Excellent Mutant Mudds 8-Bit Soundtrack Now Available

Nintendo Offers New Options For Wii U Hardware

As Nintendo gears up to enter this years E3 as the ultimate underdog, it seems that part of their preparation for the upcoming holiday season includes some changes/additions to the accessories and hardware for the Wii U. Some of the changes play to aesthetics while others offer some much needed upgrades to controller longevity. Currently, all of these are only confirmed for Japan but it is all but guaranteed that these will come out in other territories (likely this fall for the big holiday push and flood of heavy hitting Nintendo games).

• New White Wii U Premium (32GB): When the system originally launched, the only way to get the upgraded internal storage was to purchase the Wii U premium set which only came in black. Nintendo will rectify this situation going into the holidays with a white premium set that will appeal to those who prefer their new system to match the original Wii color scheme.
• Nintendo Land Bundle (Includes Wii Remote Plus): Nintendo Land surprisingly does a great job of showcasing the new hardware while satisfying Nintendo fans with its theme park packed with nostalgic nods to the history of the Big N. The $60 price tag, if you purchased the game separately from the premium hardware, was a bit tough to swallow so Nintendo is making the game more attractive by bundling it with a Wii Remote Plus for the same price. This is an excellent offer when you consider how many of the games require the extra controller for full enjoyment.
• Wii U Gamepad Battery: One of the bigger knocks against the Wii U has been the battery life of the Gamepad which makes longer play sessions a bit tough. Nintendo has heard the complaints and will be offering an official 2550mAh upgrade option which will take the Gamepad from its meager 3-5 hours to a much more appealing and gameplay friendly 6-8 hours. It is currently unclear if the system will have this included in the future but the odds are high that it will within the next year or two.
• Wii Remote Quick Charge Set: Battery life for the Wii Remote has never really been an issue but many have wanted an official recharge option from Nintendo to take regular batteries out of the equation. It may be a little late considering the controller has been around since 2006 but it is a welcome addition for those who have had issues with the third party battery options.

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Introducing The Humble Indie Bundle 8

Indie fans can once again rejoice with the next installment of The Humble Indie Bundle. Gamer's are being treated to a total of 7 indie games (2 of which require you to "beat the average" price). This wonderful program has been a great resource for Gamer's who want a good selection of independent games for an excellent price (while helping charity to boot). It has also been extremely helpful in proving that the Linux community is much larger than previously thought and that they want excellent games. As usual, all games are 100% DRM free (take that Microsoft) and include their soundtracks for fans of game music making this an absolute steal. Enjoy!

Humble Indie Bundle Direct Link

The First Iron Man Film In 60 8-Bit Seconds

Sonic Lost World Debut Trailer

Sega has released the first trailer for Sonic Lost World which is coming exclusively to Nintendo consoles (Wii U & 3DS) later this year and things are looking up for the Blue Blur. Few mascots have had a track record as spotty as Sonic but the gameplay shown in the trailer shows a refreshing mix of old school Sonic mixed with 3D "drum" based levels. Honestly, the levels look as if they borrow a bit from the excellent Super Mario Galaxy series which actually makes sense considering that Nintendo is apparently helping with the game. Thankfully, the game seems to also be dropping the hard edge that Sega has tried to push on the character over the last 10 years opting for a more colorful look that gives the game that ethereal look that has helped Mario through the years. Overall, Sonic Lost World looks very promising and should fit right in on Nintendo's underrated Wii U (as well as the excellent 3DS). Enjoy!

Shin'en Multimedia Defends The Wii U Against Those Who Claim The Console Is "Not Next Gen"

In the world of Nintendo home consoles, there are companies who make excuses and companies who just "get it". For over 10 years, a little company known as Shin'en Multimedia has been squeezing the absolute maximum out of every Nintendo console from the Game Boy Advance to the Wii U creating some of the most technically impressive games on each system. The company has also managed to avoid the trap of sacrificing game quality for graphic fidelity with an impressive library of original IP's that continue impress and delight Nintendo fans with fun gameplay and amazing visuals. Shin'en has been responsible for some excellent game series including Nano Assault, Jett Rocket and Art of Balance which are all original franchises, something that is rare in an industry flooded with endless uninspired sequels. Their loyalty to Nintendo and focus on great games has been rewarded with success and a loyal following who continue to support their ambition. Shin'en has also been there to defend the Big N and put third parties to shame (with their incredible tech skills) when it is claimed that a Nintendo console is "not powerful enough".

In a recent interview with GameReactor, Shin'en art director Martin Sauter defended the Wii U hardware and confirmed that it is most definitely a next generation console:

"Of course the Wii U is not the big leap hardware power-wise but it is a big leap to the Wii and to be honest I think we've reached a point where we don't need so much more hardware power - we need better games. For every game you can make it look so good that it's good enough for everybody and I think the Wii U is a good compromise between price point - because don't forget you have a tablet controller, you have a great hardware base and it's much better than everybody reads. It's better than Xbox - sorry, it is better - and you can squeeze lots out of it, but you have to really work hard on it and I think you can make great games with it. 

I'm not sure if a much more powerful PS4 will produce much better looking games. We've reached a point where good games will sell and I think the steps will be much much smaller in the next generation."

There are many who may scoff at quotes such as this but the fact of the matter is that companies such as Shin'en are not only surviving but thriving in one of the industries biggest falls since 1983 and it is due to smart conservative design that focuses on gameplay and fun as opposed to hardware specs, DLC and milking franchises to death (we're looking at you EA). As we move into this new generation of consoles, expect to see a clear divide between Nintendo and it's competitors where the Big N continues its core focus on what makes video games such a great medium and that is one word, FUN!

Source 1, Source 2

GameTrailers Unravels The Kingdom Hearts Timeline

GameTrailers

Kingdom Hearts Timeline Direct Link

Xbox One Reveal Causes Huge Spike In Wii U Sales

Within a day of the Xbox One reveal, Microsoft unwittingly provided a massive boost in hardware sales numbers for one of their major competitors. In the UK, retail giant Amazon is showing a massive spike for Nintendo's Wii U console since Microsoft's conference. While that exact numbers fluctuate as they are updated constantly, the initial increase was over 800% with things leveling out now as the machine remains very high on Amazon's  Top 100 Movers and Shakers list. This is a very impressive turn for a machine many proclaimed as dead in the water.

It's also interesting to note that it was not just the Wii U that saw a boost but also some of the better games on the machine. ZombiU, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and New Super Mario Bros. U all showed massive sales increases with ZombiU almost matching the Wii U hardware spike signifying that a lot of the sales were to core gamer's as opposed to the casual market. While Nintendo is preparing their A game for E3, I'm sure this piece of good news is going to provide a moral boost considering the struggles the machine has had since launch. Unless Microsoft makes some major changes, the console war may just boil down to Sony and Nintendo which hasn't happened since the days of the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

Source 1, Source 2

Microsoft Drops The Ball In The Biggest Way Possible

By now, most Gamer's are aware of Microsoft's disastrous "Xbox One" reveal and the entertaining fallout/meltdown among the game community. Now it is time to look at how their console unveiling completely reshaped the expectations of the entire video game industry. While people have endlessly bashed Nintendo's Wii U and mocked the PS4 reveal, Microsoft took a perfect opportunity to wow Gamer's and instead chose to piss them off with an Orwellian console that takes freedom and choice away from the consumer.

It was an odd thing to watch 8 years of goodwill built up through the Xbox 360 literally get thrown away in a 1 hour presentation. Microsoft made one thing clear about their next system, they want it to be the center of your television experience at the expense of the gaming portion of the machine. Most Gamer's could honestly care less about this and just wanted to see the games which seemingly came off as an afterthought left in the hands of EA and Call of Duty: Ghosts (which ironically is hitting every console imaginable thus negating its relevance to the Xbox One). The oddly titled system came off looking like an 80's version of your cable box with almost the entire presentation talking about how the required (and much maligned) Kinect will change how you interact with television. The resulting fallout among Gamer's can be described as epic with even the most dedicated Xbox fans snapping on the company.

If you were to boil down the biggest things which caused Gamer's to sour on the machine, 4 key points jumps to mind:

• Always Online: While Microsoft reps tried to dodge the subject, it was ultimately revealed that every game would have to be registered with their "Azure" cloud system in turn confirming that the system would HAVE to be connected to register games and get constant updates/patches. Microsoft was quick to point out that the always online requirement would be left up to each developer but the registration requirement basically forces their hand.
• Registered Games: Microsoft essentially declared war on the used game market as well as the video game rental market when they revealed that Xbox One games would require installation on the system and become tied to a players Xbox Live account. If you let someone borrow the disc, they have to pay a fee to play the physical copy of the game. This also explains why EA dropped their "online pass" system since Microsoft essentially took the concept to the next level.
• Kinect Requirement: The original Kinect was an interesting experiment designed in response to the Wii phenomenon and held some promise but was largely ignored by the bulk of 360 owners due to major flaws with the interface and the controller working much better. Instead of modifying their strategy to account for this, Microsoft has opted to cram the device down your throat by not only including it with every system but also requiring it to be used in order to operate the system. Considering that the technology is still largely imperfect, this has turned many people off to the system by its very inclusion.
• No Backwards Compatibility: This may seem trivial but when you consider the 8 years of content for the 360, this suddenly becomes a massive issue. Microsoft followed this news with a second swift kick to the balls of 360 customers when it was revealed that while your Live account/Avatars could be transferred to the new system, your Xbox Live Arcade titles are stuck on you old system. This is an amazingly stupid move when you look at the online push for the new system and the massive amount of Live arcade games which have been sold.

The "epic failure" list could go on but it's obvious that unless Microsoft can completely change their approach by E3, the early adopters needed for a successful launch may jump ship to Sony and Nintendo (or even stay put since 360 will likely be supported for at least another year). Sony and Nintendo both saw jumps in their stock after the Xbox One conference which bodes well for both machines in the coming holiday season provided Nintendo can flood their machine with first party hits and Sony can avoid making their machine too much like the Xbox. When all is said and done, this will likely be remembered as one of the worst system reveals of all time and a major turning point in the home console market. What are your thoughts on the Xbox One and its reveal? Please comment below.

55 Fresh Indie Games In 5 Minutes

List of Indie Games featured in video

(Nintendo fans take note, many of these games are coming to Wii U)

Sega Expands 3DS Virtual Console With Game Gear Classics

Sega is throwing a lot of support behind Nintendo suddenly which is a welcome change of pace for the Big N. While the Virtual Console on Nintendo 3DS has some nice classics, it has been very slow to add games with only a limited offering of NES, Game Boy and Game Gear titles. Sega is looking to change things up with the announcement of 13 games from their Game Gear library.

• Crystal Warriors
• Columns
• Shining Force II: The Sword of Hajya
• Defenders of Oasis
• Sonic Blast (Already available in Europe)
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
• Sonic Drift 2
• G-Loc Air Battle
• Tails Adventure
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic Laybrinth (Already available in Europe)
• Vampire: Master of Darkness

One thing to note is that over half of the games are from the Sonic series while the rest are made up of other classic franchises. It seems that this in conjunction with the new Nintendo Sega partnership provides some evidence that Nintendo may just become the new home for Sonic and possibly other classic Sega properties (which makes sense considering how well Sonic titles perform on Nintendo consoles). Just think of how amazing a Panzer Dragoon on the Wii U could be, just a though.

3 New Sonic Games Exclusive To Nintendo

Friday's Nintendo Direct brought a bit of a surprise when Nintendo announced a partnership with Sega to bring the next 3D Sonic game exclusively to Nintendo consoles. The new game is titled Sonic Lost World and is said to be an action adventure title. The idea of the game being an action adventure game instead of a normal platformer is very interesting and with Nintendo apparently helping with the development, we may finally get a truly amazing 3D Sonic title.

It was also revealed that two other Sonic games are racing to Nintendo's latest consoles. Next up is the HD upgrade of the Mario & Sonic series with Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Expect to see more gameplay variety due to control options (Wii U Gamepad, Wii Remote Plus) in addition to shiny new HD visuals. The final Sonic title is actually a mystery game that has absolutely no details outside of the tease that it is being made as part of the Nintendo partnership. Some rumors are pointing to a Mario & Sonic Kart but I'm not sure how likely that is due to Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed recent release and Mario Kart coming this fall. It is possible that Sonic could appear in Mario Kart but that seems a bit redundant. Either way, expect this game to be revealed during the next couple weeks leading up to E3.

New Super Luigi U Gets Wii U Release Date(s)

Nintendo was a bit conservative with their Nintendo Direct today but they did nail down some release dates for a few anticipated titles for the Wii U. Pricing was also revealed for New Super Luigi U which is surprisingly getting both a DLC and physical retail release. This is great news for Gamer's such as myself who had no intention of purchasing the DLC version but will happily buy a physical version (gotta love that green case). Thank you Nintendo.

• New Super Luigi U (DLC) - June 20 ($19.99)
• Game & Wario - June 23 ($39.99)
• Pikmin 3 - August 4
• New Super Luigi U (Retail Disc) - August 25 ($29.99)
• The Wonderful 101 - September 15

New Resident Evil Revelations HD Demo And Bonus DLC Details

You can now test drive the console HD version of the Nintendo 3DS hit, Resident Evil Revelations. After giving it a thorough test drive, it's safe to say that Resident Evil fans who were burned by RE5, RE6 and Operation Raccoon City will fall in love with the franchise again as this game perfectly captures the spirit of classics like RE2 and RE4. Those who have destroyed the 3DS original may be a bit disappointed by the rather modest port. I am not saying the game is bad by any means (quite the opposite) but the HD conversion is a bit minimal compared to what Capcom promised and I don't know if the rather anemic bonus content is enough to entice someone who has logged over 50 hours on the original back for another run. Either way, it's a great game and you should download it and try it for yourself.

Wii U owners who purchase Resident Evil Revelations: Unveiled Edition before June 18 (Release date is May 21) can download the "Signiture Weapons Pack" DLC for free. It contains Jill Valentine's Samurai Edge, Parker Luciani's Government and Jessica Sherawat's rapid fire G18. The three exclusive handguns will be usable in both the Campaign and Raid Mode. This is a nice bonus but a bit odd seeing as this isn't not included when it is obviously on the disc already (not surprising though considering Capcom's dodgy history with DLC).

Capcom has also revealed some new bonus content in the form of 3 new outfits for Jill (Pirate), Chris (Sailor) and Keith (Ninja) which are designed to offer a bit of nautical flare to the game. Their inclusion is a bit odd and ends up feeling a little too campy but any bonus content is appreciated when you consider that Capcom would've normally charged for it. I will say that "Sailor" Chris is a bit creepy and looks like a Village People reject. What are your thoughts on this HD port? Have you played the 3DS original? Please share below.

Source 1, Source 2

EA Confirms They Have No Wii U Games In Development

It seems that EA has made up their mind about Nintendo's Wii U and their decision was to cut the system off completely. In an interview with Kotaku, an EA spokesperson had this to say when questioned about EA games for the Wii U:

"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently." - company spokesperson Jeff Brown

This of course is worded in such a way that when the Wii U sales pick up due to Nintendo's own first party titles, they can come crawling back. The funny thing is that most Wii U owners also have PC's meaning that they can get their EA fix there if need be thus eliminating the companies relevance to the Nintendo crowd. This of course means little when you consider the combination of EA being voted "The worst company in America" 2 years in a row, their declining game quality and their recent announcement to essentially nickle and dime customers to death with micro-transactions and DLC (which they quickly tried to reverse due to Gamer outrage).

I am personally thankful that Wii U owners at least got access to the excellent Criterion developed Need for Speed: Most Wanted U before being cut off. As things stand right now, EA will likely wait for Nintendo to turn the system around and then slowly jump back on board. For those Wii U owning EA fans looking for their fix, I recommend looking to your PC. What are your thoughts on EA and their relationship with Nintendo? Please comment below.

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New Pokémon X & Y (3DS) Gameplay Trailer

New Nintendo E3 Rumors Have Surfaced

Nintendo may be skipping the traditional big press show for E3 but some new rumor's point to them blowing out some big news leading up to the show through their Nintendo Direct show. These rumor's have been revealed by someone on the IGN forums known as the "100 Year Old Gamer" who claims to be tied to Nintendo in some fashion. This claim has yet to be verified and these rumor's should be taken as such until confirmation from the Big N but it should be noted that in the past, many of his predictions have been confirmed. Below are some of the juiciest tidbits he has revealed.

• Nintendo could air multiple Nintendo Directs leading up the E3 starting May 30. He suggests there may be as many as 5 total Nintendo Directs tied to E3.
• New 3D Mario will be "huge, bigger than any Mario game to date" and looks "unlike anything you've ever seen to date"
• Retro Studios (Metroid Prime Trilogy, Donkey Kong Country Returns) new game may be revealed. New game is said to be futuristic, first person and something everyone wants them to do. This obviously leads many to imagine a potential new Metroid game which would certainly give Nintendo a big jump in the eyes of many hardcore gamer's.
• When asked if "a certain Super Saiyan" would be joining Smash Bros (since Namco is involved), he said "it hasn't been decided yet, but there is a chance"

As stated earlier, this is rumor and should be taken as such right now but if this is true, Nintendo will be "kicking ass and taking names" at this years E3. You can read more Nintendo rumors here.

Source

UbiSoft Working On Protoype For ZombiU Sequel

ZombiU was a great Wii U launch title and refreshing move back to classic survival horror. The game was a bit divisive among the traditional gaming press with many not able to connect with the games unique direction but those who "got it" were rewarded with a tense horror game that truly shook up both FPS and zombie games which have largely been driven into the ground over that last few years. Creative Director Jean-Philippe Caro revealed to fans that while a sequel isn't confirmed yet, UbiSoft is prototyping a new game which means concepts and gameplay systems are being tested to see what new things can be created for a potential sequel. This is great news and survival horror fans should be pretty stoked at the possibility of another great game being added to the genre.

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Rayman Legends 20,000 Lums Under The Sea Trailer

Diad - A Chiptune Tribute To NES Metal

Shadow of the Eternals Trailer Analysis Reveals Hidden Details

Direct Link

SEGA Planning 7 Games For Wii U And 6 For 3DS

With EA bailing on Nintendo, it seems that other major developer/publishers are stepping in to take advantage of the situation. SEGA has revealed their latest financial results and despite some companies badmouthing the Wii U, Sega sold over 300,000 copies of Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed for the system which is almost as much as the PS3 and 360 versions of the game (The 3DS version also sold quite well moving over 150,000 copies).

This success has prompted Sega to announced their plan to bring 7 SKUs to Wii U and 6 to the 3DS. While the exact titles haven't been announced, it is known that at least one is a new Sonic title. It's nice to see Sega continue their strong relationship with Nintendo and even better to see them rewarded with great sales numbers for their efforts.

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15 Frostbite 3 EA Games Are Giving Wii U The Cold Shoulder

I recently posed the question "Has EA completely shunned the Wii U?" and they seemed to have recently answered with a resounding YES! It has been revealed that 15 upcoming games utilize the Frostbite 3 engine which does not support Nintendo's latest home console (For those who don't know, EA uses their in-house DICE developed game engine known as Frostbite for most of their games). DICE has stated that both the Frostbite 3 engine as well as its 2 year old Frostbite 2 engine do not run on the Wii U. This means that almost every major EA game will be skipping the Wii U. Some examples include:

• Battlefield 4
• Dragon Age III: Inquisition
• New Mass Effect
• New Need for Speed
• BioWare developed Star Wars title
• DICE developed Star Wars title
• Visceral Games developed Star Wars title

The real kick in the balls for Nintendo fans looking to play these games is that the Frostbite 3 engine runs on the 8 year old Xbox360 and 7 year old PS3, both of which are getting Battlefield 4 this fall. Sadly, since both machines are technically inferior consoles to the Wii U, this means the move was a conscience decision by EA versus a technical issue. It has also been revealed that EA is developing a next generation sports engine to run FIFA, Madden and NBA Live which will no doubt lack support the Wii U.

This is a bit shocking when you consider the long history between Nintendo and EA but the truth is that Nintendo doesn't need EA to succeed (and never has if you really consider their history). Never once has an EA title been a system seller for Nintendo and the audiences for both companies are actually quite different. While some will proclaim doom and gloom for the Big N, the truth is that Nintendo's new direction seems to be moving away from the traditional console mentality. They are shifting their focus away from competing with Sony and Microsoft while bringing themselves more in line with devices such as the OUYA, PC and Pads for the Indie games while keeping their distinctive "Nintendo Console" branding for their own games. It sounds like a crazy strategy but with the mainstream game industry on the verge of a major crash and the economy still in the toilet, it may just work. Indie developers are literally being pampered by Nintendo and rumors are pointing to Nintendo welcoming touch based games/apps from tablet developers as well meaning that the Wii U may just be setting itself up to focus on the one part of the industry that shows actual growth.

How Well Do You Know Super Smash Bros.?...Part 3

Resident Evil Revelations: Unveiled Edition Demo Hits Wii U On May 14th

The best Resident Evil game in over 5 years is making the leap from 3DS to console on May 21. For those on the fence (or burned by the series a few too many times) will get the opportunity to test drive the game a week before its release on May 14. As a longtime fan of the series, I can honestly say that the 3DS demo sold me on the game which I have since logged over 50 hours on. The game will be coming to Wii U, PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 with the Wii U being the lead platform for Resident Evil purists who want the best and most complete experience of this excellent game. Enjoy!

Introducing The Humble Double Fine Bundle

Anyone who is a regular to Treon's Realm knows that we love indie games as well as their developers and one of the best is Double Fine Productions. Always a great company with a talented team, the crew at Double Fine has produced many excellent and truly original games. After making video game history last year with their legendary Kickstarter campaign, the company has since broken further away from the traditional developer/publisher model and firmly established itself as a trailblazing independent game developer. Double Fine and its founder Tim Schafer have kicked off their latest promotion/fundraiser with the indie friendly Humble Bundle.

The "Humble Double Fine Bundle" gives gamer's a chance to grab some of the companies best games for a mere fraction of their normal cost, all while helping charity (for a limited time). All games are DRM free and work on all three operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux). The games available in this bundle are:

• Costume Quest (Adventure/RPG)
• Psychonauts (Platformer)
• Stacking (Adventure)
• Brutal Legend (Action/Adventure/RPG)
• Broken Age (Point-and-Click Adventure)

Three of the games (Costume Quest, Psychonauts, Stacking) are pay what you want while Brutal Legend is available provided you donate more than the average. Their famous Kickstarter game (Broken Age) will be added to your collection if you donate $35 or more. You will even get the soundtracks to Psychonauts and Brutal Legend included with your order. This is an amazing deal and I encourage everyone to share this with your friends since their are few things as great as helping charity, supporting indie developers and getting some excellent games in return. Enjoy!

The Humble Double Fine Bundle

Has EA Completely Shunned The Wii U?

While their support has had its highs and lows, Electronic Arts has traditionally been a solid supporter of Nintendo platforms in the past. The last year however has seen a major shift in their attitude towards the Big N with titles either being cancelled or outright ignored for Nintendo's first HD console. Outside of their few Wii U launch titles and Criterion's beautiful Need for Speed in March, EA has dropped off the radar in terms of game releases for Nintendo machines. They have even gone as far as dropping all DLC for any existing games. Here is a small list of what EA has done and not done for the Wii U.

• FIFA Soccer 13 - actually previous years version while PS3/360 got true FIFA 13
• Madden NFL 13 - a gimped version of the PS3/360 release
• Mass Effect 3: Special Edition - no additional DLC
• Need for Speed: Most Wanted U - no additional DLC
• Mass Effect Trilogy - skipped Wii U entirely
• Madden 2014 - cancelled
• FIFA Soccer 14 - unknown? 

And this list doesn't even address the absolute flood of PS3/360 titles that simply skipped the machine entirely despite Nintendo giving the exact type of machine major 3rd party companies were begging for. This includes major releases such as Battlefield, Dead Space and Crysis. What's worse is that the Crysis team had the incredibly impressive CryEngine 3 engine running on the Wii U but couldn't release their game on Nintendo's console because their overlord publisher EA wouldn't allow it.

Sadly, this whole situation seems to boil down to EA being pissed off about Nintendo deciding not to use their hated Origin platform as the primary online service for the Wii U. Back in 2011, EA was apparently trying to build a better online experience with Nintendo for the Wii U and were aggressively pushing their Origin platform as the exclusive service. Nintendo decided to go their own direction with a more open service that has been a bit friendlier to other 3rd party companies such as Activision and UbiSoft. This decision was likely helped by the overwhelming flood of negativity from Gamer's towards Origin and early reports of what EA wanted to do with Nintendo.

Ever since Nintendo decided to go their own direction in regards to online on the Wii U, EA has pulled back their support for the console to almost nothing. EA has even gone as far as cancelling Madden NFL 14 for the Wii U. To put this in perspective for those who could care less about the popular football franchise, this is the first time since 1991 that a Madden title will not be releasing on a Nintendo console. Their actions suggest that EA may completely drop support for Nintendo altogether. While Nintendo fans may justifiably throw up the middle finger at EA, it's interesting to note that EA's recent deal with Disney to develop new Star Wars games means that the Force may NOT be with the Wii U. What are your feelings about EA and this whole situation? Please comment below.

Shadow Of The Eternals Crowdfunding Campaign Promo Video

Support Shadow of the Eternals Here

Club Nintendo May Rewards Update

Nintendo has updated their downloadable Club Nintendo rewards for May and for the remainder of the month they are offering 4 titles across 2 systems. The expiration date for this offer is now June 2 and the price is between 100-200 coins for each title. Be sure to check back June 3 for the next reward update.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - Wii Virtual Console
200 Coins (Available Until June 2)

Maboshi's Arcade - WiiWare
150 Coins (Available Until June 2)

3D Classics: Excitebike - 3DS eShop
150 Coins (Available Until June 2)

Art Style: Aquia - 3DS eShop
100 Coins (Available Until June 2)


Click here to see rewards 

Shadow of the Eternals Twitter And Facebook Page Now Live

For those planning to donate to or follow the development of the highly anticipated Eternal Darkness sequel, I recommend "liking" the official Shadow of the Eternals Facebook page which just launched. The team at Precusor Games have also started Twitter accounts for both the game and the developer to keep fans up to date. These will likely be the best resources for keeping tabs on the games development and best source for news on the crowdfunding campaign.

Treon's Realm will continue to post significant updates as the game progresses as Eternal Darkness is one of our favorite horror games. Be sure to follow Treon's Realm on Twitter for our latest coverage of the game which will start its funding run tomorrow.

Shadow of the Eternals Facebook

Shadow of the Eternals Twitter

Precursor Games Twitter

Test Unreal Engine 3 Real-Time Tech Demo In Your Web Browser

Through a combination of HTML 5 and Mozilla Firefox 23 (Nightly), you can run a web browser based version of the Unreal Engine 3. Functioning as both a real-time tech demo and benchmarking tool, the "Epic Citadel" allows you to explore an expansive castle based environment that impressively showcases just how far web browsers and the newer HTML 5 programming language has come. Give it a try and see how your system handles it.

Try Epic Citadel In Firefox Here

Download Firefox Nightly Here (It's Free)

Epic Citadel HTML 5 FAQ

Fan Made Mega Man Unlimited Trailer Puts Capcom To Shame

Capcom should be hanging their heads in shame right now, fans are now producing better playable products for Mega Man than the company has in over 3 years. Mega Man Unlimited is a very impressive fan made Mega Man title in development that has even been mistaken for Mega Man 10 by some due to its amazing pixel art. The game has even caught the eye of some of the Capcom community so don't be surprised if they try to pull a Street Fighter X Mega Man and take credit for a fan work. Some of the lesser known features recently confirmed by the games head Philippe "MegaPhilX" Poulin are:

• You can save and load your game
• You can customize controls allowing for both keyboard and controller even allowing for both simultaneously.
• The game will feature a Shop Menu similar to Mega Man 9 & 10 to buy power-ups
• You'll be able to change the display size of the game through the options which will enable the game to take up your entire screen.
• Finally, you'll have access to a dedicated slide button which has been long overdue (purists will still be able to use the [Down+Jump] to slide if they choose).

This list of improvements seems to be in direct response to fan reaction to the fun but flawed Street Fighter X Mega Man which was an impressive fan work but awkward "official release" marred by Capcom's rush to get something out for the 25th Anniversary. The game is still in development (currently in Alpha) but close to entering the QA stage. Expect to see the game release for PC's in the future and for the hardcore fans, you can follow the project on Facebook here. Enjoy the latest trailer below and be sure to show your support.

Mega Man Ultimate Facebook Page

New Eternal Darkness 2 Details Reveal The Game Is Officially Coming To Wii U

As promised here is some more information on what is the spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness, Shadow of the Eternals. The biggest reveal is that the game is set to hit the Nintendo Wii U which excites the imagination when you consider all of the systems features (motion control, touch screen, camera, etc.) and how these can be used to screw with players through the games patented "sanity effects". While the Wii U had a rough start, the system is quickly shaping up to be an excellent home for fan favorite games. Here is a quick rundown of what we know (tune in next week for more details).

• Coming to Wii U and PC in Q3 2014 (provided crowdfunding it successful)
• Developer Precursor Games is a new company formed out of the ashes of Silicon Knights (at last report, Silicon Knights had a skeleton staff of 5)
• Game is a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness
• Shadows of the Eternals will be episodic (each episode will offer roughly 2-4 hours of gameplay)
• Current goal is to make a "season" of 12 playable episodes (each episode will focus on one playable character)
• Combat, magick and sanity effects from first game will return (this likely contributed to the game being set for Wii U as Nintendo owns the sanity effects mechanic as well as the entirety of Eternal Darkness)
• Funding goal is set at $1.5 million (it may seem like a lot but this is incredibly reasonable considering most games of this type have budgets in the tens of millions)
• Kickstarter will not be used for funding due to limitations of the program based on developer location (Canada in this case). Another crowdfunding program will be used in its place.
• A new story which is once again inspired by H.P. Lovecraft focuses on detective Paul Becker as he investigates a brutal massacre in Louisiana that left 2 cults decimated (Becker ends up learning of the Eternals much like Alexandra Roivas in Eternal Darkness)
• Story (episodes) will span roughly 2,500 years of history (similar to story in Eternal Darkness  which spanned 2,000 years)
• Playable locations will include United States, England, Egypt and Hungary (The French Cathedral from the first game is clearly depicted in the teaser trailer)

Source 1, Source 2

New 3D Mario For Wii U By This October Plus Major Wii U Media Blitz For The Second Half Of 2013

As predicted, Nintendo seems to be gearing up for a major Wii U blitz for the second half of 2013. Word is that the Big N will come out of June's E3 show swinging with a major promotional push of the Wii U through TV, print, online as well as experiential and social media campaigns. To compliment this, Nintendo has a flood of major first party games coming through the end of the year including Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Wind Waker HD as well as a new 3D Mario game which may hit as soon as this October (pending development delays). Expect the game to follow in the footsteps of the excellent Mario Galaxy series while showcasing the Wii U Gamepad in a way only Mario can. We will be seeing the new 3D Mario and Mario Kart Wii U fully playable at E3 next month.

When it comes to the Wii U, I have a feeling that the reorganization of the company and the issues with third party support for the Wii U earlier this year led them to remain quiet on the home console and put more focus on the successful 3DS allowing them time to build a better strategy for the Wii U. It's no secret that the mainstream gaming press has largely been hostile towards the Wii U so Nintendo will build the machine up in a more grassroots manner by introducing a flood of unique indie games in conjunction with their own major releases. This will effectively allow them to rebrand the Wii U as something unique and standout while Sony and Microsoft go at each others throats this fall. It will be interesting to see how this new direction works for Nintendo since they produce their best content when times are rough for them. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source

Eternal Darkness Getting A Crowdfunded Spiritual Successor

Few horror games have built up such a fierce following like Eternal Darkness. The 11 year old GameCube classic continues to draw in new fans who have begged and pleaded for a sequel since its release. New developer Precursor Games has released a teaser through IGN for Shadow of the Eternals which is being touted as the spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness. The development team is made up of people who worked on the GameCube original including Dennis Dyack. What's really interesting is that the game will be crowdfunded (likely through Kickstarter) which effectively sidesteps corporate control of the game. This was a major problem that Eternal Darkness developer Silicon Knights ran into where just about every original IP they worked on ended up being owned by the publishers and not them. The crowdfunding campaign officially kicks off May 6th (this Monday) so expect updates as they become available. Until then, enjoy the slick teaser trailer that is sure to delight fans of Eternal Darkness! Shadow of the Eternals Official Website

Road Redemption Is The Next-Gen Road Rash You've Always Wanted

While the Nintendo 64 had some of the best console multiplayer experiences of all time, one of my personal favorites was a game that is often forgotten. That game is Road Rash 64 and it was a true gem that deserved a successor of some kind. I recently stumbled upon a Kickstarter campaign that seeks to give us exactly that in the form of Road Redemption.

The game which is essentially a racing/combat/RPG hybrid is set to hit Windows, Mac, Linux and the Nintendo Wii U (an Xbox 360 version is planned if stretch goals are met). The Wii U version really stands out with its 2 player mode which allows one player to use the TV while the other player gets the Gamepad screen allowing each player to focus on their own action (this is one of the more underrated multiplayer options available on the system). Road Redemption is completely independent and it being developed by experienced designers from companies such as Sega, Bioware and Activision. The game has about 8 days to go and the team is only $60,000 away from the $160,000 goal. The early build shown in the video looks great and has that old Road Rash vibe which is sure to please fans of the series which hasn't seen a new entry in over 10 years. Please share this with every gamer you know who would like it and be sure to show some support if you want to see this become a reality.

Road Redemption Kickstarter

Nintendo Discounts Multiple Games On 3DS eShop

Nintendo is offering a discount on five of their first party 3DS eShop games through May 9. The games available cover a variety of genre's including puzzle, strategy and action. Be sure to take advantage of the sale while it lasts.

• Pushmo - $4.99 (down from $6.99)
• 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure - $4.99 (down from $6.99)
• Dillon's Rolling Western - $6.99 (down from $9.99)
• Fluidity: Spin Cycle - $7.99 (down from $10.99)
• Tokyo Crash Mobs - $4.99 (down from $5.99)

A couple of retail eShop titles are also seeing discounts to better match their physical cartridge prices. This is nice for gamer's who thought Nintendo wouldn't budge on their online pricing structure. The following titles are getting what seem to be permanent price drops.

• Code of Princess - $29.99 (originally $39.99)
• Myst - $9.99 (originally $29.99)

New Rayman Legends "Eye of the Tiger" Trailer