tapedeck

I'm sure Nintendo aren't as nieve as some people think when it comes to studio aquisitions. Iwata's mind is probably ticking all of the time with forward moving gestures for the company (no wii pun intended). Japanese businesses barely rest on their laurels afterall. I'm hopeful that they do indeed have Monolith working on a large scale RPG. The Wii has the potential to tap a sector of the RPG market as many companies with stories to tell will fall prey to the existing higher development costs. We need new companies coming to the fore. Even Squaresoft started somewhere with a small budgeted game. With an almost 'lower entrance' into the market surely we will get some pots of gold both from experienced and new devs. I personally think Disaster has been indeed put on hold for the usual Nintendo influence. The sharp suits of Miyamoto and posse rolling in and finalising the project. Tweaking/influencing/guiding it to gaming perfection. (With pumpin' stereos playing The Beatles and bouncers peering as standard). I'm sure Nintendo want to create new IP's this generation in an effort to appease pre-existing gamers as they get merry in the office wailing their arms and hips around. It's also more affordable than ever before. No thanks to both the tech and the sales. If FF wrecked Matsuno's health periodically, I'm sure he would have become (deeply?) disillusioned with the industry as a whole. The Wii does indeed seem like the perfect solution to expectancy in the industry. The anti-norm. Just a little console going on it's own path. Earning the respect of others. How Japanese.

Cheers flame I'l be posting some more in the next few days too

Well said Dazzy. The only thing wrong with Nintendo is their European release dates. It's like they are drunk on Gin. But when the games are as good as they continuously are; I'm just happy that we get them. It was waaay worse in the 80's and 90's. And that was only ten/twenty years ago. Things will change again.

Remember when cel shading hit it's peak with a game called the Wind Waker? The style was so good I doubted whether Disney could ever make a cartoon that looked good anymore. Infact it was like a Disney moment. It was like seeing those 3D moments in Aladdin. Or seeing the amazing Toy Story for the first time. Wind Waker did Cel shading better than anything prior. It is therefore timeless due to the style. This is a good direction for Wii games to take (look at Okami too.) I wonder what the next "style" (in the vein of Cel shading) will be? The only game I can think of currently pushing cel shading is the Simpsons video game. Seems a shame that it isn't as prevalent as it could be. Maybe I'm missing some examples. Games like Rez and Vib Ribbon and Paper Mario and Parappa the Rapper and Nintendo's Bit Generation titles suit the Wii perfectly. Big ideas not big budgets. I feel 'Wii Ware' titles could be where we see the real gems in years to come. It will be interesting to see how publications/websites cover these wii ware games. N-Europe recently covered (world exclusive!) one of these titles and that was well presented. In a typical preview format. I wonder if all games will receive the same kind of limelight when there are lots of games available. I hope we don't see the same situation as some NES/SNES games on the VC. Either way, the future of the Wii looks very rosy indeed.

This seems to be doing quite well in the US so far. Judging by the charts for the Wii, it's kicking about in third. Being available at retail around the same time as Metroid is sure to knock sales of all new games though. Nice to see the interest is there though. This may actually strike a chord with the carnival loving Americans. It's not like the UK in which the shows are ran by Gypsy looters and child-loving seedy businessmen.

I hope Diddy can do his cartwheels (and extended jump from cartwheel) from the DKC series. Would be a nippy blighter if so.

I guess it's the age old argument of ignorance is bliss. When you are educated you seem to see problems and then you seem to inevitably live with noticeable problems! If you have nothing your knowledge is limited and (to the educated) life seems rosier. __________________________________________________________ In regards to gaming I've noticed the similarity between the above and the games we play. Say we only play horrendously difficult games; we would accept games as tough. Then an easy game comes along and it would be slated for being WAY too easy. (Whereas it would only be easy in comparison to previous games). It's "what we know" we love. It also seems that those who mainly play Nintendo-developed games have developed an almost subconcious awareness of developed difficulty curves, intruiging, explorative elements and enjoyable mechanics. (Again, subconciously related to our humane understandings of gravitational elements, boundaries, response, feedback, reap and reward etc). I therefore think many gamers who have grown up playing Nintendo games have become accustomed to the above elements and regard them as standard. Like the Nintendo 'seal of quality'. But does this mean other games are appreciated as much by Nintendo gamers? I really do think many Nintendo gamers have a poor appreciation of other stuido's games. (And rightly so at times). We are SPOILT! It's hard to make such an assumption *as a gamer myself* yet having spent many years talking with (analysing) gamers I thought this would be sectional. It's not. Many diehard SEGA fans still proclaim the company to be able to turn their hand to anything with god-like status. And many Sony fans still feel Gran Tourismo created true definition of modern gaming and real-world symbiosis. Horses for courses indeed. With Nintendo I feel like I'm in a club. Or I support them like a favourite band. I buy Nintendo consoles because I instantly 'know' they will produce the greatest gaming, no; 'entertainment' in the next 5-6 years. It's a no-brainer. Cash paid. Next 'hit' please. Like a slave, I just know Nintendo will always produce the best entertainment available. Furthermore, I understand (and have become more aware) most gamers need to kick back once in a while (like a film,book,music critic) and just enjoy something for what it is. (It's not easy though, is it!) We are all critics afterall. But take your generic wii game or your Boogie and just appreciate it for what it aims to do. Just to entertain on some level. Maybe because at £30-40 a time I guess we should all be little critics? Do Nintendo fans have an appreciation or an arrogance over gaming? I have both. And I'm damn proud of it.

good shout metroid: I'm like an old man at times with other bands because nothing is as good as what I like and play. My other half is always saying "just appreciate it on a different level". But isn't that a trait of some women sometimes? Music/games/films etc can be just "enjoyed" for what they are. Yet with blokes its oh, so different at times. We can't seem to just switch off and enjoy something. We all seem to think we could have done better or made this/that better. Macho indeed! Gaming is bloody brilliant BUT many games are just difficult to fully enjoy when you have been touched by Nintendo. Wave Race has yet to be bettered. 1080 on the N64 was so realistic that it has ruined my perspective of serious snowboard games ever since. Mario 64 was so perfect that 3D platformers haven't been as good since. Zelda ALTTP was so clever I stopped watching The Crystal Maze. The list continues. Surely I'm not the only one!

Yeah, I've noticed that too. Thought the threads were buzzing with debates and good mannerisms. But NO it's all playground prattle tonight. Not what we come here for.

Fair do's about mr popularity pinata. Nintendo outsource is a difficult one. It's good and bad. I personally feel the in-house developers should be responsible for the 'traditional' IP's like Mario/ Zelda. Purely as they have such a good track record and the suits in Nintendo can keep a close watch on progress and standards. Outsourcing should be for new franchises like disaster and hammer. Look at SEGA's Sonic problems in the 90's when they outsourced Sonic. Yuji Naka wanted his baby back and everything went tits up. It's sometimes harder to collaborate on things than it is to produce something on your own. I guess it's all about the dynamics of teamwork. If companies get it right their can be positive results and 'freshness' put into the IP. Look at F-Zero GX/Oracle Zelda games for proof. I'm happy with a balance.

Wasn't viva pinata a flop? Hence DS loving

Thanks for the feedback guys, would be good to hear some of your compositions people. The more the merrier.

Wow..It's like the sims! Gloves, no gloves...Funky Hentai t-shirt or plain green..Feed cat or let it die....Tough decisions indeed! Looks gorgeous though

Probably when Matty C has finished playing Halo DS..(Obviously!) lol

In those scans our hero has an N64 right? A Black one. That's awesome-ness right there. Population 3 and counting lol...Yet i'm sure there will be NPC's added to populate the world. Maybe a last minute thing when all other structures have been created? I would certainly hope so as this has the opportunity to be up there with Nintendo's 1st party efforts. With an unpopulated world it would feel almost like Body Havest or something...unless it's all a game of hide and seek?

