Nintendo says that the first half of calendar 2008 will see over 65 new Wii games and 80 new DS games. The latest Nintendo of America release list within...
The last thing that Nintendo of America wants to do is surrender 2007's Wii and DS momentum. The game maker expects the total Wii library to approach 300 titles by the end of the first half, while the DS' catalog will push 600.
On the whole, the biggest titles on Wii are (of course) the first party offerings. The recently-delayed Super Smash Bros. Brawl along with Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit have all the potential to be monster hits in the first half.
Key third party titles also show promise, such as Ninja Reflex from EA, No More Heroes from Ubisoft, De Blob from THQ, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts and a Wii version of Okami from Capcom.
DS will see third party titles including Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates and Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, both of which look very sharp. Nintendo's own Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is also at the top of many fans' lists.
The firm also said that new WiiWare downloads would arrive sometime during the first half.
One thing's for certain: Nintendo's making no bones about its plans in 2008 to go "broad and bold," as Nintendo of America's recently appointed executive VP of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway puts it. Core-focused titles are overridden by mainstream and licensed games in a big way, which shouldn't come as a surprise considering this has been Nintendo's strategy from the start of the generation. Still, comparing this to Xbox 360's and PS3's release lists for 2008, you can see on plain paper just how markedly different these companies' strategies really are.
(Nintendo notes that this is a partial list of games for the first half, and details are subject to change.)
Wii: Jan. 7: Kidz Sports Ice Hockey from Destineer Jan. 8: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law from Capcom Jan. 15: SAMURAI WARRIORS: KATANA from KOEI CORPORATION Jan. 15: Furu Furu Park from Majesco Entertainment Jan. 21: Endless Ocean(TM) from Nintendo Jan. 22: One Piece(TM): Unlimited Adventure(TM) from Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Jan. 29: Bomberman Land from Hudson January: No More Heroes(TM) from Ubisoft January: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(TM): Hard Evidence from Ubisoft Feb. 8: Kawasaki Jet Ski from Destineer Feb. 11: Go Diego Go!: Safari Rescue from 2K Play Feb. 12: WWII Aces from Destineer Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games Feb. 18: MX vs. ATV Untamed from THQ Feb. 25: Agatha Christie And Then There Were None from DreamCatcher Games Feb. 26: Baroque from Atlus USA Feb. 26: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors from Square Enix Feb. 27: Kidz Sports Soccer from Destineer Feb. 27: London Taxi: Rush Hour from Destineer February: Garfield(R) Gets Real from DSI Games February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games February: Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore from Konami February: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30(TM) from Ubisoft February: BALLOON POP from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES March 3: Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed from THQ March 9: Super Smash Bros.(R) Brawl from Nintendo March 10: Worms: A Space Oddity from THQ March 25: Okami from Capcom March 25: OPOONA from KOEI CORPORATION March: MiniCopter: Adventure Flight from Aksys Games March: Alone in the Dark from Atari March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts March: Obscure: The Aftermath from Ignition Entertainment March: Target: Terror from Konami March: Nitro Bike(TM) from Ubisoft March: Emergency Heroes(TM) from Ubisoft March: HEAVENLY GUARDIAN from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES March: Rebel Raiders from XS Games April 15: Castle of Shikigami III from Aksys Games April: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami April: Wild Earth: African Safari from Majesco Entertainment April: THE MONKEY KING-THE LEGEND BEGINS from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES April: Super Pick Ups from XS Games May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios May: BlastWorks: Build, Trade, Destroy from Majesco Entertainment May: King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga from SNK Playmore May: THE DOG Island(TM) from Ubisoft June 8: Wonderworld Amusement Park from Majesco Entertainment June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts June: Ford Racing Off Road from Empire Interactive June: Cooking Mama Cook Off 2 from Majesco Entertainment June: Rygar: The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc. June: DeBlob from THQ June: Wall-E from THQ Spring: Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel from Nintendo Spring: Major League Baseball(R) 2K8 from 2K Sports Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts Summer: Deca Sports from Hudson Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts Summer: Active Life(TM): Outdoor Challenge(TM) from Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Q2: Wii Fit from Nintendo
Nintendo DS Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo/Intelligent Systems Jan. 21: Mazes of Fate DS from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC Jan. 22: Mega Brain Boost from Majesco Entertainment Jan. 24: Aquarium by DS from Bold Games Jan. 24: Fantasy Aquarium by DS from Bold Games Jan. 29: Pet Pals: Animal Doctor from Majesco Entertainment January: N+ from Atari January: Barnyard Blast from DSI Games January: Command & Destroy from DSI Games January: Miami Nights: Singles in the City(TM) from Ubisoft January: Brain Challenge(TM) from Ubisoft Feb. 4: Paws & Claws: Pet Resort from THQ Feb. 5: Homie Rollerz from Destineer Feb. 5: Nanostray 2 from Majesco Entertainment Feb. 10 (street date): Professor Layton and the Curious Village(TM) from Nintendo/LEVEL-5 Feb. 12: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney from Capcom Feb. 12: New Zealand Story Revolution from Ignition Entertainment Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games Feb. 19: Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the RAF from Destineer Feb. 19: Zoo Tycoon II from THQ Feb. 25: Bratz: Super Babyz from THQ Feb. 26: Bubble Bobble Double Shot from Ignition Entertainment February: My Horse and Me from Atari February: M&M'S(R) Kart Racing from DSI Games February: Garfield(R) Gets Real from DSI Games February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games February: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group February: Anno(TM) 1701: Dawn of Discovery from Ubisoft February: Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles(TM) from Ubisoft February: Petz(R) Wild Animals: Tigerz from Ubisoft February: Puppy Palace(TM) from Ubisoft February: Real Soccer(R) 2008 from Ubisoft March 1: Project Exile from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC March 3: Let's Ride: Friends Forever from THQ March 4: Diary Girl from Konami March 4: Go Pets from Konami March 4: Disney Friends from Disney Interactive Studios March 4: Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest from Majesco Entertainment March 8: Plushees from Destineer March 8: River King: Mystic Valley from Natsume Inc. March 8: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc. March 11: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix March 11: Lost in Blue 3 from Konami March 11: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami March 25: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc. March: Alone in the Dark from Atari March: Drone Tactics from Atlus USA March: Double Sequence from DSI Games March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts March: Myst from Empire Interactive March: Naruto(TM): Ninja Destiny from Tomy Corporation March: Petz(R) Bunnyz(TM) from Ubisoft March: Imagine(TM) Figure Skater from Ubisoft March: Commando from XS Games April 15: Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys from Ignition Entertainment April: Super Dodgeball Brawlers from Aksys Games April: Rondo of Swords from Atlus USA April: Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft May 5: Crosswords DS from Nintendo May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games May 8: Organize It from Summitsoft Corporation May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios May: Winx Club: Mission Enchantix from Konami May: Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles from Aksys Games May: Garfield(R) Fun Fest from DSI Games May: 1 vs. 100 from DSI Games June 8: Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness from Natsume Inc. June: Shining Stars(R) from DSI Games June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts June: PipeMania from Empire Interactive June: Wall-E from THQ Spring: Sid Meier's Civilization(R) Revolution(TM) from 2K Games Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts Spring: The World Ends with You from Square Enix Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts Summer: Tamagotchi Connection(R): Corner Shop(R) 3 from Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Q2: Bangai-O Spirits from D3 Publisher of America Q2: PREY THE STARS from KOEI CORPORATION Q2: Pokemon(R) Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time from Nintendo Q2: Pokemon(R) Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness from Nintendo
Anyone else worried that after Ninty have shot their load on their big titles (Brawl, Kart, Fit), and already have their other big names out there (Mario, Metroid and Zelda) that it's gonna be a lean Christmas? I know it's a long way off, but just what is on the horizon for Xmas '08? Not a busting lot of 1st party stuff, that's for sure.
Hmm, yeah. Maybe they will bring out a new mario game called Mario Universe, or Mario and Luigi: Space Plumbers or Mario Party 273.
I could go on for ages...
Pikmin, F Zero, Animal Crossing, Mario Tennis, a proper Pokemon RPG, Eternal Darkness 2 The REAL next gen Zelda or even a game with Pitt in it who knows but any of these would be cool but I am hoping to see something new!
Pikmin, F Zero, Animal Crossing, Mario Tennis, a proper Pokemon RPG, Eternal Darkness 2 The REAL next gen Zelda or even a game with Pitt in it who knows but any of these would be cool but I am hoping to see something new!
Eternal Darkness 2 would be ace, but I suspect the Wii wouldn't even see it. Besides, Silicon Knights are too busy with Too Human right now, no?
And Mario Tennis? F**k that. We have a great Mario game now, how about something different.
Hmm, yeah. Maybe they will bring out a new mario game called Mario Universe, or Mario and Luigi: Space Plumbers or Mario Party 273.
I could go on for ages...
Pikmin, F Zero, Animal Crossing, Mario Tennis, a proper Pokemon RPG, Eternal Darkness 2 The REAL next gen Zelda or even a game with Pitt in it who knows but any of these would be cool but I am hoping to see something new!
A new Starfox is what I'm hoping for, a true sequel to Lylat Wars ( Starfox 64 to some).
Don Kings Prize Fighter sounds interesting not much on the net about it yet other than:
Don King Presents: Prizefighter will bring the realism of live action match-ups and the true tactics of the sweet science together for the first time. More than just a night at the fights - players will be responsible for building a career by overcoming adversity, avoiding temptation, and balancing their commitments to train and promote, all while focusing on the goal of ultimately winning and defending the title belt. The story will be told by a revolutionary sports documentary-style narrative never before seen in a video game.
maybe 2 good first party to look forward to on the wii for 2008 then. i'm just glad i have another console platform, to back up the wii, which is likely to get 2 games worth buying a year. kinda reminds me of the gamecube.
Wii:Jan. 8: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law from Capcom Jan. 21: Endless Ocean(TM) from Nintendo January: No More Heroes(TM) from Ubisoft March 3: Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed from THQ March 9: Super Smash Bros.(R) Brawl from Nintendo March 10: Worms: A Space Oddity from THQ March 25: Okami from Capcom March: Alone in the Dark from Atari March: Nitro Bike(TM) from Ubisoft June: DeBlob from THQ Spring: Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel from Nintendo Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts Q2: Wii Fit from Nintendo
DS: Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo/Intelligent Systems Feb. 5: Nanostray 2 from Majesco Entertainment Feb. 10 (street date): Professor Layton and the Curious Village(TM) from Nintendo/LEVEL-5 February: Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles(TM) from Ubisoft March 11: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix
I wish I had more money...
And I'm not worried about the small DS list. The system's current library is filled with surprise hits. So of course I wouldn't have them up there.
Never would have put Elite Beat Agents on my list, but then it came out and I played it, and you can guess what happened next.
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