Friday, December 30, 2011

Nintendo Direct Show

I just found a video of the whole Nintendo Direct show. However it is in Japanese but there is a CC button on the video so whatever language you understand it will translate the Japanese language. Here is the steps to do so. Click the CC button and then click transcribe audio, and then transcribe captions and then select your language. Here is the video.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Site chat in 1 hour

Well this I believe is the last site chat of the year so we can talk about the past year and future plans for the site among other things. Can't wait to talk to all of you.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Nintendo holding another Nintendo Direct broadcast

Well later today there will be a Nintendo Direct broadcast in Japan time on December 27th at Noon which translates to December 26th 10pm EST for the east coast of the United States. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/nintendo_direct/index.html There is the main page and there is links to the Ustream and Nico Video links in the bottom left hand corner of the page. I will probably be in the chat during the broadcast giving my reactions.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope that you and yours are having a joyful holiday. Stay warm and cozy out there.

And remember folks, Santa Claus is real. I don't mean the one who flies around the world and delivers presents to everyone in one night, that's a crock. Santa is anyone who thinks of another before themselves, and goes through the effort to find the perfect gift. I'm sure that each of us knows at least one Santa: all you have to do is believe.

Testing News and Feature boarders.


Insignificant to some I'm guessing, but I think I've finally created boarders I really like, and I think I am finally done. I think the style goes very well with the main site logo up above.

Friday, December 23, 2011

~~~NinTemple GOTY Awards 2011~~~

You've speculated over it, you've racked your brains, and now - finally - it's here! The NinTemple GOTY Awards for 2011!

Remember, I do the awards based on games I played for the first time in 2011. It just makes more sense that way. So, some notable games I have not yet played as of 2011 include Lost in Shadow, Epic Mickey, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Kirby Returns to Dreamland, Sin & Punishment 2, Fragile Dreams, Bit.Trip Complete, Ivy the Kiwi, Prof Layton: Last Spectre, Kirby Mass Attack, and... probably many others I'm forgetting.

Let it begiiiin!

===BEST NARRATIVE===
Another Code R
Amazingly, 2011 has marked a return of the point and click adventure game for me. Thanks to soft-modding my Wii for Xenoblade purposes (which I now won't have to use), I was able to import/play Another Code R. The sequel to the awesome DS game did a great job expanding on the events of the first. One indication that a game has a good narrative is that things get more and more intriguing as the game unfolds. What starts as a curious visit to her father's research site gradually uncovers fiendish plots and life or death situations! Well done, Cing, you'll be missed!
Honorable Mentions: Okami, Prof Layton: Unwound Future

===MOST CREATIVE===
Horizon Riders
For years I've thought someone needed to make an action game using the Balance Board. Finally, Horizon Riders got its shmups in my full-body, mildly-health-inducing motion control.
Honorable Mentions: Okami, Puzzle Quest 2

===MOST CHALLENGING===
Donkey Kong Country Returns
You try getting 100% in that game without having that CCPro hack. I did it, and I gotta say, it felt great. It was challenging but almost never frustrating. You did it again, Retro! Can't see what else ya got up your sleeve!
Honorable Mentions: Horizon Riders, Pokemon White

===BEST VISUALS===
Sonic Colors
Another third party takes the Wii hardware seriously? Well, I guess once or twice a year is a start. Sonic Colors lives up to its name in a good way. It shows that games can use every color in the crayon box, look crisp, and pretty all at the same time. Finally, SEGA made a Sonic game everyone color fall in love with again... even though everyone promptly forgot that when Generations came out. =P
Honorable Mentions: Okami, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

===BEST CONTROLS===
Conduit 2
Amazing how being able to customize every little thing and IR pointers gives top-notch FPS controls.
Honorable Mentions: Ghostbusters, Okamiden, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

===WORST CONTROLS===
Okami
Obviously the drawing mechanics and the pointer controls are all brilliant. However, the fatal flaw in Okami is that they made too many brush techniques too similar. Want to bloom a tree? Too bad, you brought out the Sun. Or, at least the game thinks you did, and thus bloom still won't work 89% of the time you try to use it (more or less). I think I cast that Thunderstorm technique twice in the entire game. Not good enough, Capcom!
Honorable Mentions: Starfox Command, DKCR

===BEST MULTIPLAYER===
Ghostbusters
2P Co-op, third-person action with pointer-shooting, and you don't have to stay five virtual feet away from each other. That's some bad-ass multiplayer, Atari.
Honorable Mentions: DKCR, Conduit 2

===MOST DISAPPOINTING===
Pokemon White
The game is absolutely stellar in 100 ways. However, I was really hoping this would be the PKMN that finally got the multiplayer right. Some kind of MMO aspects or at least some good online co-op. But no, the online has no meaningful co-op and the competitive multiplayer has no penalty for rage-quitters. NO. PENALTY. FOR. RAGE-QUITTERS. And believe me, online Pokemon fans the world over are, apparently, sore losers.
Honorable Mentions: Conduit 2, Monster Tale

===MOST "FUN"===
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Brilliant platforming, brilliant co-op and intense "set piece" moments made this game a thoroughly enjoyable romp and a triumphant comeback for our favorite tie-wearing ape.
Honorable Mentions: Sonic Colors, Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll

===GAME OF THE YEAR===
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Honestly, it was a close call with Sonic Colors. But DKCR just felt more polished and richer in content. The lack of CCPro support was a diabolical and utterly moronic decision, however, one mistake can't hold back this powerhouse of a game. Congrats, Kong, this year you're ... top banana. waka waka waka!!
Honorable Mentions: Sonic Colors, Prof Layton: Unwound Future

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Site chat now

Well it is that time again. Site chat time! Only a few more days till Christmas and then after that is the end of the year. Tonight's chat's topics are but are not limited to. Thoughts on 2011 in general? What is the next community backlog game we all want to work on together? What is next for the site for the new year?

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance for North America and Europe announced.

There is the first trailer for it if I find an english trailer I will replace this one with it. Here is some details for the game from the press release. Story King Mickey and Yen Sid prepare for an impending threat by putting Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora and Riku are sent into the Sleeping Worlds, where they will face enemies and allies that have never been seen before. If they can successfully complete the task they are given, they will be deemed true Keyblade Masters. Features • Dual protagonists – Play as the two most popular characters of the franchise, Sora and Riku. • “Free-flow” action – Enjoy fast and effortless movements while interacting with the environment and performing acrobatic attacks. • Brand-new creatures –Dream Eaters inhabit the Sleeping Worlds, and are split into two categories: Spirits and Nightmares. Recruit over 50 different types of Spirits as allies to fight alongside Sora and Riku. • New Disney worlds –Beloved Disney worlds and characters, such as La Cité des Cloches (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), make their series debut. • Story progression – With updated looks for Sora and Riku, and the impending conflict made clear, this title is a big step forward in the series. Here is some Links to some of the games social sites. http://na.square-enix.com/games/kingdomhearts/ http://www.facebook.com/kingdomhearts Follow KINGDOM HEARTS 3D [Dream Drop Distance] on Twitter®: @KH_Official_NA

Monday, December 19, 2011

Xenoblade Chronicles is now avalable for preorder on Nintendo's online store

Well right now Xenoblade Chronicles is avalable for preorder on Nintendo's online store now. Here is the link the the page
 Nintendo store Xenoblade preorder

The game will come out on April 2nd 2012 in America While we are waiting for the release of Xenoblade Chronicles it would be a good idea to get involved with Operation Rainfall so that we can get The Last Story and Pandora's Tower here in the west. Here is the link to their page. 
OPRainfall site

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Site chat right now

Well Christmas is nearing but I think there is one major thing that I think that is actually important to talk about. It is the SOPA and Protect IP act. I put a link to a video explaining it in the site chat so you can get up to date on it. This isn't the first time it has been gone up for vote. I think this may be the 3rd time going up for vote. Anyway this is actually pretty important for the whole internet.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Site Chat in 30

See ya there!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The 20th Anniversary of the SNES - Final

Whoops! I forgot to post the final part of this last month! Oh well, I guess I still will, in case anyone is still paying attention.

Chrono Trigger
Anyone with an interest in RPGs has surely heard of this game, which is largely considered to be the finest RPG created in the 16-bit generation. Although it certainly contains a well-told story and interesting battle system, the music is the one aspect which I believe propelled it into the running of Best RPG Ever. Each tune was composed with such care rarely seen in gaming, each piece captures the mood of every moment with striking emotion. The adventure, the hope, the pain, the triumph... every scene is driven in perfect harmony of the soundtrack.

The Millennium Fair
A fair that comes only once every thousand years needs to have a suitably monumental tune accompanying it, and this one doesn't disappoint. It's a shame the fair isn't an area of the game where a lot of time is spent, although that is also a testament to the effort behind the game's soundtrack.

The Black Omen
With a name as ominous as The Black Omen, I expected something a little more dramatic. The piece starts with an eerie plink, then moves into a somewhat jazzy sequence with a piano. It's a weird mix of styles, but it somehow fits the setting quite well.

R-66Y's Theme
Despite meeting this friendly robot in a desolate future, this theme song is particularly upbeat. Its uplifting melody is inspiring to continue the long road ahead, instilling hope that this future can be prevented. The rhythmic beat even sounds like a robot stomping the ground, giving an image of a whole robot ensemble dancing to the music. For some reason, this one reminds me of disco, even though I don't think it uses instruments typically associated with disco. Maybe it has something to do with R-66Y's attack involving lasers...

Spekkio's Theme
The self-proclaimed Master of War, Spekkio is a strange creature with an interesting motto: you're only as strong as you think your opponent looks. Spekkio is one of the few living beings who remain at the End of Time, and he's there to provide the party with practice bouts to test their strength. The tune's cheerful flute melody and lively tempo may seem out of place for a battle theme, but it captures the radical nature of Spekkio.

The Magic Kingdom
This is the one. The track that has been engrained in my mind almost my entire life. I don't exactly know what it is about it that makes it so pleasant to my ears; it's certainly an apt piece for the kingdom of magic, as it contains a magical quality. The drums provide the perfect rhythm for the sitar to follow, and the opening echo of the gamelan still gives me chills to this day. If there were only one tune I found infinitely listenable, this is it, the track that I could make my theme song for entering a room and never get tired of listening to it.

Honourable Mentions
As a system with many memorable soundtracks, it wasn't easy choosing just five, as evidenced by the fact that I picked six. There were still many more in consideration, some of which still deserve a mention.
DooM – This port may be rough, but surprisingly enough, the music is actually an improvement over the PC version.
Earthbound – Though Earthbound's whimsical soundtrack is unique, its quirkiness makes it the kind of music that works only when actually playing the game.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest – An RPG designed for those new to the genre, the game itself is rather boring. Despite this, its soundtrack is expertly done, with inspiring pieces, energetic battle themes, and upbeat melodies.
Super Metroid – Its moody tunes set the tone of each area perfectly, but it's missing the spark that makes a piece infinitely listenable.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Site chat at 6pm EST today.

Big news this week was Xenoblade being confirmed for North America. Maybe we can talk about that in the chat.

Also on a personal note I don't think I will be in the chat. For the 2nd time in the past few days I am sick again and will likely be at the doctor to see what is up. This has been an ongoing thing this year and I have the same symptoms every time.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Xenoblade Chronicles confirmed for North America!

Well I wasn't feeling well today but I went to sleep and I woke up to this awesome news. Here is the details currently. It will be avalable in 3 places currently. Your local Gamestop, Gamestop's online store, and Nintendo's online store. You can go over to Gamestop right now and preorder the game from them. I suspect that is the same for their online store. Starting on December 19th 2011 you can start preordering from Nintendo's online store.
Here is the press release from Nintendo confirming this news.

It’s man vs. machine in a new game coming to Nintendo’s Wii™ console in spring. Xenoblade Chronicles™ asks players to use the Monado blade to take on a seemingly endless series of invading Mechon robots in a sweeping role-playing adventure.

The main character is Shulk, a weapons researcher who must confront the Mechon by wielding the ancient Monado blade. It’s the only weapon that has any effect against the Mechon, and it also enables Shulk to see the future.

Players can customize their characters with a variety of weapons and armor choices, as well as headgear, boots and gloves. As in many role-playing games, players can then gain experience and upgrade their characters. Players can watch their enemies, learn their tactics and unleash real-time counterattacks.

The vast open world of Xenoblade Chronicles is ripe for exploration. Players can avert their focus from the main story and venture out looking for other challenges and side quests. Hidden areas and unique monsters are scattered throughout the game’s massive world, which players can explore freely.

Xenoblade Chronicles has already launched in Japan and Europe, and has received unanimously positive reviews, including several perfect scores.

Xenoblade Chronicles will be available exclusively through U.S. GameStop retail locations, http://www.gamestop.com and http://www.nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $49.99 in the United States. Additional information about the game will be announced in the future. For more information, visit the XenobladeChronicles site

Here is the North American debut Trailer.