You know nothing says enjoyment like punching King Hippo in the gut at that precise moment to give you the victory in what use to be Mike Tyson’s Punchout.  However due to a rape charge, time in jail, eating peoples ears, and rocking an tribal tattoo( no on knows if it’s tribal or some shit he just made up); the game never carried the Mike Tyson moniker again.  And now it seems that in 2009 developer Next Level Games will be bringing Punch-Out back in style for the Wii console.  This game is perfectly suited for the Wii console and if they drop some difficulty modes, some online component, and some dlc in the form of new boxers for Little Mac to face then Punch-Out could be the title Nintendo needs to bridge the gap between core and casual gamers.  If not, then it’ll still be fun as hell to play and relive the glory of being Little Mac one more time.

 Now on a similiar note The illmatic and myself was having a very interesting discussion of whether this game will bring in the gamer of now.  I mean my experiences of Mike Tyson’s Punchout on the NES were great and I would love to take a trip down memory lane with the Wii Version.  However the illmatic questions how many new gamers that have been introduce to the Wii will gravitate to the resurgence of Punch-Out?  So we are asking all of you new and old:

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Are you tired of the mini game fest Nintendo is giving us? Scared to criticize Nintendo because they may push harder to the left of gaming instead of going right. Well don’t be alarmed you are amongst many of core gamers who feel the exact same way you do.

Its not that I don’t like Wii Play or Wii Sports but that’s not gaming to me.  Gaming is an experience not just a pass time. Games like Zelda Twilight Princess was outstanding and Mario Galaxy was decent but did fulfill my gaming needs. Then Nintendo hit me with game after miserable game and killed any hope I had left with the release of Wii Fit. Huh!  That’s not a game at all.  Has Nintendo forsaken us and if so how can they win us back?

What does Nintendo need to do to win us back?

1. Nintendo needs a gamer controller. Lets face it the Wii-mote is not a gaming controller, it’s trendy, it’s hokey and maybe fun but it is not a game controller. Nintendo should keep the Wii-mote for the casual gamers and build another controller just for us. I like the Game Cube controller but it should only be the alternative controller.
2. Redesign the Nintendo Wii along with the new controller. The Nintendo Wii needs a new design and color for the core gamer. Black is bad ass but it’s severely over done.  I would make it RED.  Red is a serious color you know.
3. Drop the “Wii like to Play” gimmic.  That campaign where families are all playing together is nice but us core gamers don’t care that.  I don’t care about senior citizens playing in the retirement home or the lovable couple playing on the couch.  The new campaign should be with adults from 25 to 42 playing games and loving it.
4. Games! Games! Games!  Even Miyamoto is tired of the casual games and would like start developing for the traditional gamers.  Sony and Microsoft compete for games and so should Nintendo. Having to rely on 1st party developers is what got Nintendo in trouble with the Game Cube, they cannot repeat the same mistake.  So Nintendo go after the  “Bioshock” and the “Final Fantasy’s” it will only help your product.
5. The virtual console is nice but classics are on every console. Nintendo should give us new games on the virtual console. I would love to play “Super Mario Legend of the Seven Stars” but giving me a game like “Carcassonne” or “Texas Hold’em” gives Nintendo an edge.

These are my suggestion for Nintendo. Whether they take these suggestions or not is beyond me but something needs to be done because I am feeling like the Nintendo Wii is not for me.

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I told you that I wasn’t going to completely turn my back on conventional gamers who own a Wii.  Well after some searching to the area that name must not be spoken.  I find another little nugget coming to the “Wii”(ugggghhh) in the first quarter of 09.  Conduit, being developed by High Voltage Software is looking to bring a mature rated game to mature Wii owners.  Now, this looks like it could bring a solid first person shooter experience to the Wii.  While at first glance the concept seems to be paint by numbers; alien invasion, add Washington DC, stir in crazy weapons and bake until fun.  I think this is something all you owners would love to get your hands on.  Now lets hope for a good score on that Wii Scale.

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Now, if you have listened to any of our shows, and have heard me speak about the Wii then you know it’s no secret that I don’t like what it’s become.  However, I will not turn my back on the few gamers that’s still holding out hope for games that are geared toward the hardcore.  Will you see or hear me talk glowingly about games like, Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, or any other game that seems overly simplified for kids under 10?  Hell No.  I get and understand that the success of the Wii relies on kids, women, and old people; however that appeal don’t have to be dumbed down.  It could take an approach to court gamers that fall in those 3 categories with games like, Little Big Planet, Banjo Kazooie, EchoChrome, and Viva Pinata.   But, let me get back to the topic at hand.   MadWorld being developed by PlatinumGames and published by Sega; is looking to give the hardcore Wii owners something they’ve been craving for.  Hopefully this game will show other 3rd Party devolepers, and Nintendo that the Wii can handle catering to a hardcore crowd with style.   And, style is something that MadWorld has in bunches.  If you don’t believe me, then check out the gameplay footage and screenshots for this beautiful gory action game which is reminicent of Running Man.

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I am not a big Nintendo Wii fan but Mario Kart for the Wii looks to be exciting. I don’t think there are enough upgrades for the Wii version but nevertheless it’s still Mario Kart. Mario Kart is is the only racing game that I am any good at playing. So watch out Tazzaholf and Spitfier I am coming for you.

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The villian with the most Machismo.

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MARIO
Mario has been around longer than I care to write yet he is still the lame plumber who never bangs the girl. Mario doesn’t speak, he doesn’t work and he doesn’t have a social life. What is missing from the 3 decade Mario storyline is back story. Instead of saving the world can Mario unclog a few drains or snake a toilet. Is Mario married or does he have any kids? What’s with Mario’s vow of silence? These are all valid questions we would like to know about this kick ass plumber. If anything we should know why he decided to become a plumber. I would love to see a cinematic scene where Mario’s father *”Vito”* tells him he won’t amount to anything then the scene pans to Mario saving the galaxy.

DONKEY KONG
Everyone fears a big ape running rampant in our neighborhood, right. Well if they do, why is Donkey Kong so lovable and warmhearted. They even gave him a son for god sake. Is Kong good or bad? How dare you make Kong cuddly? The revamped Donkey Kong should be a hell raiser and a true terror. The Kong should be cruel and brutal. The presence of humans should annoy him. No, it should enrage him! Years of captivity at the zoo should make for a pretty pissed off ape. Now let’s see would a mere plumber try to capture him.

MEGA MAN
Mega man also known as Rock Man debuted in 1987 by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. With a goal to store everlasting peace Mega man and Dr Light set out to destroy Dr Wily and his goons. Nice concept! But everlasting peace is so yesterday. War, genocide and homicide is so rampant these days Mega man should be more of an enforcer. Revamped, Mega man should seek hard core justice in a antihero type of way. My vision of Mega man is a slightly toned down Galvatron aka Megatron. Now that’s badass.

METROID
Nintendo revamped the Metroid series and made it a kick ass FPS and it’s hard to fix what isn’t broken yet I have an issue. My issue is the space pirates. For such ambitious creatures they look dumb as hell. Zorak from “Space Ghost” seem more intelligent and these alien scientists. If Space pirates are so intelligent, why don’t they have opposable thumbs? Can you truly operate and build devices and platforms without thumbs? How do you pull the trigger to your rifle if you don’t have thumbs Mr. Space Pirate? I can appreciate the space pirates altering there genes for their soldiers but dammit give the space pirate scientist hands instead of claws. By the way, I’m willing to believe Kraid and Ridley are immortal.

I know Nintendo isn’t the type of developer to revamp their characters to this extreme but sometimes you have to think outside the box. When “Metriod” became an FPS there were a lot of disgruntled gamers yet it turned out fine. Let’s push Nintendo to evolve it’s characters and make them truly next generation.

Reference columns
An interview with Mario
and
Nintendo owner are content with Classic Games

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