Joystiq

Smash Bros, 3D Mario, Mario Kart in pre-E3 Nintendo Direct

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

In lieu of an E3 press conference, Nintendo is going to present a Nintendo Direct before E3, showcasing the "new Smash Bros., 3D Mario game, Mario Kart and other Wii U titles."

The company previously announced that all three games would be playable at E3. This means for those not attending the show, the games may be playable at Nintendo's special Best Buy E3 demo extravaganza (note: fullness of "extravaganza" is TBD).

The most recent Nintendo Direct held last week covered the company's summer plans and Hedgehog snuggles.

Smash Bros, 3D Mario, Mario Kart in pre-E3 Nintendo Direct originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Bros. Wii U, 3DS to be showcased at E3

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST

The world gets its first look at the new Wii U and 3DS Super Smash Bros. games at this year's E3. In this week's Direct broadcast, Nintendo announced series designer Masahiro Sakurai is to debut screens of the new entries at the LA expo in June. Sakurai then clarified the news on Twitter, hinting there'll be more of the inter-icon fracases than just screens.

Sakurai tweeted he'd like to show both the Wii U and 3DS versions, and that, while "other games" have had visuals shown, he'd like to "release something better." It would be a bit surprising to only see screens, given Melee and Brawl both were first showcased with trailers at E3 expos.

Nintendo also announced new Wii U Mario Kart and 3D Mario games are in development, and are to also be shown off at E3 2013. In their case there'll also be playable demos at the expo, but at this stage that seems a pipe dream for the new SSB games.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U, 3DS to be showcased at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harada 'pulling back' on idea of Tekken characters in new Smash Bros.

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST

Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada is "not really sure" if Namco Bandai should include Tekken characters in the next Super Smash Bros., he told NowGamer. Namco is co-developing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS with Nintendo, and the title is a "big priority for the company," Harada says.

Namco has "a lot of people" from many of its franchises developing Super Smash Bros., but fans have been most curious about Tekken staff involvement in the new game, Harada says.

"The fans, rather than asking about Tales or Gundam or some of our other franchises, the fans abroad saw Tekken as one of the key words and took off on that," he says. "We're not really sure at this moment but when thinking of the playerbase who is playing Smash Bros., maybe Tekken characters is something they wouldn't want, so I've been pulling back on that a bit. But I don't know."

One of Tekken's characters, Heihachi Mishima, has been confirmed for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Sony's take on a Smash Bros.-style game. Namco's main staff is currently focused on finishing Tekken Tag Tournament 2, but it will support Super Smash Bros. in some capacity, Harada says. If any of the Tekken characters do make it into Super Smash Bros., we're personally hoping it's this one.

Harada 'pulling back' on idea of Tekken characters in new Smash Bros. originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's some wonderful Smash Bros. whiteboard art from Sakurai's team

JC Fletcher — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:40:00 EST

We don't know how far in development Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U is, but we know for a fact that the staff at Sora Ltd. is at least thinking about the series. And by "thinking" we mean "doodling on a whiteboard."

Studio head Masahiro Sakurai tweeted the above whiteboard portrait, explaining that the staff drew it, and it's "excellent." They were smart enough to make Kirby the center of attention, which is always a good move when the guy who created him is your boss. But check out flying Luigi!

Here's some wonderful Smash Bros. whiteboard art from Sakurai's team originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco's Smash Bros. team includes Tekken, Tales, Soulcalibur staff

JC Fletcher — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST

A pair of statements on Nintendo of America's Nintendo Direct site offers more detail on Namco Bandai Studios' involvement with the next Super Smash Bros. game, coming to Wii U and 3DS. Director and Sora studio head Masahiro Sakurai (who appears to have gotten even younger) said that the team started development after the announcement of the project. "Currently, the prototype prepared by Namco Bandai Games and Namco Bandai Studios' special team looks pretty good, and it's working great," he said.

Namco Bandai Studios' Masaya Kobayashi named some of the staff from Namco's side who will work on the fighting game, also describing their pedigree. "Yoshito Higuchi, the producer and the director of the 'Tales' series, Tetsuya Akatsuka, producer and director of 'Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.,' the art director/sound director of the 'SoulCalibur' series, the main development team staff from the Tekken series...and that's just for starters." Kobayashi lists Ridge Racer games, We Ski, and Go Vacation as his own representative works.

If having a random mishmash of Namco staff working on Smash Bros. concerns you, remember that Brawl had a lot of programming done by Game Arts, whose history of shooters, Lunar, and Grandia games is even less obviously transferable to fighting game expertise.

Namco's Smash Bros. team includes Tekken, Tales, Soulcalibur staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo brings in Namco Bandai to work on new Smash Bros.

David Hinkle — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:05:00 EST

During today's Nintendo Direct press conference, president Satoru Iwata revealed new details on the upcoming Super Smash Bros. game currently in the works for 3DS and Wii U. Sakurai will return, but this time he'll have some help from Namco Bandai and Bandai Namco Studios. Two Namco individuals in particular were singled out: producer Kobayashi and Tales series director, Yoshito Higuchi.

Nintendo brings in Namco Bandai to work on new Smash Bros. originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sakurai: 3DS/Wii U 'dual support' is 'key' for next Super Smash Bros.

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

The Smash Bros. franchise has remained relatively unchanged for the most part since 1999. Each iteration adds new stages, characters and graphical improvements, but the core gameplay remains effectively identical in almost every way that counts. This strategy has worked well enough over the last 13 years, but apparently its sustainability is on the wane.

"There is a certain dead end we come to if we just expand the volume of the game," said Smash Bros. creator and Nintendo legend Masahiro Sakurai during an interview with IGN. "I intend to change direction a little as we go ... The key to that's going to be its dual support for 3DS/Wii U."

Sakurai corroborated previous statements that the next Smash Bros is still quite a ways away, saying that he's "really just getting started" and that development is still going to take time. "But," he concludes, "I'll come up with something that uses that link as the game's central axis, so I hope you're looking forward to it."

Sakurai: 3DS/Wii U 'dual support' is 'key' for next Super Smash Bros. originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Land (Smash Bros. demake) now available for download

David Hinkle — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST

It's been a long wait, but now you can finally get your hands on the Super Smash Bros. demake that caught our collective eye back in February. Super Smash Land is currently available for download over on Piki Geek.

A labor of love from Dan Fornace, Super Smash Land features eleven different stages and six brawlers (including Mega Man!), a classic Arcade mode, multiplayer for up to four people and a Polygon Team-style Endless Mode. Heck, there are even online leaderboards!

... What are you waiting for? This is the full game. Go play it!

Super Smash Land (Smash Bros. demake) now available for download originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Land demake trailer and demo show off Game Boy charm

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST

Dan Fornace recently published a new trailer and demo for his long-time pet project: A Game Boy-style "demake" of the Smash Bros. franchise titled Super Smash Land. Check out the infinitely charming trailer here.

Continue reading Super Smash Land demake trailer and demo show off Game Boy charm

Super Smash Land demake trailer and demo show off Game Boy charm originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monster Hunter Tri has occupied over 50 hours per player on average

Mike Schramm — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Monster Hunter Tri has already sucked away over a million hours of gameplay time from users, according to stats from the Nintendo Channel. In just 63 days from release, the monster hunting epic stole a full million hours from users who reported logging in to the game over 330,000 times. The high number isn't necessarily a record breaker (Super Smash Bros. has garnered 100 times that, and players have spent 17 billion hours on Xbox Live), but where Monster Hunter Tri stands out is the per player duration: players of the game have spent an average of 52 hours in the game so far.

By comparison, Super Mario Galaxy 2 has eaten up 1.8 million hours of free time over 710k times, but the average time played there is about 20 hours -- more players, less time each. There are only four games ahead of Monster Hunter Tri in terms of played-per-person time, and all of them have been out for much longer. In other words, monsters aren't the only thing being hunted in this game -- free time had better watch its back as well.

Monster Hunter Tri has occupied over 50 hours per player on average originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Master Chief crash lands onto Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST

The modders at Kitty Corp: Meow Mix, the group behind the remarkably awesome Cloud Strife appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, have worked their inexplicable magic once more, bringing a decidedly non-Nintendo character into the frantic fighting game. This time around, it's the Halo universe's quintessential badass, Master Chief -- or rather, a re-skinned version of Captain Falcon, who is fully decked out in Master Chief's armor. (We really hope he asked permission before trying it on.)

