Yesterday, Nintendo sued the popular game accessory company Nyko. Nintendo Claims that Nyko is making a “knock-off” of the official Nintendo Nunchuck Controller. Nyko has made many great Wii accessories such as its Perfect Shot or its Wii-mote Docking Station, but Nintendo seems to be pretty angry over Nyko’s latest, Wireless Kama Nunchuck. According to Nintendo of Japan, this is the first time they have ever sued over an accessory for the Wii.
Nintendo said that, “[the Nyko product] wholly appropriates the novel shape, design, overall appearance, and even the color and materials used in the Nintendo Nunchuck controller.”
(isn’t that what it’s supposed to do?)
I think it is ridiculous that Nintendo is suing over such a small thing. I mean, don’t they have enough money? They’re selling around 500,000+ Wii’s a month. Maybe Nintendo is trying to come out with a wireless nunchuck of their own and don’t want to get sued by Nyko. Who knows? Discuss this in the forums, and keep checking back to My Wii News, we’ll keep you updated.
Back on the Nintendo Official homepage, it looks like the Big N is finally looking into that storage problem of theirs. Today they posted a job listing that is looking for a software/hardware tester. But the emphasis is on the ability to be able to “create and execute a test plan for Wii USB devices.” If the purpose of this job is to test a new USB hard drive for the Wii, then we can definitely expect to see a hard drive at E3. With E3 being a couple of weeks away, Reggie hinting at a storage solution for quite some time, and now Nintendo hiring a Wii USB devices tester, It really does seem like Nintendo is making sure that their hard drive is ready to show at E3 2008. My Wii News will keep you updated with this story.
Want to discuss this topic? Take it to the forums.
For two years now, loyal Nintendo fans have been begging and pleading their beloved company for a hard drive and while their has been many rumors and a great deal of speculation we are still stuck here without one. Some gamers may disagree, but the mass majority of hardcore gamers all shout, “we need a hard drive!”
With game saves, virtual console, and now Wii-Ware, the 512mb of internal flash memory that Nintendo has provided us is quickly filling up. While we struggle with these problems, Nintendo repeatedly denies the fact that the Wii needs a hard drive. Here’s a quote from the NOA PR manager, Eric Walter. “The way we look at it is, we don’t really want people storing every single game they buy on their drive…”
I really have no idea what that’s suppose to mean but it sure isn’t good. Hopefully what he is really saying is, “I’m making up something so that we can introduce the HDD at this years E3.”
While there have been awful comments by official Nintendo spokesman like the one above, there also have been pretty good ones to. A while back, Reggie Fils-Aime said that there is definitely a market out there that would like a HDD and it’s something that we always look into.
Also, here is a recent quote from Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, addressing the Wii memory shortage problem. “Statistically speaking, it is true that there are a small number of customers who feel that the flash memory is too small, while many others find that they have plenty of memory. However, because this small number of people are none other than the most avid players, we know we have to review the best possible solution to eliminate their inconvenience.”
Comments like these are very good, Nintendo is telling us that they know about the problem and they are doing what they can to fix it Maybe they’re brainstorming whether SD cards would work better or an HDD? But if using a SD card is the route that Nintendo takes then I think it is taking a step backwards. Both the 360 and PS3 uses HDD’s and they are very convenient. SD cards are basically the same thing as using a memory card. Although there are more possibilities when using a SD card over a memory card, they both have the sam annoyings setbacks. Thanks to their much smaller capacity, you’ll constantly be swapping SD cards while a much larger HDD would do the job all by itsef.
So basically, a hard drive would be the best and most convenient solution. It would even make Nintendo more money because everybody is buying other companies SD cards and not Nintendo’s because theirs is overpriced. It has been a while since the Wii has launched, and with all the speculation, rumors, and official comments, it looks like this years E3 could be the best time for Nintendo to announce a HDD. Nintendo has been talking about all of its issues for a while, they’ve said there going to look into but so far we’ve got nothing. Like voice chat for example, Reggie said that he, “would not be surprised if voice chat somehow made its way onto the Wii.” But still we see no Voice Chat.
Two things could happen at this years E3. One, Nintendo could totally ignore all of its problems, announce a few software titles, talk about how good the Wii is selling and their press conference would suck. On the other hand, they could announce a HDD, voice chat, show how they are going to improve the online interface, and announce some amazing software titles and they would have the best press conference out of the three big companies.
Nintendo has definitely pushed our patience to the limit and now I think they will finally address the issues. They will announce a HDD at this years E3 and if not they will address the memory problem with some sort of solution. I think they will also bring announce a Voice Chat feature, and make a few improvments to the online interface. If Nintendo does this right, this could be their big year at E3.
However, it looks like were just going to have to wait until July 15. My Wii News is gonna give you some E3 coverage so stay tuned. Leave a comment below saying what you think Nintendo will announce at E3 or take it to the forums; and keep checking back to My Wii News for more Wii and E3 info!
Ever since Sega’s blue hedgehog thoughtlessly entered the three-dimensional world, the Sonic franchise began to sink deeper and deeper into a seemingly endless hole. Over the years Sega has made numerous attempts to bring back the glory to their prized mascot which at one time only Mario could rival. They failed time and time again, and while one of their latest attempts on the Wii (Sonic and the Secret Rings) was a good effort, it just did not capture the thrill and pleasure that the legendary franchise was once known for. The small spurt of reputation that came with Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games feebly pushed Sonic back onto the radar and is now giving the hedgehog another chance to leap back on to the podium of famous mascots.
Sonic Unleashed definitely has the chance to do just that. While Sonic’s latest adventure will be breaking new ground, it is also going to stick to it 2D side scrolling roots that worked so well for it in the past. A quote from the lead designer of the Sonic team, Yoshihisa Hashimoto, states that Sonic Unleashed will have no relation to Sonic the Hedgehog (360/PS3) or Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii). Instead it will have more in common with the older Sonic adventure games.
Everything about Sonic Unleashed has been developed completely from scratch, from its new character models, to its “Hedgehog Engine.” Players will still be able to use Sonic’s iconic moves, such as the “spin attack” and the “homing attack” but you can expect to see a bunch of new elements in the game that will give it a breath of fresh air.
Sonic has a few new tricks up his sleeve, including the new Sonic boost, which will have you collecting rings to fill up an energy bar that allow you to dash throughout the course at a high speed, Sonic Drift, which will allow players to take short, sharp turns at curves while running through the course, and the Quick Step, which allows players to move left or right rapidly to avoid an oncoming obstacle. We can probably expect to see more actions revealed at a later date.
Though details on the storyline are slim, it is confirmed that Sonic will turn into a “were-hog” at night time. It is also confirmed that in the beginning of the game Sonic will be trapped by Dr. Eggmans evil plan and the power of the Chaos Crystal will be misused and something inside Sonic’s body changes. This most likely causes him to turn into Were-Sonic during the nighttime levels. Were-Sonic has been reported not to be evil, but more of a Hulk-like version of sonic. So far Sonic’s trusty sidekicks Tails and Amy have been confirmed to be in the game, but it is still unknown if other fan favorites such as Knuckles or Shadow will be making an appearance.
It’s fine to be a little skeptical on the fact that there will be a new Were-Sonic in the game. But from what we can tell so far, Were-Sonic looks to be a welcome addition to the game and the franchise. According to Hashimoto, Sonic during the day will maintain his quick and agile speed, but during the night he is a slightly slower, and surprisingly a more agile beast. While regular Sonic darts past and aviods obstacles, Were-Sonic will “manhandle” them out of the way and can “toss enemies around like nobody’s business.” The Official Nintendo Magazine has reported that instead of running, Sonic will use his tremendously long arms to swing across the level, sort of like an ape.
There is also some very good news for us Wii owners, as Sega has said that the Wii version will be a graphical showcase for the system. The Official Nintendo Magazines reports that the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed has “shiny next-gen visuals.” It is even reported that the Wii is the lead-platform version of the game, while the PS2 version will simply be a downgrade from the Wii. Of course the 360/PS3 version may be tuned up with a little extra polish and gloss, but My Wii News cannot currently confirm this.
Very little is know about the gameplay and nothing is known about the controls of the game except that the main controller for the Wii version will use the the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo instead of holding the Wii Remote sideways like in Sonic and the Secret Rings. It is still not know if players will be able to use other controllers such as the Gamecube or Classic controllers, but it seems like Sega is trying to use the Wii Remote’s unique abilities to the fullest, so it appears to be unlikely.
The developers mention that their new side-scrolling camera angle works extremely well. While it keeps Sonic up to date with the 3D environments, it also allows for the game to keep that old Sonic essence that everybody knows and loves.
So far, Sonic Unleashed appears to be a breath of fresh air to the Sonic franchise which has been struggling over the past decade. Hardcore Sonic fans will definitely want to keep an eye out for this one, because we all know that we want the old Sonic back. I have high hopes for this game and it looks like it will show people that Sonic can be awesome in 3D too. Give us your thoughts by leaving us a comment below, check out the debut trailer, the ONM screens, and keep checking back to MyWiiNews.com for more Wii and Sonic info
While you may go to your local game store and notice that half of the Wii section is filled with E-rated mini games, you also might notice the abundance of horror games already out on the Wii. With well-known games like Resident Evil doing extremely well so far, there is definitely potential for more survival horror games on the Wii.
Recently, two solid survival horror games made their way to the Wii -Â House of the Dead 2 and 3 and Obscure: The Aftermath. Both of these titles should hold survival-horror fans over for a bit, but what about the future? Just when you might feel like you need some more terror in your life, Alone in the Dark should be ready for retail; helping to fulfill your survival horror needs as you navigate your way through a dark and eerie park located in New York City.
Todd Slepian, the North American producer of Alone in the Dark, comments on just how accurate the environment will be compared to the real New York City park.
The park was mapped using GPS satellite data to an accuracy within 50cm, using the same remapping system used in Test Drive Unlimited. Then Eden visited New York and took thousands of photos of everything from the buildings to the lampposts, which their artists used to recreate the park in exacting detail, but adding an unsettling Alone in the Dark ambience to everything – taking the familiar and twisting it.
From hearing that, anyone who has visited or lives in the wonderful New York City should definitely check this game out! Alone in the Dark is looking at a June 24 release date and is coming to the Wii, PS2, PS3, 360, and PC.
Lukatoll | June 13, 2008
Yesterday, Nintendo sued the popular game accessory company Nyko. Nintendo Claims that Nyko is making a “knock-off” of the official Nintendo Nunchuck Controller. Nyko has made many great Wii accessories such as its Perfect Shot or its Wii-mote Docking Station, but Nintendo seems to be pretty angry over Nyko’s latest, Wireless Kama Nunchuck. According to Nintendo of Japan, this is the first time they have ever sued over an accessory for the Wii.
