Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/JoystiqThe Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week's video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.comBlue Jackets' Nash to front NHL 2K9http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sure he and his team may have missed the playoffs yet again and are likely fantasizing about what might have been while swinging at balls from the back nine, but that hasn't stopped Columbus Blue Jackets' young-yet-impressive captain Rick Nash from scoring cover duty on Take Two's fall release of NHL 2K9. Also worthy of note from 2K is that developer Visual Concepts has "taken over" development duties for this latest game in the franchise -- as opposed we assume to working in tandem with fellow studio Kush Games -- and that the devs are rebuilding the title "from the ground up."

Not to take anything away from three-time All Star Nash, but it's still an odd choice, at least by team standings, given the Blue Jackets' once again abysmal campaign during the 2007-08 regular season that saw the fledgling team rank near the bottom of both the Western Conference and overall league in points. However, perhaps those who make these kinds of decisions are hoping this is the sort of voodoo that will turn Ohio's NHL franchise around -- sort of like a reverse Madden curse.
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]]>2k-games2k-sports2kgames2ksportshockeykush-gameskushgamesnhlnhl-2k9nhl2k9visual-conceptsvisualconcepts2008-05-16T02:00:00+00:00Joystiq hands-on: Skate Ithttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/joystiq-hands-on-skate-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/joystiq-hands-on-skate-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/joystiq-hands-on-skate-it/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sorry to crush your dreams, er, nightmares, Ludwig, but we've confirmed that Pennywise the clown will not feature in EA's Skate It for Wii. However, the game, which was skated out publically yesterday evening at EA's "Spring Break" event in San Francisco, will make use of the Wiimote for some strikingly easy, yet precise control.

At its unveiling, Skate It was touted "not built from the ground up for Wii" by its dev team -- an odd way of stating the obvious fact that they are simply building on the core gameplay of Skate, while destroying the gameworld. Wait ... what?
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Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Skate It

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]]>eahandsonskateskate-it2008-05-13T20:30:00+00:00See first screens of Skate It on Wii and DShttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/see-first-screens-of-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/see-first-screens-of-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/see-first-screens-of-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Honestly, this post went up for two reasons:
  1. We really wanted to use the above image again. It's like Tim Curry is clawing his way out of the page!
  2. We genuinely thought you'd be interested to see some screenshots of the Wii and DS versions of EA's well-received Skate.
Skate It promises to fully adapt the franchise's controls for Nintendo's platforms, with the Wii version supporting both the Wii remote and the Wii Balance Board, ideal for "the full on immersive types."
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]]>Black-BoxEAExientSkateSkate-It2008-05-12T22:00:00+00:00Facebreaker trailers: Meet the pugilistshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/facebreaker-trailers-give-idea-of-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/facebreaker-trailers-give-idea-of-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/facebreaker-trailers-give-idea-of-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Although the Facebreaker character trailers aren't half as amusing as the Team Fortress 2 portraits, we do have hope for the game itself. It would be nice if there was a now-gen "casual" boxing game that rekindled that fun we had while playing Punch-Out back in the '80s.

The latest Facebraker profile (above) is of Steve, your typical fat nerd cliché. We've also placed the video for Romeo after the break. With a September release as part of EA Sports' new Freestyle brand, we're looking forward to getting some hands-on time with Facebreaker at E3. Hopefully the gameplay will enhance the fun and diminish the creepiness we feel in these trailers.

Continue reading Facebreaker trailers: Meet the pugilists

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]]>ea-sportsea-sports-freestylefacebreakerfreestyle2008-05-10T17:00:00+00:00EA wants you to "Skate It" on Wii and DShttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/ea-wants-you-to-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/ea-wants-you-to-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/ea-wants-you-to-skate-it-on-wii-and-ds/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Much to the disappointment of many a Stephen King fan, the "It" meant to be skated is not, in fact, the psychotic clown that gobbles up kids and makes your tea turn into blood. Skate It's executive producer, Scott Blackwood, tells IGN (you know, those guys who unofficially revealed Skate's Wii and DS incarnations last month) that the "It" is largely up to you. "Rails, pools, ledges, banks, mega-ramps, gnarly downhill streets ... you make the call."

Blackwood explains that the team behind the well-received original game "are working co-operatively with partner studios to make Skate It," with DS development duties handled by UK developer Exient. Why bother bringing Skate to the Wii? Blackwood is glad you asked: "It's all about bringing that authentic Skate feeling to the Wii remote and stylus, or and for the full on immersive types, the Wii Balance Board." And here we thought a port of Sega's Top Skater would be the first one to let us do an alley-oop in the living room.
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]]>EAGnarlySkateSkate-It2008-05-10T14:00:00+00:00No Tony Hawk in 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/no-tony-hawk-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/no-tony-hawk-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/no-tony-hawk-in-2008/#commentsFiled under:


We've seen so many game announcements this week, it's almost sort of refreshing to get to write a non-announcement. During yesterday's Activision earnings call, the company revealed that there would be no new console Tony Hawk game in 2008. If you can believe it, it's the first time the game hasn't gotten an annual release since Tony Hawk's Pro Skater first ollied into the nation's heart in 1999.

Though we can understand if some of you are bummed without your yearly Hawk infusion, we couldn't be happier. After getting its clock cleaned 2 to 1 by Skate, it seems like the perfect time for Activision to regroup, lick its wounds and, you know, put some effort into the series.

[Via X3F]
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]]>activisiontony-hawktonyhawk2008-05-09T08:30:00+00:00EA Sports unveils 'Freestyle' brandhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/ea-sports-unveils-freestyle-brand/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/ea-sports-unveils-freestyle-brand/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/ea-sports-unveils-freestyle-brand/#commentsFiled under: ,


EA launched a new sub-brand of its EA Sports division today called Freestyle. The division is designed to create games for a "more casual sports gaming audience." These titles will be created with buzzwords in mind like "playful, inclusive, casual and easy to pick up."

The first title releasing this September in this all-inclusive sports brand is the arcade-style boxing game with the family-friendly name FaceBreaker. Yup, there's no better title to launch a casual sports brand than a game called FaceBreaker. Because nothing says "playful, inclusive, casual and easy to pick up" than FaceBreaker.

[Via GameDaily]
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]]>ea-sportsea-sports-freestylefreestyle2008-05-06T21:30:00+00:00Tecmo Bowl Kickoff lands on DS this fallhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/tecmo-bowl-kickoff-lands-on-ds-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/tecmo-bowl-kickoff-lands-on-ds-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/tecmo-bowl-kickoff-lands-on-ds-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: ,

tecmo bowl
Tecmo today announced Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff for DS, a revival of the classic sports franchise that will have to make due without an NFL license. Tecmo first confirmed the work-in-progress nearly a year ago, but at the time declined to specify the intended platform, saying only, "it's probably not going to be on the platform that you're expecting." But really, is there any other system better suited to Tecmo Bowl's patented zig-zagging runs than the DS with its stylus?

Kickoff will feature arcade-style gameplay with various customization options, reports IGN. The game will also support local wireless multiplayer, as well as a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection mode. Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff is due this fall.

Update: Here are some additional details straight from Tecmo:

Continue reading Tecmo Bowl Kickoff lands on DS this fall

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]]>breakingnewstecmotecmo-bowltecmo-bowl-kickoff2008-05-01T16:00:00+00:00Moore knows people are 'pissed' about no PC Madden '09http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/moore-knows-people-are-pissed-about-no-pc-madden-09/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/moore-knows-people-are-pissed-about-no-pc-madden-09/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/moore-knows-people-are-pissed-about-no-pc-madden-09/#commentsFiled under: , ,


EA Sports President Peter Moore recently talked to GameDaily about his decision to not release Madden NFL 09 on PC. He acknowledges the move "pissed off a lot of people," but it was a business decision based on sports games in the PC market.

He stands by previous statements he made, when he was still with Microsoft, that there'll be a PC gaming renaissance, but he says sports games aren't going to play a "huge role." He says that whether people agree with it or not, EA Sports is designing its games to be played ten feet away from a high-definition screen with groups of people playing online or in the same room. The full interview is actually quite deep, with Moore discussing a lot more about EA Sports' design philosophy, its targeted consumer and the issue of PC piracy.
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]]>ea-sportseasportsmadden-09moorepeter-moore2008-04-30T16:30:00+00:00New Madden 09 pics show triumph, failure and mustacheshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/new-madden-09-pics-show-triumph-failure-and-mustaches/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/new-madden-09-pics-show-triumph-failure-and-mustaches/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/new-madden-09-pics-show-triumph-failure-and-mustaches/#commentsFiled under:

Electronic Arts has unveiled an assortment of reportedly in-game Madden 09 screenshots. The snapshots include almost catching the ball, almost avoiding a tackle, almost making a tackle and other-in process moments that will make you ... what's this? Wow, we've lost our train of thought staring at this gorgeous mustache in front of our eyes. We offer no explanation for our fixation. Check out the gallery.
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Continue reading New Madden 09 pics show triumph, failure and mustaches

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]]>american-footballeaelectronic-artsfootballmaddenmadden-09sports2008-04-30T02:30:00+00:00Madden NFL 09 to add 'Real Football Intelligence', online leagues, holodeckhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/madden-nfl-09-to-add-real-football-intelligence-online-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/madden-nfl-09-to-add-real-football-intelligence-online-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/madden-nfl-09-to-add-real-football-intelligence-online-league/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Happy NFL Draft weekend, everyone! With one day of exciting athlete trafficking under our belts, we thought it would be appropriate to point out a recent GameTap interview with Madden NFL 09 designer Phil Frazier, which reveals a number of features in the next installment of the never-ending, pigskin-chuckin' franchise. With buzzwords like "Favre", "player weapons" and "holographic training center", could this be the year where we find our way back into EA Sports' monopolized fold?

Some of the features highlighted include the Real Football Intelligence system, which tracks your skill as a player and provides helpful (and aggravating, we imagine) feedback, the induction of Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth as the new play-by-play and color commentators, and online, 32-man leagues (complete with trading, drafting, and flexible scheduling). We can only hope they'll include even more lunatic outbursts from the series ham-hearted, titular announcer.
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]]>draftfavrefootballgametapjohnmaddenleaguemaddenmadden-NFL-09madden09maddennfl092008-04-26T20:30:00+00:00And the Madden 09 cover goes to ... Brett Favre?http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/and-the-madden-09-cover-goes-to-brett-favre/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/and-the-madden-09-cover-goes-to-brett-favre/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/and-the-madden-09-cover-goes-to-brett-favre/#commentsFiled under:

favre
Well, one way to dodge the "Madden Curse" is to just not play. Indeed, recent retiree Brett Favre will be drafted onto the cover of Madden NFL 09, reports GameDaily. While the choice seems somewhat peculiar, it's possible Favre was chosen to represent the 20th Anniversary edition of the game because of his iconic status. The long-time Packers QB is one of, if not the most familiar and celebrated player in recent NFL history (heck, he even starred in that Farrelley brothers flick some years back -- what was it ... something about a Mary?). So, what's it gonna take to get Old #4 to lace 'em up one last season and test his record streak against the mighty curse?

Update: Official confirmation.
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]]>breakingpadsbrett-favremaddenmadden-092008-04-24T15:55:00+00:00Camelot reckons Golden Sun DS 'would be great'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/camelot-reckons-golden-sun-ds-would-be-great/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/camelot-reckons-golden-sun-ds-would-be-great/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/camelot-reckons-golden-sun-ds-would-be-great/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So, we're all in agreement then. Currently hard at work on the European version of We Love Golf (for Wii, natch), the folks at Camelot have told Eurogamer that they rather like the idea of bringing Golden Sun, a popular series of role-playing games for the Game Boy Advance, to Nintendo's DS. "It would be great, wouldn't it!" said the seemingly excitable Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi. "We want to play that game too, just as much as you. We love Golden Sun!"

