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VC Friday: ... Yay?

by Chris Greenhough { Oct 10th 2008 at 10:50AM }

Fans of nocturnal bowling and derivative puzzle games are well-served in this week's Wii Shop PAL update. One month after Midnight Pool arrived on WiiWare and shook the gaming universe to its very foundations, development stable-mate Midnight Bowling has arrived. Oh, and it's rubbish.

It's joined by revolving Zuma/Bejeweled/Magnetica Twist imitator Potpourrii, which, ironically, stinks. They're 800 Points apiece, and you can see footage of both if you go past the break. We will be amazed if more than nine people accept that invitation.

Midnight Bowling -- WiiWare -- 800 Nintendo Points
Potpourrii -- WiiWare -- 800 Nintendo Points

Roll on next Friday, frankly.

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WiiWare goes Midnight Bowling with MadStone

by Justin McElroy { Oct 6th 2008 at 11:30AM }

You know the great thing about writing about WiiWare every week? Often, the comedy writes itself. Let's take a look at the description for Midnight Bowling (Gameloft, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points) shall we? "Plunge directly into the trendy and electric atmosphere of Midnight Bowling. With awesome playing sensations, prepare for ultra-fun gaming thanks to a new physics engine that lets you control your throws precisely and easily with your Wii Remote." Controlling bowling ball throws with the WiiMote? Let us be the first to say: Finally. (Comedy bonus: The description also boasts you'll be playing in "the trendiest bowling spots on the planet" which is a little like bragging that you give the world's most pleasurable spinal tap.)

Also, there's MadStone (Riverman Media, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points), the true glory of which you can only appreciate with the post-break video.

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Retail and download releases for the week of Oct 6th

by David Hinkle { Oct 6th 2008 at 10:59AM }

We could get used to this, folks. Around this time of year, we're bombarded with new games, across all fronts. Well, this week is no different, so we won't waste time yakking it up here, other than to say no dice on Gradius II. Head past the break and get the lowdown on this week's releases.

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VC Tuesday: WiiWare dominates retro gaming

by JC Fletcher { Sep 2nd 2008 at 9:55AM }

This week on Japan's Virtual Console: Workjam's Tantei Jinguuji Saburo: Yokohama Minato Renzoku Satsujin Jiken (Detective Saburo Jinguuji: The Case of the Yokohama Harbor Serial Murder), the second game in what we now call the Jake Hunter series. And nothing else. Even the US got two Virtual Console games this week -- two first-party Virtual Console games, at that.

Tantei Jinguuji Saburo: Yokohama Minato Renzoku Satsujin Jiken (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)

Luckily, WiiWare stepped in to make sure we don't get all smug about our downloadable games. Along with, well, Midnight Bowling and Saikyo Ginsei Reversi, Konami's Gradius Rebirth, which is either a remake of Gradius or a new game, is out. Either way, right now cores are being shot, and not by us. This is terrible.

Saikyo Ginsei Reversi (1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
Hamaru Bowling (1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
Gradius Rebirth (1 player, 1,000 Wii Points)

Gameloft phoning in more WiiWare ports

by JC Fletcher { Mar 31st 2008 at 12:45PM }

Well, actually, they're remaking cell phone games, but the title kinda works. We actually approve of the population of the WiiWare service with new games from anybody. Mobile developer Gameloft has announced three more WiiWare games in addition to Block Breaker Deluxe. TV Show King is actually an original made-for-WiiWare quiz show game. Midnight Pool and Midnight Bowling are, well, pool and bowling games that use motion controls. Gameloft intends to release games in Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

TV Show King sounds like a great idea to us -- a trivia game with a low barrier to entry (price). We could totally see ourselves downloading something like that while bored some night or in preparation for a party or something.

[Via Siliconera]