Nintendo has plenty of things coming out this year that will please some of the pickiest gamers. While we aren’t excited about all of the new editions, we are looking forward to a new Mario title and the DSi XL among other things. A new Prince of Persia title and several options for owners of the DSi or DSi XL that are looking for more than gaming are in the works, too. Soon you will have a chance to read the classics or cook with the masters. It’s obvious that in some respects, Nintendo will be providing an interesting year.

March 28
The new Nintendo DSi XL™ hand-held system launches March 28 at a suggested retail price of $189.99. The screens of the Nintendo DSi XL are 93 percent larger than those of the Nintendo DS™ Lite model, providing a more vivid and engaging play experience. The screens of the Nintendo DSi XL also feature a wider viewing angle, letting friends and family members join the fun. The new system launches in both Burgundy and Bronze colors, and comes loaded with pre-installed premium software Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock, as well as two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio™. Nintendo DSi XL will also come with a larger pen-like stylus that allows for a more comfortable grip and enhanced ease of use when playing games that use the Nintendo DS touch screen.

America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking Let the experts guide you and your cooking family through 300 delicious recipes from the most watched cooking show on public television! ~ Get cooking in America’s Test Kitchen! America’s beloved cooking show spent hundreds of hours testing 300 recipes that span everything from entrees to delectable desserts, so all you have to do is follow their lead and have fun cooking. Watch technique videos, listen to instructions, and use voice commands as the software walks you through every step of the cooking process. ~ Everyone’s a chef!

WarioWare™: D.I.Y.: Every WarioWare game has featured a frenetic mix of wacky, five-second “microgames,” but WarioWare: D.I.Y. adds the next evolution to the same crazy gameplay: making your own microgames from the ground up. Design your own games! Create your own microgames from scratch, or customize previously existing ones. Create custom graphics, compose music, and design your own gameplay rules, OR borrow any of these elements from other microgames and tweak them as you see fit.

April 20
Capcom’s Monster Hunter® Tri, an epic action game for Wii, launches in the United States on April 20. The game lets players customize their character, armor and weapons in order to protect a town from majestic monsters as that town rebuilds following a devastating earthquake. Online play will be available for all players with broadband Internet access at no additional cost. Online text chat is fully functional and online voice chat is enabled using the Wii Speak™ microphone, which is sold separately. At a suggested retail price of $59.99, limited quantities of Monster Hunter Tri will include the new Black Classic Controller Pro™, while both Black and White versions of the controller will be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game will also be available without a controller at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

May 3
Picross 3D is poised to become a puzzle game phenomenon when it launches for the Nintendo DS family of products on May 3. In Picross 3D, players start with a cube and smash away smaller blocks to reveal an object, shape or symbol. Delivering more than 350 unique puzzles and more made available for download on a regular basis after launch via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service (broadband Internet access required), the game takes the mind-bending fun of Picross into the next dimension

May 18
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands™ from Ubisoft will launch May 18 on both the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. Boasting amazing graphics with fantastic action and puzzle-solving game play, the Wii version will be the first in franchise history to feature a two-player cooperative experience. As an added bonus, the Wii version of the game will exclusively include the 1992 Super NES™ version of the original Prince of Persia game.

May 23
Super Mario Galaxy™ 2, the sequel to the smash-hit galaxy-hopping original game, launches May 23 for the Wii™ console. The game includes the amazing gravity-defying, physics-based exploration from the first game, but is loaded with entirely new galaxies and features to challenge and delight players. On some stages, Mario™ can pair up with his dinosaur buddy Yoshi™ and use his tongue to grab items and spit them back at enemies. Players can also have fun with new items such as a drill that lets our hero tunnel through solid rock.

June 7
Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, the breakthrough shooter game for Wii from legendary developer Treasure, will launch across North America on June 7. The game features nonstop action with two playable characters and international online leaderboards to track high scores. Using the Wii Remote pointer functionality, the game offers unprecedented precision in the shooter genre.

June 14
100 Classic Books transforms the Nintendo DS family of products into a library of timeless literature when it launches on June 14 at a suggested retail price of $19.99, highlighted by 100 works from authors such as William Shakespeare, Jules Verne, Jane Austen, Mark Twain and more. Readers can adjust the size of text, place bookmarks and even download new content via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service (broadband Internet connection required).

