Props to JoeKilla. Video via Gametrailers.

Natal, though — the motion offering from Microsoft — not so much. The same studio rep calls Natal a big, buggy mess. “It’s sh*t,” he adds, saying that it just doesn’t work as promised. That it’s slow and that the camera is imprecise, which he notes, is causing some major development woes.

Joekilla has already started the topic in the forums, swing by the forum and share your views on the Move and NATAL and

we will feature your quotes on the next Co Op Podcast!

*only comments in the forum thread will be considered for the show

This was a simple announcement, here is a statement Harmonix left on Rock Band Facebook Fan Page:

Harmonix is developing Rock Band 3 for worldwide release this holiday season! The game, which will be published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again, just as Harmonix did with the original Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band. Stay tuned for more details!

Now some people, A.B. Frazier, might say, “Music games are dead.” Which is the truth due to the profit decrease these games have gone through over the past year. But if anyone is to blame, its Activision, they release a music game damn near every other month, with nothing more to offer than new songs. Harmonix keeps on innovating with their music titles, for instance now with the recent launch of the Rock Band Network. And if I can make a prediction here and now, I’m pretty sure Harmonix will innovate and revolutionize the music genre with the help of Natal. MTV Games was one of the developers that was shortlisted as working on Natal so we’ll have to wait and see.

Although I’m not a fan of 8-bit sounds, I like the song. It’s not too often we hear a good rapper spit over an 8-bit melody about Mega Man. What I really enjoyed was the music video dedicated to the single. This will probably be the first time you see a black Mega Man and a black Roll. I was hoping to see a black Wily but oh well.

Mega Man 10 is available on the Wii now, and coming to PSN this week, and on XBLA next week. You can also buy this song on ITunes for 99 cents.

Purchase the single here!
[Capcom Unity]

The game takes place in between Sands of Time and Warrior Within, and the developers pretty much guarantee you’ll love this game if you enjoyed the original trilogy. The game also features elemental powers such as turning waterfalls into ice so that you can climb them, but shouldn’t the Prince be slipping off them. Judging from the trailer, the game looks pretty good thanks to them using the Assassin’s Creed engine.

I can’t speak for everyone but I think this game will be good, at best. I’m calling it now, this will be the first time that the film adaptation and the game will NOT suck. Check out the trailer.

* Episode 1 is a prologue to the main story
* Tails and Knuckles are teased to return in Episode 2
* Moves include: Spin Dash, Rolling Attack, Homing Attack and a fourth mystery one
* Classic special stages will be returning
* The graphics aren’t 3D, but CG pre-renders
* If you don’t get all the Chaos Emeralds, you’ll receive a classic “Try Again” ending. Getting all the emeralds results in a cliffhanger tease for Episode 2

Remember this is only Episode 1 of Sonic 4. It was hinted during the interview a possible return of Tails & Knuckles would be likely in Episode 2. Look for episode 1 to drop sometime this summer.

Props to Destructoid & VG247

The reason this game should be important to Nintendo Wii owners, because this will be the first real attempt at a MMO style game on the Wii. This game is going to make some people take a second look at the Wii as a console and as a platform to program for. Here are the official details.

The demo disk will be available at local Gamestop on March 8th. Do yourself a favor and play this game because Monster Hunter is just that, a monster. In Japan, there are millions of players on all platforms. Whether it’s PS2, PSP, Wii or PC; people have been enjoying the game online and offline for years.

This franchise is very important to gamers around the world. This is the closest we are going to get to a full console MMO. If you own a Wii and you love hardcore gaming, you owe it to yourself to get this game. This is an important move for Capcom. Play the demo and cop the game.

See the full press release below.

CAPCOM BLOWS THE LID OFF MONSTER HUNTER TRI

Free Online Play, Release Date, Wii-Speak Support, Playable Demo, and Exclusive Pre-order Incentives Give Consumers Even More Reason to Join the Monster Hunter Phenomenon

SAN FRANCISCO, CA— February 24, 2010 — Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced big plans for its upcoming game Monster Hunter™ Tri at the Nintendo Media Summit in San Francisco. Capcom revealed that the Wii™ exclusive would be shipping to retail stores on April 20, 2010 along with the launch of the new Classic Controller Pro™. Limited quantities of Monster Hunter Tri will be bundled in with the new controller for a suggested retail price of $59.99. The standalone game will be released with a suggested retail price of $49.99. Along with the exciting news of the ship date, Capcom and Nintendo revealed its online plans for the North American fans by offering online play at no cost. Gamers also now have options for how they want to communicate as they develop tactics and strategies for hunting majestic monsters, either by text based chat or Wii Speak™, Nintendo’s hands free microphone.

Additionally, a playable demo and new pre-order incentive will be available exclusively via a partnership with GameStop locations across North America. Nintendo fans can get a taste of the action on March 8th when the demo becomes available at GameStop stores nationwide. For a limited time only, those consumers who place a pre-order for the game will receive an exclusive collectible Monster Hunter™ Tri Points Card valued at 500 Points ($5.00) and available at time of pick-up, good towards the purchase of any content in the Wii Shop or Nintendo DSi™ Shop Channels.

Simultaneously with these announcements, Capcom today begins a robust marketing campaign including the first in a series of viral videos focused on “true hunters” as the doors on the Monster Hunter Tri website officially open. Featuring a master hunter named Ironbeard McCullough, the new website and videos give deeper insight into becoming a true monster hunter and allows them to sign up for a hunting license. The Monster Hunter Tri Hunting License rewards users for sharing content by unlocking achievements and digital rewards. The videos and content that are shared will be derived from the Monster Hunter Channel on Youtube.com.

Making its North American debut on Wii this spring, Monster Hunter Tri is one of the most strikingly beautiful titles developed for theWii. Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with the fantastic beasts that roam both the dry land and the brand new sub-aqua environment – a first for the series. Offering the player varied control configurations to suit their style of play, players can choose between the Classic Controller Pro™, Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™, or Classic Controller™ to slay the majestic beasts that inhabit the world.

The Monster Hunter® series has sold over 11 million units worldwide and has become a social phenomenon in Japan giving rise to training camps, dedicated festivals and numerous licensed products. Monster Hunter Tri sold 520,000 units in its first week of release in Japan and became the leading title sold across all platforms for the week of its release.

Props | Joystiq

If you’re a Wii owner looking for Nintendo to deliver you your next first-party fix I’m pleased to share some exciting news with you. The sequel to Mario Galaxy is just 3 short months away according to Nintendo. During their Media Summit today the big N announced that Mario Galaxy 2 will be arriving in US stores on May 23 which is a good 6 months before it’s speculated release date. Also arriving early is Metroid: Other M. Team Ninja and Nintendo’s mysterious Metriod title is due out just one month later on June 27. Sandwiched in between those 2 huge releases is Sin & Punishment 2 which will be released on
June 7.

US Release dates were also given for Pokemon Heat Gold/ Soul Silver (March 14th), the DSi XL (March 28th for only $189), Wario Ware DIY (also March 28th), Monster Hunter Tri (April 20th) and Picross 3D (May 3rd).

Wow! Never let it be said again that Nintendo doesn’t care about us hardcore gamers.

The original game sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. Even by today’s standards that is really good. There were 2 sequels that received critical acclaim and brisk sales. Sonic and Knuckles was an add on cart to all 3 games and was an instant hit. After 9 portable 2-D games which met with generally good reviews and were great adventures, none matched the success or acclaim that the original games had. And with Sonic 3D blast and Sonic Jam (a collection of almost every Sonic game) for the Sega Saturn, the future of Sonic was in jeopardy.

Here comes the Sega Dreamcast, and the game is Sonic Adventure. This brought back most of the original Sonic Team back together, to usher in a new era for Sonic and Sega. This game was a new spectacle of true 3-D gaming much like Nintendo did with Super Mario 64. The game was fast and playable with a few camera issues (like Mario 64), but overall the game was a worldwide success. Then Sonic  Adventure 2 made way for Sonic Team to try and experiment with the gameplay and story. While a great game overall Sonic Adventure 2 didn’t really take off until it was ported to the Nintendo Gamecube in 2003. Now some noteworthy Sonic titles that should be looked at are Sonic Heroes (GC,PS2,XBOX), Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure and the Great Bioware RPG Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. These games are great games to add to your Nintendo DS collection.

Now that leads us to the dark times for Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 from the all but defunct Sonic Team was poised to break new ground and to reintroduce Sonic to all Next gen consoles. Well face it to say that the game didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Sonic the hedgehog all but sealed the characters doom. Fortunately the game actually sold well, although word of mouth and reviews were not to kind to the little blue blur. Now with Sonic Unleashed released in 2009, Sega seemed to be on the right track. With the 2.5D gameplay and the rail action in Sonic Adventure, Sonic Unleashed seemed like it was going to reboot the franchise. The night or “Were hog “ levels were new and unwelcome to some. The thing is I actually liked the game as a whole.

After mediocre to poor sells at best, Sega stayed vigilant. Sega needed a hit game and maybe a reboot of a beloved franchise. Instead of going through the Vast array of titles in there arsenal, Sega decided that the Sonic games that had the most appeal were the Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS versions. These games were developed by Dimps under the Sonic team moniker. Dimps made all of the portable versions of Sonic for the GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Playstation Portable. These versions of Sonic were some of most well received games since Sonic Adventure. They also developed Sonic Unleashed, which in the opinion of this editor, was a very good game once you got into the meat of it. Maybe this is Sonics’ last Hurrah, and maybe Sega is trying one last time to bring back the glory days of Sonic. Sega is obviously taking a page from Nintendo’s playbook. Since Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island and a few noble but not noteworthy attempts to bring Mario into 3D, Nintendo struck gold with New Super Mario Bros. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first 2D Mario game on a Nintendo console in 15 years and we all know how well that is going.

Now let’s get into Sonic 4: Episode 1 also developed by Dimps in a true return to form for our little blue friend. This game seems to do just what Sega needed since they became a third party developer, show us why we liked Sonic in the first place. This game looks to be a step in the right direction. The more I see of this game the more excited I get. What the industry needs is a reminder of why we gamers keep the industry going. At the end of the day, gaming is all about having fun. That is what Sega needs to do is get back to that general philosophy, it is all about fun. Sega just came down off the high that was Bayonetta. And they are set to reveal Resonance of Fate. Let’s hope that they can keep the trend going with Sonic 4: Episode 1. I wonder what other Sega franchises they will revisit.Now let’s hope for Shenmue 3. Maybe a Burning Rangers remake?  How about Shinobi or Streets of Rage? If you guys at Sega need any input, just hit me up. I am always ready to help. SEGA!!!

Curling is a team Olympic sport in which stones are slid across a sheet of carefully prepared ice towards a target area. It is related to lawn bowling, boule and shuffleboard.

Two teams of four players take turns to slide heavy, polished granite stones across the ice towards the house (a circular target marked on the ice). The purpose is to complete each end (delivery of eight stones for each team) with the team’s stones closer to the centre of the house than the other team’s stones. Two sweepers with brooms or brushes accompany each stone and use stopwatches and their best judgment, along with direction from their teammates, to help direct the stones to their resting place, but without touching the stones.

I kept thinking to myself “this would be on the Wii in no time.” But it’s actually been on the Wii for a while now. In the form of a game called Deca Sports. Its like Wii Sports but with less Nintendo support (lol). I suggest anyone with a Wii and some free time to try it out and let us know your thoughts on this weird sport.

“In the United Kingdom, a healthy 14-year-old girl presented to the emergency department at Horton General Hospital in Banbury (near Oxford), having sustained an injury to her right foot with associated difficulty in mobilization. She had been playing on her Wii Fit balance board and had fallen off, sustaining an inversion injury. (The Wii Fit replaces handheld controls with a pressure-sensitive board about 2 in. off the ground that lets the user participate in tricky games that can improve balance.)”

What bothers me most are the other injuries the article listed caused by playing the Wii such as head injuries, and body dislocations. Damn, Wii gaming is no joke.

Read More @ The Wiire

By the way I haven’t browsed the net yet, but I bet the there’s a shitload of gaming sites who used the word “bling” while covering this bit. Hip hop has retired that term people. #kthnxbye

Salutes Woooha! via TheLifeFiles

P.S… Who Dat.

Vote Here

Thanks Videogamer

Now the Project Needlemouse was first announced in September 2009. With this announcement, Sega is bringing Sonic back to his 2D roots. Sonic is going to be the only playable character at this time. I hope it stays this way. It worked for Mario, maybe Sega just decided to follow suit. It will be released on Xbox Live, Playstation Network and WiiWare this Summer.

According to Sega associate brand manager Ken Balough, this game picks up right after Sonic and Knuckles. In an interview with Gamespot Mr. Balough says that the story for Sonic 4 is part of a larger story arc and that is the reason for the “Episode 1″ subtitle.

Here is the official word from Sega’s Website:

The time has finally arrived! After months of teasing, Sega has officially revealed the truth behind Project Needlemouse, the long-awaited reboot for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. That truth is Sonic the Hedgehog 4!

An all-new sidescrolling adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will see the world’s fastest hedgehog return to his roots in a game that’s being aimed squarely at the jaded retro fan. Sonic 4 will see a reboot for the series and the first “true” Sonic sequel since Sonic 3.

The strange news here is that Sonic 4 will be episodic! Episode 1 will hit the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 this Summer! The game will have the classic spindash ability, and power-ups like the power sneakers. Online leaderboards will also be in play, and the Wii and PS3 versions will allow for some form of motion control using the Wiimote and SIXAXIS.

If this is Sonic’s last stand, Let him go out the way he came in, in glorious 2D. Check out the new teaser right here.

In response to the questions, Iwata  chose to clear up statements reported by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about the plans for a high definition DS. In January the newspaper reported Iwata saying that a DS followup system would need to have high resolution image support and a system in place for detecting player motions. According to Iwata, he didn’t say that exactly.

According to Iwata, the reporter conducting the interview asked “The next DS will need to have high resolution graphics and include a motion sensor, wouldn’t you say?” Iwata’s response was, “Those are naturally considered requirements. However, do you believe it will sell with just this?”

The paper didn’t print the last part of the answer so it does sound like is saying that is the direction they are going with the new DS. But it is definitely not the case.

Iwata also told investors that he never mentioned a Wii HD. He also said he has no idea where the rumors of a Wii HD came from.

Said Iwata on the updated Wii: “If asked if making the Wii compatible with high definition — just making it compatible with high resolution — will get players throughout the world to buy it, I would of course say, ‘Do you think it would sell with just that? It needs something new.’”

One more thing Iwata says is that there is a reason Nintendo is keeping everything close to the chest by saying,”If there were no rival makers in the world, I’d could give examples of the things that we are considering. However, for competitive reasons, I cannot give specifics today on the what or when of the things we’re considering.”

Well I guess we will have to wait and see what E3 holds for all of the new Nintendo fare for 2010. It looks like Nintendo is going to have another great year. Now let’s see if they romance the third parties to give more support to the Wii.

Source:Eurogamer

Thanks Videogamer.com

Here are the latest Media Create console hardware sales for the week of Jan 18 – 24 in Japan:

1. PSP – 52,909 [402,688]
2. Wii – 45,167 [343,143]
3. PS3 – 26,966 [238,081]
4. DSi LL – 24,059 [170,341]
5. DSi – 20,373 [190,304]
6. DS Lite – 4,966 [38,995]
7. 360 – 3,343 [20,304]
8. PS2 – 2,088 [11,783]
9. PSP Go – 1,773 [10,544]

The new game is a Wii title called The Last Story. Not the most inspired name, and it kind of reminds me of Final Fantasy. I just hope this is Sakaguchi san’s last chance for a hit.

The Last Story is a role-playing game with a 2010 release date. There’s only a logo and a new website to go on. Nothing else is confirmed.

I think I can make a pretty solid guess about the game, though. If the wonderful music on the web page is any indication, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Nobuo Uematsu will be composing The Last Story’s soundtrack. I hope that is the case.

Sure, it’s only art and music, but I’m interested. We’ll look forward to seeing what they’ve been working on. Now I will go and pick up a copy of Lost Odyssey now.

Nintendo also posted worldwide hardware shipments as of December 31, 2009:

Nintendo DS (all models) – 125.13 million units

• Japan – 3.52 million units (total 29.92 millions)
• America – 10.53 million units (total 44.99 millions)
• Europe – 9.3 million units (total 50.23 millions)

Nintendo DSi

• Japan – 2.44 million units (total 4.66 millions)
• America – 5.83 million units (total 6.16 millions)
• Europe – 5.13 million units (total 5.61 millions)

Nintendo DSi LL

• Japan – 700,000 units

Wii – 67.45 million units

• Japan – 1.76 million units (total 9.72 millions)
• America – 8.48 million units (total 32.02 millions)
• Europe – 6.81 million units (total 25.71 millions)

Here are the Top 20 Famitsu console software numbers:

1. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii, Nintendo) – 115,700 [3,118,400]
2. Senjo no Varukyuria 2: Gallia Ourisshikan Gakko [Valkyria Chronicles 2] (PSP, Sega) – 101,200
3. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A’s Portable: The Battle of Aces (PSP, Namco Bandai) – 76,500
4. Tamodatchi Collection (NDS, Nintendo) – 56,500 [2,712,400]
5. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP, Square Enix) – 54,300 [644,900]
6. Wii Fit Plus (Wii, Nintendo) – 33,700 [1,553,800]
7. Biohazard: Darkside Chronicles (Wii, Capcom) – 18,700 [97,600]
8. Wii Sports Resort (Wii, Nintendo) – 16,900 [1,719,800]
9. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G [PSP the Best] (PSP, Capcom) – 14,800 [1,151,500]
10. Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (NDS, Pokemon Co.) – 14,300 [3,546,700]
11. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires [Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires] (PSP, Koei) – 13,700
12. Zelda no Densetsu: Taiyou no Kiteki (NDS, Nintendo) – 12,800 [536,200]
13. Inazuma Eleven 2: Kyoui no Shinryakusha – Fire/Blizzard (NDS, Level 5) – 10,900 [1,048,900]
14. Tekken 6 (PSP, Namco Bandai) – 10,400 [39,700]
15. Mario Kart Wii (Wii, Nintendo) – 9,900 [2,547,500]
16. Phantasy Star Portable 2 (PSP, Sega) – 9,300 [541,700]
17. New Super Maro Bros. (NDS, Nintendo) – 9,000 [5,711,000]
18. Last Window: Mayonaka no Yakusoku (NDS, Nintendo) – 8,600 [31,600]
19. Monotaro Dentetsu 2010: Sengoku Ishin no Hero Daishuugou! no Maki (Wii, Hudson) – 7,927 [216,500]
20. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Square Enix) – 7,500 [1,861,700]

Source: Famitsu

Here’s the upcoming lineup from Nintendo

Japan

DS
Last Window Mayonaka no Yakusoku   2010/1/14
Otona no Renai Syosetsu DS Harlequin Selection 2010/2/25
Pokemon Ranger Hikari no Kiseki  2010/3/6
Golden Sun DS (Temp.)   TBA
Famicom Wars  DS2 (Temp.)   TBA

Wii
Zangeki no Reginleiv  2010/2/11
XENOBLADE  2010 Spring
METROID: Other M   2010 Summer
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Temp.)   2010
The Last Story  2010
Kensakusu (Temp.)   TBA
Span Smasher (Temp.)  TBA
100 Go se Start! Eikaiwa (Temp.) TBA
Hoshi no Kirby (Temp.)  TBA
Line Attack Heroes (Temp.)  TBA
The Legend of Zelda (Temp.) TBA

United States

DS
Nintendo DSi XL     CY2010/Q1
Glory of Heracles   2010/1/18
Pokemon Heart Gold Version  2010/3/14
Pokemon Heart Silver Version 2010/3/14
WarioWare D.I.Y.  2010/3/28
America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking  2010/3/28
Golden Sun DS (Temp.) 2010
Picross 3D  TBA

Wii
Endless Ocean: Blue World   2010/2/22
Sin and Punishment 2 (Temp.)  CY2010/Q1
METROID: Other M  2010
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Temp.) 2010
Span Smasher (Temp.) 2010
Line Attack Heroes (Temp.)  TBA
Monado: Beginning of The World (Temp.) TBA

Europe

DS
Nintendo DSi XL  2010/3/5
Picross 3D  2010/3/5
Pokemon Heart Gold Version  2010/3/26
Pokemon Heart Silver Version 2010/3/26
Golden Sun DS (Temp.) 2010
WarioWare D.I.Y.  TBA

