1. BWTF.com has some new reviews up, in the form of Classics Starscream(including comparison shots to the G1 original) and the red and yellow Scrapmetals from TransFormers Cybertron.

   Still wish they’d release the “Cobybot” head mold for the Scrapmetal, tho.

2. GameTrailers has added a few more Mario Party 8 trailers, for those who are curious as to what the Wii may bring to the shindig.
3. Go Nintendo has provided a flipped trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, so as to give an idea of what to expect from the GameCube version of the title.
4. If you’re a Sonic fan who wants a DS but have not yet gotten one, this French package may be of interest to you.
5. For your viewing pleasure: five minutes of someone overheating and wrecking their Excite Truck.
6. Japanese Wii billboard.
7. Import review for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice For All.
8. Well, this blows.

   Not that I’m a huge Guitar Hero freak or anything, but it is a nift little game, but Microsoft is doing us wrong with the sequel.

   I can understand not wanting to have competing controllers that do the same thing, maybe with a little bit more out there, but come ON.

9. Newsarama takes a look at some recent DVD releases, including the first season set of Justice League Unlimited.

LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Hmm, interesting news from The Allspark and TFW2005.com in regards to TransFormers Classics fiction. Posted by Pete@Botcon:

   There actually will be an official fiction written for the Classics line. As announced at BotCon, The Collectors Club will be putting out the comic courtesy of Hasbro’s own Forest Lee. It will appear in the Collector’s Club Mag starting this January. PLUS, it won’t stop there, as the pages of the Magazine will have more Classic’s goodness.

   So, time for a quick plug, if you are not a member of the Club now is the perfect time to join. I make an announcement on the front page of the TF Newsletter in the issue that hits the streets November 25th. In it is a quick look at what we will be doing for 2007 in the publication. Plus, two club exclusives on the way soon, the year 3 free give-away toy plus some more exciting things in store for all the members. Wish I could say more, but so much cool stuff in the works. Now really is the time to join!

   Unfortunately, the price of the Collector’s Club may deter some from being able to enjoy what was said at BotCon to be sort of a Generation 3 comic; that is, the plan at the time was said to be to continue from Marvel’s Generation 2 stories of the 90s.

2. Oh, right. Something with some game… Zelda or something, went down recently, and now everyone’s got their impressions posted. Here are 1UP, Game|Life, GameSpot(plus an NOA interview), IGN, GameSpy, GameDaily, GoNintendo, Future Shop, and Kotaku.

   The consensus? “Shut up.”

   Yeah, that’s pretty much sums it up.

   To elaborate, “Shut up about whining about wearing yourself out and how it’ll never work with the Wii because it was made for the GameCube, this thing is GREAT.”

3. If you need a good excuse to scream, then good news awaits as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 has slipped back into the Wii launch.
4. Oh, the irony. The Teen Titans take on trouble in Tokyo in 2007. I guess even if you’re pretend anime, you’ve got to try and save Tokyo at least once.
5. Huh, and I wanted to see Casino Royale anyway.

   But now, it seems that Spider-man 3 will have a new trailer before the feature. It’s rumored to also show up on Fox’s The Duel, they say.

   Other news waits behind the link, some of it slightly spoilerish in regards to the villainous content of the film.

6. onNintendo has a few interesting tidbits about the Wii. Nothing Earth-shattering, just stuff about the blue lights and being able to check battery levels, and a neat way to calibrate with Red Steel.

   They also link to a more interesting CVG interview covering the Virtual Console’s nuances.

7. …this must be pretty close to what it feels like to have Cracker Jack living nearby.

   Idiots.

   But I beg of you, my loyal readers(all five of you), please do not try and make me succumb to temptation to actually act upon my impulses, for I feel that my flesh is willing, and my will is weak. Have mercy!

8. Press The Buttons checks out Wario’s newest title that doesn’t feature the word “Ware.”

   Hope it’s better than the guy playing makes it look.

9. Goody, Wal-Mart will be opening at midnight for the Wii launch.

   …wait, I thought US Wal-Marts were 24-hours? This change recently?

LBD “Nytetrayn”

Ok, after last night’s bout with WordPress(which I think Delta may have fixed now, we’ll see in time), time for a double-dose of the news and PoI.

1. Yesterday, Nintendo announced their plans for a steady flow of product through the holidays, but advise consumers to act early.

   Although the largest share of (the) worldwide allotment will go to the Americas, Nintendo expects supply will be outpaced by demand, based on retailer orders, intense consumer requests and placement on numerous “gotta have it” holiday lists.

   “Wii is for both experienced and uninitiated gamers, and it will be available for the masses,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Because of demand, we’re urging shoppers not to get complacent. The level of demand we’re seeing goes beyond the ordinary. Retailers are telling us a significant fraction of customers pre-ordering Wii are nontraditional gamers – people looking for a better way to play. And that’s exactly what Wii is designed to provide.”

2. Additionally, the big N will be hosting cross-country launch events.

   Toys “R” Us Times Square in Manhattan and GameStop at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles will host official Nintendo midnight launch events to satiate rabid fans who can’t wait to get their hands on Wii. The events will feature live music and entertainment, fun, games, special guests from Nintendo ? and a countdown to the moment that will change the way video games are played forever. Other retailers nationwide are expected to hold their own midnight launch events, so consumers should check with their local retail stores that sell video games.

   But no word on where Reggie will be. Will it be at Nintendo World? Or Toys R Us? Somewhere else entirely? Hmm…

3. And if finances are a problem, well, maybe you can win a Wii from Nintendo themselves.

   Unless you live in Canada. Dammit.

4. So the word is that E3 may become the GamePro Expo and take place in mid-October next year, but the name may yet change.
5. IGN has a brief report about the debut of the new Super Smash Bros. Brawl trailer at Nintendo World 2006.

   Nothing too earth-shattering until a vid becomes available, though it does confirm that Fox is in. As if there were any doubt.

6. New word concerning the Speed Racer movie confirms that the Wachowskis are involved. And maybe Vince Vaughn as Racer-X.
7. Good news for those looking to score an XBox 360, but want a little more bang for their buck, as Wal-mart is introducing two bundles for $399.99. Sadly, the two title choices aren’t terribly diverse, both being driving games, but hey, Burnout‘s not a bad choice if “real” racing isn’t your bag.
8. The Euro Virtual Console launch list, same as the US, but with the addition of the home-grown classic Donkey Kong Country.
9. Oh, while it’s on my mind. Now some guys at an EB in Canada are saying that we aren’t getting the Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin preorder bonus.

   I’m cursed. I’m cursed, and cancelling my preorder with EB, probably.

10. A little talk has surfaced regarding Paul Anderson’s upcoming Castlevania movie:

    “Anderson’s script spans many time periods but mostly takes place in 15th century Transylvania. It represents a fresh take on the much-filmed Dracula legend, mining back to its genesis in the story of the Romanian prince Vlad the Impaler. ‘You could almost call this movie Dracula Begins,’ Anderson said. ‘It’s an action/horror project in the vein of Underworld and Blade, and hopefully it will be a big franchise for us, Rogue co-president Andrew Rona said.”

    But … says Slashdot, Underworld and Blade are nothing like Castlevania.

    Touche’.

11. Sounds like Ratchet & Clank for PS3 is underway.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Found this a Penny Arcade… Miss Video Game 2007.

   …what.

   Something about this whole thing strikes me as… odd. Maybe it’s the seeming afterthought of making this have anything to even do with video games.

2. Hmm, seems that the Wii launch title list has been tweaked a bit. Nothing too earth-shattering, though.

   On a related note, IGN has updated their Wii launch guide to look a little closer at the 29 games that’ll be out before the ball drops in Times Square.

   To reiterate, the ones that most interest me are(in order of preference): Zelda, Excite Truck, Red Steel, Dragon Ball Z, and maybe Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

   And Wii Sports, but that doesn’t count, since it’s packed in.

   There’s more I wouldn’t mind trying(Rayman, for example), but those are the ones that interest me most.

   As for the Virtual Console titles, it’s slimmer than I thought.

   From the NES, I might go for old fave Urban Champion, maybe, and perhaps Solomon’s Key. The rest I have in some form or another. Super NES… yikes. Either one is decent, sure, but… Nintendo 64, pass. Unless it’s the DS version sans touchscreen stuff and with analog control. Then try and stop me.

   SEGA, Gunstar Heroes and Toejam & Earl might be good picks, and I’ve always wanted to try TG-16′s Bonk’s Adventure.

   Interesting that Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. are absent, though… seems they’d be shoe-ins. So much so, in fact, that they are shoe-ins… in Japan. Seems we’re getting the shaft on VC titles at launch…

   …oh well, at least we get free Wii Sports, right?

   Meanwhile, The Zenspace Chronicles’ Cody Musser gives his thoughts on this turn of events.

   Can’t say I disagree.

3. Hell. Literally.

   Looks like the Halo movie just landed in development hell.

4. Picked up word earlier from The Nintendo Database that Nintendo World 2006 will have a new Super Smash Bros. Brawl video. That’s this Friday, and I can’t wait to see it.

   Game|Life debunks the rumor of new characters being revealed, though… at least per what Sakurai’s journal tells us.

5. Coming soon to Wal=Mart, an Wii Buyer’s Guide by IGN. Says there’s not much new for info, but a rather extensive list of games with screens.
6. Disney says, “more Kingdom Hearts!” and Square-Enix says “not just yet.”
7. Starting today, you can preorder Halo 3 at EB/GameStop.
8. Like Evil Dead?

   Like Marvel Comics?

   Then boy, are you in for a treat!

9. I think these heroes are about as non-Kosher as you can get.

LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. In a move no one ever really thought would happen, Capcom has today announced that there will be a live-action Street Fighter movie being made for release in 2008, the 20th anniversary of the original title.

   Capcom is actively pursuing a policy of content multi-use by?expanding its intellectual properties to include televised animation and movies. The overall goal of which is the continuation of profitability through generation of a synergistic effect using the video game aspect of the company.

   Guess they’ve come back full-circle, after they pulled the plug on their hit Mega Man cartoon so many years ago.

2. Hmm, this really blows.

   Not for me personally, I’m already set with a PSP. But just the idea in general.

   See, in Japan, if you weren’t already aware, they get a lot of stuff. I mean a LOT of stuff. Including numerous variations on stuff we get. But stuff we won’t get.

   That’s why it stung a lot of people when Sony went after Lik-Sang, forcing them to shut down. They basically closed off an avenue of getting some of this stuff for a number of people.

   So what happens? Sony and Konami are coming out with this: a special Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops PSP bundle. So far, Japan-only. Knowing the market, we ain’t seein’ it anytime soon.

   What’s even stranger is that, if what I’ve heard is true, Metal Gear has more of a fanbase in the US. Seems it’d make sense to at least release it here.

   But even though it’s region-free and would no doubt help move more software, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Sony would rather you didn’t import this set, even if it was the catalyst to make you break down and buy their system.

   Business is funny. Especially when Sony’s involved.

3. On a related note, seems that a lot of importers are backing off of their PS3 preorders to Europe.

   Y’know, so Sony can’t harm any more pregnant mothers.

4. Oh yeah, and I imagine Play-Asia and company don’t want to incur any legal fees from Sony, as they’re pressing the now-defunct Lik-Sang to pay up some $188,000 USD. Talk about dogging someone until you see them dead…
5. Don’t go expecting any XBox 360 price drops anytime soon. Unless it’s a deal like at Fry’s.
6. So PS3 is to blame for Sony’s fiscal losses.

   Not being a big businessman, I can’t tell if 1.71 billion is anything to worry about, or if it’s just the cost of business.

7. A more “action-packed” Superman movie is scheduled for a 2009 release.
8. Meanwhile, the sequel to Narnia, Prince Caspian, is set to begin production soon.
9. Just in time for the holidays and the anniversary of the launch of the XBox 360, Microsoft is releasing Perfect Dark Zero into the Platinum Hits collection, and following a growing trend, will feature added content, here in the form of six new multiplayer maps, four of which are available on XBox Live and two yet to come.

   And for $19.99 USD, that sounds like the perfect price.

10. Sony preps for PS3 shortages the only way they know how: by selling more PS2s, and in silver at that.

    Seriously, though, looks neat, but I thought they couldn’t use DualShocks anymore?

    …pity they didn’t knock the price down a little further…

11. The Japanese Sony PS3 site has a new Q&A up, of which IGN was kind enough to translate.
12. I take it back, maybe Japan doesn’t always get everything, after all.
13. Hmm, interesting.

    Lara Croft is turning 10. And to celebrate, it seems that Eidos is looking to remake her first adventure with the Legends engine.

    Might be worth a look. But no GameCube/Wii release? Bad form, old bean, bad form.

14. Wow, just when you think you know it all.

    onNintendo reports that GamePro says Nintendo still hasn’t put all their cards out on the table yet.

    Another revelation? What could be it?

15. …but where would you use them?
16. Just a warning from Game|Life to you Lik-Sang importers(and maybe some who don’t), beware of this PayPal scam.
17. As usual, no one knows what in the hell Sony is talking about.

    Why should today be any different?

18. QJ.net reports from Edge: No price cuts for youse guys!” –Phil Harrison on PS3

LBD “Nytetrayn”

Well, I wish I had some grand story to tell about my trials and tribulations of waiting in line for a Wii preorder today, to emerge victorious, but…

Anyway, your news and some other stuff, thrown in for good measure.

1. So The Allspark has a few TransFormers tidbits, including the release of the new Hot Topic shirts, as well as a Toys R Us sale.
2. GameTrailers continues to explore the legacy of Hyrule, the hero Link, and the Legend called Zelda in the third part of their retrospective.
3. If you’re in Russia, you probably aren’t reading this.And just in case I really am that out of touch with my readership, then it may interest you to know that Nintendo is opening shop in the birthplace of Tetris.
4. Sounds like onNintendo is livin’ on the Edge where their news is concerned this week. Sounds like Japan will, much like the GameCube, get a special Wii that allows DVD playback.In addition, CNN has worked out a deal to supply news content in categories for the Japanese and American Wii Channels. Meanwhile, SEGA seems to be abandoning some of its PS3 development, moving a large portion of employees to Wii projects.

   Perhaps the most interesting part is the report that Nintendo wanted to release with a $200 price tag in America, but larger retailers were unsatisfied with the profit margin which this MSRP provided them.

   Screw that. Haven’t they heard the razor-blade analogy?

5. I may have to have some fun with this. Go Nintendo has a Wii boxart template up for your perusal.
6. GN reports that Jeux-France has new screens and video for Sonic and the Secret Rings. Pity there’s a lack of sound.Oh, and they have a scan, too.
7. Ah, the Super Mario World cartoon. Go Nintendo provides a YouTubing of the last episode, Mama Luigi, which details the arrival of the Marios in Dinosaur World, and the discovery of Yoshi as a young hatchling. Aww…One of my faves, a shame they don’t make cartoons like this anymore.

   (But The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 was still better.)

8. Joystiq has put way too much thought into how people blew into their NES cartridges back in the day.
9. Wow, this is promising for those wanting to get a Wii at Nintendo’s World Store at launch.*sobs in the corner*
10. …but what the hell is a Qee, anyway?
11. And finally, special thanks to Matt at Press The Buttons for referencing my article. In return, I invite you to check out his piece on a bit of iconic Mario imagery.

LBD “Nytetrayn”

A little early. But you don’t mind, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. Here we go!

1. There goes Capcom.

   If the publicity Sony’s gotten for the past while is any indication of Kramer’s work, Capcom is in for a rough road ahead.

   If not, hey, then congrats to Kramer for getting out.

2. Microsoft is pressing on in their pursuit of making the dream of a Halo movie a reality. This time, Warner Bros. and Paramount are the suitors.

   What’s funny to me is the notation of New Line being discluded because of legal woes with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. Last I heard, New Line was owned by AOL-Time Warner.

   Then again, I thought I heard something about AOL and Time-Warner splitting, but I don’t know anything else there, so who knows?

3. Speaking of Halo, IGN has picked up some information about the third installment of the series, as well as some killer bonuses.

   Collector’s Edition? Legendary Edition? A Spartan helmet included?

   In my entire existance, my only real experience as a Halo player was probably about five minutes or so at the Halo 2 launch here in T.O., and this stuff sounds pretty cool, even to me.

   Won’t see a new Mega Man coming with a helmet. Maybe a Mario game with a hat, though.

   Joystiq also has more details.

4. So Capcom is putting a stock-trading game on the DS.

   You know what, though? Two years ago, if you told me that one of my favorite games had you playing a lawyer in a courtroom dramedy adventure, I’d have told you to check the next room for your brain before slamming the door on your head.

   In other words, I’m willing to give it a shot.

5. KFWii?

   A user on YouTube shows off a video featuring the Wii… with tons of different skins. Keep an eye out for some other neat and not-so neat ones, including McDonald’s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(old and new), and even Death Note.

   I’ll take mine in white, though… and extra crispy.

6. What do Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Underdog, Gremlins, Hellboy, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Star Wars, Evangelion, and more all have in common?

   The US Fall Toy Show 2006, with lots of pictures! Check ‘em out.

LBD “Nytetrayn”

Huh, with the day I’ve had, I’m surprised I’m even writing this. Alas, I must be diligent, for this is the duty I have assigned myself.

On with the news.

1. Wow, he never does stop. This is a lot like the Hot Coffee thing in a way, what with it being triggered by users rather than developers/publishers, but at the same time not.Also, on a related note, Destructoid has some video of the recent court appearance of the man himself.
2. And, the ball is in Lik-Sang’s court again.
3. Nintendo’s status.Or, if you prefer more specific details…So, yeah. Not holding the biggest share of the market is really killing them, and they should just get out of the console business.

   Yeah.

   Meanwhile, on the King’s thrown, royalty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

4. IGN brings some intriguing news about a sequel to Superman Returns.
5. Harveytoons are coming to DVD.More interesting is the peculiar cover art. Something about Casper and the little witch girl just feels… wrong, somehow.
6. It’s oft said, but I feel it holds true. They just don’t make cartoons like they used to anymore.Fortunately, “how they used to” is coming to DVD with Pinky & The Brain and Animaniacs second DVD sets.
7. …Moon Knight? On TV?Wonder if Marvel’s answer(so to speak) to Batman will fare any better than Blade did…

LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Remember that awesome 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime figure released a couple of years ago? Well, it’s finally getting its proper follow-up, at least in Japan, according to The Allspark and Digital Toys.

   “Just a follow-up that Takara/Tomy has shown the prototype of the MP-05 Megatron and it indeed WILL BE A GUN. I cannot say more at this time and Takara is not allowing pictures to be released yet, but we will have them shortly as soon as they permit.”

   Awesome. I wonder if he’ll be to scale with a gun, or with Optimus, though?

2. EB/GameStop still has no real idea if they’re doing the Castlevania preorder deal in Canada or not; I switched an old payment I had for a game they never called me about to Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin last night when told they had something marked “Castlevania P/R D” in their system. Hoping that “D” stands for “Deal” or something.

   Just now, got off the phone with their customer service, who don’t know, and they recommend I try asking Konami, which is just what I’m going to do.

3. So Jacko isn’t going to jail, but…

   Here’s what got him into this mess.

4. Damn.

   If you work at Best Buy, you might be locked out of getting a PS3.

   Frankly, I’d figure if they’d have to pay full price, that makes them a customer. And being a little more punctual with the news would be good, too.

5. Sony sez, “Lik-Sang is just sour grapes.”

LBD “Nytetrayn”

Wow, miss a day, and it really piles up. Guess this sort of counts as a double-edition.

1. Oh, wow. I wasn’t expecting this.

   Looks like Sony not only beat Lik-Sang.com in court(in regards to the importing of PSPs prior to their European release dates), but has wrapped their coils around the HK-based company and squeezed, forcing them to close down. And many are upset about it.

   This is definitely tragic, as I’ve heard good things about the company, and as noted, it seems that even higher-ups in the gaming business(even from Sony themselves) dealt through them.

   It also brings into question what the fate may be for other import retailers who deal in Sony products. And ironically, does this mean SoE brass will have to stand in line with the rest now?

   You can see the press-release here on their home site as well.

   As for independent dealers like eBay sellers? No comment.

   Game|Life’s Chris Kohler adds his own comments.

2. If you’re partaking of the McDonald’s Monopoly contest and are acquiring Best Buy Bucks, the following from the PA forums may be of interest to you:

   With McDonald’s annual Monopoly promotion in swing, you can get “Best Buy Bucks” ($1 or $5 versions) off certain items. If you’re like me — a gamer, and inclined to eat utter crap when you know you shouldn’t — you may have some of these stored up to buy games with.

   Be advised that at least one of the official rules flyers McDonalds distributed says that there’s a $3 maximum limit on CD, DVD and video game purchases. This is not correct. Having just tried to use more than $3 worth and been refused by the manager, I called up the Best Buy customer service line to find out what’s up.

   Corporate has confirmed that the $3 cap is only for CDs and DVDs: video games purchases are not included. The rep I spoke to had no idea why there was a flyer circulating that said otherwise, but made it clear that Best Buy stores should honor as many as you want to spend on games (up to a $200 limit or something like that, but if you’ve gotten $200 Best Buy bucks off of eating McDonalds in the space of a week, you have bigger problems to worry about).

   Just wanted to share this info in the hopes that none of you face a similar obstruction. (Not unlike the obstruction in my bowels, from eating those freakin’ chicken strips.)

3. If you’ve imported either of the recent new Pokemon games, you might have found out about a bug in the game. Nintendo has addressed the situation, so it might be worth a read for you.
4. The folks at Bungue remain optimistic and committed to quality, despite the backing-out of Fox and Universal on the Halo movie.
5. N-Philes has some new scans of Fire Emblem for Wii, showing off an interesting looking but not unattractive young lady, and… dude, what the hell are you wearing?
6. Go Nintendo reports that Captain N: The Game Master seasons 1 and 2 will be coming to DVD in February 2007.

   Except in Canada, if history is any indication.

7. In addition to the 10th Anniversary Resident Evil Collection for the GameCube, Game|Life reports that Capcom is also bringing out a 5th Anniversary Devil May Cry box set for the PS2.

   What gives, Capcom? Why not release a collection of all the great Mega Man games that came out this past generation, and—oh, wait. Nevermind.

8. So, latest in the world of microtransactions is that you can spend real money to get virtual money in The Godfather.

   I can’t put my finger on it, but this whole thing seem really familiar somehow… like I’ve heard of such a thing before. And no, I don’t mean the Tiger Woods crap.

9. Wow, this is very nearly enough to make me want to switch back to Bell-Sympatico for my internet needs.
10. I am so sick and damn tired of auto accidents claiming the lives of great people in gaming.
11. Remember that Blu-Ray disc player Sony was supposed to release about 6 months ago?

    It’s been delayed. Again.

12. …hey, how’d THEY get one?

LBD “Nytetrayn”