Cave Story Wii Interview and Trailer

By: Derek Yu

On: October 14th, 2008

Here’s an interview with Tyrone Rodriguez, the producer of Cave Story Wii, where he discusses the game and their partnership with Pixel. Big reveal: Nicalis is aiming for a holiday 2008 release, and a 500-1000 point (EDIT: $5-$10) price tag. More videos on the blog.

Um, for those of you who haven’t played the game, the interview is slightly spoilerish. Yes, I’m talking about you, Dan and Maria Branowsky of New Jersey. You’re the last ones. Get to it, already!

Cave Story Wii: Toroko Old and New

By: Derek Yu

On: October 11th, 2008

Posted at Nicalis’s Cave Story Wii blog, a side-by-side comparison of the original Toroko versus the new one, also drawn by Pixel. Fun! As much as I love the first game, I’m glad they’re updating the graphics and audio. (The final game will allow players to play with the original assets, or mix and match old and new.)

Cave Story Wii Website Live

By: Derek Yu

On: October 7th, 2008

The Cave Story Wii website is now live, and features some downloadable wallpapers, and a message from Pixel, where he states that it is “like a dream to have the opportunity to see one of my games appear on the market.” Awwwwww…

Be sure to check out GoNintendo’s interview with Tyrone Rodriguez, who is producing the game at Nicalis. In the interview, Tyrone reassures fans that everything, including the music, is being approved by Pixel. And even though Cave Story Wii will feature some new graphics and a re-arranged soundtrack, it will be possible to play with classic graphics and music, if you prefer (or a mix of both).

Also, I just noticed that the official unofficial Cave Story fansite, hosted at MiraiGamer.net, has been redesigned, and even has its own domain. It looks great!

[Follow the discussion on TIGForums]

Cave Story Coming to Wii

By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: October 4th, 2008

So, er, you guys like Cave Story, right? (Kidding, kidding — of course you do!) Well, Nintendo recently announced, in a very official-looking press release, that it’s coming to WiiWare “this holiday season.” And for real this time! Not only that, but with “exclusive content and features created only for the ”http://www.cavestorywii.com/" title=“Cave Story Wii version Offical Site”>WiiWare version." Yay, go Pixel!

Tim linked to a presumably accurate fact sheet for the Wii version: 16:9 widescreen, progressive scan. New character designs by Daisuke Amaya (Pixel). Classic controller support. Ten unique weapons, over twenty boss battles. (Wait, Indie Cred be damned, how many were in the original?) Developed by Nicalis.

Some questions: Will the Wii version use the much-loved Aeon Genesis translation? What does Pixel get out of this? Is this actually happening? Do I wake up now? (Shih Tzu, do you have any more information?)

Huzzah!

UPDATE: Word is AG’s translation is being used. (Thanks Zaratus!)

Also, IGN UK has posted some off-screen videos of the game in motion. Is that a new Quote sprite I see? (Thanks reetva!)

World of Goo Goes Gold

By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: September 10th, 2008

Good news, fans of good games (and alliteration) — World of Goo has gone gold!

World of Goo is a funky, very well put together structural puzzle platformer thing from two-man dev team 2D Boy in which you must direct a bunch of balls of goo safely through a world of hazards by forming them into— wait, I’m tired and rusty and not doing a great job of this description. Observe some trailers here and here.

If you recall, World of Goo won the Design Innovation and Technical Excellence awards at the 2008 IGF, in addition to being nominated for the Grand Prize. That’s nothing to sneeze at!

So, yeah, it’s gone gold and it should be out in boxed form for the PC in early November and for digital download/WiiWare even earlier than that. You can also preorder it now (with bonuses) for a scant $20 USD through 2D Boy’s site. Goodness.

Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People: Episode 1

By: Derek Yu

On: August 12th, 2008

The first episode of Telltale Games’ Strong Bad game (for attractive people) was released yesterday, for PC and WiiWare. Titled “Homestar Ruiner,” the episode kicks off the all-new misadventures of Strong Bad, a popular character from the Homestar Runner cartoon. This episode can be yours for $8.95, or you can pre-order the entire 5-episode series for $34.95.

I haven’t tried it yet, but the 3d cel-shaded graphics look great and I’m hoping that Snake Boxer 5 is a playable Videlectrix game.

(Thanks, JimmyBignuts!)

TIGdb: Entry for Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People

World of Goo: Trailer 2

By: Derek Yu

On: April 15th, 2008

This trailer was made for the Nintendo WiiWare Press Day. Hi-res versions at the 2D Boy website! Have you pre-ordered yet? (Embarrassingly enough, I haven’t. But today is going to be the day. I want that Profanity Pack.)

(Thanks, Data! Be sure to check out the newly-designed Data Realms website.)

Wii Hii Hii

By: Derek Yu

On: April 6th, 2008

First things first: Telltale Games is bringing the first season of Sam n’ Max to the Wii this fall, as a retail compilation disc. The game is slated to hit both the U.S. and Europe at the same time. Nice, guys! (Source: Chris Kohler, via Game|Life)

And here’s a new trailer for De Blob, the Wii-ified version of student-made The Blob. The trailer was released at THQ Gamer’s Day this month (THQ is developing and publishing the title). There’s also a gameplay video from earlier this year.

Even though I still don’t really like the way they Mountain Dewed the blobby protagonist, I have high hopes for this one overall! It’s coming out in September (hopefully).

Last but not least, a new trailer for Blast Works, the shoot ‘em up based on Kenta Cho’s Tumiki Fighters that’s slated for a May release. The trailer shows off some of the extensive in-game customization, as well as a new game mechanic: you can suck in attachments and bring them out again at will. Interesting! (EDIT: Okay, so that mechanic is also in Tumiki Fighters! I had no idea!) It also confirms that rRootage, Gunroar, Torus Trooper, and Tumiki Fighters will be playable in the game as unlockables.

Blast Works Still in the Works

By: Derek Yu

On: February 12th, 2008

Blast Works, the Wii shoot ‘em up based Kenta Cho’s Tumiki Fighters, now has it’s own development blog on IGN. There’s only one entry so far, and it discusses the game’s built-in Shape (Ship) Editor.

People who were dubious of Kenta Cho’s connection to the game may be comforted somewhat by the fact that the blog discusses Tumiki Fighters and how the developers are building upon the basic concept (no pun intended). Overall, the game seems like it’s moving farther away from Tumiki Fighters (indeed, they’re rebuilding the engine from the ground up to support “unrestricted 3d environments”). I actually think this is a good thing. It feels more like its own game now, rather than an unnecessary upgrade.

Hit the jump for two gameplay videos (one of the editor and one showing some actual shooting).

Shape Editor:

Gameplay (featuring Mayor McCheese!):

(Video sources: Destructoid and Wiifanboy)

(Image source: IGN)

Indie Sunrise

By: Derek Yu

On: August 10th, 2007

Gamesindustry.biz has an article titled “”http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=27076">Indie Sunrise" about the success of the Nintendo and the Wii/DS, and how it could possibly herald a “golden age” for independent developers:

To which I say that the golden age (cue dramatic fade-in to Link hoisting the Triforce above his head) for independent game developers is already here, and Nintendo will play a big part, but not the only part. Independent developers have been making their own “escape hatches” since video games first came about.

But yeah, it’s going to be especially fun being indie in the coming years, I tell yah!

(Source: 4 color rebellion)