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Band Hero coming to DS, peripherals revealed

Earlier this week we learned that a game called Band Hero would be making its way to consoles at some point in the future. However, there was no talk about a portable version of the game. But let’s be real now, it’s Activision, they have to leave no stone unturned.

Enter, Band Hero DS which is exactly what you woudl expect, Band Hero for the Nintendo DS. The game will be developed by Activision owned Vicarious Visions and will come bundled with a guitar peripheral along with a never before seen drum peripheral.

For gamers who liked the previous Guitar Hero DS games, this is for you. As for the rest of you, move along.

via Kotaku

Quantum of Solace Game Review–A High Caliber First Person Shooter

So when I saw that someone had converted the latest James Bond shooterific epic into a game, Quantum of Solace, now available for Playstations 2 and 3, the Wii, PC, DS and the Xbox 360, I sighed the sigh of a man who’d been here many, MANY times before.  I knew without so much as looking at the back of the box that it was going to be a first person shooter and heavily resemble the movie.  This was the case for virtually every James Bond title since Goldeneye’s incredible success, and since then, everyone’s been pretty much imitating Goldeneye.

This time around, there will be some differentiation as Quantum of Solace incorporates events from TWO different Bond installments–Casino Royale and its namesake Quantum of Solace, with a few events unique to the game–Bond is out to recover Mr. White, and fights his way through a small army.  Getting Mr. White back to Siena, Bond discovers that Quantum, an organization Mr. White is part of, has agents that have managed to infiltrate MI6.  From here, Bond proceeds onward through a whirlwind, worldwide adventure, gaining his vaunted Double O status, and ultimately attempting to take down Quantum.

And indeed, what I believed would be the case before I slapped the game in my system was to be—it was a first person shooter that mirrored the events of the movies fairly closely, albeit with some noticeable differences, and I thought that it was going to be yet another in a long string of games that I had already played before.  The unusual thing about the whole mess was that I actually had some fun with this one.  Maybe it was the smoothness of the controls, or the way I got a variety of weapons right out of the gate.  I don’t know what it was, but I both had fun and did NOT get seasick, relative rarities as far as first person shooters go.

And that’s the problem, isn’t it?  It’s a first person shooter game.  If you’re not a huge James Bond fan or really into first person shooters then there’s only so much fun you can have here.  Indeed, I started getting bored with the whole thing after I shot up Mr. White’s pocket army at his house.

There is some further help on this one—there are several multiplayer modes to help improve playability and long-term replay value.  A first person shooter DOES make a good party game with lots of action, so there’s some value here, unless you’re chronically playing alone.

Let’s be clear—Quantum of Solace may be one of the best first person shooters I’ve ever played, but still, it’s only the best first person shooter I’ve ever played.  It’s like finding that particular brand of rat poison that makes you throw up the least when you mix it in a milkshake.  Or maybe the particular brand of anvil that hurts the least when you drop it on your foot.  I’ve only seen a handful of really entertaining first person shooters in my time, and admittedly, Quantum of Solace is one of them.  It’s a good rental, but sadly, not much else than that.

Dungeon Raiders Bringing Team Puzzling To DS

The formula behind this game isn’t exactly new; you have a trio of characters all with different abilities that you must use in conjunction to overcome puzzles, defeat enemies and achieve your ultimate goal. Fortunately, it’s an extremely FUN formula that hearkens back to cult classics like The Lost Vikings and Gobliiins. Cyanide and Focus Home Interactive are announcing Dungeon Raiders, a DS title that promises to use all the functions of the DS on your wacky journey.

You’ll play a trio of adventurers, Glandalf (that’s right folks, he’s a wizard), bumbling thief Luigi and Extermino, the beefy executioner. You’ll have to outwit puzzles using the team’s abilities including a plethora of spells. The game has a definitely humorous twist, though the nature of some of the spells (Toilet Plunger and Speed Far) suggest a slightly more juvenile tone to the humor to match the cartoonish style.

