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    The meaning of 'i' in DSi

    February 23, 2009 - 9:00pm

    TechRadar spoke with Nintendo of America and asked what the "i" in DSi stood for. The representative explained it is symbolic of the "subject "I" and its personal aspect," also the "two cameras gives the system its own eye on things."No matter how ridiculous that answer sounds, considering Nintendo took a word like Wii -- previously associated with male genitalia and urine -- and turned it into the best-selling console of this generation, we're totally not going to question its logic in naming things. [Via GameDaily]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    First hypnotic footage of Space Invaders Extreme 2

    February 23, 2009 - 8:00pm

    We've been anxious to see footage of Space Invaders Extreme 2 since we first found out about the game. Admittedly, it hasn't been very long, but we've still been in total agony. As expected, SIE 2 doesn't stray far from the original formula: the player shoots at Invaders of various colors, shapes, and sizes, with the sounds of the shots syncing to both the thumping and psychedelic backgrounds. You can see the new "bingo" system in the beginning of the video, in which a bonus round is unlocked by shooting Invaders of the same color, corresponding to a line of colored blocks in a square.And now for some wishful thinking: who thinks the announcer is just part of the video and not in the actual game?

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    DSi launch trailer heavy on features, light on games

    February 23, 2009 - 6:30pm

    Take heed, for Nintendo has dropped DSi launch trailers upon us. The trailers show off a lot of the DSi's new features, namely the SD card slot and the handheld's two cameras. Also shown are several of the DSi's applications, including the web browser, music player and photo album. What isn't shown, apart from a few DSiWare apps, is exactly how any of these features pertain to playing video games. Then again, considering it's the same hardware with a few additions, maybe we're hoping for too much.We will say one thing, though: Man, do these people look happy to have a DSi. Check out the trailers after the break.

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    This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Avalon Code

    February 23, 2009 - 6:00pm

    Hey, is that -- could it be -- a demo available for a regular game? Somehow, a demo for Avalon Code, Matrix Software's action RPG designed neither for babies nor grandmas, has slipped past Nintendo's attention and onto the Nintendo Channel. Grab it before Nintendo notices and replaces it with My Fun Facts Coach! Also available is a demo for MLB Fantasy All-Stars 2K9, the sequel to last year's bizarre, cartoony baseball game. Head past the break for the list of available videos! A note about formatting: we've decided not to list the demos that are available every week. You guys know you can get the Flash Focus demo whenever you want, without us telling you.

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    Dragon Quest V team wants your feedback

    February 23, 2009 - 5:00pm

    Are you thrilled that Square Enix finally got around to localizing Dragon Quest V? Or maybe you're disgusted that the remake didn't include more Dippity-Doo'd amnesiac protagonists or 30-minute-long cutscenes? Let the team know! The company has opened a comment form on the Dragon Quest V website, through which registrants in the Square Enix Members program can leave feedback about the RPG remake. The form promises that "each message will be read," though a response may not be forthcoming.While you're exploring the Dragon Quest V site, why not send out DQV e-cards to all your friends, and grab some wallpapers?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Namco's DSiWare Katamari puzzler, downloadable Mr. Drillers, in screens

    February 23, 2009 - 4:00pm

    GAME Watch has some direct-feed screens of Namco Bandai's DSiWare and WiiWare lineup, along with the title of one as-yet-unrevealed DSiWare game, Diet Memo, that probably isn't that exciting. We were most curious, of course, about Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy, imagining some kind of completely bizarre puzzle game with quirky music and completely unique gameplay elements. It will have one of those, in the form of an ending theme, "Katamari of Love," created using the vocal synthesis software (and singing star, of sorts) Hatsune Miku. As for the gameplay: it's basically Pac-Attack, or Cosmo Gang: The Video, again. Players arrange sets of stuff, and occasionally a Katamari will appear to roll up adjacent objects. That's not bad for 500 points, but it's certainly not the kind of originality we associate with Katamari.Speaking of originality: screens of DSiWare Mr. Driller confirm that it really is content from Drill Spirits, directly excerpted. It looks exactly the same. Again, for 500 points, it might be a viable download for DSi owners this week, but not those who already own Drill Spirits. Mr. Driller World for WiiWare, on the other hand, is new, with a bright new visual style!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rock Band Wiikly: The Cars album (tracks sold separately)

    February 23, 2009 - 3:00pm


    This week's Rock Band Wii music store update contains The Cars' 1978 self-titled debut record. Each track is sold separately, so it'll cost $3 more than if rockers had purchased the album on Xbox 360 or PS3.The Cars (200 Wii points apiece)

    • "Good Times Roll"
    • "My Best Friend's Girl"
    • "Just What I Needed"
    • "I'm in Touch with Your World"
    • "Don't Cha Stop"
    • "You're All I've Got Tonight"
    • "Bye Bye Love"
    • "Moving in Stereo"
    • "All Mixed Up"

    The tracks will be available tomorrow, February 24, and videos for all this week's songs are after the break. This is the last week in February and we've yet to see indication that the Wii's sync with "new" Rock Band Weekly tracks will still occur this month. Currently, the Harmonix press release notes it'll happen "soon." We're following up with the developer to see if there's a new sync window.

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    New Play Control Metroid Prime games get Corruption's token system

    February 23, 2009 - 2:00pm


    If you played through any significant portion of Metroid Prime 3, then you likely encountered a colorful token or two during your progression through the game. These tokens were awarded for a variety of reasons and were a lot of fun to compare with your friends, so it's nice to see them being utilized in the New Play Control versions of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime: Echoes. Anything adding replay value to these great games is just fine by us!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Wiikly Wares: C64 games launch an Onslaught on Wii

    February 23, 2009 - 1:30pm


    Click image for more bug blastin' screens
    There are plenty of new goodies to check out on Wii this week. including a whole new system on the Virtual Console! We won't bother wasting any more time here typing out words you're going to just ignore, so shoot down for the details you crave.Virtual ConsoleInternational Karate (C64, 1 - 2 players, 500 Wii Points): Features man-vs-man karate fighting to the death. Well, not really, but it is karate sparring. Do you need to know anything else?The Last Ninja (C64. 500 Wii Points): Armakuni is literally the last ninja ever, and takes up a quest to destroy the evil Shogun Kunitoki. You'll have to rely on all of your ninja abilities if you hope to survive this one!Pit Stop II (C64, 1 -2 players, 500 Wii Points): Enjoy split-screen action, or merely play alone in this C64 F1 racer. It's the first game to bring racing to the home computer and features six different tracks to race on, as well as true-to-life pit stop technology.WiiWareOnslaught (Hudson, FPS, 1,000 Wii Points): Hudson's FPS focuses on the war between humans and space bugs. The game features wave after wave of space bug baddies and includes boss fights and leaderboard support via Nintendo WFC. Sadly, though, the game does not include Michael Ironside.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Now Playing: February 22-28, 2009

    February 23, 2009 - 1:00pm


    Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:Last updated: Thursday, 10:00 am

    (Note: All platform release lists are posted after the break; use "Continued" button below.)

    The first rule of Killzone is: you kill the guys with red eyes. The second rule of Killzone is: you KILL the guys with red eyes! The premise is low maintenance, but Killzone 2 packs a lot of baggage. From its conspicuous debut to subsequent years of shrouded development to a confident early review strategy, it's been a long journey for the shooter-that-should, which finally arrives at its retail destination on Friday. In the meantime, you might enjoy Tuesday's releases, including Dead Rising: Wag Till You Gag, 50 Cent: I'll Stop Those Terrorists ... Or Die Tryin' and Shellshock 2: The Bargain-Priced Sequel. So then ... see you Friday?

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