New Code Of Princess Trailer

Code of Princess is shaping up to be one of the more impressive 3DS titles coming out this fall. The game blends side scrolling beat'em up action with RPG elements channeling a slick retro feel to the gameplay.  Code of Princess actually feels like a spiritual successor to the underrated Sega Saturn classic Guardian Heroes which is not by accident considering 2 of the developers worked on that gem. With the game set to come out in October, Atlus has released a new trailer showcasing game features and voice work. Enjoy!

La-Mulana Climbs To The Top Of The Worldwide Download Charts

With all the doomsayers basically trashing the Wii and Wii U every chance they get, it's nice to see the fans rally behind a really great Wii exclusive title. WiiWare hit La-Mulana has had a choppy ride coming out of Japan but with its recent worldwide release, the game has taken the top spot in the UK, Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and North American WiiWare download charts.

After playing this gem and reading the perfect 10/10 review on Nintendolife, it's not hard to see why everyone is so excited about this game. The worldwide publisher of the game, EnjoyUp Games is pretty stoked about the success as well posting on their Twitter account:

LA-MULANA Number 1 in USA!!!! AWESOMEEEE!!! YES!!! THANKS!!!

If you haven't gotten this game yet, spend the 1000 Wii Points and add this beauty to your collection. This game really is a love letter to Metroid Fans and action-adventure Gamer's and deserves a cozy spot on your Wii menu.

Resident Evil 2 Remake Possible With Fan Support?

A quote from current Resident Evil Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi is making the rounds on the internet and fueling speculation of a Resident Evil 2 remake.

"Just to lay all the cards on the table, that way there's no rumor-mongering or things like that, no, we are not working on a Resident Evil 2 remake as of now. But if the fans really clamor for it; if there's a groundswell of support for remaking that game, then I think that's something Capcom would take under consideration."

Before getting excited, one should keep in mind the fact that the stunning Resident Evil Remake on the Gamecube was helmed by series creator Shinji Mikami and he has had nothing to do with the series since his final survival horror masterpiece, Resident Evil 4 in 2005. This is largely responsible for the erratic and polarizing state of Resident Evil now. You need look no further than the upcoming Resident Evil 6 to see where a remake would go and depending on when you entered the series, that's either good or insanely bad for RE2. Personally, I feel that Capcom should leave the classic alone and allow The Darkside Chronicles to continue as the only retelling of the RE2 story. It did a good job of retelling the story with added multiplayer while leaving your memories of the original untouched, a fine balance for a title held in such high regard. What are your feelings on remaking RE2 with the current state of Capcom, should it happen and would you support it?

Source

Possible Banjo-Tooie Spiritual Successor From Former RARE Team

It has recently been revealed that if RARE had not been sold to Microsoft and remained Nintendo exclusive, many of the key people at the company would have stayed which makes one wonder what could have been. It turns out that some of those former RARE developers are testing the waters to see if they could create a "spiritual successor" to Banjo-Tooie. This group has joined forces under the Twitter name Mingy Jongo and they are starting their project by simply measuring fan interest through Twitter followers. I would not be surprised to see a Kickstarter campaign to pop up to really kick things in gear if they see the Twitter support. No platforms have been listed outside of possible use of the Unity engine but my best guess would be a downloadable version across all major home consoles including Wii U since Nintendo just licensed Unity for Wii U development.

Show your support and follow Mingy Jongo on Twitter Now!

Source

Club Nintendo September Rewards Update #4

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards today replacing Art Academy: First Semester with Bird & Beans for DSiWare.  The expiration date for this offer is now October 7 and the price is 100 coins.  Be sure to check back October 1 for the next reward, most likely for WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console.

Bird & Beans - Nintendo 3DS
100 Coins (Available Until October 7)

Holy Sith! The Final Star Wars Anime Update!

