Rant: My 2Cents on the 2DS

If you haven't been on the internet today and didn't hear some of the big announcements today, let's recap: A price-cut for the Deluxe Wii U (now $299.99), Wind-Waker HD bundles, and the most eyebrow raising announcement - The Nintendo 2DS.

Like most things being introduced right now (Ben Affleck as BatMan for one), the internet has been cringing at the announcement of this version of the ever popular Nintendo 3DS. This new system is designed to play all 3DS games (and DS games) and is functionally the same system except for one dimension - The 2DS lacks the ability to render the top screen in 3D.  “Imagine a standard 3DS laid all the way flat, and with the depth slider all the way down,” writes Reggie Fils-Aime

Nintendo has stated that this system is a "entry-level handheld system" and is directing it towards the younger audiences, hence its October 12, 2013 release for $129.99 - the same day as Pokémon X and Y.

Rant Time!

News: Nintendo Direct August 7th!

Just a heads up that Nintendo will be broadcasting a full Nintendo Direct tomorrow. It will be the first full one since E3. They said they'll be mostly covering more details on upcoming games that have already been announced. I'll be covering a recap and analysis of it afterwards here and at The Geek Generation.

Don't forget to follow OWNAGE:

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Follow me on Facebook AND Twitter

That's right readers, I've decided to make a twitter account.. Follow me at @MCHammerBro to keep updated with Nintendo news both from OWNAGE and The Geek Generation.com as well as just random things about video games in general!

And like always, OWNAGE is on facebook and a Like there will keep you in the loop as well.

I'm a bit overdue for posting this month. I hope to catch things up soon.

As always, keep on gaming!

The End of Nintendo Power

Nintendo Power, Nintendo's own gaming magazine is ceasing production at the end of this year. This will close the book on 25 years of publications. You can see the article I wrote on the end of Nintendo Power here. While this is a sad farewell, it's not like we didn't see this coming as more and more magazines have become digital in this day and age.

As always, Keep on playing


MC Hammer Bro.

Extra Lives for Charity!

Banner for this marathon

While the E3 recap is being worked on, you can satisfy your videogame cravings with one of the coolest videogame organizations ever made. ExtraLives.org is a website that hosts Multi-Day video game marathons. These college-age men and women "looking to play video games and fend off sleep to raise money for charity."

These guys have raised money through many different marathons and donate the money to build school houses in Africa to help those in need. They broadcast their marathons live online and these marathons have lasted anywhere from 18 to 72 hours. Each one has a theme and for this time around it is a The Legend of Zelda Marathon where two teams will be racing to complete the ENTIRE franchise of Zelda games! You can tune in to watch and for those of you feeling generous, you can also donate any amount of money to support and join the chats as well. 

E3 2012

If you look at the calendar, you will see that it's the first full week of June. And this means it's the time of the year for the annual E3 videogaming conferences. Nintendo has already released a sneak peak at some of the stuff that they will be releasing including the much anticipated Wii U system!

You can also watch different developers today on SpikeTV and online at Spike com starting today around noon. Happy Gaming!

Legends Never Die

MegaMan Legends 3

What Happened

Here's one of those topics that you've either hear about in detail or never knew about. In 2010, Capcom began production of a 3rd game in the MegaMan Legends series; the first game of that long lost series in over 10 years. It was planned to be released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

Being of one of the more obscure branches of the Megaman franchise, Capcom decided to pull the plug on production when it decided that fan support was severely lacking. Capcom had an online “Development Room” where people would show their support and ideas about the game and based on the low number of members (rather than the results of a demo that was planned on being released), Capcom decided to shelve the project.

Note: This was right after the cancellation of the MegaMan Universe Project, a couple years of the failure of the MegaMan Starforce/Battle Network crossover and the resignation of Kenji Inafune (the head of Capcom and creator of MegaMan).

Revival Petition

The Logo created by the
revivalists.

The cancellation hit hard for many members of the “Development Room” as well as many fans around the world. A Facebook page entitled “100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3” was put together and its goal is to reach 100,000 “Likes” to show Capcom that there really is support and demand for the game. The American forums for the Development Room were left intact and a petition has been put together. If you’d like to help support the movement, you can simply “Like” the Facebook page or go the extra mile and make a “Serv Bot” account and sign the petition. They also host a blog page thatchronicalizes the situation and their efforts.

 

As a gamer, I personally hope to see this movement succeed. I’ve never played the Legends series, but I am a fan of MegaMan and Capcom’s work for Nintendo games, and a victory here could jump start the company. Since these two cancellations, no other MegaMan games have been announced and many fear that MegaMan is on his last legs. Let’s save the blue bomber. 

Links

http://getmeoffthemoon.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/GetMeOffTheMoon
http://www.legends3.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man_Legends_3

Breaking News: Pokemon Black and White...2?

Although I haven't gotten around to reviewing Pokémon Black and White versions for the Nintendo DS yet (heck, I haven't even bought it yet), I've seen enough and heard enough about it to agree with other reviews that these additions to the Pokémon series are one of the best ever released. Many new features and tons of new Pokémon nabbed it a place in the favorites among the series.
 

