Scribblenauts Unlimited Review

Good: Great puzzles, atmosphere and features. Robust replay value means you will not put it down for months to come.

Bad: Many puzzles are easier than others found in previous entries. Others may need some adjusting depending on your problem-solving skills and word usage.

Scribblenauts Unlimited is nothing short of a timeless delight. What initially started as a Nintendo DS game has slowly turned into an unstoppable machine of creativity. Now making its debut on the Nintendo Wii U, Scribblenauts Unlimited once again has players tapping, writing and exploring their imagination at full capacity.

The game revolves around hundreds of puzzles across a wide variety of themes. You will meet an array of colorful characters along the way that may need special favors, general requests and others who will downright attempt to beat you to a pulp. This is where the game’s genius comes into play. Using the Wii U GamePad, your job is to write any noun under the sun and the game immediately turns it into an actual object. How cool is that? If you went 10 years back in time and told game developers about this, most would very likely laugh at such ridiculously impossible trickery. But thanks to the Wii U’s technical advances and a small dose of creativity, everything now is very, very possible.

You can also create familiar characters such as Link, Mario & Luigi to help you along the way, and can even modify your own creations in any way you see fit. For example, if you wish for Link to beat an enemy with a flyswatter, well, nothing is stopping you! If you need to get rid of many disturbances at once, simply write something like “Black Hole” from the GamePad and the game will immediately swallow everyone in its path.

Although the puzzles are a tad easier now, the game still delivers everything that “puzzle junkies” and Scribblenauts fans could ever want. More levels, more characters, more words to choose from and overall more diversity. Scribblenauts Unlimited is, without a doubt, a game that applies to young kids and the average adult that claims he is no longer into gaming.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Full Length E3 Nintendo Press Conference (2012)

In case you missed it!

The Pros and Cons of Nintendo's E3 2012 Conference

In our humble opinion, we were a bit disappointed with this year's Nintendo conference. Sure, there's a huge line of titles available, which nicely touched on the software-side of things. Unfortunately, many burning questions are still left unanswered, most of which are crucial to the consumer. Considering the Wii U is only months away, Nintendo had a responsibility to reveal a little more than just: "Oh, look, we have some games and colored consoles."

As a company, Nintendo played with fire on this one. E3 typically helps drive sales, as developers and companies use this opportunity to hype their software and hardware lineup to the max. That being said, we think Nintendo missed out on a golden opportunity.

Some crucial questions include:

- Is the MiiVerse the console's default Home screen? If not, how will each section be presented to the end-user? The interface, believe it or not, is a big factor that helps many decide whether or not to bother with a console. As it stands, the Miiverse looks rather clunky and a tad unfriendly.

- How come Nintendo never bothered to update the Miis appearance? The Xbox 360 contains Avatars, which users can fully customize by adding an incredible amount of detail and personality. Instead of getting with the times, Nintendo will once again deliver shitty-looking Miis that didn't look good in 2006 in the first place.

- More hardware specs, anyone?  While not everyone cares about the console's graphical capabilities, supporting a high-speed processor and HD graphics is important. To give a brief example, the original Wii missed out on many critically-acclaimed titles due to a lack of CPU/GPU power. More specifically, the Unreal Engine is amongst the most popular on the gaming market. If the Wii U cannot support the new Unreal Engine 4 (as the Wii couldn't support UE3) then they will once again miss out on many great offerings.

- Will video content services be available at launch? How will each one work?

- Can you provide more solid information concerning storage?

- How will online interaction work? While Friend Codes will no longer be available, how solid will the multiplayer area be? As it stands, the Xbox 360 has one of the most robust and rich online interfaces available on any console. How will Nintendo counter attack?

- How much will it cost? Considering the console is only months away, it is hard to believe that the big execs are still pondering on the price tag.

Seriously?

Nintendo Wii U Expands on Content Streaming Capabilities

The Wii U made a not-so-shocking announcement that most major video content players will be available and supported on the Wii U console. These include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube. This gives the Wii U a major advantage over current consoles, as it draws a wider appeal that goes beyond hardcore gamers. As you can imagine, browsing through the Netflix movies list on the Wii U GamePad will certainly kick ass!

Strong Launch Titles on the Horizon

It appears that the Nintendo Wii U will have a decent amount of titles available when it launches this Holiday season. Unfortunately, some of these are rather old, such as Arkham City. Personally, we don't think the console will sell many copies of such titles as most gamers have already enjoyed them before. The only saving grace would be tons of new features exclusive to the Wii U, and not just simple gimmicks.


 Some of the highly-anticipated video games include:

New Super Mario Bros. U
Pikmin 3
Donkey Kong Crash Course
LEGO City Undercover
Mass Effect 3
Tank Tank Tank!
Rayman Legends
Skylanders Giants
SiNG
Project P100
Zombi U
Wii Fit U
Batman: arkham City Armored Edition

This list excludes the games already announced last year, such as Darksiders II and Aliens: Colonial Marines. Sadly, a 3D Mario and Zelda game are nowhere to be seen, but hey, there's always E3 2013.

Nintendo Video Conference Pre E3 2012

This video demonstrates the Wii U controller along with its many features. Stay tuned as we will upload the full E3 Nintendo press conference this Tuesday.

Wii U Hardware Updates: Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller

As many of you know by now, Nintendo kicked off E3 a bit earlier than expected with their Pre E3 2012 video. This 30-minute video showcased various hardware changes and confirmations. While no major improvements were announced over last year's offers, the presentation clarified several things about the odd-looking gamepad.

Nintendo now officially calls it the Wii U GamePad (surprised?). It has been slightly redesigned to provide a greater sense of comfort. The joysticks are also a bit longer and do not follow the 3DS-like style shown in last year's prototype. There's also a "TV" button sitting comfortably at the bottom, which allows players to switch a game between the TV and the tablet itself. To this day, we find this feature incredibly useful.

This is the official Wii U GamePad:

Although it still looks rather clunky when compared to traditional gaming controllers, we are optimistic and confident it will revolutionize the gaming arena as much as the Wii U controller once did.

An unexpected surprise, however, came in the form of a more conventional-looking controller, which resembles an Xbox 360 gamepad's shape. We don't know how much use we'll have for it, but it sure looks impressive. Nintendo has officially named it the Wii U Pro Controller:

Nintendo's next console seems to be looking bright so far. A massive list of games is already on the horizon, many which are for the hardcore gamer in you. Now let's see what else the company has to show off this Tuesday at the official Nintendo press conference.

Nintendo Needs a Makeover

Nintendo has always had an incredibly popular list of mascots. These characters have been known since the 1980s and have ensured we all grew up happily and addicted to video gaming. From Mario to Link, from Pit to Samus, we have all enjoyed these superstars and their games as much as good old-fashioned Saturday morning cartoons.

While these precious gems are always welcome and will never get old, however, perhaps it's time Nintendo comes up with something to attract a more hardcore audience. Let's put it this way: There's a financial "pie" that consists of casual, family-friendly gamers, and then there's the other half which consists of hardcore players. Why is Nintendo only willing to eat from the family-friendly side of things?

Sure, sticking to something in particular helps a company become a master of its domain. Nintendo is now widely reliable among families, as they can always deliver what their kids want. There's no doubt that Nintendo has dominated this market, and i bow to them for accomplishing this huge achievement.

On the other hand, however, let's define "Hardcore." It doesn't necessarily have to be bloody and violent. Hardcore gaming also extends to titles which present more solid premises from a realistic perspective. This effectively allows Nintendo to test the waters and create new franchises which are family-oriented while still avoiding blood and gore.

