GamersCast #31: Best Games of 2008

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

We discuss all of the greatest games to come out on every platform in 2008 in our first ever video edition of GamersCast: Video Game Podcasting!



We discuss and award games for excellence on the following platforms:

- Nintendo Wii
- Xbox 360
- PlayStation 3
- Nintendo DS
- iPhone / iPod Touch
- Xbox Live Arcade
- Wii Virtual Console
- WiiWare
- PlayStation Network
- PlayStation Portable
- PC

And then of course is the overall "Best Game of 2008" award, followed by what games we are looking forward to most in 2009!

Download this, GamersCast #31: Best Games of 2008, soon on iTunes at:
http://itunes.gamerscastpodcast.com


Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

New Zelda Announcement?

Well, it has just come to my attention that a mysterious countdown clock has appeared on the Japanese Marvelous Entertainment website. The countdown clock features a Triforce leading many to believe it is counting down to the announcement of the next Zelda game.

As it is on an official developers website, that gives this rumor a lot of credibility! The countdown is done entirely in seconds, but after some math, it translates to about 4 days. So, could there be an announcement in the next few days? Keep it here and stay tuned!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Club Nintendo is now open!

Finally! After years of Japan getting goodies, us here in America are finally gonna have our loyalty to Nintendo repaid! Club Nintendo is now open to Americans.

In Club Nintendo, by registering your Wii, DS, and Virtual Console, and WiiWare games, you can accumulate points, which can be traded in for valuable prizes! Right now, the only thing that's really interesting that's up is Game & Watch Galley Collection for Nintendo DS, but more will be on the way over the next few weeks. Since, by the looks of the site, they're completely done with it yet.

To sign up for Club Nintendo, or transfer your information from your My Nintendo Account head over to: http://club.nintendo.com (US only).


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Wii Speak Channel

Well apparently, in an effort to get people to purchase Wii Speak rather than using their own USB microphone, Nintendo is bundling a special Wii Speak Channel with the device. Wii Speak will be released on the same day as Animal Crossing: City Folk, November 16th.


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Nintendo Conference News

Current News from Nintendo's Press Conference:

Shaun White's Snowboarding was announced to use the Wii Balance Board.

Animal Crossing: City Folk comes to Wii!!!!
The game features a full city, online, pix messaging, and more!

Wii Speak announced, which allows everyone in a room to talk, rather than just one, as with a headset! Wii Speak latches onto the Wii Sensor Bar.

More than 180 Million Pokemon Games have been sold.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Announced for Wii

Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party Announced

Call of Duty: World at War Announced for Wii
It's confirmed to use the Wii Zapper and have a co-op mode.
This also suggests multiplayer.

Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades Announced for DS, and song share between different versions of the game.

Spore Creatures Confirmed. The game features a creature creator, and you can share them with friends.

Pokemon Rangers Sequel announced for DS.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Announced for the DS!

Cooking Navi Confirmed for the US, to be released in November for the Nintendo DS!

Wii Sports Resort Announced with the Wii MotionPlus, to be sold together as a bundle.
There's a "doggy fetch" game and a samuri sword fighting game!
Wii Sports Resort comes out with Wii Motion Plus next Spring 2009.

Wii Music FINALLY confirmed.
Game shows Drums and Saxophone so far....
They are presenting it as a sort of free style music game.
More than 50 different musical instruments available in the final game!
Drums use the Wii Balance Board as foot pedals.
You can take "music video" of your performance, and send them to friends.
Upto 4 people can play!





Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!

Everyone's Nintendo Channel Released!

Back in November, Everyone's Nintendo Channel was released in Japan. It provided game info for all of the games on Nintendo's current systems (including VC and WiiWare games). And it also gives DS Download Demos, gameplay videos, and a convenient link to purchase the software.

Well, it just came out in America, except now they changed the name to simple just "The Nintendo Channel". Apparently, this channel doesn't belong to everyone. BECAUSE IT'S OURS NOW!!! MUWHAHAHA! .... :-P

Anyways, I'm uploading some gameplay videos about the channel to YouTube right now. So, you can check 'em out at:

http://www.youtube.com/GamersCast


_______________________

Also, as a side-note, some people were wondering why a video review of Brawl suddenly appeared but then disappeared from my YouTube Channel. Well, it was a bit glitchy, so I'm taking an extra day to fix it up. It will be available again tomorrow! The audio review is currently only available to podcast subscribers, but it will be available tomorrow along with the full written and video review at:

http://www.gamerscastpodcast.com/Brawl/Review



Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!