Japanese Teaser Artwork

 
A Japanese official Pokémon TV program (probably similar to "Nintendo Week" on the Wii) entitled Pokémon Smash has announced that either an enhanced version or a direct sequel to this generation of Pokémon will have a Japanese release in June of this year for the Nintendo DS.

Now, those of you familiar with Pokémon are aware of the typical pattern that each generation is released in 3s; 2 versions and then a 3rd version with special content and minor improvements. For example Pokémon Red and Blue versions was followed by Yellow as were Diamond and Pearl succeeded by Platinum). In this case however, it looks as if 2 enhanced versions are going to be delivered entitled "Pokémon Black Version 2" and "Pokémon White Version 2"

Now for the burning questions:

-Will this be released in the United States?
-Will they serve as the "3rd" versions or as direct sequels?
-Why for the DS and not the 3DS when it seems that the DS is on its way out the door AND Black and White's graphics are already rendering psudo-3D graphics on a 3D screen?
-Will we see new Pokémon to add to our already overflowing list of 648 Pokémon?
-Will we ever catch ‘em all?

Further Reading:
http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-black-version-2-and-pokemon-white-version-2/
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/pokemon-black-and-white-2-announced-hits-japanese-dses-this-jun/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokemon_black#cite_note-105

New Mario Tennis Game on the Horizon

Upcoming for the Nintendo 3DS is the next installment of the Mario Tennis Series, Nintendo has announced production for Mario Tennis Open. The series started on the N64 and has made its way through consoles and handhelds although strangely avoided the motion controls of the Nintendo Wii.

The game will most likely utilize buttons for main gameplay and then use the touch screen for things like using items or special shots or things of that nature. I'll be sure to keep tabs on the development and hopefully get around to a preview soon.

I'll be back again soon with a few reviews and some more ideas in the next few days.


MC Hammer Bro.

Preview: Kid Icarus Uprising

Box Art

After being in development for over a year, Masahiro Sakurai (the creator of the Kirby series and head director of the Super Smash Brothers series) and Hal Laboratories have set a release date for Kid Icarus: Uprising. This game brings Pit -- the angelic protagonist destined to save the Skyworld from Medusa and the Underworld -- back to life.

Based on Pit's design in Brawl (rather than his 16 bit design in his NES and Gameboy games), Kid Icarus Uprising will debut on the Nintendo 3DS March 23, 2012. The game will focus on both combat and flying. Elements seen in games such as Star Fox and The Legend of Zelda seem to have also made their way in here. Most impressive however is a full audio voice acting as what is typically seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3D platforms.

Not seen since the original Kid Icarus in 1987 and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters in 1991 he spent about 17 years in obscurity until being reawakened in Super Smash Bros. Brawl where he gained a brand new fan base in the current generation of gamers. During development and the success of Brawl, Sakari expressed interest in giving new breath to the series.

Warning: Trailers may contain spoilers

Judging from the trailers, the game promises polished graphics, high paced real time battles and plenty of fun power-ups and weapons to play with. Plus flying looks really really fun. Also to note, it seems that there will be considerable character development and a deep story line.

Also to look forward to in the future is development for the next sequal in the Super Smash Bros. series; Sakurai stated that production wouldn't start until after Uprising is complete, so time will tell.

Further Reading:

Official Site: http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/leoRNk4z_ui0yblzMlCVz6Wy9jGb5qSq

Wikipedia Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Icarus_Uprising

Some Current Events

So after a slow start, the Nintendo 3DS has finally gotten the ball rolling with two hit hand-held titles. These games in particular were the first Mario games on the system and the first major titles that weren’t remakes. But most importantly, those Mario 3DS titles have had skyrocketing success driving 3DS sales through the roof and each selling over 1 million copies in their first weeks: Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Super Mario 3D Land is the next iteration in the Mario platforming series and bridges the gap between games of the Super Mario 64 style with side-scrolling in the same vein as the Super Mario series.

In looking at the Wii, it seems that Nintendo really seems to be looking ahead at the “Wii U” and is leaving the Wii to fend for itself in its last few months. Unlike this transition, the bridge from N64 to Gamecube and Gamecube to Wii was a lot smoother with an overlap of new games coming out for the old system at the same time as launch titles were laying the ground for the next generation. And in the case of the Gamecube many games, most notably The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, identical games were simultaneously released for both systems. Usually this helps owners get the full experience of their systems before moving up to the next level and keeps the interest of those like me who can’t always gather up the cash to get the system within weeks of its launch. Hopefully this isn’t true but the evidence is there with the release of Kirby’s Return to Dreamland and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword being the last highly anticipated games and no new major games in production.

And push-backs of the Wii-U’s release date further compounds the issue. So, as usual, only time will tell and if you can’t wait for the Wii U comes out to get your hands on some new Nintendo experiences, the 3DS is your best bet. Or, hit your local GameStop or other Used Game retailer and load up your libraries with titles that you may have missed for your old systems.

So finally, I’m posting some current news stuff and I hope to keep this up along with reviews and other posts and rants.

MC Hammer Bro.