via joystiq

Smooth Moves is certainly no 'Game of the Year,' but it's hard to imagine a Wii owner who won't be adding this game to the collection. It's almost a necessity, as it unlocks all of the wonderful, albeit odd, potentials of Wii's technology. WarioWare is a madcap tutorial tool.

It's unfortunate, as Eurogamer seems to allude below, that Smooth Moves has been billed to be more than what it is (a series of microgames). This is Wii's first significant title of 2007; and Smooth Moves will have to carry the associated burden for months to come. As such, the game will surely lead to disappointment for some. Still, there's no denying that WarioWare is capable of offering the premiere Wii experience.

GameSpot (91/100) - "The game comprises more than 200 "microgames" ... But because this is a Wii, and not a DS, the range of these games has greatly expanded ... In a technical sense, some of WarioWare looks like absolute garbage. But that's only because there's such a huge variety of very deliberate visual styles ... this is a fantastic-looking game, especially in 480p ... it's also a terrifically charming, funny, and nefariously addictive game that you can play alone. But it gets even better when you have a crowd on hand to witness the weirdness with you."

IGN (82/100) - "What really makes WarioWare: Smooth Moves a great introductory title is the sheer amount of style that went into the game ... and the crisp look of Smooth Moves leaves the GameCube version [Mega Party Game$] in the dust ... this version wraps the games up in a more entertaining, stylized, and polished way ... Smooth Moves still has a few downsides that up the learning curve substantially ... the game will make use of the Wii's IR sensor ... [so] it can be a hassle to have a mini-game failed because the Wii-mote wasn't technically pointing at the TV like it should have been ... It's not perfect, it isn't the best in the series, but WarioWare: Smooth Moves is an essential piece of the Wii collection, as it's as much fun ripping through it in single player adventures as it is to shove the controller off on unsuspecting houseguests or non-gamers months and years down the road."

EuroGamer (70/100) - "[What] differentiates Smooth Moves from the existing WarioWare titles is that it grants players a degree of prior explanation to the various control 'poses' you must adopt ... And once you've familiarised yourself with all 19 forms in rapid succession, the game becomes less about being introduced to new control systems, and, thankfully, more about the hilarity involved in engaging with all 200 microgames ... Just like the GameCube version [Mega Party Game$], though, there's not a huge amount of mileage to be had out of playing it in single-player mode ... you'll romp through them in a couple of hours ... As with all the WarioWare games to date, the stylised visuals are about as deliberately simplistic as any game out there, but nevertheless have a huge amount of charm despite the familiarity ... If there's one overriding criticism, though, it's the feeling that the game's building up to something, but that something never really arrives ... we can't deny that we were expecting much more from Nintendo. The way the game utilises the controller is beautiful and - as ever - the humour superb, yet it's a game short on long-term appeal because it never really dares to test players. Much like Touched! [DS], its focus appears to be more of a snappy technology demonstration than of providing a lasting challenge, and it's puzzling why Nintendo and Intelligent Systems couldn't have delivered on both counts." ...

via joystiq

Weally. In posting his impressions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Chris Kohler at Game|Life adds yet another title to his 4:3 Hall of Shame. Joining Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Wario's waggle-fest only supports a 4:3 display ratio, generally known as fool fullscreen. While it's easy to agree that the lack of proper widescreen support doesn't impact on the game's fun, it still remains an annoying oversight, especially for HDTV owners.

The Wii's shunning of HDTV support is an understandable topic (and already debated to death), but inconsistent EDTV and widescreen support just seems lazy in the year 2007. Several Gamecube and PS2 games provided different display modes -- heck, a widescreen mode is one of the selling points for the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Come on Nintendo, put things in perspective here. ...

via joystiq

Hell froze over. We've got some positive Sony news today. IGN has picked the PS3 as the best new console of 2006 despite its lackluster launch and widespread criticism. Even though there were only two new consoles to choose from and despite its lack of games, IGN says the PS3 wins the best console award on potential alone:

"Judging the consoles based upon a broad perspective that includes software now available and coming in the future an entirely different argument could be formulated. However, from a hardware perspective, the PS3 is by far the more interesting console. Though the launch software hasn't blown anyone away, the 360's launch titles were equally unimpressive, and the system will certainly mature. Sony's embrace of the PS3 as a computer rather than just a console, and the availability of supported Linux distributions for the console will also develop and will likely bear entirely unexpected fruit in future."

It's refreshing to see someone play Devil's Advocate, but that reads like IGN's best new computer award, not best console award. Hardware, Linux distros ... sounds exciting! Anyone else stoked for the PS3's future potential?

Who thinks the Wii should have Won?, agree or disagree then voice your feelings via comments ...

Check out some screens of perlerbead art of some of your favorite Nintendo Charactars via Comments ...

via kotaku

At the recent Tokyo Auto Salon, a fleet of Gran Turismo Concept cabinets were wheeled out for car enthusiasts. It was possible to cruise through "Time Attack" mode or "Drift Trial," and each bucket-seat unit was outfitted with hi-def monitors and feedback GT FORCE Pro steering wheel controllers for a "real driving" experience. Well, real-ish. ...

Via kotaku

With GPS standard in most Japanese cars and many cell phones, Sony's move to create a GPS receiver for the PSP was surprising. Blog HiroIro has a fine product review using Japanese UMD title MAPLUS.

Comparisons are drawn between a Panasonic car navigational system of the PSP with the Panasonic navi starting up as soon as the engine turns over while the PSP takes the requisite five minutes to get fired up. The Panasonic navi can make it through tunnels or underground, no problemo while the PSP croaks. Pulling up addresses, names and phone numbers are easy on the Panasonic system; the PSP only provides addresses, which are "difficult on the eyes" to read.

Verdict? Standard car navi wins.

Motorcycles don't really have navigational systems (none that I am aware off). So the PSP navi might actually be of some use. Here's the set-up, above. The portable is slipped in a map case designed for touring. An external battery beefs up the portable's life. Earphones make it possible directions given from the software as during the day, seeing the PSP screen is difficult. Night is much easier.

Problems: It's impossible to tell the difference between national roads and prefectural ones, and HiroIro says the software's still seems like it was created 10 years ago. Now that's an endorsement.

Screens Via Comments ...

via kotaku

In an effort to carve out a niche (any niche), Microsoft Japan's "adult" image make-over continues! And now, stores like Akihabara's AsoBitCity are pitching in to help out. Here's display for all the CERO Z (Japan's equivalent of ESRB M) rated games coming out in January. Titles include the likes of big-in-America Dead Rising and Gears of War. The display features slogans saying that these games aren't for children's eyes, that the Xbox 360 doesn't lose to the PS3 graphically, "Dangerous Zone," etc. As crazy as it sounds, this actually might work for Microsoft — with "work" meaning cutting loses. The Wii has captured the nation's imagination, and the PS3 will benefit later from big titles like MGS 4 and FF XIII. Microsoft needs to cater to Japanese gamers looking for something else. Doing so, they do run the risk of alienating the mainstream. But does that even matter anymore? And more importantly is this the kind of image Xbox Japan can shake? ...

Via Insert Credit

I actually didn't know about this particular saturn at all until seeing this thread on digitalpress, and was quite skeptical of it even after I did. Essentially it's just the standard white budget re-release Saturn, but with a Sonic emblem on it. But you could put that image on most anything and I'd want to buy it. It was apparently only sold at Toys R Us in japan. It's apparently "rarer than the Saturn Navi", but I'd still rather have the (non-Derby Stallion) smoke skeleton Saturn, myself.

Screen Via Comments ...

Via Insert Credit

I didn't know about this until frank pointed it out - there's actually a wiki for rom hacks out there. It's quite neat. Go to the Super Mario Bros. 3 page, for instance, and you see all the hacks the community knows of for that game, so the one where the enemies are replaced with Spiderman villains, or the 'lost levels' patch, which allows access to development-only incomplete levels. Then the patch for the rom is linked. It's very well laid out into each console, then alphabetized. So there's a section for NES, SNES, GB/GBC, GBA, Genesis, and N64 (not much in that one though). As you can imagine, the bulk of the hacks are for the NES (there's even a Sesame Street ABC hack called The Muppets Take it all off). Anyway, really nice place, and worth a look if you're into that sort of thing. And of course, if you have hacks of your own, that's the place to put links to them!

Check out the Rom Hacking Wiki

It should go without saying but no asking for or posting Commercial Rom Links. ...