After the mostly negative reactions to the E3 demo of the Zapper, what do you think the chances are of Nintendo doing a redesign? Making something closer to the original prototype perhaps; without the need for the nunchuk, and the main trigger in the correct location?

- Numfar
Indianapolis

I think some changes will be forthcoming, but I don't think the layout of the Zapper will change much between now and when it comes out later this year. The biggest problem with the design is the unresponsive trigger on the front handle of the gun. I would much rather be able to directly access the B Trigger of the Wii remote while holding the gun. Ghost Squad uses the Z Button on the nunchuk to fire weapons in the game and that makes the Zapper feel a lot more like a regular gun, almost like what the prototype would have felt like, I think.

All Nintendo needs to do with the Wii Zapper is tighten up the front trigger and make the gun a bit longer. If that happened I'd be completely happy with it. If not, it'll still work find as long as all Zapper games make the Z Button the primary firing button. It feels more natural when holding it that way.

I'm sure i'm not the only Nintendo Wii/Resident Evil fan that's feeling the burn of not having Resident Evil 5 appear on the Wii. There is nothing that can quite be said to try and take away the blunt blow that capcom has dished out towards the Wii. They gave the Gamecube every imaginable RE game, including 0 which will probably never appear on any other console. Why turn away the series now, especially since RE 4 is performing well, and considering the fact that the Wii-mote was an amazing addition to the series. Also the success the Wii is experiencing right now, is unfounded, and yet not enough to convince Capcom. Rather they would make it for the PS3(the dying system) and the Xbox 360, which I really don't want to buy either system.

My question to you is this: Why? I'm tired of hearing the HD issue. I'm not sold on HD, and I probably never will be until they accomplish 35mm quality imagery. Why take the series away from the console that would clearly define it without a doubt.

- Smithers 2.0

The simple answer is that Resident Evil 5, as the way Capcom wants to make it, cannot be done on the underpowered Wii hardware. It simply cannot. Would a Wii port be possible? Sure. Would it be the same game? No. The Wii might get a game box that says "Resident Evil 5" on it, but it would likely be a drastically different game than the version 360 and PS3 owners would be seeing. And more importantly, the cost involved in creating what would have to be an entirely new version for the Wii would probably not be worth the resources to do it. At least, not right now when the focus is getting done for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This certainly doesn't mean Capcom will ditch Resident Evil on Wii. The success of RE4 and the impending release of Umbrella Chronicles (despite what you think of it) shows that Capcom wants the series to be on Nintendo consoles in the future. Might we see a port of RE5? Never say never, but I doubt it severely. What about after RE5, though? Surely Capcom wouldn't be planning another Resident Evil light gun game for Wii after REUC? It's got to release a real RE adventure on the Wii eventually, right?

I've always taken it as a given that games would be released later, months later, in Europe than in the USA. It just, you know, happens. It hit me today that maybe I ought to wonder, "why is that?" After all, the translation teams must all be working at the same time (certainly the same team who translates into English doesn't have to re-translate into French), and I can't see any reason why the British should have to wait at all once the English translation hits the States. So what's the deal?

- John
Not Europe, phew!

Britain and the rest of the United Kingdom fall under the umbrella of general European releases. It's easier for tracking purposes, and many companies dump multiple languages on the same game disc or cartridge to save money in development and distribution. But you've got a point. Why not just release the American version of a game in England? English is English, ain't it?

Though the languages are pretty much the same, local cultures and slang terms are not. If I walked up to a random American woman and asked her if she had a rubber, I would get slapped in the face and/or arrested. (If you don't know why, you'll know soon enough.) In England, I'd get an eraser. The same English word can mean two totally different things in different countries.

Just look at Mario Party 8. It was recalled in the UK due to an "assembly error." Word is Nintendo actually pulled it because it contained the word "spastic." That's a totally normal word in America, but it's considered an offensive term over there. One little word caused the game to be recalled. One little English word.

Translation isn't the big problem with bringing games to English-speaking regions abroad. The holdup is localization. A direct translation is one thing, but it's something else entirely to get that script into something the local region can understand, relate to, and not be offended by. Even if that script was already in English to begin with.

hi

yes i have a fully modded panasonic q which plays jp and american games and dvds. and i cant get it to work the screen just keeps rolling and it is slanted also. is there anyplace in nyc or in the us, where i can get it repaired or fixed? or sent in to be repaired?

thanks

- Dannie
nyc

I don't know, honestly. But maybe one of our readers does. If you know of anywhere this guy can get his Shiney fixed, please let us know via the mailbag!

Hey guys,

I love the site, but I think it's time for a new mailbag! We've been hearing a lot about Madden lately, but I still have a few questions. What is the Wii version like in regards to gang tackles, "mario" running, new animations, etc...? How does it compare with the "next-gen" versions? I've been watching the IGN videos and it almost seems like the Wii version is a combination of current-gen and next-gen. I'm more of a hardcore player so I'm not that interested in the family play and such.

Also, is the Wii version running at 60 fps or 30 fps?

Thanks,

Jonathan

- jfrancis04
Kentucky

Your observation of Madden 08 Wii being somewhere between the PS2/Xbox/GC level and the PS3/360 level is one I also thought of when I played before and at E3. I said in my Madden 08 impressions that the game looks a step above the old-gen titles, with neat effects like the textured field and noticeably more detailed player jerseys. And naturally, it runs at 60 frames a second. (What did you think it was, a PS3 game?) It is much cleaner and prettier at a glance when comparing it to Madden 07, and if you take the time to look around, the differences will stand out immensely. This is only the second Wii game, too, so things will only get better from here.

As for the advanced stuff you're looking for in Madden, I'm not in the best position to tell you. Though I got a good 30 minutes with Madden, I'm not the hardcore player that you are. I did like the animation, but I don't know if there are any new ones over last year. However, I believe the EA Canada team is working to get in as much as they can from the hi-def versions of the game, which leads me to believe that most of the advanced goodies and details should be present. I do know that the new weapons system will be included, although to my knowledge EA has not detailed exactly how it will work. The most important thing from a hardcore perspective, or at least from my perspective, is that the Wii version will be online, and it won't use Nintendo's ridiculous friend code system. If you were holding back from the Wii version because of that oversight last year, your prayers have been answered this time around. Be glad about that!