The History of Surfing Video Games

If Gatorade had the “Be Like Mike” campaign years ago for the young hopefuls who dreamed about becoming the next Michael Jordan, what about the young groms who wanted to be like pro surfers Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, Sunny Garcia, Martin Potter, Occy, Gerry Lopez or whichever awesome pro surfer they rooted for or whoever was kicking butt on the Associated Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour?

These days, players can be like their favorite athlete via playing their character on a video game and there is no doubt it, these sports games are big monkey making machines.  They are done right, cover an entire competitive season, utilizes the rosters of a current team (or can be updated online) and they’re fun to play.

But for surfing video games, yeah…we can play the character of our favorite surfer but developers have opted to challenge players with moronic obstacles like bombs or mines while surfing on a wave and in the past, in Tony Hawk fashion, pulling off the craziest, fantasy moves (which were enjoyable to pull off).

Sure, we accepted these crazy challenges at the time but it has been nearly a decade now since the release of “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer” or the “TransWorld Surf” video game was released and it’s about time that a new surfing game was made and it’s definitely time to try a new concept, especially for a surfing video game built for a next gen console.

Having had the opportunity to play surfing games since I was younger, looking back, it really has been a stagnant 25-years in the development of surfing video games and hopefully within this decade utilizing newer technology and developers who actually cares about wanting to make a very good surfing game (with good controls and good camera positioning), we will see developers working on a building new surfing game that would rival previous games on any console or PC.

The fact is we have been waiting for a surfing video game on the PS3 and XBOX 360, it’s been way too long and may it be a sequel to KSPS or TWS, we hope a developer is considering a surfing game to created sooner than later.  Earlier this year, Alex Wilson of Surfer Magazine wrote an article titled “IT’S TIME FOR A NEW SURFING VIDEO GAME” and I agree, it’s time for a new game but I believe that we need a game similar to other sports related video games that focus on the yearly competition, in this case, a game that would possibly focus on the ASP World Tour and an ability for the player to create their own character to compete in this video game version of the World Tour.

I have a lot of ideas for a newer game but as I was growing a bit nostalgic about the surfing games from yesteryear, I wanted to revisit the history of surfing video games (that were released on a console or PC, non-flash and not movie related) and then I’ll discuss what I would like to see in the next surfing video game and hope many of you can chime in on what you want to see.

So, let’s take a look at the history of surfing video games.  Let us begin with…

CALIFORNIA GAMES (1987) BY EPYX

The first surfing video game that I played was “California Games” from Epyx.  The game was first released on the Commodore 64 and then a few years later in 1991 on the NES, Sega Genesis and the Atari Lynx. The goal was to take part in competitions and like most games at the time, score the highest points.

“California Games” included Half Pipe, Foot Bag, Surfing, Skating and BMX.  But the surfing portion of the game was quite challenging especially on the PC and definitely would frustrate the hell out of you and you would move on to a game like Foot Bag, calm down and replay the surfing portion of the game.  Needless to say, once you got everything down, the game became much more fun to play.  The game had a followup in 1993 with “California Games 2″ which was cool because it included snowboarding and added newer games but they took away the surfing game and replaced it with body surfing.

T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage by L&J LTD. (1988)

In 1988, a year after “California Games”, people had the chance to try L&J Ltd.’s video game “T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage” for the NES.  People can play as one of the mascots of “Da Boys” and take on “Street Skate”, “Big Wave Encounter” and “Wood and Water Rage”.

“T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage” allowed a person to keep spamming the same moves over and over again (as seen on the video above) but my memory of this game was its crappy controls on the NES.

Surf Riders by UBI SOFT (2000)

Over ten years without any surfing video games released on a console since “T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage”, in 2000 we were greeted with three surfing video games.  The first came out in August 2000 from Ubi Soft titled “Surf Riders” for the Sony PlayStation.

With the Tony Hawk games so popular at the time, there was high expectations for this game on the PlayStation and what people saw was a game that didn’t look all that good, another surfing game with bad controls and you were limited to surfing one direction (frontside only).

