Wii U passes the Crytek test

Unique interface 'a challenge for game designers', but hardware specs impress

As Nintendo keeps a tight lid on the horsepower of its next-gen hardware, a company executive at Crytek has given insight into the kind of benchmarks Wii U will be passing.

Crytek co-founder Avni Yerli said he is impressed with the Wii U tech specs, and claimed that the team at Crytek UK are getting to grips with the hardware.

"The Wii U specs are very good," Yerli told GamesIndustry.biz

The system’s unique interface is however “a challenge for designers”, Yerli added.

“But once thought through it can add value, and that's what ultimately important. Our guys in Nottingham (Crytek UK) are very happy with their tests on the dev kits and they're excited about it."

Via Wii U passes the Crytek test

Mastertronic bringing PopCap games to UK retail on DS, PC and 360

Our friends overseas -- who live in the United States of Kingdoms, which we're fairly certain is what the UK is short for -- are about to have their free time sucked into oblivion. Publisher Mastertronic has announced plans to bring PopCap's most devilishly addictive titles to UK retailers on various platforms, starting with the February 18 release of PopCap Hits for Xbox 360; a tidy bundle which includes Bejeweled 2, Peggle, Feeding Frenzy and AstroPop.

Shortly thereafter, the publisher will port Plants vs. Zombies to the DS, and will release a second collection of PopCap Hits for 360, including Plants vs. Zombies, Zuma, Feeding Frenzy 2 and Heavy Weapon. Mediatronic also plans on releasing retail versions of a few of the casual developer's titles on PC later this year. Basically, we hope that the UK doesn't have any big projects coming up that will require its citizens to be as productive as humanly possible, because, hoo boy, that's a whole lot of PopCap

Source:Joystiq

Walmart wants your 3DS pre-order so bad it's throwing in this bonus case

Little known fact: 3-Dee is powered by microscopic hamsters on equally microscopic wheels. Not only does the technology's dependency on living organisms jack up the price, it also means that the 3DS will require a constant supply of oxygen. It's a good thing, then, that Walmart's 3DS pre-order freebie, a Power A-designed case (pictured), has plenty of breathing holes. Just remember to take the device out of its cage every once in awhile -- it needs direct sunlight too!

You can see more images of the bonus Power A "Flex Case" (a $10 value, you could brag) in Walmart's product gallery. Actually, no -- wait. These are ... GoldenEye screenshots?

• Source: Walmart

Retailers: 3DS games priced at $40-50 in US; £33-40 in UK; €50-60 in Europe

Nintendo has refuted our attempts to wrangle 3DS game pricing info so far, but retailer listings may be shedding some light on the subject. We hope you weren't hoping for a standard price point, because it looks like there's some wiggle room. A review of GameStop and Amazon listings reveals 3DS prices of either $39.99 or $49.99 in the US. Meanwhile, Eurogamer reports that UK retailer Game has confirmed the standard software price will be £39.99 in the region, though other UK retailers have prices listed as low as £32.99. Finally, we perused Amazon France and spotted prices of €49.95 and €59.95.

The disparate prices between titles matches up with pricing in Japan, though it is a bit more standardized. We'll keep poking Nintendo for official details.
Source: Eurogamer, GameStop, Amazon France - PilotWings Resort, Amazon France - Nintendogs & Cats, Amazon US - 3DS

Rayman 3D is an 'adaptation' of Rayman 2

Tucked away in Ubisoft's 3DS lineup press release is this golden nugget: Rayman 3D is actually an "adaptation" of the classic Rayman 2 (the Dreamcast version, specifically). Those of you who have experienced the joy of Rayman 2 can probably stop reading now. The rest of you will be glad to hear that the 3DS version will feature "major updates" to certain gameplay elements, including "accessibility, progression and learning curve."

Frankly, we're just glad

Lag-free Wii on PSP episode II: Mario Kart strikes back

It looks like our favorite PSP Fanboy, Obiwan222222, is up to his old tricks once again, and his latest video shows that he has finally eliminated the lag problem that plagued his first attempt to play Wii on a PSP four years ago. Using a Wii emulator on a PC, some custom firmware, and a program called PSPDisplay, he has managed to stream video and sound to his PSP Go in real time. He also mapped the Wii controls (Wiimote waving excluded, we presume) to the handheld to complete the full Wii-on-PSP gameplaying experience. To see the slick mod in action, check the video after the break.

Source:Engadget

THQ and Mattel enter game deal, includes Masters of the Universe rights

THQ will target kids with a new multi-year, multiplatform "alliance" with Mattel -- that's for sure. What we're not so sure about is whether those targets are intended to be kids of the 80s or their kids of today. A news announcement reads like a who's who of garage-sale name drops: Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Masters of the Universe, and even Polly Pocket (who's apparently still going strong these days).

While the deal with Mattel encompasses games that could appear on any platform imaginable, THQ did specifically note the potential in re-introducing the toy maker's brands through the uDraw GameTablet for Wii. "As we have shown with the combination of uDraw and Pictionary, there is enormous potential for the strategic relationship between THQ and Mattel," said Martin Good, executive veep of THQ's Kids, Family and Casual Games division.

The brilliant part about all this is that when you hand over THQ's Tablet and a copy of the He-Man: By the Power of Grayscale drawing game to the GameStop clerk, you simply say, "It's for my kid" -- and he sort of has to believe you.
[Image source: Madman Entertainment; credit: Mattel]
Source: THQ
Via:Joystiq

Nintendo 'exploring option' of reprinting Super Mario All-Stars

Nintendo wasn't kidding about Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition being limited -- the game has become hard to find since its December release, with eBay prices hovering around the $70–80 mark. According to Nintendo PR director Marc Franklin, it may become easier to find in the future, though, as the publisher is considering reprinting the ... reprinted SNES collection ... of reprinted NES games. (A re-re-reprinting, if you will.)

"Because of the strong response, we are exploring the option of bringing this item back at a later date," Franklin told GameLife. "Until that decision is made, consumers should check with retailers, as supplies will vary by store."
Source: Game|Life
Via:Joystiq

Red Dead and Limbo lead nominees for 2011 GDC Awards

It's almost time once again for the industry's premier awards show that doesn't feature regular appearances by Jersey Shore cast members: the 11th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards. The event's organizers have released the mercifully Mountain Dew-based-category-free list of nominees, which includes a number of potential merits for Limbo, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 2 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Check out the full list of nominees after the jump and discuss your favorites in the comments! (Oh, that's your pick for Best Visual Arts? Well, we can't say we agree with you, there.)

2011 GDCA Nominees

Best Game Design

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo)
• Mass Effect 2 (BioWare)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)
• God of War III (SCE Santa Monica)

Innovation

• Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream)
• Kirby's Epic Yarn (Good-Feel & HAL Laboratory)
• Minecraft (Mojang)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Dance Central (Harmonix)

Best Technology

• Starcraft II (Blizzard)
• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)
• Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream)
• Mass Effect 2 (BioWare)
• God of War III (SCE Santa Monica)

Best Handheld Game

• God of War: Ghost of Sparta (Ready At Dawn/SCE Santa Monica)
• Cut the Rope (ZeptoLab)
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Kojima Productions)
• Game Dev Story (Kairosoft)
• Dragon Quest IX (Level 5)

Best Audio

• Limbo (Playdead)
• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)
• Halo: Reach (Bungie)
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (DICE)
• Mass Effect 2 (BioWare)

Best Downloadable Game

• Costume Quest (Double Fine)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)
• Minecraft (Mojang)
• Monday Night Combat (Uber Entertainment)

Best Writing

• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)
• Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream)
• Mass Effect 2 (BioWare)
• Costume Quest (Double Fine)
• Fallout: New Vegas (Obsidian)

Best Debut Game

• Limbo (Playdead)
• Darksiders (Vigil Games)
• Minecraft (Mojang)
• Monday Night Combat (Uber Entertainment)
• Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)

Best Visual Arts

• God of War III (SCE Santa Monica)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (Treyarch)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft Montreal)
• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)

Game of the Year

• Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego)
• Mass Effect 2 (BioWare)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (Treyarch)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft Montreal)

Wii Rock Band Network releases to stop next week

All Rock Band Network tracks are available for purchase through the Xbox 360 Rock Band games, and Harmonix periodically dumps some popular tracks from the DIY authoring service onto the PS3 and Wii games as DLC. Next week's set of RBN songs (after the break), however, will be the last to make the trip over to Wii.

"With the smaller online install base, limited demand for releases so far and the significant amount of work it takes for our producers and audio team to convert and process these additional tracks," Harmonix's Aaron Trites explained in the weekly DLC announcement, "we're no longer able to continue submitting RBN content to the Wii." That's not the end for all downloadable music on Wii, however: "regular Wii DLC, and RBN releases for the 360 and PS3 will continue uninterrupted."

Wii
Available: January 18, 2011

• The Main Drag – "How We'd Look On Paper"
• Wounded Soul – "Rx"
• Band of Horses – "The Great Salt Lake"
• Firewind – "Head Up High"
• Cetan Clawson and the Soul Side – "White Heat"
• OK Go – "White Knuckles

Source: Rock Band
Via:Joystiq

Nintendo 3DS is just a hardware gimmick

A recent interview with games industry veteran Jon Hare where the developer points out the flaws of the 3DS from a developer standpoint.  Hare is the developer responsible for bringing titles like Sensible Soccer and Cannon Fodder to gamers and had some pretty strong opinions on the new handheld.  In the interview which originally was published by BeefJack, Hare had this to say:

It's hard to argue with someone that actually knows the ins and outs of game design.  Gimmick or not, the 3DS looks fun and cool, but what say you reader?

Is the 3DS just a gimmick?  A flash in the pan that will fizzle out quickly or is glasses free 3D the wave of the future?


Via

Dual Dueling Controllers

l Dueling Controllers

The Super NES controller was certainly easier on the hands than earlier Nintendo versions, so this gamer girl chose wisely. We're not quite sure why she has two of them, but kudos to her if she can handle both at the same time...

Nintendo Game Boy Tube Dress

Check out this awesome original Game Boy tube dress by Etsy user SewOeno. For the ladies who are interested in getting one, I’m sorry, but there was only one available and it’s already been sold!

[Via Etsy]

Once More for Old Time’s Sake [Video]

Now excuse me while I go and crawl in a corner to cry… just a little.

[Via Gawker.tv]

Sega's Glorious Failure Makes Another (Disappointing) Comeback

As expected, Sega revealed today that a collection of old Dreamcast games will be released for the Xbox 360 and PC. And as you'd expect from such a collection, it's a little disappointing.

The four games included in the pack are Sonic Adventure, Space Channel 5 Part 2, Sega Bass Fishing and Crazy Taxi. In other words, four games already available for digital download.

No Power Stone, no Skies of Arcadia, no Shenmue and, most important of all, no Jet Set Radio. Either Sega is saving those most-requested classics for further collections along the way, or it just likes its remaining Dreamcast fans to feel even more bitter, upset and stupid for getting their hopes up than usual.

The Dreamcast Collection is out on February 22 in North America and February 25 in Europe.

Send an email to the author of this post at plunkett@kotaku.com.

Pokemon Black and White reach five million sales in Japan

The two latest additions to the neverending Pokémon franchise managed to move an incredible 2.6 million units during their first two days on Japanese store shelves -- but how have Black and White fared since then? Unsurprisingly, they've done just fine; according to sales statistics from Enterbrain, this week saw the pair's combined sales reach 5,036,724 units.

Pokémon Black and White aren't the first games to reach this impressive mark -- in fact, four other DS games have managed to reach five million sales in the past. However, no other DS title has managed to reach five million quite as quickly as Black and White, which have only been available for 17 weeks. We guess that just goes to prove that, for some people "Gotta Catch 'Em All" isn't just a catchphrase, it's a way of life.
Source: Andriasang

Alleged 3DS, PlayStation Phone disassembled

Not one but two ritualistic device dismantlings have been exacted in recent days, an alleged 3DS and PlayStation Phone the sacrificial lambs. Spilled across a TVGZone forum thread are the guts of an apparent 3DS, posted by a Taiwanese tinkerer who claims to have obtained the stolen unit (not unlike the one supposedly lifted from an assembly line earlier this month) and promptly taken the tools to it. The de-casing has revealed only a typical arrangement of circuitry and plastic bits, leaving us to wonder if the plundering of this poor portable was in vain.

As it we hadn't seen enough already, TGbus, which had apparently tired of displaying its alleged "Xperia Play" PlayStation phone alongside its comprehensive collection of the world's handheld devices, broke out a set of Torx bits and proceeded to tear the thing down. The meticulous disassembly, however, failed to uncover what some might have hoped would be an intact, teensy-weensy PlayStation system -- just more circuitry (including what's suspected to be a Qualcomm MSM7x30 chipset) and plastic bits, it seems.

Are you finished yet, you monsters?

UK retailers list 3DS for March 18, £249

Listings for the Nintendo 3DS have popped up on UK retailers, including The Hut, Best Buy, Woolworths and WHSmith, offering "pre-order deposits" with a March 18 date. According to these sites, the handheld will be available in blue, black and red. As MCV points out, however, all these sites pull their listings from The Hut's database, so they're essentially all from the same source. (Duplicate 3DS listings on all the sites, featuring a March 25 release date, have been removed since we first looked at these retailer sites.)

Earlier this morning, the sites had listed a placeholder price of £299 (about $466) for the 3DS, but as of publishing, the RRP has changed to £249 ($388). For comparison, the DSi XL is priced at £159.99, roughly $250 by today's currency exchange rate. In the US, the XL's MSRP is $169.99, suggesting that, if Nintendo uses the same strategy of using roughly the same numerical price in pounds and dollars, the 3DS price could be set around the $250 mark, when it's expected to be announced by Nintendo next week. That is, if the UK price here is accurate.

MCV notes that it has been "lead to believe" that the once listed March 25 release date is going to be the real one, and that the 3DS price will be somewhere between £200–230 ($312–359). We hope that turns out to be closer to the truth, for our UK readers' sake. Nintendo will hold a European 3DS event in Amsterdam next Wednesday, at which point we should find out.

NES Ghosts 'N Goblins removed from Virtual Console

Arthur has bested demons, specters and all manner of otherworldly monsters, but now he's finally found an unbeatable foe: Erasure. No, we're not speaking about the greatest band of all time -- we're speaking about actual, literal erasure. The NES version of Ghosts 'N Goblins has mysteriously vanished off of the Wii Virtual Console platform, leaving only the slightly more expensive, 800 Nintendo Point arcade version in its wake.

Capcom hasn't formally explained why the NES version of the game disappeared, but it certainly isn't the first title to vanish off of Nintendo's downloadable games services without warning or cause. Ironically enough, our best guess for the reason behind these disappearances involve both ghosts and goblins. We'll see if we can get something a little more official than that.

Is The Nintendo DSi Dead?

First released in Japan in Fall 2008, the Nintendo DSi brought a new era to Nintendo's handheld gaming with a low-res camera. That era, it seems, is apparently finished.

According to a Japanese retail source, the Nintendo DSi seems to be out of production. The available DSi consoles are apparently only those currently in inventory, and there are supposedly areas where it is sold out.

However, the DSiXL (or DSiLL as it's called in Japan) still seems to be in production.

With the Nintendo 3DS coming out shortly, Nintendo might want to avoid consumer confusion between the similarly-sized 3DS and the DSi.

If this is true, don't look for Nintendo to cease support for DSiXL just yet. The console still fills a gap by offering the DSi experience, but on larger scale.

Kotaku is following up with Nintendo and will update this post should the company comment.

ニンテンドーＤＳｉ生産終了。 そして３ＤＳ予約の問い合わせがはいってきています。 [ゲーム屋さんのお店だより]

Send an email to the author of this post at bashcraft@kotaku.com.