Where Will Luigi Fall Asleep? Part 1 August 1, 2013

I have to admit, one of my guilty pleasures is to watch some of Nintendo’s earlier advertising campaigns for some of their classic games, and it looks like Nintendo is stepping into that mindset once again to promote their newest Mario and Luigi game!  In the first of a three part series Nintendo has produced to promote the release of Mario & Luigi Dream Team, Nintendo shows just what happens when the Mario Brothers get ready to go to bed while on vacation on an exotic tropical island.  Pay really close attention, because the video includes details on how to enter into the latest official Nintendo contest for a brand-new Nintendo 3DS XL.

UPDATE:  Here’s Part 2.  Seriously, this video looks exactly like what happens when my father and uncle go on vacation.

Mario & Luigi Dream Team is coming August 11th, 2013 exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS.

inFAMOUS Second Son Developer Diary: Smoke and Mirrors August 1, 2013

The latest Developer Diary from Sucker Punch Studios has just been released.  Their next title, inFAMOUS: Second Son, is the third game in the inFAMOUS series and the first game in the series to come out for the Playstation 4.

In this new dev diary, Sucker Punch talks about all the new capabilities they have by developing on the Playstation 4’s hardware.  The game’s new hero starts off with the ability to manipulate smoke, but like Peter Petrelli, will be able to absorb the powers of other super-powered beings he comes in contact with.  So basically, we’ll be controlling the most powerful human being EVER In this video game.

Take a look for yourselves at what the power of the PS4 can bring.

inFAMOUS: Second Son is coming Q1 2014 exclusive to the Playstation 4.

rain Developer Diary 1: The World of rain August 1, 2013

There is no single downloadable title coming out for any platform that has me interested more than rain for the Playstation 3.  Developed by Sony Japan Studio, rain tells a story about a small boy searching out an invisible girl during a major downpour.  As he seeks her out, he becomes invisible himself, and must contend against this new world he has found himself in.

Sony has just released the first developer diary for the game, where the game’s creators talk about the world they are trying to create for us.  If you ask me, I think the game’s art style and music speak for themselves.

rain is coming Fall 2013 exclusive to the PS3.

Crackdown Now Free on Xbox Live August 1, 2013

Crackdown was a bit of an interesting beast.  It was published by Microsoft and released shortly before Halo 3.  The game was an open world simulator where you play as a physically augmented officer tasked with keeping the peace.  It’s call to fame was that anyone who purchased the full priced game at retail would be allowed access to Halo 3’s exclusive multiplayer beta test, and get the chance to play Halo 3’s new multiplayer maps before anyone else did.

However, the reviewers and critics who did purchase the game for Halo 3’s beta found themselves with a bit of an additive game, which while flawed, still accumulated to a lot of wasted hours messing around in an open world environment, collecting secrets and

I never got the chance to play Crackdown when it came out at retail.  I was able to get early beta access to Halo 3 through a promotion on Bungie’s website.  Now it looks like I, and other Xbox Live Gold Members, will be able to get the chance to play Crackdown free of charge.

Starting today and ending on the 16th, current Xbox Live Gold members can download Crackdown for free through Microsoft’s Games With Gold promotion.  Just click on the Games With Gold box from the Xbox 360’s dashboard after you log into your Live profile.  The game is over six and a half gigabytes, so make sure you have the space freed up in your storage device.  If you’re a gold subscriber, you have no reason to delay!

Starting on the 16th, a new game will be made free of charge.  Microsoft has already teased that the downloadable version of Halo 3 will be made free this promotion, but have not listed when they will make it free yet.

Tommy Tallarico: Video Games – Art in Disguise TED Talks July 24, 2013

TED Talks are a lecture series where a qualified person can talk to a distinguished crowd about any subject in the fields of art or science, and recently video game composer Tommy Tallarico, did a TED Talk on video games.  Let me tell you, was he qualified to give this presentation.   He is known in the video game industry as the man who has worked on more video games than any other person, and was one of the world’s first video game composers.  Now, he runs the Video Games Live concert series, and will usually take lead guitar to play many of the songs he composed during his career, and tons of other fan favorite songs composed by his peers.

In a world where video games have become the GO TO response for many atrocities as soon as they are committed regardless of the actual facts of the case, Tommy was not only able to debunk that myth in one single slide, he educated the audience on all of the positive creative outlets that video games have inspired people to engage in.  In the lifespan of the gaming industry, they have inspired more creative work than any other medium.

Settle down children, it’s time for a lecture.

Right after I saw this presentation, I e-mailed Tommy to congratulate him on his lecture, and I said to him that it is nice to see that someone could discuss all the positive impact that games have had over the lifespan of the industry and what they offer TODAY.  Its nice to see that someone is willing and able to talk about all the merits of our love of gaming, and how an interactive medium can inspire so much creativity.

Making of BEYOND: Two Souls – Gameplay Featurette July 24, 2013

BEYOND: Two Souls is one of the top unreleased PS3 exclusives on my radar.  With previous games from the company (Heavy Rain, Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit) being personal favorites for me, I’m really looking forward to getting to play BEYOND: Two Souls.

I know that a lot of people who witnessed the Tribeca Film Festival preview of the game had a lot of questions about the game’s interface and just how you would control the game.  From a viewer’s perspective it almost looked as if the player would have very little control, and it was hard to differentiate what was a gameplay moment and what was a cutscene.  Quantic Dream explains in this newly released Behind the Scenes Featurette, that they have been evolving their interface with each of their games to make them more intuitive for the player, with a focus on minimizing the interface to better immerse them in the story.  Take a look for yourselves to see how they are able to do this.

BEYOND: Two Souls is coming October 8th, 2013 exclusive to the Playstation 3.

Mario and Luigi: Dream Team Commercial July 24, 2013

Continuing Nintendo’s tradition of releasing awesome and unique television commercials for their upcoming games, Nintendo has released their TV commercial for the latest game to be released in Nintendo’s Year of Luigi, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is the first game in the Mario & Luigi series to be released to the Nintendo 3DS.  In the game, you take control of Mario and Luigi as they navigate through Luigi’s dreams in order to save the Princess.  I know, this time it’s not Bowser’s fault!  I think even he was surprised too.

If you would like to see some other great Nintendo commercials from over the years, check out my Top Ten Video Game Commercials Video!

UPDATE:  Nintendo has posted some bloopers from filming the commercial.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is coming August 11th, 2013 exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS.

EarthBound Released on the Wii U Virtual Console July 20, 2013

Nintendo jumped the gun a bit early.  I wasn’t expecting to make this announcement until the end of the year, but Nintendo has re-released its most fan-requested title for download, the SNES cult-classic, EarthBound.

EarthBound, also known as Mother 2 in Japan, is the second game in the three-part Mother series, and has been considered by many to be one of the best Role-Playing Games of all time, and one of the best games of the Super Nintendo.  Sadly, unlike many of the other Super Nintendo favorites, EarthBound has not been re-released in any format in the West since its original debut.  Nintendo had originally planned to release the first game in the Mother series (coincidently, it would have also been named EarthBound), but cancelled the game’s release after it had already been fully translated.  Sadly, the timing on it just wasn’t right, as that would make a very expensive to manufacture NES game come out just around the time of the Super Nintendo’s release.  Nintendo also refused to release a western version of Mother 3 (which would have been EarthBound’s direct sequel) to the Game Boy Advance, despite the numerous requests from fans.  Once again, the timing on it wasn’t right, as by the time Mother 3 would hit shelves in the West, the Nintendo DS would have gotten close to release.

If you’re interested in hearing all about EarthBound’s history, check out Roo’s 16-Bit Gem history of the series from Clan of the Gray Wolf.  It’s a great watch which has a ton of history about the entire Mother series, and is very well researched!

You can download EarthBound through the Wii U’s Virtual Console right now for $9.99 US.  This is not currently available to download on the Wii or through the Wii Shop Channel.  Now bring on Mother 3, Nintendo!

Oh and a quick reminder, the NES version of Donkey Kong is only 30 cents US on the Wii U’s Virtual Console right now!

Mario Warfare Part 3 July 17, 2013

After a brief hiatus, Beatdown Boogie has posted up the third part of their highly-anticipated follow up to Modern War Gear Solid, Mario Warfare.  Expect a few cameos from across the Nintendo franchises to make an appearance in this new episode, including one that I never saw coming!  Check it out below!

Club Nintendo Elite Prizes Now Avalible July 15, 2013

If you’ve purchased any new Nintendo handheld, console or game in the past few years you’ve probably noticed a leaflet was included with the product advising you to sign up for Club Nintendo.  Club Nintendo is Nintendo’s exclusive membership rewards program which offers their customers exclusive prizes in return for purchasing new games and consoles.  For those die-hard Nintendo fans who have been redeeming Club Nintendo codes all year long, Nintendo has just announced that a wide array of special prizes can now be redeemed for this year’s Elite Status gift!

Gold Status Prizes:

• Warioware D.I.Y Showcase (Wii Downloadable Content)
• Super Smash Bros (N64) (Wii Virtual Console Download)
• Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (3DS Virtual Console Download)
• Super Mario Land (3DS Virtual Console Download)
• Sakura Samurai (3DS Downloadable Game)
• 2014 Club Nintendo Calendar

Platinum Status Prizes

• Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Soundtrack CD
• Three-Poster Set

Don’t worry if you don’t think you have enough points to redeem these exclusive prizes.  If you had redeemed a grand total of 300 or more Club Nintendo points from June of last year to June of this year, you have earned Gold Status.  If you redeemed 600 or more points, you also redeemed Platinum Status.

Platinum Status users will be able to select any prize from either the Gold or Platinum selection.  Gold Status users can only select a Gold-level prize.

What are you waiting for?  Log in to Club.Nintendo.Com right now and redeem your prize!  You must select your gift by August 15th, 2013.  Anyone who redeemed a downloadable prize should receive a redemption code immediately in their e-mail.  Just be aware that these codes can only be redeemed on their respective console.  Nintendo promises that they will ship any physical prizes before December 31st, 2013.