Wii Game Players

Filed under: Virtual Console, Features

Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren’t on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.

Arkista’s Ring is an action/adventure/puzzle game about an elf girl who battles giant scorpions, orcs, and forest-dwelling ninja in a labyrinth-like forest, all displayed in the charming square-tile graphical style popular with games like Zelda. It was released for the NES in 1990, published by American Sammy. Sammy now owns Sega, and Sega and Nintendo are newly in love. So today’s game is kind of timely, in an oblique way. Also it’s fun to play and stuff.

Why the game hasn’t been announced for Virtual Console yet:

This game could easily be released on the VC. It was published by a company that has already done Virtual Console content, and is on a console that is already supported. It would still break some ground: no games from the Sammy side of Sega Sammy have been released yet, and no Sega Sammy games have been released for a console other than the Genesis. We aren’t exactly clamoring for American Sammy’s whole NES library, but this would be a good start.

Why we think it should be on the Virtual Console:

Arkista’s Ring is, in a way, exactly what we like in our NES games. It’s extremely simple to pick up and play, and for the first few levels seems like a very low-key arcade-style game. You shoot arrows at monsters until there aren’t any more monsters, then you scoop up a key and take off. However, it soon becomes apparent that with the hidden exits and the second, more challenging quest, there is more to the game than imitating Gauntlet. Each level becomes more of a puzzle than an action game, while the challenge of defeating all the enemies remains. It’s a nice balance between, say, Zelda and Rogue– the room-to-room action of the first Zelda game, with just enough (not too much) puzzle-solving and random items.

Arkista’s Ring is just the kind of thing we hoped for when Nintendo first started talking about the Virtual Console: a clever, fun old game that most people didn’t ever play, and which is hard to find outside of eBay. Any Arkista or other NES overhead-view adventure game fans are welcome to join us in the comments thread! And join us next week for another round of stuff we’re unlikely to see on the Wii anytime soon, if ever.

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Rumors

Back in the day, so to speak, we brought you news of a homebrew project using the Wiimote called “WiiJ”ing, in which one (or two) Wiimotes were used to control various functions of popular mixing software (Traktor). We’re convinced the technology is indeed real at this point, but according to the WiiJ creator and head-honcho, Nintendo has come forward and straight-up purchased the website and concept from him for release in a future game.

Sounds cool, and certainly in line with Nintendo’s strategy, but color us a bit skeptical. A quick WHOIS shows domain registration as unchanged in the site’s history, and in addition, the front page news post regarding the deal has a bazillion-word long actual game description. It’s unlikely that Nintendo would simply allow the creator of WiiJing to simply dictate the full design of a videogame, and at this point, certainly, little to no actual development has been completed.

What say you? Even if it isn’t real, would you enjoy or look forward to an application like this?

[Thanks, Jason!]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News, Rumors

According to a preorder listing found on EBGames’ website, a new Wii version of Resident Evil 4 will be released on June 25th for $30. While we don’t have any details on it, other than that EB thinks it exists, we can speculate about what it will include: the PS2 extras, if we’re lucky, and a new Wiimote control scheme.

It seems a little shocking that companies are already porting Gamecube games to the Wii, although Shigeru Miyamoto hinted at the prospect back in August. We can’t wait to see how one of the Gamecube’s most impressive games benefits from the power of a second, taped-on Gamecube.

[Via GoNintendo]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

It breaks our hearts to see that only a few games on the Wii’s roster support Mii integration and WiiConnect24. Nintendo’s lack of third-party cooperation might be to blame, but at least the company will be implementing both features with Big Brain Academy for the Wii. Users will be able to import their Miis when creating a student profile, solving the game’s reflex puzzles with their customized characters.

According to the latest issue of Nintendo Power, WiiConnect24 will allow other people’s Miis to wander into your game, equipped with the student profiles of their creators. You will also be able to test your brain against theirs in any of the multiplayer modes. We’re going to be pretty depressed if our friends’ Miis turn out to be much smarter than us. At least we have our wit! There’s always that, right?

Big Brain Academy won’t be coming out in the US until June 11, so there’s still some time to hit the books and get your brain in shape. Jeux-France has several dozen screenshots of the game in action along with some Mii artwork. Check past the post break for a few of those images.

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

Looks like we have a pretty good reason to go to the new E for All Expo: Nintendo has signed on as the “flagship exhibitor” for Gamepro’s open (but not free!) answer to E3. Look forward to vast expanses of Wii and DS Lite demo stations showing off new games. You know, kind of like our house, but scaled down a little.

Unlike E3, regular folks can get into this– which, in a way, mirrors Nintendo’s “gaming for all” marketing spiel. If you’re interested in E for All, mark your calendars for October 18-21 and start looking for a ride to the LA Convention Center.

[Via press release]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Features

So, this news is kind of big and already causing a buzz on the intertron, wouldn’t you say? This caused debate at Fanboy HQ, as we argued amongst ourselves the implications such a team up would mean for the future of our games. Did this game just confirm Sonic being in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or is it merely the beginning of what Nintendo and Sega hope will be several games where their strongest mascots can compete?

One then might also consider that a lot of folk just aren’t going to care about this type of game and perhaps haven’t waited for the two to go at each other since they were much younger. And, also to look at this a little more negatively, do Wii owners want another set of minigames? Obviously, the game is going to have to be comprised of several different sports …wait a minute, why wasn’t this announced at GDC? It hasn’t been so long since the show’s conclusion, so we wonder what could’ve prevented Nintendo from revealing this at the event?

With all that swimming about in your skull, chime in with your thoughts, fine reader, on the importance of this partnership, the possibility of Sonic being in Super Smash Bros. Brawl or your feelings of complete apathy toward it all. Comment away!

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

Anyone planning on taking a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line in the near future will be able to do something more than gorge themselves on large buffets and alcohol, as the company is now offering Wii games to their guests. Right now the only ships offering the games are NCL America ships, with the rest of their fleet getting Nintendo’s Wii console and some games next month. Games available for play are none other than Wii Sports, Wii Play, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Excite Truck.

[via Joystiq]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: News

Nintendo has struggled to meet the Wii’s demand in every region, so much so that retailers have accused the company of planning “strategic shortages.” Four months after the console’s initial release, it’s still unlikely that you’ll be able to find a Wii on store shelves.

Up until now, Foxconn Precision Components has been the sole manufacturer behind the Wii’s assembly. Nintendo hopes to increase its production by taking on an additional manufacturing partner, researching offers from Asustek Computer, Compal Electronics, Inventec, and Wistron.

It’s great that Nintendo is looking to increase the amount of systems it ships out, but how long will it be before we see the benefits of this partnership? It was already evident that the Wii’s supply was constrained months ago — why didn’t Nintendo bring in a new manufacturer then?

[Via Next Generation]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Imports, Peripherals

Gametech has created another head-scratching Wii accessory (in that it’s baffling, not that it scratches your head for you). This time, it’s the Taore na Sheet W (Collapsing Sheet W): a set of adhesive rubber feet that secure your Wii stand and sensor bar to their locations, and, just to be sure, secure the Wii to its stand.

With no controller cords to trip over, we had to think about who the target audience for this product was. Well, we didn’t have to think about it for too long before one of our cats knocked a picture frame off of the coffee table. This product makes a lot of sense for cat owners!

[Via GAME Watch]

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Filed under: Controller, Features

No, not the simple-yet-catchy Sleater-Kinney song, but in this instance, it’s how you’ll be using your Wii in the near future. Whether you want to dance, sing, or thrash, there’s something on the Wii for all you musically-inclined gamers. And think — this is only the beginning. By this time next year, how will the music-themed game scene look? We can only assume Guitar Hero love will expand tenfold when it hits the Wii, so we’re curious about your predictions now about music games in the future. Will we move beyond guitars and DDR? Boogie is trying for something new, but again, we’re talking tip of the iceberg. Let’s do the future instead. What do you see?

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Originally Syndicated via RSS from Nintendo Wii Fanboy