Wii
Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep   2010/2/5
Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies (Temp.)  2010
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Temp.)  2010
METROID: Other M  2010
Span Smasher (Temp.)  TBA

• Super Street Fighter 4
• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
• Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix
• Femme Fatal — Female participants only SSF4 tournament
• Tekken 6
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
• The most popular game from a forum poll

There is an uproar with in the Fighting game community, because this year is the first year that Marvel vs Capcom 2 will not be in it.  MvC2 was the MAIN game that made this tournament a house hold name.  A lot feel that this is some ploy by Capcom to get people to take Tatsunoko vs. Capcom more seriously.  Even though Marvel vs Capcom 2 is not on the docket,  It can still be added later (Look at the last selection, “The most Popular game from a forum poll”).  It’s just a shock to everybody’s system, that the one game that was a stable for this tournament, got shelved. Also the Femme Fatal is new. An all female bracket of Super Street Fighter IV players will be interesting.

“Your’s truly” is looking forward to this years tournament because I am going and it’s a first for me (the world will know my T.HAWK!!)

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is the latest installment in the “Capcom Vs” series. Only this time instead of squaring off against Marvel or SNK, Ryu and Co. are in conflict with a bunch of Japanese characters you’ve probably never seen or heard of before. Tatsunoko is a very popular anime company in Japan but in the west you’d be hard pressed to find a person who‘s even heard of the brand, let alone recognize anyone from it. However all the Otaku’s and old school anime fans out there will be pleased to know the Tatsunoko line-up includes characters from the likes of Gatchaman, Tekkaman Blade and Karas. The Capcom line up will likely be far more appealing to the domestic audience as it features well known names such as Ryu & Chun-Li of Street Fighter fame, Megaman, Viewtiful Joe and Dead Rising’s very own Frank West who appears as an unlockable character. Unfortunately no characters from key franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry or Ace Attorney are present in the game but hey that what sequels are for, right?

Keeping in tone with the “vs.” series Capcom opted to use a 2 on 2 fighting mechanic for TvC. You can select any two characters from both the Capcom or Tatsunoko universe or if you’d like to be an asshole and completely grief your opponent you can substitute your choice of two characters for one huge robot (from either Lost Planet or Golden Warrior Gold Lightan) who completely breaks all the rules of the game and instantly makes you a moral loser no matter what the outcome of the fight may be. If you decide to play fair and chose two normal characters each of them will have their own independent life bars and you can change between them at any time during a match. Like in Marvel vs. Capcom you can also have your partner jump on screen, deliver a blow, and then jump back out which can lead to some impressive looking tag team combos.

On the surface TvC may seem like super simplistic, especially if playing with the Wii remote held sideways which allows you to pull of special moves with a single button press. However hook up a classic controller or fight stick (which is being released by MadCatz alongside the game for $80) and it won’t be long before you discoverer hidden depth in the fighting system. Within a matter of hours you’ll find yourself chaining together Super Moves, dishing out lethal combos and performing well timed dashes to get the upper hand on your opponent. Trying out new characters for the first time can admittedly feel a little daunting but finding the right combination of fighters to suit your play style is vital if you wish completely dominate.

In terms of game modes Capcom has everything you’d expect, and then some. There’s an Arcade mode, a Versus mode, Time Trail, Survival, Practice and new to the western version of the game is the inclusion of an Online Versus mode. Online play works exceeding well with very little (if any) lag, while the Wii’s Friend Code system makes it difficult to arrange match-up’s with your real life buddies, finding a match against a random internet stranger is seamless. Hopefully TvC will be able to retain a strong online community because as far as online fighters go, this is currently the best the Wii has on offer.

Graphically TvC isn’t anything groundbreaking but the over the top Japanese quirkiness is truly appreciated. The characters are well drawn with a heavy anime influence and some of the fighting arenas are pretty creative while others feels a little empty. My biggest gripe with the graphics aren’t technically the game’s fault but more to do with the fact that the game is on the Wii. After growing accustomed to the sharpness of  Street Fighter II HD Remix and the sheer gorgeousness of Street Fighter IV on the PS3/360, TvC looks particularly blurry and low-res. The Super Moves look visually impressive as the screen goes dark and the camera zooms in (similar to the Ultra Moves in SF IV), however the Super Moves gauge fills up so quick;y and Super Moves are so easy to pull off that you’ll soon become tired of seeing them.

If you’ve been waiting for a Wii-based experience on par with some of Capcom’s classic fighting games then TvC is definitely the game for you. Residing somewhere between the methodical nature of Street Fighter IV and the bat-shit craziness of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, TvC is a fun fighting game which should satisfy anyone who knows how to pull off a drag-on punch. While the character selection leaves plenty to be desired and the graphics aren’t too impressive, none of that really matters once you’ve found the perfect pair of fighters and proceed to kick ass both on and offline. This is by far the best fighting game on the Wii (not including the Virtual Console releases) so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today, I’d hate to see another awesome Wii title fail miserably at retail.

CAPCOM ® ANNOUNCES SPRING LINE-UP LAUNCH DATES INCLUDING SUPER STREET FIGHTER ® IV, LOST PLANET ®, MONSTER HUNTER ® TRI AND FINAL FIGHT TM DOUBLE IMPACT IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE Capcom’s Hottest Titles Secure a Spot on Store Shelves This Spring

SAN MATEO, Calif. — January 26, 2010 — Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced release timing for their most highly-anticipated Spring titles including Monster Hunter™Tri, Lost Planet®2, Final Fight™: Double Impact and Super Street Fighter® IV for North America and Europe.

Western Wii™ owners can join the hunt of Monster Hunter Tri as the hit Japanese phenomenon makes its debut for Wii™ in North America and Europe in April. Showcasing the full power of Wii™ with some of the most strikingly beautiful graphics seen on the platform, Monster Hunter Tri puts players in the role of hunter co-existing in a dynamic, living ecosystem where monsters interact not only with players but other monsters as well. New environments, such as underwater and volcano, present fresh challenges as the hunt can happen on dry land or underwater- a first for the franchise. Monster Hunter Tri features one of the most robust online experiences to be found on Wii with four player online co-op and two player co-op arena quests. For the first time ever, a new Story Mode will ease players into the world of Monster Hunter through quests that introduce game mechanics slowly. Offering varied control configurations to suit their style of play, players can choose between various controllers and schemes to slay the majestic beasts that inhabit the world.

Breathtaking environments, new weapons, unique vital suits and larger-than-life bosses surface in both North America and Europe on May 18, 2010 in Lost Planet 2. Launching on the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, the game is the next installment in the popular action series Lost Planet®. Lost Planet®: Extreme Condition, the landmark third-person shooter that debuted on Xbox 360, went on to sell over 2.3 million units worldwide after its release. Lost Planet 2 will offer deeper insight into the world of E.D.N III and the uncertain fate of future mankind. Players will control their heroes across 6 interconnected episodes, creating a truly unique interactive experience that changes depending upon the actions of the players involved. The intense and action-packed campaign mode comes with the ability to form teams of up to four players on Xbox LIVE® or PlayStation®Network and utilize teamwork tactics, new weapons and a variety of vital suits to fight larger-than-life bosses

Known for its popular fighting titles, Capcom is happy to also present two strong fighting games for the Spring including Final Fight: Double Impact and Super Street Fighter IV. Final Fight: Double Impact is a dual release of two classic arcade side-scrolling beat-em-ups due to launch as a downloadable title on the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE®. First up is Final Fight™, where players follow the heart-pounding adventures of Cody, Guy, and Haggar – three heroes fighting their way across crime-ridden Metro City in hopes of saving Haggar’s daughter from the evil clutches of Mad Gear. Cody and Guy will also be playable characters in Super Street Fighter®IV giving fans the chance to take a trip down memory lane and experience these characters in their first appearance before playing them in the new Street Fighter® game. In Magic Sword, users will take on the role of the “The Brave One,” a fierce warrior who bears the daunting responsibility of cleansing evil forces by defeating the dark lord Drokmar. Accompanied by eight allies who will lend their assistance by bringing specific skills and talents to contribute to the fight, Magic Sword is an amazing side-scrolling action game illustrated in classic fantasy stylings.
Super Street Fighter® IV will be coming to the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PS3 system on April 27, 2010 in North America and April 30, 2010 in Europe. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Street Fighter IV will further redefine the 2-D fighting genre with a host of new features including new characters, new ultra combos, new online modes, the return of the famed bonus stages and retuned online and offline gameplay. Super Street Fighter IV’s new characters include Street Fighter’s first Tae Kwon Do-styled fighter – the deadly female fighter Juri – classic Street Fighters such as Cody, Guy, T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Adon and more to complement the full roster of returning fighters from Street Fighter IV. Featuring all new user-selectable Ultra Combos and advancements to the online gameplay and matchmaking, Super Street Fighter IV is the ultimate vision of Street Fighter.

Here is the the summary of the ESRB ruling.

In this first-person sword-fighting game, players control a banished hero, a seasoned cowboy-samurai who returns to his town taken over by villains. Players must rid the town of thugs, scavengers, and flying robots while discovering the fate of the Kusagari clan. Players kill enemies by shooting them with a pistol or shotgun, and by slashing or stabbing them with a katana blade. While there is no blood and gore in the game (enemies stagger back instead of gushing apart), the frenetic sword slashing sometimes results in yellow-and-beige splash effects that flit across the screen. Another brief splash is depicted when the katana is pulled out of an enemy’s chest. During the course of the game, a female character with exaggerated-size breasts wears a low-cut shirt that exposes deep cleavage; the character’s breasts jiggle slightly during cutscenes (there are no comparable physics applied to male characters). The expletives “bada*s,” “punk-a*s,” and “dammit” can be heard in the dialogue. Overall, the game’s highly stylized cell-shaded graphics blunt the sense of realism, increasing the fantastical nature of battle sequences; in some ways, the graphic-novel art style (skinned with hand-drawn-like textures) lessens the impact of the violence—though the game is still considered a high-end Teen. Red Steel 2 is currently slated for a March 23 release date.

Oh well, what are you going to do?. Stay tuned to the Koalition for all your hiphop and gaming news.

Source: Examiner

* Facebook Connect– Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online connects to Facebook, allowing players to invite their friends to become fans, thus earning additional in-game experience. Players are also able to publish their accomplishments to Facebook.

* Golfer Progression– Players will begin their career as a beginner and by earning experience points, will climb the ranks toward becoming a golf legend.

* The Cut Line – As an extra challenge, each day a target score will appear that becomes the goal for each golfer. If the user meets, or scores under the target, additional in-game experience is rewarded.

* Fans, Favorites & Sponsorships– Each player will be able to acquire fans within Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. The more fans a player has, the more experience points are rewarded. Sponsor your friends and earn in-game money if they make the Cut Line.

* Realistic Wind – Experience dynamic wind that calculates the direction and speed throughout the round, making the game more realistic and challenging.

* Pro Shop – Purchase upgraded equipment with in-game earnings to help improve your customized golfer and impress friends.

* Golf, Whenever You Want It — Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online is designed to work around your busy schedule! Stuck on a boring conference call? Fire up the game and squeeze in a few holes from the world’s most legendary courses. Suspend your round and resume it the exact same point anytime. You even have the ability to start a round on a PC and finish it on a Mac!

* No Game Download Required, Just Click and Play – You never have to insert a disc and install the game – all you need is an Internet connection and you are ready to play!

* Dynamic Content — Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online will deliver a feature rich experience at launch and will regularly be updated with new features, including new courses and pro shop items – just to name a few.

* Calling All Golf Fans – Dream of sticking it close to the pin on the famous island green on the 17th hole of TPC Sawgrass? Now you can with Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online! Some of the most famous championship courses such as, Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass and St. Andrews will be available to you at launch.

* Powered by the Community – The community will play a large role in Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online through personalized web pages, statistics, forums and the ability to connect and compete with friends. The community can even influence tournament conditions!

* Lower Your Handicap – Players can improve their golfer’s abilities by unlocking Pro Shop items and gaining access to big time tournaments.

It looks like EA is standing by it’s word and is still supporting the Tiger Woods brand. I’m not a golfer at all, nor did I play any of the PGA games, but I think I’ll give this one a shot. You should do the same.

Source | Worthplaying