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/Nintendo, Starlight partner to help sick kidshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/nintendo-starlight-partner-to-help-sick-kids/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/nintendo-starlight-partner-to-help-sick-kids/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/nintendo-starlight-partner-to-help-sick-kids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Video games are not always just about financial muscle and suffering the slings and arrows of fanboy-fueled drama. Sometimes, just sometimes, they're about making the world a better place. Such is the case today, as Nintendo has partnered with Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation to place Wii kiosks featuring such games as Super Mario Galaxy and Wii Sports in hospitals across both the US and Canada to help lift the spirits of seriously ill kids.

The move echoes a similar effort by Microsoft last month, which saw the company link up with NHL vet Pat LaFontaine's foundation Companions in Courage to bring hundreds of Xbox 360 kiosks to children's hospitals in the US. According to a statement, Nintendo plans to manufacture some 1,250 new Fun Center kiosks as part of the partnership, with the charity hoping to have around 500 of these in hospitals by the end of 2008. The first pair of Fun Centers will be donated later today to the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles during what Nintendo describes as a Super Mario Galaxy-themed launch event, while Mario will also be on hand, no doubt to discourage Bowser from crashing the party.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>charitynintendostarlight-foundationsuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxywiiJason Dobson2008-06-25T08:20:00+00:00Call of Duty 4 dubbed game of the year at Interactive Achievement Awardshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/call-of-duty-4-dubbed-game-of-the-year-at-interactive-achievemen/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/call-of-duty-4-dubbed-game-of-the-year-at-interactive-achievemen/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/call-of-duty-4-dubbed-game-of-the-year-at-interactive-achievemen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Despite nabbing 12 nominations for the (deep breath) Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, BioShock was bested in the Overall Game of the Year category by cinematic tour de force, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Both games were awarded four, err, awards at this year's event, held alongside D.I.C.E. at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Orange Box's Portal made off with some shiny statuettes, as did fake instrument extravaganza, Rock Band. Super Mario Galaxy was deemed the best "adventure" game in absence of a "platformer" category (a sad commentary in itself), while Assassin's Creed got a hearty stab pat on the back for its fancy animation. The complete list of winners can be found after the break -- a list of whiners is sure to follow shortly.

Read [PDF link]

  • Handheld Game of the Year -- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  • Family Game of the Year -- Rock Band
  • Outstanding Achievement in Animation -- Assassin's Creed
  • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction -- BioShock
  • Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering -- Crysis
  • Outstanding Character Performance -- The Orange Box: Portal (GLaDOS)
  • Outstanding Achievement in Story Development -- BioShock
  • Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering -- The Orange Box: Portal
  • Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay -- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Downloadable Game of the Year -- Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
  • Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition -- BioShock
  • Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack -- Rock Band
  • Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design -- BioShock
  • Cellular Game of the Year -- skate.
  • Role-Playing Game of the Year -- Mass Effect
  • Racing Game of the Year -- Motorstorm
  • Outstanding Achievement in Game Design -- The Orange Box: Portal
  • Outstanding Innovation in Gaming -- Rock Band
  • Adventure Game of the Year -- Super Mario Galaxy
  • Sports Game of the Year -- skate.
  • Strategy / Simulation Game of the Year -- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
  • Action Game of the Year -- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year -- World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
  • Computer Game of the Year -- The Orange Box
  • Console Game of the Year -- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Overall Game of the Year -- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>AIASBioShockCall-of-Duty-4CallofDuty4DICEDICE-2008Interactive-Achievement-AwardsPortalRock-BandRockBandSuper-Mario-GalaxySuperMarioGalaxyLudwig Kietzmann2008-02-08T10:10:00+00:00Joystiq's Top 10 of 2007: Super Mario Galaxyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-04-super-mario-galaxy/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-04-super-mario-galaxy/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-04-super-mario-galaxy/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In the beginning there was Mario 128 and the world was without news. And the Spirit of Mario moved upon the face of galaxies. And Reggie Fils-Aime said, let there be a release date; and there was hype and critical acclaim. And we saw the copies and Toys R Us gift cards, and it was good.

And the Good Egg Galaxy and Flipswitch Galaxy were the first day. And we said, "This control scheme is alright." And we captured stars and struggled with the camera: and it was so. And we called the game fun.

And the Honeyhive Galaxy, Loopdeeloop Galaxy and Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor were the second day. And we said, Dear God please do we really have to use faulty controls and race through a crappy Wave Race clone to get one frackin' star? And we persevered through and got the star. And we said the Bee Suit was cute and honey climbing was fun. And the camera decided to change our flight path and we kept falling off the level; and we saw that it was frustrating.

In the beginning there was Mario 128 and the world was without news. And the Spirit of Mario moved upon the face of galaxies. And Reggie Fils-Aime said, let there be a release date; and there was hype and critical acclaim. And we saw the copies and Toys R Us gift cards, and it was good.

And the Good Egg Galaxy and Flipswitch Galaxy were the first day. And we said, "This control scheme is alright." And we captured stars and struggled with the camera: and it was so. And we called the game fun.

And the Honeyhive Galaxy, Loopdeeloop Galaxy and Bowser Jr.'s Robot Reactor were the second day. And we said, Dear God please do we really have to use faulty controls and race through a crappy Wave Race clone to get one frackin' star? And we persevered through and got the star. And we said the Bee Suit was cute and honey climbing was fun. And the camera decided to change our flight path and we kept falling off the level; and we saw that it was frustrating.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Game-of-the-yearGOTY-2007MarioPlatformerSuper-Mario-GalaxySuperMarioGalaxyRoss Miller2008-01-01T12:00:00+00:00NYTimes names Mass Effect game of the yearhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/nytimes-names-mass-effect-game-of-the-year-screws-up-details-ag/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/nytimes-names-mass-effect-game-of-the-year-screws-up-details-ag/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/nytimes-names-mass-effect-game-of-the-year-screws-up-details-ag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A little lesbianism goes a long way as the New York Times names Mass Effect its game of the year for 2007. The NYT bestowed Mass Effect with the honor for its "focus on character development, personal growth and moral tension, all fueled by a graphics system created to evoke emotional empathy." Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction was honored for being the shining star on the PS3 and BioShock was named the "best newcomer." There's also digs at Halo 3 and Super Mario Galaxy for being "unambitious representations of the state of the art."

Speaking of unambitious, for the second time in less than a month the New York Times copyeditors took a nap (albeit a minor one) on a video game-related story, which is slowly becoming inappropriate in covering an $18 billion-plus industry. There's no telling when reporter Seth Schiesel submitted his copy for this piece, but E3 2008 was already confirmed for the Los Angeles Convention Center last Tuesday, so the article's suggestion that "the solution for [E3] next year can be summed up in one word (or is that two?): Las Vegas" is just about 1,000 New York minutes behind the times.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>errormass-effectmasseffectnew-york-timesnewyorktimesnytratchetandclanksuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyAlexander Sliwinski2007-12-23T18:25:00+00:00Super Mario Galaxy DS video a hoaxhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/super-mario-galaxy-ds-video-a-hoax/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/super-mario-galaxy-ds-video-a-hoax/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/super-mario-galaxy-ds-video-a-hoax/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



About ten days ago, we got our first glimpse of a video showing a downloadable, Nintendo DS version of Super Mario Galaxy, supposedly hidden inside the Wii version of the game. We watched with rapt attention as the shaky-cam footage showed Mario and Luigi jumping from the Wii to the DS using a previously unknown, hidden galaxy and the DS' WiFi download capabilities. We were surprised to see low-resolution versions of Mario and Luigi running around low-resolution versions of familiar Mario Galaxy levels. We were shocked and hopeful when the video promised each DS star would be redeemable for 10 Wii shop points.

We weren't ready to definitively declare the video real or fake at the time, but now, after some digging, we're ready to set the record straight on this hoax. Read on for our evidence and thoughts on the matter.

Like all the best fakes, this video has at least a grain of truth to it. (SPOILERS AHEAD) A playable Luigi is indeed unlockable after Mario collects 120 stars, and a hidden 121st star is available if you recollect the original 120 with Luigi (END OF SPOILERS). But we were a more than a little incredulous about the rest of the video. For one, not a single guide we could find mentioned the unlockable DS version of the game -- an important secret if ever we've heard of one. For another, the running and jumping physics in both the Wii and DS sections of the video seemed a little off. We also found it hard to believe that such a complex game could be transferred wholesale into the DS' limited on-board memory via a wireless connection. (Nintendo, for their part, said they don't comment on rumors).

Then again, we couldn't be absolutely sure the video was a fake. No one on the Joystiq team has personally gone through the herculean task of completing the game twice, and the video evidence did seem relatively convincing. Most media outlets (including our own DSFanboy) treated the video with the necessary skepticism, many labeling it a fan-made fake right off the bat. Some of the video's hundreds of thousands of viewers (both at GameTrailers and on YouTube) weren't so incredulous, though. "Whoa! I had NO IDEA that galaxy was coming to the DS until I saw this vid!" said one GT commenter. "Maybe I'm stupid and maybe it's just wishful thinking but it looks damn real to me," said another on Digg.