Wii Firmware Version 3.2 Released

Wii Firmware version 3.2 was just released about a minute ago. The update is very minor and fixes some glitches with the Disc Channel, or rather, fine tunes what was never broken. You will now find that if a game has a mandatory firmware upgrade on it, the preview window will now tell you such.

And after playing around with the firmware, I have found that nothing else has changed. Except the disc channel preview does look a bit different...

Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!

GDC 08: Everone's Nintendo Channel Confirmed for US

Last November Nintendo released the Everyone's Nintendo Channel in Japan. It's a Wii Channel the gives you info on games, along videos, demos, etc. And ever since the US, has been patiently waiting.

Well, in a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo confirmed that Everyone's Nintendo Channel was in development for the US. In the interview, it was being said that one could go to the Everyone's Nintendo Channel look up information on a game and download it (in reference to WiiWare). So, not only will it be coming soon, but it will also have information on WiiWare titles!

So, chances are Nintendo will atempt to get the launch of WiiWare somewhere in time with the Everyone's Nintendo Channel. WiiWare launches May 12th. So, I'm predicting the Everyone's Nintendo Channel will release within a month of that date.

GDC 08: Mario Kart Wii News

It has just been announced that Mario Kart Wii will have Mii Channel support, have a 12-player online, has 32 tracks to race on (16 of which are new), and comes with the Wii Wheel for free. But what's interesting is the Wii Wheel, is actually just a hollow shell, like the Wii Zapper is. Fortunately, the game also supports the Wii Remote alone, the Classic Controller, and the Nintendo Gamecube Controller. We also now know that a Mario Kart Wii Channel will be installed when you insert the disc into your console. Just like Wii Fit is going to do. Oh yeah, and there's rumors that Brawl will do this as well for the American release. Though I really can't see how they're going to use it for Brawl and Mario Kart. I mean, for Wii Fit is makes sense, but Brawl and Mario Kart? Oh well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

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GDC 08: Wii Fit Channel News

UPDATE: Wii Fit can support upto 8 users.

In a recently released PDF by Nintendo, it was found out the Wii Fit Channel will be available on May 19th when the game releases. The channel becomes installed when you insert the disc into your Wii, so more than likely, it won't be available to download. The Channel will not only provide you with updates and being able to track your progress, but it will also be able to provide you with new workout, even when you don't have your Wii Fit game disc inserted! So, the channel may have some online features to it, while the game itself, does not.

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GDC 08: Wii Fit Dated

Wii Fit has sold over 1.4 million copies in Japan since it was released, and now it has been dated for the US. No word on the currently mysterious price point, but we need not worry about that now. It releases on May 12, 2008.

Also, when you insert the disc into your Wii, a special Wii Fit Channel will be installed onto your console. Where you can track your progress.

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GDC 08: WiiWare Dated

Nintendo is known for delaying products, what was expected to be next week, has turned into the next 3 months. I am talking of course, about WiiWare, Nintendo's service to publish new original games for download on the Wii. We were originally told it would be ready by February, but now we know the truth. WiiWare is slated to launch on May 12, 2008.

Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!

Check Mii Out Channel Update

An update is now available for the Check Mii Out Channel. Though Nintendo's e-mail made it sound awesome and urgent, it really isn't that big of a deal. To be honest, I think they just got it out that parental controls could be added to the channel. And if you've searched under the letter "P" in that channel, then I think you know why! XD!
Other than parental controls upto 20 pages of Miis can be seen per category, and at 50 Miis per page.

The Check Mii Out Channel will not function at all anymore unless you get the update, so it's kinda mandatory. You can get the update from the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel.

Wii Shop Channel Holiday Update

Nintendo has just added a new feature to their Wii Shop Channel today for the holiday season. With this you can purchase and send things purchased in the Wii Shop Channel to anyone registered in your Nintendo Wii's Address Book. If the person you are sending the gift to already has that item, it won't send so you don't money that way.

Yes, it is a small update, but it's easier than sending Wii Point cards in the mail. Now, all we need is the "Everyone's Nintendo Channel" that we were promised.


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GamersCast # 25: Touching is Good

At long last after too much editing, episode 25 of GamersCast has officially been released onto the podcast feed. Because it is second latest item on the podcast feed you may have to manually click the download or "get" button in iTunes or in your podcasting client to get this episode.

Now, why did the episode take so long to get release? We had some problems with the quality, and though it sounds dramatically better now than it did before, there is still just a bit of static. Please note, we have resolved this problem so it WILL NOT ever occur again. Also keep in mind, that the quality does get better, the farther you get into the episode.

Aside from audio quality, this is easily the best episode of GamersCast we have ever done! Here's some of the highlights from GamersCast # 25: Touching is Good:

- BEST EPISODE EVER!!!!!
- We respond the listener's e-mails
- Is Nintendo going to sue Apple?
- Massive Halo 3 Discussion
- Halo 3 Tournament Sign-Ups Open!
- Is Halo worth cutting school over?
- Was Halo over-hyped?
- Bungie splits from Microsoft (and reason why I didn't post about it)
- In-Depth Tokyo Game Show 2007 Analysis
- Steve has a nice Japanese accent :P
- How long does the PlayStation 2 actually have to live?
- Apple releases iPod/iPhone SDK
- Super Smash Brothers Brawl News
- Japanese import games for Wii VC
- SpongeBob has been stealing ideas from Nintendo!
- Samus VS Master Chief
- Link VS Cloud
- Intense Phantom Hourglass Discussion
- What's been changed since the Japanese version of the Phantom Hourglass?
- Dumbledore is Gay!
- Nintendo's Fall Press Conference Analysis
- Which is best form of FPS controls?
- AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!

This is one episode you guys really HAVE TO listen to! It was just THAT good! Squeeze time in somehow, listen before bed, do whatever you have to, because this is GamersCast at its finest! This post will not appear on the news feed, so you newsletter subscribers are getting a look at an episode that will go down in GamersCast history. (So, now episode 8 is only 2nd best XD )

I also want to mention that based on your feedback, we have decided to have a LIVE episode of GamersCast! Right now, we're planning on having it the week before New Years, so that school wouldn't be an issue for listener's attendance. Give us as much feedback as possible on what you want to see from the live GamersCast, so we can make this event as much of a success as possible!

This is GamersCast: Video Game Podcasting

Check Mii Out Channel Videos

Just like we do whenever a new Wii Channel comes out, we make a video showing its features so you know whether it's worth downloading, but this time, we made two, because right after I made the video I found a glitch in the channel while it was still recording, so this time we have two videos! One is a walk-through of the channel and the other is a video of the glitch.

Check Mii Out Channel Walk-through Video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wr6Z8iZoDEI


Check Mii Out Channel Glitch Video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fVE4A-aBxt4

Check Mii Out Channel Dated!

Well, I am now very very happy to announce that Nintendo's Check Mii Out Channel (yeah, they changed the name back again) will be released on November 11, 2007. Why am I "very happy" to announce it? Well, you may remember I made a bet that Metroid Prime 3: Corruption would be online on GamersCast, and that I got out of it from a technicality (we did review the original bet to confirm), and if I lost I would've had to eat a case of wsabi peanuts. Well, about a week ago I made another bet with Steve, of which I predicted dates that a new Wii Channel would come out. And this time, I was right! If I lost I would've had to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon dry! (In case you didn't know, that is said to be physically impossible, as the cinnamon absorbs all moisture from your mouth, not allowing you to swallow). But, I won! So, you heard it hear first, folks! I predicted the date this channel would be released! But anyway, enough about the bet, what's channel all about?

Well, the Check Mii Out Channel is a channel which will allow you to download Miis from around the world and hold contests seeings who's Mii is the best. All and all, the channel is as simple as that? Will Nintendo raise the 100 Mii limit for this channel? Doubtful, which leaves me in the dust. However, we know that Nintendo has been working on this channel since at least around February or March, so there's probably more to it than meets the eye. Or it could've been done for a while, and Nintendo's just been waiting for Veteran's day to release it.

Oh yeah, I guess I should also note that, nothing about the Check Mii Out Channel was announced for PAL (eastern-hemisphere) Wii owners. Though, the release is said to be around the same time for them.

