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While Miis continue to be the face of Nintendo's push into the uncharted blue ocean of social gaming, the bobble headed avatars have remained criminally underutilized by the bulk of the console's software library. Apparently Sega agrees, as the company confirmed that the little guys and gals (and ninjas, and sith lords...) will be playable as characters in the upcoming Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games.
In addition, Sega has also announced four new over the top 'Dream Events,' making the previously announced normal events seem positively humdrum by comparison. These new events, which will be available as both single and multiplayer matches, look to take a more playful approach to this fan service, offering power ups and character-specific special moves in challenges such as racing, fencing, table tennis, and diving. Given the inclusion of Miis, it will be interesting to see if they are also given abilities of their own, or are left at a disadvantage when matched against these super powered mascots.
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games just went gold, and is expected to hurdle onto retail shelves for the Wii on November 6.
Super Mario Stadium Baseball was unceremoniously revealed in a collection of clips for previously-announced games.
Nintendo will soon "begin a service similar to the DS Station retail service. You'll be able to download demos from your home."
Virtual Console has reached 7.8 million downloads. Even if all those sales were NES titles (and we know they're not), that's at least US $39 million in almost pure profit.
"Nintendo will put more emphasis on the Wii Vote channel in the future. You'll be able to put rankings for games that you've played and search for games that fit your liking."
While some of our fondest memories growing up are of lazily casting lures from the bank of some nearby pond, we're much bigger fans of soaking up the fishing experience vicariously without having to deal with the so-called 'great outdoors.' To this end, Hudson's Fishing Master for the Wii was a tame recreation of the sport, and to be honest it left us wanting, reason enough to be excited that Sega plans to release a port of its Dreamcast favorite Sega Bass Fishing for the Wii sometime next spring.
As previously rumored, the title looks to have gotten little by way of a cosmetic makeover since players first grappled with the Dreamcast's optional fishing rod controller nearly a decade ago, so those quick to call out the Wii for its failure to keep up the high-def Joneses will find plenty to balk at here.
However, Sega points out that this latest version will include 'content developed exclusively for the Wii,' though the company has not been forthcoming with what exactly has been added, only to note that Sega Bass Fishing will feature more than 20 different types of lures to entice the the game's four different kinds of freshwater bass. In addition, players will also be able to select the season and time of day, as well as choose from 15 different lakes, giving us plenty of reason to stay indoors as we try to reel in that elusive whopper from the comfort of our easy chair.
It looks like it's going to be a solid couple of weeks for XBLA releases. Not only is the outstanding Puzzle Quest due on the service this week, but it's going to be followed up by another well-regarded title: Speedball II. If you're unfamiliar, speedball is a game that combines handball and ice hockey. But, according to its Wikipedia entry, it has no rules. So, actually, it's more like Calvinball.
According to CVG, the game, originally for the Genesis and a few other systems, will be arriving with its HD face lift, new teams and online multiplayer on Oct. 17.
Though much of last night's hubbub was about the will they/won't they delay of Unreal Tournament 3, Midway also let a few other game releases slip in their financial report. One was an upcoming Mortal Kombat, which we already heard about, but Midway also confirmed that they were working on a new entry in the X-TrEmE football series, Blitz. You no doubt remember Blitz for its steroid juicing and the ability to send hookers to the opposing team more than for, say, the football part.
Though we're happy for any series that helps make EA want to put an effort into Madden, we can't help but be bothered by something. In a world where Chad Johnson celebrates touchdowns by finding Jimmy Hoffa and shooting fireworks from his fingertips, O.J. Simpson is on a nationwide crime spree and Michael Vick eats dogs whole, how much more extreme does football need to be?
Sometimes ragdoll physics can actually prove more natural. Sure, most crashes don't send you floating and flipping effortless through the wind, regardless of the laws of gravity, but those crashes aren't nearly as fun.
