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Red Steel 2 - Hands On Impressions

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:16:38 +0800

Weve gone hands on with the most near final version of Red Steel 2, and its damned good

Red Steel is game that everyone has a differently opinion on. Most people, however, side with ‘it was a bit rubbish and rushed,’ including Ubisoft themselves. Instead of that getting them down, though, Ubisoft set to work on Red Steel 2, a sequel only by number as this game is a completely different experience. It’s the game we all wished the first one was.

I got to go hands on with the latest build of the game. It wasn’t the final one that went to Gold just a few days ago but it was pretty damn near finished says Ubisoft, and it shows. In late 2009 we got to go hands on with the game at eGames, but that was an ancient TGS build though and even the difference between then and now is outstanding.

I played about an hour and a half of game, starting just after the beginning (skipping all the tutorial stuff). Moving around is as you would expect for an FPS on the Wii, the only difference now is that you can flick to the sword on the fly. No more stilted transitions to ‘sword fight’ mode; you can take down enemies any way you want. Shooting them works but you’ll want to mix it up. The B button fires, while holding it down (with A) will get the sword out and get you chopping. And it’s not just simple waggling anymore, with the requirement of MotionPlus comes effort. You’ll need to swing it hard to get a good chop at someone, and blocking either vertically or horizontally this time around actually works. The Wii MotionPlus means that sword fighting not only is accurate, but they’ve ramped up the difficulty, too, you’ll need to be on your toes. The ‘special’ moves in the first game that required you to ‘fist pump’ the screen or tilt the Wii Remote on certain angles are back, but now they work and are easier to pull off.

The moves you start off with are basic but as you learn more they’re all explained with a little video box as you’re trained on them. Sword fights go from just simple slashes and blocks to intricate moves like upper-cutting enemies into the air, jumping up and then slamming them into the ground, or if you like you can fill them full of lead while they’re flying through the air. It’s great stuff; fights are quick and fluid and you can run, smack, slash all on the fly. Defence moves are also pivotal and you’ll learn some great ones.

The other part of the game that is fluid is the gameplay’s framerate. Over the time I played it if it dropped under 60 FPS I couldn’t notice it. It’s not just that, though, as the game just looks smooth even on a HD TV. The art style, as you know, is a complete departure from the first and it works well. The high/low tech Eastern infused western style is bloody brilliant. It looks like an old western movie which someone has gone and thrown crazy japanese adverts and styles into. At no point does the game ever try to be realistic; it gave me a very Wind Waker vibe from it. No, it’s not green and blue and colourful, but the simplistic presentation works for the better compared to a generic realistic design which the Wii isn’t as good at. The Eastern influence is also there in the music, which is a bit like typical wild west music but still different, making for quite a brilliant sound.

The game’s transitions from cutscen, to quick time events is mostly seamless, too. Yes, the game has quicktime events during pivotal scenes. In some games they can be annoying, but here they work well. Some longer loading times when walking from zone to zone and waiting for a door to open are awkward in some areas, though.

The games story is presented in both cutscenes and an in-ear microphone keeping you in touch with your crew. You’ll return to bases in each area in order to upgrade your weapons and moves along the way. The upgraded double shotgun is a complete beast; you’ll be able to lay waste to enemies and stop them dead in their tracks just before you slice and dice them.

The first time I played Red Steel 2 I came away impressed but not astounded. This time I was blown away. It was genuinely fun to play and I just wanted to keep going and going with it. The swordplay/gunplay mashup is awesome fun and you’ll find different combos and moves that work better.

While the first Red Steel was an undercooked turkey, this one is coming up to a perfect roast. Red Steel 2 is really only a sequel in name; they’ve taken a bland FPS and made a stylish and swish first person action game. I can’t wait for the finished product and to play through what looks to be an interesting story.

Red Steel 2 is out in Australia on March 25th.

Thanks to Ubisoft for allowing us to sample the game.

Rose Lappin to retire from Nintendo Australia

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:36:25 +0800

After 16 years at the company Rose Lappin is retiring from Nintendo Australia

Rose Lappin has retired from Nintendo Australia after 16 years at the company, before it was even Nintendo Australia. Ms Lappin began working at Nintendo as a State Manager in 1994 (in the then Queensland branch), moving up to be the General Manager of Sales from 2000 to 2003 and the Director of Sales and Marketing from 2003 to 2007 and most recently as the Manager Director.

Rose has been involved with Nintendo before the formation of Nintendo Australia in 1994, with her working with Mattel who distributed Nintendo products here before that.

Speaking to ChannelNews.com.au Rose has told of her time at the company "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Nintendo Australia and have enjoyed working with everybody here. Nintendo Australia, and Nintendo globally, is made up of some fantastic people, and it has been an honour to be the Managing Director for almost three years,". says Rose. "Nintendo has been through many exciting changes during my time here, so it has been great to be a part of that. I love the gaming industry, and will definitely miss it,"

Rose has been with Nintendo through the hard times and now the good times but she says that in 2003, "many people had written Nintendo off, but we had to keep the business going. Now in 2010, we have new products, and business is going well, but we have to make sure that we don’t get complacent. I believe it is critical to have focus and drive the business at all times,". The GameCube launched in 2002 only sold 160,000 consoles in it’s lifetime, the Wii currently sites at 1.75 million. Rose was also the behind the feud with Harvey Norman over trading terms and the Wii. She denied the retailer access to the product after they tried to dictate trading terms. Eventually after the Wii became the hit it became they relented.

Rose’s postition will be taken by Mr Yuji Bando who is currently residing in Japan. We at Vooks wish Rose the very best with whatever she does next.

Photo: The Age

Scribblenauts 2 officially announced for DS

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:48:11 +0800

We may have learned about the game late last week, but Warner Bros. have finally given official confirmation that the sequel to Scribblenauts is on its way

The announcement confirms the sequels many improvements over the original, such as the introduction of adjectives that will exponentially multiply the possibilities of summonable items. You can use more than one adjective when summoning an item or creature, so if you got tired of using a Pterodactyl in the first game, we suggest you try ‘Large angry Pterodactyl’ to freshen things up. Returning hero Maxwell will once again be solving puzzles and chasing Starites over 120 all-new levels which are likely to be much more creative in design given the opportunities opened up by the new summoning system.

Samantha Ryan from Warner Bros. is hopeful that the sequel will better live up to the potential many had hoped the original Scribblenauts would have achieved - “The Scribblenauts sequel gives all players an enhanced game experience they will love and new challenges where they can use their imaginations even more.”

The game is once again helmed by 5th Cell’s Jeremiah Slaczka, the creative mind behind the DS games Lock’s Quest, Drawn to Life and the first Scribblenauts.

Source: Press release

Spanish translation of Fragile Dreams to benefit from fanbase contribution

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:41:57 +0800

Rising Star Games are working together with fans to produce the Spanish localisation of mystery JRPG Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon

In an unusual but welcome move, Spanish website DSWii.es approached publisher Rising Star with an offer to assist in the translation process. Rising Star accepted, and in very short time, 50 volunteers collaborated to turn the games 35,000 word long script into Spanish.

Typically, publishers do not endorse fan-assembled unofficial translation projects, and a few more zealous companies move to have such projects squashed. However, Rising Star have bucked the trend and embraced the concept. Rising Star’s marketing director Raul Nieto Garcia spoke of the collaboration- “This is a great opportunity for us to connect with our fan base in Spain through such a unique and innovative project...We hope Spanish gamers will appreciate the joint efforts of Blogocio and Rising Star games to provide the best experience possible when playing Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon on their Nintendo Wii.”

The game launches in Europe on March 19th with the Aussie release hitting a week later on the 25th with an RRP of $79.95.

Source: Press release

Aussie Black Wii Price Roundup

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:42:58 +0800

The Black coloured Wii is under two weeks away, so find out where you can get one cheap or trade in your old whitey

The Black Wii is a dark beast to be sure; whether you’re upgrading or just joining the Wii ownership club, there are a few deals out there. There is a few stores doing bundles or some just have good prices. Let’s go shopping!

I’m new to Wii, what can I get? (or heck I want another!)

