2008 December |

It’s-a Mario World: Our Unfulfilled Christmas List

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: It’s-a Mario World

In the days immediately following Christmas, we do several things: Sink hours into replaying timeless Mario classics (currently we’re collecting Ace coins in Super Mario Advance), ponder all kinds of Mario-related things we could buy with our Christmas money and begin scrawling out a list of Mario gifts we want for next Christmas. Pretty standard, right? Problem is, there are so many wonderful Mario trinkets and toys that have been released in the last twenty years that it’s hard to decide which search terms to use on eBay.

Worry not, Mario fiends! This week we present a gallery teeming with Mario stocking-stuffers old and new. Yeah, some of them were released only in Japan over ten years ago, but that doesn’t mean we can’t covet them greedily. Others are available on shelves at the time of writing. Either way, you’re sure to be amazed at the breadth of material goods upon which Mario’s trademark has been shamelessly stamped. Check out these sweet toys!

It’s-a Mario World is a recurring feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo’s flagship character is celebrated. Check back each week to find out what strange and wonderful thing has us seeing power stars. * * * Link of the week: Mario vs. Master Chief!

It’s-a Mario World: Our Unfulfilled Christmas List originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wii Warm Up: Super Obsolete Bros.?

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

The big news out of Nintendo of Japan yesterday was an impending Virtual Console release of the original N64 Super Smash Bros.. I personally have warm feelings for the original title that none of the sequels have managed to recapture, but that has more to do with the circumstances of my life at the time than the actual game — I just happened to be living in a dorm at the time, and Super Smash Bros. was a daily pastime among residents.

At least on a superficial level, the sequels (both of which are playable on Wii) improved massively upon the original in terms of character selection, levels, options, and extras. So why all the furor to go back? Is it something about game balance that is visible only to tournament nerds? Overarching love of the series? Nostalgia? Don’t take this as an attack — I’m probably going to buy the thing myself, and I’m not sure why.

Gallery: Smash Bros. Brawl Snapshots

Wii Warm Up: Super Obsolete Bros.? originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Free Springsteen tracks coming to World Tour

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: News

For all of you guitar heroes out there, Activision is offering up two free tracks for Guitar Hero: World Tour from none other than Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen. Available from January 27 to February 4, the two free tracks are “My Lucky Day,” which is a little tune from his new album Working on a Dream, as well as “Born to Run,” which is one of his more classic numbers.

As usual, you can find videos for each of the tracks past the break.

Gallery: Guitar Hero World Tour

My Lucky Day

Born to Run

Free Springsteen tracks coming to World Tour originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nintendo increases order with MotionPlus component maker

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: News, Peripherals

While the rest of the world is in the middle of a recession, Nintendo’s got more money coming in than ever, and it appears that they don’t see that changing any time soon. According to Digitimes, Nintendo has increased the quantity of an order with a company called Invensense, who makes the rate gyroscope used in the upcoming MotionPlus peripheral.

This suggests that Nintendo is increasing their estimate of MotionPlus demand — and probably increasing their expectations for the sales of Wii Sports Resort. Either that or they are ramping up production of MotionPlus according to an existing plan. Something (let’s call it “history”) tells us that even their augmented production won’t keep up with demand for 2009’s big-big-big Nintendo product.

Gallery: Wii Sports Resort

[Via Kotaku]

Nintendo increases order with MotionPlus component maker originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fragile videos are awesomely heartbreaking

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: Imports, Video

Wow. The Fragile theme song is amazing. It’s definitely the Japanese video game theme song most likely to get tears out of us. The game looks beautifully melancholy as well, and that mood is in full effect in this haunting trailer. As the January 22 release approaches, and we still have yet to hear a word about localization, we’re beginning to feel a bit down for a reason unrelated to the mood of the game. Between this and Fatal Frame IV, we’re beginning to wonder what American publishers have against games about walking quietly through creepy old buildings.

If that gorgeous video isn’t enough Fragile for you, hit the break for five quick gameplay clips found on Gamekyo. We’re glad this stuff came around after Christmas, because we’re spared a pile of A Christmas Story references.

Gallery: Fragile

Fragile videos are awesomely heartbreaking originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Realistic Zapper mod is impressive, also sort of scary

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: Mods, Peripherals

Say hello to your new little friend, the “WeeP 5 Advanced Zapper,” a mash-up of a toy MP5 gun and Wiimote innards (you can see the painted IR sensor just below the muzzle). The WeeP 5 is the work of Instructables user THeOReos, who was left disappointed by the range of gun shells available for the Wii (WHAAAT?!). It’s just the ticket if you want your Zapper-compatible games to feel extra authentic, and we’d rather enjoy using it to drop bad dudes in Ghost Squad (though it may not suit Link’s Crossbow Training).

THeOReos is confident this works well, and has posted a full step-by-step of the building process here. We lack the patience or skillz to make our own, but don’t let that put you off building one and sending it to us!

Gallery: 5 Great Zapper Mods

[Via Hack A Day]

Realistic Zapper mod is impressive, also sort of scary originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Target puts select titles on sale

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: Sales

Target is having a sale where key Wii titles will be discounted. As you can see above, qualifying titles include Shaun White Snowboarding, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. If you didn’t get check any of these titles out, but wanted to, now might be the time to head on over to your local Target store. Also, we’re not sure if the sale price on Madden 09 applies to just the Xbox 360 version, or all versions of the game, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about throwing the virtual pigskin around.

Target puts select titles on sale originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Confirmed: Free Radical lets over 100 employees go

Posted by admin On December - 28 - 2008

Filed under: News

Well, it would appear all of our excitement over a fourth TimeSplitters game is for nothing, as the rumored layoffs at Free Radical are in fact true. The company has let go of 75% of its workforce, which equals 140 employees. The company, with its remaining 40 people, are up for sale, with several companies showing a “strong interest.”

We hope that what’s left of Free Radical manages to land somewhere decent, because we’ve been fans of their work for some time now.

[Via Joystiq]

Confirmed: Free Radical lets over 100 employees go originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.