You can play up to 16 players but you start off with 5 from California, Australia and France and the graphics were so limited that the game just ended up being repetitive. Fortunately, a much more enjoyable surfing game was coming out a few months later for the Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation.

Championship Surfer from Mattel Interactive (2000)

Available on the Sega Dreamcast and Sony PlayStation was “Championship Surfer” developed by Krome Studios.  Possibly the first video game to spotlight professional surfers and in this case, O’Neill surfers Cory Lopez, Shane Beschen, Jason Collins, Tim Reyes, Bill Bryan, Rochelle Ballard, Jon Jon Florence and Nathan Carroll.

Finally, a surfing game on the console at the time to get stoked about!  The game featured video footage of the surfers and you would compete in various heats. If you win, you open up another beach/surf comp to compete in. Because the game allowed 2-4 players, it was pretty cool as you battled with friends for a wave and you try to score as much points as you can. And there was a good amount of moves to pull of from tailside cutbacks, floaters, rail grabs and various airs.

But all was not good…

The game controls were a little kitschy and the game was very arcade-like in which the game had sharks, mines, bombs and ducks that explode or have poison that really screw with you in the later levels of the game. Come on developers…what the hell were you smoking when you decided to add those obstacles in the game.

DEVELOPER 1: We need to make this game much more challenging?
DEVELOPER 2: But how?
DEVELOPER 1: How about exploding ducks?
DEVELOPER 2: Yeah, and we can put mines and bombs and make the competition like a warzone?
DEVELOPER 1: Surfing with bombs, mines and killer ducks.  Yeah!!! Let’s do it!

Nevertheless, the game did have its fun moments but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of a surfing game with bombs in the water.  Oh well, considering there was not much else out there for surfing games and that it took nearly 12 years to bring out a surfing game, I wasn’t going to complain.

Surfing H30 by Rockstar Games (2000)

With the growing popularity of Rockstar Games for its “Grand Theft Auto” games, there was a bit of fanfare for their surfing-related game titled “Surfing H30″.   The first surfing game on the new Sony PlayStation 2 system and the game would come with a mini-surfboard that would go on top of the PS2 controller analog sticks.

Needless to say, there were high expectations because of the company’s reputation and people wanted to see this new technology used on the PS2 and how much more realistic the waves would look.  The developers prided themselves with the games visual graphics and water physics.

Unfortunately, the game sucked balls.  The controls and camera were frustrating that you literally feel like giving up. During the game, you have to collect buoys and for the most part, this game was severely lacking of any kind of enjoyment but if I had to give one positive, it would be the game’s soundtrack. Oh, and although there are no pro surfers in this game, you can play as Kelly Sunset and Mark Mavericks, Megan Kira, Rob Makaha and Rochelle Rincon and open other characters as well.

Don’t be fooled by the graphics of the game because there is nothing good about a surfing game when the controls and camera are just shoddy.  “Surfing H30″ was not that great of a surfing game, it had a good soundtrack and it was a step forward graphics-wise but a step backwards in gameplay and controls.  Granted, this is not entirely Rockstar’s fault, ASCII in Japan was responsible for making this game (known as “Surfroid”).

But if Rockstar Games was to come back to work on their own surfing game, that would be awesome.  Combine the GTA elements with a storyline but then competitive surfing modes for the next gen consoles.  That would rock!

Ultimate Surfing by Natsume (2001)

In 2001, Japanese developer Natsume (known for their “Harvest Moon” games) released “Ultimate Surfing” for the Game Boy Color.  The game was reminiscent to “California Games” but this time around, you compete with other three surfers and you’re going one direction.  While competing, everyone else is competing against you in trying to pick up power and speed items that show up on the waves.   Overall, an easy game but the more you begin to advance, you have other surfers trying to screw with you and knock you off your board.  A basic Game Boy Color game that came out a little too late as by then, the Game Boy Advance and games were released to the market.