Let's take a look at a racing game, for example. Yes, Nintendo has Mario Kart and most fanboys love it, ourselves included. But why limit themselves to a kid-friendly game when there's so much more to explore in the gaming arena? PlayStation's good reputation was partly built on great franchises like Gran Turismo and Need for Speed (although the latter is not a PlayStation exclusive.) So again, this is the time for Nintendo to spread their wings a bit without necessarily creating or owning a bloody, violent franchise.

In the end, it all comes down to one question. Think about this: Are Nintendo really planning to survive on Mario, Donkey Kong and Zelda for the next 50 years? It's like having someone survive on spaghetti for the rest of their lives. As good as these games may be, at some point we also need a change. Nintendo need to improve their laughable track record when it comes to third-party support, and eventually come up with a brand new AAA franchise that does not rely on the Mario universe. These games are entertaining and always welcome. They're also from the 1980s-- something new would be great.

Wii U Release Date Leaked?

According to a GameStop's regional manager's email, it seems that the Wii U is scheduled to release on November 18, 2012. The source talks positively about such date and how GameStop hopes to start taking reservations for Nintendo's new console after E3.

 

Although pleasant to hear, it is hardly shocking, we admit. Nintendo's last two consoles (GameCube and Wii) arrived around the same date. This time is also perfect due to Black Friday's golden popularity, which helps ensure Nintendo makes a high profit right from the get-go.

In any case, we won't be sure of the Wii U release date until it is officially announced later this year.

Wii U Price Rumors

Although the Wii U has not been given an official price tag, some respected news outlets are taking some wild guesses here. Many are hopeful to see the Wii U at no more than $250, while others firmly believe the hardware could cost as much as $600.

A typical argument may suggest that a gaming console should never cost over $300 or $400. After all, it's just a gaming console, correct? Well, for better or worse, that's where the argument falls flat. In this day of age, these once-conservative machines are becoming a full-blown HTPC, where gaming capability is only the tip of the ice berg. When you have access to countless TV shows, movies, movies and the Web, however, money should take a front seat and do the talking. There may come a time when a console could be turned on 24/7 because the entire family needs to watch their daily TV shows and movies. As odd as this may sound, it surely seems like we're heading in that direction.

Considering most people don't complain about $999.99 computers, why should we have a problem with a $600 console? I'm not suggesting it's cheap; however, with the monumental amount of features potentially available, it is getting more and more difficult to complain about pricing.

How much are you willing to pay for the Wii U and any other (next-generation) console?

Wii U Controller Patent Hints Multimedia Features

A new patent has been uncovered which reveals the possibility of various neat features for the Nintendo Wii U. The most prominent ones indicate full HD graphics, capable of supporting higher resolutions than previously thought. Additionally, Nintendo may implement 3D technology similar to that of the Nintendo 3DS. Such features would undoubtedly give the controller new heights and endless possibilities.

Among these, other controller features flirt with the idea of microphones to be used with video games, along with a front-faced camera. Combine this with the ability to connect to the Internet and other players' devices, and you have the perfect recipe for video chat.

The patent also shows the new Wii U controller attached to existing Wii peripherals, such as first and third party guns developed for the console. This would essentially allow developers to expand their creativity through shooting and action games, relying on the controller screen for telescopic sight.

While some of these technologies are rather optional, we would certainly welcome the 3D-based feature and the scope-like gimmick.

Are you satisfied with the controller's overall look and potential feel?

Assassin's Creed 3 in the Works

Ubisoft had recently confirmed the release of Assassin's Creed 3, which due out in October 2012. The company made the announcement during recent earnings conference call. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the game has been in development for about 3 years now.

This clearly suggests the company has put a lot of loyalty and faith into the franchise, developing multiple games at the same time.

Assassin's Creed 3 has not been officially announced for the Wii U, but we can all expect the game to be part of the new console. Not only does the Wii U possess the capabilities, but an unofficial AC 3 was actually revealed at last year's E3 conference.