Sorry, hopeful commenters, but this thing is definitely a fake. How do we know? Well a little digging turned up an slightly shorter, more stable version of the same footage posted on video-sharing site Stage6 by user psycho3ler. If that handle sounds familiar, it might be because it belongs to Pablo Belmonte, the talented video editor behind the now-infamous Nintendo ON hoax video posted back in 2005 (More on that hoax here). The extended footage on Stage6 even shows a Nintendo ON-shaped planet that is cut out of the GameTrailers version (however, the Stage6 version does NOT include the "Mario arithmetic" introduction and the Wii-point-promising conclusion that are in the GameTrailers version).

Still not convinced? Read the description that goes along with the Stage6 video (translated from the Spanish). Titled "Displaying the impossible" and dated "November 29, 2007" Belmonte's stated objectives for the video included "recreating the characters, elements of the scene, techniques, camera movement and lighting of the game Super Mario Galaxy" as well as "simulating a conversion for the Nintendo DS, which visually approaches everything possible on the Wii version, but using the same amount of polygons ... lighting and texture memory as Super Mario 64 DS." Even as cynical rumor debunkers, we have to say Delmonte succeeded at these objectives pretty brilliantly.

While we're happy our initial skepticism has been validated, we're a little bummed now that our hopes have been raised, ever so briefly, just to be shattered. Nintendo, if you decide to take the intense interest in this video as potential interest in an actual Nintendo DS port of Super Mario Galaxy, you'd have our support.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>DSGalaxyhoaxMario GalaxyMarioGalaxynintendonintendo dsNintendoDsrumorangSMGSuper-Mario-GalaxySuperMarioGalaxySuperMarioGalaxyDsKyle Orland2007-12-19T23:00:00+00:00Miyamoto: 'Ratchet & Clank' who? Lombax what?http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/miyamoto-ratchet-and-clank-who-lombax-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/miyamoto-ratchet-and-clank-who-lombax-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/miyamoto-ratchet-and-clank-who-lombax-what/#commentsFiled under: ,

miyamoto
Coy or truly confused, Nintendo's maestro has disputed Insomniac's cry for attention, firmly denying that Super Mario Galaxy's spherical worlds were torn out of a page from the Sony developer's Ratchet & Clank book. Miyamoto claims he and the gang were working to disprove the 'games are flat' theory back on N64, when Insomniac was merely taking its first baby steps into the industry (and, Ludwig, years before Sonic Adventure 2 pulled off 'the rounded level' - FYI). "I'm sorry but I have to admit that I've never seen the game in question," Miyamoto told Official Nintendo Magazine UK when questioned about Ratchet & Clank, "Is it a PC game?"

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>insomniacmiyamotoratchet-and-clankRatchetAndClanksuper-mario-galaxySuperMarioGalaxyJames Ransom-Wiley2007-12-14T14:57:00+00:00Time magazine names Halo 3 game of the yearhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/time-magazine-names-halo-3-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/time-magazine-names-halo-3-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/time-magazine-names-halo-3-game-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's time for Time magazine and every other publication to start dropping their "top whatever" lists of the year. Taking the high honor this year from Time in video games for being "a pebble that has been rounded over the centuries by the gentle splashing of the ocean waves" is Halo 3. The magazine notes that Bungie has refined the series to the point of "pure, unadulterated gaming bliss," though we're a little lost when it calls Halo "graphically gorgeous." Still, it's Time -- we're not expecting too much accuracy from the mainstream press when it comes to video games lately.

The next two spots on the Time list are held by The Orange Box and Rock Band, with both games getting their spots for presenting a bunch of things in one package. Rounding out the top five are Super Mario Galaxy and BioShock. With any luck, BioShock won't be missing from many mainstream lists just because it came out more than a month ago. Heck, we're hoping it doesn't get forgotten on a lot of industry lists.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bioshockhalohalo3orangeboxrock-bandrockbandsuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxytimeAlexander Sliwinski2007-12-11T12:15:00+00:00Witness Super Mario Galaxy's deepest secretshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/witness-super-mario-galaxys-deepest-secrets/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/witness-super-mario-galaxys-deepest-secrets/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/witness-super-mario-galaxys-deepest-secrets/#commentsFiled under: ,


Super-super-super long jumps? Homing butt stomps? Freezing enemies with your best friend? All of these strategies are yours for the taking in Super Mario Galaxy! The spoiler-tastic video above shows off some neat tricks and glitches from Mario's latest 3D outing.

Some are more useful than others, and at least one reveals one of the game's biggest surprises, so those who haven't completed Galaxy should click with caution.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>mariosuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyScott Jon Siegel2007-12-11T09:15:00+00:00MTV muses on gaming with girlfriends/boyfriendshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/mtv-muses-on-gaming-with-girlfriends-boyfriends/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/mtv-muses-on-gaming-with-girlfriends-boyfriends/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/mtv-muses-on-gaming-with-girlfriends-boyfriends/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sharing is difficult. For those of us blessed with significant others who game, we know this all too well. When games become "ours" instead of "mine" or "yours" how do you go about sharing the gameplay? MTV copy editor Katie Byrne has been thinking about this exact same problem, specifically with reference to her and her boyfriend's shared save file on Super Mario Galaxy.

Although things start well with sharing the game -- switching off every other planet, and dividing play-time equally -- the plan goes a bit haywire when she visits home for Thanksgiving, and her beau just keeps on playing... and beats the game without her.

Of course, we think the answer is obvious: separate save files for separate people. Single-player games are hard to turn into shared experiences, especially when both parties desire equal play-time. Read about Katie's upsetting experience on gaming with a significant other, and share your own success/horror stories below.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>boyfriendscouplesgirlfriendsrelationshipssuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyScott Jon Siegel2007-11-29T08:30:00+00:00GameTrailers compares Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshinehttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/gametrailers-compares-super-mario-galaxy-and-super-mario-sunshin/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/gametrailers-compares-super-mario-galaxy-and-super-mario-sunshin/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/gametrailers-compares-super-mario-galaxy-and-super-mario-sunshin/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bad news, friends of the Lumas. After an extra week of reviews, Super Mario Galaxy has slipped to the number two spot on GameRankings, returning a certain ocarina-wielding Hylian to his long-held number one spot.

To commemorate the super-duper astroplumber's brief stint as king of all videogames, GameTrailers has whipped up a graphical comparison between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine, the last of the home console Mario games. It's common knowledge that the Wii is just two Gamecubes duct taped together, does this mean Galaxy equals two Sunshines? You tell us.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>NintendoSuper-Mario-GalaxySuper-Mario-SunshineSuperMarioGalaxySuperMarioSunshineWiiGriffin McElroy2007-11-24T15:15:00+00:00Joystiq Holidaze: The $500 budgethttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/joystiq-holidaze-the-500-budget/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/joystiq-holidaze-the-500-budget/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/joystiq-holidaze-the-500-budget/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Derived from the French word, "budgette," the term "budget" rose out of the stale and hardened bread loaves used to beat errant children over the head whenever they begged for money to spend at the candy store. Indeed, the adherence to a budget often feels like a sudden blow when surrounded by the objects of your desire, and it is this article's duty to keep you in check when finances are less than fortuitous. When it comes to purchasing a new console, let us hover the bread over your head.

In other, less interesting words, this is how we think you should spend your precious $500 (pre-tax for simplicity's sake) on the trio of current consoles. You know, the ones that are still expensive. In conjunction with our Black Friday deal round-up, you might just be left with some change.
Sony Playstation 3
  • Console: 40GB model, includes Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray -- $400
With a more palatable price and a handful of worthwhile exclusives, the PlayStation 3 need no longer include a straitjacket with every purchase. Of course, the supply of stylish insanity garments has since been diverted to the department that okayed the removal of PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility, but the system's solid modern library and its robust set of media capabilities still make it a good fit for hardcore gamers. Major publishers like Ubisoft and Activision are now delivering their multiplatform games on time (though a few stragglers remain) and without glaring technical discrepancies between PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

Don't let detractors downplay the system's superb media functionalities either. Regardless of what prompts you to buy a PS3 in the first place, know that all of its features are there for you to use. If you enjoy movies, go ahead and pick up some Blu-ray films (you get five films free through this offer!). Don't let a silly format war between massive corporations stop you from enjoying yourself today -- your discs aren't going to spontaneously evaporate when you aren't looking.
  • Thingamabob: HDMI Cable -- $20
Yes, we know. How does a system that's branded up the wazoo with "High Definition" fail to include any HD-capable cables? Display extraordinary wisdom by picking up an HDMI cable of a decent length and with good connectors. Don't let retail monsters swallow up your cash with fancy tri-dimensional, dilithium-infused $100 cables either. The signal passing through the wire is digital -- either the 1s and 0s make it to the other side or they don't. Don't worry, your 1080p placebos will look just fine on a cheaper cable.
Naughty Dog's archaeological romp through the jungle is the very embodiment of what Sony hopes to deliver with the PlayStation 3. Uncharted's exceptional production values and cinematic flair certainly make a strong case for Sony's technology push, but the meshing of several genres and the likable nature of leading man Drake, root it in the realm of superb games.


Sign up to the PlayStation Network (it's free!) and download this omni-directional shooter from Jonathan Mak. We could tell you about the Game Developer's Choice awards it's won, but a more effective description goes like this: If REZ was a top-down shooter, it would be this game.



Another dual-analog shooter, but one not nearly as musically inclined or relaxed as Everyday Shooter. Super Stardust HD revels in chaos and glitz, tasking you with blasting apart killer asteroids. Oh, and how magnificently they break into bits and pieces before your eyes!

Total: $493

Got some spare change? Save it for:
  • Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
  • Assassin's Creed
  • Call of Duty 4
  • Heavenly Sword

Microsoft Xbox 360

Serious gamers likely don't need much justification for purchasing Microsoft's sphere-branded system, but here it is anyway: Seamless integration of online play into all the games that support it, a platform-wide achievement system that challenges you to play games in different ways, and a considerable number of excellent third-party games and exclusives. With the latest models featuring the improved Falcon chipsets, the appalling failure rate of the Xbox 360 should theoretically be a thing of the past. And theoretically, there's no difference between theory and practice... but in practice there usually is. So, umm, just hope for the best and hold on to that 3-year warranty, yeah?

Go Pro to get all the goods you need, including a 20GB hard drive, a headset, ethernet cable, wireless controller and a month of Xbox Live Gold. The package also includes free copies of racing sim Forza 2 and super-heroic clobberfest, Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
BioWare's space opera excels in cinematic storytelling, dipping into the 360's innards like an ink pot sustaining thousands of pages of sci-fi scribbles. Mass Effect may not be at its most elegant during the shooty bits (think Gears of WaRPG), but we're big proponents of technology being used to craft immersive worlds and believable characters. Get lost in it.


Drowning in atmosphere and swimming in... wait, you can't be drowning and swimming at the same time, can you? The beautifully realized (but ultimately sinister) underwater city of BioShock is messing with our ability to construct proper sentences. Perhaps we're better off by just saying it's a phenomenal and deeply engaging first-person shooter, filled with great moments and particularly intriguing villains.

There honestly hasn't been a truly great title on Xbox Live Arcade in a while, but Puzzle Quest comes recommended if you haven't had a chance to succumb to its polite puzzle wiles on other platforms. For a game that has you traipsing across the kingdom to battle all sorts of beasts, it's surprisingly cerebral and laid back.



If dashing about suspiciously narrow mazes and hurling bombs at you friends doesn't suit your interests, we have startling information to share with you: You are not human.




Yeah, this one's a joke. Go ahead and download Toyota's abysmal advergame for a laugh, watching it hit every single pothole on the road to good game design before driving off a cliff, Thelma & Louise style. At the very least, it'll answer that burning question you've always had: "What would happen if somebody replaced Sonic with a Toyota in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 special stages?"

Total: $495

Got some spare change? Save it for:
  • Assassin's Creed
  • Call of Duty 4
  • Halo 3
  • The Orange Box
  • An Xbox Live Gold Membership

Nintendo Wii

  • Console: Wii, includes Wii Sports -- $250
As you're currently reading Joystiq.com and not GamingWithGrandma.com (don't bother, that link doesn't work... yet), don't expect us to ensnare you lot with the Wiimote's casual gamer lasso -- casual gamers don't read us. We know you like good games though, and the Wii most definitely has them. It took developers almost a year to ditch their minigame meh-stravaganzas and embrace more subtle motion controls, but the Wii's price and first-party library are compelling reasons to shake hands with Mr. Waggle. And hey, playing Tennis with your grandma is a nice bonus (just make sure she's still alive before you serve).
  • Thingamabob: Component cables -- $30
The letters "H" & "D" may not be part of the Wii's alphabet, but that doesn't mean you have to put up with the sub-par visuals spat out by the included composite cables. If the image transmitted between the Wii and your television was a slab of meat, think of composite cables as a trip through the meat grinder and into a bucket, the contents of which end up splattered randomly across a white wall. Say "No!" to color bleeding and fuzziness and get component cables -- it'll make a difference even on your standard TV set (provided it has the right inputs).
  • Thingamabob + Game: Wii Play (includes Wii Remote) -- $50
For $10 less than a Wiimote and Nunchuck combo, you get a collection of vaguely amusing minigames. Certainly not a terrible deal, especially considering that the only two-player game in this list that requires a nunchuck is Wii Boxing -- consider it technically knocked out.



Oh please, like this one needs an elaborate, self-indulgent paragraph!






If our words could somehow transform into hands flying out of your monitor, we'd write things like, "We'll keep throttling you until you purchase this delightful game!" As charming and inventive and clever as Capcom's pirate puzzler is, it's obviously destined to become buried in this holiday's crushing glut of games. It might as well be transparent, standing on a street corner while it (and fans of the game) claw at passersby, asking for just a morsel of attention. Don't you dare ignore it, or we'll get serious about inventing that text-to-strangulation technology.
Metroid Prime's moody exploration returns for the third time, this time wrapped in a more immediate story and dipped in pure adrenaline. It still boasts the wonderfully detailed worlds the series is loved for, but the intuitive and responsive controls allow for some action-packed showdowns with long-time villains and those duplicitous doppelgangers Samus is always having trouble with. MP3 is music to our ears one of the best first-person shooters (yes, this one's definitely a shooter) you'll play this year... and that's saying something in the year 2007.
  • Retro Game: Super Mario Bros. 3 -- $5
It could just be that we're getting lazy on this end of the article, but seriously. We have to explain why one of the greatest games ever is worth revisiting on Nintendo's Virtual Console service? We thought not.

Total: $475

Got some spare change? Save it for:
  • Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
  • Trauma Center: New Blood
  • Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
  • A Classic Controller

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>BioShockHolidashHolidazeMassEffectMetroidPrime3SuperMarioGalaxyUnchartedZackandWikiLudwig Kietzmann2007-11-21T23:00:00+00:00Super Mario Galaxy soars with 500k units sold in US first weekhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/super-mario-galaxy-soars-with-500k-units-sold-in-us-first-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/super-mario-galaxy-soars-with-500k-units-sold-in-us-first-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/super-mario-galaxy-soars-with-500k-units-sold-in-us-first-week/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nintendo stated Super Mario Galaxy sold a half million units during its first week in the US. According to George "packing up his office" Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vp of marketing, Super Mario Galaxy has the strongest first week sales of any Mario game ever.

The critical acclaim would seem to say that Super Mario Galaxy deserves all the sales it's getting. We also know that Galaxy sold 250k units its first week in Japan. Oh Mario, you just know how to print money.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>salessupermariogalaxyAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-21T09:50:00+00:00Assassin's Creed tops UK chartshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/assassins-creed-tops-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/assassins-creed-tops-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/assassins-creed-tops-uk-charts/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ubisoft's parkour piece man sim, Assassin's Creed, has scurried to the top of the UK sales charts, bumping off Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in the process. GamesIndustry.biz reports that the Xbox 360 version gathered 67% of total sales, with the PlayStation 3 edition accounting for 43% 62% the rest. The speedy commercial success also made Altair's anachronistic adventure the fastest-selling new IP since 2002's The Getaway.

In other fastest-selling title news, Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy managed a number five spot, flying off shelves faster than any other Wii title before it. But what of the games in-between the portly plumber and the murderous flag gatherer? The aforementioned Call of Duty 4 wound up in second place, The Simpsons Game in third and WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 in fourth.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Assassins-CreedAssassinsCreedMarioSuperMarioGalaxyUbisoftLudwig Kietzmann2007-11-20T19:58:00+00:00Super Mario Galaxy highest rated game of all timehttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/super-mario-galaxy-highest-rated-game-of-all-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/super-mario-galaxy-highest-rated-game-of-all-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/super-mario-galaxy-highest-rated-game-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: ,

Despite certain reviews that highlight the game's flaws, Super Mario Galaxy is currently the highest rated game of all time on Game Rankings. The aeronautical plumber surpassed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time by the skin of his pearly Italian teeth, with an average score of 97.8 percent from 30 reviews to Zelda's 97.6 percent from 31 reviews.

While all it would take is one less-than-flattering review to knock the game from its pedestal, we're sure Mario's position on top of the dog pile is enough to give Wii owners and Nintendo fanboys something to gloat about. That is, until M&M's Kart Racing inevitably seizes the throne.

[Thanks, Rubang B]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>MarioNintendoSuper-Mario-GalaxySuperMarioGalaxyWiiGriffin McElroy2007-11-17T15:05:00+00:00Mario brings his sexy back at 'Galaxy' launch partyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/mario-brings-his-sexy-back-at-galaxy-launch-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/mario-brings-his-sexy-back-at-galaxy-launch-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/mario-brings-his-sexy-back-at-galaxy-launch-party/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"That's a real nice ass," blurted the DJ as Mario jiggled his backside in front of a Super Mario Galaxy backdrop. The scene was something out of "Mario's Bar Mitzvah," CAG's Wombat observed inside a crowded lot adjacent to New York's Nintendo World Store where an awkward clash of tweens, performing impromptu dance routines to yesterday's Top 40, and bundled-up twenty-somethings merged in the dwindling hours of a chilly Sunday night. Despite a Velcro wall and bungee run, some laser lights, and an abundance of Mario-equipped Wii kiosks, the Galaxy launch party never escalated into the full-on carnival that Nintendo had envisioned -- next time, don't forget the funnel cake.

The ringleader was too disoriented to command the crowd, perhaps punchy (it gets hot in those suits) as he latched on to an attractive mom. Urged by the DJ to bring his sexy back, we couldn't fault Mario for his diverted interest. But is it really cougar hunting season already?

Gallery: Super Mario Galaxy launch (Nintendo World Store)

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>mario-galaxynintendo-world-storenintendoworldstoresuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyJames Ransom-Wiley2007-11-12T16:30:00+00:00New games this week: Super Mario Galaxy editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/new-games-this-week-super-mario-galaxy-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/new-games-this-week-super-mario-galaxy-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/new-games-this-week-super-mario-galaxy-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


See, now this is where it gets punishing. Kiss your poor wallet "Adios!" friends, because we're staring down the barrel of a really tough week. Sure, there's Super Mario Galaxy, and it's an easy choice for the featured pick (much like Baby, nobody puts the plumber in the corner). But he's also got an insane lineup of hot titles on his heels, including Crysis, Assassin's Creed, BlackSite: Area 51, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. And there's ... more. You can check out the full list after the break, you poor, soon-to-be-broke sap -- it may just be the last time you can do so before your computer gets repossessed.

Xbox 360:
  • Assassin's Creed
  • BlackSite: Area 51
  • Beowulf: The Game
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Monster Jam
  • Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back
  • America's Army: True Soldiers
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
Xbox Live Arcade:
  • Screwjumper
PS3:
  • Assassin's Creed
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Beowulf: The Game
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
  • Uncharted Drake's Fortune
Nintendo Wii:
  • Super Mario Galaxy
  • Geometry Wars: Galaxies
  • Cars: Mater National
  • Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis
  • Medal of Honor Heroes 2
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Petz Catz 2
  • Petz Horsez 2
  • Petz Dogz 2
  • Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
  • Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles
  • Tomb Raider Anniversary
  • Smarty Pants
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
Virtual Console:
  • Volleyball
  • Axelay
  • Blue's Journey
PS2:
  • Dragon Ball Z: Bodokai Tenkaichi 3
  • Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
  • Boogie
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • King of Fighters XI
  • Monster Jam
  • Petz Catz 2
  • Petz Horsez 2
  • Petz Dogz 2
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
PSP:
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus
  • Sonic Rivals 2
  • Medal of Honor Heroes 2
  • Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
  • Warhammer 40,000 Squad Command
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
Nintendo DS:
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
  • Contra 4
  • Baby Pals
  • Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: Imaginary Invaders
  • Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends
  • Monster Jam
  • Jenga
  • Petz Catz 2
  • Petz Horsez 2
  • Petz Dogz 2
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Orcs & Elves
  • Petz Hamsterz Life 2
  • Impossible Mission
  • Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
  • WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2008
  • Strawberry Shortcake: 4 Seasons Cake
  • Word Jong
  • Super Fruit Fall
PC Games:
  • Crysis
  • Beowulf: The Game
  • BlackSite: Area 51
  • EA Sports 07 Collection
  • Everquest: Secrets of Faydwer
  • Everquest II: Rise of Kunark
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
  • Need for Speed Pro Street
  • Imagine: Fashion Designer
  • Petz Catz 2
  • Petz Horsez 2
  • Petz Dogz 2
  • Next Life
  • Sim City Societies
  • Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>newgamespsn-thursdaysupermariogalaxyvirtualconsolemondayxblawednesdayJustin McElroy2007-11-12T08:05:00+00:00Miyamoto talks Super Mario Galaxy co-ophttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/miyamoto-talks-super-mario-galaxy-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/miyamoto-talks-super-mario-galaxy-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/miyamoto-talks-super-mario-galaxy-co-op/#commentsFiled under:


Nintendo's corporate Wii site has an "interview" between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and Nintendo guru Shigeru Miyamoto, meaning it's not exactly the most authentic conversation you'll read this decade. There is, however, something interesting about Miyamoto's ideas on co-op in Super Mario Galaxy.

