> Understanding the Industry

The Wii's Greatest Competition: PC Gaming
Consoles currently rule the gaming industry. Games on computers are a smaller, narrower market than games played on a console like the Nintendo Wii. Yet in terms of what might impact the Wii's success, Microsoft's integration of the XNA programming language in the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista make PC gaming a significant threat to the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3.

Why the Wii Isn't Going to Lose Momentum
Mainstream and gaming press have recently turned a cautious eye to the Wii's success. A recent L.A. Times article floated the possibility that the Wii is simply a fad with a traditionally fickle crowd, and will lose momentum as other toys come onto the market. In this article, we look at why the Wii won't lose momentum, and is here to make a lasting impression on the gaming market.

Can Wii Be Serious?: How Valuable is the Everybody Votes Channel
Nintendo surprised gamers by releasing the Everybody Votes Channel, a channel that lets gamers vote on questions that have been posed by the Nintendo staff. But with a "good for everyone" attitude, is the service doomed to forever be nothing but a mildly amusing distraction, unable to ever address more serious questions? Can Wii be serious?

Prepare for the Dead Wii
It happens at every system launch: reports of dead game systems. Now that the Wii and PS3 have hit the store shelves, you can expect a flood of articles and unofficial reports on game systems going belly up soon after purchase. Whatever the initial numbers, they're almost always over reported. We take a look at how to interpret failure reports during a system launch.

PAX Through the Eyes of a Newb
Now the E3 is gone for many, PAX is attracting new attention. People are going for the first time, including Aaron Stanton, attending PAX 2006 after 6 years of E3s. This is a look at PAX through the eyes of a Newb.

N64 Mods and Re-skins
Using N64 emulators on the PC, the modding community has found out how to bring old games back to life. By pulling out and replacing old textures from N64 games, an N64 title like Mario 64 or Zelda can be re-skinned, updated with high resolution textures to look better than ever. In this gallery, we take a look at some of the different re-skinning projects for the N64.

Nintendo's Approach to the Future of Gaming
In a recent interview with Tech-On, Nintendo's CEO Satoru Iwata had some interesting comments about the future of gaming, and the design ideology behind the Nintendo Wii. The media has picked up a number of popular quotes from the interview, and focuses on the wrong ones. "Nintendo is not working on a next generation console," is less interesting than some of the other things said in the interview. This article takes a look at yet another example of how Nintendo is approaching the industry.

The 12 Differences of Super Mario Brothers 2 and Doki Doki Panic (Part I)
Most Mario fans already know that the U.S. version of Super Mario Brothers 2 for the NES is actually a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. When the actual Mario 2 was deemed too difficult for North American and European audiences, Nintendo pulled another game, replaced some of the graphics, and renamed it Mario for the U.S. release. But how much did Nintendo really change? We take a look at the 12 differences between Mario Bros. 2 and Doki Doki Panic to see how lazy Nintendo really was.

The 12 Differences of Super Mario Brothers 2 and Doki Doki Panic
Most Mario fans already know that the U.S. version of Super Mario Brothers 2 for the NES is actually a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. When the actual Mario 2 was deemed too difficult for North American and European audiences, Nintendo pulled another game, replaced some of the graphics, and renamed it Mario for the U.S. release. But how much did Nintendo really change? We take a look at the 12 differences between Mario Bros. 2 and Doki Doki Panic to see how lazy Nintendo really was.

The 12 Differences of Super Mario Brothers 2 and Doki Doki Panic
Most Mario fans already know that the U.S. version of Super Mario Brothers 2 for the NES is actually a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. When the actual Mario 2 was deemed too difficult for North American and European audiences, Nintendo pulled another game, replaced some of the graphics, and renamed it Mario for the U.S. release. But how much did Nintendo really change? We take a look at the 12 differences between Mario Bros. 2 and Doki Doki Panic to see how lazy Nintendo really was.

The Hi-Def Features and Questionable Blu-Ray
The ability to play in high definition formats and utilize blu-ray technology are important features to either the Xbox 360 and PS3, or both. In fact, of the next gen systems, only Nintendo has refrained from supporting high definition technology in the Revolution. Is Nintendo making a mistake, or is Microsoft and Sony jumping the gun? We look at market penetration of HD-capable TVs, and make some guesses about the importance of the next gen console features to the average consumer.

How to Shop for a Gamer When You're Clueless
So you know a gamer. You want to buy them a gift. Christmas is coming up. It's their birthday; whatever the reason, you are having the same trouble. What do you buy them? What game is good? What game is appropriate? We provide you with a step-by-step guide to finding the perfect game for your gamer without forcing you to learn anything at all about the industry. Follow the steps, pick the game, bask in the reward.

Is Nintendo Bowing Out?
New details on the Revolution suggest that it will not only be a less powerful system than the PS3 or Xbox 360, but substantially cheaper on, as well. With the possible price tag hovering as low as $99 when it's released, is Nintendo trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft? Or are they offering up the equivalent of a creative Game and Watch when Microsoft and Sony are introducing a Game Boy Advance?

Is Link About to Die?
There's an interesting theory up about what's going to happen in The Twilight Princess, the next and final Zelda title for the GameCube. Is Link about to die? Pretty circumstantial evidence suggests that Twilight Princess might end with a more depressing display than any Zelda ye.

What are the Revolutionary Nintendo Possibilities?
Now that Nintendo has opened their doors a little and let the general audience gaggle at their controller, many people are scratching their heads. What exactly can be done with the controller? Nintendo showed off some demos of the system, but no games. We talk a little about how the Nintendo Revolution controller might be used to actually make games worth playing.

Adding New Life to Old Games Through N64 ROM Mods
Old Nintendo 64 game ROMs can be modified to have better graphics or higher resolutions, and then played on a PC emulator. This article discusses a number of N64 ROM mods that are currently being worked on, including high-resolution and cell-shaded Zelda, Mario64, and GoldenEye projects, with links to each project.

Powergrid Fitness Offers a Far Less Expensive Version of the Kilowatt
The Kilowatt is an exercise machine that allows you to build muscles while playing your PS2, Xbox, or GameCube. This press release announces the Kilowatt Exer-station, a $200.00 version of the brilliantly designed exercise machine. This suddenly makes the best expercise machine money can buy not really all that much money at all.

Revolution Rumors and Touch Screen Controllers
GameRadar.com reported on a U.S. patent that recently resurfaced, supposedly for the Nintendo Revolution's controller. A look at the patent reveals that it is not referring specifically to the Revolution, but to a GameCube generation technology. This article also discusses why not to dismiss touch screens on the Nintendo Revolution.

How Nintendo is Winning the Console War
About.com examines video game statistics that show that Nintendo is winning the console war, despite popular belief otherwise. While the Nintendo GameCube is not the number one home console, a close look at industry statistics show that GBA, GCN, and NDS sales combined make Nintendo the the largest and most profitable console maker in the industry.

PSP and Nintendo DS Impressions
Now that the PSP has launched in the United States, it's time for Nintendo fans to start biting their nails. For years the Gameboy Advance has helped Nintendo wage its war for market share in the game industry, and now the power base is under attack by a more powerful system. But is it a better system? We take a moment to wonder if maybe the DS is better positioned than most people think.

The Best Game Heroes to Walk, Slide, or Float on a Nintendo System
You play as them, or with them; you see them as characters in cartoons and on TV. Nintendo has a gift for creating good guys that we love to see over and over again, and we take a moment to look over the best heroes to ever hit the game scene. Not all of them were created by Nintendo, but all of them appeared on a Nintendo system at one time or another.

The Most Important Story From GDC 2005
Many think that money is destroying our games. Development cycles now take years to complete, budgets often require millions of dollars; are we killing off the ability to take risks? GameSpy has coverage of a developers event at GDC 2005 where some old names in the industry get a chance to rant. If I had my choice, every gamer would read this story. So go! Read it! Right now!

Why Isn't the Game Industry Making Interactive Stories?
Despite blending visual and narrative elements, the game industry finds itself struggling to be acknowledged as a medium for art. Even after being overturned, the Missouri ruling that video games have more in common with board games than books should scare people. GameSpy has coverage of a discussion from the 2005 Game Developer Conference talking about the role of storytelling in games.

7 Steps To Make Games Good For Your Kids
When was the last time you told another parent that you let your child play video games? Did you feel sheepish? Embarrassed? Video games can be both social and positive in your child’s life, but admitting that you let your kids play can be hard. Here, we cover 7 tips that help make games a beneficial part of your child's life.

PSP vs. Nintendo DS
A comparison of Sony's Playstation Portable and Nintendo's DS handheld game systems. Read this before you consider purchasing either one.

Console Wars: A Comparison of the GameCube, Xbox, and Playstation 2
It's hard to decide which system to buy in todays market, especially since each has so much going for it. Whether you're an experienced gamer, or are just starting to think about buying a game console, this article takes you step-by-step though the ups and downs of each system.