June 27
Metroid™: Other M, the incredible new Metroid game developed for Wii through a collaboration by Nintendo and the world-renowned Team Ninja, launches June 27. The game looks at the classic franchise from a new perspective: While much of the game is reminiscent of 2-D side-scrollers, players can switch the perspective into 3-D at any time as they explore the twisting passages of a derelict space station and delve deep into a cinematic, never-before-told story of bounty hunter Samus Aran’s past. This new approach uses a new control scheme in which players use the Wii Remote™ controller held sideways to battle enemies and navigate the expansive, gorgeous environments in classic Metroid fashion, then aim at the screen with the Wii Remote pointer to blast foes in first-person and hunt the world for clues and hidden passages.

Summer 2010
In a unique partnership with Square-Enix, Nintendo of America will publish Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in the Americas when the game arrives in summer 2010. Dragon Quest IX has sold more than 4.15 million copies in the Japanese market. Nintendo and Square-Enix will now work together to bring this title to the Nintendo DS consumer base in the Americas.

Late 2010
Disney Guilty Party is the official title of the highly anticipated first collaboration between Disney Interactive Studios and its recently acquired studio, Wideload Games. The fun and hilarious mystery party game is set for release in the second half of 2010, exclusively for Wii.

Majesco’s Nintendo DSi exclusive Ghostwire: Link to the Paranormal uses incredible augmented reality technology through the Nintendo DSi Camera. Launching this October, the game lets players become a ghost hunter as they interact with the paranormal.

For WiiWare:

March 1
Capcom’s Mega Man™ 10 builds upon the huge impact of Mega Man 9, a completely new adventure rendered in classic 8-bit style. This new game looks and sounds as awesomely retro as its predecessor.

March 8
Max & the Magic Marker from Press Play turns the Wii Remote into an orange magic marker that’s literally magic. Players draw lines and objects to help Max reach objects and his ultimate goal.

March 22
The long-awaited indie cult classic Cave Story comes to WiiWare with new game play, artwork and music enhancements. It’s classic gaming reborn for 2010.

March 29
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase is a standalone product exclusive to the WiiWare service and available only from the Wii Shop Channel. The game contains more than 70 new microgames and features interoperability with the WarioWare: D.I.Y. game for the Nintendo DS family of products. Players that own both games can transfer content between the two via a local wireless connection, and can even play user-created microgames on their television using WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase.

Spring 2010
Swim and spin through the primordial ooze in Nintendo’s Art Style: Rotozoa™ as you absorb tiny organisms that match the colors of your tentacles. As you absorb more organisms, your tentacles grow. The challenge increases as additional tentacles are gained, but power-ups can help you survive and thrive.

Rage of the Gladiator from Ghostfire Games is an intense fighting game that asks players to perfect their well-timed moves against an array of opponents. The game is compatible with the Wii MotionPlus accessory.

And Yet It Moves from Broken Rules requires players to rotate the world to help their line-drawn protagonist progress. Walls become floors and floors become ceilings in this surreal twist on the platformer genre.

For Nintendo DSiWare:

Spring 2010
Nintendo’s Photo Dojo™ is poised to be the cult hit of 2010 when it launches this spring. The game first asks players to pose for 13 pictures and input 10 sound effects. Once that’s done, the player becomes the main character in a hilarious side-scrolling fighting game. Create up to eight characters and do battle alone or against a friend on a single Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL system.

Nintendo’s Metal Torrent™ delivers a frantic barrage of gunfire that fills the screen. Players try to convert opponents’ bullets into cubes that, when collected, increase their score and fill an energy meter that powers special weapons. Online Leaderboards record scores and movies of top games.

X-Scape™ from Nintendo immerses players in an exploratory adventure involving more than 20 planets. Players will pilot their tank through 3-D tunnels, fire at enemies and even battle ancient weapons that resemble giant robots.

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, Capcom, DSi, Wii, DS, DSi XL, Upcoming Games, Video Games, Spring 2010, Summer 2010

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands for Wii is a new installment in the popular Prince of Persia series and presents a new adventure within the Sands of Time universe. After leaving his father’s kingdom to prove his worth, the Prince is drawn toward a mysterious realm.

He quickly discovers that he must harness his acrobatic abilities and powers over the environment to not only survive, but to save a mystic palace from unfathomable evil. Game features include:

•Classic Gameplay Reinvented: By utilizing the Prince’s acrobatic prowess, players will be able to perform unparalleled feats from maneuvering through treacherous traps and combating massive enemies, to solving elaborate puzzles in an effort to survive.

•Create Your Own Path: The Prince will possess supreme mastery over his environment and enemies. By manipulating his power over sand, The Prince will uncover new areas to explore that will only be accessible by wielding his new powers, skills and abilities.

•Impressive Graphics for Wii: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands utilizes advanced technologies to deliver a smooth, clear and impressive graphical experience on Wii. With 15 hours of original storyline as well as alternate paths, secret areas and unlockables, The Forgotten Sands™ provides players with a significant adventure that rewards exploration and encourages replay ability.

•A Blockbuster Experience: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will treat players to a variety of unforgettable locales that complement the Wii’s unique controls and capabilities. Epic in-game moments aim to have fans on the edge of their seats as the Prince battles with ferocious beasts and colossal bosses.

For more information on Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands please visit: www.princeofpersiagame.com

Technorati Tags: Prince of Persia, The Forgotten Sands, Wii, Video Game, Screen Shots, Game, Upcoming Release

From Atlas:

101-in-1 Party Megamix for Wii offers a collection of simple to play yet tough to master games that everyone can enjoy! Players will have hours of fun flying, shooting, swimming, and much, much more. Earning medals and bonus prizes by successfully completing challenges will keep players coming back, striving to unlock every last game. In addition, many games support up to four players, and players can save up to four profiles to track their individual progress. 101-in-1 Party Megamix is the ultimate bundle of endless fun at an unbeatable price!

Technorati Tags: Atlas, Mini Games, Games, Gamer, 101 in 1 Party Megamix, Wii, Trailer

Fans of the Guitar Hero World Tour game might want to check out the new schedule for the newest packs being released on XBL and PSN. Currently the Victory Track Pack is now live for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii for Guitar Hero World Tour. The schedule for the other packs is listed below.

The Victory Track Pack features the following singles:
A Day To Remember – “NJ Legion Iced Tea”
The Sleeping – “Bomb the World”
Silverstein – “I Am The Arsonist”

Eagles of Death Metal Track Pack, available July 16th:
“Anything Cept The Truth”
“Cherry Cola”
“I Only Want You”

Vagrant Records Track Pack, available July 23rd:
Thrice – “All the World is Mad”
Alexisonfire – “Young Cardinals”
Senses Fail – “The Martyr”

Knuckle Sandwich Track Pack, available July 30th:
Protest the Hero – “Bloodmeat”
Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping up to Boston”
Against Me! – “New Wave”

The Victory Track Pack is available now via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 440 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $5.49. The songs are also available as singles for 160 Microsoft Points, $1.99 from the PlayStation Store and 200 Wii Points.

Technorati Tags: Guitar Hero World Tour, Games, Track Listings, Upgrade, PSN, Xbox Live, Songs, Music

One of the few good things about Nintendo’s Press Conference was the abundance of Mario. Mario is making an appearance in this sequel to the Wii’s first Mario title, “Super Mario Galaxy.” This will be the second Mario title featuring Mario in a 3D world.

Without further ado, here is the trailer you’ve been waiting to see!

This pretty much looks like a straightforward sequel, as the name implies. The same concepts used for gameplay are employed in this game that were available in the original.

So, what do you think? Are you excited or what?

Technorati Tags: E3, Debut Trailer, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Nintendo, Video Game, Mario, 3D

Dear Nintendo,

I am a girl gamer. In the space, I rest somewhere between hardcore gamers and casual gaming. For a long time, this made Nintendo my console of choice. I was ten when I got my first Super Mario title back on the old NES. I had a Gameboy, a Super NES, a Nintendo 64, and now I have a DS and a Wii. I will probably, at some point upgrade to the DSi, as well.

There is no question of my love for the legacy of Nintendo, especially when it comes to Mario, but you and me have some problems and they are bad enough to make me consider breaking up with you. If things continue on the way they are I will have to leave you for Microsoft. Hell, I admit it, I have been spending more time with them anyway.

E3 is your shining moment. So, I fail to understand why you spent all that time patting your own back when you failed to show a major result. Granted, you had a few things that were decent enough. Titles like the multiplayer Mario, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Kingdom Hearts, and Golden Sun are exciting. They make me proud to know you. That’s where my pride ends though.

