Line-up Includes Two WiiWare Titles and FINAL FANTASY Series for Wii Virtual Console
SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 /PRNewswire/ — GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE — Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) announced today at the GAME DEVELOPERS Conference (GDC) the forthcoming releases of new downloadable titles including FINAL FANTASY(R) IV: THE AFTER YEARS(TM) and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES(R): My Life as a Darklord(TM) for WiiWare(TM), as well as the FINAL FANTASY series for the Virtual Console(TM) for Wii(TM).
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/SQUARELOGO)
The release of these new downloadable titles represent Square Enix’s recognition of the growing demand for online distribution of content/services, and the commitment they have made to provide content/services that match the needs of their customers.
Square Enix will be offering two new releases for WiiWare: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord. FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is an RPG that continues the story that began in the 1991 Super Famicom(TM) title FINAL FANTASY IV. In Japan, this title was released as a downloadable cellular phone application in February 2008. It has since been lauded for its deep storytelling, and a year after its release, has been downloaded over 3 million times.
Jeff Mills
Director of Production
Red Fly StudioStars Align (again)
At GDC in March 2007, Red Fly Studio had only been in business for about three months. Studio founders Dan Borth and Kris Taylor knew that we had to start immediately preparing for the future beyond our first title (Mushroom Men). We set out for the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco where we met with the top brass of half a dozen of the biggest game publishers in the industry.
The one publisher who seemed surprisingly uninterested in our demo was Vivendi Universal Games. They sat impatiently through our presentation, and as soon as the standard demo spiel was done, they drew us away from the screen and quickly got to the point. They had a job, and they wanted Red Fly Studio specifically to do it.
Before I left Terminal Reality to help Dan and Kris start Red Fly Studio, I had been part of production on Ghostbusters, the project TRI had been developing in utter secrecy for the previous year. Because of my foreknowledge of the project, the publisher could cut right to the chase: The publisher wanted TRI to focus their entire attention on the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Ghostbusters without concerning themselves with producing a separate Wii version as well. We were already licensing Terminal Reality’s Infernal Engine to produce Mushroom Men, and our close ties to TRI (Dan and Kris worked there along with me back in 1999) made us ideally suited to produce Ghostbusters for Wii. And it was Ghostbusters, after all: a dream job. Right?
“No way!” came the unanimous response from Red Fly Studio.
If the release date for Ghostbusters had been after Mushroom Men’s release date, then maybe we could have done it. But the publisher required that we ship this new title at the same time as our current project. Pushing a single title to completion is challenging enough, but shipping two titles simultaneously is a monumental undertaking. The veterans at RFS had seen a dozen studios explode by growing too quickly, taking on jobs that they couldn’t handle. We knew better. We sadly but politely declined and bade them farewell, wishing that the timing had been better.
The Wii Shop Channel is undergoing maintenance. We know the North American and Japanese Wii Shop channels are down. It’s also worth noting that this is the 1 …
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DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES TOY STORY MANIA!, INSPIRED BY THE DISNEY/PIXAR FEATURE FILM “TOY STORY,” EXCLUSIVELY FOR Wii™
Beloved “Toy Story” Characters and Theme Park Attraction Provide Backdrop for Family-Friendly Carnival-Style Video Game
BURBANK, Calif. – (March 24, 2009) – Disney Interactive Studios today announced Toy Story Mania!, inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated feature “Toy Story,” will be released exclusively for the Wii™ home video game console this fall. Toy Story Mania! showcases an array of entertaining games based on the new Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions, while featuring the iconic characters and humor from the popular Disney/Pixar “Toy Story” franchise.
“The ‘Toy Story’ franchise is a fun, dynamic and heart-warming series containing characters and themes that connect with every age group,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Toy Story Mania! combines those popular elements with the unique antics of the new theme park attraction for the ultimate in family entertainment.”
