Rumor: Mario Galaxy Pushed Back To X-mas Metroid Coming in April

 

Filed January 20, 2007 @ 4:57 pm

An anonymous local Nintedo rep, (the kind that checks in on EB stores) gave me a little inside info today. The word around the company is that promises of Mario Galaxy in the spring are not going to be kept. Although, the New Metroid for Wii will be coming sometime between April and June. He also told me that Metroid will be the first Wii game to be playable over the internet. When, I expressed my dismay at lack of Wi-Fi capable games at launch he explained that the infrastructure is all up and has been ready to go. The lack of Wi-Fi games so far has been due to developers not making use of it.

Take it for what it’s worth, but I predict a showdown this fall/Christmas between everybody’s favorite little plumber and the Master Chief. And, by then Sony will most likely be offering free hand-jobs to get people to buy the PS3.

Source: The GameDrift Podcast » Rumor: Mario Galaxy Pushed Back To X-mas Metroid Coming in April

Digital Podium

 

I have a Wii which everyone in my family has very much enjoyed, and a bunch of my aunts and uncles had each asked if I could buy them one if I saw any available.
So I heard about Target holding Wii's for today, Sunday, January 21st, 2007. It was 8:06 AM this morning when I called the first Target store in the Los Angeles area. This is how the guy answered the phone:
"Thank you for calling Target where we have already sold out of the Nintendo Wii, what can help you with today?"
I started laughing... every other Target in the Los Angeles area is the same, NO MORE WII'S! Since the Wii has obviously achieved a high level of demand in the mainstream mass market, it will be a long time until it's easily available. I guess next time there is a shipment people will have to camp out!

Source: Digital Podium

Twilight Princess Death Clock

 

Well this is upsetting. I'm one boss fight away from (supposedly) finishing the thing, and this program is telling me I'm actually only 58% of the way through the game. No, I don't have a third quiver. I didn't even know there was one.

Way to dampen my spirits with cold, precise mathematics guys. Luke Plunkett

% Complete Calculator for "The Legend of Zelda : Twillight Princess" [via Opposable Thumbs]

 

Source: Twilight Princess Death Clock
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:40:00 GMT

Tummy rumblin' NES cartridge hits Ebay

 

Filed under: News, Fan stuff

Made from only the finest Austrian chocolate and 1 out of 3 available in the world, this milk chocolate NES cartridge looks like a Nintendo fanboy's Easter basket dream. Weighing in at about 7 ounces, the current highest bid is $41.00 USD at the time of this post. Looks delicious, but is it worth the cost?
If you bought it, would you plan on eating it or displaying it? More pictures have been embedded past the post break.

Read |

 

Source: Tummy rumblin' NES cartridge hits Ebay
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:25:00 GMT

Wii lan adapters shipping

 

For those of you who ordered the Wii lan adapter, they seem to be shipping. Reader Ken sent in a pic of his, which arrived in the mail today.

Anyone else get theirs?

Source: Wii lan adapters shipping
Originally published on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:10:49 GMT

Wii/DS sales in Europe

 

15th January 2007 –Nintendo’s Wii and DS games consoles topped the must have gifts chart this Christmas, with thousands flying off the shelves across Europe at an amazing rate throughout the festive period. Record-breaking numbers of Nintendo DS and Wii consoles sold out as quickly as they could be restocked, proving that Europeans are embracing Nintendo’s revolutionary new take on gaming.

In the UK, independent sales figures released by Chart Track confirm Nintendo’s Wii and DS games consoles topped the must-have gifts this Christmas, in total almost 200,000 Wii consoles were sold in the UK over the Christmas period. Nintendo DS further cemented its status as the market leading hardware format in the UK for 2006. The total number of Nintendo DS units sold in the UK in December topped 500,000 making it not only the best selling console of any kind in the UK this Christmas - but the best selling console of any kind in 2006.*

In Europe, Nintendo’s consoles have been going from strength to strength over the last few months with the Nintendo DS and Wii accounting for over half of all European video game hardware sales in December.

Two years after its launch Nintendo’s dual-screened handheld console, the Nintendo DS is leading the console market in Europe. Nintendo DS, enjoyed a record breaking Christmas experiencing its highest ever monthly sales since its launch in March 2005, 1.7 million units were sold across Europe during December making it the best selling games console in Europe across all formats, both in December and 2006, by a substantial margin.

Wii also took Europe by storm when it launched on 8th December 2006 and became the fastest selling games console in European history after its first weekend. In a matter of days Wii was totally sold out across the continent. Since launch Nintendo has been continually shipping more stock to retail outlets to meet unprecedented demand from both gamers and non-gamers alike. Despite selling out faster than it could be restocked, over 700,000 Wii consoles were snapped up across Europe in December 2006.

Wii software has performed equally well with more than 500,000 copies of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess sold in December, meaning that over 70% of Wii owners purchased this game. Wii Play has seen similar success with 320,000 copies sold to date, accounting for 45% of all Wii owners and showing that playing together was a priority for over half of Wii gamers thanks to the Wii Remote bundled with the game.

Laurent Fischer, Marketing Director for Nintendo Europe commented:
“We have enjoyed one of the most successful Christmas holidays ever, with both Nintendo DS and Wii selling at staggering rates. The success of our products this Christmas clearly shows that Nintendo’s drive to make gaming accessible to everyone has attracted people of all ages and abilities to the industry. We are facing such high demand for both platforms that unfortunately we are facing stock shortages, however we are doing everything possible to combat this by attempting to deliver both consoles and games to retailers on a daily basis.”

Last week, Nintendo increased its projected worldwide financial performance for the year ending on March 31 to be the best in company history.

Wii launched across Europe on 8th December 2006 and retails at an estimated retail price of €250 (£179 UK) with Wii Sports. Nintendo DS and DS Lite are available across Europe at an estimated retail price of €130 - €150 (£89 - £99 UK).

GamesPress

Source: Wii/DS sales in Europe
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:25:17 GMT

Meet the Robinsons Wii fact sheets

 

Overview

Disney’s Meet the Robinsons, based on the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated film, is a time-traveling action/adventure game. Players will experience the adventure as Wilbur Robinson, helping him chase the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical robotic hat Doris through multiple timelines in an attempt to thwart their evil plans. The game weaves in and out of the film’s plot, expanding the Robinson world and offering an all-new adventure. Wilbur will have a host of gadgets at his disposal as he battles enemies and solves puzzles while pursuing Bowler Hat Guy and trying not to alter the future.

Key Features

Game control will utilize the innovative Nintendo Wii controller
Experience large-scale and stunning environments that deepen the movie universe — fully explore the Robinson’s House, Lewis’s science fair, Lizzie’s Ant Underworld and much more
Travel through time to alter the past and affect the future, interacting with the funny and distinct cast of characters from the movie
Utilize and upgrade the game’s myriad cool gadgets in funny and clever ways, including the: Chargeball Glove, Disassembler, Scanner, Family Album, Havoc Gloves and Levitation Emitting Volume
Solve puzzles and complete missions, discovering hidden upgrades, new items, and adventure areas in an interactive environment
Play various Charge Ball mini-games and collect Virtual Reality discs to download new courts

About the “Meet the Robinsons” film

Lewis is a brilliant 12-year-old boy with a surprising number of clever inventions to his credit. His latest and most ambitious project is the Memory Scanner, which he hopes will retrieve early memories of his mother and maybe even reveal why she put him up for adoption. But before he can get his answer, his invention is stolen by the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical hat – and constant companion – Doris. Lewis has all but given up hope in his future when Wilbur Robinson, a boy from the future, whisks our bewildered hero away in a time machine into a great big beautiful tomorrow. In a world filled with flying cars and floating cities, they hunt down Bowler Hat Guy, save the future and uncover the amazing secret of Lewis’ future family. Meet the Robinsons is based on the book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce.

GAME PUBLISHER: Buena Vista Games
DEVELOPER: Avalanche Software, a BVG studio
GENRE: Action/Adventure
SHIP DATE: Spring 2007
ESRB RATING: Rating Pending
PRICE: To Be Announced
TARGET AUDIENCE: Kids 6-14
PLAYERS: 1
GAME PLATFORM: Wii (also for PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance)
BVG CONTACTS: Mark Ward and Lee Skittrell at Bastion
mark@bastion.co.uk
020 7490 1323

GamesPress

Source: Meet the Robinsons Wii fact sheets
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:31:24 GMT

My goodness, that's pretty

 

Filed under: Mods, Controller

We've seen some Wiimote mods before, but certainly none were quite as aesthetically pleasing as this. Not only has the modder-in-question placed a bright LED behind the transparent A button, but he actually changes the color of both the button and the lower LED based on player position. This mod is apparently quite difficult to pull off, but if you've any electrical savvy in your body, we all think you owe it to your Wiimote to at least take a look at how it's done.
It's so pretty.
[via 4cr]

Source: My goodness, that's pretty
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:20:00 GMT

Kotaku Magu: Cooking Mama, Space Invader In Wii Train Game

 

Title says it all. Japanese game maker Taito is giving Mama from Cooking Mama and an alien from Space Invaders make cameo appearances in Densha de Go! for the Wii. Sure hope that a bullet train doesn't run over Mama! Brian Ashcraft

 

Source: Kotaku Magu: Cooking Mama, Space Invader In Wii Train Game
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:22:34 GMT

Mad Catz Coming Out With Wiimote, Images

 

It seems that Mad Catz will be coming out with their own edition of the Wiimote and Nunchuck controller. As you can see from the images, the design is a bit more "tough" than the original Nintendo device. We may have to give this one a shot for ourselves. (Thanks, Hso)

Source: Mad Catz Coming Out With Wiimote, Images
Originally published on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:37:52 GMT