Just read the anti-hype article about Metroid Prime Corruption, and something occurred to me. It isn't just Metroid. What about Battallion Wars 2? I am eagerly awaiting the game, but I almost have to hype myself because nothing is ever posted about the game. And on another note, what about Mario and Sonic's first game together? While I know that Sega is working on that one, I'm still shocked that I know almost nothing about it. Maybe I missed the article, or maybe Nintendo just dropped the ball again. Or how about Mario Kart? Q1 of next year, and all I have is a name and a stupid rubber wheel? oh, we also know it will be online, but if it wasn't we'd all be worried. But for as little hype as all of these games get, it isn't even as though all of it is going to Galaxy and Wii Fit and Brawl. In fact, pretty much Brawl is the only game that is getting any hype right now, and I have to confess that the hype is working.

I actually wonder about who will be included in the game as if it were some sort of All Star event. So how about hyping everything? With so many games, it shouldn't ever seem like there's a dry spell.

Robert

Cheers, Robert, you seem to get it just fine. While so much of our feedback on that piece has been strong I'm really amazed to see some people are actually defending Nintendo, stating that "The people who will buy it already know about it." What ever happened to using huge games to sell more systems? Granted Wii is still selling just fine, but for a company that apparently feels so strong about industry growth Nintendo sure isn't using its powerful hardcore franchises as weapons to seize the parts of the industry it lost with GameCube.

Oh, and it isn't about selling Metroid 3 to Nintendo fans… it's about selling it to Microsoft and Sony fans. Last generation proved that it's nearly impossible to have three consoles all operating at full capacity. Nintendo is off to a great start, but it needs to take this industry back from its direct competition (and yes, it still has some). That's what games like Prime, Battalion Wars, Smash, and Mario are there for. Use them.

Market expansion is great, but I've got a new book Reggie should read that goes along great with Blue Ocean. It's called Red Ocean, as in "The seas flow red with the blood of our competition." Since when did Nintendo need to give up the fight for gamers just because it happens to be making non-games too?

--Bozon

I'm an Angry Dude!

Why don't you wake up and answer an email this month.

Wouldn't it suck if this was the only one we answered?

--Bozon

The White Stuff

Matt/Bozon, when do you think Nintendo will start making the console/controllers in different colors? I've had a Wii since a week after launch so it's not like I'm holding out for a color other than white or anything, I'm just curious. I know the consoles are still flying off the shelves like crazy, but I would think that they are having an easier time meeting production demands for the controller, and thus it would be easier for them to switch some of the production lines to making other colors, or am I wrong?

Also, how likely do you think it is for Nintendo to release a Wiimote/nunchuck 2.0 in like a year or something. There are several ways that they could improve the controllers. The most obvious additions would be adding a mic in the wiimote and putting a rumble pack in the nunchuck.

Ferum

If I was a betting man (and I am), I'd say you'll see new controller colors after this holiday season, along with a new console color perhaps, and some sort of new Wii game + console deal. It'll still be a while - Q2 or so? - but I'd expect that train to roll in some time in 2008 for sure. As for the 2.0 idea, That'd be a great unveiling for E3 next year as well. Obviously a wireless nunchuk would be at the top of my list, as would some sort of new Wavebird (or Classic Controller 2.0) that could be used for Cube games and wireless VC gaming without needing to be tethered to the Wii-mote.

And of course we can't forget about the "Oh Crap" external hard drive that is sure to come out once NeoGeo and more N64 games arrive, and then the wireless first-party keyboard that Ninty is sure to throw out there as well.

-Bozon

Which Madden to Get?

I own both a 360 and a Wii. I love both of the systems, and I don't ever feel much overlap in the games, which is great. Madden '08, however, is a tough choice, and I'm not sure which one to get.

I had '07 on the 360, and it sucked. The Wii version of it at least sounded like it had more going for it with motion control as well as the 4-player mini games which sounded like a blast. But I didn't ever play it, so I don't know too much about it.

For one, the 4-player options and mini games for '08 on Wii make me think it'll be better for me, but I haven't heard whether or not the Wii version will have owner mode, mini-camps, or any of the other features that the 360 users are finally getting back. Will these be on Wii?

I also have to admit that one thought that hangs in the back of my mind whenever I'm playing Super Paper Mario or RE4 is "Man...I'm not earning any achievements for this..." In your professional opinions, which version looks like it might be the best?

Jack

I really wish I could tell you if Madden 08 is better than the 360 version, but we're in LA, and haven't had a chance to play the 360 version yet… just Wii.

What I can tell you though is that in my opinion Madden 07 was better on Wii than any other system, and it plays just as solid as it did last year, just with more additions to it. 08 includes Franchise Mode and all mini-camp aspects, so if you're huge on that you've got nothing to worry about, although you won't find gang tackles in this year's Wii effort. The control rocks though, and they keep adding new additions to the motion; using the Wii-mote to shove through D-line blockers and sacking quarterbacks with Big Hit 2.0 definitely comes to mind… Screw mailbag, I'm going to go play it right now.

Oh, and the lack of achievement points is certainly a downer. I feel your pain.

--Bozon

You're Not Old Sch-Cool!

So here's the thing; you guys call yourself fans of the old school? Well I seem to remember a little tidbit of information in February that got my old school pants a-fillin'; SNK to release NeoGeo games on the VC in Japan, starting in the summer!

Well, I assumed (wrongly) that E3 would be a wealth of information on lots of different games. Instead it was a wealth of information on select games. I was just waiting for the self tiltled fans of old school (I'm lookin at YOU Bozon!!) to unleash *something* on this story, whether it be a "They told us to wait till TGS" or a "Here's the scoop..."

But the fact is, TGS isn't until... September right? Isn't the summer considered officially over at the end of August? What happened to these kick-ass NeoGeo games I was looking forward to? Or does September leak into the summer? *shakes head*

Jarrod

I was actually just talking about this last night with a few buddies. From the interview we did a few months back we got official word from SNK that they would be ready to run with NeoGeo games starting this summer. At this point I'd say it's all resting on Nintendo, as there's no way SNK wants to prolong the inevitable profit surge that will come from this release. Keep in mind that companies like Konami and Capcom have mentioned that they have waves of games just waiting for Nintendo to throw in VC… Ninty likes to play the role of the slowpoke.

Here's what I'm thinking. NeoGeo games are pretty freaking big, and we may be waiting on the inevitable hard drive that Nintendo insists isn't coming out (or if nothing else, at least a firmware update that lets ups play VC titles direct from SD cards). Either that, or Ninty is just holding off on an event to show off the goods.

I had a chance to grab a quick quote from Ben Herman, and he stated that we'll definitely see SNK on VC in 2007, but not as early as August, so there you have it.

As far as putting blame on me though, I think you've got it twisted. I happen to be a self-titled "fan of old school" as you put it, and that's why I don't need Nintendo to re-release the games. Some of us got the goods the first time around, youngling.

--Bozon