£12.99?! That's like daylight robbery! No worse, daylight rape! I could make a better controller with a plastic sheet and a lighter. THIS is why gamers stick to official products.

I think we will see them all...They can't really put Mario Party 2 and 3 without Mario Party 1..Well, they COULD. But it would seem out of place. Maybe a warning would just cover this rotating analogue problem. Maybe with the analogue on the Classic Controller and GC pads being smoother and shorter than the N64's, this may not be as big a problem. I never experienced any hurt. But my thumbs are piano/guitar hardened. Who knows?! Nintendo 1st party games on the N64 were hardly by the millions...They need all the N64 games they can get on VC.

Fair shout Metroid.... I wholly agree. Blind as bats. Isn't it just your typical games dev's being stupid because they think: It won't be as good as Wii Sports (we can't be arsed to try) It's not got Mario in it (we can't compete) The graphics aren't too good compared to Virtua Tennis on PS3 (boo hoo) We are all drunk on Gin (hic!) God the industry scares me sometimes. It's TOO obvious. Wii Sports was a template for games to come.. We've had Tiger Woods, Nippon Boxio fighter japaneesey (that cell shaded boxing game) and Brunswick Bowling. Tennis....Anyone for Tennis? No? Oh well....Back to the Gin. Idiots!

Duly noted Metroid Badminton is the greatest game ever in my eyes. The real selling point of this game would be online. Even if it mimicks Wii Sports (surely not too hard?) then adding online would garner positive consumer reaction through the sports/competition association. Gawd knows when we will see Wii Sports 2....In a few years time when Nintendo have a new product to show off? Knowing Nintendo they have probably got loads of tech sports demos running. Then they develop the wii fit board and remodel them all to that, then something else and so on and so on....Resulting in MASSIVE delays but a great game. Typical Nintendo really. That's why we need games like these. If Hudson balls this 'wii sportz copy' up...they are truly the crappiest developers ever.

Seabass staff are made up of half the ISS staff anyhoo from KCEO (after they merged with KCET). ISS ... Whadda game! Pro Evo now has the opportunity to become ULTRA realistic and more 'fun' with shirt pulling, conning the ref, advanced AI that would make the best managers pap their pants and many more features such as personalised celebrations and decent online leagues. Yet Konami know PES lovers will flock to this....Just like FIFA lovers do, every year. Even with FIFA style updated rosters and slightly tweaked AI and a new cover star! Pro Evo USED to have some major effort put into changing it every year. Now they have sales near/above FIFA they just add buzzwords like 'Teamvision' and promise the world.

Maybe this is there chance to shine. If this has online play I'm there...Just for badminton!

H-O-T, For purists, the theme tune was remixed in Bflat. it had a wacky military vibe I used to play OOT and just put iron boots/blue getup on and just look at Links air bubbles popping on the surface. I just loved doing that. It was peaceful. It was lovely. Bizzare I know!! Then I used to do the same in the Beaver race area on MM as Zora Link. It was somehow sadder if only for the fact that this, and everything in the game was appreciated much more as the ominous moon lurched perilously over the entire skyline. It was a reminder that the little things were precious. Like bubbles popping on a pond. Or a rock band trying to play, or a deceased hero of yesteryear. Or a baby goron growing up. There was depth. Enough to perplex, and emotionally touch/engage the player on a personal level. The aligning of life and death/selflessness/helplessness. Ideas that games rarely forage through. That was what truly made MM darker and 'adult'. For those who have been 'touched' by MM, Zelda would never be the same again.

3 had that paper mario vibe to it, no? Although MORE was added, it wasn't too bad I guess. One and Two were something special with a group of beer swilling friends. Online would be the best way forward for the franchise (or making it More Mii focused too). but I can't se Nintendo changing it. It's still selling.

touche. Indeed. If it comes with two orange balloons that I can attach to two wiimotes I'm sold!

It's a tween racers dream! Lewis Hamilton must be bed-wetting at that list!