The Electronic Entertainment Expo is much anticipated not only by gaming industry professionals and gamers, it is also a haven for the gadget fans who can drool over the latest electronic gaming gadgets and equipment that are usually previewed in this event. In terms of gadget surprises, Nintendo has captured the attention of E3 followers worldwide for the second year in a row. Last year they announced the Nintendo 3DS and this year the announcement of the successor to the hugely popular Nintendo Wii has everyone talking. [Read more…]
Use your Nokia N900 to play SNES games
Okay, sure, old-school gaming emulators are a dime a dozen. You can easily download one off the net for a small price – or if your Google-fu is strong, free – and you can just download the ROMS of the games that you legally (heh) purchased back in the console’s heyday, and play away! I actually have quite a few installed on my computer and a NES and GBA emulator on my Nokia E63 as well.
So what’s the big deal about playing SNES games on the Nokia N900?
Well, I don’t think any other cellphone can allow you to play SNES games through a PS3 SixAxis controller. And if you use the Nokia N900’s TV out function, you can actually connect your diminutive cellphone to a ginormous HDTV and enjoy your games on a huge screen!
Setting it up is a bit complicated though. Pairing the PS3 SixAxis controller to your N900 via bluetooth isn’t as easy as it looks, though. Unfortunately N900’s Maemo does not come with joystick and mouse support in kernel. These instructions will help you reconfigure the device’s kernel to enable joystick device and mouse support.
Were you able to get SNES emulators to work on your N900? Don’t be afraid to try it, and tell me what happens!
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Nintendo announces massive Autumn/Winter software collection
Whether you’re a Wii fanatic or prefer pocket-sized fun with the DS, you’re likely to find something worth getting excited about as Nintendo today announces its Autumn/Winter collection of games and other software titles, hitting stores from tomorrow, through Christmas and into the new year.
First up, Wii Fit Plus will hit European stores at the end of October, offering a range of new exercise features including personalised yoga and strength training routines, lifestyle routines, calorimeter, and a range of new training regimes.
On 20th November, Super Mario Bros arrives on Wii, featuring a fully-fledged adventure that up to four people can play simultaneously.
Logitech shows off new Wii music game controllers
Logitech has today announced two new music game controllers designed for use with music games on the Nintendo Wii.
The Wireless Guitar Controller for Wii is constructed with a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets, so it both looks and feels more authentic.
It features a noise-dampening design and fret buttons, plus a touch-sensitive slider on the fret board.
Epic Mickey: Steampunk Disney Game
I’ve never really been a fan of the Mickey Mouse and friends aspect of Disney. I find it too childish and all, but they’re, well, inescapable.
Over at artist Fred Gambino’s website there is a section called ‘Epic Mickey’. It contains Mickey Mouse art reimagined in a steampunk setting. It is rumored to be concept art for a new interactive game from Disney.
Epic Mickey (most probably a code name) is rumored to be developed for the Wii. There’s very little news about it now, but I am so loving the steampunk reimagining. It is something Disney needs to appeal to the hardcore gamer crowd.
The flooding of the Wii
Woke up today to a Walmart ad about tens of thousands of Wii consoles available for US$249. Take note that those are only basic console sets (console and a controller)… should it come with an extra controllers, games and other bundled items… the price becomes US$329. While I’m not totally a Wii fanboy, I’d say this deal comes perfectly during the holidays. I’m sure parents will take note of this and line up for one. I do hope PlayStation 3, the Xbox and some other stuff follows suit.
I’ve always looked for deals around this time of the year. Walking around BestBuy, Target & Game Stop, I always see product bundles top shelf. The key is to check the papers, cut the coupons, surf the internet… generally be keen at following through where the discounts are. While it IS a job in itself, you’d be thankful your wallet at least remains a little “fatter” after the holidays.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide more customers the opportunity to experience and enjoy the Nintendo Wii this Christmas,” said Kelly Thompson, Walmart.com chief merchant. “Based on the success we’ve seen with Wii Fit and Nintendo Wii, customers recognize that Walmart.com is the online destination for the strongest values and best selection in video games this season.”
As usual, these offers are only available while supplies last, and given how popular the Wii and Walmart both are, we’d expect these supplies to go pretty quickly. If you’re looking to get a Wii for your loved ones this holiday season, give it a try.
Wii Fit aims to make you sweat
I’ve been working at home for the better part of a decade now. A lot of my friends tell me that they envy the fact that I can earn money while staying at home. They then cite all of the attendant benefits of telecommuting. I have to agree it does sound like a good setup, except for one glaring, undeniable downside to this whole gig. I have gotten FAT. Working at home means the most strenuous exercise you will probably get is that short walk to the fridge or the bathroom. I have so much work that going to the gym is not even an option.
That’s why I think the Nintendo Wii is such a godsend for us work at home drones. What better way to shed those pounds than play an actual “game” on your TV with a machine that actually prevents you from just sitting down? Great, eh?
Well, Nintendo does see some potential in the Wii as an actual fitness aide and they are reinforcing it with the announcement of the Wii Fit. This is a new game title, ok, exercise game that lets you do various exercises and physical mini games while monitoring your BMI (that’s body mass index for those who’ve never even seen the inside of a gym).
The Wii Fit will be used in tandem with a new peripheral, the Wii Balance Board that will detect how your weight shifts in response to the commands being issued on screen. The Wii Fit is scheduled for release in Japan at the latter part of the year and will have its US debut during the first or second quarter of 2008.
Until then, I’ll just need to diet and walk up and down the stairs.
Is The Wii Too Much Of A Toy To Be Successful Long Term?
Nintendo have, with a few exceptions, gone off the rails since introducing the N64. Whilst the N64 had some memorable games (GoldenEye and Mario 64 to name just two) it sold pretty damn poorly. The GameCube was meant to have a huge impact. Obviously prior to that now previous generation, the Playstation ruled the market and the PS2 was liable to do the same. Unfortunately, around the same time, the Dreamcast failed.
The Xbox was huge, with a rather lacklustre line-up. It did however have Live, and the biggest controller you’d ever touch – along with an 8 gig hard drive. Nintendo’s entry was the ill-conceived GameCube. The GC was – well – a cube. It was also in purple. A small handle stuck out of the back, which was apparently useless for anyone over the age of eight. It used tiny little discs, cute, but piracy apart, why not just use DVD? This meant that once again Nintendo were using a rather questionable point of difference by giving the Cube no DVD playback – unlike every one of the competition at the time. Finally, the controller had a big ‘A’ button and awkwardly placed X/Y buttons. Apparently meant for the simple and the young, this did nothing for Nintendo’s ‘childish’ image.
The GC was ‘the’ console for kids, Xbox for the hardcore, whilst the PS2 was owned by almost everyone, making a huge amount of sales. So, the GC had some good games, but was universally mocked. I’m concerned the Wii will go the same way. Firstly, it has not helped that it’s been laughed at over the name. Whoops! Marketing error number one.
Second, yes it is a new console, but the perceived image problem due to the continued use of Nintendo’s staple franchises remain. Gamers are too sophisticated for the likes of the day-glow worlds of Sonic and Mario – Kirby would just get laughed at now. Children these days, whether they should or shouldn’t be, are probably playing GTA. How can Mario stand up to that?
Nintendo need to either totally revamp their franchises for a more mature audience or provide some new ones. I’m not saying that kids should be getting GTA on the Wii – quite the opposite – all markets should be catered for.
Moving on to the controller, is this too gimmicky? I couldn’t decide whether it is a great idea, or a merely average one. Remember, the Wii is noticeably different in terms of power – they built the Wii with the control method – not the graphics – in mind. Frankly, there are still mixed reports. The controller is meant to be more involving, whilst also being intuitive and holding appeal to non-gamers. I don’t see – in my experience, any ‘true’ non-gamer picking it up. By that I mean the older generation, such as my father or mother, would probably have a quick go, but they’d never consider purchasing one. Would yours?
