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/Wii-white Gamecube controller releasing in Japanhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/wii-white-gamecube-controller-releasing-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/wii-white-gamecube-controller-releasing-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/wii-white-gamecube-controller-releasing-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nintendo has announced via its Japanese website that a Wii-white Gamecube controller is due for release this month ... in Japan. Looks like the old controller still has some manufacturing life left in it yet, too bad we can't get any more wireless Wavebird controllers.

We've contacted Nintendo of America to find out if the controllers are expected in North America. Call us what you will (which will probably be "lazy") but we simply wish that Nintendo would make a second generation Wavebird controller that's fully compatible with the Wii.

[Via GoNintendo]

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]]>controllergamecubewavebirdwhitewiiAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-09T13:30:00+00:00Non-Wiimote controls limited for Mario Kart Wiihttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/non-wiimote-controls-limited-for-mario-kart-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/non-wiimote-controls-limited-for-mario-kart-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/non-wiimote-controls-limited-for-mario-kart-wii/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click to enlarge

Fans of alternate Wii control schemes were obviously psyched when it was revealed that Mario Kart Wii would support a variety of control methods, including the Wii Classic Controller and Gamecube pad. But those fans might want to scale back their expectations, as an updated game fact sheet (posted on Nintendo's press site) claims that players who don't use the Wii Remote schemes will not be able to perform "certain moves" and "some maneuvers."

What maneuvers exactly? We're not quite sure, but the new mid-air tricks probably aren't among them -- A Link to the Future notes that an IGN preview specifically mentions Classic and Gamecube controller users can hit the d-pad to perform those. We find it hard to imagine that the plethora of joysticks and buttons on the alternate control schemes can't replicate the controls of the somewhat button-free design of the Wii Remote. Could this be an effort to encourage more use of the practically useless 'extremely useful' Wii Wheel? You'll know as soon as we do.

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii



From the fact sheet:

Control: Mario Kart Wii is compatible with four different control schemes, so players can customize how they want to play:
  • Wii Remote Controller (with or without Wii Wheel): Steer by tilting the Wii Remote left and right. Or snap the Wii Remote into the Wii Wheel to transform it into a steering wheel for an intuitive, motion-based control scheme.

  • Nunchuk Controller: Steer with the Control Stick on the Nunchuk and use the Wii Remote to accelerate, perform tricks and drift.

  • Classic Controller: Mario Kart veterans can let their thumbs do the driving with the Classic Controller. However, players cannot perform certain moves with this control scheme.

  • Nintendo GameCube[TM] Controller: Experienced Mario Kart fans may also enjoy this familiar scheme, although some maneuvers cannot be performed.

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]]>classic-controllergamecubemario-kartmario-kart-wiiwii-remotewii-wheelwiimoteKyle Orland2008-04-02T11:30:00+00:00Classic Melee stages returning in Smash Bros. Brawlhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/classic-melee-stages-returning-in-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/classic-melee-stages-returning-in-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/classic-melee-stages-returning-in-smash-bros-brawl/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Players intimidated by the chaotic, hazard-heavy stages of Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be delighted to hear that several classic stages will be returning from Smash Bros. Melee. Pictured above, the Temple stage is the only one officially announced, though director Masahiro Sakurai promises "a number" of stages from the Gamecube title (a few of the original N64 states couldn't hurt either, but there's no word on whether or not that's even a possibility).

In other news, next Monday is December 3, otherwise known as the former release date of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As this date has been slowly approaching, we here at Joystiq have noticed that the daily Brawl updates have lacked any startling new information. The last character announced was back in October, meaning that Brawl's blog is definitely overdue for some earth-shattering information. Perhaps Nintendo is holding off to make an announcement on the day we all expected to get our Brawl on? Maybe, maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

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]]>brawlgamecubemeleenintendosmash-bros-brawlsmash-bros-meleesmashbrosbrawlsmashbrosmeleesorassbbssbmwiiScott Jon Siegel2007-11-30T14:03:00+00:00Gary Coleman's GameCube for sale on eBayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/gary-colemans-selling-his-gamecube-on-ebay/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/gary-colemans-selling-his-gamecube-on-ebay/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/gary-colemans-selling-his-gamecube-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,


In case the recent video of Buzz Aldrin snuggling in zero gravity with a guy in a Mario costume wasn't enough proof, here's another piece of evidence that proves, given enough time, the house always wins. The Gamecube belonging to one Gary Coleman, star of the small screen, is now up for grabs on eBay. Yeah, the GameCube, the same system you can get for a song and an egg salad sandwich at your local GameStop.

