There was some news over the week, but some of it just sounds exactly the same that I don't exactly think it should be called "news" (there is the E3 news but I won't be able to cover much about it in this edition). However, today's edition is going to be special, because I went to the Nintendo World store in Manhatten and was able to get an interview with Mario himself! So let's get all this other junk out of the way first.MADDEN ON PAY-PER-VIEW [credit: GamePro.com]
An exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Madden 2007 is going to be premiering August 4th on PPV for $19.95. The 60 minute special is a tour of what to expect in the upcoming game.
$20 for a freaking special tour of a game that doesn't look so damn different from last year's version? Who in the hell would actually waste their money on that? Folks, here are better things you can do with that $20:
1. Go buy Unreal Championship 2 for the Xbox.
2. Go buy a Sega Saturn and lots of good games like Virtua Fighter 2.
3. Go see the movie Clerks 2.
4. Go buy the new Tom Petty album.
5. Give it to your favorite hard-working under-appreciated 411 Writer.
(Take-Two in trouble report #7) [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
Shareholder Richard Lasky is suing Take-Two for...care to take a guess? That's right, stock options! The suit alleges that certain executives within the company had sold stock while in the possession of material nonpublic information.
Yet another company is getting sued over stock options, and I don't fully understand what the hell stock options are. Anyways, it's time to bet what horrible thing will happen to Take-Two next. Some of my predictions:
A: CEO or similar higher-up gets arrested and/or crashes his car while drunk driving
B: Jack(ass) Thompson wins a huge lawsuit against them
C: Bully turns out to be a really horrible game
"DELTONA SLAYINGS" KILLERS CONVICTED [credit: 1UP]
Troy Victorino, Michael Salas, and Jerone Hunter, the three accused of killing six people who had some possessions belonging to Victorino were convicted and could either be facing the death penalty or life in prison.
Don't drop the soap losers! By the way, if you're wondering how this has anything to do with game news, it's because this is also known as "The Xbox Killings" when the Xbox was only a small part of the whole situation. As much as I don't like Xbox, I'd rather refer to this as the "Deltona Slayings" because many others will immediately see gaming as a tool for killing just because one of the possessions just happened to be an Xbox.
WIIGION FREE? [credit: Gamasutra]
Nintendo of America vice president of marketing Perrin Kaplan was asked in an interview with IGN on whether or not the Wii will be region free. Misunderstanding what was meant by "region free" he had this to say: "We will share a lot of ways people can play globally, regionally, without boundaries...cost, ease-of-use and player privacy are the three things that were a focus for us with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Those priorities also will apply to the Wii system."
So will the Wii be region free just like the DS? Coming from the company that thinks it's illegal to sell imported games in the western hemisphere, don't expect it to happen folks.
DS: DOMINATION SUPREME [credit: Gamepro.com, GameSpy]
Nintendo has announced that they have sold 21 Million DS units worldwide. "We attribute this success," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior VP of marketing and corporate communications, "to Nintendo's overall strategy of offering something for everyone, from five-year-olds caring for their Nintendogs to 65-year-olds tuning their mental agility with Brain Age: Train your Brain in Minutes a Day."
With Nintendo always winning in the handheld market, it's almost as if they've got a monopoly on it. Which reminds me...
My brother bought that last week and in our very first game he kicked my ass (so I kicked his ass the next day). There was also some funny things written on the chance cards, known in this game as with "? blocks", that I felt like sharing:
SENATORS ARE 64% RETARDED [credit: Slashdot]
During the recent Senate hearings on video game violence, one expert claimed that the ESRB underrated violent games. They went on to say that Pacman was 64% violent.
Yet another reason why gamers hate senators. The people who keep complaining about Grand Theft Auto and make up fake nude codes in Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball say that Pac-Man is too violent. Will all these out-of-touch old retards just go away?
PSP MAKES ME LAUGH [credit: Dignews.com]
Sony had a press release about new greatest hit games, but there was something else in that press release that made me laugh: With more than 5 million units sold, the PSP system remains North America's top-selling next-generation handheld in the period since its record-setting launch in March 2005.
According to Wikipedia, Nintendo DS has sold 5.9 million units in the U.S. Don't you just love it when companies are in denial?
THE LUIGI CODE [credit: GameDaily, Evil Avatar]
Nintendo released a Press Release for the Wii and mentioned that if you look carefully, the launch date of the system could be encoded. Soon enough, some websites pointed out that Nintendo is not releasing a new DS game on the weeks of October 2, November 20, and November 27.
Hey Nintendo, I hope you told the third-party developers making your games know when it's coming out, or else you'll just be screwing with them again and then *POOF* there goes all your third-party support that you desprately need!
SEGA SAMMY LOSES MONEY...AGAIN [credit: Gamasutra]
Net earnings for Sega Sammy have dropped 96% from ¥10.70 billion ($93.0m) last year to ¥779 million ($6.8m), mostly due to the poor sales of Sammy's pachinko slot machines.
