GeekSugar

Geek Shot: Stars at the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:40:26 PST

Geeky stars flooded the stage during Saturday's 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards. Zach Levi played host for the night, Felicia Day looked fantastic in an orange mini dress, Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto accepted the Video Game Hall of Fame Award, and deadmau 5 was on hand to make a musical appearance.

Nintendo Releases New Wii Updates and Bundles

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:36:07 PDT

Looking to get a head start on holiday purchases for the gamer in your life? Nintendo just unveiled two new Wii bundles to get you thinking about a console for your shopping list. Available in stores Oct. 23, the black Wii holiday bundle ($150) includes a black Wii, a black Wii Remote Plus, a black Nunchuk controller, a copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii game, and a special Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack CD. The updated Wii has been reconfigured to sit horizontally rather than vertically and - bummer! - no longer supports GameCube games.

The standard Wii bundle currently in stores ($150) will still be available for the holiday rush and includes a Wii console (white or black), matching Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, Mario Kart game, and Wii Wheel accessory.

European Wii gamers get their own blue Wii bundle option to be excited for, which is in the theme of the Mario and Sonic 2012 London Olympics game. Included in this bundle available Nov. 18 are also the newly configured blue Wii console, blue Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, and a copy of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. No word yet if the blue Wii will come to the US.

New Details About the Wii U: No DVDs, One Controller at a Time

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:28:59 PDT

We went a little gaga over the Wii U after it debuted at the E3 conference last week, but new details are emerging about what the console is really capable of. Some of which will be music to gamers ears, and others . . . well, let's just say it may not make an upgrade worthwhile. Check out some of the new facts below.

It won't play DVDs or Blu-Rays - Nintendo's president recently confirmed that there will be no DVD or Blu-ray playback for the Wii U, stating that "enough people already have devices that are capable of playing" those formats while listing cost as another roadblock.
But it will be 1080p HD - Thankfully, the Wii U will be light years ahead of the old console, thanks to a better processing chip that will allow HD 1080p viewing.
It will connect with social networks - No word yet on exactly how the Wii U will connect with sites like Twitter and Facebook, but Nintendo admits that there are no two ways about it - the Wii U will be a social experience.
Only supports one Wii U controller - Though you can play the multitude of party games that are made for the Wii system with your friends, the Wii U can only support one Wii U controller at a time. Looks like you'll have to keep passing that touchscreen to the left-hand side. Share and share alike!

Adorable: Robin Williams Waxes Poetic About Zelda

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:55:05 PDT

I'm a fan of funnyman Robin Williams, but add in the fact that he's a big gamer, and named his daughter after the classic Zelda franchise? Magic. Check out Nintendo's latest spot for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which stars the bearded comic, his (gorgeous!) daughter, and of course, the game, below. We do wonder though: is that his real house? That's quite a view.

Check Out the Wii U During the Nintendo E3 Presentation

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:31:43 PDT

Nintendo unveiled the exciting new Wii U just a few moments ago at today's E3 press briefing. Want to get a closer look? Click through the gallery!

Here's the Nintendo Wii U Console

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:26:12 PDT

We got a look at the new touchscreen controller for Nintendo's new Wii U system, and I finally caught a glimpse of the actual console during the post-media-brief programming. It looks very sleek with the rounded edges and possibly smaller than the current Wii console. What do you guys think of the Wii U?

Wii U Unveiled at Nintendo's E3 Presentation

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:05:02 PDT

The next Wii console is officially called the Wii U and comes with the predicted 6.2-inch touchscreen controller that we reported earlier this week. Designed to get the entire family in on the gaming action, or just yourself, the Wii U can be used with your TV or by itself as a handheld controller. Not only that, the controller can also be used in conjunction with the games you're playing on your set, as a video chatting device, or as an extension of the web. You can even wirelessly move video from your controller to your TV set with a swipe of your finger. Coming in 2012, learn about some other features you can look forward to with the Wii U below, and see more photos here!

The Wii U can automatically switch from the TV set to the controller without the need for switching inputs.
It comes with two circle pads, control pads, gyroscope, two speakers, microphone, touchscreen, a camera, and trigger buttons.
Games are wirelessly transmitted without lag.
You can use the Wii U on the TV, on the controller, or both.
Use the Wii U to share photos and videos, and browse the web.
You can play the new Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U against a 3DS opponent.
There will be a New Super Mario Bros. Mii that allows your Mii to play along with Mario.
LEGO City Stories, an open world game, will come to the Wii U and 3DS.

Is This the Wii 2 Remote?

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:01:10 PDT

Nintendo isn't making its big E3 announcements until tomorrow, but rumor has it that the mockup of the touchscreen-enabled Wii 2 remote (shown below) is quite similar to the real thing. A Japanese source says Nintendo's next generation console will be equipped with a remote stocked with a camera and a six-inch touchscreen, which will allow players to use the remote like a tablet. Other rumors indicate that you can use the touchscreen in conjunction with the game you're playing on a bigger screen, or play the game right on the wireless controller.

As for the official name of the next Wii? Most of us are calling it Wii 2, but new reports indicate Nintendo could just eliminate all the fuss and simply call it Nintendo.

Hold On to Your Tanooki Suits: Super Mario 3DS Making Appearance at E3

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:57:44 PDT

Ever since the Nintendo 3DS hit the streets, I've been itching for a new Mario game to play. Turns out, there's a brand new one on the horizon that will make its first appearance at E3 this June.

According to Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario 3DS (which will launch sometime this year) will be like a combination of Super Mario Galaxy and the N64 version of Super Mario, but it will be much easier to play thanks to the 3D nature of the portable console. "For example, the floors floating in space: in 2D it’s difficult to judge the distance, but in 3D it’s really easy." I'm so excited to get my hands on it. Look for more details to come!

New Obsession: Nintendo 3DS Street Pass

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:06:22 PDT

Nintendo knew what they were doing when it included the Street Pass feature in the new 3DS. What is Street Pass, you ask? Well, your 3DS comes with the ability to broadcast and receive Mii characters from other 3DS users as you pass each other on the street, in the grocery store, or in my case this weekend, at WonderCon, when communication is activated. Information shared includes your Mii's look, a custom message, and the last game you played on your 3DS. You're notified when you've collected a new character by the illuminated green light on the top of your console.

As you gather Miis, they gather in your Mii Plaza where you'll have the ability to play new RPG-style games with them and collect pieces to complete special puzzles. It's incredibly fun, and ensures that you'll want to take your 3DS with you wherever you go. I collected almost 50 Mii characters in the three days I attended WonderCon, and I'm kinda obsessed with getting more. Have you activated Street Pass on your 3DS yet?