Wii Music is a compilation of music titles from Nintendo that use the motion control aspects of the Wii controller to simulate instruments. Since in December 2007 Nintendo of Japan’s schedule (page 9) confirmed that the music-rhythm game had been delayed to 2008, we thought it would be fun to do a recap of all known features. Let’s start off with two examples of included games that were demonstrated at E3 2006: …

1. Bang on a drum set like air-drums (with both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk), for one or two players:

2. Conduct an orchestra with a wave of the wand as The Legend Of Zelda Overworld Theme plays:

… As well as acting out other music — like the Super Mario Bros. Theme or The Overture from the Opera Carmen — with your Wii.

It is unknown how many Wii Music games may be included in final package. But an October 10th Nintendo Fall Press Conference 2007 Presentation in Japan revealed that: “Players will be able to select from around 40 instruments, including folk guitar, bass guitar, trumpet, maracas and marimba. Six characters take part in a performance, although the game only supports up to four human players. You’re free to go at the game by yourself, with the CPU taking care of the remaining parts.

Gameplay is timing based. You have to time your button presses with notes. The controls vary depending on the instrument. With the trumpet, you use A and B on the Wiimote. For the drums, you shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Some instruments have extra playing options, though. With the trumpet, you can aim the Wiimote up and down to simulate an increase in blowing strength. With the guitar, you can hold down the C button to get single notes instead of chords,” translated IGN.

You can see part of this press event here:

Lastly back in April 2007 a Nintendo distributor mentioned that Wii Music will allow players to create and save their own compositions and send them to other Wii users via the online WiiConnect24 to get exchanges going.

That’s to say on top of the Nintendo and orchestral classic pieces that will be included. It should be interesting to find out what other songs will make it in the game or if there will be entirely new compositions thanks to Nintendo composer Koji Kondo (of Mario, Zelda, Smash Bros. series fame) being one of the people overseeing the project along with Shigeru Miyamoto.

When released, this should be great fun and do well for itself if the Video Games Live concerts’ success is any indication. After Wii Sports and Wii Fit, this could be the next big hit. Nintendo is expected to show off Wii Music at the E3 Summit 2008 on July 15-17th.

Share This

No Comments

After making the Kirby’s Air Ride racing game, developer HAL Laboratories started on Kirby’s first full-scale action game. The tentatively titled Kirby Adventure was originally announced back in November 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube. The game later showed up in February 2007 on a Japanese 2007 release list as a Nintendo Wii port titled Hoshi no Kirby (translates as Kirby of the Stars). So we’ll nickname the game Kirby Adventure Wii for now. Lastly in December 2007 Nintendo of Japan’s schedule (page 9) confirmed that the game has been delayed to 2008.

Our enemy-inhaling and morphing friend’s game had a variety of modes, including a substantial single player experience and a wild multiplayer adventure for up to four players. With the Wii’s focus on family-friendly multiplayer games, and Kirby’s huge fanbase dying for a new game, we’d expect Kirby Adventure Wii to be revealed at E3 in mid-July 2008 right next to the rumored 2008 release of Animal Crossing Wii and maybe even Kid Icarus Wii.

Kirby Adventure’s story begins when Kirby sets out to get the stolen Warpstar back from King Dedede. It’s tough going for Kirby when he’s on his own… so it’s a good thing he can catch a ride on the backs of his helpers. Utilizing a new attack system, Kirby can gain power by riding on up to three helpers. The more helpers, the more powerful the attack. It’s up to Kirby to save the beautiful world of Dream Land.

Watch the GameCube trailer for Kirby Adventure:

This video shows 21 powers, namely: Beam, Bomb, Broom, Cutter, Fighter, Fire, Hammer, Ice, Parasol, Plasma, Stone, Sword, Tornado, Water, Wheel, Yoyo, Jet, Sound, Ninja, Paint, and Wing.

The cartoony and colorful GameCube version seemed to be running on the Super Smash Bros. Melee engine, so a Wii version could be in development on the Super Smash Bros. Brawl engine. In general there always seems to be a side-scrolling Kirby platformer in development at Nintendo/HAL, so it’s most likely that this GameCube port’s release was delayed from 2007 to 2008 for added Wii-controls and polish. The GameCube game Super Paper Mario was also successfully ported to the Wii, as was the GameCube’s DK Bongo Blast that showed up as a renamed Donkey Kong Barrel Blast on Wii.

Check out all Kirby Adventure GameCube pictures at IGN.

