Idol chatter
Square Enix's much anticipated Tomb Raider reboot has a release date: 5th March 2013. The date came at the end of a brand new trailer showing the more action-heavy focus of the new title, with Lara placed in more perilous situations than even Nathan Drake could imagine. We'll see more next week. [youtube:ol_-QGlwRqc]
A little bit of everything
Saving those Club Nintendo Coins for a special occasion? Well, it's a new month, and that means new rewards. Here's what North American Club Nintendo members can choose from now.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow — Mirror of Fate is coming to 3DS, but Konami's not ready to show it off just yet. Instead, as part of its pre-E3 conference, it's released a teaser video promising more next week. When we say 'teaser' video we really mean it: there's not even a snifter of gameplay here, just lots of arty blood clouds and phrases like "chained by fate" and "cursed by blood", closing with a message to "look into the mirror" on 5th June. That's pretty much it, but if we weren't excited before — and we think we were — we're definitely in anticipation mode now. More next week. [youtube:eaBNVLwuhT8]
Barking mad
"Classic" FMV-based arcade gunslinger Mad Dog McCree is coming to the 3DS eShop in North America on 14th June for $7.99. The handheld port will include remastered footage, though we very much doubt it's been post-processed into 3D, so expect the heads-up display to be your only taste of stereoscopic glory. Here's the trailer. Now where's our spittoon? [youtube:w0jc7QUin6I]Get Ready To Draw! Mad Dog McCree Coming Soon to the eShop Digital Leisure and Engine Software are pleased announce that American Laser Games classic Mad Dog McCree will be availalbe through the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS, June 14th in North America and later this summer in European territories.
Only one gunslinger can stop a Mad Dog gone wild... and that's you, partner. When the ruthless outlaw Mad Dog McCree goes on a rampage with a nasty pack of wanted fugitives, they leave death in their wake. Mad Dog McCree and his band of cutthroats have ridden into town, kidnapped the Mayor and his daughter, and taken them to his hideout. These hombres are mean and vicious. What this town needs is a gunslinger to spray a little lead in harm's way. Relive the gunpowder glory of the Wild West with American Laser Games FMV Arcade Classic Mad Dog McCree! Features:Mad Dog McCree is available June 14th for only $7.99 USD.
- An American Laser Games FMV Classic - A First for the 3DS!
- Original Arcade Release On-The-Go
- Remastered Game Footage
- Test Your Reflexes In Showdowns
Let your joy ring out!
Those inflatable Wii karts are great, but what are you supposed to do when you migrate from Mario Kart Wii to Mario Kart 7? CTA Digital has you covered, revamping the kart to support 3DS as well as Wii. Slot your 3DS console into the steering wheel and turn away in games that support gyro controls. Interestingly the press release mentions Chocobo Racing 3D, a game we've not heard about for two years. But at least it'll support this inflatable sit-in kart, so that's awesome. You can buy it from Amazon. It's $39.99.CTA Digital's New Inflatable Sports Car Offers Added 3DS Fun, Realism Brooklyn, NY - For gamers wishing to get inside the action of motion-controlled racing games, CTA Digital (http://ctadigital.com) introduces the Inflatable Sports Car for Nintendo 3DS and Wii. Fans of the Nintendo 3DS who enjoy games like Mario Kart 7 appreciate the motion control features of this console, where every tilt and turn of the racing vehicle comes off the screen and into the gamer's hands. The Inflatable Sports Car allows gamers to literally get in the driver's seat, while the steering wheel holds their 3DS console or Wii Remote. Racers can steer with their Wii MotionPlus console remotes or use the 3DS adapter to zoom into the game for hours from a soft and comfortable seat. Styled as a sleek racing car, the accessory is ready for play in seconds by simply popping open the air valves and using the foot pump to inflate each section. Inflating to 45" x 28" in size, the kart is suitable for indoor use, safe for children and supports up to 230 pounds. The Inflatable Sports Car can be enjoyed with games like Mario Kart 7, Sega & Sonic All-Stars Racing, Asphalt 3D: Nitro Racing, Mario Kart 3D, Ridge Racer 3D, Chocobo Racing 3D, and many other 3DS and Wii racing titles. It can be purchased on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HCGEEA/ref=cm_sw_su_dp) and all other retailers that sell CTA Digital's accessories.
To arms!
It may have taken years to get here, but Monster World IV walks away with the coveted Game of the Month award for May 2012. Monster World IV's release is significant for a number of reasons. It's the first time the game's been officially available in English, having originally released in Japan way back in 1994. We've had import games on Virtual Console before of course, but this is the first one to be fully translated. Not only that, Wii owners were the first to play it — MWIV launched on 10th May in Europe and North America, nearly two weeks before Xbox and PS3 owners. When does that ever happen? It's also significant because it's a great game: charming, well-written and graphically gorgeous, it's a true 16-bit gem. It might be easier than its stablemates, but it's no less enjoyable for it. Monster World IV's one of the best ways to spend 900 Points on Wii, and was truly worth the wait, all 18 years of it. An honourable mention must go to Mario Tennis Open, which is some of the most fun you can have playing with other 3DS owners.
The plot thickens
Nintendo's filed a patent for a new kind of input on 3DS — one that requires no physical contact with the console at all. The application uses the 3DS console's inner-facing camera along with a stylus to manipulate 3D images on the top screen without the need for buttons, touch screen or moving the console. The inward-facing camera detects a 'marker' applied to the end of a stylus. The 3DS can calculate the marker's position in 3D space based on its size and position, using that information to manipulate an item on the top screen. By moving the stylus further away, the object could appear to 'come out' of the screen; move the stylus nearer and the object would appear to move deeper into the 3D space. It wouldn't be limited to the inner camera either — the patent shows you could use the same stylus-marker combination to move items behind the machine, rather like moving the cards around in the system's existing Augmented Reality software only with far more flexibility. The patent also refers to a new kind of stylus with a vibration function, giving you physical feedback when you interact with the virtual items, as well as a marker allowing it to be tracked by the 3DS camera. You wouldn't need this stylus though — the patent also shows the system works if you put the marker on your finger. This isn't the first time Nintendo's experimented with camera-based motion control in a portable console — DSiWare has several titles available, from WarioWare Snapped! to Looksley's Line Up — but this is far more advanced. Being able to manipulate graphics on the top screen using just the stylus's position certainly sounds good, and we can see it being used well in The Legend of Zelda or Professor Layton. Like the rest of Nintendo's recent patents this is just a concept for now, but what do you make of it? Could it change the way you play games or does it sound a little far-fetched to you?
We knew it
A few weeks back we unearthed an age rating for Rabbids Rumble and Ubisoft gave us no comment. Now we know the game's real, as we have a press release and assets. Rabbids Rumble has minigames — of course — but also has a turns-based combat system that promises "intense battles mixing tactics with the Rabbid’s classic wackiness". With 100 customisable Rabbids, Augmented Reality functions and a solo campaign this could be decent. We'll see in November.RABBIDS LET LOOSE ON NINTENDO 3DS WITH RABBIDS® RUMBLE! Collect over 100 Rabbids with wacky abilities and put them to the test in hilarious battles, alone or with friends! London, UK — May 31st, 2012 — Today, Ubisoft® announced the development of Rabbids® Rumble exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™. Rabbids have infiltrated the handheld console and will be back to wreak havoc in November 2012. The wacky Rabbids have been let loose throughout seven different worlds and players must battle it out in-game to capture over 100 Rabbids and complete their collection. Rabbids Rumble is full of interactive mini games that fully utilize the 3DS hardware, most notably with the 3D and Augmented Reality where players will interact with the Rabbids like never before. This new experience causes Rabbids to surge from the floor, fly around and even battle it out atop the kitchen table. Rabbids Rumble also features multiple game modes including a solo campaign and multiplayer battles. For the first time in franchise history, Rabbids Rumble will introduce an accessible and hilarious turn-based combat system. Players will be able to challenge their friends to intense battles mixing tactics with the Rabbid’s classic wackiness. Each Rabbid comes prepared with hilarious combat abilities and can be trained to become stronger for battles. Using the SpotPass™ function, new & rare Rabbids will be available to download to enrich each fans collection. Fans can also use StreetPass to compete in battles to unlock new Rabbids and items.
From the creator of Mortal Kombat
Warner Bros. has just announced Injustice: Gods Among Us, a new fighting game for Wii U featuring characters from the DC Comics universe. Superman, The Flash, Batman and more will all appear in the new game from NetherRealm Studios, the team behind the rather excellent Mortal Kombat on PS3 and other formats. Of course Warner Bros. also promised Batman Arkham City for Wii U at last year's E3, and with Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth heading to Wii U too it looks like we won't have any shortage of superheroes to choose from. Injustice is on the way to Wii U next year.WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES Injustice: Gods Among Us New Fighting Game Franchise from the Makers of Award-Winning Mortal Kombat Franchise Revealed BURBANK, Calif. – May 31, 2012 – What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat? Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Injustice: Gods Among Us, an all-new game in development by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, creators of the definitive fighting game franchise Mortal Kombat. The game is scheduled for release in 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii U™ system from Nintendo. Injustice: Gods Among Us debuts as a bold new fighting game franchise that introduces a deep, original story featuring a large cast of favorite DC Comics icons such as Batman, Harley Quinn, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and many others. Set in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, players will experience heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale. “With Injustice: Gods Among Us, we are creating an all-new franchise with incredible battles set in the DC Comics Universe,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “NetherRealm Studios is the extremely talented team behind the latest Mortal Kombat hit and it is developing a game unlike any other in the fighting genre.” “We can’t wait to reveal Injustice: Gods Among Us because it will give our fans and gamers an epic experience as they battle like gods as their favorite DC Comics villains and heroes,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “Our team is excited to make a fighting game that is filled with fast-paced action, incredible story-telling and iconic DC Comics characters.” For more information, visit www.injustice.com.
What took so long?
If there's one Move game everyone liked, it's Sports Champions, so it's excellent news that Zindagi Games and Sony San Diego Studios are working together on Sports Champions 2 for PlayStation Move. The line-up of sports mixes new with old, and includes bowling, tennis, golf, skiing, archery and boxing. It'll support two players and up to four Move controllers in total. [youtube:tfK88OKDUcA] Sony also announced DanceStar Party Hits, which is moderately less exciting.Sports Champions 2, sequel to the best-selling PlayStation Move title, is getting back in the ring with an exciting range of new sports. Using single or double motion controllers, you will have the opportunity to compete against friends in all-new events including Boxing, Golf, Bowling, Skiing and Tennis, and hit the bullseye with an updated Archery mode. Sport Champions 2 will bring your family a fun and competitive experience that everyone will want to be a part of. With the new Party Mode you will have the chance to compete with friends and family in custom and multi-sport tournaments. Create player profiles with individual stat tracking and customise your character to personalise your sports experience. Everything you loved about the original Sports Champions is right here in the sequel; Cup play (solo campaign), Free Play, Challenges (arcade events), online leaderboards and Facebook connectivity will all feature in the exciting new game. All of this combined with full stereoscopic 3D support plus PlayStation®Network features make Sports Champions 2 the must have fun filled family sports game in 2012.
My name is James Newton, and this is my website - a collection of my writings about
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