REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Following last week’s unveiling of introductory story elements and characters in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda^™: Skyward Sword game, Nintendo has revealed even more information about the game, which will launch exclusively for the Wii^™ system on Nov. 20. Among the game’s many richly rendered environments is Faron Woods, where the heroic Link^™ must complete important tasks as part of this epic journey to rescue Zelda^™. To help him do so, players can use unique abilities and items as they navigate the forest. Newly revealed game elements include the following:

• Faron Woods and Skyview Temple: The forest is the first location Link visits after leaving Skyloft, an island world suspended high in the sky. The people of Skyloft have never been to the surface, so this stage marks a strange new experience for Link. Traversing the forest leads him to Skyview Temple, where Zelda may be held.
• Dashing: By holding down the A Button, players can make Link run faster and grant him acrobatic abilities, such as the ability to briefly run up a sheer wall to grab onto a cliff. Dashing uses up some of Link’s endurance, which replenishes itself over time once Link stops running. Certain powerful attacks, like the spin attack, also use up endurance. When all of Link’s endurance is used up, his movement is slowed dramatically for a few moments.
• Dowsing: Fi, the spirit of the powerful Goddess Sword and Link’s guide, informs Link that he can use the sword to search for things through dowsing. In dowsing mode, when Link holds out his sword, the sword will beep and provide visual feedback when pointed in the direction of the intended target. This technique can be used to search for many objects and characters in the game. In Faron Woods, Link uses it to search for Zelda, guiding him to Skyview Temple, where Zelda’s aura can be detected.
• Kikwi Tribe: The Kikwis are cute, fuzzy creatures that Link encounters while exploring the forest, resembling a kiwi fruit in animal form. Link can search for the Kikwis in the forest using dowsing. In return, they will help him on his search for Zelda.
• Slingshot: This is one of the first items that Link receives in the game. While it’s not very powerful, it can be used to stun enemies and activate objects in the environment. As with many items in the game, players aim the slingshot by moving the Wii Remote^™ Plus.

Nintendo will continue to provide fans with select details and information about the game prior to its Nov. 20 launch. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be available as a standalone game or as part of a limited-edition bundle that also includes a gold-colored Wii Remote Plus controller. Additionally, every copy in the initial production runs of the game will come packaged with a special music CD containing orchestral arrangements of select songs that will be performed at the upcoming The Legend of Zelda 25^th Anniversary Symphony Concert.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is now available for pre-order at major retailers throughout North America. A deposit may be required for pre-orders. See individual retailers for details. For more information about the game, visit http://www.zelda.com/skywardsword.

Hands-On Wii and Nintendo DSi Sampling Stations to Open at Malls Across the U.S.

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nintendo is about to put a playful twist on the fun of bumping into old friends at your local shopping mall. Mario, Donkey Kong and Pikachu are just a few of the familiar faces consumers will encounter as Nintendo’s Holiday Mall Experience touches down at shopping centers throughout the United States. From Nov. 22 through Dec. 19, whether they’re looking for terrific entertainment value or an imaginative break from the usual holiday hustle and bustle, shoppers can drop in and play the latest games for Wii and Nintendo DSi systems at interactive demo stations. Kids and teens, parents and grandparents, casual gamers and hard-core fans alike – the Holiday Mall Experience invites everyone under the sun to discover the beloved characters, inclusive game play, deep variety and innovative hardware available from Nintendo.

From wild multiplayer action for the living room to rich puzzles and adventures that can be enjoyed on the go, many of the year’s hottest games will be free to sample at participating mall locations from coast to coast. Visitors can get reacquainted with Donkey Kong in the new Donkey Kong Country Returns, grab a friend (or several friends) and check out the instant social fun of Wii Party, take on puzzle challenges in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! or create customized heroes in the epic DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. More than 20 games will be featured at 23 Holiday Mall Experience locations.

“There’s no better way to highlight the nonstop fun and extraordinary value offered by Nintendo systems than simply letting consumers enjoy them firsthand,” said Marc Franklin, Nintendo of America’s director of Public Relations. “From the moment they pick up a Wii Remote controller or a portable Nintendo DSi XL system, anyone who takes part in the Holiday Mall Experience will quickly recognize that our lineup truly includes something for everyone.”

Games for the Wii system to be showcased during Holiday Mall Experience include Donkey Kong Country Returns, PokéPark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Wii Party, Metroid: Other M, Wii Fit Plus, Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Sports Resort, Mario Kart Wii, Disney Epic Mickey (Disney Interactive Studios), uDraw Studio along with uDraw GameTablet (THQ), Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft) and NBA JAM (EA Sports).

Featured titles for the Nintendo DS family of systems will include Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, Art Academy, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!, New Super Mario Bros. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Super Scribblenauts.

Confirmed locations for Nintendo’s Holiday Mall Experience include the following:

• Garden State Plaza (Paramus, N.J.)
• Topanga (Canoga Park, Calif.)
• Parks at Arlington (Arlington, Texas)
• King of Prussia Mall (King of Prussia, Penn.)
• Houston Galleria (Houston)
• Southcenter (Seattle)
• Fox Valley (Aurora, Ill.)
• Roosevelt Field (Garden City, N.Y.)
• Beverly Center (Los Angeles)
• The Shops at Willow Bend (Plano, Texas)
• Mall of Georgia (Buford, Ga.)
• Pembroke Lakes Mall (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
• Annapolis Shopping Center (Annapolis, Md.)
• Northshore Mall (Peabody, Mass.)
• Arizona Mills (Tempe, Ariz.)
• Valley Fair (Santa Clara, Calif.)
• Southdale Center (Edina, Minn.)
• North County (Escondido, Calif.)
• Castleton Square Mall (Indianapolis)
• Lloyd Center (Portland, Ore.)
• FlatIron Crossing (Broomfield, Colo.)
• Tyrone Square (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

To help consumers locate Holiday Mall Experience events in their area, Nintendo has launched a website at happyholidays.nintendo.com. Visitors to the site will also find a handy printable gift guide and complete details on all kinds of great games for Wii and Nintendo DSi systems.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit wii.com.

For more information about Nintendo, visit www.nintendo.com.

About Nintendo

The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii^™ home console and Nintendo DS family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo has sold more than 3.5 billion video games and more than 577 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL, as well as the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Super NES, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube^™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Rock Band 3 Demo Available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

Keyboard Parts Playable With Five-Button Guitar Controllers

Cambridge, Mass. – Nov. 5, 2010 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced that a demo for Rock Band 3, the next generation in the ultimate social and interactive music gaming platform, is now available for PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The Rock Band 3 demo features the opportunity to play four songs in Quickplay, featuring one standard venue and one “music video” venue. Fans can try out three-part harmonies and, for those who don’t yet have the Rock Band 3 keyboard or Rock Band 3 Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller, keyboard parts are playable on legacy guitar controllers. The demo includes the following songs from the master Rock Band 3 soundtrack:

• Spacehog – “In the Meantime”
• White Stripes – “Hardest Button to Button”
• Slipknot – “Before I Forget”
• Foreigner – “Cold As Ice”

To download and play the Rock Band 3 demo for the PlayStation 3 system, you must have an Internet-connected PlayStation 3 console, a PlayStation Network account and at least one Rock Band or Rock Band-compatible third-party music game controller or USB microphone. If you don’t already have a PlayStation Network account, simply create one in the PSN Home Menu. Next, simply head over to Demos in the Featured Games menu and click Rock Band 3 demo to download.

To download the Rock Band 3 demo for the Xbox 360, you must have an Internet-connected Xbox 360, a Gold Xbox Live account (the demo will be available to Xbox Live free accounts Nov. 12) and at least one Rock Band or Rock Band-compatible third-party music game controller or USB microphone. Sign in to your Xbox Live account. If you don’t already have a Xbox Live account, simply select Join Xbox Live from the Xbox dashboard and create your account. In the Xbox Live menu, go to Game Marketplace and select Game Demos. Find the Rock Band 3 demo and select to download.