Take this video, for instance. In reality, this guy would've likely fallen headfirst and spend hours trying to find his brain on the ground -- not because it fell far, but can you imagine how hard it is to find something when you lack cognitive function? Thankfully, we don't have to worry about such philosophical queries; instead, enjoy the video embedded after the break.
Mario and Sonic will soon put their bitter 16-bit rivalry aside, sharing screen time in Sega and Nintendo's 'Bizarro World' collabo, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. With the release for the Wii just a couple of months away, Sega has released details concerning the game's 20 authentic Olympic events, as detailed below:
Fencing - Individual epée
Archery
Shooting - Skeet
Gymnastics - Trampoline
Gymnastics - Vault
Field - High Jump
Field - Pole Vault
Field - Long Jump
Field - Triple Jump
Field - Javelin Throw
Field - Hammer Throw
Rowing - Single Sculls
Table Tennis - Singles
Aquatics - 100m Freestyle
Aquatics - 4x100m Freestyle
Track - 110m and 400m Hurdles
Track - 4x100m Relay
Track -100m and 400m
In addition, Sega has revealed that the game will include 16 different characters, 8 from Mario's universe, and 8 from Sonic's, and like in Mario Kart, the characters will each be broken up into different classes, all with their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, Knuckles and Bowser will be part of the Power class, making them ideal for events requiring the kind of strength that only a anthropomorphic lizard and echidna can muster. As always, Mario will be balanced all around, as will Sonic's Amy, while Sonic himself will obviously dominate the Speed class alongside our dark horse prediction, Yoshi.
Well, Halo 3 day (or "Emergence Day" in some very confused circles) is just around the corner, and we imagine that 360 owners will be doing little else than dropping Brutes like they're hot once it's (legally) on the the streets. So this weekend, why not send the 360 off in grand fashion with some new DLC and demos on Xbox Live?
First off, you could pick up some Forza 2 content that just hit the Marketplace. You can snag a 2007 SEAT Leon Cupra for free, or pay 400 points ($5) for a 10-car pack that includes the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi, 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept and the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400. If you're looking for something a bit more ... free, there are also some new demos for you to check out. If you don't live in North America or Asia, you can get a demo for Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Otherwise there's a hot new demo ... for Viva Piñata Party Animals. ... Wow, is it Sept. 25 yet?
Read -- Forza Motorsport 2 content Read -- Demo: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Read -- Demo: Viva Piñata Party Animals
When Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was first announced earlier this year, those of us who grew up during the 16-bit console wars were both shocked and titillated by the premise of playing a video game starring the former arch-rivals. Surely the universe had gone topsy turvy, as not since comic book's Deathmate had the world seen such a prodigious crossover.
Wacky or not, however, Sega Sammy expects big things from the forthcoming title, with the company anticipating sales of 4 million units. If accurate, this would equal nearly 20 percent of the sales of all games sold by Sega Sammy over the previous fiscal year. The prediction was made by the firm's corporate director Masanao Maeda, who interestingly did not elaborate on when he believes the games will reach this prestigious milestone.
Realistic? Given the amount of namedropping associated with this title, and that its development at Sega is being overseen by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, all signs points to 'possibly.' Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games hurdles to retail for both the Wii and Nintendo DS this Christmas.
When announced, we were concerned that EA Playground would be another mini-game fiesta for the Wii. While it won't be a Rayman-like game with dozens of scenarios, it comes off like Wii Sports in a schoolyard.
After about a half-hour of hands-on time with the game, I have high expectations that nearly all of the playground-based sports will be entertaining. Some will even be excellent, although the family-friendly simplicity occasionally makes them boring.
We love telling you guys and gals about demos, because its the closest we can get to giving you a free game (except, of course, for when we do). But honestly, for the past two Xbox Live demos, we've been stymied about what to say beyond a headline. So, let's get this out of the way: Sega Rally and NBA 2K8 demos are both on Xbox Live. ... Now what?
We're not the only ones who are uninspired. Look at the real, actual dash description of NBA 2K8: "Download the demo." Sega Rally's not much better, promising a "unique mix of fun, bumper-to-bumper racing and next gen technology". What does that even mean? Luckily, we have you dear readers to turn to. We're hopeful that your demo impressions will at least make this post worthy of the server space it's taking up.
In today's unintentionally hilarious news, the demo for FIFA 08 was released today on to Xbox Live in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States ... but not in Europe. So the demo for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association game was released in the country that doesn't even call it "football," but not in Europe, where a man can be shot dead in the street for calling it "soccer." Are they serious? Let us just soak it in for a second, OK? It rarely gets better than this for video game bloggers. Honestly, we feel like we should go out and buy a Powerball ticket or something.
Major Nelson told users EA has promised the demo will be coming to Europe "very soon." Until then, they'll just have to deal with our clumsy, misinformed American impressions of the demo. (Sample: "The kicking looks sweet, but why are the scores so low?")
[Update: The humor train has come to a screeching halt, and the demo is now available in Europe.]
For the first time in a very long time, Tony Hawk has some real competition this year from EA's Skate. Though Tony Hawk Proving Ground has already won the award for most appropriate title of the year, the contest for the top skating franchise is still wide open. With the Skate demo already available, you can now officially lay odds on how the battle will pan out as the THPG demo backside kickflips its way on to Xbox Live.
You've seen the comparison videos, now you can get some hands-on time with both. Here's the big question: Which one will you be getting? Will you welcome a new succinctly-titled overlord, or will you keep Tony in his throne?
With a projected late-September U.S. release, Wii-only Victorious Boxers: Revolution dukes it out for the best Wii sports title. I recently played a nearly complete localization of the June-released Japanese original, and Victorious Boxers is clearly different than Wii Sports Boxing. While Americans may think the manga art-style should appeal mostly to kids, the animation and physicality are viciously pitched to an older crowd. You're not trying to bowl over your opponent with kindness after all.
The boxing mechanics were harder to gauge than the catchy art. I relied on the two-fisted, motion-only control scheme, although the game offers five other ways to play. After a lot of wild flailing, I felt like I had a general sense of my character. But I never felt like my swings were perfectly interpreted. Hopefully, after an hour or two, players will learn how to move. But while Victorious Boxers easily held my interest, I couldn't predict if this will be a perfect translation between physical moves and game action. At some point, I wonder if the Wii controllers can handle one-to-one motion mapping for fast games.
Football season got started in earnest yesterday, and probably left some of you still hungry for more pigskin. If so: Eat pork rinds, they're delicious. If you want more football though, the Virtual Console has you covered. Imagine: Football in video game form.
NES Play Action Football (NES, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points): The press release from Nintendo touts a "distinct overhead viewpoint" creating an "almost 3-D field." Also, there eight available teams with "multiple running/passing plays" and "a wide selection of defensive schemes."! Madden who?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): If you think about it, in many ways, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is exactly like football. You run as fast as your can always trying to collect rings. And Dr. Robotnik kind of looks like a bald Mike Ditka. Also, you're competing against an echidna that you eventually befriend. ... Just like football.
Neutopia II (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Despite what we will occasionally put on mortgage applications, we are not scientists. But we think that Neutopia is scientifically the polar opposite of football. That's so much the case that we feel free from tying it to our theme, and can instead just say that this game wants to be Zelda so bad that it's considering seeing Dr. 90210 for ear extensions.
While Miis continue to be the face of Nintendo's push into the uncharted blue ocean of social gaming, the bobble headed avatars have remained criminally underutilized by the bulk of the console's software library. Apparently Sega agrees, as the company confirmed that the little guys and gals (and ninjas, and sith lords...) will be playable as characters in the upcoming Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games. 
Sometimes ragdoll physics can actually prove more natural. Sure, most crashes don't send you floating and flipping effortless through the wind, regardless of the laws of gravity, but those crashes aren't nearly as fun.
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With a projected late-September U.S. release, Wii-only 