EB Games

$388 - Black Wii (includes Black Wii Console, Black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Sports)

Black Nintendo Wii + Wii Sports + Sports Resort + Bakugan - $399

Black Nintendo Wii + Wii Sports + Wii Sports Resort + Wii Fit Plus Bundle - $499

Black Nintendo Wii + Wii Sports + Sports Resort + iCarly + 2 Remotes + 2 Nunchucks - $465

Black Nintendo Wii + Wii Sports + Sports Resort + Bakugan + 2 Remotes + 2 Nunchucks - $465

GAME

$369.95 - Online Price, Console Only

$398.00 - Instore price comes with Black Wii (includes Black Wii Console, Black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Sports), Twilight Princess, Bigs 2 and Big Beach Sports

JB Hi-Fi

$349 (Standard Package)

Kmart

Black Wii (includes Black Wii Console, Black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Sports), Big Family Games, All Star Cheerleader 2 plus the choice of either Wii Sports Resort or Disney Sing it Pop Hits. - $379

If you have a Wii already.... and want to (’upgrade’)

EB Games

$199.95 - Must Trade in a White Wii. Bundle contains Black Wii (includes Black Wii Console, Black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Sports), Wii Sports Resort Bundle and the choice of either iCarly or Bakugan

GAME

$199.95 - Must trade in a White Wii or 60GB Xbox 360. Bundle contains Black Wii (includes Black Wii Console, Black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Sports), Zelda: Twilight Princess, Link’s Crossbow Training, Big Beachs Sports and The Bigs 2 Baseball.

If it’s not listed they haven’t got anything special, of course if they do in the meantime let us know!

Pikachu Coloured Pichu hits Australia

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:59:26 +0800

Hook up any copy of Platinum, Diamond or Pearl to a Wi-Fi connection point to receive a very special Pichu

Most of the English speaking world including Australia now have the opportunity to obtain yet another special Pokemon. This time we have the ’Pikachu Coloured Pichu.’ In essence, this rare Pokemon is not just a ’shiny’ Pichu, but is also coloured in the exact tones of a Pikachu, rather than the slightly paler shades typical of the small Pokemon.

Not only is this ’shiny’ Pichu special in it’s own right, but will act as a key to obtaining the very rare and elusive Spiky-Eared Pichu in the upcoming HeartGold and SoulSilver games.

Trainers will be able to obtain their very own Pikachu-coloured Pichu by connected a copy Pokemon Platinum, Diamond or Pearl to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection within the ’Mystery Gift’ feature of the game. The little Pichu will be available for download until March 25th- the date that Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver releases in Australia.

To discuss your thoughts on the alternative Pichu or to inquire about obtaining the ’Mystery Gift’ option in your version of Pokemon, just drop a post in the forums.

Source: Cubed3

Bankruptcy - Developer Cing goes under

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:51:28 +0800

The Japanese games studio behind Little Kings Story, Hotel Dusk and the Another Code games has filed for bankruptcy

Despite having produced some of the best games for Wii and DS, the Japanese developer has struggled to turn those games into financial success, having suffered losses of 256 million yen (about $2.6 million in Australian dollars). Whilst this doesn’t exactly spell the end for Cing, the bankruptcy filing does throw the future of their Hotel Dusk and Another Code franchises into limbo.

The studio were recently working on a sequel to their noir-inspired mystery adeventure game ‘Hotel Dusk: Room 215’. The sequel, tentatively titled ‘Last Window’ outside of Japan, should still be released some time this year through a publishing deal with Nintendo.

We’re very dissapointed to hear about Cing’s financial woes, as not only did they produce quality games, but they were games that really made the best of the opportunities provided by the unique controls enabled by the Wii and DS platforms.

Source: Data-Max via NeoGAF

Scribblenauts 2 details begin to surface

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:59:16 +0800

The upcoming issue of Nintendo Power magazine will let slip the first information about 5th Cells improvements to the sequel to one of 2009s most popular DS games

The cover of this month’s Nintendo Power will be graced by some wonderful concept art for the upcoming Scribblenauts sequel. Details of the new game cover some pretty comprehensive changes to the Scribblenauts formula, as a list of over 10,000 adjectives will now play a big role in summoning the game’s many items and creatures. In addition to the new adjective system, we can expect a removal of the ‘par system, a deeper level editing system and a new hint system.

