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    Take the Joystiq Scribblenauts Challenge

    July 31, 2009 - 12:15pm


    So, we managed to get our grubby mitts on a copy of Scribblenauts for a few days, but the last thing we want to do is keep all the fun to ourselves. So, here's our idea: We're going to be presenting a puzzle from the game, and we want you to tell us in the comments how you'd solve it. Remember, you can create pretty much any physical object to do the job, but no proper nouns, no trademarks and nothing suggestive or illicit (drugs, hookers, scat, etc.) And try to be as specific as possible when you're describing what you want us to do.We'll try out some of the best ones and let you know how it works on Monday. We've got the puzzle right after the break, and if you're completely new to the concept, we've got you covered. Good luck!

    Continue reading Take the Joystiq Scribblenauts Challenge

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    Nintendo releases tiny August Virtual Console list for Japan

    July 31, 2009 - 10:45am

    We don't know why we expect big Virtual Console lineups in Japan -- perhaps because it's the only region where zero-game or one-game weeks aren't the norm, and the only region where Nintendo seems to care enough to, you know, promote it. But only six games were announced for next month, including one game we knew was coming, Final Fantasy IV.The other offerings include a Kunio hockey game, a Namco cute-em-up, and two maze games: Pac-Mania, the pseudo-3D Pac-Man sequel that adds jumping, and Pepen ga Pengo, an updated, four-player sequel to Sega's 1982 Pengo, and something that we'd love to see released here as an import. You know, if Nintendo ever decides to get back to releasing VC games.

    • Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey-bu! Subete Koron de Dairantou (Famicom)
    • Final Fantasy IV (Super Famicom)
    • Pepen ga Pengo (Mega Drive)
    • Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (Mega Drive)
    • Cosmo Gang: The Video (Arcade)
    • Pac-Mania (Arcade)

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    UK developers calling for digital sales transparency

    July 31, 2009 - 6:00am


    The UK publishing community is asking for sales information from the digital distribution networks, possibly using a service like GfK-ChartTrack to set up a download-only chart. The question is whether Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Valve and others are likely to share that information.To push things along, some developers are revealing sales figures as a sign of solidarity with the new initiative. Developer doublesix announced its PSN game, Burn Zombie Burn, achieved 70,000 sales. Studio honcho James Brooksby said, "We're clearly delighted that Burn Zombie Burn is performing well. ... However, I do wish that all the platform owners would make their digital sales figures public. We feel this lack of transparency is hindering the development of these channels."Considering these digital distribution networks have only really discussed sales rankings up until now, it would usher in a brave new world if they were to start releasing actual sales figures (whether to developers or to the public).Source - Publishers ready for download chart [MCV]Source - doublesix calls for transparency of sales figures [Games Press]Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Easy Piano brings keyboard peripheral to DS Lite

    July 31, 2009 - 3:00am


    Almost two years ago, Ubisoft dropped a virtual guitar simulator on the DS, titled "Jam Sessions" -- and that's just great, if you picked up the six-stringed instrument during your collegiate career in an attempt to woo Damien Rice-obsessed co-eds. Some of us, however, prefer the ivories. And by "prefer", we mean "we were forced to spend our childhood summers hunched over a beaten-up Steinway, pursuing our parents' feverish artistic dreams as our peers actually enjoyed their lives."Fortunately for us, a Namco Bandai press release just revealed a Jam Sessions-esque title for the DS titled -- what else -- Easy Piano. The game comes with the keyboard peripheral you see above, so we hope interested parties have held onto their GBA slot-equipped DS Lites. With a lesson mode, a play-along mode and even a song creaion mode, it sounds like a neat offering for piano enthusiasts. We won't be sure until we try out that tiny, tiny keyboard, though.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Metareview: Wii Sports Resort

    July 30, 2009 - 8:30pm


    OK, so maybe high quality from a first-party Nintendo title isn't surprising necessarily, but we can't help but be a little shocked at how much we and the rest of the enthusiast press have been enjoying it. But, in the inimitable words of LeVar Burton, it's not necessary for you to take our word for it.

    • Giant Bomb (100/100): "Unless you're the kind of sullen misanthrope who can only feel at peace when getting headshots with some kind of virtual scope, you'll surely find something about Wii Sports Resort that keeps both you and your non-gaming friends or family coming back for more."
    • 1UP (A-): "Like Wii Sports, not every minigame in Resort is worth your time, but almost every one is unlocked right from the start, so you're free to ignore whatever parts you don't like and focus on the events you have the most fun with."
    • Joystiq: "Wii Sports Resort deserves to be in every Wii owner's library, whether you're a hardcore gamer or someone who only occasionally picks up the Wiimote and Nunchuk. It has every sport unlocked out of the box, but for those that want to spend the time, there are plenty of variations to unlock in the long run. Some of the games are tiring (looking at you, Canoeing!), but overall Wuhu Island has plenty to enjoy and is a necessary destination for anyone that enjoyed Wii Sports."
    • PGNX Media (93/100): "Even though Nintendo didn't hit 12/12 I'd say that four of the games (Swordplay, Archery, Table Tennis and Power Cruising) are amazing, must-play experiences, another four (Basketball, Canoeing, Air Sports and Wake Boarding) are fantastic, and the rest (excluding Cycling) are worth a few play throughs."

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    Final Fantasy Gaiden out in Japan this October

    July 30, 2009 - 8:00pm

    Today, Square Enix announced the release date for its original multiplayer DS Final Fantasy title, Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden. The Matrix Software-developed RPG will be out October 29, at a Square Enix Tax-laden price of ¥5,980 ($62) -- the same price at which Dragon Quest IX launched.Speaking of Dragon Quest IX, this new game seems pretty well targeted at the Dragon Quest audience. We doubt it's a coincidence that Square Enix is releasing a streamlined, multiplayer version of its other major RPG franchise on DS three months after the release of DQIX. Check out some lovely new screens at GAME Watch.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rumor: Details about Warren Spector's 'Epic Mickey' emerge

    July 30, 2009 - 7:00pm

    Yesterday, we posted a bunch of concept art apparently from Junction Point Studios' "Epic Mickey" project -- art cool enough to make us want a Disney game for the first time since we grudgingly accepted the Disney theme in Magical Tetris Challenge. Today, CVG has posted some info from an anonymous source about the design of the game, which makes it sound kind of Okami-like, in that player interact with levels by painting directly onto them with the Wii Remote. "This 'painting your way' involves you drawing, etching and erasing whole or parts of levels as you go." Unsurprisingly, given the reliance on the pointer, CVG says the game is a Wii exclusive.The story CVG describes had better be the real story. "We've also been told that it'll be based around very old and/or forgotten Disney characters who are out to get their revenge on Mickey," according to the site, "presumably because they're jealous of all his fame and fortune." Lending credence to this storyline is the fact that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit can be seen on the rocket in the above artwork. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    New Muramasa: The Demon Blade trailer is all about the blading

    July 30, 2009 - 5:30pm

    The latest trailer for Muramasa: The Demon Blade is designed to show off the high-flying, combo-ridden swordplay found in Vanillaware's action game. Your sword is in motion at almost all times during this game, as you float around, juggling enemy after enemy. It is a little bit overwhelming at first, in a Marvel vs. Capcom sort of way.But then, when you get the hang of it, grimacing wheels, single-file lines of monks, gigantic samurai, and even transparent horses won't be able to stop you. At least, we think. We didn't really graduate past the "panicked button-mashing" technique at E3.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    DSi Facebook update available in Europe, also blocks homebrew

    July 30, 2009 - 4:10pm

    The good news: DSi firmware 1.4 is now available in Europe, bringing the Facebook photo uploading capability along with it, according to an announcement by Nintendo. If you want to snap pics from your DSi and upload them to Facebook (after altering them with the DSi's image manipulation stuff, if you like), awesome!The bad news: DSi firmware 1.4 blocks flash carts. If you've been using an Acekard2i or a DSTTi to run homebrew on your DSi, you should probably not download it. If, on the other hand, you've been using a DSi flash cart to play retail games, we encourage you to update immediately. Gotta have Facebook, right?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Marvelous planning a 'Super Little King's Story'

    July 30, 2009 - 2:15pm

    Little King's Story creator Yoshiro Kimura had previously said that he's interested in making a sequel to his strategy title. Now, speaking to Siliconera, Kimura explained that he is in the early stages of working on just such a thing. "We are planning to make a sequel to Little King's Story, like Super Little King's Story," Kimura said, "but we're still in the process idea phase."At the moment, Marvelous is looking for funding for the sequel, as well as "partners" to help make it. The first game was developed by Cing and Town Factory, along with some high-profile freelancers. While we don't want anyone involved with the first game excluded from this potential sequel, we can understand the appeal of having a single team make a game, if that's Kimura's intent.
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