High Demolition #006 - Operation Brain Gone

Issue #006 of "High Demolition" is up!

I personally believe Operation Rainfall is far from over. But, in the meantime, we've all been trying to understand what's going on inside NOA's head lately. This comic is my best guess as to an explanation ...

Enjoy!

Site chat at 8pm EST

Well there is lots to talk about with the Wii. There is that Operation Rainfall that is going on right now. Xenoblade has since been confirmed for an Aussie release date of September 2nd.That same date is for Europe as well. Only North America hasn't been confirmed for release so far. On a different note I made it past HR 300 in Tri and well I'm glad to help anybody that wants to play tonight.

Playing Outside Causes Bad Behavior in Children

http://jalopnik.com/5350261/worlds-baddest-9+year+old-leads-police-on-80-mph-chase

It took stop sticks to bring a rampaging 9-year-old to a halt on Saturday night after he got mad at his parents and stole their car after they made him quit playing for the evening.

"This young man, I guess, was upset because his mom and dad told him that it was time to come in late last night, around 8 p.m. He was upset because they told him that he had to come in and quit playing, so he was mad and took off," said Greenfield, Indiana Police Major Derek Towle. [via Channel 3000]

Clearly the act of playing outside is what caused this kid to go mad. All of that fresh air must have rotted his brain, the fresh grass caused him to become addicted to the outdoors and he refused to go back inside. Playing outdoors is obviously a dangerously addictive activity and should hereby be banned to protect our children.

…

Isn't that what they should have said about this news? We all know that if it were something like, say, videogames, which the parents told the kid to quit, they would be all over this, raging about how videogames are a negative influence on children. But since there is nothing easy to blame here, it goes largely unnoticed and ignored.

It seems like a bit of a double-standard to me, and believe me, I'm quite experienced in double-standards. People just try to use incidents like this to push their own agendas, but of course, no sane person is against kids playing outside. The simple truth is that most children act out, some more extremely than others. That's their nature, it's a part of the growing process. They can be influenced by things like videogames, television, etc., but that's just because many kids are impressionable and will act out anything they find to be “cool,” regardless of where it originated. Bad behavior is not caused by videogames.

Site chat today at 6pm EST

Well once again it is site chat time.Sorry I haven't been on much but well I was kinda sick since Wednesday. Anyway there seems to be lots going on with 3 RPGs heading to North America shores.

"Operation Rainfall" Localization Campaign!

Just throwing our bit of fuel on this fire.

Will it work? Maybe. Maybe not. And hey, if you don't have anything encouraging to say, there's already enough pessimism surrounding these titles, so, we don't need to hear it!

But, if you want to TRY (y'know, the opposite of doing nothing), then please join us and let's at least earn the right to complain if I doesn't work out!

---

XENOBLADE:
Send a polite letter, pointing out the need for the game.
Optional Item: miniature toy sword or cocktail sword
Target Date: July 11-13, 2011
(plan your letters to arrive around the 6th, not to ship on the 6th)

Below is a letter template, but feel free to write your own, just try to be polite if possible.

Dear Reggie,

As a fan of your company and of RPGs, I was extremely excited about the reveal of Monado which was later retitled Xenoblade. After it's reveal at E3 2008 it quickly became one of my most anticipated games for the Wii, and as more information, screens, and trailers were released my interest only expanded. I am deeply concerned that this game has no North American release planned, especially considering the sparse lineup on the Wii in the next year. I have been a loyal fan of this company for many years, and yet there hasn't been a game worth getting on your console for nearly 8 months... and nothing on the horizon to be excited about besides Skyward Sword, and yet Xenoblade sits completed, and soon to be localized for Europe in English. Please consider your company's fans, please bring Xenoblade to us.

Sincerely,
(your name here - signed)

---

THE LAST STORY:
Send a polite letter, pointing out the need for the game.
Optional Item: the last page/chapter of a book
Target Date: July 18-20, 2011
(plan your letters to arrive around the 13th, not to ship on the 13th)

Below is a letter template, but feel free to write your own, just try to be polite if possible.

