All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

With the game pulling into the station on December 7, we visited Nintendo of America to get one last pre-launch look at The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. The latest trailer for the game revealed the Spirit Tower, a central hub of mini-dungeons that must be cleared in order to restore the train tracks that lead to the world's main temple dungeons. What we saw was the latter -- more specifically, the second of the game's dungeons, the Snow Temple. This dungeon made heavy use of Link's ability to create whirlwinds -- the actual mechanic behind them is blowing into the DS microphone, but, thankfully, it doesn't require you to lean in incredibly close to the system or blow especially hard for it to work. Once the ability is selected by tapping it on-screen, it stays active, and dragging the stylus around Link makes him rotate, a yellow line indicating which direction the whirlwind will go. This mainly came into play when we needed to cross pools of water atop floating blocks. Like fanning a leaf in Wind Waker, firing off a whirlwind in Spirit Tracks sends Link sailing in the opposite direction.

“Know Your Weak Points!” by Olly Moss Print this baby up, hang it next to your TV, and you should be able to get past any bosses you come up against! These rules/guidelines apply to pretty much anyone out there!

You could have yourself a very Sonic Christmas if you head out to Sears this week. For only $5, that DVD is a steal! Thanks to Andy1123 for the heads up.

Last we heard about the movie version of Uncharted, it was in the hands of writer Kyle Ward, who most recently penned the big screen adaptation of Kane and Lynch. According to a rumor being reported by LatinoReview.com, Ward has been removed by Sony and producer Avi Arad, who didn't want to wait on the script while Ward finished his current project, Hitman 2. Reportedly, Sony is considering filling his slot with Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, the duo that's currently writing a relaunch of Conan. The bigger surprise, of course, is that movies based on video games have scripts. Who knew?

MAG is a pretty ridiculous title, but it does perfectly sum up what the game is all about. Massive Action Game is the first console game to feature 128 vs. 128 online multiplayer matches, which you'll be able to try tomorrow with the debut of beta 4.5. We want you to join the Joystiq army: a 128-person squad of loyal Joystiq readers ready to represent us online. The PlayStation Network will tremble, with the Joystiq team striking fear into all that dare to step into MAG. Together, world domination will be ours!* But, you say you're not in the MAG beta? Well, we'll fix that right now! Become a Joystiq fan on Facebook and you'll be able to score yourself a code.

We usually don't heap praise on Nintendo Week, Nintendo's promotional video that coincides with the Nintendo Channel update each week. It's usually just a bunch of PR junk, but this week's video has something we never thought we'd see: a man tossing a fully-cooked turkey out of a second-story window, down to the eager, waiting arms of a wizard. It's just so oddly pleasant, we couldn't pass it up as the highlight for this week's post. The holidays really are a magical time of year! Head past the break for the full list of this week's Nintendo Channel updates.

Want proof that paper mache is the scariest art known to man? Not done being scared yet? Let’s throw a weird Sonic in there as well. Thanks to Chris for the heads up!

You’d think that most of the Pandemic staff would be too distraught to have fun, but that’s clearly not the case. Now this is how you say goodbye!

Update 2: And now the second round for 12PM PST/3PM EST has been added as well. Update 1: We've added the 9AM PST/12PM EST games below. Get 'em while they're hot, folks! Everyone's favorite Amazonian retailer (after leafcladmailorderbrides.com, of course) has revealed a handful of hints for its pre-Black Friday selection of "Lightning Deals." Starting today at 9AM PST, Amazon will be offering games ranging from ... well, we don't really know, now do we? CheapAssGamer believes the first hint to indicate New Play Control Pikmin. Check out the hints for yourself below and feel free to speculate away in the comment section, you big speculator you. We'll update the deals as the day goes on. 9AM PST/12PM EST - All titles 50% off New Play Control Pikmin - $14.98 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Game of the Year edition for PlayStation 3 - $25.00 Rock Band 2: Special Edition for Xbox 360 - $70.00 Rock Band 2: Special Edition for PlayStation 3 - $70.00 Big Beach Sports - $10.00 UFC: Undisputed for Xbox 360 - $25.00 12PM PST/3PM EST Call of Duty: World at War for Nintendo Wii - $27.00 (46% off) Black & Crimson Nintendo DS Lite - $97.98 (25% off)

Hori just missed the boat on this one. They’re only now releasing a DSi play stand, a few days after the DSi LL comes out in Japan. I guess by this time next year, Hori will give things another shot!

Mom Brain is absolutely terrified of masks. I need to get one of these for myself, as I think I could make her do whatever I want with the power of this abomination!

ESA partnerships includes Sony, Microsoft on digital media competition.

You’ll have to click over and keep tabs on these deals, as they’re going fast! Looks like there’s more to come for Wii owners, so keep an eye out on the official page to see what happens!

Is this version of the zombie apocalypse any fun? IGN Editors unload opinions.

Is this version of the zombie apocalypse any fun? IGN Editors unload opinions.

A "Mixed Combat" gameplay.

Announced via the European PlayStation Blog, today marks el primer dia of the Spanish language PlayStation Blog. Sony has been expanding its reach of PlayStation-centric blogs from the original US one for months now, first branching into the UK and establishing a European base, then localizing that blog for Italy and Germany, and now Spanish. The PlayStation Blog in Spanish will focus on Europe-specific events rather than Latin American, and is said to feature localized news in addition to Spanish language versions of the EU blog's posts. The blog's first post introduces us to Mónica Revilla - one half of the team running the site - and, well, there's an adorable picture of a dog. We're not sure of everything Mónica says in her first post, but we sure do like cute doggies.

Just in case you've taken a few exceptionally hard tackles in the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd remind you that this week's XBLA release is Madden NFL Arcade, a five-on-five, backyard-rules take on EA Sports' darling. You'll be able to pick the game up just in time for your Thanksgiving celebrations for 1200 ($15). Editor's Note: Thank you to reader TuchdwnMan449 for reminding us that it's called the "end zone" and not "the scoring rectangle thing" as our headline originally read. We pledge to improve our understanding of sports before writing future football posts.

Fans and gamers will have the opportunity to explore the vast Star Trek Universe through space and ground gameplay for two weeks prior to launch.

A few days after its mysterious appearance on the ESRB database, the Sony Online Entertainment-published Revenge of the Wounded Dragons has been fully revealed -- and it's coming out this week. Tomorrow, in fact! Developed by A2M-owned Wanako Games, Wounded Dragons wears its inspirations on its sleeve, with a rescue-your-girlfriend story straight out of Double Dragon and single-file waves of enemies à la Kung Fu. Wounded Dragons appears to feature a more involved combo system than its forebears, though, along with modern niceties like Trophies, custom soundtracks and leaderboards. Like NES fighters, however, the game is limited to local play -- yes, despite, ironically, being published by SOE. Revenge of the Wounded Dragons will be released on the PlayStation Store tomorrow, November 24, for $9.99. Hit the break to watch the trailer.

Use your Wii remote to make ambient music.

I used to play a ton of Galaga on the NES back in the day. I found the game really addictive, and would try for hours just to bump my high score up by a few points. Too bad I’ll never be anywhere as good as Phil Day, the man that currently holds [...]

Reader Mary grabbed a picture of this jar of canned peppers, which features Sonic, but with a few more spikes of hair. I guess these peppers really are spicy!

Shiny Rattata Password: 9849-3731 Move 1: Reversal Move 2: Double-Edge Special Trait: Speedy Giratina Origin Form Password: 8322-3706 Move 1: Shadow Force Shaymin Sky Form Password: 5468-6284 Move 1: Seed Flare Shiny Bidoof Password: 5575-2435 Move 1: Superpower Move 2: Hyper Fang Special Trait: Gutsy Game: ★★★★ Charmander Password: 7927-6161 Move 1: Ember Special Trait: Attack ★★★ Squirtle Password: 6824-2045 Move 1: Bubble Special Trait: Defense Thanks to JaeShen for the heads up!

Players put their photo skills to the test in a new DSi title that incorporates photography as an active gameplay mechanic.

Enter for your chance to win epic gear worthy of a dragon slayer, including a custom Divinity II – Ego Draconis gaming PC.