Of course, this listing doesn't just teach us a valuable lesson about life. We also learn that at one point, Gary Coleman purchased Robots. So, you know, maybe getting rid of his GameCube was for the best.

[Thanks, Dustin]

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]]>ebaygamecubegary-colemangarycolemanJustin McElroy2007-11-09T12:55:00+00:00GamePro graphs PS3 and Gamecube saleshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/gamepro-graphs-ps3-and-gamecube-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/gamepro-graphs-ps3-and-gamecube-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/gamepro-graphs-ps3-and-gamecube-sales/#commentsFiled under: , ,


GamePro has put together a graph showing the NPD data on Nintendo's Gamecube and PlayStation 3 sales for their first 10 months after launch. The chart shows how in North America the PS3 sold 1.7 million units in its 10 months since launch compared to the GameCube's 2.2 million. Those that have already sent their rage into overdrive see the implication of this graph as the PS3 will "fail" like the Gamecube. Last week it was a 3DO comparison, this week it's the Gamecube. Although one can easily argue that the PS3 is neither.

Sure the PS3 started rocky, lost assumed exclusives left and right, and Sony can't seem to craft a solid message to save its life. But the PlayStation is still a strong brand that should be able to rectify itself with a competitive price adjustment and some solid titles creating a base for the gaming console. Hopefully Sony can get that line on the graph to start moving up again. They're in no rush, they've got ten years.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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]]>chartgamecubegameprographnpdps3Alexander Sliwinski2007-10-03T11:30:00+00:00Behind the price cut: The long, strange saga of the $599 PS3http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/behind-the-price-cut-the-long-strange-saga-of-the-599-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/behind-the-price-cut-the-long-strange-saga-of-the-599-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/behind-the-price-cut-the-long-strange-saga-of-the-599-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If the recently rumored $100 price cut for the PS3 turns out to be true, it will end the era of one of the most controversial pricing moves in the history of consumer electronics.

The writing was on the wall early on, with former SCE President Ken Kutaragi hinting way back in July 2005 that he hoped gamers would "work more hours to buy [a PS3]." When the price was officially announced at Sony's E3 2006 press conference the first wave of ridicule was practically immediate. Kutaragi's comment that the price was "too cheap" for what consumers were getting just stoked the fires, leading at least one Joystiq blogger to call the company "out of touch." Hey, $599 is pretty cheap if the thing is made of uranium.

Yet by launch time there were some signs that the high price wasn't really a deterrent. Despite some launch window reviews saying the system "just isn't worth it yet," the initial stock of PS3s sold out to mobs of fans who waited in the November cold to drop up to six Benjamins on a game console. Many of those who managed to get one of the limited initial allotment put them up on eBay, where some fetched ridiculously inflated prices. Maybe $600 was a bargain after all.

The holiday magic wore off quickly, though. First the online demand began to wane. Then reports that some stores had stockpiles of systems began the filter in. Early sales numbers in North America were decent, if not dominant, but the PS3 lagged in comparison to the competition throughout early 2007. The news was even worse in Japan, where the Wii routinely outsold the Xbox 360 and PS3 by large margins. Some at Sony hoped the delayed European launch would bring better sales numbers for the electronics giant, but initial enthusiasm was tempered when British sales dropped precipitously just one week after the early fanfare.

With sales lagging, the calls for a price drop came fast and furious from analysts, developers, consumers and, um, more analysts. Despite reports that Sony was already selling the hardware at a heavy loss, rumors persisted that better laser supplies or streamlined production could lead to a lower MSRP (indeed, Sony's production problems just recently ended).

