Nintendo’s Next Console May Come Sooner Than Competitors

August 27th, 2008 by Will Prusik in Analyst, Business, News, Wii, nintendo

Sony has been constantly reminding the public that their strategy for the PS3 is one of long-term goals. With the PS3 still picking up steam and the PS2 still going strong, it seems to be an effective strategy for them. Rumors are already flying about Microsoft’s plans for their next-gen console, but some are saying that Nintendo will beat everyone to the punch. I tend to be a bit scornful of analysts that discuss the video game industry, as usually whatever they say that’s considered important enough to be reported is high on the “duh” scale, but for once there’s one who’s saying something actually worthy of thought.

While most people in the industry agree that it’s going to be three or four years before we see a new generation of consoles, Nintendo might jump the gun by releasing a new home console. While the Wii is incredibly popular the console lags behind the others in terms of storage space, DVD capability and processing power. All are very simple to fix, especially given that the unit is capable of playing DVDs with the aid of a homebrew application. The storage issue is definitely something that will be addressed in the near future with the ever-growing number of Virtual Console and Wiiware titles. The big question though is will the crowd that the Wii appeals to– the laid back, ‘casual’ gamer– run out to buy a new console?

Tags: Analyst, Business, News, nintendo, Wii
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Nintendo Reveals 1:1 Adapter For Wiimote!

July 14th, 2008 by Erich Jurgens in Hardware, News, Wii, nintendo

If there was one disappointment with the Wii, and trust me, there was, it would have been that the Wiimote cannot calculate true 1:1 movement. Well, today just and hour before Microsoft’s press conference, Nintendo has revealed that they have made a simple attachment that allows the Wii remote to do just that, detect movement exactly as it is being made. Keep in mind that this is an official announcement, not a rumor.

“The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion,” says Nintendo. “Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone.”

Naturally, Nintendo will be showing more of the MotionPlus attachment at their conference tomorrow. Speaking of conferences, if the rumors are true, and Microsoft reveals their own motion sensing peripheral, I think it will be reminiscent of when Sony showed the Sixaxis for the first time.

Tags: Hardware, News, nintendo, Wii
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WiiWare Gets 2 New Titles

June 2nd, 2008 by Jeff Baker in DLC, Wii, Wiiware, nintendo

Well readers, it’s Monday morning which means a whole slew of updates are in store for the upcoming week.

First up is Nintendo’s WiiWare service, getting two new titles Toki Tori and Protöthea. Both priced at 1,000 Wii Points you can read about the new titles in a snippet, courtesy of Joystiq, below:

Toki Tori (Two Tribes, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Well, it’s WiiWare’s fourth week, and we’re finally getting our first remake of a Game Boy Color game (confidence get!). In this puzzle/platformer, you’ll collect eggs using zany items across 70 levels. A second player can join in by “drawing hints while you are playing.” We hope this picture of an oversized penis helps you, partner, because that’s what you’re getting.

Protöthea (UbiSoft, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points): Protöthea (as you can see here) is a top-down scrolling shooter from UbiSoft. In an effort to find more to say about it, the official Nintendo press release notes it “introduces new concepts to a beloved, classic game style while mixing genres and utilizing the full capabilities of the Wii console, from graphics to controls.” What does that mean, exactly? We have no idea.

Tags: DLC, nintendo, Wii, Wiiware
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Nintendo of Canada Auctions Off Brand New Classics

May 30th, 2008 by Jeff Baker in Sales, Software, nintendo

Die hard collectors of games from yesteryear are sure to go crazy over Nintendo of Canada’s latest charity stunt. Apparently, according to Joystiq, they are clearing out their warehouses, and auctioning of their contents with proceeds going directly to the United Way charity.

The auction includes 421 brand new, in the box, sealed games for classic Nintendo consoles like the NES, SNES, and Gameboy.

You can head here to browse the various auctions that Nintendo of Canada has up. Beware though: High rollers only, the highest bid is currently at $1,013.07 which you can view here.

Tags: nintendo, Sales, Software
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