The game will be primarily touch screen controlled with the top screen being used to display a map. Unfortunately the press release says that using the microphone will be essential in activating certain mechanisms, which can be an awkward prospect depending on how you use it. Blowing into the microphone on a crowded train or bus is fine, but having to talk to it is quite embarrassing. The game is currently set for release this summer.

Publisher Natsume joins ESA

Publisher Natusme, known for titles such as Harvest Moon, and other casual and family friendly games, has been confirmed to join the ESA, and will also appear at this year’s E3 expo as well. The California based publisher has been making and publishing games since 1990, but is most known for the Harvest Moon series.

The ESA had a tough 2008, where LucasArts, Activision and id Software left the industry association. It looks to rebound though, as new, albeit smaller, developers and publishers are joining.

New DS game to help you pass the driving test

Educational games on the Nintendo DS are nothing new, which is no surprise that the British are now getting a game that’ll help them practice on their written driving test. According to the publisher of the game, 40% of those who take the written test in the UK fail, which is where the game comes in.

It features all of the official 1256 driving test questions, and offers a free driving lesson to everyone who picks up a copy of the game, titled: Pass Your Driving Theory Test, and retails for 20 GBP.

Nintendo DS reaches 100 million units sold

Nintendo has announced that the DS has sold 100 million units. The DS has seen three different versions so far, the original DS, which was in production from 2004-2006, the DS Lite, which was introduced in 2006 and is still in production (although not for long), and the new DSi, which will be available in North America and Europe on April 3.

Nintendo also revealed that 83 games had surpassed the 1 million sold mark, and seven titles have sold more than 10 million copies. Nintendo later revealed the names of the seven titles: Nintendogs, New Super Mario Bros. Brain Age, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Mario Kart DS, Brain Age 2, and Animal Crossing: Wild World.

Japan Outlaws R4 Cartridge

One of the biggest concerns Nintendo has is with piracy. They’re always pushing to crack down on those selling fake DSes and pirated cartridges. Unfortunately for the company there are much more easily accessed, technological means for accessing games for free. One method was the R4 cartridge, essentially an adapter to allow DS owners to upload files onto a micro SD card. There are some legitimate uses for the technology: one can download home brewed software that turns the DS into an eBook reader by uploading PDF files; putting music or video files on the card also allows you to use the handheld as a portable media player.

Unfortunately any technological item that has both a legitimate and illegitimate use is much more likely to be used for the latter. As you can imagine, Nintendo doesn’t like this device and now they’ve succeeded in doing something about it. The gaming company must have some excellent lobbyists, because the Japanese government has just banned sales of the R4 cartridge.

EA to Bring Kart Racing and Party Games to MySims

MySims is going to get two more games, MySims Party and MySims Racing. That’s wasn’t that unpredictable was it? EA will work on Wii and DS versions and some of us will be really anxious to play them. I think the kart racing game is pretty clear and, may I add, pretty cool. You get to customize your car and race against up to four players in multiplayer mode.

MySims Party on the other hand isn’t that obvious is it. It’s going to be a collection of 50 mini games ready for you MySim. And we hear that each MySim in the game has different stats so you’re going to pay extra attention to picking the perfect character to do the right job.

The games are going to arrive later this year so keep checking out EA’s announcements for the exact date and pricing details.

Best Buy game vending machines in airports

Mega retailer Best Buy has begun placing vending machines in airports that sell games. In particular, games that travelers enjoy: Nintendo DS and PSP. Called “Best Buy Express”, the machines sell games for the DS and PSP, in addition to selling the handheld consoles as well.

The machines include other stuff travelers might find useful: headphones, SD cards, batteries, digital cameras and so on.

Wii and DSi Top Sellers in Japan

Everyone’s got their own guesses about which gaming companies will suffer most due to the global recession. Some point fingers at Sony since the PS3 is by far the most expensive console and its appeal as a Blu-ray player is slackening. Others say that it’s going to be Nintendo who suffers given that the casual gaming crowd are likely to be the first people to stop buying video games.

Whoever your money is on, it seems that for now Nintendo is doing fine. The company is not only holding their lead as a the biggest seller in Japan, they’re pulling even further ahead. The DSi is still the top dog and sold 173,693 systems last week. The Wii has shot up by over 40,000 units which put it at second place, ahead of the PSP. The DS Lite also sold over thirty thousand units, which puts sales for the DS overall at above the two hundred thousand mark. Unsurprisingly Wii and DS games took the top ten software slots.

Classic Puzzle Adventure Coming to Wii, DS

In the early incarnations of video games while kids were playing simple platformers like Mario Bros. and Joust, many gamers were getting their fix from games that were uncomplicated in terms of visuals but valued brainpower and logic over quick reflexes and careful timing. These were often text-based and relied on detailed descriptions. When graphics and the mouse came along game designers melded them together to create a genre that still delights many gamers today: the point-and-click adventure. While occasionally a puzzle would simply be a frustrating pixel hunt there were many classics known for their complex yet enjoyable puzzles and deep, intricate storylines.

One classic, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, is getting a resurrection and a bit of a facelift. The game will be brought to both the Wii and the DS with this new ‘directors cut’ version building on the original with extra narrative and puzzles. The game will also feature facial animations done by Dave Gibbons, the man behind the art of the Watchmen graphic novel.

Players unfamiliar with the story will begin as a photojournalist who witnesses the murder of a Parisian statesman and eventually get drawn into the web of a vast conspiracy that has its roots in medieval legend. Both versions are due out in March of next year.

Nintendo Revelead Wii and DS Coming Attractions for Q1 2009

Happen to have a Wii or/and DS and you’re anxious to see what Nintendo will have in stores for you in Q1 2009? Well Nintendo has announced 39 upcoming Wii games and 64 DS games. Looking for Christmas Wii/DS presents? Take a look below! There surely must be a title for you!

Wii

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens – March 24

Crave Entertainment
Monster Pals™ – March
Solitaire & Mahjong – February
Puzzle Challenges and More! – February
Crayola Colorful World – March

D3Publisher
Onechanbara™ Bikini Zombie Slayers™ – February
Coraline – January

Destineer
WordJong Party – January
Battle Rage – February
Cradle of Rome – February
Cate West: The Vanishing Files – March
Burger Island – March

Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Winter

DreamCatcher
Play the World – March

Electronic Arts
NASCAR® Kart Racing – Feb. 10
SimAnimals™ – Jan. 27
TRIVIAL PURSUIT – Early spring

Hudson Entertainment
FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR – Jan. 6
Marble Saga Kororinpa™ – Spring

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
DanceDanceRevolution® Disney Grooves – March

Majesco Entertainment
Escape the Museum – January
Major Minor’s Majestic March – March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Little King’s Story – Feb. 17
Rune Factory: Frontier – March

Mastiff
Deer Drive™ – Jan. 20

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
We Ski™ and Snowboard – March

Nintendo
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ – March
New Play Control! Pikmin™ – March

Sega
The House of The Dead: Overkill™ – February
SONIC™ and the Black Knight – March
MADWORLD™ – March

Southpeak Interactive
Roogoo Twisted Towers™ – Feb. 17
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball™ – March 17
Brave: A Warrior’s Tale™ – Feb. 17

THQ
Paws & Claws Pet Resort – Jan. 5
Neighborhood Games – Jan. 5

Ubisoft
Tenchu™: Shadow Assassins – February
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) – March

XS Games
Super PickUps™ – Q1

Nintendo DS

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens – March 24
Pimp My Ride 2™ – March 24
Animal Planet™ – March 10

Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
My World, My Way™ – Feb. 3
Legacy of Ys™: Books I & II – Feb. 10
Trackmania™ DS – March 17

Crave Entertainment
Monster Pals ™ – March

D3Publisher of America
Puzzle Quest™: Galactrix™ – Q1
Coraline – January

Destineer
USA TODAY Puzzle Craze – January
DinoPets – March

Disney Interactive Studios
Phineas and Ferb – Winter

DreamCatcher
Inkheart – January
Learn Math – January
Drivers’ Ed Portable – January
Monster Band - January
Zoo Quest – February
My Personal Diary – February
Music Star: Pop Star – February
Paint by DS – March
Matchstick – March
Dreamer: Top Model – March
Sarah – Keeper of the Unicorn – March
Learn Chess – March
Dragon Master – April

Electronic Arts
Zubo™ – March
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure™ – Q1
SimAnimals™ – Jan. 27

Empire Interactive
Jagged Alliance – Feb. 17

Gameloft
American Popstar – Road to Celebrity – March 9

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero™ – Q1
Suikoden Tierkreis – Q1
Little Magician’s Magic Adventure™ – Q1

Majesco Entertainment
WonderWorld Amusement Park™ – January
Powerbike – January
Our House™ – Q1
Hot ‘n’ Cold – March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Avalon Code - February
Flower, Sun, and Rain – March

Mastiff
Moon™ – Jan. 13

MumboJumbo
Chicken Hunter Star Karts – March 10

Nintendo
Personal Trainer™: Math – Jan. 12
Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon – Feb. 16
Pokémon™ Platinum version – March 22

ROCKSTAR GAMES
Grand Theft Auto™: Chinatown Wars – Winter

Southpeak Interactive
Big Bang Mini® – Jan. 6
Roogoo Attack™ – Feb. 17
Brave: Shaman’s Challenge™ – Feb. 17

Square Enix, Inc.
FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: Echoes of Time™ – Spring

THE GAME FACTORY
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES™ – Jan. 19

THQ
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets – Jan. 5

TOMY Corporation
My DoItAll™ – February

Ubisoft
Jake Power Fireman – January
Jake Power Policeman – January
Imagine™ Cheerleader – February
JoJo’s Fashion Show – February
Petz® Horseshoe Ranch – February
Imagine™ Family Doctor – February
Imagine™ Ice Champions – March
Jake Power Handyman – March
My Fashion Studio Paris Collection – Feb. 17
American Popstar – Road to Celebrity – March 24
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) – March

XSEED Games
Retro Game Challenge – Jan. 6

via Press

First GTA: Chinatown Wars Screens and Details

Finally, after months of waiting, Nintendo has revealed via Nintendo Power the first set of details concerning the DS exclusive Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. The first thing that people are wondering is about the gameplay, and whether or not the lower hardware power of the DS will lead to the usual GTA gameplay elements to be compromised. The short answer is, no, they have not. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will, in fact not only have the sandbox gameplay, with a 3D, cel-shaded, city, with various cars, citizens, a 24 hour day, with different weather effects, but the title will also be rated M. The missions will be designed for shorter, more frequent, play times. There will be radio stations, although most of the music will be instrumental only (I assume because of the preference of MIDI music on the DS).

The game will implement stylus controls, with aiming being controlled with the controlled pad. Players can switch to auto aim with th R bumper. The User interface will be handled through a PDA. Players can veiw their contacts, emails, stats, map, GPS, and the music player, through the PDA.

In addition to the game details, you can view the first screenshots after the jump.

More »

No Madden in next Madden

Electronic Arts is looking to make a big change in the upcoming Madden game; John Madden won’t be the announcer for the game. Instead, Tom Hammond of NBC Sports and Cris Collinsworth of NFL Network and NBC Sports will be taking his place in Madden ‘09. We all knew that it would happen sooner or later, as the football legend is in his seventies.

Keep in mind that this is the 20th installment of the series, so it just wouldn’t be complete without the main man himself. The game is titled after him, so why not include him? Maybe at least a cameo would do justice.

Read (AOL Sports)

Mario Party DS Site Finds The Internet

The Official Mario Party DS website is up, but unfortunately only the Japanese version is up at the moment, but expect an English equivalent to arrive some time soon. It’s being created by Hudson again, similar to Mario Party 8 for Wii. If you can’t wait, or similarly can’t read Japanese, then here’s a fansite to tide fans over until something more… English finds the internet. Either way, minigames + stylus = quite a lot of fun to look forward to.