Nintendo Wii Fanboy

If the recent barrage of games from Square Enix hasn't sated your appetite for all things chocobo-related, you'll want to be signing up for Game Town, their new mini-game service. The site is currently in beta, with Japanese registration forms. Luckily, IGN has posted a guide on how to sign up with as little fuss as possible.

So far there's only a couple of chocobo games to play, but there are a whole bunch of 'coming soon' slots just waiting to be filled. We reckon there's a good chance we'll be seeing mini-games based on new Square Enix titles showing up here over the next few weeks.

The N64 version of Paper Mario is soon to hit the Virtual Console, according to a recent magazine article.

If you've just finished Super Paper Mario and are after some more dimension-shifting hyper-realism , then this is the place to get it. The 2001 classic is more of an RPG than its younger sibling, with turn based combat, so bear that in mind if you're thinking of shelling out the Wii points.

No news on release dates as yet -- we'll keep you posted.

Square Enix have been tantalising us with a slow drip of info regarding Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers for a little while now. We've managed to decipher some of the recent interview with Akitoshi Kawazu, the game's executive producer and Toshiyuki Itahana, the director.

The game starts with the hero arriving to sort out an aircraft accident. But was it an accident? That's where you come in. You'll need to find out what happened, and who was responsible. Rather than featuring a character who progresses and develops through the course of the game, Crystal Bearers' protagonist will start the game as a powerful hero. Instead of focussing on developing your powers, the focus will be on how you solve individual problems. The idea is to enjoy the hero's triumphs through the story, rather than building up to one climatic victory.

You'll have a range of abilities and weapons from the very start. Few specific details on abilities are given, but they do mention that the glow emanating from the hero's hand, whatever it is, will be available to players from the word go. There is also speculation on the internet that summoning will play a role, as a Bahamut-like dragon is visible in the teaser video.

The emphasis seems very much on accessibility and fun. The controls will be simple, possibly adapting from scene to scene. You'll be able to move fluidly, and naturally, both the nunchuck and Wiimote will be involved in proceedings. There might be less of an emphasis on cut scenes, apparently it's no fun watching the plot unfold when you aren't taking part. They want you to play by controlling things.

We're also promised big enemies as well as big bosses, who will be able to match the fluidity of your own movements. They hoped Square Enix party attendees would be able to play the game, but couldn't get this sorted out. Apparently the footage shown at the party was in-game. Hopefully that means the release date isn't that far away.

That's all we've got to go on for now, but watch this space; there'll surely be more from Square Enix over the coming weeks.

Out in the Nevada desert, next to Big Bubba's Burger Bar and Truck Stop, you'll find King of Clubs. A poker joint? Actually it's a mini-golf course complete with pteranodons on poles and spaceships on strings. Don't worry if the locals look a bit strange; how would you look if you lived on an old nuclear waste dump? We've showed you the title before, but a few new details have emerged in a recent press release from Oxygen Interactive.

Trickery and cunning are to be encouraged, with rewards to be earned and the possibility of scoring a hole in none. The game features five themed areas, each of which has its own resident pro. You can see the pros in the picture -- looks like the dress code is informal.

King of Clubs hits the Wii in July, with a DS version to follow in September.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Old school gamers rejoice; vertical shoot-em-up Karous is headed for the Wii. Karous was released a couple of months ago on the Dreamcast and currently stands as the last game released on the system.

We've already talked about how many classic shooters are available on the Virtual Console, so it's nice to see a new release joining the party.
The cel-shaded shooter is hardly a genre classic, but does add something a little different to the Wii's library. Who knows, if sales figures are good, a few other shmups might find their way over. Radiant Silvergun on Wii, anybody? Now we're dreaming ...

There's no release date yet, nor any confirmation of a U.S. release. Keep your itchy trigger fingers crossed.

The guys at Tecmo are bringing Rygar back to our screens. Last seen on the PS2, the Rygar games are set in mythical worlds, filled with Gods, Titans and that sort of thing.

The game's motto is 'New Hero, New Enemies, Swing Action.' The new hero can be seen in the concept art above, wielding the Diskarmor, the signature weapon from the games. It might look like a shield, but it's attached to a chain and can be used as a grappling hook, or a kick-ass weapon. The Wiimote is likely to take aiming and flinging duties. No news yet on release dates, but we'll give you more news as we get it.

Google has invented a system for monitoring the habits of online gamers. The technology is intended to track gaming habits in order to make in-game advertising more relevant to users. It's targeted at all online platforms, including Wii.

Apparently our playing habits can reveal all sorts of information about us. The way we behave in a game can be used to draw up a profile of our psychological characteristics, and this data can then be used to sell us stuff.

The system was patented in the US and Europe last month, although Google say they have no plans to roll it out in the near future. Privacy campaigners have deep concerns about the system, pointing out that while Google's ideas may be relatively benign, the information may not stay in their hands. The US federal government has already taken Google to court in order to gain access to their data.

So what do your gaming habits say about you? Does your in-game behaviour reflect your real life personality? Any dirty little secrets hiding on your memory cards? They might not be secrets for much longer.

[Via Wiiha!]

Three new videos of the forthcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have gone up on IGN. The videos demonstrate a few of Harry's spells and give us a look round Hogwarts. We'll be casting the spells with a flick of the Wiimote, and maybe even incanting them through the mic.

Like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, the Harry Potter games have been a bit of a mixed bag in the past; Goblet of Fire, for instance, was very much a bogey. This one, however, is looking and sounding very promising. If EA can capture the feel of Hogwarts in the game and get that elusive sandbox gameplay working, then this could be a real treat.

If you've been gazing at your game collection and thinking, 'Hmm, I'd love a dog based jigsaw game,' then break out the champagne. Kyou no Wanko is just what you've been looking for! Based on a popular Japanese morning TV feature, the canine puzzler is brought to you by Hudson, who've released similar games on the DS.

As well as the usual jigsaw stuff, you'll be able to reassemble animated dog videos and compete with up to three friends in a multiplayer mode. Kyou no Wanko comes out in Japan on July 26th.

Why don't scientists show a little more imagination? Genetically engineered Chocobos would solve most of the world's problems in a stroke. Traffic jams would be a thing of the past and all those cute yellow beasties running around would keep everyone way too happy for war or, y'know, other bad stuff.

It may be some time before this vision becomes a reality, leaving us with Chocobo's Dungeon: Labyrinth of Forgetting, which is heading to Wii in the not-too-distant future. The Chocobo's Dungeon games feature randomly generated levels, making them a little different every time you play. Details on the new title are pretty thin on the ground at the moment; expect more news at the end of the month.

With only a few months to go before the release of Super Mario Galaxy, expectations couldn't be higher for Nintendo's flagship hero. The title was recently confirmed for release this year, leaving our Nunchuk thumbs quivering in anticipation.

Mario is carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders, however. The groundbreaking titles, from the original Super Mario Brothers through to Super Mario 64 (sorry, Mario Sunshine), were more than great games; they also defined their platforms, setting new standards both technically and in terms of design.

It's no surprise then, that bloggers are starting to make demands for what they want to see in the new release. Check the link to see what people want this time around, and let us know what you want included.

Softly does it ... a little closer ... now - get him! It's good that people are still thinking of new things to do with the Wiimote, and even better that so many of those things involve wanton violence. It's just the way we (and Jack Thompson) like it.

Please God, someone make this into a real game!

Making Virtual Console purchasing decisions just got that little bit easier thanks to the set of preview videos now available on the Wii's official website. These are just the thing for telling the good, the bad and the plain ol' ugly apart when choosing how to get your nostalgia fix.

With the range of available titles getting ever wider, it's nice to at least get the chance to see the games in action before spending those hard-earned Wii Points. What do you think of the service? Anyone been sold on, or reconsidered, a download after seeing the video?

If you're thinking of doing some virtual shopping, don't forget to check out our Monday roundups, for a critical take on the latest releases.

[Via Infendo]

There's a new microsite for Mario Strikers Charged. There is little more than a promo video and some boxart at present, but more is apparently on the way. We got a quick look at the game last month, and thought it seemed pretty fun, particularly in multiplayer. The game will feature online play, the first to do so in Europe and Australia, with ranked matches limited to players in the same region. You'll also be able to swap friend codes for unranked matches - friend codes will be assigned to your Mii rather than your console, so if you happen to share a console with someone whose friends you hate, you won't have to play them.

We're also looking forward to trying the Mega Strikes: where the ball splits into five shots, which your opponent has to block with the Wiimote. Taking multiple shots at the keeper always used to get us in trouble at school, but here it's positively encouraged - you'll get a goal for each one that hits the back of the net.

Mario Strikers Charged kicks and screams its way into Europe on May 25th, with other regions to follow.

Gamefly has added Wii and DS listings for The Sims 2: Castaway Stories to its website. There's no official confirmation of the title yet from EA, who have only announced it for PC so far. As the title suggests, the game will offer a story mode featuring 'romance and dramatic twists.'

These games could work really well on DS and Wii, particularly if the online/wi-fi aspect is exploited - imagine being able to create and share your avatars - or replays of your characters' most entertaining moments.

Castaway Stories hits the PC in Winter, with DS and Wii versions hopefully arriving shortly after.

[Via Siliconera]