The Nintendo Section of a typical Big Box Store
Summer 2005
Axel Stone: Brings the Heat!
Streets of Rage’s Axel Stone joins Smash Bros! His fiery attacks are powerful and his signature Grand Upper packs a mighty punch! His combination of speed and power is unparalleled in Smash Bros! Just don’t expect him to be the best jumper. – Excerpt from Smash Bros Duel Zone Website, June 2005
A few eyewitnesses claim that they spotted Nintendo President Satoru Iwata at Disneyland. Being led around by Veteran Imagineer Tony Baxter. - Excerpt from Kotaku, June 12 2005
Nintendo and Konami Sammy have announced a deal that in exchange for Nintendo selling its shares of the arcade chain GameWorks and all locations to Konami, Konami would sell its shares of Hudson Soft to Nintendo, giving Nintendo majority stake in Hudson Soft. The deal worth over 23 Million also includes the Castlevania IP as Konami Sammy’s Hudson Soft shares are not enough to match the price of GameWorks and its various locations.
Nintendo President Iwata said in a statement that this deal emphasizes how Nintendo is a game company at its core and that Nintendo wanted to downsize their non-gaming businesses inherited from Sega.
Konami Sammy stated that they had expressed interest in the US arcade market and were “willing to pay the price”. It’s currently unknown what will happen to the development team behind the Castlevania series, but Konami Sammy says they will finish up of current Castlevania projects. – Excerpt from IGN, June 5 2005
At the San Diego Comic-Con, The Jim Henson Company announced that they would be adapting the hit Nintendo series Star Fox to the big screen. Nintendo’s own Shigeru Miyamoto made a surprise appearance with his translator Bill Trinen. Miyamoto said he’s had fun working on the movie and that this movie is “a cautious step for Nintendo into licensing its properties for movies.” Shigeru Miyamoto also said he enjoyed working with them on the commercials for Star Fox: Uncharted Space and wanted to work more with Brian Henson and the others at the Jim Henson Company leading to the films creation. The script has already been written under supervision by Shigeru Miyamoto and primary filming has begun with Brian Henson as Director. The film’s distributor is unknown. – Excerpt from GameTrailers, July 15
“Now come on Gromit! We can do this!” A zoomed in shot if Wallace’s Face is shown. “Now I know this isn’t really the most fashionable attire,” It zooms out to a generic forest area, Wallace is wearing Banjo’s clothes, complete with yellow shorts, blue backpack and tooth necklace. Gromit is wearing a fake Kazooie beak and Kazooie feather wig on his head is in Banjo’s backpack that Wallace is wearing. “and you are quite heavy, but I know we can tackle this!” Wallace’s contagious enthusiasm turns Gromit’s look of disappointment to a more positive one. Wallace takes out an instruction book reading “Banjo-Cubie Manual”. Alright Gromit, lets go for a “Breegull Beaksaw”! Gromit’s face suddenly loses whatever optimism it had and turns into worry. “Now all we need to do is… First the bear grabs the breegull by the neck to pull her out of the backpack.” Gromit’s expression is now one of horror. Wallace reaches his arm around behind him to grab Gromit but Gromit moves his head away from Wallace’s hand. “Now come on Gromit. No need to be frightened now!” Wallace tries to reach back for Gromit but slowly loses his balance until he’s hopping on one foot trying not to fall. “G-Gromit! Get back here and aaaaggh!” Wallace falls over, Gromit rolls out of the backpack falling on his back. “Well… that didn’t go quite as expected!” Wallace exhales.
It cuts to gameplay of Banjo-Cubie. “Leave the Witch hunting to Banjo and Kazooie! Try out new moves and explore 12 all new levels in the Duo’s latest adventure! Only On Nintendo GameCube! Rated E for Everyone! And see Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit in theaters October 14!” It cuts back to Wallace and Gromit still on the floor. Walking in on the left is Banjo wearing Wallace’s clothes and walking in on the right is Kazooie wearing Gromit’s dog collar, fake dog ears and a black round fake nose on her beak. It cuts to black. - Commercial for Banjo-Cubie, Summer 2005
This commercial would air in the US, UK, and Australia as a cross promotion with Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. In the UK pre-order copies of Banjo Cubie would get a promotional ticket to redeem at theaters for a free showing of the Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Gardevoir: Foresees a Fight!
The Embrace Pokemon joins Smash Bros! Her powerful Psychic attacks keeps foes on their toes! Watch out for her Hypnosis move! – Excerpt from Smash Bros Duel Zone Website Aug 2005
As Nintendo and EA continue to their tug of war on DICE. The main platform for DICE 's next Battlefield game remains uncertain but they “haven’t ruled out Nintendos upcoming Revolution.” – Excerpt from IGN, August 16 2005
Internal Reactions to the Revolution's Controller
"Iwata-san, I still have my doubts about this controller, but I trust your judgement. Unfortunatly the Nintendo Netcast Net team doesn't feel the same way, but I'm sure you can convince them." - Sega President Hideki Sato
"Are you intentionally trying to kill the hardcore audiance the GameCube struggled to bring back?" - Sega Nintendo Netcast Team
"Is that the Sonic Screwdriver?" - Gregg Mayles, Rareware
"That might make for a good game." - Lee Schuneman, Rareware (Inresponse to Gregg Mayles Above Comment)
"It looks like a fucking vibrator." - Chis Seavor, Rareware (In his office where Iwata and Miyamoto can't hear him.)
"You expect us to make Battlefield with THAT thing?" - Lars Gustavsson, DICE
"I like it and you have my support, but we might want to think about more traditional forms of control too" - Yuji Naka, Sega
"This will be a hard sell." - Nintendo of America President, Peter Moore
"This place is a madhouse" - Toshihiro Nagoshi, Amusement Vision (In his office where Iwata and Miyamoto can't hear him.)
"Interesting. There's lots of possibilities with it. Don't know how the public will react but I'm sure if anyone can make it work it's you and Mr. Miyamoto." - Matt Bozon, Wayforward
Major Games June – August 2005
Digimon World 4 – Developer: BEC / Publisher: Bandai / Platforms: GCN, PS2, X-Box / Release Date: Jun-1
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins - Developer: Nintendo / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GB) / Release Date: June-5 (November 1, 1992)
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe - Developer: Nintendo / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GBC) / Release Date: June-5 (May 10, 1999)
Yu Gi Oh! Dark Duel Stories - Developer: Konami / Publisher: Konami / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GBC) / Release Date: June-5 (March 18, 2002)
Sonic Chaos – Developer: Aspect / Publisher: Sega / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GG) / Release Date: June-5 (November 23, 1993)
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy – Developer: Artoon / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: GBA / Release Date: June-13
Mega Man Battle Network 5 – Developer: Capcom / Publisher: Capcom / Platforms: GBA, DS / Release Date: June-21
Battlefield 2 - Developer: DICE / Puplisher: EA / Platforms: PC / Release Date: June-21
Meteos – Developer: Q. Entertainment / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS / Release Date: Jun-27
Frogger – Developer: Morning Star Multimedia / Publisher: Majesco Sales / DS Virtual Console (GBC) / Release Date: July-5 (December 31, 1998)
Mario Tennis – Developer: Camelot / Publisher: Nintendo / DS Virtual Console (GBC) / Release Date: July-5 (January 16, 2001)
Dr. Mario – Developer: Nintendo / Publisher: Nintendo / DS Virtual Console (GBC) / Release Date: July-5 (December 1, 1990)
Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe – Developer: Aspect / Publisher: Sega / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GG) / Release Date: July-5 (March 1992)
Puyo Puyo – Developer: Compile / Publisher: Sega / Platforms: Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GG) / Release Date: July-5 (March 19, 1993) (Japan Only)
Mortal Kombat - Developer: Probe Software / Publisher: Arena Entertainment / Platforms: Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GG) / Release Date: July-5 (September 13, 1993) (North America/ Europe Only)
Killer 7 – Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture / Capcom / Publisher: Capcom / Platforms: GCN / Release Date: Jul-7
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike – Developer: Red Storm Entertainment / Publisher: Ubisoft / Platforms: X-Box / Release Date: Aug-3
Alleyway – Developer: Intelligent Systems / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GB) / Release Date: Aug-5 (August 11, 1989)
Blaster Master: Enemy Below – Developer: Sunsoft Games / Publisher: Sunsoft / Platforms: / Release Date: Aug-5 (September 24, 2000)
Game & Watch Gallery 2 – Developer: TOSE / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GB) / Release Date: Aug-5 (November 20, 1998)
The G.G. Shinobi – Developer: Sega / Publisher: Sega / Platforms: DS Virtual Console (GG) / Release Date: Aug-5 (June 1991)
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation – Developer: Webfoot Technologies / Publisher: Atari / Platforms: GBA / Release Date: Aug-9
Death Jr. – Developer: Backbone Entertainment / Publisher: Konami / Platforms: PSP / Release Date: Aug-16
Pac n’ Roll – Developer: Square Namco / Publisher: Square Namco / Platforms: DS / Release Date: Aug-16
Nintendogs – Developer: Nintendo EAD / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS / Release Date: Aug-22
Advance Wars: Dual Strike – Developer: Intelligent Systems / Publisher: Nintendo / Platforms: DS / Release Date: Aug-22
