Peter Moore, former corporate vice president at Microsoft and now EA Sports president, says that his staff is at work creating a game that will utilize the Wii’s Balance Board. The game will release under EA’s new Freestyle label and will focus on cardiovascular fitness, which is, apparently, a more “western” type thing:

“I need to have a point of difference,” he explained. “We also need to make sure we’re delivering something that’s truly exercise. I’ll call [Wii Fit] more eastern fitness, where it senses weight and balance, like Tai-Chi. It’s more about holistic fitness. I don’t think the board is going to take a pounding. We need to look more at western fitness in which I can actually be moving and start to sweat a little bit, and that’s what we’re working on right now.”

Expect funny mini-games and a rigorous training regime where Moore screams at you through your television: “YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!”

Eurogamer

There it is, Europeans. There’s your long awaited Super Smash Bros. Brawl box art which will be in your hands on June 27th. If you have chosen not to import your copy from the U.S. or Japan you’ll be waiting a few more months, but the wait will be well worth it. And if Nintendo finds a way to eliminate Freeloader, you won’t need to worry, as you’ll have a working European copy. At that point you have permission go laugh at those who chose to import.

Image via GamesPress

And by everywhere, I mean everywhere. Jim’s creator Interplay has recently announced that they are prepping both Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2 (as well as their Clayfighter and Boogerman games) for the virtual console. All four titles are expected to be out this year.

If that weren’t enough, they also announced that a brand spanking new Earthworm title is the works, aptly named Earthworm Jim 4. That is about all we know, as no platform or gameplay details have surfaced. To help stir up some earthworm-fever, an animated series and feature film are being developed simultaneously with the game. Douglas TenNapel, the series creator, will have an artistic hand in all the projects. For fans of the series, there isn’t much more you could hope for. Personally, I’m crossing my fingers for more of a classic 2D side scroller, and less of what happened with Earthworm Jim 3D.

Kotaku and…
Kotaku

Fans of the Guitar Hero franchise have been asking for a DS version of the game for some time now. Some fans have even come up with creative potential designs for how the game might be played on a handheld device. Today, IGN has revealed that Activision was well aware of the demand, and is bringing the popular rhythm-based music game to the Nintendo DS in Guitar Hero: On Tour.

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While it looks like there may be a gaming drought later this year due to the fact that Nintendo has launched most of it’s key franchises early, it seems that Nintendo still has some tricks up it’s sleeves. Reggie has stated that Nintendo will reveal a “BIG” holiday game at E3.

There’s gonna be a big game for the holiday that the gamers will want. All I can tell you is what we announce during E3 is gonna be fantastic. The gamer is gonna be excited and the expanded audience is gonna be excited.

Does anybody have any guesses or hopes? Animal Crossing Wii, Pikmin Wii or possibly a new Kirby game? An updated/remade Earthbound game? We can only hope.

Kotaku

Capcom has officially confirmed that they have no plans to create a Wii edition of Devil May Cry. DMC 4’s lead producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi has stated:

You know, a lot of people ask us if we are going to bring out a Wii version. I simply don’t think you can make the game the type of game it is, with the awesome graphics and control — I don’t think that would work on the Wii. So, I don’t think we’re going to bring one out, no.

Even though he has stated that the Wii doesn’t have the graphical horsepower for a DMC game, why is there a mobile phone version in development? I think that many would agree, that the DMC series would be appreciated on the Wii, if given the chance.

Nintendic

Valve, the developer responsible for the Half-Life franchise has generally created their games on PC, but they have recently expressed their interest on the Wii platform:

If Valve were to develop in-house for another format, it would be the Wii. It’s growing, there’s already a huge user-base, and it’s fun. Source is really scalable. We can do that.

While many people won’t “hold their breath” for Valve to grace us with their presence, it gives all of us hope for another developer to take advantage of the outstanding FPS controls the Wii has to offer.

Aussie-Nintendo

If playing the game isn’t a strong enough dose of Star Wars for fans come summer, Titan Books has you covered. Scheduled to be released sometime before the actual video game’s release, both graphic novel as well as a book will be hitting stands to further flesh out the period in between episodes III and IV where Darth Vader goes around and beats up on anyone who dares oppose the Empire.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed looks to be an exciting experience on all next-gen platforms and the DS, so anything that furthers the experience should be something to keep an eye on.  Again, look for both graphic and plain novels alike to be released in the time period right before the game’s release.

CVG

At this year’s Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards, Nintendo was honored for its work on both of its current-gen gaming systems, the DS and the Wii. The intuitive and unique control styles offered by both systems earned Nintendo the Emmy award for excellence in engineering creativity.

This marks the second year in a row that Nintendo has been honored at the Engineering Emmy Awards due to the fact that the company received a similar award last year for the design of the D-pad. After receiving the award, Nintendo of America’s Don James stated:

The pioneering interfaces for Wii and Nintendo DS reflect our long tradition of seeking new ways to enhance the gaming experience for users at every level. We’re grateful for this award and thank the academy for honoring us a second time.

Congratulations to Nintendo on this achievement, and hopefully we can continue to see new, exciting innovations from the company in the future!

IGN

I’ll admit it, when the press release rolled in for this game a little while ago, I was rather excited. The line in the first paragraph that explained that “Wonderworld Amusement Park brings to life a fully 3D world of games, rides and prizes” had my heart palpitating. Would the gaming gods be kind enough to grace the Wii with one of those RollerCoaster Tycoon type games that took over my life in middle school?

Twenty seconds of reading later, it became painfully clear to me that the only tycoon-related activities in the game were performed by the thugs at Majesco that believe we need another Carnival Games.

Wonderworld Amusement Park will feature thirty different mini-games in five of the game’s “stylized fantasy areas.” You can also create your own avatar and ride 3D rides. And once again, no, you cannot build your own rides.

The game is slated for a summer 2008 release, but until then, go check out the exciting press release after the break.

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