Summary
GDC
– Iwata keynote, only first five minute are allowed to be filmed
– Punch-Out!! Playable
– Thinks looks like a remake
– 10 Characters return
– 3 original characters
– Looks like it plays like the old game
– Calls GAF out for bashing the SNES version
NPD Talk
– House of the Dead Overkill, pretty low
– Laughs at VGchartzzzzzzz
– Looking for MadWorld sales and will post it. Talked with the VP from Sega; they are happy with their first results of the sales of MadWorld
ExciteBots
– Everything you like about Excite Truck, times 10
– Spinbar controls are good
– Randomness makes no sense, but awesome
– Tracks and pieces of levels look identical to first Excite Truck
– Short game, but you keep playing for the S ranks
– Online multiplayer and more stuff they can’t talk about
– Controls are more tight and more responsive
– Don’t know for sure if Excite is at GDC
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Nintendo Wii
North America:
1. Wii Fit (Nintendo) 2. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) 3. My Fitness Coach (Ubisoft) 4. Wii Play (Nintendo) 5. Guitar Hero World …
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NEW YORK, NY – March 23, 2009 – Atari today unveiled Alyssa Milano as the new love interest in the forthcoming blockbuster title Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Alyssa Milano is best known for her roles in long running successful television series “Who’s the Boss”, “Melrose Place”, “Charmed” and most recently “My Name Is Earl” to name a few. Milano joins members of the original cast from the beloved Ghostbusters movies to recreate the unique blend of humour and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation.
Ghostbusters: The Video Game prides itself in staying true to the Ghostbusters universe, so it just wouldn’t feel right if Bill Murray’s character, Dr. Peter Venkman, wasn’t turning on the charm. In Ghostbusters: The Video Game, he’s chasing one in particular: Dr. Ilyssa Selwyn is a smart and sassy archaeologist who doesn’t take too kindly to Dr. Venkman’s advances.
Release date: 5th June 2009
Learn how to read and play music in 21 lessons!
In 21 lessons you will:
– Work on your musical ear
o For example, identify the different kinds of sounds
– Study music theory
– Learn the chords on a piano and/or on a guitarSee below for details about the content of all 21 lessons.
Test yourself on what you’ve learned by playing the quick tests after each lesson.
>> Learning to play music is now possible on your Nintendo DS! <<
One Joystiq.com reader has recived an online survey from Netflix that shows that the company is thinking about putting their service on the Wii.
We have …
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Best Buy:
Nintendo Wii: Bolt $29.99
Nintendo DS: Bolt $19.99 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars $34.99 Monsters vs. Aliens $29.99 (Available Tuesday) Pokémon Diamond Version $34.99 Pokémon Pearl Version $34.99 …
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1. Wii Fit w/ Balance Board (Nintendo, Wii 2. Street Fighter IV (Capcom, Xbox 360) 3. Street Fighter IV (Capcom, PlayStation 3) 4. Wii Play w/Remote (Nintendo, Wii) 5. Killzone …
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IT’S ROUND ONE FOR PUNCH-OUT!! FOR Wii
Little Mac and the gang are back with a unique boxing experience!
19th March 2009 – The legendary arcade classic Punch-Out!! is back with a vengeance on Wii, but this time it packs an even bigger punch! Featuring all of the well-known characters from Glass Joe to Von Kaiser, superb colour action and classic ring craft, but with the addition of enhanced functionality for the Wii, the game returns for another assault in Europe on May 22nd 2009.
After a flawless fight record on the NES and Super NES, Punch-Out!! revives the story of Little Mac as you follow his journey from up-and-coming boxer in the Bronx, NY to become the boxing World champion. The game reunites the much-loved mean men of the World Video Boxing Association, who Little Mac must challenge and defeat one-by-one. The truly international line-up includes all the wacky favourites from Von Kaiser, King Hippo and Doc Louis.
CHICAGO – March 19, 2009
Akinai Games, a publisher of digitally distributed games for next-generation platforms, today announced NEVES Plus, their latest addition to Nintendo’s WiiWare™ game service. NEVES Plus is a deceptively challenging puzzle game that packs over 500 tangram-style puzzles appropriate for gamers of all ages. The game will go live on WiiWare in Q2, 2009.
“NEVES Plus is a great follow-up to the original Nintendo DS™ version, and now we’ve introduced plenty of multiplayer modes that bring the game to the center of family entertainment,” said Nate Fitt, Marketing Manager at Akinai Games. “With an Egyptian-themed style, new puzzles, and a variety of modes, NEVES Plus promises hours of engaging and addictive gameplay.”
On Wednesday April 1st, be one of the first Australian’s to get your hands on Nintendo’s exciting new console, Nintendo DSi. Experience the fun new features including DSi Camera, DSi …
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New York, NY, March 18, 2009 – In honor of the re-release of Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten on Epic/Legacy Recordings, in retail stores nationwide day-in-date with its launch in the Rock Band® Music Store, MTV, MTV2, VH1, and VH1 Classic and Rock Band® are teaming up to roll out a two-week long lineup of content that celebrates the band, its successes and the band’s debut in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content. Exclusive features include the VH1 Classic premiere of “Pearl Jam Ten Revisited,” including the never before seen version of the music video “Jeremy,” and covers of Pearl Jam classics by current artists on MTV2.
Premiering on Saturday, March 21st at 2:30pm ET/PT on VH1 Classic, “Pearl Jam Ten Revisited” takes you on a half-hour look back at Pearl Jam’s seminal debut album, Ten that brought alternative rock to the mainstream by showcasing videos for “Even Flow,” “Alive,” “Porch” (from the band’s Unplugged performance), and the television premiere of the uncensored version of “Jeremy.” With the help of archival footage and interviews from the band the viewer will be taken back to the early 90’s to reflect on the album’s importance to alternative music. VH1 will air the special “Pearl Jam Ten Revisited” on March 25th at 11:00am ET/PT.
London 18th March 2009 – Mamba Games, a new dynamic multi-platform video games publisher today reveals exclusive first looks and descriptions of some of the devastating weapons in the upcoming Nintendo Wii downhill racer ‘Glacier 2: Hell on Ice’
Due for a September 2009 release ‘Glacier 2: Hell on Ice’ is Mamba Games first Wii project working with top racing developer Team6 Studios.
Brace yourself for action, speed and total destruction in this over the top downhill battle, its survival and victory what counts! Are you prepared for the challenge?
‘Glacier 2: Hell on Ice’ starts at the very top of the Alps: Are you ready to reach insane top speeds by driving down the mountains of death?
‘Glacier 2: Hell on Ice’ is an arcade combat racing game which takes you to hell and back. Make sure you are faster than your opponents or you can blow them to bits with an arsenal of weaponry.
Make your way across the ice, survive incredible jumps, and eliminate your opponents!!
March 18th 2009 – Rising Star Games, the European publisher of Japanese games, reveals today its line up for 2009. Consisting of over ten exciting new titles from Japan, the line up includes casual titles in Harvest Fishing, Animal Kororo and Mah-Jongg, highly anticipated RPGs Steal Princess, My World My Way and Avalon Code as well as the impressive Rygar: The Battle of Argus and Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga. The 2009 line up will also continue to be promoted under the ‘Home of Japanese Games’ campaign, which runs for the duration of the year.
Steal Princess (NDS, May 22nd 2009)
Accidentally triggering a booby trap which leaves Anise unconscious, the young thief awakens in the clutches of the King of Albyon. Mistaking Anise for a descendent of the legendary Hero of Albyon, the king offers her an ultimatum: free the prince, who was captured by the ancient Demon King, or be convicted as a thief and locked away for life.
Your source for the most up-to-date Nintendo news covering the Nintendo Switch.
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