With a lot of developments from the video game world to cover, the Powetcast enlists returning champions Zac, aDam, and Captain Genius with the long awaited return of Sindra and guest starring Famicom Dojo’s Vinnk!
The show rolls on 55 minutes in and shifts gear to talk about X-Men: First Class with Zac, aDam, and Crazy Jaco!
The Wii HD rumors are true! (For once…) At this year’s E3, Nintendo announced its next console: Wii U. The system’s major innovation is its new controller with a touch screen that can be used
to stream video content, but will it be enough? Should Nintendo be worried about connectivity
between the PS3 and PSVita stealing their thunder a year before they even launch Wii U?
by Sindra, filed in E3, Events, Games on Jun.07, 2011
It seems like it’s the year of the handhelds at E3 2011, with Nintendo and Sony both debuting their newest portable poster-children.
“Wii U”
The Wii U isn’t as much of a portable handheld as it is a new console with a portable accessory. It’s controller works in tandem and separate of the Wii console as a sort of super-controller to both interact with Wii games, and act as it’s own Wii screen separate from a television complete with a touch screen. Supposed release of 2012. (and yes, I’ll probably not be the first to make the “weeeee-ooooo” ambulance siren sound effect)
Sony’s Playstation Vita looks to be the evolution of the PSP, complete with multiple touch screen capabilities, built-in front and back cameras, multiple motion control axis, and 3G and Wi-Fi in certain models with the “near” function to find other Vita players in the vicinity. It was hinted at a few months ago under the codename “NGP”, but was formally unveiled at E3 this year. Will it it prove to be a more versatile successor to the PSP, or end as a flop like it’s predecessor? We’ll see at the end of 2011 when it releases for around $249US.
Super Mario is the long forgotten entry in the Super Mario franchise, yet at the same time, it’s one of the most enjoyable. This Game Boy launch title was the first portable Mario game since the Game & Watch era, and it was developed by Gunpei Yokoi (rather than creator Shigeru Miyamoto), who was basically the brains behind Nintendo’s entire direction ever since they decided to make video games. While it contained the same platforming action from the NES, although it added in a few twists of its own. As the mustachoed plumber, you’re out to save Princess Daisy (not Peach/Toadstool), and the rest of Sarasland (not the Mushroom Kingdon) from the evil Tatanga (not Bowser). Like in SMB, you collect mushrooms to grow bigger, and flowers to shoot fire. However, in some levels, you pilot a vehicle. Also, the levels have more variation in thier backgrounds. One level features an Egyptian motif. While the world itself may have forgotten about SML, it’s sequel is best known for introducing Wario to the franchise. SML is slated to be one of the first games to be released on the 3Ds download service, so I advise you to check it out.
What better way is there to launch a new Nintendo console than with a flagship series? If Mario isn’t available, then there is always Zelda. The Twilight Princess is the Zelda title fans have waited for ever since before the Windwaker on the Gamecube (remember that footage of Link battling a skeleton knight?), and it was also a good preview of what we could expect on the Wii. As Link, you set out to save the kingdom of Hyrule from a creeping darkness that is slowly taking over it. At times you travel to the world within this darkness, where you take the form of a wolf as you seek out a way to burn it away. After getting rid of the darkness, you can then explore the light version of the world. The game does a good job of utilizing the new motion controls without making anything feel forced. You shake the Wiimote to swing your sword, and you can even aim it to fire your bow. You can also use it in a fishing minigame. Although the animations are a bit canned (remember, this was intended to be a Gamecube game), the controls are intuitive and fun. This is classic Zelda action at its best. You explore dungeons and gain new items that help you make your way through them, and you encounter bosses which force you to think your strategy through. Keeping in Nintendo tradition, Link doesn’t talk, although the story is still moving as there are plenty of water cooler moments and twists to keep you progressing through the game to see what’s next. With a new Zelda game on the way, now is the perfect time to check out this modern-day classic.
In this week’s episode of 90210 we see a background character that looks a lot like Captain N: The Game Master. This jacket seems like a near perfect replica, except for a white instead of black N. Some specific details such as the NES game pad belt and Nintendo Zapper gun are lacking, and his shirt is not the standard yellow, but these may have been omitted because they would have been out of place given the setting…
The setting for this is that Annie convinces Marla to attend a screening of her old movie Pennyfoolish at the Griffith Observatory which somehow means a 1950s/1960s themed party that the whole gang attend.
So is this appearance intentional or is this just a random coincidence where someone happens to have the exact same coloured Letterman jacket? You decide!
Here it is. The news we’ve been waiting for. I guess. This press release confirmed Nintendo will show a new console at E3 in Los Angeles this year.
This is of course, all it confirms. No price. No controller. No specs. No colors. No games. Just that they are working on it and will show what they have been working on.
If you don’t believe me, here is that same news in English.