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While Chester sits in his hot tub of money and Wii points, he's left the task of this week's Virtual Console updates to me. And what a week it is to be covering this set of releases. Nintendo's been really excited about what's in store. First up is Pokemon Snap (N64, 1 player, 1,000 points), the game that taught us all to try and find two Charizards going at it for those extra erotica points. Not only is Nintendo giving us this adventure in photography school, but they've gone in and updated the game so that you can share your photos with friends using your friend codes. Now Nintendo, you've just proved that it's not impossible to fix ghost saves in Mario Kart 64... As Nintendo reminds us, they do in fact release more than one game this week. But neither of them are as cool and awesome as Pokemon Snap. Like Ghosts'n Goblins (NES, 1 player, 500 points). That game is just cruel to play. So naturally, it's the perfect game to gift to your little nephew using the VC's gift feature, which is going to go live later on today. I'm sure they'll love you forever. Finally, we've got Baseball Stars 2 (NeoGeo, 1-2 players, 900 points), a baseball game that distinguishes itself with "an arcade feel and intense action." Sounds absolutely riveting. The game takes baseball like it's serious business, so for you all on the Internet, this sounds like a perfect game. All of these go live at 9a.m. PST, and the gifting function goes live later today.
Wii-kly Update: Photo Feature, Gifting Abilities and Three Classic Games Added
to Wii Shop Channel
Get ready to celebrate the arrival of a bunch of fun new features on the Wii™
Shop Channel. This week marks the debut of the first Pokémon(R) game for the
Virtual Console: Pokémon Snap™, which originally was a hit on Nintendo(R) 64.
This Pokémon photographic adventure comes with a special Wii bonus: It now
includes a special feature that allows players to post pictures they take in
the game to their Wii Message Board and send them to friends with whom they've
traded Friends Codes.
And let's not ignore the other sure-to-please titles: Ghosts'n Goblins and
BASEBALL STARS 2. These three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific
time. But wait – there's more!
Later in the day on Monday, Nintendo will make your holiday shopping just a
little bit easier. If some people on your gift list have visions of classic
video games dancing in their heads, you're in luck. Starting this week, Wii
Shop Channel patrons can use a new Gifting feature to send games to other Wii
owners with whom they've traded Friend Codes. It's an easy and inexpensive way
to give your fellow Nintendo buffs the gift of a classic game—no wrapping
paper required. And don't worry about duplication. If your friend already has
the game you're trying to give, you'll get a simple message and be bumped back
into the catalog to continue shopping.
Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with
a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games.
Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This
week's new games are:
Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points):
As one of the most unique games in a renowned series, Pokémon Snap was the
first truly 3-D Pokémon game and introduced the phenomenon to the Nintendo 64.
Travel to Pokémon Island and meet Professor Oak to begin a safari, taking the
best possible photographs of 63 different Pokémon as they exist in the wild,
undisturbed by humans. This is not as easy as it sounds—the island has many
types of climates and environments to explore, along with secret activities
and hidden passages to discover. Plus, some of the Pokémon can be a little shy
and won't pose for the camera unless you tease them with special items. After
you're done, submit one picture of each Pokémon to Professor Oak, and he'll
judge it based on size, pose, technique and number of Pokémon captured.
Ghosts'n Goblins (NES(R), 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Animated
Violence, 500 Wii Points): Ghosts'n Goblins was a popular arcade game before
it made the leap to the NES in 1986. Like later games in the series, Ghosts'n
Goblins presents quite a challenge to players brave enough to take on the role
of Arthur and delve into the realm of demons and monsters to rescue the
kidnapped princess. Choose your weapons wisely and take advantage of their
strengths to deal with the situation at hand. Pass through the six gates that
stand between you and Astaroth, and teach him a lesson in chivalry he'll never
forget. Demonstrating a high level of technical prowess for a game of its era,
Ghosts'n Goblins presents a unique and unforgettable universe. The stage for
adventure is set. Are you up to the test?
BASEBALL STARS 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points):
Lace up your cleats and step onto the diamond with the pros of BASEBALL STARS
2. You'll find everything you'd expect in a classic game of baseball, but with
an arcade feel and intense action that distinguish it from the pack. Pick one
of six unique teams from cities around the world, then get ready for nine
innings of excitement, whether you're taking on the computer in a 15-game
tournament or squaring off against a friend. There are two modes of game play,
so even the most inexperienced player can compete at the major-league level
(with a little computer-aided fielding). Watch as the game develops through
split-screen views and close-up shots worthy of any highlight film, and see if
you can catch the numerous over-the-top animations of the large and detailed
player models. Think you have what it takes to win the pennant?
 Article contributed by Brad Rice
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