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/Brawl on the go with homebrew Super Smash Bros. Rumblehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/brawl-on-the-go-with-homebrew-super-smash-bros-rumble/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/brawl-on-the-go-with-homebrew-super-smash-bros-rumble/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/brawl-on-the-go-with-homebrew-super-smash-bros-rumble/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nineteen-year-old German homebrew programmer "Fuzzy" recently revealed his latest project for Nintendo's dual-screened handheld; a portable port of Nintendo's franchise mash-up brawler, titled Super Smash Bros. Rumble. The above shakycam video reveals the early fruits of his labor -- so far, only three levels and one character (Mario) are available. It obviously needs a massive amount of work, particularly in the character design and animation departments, but it's a wicked idea. We hope that Fuzzy will continue working on this inspired project, provided that Ninty's legal juggernauts abide.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>dsfuzzyhomebrewmarionintendo-dsrumblesmash-brossuper-smash-bros-rumbleGriffin McElroy2008-07-06T14:00:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl finally hits Europe June 27, WiiWare on May 20http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/smash-bros-brawl-finally-hits-europe-june-27-wiiware-on-may-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/smash-bros-brawl-finally-hits-europe-june-27-wiiware-on-may-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/smash-bros-brawl-finally-hits-europe-june-27-wiiware-on-may-20/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's about time. Nintendo Europe has released its second fiscal quarter release schedule and finally pinpointed a release date for Smash Bros. Brawl: Friday, June 27. By then, US gamers will have enjoyed the game for over three months, and Japanese gamers for six months. At least you got Mario Kart Wii first, right?

Nintendo also announced that WiiWare will launch May 20, just 8 days behind the US. The Nintendo Channel, which will allow you to download DS demos and game trailers, is coming May 30. Mark your calendars, Smash Bros. Brawl is now only 64 days away.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>breakingnewseuropenintendosmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbbwiiwareRoss Miller2008-04-24T09:55:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl sells record-breaking 1.4 million first week in UShttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/smash-bros-brawl-sells-record-breaking-1-4-million-first-week-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/smash-bros-brawl-sells-record-breaking-1-4-million-first-week-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/smash-bros-brawl-sells-record-breaking-1-4-million-first-week-i/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nintendo's brawler Super Smash Bros. Brawl has smashed records with its US release. According to a press release from Nintendo of America, the game has sold over 1.4 million in the region, with 874,000 of those sales on its March 9 release date. That makes it the "fastest-selling video game in Nintendo of America's history."

Always one to play the numbers game, Nintendo claims to have sold "at a rate of more than 120 units per minute between launch and March 16." Assuming they mean the entirety of March 16 (i.e. the first eight days), that amounts to 8 days * 24 hours/day * 60 minutes/day * 120 units/minute = 1,382,400 units. Too bad they didn't make 130 units per minute. Oh well, better luck next time.

Gallery: Super Smash Bros. Brawl


Check out all of our extensive coverage of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, including galleries, news, impressions, a metareview, and more.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>breakingnewsnintendosmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbbRoss Miller2008-03-17T17:31:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: March 14, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/today-in-joystiq-march-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/today-in-joystiq-march-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/today-in-joystiq-march-14-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,

Over 20,000 Swarovski crystals were used to make the Wii case pictured above (picture of Bowser on the other side) given to the winner of the Smash Bros Brawl competition -- or you can presumably pay Crystal Icing the retail price of $4,000. (Via Engadget) Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Ask Joystiq: On bankruptcy, guitar compatibility and Euro-rock (band)
DS Fanboy Lite: Mar. 8 - Mar. 14
Joystiq Podcast 041 - Army of Three edition
This Week in Review: Wild, Blissful and Hands-on
Today's most oddly musical video: HarmoNESica

News
Square Enix preps Valkyrie Profile for the DS
Play Warlords Online, the Puzzle Quest creators' MMO
Follow the progress of the Myst movie
BioWare: Mass Effect 2 likely a timed Xbox 360 exclusive, PC version confirmed
Renegade Kid's Project M revealed as DS action title 'Moon'
LotRO expansion takes players to Mines of Moria
Manhunt 2 UK ban officially lifted
New islands coming to Burnout Paradise as free DLC
Microtransactions coming soon to Nintendo Wii
GTA IV drives slo-mo, learns days of the week
MS touts digital distribution over 'historic' discs
FF7 Crisis Core receiving special edition in UK
Second Life CEO stepping down, remaining active in development
Rock Band Weekly: The Earache Thrash Pack
The Incredible Hulk captured in screenshots
Wii 'Twilight Princess' hack gets SD card support
Laugh at Agetec's new DS game, 'LOL'
Project Origin community website launched

Rumors & Speculation
Report: Mexican game industry worth $1B by 2010
Analyst: EA's lost its luster
Rumor: GTA IV multiplayer to boast 15 modes, 16 players

Culture & Community
Pontiac ad is glorious homage to Spy Hunter
Which Pokémon would you eat?
Metal Gear Solid "inspired" sneakers

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>dailyrecapsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbRoss Miller2008-03-14T23:59:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: March 12, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/today-in-joystiq-march-12-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/today-in-joystiq-march-12-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/today-in-joystiq-march-12-2008/#comments A broken Nintendo 64 spray painted gold with spray painted figures on top of it became a trophy for a private Smash Bros Brawl tournament between a group of Gamestop employees (including Joystiq reader Matt). It's a great trophy, but what game cartridge did they destroy to make it? Check out the highlights for today:

EIEIO 2008
EIEIO 08: Hands-on with Legendary
EIEIO 08: Section 8 details fall from the sky
EIEIO 08: Velvet Assassin actually dressed in leather

Joystiquery
Gripes and Glees: One week with Smash Bros. Brawl
Law of the Game on Joystiq: Shareholder Deriva-what?
Metareview: Condemned 2 (PS3, 360)
Reminder: Win a $100 InstantAction account
The best of WoW Insider: March 5-11, 2008
Today's most retro hack: Four-player Ocarina of Time
Wii Fanboy Weekly: Mar. 6 - Mar. 12

News
Harmonix sues Activision, then withdraws suit to talk
Play N Trade holding national Guitar Hero III competition March 15
Digitally pop bubble wrap with WiiWare
Mario Kart Wii snakes into stores April 27
Ken Levine will be involved with BioShock 2
Sorry, but Lost Planet: Colonies is Lost Planet redux
EB: Play Haze for a week, then get your money back
Whew, Dead Space will let you pause after all
Brash working with Folklore dev on film-based game
Brain fitness software market is very fit
Chinese Olympics web site accused of game piracy
God of War II's Cory Barlog teams with 'Mad Max' filmmaker George Miller
EA explains Army of Two's regional lockout
Motorstorm sequel gears up for Fall release
Mass Effect II will have 'richer' side quests
Street Fighter II HD beta bundled with Commando 3
Atari uses Steam for digital distribution
ESRB lists 'Fatal Inertia EX' for PS3
Activision files lawsuit after Gibson claims Guitar Hero patent
Assault Heroes 2 blows up XBLA this Spring

Rumors & Speculation
WSJ: Strong PS3 projections makes Sony stock a "bargain"
Analyst: Iron Man film could suffer from GTA IV release
Rumor: Obsidian unveils 'Alpha Protocol,' a spy-focused action RPG
Pachter: GTA IV could sell 9 million units by Halloween

Culture & Community
Zero Punctuation doesn't find paradise in Burnout

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>dailyrecapgamestopsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbRoss Miller2008-03-12T23:59:00+00:00Gripes and Glees: One week with Smash Bros. Brawlhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/gripes-and-glees-one-week-with-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/gripes-and-glees-one-week-with-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/gripes-and-glees-one-week-with-smash-bros-brawl/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Oh Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Our blogging super-powers have given us an entire week with your dual-layered, nostalgia-filled awesomeness, where most gamers have only had the past few days. In spite of the nega-review, Brawl still seems to be pure gold in the eyes of most gamers and reviewers.

Of course, a game as massive as Brawl is bound that have hidden its imperfections somewhere. So let's go hunting, listing the game's many gleeful points, each followed by a gripe that may have been overlooked in our fanboyish devotion to the franchise. No facet of the game will go untouched here, so be warned that spoilers may abound. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let's play Gripes and Glees!

Glee: The opening cinematic to Brawl is gorgeous as always, and even updates as new characters become unlocked.
Gripe: The initial load-screen for the cinematic lasts around ten to fifteen seconds, a wait time normally unheard of in first-party Nintendo titles. The unskippable load time feels even longer due to the lack of music and an almost entirely black screen.

Glee: Many of the new-to-Brawl characters have incredibly unique play styles. Playing as Olimar reminds us of how much we loved the Pikmin games, and the strategy of switching between Pokemon while using Pokemon Trainer is a faithful recreation of that classic RPG element.
Gripe: Far too many characters just feel like near-clones of each other. Pit, Link, Metaknight, Marth, Ike, Fox, Falco, Wolf. We love them all, but so many are just so darn similar.

Glee: We're pleased as punch that Nintendo saw fit to include a smattering of classic Melee stages in Brawl.
Gripe: We're a tad disappointed, however, that our favorite original Smash Bros. stages couldn't make surprise appearances. Where's the love for Dream Land, or Hyrule Castle? At least that horrid Kongo Jungle is nowhere to be found.

Glee: The demos offered in Masterpieces mode are a surprising and welcome addition to Brawl's compendium of nostalgia.
Gripe: The 1 to 3-minute demos force you to exit Brawl in order to play them, making it cumbersome to try out the "Masterpieces" back-to-back. Having to re-boot Brawl from the Wii menu after playing each super-short demo hardly seems worth the effort.

Glee: We not only get trophies, but STICKERS too? We love stickers!
Gripe: Collecting stickers in Brawl just makes us wish we had those stickers in real life, to adorn our Wii-motes and Trapper Keepers. Pretty please, Nintendo?

Glee: The Subspace Emissary's numerous cutscenes are amazing, with just the right blend of bizarre character cross-overs, action scenes, and humor.
Gripe: The cutscene menu in the Movies section is a slow-scrolling list, making it surprisingly difficult to find that one particularly awesome cut-scene that comes late in the game (or Peach's hilarious "tea-time" scene).

Glee: The controversial "toon-shaded" version of Young Link makes his appearance as a playable character.
Gripe: He isn't toon-shaded! Toon Link in Brawl is the lanky, poorly-rendered awkward teenage version of that bright and colorful Wind Waker Link we've all grown to love (or hate).

Glee: The Subspace Emissary blends character storylines together in surprisingly clever ways. Nothing makes us giggle more than the team-up of Samus Aran and Pikachu, and certain character introductions made our hearts go all a-flutter.
Gripe: Without ruining too much, we'll just say that Sonic is so poorly woven into the fabric of Brawl's story mode, it honestly spoiled the entire wild ride a little. We recommend low expectations for the Hedgehog's entry into the fray.

Glee: Attaching stickers to character trophies adds a surprisingly refreshing RPG-esque twist to the Subspace Emissary mode.
Gripe: Attaching stickers to every last character that you control in SSE quickly becomes a tiresome and repetitive process.

Glee: Brawl offers fickle players four possible controller options, with customizable controls on each. Hooray for options!
Gripe: Boo for not enough options! While the D-pad on the Wii-mote turned sideways is used for movement, D-pads on the classic controller or Gamecube pad can not be assigned to anything other than taunting. The sideways Wii-mote customization options are also woefully limited; if hitting 1 and 2 simultaneously can activate a smash attack, why can't holding 1 and B (or 2 and B) do something as well?

Glee: Melee haters will be happy to know that Brawl brings the speed down to a level more akin to the N64 original. Playing it brings back fond memories of 1999.
Gripe: Though slower, characters feel "floatier" as well, and the precision control of Melee seems to be missing somewhat in its sequel. What's more, using the basic attack of many characters feels like you left the turbo button on by accident; they kick and punch automatically at such a high rate that we're honestly wondering if it might be a [gasp] glitch.

Gripe: Brawl's dual-layer DVD has proven too much for certain dirty or banged-up Wiis, which won't properly play the game without being sent in to Nintendo first for an optical laser cleaning.
Glee: Ours was miraculously fine, even after being checked through baggage for an eight-hour flight to France (and spending an extra day as lost luggage at Heathrow Airport). Carrying cases and tender loving care FTW.

How about it, fellow Brawlers? Any other gripes or glees that we missed? Let them be heard in the comments.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosssbbScott Jon Siegel2008-03-12T10:00:00+00:00MIT catches Brawl fever with newest 'hack'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/mit-catches-brawl-fever-with-newest-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/mit-catches-brawl-fever-with-newest-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/mit-catches-brawl-fever-with-newest-hack/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are once again showing off their gamer cred with an on-campus prank (or "hack," as those princely nerds like to call it). This time, it's in honor of the release of Smash Bros. Brawl, a modest little Wii title that you may or may not have heard of. The "hackers" hung items and symbols from the game in Lobby 7 of their campus on launch day, including a Pokéball, crate, and Mario's cap.

We have to admit that we're a bit disappointed with the simplicity of this gaming prank. Hanging little trinkets is nothing compared to arming and helmeting a statue to resemble Master Chief. While we appreciate the thought, this prank would seem tame at a community college, much less one of the most competitive schools in America. Of course, we're willing to forgive and forget, if MIT's student body can manage to come up with something a little better. You raised the bar yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. Now here's your chance to meet it.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>mitprankssmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosssbbScott Jon Siegel2008-03-10T15:15:00+00:00This Week in Review: A Smashing Starthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/this-week-in-review-a-smashing-start/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/this-week-in-review-a-smashing-start/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/this-week-in-review-a-smashing-start/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Welcome to This Week in Review (formerly This Week in DLC), where we round up all the hands-on impressions and game reviews (including Metareviews) from the Joystiq Network. This week's megaton title should come as no surprise whatsoever.

Nintendo Wii
Xbox 360
 PlayStation 3
 PlayStation Portable
 Nintendo DS

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>army-of-twodark-sectorflowlostprofessor-laytonrocketmensmash-brosssbbsuper-turricanthis-week-in-reviewRoss Miller2008-03-07T21:00:00+00:00Introducing the Joystiq Smash Bros Brawl pagehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/introducing-the-joystiq-smash-bros-brawl-page/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/introducing-the-joystiq-smash-bros-brawl-page/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/introducing-the-joystiq-smash-bros-brawl-page/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you hadn't heard the news, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is coming to North American shores next Sunday, March 9. If you're looking to keep up to date with everything surrounding the title, check out our game page for all things Brawl. Seriously, this is everything we've written on the game. Bookmark the page, as we'll be constantly updating.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>smash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbbRoss Miller2008-03-05T08:00:00+00:00Nintendo announces North American Smash Bros. Brawl tournamentshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/nintendo-announces-north-american-smash-bros-brawl-tournaments/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/nintendo-announces-north-american-smash-bros-brawl-tournaments/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/nintendo-announces-north-american-smash-bros-brawl-tournaments/#commentsFiled under: ,


Impatient to get your Brawl on? Some of you North American gamers could get a chance to play Nintendo's all-star fighter as early as this Saturday, when Nintendo kicks off the first of four regional Smash Bros. Brawl tournaments across the United States.

The regional tournaments will take place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City, with a maximum of 256 participants at each location. The winners from each tournament will meet in New York for the finals, with the grand prize winner walking away with a crystal-coated Wii, home theatre system, and (of course) a copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

The three finalists will win non-crystal-coated Wii consoles, extra Wii remotes, copies of Brawl, and Best Buy gift certificates ranging from $250 to $1,000. Regional tournaments register players on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we'd recommend getting there nice and early to compete. The first tourney is this Saturday, February 16 in Los Angeles. Full regional tournament details after the break.

The regional tournaments will take place on four separate days, in four separate locations:

Saturday, Feb. 16
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Orpheum Theater
842 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Saturday, Feb. 23
Doors open at 2 p.m.
Ten15 Folsom
1015 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

Saturday, March 1
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Olden Hall
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609

Saturday, March 8
Doors open at 5 p.m.
Best Buy (NOHO)
622 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

The finals will also take place in New York on March 8, as part of Best Buy's Midnight Madness launch event for Smash Bros. Brawl. All tournament participants will receive $10 Best Buy gift certificates.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlnintendosmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawltournamentsScott Jon Siegel2008-02-14T11:59:00+00:00A rather 'large' Smash Bros Brawl glitchhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/a-rather-large-smash-bros-brawl-glitch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/a-rather-large-smash-bros-brawl-glitch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/a-rather-large-smash-bros-brawl-glitch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Given everything else in Smash Bros Brawl has been revealed on the internet, it's only fitting that a few unintentional quirks are spoiled, too. While you might argue/joke "that's not a bug, it's a feature," we're pretty sure this one is a bug. Here's your spoiler warning -- video (and explanation of the glitch) embedded after the break.

Gallery: Super Smash Bros. Brawl


[Via NWF]


Normally, Jigglypuff's final smash has him turn into a giant puff and push people off the stage, subsequently returning to normal size. Using the collapsed bridge, someone found a way to keep him permanently enlarged. You don't have to sit through the entire video, only the first minute or so is important.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bugglitchsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbbRoss Miller2008-02-14T03:00:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl sales exceed 1 million in Japanhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/smash-bros-brawl-sales-exceed-1-million-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/smash-bros-brawl-sales-exceed-1-million-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/smash-bros-brawl-sales-exceed-1-million-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,


And so the total number of Japanese people that we utterly despise rises to 1 million. Actually, it's 1.08 million, which is the number of Super Smash Bros. Brawl discs that have been sold since the game's launch on January 31st. Reuters reminds us that it took Wii Fit seven weeks to accomplish a similar feet feat, with even Wii Sports (sold separately in Japan) dallying for 11 weeks before crossing the 1 million mark.

There aren't many weeks left between us and the game's American debut, but by then it'll be our turn to become targets for an entire continent's hatred and jealousy.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>BrawlJapanSmash-BrosSmash-Bros-BrawlSmashBrosSuper-Smash-Bros-BrawlSuperSmashBrosBrawlLudwig Kietzmann2008-02-12T09:49:00+00:00Readers pick best webcomic: "Falcon ..."http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/readers-pick-best-webcomic-falcon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/readers-pick-best-webcomic-falcon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/readers-pick-best-webcomic-falcon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Falcon Winner! (Sorry, we couldn't resist.) The winner of this week's webcomic wrapup knows the meaning of a good Captain Falcon gag -- thank you, GamerPALs for also promoting educational values and loud screams in public places.

Second and third place goes to VG Cats (note: published before spoilers) and Penny Arcade, respectively. Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!

[Results are being finicky, will post later.]

Quick, to the archives!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlcaptain-falconf-zerogamer-palsgamerpalsn-europepenny-arcadesmash-brosssbbvg-catswebcomicRoss Miller2008-02-06T06:00:00+00:00Just blow: Smash Bros Brawl disc problems blamed on dusthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/just-blow-smash-bros-brawl-disc-problems-blamed-on-dust/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/just-blow-smash-bros-brawl-disc-problems-blamed-on-dust/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/just-blow-smash-bros-brawl-disc-problems-blamed-on-dust/#commentsFiled under: ,


Though many of Japan's Wii owners may now be in possession of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, not all of them can necessarily play it. IGN reports that a number of users are reporting that the Brawl discs will not run properly on their consoles, a problem which actually stems from dirt build-up in the Wii itself.

Brawl is uniquely affected by this problem due to the game's size, which makes it the first title on the Wii to be pressed on a dual-layer DVD. The special disc requires a more fine-tuned read from the optical sensor, which is causing problems in systems clogged with dirt and tobacco smoke. Rather than suggesting they "blow," Nintendo has set up a cleaning service for players affected. Japanese owners who send their Wii consoles, copies of Brawl and warranty cards to a service center in Kyoto will have their systems repaired within one week, and Nintendo will cover all cleaning and shipping costs.

While we're happy Nintendo is taking responsibility for the problem, we're also personally hoping that those affected kept their consoles in squalid conditions. If even small amounts of dust can affect the playability of the Brawl discs, then we're looking at a lot of impatient, unhappy customers in the States come March 9th.

[Via Eurogamer]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>japannintendosmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrossmashbrosbrawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlScott Jon Siegel2008-02-04T11:55:00+00:00Rumor: Resident Evil 4 to blame for no Capcom in Brawlhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/rumor-resident-evil-4-to-blame-for-no-capcom-in-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/rumor-resident-evil-4-to-blame-for-no-capcom-in-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/rumor-resident-evil-4-to-blame-for-no-capcom-in-brawl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Before the deluge of Super Smash Bros. Brawl information following the Japanese release, we were still all hoping to see Mega Man, Leon Kennedy, or maybe even Ryu appear in the game's sizable roster. Now that the dust has cleared, with no Capcom characters in sight, the only question left to ask is: why?

Kotaku has reportedly spoken with insider sources at Nintendo, who claim that the lost exclusivity of Resident Evil 4 caused Nintendo to reconsider the inclusion of Capcom characters in Brawl. RE4 was originally meant to be exclusive to the Gamecube, but concerns over sales led Capcom to release the title on PS2, and later on PC, with additional content.

While Nintendo has the right to be peeved about the broken exclusivity agreement, the addition of Capcom's franchises to the Brawl lineup could have only benefited Nintendo, and created more hype for the title (if that's even possible). While we're a bit unsure whether to buy into this rumor, if true then we can only hope that Capcom and Nintendo kiss and make up in time to offer some new characters as downloadable content (hey, we can dream, can't we?).

Update: Slight factual error corrected; Capcom announced the PS2 version prior to the release of the Gamecube version. [Thanks, 2bit]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlcapcomnintendoresident-evil-4residentevil4rumorssmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrossmashbrosbrawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlScott Jon Siegel2008-02-04T06:00:00+00:00Nintendo teases PAL regions with Brawl release datehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/nintendo-teases-pal-regions-with-brawl-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/nintendo-teases-pal-regions-with-brawl-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/nintendo-teases-pal-regions-with-brawl-release-date/#commentsFiled under: ,


While Wii owners in Japan are feverishly playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and everyone in the States is biting their fingernails in anticipation of the March release, we forget our friends in the PAL region, who thus far haven't even been given a firm release date for Nintendo's franchise fighter. Wii Fanboy helps us catch up with all the drama.

A few days ago, Nintendo updated the Brawl page of their UK site, posting a release date of June 1st for the game. Once word had gotten out of the posted date, Nintendo quietly removed it, replacing it with the super-helpful time frame of "2008."

What's even weirder is Nintendo's denial of the slipped release, claiming the update is likely a mistake as June 1st is a Sunday. Keep in mind that the official Brawl release date in the US is March 9th: a Sunday. So either it's a flimsy excuse for an unannounced release date, or the date really doesn't mean anything. Either way, we'll keep you updated on whether Nintendo ever decides to "set a date" with our PAL pals.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawleuropenintendopalsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrossmashbrosbrawlssbbukScott Jon Siegel2008-02-01T12:00:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl shortages imminenthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/smash-bros-brawl-shortages-imminent/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/smash-bros-brawl-shortages-imminent/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/smash-bros-brawl-shortages-imminent/#commentsFiled under: ,

ssbb
Japan is poised to suffer significant Super Smash Bros. Brawl shortages when the game is officially released on Thursday, reports Game|Life. Nintendo has failed to supply as much as 75% of pre-order units to retailers; likely due to production delays and oversights. Though the shortage would seem to pale in comparison to Wii hardware scarcity, a meager Brawl launch would underscore Nintendo's continued struggle to operate a functional supply chain.

Game|Life theorizes that Japan's expected shortages explain Brawl's delay in North America, as it will take until March for Nintendo to manufacture an ample shipment of units for the territory - not to mention, fulfill the rest of Japan's demand. Others speculate that Nintendo is intentionally withholding supply to give its WiFi Connection service a chance to adapt to the inescapable surge of online Brawl players. This isn't the first time Nintendo has been accused of such tactics, and - if someone don't fix that damn supply chain - it won't be the last.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlimportjapansmash-brossmashbrosssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlsupersmashbrosbrawlJames Ransom-Wiley2008-01-29T19:00:00+00:00Japanese Brawl intro hints at unannounced characters, looks sweethttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/japanese-brawl-intro-hints-at-unannounced-characters-looks-swee/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/japanese-brawl-intro-hints-at-unannounced-characters-looks-swee/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/japanese-brawl-intro-hints-at-unannounced-characters-looks-swee/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With the Japanese release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl only two days away, the deluge of video content has really only just begun. Today, it's the full introductory cinematic to the Japanese version, showing off a mixture of pre-rendered cut-scenes and gameplay footage designed to make us bite our fingernails with anticipation.

Surprisingly, the game's intro sequence even reveals a couple of unannounced old favorites returning to the fray. We won't give away any names here, but suffice it to say that a lot of you will be happy. Check out the full intro after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>brawlnintendosmash-brossmash-bros-brawlsmashbrossmashbrosbrawlssbbScott Jon Siegel2008-01-29T05:38:00+00:00Rumorang: The 'final' Smash Bros. Brawl rosterhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/rumorang-the-final-smash-bros-brawl-roster/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/rumorang-the-final-smash-bros-brawl-roster/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/rumorang-the-final-smash-bros-brawl-roster/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Rumors of the final Smash Bros. roster (past the 25 officially announced characters) are nothing new, but with the game's Japanese release nearing, such rumors seem to be reaching a fever pitch. The latest fuel for the fire is the above picture, which purports to show a final roster of 44 characters from the Japanese version of the game. The screen has been floated on a number of sites with varying degrees of credulity -- it was even included at the beginning of a very official-looking GameTrailers video introducing moves for three of the confirmed new characters in the game.

So is this the holy grail of Brawl information? As much as we'd like to believe it so, we just can't. For one thing, the background seems to be taken directly from this official image of a much smaller select screen. Everything matches a little too perfectly, from the transparent background image to the floating cursor in the bottom left corner. For another thing, the images many of the "newly revealed" characters are 2D drawings that don't match up well with the 3D renderings for the officially revealed characters. Even for those that are renders, a closely matching source image can usually be found with a quick Google image search, suggesting an overzealous photoshopper.

Still, we'd be more than happy to be wrong on this one and to be able to play with this impressive list of Nintendo favorites come March 9. For those who want to cover their ears and hold out a shred of hope, check out a full list of the supposedly "revealed" characters below the jump.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in, whether they believed it or not]

The "newcomers":
  • Bowser Jr. --- Mario Party series (row 1, column 1)
  • Midna -- Legend of Zelda series (row 1, column 9)
  • King K. Rool -- Donkey Kong Country series (Row 2, column 1)
  • Ridley -- Metroid series (row 2, column 4)
  • Fusion Samus -- Metroid series (row 2, column 6)
  • Lucario -- Pokemon series(Row 2, column 9)
  • Wolf O'Donnell a.k.a. Star Wolf -- Star Fox series(row 3, column 1)
  • Krystal -- Star Fox series (Row 3, Column 3)
  • Ashley -- WarioWare series(row 3, column 8)
  • Micaiah -- Fire Emblem series(row 3, column 10)
  • Black Bull -- F-Zero series (row 4, column 6)
  • Masked Man -- Earthbound/Mother series (row 4, column 9)

The "newly revealed" returning characters:
  • Luigi (row 1, column 3)
  • Ganondorf (row 1, column 10)
  • Young Link (row 1, column 11)
  • Jigglypuff (row 2, column 10)
  • Mewtwo (row 2, column 11)
  • Marth (row 3, column 11)
  • Mr. Game & Watch (row 4, column 2)
  • Captain Falcon (row 4, column 6)

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>charactersfakeimagerosterrumorrumorangsmash-brossmash-bros-brawlSSBBsuper-smash-bros-brawlKyle Orland2008-01-25T12:34:00+00:00Smash Bros. Brawl to include classic game demoshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/smash-bros-brawl-to-include-classic-game-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/smash-bros-brawl-to-include-classic-game-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/smash-bros-brawl-to-include-classic-game-demos/#commentsFiled under: ,


We'd think that at this point, even the haters have to admit that Super Smash Bros. Brawl sounds like an incredible value. But if you've got friends that are still holding out, we have the news that may put them over the top. It was announced today on the game's official blog that Brawl will ship with demos of classic games from some of the fighters' histories right on the disc.

So far, we know you can keep an eye out for samples (or "Masterpieces" as the blog calls them) of Ice Climber, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Kid Icarus, Kirby's Adventure, Super Metroid and Star Fox 64, and there are apparently others hidden on the disc. ... So, is it March 9 yet?

How about now?

[Thanks, Brock_UK]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>demossmash-brossmash-bros-brawlssbbJustin McElroy2008-01-25T08:10:00+00:00