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VC in Brief: California Games (C64)

David Hinkle — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST

California Games (C64, 1 - 5 players, 500 Wii Points)
We say: Check it out!

This week's release is an old favorite: California Games. Featuring an eclectic mix of sports to play (are these games all Californians know and love?), it's a game that many likely remember fondly. Well, in playing it for the first time in, oh, over 10 years, we still found it to be quite fun. Save for the roller skating game. That one is the worst.

Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks.

VC in Brief: California Games (C64) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Let the Games Continue

JC Fletcher — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

European Wii owners this week are treated to something they must have known was coming sooner or later: Epyx's Winter Games. The multi-event Olympic games seem like canonical European games of the era, and Summer Games 2 is already out. Eventually, North American gamers will get to enjoy things like this! Personally, the last time this blogger played Winter Games, it was on the Atari 7800.

Also available this week for PAL downloaders: last week's North American release, Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS. It lacks the multiplayer of the arcade game, but it's a pretty okay action game on its own, full of ridiculous attitude and 16-bit bombast. Overall, it's not the greatest week, but neither is it Urban Champion.

Winter Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points
Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points

Videos of the Games: CLIPS after the break.

Continue reading VC Friday: Let the Games Continue

VC Friday: Let the Games Continue originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Impossible Mission II on PAL Wii Shop ... FOREVER

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

We've talked about our love of Impossible Mission in a previous VC Friday, and now the PAL Wii Shop has the sequel! That we never played! Oh, happy days. If you haven't downloaded the first game, why on earth not? Beyond the crude visuals lies a highly entertaining and surprisingly atmospheric puzzle-based platformer. The sequel sounds like more of the same but with a few new robots, which is fine with us.

Meanwhile, Last Ninja 3 is the second C64 title available this week. Has it aged as poorly as the first two? Probably. It certainly looks similar in footage, though Reyn Ouwehand's soundrack still rocks our socks. Then there's Boogerman, which you really shouldn't download. Here's a video explaining why.

Last Ninja 3* -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points
Impossible Mission II* -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points
Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points

* Europe only, obviously. As usual, make the jump for videos of all three.

Gallery: Impossible Mission II (Commodore 64)

Continue reading VC Friday: Impossible Mission II on PAL Wii Shop ... FOREVER

VC Friday: Impossible Mission II on PAL Wii Shop ... FOREVER originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: A blue blur

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

A triple whammy of 500 Wii Point games this week, starting with the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog, from the days when the world loved and respected Sonic the Hedgehog. With the Mega Drive/Genesis version already available on the Virtual Console for 300 Points more, we suspect the Master System edition is for either Sonic completists or cheapskates. We fit both categories.

Then there are a couple of ye olde classics from the Commodore 64: Boulder Dash and Jumpman. The name "Jumpman" is coincidental, by the way, though the game is probably similar enough to Donkey Kong to warrant suspicion.

Sonic the Hedgehog -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points
Boulder Dash -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*
Jumpman -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*

See all three doing their thing past the break!

Continue reading VC Friday: A blue blur

VC Friday: A blue blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Ninja Dragon Games

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

A trio of games this week on the PAL Virtual Console (all of which would be dead to us if "Ninja Dragon Games" actually existed), including one we totally want, one that will probably be undeservedly overlooked in favor of the one we totally want and, um, World Games (Commodore 64), which we're entirely unfamiliar with.

The former, obviously, is Double Dragon (NES), and although we plan to download Technos' landmark game with a quickness, we feel a bit bad for The Last Ninja (Commodore 64), which deserves some attention, if only for its amazing soundtrack. Check videos of all three out after the blue words, and marvel at how barrel jumping looks ... oddly compelling.

Double Dragon -- NES -- 500 Wii Points
World Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*
The Last Ninja -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*

* Only in Europe.

Continue reading VC Friday: Ninja Dragon Games

VC Friday: Ninja Dragon Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: 'Stay a while ... Stay FOREVER'

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

"Nintendo, with this week's four Virtual Console releases you are really spoiling us!"

We feel extra special this week, because kindly old Uncle Nintendo has lavished the PAL Virtual Console (or at least the European Virtual Console) with four new titles, including another two Commodore 64 additions (both of which are cracking), and the first Master System games to reach Australia. Unusually, all four are worth a look, but Impossible Mission has a special room all of its own in this blogger's heart. As usual, there's footage of all titles past the break.

California Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*
Impossible Mission -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points*
Wonder Boy -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points
Fantasy Zone -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points

* Europe only, for now -- sorry, Aussies!