Toki Tori 2 May Be Available on the Wii U

The original Toki Tori was available through Wiiware and other platforms as a downloadable game. Now, Two Tribes reports that the game's sequel may eventually become available for the Wii U, although at this point it is mostly speculation.

If released, developers are expected to take advantage of the Wii U's unique tablet controller, providing the ability to play the game without using the television screen. Additionally, a level editor might be implemented for players to create and share their own customized levels.

This is great news for Toki Tori fans out there, as we feel the original game was underrated and overshadowed by more popular titles at the time it was released. If anything, developers could implement older levels as "bonuses" along with original ones, following the style of newer Mario Kart games.

Do We Need DVD and Blu-Ray Players Anymore?

According to Nintendo execs, the console will not support the widely used DVD format nor the emerging Blu-Ray discs.

This news may be both good and bad. On one hand, we all know DVDs are incredibly standard since, well, the 1990s. Blu-Ray players are also starting to dominate the market, eventually making DVDs obsolete. In essence, one could argue that Nintendo execs are deliberately discouraging customers from buying the hardware. It's pretty clear they are not concerned about making the Wii U an "All-in-One" entertainment system, unlike Microsoft and Sony.

Or are they?

This is where the big question comes in. Do we really need such accessories to be satisfied these days? First, let's keep in mind that such media players are a household name, as they can be found virtually in every home. In turn, this allows the big 'N' to sell their console at a cheaper price. After all, who doesn't love paying less? It obviously goes without saying.

Secondly, something that is clearly emerging in this day of age is a cloud-based and wireless environment. Why stick to past inventions when Nintendo could potentially keep partnerships with services like Netflix? Sure, not every movie can be streamed instantly--but then again, let's consider the fact that we can find a DVD player in most homes.

Nevertheless, while many of us do possess video-playing hardware, we don't necessarily have them connected next to our gaming console in the same room. This is a major inconvenience for those who wish to watch a good movie after playing a game. In essence, we are being forced to run to the next room when Nintendo could have simply provided an affordable DVD player.

All in all, I understand that Nintendo decided to skip Blu-Ray capabilities, as this would effectively increase the gaming console's price by more than just a buck. However, Nintendo just shot themselves in the foot the very minute standard DVD discs were disregarded.

Rumor: Nintendo to Change Wii U Name

So it seems that the Nintendo gurus are considering a name change. The Wii U is the upcoming console’s given name, and up to this point we all thought it was official. However, Nintendo has recently thought of some strategic things to keep in mind.

For starters, merely adding a “U” to the Wii brand might confuse consumers into thinking it’s not a next-generation console. Many might think it’s merely a minor upgrade to the existing Wii. This also brings up an interesting thought: Perhaps the Nintendo 3DS is suffering because of a similar fate. Considering that the Nintendo DS Lite didn’t deliver anything significant over the original DS, consumers might have disregarded the new 3DS to be just another minor, crappy upgrade. 

In any case, we’ll keep our eyes open for a potential name change, which, in my opinion, might be a good idea.

Aliens: Colonial Marines

SEGA of America had recently announced Aliens: Colonial Marines is being produced for the Wii U. Players are required to fight against a multitude of alien and enemy forces using a wide range of classic and new weapons. Single player, as well as 4 co-op player modes are expected.

Pikmin 3 for Wii U

After 3 years of waiting, more news on the development of Pikmin 3 surfaced. While no Pikmin 3 trailers were revealed, Shigeru Miyamoto said it would utilize the system's control scheme and its advanced graphical power.

Stay tuned for more Pikmin 3 news, a game which is likely to see the light of day sometime in 2012.

Wii U Creators Speak

Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto discuss the new Wii U console, highlighting their thoughts behind the technology and the new possibilities that await us in the future.

Watch the full video through this link:

http://e3.nintendo.com/iwataasks/

List of Wii U Games: Gameplay Preview

Upcoming Wii U games. Enjoy.

Nintendo Wii U Graphical Trailer

A graphical demonstration, provided by IGN: