Vooks

Europe�s WiiWare Launch Line Up Announced

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Nintendo Europe has announced the Wii Ware line up that is set to go live across Europe on May 20th. Like the Virtual Console, Wii Ware is available through the Wii Shopping Channel. If you are lucky to live in America or Europe, Nintendo Australia has yet to announce a launch date or line up for WiiWare as of yet. However, like the Virtual Console, we should hopefully get lumped into the European region for WiiWare, possibly the one only time that ever works in our favour. US Titles Defend your Castle and V.I.P Casino: Blackjack are missing, but we gain a few more. List inside.

New Star Wars Games set to be as good as Old Trilogy

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

The quality of Star Wars titles has been all over the place since the first one. Usually the closer they are released to a movie, the worse they are, although there have been a few exceptions. But all that is going to change, with LucasArts promising the there will be less Star Wars games in the future, to return a higher quality. �Star Wars is one of the greatest licenses for a video game you could have and in the past we got a little excited about that and we put out games that probably weren�t up to the quality bar that we would have liked. More inside

Activision digs up Pitfall Harry for Wii

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Activision has today announced that Pitfall Harry will be making his way to the Wii in "Pitfall: The Big Adventure"- an exclusive for the console. Dave Oxford from Activision Publishing said that "Pitfall is one of the most legendary franchises in the history of videogames, so we look forward to releasing a new version exclusively for Wii. "What could be more fun than using the Wii Remote to swing on a vine over blood thirsty crocodiles as retro-cool Pitfall Harry?!" The game contains 60 levels of rainforest, caves and swamps with full Wiimote integration. The game is due later this year.

Namco-Bandai joins Fitness Conga Line

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

It�s Namco Bandai�s turn to try a fitness game on the Wii, after last week EA making their intentions known. Family Trainer, however will not use the Wii Fit Balance board, but a Family Trainer mat controller. According to Namco Bandai, it �lets players get totally physical in a series of crazed challenges. �Unlike other games for the Wii which only focus on the arms, Family Trainer gets the feet involved too for total body gameplay�. Family Trainer is scheduled for release in September 2008, exclusively for Wii.

Nintendo Channel DS demos to gets pruned

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Although most of our Australian visitors aren't even able to access it, those with the Nintendo Channel may want to pay attention to this particular news piece. Updated every Monday, the Nintendo Channel allows users to download the latest DS demos to their Nintendo DS systems, although now it seems only for a limited time. Come May 18th, the Nintendo Channel will see some of it's content being pruned, including several DS demos. Which demos you ask? More inside.

Guitar Hero IV Details Confirmed (not yet for Wii though)

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

The latest issue of famed American gaming magazine, GameInformer has revealed some interesting information about what we can expect from the newest iteration of the award winning Guitar Hero series.
Guitar Hero IV looks to include several new features, such as the inclusion of the (inevitable) drums, bass and vocals, as well as the ability to create a customisable rocker and guitar to rock out with. The most interesting feature though, is one that is also confirmed for the Wii version. More inside.

Marvel and THQ join forces to form the Super Hero Squad

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Collaborations seem to be the �in thing� at the moment. This time, THQ and Marvel have combined their corporate powers to bring the first Marvel Super Hero Squad game to every console, including PC. The Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise is set to be the flagship Marvel franchise for children. �We are dedicated to expanding our unmatched success story in the kid�s space and this agreement with Marvel is an excellent complement to our portfolio,� Says THQ. The game is heading our way later this year.

Nintendo Australia announces Nintendo DS Training

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Although the console has been out for over 3 years, Nintendo is offering people the opportunity to brush up on their Nintendo DS skills, with Nintendogs and Animal Crossing Wild World being used in a set of beginner classes for the games. The lessons are taking place this Thursday the 15th of May at ACMI, Federation Square, so this is one is strictly for Melbournites. There will be giveaways and exclusive downloads throughout the night, so if you�re interested, be there between 6pm and 7pm.

Tamagotchi Connexion: Corner Shop 3 heading down under

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

The Corner Shop is back in business on the Nintendo DS. Connexion: Corner Shop 3 will feature �the most well-stocked store lineup to date�, says Atari, the distributors of the game here in Australia and New Zealand later this year in October. The game now also supports Wi-Fi Connection play, so with all the new shops included in the game, managing them can be easier than ever. More information about the game is inside.

New Pok�mon game Confirmed

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Japanese Magazine CoroCoro has confirmed the next title of the Pok�mon franchise in Pok�mon Platinum. Platinum allegedly is the 'enhanced' version of Pok�mon Diamond and Pearl, like Pok�mon Crystal and Emerald. No other details were announced in the magazine, so check back here for more news as it comes.

Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Nintendo fans have unfortunately only had one option for soccer games since the GameCube days, that of FIFA from Electronic Arts. Whilst the later FIFA games have made massive strides in gameplay, and have always featured excellent manager modes, there has always been the voice of our PS2 cousins saying the ONLY football game to play is Pro Evolution Soccer. Now Nintendo fans can finally see what the fuss is all about as Konami bring their award winning football sim to Nintendo's home console with Pro Evolution Soccer 2008; and this time, the "Evolution" in the title isn't just a nice catchphrase. More inside

Rare speak on Viva Pi�ata DS and Virtual Console Titles

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

It�s not very often anyone hears anything from the guys at Rare, but every so often their Scribes mailbag is answered with answers varied and revealing. On the subject of what games now could appearing from the Rare back catalogue now that all of the Donkey Kong County games have been released, will games like Diddy Kong Racing with their inherent copyright problems (fixed in the DS version with character swaps) ever appear? More inside

Miyamoto �"America better at unique products"

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

In a new interview Shigeru Miyamoto has spoken out how he believes that the future of indie games may be outside his home country and take off in America. "I think America has always been better at creating unique products,� the legendary figure said. The reference is to Wii Ware and how he believes that while both Japan and America will have a fair amount of games on the service, the most intriguing ones will come from America. More inside

New details on Top Spin 3 heading to Wii

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

With investor conference calls the flavour of the month it�s 2K Sport�s turn. Usually 2K doesn�t have much to do with Nintendo, but with Nintendo�s resurgence in the market lately, 2K has something to discuss this time. Top Spin 3 is heading to the Wii this year and sadly it looks like it�s going to lacking in features compared to its PS3/Xbox 360 counter parts. While it�s not all bad, Top Spin 3 on the Wii, like many a port, is going for the simple experience as well as the hard core. More inside

Formula 1 one heading to all Consoles

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

The Formula 1 racing licence has for the last few years been in Sony�s control and due to that, F1 games have been exclusive to their consoles. But with Codemasters recently acquiring the licence the next game will appearing on many consoles. The game is set for to be made available, when it�s actually finished, to all major home consoles, handheld consoles and the PC. The game is being prepared now by Codemasters and will use the EGO Engine that drove DiRT and will drive GRID. More on the F1 games as they happen.

Reminder: Win Ninja Reflex & hone your Ninja Skills!

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Thanks to our friends at Electronic Arts Australia we have a giveaway for our members. The prizes are one copy of Ninja Reflex for the Wii and one copy for the DS. Ninja Reflex puts your reflexes and reaction times to the test in head to head competition. Be the best Ninja you can be and defeat those evil pirates. Entry to the competition is simple, and the method awaits you inside. Competition closes the 18th of May. Details inside

EA brings Skate It to Wii and Nintendo DS - Officially

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

EA�s �skate.� franchise is heading to the Wii and Nintendo DS, with the Wii version to be one of the first 3rd Party games that supports the Wii Balance Board. The DS version is also set to have some of the best graphics that the console has ever put out. For those who missed it, �skate.� hit the PS3 and Xbox 360 last year and shook up the skateboarding genre on consoles, even forced Activision into revitalising what they are doing with the Tony Hawk Franchise. More inside

Call of Duty will return to Wii, and 5 others this year

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Call of Duty 3 hit the Wii during the launch however, the fourth iteration in the game missed all but the PS3 and Xbox 360. However with Treyarch in the helm of the next game (they take turns with the original Call of Duty Developers, Infinity Ward). The game will be making its return to Wii, as well as the PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360. Also while not confirmed, it�s rumoured that the story, despite moving to Modern Times in CoD4 will return to World War II, but will have more focus on the Pacific Campaign of the war rather than the well-worn Western European angle.

Tony Hawk skips consoles for 2008, DS game still on the way.

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Activision has today confirmed in its end of year financial conference call that the Tony Hawk franchise will be taking a year break, no doubt to work on that �re-invigorating� of the franchise the company has planned. But you Tony Hawk fans won�t be left totally in the dark, as the Nintendo DS will received another iteration of the game this year, ironically as the DS versions have been the only ones to impress in the last few years. The game on the DS is said to use �new technology not yet seen on the DS�.

What�s happening to Nintendo in New Zealand?

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 +0800

Is there trouble across the pond? Nintendo Australia has been celebrating some great times lately, but it seems its New Zealand counterpart isn�t doing as well. Nintendo have never really found success in NZ, some even calling the country Sonyland. It seems that delays and stock issues for the Wii, Mario Kart Wii and now Wii Fit have been adding up. More inside