wii

Three new games with questionable box art grace your Wii this week.

Cybernator (1993, Super Nintendo, 800 Wii points)--Finally, a sci-fi game that addresses the dwindling fossil fuels issue! Cybernator takes place in the distant future where you must clear seven challenging stages. However, you may not solve the world's energy problems. Alien Storm (1991, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points)--What is a Wii virtual console release without a side-scrolling action game? Alien Storm has you take on eight stages and more bosses than what the arcade original offered. Monster Lair (1989, Turbografx16, 800 Wii points)--Monster Lair … Read more

Episode 624: I can has monopoly?

Buy a Wii now, get it later

Can't find a Wii to put under the tree? Nintendo's got your back--sort of. According to gaming blog Kotaku, reporting on a conversation with Nintendo prez Reggie Fils-Aime, GameStop stores will be offering Wii rain-checks on December 20 and 21. Translation: Pony up your $249.99 now, get a Wii--guaranteed--by the end of January.

Yeah, that's a pretty sucky deal, but I suppose the promise of a Wii is slightly better than the absence of one. Why didn't Nintendo do this in November and promise delivery by December 24? Bad company. Bad!

The more intriguing news … Read more

Nintendo, GameStop address Wii shortage

The Nintendo Wii launched more than a year ago, and the system is still incredibly hard to find. This long after the system started shipping, people are still camping in front of stores as soon as they hear about new shipments.

Friday morning, Nintendo of America's president and CEO, Reggie Fils-Aime, held a telephone press conference to address the continuing shortage of the Wii.

Fils-Aime said Nintendo hadn't expected as much demand for the Wii as they're getting. Since the launch, he claimed, Nintendo has almost doubled its global production from 1 million to 1.8 million … Read more

Wii shortages--are they intentional?

Despite selling 13 million units already and boosting production capacity three times this year, the $250 Nintendo Wii is still one of those impossible-to-find Christmas presents that will be remembered along with Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. Critics claim the company could boost production even more by using more than one manufacturing plant but it wants to keep the machine's value higher by keeping supplies down.

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimes disagrees, saying his company can't forecast demand--and the shortages are costing Nintendo big time.

Read the full story on Businessweek.com: A Long, Long Wait for a Wii. … Read more

Analyst believes PS3 will win war and I laugh

According to an analyst over at Screen Digest discussing video game trends with Economist, not only will the Playstation 3 beat out the Xbox 360 in this generation's console war, he fully expects Sony's console to surpass the Wii by 2011.

The reason: as more games become available for the Playstation 3, more people will find a reason to buy the console, which will propel Sony to the top spot.

Although I can see where the analyst is coming from, I think he's dead wrong. Will the Playstation 3 overtake the Wii? Absolutely. But will it beat out the Xbox 360 when it's all said and done? Not a chance.… Read more

Nintendo adds gift giving with this week's Virtual Console update

A new feature of the Wii Shop channel beginning this week is the ability to send a friend a Virtual Console title as a gift--just in time for the holidays. There is a catch, though; gift giving will require you to start learning and trading those 16-digit friend codes.

Pok?mon Snap (1999, Nintendo 64, 1000 Wii points)--A game that helped launch Pok?mon into mainstream American culture, Pok?mon Snap had gamers capturing Pok?mon "virtually" on film. New to the Virtual Console version of the game, players will now have the option of sharing their … Read more

Wii virtual console releases for this week

Zanac (1987, NES, 500 Wii points)--Vertically scrolling shooting at its finest! Blast your way through 12 areas in one of the first games that changed difficulty based on your skill level. Eternal Champions (1993, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points)--In this 2-D fighter you'll compete for the chance to battle the Eternal Champion, thus returning to Earth and restoring balance to the universe. The Dynastic Hero (1993, Turbografx16, 800 Wii points)--The Dynastic Hero is an action RPG that involves multiple choice quizzes as well as puzzles for you to conquer as you progress through the story.