Just wanted to point something out from this podcast. In the question section of the podcast, Mat stats that the Nintendo conference later this week will probably be embargoed until next week.

DS rumors

- Nikkei spilled the beans on the potential of a future Nintendo DS
- Rumors have always been out there, but Nikkei is like the Wall Street Journal of Japan, so when they say something, you kind of listen.
- Updated version of Nintendo DS, adding a second touch screen, bigger screens SD card and mp3 support. Suggested faster Wi-Fi and alluded that Nintendo wants to have more connectivity like Safeco Field
- Also saying there’s a camera, Craig says the camera could also be used at the Wii’s i-Toy.
- Another theory from Craig: Save files off the Wii to the DS -> Wii’s storage solution. Bozon also thinks they’ll open up the SD card, like what Vicarious has been doing.
- Backward compatibility could be a problem with bigger screens

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Format: WiiWare™
Launch Date: 09/29/08
ESRB: E (Everyone)
Wii Points: 600
Game Type: Action, Puzzle
Control Type: Wii Remote
Players: 1
Publisher: Nintendo

Game Information

Control gravity and guide a star through 50 stages while growing bigger and avoiding obstacles!

Explore the universe like never before in Art Style: ORBIENT. Take control of gravity and antigravity to carefully maneuver your small star through 50 stages set in multiple galaxies. Collide with other stars to absorb them and make your own star expand in size, or capture the stars in your orbit and have them become your satellites. Space isn’t empty though, and you’ll have to avoid bumping into obstacles or getting pulled into a black hole. If you feel like relaxing while still being challenged, this is the game for you—its combination of simple controls, atmospheric sound, and unique environment make for an experience unlike any other!

Games in the Art Style series feature elegant design, polished graphics, and pick-up-and-play controls, creating an experience focused purely on fun and engaging game play.

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT’S BOMBERMAN BLAST NOW AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL
DOWNLOAD ON THE Wii

Players Can Now Bomb It Up Against 8 Players With
Online Multiplayer Combat And Mii Support

REDWOOD CITY, CA - September 29, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North
American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced the official
launch of Bomberman Blast, an all-new Bomberman available for digital
download on WiiWare for the Wii. Retaining many of the classic
features that fans of the award-winning series have come to love, such
as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast
also incorporates exciting new gameplay elements like Mii support and
8-person online play.

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Auspicious debuts and the return of a classic franchise top the list of new additions to the Wii Shop Channel™ this week. Art Style™: ORBIENT™ is the first in a new game series from Nintendo, combining deep game play with atmospheric flair and simple, elegant controls that anyone can pick up and enjoy. With two more Art Style titles scheduled for release in October, this is your chance to be the first to enjoy this truly remarkable gaming experience.

Bomberman makes his WiiWare™ debut in Bomberman Blast, taking the frenzied multiplayer action the series is known for online. Or if you just feel like saving the galaxy again, take on the Machine in Super Turrican 2.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

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The Blue Bomber Launches on WiiWareTM, Xbox LIVE® and PLAYSTATION®Network in Classic Style
SAN MATEO, CA — September 22, 2008 — Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Mega Man® 9 is now available for download on Nintendo’s WiiWare™ service, and will be available for the PLAYSTATION®Network on September 25, and Xbox LIVE® Arcade on October 1. The original 2D classic Mega Man® returns, bringing the series back to its roots with retroaction-platform gameplay and NES™-inspired old school graphics. Relive the Mega Man experience with maniacally themed environments, a host of power-ups, and classically-inspired bosses, each with their own unique weapons and weaknesses. Mega Man 9 is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and is available for,1000 Wii Points™, $9.99 on PLAYSTATION®Network, or 800 Microsoft® Points.

Mega Man 9 is a continuation of the original Mega Man series and will feature the classic gameplay fans know and love focusing on defeating bosses and acquiring a diverse arsenal of weapons. Featuring over a dozen new challenging levels, a horde of new enemies with designs directed by Keiji Inafune, the original Mega Man character designer, online leader boards and a gamerscore achievements system, Mega Man 9 is the must-have downloadable title for the Fall.

