Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Punch-Out!! exclusive to one retailer in Australia, Excitebots excluded entirely]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/punch-out-exclusive-to-one-retailer-in-australia-excitebots-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/punch-out-exclusive-to-one-retailer-in-australia-excitebots-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/punch-out-exclusive-to-one-retailer-in-australia-excitebots-e/#commentsDemand for upcoming first-party Wii games doesn't seem to be high in Australia -- and if it is, it just means a lot of people are about to be disappointed. Nintendo Australia managing director Rose Lappin told Kotaku AU that Aussie gamers can expect Punch-Out!! in stores late August, but only if those stores are JB Hi-Fi locations.

"To be honest we didn't have a lot of requests for the game," Lappin said. "There's a few people ... there's a lot of noise but not a lot of sales, that sort of thing." JB Hi-Fi, Lappin suggested, was the only retailer that showed significant interest.

But at least Punch-Out!! is getting some kind of release. Not so for Excitebots, which won't come out in Australia at all. Lappin told Kotaku AU that there just wasn't enough demand for the game from retailers or consumers.

JoystiqPunch-Out!! exclusive to one retailer in Australia, Excitebots excluded entirely originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaexcitebotsmonster-gamesnext-level-gamespunch-outTue, 14 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyswag: Excitebots (with Wii Wheel) [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/joyswag-excitebots-with-wii-wheel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/joyswag-excitebots-with-wii-wheel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/joyswag-excitebots-with-wii-wheel/#comments
Update: Giveaway has come to a close. Keep an eye on your inbox!

It's that time again, folks, as we're set to gift one lucky reader with an Excitebots bundle (ARV $50)! This bundle comes with the game, and a Wii Wheel, so you won't be forced to play holding your Wiimote only like some kind of chump. Show your friends how lucky you are how awesome the site you frequent on a regular basis is by winning this Wii game starring robotic frogs, turtles, and ladybugs. But, before you enter, make sure you check out the rules below.
  • Leave a comment telling us what animal would make the perfect robotic racer
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
  • Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day
  • This entry period ends at 11:59 am ET on Monday, May 25
  • At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Excitebots Trick Racing (with Wii Wheel) for Wii ($50)
  • For a list of complete rules, click here

JoystiqJoyswag: Excitebots (with Wii Wheel) [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 May 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitebots-trick-racingjoyswagracingwii-wheelTue, 19 May 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Excitebots has slow sales start in April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/excitebots-has-slow-sales-start-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/excitebots-has-slow-sales-start-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/excitebots-has-slow-sales-start-in-april/#comments
Someone call Benjamin Jahveri, Excitebots is in rough shape. During the 10 days the racer was available in April, it managed to move just 13,000 copies, according to the NPD. To give some perspective, more mature Wii titles MadWorld and House of the Dead: Overkill were able to move 66,000 and 45,000 units respectively in their first 20 days.

This is purely just our observation, but did the hype machine seem a little weak for Excitebots? We can't recall seeing much in the way of marketing for the game, but honestly ... we don't get out much.

JoystiqExcitebots has slow sales start in April originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitetruckmonster-gamesFri, 15 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Review: Excitebots: Trick Racing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/joystiq-review-excitebots-trick-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/joystiq-review-excitebots-trick-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/joystiq-review-excitebots-trick-racing/#comments
At first glimpse, Excitebots: Trick Racing is very different from its Wii launch title predecessor, Excite Truck. However, the more time you spend diggin into the races, the more the two games start blurring together. Aside from the gigantic, robotic animals you're racing as and the quirky, brief mini-games you'll partake in mid-race, these are pretty much the same games, with the same problems.

Note: If you want to skip the text and watch a video review for the game, click here.

Gallery: ExciteBots: Trick Racing

Continue reading Joystiq Review: Excitebots: Trick Racing

JoystiqJoystiq Review: Excitebots: Trick Racing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitebots-trick-racingmonster-gamesNintendoWiiWed, 22 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[ExciteBots uses real-time pie-in-the-face technology]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/excitebots-uses-real-time-pie-in-the-face-technology/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/excitebots-uses-real-time-pie-in-the-face-technology/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/excitebots-uses-real-time-pie-in-the-face-technology/#commentsExciteBots: Trick Racing is certainly not a realistic "simulation" racing game. However, it's not a kart racer either. As this trailer demonstrates, its long, straightforward track designs and high speeds make it seem most similar to an F-Zero-like futuristic racing game. Except for the mid-race sandwich-making and giant clown face.

Yes, in addition to the basic high-speed racing, the trailer gives us a look at the minigames involved. They're actually integrated into the race rather than separate events, and most of them are simply played by driving into them. And they are weird. We didn't realize how much we wanted to make a race car (which is also a mechanical insect) swing from a bar in the middle of a race, but it's a lot.

Continue reading ExciteBots uses real-time pie-in-the-face technology

JoystiqExciteBots uses real-time pie-in-the-face technology originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitebots-trick-racingmonster-gamesracingsandwichTue, 10 Mar 2009 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's the ExciteBox for ExciteBots: Trick Racing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/heres-the-excitebox-for-excitebots-trick-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/heres-the-excitebox-for-excitebots-trick-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/heres-the-excitebox-for-excitebots-trick-racing/#commentsOrange Lounge Radio found (what it identifies as) boxart and a retail game description for ExciteBots: Trick Racing, the apparent sequel to ExciteTruck, and ... well, we foresee some of our readers getting pretty angry -- like the people who expected Monster Games' next title to be an F-Zero update. While ExciteTruck may not have been the deepest racing simulation, Nintendo and developer Monster Games have gone even further in the kid-oriented/casual direction. How much further?

ExciteBots is a party racing game starring animal-shaped robots, in which minigames pop up during races. "You won't believe your eyes when you find yourself shooting goals, throwing pies and even playing poker in the middle of racing robotic animals and insects around off-road tracks," the blurb says. If you were expecting something a bit more ... realistic, this is going to be DisappointBots for you. As for us, 6-player online racing combined with a party game? We're on board.

GameStop reveals a few further details about the game's release: according to listings on the retailer's site, ExciteBots will be sold both in a $39.99 standalone edition and a $49.99 Wii Wheel bundle.

Continue reading Here's the ExciteBox for ExciteBots: Trick Racing

JoystiqHere's the ExciteBox for ExciteBots: Trick Racing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitebots-trick-racingmonster-gamesracingTue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Excitebots: Trick Racing rolls onto Wii April 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/excitebots-trick-racing-rolls-onto-wii-april-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/excitebots-trick-racing-rolls-onto-wii-april-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/excitebots-trick-racing-rolls-onto-wii-april-20/#comments
If you've ever wished, as we have, that the Battle Bots could work their differences out in a more peaceful fashion, you'll be happy to hear that Nintendo has just announced that Excitebots: Trick Racing will be headed to the Wii on April 20.

Now as for what, exactly, Excitebots: Trick Racing is, we're a little sketchy. We know it uses the Wii Wheel, "builds on the Excitebike and Excite Truck franchises" and contains "elements that make it one of the more unique racing games on the market." So, still a lot of questions at this point, but, for a time at least, there will be peace in the robot world. Isn't that the important thing?

[Image]

JoystiqExcitebots: Trick Racing rolls onto Wii April 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebotsexcitebots-trick-racingnintendoWiiThu, 26 Feb 2009 09:10:00 EST