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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CT senator proposes bill to ban minors using fake guns in arcades]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ct-senator-proposes-bill-to-ban-minors-using-fake-guns-in-arcade/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ct-senator-proposes-bill-to-ban-minors-using-fake-guns-in-arcade/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ct-senator-proposes-bill-to-ban-minors-using-fake-guns-in-arcade/#comments Connecticut state Senator proposing bill that bans under18s from games with light gunsConnecticut State Senator Toni Harp proposed a bill in January that would ban anyone younger than 18 from playing "violent point-and-shoot" video games in arcades or other public establishments. The bill defined "violent point-and-shoot" games as any entertainment device that used the "facsimile of a firearm as an essential component of play," which would include games such as House of the Dead, Area 51 and Duck Hunt.

The bill also called for research into the effects of violent video games on young minds, through a committee called the Violent Video Game Task Force within the Department of Children and Families. The task force would advise the Governor and General assembly on state programs that "may reduce the effects of violent video games on youth behavior," suggesting before the research was done that violent video games have an effect on children's actions.

The bill's Statement of Purpose offered a clear position on violent video games' impact on young minds, again presented before any research began: "To prevent minors from using violent point-and-shoot video games in public arcades and to create a task force to study the effects of violent video games on youth behavior."

This bill joined an influx of attention on video games in relation to real-world gun violence, following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. Senator Harp's suggestions mimicked and magnified President Obama's proposal to research violent video games and enact other forms of potential gun-violence prevention.

[Thanks, Seth.]

JoystiqCT senator proposes bill to ban minors using fake guns in arcades originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>connecticutgun-violencelight-gunSenatestate-senatetoni-harpviolenceviolent-video-gamesZapperWed, 20 Feb 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns Wii pack rated by ESRB]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/gunblade-ny-and-la-machineguns-wii-pack-rated-by-esrb/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/gunblade-ny-and-la-machineguns-wii-pack-rated-by-esrb/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/gunblade-ny-and-la-machineguns-wii-pack-rated-by-esrb/#comments According to the ESRB, Sega is preparing to rekindle its love affair with light gun game ports for the Wii. Having already released House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return and Ghost Squad on Nintendo's console, it looks like Sega is adding both Gunblade NY and LA Machineguns to the collection of rehashes (in addition to the excellent, original title House of the Dead: Overkill). It appears that both games will be combined in a single package, as the ESRB has rated "Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns Arcade Hits Pack" for Wii.

If you missed out on either game in the arcades of yore, both involved flying around cityscapes and hosing down enemies with machine gun fire. Of course -- barring the release of a massive Wiimote peripheral -- the Wii version probably won't share the arcade version's fierce force feedback. The revelation of continued light gun game ports also raises a very important question: What's a gamer gotta do to get some Virtua Cop? Make it happen, Sega.

JoystiqGunblade NY & LA Machineguns Wii pack rated by ESRB originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadeesrbgunblade-nygunblade-ny-and-la-machineguns-arcade-hits-packla-machinegunslight-gunNintendosegaWiiFri, 16 Apr 2010 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Heavy Fire: 'intense military action' as a WiiWare light gun game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/heavy-fire-intense-military-action-as-a-wiiware-light-gun-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/heavy-fire-intense-military-action-as-a-wiiware-light-gun-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/heavy-fire-intense-military-action-as-a-wiiware-light-gun-gam/#commentsTeyon, whose last WiiWare effort was Hubert the Teddy Bear: Winter Games, has announced a new WiiWare rail shooter that couldn't be more distant in tone -- or in temperature. Heavy Fire: Special Operations is a realistic military rail shooter set in "the terrorized region in the Middle East." It's also another excuse to get out the Wii Zapper.

Heavy Fire features ground, Blackhawk, and Humvee-based combat, and weapon upgrades based on real equipment, awarded as players rise in military rank. And not only are the environments destructible, you get "additional points for smashing the environment." All right, maybe it's not that realistic. Teyon has yet to announce a price or date for Heavy Fire.

Gallery: Heavy Fire (WiiWare)

JoystiqHeavy Fire: 'intense military action' as a WiiWare light gun game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heavy-fireheavy-fire-special-operationslight-gunwiiwarezapperThu, 08 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fast Draw Showdown shows up on WiiWare Jan. 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/fast-draw-showdown-shows-up-on-wiiware-jan-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/fast-draw-showdown-shows-up-on-wiiware-jan-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/fast-draw-showdown-shows-up-on-wiiware-jan-5/#commentsDo you hate mid-90s FMV game actors? Do you love light gun games? You're going to be thrilled about this upcoming WiiWare release from Digital Leisure. This Monday, you'll be able to shoot several of those actors in Fast Draw Showdown on WiiWare.

Originally released to arcades in 1994, Fast Draw Showdown is a series of -- what else? -- showdowns against various Old West stereotypes, culminating in a match against real-life quick draw expert Wes Flowers. There's a trailer after the break -- if you pretend to shoot at everyone on the screen, it'll be just like playing the game!

Continue reading Fast Draw Showdown shows up on WiiWare Jan. 5

JoystiqFast Draw Showdown shows up on WiiWare Jan. 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american-laser-gamesdigital-leisurefast-draw-showdownfmvlight-gunNintendoWiiwiiwareTue, 29 Dec 2009 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Mad Dog McCree blasts his way to Wii with the Gunslinger Pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/mad-dog-mccree-blasts-his-way-to-wii-with-the-gunslinger-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/mad-dog-mccree-blasts-his-way-to-wii-with-the-gunslinger-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/mad-dog-mccree-blasts-his-way-to-wii-with-the-gunslinger-pack/#comments
That Gamefly listing for Mad Dog McCree was spot on, apparently, as the title has shipped to retail. Majesco just sent us a press release revealing the company will be bringing a few of Digital Leisure's live-action light-gun classics to a Wii near you, pricing this compilation at a very reasonable $19.99 MSRP. Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack features three classics: Mad Dog McCree; Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold; and The Last Bounty Hunter.

You won't be forced to go it alone in each of these adventures either, as this compilation also adds a bit of multiplayer flair. There will be both Posse and Rebel modes, the former allowing up to four players to work side-by-side for a high score, and the latter allows up to four players to work independently, shooting things to gain the highest score of the bunch.

JoystiqMad Dog McCree blasts his way to Wii with the Gunslinger Pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-leisurelight-gunlive-actionmad-dog-2mad-dog-2-the-lost-goldmad-dog-mccreemajescoNintendothe-last-bounty-hunterWiiTue, 16 Jun 2009 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Ops Wii Light Gun: It's the Wii light gun Jason Statham would use]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/dark-ops-wii-light-gun-its-the-wii-light-gun-jason-statham-wou/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/dark-ops-wii-light-gun-its-the-wii-light-gun-jason-statham-wou/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/dark-ops-wii-light-gun-its-the-wii-light-gun-jason-statham-wou/#commentsThe Cobalt Flux-developed Dark Ops Wii Light Gun is one of the newest peripherals vying for consumer attention. It's marketed to those of us who want to look Transporter-cool while playing Umbrella Chronicles ... oh, and to those of you who're simply tired of white peripherals.

Per the item description, the Dark Ops gun allows for independent use of the Wii nunchuck, gives easy access to the Wiimote's face buttons, and sports a nifty Lock 'N Load feature that totally makes the remote look like a clip. For your gun. A gun clip. Like, totally. All that for only $19.95. We're guessing the light gun's accuracy is significantly increased if its wielder dons a tuxedo, maintains a calm (yet cool!) demeanor, and kills bad guys for a living.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqDark Ops Wii Light Gun: It's the Wii light gun Jason Statham would use originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cobalt-fluxlaserlight-gunperipheralszapperWed, 11 Mar 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Disaster: Day of Crisis survival guide explains gameplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/disaster-day-of-crisis-survival-guide-explains-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/disaster-day-of-crisis-survival-guide-explains-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/disaster-day-of-crisis-survival-guide-explains-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: ,


As is usually the case with oft-delayed titles, details concerning the mystery-shrouded Disaster: Day of Crisis have been slim indeed. Thankfully, the official Japanese site for the disastrous survival game recently added a few explanations on how you'll be guiding optimistic protagonist Raymond Bryce through his very own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

According to a translation from Siliconera, the combat portion of the title plays like a light gun shooter with a Time Crisis-esque cover system. However, you'll need to bust out your best Smooth Moves to make it through the motion-sensitive survival segments, furiously shaking your Wiimote to outrun a tidal wave, push a bus, perform CPR or place an irate phone call to a puzzlingly absent FEMA. We'll have to wait on reactions from our Eastern Hemisphere acquaintences to see how these two great tastes taste together.

JoystiqDisaster: Day of Crisis survival guide explains gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disaster-day-of-crisisgameplaylight-gunmonolith-softsurvivalwiiSat, 13 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modder squeezes NES into light gun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/modder-squeezes-nes-into-light-gun/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/modder-squeezes-nes-into-light-gun/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/modder-squeezes-nes-into-light-gun/#commentsFiled under:


Is there a single gaming-related object, we wonder, that has not yet had the innards of a NES squashed into it? As it happens, yes. Of all the stuff-a-NES-in-something mod variants that we've encountered, we can't recall a light gun being used to encase Nintendo's ancient console.

Inspired by Duck Hunt, BenHeck.com forum member GonzoMPM-1 has corrected this oversight, fitting all of the necessary buttons, wiring and an NOAC board containing 76 on-board NES games into the above light gun peripheral (perhaps the NES Zapper lacked the space for this?). Hook this bad boy up to an old-fashioned CRT screen, chuck in three AAA batteries, and you're ready to go. It's rather bizarre (and not a little pointless), but for some reason we really want to try this.

[Via Technabob]

JoystiqModder squeezes NES into light gun originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>light-gunlightgunnesMon, 21 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: 'You missed me, pig!']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wii-warm-up-you-missed-me-pig/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wii-warm-up-you-missed-me-pig/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wii-warm-up-you-missed-me-pig/#commentsFiled under:



With Target: Terror announced for the Wii, we realize now there's really no limit to what terrible shooting games publishers are willing to port, no matter how dated its visuals. As much as we miss the Friday nights from our high school years spent hanging out at bowling alleys and movie theaters ogling girls who had no interest in us whatsoever, we don't miss the crappy games that usually populated those nostalgic spots.

Still, we suspect that we'll see a lot more of these late 90s light gun games on our fair console. What shooter are you dreading hoping to play with your Zapper? Area 51? Virtua Cop? Mad dog Mcree?!

JoystiqWii Warm Up: 'You missed me, pig!' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>konamilethal-enforcerslight-gunshootertarget-terrorzapperWed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Umbrella Chronicles ships a million units worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/umbrella-chronicles-ships-a-million-units-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/umbrella-chronicles-ships-a-million-units-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/umbrella-chronicles-ships-a-million-units-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With the successful wii-vival of Resident Evil 4, not to mention plans to introduce waggle to Resident Evil Zero in Japan, there's little question that Capcom enjoys returning to - and drinking from - the Wii's zombie-infested well. And for good reason, as the company announced that its latest trip down memory lane for the Wii, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, has shipped over a million units the world over since the game's debut last November.

Impressive, for sure, though what's even more staggering is that the series as a whole has sold more than 34.5 million units globally as of February 29. However, the company is not all about survival horror, having recently confirmed plans for some 15 new projects in the works -- though Capcom will likely always have a special place in its heart (and wallet) for the decaying flesh of the undead.

JoystiqUmbrella Chronicles ships a million units worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomlight-gunlightgunresident-evilresidentevilumbrella-chroniclesumbrellachroniclesWiiTue, 04 Mar 2008 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Guns don't kill people, terrible peripherals do]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/guns-dont-kill-people-terrible-peripherals-do/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/guns-dont-kill-people-terrible-peripherals-do/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/guns-dont-kill-people-terrible-peripherals-do/#commentsFiled under: ,


Even with its folding clutch and laser sight (requires 2 x AAA batteries, not included), the WiiMAX isn't impressing anyone. Actually, those two selling points only add on to our suspicions that this light gun was assembled out of whatever plastic bits were available in the factory. That front grip? Leftover umbrella handles. The attachable scope? Grabbed from a surplus of toilet paper holders.

Is there even a purpose for that folding handle? How are you supposed to pull the Wii remote's trigger if you're holding onto the grip? And whose idea was it to price this crapcessory at $21.17? Bring a roll of TP past the break for more photos of the WiiMAX.

Continue reading Guns don't kill people, terrible peripherals do

JoystiqGuns don't kill people, terrible peripherals do originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laserlight-gunwiimaxzapperMon, 03 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[House of the Dead 3 alive with new content]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/house-of-the-dead-3-alive-with-new-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/house-of-the-dead-3-alive-with-new-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/house-of-the-dead-3-alive-with-new-content/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sega's House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return actually has something new to offer, other than "being on the Wii" and "different crosshair shapes!" Sega has added an Extreme Mode to House of the Dead 3, which adds new player abilities and ramps up the difficulty -- perhaps to an extreme degree?

Enemies move more quickly and the shotgun's blast radius is smaller. But in order to balance the increased difficulty, the player has been given a new attack. You can now press A to perform a melee attack that not only knocks enemies away, but also blocks attacks and projectiles.

[Via GamesPress]

JoystiqHouse of the Dead 3 alive with new content originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house-of-the-deadlight-gunsegashooterThu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The House Containing Some Dead 2 & 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/the-house-containing-some-dead-2-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/the-house-containing-some-dead-2-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/the-house-containing-some-dead-2-and-3/#commentsFiled under:


I didn't see The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return at GDC -- and I looked -- but Gamespot got a hands-on preview of the new release of Sega's light gun classics. Had I been there, I would have asked about the captioning. "Suffer the same way G did?" The audio's the same (from what can be heard on the video) so why the change in captioning? And why just that line?

In addition to rewriting Zeal's big line, Sega has added six different crosshair options and online rankings. What hasn't been added, unfortunately, is The Typing of the Dead. How could anyone do this?



[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqThe House Containing Some Dead 2 & 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc08gdc08fanboyhitmakerhouse-of-the-deadlight-gunsegashootingSun, 24 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Zombies in space]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-zombies-in-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-zombies-in-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-zombies-in-space/#commentsFiled under:


Not much can compare to some good old-fashioned zombie shooting. Add a space station and a light gun to that formula, though, and you're guaranteed to come away with something special.

Siliconera's Spencer Yip, the lucky guy, got to try his hand at Forbidden Terror on Space Station Z at the Game Developers Conference. While we'd like to say we aren't brimming with envy, that would be a flat-out lie. This may not be the next "Game of the Year" (although it will be in our hearts), and it's actually not even a game (just a tech demo, unfortunately). Yet, it involves shooting zombies in space -- and at the end of the day, that's all we really want in life.

As if that wasn't enough, we're completely smitten by the title of Forbidden Terror on Space Station Z. Why is terror forbidden? Our own Eric Caoili suggested that they might be attending an intense seminar at the space station on getting over their fears.

While there wasn't much to the demo, Spencer described it as "amusing" and "pretty entertaining." Unfortunately, it may never actually turn into a full-fledged game. Spencer asked Emergent Technologies if they would consider releasing this for Wii Ware, however, and they seemed willing if they could work something out. Here's hoping!

JoystiqGDC08: Zombies in space originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emergent-techonolgiesforbidden-terror-on-space-station-zgdc08gdc08fanboylight-gunzombiesThu, 21 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Help! More House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return screens are still inside!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/help-more-house-of-the-dead-2-and-3-return-screens-are-still-insi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/help-more-house-of-the-dead-2-and-3-return-screens-are-still-insi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/help-more-house-of-the-dead-2-and-3-return-screens-are-still-insi/#commentsFiled under: ,


How could anyone do this? Oh, probably with a capture card or something. We've loaded our gallery up with new screens of The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, and we feel like we should give two warnings. First, if you haven't completed both games, these screens can be considered spoilers. Not so much of the storyline, but of some of the enemies faced later in the game. That shouldn't be too much of a big deal, since they're old games and it kind of doesn't matter what you're shooting at.

The other warning is that these screens are bloody and gross and stuff. On account of all the zombie ichor. This is especially true of the House of the Dead 3 screens. It seems that Sega figured that the semi-cartoony graphic style of the third game would counteract the disgustingness. They were wrong! Some of those zombies are nasty.

JoystiqHelp! More House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return screens are still inside! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house-of-the-deadlight-gunsegashooterWed, 13 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Trailer of the Dead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/the-trailer-of-the-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/the-trailer-of-the-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/the-trailer-of-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: ,

We should have better sense than to get all worked up over more ports, but we are so excited about The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. The games look exactly like the arcade versions, with the obvious addition of the targeting reticule; you can choose to take that as arcade accuracy or laziness. Since we're in a good mood and really love the games, we're going to call it the former. Ghost Squad proved that a ported Sega light gun game could be better than most original Wii games, and we are therefore pretty eager for more of that.

In addition to a load of unaltered Houses of the Dead, the trailer reveals a set of -- what else? -- training-based minigames; before you set your Wiis on fire in anger, you should know that these are basically smaller challenges based on parts of the games' levels. You're still shooting zombies.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqThe Trailer of the Dead originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>house-of-the-deadlight-gunsegashootingMon, 07 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Point and shoot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/wii-warm-up-point-and-shoot/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/wii-warm-up-point-and-shoot/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/wii-warm-up-point-and-shoot/#commentsFiled under:


The Wii Remote is not a light gun. That's not a criticism of the thing -- just a statement of fact. The technology is different. But it's similar enough that developers have started putting light gun games on the system, and that Nintendo has encouraged this with the development of a handle that makes the thing feel faintly more gun-like.

For those of you who have played Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, or Ghost Squad, or Link's Crossbow Training, or certain parts of both Rayman Raving Rabbids games, or just done some really fast web browsing, we'd like to know: do you find the Wiimote to be up to the task of simulating a traditional gun controller? Have you tried it with and without a gun shell? This is the first time that a system's default controller could also be used as a light gun, so it is potentially important to the future of the genre!

We personally love playing Ghost Squad with the Wiimote, even without a shell. The accuracy is more than adequate for our admittedly terrible shooting skill, and we have never suffered from any kind of Wiimote-related problem in our shooting.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Point and shoot originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>light-gunzapperMon, 07 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[It's like a Zapper, only it's a Blaster (and it sucks)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/its-like-a-zapper-only-its-a-blaster-and-it-sucks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/its-like-a-zapper-only-its-a-blaster-and-it-sucks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/its-like-a-zapper-only-its-a-blaster-and-it-sucks/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Wii Game Blaster seems to get just about everything wrong with its design:
  1. It looks more like a handheld vacuum cleaner than a firearm. Zombies would guffaw at the sight of it in between their attempts to lunge at you and gnaw on your arm.
  2. The shell uses the nunchuck's buttons as the trigger, not the Wii remote's B-button. You might as well not use a Zapper at all, shooting at the screen with finger guns instead.
  3. Because most of the weight is in its barrel, you would need wrists of steel to hold the piece up with one hand for any longer than five minutes.
It does have an advantage over the Zapper and other similar peripherals, however, as its frame hides the wires that connect the nunchuck with the remote. Whether or not that innovation justifies the $35 dreamGear charges for the product is debatable. Here is a quick dramatization of how that debate would go:

"Is this Game Blaster worth--"
"No."

Despite its faults, the Game Blaster manages to fulfill the sole requirement we have for every light gun shell: Can we act out the Terminator 2 chase scene with it? You know which one we're talking about, when Edward Furlong is on his dirt bike, trying to get away from the T-1000. Arnold Schwarzenegger rides in to rescue the kid, firing away with his shotgun. Remember that? Well, you don't have to; we've pasted it past the break!

Continue reading It's like a Zapper, only it's a Blaster (and it sucks)

JoystiqIt's like a Zapper, only it's a Blaster (and it sucks) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamgearlight-gunwii-game-blasterzapperFri, 09 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sparkling Vibration Gun Controller makes your 'pew pews' feel like 'pow pows']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/sparkling-vibration-gun-controller-makes-your-pew-pews-feel-li/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/sparkling-vibration-gun-controller-makes-your-pew-pews-feel-li/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/sparkling-vibration-gun-controller-makes-your-pew-pews-feel-li/#commentsFiled under: ,

Third-party accessory manufacturers have been rushing out their Zapper-esque controller shells as fast as they can manage, hoping to cash in before Nintendo's official product dominates the market. This newest variation to the light gun lineup, Dragon's Sparkling Vibration Gun Controller, claims to add some extra kick to your shots with its "mega vibration."

Requiring only $9.95 and a pair of AAA batteries, it sounds like a good deal, but is anyone actually looking for more rumble with their Wii games? And what's with listing "Exciting" and "Fantastic" on the packaging's bulleted list of features? Those aren't features! Who are they to state whether the peripheral is exciting or fantastic? We'll be the judge of that!

Try not to drop your convulsing pistol during the gunfight, and take cover past the post break for more photos of the shell's "cyber-looking design" (another exaggeration).

Continue reading Sparkling Vibration Gun Controller makes your 'pew pews' feel like 'pow pows'

JoystiqSparkling Vibration Gun Controller makes your 'pew pews' feel like 'pow pows' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dragonlight-gunsparkling-vibration-gunzapperMon, 29 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/joystiq-hands-on-links-crossbow-training/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/joystiq-hands-on-links-crossbow-training/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/joystiq-hands-on-links-crossbow-training/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Reaching back to the glory days of light guns, the Wii Zapper steals the name of Nintendo's classic NES controller, but the two are fundamentally different. The previous light gun used a mechanic to essentially see what was on-screen, so the gun sight actually corresponded with the action. The Wii Zapper instead is just a plastic shell to hold a Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The Wiimote pointer continues to work through IR triangulation; players can't sight down the new attachment.

I recently played the Wii Zapper pack-in, Link's Crossbow Training, and was surprised at how good the Wii Zapper felt and how well the game responded. Shooting from the hip -- sometimes literally -- I maintained good control over the on-screen cross-hair. I still prefer the precision of a light gun's sight, but knocking down Zelda-themed bad guys in a series of game scenarios was still fun.

Gallery: Link's Crossbow Training

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlecrossbowcrossbow-trainingcrossbowtrainingfirst-person-shooterfirstpersonshooterhyruleirlight-gunlightgunlinklink's-crossbow-traininglink'scrossbowtrainingpack-inshooterwiiwii-remotewii-zapperwiimotewiiremotewiizapperzapperzeldaMon, 15 Oct 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training packaging, details]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/wii-zapper-and-links-crossbow-training-packaging-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/wii-zapper-and-links-crossbow-training-packaging-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/wii-zapper-and-links-crossbow-training-packaging-details/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Along with releasing a boxart preview of its upcoming Wii Zapper (due 11/19/07), Nintendo also shed some light on its bundled game, Link's Crossbow Training, earlier today. The shooter will have 27 stages in total over three different modes -- Target Shooting, Defender, and Ranger -- all of them multiplayer, but played one at a time.

Target Shooting plays as expected, asking you to hit bull's-eyes as they pop up and move around the screen. Defender pits you against a variety of enemies charging towards you from all directions; you can to aim off screen to turn Link and face your attackers. While playing in the Ranger mode, you can actually move Link by using the nunchuck's control stick, exploring and fighting your way through the different missions.

Blast past the post break for close-up shots of the Wii Zapper logo and the Link's Crossbow Training bit.

Continue reading Wii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training packaging, details

JoystiqWii Zapper and Link's Crossbow Training packaging, details originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionlight-gunlinks-crossbow-trainingNintendowii-zapperzapperzeldaFri, 21 Sep 2007 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[2-in-1 Light Gun brings more ruckus, more convenience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/2-in-1-light-gun-brings-more-ruckus-more-convenience/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/2-in-1-light-gun-brings-more-ruckus-more-convenience/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/2-in-1-light-gun-brings-more-ruckus-more-convenience/#commentsFiled under: ,

Brando's latest accessory beats Nintendo to the punch, copying the official Zapper's submachine-gun design and allowing users to detach the nunchuck handle from its pistol shell. The 2-in-1 Combined Light Gun is a bit expensive at $18.00, and it doesn't come bundled with anything like Link's Crossbow Training, but it's still a pretty slick idea. Bring your complaints about gun-shaped controllers past the post break for more watermarked photos of the plastic pistol.

Continue reading 2-in-1 Light Gun brings more ruckus, more convenience

Joystiq2-in-1 Light Gun brings more ruckus, more convenience originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brandolight-gunzapperThu, 13 Sep 2007 20:30:00 EST