Critical acclaim from around the world for Rock Band 3:

Associated Press – 4/4

“Rock Band 3″ is the kind of classy production we’ve come to expect from developer Harmonix. It’s great for people who just want to have fun at parties, and for those who seriously want to learn musical skills. Four stars out of four.”

G4TV – 5 out of 5

“The best music video game I’ve ever played. While no game can be all things to all people, Rock Band 3 comes close. It is both a great party game and an entirely hardcore music game experience.”

Joystiq.com – 5 out of 5

“Rock Band 3 is the greatest rhythm game ever made, and quite possibly the only rhythm game you need to own…”

Eurogamer – 10/10

“I can at least say with confidence that Rock Band 3 is the greatest music game ever made.”

Rock Band 3 delivers the deepest Rock Band experience yet with an incredible 83-song soundtrack featuring the music of Avenged Sevenfold, John Lennon, Jane’s Addiction, The Cure, Def Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Marley and many more. Rock Band 3 gives players immediate access to more than 2,000 songs¹ in the ever-growing Rock Band Music Library and support for most existing Rock Band songs.² In addition, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies and introduces a keyboard peripheral to the band, allowing up to seven players to rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

Rock Band 3 also marks the debut of Rock Band Pro Mode, which bridges the world of gaming and real musicianship through a collection of new instrument controllers, trainers and gameplay options that open the door to real-world guitar, bass, keyboard and drum skills.

Rock Band 3 offers something for everyone. The game’sdeep Career Mode takes the band on a journey to gain new levels of status while the environment around them changes from streets and subways to tour stops and mega-venues. For the serious player, the revamped Career Mode features more than 700 goals and rewards and seamless leaderboard integration for an endlessly deep campaign experience. The game also features easy drop-in and drop-out, easier No Fail accessibility and an all-new Party Shuffle. Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game, including the ability to create, save and share playlists online or on the console, so fans can engage friends over Facebook, Twitter, email and more. Check out those tools and more at the newly launched RockBand.com.

Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games, and distributed by distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS),Rock Band 3 is compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Rock Band 3 Pro Mode requires Rock Band Pro-compatible instrument controllers. Mad Catz, the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers, has released Pro Mode compatible controllers including the Rock Band 3 Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller, Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard, Rock Band 3 PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit and the Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter.

Harmonix has also teamed with Fender to create the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller, a full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller that will be compatible with Rock Band 3 Pro Mode. The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster will be available in March 2011.

Pricing for Rock Band 3 is as follows:

• Rock Band 3 Software for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €59.99, UK MSRP £49.99
• Rock Band 3 Software for Wii: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €49.99, UK MSRP £39.99
• Rock Band 3 Software for Nintendo DS: US MSRP $29.99, continental Europe MSRP €29.99, UK MSRP £24.99
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Xbox 360: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP €129.99, UK MSRP £109.99
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Wii: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP €109.99, UK MSRP£99.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Keyboard for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $79.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii: US MSRP $149.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit– Universal: US MSRP $39.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz MIDI PRO-Adapter for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $39.99

Rock Band 3 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

Follow Rock Band on Twitter and Facebook.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

¹Available on-disc, via download and disc export. Internet connection and key purchase required. Wii has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download. Not applicable to Nintendo DS.

²Rock Band 3 supports most existing tracks from Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs, downloaded songs, Rock Band Network songs, track packs, AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, LEGO Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band. Not applicable to Wii.

DJ Hero 2 Demo Features Highly Anticipated Freestyle and Social Gameplay Elements with Four Epic Mashups

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Demo Delivers Sneak Peak at All-New Story-Based Quest Mode with Four Shredtacular, Speaker-Blaring Tracks

SANTA MONICA, CA – September 7, 2010 – Budding beat chemists, hard rockin’ living room legends, singing sensations and all of their friends itching to take DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock for a spin in advance of the games’ releases later this fall need not wait any longer as Activision Publishing Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced that the demos will be available today for free download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Gamers looking to score any one of various exclusive bonus offers can pre-order both games in-store at retailers nationwide or online by visiting www.djhero.com/buy and hub.guitarhero.com/buy/ghwor/. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock shreds onto store shelves September 28 with DJ Hero 2 spinning into retailers on October 19.

In the DJ Hero 2 demo, fans will get a taste of four exclusive mixes from the best soundtrack in entertainment as they freestyle scratch, sample and crossfade through various gameplay tutorials, QuickPlay and all-new multiplayer modes including Accumulator and DJ Battle. Mixes included in the demo of DJ Hero 2 are:

· Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes “Don’t Cha” Mixed With Pitbull ”I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
· Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis “Just Dance” Mixed With Deadmau5 “Ghosts N Stuff”
· MSTRKRFT Featuring N.O.R.E. “Bounce” (Battle Mix)
· Estelle Featuring Kanye West “American Boy” Mixed With Chic “Good Times”

Gamers looking to be among the first to experience Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock’s all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, narrated by notorious KISS front man Gene Simmons, will be transformed into rock warriors and shred to the following four hit tracks off the game’s quintessential rock collection:

· Black Sabbath “Children of the Grave”
· Foo Fighters “No Way Back”
· Slash featuring Ian Astbury “Ghosts”
· Dethklok “Bloodlines”

About DJ Hero 2

The ultimate mixer of music and friends, DJ Hero 2 will deliver the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay. Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ’s in an all-new way, the game’s soundtrack delivers 83 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2. Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they’re spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling. The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Dropping on October 19, DJ Hero 2 will invite a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game will be available as a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate party-in-a-box. Gamers who experienced DJ Hero®, the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009, can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software. The game is in development by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Lyrics) by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.

About Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

In Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, join with friends on an epic rock journey to save rock. Featuring an impressive 90+ track set list and a host of all-new gameplay features, living room legends and their friends can strum, drum and wail in the most immersive music videogame experience to date. Delivering the quintessential rock music collection that focuses on guitar shredding hits from bands such as Black Sabbath, Slipknot and Megadeth and larger-than-life band anthems from Queen, Muse and KISS, players can unleash more rewards and unlockable content than ever before in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock’s Quest Mode, the franchise’s first ever story-based mode, and Quickplay+, which invites challenge-starved fanatics to test their rock skills. Running on the powerful Guitar Hero® engine that has been expanded and refined and with encores from the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite gameplay features that made Guitar Hero one of the most popular franchises of all-time – such as Party Play, Competitive modes and any combination of up to four instruments – the game offers a complete interactive and connected experience bringing friends and foes to the stage in the ultimate rock music experience.

Available September 28, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and by Vicarious Visions for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Lyrics, Mild Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes) by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, please visit GuitarHero.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

I was lucky enough to be invited by EA Sports to interview Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons tight end, about NFL Training Camp, a game that uses motion sensing technology to put players through real pro NFL training camp drills like dropping back and passing, or cutting from side to side while sprinting.

I shot video of the whole interview, but there’s a lot of background noise and it simply isn’t that exciting of a video.  It’s just Tony and I sitting on a couch talking.  Once in a while we laugh.  Not the most thrilling video in the world.  I recorded audio and I’m not going to transcribe it word for word.

We talked about a bunch of stuff and I really enjoyed meeting him.  He’s a nice guy, very personable and friendly.  I started the interview by telling him that I remember playing as him when my friend Mike and I played a season of Madden 99 as the Kansas City Chiefs.  He laughed and said that was over a decade ago and then asked if we won (which we did) and then he high fived me and said it was great that we had a better season.

We talked about the NFL Training Camp game from EA Sports Active.  It uses a heart rate monitor and wireless motion tracking to provide a workout designed by NFL strength and conditioning coaches.  He said that he’s played around with it and thinks it’s a good thing.  It got his heart rate up and he could see how it would improve timing, agility, and other skills like training camp.

I shot some video of someone playing at the event.  It looked to me like this guy was working hard and afterwards the game reported he burned 400 calories or so.

I had fun talking to Tony.  At one point I said that I thought he is the best TE to ever play the game.  He said that was a bit much, like he wouldn’t agree to being the best.  So I said, you have the most TD’s, most receptions, and most yards of any TE in the history of the league, surely you must agree to top 10.  He agreed then thought a moment and then said, “That puts me in some good company.”

We talked about how he likes to play TE because he likes to be involved in more aspects of the game than just catching.  If he wanted to run and catch he would have been a WR.  He likes to block and feels it’s an under appreciated skill.  I appreciate a good block and I mentioned that I did and he said that even with all the TD catches he’s had it is still most exhilarating when he blocks a linebacker and sets up the run.  That’s pretty cool.

He recently wrote a book about nutrition so we chatted about that for a while.  He’s into eating lean and high-quality protein and vegetables.  I believe it’s based on some vegan principles.  He looks like he’s in great shape but that probably goes without saying.  He is a professional athlete.  We laughed for a bit because I pointed out that what we eat becomes more important as we get older and the body can’t bounce back as quickly from something like a burger and fries.

Tony had some advice for young football players.  Eat right, train, and build for the future.  Learn everything you can about the game and improve your body and skills.  Sounds pretty solid to me.  Practice and improvement are two good things.

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp seems like it can help improve football related skills.  It’s in development for PS3, Kinect for Xbox 360, Wii, and iPod touch by EA Canada in Vancouver.  You can find more info at EA Sports Active.

Zumba Fitness for Connect

Excersize program, the fitness party, latin and international rhythms.  Grew in Miami, all about the party, have fun and move, 60,000 locations, 7.5 million people take a Zumba class every week.  They’ve sold millions of DVDS and this is the next thing.  Men, women, kids, parents all play together.

The demo – This is a combination of dance and excersize so everyone has fun with 30 tracks and routines.  There’s new interactive Zumba content running with Connect. Connect tracks 6 points on Samantha’s body and will critique her motions.

There can be up to 4 players in a turn based competition.  For the Wii there is a belt to track your hips where all your movement originates.  You can learn the steps training, set a workout calendar, intermediate and hard also.  Genuine motion capture “a little bit like a dancing iPod commercial” in color and look and feel.

There’s a party meter and more stuff begins to happen when you build the party meter.  I see more stuff on the screen but it doesn’t lok like it really affects game play.  Working closely with Microsoft and are excited to be a launch title for Connect in November.

Lots of hip rolling.  Merengue to reggae to calypso, a lot of rich styles and it’s not my thing with all the dancing.  I bet Tina would love this.  Sarah would probably not be amused.  The music is fun.  I think that someone who has taken a Zumba class would be pretty pleased to dance along with this.  I’d prefer splattering enemy brains out the side of their heads from the bushes 500m away, but for a Zumba fan this would be fun.

There’s a strong connection here for Backayard.

My routine was much more like dancing than working out.  But it was fun and I did start sweating within 2 minutes.

There will be DLC – use Live to connect to Zumba.com and Facebook to build community.  Zumba is the dancing so it could be fun with someone else- Zumba Attack with something like a dance battle and there is a turn based mode where up to four people can play against each other.

Paintball – Greg Hastings

$39 on 9/14

Can play with him, all about furthering paintball, the gameisbuilt on authenticity, 360, PS3, Wii.  All the gear, all the guns, 100 pros, 62 fields based on 12 real locations.  Rated E10+, not that many E10+ FPS out there.  It’s a violent tournament, just with paint not bullets.  Up to 20 player multi-player on 360 and –s3, up to 8 player on Wii.

Lots of running and diving into bunker, then change stance so you can pop up and down, then change stance so you can pop left and right.  You can switch hands with the gun so you can get a better angle.

There are also team aspects to game play.  You can command your guys or leave them alone.

Three types of paintball – speed ball with inflatable bunkers that people hide behind in arenas.  Woods ball is a massive outdoor field.  Rec ball is a mix of the two played on any course.  This is the first game with wood and rec play modes.

Will be DLC.

Babysitting mama

No blood but there is diaper changing without poo or urine.  This brings baby sitting to a whole new level.  Uses a plush doll that you jam the wiimote into it’s back.  Basically you can hold the doll and do stuff with it and the wiimote sense it.

The baby laughs or cries through the Wiimote.  This is Cooking Mama for baby sitters.  There are 6 different babies and about 60 different activities.  Some are baby care, some are baby mini games.  Fun, not a baby simulator because there are some silly things.  It’s apparently a lot of fun for six to nine year olds.  Little girls will be happy they got a new doll and a new game.

Ten story arcs, November release data scheduled.

It was sort of fun, kind of like holding a real baby but not because it isn’t fragile.

Swords

Wii motion plus support $29.99 T rated for families

Brutal action scenes without gore.  It is, you guessed it, a sword fighting game.  One to one sword fighting movements, seven different angles of attack with 8 different fighters.  Unlock swords and get new powers. Plus four mini games that are basically like mini games.  One includes hordes of zombies coming at you over and over again.  Multiplayer so there is 2 player split screen.

Monster Tale for DS,

estimated March 2011 ship

Puzzle game play on the bottom screen, exploration on the top.  The bottom screen is a pet raising Tamogotchi game and the top is a platformer.  You wake up in a monster world that has been taken over by bad kids.  Elie meets Chomp and they need to save the monster world from the bad kids.  Explore and earn new abilities.  Definitely kid safe.  Would appeal to those who want to explore, learn, solve puzzles, and use new things.  Also involves training Chomp – give him cookies and he becomes one thing, give him apples and he becomes something else.  Interaction between the “two screens” and the evolution of Chomp creates depth in the game.

Harmonix, MTV Games Reinvent Music Games with Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 features announced, including amazing soundtrack plus access to the most music available in any video game with more than 1,500 tracks and growing; new keyboard gameplay and three-part harmonies for up to seven players rocking together; Rock Band Pro Mode and much more!

CAMBRIDGE, MA and NEW YORK – June 11, 2010 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced features for Rock Band 3, the next generation of the ultimate social and interactive music gaming platform.

Featuring an incredible 83-song setlist and access to far more music than any other music game, as well as innovative new gameplay modes and instruments, Rock Band 3 will change the way fans think about and play music games. This next iteration in the Rock Band platform has something new for everyone and also supports traditional Rock Band gameplay with players’ existing instruments.

The Most Music. Period.

The Rock Band 3 disc soundtrack contains 83 of the best bands from around the world, including bands that have never appeared in a music game, as well as support for existing Rock Band tracks (Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs, downloaded songs, track packs, AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, LEGO Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band).

Additionally, Rock Band 3 will give players immediate access to a music library approaching 2,000 songs by launch, with new content added regularly. Rock Band’s gigantic music selection dwarfs that of any other music game on the market.

Announced Tracks:

2000s:

• Metric, “Combat Baby”
• Rilo Kiley, “Portions for Foxes”
• Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
• The Vines, “Get Free”
• The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”
• Phoenix, “Lasso”
• Ida Maria, “Oh My God”
• Juanes, “Me Enamora”

1990s:

Wii adaptation of fantasy classic receives new teaser website

Las Vegas, April 23rd 2010 – TopWare Interactive today launched the brand new teaser site for the upcoming Wii title Enclave: Shadows of Twilight. Scheduled for release in the middle of June, the RPG classic has received an expansive overhaul for the Nintendo console version which includes improved AI, renovated game systems, and Wii Remote motion support. For more information and game assets visit the new teaser site at www.enclave-game.com.

About the Game

“Enclave – Shadows of Twilight” links the fabulous features of the PC version (already showered with awards) with the unique possibilities provided by the Nintendo Wii console – and this combination takes the successful fantasy RPG universe of “Enclave” to a completely new level! The innovative gameplay elements provide players with a completely new game experience, one which pushes the original version’s envelope in all directions. The player can now use the Wii remote to enter the fray – and experience the game’s many sword fights more realistically than ever. Accompanied by cunningly-created cutscenes, the hero presses on into a fantastic world with each successful mission, massacring his way through the armies of the enemy and capturing lots of loot. As he progresses, the player can activate up to 12 more types of hero to fight on the side of the Light and the Dark. Various puzzles for opening doors or activating specific switches also provide extra brain exercise. Many scripted events which take place continuously in the game also guarantee unique moments of surprise. Walls that suddenly collapse, window glass shattering as an enemy jumps through it to attack and exploding powder kegs will keep players’ nerves jangling right up to the last level. Last but not least, spectacular Boss opponents are guaranteed to give the player goose bumps during the extensive indoor and outdoor levels – and the individual combat strategies of these difficult opponents will provide a stiff challenge, since the right skill must be selected to fight each individual Boss.

Despite inventory shortages of the Wii hardware, Nintendo systems came out on top at the beginning of 2010. Nintendo’s Wii™ home console and the family of hand-held Nintendo DS™ systems finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, for the month of January, according to data from the independent NPD Group that tracks video game sales in the United States.

During January, U.S. consumers purchased more than 465,000 Wii systems and more than 422,000 systems in the Nintendo DS franchise, which includes Nintendo DS™ Lite and Nintendo DSi™.

“Holiday shoppers depleted our supplies even after our fourth holiday season,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We appreciate the nearly 900,000 consumers who turned to Nintendo to get a great value for their entertainment dollars.”

Six of the top 10 best-selling games of January play on Nintendo systems. These include New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii at No. 1 with more than 656,000 sold, Wii Fit™ Plus with the Wii Balance Board™ accessory at No. 3 with more than 368,000 sold, Mario Kart™ Wii with the Wii Wheel™ accessory at No. 5 with more than 310,000 sold, Wii Sports Resort™ with the Wii MotionPlus™ accessory at No. 6 with more than 294,000 sold, Just Dance by Ubisoft at No. 9 with more than 191,000 sold and the Wii Fit Plus disc at No. 10 with more than 186,000 sold.

For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.nintendo.com

FREMONT, Calif. – Sept. 9, 2009 – Expanding its line of premium music game controllers to Guitar Hero® gamers on Wii™, Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today introduced the Logitech® Wireless Guitar Controller for Wii™ and the Logitech® Wireless Drum Controller for Wii™. Licensed by Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), both controllers feature the high-quality materials that you’d expect to see in real guitars and drums, and are designed to let you take advantage of all the latest features of Guitar Hero games including Guitar Hero® 5 and the soon-to-be released Band Hero™.
“Logitech’s premium guitar and drum controllers have made it easier for Guitar Hero gamers to get into the music with even more realism,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “Now if you love to rock out on Wii, you’ve got the gear to match your level of commitment to the game.”
Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for Wii
The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for Wii features a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets. So you’ll look good while you shred, the new Wireless Guitar Controller presents a dazzling white finish with a glossy-black pick guard on a one-piece contoured wood body.
The noise dampening design of the strum bar and fret buttons minimizes audio distraction, and lets you focus in on the music. The guitar controller also incorporates a touch-sensitive slider on the fret board (located on the neck) to help you rack up the points by tapping notes.
Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii
The Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii features three fully adjustable drum pads and two cymbal pads. Each piece can be positioned to fit your reach and suit your style – and the quiet and responsive drum pads deliver a lively feel that won’t distract you from the music.
For better gameplay, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller uses a recessed-rim design that helps make it easier to score points and avoid accidental rim shots. The kick pedal uses a stainless steel surface and an adjustable spring – providing a highly durable, responsive drumming experience.
When you’re ready to play, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller sets up quickly and folds flat in seconds. You can start playing within minutes of opening the box and when the show is over, the set can be easily stowed away.
Both the Guitar Controller and Drum Controller are licensed for Wii so setup is a cinch – your Wii Remote™ snaps into the controllers, and both products feature an analog stick for navigating menus.

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