Updated Wii release list dispels 'no games' rumblings
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Jan 16th 2008 at 3:45PM }
No games? The latest word from Nintendo on upcoming releases hopes to change your mind on that. Like sports? Action? Quirky fun? Mini-games? Well, on the last one, you were already covered, but now, you've got extra cheese. Nintendo's let fly with their current Wii and DS release schedules, and while the dates on some titles are a little vague (or have already passed, as with the first few), the full list includes a bevy of new and previously-undated games. There are even a few amusing observations to be made, such as Nitro Bike's March release, which actually came, uh, this week, and the dreadful fate of Worms: A Space Oddity, which is certain to disappear in the wake of Super Smash Bros. Brawl chaos. What's not there is also a little disappointing: Samba de Amigo is missing from the list, but that doesn't mean we won't see it before the fall. We can still hope, but with everything we've got to look forward to, we can wait a little longer for quality time with the maracas-monkey. But we could be wrong -- Sega releases are not showing up at all, just as last time, Capcom was missing from Nintendo's updated lists. It seems likely that we're still looking at fall for Civilization Revolution, as well, since it's not on the list. So there's even more upcoming goodness after we're done with Okami, Brawl, No More Heroes, Opoona, and more.
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™ from Nintendo
Jan. 22: One Piece™: Unlimited Adventure™ from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Jan. 29: Bomberman Land from Hudson
January: No More Heroes™ from Ubisoft
January: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation™: 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® 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™ from Ubisoft
February: BALLOON POP from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
March 3: Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed from THQ
March 9: Super Smash Bros.® 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™ from Ubisoft (wait, isn't that out?)
March: Emergency Heroes™ 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™ 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® 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™: Outdoor Challenge™ from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Q2: Wii Fit from Nintendo
[Via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bransman @ Jan 16th 2008 3:57PM
It doesn't dispel anything for me. This list is basically meaningless. Few good games and even fewer will be released on their proper dates. I basically learned nothing from this list.
Thanks Ninty...
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:13PM
Whiney Whiney! "God, why can't Nintendo come out with 80+ really good titles a year right when I want them! Boo hoo! Thanks a LOT Nintendo!'
BOO HOO! LOL
Ralph @ Jan 16th 2008 4:53PM
The point is that third-parties aren't coming out with triple A titles on the Wii. They're few and far between. Almost all of the games listed are exactly what is making me hate the Wii. I would especially hate the Wii to become known as the "Smash Bros. console" just like the Gamecube was known for in its hay day. This release list doesn't nothing to dispel my worries for 2008.
bransman @ Jan 17th 2008 9:02AM
I'm not looking for 80, 50, or even 30 great games in a year. First of all I can't afford that. But I do expect that they are true to their word. Give me a release date and follow through on it. The occasional change is totally understandable, but follow through on your word. Also, I would rather not have so many crap games come out. I understand trying to reach various markets but good grief. The main market I see being targeted on that list is the I work 60 hours a week, for $12 an hour and take 6 online classes and have nothing substantial to do with my time or money market.
troy @ Jan 17th 2008 9:27AM
It's Nintendo. They change dates. Always have. I'm sad too because I wanted Wii Fit way before we'll get it, but what haven't they followed through on. And wait: you are saying I have nothing substantial to do with my time because I am satisfied with less games than you? Sounds like you have more free time than me if you are whining about not having enough games.
I have just barely enough time to play the games that I have right now, (mostly DS at work) and living with a girlfriend who is way less enthusiastic about games than me doesn't add to my game time. So maybe i'm ok with only about six really good games coming out in 5 months on each platform because 12 is as much as I can afford
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:01PM
Looks like a Q2 Wii Fit 'fits' with that May 20th 1up date. I will look forward to playing many of these games. I wish Sega were on there, I want to get a US date for 'House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return.'
Tristan @ Jan 16th 2008 4:03PM
I dont see any surprises, well at least Dragon Quest Monsters: The Masked Queen and the The Tower of Mirrors is about to come to come out?
Mr Khan @ Jan 16th 2008 4:15PM
Indeed, that's something i've been looking forward too with somewhat mixed interest
Aside from that, there's Okami, Oopoona, Brawl (duh), Rygar, possibly Samba Di Amigo, No More Heroes, Deca Sports (a good casual title for a change), and Wii Fit
considering that between Brawl, No More Heroes, and Radiant Dawn i probably won't need a new game until late April, that's more than enough for me
vidGuy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:10PM
Hopefully we get some good VC releases...