Officially, Sony maintained for a while that there was no pressure to drop the system's price and that they had no plans to make an adjustment. Game Informer even got SCEA chief Jack Tretton on the record saying that PS3 price cuts would not be as soon or as drastic as the PS2's.

But the bluster soon gave way to realism. First came word from Sony President Ryoji Chubachi that a price drop was a "possibility." Then came a comment from Sony CEO Howard Stringer that the company was looking to "refine" the price. In the news business, that's what we like to call a trial balloon.

If the PS3 price drop does come on July 15, the system will have spent 236 days at its initial price. For historical comparison, the PS2 took 565 days to drop from $299 to $199, while the original PlayStation took 250 days and the original Xbox took 181 days to make similar drops. The GameCube took 176 days to drop from $199 to $149 while the Dreamcast took 245 days to likewise fall. On July 15, the Xbox 360 will have gone 600 days without a price drop in North America.

If the rumors are true, Michael Pachter gets the clairvoyance award for his May prediction of a "summer" drop. Goldman Sachs' March call for an October drop would fare less well.

What about the rest of the world? The price in Japan was slashed before the system even launched, and an unnamed "senior executive" said back in January that more cuts could be coming. Europe recently saw a smaller price cut from at least one retailer and some say an official reduction will come within the year. Others say it's just inevitable. And they're right. If there's one thing you can count on with technology, it's that the price will always be lower at some future date.

[Special thanks to Matt Matthews for some research help.]

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]]>dreamcastgamecubepriceprice cutprice dropPriceCutPriceDropPS2PS3retailXboxXbox 360Xbox360Kyle Orland2007-07-05T22:00:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl controllers confirmedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/smash-bros-brawl-controllers-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/smash-bros-brawl-controllers-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/smash-bros-brawl-controllers-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Don't be surprised if heated debates over Smash Bros. Brawl character supremacy take on a terrifying new dimension now that it's been confirmed on the official blog that all Wii-compatible remotes will work with the game. "Sure, Kirby can beat Meta Knight if everybody's using GameCube controllers," the clerk at your local EB Games might say, "but you don't even understand Kirby until you've turned the Wiimote on its side, that's his spinach."

If you're puzzling over what does what exactly, keep wondering -- director Masahiro Sakurai is staying mum. He does admit though that he prefers the GameCube controller because he "like[s] the feel of that powerful rumble." ... Wow, we didn't mean to end the post all creepy, sorry, we'll change the subject. So, how are you planning on playing?

[Thanks to everybody who sent this in.]

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]]>ebgamesgamecubekirbynintendosmashbroswiiJustin McElroy2007-06-08T07:50:00+00:00Twilight Princess speed run in under 6 hourshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/twilight-princess-speed-run-in-under-6-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/twilight-princess-speed-run-in-under-6-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/twilight-princess-speed-run-in-under-6-hours/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A new speed run for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has just been posted on Speed Demos Archive. Daniel Hart blazed through the game in 5 hours 39 minutes, about ten times faster than we hobbled our way through on the first try. Daniel says he could shave 5-7 minutes off the final time but is happy with the current achievement. We say he's bragging, but boy has he earned it. Videos are available for download as well as embedded in Flash (Part 1 is shown above) for easy ooh-ing and aah-ing.

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

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]]>gamecubelegendofzeldanintendospeedruntwilightprincessvideowiiJohn Bardinelli2007-06-04T13:30:00+00:00The console sales at their six month birthdayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/the-console-sales-at-their-six-month-birthday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/the-console-sales-at-their-six-month-birthday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/the-console-sales-at-their-six-month-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Six months since the release of both the PS3 and Wii, Infendo put together a comparison chart based on the latest NPD data of where the most recent consoles ranked during the same time. The Wii is ahead of where the PS2 was at the six month mark, and both the Xbox 360 and PS3 rank behind the Gamecube (and we all remember how that ended). The first six month sales of the consoles rank in digits for North America as:
  • Wii (2,470,000)
  • PS2 (2,200,000)
  • Xbox (1,900,000)
  • GameCube (1,540,000)
  • Xbox 360 (1,384,000)
  • PS3 (1,271,000)