Dear Reggie,

As a fan of your company and of RPGs, I was extremely excited about the reveal of the Last Story. Being a fan of Mistwalker and Hironobu Sakaguchi, it quickly became one of my most anticipated games for the Wii, and when the gorgeous art and impressive screens and trailers were released I only became more excited for the game. I am deeply concerned that this game has no North American release planned, especially considering the sparse lineup on the wii in the next year. I have been a loyal fan of this company for many years, and yet there hasn't been a game worth getting on your console for nearly 8 months... and nothing on the horizon to be excited about besides Skyward Sword, and yet the Last Story sits completed. Please consider your company's fans, please bring the Last Story to us.

Sincerely,
(your name here - signed)

---

PANDORA'S TOWER:
Send a polite letter, pointing out the need for the game.
Optional Item: a piece of dried meat (Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, etc.)
Target Date: July 25-27, 2011
(plan your letters to arrive around the 20th, not to ship on the 20th)

Below is a letter template, but feel free to write your own, just try to be polite if possible.

Dear Reggie,

As a fan of your company and of games like Castlevania, I was extremely excited about the reveal of Pandora's Tower. From the initial cryptic reveal, to the delightfully twisted plot details that followed, I have been craving this game all year. I am deeply concerned that this game has no North American release planned, especially considering the sparse lineup on the Wii in the next year. I have been a loyal fan of this company for many years, and yet there hasn't been a game worth getting on your console for nearly 8 months... and nothing on the horizon to be excited about besides Skyward Sword, and yet Pandora's Tower sits completed. Please consider your company's fans, please bring Pandora's Tower to us.

Sincerely,
(your name here - signed)

---

send your individual letters to:

Reginald Fils-Aime (President and COO)
c/o Nintendo of America
4600 150th Ave. Northeast
Redmond, WA 98052

Site chat tonight at 8pm EST tonight

Once again an Wednesday has come and it is another day for the site chat. Sorry I haven't been as active as I should have been with the blog posts but I have been busy this past week. More posts should be incoming now that I am not so busy now.

Dragon Quest X might have enhancements for the Wii U console

In a shareholders meeting today Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada was asked about the possiblity of Dragon Quest X coming to the Wii U.Wada answered that they are looking into the technical aspects of the Wii U and if it would be possible for Wii disks to have some enhancements when used on the Wii U itself.

Basically Square Enix is looking into the Wii U hardware and seeing if they can make the Wii version work with the Wii U console without having to make a Wii U version.

Site chat at 6pm EST today

Well once again we are having chat today. Hope everyone shows up in the chat.

Well Reggie had some things to talk about the Wii U

Here is the link. It is an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/video/nintendo-pres-stock-drop-not-because-of-new-wiiu/9E9F9847-14A4-4E9F-A626-39561C679B66.html

Here is some details from the interview.
- Nintendo's biggest challenge is competing for time
- Reggie doesn't believe game prices need to come down to compete with App Store titles
- Nintendo believes they can reach Wii users on Wii U by keeping their pick-up-and-play attitude
- Nintendo will still make games that use Wiimote/Wiimote Plus on Wii U
- Wii U will have a price point that can get 25 to 30 million units sold
- Nintendo will look at the experiences the consumer will have with Wii U at launch to pick the best value/price
- Nintendo will work with third parties to offer matchmaking, social networking and other online features that those devs want
- Nintendo's online for Wii U will be much more robust and broader than what's offered today
- Nintendo wants the consumer to have new experiences every day on Wii U and 3DS. They want the consumer to touch the platform every day
- Nintendo has to make sure they make their security systems as robust as possible to avoid a Sony situation
- Consumers that haven't bought a 3DS yet say they want the big-name brands and digital content experiences before they jump in
- eShop has had over a million transactions thus far
- 3DS sales are on the upswing
- Nintendo is confindent that they'll reverse the 3DS trends they've seen thus far
- Nintendo thinks they can play a bigger role in wading through entertainment experiences

Is this type of thinking correct on the points he addresses for you personally?

Site chat tonight at 8pm EST

I will be in the chat tonight but I may not be that active depending on what is happening today. Not really sure I will be able to play any online games tonight. Hope to see everyone in the chat.

Cryteck is bringing the CryEngine to the Wii U.

As well as the Unreal Engine 3 from Epic games. Cryteck will bring the Cryengine to the Wii U.