It's all SMG and MP3:C for me for a while. I'll probably rent No More Heroes and see if it's my style.
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:13PM
No Mo' Heroes seems so badass to me.
deaftly @ Jan 16th 2008 4:17PM
Smash Bros in the only game on the list that i want :\ soo glad i own all 3, just having a wii would be a nightmare
SoshiKitai @ Jan 16th 2008 4:23PM
Unless of course... you had... a life. You know, that thing that dispels all other system's capabilities with graphics stronger than anything ever seen, with gameplay that can be mission-oriented with so much freedom when you go sandbox! And let's not forget so much challenging things with so many rewards, and ALWAYS UPDATES!!! (unless you live on a farm)
...yeah, I'm pretty sure having JUST A WII would be fine if you had a life.
(not one to talk though, I've got an Xbox360 as well...... waiting for a certain game on the PS3 before I buy it)
Jonathan Tran @ Jan 16th 2008 4:25PM
IMO the only good game on that list is Brawl, and MAYBE Endless Ocean.
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:28PM
Well thank god you don't matter then.
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:28PM
Well thank god you don't matter then.
Vaati @ Jan 16th 2008 4:28PM
I want the new TOS Title [Knights of Something or other I cant remember atm] to hurry and come out.
Till then I'll be Brawlin'!
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:29PM
Methinks its 'Ratoskr'
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:30PM
No More Heroes
Okami
Brawl
Endless Oceans
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Mario Kart
Wii Fit
Na Fedaykin @ Jan 16th 2008 4:33PM
I just wanted to post so troy could reply to my post too.
David Hinkle @ Jan 16th 2008 4:36PM
Hahahahahahaha
*votes comment up*
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 4:55PM
Just be greatful you didn't write this article, Hinkle. You are the Flanders to my decidedly sexier Homer, and your cheap laughter does not mean you've won. Oh, so sorry I am sitting here at work and boredly answering someone's minigame title question and attempting to humilate some of the less 'nintendo fanboy' commenters that I see. You know, the ones that come in from PS3 fanboy to laugh at us for having delays?
Hinkle being an undercover one of these people, I can see why he thinks this is all funny. I CAN'T see why he thinks the Wii Mat is funny, or why the controls to the portable N64 would have your forearms invert, or hardly any of the things he says or thinks.
And YOU: you are just being cute. I assure you, if your job was as boring and online and 11 hours a day as mine, you would comment far more.
samfish @ Jan 16th 2008 4:34PM
Meh. A couple of really good games, a few decent games and the rest are all absolute crap.
...although I can't help but wonder what the Hell Kung Fu Panda is. Maybe he learned kung fu to deal with all the sexual harrassment?
Mr Khan @ Jan 16th 2008 4:44PM
new movie starring Jack Black, i believe
I only just heard of it today
Ralph @ Jan 16th 2008 4:56PM
Ninjabread Man spin-off?
Metayoshi @ Jan 16th 2008 4:47PM
"Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports"
It's about time, 2K Sports... exCITED! I just hope they don't pull off what they did for Top Spin 2 for DS, and make a full fledged Tennis game worth playing. Which reminds me... I don't see that Sega tennis game on that list... I was hoping that game would satisfy me until a Mario Tennis game gets released for Wii.
KilgoreTrout XL @ Jan 16th 2008 4:51PM
Yeah, Top Spin caught my eye too. With decent controls that could be a lot of fun.
Ralph @ Jan 16th 2008 4:58PM
This article doesn't deserve its smiley face.
Also, where the hell is Spore in this list?
Vogelfrei @ Jan 16th 2008 5:05PM
Between Endless Ocean, Okami, Wii Fit and the fact that I've only just started Super Mario Galaxy, that list is plenty long for this casual gamer.
Tim @ Jan 16th 2008 5:18PM
apparently all troy does all day is hang out here and wait for people to comment. Troy stop ditching school!
When is house of the dead 4: troy's whiny revenge come out?
troy @ Jan 16th 2008 5:29PM
I'm 23, take seven online classes, and get paid $12 to sit there and read this shit and little else as I work 60+ hours a week. Any questions?
ChrisCanberg @ Jan 16th 2008 9:42PM
Man troy. You need to get laid. Big time.
Brawl is number one on this list and I was one of the fans that was frothing at the mouth when it got pushed back the first time.
Mario Kart is going to be amazing and I can't wait for that. No More Heroes is gunna be next week as well as awesome. Endless Ocean seems really interesting.
Even though it doesn't have a release date yet really, I can't wait for Disaster: Day of Crisis. That game is going to be sick. I can't wait.
Tim @ Jan 17th 2008 10:12AM
I'm 84, you pay for all of my prescriptions, doc visits and meth. i play wii sports all day and fantisize about your 40 year old mom.
no i dont have any questions for you, life is pretty sweet.
Tom @ Jan 16th 2008 5:52PM
Hm, pretty decent list I guess. No suprise that Nintendo's games are all the heavey-hitters on that list. Still, nice to know that some 3rd party developers are realizing pulling off mini-game shitbags isn't going to work anymore. Games I want
SSBB (duh)
Mario Kart Wii
OkamiStar Wars Force Unleashed
Destroy all Humans
No more Heroes
Wedge @ Jan 16th 2008 6:15PM
A few things:
1. Nintendo said in the press release accompanying the list that it's a partial list. So the lack of certain titles (like Spore, etc.) shouldn't be too shocking.
2. Although there does appear to be some shovelware on the list, there also seems to be some possibly new and inventive/innovative games on the list. Part of what made the PS2 the juggernaut that it was is that, since so many folks had systems, all sorts of developers made games for it...including developers willing to take risks. (Think Guitar Hero.) Right now, the Wii is that ubiquitous system. That means shovelware, sure (people wanting to make a quick buck and get a piece of the pie). But it also allows for the chance for new break out games. Games that can change the map of gaming, as it were.
3. That having been said, I think one of the main problems with 3rd party Wii games is that the 3rd parties aren't coming up with the good high quality games for the Wii. Wii gamers will buy and play 'hard-core' games...but they have to be worth something. It's simple...gamers go where the good games are. If folks make the games, the gamers will come. What's hurting Nintendo right now is the legacy of the Gamecube...many 3rd parties are skiddish about making good quality games for the systems. If they don't make the games...
Demotruk @ Jan 16th 2008 7:12PM
One of the things Suda said, was that when he started making No More Heroes, he thought Wii would be a hardcore platform. Just shows you how long a game like that takes to develop, a game worth getting excited about, considering that Nintendo where talking about expanding the market a good while before the actual release of the Wii. Developers started to see the success of the Wii throughout last year. That means that only those who happened to want to develop for Wii have actually tried to make good games. Any real efforts from developers for Wii will take time. I don't think we're going to see anything much worth getting excited about from 3rd parties till E3.
We all know the same thing happened with DS.
That list is pretty boring, but it shouldn't be surprising. Maybe we'll be lucky and there's a gem or two that's not been anounced yet for this quarter.
(01) @ Jan 16th 2008 10:11PM
(sighs) do we really to explain again how quantity does NOT equal quality? Don't get me wrong, there's some choice titles on that list, just not in good proportion to the crap on there.
tiamat1990 @ Jan 16th 2008 10:16PM
No More Heroes, De Blob, Mario Kart, Super Smash, Okami, Bully.
I am all good. That's a game per month. Awesome.
hofferjo1 @ Jan 16th 2008 10:34PM
Am I the only one really pumped for King of Fighters?!?!
Capcom vs. SNK Ring any bells?
thethirdmoose @ Jan 16th 2008 10:37PM
I'll be getting SSBB and either wii fit or mario kart (probably wii fit)
Baszie @ Jan 17th 2008 9:25AM
I somehow found a list like this on kotaku some time ago, maybe it wasn't official but it made 1 thing clear: buy an xbox.
I've been waiting ages for SSBB to come out, and because I live in Europe, I will have to wait even longer than the rest. I'm glad I didn't buy a Wii.
Maybe the console will have some more games in 2009, but until then, I'm not interested.
Pixelbotgo @ Jan 17th 2008 4:46PM
What happened to Oboro Muramasa?