Infendo's Blake Snow says, "[This] means fans of motion-controls can expect to see a boatload of good games with fewer titles gracing 'real next-gen' platforms. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

If only the first six months showed the end game. Look at how small the difference between the Xbox and PS2 is in this chart after the first six months, and we know how that one ends too. The PS2 is still selling well while the Xbox has passed on. Although, it's getting hard to ignore the massive growth of the Wii as it gets older (insert typical quip about how it would be nice to have some more original Wii games here). With Iwata already expecting the Wii to hit 14 million units by next March, how big can the Wii get?

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]]>gamecubenpdplaystationps2ps3saleswiixboxxbox360Alexander Sliwinski2007-05-18T20:20:00+00:00New DK bongo game does away with pesky bongoshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/new-dk-bongo-game-does-away-with-pesky-bongos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/new-dk-bongo-game-does-away-with-pesky-bongos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/new-dk-bongo-game-does-away-with-pesky-bongos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We enjoyed everything about the series of Donkey Kong-based bongo games on the GameCube with one small exception: That darn bongo controller. Now, thanks to the announcement of Donkey Kong Bongo Blast on the Wii you can enjoy all the bongo action without putting your poor hands and wrists through the stress of actually having to play the bongos.

Details on the game, which was originally revealed a year ago for the 'Cube, were found in Famitsu scans by The Wiire. (The only thing worse than bongos: Titles created specifically for the Wii.) The new bongo title is a racing game where you'll shake the Wiimote and Nunchuk to accelerate, shake one harder than the other to turn and lift both to jump. Now, doesn't that sound a lot more fun than playing with some dumb old bongos? There's a four-person multiplayer mode, so you can spare your friends the palm soreness too! There's no mention of the game supporting the GameCube's bongo controller and we sure hope it stays that way when the game's released in Japan on June 28. We don't know if there will be a U.S. release yet, but we'll keep our reddened, bongo-battered fingers crossed.

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]]>bongobongoblastdonkeykongfamitsugamecubenintendowiiwiiJustin McElroy2007-04-19T11:30:00+00:00Toys 'R' Us will have Wii in stock Sundayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/toys-r-us-will-have-wii-in-stock-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/toys-r-us-will-have-wii-in-stock-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/toys-r-us-will-have-wii-in-stock-sunday/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're looking for the Wii, and we know a lot of you out there still are, you'll be happy to know this Sunday Toys "R" Us will have them in stock. Get there early, the announcement will be in this Sunday's flyers and you'll want to beat the rush of moms to the store after they drop their coffee, shove the bagel in their mouth and bolt out the door.

Wherever people fall on the Wii shortage being intentional or unintentional, not to mention the controversy among Wii owners about the gaming drought, that little console made from two duct taped Gamecubes is selling like sellin' is going out of style. It still looks like Nintendo won't back up these amazing sales figures with some real, original Wii titles for quite some time. We'll just have to enjoy this constant string of Gamecube ports and mini-game based Wii titles apparently.

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]]>gamecubenintendotoys r uswiiAlexander Sliwinski2007-03-30T20:45:00+00:00Circuit City busts out the used gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/circuit-city-busts-out-the-used-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/circuit-city-busts-out-the-used-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/22/circuit-city-busts-out-the-used-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

...where service is state-of-the-artCheap Ass Gamer points to Circuit City's new pre-owned games section on the retailer's website. GameDaily reports that an analyst from Lazard Capital Markets is doubtful the 'experiment' (Circuit City has less than 50 used games for sale) will do much to loosen GameStop Corp's grip on the used-games market. In order to be competitive, Circuit City would have increase its inventory of both new and used games, in order to restock its store locations to balance supply and demand; and a sophisticated inventory and pricing system would need to be put in place, headed by a sales team that could accurately appraise trade-ins. "Importantly, Circuit City is not the first 'big box' retailer to test pre-owned game sales, with Best Buy experimenting with used product sales as recently as last year, with limited success according to our checks," says Lazard.

[Thanks, Yoon]

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]]>360CircuitCityGameCubeGCNPS2PS3PSPRetailUsedWiiXboxXbox360James Ransom-Wiley2007-02-22T13:26:00+00:00Radio Allergy delayed, now 'Wii Compatible'http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/radio-allergy-delayed-now-wii-compatible/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/radio-allergy-delayed-now-wii-compatible/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/19/radio-allergy-delayed-now-wii-compatible/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

radio allergyO~3 Entertainment's efforts to bring Radio Allergy to North America have been slowed, slightly. The throwback shmup will be delayed a month, now scheduled to ship in limited quantities on March 20 (available through Amazon). Hoping to unload its stock of the budget GameCube shooter as swiftly as possible, O~3 has wisely tacked on a "it'll play in your Wii" reminder (meaning: you'll still be piloting with your WaveBird).

So how often is your Wii just a GameCube?

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]]>GameCubeO3O3 EntertainmentO3EntertainmentRadio AllergyRadioAllergyShmupWiiJames Ransom-Wiley2007-02-19T16:43:00+00:00Twilight Princess Easter eggs & tin-foil hat conspiracieshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/twilight-princess-easter-eggs-and-tin-foil-hat-conspiracies/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/twilight-princess-easter-eggs-and-tin-foil-hat-conspiracies/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/twilight-princess-easter-eggs-and-tin-foil-hat-conspiracies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

electromagnetic fields, man!Green chus? Bottomless pits of water? Warp birds named after hexadecimal color codes? Maaaybe...

IGN forum poster yoshi117's list of Twilight Princess "Easter eggs" isn't entirely useless; in fact, it highlights many of the inconspicuous details that were sprinkled into Nintendo's heralded masterpiece. The importance of these minute elements is often overlooked in game development, but Nintendo EAD proves once again how a little touch of wonder, or harmless act of mischief, can provide a lasting memory.

[Thanks, KozWiz; via Wii Fanboy]

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]]>Easter EggsEasterEggsGameCubeGCNLegend of ZeldaLegendOfZeldaLinkNintendo EADNintendoEadSecretsTwilight PrincessTwilightPrincessWiiZeldaJames Ransom-Wiley2007-01-26T03:25:00+00:00Wii puzzler drops GCN controller supporthttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/12/wii-puzzler-drops-gcn-controller-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/12/wii-puzzler-drops-gcn-controller-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/12/wii-puzzler-drops-gcn-controller-support/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mercury Meltdown Revolution, the only Wii title so far to hint at its former nickname, has dropped support for the GameCube controller as previously planned; however, using the classic controller is still just fine and dandy.

Ed Bradley, studio manager for MMR developer Ignition Entertainment, told Eurogamer that "we've had to drop support for the GameCube controller as it's a very much 'at developers own risk' proposition and we're not masochists!" The context is not entirely clear, but our best guess is that, while a library of code for the classic controller may be provided by Nintendo, the burden of programming for GCN ports is on the developer and Bradley didn't feel like expending the resources.

Here's our worry: remember when Smash Bros. Brawl producer Masahiro Sakurai revealed that GameCube controllers would be compatible, so as not to alienate those who prefer the traditional -- dare we say classic -- control scheme? What if Nintendo's beat-em-up only supports the classic controller attachment? The cynic in us fears Nintendo would nix GCN controller support in order to sell a few more attachments. Not that it's a bad attachment, mind you, but we already have so many GCN controllers lying around that we don't want them to go to waste.

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]]>attachmentclassic controllerClassicControllergamecubegcnmercury metldownMercuryMetldownsmash brosSmashBrosssbbwii remotewiimoteWiiRemoteRoss Miller2007-01-12T21:22:00+00:00Play GBA games (badly) on the Wiihttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/11/play-gba-games-badly-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/11/play-gba-games-badly-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/11/play-gba-games-badly-on-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Nintendo is quick to tout the Wii's extensive backward-compatibility with all GameCube software, the sleek white system is a pretty bad fit for the Cube's Game Boy Player hardware add-on. Rather than leaving that clunky old Cube out in the entertainment center, Wii News recommends the Datel Advance Game Port, a sleek-looking accessory that plugs into the GameCube/Wii memory card slot and lets you play Game Boy Advance games on the big screen.

What Wii News doesn't tell you is that the Datel Advance Game Port is a buggy mess. In our reviews of the discontinued hardware, games ran with inconsistent slowdown, laggy controls and audio problems. What's more, the port only plays Game Boy Advance games, unlike the official Game Boy Player, which works with games dating all the way back to the black-and-white classic portable.

If you're really desperate for Game Boy games on your TV, spring for the Nintendo-approved solution and not this third-party knock-off. Or just sit around and wait for the oft-rumored addition of Game Boy support for the Virtual Console.

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]]>Advance Game PortAdvanceGamePortAGPbuggyDatelGame BoyGame Boy AdvanceGameBoyGameBoyAdvanceGamecubehardwareWiiKyle Orland2007-01-11T11:05:00+00:00Pets get confused by video gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/31/pets-get-confused-by-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/31/pets-get-confused-by-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/31/pets-get-confused-by-video-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Over the holiday there is a cute little dachshund staying at my place. He's pretty old now, but dog-sitting when he was younger caused me to change gaming habits to accommodate. For example, any games with dogs or cats in them (or similar animal sounds e.g. Final Fantasy) would cause him to flip out. The same holds true for a cairn terrier I dog-sit. While playing Zelda: Twilight Princess the dachshund didn't go all out like the dog in the video above, but he did perk his head up and looked around feverishly to see what was going on. Any humorous animal stories out there? Have a cat that flips out with the Wii pointer on the screen? Do you also have a dog who howls along like he's wolf Link? After the break see how not to treat your pets -- nobody likes to get yelled at, not even Nintendogs.

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]]>doggamecubehowlingmimictwilight princesswiizeldaAlexander Sliwinski2006-12-31T01:00:00+00:00Metareview - Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube)http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/20/metareview-zelda-twilight-princess-gamecube/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/20/metareview-zelda-twilight-princess-gamecube/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/20/metareview-zelda-twilight-princess-gamecube/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Twilight Princesses
For Wii-less GameCube owners it's a no-brainer; you pro'ly been had your copy of Twilight Princess. But for those few Wii owners who are considering the GameCube edition, still unable to take decisive action, here are several takes on how the two versions match up:

  • 1UP (100/100) - "Does the format really make a difference? It does, but ultimately those differences are fairly insubstantial ... Honestly, there are only three differences between the two editions of the game: a different control scheme, lack of widescreen support for GameCube, and the fact that each version is quite literally the mirror image of the other ... As a matter of fact, it's this version which has Hyrule's "true" layout; the game world was designed to echo Ocarina of Time's landscape, and the adventure feels just a little more nostalgic when certain areas accurately coincide with those from the previous game ... The lack of widescreen is more crucial; if you've become accustomed to seeing a more panoramic view of your games...the 4:3 visuals will feel downright suffocating ... And then there's the control scheme. Frankly, going from the Wii interface to the GameCube feels like a step backward; it's less immersive, less precise and considerably slower."
  • IGN (95/100) - "Some gamers have resisted the Wii version of Twilight Princess because they feel that the new control scheme is unnecessary. The GameCube build of the title provides a more conventional alternative ... There are even a couple advantages to playing with a traditional controller over the Wii remote. For one, players who enjoyed titles like Wind Waker will understand immediately how to maneuver Link like a pro ... Where the GameCube build comes up short is the area of aiming ... [The] visual differences between the two versions of the game are minimal. While both incarnations support a progressive-scan mode, only the Wii build also features a 16:9 widescreen option. Meanwhile, some gamers have complained that the GCN title is riddled with more framerate slowdowns than the steady running Wii game, but we have not encountered these issues while playing ... As someone who has played both the GameCube and Wii versions of Twilight Princess, I can confidently state that I prefer the latter for its handful of extras, including what I consider to be enhanced controls and an exclusive 16:9 widescreen mode. That being said, though, I can certainly understand why purists might want to stick with the more conventional controls of the GCN build".
  • GameSpot (89/100) - "Graphically, the GameCube version is roughly identical to the Wii release ... The combat controls are more conventional on the GameCube...but the Wii controls actually end up feeling more precise in a direct comparison ... Also, in what has to be the weirdest change, the entire GameCube game is a mirror image of the Wii version. Actually, it's probably the other way around ... You can't go wrong with either version of the game, but if you're still trying to decide, the Wii version is just a bit better." [Note: GameSpot scored Wii version 88/100]
Compare to: Twilight Princess (Wii) Metareview

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]]>Aspect RatioAspectRatioControlGameCubeGCNHyruleLegend of ZeldaLegendOfZeldaLinkN64Nintendo 64Nintendo64Ocarina of TimeOcarinaOfTimeTwilight PrincessTwilightPrincessWidescreenWiiWii RemoteWiimoteWiiRemoteZeldaJames Ransom-Wiley2006-12-20T21:55:00+00:002006 belongs to PS2, rules Game Informer [update 2]http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/2006-belongs-to-ps2-rules-game-informer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/2006-belongs-to-ps2-rules-game-informer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/2006-belongs-to-ps2-rules-game-informer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

King of '06?The new issue of Game Informer (#165) offers the editors' vision of the 'Top 50 games of 2006.' According to GI, while Wii and PlayStation 3 overpowered our attentions, PlayStation 2 quietly enjoyed the year's most fulfilling lineup, trumping Xbox 360's solid first year.

Here's a breakdown of the number of Top 50 games per system (includes multi-platform titles):
  • PS2: 20 (8 multi-platform)
  • Xbox 360: 16 (10 multi-platform)
  • PC: 15 (8 multi-platform)
  • PS3: 6 (5 multi-platform)
  • Xbox: 6 (all multi-platform)
  • DS: 6
  • PSP: 4
  • Wii: 3 (GI lists 3 in table, but only highlights 2 games in article)
  • GameCube: 0*
Despite Sony systems featuring 30 of GI's 2006 favorites, Nintendo was selected as both top publisher and developer of the year; and Twilight Princess (for Wii) was elected as 'Game of the Year.' It's also worth noting that while PS2 featured a wealth of top-rated games, the console was also home to the majority of lowest-rated, compatible with six of the 'Top 10 Worst Games of 2006.'

Update 1: because you all demanded it, here are GI's picks for PS3 games included in the year's Top 50 (in no particular order): Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Need for Speed Carbon, Call of Duty 3, Resistance: Fall of Man, Tony Hawk's Project 8, and Fight Night Round 3. Only Resistance is a PS3 exclusive.

Update 2: specified number of multi-platform titles per system in Top 50 breakdown.

*Twilight Princess was not included in the GameCube category.

[Via print edition]

See also: Winner of strongest fall lineup is ... PS2?

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]]>360DSGame InformerGameCubeGameInformerGames for WindowsGamesForWindowsPS2PS3PSPWiiXboxXbox 360Xbox360James Ransom-Wiley2006-12-12T16:20:00+00:00So long "next-gen," and good riddancehttp://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/so-long-next-gen-and-good-riddance/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/so-long-next-gen-and-good-riddance/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/so-long-next-gen-and-good-riddance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

no longer
Joystiq is as guilty as anyone for abusing the buzzword "next-gen." But, with all due respect to the European nations and all other countries still lacking the full set of current hardware, we're retiring the word (at least, for a few years).

We waited to make this announcement until Japan had a few days to get "next-gen" out of its system. With Wii deployed throughout the country this past weekend, the trio of new consoles is now available in the world's two largest console gaming markets. We're not suggesting that the previous generation of hardware -- specifically, PlayStation 2 -- is no longer dominant, but we are reminding ourselves and you dear reader that Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii have launched. If anything, let's consider these consoles the new generation; they're no longer next. The stage is theirs. Who will steal the show?

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]]>GameCubenext-genPS2WiiXboxXbox 360Xbox360James Ransom-Wiley2006-12-05T10:15:00+00:00