Wii System Update 4.2 now live

via Joystiq – ULTRAFEED by David Hinkle on 9/29/09

 

Just like the previous Wii System Update, 4.2 offers little in the way of surprises or features and mainly provides “behind-the-scene fixes,” designed to “improve the overall system performance.” The update also removes unauthorized save data (it wouldn’t be a real update otherwise!), so if you’ve been using things like the Homebrew channel, expect to be annoyed for the few minutes it takes the community to implement a workaround.

Wii System Update 4.2 now live originally appeared on

It’s Official.. Nintendo has dropped the Price on the WII

Nintendo drops Wii price to $199.99

Nintendo has officially announced that the price of the Wii will drop to $199.99, effective on Sunday. The long-rumored $50 price cut comes in the wake of recent price drops for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

First official lightsaber accessories for Wii announced update: no Motion Plus

There are a few weird, internal reactions a nerd has to deal with when a company — Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, in this case — announces that it’s creating the first officially licensed Star Wars lightsaber and blaster accessories for the Wii. On one hand, Wii accessories are, by and large, completely pointless. On the other hand, they’re lightsabers … and they light up. On yet another hand (wait … three hands?) the accessories, including the blaster, clearly don’t have enough room to accommodate MotionPlus (as far as we can tell).

Granted, these are being released in conjunction with Star Wars – The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, which has no MotionPlus support that we’re aware of, but come on! Any lightsaber accessory should have an extra slot for MotionPlus. We don’t care if LucasArts ever makes another lightsaber game or not. Hell, we’ll pick up Red Steel 2 and just pretend we’re using a lightsaber. At least, we would, if these accessories supported MotionPlus.

Oh, the Clone Trooper blaster also comes with stickers.

Update: We’ve confirmed with BDA that neither Republic Heroes nor its accessories support MotionPlus.

First official lightsaber accessories for Wii announced [update: no Motion Plus] originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

And now for some good RPG news…

Square-Enix has annouced that Dragon Quest 4 (Current US release date of September 16, 2008) , 5, and 6 (Coming Soon) will be heading to the Nintendo DS!.    Check out the [offical Site]

1 million Mario Kart for the Wii Sold…

[Games Industry] is reporting that Media Create has charted the Wii version of Mario Kart selling another 174,000 units in the past week pushing it over the 1 million sold mark.

 

the current top 10 in Japan is as follows:

1. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)

2. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)

3. Link’s Crossbow Training (Wii)

4. Wii Fit (Wii)

5. Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure (DS)

6. Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)

7. We’re Fossil Diggers (DS)

8. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)

9. Deca Sports (Wii)

10. Wii Sports (Wii)

 

=====================================

Well this goes to show that Nintendo is doing VERY well, with Sony trying to get 3rd place.   But with only 1 PS3 title in the top ten.. wow. =/    Of course, the Xbox is no where to be found..LOL

 

New US Wii Channel…

According to the official [Nintendo web site] a new channel has launched for the the Wii.

Nintendo Channel is an interactive guide to what’s new in the world of Nintendo – now available for easy download from the Wii Shop Channel. Watch trailers, mini-documentaries, product demonstrations, and gameplay videos. Browse the game guide pages to get information about your favorite games on Wii and Nintendo DS. You can even click to order games straight from your Wii, if you have the Internet Channel installed.

Makes me wish I had a Wii.  =(    Hey!  Nintendo!!! want to see more reviews and information on the Wii?!  Seen me one!  I’m a nice guy!!  hehe

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith announced

In an announcement that may just usurp the throne from Electronic Arts as the king of milking franchises, Activision has announced plans for a new Guitar Hero title, casting aside the franchise’s reputation for offering a wide breadth of rocking tracks in favor of highlighting a single band – Aerosmith. The news echoes comments made by guitarist Joe Perry last year regarding the series’ next installment, at which time he said that the next Guitar Hero game would be dedicated to the band’s music.

The announcement comes following Activision’s promise earlier this month to return to well this year, with the newly announced Guitar Hero: Aerosmith currently expected to ship to retail in June with Neversoft handling the game for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and Vicarious Visions taking care of development on the Wii. Details remain nonexistent concerning what tracks we can expect to make the cut, with guitarist Joe Perry commenting only that the title is “based on the diversity of the Aerosmith catalog.” With a game dedicated to one — and only one — band, we have to assume that whatever songs do find their way onto the disc, they’ll be master tracks (they better be).

And if June seems to far off for those of you hugging your Steven Tyler doll while staring at the Pump tour poster on the wall, Activision has announced plans to release the band’s 1973 power ballad ‘Dream On’ as a download for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of GHIII (Sorry Wii owners, but you knew what you were getting into). The song will be free from February 16-18, so get it while it’s hot!

[Via Joystick]

NERF WiiMote?

Every once in a while, somebody takes two of my favorite things and manages to combine them together in happy unity. Case in point: Electric Arts (EA) new advancements in Nerf and Wiimote technology.

EA plans to release this Nerf/Wiimote combo in tandem with a new game called Nerf N-Strike. This contraption that you see to your left doesn’t yet have an official name, but it is a Nerf shooter as well as a Wiimote for first person shooter games.

EA has been working with well-known toy company Hasbro on many products. These two companies have been developing video game versions of its most popular games, including Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Operation, and Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition.

Now I will finally be able to literally shoot something when I play Wii games, and I don’t have to worry about cracking the TV screen. I wonder if this blaster shoots Nerf disks or suction cup darts, because it would be cool to have the darts stick to your television screen.

I can’t help but wonder what kind of game Nerf N-Strike will be. If this product is targeted to the younger crowd, then “get ready for some family-friendly bloodless action!” I guess we’ll have to wait and see, as no release date or price has been set.

Source

Hack the Wii Guitar Hero controller

A hack of Wii Guitar Hero Guitar so it can actually be played like an instrument, with up to 45 different pitches. Finishes up (with one or two minor mistakes) the verse, chorus and solo to “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, by Nirvana, to demonstrate this.

Therapists recommend Nintendo Wii

In the gaming and medical world, therapists are prescribing Nintendo Wii time. Amazing what a “simple” innovation in a gaming console can do, right?

The latest case is related to a man who had a stroke, and in order to recover his strength, he is simply playing Nintendo Wii. According to the therapists, the Wii is suppose to help patients build balance, coordination, endurance and upper and lower body strength.