Now, if you read it on the American Wii site the headline is "Cooperative Game Play, a Secular Challenge," while on the British site it's "The Old Issue of Two-Player Play." Either way, Miyamoto explains that Galaxy was originally going to have more cooperative elements (like the second person might have controlled jumping, for instance), but a player would only end up getting in the other's way. By having the second player collecting things on screen and being able to point at objects, Miyamoto envisions parents being able to play with their children and the generations assisting each other in the experience. Considering Mario has always been a solo experience (or a player-at-bat concept), it'll be nice to have a friend or significant other be able to do something other than watch. It's a subtle co-op design choice, but one we can see other games picking up if it works.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>coopiwatamiyamotosuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-08T21:30:00+00:00Super Mario Galaxy party at NYC Nintendo World Store this Sundayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-party-at-nyc-nintendo-world-store-this-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-party-at-nyc-nintendo-world-store-this-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-party-at-nyc-nintendo-world-store-this-sunday/#commentsFiled under:


Hey New Yorkers, what'cha doing this Sunday evening? Watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Oh, you're watching "football"? Wait, is that the same thing as Madden? Nevertheless, you'll want to ask the TiVo to take care of your teevee and instead head over to the Nintendo World Store at 10 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City (yes, the same place that had the Phantom Hourglass event about a month ago) for a special Super Mario Galaxy launch event. Here's the details, as just shared with us by the Big N:

Festivities include a DJ, dancers, a Velcro wall, a bungee run, a trivia contest, a laser light show inside the building (we imagine it will be preceded by a Nintendo safety warning, so epileptics, stay at home), Mario himself (no word on Dr. Buzz Aldrin), and 250 Wii systems for the chronically Wii-less masses out there.

The shindig starts at 8pm, but that don't mean you shouldn't get there earlier; they'll close at 10pm and reopen again at midnight when the game officially goes on sale (for those of you who don't already have it). The 'stiq oughta be there, what about you?

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>NintendoWorldStoreNYCSuper-Mario-GalaxySuperMarioGalaxyChristopher Grant2007-11-08T14:58:00+00:00Super Mario Galaxy sells 250K first week in Japanhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-sells-250k-first-week-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-sells-250k-first-week-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/super-mario-galaxy-sells-250k-first-week-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,


Super Mario Galaxy, also known as the game Wii owners have been waiting for, is #1 on the Japanese sales charts. Galaxy sold a quarter million units its first week of release. But, but, but "Teh Haloz" sold much more than that the fanboys will scream. Yes, but that's a launch in the US and we're talking about one island in the Pacific currently. A quarter million units in the first week is a good start.

The Galaxy sales were equal to the rest of the top ten selling games combined. The full top ten list by Media Create can be found after the break. November will certainly be an interesting month to see the NPD numbers in the States ... oh right, that might not happen.

1. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
2. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (360) -- *gasp* We know, right?
3. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)
4. Super Robot Wars Scramble Commander the 2nd (PS2)
5. DS Literature Collection (DS)
6. DS Nishimura Kyotarou Suspense Detective Series: Deadly Intent (DS)
7. Wii Sports (Wii)
8. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS)
9. World Soccer Winning Eleven DS: Goal to Goal (DS)
10. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>galaxymariomariogalaxynintendosupermariogalaxywiiAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-08T09:47:00+00:00Metareview: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/metareview-super-mario-galaxy-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/metareview-super-mario-galaxy-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/metareview-super-mario-galaxy-wii/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Super Mario Galaxy might not be out until next week but all the reviews are pretty much in. It's a hit with the critics! According to almost every review it is the game Wii owners have been waiting for (but please don't forget about Zack and Wiki, if only for the sake of third-party support). Galaxy is apparently the evolution of the platformer and Wii owners will only need to wait a little bit longer -- unless they get lucky.
  • Game Informer (98/100): "Galaxy also makes great use of the Wii's motion-sensing controls. While Mario's general movement is handled beautifully on the nunchuk's analog stick, many feats require a shake of the remote or a steady pointing hand. If you have a second Wii remote, you can also experience one of the coolest and most inventive non-traditional co-op modes in any game. The second player doesn't control a character, but rather a star. This player can pick up collectible items, and can also freeze enemies or projectiles in their tracks, which can be a great aid."
  • GameSpot (95/100): "You could probably swap in just about any other characters from practically any other franchise, and this would still be a phenomenally fun game. That it layers all these memorable characters and components on top of that phenomenal design just makes it all the sweeter. If ever there were a must-own Wii game, Super Mario Galaxy is it."
  • 1UP (95/100): "Galaxy is one of the most impressive, engrossing games in recent memory -- and quite the contrast to the rest of this year's triple-A gaming crop, which tends toward the dark, the M-rated, and the first-person perspective. Gaming may be growing up (per se), but gamers will always appreciate beautifully polished gameplay and inventive design...even if it's sugarcoated with squeaky baby stars and a goofy cartoon of a hero. Galaxy proves that Mario matters just as much today as he did 25 years ago, and that makes him one of a kind in this medium. But don't play Galaxy simply because Mario is the timeless godfather of gaming. No, play Galaxy because it's fantastic.."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>mariometareviewsuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxywiiAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-08T07:00:00+00:00