Virtual Consolation Prize: Star Fox 64 On The Way
Star Fox 64 is on the way for Virtual Console… at some point. I’m sure this is old news, but I was doing my usual trawl through the Intertubes for new info on VC announcements, and noticed that the classic shooter (now nearly ten years old, and boy do I feel ancient) has been given […]
Gamasutra Interviews Ralph Baer
Game Developer magazine’s March issue ran an interview with Ralph Baer, the father of video games and the recipient of 2005’s National Medal of Technology. Gamasutra’s got the full and unexpurgated interview, and Baer has some harsh words for those who would attempt to disparage his achievements: What did[ostensible inventor of video games Willy] Higinbotham […]
Retronauts: Sega Master System
Today on Retronauts, the usual gang of idiots discusses the unloved Sega Master System, a console which two of us actually owned at one point even though we don’t actually remember any of the games that were on it except for Phantasy Star and Golvellius, and I don’t even remember that. We go so stir-crazy […]
GameTap Adds Strategy Classics to Roster
Fans of old-school strategy/tactical games will be thrilled to hear that GameTap has added three of the best to their online lineup. Myth II: Soulblighter, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, and X-Com: UFO Defense are all now available from the service. The Myth games, you might like to know, came from Bungie, back when they were […]
Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles XBLA
Flash back to 1989. I’m nine years old, Street Fighter II won’t be out for another two years, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the hottest thing in video arcades, by which I of course mean the lobby of the movie theater. There’s no waiting: with four turtles in the cartoon crew, four players can […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Beyond Splatterbike
Virtual Consolation Prize: Beyond Splatterbike Source link : Wired
Animated Pong T-Shirt
ZOMG…check out this animated Pong Retro Table Tennis t-shirt. It takes three AAA batteries and is probably not the safest thing to wear in the rain, but holy flaming cow, is it cool! The Pong table tennis bit comes off so that you can wash the shirt, which makes me wonder…with a bit of alteration […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Americans Get Theirs
Virtual Consolation Prize: Americans Get Theirs Source link : Wired
Mario’s Overalls Are Red With the Blood of Goombas
Ever wonder what the saga of Mario would look like if the Mushroom Kingdom had been an oppressive Communist Regime? Sure, we all do. Well, wonder no longer! It takes forever and a day to load, and looks like it isn’t doing anything at all for the first few minutes, but it’s definitely worth waiting […]
SNK’s US Branch Spills Nintendo Secrets
Ben Herman, president of SNK’s American division, has spoken to UK rumormongering site Spong about Virtual Console. In so doing he has spilled many interesting tidbits about how Nintendo is running things these days. The info: __Nintendo has all the data. __”I know that Nintendo has all the code for NES and SNES titles, all […]
Retronauts: The Fall and Fall of Mascots
The Retronauts podcast is back! Actually, it’s been going all this time, but without me. Now I’m back on it, which means it is well and truly returned to glory. In today’s episode, we kick it off by talking about all of the random Virtual Console news (Chew Man Fu, Zelda, and racism) of the […]
Adventure Game Convention Planned
All you fans of ye olde pointe and clicke games, take note: The first ever adventure game convention will be hitting the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas this August. AdventureCon was originally slated as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Infocom classic Zork (the very game that introduced me to the genre back in […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Chew On This, Zelda
Virtual Consolation Prize: Chew On This, Zelda Source link : Wired
Dear Sony: If You’re Gonna Talk S**t, Back It Up
Next-Gen’s Colin Campbell penned an editorial over the weekend about how Sony’s decision to yank the PS2 hardware out of the PS3 for Europe was the right one. I’m not about to argue with him. For one, I too have written articles defending unpopular decisions. For another, I agree with him: backwards compatibility really isn’t […]
Video: Ninja Turtles on XBLA
Hey Susan, what was that you were saying just now about wanting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Xbox Live Arcade? Because here you go, courtesy of the Netherlands’ own leak factory, Inside Gamer.Fans of the classic four-player arcade game can look forward to online multiplayer, the original arcade voicework, and who knows what else. 3:47 […]
Ocarina of Time Hits US Virtual Console Monday
Ocarina of Time Hits US Virtual Console Monday Source link : Wired
Japan Virtual Console Update: The Whole List
Okay, here’s the whole update roster for the Japanese Virtual Console. Sorry, I didn’t mean to tease you guys with that Neo Geo piece. There’s lots of cool stuff hitting in March. To wit: NES: Lode Runner, Yoshi, Valkyrie’s Adventure, Excite Bike, Donkey Kong Jr. Math SNES: Mystical Ninja, Hercules’ Glory 3, Actraiser (only because […]
Neo Geo Games On Virtual Console
Nintendo has announced that Neo Geo games will appear this year on Virtual Console. What else can I say? Nothing, as they haven’t announced any specific titles yet. However, it is time to get really excited. Nintendo also confirmed that games for the MSX home computer will be hitting Virtual Console (but perhaps in Japan […]
Virtual Console Roundup: Every Single Upcoming Game
Here, all in one place, is every single upcoming release that I could find out about for the US Virtual Console — from officially announced titles to speculation based on what’s coming out in other regions. I’ve flushed out every corner of the Intertubes that I could locate to bring you this list, but let […]
Retronauts: We Preserve Your Old Games
This week on Retronauts, we kidnap LostLevels.org’s Frank Cifaldi, the world’s leading authority on unreleased video games and incipient editorial director of GameTap, to talk about game preservation. It’s a fascinating discussion, for which I can claim approximately zero credit. Frank’s group has tracked down such rarities as the unreleased NES version of Final Fantasy […]
Final Fantasy PSP Remakes Hit US This Summer
The “remastered” versions of Final Fantasy I and II for PSP will hit the US on June 26 and July 24, respectively, Square Enix announced today. Square Enix also released the first English screenshots of the game and included one interesting bit from the game’s menu screen: apparently, you’ll be able to play the game […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: WHOO PUNCH-OUT
People, it is time to put on your pink warm-up suit and jog over to the Wii and purchase Punch-Out!! I swear to God if I hear one of you complain that it’s not the one starring Mike Tyson I will punch you in the stomach. And shout “body blow!” when I do it. Punch-Out!! […]
Taito Legends 2 To Feature Games You Actually Care About
It’s been out in Europe and Japan forever, but Taito Legends 2 is finally making its way to the US. And it’s about time, considering that this is the game that contains all the Taito games you actually care about. The first Taito Legends had Bubble Bobble, sure, but lacked games like Darius, Elevator Action […]
Mortal Kombat II On PlayStation 3 This Week
Sony Online Entertainment announced this morning that arcade classic Mortal Kombat II would jump into the acid pit known as PlayStation 3 this Thursday, April 12. The $5 download will feature multiplayer play and leaderboards through the PlayStation Network, and you’d better believe that all eyes will be on Sony come Thursday, to see how […]
Stanford Archives Contain Incredibly Rare Ultima Game, Whatever
Remember Henry Lowood, the Stanford professor who’s building an archival “canon” of video games? Somebody needs to go in there and explain to him what he’s got. In a recent CNET video, Lowood is shown opening up a random box of games in the university’s 25,000-strong collection, pulling out a copy of Ultima: Escape From […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Good Friday, Bad Monday
After a brief flirtation with acceptability, Virtual Console is back in its usual mediocre rut. Fantastic games like Punch-Out languish unloved in second-rate countries such as Japan and Europe, while America has to make do with Galaga, Bravoman, and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle. I’m not even really sure what Bravoman is, but I’m […]
Retronauts: The Pokemon Episode
This week on Retronauts, we show you our Pokemans. EGM’s Bryan Intihar and GameVideos’ Mark MacDonald join the regular cast of jackholes and bring some class to the proceedings as we discuss the humble beginnings and world-crushing dominance of the Pokemon games. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Pokemon, check your […]
GameTap Adds Saturn Games to Roster
Sega may have pulled the final plug on the Saturn, but the games live on thanks to GameTap. The super-cute platformer Bug! has been added to GameTap’s ranks, but you’ll have to hunt to find it. It’s currently listed as “Insect,” (little Easter Egg for ya, har har) and its description says that you should […]
Japan’s Virtual Console Developers Want Classic Arcade Games, Too
It’s not just me who wants a bigger Virtual Console lineup and more platforms — the guys who designed it do, too. In a new interview with the developers of the Wii Shop Channel, they express some interesting wishes for the future: Haruhana: This is going to be a personal request, but I wish that […]
I Was Just Playing Some Bad NES Games
Long Tail or no, I think I found some retro classics that not even Nintendo will add to the back catalog. After recording this week’s episode of Retronauts, I went over to the adorable miniature novelty-size apartment where Scott Sharkey and his girlfriend live. It used to be a brothel, Sharkey explained to me as […]
Punch-Out Hunger Strike Ends
After the most brutal twenty minutes of my young life, the Hunger Strike For Punch-Out!! On Virtual Console has come to an end. I want you to know that I fought valiant-y, pushing myself to the limits of human endurance. But then, while I was looking for something to cut myself with, I opened my […]
Punch-Out Hunger Strike Begins
Punch-Out Hunger Strike Begins Source link : Wired
Sega Pulls Last Plug on Saturn, Dreamcast
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that the Saturn and the Dreamcast are truly and officially dead. Granted, the consoles themselves hadn’t been made for years, but Sega was still repairing them both, as well as manufacturing the GD-Roms that were specific to Dreamcast games. No more. This offically kills off […]
Retronauts: We’re Pirates
On this week’s episode of Retronauts, Jeremy Parish, Scott Sharkey, Ray Barnholt, Ryan Scott, and myself discuss that sticky situation called emulation. Obviously we all just talked in circles, since everybody has ROMs on their computer they don’t technically own, but that doesn’t make it right. Come listen to us ramble and reminisce.Retronauts Episode 17 […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Europe Gets Punch-Out First
All kinds of new Virtual Console announcements for all regions are coming down the pipe today, including the horriffic news that Europe is getting Punch-Out first. What gives? Does Nintendo of America know how much this hurts me? If there’s no Punch-Out on my Wii by Monday, I’m going on a hunger strike. Other news […]
Jobs: Run Nintendo’s Virtual Console
Nintendo is hiring a Virtual Console coordinator! Everybody knows Virtual Console is screwed up, so maybe you can get hired to fix it. Ha ha! By “fix it” I of course mean “take the blame.” Here’s the job duties:– Coordinates the production of Wii Shop Channel content, including Virtual Console and other digitally distributed titles […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: ESRB Rates Final Fight, SFII Turbo
Capcom’s SNES classics Final Fight and Street Fighter II Turbo are Virtual Console-bound. Spencer over at Siliconera has been patiently reloading the ESRB ratings page until new games showed up there. Of course, this only means that the games are eventually coming; there are some that have been up there for months and not yet […]
Dragon’s Lair Hits Blu-Ray April 9
Digital Leisure announced today that the classic laserdisc arcade game Dragon’s Lair would be released on Blu-Ray on April 9. As if we needed more Dragon’s Lair after it was released on DVD, with a giant yellow starburst on the box informing us that it could be played on the Xbox and PS2. Of course. […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: One Damn Game
Virtual Consolation Prize: One Damn Game Source link : Wired
Japan’s Mario Sales Throughout The Ages
User “Stumpokapow” over at NeoGAF has whipped up this nice clean chart of the Japanese sales of every major Super Mario Bros. game, building on the work of others and making it presentable. This just serves to illustrate exactly how successful New Super Mario Bros. is on the DS — it’s currently the second-best-selling Mario […]
Rampage World Tour Hits PlayStation Store Tomorrow
Continuing their weekly release of Midway’s classic arcade games on PlayStation 3’s download service, Sony Online Entertainment today announced that Rampage World Tour would hit on Thursday, May 17, for $4.99. A latter-day sequel to the original building-smashing monster arcade title, World Tour was released in 1997. The game features online multiplayer for up to […]
Bomberman Coming to Xbox Live Arcade
Hudson Entertainment has announced that it’s bringing another no-brainer–Bomberman–to Xbox Live Arcade this summer. If ever a game was meant for the Arcade, Bomberman is certainly it, but this isn’t a port of one of the older titles, it’s an all-new version. Any of you who were unfortunate enough to play Bomberman Act Zero might […]
Prince of Persia Lives Again on Xbox Live Arcade
The Prince of Persia may be thriving on next-gen consoles, but Ubisoft wants to make sure he keeps it real and remembers his roots, so they’re bringing his original 1989 adventure to Xbox Live Arcade. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s been remade a bit so it won’t be exactly the […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Now Featuring Japan
That’s right: Game|Life’s Japanese Wii is up and running and look, we’ve got Virtual Console points already. Super Mario Bros. 2 was released just recently, and so it became our inaugural Japanese VC purchase. As you probably know, this isn’t the game that was released in the US as “Super Mario Bros. 2.” That game […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Of Dots and Ninjas
To get in the proper mood for this week’s releases on the Virtual Console, first go watch this. Yes, at one time in this fine nation’s history, we were in the grips of Pac-Man fever. There was a cereal, there was a song, there was a cartoon, and there was, of course, an NES version […]
This Week on Xbox Live Arcade: Double Dragon
On tap at the Xbox Live Arcade this week is some old-school side scrolling beat-em-up action with Double Dragon. We were getting kind of spoiled there, with two-fers and three-fers, but it’s just the one lone game this time around. At least it’s a classic. You can either go it solo or team up with […]
Learn to be a Whiz at Pac-Man
Do you want to score more at Pac-Man? Sure, we all do! If twenty-five years of practice hasn’t been enough for you, then perhaps you should check out this handy PDF, based on the Break a Million at Pac-Man book released back in 1982. It even throws in some helpful hints for conquering Ms. Pac-Man. […]
Sequel to Adventure Finally Finished
It’s been in the works for years, and now finally Adventure II, the sequel to the game that gave us dragons that look like ducks and gaming’s first Easter Egg, is finally ready and available for purchase. Adventure II, for the Atari 5200, has been in the works for many years; every time I saw […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Mighty Ordyne Fight
This week’s Virtual Console update is a three-system sampler: one from the NES, one from its big brother, the SNES, and one from the step-cousin that nobody likes to invite to the barbecue but kind of has to because technically it’s family, the TurboGrafx16. From the NES, we get Mighty Bomb Jack, which sounds like […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: ‘Swonderful
This week on Virtual Console Theatre (see, it’s the PAL version, that’s why it’s “Theatre”), we’ll be featuring a sampling from the Sega Mega Drive series. First up is an entry from the franchise that’s so hard you pretty much need to start playing it in the womb to be any good at it, Virtua […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: The View Never Changes
On Wii’s Virtual Console today, America continues trailing behind Europe and Japan with two games that the rest of Planet Earth played a month ago: Castlevania and Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Two quality pieces of entertainment, to be sure, but sloppy seconds is never fun. Europe got Final Fight and Mighty Bomb Jack yesterday, […]
Auction Watch: SNES PowerFest ’94 Cartridge
Nintendo World Championship cartridges? Pfeh. They’re a dime a dozen compared to… the PowerFest ’94 cartridge, only one of which survives to this day. Well, that’s what the guy trying to auction it for $25,000 says: This is the game used in the Nintendo World Championships II also known as the PowerFest ’94. This competition […]
Nintendo Japan, Hudson US Announce May VC Lineups
Nintendo of America likes to be secretive about Virtual Console releases, but their Japanese parent and Hudson’s US branch have no such qualms. As such, they’ve both released the lineups of games we can expect to see from them on Virtual Console in May. TurboGrafx (US): Ordyne (Namco Bandai)Ninja Spirit (Irem)Blazing Lasers (Hudson)World Sports Competition […]
Iwata: Virtual Console Sales Slowing Down
Nintendo has sold 3.3 million games on its Virtual Console download service worldwide, the company’s president Satoru Iwata told the Japanese press yesterday. On January 24 of this year, Nintendo announced that sales on the Wii’s downloadable retro games service had topped 1.5 million; today’s news means that sales have more than doubled in the […]
Punch-Out and Crippling HDTV Lag
If you download Punch-Out for Virtual Console, you’d better make sure you either have a standard-definition television or a lot of patience. Reports — including ours here in the Game|Life testing labs — strongly indicate that the game’s precision timing is thrown off significantly on LCD televisions, making it virtually unplayable. At first, I thought […]
Opinion: Sony’s PSone Game Download Service Is A Mess
The recent spate of announcements concerning Sony’s PSone Classics download offerings for PlayStation Network has made one thing clear: the service is a total mess. Game|Life has been pretty tough on Nintendo’s Virtual Console, and with good reason — there’s just no compelling explanation for why North America has to sit on our hands while […]
Square Enix Not Sold On Virtual Console
RPG powerhouse Square Enix is hesitant to jump into the Virtual Console market, says the company’s Shinji Hashimoto in a new interview with Japan’s Nintendo Dream magazine. We feel that the Japanese game market still requires [physical] media. Also, FF and Dragon Quest are played by a wide range of users, from children to adults, […]
Battle Lode Runner First Japan-Only Retro Game on US Virtual Console
After telling Game|Life that classic video games that were only released in Japan might come to the Wii’s Virtual Console service in the US, Nintendo has given the okay to the first one: Battle Lode Runner, a multiplayer version of the classic action game for the PC Engine (TurboGrafx). At $6, it’s one of this […]
Video Games Hidden in 80s Albums
Unlockable and hidden games–Easter eggs–are fairly common in video games, but it seems that a handful of vinyl records and cassettes from the 80s had some hidden treasures in them, as well. According to Kempa.com, recordings from The Thompson Twins, Pete Shelley, Shakin’ Stevens, and The Stranglers all have (fairly crappy) video games tucked between […]
Virtual Consolation Prize: Sporty, Bloody
Today’s Virtual Console lineup is aimed right at Dad. Did you buy him a Wii for Father’s Day? If not, you are a bad child. If you did, tell him to log on and buy NES Open Tournament Golf and World Sports Competition, because I sure as hell am not going to. Also on tap […]