Nintendo EAD

The Revolution... no really, we mean it this time!

HIGH When Wii MotionPlus works, it works.

LOW When Wii MotionPlus doesn't work, it doesn't.

WTF Trying to Cycle with my hands equals "Why?" plus "Ow".

Not to sound like a tool, but this was just a brilliant idea. Yesterday (Thursday, July 23rd), Nintendo promoted the launch of Wii Sports Resort by turning Military Island in Times Square into a mini-Wulu Island. Granted, it could have been better had it taken place on a larger piece of real estate, but short of cordoning off Central Park or Coney Island, this is not too shabby.

Despite the close quarters, it looked like a cool event, I'm sorry I missed it.

This is ironic and funny to us, but no doubt embarrassing for Nintendo. Here is a company that limits its games by way of complicated friend codes, weak online features and even its hardware like Wii Speak so as to keep the horrible realities of the online world away from its (apparently) fragile and corruptible userbase. But within one of the special press-only Animal Crossing: Wild World (NDS) cards, you find a racial slur... created by one of the people (its unclear who) hired to play the DS game.

A pre-played version of 2005's Animal Crossing: Wild World for DS, sent out to media outlets to encourage connectivity with the recent Animal Crossing release for Wii, contains at least one shocking addition, reports MTV Multiplayer. Importing the saved data from the DS cartridge sent by Nintendo into Animal Crossing: City Folk introduces a host of changes into the game, including one, suddenly no longer E-rated character, Baabara, who now greets players with: "How are you, Ñ---á?"

Game Description: The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to Wii Fit and the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board, which comes bundled with it. Used together players will experience an extensive array of fun, dynamic and surprisingly challenging activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and balance oriented games. The focus of these activities is towards providing a "core" workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions, but it's the fun approach to fitness of Wii Fit that will keep players hooked on fitness for years to come.

Game Description: Every hundred years a comet passes over the Mushroom Kingdom and rains down stars and stardust, and as Princess Peach and the citizens of the kingdom are celebrating the centennial event, Bowser and his legions attack by launching asteroids at the Mushroom Kingdom and crystalizing the Toads! Knowing that Bowser is after Princess Peach, Mario runs to save her. Things go awry as Bowser summons a massive spaceship, abducts Peach's entire castle and hits Mario with a massive magical attack. The next thing he knows, he finds himself on a mysterious moon high above the Mushroom Kingdom! Navigate Mario through a bevy of exciting new worlds and the depths of space, with all new enemies, power-ups and attack skills, as he collects the Stars needed to save Princess Peach!

Super Mario Galaxy makes a veteran Mario fan like me feel like I’m playing a Mario game for the first time. It’s like the seminal Super Mario 64 in that way. I’m glad that after 20 years, Nintendo can still make something old feel new again.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Cartoon Violence

Wii Sports comes as something of a pleasant surprise. Going against the longstanding trend of increasing game complexity, Nintendo has created what is arguably the most accessible videogame ever made, rivaling the likes of Pong and Pac-Man in sheer simplicity.