Nintendo is smart: SD storage for Wii software
Oct 2, 2008 Video game
I haven’t looked into the Nintendo Wii all that much (which is probably bad since I do want to eventually get one) so I was not aware of a storage problem for downloaded software and games. Actually, I assumed that there wasn’t a problem and that storage was straight forward like on the XBOX360 or Playstation (i.e. some type of large hard drive). Apparently I was wrong.
Nintendo announced that as early as Spring 2009 gamers can expect to be able to download and open software to the SD card.
While users are happy that this feature will be added, commenters on NintendoWiiFanBoy.com are quick to mention that homebrewers have opened the SD slot for storage long ago. The downside, as Engadget points out, is the 2GB storage limit for the SD card, no 4 or 8 gigs here.
I will definitely have to weigh my choices when deciding on my next gaming console.
Tags: nintendo, nintendo wii, sd, storage
Nintendo gets it right, Wii for the casual gamer
Jul 15, 2008 Video game
E3, the sacred conference dedicated to electronics and electronic gaming is taking place this week. Nintendo, arguably the giant among giants of gaming devoted its press conference to demonstrating the new direction its Wii is heading into, attracting the casual gamer.
ArsTechnica reports on a few games and features demoed by Nintendo executives at the press conference.
A new Wii Sports, dubbed Wii Sports: Resort will be taking advantage of a new peripheral: MotionPlus. The peripheral, which attaches to the Wiimote and allows for “allows for true one-to-one movement in games.” Ars was treated to a live demo of the new features when “Nintendo executives Reggis Fils-Aime and Cammie Dunaway [played] a sword-fighting game that offered true one-to-one motion.” Wii Sports: Resort is expected to launch next spring and a MotionPlus peripheral will be bundled with it.
One observation made by Ars (and many if not all of the commenters) was that the games seemed to be toned down and more casual than expected. Nintendo fans were disappointed at the lack of “hardcore” games presented and many have voiced their opinions in the ArsTechnica forum.
I’m happy to see a game company finally make games that the whole family can enjoy. While I somewhat understand the anguish of hardcore gamers at the lack of legacy games such as Zelda, I am looking forward to playing some easier games for a change.
Tags: ArsTechnica, gaming, nintendo, nintendo wii, video games, wii
There’s something strange…
Jun 27, 2008 Video game
but it DOES look good.
Giant Bomb has a teaser article about Ghostbusters: The Video Game. The article doesn’t go into too much detail (probably because there isn’t that much detail to the game yet) but it does talk about some things to expect from the game.
From the article, “The game will take place two years after the events of Ghostbusters II, and while Sierra is being deliberately vague about the overall story, all you really need to know is New York City, ghosts, and the busting thereof.” Sounds great to me but just to make it better, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis worked on the game to give an authentic feel to ghostbusting (Aykroyd and Ramis wrote the two Ghostbusters movies so they know what they’re talking about). “Add to this a voice-cast that, in addition to Aykroyd and Ramis, includes Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and everyone’s favorite 1980s pencilneck, William Atherton, and the game’s chances really start looking up.”
You will play as a fifth ghostbuster, rather than one of the originals. Your partners in bustin’ will be AI controlled but according to the article, don’t expect to be in a quintet all the time. The tools of the trade will all be available from proton packs, PKE meters to “sniff out” a ghost’s trail along with traps and the like. It will be interesting to see how the controls are laid out, though I’ve already chosen the trap-deploying button on my mouse.
I am quite excited about this game. It is touted as a sequel to the movies so hopefully it lives up to Ghostbuster standards. Ghostbusters: The Video Game is expected to be released this fall according to Sierra’s Game Information page for PC and XBOX360. You can find some screens on the Giant Bomb article, at the game’s official site or at IGN XBOX360.
Don’t cross the streams!
Tags: gaming, ghostbusters, ghostbusters the video game, video games
Screwed by the gaming industry
May 30, 2008 Video game
Cracked.com (which seems to be one of my most used resources for geeky stuff) has a list of “5 Innovative Ways the Gaming Industry is Screwing [us].” I have myself heard of all of these before but I still find them all very ridiculous. Here’s the list, but check out the article for more explanations.
- Gamespot Offers Good Reviews To Companies That Pay Them
- EA Sports Creates A Mini-Monopoly
- Activision Fakes Its Commercials
- Blizzard’s Warden Client Is Watching
- Battlefield: Bad Company Sells Upgrades For Real-World Money
Tags: Cracked.com, funny, gaming
Video game villain recruitment
Apr 24, 2008 Video game
It is common knowledge that in each video game the level boss is in charge of recruiting the minions you, as a player, must decimate on your way to the final show down. Cracked.com offers a look into the recruitment process, namely the posters used to attract applications.
Tags: Cracked.com, video games