Are you prepared for Wrath of the Lich King? WoW Insider has you covered!
Posts with tag samba-de-amigo

Samba de Amigo features some kind of pay-to-play online content

The boxart for the Wii version of Samba de Amigo has now been revealed in tiny form on Gamestop's site. It is, as far as we know, the first game to feature the new red Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay-to-Play logo, which was first shown at GDC this year.

Either this means that you'll have to pay a subscription fee to play Samba online, or (infinitely more likely) that downloadable songs will be available over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Which, if true, makes the Wii version of Rock Band (with its new lineup of expansion discs!) just that much more insulting.

Gallery: Samba de Amigo


[Via NeoGAF]

Samba de Amigo missing some much-needed shake



Samba de Amigo on the Dreamcast was the most relentlessly cheerful game ever, and the Wii version won't be toning down the exuberance -- just looking at this latest batch of art and screens from Sega's shake-'em-up almost brought light to the recesses of our dark, cynical hearts. But there's something gnawing at us, something that prevents us from getting all giddy over Wii Samba: the controls.

Apparently, we're not alone in this respect. A number of the recent "hands-on" articles that have appeared in the wake of the Nintendo Media Summit mention how Gearbox hasn't yet nailed this aspect of the game.

We've already discussed Joystiq's experiences (choice quote: "[...] the Remote and Nunchuk just don't feel the same as the original maracas."), and Go Nintendo felt similarly ("Unfortunately, there are still some control quirks. There are times when the Wiimote/Nunchuck will lose your positioning. This didn't happen too often, but it happened enough to make note of it.") Meanwhile, GameSpot's Ricardo Torres was perhaps the most forgiving, claiming that "the control is on its way toward being solid." Call us demanding little so-and-sos all you like, but we want solid! Not "on its way toward being solid."

The general feeling seems to be that the title is shaping up well, but that the maracas are sorely missed. If you're reading this, Sega, you know what to do.

Read: Joystiq's hands-on impressions
Read: Go Nintendo's hands-on impressions
Read: GameSpot's hands-on impressions

Gallery: Samba de Amigo


[Screenshots via press release]

NMS08: Joystiq hands-on with the future of Wii


Big-brother blog Joystiq's own Zack Stern got a little face time with some of the biggest games of your fanboy future at last week's Nintendo Media Summit, and mostly, the verdict is good, even in some surprising places. We've linked all of the hands-on impressions below, but will offer a quick recap here:
  • Rock Band for Wii is not quite a complete travesty; improvements made to the original Rock Bands are present here, and apparently, there is at least discussion of how to handle the online play/DLC problem, but whether or not that will be managed as a later add-on or reserved for a sequel was not said. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows ....
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is the opposite of Rock Band, however, in that it sounds even better than we expected. Zack spent some time in the Wii-specific multiplayer duel mode, and it sounds as though the level of depth (and sheer fun!) to be found there will make Wii owners and Star Wars fans very happy. We're looking forward to it!
  • BOOM BLOX may seem like a simple game, but while we're on the subject of depth, this is another title with a lot to explore and discover, and we know a lot of you are excited about it -- so much so that you'll challenge the bloggers to steel cage matches and all. It's cool. We like to know you care.
  • Samba de Amigo both is and ain't the original. It looks and feels like the Dreamcast game, but Wii remotes just aren't maracas. We did get our wish, though you can use two Wiimotes instead of a Wiimote and a nunchuk if you want, to get your samba on.
  • Wii Fit is fun, with a lot of enjoyable mini-games, but Zack felt they might get repetitive after a while. Then again, what exercise routine doesn't? That's why they call it a routine, amirite?
Read: Joystiq hands-on with BOOM BLOX
Read: Joystiq hands-on with Rock Band Wii
Read: Joystiq hands-on with Samba de Amigo
Read: Joystiq hands-on with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Read: Joystiq hands-on with Wii Fit

Sega Superstars Tennis de amigo



We haven't seen much Samba de Amigo related media for Sega's upcoming tennis game, aside from a handful of screenshots. Fortunately, the Samba stage looks to be pretty great, if we do say so ourselves. The above trailer may be super short, but the stage seems to have all the elements of "awesome," like a cheetah band, good music, and bra-wearing cacti. It's nice to see some fun characters make a return from the original Dreamcast game -- we're sure our favorite maraca-playing monkey would be lonely without them.

After the break, you can also check out the intro trailer for the Sonic's Green Hill Zone court.

Continue reading Sega Superstars Tennis de amigo

Samba de Video



Some random observations about this Samba de Amigo video, as shot at Sega's Gamersday event earlier this month:
  1. Gearbox, we're loving the maraca sound effects that emanate with each shake of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Given the Wiimote's in-built speaker, this is a feature we'd have totally expected (and even the Dreamcast maracas managed this, albeit with a more low-tech solution), but it's still great to see it in action.
  2. New level ahoy! A fairground really does seem like the perfect place for a spot of maraca-shaking.
  3. It's been a while since this blogger recklessly coughed up $250 of his student loan for the Dreamcast version of the game, but one thing I don't recall is Amigo being entirely detached from the levels. On the Dreamcast, the maraca-wielding monkey would dance his way through each stage, his colorful entourage in tow. Here, he simply floats free of the levels. This seems like a fussy/picky point to raise, but we're very fussy/picky people. Especially when it comes to Sega stuff.
  4. It pleases us immensely to see the return of both Samba de Janeiro and bouncing scenery.
[Via NeoGAF]

Samba de Former Director


Play.tm's interview of Samba de Amigo (the first one) director Shun Nakamura reveals the depressingly cynical genesis of the game. With something as joyful as Samba, you'd expect the director to be motivated by love of Latin music and cartoon monkeys (and the universe), but as Nakamura puts it: "To tell you the truth, I'm not really a huge music fan. However I do like soccer, so I'd often hear Latin music/chants while viewing matches and thought it could work well in a rhythm game." As he describes it, Samba was born from an interest not only in soccer-related rhythm, but a directive from Sega to diversify the Dreamcast's library, and a need for accessible titles. Nakamura continues not to be a fan of non-Samba music games.

Nakamura isn't in charge of the new Samba Wii game, though developer Gearbox consults with him regularly. In this case, it seems that the new developers, who begged for the project, may actually like the game more than the original director.

Updated Wii release list dispels 'no games' rumblings

No games? The latest word from Nintendo on upcoming releases hopes to change your mind on that. Like sports? Action? Quirky fun? Mini-games? Well, on the last one, you were already covered, but now, you've got extra cheese. Nintendo's let fly with their current Wii and DS release schedules, and while the dates on some titles are a little vague (or have already passed, as with the first few), the full list includes a bevy of new and previously-undated games.

There are even a few amusing observations to be made, such as Nitro Bike's March release, which actually came, uh, this week, and the dreadful fate of Worms: A Space Oddity, which is certain to disappear in the wake of Super Smash Bros. Brawl chaos. What's not there is also a little disappointing: Samba de Amigo is missing from the list, but that doesn't mean we won't see it before the fall. We can still hope, but with everything we've got to look forward to, we can wait a little longer for quality time with the maracas-monkey. But we could be wrong -- Sega releases are not showing up at all, just as last time, Capcom was missing from Nintendo's updated lists. It seems likely that we're still looking at fall for Civilization Revolution, as well, since it's not on the list. So there's even more upcoming goodness after we're done with Okami, Brawl, No More Heroes, Opoona, and more.

Continue reading Updated Wii release list dispels 'no games' rumblings

Gearbox kind of talks about Samba maraca controls


Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft interviewed Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford about their upcoming games for 2008, which include a bunch of shooters or whatever and also Samba de Amigo! Apparently Pitchford and the rest of the Gearbox folks approached Sega, hat in collective hand, begging to be allowed to create a version of the festive rhythm game for the Wii. "We totally told SEGA they had to let us do it. People want a Samba Wii game," Pitchford said, answering the question of why the developers of Brothers in Arms got assigned to a very Japanese rhythm game for the Wii.

Pitchford briefly, and obliquely, broached the topic of potential dual-Wiimote maraca controls, which everyone talks about in relation to a Wii Samba. In a blanket statement about both the Wiimote/Nunchuk maraca scheme and the possibility of a dual-Wiimote scheme, Pitchford said "It's possible. You just need a lot of smart people who can do a lot of math." Like computer programmers, maybe?

At least we know that the idea has been brought up at Gearbox. We'd like to see as many control schemes implemented as can be.

Wii Warm Up: SAAAAAAAAAAY-GA!


Any gamer would need a heart of blackened teak to not have a soft spot for Sega, and there's arguably no better home for a dyed-in-the-wool Sega fan than the Wii. Over the coming weeks and months, Nintendo's little white box will be hosting a number of updated classic Sega properties, including NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Samba De Amigo, and House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return.

But our appetite for all things Sega is not yet sated! While we've already asked you which Saturn games you'd like to see on the Virtual Console, which Sega titles in general do you want to see reinvented on the Wii? A motion-sensitive Panzer Dragoon, the return of Ulala, and a Burning Rangers sequel top our list.

Anniversary aftermath: What are we looking forward to?

As anniversary week winds down, we can't help but wonder: what's next? One good year for a video game console means nothing if it's followed by some not-so-great years. Fortunately, there are many fun things in store for the Wii, so we've decided to create this little guide to show you what exactly there is to look forward to.

Continue reading Anniversary aftermath: What are we looking forward to?

One part GlovePIE, two parts Wiimote = Samba de Amigo


Despite getting the name of the game wrong in the initial graphic, this video showcasing the Dreamcast title Samba de Amigo being played with two Wiimotes is just too cool for school. Now, replace one of those Wiimotes with a nunchuk and it's probably a pretty accurate estimation of how the title will play once it actually releases on the Wii.

Oh, and we're assuming this is a legit back-up of his own game. If it isn't, well ... we don't support piracy in the least.

[Via Go Nintendo]

First Samba de Amigo art is exactly what we all imagined


New developer Gearbox, at least, hasn't made many changes to Samba de Amigo's mascot character, Amigo the monkey. Same festive hat, same red neckerchief, same permanent, vacant grin. The only major difference we can see in the first promotional art for the Wii Samba de Amigo is the very obvious addition of the Wiimote. That's Sega's subtle way of telling us that this is a Wii game, that you play on the Wii using the Wii controller. The press release, after the break, confirms this, reporting that the Wiimote and Nunchuk will take the place of the sublime maracas controller from the Dreamcast and arcade versions.

This is not the first time in the short history of the Wii that Sega has released Wiimote-holding-monkey artwork. This time, however, the monkey is wearing a hat.

Continue reading First Samba de Amigo art is exactly what we all imagined

Sega serves Superstars Tennis to the Wii


Out of nowhere, Sega announced today that it will be working with developer Sumo Digital on a new sports title, Sega Superstars Tennis, for a wide range of platforms, including the DS and Wii. As you've probably surmised from the game's title, Sega Superstars Tennis will feature a celeb-filled cast picked from Sega's stable of classics. Already, Sonic, AiAi (Super Monkey Ball), Ulala (Space Channel 5), and Amigo (Samba de Amigo) have been confirmed as four of the fifteen playable characters.

Before you break out the party hats to celebrate this Sega-themed adaptation of Mario Tennis, it's worth noting that while online modes are planned for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 releases, nothing of the sort has been indicated for the Wii version. Some might feel it's a negligible issue, but being the pessimists we are, we take it as pointing to a lack of dedication towards the Wii variant.

Though we can't say for certain whether the screenshots released so far are representative of what Sega Superstars Tennis' graphics will look like on the Wii (they could be grabbed from the 360/PS3 versions), you can still get a pretty good idea of what to expect from the game with the images posted after the break. Expect to see Sega Superstars Tennis early 2008.

Continue reading Sega serves Superstars Tennis to the Wii

Wii Warm Up: Waggle Waggle Revolution


With DDR Hottest Party out and Guitar Hero III and Samba de Amigo on the way, the Wii is quickly building up an outstanding library of rhythm games (and also the Alvin and the Chipmunks thing). In some cases, especially with Samba, the Wiimote makes the system ideal, but the real draws are the popularity of the Wii and the relatively low cost of development versus other next-gen consoles.

What does the Wii need in order to have a truly classic music game library? Ports, remakes, sequels, or even original ideas are welcome. We long for a new version of Enix's early rhythm game Bust a Groove, whose combination of attack moves and somewhat flexible timing is still totally unique.

Nintendo Power confirms Samba de Amigo


GoNintendo readers spotted something interesting in this month's Nintendo Power. And it would have been hard for them not to-- it's right on the cover there. Samba de Amigo is indeed coming to the Wii! As card-carrying Sega fanboys (with a specialization in Dreamcast-era Sega, to be exact) we couldn't be more thrilled. What a perfect game/controller combination-- almost as perfect as the real Samba controllers.

Oh, but wait. According to the GoNintendo post, the new game is being made by Gearbox Software, who we can assure you is not Sonic Team. In fact, their history features nothing but FPS games and one Tony Hawk port. A very interesting choice to develop your bouncy, cartoony rhythm game, Sega. A very interesting choice indeed. Gearbox employees-- if you're reading, here's a special message from us to you. Please don't screw up the game about a monkey shaking maracas in time to Ricky Martin songs. We're not saying you're not good developers-- far from it-- but this is about as different from Counter-Strike as a game could be.

Next Page >

Check out the downloads with Wii Fanboy!Wii Fanboy celebrates Mario Kart!Read our interview with Johnny Chung Lee!
Features
Another Week in ... (30)
Brawl Stage of the Week (5)
Contests / Giveaways (72)
Friday Video (58)
Game Night (19)
Metareview (37)
Mii Spotlight (17)
Point/Counterpoint (1)
Revolutionary (34)
The VC Advantage (44)
VC Monday Madness (123)
Virtually Overlooked (64)
What are you playing? (77)
Wii Fanboy poll (34)
Wii Warm Up (434)
Bits
Channels (63)
Cheats (6)
Controller (380)
Fan stuff (1013)
Features (250)
Homebrew (68)
How-tos (57)
Imports (335)
Interviews (274)
Meta (44)
Mods (115)
News (2801)
Nintendo Wi-Fi (112)
Peripherals (212)
Reviews (96)
Rumors (405)
Sales (70)
Screens (505)
Tech stuff (121)
Video (702)
Virtual Console (413)
Walkthroughs (31)
WiiWare (133)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Sponsored Links

Featured Galleries

Lost in Blue
MySims Kingdom
Skate It
Brawl Stage of the Week: Another Castle
TV Show King
Pop
Pitfall: The Big Adventure
Protothea
Nick Magdoza's GameCube clock

 

Most Commented On (14 days)

Recent Comments

Weblogs, Inc. Network

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: