Late Night Consoling
It seems like all anyone's been talking about for the last 48 hours is the news that Nintendo is going to debut a new game machine at next year's E3. Here's what we do know: it's not a successor to the GBA or GameCube, and is said to be neither a portable or home console system. Anyone care to guess? Well, since this is my forum, I'm going to. Given the hints we've seen here, and what we know about Nintendo's plans in China, I fully expect to see them unveil a new system along the same lines as the iQue player that was created for that territory. The iQue, for those unaware, is a simplified game system made exclusively for China, and is made up entirely of a single gamepad that plugs directly into a television ("neither portable nor home console", wouldn't you say?). The system is designed to run N64 and SNES games, which are downloaded to the system electronically. Now, I don't expect to see that last part (my guess is it'll use small media cartridges), but I do think Nintendo is going to announce a retro system like that. Think about it...the hottest thing in geek toy circles right now are those all-in-one retro games (like the Atari, Namco and Intellivision ones), and with a low-low-cost machine Nintendo can sit back and make cash off their existing game library. And hey, who wouldn't want to be able to pick up classic Nintendo games super-cheap? In China games will go for as little as $9, but I'd guess that games for my theoretical system will be in the $15 - $20 range. I have very little to base this on, of course, but that's my guess anyway. Anyone care to make a better one?
| First FFXII Images Online Well, besides the big Nintendo speculation, this is the other story everyone's been talking about since Thursday morning...the Japanese manga 'zine Weekly Jump has a few images from Final Fantasy XII, a full week before Square's intended announcement of the first details about the game. Oops. You can check 'em out (with various different translations of the same text) at GameSpot, IGN, The Magic Box, Video-Fenky, 1UP and wherever fine import magazines are sold. |
| Nintendo/Bandai Power Struggle? Despite being denied by both parties, one Japanese business magazine claims that behind the scenes is a power struggle for control of Bandai, and that Nintendo is actively attempting to gain control of the company. The implications of such a deal are far-reaching, so if there is something going on, it won't be a secret for too long. |
| Will someone please buy an N-Gage already? Oh dear...GameSpot is reporting on more bad news for the N-Gage...the last major discount was the drop to $199 at specialty retailers EBGames and GameStop, but they've just added yet another in incentive: you can now choose three games to go with that system for the same price. But wait, there's more: GameSpot also reports that Wal-Mart is offering the system, a 64 MB MMC and carrying case for $299 and Target.com is giving customers a $100 gift card and free game at that same price. |
| Everyone's Making Money Hey, who says there's no money to be made around here? A few notable financial announcements came out since my last LNC. Both Capcom and Konami posted excellent results, and Nintendo's smiling because GameCube sales are up a whopping 145% since the release of Mario Kart: Double Dash (I guess nobody over there read IGN's review). |
| Sega's New ROM Download Service 1UP has posted a news story reporting on Sega's new Game Honpo service which will launch in Japan next week. For about $9, Japanese gamers will be able to download an unlimited number of 16-bit games to play on their PCs. Some 30 games are going to be available at launch, and these include Sonic 2/3/Race/& Knuckles, Gunstar Heroes, Sword of Vermillion, Phantasy Star II and Chakan: The Forever Man. |
|
| Prima on Halo Deluxe Edition Having already confirmed that Microsoft isn't releasing an Xbox Live version of Halo, Computer and Video Games has posted a string of quotes from a Prima Publishing representative. While their Halo "Deluxe Edition" strategy guide isn't for a new product from Microsoft, it will apparently include a bonus DVD with media from Halo 2. |
|
| Trademark a Go-Go Don't you just love these speculatory trademark stories? No? Well, tough, because IGN's got a new one. The latest trademarks out of Japan include "Family Computer" from Nintendo (which is probably just a renewal of the "Famicom" name, although they registered it in both Japanese and Roman characters), "Sky, Sea, Earth and the Cursed Princess" from Square Enix and "VS.NET" from Sega (which they speculate will be a Virtua Striker version of the VF.NET that was created for Virtua Fighter). |
|
| IBM's Badass Supercomputer As GameSpot reports, contrary to some reports you may have seen online, IBM's new Blue Gene supercomputer has nothing to do with their collaborations with Microsoft and Sony on their next-generation console systems. It is, however a pretty badass bit of hardware, and there may be programming crossovers between the two because of similar underlying technology. But don't expect the Xbox2 to be a game-specific Blue Gene. That'd be like driving a jet fighter to work because it could get you there faster. |
|
| R-Type Final Coming to Europe There's still no North American release in the cards, but Metro3D announced today that they will be bringing R-Type Final to Europe early next year. Given that Metro3D is a global publisher, it stands to reason that if nobody else steps up to do so, there's at least one company that will bring it out here. Although the R-Type series has a complicated publishing history in this country, so who knows what will happen. |
|
| 1080 Interview The second part of CVG's interview with Shigeki Yamashiro and Vivek Melwani, the producer and lead designer of 1080 Avalanche respectively, is online tonight. Like the first half, this is a transcript of a European conference call with the duo. |
|
| Dragon Quest V to have Four-Character Party This is probably only of note for hardcore fans of Dragon Warrior/Quest, but nonetheless, 1UP is reporting that the upcoming 3D remake of Dragon Quest V will feature a four-character party, up from three in the SNES original. |
|
| NYTimes on EyeToy Yesterday's Circuits section of the New York Times had an entertaining article on Sony's EyeToy, that oddball camera add-on that's already a rousing success in Europe and is expected to do just cracking in Japan and North America as well. The article distinguishes itself from most articles I've read on the thing by focusing on the creator of the device, and it's worth a read if you're at all interested in how a research project in America became the toast of Europe. |
| Misc. Media/Previews | |
|
| A hands-on look at Nintendo's Legend of Zelda bonus disc is up at GameSpot along with a new trailer from 1080 Avalanche, IGN has another Japanese commercial for Baten Kaitos and a hands-on look at Pac-Man Vs and Games Are Fun has new shots from Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. |
|
| GameSpot has a new preview of Rise to Honor and new shots from R-Type Final and Manhunt, GamePro has a new trailer for Cy Girls, IGN has new media from Nightshade and Cy Girls and a look at the weapons in Manhunt, CVG has a new preview of Ghosthunter and a Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly trailer, GameInformer goes hands-on with Manhunt and 1UP has an in-depth look at Final Fantasy X-2. |
|
| A look at the cities in Project Gotham 2 is up at GameSpot and Microsoft has posted new movies from Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive Online on their Japanese site. |
|
| GameSpot has new media from James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing and Wade Histon's Counter Punch, IGN has new shots and box art from Metroid: Zero Mission and GameInformer goes hands-on with Max Payne. |
|
| GameSpot has new movies from Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II (PS2, Xbox) and a new preview of Secret Weapons Over Normandy (PS2, Xbox), IGN has new media from Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (PS2, Xbox) and an update on The Suffering (PS2, Xbox) and GameInformer has the first details on Terminator 3: Redemption (PS2, Xbox). |
