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Miyamoto shows the kids Wii Music

Posted Oct 9th 2008 6:11PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Fan stuff, Video

Since we all know Wii Music is not a game, but a toy, the target audience has to be the really young. Why else would Miyamoto be at a Japanese preschool, showing off the title? But, hey, we have to give it up to Shiggy and Nintendo. If there's a great way to gather interest in a title, it's with a dozen or so cute, smiling children.

Gallery: Wii Music

[Via Wiiblog]

Wii Warm Up: Try before you buy

Posted Jun 26th 2008 8:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up, WiiWare

Yesterday, we discussed WiiWare and whether or not the service has delivered, and an interesting issue came up in the comments: demos. Or rather, the lack of demos for WiiWare titles.Of course, this isn't really new; we've long discussed a possible need for demos for Virtual Console games, but it might arguably be more important to have demos for WiiWare titles. After all, the VC games have been around for years and there are tons of screenshots, videos, reviews, and playable copies of those games available, which is not exactly the case for most WiiWare titles. Would you be more inclined to use the service if there were demos for the available games?

Konami kicks off Japanese rental program with Pro Evolution Soccer

Posted Jun 21st 2008 2:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

Being able to rent games is something that most of us take for granted -- in Japan, it doesn't happen because of publisher blackballing. Konami has decided to give the whole rental thing a try, though, starting with the popular soccer game, Winning Eleven: Play Maker 2008 (aka Pro Evolution Soccer 2008).

Even so, Japanese gamers won't be able to test out the title in full. Instead, trial versions of the Wii game will be offered for free at Tsutaya stores. It's kind of like downloading a demo, only you have to go and pick it up instead.

We're interested to see if this has any impact on Japan's gaming industry, and if Konami will expand their "rental" service in the future.

Gallery: Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

[Via Game|Life]

Crikey, this is a new Channel this is!

Posted May 29th 2008 2:00PM by Phil Larsen
Filed under: News, Channels

We've got the goods on the Nintendo Channel. We're experts. With all the killer stuff available online elsewhere around the world, Nintendo also falls into the "expert" category for having the good sense to launch the service in Australia and Europe. Why, it's not even very late!

PAL gamers can now catch up on a bunch of videos and interviews they have been eagerly waiting for, including the highly-anticipated DS demo download service, which should prove to be a hit for those tech-savvy kids and grandmas. It's a free download, so make sure to get connected and updated for the release on May 30. Like, tomorrow. Cancel all those dates, fellas!

Dr. Mario prescribes demo to WiiWare

Posted May 20th 2008 4:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, WiiWare

What's this? A demo?

That's right folks -- if you're lucky enough to be a Wii owner in Europe or Australia, you'll be able to download the WiiWare game that many of us in the U.S. have been coveting -- Dr. Mario. Are you still unsure whether or not you want to lay down 1000 Wii Points, though? Fear not, because there's a demo out there that'll let you test the waters.

Interestingly, not just anyone can play it. A registered Wii friend who bought Dr. Mario & Germ Buster has to send you the free demo (we've tested this and it works). Once you receive and download the trial game, you can register the friend codes of people who've bought the full version and play against them over Nintendo's WFC.

Unfortunately, deprived gamers on the other side of the Atlantic won't be able to download the demo. Even though Wii owners in the U.S. can recieve it from a friend, trying to download it will generate a message saying, "The software you selected is not available in this country." Sad times, indeed.

Gallery: Dr. Mario Online RX

Widget of the Bands

Posted May 15th 2008 8:45AM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Fan stuff

We might not be getting Wii game demos any time soon, but if you want to sample the rhythm game Battle of the Bands, you can try out a widget that simulates THQ's recently released Wii software. Of course, we'd have to hope that the Wii game controls much, much better than this keyboard-utilizing demo, but it still gives you a general idea of Battle's basics.

Essentially, you have to hit the notes in rhythm with the 1, 2, and 3 buttons (or use the mouse), depending on where the note lies on the strip. Each time you hit a certain amount of notes correctly, you'll launch a weapon at the opposing player. You can change weapons as well, but the more powerful the attack, the more notes you'll have to hit to activate it.

All in all, it's nothing more than a way to kill a few minutes on the internet, but it's still the closest you can come to experiencing Battle of the Bands without trying the real thing. This widget is also a good way to give you an idea of the changing styles of music in the game, so it's really worth a look if you're interested in the title -- just don't expect to have an easy time with the keyboard controls.

Gallery: Battle of the Bands

[Via GamerTell]

Homebrew Channel released ironically

Posted Apr 2nd 2008 5:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Homebrew

Team Twiizers have released a publically available version of the "Wii Homebrew Channel," which installs a Twilight Hack-enabled software loader as a channel on the Wii Menu. You still need to perform the Twilight Hack once in order to get the Homebrew Channel software into the menu in the first place, but after that, you're free from Twilight Princess. This is a totally huge step toward simple, everyday homebrew on the Wii!

At least, it will be, eventually. Unfortunately, the version that has been released is a ten-minute demo. After the allotted time, the software stops working and cannot be reinstalled. So much for unrestricted access to the Wii hardware.

[Via DCEmu; thanks, craig!]

Kohler: WiiWare needs demos, storage device to match XBLA and PSN

Posted Mar 26th 2008 2:15PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: WiiWare

Having fully recovered from his one-man mission to review as many WiiWare games inside 24 hours as is humanly possible, Game|Life's Chris Kohler is back with his thoughts about WiiWare in general. His verdict? Not bad, but it lacks crucial features that would elevate the service to the standards already set by Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.

As well as doubting the value of Lonpos, Star Soldier R and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As a King in his commentary, Kohler's main bones of contention are two gripes that we're all too familiar with: the lack of demos and a storage device. As he points out, "When you buy a WiiWare game, you can't try it first, and if you don't like it, you're totally boned because you can't sell it to someone else or trade it in. WiiWare needs demos. And I bet you anything it's not going to get them."

It saddens us to say so, but we have to agree with that last bit, and a hard drive looks just as unlikely right now.

Wii Warm Up: No demos on Wii Ware

Posted Feb 23rd 2008 10:30AM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Wii Warm Up, WiiWare

If you missed N'Gai Croal's interview with David Braben after the LostWinds announcement, you might have also missed the news that Wii Ware games won't have demos. While the lack of demos is definitely a bummer, we can understand Nintendo's reasoning in not forcing developers to make them. Providing demos adds to production costs, which can strain some of the smaller companies, and might also equate to higher priced games. Although demos may be possible if developers want to make them (Nintendo hasn't decided whether or not to allow this yet), Wii owners shouldn't count on it.

What do you think about Nintendo's stance? Should developers be forced to make demos for their Wii Ware games? Should they at least have the option if they want to? Or, does Nintendo have the right idea here?

Also, how will the lack of demos affect your Wii Ware spending? Is it a non-factor, or do you see yourself being much more cautious with purchases because of this?

Japan finally gets themselves some demo kiosks

Posted Jan 24th 2008 6:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

For those of you who've had the luxury of stopping by a Wii demo kiosk and giving Super Mario Galaxy or Wii Sports a whirl, it's time to embrace our downtrodden brothers and sisters in Japan. They're finally getting Wii demo kiosks for the first time, starting on the 26th of this month. All because of a little game called Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

So why did it take so long to get demo kiosks to Japanese consumers? Fear of accidents caused by arm-flailing participators, who might throw caution to the wind, along with their fists and elbows. It would seem the benefits of getting the game into the hands of Japanese gamers far outweighs the possible repercussions of an accident.

Personally, we're being a bit selfish about the whole thing. The idea of Japan getting demo versions of Super Smash Bros. Brawl indicates that those of us who know of a nearby demo kiosk can swarm it in the case that we're as lucky and get access to a demo build for the game. Let's hope so.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Everybody's Nintendo Channel available in Japan to sate hungry DS systems

Posted Nov 27th 2007 1:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News, Imports, Channels

The latest Wii channel popped up in Japan tonight without warning, ready to serve videos and demos. The Minna no Nintendo Channel (Everybody's Nintendo Channel) is the DS demo channel we've heard about, but also includes Wii videos, releases lists (uh-oh!) and the capability to recommend games you own to Wii friends. These recommendations are also collected en masse to be tabulated in December.

The channel currently offers just a few DS downloads, including demos of some training games and a patch for the Japanese version of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. The demos stream from Nintendo rather than being saved, and are accessed on the DS via Download Play. The video section offers trailers and commercials for new and recent games, including Wii Fit. According to NeoGAF's john tv, the videos keep playing in a corner if you exit the video menu. Check NeoGAF for frequently-updated impressions from the international gadflies who post there. Really, it sounds like the current content is less enthralling than the promise of future content.

[Via NeoGAF]

Friday Video: Wii Fit in demos

Posted Nov 16th 2007 11:00PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Friday Video

GameTrailers has a ridiculous number of Wii Fit trailers and demos up right now. While they're all in Japanese, the videos still offer a great (if sedate) look at the fitness trainer and its different uses. We've put one up here in our weekly video spotlight, but if you have the urge to watch more, you'll have to head over there. We're not kidding when we say there's a lot.

Gallery: Wii Fit

Getting in on the Brawl, direct from Nintendo's presser

Posted Oct 11th 2007 4:38PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Video

Continue reading Getting in on the Brawl, direct from Nintendo's presser

Conjecture Countdown: 6 days to go

Posted Jul 5th 2007 10:35AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Rumors

Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true.

Rumor: It's not just Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- none of the Nintendo-developed or published games will be playable, except for a 30 second demo of Wii Music.

Wii Warm Up: The question of a demo

Posted May 17th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Virtual Console, Wii Warm Up

We've got a question. Of course, the morning topics are typically a question, or at least include one, but seriously: do you think you'd be inclined to buy more VC games if there were demos, or fewer? Demos are nice, certainly, for games that we've never played before, but on the other hand, the VC is about nostalgia (at least, for now), and those old school favorites don't always stand the test of time. If you had a chance to play through a few minutes, maybe you'd realize that it's just not the same.

So give it some thought and tell us what you think. And of course, some games remain awesome, regardless of demo or pricing, but we're not asking about those, but rather, all the rest.

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