via dsfanboy

With the DS clearly cemented as Japan's favorite game system, you knew the RPG and anime games were on the way. And with Deltora Quest, we're getting a bit of both. Set to be published by Bandai Namco in Japan, the Australian manga/anime/novel by the same name is on the way to the DS in the form of a 2D action RPG.

In Deltora Quest, you play as three characters, whom you're free to switch between at any time. The game's storyline begins when 7 precious gems are stolen, bringing the world under the control of a shadow king. The three characters, Lief, Jasmine and Barda head off to the 7 towers where the gems are apparently being hidden.

The game uses the stylus for all control. You use the stylus to move your character around and can perform dash and tackle moves. To attack enemies, you simply point to the enemy, and your character automatically moves in to attack using a variety of moves. Your attacks include combos and special moves, all character dependent.

Deltora Quest will likely get attention based off its license, as the series is popular in Japan. Bandai Namco isn't just making a quick cash-in. The game has some big talent behind it, including artwork by Yocky, and scenario work by Kazushige Nojima. Sound is being handled by Hitoshi Sakimoto, known for his work on Final Fantasy XII.

A Japanese release is set for Spring. ...

Via ign

Tiger and the Wiimote have something in common, and it's not that whiny little kids push their buttons. They were both born to golf.

While golf is nothing new to the console, Wii Sports and Super Swing Golf are not going to satisfy true golf fans longing to grip and rip the Wiimote on The Old Course at St. Andrews. Only Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 can do that.

At Electronic Arts in Redwood Shores, Calif. on Tuesday, we had a chance to sit down (or is it stand up?) with the first installment of Tiger Wii, currently slated for a March release. While we've played our fair share of golf games with newfangled control schemes (ProStroke Golf and Real World Golf, to name a few), we've always wanted to see how a Tiger game would turn out with a new control setup. As fun as those other games are, where else can you play as John Daly and, bless her heart, Annika Sorenstam?


It's all in the hips. It's all in the hips.

Thankfully, Tiger is as fun as ever on the Wii and even more accessible. Want to see for yourself? Click on the media links below for new gameplay footage and screens.

The swing tracking is very accurate for drives and approach shots, and I found myself interlocking my fingers on the Wiimote, trying to get a traditional golf grip. Here's how the controls break down:

To swing, hold down B and make a golf swing. It's that simple. Like in other versions of Tiger, if you don't take the club back all the way, you will have less power on your shot. Unlike in other version, power is controlled by the speed of your downswing. The faster you swing, the farther it goes. Of course, if you push your downswing left or right, you're very likely to dig your Nike ball out of the bushes.

Once the ball is in the air, you induce spin by tapping the D-pad and shaking the Wiimote. The wrist strap is recommended here. To fade or draw the ball, you simply open or close the club face, respectively. Since the club face is really the Wiimote, you rotate it so the A button is facing the screen or facing away from the screen. Then take a natural swing and admire your physics-defying spin.

Full article at link above ...

via ign

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), which evaluates soon-to-be-released software and rates it for age appropriate content, recently added two new titles to its online website. According to the organization, publisher Hudson Entertainment has submitted both Wing Island and Kororinpa for ratings approval, a very strong indicator that the Wii games are not far off from an American retail release.

Wing Island received an E for Everyone rating due to its cartoon violence and Kororinpa was given a similar E rating with no descriptors.

Wing Island is a Pilot Wings-style flight game in which players control bi-planes and other aircraft over simplistic terrain, performing stunts and collecting items. The title utilizes the Wii remote for added maneuverability and precision steering. Gamers simply hold the remote on its side in classic form and twist and turn to send planes diving and looping.

Kororinpa is a unique effort that seems inspired by both the Marble Madness and Super Monkey Ball franchises. Gamers roll balls over hovering maze-like boards in an attempt to navigate through a wide arsenal of 3D obstacles and puzzles. The import version of the game has captivated a handful of IGN's editors.

Both titles are expected to debut in the US before the end of March.

When contacted, representatives for Hudson would only say that the publisher has not officially announced any plans to release the games stateside yet. ...

Via IGN

"Music is the weapon."

Kudo Tsunoda proudly proclaimed this statement at EA's Winter Preview today. However, it wasn't a remixed version of Revolution X that we were watching; instead, we were checking out the latest build of Def Jam: Icon, the upcoming brawler from EA Chicago. We've covered some of the basics of the fighting system in previous coverage, mentioning the invisible DJ, but we finally got a deeper grasp of just how music will influence every fight.