The brothers also noted that the RPG genre is one they definitely plan on revisiting in the future, with their thoughts already wrapped around "RPG stuff." Said the Takahashi brothers: "Camelot is an RPG maker. We don't think that we'll ever quit making RPGs."
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]]>CamelotGolden-SunWe-Love-Golf2008-04-22T23:00:00+00:00EA's NFL Head Coach '09 gets full-price, standalone release Sept. 2http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/eas-nfl-head-coach-09-gets-full-price-standalone-release-sept/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/eas-nfl-head-coach-09-gets-full-price-standalone-release-sept/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/eas-nfl-head-coach-09-gets-full-price-standalone-release-sept/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember last month when EA mentioned that coaching simulator NFL Head Coach '09 would only be available as part of the Madden '09 Collector's Edition? Yeah, funny story about that -- it's not true. EA revealed in a press release today that the game will actually also be sold as a $49.99 standalone release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in time for the start of the new football season on Sept. 2.

We're a little skeptical that U.S. gamers will be willing to shell out nearly $50 bucks for a coaching simulator -- remember, the 2006 original NFL Head Coach was budget priced at $20, and still got savaged in reviews. Then again, Europeans seem to go nuts for the similar Football Simulator series of soccer-management sims, so maybe North America is just behind the curve on this one. Then again again, maybe we Americans are just too discriminating to enjoy a game where you simply manage a sport rather than actively participating in it. We report, you work out your patriotic vitriol in the comments thread.
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]]>EAEA SportsEaSportselectronic-artsNFL Head CoachNFL Head Coach 09NFL-head-coachNFL-Head-Coach-09NflHeadCoachNflHeadCoach09simulator2008-04-22T16:30:00+00:00Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 hitting the greens on June 3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/hot-shots-golf-open-tee-2-hitting-the-greens-on-june-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/hot-shots-golf-open-tee-2-hitting-the-greens-on-june-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/hot-shots-golf-open-tee-2-hitting-the-greens-on-june-3/#commentsFiled under: ,


Are you a fan of the professional golfing scene, but wish that Tiger Woods' head was a tad more hydrocephalitic? Feel disappointed when your long drives aren't punctuated with high-pitched squeals and rainbow trails? Whether you're a soon to be fan or a returning wedge-wielder, we're sure the news of a North American release date for the sequel to the PSP's premier anime-inspired golf simulator, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, will bring tears of joy to your dinner plate-sized, sparkle-filled eyes.

Sony recently confirmed that the game, appropriately titled Open Tee 2, will hit store shelves June 3, and will tout an 16-player online tournament mode (making up for the original game's complete lack of online support) and an 8-player ad-hoc match play mode. If you've never been exposed to Clap Hanz' peculiar take on the ancient sport, you can get the full version of Open Tee the first on the Playstation Store for $10.99 -- a mere fraction of the cost to hit the big boy links, and without all that pesky walking.
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]]>claphanzgolfhot-shots-golf-open-tee-2hotshotsgolfopen-tee-2openteeopentee2pspreleasedatesony2008-04-20T16:30:00+00:00Euphoria-based Backbreaker gameplay video is intriguinghttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/euphoria-based-backbreaker-gameplay-video-is-intriguing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/euphoria-based-backbreaker-gameplay-video-is-intriguing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/euphoria-based-backbreaker-gameplay-video-is-intriguing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's far too early to pass any sort of judgment, but we're intrigued by this first gameplay video of the upcoming football game Backbreaker, which seems to be more focused on putting players into the shoes of the athletes than the godlike skycam view of most football titles. No, it has no license, but it does seem to be a different take on the genre, and really, isn't that just as important?

The tackles also look fairly realistic and with good reason: The game is powered by the euphoria engine, the same one used in The Force Unleashed and Grand Theft Auto IV. We're going to hear more about this game (slated for a vague 2008 release) in the coming weeks. As such, we just want to be the first to make this joke: Gridirons of War. ... We don't have a wider context for it, but when you see it start to pop up just remember who dropped that bon mot first.
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]]>backbreakereuphorianatural-motion2008-04-18T17:30:00+00:00Don King's Prizefighter gets Balance Board training gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/don-kings-prizefighter-gets-balance-board-training-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/don-kings-prizefighter-gets-balance-board-training-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/don-kings-prizefighter-gets-balance-board-training-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

When none other than Reggie announced that the Wii Fit Balance Board was being used in "over ten" games currently in development, we probably should have made the connection with Don King vanity project Prizefighter. Well, we didn't, but, luckily, the developers at Venom Games did, revealing in an interview with CVG that their game will include Balance Board-compatible training games designed by "top boxing trainers."