About Mega Man 9
In the year 200X, as the advanced science of the era has created industrial robots that co-exist with humans. However, an evil genius, Dr. Wily, plots for world domination and creates his own robot army to take over mankind. Luckily for humanity, Dr. Light outfits one of his domestic robots “Rock” to fight Dr. Wily’s creations and Mega Man is born.

Set after the events of Mega Man® 8, multiple riots have sprung up all over the world. Whilst many people suspect that this is another plot from Dr. Wily, Dr. Light is stunned to recognize that some of the robots rioting on the TV screen are his own creations. Even more stunning, Dr. Wily appears on television to proclaim that Dr. Light is the evil mastermind behind these latest catastrophic incidents and it’s up to Mega Man to clear his creator’s name!

Available now for all three major platforms, Mega Man 9 is the must- buy Mega Man game for both old and new fans alike. Its retro look and feel will draw old fans back to the series while its intuitive controls and the 80’s retro style gameplay will open up the game to a broader audience.

Capcom Press Release

Sept. 22, 2008

What does your Wii™ library say about you? Are you fanatical about one style of game, or do you favor a brimming variety of sports, puzzle and fantasy titles? Fortunately for gaming fans of all kinds, the Wii™ Shop Channel makes it easy and fun to expand your collection in any direction. A few waves of the Wii Remote™ controller will introduce you to the latest Virtual Console™ and WiiWare™ offerings this week, featuring classic sci-fi adventure and some invigorating twists on familiar pastimes.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare

Mega Man™ 9 (CAPCOM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Mega Man fans, the wait is over! The classic Blue Bomber that debuted in 1987 is back with the ninth installment in the classic series. It’s a new adventure for Mega Man done in an 8-bit style-graphics, music and gameplay are all like you remember them.

Read More »

Wii

de Blob - 92%
Order Up! - 80%
Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli - 83&
Samba de Amigo - 71%
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon - 84%
Rock Band - 60% (the review team love the game on Xbox 360, but feel its too neutered on Wii to be worth getting if you have a 360 or PS3)
Madden NFL 09 All-Play - 87%
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play - 85%
Twin Strike: Operation Thunder - 74% (good, clean budget fun)

Wii Virtual Console

Super Mario RPG - 95%
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels - 88%
Chase HQ - 68%
Dig Dug - 62%

WiiWare

MaBoshi: The Three Shape Arcade - 85%
My Aquarium - 21%

DS

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood - 93%
Spore Creatures - 66%
Jewel Quest: Cradle of Rome - 81%
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations - 85%
Zubo - 84%
Lego Batman - 80%
Dungeon Maker - 70%
Spongebob SquarePants: Drawn to Life - 51%
Pipemania - 82%
Gauntlet - 53%

Link

Square-Enix has recently released a spin-off/sequel to FFIV for mobile phones in Japan, and it may have a possibility of coming to WiiWare:

We just remade it, so it’s a bit of a stretch… [Laughs] Currently the sequel, FINAL FANTASY IV the After: Tsuki no Kikan is available for mobile phones in Japan. We’ll do our best to make this game available for our overseas audiences as well!

From this, RPGsite claims that after pursuing Square-Enix for answers, their sources discovered the strong possibility of a Wiiware release. 

Final Fantasy IV: The After centers on the son of Cecil and Rosa, two of the main characters from the original title, and uses a modified engine of the original SNES version of IV. The game is delivered in episodic format on Phones in Japan (as it is expected to be for any potential Wiiware release), and has already reached 1 million downloads.

I haven’t played much of FFIV on the DS, but I know it’s one of the more beloved games in the series, so hopefully we’ll see a US release on the Wii at some point.

Link

Taken from Capcom Site.

The wait is fianlly over: Mega Man 9 hits North America next week! The game will be released for download on the September 22 for the Wii. Playstation Network gets it September 25th, and XBLA will have it October 1! These dates are for North America ONLY.

Link

Just a little refresher about this game. This is the WiiWare title where you play as a chef who gets trapped on a plane with zombies. You have to fight your way out with whatever you find.