You can check out a video of Master Chief's moves in a playful sparring match against Cloud just past the jump. Enjoy that video, because it might be the closest to a 3D version of Mushroom Kingdom Fusion that we'll ever get.

[Thanks, Ike!]

Continue reading Master Chief crash lands onto Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Master Chief crash lands onto Super Smash Bros. Brawl originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl

David Hinkle — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST

Up until today, our biggest problem with Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been that it doesn't have enough introspective, spiky-haired RPG protagonists. That's all changed, thanks to a group of modders known as DasDonkey Team and Kitty Corp: Meow Mix. Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud Strife -- along with his trusty Buster sword -- has been faithfully recreated in surprising detail here in Nintendo's franchise fight-em-up with custom animations and attacks. We won't pretend to understand the motivation behind the implementation (with these mods, we so seldom do), but hey, we're not complaining. The more, the merrier!

Head past the break to check out some video of Cloud in action.

[Via GameVideos]

Continue reading Cloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl

Cloud Strife hacked (and slashed) into Smash Bros. Brawl originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC in Brief: Super Smash Bros. (N64) and Ninja Gaiden (Arcade)

David Hinkle — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST

What a day for Virtual Console fans. For one, we've got the ultra-aggressive coin-op classic, Ninja Gaiden, to check out. Then, on top of that, the game that spawned one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises: Super Smash Bros. for the N64. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, then you just may be one of the most depressed people on Earth. We suggest consulting a doctor.

Super Smash Bros. (N64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
Ninja Gaiden (Arcade, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points)

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

VC in Brief: Super Smash Bros. (N64) and Ninja Gaiden (Arcade) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NintendoWare Weekly: Super Smash Bros., Ninja Gaiden, Dragon's Lair

JC Fletcher — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:07:00 EST

Nintendo announced its 500th downloadable Wii game today, reserving the honor for Super Smash Bros. Or, we suppose, for any of the other Virtual Console or WiiWare games released today. But Nintendo says it's Super Smash Bros., and that certainly seems like a more special way to celebrate a milestone than, say, the arcade version of Ninja Gaiden. See all the WiiWare, Virtual Console, and DSiWare releases after the break.

Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: Super Smash Bros., Ninja Gaiden, Dragon's Lair

NintendoWare Weekly: Super Smash Bros., Ninja Gaiden, Dragon's Lair originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mario Kart, Pilotwings and Smash Bros. coming to Virtual Console by year's end

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST

Gamespot is reporting that Nintendo revealed to them that a few oft-requested classic titles will be added to the Virtual Console within the coming weeks. According to the report, the festivities will kick off this coming Monday, when Super Mario Kart (which has been available in Japan for approximately forever) will be added to the storefront for the standard price of 800 Wii Points ($8).

Later in the holiday season, Nintendo will also reportedly drop the original Pilotwings onto the platform, then shortly after that, will also toss Super Smash Bros. into the mix. No prices have been announced for these two titles, but according to the Gamespot article, both will be released by the end of the year. That's just great. It's not like we're already drowning in huge, time-draining blockbusters. Now we've got to start perfecting our drifting and shell-flinging once again. We appreciate the gesture, Nintendo -- but your timing is rotten.

Report: Mario Kart, Pilotwings and Smash Bros. coming to Virtual Console by year's end originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Super Virtual Smash Bros.

JC Fletcher — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST

Today's Virtual Console release is something really special -- something that only happens on the Virtual Console a couple of times a year: a Nintendo 64 game. And what a Nintendo 64 game! Despite having a day or two to change its mind after announcing, Nintendo of Europe has actually put Super Smash Bros. on the Virtual Console. Now you can play all three Super Smash Bros. games on the same system!

Joining it is Cocoto Platform Jumper, which isa middling platformer from last-gen. And on DSiWare, Sudoku 150! for Challengers, a collection of sudoku puzzles for 500 DSi Points. Also, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing, whose iPhone sequel was announced at Apple's WWDC event, before this game launched. Awesome.

VC Friday: Super Virtual Smash Bros. originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smash Bros. intro done with Team Fortress 2 cast

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:00:00 EST

The Team Fortress 2 vignettes are clever, but YouTube videographer AyesDyef did something that takes serious geeky dedication when he recreated the opening to Super Smash Bros. with the TF2 crew. The video above is an incredible recreation of the original Smash Bros. opening. How do we know it's so accurate? Well, there's a comparison video after the break if you don't believe us.

Continue reading Smash Bros. intro done with Team Fortress 2 cast

Smash Bros. intro done with Team Fortress 2 cast originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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April Fools: Nintendo releasing M-rated Smash Bros.

Justin McElroy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:52:00 EST

Well, we guess this is one way to show the hardcore that you haven't abandoned them. The always-dependable IGN says that Nintendo is rolling out the new "Wii Expand" service with Super Smash Bros. Brawl X: Extreme, a super-violent take on the company's party fighter.

When it really comes out because it's really real, SSBBX:E will allow Link to decapitate Mario. So, yeah, it's going to be the best game ever.

Continue reading April Fools: Nintendo releasing M-rated Smash Bros.

April Fools: Nintendo releasing M-rated Smash Bros. originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: Smashed Gameplay

JC Fletcher — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

As reported yesterday, the new TMNT: Smash Up for the Wii seems to borrow liberally from Super Smash Bros. We're not going to argue about the "fairness" of lifting from other games to make your design, because appropriating other people's ideas and resynthesizing them is basically the essence of art. And every fighting game since Street Fighter II has cribbed from Capcom's masterpiece anyway. Basically, we wouldn't have a fighting genre if not for copying.

But on to Smash Bros. and the Turtles. Do you think the Smash Bros. gameplay is strong enough to work without Nintendo characters? Are there any particular ideas involved in the bizarre fighting series that more fighting games could stand to inherit? And is it going to become its own branch of the fighting game genre?

Wii Warm Up: Smashed Gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Bros. sparring on Japanese Virtual Console in January

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Fighting

"B-b-b-but I don't live in Japan!" We know, dear reader -- despite the fact that a great deal of the world's population takes up residence in the Land of the Rising Sun, we understand that there are plenty of those who don't. This second group likely just thinks we're taunting them with the information that Super Smash Bros., one of the most requested titles for the Virtual Console, will be landing on the service in Japan sometime in early January.

However, take solace in the fact that this might mean that it'll be hitting North American e-store shelves sometime soon. Let's just hope that our price for the game doesn't mimic Japan's -- 1,200 points (as opposed to the usual 1,000 for an N64 game) is ridiculous, and we absolutely would not pay it. Well, maybe we'd pay it, but we definitely wouldn't feel good about it. Fine -- we'd probably be ecstatic, but we'd totally pout for like, a minute or two. Take that, Nintendo!

Super Smash Bros. sparring on Japanese Virtual Console in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: Super Obsolete Bros.?

JC Fletcher — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

The big news out of Nintendo of Japan yesterday was an impending Virtual Console release of the original N64 Super Smash Bros.. I personally have warm feelings for the original title that none of the sequels have managed to recapture, but that has more to do with the circumstances of my life at the time than the actual game -- I just happened to be living in a dorm at the time, and Super Smash Bros. was a daily pastime among residents.

At least on a superficial level, the sequels (both of which are playable on Wii) improved massively upon the original in terms of character selection, levels, options, and extras. So why all the furor to go back? Is it something about game balance that is visible only to tournament nerds? Overarching love of the series? Nostalgia? Don't take this as an attack -- I'm probably going to buy the thing myself, and I'm not sure why.

Wii Warm Up: Super Obsolete Bros.? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Bros. leads January VC lineup in Japan

JC Fletcher — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console, Imports

Nintendo of Japan has announced their plans for the next month's Virtual Console games, and, for once, the list includes a Nintendo 64 title. Super Smash Bros. is headed to the Japanese VC in January. Pokémon Snap came out in the US within a week of the Japanese release last year, so maybe this year's big winter N64 game will follow suit. Nintendo has lovingly appended an extra 200 points to the normal cost of a Nintendo 64 game for this release.

Super Smash Bros. is likely to be the only thing anyone reading this will care about, given the combined Brawl obsession of the Wii audience and the first-party-franchise domination of VC sales, but we've got the whole (rather small) lineup for January after the break just because.

Continue reading Super Smash Bros. leads January VC lineup in Japan

Super Smash Bros. leads January VC lineup in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 5: Multiplayer Experiences

Kaes Delgrego — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:37:00 EST

Filed under: Top Five

As someone who writes on the Internets, I do a lot of reading as well. As just about any successful author will advise, if I want to be a better writer then I should be reading as much as possible. Thus, I tend to spend a good amount of time scouring the gaming websites and reading commentary from just about anyone. I wouldn't insult anyone by pointing out flaws in their work (as I'm host to many of my own), but it is sufficient to say that there is great diversity in the quality and other general attributes of gaming commentary. One source that I do consistently enjoy comes from GoNintendo's head honcho, known as RawmeatCowboy. Equal parts Nintendo fan and beard enthusiast, RMC has a passion for gaming unmatched by nearly anyone else in the entire industry. Whereas some journalists and commentators may give off an impression of jaded cynicism, this particular blogger is a bundle of video game-loving joy. Though he's not quite the wordsmith of a Jerry Holkins, his joy and optimism transcend any potential criticism. And after all, that should be the reason we play video games: for happiness.

Stepping away from worshipping his shrine, I'll get back on target. In a recent post, RMC discusses offline multiplayer via a get-together involving several friends of his trying out Guitar Hero: World Tour. He states that multiplayer is more enjoyable in person than online, and I find it difficult to disagree. That is not to say that online multiplayer is garbage; quite the opposite is true. Aside from the obvious pragmatics of not always being able to round up a few friends to play a game you enjoy, there's the global aspect behind online gaming. Though I've been battling people online via chess years before any major console had such capabilities, the enormous power of the technology didn't register with me until very recently. As I was connecting to an online race in Mario Kart Wii, the identification of racers on the globe really hit home. Realizing that I was simultaneously connecting with individuals from Japan, China, Germany, and England was strangely beautiful.

Despite the fascinating global implications of such connections, I remain a bit of a luddite in that I don't think there's anything better than having your friends in the same room with you while fighting with or against each other. Here's the Top 5 ways we recommend that you enjoy such opportunities.

NEXT >>

The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.

Top 5: Multiplayer Experiences originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 5: Where Do They Go Now?

Kaes Delgrego — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:48:00 EST

Filed under: Top Five

As someone who's been following Nintendo for quite awhile, they've almost never failed to surprise me. Though their origins are classic, Nintendo-developed games are continuously refined, retooled, and revitalized. Some may buy into that old standard line used mostly for musical artists that makes you sound cool: "their older stuff is better." Such broad generalizations are silly: to ignore Super Mario Galaxy because of a fetish for Super Mario Bros. would be dogmatic.

But for those of us growing long in the gaming tooth, we're led to wonder where all of these classic IPs are headed. It's hard to imagine a gaming world without Nintendo's current A-listers, but does anyone have a solid idea of what future iterations of our favorite franchises will be like? Now that just about every gangbuster franchise has been successfully embedded in 3D, we're at a loss as to the next big step for gaming.

Some of us have really good ideas, but I'm positively stumped as to where these franchises are going.

NEXT >>

Top 5: Where Do They Go Now? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sakurai: 'Another Smash Bros? I'd have to give it some serious thought'

David Hinkle — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:59:00 EST

Filed under: News

During a recent interview with ONM, Masahiro Sakurai talked about his latest game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, among other things. What might be of most interest to us all is that he's apparently willing to work on another Smash Bros. game.

"It's interesting, because after every Smash Bros. game I've made, I've always felt at that time that I've left nothing out," he says. "However, I also understand that there are millions of fans out there who love the series so if Mr Iwata came to me in a few years time and asked me to make another one, I'd have to give it some serious thought." A few years? You're kidding! We want another game now. And can we get less things cut out of the game this time around, please?

[Via Go Nintendo]

Sakurai: 'Another Smash Bros? I'd have to give it some serious thought' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Bros. Rumble in the DS jungle

Eric Caoili — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Homebrew, Video

Building your homebrew project off an already popular franchise has the danger of raising expectations too high for your low-budget production, as was the case with Super Mario Galaxies, a 2D shoot-em-up interpretation of Nintendo's grandiose 3D platformer. Though Super Smash Bros. Rumble has the potential to one day be a satisfactory portable alternative to Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it still has a long way to go!

So far, the demo includes only a solo mode, a few stages, and Mario as the lone playable character. Fuzzy, the game's 19-year-old programmer from Germany, seems to have a lot planned for the project, however, as he already has a WiFi button in place and waiting for online support.

Just a quick suggestion -- maybe choose another typeface for the top-screen logo on the menu screen? Though it's resident blogger David Hinkle's favorite typeface, Super Smash Bros. designer Masahiro Sakurai would never sully the series with Hobo.

[Via GamerTell, GBAtemp]

Super Smash Bros. Rumble in the DS jungle originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: The next great remake

Alisha Karabinus — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

Maybe it was a matter of time, but that isn't important -- what is important is that you guys called it. Chrono Trigger is headed to the DS (and we wouldn't be surprised to see something Snatcher-related for the DS eventually), and that makes last year's celebration of the age of remakes a success.

Which, of course, means we need to do the whole thing again, and that means we have to turn to you, gentle readers. We need all-new games to explore for their remakeability, so open up. Let us know what you might like to see, with the exceptions of Snatcher, Super Smash Bros., Abe's Oddysee, and of course, Chrono Trigger. We'll make a new poll from your suggestions, so get to suggesting. Remakes, ports, and re-imaginings of titles are all fair game. Tell us what you'd play!

DS Daily: The next great remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday Video: Smash Bros. becomes an RPG

David Hinkle — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Friday Video

It may not have the highest production values, but the above video is inspired and, we imagine, took quite a bit of work. Long story short, clips of gameplay from Super Smash Bros. Brawl have been edited to make the title appear as a turn-based RPG, complete with random encounters and experience points. We'd love to play a Smash Bros. RPG.

Each week, our Friday Video segment takes a look at the gaming landscape online and brings forth an interesting video that (hopefully) gets the dialog started. Past highlights of Super Smash Bros. Brawl have included an adults-only video, an ... incredibly strange video, and the franchise's past advertising.

Friday Video: Smash Bros. becomes an RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiring of Smash Bros? Introducing Wii Fanboy's Stage of the Week

Ross Miller — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

Akin to X3F's awesome weekly Halo 3 Community Content, the gang at sister site Nintendo Wii Fanboy has introduced a new weekly feature, aptly titled Brawl Stage of the Week, where they'll be showcasing the best user-made Super Smash Bros. Brawl levels and offering them for download.

The inaugural edition highlights a rather self-flattering level: the Joystiq logo, as poorly interpreted by our very own James Ransom-Wiley. Suggestions for the feature? Think you can do a better Brawl stage? Of course you can! Submit your levels to smashsubs AAT nintendowiifanboy DAWT com ... we'll be waiting.

Gallery: Brawl Stage of the Week

Tiring of Smash Bros? Introducing Wii Fanboy's Stage of the Week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: What Brawl is missing?

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

Super Smash Bros. Brawl seems to have pretty much every base covered. Really, it's the ultimate gaming box of chocolates, boasting an absurdly vast array of fighting modes, trophies, characters, items, stages, stickers, challenges, music, snapshots, customized stages, and much, much more. But here's something it doesn't have: Miis.

Reader Mark wrote to us pointing out that he rather liked the idea of putting himself up against the Brawl cast. We hadn't even considered this, but now Mii integration in Brawl appeals to us also! It may seem churlish to complain about a lack of stuff to do in Brawl, but then Miis make appearances in other Nintendo titles, so why not Brawl? Think you'd have enjoyed seeing a miniature, blobby version of yourself kicking Pikachu in the gums? Of course you would!

Oh, and bonus points to anybody who can tell us who the dozen Miis above are based on.

[Thanks, Mark!]

Wii Warm Up: What Brawl is missing? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday Video: Black Cat vs Master Hand

Eric Caoili — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Friday video

Much like the final battles in the Super Smash Bros. games, this week's video has a scrappy young kitten fighting for his life against a mysterious giant hand, its owner off-camera. How does this relate to the Nintendo DS, you ask? Well, if you watch the background closely, you'll see someone completely oblivious to the ensuing brawl, too captivated by his DS.

We pride ourselves in our ability to find any excuse to post cats.

