Sure, it may be the most neglected continent in the history of video games, but those crazy Australians are going positively mental for Nintendo all the same. According to industry tracker Gfk, the Wii has just passed the 500,000 mark down under, making it the fastest-selling console in history. Well, Australia's history. Does that still count as cool?
The Wii achieved this monumental feat (remember, there's only 20 million people in Australia) in just 84 weeks since launch in December 2006. On top of the "hey, we're awesome!" announcement, a few new release dates for some hot Wii games have been revealed. Wario Land: The Shake Dimension will be hitting consoles on September 25th, and Trauma Center: Second Opinion (yes, that neglected) is coming out August 28th.
Posted Jun 11th 2008 9:00PM by Phil Larsen Filed under: News
The Wii-eager Australian customers were all happily discussing which games they would purchase when Nintendo's hot new console hit the shelves on December 7th, 2006. Plenty of gamers were looking forward to Trauma Center: Second Opinion, which was shaping up to be a quality title.
After a miniscule eighteen months, TC:SO has now been rated by the OFLC for release! Yes, it apparently takes that long to bring a completed game to the shores of ridiculous retail prices. Aussies are used to delays for other big name games likeSuper Paper Mario and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (which still isn't out), but this one really takes the cake. It's worth noting that there still isn't an actual release date -- it's merely been rated. So, is there potential for a two year Australian delay for a US launch title? You bet!
We've seen games that originated on the DS hop to the Wii -- Lost in Blue is the latest example, but a more notable instance might be Trauma Center.
Do you think switching consoles mid-series is a good idea? If so, are there any particular switches that made more sense on the Wii? And how about the DS? Have there been any franchises that you think should have stayed on the portable?
Is it us, or has Amazon been a greatplace for Nintendo shoppers lately?
In any case, today's "Deal of the Day" is Trauma Center: New Blood, the most recent (until July 1st!) Trauma Center game on the market. If Atlus decides to bring the series back to the DS for good, this may be the last time you get to operate with your Wiimote.
The deal also provides pretty decent savings, as the game is marked down by $17 (meaning it will cost you $32.99). Is anyone planning on getting this today? If so, just make sure you order it before 3am EDT.
Why do we love the Wii with friends? Because we want all to share the splendor and majesty that comes from playing the best home gaming console around. So that's why we set out to bring you a nice, easy package of great multiplayer games for the Wii.
Both online and local multiplayer is covered, as well as games that have released and those that are still in production. We hope you find this useful in your own life, in some small way, or at least a good place to link a friend who has no idea what they're getting into with the Wii. So read on and see what we have in store, then come back here and tell us what multiplayer experiences you enjoy most on the Wii!
A few of you expressed disappointment about missing out on this Trauma Center: New Blood deal when we posted the sale last December, but it's back, listed on Amazon for $29.99 (free shipping, naturally). Everyone deserves a second chance!
Once again, the online shop will pull that bargain price at midnight tonight or whenever its stock runs out, so don't put off your purchase for too long -- didn't you learn anything from the last time this happened? It's not like there are many other surgery sims with a co-op mode out there, anyway.
We already know that the Wii is doing well in Japan. How has the hardware and software been shaping up against other consoles and games, though? Let's take a look at last week's sales to find out.
The Wii continues to flip-flop positions with the PSP, this time ending up on the more favorable side of the coin. Regaining the second place spot with 76,000 units sold, the Wii only dropped 6,000 units from last week's numbers.
Wii software continues to do well, too -- at least concerning "Wii" and "Mario" games. Wii Fit sales in Japan were even greater than DS handheld sales. Super Mario Galaxy also ended up back in the top ten, in part because of consistent sales, and in part because a few DS games lost steam.
Some other Wii games didn't make the top of the charts, like Trauma Center: New Blood (which sold 3,100 copies last week in its debut).
Check out the actual sales numbers and rankings for hardware and software after the break.
We could try to riff off of this Trauma Center-related Wiimote accessory kit, but it would be a waste of time. The truth is that there is nothing we could say that is funnier than the actual facts about this device. For example, it comes with a dedicated attachment that is designed to realistically mimic the feeling of having an opaque crosshair on the end of a short stick.
The other attachment is sort of a Swiss Army surgery kit, with a syringe, a scalpel, a drain, and some other plastic items meant to represent Trauma Center surgical tools. On the end of your game controller. If you're having a hard time conceptualizing the link between your Wiimote movements and the onscreen events in Trauma Center, this Trauma Center Kit is available for $16.62 at DealExtreme. Please get this instead of something that is actually sharp.
Posted Dec 20th 2007 9:45AM by Eric Caoili Filed under: News
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane, breakin' you off something proper. The old saint has brought in a trio of video game deals from Amazon, and not crap games, either. Hang your stockings and take out your credit cards because these bargains can be pulled at any moment.
Speaking of Santa, have you kids heard that new Ludacris song, "Ludacrismas," from the Fred Claus soundtrack? It is all the way live. Fill your hearts with Christmas cheer and join us past the break for a listen.
While experimenting with the Wii Zapper, Spencer Yip made an interesting discovery: the fancy handle is, according to him, well-suited for Trauma Center. For some reason, he decided to try New Blood with his Wiimote and Nunchuk ensconced in the gun shell, and found the experience pleasant. Hilariously, he compares performing surgery in Trauma Center with the Wiimote to "spraying W.O.L.F. soldiers in Time Crisis 4 with a machine gun."
"The main advantage of using the Zapper is it makes aiming easier. Since you're holding the shell with two hands, it's easier to inject tiny tumors with an anti-inflammatory drug and make smooth scalpel cuts." Using forceps was the only major issue, as that move requires the A button and thus a momentary change in grip.
There are two things we find notable about this story. First, it's hilarious to perform surgery by shooting at people's insides. It's fun to subvert intended control schemes, which is why we play every game with the Cooking Mamafrying pan attachment. Second, Spencer has inadvertently found an identifiable advantage to using the Wii Zapper, in that it seems to actually steady his aim in a difficult game.
Posted Dec 9th 2007 12:00PM by Eric Caoili Filed under: News
It's rare to see a quality game receive such a drastic discount only three weeks after its release, so we advise you to take advantage of this particular bargain now -- Trauma Center: New Blood for $29.99 at Amazon (free shipping). This deal expires at the end of the day, but the online shop's stock probably won't last that long. If you are at all interested in this sequel to Atlus' surgery sim or just want a fun co-op experience, snatch it now, as we don't expect the game to deviate much from its usual $49.99 price again for months.
When we saw the official American Trauma Center: New Blood box, a great meh rose up into the heavens. We cried aloud: "It's not very goooooooood!" Our casual disinterest could not be overstated.
The Japanese boxart is roughly ten million times better, because it shows something and/or someone. Even if it's just the same character art we've seen before, arrayed together to look like a group shot, it still manages to generate more interest than the pink plus sign. We don't think this is a compliment to the Japanese box, so much as it is reaffirmation that that American box is really boring.
Yesterday marked the last Trauma Center Tuesday before New Blood's release next week, and that means Atlus had more surgical goodies for us. The most notable treat this week was the video of the game's introduction, which we posted above for your viewing pleasure. Aren't we just the best?
Normally we wouldn't go all ga-ga over a game's opening (okay, well sometimes we do), but this is one of the best we've seen. The art, the effects, the music, and everything about this introduction makes us weak in the knees. It was like watching the opening to a TV show ... er, if TV show openings were actually good and made us want to cut people open.
Atlus, you sly dogs, now you have us looking deeper into our wallets during this video game glut, hoping that we can stretch them enough to pick up your game next week. Does anyone else feel our pain?
On a side note, you should check out the ridiculous poem Atlus sent us that's posted after the break. Atlus, stick to making video games and not poetry, okay?
Ever since Trauma Center: New Blood was announced, it seems we're awash in videos from the forthcoming title, but really, who can complain? This latest shows off some of the cooperative play, and by "some of," we mean an entire operation. Looks like nothing's decreased in intensity here, but really, what is Trauma Center if not an experience in getting your ass kicked? We're in!
It's Tuesday, and Trauma Center: New Blood isn't out yet, so you know what that means: another Trauma Tuesday update at the game's homepage! Atlus has released a new trailer for the game, highlighting some of the new characters to be found, including ... some surgeon! Another surgeon! And a nurse! Maybe the addition of full voice acting will make us follow the plot more closely, but we doubt it. We just want to perform surgeries on people infected with bizarro alien viruses!
This week's update also brings news about preorder bonuses: if you preorder the game from Atlus's online store, you'll get one of the swanky Trauma Centersyringe pens, which even people like us who can make ourselves pass out by thinking of syringes can enjoy. You'll also get (in the words of the press release) "a certificate to (virtually) operate on people!" Finally, a nice diploma to class up your wall.
We've seen games that originated on the DS hop to the Wii -- Lost in Blue is the latest example, but a more notable instance might be Trauma Center. 
While experimenting with the Wii Zapper, Spencer Yip made an interesting discovery: the fancy handle is, according to him, well-suited for Trauma Center. For some reason, he decided to try New Blood with his Wiimote and Nunchuk ensconced in the gun shell, and found the experience pleasant. Hilariously, he compares performing surgery in Trauma Center with the Wiimote to "spraying W.O.L.F. soldiers in Time Crisis 4 with a machine gun." 
It's rare to see a quality game receive such a drastic discount only three weeks after its release, so we advise you to take advantage of this particular bargain now -- Trauma Center: New Blood for $29.99 at Amazon (free shipping). This deal expires at the end of the day, but the online shop's stock probably won't last that long. If you are at all interested in this sequel to Atlus' surgery sim or just want a fun co-op experience, snatch it now, as we don't expect the game to deviate much from its usual $49.99 price again for months. 
When we saw the official American Trauma Center: New Blood box, a great meh rose up into the heavens. We cried aloud: "It's not very goooooooood!" Our casual disinterest could not be overstated.
