N-Europe

News: Hanabi Festival Returning To Europe

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:52:40 -0600

More classics head to Europe for the first time ever! Head inside to see which games to expect...

The Hanabi Festival is a wonderful thing. It has seem many a classic come to European shores for the first time in history via the Virtual Console, including Sin & Punishment, Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels and the original Ninja Gaiden. Nintendo has confirmed that the event will be returning to Europe starting this Friday, with a new batch of games getting the localisation treatment for the first time.

The most prominent title set to feature in this instalment is the cult-hit PC Engine version of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, which will release for 900 Points. Other titles set to follow are Milon's Secret Castle and Lode Runner on the NES (both 600 Points); and the Neo Geo CD shoot 'em up Ironclad (1000 Points).

Will you be indulging in a bit Japanese culture this week?

News: EA Sports Active 2.0 Coming This Year

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:36:30 -0600

EA announces a new improved sequel to its own take on the fitness genre...

Last year, EA to release its own competitor to Nintendo's behemoth Wii Fit. The result was EA Sports Active - a well-received, robust piece of fitness software that performed surprisingly well at retail. It's success led to an expansion pack back in November, and now the company have announced a brand new sequel.

EA Sports Active 2.0 will feature brand new, wireless motion sensors for the leg and arm, as well as a device to measure your heart rate - probably a similar peripheral to Nintendo's own Vitality Sensor. The sequel will also offer consumers an online hub in order to track and share their workout data.

The new bundle does away with wires and introduces a heart-rate monitor.

EA Sports Active 2.0 has been announced for a release this Autumn on Wii, Playstation 3, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Retro : VC Weekly #122

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:05:56 -0600

Welcome to VC Weekly, N-Europe�s guide to the wonderful world of Nintendo�s download service. Written by Sam C Gittins.

After missing out a week Nintendo have seen fit to update the Virtual Console once more, unfortunately the single title added isn't that amazing. Anyway enough from me and on with the erm... game!

Available for download this week we have...

Zaxxon

Points: 500
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Released: 1982
System: Arcade

Back in the day of its original release Zaxxon was something rather special in the arcades owing to the isometric perspective that it employed being a first for arcade games; it also stuck bravely to sprites rather than attempting to venture into 'true' 3D territory. The result was actually rather impressive at the time and managed to create a shooting experience unlike any other around.

This re-release sticks faithfully to the arcade original with the controls being replicated just as they were with either the control stick or the D-pad handling the joystick input rather well making the various ship movements accurate leaving you to worry about the shooting which thankfully can be switched to auto-fire if you so desire.

Originally this arcade title was displayed on a vertical monitor so in a reasonably clever move this aspect has been catered for by giving players the option of displaying in either a reformatted wide-screen mode or you can stick to the windowed mode complete with an added scan- line effect if you really want. Audio is competent but only really serves to aid the experience as there is no music to speak of, just a handful of complementary blips and bleeps that amount to the games sound effects; indeed when constantly changing altitude it sounds more akin to a radio being tuned in than anything else.

It plays rather repetitively as you fly around shooting things while adjusting your altitude to ensure that you don't end up crashing, you have a fuel bar which can only be topped up by firing your laser at red barrels which are of course placed perilously at ground level often causing you to crash while obtaining fuel especially if you're new to the game. So its relatively steep learning curve basically becomes this titles undoing because it only gets increasingly difficult and when you couple this with the often object-obscuring isometric view, the game inevitably becomes a rather frustrating experience based on mere trial and error.

Overall you may get some enjoyment out of it and the novelty of the isometric view and simple gameplay may be enough to keep you playing if you're really determined to persevere with it but in all honesty there are better shooting games out there so only get this if you're literally played everything else the VC has to offer within the same genre and are desperate for a shooting game fix.

Verdict : A simple and sedate shooter.

That's it for another installment of VC Weekly which will return again soon. So until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!

Sam Gittins
sam.gittins@n-europe.com

Looking for reviews on other Virtual Console games? Or a full list of games available on the system? Then Check out our Virtual Console Index Page.