See also: This is how you do a trailer with no gameplay footage

[Via Nicovideo]

Friday Video: Black Cat vs Master Hand originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe: Wii Fit hits April 25; Mario Kart, April 11; Brawl rumored for June 6

Kyle Orland — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

With Nintendo confirming upcoming American release dates left and right, Europeans would be justified in feeling a little left out of the fun. Luckily, Nintendo was magnanimous enough to let out an official announcement on two major upcoming release dates, and perhaps sloppy enough to leak out rumor of another.

First on the official side, Nintendo of Europe has announced that Wii Fit will hit the continent on April 25, a full month before Americans get the game and balance board on May 12. Mario Kart Wii, meanwhile, will hit Europe on April 11, a much more specific date than the nebulous "Spring" that American gamers currently have to vaguely look forward to.

On the rumor side, Dutch site GamerCC (sketchy Google translation) reports from France's Micromania Game Show that Nintendo let slip a planned June 6 European release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Sounds juicy, until you hear that a Nintendo spokesperson told Videogamer.com that the date was "a rumour and purely speculative." That doesn't mean it's false, necessarily, just that Nintendo isn't willing to confirm that it's true just yet.

Read - Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii announcement
Read - Smash Bros. Brawl rumor, Nintendo denial

Europe: Wii Fit hits April 25; Mario Kart, April 11; Brawl rumored for June 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Final Smashes revealed

Kyle Orland — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii, Fighting

If there's one thing we learned reading through some of the comments on our mega-spoiler Smash Bros. Brawl post, it's that there are a lot of people who want Mega Man to join in the Smash Bros. series. If there's a second thing we learned, it's that people are very interested in learning the secretive "Final Smash" attacks for each of the revealed characters.

Well, we can't help with Mega Man, but thanks to the kindly folks over at GameVideos, we can help with that second problem. The epic eight-minute video below shows off every Final Smash move in sequence. Not all Final Smashes are created equal, though, so we've decided to rank them on a ten point scale based on destructive potential, how well they fit the character and all-around coolness. Don't agree with us? Take it to the comments, Jabroni.

Warning: Major spoilers contained below the break.

Continue reading Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Final Smashes revealed

Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Final Smashes revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Smash Bros. Brawl sells 500K on first day in Japan

Kyle Orland — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii, Fighting

Already this week we've run leaked trailers, information and gameplay videos of Super Smash Bros. Brawl ... so why not add leaked sales numbers to that list? Cubed3 has a translation of a Japanese blog post referencing a purportedly leaked Famitsu sales report that says the highly-anticipated game sold 500,000 copies, or 80 percent of available stock, on its first day of Japanese release.

The sourcing is admittedly not very concrete, but the number does seem plausible given reports of retail shortages and the game's strong showing on the Amazon Japan charts. Then again, Super Mario Galaxy only sold 250,000 copies (edit: fixed typo) in it's entire first week of release, and that was during the highly-charged holiday season. Has Smash Bros. Brawl shattered Japanese sales expectations, or is something getting lost in translation here? You'll know as soon as we do.

Rumor: Smash Bros. Brawl sells 500K on first day in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Smash Bros. Brawl videos than you can shake a remote at

Kyle Orland — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii, Fighting, Fashion

After this week's spoilerific Smash Bros. Brawl leaks and video dump out of Japan, you might be sick to death of the game already. Or you might be writhing around on the floor, gibbering like a baby and drooling at the thought of more information about Nintendo's fan-service-fest.

If you fall into the second group, the below videos should help stop the shakes for a little while. We know you're busy, so we tried to pick out the highest-quality, most intriguing and informative of the literal ass-ton of Brawl videos floating on the web, so you can get your spoiler-fix in the shortest amount of time possible. Enjoy!

Warning: major spoilers contained in almost all of the below videos

Continue reading More Smash Bros. Brawl videos than you can shake a remote at

More Smash Bros. Brawl videos than you can shake a remote at originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan to run plenty of ads for Smash Bros. Brawl

David Hinkle — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff, Video

With Super Smash Bros. Brawl releasing upon the Japanese public at the end of the month, it's no surprise that Nintendo has prepared a plethora of TV spots to be run. And, thanks to the intertron, one doesn't need to live in Japan to see them. So, sit back, relax and catch an eye full of Brawl goodness in one of the spots above, then head past the break for some more.

Continue reading Japan to run plenty of ads for Smash Bros. Brawl

Japan to run plenty of ads for Smash Bros. Brawl originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Super Smash Bros. to hit VC when Brawl releases

Chris Greenhough — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors, Virtual Console

Because Super Smash Bros. Brawl won't consume enough time on its own, rumor has it that the game's release will be accompanied by the appearance of Super Smash Bros. on the Virtual Console. We're not sure where you stand on purchasing a fuzzier, arguably inferior fighting game on the very same day you get to take home your shiny new copy of Brawl, but we imagine that very few of you will need your arm twisting.

This particularly juicy slice of speculation first appeared in Nintendo Power, and we wouldn't bet against it being true, especially as the Virtual Console debuts of Metroid and Super Mario Bros. 3 more or less coincided with the releases of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Super Mario Galaxy respectively.

On an entirely separate note, how much has that original boxart aged? Day-um.

Rumor: Super Smash Bros. to hit VC when Brawl releases originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samus vs Ivy! Cloud vs Chun Li! Link vs Mega Man X!

Eric Caoili — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Homebrew

Before your head explodes, no, this game isn't a planned release, commercial or non-commercial, for the DS. Card Sagas Wars is a homemade PC project created with M.U.G.E.N, a "freeware 2D fighting game engine." The music and backgrounds have been ripped from a variety of popular games, but it looks like the character sprites have been redrawn for a consistent (and totally awesome) look.

If anything, Card Sagas Wars' developers are ambitious, setting out to include a collection of playable characters that would put even Super Smash Bros. Brawl to shame, its posted list of 995 "Blue Series" cards ranging from Killer Instinct's Cinder to Castlevania's Soma Cruz. A demo with four playable fighters is currently in the works, but no concrete date has been set for its release. You can see an older, less epic trailer for Card Sagas Wars past the break.

Continue reading Samus vs Ivy! Cloud vs Chun Li! Link vs Mega Man X!

Samus vs Ivy! Cloud vs Chun Li! Link vs Mega Man X! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smash Bros. Brawl dated for Europe ... at a 'later date'

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:51:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Fighting

Since 'June 2008 or beyond' didn't exactly resonate with European Wii owners, Nintendo has quickly, albeit indirectly revised its update on the European release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In a statement responding to yesterday's concerns about Brawl missing from a tentative Q1/Q2 release list, Nintendo has said: "All Nintendo software titles launching in Q2 2008 have not been finalized or confirmed to date. Nintendo will communicate on all software titles launching in Q2 2008 for Wii and Nintendo DS at a later date" -- oh, except for Mario Kart Wii, that one's definitely coming Q2.

Nintendo can dangle Mario Kart in our faces all its wants, but that won't change the fact that its stance on Brawl in Europe remains as vague as ever. Europe's used to waiting, so c'mon Nintendo, either end it with a swift kick to the dome or just lay the bad news on us.

Smash Bros. Brawl dated for Europe ... at a 'later date' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smash Bros. Brawl not expected in Europe until Q3 '08

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Fighting

Nintendo hates Europe: Confirmed? It's not the steadfast and ever-lingering sort of hate, but rather that insidious aura which prompts someone to suffocate you with a pillow as soon as you're comfortable enough to share a bed with them. After all, our gaming pals in Europe didn't have to endure entirely ridiculous waits for Metroid Prime 3 or Super Mario Galaxy, and managed to enjoy both excellent titles while they were still fresh in the memories of those on more privileged continents. Even next year's Mario Kart Wii got a spot on Nintendo's latest second quarter release list.

Cross-over cartoon violence spectacular, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, was sadly omitted from said list, prompting Videogamer.com to politely ask Nintendo when Europe could expect its arrival. "If the game is not listed on the schedule up until the end of Q2 it is currently not due out until after that time," came the bloodcurdling answer. That places Super Smash Bros. Brawl in June at earliest, roughly four months after the game's American release in February. We hope this is nothing more than a precaution (would another delay surprise anybody?), as we simply cannot comprehend this level of cruelty being inflicted upon Europe intentionally -- and we watch the Royal Variety Performance every year.

Smash Bros. Brawl not expected in Europe until Q3 '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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