So at the moment the two biggest game engines out there will be avalable for use on the Wii U. This is a pretty big deal to be able to get all kinds of 3rd party games on the Wii U.

Thoughts?

Site chat at 6pm EST today

Well it is Sunday so it is time to reflect on the week that was. Maybe play some games and relax and catch up with each other. Hope everyone can join today.

What is in a name?

Well, with the weekend upon us we can take some time to reflect on E3 from a few days ago. I am going to be talking about the name that the next Nintendo console has been given by Nintendo. Wii U. First thought that comes to mind is that it is a Wii for you. Meaning that it is truly for everyone. Now, personally the name of a system doesn't really matter to me. The games a system has will matter to me.

Now I have read that some people have issues with the name and that the name isn't that good to put it mildly. Are you among those people or are you like me and the name isn't an issue?

Site chat tonight at 8pm EST

Well with E3 behind us we can talk about what happened at the conferences today. Also we can talk about the new systems that are going to be out next year. Also I just got my modem about 20 minutes ago and I can chat tonight on my own computer. If I can get my router hooked up before the chat then well I can play games tonight if not I'll try and get it hooked up before the Sunday chat. Hope to see you there in the chat.

Up-to-date Wii U info

Last Updated: 06/11/11 @ 5:14PM
Note: I'm not well-versed in technical system specs so please comment below with any corrections that I need to make along those lines. Or, any links to new rumors or confirmations.

• Name: Wii U
  
• ETA: Spring/Summer 2012 (source)
  
• Supported Software: Wii U (25GB iDensity discs) and Wii games
  
• Supported Controls: 1 Wii U controller, 4 Wiimotes, Nunchuks, Classic Controllers, Balance Board.
  
• Wii U controller specs:
  
  • 16:9 6.2" single-touch screen
    
  • Dual circle pads
    
  • 1 d-pad
    
  • Buttons: A, B, X, Y, L, R, ZL, ZR, Select/-, Home, Start/+, Power
    
  • Front-facing camera
    
  • Stereo speakers
    
  • Microphone
    
  • Gyroscope
    
  • Accelerometer
    
  • Rumble
    
  • Sensor strip
    
  • Stylus
    
  • Possibly max of one per console. Not sold separately.
    
  • Rechargeable battery
    
• Price Point: ~$250-$350 (source)
  
• Processing: IBM Multi-Core Processor and "More powerful than PS3" according to THQ (can't find source though!)
  
• Internal Storage: 8GB flash memory
  
• External Storage: USB HDDs, SD cards
  
• Resolutions: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i
  
• Connections: HDMI, component, S-video, composite, 4 USB ports
  
  
  

Nintendo's 2011 E3 Media Presentation [Part 1 and 2]

E3 Nintendo Conference Reaction

Our job here at NinTemple is to provide perspectives on Nintendo gaming from a more cultural perspective. So, you probably know all the news from Nintendo's E3. Let's talk some reactions ...

Overall? Not bad, not bad. The "Wii U" name is disappointing but I can see that gamers are already adopting it a lot more smoothly than I expected.

Will this new console and the 3DS be enough for Nintendo to win back their street cred? Sadly, we didn't really get enough information today to find out.

I feel like the processing power is, at best, on par with the PS3, which makes me think we will be right back where we are now in 3-4 years. In other words, 3rd parties put the real effort into the PS4 XBox720 version but only give the WiiU a side-story.

The WiiU controller looks surprisingly competent for a device that blurs the line between gamepad and, essentially, a tablet. I think it's smartly designed to be very versatile.

I am very, very, very, very happy that the WiiU will be working with the WiiBalanceBoard and with, of course, the WM+/nunchuk. We've all spent a lot of money on these devices and spent a lot of effort getting them to fit in our entertainment centers. So, I'm really glad I don't have to scrap all that and start over with a whole new mass of plastic.

On the software side, not a lot of surprises but Luigi's Mansion 2 was the biggest announcement for me. So glad that's a sequel and not a remake.

Kid Icarus continues to look amazing.

The Mario Kart 3DS game looks like it will be fun with the hangliding and under-water bits.

Also, the return of the TANOOKI suit in Super Mario 3DS means a lot to me. The Tanooki/Racoon Suit is my favorite Mario power-up of all time so... yea.

I think that's all for now but I'm sure there will be more to talk about as more information and announcements trickle in over the next few days!!

E3 Running Commentary from NinSage - Sony

• It is about to begin! ... it's beginning!... no. it's delayed a few minutes.
  
• OK, starting now. Everyone in the audience was told to put on their 3D glasses so people are expecting Uncharted 3.
  
• Jack Tretton is up apologizing for the PSN hacking.
  
• Yup, they are starting with Uncharted 3.
  I love how all the high horsepower games have all these little doo-dads that move on their own, so as characters walk slowly they are constantly playing kick-the-can with empty boxes. =P
  So that game actually looks really good!! Though, Supa thinks it is not focused enough on gameplay versus cinematics.
  Jack Tretton makes a snide remark about "selling a lot of copies of that bad boy" and looks like he has dollar signs in his eyes. =P
  
• People keep getting reminded to put on their glasses. And now we are seeing Resistance 3.
  
• Sony announces its own 3D television. It's only 24" but it is capable of doing two different views for two different players WITHOUT splitting the screen. That's pretty impressive.
  This is all part of a bundle that includes the TV, one pair of glasses, an HDMI cable, and Resistance 3 all for $499.
  
• Talking now about PlayStation Move.
  
• Kobe Bryant comes out for NBA2K12.
  
• Now we are seeing that Medieval Moves game. It seems to work... moderately well? But they just said "it's all about 1:1 action. what you do is what you see." But that's ... not true. Most of the actions are pre-programmed and triggered by gestures like most Wii games.
  
• I just don't see 3D glasses catching on. The next technology will replace it before enough people adopt the glasses.
  
• Now we are seeing Infamous 2. The action looks great. But, as with most of the titles in this genre, I can't get into a game unless I can respect the protagonist, and so many of these just star jerks. Sorry.
  
• A "much deeper" PSMove expansion to the functionality in LBP2.
  
• StarHawk, from a franchise that was once about flight sim, is starting to look more and more just like every other shooter. The ships are just usable vehicles and the shooterizing looks like it will become homogenized like the rest of the pack.
  
• This sounds pretty cool. A new game called "Dust" which will be a shooter MMO and work cross-platform with PS3, NGP and PC! That's pretty darn impressive!
  Though, still, these shooters just look too darn similar. There's no point in a new IP if you can't tell them apart. Nevermind! EV tells me this isn't even a new IP!
  
• New BioShock looks pretty sweet. Though, I can't tell if the whole thing is (sometimes literally) on rails. It's also outside, in the day-time, and seemingly in a theme park. Is this developers foolishly thinking that anything focused on motion control has to be on-rails (simpler control) and in bright, happy locales??
  
• Star-Trek game.
  
• New SSX game based on NASA satellite data of Mt. Fuji.
  
• Need for Speed: The Run. PS3 owners will get an additional disc with cars only available on PS3.
  
• Battlefield 3 will be "jor-dropping" and come with Battlefield 1943 thanks to its Blu-Ray DVD capacity.
  
• PlayStation Suite will allow (small?) games on none-PS3 devices.
  
• Now we are getting NGP info...
  
• Yup. Officially named the PSVita.
  Dual-analog sticks.
  Cameras.
  Front and back touch-screens.
  Wifi and 3G Wifi models.
  Seems like they are partnering with AT&T. Not sure if that means contracts?
  
• PSVita demo begins with a portable Uncharted game. The graphics look amazing.
  
• "Ruin" will be a PSV "action based RPG" and will be "fully compatible" with PS3.
  So, they are able to save their game to a cloud server, and pick up right where they left off on their PS3. That's friggin' awesome.
  
• Mario Kart Racers, I mean, Mod Nation Racers has a PSVita version coming out where you can create new tracks using the touch screen.
  
• LPB on PSV. It's what you'd expect.
  
• Announcement! Capcom will be bringing "Street Figher X Tekken" to PSVita!
  Featuring Cole from Infamous!
  
• PSVita sizzle reel shows Uncharted, LBP, some iPhone-looking games, an awesome cell-shaded anime looking game, s'more phone type games, Mod Nation Racers, Ruin, a create-your own fighter game, a golf game, an awesome ninja stealth looking thing(!!!), a tennis game, and a hand-drawn brawler that looks like it is from VanillaWare judging by the style.
  
• PSVita will be available at Holiday THIS year.
  The wifi only model will retail $249. The 3G model will only be $299.
  Wow. That could really make the 3DS/PSVita race A VERY tight one.
  
• And that's it! See you tomorrow for the big Nintendo event!!
  

E3 Running Commentary from NinSage - Microsoft

• yay, call of shooter morefare.
  
• wow. lara croft is so weak. must be sexist.
  game looks pretty cool though.
  I wish Lara wasn't constantly squealing like a female tennis player though.
  
• Mass Effect 3
  The voice recognition stuff is really, really impressive.
  I would be so into the Mass Effect series if the protagonist didn't look and talk like a frat boy jock.
  
• whoa! a bloody shooting game that shows off processor power! I'm shocked!
  seriously, though, it's Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Future Soldier.
  let's see how they are incorporating Kinect into this.
  (gotta say, I'm proud of MS for actually supporting Kinect. the technology really is very, very impressive.)
  
• the user interface stuff is kinda meh. But, I'm wondering, their new "TV" service. does that REPLACE your current cable provider? like could someone cancel TimeWarnerCable and still watch cable on your XBox Live account? cuz for $60 a year that's a heck of a deal!!
  
• Gears of War 85 featuring Ice-T (seriously). *yawn*
  "we need to blow his brains out his @$$!"
  ... and this is why gaming has trouble being taken seriously.
  all this technology and we're still just shooting huge aliens in their eyes because it's the "weak spot" - there's something comforting about that ^_^
  Ice-T says it's "bad @$$" so, I guess it must be.
  
• spent a few seconds on a motion control game set in Roman times. and then...
  
• right back to something comfy... a remake of Halo 1 =P
  
• Forza 4. Microsoft: where guns and cars are all you need to be a man. =P
  
• "Fable: The Journey" is a rail shooter version of Fable where you do the spells via Kinect gestures. I think that the concept is pretty cool. But, of course, the mainstream gaming media hates rail shooters, so let's see what they have to say...
  "McWhertor of Kotaku: This looks like Fable, the first-person shooter, casting cool spells with intricate motions... it looks like it works!"
  hmm... didn't notice the rails? how convenient.
  
• MineCraft exclusively for XBox.
  
• Disney Kinect game. Very lame actors. But the game looks like kids would love it.
  
• Crowd goes wild for the Star Wars Kinect game. I'm not 100% certain how well it is working. The other Kinect games seriously worked. This one doesn't seem like it quite does.
  
• A "Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster" Kinect game. Again, I'm sure Kids would highly enjoy it. But with the bad acting by the demonstrators I'm sure the mainstream media have a field day...
  "Crecente of Kotaku: I have to admit, I wish they had this sort of game when Tristan was younger. It seems like a wonderful way to play and learn with your kids."
  ... I just don't think Nintendo would get the same treatment.
  
• That Kinect guy, Kudo, is out to talk about Kinect Fun Labs. Why does he talk exactly like Destin from ScrewAttack? =P
  They show off the avatar scanny thing. It seems to work quite well, but there's no way that shirt wasn't pre-programmed in the software, right?
  Kinect Finger Tracking shows more cool technological demos. Again, like with the Wii, it's not just that the device itself is awesome, but that the POTENTIAL they're demonstrating is awesome!
  This renaldo deal is, again, very impressive. Here what I don't understand, how does it remove the user's hands from the image? How does it know the depth of the object if you just show the front and back?
  
• Kinect Sports Season 2. Golf looks golfy. Football looks ... something.
  
• Dance Central 2. People who like dance games are sure to love it.
  
• "Dawning of a new Trilogy" on 360. Could this be something NEW?!
  
  ... not... really... just starting a new Halo trilogy apparently.
  Halo 4. Crowd goes wild. =)
  
• And that's the show!! See you guys at 8pm (right?) for Sony's presser!
  

Pre-E3 Site Chat Tonight @ 6PM EST

How are you feeling? Is the calm before the storm truly calm? Or is it more like every minute between now and Tuesday feels like trying to fall asleep Christmas Eve?

Let's chat about it tonight at 6PM EST. See you there!