Archive for the ‘Nintendo’ Category

Namco Museum

Video games have for long been a great source of killing time, at times an obsession and in cases merely a past time. Individuals from age eight to eighty have been hooked to these video games and the scenario hasn’t quite changed with the progress of time. In fact with the coming of computers and newly improved technologies, the graphics and techniques have made the games even more alluring.

Namco Museum is the video game which was introduced by Namco compiling the various games in PlayStation since the 1990s and is now supported by the Wii video gaming console for its usage. While it cannot be denied that Namco Museum received mixed responses upon its initial inception, but somehow there was certain amount of noticeable success which facilitated the release of multiple versions of this game.

The first of this series was Namco Museum Volume 1 which contained the various games from the 1980s like Galaga, New Rally-X, Rally-X, Pac-Man, Pole Position etc. The second volume followed in the same year and this series contained Dragon Buster, Grobda, Mappy, Xevious, Super Pac-Man etc. This was followed by Namco Museum Volume 3 which featured Dig Dug, Pole Position 2, Galaxion and Ms.Pac-Man which became popular in the United States of America in the year 1997. Volume 4 of this game contained Assault, Ordyne, Pac-Land etc. This was succeeded by Volume 5 containing Dragon Spirit, Metro Cross, Pac-Mania etc. Other versions of this game include the Namco Museum Advance, Namco Museum Encore, Namco Museum 64/DC, Namco Museum DC, Namco Museum Battle Collection, Namco Museum Remix etc. The Namco Museum Battle Collection contains some of its best known games like Pac-Man and Galaga and was introduced in the PlayStation Portable. All the games referred to in the above mentioned list included both single and multiplayer options and the multitudes of sequels of this series only justify its popularity.

Madden NFL07

Various video games have been launched modeled on the popular sports and the Madden NFL07 is the latest version of the very famous Madden NFL series replicating American soccer matches. The Madden NFL 07 is supported by the Xbox 360gaming console and it has been the first of the Madden series to make its appearance on the Wii and PlayStation3 consoles. The latest version has got certain new additional features. These include the use of jukes and spins, two for each by the players to deal with their rivals, use of highlight sticks, FreeMotion controls and Hikes, Runningback, Quarter Back, Kicker or Punter and Wide Receiver which are available on the Wii versions and can be used in accordance with the Wii Remote. The Lead Block Control is also a latest inclusion which aids the players to sweep past their unpleasant rivals at the time of positioning only. A huge variety of musicians have lent their voice and musical prowess to add to the effects of the game.

Since its inception and arrival in the world market, Madden NFL 07 has earned immense popularity and awards. In august 2006, it was adjudged BB& B’s Sports Game of the year. In the G4 television series X-Play it was again awarded as the Best Sporting Game of 2006. The Spike TV Guy’s Choice Awards, it won accolades for being the Game with the most Game. Moreover, Madden NFL 07’s Wii version was announced as the Best New Control Scheme and the Best Traditional Sports Game of 2006. This award was further facilitated by the exquisite new technical tools like the Wii remote which allowed various upgraded techniques like FreeMotion controls, hikes etc to be introduced as part of the game. So the Wii gaming console too here has a substantial role to play.

Wii

This video game console, named Wii was launched by Nintendo in 2006 as a successor to the Nintendo GameCube. One of the significant characteristics of this console which sets it apart from its competitors like PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 is the Wii remote which can function as a pointing device and exert three dimensional effects. It also posses a wireless controller and the WiiConnect24 which allows updated information from the internet to flow in while in stand by mode. The Wii console is shorter in size and contains Nintendo GameCube and Wii optical discs. There are also two USB ports and a SD card and this card is used in saving information related to the games saved or downloaded. Along with these constituents, the Wii console also contains Wii remote, power adaptors, an AV cable with RCA connectors etc. very little is known about the technological integrities of the Wii as it has been kept carefully under the wraps by Nintendo though several hypothetical accounts are available. It is interesting to note that this Wii console has therapeutic uses too in health care.

The various hardware and firmware devices constitute the Wii and facilitate its functioning. These include the Nintendo GameCube software which is responsible for providing backward compatibility to the Wii console. However in the absence of Modern and Broadband adaptors, the titles of the GameCube may not be accessible to the Wii consoles. The Wii menu functions with the aid of the Wii remote. Also the Nintendo DS connectivity feature allows wireless connectivity to the Wii console while it is also possible to connect it to the internet by means of the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection services. Moreover, this console allows parental controls which can be used to prevent young children from gaining access to games not permitted within their age limits.

The WiiConnect24 update had permanently disabled certain units from functioning which inconvenienced the users. Also there had been some legal disputes involving Nintendo over patent disloyalties.

Wii Sports

This game was manufactured by Nintendo and was meant exclusively for the Wii gaming console and Wii Sports is a part of what is known as the Wii Series which includes several other games like Wii Chess, Wii Music etc. Since it involved several different sports, this game achieved popularity world wide especially among sports lovers and sports fanatics. In fact it can be derived from various opinions that people loved the game purely for the exquisite and unique sporting experience that it offered. Its success facilitated a series of awards in its kitty. Notable among these would be the Game Developer’s Choice Award for the Best Game Design and Innovation, Game Critic’s Award for the Best Sports Game in 2006, attaining the first position in the TIME Magazine’s list of the top 100 video games in the year 2006.

Eth game Wii Sports is a compilation of five premier sports namely, bowling, golf, boxing, baseball and tennis. All these games are to be played with the help of the Wii Remote and the players are to repeat the actions observed in course of the game in real life. Among all these games, it is only the boxing game which involves the accompaniment of both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk attachment and the player is expected to hold these two devices in each hand while the game is in full swing. For tennis, predictably multi player facility allows a maximum of four players while in golf, 3D graphics are used. The baseball game includes the mercy rule and lasts for three innings in all. Players are also rewarded or punished for displaying their expertise in a particular game and win skill points. On accumulating 1000 skill points, the player is said to have reached the pro level. Wii Sports is also a game which has used implemented the use of Mii channels.

Despite its huge popularity, there have been certain isolated cases of discontentment among critics.