Posting will resume tomorrow, because as far as I can tell, the entire staff around here will be heading out for the night. Stay safe, and have a happy 2008 everyone!

We’re going to go ahead and roll in the new year with not only design overhaul to the new blog here, but with a new look for the forums as well. You can check it out now by clicking the forums link at the top of the page or using the one here.

Again, on behalf of everyone at The Tanooki, we wish everyone a Happy New Year’s Day. Bring on Brawl.

The Tanooki Forums

Seriously? This week’s game releases won’t even be put after the break. I can fit them all right here. A short release list is understandable given that it’s not only the week after Christmas but that it’s also so New Year’s. On the other hand, some of the games listed are quite amusing. Check it out:

North American Releases
Nintendo Wii:
Classic British Motor Racing
Kawasaki Quad Bikes
Kidz Sports: Basketball
Monster Trux: Offroad
Myth Makers: Orbs of Doom
Rig Racer 2

European Releases
-nothing-

Japanese Releases
Nintendo DS:
Rune Factory 2

Gamasutra

To cap off a great year on the Virtual Console, Nintendo decided to grace us with…. Bubble Bobble. Don’t get me wrong, Bubble Bobble’s actually pretty fun, but you’d have expected something bigger for the big last two weeks. Oh well. Bubble Bobble, Light Crusader, and Top Hunter are now available today. Decent way to end 2007 - party on!

Full release after the break.

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In case you missed it, we found out this past Friday that Masahiro Sakurai and the rest of the Super Smash Bros. Brawl website team would be taking a week-long break from updates for the holiday. Hopefully, you’ve already checked out this fan trailer to keep you psyched, but if not you can head on over to check it out.

Once you’re done with that, you can watch the above commercial to the game that started it all almost nine years ago. Brings back memories, doesn’t it?

YouTube

Some sentimental couples like to use promise rings as a symbol of commitment. Others like to tattoo Pokémon on their lower torso. In the end, both ideas get relatively the same job done, but only one requires a laser for removal. Or both, if you suddenly come down with a case of the Goron hands.

I don’t know about you guys, but Luvdisc (#370) is certainly my favorite Pokémon that falls within the 360-390 range on the National Pokédex. Quick, somebody name at least 7 others from that range without consulting your Pokédex!

Albotas

Russ Neumeier was enjoying himself a game of WiiSports the other day when his Wii Remote decided not to listen to him or do all the fancy motion stuff that it’s supposed to. As a self-proclaimed “GeekDad,” he thought he could figure it out. Wasn’t the batteries. Wasn’t a sync problem. Not the sensor bar. So he ended up calling Nintendo’s Customer Service line.

Now, we all know Nintendo’s Customer Service team is awesome on so many levels. You’re not going to find a more helpful group. What’s even better was the conversation Russ had on the phone with them about this issue. Check it out:

Friendly Nintendo Help Desk Lady: “Okay - I want you to take the remote, button side down and smack it into the palm of your hand two or three times.”
Russ: “You’ve got to be kidding”
Friendly Nintendo Help Desk Lady: “No sir, do it hard enough that I can hear it across the phone line but not hard enough to damage the remote”
Russ: “You’re sure?”
Friendly Nintendo Help Desk Lady: “Yes, sir.”

Go figure, the procedure worked. The Wii Remote worked just as new after three good whacks into the palm of a hand.
Wired
via Wii Fanboy

This edition of the mailbag was actually recorded for our second podcast, so if you’d rather listen to it, you can find it by clicking here. If you’re the kind that likes to read the mailbags instead, we’ve gone ahead and transcribed the entire mailbag session after the break. This time, we cover topics including Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Super Paper Mario, third party sales on the Wii, and - of course - Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

You can read the transcript after the break, and find out (just as we did) that our “crutch words” are “like” and “you know.” :P I’ve also thrown in an extended answer to the Fire Emblem question, and you can read Michael’s input on third party sales that was left out of the podcast for time. Enjoy!

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A few years ago, Jerry Bennett set out to make the coolest birthday present for his daughter- a replica of the Master Sword. Almost three years and 3 pounds of steel later, the sword is finally completed, but I’m sure the birthday surprise might have been spoiled by now.

I’m certainly no sword enthusiast, so I have no idea what a “marquenched 5160 steel blade” is, but even I can appreciate that Jerry imported the amber Triforce gems from the Baltics:

Total weight, 3 pounds, 5 oz. A little more heavy than I wanted, but reasonable for a “real” sword.

Blade steel, 5160, marquenched.

Cross guard, 7075 T-6 aluminum.

Pommel, 4340H steel

Gems, Amber from the Baltics
_____

The wood in the handle, is from a golden apple tree.

The pommel was taken from an axle of a pro stock dragster.

The 7075 aluminum was left over from my dad’s airplane.

The frankincense is from Yemen. Among the world’s finest, crafted by Carthusian monks. It was also blessed by a Benedictine monk, using the old Roman Rituale.

We’ve seen a few Master Sword replicas in our day, but nothing even comes close to this labor of love. In fact, calling this sword a labor of love is an understatement.

I bet you want this sword, don’t you? For only $1,800 on eBay, your childhood/adult fantasies can come true. However, If you plan on buying this sword, just please, whatever you do, make sure it’s for decorative purposes only!

There is an entire gallery after the break of the sword and the sword making process. While you are off salivating over the sexiest piece of steel ever produced, I’m going to be smashing my Wii Zapper and copy of Link’s Crossbow Training with the most sword-like object in my house- a broomstick.

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This is a tool-assisted speedrun through Super Mario 64, but it doesn’t detract completely from the viewing experience. Seriously, I was heading out last night when this showed up on my screen, and I figured, “What the hey?” It was only ten minutes. Turns out, it was only six.

YouTube

So many Super Smash Bros. Brawl updates since director Masahiro Sakurai started daily updates in late May. To make it easier for you, we add each update to a draft post immediately after posting the updates each morning, then put up the entire week’s updates on the weekend. This week’s new entries are shown below. You can find the entire list of every single update since May 23rd after the break. Remember to check back every weekday after 1am CDT for the latest updates!

This week’s updates include:

• Vintage: Overalls Wario (12/24)
• Sonic 3 Music: Angel Island Zone (12/25)
• Sonic’s “Super” Final Smash (12/25)
• Subspace Emissary: Trophy Stands (12/26)
• Modes: Coin Launcher (12/27)
• Smash Service: Share (12/28)
• Big Items: Dragoon (12/28)

Again, you can find the ENTIRE list after the break for your viewing pleasure. Predictions on the next week of updates?

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