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NintendoWare Weekly: Dragon Quest Wars, Arkanoid Plus, Altered Beast

by David Hinkle { Sep 28th 2009 at 11:21AM }

Welcome to another Monday, a day when most of us with jobs or school must go back to that place we just love to spend most of our time each week. That is, unless you're one of the lucky few who just sit around waiting for the Wii and DSi shops to update.

If you fall into the latter group, we'd just like to thank you for waking up this early to check out what's available for download today on the Wii and DSi. It's nice of you to do so considering you don't have any obligation to be up before noon. Boy, that must be nice. So head past the break and see what's available already!

Continued →

BreakQuest delivering PSP Mini-sized Arkanoid clone

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 24th 2009 at 3:45PM }

The world currently faces a crisis of epic proportions -- a global shortage of Breakout-esque games. Without competition, the few entries in this brick-smashing genre have monopolized the market, leading to a lack of competition, which will lead to another gaming industry crash, which will lead to complete economic collapse, which will lead to the nuclear apocalypse. Fortunately for us, indie developer Beatshapers will try to save our world this October with a ball-and-paddle PSP Mini titled BreakQuest.

Okay, the demand for Arkanoid clones is considerably lower than the previous paragraph may have indicated, but we admit -- BreakQuest looks pretty stylish. Well, as stylish as an under-100MB Breakout title on the PSP could look. Check out the gallery below for a fresh batch of screenshots.

[Via IGN]

Gallery: BreakQuest (PSP)

Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid DLC invade Xbox Live

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 17th 2009 at 3:05PM }

If you've got a hankering for some more alien destruction with a musical twist, you'll be happy to know that some new DLC for Space Invaders Extreme has landed on Xbox Live Marketplace. Entitled, simply, Space Invaders Extreme Expansion Pack, the DLC grants players access to the original versions of Space Invaders and Space Invaders II. According to Shacknews -- though not mentioned on the XBLM description -- the DLC will also include new stages and bosses for the main game as well. The price of entry is 240

.

The expected Arkanoid Live DLC arrives today as well. There are two bits of DLC, Episode Add-on Pack 1 and Episode Add-on Pack 2. The Xbox.com descriptions of the DLC are pretty vague, but we're just going to go out on a limb here and guess that each pack adds one of the two missing episodes -- the ones that are grayed out in the main menu -- to the game. Each piece of Arkanoid DLC runs for 240

.

Source - Xbox Live Marketplace: Space Invaders Extreme
Source - Xbox Live Marketplace: Arkanoid Live

VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Muscle Marches On

by JC Fletcher { May 26th 2009 at 12:10PM }

Under normal circumstances, by far the biggest news on the Japanese Wii Shop this week would be Final Fantasy. Square Enix actually delivered the game on time to Virtual Console, and didn't even take the opportunity to jack the price up. Even if it is ancient, 500 points for a classic RPG is a great deal!

But circumstances aren't normal this week: Muscle March, the game of posing a line of Speedo'd bodybuilders to run through walls in order to catch the thief who stole their protein powder, is out. Also on WiiWare, though less muscle-related: Arkanoid Plus!, a WiiWare release similar to the Arkanoid game for XBLA, and NEVES Plus.

Virtual Console:

Final Fantasy (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
Splatterhouse (Arcade, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)

WiiWare:

Arkanoid Plus! (1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Hamekomi Lucky Puzzle Wii (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points)
３℃ (1-2 players, 700 Wii Points)
Muscle Koushinkyoku (Muscle March) (1-4 players, 800 Wii Points)

This Wednesday: Zombie Wranglers, Arkanoid and Space Invaders

by Richard Mitchell { May 4th 2009 at 12:01PM }

XBLA is up for another threefer this week, with Zombie Wranglers (no, really), Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme all hitting the service. Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme are both remakes of arcade classics, while Zombie Wranglers is a co-op game that tasks players with -- you guessed it -- wrangling zombies. All three games will be available this Wednesday for 800

($10) each.

If you'd rather nab Zombie Wranglers for free, developer Frozen Codebase is giving away five download codes on the official Zombie Wranglers Facebook page. Just leave a zombie survival tip on the wall to enter.

Gallery: Arkanoid Live (XBLA)

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme (XBLA)

Gallery: Zombie Wranglers (XBLA)

PSA: You're doing it wrong, community game teaches foreplay [Update]

by Xav de Matos { Mar 26th 2009 at 4:45PM }

Update: Community game, Break One Out, has been pulled from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're doing it wrong. After years of thinking we'd figured out every trick available from books and television, video games have revealed that the easiest method to get someone naked is by playing an Arkanoid clone over their (already naked) body.

How did we discover the answer to one of the world's greatest mysteries? The Xbox Community Game, Break One Out (yeah, that's the name) taught us, of course! The game features Kitty -- we're sure that's her real name -- covered with blocks that must be destroyed by sending balls flying toward her. In hindsight, we probably could have put that in a less "double entendre" kind of way ...

Even though the game doesn't feature any real nudity (naughty bits are covered up by black bars) it's surprising Microsoft wouldn't pull the content for fear of damaging its family friendly image. Thankfully, all Community Games are considered unrated content, which means the game isn't accessible when any of the Xbox 360 Family Settings are adjusted.

Here's the real PSA. Don't buy this game, folks. Not because it's a bad game (and it is), not because it's sad (and oh boy, is it) but because it's 200

($2.50) ... and the sequel will probably include co-op.