The Star Wars Anime reported on a week ago has gone through an epic struggle to stay up online. I have updated the post numerous times trying to keep a live YouTube link but each time, the user removes the video. In this final update, I have found a copy that has some very cool audio mixed in giving a very complete feel to the project. I will no longer be looking to keep the link updated if it gets taken down again because quite frankly, I have better stuff to do. If the file does get taken down and you wish to see it, feel free to contact me on twitter and I will e-mail a copy from my personal collection. It is an 11mb mp4 file and I will only send a copy if the YouTube link no longer works, this is strictly for fans. View the updated post now! 

RPG Fans Unite Behind Project Eternity

Kickstarter has taken the video game industry by storm and one of the latest projects may mark the beginning of the end of traditional game publishers. Projects like Double Fine Adventure earlier this year showcased the desire for adventure games that publishers claimed there was no market for and OUYA birthed an entire open source video game console, another feat thought impossible in today's market. Project Eternity by Obsidian Entertainment marks one of the first truly mainstream projects that would normally be handled by a major publisher but is now being driven by the video game player's. Obsidian Entertainment is well know for designing RPG hits such as Fallout: New Vegas, Knights of the Old Republic II, Icewind Dale and they are currently working on the awesome looking South Park: The Stick of Truth. Their major issue has been their lack of freedom to create something that is 100% their own due to zero publisher interest and Project Eternity is their step into a brave new future. Started about a week ago, this project has already blasted past its initial goal of 1.1 million dollars and will mark the birth of a whole new franchise funded by fans and fully owned by its creators which will fundamentally change the future of the gaming industry. This success will no doubt spur other mainstream developers to take a similar approach which will allow new and old game franchises to flourish and hopefully protect said franchises from being raped by traditional game publishers. Treon's Realm has already funded 2 Kickstarter projects and will bring you news on promising future projects. I urge all RPG fans to check out Project Eternity, it shows a lot of passion not present in the numerous sequels coming out in the next year.

Check Out Project Eternity Now!

Got Linux?...Need Games!

Making the switch to Linux is becoming easier every day, you're probably using some variation of it right now and don't even know it. As Windows becomes more obtuse and increasingly less relevant, Linux is the free, open source operating system welcoming you with open arms.

One thing that has been difficult is making the switch when you're a gamer. Many options are available from WINE to dual booting with your existing OS but once you allow yourself to embrace open source, you find yourself wanting games that run native in your shiny new OS. Valve will introduce their Steam client within the next 6 months which will bring a flood of games but until that time, you still have to find games the old fashion way. One of the best options is the Humble Indie Bundle but waiting for each new bundle can be tough. Luckily, there is a website that can help. Welcome to Penguspy.com, a site that has gathered a couple hundred of the better Linux based games in one space making it easy to find a game to suit your tastes. You can even filter your search to find free and non-free games. If you're considering making the switch and freeing yourself from the shackles of Microsoft, take a peek at some of the great games waiting for you.

Visit PenguSpy Now!

New Hobbit Trailer! That's What I'm Tolkien About!!!

Peter Jackson and J.R.R. Tolkien go together like Chocolate and Peanut Butter, such a sweet mix. This December marks the first movie for the Hobbit and every new piece of information tastes and looks sweeter than the last. The new trailer has just hit and as expected, the movie looks better than ever featuring the return of the always lovable and tragic Gollum. The big news this year was the announcement of a third Hobbit film turning it into Peter Jackson's second trilogy and unlike a certain bullfrog throated director, you can expect this trilogy to be handled with care and love. What's even more exciting is the fact that Jackson is dipping into other Tolkien works to fill out the new trilogy instead of relying solely on the original Hobbit book which just tickles my inner geek. Here is the breakdown of the new film titles and release dates:

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - 12/14/2012
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 12/13/2013
• The Hobbit: There and Back Again - 7/18/2014

Now it's time for the main event, the new trailer for An Unexpected Journey. Enjoy!

Hotel Transylvania Looks Like A Belmont Vacation Spot

With a few notable exceptions, games based on a movie license elicit a collective groan among many true gamer's. All to often, these games are created on low budgets and very short time frames resulting in less than stellar final products. There are a few companies who know how to beat the odds and create an enjoyable experience that takes an established formula and blends it successfully with said license. Wayforward is a company that makes good licensed games which helps fund their excellent original franchises like Shantae. For Hotel Transylvania, Wayforward has opted to use a very fitting Metroidvania map and progress system to create what looks like a Castlevania-Lite for younger gamer's that will likely appeal to fans as well. They took a similar approach in their excellent Aliens: Infestation for Nintendo DS. Check out the new launch trailer to see what the game looks like when it launches on the Nintendo DS & 3DS September 25th.

Introducing The Humble Indie Bundle 6

To say the Humble Indie Bundle has been successful would be an understatement. Since its start in 2010, the bundles have earned over six and a half million dollars for charity. The bundles have also been instrumental in showing the industry just how large the Linux market really is (Not to mention generous due to the fact that Linux users give the largest average donation on each bundle). Today marks the launch of the Humble Indie Bundle 6 which includes 6 great games, many available for the first time on Linux and Mac. The games included are:

• Torchlight from Runic Games
• Rochard from Recoil Games
• Shatter from Sidhe Interactive
• S.P.A.Z. (Space Pirates and Zombies) from MinMax Games
• Vessel from Strange Loop Games
• Dustforce from Hitbox Team

In order to get Dustforce, you have to beat the average which is never to difficult due to Windows users typically dragging down the average price to under $10, a steal for the wealth of games you're getting. As with the previous bundles, you get downloadable soundtracks for each titles which is always a welcome bonus. The bundle will be available for 2 weeks so be sure to build your game collection soon. And now it's time for the always entertaining trailer, Enjoy!

Source

Learn The Basics Of La Mulana In New Beginner's Guide

With the flood of recent Wii U news, it would be easy to forget that the Wii is days away from releasing a brand new action-adventure game on its WiiWare service. La-Mulana is a challenging Metroidvania game that has a rough ride making it stateside. Nigoro, the games developer, has put together a lengthy 7 minute beginner's guide that both showcases the game and preps you for your adventure. You are introduced to Mulburk, the "idol of the game" who takes you through the guide with tips on controls and in-game items. It's a fun little video that does a good job of introducing you to the game world while informing you that you will die often, so don't get discouraged.  If you are a fan of games like Metroid and Castlevania, La-Mulana is just what you're looking for. Get your whip on this Thursday (09/20/2012) for 1000 Wii Points.

Club Nintendo September Rewards Update #3

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards replacing N64 fighter Super Smash Bros. with PictureBook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit for WiiWare.  The expiration date for this offer is now September 30 and the price is 150 coins.  Be sure to check back September 24th for the next reward, which will likely be on eShop or 3DS Virtual Console.

PictureBook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit - WiiWare
150 Coins (Available Until September 30)

Star Wars Anime?!...Mind Officially Blown!!! (UPDATED AGAIN!)

Can 2 minutes of still in-progress, fan made animation wash away the sour aftertaste of 3 disappointing Star Wars prequels? For me, the answer is a resounding YES! The heart and soul poured into this piece of work will have you begging for a full length feature. Anyone who has seen the Star Wars manga released "a long time ago" will tell you that the anime style fits this legendary series like a glove and with any luck, we will see more. Enough gushing from me, see for yourself. Enjoy!


UPDATE: Despite being removed yet again, a new copy has popped up on YouTube fully mixed with music and SFX by fan of the original animator JPL4185 which takes things to a whole new level. Original animation by YouTube user OtaKing77077 so please show your support by visiting his channel. Enjoy once again!

The Entire Wii U Launch Window Of Games

When you look at the variety and breadth of games coming out for the Wii U launch window, you can see that Nintendo has never been more serious about a home console launch. Even the day 1 launch lineup is incredibly strong showcasing roughly 20 titles spanning just about every genre, an impressive feat for any console launch. Here is a complete list of every game scheduled for the Wii U "Launch Window" which spans from launch day (11/18/2012) through the end of March 2013, just over 4 months. This means roughly 50 games in just over 4 months. To put that in perspective, the Nintendo 64 only had about 300 games over a 5 year period! What games are you planning on getting?

Games in Bold are Launch Day Titles (11/18/2012) - Updated 9/16/2012
Games that are Underlined are Wii U eShop Titles

• 007 Legends
• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Assassin's Creed III
• Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
• Ben 10: Omniverse
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Chasing Aurora
• Cloudberry Kingdom
• Darksiders II
• Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
• ESPN Sports Connection
• Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
• FIFA Soccer 13
• Funky Barn
• Game & Wario
• Game Party Champions
• Jeopardy!
• Jett Tailfin
• Just Dance 4
• Lego City: Undercover
• Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game
• Little Inferno
• Madden NFL 13
• Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth
• Mass Effect 3: Special Edition
• Mighty Switch Force! HD
• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
• Nano Assault Neo
• NBA 2K13
• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Nintendo Land
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge
• Pikmin 3
• Rabbids Land
• Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
• Rayman Legends
• Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
• BIT.TRIP Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Sing Party
• Skylanders Giants
• Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Sports Connection
• Tank! Tank! Tank!
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• Toki Tori 2
• Transformers Prime
• Trine 2: Director's Cut
• Warriors Orochi 3: Hyper
• Wheel of Fortune
• Wii Fit U
• Wipeout 3
• The Wonderful 101 (formerly Project P-100)
• Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
• Zombi U
• Zumba Fitness Core

Nintendo TVii Gives You FULL Control Of Your TV

Nintendo has just announced a new feature of the Wii U titled Nintendo TVii.  The program allows you to link in and fully control your television viewing experience with the Wii U. Control of the program is handled through the Wii U Gamepad touchscreen and everything is linked to your Mii which means that multiple family members can customize Nintendo TVii to their own personal tastes and not infringe on anyone else's setup. This is an oddly proactive move for Nintendo and shows their commitment to being an essential part of the living room. The program is included with every system at no additional cost.  Check out the trailer which showcases the features of this slick new program. Enjoy!

Project P-100 Shows Off Its New Name

Developed by Platinum Games and published by Nintendo, Project P-100 is one of the most promising new games coming to the Wii U. Today, Nintendo announced the games official name, The Wonderful 101. A bizarre yet wonderful mix of strategy and action, The Wonderful 101 will no doubt draw in fans of Pikmin and Bayonetta alike.

Bayonetta 2 Is Wii U Exclusive!

In a shocking move, Nintendo announced today that the Platinum Games developed sequel to Bayonetta will be exclusive to Nintendo's new console.  Not only is Bayonetta 2 Wii U exclusive, it is also being published by Nintendo which marks another major hardcore game that is being published by the Big N. This is noteworthy because it shows that Nintendo is making an attempt to shed some of its kiddie image and branch out into the types of games needed to draw in lapsed Nintendo gamer's that have moved to Microsoft and Sony systems. Exclusive titles sell game consoles and Nintendo is building a nice lineup of games that are only available on the Wii U.

Wii U System Launch Details

As predicted, Nintendo is launching the Wii U with multiple bundles. In this case, 2 seems to be the magic number so here are the details on your choices.

Launch Date: 11/18/2012

Wii U Basic Set - $299.99

• White Wii U System with 8GB of internal storage
• 1 Wii U Gamepad (White)
• Wii U Gamepad & System AC Adapters
• Wii U Sensor Bar
• HDMI Cable

Wii U Deluxe Set - $349.99

• Black Wii U System with 32GB of internal storage
• 1 Wii U Gamepad (Black)
• Nintendo Land Packed-In
• Wii U Gamepad & System AC Adapters
• Wii U Gamepad Charging Dock/Stand
• Wii U Sensor Bar
• HDMI Cable

So there you have it, Nintendo's Wii U full launch day details. All Nintendo Wii U games and accessories are also playable on the Wii U.

Video Game Legends Hit The Silver Screen In Latest Wreck-It Ralph Trailer!

Disney is taking the Toy Story approach to video games this fall with Wreck-It Ralph, a tale of a video game villain who wants more from his digital life. It seems like a fun concept but I personally remain cautiously optimistic due to this being handled by Disney and not Pixar which means there's a 50/50 chance of it being great.  The latest trailer has just hit YouTube featuring a slew of entertaining cameos from video game villains such as Bowser, Zangief, Dr. Robotnik and Clyde from the Pac-Man games. Provided the writers have handled the subject material correctly, we might just have one of those rare "good video game movies".  Enjoy and keep those fingers crossed!

Rayman Rocks The Castle In New Trailer!

Few game legends have had a 2D rebirth quite as glorious as Rayman.  Rayman Origins came out of nowhere and brilliantly took the character back to his roots and proved that 2D gaming is far from dead.  The Wii U exclusive Rayman Legends is taking the series to new heights with a greater focus on music and rhythm platforming as shown in this slick new trailer showcasing one of the games many levels titled Castle Rock. One thing is for sure, New Super Mario Bros. has some SERIOUS competition when the Wii U launches this fall.  Enjoy!

See The True Version Of Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Adventures is easily one of the most polarizing games in Nintendo's epic space series featuring talking animals.  A large part of this is because the game was never actually meant to be a Star Fox game, Rare designed it as one of the most ambitious original action-adventure games titled Dinosaur Planet set to be the N64's final epic.  As many know, Shigeru Miyamoto saw a version pretty far into development and noted the similarities between the game's hero Sabre and Fox McCloud and suggested turning the game into a Star Fox title and shifting it to the then upcoming Gamecube system. During the N64 era, Rare had 3 major games that were essentially counterpoints to some of Nintendo's greatest games on the system:

• Diddy Kong Racing was Rare's answer to Mario Kart 64
• Banjo Kazooie was Rare's answer to Super Mario 64
• Dinosaur Planet was Rare's answer to Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This is why Star Fox Adventures plays and feels so much like Nintendo's classic Zelda game.  This move also resulted in the awkward final battles in the game which showcased an abrupt end to original villain General Scales and pasted in the Andross space battle which is extremely jarring in both tone and gameplay.  Thanks to the wonders of the internet, more and more information on the original N64 game continues to surface and with this month marking the 10th anniversary of the Gamecube original, website RareMinion has released a new video showcasing 1 full hour of Dinosaur Planet gameplay.  As you will see, the game was really far into development and looks remarkably similar to the final product.  It is an interesting insight into this lost game and worth a view if you've got the time. Enjoy!

Source

Possible Wii U Launch Info?

With the full Wii U reveal less than 2 days away, the internet and even some stores are spreading what they believe to be the actual launch price(s).  My own personal experience with this came yesterday at a Best Buy where one of their blue shirted minions gave me the lowdown as told to him by the company.  Here is a list of what the Best Buy minion and the internet have for the Wii U launch:

• Pre-orders may begin as early as 4pm EST when Nintendo's official announcement wraps up. (Show is scheduled 9/13 from 10am-4pm EST)
• 3 different bundles ranging from $250 - $350
• Scheduled to launch about a week before Thanksgiving which seems to match previous Nintendo system launches. (11/18/2012 is the most likely date if this is true)

We will have the official information Thursday and I will be posting the details as they come in.  Interestingly, the 3 different bundle approach is the first time since the original NES launch in the mid 80's that Nintendo has launch a console like this.  Odds are, Nintendo will offer a base model for $250, a model with game pack-in and possible pro controller for $300, and a loaded model with game, pro controller and original Wii accessories for $350.  That's just my take but it seems to fit what people would want for the launch.  We'll know for sure in less than 48 hours.

Club Nintendo September Rewards Update #2

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards today replacing Tennis for the 3DS Virtual Console with Art Academy: First Semester for DSiWare.  The expiration date for this offer is now September 23 and the price is 150 coins.  Be sure to check back September 17 for the next reward, most likely for WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console.


Art Academy: First Semester - Nintendo 3DS
150 Coins (Available Until September 23)

Two Of History's Biggest Nerds Battle It Out With Epic Results

Have you ever wondered what would happen in a rap battle between Elvis and Michael Jackson?  How about the Mario Brothers vs The Wright Brothers or even legendary nerds Bill Gates and Steve Jobs? Epic Rap Battles of History answers those questions in a series of videos pitting fictional characters and famous personalities against one another with hilarious results.  Now in its second season, the YouTube hit from Nice Peter and Epic Lloyd never fails to impress. With its massive fanbase constantly requesting new battles, you never know who will battle it out next.  Enjoy!

GameStop Wants To Sell You Last Generation Titles Online As "Vintage Games"

GameStop has been talking up the possibility of selling "vintage" titles on their online site.  On the surface this may sound good but let me remind you, this is GameStop, a company so damaged in the head that they are also considering the sale of pre-owned digital software.  Let's get the basics out of the way.  By their own statement they don't plan on selling titles from the Dreamcast era or earlier which, for those who don't know, is the actual retro era games that actually sell to fan's and collector's. 

"Well, we don't have a lot of NESes or Dreamcasts.  That's some pretty old stuff but we just took Game Boy Advance out of stores recently, about a year and a half ago.  Original Xbox, I think we took out of stores in 2009, as I recall.  We're reducing the footprint of PlayStation 2." ~ GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines

If they decide to initiate this program, they will be selling their backstock of games for PS2, Gamecube, Xbox and Game Boy Advance.  The idea is simple, they didn't have room for last generation games in their stores so they discontinued and recalled them to their warehouse.  Now these titles are taking up space in storage and the head brass want a cheap way to hoist the leftover games on collector's by calling them "vintage" and selling it exclusively through the GameStop.com website ("Vintage" is GameStop's poor attempt to re-brand their last generation games and appeal to retro game collector's).  Buying used games from a GameStop store is already a dicey prospect, consider the nightmares of purchasing these older used games from them online. Another major issue is the fact that GameStop had their employees discard boxes & instructions for many of these games when taking them in to save on space meaning that these games won't even appeal to the market they are trying to cash in on. From a business standpoint, it's pretty brilliant because they will use their pre-owned game guarantee to force people into stores to get a refund allowing them the opportunity to bait customers into purchasing more from the company. When all is said and done, you will be purchasing loose incomplete backstock of games so common that you can buy complete on Amazon for the same price or cheaper.  Brilliant idea guys, good luck with that!

Source

Kirby Shows Off His Six Pack In New Commercial!

Kirby turns 20 this year and Nintendo is celebrating with Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition for the Nintendo Wii.  Launching September 16th with a MSRP of $39.99, Nintendo has unveiled a new commercial on their Youtube channel showcasing the six Kirby titles included on the disc.  Get your suck on next Sunday!

Kickoff Your NFL Season With Tecmo Super Bowl 2013

Most sports video games are released and forgotten within a year when their "new" version comes out, it has been this way for almost every sports game across all game systems.  Every so often, a sports game comes out which focuses on fun and accessibility over technical details and minor updates resulting in a title that truly stands the test of time.  Tecmo Super Bowl for the original 8-bit Nintendo is one of those games and remains as fun to play today as when it was released back in 1991, a true testament to its perfectly balanced design that allows any gamer to pick up and enjoy.  To celebrate this legacy, the team over at TecmoBowl.org have addressed one of the few flaws with this game by updating its roster and releasing it under the aptly titled Tecmo Super Bowl 2013.  Few game ROM's have been updated like Tecmo Super Bowl which has been tweaked and released almost as much as the Madden game series, minus all the price gouging EA is known for considering these updates are all FREE. Check out the release page for all of the details on this latest edition of one of the most legendary sports video games of all time.  Enjoy and...

DOWNLOAD TECMO SUPER BOWL 2013 NOW!

Geekapella Gerudo Valley Cover Will Tickle Your Inner Geek

The Gerudo Valley theme from Ocarina of Time is without a doubt, one of my all time favorite themes from the legendary Zelda series.  This holds true for many other fans as well which is why it's always entertaining to hear the many different variations of this catchy tune and this is one of the more impressive. Max and Sam are responsible for an entire series of A Capella music videos based on some of the biggest games of all time.  The actual songs are quite impressive while the videos are simultaneously creepy and funny.  I highly recommend checking out their entire set list:

• Jungle Hyjinx from Donkey Kong Country
• Pokemon Red/Blue Theme
• Alex Kidd Medley
• Guile Theme from Street Fighter II
• Chocobo Theme from FFVII
• The Shinra Corporation  from FFVII

Club Nintendo September Rewards Update #1

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards replacing NES Play Action Football with fighting classic Super Smash Bros. for the Virtual Console.  The expiration date for this offer is now September 16 and the price is 200 coins.  Be sure to check back September 10 for the next reward, which will likely be on eShop or 3DS Virtual Console.

Super Smash Bros. - Virtual Console
200 Coins (Available Until September 16)

Check Out The Oddly Compelling Mario Warfare

YouTube user beatdownboogie has released a teaser trailer for their bizarre yet compelling Mario Warfare. The trailer showcases a realistic take on the characters featuring action sequences straight out of a John Woo flick.  As the end of the trailer humorously points out, they are planning to release an actual movie in the near future so this is one to keep an eye on.  Enjoy!

Mario Warfare Trailer Direct Link

The Video Game War Has Begun!

Ever wonder what would happen if the video game classics of the past decided to battle it out against current day game heroes like Master Chief and Lara Croft?  Well, Freddie Wong and crew have created a slick video showcasing an invasion of the real world by retro classics of the Atari era.  Enjoy!

Double Fine's "The Cave" Coming Soon To Wii U

Double Fine Productions, home to legendary adventure game designer Ron Gilbert, has just revealed that his latest game titled The Cave is coming to Wii U in addition to already announced versions for PS3, 360 and PC.  The Cave is described as a "Metroidvania" style platform adventure game featuring 3 player co-op.  You explore a massive cave using the unique skills of 7 different heroes to overcome the various puzzles littered throughout the adventure.  Nintendo has gone to great lengths to attract some of the best games to their upcoming Wii U eShop and The Cave looks to be an excellent fit helping to satiate their fans hunger for Metroid style exploration games.  Get trapped in The Cave in early 2013.

Source

Rumor: Wii U Launching With $200 Price Tag?

A brand new rumor is spreading around the internet stating that Nintendo will launch the Wii U for $200.  The typical knee jerk reaction is that the news is simply there to grab attention before the actual launch information is released by Nintendo on September 13. I thought it would be fun to actually look at the validity of this rumor (This is currently a rumor and should be treated as such). Honestly, when looking at the launch history of every Nintendo home console, you begin to see that the price might not be that far off.  Nintendo has always prized its competitive, family friendly pricing and with the Wii U, that notion is more important than ever with 2013 unleashing not 1 but 2 brand new consoles that will carry a premium price for their advanced tech as well as 3 existing value priced consoles.  Here's a quick breakdown of the launch of every home console from Nintendo for roughly the last 30 years.

• NES: $89.99 - $199.99 (Depending on which of the 4 "Sets" you decided to purchase)
• SNES: $199.99 (Console, 2 Controllers and Mario World)
• N64: $199.99 (Console and 1 Controller)
• Gamecube: $199.99 (Console and 1 Controller)
• Wii: $249.99 (Console, 1 Controller and Wii Sports)
• Wii U: ???

This shows that with the exception of the Wii, no Nintendo home console has ever launched with a price over $200.  The Wii's price was affected by a variety of factors including a pack-in game, backwards compatibility and market competition that was priced well over $250 in 2006 making the Wii a value versus the Xbox 360 and PS3.  The Wii U is launching against 2 relatively inexpensive competitors with established audiences numbering in the millions.  Simply put, Nintendo has to come out swinging in order to get a good grasp on the market, especially after last year's overpriced 3DS launch.  The Wii U is packed with powerful but inexpensive technology and the Wii U gamepad is ultimately cheaper to produce based on the components and design of the device, it is basically the lower half of the 3DS without the actual processor components.  When everything is considered, a price point of $200 is entirely possible with a possible jump to $250 if there is some pack in software similar to Wii Sports.  We will know for sure during the Wii U event on September 13.