News: Transfer DSi Data To DSi XL

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:10:07 -0600

Want your DSi saved data on your shiny, new DSi XL? It seems Nintendo are agreeing to transfer consumers' data across the systems. Head inside for more...

While there is no pre-programmed method for owners of Nintendo's DSi to transfer their saved and downloaded data across to the newly-released DSi XL, it appears to company are willing to step in and perform the transfer themselves.

Markus Pfeffer recently got into contact with N-Europe to inform us that Nintendo agreed to receive his hardware to transfer data across the two platforms. It should be stipulated, not ALL data was transferred across in this case, but it's certainly a service we advise looking in to. He managed this by contacting his local Nintendo branch in Germany.

So while there is no official policy for transferring data across, it seems well worth getting into touch with Nintendo themselves. Readers in the UK can find all the relevant contact details for Nintendo here, and readers residing across the Europe can also get their respected details at Nintendo Europe's website.

Obviously, we cannot categorically confirm that Nintendo will instantly agree to all cases free of charge, but we really do recommend calling up and insisting that you've a right to access your own software on your new console.

Special thanks to Markus for the tip-off!

News: Rising Star & Spanish Fans Translate Fragile

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:21:30 -0600

Rising Star Games are working with fans on a Spanish translation of their upcoming epic Fragile!

In a piece of great PR and a great demonstration of how generally awesome the folks at Rising Star are, the publisher has announced it is working on a Spanish translation of the text-heavy adventure title, together with fans from Spanish site DSWii.es

Developed by Japanese studio tri-Crescendo (makers of the GameCube's Baten Kaitos), the atmospheric adventure title Fragile Dreams will see release in Europe on March 19th and contains more than 35,000 words in the game's script. The Spanish translation will be available as a free download after launch as a digital download via DSWii.es and through Rising Star's Hoshi portal, free of charge.

[ Click for full gallery]

"The most important aspect of this translation is not that the game arrives in Spanish, but that this is the first time in history in which gamers will participate actively in the development process or the localisation of a title," says Hugo Fraga, director of content and marketing at Blogocio Media SL. "That's the really exciting part about this project."

Will you be picking up Fragile? It's release is almost here! Let us know below...

News: Cing Files For Bankruptcy

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:21:50 -0600

Acclaimed developer of Hotel Dusk and Another Code files for bankruptcy...

It pains us to bring you news that Japanese developer Cing has filed for bankruptcy with liabilities of around $2.5 million.

The company has developed a number of well-received games for Nintendo platforms, including the Hotel Dusk and Another Code franchises, as well as collaborating on cult Wii-hit Little King's Story. Cing's portfolio with mainly the Wii and DS scene has called for probably-a-little-too-optimistic hopes for Nintendo to purchase the company.

We fervently hope Cing will be back on its feet developing great titles in the near future.

News: Earthworm Jim For DSiWare

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:02:41 -0600

Everybody's favourite oligochaetic hero blasts onto DSiWare!

Another piece of neat info comes from the pages of the latest Nintendo Power today, with the announcement that Earthworm Jim will be seeing a release on the DSiWare download-service.

The announcement coins the DSiWare iteration as a 'remake', but the original 1994 version has been re-released so many times on various platforms, that we expect this will feature little innovation. Not that that's a bad thing at all - the original run-and-gun platformer is still held high to this day for its refined gameplay and gorgeous animation.

No price or date has been set for the game yet, but it may be best to prepare for a long wait. Publisher Gameloft announced Earthworm Jim for WiiWare last year, yet that version has failed to see the light of day thus far.

The original Mega Drive version of Earthworm Jim is available to download now on Wii's Virtual Console.

News: First Scribblenauts 2 Details Emerge

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:00:29 -0600

Courtesy of Nintendo Power comes the first juicy titbits of the follow-up to last year's hit DS game...

After Scribblenauts passed the magic million earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before we heard solid details of an inevitable sequel to the creative puzzle game.

The latest issue of Nintendo Power managed to get the scoop on what is predictably being currently dubbed Scribblenauts 2, and it's already sending us into a flurry of anticipation. The sequel promises an additional 10,000 words available on top of the estimated 25,000+ the first game had in its engine. Rather more exciting is the prospect that adjectives will play a big role in the next game, not just concrete nouns.

Those put of from the first game by the fiddly controls should also be pleased to hear that they have been allegedly fixed for the follow-up. More good news is that the level editor has been fleshed out, there are 120 "new and improved" levels, more merits have been added and a new hint hint system will be sported. Finally, the 'par' system which challenged players to complete levels by using a limited amount of words has been removed.

All in all, it sounds like anyone who passed up on Scribblenauts last year really doesn't want to miss out on the opportunity second time round. Scribblenauts 2 is aiming for release this Autumn.

News: This Week's VC/WiiWare/DSiWare Releases

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:50:50 -0600

Mega Man 10, Dark Void Zero and more hit the Shop Channels in what looks to be an action-packed week...

It's a busy day for Europe, as a total of nine titles hit Virtual Console, WiiWare and DSiWare, including a few long-awaited gems.

Today, downloaders can finally get playing Mega Man 10, which continues the series' successful homage to its 8-bit roots; Dark Void: Zero - Capcom's retro-themed accompaniment to the recently-released HD action game; and Bit.Trip Void - Gaijin Games' latest entry in the cult WiiWare series.

WiiWare

BIT.TRIP VOID (Aksys Games) - 600 Points
Mega Man 10 (Capcom) - 1000 Points

Virtual Console

Zaxxon (Arcade), SEGA) - 500 Points

DSiWare

Dark Void Zero (Capcom) - 500 Points
Flips The Bubonic Builders (EA) - 500 Points
Globulos Party (GlobZ) - 500 Points
Real Football 2010 (Gameloft) - 800 Points
Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon (Nintendo) - 500 Points
New English Training: Learn with Tempo Advanced Edition (Nintendo, No release in UK) - 800 Points

Will you be downloading anything this week? Let us know below...

Media: Red Steel 2 Weapons Trailer

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:45:52 -0600

Ubisoft shows off some of the hardware you can get your mitts on in Red Steel 2 later this month...

As we count the days away before Red Steel 2 finally releases, Ubisoft are doing a good job of sustaining our hype levels.

Today, the company released a new trailer, showing a montage of some of the lovely weapons one can wield throughout the game, as well as the kinds of devastation they can wreak. If you don't want to know about some of the weapons available later in the game, then the video does contain some spoilers.

After years of waiting, Red Steel 2 finally launches on March 26th. Will you be picking it up at the end of the month?

Media: FlingSmash Video Walkthrough

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:29:58 -0600

Get an in-depth look at Nintendo and Artoon's MotionPlus-powered action game!

While FlingSmash (formerly Span Smasher) may have been first publicly teased over a year ago, it wasn't until last week's Nintendo Media Summit that the game really got to shine.

Published by Nintendo and developed by Artoon - known perhaps mainly for Yoshi's Island DS - FlingSmash is a side-scrolling action game that relies heavily on the accuracy offered by the MotionPlus peripheral. The aim is to 'fling' your little yellow character across the screen to break blocks, collect power-ups and pick-up as many points as possible.

But why read when you can see for yourself? GameTrailers managed to scoop a video walkthrough of FlingSmash in action. Check it out below.

FlingSmash is expected to release in the second half of 2010 - contributing to what looks to be a truly special year for first-party Wii software.

Media: Monster Hunter 3 PAL Boxart

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:50:07 -0600

Head inside to check out the tasty box-art for Monster Hunter 3... on shelves next month!

It's no secret that Nintendo and Capcom hope to raise the profile of the Monster Hunter franchise in the west with Monster Hunter 3 next month. And, as any publisher knows, a key to success at the tills is a striking box-art. Luckily for Capcom, it looks like the chaps at the marketing department have pulled out a cracker for the PAL release.

Not too dissimilar from the Japanese box, but notice the inclusion of the Wii Speak logo.

Europeans Monster Hunter 3 on April 23rd; three days after our North American and Australian counterparts.

Hands-On Preview: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:53:11 -0600

"We also got to try out his new power-ups, including the Flotacious Blimp Fruit and the Hot Stepping Dash Pepper..."

Pretty much the only worry in our minds for Mario Galaxy 2 was that it simply wouldn't feel new enough. Many were not satisfied by the changes brought by the brilliant Super Mario Sunshine, despite a console gap in-between that and its predecessor Mario 64. Well, we've played the Galaxy sequel, and we can honestly say we don't care. Jumping and careening around new planetoids with Mario and Yoshi, the 'newness' the original Galaxy brought was firmly back with us again, as Nintendo have once more cooked up something truly special.

While the Big N are keeping the story and hub of the game secret for now, we were treated to a collection of finished levels which showcased some of the great new elements Nintendo are bringing to the table. A full guide as to what to expect per level will follows, but here let us summarise how very pleased we were at the variety of what was on offer.

It was clear from the selection of levels that any complaints that the first game was too easy are intended to be silenced as brutally as the population of Alderaan. Nintendo's consistently marvellous level design shines through instantly, but nestled beneath the wondrous spectrum of planets and dazzling locations lies one hell of a difficulty spike. The "Game Over" screen was becoming worryingly familiar, and we found our platforming skills truly put to the test; more advanced acrobatic techniques such as the long jump were required to progress in places, with impeccable timing being a necessary requirement to get anywhere in some levels. This isn't a complaint, by the way. We love us a challenge.

How many levels Yoshi will be playable in remains unknown, though in the worlds we tried out, we got to grips with our sidekick and his new power-ups instantly. Run up to a Yoshi egg and he's yours, although take care not to get him into any danger, if he gets hurt he'll run off, just as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Pressing B makes Yoshi stick out his tongue, which can be used to swing and lasso you around areas in levels. Better yet though is his ability to chomp up Bullet Bills and spit them out again (using your Wii-mote to angle them at nearby foes), turning him into a running missile launcher. Invaluable!

We also got to try out his new power-ups, including the Flotacious Blimp Fruit which fills Yoshi full of air for a short time, giving him the ability to float upwards and hover and the Hot Stepping Dash Pepper which causes his mouth to catch on fire and shoot you up near-vertical sloping walls (think the motor jet FLUDD extension in Sunshine).

Mario isn't left out of new tools either, as his Drill item allows him to tunnel through from one side of a planetoid to another - handy for discovering secrets, and quickly avoiding enemies. We faced a giant robotic boss, manned by Bowser Jr., complete with glass base we had to manoeuvre ourselves into drilling position to shatter. The bosses are even bigger this time around, including the huge dragon-like creature Gobblegut with swollen innards, who wraps himself around entire planetoids as you race to pop his guts.

Nintendo have introduced another huge dose of originality to platform gaming, while at the same time returning once more to the series' historic roots. Mario's controls play exactly the same as Galaxy, and levels are once more stuffed full of hidden secrets and mini-games (yes, there is another take on the "clear all the crates within the time limit challenge" set by your Gearmo robot friends), the Lumas and Toad Brigade are back, Purple Coin levels return, there are even additions from earlier Mario titles - Midway Point flags dotted throughout levels, plus that charming round of applause if you pull off a neat trick or move.

While Mario Galaxy 2 has a ridiculous high standard set by its predecessor to compete with, what we were shown has given us the best indications that this title may definitely pull it off. We were left flushed with excitement, and a desire to re-start the original all over again.

Feature: Nintendo Media Summit 2010

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:01:19 -0600

"...as it finished, a stunned silence descended for several seconds before the mad scramble to the demo pods. It is simply breath-taking. "

It's very rare that Europe sees an event put on by Nintendo on the scale of the 2010 Media Summit, which games press from across the continent made pilgrimage to last Thursday. The big event, following on from a release date announcement frenzy at a US summit the day before in San Francisco, was hosted at the suitably massive O2 Arena in London. N-Europe's roving reporters Tom Phillips and Nathan Whincup were on the scene, prepared to soak in as much gaming brilliance as our moderately sponge-like minds would allow.

