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Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Review by: Matt Mirkovich
Matt checks out what should have been the 'cast-off' version of the year's biggest game. It's surprisingly anything but. READ FULL REVIEW...
Skylanders Giants
Review by: Sean Colleli
Skylanders Giants continues the craze kicked off last year, but is it actually a good game or just a big toy commercial? READ FULL REVIEW...
Nintendo Land
Review by: Matt Mirkovich
Can Nintendo recapture the magic of Wii Sports with their new console and Nintendo Land? Matt seems to think so. READ FULL REVIEW...

Nintendo Download for December 27th, 2012

by: Nathan - posted: 12/27/2012 7:47 PM - Add a Comment
New week which means there are some new stuff for you in the Nintendo eShops and we get some pretty good stuff this week including Super Mario Brothers: The Lost Levels which was the Japanese version of Super Mario Brothers 2. We never got it in America at first well... because its hard as hell and Nintendo felt that Americans wouldn't like the challenge. No seriously if the first Mario Brothers difficulty was at a 1, Lost levels would be at about 100. We eventually got these levels in Super Mario All Stars for the SNES. We also get the start of Capcoms Mega Man promotion as Mega Man 1 is also available. Im still waiting for Act Raiser and the Donkey Kong Country games on the 3DS Virtual Console. Nintendo... why don't you want me to give you my money? 

Holiday Deals. Available in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U at a special price
  • Little Inferno
  • Trine 2: Directors Cut
3DS Virtual Console 
  • Super Mario Brothers: The Lost Levels ($5.99)
  • Mega Man ($.499)
Nintendo Video on Nintendo 3DS
  • A Jam-Packed Year-in-Review!
Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
  • Johnny Impossible ($5.99)
  • Majong 3D: Warriors of the Emperor ($9.99)
  • Fluidity: Spin Cycle ($10.99)
Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS/ Nintendo DSi
  • Goooooal America (500 Points)
  • Jump Trials Extreme (200 Points)
  • Wizard Defenders  (200 Points)

Mad Catz releases fight sticks for Tekken Tag Tournament 2

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 12/20/2012 1:53 PM - Add a Comment
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is fast becoming one of 2012's more popular fighting games, and Mad Catz never misses an opportunity for a hardware cross promotion. They have three new fight sticks for the PS3, 360 and Wii U, each with some pretty slick Tekken branding on them. I admit that the shattered glass design around the arcade stick is an eye-catching design, but on the other hand these controllers retail for $159.99. This is also the first fight stick available for the Wii U, and I'm glad 3rd parties aren't making everything in boring old Apple white like they did for the Wii. Gack.

Now supposedly Mad Catz has been getting better in the past few years--they made the decent Rock Band controllers--but I still remember when their name was synonymous with "cheapo." I have a couple of their controllers from the GameCube/PS2 area, and none of them lasted more than a month of normal use. All I'm saying is for that kind of scratch, these fight sticks better be built to last, although I doubt they'll be sturdier than the old Dreamcast arcade decks.

[READ MORE]

TVii comes alive on December 20th

by: John - posted: 12/19/2012 6:51 PM - Add a Comment
While the feature wasn't on the console at launch, December 20th will finally see the launch of TVii on the Wii U system. TVii helps organize and display video content so you can find things easily. It will even tie into services like Hulu and Amazon's Instant Video. Netflix and TiVO will be incorporated later.

It's similar to what I do with my tablet in that I can have all my videos, TV shows, and movies in one place to access. For example, you can search for say Criminal Minds and it will tell you when it's showing next as well as purchasing some of the episodes from various providers. I really want to see how it handles sporting events and if it's competitive to the likes of those offerings on Microsoft's Smartglass in this area.