Furthermore, we can look forward to big improvements to one of the most detracting features of the first Scribblenauts game - the controls. Jeremiah Slaczka, the lead designer from the first game, has confirmed that the sequel will implement D-Pad controls, something fans of the original will greatly appreciate. In addition to moving Maxwell around with the D-Pad, the fidelity of the touch-screen controls will be improved as well as an improved camera system, hopefully providing a less finicky experience for players. If development studio 5th Cell can provide us with something more reliable and accessible, then Scribblenauts 2 may indeed move closer to the high potential of the game’s ‘Write Anything, Solve Everything’ mantra.

According to the magazine, we can expect a Q4 release of the game later this year.

Source: Nintendo Power via NeoGAF

Ubisoft teases with two new Red Steel 2 videos

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:20:07 +0800

With the game releasing around the world later this month, its heavy internet presence certainly isnt letting up

The 25th of March is shaping up to be a big day for Nintendo systems, as Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver and
Red Steel 2 are arriving on that Thursday. If youre still a little unsure about Red Steel 2, Ubisoft have kindly provided a couple of new promo videos for you to take a look at.

The first features the plentiful supply of weapons at your disposal, while the second is a time-lapse video that shows off the amazing artwork one of their talented artists did in three hours. You can find them both below.

Nintendo Download Update: Mega Man, Dark Void Zero and Zaxxon

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:29:50 +0800

Something for everyone this week as the Virtual Console, WiiWare and DSiWare all get some great new games, with a healthy dose of laser-blasting sci-fi action

Starting off the action this week are the eagerly awaited Mega Man 10 from Capcom and BIT. TRIP VOID, the latest BIT. TRIP game from Aksys. The new Mega Man game continues the back-to-the-past retro journey started by last years Mega Man 9 - a game that eschewed modern gaming conventions by sticking to a classic 8-bit style presentation complete with old-school controls and crushingly high difficulty typical of the classic Mega Man games. Mega Man 10 has players once again collecting powers and beating bosses such as Blade Man and Sheep Man on a path to defeat the evil Dr. Wily. Original? No. Reliable? Hell yeah. Mega Man 10 can be had for 1000 Points.

Joining Mega Man on WiiWare is BIT TRIP. VOID for the usual price of 600 Points. After hitting beats with a paddle at the start of the series, then firing at them with a four-way laser, the third game sees you navigating a nasty black void. You need to swallow up black blocks this time which expand your side, making it harder to avoid the white blocks.

The Virtual Console finally receives a new game this week, too, and its for the arcade branch. Zaxxon from SEGA is apparently the first game to utilise the lovely isometric view type, helping make up for its 28 years of age. Typical of games from that era, only one button and a D-pad are required, meaning the shmup gameplay is quite simple. The 500-Point price somewhat justifies that, though.

Moving on, DSiWare makes up the majority of new titles with four releases. Dark Void Zero would be the most exciting out of the bunch, finally arriving here after seeing an American release in January. After originally being conceived as a parody of Dark Void on HD systems, it was later developed by Other Ocean Interactive into a real DSiWare game. Its a fully retro NES-style experience, just like Capcoms work with Mega Man 9 and 10 for WiiWare. It has actually received much higher praise on average than the full-blown Dark Void experience, too, so its definitely worth a look for 500 Points.

Real Football 2010 for 800 Points is an updated version of Real Football 2009, a retail-to-digital port released last year very early in the services life. The 2009 version was pretty good, and so should this be, but were not sure yet if its worth upgrading if you bought the first one.

The last real game out of the bunch is Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon, developed by Fuse Games, the makers of the retail title Metroid Prime Pinball. Its meant to be very realistic, but does only contain one board. You cant complain too much when its only 500 Points, though. Closing out the week is Flips: The Bubonic Builders, another Too Ghoul for School book from the more comprehensive retail game. Its probably worth giving one of these a go if you have a young child, and if they do like it, getting the retail collection would be wiser than buying each bit separately.

Mana Bars doors ready to open on Saturday March 20th

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:29:35 +0800

Brisbane will be the host to Australias first licensed video game bar, with the imminent grand opening set to go off with a blast in just over two weeks

After months of hard work, the Mana Bar team are proud to finally open the doors on 420 Brunswick Street to the gaming public on Saturday the 20th of March. From 12 noon onwards, gamers keen to be the first patrons of the pioneering new venue are invited to sample a selection of gamer-themed drinks whilst having the chance to play a game or two.

