Nintendophiles 10.28.09: Goldeneye 2010, New Wii engine, Excitebike, Red Steel 2, More
Posted by Theo Fraser on 10.28.2009
The latest installment of Nintendophiles has the week’s top Nintendo stories, from Capcom preparing a multiplatform engine for the Wii, to Nintendo’s unveiling of a new Excitebike for WiiWare, the Red Steel 2 development team giving credit to Zelda, and just what the hell is Goldeneye 2010? All that and more awaits you inside!
You join us here at 411 Games for your weekly dose of Nintendo goodness! This week I've been having a bit of a retro-fest with my flatmate, and we've embarked on a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time speed run competition. So far I'm losing, as I was 4 minutes off his time on Dodongo's Cavern. Those shitty bomb plants let me down, curses! Don't worry, I'll reel it back in Jabu Jabu's Belly. Man, only in Nintendophiles could I say such things and not have to worry about getting the weirdest looks from people. Alrighty, let's get straight to Tidbit News of the Week!
~ DSi Speak Channel on the cards? A customer support page on Nintendo's official site recently made mention to a downloadable DSi Speak Channel; a reference which has since been removed. With a built-in camera and microphone, the hardware does lend itself to this kind of communication technology, so it's an entirely feasible idea. Nintendo aren't announcing anything just yet.
~ Japan to get bigger DSi? Considering the constant strive to make technology smaller and smaller, this most recent report from Japan is certainly strange. Apparently, Nintendo are planning to release a fatter DSi model in the company's homeland, with 4 inch screens, a whole 0.75 inches larger than the current DSi. For once, Nintendo went further than the usual ‘rumor and speculation' company line, saying, "We think it's a speculative article." So it could be completely false, but still...very odd. Does 0.75 inches really make much difference?
~ Limited Edition RE: Darkside Chronicles set for Japan. I sure hope this makes it across the pond. A special collector's edition of Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles will be released in Japan alongside the standard version this coming January, including a reversible sleeve, a promotional DVD and a copy of the game's soundtrack. DO WANT!
Capcom bringing multiplatform MT Framework engine to Wii
Credit: IGN
Could we be seeing the likes of this on Wii in the near future?
Before I begin here, bear in mind that Capcom have yet to make any kind of official announcement, but the word going round is that Capcom are preparing to bring a multiplatform engine currently used in the development of 360/PS3 titles to the Wii. The general idea within the company is to help reduce development costs and overall efficiency, developing multiplatform titles simultaneously, instead of having to increase the budget rather dramatically in order to create an engine from the ground-up for the Wii port. Capcom believe they will reduce development time by a third, and take a fifth off development costs, which certainly makes it a worthwhile investment.
The MT Framework engine is the most likely candidate receiving this treatment, used for Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2, two high end multiplatform games that would be strong contenders for a Wii port. And this is where all the speculation comes into it. Is Resi 5 making the conversion to Wii with relatively little lost in translation? Are Capcom getting it prepared now for future simultaneous releases? Or, as some sources are already getting very excited about, could this be a little slip that Nintendo are in the process of readying an HD-ready Wii? As we have no ‘proper' information on the specifics of the engine's transition to the Wii, we don't really know if it's for the Wii in its current iteration or if the advanced engine only works in conjunction with HD consoles.
Regardless, this could potentially be a pretty big deal. If Capcom become ‘fully' multiplatform, the Wii will be getting some serious core gamer-oriented titles, and the Wii's catalogue will be bolstered immensely.
Pictured above is a shot from Goldeneye: Source; could a Eurocom remake look like this?
There was an audible intake of breath around the world this past week when the term ‘Goldeneye 2010' emerged on a CV from a former Eurocom animator. To this day, James Bond's finest outing (without question) is held in such high regard, the mere mention of an update or remake results in a fair few tears from grown men who just want to leave the memories alone. The less said about the Gamecube Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, the better. Give me a minute, I just need to go shower, I feel dirty after uttering that repulsive name...
Anyway, former Eurocom employee Craig Peck recently put up an online CV, with the most recent entry being for ‘Goldeneye 2010' on Wii. Eurocom have worked with Activision and Nintendo in the past, bringing Quantum of Solace to the Wii last year, so it fits that Peck could have been working on a new Bond title. Check out Craig's accredited duties, which suggest the project was in a reasonably advanced stage.
