Archive for September, 2007
Download Manaphy to your DS at ToysRUs on September 29th
That’s right, only today, on September 29th from noon to 3PM you can get a free download for Manaphy, the famous Pokemon character, to your copy of Pokemon Diamond or Pokemon Pearl. It’s only at ToysRUs, and they give you $5 off any DS game you buy at the store.
This Manaphy will be Level 50 and comes in a Cherish Ball and holding the Red Scarf item. It has the following move set: Heart Swap (which it normally doesn’t learn until Level 75), Water Pulse, Whirlpool, and Acid Armor. You won’t be able to upload it to the Global Trade Station. There are a few instructions to getting Manaphy that you can see in the picture to your right (click on it for a readable big poster).
Once you get Manaphy you need to do the following: you need Mystery Gift to unlocked it on your game (Diamond or Pearl). To get Mystery Gift, you go to the 3rd floor of the Jubilife TV station and talk to the guy near the bottom of the screen on the left. Use the words: “Everyone Happy” and then go to Wi-Fi Connection. Save and quit and you’ll see it.
If you can’t make it to ToysRUs in time or don’t live near one, you can look at our guide on “How to get Manaphy from Pokemon Ranger into Pokemon Diamond or Pearl.”
PS: You might remember that ToysRUs did a similar event a year ago for Pokemon fans to get Mew. So this might be a yearly event. — Thanks for the tip monkey79
3 comments »First Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days screenshots and details for the DS game’s storyline, single player, (co-op) multiplayer
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for Nintendo DS, you will explore a variety of Disney worlds in not only single player mode. But also in (cooperative) multiplayer missions made possible by the unique networking features of the DS in an all-new and mysterious Kingdom Hearts storyline.
The latest issue of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu reveals the first screenshots of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. It gives a nice look at what to expect from the DS action-RPG. Square Enix will let Japanese developer H.A.N.D. make the new game, but the Kingdom Hearts people are overseeing the project. Tetsuya Nomura is the director, with Tomohiro Hasegawa, who served as art director and was responsible for texture work in Kingdom Hearts II, serving as co-director. On the H.A.N.D. side, the head of production is Kouji Yamamoto. He previously worked on Chocobo and the Magic Picture Book.
The storyline will focus on Roxas and his time with Organization XIII. The game will tell the story of why why Roxas attempted to enter the Organization XIII, and eventually why he attempted to leave. The game starts off when Roxas enters Organization XIII, but we could end up seeing his birth in the game’s prologue.
Looking at the Kingdom Hearts story timeline, the game takes place before Kingdom Hearts II, during the one year period where Sora is asleep. Sora’s memory is being reconstructed during that time. The development staff is currently thinking up some methods for incorporating the ability to see Sora’s memories into the game; this is just in the idea phase, but it could involve something that focuses on the connection between Sora and Roxas.
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Unreal Tournament III will not have cross platform play (PC-PS3). Feature might be added later on
In an IRC talk with members of Epic’s Unreal Tournament III team, Epic’s boss Mark Rein said that, “The biggest challenge in doing cross platform play is synchronizing the builds such that the build on the PC is 100% compatible with the build on the PS3. Unfortunately (or fortunately) when you [develop] games on console you have a lengthy certification process to go through each time you release anything new.
We looked at how this would impact our ability to respond quickly to things happening at internet speed on the PC side of the equation and realized that this would not be in the best interests of our very loyal PC userbase because we would constantly be holding on to updates to wait until they passed cert on the console platform. Our PC fanbase is of ultimate importance to us. They are our bread and butter.
We can’t let them (PC gamers) down or compromise their experience in any way to accommodate cross platform play [with PS3 gamers]. This doesn’t completely rule out adding this feature at some point in the future after the game has settled down.”
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Medal of Honor Airborne review video
Step into the boots of Boyd Travers, Private First Class of the 82nd Airborne Division and engage in battles throughout Europe. From rocky beginnings in Sicily to war-winning triumphs in Germany, each mission begins behind enemy lines, with an intense and fully interactive airdrop. Your ability to determine your own starting point dramatically changes the way each mission plays out. View the entire operation from the air, and then control your parachute to choose your landing spot. On the ground, gather your senses and assess the terrain. A wide variety of authentic, customizable weapons are at your disposal, each with distinct characteristics. Choose your path in this free roaming FPS environment.
Medal of Honor Airborne also features exceptionally photo-realistic characters, adding to the intensity of the cinematic, story-driven game. The producers sought counsel from numerous expert sources to make certain the game is historically accurate and as true to the WWII Airborne experience as possible.
While it’s not quite the open world WWII shooter that was promised, a handful of fresh and interesting ideas make it a definite step in the right direction. Find out all about it in this Medal of Honor Airborne video review.
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Viva Pinata: Party Animals colorful minigames video (release date October 30th 2007)
Viva Pinata: Party Animals on Xbox 360 is a multiplayer game expanding the Viva Pinata experience. This party game features a number of minigames that up to four players will be able to play using their own favorite Pinata. The party game’s release date in America is October 30th and in Europe it’s expected in November 2007.
The wild ones from the lush colorful world of Viva Pinata are ready for a little friendly competition in this new video.
Fatal Frame 4 Wii sequel announced by Tecmo
At Tokyo Game Show last week it was revealed by Tecmo that they hired Japanese developer Grasshopper Manufacture to create the horror game Fatal Frame 4 for the Nintendo Wii.
When Grasshopper finishes work on their Wii-exclusive game No More Heroes before December 6th 2007, they will begin making Fatal Frame Wii. Given that No More Heroes was developed on Wii, Grasshopper seems content on Nintendo’s console. As you can read in our Fatal Frame 1 review, taking photographs of ghosts is a big part of Fatal Frame series, so Wiimote motion controls would make perfect sense.
1UP also notes the console-shift for the series, since last we heard about the next Fatal Frame it seemed to be for Xbox 360 and PS3. Producer Keisuke Kikuchi said about Fatal Frame 4 back in 2005: “I already have some ideas that I’d like to do if I had more development time and a more powerful system.” But then again, in 2005, no one knew about the Wii’s upcoming success.
Clive Barker’s Jericho demo, Ninja Gaiden: Sigma Speed Master content and more now on the PlayStation Network
Sony Computer Entertainment announced the following PlayStation Network downloadable games and videos were released for PlayStation 3 this week.
American Games:
* HOME beta update
* Clive Barker’s Jericho demo
* NBA 2K8 demo
* Ninja Gaiden: Sigma Downloadable Content - Speed Master - Time Attack Mode - $2.99
* MotorStorm Downloadable Content - New Car “Castro Capitano” (only available in this pack) - $0.99
American Trailers:
* Eye of Judgement - “Overview”
* Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
* NBA 08 - “Upside Progression System tutorial”
European Games:
* Folklore demo (Japanese demo gameplay with English text so sort of new)
* Sega Rally demo
* MotorStorm Downloadable Content - New Car “Castro Capitano” (only available in this pack) - €2.49
* Ninja Gaiden: Sigma Downloadable Content - Speed Master - Time Attack Mode - €3.99
* Spiderman 3 Downloadable Content - New Goblin (Was originally exclusive to the Collector’s Edition) - €5.99
European Trailers:
* Go! Sports Ski
* inFamous
* PES 2008
Other Stuff For Europe:
* Five Heavenly Sword wallpapers
* Five WarHawk wallpapers
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Sin And Punishment, Gradius III hit PAL Wii Virtual Console
For the first time ever this month, European and Australian Wii owners through the Wii Shop Channel will be able to broaden their horizons with a selection of great games previously only available in Japan and America. Two weeks ago was the introduction of this first Hanabi Festival and last week there was the Ninja Week. The final week of Nintendo’s special Hanabi Festival is Sci-Fi Week, go back to the future with two stunning sci-fi classics! If you want to have a snowball’s chance in hell to get Super Mario RPG and Earthbound on the Virtual Console in Europe and Australia, then you’ll buy one or more of these. Not just for future Japan-only or American-only games to be released in PAL (or NTSC) regions, but also because games like Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Earth are amazingly fun to play. Note that I can say this, because I imported the game for my Japanese N64 back in 2000.
Sin And Punishment (Nintendo 64)
Treasure’s acclaimed 3D third-person shooter makes its eagerly-awaited debut on Virtual Console. Battle through wave after wave of bio-genetic and mechanical enemies as you fight to save the Earth from its own destruction. This Virtual Console version of Sin And Punishment has been specially updated to include English menu and tutorial text, English subtitles in the end sequence and the game itself has English voice acting.
Gradius III (Super Nintendo)
Strap yourself into your Vic Viper starfighter and engage the armadas of the Bacterion Empire, in Konami’s classic side-scrolling shoot ‘em up from 1991. Tool up with different pre-set weapons systems or mix and match lasers, missiles and shields to create your own custom set-ups; and get set for one of the most challenging shooters ever!
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Video interview with Phil Harrison about big PS3 games and Home
In this Phil Harrison interview from Tokyo Game Show 2007, the Sony Europe boss discusses the games Lair and Heavenly Sword, as well as the upcoming Home community service.
Metroid Custom Wii Mod is coolest thing ever created
Oh . . . my . . . God! Have you guys seen the Metroid Custom Wii Mod yet?
The guy who created this custom Metroid Nintendo Wii is no stranger to custom console mods, but he has totally outdone himself with his latest model. Using 15 LEDs, the Metroid Wii has quite simply the coolest looking glow I’ve ever seen. As a huge Metroid fan, I wish I had the money to buy this thing. I could only imagine how it would feel playing the newly released Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on this newly minted custom Metroid Wii! Like being in gaming Heaven! 
Check out his previous Custom Zelda Wii work and then give a look at the auction page for the Metroid Custom Wii Mod so you can consider whether or not it’s worth spending your hard earned $900 bucks to snag yourself this once-in-a-lifetime, unique-in-the-world Wii! Only 3 days left!
