You know, even if you follow video game news very closely, you can’t catch everything. There are just some things that are bound to slip through the cracks here and there, whether you like it or not. And one of those things just happens to be Retro Game Challenge for the Nintendo DS.

Fortunately for me, I’m catching wind of this just in time. I’d heard the name mentioned before, and I think at first glance, it didn’t quite grab me. But I was just reading the January issue of Nintendo Power when I came across the ad, and as a good ad should, it pretty much sold me immediately on the concept: The evil Game Master Arino (who’s really based on a Japanese TV show host) traps you in the 80′s, and forces you to play NES-styled games (shooter, racing, platformer, and role-playing) in order to get back to your time. Even better, several titles have “sequels” that follow various industry trends of the time, from keeping everything the same but improving graphics to completely changing the foundation of the title.

When you complete the challenge for each title, you unlock the full game for free play. The DS game itself also includes oldschool-styled game manuals and even fake old video game magazines (called “Game Fan,” ironically) which cover actual gaming news and stories from the 80s, including the crash of ’83.

Fortunately, the game has only just come out in Japan, and isn’t due here in February, so I’m not totally behind. If you wish to learn more yourself, then here is the mildly-informative Wikipedia page, but for a better idea of what it’s all about, you’ll want to check out the official site. While the games look amusingly tongue-in-cheek, I think a large part of the appeal is the theme and narrative that ties it all together, Wario Ware style.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

So one big item of news today, at least for me, is that the copyright to Popeye has expired. Or at least, it has in Europe; in the US, it still has a ways to go before the character becomes public domain.

I’ve always been something of a fan of Popeye, and that affinity has only grown since I’ve gotten into video games. “But why would that be?” you might ask. Funny thing, that, as in a way, the video game industry owes a lot to Popeye, or at least his influence.

As I see it, in much the same way that Mega Man owes his existence to Astro Boy, so too does Mario owe his to Popeye. In fact, when Shigeru Miyamoto had originally set out to create a game that would replace the failed Radarscope in the American arcade market, Nintendo tried to acquire the rights to the Popeye license. It wouldn’t be Nintendo’s first time working with a licensed property, as they had created Hanafuda cards years earlier adorned with Disney characters.

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Note: Nope, not back yet.  This is just an accidental double-post from Kombo I didn’t want to go to waste.

Prices in games are a funny thing. As technology has progressed, there have been predictions of lower prices for software, such as with the move from cartridges to disc media, which is cheaper to produce. Or with in-game advertising potentially being used to see a lower price at retail.

But instead, prices have had a tendency to rise, or remain steady at best for quality titles. So, if cheaper media and paid ads haven’t succeeded, then is there anything that could cause a decrease in the price of games?

Well, there might be one thing, according to Forbes.

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The two games I’m looking forward to most in 2009 are Bionic Commando and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We’ve talked about the former before, this is about the latter.

The January 2009 issue of Nintendo Power has lots of previews of the year’s coming attractions, and the cover story is the return of the Green Machine, lookin’ mean and coming to the Wii. You can find out more bits and pieces here, here, and here, but I’ll share some of the info right here.

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Remember when Nintendo used to have those cool “store within a store” World of Nintendo setups? Those were the days… days I wish I had one of the signs from.

Nonetheless, those days are back… sort of. If you live near or visit Times Square, that is.

Yesterday, Nintendo sent out a press release stating that they had opened a special Nintendo department not unlike their Nintendo World at the Toys R Us store in Times Square. That’s right, a few blocks from the actual Nintendo World Store. I cry about it openly here.

MTV Multiplayer’s Stephen Totilo got to experience the sub-store, and a ham sandwich, for himself. And you can read all about that here.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Dubbed “Bleh” Friday because there really isn’t all that much going on, save for the unique DS Lites at Sears (I’d kill for the Mario one). See for yourself.

Main reason I’m posting is for the image used on the listing. As I said there, a million hardcore gamer points to anyone who recognizes it. It’s one of the most vivid images from my formative Nintendo youth.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Recently, I expressed my disappointment that Rare would exclude so much of its fanbase and target audience in the upcoming Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts by making the text nigh-unreadable on a standard-definition television. Worse still was when they were aware of the problem, and apparently had little intention of doing anything about it.

This did not set well with many a gamer. Though some looked down from on high and said “just get an HD set,” this was not such an easy solution for many gamers, myself included. How many children (no doubt one major demographic for Banjo), for example, are likely to just be given an HDTV by their parents? Oh, certainly some are quite likely… and good for them, but looking at how the other half lives, it’s not so likely.

Thankfully, it seems to have become a non-issue, as Rare has seemingly seen the error of their ways, and will now be offering a patch within 30 days to fix the problem:

“It has come to our attention that people are experiencing subtitle readability issues with Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on Standard Definition TVs. We would like to assure you that contrary to earlier reports, we are aware of the issue and currently working on a title update to be released within the next 30 days that will fix it for those with Standard Definition TVs. We’re committed to ensuring all fans of the franchise are able to have the best experience possible with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” — Banjo Blog

And so there was much rejoicing. Though I still wonder if they may fix the demo as well.

I sure hope so, because otherwise, I really have little idea just what in the hell I’m supposed to be doing.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Just gathering up a few things of interest here and there.

1. It’s pretty much too late to use this, but I only saw it popping up here and there today. At least you can see what a cool Mega Man Jack-o-Lantern looks like, and maybe save the instructions for next year.
2. I got to see WWE Cyber Sunday earlier this week, and the Divas had a Halloween costume contest where viewers could vote. And the winner for the second year in a row was Mickie James, dressed as Lara Croft. Kotaku seems to favor her in the role over Angelina Jolie.
3. Reason #703 that being in Canada can suck: Missing out on Pokemon giveaways at Toys R Us, in spite of having Toys R Us here. Seriously, now. And I’d love to have a Dragonite. That “D” in my name? Stands for “Draco,” because I dig dragons.
4. Sackboy wants your vote on “Proposition Pluto.”
5. We’ve already got something similar here on the site, but if you want to hear it again, Kombo’s Lucas DeWoody takes a look at What’s Wrong With Sonic. It’s a pretty good read.
6. The first few DSi Ware titles look fun and interesting, but not quite “I must get this console” interesting. At least, not yet. I still think it’s just a matter of time before the “it” thing appears, though when it does, I’m not sure it’ll be for everybody. I rather expect there to be a fair and firm divide.
7. Speaking of releases, here is what Nintendo currently has set for the rest of this year and into 2009. Some of it’s pretty vague, though, but at least it looks like we’re getting some of the GameCube-to-Wii ports. Bring on Metroid Prime, I say!
8. Oh, and speaking of DSi, Nintendo wants it here by Summer.
9. The lovely Nadia Oxford expresses some changes she’d like to see in the dynamic of 3D Mario titles.
10. Elsewhere at 61 Frames per Second, Derrick Sanskrit does the impossible by justifying SEGA, as they seem to be the only third-party that really gets what the Wii is all about.
11. People who live on McDonald’s Dollar Menu Double Cheeseburgers have been a bit fidgety lately, as McD’s has sought to take the coveted consumable off the Dollar menu, and move it to $1.39. Hah, that’s what we’ve been paying here all along!

    Anyway, to show they’re good sports about it, it seems they’re willing to consider a compromise.

12. Masterpiece Grimlock is going to rock so hard.
13. Japan’s Virtual Console is going to receive Rockman 3 soon. So odds are, a US Mega Man 3 release won’t be too far behind.
14. Over at Press the Buttons, Matt thinks that Castlevania’s formula has gotten a little stale. But is the buddy-cop route the path the series needs in order to find salvation?

    On a related note, I pity poor Igarashi, who tried to steer the series away from Dracula being the bad guy by changing the Japanese name to match the West as Castlevania, but the fans there wouldn’t have it. So now it’s back to “Akumaj? Dracula,” or “Demon Castle Dracula.” While I can sympathize with the Japanese on the issue of a long-beloved series having its name changed (though I thought it was less popular there?), it now begs the question: Can you really make a Akumaj? Dracula game without Dracula? It seems to kind of tie a noose around the overall story potential.

15. Wonder what goes into making a Sonic theme song? Follow Crush 40 as they show you how “Knight of the Wind” from Sonic and the Black Knight came to be.

    And once you’re done there, you can see the trailer for the game matched against the theme from King Arthur and the Knights of Justice instead. It has no right to work as well as it does.

16. Speaking of Sonic (for the third time tonight), two new trailers for Sonic Unleashed have surfaced, one for the 360 version, and the other for the Wii.
17. And finally, the American fate of Disaster: Day of Crisis is a bit uncertain right now, as Reggie doesn’t think it’s a $50 game. He notes the voice acting as “laughable,” but is going to see how it performs in Europe before bringing it here.

    This has managed to upset some people.

And with that, hope you had a Happy Halloween!

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Cross-posted from The Mega Man Network:

Many fans have been excited to see manga writer/artist Hitoshi Ariga (of Big O manga and Rockman Megamix fame) return to the Rockman franchise once again with his cover and interior manga preview for the Rockman 9 Arrange Album. And after the recent Inti Creates event to celebrate the launch of the album, Ariga was kind enough to let fans know that the Rockman 9 Megamix adaptation, aka Megamix 4, is progressing smoothly. In addition, the previous Megamix volumes are planned to be re-released, though there isn’t word about Rockman Remix.

What’s more is that Ariga revealed that there are plans for a new publication known as “Rockman Maniax.” The nature of this title is being kept hush-hush right now, but Ariga assures fans that more will be revealed on his official blog come December 17th, 2008– Rockman’s 21st birthday.

Now, we just have to hope that Udon is able to work out some sort of arrangement in order to bring all of these great manga to us in a language we can read!

News credit: Protodude’s Rockman Corner

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

–LBD “Nytetrayn”