via NG

A recently translated interview with Nintendo figurehead Shigeru Miyamoto outlines the game design icon’s stance on a variety of topics, including his take on the competition, game violence, innovation and positioning Nintendo to take the lead with the Wii.
CNN’s TV show Talk Asia conducted the interview in early December, just before the launch of the Wii last year (the show was just translated today), but much of what Miyamoto said is still relevant to what Nintendo’s strategy is today with the Wii and DS.

“I do think we are too conscious of competition,” he admitted. “There are many companies today that can be compared to Nintendo. But I think that Nintendo should be unique and become a company that cannot be compared with the other corporations… I don't think there is a company equivalent that has the know-how or skills with the technology behind the games, or has the history and experience in the entertainment industry, and or has such abundant and motivated staff… And as long as we maintain that edge, we will always have an advantage over other companies.”

Miyamoto also said that risk-taking is engrained in Nintendo’s culture. He said that “It is always fun to try something new,” adding that risk-taking is key to opening up new markets. “I feel strongly that we can have a chance in taking the lead in that market,” he said.

Nintendo also hasn’t been known for creating violent games, that is, unless you consider a nasty butt-stomp violent. Miyamoto said that “there are a variety of ways to entertain people.” He continued, “Nintendo has many ways of entertaining people without the use of violent expression. So I do not have to worry in making such [violent] games.”

Although the audience for videogames has grown older, Miyamoto’s approach toward the medium is still focused on children, particularly when it comes to the representation of violence.

“My personal thought is, and I think it is the same with Nintendo, that before thinking about how to handle violence in videogames, I think it is important to think about pain people feel. For example, you would not laugh at people with disabilities. There are bullying problems in Japan.

“Looking at the overall picture, it is important to understand and feel the pain that people might have. We make our games based on that philosophy, using means other than violence. But we also have to take a careful approach, even in the circumstances when we are not portraying direct violence. I think it is always important to give children a product with a careful approach,” he said ...

Heres the press release:

The Sony PSP® will find itself endowed with an entirely new and unique take on the fighting game genre in early March 2007. The Con was previously released in the US, but SouthPeak Games have confirmed that the version that reaches UK shores will come with a set of enhancements based on user feedback.

Developed in Japan by Think And Feel Inc, The Con tells the story of a fighter indebted to an influential organiser of illegal street fights. Obviously, the game’s objective is to make money through fighting, but all is not as it seems and not all fights are created equal.

In some clashes, the player will have to take their fair share of tactical losses as well as striving for pugilistic victory. This skewing of priorities is supported by a betting system that allows the player to gamble on either side winning each fight. This opens up new avenues for generating cash via subterfuge and feint as well as guile and technique, where making money may be more important than winning with honour.

The Con’s versatile fighting engine opens up tactical possibilities never seen before in a fighting game. Punches can be faked, guards can be deliberately lowered and dives to the floor can be initiated, making The Con the only game where losing a fight can benefit the player more than winning – provided it’s done convincingly. If the crowd don’t buy your performance, you’ll lose your winnings. Fights aren’t strictly a one-on-one affair, either. Battles can involve up to three fighters on each side.

The Con also provides a remarkable amount of player customisation. The player’s team of three characters can be moulded with an exemplary range of appearance-altering options. Physique, clothing and accessories are all up for modification and the ability to import photographs allows for an infinite number of player faces – familiar, famous or otherwise.

Also part of The Con’s complex package is the multiplayer mode, which takes a traditional route of providing one-on-one matches. Single-UMD game sharing is included, but players with two copies of The Con get the added benefit of being able to place unlocked items as a stake in their victory.

As part of the enhancements introduced for the European release of The Con, players will find loading times have been shortened and tweaks have been made to the overall difficulty level.

This refined version of The Con will be released for the Sony PSP® on March 2nd. ...

Hot on the desk are 4 screenshots of the game Brothers In Arms D-Day

Check them out via Comments ...

New from SuccessHK



* Lets you incorporate your Mii characters into fun minigames
* Wii Play compilation comes bundled with a Wii Remote!
* Game Genre: Action/Adventure; Game Sub-Genre: Action
* 1-4 Player Capability ...

Heres the full listing of Games and Game Related releases from Play Asia:

Xbox360™:
Battlestations: Midway ASIA US$ 49.90
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 US US$ 49.90
Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows ASIA US$ 19.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Designer Remote Power Glove (Golf) US$ 6.99
Designer Remote Power Glove (Motorcycle) US$ 6.99
Designer Remote Power Glove (Tennis) US$ 6.99
Wii Play with Remote US US$ 59.90

PlayStation3™:
Joypad Recharge Cable (3 meters / 10 ft) US$ 4.99
PlayStation2™:
AR Tonelico: Melody of Elemia US US$ 59.90
Appleseed EX JPN US$ 64.90
Appleseed EX [Limited Box] JPN US$ 99.90
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness / Akumajo Dracula: Yami no Juin (Konami the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Harukanaru Jikuu no Kade 3 (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Hiiro no Kakera: Ano Sora no Shita de JPN US$ 49.90
Hiiro no Kakera: Ano Sora no Shita de [Twin Pack] JPN US$ 99.90
Meine Liebe II (Konami Palace Selection) JPN US$ 20.90
RoydsPad.Net US$ 59.90
Sangokushi VIII with Power-Up Kit (Koei Selection) JPN US$ 24.90
Shining Force EXA KOR US$ 59.90
Soul Cradle: Sekai o Kurau Mono JPN US$ 64.90
Soul Cradle: Sekai o Kurau Mono [First Print Limited Edition] JPN US$ 89.90
Zero no Tsukaima JPN US$ 64.90
Zero no Tsukaima [First Print Limited Edition] JPN N/A

Nintendo DS™:
Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Chinkon Uta JPN US$ 48.90
Death Note: Kira Game JPN US$ 48.90
Layton Kyouju no Fushigi na Machi JPN US$ 48.90
Lunar Knights US US$ 34.90
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 US US$ 39.90

Sony PSP™:
Capcom Puzzle World US US$ 39.90
Gurumin US US$ 39.90
Hard Pouch Portable (blue) US$ 10.90
Hard Pouch Portable (pink) US$ 10.90
Kanon JPN US$ 48.90
Lost Regnum: Makutsu no Koutei (Chinese Version) ASIA US$ 42.90
Lumines II JPN US$ 48.90
Rezel Cross (Chinese Version) ASIA US$ 42.90
Silicon Cover Portable (blue) US$ 10.90
Silicon Cover Portable (pink) US$ 10.90
Tales of Destiny 2 JPN US$ 48.90
Tales of Destiny 2 ASIA US$ 42.90
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 JPN US$ 48.90
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 US US$ 39.90

Gameboy Advance™:
Final Fantasy VI Advance US US$ 39.90

PC Games:
Biohazard 4 (DVD-ROM) KOR US$ 49.90
UFO: Afterlight ASIA US$ 24.90

Guide Books:
You and Wii: Everything You Need to Know US US$ 21.90

Toys & Misc:
Animal Crossing 10'' Super DX Plush Doll: Hooter (Blathers) US$ 18.90
Animal Crossing 10'' Super DX Plush Doll: Kinuyo (Mabel) US$ 18.90
Animal Crossing 10'' Super DX Plush Doll: Tanukichi (Tom Nook) US$ 18.90
Animal Crossing 10'' Super DX Plush Doll: Totakeke (K.K. Slider) US$ 18.90
Animal Crossing 7'' Plush Doll Collection 2: Hooter (Blathers) US$ 11.90
Animal Crossing 7'' Plush Doll Collection 2: Master (Brewster) US$ 11.90
Animal Crossing 7'' Plush Doll Collection 2: Perio (Pete) US$ 11.90
Animal Crossing 7'' Plush Doll Collection 2: Sally US$ 11.90
Animal Crossing 7'' Plush Doll Collection 2: Totakeke (K.K. Slider) US$ 11.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Extra Pajamas Baby Pre-painted PVC Figure: Asuka Langley US$ 17.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Extra Pajamas Baby Pre-painted PVC Figure: Rei Ayanami US$ 17.90
Nintendo DS Lite Mini Figure & DS Card Case Twin Strap US$ 5.99
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mat: Type A Mario N/A
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mat: Type B Question Mark N/A
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mat: Type C Goomba N/A
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mat: Type D Brick N/A
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mat: Type E Super Mushroom US$ 16.90
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mouse 2: Mario US$ 17.90
Super Mario Bros. Dot Design Mouse 2: Star US$ 17.90
Super Mario Bros. Kinoko Figure - 1up Mushroom US$ 7.90
Super Mario Bros. Kinoko Figure - Hatena Block N/A
Super Mario Bros. Kinoko Figure - Poison Mushroom US$ 7.90
Super Mario Bros. Kinoko Figure - Super Mushroom US$ 7.90

Video Game related Soundtracks:

Hidechan! Radio. 2.5 Two-Han Princess Singles + Music & Drama CD

Buy at Play Asia ...

Heres the charts for the week listed in Japan:

Virtua Fighter 5 - 48,346 units sold last week (new entry / Sega, PS3)

Wii Sports - 45,897 (1,004,555 units sold to date / Nintendo, Wii)

Wii Play - 36,090 (879,432 / Nintendo, Wii)

More Brain Training - 32,800 (3,963,712 / Nintendo, DS)

New Super Mario Bros. - 29,026 (4,118,078 / Nintendo DS)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - 27,519 (304,113 / Capcom, PS2)

Wario: Master of Disguise - 26,815 (185,695 / Nintendo, DS)

Harvest Moon: The Island I Grew Up On - 26,804 (106,212 / Marvelous, DS)

Luminous Arc - 25,676 (new entry / Marvelous, DS)

J-League Pro Soccer 5 - 24,468 (131,541 / Sega, PS2) ...

via kotaku

Mario's getting on a bit, so when he steps out, he needs to look his best. Botox? Maybe. For a guy who's been in the public eye for decades, he still looks remarkably spritely.

In an effort to help the little guy out, Opposable Thumbs put four different versions of the original Mario to the test on their shiny big HDTV. The NES, the Virtual Console and two NES clones were hooked up to the TV through composite cables (oh, except the VC, it has the component edge). Which one has Mario looking young, fresh and revitalised?

The VC. It'd wanna be, for the price and the fact it's on components. But if you ever needed an example of the advantages/necessity of playing retro games through the VC, this is it. Oh, it's also a good example that unless you have a tiny CRT TV, the NES clones are more than a little nasty. ...

Amazon UK PS3 preorders are go! After waiting long past the originally stated 9am launch time, UK customers are finally able to preorder Sony's shiny new console from Amazon, though how long that will last remains to be seen. They started around 9:30am my time, and as of this moment they are still available.

What are you waiting for? Run, you fools! Michael Fahey

Sony PlayStation 3 Console [Amazon.co.uk Order Page] ...

via kotaku

As a sort of semi-preview for what to expect in the next-gen versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, kotakuite Ally directed me towards this technology demo from GDC 2006, which highlights Digital Molecular Matters methods for interacting with materials. The vid starts off with some Indiana Jones character reaction goodness as well.

Pretty exciting stuff there, but as another kotakuite, Pdubbs601 points out, LucasArts has stated that this new tech is only viable on next-gen consoles, so don't expect to see the same effects in the PS2 or PSP version.

Video Here ...