[06.16.15] Everything you need to know from the 2015 Nintendo Direct Conference [E3 2015]

Nintendo

It has been quite the week leading up to E3 2015 with a steady stream of incredible reveals, leaving you wondering, “What exactly will there be to announce at E3?” From the “Fallout 4” reveal, the return of rhythm gaming, and YouTube taking on Twitch; the gaming industry is charging full speed into its biggest week of the year. Fortunately, the fun hasn’t stopped. Microsoft started off the console wars with a bang, and we’ve seen some great output from Bethesda, EA, and Ubisoft. Sony also threw some punches, but now it’s time for Nintendo to dazzle us! Here is everything you needed to know about the 2015 Nintendo Press Conference, live from E3 2015 on Tuesday, June 16.

The conference kicks off with all of the Nintendo executives… in Muppet form? Suddenly Miyammoto (Muppetmoto?) transforms into a fox Muppet, hinting at a “Star Fox” title? Reggie transforms into Falco, and it’s pretty much confirmed.

A gameplay trailer for “Star Fox Wii U” is shown off, followed by a small vidoc where Miyamoto discusses his inspiration for “Star Fox.” The TV screen will be used for a more cinematic view during dogfights, while the GamePad will utilize an in cockpit view for enhanced precision. It’s also revealed that you can seamlessly transform between the R Wing and a walker with the press of a button. Miyamoto says they “Decided to make the game ‘Star Fox Zero’ because the kanji character for Zero looks cool.”

Reggie says more Amiibos are on the way and will be showing up in a “totally unexpected way.” This coincides with an Activision tie-in reveal for Skylanders and Amiibos, featuring a turbo-charged DK and a huge Bowser, both of which have vehicles. They work as a Skylander character or an Amiibo, and can be switched by twisting the base. This character, however, is exclusive to Nintendo’s version of “Skylanders.”

The Nintendo Muppets return briefly, dancing to music, and it looks like it’s time for Zelda. “The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes” is announced, a co-op dungeon crawler/puzzler for the 3DS. It has a great soundtrack, as expected, and looks pretty awesome. A vidoc plays, discussing the development of “Triforce Heroes.” They wanted to shift the focus of Zelda multiplayer to a cooperative gameplay. It includes a thing called the “Totem Mechanic” where you can jump on top of each other’s shoulders to reach higher places. It also includes a fashion element.

“Zelda” is also coming to 3DS with a special version of “Hyrule Warriors.” “Hyrule Warriors Legends” It will contain all of the DLC from the Wii U version as well as additional unique features. No release date was announced. I brief trailer shows off gameplay and various characters. It’s then revealed that it’s coming first quarter of 2016.

The Nintendo Muppets briefly return before a new trailer starts playing. “Metroid Prime Federation Force” It’s a 4 player co-op 3DS game that will also include “Metroid Prime Blast Ball” available 2016.

A classic Mario shows up, but then suddenly changes into a “Fire Emblem” character. A cinematic trailer plays introducing “Fire Emblem Fates.” Look like standard “Emblem Fare,” possibly continuing the previous story line. It will release sometime in 2016.

Now a trailer for a new Atlas game plays. “Mirage” is packed with anime characters, bright colors, and over-the-top visuals.

Back to the Muppets briefly followed by another trailer reveal. The main characters are “marooned” on a foreign planet. It looks like another RPG where massive monster are going to be fought. Throw in some robots and a lot of futuristic vehicles, and you have yourself “Xenoblade Chrnoicles X” coming December 4, 2015.

Mario appears in a water level and it transitions into a reveal for a new “Animal Crossing” 3DS game. It looks like a great upgrade to the previous “Animal Crossing” title, mostly because of the new easier placement of items. “Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer” is revealed to be the title with a Sept 25, 2015 release date. It’s hard to tell if it will be just a home design tool as the name suggests or if it will actually be the next title in the series.

More “Animal Crossing” appears, now in the style of a “Mario Party” game. It also appears as if it’s going to require Amiibos to play the game. Other than that, it’s almost identical to “Mario Party.” “Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival” releases holiday 2015.

Switching gears to “Yoshi’s Wooly World,” a behind-the-scenes documentary talks about the making of the game. It’s packed full of adorable real-world yarn Yoshis, among many other characters. This was actually the inspiration for the game, leading to everything being designed from yarn in the game. The game is easy to play, but can be as difficult as you want it to be, especially if you want to 100% the game. It ties in with Amiibos, and looks like you can use them to reskin Yoshi to create a Mario or Samus Yoshi. The game will also be co-op. Oct 16, 2015.

