The game WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 by THQ/ Yukes for the Wii is looking great. Not graphically, but because rather, gameplay-wise. While it has been said that the graphics look like something being played on the PS2, everyone here at QJ agrees that it looks particularly fun to play.

From the get go, the video is hilarious. It starts with these two guys who are trying to act like Triple H and John Cena (both are wrestlers from the WWE). Some highlights of the video include the D-generation X taunt (performed by the guy with DX on his shirt) and Triple H climbing a corner of the ring beating on Cena (again, watch the guy with the green shirt, lolz).

Remember, this is a preliminary version of the game. We are looking forward to future videos of the game and its eventual release.

Filed under: News, Interviews
Shigeru Miyamoto sat down with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal earlier this month and aired out his concerns with third party developers not putting their best efforts behind games for Nintendo systems. Companies often find that their biggest competition on consoles like the Wii and DS is Nintendo themselves, but according to Miyamoto, most third parties aren't rising to the challenge with their top development groups. Instead, they're depending on third- or fourth-string teams to produce their titles.

While not every game from Nintendo is a blockbuster hit, Miyamoto says that the company makes sure to put its best people behind titles that are "designed to really support and sell hardware." Can most third parties say they're doing the same? If not, then how much longer will it take before developers approach their Wii releases seriously and start using their star teams to create AAA titles for the console?Read | Permalink | Email...

It's been a while since the last Cyclowiz update, but we're pleased to hear about the latest information Team Cyclops has on the Cyclowiz modchip. According to their news, the latest drive revisions of the Wii are "100 compatible" with their modchip.

Here's what they had to say about this little development:

First of all, we received two new Wii consoles for testing, one from Japan and one from Hong Kong. Both have the new drive revision that was spotted in Taiwan last week. Guess what, while the drive PCB is different, CycloWiz has been tested and is 100 compatible with the new boards! Not only is it working as usual, but it is possible to install it using quick-solder method, as the alignment of the points didn't change. (emphasis theirs)

In addition to this, they also have a new upgrade ready for people to try out. There's now an upgrade 3.0B that is compatible with D2B chipsets. According to Team Cyclops though, you won't need to run it if you already ...

Another round of the screenshots come for the updated version of Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes, known as Devil Kings: Heroes Gaiden in North America, from NGCFrance. We see more of Capcom's samurai-wielding action set to hit the Wii.

There are a number of additions in Devil Kings 2: Heroes Gaiden, like additional playable characters, new gameplay modes and bits of additional gameplay altogether. Judging from the screenshots, we'll be seeing more elemental special moves and sword swinging samurai action.

Anyway, Devil Kings 2: Heroes Gaiden for the Wii is set for a winter release in Japan. There's still no word whether the title will be reaching North America or Europe's shores. We'll keep you posted, for now check out the screens.
    
    

Are you hankering for more of Intelligent Systems' Fire Emblem the way we are? Well never fear, because Game Videos has even more video of the game for everyone to enjoy.

The video we've got below shows around seven minutes of footage. You'll get to see more RPG action here, enough to make you want even more virtual warring to occur on your Wii. You'll also get some commentary from the folks at Game Videos about the game, mentioning some of the features of the game, as well as the differences (or apparent lack thereof) of this game from its Gamecube iteration.

In any case, who are we stop the gaming masses from enjoying their Wii-enabled Fire Emblem treat. Enjoy the video guys.

Care of some very nice Portuguese NiGHTS fans, we were able to obtain information about Sega's NiGHTS into Dreams... for the Wii. Portuguese mag MaxiConsolas interviewed designer Takashi Iizuka. Here are some snippets of info regarding the game from the interview.

Takashi relates that he's particularly enthusiastic about Wii's new motion-sensing technology and as a programmer, he's interested in making a game that a few years ago he only got to dream about. He says NiD will take advantage of the Wii controller's potential. For now, also, NiD is a Wii-exclusive.

Moving on to NiD gameplay, Takashi says that there will now be a two-player mode, as well as certain special online functions. The charismatic character NiGHTS will also be able to do a considerable amount of never-before seen acrobatic movements. He cannot disclose more about ir for now, but he hints on lots of loops, spins, and other maneuvers that the rebellious Nightmaren can do.

Takashi shares ...

Sacre bleu! Could it be true? Nintendo is facing off the competition with a new version for the Wii, allegedly named 'Wiivolution'. This was the buzz from Game-X-ray, and reported by French site Game Focus.

According to the unnamed source, this would be in direct response to Microsoft's announcement of the much hyped Xbox 360 Elite. Hmm... we never really thought Nintendo would be coming after Microsoft. Curiously enough, the Wiivolution will sport a black casing as well, and would house a hard disk of 160 GB. Compare it to the Elite and that would mean 40 GB more than Microsoft's. Dreamy, eh?

But that's not all! There would also be an HDMI port as well as a DVD player with 1080i upscaling enabled. But what would actually be the revolutionary part in the Wiivolution is the Wiimote for -- get a load of this -- the feet! Yep, the good ol' Wiimote crushed under your soles or on your ankles.

This is all but a rumor (Note: we're leaning towards April Fool's Joke ...

When you go home from a long, bad day at work or school all you want to do is to plunk down on a comfy couch and beat the hell out of people, man to man, skin against skin, all sweaty and raw in video game wrestling. THQ and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. understand your need and only yesterday announced that they'll be bringing WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 for multiple gaming platforms.
Yes, sirree, the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw franchise will be debuting on the Wii, the DS and the PS2 consoles, as well as being developed for the Xbox 360, PS3, and the PSP. This marks the WWE franchise's largest cross-platform market launch. Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 comes out fall.

What to expect from this 2008 version of the market-leading wrestling franchise? There's a debut of Superstar Fighting Styles, featuring eight unique styles, each having its own strategy and exclusive attributes. There's a new Struggle Submission System that will make use of the game's analog controls. You may now control the am...

 
The last time we saw Big Brain Academy for the Wii was at the last GDC. Remember the video? Just how buff are your brain cells?

In Big Brain Academy, your precious gray matter is bound to get a much needed workout with a variety of different puzzles. Plus it looks like a good family or party game with cooperative and competitive gameplay. As you can probably tell, this is Mii-compatible which makes the multiplayer modes even more fun.

The Wii version of Big Brain Academy is set to hit the shelves in June 11. You can check out the screens for a sneak peek of brain exercise action.

  
 
    
   
  
  
   
    

    

    

    

   

March 19th to 25th of 2007 still faced dominant sales of the Nintendo consoles in Japan. The Nintendo DS lite reports 130,549 units sold, followed by motion-sensing console Wii with 75,571 units. The Sony consoles follow next to the Ninty products. Sony's portable reports 41,546 PSPs bought by our Nihongo buddies, Playstation 3 comes next with 20,459 units sold and lastly, the PS2 still selling at 16,961.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 reports a sales figure 0f 3,492 units sold for the week of March 19 to 15. Game Boy Micro reports 765 units sold and the Game Boy Advanced SP, with 607 units. We think: is the world turning into 3 major regions, Japan the Ninty country, Europe the PS3 grounds and the US as the official Xbox area?