-Key frame animation
-The preparation and clean-up of motion capture data
-Prop animation
-In-game cut-scene animation
-Scene layout
-Camera animation
Interestingly enough, the CV was promptly removed, which is always telling. So what's the deal? Are Eurocom really preparing a remake of the N64 game? I wouldn't have thought that would be possible due to legal issues with Rareware (as Rare hold the rights to level design, layout, even the general gameplay), so in all honesty it's unlikely to be a ‘strict' remake. However, it could be an entirely new retelling of the film, but if that's the case, I'd have to question why. Seriously, why? Do we need another (and most likely inferior) ‘version' of Goldeneye? I think not. I'm very interested to see the follow-up to this. Will Eurocom come forward with any information in light of the released CV, or will it all simply be covered up?
Remember last week I mentioned that Nintendo had a surprise for internet-connected Wii users? Although it hasn't been confirmed, I imagine this was the announcement that was teased. Excitebike is returning to your screens, via a remake of the NES original exclusively for WiiWare, entitled Excitebike: World Rally. The announcement was made on the Nintendo Channel program ‘Nintendo Week' (with literally two of the most annoying presenters ever to ‘grace' my television), covering the title's new features such as online multiplayer, a track editor, and the option to play with motion controls a la ExciteTruck or with the standard Wii-mote-on-its-side NES controls. Take a look at the unveiling below. Just try not to punch the screen when those two goons are taking up valuable air time.
As you can see, aside from the new features mentioned earlier, it's the same side-scrolling racer we loved 20 years ago, albeit with glorious 3D-o-vision backgrounds. And surprisingly, the title will reach the Wii Shop on November 9th! I'm amazed Nintendo managed to keep quiet on this one for so long. I'm looking forward to it, it sounds great, although I'm a tiny bit disappointed as I'm absolutely desperate for Excitebike 64! I sincerely hope we still get it on Virtual Console at some point as well.
The legend of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (that's rather awkward phrasing, but work with me...) continues to be felt in 2009, with Ubisoft's Red Steel 2 development team attributing the upcoming Red Steel sequel's targeting system to the original Z-targeting method, first found in Ocarina of Time back in 1998. Jason Vandenberghe, the title's Creative Director, spoke about Ocarina of Time's influence on the development team, as well as explaining a little further the basics of RS2's melee combat.
Jason Vandenberghe:Well, of course we looked at everything in the known universe for inspiration (Metroid Prime, Zone of the Enders, etc, etc), but hell yeah, Zelda is a great example of how to make locking in melee work, and I'm very much of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought when it comes to interface. I prefer to take a hard look at what has already worked in the past, start there, and then evolve. Which is pretty much what we did.
Just so that you know, we have two selectable lock systems in the game – the default "auto-lock" system (that will do most of the work for you), and a "manual" system (that gives you full control over when and on whom you lock).
With auto-lock, the idea was that you can just jump into the fray and start swinging, without having to think too much about where you were looking. This is my favorite mode, FYI – my fighting style is berserker (for sure), and I love it when the game does its best to put targets in front of me.
Roman (my lead designer) feels differently – he's much more a "style" player, and prefers to have exact control over his enemy selection. He's always cautiously strafing around, getting behind people, dodging, looking for chances to take out more than one at a time… thus, he prefers the manual lock.
We're continuing to make refinements to both systems even now. We will not rest until it's frackin' perfect!
It's rare that a developer comes outright and says ‘we stole this bit', so I applaud Vandenberghe and co. for giving credit where credit's due, as opposed to passing it off as some kind of innovative combat system they've created from scratch.
No More Heroes 2: Henry's debut
A quick bit of Nintendo Cinema for you here, with the latest (albeit very brief) trailer for No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, detailing one of the new playable characters this time round, Henry. So what's noticeable about the trailer? Well, for starters, it appears that Henry can jump. Yes, groundbreaking stuff, isn't it? But this does immediately differentiate him from Travis, so one can imagine each character will play and control slightly differently from each other.
Also, the logo ‘P.B.' shows up in a couple of frames. Could this relate to Pizza Butt, the corporation who took over Santa Destroy in the three years Travis has been gone? Are they...an EVIL corporation?! I'm calling it now, a boss battle against a giant pizza. It's SUDA 51, he's done weirder things. Also, check out the split-second glimpse of a massive floating car with a humongous chainsaw sticking out the front of it! The green-suited bald man driving said car no doubt forms one of your many adversaries during the course of the adventure, so expect to bump into him a couple of times on your journey. NMH2:DS is still looking great, but it's hard to judge properly in these short clips. Hopefully we'll see something a little more substantial in the not too distant future.
Week Beginning 10/26/09
[VIRTUAL CONSOLE]
~ Zombies Ate My Neighbors - 800 Wii Points
The Blurb: You will play the game as one of two brave kids: Zeke or Julie. Both kids use the same control scheme and have the same characteristics. If you're playing in two-player mode, each player must pick a kid. You can't have two Zekes or two Julies. Each player starts with three lives. When your life bar runs out, you lose a life. There are hidden 1-Up bonuses in the game. You may also earn bonus lives if you have 10 victims left when you finish a level. Get ready to conquer 48 levels of giant ants, mad scientists and big babies. Find seven bonus levels (look for the question marks), earn points and stockpile your water pistols and other weapons.
~ Golden Axe - 900 Wii Points
The Blurb: In this original arcade game that launched the popular Golden Axe series, the evil Death Adder has invaded your land and taken the king and princess prisoner. Three mighty warriors step forward to bring the villain to justice: powerful fighter Ax Battler, Amazon warrior Tyris Flare and mighty dwarf Gilius Thunderhead. They will use their weapons and magic to fight their way through Death Adder's hordes. Along the way, they'll mount fearsome, fire-spitting beasts to help even the odds. Team up with a friend and enjoy two-player simultaneous game play for a better chance of survival.
[WIIWARE]
~ Ghost Mansion Party - 1,000 Wii Points
The Blurb: Fazzy the ghost has been locked out of his mansion by some evil spooks, and he's willing to give his treasure to anyone who can chase them out. Work cooperatively and competitively with friends and family to defeat the ghosts and discover a huge hidden treasure. Travel around this wild mansion in board-game fashion, landing on mini-games that everyone can enjoy. You'll even engage in challenges on the board itself as you try to collect magic scrolls and hints to reveal the secret word that will open the doors to the treasure. Get your Wii Remote controllers ready - you're about to play with them in ways you've never imagined.
The Blurb: In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep - literally - as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic detour through the guts of a giant manatee. Our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, "Lair of the Leviathan," will answer some of these urgent questions and raise even more as the five-month adventure builds to its epic climax.
[DSIWARE]
~ PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff - 500 DSi Points
The Blurb: Aristocratic opponents square off in PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff, a game of strategy and deceit. Compete for points by adding or subtracting colored chips from rows on the game board and trying to guess each of your opponent's secretly assigned chip colors. Once you're confident in your deduction, issue a Call Out attempt to earn bonus points - at the risk of giving your opponent an extra point if you're wrong. Three modes of play (Tournament, Free Play, DS Wireless Play) offer a variety of options, from facing off against an assortment of computer opponents to competing in a wireless match with up to four players. Throw Trick Cards into the mix and you've got a winning combination of tactics and trickery that's sure to score points.
~ SUDOKU - 200 DSi Points
The Blurb: SUDOKU offers hundreds of number-crunching puzzles that will stretch your brain power to the limit. Take it even further by playing in the exclusive Newspaper Mode. Add a daily puzzle from your favorite paper and build your very own collection. From Easy to Insane, a total of five different levels are available for novices and masters alike. Enjoy a host of grid designs that will keep you coming back for more. This worldwide phenomenon delivers an exhilarating game of logic that's not only challenging, but also surprisingly relaxing. It's everything you want for a quick puzzle getaway. Make life easier by taking advantage of smart features like automatic annotation for effortless calculation of your achievements. Stumped? Get help with error-checking tools and friendly cell hints. Track your stats and test your reaction time with the in-game timer. This addictive brain game has been polished to perfection and renders a sleek design that's easy on the eyes.
The 411 Games Crew
Todd Vote, Sean Garmer, Ramon Aranda, and Rod Oracheski square off in this week's Four Player Co-Op.
Jon Seddon is not impressed with God of War III's DLC efforts in the latest B3yond the Report.
Armando Rodriguez covers the Band Hero set list and much more in the most recent instalment of The Ultra Combo News Report.
The latest 10th Hour by Derek Robbins covers the Top 10 Mario characters!
Jordan Williams is on the hunt for gaming's biggest wussies in this week's Working Title.
Make sure to tune in next week for a special announcement that will ‘shake Nintendophiles down to its very foundation' (TM Vince McMahon, WWE 2002). No, I'm not bringing Eric Bischoff in. You'll just have to visit 411 Games next Wednesday to find out! And on that mysterious and vague note, I bid you all adieu.
