One of the must own games in the glory days of the Nintendo system

was Metroid Prime. Any gamer around when the game was new probably played it at one point. Metroid is also one of the first games I recall seeing a commercial on TV for.

Nintendo has announced that it will be bringing the Metroid Prime trilogy to the Wii with all three games on a single disc. The games will have a unified menu that allows players to choose which game they want to play.

The original pair of games is also being revamped to get controls similar to Metroid Prime

: Corruption. All three games let the player aim with the Wii Remote. The games also offer unlockables with rewards like music and artwork.

Popularity: 67% [?]

Technorati Tags: Metroid Prime Trilogy, nintendo wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii

Crossbows, maracas, and light sabers are just some of the many ways to enhance your Nintendo Wii gaming experience.

by Jennifer L. DeLeo

When the Nintendo Wii first arrived on the gaming scene, many gamers weren’t sure what to make of it. It didn’t have the gorgeous graphics and high-definition viewing experience of the Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3, and it wasn’t exactly geared toward hard-core gamers. In fact, the Wii attracted just the opposite: families and non-gamers.

		SLIDESHOW (10)
		Slideshow | All Shots

More than two years later, the Wii continues to be a hit. Nintendo sold 10.17 million Wii consoles in 2008 alone, a total of 55 percent of all home console sales, according to NPD data. Even the Wii accessory category has grown, with game enthusiasts stocking up on different Wii controller add-ons to enhance game play. As of January 31, 2009, traffic to the Wii Consoles and Accessories page on PriceGrabber.com increased 19 percent year over year. Specifically, the Nintendo Wii Zapper, which you’ll read about here, is one of the most-searched for Wii controllers on PriceGrabber.com.

So if you’ve got a Wii (or you’re thinking about getting one) and want to know all about the different varieties of Wii controllers that are available, we’ve got you covered. Here we break down the 10 coolest from light sabers and maracas to pom-poms and surgical kits.

Here are some of the products featured in today’s The 10 Coolest Wii Controllers slideshow:

Thrustmaster Glow Sabre Duo Pack NW
Star Wars fans probably already own a light saber, but chances are you don’t have the Glow Sabre Duo Pack NW from Thrustmaster. These blue and red high-tech glow sabres feature a 17 LED-lighting system and work with laser battle games. Get a pack of two sabres for $24.99 on Amazon.com.

CTA Digital Maracas for Wii
Grab your dancing partner and get in the groove with the Maracas for Wii. (No joke!) They contain small plastic pellets for making rattling sounds during game play. Each maraca has an opening to insert the nunchuck and Wiimote for use with the Samba De Amigo game and other maraca-based rhythm Wii games. Available at Amazon.com for $12.99.

Now check out the rest of our The 10 Coolest Wii Controllers slideshow, including the Gene Simmons AXE Game Controller for Wii, CTA Digital Crossbow for Wii, Nintendo Wii Zapper, CTA Digital Trauma Center Surgical Kit, DreamGear Wii Play Poms, CTA Digital Sure Shot Rifle for Wii, ezGear Wii Boxing Gloves, and CTA Digital Airplane Controller Stand.

Popularity: 72% [?]

Technorati Tags: nintendo wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii, wii controllers

March 2, 2009, 2:00 pm by Toby Knight 2 comments

Filed under Gaming Tags: EA, electrinic arts, motionplus, Nintendo, Nintendo Wii, Wii, Wii MotionPlus

Wii MotionPlus is Nintendo’s improved motion sensing technology for the Nintendo Wii, promising to make the WiiMote more sensitive and accurate. Now Electronic Arts has released details of the first games that will be able to take advantage of the new kit. Want to know which arm-waving titles are on the way? All the details after the break!Wii MotionPlus is a plug-in attachment for the standard WiiMote that Nintendo announced at last year’s E3. The Wii MotionPlus adds a truckload of extra sensors to allow the device to track much smaller and more intricate movements.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis are the first two games set to Benefit from Wii MotionPlus controls. “With the new Wii MotionPlus, slicing a winner on Centre Court at Wimbledon or dropping an 8 iron pin high on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass have never felt better,” waffled EA Sports President Peter Moore.

The first two Wii MotionPlus will be followed by five more titles, including EA Sports Active (which sounds a bit Wii Fit to us) that will be released in May. The other four titles are still in development and no details of content or timing have yet been confirmed.

You can a video of the Wii MotionPlus controler in action in our first look at Wii Sports Resort.

Popularity: 57% [?]

Technorati Tags: Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii, Wii MotionPlus, Wii MotionPlus games

By Jeff Mullin, Senior Writer

I live with a nag.

No, not my bride. In fact she regularly gets nagged at too.

This nagger is not a she or a he, or even a thee, but a Wii.

Wiis are Nintendo systems that have turned senior citizens all across the nation into inveterate gamers.

Thanks to the system’s unique remote wireless controllers, bowling, tennis and even boxing have become regular competitive events for even those confined to wheelchairs or constrained by walkers.

Even my wife, who was decidedly not interested in video games before she bought me a Wii for Christmas, has gotten hooked on Wii bowling. She propels the virtual ball down the virtual lane with much the same motion she uses in real bowling, without the rented shoes, of course. For the record she regularly kicks my virtual butt.

It wasn’t long before we decided to branch out. We thus acquired a Wii fit, an exercise program involving a balance board that connects wirelessly to the base unit.

That’s when the nagging began.

After hitting the switch, you are prompted to step onto the balance board, upon which the infernal thing responds with a surprised and somewhat pained “ooh.”

In my case, the thing yells “one at a time, buddy,” and “tell your fat brother to get off.”

Each person using the Wii builds their own avatar, known as a Mii. Mine looks nothing like me. It has a full head of hair, for one thing. My wife’s, on the other hand, could fill in for her in any social setting. With her ever-present big smile, it is her electronic spitting image.

At any rate, when you first begin Wii fit you are Read the rest of this entry »

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Techtree News Staff, Feb 18, 2009 1900 hrs IST

Dead Space Extraction will feature a new protagonist and co op multiplayer option

Electronic Arts has officially announced Dead Space for the Wii console with a new name – Dead Space Extraction. The first person horror game features a new protagonist and cooperative multiplayer option. EA is expected to ship this game late September this year.
Electronic Arts had to make sure that Dead Space port to Nintendo shouldn’t be a faint one. A new heroine joins this fiction to start the horror journey in Dead Space Extraction.
When the space colonists struggle to escape from the horrific infection, the story continues on in the Wii version. New characters, weapons, puzzles and enemies are added in the Extraction.

Nintendo’s Wii console, mostly know for its sports, family and leisure games, will now introduce their fans to a total gory massacre. Dead Space Extraction on Wii with Coop multiplayer mode will surely be interesting, as many fans enjoy coop gameplay on the Wii.
As per our Dead Space review, this is a game that people will shell out for to get scared. Too much blood, breathtaking action and engraving gameplay makes it stand out in the crowd.

Popularity: 66% [?]

Technorati Tags: dead space extraction, dead space for wii, new wii games, nintendo wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii

By Tom Magrino, GameSpot
Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:08 pm PT

PC edition of Criterion Games’ demolition-enthused racer highlights week of sparse releases; My World, My Way needles DS.

The first full week of February 2008 was a particularly strong one for the gaming industry as it ushered in the release of such top-name games as Devil May Cry 4, Turok, Culdcept Saga, Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles, and Sins of a Solar Empire. Gamers hoping for a repeat performance this year are, unfortunately, in for a disappointment.

Headlining this week of sparse releases is Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, the long-awaited PC edition of Criterion Games’ highly regarded Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 racer. The Ultimate Box includes all previously released game updates made to the console editions, which debuted in January 2008. The PC game also includes the Party Pack, which adds a variety of multiplayer-centric minigame challenges, brighter visuals, and a race-restart option. Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers can download the Party Pack for a fee through Xbox Live and PlayStation Network beginning February 5.

One other retail release worth a mention this week is My World, My Way for the DS. Created by Japanese game maker Global A (Master of the Monster Lair) and delivered to the US by way of Atlus, My World, My Way is a decidedly female-oriented role-playing game that follows the travails of a petulant princess on her quest to find a boyfriend that has a "level 99 in handsomeness." For more on the off-kilter game, check out GameSpot’s recent hands-on with My World, My Way.

Tozai Games and Microsoft are teaming this week to release R-Type Dimensions for Xbox Live Arcade. The classic 2D shoot-’em-up has been updated with 3D graphics, and will be available this Wednesday for 1,200 Microsoft points ($10).

Nintendo’s Wii has a trio of new games coming to its respective online platforms this week. For WiiWare, Hudson has delivered Snowboard Riot, an action racer where gamers attempt to be the first to reach the bottom of a hill while fending off competitors with a range of power-ups. The game accommodates up to four players, features support for the Wii Balance Board, and will cost 1,000 Wii points ($10).

The WiiWare Channel will also see the release of Lonpos, a logic-based puzzle game where players must use a variety of puzzle pieces to perfectly fill a rectangular playing field. The game features four-way multiplayer and costs 800 Wii points ($8). Lastly, Sega’s Master System classic Sonic Chaos will be added to the Virtual Console this week for 500 Wii points ($5).

For a full listing of the week’s games, check out GameSpot’s New Releases page. Check back later today for a video trailer of this week’s releases.

Popularity: 48% [?]

Technorati Tags: nintendo wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii

January 27, 1:21 PM
by Jamal Robinson, Houston Video Game Examiner

No, that was not a typo.  I didn’t forget to put Super Mario Bros. or Pokemon or Grand Theft Auto.  Earlier this year, VGCharts has reported that Wii Sports has sold 40.24 million units by December 27, 2008 overtaking former kingpin, Super Mario Bros.  All of this in 110 weeks.

Is this so hard not to believe?  Many people were thinking Nintendo were on the fences.  Even with their grip on the handheld world, people were suspecting Sony and Microsoft to take over the console wars.  Nintendo Wii has revived their companies stock far more than imagined.

One complaint I have kept hearing is that the game was sold with the console(except in South Korea and Japan).  Super Mario Bros was also sold with the Nintendo.  So what?  Most people wanted Wii Sports and were excited that it would be included.  Xbox and Playstation have bundles.  Couldn’t they have achieved this feat just as easily?

Another complaint is that this is not a "game" because it "lacks a story".  This might be the craziest argument I have ever heard.  While having a great story enhances the game, not all great games have stories.  Games like Pong, Tetris, and Pac-Man are very simple and do not have any type of story, but are true classics.  Most sports games do not have a "story".  Other games like Super Mario Bros., Halo, and Donkey Kong have weak stories, but ultra fun gameplay.  Honestly, many games involve the concept of "Save the ______".   Point is, the story is just one aspect of what makes a game great.

Wii Sports deserves more credit than it gets.  What Wii Sports has done was bridge the gap.  It is appealing to every type of gamer.  From the hardcore to the casual.  From old to young.  From men to women.  How many of you have parents or younger children who have enjoyed playing it?  Party games have this type of appeal.  You can play this game at bars!

While I will not proclaim Wii Sports to be the greatest game ever, I cannot rain on the accomplishments it has made.  Congratulations Wii Sports.  You the best selling game of all-time.

Popularity: 49% [?]

Technorati Tags: nintendo wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii, wii sports

Posted by Christophor SuperGuido Rick, 8 hours ago Jan 27, 2009 08:35

Re:creation today announced that it is to feature jOG for Wii on its stand at Toy Fair 2009, the product’s first public appearance in Europe after a highly successful recent debut at CES in Las Vegas. Designed and manufactured by New Concept Gaming, a company dedicated to the development and sale of ground breaking products bridging the video game and health and fitness industries, jOG for Wii will be available for customers to try for themselves at Toy Fair 2009, 28th to 31st January 2009, Excel London.

Releasing in April 2009 for the Nintendo Wii games console, jOG utilises lower body motion sensor technology to measure your steps and translate them to movement in game, not only making gaming a more immersive experience, but also giving a gentle workout, contributing to the recommended 10,000 steps per day. Research from John Moores University shows that converting seated video gaming on the Nintendo Wii into exergaming via the introduction of the jOG system more than tripled energy expenditure and increased heart rate by 40% in young adults.

“We are pleased to be able to offer the trade an opportunity to see – and experience – jOG in action for themselves,” commented New Concept Gaming’s Managing Director, Brendan Ludden. “As well as clear health benefits backed up by independent research, jOG is great fun to play with, and Toy Fair gives us a great opportunity to demonstrate this.”

Seth Bishop, Deputy Managing Director at re:creation added “We’ve had an excellent reaction from the trade to date, and jOG forms an important part of our company’s long term strategy in the gaming peripheral market. Toy Fair 2009 is a milestone for jOG and we’re looking forward to bringing it to market in April.”

Popularity: 50% [?]

Technorati Tags: jog for wii, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii, wii jog

When I first saw this game I thought it might be boring, but there are enough different fish, challenges and places to see to keep it interesting. That said, I would rate it as primarily a family game, a great way for kids and parents or grandparents to share some fun family time together. It’s not too difficult for kids maybe 5 or 6 and up, and not too childish for an adult to enjoy. There is a fair amount of reading in the beginning in the form of the captain giving instructions on how to do the fishing maneuvers and such, but this could be explained to a child and there are enough onscreen symbols once they start playing to understand the game play.

If you enjoy fishing, I think you’ll get a kick out of this. The graphics are excellent as Wii games go and you don’t get stuck fishing in one place on a pier somewhere. There are 40 different locations, in 7 regions of the world, Europe, Japan, South America, Africa, Australia and more. Imagine deep sea trolling in Hawaii, or fishing in a fountain in Paris. You start off in Japan and open locations as the game goes on. The scenery and fishing spots are quite stunning. They did a good job on this game. The characters are cartooney and you get a few choices of boy or girl characters. You even get to pick a dog or cat to keep you company and accompany you on your travels. (The cat gets really excited when you hook a fish!)

The controls are about as realistic as you can get using a wiimote and nunchuck. You press the B button on the wiimote and forward casting off motion to cast your line into the water where the fish are. It takes a good hard motion to cast it a great distance. Little effort won’t get you far enough out into the water to find any fish. There’s a meter on the screen to show you how far out you’ve cast the line. You reel them in by rotating the nunchuck just as you would a fishing reel. The controls are very responsive and make good use of the Wii’s capabilities. They’re also very natural and intuitive. The tutorial when you first run the game goes pretty quickly and shows you how to do everything such as casting, hooking the fish, fighting and landing him. It’s not as easy as it sounds when you first try (unless you’re already a fisherman maybe) and I had quite a few lines break or fish escape before I finally landed one. And that was only a small fish. I think it could turn out to be a real adventure trying to bring in a big struggling fish.

There are over 200 different fish and the captain of the ship tallies up what you’ve caught for the day and you can keep track of the different types of fish you’ve caught in a journal. You get points and are striving to become an international fishing master.

This is also a game that you can play online and fish with people all over the world trying to be the best. Imagine fishing with your friends in other parts of the country or grandkids who live far away. Internet hook-up is easy and it opens a world of possibilities.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Technorati Tags: Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii fishing game, wii rock band

Carnival Games made millions for Take Two. Surprisingly, it happened to be one of the more popular shovelware titles. And in the tradition of shovelware, Vir2L Studios and N-Fusion Interactive are hard at work on the upcoming mini-game compilation game for the Nintendo Wii, appropriately named Medieval Games.

It’s one of the "hours of fun for the whole family" affairs, and features mini-games that include battling dragons, jousting, tournaments and participating in other medieval events. It supports up to four-players and allows for gamers to select from a list of hokey characters such as a knight, a princess, a bard or a wizard. Hoo-ray! (And that’s sarcasm, in case you didn’t know.)

The game is scheduled to release sometime in 2009, exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. So that gives hardcore gamers plenty of time to start dusting off the motion-sensing machine. For more information about Medieval Games, feel free to visit the Official Vir2L Studios Website or N-Fusion’s Official Website. And I’m going to speak on their behalf in saying that it’s a pity they went from Frontlines: Fuel of War to Medieval Games. Anyway, for all your other gaming needs, feel free to stay tuned in with Blend Games.

Popularity: 43% [?]

Technorati Tags: medieval wii games, Nintendo Wii Competitions, wii rock band