Share This

5 Comments

Animal Crossing Wii is expected at E3 2008. Since developer Nintendo hasn’t revealed any of their second half of 2008 lineup, the community-building & sharing life simulator could be making an appearance on the Wii in late 2008. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has openly said the company has unannounced games up its sleeve for E3 2008, where they usually do their surprise unveilings at a pre-E3 keynote. Let’s take a look at what Nintendo has said about Animal Crossing Wii in the past three years with a conclusion at the end of what to expect.

April 2005: When the Wii was still codenamed Revolution, Animal Crossing Revolution was confirmed in an interview with Animal Crossing DS’s producer Katsuya Eguchi. The producer said a connection between Animal Crossing DS and Animal Crossing Wii is a possibility. To quote: “The reason why we created the Animal Island [in Animal Crossing on the GameCube] was to give something [NES games] for people to take with them on the Game Boy Advance. Maybe with the DS we’ll do something similar between the DS and Revolution.”

March 2006: At the Game Developers Conference 2006 Animal Crossing lecture Katsuya Eguchi mentioned: “Much like the conversion from the console Animal Crossing onto DS, we are now exploring how to bring what we have developed in Wild World onto Revolution. This time it is about bringing the world we’ve set up on DS over to the console world of the Revolution,” while talking about the Wi-Fi-enabled world specifics of the DS game.

May 2006: Katsuya Eguchi, manager/producer of Software Development Group 2 at EAD, and the man in charge of both Wii Sports and Animal Crossing Wii was once again interviewed:

Question: How is work on Animal Crossing for Wii progressing and what can we expect from the final product?
Katsuya Eguchi answers: Right now we’re currently considering our options in terms of what we can do with the various features of the controller and through WiiConnect24. With regard to the controller, basically it could become potentially your axe, your shovel and your fishing rod. You can imagine what can happen there. Again, we don’t know if this will happen for sure because it’s kind of a trial and error process. With regard to WiiConnect24, you could have someone visit your town even when you weren’t actively playing and maybe leave you a letter or a gift [while your Wii is in standby mode, so the Wii’s blue light might start blinking]. Also, through Wi-Fi Connection, players could play simultaneously.
Read more…

Share This

12 Comments

Grand Theft Auo 4 is finally released worldwide today. Time to unlock all these codes, cheats and secrets. All GTA 4 content below is from CheatCC.com.

First enter the Cheat Mode:
While playing the game, press Up to display Niko’s cellphone. Press Up again to access the keypad. Then, enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. Once a code has been entered correctly, a new “Cheats” menu option will be available on your phone, below “Options”, where you can access the cheats without having to enter the phone number again. Note: Do not save the game after enabling a code to avoid unforeseen problems. Enabling some cheats may prevent achievements from being earned.

Full health
Dial “3625550100″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “DOC-555-0100″. This code prevents the “Cleaned The Mean Streets”, “Finish Him”, “One Man Army”, and “Walk Free” achievements from being earned.

Full health and ammunition
Dial “4825550100″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “GTA-555-0100″. This code prevents the “Cleaned The Mean Streets” achievement from being earned.

Weapons tier 1
Dial “4865550100″ into the cellphone. This will unlock the baseball bat, handgun, shotgun, MP5, M4, sniper rifle, RPG, and grenades. Note: This phone number translates to “GUN-555-0150″. This code prevents the “Cleaned The Mean Streets” achievement from being earned.

Weapons tier 2
Dial “4865550150″ into the cellphone. This will unlock the knife, Molotov cocktails, handgun, shotgun, Uzi, AK47, sniper rifle, and RPG. Note: This phone number translates to “GUN-555-0100″. This code prevents the “Cleaned The Mean Streets” achievement from being earned.

Remove Niko’s wanted level
Dial “2675550100″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “COP-555-0100″. This code prevents the “One Man Army” and “Walk Free” achievements from being earned.

Add one star to Niko’s wanted level
Dial “2675550150″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “COP-555-0150″.

Spawn Annihilator police helicopter
Dial “3595550100″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “FLY-555-0100″. This code prevents the “One Man Army” and “Walk Free” achievements from being earned.

Spawn Cognoscenti
Dial “2275550142″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “CAR-555-0142″.

Spawn Comet
Dial “2275550175″ into the cellphone. Note: This phone number translates to “CAR-555-0175″.
Read more…

Share This

23 Comments

Since the PlayStation 3-exclusive driving simulator Gran Turismo 5 Prologue isn’t exactly clear on how to unlock all bonus cars, the following short overview will show you.

Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding car:

* BMW Concept 1 Series tii ‘07: Win all B Class races.
* Daihatsu OFC-1: Win all C Class races.
* Ferrari F2007: Win all C, B, A, and S Class races.
* Nissan GT-R Proto ‘05: Win all S Class races.
* Nissan Skyline Coupe Concept ‘07: Win all A Class races.

There are also S Class events to unlock:

Successfully complete the main A, B, and C Class events with a Bronze Medal or higher rank to unlock the S Class events.

Watch the Ferrari F2007 in action at Suzuka with cockpit view.

Find out what cars are needed to finish each event in the game by browsing this Gran Turismo 5 Prologue walkthrough.

Share This

No Comments

Take the following steps to unlock each of the 14 secret characters in Mario Kart Wii.

Baby Daisy: Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 50cc cups.
Baby Luigi: Unlock eight Expert Staff Ghost Data** in Time Trials mode.
Birdo: Play 16 different courses in Time Trials mode.
Bowser Jr.: Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 100cc Retro Cups.
Daisy: Win* the 150cc Special Cup.
Diddy Kong: Successfully complete all 50cc Cups.
Dry Bones: Win the 100cc Leaf Cup.
Dry Bowser: Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 150cc Wii Cups.
Funky Kong: Unlock four Expert Staff Ghost Data in Time Trials mode.
King Boo: Win the 50cc Star Cup
Mii (Outfit A): Win the 100cc Special Cup.
Mii (Outfit B): Unlock all 32 Expert Staff Ghost Data in Time Trials mode.
Rosalina: Get a “One Star” rank or better in the 100cc Mushroom Cup. Alternately, have a saved game file from Super Mario Galaxy and win a number of races.
Toadette: Play on all 32 courses in Time Trials mode.

* Winning a Cup means getting first place.
** Expert Staff Ghost Data itself is unlocked by beating a regular staff ghost by 7 seconds.

But there’s much more to be unlocked in Mario Kart Wii. The following lists show the rest of the unlockables:
Read more…

Share This

41 Comments

Konami’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3 (due June 12) is the latest stealth game in a series that has been going strong for the last 20 years. In an interview with Hideo Kojima, creator of the series, he was asked if this was the last game in the series and even if he may not be making another one himself, he said he’d produce more spin-off PSP handheld games and hinted that a Metal Gear Solid 5 sequel might be a possibility without him.

Question: Obviously, the first question that’s on everyone’s mind is: Why exactly did you feel this was the right time to end the Metal Gear Solid series?

Hideo Kojima answers: I was supposed to end this in MGS2, you know, originally (laughs). And then I created MGS3, and I said, ‘Okay, this is the final one. It’s over.’ But people said, ‘No… there’s still not enough answers (in that game)!’ As a game design, the story was almost complete in MGS1, 2 and 3, or so I initially thought. But of course, there were some questions that weren’t answered, especially with some things after MGS2. I didn’t decide that this was the timing – there were a lot of voices saying, ‘We want the answer to all of the questions!’ That’s why as a game, and as a saga, MGS4 is the complete wrap up.

PR-wise, I really don’t want to say that [Metal Gear Solid 4 is] the final game or this is the wrap up, but if I don’t say it, people will make me create MGS again! (laughs) So I have to say, ‘Die, Snake,’ and really end it so I can move on to something else! (laughs) Actually, it’s a game, so even if Snake dies, the game can live on. We have to kill him at a certain point.

Question: Now there were a few things that fans of the series have easily picked up on in footage released of the game, such as Policenauts posters. Even the Mark II is reminiscent of Snatcher. I have a two part question. First, how many elements of previous games, such as Zone of the Enders or Snatcher, have helped to influence or shape game elements of MGS4? Secondly, would you return to Zone of the Enders or Snatcher possibly once you’ve put Metal Gear Solid 4 to rest?

Hideo Kojima answers: You might think that I might pass away because I’m putting everything into this past series! (laughs)

To answer your first question, none, actually – that’s just a service to the fans, the genuine fans of Kojima Productions. Policenauts and Snatcher wasn’t probably released in America and some other parts of the world outside of Japan. In Japan, there are still a lot of core fans who really love all of the series. Even Meryl – she used to appear in Policenauts – so it’s a kind of service to say thank you to the fans, actually.

Finally, it’s the end of Snake, so I’d really want to start something really fresh and new when I create the game for the next one. However, maybe the sequel to ZOE [meaning: Zone of the Enders 3], or a remake of Snatcher, for instance, if I just participate as a producer, yeah, that could be possible.

Picture courtesy of VGboxart, quotes via IGN.

UPDATE May 13th 2008: The Metal Gear Solid 4 press event in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills ended with an audio clip of a phone conversation between franchise foe Revolver Ocelot and an unknown character, with only Ocelot’s side of the conversation presented in the clip. It included a hint at a Metal Gear Solid 4 sequel. To quote:

[Ocelot’s voice]
Yes.
We just finished the press conference.
Yes.
Everything went according to plan.
Yes.
We’re entering into the last phase of the mission.
Do you want to execute the launch day surprise?
Yes, that’s right.
Akihabara, New York, L.A….
Live, simultaneously throughout the world…
Yes, it’s under control.
The VIP’s are happy to participate.
Yeah, that’s right.
That person.
Yes sir, understood.
So on June 12th…
By the way, what should we do about “The Project?”
Yes, that’s correct.
That man has fallen.
It’s about the sequel.
Yes, indeed.
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
I see.
Yes, sir.
Mr. CEO.

Translated by 1UP.

Share This

7 Comments

The following Bungie developer interview notes are a summary of everything Halo 4 the company talked about or what was hinted at. We dubbed it “The Secret Files” that puts one and one together. Every Halo fan obviously knows the (original) Halo trilogy is over (Halo 3 was left with an open ending). But with Ensemble Studios working on the Halo Wars RTS prequel and an episodic Halo: Chronicles cinematic-game trilogy series still in the works by Peter Jackson, would a Halo 4 FPS really be that far fetched? Time to line up the facts…

July 14th 2006: Bungie audio director, Marty O’Donnell, said at the UK Game Developers Conference that “We all want Halo to be the great ending to an epic trilogy. We look at what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings films - which each film bettering the previous one and that is what we are aiming for.”

September 25th 2007: At the launch of Halo 3 the cinematic designer, Lee Wilson, said “There’s a lot of people who have been working on Halo much longer than us two have and they’re really interested in exploring new games, new stories, and whatever comes out of those conversations is what we’re going to pursue. We’re still going to make games for us.” And Joe Tung, multiplayer producer, said that the team was “figuring out right now what we’re working on next. We really don’t know what that is yet but as soon as we know, everyone else will know. Halo 4 is not in development.”

October 8th 2007: Halo movie director, Neill Blomkamp, confirmed that the Halo “film is entirely dead,” but consoled fans of the series by mentioning that “Well, we are already at work on another Halo game — I wouldn’t call it ‘Halo 4′, but it is based in the Halo Universe and represents a collaboration between Bungie and Peter Jackson. Halo 3 was definitely not the last Bungie Halo game.”

November 9th 2007: Bungie studio manager, Harold Ryan, mentioned that “Obviously Microsoft wanted us to make more Halo games. Both I and some of the more senior guys from the original Halo game have deep piles of game designs for the Halo universe that we are excited to build at some point. If the stars align and motivations are good and the platforms are right we’ll do them.”

Now in 2008: Bungie are still supporting the Xbox 360-exclusive Halo 3 with new map packs, as well as the above mentioned two Halo game spin-offs that are set for tentative Q4 2008 releases. It does look like they want to take a break from the series, which might be part of the reason why Bungie became independent from Microsoft. But since money makes the world ago around, and of course fans do want more, it’s doubtful Microsoft or Bungie will want to give up on the Halo series that as of October 4th, 2007, combined sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Perhaps by the time the Xbox 720 launches in 2011-2012 we’ll hear about Master Chief’s comeback in Halo 4.

Picture courtesy of VGboxart, quotes via BBC, ProG, Crunchgear, Bungie, and a previous VGB article.

Share This

20 Comments

How to unlock all secret Super Smash Bros Brawl characters? That question will be answered in this guide that shows you who to unlock and how.

The Super Smash Bros. Brawl starter characters select screen shows only 21 out of the 37 playable characters in the Wii fighting game. Below we’ve listed the 16 secret characters in order, from easy to hard to unlock.

To unlock SHEIK:
* Use Zelda’s down special move in-game to transform into Sheik.
* At the character selection screen, select the Zelda/Sheik area. Hover the pointer over your section, then press the following button to toggle between Zelda and Sheik:
– With a Wii-mote, press 2.
– With a Wii-mote and Nunchuk, press A.
– With a Classic controller, press A.
– With a GameCube controller, press A.

To unlock ZERO SUIT SAMUS:
* You’ll have to choose Samus, at the character-selection screen, hold down a shield button then proceed to the next screen. Quickly input taunts Up, Down, Up. If you’ve set your taunts to the +Control Pad on your controller, you’ll eventually input the command correctly if you rapidly hammer up and down on the +Control Pad. That should shed Samus’ armor so she becomes Zero Suit Samus.
* Play as regular Samus, grab the Smash Ball and perform the final smash to shed your armor and become Zero Suit Samus.
* At the character selection screen, select Samus, then hold the following buttons at the “Ready to Fight!” message:
– With a Wii-mote, hold Minus and press Plus.
– With a Wii-mote and Nunchuk, hold Nunchuk Z and press Plus.
– With a Classic controller, hold R and press Plus.
– With a GameCube controller, hold R and press Start.

To unlock NESS:
* Play five matches in Brawl, and then beat Ness in a fight.
* Reflect 10 projectiles, and then beat Ness in a fight.
* Get Ness to join your party in The Subspace Emissary (AKA Adventure mode).

To unlock MARTH:
* Play 10 matches in Brawl, and then beat Marth in a fight.
* Finish Classic mode on any difficulty level, and then beat Marth in a fight.
* Get Marth to join your party in The Subspace Emissary.

To unlock SNAKE:
* Play 15 matches in Brawl on Shadow Moses Island, and then beat Snake in a fight.
* Play 130 matches in Brawl, and then beat Snake in a fight.
* Have Snake join your team in The Subspace Emissary.
Read more…

Share This

171 Comments

Rockstar Games have launched the official Grand Theft Auto 4 website. The site contains new screenshots, videos, and info on the game, as well as a map of Liberty City. We’ll start this update with the previews of GTA 4, but look for all-new videos at the end.

The latest issues of UK magazines PSM3 and Games Master and German magazine Computerbild-Spiele have hands-on previews of Grand Theft Auto 4. What follows are transcriptions of the latest facts from these game magazines, before the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 worldwide release of the action game on April 29th, 2008.

Here’s all the new info in one big list:

* The faster you tap X, the faster main character Niko runs. He doesn’t appear to get tired.
* At some point Niko gets in trouble with 10 bikers in a street fight, some of them had knives, Niko runs away and a police officer sees him getting chased by the biker gang, the police officer thinks Niko is an innocent pedestrian and helps Niko out and shoots at the bikers.
* Pedestrian reactions are more true-to-life than in previous games.
* The “WASTED!” system is still intact. If you die, you end up at the nearest hospital (minus your weapons) the next morning.
* One button press will get you into a car. A second button press is required to start up the car’s engine.
* Niko wears a helmet while riding motorcycles.
* Surroundings are more interactive (bullet holes from gunfire, environment reacting to explosions, etc).
* You can find “useful things” in cars that you hijack.
* Major collisions on motorbikes cause the helmet to fall off. You can see it fall onto the ground.
* Heavy fire will scar - and permanently destroy - parts of the environment.
* They previewed a mission called “To Live and Die in Alderney,” which is the second part of “Truck Hustle.” The second mission is called “Jamaican Heat,” and acts as a tutorial for the new cover/targeting system. The third mission is called “Jacob’s Ladder,” and the fourth (and final) mission is called “Harbouring a Grudge.” This mission introduces an Irish character called Patrick McReary, who is related to Francis.
* The mobile phone can be used to call 911 for the police, the paramedics, and the fire department.
* The mobile phone can also be used for text messaging, photos, reminders, and music.
* There are 18 radio stations in GTA 4 - one of which is Russian. All of these stations can be accessed via the mobile phone.
* You can take photos with the mobile phone and upload them to the police computer.
* Health is represented by a green semi-circle on the left side of the radar, and a right semi-circle represents armor. You can restore health by resting, by using medical kits, and by eating.
* In taxis, you can ask the driver to change the radio station by pressing D-pad left or right.
* The GTA 4 equivalent of the Lincoln Tunnel is known as the Booth Tunnel.
* The PS3’s version seems to be exactly the same visually as its Xbox 360 counterpart. The frame rate on the PS3 version is extremely smooth.
* Niko’s clothes get bloodier after you take more and more damage.
* To create a diversion or simply steal their car and anything else you can foster up.
* When you fail a mission, you receive a text message asking whether you want to replay the mission, even a “skip trip” feature is included.
* R1 will be the “into cover” button for the PS3, many variations of getting into cover apply.
* You can dangle from Helicopters, just like vans and trucks.
* When your about to die it fades into black and white, just like in gears of war and uncharted.
* Ne-Yo and R Kelly were heard on the radio.
* 18 radio stations available.
* Niko is able to ask the cab driver to change the radio station.
* Niko pays the cabbie double (which adds up to $39) to speed up.
* Bums on the street ask for money, you have the ability to give them money.
* Niko raises his arms when cops try to “bust him” out of say a car, but he can move freely and can run or retaliate.
* Multiplayer will be accessed from the mobile phone.
* If you want to know even more about the game, check out our previous Grand Theft Auto 4 Questions and Answers feature.

Here are the all-new GTA 4 videos: Read more…

Share This

1 Comment