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New Play Control finally launches in the US

by: Sean Colleli -
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...and a lot later than it should have, if you ask me.  Nintendo's latest bid to milk their franchises to death innovate on the Wii brings us the first two American releases in the New Play Control series: Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis, retrofitted with shiny new Wii controls.  From what I've heard this launch is a real mixed bag; Pikmin is supposedly great, while Mario Power Tennis is somehow clunkier than Wii Sports Tennis.  I like the concept behind the New Play Control series--sure it's a blatant double dip, but it lets newer gamers play some of the GameCube hits of yesteryear that they might have missed, and we all know the Wii is seriously hurting for actual games these days.
I just don't understand why it's taken them until March to release the first two games--they're freaking waggle ports, for crying out loud. They probably have them all done and at least five of them are already out in Japan; they should just release all seven at the same time.  Come on Nintendo, spare us the preamble and give us what we really want: Metroid Prime 1 and 2.

Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis Lead Nintendo’s New Play Control! Lineup

New Series Brings Nintendo GameCube Favorites to Wii with Enhanced Motion Controls

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Unique motion-sensing controls have already helped to make Wii the nation’s top-selling video game console. With today’s launch of the New Play Control! series from Nintendo, Wii owners can use those same fun, intuitive controls to discover – or rediscover – some of the coolest and most well-received games made famous on the Nintendo GameCube system, each updated with a new wireless, active control scheme and a widescreen presentation.

New Play Control! Pikmin and New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis are the first two games in this new series, taking all the action and imagination of the originals and giving them a new control scheme. Not only do both new games make use of Nintendo’s simple-to-use Wii Remote controller, but they’re also presented for the first time ever in an eye-pleasing 16:9 widescreen format.

“On all of its platforms, Nintendo has consistently delivered irresistible games that fans can enjoy for years on end,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “With the New Play Control! series, we’re giving Wii users new ways to tap into some great titles using the latest and greatest controls.”

New Play Control! Pikmin puts players in the role of Captain Olimar, a space traveler who’s stranded on a strange alien planet. Only an army of quirky creatures called Pikmin can help him repair his ship and survive the elements. With New Play Control! enhancements, players can now maneuver and command up to 100 Pikmin with a point of the Wii Remote controller, dodging obstacles and foes while working toward a heroic escape. Visit www.Pikmin.com to learn more.

New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis finds Nintendo’s superstar plumber storming the court for some outrageous tennis action, joined by a roster of his unpredictable pals. Building on the skills they’ve honed with the Wii Sports video game, players can now use the Wii Remote controller like a tennis racket to make characters hit forehand or backhand, applying spin and charging up to perform devastating special moves. Seasoned pros can even attach the Nunchuk controller for added precision as they play their way through traditional matches, mini-games and crazy Gimmick Courts. Visit www.MarioTennis.com to learn more.

Forthcoming New Play Control! titles include New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, scheduled for release on May 4. Whereas the original version had players beating on a pair of bongos to drive Donkey Kong through wild jungle activities, the New Play Control! edition lets players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to enjoy the game’s rollicking rhythmic challenges.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii and Nintendo DS systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo has sold more than 2.8 billion video games and more than 485 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii and Nintendo DS, as well as the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Super NES, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company’s Web site at www.nintendo.com.