Nintendo anticipates a big holiday season.
The September NPD numbers are now available and it's no surprise that Nintendo is once again seeing great success with its breakthrough console and wildly popular handheld. Even though the PS3 took the top spot for hardware sales, it seems as though the price drop could push Nintendo back up top at the end of the year.
Wii sales increased by 185, 468 units in September, a 67% increase over August. This can mostly be attributed to the price drop that affected the last week of NPD's reported numbers for the month. Meanwhile the DS broke 500,000 units in the month of September, trouncing the PSP by over 300,000 units. We'll have to wait until next month to find out if the newly released PSPgo evens the playing field.
Nintendo shows little signs of slowing down. Nintendo of America remarked on the data: "We anticipate increased momentum through the holidays. Consumer sampling events are now underway, and we expect to interact with over a million people before year end."
We'll keep an eye on Nintendo's rate of success as we head towards the holiday season.
Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wii. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New Colors for DSi, Wii Remote Bundle Coming
New DSi colors coming September, Black Wii remote this holiday.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Opera Browser Now Free
Nintendo opens up the Internet Channel on Wii for no cost, and gives back to those who paid.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Wii Fit Plus Priced, Dated for October
Stand-alone disc, bundles being offered.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Vitality Sensor Coming 'Not Too Late' Next Year
President Iwata says this could have a similar impact to Wii Fit.
Surely topping most Nintendo fans lists of most anticipated games, the Wii Vitality Sensor will be making its way to store shelves next year, according to President Satoru Iwata.
During Nintendo's recent financial briefing, Iwata was asked for his feelings on how well the Vitality Sensor would sell, and if it would be comparable to Wii Fit.
"Before Wii Fit launched, everyone doubted how well it could sell. As for Wii Vitality Sensor, I think it will face similar doubts as to whether such a product will sell well in the video game market," he said.
"Of course no one can tell how people respond to it before the launch. We understand everyone wants to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle, so I believe if the product could support that desire, it would make a large impact in society."
Iwata then followed up his comments by giving a release window for the finger-inserting game.
"We would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year," he added. "As I have mentioned, last-minute polishing is crucial for developing video games, so please understand that we'll need to refrain from commenting on an exact release date."
Surely topping most Nintendo fans lists of most anticipated games, the Wii Vitality Sensor will be making its way to store shelves next year, according to President Satoru Iwata.
During Nintendo's recent financial briefing, Iwata was asked for his feelings on how well the Vitality Sensor would sell, and if it would be comparable to Wii Fit.
"Before Wii Fit launched, everyone doubted how well it could sell. As for Wii Vitality Sensor, I think it will face similar doubts as to whether such a product will sell well in the video game market," he said.
"Of course no one can tell how people respond to it before the launch. We understand everyone wants to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle, so I believe if the product could support that desire, it would make a large impact in society."
Iwata then followed up his comments by giving a release window for the finger-inserting game.
"We would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year," he added. "As I have mentioned, last-minute polishing is crucial for developing video games, so please understand that we'll need to refrain from commenting on an exact release date."
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Conduit Developers Want To Do Sequel
High Voltage has more stories to tell in the series. Fans need to buy more copies.
Fans hoping for a sequel to Nintendo's exclusive first-person shooter will have to buy a couple more copies each.
According to the Radio-Blodec podcast (via Nintendoeverything), High Voltage Software, the developer, would love to continue the series.
Producer Joshua Olsen was asked about the impact the sales for the first game will have on the possibility of doing a sequel.
"I have no idea, it all depends on the fans and sales but it's a little early for now to assume anything," said Olsen.
"Anyway, we are very interested to make a sequel to The Conduit, it's quite a robust world and there are more stories we want to tell."
So, are there plans to make a sequel?
"Sure there are, The Conduit is the first part for our hero and we want to make more parts to tell more things about him," he added.
If everyone who bought The Conduit the first time would buy three more copies each, that would probably be enough.
Fans hoping for a sequel to Nintendo's exclusive first-person shooter will have to buy a couple more copies each.
According to the Radio-Blodec podcast (via Nintendoeverything), High Voltage Software, the developer, would love to continue the series.
Producer Joshua Olsen was asked about the impact the sales for the first game will have on the possibility of doing a sequel.
"I have no idea, it all depends on the fans and sales but it's a little early for now to assume anything," said Olsen.
"Anyway, we are very interested to make a sequel to The Conduit, it's quite a robust world and there are more stories we want to tell."
So, are there plans to make a sequel?
"Sure there are, The Conduit is the first part for our hero and we want to make more parts to tell more things about him," he added.
If everyone who bought The Conduit the first time would buy three more copies each, that would probably be enough.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Won't Have A Deep Narrative
Miyamoto says he wants to keep his Mario games light on storytelling.
Fans expecting an epic, deep narrative from Nintendo's recently announced Super Mario Galaxy 2 might be disappointed to know the game won't focus on such heavy storytelling.
Speaking to Wired, legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto says he likes to keep his Mario games light on story and focus on gameplay, while leaving storytelling to the Zelda franchise.
"I'd like to go with as little story as possible," Miyamoto said. "I've always felt that the Mario games themselves aren't particularly suited to having a very heavy story."
So why can't fans see their favorite Italian plumber star in a game with a serious, Kojima-esque plot?
"I just feel that the Mario games are something that should be a much more bright and active experience," Miyamoto said. "With the Mario games, you don't need to have such a complicated setting where you have these particular characters with complicated backstories that can weigh down the bright and fun feel of the game."
Miyamoto would continue on saying "I feel that even if all that you have is that the villain is just simply a villain and you fight them, and you throw them down, and you find out, well, that wasn't such a bad villain after all, that's enough story for ultimately what is just about a very fun experience."
Fans expecting an epic, deep narrative from Nintendo's recently announced Super Mario Galaxy 2 might be disappointed to know the game won't focus on such heavy storytelling.
Speaking to Wired, legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto says he likes to keep his Mario games light on story and focus on gameplay, while leaving storytelling to the Zelda franchise.
"I'd like to go with as little story as possible," Miyamoto said. "I've always felt that the Mario games themselves aren't particularly suited to having a very heavy story."
So why can't fans see their favorite Italian plumber star in a game with a serious, Kojima-esque plot?
"I just feel that the Mario games are something that should be a much more bright and active experience," Miyamoto said. "With the Mario games, you don't need to have such a complicated setting where you have these particular characters with complicated backstories that can weigh down the bright and fun feel of the game."
Miyamoto would continue on saying "I feel that even if all that you have is that the villain is just simply a villain and you fight them, and you throw them down, and you find out, well, that wasn't such a bad villain after all, that's enough story for ultimately what is just about a very fun experience."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
E3 2009: Reggie Fils-Aime on the Record
Nintendo's president says Galaxy 2 is for the hardcore and teases Shigeru Miyamoto's roundtable.
Earlier today, we caught up with Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime, who chatted candidly about Metroid Other M, Galaxy 2, Pikmin 3 and Miyamoto's E3 roundtable. Below, we've provided the interview both in video and transcribed forms for your viewing pleasure.
IGN: We saw Metroid Other M and Galaxy 2 on video, but you guys aren't showing either in playable form. Why not?
Reggie: Those games are 2010 games. What we have in playable form is really what we're focusing on for this year. That's really the only difference.
IGN: The other question sort of related to that is, what happened to Retro Studios' next project? We know it's deep in development. We know it's going to be big. We thought it'd be here, but it's not.
Reggie: We have nothing to announce right now. The team at Retro is hard at work. They're doing great stuff. But it's not ready to show quite yet.
IGN: Is it going to blow us away? Can you give us a super hype filled comment? [No shame, we know]?
Reggie: Let me put it this way. Did Other M blow you away? Did Galaxy 2 blow you away? Did New Super Mario for Wii blow you away? Our goal is that everything we do blows people away.
IGN: You have a bit more insight on the development of Galaxy 2. What's the direction for the game? Do they really want to blow it out or will it be more of the same?
Reggie: What Mr. Miyamoto has shared is that if the first Galaxy was maybe more inviting in terms of all the audiences, what Galaxy 2 is going to be is maybe a little more Nintendo fan / harder gamer focused. A little tougher. The use of Yoshi makes it a little more challenging. We showed some of the snippets of some of the activities -- it's a bit more challenging. It's going to be, if you will, for more of that passionate Mario fan who grew up getting challenged with Super Mario World. It's going to be much more in that area.
IGN: What can you tell us about Metroid Other M other than what we saw in the trailer?
Reggie: What I can tell you is that it's going to be fabulous. I've seen it working. I personally didn't have a controller in my hands, but it looks great. And it really is going to do a fabulous job giving you more backstory on Samus, taking you more into the mythology of what Metroid is all about. It's going to be great.
IGN: So this is going all the way back to her teens?
Reggie: We're not going to tell you exactly where it fits in the Metroid mythology. We're going to share that a little bit later. But it definitely fills in some of the gaps.
IGN: You didn't show Pikmin 3, which is what we were expecting you to show. That kind of surprised us. Why not?
Reggie: Matt, we're all about surprises. We will show that game when it's ready. At the right time. Close to when it's going to be launched. It's not there yet. But Mr. Miyamoto still has his roundtable to do, so maybe you'll see. Maybe you might get that surprise after all.
IGN: Yeah, that's the next question. Mr. Miyamoto didn't have a stage presence here today. The first question is, why not because he usually does? And then, he is here. He has a roundtable. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?
Reggie: Sure. Well, first off, if you look at how Mr. Miyamoto has interacted in our press conferences, it's been a wide range -- everything from making an appearance at the end in 2004 to being on hand to do a demo. This year, given all the content that we had, we thought it would be best for him to go in-depth with a handful of games during his developer's roundtable and that's what he's going to do later today.
IGN: So you think we might get a surprise or two out of the roundtable?
Reggie: Again, we're always trying to surprise you. So we'll see.
IGN: Are you going to be saving any announcements for Japan? We heard there was some sort of mystery conference.
Reggie: The meeting in Japan is much more retailer oriented so they'll be going through all the details specific to when products are launching in Japan. And within that, there really isn't anything new versus what we've announced today.
IGN: We saw a bunch of games on your show floor that you didn't really highlight at your event. Titles like Line Attack Heroes. We didn't, however, see games like Trace Memory or Cosmic Walker. What's going on there?
Reggie: The interesting thing is that even though E3 is back into a larger footprint, this footprint here is about two thirds the size of our footprint in 2006. So that always forces us to make tough decisions about what we show. And even here today, I'm hearing that we have a line around our booth for Spirit Tracks for Zelda. We have more content than we're able to show in this type of space, which means that fall conferences that we hold here in Americas -- those take on more meaning to highlight some of the games that you mention.
IGN: So if a game isn't here, does that necessarily mean that it won't release this holiday?
Reggie: There are maybe some games that will still make it this year. A lot of it is how the final tuning in development goes. And again, anything like that we'll talk about in the fall.
IGN: Your press event had a few games that were more hardcore, but you didn't show some of the titles that we think are of the highest caliber for the traditional gamer. Titles like Red Steel 2, Silent Hill and No More Heroes 2. Was that a calculate decision?
Reggie: You know, there's no master plan in terms of not showing those titles. It's really all about what we think is best ready to highlight and show and where's the best way to show it. Do we show it in the booth? Some of those games are here in the booth. Is it something that the licensee wants to highlight in their own booth. Really, all that comes into play.
IGN: What're your thoughts on Natal, Microsoft's controller-less video camera getup?
Reggie: It's interesting. You could make the argument that the health genre, like Wii Fit, is becoming red ocean -- there's a lot of different content coming out. You could say that in the future, that potentially active playing might be a red ocean in the future depending on what happens with our two competitors. For us, we're making precision control a reality today. What we're showing with Wii Sports Resort really takes the way you handle the controller to a whole new level. So for us, we're focused on the reality of today of how to drive that in an important way within gaming. We'll let our competitors talk about what might or might not be in the future.
IGN: Finally, what are you personally excited about at the show?
Reggie: In terms of what I'm excited about, in many ways I'm becoming the prototypical gamer that Nintendo is going after. I'm really enthused with Wii Fit Plus. I love New Super Mario Bros. for Wii. I love Spirit Tracks -- I'm a Zelda fan all my life. And I love Wii Sports Resort. So for me there's a little bit of core stuff. There's a little bit of more audience expansion stuff. Plus, I was thrilled that I got to make the announcement about more Golden Sun. That's one of my favorite franchises. For me, everything that we touched on really strikes a chord with the type of consumer we're going after.
Earlier today, we caught up with Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime, who chatted candidly about Metroid Other M, Galaxy 2, Pikmin 3 and Miyamoto's E3 roundtable. Below, we've provided the interview both in video and transcribed forms for your viewing pleasure.
IGN: We saw Metroid Other M and Galaxy 2 on video, but you guys aren't showing either in playable form. Why not?
Reggie: Those games are 2010 games. What we have in playable form is really what we're focusing on for this year. That's really the only difference.
IGN: The other question sort of related to that is, what happened to Retro Studios' next project? We know it's deep in development. We know it's going to be big. We thought it'd be here, but it's not.
Reggie: We have nothing to announce right now. The team at Retro is hard at work. They're doing great stuff. But it's not ready to show quite yet.
IGN: Is it going to blow us away? Can you give us a super hype filled comment? [No shame, we know]?
Reggie: Let me put it this way. Did Other M blow you away? Did Galaxy 2 blow you away? Did New Super Mario for Wii blow you away? Our goal is that everything we do blows people away.
IGN: You have a bit more insight on the development of Galaxy 2. What's the direction for the game? Do they really want to blow it out or will it be more of the same?
Reggie: What Mr. Miyamoto has shared is that if the first Galaxy was maybe more inviting in terms of all the audiences, what Galaxy 2 is going to be is maybe a little more Nintendo fan / harder gamer focused. A little tougher. The use of Yoshi makes it a little more challenging. We showed some of the snippets of some of the activities -- it's a bit more challenging. It's going to be, if you will, for more of that passionate Mario fan who grew up getting challenged with Super Mario World. It's going to be much more in that area.
IGN: What can you tell us about Metroid Other M other than what we saw in the trailer?
Reggie: What I can tell you is that it's going to be fabulous. I've seen it working. I personally didn't have a controller in my hands, but it looks great. And it really is going to do a fabulous job giving you more backstory on Samus, taking you more into the mythology of what Metroid is all about. It's going to be great.
IGN: So this is going all the way back to her teens?
Reggie: We're not going to tell you exactly where it fits in the Metroid mythology. We're going to share that a little bit later. But it definitely fills in some of the gaps.
IGN: You didn't show Pikmin 3, which is what we were expecting you to show. That kind of surprised us. Why not?
Reggie: Matt, we're all about surprises. We will show that game when it's ready. At the right time. Close to when it's going to be launched. It's not there yet. But Mr. Miyamoto still has his roundtable to do, so maybe you'll see. Maybe you might get that surprise after all.
IGN: Yeah, that's the next question. Mr. Miyamoto didn't have a stage presence here today. The first question is, why not because he usually does? And then, he is here. He has a roundtable. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?
Reggie: Sure. Well, first off, if you look at how Mr. Miyamoto has interacted in our press conferences, it's been a wide range -- everything from making an appearance at the end in 2004 to being on hand to do a demo. This year, given all the content that we had, we thought it would be best for him to go in-depth with a handful of games during his developer's roundtable and that's what he's going to do later today.
IGN: So you think we might get a surprise or two out of the roundtable?
Reggie: Again, we're always trying to surprise you. So we'll see.
IGN: Are you going to be saving any announcements for Japan? We heard there was some sort of mystery conference.
Reggie: The meeting in Japan is much more retailer oriented so they'll be going through all the details specific to when products are launching in Japan. And within that, there really isn't anything new versus what we've announced today.
IGN: We saw a bunch of games on your show floor that you didn't really highlight at your event. Titles like Line Attack Heroes. We didn't, however, see games like Trace Memory or Cosmic Walker. What's going on there?
Reggie: The interesting thing is that even though E3 is back into a larger footprint, this footprint here is about two thirds the size of our footprint in 2006. So that always forces us to make tough decisions about what we show. And even here today, I'm hearing that we have a line around our booth for Spirit Tracks for Zelda. We have more content than we're able to show in this type of space, which means that fall conferences that we hold here in Americas -- those take on more meaning to highlight some of the games that you mention.
IGN: So if a game isn't here, does that necessarily mean that it won't release this holiday?
Reggie: There are maybe some games that will still make it this year. A lot of it is how the final tuning in development goes. And again, anything like that we'll talk about in the fall.
IGN: Your press event had a few games that were more hardcore, but you didn't show some of the titles that we think are of the highest caliber for the traditional gamer. Titles like Red Steel 2, Silent Hill and No More Heroes 2. Was that a calculate decision?
Reggie: You know, there's no master plan in terms of not showing those titles. It's really all about what we think is best ready to highlight and show and where's the best way to show it. Do we show it in the booth? Some of those games are here in the booth. Is it something that the licensee wants to highlight in their own booth. Really, all that comes into play.
IGN: What're your thoughts on Natal, Microsoft's controller-less video camera getup?
Reggie: It's interesting. You could make the argument that the health genre, like Wii Fit, is becoming red ocean -- there's a lot of different content coming out. You could say that in the future, that potentially active playing might be a red ocean in the future depending on what happens with our two competitors. For us, we're making precision control a reality today. What we're showing with Wii Sports Resort really takes the way you handle the controller to a whole new level. So for us, we're focused on the reality of today of how to drive that in an important way within gaming. We'll let our competitors talk about what might or might not be in the future.
IGN: Finally, what are you personally excited about at the show?
Reggie: In terms of what I'm excited about, in many ways I'm becoming the prototypical gamer that Nintendo is going after. I'm really enthused with Wii Fit Plus. I love New Super Mario Bros. for Wii. I love Spirit Tracks -- I'm a Zelda fan all my life. And I love Wii Sports Resort. So for me there's a little bit of core stuff. There's a little bit of more audience expansion stuff. Plus, I was thrilled that I got to make the announcement about more Golden Sun. That's one of my favorite franchises. For me, everything that we touched on really strikes a chord with the type of consumer we're going after.
E3 2009: Miyamoto Talks Next Zelda
Series creator drops the details during roundtable discussion.
If you were wondering why there was no new Zelda news at Nintendo's E3 press conference this morning, it's because Mr. Miyamoto wanted to save a little something for his own private roundtable. At the closed door, no-photographs-allowed discussion with a select group of journalists this afternoon, the man who created Link dropped details and showed off artwork of the Hero in Green's next iteration.
The next console Zelda adventure will feature a Link who is more mature than ever before, and a swordplay system that is far more advanced than any ever seen before in the series. The game may ship as a MotionPlus-only design, as well, which should give you an idea of the swordfighting scheme Shigeru has in the works.
"Think of Zelda while you're trying some of the archery and sword play in Wii Sports Resort," Miyamoto said.
If the next Zelda were to employ MotionPlus in that way (and it totally will), it would be a significant shift for the property -- and one that may well be the change the franchise needs.
"There are people who think of Zelda more as an RPG with simpler controls, so trying to figure out how to make everybody happy is something that's going to concern me," says Miyamoto.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. And get hyped!
If you were wondering why there was no new Zelda news at Nintendo's E3 press conference this morning, it's because Mr. Miyamoto wanted to save a little something for his own private roundtable. At the closed door, no-photographs-allowed discussion with a select group of journalists this afternoon, the man who created Link dropped details and showed off artwork of the Hero in Green's next iteration.
The next console Zelda adventure will feature a Link who is more mature than ever before, and a swordplay system that is far more advanced than any ever seen before in the series. The game may ship as a MotionPlus-only design, as well, which should give you an idea of the swordfighting scheme Shigeru has in the works.
"Think of Zelda while you're trying some of the archery and sword play in Wii Sports Resort," Miyamoto said.
If the next Zelda were to employ MotionPlus in that way (and it totally will), it would be a significant shift for the property -- and one that may well be the change the franchise needs.
"There are people who think of Zelda more as an RPG with simpler controls, so trying to figure out how to make everybody happy is something that's going to concern me," says Miyamoto.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. And get hyped!
E3 2009: Mario Galaxy 2 Announced
Yoshi's coming along this time.
During its E3 press conference today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the news every Nintendo fan wanted to hear: a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy is on the way. This time Yoshi will be playable and he can be inflated in order to reach new areas. Footage shown during the conference was very pretty. Huge boss battles were spotted, as well as shots of Mario swimming, flying in his bee suit, and rolling a giant snowball around a planet.
During its E3 press conference today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the news every Nintendo fan wanted to hear: a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy is on the way. This time Yoshi will be playable and he can be inflated in order to reach new areas. Footage shown during the conference was very pretty. Huge boss battles were spotted, as well as shots of Mario swimming, flying in his bee suit, and rolling a giant snowball around a planet.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii due this holiday
E3 2009: Nintendo uses press conference to reveal co-op heavy platformer featuring popular plumber will debut later this year.
Despite Nintendo's best efforts to keep the game under wrap, rumors of a new Mario game on the Wii have quickly spread across the internet.
At Nintendo's E3 press conference today, the company confirmed that New Super Mario Bros is indeed coming to Wii.
According to Nintendo, New Super Mario Wii offers a "new way to play Mario Bros that's never been done before."
The all new Super Mario Bros for Wii include four player multiplayer. It's a competitive multiplayer Mario game, where players run through the classic style levels, fighting each other for coins and powerups.
Nintendo demoed the four player mode, with Cammie Dunaway and three other Nintendo employees.
Players can jump on each other, shoot each other with fireballs and other attacks. Item boxes generally produce one item per character. Killed players reappear in bubbles and players can free them, or leave them stuck for a while. One of the new powerups is the Propeller Suit, a jump suit that has a helmet with a propeller. Shaking the Wii-remote will let players fly in the air.
When a player goes into a warp pipe the game forces the other players to follow in, where they fight over the coins in the secret room.
At the end of the level, as soon as one player grabs the flag pole, the other players have about three seconds to grab it for bonus points. The points are tallied up and the players are ranked.
New Super Mario Bros Wii is scheduled for a Holiday 2009 release. The game is on the show floor, so look for our hands-on later today.
Despite Nintendo's best efforts to keep the game under wrap, rumors of a new Mario game on the Wii have quickly spread across the internet.
At Nintendo's E3 press conference today, the company confirmed that New Super Mario Bros is indeed coming to Wii.
According to Nintendo, New Super Mario Wii offers a "new way to play Mario Bros that's never been done before."
The all new Super Mario Bros for Wii include four player multiplayer. It's a competitive multiplayer Mario game, where players run through the classic style levels, fighting each other for coins and powerups.
Nintendo demoed the four player mode, with Cammie Dunaway and three other Nintendo employees.
Players can jump on each other, shoot each other with fireballs and other attacks. Item boxes generally produce one item per character. Killed players reappear in bubbles and players can free them, or leave them stuck for a while. One of the new powerups is the Propeller Suit, a jump suit that has a helmet with a propeller. Shaking the Wii-remote will let players fly in the air.
When a player goes into a warp pipe the game forces the other players to follow in, where they fight over the coins in the secret room.
At the end of the level, as soon as one player grabs the flag pole, the other players have about three seconds to grab it for bonus points. The points are tallied up and the players are ranked.
New Super Mario Bros Wii is scheduled for a Holiday 2009 release. The game is on the show floor, so look for our hands-on later today.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
New Wii Mario, WiiFit This Year
Japanese newspaper confirms sequels.
Word of WiiFit Plus already leaked out a little while back. But a sequel to the multi-million-selling fitness software isn't all Nintendo has in the works.
The online version of Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reports today that Nintendo will release both the new version of Wii Fit along with a new Wii Mario game to Japan later this year.
For Wii Fit, the article says to expect internet connectivity, allowing for users to compete with friends and families in weight loss races. The new version will be able to more accurately measure weight and center of gravity.
The story does not mention if a new version of the Balance Wii Board will be required for this greater accuracy or if Nintendo has managed to attain the greater precision strictly at a software level.
For Mario, the article says absolutely nothing -- just that it's a new entry in the popular series. It lists this as being one of Nintendo's tools for pushing domestic (Japanese) Wii sales, so this is definitely a Wii game.
Wii Fit Plus will hit Japan some time this Fall. The new Mario game is planned for the latter half of the year.
These time frames are just for Japan. While we imagine a new Mario game would be a simultaneous worldwide affair, it's possible we'd have to wait for a new Wii Fit. Japan got the original a few months before us.
Word of WiiFit Plus already leaked out a little while back. But a sequel to the multi-million-selling fitness software isn't all Nintendo has in the works.
The online version of Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reports today that Nintendo will release both the new version of Wii Fit along with a new Wii Mario game to Japan later this year.
For Wii Fit, the article says to expect internet connectivity, allowing for users to compete with friends and families in weight loss races. The new version will be able to more accurately measure weight and center of gravity.
The story does not mention if a new version of the Balance Wii Board will be required for this greater accuracy or if Nintendo has managed to attain the greater precision strictly at a software level.
For Mario, the article says absolutely nothing -- just that it's a new entry in the popular series. It lists this as being one of Nintendo's tools for pushing domestic (Japanese) Wii sales, so this is definitely a Wii game.
Wii Fit Plus will hit Japan some time this Fall. The new Mario game is planned for the latter half of the year.
These time frames are just for Japan. While we imagine a new Mario game would be a simultaneous worldwide affair, it's possible we'd have to wait for a new Wii Fit. Japan got the original a few months before us.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Nintendo Sets MotionPlus Date, Price
Advanced motion controls arrive in June, but not with Wii Sports Resort. Details here.
Nintendo of America on Tuesday revealed release date and pricing details for its anticipated Wii MotionPlus accessory. The pass-through device, which plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote and enables greater, more accurate sensitivity, will ship to U.S. retailers on June 8. The peripheral will debut in Europe four days later.
The MotionPlus accessory will be sold as a stand-alone hardware for $19.99 in America. No information on European pricing is yet available.
Although consumers will be able to purchase the hardware itself in June, they will have to wait a month to play Nintendo's showpiece MotionPlus software, Wii Sports Resort. The game will debut on July 24 in Europe and July 26 in America bundled with MotionPlus. The package will retail for $49.99 stateside, but no details regarding price in Europe have been made official yet.
"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing, in an official release. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."
The release of the stand-alone MotionPlus in peripheral is a clear indication of Nintendo bowing to the needs of third-parties. Both SEGA and Electronic Arts have MotionPlus-compatible software shipping this June. Had Nintendo not released MotionPlus before Wii Sports Resort, such critical third-party titles as Virtua Tennis, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 would have shipped sans what could be their greatest selling point.
Nintendo of America on Tuesday revealed release date and pricing details for its anticipated Wii MotionPlus accessory. The pass-through device, which plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote and enables greater, more accurate sensitivity, will ship to U.S. retailers on June 8. The peripheral will debut in Europe four days later.
The MotionPlus accessory will be sold as a stand-alone hardware for $19.99 in America. No information on European pricing is yet available.
Although consumers will be able to purchase the hardware itself in June, they will have to wait a month to play Nintendo's showpiece MotionPlus software, Wii Sports Resort. The game will debut on July 24 in Europe and July 26 in America bundled with MotionPlus. The package will retail for $49.99 stateside, but no details regarding price in Europe have been made official yet.
"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing, in an official release. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."
The release of the stand-alone MotionPlus in peripheral is a clear indication of Nintendo bowing to the needs of third-parties. Both SEGA and Electronic Arts have MotionPlus-compatible software shipping this June. Had Nintendo not released MotionPlus before Wii Sports Resort, such critical third-party titles as Virtua Tennis, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 would have shipped sans what could be their greatest selling point.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
NPD: Wii and DS Rule Galaxy as Father and Son
The numbers don't lie. Nintendo's hardware prints money, but so does its software.
The December sales figures are in from the NPD Group and once again Nintendo's two platforms outperformed all competitors by a wide margin. DS was the month's top-seller with 3.04 million units moved. Wii sold to another 2.15 million users. Xbox 360 1.44 million. PSP 1.02 million. PlayStation 3 726,000. And PlayStation 2, 410,000.
The top-selling games for December, as follows:
1. Wii Play w/ Wii Remote -- 1.46 million
2. Call of Duty: World at War (360) -- 1.33 million
3. Wii Fit -- 999,000
4. Mario Kart Wii -- 979,000
5. Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii) -- 850,000
6. Gears of War 2 -- 745,000
7. Left 4 Dead -- 629,000
8. Mario Kart DS -- 540,000
9. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) -- 533,000
10. Animal Crossing: City Folk -- 497,000
Wii controlled five of the Top 10 slots for the month. Wii Play (which includes a controller) continued its reign at the top. More interestingly is the shelf life of Wii Fit, a $90 game that released last May and still sold almost a million copies in December. Also of note, Guitar Hero World Tour apparently sold 850,000 copies in December, just for Wii. It's clear that the franchise officially performs best on Nintendo's system.
Perhaps most shocking of all are the best-sellers of the year. According to NPD data, Nintendo owned the top four slots in 2008 with Wii Play (5.2 million), Mario Kart Wii (5.0 million), Wii Fit (4.53 million) and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (4.17 million). These titles outsold Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 (3.29 million), Call of Duty 4: World at War 360 (2.75 million), Gears of War 2 (2.31 million), Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 (1.89 million), Madden NFL 09 360 (1.87 million) and finally, Mario Kart Wii (1.65 million).
By the way, Nintendo also sold 865,000 copies of Wii Music in 2008, we're sorry to report.
The December sales figures are in from the NPD Group and once again Nintendo's two platforms outperformed all competitors by a wide margin. DS was the month's top-seller with 3.04 million units moved. Wii sold to another 2.15 million users. Xbox 360 1.44 million. PSP 1.02 million. PlayStation 3 726,000. And PlayStation 2, 410,000.
The top-selling games for December, as follows:
1. Wii Play w/ Wii Remote -- 1.46 million
2. Call of Duty: World at War (360) -- 1.33 million
3. Wii Fit -- 999,000
4. Mario Kart Wii -- 979,000
5. Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii) -- 850,000
6. Gears of War 2 -- 745,000
7. Left 4 Dead -- 629,000
8. Mario Kart DS -- 540,000
9. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) -- 533,000
10. Animal Crossing: City Folk -- 497,000
Wii controlled five of the Top 10 slots for the month. Wii Play (which includes a controller) continued its reign at the top. More interestingly is the shelf life of Wii Fit, a $90 game that released last May and still sold almost a million copies in December. Also of note, Guitar Hero World Tour apparently sold 850,000 copies in December, just for Wii. It's clear that the franchise officially performs best on Nintendo's system.
Perhaps most shocking of all are the best-sellers of the year. According to NPD data, Nintendo owned the top four slots in 2008 with Wii Play (5.2 million), Mario Kart Wii (5.0 million), Wii Fit (4.53 million) and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (4.17 million). These titles outsold Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 (3.29 million), Call of Duty 4: World at War 360 (2.75 million), Gears of War 2 (2.31 million), Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 (1.89 million), Madden NFL 09 360 (1.87 million) and finally, Mario Kart Wii (1.65 million).
By the way, Nintendo also sold 865,000 copies of Wii Music in 2008, we're sorry to report.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Wii Sales Through the Roof
Nintendo's system outsells Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP combined.
Sales of Nintendo's little white console were off the charts in October, according to new data released by the NPD Group. Wii sold 803,000 units for the month, singlehandedly outselling Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP combined. Microsoft's console sold through 371,000 units; PS3 190,000 and PSP 193,000. PS2, meanwhile, picked up another 136,000 players.
"The greater supply of Wii hardware at retail is evident in the sales figures for the month with the Wii enjoying its best sales month outside of last November and December," said analyst Anita Frazier.
The games industry as a whole grew 18 percent year-over-year in October and is still poised to top $22 billion in annual sales through the end of the year, ignoring all signs of a recession.
The top-selling Wii game in October was, again, Wii Fit, with 487,000 units sold. Mario Kart Wii sold 290,000 copies and Wii Play picked up another 282,000 converts. The top-seller for the month, however, was Fable II, with a massive 790,000 copies sold during the month.
The top three best-selling Wii games demonstrate the unprecedentedly long shelf life that some software enjoys on Nintendo's system. Not only has Wii Play, packed with a remote, sold upward of 7.2 million copies in America, but a quick glance at Wii Fit's sales progress would show an increase in momentum as the months have passed, virtually unheard of.
"There is no way for us to know for sure how long consumers will respond at this current level to Wii Fit," said NOA's VP of corporate affairs, Denise Kaigler. "We are certainly very pleased to see more and more consumers continuing to 'discover' Wii Fit and hearing stories about how they then talk to their friends and family about it. There is no doubt that word of mouth is helping to fuel the continued popularity of the game."
Wii Fit has sold more than 2.8 million copies since its release in May and remains one of the few games whose sales numbers have actually increased in some months since its release. If this momentum keeps up, some analysts have projected that the $89 title could ultimately outsell games like Grand Theft Auto 4 by the end of 2009 on its way to becoming one of the best-selling so-called games this generation.
Continued high sales of games like Wii Fit, Wii Play and Mario Kart Wii, all of which incidentally ship with some kind of attachment or peripheral, illustrate a very different business model for Nintendo, one more in common with a manufacturer of a DVD-player than a videogame machine. Whereas new videogames fall out of fashion within weeks, the back-catalog for Hollywood movies is forever flourishing -- a truth that has left more than a few videogame publishers envious. With its mass-consumerism approach, Nintendo seems to be enjoying the fruits traditionally reserved for Hollywood studios.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Punch-Out!! to Next Level
The Super Mario Strikers developer takes control of Little Mac's future.
IGN has learned that the recently-announced Wii version of Punch-Out!! is being developed by Next Level Games.
Next Level is best known for its work on Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged, the GameCube and Wii soccer games featuring Nintendo's characters on the football pitch.
Punch-Out!! is being worked on for a release sometime in 2009. It is based upon the boxing series first released in the arcades, then followed-up by the popular Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! on the NES. The last Punch-out!! title was Super Punch-Out!! produced for the Super NES in 1994.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Hudson Entertainment's Beloved Bomberman Returns for Digital Download on the Wii
The award-winning series will deliver 8-person online multiplayer combat and Mii support for hardcore fans and casual gamers.
Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, today announced that they are releasing Bomberman Blast, an all-new Bomberman for digital download for WiiWare on the Wii. Retaining the classic features Bomberman fans have come to love such as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast also incorporates new gameplay elements, including the use of Mii support and 8-person online multiplayer - the first time for Bomberman on Wii!
"The Bomberman franchise is one of Hudson Entertainment's most popular," said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. "We're driven by the support of the fans and strive to provide unique new gameplay features with each new Bomberman title to please the longtime fans, as well as make the game accessible to newcomers."
Fans of the popular series will be able to compete either solo or as part of a team against the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Blast delivers 8-player multiplayer battles online. By using their Miis, gamers will have the opportunity to definitively prove who has the best Mii by sending them into a Bomberman Blast arena, then blowing away the competition! Now who has the best Mii?
Bomberman Blast is the perfect party game, allowing players from around the world to join in on the fun. Up to four players on the same Wii can hop online. Even more, an online leaderboard shows just how good you are! Bomberman Blast is exactly what players would expect from a Bomberman game, with more ammunition, more online battles, and now, the support of Miis!
With the release of Bomberman Blast on WiiWare, Hudson Entertainment will offer several online tournaments, including one that coincides with the game's launch. For more information on the upcoming tournaments and to register, players can visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com.
Bomberman Blast is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
About Bomberman
Originally launched in the US in 1987, the game captured gamers' hearts with its simple yet challenging gameplay. With over 60 iterations on nearly all major consoles since then, and over 10 million units sold, winning accolades as the best multiplayer game of all time, this classic game has stood the test of time. Along the way, it also pioneered the "party game" genre, encouraging groups of 4 or more friends to duke it out in one room, and was the first series to contribute to Hudson's reputation as the number one party game company.
About Hudson Entertainment, Inc.
Hudson Entertainment is the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, an international provider of games and entertainment content founded in 1973. Hudson Entertainment focuses on four key businesses: console games, digital download content, mobile games, and music. Hudson introduced best-selling videogame franchises including Bomberman, Bonk, and Super Adventure Island. Hudson's mobile division is a leading supplier of games and personalized content. Through numerous partnerships with record labels, Hudson has become a leading provider of hip-hop ring tones and mobile content. For more information on Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.hudsonent.com.
Hudson Entertainment, Hudson Soft, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hudson Soft. Bomberman is a registered trademark of Hudson Soft. Trademarks of Nintendo used under license. WiiWare is available only through the Wii console.
Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, today announced that they are releasing Bomberman Blast, an all-new Bomberman for digital download for WiiWare on the Wii. Retaining the classic features Bomberman fans have come to love such as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast also incorporates new gameplay elements, including the use of Mii support and 8-person online multiplayer - the first time for Bomberman on Wii!
"The Bomberman franchise is one of Hudson Entertainment's most popular," said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. "We're driven by the support of the fans and strive to provide unique new gameplay features with each new Bomberman title to please the longtime fans, as well as make the game accessible to newcomers."
Fans of the popular series will be able to compete either solo or as part of a team against the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Blast delivers 8-player multiplayer battles online. By using their Miis, gamers will have the opportunity to definitively prove who has the best Mii by sending them into a Bomberman Blast arena, then blowing away the competition! Now who has the best Mii?
Bomberman Blast is the perfect party game, allowing players from around the world to join in on the fun. Up to four players on the same Wii can hop online. Even more, an online leaderboard shows just how good you are! Bomberman Blast is exactly what players would expect from a Bomberman game, with more ammunition, more online battles, and now, the support of Miis!
With the release of Bomberman Blast on WiiWare, Hudson Entertainment will offer several online tournaments, including one that coincides with the game's launch. For more information on the upcoming tournaments and to register, players can visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com.
Bomberman Blast is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
About Bomberman
Originally launched in the US in 1987, the game captured gamers' hearts with its simple yet challenging gameplay. With over 60 iterations on nearly all major consoles since then, and over 10 million units sold, winning accolades as the best multiplayer game of all time, this classic game has stood the test of time. Along the way, it also pioneered the "party game" genre, encouraging groups of 4 or more friends to duke it out in one room, and was the first series to contribute to Hudson's reputation as the number one party game company.
About Hudson Entertainment, Inc.
Hudson Entertainment is the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, an international provider of games and entertainment content founded in 1973. Hudson Entertainment focuses on four key businesses: console games, digital download content, mobile games, and music. Hudson introduced best-selling videogame franchises including Bomberman, Bonk, and Super Adventure Island. Hudson's mobile division is a leading supplier of games and personalized content. Through numerous partnerships with record labels, Hudson has become a leading provider of hip-hop ring tones and mobile content. For more information on Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.hudsonent.com.
Hudson Entertainment, Hudson Soft, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hudson Soft. Bomberman is a registered trademark of Hudson Soft. Trademarks of Nintendo used under license. WiiWare is available only through the Wii console.
Friday, August 22, 2008
GC 2008: EA Serves Up Tennis
EA to branch out to sport of kings.
EA Sports has released a title for just about every sport there is, right? Not so fast, because at this year's German Games Convention in Leipzig, EA announced that they will be releasing a tennis game in 2009. Developed by EAC in Vancouver, the title was designed with the Wii as the lead SKU and will feature motionplus compatibility to allow for tighter serves, forehands and backhands, and volleys at the net.
EA Sports has released a title for just about every sport there is, right? Not so fast, because at this year's German Games Convention in Leipzig, EA announced that they will be releasing a tennis game in 2009. Developed by EAC in Vancouver, the title was designed with the Wii as the lead SKU and will feature motionplus compatibility to allow for tighter serves, forehands and backhands, and volleys at the net.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
E3 2008: New Galaxy, Pikmin and DS Mario Coming?
Miyamoto drops some not-so-vague hints.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2008, we made it our mission to bombard Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto with nearly unanswerable questions about possible games in development -- because, frankly, that's how we roll. Although he politely explained that he could not announce new products to us, we would not relent and we did come away with a few not-so-vague hints about projects underway. Namely, a new Pikmin title for Wii, a sequel to Mario Galaxy and a DS sequel to New Super Mario Bros.
"There isn't anything that we can announce right now, but I'm sure we'll probably do something with it," Miyamoto said of a Wii Pikmin sequel. "The Pikmin team is, of course, still there and maybe we'll have something to talk about before too long." We like the sound of that.
In regard to a new New Super Mario Bros. for DS, Miyamoto tried to throw us off guard with trickery about not being able to announce unfinished projects. "That team is also working hard," he said. "The thing that's difficult is that, as you know, the way we handle our announcement is we work on product and once the product is at a state where we feel it's ready to show to people, then that's when we're willing to talk about it. Which is why it's difficult for me to talk about different projects in interviews. I have a lot of different teams and those teams are all at different points in their experiments or development, so it's typically once they've finalized something that we're able to talk about it. But for me to go into too much detail would be a little bit irresponsible in an interview. All that I can say is that that team is also working."
When we pressed him for more, Miyamoto added, "Maybe the best thing for you to understand is that all of the leaders of those teams -- of the Mario team, of the Zelda team and of the Pikmin team -- all sit within 150 feet of my desk. The Galaxy team is the only one that's farther away -- they're in Tokyo. But I do have video conferencing with them."
We stunned him with a hard-hitting follow-up: 'We don't really have a question. We just want you to make another Galaxy game.' To this, Miyamoto replied, "Leave it to me."
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2008, we made it our mission to bombard Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto with nearly unanswerable questions about possible games in development -- because, frankly, that's how we roll. Although he politely explained that he could not announce new products to us, we would not relent and we did come away with a few not-so-vague hints about projects underway. Namely, a new Pikmin title for Wii, a sequel to Mario Galaxy and a DS sequel to New Super Mario Bros.
"There isn't anything that we can announce right now, but I'm sure we'll probably do something with it," Miyamoto said of a Wii Pikmin sequel. "The Pikmin team is, of course, still there and maybe we'll have something to talk about before too long." We like the sound of that.
In regard to a new New Super Mario Bros. for DS, Miyamoto tried to throw us off guard with trickery about not being able to announce unfinished projects. "That team is also working hard," he said. "The thing that's difficult is that, as you know, the way we handle our announcement is we work on product and once the product is at a state where we feel it's ready to show to people, then that's when we're willing to talk about it. Which is why it's difficult for me to talk about different projects in interviews. I have a lot of different teams and those teams are all at different points in their experiments or development, so it's typically once they've finalized something that we're able to talk about it. But for me to go into too much detail would be a little bit irresponsible in an interview. All that I can say is that that team is also working."
When we pressed him for more, Miyamoto added, "Maybe the best thing for you to understand is that all of the leaders of those teams -- of the Mario team, of the Zelda team and of the Pikmin team -- all sit within 150 feet of my desk. The Galaxy team is the only one that's farther away -- they're in Tokyo. But I do have video conferencing with them."
We stunned him with a hard-hitting follow-up: 'We don't really have a question. We just want you to make another Galaxy game.' To this, Miyamoto replied, "Leave it to me."
E3 2008: Wii Remote Gets More Motion
Nintendo will reveal the MotionPlus accessory at this year's show.
Players wondering if we'd ever see a true 1:1 experience on Wii need to wonder no more, as Nintendo announced today a new plug-in peripheral for the Wii remote, currently called Wii MotionPlus. Details are sparse so far, but Nintendo revealed the first snippets of information in a press release this morning. The following statement is -- in its entirety -- Nintendo's announcement of MotionPlus for Wii:
"Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo's commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing."
What we don't know, however, is how exactly MotionPlus will work with nunchuk controls, as the peripheral would need some sort of pass-through in order to give 1:1 motion to titles requiring analog control. The first shot above shows a small plug in the bottom of the attachment, which looks to be covering just such port, but we'll wait on Nintendo to give the final confirmation. Will we see first-person shooters that can make use of this technology? Will LucasArts find a way to adapt the upcoming Clone Wars game to include true 1:1 lightsaber technology, or could Nintendo beat them to it with a pack-in Link's Sword Fighting game (or news of a new Zelda Wii) to showcase MotionPlus? Will some sort of future "Wii-mote 2.0" automatically include MotionPlus, removing the need for an additional add-on peripheral? We'll have to wait and see how exactly the new technology works, and all signs point to Nintendo's keynote just 24 hours from now.
Players wondering if we'd ever see a true 1:1 experience on Wii need to wonder no more, as Nintendo announced today a new plug-in peripheral for the Wii remote, currently called Wii MotionPlus. Details are sparse so far, but Nintendo revealed the first snippets of information in a press release this morning. The following statement is -- in its entirety -- Nintendo's announcement of MotionPlus for Wii:
"Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo's commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone. Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing."
What we don't know, however, is how exactly MotionPlus will work with nunchuk controls, as the peripheral would need some sort of pass-through in order to give 1:1 motion to titles requiring analog control. The first shot above shows a small plug in the bottom of the attachment, which looks to be covering just such port, but we'll wait on Nintendo to give the final confirmation. Will we see first-person shooters that can make use of this technology? Will LucasArts find a way to adapt the upcoming Clone Wars game to include true 1:1 lightsaber technology, or could Nintendo beat them to it with a pack-in Link's Sword Fighting game (or news of a new Zelda Wii) to showcase MotionPlus? Will some sort of future "Wii-mote 2.0" automatically include MotionPlus, removing the need for an additional add-on peripheral? We'll have to wait and see how exactly the new technology works, and all signs point to Nintendo's keynote just 24 hours from now.
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