Nintendo hit with a $21 million dollar patent infringement

The AP picked up a news story that Nintendo has recently been ruled against in a $21 million dollar patent infringement lawsuit regarding the Gamecube, Wavebird, and Classic Controllers.

This story has been subsequently posted by several gaming blogs all linking to the original AP news article (which can be found here). After reading over the posts that were being made in regards to the patent infringement, there seemed to be a lot of 'missing pieces' in the reporting in regards to Anascape and the lawsuit itself. Because of this I began to research the background a bit to see if I can fill in some of the 'holes' with more information.

I stumbled across Justia's write up on the lawsuit by accident, but I'm glad I did. If you are vaguely interested in learning more about why Nintendo was sued as well as the exact claims made by Anascape, Justia's summary of events and timeline offers the best chance to see the anatomy of this lawsuit.

Most of the exhibits that were brought before the court have also been scanned and uploaded as a PDF format including the original lawsuit filing.

The AP article has reported that Microsoft opted to settle out of court for their part in the claims. As can be expected, Nintendo has vowed to fight the lawsuit.

Wii Freeloader on its way...

Max Console is currently reporting that the Wii Freeloader is about to be set to available on popular mod-chip retailer Divineo. Though the exact date the disc will be able to be purchased isn't clear, Max Console reports they were told that we should see it within the next "10 days" on the Divineo website. The Wii Freeloader will allow gamers to play Wii import titles from all over the world and will work on PAL, NTSC-U, and NTSC-J consoles.

Unfortunately, considering Nintendo's past history of periodic firmware updates that have prevented the use of the Gamecube Action Replay/Freeloader on the Wii, it's a bit hard to say whether or not the Wii Freeloader will be subject to the same scrutiny from the company. This may end up being a buyer beware purchase, especially if there are no guarantees from Datel that the Wii Freeloader is "future-proofed" against action by Nintendo.

Code Junkies, a US retailer already posting information on the Wii Freeloader, has a few more details about the product available on the link. The Wii Freeloader will be compatible with both Gamecube and Wii import titles and will retail for $19.99.

[Discuss on Forums]

Nintendo of Japan dropping Hardware support for the Famicom

Itmedia is reporting that Nintendo of Japan is finally ceasing hardware support for the Famicom system (the Japanese equivalent of the NES) as of October 31st. With all the news of Sega finally ending support on the Dreamcast consoles this past year, it is amazing to think that Nintendo has carried on the Famicom system for this long. According to the report, Itmedia cites the company as stating that the necessary parts for repairs have become increasingly difficult to obtain.

Also mentioned in the report, Nintendo of Japan is also ending their support for the Super Nintendo (Super Famicom), Nintendo 64, Gameboy, and Gameboy Pocket lines.

There is a silver lining however (according to Nintendo). With the Wii Virtual Console allowing for downloadable releases of classic NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64 games, you'll be able to continue enjoying the games long after the original systems have died. Unfortunately, this doesn't take into account needing to buy the games a second time and also the fact that the library selection pales in comparison to the full libraries of the host systems, but we can't win all the battles, right?

Good night Famicom, you started a revolution and are to this day a solid workhorse that has inspired two generations of gamers.

Operation C (Gameboy) Gameplay Video

Operation C was a bit of a shock for me.

It has been ages since I last picked up the game, and because of that, I was completely unsuspecting the quality of title that this game delivers. I'm truly amazed that Konami was able to create a Contra game specifically for the original monochromatic Gameboy that rivaled both of their offerings on the NES (and in some ways surpassed them). It is just a shame that this game often times is forgotten by those reminiscing about the Contra franchise.

As I stated in my post regarding the Super C Virtual Console playthrough I uploaded, this is just another small part in a larger picture I'm trying to paint of the franchise's history. For the next couple of weeks, I am intending on uploading videos of the different games in the series with no continue runs. They aren't perfect, and I will die, but that at least show off the games in action from start to finish.

Due to compression issues on Gametrailers, the series is going to be sporadically posted, but hopefully it will all be completed by the time Contra 4 rolls out for the Nintendo DS.

Konami Contra History (Gameplay Videos
Contra (Arcade)
Super Contra (Arcade)
Contra (Famicom/NES)
Super C (NES)
Operation C (Gameboy)
Contra Force (NES)
Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Contra: The Alien Wars (Gameboy)
Contra Hard Corps (Genesis)
Contra Legacy of War (Playstation 1)
C: The Contra Adventure (Playstation 1)
Contra Advance The Alien Wars EX (Gameboy Advance)
Contra Shattered Soldier (Playstation 2)
NEO Contra (Playstation 2)

Pokemon BATTRIO Set for a Limited Release This Weekend

The disc-based Japanese Pokemon game, Pokemon BATTRIO, is set for a limited release in a small number of PokeCenters and Arcades this weekend across Japan. The game combines the collectible aspects of the Pokemon Trading Card Game and Pokemon Video Games with the touch based gameplay of Japanese Arcade RPGs.

Players will be able to purchase "booster" discs of Pokemon that they will be able to then use during their arcade battles against a friend or a computer opponent. This is set up similarly to the card battlers Mushi King and the upcoming Dragon Quest arcade game. Discs will also be rewarded for succeeding at specific tasks during the game.

The primary gameplay is going to be centered around the 3 vs. 3 Pokemon battles. During these battles both players (or 1 player and 1 computer) work to eliminate the HP of his opponent. 36 Pokemon will be available when it first hits the shelves (it includes the fan favorite Pikachu though - so every little kid can be Ash). More will be available as Nintendo and TOMY push them to market (presumably during set "waves" which will then rotate out the previous discs making them more collectible).

The game system is controlled via a "touch field" where you position your Pokemon against your opponent's. The grid based gameplay recognize where your discs are position and responds by showing your Pokemon in its respective formation in the actual game. Different positions correspond with different powers and may have different effects depending on which Pokemon may be adjacent to one another. The gameplay is simplified for the game's target demographic, so unless you are a hardcore Pokemon fanatic, the gameplay may be a bit too simple for some.

Here's what I like about the game.

The cell shaded graphics are a great touch as most gameplay videos I've seen (including the one on the official BATTRIO website) have been filled with all the special effects Pokemon fans have expected from the 3D entries in the series. The game is based on a specialized Triforce system, and it shows that everyone involved with development has tried to make a game that would be very hard to resist its appeal of if you've spent any time throwing Poke-balls at Wild Pokemon.

This is one of those games that would be extremely easy to market here in the states with very little effort, but I'm not convinced that we will be seeing it any time soon.

For more information about this weekends upcoming limited release, head over to the official Pokemon BATTRIO website here.

Special thanks to AM-Net for the report.

E3 Nintendo Keynote Address

Okay... It wasn't just Microsoft.

It seems this E3 is going to be a bit lackluster overall. Maybe it's the new format and the refocused feel that the E3 is going for this year, but whatever the reason, it just seems to lack the pizazz of previous E3's. Predictably, Nintendo spent the first 10 minutes talking about their current "domination" of the console and handheld charts. Easy there Nintendo. I love that you are back on top, but fans are going to be demanding a lot from you in the way of software and third party support with your new found position. There's a lot of expectations now, and it will be oh so easy to screw them up...

Here's the high points of the show for me.

Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles is being designed around a special housing for the Wii Remote/Nunchuck that will be called the Wii Zapper. We saw this at last year's E3 only in a prototype form, so its great to finally be able to get a chance to get our hands on it.

Umbrella Chronicles is playable at the E3 expo, which I'm extremely excited about. The game appears to be the natural progression of a true arcade light gun shooting game onto a console for a much longer and hopefully deeper experience. The second piece of software set to take advantage of the new Nintendo developed peripheral is Ghost Squad Wii. Sega's shooter was only shown shortly, but it's good to see that it is also being built for the Wii Zapper.

As a side note here, I was a sucker as a kid for Hogan's Alley and Duck Hunt... Seeing the Wii Zapper as it is now is like coming home in a way and finding that your Mom has a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies that are better than her old kind. Sure it doesn't appear to be as cool as the GunCon3, but it just feels so right.

The Zapper will be available for $19.99.

Smash Brothers was shown. New footgae in parts, old footage in others. But we finally get a release date on what is sure to be one of the biggest Wii games this year. Currently, Smash Brothers Brawl is scheduled to hit store shelves on December 3rd. Do I expect it to meet that deadline? I'm not quite sure. This is one of those games that were promised in the launch window and we've already seen it slip six months past its initial time frame. No mention of online play yet, but I'm pretty sure that was confirmed a while back with the game's director.

Another big announcement was the confirmation that Mario Kart Wii would be shipping first quarter 08. The game promises online play and will also be featuring an additional peripheral packaged in with the software - the Wii Wheel.

I wish I was joking about this.

It's a great idea to throw in all of these extra shells in with the software, but I'm a bit at a loss of words as for the "why" of it all. As a note about Mario Kart Wii, visually speaking the game is a little underwhelming if the shots we saw were representative of the game's work in progress. After seeing Mario Kart Grand Prix 2 in action, Mario Kart Wii is a little bland. It seems that the game is visually taking more cues from the Mario Kart DD game on the Gamecube which is disappointing considering the excellent Mario Kart racer in the arcades already.

I had the same argument last time around too when Mario Kart Grand Prix hit arcades on the Triforce arcade hardware. The game is modelled roughly on the Gamecube, so why in the world would you not use it as the bases for your Mario Kart Gamecube game?

Getting over that tangent...

The last good 15 minutes of the show were bizarre to say the least. The only way I can really describe it is to say that it seems like Nintendo decided to deflate whatever hype the audience had for the titles with a weird showing of Reggie and Miyamoto showcasing Wii Fit and yet another peripheral for the Wii. This game and the Balance Board will more than likely be huge. A software title for the Wii that allows anyone, no matter their age or fitness level, to excercise and receive feedback on their technique has the potential to open up the Wii's audience even more. Plus some of the "activities" showcased in Wii Fit seem to fore-shadow even more uses for the Wii Balance Board in traditional games. Konami Mocap games anyone?

Here's what I'm left with really after viewing the show. Nintendo has some solid third party outings, a few interesting peripherals, and the promise of opening up gaming to an evergrowing audience. But the presentation of the speech was lacking, and despite the best efforts of Miyamoto, Reggie, and Iwata, nothing could salvage the fact that it seemed like the show was one big montage after another.

Sony's is the next keynote address so it will be interesting to see the response they receive, especially on the heels of their $100 North American price drop. So far it seems that the big console manufacturers are 0 for 2 in my mind.

I can't wait to get the Wii Zapper though... Ghost Squad is calling my name.

Metal Slug for the GBA Cancelled

I can't say that this is surprising, but the Gameboy Advance version of the original arcade Metal Slug (not to be confused with Metal Slug Advance which was released in 2004) has been officially canceled according to SNK Playmore USA.

Despite the cancellation being heavily rumored by Famitsu in an article last October, there were no official announcements made by SNK Playmore Japan or SNK Playmore USA in regards to the future of the game. There were a lot of people who held out hope that perhaps it was just delayed, despite the abandoment of the Gameboy Advance in favor of the Nintendo DS for the majority of projects being released.

The below note was left on the forums list on the SNK Playmore website. It's amazing that despite how far along this title seemed to be based on press material provided, that the game was still abandoned.


Whether or not SNK Playmore intends on moving the project to the DS as a lot of companies have done with previously announced GBA software is yet to be seen, but based on the post suggesting that you purchase Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii, PS2, and PSP, chances are we won't be seeing Metal Slug any time soon on a Nintendo handheld.

The planned GBA versions of Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug 3, and Metal Slug X have all also been officially canceled.

Rhythm Tengoku scheduled for an Arcade release

Rhythm Tengoku is more than likely one of the best Gameboy Advance games most people have never played. Designed by the genius's behind the Warioware series, the game is a unique mix of drum beats, button presses, and mini games, all of which even put Elite Beat Agents to shame. In the latest issue of Famitsu (which surprisingly has been filled with a ton of great news), Nintendo and Sega announced their plans to bring the Rhythm Tengoku series to arcades in Japan. I don't expect Nintendo of America to touch this game with a ten foot pole, especially considering that we still don't have the original Gameboy Advance game release in North America, but we can hope right?

Rhythm Tengoku for the region free (greatest thing ever) GBA can still be ordered on Play-Asia.com... Just expect to pay more than full price for it.

[Scan via creamsugar on NeoGaf]

Shigeru Miyamoto - Time's 100 Most Influential People

After constantly F5'ing the voting polls on the Time website for the last couple of weeks, video game fans can rejoice. Video game superstar Shigeru Miyamoto is officially a part of the print list of the Time's 100 Most Influential People issue of their news magazine for 2007.

The article on the Time's site (written by professional gamer, Jonathan Wendel, aka Fatal1ty) pays a bit too much attention to the achievements of the author as opposed to those of Mr. Miyamoto, but despite this slight infraction on the part of the Time's editorial staff, it is great to see another video game personality making their place on the list.

From Donkey Kong, to Zelda, to Mario, to the Nintendo Wii... Miyamoto is the defacto figurehead for the Nintendo corporation. His works are beloved by millions, and I would wager that on some level the vast majority of gamers grew up with a Miyamoto game as the one that made them a gamer. I know I did.

Click here read the article on Miyamoto on the Time's website.

Mario Kart Grand Prix 2 Updates!

Fans of kart racing, rejoice... Mario Kart Grand Prix 2 has finally been released in wide form in arcades across Japan.

The game delivers all the thrills that the series has been known for since its inception in 1992 on the Super Famicom. Like the original Mario Kart Grand Prix, Grand Prix 2 is based on the specially designed Triforce arcade system. It takes full advantage of the shared technology created by Nintendo, Sega, and Bandai Namco, to deliver a unique and incredibly fun racing experience.

Besides the obvious improvements to sounds and graphics, the game strives to perfect a few features originally introduced in the first game, including the Nam Cam, a facial camera that takes pictures of you as you race through the courses. The picture is then positioned in a bubble over your character's head sort of like a mini-avatar that your opponents will see while you are leaving them in your dust.

The game also supports the magnetic cards that the original had to save certain player's data including course records, win/loss ratios, and unlocked items that are found by completing certain tasks in game. It is possible to also carry over your card data from Mario Kart Grand Prix to use in Grand Prix 2, but if you do so, the card will not be able to be used in the first game again.

There is also an online ranking for those players interested in trying to find out if they really are the best of the best. The ranking includes a leaderboard for all of the modes in the arcade game, which can be found at the game's official site: Mario Kart GP2 Online Ranking.

According to Arcade Heroes, Coinopexpress is currently offering an upgrade for owners of the first Mario Kart Grand Prix game. Though there is no word on how much the upgrade costs (the first game ran around $17,000 when it was released, and it seems you have to contact Coinopexpress direct to find out more information), it is definitely a positive sign that the second Mario Kart GP may begin popping up in arcades around you.

So what do you get for your dollar? Take a look at the Mario Kart GP 2 vital stats below...

VITAL STATS

Multiplayer support

Three difficulties of play: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc

Choose between Normal and Time Trial modes

Race against your own ghosts in Time Trial mode with the game save cards

Opposition mode pits you against human opponents in several Mario Kart themed challenges

Win special items, customizable options, and more

8 different tracks based on fan favorites

13 characters to choose from, all with their own unique karts with abilities: Mario, Pacman, Luigi, Waluigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Blinky, Mametchi (Tomagatchi character), Ms. Pacman, Toad, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser

Over 56 different items including character specific items