I just read an article from the Wall Street Journal where the interviewer specifically asked about video-downloading:

“Sony and Microsoft’s video-downloading services on the PS3 and Xbox 360, respectively, are both aimed in part at winning customers beyond core game players. But Nintendo has already captured the audience it wants with simple, intuitive games. Have you thought of offering a video-downloading service, too?”

Iwata replied that, no, they aren’t going to offer video-downloading services because:

“If we have no ideas, we’re not going to compete with the exact same services against companies like Sony, which has a movie studio, and Microsoft, which has a lot of money.”

This doesn’t necessarily bother me so much. Why would Nintendo get into video-downloads, but why the hell can’t they get their online gaming sorted out? When Super Smash Brothers Brawl first came out I was disappointed by the online play. It was choppy at best, but I was optimistic because I was playing one the of the most popular games ever on the night it launched so I thought that the servers must be lagging from the shear number of people playing. But now, months after release, it is still a crappy game to play online. It’s laggy and not enjoyable, and for me not playable. It may not be the end-all future of gaming but online play is very much here to stay and with games as competitive as Smash Brothers they need to figure out that people love online gaming and that it can be done well not sloppy. Until then I am going to keep having a blast playing locally and hoping to get Pikachu in more awkward situations. :)

What do you think, how has your online smashing been going?

We were playing Smash Bros. Brawl in the office last night and when we paused the action for a bathroom break, when we got back we noticed that Pikachu was trying to get some action…bad pikachu!

Got your copy of Smash Bros. yet? You better. IGN announced today a new project that they’ve had in the works (we assume) since custom stages were announced for Brawl. Super Smash Bros. World is a new website where players from around the world can upload and share their level creations. All you have to do is save it to your SD card, and you are good to go! Now you no longer have to worry about getting only one “official” level from Nintendo a day - you can get as many as you want.

See you in the arena.

Over the weekend my fellow Wiitard and I were playing Smash Brothers Melee when we paused the game to answer the front door. When we returned to the game we were shocked to see that Ness was riding Pikachu…while holding a bomb. Enjoy!

I just zomged! Nintendo is partnering with Best Buy for one of the most epic displays of love that a company could have for its customers ever! There are going to be huge prizes for the top four finishers at each tournament venue. 256 people will be allowed in to compete and it is single elimination. This is going to be really interesting because the stakes are so high, yet no one has really had that much time to get used to a character or understand the nuances of the new game. I hope they hold future tournaments after people have really gotten to know the new installment so we can find the true Smash Master. All though I am up farther in the Northwest, I am seriously considering driving to San Francisco to get my Brawl on. If you can’t go and need to be comforted, just read over the Smash Brothers character list and watch some more videos. If you are going, good luck! Check out the details below.

Smash Bros Brawl Tournament Details

Where and when:

Feb. 16
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Orpheum Theater
842 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Feb. 23
Doors open at 2 p.m.
Ten15 Folsom
1015 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

March 1
Doors open at 3 p.m.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Olden Hall
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609

March 8
Doors open at 5 p.m.
Best Buy (NOHO)
622 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

“The grand prize winner will receive a crystal-coated Wii with a design from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a home theater system from Best Buy and a copy of the game. The second-place finisher will receive one Wii system and Wii Remote, one copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and a $1,000 Best Buy gift card. The third-place finisher will receive a Wii and Wii Remote, a copy of the game and a $500 Best Buy gift card. The fourth-place finisher will receive a Wii, an extra Wii Remote, a copy of the game and a $250 Best Buy gift card. For more information about the tournaments, visit nintendo.com.”

Ok, so we are obsessed with Smash Brothers Brawl, and it was fun speculating over the leaked smash brothers brawl list. But there is no point any more now that there is so much awesome real stuff since the Japanese launch, and now the internet has gone ape shit with content. Here is some of it.

This is the official starting roster, straight from the Japanese game.

Here are some gameplay videos:

Joystiq has more videos
here