Nintendo normally keeps a fairly tight reign on its properties. Mario is their face, their symbol; thus they strive to make sure that if he's used in a video game, he's used right. The vast majority of Mario games are developed by Nintendo, with an occassional license to a trusted third party like Square (Mario RPG, Mario Hoops) or Hudson (Mario Party) or Camelot (Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Mario Jai Alai, Mario Shuffleboard).

Except, that is, for a stretch of about four years in the early '90s, when apparently they just handed him out like candy to random passers-by. From 1991 to 1995, nine Mario titles were released by companies other than Nintendo, one of them being Mario's first appearance on the PC, six of which being edutainment titles. They were all made with kids as the intended audience, meaning the name of this article also serves as a good catch-all title for any of the games seen below.

Continue reading "Mario's Bastard Children" »

Posted by Ermac at 06:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Valve has released stats for Episode One, like average completion time, number of total sessions, and average number of deaths per map. I'm not exactly sure how the average total playtime is half the average completion time.

• Sonic the Hedgehog turns 15 years old today. In celebration, Sega milks him a little more by releasing Sonic 1 to the GBA.
• EA officially announces Need For Speed Carbon.
• For $25, you will soon be able to transfer your WoW character to a different server.
• Johnny Depp will be lending his voice to the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean game.
• The 50 worst game names in gaming history.
• Soccer fan attempts to apply for a manager position using Football Manager 2005 as his work experience.
• New screenshots for Mechassault DS.
• Photos compare the size of the Wii to.. just about everything else in the world.
• Final Fantasy III will be wifi enabled in some way. We just don't yet know what way.
• The PS3 will be the first device to use the HDMI 1.3 standard.
• In my day, we didn't have your fancy-pants "batteries." We had to hand crank our Nintendo DSes. And we liked it that way!
• Chronic Logic is offering a free contest version of their Bridge Builder game.
• Is Bill Gates learning from the mod community?
• A new Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter content pack is available on Live, for a hefty $15.
• The strange, sad story of a man pretending to be a woman playing a man in MMORPG Lineage.

Posted by Ermac at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

IBM has set a speed record with a chip that can run at 500 GHz when cryogenically frozen. Something tells me my stock case fans wouldn't quite manage the necessary drop to -451 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Soul Calibur 4 confirmed as.. existing in some form or another.
• Bandai Namco announces new Tales games for PSP and PS2.
• Indie game Rag Doll Kung Fu will be getting a retail version in August.
• THQ is too scared of WoW to put out their own MMORPG.
• The recently passed Louisianna game bill has been temporarily blocked by a judge while it's determined how unconstitutional the law is. Early signs say: A whole lot.
• Immersion debuts next-generation vibration for controllers that uses less power and space while simulating a wider range of feedback.
• Sony loses its case in Europe to have the PS2 classified as a computer (and earn a hefty rebate in import charges in the process).
• The VGA remake of King's Quest III is finished and ready for download.
• Superstar mode has been added in to the 360 version of Madden 07.
• Rumor: Microsoft planning 360 price drop for Christmas.
• A long interview at Nintendo Japan about Wii, NDS, the Game Boy Micro, and what Miyamoto is up to these days.
• Female gaming clans are protesting a "Miss World Series Videogames" beauty pageant.
• The Escapist asks, does the male-dominated video game culture actually exist?

Posted by Ermac at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Edge Online has a feature about the thankless and sometimes hellacious job of video game tester. What's worse is, while it was once considered one of the main ways to get your foot in the door at a game studio (thereby justifying the awful job and crap pay, I suppose), it seems like it may not even be worth that anymore.

• Yakuza's celebrity voice cast revealed.
• Comparing the power usage of the last couple generations of consoles. That 360 power brick isn't just there for show.
• UK online retailer offers PS3 bundle (system + 3 games) for $1015.
• New footage of Super Paper Mario.
• There's a new 14 minute video of in-game footage from Crysis, the latest game to make your video card cry. There's a 114 meg WMV version kicking around, but all links I've found so far are getting hammered to death.
• How to fix the 360 red ring of death, if you're willing to take apart your system.

Posted by Ermac at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Not much coming out this week, with the only real notables being a Tomb Raider: Legend port on the PSP, MotoGP 4 on the PS2, and NFL Head Coach on the Xbox, PS2 and PC, the finest "wear a headset and yell at people while pointing" simulator available on the market today. Actually, EA has said their biggest hurdle with Head Coach is just communicating what the game is (they call it a "3D sports strategy game"), so maybe you should read a preview or two to help you get it straight.

The rest of the release list can be found here and consists primarily of puzzle games and PC expansions. God, how many versions of Sudoku do we need?

Posted by Ermac at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Mehrune's Razor mod for Oblivion is available now for $2.99, in case you don't already have enough weapons.

• Microsoft engineer comments on Cell's limitations.
• Eidos cancels an upcoming original Tomb Raider remake for the PSP.
• Cheap Ass Gamer charts Xbox game ratings vs. the percentage that are currently backwards compatible.
• Video: The One-Ups perform Dancing Mad.
• Best Buy is taking pre-orders on the Final Fantasy VII remake, a game that in no way officially exists in any capacity.
• 1up runs down the great ideas that changed gaming forever.
• Time declares the DS Lite gadget of the week.
• Sony's Ken Kutaragi continues with the "PS3 is a computer" bit by suggesting PS3's could be sold built-to-order with customized parts. How do I customize the part that makes it not $600?
• Red Octane says non-guitar "Hero" games are "Very likely."

Posted by Ermac at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At a recent presentation to Wall Street, Vivendi made the claim that all Blizzard franchises would become MMOs. The news quickly made its way around all the usual places, with visions of World of Starcraft and some sort of online Diablo dancing in people's heads.

Except this is all apparently news to Blizzard. A designer for World of Warcraft stated on the game's official forums:

Nothing in that rumor is true in regards to Blizzard. If I had to guess, there was some confusion between what Vivendi has planned for its game division versus what Blizzard has planned. While Blizzard is owned by Vivendi, their game division operates seperately from Blizzard.

Now it's hard to know exactly what's going on. Was Vivendi making a claim about Blizzard's franchises without even asking? Were they just suggesting it was possible, but it was interpreted by the blogger as a definite? Maybe they weren't actually talking about Blizzard at all? Who knows. All we do know is you shouldn't hold your breath in anticipation of running around killing rats and levelling up with a zergling.

Though I do have to admit, as one of the three people left on this planet who has never played WoW, I'd probably get a Starcraft MMO on day one.

Source: Kotaku

Posted by Ermac at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A judge in New York has been accused of playing solitaire during a trial. As the article notes, in February New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg fired a city employee for playing solitaire during work hours. Doing it during a trial is just a teensy bit worse.

• The Oblivion patch has fixed some issues while apparently causing new ones.
• Best Buy is taking pre-orders for Wii games, despite none of them having solid dates.
• James Cameron's big upcoming movie and game project may not be Battle Angel, but Avatar.
• Take Two filings show 3D Realms will get a $500,000 bonus if Duke Nukem Forever is completed by the end of 2006. Good luck with that one, fellas!
• Nintendo is planning a follow-up to the Brain Age series called Common Sense Training For Adults. Sounds like a lost cause.
• THQ is bringing Tetris to the 360, because it's such a damned hard game to find.
• New scans of Super Paper Mario, Mario Hoops, Starfox Command, and more. Slippy has a girlfriend? Is that Kasumi in Super Swing Golf Pangya? People still care about Tamagotchi?
• Student websites go down because someone took out the Xbox.

Posted by Ermac at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Microsoft has opened up Windows Vista to public beta testing, so if you're the kind of nerd who can't wait to experience a new operating system... go outside.

• Ninety-Nine Nights slated for an August release date. Remember that old page on Xbox.com that said June 8th? Yeah, apparently that was wrong.
• Majesco reports a mild profit after limping back to the world of budget and handheld titles.
• Uwe Boll sues Bloodrayne distributor for not giving his awful movie enough support.
• Footage of Pokemon Battle Revolution appears, but I'm not sure if it's in-game or not.
• It's now a felony in the state of Washington to play poker over the Internet.
• The second part of Eurogamer's Valve interview on Episode One.

Posted by Ermac at 03:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Gamasutra has an interview about the most controversial game you may not have heard of yet: Rule of Rose. Any game that inspires the question "What was the inspiration for using the sexuality of prepubescent girls as a theme in the game?" is worth examining more closely. Here's a trailer to further weird you out.

• A new patch for Oblivion is out.
• The Halo 3 making of the trailer documentary is up at Bungie's site now.
• Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland director didn't get the "baseless bravado" memo, says "We would never say we cannot fail."
• Sony CEO Howard Stringer admits his Xbox obsession.
• Look on in horror at the recently uncovered original Acclaim intro to the racing game Juiced. FMV with blue screened actors? 1994 has come to visit!
• Eurogamer interviews Gabe Newell about Half Life 2: Episode One.
• Comparing real life photos to Crysis screenshots.
• Animal Crossing on Wii may allow you to send letters to friends through e-mail or cell phones.
• Point Blank DS unexpectedly ships next week.

Posted by Ermac at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are the highlights of what's coming out today and tomorrow.

• Big Brain Academy (DS) - The next step in the Brain Training series arrives in America. $19.99 at EB Games.
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2) - If you're like me and didn't feel like playing this on a small screen with a weird analog nub, now it's on the PS2. And it's only $19.99 at EB Games.
• Magnetica (DS) - A Puzz Loops game for your DS just in case you haven't played Zuma enough already. $34.99 at EB Games.
• The Movies: Stunts and Effects (PC) - An expansion for The Movies which may possibly add stunts and/or effects. $29.99 at EB Games.
• Gradius Collection (PSP) - Gradius I through IV and the never before released in the US Gradius Gaiden, all in one pack. If you haven't emulated them all already, anyway. $39.99 at EB Games.

The rest of the list can be found here.

Posted by Ermac at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yet another Oblivion add-on coming, this time a big dungeon with a "fearsome weapon" called Mehrunes' Razor as the reward. Unlike the last few, which sold for $1.89, this mod will be going for $2.99. My question is.. how many people still care?

It's been a couple months now. I realize not everyone buys a game as soon as it comes out, but if you've only just now bought Oblivion you shouldn't have any need to already be buying extra content. For the people who have had since it was released, is yet another weapon any kind of incentive anymore? Surely nobody who's been playing this long has any trouble killing anything by this point.

For that matter, I don't have much enthusiasm for a new dungeon either -- even one that promises to be the "deepest" and "most challenging" so far. I stopped playing Oblivion at 100 hours and I still had dozens of caves and ruins left unvisited. I suppose if Oblivion is all you play and you've already gone through all those places, you'll be hankering for new content. But it feels like there's a law of diminishing returns in place once you hit the late game. There comes to be less and less of a point to killing one more skeleton or finding one more ring you won't use because you've already got a hundred better ones. There's less value in finding one more piece of enchanted equipment that will now make you 95% chameleon all the time instead of only 90%. You go from improving yourself to making yourself slightly more god-like with each new acquisition.

Somebody's buying all this stuff, so I guess it's just me.

Posted by Ermac at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm getting the news out the door early because omg omg Half Life 2: Episode One is out NOW.

• Andy Serkis' mortgage leads him to star in Heavenly Sword.
• Game critics have chosen their best of E3 awards, if you care about that sort of thing.
• Amsterdam drug addiction center opens up game addiction ward.
• Eight year Duke Nukem Forever team member leaves the studio. I hope this isn't a sign the game's in some kind of trouble.
• Phil Harrison calls claims of Sony ripping off Nintendo "stupid", says the PS3 is a computer and "We do not need the PC." Also, he's a nut.
• IGN relaunches their Dreamcast section, for some reason.
• If you didn't immediately storm every store in your city on the news that the DS Lite was available yesterday, you can use this map to find stores near you that have them.
• Isn't it weird hearing a story from Xbox's Major Nelson about his quest to acquire a DS Lite?
• The AV Club lists 11 of video games strangest moments.
• World of Warcraft has a higher MMO market share than all other MMO games combined.
• I'd say that if you have to explain why your screenshots looked like crap, you probably shouldn't have released them to begin with.

Posted by Ermac at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An update on Bungie's website has explained more about the upcoming Halo 2 PC version, which will be released after Windows Vista is released which will happen approximately three days before the sun burns out. First, although the game requires Vista to play, it will not require the new DirectX 10 drivers, meaning one can possibly hold onto one's old graphics card for a bit longer. As a bit of a disappointment to many, PC players will not be able to go up against Xbox players online. Bungie cited multiple reasons, including new maps that the Xbox version won't have, and controls that have been tuned specifically to each format, making matches "lopsided at best."

Elsewhere in the Bungie world, rumors have begun cropping up about their old shooter Marathon coming to Xbox Live Arcade. In response, Bungie answer man Frankie had this to say:

Of course it's possible, it's just not on any current agenda. If it's any consolation, many, many people think it's a good idea.

My guess is that it's pretty likely to come out at some point. The question is just when.

Posted by Ermac at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This makes me glad I wasn't at the Nintendo World store to watch the E3 briefing. LOOK AT THOSE GRAPHIX

• There will be no version of DirectX 10 for Windows XP. It will be exclusive to Vista.
• Nintendo brings over the Touch Generations brand to America, marking games like Big Brain Academy and Magnetica.
• Xbox Live Vision Camera set for a September release in America.
• Alex Navarro from Gamespot gets gut punched on video for saying that the PS3 wouldn't be $500 or else you can "feel free to punch me in the stomach."
• Luigi hates Myspace too.
• GameVideos has a video tour of the new 360 dashboard update.
• Comparing the size of all next and current generation consoles, side by side.
• Summer isn't completely worthless.. FiringSquad has a list of the games coming out to fill in the summer gap.
• Will your games work in Windows Vista? ..Maybe?
• How to write an article on women in gaming.

Posted by Ermac at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)