[Wii U] Nintendo announces Wii U Virtual Console; confirms Earthbound is on the way

[Wii U] Nintendo announces Wii U Virtual Console; confirms Earthbound is on the way

So, the Wii U Spring System Update will drop next week. It will speed up the console when switching between applications and will also add and enhance functionality.

The day after the update launches the Wii U Virtual Console service will kick off. Additionally, a free demo will be made available for Wii U Panorama View on the Nintendo eShop.

But most importantly, Nintendo have announced that Earthbound will be arriving on the Wii U's Virtual Console sometime before the end of the year. That's right, Earthbound is coming! This is great news considering how touchy Nintendo has been about the subject in recent months, but apparently fan outcry helped them change their minds and make it happen.

This is especially good news for European gamers, as we've never had the chance to play the game legally (due to the fact Earthbound never came out over here) unless you imported a console and a copy of the game. So, I'm especially eager to drop my money on this game and show my support.

Earthbound, as well as other Virtual Console titles on the Wii U, will support Off-TV play and potentially Miiverse Community support. I say potentially because I'm not sure if all Virtual Console releases will support it.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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Shadow of the Eternals Announced as Spiritual Successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

A few days ago, we reported on “Shadow of the Eternals,” which seemed to be the sequel to the much-loved GameCube title, “Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.” Today, it has been confirmed this will be the spiritual successor for the game, will be available on Wii U, and it is being developed by many of the same people who created the original game. Their new company, Precursor Games, is crowd-funding this episodic game, in order to work directly with the fans. Find out more below.

PRESS RELEASE

Canadian Developer Precursor Games Launches Crowd-funding Campaign for “Shadow of the Eternals”

Hamilton, Ontario – May 6th 2013 – Precursor Games today unveils its debut project Shadow of the Eternals. Developed by the creators of the critically acclaimed Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Shadow of the Eternals is an episodic action/adventure game that is likely to gain the attention of gamers everywhere.

Featuring an ensemble cast, Shadow of the Eternals will span over 2500 years of human history. Players will question their own perception of reality as they progress through this mind-altering psychological horror. The Pilot Episode is slated for release Q3 2014 on the Nintendo Wii U and PC.

The emerging studio is taking crowdfunding to the next level by giving the community the ability to contribute content to the game. Precursor Games has also revealed a campaign video and rewards tier system to go with their 1.5 million dollar goal, including pre-orders and exclusive merchandise.

“Precursor Games intends to leave no stone unturned in order to create an unparalleled experience for gamers”, said Paul Caporicci, CEO of Precursor Games. “We have a talented team, incredible technology with CryENGINE and a new business model where we directly integrate the fan base into the development process, allowing for new possibilities and game direction. We are very excited to see where this new direction leads.”

The Shadow of the Eternals crowd-funding campaign is can be found at www.ShadowOfTheEternals.com.

About Precursor Games:

Founded in July of 2012, Precursor Games is comprised of veteran game developers with over 20 years of experience. Precursor Games is an agile, efficient, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative company dedicated to community participation. It is looking to change the way games are made in an ever-changing industry by taking advantage of the emergence of digital distribution, episodic content and community-driven crowdfunding.

FAQ’s

Is Shadow of the Eternals DRM-free?

Yes, we plan to release a DRM-free version. Specific details will be announced in the future.

What platforms will Shadow of the Eternals be on?

We will be focusing on the PC and Wii U. Other platforms may be added in the future if desired by the community and the right funding goals are met.

How do I download Episode 1 on PC or Wii U?

This game is planned for digital distribution on both PC and Wii U. Details will be announced at a later date.

Will Shadow of the Eternals only be in English?

No, we will have subtitles for other languages. Details to follow.

Can you explain the stretch goals?

Shadow of the Eternals will be an episodic series, and our initial goal is 1.5 million dollars. This includes production on the Pilot Episode, game engine costs and core system development. Future episodes of Shadow of the Eternals will be significantly less to produce, and we look forward to announcing the possibility of more episodes based on the success of our campaign.
Additional money raised beyond this will also contribute to things such as in-game perks, additional gaming platforms, and other surprises. The more money that we raise, the more we will deliver based on what our fans want.

Why Crowdfunding and Self-Publishing?

The primary reason to crowdfund Shadow of the Eternals is because it allows us to work directly with our fans, and gain valuable feedback in developing the project. We can develop a rapport with our audience that would otherwise be difficult in a traditional setting.
Secondly, the games industry is currently in a state in which publishers no longer take chances on a project like this. We feel that the best way to bring this title to the public is to release it independently.

What happens if you do not reach your goal?

Our financial goal is a flexible one, and Precursor Games is committed to creating Shadow of the Eternals. All contributions will go directly towards the development of this game and making it a reality.

I would like to pledge, but I don’t really want to design anything. Is this okay?

Of course. Precursor Games will not force you to be involved in the creative development of Shadows of the Eternals if you do not wish to be.

What will the gameplay be like?

The gameplay in Shadow of the Eternals will utilize various mechanics for the different characters and locales, including physical combat, magick, exploration, and sanity systems.

What is Shadow of the Eternals about?

In Shadow of the Eternals, we follow the investigations of Detective Paul Becker, who is called to one of the bloodiest massacres in Louisiana state history. Only two survivors remain from a brutal conflict between two rival cults at the abandoned Pleasant View Hospital: one a suave, clean-cut business man – and the other a hardened, rogue-like biker.
Both men have seemingly lost all memory of who they are – and yet they are compelled to kill each other. As Becker begins his interrogations of the suspects, their combined recollections create the world of Shadow of the Eternals.

What is the Pilot Episode about?

Episode 1: “A Dream within a Dream” is a story that takes place in Hungary, 1610 AD in the castle of Erzébet Bathory. Bathory is considered to be one most notorious female serial killers of all time; torturing and killing as many as 400 young women to death in her obsessive quest for eternal life. We follow the character of Clara, a handmaiden and lover of Bathory’s, and the events that take place during the time of these murders.

Who do I play as?

You play as several characters throughout human history. Throughout Season One you play as Paul Becker, a Louisiana police detective. In the Pilot, you play Clara Rusznyák, a handmaiden to the noblewoman, Erzébet Bathory.

Why is this game episodic? What does that mean?

This means that the game will be delivered in chapters over time, and not all at once. This will allow Precursor Games to interact with gamers, and receive feedback that will both influence and improve the creative decisions involved in producing each episode.
Each episode will feature one or two characters that are part of a larger ensemble cast, as well as different locations across 2500 years of human history. As more episodes are released, players will piece together how each character’s fate is intertwined with one another.

How long is each episode?

Each episode will have approximately 2-4 hours of gameplay.

What kind of game is this?

This is an action-adventure game with horror elements.

Does this game feature multiplayer?

No, this is a single player experience. We believe that single player games are very much alive in this industry, and present a cinematic experience to the gamer unlike any other.

When do you plan to release?

Q3 2014, with subsequent episodes to quickly follow.

EPISODES

Pilot Episode – A Dream Within A Dream

The pilot episode of Shadow of the Eternals begins when detective Paul Becker is called to one of the bloodiest massacres in Louisiana state history at Pleasant View Hospital. The massacre is survived by two individuals who seemingly have no recollection about who they are or what has transpired.

Becker’s interrogation of the suspects brings us to Hungary 1610 AD at ?achtice Castle – home to the noblewoman Erzébet Bathory. Bathory is also a notorious serial killer; torturing and killing as many as 400 young women in her obsessive quest to retain her youth. You play the role of Bathory’s handmaiden and lover Clara, who is blackmailed by the authorities into gathering information about a missing nobleman’s daughter.

Events are soon set in motion that will change Clara’s life forever.

Episode Highlights:

Travel back to 1610 Hungary and explore ?achtice Castle – the home of Erzébet Bathory
Use a variety of mechanics including magick, combat, and sanity to guide Clara through this horrific tale
Piece together a complex mystery while questioning the perception of reality

[Shadow of the Eternals Website]

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NintendoFuse Podcast #89: Nintendo Direct, Wii U Update, Iwata as NOA CEO, and more!

The live recording is now over. You can listen at the link above.

There is so much happening in the world of Nintendo right now, there are big things ahead. This week on the NintendoFuse Podcast, we focus completely on all the major happenings. First, we discuss all the recent major news from the Nintendo Direct this month. Then, it’s Wii U time as we talk about the system update, Miiverse on the web, and more. And we can’t forget the surprise story about Iwata becoming NOA CEO. What’s that about? We’ll give our thoughts on the podcast, so make sure you join us THIS Tuesday at 8 pm eastern LIVE for the recording!

—–

And like with all live shows, YOU will be able to call in to the show LIVE and voice your thoughts! There are three ways of participating…

1) Chat in the chatroom by going to the NintendoFuse Podcast TalkShoe page during the podcast.

2) Call in with your phone by dialing (724) 444-7444 and when prompted for the Call ID, dial 59264#. You can then press 1 to join in as a guest, or you can create a free account on TalkShoe and enter your PIN number on the phone.

3) Call in with your microphone on your computer by downloading TalkShoe Live for free from here. Once installed, go to the NintendoFuse Podcast TalkShoe page and then select the option to connect through TalkShoe Live Pro.

So bookmark this post, as you don’t want to miss the show THIS Tuesday LIVE at 8 pm eastern time!

In the meantime, feel free to listen to our older episodes, including our E3 specials, interviews, and more. You can do that with the player above, from the Talkshoe page here, or on iTunes here. See you on Tuesday!

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REVIEW – Kung Fu Rabbit

Game review by Jeremy Hardin

Game – Kung Fu Rabbit
Version – Wii U eShop ($4.99)
Rating – E for Everyone
Obtained – Review Code courtesy of Neko Entertainment

Story and Plot

As you might expect, there isn’t too much going on in the way of a story here, but it’s at least a quirky intro.  So you and your bunny pals are just chilling at the dojo, when all of a sudden, evil, hungry aliens invade and snatch up your pals for a bunny banquet – not as the guest of honor mind you, but as the main course!  Now, it’s up to you, Kung Fu Rabbit with all your skills, to save your bunny pals from the gullet of the evil aliens.

Gameplay and Controls

Gameplay is broken down into 3 worlds and 1 bonus cavern, each world houses 20 levels apiece.  Your goal in each level is to reach the trapped bunny at the end of the level, and since one hit kills, you  must take care to avoid enemies and obstacles alike.  The levels are laid out in such a manner that you must be precise with your jumps and time them accordingly.  One of your only Kung Fu abilities, is being able to cling to a wall, while slowly sliding down, and wall jump.  This wall-clinging, jump ability is actually your greatest, if only strength and every level is designed to challenge your ability and skill.  Oddly enough, for a rabbit with the Kung Fu label, you’re quite weak when it comes to evil aliens.  In fact, you’re nothing more than a pushover when face to face with an enemy however, get behind an enemy and you’ll dispatch of them with one swipe of your paw.

In addition to saving your bunny friends, you’ll find 3 normal carrots and 1 golden carrot placed around each level.  By collecting all the carrots, especially the golden one, you not only improve your score, but you also earn in-game currency to buy items in the dojo.  These items will make your quest easier and are well worth the extra effort to collect all 4 carrots in each level.  The levels are short in length, most of them taking a couple of minutes or so to complete.  This design makes Kung Fu Rabbit a great game to pick up and play, especially when your time is limited.  For those of us who are short on time and patience, you’ll be glad to hear that restarting a level is quick and painless and even further encourages you to replay levels.

Controlling your Rabbit is quite easy as there are multiple controls schemes supported.  I only played with the Gamepad, and I found it quite easy to run and wall jump about.  I would say that anyone could pick up and play Kung Fu Rabbit within a matter of minutes, it’s really easy to control.  You can use either the d-pad or left thumb-stick to control your rabbit, attacking is done automatically, so long as you are behind an enemy’s back, and jumping is done with A, B buttons.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics are, for the most part, simple, yet effective in creating an engaging atmosphere.  That is not to say the simplicity is a negative in any way, by no means is that the case.  In fact, the visuals are quite pleasing in their simplicity.  Your character and yes, even the enemies are all designed to look cute and each have a cartoon quality about them.  The environment itself has enough detail to make it interesting and look alive.  Visually, I was pleased with the small details, and yes, even the simple design and layout.

The audio, while charming, suffers from a lack of variety.  I have no doubts that you’ll surely enjoy the sounds of Kung Fu Rabbit as he ‘pitter patters’ across the levels and shouts with glee as he rescues his trapped bunny friends.  I suppose, that isn’t even really where the repetitive nature of the audio will bother you the most, but rather in the background music of each level.  Other than this one little gripe, I enjoyed the audio presentation of Kung Fu Rabbit.  I only wish I had more to enjoy. This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

Neko Entertainment did a great job of porting what was originally an iOS game over to the Wii U eShop.  Kung Fu Rabbit proves to be an entertaining , fun, and challenging game with visuals and gameplay that are sure to please everyone who plays.  Considering the base amount of content, plus the unlockables and challenge mode, $4.99 is a great price for everything being offered.  I strongly encourage you to plop down the $5 and save those bunnies!

+ Easy to pick up and play
+ In-game purchases (upgrades)
+ Visually appealing (looks great in HD)
+ Off-TV Play supported (mirrored)
+ Hours of content
+ Unlockable Challenge Mode (increased difficulty and tile swap of all levels)

- Repetitive audio
– No online or local leaderboards

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[Vita] Sly Collection headed to Vita?

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[Wii U] What to do about Wii U?

GlueGun18
Worse with Kinect



Posts: 3,542
Joined: Jan 2007
Reputation: 72 [Wii U] What to do about Wii U?

Launching a new console is hardly an exact science. There has been a long history of shaky console launches for a myriad of reasons - poor marketing, lackluster launch lineups, faulty hardware, prohibitive launch prices, underwhelming usage of new technology, or all of the above. Recent history has provided us with two prime examples: In early 2011, Nintendo unleashed the 3DS to strong launch sales that soon plummeted to alarming levels in the following months. A hefty $250 price tag combined with a barren library of software prompted the familiar “Nintendoomed” cries from cynical onlookers. About a year later, Sony failed to learn from Nintendo’s mistakes when they launched their own new handheld in the Vita, enduring the same sluggish sales following launch thanks to its own lack of compelling games and pricey entry level. It’s interesting, however, that in the time since their respective post-launch letdowns the two handhelds have gone in complete opposite directions: The 3DS has exploded to the tune of 30 million units sold in just two years thanks to a steady stream of impressive game releases along with a price drop and a worthy hardware redesign. Meanwhile, the Vita continues to sell at a snail’s pace with fewer than 5 million units sold in its first year-and-a-bit as gamers point to a lack of must-have titles and pricey memory cards as justification for keeping the money in their wallets. This fact alone should serve as a warning to those who like to jump to wild conclusions in the first few months following a console's launch.

It feels like déjà vu all over again in the early months of 2013 though following the launch of Nintendo’s first HD console, the Wii U. Nintendo promised that they wouldn’t make the same mistakes at launch with the Wii U as it did with the 3DS, and many of us believed them. Oops. The console saw solid launch sales as it closed out 2012 with around 3 million units sold worldwide by New Year’s, but the time since has seen Wii U sales slow to a crawl, once again making Nintendo the target of much criticism and leaving some to wonder if the company is longed to continue competing in the home console business. About this time a year ago, I wrote an article pleading patience on behalf of the Vita as it drew widespread criticism while it struggled through its own post-launch problems. Things haven’t improved much (if any) for Sony’s ailing handheld since then, so perhaps my attempt to be the voice of calm and reason on behalf of the Wii U will fall on deaf ears, but five months into the console’s lifespan is hardly enough time to justify such panic. That being said, Nintendo has their work cut out for them if they are to turn the Wii U’s fortunes around.

NSMBU was not the system-seller Nintendo thought it would be.
The first question that needs to be asked is: how did this happen (again)? Most will point to the underwhelming software library currently available. There are polarizing views on the Wii U’s lineup of launch software. For some - primarily those who never owned a PS3 or Xbox 360 - the launch library provided an almost overwhelming abundance of quality titles to indulge in with the likes of Darksiders II, Mass Effect 3, Ninja Gaiden 3, Assassin’s Creed III, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, and Batman: Arkham City complemented by exclusives Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, and ZombiU to keep them busy for many months. For many others who had played most of these titles on other platforms months earlier, the launch library seemed far less enticing as the few console exclusives seemed to lack the “must-have” quality to motivate them to drop $400 or more of their hard-earned cash on a Wii U. The months following launch have done little to alter that perception either. Flagship “launch window” titles Pikmin 3, Rayman Legends, and The Wonderful 101 have all been delayed until late summer or even later, leaving only a small handful of titles like Lego City Undercover, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted U to carry the load until the cavalry arrives later in the year, however it’s already clear that these games do not have the clout to significantly boost hardware sales on their own. Even the staunchest Nintendo supporter will admit that this leaves few reasons for prospective buyers to take the plunge at this point in time.
"Launch window" my ass.
The cavalry is coming though. In January, a much-needed Nintendo Direct presentation offered some reassurance by confirming that in addition to the three titles mentioned earlier, Wii U owners have a new 3D Super Mario, Mario Kart Wii U, Super Smash Bros. 4, a new Legend of Zelda, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem, Monolith Soft’s X, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Bayonetta 2, and Yarn Yoshi to look forward to in terms of exclusives, though it’s unclear how far away many of these titles are from releasing. A smattering of third-party support is being sprinkled in as well, with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Batman: Arkham Origins, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Watch Dogs, and Resident Evil: Revelations also on the way. We also expect that Nintendo has a few other aces up their sleeves (not the least of which is Retro Studios’ mystery project), hopefully some of which will be unveiled at E3 in less than two months. Is it too late though? With Sony and Microsoft set to finish unveiling their own next-gen consoles at E3 leading up to a late-2013 launch, Nintendo seems to have squandered its one-year opportunity to gain an advantage over its competitors by convincing fence-sitters to make an impulse buy. I have no doubt that games like Mario, Mario Kart, Smash Bros., and Zelda will do wonders in improving Wii U sales exponentially (as they did for the 3DS), however with hype surrounding the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Next continuing to grow and the Wii U mired in negativity for the time being and foreseeable future, Nintendo will have to work hard to convince gamers that the Wii U is the console to put their money on this year.
Rest assured Nintendo's big franchises will come, and they will move a lot of hardware. Just hurry up.
Beyond Nintendo’s own inability to sufficiently supply their new console with software early in its lifespan, another major concern is the lack of third-party support. While it’s nothing new for Nintendo consoles to get snubbed on major third-party releases, Nintendo made it clear prior to the Wii U’s launch that there was a concerted effort to make the hardware developer-friendly so that it would be easy to port games from other platforms. The fruits of that labor seemed bountiful at launch, but since then the Wii U has become something of a black sheep among consoles. There were plenty of multiplatform candidates early this year to fill in the void of software on the Wii U – Crysis 3 (which was up and running on Wii U but never released), Tomb Raider, Dead Space 3, BioShock Infinite, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – however disappointingly none of their respective developers deemed it worth the effort. That might be somewhat understandable considering the Wii U’s relatively small user base, however it appears few are willing to take the chance even as we transition into the next generation of hardware (with the exception of Ubisoft). Battlefield 4 is coming out on literally every console except the Wii U, while Grand Theft Auto V, Dark Souls 2, Metro: Last Light, The Witcher 3, Lost Planet 3, Remember Me, Destiny, and Thief 4 are just a few of the other upcoming blockbusters that will be giving Wii U the cold shoulder for various reasons. Some companies like Take-Two have already made it fairly clear that they are not interested in bringing their games to Wii U, meanwhile Nintendo and Electronic Arts appear to be clashing in some sort of behind-the-scenes feud at the moment. The relationship with other major publishers is uncertain at best for the time being. The success of Nintendo consoles have always been weighed primarily on the strength of its first-party exclusives and the Wii U will be no different. Still, it would be ignorant to shrug off the lack of third-party support as insignificant, and in this department we can only hope that faith in the Wii U from third parties grows with its user base and Nintendo continues to lobby on behalf of its new console to grab some more exciting third-party experiences.
Direct your love letters to Ubisoft, Wii U owners.
So how does Nintendo right the ship at this point? Many will be quick to suggest a price drop as the answer; however the cost is probably not an issue for most gamers if the games are there and with Nintendo apparently losing money on each console, this seems like an unlikely option for the foreseeable future. The first step begins with E3, where we can only hope and pray that Nintendo has learned from last year’s debacle that was more a week-long Nintendo Land demo than a proper showcase of a new console. The fact that the company has been unleashing a landslide of exciting 3DS announcements over the last couple of months would lead us to believe that E3 will be a very Wii U-centric event for the Big N, at least that’s what we’re hoping. Showing off all the aforementioned titles along with a surprise or two and hopefully some additional third party support would go a long way in restoring confidence in the Wii U. From there, a proper marketing strategy (seriously, many people still have no idea what a Wii U is) leading into a blockbuster-laden second half that will begin with Pikmin 3 and continue with a steady stream of software into next year will effectively erase any memory of this depressing post-launch drought, regardless of what Sony and Microsoft do.

It was a longshot from the start for the Wii U to replicate the incredible success of its predecessor (at least in terms of sales), however that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a great success. That hasn’t changed because of a shaky first five months, despite what Nintendo critics and industry “analysts” might have you believe. Of course we would have preferred that the Wii U would have started stronger out of the gate and hopefully Nintendo has learned the error of its ways, but the life of a console is very much a marathon rather than a sprint. If you doubt that, revisit the same debate that occurred repeatedly in the months following the 3DS launch and compare it to where that console is now. I have little doubt that the Wii U, as with every Nintendo console, has many incredible experiences in store for us. That, rather than just sales, should be the mark of what defines a console’s greatness, but hopefully for Nintendo's sake and the sake of the entire industry the two will go hand in hand. Let’s wait and see at least.

Written by: Mike Glubish

(This post was last modified: 04-21-2013 09:42 PM by GlueGun18.)

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The Other Side of the Flagpole – Caption CONTEST!

NINTENDOFUSE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLAGPOLE PROUDLY PRESENT TO YOU A…

CAPTION CONTEST!

YOUR caption could be featured on this comic next week, AND you could walk away with some cool 3DS or Wii U eShop games! Check out the contest and submit your caption HERE!

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