCOUNTS, a "national enrichment, coaching and competition program" for middle school math, to bribe four middle school math clubs across the US with free DS systems -- and, of course, Personal Trainer: Math. They could hand out Fire Emblem or something -- but again, not so much of a PR opportunity.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Nintendo asks for help against biggest piracy offenders

    February 25, 2009 - 11:35am


    How do you know when your corporation might have become just a touch too rich and powerful? Well, calling out entire countries should set off a few warning bells. Nintendo has just sent out a release detailing exactly which countries it's got a bone to pick with and why.The company's beef is piracy, which it says the U.S. needs to do a better job battling in China, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Paraguay. Check out the full list of offenses after the break. As always, we remind Nintendo that the battle against piracy has to begin and end on the High Seas. Cut off their citrus supply and you'll be stuffing them in scurvy crates and shipping them back to Neverland before you can say Davy Jones' Locker.

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    Dig into some footage of WiiWare's Mr. Driller

    February 25, 2009 - 11:00am

    YouTube user and frequent WiiWare video capturer Nintendaan has put up some gameplay footage of Mr. Driller World, the currently Japan-only downloadable version of Namco's classic puzzler (and Dig Dug spinoff of sorts). We kind of knew what to expect from this game -- Mr. Driller looks like Mr. Driller for the most part, regardless of platform -- but we happen to think that this version looks particularly nice, with giant, colorful blocks and adorable dancing distractions on the side of the screen. Characters visible in this gameplay video include Susumu Hori (the title character) and his brother Ataru. Anna Hottenmeyer shows up in the menu, though she isn't used in this particular recording. [Via GoNintendo]

    Continue reading Dig into some footage of WiiWare's Mr. Driller

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    Capcom sort of confirms Western release of Monster Hunter 3

    February 25, 2009 - 10:00am

    Monster Hunter 3 is coming to North America and Europe, according to a statement from Capcom in its 3rd quarter financial results conference call Q&A (PDF link)."One of our leading titles is "Monster Hunter 3 (tri-)," Capcom said, addressing a question about its region-specific plans. "If we can gain recognition of this product in the European and North American markets, our market strategy will see a noticeable change."Of course, if Capcom is hoping to gain recognition in those markets, then it plans to release the game in those markets. We had always kind of assumed it was coming, just because it's achieved such massive buzz in Japan, and because Capcom is starting to show an interest in localizing Monster Hunter games again with Freedom Unite on PSP. But it's nice to have an official statement!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The making of Wrestle Jam

    February 25, 2009 - 5:00am


    Gaming fans who managed to see The Wrestler will likely never forget Mickey Rourke's "Do you want to play Nintendo?" line. It resonated with us deeply, as we recalled our own childhood with the NES asking our own friends if they wanted to "play Nintendo." And those that have seen the film know they in fact do "play Nintendo," in the form of the NES game you see above: Wrestle Jam.Wrestle Jam isn't actually a real game, but something made specifically for the film by motion graphics artist Kristyn Hume and programmer Randall Furino. If you're wondering why they would go through all of the effort, Aronofsky (the director) wanted "the actors to be able to play the game" instead of pretending, Hume recounted in an interview with Kotaku. So the two got to work and made Wrestle Jam entirely from scratch. Check out a promo video of the 8-bit "classic" after the break.

    Continue reading The making of Wrestle Jam

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