Posts by Alisha Karabinus at Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Alisha Karabinus
Little Rock, AR - http://nintendowiifanboy.com

Alisha Karabinus has been both writing and playing video games since she was very young. Sometimes she even does them both at the same time! She is a Castlevania nut, a college student, a hair dye fanatic, a killer cook, and she enjoys the occasional board game, too.

Wii keeps prisoners alive

Posted Sep 8th 2008 1:44PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

34-year-old Ian Huntley, who was convicted of the murders of two young girls in England, is apparently spending his evenings doing something you probably do as well -- he's playing Wii. In effort to keep Huntley alive (he's attempted suicide multiple times), The People reports that Huntley has a Wii, as well as other luxuries, in his cell to keep him happy. Huntley had a GameCube, but complained that Nintendo's last console was out of date, and asked for months for a Wii.

He even gets to enjoy a little multiplayer -- prison guards have been ordered to play along. As we figure visits to the ol' exercise yard are out, since Huntley's been attacked by other inmates before -- we can't help but wonder if he won't start pestering them for Wii Fit next.

Balancing it in Skate It video

Posted Sep 7th 2008 2:31PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Video

These videos for Skate It -- today's and others -- beg one major question: how long is it going to be before people start busting their Balance Boards? A week after the game's fall release? A day? The one thing we're sure of is that it's going to happen. Boards will be busted. People will cry. But in the meantime, we're going to lean into lots of fun, and all without having to brave the prospect of introducing various body parts to the rough, hard asphalt.

Gallery: Skate It

Wii Warm Up: Here come the City Folk

Posted Sep 7th 2008 10:25AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

So here we go -- the next iteration of Animal Crossing is on its way, and we showed you the latest (the box) already. The art definitely emphasizes the larger scope of the title, while still using the familiar logo and character design. By now, though, you probably know whether or not you like Animal Crossing, considering you've had two chances to give it a shot. For a game like this, does the box even really matter? Do you thinkt hey should have changed it, or was keeping the characters -- with their familiar looks -- prominent important? Should the franchise's icons, like KK Slider, been more prominent? Do the fruit trees, and the idea of harvesting all that produce, give you nightmares?

Gallery: Animal Crossing: City Folk

KK says: buy Animal Crossing: City Folk to visit the city, reach out to friends, and make Iwata cry!

Wii Warm Up: Best online?

Posted Sep 5th 2008 8:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

If Nintendo's got a weak point, it's the online capabilities of Wii games. Compared to other services, online gaming for Nintendo fans is definitely lacking, but at least these days, we actually have a few games that are online. It's an improvement! Which Wii game do you think has the best online mode, though, and why? Is that good enough?

The Sky Crawlers come creeping back

Posted Sep 1st 2008 4:55PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Screens

It's been some time since we've seen anything from The Sky Crawlers, but guess what? It's still drop-dead gorgeous, though that's not particularly surprising, considering the source. There may be hope for the film -- and thus the game -- for Western audiences, too, as the film of the same name is being screened at the Venice Film Festival this week, and is sharing the spotlight (and a lot of fanfare) with Hayao Miyazaki's latest. So cross those fingers, and in the meantime, check out the lush new screens. You'll be glad you did.

Gallery: Sky Crawlers

Wii Warm Up: Filling in for Castlevania

Posted Aug 31st 2008 10:30AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

Some Castlevania fans are a little underwhelmed by the idea of Castlevania Judgment (ahem), but really, only because it's a fighting game. While we're all sorts of in favor of innovation and fresh ideas, a fighting game isn't particularly fresh. Not that they aren't fun (they are!), but we wanted, well, Castlevania. Alas, i was not to be. At least, no yet.

But that doesn't mean there isn't hope, though it might come from a very unusual source. Putting together the bits and pieces regarding Renegade Kid's mysterious new game reveals what might, might be a game about Dracula. At least, it's probably not Batman.

It's taken a while to get to the point, but never fear -- here we are. If Renegade Kid, the minds behind the great-looking Moon and the great-playing (mostly) Dementium: The Ward are putting together a game devoted to Dracula, and it just happens to be for Wii, as it seems, will this assuage disgruntled Castlevania fans? Or is it not so much the ghoulies and ghosties who matter, but instead the gameplay? If the latter is true, not much else will do.

Wii Warm Up: FPS vs. RPG

Posted Aug 29th 2008 8:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

In many discussions about what's missing in the Wii's library, two game types often come up: first person shooters and roleplaying games. And while there's certainly crossover among fans of these genres (aside: this blogger loves both), many people tend to vastly prefer one over the other. Of course, that means we're about to ask you which one you'd rather see more of on the Wii. Be a sport and pick one (though feel free to back that pick up with a statement of support for the other). You know how we love making you choose.

Keep your power-ups close to your chest

Posted Aug 28th 2008 9:57AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Fan stuff

Probably the cutest shirt you'll see with a mashup of nutrition and power-up items (at least today). The best part? While Steven Lefcourt's design includes some of the most obvious contenders for the power-up throne, there are a few surprises, not least of which is the $19 price. Totally reasonable, in our book.

[Via That Girl's Site]

GC 2008: The mystery of the Force Unleashed

Posted Aug 25th 2008 10:53AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Video

There are few things more fun than watching people try to figure out how to handle a new Wii game. With traditional controllers, unless you were staring directly at peoples' hands, it was hard to see their bibbles and bobbles as they worked out how to make things go, but with the Wii, you can see all the flails and foibles in full and fantastic motion. That's the real secret of Wii's success -- why do you think multiplayer is so popular with Wii owners? -- and even people at the Games Convention aren't immune, as this footage of some dude attempting to play Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, unequivocally proves. Luckily, it's a pretty long video, so he's got lots of time to get used to Vadering around.

Your daily dose of Alton Brown (oh, and that Iron Chef game)

Posted Aug 24th 2008 5:00PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

If you wanted a dose of Alton Brown on your Wii -- as some of you unashamedly admitted -- then know that today will be the very best Sunday you'll experience all week long. Why? Observe the superior visage above ... the thoughtful pose and noble brow. Yes, dear reader, it is he: Alton Brown. Destineer released character portraits for some of Iron Chef America's key players as part of the promotion for the upcoming Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine, and Alton Brown has his place there, along with three of the chefs.

The excitement doesn't end there, either -- if they've got a portrait in our gallery below, then they'll be fully voiced in the game, so you'll get to hear Brown calling the shots (and hear Mario Batali and others describing their dishes) when the game is released this fall.

Gallery: Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine

[Via press release]

Wii Warm Up: Stick a fork in it

Posted Aug 24th 2008 10:30AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

What are you sick of? We're looking at big parameters here -- you can go with characters, franchises, certain complaints ... pretty much whatever you want. Listen, it's the weekend, and tomorrow, you probably have school, work, or some other reason to stop playing, so let's take some time to get your complain on. You know there's something you never want to hear/see/read again.

Wii Fanboy hands-on with Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 10:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Reviews, Peripherals, Tech stuff, Controller, Features

Wii Remotes eat batteries. It's a fact we've long granted as simple, stark truth -- but what to do about it? Wii owners have a lot of solutions at hand, from simply sucking it up to elaborate rituals with charge stations, rechargeables, and even voodoo rituals (or so we heard). Got a Balance Board? There's a whole new battery dilemma for you ... and with Wii MotionPlus on the horizon, and its battery-destroying potential, if you don't already have a plan in place for handling the coming battery power crisis, it might be time to consider some options.

Don't worry -- we're here to help. We've explored several solutions in the past, and now we're back with a look at an all new charging apparatus: Penguin United's 4X Quad Charge Station. PU is so proud of being able to charge four remotes at once that they boasted of the ability twice in its name!

Jokes aside, it's a solid option that comes at a price some might consider hefty. But hey! It charges four remotes at once.

Gallery: Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station

Continue reading Wii Fanboy hands-on with Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station

Wii Warm Up: Active gaming

Posted Aug 22nd 2008 8:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Controller, Wii Warm Up

After taking a second, head-shaking look at the Wii Sqweeze prototype, and also thinking about Wii MotionPlus, we had to take a moment to stop and ask a serious question: just how much motion do we want? Lately, we've been down in the mouth about all the games that aren't going to include Nintendo's new motion-plus peripheral, but how much 1:1 control do we need? Swordfighting will be awesome, yeah, and sports games have amazing potential, but at what point do we just put down the controller and go participate in the actual activity? Or is a move closer to a virtual reality game better, no matter what?

Kororinpa 2 uses balance board, boasts bad GC demo

Posted Aug 21st 2008 10:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

As you probably noticed (from the title), there's good news and bad news concerning the sequel to the early Wii title Kororinpa. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad. The good, in fact, is great: Kororinpa 2 will feature ten stages that utilize the balance board. While it's not Wii MotionPlus, that'll still add a neat (and challenging, if Wii Fit's marble mini-game is any indication) element to the sequel. The bad? According to the folks at IGN, the game looks terrible on the floor in Leipzig. Don't start huffing and stamping your feet over quality control just yet, though; Kororinpa 2 isn't due until next year. There's still time to give it a fix.

Gallery: Kororinpa 2

Dead Rising: Fewer zombies, same ol' carnage

Posted Aug 19th 2008 11:52AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Video

So here's a look at Dead Rising: Chop 'Til You Drop. If you were expecting something that looked completely awesome, we'll warn you that this ain't it. If, however, you're looking for an experience that is just pure fun, then hey, you may be in the right place.

As a personal aside, I've gotta say that I'm a huge fan of the original. I have no complaints about the save system or the game format, or really anything else with the Xbox 360 title. At first, the changes to the Wii version -- to the format, not the number of zombies; we'll get there -- seemed disheartening. But if you look at it as a completely different game, one that's meant to be a happy fun-time zombie-killing mall adventure, then hey! Sign us all up for a little chopping 'til we drop. And that's what this video is all about: enjoying the carnage for carnage's sake.

But the lack of floods of zombies is a concern. Anyone else hoping for video of the maintenance tunnels? And, despite the use of the giant parasol here, Al Fresco Plaza just won't be the same without hordes of the undead. But maybe the fact that it won't be the same is the point.

Gallery: Dead Rising

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Name	Date
Defendin de Penguin	Sep 5
NHL 2K9	Sep 8
Star Wars: Force Unleashed	Sep 16
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility	Sep 16
DDR Hottest Party 2	Sept. 16
Wario Land: Shake It!	Sept. 22
LEGO Batman	Sept. 23
Samba de Amigo	Sept. 23
SimCity Creator	Sept. 23
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Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked	Sept. 23
We Cheer	Sept. 30
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Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Wii keeps prisoners alive

Balancing it in Skate It video

Wii Warm Up: Here come the City Folk

Wii Warm Up: Best online?

The Sky Crawlers come creeping back

Wii Warm Up: Filling in for Castlevania

Wii Warm Up: FPS vs. RPG

Keep your power-ups close to your chest

GC 2008: The mystery of the Force Unleashed

Your daily dose of Alton Brown (oh, and that Iron Chef game)

Wii Warm Up: Stick a fork in it

Wii Fanboy hands-on with Penguin 4X Quad Charge Station

Wii Warm Up: Active gaming

Kororinpa 2 uses balance board, boasts bad GC demo

Dead Rising: Fewer zombies, same ol' carnage

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