The Wii U gamepad is a natural product to have the TVii interface on and it should expand the functionality of the tablet gamepad with even more to do.  [READ MORE]

Archos GamePad releases in Europe, U.S. set for Q1 2013

by: Dan - posted: 12/10/2012 3:22 PM - Add a Comment
Back in August, we posted a bit of news regarding Archos and their plans to release a new Android based gaming tablet into Europe and the U.S.  On Friday, Archos confirmed a lot of features of the GamePad as well as launched the tablet in Europe and narrowed the U.S. availability to early 2013.  The Archos GamePad is designed with a  similar form factor to the WiiU GamePad, but runs on Google Certified Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
 
The announcement also gives us greater insight into the hardware the GamePad will have, which is listed below.  Giving them a glance, it looks like there will be plenty of memory available via microSD, good horsepower with a quad-core GPU paired with a dual-core CPU.  The mapping system that is included looks to be comprehensive and something that users will adapt to quickly.  The video below shows just how easy it is to map buttons to games within the GamePad:




Right now, the Archos GamePad is retailing for 149.99€, which translates into about $194 U.S.  So although a price point in the U.S. hasn’t been announced, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it come out at $199 initially.

Archos GamePad Features
Operating System:  Google Certified Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Smooth Gaming Experience with 3D Graphics: Quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU paired with a 1.6GHz Dual-core CPU.
Memory: 8GB of internal memory with microSD slot or up to 64GB of additional space.
Mini-HDMI:  Use the mini-HDMI port to connect the GamePad to your TV for a big screen viewing experience.
Google PlayTM: 700,000 apps and games and includes DRM support for downloading books, magazines, music, movies and TV shows. 
ARCHOS Media Center applications: tailor made apps for video and music that include metadata scraping, auto-subtitles and of course, the best format and codec support around including 1080p video decoding.


We have an appointment set up with Archos at the 2013 International CES, so expect a hands on with the tablet and additional information on when we can expect to see it here in the U.S.

[READ MORE]

Creep out all your friends with new Death and Despair statue

by: Nathaniel - posted: 12/6/2012 1:07 PM - Add a Comment
I'm am not a big videogame paraphernalia collector.  I don't own any game-related action figures, sculptures, replicas, or even much in the way of mundane things like posters.  Despite that, this new statue from SOTA Toys of Darksiders II star Death on the back of his trusty steed, Despair, looks amazing and if you love the art style of the Darksiders franchise, I can only imagine what kind of dirty thoughts will go through your mind when you look at it.

It even lights up at night - and that just makes it look even better.  See for yourself in the pics below.

You can pre-order it right here.  Warning: it costs $249.99.  For full details, follow the jump.

[READ MORE]

Zen Pinball 2 coming to the Wii U's eShop channel

by: Russell - posted: 12/6/2012 8:22 AM - Add a Comment
Recently picked up a Wii U and looking for a nice pinball game to pass the time?  If so, you'll be happy to know that Zen Pinball 2 is heading to the Wii U's eShop channel later this month.  The game itself will be a free download while the tables must be purchased individually.  There will be a few table packs available as well as several individual tables such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Plants vs. Zombies, Captain America, and many more, a lot of them based on Marvel franchises.  Each table can be tried out before you buy it, and you can also continue playing on the Wii U's GamePad if the TV is occupied.

[READ MORE]

Now Loading for the week of December 2, 2012: One Last Push Edition

by: Jeremy - posted: 12/3/2012 9:05 AM - Add a Comment
Here we are: the one last final push of releases for the 2012 Holiday Season! Things will get ridiculously quiet after this week, until at least February. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t new games coming, it just means that they will be spread out a lot more than we have seen in the past few months.

There are still some nice titles dropping into stores for those of you looking to pick up something for the gamer on your Holiday shopping list!

12/4/2012 12/5/2012

NYKO announces Wii U lineup

by: Dan - posted: 12/1/2012 12:46 PM - Add a Comment
With the Wii U now on retail shelves (or maybe not), it was only a matter of time before NYKO came out with their lineup of Wii U accessories.  For years, NYKO has been one of the best in the gaming accessory market at identifying and creating solutions to obvious issues that the console manufactures overlooked.  With the Wii U, it may take some time to figure out what Nintendo has failed to identify as a consumer headache, but NYKO has five power solutions for the Wii U that were obvious opportunities.  As expected, there are both black and white versions of the accessories depending on what version of the Wii U you purchased.
 
Take a look below at the description form NYKO:
  • UBoost - Add 2x the battery life to the Wii U GamePad with this simple clip-on extended battery. The UBoost attaches to the back of the GamePad controller, with no tools or modification to the GamePad required, and works in conjunction with the internal battery to prolong playtime upwards of 10 hours. A built-in stand also allows for easy viewing of streaming content on the device with no dock required. Users can easily recharge both the UBoost and the internal battery of the GamePad with the GamePad AC adaptor included with the Wii U, and even place it in the charging dock that ships with the Wii U Deluxe. The UBoost is available later this year in both white and black for a MSRP of $19.99 
  • Charge Base Pro - Easily store and charge 2 Wii U Pro Controllers with the Charge Base Pro. Simply attach Nyko's patented magnetic charge adaptors to the Mini USB port on the Pro Controller, and then place the controller onto the magnetic charging port. The magnets will automatically pull the controller into the correct position, while artfully suspending the controller in the vertical dock. LED Indicator lights notify users when the charge cycle is complete while the collapsible design of the dock makes it easy for travel or storage when not in use. The Charge Base Pro is powered through an AC power adaptor providing faster charge than USB. The Charge Base Pro will be available this holiday season for a MSRP of $29.99.
  • Power Stand - Available in both white and black, the Power Stand holds the Wii U GamePad while also recharging the internal batteries of the controller. The stand utilizes the contact charging points on the GamePad allowing for easy drop and charge functionality.  The dock features an angled stand ideal for viewing movies and is powered by the GamePad power adaptor that ships with Wii U. The Power Stand will be available this year for a MSRP of $14.99.
  • Charge Adaptor - Charge the Wii U GamePad anywhere in your house with the Charge Adaptor. The Charge Adaptor plugs into any standard AC wall outlet, and quickly recharges the GamePad. The extra-long cord allows for easy charging even while playing your favorite Wii U games while the Velcro® strap provides an easy storage solution when not in use. The Charge Adaptor will be available in time for the Holidays for a MSRP of $14.99.
  • Charge Link - Conveniently charge the GamePad from the Wii U console or any other powered USB port with the Charge Link. The Charge Link's extra-long cord provides the freedom to play while charging from the console and the Velcro® strap provides tangle free storage when traveling.  The Charge Link is the ideal way to power the GamePad when playing and is available now for a MSRP of $14.99.

All five of these options are slated to be available by the Holiday Season, but we will surely take a look at them when we visit with NYKO at the 2013 International CES.

[READ MORE]

Deathstroke the next playable character announced for Injustice

by: John - posted: 11/28/2012 11:47 AM - Add a Comment
Deathstroke's one awesome character. I remember catching him as the main protagonist for the Teen Titans cartoon and thought the folks responsible for the show made an excellent choice. Slade Wilson's also coming to Injustice: Gods Among Us and he looks to be a high combo character. Using both his sword and his guns, he's got a lot of moves to juggle you around and deal damage. The look is dead on and I think he'll be one of the more popular characters in the game.

Wii gets miniaturized in Canada

by: John - posted: 11/27/2012 10:42 PM - Add a Comment
While the Wii U gets all the fanfare the past week, Nintendo's not killing the Wii yet. In fact, they are launching a brand new smaller Wii console.

Dubbed the Wii MINI, this new Wii is smaller and has a red and grey case around it. It's launching in Canada for a price of $99.99 and comes with a red Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk.

Gone is compatibility for GameCube games, which I've actually used a few times. For those wanting that, there's still the original version.

For now, it's only going to be available in Canada, but who knows. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo releases it in other territories and in different colors. Seeing as the first Wii sold like gangbusters, it's going to be hard to tell how well the MINI will do. 

[READ MORE]

In the first week, Nintendo sells 400,000 Wii U's

by: John - posted: 11/27/2012 6:42 AM - Add a Comment
The first week has come and gone for Nintendo's new console, the Wii U. So how well did it do? For sales, it's on par with the previous first week of the Xbox 360.

Reggie Fils-Aime talked with CNET and revealed that 400,000 units were sold in the first week of release. The 360, like I said, did about the same business when it was released 2005. That console was also sold at $299, but adjusted for inflation it would be around $380 today.

Now, we won't know if this is a success or not. Some folks are saying they had shortages. I personally saw a bunch of units on Sunday when it  was launched late in the afternoon, but that doesn't really mean much as it's just one store in one city in the United States. 

If you picked one up, how much are you enjoying Nintendo's latest system?

Metro Last Light Survivors: The Preacher

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/26/2012 11:51 PM - Add a Comment
4A Studios has another entry in their series of live action trailers for Metro Last Light. This one highlights the life of a crazy street preacher who has found redemption as the only voice the people listen to in the post apocalyptic Moscow metro. Apocalypse or not, do you really want to get your advice from a raving street preacher?

Last Light is looking pretty good but I'm a little hesitant to get it. Not because I didn't like Metro 2033, just because that game was so unrelentingly dreary and depressing that it kind of made me want to put a gun in my mouth. I have to hand it to 4A Games, they sure know how to do hopeless.


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Aria T'Loak only has one rule; find out what it is tomorrow

by: Nathaniel - posted: 11/26/2012 12:45 PM - Add a Comment
Aria T'Loak, chief shot-caller on the lawless haven of Omega, was one of Mass Effect 2's most memorable character - perhaps because she's the first major personality you come across in ME2.  Or maybe it's just because she's awesome.  Either way, we learn early on in Mass Effect 3 that the "Pirate Queen of Omega" has lost Omega.  Now she's the "Pirate Queen of that couch in the nightclub."  

Starting tomorrow (Wednesday in Europe), you'll be able to come to her aid and finally help her recapture he seat of power from those jerk-faces at Cerberus.

Mass Effect 3: Omega will also include access to the N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle and the Chakram Launcher which were both previously pre-order only items.  

Mass Effect 3: Omega will run you 1200 Microsoft Points or $14.99 (£11.99).


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[READ MORE]

Gaming pre-paid cards phased out by Giant Eagle

by: Dan - posted: 11/26/2012 10:37 AM - Add a Comment
Earlier this year, I noticed that my local Giant Eagle (regional grocer predominately in OH and PA), no longer had their Microsoft pre-paid cards on display.  They used to offer 1600 and 4000 point cards in addition to 3 and 12-month Xbox Live cards.  Today, I hit their online gift card listing and noticed that Sony has also been pulled from the available options.  Previously, there were PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Network cards available, but it looks like they are also gone.  Giant Eagle is my primary grocer that I use to get fuel perks, so losing these options is a bit of an annoyance when I need points or to update my subscription.
 
Fortunately, Kroger still has relationships with all three companies, as Nintendo DSi Point cards, PlayStation Network Cards and Microsoft Point and Xbox Live cards are still available in varying denominations, although their fuel perk system is not as good as Giant Eagle's.
 
One way to get around this and still pick up your Giant Eagle fuel perks is to purchase a retailer card that sells the pre-paid gaming cards such as Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us or GameStop.  While you will have to make an additional stop and purchase (or order online), you can still get the benefits of Giant Eagles fuel program.

How durable is the Wii U GamePad?

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/25/2012 10:51 PM - Add a Comment
The people at GizmoSlip have made an entire Youtube channel out of dropping expensive electronics to see if they'll keep working after succumbing to Newton's fury. The Wii U GamePad is no exception and they put the poor thing to the test, dropping it repeatedly from a height of four feet onto bare pavement, from a top, bottom and side angle.

The intrepid GamePad survives and continues functioning normally, albeit with a few scratches. I know it's just technology, it's one of the controllers from the ripoff basic white bundle, and it's not my Wii U, but I still can't help but cringe when they drop the innocent little GamePad. It looks like the Wii U continues Nintendo's legendary hardware durability--as I recall, you could drag a GameCube by its cute little handle behind a pickup truck and the thing would still function. I'm not sure about the Wii's resilience; I never felt like taking a sledgehammer to it like I was tempted to with my 360.

At least parents can know that the pricey new console they got for their kids will survive some rough play...for a while anyway.

Also be forewarned, there's a huge annoying plug in the middle of the video for the channel's sponsor so you might want to skip over that.

Reggie says CoD looks dramatically better on Wii U...what?

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/25/2012 10:28 PM - Add a Comment
CNN has an interview up with Nintendo of America COO Reggie Fils Aime, and for the most part it's a typical casual-oriented look at the new Wii U console. Reggie answers some questions about the GamePad controller, what it can do, and what it offers consumers. Then things get a little weird when the CNN anchor asks Reggie about the Wii U's technical capabilities as they stack up against the 360 and PS3, and Reggie responds that "if you do a side by side comparison, you would actually see that third party games like Call of Duty look dramatically better on our system."

Except that they don't. I've seen several side by side comparisons of not only Call of Duty Black Ops 2 but also Batman Arkham City, Mass Effect 3 and Assassin's Creed 3. These games all look fine on the Wii U but they look the same as they do on the 360 or PS3--not better, and definitely not "dramatically" better. I can understand spinning the truth a little and talking up your product, but there is a hard line between healthy bragging and outright lying.

I for one am really enjoying the Wii U and I think it's a slick new console with a lot of potential; who knows, maybe 2nd and 3rd generation Wii U games will look better than what is possible on the 360 and PS3. But none of the launch titles are there yet, and it's a little disheartening when NOA's president starts lying to our faces.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition launch trailer

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 11/20/2012 1:40 PM - Add a Comment
Are you one of the lucky few owners of a brand new Wii U? Have you STILL not played Batman Arkham City? Well, you're pretty much out of excuses now. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition is one of the Wii U's better launch titles just by virtue of being an amazing game. While the new GamePad controls might be a little hit or miss, you can still play the game normally without the gimmicks, and the ability to stream the game entirely to the GamePad is a pretty cool feature if you ask me.

I'm also really digging this launch trailer. It's more artfully done than the others and punctuates some of the best moments from the game. Seriously, if you've missed out on Arkham City for over a year now, pick up Armored Edition for your new Wii U. Any self-described gamer needs to play Arkham City sooner or later.

Now Loading for the week of November 18, 2012: U-Day Edition

by: Jeremy - posted: 11/19/2012 9:54 AM - Add a Comment
It is a special week for our beloved industry! Whether or not you are excited about Nintendo’s new Wii U, the fact that it is the launch of a new console is an exciting time in the industry. There is a lot new to stores this week as well as a ton on sale this coming weekend with Black Friday (as Nathan outlined over the weekend)

11/18/2012 11/20/2012 11/21/2012
  • Kinect Sports Gems: 3 Point contest for Xbox Live Arcade
  • Kinect Sports Gems: Darts vs. Zombies for Xbox Live Arcade
  • Kinect Sports Gems: Ski Race for Xbox Live Arcade
  • The Walking Dead Episode 5: No Time Left for Xbox Live Arcade

Kunai Stereo Gaming Headset....for those who managed to get a Wii U.

by: Sean Cahill - posted: 11/19/2012 9:35 AM - Add a Comment
As expected, Nintendo had a short supply of the their next generation console, Wii U, available for purchase.  While that is an entirely different story, Mad Catz is making sure that those who managed to pick up a Wii U will have plenty of high quality sound to listen to.  Announced for both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS is the Tritton Kunai headset.  Tritton headsets have exploded in the past couple of years after bursting onto the scene at CES just a few years ago, and with Mad Catz backing them up, we are starting to see a unique crossover with accessories.  I have to appreciate a company that isn't leaving the handheld gamer out to dry, especially those who have both a 3DS and a Wii U now.   [READ MORE]

Pray that you don't lose power while your Wii U is receiving it's firmware update

by: Chuck - posted: 11/19/2012 8:34 AM - Add a Comment
It's somewhat common knowledge that you don't ever want to loser power or shut off your console while it's receiving a firmware update as it can corrupt the unit, rendering it inoperable.  That said it's not much of a shock to see a lot of people having their brand new Wii U consoles turned into expensive doorstops when they lost power downloading the Day 1 firmware update for the Wii U. It's unfortunate to see people having this experience on the first day of a console launch given the hype and anticipation around the launch of the device.  

Then again Nintendo had to expect something like this to happen as the majority of the online functionality wasn't available until late Saturday afternoon.   The best advice I have for ensuring that this doesn't happen to you is to hook up your Wii U to a decent Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)  while you are doing your updates (which you should probably be doing already).  It might also help to have one for your internet modem as well as some people have reported that losing their internet connection has bricked their console as well (which seems odd to me personally). 


Your online account is tied to your Wii U

by: John - posted: 11/19/2012 2:00 AM - Add a Comment
Say, want to transfer that Nintendo Network Account to another Wii U if it happens to break down? You can't, for now. It seems your Network Account is tied to the physical machine so there's no going to someone else's house and logging in as you on their Wii U.

Seems a little backwards? It is. Now, let's hope this is something temporary as not every console is 100% defect free and sometimes they have to be replaced. It's easy for the other consoles to login to a brand new one and transfer your items over. If for some reason your Wii U breaks down whether by "natural" causes or an accident, I wonder how Nintendo's going to handle the situation where someone buys a replacement. 

It seems they would be in a rude awakening if they aren't able to get the items they purchased online as well as their profile to a working machine. Nintendo's always been behind when it comes to online capabilities as well as ease of use. Hopefully, they have a contingency plan in place and maybe they'll be able to adjust this policy soon because you know someone's going to cause an uproar the first time they try and get their new Wii U working with their account from another machine.

Thanks Kotaku.

Can these two salesmen convince you to buy a tank?

by: Russell - posted: 11/17/2012 11:40 PM - Add a Comment
Namco Bandai seems to be releasing a few Wii U launch trailers as the launch draws near, but this one takes the cake for me.  In this new launch trailer for Tank! Tank! Tank!, two salesmen show off a couple different tanks and what they can do with various weapons, from a Plasma Bolt to a Mega Beam to a Squirt Gun...yes, a squirt gun.  Honestly, watching this kind of makes me want to pick it up.  I mean, who doesn't want to battle it out in tanks with squirt guns?

FIFA 13 WiiU teaser

by: Nathaniel - posted: 11/16/2012 1:18 PM - Add a Comment
Fifa Soccer 13 for the WiiU will hit the shelves alongside its new console home complete with what I'd imagine are marginally better graphics and new gameplay features thanks to the WiiU's more modern hardware and signature tablet controller.  

However, trying to suss out exactly what those new features are by watching today's teaser trailer is basically impossible.  Sure it looks like you can change formations on the fly and use targeting cross hairs to aim free kicks but there's also a lot going on that isn't clear.  Can you use the accelerometer on the tablet controller to bend shots and passes?  Maybe.  Then there's just a bunch of stuff that just leaves me clueless.  

Finally, why do they spend like 10 seconds of a 49 second video showing Lionel Messi score a goal then pump his fist to celebrate?  Is that somehow a WiiU-specific feature?

Anyway, I don't mean to sound negative.  Fifa 13 is a lot of fun and I'm sure the WiiU version will be at least as fun, I just think this teaser is unnecessarily jumbled and unfocused. 

[READ MORE]

You didn't want to watch TV on the Wii U until December right?

by: John - posted: 11/16/2012 9:43 AM - Add a Comment
What started out as a release day patch for the Wii U has been pushed back. Joystiq is reporting that the patch to add such features as Amazon Video and Hulu Plus won't be making it until December.

Dubbed TVii, it would allow those with the gamepad to watch as well without having to take up the TV if they don't want to. There are plenty of other features that will keep you busy though, so it's not too disappointing. Let's hope it doesn't get pushed back even further.

This feature, by the way, is exclusive to the US and Canada. [READ MORE]

Now Loading: Audio Edition from CD102.5 for 11/14/2012

by: Jeremy - posted: 11/14/2012 9:44 AM - Add a Comment
Jeremy was live in the studio this morning, once again, with Joe Jewett and the Morning Show to talk about the launch of Black Ops 2 and the Nintendo Wii U console. Those readers who don’t live in the listening area can check out the segment below: