Wii sells 3M in Dec and more news on game of wii

Nintendo's Wii got off to a stumbling start during the heavily hyped Black Friday shopping window this year. Whereas the publisher sold 800,000 units during the week of Thanksgiving in 2008, that number fell to 550,000 in 2009, a slip that seemed to be in line with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's statement that Wii sales have "stalled." As it would turn out, though, Wii sales rebounded in a big way during December.

The Wii: Still popular.

Citing internal sales figures, Nintendo announced today that Wii sales for the final month of 2009 surpassed 3 million units in the US alone. That figure compares more than favorably to the Wii's December 2008 performance, during which it sold 2.15 million units domestically, according to the NPD Group. Notably, Nintendo's console was also cheaper during the 2009 shopping window, as the Wii's price dropped $50 to $199 in September.
One game that helped propel those strong console sales is New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Nintendo also said today that its latest platformer featuring its iconic portly plumber has sold nearly 4 million units in the US to date, according to its internal estimates. In December, Nintendo said that New Super Mario Bros. Wii had shifted some 2 million units in the US in less than a month on the market.
Though Nintendo did not provide internal figures for the DS, the platform holder did indicate that its handheld had a monumental year. According to the publisher, the DS and camera-equipped DSi combined to set an "all-time calendar-year US sales record for any console or handheld system."
Official NPD numbers for December and all of 2008 are expected to be announced on Thursday, January 14.

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Japan game sales slip 6.9% in 2009

Much like the US market, the Japanese gaming industry has been unable to keep up with last year's pace. In July, Japanese stat-tracking firm and Famitsu publisher Enterbrain said that the island nation generated $2.3 billion from December 29, 2008 to June 28, off 24 percent from the same period a year ago. And while full-year sales were still down, the good news is that Japanese gaming industry made up a good bit of ground during the back half of the year.

Dragon Quest IX sold gangbusters in Japan last year.

As reported by Famitsu and translated by GameSpot, Enterbrain said today that Japanese game industry sales amounted to ¥542.6 billion ($5.91 billion) during the December 29, 2008-December 27, 2009 calendar year. That figure represents a 6.9 percent slip from 2008's tally of ¥582.6 billion ($6.35 billion).
Hardware sales contributed most heavily to Japan's sales decline, thanks in part to price cuts to the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Total Japanese hardware sales came in at ¥216.5 billion ($2.36 billion), down 13.6 percent year-over-year. Handhelds led the charts, as the DS (including the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi LL) sold 4,025,313 units during the year, bringing lifetime sales in the region to 29,160,589. The PSP followed with 2,307,971 on the year in Japan and 13,386,455 lifetime sales to date.
The Wii led consoles sales in Japan with 1,975,178 units on the year and 9,501,999 since its release in December 2006. Sony's PS3 came in just behind that with 1,727,041 units sold, though it continues to trail Nintendo's popular console with 4,391,407 total systems sold. The Xbox 360 brought up the rear with just 331,706 systems sold during the year, giving it a lifetime tally in Japan of 1,197,873 units. Enterbrain did not offer sales figures for the PlayStation 2.
Software sales largely held steady during the year, slipping just 1.8 percent to ¥326.2 billion ($3.55 billion). Square Enix's Dragon Quest IX for the DS topped Enterbrain's sales chart, selling 4,100,968 units since its July 2009 release in Japan. A trio of Nintendo titles followed, as Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver sold 3,382,597 units, New Super Mario Bros. Wii shifted 2,485,150 copies, and Tomodachi Collection moved 2,311,948 games. Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII, which launched exclusively for the PS3 in Japan in late December, rounded out the chart with 1,698,256 units sold.
JAPANESE VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY - 2009
Hardware: ¥216,490,000,000 ($2.36 billion) / -13.6%
Software: ¥326,160,000,000 ($3.55 billion) / -1.8%
Total Games: ¥542,640,000,000 ($5.91 billion) / -6.9%
TOP-SELLING HARDWARE
Platform / 2009 Sales / LTD Sales
DS / 4,025,313 / 29,160,589
PSP / 2,307,971 / 13,386,455
Wii / 1,975,178 / 9,501,999
PlayStation 3 / 1,727,041 / 4,391,407
Xbox 360 / 331,706 / 1,197,873
TOP-SELLING SOTWARE
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / 2009 Unit Sales
1) Dragon Quest IX / Square Enix / DS / 4,100,968
2) Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver / Nintendo / DS / 3,382,597
3) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 2,485,150
4) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 2,311,948
5) Final Fantasy XIII / Square Enix / PS3 / 1,698,256

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NBA Jam rebounding at EA - ESPN

EA Sports community manager Alain Quinto set gamers atwitter last month following a cryptic Twitter update that teased the reveal of a new game in January. That revelation now appears to have come, though it isn't EA Sports behind the announcement. Instead, EA Sports partner ESPN reports today that the publisher's newest title will actually be an old-time revival in the form of NBA Jam.

2003's NBA Jam was the last entry in the arcade-style basketball series.

Citing unnamed sources, ESPN states that NBA Jam will return exclusively for the Wii as a full retail product. Further, ESPN notes that EA Sports has hired on franchise creator Mark Turmell, along with a number of other contributors to the original, to work on the project and other sports titles at EA Vancouver. According to the noted developer's LinkedIn profile, Turmell has carried the senior creative director title at EA since October 2009.
Now-defunct publisher Midway released the original NBA Jam to arcades in 1993, where it became an overnight classic thanks to its two-on-two competitive mode, official roster, and memorable catchphrases. Acclaim released the most recent installment in the franchise, titled simply NBA Jam, for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in 2003, garnering positive reviews.
EA Sports is expected to officially announce the title later this month. The publisher had not returned requests for comment as of press time.

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WOW's Chinese regulatory dispute nears resolution

Blizzard Entertainment's massively popular, massively multiplayer online role-playing franchise World of Warcraft boasts some 11.5 million users worldwide, and a significant chunk of that tally hails from China. However, since November, the online game's operation has been in jeopardy, after Blizzard's new distribution partner in the region, NetEase, became mired in a dispute between two regulatory agencies within China.

It looks like Chinese players won't be left waiting at the gates.

Today, Reuters reports that NetEase's travails may come to a conclusion this month. China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) told Reuters that a resolution and announcement concerning World of Warcraft would be revealed "very soon." Citing local media, Reuters reports that NetEase will be able to resume operating the game after paying an undisclosed fine.
GAPP had initially revoked NetEase's permit to operate the MMORPG due to "gross violations" of Chinese law. However, the Chinese Ministry of Culture quickly denounced the move, saying that GAPP "overstepped its authority" as it did not have the authority to penalize online gaming.
Despite the legal tussle, Blizzard confirmed for GameSpot that at no point did the game go offline in China. However, the dispute did impact the release of WOW's first expansion, The Burning Crusade. GAPP reportedly denied NetEase's application to localize the expansion pack as part of the interagency conflict. Citing analyst reports, Reuters notes that NetEase will now have an opportunity to bring the fast-selling add-on to China.


NetEase shares rebounded in a big way today. Having slipped more than 20 percent since September, shares in the online game operations company rose more than 10 percent to $41.66.

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EA launching Tiger Woods Online this month

With it being Tuesday in his native UK, EA Sports president Peter Moore has posted hishis statement on his blog. As predicted, it reveals that Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online will launch this month, having already been played by 75,000 people in a closed beta over the past eight months. EA reps said the company is aiming to launch the title within the next two weeks, when it will also announce its pricing model. Tiger Woods' PGA Tour will continue…online, at least. Perhaps more newsworthy is the tone of Moore's post, which offers strong support for the scandal-plagued Woods and draws a distinct line between his personal and professional life. "Our relationship with Tiger has always been rooted in golf," said Moore. "We didn't form a relationship with him so that he could act as an arm's length endorser. Far from it. We chose to partner with Tiger in 1997 because we saw him as the world's best, most talented and exciting golfer. We struck that partnership with the assumption that he would remain near or at the top of his sport for years to come." Moore continued, "By his own admission, [Woods has] made some mistakes off the course. But regardless of what’s happening in his personal life, and regardless of his decision to take a personal leave from the sport, Tiger Woods is still one of the greatest athletes in history." (The original story is below.) The end of 2009 saw Tiger Woods lose a string of high-profile endorsement deals from AT&T, Gillette, and consulting firm Accenture following his admission of marital infidelity. Now, it seems 2010 will begin with an announcement about the future of the near-billionaire golfer's 11-year-old golf game franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods' PGA Tour will continue…online, at least. 

Electronic Arts has confirmed to GameSpot that EA Sports president Peter Moore's blog will "have a statement regarding Tiger" sometime on Tuesday, January 5. EA reps declined to comment on what the outspoken executive might say about his company's relationship with the disgraced athlete or when Moore would publish his statement. However, USA Today believes that the announcement will be EA's confirmation that it is moving ahead with Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Currently in closed beta, the recently previewed browser-based game will charge players a subscription fee in exchange for the regular addition of courses and features. USA Today reports that the game, currently available in demo form, will launch later this month, although EA reps had not confirmed that as of press time. Ever since Woods first admitted to committing personal "transgressions" last November, EA has stood by its longtime cover athlete. (He later admitted to infidelity outright.) "Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged," company reps said at the time. EA Sports has not clarified whether or not the next entry in its console PGA Tour series will feature Woods on the cover or in the title. Its last Tiger Woods game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, was released in June for the Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. According to NPD Group figures, the game had sold over 1 million units on all platforms in the US as of November 30, with nearly half of those being the MotionPlus-enhanced Wii version.

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Darksiders Updated Hands-On

There are plenty of fantasy adventure games set in an age before time, but how many feature angels, demons, and the destruction of mankind set against the backdrop of a modern metropolis? Darksiders combines all this with an interesting storyline, crisp visuals, and challenging gameplay. We recently got a chance to play through the first few hours and talk to the game's creative director Joe "Mad" Madureira.

We thought of a cool way to trick people into letting us still do our fantasy game but putting it in the trappings of a modern day world…there's something really cool about seeing a demon pick up a bus and throw it into a building, and there's people screaming everywhere," explained Madureira on the idea behind the game. If you're new to Darksiders, then here's what you need to know: You play the role of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War serves the Charred Council, a mysterious force that holds the balance of power between the kingdoms of Heaven and Hell. For reasons unknown, War inadvertently starts Armageddon when he is summoned to Earth, and after mankind is annihilated, he needs to answer for his apparent crimes. It turns out that War was tricked into starting the Apocalypse by The Destroyer, a powerful demon who has taken over the planet after mankind's destruction. Throughout the game, you wage war against The Destroyer's demonic forces--angels that have been left behind on Earth--and any other supernatural entities that would stop you from your ultimate goal of reaching The Destroyer.
You're accompanied on this mission by The Watcher. Superbly voiced by Batman: Arkham Asylum's Mark Hamill, he has been instructed by the council to make sure that you stay on track. The Watcher is a useful companion because he's quick to point out your next objective, as well as intel, such as the weak points on boss enemies. You also meet an enterprising demon early on called Vulgrim who has struck a deal with the council so you can purchase a variety of useful items. These include weapons and abilities, new combos for your weapons, and an item that resurrects you when you receive a fatal blow. Killing enemies, destroying objects, and finding chests scattered around the world will earn you souls, which give you a currency, health, or wrath boost. Once you've earned enough wrath, you can activate special abilities, such as the blade geyser, which surrounds War with a ring of giant blades that damages nearby enemies. You will also discover hidden artefacts that can be used to redeem items from Vulgrim.
War has some epic weapons at his disposal, including his trusty sword, Chaoseater; a scythe; gun; shuriken; and grappling hook. Like other adventure games, you can acquire upgrades for these, such as one that increases weapon damage and binds it to specific items. The first weapon you get in the game is Chaoseater, and this oversized sword makes mincemeat of most enemies. As you use the sword, it levels up, increasing its damage along the way. Chaoseater is adorned with grotesque, screaming faces, and if you've equipped it with an upgrade, it will feature an ethereal glow, which makes it look even more badass. It also feels immensely enjoyable to use, with physics that are really satisfying, and some brilliant sound effects that can be heard when tearing apart demon flesh or clanging against armour.

Darksiders' decayed beauty is a sight to behold.

After a while spent harvesting souls, we were able to buy our first weapon: the scythe. This works differently from the sword because it has a longer reach and can be thrown at enemies, slicing through them in a vertical motion before returning to you. You can also purchase additional weapons, with others collected while exploring. One such weapon is the crossblade, a giant shuriken-like blade that works like a boomerang. You can use it for ranged attacks while dealing damage to nearby enemies. It can also be used to activate switches and transfer elements, such as fire, to certain items. We encountered temporary weapons as well, such as sticky bombs that can be picked up and thrown at surfaces to which they will then stick. We discovered a flaming variety that exploded after a few moments and dormant ones that needed to be ignited with fire using the crossblade. While mainly used to destroy barriers in our way, these bombs also proved useful when fighting certain boss characters by lobbing them at a boss and then igniting them with the crossblade.
Darksiders' prologue lets you play through a short section of Armageddon, which is followed by War's hearing before the council. After convincing the council to allow you to seek out The Destroyer, you're returned to Earth roughly 100 years later; a scene that is full of utter destruction, chaos, and lots of demons roaming the landscape. Our first major task was to seek out Samael, a powerful demonic force that also has a beef with The Destroyer and might be able to help us bring him to justice. Getting to Samael wasn't easy, though, because we had to battle our way through plenty of minions before we reached him to help us in our quest. Samael revealed that getting to The Destroyer's stronghold would required us to slay four "guardians," which are the game's formidable boss characters, and deliver their still-beating hearts to him. He then pointed us in the direction of the Twilight Cathedral where the first guardian, Tiamat the bat queen, was holed up. Early on in the game, we acquired the ability to glide by holding down the jump button for a few seconds. The result of this gliding was that a pair of black, feathered wings sprouted out of War's back, which allowed us to jump from platform to platform. Darksiders also includes flying sections, with one such area having us jump on the back of a huge eagle that we used to fight through skies filled with flying angels and demons. Our airborne adventure came to an abrupt end when Tiamat attacked our mount, which caused us to crash directly outside her lair: the Twilight Cathedral.
While the trailers for Darksiders have featured plenty of action, there's more to the game than that according to Madureira. "What can you show someone in a three-minute clip that is going to really impress them? Is it pulling a bunch of levers in a dungeon to open some locked doors and getting stuck for an hour and having to look at the strategy guide?" he said. One of the game's first dungeons, the Twilight Cathedral, featured plenty of puzzles, enemies, and areas to keep us occupied. If you're familiar with the adventure genre, then you'll certainly have a good idea of what to expect. Our time was divided among solving puzzles; tracking down new items, such as a map, the crossblade, and keys that unlocked new areas; fighting minions and minibosses; and eventually, making our way to the top of the cathedral where we finally came face to face with Tiamat, a huge bat. Tiamat was a challenging foe, and it took us several attempts before we worked out the proper strategy to take advantage of her weak points. Without giving too much away, it involved throwing sticky bombs at her and using our trusty new crossblade. Eventually, we were able to perform a satisfying killing blow and tear her still-beating heart from her corpse.

War speaks softly, but he carries a very big sword.

Darksiders looks stunning and is chock-full of gorgeously gruesome undead creatures. The decayed beauty of Darksiders' environments doesn't tire either, ranging from crumbling office blocks and gothic cathedrals to underworlds filled with lava and human remains. We're looking forward to getting our hands on a copy of the final game and won't have to wait long because it's due out in early January. Be sure to check back then for the full review and check out our previous coverage while you wait.

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Xbox Avatars to 'encourage exercise'?

Microsoft has shown a keen interest in boosting the Xbox 360's status as a community hub. Leading this initiative has been Xbox Live Avatars, which offer a 3D representation of their owners on the online service. Now, Microsoft is contemplating tying real-world health and psychological data to said avatars in an effort to discourage many-a-gamer's sedentary lifestyle.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Last week, Microsoft's patent application titled "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" popped up in the US Patent and Trademark Offices' online database. The filing details a way in which Microsoft can introduce a heightened degree of reality into the appearance of gamers' avatars by utilizing a third-party health-care data repository (Microsoft gives Health Vault as an example) or a Wii Vitality Sensor-like device.
To incentivize people to improve their physical well-being, Microsoft's filing notes that gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met.
"Physical data that reflects a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," the filing reads. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."
"For example, a locally executed video game on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion," the filing reads. "Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can unlock certain aspects of a game, such as additional levels."
Microsoft's patent application might tie in with Project Natal, the Xbox 360's forthcoming camera-based motion-sensing add-on. As part of its 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Microsoft showed off how the device will scan a person's body and represent it onscreen via physically proportionate silhouette. It also showed off several activity-oriented titles in development for Project Natal, including the physically demanding Ricochet, a 3D, full-body version of Breakout.
Microsoft's filing goes on to note that it wouldn't just be physical characteristics that could be refined. "The physical characteristics can be further extended to psychological traits associated with the physical person, including intelligence, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and hobbies that affect the rendering of an avatar," the application reads.
The filing also indicates ways in which Microsoft can facilitate determining an individual's mental health or mood. "For example, as a person utilizes Voice over IP to chat with a viewing person in the virtual environment, stress could be detected to gauge honesty," the application notes. "As another example, skin resistance, pulse, and breathing could be detected to gauge mood."
According to the filing, the data will be beneficial to individuals looking to "meet and become acquainted with particular types of people." Microsoft's application notes that while self-defined avatars allow people to "overcome shortcomings that would otherwise inhibit them, such as pertaining to self-consciousness," there are those who would prefer to have "the cues that are available in meeting someone in person."

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