The opening conference was hosted by Nintendo of Europe's head of PR, Shelly Pearce. It was made clear that the games shown off at the event would be true gamer's games, and without further ado, the wheels were set in motion with an epic trailer for Super Mario Galaxy 2. We were treated to lots of footage of Mario's new planet-excavating drill item, the bipedal green dinosaur Yoshi rampaging around the cosmos, a glimpse of Bowser Jr.'s return (alongside the terrifyingly loopy-looking dragon boss, Gobblegut), and with the rest consisting of approximately 110% extra awesomeness. Nintendo pointed out that they're looking at Galaxy 2 as an �all-new platformer�, referring to it as �much more than a sequel� before laying down a European release date of 11th June. Cracking stuff.

Gobblegut here is taking in all the latest news. Through his mouth.

Next up was Monster Hunter Tri, which definitely seems to be getting a big marketing push from Capcom and Nintendo in the run-up to its launch. To the delight of cash-strapped gamers everywhere, Capcom confirmed that the online modes that have been integral to the Monster Hunter series since its inception would be totally free, and that Europe would be able to enjoy the game just three days after America on 23rd April.

Linking in to another powerful third-party partnership, Nintendo revealed a new friendship with Square Enix, and revealed themselves to be the European publisher of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, which set the Japanese charts alight when it launched in 2009. With over 4 million copies sold in Japan alone, it appears that Nintendo also have high expectations for its performance in the rest of the world. A European release date was also set for Summer 2010.

Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies, sequel to the Nintendo 64 cult-hit Sin & Punishment which finally received an English release in 2007 thanks to the Virtual Console, was next up. Nintendo advised us to begin shooting as soon as we pass the title screen... and keep shooting. A very explosive trailer was shown off, before the release date was revealed as 7th May, a whole month before its US launch date.

Will Sin & Punishment's worryingly deranged storyline make an ounce of sense this time round? No. Probably not.

The rest of the conference was filled with other smaller-scale announcements, including an expected release date for Artoon's colourful MotionPlus platformer FlingSmash (Summer 2009). The DSi XL was given a slot, with emphasis placed on the �shared gameplay� the bigger screens encourage; the launch date was reconfirmed as 5th March (alongside Picross 3D, which was cruelly neglected on the day).

But wait just a darn minute! Aren't we forgetting something? Of course, Metroid: Other M! With Nintendo's promises of Other M blending action and cinematics and allowing us to finally �know Samus�, all we needed to seal the deal was a release date. Q3 2010 was about as specific as Nintendo would get all day, but with rumours floating around that we'll see the game land in Europe around mid-July, we can only hope that the truth will emerge soon.

And with that unfortunately vague revelation, the stage curtains were lifted, revealing an army of Nintendo reps guarding an armada of Super Mario Galaxy 2 demo pods. That was our cue to spring into action, and fight through the hordes of other games journalists and get our eager mitts all over Mario, Samus (not in that way) and any other delightful surprises lurking within the O2.

We'll update the space below with links to our hands-on previews as they're available, so you can find out what you should be saving up those pennies for over the coming months. Keep watching the skies! Erm, we mean the space below, of course.

Hands-On Preview: Metroid: Other M

Hands-On Preview: Super Mario Galaxy 2

News: Wii Passes Ten Million Mark In Japan

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:44:48 -0600

Nintendo's little white box passes another significant milestone in its home country...

While hardware sales in Japan may not be as hysterical as they once were, Wii still undoubtedly commands the home console market every week, and as such has recently passed another milestone in the Land of the Rising Sun.

According to Enterbrain, 10,009,736 Wii consoles have been sold in Japan since its launch on December 2nd 2006. To date, the PS3 has managed to sell 4,766,408 units, while Microsoft has shifted 1,235,049 Xbox 360s. The ten million barrier certainly is a major one to pass in Nintendo's homeland, yet it should be noted Sony's PS2 managed the feat in 131 weeks, compared to Wii's 170 weeks.

With an incredibly tasty-looking selection of exclusives on the horizon, including Square-Enix's Dragon Quest X, Mistwalker's The Last Story and Nintendo's own Super Mario Galaxy 2, it seems fairly certain the Wii platform will enjoy a strong momentum throughout the year.

Media: New Metroid: Other M Clip

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:51:52 -0600

Other M looks to delve deep in Samus Aran's back-story. Take a peek inside...

Fresh from a hugely positive showcase at last week's Media Summit, Nintendo has released a brand new teaser for the upcoming Metroid: Other M.

