About time....

Nintendo of Europe have today decided to announce the release schedule for the 2nd quarter of 2008. This means that, amongst other things, they've finally got around to revealing a PAL release date for Smash Bros Brawl.

Don't get too excited though, the game wont be released until 27th June meaning European gamers still have to wait another 2months.

Of course, a number of gamers (Zayne and I included) have already gotten sick of waiting and gotten hold of a US copy and freeloader. This is unfortunate really in that when the release date finally arrives the sales figures will be inevitably skewed as less people will be buying the game (having already purchased the US version). All I can say is that it would be a shame if the game lost out in the sales charts because of this.

I assume that a number of people will continue to import the game due to the wait that still lies ahead but to those who're going to wait for the PAL release... Sacred-Realm salutes your patience and don't worry, the game really is worth the wait!

End to updates

The day of Smash Bros Dojo's final daily update has arrived.

This occasion is marked by a large section of Brawl trivia and a notice from Masahiro Sakurai.

So, where does this leave us Europeans? The game is of course available in Japan and USA but as we don't even have a confirmed release date as yet we'll most likely have months of waiting ahead of us.

Sakurai at least acknowledges us in his final message saying "The European version still isn’t out yet!! We’re still hard at work on it, so please hold on a little longer".

Whilst it's nice to know that Nintendo haven't forgotten all about us this isn't really any sort of conselation to the millions of PAL gamers who are eagerly awaiting any sniff of a release date.

At least we have Mario Kart Wii to keep us occupied in the meanwhile.

End to Brawl Updates

Since Smash Bros Brawl was released in Japan and the US, they have continued with the daily updates. PAL Brawl fans have been understandably split on whether or not they have continued to check the updates (after all, they ARE giving away all the game's secrets)

This is set to end though as a message on the site now says that updates will stop on 14th April.

So, does this mean that we might soon be getting a PAL release date or is it just another example of Nintendo ignoring PAL users? (after all, we obviously dont matter enough to get a release date)

WE'll just have to wait and see

Still no Smash

As you will probably be aware, yesterday saw the US release of Smash Bros Brawl. With the game's Japanese release at the end of January, this now means that the game is available everywhere except for PAL regions.

This is nothing new obviously. Anyone who's been a gamer for any number of years know that in most cases games wont see a PAL release until months after the Japanese and US release. Obviously, the games have to be translated into all the various languages so are bound to take longer to come out over here.

What I find ridiculous however is that in the case of Smash Bros Brawl, the game that is being touted as the most anticipated game for years, Nintendo haven't even seen fit to inform us of a release date as yet.

Most websites have put a tentative release date of May/June for the game but until Nintendo of Europe decide to confirm anything as far as we know it could be Christmas by the time we get our hands on it.

Personally, I think it'll be a June release but we'll just have to wait and see.

One things for sure, it'll be a happier wait (for me at least) once they confirm a date as at least then there'll be some light at the end of the tunnel.

With both Mario Kart and Wii Fit out next month at least there'll be some top games to play in the meantime but I just hope they announce something soon.

When they will announce it though, as with the release date itself, is anyone's guess.

Wii Fit price

Last week Nintendo announced that Wii Fit would get a UK release on 25th April but what they didn't confirm was the price. Until today.

Better get saving kiddies as it's going to set you back a whopping £69.99.

Whilst this does seem pretty steep and will most likely put a lot of people off buying it (myself included) it isn't actually too bad a price point.

So, what are you getting for a penny under 70quid? Well, firstly the game itself, assuming that this is going to be a full game rather than just a series of mini games that would retail at about £40 anyway.

You're also getting the balance board, this is more than just a fancy step aerobics step. In fact there must be quite alot of technology in it and so I don't think £30, the same as a Wii remote, is that bad a price.

So, that's what you'll be getting for the money. The question is whether or not it's actually going to be worth it. Personally I just wanted to get the game out of curiosity so obviously the price tag puts me off as I wouldn't want to spend that much if I didn't know for certain I'd enjoy the game. The other thing is the balance board; is it worth paying all that money for something I might not use on any other game.

At the moment I think the plan will go roughly like this.. wait until a few months after release, see what other games are going to become available that use the balance board and maybe then buy it.

Anyway, what do you think? Why not head over to our forum and let us know?

64 comes to VC

If your'e a Wii owner with an internet connection chances are you'll have downloaded some titles from the Virtual Console, Nintendo's service which allows gamers to download classic titles from consoles of yesteryear.

The VC already has loads of classic titles from NES, SNES, N64, Turbografx, Mega Drive and NEOGEO but coming soon there'll be a new system joining that list; the Commodore 64.

Released in 1982, the Commodore 64 has a mammoth library of over 4000games released over it's 12 year production lifetime.

Commodore 64 games are set to cost 500 wii points each (which equates to around £3.50) and the first titles available will be International Karate and Uridium.

Release schedule update

Although there's still no sign of a release date for the PAL release of Smash Bros Brawl Nintendo have today announced the date's for two other highly anticipated games, namely Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit.

On 11th April UK gamers will finally be able to take their favourite Mario character for a spin around a selection of old and new tracks in a kart or, a first for the series, on a motorbike.

Also in April, we'll be able to see what Nintendo's new balance board add on is all about when Wii Fit launches on the 25th.

Judging by the fact that Brawl's date hasn't been announced alongside them i'm guessing it's going to be quite a bit more of a wait before we get our hands on some more Smash Bros action.

Anyway, looks like April's gonna be an expensive month. I, for one, had better get saving.