Sunny Garcia Surfing by Krome Studios/Ubi Soft (2000)

With the release of  “Championship Surfer” in 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast and Sony Playstation, Krome Studios went to work on “Sunny Garcia Surfing” (distributed by Ubi Soft).    Similar to “Championship Surfer”, the team would focus on pro surfers such as the 2000 World Tour Champion Sunny Garcia (No Fear), O’Neill surfers Corey Lopez, Shane Beschen, Rochelle Ballard, Jason Collins, Tim Reyes and Nathan Carrol and Gotcha surfer Shea Lopez.

This time around, Krome Studios learned their lesson by focusing more on the surfing, pulling off the moves and beating your opponent in competition.

Problem about the game was,  this was a rehash of the “Championship Surfer” game for the Dreamcast and PlayStation utilizing the same engine and trying to spruce it up for the PS2.  Thus, the game didn’t look like a PS2 game but more of PSX game with slightly better graphics but really, the game didn’t look all that great.  Although, I will say that I spent a lot of time playing this game.

Granted, this was much better than “H3O”, so at least at this time, there was a much better surfing game for the PS2. Not the best looking nor is it the best surf game out there, but it still was fun to play.

TransWorld Surf by Angel Studios/Atari (2001-2003)

This time around, surfing video games were going to be taken to a new level and surfing publication TransWorld Surf would have its own video game thanks to Angel Studios and Atari.  The game came out for the XBOX in 2001, followed by an easier version for  the Sony PlayStation 2 in 2002 and then retooled for the Nintendo GameCube via “Transworld Surf: Next Wave” which fixed the framing issues apparent in the PS2 version and was worked on by Rockstar San Diego.  With the most recent version being the better of the three.

Surfers included in this game were Rochelle Ballard, Shawn Barron, Taj Burrow, Jason Collins, Tim Curran, Shane Dorian, Christian Fletcher, Andy Irons, Cory Lopez, Dan Malloy, Fred Patacchia and Chris Ward.

“Transworld Surf” allowed players to take on their opponents in the Transworld Surf World Tour and 13 of the top ranked surfers would compete in 10 locations. The game established goal challenges for the surfer such as completing photo shoots, pulling off some moves and then competing against surfers in 3 minute heats.

The graphics for this game surpassed any surfing game before and also surpassed other surfing games with its gameplay. The fact that you can compete at Pipeline, Teahupoo, Witches Rock, Todos Santos, Huntington Beach and other locations was pretty awesome!

I will say that I had the XBOX version but the game was too insanely hard for me and ended up buying the PS2 version which decreased the difficulty of the game and made obtaining goals much more easier.  They fixed up the game a year later  and ended up with “TransWorld Surf: The Next Wave” (smoother animation, better speed adjustment, better controls, better camera and newer characters) for the Nintendo GameCube which I have been told is the best all-round version of the game, although graphics wise, the XBOX is the better of the three.

To this day, fans of the game are awaiting for a sequel!

Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer from Treyarch/Activision 2 (2002)

And just when you thought “TransWorld Surf” was the best surfing game ever released, later in the fall of 2002, Treyarch known for their “Tony Hawk Pro Skater” games went on to release “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer” which was released for the Sony PlayStation 2, XBOX, GameCube, GameBoy Advance and Mac/PC.

The game allowed you to play the World Champ Kelly Slater, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Kalani Robb, Rob Machado, Bruce Irons, Nathan Fletcher, Donavon Frankenreiter and secret characters Travis Pastrana, Tony Hawk and several others.

The game featured 30 levels featuring 15 popular surf spots from around the globe and also an unlimited number of interactive waves. In fact, you’ll never play the same wave twice. Each level requires you to meet some goals in order to open up boards and characters. If anything, the biggest positive for “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer” is its controls. Surfing games have had major problems with controls and also camera but this time around, those problems have been eliminated.

Quite simply, this is the best surfing game out there. Granted, “TransWorld Surf” is an awesome game but “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer” is a much more accessible for people to play and to learn the controls. It’s just pulling off those moves and wicked fantasy tricks ala insane looking, physics defying aerials but also utilizing moves such as tube rides, snaps, cutbacks and floaters.

