Gamepad News

By: gp_lil_giraffe
Friday, April 13, 2007

The latest from Nintendo

High-art meets high-tech as Nintendo of Canada launches TheArtofWii.ca, a nationwide sweepstakes that offers Canadians a chance to own one of six hand-painted Wii™ video game consoles.
Famed illustrator Gary Taxali, Hoi-An Tang, punk group illScarlett and Arnold Tsang of Udon Entertainment, were commissioned by Nintendo in association with Magic Pony, and created four of the unique consoles. The two remaining contributing artists will be revealed on TheArtofWii.ca at a later date.
From now until April 30th, Canadians can visit TheArtofWii.ca to register for a chance to win one of the fully-functional, one-of-a-kind Wii video game consoles. Since its launch last November, the wildly popular Wii has been the top-selling system in Canada.

The final version of the Wii browser, Opera, is now available for download. But get it soon, because it will only be free until the end of June (after that, it will cost 500 Wii points). According to Nintendo, it’s a definite improvement to the original on user experience and performance – based on feedback from Wii users!

Shortages of Wii consoles could last for months, according to Nintendo and not because Nintendo hasn't been working hard – it’s ‘cause the system is so crazy popular, it’s been hard for them to keep up with consumer demand. Nintendo is asking everyone to be patient – they’re making those Wiis as fast as they can!

Upcoming games
Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl (DS)
Mario Party 8 (Wii)
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Wii)
Pokemon Battle Revolution (Wii)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Wii)

The latest from Sony

Sony is dropping the 20GB PS3 in North America, due to overwhelming demand for the 60 GB version. And it’s also got added storage media slots and Wi-fi (not available on the 20 GB version).

Upcoming Games
Spiderman 3 (PS3)
Super Rub-a-dub (PS3)
Lair (PS3)
GrimGrimoire (PS2)
TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge (PSP)
Disgaea (PSP)

The latest from Microsoft

MSN messenger is coming to Xbox 360 – send messages to over 600 people on your contact list. Text chat with your buddies on the new keyboard accessory coming out soon.

Content for Guitar Hero II on the X-box 360 is now available for download – although, it’s a wee bit pricey at roughly $2 per song.

“Boom Boom Rocket” – for Xbox 360 is available for download now. This is the first music-rhythm game to appear on Xbox Live Arcade. Players trigger rockets to the beat of the music while traveling through a 3D cityscape. The better the player times the explosions, the more spectacular the fireworks effect. The fireworks are choreographed to 10 original tracks created by Ian Livingstone, who recently scored “Batman Returns” and “Project Gotham Racing 2.

Multiplayer map pack #2 for Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition for Xbox 360 is now available for download on Xbox Live® Marketplace. The map pack includes two new multiplayer levels: “Hive Complex,” an abandoned mine with twisting tunnels and bridges set on a war-blasted mountain side, and “Trial Point,” a modern day office complex featuring a photorealistic backdrop of a busy city center.

Upcoming Xbox and Xbox 360 games
NCAA Football 08
Tiger Wood PGA Tour 08
Spiderman 3
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Forza Motorsport 2