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Sonic Colors Trailer Shows Off Sonic’s New Moves
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Nintendo, Platformers, SEGA, Trailers, Wii,
The last 3D Sonic game, entitled Sonic Unleashed was a fairly experimental romp in the blue hedgehog’s universe. While the Sonic levels moved at blistering speeds with perspective transitioning from full 3D to side scrolling, the were-hog sections screeched the pace of the game to an alarming halt. Levels could take as long as 20 minutes when using the were-hog, and its slow pace just didn’t seem fitting for a Sonic game. However, between releasing a new 2D Sonic this fall, and now ‘Colors’, it seems SEGA is finally listening to its loyal fans.
With Sonic Colors, SEGA chooses to ditch the bogged down were-hog levels, while beefing up the Sonic-only single player run through. The lightning fast speed and switch to 2D perspectives are back again in this new chapter, as are a few new moves for our spiky haired protagonist to dispose enemies with. These new abilities are acquired by freeing ‘Wisps’. Wisps are creatures that look similar to the Chaos from the Adventure series. Different color Wisps lend various abilities to Sonic. For instance, the yellow Wisps provide Sonic with an all new drill ability that allows Sonic to tunnel through sand finding hidden items and new areas to explore. Another cool ability shown in the new trailer is the cyan laser skill, obtained from the cyan Wisp, of course. This allows Sonic to move at an uncontrollable laser speed, wreaking havoc on Eggman’s robotic creations.
The new trailer depicts these new abilities, and shows Sonic in rare form for a 3D adventure. Let’s hope that the blue blur is back, and won’t fall prey to annoying gimmicks or crappy level design. Look for Sonic Colors to hit stores November 12, 2010. Oh, lets try to do something about that theme song, SEGA! Catch the trailer after the break.
Click to continue reading Sonic Colors Trailer Shows Off Sonic’s New Moves
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Nintendo DS R4 Cards Now Illegal In UK
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Hardware, Mods/Hacks, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Portable/Mobile,
In an attempt to thwart rampant piracy of their Nintendo DS line of video games, Nintendo has been combating the use of the R4 card and other methods of pirating for years. Finally, Nintendo has seen a tremendous victory come about in the form of the banning of R4 cards in the United Kingdom.
Previously, the R4 card was used (or supposed to used at least) to install homebrew games that indie developers would cook up for the DS. However, the R4 could also be loaded with easily accessible retail versions of Nintendo DS titles from major developers posted online. This posed a big problem to not only Nintendo, but to the developers who saw a decline in their sales. With digital downloads of their games available online, and easily transferable to one of these R4 cards, it seemed that their games didn’t stand a chance at retail. Why purchase something when you can get it for free?
In light of this misuse of R4 cards, a UK court has ruled in favor of Nintendo, making the R4 card illegal in the UK. While this comes as a huge victory to Nintendo, we must shed a tear for the indie homebrew developers who actually used the R4 cards for its intended purpose.
Nintendo had this to say:
“In the UK alone, there have been over 100,000 game copying devices seized since 2009. Nintendo initiates these actions not only on its own behalf, but also on behalf of over 1,400 video game development companies that depend on legitimate sales of games for their survival.”
Read More 
| MCV UK
3D video and gaming hazardous to your health
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, HDTV, Movies,
When Nintendo announced the 3DS, they made sure to make the press aware that children should have the 3D effect disabled if they were going to use the handheld console. Manufacturers of 3D HDTV sets have also included warnings that stated that there is a possible health risk to certain viewers, and have provided guidance that children should be limited in their 3D exposure. Year ago, Sega was going to release a 3D virtual reality headset that was quickly and quietly shelved, despite being seen as the future of gaming 15 years ago. Now news has come out that all of these warnings are based on years of research cover ups, and the details are finally being brought out now that 3D entertainment is much more readily available than it was in years past.
In a nutshell, the problem is that children under 7 are still developing their vision, and the 3D effect actually forces you into strabismus, essentially giving yourself temporary lazy eye. Since children are still developing, you run a severe risk of having them end up with permanent strabismus (or, lazy eye.) This is the reason that so many manufacturers want to be overly cautious with the use of 3D as it pertains to children, and it’s also a good reason for parents to sit up and take notice as well. Now that 3D HDTVs are on the market, we’ve gone from having super rare opportunity to view 3D content, to a bunch of animated movies incorporating it (so, 2-6 hours per month, depending on how often you go to those,) to potentially having 3D on in your home on a constant basis.
A lot of higher-ups within the consumer electronics industry point to the fact that the data is 15 years old, and that they may be new factors since the technology has advanced. However, the fact remains that all content that shows a different image to each eye (which is all 3D) forces you into strabismus. More research is needed to find out if 3D HDTV is safe for children, as well as adults, especially for prolonged lengths of time.
Read More | Audioholics
Super-Mario Crossover: Mega-Man Your Mario
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Culture, Nintendo, PC, Platformers, Retro,
Ever wondered what it would be like to play the classic Super-Mario Brothers NES game using another character? Well newsgrounds.com creator ExplodingRabbit has released a flash version of the classic Super Mario Bros. title, Super Mario Crossover, that allows you to use with Simon Belmont from Castlevania, Link from The Legend of Zelda, Samus from Metroid, Mega Man, and Bill from Contra. All characters maintain their special weapons and characteristics and the game even introduces a few new character features when they interact with the Mario Brothers game environment. Bill gains a ‘rapid-fire’ ability when he eats a mushroom, Samus can plant bombs when she is in her ball form and even the music changes for each character. This flash game offers the perfect distraction for your 2pm post-lunch food-coma, and may make you wonder why you ever ditched your original NES in the first place.
8-Bit Weapon Tron Tribute EP
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Culture, Music, Retro,
For anyone out there who has been longing—nay, pining—away for remixes of the stripped-down melodies that accompanied their favorite 80’s Midway/Capcom/Atari games, then 8-Bit Weapon has the cure for what ails you. The Tron Tribute EP is available for download, and the remixes are based off of the original score by Wendy Carlos for the 1982 film. The EPs samples use sounds from the following systems: Commodore 64, Nintendo NES, Nintendo Game Boy, Apple II, and Atari 2600. Beware: repeated listening may cause you to troll eBay and craigslist for your old Coleco-Vision console. For anyone born after 1985, this may be a little confusing. I know that quarters are like the nickel of the 80’s now, but 6-8 of those in your pocket used to mean 2-3 hours at the arcade… What’s an arcade? ...I hate you.
Black Wii available May 9 for $199 with Wii Sports Resort, MotionPlus
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Accessories, Nintendo, Wii,
Getting tired of your standard-issue white Wii console? Well then fret no more, your prayers have been answered. Today, Nintendo announced the release of its new Black Wii, a console that will come packaged with Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and the control-enhancing Wii MotionPlus accessory. Both the new black edition, available stateside May 9th, and all subsequent white consoles will still sell for $199, and both models will come with the aforementioned games and accessories included. If I were you, I would go for the black one—white Wii consoles just scream “I’m stuck in 2007! Want to spend $4 a gallon on gas with me?”
You can order the Black Wii on Amazon now.
Read More | Black Wii
Wii Classic Controller Pro now shipping
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Nintendo, Wii,
If the original Wii Classic Controller was a bit too small for your meaty hands, you’ll be pleased to know that Nintendo has stayed true to their promise to ship the new, larger Classic Controller Pro by April. You can get in on the action now, as Amazon has both the black and white models in stock and ready to ship at a cost of $19.99 each.
Read More | Wii Classic Controller Pro
Gaming gear I wish I had on this 12-hour flight
Posted by Alex Lifschitz Categories: Accessories, Culture, Features, Music, Nintendo, Sony,
As I write this, I am squeezed into a coach seat on a 12 hour flight from an undisclosed location in the middle east to New York City. Once I get done with this, I have another 6-hour jaunt to Los Angeles, and the memory of my last 2-hour flight here fades with every drop of overpriced airline beer. In these trying times, a man needs to keep entertained. My DS is charged, but alas, I have completed Castlevania already.
There are three - no, four crying infants on board. The man to my left has clearly not showered since the Reagan administration. If I don’t survive, let me leave you with these thoughts of what could have been, if only I had taken this frightening possibility into deeper consideration.
Hit the jump for my last coherent thoughts before the chilling onset of complete madness.
Click to continue reading Gaming gear I wish I had on this 12-hour flight
Netflix Instant Streaming discs for Wii shipping today
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Movies, Video Games,
Our inbox has been blowing up with a bunch of readers letting us know that the Netflix Instant Streaming discs for Wii have finally started shipping. Netflix has been sending emails to members who signed up to receive the disc, letting them know to expect it to arrive in the mail tomorrow. Exciting for Wii owners who don’t own any other Netflix-enabled device, since the Wii is pretty much the only modern Netflix streaming device that doesn’t support high definition playback.
Nintendo DSi XL: Hands on
Posted by Alex Lifschitz Categories: Features, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Portable/Mobile,
You know, when I look at the Nintendo DSi XL, I can’t help but notice the similarity in form factor to Apple‘s iPad (though the DSi XL was released first - thanks for catching that, astute readers!). Nintendo recently announced the US release of the n-th iteration of the DS, now focusing on a bigger screen. Come to think of it, both companies have a penchant for constantly releasing new SKU’s of existing hardware every few months with minor tweaks to inexplicable demand by an attention-deficit public, all while making the people who just bought their newly-outdated hardware feel small and relatively ashamed.
Either way, we got our hands on one at the GDC in San Francisco. Hit the jump for relevant deets.
Click to continue reading Nintendo DSi XL: Hands on
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