Whatever the case is. Ultimately, I was right. :P But don't worry there was a part 2 to the bet, in which I picked another date for a 2nd Wii Channel to be released in this month. Was I right on both parts, or just this one? Find out, this Thanksgiving (US holiday)!


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Nintendo Rumors

To very new rumors have surfaced on the internet both coming from the latest issue of Edge magizine. One of which being a rumor about the Nintendo DS and the other about Animal Crossing for the Wii.

First, Animal Crossing for Wii. The magizine is reporting that Animal Crossing may be an MMORPG, acting as a 24-7 online community. This does make sense as everything we've heard about the game supports this so far. And the Wii does make it possible using their WiiConnect24 service so it is entirely plausible. And should the rumors be true, it will be interesting how it fares up to other MMOs as this is Nintendo's first. More details on that as they come in.

And then, the magizine made another crazy prediction, this one I am a bit less inclined to believe. But I've learned that pretty much any rumor can be true, no matter how crazy (I've learned that after Bungie actually did split from Microsoft!). So, this rumor says that using the Wii, players will be able to download GameBoy Advance games from the Wii Shop Channel. And in addition to this, all downloaded games may be transferred to blank GameBoy Advance cartridges that Nintendo will be releasing alongside that launch of the new system appearing on the Virtual Console. However, there is no word on whether multiple games could be stores on one cartridge or if other systems will be able to have their games transferred either. And obviously, if the time comes when you can transfer games from other platforms to a GameBoy Advance cartridge it couldn't be from any system higher than a 32-bit graphical appearance.

However, though the Animal Crossing rumor seems very likely to me, the Nintendo DS Virtual Console seems doubtful. Why? Well, if you were able to transfer games to blank GameBoy cartridges, then there would be the issue of people copying games multiple times to many different cartridges. The only way I could see it being possible is if the games that are copied must be directly linked to one specific Nintendo DS unit, so that it couldn't be played on anyone's elses system aside from your own. It could be possible that the MAC Address or Nintendo Wi-Fi ID could be used for this, but this would also mean the you couldn't player it on a Gameboy Advance or Gameboy Advance SP. So, to me it does seem unlikely, but a rumor is a rumor.

The Animal Crossing MMORPG idea does seem to be a very likely rumor however, because Nintendo has dropped hints of it, saying that you would always be connected online and people would be able to visit you while your Wii was off and all sorts of statements like that. So, there really is no reason for me to doubt the Animal Crossing rumor right now.

Let me know what you think about these rumors. They will make for excellent discussion on our next GamersCast episode (I'm trying to enhance the quality of episode 25 right now). So, if you have any ideas about these rumors or anything else we post, simply reply to this newsletter message, or send an e-mail to:
GamersCast@GamersCastPodCast.com


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Wii Channel Updates

Nintendo has just released updates to 2 Wii Channels today!

The first update was for the Everybody Votes Channel, and though there was no noticeable changes it did add USB Keyboard Support for when you suggest questions to be submitted.

But the more exciting update was to the Internet Channel, (free if you already have the Internet Channel). In the update, along with USB Keyboard Support, Nintendo also added the ability to send links through Wii Messages, so whatever page you are viewing on your Wii, you can send the link to anyone or any device on your Nintendo Wii's Address Book.

Obviously, I am going to attempt to utilize the linking feature for newsletter subscribers. Which should allow this newsletter to be even more convenient than before, by providing direct links to things we reference. So, instead of saying something like, "Oh if your looking at this through the newsletter, hop on your comp and log on to...." now we can just link you right there!

Also, keep in mind that you must have Wii Firmware Version 3.1 to download these updates.


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New Wii Firmware Upgrade

Today Nintendo has upgraded the Wii's Firmware to version 3.1 The only noticeable feature in this update is that USB keyboards are now fully supported for everything on the Wii, though certain upgrades via the Wii Shop Channel may also be required.

It may or may not also be notable that Nintendo has updated their Internet Usage Policy, but as long as you use the channels as they were designed to be used, it really shouldn't bother you in the slightest.


Get the GamersCast Newsletter! All of the quality news you would find here can be sent directly to your e-mail's inbox or Wii's Message Board the instant news is posted here! Simply send an e-mail to GCnewsletter@gmail.com or register GCnewsletter@gmail.com into your Nintendo Wii's Address Book to subscribe!