Looking at future proofing, the Wii doesn’t support HD. Okay, so like the minority of us that have it at the moment, it isn’t a factor. Nonetheless, the market penetration is going to just go up and up and up. There is no slowing technology I’m afraid. You could say that’s fine, it’s different. But that’s not going to be much of an excuse when you’re looking at blocky people with bad textures rather than playing something that looks as good as MotorStorm and using a motion sensing controller.
The Wii is not that far removed from the architecture of the GC. That’s fine; the GC could do some cool stuff. But, mark my words, it won’t be enough. Think about four years time when PS3 games (and probably 360 games too) look breathtaking – where will the Wii be? Marketing has never been Nintendo’s strong point, but they are really trying with the Wii. The trailers are good, it has sold really well so far in stores and this trend looks to continue. The price-point is probably about what you get for your cash too – though I’d say the games are a little overpriced so far.
Coming back to the title question, I guess the answer (not that I wish to admit it) would be no. Half of me says that a company as bad as Nintendo at marketing shouldn’t succeed – but the other half remembers just how much fun Super Mario World, Super Metroid et al were. Toys are about fun, so are games.
The Wii is never going to break your TV with uber-hot graphics. However, much like the DS, it will offer something new. In my book at least, that gives plenty of kudos. So no, the Wii isn’t too much of a toy to be successful – but perhaps just toy enough to put a smile back on my jaded face.
Why I Loved The SNES
There’s a few reasons why I loved the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), but one of the main reasons is it was my first foray into the home console arena. Prior to this I had a computer (a Spectrum – popular in the UK around the early nineties) and a Gameboy, so I’d been gaming previously. Anyway, I fell in love completely with my SNES as soon as I had played Street Fighter Turbo – what a game. From then my love grew. Here are five reasons why.
Super Mario World – The legendary Mario game. This ip had everything, from good graphics to gameplay that featured over 100 levels. Mario never looked better than in a weird Superman-esque costume flying through the clouds and jumping on Yoshi’s back.
Super Metroid – What an adventure. If you ask me this shows why, although yes Retro studios did a good job, Metroid should have remained at its’ heart a 2D game. The reason being, I’m not sure I’ve ever played a better single player game. The scope was great, the action was superb and the graphics were phenomenal.
Secret of Mana – Possibly one of the best games ever. Where else could you fight werewolves, rescue Santa and fight a massive dragon? I still feel the pain of finding the level 10 spear and not managing to get the special attack for it.
Killer Instinct – They don’t make ‘em like this anymore, except for the not-that-great Mortal Kombat series that is. Killer Instinct was produced by Rare and offered some superb gameplay along with some fantastic combos and weird characters. You like juggle-combos? You got it.
Super Mario Kart – You couldn’t do better than to be tanked up on Coke (of the dark drink variety that is) and Asda pizza before embarking on an “I am the bloody best my red shells are deadly” rampage. The new one is good, but not a patch on this. Ah, to be 12 again.
Looking at this list, three things are clear. One, I’m a little nostalgic – but not so much that I’d give up my current crop of consoles. Two, a number of these games are first party, barring of course Killer Instinct. Three, in coming up to date, Nintendo have lost some of their magic. Where was such genius on the Cube? Maybe that’s where the Wii comes in. I can’t even say if it is possible to restore what is lost – but I for one sure hope so.
Keith Stuart on the Wii
Hello again, dear readers of Gadzooki. You may remember that one of the articles I recently wrote mentioned a certain Keith Stuart, of The Guardian and Guardian Games Blog fame. Well, he’s gone and upset me this time. I mean really upset. Lets take a look at what he says:
“The launch of Nintendo’s Wii console could be the most destructive videogame event for more than 20 years. More destructive than the launch of the Playstation… than the 1983 collapse”
Now don’t get me wrong – I agree with his point that the Wii is both “unprecedented and unpredictable”. However, what I don’t agree with is his use of pejoratives. He’s clearly forgotten to mention the fact that it is exciting, interesting and innovative. I’m still trying to work my mind around the fact that The Guardian has Keith Stuart on the Gamesblog panel when he is seemingly, at best, a reluctant gamer.