Tag: Wii

Wii U Console Features Controller with 6.2-inch Screen

Nintendo 3DS Continues its Evolution with Mario Kart, Super Mario and the Nintendo eShop as Nintendo Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)– At the E3 Expo, Nintendo introduced a new paradigm for video games and home entertainment: Wii U™, a new console that includes a controller with a 6.2-inch screen. Adding a second screen to the living room creates a multitude of new video game experiences while offering families a variety of options to customize their entertainment.

Previously, video games played on a home console have been confined to the TV and offered identical viewpoints to each player in a multiplayer environment. Furthermore, watching TV and playing console games have been completely separate experiences. The new controller removes these boundaries, creating a more dynamic and fluid gaming and entertainment experience. Visitors to the E3 Expo will see firsthand the type of gaming experiences made possible by Wii U and the new controller such as:
• In single-player games:
o The new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV.
o The information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope.
• In multiplayer games:
o The player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities.

In addition to the 6.2-inch screen, the new controller also features an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a rumble feature, an inward-facing camera, a microphone and speakers. Adding these features to the Classic Controller™ button scheme – two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons – will enable a breadth of game-play experiences while appealing to both casual and dedicated video game players.

Wii U combines motion-sensing game play with the ability to support full HD graphics. Each Wii U console will be partnered with a new controller and can also use up to four additional Wii Remote™ or Wii Remote Plus controllers. The system is also backward compatible and can play all Wii games and use all Wii accessories. The Wii console has sold more than 86 million units globally and greatly expanded the overall audience for video games. Wii U aims to expand that audience even further. Developers worldwide are already working on new games and experiences for the console.

“Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together,” said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. “The experience enabled by Wii U and the new controller takes players deeper into their games, while reaching out wider than ever before to be inviting to all kinds of gamers.”

Nintendo 3DS™, which lets users see 3D images without the need for special glasses, launched in the United States on March 27 and continues to evolve. Owners will find that their Nintendo 3DS experience is different every time they pick up the system, thanks to new content and updates delivered by Nintendo, by third parties and exchanged between users.

A new system update is now available for the Nintendo 3DS system. Users who connect to a wireless broadband Internet connection and install the system update will instantly gain access to the Nintendo eShop, which contains a variety of games and applications for download using a cash-based system.

Users can browse original 3D software, 3D Classics (select classic video games re-mastered in 3D), classic Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color games, and more than 350 games and applications currently offered for the Nintendo DSiWare™ service. Visitors can also see videos and screen shots for games, plus see how other players rank games.

The system update also provides Nintendo 3DS owners access to free items, including an Internet browser that can show 3D images on sites specifically designed to show 3D images, a download of a re-mastered 3D version of the NES™ classic Excitebike™ game (free until July 7) and Pokédex™ 3D, which lets users discover and view more than 150 Pokémon™ from the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games in visually engaging 3D.

Nintendo also announced a huge lineup of upcoming new and fan-favorite franchise games, many of which are playable on the E3 Expo show floor in booth 4922.
• Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario™, Luigi’s Mansion™ 2, Mario Kart™, Kid Icarus™: Uprising, The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Animal Crossing™, Paper Mario™, Picture Lives!, The Rolling Western™.
• Wii: The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword, Kirby™ Wii, Wii Play™: Motion, Mystery Case Files™: The Malgrave Incident™, Mario Party™ 9, Rhythm Heaven™ and Fortune Street™.
• Nintendo DS™: Kirby™ Mass Attack, Professor Layton and the Last Specter™, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker™ 2 and Super Fossil Fighters™.
Nintendo kicked off its E3 Expo Presentation by announcing a number of initiatives to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. A re-mastered 3D version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches for Nintendo 3DS on June 19, while Wii owners will see the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in the 2011 holiday season. Additionally, Nintendo announced a tour of orchestral concerts featuring music from the beloved franchise. Additional commemorative activities will be announced at a later date.

For the duration of the E3 Expo, Nintendo will provide fans with exclusive videos and Nintendo content on the Nintendo Network. People can visit http://e3.nintendo.com to watch developer interviews, get all the information about new games and see coverage coming directly from the show floor. The same exclusive content also will be streamed through the Nintendo® Channel to Wii owners who have a broadband Internet connection.

UBISOFT TO LAUNCH MAJOR BRANDS, TWO NEW IPs FOR NINTENDO WII U

Assassin’s Creed®, Rabbids® and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Online, as well as two new brands including a revolutionary first person shooter for the hardcore audience being developed exclusively for Nintendo Wii U™ .

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES – June 7, 2011 – Today, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Ubisoft® announced some of the titles that it has in development for Nintendo’s Wii U™: Assassin’s Creed®, Rabbids® and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Online, as well as two new brands including a revolutionary first person shooter for the hardcore audience being developed exclusively for Nintendo Wii U™ and a multi-sports game for the whole family.

“Nintendo is an industry reference for game design and accessibility. We are very honored to be a strong part of this new chapter of the videogame industry,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “This new console is an amazing new source of inspiration for our developers.
With the combination of technologies brought together by this console, our creative teams will be able to take the Ubisoft vision of developing rich, immersive and innovative gaming experiences for all audiences even further.”

Beginning at noon PST today and throughout the conference, playable versions of Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon Online can be seen by visitors on the Nintendo booth at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

GO VACATION(tm) COMING TO Wii THIS FALL

NAMCO BANDAI Takes Wii Players to Four Unique Destinations and Dozens of Vacation Activities

PRESS RELEASE

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (June 7, 2011) – Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced Go Vacation(tm) for the Wii(tm) system will be available Fall 2011. Set on the resort of Kawawii Island, Go Vacation brings an open-ended world of exploration and adventure that includes engaging activities for the entire family to enjoy. With a fun variety of activities to play, Go Vacation is the perfect gaming getaway.

From snowcapped mountains to the bright lights of a bustling cityscape, Go Vacation gives gamers the option to take part in heated street races, relaxing scuba diving excursions and pulse-pounding skydiving sessions and more-all accessed by actually visiting each location in-game instead of simply choosing them from a menu. With support for a whole suite of Wii hardware accessories, including the Wii Balance Board(tm), the Wii Zapper(tm) and Wii MotionPlus(tm), every activity offers a fun and natural control scheme that allows gamers to easily jump in and play.

“Go Vacation offers the perfect break for parents, kids, friends and family to escape the hustle and bustle of work and school to just relax, have fun, and for the first time in this genre, actually roam around these exotic locales in search for the perfect activity,” said Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing, NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “Each game and activity across these massive resorts builds upon NAMCO BANDAI’s strength in making fun and engaging gameplay experiences that everyone can enjoy-a craft we’ve been cultivating for decades since PAC-MAN(r) and Galaga(r).”

Each of the resort locations in Kawawii Island offer their own distinctive landscape and thematic adventures. From inline skating, hang gliding, surfing, skydiving, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, snowboarding, street racing, dancing and more, there is no shortage of activities for players to take part in.

UBISOFT REVEALS DETAILS FOR THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE GAME

Ubisoft collaborates on video game with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson based on the iconic Tintin comic book series.

PRESS RELEASE

San Francisco, CA – June 6, 2011 – Today, Ubisoft unveiled product details for the upcoming release of The Adventures of Tintin: The Game. Based on the highly anticipated feature film The Adventures of Tintin directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, The Adventures of Tintin: The Game will provide Tintin fans, both young and old, the opportunity to dive into the world of Tintin and relive key adventures from the series. Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier in close collaboration with Paramount Digital Entertainment, the video game will be released in the US for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, Nintendo 3DS™ and Wii™ this Holiday 2011.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to work with such renowned filmmakers on the iconic Tintin franchise,” said Yves Guillemot, Chief Executive Officer at Ubisoft. “Our development team in Montpellier has worked very closely with the film team to ensure that players will have the chance to recreate the magical moments of the movie and to experience complete immersion into the Tintin universe.”

The Adventures of Tintin: The Game is an action-packed adventure that takes gamers on a nonstop journey through the world of Tintin; the hero and intrepid reporter from Hergé’s original comic books. Players will rediscover the movie’s enchanting environs including Captain Archibald Haddock’s ship “the Karaboudjan,” Omar Ben Salaad’s Palace and the exotic city of Bagghar and experience many of Tintin’s exciting adventures.

With various elements adapted from Tintin comic books The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure, gamers are able to continue the adventure from the movie solo or with friends in one of three gameplay modes. The single-player campaign offers a unique blend of exploration, puzzles and combat. It also includes exotic gameplay elements such as sword fighting, aerial combat and driving. This next-generation of Tintin includes support for the Kinect™ for Xbox 360, and PlayStation® Move for the PlayStation®3 system.

In addition to the solo adventure, The Adventures of Tintin: The Game offers cooperative challenges that introduce classic characters from Tintin’s adventures. Players can work together in special multiplayer maps straight from the moody dreams of Captain Haddock, or for those looking for extra competition; Challenge mode features many opportunities for players to compete with each other for high scores.

UBISOFT® UNVEILS JUST DANCE® 3 AT E3

Best-selling video game franchise coming to Kinect and Move for first time.

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES – June 6, 2011 – Today, during a press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Ubisoft® announced the development of Just Dance® 3, the third game in the multi-million selling Just Dance franchise. Just Dance 3 marks the debut of the Just Dance series on Kinect™ for Xbox 360® and the PlayStation® Move for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the latest installment of the series on the Wii™ system from Nintendo. Developed by Ubisoft Paris and Ubisoft Montreal, Just Dance 3 will be released worldwide on October 11.

“The Just Dance brand has truly become a worldwide phenomenon with over 30 million people playing Just Dance,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft, U.S. “Fans play Just Dance at parties with friends, at home with the family, and as part of an active lifestyle to stay fit or even lose weight. Ubisoft is excited to bring Just Dance 3 to all motion platforms and give even more people the opportunity to enjoy the fun.”

Featuring more than 40 tracks across a wide range of musical genres, including pop, hip-hop, rock, R&B, country, disco, funk, and more, Just Dance 3 introduces a number of new game features that take advantage of the unique mechanics of each console. To get the party started, Just Dance
3 includes some of today’s hottest hits as well as classic dance tracks that everyone loves.

Confirmed tracks for Just Dance 3 include:

• 2 Unlimited – “No Limit”
• Black Eyed Peas – “Pump It”
• Duck Sauce – “Barbra Streisand”
• Groove Century – “Boogie Wonderland”
• Gwen Stefani – “What You Waiting For”
• Katy Perry – “California Gurls”
• Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”
• Laura Bell Bundy – “Giddy On Up (Giddy On Out)”
• LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock – “Party Rock Anthem”
• MIKA – “Lollipop”
• Taio Cruz – “Dynamite”

In addition to this exciting tracklist, Just Dance 3 introduces exclusive new game features on all three motion-control platforms, such as four-player choreographies and dynamic environments on Wii and the new “Shout Out!” feature on Kinect, which allows players to score extra points by belting out their favorite song verse. This, combined with the entertaining and unique choreography developed by professional dancers, will provide players with the fun and accessible challenges they are looking for and ensuring that Just Dance 3 will get the world dancing.

PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS (PDP) ANNOUNCES E3 2011 PRODUCT LINEUP

New hardware on display includes precision controllers for fighting game fans, wireless Afterglow controllers and headsets and licensed products.

LOS ANGELES, CA ­ JUNE 3, 2011 ­ Performance Designed Products LLC (³PDP²), a worldwide leader in the video game accessory market, announced its line-up of new video game controllers and accessories being shown during the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. New hardware on display includes precision controllers for fighting game fans, wireless Afterglow controllers and headsets and licensed products featuring Cars 2, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Nerf, Energizer and Transformers 3.

³Our goal is to create high quality controllers and accessories that suit the needs of everyone,² Tom Roberts, chief technical officer of Performance Designed Products. ³From competitive fighting gamers to young players just starting out, we¹ve created products to reach from hard core to casual audiences and back.²

PDP will be showing the following items during this year¹s E3:

• New versions of the highly-rated Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick for
both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, including a re-skin that reflects the color scheme of the original Mortal Kombat arcade game cabinet. GameStop will exclusively be offering a limited run of Mortal Kombat Klassic Fight Sticks bundled with the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kompilation, a digital release containing Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
• The Versus Fight Pad, the high quality pad designed for six button
fighting games, available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and now the Nintendo Wii and are officially licensed for all three systems.
• The first rechargeable, wireless light-up Afterglow controller for the PlayStation 3
• The Afterglow Communicator, coming for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and Wii Chat headset enhance online multiplayer chatting experiences.
• Keep Earth from going dark with the limited Collector¹s Edition
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Wireless Controller and Bluetooth Headset for PlayStation 3. Designed after the loveable and courageous Bumblebee, this wireless controller and Bluetooth headset (which can be stored in the controller) feature authentic Transformers details, light-up logo and official artwork.
• My First Remote, a micro-sized, kid-friendly remote designed for Wii
players with smaller hands that also features interchangeable Disney artwork.
• The Wii Blaster, a unique lightgun-style controller for the Wii that comes with a download coupon for the WiiWare shoot-Œem-up game, Big Town Shootout.
• New licensed controllers and accessories featuring Transformers 3, Nightmare Before Christmas, Cars 2, Nerf and Energizer.
• Microsoft Kinect mounting solutions and extension cords and PlayStation Move accessories to help keep gamer¹s living spaces organized.