During Nintendo’s Press Conference at E3 2012, they introduced many new features the Wii U has to offer as well as some of the new games that will be released for the Wii U and the 3DS. Out of the list of games they announced, Nintendo Land seemed to get a lot of air time during the conference.

Taking up the mantle on discussing Nintendo Land was game designer and Manager at Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development (EAD) Katsuya Eguchi (Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Animal Crossing, Wii Sports). The main thing that Katsuya wanted to get across about Nintendo Land was that like Wii Sports, its main purpose is a fun training tool to help its gamers with how the new Game Pad controller functions. Like Wii Tennis, once the gamer picks up the controller for the first time, they are able to jump right into the game with ease.

Nintendo Land is set up like a theme park, like Universal Studios Theme Park Adventure, in which there is a theme park hub and a series of character-theme based mini games. Nintendo Land is one of the few Nintendo games that creates a shared universe for their characters. With a total of twelve mini games in Nintendo Land, five of them were announced at Nintendo’s E3 Press Conference.

The first game Nintendo announced was Takamaru’s Ninja Castle. This game is a single-player shooting gallery game based on the characters from the Japanese game Nazo no Murasame-jō. The objective of the game is simple. The player uses the Game Pad to shoot shurikens at attacking ninjas. When using the Game Pad to shoot shurikens, if the player tilts or rotates the Pad to adjust the angle of the throw, and the faster the player swipes the shuriken, the further it launches. This is a simple game that shows the user the motion functionality of the Game Pad.

Nintendo then introduced Luigi’s Ghost Mansion. This is a five player survival maze set in the Luigi Mansion universe. The ability to hold up to five players on one console makes this game unique. Four people can play using a Wiimote and one person can use the Game Pad. The objective of the game is to hunt the ghost with flashlights before the time limit runs out or before the ghost takes them out. The four Wiimote players are the humans, and the ghost is controlled by the player using the Game Pad.

The Wiimote users play the game on the T.V. while they hunt for the ghost that they can’t see (the Wiimote vibrates when the player is near the ghost), while the Game Pad user plays the game on the Pad’s screen. This player can see where everyone is and hunt them down one by one. This type of gameplay is what Nintendo advertises as Asymmetric Gameplay, in which the same game is played differently depending on if the players are using the Wiimote or the Game Pad. Luigi’s Ghost Mansion is a very interesting mini game from Nintendo Land because of this Assymetric Gameplay.

Animal Crossing: Sweet Day is a simple collecting game that also involves 5 players. Four Wiimote users run around trying to gather the most candy while the Game Pad user plays as Chasers trying to stop the other players. Other than the Chaser, this game is as simple as it gets, but still entertaining for a basic mini game.

Donkey Kong Crash Course is a single-player cart driving game in which the player tilts the Game Pad to move the cart back and forth as they navigate through a maze resembling levels from Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The objective is fairly basic, collect as many bananas as you can without dying.

The last game that was announced at E3 was The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest. Battle Quest is a three player rail shooter game in which two players using the Wiimotes play as swordsmen while the Game Pad user plays an archer. The game relies heavily on cooperation, the swordsmen take on close range enemies while the archer takes on enemies at a distance, as well as hitting switches that come along the way. The players also share a health bar, so once the five hearts are used up, it’s game over for everyone.

Nintendo Land looks to be a very promising introduction to how the Wii U functions, and with any luck Nintendo Land will come with the Wii U based Wii Sports on the Wii. With seven more games that have yet to be unveiled, Nintendo keeps us waiting for what surprises they have in store for us with Nintendo Land.

Image Courtesey of GDC 

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It’s now six years since the Wii’s arrival in the US market, and Nintendo sees it’s time for change. But their competitors, Sony and Microsoft, already breached the HD field in these past few years and they are now looking into expanding further with their Next Gen systems. Will the Wii U stand the trials ahead, or will Nintendo fall into obscurity?

Before deciding the fate of Nintendo, it’s important to look at what information Nintendo released for their next big push in the home console. At E3 on Tuesday June 5th, Nintendo held their Press Conference, pushing the Wii U as well as some of their title games such as New Super Mario Bros U, Nintendo Land, and Pikmin 3 which will be released along with the system this winter. At the conference, Nintendo also released selected details regarding the Wii U ranging from what fans can expect and to details about the new controller.

One of the first announcements from Nintendo of America’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Reggie Fils-Aime, was the clarification that the Wii U will support two Wii U Game Pads along with four Wii-mote plus, nunchucks, and classic controllers. As for the Game Pad, features included are, a touch screen that can be used with either the player’s fingers or a stylus, four face buttons, dual analog sticks, motion gyroscope, rumble feature, headphone jack, camera, mic, speakers, volume control (used for both the Game Pad and T.V.), and a home button for menu navigation and for the social network.

Other features offered for the Game Pad are access to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Video. The device is also supposed to be able to function as a universal T.V. remote. The biggest feature that is offered for the Game Pad, is the option to play most of Wii U’s games directly on the Game Pad, which gives the option for gamers to play their Wii U games even if the television is occupied.

As for features on the Wii U, the underlying focus of the system is Social Interaction. Upon turning on the Wii U, gamers are dropped into the main hub of their Wii U Menu, which is currently known as Main Street. In the main menu, the gamer’s Miis are dropped in an open environment with Miis from other players all while roaming around in a social network Nintendo calls the Miiverse.

The Miiverse is the peak of Nintendo’s social interaction where gamers can communicate with each other by means of texting or pictochat. The Miiverse also gives gamers the ability to post status updates, high scores,  add game hints to help others through more challenging situations in a particular game (similar to that found in ATLUS’ Demon’s Souls), as well as the option to jump right into a game that has already started. The Miiverse is also announced to be available on the 3DS as well as other mobile devices at a later date.

But the biggest push Nintendo was offering with the Wii U was the Asymmetric gameplay. Since the Wii U gives gamers the option of using the Game Pad or the Wiimotes, this gives gamers the option to have up to five players on the same system (four on the Wiimotes and one on the Game Pad). This was not described much in detail, but continuously brought up, and it became clear by what Nintendo meant with Asymmetric gameplay. In some games, as players use the Wiimotes, the person playing with the Game Pad generally has a special role. In New Super Mario Bros. U, the player with the Game Pad has the option of placing blocks to assist other players or to create obstacles.

In Just Dance 4, the player that uses the Game Pad is known as the Puppet Master, in which during a song, the Game Pad user can pick and choose any dance move he desires to make the Wiimote players do, and even has the option to force the dancers to strike a pose and have them hold it until the Puppet Master decides to choose a different move. This Asymmetric gameplay leaves open new options to future games and can greatly increase the gameplay value of games to come.

With these new updates on the Wii U, the anticipation for its winter release is great, but it is a matter of how its sales do that will be the deciding factor if Nintendo can survive the home console market. The Wii U shows great promise and many gamers continue to anticipate other details that can be expected.

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Opening day two for E3 2012 was the Nintendo Press Conference but it was a big disappointment, and could be a potential disaster for Nintendo. This lackluster performance is not a way to advertise the next big console for Nintendo, because a poor showing at E3 can only lead them downhill in this heavily competitive market. So without further ado, these were the shortcomings of Nintendo’s press conference.

Nintendo opened up with a skit starring Shigeru Miyamoto, game designer and producer for Nintendo (Mario, Zelda, Star Fox, Donkey Kong, F-Zero, Pikmin). Pikmin scurried around his dressing room with one getting stuck in his jacket pocket as Miyamoto makes his way to the conference floor. Once on the floor Miyamoto jumps right into Pikmin 3 for the Wii U.

Following this, Miyamoto left and Reggie Fils-Aime, President and Chief Operating Officer for Nintendo of America, stepped in and took the role of introducing details of the system and future games and their developers. Just taking a general look at Nintendo’s conference, it is like any other conference that one would see at E3. But usually the selling points of these press conferences are the unveiling of their big project that has been kept under wraps. So what did Nintendo have to offer?

Besides the already announced Pikmin 3, Nintendo offered a handfull of third party games, a rehashing of games that have already been released, a Wii Fit game that can count as a glorified add-on, two of the same type of Mario games, and an apology that they did not have time to discuss many of the anticipated 3DS games coming out.

Yes, there are quite a few amazing games in the lineup for Nintendo’s Wii U like Pinkmin 3, New Super Mario Bros U and New Super Mario Bros 2 for the 3DS, and Nintendo Land, which gives gamers a unique way to grasp of the potential of the Wii U (like Wii Sports to the Wii). But there was nothing that stood out and made the audience’s jaw drop in awe. The conference was like going to a movie that has been over hyped.

Nintendo really did a great job with creating a system for the casual gamer, as well as keeping their diehard gaming fans entertained, but out of all the games they showed off, they were games that we expected. Something that would have blown the conference out of the water would have been an introduction of an HD Star Fox or Metroid game.

By bringing in something that everyone wants, but does not expect, would have really brought the crowed to life. Instead Nintendo just offered us the firework effects from Nintendo Land. Instead of rave applauds, Nintendo received a dumbfounded look of disappointment from their audience. What Nintendo needs to do is learn from their mistakes and even if the project isn’t ready, give the gaming community something that will make them want to buy their system.

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Despite recent accusations of sexual harassment, Herman Cain is tied at 21% for support with Mitt Romney according to a recent USA/Gallup Poll. Herman Cain addressed the claims made by four women who came forward on Tuesday during a press conference in Phoenix on Tuesday.

Sharon Bialek was the first woman to speak publicly about her confrontation with Mr. Cain during a meeting for a job with the National Restaurant Association more than 10 years ago. On Monday she stated that Herman Cain had sexually harassed her during a car ride.

Cain has denied all accusations and held a press conference in Phoenix on Tuesday to address this issue. A confident Cain stated, “With respect to the most recent accusation, I have never acted inappropriate with anyone, period. I saw Ms. Bailak in that news conference for the very first time.” He said he did not know who the woman was nor did he recognize her name.

Ms Bialek is the fourth woman to put forward accusations about Cain’s inappropriate sexual advancements and the first to speak on record about the alleged assault. Her graphic description of the course of events a decade ago have led many to question both sides of the story. The other woman have not publicly come forward yet about their experience with Cain.

In an effort to put the rumors to an end, Cain said he would take a lie detector test, and that these accusations have not given him any reason to back down from running for president and would not prevent him to continue his campaign. He stated, “I will not allow false accusations to compromise or shed badly on my character and my integrity.”

As for support, Cain said he expects people will be turned off by the accusations and public opinion, but he has said that most of his supporters have expressed that they do not believe the claims. He thinks that rebuilding trust upon candidates will be a challenge but hopes to continue to represent his supporters.

So why exactly would these random women come forward against Cain? Cain addressed this by saying he did not know their motive but thinks it is because they do not want to see him become president. He said they do not have factual proof, that it is a conspiracy theory, and some coincidences indicate that somebody is behind the women coming forward.

As far as his competition goes, Romney could use this opportunity to take the lead. Romney has responded to the claims as “disturbing.” Cain agreed with Romney saying that he thought the accusations were “disturbing” as well.

According to a USA Today poll, 47% of people interviewed believed the accusations were false, while 33% believed they were true. After the press conference on Tuesday, it will be interesting to see if Cain can maintain his thus far unshaken support.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/

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Farid al-Ghadry, President of the Reform Party of Syria, the opposition party which is based in United States, visited Italy and participated to a international meeting to discuss the situation is Syria and in the Middle-East area.

Ghadry met the Italian President of Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini in occasion of a press conference, organized by the Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Commission Fiamma Nirenstein, in which the Reform Party President was the main guest.

He asked Italy to cut its diplomatic relations with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, but to keep the relations with Syria. “Europe should vote for a humanitarian resolution in support of Syrian people,” he said. “We have to stop atrocities and violence against women, children and men tortured by Assad’s forces.”

“The regime is not able to survive to this revolution, we have just to speed up the fall. For this reason we don’t want external military intervention in the country. We ask Europe to go on pressing on Assad’s regime in order to create the conditions for a military coup d’état within the country, which could free Syria”, added the reformist leader.

He asserts that “The fall of the regime will be the beginning of a new season for the relations with Israeli, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan, but especially could push also for a change in Iran,” referring to the so-called “domino effect”.

Italy expressed its support to Syria and its commitment for the Syrian cause and its democratic aspirations. Ghadry, sincerely moved by the Italian support and solidarity, thanked Italy and the politicians who welcomed him and organized the conference, in which many crucial points about the Syrian repression and the situation in many of the Middle-Eastern countries were discussed.

Farid al-Ghadry currently lives in United States where he emigrated in 1964 with his parents, but he was born in Aleppo, Syria. His Syrian citizenship was revoked by President Assad in 2007 after visiting Israel’s Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He founded the Reform Party of Syria in US, gathering Syrians who are living in America and other countries.

Syrian government doesn’t allow the formation of opposition parties, and doesn’t recognize the Reform Party as representative of Syrians. Political opponents as Ghadry are obliged to choose exile.

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At his incredible 70,000 square foot mansion in Orlando, Florida on Friday, Shaquille O’ Neal announced his retirement from professional basketball after 19 successful seasons in the league.

Nobody can help but like Shaq. He is one of the most popular players in league history, unarguably the biggest character in professional sports history, and of course was a phenom on the court. He will forever rank among the best players ever to grace a basketball court in the way that he changed the way the game was played in his time in the NBA.

His numbers speak for himself. He has incredible accolades that could be written about for pages and pages, and have been over the past few days, but that is not what this article will be about. Too many people seem to be focusing on what Shaquille did on the court, and it is incredibly deserved, but I want to focus on the person Shaquille O’ Neal, which even transcends the player.

As expected, he was incredibly jovial leading up to the press conference, dancing in the background of the camera shot before the actual conference even began. Always a consummate entertainer, he had a smile on his face the entire time leading up to the big speech, making everyone believe this would be another slew of silly moments out of Shaq for possibly the last time. He has us fooled.

Never have I seen Shaq nervous in front of a camera throughout my entire life of watching him. Today was different. He obviously had a lot invested in today, in his speech, and in his career.

Shaq’s mother Lucille made the introduction for seven-foot son on Shaq’s private basketball court turned podium, an homage to the impact she had on both his career and his life growing up.

She then handed the microphone to Dale Brown, the man that originally recruited and coached Shaq at Louisiana State University. Shaq often refers to brown as one of the biggest helping hands he had in shaping his career, and Brown seemed both sincere and deserving of such praise. He too wanted to focus on what Shaq did off the court, the things that nobody knew or talked about, but should know.

Brown spoke about Shaq’s incredible parenting which goes far too unnoticed. He spoke about his lack of violations or problems off the court throughout his entire career, a sparkling record (even serving as a sherrif at one point in Miami, Florida). Lastly he touched on Shaq’s stress of the importance of education, which came from his parents. Little did everyone know that Shaq is not just a monster athlete, but he led his team in GPA at LSU, and has already obtained a Masters degree, and is now working on his Doctorate in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Miami.

This man works to the best of his abilities, no matter the task, and should be incredibly respected for it.

The diesel finally made his anticipated arrival to the podium and of course, made his first quick joke about being the new GM of the New York Knicks. Of course, everybody laughed. Though he was lighthearted, the tone was serious, incredibly thankful, and appreciative to all of those who had helped him along the way. It was evident that Shaq really wanted to let everybody know how much they really meant to him, giving countless thanks to everyone down to the security guards at the stadiums he played at along the way.

He of course spoke about the fun he had with the media in his time in the NBA en route to officially retiring every one of his many nicknames, and moving on to only one: “The Big AARP.”

He also gave himself his own plug, one fans should be incredibly excited about, in hinting that he will field calls from various television networks should they have interest in putting him in front of a camera, and giving him a career as an analyst, something I, and many other fans would love to see. The more Shaq, the better.

Shaq took a bunch of questions, telling heartfelt stories about his life and career as a basketball player, father, and role model. His emotion was obviously bittewrsweet, but he didn’t cry on camera for effect and he didn’t draw the conference out longer than it needed to be. It was never about him, it was about his fans and the people around him. He wanted to throw a party for everybody else celebrating his illustrious career. “It’s about you guys, I wanted to host you guys and thank you personally,” Shaq said in some of the closing words of the conference.

To me, this day summed up Shaquille O’ Neal in just a few minutes.

Humble, happy, sincere, professional, thankful, the list goes on and on, but one thing is for certain, Shaq is the utmost role model for not only basketball players, but all people, young and old, to look up to. Never have I seen an athlete like him on or off the court, and he will be very missed around the league for a long time.

What will he do now? Rapper, actor, investor, coach, analyst, doctor? He of course has a plethora of options (even later hinting at having a hand in bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles), but I have no doubt that he will have incredibly deserved success in whatever he should choose. Good luck to Shaquille O’ Neal, my favorite athlete of all time.

Karen Struthers / Shutterstock.com

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Here an extract from the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s statements at the press conference of G8 summit.

Berlusconi read a message and then replied to some Italian journalists’ questions.

“Media featured my private conversation with US President prominently. It has been reported only a fragment taken out of a wider argument’s context,” he began.

“I think it’s definitely my institutional duty, whenever I have the opportunity to meet other leaders, to explain them what is the situation in Italy, also in relation to those events which may undermine the country’s credibility and that of the one who represents it.”

And then he started attacking the judges: “I repeat that in our country there is an intolerable situation of interference of some public prosecutors, towards the people’s representatives who have been elected democratically, with groundless accusations,” – referring to his personal life -.

“Those judges who interfered with the political life of the country and caused also government crisis,” he added.

“The original balances provided for by the original constitution failed.” […]

“It’s dutiful to explain the situation to those who may not understand it, especially abroad, because it may be distorted by the media which, instead of reporting the news, aim at delegitimizing our institutions.” […]

“It’s fundamental knowing about the persecution which I have been subjected, and about the attempt to attack me, even from the patrimonial point of view,[…] with the only attempt to take me away from the political scene, to help that Left which didn’t succeed in doing it at the polls.”

Then he started replying to journalists’ question about why he decided to talk about Italian justice in occasion of an international summit.

“I just defended the Prime Minister’s institution.” […]

And when he was asked to which leaders he talked he said: “Besides Obama I talked to all the leaders. I thought it was my duty to inform them about the situation in Italy.”

“It’s outrageous that you are not scandalized at the twenty four charges pending on me which were dropped and that you keep on exaggerating and emphasizing.  I repeat another time “shame on you!” he thundered to journalists.

[…] “Justice is the pathology of our democracy. It’s a very serious problem, but at last we have a strong majority to pass the justice reform.”

And to conclude a comment about the future and the justice reform: “I won’t drop out of politics until there won’t be a right justice that may warrant to citizens to be adjudicated by independent judges, and not because the accused is a friend or an enemy but only on merit.”

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