Continue reading VC Friday: 'Stay a while ... Stay FOREVER'

VC Friday: 'Stay a while ... Stay FOREVER' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Commodore 64 games coming to European VC later this year

Eric Caoili — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

We've known since late 2006 that Nintendo intended to add classic titles from the Commodore 64's library to its Virtual Console service, but Nintendo of Europe has been hesitant to reveal any concrete details until now.

According to NoE, the C64 games are only planned for release in Europe so far, and they will be available to purchase for 500 Wii Points (€5, approximately $7.35) later this year. 500 Wii Points?! That's as much as an NES release on the Wii Shop Channel!

Nintendo has already confirmed Uridium and International Karate as potential VC titles, both of which you can find video for after the post break. The 25-year-old console has a line-up of over 4,000 games to draw from, so it's guaranteed that we'll see regular C64 releases for years. Maybe this means that Nintendo will start putting out three to four Virtual Console games a week again.

Continue reading Commodore 64 games coming to European VC later this year

Commodore 64 games coming to European VC later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California Games comes to the PlayStation Network

Peter Vrabel — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Network

From the ashes of Epyx, London-based System 3 will be bringing the nostalgic California Games to both the Wii and PS3 consoles. When confirming its destination for the Wii console, CEO Mark Cale dropped word that it would also make its way to the PS3. According to Mr. Cale, "you will be able to buy it online," and "as a retail product." No word on if the title will include multiplayer over the PlayStation Network or if it will be revamped for its next-gen arrival. It would be silly to waste all that space on a Blu-Ray disc, so lets keep our fingers crossed for a bunch of extras (we secretly hope it's something other than its dreadful sequel, California Games 2). At any rate, it'll be nice to hit that silly seagull with a footbag again.

California Games comes to the PlayStation Network originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Impossible Mission to stay in Wii Shop Channel... forever!

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Action

Impossible Mission is set to be the first downloadable Wii title that doesn't run on the Virtual Console. Eurogamer reports (via Nintendo Power magazine) that the remake of the Commodore 64 platformer will be made available in the online Wii Shop channel, making it the first new(ish) visitor to Nintendo's virtual aisles. Given the inescapable nature of the in-store music, we wouldn't be surprised to see the game stay awhile or indeed, stay foreeeeeverrr.

For those unfamiliar with the title and the nefarious Professor Atombender, Impossible Mission will provide a retro mode in addition to the revamped adventure, much like the recent Jetpac Refuelled did on Xbox Live Arcade. Fight robots, keep atoms straight and sell an Xbox 360 in Japan this Summer when the game hits the Wii, PS2, PSP and DS.

Impossible Mission to stay in Wii Shop Channel... forever! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2007 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Impossible Mission remake going to Wii Shop?

JC Fletcher — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Oh, good, another one of those vague, confusing rumors we love so well! Infendo is reporting that the latest issue of Nintendo Power reveals a downloadable Wii Shop version of the Commodore 64 classic Impossible Mission. Infendo seemed to think that the Wii Shop version would be the same as the DS remake. However, the resulting NeoGAF thread made the situation seem a lot less clear.

Apparently, publisher System 3 also plans to release a retail disc of Impossible Mission. It would be kind of weird to release the same game on disc and the Wii Shop, right? But it would also be weird to release the exact same game for Wii and DS. After all, the DS is not the PSP. So, with no real information to go on, let's do some speculatin'! Here are all the possibilities we can think of:

The same game is coming out for both the Wii and DS. Unlikely.
The DS game will be downloadable on the Wii, and will release concurrently with a separate Wii version.
The DS and Wii remakes will be separate and accompanied by a Virtual Console release of the C64 original. This seems more plausible.
LIES!

Rumor: Impossible Mission remake going to Wii Shop? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More info on PSP's Impossible Mission

Steven Bailey — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

When we first wrote about Impossible Mission we were told it would be out in January and wouldn't be in 3D. Well, it's past January and the game isn't out yet and now we know it'll include some 3D objects. What other new info is there on Impossible Mission?

