GamerNode: Latest Wii News

August 18th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Midnight Pool (Gameloft, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, 800 Wii Points): Take a trip across America to make your dreams come true in a pool tournament worth millions. Visit the most colorful bars and meet seven of the coolest players on the circuit, from country music star Travis to Alison the biologist and John the sheriff. Learn the tricks of the trade through tutor...

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Sega's Simon Jeffery says Wii could be hardcore

Since its introduction, there has been much argument over the Wii's position in the videogame industry: Is it just for kids? Is it a family machine? Is it for all gamers?

Ask Sega of America's president Simon Jeffery, and you will hear that the under-utilized console is good for more than just "crap" shovelware, but is a great platform for the "hardcore" gamer, if publishers would only make use of it. In an interview with VentureBeat, he said:

"The Wii is a very cost effective platform to experiment with. There is a lot of crap coming out for the Wii in general. But if it’s not a good game, it doesn’t sell. That flood of crap will die down as publishers become more coherent. The Wii is a great opportunity for hitting hardcore gamers. No one is doing that. With “Mad World&r...

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Parents upset with Wii going adult and violent

Picture a game that will allow you to rip out the hearts of your victims, chainsaw and stab people to death, and impale your enemies on road signs. And then imagine that this will be an exclusive game for the Wii.

Nintendo has wanted to shed its image as a family and kid's game machine for quite a while, and has consistently promised that more hardcore games will be introduced in order to offset the Wii's squeaky-clean image. The game, MadWorld, not only promises to fulfill this goal, but also seems to be stirring up quite a bit of controversy as well.

The move by Nintendo to release MadWorld, has the anti-violence crowd and parents up in arms over in the UK.

John Beyer, director of Mediawatch-UK said MadWorld would destroy the image of the Wii as a family-friendly game console.

'This game sou...

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August 11th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Strong Bad Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated T for Teen-Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Charming. Suave. Awesome. These are the words Strong Bad would use to describe himself. In a world gone mad, only one man can be trusted to save the day. A man with an attitude. A man called Strong Bad. As the star of the Homestar Runner Web cartoons, Stro...

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Nintendo prez says WiiMotion Plus will be cheap

The WiiMotion Plus accessory was announced at E3 this year. The add-on promises to bring real-time 3D motion tracking to the WiiMote. The device snaps onto the end of the Nintendo controller and enhances the movement sensing abilities.

A video of how it works can be seen here. The new device looks nifty, but just how much is this thing going to cost our wallets? Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, answered that question and said that it is going to be inexpensive.

"There will be games that will be enhanced by the Wii MotionPlus as well as games that can only be played with it. Users will need four if they have four controllers, but we're going to try to offer it for as little as possible. We haven't announced the price yet, but the cost of making the Wii MotionPlus is not that much, so I th...

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"Master Plan" for Wii all done now?

Shigeru Miyamoto, who literally built Nintendo with Donkey Kong, Mario, and Zelda is also responsible for the idea behind the Wii.

His plans were so well thought out that Miyamoto put together a master plan for the accessories and products related to the Wii. But now, the well seems to have run dry. Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata said that with the release of Wii Music, the Wii strategy for accessories is finished.

"Wii Music completes what Miyamoto wrote in his proposal when he came up with the idea for the Wii. He was saying that he needs to think up more ideas now. Most of the ideas for accessories that we had initially come up with are out now. We might think up some more, and we might make them if we do, but we don't have any plans to release a whole lot more."

Gee, I was sort of looki...

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Blast Works gets a price cut

Majesco Entertainment announced today that Budcat Creations' Blast Works: Build, Trade, and Destroy has been reduced in price to just $19.99.

The creative 2D side-scrolling shooter, which was based on Kenta Cho's online game Tumiki Fighters, was released to great critical reception, including an 8.0 from GamerNode. Its unique gameplay mechanic of on-the-fly ship and weapon augmentation, as well as its extensive level editing and community features have earned it the nicknames of "Katamari shooter" and "the LittleBigPlanet of shooters," among others.

Said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco:

"Blast Works has been well received by the gaming community as one of the most innovative and creative games for Wii. With the lower price point, the game is among the best values a...

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August 4th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Wild West Guns (Gameloft, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Draw your revolver to see if you're the fastest gun in the West. Adjust your speed and precision as targets or enemies appear in front of you. Point and shoot to earn more points. You can aim at anything, so be sure to explore the environment for elements that will earn you more shooting points. Identify your enemies among t...

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Demo of Wii Motion Plus. Lightsaber anyone?

The company who helped develop the Wii MotionPlus accessory has a video that shows what WMP can do.

The demo doesn't show a lot of game applications but it is interesting to see how this new add-on could spur a whole new genre of titles for the Wii. The Wii Motion Plus promises to add real-time 3-D spatial positioning when using the add on.

Anyone who played Red Steel knows how lacking the WiiMote was when wielding a sword in the game. If Wii MotionPlus performs as promised, wannabe swordsmen and lightsaber fans will have lots to be happy about when using the Wii MotionPlus.

Wii MotionPlus was announced at E3 but for those of you who missed the official statement, here it is:

Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, ...

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Wii owners need more Okami

It's a shame when a great game goes unrecognized, and by that I mean going without recognition from someone other than us bleeding-heart videogame critics and "with it" fans. These games--games like Okami--should rack up huge sales numbers to go along with their huge review scores.

Unfortunately, Capcom has published the company's latest financial results, and has reported that the Wii version of the PlayStation 2 gem has only sold a measly 280,000 copies in western markets (North America and Europe) since its April 15th release. This was a port that was meant to take the game to the next level with Wiimote-ified celestial brush controls, and was also expected to appeal to the Wii demographic with its subject matter and gameplay style.

So much for that.

I think everyone who just read this art...

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Nintendo: $1 Billion in profits. 30 Million Wiis

If Nintendo's Wii is still considered a fad by its detractors, it's one of the most profitable "fads" of all time. Nintendo has made a cool $1 billion profit this first quarter and has sold almost 30 million Wiis with no end in sight.

Nintendo's parking lot must be filled with Ferraris.

Reuters said, "April-June operating profit at Nintendo, creator of iconic game characters such as Mario and Zelda, rose to 119.19 billion yen ($1.10 billion) from 90.63 billion yen a year earlier. Since the November 2006 launches of the Wii and PS3, shares in Nintendo have more than doubled while Sony shares lost 12 percent. At $76 billion, Nintendo's market value is now twice as big as Sony's."

Sales for the DS were slightly down .04 million as "only" 6.94 million units were sold. To date, there are over 77 m...

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July 28th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Pong Toss--Frat Party Games (JV Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Language, 800 Wii Points): Pony up-it's Pong Toss time. Compete against your friends or the computer in this ultimate party-game favorite. Play on a regulation table with up to four players. Make consecutive shots for the Fireball bonuses and Roll-Backs as you or your team try to dominate the table and reign as Pong Toss champs. In Speed...

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"Contactless" battery charger for Wiimote coming

Electronics manufacture, Sanyo, has announced that it is the first company to offer an officially licensed charger for the WiiMote, which we assume, means Nintendo will make sure the thing works before putting its stamp of approval on the device.

Other charging units, not licensed by Nintendo, have reportedly melted the cases of the controllers while charging. Not a good thing.

The replacement rechargeable battery pack for the controller uses eneloop cells, which draws its power from magnetic induction rather than electrical contacts. This will be great for all those WiiMotes that have those thick silicon case protectors on them--you won't have to remove it to charge your controller since no contact needs to be made with the battery pack and the charging unit.

The cost of a one-unit charger ...

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July 21st WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-'em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades and ultimately battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a navy captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless pirate in order to seek out and retr...

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The Conduit gameplay looking good

GamerNode reported on The Conduit in the past as a sci-fi shooter with better-than-usual graphics for the Nintendo Wii.

Developed by High Voltage Software, this first-person shooter kind of looks like a blend between Prey, Half-Life, and Area 51. Is this the beginning of what could be the norm for Nintendo Wii graphics?

If the game runs smoothly and the controls work with fluidity, I don't see any reason why this game won't be able to whet the appetites for those who have been waiting for a good FPS on the Wii.

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July 14th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

Major League Eating: The Game (Mastiff, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Crude Humor, 1,000 Wii Points): The ultimate chomp-off is about to begin. Grab your Wii Remote controller and dig into 12 different foods as you compete against the greatest major-league eaters in the world. This isn't just a race to stuff your face-you'll need strategy to master a smorgasbord of digestive attacks, defenses...

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Animal Crossing Wii is done, Punch-Out!! Wii in th...

The newest issue of NGamer has hit European magazine racks and it brings us some juicy info on two of Nintendo's upcoming games that will be at E3. Namely, Animal Crossing Wii and Punch-Out!! Wii.

First off, NGamer tells us that Animal Crossing Wii is completed. Presumably the game's code is ready to be pressed onto a disc and shipped to retailers. Contrary to previous rumors, the game isn't an MMO but will still offer online features includng Wifi sharing like its DS predecessor. Additional details were not divulged but at least we know for sure that the game exists now!

Additonally, Punch-Out!!, an old classic, is set to be revived on the Wii and is currently in development. Like Animal Crossing, NGamer didn't reveal much other than the title's existence. The magazine tells us that the tit...

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New Wii controller in the works?

While scrounging around the U.S. Patent Office website for new information on the rumored Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller, the folks over at Spong stumbled upon a patent filed by Nintendo for what appears to be a brand new Wii controller with a familiar GameCube-esque button layout AND a space to mount a Wii remote.

The text of the filing supports that observation, describing "An imaging information arithmetic unit...at a front end of the housing...in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface." That's the Wii remote.

While greatly appreciated, something like this is long overdue for the Wii, and should have been provided at launch. Good show, Nintendo, but you're more than a year-and-a-half late, so...not really.

Here is the full abstract of the pat...

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July 7th WiiWare/Virtual Console releases

Another Monday, another round of WiiWare and Virtual Console updates.

Whether Nintendo adds one game, ten games, or none at all, GamerNode will be here every Monday with the official details - titles, platforms, ratings, pricing, and even a taste of some corny marketing copy - keeping you up to date with everything from the online Wii scene.

Without further ado, the games:

WiiWare

SPOGS Racing (D2C Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Coming at you full throttle is SPOGS Racing, an all-new racer from D2C Games featuring classic arcade racing, pick-up-and-play controls, all-new racing vehicles and Crash N' Grab™ instant upgrades. Jump in, gear up and modify your ride on the fly as you compete head-to-head for a totally outrageous arcade r...

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Aaron Greenberg calls the Wii "a novelty"

Ahh, industry figures taking jabs at rival companies' products like basement-dwelling fanboys never gets old, no matter which side it's coming from. This time around, Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, has some unflattering words for Nintendo's little white box, the Wii.

In an interview with Gamasutra, he claims that it is little more than a starter console and novelty for non-gamers, and that Wii owners "are eventually going to want to graduate to an Xbox 360 experience." Greenberg says:

"Everyone says that eventually the novelty will wear off, right? I think that a lot of the people that are buying that console today are not people that have generally bought consoles in the past, right?

You see they're not buying games on it, right? They'r...

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