I was reading hands-on impression of Metroid Pinball for DS, and people are saying that some of the demo units had a rumble feature in it, coming from a GBA cart.

here’s is a quote from PlanetGameCube

One major surprise is that some copies of Metroid Prime Pinball on the show floor featured rumble capability. Yes, rumble as in force feedback like Pokemon Pinball. This obviously couldn’t be built into the tiny DS packs, so I had a look underneath the DS playing the game and it had a GBA cartridge plugged in as well. I figured that the GBA cartridge was the one doing the rumbling, and this was later confirmed by PGC chum Chris Kohler. Apparently Chris saw someone booting up a DS with Metroid Prime Pinball in it, and the initial selection screen said that there was a “GBA Option Pak” in the GBA cartridge slot. I’m not sure whether or not Nintendo will sell this standalone Rumble Pak for use with rumble-enabled games, but it definitely exists. Hopefully it will be a pack-in when Metroid Prime Pinball is released, because it works like a charm.

This could be interesting if more game uses it after that. But i wonder how it will affect the battery life.

source: PlanetGameCube

E3 2005 is offically over. Well, media will still be coming in for a few days, but wow, what a show! It may not have been as intense as last years show, but it certainly made up for it in content. Remember, you can check it all out here 4colorrebellion.com/e3.

Follow the link to read my impressions of the show:

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Seattle Post-Intelligencer has a good interview with Iwata online. They ask a lot of good questions about Nintendo’s stance in the market, whether they will be a niche player this time around, market timing, and Nintendo’s overall M.O.

I like the way Nintendo thinks….very Zen like.

Link to Article

Text follows:

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When Reggie reached into his jacket at the Nintendo Press conference, many people thought they knew what to expect. Rumors of a revamped GBA with added multimedia capabilities had been floating around for a while. When they saw it, they were surprised… and then underwhelmed. Impressions around the web seem to be ‘Yeah it’s cute, but my SP serves its purpose fine.’ No doubt the smaller screen and lack of screen protection or hardware modifications make this GBA nothing ‘new’ per se. However, it’s still a very important product for Nintendo, and it makes a bold statement about the future of the Game Boy platform.

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I went to see Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Wednesday night at midnight. Neither myself nor my girlfriend are huge Star Wars fans, but she wanted to go to see all of the people dressed up.

Well, she turned out to be one of them. Two days before the show she decided she was going to make a costume, since she loves doing so. She pulled it off and it looked great. All of the people at the showing loved it and took a ton of pictures. Yup, thats her in the picture with Vader and a Storm Trooper. She was the Jedi Aayla.

I also managed to snap a pic of the coolest guy there. Amidst all the Star Wars chaos this guy was still rockin his Nintendo shirt. Oh yeah.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the movie. Not only was it far better than Ep 1 & 2, it was on par with the original trilogy. And in something of a shocker, at least to me, Hayden Christensen was actually the best actor in the movie. At times Anakins’ fall to the Dark Side felt a little forced or odd, but in the end it worked out beautifully. Im glad to see this movie come out and ended Star Wars on a good note. The Force was with Lucas on this one.

[4cr Reader Contribution - Nick Rumas]

For the last few days, we’ve been given a good glimpse of the wonders that are to come our way in the next generation of video games. Microsoft was hit-and-miss, Sony unleashed its ferocious beast upon the masses, and then there’s Nintendo. The message boards are ablaze with ridiculer’s and hecklers attacking the company for showing nothing more than the Revolution hardware, proclaiming doom for Nintendo over the statement that the machine will be only two to three times more powerful than the GameCube. While the ridiculer’s and supporters will be battling it out for the foreseeable future, the focus here is on the branding of the upcoming Revolution—what the overall angle should have been from the outset, how things have been handled thus far, and what can be learned from the DS, which seems to be a sort of forerunner of the upcoming console. Most importantly, what will Nintendo need to do to bring on another generation of ‘Playing Nintendo’? That’s what this column is about.

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Will Wrights amazingly ambitious PC game, Spore, looks great. Along with some E3 precense a site has also been launched for the game.

The animated intro is great! Does anyone know a way to rip a flash animation so I can have a copy?

Spore Site

UPDATE: Will Wright Interview at Wired.com

Wired has an article on its front page that talks about some of the odder Japanese games that are being released in the US.

The article mentions some DS games, namely Nintendogs, Electroplankton, and Phoenix Wright. Gotta love the fact that the DS helping to bridge this cultural gap. I for one couldnt be happier.

Wired Article

[4cr Reader Contribution]

The Nintendo/Namco collaboration, Mario Kart GP looks great. So far though, all indications are that the game will not be ported to the Cube. I guess if you want to play you have to hunt down an arcade.

Anyway, LSK got some hands on time with the game at a local arcade and sent us some impressions. Check it out:

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[’You know what? Thats Sony’s issue and not my problem.’]

Check out this E3 video with Reggie. I like the guy more every time I see him. I found the comments about fostering unique games with small developers especially interesting.

Once I find a transcribed copy of the interview Ill post it here. Here are few highlights and the video link is at the end:

- When asked after the interview why no Mario 128 was shown at the conference as promised, he apologised saying he could only show what Miyamoto would let him show…
- He has confirmed Revolution versions of Mario, Metroid and Zelda are all in development.
- Questioned about the Nintendo fan-video, he confirmed it was a fake, but would like the fan to give Nintendo’s PR department a call!
- Reggie says Nintendo will show the Revolution’s controller when Sony and Microsoft have their specs locked down so they cannot steal the idea!
- The next Revolution announcement “has its timetable”, and at the right time, Nintendo will get the word out. “Keep hanging with us,” says Reggie.
- The Revolution will apparently bring “new genres”, and new mixes of genres.
- Reggie says there is a need for the Revolution “to combine the original NES, SNES, N64, and Gamecube controllers into one interface”.
- Additionally, Reggie has said Nintendo want to get more small developers on board for the Revolution.

“A Man Called Reggie” (Its listed on May 19th, 12pm)

source: Gamespot & CubeEurope

Follow the link for a interview with Miyamoto (or is he going by Bob now?) about E3, the Revolution, DS, Mario 128 & Kid Icarus!

You can also check out this video interview:

Miyamoto E3 Video Interview

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Wow, I love my readers. You guys rule!

BladeZ recently attended the Nintendo World Store. He provided some great pics (the first ones on the web I think) and even better, he sent me some goodies! How totally awesome is that?

Thank you BladeZ, this stuff is too cool.

If you are attending E3, or just happen to live in the area and you havent checked out the iam8bit show, tonight is your last chance. The “i am 8 bit” Closing Night Gala and Classic Gaming Expo Videogame Museum Party happens tonight, Wednesday, May 18th 2005 from 7pm – 11pm PST.

I highly recommend checking it out. Its certainly going to be better than drinking in your hotel room.

Click below for more details:

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The boys over at Playgressive and NDSwire have made a video walkthrough of the Nintendo World Store. The place looks great. Thanks guys.

Nintendo World Store Video

This is defintely worth checking out. Nintendo Power is getting an overhaul and you can get 3 free issues.

Im really glad to see this happening. Actually, its funny…when I first started this site I said to myself that there were 3 things I would change about Nintendo to help their mainstream image. Go online, make more sports titles and redo Nintendo Power.

I love the new design and it looks like they may finally start having bonus discs. It could just be a one time E3 thing, but the next issue is going to have a Zelda DVD with it.

Nintendo must have been secretly listening to my ramblings in the shower. Scary.

Nintendo Powers New Look