Japanese SimCity DS Trailer

I just came across a glimpse into the Japanese Version of SimCity DS. As rumored, it looks like a reincarnation of SimCity 3000. It really looks like a lot of fun, and the music definitely brings back some memories. My favorite feature so far is the ability to defend your city against some disasters that you were defenseless against in the previous SimCity games.

I also just came across this, which is older, but is nice because it shows you both screens.

Wii Shop Channel Weirdness

I went to the Wii Shop Channel to look at the details of Mario Kart 64, and this is what I got:

This was either the result of it loading wrong for me just once, or Nintendo just fixed this rather quickly. This loaded like this at about 1:35 AM MST, and I had it reload at 1:53 AM MST, and it looked normal.

Sorry for the bad quality. Sadly, I don’t have a video capture device, and my Wii is hooked up to a non-flatscreen standard definition TV.

This Week’s New Virtual Console Games

Nintendo has added four new games to the Virtual Console this Week. The two Genesis games that have released are ones I have never heard of, but they sound like fun. And Nintendo has finally added another N64 Game. Will this trend continue with another game that has “64″ in its title released in another two months? I guess we will find out then…

Here is the press release from Nintendo:

WII-KLY UPDATE: FOUR NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL

Jan. 29, 2007

Today Nintendo adds four new classic games to the popular Wii™ video game system’s Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

Mario Kart 64™ (Nintendo® 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Put the pedal to the metal in this worthy successor to the Super NES® classic, Super Mario Kart®. Mario Kart 64 boasts great graphics, tons of unique power-ups and a stunning 3-D version of the legendary Battle Mode. With improved courses and a revolutionary head-to-head four-player mode, Mario Kart 64 is sure to win the heart of any race-driving fan. The game includes 20 different courses filled with dips, valleys, jumps, tunnels and bridges. Smooth, precise control – a trademark of all games from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto – will bring players back time and time again for freewheeling fun.

Contra® III: The Alien Wars™ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2636, the Alien War continues, and it’s up to two soldiers, Jimbo and Scully, to put a stop to the alien invasion. The aliens have ravaged the Earth with their powerful organic and technological weapons. Players can join with a partner and battle through six stages of nonstop run-and-gun action. Collect power-ups, including bombs, flamethrowers, spread shots, lasers and machine guns to take out the aliens. Control Jimbo and Scully as they travel through war-torn cities, race on air bikes, ride missiles and ultimately break into the alien base to defeat the alien boss once and for all.

Bonanza Bros.™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Mobo and Robo Bonanza are enjoying their favorite television show when the picture crackles and the shadowy figure of a mysterious stranger appears on the screen. This figure asks them to collect certain items that he has placed inside various buildings to test his security force. If they return the items successfully, Mobo and Robo will be rewarded. The two of them state that they will get the job done in just three minutes. However, little do they know that each building is packed with security guards who will raise the alarm if they are caught red-handed. Fortunately both Mobo and Robo are equipped with bullets that can knock the guards unconscious for a few seconds. A huge reward will be given out if Mobo and Robo are apprehended. Help the infamous Bonanza Bros. infiltrate a number of different locations ranging from banks to mansions to casinos, and don’t get caught.

Comix Zone™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Sketch Turner is an artist in New York City. One day while Sketch is drawing, a huge thunderstorm strikes the city. A bolt of lightning hits Sketch’s image and brings it to life. That image is Mortus, a megalomaniacal mutant who wants to become real and rule the earth. Mortus magically transports Sketch into the pages of his comic book so that he can end his creator’s life and become real. Inside the comic book, Sketch meets General Alissa Cyan, who believes he is a superhero that came to save their post-apocalyptic world from the evil brought by Mortus’s hand. Now that he’s a comic book superhero, Sketch can really put the hurt on the bad guys. Instantly, Sketch can fight like a one-man mercenary platoon.

Wii News Channel Available

I just ran my Wii system update, and after it downloaded, the news channel became available on my Wii. So, run Wii system update in your settings, and have fun with the news channel!

Nintendo Wins Emmy Award

I was browsing the Nintendo Press Releases and found this. I think it is pretty cool.

DID YOU KNOW? NINTENDO WINS EMMY AWARD

Jan. 12, 2007

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has awarded Nintendo an Emmy® Award for its invention of the plus-shaped D-pad, one in a long string of Nintendo’s controller innovations. The award was presented in recognition of the technological achievement of the D-pad, which radically changed how people interact with their video games and, by extension, their televisions. Nintendo received the award in Las Vegas during the Technological & Engineering Emmy Awards, which kicked off this week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

The D-pad first debuted on the controllers for the Nintendo Entertainment System® in 1985, and has been standard on all video games controllers ever since. The D-pad replaced joysticks and represented an early example of how Nintendo was willing to shake up the status quo in the search for a better gaming experience.

“Nintendo has long been a pioneer in the way that people interact with their games,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Our commitment to pushing the envelope continues today with our motion-sensitive Wii Remote controllers, which again rewrite the rules. We are grateful for this award and thank the academy for the honor.”