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Top 5: Where Do They Go Now?
As someone who's been following Nintendo for quite awhile, they've almost never failed to surprise me. Though their origins are classic, Nintendo-developed games are continuously refined, retooled, and revitalized. Some may buy into that old standard line used mostly for musical artists that makes you sound cool: "their older stuff is better." Such broad generalizations are silly: to ignore Super Mario Galaxy because of a fetish for Super Mario Bros. would be dogmatic.But for those of us growing long in the gaming tooth, we're led to wonder where all of these classic IPs are headed. It's hard to imagine a gaming world without Nintendo's current A-listers, but does anyone have a solid idea of what future iterations of our favorite franchises will be like? Now that just about every gangbuster franchise has been successfully embedded in 3D, we're at a loss as to the next big step for gaming. Some of us have really good ideas, but I'm positively stumped as to where these franchises are going. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
Kaes Delgrego09.08.2008
DS Daily: Nintendo's best icon
Nintendo has a ton of memorable characters. Donkey Kong, Link, Fox McCloud, Samus and, of course, the lovable Mario, just to name a few. We all know which Nintendo game is our favorite, but we were wondering which of Nintendo's huge stable of memorable faces is your favorite? And why do you love them so much?
David Hinkle09.03.2008
Lego Donkey Kong throws barrels at our hearts
You may be operating under the completely misguided assumption that stop-motion Lego Donkey Kong is the best thing you've ever seen, but, we promise you, it's old news. Those of us really in the know are into real-time Lego Donkey Kong, which you can see just above, if you're not already watching, tears streaming down your face and sobbing so loudly that you're scaring the cat.If you want to see how the totally awesome Dan Kressin made this gorgeous monstrosity, there's a behind-the-blocks video just after the break.[Thanks, Wyatt, via Gizmodo]
Justin McElroy08.11.2008
LEGO Kong rolls and clanks his way into our hearts
At this point, we're already convinced that you can make anything out of LEGO. Gaming icons? No problem. Game rooms? Easy. Hardware? We can do it. The games themselves? Anything is possible, including, apparently, a working replica of a classic, recreated brick by brick. LEGO enthusiast Dan Kressin built this incredible replica of an iconic Donkey Kong screen, complete with barrels barreling (as they do) toward a(n oft-) jumping Mario. Sometimes he misses, but that's okay -- he has heart. The best part for DIYers? Kressin detailed most of the process.
Alisha Karabinus08.11.2008
New Mario Kart tournament tasks you with avoiding the bananas [update]
This latest tournament (check out previous tournaments here) for Mario Kart Wii focuses on Diddy and Donkey Kong. And, as you might have guess from the images above, will take place on the track DK64 Jungle Park. There, you must avoid the bananas that both Donkey and Diddy Kong drop from atop their motorcycles. Sadly, there isn't any other info, so we assume you can use any control method you'd like for this one.The tournament starts today and ends on the 10th. Good luck!Update: Courtesy of WiiFolder, a video has been embedded past the break, to give you all a better idea of what to expect.%Gallery-20815%
David Hinkle08.01.2008
Joystiq Exclusive: a sneak peek at the upcoming i am 8 bit show
We've been able to pry some exclusive images out of the i am 8 bit showrunners -- here they are in gallery-tastic form, just for you. As a wallpaper-friendly reminder, be sure to click the "Hi Res" button in the upper right corner to get some enormo versions of the art. It's the best way to have a technicolor Samus gracing your desktop.The new gallery show will open on August 14th in Los Angeles, and will run through September 7th. If you can't make it West, don't worry ... Joystiq will have you covered. Check back on the evening of the 14th for a plethora of photos from the show. That is, if we haven't hocked our laptops to buy this Dig Dug meets Animal Crossing piece.%Gallery-28797%
Kevin Kelly07.31.2008
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 7/14/08
This week we got ourselves a pair of Virtual Console games to check out. What do we think? Well, you know the drill. Watch the video above, then be sure to head past the break for the rest.
David Hinkle07.14.2008Donkey Kong, Ninja Commando toss things at Virtual Console
Things may (or may not) include beehives, shurikens, mysterious yellow substances and utterly uncomfortable stares. This week's Virtual Console additions, while being pleasant diversions, seem largely intent on teaching you how to disperse dangerous items and substances, often to the detriment of the people in your way. Donkey Kong 3 (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Shoot Miyamoto's remarkably famous monkey and woman-stealing pseudo ass, Donkey Kong, in the crotch. Does that punishment seem appropriate for the crime? Ninja Commando (NeoGeo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): You've just traveled to lovely and moderately sunny feudal Japan, and your first response is to annihilate everything. Obviously.
Ludwig Kietzmann07.14.2008
VC Monday Madness: Donkey Kong 3, Ninja Commando and Major League Eating
Another week, another slew of Virtual goodies on offer from Nintendo. This week, the streak of one Virtual Console release is broken, as we get 100% more in that department. Also, Mastiff's WiiWare title is finally up for grabs. If you've got some spare coin laying around, then these might be for you.This week's WiiWare release: Major League Eating: The Game (1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) This week's Virtual Console releases: Donkey Kong 3 (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Ninja Commando (NeoGeo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points) As always, be sure to stop back later for our video wrap-up of this week's Virtual Console games.%Gallery-20043%[Via press release]
David Hinkle07.14.2008Punch-Out!!, bongo style
While we're sure that nobody is going to trash Soda Pop while using the Donkey Konga bongo controller in Punch-Out!!, it's good enough to take down Glass Joe with ease. And, it's a neat way to enjoy one of the best 8-bit games around. Just, uh, skip like the first minute of the video. It's kind of painful to watch.[Via Joystiq]
David Hinkle07.08.2008
Collecting & Obsessing: Game & Watch
Throughout the 1980s, Nintendo's Game & Watch series of handhelds provided the soundtrack to innumerable school playgrounds across the globe. A pre-Game Boy attempt to capture the portable games market, Game & Watch titles were relatively cheap but sturdily built toys which came with a single game and, as the name suggests, a watch. For the best part of eleven years, Nintendo kept manufacturing these forerunners to its other handheld devices, only for the Game Boy and Tetris to emerge in 1989 and squash the whole enterprise flat.Nevertheless, the spirit of Game & Watch lives on through the hundreds of individuals who collect the games. For this one-off piece, DS Fanboy decided to interview two hardcore collectors in a bid to understand their love of Nintendo's first portable phenomenon.Both 35-year-old Michael Panayiotakis (founder of Mike's Nintendo Game & Watch forum and the author of a quite superb FAQ on the subject) and 38-year-old Andy Cole possess the kind of retrolicious Game & Watch collections that we would maim (and possibly kill) for. To find out what they love about this charming series, why they collect Game & Watch, and why they dedicate so much time and money to their hobby, hit the break for our full interview. Once you've done that, don't forget to browse our gallery for a pictorial history of the Game & Watch phenomenon!%Gallery-25216%
Chris Greenhough07.01.2008
Fantasy and reality mesh, make beautiful couple
We were bowled over by the last batch of sprite/real-life art we posted, but this new material, from DeviantARTist RETROnoob (who, at just 16, has a more impressive grip on Photoshop than most of us supposed grown-ups) takes the biscuit whole biscuit tin whole damn biscuit aisle. As we mentioned last time, this is pretty much what our daydreams look like, and we expect yours also. Yes, they do. Admit it! You're a bit odd too! Ha!Advance Wars, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Kart: they're all here, as well as many more at RETROnoob's gallery. And here's the really, really important bit -- they come in wallpaper dimensions (or 1024 x 768, at least). Head past the break for more.
Chris Greenhough06.25.2008
Dodge barrels in the comfort of your own room
Well, okay, you can do that by just playing Donkey Kong, but there's also another way. You can take these Nintendo wall decals from Blik and create a Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. or New Super Mario Bros. mural right on your wall. We won't tell you how we're getting some for our office, as you should have already figured that out by now. What's really cool about these, though, is that the user has some level of creativity. It's not just one standard piece you slap on the wall. It comes in many pieces, meaning you can create a design all your own. Want it to look like an exact level from the game? Want it to be completely unrealistic? It's all up to you. Of course, there is a catch. Each set costs $75, which means you'll need to spend a bunch of Mario's coins if you expect to send your walls back to the 8-bit era. [Via Game Set Watch]
David Hinkle06.13.2008Birdo & Silver & Jet & Donkey Kong at the Olympic Games
As if Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games wasn't already home to enough abysmal characters, a group of hackers have discovered a way to unlock numerous other unused playable characters in the title, including Silver the Hedgehog, Jet the -- ugh -- Hawk, and Donkey Kong (who would have been a welcome addition, actually). Birdo is also available, though comes with some sort of hideous facial deformity, as though the model never had its nose finished. It looks kind of wrong, truth be told. Not as wrong as this, mind.There are plenty of other background characters that can be played with (some of which are fairly obscure), though only in certain events (such as trampolining). These include Shy Guy, Toad, the gut-churning Charmy, Espio, Cream, Boo, Bullet Bill (!), Goomba (!!), "Heroes Enemy 1," "Heroes Enemy 2," "SA1 Monkey," and -- nooo! -- Big the Cat. Sprint through the tape and into our gallery for a couple more screens.%Gallery-4697%
Chris Greenhough06.11.2008
Brawl Stage of the Week: Classic DK
This week we're featuring another classically themed stage, as the thought of creating retro levels on Brawl seems to fuel stage submissions. This one in particular is an interpretation of the original Donkey Kong arcade game, in which Mario made his first appearance as Jumpman.Unfortunately, Donkey Kong won't be throwing barrels at you and there are no princesses that need saving. However, if you want a fun brawl on a nostalgia-inducing stage, check out "Classic DK" by blu_j.
Candace Savino05.27.2008
We told you: Colbert mocks Miyamoto
When Stephen Colbert came third in the Time 100 poll, we pretty much knew that he wasn't going to be happy. Of course, as is his style, he takes quite a bit of time to lash out against Korean pop star Rain, his new arch-nemesis. But, Colbert also takes a jab at gaming icon (and winner of said poll) Shigeru Miyamoto, who you helped skyrocket to the top of the rankings.Check past the break where we've embedded the video of Colbert attacking the gaming legend.
David Hinkle05.06.2008
Advertise the Game Boy to yourself every day
While the prospect of advertising the Game Boy to ourselves every day sounds pretty good, we're going to have to pass on this auction for one of the sweetest things you could put on your wall. As has always been our luck, we're sadly stuck in the unfortunate position of having no monies to spend on anything right now, so it's not like our opinion regarding this lenticular display matters. Oh well ...What do you all think? Would you find hanging this sign up on your wall is as badass as we imagine it to be, or could you care less?See also: Donkey Kong GBA SP is the rarest member of the DK crew[Via Gamesniped]
David Hinkle04.01.2008
Donkey Kong GBA SP is the rarest member of the DK crew
We don't even like yellow that much -- or the Rare-fied Donkey Kong character -- and, still, this limited-edition Donkey Kong-themed Game Boy Advance SP calls to us. It's the allure of the rare item, of course, but it's also that the thing is just so distinctive-looking. Other than the banana color, all that marks this as Donkey Kong-specific is a little "DK" logo. According to the auction, only 1,000 of these things were produced. And according to the current bidder, it's worth at least $200. For us, it's worth a link to the DK Rap.[Via GameSniped]
JC Fletcher03.31.2008
Awesome sprite art mashes reality, fantasy
We've probably all done it: lazily daydreamed about how we could take out the bus stop across the road with a rocket launcher following one too many sessions of Goldeneye, or how we'd negotiate a real-life street corner after a night spent on Mario Kart. Or maybe that's just us. Perhaps the line in our heads between reality and fantasy is just a little too blurred. Wouldn't be surprised.Anyway, the point is, these "games-meet-real-life" collages from Flickr user Pixel Fantasy look quite a lot like some of our daydreams. Featuring the cast of Mario Kart zipping between vehicles down a real street, Link taking on an Octorok in an actual forest, and Mario Jumpman having to negotiate a series of real-life platforms to rescue Peach Pauline from the clutches of Donkey Kong, they're simple, but effective.Sadly, we've hunted high and low for these in wallpaper dimensions (as we particularly love the Mario Kart example above), but to no avail. If anyone can help, be our guest. Otherwise, hit the gallery to see more.%Gallery-19466%[Via That Girl's Site; thanks, Simca!]
Chris Greenhough03.30.2008
Christina Aguilera's blasphemous Donkey Kong art
When we first embarked on our blogging careers, fresh-faced and full of hope, there were titles that we never expected to use. "Christina Aguilera's blasphemous Donkey Kong art," it's fair to say, was one such example.Yet the world moves in mysterious ways, and so here we are, blogging about how pop songstress Christina Aguilera has hung the original version of the above artwork on the wall of her baby's nursery. That's right, folks: while Michael dangles his kids from balconies, and Britney has hers taken away, Christina surrounds her offspring with awesome Nintendo artwork. Titled "The Last Supper," this particular piece is by the artist Misha, and was created for the 2006 I Am 8-Bit Show.Incidentally, if you want to be just like Christina -- and with an attitude to child-rearing like hers, who wouldn't harbor such aspirations? -- then great news! Prints of the above piece are available now at the Gallery1988 website for $75. That's ... actually tempting.
Chris Greenhough03.18.2008