Taito reveals Space Invaders, Cooking Mama games for iPhone, iPod, Android

by David Hinkle { Feb 27th 2009 at 3:55PM }

Taito has announced that iPhone and iPod Touch users can access versions of Space Invaders and Cooking Mama in the app store now. The Space Invaders game available in the app store is of the classic variety, but features "full use of the motion sensor and other iPhone 3G and iPod Touch input methods." As for Cooking Mama, the version available for the iPhone and iPod Touch includes "both favorite recipes from past console installments as well as a variety of dishes completely new to the series" and has been enhanced to "make the most of the iPhone 3G / iPod touch's multi-touch screen accelerometer." You can find Cooking Mama and Space Invaders in the app store now for $6.99 and $4.99, respectively.

In addition to new games for Apple platforms, Taito has also announced plans to support Android. T-Mobile users will be able to pick up Arkanoid and Space Invaders now for $5.99 each.

Gallery: Cooking Mama (iPhone/iPod)

Gallery: Space Invaders (iPhone/iPod)

Virtually Overlooked: Arkanoid

by JC Fletcher { Dec 4th 2008 at 8:13PM }

With the 30th anniversary celebration of Space Invaders (probably) coming to a close, celebrated most recently by the release of Space Invaders Get Even on WiiWare, I find myself brimming with happy feelings about anything that falls in the category of "classic Taito." Arkanoid is a perfect companion piece to Space Invaders, sharing the same basic layout as the shooter: a player character on the bottom of the screen, moving left and right and aiming projectiles at obstacles arranged on the top half of the screen.

DS updates of both games were released simultaneously, and while Space Invaders Extreme turned out to be one of the best games of the year, Arkanoid DS proved to be merely a pretty good Arkanoid-type game. Arkanoid deserves a lot better than that, and while rereleasing the NES game without the paddle controller isn't ideal, it would at least allow new gamers to familiarize themselves with real Arkanoid.

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TGS 08: New XBLA titles screenshot roundup

by Dustin Burg { Oct 9th 2008 at 12:00PM }

Freshly picked from Microsoft's massive library of Tokyo Game Show press kits comes brand new screenshots from a handful of the recently announced Xbox Live Arcade titles. You can view all the new screens in the galleries after the break for XBLA games including Arkanoid Live, Meteos, Space Invaders Extreme, Shadow Assault and R-Type Dimensions. There's a lot of screenshots to be viewed and you know your mission, so you best be getting to it!

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TGS 08: Metal Slug 7, Arkanoid, Space Invaders, R-Type and KoF '98 to XBLA

by Dustin Burg { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:40PM }

On the Xbox Live Arcade news fronts, Microsoft just announced that Taito's Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid (with 120 stages and online play) will release to the XBLA this Winter. Also announced was old school racer R-Type and that SNK Playmore's The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match will release Spring of 2009 and Metal Slug 7 will be releasing to the Arcade at a time yet to be determined.

Now those, friends, are a few nice Xbox Live Arcade titles to look forward to.

King of Fighters '98, Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Metal Slug 7, and more heading to XBL Arcade

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:38PM }

Hot from the Microsoft keynote at the Tokyo Game Show comes more retro arcade action. Been jonesing to play more Arkanoid ever since that thing came out back in 1986? It was Breakout on steroids, and ate quarters like Cookie Monster eats chocolate chip cookies. Super Arkanoid and Space Invaders Extreme will be out on XBLA this winter, and it'll be joined next year by Metal Slug 7 , R-Type and The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match.

The games will all be updated with new graphics, music, two-player and online modes, and will do a good job towards filling that vintage hole in your heart. Now Capcom, please give us some Darkstalkers, and we'll be happy.

Fanswag Reminder: Taito/SE gear to fill your hours

by Alisha Karabinus { Jul 11th 2008 at 8:20AM }

We're bursting with opportunities for free stuff right now! Not only can those of you in the Santa Monica area swing by the Joystiq Network End-of-E3 meetup next week, everyone else (in the U.S. or most of Canada) can enter right now to win Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid DS, and an import paddle controller (in white). See, we kinda like you. Do you like us: Y/N? Oh, just go enter the contest already.

WRUP: Cuts like the very first time edition

by David Hinkle { Jul 4th 2008 at 3:00PM }

The big release this week is none other than Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2. After giving it a thorough play, we found it to be an overall great title. With Europe getting Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid DS this week, we imagine you folks are going to be playing those?

How will you fill your free time this weekend?

Gallery: Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

DS Fanswag: Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid, and a paddle to play 'em with

by Alisha Karabinus { Jul 4th 2008 at 12:00PM }

We've got an ultimate game pack up for grabs with this latest DS Fanswag! One lucky reader is going to walk away with Space Invaders Extreme ($19.99), Arkanoid DS ($19.99), and an import paddle controller (in white; $29.99), and all for the low, low price of a comment.

What do you need to do to win? Well, since it's almost time for E3, tell us what you hope will be announced at the show! You may enter once per day and the contest will run through Sunday, July 13th; that night, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, entries will close, and we'll choose one winner in a random drawing. To enter, you must be 18 or older, and a current legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). Have questions? Check the official rules.

DS releases for the week of June 30th

by Alisha Karabinus { Jun 30th 2008 at 1:15PM }

Anyone need a kidney? It's fresh! We need the money so we can keep up with all these vitally important DS games, and after this week, we'll know how to remove it cleanly. Trauma Center is just like real surgery, right? It's important that we learn, so we can get 1 vs. 100 (omg!) the moment it's released.

Surgery may not be our thing, but we've got a handle on sarcasm.