EL33TONLINE: News tag archive: wiiware
Frontier has partnered with Square Enix to bring their popular WiiWare title Lost Winds to Japan and Asia.
Lost Winds is a platform adventure game that revolves around a young boy named Toku. Players control Toku as he embarks upon a quest to save his world from the evil Balasar with the help of the wind element Enril. Players use the elemental powers of Enril to guide and protect Toku, powering his jumps, defeating enemies and solving puzzles.
Toku and the innovative gameplay of Lost Winds charmed us so watch out for our review soon.
Steel Penny Games (founded in 2006 by ex-Naughty Dog veterans) has announced its first game, Bruiser and Scratch, will be heading exclusively to WiiWare in December this year. The game has yet to be priced.
Described as a “unique take on a matching puzzle game”, Bruiser & Scratch sees players controlling one of the heroes in each level as they unravel puzzles by pushing life-sized pieces around. As you match pieces they will combine and transform into other shapes until they are combined into a single winning piece at the end. The gameplay is described as “easy to grasp” but “more challenging than it seems.”
“Bruiser and Scratch is an exciting puzzle game for the whole family. As puzzle games go, this one is pretty challenging, rewarding and humorous,” said Jason Hughes, president and founder of Steel Penny Games. “It was our goal to develop a game full of character and fun that the entire family looks forward to enjoying together, a little bit at a time. Naturally, Wii is the ideal platform for this,” says Hughes.
For more information and screenshots head over to the game’s website.
Over on Gamasutra, you can read a cool little interview with indie developers, 2D Boy, which consists of Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel.
Their latest (and first) game to be released is the wonderful World of Goo, a physics-based game in which you build towers and structures using balls of goo, with the aim of reaching an exit point. Be sure to check out a trailer for World of Goo as well as make a point of visiting 2D Boy’s site.
The game is available on WiiWare as well as a multitude of PC online stores (Steam, Direct2Drive etc.). Spread the word and support developers of awe-inspiring indie games! Oh, and also go get the demo for World of Goo, up now on Filefront. At only 33 MB, it’s a no-brainer!
World of Goo’s premise seems simple enough; build a bridge or tower to reach the end of a level. With goo. Lots of goo. The thing is, there is a lot more to World of Goo than meets the eye, such as the awesomely stylised art, the colourful characters and peculiar situations you’ll find yourself in.
Maybe just watch the launch trailer below to get a better idea of just what World of Goo is all about, developed by indie developers, 2D Boy.
Fantastic! World of Goo releases today on PC (Steam, Direct2Drive, Greenhouse, Beanstalk Games) and WiiWare, but you can buy it right now through 2D Boy’s website.
Hudson’s classic TurboGrafx-16 Alien Crush series is set to debut on WiiWare with Alien Crush Returns.
Alien Crush Returns is a sci-fi pinball game with game play spanning two screens, giving players enough room to rack up points, multipliers and bonuses. Players will play the game across multiple boards, each featuring an alien landscape and waves of enemies that will try to prevent you from scoring.
Alien Crush Returns is the only pinball game for WiiWare that lets players compete head-to-head online. The game also includes online leaderboards and Hudson promises online tournaments too.
Hudson has yet to date or price the game.
Hudson’s popular Bomberman series will be arriving on WiiWare soon. Bomberman Blast will include staples like online multiplayer battles and various arenas as well as new features such as the use of Mii support and eight person online multiplayer.
Players will be able to compete against Bomberman fans worldwide, either solo or as part of a team, thanks to eight player multiplayer online battles. Players will also be able to use their own Miis in the game.
Up to four players can join in the online fun on the same Wii and compare their scores via the online leaderboards. Hudson will also offer Bomberman Blast online tournaments.
Bomberman Blast has yet to be dated or priced.
Episode 1 of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People, titled Homestar Ruiner, was released on WiiWare earlier in the month.
The next four episodes will be released over the next four months, with the second episode expected in September. Titled Strong Badia the Free, Episode 2 sees Strong Bad placed under house arrest after failing to obey the King of Town’s email tax. As soon as he is free, Strong Bad sets out to unite different groups under the Strong Badian flag.
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People is a point-and-click adventure game based on the popular Homestar Runner series of cartoons. The first episode is available on WiiWare for 1000 points or on PC for $8.95.
Head over to Telltale Games website for a new trailer and more screens or check out another hilarious trailer in our previous coverage.
Returning to its old-school roots on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Nintendo WiiWare, Mega Man 9’s direction is that of its 8-bit predecessors, combined with classic Mega Man game play and bosses inspired by the earlier games in the series.
In an era where robots co-exist and aid mankind, Dr Wily plots to use his robot army to take over the world, turning the peaceful robots into fighting machines. Dr Light, however, decides to protect the world from Dr Wily by building a new robot, ‘Rock’ - the Mega Man legend begins!
Players take on over 50 enemies across 12 levels, with an online leaderboard to track worldwide progress. Series fans will be pleased to know that Keiji Inafune, the original Mega Man creator, is back to design characters for the game.
Nintendo’s downloadable game service WiiWare launched across Europe yesterday.
WiiWare enables Wii owners to download games from first and third party developers directly onto the Wii through the Wii Shop Channel.
WiiWare launched with six titles, see below for pricing details or head over to our earlier coverage for a closer look at the WiiWare titles.
- Dr. Mario & Germ Buster (Nintendo) – 1 000 Wii Points
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King (Square Enix) – 1 500 Wii Points
- LostWinds (Frontier) – 1 000 Wii Points
- Star Soldier R (Hudson Soft) – 800 Wii Points
- Toki Tori (Two Tribes B.V.) – 900 Wii Points
- TV Show King (Gameloft) – 1 000 Wii Points
Nintendo’s downloadable games service WiiWare will launch across Europe on the 20th of May.
Here is a brief look at the launch titles (game overviews per Nintendo). Nintendo of Europe has not yet dated the WiiWare games. Since the prices are not likely to be different, Nintendo of America’s prices have been included for now.
Please note that all of these games may not be available on the 20th since Nintendo’s press release read “from 20th May onwards a whole host of brand new creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available.”
Nintendo launched its downloadable game service WiiWare across North America this past Monday. Nintendo today revealed the launch line-up for Europe. WiiWare is scheduled to launch across Europe on the 20th of May.
WiiWare enables developers to create downloadable games which Wii owners can purchase from the Wii Shop Channel. With developers no longer constrained by budgets, gamers can look forward to playing smaller, creative titles as well as fresh and original games which may otherwise have not seen the light of day. Developers will have the opportunity to make use of the Wii Remote, Nunchuk as well as the new Wii Balance Board and Wii Wheel.
Opening a creative door
“We are excited by the positive response we have received from third party developers to the announcement of WiiWare,” commented Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Marketing & PR of Nintendo of Europe.
“We hope that this opportunity and the inspiration to produce original and exciting games will allow developers of all sizes to bring new concepts, genres and game play experiences to Wii. Opening this creative door will also provide Wii users access to a huge choice of games that they can easily download and enjoy.”
Wii owners will be able to download WiiWare games directly on to their Wii from the Wii Shop Channel from 500 Wii Points. According to the press release “a vast array of exciting and creative new projects are already in the pipeline.”
Nintendo’s downloadable game service WiiWare launches across the US today.
WiiWare will enable Wii owners to download new games from a wide range of developers including large publishers and indie houses. The service aims to “reduce the barriers that make console game development prohibitively expensive” by allowing developers to “experiment with big ideas and small budgets.”
Head to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel to download a WiiWare game. Simply choose your game and pay for it using Wii Points then start the download. So far the games range in price from 500 to 1 500 Wii Points. The WiiWare service will be updated with new games on Mondays.
Gamers will be able to use the new Nintendo Channel to view videos and information about WiiWare games as well as check out players opinions of the games.
Greatest games of the past - and the future
For more WiiWare information, head over to Nintendo’s WiiWare website. Here you will find a few short video clips of LostWinds, Dr Mario Online RX, Defend Your Castle, Critter Round-Up and Final Fantasy Chystal Chronicles: My Life as a King.
“WiiWare is to the video game industry what independent films are to Hollywood,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.
“WiiWare lets developers experiment with new ideas and experiences. Combined with our collection of classic Virtual Console games, Wii provides one-stop shopping for the greatest games of the past - and the future.”
Here is the line-up of WiiWare games (descriptions as per Nintendo):
Ubisoft’s Protöthea will be available as a WiiWare title across North America in May.
Developed by Sabarasa & Digital Builders, Protöthea is a 3D top-down vertical scrolling shooter game. Players will control a last-generation spaceship using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as they seek to destroy an asteroid known as Maqno 01 and sabotage plans of The Core, a political faction.
Multiple missions set on futuristic planets coupled with dynamic AI changing attacks based on player’s action mean that enemy paths are unpredictable and game play experience varies. Players will be armed with eight different air-to-air weapons as well as two air-to-ground bombs. You will also be able to make use of a special power that decelerates time, enabling you to avoid enemy fire while moving quickly to attack.
“Ubisoft is excited to bring Protöthea exclusively to the platform and we feel it’s a must-have WiiWare title,” shared James Regan, vice president of third party operations, Ubisoft. “Protöthea really reminds me of some of the best arcade games, with the Wii Remote as an added dimension. It’s just a flurry of fast-paced action that anyone can simply pick up and enjoy.”
Nintendo’s WiiWare service is scheduled to launch across North America on the 12th of May.
Nintendo has released the European spring line-up for the Nintendo DS and Wii.
Key Wii titles include Wii Fit, which is released across Europe today, and the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which has finally been stamped with a 27th of June release date. Namco Bandai’s Family Ski will be released on the 13th of June while EA’s Boom Blox will arrive in May and Lego: Indiana Jones the Original Adventures in June.
WiiWare and Nintendo Channel
Nintendo also revealed that WiiWare will arrive on the Wii Shop Channel on the 20th of May. This new service will allow gamers to download new first and third party titles directly on to the Wii from 500 Wii Points. Nintendo has not yet announced a European launch line-up for the service. WiiWare launched in Japan on the 25th of March and will arrive across North America on the 12th of May. The new Nintendo Channel will be released on the 30th of May, promising up-to-date information on past, present and future games on all Nintendo platforms.
Turning to the DS side of things, a kitchen companion game titled Cooking Guide: Can’t Decide What to Eat? offers recipes as well as step-by-step guides to preparation of dishes from around the world (available in June) while Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice offers puzzle fans a chance to discover clues and solve mysteries from the 9th of May. Pokémon fans will be delighted to know that Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness will hit European shelves on the 4th of July.
Hudson’s classic shooter Star Solider R will be blasting on to North America’s WiiWare service. The game has not yet been priced.
Described as a “tournament-style outer space shooter,” Star Solider R challenges players to achieve high scores in a 2 Minute or 5 Minute mode.
2-Minute mode gives players just enough time to battle through one stage and face one boss while 5-Minute mode adds a second level and another boss. Players can adopt different strategies to earn bonus points in both modes. The game also includes Quick Shot mode where players can test how quick their reflexes are as well as online leaderboards.
| Older posts |
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
xbox360 (311)
ps3 (243)
wii (215)
nintendo (147)
southafrica (122)
trailer (111)
sony (91)
japanesesalesdata (85)
xbla (84)
e3 (80)
nintendods (78)
mediacreate (78)
psn (77)
capcom (75)
competition (70)
microsoft (62)
software (61)
review (57)
ea (57)
