Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Mario Party 8 (Wii)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/joystiq-hands-on-mario-party-8-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/joystiq-hands-on-mario-party-8-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/joystiq-hands-on-mario-party-8-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

Like the early days of the DS, the Wii still hasn't really found its own identity just yet. Still lacking a Brain Training or a Nintendogs, minigames are de rigeur on the system at the moment. Certainly the Wiimote is well suited for minigames, and it's been hoped that it will breathe some new life into a rather tired Nintendo franchise. Yup, Mario Party 8.

Joystiq got to play an incomplete version of the "ocho" at the Osaka leg of Japan's World Hobby Fair. Six different minigames were on display:
  • Lasso the barrels: Swing the lasso (Wiimote) in a circle, once you've got some momentum going, throw the lasso forward, grabbing a barrels for points (don't throw Wiimote). Some barrels are worth more points than others.
  • Ball tilt: Balls fall from ceiling. Direct bouncing balls to their correct container by rotating the wiimote. Green on the left, and purple on the right.
  • Drink shaking: Simply shake the Wiimote up and down; fastest shaker wins.
  • Target shooting: Just as in Wii Play, shoot targets with your Wiimote. The high score zone constantly changes so you have to think fast.
  • Jet ski jumps: Move your jet skier to the ramps to pick up coins. The challenge comes from the difficult controls.
  • Crank turning: Turn a crank as fast you can. Exactly the same as the similar WarioWare minigame.
Overall, the minigames were solid and fun, if not a tad on the simple side. If the board game side of things (not shown in this early version) is a winner, this could be a fun party game, if not an inventive one. They don't have their Brain Training yet.

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Mario Party 8 (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onHudsonHudsonsoftJapanMario-PartyMario-Party-8MarioPartyMarioParty8MinigameNintendopartyWiiworld hobby fairWorldHobbyFairFri, 26 Jan 2007 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo and Sega dominate Japan's World Hobby Fair 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/nintendo-and-sega-dominate-japans-world-hobby-fair-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/nintendo-and-sega-dominate-japans-world-hobby-fair-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/nintendo-and-sega-dominate-japans-world-hobby-fair-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Best described as Tokyo Game Show for kids, the World Hobby Fair -- held in Japan last week -- showcased present and upcoming games and toys for the Japanese market and gave a good indication of what products are really going to be pushed in the upcoming year.

While the show was attended by all the major players (Capcom, Sony, et al), it was very much Sega and Nintendo that won over the hearts and minds of the little Japanese tykes. Sega's sickeningly cute rhythm-action game Love and Berry had a huge presence. After record sales in 2006, this might very well be the game that finally tips young Japanese gamers' 50/50 gender balance in favor of the female persuasion.

Continue reading Nintendo and Sega dominate Japan's World Hobby Fair 2007

JoystiqNintendo and Sega dominate Japan's World Hobby Fair 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSJapanPS2PS3Wiiworld hobby fairWorldHobbyFairFri, 26 Jan 2007 12:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Elebits (Wii)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/joystiq-hands-on-elebits-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/joystiq-hands-on-elebits-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/07/joystiq-hands-on-elebits-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The world seems to have its eye on Elebits right now, hoping for another industry darling of the likes of Katamari Damacy. Sharing similar themes, Elebits is a fantasy story set in a mundane, domestic environment, collecting tiny electric creatures instead of junk-in-a-ball. It's the collecting that sets the games apart, with ball rolling replaced by shooting, only we're collecting the elebits instead of killing them.

Using the Wii-mote as a capture gun (and Nunchuk for movement), the game is part hide and seek -- you see, those elebits like to hide in nooks and crannies -- and part light gun style shooter. The novelty comes in the fact that the capture gun has a furniture moving gravity beam, allowing you to truly rummage for the little tykes.

A sense of progress comes from the gravity beam starting out quite weak, getting stronger as you collect more elebits. A typical level starts out with you rummaging throughout the shelves and cupboards for elebits, ending with your powered up gun lifting up entire pieces of furniture effortlessly, as you trash the place looking the elusive creatures.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Elebits (Wii)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Elebits (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ElebitsHands-onJapanKonamiWiiThu, 07 Dec 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii gets nearly double PS3's attach rate in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/wii-gets-nearly-double-ps3s-attach-rate-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/wii-gets-nearly-double-ps3s-attach-rate-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/wii-gets-nearly-double-ps3s-attach-rate-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nintendo's of Japan's rosy Wii launch looked even rosier today as Media Create unveiled preliminary sales figures giving the machine a 1.8 attach rate, trouncing the PS3's "I'm only buying it to sell on Yahoo auctions" 0.98 attach rate. While this may seem low compared to the States, it's a lot better than the Japanese Cube's 1.2 launch attach rate and the Japanese DS's paltry 0.89. The top ten games and hardware sales were:
  • Wii hardware: 350,358
  • Wii Sports: 176,167
  • Wii Play: 174,297
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: 139,011
  • Odoru Made in Wario: 63,954
  • Swing Golf Pangya: 12,908
  • Ennichi no Tatsujin: 10,763
  • Red Steel: 9,392
  • SD Gundam SCAD Hammers: 9,226
  • Tamagotchi Pika Pika Daitouryou: 8,042
  • Elebits: 5,791
As rosy as these sales figures are for Nintendo, they're a bit of a kick in the teeth to third-parties, whose offerings achieved sales that can only be described as comparatively weak. Third-parties have always struggled to compete with Nintendo's acclaimed first- and second-party development teams and, according to these preliminary numbers, it seems that this trend will continue on the Wii. It'll be interesting, and important, to see how third-party titles fare on the Wii in the upcoming months.

JoystiqWii gets nearly double PS3's attach rate in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attach rateAttachRateJapanJapanese hardware salesJapaneseHardwareSalesPS3WiiTue, 05 Dec 2006 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo of Japan apologizes for lack of component cables]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/04/nintendo-of-japan-apologizes-for-lack-of-component-cables/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/04/nintendo-of-japan-apologizes-for-lack-of-component-cables/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/04/nintendo-of-japan-apologizes-for-lack-of-component-cables/#commentsFiled under: ,

Don't go thinking they care about the fuzziness of your American screens, this is a Japan thing. Nintendo of Japan's official site apologized for the lack of "D terminal" component cables (Japan has two types of component cable), leaving this blogger with just such a fuzzy screen. It's hard to complain too much though, what with the Japanese Wii launch being such a painless endeavor.

Local retailers are reporting that Nintendo overstocked, providing many more systems than anticipated. Accessories (that aren't component cables that is) are all readily available: Nunchuks, Wiimotes, and the lovely (not quite stateside yet) Hajimete no Wii (Wii Games) and Wiimote bundle are in abundance. Even the Classic Controller -- which comes free with purchases of 5,000 Wii points -- is readily available. After such a smooth and plentiful Wii launch, how's about you send us Japanese gamers a few more PS3s, Sony?

JoystiqNintendo of Japan apologizes for lack of component cables originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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