Does Sega ever actually make a profit anymore?
AND SO IT BEGINS [credit: Gamepro.com]
The first expansion pack for The Sims 2 has arrived: The Sims 2 Pets. Coming out for nearly all major consoles, every version will include a Create-A-Pet feature, which EA is promising will extend from dogs and cats to caged animals. The PC version will allow you to breed pets as well as get them jobs of their own.
I wonder how Jack(ass) Thompson will try to make this game look evil. I bet he claims there's beastiality in the game.
PARACHUTING: MY ANTI-GAME [credit: GameSpy, UK Times]
The Smith & Jones clinic, the first clinic for videogame addicts in Amsterdam, have been swamped with phone calls for people seeking treatment for themselves or their children. "It's amazing, I've never seen anything like it," said Keith Bakker, the American director of the Smith & Jones clinic in Amsterdam. "The phone has been ringing constantly. Computer game addiction is obviously an even greater problem than we imagined."
Wow. Video game addiction really is that bad. I thought playing Pokemon for about 9 hours straight was bad, but one patient in the article says he's been playing for nearly 5 years straight. Creepy.
The Other Crap
OMG FEEDBACK?
So over the weekend I posted my first Gaming Trends column about failed consoles, listing the PSP as a possible failure. Here's what Nick had to say:
I really must disagree about the PSP being a failure. Sure their are no really amazing titles for it but it's got a fair share of good games for it. Probably it's gonna end up being like WCW was, so long as it's got money backing it it's not going to go away.
He's got a point there. As long as Sony has got the cash, the PSP will probably still stick around until a PSP 2 arrives. That also probably goes for Microsoft's Zune and Xbox 360. So basically, what will kill the PSP is if someone from Sony who never played games in his life decides games have a "shelf life" and pulls the plug. Thanks for the feedback.
And on a sidenote, I highly recommend reading "The Death of WCW".
I SUCK AT CHARACTER TOURNAMENTS
Anytime GameFAQs does one of those character or game tournaments I always think I have a good bracket but it quickly turns out I completely suck. This summer I failed to realize that despite how popular Halo is, a long running series like Castlevania will win. Oh, and that Warcraft is way more popular then I realize (not surprising because I barely play PC games). But then it gets worse! Sonic lost to Super Smash Bros., even though Sonic has been around long like Castlevania and should've beaten him! Then Resident Evil beats Street Fighter?! ARGH! I'm glad I don't actually pay any money in these tournaments.
VIDEO GAME VIDEOS
Check out Street Fighter characters kicking ass in other games.
Ryu in Duck Hunt
M.Bison in Super Mario Bros
THE MARIO MARIO INTERVIEW
So Thursday I decided to take a trip to Nintendo World here in New York City (it's only an hour or so away on the train). I've visited that place twice before; first to find out where it was, and the other to bring my brother along to show all the cool stuff that was there, like this Game Boy that got bombed in the Gulf War and was still able to play games:
And you thought the DS cracks were a problem.
But this time, I went there with one purpose in mind: To score an "exclusive" interview with Mario Mario himself!
That's right, THE Mario was there! Between all the little kids shouting stuff at him and trying to get him to bring out Yoshi, I was able to get in some questions.
Me: When is the Wii coming out?
Mario: That's a secret! But we hope to release it in Christmas.
Me: Who else is gonna be in Smash Brothers?
Mario: That's a secret.
Me: Do you still hate Sonic?
Mario: I used to not like Sonic but now I like him.
Me: Do you like Donkey Kong?
Mario: Yeah I like him. We get along just fine.
Kids: Do you like Kirby?
Mario: Of course I like Kirby!
Kids: How about Star Fox?
Mario: I like Star Fox too!
Kids: What do you think of Pikachu?
Mario: I like Pikachu, but the first time I met him I thought he was sneezing. You know, Pik-"Achoo!".
Kids: What about Toad?
Mario: I like Toad too. I like everybody!
Me: Even Bowser?
Mario: Yes even Bowser. I think he just got up on the wrong side of the bed if you know what I mean.
Kids: Is it true you abuse Yoshi?
Mario: No.
Kids: Why do you ride on Yoshi? Doesn't he hate that?
Mario: Of course not, he likes it! That's why he always go [makes yoshi noise]!
Me: Do you play Metal Gear Solid?
Mario: No.
Me: So why is Solid Snake in Smash Brothers?
Mario: That kind of stuff makes you think doesn't it?
Kids: Do you like PS3?
Mario: Yeah, I think the PS3 is really good. (While he was saying that, this happened...)
Oh, look at that. I talked about how good the PS3 is and my nose got bigger, heh heh...
Me: What do you think of the Xbox?
Mario: I don't have an Xbox. I don't really like it.
Me: Are there any games you hate?
Mario: Oh no, I like all video games!
Me: What's your favorite sport?
Mario: Tough question. Well...I like baseball, playing soccer in Super Mario Strikers, and I like basketball with my new Mario Hoops game!
Me: Did you watch the World Cup?
Mario: Oh yeah, I love the World Cup! I also love playing Super Mario Strikers!
Kids: How come you get to beat people up in Strikers?
Mario: Because Strikers is sort of a combination of Smash Brothers and Soccer.
Me: What's your favorite game?
Mario: That's a tough one. Right now I like New Super Mario Bros. and can't wait for Super Mario Galaxy! What's your favorite game?
Me: Bubble Bobble.
Mario: Bubble Bobble?
Me: Yeah. It's a good game, you should try it.
Mario: I can barely pronounce Bubble Bobble, why would I want to try it?
Me: It's better then your games.
Mario: Ouch. That hurts. I thought you liked me.
Me: I like Luigi better.
Mario: Why's that?
Me: He wears green. I like green.
Mario: Oh yeah, green's a good color! I like red and blue, some yellow, brown, and white.
Me: What's you favorite power-up?
Mario: Oh...that's too hard to decide.
Me: What's your Brain Age?
Mario: You know I never did try to find out! I'll have to check sometime, but since I'm 21 I'd say that's my age. (I assume he said 21 because Super Mario Bros. was in 1985).
Me: Do you like Nintendogs?
Mario: Oh yeah, I like Nintendogs! They look so cute when they're wagging their tails and chasing the ball. What dog you have in the game?
Me: A german shepard (yes I bought the game. Got a problem?!)
Mario: That's a good dog! What dog you have in real life?
Me: I don't have a dog.
Mario: Isn't it amazing how those dogs are just like real life?
Me: Do you like the Zelda games?
Mario: I like Zelda. I think the new Zelda game for the Wii is going to be awesome.
Me: Is your name really Mario Mario?
Mario: Yes it is. My brother is Luigi Mario, my mama is Mama Mario and my papa was Papa Mario. I think everyone should have the same last and first name. That way it'd be easier to know you!
Kids: Where are the babies?
Mario: I think they're taking a nap. They're really good drivers in Mario Kart, especially when they use their chain chomp!
Me: Are you related to Baby Mario?
Mario: I'm not sure how we're related.
At this point the kids were asking for all kinds of stuff, including other characters to show up. Surprisingly, one other character did show up!
Mario's anatagonist (and cousin?) Wario! Once again between the kids talking, I got in a few quick question
Kids: Do you like anybody?
Wario: I don't like anybody!
Me: Don't you like Bowser?
Wario: I hate Bowser.
Kids: What about your brother?
Wario: Brother?
Kids: Waluigi!
Wario: I don't like him. He's got an upside down letter on his head! Who puts an upside-down letter on their head?
Kids: Isn't Waluigi you brother?
Wario: No, we're not related. I don't know where he came from. He looks like something that fell out of tree.
Kids: Can you tell us any secrets about Peach?
Wario: You want to know a secret? I think she likes Mario. And that Daisy likes Luigi.
Me: Mario has Peach. Luigi has Daisy. Who do you have?
Wario: Nobody for Wario.
Me: How did you come up with Wario Ware?
Wario: I wanted a game that starred me. Me me me me me me me me me! So I thought about it all day and it came to my head.
Some Guy: I like your car.
Wario: Yeah, my car is awesome! It goes really fast.
Kids: What's your favorite course in Mario Kart?
Wario: I like all of them, because I can win!
Kids: Do you like money?
Wario: I LOVE money! My favorite kind of money would be the gold coins.
Kids: Why are you evil?
Wario: I'm not evil, I'm rotten!
Me: How does it feel to be in Smash Brothers?
Wario: I'm gonna win! I'm gonna win!
Kids: Where's Yoshi?
Wario: I don't know, he's not in my games! I think he went out walking in Central Park.
Girl: Today is my birthday!
Wario: oh, Happy Birthday! I wish it were my birthday so I can eat all the cake to myself.
Girl: What would you wish for?
Wario: Hey, isn't that supposed to be a secret? But my wish would is to be the #1 Winner!
At this point the kids were asking all the questions so I left. I thank Mario and Wario for their time.
Guys who probably do better at character tournaments than me
News:
Joshua will have The Digital Pulse next week
Tommy has The Negative Edge
The loving Caleb Newby, who I accidently freaked out somehow, has News from Bitopia
Columns:
Damian is angry about episodic games (and Peppridge Farm cookies). Find out why in Angry Gaming.
Know how cool it is to get a "Perfect" in Street Fighter? Micheal Joyeux talks about it in Greatest Moments in Video Game History.
Jordan talked about the PS3 last week; Check tomorrow for the look at Xbox 360 in Working Title.
And I did a new column called Gaming Trends; this week checking out why so many consoles failed.
And you better read our Reviews and Previews, or else who knows how much money you'll be wasting on a crap game like NCAA Football 2007. Is it even a crap game? Go read and find out!
Okay, that's it for this edition of the news report. I'll be off on (was that just an oxymoron right there?) vacation so I'll probably have a fill-in. So unless Ashish decides to mess with my stock options I'll be back in two weeks.
