Home

    Wii News

    Punch-Out!! exclusive to one retailer in Australia, Excitebots excluded entirely

    July 14, 2009 - 3:10pm

    Demand for upcoming first-party Wii games doesn't seem to be high in Australia -- and if it is, it just means a lot of people are about to be disappointed. Nintendo Australia managing director Rose Lappin told http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/07/punch-out-to-hit-in-august-only-at-jb-hi-fi/">Kotaku AU that Aussie gamers can expect Punch-Out!! in stores late August, but only if those stores are JB Hi-Fi locations."To be honest we didn't have a lot of requests for the game," Lappin said. "There's a few people ... there's a lot of noise but not a lot of sales, that sort of thing." JB Hi-Fi, Lappin suggested, was the only retailer that showed significant interest.But at least Punch-Out!! is getting some kind of release. Not so for Excitebots, which won't come out in Australia at all. Lappin told Kotaku AU that there just wasn't enough demand for the game from retailers or consumers.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Black Wii system comes in a black Wii box

    July 14, 2009 - 2:00pm

    The black Wii hardware launches in Japan on August 1. Amazon.co.jp's listing for the item features the box that it comes in, which is, naturally, similar to the existing Wii hardware packaging, but in black instead of white. Like the hardware itself and the controllers (particularly the Nunchuk) the change in color scheme makes the box look so much more interesting.After the break, we've posted the original white box for comparison. Is this new system worth the double-dip now that it also includes a display-worthy box? Still no, but it sure is nice to look at on the internet. The only downside for this new color scheme is that it'll be even more prone to the "dust" jokes that console warriors like to throw around, since it will actually show dust.[Via NeoGAF]

    Continue reading Black Wii system comes in a black Wii box

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Warner Bros. joins Fujisoft's Wii movie streaming service

    July 14, 2009 - 1:00pm

    When it was first announced, we thought Fujisoft's Minna no Theater Wii was, at best, a proof of concept for a future streaming video service. It had some anime and other popular Japanese TV shows at launch, but we didn't think the lineup for this third-party WiiWare download would widen much. We were wrong!Following the announcement of Paramount content through Cinemanow, Warner Bros. will add movies from its catalog to Minna no Theater, starting with a set of 54 movies tomorrow! One of the titles being added, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is being released on the WiiWare service on the same day that the DVD and Blu-Ray versions come out.[Via Andriasang]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Burning Force, not lighting cigarettes

    July 14, 2009 - 12:00pm

    The selections on Japan's Wii Shop are all over the place this week. On Virtual Console, two titles are available, including the universally loved Shinobi and Burning Force, a game with which we must admit unfamiliarity. One look at the linked YouTube video, however, cleared that right up. It's like Space Harrier on water, and it looks awesome.WiiWare this week is loaded with stuff, including the stop-smoking app, a quiz game, a card-battling game, and Reel Fishing. The most interesting WiiWare game in Japan this week is Mobius Drive, an online racing game that looks surprisingly good for a Wii download.Virtual Console:

    WiiWare:

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Activision would love to sell you a new guitar with Guitar Hero 5

    July 14, 2009 - 10:45am

    Surprise! There's a new, slightly different guitar controller bundled with Guitar Hero 5. The sparkly red controller includes a redesigned touchpad, which now uses digital input instead of analog. The touchpad area also has small dots to indicate the fret color, and "slight reliefs" on the neck. Neversoft's Brian Bright told IGN that "all of these changes to the slider allow you to hit the tapping sections with better precision - we also removed the purple rope in the tapping/slide sections of game play by the way :)."Activision has yet to determine whether this guitar will be available by itself or if it will be restricted to GH5 bundles. What is much more certain is that there will be a new Guitar Hero controller every single year, just in case Activision can convince some current guitar owners to upgrade.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Nintendo reveals American Club Nintendo bonuses [update]

    July 14, 2009 - 9:05am


    Nintendo loyalists that have been diligently registering their games can now pick up a reward through the Club Nintendo loyalty program. Those who have earned 300 or more Coins (equivalent to 6 Wii game purchases) are granted Gold status, while those who have earned 600 or more Coins are granted Platinum status. These members are now entitled to an exclusive members-only bonus.Platinum members have the choice of two prizes:

    • Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! -- this downloadable WiiWare game is available exclusively to Club Nintendo Platinum members. In this special download, you'll be able to fight one-on-one against your coach, Doc Louis. Update: Screenshots now added.
    • Mario Hat -- a "true-to-life" replica of Mario's signature headpiece. Nintendo notes that the hat "may be big for small children."

    Gold members will receive a special 2010 calendar. See more images after the break.

    Continue reading Nintendo reveals American Club Nintendo bonuses [update]

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Tiger Woods and Fight Night top UK charts again

    July 14, 2009 - 2:30am


    Tiger Woods Pro Tour 10 and Fight Night Round 4 dominated UK sales charts for the second week in a row (albeit in a different order), taking first and second place, respectively. In total, Electronic Arts software accounted for four of the top 10 titles for the week ending July 11, according to Chart Track.Top 10 chart mainstay Wii Fit fell to number six, while Ubisoft's Western-themed Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood climbed ahead to number five. Activision Blizzard also scored big with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (#3), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (#9) and Prototype (#10) in the platform-combined top 10 list. With Transformers sneaking into the third spot, we're content to find out that, for all the cred British people get for being classy, they still make as many terrible decisions as North Americans. Cool, innit?

    Continue reading Tiger Woods and Fight Night top UK charts again

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rock out to these Guitar Hero 5 features

    July 13, 2009 - 11:30pm

    Have you ever been so lacking in patience that you just want to jump right in while someone is playing a Guitar Hero track? Well, a new feature in Guitar Hero 5 (aka Guitar Hero World Tour 2) lets you do just that. There's also the option to play any four instruments you like, but we already knew that. Also, feel free to pause at the part where it shows all the band names and dream about what tracks will be available -- or you could just check out the full "unofficial" set list right here.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    VC in Brief: Secret Commando (SMS) and Pulseman (Sega Genesis)

    July 13, 2009 - 8:00pm

    It's been a while since we've seen two games released for Virtual Console in one week, let alone two import titles. But here we are, playing these games for you in another edition of VC in Brief. Be sure to check out the video above, and head past the break if you're looking for more. This is one of those have your cake and eat it too situations.

    Continue reading VC in Brief: Secret Commando (SMS) and Pulseman (Sega Genesis)

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Japanese FFIV: The After Years release schedule revealed

    July 13, 2009 - 7:00pm


    Famitsu has revealed the Japanese release schedule for the episodes that make up Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Following the July 21 release of the title's initial chapters, Square Enix will stagger episodic releases weekly and bi-weekly. Additional chapters for the game will be priced at 300 and 800 Wii Points.Already into its seventh (of 13) chapter on the North American WiiWare store, The After Years tells the story of characters following the 1991 SNES classic Final Fantasy IV -- presumably in an effort for Square Enix to tease and ignore all fan desire for a actual Final Fantasy VII remake. The series originally debuted as a episodic mobile game, exclusively in Japan. The Japanese release schedule can be found after the break.
    [via Andriasang]

    Continue reading Japanese FFIV: The After Years release schedule revealed

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments