Gearbox bringing Samba de Amigo sequel to Wii

by Kyle Orland { Sep 25th 2007 at 10:07AM }

Is it possible to have a rumored confirmation? If so, then consider this post a rumored confirmation that a new Samba de Amigo game is coming to the Wii. It's rumored because we haven't actually gotten our hands on the supposed source -- the latest issue of Nintendo Power, an alleged cover scan of which (above) is currently circulating around the internet . It's confirmation because numerous sources around the 'net are reporting the issue goes past the previous rumors and offers official confirmation that the game is in development from publisher Sega and new developer Gearbox Software (the Brothers in Arms guys).

The issue doesn't contain details on the gameplay, though the soundtrack will supposedly have "a mix of new and classic tunes." While we're a little apprehensive about FPS developer Gearbox's ability to take on the rhythm genre and the Wii remote's ability to accurately recreate the maraca-shaking of the Dreamcast original, we'll take what we can get when it comes to more monkeys with maracas.

[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]

Tags: gearbox, maraca, sambadeamigo, sega

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:15AM

Odd choice of a developer, but still great news.

IF it comes with maracas, that is. If it doesn't...that just sucks.

Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 25th 2007 10:18AM

Oh, too true.

I never got the full experience out of the DC version because I could never find the maracas for a reasonable price.

It would suck if they just used the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.

OnimushaSoki @ Sep 25th 2007 10:47AM

I *still* can't find them, or when they do pop up on the world's most famous auction site... they're highly overpriced.

Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 25th 2007 10:16AM

Cool.

What is Gearbox's past development experience? In other words, are they good developers or do they suck?

And speaking of Dreamcast sequels, we need a Power Stone 3.

megaStryke @ Sep 25th 2007 10:45AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gearbox_Software

I think that should ease any doubt in your mind.

Synner @ Sep 25th 2007 10:51AM

Here ya go

http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/index.php?p=games

Ska Oreo @ Sep 25th 2007 11:12AM

Gearbox is responisble for the Brothers in arms games. All of those games have been getting good reviews.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 11:47AM

Gearbox needs to do a new Blue shift and opposition Force.

Anyway I think it is in good hands even when the portable games they did sucked I enjoyed most of their work.

WiNG @ Sep 25th 2007 10:21AM

I am 90% sure they will at least make wiimote+nunchuck an option for control. Why not, it would work fine.

Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 25th 2007 10:25AM

Well I'd be fine if it was just an option, but there need to be seperate maraca controllers.

I'm sure that using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk would be better than using just the Dreamcast controller (which is what I had to use to play the first game), but it wouldn't offer the prime experience.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:28AM

They would, but it should still come with maracas. I can't imagine there's any excuse not to include them, since the technology has more or less come down considerably in price in the last 6 or 7 years or however long it's been.

Wiimote & nunchuck would be good for, like, multiplayer duels and stuff, though.

I hope they also include a dual Wiimote option.

AstroZombie @ Sep 25th 2007 11:57AM

Packed-in maraca shells for Wiimote and Nunchuk FTW?

Psaakyrn @ Sep 25th 2007 12:02PM

Better idea: Just use 2 wii motes. No wires, better symmetry, etc. Granted it means it's 2 players max, but considering the arm-swinging, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Psaakyrn @ Sep 25th 2007 12:09PM

*mental note: read all replies instead of skimming through next time*

Mr Khan @ Sep 25th 2007 5:47PM

Wasn't the old Samba Di Amigo 2p Max anyway?

Maybe it'll just be an option, like the 2 mats mode on some DDRs

SirMal @ Sep 25th 2007 10:23AM

That makes so much sense. Good show, GearBox, good show. Now if only we could get JSRF and I'll consider losing $250

JodyAnthony (VGDF) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:31AM

awesome

megaStryke @ Sep 25th 2007 10:41AM

God dammit, Jody, have you developed a speech impediment or something? Lately, all your posts are ten words or less and you never have anything critical to say anymore. Is this your new wife's doing?

JodyAnthony (VGDF) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:50AM

im just being lazy

so very lazy!

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:58AM

Try some Futurama quotes. That usually revs 'im up.

If I don't make it, tell my wife "hello".

I'd love to stay, but I miss my wife and oxygen.
Yes, we all miss our loved ones and gases...

JodyAnthony (VGDF) @ Sep 25th 2007 11:17AM

hooray, I'm useful

megaStryke @ Sep 25th 2007 11:46AM

I guess a robot would have to be CRAZY to wanna be a folk singer...

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 25th 2007 12:29PM

Ow! Ow! I'm a genius! Ow! Ow!

JodyAnthony (VGDF) @ Sep 25th 2007 1:10PM

the professey will help!

ooh, fire indeed hot!

hvnlysoldr @ Sep 25th 2007 2:01PM

Futurama quotes are funny.

Don't lie in front of Jesus!

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 25th 2007 2:17PM

I am the greetest! And now I am leaving Earth for no raisin!

Synner @ Sep 25th 2007 10:40AM

This would be cool but Why would you really need maracas? Maybe they could use 2 wiimotes, and a maraca attachement?

Zertoss @ Sep 25th 2007 10:41AM

In b4 Madkatz releases maraca attachments for the Wiimote and nunchuck.

WiNG @ Sep 25th 2007 10:47AM

exactly

And Threepwood your opinion doesn't count because your wife is a gold statue.

ill trooper @ Sep 25th 2007 11:15AM

Thank God. An amazing platform for this game. I killed my Dreamcast playing this. Must-buy for me.

Those wondering why you need 'maracas' controllers when you can just use the Wii controller: The maracas actually have beads inside of them and sound like real maracas, likely not something the Wiimote's speaker could replicate the timing and immediacy of.

Gamebreaker @ Sep 25th 2007 11:24AM

It's nice to see Nintendo breaking away from crappy games aimed at kids. Nice.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 25th 2007 11:38AM

This is Sega.
And it's a game about a cute dancing monkey in a sombrero. It's as kiddy as anything else on the Wii, technically.

Actually, it's all ages, but the point stands.

megaStryke @ Sep 25th 2007 11:47AM

You don't like Latinos? You racist, boy?

Gamebreaker @ Sep 25th 2007 2:42PM

It was sarcasm, honestly. Samba de Amigo will light the Latin fires in a million soccer moms.

Obie @ Sep 25th 2007 11:33AM

Chicks LOVE Samba De Amigo, and since Gearbox is doing it, we'll be killing Nazi's too = Game of the Year!

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 25th 2007 11:50AM

Can you Imagine a cute monkey in a sombrero killing nazis with Maracas? that would be so awesome,Halo 3 killer.

Obie @ Sep 25th 2007 11:58AM

OMG TEH MEGATONN!

Bidoof Protection Military @ Sep 25th 2007 12:34PM

"Can you Imagine a cute monkey in a sombrero killing nazis with Maracas?"

Actually, I was already imagining that before the announcement. Only now the monkey in my imagination has been replaced by Amigo. Awesome.

Martin (IDF) @ Sep 25th 2007 12:33PM

This is great news! I loved the DC version, and I didn't even have the maracas. It was fun as hell with just the controller!

Lemmiwinks @ Sep 25th 2007 1:30PM

Maraca beads should be one of the few sounds the wiimote speakers can accurately reproduce.

RotBot @ Sep 25th 2007 2:50PM

I don't see how Gearbox can reproduce the gameplay of the original using only a nunchuck+wiimote combo or dual wiimotes.

Samba de Amigo for the Dreamcast used a sensor pad placed on the floor in addition to the two maracas to track their vertical position. There are a total of six positions at three heights for the maracas to hit. The nunchuck and wiimote can sense the angle at which they are held, but not their position relative to your body. I don't see how it can be done without a separate peripheral.

Since it's only been announced for the Wii and not the 360 or PS3, I can only assume it's going to make use of the Wii controls. I'm worried that the game will be simplified to just left-shake and right-shake, like the minigame in Rayman: Raving Rabbids. I'm not saying the game will suck if that happens, because I loved the music game in Rayman, but it won't be Samba de Amigo.

RotBot @ Sep 25th 2007 2:58PM

Ajacy has a better technical description here:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/the-samba+on+wii-rumours-will-not-die-290505.php#c2160961

Psaakyrn @ Sep 25th 2007 7:41PM

a) Calibration. The past game was calibrated with the people putting their arms stretched out (The arcade version does this at least). This would allow the Wii to create a relevant map of locations to track.
b) The Wii mote also transmits locational data. With location, location map and angle, the "distance to body" information isn't that critical, or even necessary.

Frankly, I suspect this version would play quite similar to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, with no longer just 6 spots to shake at. Still waiting for a Wii version of that game, but if this turns out similar, it's sufficient to get people dancing. (whether people would look idiotic doing so is a different matter entirely)

Psaakyrn @ Sep 25th 2007 7:57PM

And that article is based on a single assumption:

Arguement) the Wii mote doesn't track height/up/down movement.

Counter Arguement A) In Wario Ware, I recall several games where people shake the Wii mote up and down. Therefore there are accelerometers which can track up-down movement, even if it's not used in other games.

Counter Arguement B) The whole point of accelerators is that they can track directional movement. You're implying that a whole axis of accelerators in missing, when the whole point of the wii mote is to function as a 3D device. In fact, your article does make an allowance to this, but neatly states that he doesn't know if it will fail. Making an arguement where you don't know if it works or not, then saying it will fail because of it, is not exactly the best arguement.