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Joystiq presents

Joystiq hikes the handheld pigskin in Tecmo Bowl Kickoff


Joystiq managed to get their dirty hands on Tecmo Bowl Kickoff, and really enjoyed the redux of the old classic. According to our evil incredibly smart and good-looking overlords, the game both looked and played well on the DS -- what more can you ask for?

When it comes to the controls, players have the option between using the D-pad/buttons or the stylus. Joystiq thought that the D-pad option was the better scheme, and was intuitive enough to make the game accessible to all gamers, not just those who've spent hours upon hours training with Madden. They also really enjoyed the addition of super moves, even though this new feature isn't an extravagant change to the gameplay. The point is, though, that Tecmo football didn't need a big overhaul.

Their one major concern, though, was the WFC play. Not the fact that it exists, clearly. Yet, Tecmo Bowl Kickoff's customization scheme might be a little too deep for its own good, thereby ruining online play. You see, Tecmo cleverly worked around EA's NFL monopoly by adding tons of customization options (as seen in the video above). Player names and stats can be changed, among other things. In terms of multiplayer battles, however, we can foresee many gamers abusing such statistics in order to create an advantage over their opponents.

Hopefully that won't be too much of an issue. In any case, pop on past the break to see some gameplay videos, or go here to read the unabridged impressions from Joystiq.

Continue reading Joystiq hikes the handheld pigskin in Tecmo Bowl Kickoff

PAL Nintendo Channel DS demos are training-tastic



Training, training, training. That's all us Europeans and Aussies want, right? Day in, day out, there we are, blurting "blue" into our handhelds like obedient farmyard animals, and being told that we're doing it wrong and that we're thuddingly simple. We know this happens, because the sales charts tell us so, and now the first DS demos on the local Nintendo Channel (released on all PAL consoles today) reflect the self-improvement obsession that has swept many PAL countries.

So, instead of getting demos of totally rad, new games such as Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (which is what the U.S. got), we get four training games (only one of which came out this year) from the seven titles available, and adverts for Nintendogs and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. The only bright spot? A couple of tracks from Mario Kart DS, and a Picross demo, but those are hardly fresh titles.

We're not usually the types to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there's a stunning lack of variety on display here, Nintendo. Hit the break for the infuriatingly vanilla list.

Continue reading PAL Nintendo Channel DS demos are training-tastic

Joystiq goes On Tour

Our cruel overlords at Joystiq recently got their hands on the upcoming DS installment in the Guitar Hero franchise, Guitar Hero: On Tour. Not only to do they manage to perform their duties in stating what they thought of the gameplay, but they also break down the odd peripheral coming with the game.

Their overall verdict? The thing actually recreates the Guitar Hero experience.

Gallery: Guitar Hero: On Tour

Dragon Quest V site takes turn to update


Eager fans anticipating the release of Dragon Quest V, get your eyeballs wrapped around some of the new content on offer at the game's official Japanese website. Within, you'll find some descriptions for the characters that will be populating the game world, as well as various other goodies. On top of that, you can also enjoy the Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest VI sites. So, go click crazy over there and check out the content.

Gallery: Dragon Quest V


[Via Go Nintendo]

New old colors heading to Australia


Looks like the oft-neglected gamers in Australia are gonna get a bone for their DS dedication -- they're getting new colors, but not the new colors that are headed to Europe. Instead, Aussie Nintendo fans get a shot at the "senior edition" crimson and black Lite, as well as the more recent cobalt and black model. The two new models will be available as limited editions from June 19th -- the same week that sees Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (and Darkness) release.

Australia, of course, already has the Ice Blue Lite, in addition to the basic white, black, and pink models.

Carnival Games DS gets an equally unwelcome rival



With their queues, extortionate prices, dissatisfied workforces, and insistence on assaulting you with lights and noise at every turn, there aren't many activities that are less fun than attending a theme park. Here's one, though: playing a game that simulates these meccas of misery.

Then again, however curmudgeonly we are about amusement park games, it's not about to stop companies making the damn things. Following in the surprisingly creepy footsteps of Carnival Games DS is Wonder World Amusement Park from Majesco. Due for release this holiday, WWAP will feature "over two dozen mini-games and rides," with the touchscreen allowing players to "toss, drive, shoot, whack, fish and spin" their way throughout five themed zones. Triumphing in some of the minigames will in turn unlock "interactive rides," and eventually accessories for their characters.

"Our internal team is very excited to be developing original Majesco IP for such a strong, marketable concept," trumpeted Majesco Studios Santa Monica VP Bill Petro. Sure they are, Bill.

[Via press release]

North American Tornado confirmed


It looks like GameFly was right once again.

We recently reported that the renter/retailer put up a listing for Tornado, which was assumed to be a localized version of the Japanese game sharing the same name. Now according to a blurb in most recent issue of Nintendo Power, the Katamari-like game is indeed confirmed to pop up in North America, although no timeline details were given.

Nintendo Power also reveals that Tornado will include some microphone blowing elements, which worries us a little bit. As long as the game doesn't overdo it, though, we can't help but think that this will be a nice addition to the DS library.

[Via GoNintendo]

Layton has a puzzle to solve on your mobile phone


We love Professor Layton. No, not the game, the man. Actually, we do love the game, too. We just love to love things!

Looks like Japan loves the guy enough to warrant the series extending itself over to cell phones. The first game, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is already available and even comes pre-installed on Panasonic's new DoCoMo handset, the P906i. This port of the first title features new puzzles not found in the DS game.

Also worth noting is that Professor Layton's London Holiday, a brief DS demo that was handed out to folks at last year's Tokyo Game Show, will be available to mobile phone gamers soon.

[Via Game | Life]

Away shuffling into Europe

Virgin PLAY sent out a press release today confirming that they will publish AQ Interactive/Mistwalker's Away: Shuffle Dungeon in Europe this fall. They say they're releasing it in "the PAL territories," so Australia is a possibility as well.

The press release is unusually interesting, as it provides the first official English-language details of Away's storyline. Away: Shuffle Dungeon is the story of Webb Village, a small town whose residents disappear randomly, a phenomenon known as Blue Dragon Away. After a girl named Anella gets "awayed" in his place, a young man named Sword finds himself the only remaining resident of Webb. Sword must enter the "Shuffle Dungeon" to rescue the villagers.

And then the dungeon shuffles. Obviously.

SimCity Creator creates a release date, readable screens

After the announcement of the brand-spankin' new Wii title SimCity Creator, EA has announced that the latest edition in the DS range will sport the same name. Cool, then. But wait, there's more!

We've been sitting pretty on Japan-only screenshots thus far, because the game is already released over there under the less-inspiring moniker SimCity DS 2 (which we thought would be the name over here, too, but creativity must be executed). That won't phase us, yo -- we've nabbed some English screens for your perusing pleasure! Settle in for a long viewing session, because you won't be playing this hopefully not lousy game until September 22.

Gallery: Sim City 2 DS



[Via press release]

E.U. topples U.S., becomes second largest gaming market


Looks like we'll have to start focusing on your region more, Europeans, as it's come to our attention you folks love yourselves some video games. This news comes courtesy of Nielsen Games, who found out that the Europe Union spent over a billion more (in U.S. dollars) on video games in 2007.

Another interesting statistic comes from the average age of a gamer in the UK: 33 years old. On top of that, 42 percent of UK game players have children. This ties into another nice statistic, which shows 81 percent of parents across Europe admitting that they often enjoy games with their children.

It would seem the landscape is changing across Europe, for the better. Gaming is looking to be viewed in more and more of a favorable light. Now, if only we could get some of that over here in the United States. Because, here, if you play games, you must be a child.

Stick on a skully spring skin


Tis the season to feature skulls in springtime! Well, we guess these two new skins from GHskinz are appealing to a few different types of gamer, unless someone out there digs skulls and blood while waltzing through a field of flowers and butterflies.

In any case, the designs are very crisp and clear, and when you know you suck at coming up with a decent mod, you'll probably want to pick up something a bit more professional. Stick with a skin, and make it a good'un. Hit the break to check out what we like to call DS Happy. Nothing gonna get us down today!

Continue reading Stick on a skully spring skin

Undodgeable SDB screens from U.S., Korean releases



North American publisher Aksys has accompanied Super Dodgeball Brawlers' stateside release this week with an image bonanza of (Japanese) screenshots, character art, and other promotional assets, all of which we've conveniently collected for you in the gallery below.

Apparently, lots of people are having trouble finding the game in stores, so here's an opportunity for you to flip past the screenshots quickly to approximate an animated match, imagining that you're really playing the game. We had no problem finding Super Dodgeball Brawlers ourselves, as most of the GameStops around our area kept two copies on their shelves.

In related news, Fujitsu also plans to ship Super Dodgeball Brawlers to stores in Korea next week and has released a huge, 80-image-strong batch of Korean-translated screens, which, for some reason, includes shots from the staff credits and celebration scene that appears after a completed tournament. Perhaps they were accidentally released in Fujitsu's rush to get the word out -- the word(s) being "Kunio in Korea!"

Imagine a ton of screens for Ubisoft's casual/training games

Ubisoft released information for four Imagine series games at their Ubiday event: Imagine Teacher, which we're in the uncomfortable position of kind of liking; Imagine Rock Star (Imagine Girl Band in the UK, because apparently there are no rock stars there); My Fashion Studio (Imagine Fashion Model in the UK); and My Secret World by Imagine. We've heard of Imagine Rock Star before, but the other three are new as of yesterday, and we had yet to see screens of Rock Star and its nonsensical drum kit. My Secret World is a diary program, including some scrapbook-type stuff and custom avatars. My Fashion Studio is precisely what it sounds like!

We've got galleries for Imagine Rock Star, Imagine Teacher, My Secret World, and My Fashion Studio, all visible after the break. You'll have to head over to IGN for videos of My Secret World and Imagine Teacher. The style of Teacher tells us right off that it's not for us (as if the Imagine name didn't do the trick), but we still think the implementation is inspired. As for the rest: My Secret World is almost incomprehensible, and My Fashion Studio is a paper doll simulator.

Gallery: Imagine Teacher



Read - My Secret World video
Read - Imagine Teacher video

Continue reading Imagine a ton of screens for Ubisoft's casual/training games

Awkward fights over Mario and Sonic incoming: GameStop deals next week


GameStop's annual "Gamedays" sale starts next week, and the list of sale items has been posted on CAG. We've excised the more choice options here, and there are some tempting games indeed. For 10 bucks, Worms is almost irresistible, especially if you happen to know any communities that frequently gather for online DS games.

Apparently, games marked down for Gamedays are also being shipped out to stores. At least, this is true in the case of the PS2 Katamari Damacy (which you should already own, but buy it now for $10 if you don't). That means you have a shot at buying some of these, maybe! And don't forget to bring the 10% off coupon that was helpfully scanned and posted by a CAG member.
  • Dementium: $14.99
  • Digimon World: Dawn/Dusk: $19.99
  • Diner Dash: $14.99
  • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: $14.99
  • Nervous Brickdown: $14.99
  • Sega Superstars Tennis: $14.99
  • Worms: Open Warfare 2: $9.99
[Via CAG]

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