Lo-Fi Podcast - November 29, 2012

It's that time once again!  I finally have my podcast up!  I didn't lose it due to a crash time time, and I'm pretty happy.  Join me as I ramble about the Nintendo Wii U, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for the Wii U, and things to come for the site.

Download or listen here.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 Gets Free DLC

According to the new Nintendo Direct Mini released today, it was revealed that more than three hundred billion (yes, BILLION) coins have been collected in New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Nintendo 3DS.  I have contributed my fare share of coins (1,037,040 at the time of writing this), so you're welcome!

Anyway, in honor of this achievement, Nintendo has released the Gold Classics Pack DLC for NSMB 2.  Oh yeah, it's free too!  Free is always good!  This DLC is a bunch of familiar areas from Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3.  It's a great way to inject some nostalgia into the game.  While you are downloading the enormous DLC file (it's an entire TWO BLOCKS of memory), you can watch the Nintendo Direct Mini after the jump.

CyberMonday Deals on Xbox Live Marketplace

Not to be outdone by various online retailers, Microsoft is running some CyberMonday sales of their own.  Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that good of a list.  Unless you don't already have Shadow Complex, that is.  Check out the list after the jump, but be prepared for mild disappointment.

I Am a Dirty Liar

Apparently, I'm not going to have a podcast up today either!  I had just come to the end of my podcast recording, and my computer decided that was the best time to lock up.  I lost the entire twenty minutes of my glorious rantings!

Yes, I was a little upset.  If I wasn't so angry, I would take the time to record a new one.  As it stands, I decided that the intarwebs could wait a few more days for my opinion on the Wii U, Nintendoland, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.  And wait you shall.  I doubt I will have anything up before the end of the weekend now, thanks to Thanksgiving.

Wii U Reviews Coming Tomorrow! - UPDATE

Oh man, I am so tired!  I got my Wii U yesterday, and got it all hooked up and updated at around 3:30 in the afternoon.  I played Nintendoland with my son and wife for a few hours, took a break to eat, then played a bit more.  We watched some Phineas & Ferb on Netflix, then the kids went to bed.  While waiting for the kids to fall asleep, I decided to play some BlOps 2 using just the Gamepad.  Took a break to watch some more Netflix, then went back to BlOps 2 until it was way too late.

Anyway, I'm going to try and record the podcast tomorrow morning, and I will have my reviews of the Wii U itself, Nintendoland, and BlOps 2.  I'm actually looking forward to reviewing this stuff.  

Also, if you want to add me on your Wii U, my NNID is PBandAwesome.

UPDATE: By "tomorrow", apparently I meant Wednesday.  I'll have the podcast with reviews up Wednesday.

Nintendo Download - Nov. 15

Nintendo has released the last bit of downloadable goodness before the Wii U arrives on Sunday.  Well, that isn't technically true.  One of the titles doesn't come out until Wii U launch day.  That slightly delayed title is the downloadable version of Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.  There are three other downloadable versions of retail games that came out today.  Along with those, we got one eShop title, and two new DSiWare titles.  No big surprise that there aren't any new releases for the Wii this week.  Check out the list after the jump.

Civil War is Coming Next Week

In the form of a pinball table, that is.  Marvel's Civil War is headed to Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball FX 2.  For those of you who are unaware, Marvel's Civil War pitted hero against hero over the Superhuman Registration Act.  The two sides were headed up by Iron Man, who was for the act, and Captain America, who was against it.  The only thing I really remember from the story is the fact that Spider-Man unmasked himself at a press conference.

Anyway, the amazing people at Zen Studios have made what will no doubt be another outstanding Marvel pinball table, and it will be available next week on, well, everything but the 3DS and Wii it seems.  You can see the trailer and a full release list, including prices, after the jump.

First Impressions: Scribblenauts Unlimited (3DS)

Scribblenauts is a game series that started a few years ago on the Nintendo DS.  The game allowed you to input a word and have the object spawn.  The gameplay was really good, even if it was also really flawed (the controls were terrible and you could beat nearly every level the exact same way).  The second game, Super Scribblenauts was then released on the DS, and it fixed all of the issues with the first game.  That's not all it did though; it also brought with it the ability to use adjectives.  So now you could spawn a Gigantic Purple Spotted Gentlemanly Cthulhu.  In fact, Super Scribblenauts was one of only two DS games that I reviewed and gave a ten out of ten.

Now Scribblenauts Unlimited is here for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and PC.  In the Wii U and PC versions, you have the ability to create any object that you want.  Sadly, that doesn't seem to be available in the 3DS version.  While that is a disappointment, This game is quickly becoming one of my favorite games for the 3DS.

New Nintendo Direct Wii U Information

Nintendo has sprung a new Nintendo Direct video on us!  This time around, aside from looking longingly at oranges, we got to find out a bit more info on the Nintendo Network, Miiverse, and the Internet Browser.  Hit the jump for the video and a brief overview.

Lo-Fi Podcast Ep. 3 - Transformers, Mario, and Angry Birds

Episode 3 of the Peanut Butter and Awesome Lo-Fi Podcast is now available!  Join me as I rant about Angry Birds Trilogy and the Wii to Wii U System Transfer.  I also review Transformers Prime for the Wii and Paper Mario: Sticker Star for the Nintendo 3DS.

Download or listen here.

Patrice Wilson Brings Back the Horror With "It's Thanksgiving"

Holy cow, he's back!  Patrice Wilson, the man who unleashed Friday from the bowels of Hell onto an unsuspecting populace, returns with yet another vacant-eyed teenybopper named Nicole Westerbrook singing It's Thanksgiving.  If Friday was a bad day at work, this is having a bad day, getting fired, and coming home to find your wife in bed with another man.  Now watch, and suffer as I have!

