GamerNode: Latest Wii News

MotionPlus to be featured in next Zelda

It's hard to get any info from Nintendo regarding its big franchise games, so count this one as a win for the fans. Nintendo and gaming guru Shingeru Miyamoto has let loose that the next installment in The Legend of Zelda franchise will feature MotionPlus control.

"In this [installment in the series], we're using MotionPlus to make you feel much more like you're actually fighting while holding a sword in your hand," said Miyamoto at a Q&A session that was translated by website GameLife. "In the previous game, you aimed at things by pointing at the screen, but this time we'll use MotionPlus to create a much more convenient targeting system and a more pleasurable playing experience."

No word on if the control is required or just an option, but it's good to know one of gaming greats is getting ...

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Excitebike: World Rally coming to WiiWare

(Above Image is from Excitebike NES Version)

Nintendo announced today that a new entry in the Excitebike series is coming soon. Announced via the Nintendo Week show on the Nintendo Channel, Excitebike: World Rally will be released on Nintendo WiiWare on November 9. No price has been given yet.

The game will be a 2.5D update to the original Excitebike on the NES and will offer both motion-based and classic controls, as well as feature online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi and a level creator. No word on level-sharing, but here's hoping it makes the cut. Check out the announcement trailer here.

[Kotaku]

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Ignition Entertainment announces Arc Rise Fantasia...

Ignition Entertainment has announced today that they will localize the Japanese Wii RPG Arc Rise Fantasia for North America. The game is the newest title to be developed by Image Epoch, developers of the Luminous Arc series. The game will be turn-based and will have players step into the shoes of L'Arc, a "calm and composed mercenary, who sets out to defend the Meridian Empire from an impending invasion of ferocious creatures."

According to the press release, the battle system allows you to queue up attacks in any manner you want or summon monsters to help the party. You can also execute team-up attacks a la Chrono Trigger for massive damage.

"It's an ambitious Japanese role-playing game with deep gameplay, top-notch production values, and an unforgettable story line -- Wii owners have been...

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PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Big Adventure announced

Pokemon fans have been feeling pretty starved on Nintendo's latest console, but looks like the Big N is getting ready to remedy that and deliver your Pokemon fix. Nintendo today announced PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Big Adventure, a Wii-exclusive title that focuses on the Pokemon mascot and is being developed by Creatures, Inc.

The game looks to be a cross between Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Stadium, and Mario Party. You play as Pikachu, competing against and cooperating with different pokemon as you travel through a theme park playing "tag, battle, and quiz mini-games." You can also photograph the pokemon you meet. The game releases on December 5 in Japan, and we can definitely expect a U.S. release soon after.

[Joystiq]

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Joe the Condor and Zero revealed as last two Tatsu...

We've finally got the last two characters to be featured in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Capcom has revealed that both Zero and Joe the Condor will join the cast. Zero comes from the Mega Man X series and was also featured in another crossover fighting game, SVC Chaos: SNK vs Capcom. Joe the Condor is another Gatchaman character, or as the series is know here, Battle of the Planets. This series paved the way for other shows such as Voltron and Power Rangers.

This completes the US cast of the game, which is getting far more content, characters, and modes than the Japanese arcade and console release. Check out the character videos over at IGN for the two new fighters and get those arcade sticks ready for the game's release on January 26, 2010.

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii is super difficult

Russ Frushtick of MTV Multiplayer got a chance for some hands-on game time with the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii, due out this fall. His conclusion? The game is freaking hard.

With the inclusion of a "Super Guide" feature -- essentially, computer-assisted gameplay via an AI-controlled Luigi -- the developers have free reign to crank the difficulty levels to previously unheard of heights. Apparently, the "Super Guide" is there to handle that tricky jump or nail that pesky boss--but only after a few humiliating deaths.

Releasing a reprisal of the classic Mario platformer may cause a lot of exasperated sighs with many gamers, but the boosted difficulty serves as a healthy wake-up slap in the face. Or something like that.

Frushtick elaborates:

"You remember those ghost house levels from ...

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"Epic Mickey" project not Wii exclusive?

A recent modification to the Game Informer website containing information about Warren Spector's "Epic Mickey" project has left many speculating that the upcoming title may not be exclusive to the Wii as was previously thought.

Reception among gamers for the title in development has been extremely well so far, as many fans of Disney's iconic mouse wish to see a darker take on the past of Mickey and the cast of Disney characters. Previous reports of the title being released exclusively for the Wii has dampened the excitement somewhat; evidently, the Wii still has a ways to go before being fully accepted.

Intriguingly, information about platforms have all but vanished from Game Informer's website.

Perhaps this change bodes a possible multi-platform release for the title; perhaps the folks at Wa...

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Epic Mickey finally confirmed

After numerous steampunk-esque screenshots and anonymous tipsters, Epic Mickey has finally been confirmed by Game Informer.  The upcoming game from Warren Spector's Junction Point and Disney Interactive Studios will be featured in the next issue of Game Informer along with some stunning cover art. The game will be a Wii-exclusive action game, though not much is known other than this.

The game's rumored premise is that all the old, forgotten characters from Disney's past are coming back for revenge against Mickey for stealing all the limelight and are looking to get rid of him for good. The paintbrush on the cover could also point to a Wiimote gameplay mechanic a la Okami, and a possible defense against enemies.

[Game Informer]

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Red Steel 2, Rabbids Go Home get cross-game preord...

Ubisoft is set to offer Wii owners some cool preorder bonuses for their upcoming releases. Pre-ordering Rabbids Go Home through Gamestop will net you two in-game rabbids dressed up as Sam Fisher and Altair, from Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed respectively. Likewise, preordering Red Steel 2 through the retailer will get you two exlusive in-game swords. 

[VG247]

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Demo play option in New Super Mario Bros Wii expla...

When Nintendo revealed the Demo Play option that was going to be featured in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a lot of us were wondering how exactly this hint system would work. Would it take control from you to complete the level or just warp you ahead? Well Nintendo of Europe has updated their site with a description of how the feature will work. After activated, the game will show a demonstration of how to get past the obstacle or level, and the player can then intervene at any time when they wish to make the attempt.

While this feature won't be of much use to hardcore players, it could be a great way to help your mom or girlfriend out when you're not around to swoop in and defeat those Goombas for them.

[Joystiq]

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Latest Wii update killing consoles

The latest update for the Nintendo Wii, update 4.2, is causing terrible problems for owners of the console both modded and non-modded. The Nintendo support forums are flooded with reports of these problems from customers.

Most reports claim that the update freezes halfway through and the update giving system errors informing customers that their console has been modified and then fails to start. There are also reports of random disk read errors after the update is installed. The reports can be attributed to modified systems, but customers are reporting issues with consoles that are fresh out of the box.

Nintendo tech Jane posted a message in the forums, letting customers of un-modded Wii consoles know that they can send their units in for repair.

Here is the message:

"Some of you have reported...

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New video of Frank West covering the war in Tatsu...

By now you know photo journalist extraordinaire Frank West is going to make an appearance in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, but did you know about all his crazy, zombie-infested moves? Capcom's Seth Killian demonstrated Frank's insane and surprisingly useful move set at the Tokyo Game Show.

In the video we see Frank summoning zombies to grab an opponent or knock them over, striking with an assortment of weapons such as a baseball bat and golf club, and capping it all off with a super move that involves a Servbot head and a bad day with more zombies. All in all, Frank West looks like an interesting addition to the crazed fighter.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars is a crossover fighting game that pits the Capcom roster of charaters against anime production house Tatsunoko. P...

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Release date set for New Super Mario Bros. Wii

LiveWii is reporting that Mario and Luigi's latest adventure, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, now has an official release date for both Europe and the US.

The site reports that the Europe release date will be November 27 and, according to the site's math, a November 15 release date in the US.

The game will feature co-op for up to four players and is the first Mario-themed game to hit the console since Super Mario Galaxy.

[LiveWii]

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Another big store circular hints at Wii price drop...

It would seem that Target has become the third major store chain to hint that a price drop for the Nintendo Wii is coming. A picture has surfaced online of a supposed Target circular showing the Wii with a $199 price tag and has joined pictures from Walmart and Toys-'R'-Us circulars doing the same.

The circular is for the week of September 27th, which has led to the belief that Nintendo will officially announce the price cut at either the Tokyo Game Show or Kyoto Cross Media Experience. Both are set to occur on the weekend before the circular's date.

Nintendo's only reply to this latest circular leak is the typical "Nintendo does not speculate on rumors or speculation."

[Kotaku]

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Wii may see price drop in first week of October

The first hints at a possible price drop for the Nintendo Wii have arrived. Kotaku is reporting that they have received an early ad from Walmart for the first week of October with an interesting piece of information on the console.

The ad lists the Nintendo Wii and loosely dates, without price, a "rollback" for the console. The fact that there aren't specifics could mean Nintendo is intending to cut the price of the Wii, which has been at $249 since its release four years ago, but does not want to specify exacly when or by how much.

Back in August, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated that the company was not looking to announce a price cut. "Right now, there aren't a lot of discussions going on about what exactly to do about hardware pricing," said Iwata.

However, that was before Sony and ...

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Free at last! Wii Internet Channel costs nothing a...

Remember when the Wii Internet Channel was free? If not, it was during the first few months following the console's release. Since then, it has cost Wii owners 500 Wii Points to enjoy the internet via the Wii's Opera browser.

Well, not anymore.

The Internet Channel is available for free once again, and Nintendo is reimbursing everyone who ever paid for the right to surf the web on their console -- but not with money. Beginning October 1st, those misfortunate Internet Channel purchasers will be allowed to claim one free NES game (also valued at 500 Wii Points) to make up for their expenditure.

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The quality of Wii games is improving

We all know that Nintendo's Wii, aside from expanding the market and making tons of money, has been highly prone to third-party shovelware. But it looks like there is hope for improvement, because a year-to-year comparison of EEDAR Quality Scores shows that Wii games are indeed getting better.

Comparing review scores from the first six months of 2008 and 2009 show that while PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 scores have remained consistent, Wii games in 2009 have averaged 6% higher scores in 2009 than in 2008, up to 66/100 from 60/100. That's a 10% increase!

Hopefully this sort of trend continues, because I know I'm not the only one who's tired of playing crappy games.

[IndustryGamers]

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No More Heroes 2 playable at PAX 09

In just about a week, attendees of 2009's Penny-Arcade Expo in Seattle, WA will be treated to a world premiere of Grasshopper Manufacture's No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle; this trade event will mark the first time the game will be available in playable form to anyone in the gaming press/public.

The first No More Heroes game garnered heaps of critical acclaim and helped to propel game designer Suda 51 further into cult gaming stardom, and No More Heroes 2 looks to build on that success with a second helping of its unique, retro aesthetic and simple, effective gameplay mechanics.

PAX 09 begins on Friday, September 4th.

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Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles gets releas...

Capcom announced today that the Wii-exclusive Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles will be shipping to North American retailers on November 17th, 2009. The on-rails first-person shooter is a follow-up to 2007's Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

Resident Evil fans can also secure a free bonus t-shirt by pre-ordering the game at GameStop. The "Let Your Darkside Out" shirt features an image of a zombie's face on the inside of the garment, so that when it is flipped over the wearer's head, he or she effectively assumes the role of a Resident Evil zombie. The shirt can also be purchased at Capcom's online store for $24.95.

I kinda want one...

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Wii Sports Resort sells 3 million copies worldwide...

Nintendo has announced that the latest Wiimote-waggling first-party title, Wii Sports Resort, has quickly surpassed the one million unit milestone in the three major markets -- Japan, North America, and Europe -- taking global sales past the three million unit mark. The game has been available for two months in Japan; one month in other territories.

Said Nintendo Europe's marketing and PR director Laurent Fischer, "The early sales figures represent a strong start for Wii Sports Resort, which is on its way to becoming another Nintendo title that sells steadily over an extended period of time as opposed to a single flash on its launch day. Combined with strong figures for Wii MotionPlus, the data suggests that more families and friends are playing together than ever before -- which, for Nint...

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