Nintendo Wii: Great Gaming Experience For Less
The game world has never been so competitive. With the release of game consoles such as PS 3 XBOX 360 and Nintendo Wii, it seems that there is a tough generation war coming.
If you’re one of those millions of people dying to get their hands on some cute but powerful game consoles, you will have to pay a price for it. The fast-paced and impressive online combat doesn't come cheap.
The new Nintendo Wii release couldn't be more apt. Nintendo has just been released for the holidays, perfect timing. Now, gamers, young or old alike, won’t have to think hard on what they want for the holidays.
Compared to other game consoles, Nintendo Wii will cost about $250 in the US while $213 in Japan.
So what can we expect to get in exchange of our $250? Nintendo Wii comes with a lot of incredible applications. Examples include the Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess, Pokemon Battle Revolution, Metroid Prime 3: The Corruption and the Super Smash Brothers Brawl.
Unlike other gaming systems, Nintendo Wii is proud to announce that they have made a game console which is highly compatible with other old game consoles. Just add a few dollars and you’ll get a game console that could wirelessly connect to a Nintendo DS Lite or Nintendo DS.
You could use your Nintendo Wii together with your Nintendo Gamecube. This will allow you to download older yet fun and impressive games such as TurboGrafx-16, Super Nintendo, Sega MegaDrive and NES.
Nintendo Wii also comes with pre-installed games which include the Wii Sports. Wii Sports is collection of Sport Games that all gamers would surely love. It offers tennis, bowling, baseball and even boxing. You can even download via wireless connection all the classic games that you love.
With only $250, you’ll be able to provide everyone in your family something you’ll all love. Playing Nintendo Wii with your family also provides you with a venue to bond together. Nintendo Wii is surely worth your $250.
There are other game consoles out there but they could cost you twice as much. If you’re a parent who would like to play along with your kids, Nintendo Wii could be your best choice. With Nintendo offering a lower price, it will surely attract a larger market this time.
Nintendo’s Wii has been known as Nintendo Revolution during each testing stage, and it surely is a revolution compared to other Nintendo game consoles. $250 isn't that expensive for real innovation.
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Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
International Nintendo Wii Competition: Is It Ever Coming?
In the United States, Nintendo Company has sold close to 500,000 units of its latest game console Wii in the month of November, its debut period. This proves that when it comes to the video game industry, Nintendo is still a force to reckon with despite the presence of the two other biggest game console manufacturers on the market today.
In fact, Nintendo is synonymous with video games. It was the first game console manufacturer to hold a video game tournament in 1990. The competition was held in thirty cities across the United States and Canada. The platform used was Nintendo's NES and it was indeed the biggest event in video gaming.
In 1994, another Nintendo World Championships was held. This time, the platform used was Nintendo's SNES. Though the 1994 tournament pales in comparison with the event four years prior, it still grabbed the gamers' imagination at the time.
Today, as the new game console from Nintendo has just been released and no international competitions in its platform have yet been organized, many gamers are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for an international Nintendo Wii competition in the very near future. At the moment, the closest sport-type games that video gamers can get with their Wii aren't versus players from other countries but versus Wii itself.
Through Wii Sports, players can play Tennis, Bowling, Baseball and Golf. And Wii's distinctive game controller comes in as a convenient tool for playing these sports. Players from six to ninety-six years old can definitely swing away as if they were in the US Open or Major League baseball. The remote controller of the game console can be easyly used without the confusing translation of button commands into directions for the game characters on the screen.
In the meantime, as video gamers are still in the process of warming up to their new Wiis, you can try joining local Nintendo competitions such as those held by students at Michigan University last December 2., 2006. In this competition there were four tournaments. Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Kart 64, Smash Bros 64, and Smash Bros Melee had been played on the competition day.
The competition was open to anyone, Michigan University student or not, subject to some rules. Prizes had been given to tournament winners and the grand prize for the competition as a whole was, you have guessed it, a brand new Nintendo Wii. The gamer who won it can now practice for the much awaited International Nintendo Wii Competition.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved.
In the United States, Nintendo Company has sold close to 500,000 units of its latest game console Wii in the month of November, its debut period. This proves that when it comes to the video game industry, Nintendo is still a force to reckon with despite the presence of the two other biggest game console manufacturers on the market today.
In fact, Nintendo is synonymous with video games. It was the first game console manufacturer to hold a video game tournament in 1990. The competition was held in thirty cities across the United States and Canada. The platform used was Nintendo's NES and it was indeed the biggest event in video gaming.
In 1994, another Nintendo World Championships was held. This time, the platform used was Nintendo's SNES. Though the 1994 tournament pales in comparison with the event four years prior, it still grabbed the gamers' imagination at the time.
Today, as the new game console from Nintendo has just been released and no international competitions in its platform have yet been organized, many gamers are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for an international Nintendo Wii competition in the very near future. At the moment, the closest sport-type games that video gamers can get with their Wii aren't versus players from other countries but versus Wii itself.
Through Wii Sports, players can play Tennis, Bowling, Baseball and Golf. And Wii's distinctive game controller comes in as a convenient tool for playing these sports. Players from six to ninety-six years old can definitely swing away as if they were in the US Open or Major League baseball. The remote controller of the game console can be easyly used without the confusing translation of button commands into directions for the game characters on the screen.
In the meantime, as video gamers are still in the process of warming up to their new Wiis, you can try joining local Nintendo competitions such as those held by students at Michigan University last December 2., 2006. In this competition there were four tournaments. Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Kart 64, Smash Bros 64, and Smash Bros Melee had been played on the competition day.
The competition was open to anyone, Michigan University student or not, subject to some rules. Prizes had been given to tournament winners and the grand prize for the competition as a whole was, you have guessed it, a brand new Nintendo Wii. The gamer who won it can now practice for the much awaited International Nintendo Wii Competition.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
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The Most Common Wii Problems
The Nintendo Wii is great, but no system is perfect. Here are some of the main problems users have experienced with the gaming console since its release last year.
Light Trouble
It seems that people who got the Wii for Christmas had trouble with some kind of interference from their Christmas lights. It was reported that they console wouldn't respond to the remote control while the lights were on. Some gamers found that if they played on the other side of the room from their Christmas trees, there was no problem.
This is because the Wii's sensor bar, a part of the unit that detects changes in the position of the remote, gets thrown out of whack by bright lights. This is why playing the console too close to a bright light source messes with the remote control action.
Nintendo responded by saying that your Wii controller may not work when it's too close to a bright light source. It's not a problem with the design or technology, they said, and suggested avoiding sitting or standing near bright lights when you're playing. Also you should keep bright lights away from the TV, because they will interfere with the signal there as well.
Crashing Wii's
Another technical problem some Wii users have experienced is their games slowing down. This usually happens after 10 or more straight hours of game play. Of course, turning it off and back on again helps, but the unit should be playable for longer than 10 hours. The reason it slows down is that it is mildly overheating, so if this happens to you, make sure the warm air can escape and the fans are working properly. The Wii comes with a stand to put the console on, and it's recommended that if you use the stand, the warm air will be able to get out.
In any case, game systems do sometimes crash. The Nintendo Wii doesn't seem to crash nearly as much as XBox 360's or PS3's do, so it doesn't seem to be a major problem.
Trouble Getting Online
Some users report having trouble getting online with their Wii's. It seems like the Wii doesn't take too well to one-bar connections, and often it is slow to dial up. The Wii's online connection is wireless, so it suffers from all the other problems of wireless systems. If it's a serious problem, you can always buy an adapter from Nintendo and run a line.
Accidents And Injuries
The biggest problem with Wii is not technical, but physical. There have been a number of Nintendo Wii-related injuries. The main culprit, aside from overactive gamers, seems to be the controllers' wrist straps. The wrist straps, which keep the controller from flying out of the user's hand, apparently break easily. This is made worse by gamers' sweaty palms, which make it easy for the controllers to slip. The result is lots of broken glass, damaged TV's, smashed light fixtures, cuts, bruises and twisted ankles.
Nintendo is actually facing a lawsuit because of these strap-related injuries. They claim that it is the users' fault for failing to hold the controllers properly. Still, the complaints have prompted Nintendo to recall 3.2 million of the straps and exchange them for thicker ones.
In spite of these problems, the Nintendo Wii continues to sell well, and is being enjoyed by thousands of gaming fans.
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Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Wii Nunchuk controller
Product Description
Amazon.com
The Wii Nunchuk controller is a secondary controller that adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming, and does it all with less physical movement.
Used in conjunction with the standard Wii remote, certain games need the Nunchuk controller for additional control options. Contoured perfectly to fit a player's hand,
The Wii Nunchuk (left) connects directly to the Wii remote. View larger.
the Nunchuk controller builds on the simplicity of the Wii Remote controller. The Nunchuk contains the same three-axis motion sensor found in the Wii Remote, but also includes an analog stick, and two buttons to help assist in character movement.
Many games will allow you to control your character's movement with the Nunchuk in your left hand, while your right hand is free to execute the action movements with the Wii Remote. For example, the Nunchuk is particularly useful for games like Wii Boxing. You can use the Nunchuk to punch with your weaker hand, while you use the Wii remote to punch and jab with your predominant hand.
Take the fun to the next level with two-handed control of your games. View larger.
In first-person shooters, the Nunchuk controller carries the burden of movement, freeing you to aim and fire using a more natural motion with the Wii Remote. In a football game, you can make your quarterback elusive with the Nunchuk controller while you search for an open receiver to throw to using the Wii Remote. Serious gamers may even want to use two Nunchuk controllers to gain a fierce competitive edge.
Because the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers are only relatively dependent on each other, players are free to hold them in whichever hand is most comfortable. Perfectly suitable for either right or left-hand use, the Wii Nunchuk controller grants accessibility not often seen in previous game controllers.
Also, the Nunchuk controller doesn't need its own power--it plugs into the Wii Remote controller when it's in use. So there's no need to worry about charging or replacing expensive batteries.
Adding a Nunchuk to your Wii system will definitely help you open the doors to the next level of gaming, and seriously step up performance. Just be careful not to knock out your significant other, or bruise the dog, severely, while using one, or two Nunchuk controllers.
Product Description
Contoured to perfectly fit a player's hand, the Nunchuk controller goes an extra step to meet the needs of gamers. It features the same motion-sensing technology enabled in the Wii Remote controller,with an analog stick to assist in character movement. Use it to move your characters and have them perform all kinds of specific actions -- whether it's throwing a pass in football or aiming a ranged weapon in an action game. The ambidextrous nature of the Wii controllers grants accessibility seldom seen in game controllers.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nintendo Wii: Purchasing Tips for a Great Deal
Here are some purchasing tips that may help you get a Nintendo Wii at a great Deal. There is always at least one constant in the world of game console launches: shortages. It is no different this time around as all 3 of the big name consoles, the Microsoft XBOX360, the Sony PlayStation3, and the Nintendo Wii, can’t seem to keep up with the high demand. Nintendo executives were prepared for potential shortages, and produced millions of consoles for the launch of the Nintendo Wii.
What they weren’t prepared for was the overwhelming demand for their new console. Nintendo expected to have over 4 million units available worldwide for the launch period. That is from its initial launch on November 19, to Christmas. So far every shipment made from Nintendo to the retailers has sold out within 24 hours of arrival on the store shelves. It may be quite tricky to get your hands on a Wii before Christmas. This article will provide you with some tips with regards to purchasing a Wii.
If you go to a retailer and they are out of stock, the first thing you want to do is stay patient. If you missed out on your opportunity to get a Wii during this week’s shipment, it’s not the end of the world. There will be plenty of Wiis available between now and Christmas. What you don’t want to do is get impatient and buy a Wii on eBay for double the price.
Having said that, eBay is definitely the first place to check for deals for the Wii. You will want to avoid any of the “Buy it Now” auctions, as they will charge more than the retail price. What you want to be looking for are regular bid auctions. Make a search for “Wii” sort the auctions by “time remaining”. If you are living in the United States, you’ll want to display only the results from North America. The reason for this is that there are a lot of scammers on eBay, and these scammers are typically located in Japan or other overseas countries.
All this will give you the list of all the Wii auctions ending soonest. What you want to be looking for are auctions where the current bid is lower than the retail price of the Wii. These are the auctions you’ll want to be bidding on. One thing to check before bidding is the shipping cost. Some people will deliberately have a low cost, but charge an outrageous amount for shipping. This method does not always work, as there are always plenty of people bidding on the auctions as well. But with a little luck, you may be able to snatch up a Wii for cheap. The same principle applies for Wii games, controllers, and other accessories.
Another way to get a great deal on a Nintendo Wii is to buy it in a bundle. Some stores will offer the Wii bundled with various games, accessories, etc. These bundles are usually quite expensive; however it does save you some money. One thing you need to consider before buying a bundle is if you really need and/or want everything in the bundle. For example, if you don’t want 2 of the games included, maybe it would be cheaper to buy everything separately. Also, even if you want everything in the bundle, you should take note of what the price would be if you bought every item separately.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
What they weren’t prepared for was the overwhelming demand for their new console. Nintendo expected to have over 4 million units available worldwide for the launch period. That is from its initial launch on November 19, to Christmas. So far every shipment made from Nintendo to the retailers has sold out within 24 hours of arrival on the store shelves. It may be quite tricky to get your hands on a Wii before Christmas. This article will provide you with some tips with regards to purchasing a Wii.
If you go to a retailer and they are out of stock, the first thing you want to do is stay patient. If you missed out on your opportunity to get a Wii during this week’s shipment, it’s not the end of the world. There will be plenty of Wiis available between now and Christmas. What you don’t want to do is get impatient and buy a Wii on eBay for double the price.
Having said that, eBay is definitely the first place to check for deals for the Wii. You will want to avoid any of the “Buy it Now” auctions, as they will charge more than the retail price. What you want to be looking for are regular bid auctions. Make a search for “Wii” sort the auctions by “time remaining”. If you are living in the United States, you’ll want to display only the results from North America. The reason for this is that there are a lot of scammers on eBay, and these scammers are typically located in Japan or other overseas countries.
All this will give you the list of all the Wii auctions ending soonest. What you want to be looking for are auctions where the current bid is lower than the retail price of the Wii. These are the auctions you’ll want to be bidding on. One thing to check before bidding is the shipping cost. Some people will deliberately have a low cost, but charge an outrageous amount for shipping. This method does not always work, as there are always plenty of people bidding on the auctions as well. But with a little luck, you may be able to snatch up a Wii for cheap. The same principle applies for Wii games, controllers, and other accessories.
Another way to get a great deal on a Nintendo Wii is to buy it in a bundle. Some stores will offer the Wii bundled with various games, accessories, etc. These bundles are usually quite expensive; however it does save you some money. One thing you need to consider before buying a bundle is if you really need and/or want everything in the bundle. For example, if you don’t want 2 of the games included, maybe it would be cheaper to buy everything separately. Also, even if you want everything in the bundle, you should take note of what the price would be if you bought every item separately.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
History of Mario
The birth
In 1980, Nintendo of America (NOA) released Radar Scope, an arcade game they hoped would kickstart a long reign of success. It flopped, leaving Nintendo stuck with 2,000 unsold Radar Scope units. To stay afloat, NOA desperately needed a smash-hit game—and fast. Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president and CEO of Nintendo Co., Ltd. at the time, asked staff artist Shigeru Miyamoto to design a new game based on his own ideas. The result was a game entitled Donkey Kong, starring "Jumpman," a portly carpenter clad in red and blue. "Jumpman" did not have his name for very long, however. NOA had to prepare the game for American release, which included naming the characters. As the story goes, they were mulling over what to name Jumpman when the landlord, Mario Segale, arrived at the warehouse, demanding the overdue rent payment. When he left, the staff had a new name for Jumpman: "Mario."
The look
For the most part, Mario looks the way he does today because of 1981's immature graphics technology.
Hat
To avoid the difficulty of having Mario's hair move realistically, Miyamoto gave Mario a hat. Also, in Game Over, Miyamoto admits, "I cannot come up with hairstyles so good."
Moustache
Miyamoto gave Mario a moustache and oversized nose to make Mario's nose more noticeable.
Overalls
Mario's overalls make his arms and arm movements more visible. Mario started out with a blue shirt and red overalls outfit in Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., but the color scheme was switched to a red shirt and blue overalls when Mario Bros. hit the arcades. When Super Mario Bros. came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario had his original red overalls, but a brownish shirt. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario went back to his second color scheme—red shirt, blue overalls—and has not changed since.
The games
Of course, Mario stars in many more games, but the list below highlights the more important appearances.
1981: Donkey Kong (Arcade)
Mario (or technically, "Jumpman") the carpenter battles through crazy construction sites to save Pauline from the clutches of a giant monkey named Donkey Kong.
1982: Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade)
This was Mario's second appearance, and first appearance as an enemy. Mario sics enemies at D.K. Jr., who is trying to free his caged father.
1983: Mario Bros. (Arcade)
Mario, now a plumber, teams up with (or fights against) brother Luigi (in 2-Player mode) to kill an infinite supply of turtles, crabs, and flies that travel through pipes.
1985: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Mario explores The Mushroom Kingdom in search of Bowser, who has kidnapped Princess Toadstool. Mario mania grasps the nation.
1986: Donkey Kong (NES) and Mario Bros. (NES)
The NES versions of the two arcade games are released, exposing the greatness of these games to players who may have missed the arcade versions. Because of limited space on early NES Game Paks, the fourth level (A.K.A. "Pie Factory") of Donkey Kong was omitted.
1988: Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES; USA version)
Nintendo takes a game developed and released in Japan called Doki Doki Panic and replaces the four heroes with Mario characters, resulting in perhaps the most unique game of the Mario series.
1989: Super Mario Land (GB)
Mario's first appearance on the Game Boy takes place in Sarasaland, where Princess Daisy is abducted by the evil spaceman Tatanga.
1989: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
The best-selling game of all time. Mario searches the Mushroom World for Bowser who has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, again.
1991: Super Mario World (SNES)
Mario's first appearance on the Super NES. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Toadstool (sound familiar?) and Mario travels through Dinosaur Land to rescue her. Super Mario World introduces us to Yoshi, spawning dozens of games riding on his popularity.
1993: Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)
SMB, SMB2, and SMB3 receive 16-bit updates as part of this compilation cartridge. The other game included, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, is the first North American release of Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japanese version), originally released for the Famicom Disk System in 1986. It, too, received the 16-bit treatment for All-Stars.
1995: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
This game takes place in Mario's past. A gang of Yoshis helps baby Mario find his brother Luigi, who was kidnapped by Baby Bowser's henchmen. Powered by the FX² chip, this was arguably the best platform game ever made.
1996: Super Mario 64 (N64)
Mario frolics through various 3-D worlds to save the kidnapped Princess Peach Toadstool. Arguably the best Mario game ever made.
2002: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
Mario and Yoshi reunite to clean up Isle Delfino and rescue Peach once again.
The names
Virtually all Mario fans know how Mario got his name (see The birth), but what about some of the other characters? Fortunately, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed more name origins during a few interviews.
Donkey Kong
Simply put, "Donkey Kong" means "stupid monkey," so forget the silly rumors. Miyamoto got "donkey" from looking up manuke (Japanese for "stupid") in an English dictionary, while "Kong" comes from King Kong, obviously.
Luigi
The American team provided the name "Luigi" as something to go along with "Mario." Afterwards, the Japanese team noticed a happy coincidence: Ruigi means "analogous."
Koopas
The "Koopa" clan comes from "Kuppa," Bowser's Japanese name. Miyamoto revealed that they were considering naming Bowser either Kuppa, Yukke (Yukka), or Bibinba (Bi Bim Bap), all Korean dishes.
Wario
Wario's name is a combination of Mario and warui, which means "bad" in Japanese.
Waluigi
Nintendo Power magazine Vol. 135 (August 2000 issue) enlightened us with the fact that Waluigi's name "comes from a rearrangement of the word [ijiwaru]—Japanese for 'someone who's bad.'"
For more info on Japanese names, refer to our Mario in Japan section.
Sources:
Next Generation magazine vol. 4, issues 46 and 47
Nintendo's Mario Mania Player's Guide
Game Over by David Sheff
Famitsu.com
Nintendo.co.jp
In 1980, Nintendo of America (NOA) released Radar Scope, an arcade game they hoped would kickstart a long reign of success. It flopped, leaving Nintendo stuck with 2,000 unsold Radar Scope units. To stay afloat, NOA desperately needed a smash-hit game—and fast. Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president and CEO of Nintendo Co., Ltd. at the time, asked staff artist Shigeru Miyamoto to design a new game based on his own ideas. The result was a game entitled Donkey Kong, starring "Jumpman," a portly carpenter clad in red and blue. "Jumpman" did not have his name for very long, however. NOA had to prepare the game for American release, which included naming the characters. As the story goes, they were mulling over what to name Jumpman when the landlord, Mario Segale, arrived at the warehouse, demanding the overdue rent payment. When he left, the staff had a new name for Jumpman: "Mario."
The look
For the most part, Mario looks the way he does today because of 1981's immature graphics technology.
Hat
To avoid the difficulty of having Mario's hair move realistically, Miyamoto gave Mario a hat. Also, in Game Over, Miyamoto admits, "I cannot come up with hairstyles so good."
Moustache
Miyamoto gave Mario a moustache and oversized nose to make Mario's nose more noticeable.
Overalls
Mario's overalls make his arms and arm movements more visible. Mario started out with a blue shirt and red overalls outfit in Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., but the color scheme was switched to a red shirt and blue overalls when Mario Bros. hit the arcades. When Super Mario Bros. came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario had his original red overalls, but a brownish shirt. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario went back to his second color scheme—red shirt, blue overalls—and has not changed since.
The games
Of course, Mario stars in many more games, but the list below highlights the more important appearances.
1981: Donkey Kong (Arcade)
Mario (or technically, "Jumpman") the carpenter battles through crazy construction sites to save Pauline from the clutches of a giant monkey named Donkey Kong.
1982: Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade)
This was Mario's second appearance, and first appearance as an enemy. Mario sics enemies at D.K. Jr., who is trying to free his caged father.
1983: Mario Bros. (Arcade)
Mario, now a plumber, teams up with (or fights against) brother Luigi (in 2-Player mode) to kill an infinite supply of turtles, crabs, and flies that travel through pipes.
1985: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Mario explores The Mushroom Kingdom in search of Bowser, who has kidnapped Princess Toadstool. Mario mania grasps the nation.
1986: Donkey Kong (NES) and Mario Bros. (NES)
The NES versions of the two arcade games are released, exposing the greatness of these games to players who may have missed the arcade versions. Because of limited space on early NES Game Paks, the fourth level (A.K.A. "Pie Factory") of Donkey Kong was omitted.
1988: Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES; USA version)
Nintendo takes a game developed and released in Japan called Doki Doki Panic and replaces the four heroes with Mario characters, resulting in perhaps the most unique game of the Mario series.
1989: Super Mario Land (GB)
Mario's first appearance on the Game Boy takes place in Sarasaland, where Princess Daisy is abducted by the evil spaceman Tatanga.
1989: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
The best-selling game of all time. Mario searches the Mushroom World for Bowser who has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, again.
1991: Super Mario World (SNES)
Mario's first appearance on the Super NES. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Toadstool (sound familiar?) and Mario travels through Dinosaur Land to rescue her. Super Mario World introduces us to Yoshi, spawning dozens of games riding on his popularity.
1993: Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)
SMB, SMB2, and SMB3 receive 16-bit updates as part of this compilation cartridge. The other game included, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, is the first North American release of Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japanese version), originally released for the Famicom Disk System in 1986. It, too, received the 16-bit treatment for All-Stars.
1995: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
This game takes place in Mario's past. A gang of Yoshis helps baby Mario find his brother Luigi, who was kidnapped by Baby Bowser's henchmen. Powered by the FX² chip, this was arguably the best platform game ever made.
1996: Super Mario 64 (N64)
Mario frolics through various 3-D worlds to save the kidnapped Princess Peach Toadstool. Arguably the best Mario game ever made.
2002: Super Mario Sunshine (GC)
Mario and Yoshi reunite to clean up Isle Delfino and rescue Peach once again.
The names
Virtually all Mario fans know how Mario got his name (see The birth), but what about some of the other characters? Fortunately, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed more name origins during a few interviews.
Donkey Kong
Simply put, "Donkey Kong" means "stupid monkey," so forget the silly rumors. Miyamoto got "donkey" from looking up manuke (Japanese for "stupid") in an English dictionary, while "Kong" comes from King Kong, obviously.