If anything, I’ve owned various versions of this game already. PS2, XBOX, then I got the PC game from my purchase of the “Step Into Liquid” film and also for the GameBoy Advance. I love this game and one can only think how awesome a sequel would be if one was to create it for the next gen console. Hopefully sooner than later.

It has been over eight years since we have seen a surfing video game.  Granted, there has been the “Surf’s Up” animated movie game and various flash-based games online but it’s been way too long without an awesome surf game and I hope one of these days we get a sequel to “Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer” or “Transworld Surf”.

What I would like to see in an upcoming surfing video game?

• With XBOX Live and the PlayStation Network, downloadable rosters and having a game that is based on that year’s ASP World Tour would be sweet!  Create your own character and similar to other sports games with their build-your-own-legend mode, create your own surfer with the ability to select stats based on trick moves, durability, stamina, etc. for competition.
• Online competitions with other players around the world!  This is a must!
• Possibly another style of game is to have story elements…like a “Bully” or “Grand Theft Auto” where you can venture to various areas of the city, buy some boards or meet the locals.  Can you imagine visiting various spots around the world and having to visit shops or areas, and then having to go up against a boss of that local area challenging you. May it be a short game of who can string the most tricks to a game that included something similar to “Sunny Garcia Surfing” with the push window or just one-on-one battle like “Guitar Hero” battles but in surfing where one competes against the other and who can get the most points by pulling off moves.
• The game can even be more in-depth.  What if your surfer had to work for money to buy a new surfboard but there would be a “Shape-a-surfboard” game or have to work in teaching people the basics of surfing.  We have seen these implemented in various games where they have to pull off certain jobs from “Grand Theft Auto”, “Shenmue”, “Bully”.  Otherwise, stick to the beat a level and get a new surfboard.
• There has to be an inclusion of a big wave competition.  Man…can you imagine having to go against Laird Hamilton in a fantasy big wave competition?  Love to see how current technology would take advantage of the water physics. That would be sick!
• I’d like to see an “open a legend” added along with opening spots for more characters.  What I mean by this is that it would be cool to open up legendary surfers like Duke Kahanamoku, Greg Noll, Gerry Lopez, David Nuuhiwa, Micky Dora.  Sort of how the wrestling or fighting games have these characters that can be opened after one beats a game or uses their money to open up a character, it would be wonderful to be able to use a legend, using the old school boards and applying the physics to those boards and the waves.  Just a thought.
• If MLB, NFL, FIFA to even UFC and  other sports can use the players likeness, there must be a way for a developer to work with the ASP in getting those pro surfers in the game.  No more of this under ten surfer characters.  This blows!  We are so used to more and more characters and there has to be a way for this to be increased.  Get all the top competitors of that year’s ASP (yes, including the wildcards) on the game!!!
• In all sports games, we see people able to purchase gear from various companies.  EA Sports have been good with this.  I would like the ability for surfers to choose surfboards and surfing gear and wet suits from various surfing companies.  Don’t half ass this game, do it right!
• If people can customize their cars in racing games, how about the ability for surfers to customize their surfboard (other than colors)?  Why not.  These games can be educational too… Certain boards work better for certain waves.
• XB360 Achievement Points and PSN Trophies – This is a given!

Any other ideas of what you would like to see in a surfing video game?

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NEW GAME DOWNLOADS DELIVER GOOD TIMES BY AIR, LAND AND SEA

July 26, 2010

From dizzying heights to watery depths and everywhere in between, downloadable games for the Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems can take you to some unforgettable places. New arrivals for the WiiWare™ service include the undersea adventure of Dive: The Medes Island Secret and the intense arcade-style action of Heavy Fire: Special Operations. Fans of the Virtual Console™ service can now enjoy high-flying fun from the Super NES™ era with AERO THE ACROBAT™. And for fresh gaming kicks on the go, check out the camera-based controls and customization options of Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! or tangle with legions of battle-ready beasts in Crystal Monsters, both available via the Nintendo DSiWare™ service.

We’ve also got one last update for the “Big Name Games” section of the WarioWare™: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry’s most talented figures. This week’s additions come from the Treehouse, Nintendo’s game localization team. All “Big Name Games” are available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points™ to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.

WiiWare

Dive: The Medes Island Secret
Publisher: Cosmonaut Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: During the past five centuries, hundreds of ships flying every ensign have succumbed to the power of the ocean. Merchant boats, pirate ships, navy vessels – all have ended up covered in coral at the bottom of the ocean. All of them guarded secrets that remained hidden… until now. In Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, you are John Sanders, a treasure hunter and experienced diver who spends months planning and documenting a major expedition to locate and recover several ships of different ensigns around the world.

Heavy Fire: Special Operations
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood, Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Join an elite army unit in Heavy Fire: Special Operations, an arcade shooter for the WiiWare service. Play challenging missions in the Middle East from the ground, Humvee or Blackhawk. You will need a quick trigger finger to finish extremely dangerous levels. Rise through the military ranks and accumulate more powerful weapons with different features and controls. Replay the game to improve your best score and submit it to the world rankings. Make combos and smash the environment to get more points. You can take out enemies in a single-player mode or with a friend in multiplayer mode. The Wii Zapper™ accessory is supported but not required.

Virtual Console

AERO THE ACROBAT
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Sunsoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The madman industrialist Edgar Ektor has seized control of the World of Amusement. He and a deranged cast of fairground freaks threaten the circus. The only hope for survival is the high-flying, death-defying Aero the acrobat! Spine-tingling terror unfolds as Aero tackles Ektor’s wicked henchmen. Bungee-jump into a battle against evil. Skydive toward the danger below. Hang on for the ride of your life as you rise and plunge on a roaring roller coaster. Tiptoe across a terrifying tightrope. Power-drill and twist Aero right through every sinister circus enemy imaginable. All the while, the show must go on. It could become a carnival of carnage in the World of Amusement. Because the evil Ektor isn’t clowning around … and there’s nothing amusing about that.

Nintendo DSiWare

Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: With the innovative game Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!, you can soar through the sky in a hang glider from the comfort of your sofa. Not only will you put your face into the game with the Nintendo DSi Camera, but Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! also tracks your head movements to give you complete control of your glider. Simply tilt your head sideways to steer left or right, lean back to climb and bend forward to dive. Choose from two play styles and fly through three different types of game play: bursting all of the balloons in a variety of courses, throwing balls at targets for a high score and trying for a fast time in the high-speed challenge. Also, look out for hidden medals that help to unlock new courses and even new gliders. If you’re looking for a truly unique and inventive game, schedule a flight to experience Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! for yourself. The only thing missing is the wind in your hair!

Crystal Monsters
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can see monsters (called Neo-Seeds) and those who can’t. Neo-Seeds wield extraordinary power and battle using tamed monsters in grand tournaments. As a Neo-Seed who has just discovered his ability, you’re about to set off on an amazing journey to collect more than 160 monsters and become the greatest Monster Breeder. Explore a vast world, meet new friends and rivals, and engage in dynamic battles that require skill and strategy. Master the nine elemental types, train your monsters through battle, teach them new moves, use team attacks and fuse them together to unlock their true potential. You can even customize three of your favorite monsters by putting friends’ faces on them using the built-in camera.

Puffins: Let’s Race!
Publisher: Other Ocean Interactive
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get ready to challenge the speediest puffins on the island for the title of Fastest Flyer in Puffins: Let’s Race! Race against the clock or go head-to-head with your opponents in a battle to the finish line. Use cleverly placed power-ups like the squawk shot to get ahead of the pack and claim victory. Race through four different game modes on eight different tracks to prove your skill, or challenge up to three of your friends via local wireless play. Do you have what it takes to become the race champion of Puffin Island, or will you be left behind with the rest of the flock?

Petz® Hamsterz® Family
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Adopt your very own family of hamsters! Care for them, teach them fun tricks and unlock new toys and accessories to give them lots of love! Care for your hamsters by feeding them, playing with them and keeping them clean and warm. Discover your hamsters’ unique personalities – watch them react with cute and funny facial expressions. Teach your hamsters fun activities like bowling or running on ramps and watch them progress. Earn coins that can be used to unlock new toys and accessories for your lovable hamsters.

Absolute BrickBuster
Publisher: Tasuke
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Classic brick game action is here on the Nintendo DSi system. There are two modes of play: Free Play and Challenge. Pick one of eight characters and set special items to play at your own pace in Free Play Mode. The special items include different balls with special attributes, expandable paddle and paddle tilt. There are 10 stages in all. Each even-numbered stage gives you a mission, the result of which will determine the level of the next two stages. In Challenge Mode, different levels of missions are given – clear them to advance in the game.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: SHOULD OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE (HALF) FORGOT?

June 28, 2010

Three … two … one! Happy Half Year! Well, 2010 is just about half way behind us now (or, if you’re an optimist, half way ahead of us). Either way, why not make a half-resolution to try out some new downloadable games? This week Jett Rocket zooms onto the WiiWare™ service to thwart the plans of the awesomely named Power Plant Posse. The Nintendo 64™ classic Mario Tennis™ on the Virtual Console™ service reminds tennis fans that most matches last less than 11 hours. And Maestro! Green Groove on the Nintendo DSiWare™ service lets you become a virtuoso, as everything you do in the game becomes music.

We’ve also got new arrivals in the “Big Name Games” section of the WarioWare™: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry’s most talented figures. This week we have some new additions from the Treehouse, Nintendo’s game localization team. New “Big Name Games” will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points™ to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii™ system today to learn more about these games.

WiiWare

Jett Rocket
Publisher: Shin’en Multimedia
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Jump and run and fly. Let Jett Rocket explore the beautiful planet of Yoroppa and find out why it has been attacked by the evil Power Plant Posse. Visit tropical islands, poisonous swamps and freezingly cold glaciers. Ride the ocean on your Jet Boat, parachute from giant cliffs, speed through arctic regions on your Jet Snowboard or skyrocket with your Jet Turbine. You will need everything you’ve got to fight back and save Yoroppa. Just be Jett Rocket in this epic futuristic full 3D action adventure.

Pong Toss Pro – Frat Party Games®
Publisher: JV Games Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Mild Language
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Born on college campuses, Pong Toss is the ultimate party-game favorite. Now Pong Toss Pro takes it to the next level by featuring a completely redesigned throwing system for complete accuracy and improved graphics. Also new to Pong Toss Pro is Tournament Mode. You can have a four-, eight-, or 16-team bracket play in Pong Toss & Speed Pong. Pong Toss Pro features six regulation tables and the ability to modify simple house rules. Rock it with a high-energy rock soundtrack; listen to the announcer commenting on your play. Rule the table with Fireball bonuses for consecutive shots. In Speed Pong, up to three challengers can compete at the same time. Speed and strategy are the keys to this fast-paced game. Jack up your opponents by using a slew of power-ups that will slow them down. The first one who sinks the last cup wins it all.

Robin Hood: The Return of Richard
Publisher: Nordcurrent
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: While Richard, the true King of England, is absent from his throne, his country rages in chaos. England has been invaded, and enemies burn and destroy local towns and villages. After the house of expert archer and hunter Robin Hood was burned down, he, together with a group of free archers like himself, hides in Sherwood Forest and begins his fight for justice. The fate of the people now lies in your hands. Help Robin to defeat the villains and restore peace in this shooting game.

Features:

• Complete 12 levels, defeating numerous enemies and visiting different locations in medieval England
• Search for hidden objects to get bonus points
• Fight with super villains, such as the Sheriff of Nottingham
• Replay the game to improve your score in the High Score Table

Virtual Console

Mario Tennis
Original platform: Nintendo 64
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: The Mushroom Kingdom welcomes another sport to its lineup in the Nintendo 64 smash Mario Tennis. In addition to the bright graphics and intuitive, but incredibly tight, controls that all Mario™ games are known for, a cast of 16 Nintendo characters (including the first introduction of Waluigi™) is ready to take to the court. Along with the ability to unnerve an opponent by varying shots and precisely target their destination, each character has specific attributes in categories such as speed, power and control, all of which combine to offer multiple play styles to choose from. A variety of game modes ranging from a standard tournament to the crazy, item-filled Bowser Stage will keep you – and up to three of your friends – running around the court for quite some time. Whether trying to unlock all the secrets in single-player mode or challenging friends with some intense fun in multiplayer mode, this is a game that definitely holds its serve.

Nintendo DSiWare

Maestro! Green Groove
Publisher: Neko Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Animated Blood, Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hello. Do you like music? Do you like platforms? Do you like pink bird-like things? Do you like the jungle? You’ll love Maestro! Green Groove edition! So jump in and enjoy this wonderful feeling of being a virtuoso using your heart, stylus and voice. Everything you do is music – EVERYTHING! Hit the spiders to play some drums, shoot the fruit to bring out the melody, pinch the strings to play the tune and so on. Challenge the mischievous Staccato the Spider in a melodious battle in which the most talented one will win. For those of you who have no fear, once you have finished the adventure, you can activate the SING/WHISTLE mode to bug everyone around you with your precious talents. And for the talented ones, there is an improvisation mode in which you’ll play the levels with the instruments and at the speed of your choice. Enjoy, Maestros from all around the world!

Date or Ditch
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Think you’re a real Casanova? Let’s see how you act in real-life situations when you face a whole gamut of dates, from romantic to wild. Date or Ditch is an absorbing dating adventure for both guys and girls, testing you through an evolving scenario. Discover unique game play mixing social simulation, hilarious face-to-face conversations and fun quizzes. Randomly meet someone at a party, go to the movies together, invite your date to dinner and more. And a surprise visit from your ex may spice up your love story a bit. Enter even deeper into the game thanks to the exclusive camera feature: Add your photo within the game and change your face according to your feelings. In real life, make sure you are compatible with your date by taking the Love Test: Based on your names and appearance, are you made for each other? Love has always been a game. We just made it more fun.

Animal Color Cross
Publisher: Little Worlds Studio
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get hooked on colorful puzzles. The goal of the game is to reconstruct a mysterious animal image that lies beneath the grid. You just need to fill in each square of the grid with one of the appropriate colors available. To solve the puzzle, you can simply deduce the right color by using the numbers written around the grid. Don’t worry, a short tutorial shows you the basic rules within a minute. Puzzle-solving champs, sudoku fans or even kids can enjoy the game. You can play 72 individual grids in up to 50 hours of game play. Players can select among eight levels presented as geographical zones including Europe, Oceania, North Pole, Pacific, North America and South America to discover local fauna. Enter a new world filled with fancy colored pixel art.

Ancient Tribe
Publisher: CIRCLE Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: In the ancient world of Savage, you play the god of an ancient tribe in this real-time strategy game. Expand your village by guiding its inhabitants on the hunting grounds to find food and resources. Use them to upgrade your village and increase its population. When the primitive tribe develops to a certain level, they will build a temple to pay tribute to your mightiness. You can recruit new troops and research new classes of tribal people by upgrading the existing tribe’s equipment and technology. Besides improving your tribe you can improve your godly powers by sacrificing some of your tribesmen and resources. On the hunting ground your tribe will explore forests, deserts, volcanoes and frozen lands. They will meet various kinds of beasts such as boars, elephants and even dinosaurs. You can help trap and tame them so your tribe can ride on them as part of your army and hunting troop.

Brain Drain™
Publisher: Enjoy Gaming
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Brain Drain is a funny and challenging puzzle game. You have to place the elements of a scrambled puzzle according to a given model. Select four elements at a time with the stylus and spin them to move the elements to the right positions. Some puzzles may feature malicious game effects that will slow you down during your puzzle solving. There are three game modes to choose from:

• Challenge: 200 fixed puzzles with preset best times to solve and beat.
• Race: A stream of puzzles and best time tables to beat in four difficulty levels.
• Random: Relaxed, random puzzling that continues endlessly.

Battle of Giants™: Mutant Insects – Revenge
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: After the defeat of the Mutant King, the Mutant Queen rose up from the core of the Earth and forced the remaining giant insects into submission. Now it is your job to locate and free the Scorpion Champion, the only giant insect with the ability to defeat the Mutant Queen. Complete 10 new missions, defeat your enemies and liberate the Scorpion Champion! Customize your giant insect with tribal stripes, equip it with special powers and enhance your abilities. Challenge your friends to duels of supremacy on the Nintendo DS™ system. Are you strong enough to win this Battle of Giants™?

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

DRAGON QUEST IX: SENTINELS OF THE STARRY SKIES LAUNCHES ON JULY 11

Character Customization, Cooperative Multiplayer Adventuring and an Epic Story Make for a One-of-a-Kind Nintendo DS Experience

REDMOND, Wash., May 19, 2010 – Launching in the United States on July 11, DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™ for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems lets players enjoy an adventure that is entirely their own, yet can be shared with others anywhere, anytime. Developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., this game has already become a phenomenon with players of all ages and backgrounds in Japan, with more than 4.2 million units sold.

Before setting off on their adventure, players can create their own heroes, deciding how they would like their face, hair and clothing to look. As the story unfolds, players become stronger, smarter and more powerful, and can customize companions who join their group. Players will have fun discovering more than 1,000 pieces of clothing, armor, weapons and other items that will provide them with a unique appearance and special abilities. Players can also change the class of their character at any time, choosing from a variety of vocations that will affect their abilities and strengths in the game.

In DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred tree’s fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.

DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies contains special modes that let players share their adventure with others, allowing up to four players to team up via a local wireless connection and experience the fun of tackling challenging monsters and dungeons cooperatively with their own characters. Players can even leave the game active in their backpacks, pockets or purses and still interact with other players via an interactive “Tag Mode.” Information about players’ characters can be wirelessly transmitted to others, and treasure maps and customized greetings can be exchanged automatically by players who come within range of one another when their games are set to Tag Mode.

Players looking to enjoy a variety of different game activities can take on special side quests. Some of these quests will be earned by progressing through the game, while additional quests will be made available for free download for players with broadband Internet access after the game launches, providing hours of additional content for virtual adventurers to enjoy either on their own or with friends. Some downloadable quests will continue the main storyline of the game, while others offer standalone missions.

“DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the biggest games ever to hit Nintendo DS, with an incredible amount of content for every kind of player to enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “This new game has all of the elements of an instant classic: customization options, a great story, and the ability to share a nearly limitless experience with friends.”

For more information about DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, please visit dragonquest.nintendo.com.

J!-ENT’s Cosplay Underground – Cosplay Photo Book 004 by Nergene Arquelada is up

The fourth edition of J!-ENT’s “Cosplay Underground” cosplay photobook 004 by Nergene Arquelada is now up for download.  Featuring cosplayers showcasing their costumes for the anime series “Cardcaptors Sakura”, “Naruto”, “Pokemon”, “Dissidia Final Fantasy”, “Axis Powers Hetalia” and more.

Click here to download the latest cosplay photo book

The Great Gaming Divide

In a recent Mainichi Daily News column, Miki Yosuke writes, “As the writer of the five-part “Children and Games” series (from July 22 to 26), I was honestly surprised at the ubiquity and massive influence of computer games in the world of children.”

“Total shipment of home game consoles last year was a record-high 3 trillion yen, more than twice that of 2005, and yet these are no more than figures: the reality was far beyond my imagination. And, now, what troubles me most is the deep divide between the pro- and anti-gaming camps.”

“In a quest to avoid bias, I tried to listen to the stories of many and various kinds of specialists, and my impression was that the two sides wouldn’t engage in any serious dialog; though one reason for that may be that research on the influence of games is still in its infancy.”

More

« Previous Page