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    Iwata: Vitality Sensor coming 'not too late' in 2010

    August 10, 2009 - 4:57pm

    In the same investor Q&A in which president Satoru Iwata declared the ten-million-copy sales potential of Wii Fit Plus, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Wii Sports Resort and dismissed the idea of a price drop, Iwata also discussed the ... less than guaranteed hit, the Wii Vitality Sensor. Iwata said that Nintendo "would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year."

    As for software, the first game will have a "theme of relaxation, which is completely opposite from traditional ones, to enrich the users' lives," but he casually mentioned the idea of "measuring how horrified a player is in a horror title" as an example of the application of the thing.

    One other interesting point: Iwata explained why Professor Layton's European box art is so ugly: it was designed to look more like a Brain Age title in an effort to appeal to new, Brain Age-only gamers. Whatever Nintendo did, it worked!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Hudson finally announces Deca Sports on DS

    August 10, 2009 - 2:45pm

    We first heard rumblings from Hudson about a DS version of the surprisingly popular Deca Sports back in May of last year. Those ... offhand remarks have finally come to fruition, as Hudson has officially announced Deca Sports DS, for release in North America at the same time as every other game ever (Spring 2010). Scans of the Japanese version have also appeared, providing a first look at the handheld sports game.The DS game includes customizable team designs, multiplayer modes and, most importantly, new sports. The events on this cartridge include golf, ping pong, wall climbing, bobsled, rugby, arm wrestling, clay shooting, cheerleading, and sepak takraw, only one of which we had to look up. (Wall climbing? What is that?)Will Deca Sports be a hit on DS? Will the kind of inexplicable success of Deca Sports counteract the super-crowded release schedule? It should be interesting to find out.[Scan via GoNintendo]Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5

    August 10, 2009 - 2:30pm

    We recently went hands, feet and ... voice-on with the latest Guitar Hero installment, and while we didn't come away with our world totally rocked by innovation, we can confirm that there's more to Guitar Hero 5 than just a new song list. It's a game that does more to challenge hardcore series veterans than Guitar Hero World Tour did, but its variety of new mechanics and modes make it clear that Neversoft (and Vicarious Visions on Wii) haven't forgotten those who just want to party.

    Continue reading Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5

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    Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5 'Roadie Battle' mode (Wii/DS)

    August 10, 2009 - 2:15pm


    The biggest surprise of Activision's Guitar Hero 5 pre-launch event in San Francisco wasn't the addition of a hot band to the song list or something to do with DLC; it was a game mode exclusive to the Wii version called "Roadie Battle," which wound up being the most refreshing and fun addition to the series since ... ever.In this guitar-only duel, two players can assist the pair battling on the big screen using Nintendo DS. Using DS Download Play, the Wii transfers the Roadie Battle "app" to both DS units (two human "roadies" aren't required; the CPU can fill in for the friend-deprived) and the (frantic) fun begins.

    Continue reading Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5 'Roadie Battle' mode (Wii/DS)

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    More on Guitar Hero 5 song import, DLC support (Band Hero will do it, too)

    August 10, 2009 - 2:00pm


    Yes, Guitar Hero 5 is getting all modern-like and letting those who buy it -- and own other GH games -- access all those songs they already bought (on disc or in DLC form) without firing up another title. GH5 and the upcoming Band Hero will work with songs from the Guitar Hero World Tour and Guitar Hero Smash Hits game discs, along with GHWT DLC -- even on Wii.PS3 and Xbox 360 owners who own GHWT will be able to download a free update from within GH5 that enables DLC backwards-compatibility (for 152 of 158 available tracks) and adds new GH5-specific features to their existing DLC. In order to rip the tracks from GHWT and SH discs will need to purchase what Activision says will be a "nominal re-licensing fee" and have the unique 20-digit code on the back of the games' manuals. As with Rock Band 2, all songs from the discs will be ripped to the systems' hard disks, but unwanted tracks can be individually deleted.The process will be similar on Wii, with a couple noteworthy differences. First, DLC must be re-downloaded (to add new GH5 features, plus they'll sound better) either en mass or track-by-track to the Wii's internal memory or (thankfully) SD card. There'll also be an individual song copy option for importing disc-based songs from GHWT. Now to find out what those six DLC tracks that aren't supported are ...
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    Tony Hawk Ride comes to North America Nov. 17

    August 10, 2009 - 1:45pm


    Enjoy full control of your limbs while you still have it: There's just one week and two months until you US residents can hop on the Tony Hawk Ride board peripheral and promptly fall off, fracturing a least a few crucial bones in the process.The question, of course, is how much you'll have to pay for the privilege when the game arrives Nov. 17. Hopefully we'll get something more concrete than GameStop's $120 estimate soon.
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    First 4 Figures to sell Mario-themed Chess

    August 10, 2009 - 12:15pm


    While not as classy as some of the other First 4 Figures offerings, the Super Mario Collector's Edition Chess Set is still kind of neat and, unlike the company's previous works, actually affordable for most human beings. Manufactured by USAopoly, this chess set will set you back $45 when it releases near the end of this year and is, uh, pretty much just chess with characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. Kind of odd choice making Luigi the Queen, right? That might explain why he never found himself a nice lady like his brother did.[Via Go Nintendo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Sports Illustrated subscription and Madden 10 bundled for only $49

    August 10, 2009 - 11:30am


    This looks to be quite the deal for sports fans. Sports Illustrated is offering a free copy of Madden 10 (on the platform of your choice) with every paid subscription. In addition to getting to getting 28 issues of Sports Illustrated, the $49 bundle includes a documentary DVD, "The Road to Canton" and the aforementioned copy of Madden. The bundle is actually cheaper than buying a standalone copy of Madden 10 at retail! With the money saved, you can afford all those crazy DLC packs EA is pimping in this year's edition ... almost.If you do take advantage of the deal, make sure you watch out for the auto-renewal option. You'll have to cancel your subscription before it ends, or SI will charge you for another year when your subscription ends.[Thanks, Colin M.!]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Spy with your little eye: New Spyborgs trailer

    August 10, 2009 - 11:15am

    If there's one thing we can say about this new Spyborgs trailer, it's that somebody at Capcom has been watching themselves a lot of 24. While the editing may be a bit suspect, the gameplay is not. Though it is a brief trailer, we do get to see all three protagonists roll up their robotic sleeves and get their hands dirty, so go on, give it a watch above.
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    NintendoWare Weekly: NyxQuest, Super Star Wars, Brain Age Express

    August 10, 2009 - 11:00am


    This week starts an initiative to bring classic LucasArts titles to the Virtual Console for the next month. Today, Super Star Wars for the SNES is available, however Nintendo also promises its sequels, Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, in the coming weeks. Considering these are among the top Star Wars experiences out there, you can bet we're pretty pumped. It feels kind of like when you bullseye a womp rat in your T-16!

    Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: NyxQuest, Super Star Wars, Brain Age Express

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