Smack-bang in the heart of Fortitude Valley - Brisbane’s best nightlife district - the Mana Bar promises gamers a friendly and accessible locale to enjoy a drink together whilst playing the latest video games. The bar will play host to plenty of upcoming game launch nights and industry events - catering to both the average Joe gamer, as well as the healthy population of games developers based in the Valley area.

The ‘Mana Bar’ concept was put together by a team of four Brisbanites passionate about gaming and Brisbane’s nightlife. Director Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg, a well known games writer and co-creator of AustralianGamer.com is working alongside co-owners Ben ‘Yahtzee’ Croshaw of Zero Punctuation fame, Pras Moorthy - a senior games developer at SEGA’s Creative Assembly studio in Brisbane, and experienced bar operator Shay Leighton, a veteran of organising events both in Australia and abroad. Given the talent behind the bar, the venue looks certain to provide a unique bar-going experience for punters, filling the niche for gamers who want a place to share their love of the hobby.

The Mana Bar is likely to prove popular, with its ‘open to everyone’ atmosphere and selection of social games like Wii Sports Resort. Cover charges will be a foreign notion at the bar- a great encouragement for gamers to put down their plastic guitars and crawl out of their basements.

The bar has a capacity of 50 people, so given the feverish anticipation built up around the new venue, you may be lucky to get in on the night of the opening.

Source: Mana Bar

Ubisoft and Shaun White push aside Tony Hawk with new skateboarding game

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:19:40 +0800

Snowboarding superstar Shaun White is set to expand his name into the world of skateboarding video games

After success with the Shaun White Snowboarding games, Ubisoft are hoping to capitalize on the Shaun White brand by delving into the other less well known side of White’s career - skateboarding. Whilst better known for his snowboarding accolades, White has proved his chops in the board-on-wheels realm by winning many awards, such as the Action Sports Tour Champion in 2007. The extreme sports icon is excited about the new project in development by Ubisoft’s Montreal division, and looks forward to its release later this year - “I cant describe how excited I am about the skateboard game...Weve been working on it for a while now and its ready to melt minds.”

White’s old buddy Tony Hawk, who gave him a helping hand early in his career, may not be quite so enthusiastic. The ‘Tony Hawk’ name in video games has taken a bit of beating in recent years, with a noticeable drop in quality since the glory days of Activision’s Tony Hawk Skateboarding games from the late 90’s. Last year’s Tony Hawk Ride had a lukewarm reception from critics and was viewed by many gamers as a gimmick for its faux plastic skateboard. Once the only name in town, Tony Hawk had a stiff competitor with EA Sports ‘Skate’ franchise, which seemingly re-invented the genre with a completely different style of gameplay. We’re yet to see whether the new Shaun White game fits in between the smooth realism of Skate or the over the top tricks-focused arcade style of Tony Hawk games, but with a solid developer like Ubisoft behind the game, the world of skateboarding games is set to become very competitive indeed.

Source: Press Release

Nintendo UK boss says DSi XL is for everyone

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:02:30 +0800

Ahead of the imminent launch of the new jumbo sized DSi in Europe, Nintendos David Yarnton has claimed that the handheld has a home on your coffee table and isnt just for Nanna

Yarnton, Nintendo’s General Manager in the UK, spoke to the Times online tech blog about what audiences they are targeting with the latest version of the DS. “What’s surprised us is that the XL has such a broad appeal. Our feedback is that there is a wide cross-section of people who say, “I have to have that”. Gamers have got into it, playing games like Zelda and Mario Kart on a bigger screen. Families find it slightly easier to share. Older people find it helps too.”

He admitted that a larger size may limit the portability of the handheld, but suggested that it was an ideal device to have lying around the house, emphasising the improved sound and the benefits of having a larger screen. “Obviously, it’s not something you can chuck in your pocket,” Yarnton stressed. “Sure, people use the DS when they are travelling. But there’s plenty of people that play at home, and this is an opportunity to give them an enhanced gaming experience.”

The DSi XL drops like a pork pie tomorrow in the UK, with the Aussie release just around the corner hitting stores on the 15th this month.

Source: Tech Central

Peter Moore says EA Sports still committed to the Wii

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:02:26 +0800

The head of EA Sports has fended off accusations that theyve gotten slack with developing sports titles on Wii

Speaking at a recent technology conference held by Morgan Stanley, Moore championed the financial success of Wii Sports Active as a sign of EA Sports efforts on the Wii, having pulled in $125 million for the software giant. On the question of cross-platform sports franchises, Moore was somewhat coy about the issue, describing that even though they were still committed to creating sports games on Wii, EA has greater success with more casual, exercise-focused software. "Youll see our major multiplatform launches still have a presence on the Wii. When we look at where weve been successful, its been with specific experiences that are built around that consumer."

EA Sports didnt publish a Wii version of NBA Live 10 or hockey game NHL 10 last year, despite having done so with previous years entries in both franchises.

Source: Gamasutra

LEGO and Travellers Tales happy to stay friends

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:02:22 +0800

The makers of the LEGO video games have just signed an agreement with their publisher that will ensure more LEGO titles for the next six years

With a library that includes LEGO versions of monstrous icons such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman and Harry Potter, development studio Travellers Tales have certainly earned their supper and Warner Bros. are happy to keep it that way for a little while longer.

The companies have agreed on an extention to the existing license agreement that will enable Travellers Tales to continue pumping out LEGO-licensed games through to 2016. Warner Bros. Kevin Tsujihara was understandably delighted about the continued working relationship. "We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue the successful partnership between this legendary company and the talented TT Games, which will enable us to further expand our slate of widely recognized, family-friendly games."

Source: IGN

Pucker up - Next NHL game from 2K Sports will be Wii-only

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:02:18 +0800

Take-Two games are giving the 360 and PS3 a miss for the next entry in their ice hockey sports franchise, NHL 2K11

The chairman of Take-Two games, Strauss Zelnick, has described their plan for the future of the hockey series, stating that the company needs to go back to the drawing board for the hi-def versions of the game. Whilst an NHL game from 2K won’t appear on 360 on PS3 until next year, the Wii version is still good to go.

“We have decided to reevaluate our NHL strategy and will only be releasing NHL 2K11 for the Wii in fiscal year 2010,” Zelnick outlined. “We want to become a stronger competitor in this category and taking a year off on PS3 and Xbox 360, while focusing on making the best possible game for Wii, should allow us to accomplish that goal.”

The move contrasts with the efforts made by EA Sports, who decided not to release a Wii version of NHL 10 last year.

Source: Joystiq

Shenanigans at Infinity Ward - Firing of studio heads part of Activisions new Strategic Direction

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:28:13 +0800

Jason West and and Vince Zampella, the former bosses of Infinity Ward have been fired for insubordination by parent company Activision.

The powerhouse developer behind the massive Call of Duty series - a billion dollar franchise - has been decapitated, with the firings of Jason West and Vince Zampella yesterday. In a controversial move, hired security were at the IW headquarters late last night following discussions between Activision management and Infinity Ward. As gaming journalists caught wind of the security presence, a Facebook profile update from West indicated that he was drinking and out of a job. The two staff members played an integral role in the creative development of last year’s cross-platform (excluding Wii) international bestseller ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”.

Confusion over the issue was cleared up this morning, when Activision announced the departure of ‘key Infinity Ward staffers’ in a statement that outline the company’s vision of the future of the Call of Duty series of video games. Coupled with the announcement of the fired staff, Activision outlined their timetable for Call of Duty games over the next two years. We can expect a new Call of Duty game from Treyarch, the makers of ‘World at War’, later this year, as well as a new action-adventure take on the series from new in-house developer Sledgehammer Games, a studio set up by Activision.

What can we make of all this? One interpretation is that Activions have a very specific plan of where the CoD franchise, a plan that may not have sat comfortably with the Infinity Ward development who likely resisted the changes. Activision are known their ruthless profits-focused business strategy with a high level of focus on guaranteed money-making properties such as Guitar Hero at the expense of smaller niche titles.

Given Activision’s attitude and financial goals, it is unlikely that this is the end of Call of Duty games on Wii and DS, but we’ll just have to wait and see whether they’re the kinds of games we’ll want to play.

Source: Kotaku

Brace for impact - new Metroid: Other M trailer hits

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:54:47 +0800

The latest Metroid trailer has Samus staring through sunset-tinted windows and musing about philosophy

Samus’ next mainline venture on Wii is bringing something new to the formula - drama. Whilst this new trailer may lack the laser-blasting, space pirate-bashing action that Metroid fans crave, it certainly gives us a glimpse of the dramatic tone Nintendo and Team Ninja are aiming for.

The cutscene heavy game will explore areas of Samus’ past that have remained untouched in other Metroid games, striking a balance between the usual ‘explore and collect’ gameplay and anime-inspired drama sequences. This trailer comes in the wake of an influx of new media from Nintendo’s media events last week, and we’re expecting plenty more promotional material that show the more action-oriented aspects of the game to appear in coming weeks.

Source: Official Nintendo Magazine UK

HardGrip announced, a Wii MotionPlus game from Human Soft

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:41:34 +0800

Ever wanted to experience the adrenaline rush of scaling a perilously steep rocky cliff face without leaving your living room? Now you can, you lazy slob!

The free-climbing game in development by HumanSoft allows players to to simulate real climbing accurately through MotionPlus-enabled motion controls. The challenge of the game will lie in completing each rock-climbing task successfully and in the most creative way possible whilst rewarding shorter completion times. The game will feature a diverse range of localities and environments to explore, and typical of any console adventure game, we’re expecting an ice-themed level.

The head of Human Soft, Gabor Kadas, has emphasised the game’s encouragement of more creative approaches to each cliff-climbing challenge - "Free climbing is all about style and creativity. Just making it to the top fast isn’t the point if you used an easy route... By incorporating the MotionPlus, we can capture that competitive spirit in a game for the first time."

The game will be one of the few independently-developed IPs from HumanSoft, who are better known for making film and cartoon licensed games on the DS and the Game Boy Advance.

Source: Press Release

LAST DAY: Sydneysiders, want to play Monster Hunter Tri early?

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:32:33 +0800

Thanks to Nintendo Australia, weve got 5 spots for our readers to check out Monster Hunter Tri before its release at an exclusive event in Sydney.

Monster Hunter Tri is going to be one of the biggest games released this year for Wii, and most appropriately Nintendo is holding a big event to celebrate the massive franchise’s launch on the system outside Japan.

The event will get you hands-on with the game over a month before its release. You’ll need to be either living in Sydney or be able to travel to the city CBD (or heck, travel like us!) for the 11th of March; the event is in the evening, so if you work you don’t have miss out, either. We’ll even be there too, how awesome is that?

Please note you must be 18 years or older to enter this competition as there will be alcohol at the event.

Entry for this one is simple. A new weapon in Monster Hunter Tri is the Switch Axe, a weapon that has two forms: Axe and Sword. We want to know what other two weapons or tools you would combine to create the most efficient Monster Hunting weapon?

Send your entries, along with your name and address (so we can send the invite!), to the following email.

imamonsterhunter@vooks.net

The competition ends soon so don’t wait. Get the brain thinking and send in your entry as soon as possible.

- The event is being held in the Sydney CBD area and neither Nintendo nor Vooks will cover flights, transfers, accommodation, etc. If you’re outside Sydney or NSW you can enter, but please only enter if you’re willing to travel at your own expense and can make it.

- You must be 18 years or older to enter.

- Competition ends March 4th. Winners details will be forwarded to Nintendo for the purpose of sending out your invite. One Entry per person. Five (5) people with the most inventive responses will be chosen.

- Vooks staff members (past and present) are ineligible to win.

- Funny Term and Condition line to incite laughter and joy.

Many thanks to Nintendo Australia for this competition!

Before DS there was Nitro, before that there was...

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:53:15 +0800

Ever wondered what the popular handheld was known as before it became the DS?

The codenames for very early designs of what we now know as the DS have been revealed by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

"Iris was the codename of a next-generation device we were exploring to succeed the Game Boy Advance—in other words, before development of the Nintendo DS," says Iwata. " Eventually, it became a two-screen device with the codename Nitro, which went out into the world as the Nintendo DS. So, broadly speaking, Iris was the foundation for the Nintendo DS.”

Iris and Nitro. Quite different from the DS or Dual Screen. What do you think? Were all familiar with other codenames for Nintendo system, notably the Dolphin that evolved in the Gamecube, and the Wiis original moniker Revolution. Do you think that perhaps Nintendo should retained the name Iris, or perhaps Nitro? Or did they take the right route with the DS? Feel free to make a comment below or in the news section of the forums.

