ContraCostaTimes has an article up concerning the Nintendo’s Virtual Console service, as well as the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. All of these services grant the opportunity for gamers, old and new, to enjoy some of the best games from the 80s and 90s using modern downloading services on today’s game machines.

Not much new information here, but for those who are a little less in-the-know than the rest of us, it offers a good perspective, especially concerning old, old games, as well as Microsoft’s and Sony’s services in comparison to the Wii. Check it out at the link below.
ContraCostaTimes

All of a sudden, Nintendo has been bathing in success and publicity for the last two years. What happened?

Well, Next-Generation takes a look at Nintendo’s decline in the late 90s, and their surge in the last couple of years and has found the answer: the casual game market. Nintendo has made their biggest penetration into this audience in the portable market the last few years, and the numbers show it. If they can keep up the same strategy with the Wii, we should be seeing good things for Nintendo this generation.

Next-Generation

Nintendo has announced a firm release date for Diddy Kong Racing DS in Europe. Get ready to race with your favorite monkey on April 20! I’ll be able to check later tonight if this applies to Australia as well. Check back!

Eurogamer

If the characters had never existed previously, it’s more than likely that if video game characters resembling a fat, Italian plumber in overalls and a random elf-like boy in a green tunic were conjured up today, the world wouldn’t notice. Yet, the now celebrity video game protagonists are here and going strong after 20 years.

1UP.com has written a feature looking at what it is that’s kept these characters alive and kicking for so long. Head on over to give it a read, it’s about 2 pages long.

1UP.com

Who doesn’t love a good video game themed cake? I certainly don’t. In fact, I sort of wish I had some to top off the stir-fry I just had a few minutes ago…

The only thing cooler than this cake would be seeing what might be inside the question box. Perhaps this fabulous Japanese import?

Cara Williams

A website called The Porn Talk, supported by an unknown faith-based Church in California, has given a press release revealing thier intent to attack the Wii and other game consoles. Check out the press release below, where they call the game systems “portals to porno”

The Wii’s Dirty Little Secret

The Wiittle Porn Problem For Nintendo’s Best Selling Game Console

CORONA, CA - The Nintendo Wii gaming console has a wiittle porn problem. That’s right; this seemingly innocent family game console has a dirty little secret. It has the dubious ability to access pornography via the internet and most parents are not aware of this fact according to www.ThePornTalk.com

Like many new gaming technologies, the Wii’s wireless internet capabilities make it a portal to porno. “Parents think the computer is the only way for their kids to get porn on the internet. Unfortunately, they are dead wrong,” says Mike Foster, founder of ThePornTalk.com. “Gaming devices like the Wii and the PSP aren’t just for fun games anymore. You’re able to surf the net, chat with friends, email, and view porn because of its internet access. Kids know this but parents don’t!”

Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) technology allows electronic devices like Nintendo’s Wii to wirelessly connect to the internet. Airports, Starbucks, schools, and even entire cities give people the opportunity to log on the internet with a Wi-Fi device like the Wii or even Sony’s PSP. “This makes it very difficult to monitor as a parent. You can easily put safeguards in your house but it’s impossible to monitor in a Wi-Fi world,” says Foster. “Even though the Nintendo Wii has parental controls, parents don’t see a need for them because they are unaware of the porn capabilities.”

The Nintendo Wii has become the best-selling video game console in the United States, outselling Microsoft and Sony competitors in the month of January, 2007. Because of its success many websites have taken advantage of its online capability. Several companies have changed the look and functionality of their web sites to accommodate the Wii. The porn industry is also implementing these changes to their sites. Porn websites are taking the look of the Wii’s home page and menus and modeling their own sites after them. Porn sites are even converting their video clips so that they can run on the Wii.

So the solution lies in parents getting the facts and then talking to their children about expectations for online activity. Foster believes that, “Whether it is the home computer or these new gaming consoles, porn is easily accessible. The Wii is an amazing console and tons of fun but parents need good info on how to keep kids safe.”

About ThePornTalk.com
ThePornTalk.com is an innovative web resource that helps parents talk to their kids about porn and internet dangers. The site features conversation starters, videos, a weekly podcast, parent’s stories and other resources. Contributors to the site include child advocates, pastors, therapists, and kids themselves.

Honestly, I think we can all (or mostly) agree that these people need to lighten up. I wonder if they even have computers in their homes. I’ll leave you all with that before I make a comment I regret.
Fungz

So you just downloaded Ocarina of Time and now you want to strive towards the elusive 100% completion mark? Too bad says Nintendo.

The absence of rumble support for Virtual Console games will make it impossible to find some of the secrets buried in the ground that require rumble support to discover. Oops. I guess it is still possible to find everything without the rumble, but that requires using a guide to help you. Not cool!

Perhaps Nintendo is aware of this and has taken out this portion of the game? I doubt this, but we’ll try to get to the bottom of this. Or, Nintendo could just grace us with some rumble. Where’s my time machine?

Infendo

You wouldn’t know it by trying to find a copy of Sonic and the Secret Rings at my Best Buy, but apparently some people are already bored with their Wii.

To help ease these woes, Wii Wii has compiled a list of 35 reasons to not lose hope with the Wii. Most of the reasons are simply just the upcoming games, but others include future online play, more Wii channels, and of course, the “exercise” factor. So if you have any Wii doubts, check out that list, then come back later this week for one of our lists that is sure to whet your appetite for some Virtual Console goodness.

Wii Wii

This video is pretty old, but it has just been brought to my attention by Beeks!

Hardest Boss

Yes! We previously heard about a High School Musical game being in the works for the Wii, and many of us assumed karaoke singing would be involved. Now, EB Games appears to have listed a “High School Musical with Microphone” for the Wii. Of course, an EB Games listing is far from a confirmation, but it’s better than nothing. The game is listed for August, so hopefully I’ll be singing “Bop to the Top” on my Wii later this summer!

Cubed3