ComputerAndVideoGames.com previews a bunch of WiiWare games (http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=183726)!
:D
Justin Kicks As
03-21-08, 03:39 AM
yea they look fun
steebo777
03-21-08, 10:10 AM
I've got like $30 in points so I'll definitely be checking some of these out. I think it's a phenomenal idea that could really extend the Wiis life (not that it's running out of steam at all).
CreatureX
03-25-08, 02:47 PM
WiiWare launched in Japan today. Some interesting news on a couple of games:
'Dr. Mario' includes an option where you can send a limited versus-only copy to anyone on your Friend List via Wi-Fi Connect 24. :D
Wow.....just wow! Sooooo what about space on everyone's Wii? Can we save these games via SD card?
slop101
03-28-08, 05:38 PM
Maybe this is why they've slowed down on the good VC releases - so people will have the space on their Wii's memory for this stuff.
edytwinky
03-29-08, 12:29 AM
I'm looking forward to original material. I hope it's not just a bunch of old games that i've seen on the internet via flashgames or whatever
CreatureX
04-15-08, 01:10 PM
New 'Lost Winds' trailer:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32800.html
This game looks really cool! :D
Goldberg74
04-15-08, 05:13 PM
"Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People" from Telltale Games:
"Charming. Suave. Muscular. Awesome. These are just a few of the words that Strong Bad would use to describe himself. In a world gone mad, only one man can be trusted to save the day... for himself. A man with a mask. And boxing gloves. And an attitude. A man called Strong Bad."
http://www.telltalegames.com/strongbad
Pbear
04-15-08, 07:42 PM
Maybe I'm lame, but am really looking forward to Dr. Mario and Tetris for wi-fi multiplayer.
CreatureX
04-18-08, 08:30 PM
Read this over at GoNintendo (http://gonintendo.com/?p=40646):
GamesIndustry has done a quadruple interview that’s all about WiiWare. They managed to pull together Ron Carmel of 2D Boy, Nic Wat of Nnooo, David Walsh of Frontier, and Tom Gaubatz of Mastiff. The gang talks about why they chose WiiWare, if they believe their product will sell well, size limitations, and more.
Click here to check out what they have to say (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/wiiware-developer-views).
Very good read! :D
Introducing Gyrostarr, the company's first WiiWare game. It's a four-player compatible "sci-fi shooter" designed from the ground up for Nintendo's download service and as you'll see in our exclusive video trailer below, it already looks better than many retail Wii titles. High Voltage's 3D engine procedurally generates the space track that you'll whiz through in your spaceship – or in other words, the fractal-like geometry and particle effects you see whirring around in the background are being created dynamically. The result is that the title includes 50 levels of space track in a file size smaller than 40 megabytes.
Gyrostarr seems to run in both 480p and 16:9 widescreen modes and features an electronica-influenced soundtrack that is well matched to the on-screen action. The WiiWare launch title will cost 700 Wii Points ($7) -- a good bargain. With games like this, LostWinds and World of Goo set to debut with or shortly thereafter the launch of WiiWare in America, we couldn't be more excited about the forthcoming service.
slop101
05-07-08, 08:19 PM
Here is the entire first batch of Wii Ware games launching next week (Monday, May 12):
~~Defend Your Castle~~
Developer: XGen Studios
Publisher:
Price: 500 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: Prepare to defend once more with this Wii remake if the Flash title. The Barbarian hordes have amassed their forces once again to challenge your domain. Will you and your court rise to the challenge, or stand aside as the invaders raze your castle to the ground? Features: 4 Player jump-in cooperative gameplay, unique artstyle, enhanced physics & particle effects and unlimited levels.
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~~Dr. Mario & Virus Buster~~
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Price: 1000 points
Launch date: <s>May 12</s> TBA
Info: a remake of the classic Dr. Mario puzzler. You can make your Mii appear in place of the Mario characters, and can challenge friends over Wi-Fi. The game includes the Saikin Bokumetsu game from the Japanese Brain Age 2, which can now be play cooperatively with four players.
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~~Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King~~
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher:
Price: 1500 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: The game will take place after the events of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, in a remote area of the peaceful world the Crystal Caravans created. The king lost this realm he was reigning because of the Miasma and now tries to revive the country through a mysterious power called "Architecture" that he received from the crystal. The gameplay has been described as a country Building RPG.
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~~Gyrostarr~~
Developer: High Voltage Software
Publisher: High Voltage Software
Price: 700 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: In the sci-fi shooter Gyrostarr, you and up to three other players are challenged to fly through a twisting, turning techno-plasma canal in space, collecting energy to penetrate an alien portal and warp to the next conduit. Without that energy, your space vessels will smash head-first into the unforgiving anti-void. A variety of weapons and power-ups aid your on your frantic shooter-filled quest to the next portal. There's the triple-shot, the tesla-shot, lighting-short, and charged shot, for starters. Meanwhile, you can gain defensive bonuses, too, such as the indestructible shield and a power-up that temporarily slows enemies down.
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~~LostWinds~~
Developer: Frontier Developments
Publisher: Frontier Developments
Price: 1000 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: LostWinds puts 'the power of the wind in the palm of your hand' as you wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit -- from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze -- to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis by evil Balasar. Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. The game's novel, playful control mechanism lets you use Enril's elemental powers to help Toku in your quest to overcome Balasar -- powering his jumps and glides through Mistralis' different regions, buffeting and smashing enemies, and solving puzzles.
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~~Pokemon Farm~~
Developer: Ambrella
Publisher: Ambrella
Price: 1000 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: In Pokemon Ranch, you transfer your your Pokemon from Diamond and Pearl on the DS to your Wii. You can then manage the Pokemon in a ranch environment. You're free to bring your Mii and your family's Miis to your ranch and can do things like taking pictures of your Pokemon which can then be sent to friends. Is free.
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~~Protöthea~~
Developer: Digital Builders
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: 1000 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: Protothea immerses players into an adventure where they will need to destroy an asteroid called "Maqno 01" and sabotage the plans of a political faction called "The Core." Players will quickly jump right in and guide their ship through multiple missions on futuristic planets where enemy AI is dynamic and will change based on the player's actions – so there are no predictable enemy paths, and therefore always a different game play experience. Players will have a wide range of eight different air-to-air weapons and two different air-to-ground bombs at their disposal, and can attack however they choose. In addition, there is a special power that decelerates time, allowing players to easily avoid enemy fire while they are able to move rapidly and attack enemies.
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~~Star Soldier R~~
Developer: Hudson
Publisher: Hudson
Price: 800 points
Launch date: May 12
Info: Star Soldier R brings back Hudson's classic shooting franchise with new 3D graphics. Like traditional vertically-scrolling shooters, the game features a top-down perspective and players fly from the bottom of the screen towards the top, shooting at any ship or structure that obstructs their path. As players progress, they can collect power-ups to increase their weapon or shield strength, and an all-new Force System enables gamers to collect up to five orbiting satellites that can be held close to the ship for defensive cover, or can be sent out for additional firepower. Players can also decide how they want to play, choosing from three control schemes - Nunchuk and Wii Remote, Wii Remote only (held sideways) or the Classic Controller.
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~~Toki Tori~~
Developer: Two Tribes
Publisher:
Launch date: May 12
Price: TBA
Info: Toki Tori for Nintendo Wii marks the entry of Two Tribes into the world of console games. Based on the critically acclaimed Game Boy Color game, this update improves the original on every front. Sporting a new look, updated content and a completely overhauled Wii Remote control scheme, the game offers players of all ages a classic gaming experience while making the most out of Nintendo's Wii console. The gameplay in Toki Tori is a blend of two genres. While it looks like a platform game, it's a puzzle game by heart. Players will have to look and plan ahead carefully while using a variety of items, such as the Telewarp, Freeze-o-Matic and InstantRockTM to name but a few.
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~~World of Goo~~
Developer: 2Dboy
Publisher: 2Dboy
Price: TBA
Launch date: <s>May 12</s> TBA
Info: World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. The main objective of the game is to get a requisite number of goo balls to the pipe representing the exit. In order to do so, the player must use their various abilities to build bridges, towers and other structures to overcome terrain difficulties. Each level has its own graphical theme and music, giving it unique atmosphere.
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slop101
05-07-08, 08:22 PM
Bring on the Wii hard-drive add on - I'm gonna need it!
Groucho
05-08-08, 09:01 AM
A lot of those games sound interesting. Will they be offering demos for every game, like MS does with Arcade titles?
PixyJunket
05-08-08, 09:10 AM
Holy shit. That is a legendary launch lineup.
steebo777
05-08-08, 09:28 AM
Star Soilder R and Dr. Mario will be mine Monday.
pinata242
05-08-08, 12:03 PM
I think I'm going to pass. The only one that looks interesting enough to try is Defend Your Castle, but even that looks like a curiosity more than anything.
I'm afraid I'm becoming an XBLA/Achievement whore :(
UncleGramps
05-08-08, 12:17 PM
Is World of Goo definitely confirmed for May 12th? Last I heard, the release date was still TBA. I have heard good things about Lost Winds and will probably pick it up on launch day.
slop101
05-08-08, 02:18 PM
Looks like neither 'World of Goo', nor 'Dr. Mario' are going to be May 12th launch games.
But they should come out within a couple months.
Groucho
05-08-08, 02:53 PM
What's the source of all this? Is there a definitive link somewhere?
slop101
05-08-08, 07:58 PM
It's just a compilation of info from the usual sources (IGN, 1up, Gamespot, etc.), as I don't think there's one definitive link with all the info in one place - not yet, anyways.
DodgingCars
05-09-08, 10:26 PM
It's just a compilation of info from the usual sources (IGN, 1up, Gamespot, etc.), as I don't think there's one definitive link with all the info in one place - not yet, anyways.
Don't think you can call it definitive, but Wikipedia has it's list of games. Not sure how reliable it is. They still list Dr Mario as a launch title:
May 12th Titles:
Toki Tori
Defend Your Castle
Dr. Mario Online Rx*
Everyone's Pokémon Ranch*
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King*
Gyrostarr
LostWinds
Major League Eating: The Game
Protöthea
Star Soldier R*
*Already released in Japan
slop101
05-12-08, 12:11 AM
updated list for May 12:
Here's what we have all been waiting for! Nintendo's press release so we know what the launch WiiWare games for North America are finally! As we expected there will be no Virtual Console games out this Monday!
REDMOND, Wash., May 12, 2008 – Nintendo’s Wii™ console has already changed the way people play games. Now its new WiiWare™ service decisively tears down limitations for how developers create games – and the way people receive them.
Starting today, Wii owners with an Internet connection can download new, creative games from a wide range of developers, from large publishers to indie shops. By reducing the barriers that make console game development prohibitively expensive, WiiWare showcases original ideas in the most democratic environment in industry history, connecting the people who make games more directly with the people who play them.
WiiWare frees developers from the traditional constraints of video game development. WiiWare lets developers experiment with big ideas and small budgets to the benefit of players everywhere. Newer, smaller teams now have an outlet for their creative ideas. The constantly growing WiiWare library will have a regular flow of unique video gaming experiences consumers might not otherwise have access to.
“WiiWare is to the video game industry what independent films are to Hollywood,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “WiiWare lets developers experiment with new ideas and experiences. Combined with our collection of classic Virtual Console games, Wii provides one-stop shopping for the greatest games of the past – and the future.”
WiiWare games are easy to download. Just go to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel, find the game you want, redeem Wii Points™ and start the download. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. New games, at various Wii Point values, will be added to WiiWare on Mondays. The newly launched Nintendo Channel on Wii will let people view videos of and read information about WiiWare games and other Nintendo products. Users also can see player opinions to help them decide what to play next.
Today, the inaugural lineup of WiiWare games is just a taste of things to come:
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.
LostWinds (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand – from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze. You’ll wield your Wii Remote™ controller to power Toku’s jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and solve puzzles using LostWinds’ novel, intuitive and playful control system.
Defend your Castle (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?
Pop (Nnooo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone – casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.
V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software®, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen – Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.
TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where you’ll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use your Wii Remote controller in original ways to make it to the finals to see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one final, deciding duel.
To celebrate today’s launch of the new WiiWare™ downloadable game service for Wii™, there will be no Virtual Console™ games added today. But don’t worry – next week the Wii-kly Update will be back to its regular Monday schedule, bringing Wii owners information about the best classic Virtual Console titles and coolest new WiiWare games.
...not as awe-inspiring as the initial list, but at least we know what's coming.
mhg83
05-12-08, 12:46 AM
I was hoping Dr.Mario would be available for launch. Looks like it'll just be Lost Winds then.
edytwinky
05-12-08, 01:16 AM
Looking forward to it.
Anybody know if they have a release date set for Bags?
MadonnasManOne
05-12-08, 08:48 AM
Oh, well. Back to bed. Nothing on WiiWare that I was looking forward to. I was hoping that somehow the two titles I wanted were left off that list, accidentally. Alas, that is not the case.
Nintendo is not getting any of my money, today! :D
steebo777
05-12-08, 08:55 AM
Kind of a weak launch list, but Final Fantasy could be a good one to get today for me.
Groucho
05-12-08, 09:51 AM
Well, apparently they aren't offering demos for any of the games. I'll probably download a game this week (to show support for the concept), but from now on it's likely that XBLA will get more of my money simply because I can actually sit down and try those games before playing them. 3rd party development houses, be advised!
slop101
05-12-08, 11:23 AM
Lost Winds is supposed to be the stand-out title from this first batch.
And Pop is supposed to be the biggest waste of time/money from this first batch.
Reviews should start filtering in soon enough.
I'm surprised that with all these shooters announced for WiiWare, we don't get a single on at launch.
PixyJunket
05-12-08, 11:30 AM
I was definitely looking forward to Gyrostarr. :(
UncleGramps
05-12-08, 12:36 PM
I played the first 15 minutes of Lost Winds this morning (up to the first save point), and while it's a bit early for a full recommendation, I feel comfortable saying that it's probably worth the $10 for anyone who likes 2D platformers. It's got a very appealing art style and cute character design, a good soundtrack, and simple but fun mechanics. I know it's not a full retail game, but hopefully it's not too short. That's really my only concern at this point.
I'm on the fence for Defend Your Castle and My Life as a King. I may pick up one or both at some point depending on reviews.
slop101
05-12-08, 02:57 PM
I've read that Lost Winds is about 2-3 hours long, which isn't too bad for $10, as long as it's somewhat replayable.
UncleGramps
05-12-08, 03:14 PM
I've read that Lost Winds is about 2-3 hours long, which isn't too bad for $10, as long as it's somewhat replayable.
Considering how much fun I had with it in just 15 minutes, I think that's a reasonable length. It's fun to play and easy on the eyes and ears, so I could see it being the sort of game that I replay every now and again.
Oh, and if anyone gets Defend Your Castle or My Life as a King, your impressions would be greatly appreciated. :D
fumanstan
05-12-08, 03:32 PM
Well, apparently they aren't offering demos for any of the games. I'll probably download a game this week (to show support for the concept), but from now on it's likely that XBLA will get more of my money simply because I can actually sit down and try those games before playing them. 3rd party development houses, be advised!
No demos :( I agree, some of these sound really fun but I'd really want to try them first. Unless a friend buys these and I get to check them out in person, i'd probably pass.
DodgingCars
05-12-08, 03:53 PM
I can definately buy based on recomendations/reviews -- though I'd prefer demos, it's certainly not a deal breaker.
edytwinky
05-12-08, 05:49 PM
I'm contemplating Defend Your Castle but am awaiting reviews.
Brent L
05-12-08, 06:06 PM
Check these quick WiiWare impressions:
http://blog.wired.com/games/
Mok
05-12-08, 06:46 PM
Here is Kotaku look at Lost Winds, good for a few laughs.
I'm hearing good stuff from the people I know that picked up Lost Winds and it is probably one I get when I have time for it. 2-3 hours is fine with me as long as it is a fun 2-3 hours I may replay in the future. I only paid $10 and $15 for my 2 recent Wii points cards so I'm not really paying $10 for it anyway.
mh4268
05-12-08, 07:38 PM
I got defend your castle. Fairly enjoyable time waster. Take a few rounds to really get going, and needed to take a rest because my wrist started hurting from flicking the invaders away. Should be fun multi-player. online would have been a great addition, but for 5 bucks that may too much to ask.
slop101
05-12-08, 08:33 PM
Really? I might try it out just because $5 to me is practically spare change - you can't even buy lunch for that, or much more than a gallon of gas...
slop101
05-12-08, 11:42 PM
Alright, I'm really enjoying LostWinds. Everything form it's "Metroid-Vania" layout and progression to it's relaxed but enjoyable gameplay, and especially the mood it creates - I really dig the music too. It's just a wonderful game, and even though I'm not even halfway through it, I'm already looking forward to it's sequel (http://www.frontier.co.uk/games/lostwinds/).
mh4268
05-13-08, 12:30 AM
Really? I might try it out just because $5 to me is practically spare change - you can't even buy lunch for that, or much more than a gallon of gas...
It get repetetive. I am on level 20. Need to get more spells somehow. The horde starts coming fast.
Groucho
05-13-08, 09:46 AM
I decided to buy My Life as a King. It's a very solid "pick up and play" strategy game. It contains elements from Viva Pinata and the PC classic Majesty. I played through about 20 turns, and really enjoyed myself. The game is well paced and does a good job of ramping up the different concepts.
This would translate very well as a DS game.
UncleGramps
05-13-08, 12:04 PM
I picked up Defend Your Castle last night. The visual design is great - everything has a sort of "arts and crafts" vibe to it. The enemies are stick figures with buttons for heads, they use popsicle sticks as battering rams, and your cursor is that plastic tab they use to hold bags of bread closed. :lol:
They don't do a very good job of explaining the core gameplay (dropping or tossing enemies to kill them), but it's pretty easy to figure out. There's a bit of strategy involved in converting enemies to your side and determining which upgrades to purchase for your castle. It's not a really deep game, but I think you definitely get your five bucks worth, and I can see firing it up pretty often for quick 15-30 minute sessions.
I am tempted by My Life as a King. The price is a bit high, but it seems to have the potential to be the deepest of the WiiWare launch games, so I'll probably pick it up if I can clear enough space off of the Wii's memory. -ohbfrank-
lordwow
05-13-08, 12:16 PM
Dr. Mario will be on the Europe WiiWare Launch on May 20th, so we'll probably see it in the next week or 2.
Gameloft's first WiiWare entry, TV Show King, might turn away most gamers with its casual premise and 1000 Wii Points tag, but the publisher has made an effort to pack value in the trivia title -- 3,000 questions, Mii integration, and a game show atmosphere complete with a smarmy host and a busty blonde. Is all that enough to warrant its $10 price? Read our review to find out!
TV Show King starts with you selecting one of your Miis as your game show character, which is a nice, albeit expected, touch. Perhaps to make sure everyone is the same height, though, the implanted characters all seem to share the same body type, ignoring those extra pounds you specified when originally creating your Notorious B.I.G. Mii. The game also pulls from your Mii collection for the remaining contestant spots (four in total) and rustles a group of your system's wandering avatars into the studio as the audience.
You're given limited settings to adjust before the game starts, which is probably best considering TV Show King's casual audience. You can mark the amount of rounds you want to play -- three, six, or nine -- and your desired difficulty -- Normal, King, or Genius. For the purposes of this review and to make sure we felt smart at the end of it, we left the settings at three rounds on the King difficulty.
Keeping with its game show theme, TV Show King begins with its spinning logo and a clapping DJ while the camera pans over the studio set and audience. A spotlight scans the crowd before calling down your Miis to the podiums, just like in The Price Is Right, though the game's soundtrack never ventures from its bland music into anything iconic.
The host, Jerry, an uninspiring man with unfortunate eyebrows, leads you into the first round of questions grabbed from a range of topics from entertainment to science. Players use their Wii remotes to point at and select the correct answer from four options as a 15-second timer counts down. You can see what other players have picked, but TV Show King makes up for it by rewarding more money to the players who first select the correct answer. Depending on your answer, a pleasant or discordant noise will play on your Wii remote's speaker to notify you if you're right or not.
After a few questions, Jerry introduces a "special event" in which, for the remainder of the round, the first player to answer a question correctly wins a significant cash bonus. Once the round's questions have been exhausted, players are invited to spin a wheel that can just as easily reward you with bonus money as it can leave you bankrupt.
The wheel will be a controversial point for many from the beginning. as it's never explained how to effectively spin the wheel. Some might feel the rewards and the risks are too much -- it's possible to win $15000 from a single spin. The wheel can also make you hand over a a sizable portion of your savings to one of your opponents. Even if you opt out of spinning the fortune wheel, there are spaces on the circle that allow other players to grab your cash. Some will welcome the break from TV Show King's formula, though, and it's an opportunity for lagging players to catch up.
The wheel spun and the damage done, the show's top-heavy presenter, Angela, directs you towards a board with the current rankings. Following that, you're taken through another similar round with the same "special event" and wheel-spinning.
The third round brings a random twist to how the answers are presented. Depending on which mode the game picks, Scratch Quiz or Light Quiz, players will have to scratch at buttons with their Wii remotes like a lottery ticket to uncover the answer underneath or use their controllers as flashlights to reveal the four options.
Once those shenanigans are out of the way, the two contestants with the highest cash count face off in a trivia duel. Whoever answers five questions correctly first steals half of the other player's money. Afterwards, all four players are ranked by how much cash was in their pot at the end of the game.
And that's TV Show King! There's also a single-player trivia mode that challenges you to answer as many consecutive questions correctly as you can, but it's hard to imagine anyone having fun playing this game without friends. Though your scores are tracked and saved, TV Show King doesn't offer any online features, so you won't be able to share any records with your crew of trivia-game-score-obsessed friends.
Where the game really suffers, though, is in its replayability. Even with its total of 3000 trivia questions, you've seen everything TV Show King has to offer in terms of presentation after two ten-minute playthroughs (which go by even quicker if you skip the segue cutscenes). More unique events, format variations, and an expanded audio track would have helped a lot to keep the rounds feeling fresh. Hearing Jerry's "Impressive!" compliments after each correctly answered question gets old quick.
Despite those flaws, is it worth the $10 Gameloft is asking for it? Only if you have a group of friends over who don't mind TV Show King's tiresome host and risking their earned lead to a wheel of chance.
Final Score: 6/10
Chris
DodgingCars
05-14-08, 01:45 AM
I believe Wired gave it more praise. I think I'd like it, because I'm a sucker for trivia games.
darkside
05-14-08, 10:17 PM
I believe Wired gave it more praise. I think I'd like it, because I'm a sucker for trivia games.
I am too. This one doesn't look perfect by any means, but if I get tired of Buzz and Smarty Pants I may drop the 1000 points on it. Especially if they add trivia packs later.
tanman
05-17-08, 02:01 AM
Played Lost Winds for a couple hours and I must say that it is a great game. Very unique and enjoyable. I have to stop playing it before bedtime though as playing the game is so relaxing because of the music.
outer-edge
05-18-08, 10:05 PM
Played Lost Winds for a couple hours and I must say that it is a great game. Very unique and enjoyable. I have to stop playing it before bedtime though as playing the game is so relaxing because of the music.
I've been enjoying it quite a bit too. Definitely worth the price so far.
PixyJunket
05-23-08, 09:30 AM
Woo, Star Soldier R rocks.
I'm not happy with my rank though, search for Leroy:
http://www.hudson.co.jp/wii/wiiware/starsoldier/usa/e/ranking/ranking_j2_07.html
Now I need to pick up Lost Winds.
UncleGramps
05-23-08, 11:18 AM
I love Lost Winds. :D
I hope World of Goo is out soon, or at least a release date announcement.
PixyJunket
05-27-08, 10:48 AM
SWEET! I'm currently in the top 100 in America on 2 Minute Mode (925,000).
“SHOOT NOW, WIN PRIZES LATER”
TOURNAMENT & SWEEPSTAKES FOR STAR SOLDIER R ANNOUNCED
Players Can Sign Up on Hudson’s Website Beginning May 27
REDWOOD CITY, CA – May 27, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that registration for both a tournament and a sweepstakes for the recently launched galactic shooter, Star Soldier R for WiiWare™ on Wii™ begins May 27, 2008 and will go through June 24, 2008, concurrent with the contests.
For players who want to see if they can achieve the highest score in Star Soldier R in the nation, Hudson Entertainment is hosting the 'Star Soldier R "Shoot Now, Win Prizes Later" Tournament & Sweepstakes', beginning at 12 a.m. May 27, 2008 and runs through 7 p.m. on June 24, 2008. Gamers will have one month to vie for the high score in Star Soldier R’s “5-Minute Mode” where the top players on the ranking leaderboards have the chance to win prizes. Two rounds of tournament prizes will be awarded based on players' scores. To sign up, players must register on the tournament registration page, located at (http://hudsonentertainment.com/tourn...urnament_id=2).
The first place winners will receive Hudson's Top 5 Wii Games along with 16,000 Wii Points™, 10th place winners will receive 10,000 Wii Points, and the players in 16th place will win 4,000 Wii Points. For the sweepstakes, 10 users will be picked in one random drawing to win prizes. For more information about the contests please visit the registration page.
lordwow
05-27-08, 11:17 AM
Picked up Dr. Mario. I'm a big fan. If you're the type who gets hooked on Tetris, or if you're a big fan of the original, definitely pick it up. The Wiimote mode isn't too shabby either, gives it some additional replayability. Have yet to play it online, but I think I will this week. Easily worth the $10.
steebo777
05-27-08, 01:09 PM
I'll d/l Dr. Mario tonight to check it out. Too many games to play...
MadonnasManOne
05-29-08, 02:13 AM
Dr. Mario RX Online is a great buy! Well worth the $10.00! I've played it single player, and online, and I LOVE it. It is so addictive. Plus, Virus Buster is a great game, as well. Too bad they didn't give that one an online feature. I'll post my Dr. Mario RX Online code, the next time I go online to play. We should all post our codes, so we can see who is the best Dr. Mario!
MadonnasManOne
05-29-08, 03:16 AM
My Dr. Mario RX Online code is:
7807-9553-0843
If you add, just let me know, and give me your code, so I can add you!
AndyCleveland
05-30-08, 03:06 PM
toki tori is amazing. ive been having tons of fun with it.
lost winds is great too... sets a nice mood and great graphics.
also tv show king is pretty fun, if not a little frustrating with the randomness of the wheel.
brick blocker is old school arcade fun.
defend your castle bored me to teers.
dr mario is awesome and exactly what any fan would want from the game, especially at the price.
cant wait to try star soldier r
so far, the best game is toki tori.
edytwinky
06-01-08, 05:54 PM
TV Show King was a bunch of fun with a crowd of people. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will probably pick it up.
Will also be getting Dr. Mario and Family Table Tennis (hell its only $5)
slop101
06-01-08, 06:20 PM
toki tori is amazing. ive been having tons of fun with it.But it doesn't come out 'till tomorrow. :hscratch:
edytwinky
06-01-08, 08:02 PM
Wow I purchased Dr. Mario Online RX and I must say it's as addicting as I remember it on the NES. Definitely worth the $10. I've been playing it for over an hour easily.
UncleGramps
06-02-08, 11:31 AM
I know Toki Tori is supposed to come out today in the US. Any other games confirmed for today?
UncleGramps
06-02-08, 11:36 AM
Never mind, found my answer at Opposable Thumbs (http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars):
WiiWare
Protöthea (one player, 1,000 Points or $10)
This is a 2D top-down shooter, the kind the Wii isn't exactly hurting for, but in this update to the years-old PC original there are more levels and better graphics. You use the thumbstick on the nunchuk to control your ship, and the Wiimote is used to aim your fire as you fly around the game's 10 missions. IGN has a few videos of the game in action, and it doesn't look bad at all.
Toki Tori (one or two players, 1,000 points or $10)
This was released in 2001 on the Game Boy Color and was very well received then, as the awesome trailer tells us. This is a 70-level platforming puzzle title where you use your weapons and abilities to grab all the eggs. Someone can pick up a second Wiimote and paint clues and suggestions on the screen, which is a nice touch when you're playing with a second person, and the description even notes that the Wii Message Board is used in a unique way. What that is, they're not saying, but it's unique!
Virtual Console
Ninja Combat (NEOGEO, one to two players, 900 points or $9)
A side-scrolling brawler from the system no one could afford back in the day, Ninja Combat should give you some love if you want to pound face and are tired of Double Dragon. The player sprites are nice and big, the throwing stars add a nice feeling of ranged combat, and you get new characters and weapons to spice things up, but this is a by-the-numbers effort that won't hold many surprises or nostalgia for most gamers. Easily skipped.
I'm probably picking up Toki Tori tonight.
UncleGramps
06-03-08, 11:32 AM
I got Toki Tori yesterday and played through the first 10 levels. I had never played the Game Boy original, so it was all new to me. So far it's pretty fun, although it's pretty easy this early in the game. I'm looking forward to the more challenging levels later in the game. It seems like you get a decent number of levels, and it's definitely worth $10 in my opinion. It's a shame you can't demo Wii Ware games before you buy, but if you like puzzle/platform games in the vein of The Lost Vikings or Lemmings (which focus on figuring out when and where to use each of your abilities in order to get to your goal), at least check out the trailers for the game.
edytwinky
06-07-08, 12:41 PM
I can't speak highly enough for Dr. Mario. Very very good game. The online works well too. Great stuff.
atxbomber
06-08-08, 05:29 AM
Another Dr. Mario fan here. Still as addicting as the original. Just picked up LostWinds and I'm really enjoying that one too.
darkside
06-09-08, 09:55 AM
I hate to say it, but I'm probably downloading that Pokemon Ranch thing today.
Anyone know what BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA is? Well I'm assuming Japanese NES title, but it is not one I'm familiar with.
UncleGramps
06-09-08, 10:11 AM
Here's what darkside is referring to (taken from http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/2008/06/us_vc_releases_9th_june_nes_import_duo and http://www.wiiware-world.com/news/2008/06/usa_wiiware_update_my_pokemon_ranch):
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. This week’s new games are:
My Pokémon Ranch (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The Pokémon phenomenon debuts on WiiWare with My Pokémon Ranch, a game that lets you watch as Pokémon and Miis interact with each other for the first time. Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon and Miis you bring to your ranch, the more fun it becomes. My Pokémon Ranch can be linked with the Nintendo DS Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl Game Cards to deposit the Pokémon you’ve caught in these games in your ranch. You can deposit a maximum of 1,000 Pokémon from up to eight different game cards. Make your ranch livelier by playing with your friends and family.
If you've been pining for some more imports in the US, you're in luck today - There's two of them. You might think one of them was in fact released outside Japan, but the contrary is true - It, surprisingly, never was.
That game is Dig Dug, the arcade game from Namco where you control "Dig Dug" (Later officially named Taizo Hori), a digger tunneling his way through the earth in order to eliminate the monsters lurking underneath its soil. He can do this by either dropping rocks on them or by inflating them until they pop. Dig Dug is 600 points because of import costs.
The other import is Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa. If you've managed to sample some of Konami's Parodius series you might know the titular character Upa - He appears in a few of them as playable character. Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa is a fun little platformer and well worth a look. It was originally released on the Famicom Disk System, then ported to the regular Famicom a few years later - This is the disk version. It costs 600 points.
More info on Bio Miracle at: http://www.vc-reviews.com/games/nes/bio_miracle_bokutte_upa
Pokemon Ranch sounds pretty awful to me. Bio Miracle looks like an interesting platformer, so I may pick that one up.
darkside
06-09-08, 10:31 AM
Pokemon Ranch sounds pretty awful to me. Bio Miracle looks like an interesting platformer, so I may pick that one up.
It does to me as well and that won't stop me from spending 1000 points on it. Sigh.
I found a website for Bio Miracle and it looks very cool. Kind of a Kirby type platformer and all in English. This disk version has the better sound so it is probably good we are getting that one.
SunMonkey
06-09-08, 12:28 PM
"Dig Dug is 600 points because of import costs." -ohbfrank-
pinata242
06-09-08, 12:36 PM
"Dig Dug is 600 points because of import costs." -ohbfrank-
$6 for and NES port, $5 for the arcade version on XBLA that's in possible danger of "delisting". Decisions.
darkside
06-09-08, 10:57 PM
Pokemon Ranch sounds pretty awful to me.
I go into detail in the Pokemon thread, but if you are a fan it isn't that bad and may actually be worth the 1000 points for some. If anything I think I will get more out of it than Pokemon Battle Revolution which was a full priced game.
wildcatlh
06-10-08, 02:41 PM
If you're the kind of person (like me, unfortunately) who has more than 100 hours into Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, it's worth it. If not, you're likely not going to get anything out of the title.
darkside
06-10-08, 08:12 PM
If you're the kind of person (like me, unfortunately) who has more than 100 hours into Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, it's worth it. If not, you're likely not going to get anything out of the title.
I am one of these people as well.
Really it is a $10 version of Pokemon Box on GameCube and actually much better than that title since it is a bit more interactive and you can get Pokemon by storing them there and it gives you help finishing your Pokedex.
But yeah, if you aren't really into the game for major hours and into finishing your Pokedex it is not for you.
UncleGramps
06-11-08, 08:29 AM
Good to hear that Pokemon Ranch is worth the points for fans of the franchise. To an outside observer, it seems like there's not much there, but from what you guys are saying, there's enough in it to warrant a purchase if you're really into Pokemon.
I know this is technically the WiiWare thread, but since it was discussed earlier, Bio Miracle is pretty fun. I like that we're getting a decent number of import titles on Virtual Console.
fujishig
06-11-08, 01:44 PM
What an odd decision to localize Dig Dug and then charge more for it for localization costs. Who's going to buy it?
UncleGramps
06-16-08, 11:47 AM
Today's releases:
Block Breaker Deluxe (800 points) - Breakout clone, ported from a cell phone game.
Cocoto Fishing Master (700 points) - Um...it's a fishing game.
Seems like another dull week in Wii Ware land to me. :(
UncleGramps
06-23-08, 10:00 AM
This week we're getting Gyrostarr, which I know some of you were looking forward to:
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. This week’s new games are:
Gyrostarr (High Voltage Software, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points): Gyrostarr challenges you and up to three additional players to pilot your ships through a series of twisting, turning technoplasma tracks while battling a variety of deadly alien foes at ever-increasing speeds. While fighting and maneuvering, you must collect enough energy to activate the ancient warpgate at the end of each track. Succeed, and you can journey to the next, even deadlier track. Fail, and the gate will slam shut, destroying your ship. Enhance your ship with weapon pickups, coordinate attacks with your friends to fire powerful combined blasts and use your grapple to snag energy and pickups in the midst of combat. Control your ship with the Wii Remote™ controller, Nunchuk™ controller or Classic Controller™, or use the "paired" control system that allows two players to use a connected Wii Remote and Nunchuk or Classic Controller at the same time. Offering 50 levels of intense action, powerful pickups, high-speed bonus levels and mayhem for up to four players, Gyrostarr is a killer arcade challenge.
Groucho
06-23-08, 10:09 AM
Gyrostarr looks fun, but the timing is bad since Ticket to Ride is supposed to drop on XBLA this week. But if word of mouth is good, I'll likely pick it up in the future. I like the price point too!
darkside
06-23-08, 12:05 PM
IGN really talked up Gyrostarr like it was going to be an excellent shooter. At 700 points I may grab it.
CreatureX
07-21-08, 12:16 PM
Gradius Rebirth is coming soon to WiiWare. It looks to be another retro game ala Megaman 9!
Gradius Rebirth is coming soon to WiiWare. It looks to be another retro game ala Megaman 9!
:up:
slop101
07-21-08, 03:29 PM
Aren't there like ten Gradius games on the VC already, and like another 200 similar shooters, a lot of them even better?
Goldberg74
07-21-08, 06:06 PM
Aren't there like ten Gradius games on the VC already, and like another 200 similar shooters, a lot of them even better?
Yeah, but in this one you can shoot Fruit Loops®. ;)
mr_jbloggs
07-23-08, 05:52 PM
On average, how many WiiWare/VC games can a Wii store? And what happens once you have used up that space?
slop101
07-23-08, 06:18 PM
Well, you really only have three pages of channels, and I there's enough room to fill all those up. WiiWare games take up a lot more space than your typical VC game - so while you may fit about 30 VC games, there's only room for a handful of WiiWare games. And once you're out of space, you'll have to make room by transferring the games to an SD card, and deleting their channel to clear up space on the Wii. Or you can just download them again (to the same Wii) later.
CreatureX
08-26-08, 07:06 PM
Here are some early hands-on impressions for a couple of upcoming WiiWare games:
This hits Japanese WiiWare early Sept. for 1000pts. Hopefully a U.S. release comes soon after. :D
Goldberg74
08-30-08, 03:42 PM
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wgdj/img/ss_05.jpg
It does have the Fruit Loops®! :D
Kelkee
09-02-08, 10:20 AM
Downloaded the Strong Bad game and Wild West Guns this weekend.
Love what they have done so far with the SB franchise. If you are a fan get it. The game is just pure fun. If you are looking for mind boggling puzzles or RPG depth of play then this isnt it. Its silly simple family fun.
Wild West Guns is a great shooter. Love the style and the gameplay. Reminds me of alot of the arcade Cheyenne.
Mok
09-02-08, 10:51 AM
Ok did anyone get that fish tank game ?
darkside
09-02-08, 11:03 AM
Ok did anyone get that fish tank game ?
I didn't, but I was tempted. My daughter loves the Aquatopia fish tank on the PS3 and this one has more fish and things to do. For 500 points it is pretty tempting.
CreatureX
10-01-08, 12:15 AM
I downloaded 'Art Style: Orbient' WiiWare last night. This is a remake of the Japan only 'bit Generations: Orbital' GBA game released in 2006.
Wow, this game is so addictive! The concept, gameplay, graphics and music are all so perfect. I highly recommend Orbient to everyone! :D
This game is fantastic and a tremendous bargain at the price. I highly recommend it as well. I like a game that can pull off such simple 2 button gameplay and still make it very challenging.
BTW, I'm also loving the Strong Bad games. I have played through the first two episodes twice and really can't recommend them enough. I know it is a bit tough to get into if you aren't familiar with the characters, but I think they do a pretty good job of teaching you the Homestar Runner universe so you get the jokes.
I will say this. If you have a decent PC it is a better experience on the computer. I played episode one on PC and then bought it and played it on Wii and I won't buy another episode on Wii. The compression they have done to get this to fit on Wii is just too much. The colors are dull and the voices and sounds are very compressed. Everything has a horrible tinny and crackly quality to it that you don't get on the PC version. Not to mention the Wii version has load times the PC version doesn't have. The Wii version is decent enough if it is your best option, but I did want to point out it is slightly inferior and more expensive than the PC version (if you pay full price for points).
UncleGramps
10-13-08, 08:49 AM
The long-awaited World of Goo is out today along with another Art Style game called Cubello.
And if you hadn't heard, you can get the 2000 Wii point cards at Toys R Us for $12 instead of $20 today only. It's online as well. The cards are in stock right now (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2557629) and you can get up to 3 of them. You'll have to pay shipping, so it's a better deal in-store, but even with tax and shipping, I'm getting $60 worth of points for just under $44.
darkside
10-13-08, 10:41 AM
At least locally the TRU stores were stocking very few cards. I was able to get 5 between 2 stores and I was the first person to hit both according to the employees. Looks like they are sold out online as well.
I did manage to grab 14000 points recently between the TRU sale and an Amazon coupon for around $80 so I'm feeling pretty good about upcoming purchases. 40% off the price makes the games pretty enticing.
World of Goo got a great review from IGN and the previous Art Style game was fantastic so I'm definitely interested in Cubello.
slop101
10-13-08, 11:19 AM
How many blocks does World of Goo take up? And why the fuck don't reviews give this sort of information? Aren't these the kinds of things reviews should be covering; objective facts, over subjective opinion?
darkside
10-13-08, 01:11 PM
One of the reviewers usually mentions blocks. It might be GoNintendo. I need to look.
I love that I'm at the point that I can't buy a new WiiWare game without beating the previous one since I have to delete it before I can buy another one. I'm not even sure next Springs storage update fixes this since it still doesn't sound like games can run from the SD card.
World of Goo is 321 blocks so it is out for me till I beat some other games.
CreatureX
11-03-08, 06:19 AM
Looking over at metacritic.com, here are the top ten WiiWare games by review score:
1. World of Goo
2. MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade
3. Bomber Man Blast
4. Art Style: Orbient
5. Mega Man 9
6. Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free
7. Lost Winds
8. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
9. Toki Tori
10. Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands
PixyJunket
01-14-09, 09:46 AM
I posted this in the main threda but I'll bring this one up too since Wii Ware is hot stuff.
It looks like a new company is going to take Nintendo's mantle on the amazing Bit Generations and Art Style series with the Bit.Trip series. The first game is called Bit.Trip Beat, there's a small preview video on their website:
http://aksysgames.com/bittripbeat/
pinata242
01-30-09, 03:33 PM
Bit. Trip Beat looks to be a seizure just waiting to happen.
Don't ask me why, but I blind bought Bonsai Barber...and I love it! It's a very fun game to play for a few minutes a day. I don't regret this purchase at all. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm apparently not alone in loving this little goofy game. Here is two 8/10 reviews:
If you've got a few extra points, or don't mind spending $10 on something like this, do it, it's great fun. :lol:
CreatureX
05-06-09, 07:22 PM
I posted this in the main threda but I'll bring this one up too since Wii Ware is hot stuff.
It looks like a new company is going to take Nintendo's mantle on the amazing Bit Generations and Art Style series with the Bit.Trip series. The first game is called Bit.Trip Beat, there's a small preview video on their website:
http://aksysgames.com/bittripbeat/ I just bought Bit.Trip Beat yesterday. This game is amazing! :D
I love the super retro presentation with the old school graphics and sounds. Plus the gameplay, while very hard, is extremely addicting. I can't stop playing!
I'm eagerly awaiting Bit.Trip Core! :)
edytwinky
05-06-09, 10:50 PM
Has anybody bought the game: Target Toss Pro: Bags?
Buy: