Lord Toker, on if Wii hit a homerun or if Microsoft and Sony vulnerabilities make Nintendo look better than it really is.

“Just because Sony and Microsoft are having problems doesn’t mean the Wii wouldn’t have been a success. I’d say Nintendo hit a triple in opening inning and never stopped scoring. It’s a fun machine that uses a new perspective to give most gamers a new and welcome experience. Sure, it’s technically graphically inferior, but it delivers fun, fun, fun… when you don’t buy shovelware.

“Just like last generation, there was plenty of crap to be found on the dominant system [PlayStation 2], but I don’t base judgment on crap I don’t buy. Nintendo had the right strategy all along by keeping things simple and sweet. I do love my Xbox 360, just not the same. It’s kinda like the grandparents you don’t visit as much.”

The September issue of Australia’s Ultimate Nintendo magazine features the “world’s first review” of THQ’s upcoming Wii platformer de Blob.

Aside from giving the game a perfect 10/10 score, the magazine also proclaims it “would have Mr. Miyamoto bowing in awed respect.”

Praise seems to have become the Internet standard for de Blob, as well. IGN posted yesterday a detailed hands-on preview of the game’s first six worlds and hailed its polish, atypical for a Wii title:

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There is an interesting article on Kotaku discussing the cat fight between Microsoft and Sony as they duke it out for second place. “Some console war,” quips blogger Brian Ashcraft.

But perhaps the most interesting commentary stemming from the article is the eighth comment down: “I’ve only bought a Wii,” says reader Balius. “The prohibitively high price of the PS3 (including upgrading my media center to high def to get some gain out of it), the high failure rate of the 360, and a general lack of games I’d personally want to buy on both systems has kept me from buying either of the competitors.

“It’s not that the Wii is so great, though it is fun as a social event, it’s that Sony and Microsoft have failed, in my opinion, this generation.”

Agree? Disagree?

Nintendo has confirmed that Disaster: Day of Crisis is set to be released in Japan on September 25th. This confirmation comes just days after Nintendo of Europe released their announcement for an October 24th launch in the UK region.

September 25th?! Monolith Soft spends over three years developing this title just to have it released a mere three weeks from now? Where are the trailers, and promotional adverts? Either way this gives U.S. Wii owners more to consider when predicting a western release date. There’s a very good chance NoA could slip Disaster into the upcoming lack-luster holiday line-up without worries.

link, Poll

You know it! A little too intense for me.

Kyle Orland, a generous colleague and former blogmate of mine at Joystiq, has released his first book, Wii For Dummies. It’s probably more intended for your mom and grandpa who still don’t know what a Wii Channel is, but informed Wii owners like yourself might still be interested in:

* Ways to prevent damage to — and from — Wii remotes
* How to use the Wii’s full-featured Web browser
* Tips on choosing games
* How to enjoy photos, videos, and slideshows on your Wii
* All about the Wii Message Board
* Five hot Wii-specific Web sites
* How to customize the Channels menu
* Cool Wii games you can download

Jack will have a review posted later this month. You can snag the book from Amazon for $15.

The best Wii game you’ve never played may already have a sequel.

During an interview with IGN, High Voltage Software’s Eric Nofsinger suggested a sequel to The Conduit, one of the most highly anticipated games of 2009, may already be in early planning and development.

“I think you guys will be happy with the publisher we’ve landed with because they’re big believers in what we’re trying to do on the Wii. … One of our main criteria (in choosing a publisher) was we still wanted to have a lot of access to the press…some of the other criteria that we definitely wanted to make sure was in the mix was having the ability to get started on the sequel right away, so that is something that we’re excited about as well.”

Nofsinger and other High Voltage members also discussed the game’s publisher situation, their hardcore focus on Wii and more. Listen to the full interview on the latest IGN Nintendo podcast.

The Conduit is still without a publisher, though High Voltage has indicated an announcement will be made in the coming month.

That headline is completely unsubstantiated, but Game Informer seems to like the upcoming Wii title you’ve probably never heard of — they even compare it to Ocarina of Time (gasp!). From the preview:

Strangely enough, I had a sense of nostalgia traceable back to playing Ocarina of Time when navigating the large environments and solving Spray’s puzzles. While Spray does not feature cutting-edge graphics or particularly noteworthy storytelling – at least in the portion I had a chance pick up – it is undeniably fun to play.

Spray, published by THQ Tecmo, arrives October 28 for Wii.

Infendo was lucky enough this morning to hear from a reader who attended PAX last weekend, and his on-the-scene reporting is pretty timely, given the gaming landscape today.

“El Hajjish” attended the “Is Casual Gaming Killing Core Gaming?” panel, which featured Start Trek actor and uber geek Wil Wheaton, no less. If anyone can guess how the panel progressed before you read this column, congrats, you’ve probably been reading Infendo for a while now. For the rest of you, take a read. It’s a good way to start your morning.

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Disaster: Day Of Crisis has been confirmed for an October 24th release date by Nintendo of Europe, but no release has been nailed down for North America. So, what do you think?

Vote and then share your opinions in comments below.

It’s pretty crazy to think about it, but E3, with all its Wii Music-induced Nintendo-is-the-end-of-gaming paranoia, was about two months ago now. And, as predicted, the cacophony of rhetoric and vocal minority-driven criticism has subsided, only to be replaced with cold, hard facts.

Facts like Wario Land: Shake It and Mega Man 9, which will no doubt revolutionize and modernize 2-D platform gaming when they launch this fall. Or the fact that Disaster: Day of Crisis—perpetually delayed, canceled, and then revived for a rumored October release (in Europe)—is actually alive and ready for release, thank you very much. And then there’s The Conduit, now on the cusp of being published and heralded by respected tech blog ars technica as an impressive feather in Wii’s cap.

Hell, even Sadness, like the drunk uncle that shows up at Easter and Christmas, made an appearance in August with admittedly suspect “game play” footage. It’s what we’ve come to expect from the next great vaporware title (behind Duke Nukem Forever, of course), but at least it was something.

The bigger picture in all this (and my point), bigger in fact than whatever “negativity” arose from Nintendo’s kooky E3 keynote, is that each of these titles is pretty mature. They’re also all pretty exclusive, and none of them are technically Nintendo first party IP. Again, I renew my criticism to those who incorrectly belittled Nintendo for treating E3 as the clown-driven, yesterday’s news circus that it was. What’s the deal? It’s time to fess up, grow up, or shut up. Personally, I’d prefer a mashup of all three. Continue reading…

Tech-focused Web site Ars Technica went hands-on with The Conduit, High Voltage Software’s hotly anticipated Wii shooter, at PAX and came away with glowing impressions, as well as news for Wii owners who might be skeptical the publisher-less game will be released.

“We’re not ready to officially announce anything,” said High Voltage’s Rob Nicholls. “But things are in the works. Look for the word in the coming month.”

As if unrivaled Wii visuals, an extensive single-player campaign, online and offline multiplayer modes and fully customizable controls weren’t adequate selling points for The Conduit, Nicholls also revealed High Voltage is “working with Nintendo” to include LAN play.

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Nintendo of Europe today confirmed those pesky Oct. 24 release date rumors for Disaster: Day of Crisis. Still no word from Nintendo as to whether the game will be released in other markets this year.

Lots of juicy details are included in the press release:

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Blake hasn’t been sleeping well. He comes into work lethargic and drowsy. Once in a while, he’ll drop whatever he’s doing and start waggling his arms and humming loudly and out of tune.

I think it’s the Wii Music. He went into involuntary convulsions when he saw this logo released by Nintendo. I voluntarily joined him.

Cdub from Hotlanta sends us this photo taken at a local area Target over the weekend. I love how the buttons are all jacked up.