You play a secret agent trying to stop the evil Profesor Elvin Atombender
Players sneak into Atombender's base and try to collect parts of the system password
You must avoid Atombender's deadly robots in a race against time
The game will feature new graphics, new sound effects, new music
There are 3 main characters to choose from
There is a tutorial mode now to help new players learn how to play the classic
There are now 3 game modes: new, original and hybrid (old gameplay with updated graphics)
The PSP version will allow players to send a full version of the game to another PSP owner wirelessly so they can try Impossible Mission for themselves
Epyx now expects to have the game available before the end of quarter two

[Via DCEmu]

More info on PSP's Impossible Mission originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calling all C64 fans: Impossible Mission screens

JC Fletcher — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens, Imports

Here's something we still don't believe we're seeing: a DS remake of the Commodore 64 hit Impossible Mission. And judging from the character art, it casts players in the role of Almost Keanu Reeves But Just Edited Enough That Hopefully Nobody Gets Sued. We love that guy!

The game involves searching for password components in randomly-generated rooms, then using those passwords in control rooms, while avoiding enemies and manipulating platforms with computer terminals.

This was supposed to release in January, and didn't, but at least it still appears to exist! We don't know if this will get released outside of Europe, since Commodore fandom is a mostly Euro phenomenon. European fanboys: how do you feel about C64 remakes on the DS? And how off the mark were we with our description of the game?

We've included a few screens after the break.

Continue reading Calling all C64 fans: Impossible Mission screens

Calling all C64 fans: Impossible Mission screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eidos acquires mobile developer Rockpool Games

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:23:00 EST

Filed under: Portable, Wireless, Business

Under the Eidos label, UK publisher SCi has acquired Manchester-based mobile developer Rockpool Games along with sister companies Ironstone Partners and SoGoPlay. The 36 members of Rockpool's staff will join Eidos' New Media division, which was established in 2003 to pursue, in part, a mobile gaming strategy; and has since produced iterations of Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Championship Manager. "We believe that the global market for mobile games is set to grow considerably over the next few years from around US $3 billion in 2006 to US $10 billion in 2009," said SCi chief exec Jane Cavanagh.

Rockpool is previously responsible for mobile versions of Worms, MotoGP (pictured), and TOCA Race Driver. Ironstone Partners is the company's licensing division and also manages the Epyx back catalog (California Games, Impossible Mission), while SoGoPlay develops casual games for mobile and PC platforms.

Eidos acquires mobile developer Rockpool Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C64 games to hit Virtual Console

Alisha Karabinus — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

For those of you out there who fill your hobby hours with finding new and innovative ways to bring Commodore 64 games to new platforms (like the DS), we're sorry. Epyx is trying to trump you. On the bright side, at least we can enjoy some old school action on the Virtual Console. Epyx was responsible for a long list of titles in the eighties, and since there's no confirmation on precisely what they'll be offering on the Virtual Console ... that's right, it's speculation time. What would you shell out five bucks for?

If you need us, we'll be busy practicing our Hot Doggin' in anticipation of Winter Games.

C64 games to hit Virtual Console originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epyx returns to PSP

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

The retro compilations keep on coming to the PSP. If the Genesis-era of gaming is still too new for you, then you'll be glad to know that the popular line of Commodore 64 games published by Epyx are making a comeback. Impossible Mission will hit in January and California Games will follow in May. The Last Ninja trilogy will be making a comeback as well. Although these games will be remakes, they won't be 3D:

"You gotta keep the gameplay mechanics the same or else it ceases to be the original game and you're only using the game brand to sell games," Kale (System 3 founder) said. "It ceases to be Impossible Mission or California Games or what have you. ... What we're doing is we're incorporating the original gameplay and mechanics and bringing the gameplay up to date."

The remakes will also be available on the DS and Nintendo Wii.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Epyx returns to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epyx back on DS, Wii

David Hinkle — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console, Controller

Development studio System 3 has scored rights to the old Epyx library of games and is already planning to bring popular titles Impossible Mission and California Games to the DS and PSP. Impossible Mission is due to grace the handhelds in January, while California Games will release in May including unlockable content in the form of older titles Winter Games and Summer Games. While these games will be remakes of their original, dust-covered cousins, System 3's founder Mark Kale said they will not be updated to 3D.

"You gotta keep the gameplay mechanics the same or else it ceases to be the original game and you're only using the game brand to sell games," Kale said. "It ceases to be Impossible Mission or California Games or what have you. ...What we're doing is we're incorporating the original gameplay and mechanics and bringing the gameplay up to date."

Kale also noted that versions of these remakes are also planned to release on the Wii, which he was quick to say had the ideal control scheme for these games. We assume the games will be sold independently via Nintendo's Virtual Console service, however the piece makes no mention of distribution plans.

Epyx back on DS, Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epyx back on DS, Wii

David Hinkle — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

Epyx back on DS, Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Aug 2006 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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