Luigi
The American team provided the name "Luigi" as something to go along with "Mario." Afterwards, the Japanese team noticed a happy coincidence: Ruigi means "analogous."
Koopas
The "Koopa" clan comes from "Kuppa," Bowser's Japanese name. Miyamoto revealed that they were considering naming Bowser either Kuppa, Yukke (Yukka), or Bibinba (Bi Bim Bap), all Korean dishes.
Wario
Wario's name is a combination of Mario and warui, which means "bad" in Japanese.
Waluigi
Nintendo Power magazine Vol. 135 (August 2000 issue) enlightened us with the fact that Waluigi's name "comes from a rearrangement of the word [ijiwaru]—Japanese for 'someone who's bad.'"
For more info on Japanese names, refer to our Mario in Japan section.
Sources:
Next Generation magazine vol. 4, issues 46 and 47
Nintendo's Mario Mania Player's Guide
Game Over by David Sheff
Famitsu.com
Nintendo.co.jp
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3
Just what we've been waiting for, Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3. It has been a long time coming, but finally both these gaming consoles have arrived. The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released on November 17th, whereas the Nintendo Wii was released 2 days later, on the 19th. So which of the 2 systems is better? Which should you buy for Christmas? Who has the better launch? Read on to find the answers!
Launch by Numbers
PlayStation 3:
After numerous delays and production problems, Sony was finally able to release its PlayStation 3 in time for the Christmas holidays…Well not quite. Sony was indeed able to release the system; however the shipment numbers are laughable. It is estimated that only 500,000 units will be shipped by the end of the year. This means trying to get your hands on a PS3 before Christmas will be nearly impossible.
Wii:
Although it may be also difficult to get your hands on a Wii at the moment, Nintendo plans to ship over 4 million units worldwide by the end of the year. This easily dwarfs the PlayStation 3 number of 500,000. A steady supply of Wiis is being shipped weekly to retailers thus making it easier to get a Wii with each passing week.
Winner: Wii
Games:
PlayStation 3:
When it comes to the PS3, it is generally thought that there are no games worth getting at this point in time. I have had the privilege of playing the PS3 and most of its games. The only game that held my interest for more than 15 minutes was Resistance: Fall of Man. It is obvious that better games will make their way to the system, but I would not suggest holding your breath for them. Games like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy 13 are expected to come out in late 2007 or early 2008.
Wii:
For the first time ever, Nintendo is releasing a Zelda game at a console launch. This launch title is without a doubt the best game available on the console. In fact, it is widely believed to be the best Zelda game ever. Another thing to take note of is the variety of games available. Nintendo and its third-party developers have covered all the bases. Whether you like sports games or shooting games, there is plenty to choose from.
Winner: Wii
Graphics:
PlayStation 3:
Although they don’t even come close to realizing the full potential of the PS3 in terms of graphics, the launch games are much prettier than those of the Wii.
Wii:
Nintendo has taken a different direction this generation and is less concerned about graphics. Although that doesn’t mean that the games look bad. You certainly won’t get the same level of realism that you would get on the PS3 or XBOX360. The Wii’s graphical power is a little stronger than that of the original XBOX.
Winner: PlayStation 3
Price:
PlayStation 3:
The PlayStation 3 comes in 2 different versions. You have the $499.99 version and the $599.99 version. No, I did not make a typo with the prices. Although both systems are similar, the $600 version comes with, among other things, a bigger hard drive. It is estimated that over 80% of the PlayStation 3 consoles shipped will be the $600 version. All this makes the $500 version fairly obsolete. Both versions are able to play BluRay discs. One remote and the necessary cables are included in the box.
Wii:
Currently, the Nintendo Wii retails for $249.99. Included in the box are: the Wii game console, all the necessary wires and adapters, Wii Sports (a game featuring 5 different sports), the regular Wii remote, as well as the nun-chuk attachment.
Winner: Wii
Final Score: Wii – 3 vs. PlayStation 3 – 1
Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3 Verdict:
The Wii is the obvious choice for all gamers right now. The cheap price, great launch games, and fantastic innovation make it the console to get this holiday season.
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