More Nintendo Muppets and we move on to a trailer for “Yokai Watch” coming Holiday 2015. Another catch-em-all game. It’s basically like “Pokémon,” but with a lot more ghosts and a fancy watch replacing Pokéballs.

New “Paper Mario” 3Ds game is shown, and it’s time for worlds to collide. The world of “Paper Mario” is being merged with the 3D Mario in another RPG adventure. It looks pretty awesome, and seems to incorporate a lot of new design elements “Mario & Luigi Paper Jam” is coming Summer 2016.

Mario keeps going with a new “Mario Tennis” title. “Mario Tennis Ultra Smash” looks to incorporate power-ups into the classic “Mario Tennis” game. It’s coming Holiday 2015

“Super Mario Maker” now takes the stage while Miyamoto discusses the creation of the original game. He talks about how they used to hand draw levels on graph paper. It shows off even more features of the game, like how you can combine elements from the various Mario titles and put things where they normally wouldn’t go – like Goombas under water. You can use Amiibos to transform Mario into a costume version with a mushroom power up, They’ll be displayed in all the 8-bit glory. It turns out, this is what all the cut scenes have been hinting at throughout the presentation. They’re also releasing a commemorative 8-bit Mario Amiibo, which will cause an even larger version of him in the game. He’ll function just like other Amiibos, as well. They also talk about how they created the original 1-1 to be a tutorial level – a fact that is well known. It ends with a September 11, 2015 release date.

Reggie – real Reggie, that is – comes back to talk about everything they have shown off so far. He also announces the “Nintendo Access” program through Best Buy where you’ll be able to play “Mario Maker.” More details at E3.Nintendo.com

He closes by reflecting on the impact Mario has had on the company, not just as a character or mascot, but the effect he has had on everyone who has played with him. The conference ends on a montage of Mario games and a celebration of the 30th year of Mario.

[05.31.13] PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One: Who had the better reveal

Microsoft, Sony

Now that both Sony and Microsoft have made their big reveals, it’s time to fanboy up and pick your sides! Sony beat Microsoft out of the gun by a couple months, but was the early reveal worth it? We’ll take a look strictly at the facts revealed in the conference, or perhaps what wasn’t revealed in the conference, and decide who did a better job making their announcement. Systems are bigger, stronger, and faster, accessories have been redesigned and improved, and games have been announced. But what does this information even mean and where should you put your money? Robert “RedgoateeRob” Nielsen and I will break down the conferences and give you the details you need to know, then deliver the final verdict on who was victorious.

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Tony’s Take

Obviously both companies came out to announce their brand new systems. Each boast significantly more power, exceptional graphics, and state of the art technology to accompany it. The Xbox One looks amazing. Its shape has been streamlined and it has a bit of a retro throwback with its two-tone color scheme and very boxy, minimalistic design. The redesigned Kinect fits perfectly with the style of the new system, and the controller has been ever-so-slightly tweaked to match up as well.

As for the PlayStation 4, well… the controller looks… similar. It has also been streamlined, with the addition of a touchpad, it sports a more futuristic look, but that’s about all of the information we have. This raises the question, why would you have a conference about a console, and not actually bring your console? It was no surprise to anyone that it was coming, so Sony would have been much better off had they come prepared with something to show.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Rob’s Take

Sony caught some heat for not showing off their actual box during the conference; in fact, some gamers might have felt like showing off the controller alone was nothing more than a tease. But looking at it from Sony's perspective, you get a sense that they might be thinking in terms of the long game rather than an instant payoff. This isn't Sony's first rodeo; back during the PlayStation One era they faced off with Nintendo and Sega, who are by no means pushovers, and I can't help but think Sony wouldn't still be standing if they didn't have a firm grasp of how to build anticipation for their next product. Showing off the Dualshock 4 alone allowed gamers to get a sense of the physicality of the new console, while still allowing Sony to have an ace-in-the-hole for E3: the console itself. Plus, holding off on a reveal of the console allowed Sony to get a picture of what Microsoft had up their sleeve before they show off their own box. Overall, even if not having the console in the spotlight might have frustrated a few fans, I think it was a smart play in the long run.

But what of Microsoft? Despite their claims of looking forward to the future, the design of the Xbox One seems to indicate a focus toward the criticisms of the past. Just as the Xbox 360, with it's clean, concave surfaces, seemed designed to quiet gamers' criticism of the size of the original Xbox, the large rectangular footprint of the Xbox One seems intentionally designed to quell gamers' fears of the heating issues related to the design of the 360. Though it seems almost certain that Microsoft will install plenty of cooling under the Xbox One's huge hood, it doesn't change the fact that the boxy design of the system is most reminiscent of the Philips CDI- probably not what Microsoft wants gamers thinking of when they look at their new console.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Tony’s Take

Since the days of “Duck Hunt”, peripherals have been an integral part of any successful console. They’ve come a long way from the plastic guns and even the more recent pretend instruments. Now, consoles have the ability to see you, hear you, and actually track your body’s movements. Then, of course, there’s the controller – the most important asset, and the most important asset to get right. The majority of the time you’re gaming, you’re going to have the controller in your hand, so it needs to be comfortable.

Sony’s big reveal for its conference was the controller. That was actually all they had to show for the system. It looks very much like its PS3 counterpart, with a few minor upgrades. The touchpad will definitely give it a unique spin, and the idea of adding the PlayStation Move tracking light to it complements the six-axis design its predecessor had. They also briefly mentioned the PlayStation Move will be making a return, but didn’t go into any details as to how or if any improvements were to be made.

Microsoft’s controller has also been just slightly tweaked, and we’ll take their word on it that it really is more ergonomic. Their shining star, however, wasn’t the controller, but rather the upgraded Kinect. It’s become so much more accurate, and is directly integrated into the Xbox One’s design. Perhaps the most exciting part is the technology behind it and the vast improvements made there. Now, the Kinect instantly recognizes you, signs you in, and brings up your personalized home screen. Not only that, but it can all be done simply by saying “Xbox On” – the one thing that gamers had asked for out of the Kinect since its arrival. The usefulness of these voice commands goes leaps and bounds beyond anything motion, which anyone who has ever watched Netflix with friends knows to be true. There’s always that person who wants needs to take a bathroom break in the middle of the group movie, so being able to simply say “Xbox Pause” is a breath of fresh air, compared to digging around in the dark for a controller, waiting for it to power back on and connect before finally pressing the pause button.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Rob’s Take

If there's one impression the conferences left, it's that user interaction with these consoles will be very different than their interaction with the 360 and PS3. From voice commands to motion tracking to facial recognition, Microsoft and Sony are discovering how to let gamers interface with their platform of choice in ways that would have seemed like science fiction even just a decade ago. It's difficult to imagine how these systems will be implemented across software titles, and it's even more difficult to assume with any certainty that their implementation will serve to enhance the software on the systems represented rather than get in the way of gameplay. Gamers have been getting burned by supposed innovations in control that proved intrusive and unwieldy for decades, even back to the days of the Power Glove and the Rolling Rocker. Though it's certain that the Kinect and the EyeToy will be better integrated into their respective consoles than those old control gimmicks were, they still could end up being showpieces that shovelware games are designed to promote rather than simple control methods that serve to enhance quality games. At this point, it's simply too soon to know.

Winner: Too early to call.

Netflix

Multimedia: Tony’s Take

When it first came onto the scene, the PlayStation 3 boasted the ability to be the heart of your home entertainment center. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, was primarily a game system. As the Xbox 360 developed over its lifespan, it changed into your all-in-one entertainment box, paving the way for the Xbox One. The PlayStation 3, however, focused primarily on games and everything related.

The PlayStation 4 will have all of the same multimedia capabilities as its predecessor, and adds in a very large social component which focuses on sharing content. The controller has a “share” button on it, allowing you to instantly stream gameplay or easily create clips. Beyond that, Sony didn’t really even touch on the movies or music throughout their conference.

On the contrary, Microsoft spent almost all of their time gloating about the new capabilities the Xbox One will have. It will now be a Blu-Ray Player, Roku Box, Cable Box, and Game Console all rolled into one. The ability to quickly switch between every source is nice… but is it really necessary? Quite honestly, the inclusion of “live TV” really left everyone scratching their heads. Fortunately, the multimedia component didn’t stop there. The updated ESPN app has had a major overhaul, fully integrating fantasy sports directly into the broadcasts. As your players score points, you’ll receive pop-up notifications which will allow you to instantly jump to the leaderboards and check out how your team is doing. Fantasy sports have exploded in popularity, and this will definitely be something couch-athletes will take advantage of.

There was also the exhilarating announcement of the Halo TV series. Gamers have been begging for a Halo movie for years, and their appetite was teased with a surprisingly good web series, “Forward Unto Dawn”, which showed the possibilities and potential success of an actual TV series. Microsoft has backed it full force, and put up enough of a budget to have legendary director Steven Spielberg directing. There’s hardly anything that could go wrong here.

Winner: Xbox One

Netflix

Multimedia: Rob’s Take

Fantasy football, cable tv, and ESPN; Microsoft seems to have an eye toward a very particular customer. The question becomes less one of utility and more one of appeal; if you dig fantasy football and the thought of controlling what shows you watch via your game console, Microsoft has you covered. Will the average gamer be interested in these services? Will the ability to watch ‘live TV’ when you already have a TV that plays TV live compel gamers to pick up the new Xbox? These things remain to be seen.

Of course, the announcement of a new, Xbox-exclusive, Halo TV series directed by film industry legend Steven Spielberg was the highlight of Microsoft's TV plans, and the new series will undoubtedly be welcomed by Halo fans with open arms. It might have been nice to have seen something of the upcoming series, though, even if it were just a scrolling shot of some storyboard sequences. During the presentation, both AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and HBO’s “Game of Thrones” were mentioned as benchmarks for the sort of quality the Halo TV show project is aiming to match; if it can live up to a fraction of the quality standards set by those programs, it will be a powerful force in Microsoft’s next-generation arsenal of reasons to pick up an Xbox One.

Sony, for its part, showed off a share button on the Dualshock 4 to allow gamers to upload footage of their gameplay to 'social networks'. The advertising benefits to Sony here are obvious, but it's unclear whether all gamers will be interested in sharing footage of themselves, and it's easy to see how the plan could backfire if a flood of mostly unremarkable amateur gameplay videos uploaded to social networks starts to annoy friends and family members browsing their newsfeeds for pictures of smiling grandchildren and cantankerous felines.

Winner: Steven Spielberg (and, by association, Xbox One).

Activision

Games: Tony’s Take

Despite not having an actual game console to show, Sony at least displayed the understanding of what a “game console” is. They spent roughly half their conference showcasing upcoming titles for their system. Most of the titles were expected, such as upcoming sequels “Killzone Shadowfall” and inFamous Second Son”; however, there were a couple of surprise titles as well. While “Driveclub” isn’t the most original of ideas, it looks like a solid title and you can tell the developers put a lot of heart into it. “The Witness”, the new title from the creators of “Braid”, looks interesting and extremely promising. The part everyone was waiting for, although they didn’t know it was the update, was the look at “Watchdogs”. This brand new IP thrilled gamers with its surprise announcement at E3 last year because it managed to blindside all of us, despite the fact that leaks are almost expected in this day and age.

Microsoft seemed to forget their roots with their conference, leaving many to question if the Xbox One was a game system that can do other things, or a multimedia box that can also play games. While a few developers did showcase their new engines, EA Sports brushed over 4 titles with very little detail. There was a new trailer for “Call of Duty: Ghosts” which also sports a new engine and is being redesigned from the ground up, but to no surprise, it was also leaked early in the year which made the reveal a lot less exciting, not to mention this whole “timed exclusive” thing is just getting annoying - it’s bad for the industry. The only glimmer of hope was Phil Spencer who promised 15 exclusive titles within the launch year, eight of which will be brand new franchises! Those numbers are astounding, and very promising, however there’s no idea what they may be, or if they’ll even be any good. We can only hope so.

Winner: Hands down, PlayStation 4

Activision

Games: Rob’s Take

Of course, since the early days of home game consoles, only one factor determines the winner of a particular console generation: which console has the best games? Sony showed off a flood of software in their press conference, from new iterations of first-party titles Infamous and Killzone, to Capcom's dungeon-crawler Deep Down, to a version of Bungie's new RPG shooter Destiny, and finally to the reveal of a seemingly-exclusive console version of Blizzard's Diablo 3. In a classy nod to their current customers, Sony also announced that both Destiny and Diablo 3 would be available for the Playstation 3 as well as the upcoming Playstation 4.

Xbox seemed, by comparison, to not have a great deal to offer. They showed off a new entry in the venerable Call of Duty franchise, and promised 15 more games would be revealed at their E3 conference, but one wonders what they expected gamers to discuss in the interim. Considering the confirmation that “Call of Duty: Ghosts” will not be exclusive to the Xbox One but will also be appearing on consoles by Sony and Nintendo as well as on PC, Microsoft's decision to showcase the title at their conference instead of a first-party exclusive game seems even more odd. Even a handful of titles for original IP’s announced in the abstract would have fueled fan speculation regarding their nature and could have built buzz for Microsoft to ride into their E3 press conference. As it stands, though, Xbox fans will just have to live with their curiosity regarding the nature of those 15 unannounced titles until E3 rolls around.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft

Tony’s Wrap-Up Verdict:

It was a very close vote, and honestly, it’s not because both were so mind-blowing, but rather disappointing. Sony forgot to bring their console, and Microsoft forgot to bring their games. If you were to put them together, they would have had one solid conference. Unfortunately, this potential super-console doesn’t exist, and we’re left with two incomplete experiences. This was probably done to save content for E3 which is just around the corner, but nonetheless, it was still a little underwhelming. With a vote of 4-3-1, the Xbox One just barely edges out the competition and takes the crown. There’s still a lot to be learned about these consoles, and things could change. For the time being, the future is looking a little bleak for gamers. It might be the time to just hold on to what you’ve got and experience it to the fullest - that is, if you’re not ready for the always online, anti-used game, jack of all trades video game consoles we seem to be getting.

Also, be sure to check out RedgoateeRob's rant on everything that wasn't touched on during the conferences! It's up now!

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[12.08.12] Review: ‘Style Savvy: Trendsetters’

Nintendo

Style Savvy: Trendsetters

Rating:

5 Stars

I’ll admit, when I first got “Style Savvy: Trendsetters” I was a little taken back. This wasn’t my usual kind of game, and I wasn’t really sure what to do with it. Nintendo has been doing a huge push recently to make sure girls know that the 3DS is for them too. One of the titles being marketed for that campaign currently is the aforementioned “Style Savvy: Trendsetters”, which is how I wound up with a copy to review. Not knowing too much about the game, I was going in completely blind, and perhaps that was for the best.

“Style Savvy: Trendsetters” is a game all about creating outfits and running a little clothing boutique. It features over 12,000 clothing items and accessories that can be mixed and matched to create various styles of outfits. You’ll be in charge of purchasing inventory for your store, helping customers pick out items or full outfits to purchase, and socializing with customers and other key people throughout town. If you so choose, there are even fashion competitions to enter.

The Fun Stuff:

If you’re a gamer who likes to customize, you might find this game intriguing. With so many different combinations possible from so many items, it’s a customizer’s dream. Not only do you get to create outfits for customers, but all items purchased for the shop are also delivered to your home so you can use them to create an outfit for your own character. You do get to customize the appearance of your character as well as pick the appearance of your house and boutique.

As you do positive things through the game, you gradually fill up a happiness meter which, when full, causes different things to happen in the game. Sometimes a new shop opens in town and other times a new clothing line will move into the buyer’s center. It’s a nice little rewards system in the game that gives you something to work towards so the game doesn’t become stale.

The Frustrating Stuff:

Although the clothing choices are plentiful and there’s a considerable amount of options for customizing your house and boutique, the number of choices for creating a character are relatively basic and minimal. You also don’t have the option of choosing to play as a male character, which is a little unusual since this game was the first in the series to introduce male customers and outfits for them. That being said, there probably are far fewer guys playing “Style Savvy: Trendsetters” than there are girls.

If the lack of a male character wasn’t enough proof that it’s being marketed mainly to younger girls, there’s the awful in-game dialogue as supporting evidence. Let’s just say that if “Style Savvy: Trendsetters” was a movie, it wouldn’t be winning an award for Best Screenplay. The story is incredible plain and simple, and the dialogue can be downright painful at times to someone who is used to a much deeper, more mature and developed story. That being said, it’s also quite obvious that “22-year-old male” probably wasn’t the developer’s target audience, so with that in mind the content is rather appropriate.

Bottom Line:

I actually had a blast playing “Style Savvy: Trendsetters”. As a fan of “The Sims”, it felt very reminiscent of that series. It’s kind of like creating your house and Sim over and over again. If you enjoy creating custom characters in games and think you have a knack for fashion, this is definitely the game for you. However, if you’re looking for a lot of action or in-depth storytelling, stray far far away from this game as it’s not meant to satisfy either of those needs.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters was developed by syn Sophia & Nintendo SPD and was published by Nintendo. It was released in North America on October 22, 2012 with an ‘E’ rating from the ESRB and an MSRP of $39.99. This review was based on a copy of the game provided for reviewing purposes.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[10.08.12] Ohio State Marching Band pays tribute to video games

If you were in attendance for the Ohio State vs. Nebraska football game on Saturday, you were in for quite a treat. The Ohio State Marching Band, otherwise known as TBDBITL or ‘The Best Damn Band in the Land’, earned their title when they put on a half time show that was an amazing spectacle, to say the least. With a theme of simply ‘video games’, they paid tribute to some of the most influential and groundbreaking titles over the last few decades. You don’t necessarily have to be a fan of video games to enjoy it either. The video has gone viral on Facebook with a range of users. The formations they create are incredible and impressive on their own right, and some of the images are universal symbols that most anyone could recognize, such as Mario, the mascot of Nintendo.

The show kicks off with a portion of the band marching in representing the space ship from “Space Invaders”, firing off shots into the aliens above. As the aliens explode, the mass suddenly transforms into two Pokéballs, and then the face of Pikachu, arguably the most famous Pokémon of all. Next, the band transforms into their first moving formation, Tetris pieces falling into place as the “Tetris” theme plays on. The “Mario” theme begins to play and sounds of coins and power-ups blast through the stadium speakers. This continues on for just over 9 minutes, touching on other hits, including “Halo” and “Zelda”, before finally reprising with the Mario theme, and finishing it off with the arcade hit “Pac-Man.”

If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to see it live, you can check out a fan’s video on YouTube, who was kind enough to capture the entire thing for your viewing pleasure.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[09.13.12] Nintendo announces Wii U release date and prices

Nintendo

There's been a lot of speculation on the pricing and release date for the highly anticipated Wii U console, but today Nintendo has finally confirmed these details. Come Nov. 18, 2012, there will be two different models to choose from. The first is the "Wii U Basic" which is a white console featuring 8 GB of storage, one GamePad (controller), one stylus, one HDMI cable, one Wii U AC adapter, and one GamePad AC adapter all for $299.99. For those of you who prefer a little more storage space, you can grab the "Wii U Deluxe" which comes in a glossy piano black and has a full 32 GB of storage on board with a price point of $349.99. In addition to the storage boost, the "Deluxe" edition also comes with a GamePad Cradle, GamePad Stand, Console Cradle, and everything included in the "Basic" edition as well. The official countdown to release has started, and Nintendo has emblazoned a time on the Wii U home page for those who want to watch the seconds tick away.

With this announcement came a handful of new titles as well. Some were expected, some were surprises, but they're all welcome editions to the library. There are the obligatory "New Super Mario Bros. U", "Pikmin 3", and "Wii Fit U" as well as some third-party sequels which need no explanation, "Bayonetta 2" and "Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge". There were also four brand new titles: "The Wonderful 101", "Sing Party", "LEGO City Undercover", and "Nintendo Land".

"The Wonderful 101" is a free-roaming adventure game which features 100 super heroes who are attempting to fight off an alien invasion. None of them are strong enough on their own, so you have to combine them so they can morph into super weapons to take down the aliens. Not all the heroes are available right off the back though. You'll have to roam the city and recruit other civilians to join your squad to bring you additional strength and powers.

"LEGO City Undercover" is an exciting new development in the LEGO universe. Recently, LEGO games have all been focused on other franchises such as "Batman" or "Harry Potter", however this game is a completely unique story. Following suit with "LEGO Batman 2", "Undercover" drops the LEGO tradition of pantomiming and instead gives its characters full voice acting. Fear not though, it's still the same brick-filled world packed full of slap-stick humor and pop-culture references you've come to know and love by now.

"Sing Party" is a noble attempt to revive the dying music-game genre, but it's sure to be the butt of many jokes in the near future. The concept is 'party gaming' at its finest, but theory doesn't necessarily always work in practice. The Wii U controller will display lyrics on the tablet screen for the lead singer, freeing them from the TV screen, so that it can be utilized to give dancing, clapping, and other prompts to the rest of the 'players'. The problem is finding a group who will want to be backup dancers to a karaoke show. It's likely your 'show' will wind up looking less like the promo shots released and more like the awkward guy singing "Pony" and "Don't Cha" at the end of the movie "Wild Hogs".

"Nintendo Land" brings a giant digital Nintendo theme park to your living room which you can roam through with up to 4 friends. There are lots of carnival-like sideshow attractions to play, all themed around various Nintendo titles. Unfortunately, giant stuffed animals have been replaced by stamps as prizes, although they still have the potential to be pretty awesome, much like the trophies in the "Super Smash Bros." series.

“Nintendo Land” and “New Super Mario Bros. U” have both been confirmed as launch titles. It seems safe to say that “Wii Fit U” and “Sing Party” will join the line-up as well. As for the rest of the titles, none have even a broad release date, but they likely will be close to launch.

Wii U Official Site

[03.08.12] Get to know your gamers - Adam Bogh

Microsoft

For this week’s Get To Know Your Gamers, I reached out to a longtime friend of mine. We’ve known each other since grade school days and we still play video games together to this day. Besides being a great friend, he’s also a fantastic singing partner. If you think he’s talented at Halo, you should hear those pipes he’s got on him! Soak up everything you can from this article, because he’s probably going to be a famous singer in the near future. Then you can brag to your friends about how you knew about this kid before he was world-famous, and maybe even impress them by knowing what his favorite game is!

You might actually recognize him already, if you find yourself frequenting the Iowa State Fair, because he’s sung there multiple times. You may have even seen him perform elsewhere. Until now though, you probably never knew about his gaming side. Have no fear though, for here is everything you’d ever want to know (gaming related) about Mr. Adam Bogh.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do (besides play video games)?

I'm a senior at Luther College in Decorah, IA double majoring in management and music. You can usually find me either practicing or in rehearsal when I'm not doing homework or studying. In my free time I play a lot of pick-up basketball games, listen to music, sing, watch some TV/movies, and play around with recording equipment whenever I get the chance.

What got you into gaming and what was your first console or game?

My dad actually got me into gaming when the Super Nintendo came out. At first, he only let us watch him play Super Mario Bros; but soon enough he let us give it a try. We actually didn't get an NES until after we had the Super Nintendo. The first game that I ever owned was Metroid for the NES, still one of my all-time favorites. I, of course, dabbled in Duck Hunt and Mega Man on the NES. Good times.

Some people won’t play a game if the graphics are bad. Do graphics have that big of an impact for you?

It actually affects me more than I'd like to think. It doesn't affect my taste in older/retro games... I mean come on... But if a game is released today that looks questionable and game play seems choppy because of it, I'll usually move on pretty quickly. I like to be immersed in a game, it helps me relax. It makes it harder to be completely immersed in a game when I can count the pixels.

What do you look for in game / what makes a game ‘fun’ to you?

What really speaks to me in a game is replayability. I don't have a lot of money, so I want to make sure that if I purchase a game that I get my bang for my buck. Whether that means different difficulty settings, game add-ons/expansions, an intricate and involved story line, collectibles, side stories, or multiplayer functions; they all help reassure me that this game was worth it.

With this replay-ability factor goes with another feature I look for: dedicated multiplayer modes. I find that when I'm playing with friends that I enjoy the game so much more. A game that really concentrates on multiplayer modes and makes sure that their consumers can play their product for longer than a few hours really makes me happy that I purchased it.

-Do you consider yourself a ‘casual’ or ‘hardcore gamer?

I think I'd probably consider myself more on the "hardcore" side of gaming. I don't play as much as you think a hardcore gamer would, but when I'm play I'm paying close attention to everything from graphics quality to game physics. I don't play games to simply fill some time, but play to find those standout games that are worth telling people about.

Do you prefer a solo experience or a co-op / multiplayer experience?

As I said before, I usually like co-op/multiplayer over solo because of the replay-ability factor and it's just flat-out more fun to hang out with friends and game then to sit in a dark room by yourself.

What are you playing right now?

Little Big Planet! I don't play PS3 much, but LBP is hilarious!

What is the worst game you’ve ever played?

Iron Chef America for the Wii. So bad.

What do you consider to be the best game ever?

I know this sounds fanboy-esc, but I'm going with the Call of Duty franchise. They do such a great job interacting with their fan base and staying true to what the game is. Just don't make me pay for Elite...

What is your favorite game console/handheld of all time?

Right now, my Xbox 360 is my social life outside of college; it's how I keep in contact with friends from home. Also with the old Xbox (and the 360) I've had countless LAN parties playing Halo for a good 12 hours straight. So I'd have to go with the Xbox/Xbox 360 because of its social factor.

What are some games you’re looking forward to?

Halo 4, Prototype 2, Fable: The Journey, South Park: The Game, SSX

What game would you like to see get a sequel that likely won’t happen?

I know there might have been initial talks, but I think it might have fallen through. I'd love to see a Mirrors Edge sequel. It was a great concept that just needed some tweaking, like a longer story line and a free run mode.

Random Thought?

RC Cola is an underrated beverage.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he would love to hear from you

[09.07.11] 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' is back and coming to the Nintendo 3DS

Atari

Tycoon simulation games were huge in the early 2000’s. Everything from Prison Tycoon to Zoo Tycoon was available all with the same basic premise. Start with a small business and work your way up to the big time with a multi-million dollar franchise. None of these games did it better than Chris Sawyer’s RollerCoaster Tycoon series. In 2004, the Atari took the series for a drastic change when RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 was developed by Frontier Developments with Sawyer only acting as a consultant. Critic’s praised the overhaul, but many fans had mixed feelings and the design shift combined with a dying interest in the simulation genre proved to be too much for the series to hold on to. For years, the series lay dormant being supported only by a string of fan sites.

Rumors constantly shot up about a RollerCoaster Tycoon 4being in development and even the possibility of a screen adaptation. Neither projects ever gained any weight though, so lingering fans were left with a deep craving for some more theme park building action. Finally, they’re going to have a chance with the upcoming RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D. Although they’re still going to have to hold off for over a year to get their hands on it, at least they can do it knowing the latest tease is finally the real deal!

Twelve years after the release of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, the series is making a full-on comeback, this time in eye-popping 3D. They’re promising the deep coaster construction system that made the series a hit with a deep and immersive management simulation. They will also be implementing a new ‘Coaster Story Mode’ which blends the tutorials and classic park challenges into one fluent and entertaining narrative. Just like a typical career mode, you’ll create your own character and set off on a journey to start your own theme park empire. Progressing successfully through each park will unlock more unique attractions and themes. If that’s not really your style though, you’ll also have the option to jump straight into ‘Park Sandbox’ mode and play it just like you used to turning an already up-and-running park into a laughter-filled, stomach-wrenching, fun-filled cash cow of a theme park! If you were one of the fans who clung to the many fan run websites to share your creations, things will be much easier this time around as RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D will take full advantage of the 3DS’ networking capabilities so you can post your creations for others to see.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D is being developed by n-Space and published by Atari. It currently has a release date set for the fourth quarter of 2012.

[08.31.11] 3DS Ambassador games now available

Donkey Kong Jr.

Nintendo

Those who picked up a 3DS [and signed into the eShop] before the price drop officially hit were awarded a very special title, that of the ‘3DS Ambassador’. This title comes with more than just a shiny nameplate though. You get a huge reward of 20 – that’s right, count them, twenty – free games to play on your favorite handheld. They are all downloadable games you can play on your 3DS; and they’re also available now. Well… half of them anyway.

Ten virtual console classics are waiting for you to download next time you visit the eShop. Now since you’re an extra special ‘ambassador’, you’re getting these ten before they’re available to the public! This means you can’t just start searching for the games like you would other titles. In the 3DS eShop, click ‘menu’ in the top-left corner, hit ‘settings’, and select ‘your downloads’. After that, scroll down until you see the titles and ‘redownload’ them. Here’s a complete list of the games you can expect to find:

- Balloon Fight

- Donkey Kong Jr.

- Ice Climber

- Mario Open Golf

- Metroid

- Super Mario Bros.

- Wrecking Crew

- Yoshi’s Egg

- The Legend of Zelda

- Zelda II: The Adventures of Link

[05.04.11] Wii gets a refresher

As much expected, the Nintendo's Wii has finally taken an official price drop to $149.99 USD. Although the local Target store has had them at that price for the last few weeks, you should now start seeing it drop at other local retailers and nation-wide. Nintendo still plans to offer both the white and black versions of their console; however the systems are getting a new package. Their ever-popular Wii Sports title will no longer be offered as a freebie; instead, taking its place, is the also popular (and currently $49.99 USD) Mario Kart Wii, wheel accessory included.

The fun doesn't stop there though, as Nintendo also announced a new "Nintendo Select" line, similar to its competitors "Greatest Hits" and "Platinum Hits" lines. Nintendo Select won't feature any new games, but will instead have long-standing favorites reintroduced with a sleek new case sporting red trim and a gold "Nintendo Select" approval badge in its top left corner. It also has a wallet friendly price point of just $19.99 USD. The line-up is set to include hits like Super Smash Brothers Brawl, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Warioware, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Wii Sports, and Mario Super Sluggers, among others. Selection does vary by region though, so don't cry foul at your local retailer if they don't have your title on hand. All of the aforementioned titles stuck to their release price until this point, so those of you who have been holding out for years can finally go crazy!

[04.25.11] The next generation of gaming from Nintendo

Its official, ‘Project Café’ is under way. Today, Nintendo has finally confirmed that they are developing the next generation home console to follow the incredibly successful Wii from November 2006. Not much has been confirmed yet, although many rumors have been circling for quite some time. IGN has a whole bunch of information on the currently unnamed console which all seems to point to one thing: The ‘Wii 2’ will be much more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3 - something that the originally Wii definitely was not. One of the most interesting and unique features of the Wii’s successor is actually the controller. It’s been reported that it will utilize a design similar to the ‘classic controller’ from the Wii, however, it will also contain a full touch-screen, perhaps to stream game images to or incorporate interactive elements.

One question on many people’s mind is, “Will it include 3-D elements like the just-released 3DS?”According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, “It's difficult to make 3-D images a key feature, because 3-D televisions haven't obtained wide acceptance yet.” Aside from that, Nintendo has only released a statement saying, “We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held from June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles." It sounds like you’ll just have to wait until then to get your first real look at the system.

Original Article: Kotaku