BETHESDA, Md. & REDMOND, Wash.–The Wii™ experience is just beginning for Marriott and Renaissance guests, who can now choose from 20 games, including the popular Mario Kart™ Wii, Super Mario Galaxy™, and Wii Sports™ as well as the revolutionary fitness game, Wii Fit™. In a lodging industry first, Marriott International, Inc. is piloting a new specially built Wii hotel game system from Nintendo in select guest rooms and lounges. Wii systems are available at six Marriott and Renaissance properties:

* New York Marriott Marquis
* Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square
* Boston Marriott Cambridge
* Bethesda (Md.) Marriott Suites
* Annapolis (Md.) Marriott Waterfront
* JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix (Lounge only)

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‘From Bags to Riches’ Includes DS Systems with Fashion Handbag Rentals

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 17, 2008 – Women who prefer the hottest designer handbags draped over their arms will now be able to have the hottest portable video game system at their fingertips as well. Nintendo has partnered with From Bags to Riches, a popular online handbag-rental service, to include stylish and colorful Nintendo DS™ systems and games with some rentals through the end of 2008.

From Bags to Riches subscribers will have the chance to borrow a Nintendo DS and games, free of charge, with a 30-day rental of one of From Bags to Riches’ featured handbags from such coveted designers as Prada, Tory Burch, Gucci and Juicy Couture. Consumers can choose the handbag and Nintendo DS that best suit their taste on FromBagstoRiches.com. After the conclusion of the rental period, consumers simply return the Nintendo DS along with the bag.

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A few months back we reported that 3, now former, Metroid developers have moved on to other things, and formed their own studio Armature. It seems like these 3 guys have been approached by EA to help create a game:

“EA approached us with this really interesting business model of creating a small studio that is only comprised of industry veterans,” says Pacini. “The goal is to create new IP with a very, very small team and to produce a game without having to grow that team.”

“From my stand point, I’ve never worked on any other console,” says Pacini. “I’ve always made games for Nintendo. I’m reinvigorated. I’m really excited about what other opportunities are out there. How can we use Xbox Live? How can we use the power of the PS3?”

“I think it really opens it up,” says Pacini. “I’m not saying it was by any means restrictive working for Nintendo. We had this palette to work on, the Wii and the DS, but now we have everything.”

“That’s just really, really exciting.”

Never fear Nintendo fans they do mention doing another Metroid game:

“Personally, I would love to work on another Metroid game,” says Keller. “I have been in love with Metroid for years. We had a chance to recreate a game that was created way back when.”

“That was awesome.”

Link

- The Conduit’s control scheme partially based on Metroid, Medal of Honor
- Gimmicky Wii waggle is limited because they didn’t want to disrupt the pacing of the game - Other ideas concerning waggle are a “little more out there,” might be considered for the sequel
- Trying to get a lot of “Oh my God” moments in the game, things you wouldn’t expect
- If you want, you can pay attention to the story or just ignore it
- Definitely looking into WiiSpeak and MotionPlus - Will only incorporate them they aren’t afterthoughts
- If the developers have to use friend codes (and they admit they will probably have to), they will make it as streamlined and fast as possible. Still looking at every possible option.
- 3 types of weapons: Alien weapons, human weapons, weapons you get from Trust
- Once again, can’t do splitscreen with the graphics-level (Developers weren’t trying to tick off gamers. Rendering has to be displayed with different angles two times.) Will look into it in the future. Looking into some types of co-op play. Possibly come up with a seperate co-op mode (not the story mode)
- Have not started a second Conduit. Sequel a part of negotiations with publisher.

Link

-Bozon is playing through Mega Man 9. Currently Embargoed. He’s stuck on Wily

Mystery Case Files MillionHeir:
-Good fit for DS.
-Appears to be going after Professor Layton audience, but in reality it’s a different beast.
-Easier than Professor Layton.
-Fairly casual game.
-You find items hidden in busy scenery.
-If you play the game a second time you’ll get different items to find, adding to the replay value.
-Score given: 7.7
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212,995 Super Mario Bros 3
209,441 Super Mario Bros
151,881 Super Mario World
146,219 Mario Kart 64
131,024 Super Mario 64
100,509 Legend of Zelda
97,498 Ocarina of Time
87,696 Wario’s Woods
85,756 Paper Mario
82,935 Kirby’s Adventure

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Mario Super Sluggers
- The more you play it, the more you enjoy it - Bozon
- A lot of waggle
- With nunchuck you can aim, becomes a little more fun
- Arcade baseball, fun

- IGN exclusives planned throughout the week

NPD Data
- Nintendo still on top
- Crazy numbers since July wasn’t a huge month for Nintendo
- Bozon says that third-party games ARE selling on Wii, he had the numbers right in front of him
- Upward trend with sequels (Madden, Guitar Hero)
- Matt says there are a lot of misconceptions about sales numbers on Wii
- Tiger Woods selling best on Wii

- Some talk about Metroid Prime 3, Matt praises its graphics highly - Says art the best on Wii. Galaxy has better tech.
- Bozon thinks he likes Metroid out of the big 3, Matt still sticks by Mario Galaxy - loves music, looks good on the new screen in the IGN demo room

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LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2008 – At the E3 Media & Business Summit today, Nintendo unveiled an enhancement for its iconic Wii Remote™ controller and new games that promise to further enrich and engage players around the world. These offerings build on Nintendo’s ongoing efforts to remove the barriers between expert and novice video game players, an approach that has been instrumental in creating a paradigm shift for the industry since the advent of the Nintendo DS™ portable system and the Wii™ home console.

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Facebreaker 
- “Party version of Facebreaker,” but title is misleading (not really minigames) 
- Graphics look great - art style is impressive, moves nicely 
- Gameplay has a lot of promise also, but Matt wasn’t able to play it long 
- Shot from the sideview, still a 3D boxing game 
- Very fast, arcadey 

Skate It 
- Still not a lot of gameplay available in the version Matt + Daemon played 
- Will be a learning curve, but it’ll be a “cool” way to play a skateboarding game - Daemon 
- Programmed intuitively 
- Grinding all about timing 
- Visually not too impressive 
- Framerate needs to be up and running - lag won’t be good for the game 

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Nintendo Power has ranked what they believe to be the Top 20 games for all Nintendo consoles and handhelds.  Do you have them all? ; )

NES

1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. Mega Man 2
4. Super Mario Bros.
5. Metroid
6. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
7. Contra
8. Super Mario Bros. 2
9. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
10. Ninja Gaiden
11. Mega Man 3
12. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
13. DuckTales
14. Castlevania
15. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
16. Maniac Mansion
17. Bionic Commando
18. Dragon Warrior IV
19. Final Fantasy
20. Kid Icarus

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