Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Video Confirms Game is Awesome

The more I see of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, the more I want it. The game is utterly charming! Check out this video featuring scenes, sites, sounds, and characters from various Final Fantasy titles set in a music-rhythm game. If you’re not charmed then you have no soul (or you don’t like Final Fantasy).

Coffee Talk #412: Predict Nintendo’s Future with 3DS and Wii U

Today I’d like you guys and gals to put on your analyst caps and predict Nintendo’s future. In the past, people have questioned Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles, which went on to become two of the best-selling systems in videogame…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Kurt Angle’s fiber solution, Apple and Samsung being best frenemies, or why people were scared of mummies back in the day, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today I’d like you guys and gals to put on your analyst caps and predict Nintendo’s future. In the past, people have questioned Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles, which went on to become two of the best-selling systems in videogame history. A lot of analysts and journalists have doubts about the 3DS and Wii U systems, but will they proven wrong by Ninntendo once again? Or will the “experts” be right this time?

As for me, I don’t see how Nintendo can go anywhere but down. This really has nothing to do with the 3DS and Wii U, but rather the remarkable sales of the DS and Wii. Those systems sold like crazy and I’m not sure when the business will see something like that again. The 3DS will surely sell well, but it faces stiff competition from smartphones and tablets. The Wii U’s tablet-as-a-controller strategy is odd, but it could work. There are lots of idiots out there that are saying “Nintendo is teh doomed!!!” but the company will always sell millions of Mario, Metroid, Pokemon, and Zelda games. I guess what I’m saying is that Nintendo won’t be able to duplicate the ridiculous success it enjoyed this generation, but it will be fine during the next.

How about you? How do you think things will play out for Nintendo? Will the 3DS recover from its rough start? Will mainstream consumers flock to the Wii U and its tablet controller? Will Nintendo rock next generation? Or is it “teh doomed”? Channel your inner Jesse Divnich and analyze Nintendo’s future (please)!

This Week’s Videogame Releases

October kicks off with a slew of awesome videogames! If you’re looking for a supremely gorgeous post-apocalyptic shooter then you definitely want to pick up id Software’s Rage. There probably won’t be any NBA basketball played until next year, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing NBA 2K12. Spider-Man — both the current version and the 2099 version — are back for another wall-crawling adventure in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Want something dark and brutally difficult? If so then Dark Souls, the successor to Demon’s Souls, is right up your alley. Finally, sometimes you just need to dance. If that’s the case then Just Dance 3 will do you good.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are tons of great games coming out this week! As a comic-book nerd and Silicon Knights fan, I’m most excited about X-Men Destiny. Football (soccer) fans have FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 to devour (go Man City!). The PlayStation 3 is arguably the most interesting platform this week with The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Child of Eden, Tom Clancy’s: Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy , and Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland set for release.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week?

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS) Looks Awesome!

You must check out this gameplay clip of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for Nintendo 3DS. It mixes music-rhythm gameplay with scenes, characters, and music from numerous Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy VIII marks will be particularly delighted by a certain scene. After you give the video a go, please let me know what you think of it. I’m definitely picking this one up.

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

Everyone could use a few more god-killers in their lives. This week Sony is providing a double dose in God of War: Origins. This compilation contains HD remasters of Kratos’ adventures in Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. I know that a few of you are hockey fans and not Canadian (very strange), so I imagine that NHL 12 is a big deal for you. White Knight Chronicles II isn’t getting the hype of the original, but it looks better in several areas. Lastly, Nintendo fans can get tripping with Bit.Trip Complete (Wii) and Bit.Trip Saga (3DS).

Anyone picking up new games this week?

Indie Game Store Owner Goes Off on Call of Duty Elite

My pal Chett Muzzalupo, owner of independent game store L1 Games, recently posted a great rant that covers Call of Duty Elite, EA Sports Season Pass, digital distribution, and more. He makes some great points that I completely agree with. He also makes some points that are a bit exaggerated. Lastly, he also exhibits great taste by professing his love for Red Dwarf.

Given our recent discussion on the escalating cost(s) of games and our numerous discussions about digital distribution over the years, I wanted to make sure that you saw this video. And to be completely honest, I just like Chett. He’s a cool guy with a great voice.

Kindly watch the video when you get a chance and let me know what you think of Chett’s points.

The Nintendo 3DS Expansion Slide Pad is…

Famitsu (via Andriasang) has revealed the “Expansion Slide Pad” accessory for the Nintendo 3DS. It adds an additional analog stick (definitely) and additional shoulder buttons (likely). The 3DS fits into the Expansion Slide Pad in a docking-station like manner. The first game to use the accessory will be Capcom’s Monster Hunter 3G 3DS.

The initial reaction from the gaming press contained hundreds of gallons of Haterade. While this is the usual reaction of the enthusiast press, it seems more reasonable this time around. The 3DS had a poor launch and the fear is that this accessory will be necessary for a good number of games. A lot of people feel that this Expansion Slide Pad just makes the 3DS look incomplete, especially compared to Sony’s upcoming PlayStation Vita.

I don’t think the Expansion Slide Pad will be commonly used, but I’m definitely getting flashbacks to my Sega Genesis. Stacked with a Sega 32X and a Sega CD, my Genesis looked like it was on the verge of kicking Voltron’s ass. Actually, it looked completely ridiculous. Modular consoles are…not so good.

I know that most of you are down on the 3DS as it is, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Expansion Slide Pad. Is it a ridiculous add-on? Will it be commonly used? Or is it merely an accessory that will satisfy millions of Monster Hunter fans in Japan?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

Are you ready for some (American) football?!? A bunch of you had fantasy drafts yesterday and are amped for the season to start. Why not increase the anticipation with some Madden NFL 12? If you’re more about guns than balls then you should keep an eye on Bodycount, the spiritual successor to the underrated Black. Looking for something more esoteric and Japanese? How about Cladun X2 from the excellent people at Nippon Ichi Software America? You can add some (scary) spice to your life and get in shape on the Wii with Get Fit with Mel B.

Anyone buying new games this week?

Are You a Nintendo 3DS Ambassador?

As many of you know, in addition to slicing the price of its 3DS portable gaming console, Nintendo will be rewarding early adopters with its Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program. Ambassadors get to fly around the world and represent Nintendo to participating governments. Ambassadors will be rewarded with 20 free downloadable games for the 3DS, including 10 that are exclusive to the program.

Some retailers were selling the 3DS at a discounted price several days before the official price drop on August 12, 2011. This allowed savvy gamers to snatch up a cheaper 3DS and enjoy the benefits of the 3DS Ambassador Program.

Did any of you take advantage of this deal? Are any of you 3DS Ambassadors?