Fun Fact, Check out any DS cartridge and look at the code on the card. It says NTR, aka Nitro.

Source: TinyCartridge

Cammie watch - Wii sales may have peaked

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:48:25 +0800

Everyones favourite mum has shared concerns that the glory days of the Wii may have come to an end as sales reach a plateau

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo’s vice president of marketing in the US, described to Wired magazine’s Chris Kohler her concerns about declining sales of the successful Wii console. “It’s natural that at this point in the lifecycle, going in to our fifth year, that we’re probably not going to sell as many units next year as we sold this year. That’s the course of a cyclical business.”

Cammie remains upbeat about the future lifespan of the Wii at retail, citing the high life-to-date sales over the last three years and the high install base that will continue to consume software. “But that’s not to say that we can’t continue to sell a lot of units for a long period of time. Even with an installed base of over 28 million people (in the U.S.), that’s still shy of PlayStation 2’s installed base of close to 50 million people. So it suggests that we can still sell a lot.”

Despite signs of a public lack of interest in the Wii throughout 2009, the console still managed to beat out the competition at Christmas in America last year, shifting 3.81 million units in the month of December alone - a phenomenal effort. Only time will tell whether 2010 will be just as successful a year for Nintendo, but with a software line-up that includes a new Super Mario Galaxy game, Metroid: Other M and, very likely, a new Wii Zelda game, there are plenty of reasons to stay optimistic.

Source: Wired

Dreambox announce Robox for WiiWare - a gorgeous 2D platform game

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:43:48 +0800

New Spanish developers Dreambox have announced their debut effort with a stack of screens showing off the delightful art style of their upcoming 2D platformer

Dreambox describe their first game as an exploratory action adventure game. Players assume control of Robox - a mechanical probe sent to a mysterious planet to investigate the mystery behind the disappearance of previous probes sent to the region.

We’re expecting a very ‘Metroidvania’ like style of gameplay, as Robox needs to recover his lost skills and accessories after arriving on the planet. My heart flutters at the mention of the phrases ‘Metroid’ and ‘2D platformer’ so the game has already done plenty to grab my attention, not to mention the divine hand-painted art style of the alien environments Robox must explore throughout his adventure. Players control Robox by switching between pointer controls or holding the Wii-remote horizontally to use the d-pad.

With a bright snappy presentation and an inventive combination of exploration and puzzle-solving, Robox just may be the next great 2D adventure game in the WiiWare catalogue’s growing ensemble of modern classics such as Lost Winds and NyxQuest.

Source: Dreambox

Nintendo zeroes in on e-book market with Classic Books for DS

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:41:12 +0800

Nintendo will publish a DS cart containing 100 copyright-free classic literary works... wait this sounds familiar

The e-book reader market has exploded in recent years with the emergence of devices like the Kindle from Amazon, Barnes and Nobles Nook device, and the newly-announced iPad from Apple being the latest gadget to get technology buffs excited. Nintendo, too, are looking to get a piece of the pie, albeit in a reasonably effortless but unsurprising way. The upcoming Nintendo-published Classic Books will contain 100 books from writers like William Shakespeare that are all currently available for free in the public domain. What that means is that Nintendo (or any other company) pay no royalties for publishing, distributing and profiting from the works.

The cart will work on any DS, but will be marketed alongside the DSi XL - the upcoming iteration of the DS with an enlarged screen more suitable for reading long tracts of text. The title will be a standalone release, with no signs from Nintendo of any additional compilations to be made available, but the success of the product may influence whether Nintendo chooses to pursue further digital publications or make e-books available for digital download through the DSiWare store.

The collection launches in America on June 14. The Collection was released over a year ago here in Australia, see Americans do get terrible delays on somethings.

Source: Bloomberg

EveryonePlays and GAME team up for R18+ petition

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:36:12 +0800

Retailer GAME joins the EveryonePlays teams

EveryonePlays and GAME has today announced a partnership that will see an ongoing push and petition for the R18+ rating past the cut off date of this weekend for the discussion paper. Continued support for the rating is needed beyond this so it all doesnt go quiet. The R18+ rating for video games is long overdue.

Support everyone plays on Facebook, Myspace or Twitter and reember to get into your local GAME store and sign!