As a girl gamer, I have lost respect for you. The idea that Style Savvy will appeal to a 20-something (unless she was dropped on her head about 7,000 times in her childhood) is simply ridiculous. At least Microsoft was honest, and labeled their tween drivel as something for tweens.

The only thing that was possibly worse (if that was possible) was the invention of Women’s Murder Club to draw casual gamers and readers into the same space. That would be fine if it looked interesting or innovative, neither of which was accomplished, in my opinion.

Pardon my French, but Fuck you Nintendo. Girls like more than fashion and Lifetime friendly books that aren’t even considered literature when it comes to their games. We are worth more than dumbed down, washed out titles that children would play. If you want to impress a girl, especially this girl, why not create a game for women that is intelligent, fun, and marketed for someone over the age of 9.

If this keeps up, Mario will not keep me with you. There is no way I would buy a new system just for one lovable plumber. You’re safe for now because I already own a Wii, but you’d better act quick because when the new consoles come out…and eventually they will…you will be the last in line for a purchase if this drivel and degradation continues.

I used to love you, but now I keep you in my closet, in hopes that one day we can have a tender moment again. Why you are making that impossible for me, I will never know.

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, Girl Gamers, Games, Style Savvy, Women’s Murder Club, Lifetime, Wii, DS, DSi, Women, E3, Disappointing, Mario

It’s admirable that Nintendo is trying to appeal to a wide variety of gamers, especially those who do not regularly play games. However, for those who are hardcore, long term Nintendo fans, we want to see those series we’ve been playing since we were kids.

Those of us who played NES and SNES (even gGmeboy) were thrilled by the announcement of not one, not two, but four different titles featuring Mario. There is the “New Super Mario Bros” for Wii, “Super Mario Galaxy 2″ for Wii (it won’t be released until 2010), “Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story” for Nintendo DS and the new Mario and Donkey Kong title that will allow for user created levels. With no Mario last year, this is a vast improvement over Nintendo E3 08.

But…

Nintendo fans want more. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda. We’ve been waiting for Legend of Zelda for Wii, specifically. Instead, we’ve received a brushed over mention of the new Legend of Zelda game for the Nintendo DS. “Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.” It was barely even mentioned though. What’s up with that Nintendo?

I feel let down by the Nintendo conference. I feel like Nintendo has turned its back on its longtime gamers to give more casual gaming experiences. They want more numbers and more money by trying to get those who wouldn’t usually game to buy crappy, substandard titles real gamers do not take seriously.

I’m not sure how long I can hold on without another Zelda title. Sadly, I don’t think Mario is enough to save Nintendo. At least not from the loss of those gamers who have stuck with the company since the days of the NES.

So, longtime Nintendo lovers – what do you think? Are you with me?

Technorati Tags: Nintendo, NES, Legend of Zelda, Mario, Super Mario Bros, Hardcore Gamers, E3

A QUARTET OF ROCK MEGASTARS HEADED FOR THE Wii™ROCK BAND®MUSIC STORE; ENTIRE NOTHING’S SHOCKING ALBUM FROM JANE’S ADDICTION PLUS HITS FROM MEGADEATH, THE POLICE AND OASIS

Cambridge, Mass. – April 27, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games announced today a monster lineup of 20 new tracks coming this week to the Rock Band® Music Store catalogue of downloadable content for Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo, including hit songs from American metal outfit Megadeth, British alternative group Oasis and one of the most popular pop rock bands of all time, The Police.
As previously announced, Wii Rock Band 2 owners will also gain access this week to the Nothing’s Shocking album from Jane’s Addiction.

The content update to the Wii Rock Band Music Store features eight tracks from Megadeth, one of the highest-selling thrash metal bands of all time with over 20 million albums sold worldwide. The lineup includes “Wake Up Dead,” “The Conjuring,” “Devil’s Island,” “Good Mourning/Black Friday,” “Bad Omen,” “I Ain’t Superstitious” and “My Last Words” – all from Megadeth’s classic second album, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? (1986). Additionally, Megadeth adds “Sleepwalker” from its latest album, United Abominations (2007) to the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

Rounding out this week’s additions are “Truth Hits Everybody” from The Police’s 1978 debut album, Outlandoes d’Amour and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” from English rock band Oasis’ second album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995).

The tracks from Jane’s Addiction will be released simultaneously with the weekly content update for other consoles. The remainder of the tracks comes from the back catalogue of Rock Band music already released to owners of Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system. Wii fans can expect a rollout of previously released downloadable Rock Band content until the entire back catalogue of more than 650 songs is available.

Release Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:
Jane’s Addiction “Up the Beach”
Jane’s Addiction “Ocean Size”
Jane’s Addiction “Had a Dad”
Jane’s Addiction “Ted, Just Admit It…”
Jane’s Addiction “Standing in the Shower…Thinking”
Jane’s Addiction “Summertime Rolls”
Jane’s Addiction “Idiots Rule”
Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says”
Jane’s Addiction “Thank You Boys”
Jane’s Addiction “Pig’s in Zen”
Megadeth “Wake Up Dead”
Megadeth “The Conjuring”
Megadeth “Devil’s Island”
Megadeth “Good Mourning/Black Friday”
Megadeth “Bad Omen”
Megadeth “I Ain’t Superstitious”
Megadeth “My Last Words”
Megadeth “Sleepwalker”
The Police “Truth Hits Everybody”
Oasis “Don’t Look Back in Anger”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $2.00 (200 Wii Points) per track

Location: In-game Rock Band 2 Music Store (Wii Points must be purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Rock Band 2 is available now for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation®2 systems and the Wii system. The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Store using Wii Points purchased through the Wii Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the memory of the Wii or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

To view a complete list of the more than 650 tracks available in the Rock Band music back catalog please visit www.rockband.com/music. With the addition of these tracks there are now 120 tracks in the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 40 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com

Technorati Tags: Rock Band, New Tracks, Harmonix Music Systems, Janes Addiction, Rock Band 2, video game

UBISOFT® SAYS RABBIDS GO HOME

Raving Rabbids Break Out with First Standalone Title

SAN FRANCISCO – April 9, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced that the Rabbids will receive their own standalone brand with the Holiday 2009 release of the comedy-adventure Rabbids Go Home. Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the team behind Beyond Good & Evil®, Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie and the original Rayman Raving Rabbids®, the game will benefit from a new engine designed specifically for the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, offering the Rabbids a hilarious adventure in a brand new universe.

The Rabbids are already beloved the world over, selling 6.5 million copies of their raving adventures and starring in their own series of videos that have kept web surfers laughing for years. Moving up to top billing with their own brand of games was a logical next step and fans will now be able to enjoy the fun in this humorous adventure game where the Rabbids unleash their insanity onto the human world as they attempt to return to their Rabbid home.

Look for more information on Rabbids Go Home in the May issue of Nintendo Power magazine.

Technorati Tags: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo, Gaming, Games, Video Games, Rabbid Go Home, Ubisoft

HARMONIX, MTV GAMES AND PDP ANNOUNCE THE ROCK BAND® KICK PEDAL WITH DOUBLE BASS ADAPTOR IS NOW AVAILABLE

Officially Licensed Rock Band Pedal Allows Players to Rock Two Pedals at the Same Time for Advanced Game Play

Cambridge, MA – April 7, 2009 — Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced that the officially licensed Rock Band® Kick Pedalwith Double Bass Adaptor distributed by Performance Designed Products (PDP) is available now at retail stores. The Rock Band Kick Pedal with Double Bass Adaptor is available for the suggested retail price of $24.99.

The officially licensed kick pedal comes bundled with an adaptor that allows players to use two Rock Band kick pedals at the same time. The Rock Band Kick Pedal with Double Bass Adaptor works with all Rock Band and Rock Band 2 games and functions with all in-game tracks including freestyle and drum fill sections [1]. In addition, the Rock Band Kick Pedal with Double Bass Adaptor is also compatible with Guitar Hero® World Tour and Guitar Hero®: Metallica® when used in conjunction with a Rock Band drum set.

The Rock Band Kick Pedal with Double Bass Adaptor is universally compatible with Rock Band drum kits for Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo.

Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of lyrics and mild suggestive themes by the ESRB. Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of lyrics and suggestive themes by the ESRB.

For more information about Rock Band, please visit www.rockband.com

Technorati Tags: Rock Band, Double Bass Adaptor, Kick Pedal, Playstation, Nintendo Wii, Now Available