Oh, Patrice also pops up in this video to perform, just like he did in Rebecca Black's video, only this time it feels supremely inappropriate.  Why is a big black guy at a Christmas party with young girls (and one young boy), and no other adults in sight?  Where's Chris Hansen when you need him?  Check out the screen shots after the jump.

New Limited Edition Pop-Tarts: Marshmallow Hot Chocolate

This is not only part of the reason that I love this time of year so much, but also why I am fat.  Behold, all four limited edition Pop-Tarts that are currently available!

Of course, I have already covered the amazing Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts.  Besides those, there are the returning Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie flavors.  As if those weren't good enough, there is a new flavor this year: Marshmallow Hot Chocolate.  I'll go over the Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie flavors in a different post, but right now, I want to talk about the Marshmallow Hot Chocolate flavor.

Nintendo Download - Nov. 8

Compared to last week, Nintendo's offerings are a bit better. I'm still torn on where to count Freakyforms Deluxe and Paper Mario: Sticker Star though, because they are released on Sunday.  I think we have to say that Freakyforms Deluxe was released this week, and Paper Mario: Sticker Star is released next week.  That's okay though, because that just means there is at least one good game coming out next week.  Even though it is included in this week's download list.  It's so confusing.

Aside from the digital versions of retail releases, we also got a NEO-GEO game on the Wii Virtual Console this week!  Nothing else for the Wii though.  On the DSi/3DS side of things, we got the crazy priced Pokedex 3D Pro ($15!!!!), four other new releases today, plus a demo of Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.  And, of course, Paper Mario: Sticker Star is out on Sunday.  Hit the jump for the full list!

Sacred Citadel: Meet Safiri

Just don't let him beat your face off!

Dude really looks like someone I want on my team in battle!  You can read more about him in the press release after the jump.  Sacred Citadel arrives on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and PC in 2013.

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom is No More

If you've ever wanted to team Ryu up with Casshan and fight against Mega Man Volnutt and Ken the Eagle, your time is running out!  Capcom has announced that their rights to Tatsunoko have lapsed, so they can no longer sell the game in-store or online.  Amazon has already removed their official listing for the game, leaving only other people selling the title through them.  Some of those retailers have already started jacking up the price, as shown in the screen grab below:

Nintendo Wii U WaraWara Plaza & Wii U Chat Revealed

Nintendo's Wii U is just under two weeks away, and we are finally getting some information on the UI and Wii U Chat.  I don't know why they decided to wait so long, but even with Nintendo sticking to their unusual naming process, at least the news is good.  The best part isn't even included in the video!

Nintendo also announced that each system will be able to have twelve user accounts.  Each of those accounts will be able to have a Nintendo Network ID, which will replace the dreaded Friend Code.  Each user account will have their own save files, web browser bookmarks, Nintendo TVii favorites, and access to all downloaded content.  And it's about time!

Waste Time in Halo 4 to Earn Free MS Points

Finally!  You can earn approximately ten dollars worth of MS points for playing one hundred and forty hours of Halo 4 and spending over three thousand MS points ($37.50 USD) on Halo related items in the Xbox Marketplace.  Doing the first will net you 600 MS Points, while the latter will earn you 200.  You also need to do all of this by the end of the month.

As you can see, you don't need to play one hundred and forty hours to get some points.  You can also earn some points for playing to the thirty-five or seventy hour marks.  At least now you can tell people that you actually get something more than personal satisfaction and Gamerscore out of playing your video games!

Don't Forget to Vote!

And if you don't like Romney or Obama, let me present the clear choice:

What Time is it?

Christmas Time!

It's the little unexpected things like this Christmas-themed set of Adventure Time figures that makes me love this time of year even more.  I want to thank whoever sent me this with no return address.  This really brightened up an extremely hectic day.

Also, I taught my students how to make text from a picture and put it on another picture.  I had them use two pictures of their favorite holiday foods (I let them pick from any holiday).  This is my favorite one.

There is just something about this picture that speaks to me...

Theme Song for Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!

Talk about a mouth full of a title!  As evidenced by my Halloween costume this year, I am slightly addicted to Adventure Time.  I have my copy of Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!! reserved, and hearing the game's version of the theme song has me even more excited for the game.  Check it out after the jump and let me know what you think.

Nintendo Releases First Wii U Commercial

So, there we have it.  Nintendo is going to promote the Wii U with families and dubstep.  The Wii U launches November 18, and hopefully Nintendo will be able to keep up with the demand this time around! 

Pre-Order Bonus for Call of Duty: Black Ops II Season Pass

 
With Call of Duty:Black Ops II coming out in fifteen days, Activision has revealed a bit of info about the DLC Season Pass.  The Season Pass will run you $49.99, and you can pre-order it for the 360, PS3, and PC (via Steam).  This will get you all four of the forthcoming Map Pack DLC, and save you about $10 overall if Activision sticks to their pricing model for CoD DLC.

Activision is also offering a bit of incentive to pre-order the DLC: A special Calling Card for the multiplayer.  This pre-order offer will be the only way to get the special Calling Card.

Also of note; Activision is currently working with Nintendo on making the DLC Season Pass available for the Wii U version of the game.  They are promising details on that at a later date. 

Nintendo Download - Nov. 1

It's the first day of the new month, and after how good things were last week, this week's digital released from Nintendo seem a little weak. There is a whopping total of three titles that were released today, a demo, and an announcement of an upcoming release for this Sunday. And absolutely nothing for the Wii, although that should come as no surprise with the forthcoming Wii U launch.

Check out the full (~snicker~) release list after the jump! Nintendo eShop

The Disney Empire Expands with Star Wars

And now that Darth Vader is the official Dark Lord of Disney...