I can't remember the last time I described a trip to the mailbox as interesting. It's mail, anything that arrives is either bills, ads, or something that is already known to be coming. Today was different. This morning's mail had something completely unexpected in it; a mysterious package. It was an unpadded envelop with the name on the return label being "Best Buy". I had not ordered anything from them--especially something that was completely bendable--so I was a little suspicious about even opening it.

There was, however, a lone thought as to what it could possibly be in the back of my mind that came to me while examining it. It was the only thing I could think of. The only reason Best Buy could have to mail something like this to me. Once I got back in the house, I ripped into it to see what it was....

Nintendo of Europe has sent out a press release, one that will most likely bring about some uproar from long-time Nintendo fans should NoA follow suite(UPDATE: Which it has). NoE has announced that they have dropped the classic red Nintendo logo for the new 'discrete gray' logo featured in the link at the bottom of this post. The full press release reads...


"Dear Media Partner,

For several years, a new generation of Wii and Nintendo DS games have adorned themselves with a new logo, in discrete gray.

In various publications the former logo, with red lettering, can still be seen. In the event that you have not already done so, we would like to sincerely ask you to now only use the current, gray Nintendo logo.

Yours sincerely,

The team from Nintendo & Popular PR."


I'm about to say something, and I'm 100% serious when I say it. But first, keep in mind that I've been a Nintendo gamer...

This is going to be a really short post as I'm about to run like hell to my Wii and download this week's big VC game, the now finally released Super Mario RPG for the Super Nintendo. I'm not sure if you already saw that it was out yet or not, but I felt I should bring this to your attention as it's out now on the North American Virtual Console. Gotta run, gotta download.

- Swim

Mega Man 1 has just been confirmed to release on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console this Monday. It is the first of two announced NES Mega Man games being re-released on the VC to promote the release of Mega Man 9(pictured above), Capcom's 8-bit styled sequel that will be available for download on WiiWare, XBLA, and PSN. The news comes straight from the horse's mouth, Capcom-unity.com. The post also mentions that they plan to release Mega Man 2 in early September. Quote below.


"To prepare all you Mega Man fans for the release of Mega Man 9 in September, we're going to offer you the opportunity to play the game that started it all. The orginal Mega Man game returns on the Virtual Console this Monday, August 4, 2008. Yes, that's right. Brush up on your old school skills and prepare for some cool contests we have in store. We also plan to re-release Mega...

Yoshinori Ono, in an interview with Siliconera, has hinted at not just a Wii version of Street Fighter IV, but also a return of Darkstalkers too. In the interview Ono said that "The more people that ask about it, the more likely we are to move in that direction." in regards to a Wii version of Street Fighter IV. Ono also left the door open for a "collaboration with the HD Remix or something" when asked about a special Wii Street Fighter game.







On the subject of a Rival Schools or Darkstalkers return Ono said "We have been hearing a lot of people asking about Darkstalkers lately, which is a good thing. My advice to you would be to keep asking about it and it would make it easier for us to push it through on the Japan...

I did an article like this one last week and I really liked the format so I'm doing a second of what could become a weekly installment here on Palm Tree Beach. These are some news stories that are smaller or that you might have missed, all in one neat, overhead storage friendly post. Lets begin...


1. Cammy won the Street Fighter IV poll, the one I told you guys about a few days ago. An anime clip of her was shown as well. She seems to be as likely as Sonic was in Brawl before he was announced, still not official, but highly likely.



2. The first 30 minutes of Wario Land: Shake It has hit. I love the intro. Video



3. Two Transformers games were announced, one for the DS based off the show on Cartoon Network, and a mobile phone game based off the G1 series.



4. Soul Calibur IV got an "A" from 1UP. I'll be getting it next week.



5. GTAIV is getting a PC version....

E3 was this week as you all know and with it come a shit-ton of announcements. So instead of posting blog after blog on news this week I'm just going to post a whole ton of little posts in one normal blog. I'll try to make it stuff you might have missed in all the AAA game coverage. So here we go......



1. Rune Factory Frontier's U.S. trailer hit this week and looks awesome. I blogged about it in my last post so check it out there.
Link: http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/blog.php?b=1442



2. Rune Factory 2 is shaping up to be a solid follow up to the first. IGN also played Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness and said that they would have much rather gone back and played more RF2 instead. Touch control only, no classic control unlike RF2.
HM:IoH Link: http://ds.ign.com/articles/891/891165p1.html
RF2 Link: http://ds.ign.com/articles/888/888761p1.html



3. Gameplay for Tomb Raider: Underworld looks...

I'm really glad to hear that Rune Factory Frontier for the Wii is heading stateside. RF on the DS was my favorite Harvest Moon game since HM64. I felt the entire world they created for it was incredible. The location, the people, the animals, the music, all of it was well done. And it looks like RFF on the Wii will expand upon everything I mentioned above about the DS version. The combat looks better, the art style looks to have made the leap to 3D just fine, and the old RF tunes sound better than ever. Don't believe me? Well check out this trailer below and tell me what you think.


Trailer Link:
http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x651fn


This is the first 2009 title that's on my radar and I cannot wait for it to get here. I guess I'll have to make do by finishing the first RF and playing Rune Factory 2 when it hits the DS later this year. Above all else I'm glad that Rune Factory was enough of a hit to allow the second game and Frontier to head...