Comment issue solved

Written by pikaby

A quick site announcement. While I was doing some New Year's Eve cleaning up I found many comments, a lot of them perfectly fine ones, dumped into the spam box (including some of my own!). I've since brought them out of their misery and published them like they should be. Disqus needs to invest in more accurate spam detection.

Given, there are a few spam comments and advertisements which I will keep in the spambox for all eternity, but most of your comments on our blog posts should be visible now. It's a bit too late for me to respond to them all, so I hope you understand and I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused by this.

Comment issue solved

Scribblenauts' Japanese Trailer

Written by pikaby

The promotion video for Scribblenauts in Japan is now out. So, how do you make a game based entirely off English letters work in Japanese? Instead of a keyboard like both English games, the Japanese version has a real notepad for you to scribble letters on. I don't believe it...this is more Scribblenauts than the original Scribblenauts!

You can write in hiragana, katakana or English letters like in the original game. Could be good for Japanese players trying to learn English, and maybe for the other way around too.

Instead of 5th Cell, the developer behind the Japanese version is Konami. Oddly enough, the 5th Cell logo is still on the back of Maxwell's notepad.

Scribblenauts' Japanese Trailer

Nintendo World 2011- more 3DS than you could ever want

Written by pikaby

From January 8 to 10, it's a 3DS bonanza as Nintendo finally lets the public (read: the lucky bastards who live in Japan) get their first hands-on on the magical handheld, together with a crapload of playable demos and other stuff!

Nintendo World 2011- more 3DS than you could ever want

Pokemon Black/White US Release date official!

Written by pikaby


No more fake Gamestop dates, the official release date for Pokemon Black and White in the US is March 6 2010!

The official site revealed a handful of names in English, the same set seen on the Japanese site at this point.

Professor Araragi: Professor Juniper
Hiun City: Castelia City
Chillarmy: Minccino
Gigaith: Gigalith
Munna: Munna
Hihidaruma: Darmanitan
Meguroc: Sandile
Mamepato: Pidove
Shimama: Blitzle
Gear: Klink
Encourage ability: Sheer Force
Overconfidence ability: Moxie
Pigeon Heart ability: Big Pecks

Professor's name and Hiun City checks out, those are fine. Minccino is a better name than the romanized abomination Chillarmy (thank god this isn;t the real name), but not as good as Chiramii. Gigaiasu is fine, Munna stays exactly the same, Darmanitan is going to take some getting used to...Sandile and Pidove are excellent names, Blitzle is about average....and what's wrong with keeping the name Gear? Klink sounds like the name of one of King K.Rool's minions.

The three ability names are fine, particularly Big Pecks, which moderator toadster101 pointed out as a pun to 'Big Pecs' (remember, the Japanese equivalent is Pigeon Breast), which is pure win. Bring B/W on!

Pokemon Black/White US Release date official!

The Global Trade Station: A Modern-Day Idiot Farm

Written by Pokefreak

We've all seen them. That one Pokemon we dream of having for our team. We can't get them anywhere, no matter how hard we try. So as we turn to the GTS, we find hoardes of that Pokemon. Our dream is about to come true. And... that guy who might give it to you wants a Lv.100 Rampardos for that Lv.24 Ivysaur you want.

The Global Trade Station: A Modern-Day Idiot Farm

Stuff Nintendo forgot in 2010

It's the end of another year, and Nintendo promised and proposed a lot of things. A few of which they missed out on. Here's a few:

Wii Vitality Sensor

Iwata, you have some explaining to do. With Skyward Sword 'halfway done', Miyamoto has fulfilled his duties, but where your part of the job? You know, the part where Miyamoto said that Skyward Sword would work well with the Vitality Sensor as some sort of emotion-tracking system? The thing was revealed last year at E3 but after that, nothing. Do you want to pull our fingers or not? We don't even know where it connects to (the Nunchuk and Motion Plus is hogging the only slot on the Wiimote) or how it interacts with the console or games.

Pikmin 3

Another one of last year's E3 leftovers, this time by Miyamoto. Although following that announcement, Shigsy has assured and re-assured us that it's still in the works, there's still no official title, no logo, no screenshot, no gameplay mechanics, nothing. Does it really exist? After playing both New Play Control Pikmin games, you leave fans and newcomers to the series itching for more, but leave them in the lurch with the absence of Pikmin 3 news. What happened here?

Professor Layton and the Devil's Flute

Otherwise known as Layton 4. Layton 5 (Mask of Miracle) is confirmed for 3DS, and there's even English language screenshots floating around on the web. But what about its prequel? Nothing, not even a title. If interest in the 3DS version begins to rise the story progression could be derailed if Layton 5 is released before 4. 4 has been out for over a year in Japan, and this needs to be rushed out to the US before the 3DS version is worked on. What takes Level-5 so long every time? I know we just got Unwound Future this year, but if we are to get Mask of Miracle by 2011, Layton 4 is running late.

Miyamoto's 'new character'

Although I keep bringing it up, I don't think Miyamoto meant Zip from Flingsmash. Seeing as the gameplay was this shallow and it got poor reviews I doubt Miyamoto was a main driving force behind developing the game at all. It's supposed to be a killer new Nintendo IP after 10 years of not making one, the last being Pikmin. It's nearly 2011 now. Where is the character? Still brewing in Miyamoto's head along with the other stuff he's forgotten. Must be his age.

Stuff Nintendo forgot in 2010

Kirby Keychains and Sweets

Written by pikaby

The Kirby fan in me is having seizures of cute. Really, I really want a few of these keychains! Released in October and available for sale in Japan.

Four types of Kirby poses, a Waddle Dee and a knitted yarn Kirby. I FREAKING LOVE ALL OF THEM

Then there's the gummy sweets which will be out by next month. Based of Kirby's Epic Yarn and each of the gummies based off a character in the game. These are also damn great *want*

Kirby Keychains and Sweets

Christmas Pokemon Update: US Names, Dream World and more!

Written by pikaby

There's been a ton of B/W Pokemon news over the past few days, but I've been busy to talk about them all so I'm going for it in one fell swoop today, on Christmas Day. The biggest of these are, of course, new US names for three Gen 5 Pokemon!

Christmas Pokemon Update: US Names, Dream World and more!

Wii Fit cures Parkinson's Disease

Written by pikaby

Image from Kotaku

Parkinson's disease is a nerve degenerative disorder that cripples people, making walking difficult and making them tremble like crazy. This woman here, Jo Collinge, was one such victim.

Then 45 minutes of Wii Fit therapy a day (it was a Christmas present), and suddenly, her condition improved, she could walk again, and she could do things other people with Parkinson's can't. I doubt she's completely cured, but this officially puts Wii Fit on Nintendo's list of awesome next to the life-saving Nintendo DS (used as a flashlight in a rescue, used to cure lazy-eye syndrome).

Wii Fit cures Parkinson's Disease

How game makers make game characters

Written by pikaby

Found on Kotaku and full of lulz. This is the truest thing I've seen all year.

How game makers make game characters

493 (+2) Pokemon group picture

Written by pikaby

There have been pictures of all 1st gen to 4th gen Pokemon drawn before, but none as crazy as this!(click to see full-size) See if you can spot them all! Oh, and Psyduck's the cameraman. Zoroark and Zorua are last-minute entries. From Japanese art site pixiv.

493 (+2) Pokemon group picture

Epic Old Glitch: Metroid Prime 3

Written by pikaby



I just know a few of you may not have seen this before. If you play Metroid Prime 3, you've fought Gandrayda before. This is when the morphs into Ghor. If you Screw Attack past her while she grabs you, the game will assume Samus is in Morph Ball mode and go completely nuts. When you land, you'll be in Morph Ball mode...with an upright Samus. She goes through the floor and back up again, can lay MB bombs, and can even jump on the spot. It's damn hilarious to watch, even 3 years after it was first found.

Epic Old Glitch: Metroid Prime 3

Pokemon bra

Written by pikaby

No. I am not kidding. You are not seeing things.

Pokemon bra

Super Smash Bros. figurines

Written by pikaby

From Kotaku. A guy used a bunch of tiny Marvel figurines as the template for these awesome Smash Bros. figurines. They look slightly out of proportion (lol the giant hands and animated faces), but they look good enough to own.

...Wait, no Kirby? FFFFUUUUU

Super Smash Bros. figurines

Nintendo 3DS song

Written by pikaby




Listen to it. It'll be the most random 4 minutes of your life ever. 

Nintendo 3DS song

It's dangerous to go alone

Written by pikaby

From Island Paradise, a Facebook social game. Wonder how many of them are hardcore Nintendo fans?

It's dangerous to go alone

This product does not compare

Written by pikaby

Lower-left corner. First Wii ripoff to be completely honest. Someone call Nintendo and tell them not to sue its producer.

This product does not compare

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Minna de Party Sandaime! Import Review

Written by pikaby

If you've followed my import reviews for a while you already know what Taiko no Tatsujin is and why it's one of the most awesome rhythm games you'll ever play (steep challenge, cute graphics, not overmilked every 3 months like Guitar Hero), so I'll skip the usual introduction and go straight to talking about the game itself. And like both Wii Taiko games before it, this third installment is a doozy.

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Minna de Party Sandaime! Import Review

Best DS anti-piracy measure ever

Written by pikaby

We all know DS game piracy is rampant, and it's a very serious issue to tackle. Ubisoft took a less-than-serious approach to this for once.

Within DS games are anti-piracy codes that will activate itself the moment the game is played in ROM form. Most publishers deliberately use these to make the bootleg copies unplayable- Zelda: Spirit Tracks had missing train controls, making progress beyond the first town impossible. Pokemon games freeze even before you begin, and if it does begin, prevent you from earning EXP, freeze at random intervals, and disable online. Other examples include game-wide graphical glitches (Megaman X Collection) and feature disabling.

Best DS anti-piracy measure ever

Reggie high school photo

johnny139 from forums found this on Twitter. *wonders if it's legal to post this picture up lest Reggie visits my house and tears my brains apart*

Reggie high school photo

Bit.trip Flux

Written by pikaby

No I'm not kidding. In 2 years' time there are going to be six Bit.trip games, the latest being mentioned on Bit.tip's Facebook page. Seems like it'll be teased at one of those random indie apps on Facebook. Until then there's not much to know except the title and the fact that Bit.trip could risk being overmilked. Still good though.

Bit.trip Flux

Remembering Megaman Legends 1

Written by pikaby

If you were a gamer from the PS1 era you'll probably find this piece from the upcoming Legends 3 a bit familiar. Suddenly I think I hear that overbearing narrator from Megaman Legends 1 during the opening all over again.

Remembering Megaman Legends 1

Pokemon Dream Land birthday event

Starting from DECEMBER 2010 (my birthday was just a WEEK before that....unlucky me...), Nintendo will be handing out a free Pokemon over the Pokemon Dream World to whoever has their birthday during that month. It's a Togekiss!

It's simple. Head to the Pokemon Daisuki website and you'll be asked to open the door to your house. (it's a surprise party). Togekiss will be waiting for you inside!

The Togekiss will be transferred to Dream World and you'll redeem it as you would a regular Pokemon- through the High Link forest. This birthday Togekiss has its Dream World special ability, Super Luck. Not a Serene Grace beater, but still fine.

I'm still reeling at how I could have gotten this present if they had decided to do this a little earlier...I love Togekiss.

Pokemon Dream Land birthday event

New Super Mario Bros. Wii in Taiko Wii 3- video version

Written by pikaby

I posted screens a few weeks ago, now here's the song in video form! The medley goes from overworld music to underground, to coin grabbing, to bonus room, to sky world, to end. It's a nice medley that will give fangasms to anyone who's played New Super Mario Bros. before. All the sound effects are in place too, except Mario's voice, of course (Charles Martinet demands a premium for the rights to his awesome voice)

A more detailed aticle about Taiko no Tatsujin Wii 3 is in our sister blog, Taiko Time, but the import review will still be on here when I have the time to write it. Enjoy the Mario!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii in Taiko Wii 3- video version

Mario plush dolls

These adorable Mario Bros. 3 costume plushies are on sale at eBay, and are UFO prizes from Japan. I wouldn't mind placing a bid for these myself- they look so sweet...

Mario plush dolls

Exchange Bananas for Donkey Kong

Written by pikaby

Picked this up from IGN:

Nintendo and retailer GAME have announced that lucky punters can pick up a free copy of Donkey Kong Country Returns for Wii at launch in exchange for a bunch of bananas.

Donkey Kong Country Returns arrives on shelves in the UK this Friday, December 3, and GAME has revealed that the first 20 people to hit select branches with the aforementioned fruit fist will walk away with a copy of the game, absolutely free.

Three stores are participating in the promotion: GAME on Oxford Street, London, GAME Merry Hill, Dudley, plus GameStation at Prospect Centre, Hull. Oxford Street and Merry Hill branches open their doors at 9am this Friday while GameStation kicks things off a mite earlier at 8am.

My mouth gapes wide. This has to be the most absurd marketing technique anyone has EVER used. It's on like Donkey Kong!

Exchange Bananas for Donkey Kong