Nintendo

MapleStory Joining Halo and World of Warcraft in Public Spotlight

By Eva on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 12:16 PM PST
In Computer, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Nintendo, Nintendo, Portable, Videos

wallpaper1 maplestory 800 600 MapleStory Joining Halo and World of Warcraft in Public Spotlight

MapleStory is wooing main stream American youth with videos to air on television networks and as previews for the latest Harry Potter movie this summer. This brings MapleStory into the American public eye, the realm only pierced by  Halo 3 and World of Warcraft so far. The 2D side-scrolling MMORPG is already pretty popular enjoying a 6 million strong player base in North America alone. It’s aimed at kids 10 and up, but has a very wide age range of players, most of whom seem to take their cute super-deformed characters pretty seriously.

MapleStory is a free to play MMO with a cash shop that allows players to purchase Nexon Cash to trade for premium items. MapleStory Nexon Cash cards have been available at local retailers like Target, CVS and Best Buy for a few years. The MMO has also spawned the MapleStory card game and videogames for the Wii and DS. Still MapleStory seems to be simmering just below the surface of casual gaming culture. Perhaps these new videos can tip MapleStory into the mainstream spotlight. Look for the video shorts to start appearing on tv and in theaters later this month. Until then, you can check it out for yourself at http://maplestory.nexon.net.

Little King’s Story for Wii is Golden

By Eva on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 5:20 PM PST
In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Nintendo

Little King’s Story for the Wii has gone gold and is prepping for launch. The game should hit retailers July 21st 2009.

This Wii exclusive title has a little of everything to offer gamers. It’s an adventure RPG that incorporates life-simulation and real-time strategy into gameplay. Usually when I hear that, I think jack-of-all-trades master of none. After watching the gameplay videos, I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised. It sort of reminds me of a cute Heroes of Might and Magic. At least younger gamers will get some exposure to the classical music that’s part of the soundtrack.

Green Day and Rockstar Mayhem Headed for Rock Band

By Eva on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 PM PST
In Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Harmonix, Microsoft, Nintendo, Rock Band, Sony

green day 5 Green Day and Rockstar Mayhem Headed for Rock Band

Tracks from Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown release will be coming to the Rock Band and Rock Band 2 Wii catalog. These three new tracks are a stark contrast with 8 choice original masters from artists participating in the RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Marilyn Manson and Slayer are all on the list.

Tracks:

Green Day                        “21 Guns

Green Day                        “East Jesus Nowhere

Green Day                        “Know Your Enemy”

Behemoth                         “Conquer All

Black Dahlia Murder            “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse

Cannibal Corpse                 “Hammer Smashed Face

God Forbid                        “Empire of the Gun

Job for a Cowboy               “Embedded”

Marilyn Manson                  “Disposable Teens

Slayer                              “Black Magic

Whitechapel                      “This Is Exile

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Tracks from festival artists Killswitch Engine and Bullet For My Valentine are already part of the extensive Rock Band DLC catlog. All these selections will be up for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii the week of July 6th.

Tales of Monkey Island Readying for Launch of the Screaming Narwhal

By Eva on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 AM PST
In Computer, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, LucasArts, Nintendo

Tuesday July 7th, Guybrush Threepwood is back with the first episode of the new Tales of Monkey Island series, Launch of the Screaming Narwhal. Telltale has released a video, screenshots and concept art for the first Monkey Island adventure in a decade. The gameplay footage gives you the look and feel of the new episodes and should assure you that the Guybrush Threepwood we all know and love, or at least tolerate, is indeed back.

Check out more graphic goodness from Telltale or soon you’ll be wearing my sword like a shish kebab!

Read the full article »

Pearl Jam, Mission of Burma, Lacuna Coil Dominate Rock Band 2 Wii Tracks

By Eva on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 3:12 PM PST
In Computer, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Games Industry, Harmonix, Microsoft, Nintendo, Rock Band

pearl jambw Pearl Jam, Mission of Burma, Lacuna Coil Dominate Rock Band 2 Wii Tracks

This week’s Rock Band 2 Music Store tracks update features Pearl Jam, Mission of Burma, Lacuna Coil and The Offspring. Wii owners can look forward to a wealth of tracks every week until the catalog catches up to the over 700 Rock Band tracks available for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Each original master recording is an even $2 or 200 points available for purchase at the Wii Shop.

Tracks:

Deep Purple                                      “Space Truckin’

George Thorogood                          “Bad to the Bone

Harvey Danger                                “Cream and Bastards Rise

In This Moment                                “Forever

Lacuna Coil                                       “Closer

Lacuna Coil                                      “Swamped

Mission of Burma                            “Mica

Mission of Burma                            “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate

Mission of Burma                            “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver

The Offspring                                   “Gone Away

The Offspring                                   “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)

Panic at the Disco                           “She’s a Handsome Woman

Pearl Jam                                          “Brother

Pearl Jam                                          “Alive (Live: Drop in the Park)

Pearl Jam                                          “State of Love and Trust (Live: Drop in the Park)

Snow Patrol                                      “Take Back the City

(All tracks are original master recordings)

All the above tracks go online Tuesday, June 30th.

Anglers Meet Reel Fishing Challenge on WiiWare

By Eva on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 11:26 AM PST
In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Nintendo

reelfishingchallenge Anglers Meet Reel Fishing Challenge on WiiWare

Virtual fishermen are called to face the Reel Fishing Challenge on WiiWare today. Grab your gear and meet challenge mode head on or kick back and just reel them in on free-play.

It’s amazing that Natsume known for it’s excellent Harvest Moon series has such a realistic fishing videogames including the Reel Fishing series and the classic Mark Davis series. Reel Fishing Angler’s Dream players haul in a winning catch with unlockable bonus missions and fish for Reel Fishing Challenge.
Read the full article »

Play THE BIGS 2 Prelaunch at Two Big Community Events

By Eva on Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 10:03 PM PST
In 2K Games, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Sony

bigs2 promo Play THE BIGS 2 Prelaunch at Two Big Community EventsThis week 2K Games is giving baseball fans the chance to play THE BIGS 2 before the release date. These two big community events run June 30th, 6:00 PM PST at the Wilshire Grand in LA and July 1st, 6:00 PM EST at the Hilton New York in New York City.

For those of you who want a play by play but can’t attend, keep tabs on the events on the THE BIGS 2 forums. The full details on how to get signed up for these THE BIGS 2 party events follow the jump.
Gamers can pre-order THE BIGS 2 for Xbox 360, Wii Ps2, PS3 and PSP. The game launches July 7th. Read the full article »

Take Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for a Test Flight

By Eva on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 6:52 PM PST
In Computer, Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Demos, Game Platforms, Games, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nintendo, Portable, Sony, Sony, Videos

There’s a playable demo up for the PC version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince game. This free Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Playable Demo will give you a taste of potion making, dueling and playing as the Captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team.

Gamers and Harry Potter fans should watch the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Quidditch Preview for four minutes of gameplay footage. The new motion capture setup for quidditch is really great. It’s more believable than ever before.

Check out the star studded Making of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer as well.

Wage Battle with Star Wars Clone Trooper Blasters and Light-up Lightsabers for the Wii

By Eva on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 1:23 PM PST
In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, LucasArts, Nintendo, Star Wars

power a starwars Wage Battle with Star Wars Clone Trooper Blasters and Light up Lightsabers for the WiiGenuine Star Wars Clone Trooper Blasters and Light-up Lightsabers are headed to the Wii this fall. Bensussen Deutsch & Associates are bringing out these fully licensed peripherals for their Power A line.

The Clone Trooper Blasters are made to work with the upcoming Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes game. It uses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk for a duel trigger action, one the barrel and one on the nunchuck. You can customize each blaster with a nice variety of stickers that are included.

The Light-up Lightsabers aren’t designed for any specific game. They’re sculpted replicas of Yoda and Anakin Skywalker’s lightsabers. The Wii-mote fits right in the hilt. You can turn the light up feature on and off to conserve battery power.

Pictures of all three Power A Clone Trooper Blasters and both Light-up Lightsabers follow the break.
Read the full article »

Tom Felton Shows Gamers Making of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

By Eva on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 PM PST
In Computer, Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nintendo, Portable, Sony, Sony, Videos

Tom Felton, better known to some many as Draco Malfoy, leads gamers into a virtual Hogwarts for the Making of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince part one. Most of your favorite actors and actresses from the movies are in the video including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Bonny Wright (Jinny Weasley), and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). You’ll get glimpses of new story elements and characters; the most fantastic of them being the castle itself.

You’ll hear from EA developers Kevin Tuite, Art Director, and Chris Roberts, Lead Designer, of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince game as well as Executive Producer Jonathan Bunney as they talk about the new virtual Hogwarts built from all the information from the books and films. Gamers will be able to fully explore the castle and the grounds for the first time. You also play seeker, mix potions, and duel other students in addition to completing the storyline.