Monster Hunter 3: No Friend Codes Confirmed
We had heard for a little while that the North American and European versions of Monster Hunter 3 would likely not be hampered by Nintendo’s friend codes system. But now, thanks to statements by Nintendo’s sales and marketing EVP, Cammie Dunaway, we can officially confirm this rumor.
During Nintendo’s Q1 Media Summit in San Francisco this week, Dunaway confirmed the lack of a friend code requirement in the upcoming Capcom title for the Wii, stating, “We felt that this was the best way to deliver [Monster Hunter Tri].”
This means that not only will the title have free online play and text and voice-based chat (available through Wii Speak) when it arrives in the U.S. on April 20, but the game will allow you to group with anyone, and evidently, speak with anyone via text or even Wii Speak. Hello annoying 12-year-olds!
So why the exception to the usual rule of “make it free, make it easy, make it safe” in regards to Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection service? After all, friend codes were part of the keep it safe idea since they would “create an online environment free of harassment.” Without friend codes in place, I could very well run into this lovely kid.
Dunaway is quoted as saying, “With each title we’ll make the right determination.” So I guess that means if you have a good enough game Nintendo will let you fudge the rules a bit.
But Nintendo’s voice chat has an interesting feature: it’s based on a table top – er, TV top – microphone that picks up every nearby voice in the room. So let’s say a pre-pubescent little foul-mouth gets pissed at me for not killing that massive water-dwelling Lagiacrus and starts throwing out every available curse word in the English dictionary. Not only would his parents likely hear everything I say back, but I would hear everything his parents say him, including any subsequent scoldings and/or beatings. Youtube is going to love this.
I’ll report back in April with my findings on the unhampered voice chat soon to be flooded by Nintendo fans. We’ll see if they behave themselves any better than certain Xbox Live gamers, though I’m not holding my breath.
Source: Gamasutra.
Capcom schools Monster Hunter Tri rookies, unsure about Wii Speak for US
Capcom held a university-themed event Tuesday evening in San Francisco to introduce newcomers to the Monster Hunter universe in the runup to next spring’s North American release of Monster Hunter Tri for the Wii. We’d already played the game at previous events, so we knew what to expect: Monster Hunter, looking nice (especially the large monsters) but not as nice as it could have on the PS3.
After spending some time with the three-level, English-localized trade show demo on-hand — including a go using the very nice Classic Controller Pro, which is included in Japan’s black system/game bundle — we asked Capcom staff about two unsettled questions concerning the game’s US release. The first was the matter of paying to play Monster Hunter Tri online, as the game eschews Nintendo’s servers for Capcom-operated ones and is fee-based in Japan. We didn’t receive a decisive answer, being told only that the publisher is “hoping” the game will be free to play in the US. We got a similar response when we wondered if Wii Speak support was 100% set for the domestic release — Capcom’s “hoping” to get it in, but couldn’t promise anything.
The event did provide taste of what trying to coordinate a successful online monster hunt would be like without Wii Speak — we found it nearly impossible to hear our fellow players (or the game) over the music being piped through the venue’s formidable sound system.
Capcom schools Monster Hunter Tri rookies, unsure about Wii Speak for US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Monster Hunter 3 May Support Wii Speak - Subscription Fee Not Decided Yet
GoNintendo is reporting that the U.S. version of Monster Hunter 3 (scheduled for release in March 2010 and already receiving much publicity from Nintendo) may support Wii Speak for Western audiences. I guess Japanese gamers didn’t get the option to use the Wii’s voice chat system. The article doesn’t discuss whether the peripheral will be limited by friend codes as it was in The Conduit, but chances are that it will be.
The article also mentions that the monthly Wii Point fee currently being utilized in Japan is still undecided for the Western release. I hope this means that the company is reconsidering the actual requirement of a monthly fee and not simply the method it will use to collect one.
And, not surprisingly, Capcom is quoted as stating that they focused heavily on visuals with the game and that they have the best graphics on the Wii. I wholeheartedly agree. The texturing on Monster Hunter 3 is absolutely amazing to say the least.
If Capcom releases Monster Hunter 3 in the U.S. without a subscription fee but with Wii Speak support I certainly won’t hesitate to pick it up. But having to deal with a monthly subscription fee on a Nintendo platform is asking a bit much (from this gamer anyway).
Monster Hunter 3 May Support Wii Speak - Subscription Fee Not Decided Yet
GoNintendo is reporting that the U.S. version of Monster Hunter 3 (scheduled for release in March 2010 and already receiving much publicity from Nintendo) may support Wii Speak for Western audiences. I guess Japanese gamers didn’t get the option to use the Wii’s voice chat system. The article doesn’t discuss whether the peripheral will be limited by friend codes as it was in The Conduit, but chances are that it will be.
The article also mentions that the monthly Wii Point fee currently being utilized in Japan is still undecided for the Western release. I hope this means that the company is reconsidering the actual requirement of a monthly fee and not simply the method it will use to collect one.
And, not surprisingly, Capcom is quoted as stating that they focused heavily on visuals with the game and that they have the best graphics on the Wii. I wholeheartedly agree. The texturing on Monster Hunter 3 is absolutely amazing to say the least.
If Capcom releases Monster Hunter 3 in the U.S. without a subscription fee but with Wii Speak support I certainly won’t hesitate to pick it up. But having to deal with a monthly subscription fee on a Nintendo platform is asking a bit much (from this gamer anyway).
The Conduit to use Wii Speak, new trailer sizzles with ‘conspiracy’
It’s been a while since we’ve seen anything out of High Voltage’s little-shooter-that-could, The Conduit — a problem that was expediently rectified on last night’s episode of GameTrailers TV. In addition to the revelation that the game won’t support Wii MotionPlus but will allow users to chat via Wii Speak, the latest trailer for the shooter, titled “Conspiracy,” was aired.
In addition to showing a sizable chunk of gameplay, the trailer (which we’ve posted after the jump) gives further hints regarding the game’s plot. Here’s what we’ve pieced together: There’s a conspiracy (Aliens? Illuminati? Grassy Knoll?), which appears to be causing protagonist Michael Ford to have a very bad day. Don your tinfoil hat, crank up the Alex Jones, and check out the trailer after the break.
Continue reading The Conduit to use Wii Speak, new trailer sizzles with ‘conspiracy’
The Conduit to use Wii Speak, new trailer sizzles with ‘conspiracy’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Amazon opens WiiSpeak preorders
Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Peripherals
WiiSpeak isn’t the kind of thing we can imagine selling in Wii Fit quantities, but it’s getting hard to tell nowadays. Maybe the microphone add-on and Animal Crossing: City Folk will be overshadowed by the other big first-party release of November, and supplies will be plentiful, but why take the risk? You can now preorder your own WiiSpeak at Amazon for the price of free, and rest assured that you’ll be able to bitch behind Nook’s back with your Wii Friends from day one. Hang around now, and you may be confined to the keyboard.
Gallery: Animal Crossing: City Folk
[Via Punch Jump]
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Wii Warm Up: Who’s getting WiiSpeak?
Filed under: Wii Warm Up
With the buzz around a $69.99 Animal Crossing bundle that will include the peripheral, we were just wondering how many of you are actually looking to pick up the device? Can’t wait to chat with your friends while fishing or digging holes? Could care less about WiiSpeak? Or are you planning on getting it for The Conduit?
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Deceptively new scans of Animal Crossing
The problem with showing new images of Animal Crossing: City Folk is that, unless the screens happen to feature the new city environment, what you see ends up looking pretty much exactly like the original Crossing. Only subtle clues point to the newness, such as the lack of hats, the different clock, and, oh yeah, two player characters onscreen together. It’s still very important, and it’s still really exciting, it just — happens to look a lot like Animal Crossing!
We wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re ready to start it all again — picking fruit, paying off Tom Nook, meeting new neighbors, filling our catalog, pulling weeds, the whole thing. This time, we’ll be able to enjoy the game over some friendly conversation!
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Top 10 Best Selling Games
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