Other M is aiming to explore the personal history of the bounty hunter Samus Aran more than any other Metroid game to date. Specifically, it seems like the game will be focussing on Samus' history in the Galactic Federation and her relationship with commanding officer Adam Malkovich.

Metroid: Other M is due for release in North America on June 27th, and a vague Q3 2010 for Europe.

News: DIY Devs Discuss Mario Paint Relation

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:24:49 -0600

Nintendo and Intelligent Systems discuss the pseudo-genetic relation between the developments of WarioWare D.I.Y. and Mario Paint...

To celebrate the upcoming release of WarioWare D.I.Y. on DS, Nintendo has posted in English the Iwata Asks interview concerning development of the title, which was originally published back when the game hit Japan back last year.

In the session, Nintendo's own Takumi Hatakeyama and Taku Sugioka from developer Intelligent Systems discussed the fun, user-input nature of D.I.Y. that links all the way back to 1992's Mario Paint.

Taku Sugioka: When I asked staff members around me about this, a lot of them said that Mario Paint was the game that taught them the joy of making games. Especially people in their early twenties.

It's clear that Nintendo and Intelligent systems wanted to further transfer this joy of making gamers to the consumer with WarioWare: D.I.Y. - something Nintendo themselves admit.

Takumi Hatakeyama: With Mario Paint, you could only create animation, but this time you can make video games... being able to make a game is important. If that results in some new game developers...

Taku Sugioka: Right, right. WarioWare D.I.Y. could change someone�s life. That�s how big my expectations are for it.

It looks like Nintendo has very high expectations for WarioWare D.I.Y.'s impact. With Mario Paint keeping a strong, cult following in the user-generated content realm over the years, perhaps Wario's latest can enjoy a similarly endurable appeal.

You can read the full Iwata Asks interview here.

Column: Miyamoto's Garden #2

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:56:46 -0600

N-Europe's Iun Hockley continues his internship working with the legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Join him as he helps celebrate Miyamoto's birthday...

Today was a red-letter day in the garden: it was Miyamoto-San�s birthday and the honoured company executives had been invited to pay tribute to our glorious innovator as a sign of great respect.

Unfortunately, a mix-up of slippers at home had left me without suitable footwear with which to attend this special celebration, so I left the house in a pair of my wife�s 3-inch red-sequined strapless sandals. Needless to say I was late for the gathering, and the proceedings had already begun as I clip-clopped into the garden, drawing stern looks from the honoured executives and inquiring glances from their lower-assistants.

Miyamoto-san was kneeling in the place of honour, wearing his best silk Barbie-patterned Kimono, a steaming bowl of tea in front of him, noting my arrival with a raised eyebrow directed more at my tardiness than my choice of substitute footwear. I bowed in humble respect and he returned my greeting with a tilt of his noble head, waving me to sit in place at his side � a sign of great respect.

Gently serving out tea to his guests, he first filled one bowl half-full, then another half empty, another full to the halfway point, another empty from the top to the middle and so on. His guests smiled at this sign of great respect and closed their eyes gently in thanks for his generosity. Then he began to speak.

�It was a beautiful stormy winter�s morning, the lotus flowers were in full bloom all around the gardens, my hat was, I remember, in the wrong place. Winter days such as these were hard to come by in mid-July so I bundled myself up in my best Bermuda shorts and gold medallion � a gift, I believe from Ken Kutaragi, in thanks for the time I unblocked his sink.�

Here Miyamoto-san stopped to take a sip of tea. Finding it too hot he sprayed the full burning contents of his mouth into the face of a lower-assistant who dutifully writhed on the ground in great respect, his hands making signs of thanks as he clutched at his blistering red face. Miyamoto continued.

�Outside the streets were full of people chattering: young people, old people, middle aged people, tall people, short people, ugly people, some� as big as your head,� He nodded knowingly. �My journey that day would take me to strange places, and inspire new greatness for our fortunate company.�

Here the others leaned in to listen more intently � a sign of great respect. We were interrupted by the arrival of the birthday cake I had ordered in Miyamoto-sans� honour: double chocolate marshmallow with red beans and the salty tears of Sega executives.

�Your cake, Miyamoto-san� whispered the delightful serving girl. The great man only nodded and decapitated her with the cake knife � a sign of great respect.

�Today I was to meet a senior man from a foreign conglomerate interested in supplying new chips for our console, but I didn�t feel like it, so I decided to meet our honoured former company president Yamauchi-san in Akihabara.�

�Naturally, he was late so I started to wander by myself, soaking in all the sights and sounds of the crushing throng of young people, while adjusting the crushing thong around my man-parts. Suddenly, I heard a buzzing sound: laughter, the screech of tires and the smell of victory. I was, intrigued.�

�As a sign of great respect, I hurried to where the sound was coming from, and my eyes were met with an amazing sight: a man, fat, moustachioed and wearing red overalls was racing around in some kind of four-wheeled car on a track with others. There was another man with a black moustache, a giant, fat dinosaur and a pretty girl in a pink dress. As they swerved and dodged around the track they threw melon rinds, sea shells and for some reason, semi-transparent blocks with upside down question marks on them. All the time they were laughing and joking.�

The executives leaned closer and unobtrusively tried to wipe the blood of the dead serving-girl from their kimonos � a sign of great respect.

�There and then," he continued, smiling, "it hit me: if we could take the fun of four people like this and turn it into a video game then we would have a long-running formula for success. I tore off my Bermuda shorts, grabbed a pen from a passing man in a Sonic the Hedgehog costume, making sure to kick him as a sign of great respect. I began frantically scribbling my ideas in between the sweat-stained seams, my eyes never leaving the people drifting, snaking and boosting around the track.�

�I felt a warm hand upon my shoulder and recognised the gold-ring covered fingers of my honoured former superior. I stood up and bowed three times as a sign of great respect. �Miyamoto-san� he said. �Miyamoto-san, why are you naked in Akihabara again?� never mind that, I replied and thrust my shorts into his unresisting hand. �Read!� I cried. �Read my shorts!� His eyes fell for a few moments, scanning the lines and lines of text I had hastily scribbled on the faded fabric. Yamauchi-sans� face slowly broke into a smile. �Genius,� he whispered, covering me with a nearby fire blanket.�

�And that, my honoured friends, is the story of how I came to create one of our most beloved and respected franchises: Donkey Kong.�

Iun Hockley
- N-Europe Staff Writer

Want more? Catch up on Miyamoto's Garden #1 now.

Media: Wario Ware: DIY Trailers For DSi & WiiWare!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:02:40 -0600

Check out trailers for the upcoming downloadable duo of Wario Ware titles!

Nintendo recently revealed two new titles in the ridiculously fun Wario Ware series are on their way to Europe - Wario Ware: Do It Yourself for DSi and the accompanying Wario Ware: DIY Showcase for WiiWare.

The DSi title allows you to create your own Wario Ware microgames, and then upload them to the interwebs for Nintendo to vet and then share with fellow players. You can also transfer them to you other DSi's with the game, Wii consoles if you've downloaded Wario Ware: DIY Showcase.

For WiiWare meanwhile comes Wario Ware: DIY Showcase, which as previously stated allows you to upload microgames from your DSi to be played on the big screen. You get a handful of microgames preloaded, it should also be stated. Here as well you can download more microgames from Nintendo that other fans have created. The game will never get old!

Click either of these videos to view in full HD on our YouTube channel!

The duo of titles seems perfect for those itching to get creative with their own microgames, or merely wanting a steady stream of original content from other fans. Do these latest pieces of Wario Ware fare well with you? Let us know your feelings below...

Media: Latest Sin & Punishment Trailer

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:48:59 -0600

Watch the new Sin & Punishment: Successor Of The Skies trailer right inside...

We got a chance to go hands-on with the new Sin & Punishment sequel at Nintendo's media conference this week, and found it packed with high octane shooting fun.

While you're waiting for our impressions, why not take a gander at this brand new trailer for the title?

Click above to view in HD on our YouTube Channel!

What do you think? Will you be picking up Sin & Punishment: Successor Of The Skies upon its release in Europe on May 7th?