The interview doesn't go into many details, but it does mention a "jump rope game" which involves bouncing on the Balance Board with "the Wii Remote in your back pocket." Developing a joke asking whether that pocket Remote indicates we're "just happy to see you" is left as an exercise for the reader.
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]]>balance-boardboxingjump-ropetrainingwii-fit2008-04-16T10:00:00+00:00Madden to allow user-controlled celebrationshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/madden-to-allow-user-controlled-celebrations/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/madden-to-allow-user-controlled-celebrations/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/madden-to-allow-user-controlled-celebrations/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We understand that until the game of football evolves (perhaps with the addition of mutants), it's going to be hard for EA to find new facets to add in to Madden. So we're not mad at them for the inclusion of User-Controlled Celebrations to the '09 edition of the game. Now, when you want to celebrate reaching the end zone, you need only press a button and the party of one will begin. Also, players who are known for their celebrations will have them modeled in the game.

Though we can't help but be saddened that the feature comes too late for us to feel the rush of having the Ickey Shuffle at our fingertips, we can't wait to see how many they cook up for Chad Johnson, who once built a working spacecraft on the field and filled it with nuclear weapons before flying it into and destroying the moon to mark his achievement. The craziest part? He had just gotten a first down.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>madden2008-04-15T08:30:00+00:00Observify this spectaculous new trailer for 2K's Prizefighterhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/observify-this-spectaculous-new-trailer-for-2ks-prizefighter/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/observify-this-spectaculous-new-trailer-for-2ks-prizefighter/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/observify-this-spectaculous-new-trailer-for-2ks-prizefighter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We know that 2K Sports' upcoming stab at the world of professional pugilism, Don King Presents: Prizefighter, is the only official video game endorsed by the titular, wispy-haired promoter -- which is a damn shame, if you ask us. Far too often, incredible games fly under the radar of the mainstream commercial market -- if only Ubisoft had the foresight to release Don King Presents: Beyond Good & Evil, and let the world's second greatest hype man work his magic. "You'll be photographizing and pulverizing alien baddies with astonishing robustitude!"

Alas, 2K was the only developer intelligent enough to cash in on the boxing bigwig -- and it looks like they've got a game to back up the King's boasts. Sure, it's not as pretty as Fight Night Round 3, but with fast-paced brawling and training sequences that hearken back to the beloved Ready 2 Rumble series, we're filled with anticipationalism to step into the ring come June 10.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>2k2k-sports2ksportsboxingdon-kingdon-king-presents-prizefighterdonkingprizefighterpugilism2008-04-13T13:30:00+00:00Mario Super Sluggers on deck for Wiihttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/super-mario-sluggers-on-deck-for-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/super-mario-sluggers-on-deck-for-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/super-mario-sluggers-on-deck-for-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

sluggers
Previously revealed as "Super Mario Stadium Baseball" last October, and now apparently dubbed, Mario Super Sluggers, the Wii sequel to Mario Superstar Baseball has been confirmed for US release, likely later this year. Nintendo briefly demonstrated the game today at a media summit in San Francisco, IGN reports. As expected, the majority of gameplay is controlled by flicks and waggles (think: Wii Sports' baseball with shaky fielding), but some of the demonstrator's motions were "unrecognized by the game," IGN observed. "Not a very good sign."

In addition to the known cast of playable characters, IGN confirms that Sluggers will feature Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Waluigi, Toad, Toadette, and Boo.

Update: There's been some confusion about the game's title. Is it Super Mario Sluggers? Or Mario Super Sluggers? We're going with the latter for now. It's Mario Super Sluggers -- for sure!

[Note: Image is a previously released screenshot of "Super Mario Stadium Baseball."]
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>breakingnewsmario-super-sluggerssuper-mario-stadium-baseball2008-04-10T13:52:00+00:00