At the start of a battle, players choose a specific song that will represent their fighter. Choosing a song that you know well is important, because the downbeat of certain songs can trigger environmental hazards that can damage yourself or your opponent. For instance, one level that we saw had an electrical hazard that released arcing bolts of juice streaking from a malfunctioning power box. While there are some hazards that will constantly be around from the start of a fight, Kudo informed us that as time goes on during a battle, more hazards will be uncovered, making the stage much more dangerous to the combatants. So if your bass is truly banging, you can completely alter the landscape.

Jumping on the virtual ones and twos.

But you aren't limited to waiting for a beat before the environment blows up. Players can literally scratch the beat forward or backwards at any time to trigger hazards. In effect, the fighter becomes a DJ on invisible turntables, mixing up the rhythm of the stage to help him out. The left analog stick represents the left turntable and the right analog stick takes the right turntable. Scratch well enough, and you can use the music to cut through your opponent's defenses, flinging them from one hazard to another. However, your opponent has access to this move as well, meaning that skilled players can engage in scratch battles just like DJs do: the best player on the ones and twos can gain the upper hand.

But how do you defend against these momentum changing attacks? Well, first of all, players have the ability to do scratch stomps to squash a beat, so if your enemy is tearing up the digital vinyl, you can crush their groove. Secondly, if you're knocked down, you can do a quick scratch on the turntables to get back up. You also have the opportunity to try to flip the record to your own song, especially if your adversary has been playing their song for most of the battle. This gives you the chance to pump your fighter up and take your skills out on him. Finally, you have the ability to taunt your foes by hijacking their beats when they're knocked down. We noticed a number of times today where The Game would jump all over Big Boi's preferred song, laying down taunts while the member of Outkast was on the ground. The lyrics of that song would be slightly muted as the insults were hurled, just to make sure that you heard what your rival was saying. Sure, it might increase your beef with that rapper, but it's definitely a good way to flip the script on someone who's got a lot of momentum on their side.

Lay down some taunts while the environment crashes and burns.

Your fighters have a number of attacks that they can launch against their opponents, such as punches, kicks and grabs. Players can vary these attacks by throwing different directional modifiers in with these strikes, so players can knock an enemy to either the left, right or backwards along with just pounding them into the ground. Of course, depending on how you string these moves together, you can create different combos. But here's where the music comes in. Your music will play louder and stronger depending on how well you've been fighting, and that will boost the strength of your attacks, letting you knock enemies around much farther. This means that as time goes on and opponents get weaker, you'll be able to fling them halfway across the screen as you get an adrenaline rush from your song.

Don't know any of the licensed tracks that have been included in the game? Don't worry, because you'll be able to import your favorite songs into the game and use them to beat down your enemies. That means that any song on your system can potentially be a dangerous weapon in the game. Kudo told us about a fellow team member that likes to play with Sade's "Smooth Operator" to throw off his opponents. Others like using 80's tracks, prog rock, or speed metal. It doesn't take an active imagination to see that just about any musical preference can potentially be used against the computer or your friends. You'll also be able to use this to help you create your character, because your fighting style will be based on the kind of beats that you like to listen to.

To check out this system in action, Kudo showed off two new levels that we hadn't seen before. The neighborhood level evoked images of the Dirty South, with a double shotgun style house that had guys sitting on the porch watching the battle. A car pealed its tires on the asphalt and could be used to whip ...

via ps3fanboy

We nearly had an ice storm in Athens. It got very cold, very fast. In fact, some of us living here have windows that aren't built right, so they don't close all the way... making their room incredibly frigid and they're having trouble typing posts with fingers that are as pliable as a crowbar. That aside, no snow. Which is sad, but completely irrelevant to the news at hand.

Yeah, we've also been waiting around the PS-Store, looking for flOw, since we were told it was coming out. Seems we didn't get the memo that the game was delayed another month. Yep, the game is now due out at the end of February. Sony representatives said this about the release: "We'll be posting a trailer at the end of this month [January] / beginning of next. As for the game itself, we'll be releasing near the end of February." So, that's like, what, February 30th? Teehee, teehee... if you thought I was serious, come on. Come. On. ...

via gwn

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Many of you may have remembered the Wishtech Adaptoids, N64 controller to PC adapters, made years ago. It has been known for its rumble support and being the most compatible N64 controller to PC adapter. Ever since production ceased, they have re-sold up to $100+ on eBay. Amazingly these products have made a return and are being sold for $36.00 USD! Don't miss your chance on an excellent N64 to PC experience by visiting the ZTNet Store and reserving this product! ...

New adult themed game for the Nintendo DS from XParano:

Heres the rather rubbish google translation:


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