The Archives
9 Matches
Mario Kart for Wii has disc-read errors. Everyone try to remain calm.
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 11:49pm
While North America waits for Mario Kart to arrive in their hot little hands, scandal is afoot in Japan... where reports are trickling in that the Mario Kart discs have disc-read errors (which is what you normally get if the disc is damaged or scratched). Nintendo has told Eurogamer that they are unaware of any such problem with the discs, but this does sound suspiciously like last month's release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which also brought a flood of complaints with it due to errors related to the dual layer disc. Mario Kart is just a single-layer disc, so that scapegoat can't be used again, so the matter remains unresolved. Destructoid takes pains to remind readers that reports are "few and far between", and over here at GameLedge we'd like to remind you that there's still enough time before the North American release for Nintendo to quietly correct whatever it is that's causing the problem.disc read error, mario kart, Nintendo, Wii
No Comments Leave a Comment
Pick up your DS and prepare for your SAT’s
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 11:18pm
Aspyr Media announced that they've penned a multi-year agreement to bring a "game" (if you will) to the Nintendo DS that will prep college-bound hopefuls for their SAT's. Working with test preparation firm Kaplan, they've started work on the an as-yet untitled offering which will appear on PC, Mac and Nintendo DS. Apparently "engaging" and "visually dynamic" (ohhhhhkay), it brings the standardized SAT preparation materials created and implemented by Kaplan to an interactive medium and, of course, is intended to help get kids into college. Kaplan isn't about to start having World of Warcraft in-world study sessions just yet, however; Kaplan's general manager of pre-college programs, Anthony Manley, stated "While a video game shouldn't be seen as a substitute for a full prep course, it's an innovative and effective way to reinforce preparatory learning." I'm trying to think of a cool way to make fun of this but, truth is, it's actually a pretty good idea and if it gets a kid into college then that kid's money is well-spent on the product. No suggested retail price has appeared yet, so we can't comment on whether or not it'll cut into anyone's kegger budget.Could a new Nintendo DS show up at E3?
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 11:05pm
Shacknews is careful to underline the word "RUMOR" in red grease pencil, but they make some interesting observations about the possibility of Nintendo refreshing the product line of its superzowiekabloom popular handheld gaming device, the DS. Sales are still very strong world-wide for the unit, but no major product revisions since the DS lite was introduced have arrived (and most gamers consider that to be more of a "fix" than a new version of the device). Shacknews notes that Hirokazu Hamamura, president of a Japanese magazine publisher called Enterbrain, has made some comments which raise the question about what Nintendo has up its sleeve for E3 this year:According to Bloomberg Japan, Hamamura noted his belief that Nintendo could unveil a new DS at E3 this year, which runs from July 15-17. It was unclear if he was referring to a simple redesign or an actual new dual-screened platform. Given that the system regularly tops sales charts in North America and Japan, a revised version of the existing hardware would be the most logical assumption. Enterbrain is generally regarded as the magazine in the know, and so when Hamamura speculates, people listen. Nintendo (naturally) had no comment on the matter.Mario Kart for Wii is looking niiiiiiiice
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 10:47pm
Check out the Wii Mario Kart pics over at Shacknews and clap your little paws together. Coming April 27 to North America, Mario Kart for Wii is pretty much money in the bank for Nintendo; the franchise is already firmly established as one of the best lightweight games around and the pre-release fanfare has been very strong. You can catch 15 screenies over at the link which show off the various tracks and courses. Mario Kart was released in Europe today, but we're gonna have to sit on our hands for a couple more weeks.Miyamoto on Time’s poll for 2008’s influential people
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 10:27pm
I almost used the word "inexplicable" when describing Wii Fanboy's fervent desire to jack up Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto in Time Magazine's poll for 2008's most influential people... but then I reminded myself that they probably didn't call themselves "Wii Fanboy" for nothing. The poll in question looks at a diverse list of 2008's heavy hitters, like John Colbert, Barack Obama, Jay-Z, and Miyamoto. The Fanboys are all googoo over "The Shig" (as they call him) because he's the man behind the influential and ground-breaking Wii controller as well as many other touchstones of Nintendo's success and dominance in the market. I'm not sure I'd like to throw my weight behind a plea to spam this poll with votes for The Shig because, frankly, I both think that the results should stand for themselves and, also, I have more weighty concerns on my mind. Like whether I prefer the purple or green robe for my level 54 Warlock... In other news: Mia Farrow is on this poll??Mario and Sonic: Enough already
Posted March 20th, 2008 at 11:00pm
Softpedia has an editorial online that I must admit I kinda agree with: Mario and Sonic should retire from games. Yes, it's a bit like asking Nintendo to take out it's wallet and set fire to it... but it's not a notion without merit. The article points out how long in the tooth both characters (and others) are, explaining that Mario is a whopping 27 years old. And then there's this......these two demonic characters, together with their friends have appeared in over 300 games. We all bought over 300 games, meaning tens of million of game units and hundred million dollars. Still, we’re the ones who explode when EA announces another sequel. And the poor lads probably don’t even have half of the titles Mario does. Hell, not even XXX actresses have as many movies as Mario and Sonic have games (even though the concept’s a bit different here). The point, obviously, is that innovation and creativity is the tip of the vanguard for gaming greatness... and the recycling of the same characters and game paradigms over and over stops the flow of fresh ideas and the breaking of new ground. Certainly it's not reasonable to expect Nintendo to turn the tap off when their IP sells so amazingly well, but the suggestion that room must always be left for risk-taking and fresh ideas is, in my opinion, as good as natural law.Super Smash Bros. Brawl cracks 1.4 million sales
Posted March 20th, 2008 at 9:56pm
Not that anyone's surprised, but Nintendo's recently released Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii has breezed right past the 1.4 million sales mark in one single week since its release in the US. Joystiq reports that Nintendo's press release says 874,000 of those sales happened on release day. Wow. This reportedly makes it the "fastest-selling video game in Nintendo of America's history." As Joystiq says, 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. I still don't have a copy because the guy at EB Games hates me.Nintendo, ssbb, Super Smash Bros. Brawl
No Comments Leave a Comment
Nintendo at E3 2008: What’s gonna happen?
Posted March 20th, 2008 at 9:49pm
Nintendo's presence at the E3 expo always brings something news-worthy to the gaming world, and there's no reason to believe that this year is going to be any different. What, however, can the game giant reveal this year which could trump or even rival the awesomeness of previous years? itwire speculates on what lies in wait, focusing on Nintendo's recently released "teaser" which promises something big this time around. "There's gonna be a big game for the holiday that the gamers will want," [Nintendo rep] Fils-Aime said. "All I can tell you is what we announce during E3 is gonna be fantastic. The gamer is gonna be excited and the expanded audience is gonna be excited." I don't know about you, but I've got my fingers crossed for Daikatana 2. Oh please oh please oh please...Metroid 2 Fan-Remake
Posted March 20th, 2008 at 8:34am
This one comes to us by the way of Destructoid. I love Nintendo's focus on gameplay. If it's not fun to play, then it's not a good game. I also love the love indie developers pour into their projects. So, when an indie developer gets the gumption to make a modern remake of a Nintendo classic, well, that's just like getting chocolate in your peanut butter. First, youtube: Second, the developer's blog. This guy clearly knows what it takes to make a sprite game. His writing is clear and informative. And what's more, the blog has been updated recently. This bodes well. Third, a tech demo. I haven't had the chance to check it out myself, but anything that promises to address the limitations of the Gameboy title, and has the video feed to prove it simply excites me. I'll be watching this one.Gameboy, Indie, Metroid 2, Nintendo, Remake
No Comments Leave a Comment