I know Nintendo isn't so keen on releasing as much info about games anymore but isn't this taking it a bit too far?  The game is complete enough to get rated but we still don't even know much about it.  There is some value in the fans having SOME information to get hyped up over.  For example who is going to pre-order a game that has no release date, virtually no info revealed about it, only a handful of screenshots that are taken from like one video, no previews on any game sites or in any magazines, no POP material at the store promoting it and no ads on TV?  If this wasn't an established series I doubt there would be an interest in it at all.

So is "Punch-Out!!" the official name then?

Did the ESRB rating materials mention anything about ludicrous racial stereotypes?

YA AND HOW AWESOME THEY ARE

I have a bad feeling that this game will have little to no new characters and play like a slowed down version of its predecessors (since you won't be able to be as quick or precise with motion control as we were with button presses).

If only they'd make a proper DS sequel to the series.

So I guess there's no blood.  (Expected, and probably for the best.)

I would be very sad if people expected and wanted blood in a punch out game.

That's really assuming allot. Wiimotionplus will probably be used and it should work flawlessly. Even so I would expect a 'retro' control style for the game. The game is going to be updated don't assume its going to be garbage (aka not a proper update) already with only a teaser trailer up. If Metroid Prime was a proper successor it would have been 3d plat-forming like mario. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Casual gamers don't care about Punch-Out this is a hardcore game.

Croissants > Blood

This is a fact that you cannot debate.

I haven't seen any screenshots of new characters for this Punch-Out!!  That is suspicious.  I can see why Rize is concerned.  I've been concerned about that.

It is also being handled by a Canadian dev team that had nothing to do with the previous series.  It's not a sure-thing slam dunk.  The fact that Metroid Prime turned out so great despite the completely different dev team from a completely different continent and culture is VERY exceptional.

I'm not surprised by the E10 rating, it seems like every game released these days with mild violence but no blood or gore gets that rating.
What I am surprised about is that SSBBrawl still got a T rating. There's no blood, no gore, no vulgarities, no crude humour, no nudity, no drug use... why a T rating?

Next Level Games has been a very good developer working on the Striker series along with one WiiWare's best games, Jungle Speed. Nintendo should be able to get quite a bit out of them.

This game was a day one buy for me.  But now that I know there is no blood, its a rental at best.

There is crude humor. His name is Wario.

Hm, yes. However, Wario is in Mario Strikers Charged with his fart attack and all that, as well as other things like Waluigi and certain sidekicks performing crotch-chops. Yet that game received the "E10" rating, so Brawl's "T" rating is still a mystery.

Fun fact: Mario Strikers Charged is the only Mario game to receive a rating other than "E".

I don't think Nintendo cares about pre-orders Iansane. The Nintendo brand is strong enough that not only do consumers gravitate to the games even months after release, but retailers probably don't need much convincing to stock the games even if pre-order numbers at GameStop are low.

Brawl had swords and guns. Boxing is a sport. Explains the E10 vs T imo.

I agree. And maybe Nintendo are gravitating more toward longer term sales that are spurred on by word-of-mouth? I'm not sure if it's the best marketing strategy for a game like this (did it help or harm Metroid Prime 3?), but it seems to be what they're going for. At any rate, I'm excited to hear that the game is coming out soon!

This is my most anticipated game. If this sucks, I will be upset. I don't think it will.

Lego Star Wars has swords and that's an "E10" rating.
I can't think of a game offhand which has guns and got lower than a "T" rating though, so maybe that's it. I guess I have Snake to blame for that.

A bit more on topic: More game titles should have exclamation points in them. The last one I can remember is Mario Kart Double Dash!!, which was released over four years ago. Although there isn't a game titled simply "Punch-Out!!" as the first was titled Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!/Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream and the sequel was titled Super Punch-Out!!, I still think they should add a subtitle of some kind. They can't throw the word "Wii" in there as that would lead people to believe it is part of the "Wii" series, so... I suggest "Punch-Out!! Out to Punch".

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I think SSB:B got a T rating because it had guns, and the characters were "realistic", while a game like Legos, they are well, Legos. Also when you have snake snapping people's necks, and placing land minds around it is hard to keep it a lower rating.

In regards to Punch-Out's name, I am pretty sure it will be called Punch-Out Wii. That is what they did with Mario Kart and I think that is what they will do with Punch-Out.

Whatever they do I hope they keep the exclamation points as that's what gives the title its personality.

How About Punch-Out W!!?

Lennox Lewis, I'm coming for you man. My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!

What a waste. Why can't it be Mike Tyson's Punch Out?

That make the best game

You know, people are worried that this might be a remake of the NES game rather than a full blown sequel, because the teaser trailer showed Glass Joe, King Hippo and Von Kaiser, and the ESRB description mentions possible returning characters.

Well, I think the game could include both classic characters and new ones.

Look at Street Fighter IV. Some screens make it look like a remake of Street Fighter II, especially since it features the original cast as well as "remake" of classic stages. But it includes new characters as well as some characters from the "Alpha" series.

I can't say for sure if this will happen, but if it doesn't I think I know why.

Going back to Street Fighter, one of the reasons many fans didn't feel at home with "Street Fighter III" is because only a few of the old characters returned and the cast was completely new. While some were creative they didn't feel as nostalgic as the classic characters.

You could say that Super Punch Out suffered from the same problem. While some fighters returned the whole cast was new, right down to the controllable fighter. Like in SF III, these characters were creative (some were actually ripped from the old arcade game) they didn't feel as fun as the classic cast.

I think that's what Nintendo and Next Level Games wants to accomplish with Punch-Out Wii. They know that people have more memories of the classic NES game than the arcade and Super NES game combined, so in a way it makes sense that if the franchise is going to see a revival the characters should come along for the ride.

In SF IV, the characters might be familiar, but they look, act and feel different from the older games. The new technology has enhanced their traits, making them brand new but still being the same.

Punch-Out Wii might look to do the same. The classic characters have different reactions and expressions (french bagels drop out of Glass Joe when he is defeated) but still retain certain traits (King Hippo's pants still fall down, revealing a weak spot).

So the game could be a mix of the old (characters, themes, concepts) and the new (graphics, controls, gameplay). And I might be crazy to say that this is what will make the game a winner, even if it isn't the follow up we've been waiting for 10 plus years.

Ty, keep the thread clean please.

Next Level usually does good stuff.  I just hope it has good online so I can beat Neal senseless.

It's on, Lindemann!

I still haven't gotten online with Tecmo Bowl. My friend and I keep on meaning to, but I still hate taking the DS online for some reason.

If it is finished or close to it then maybe Nintendo is holding it to launch with MotionPlus. It would be nice to see a couple of games use the WiiMote dongle right off the bat opposed to the different games that support it trickle out one by one.

@GoldenPhoenix
I notice you have a high opinion of Jungle Speed. This isn't the first timed you've mentioned.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but... how could this game benefit from Wii Motion Plus? If the controls are like Wii Sports Boxing, that means one of your in-game fists is controlled by punching with the Nunchuk in hand. You can't plug a Wii Motion Plus into the Nunchuk, so... that would leave you with one in-game fist which could more accurately detect your motions than the other. Although... maybe that's the point, as then your dominant hand would have more accuracy. Realism, I guess? ???

I think Punch-Out will not use Motion Plus. I do expect it to have Balance Board support.

Plus, if I know Nintendo, they will focus on Wii Sports Resort as the sole Motion Plus game, then slowly release more and more MP compatible game.

That is the norm. I would like them to go the other way for once and provide multiple games initially to promote the product. I've always seen the MP as an awful risk for Nintendo in dividing the market and figured that anything they can do to promote a higher attach rate among consumers and a higher development rate among other game studios should be exercised.

Though their current strategy with the balance board doesn't give me any comfort regarding this.

Miyamoto has already said that they have many games that will use Motion Plus, and many more in the planning stages. Nintendo is waiting to see how big the MP attachment rate is so that more games use it.

Plus, it obvious that Nintendo will use motion plus more than the balance board. The BB is limited when it comes to controls. MP on the other hand has more uses and more freedom.

I think that having the MP would be nice. I've done martial arts before and I know that hand position can make a big difference in your strikes. I would imagine that MP could help with this.

I might be the only one who feels this way but I don't like the idea of the Wii Motion Plus accessory. First of all, it almost seems like the WM+ is what the Wiimote should have been... and was advertised as. The adverts for Wii show people playing Wii Sports and mimicking real-world actions, but this actually doesn't work too well in execution; more swift, less exaggerated motions work better for recognition, but then you're no longer mimicking the real-world actions. Furthermore, no other game I've played has attempted to build upon or even match the controls of Wii Sports, and tend to have tacked-on motion control that replaces button-presses (Mario Sluggers, Mario Galaxy), or limited use of motion (Mario Kart, Wii Play), or none at all (Brawl). So, you'll forgive me if I view WM+ as a sort of "bait-and-switch", or rather a hidden cost to get what was initially advertised.

The Balance Board has a higher price than the Wii Motion Plus so I would expect WM+ to be better received through that fact alone. Although, given that the applications for WM+ aren't as apparent as the Balance Board, they're going to need something which can really demonstrate why this device is worth having. If any game could do that, it'd be Wii Sports.

I'm still going to be honest though... I'm a cheapskate. I hate buying accessories, but is that really such a strange thing? That I don't want to keep spending money on things with limited uses? The only accessories I don't mind buying are controllers and memory cards (non-Wii systems), which are universal across all games.

I think Nintendo realizes the challenge of releasing MP, and decided to accept it.

The reason I am not bothered by MP's existence at all is that I've grown to accept constant changes in technology.

If the fact that MP exists because it means an additional purchase that could have been implemented in the first product then you have never owned a computer, MP3 player, celphone or any piece of hardware.

What I am getting at is that technology is prone to upgrades, some more substantial than others. MP aims to upgrade the Wiimote so it has better performance and control is further enhanced.

If it suceeds or fails its all up to Nintendo. Wii Sports Resort will be a hit, that's a given. Nintendo will advertise the hell out of the game and it will be a hit. The real success, however, lies in Nintendo's willingness to make more games around the accesory.

And for the record, MP comes with Wii Sports Resort.

And finally, I've yet to fully see anyone toolbox through Wii Sports. People seem to play better acting out the motions that just flicking the controller. You are the freak, then :p .

Everything I've heard about Wii Motion Plus is that you have to try it to understand that it is FREAKEN GREAT. I cannot wait to play Wii Sports Resort with it after reading many of the impressions.

Yeah, I've yet to read a negative impression of MP and Wii Sports Resorts.

Of those three things, I own just one: a computer (obviously). It will become ten years old in August of this year, and not once have I purchased any single piece of additional hardware for it. Ever. I got it right the first time. Besides, upgrades weren't a trend with previous Nintendo consoles and they turned out just fine, so why should I embrace them now?

Not all upgrades are forced though. For example, older iPods can still play all of the same music as the newer models. By the looks of things, Wii Motion Plus games can't be played with a regular Wiimote.

It depends on the game. Everyone I know uses quick flicks for Tennis and Baseball, because the real motions simply don't work. On the other hand, Golf, Boxing, and especially Bowling not only function, but they work well. So well, in fact, that I don't understand why no other games have even attempted to match the control of Wii Sports. Such wasted potential, especially considering it was a launch title. It is kind of pathetic that the Wii needs an upgrade in order to realize its original potential.

The Wii itself is sort of the same way, especially when it first launched. Considering how well Wii Sports "demonstrates" the Wiimote, I'd expect no less than Wii Sports Resort to utilize the WM+ in many creative ways. I can only hope, however, that it doesn't end up remaining the best application for the WM+ similar to how Wii Sports still has the best motion control.

I'd try out the Wii Motion Plus if I get the chance, but I'm not sure if anyone I know will be buying it. I can only hope no game I actually want to play requires the accessory... which basically means no Mario games.

(Emphasis added)

The N64, Gamecube, Gameboys and DS all have peripherals or upgrades you can acquire for games. The N64 had the Expansion Pak, Rumble Pak and Transfer Pak. The Expansion Pak was required for some games or for critical features in them.

If you bring Japan into the picture, Nintendo has had online and add-ons since the NES era.

If I know Nintendo they will make it so that Motion Plus compatible games can be played regularly with the Wiimote.

Even if they tried their hardest to make sure every Wii in every home in America (and Japan, and Europe)  has Motion Plus times four it would be foolish of them to make MP only games.

Its like the balance board. The only two games that absolutely require it are Wii Fit and Wii Music. Wii Fit comes with the board, and in Wii Music its only a small part of the game. Every other game that features balance board support can be played with the Wiimote and nunchuck, even if the game controls the best with the  balance board (as is the case with Shaun White Snowboarding).

Even if the experience is not as exciting as with 1:1 controls at the very least the game is playable without MP.

Like Stratos said, Nintendo has released peripherals and games that required certain peripherals to play. Majora's Mask required the expansion pack and it was a hit, even though it did not carry it. Many Gameboy games could only be played on the GBC and those still sold fine. Every other game that required lots of accessories to be played (like Animal Crossing GC, Four Swords Adventures) could be played without them.

Really Mop I understand you are concerned but maybe you should wait till MP is released and how Nintendo handles it before declaring it a flop and/or ruining Wii gaming? I know I've spoken positively of the device, but I don't even know how Nintendo will use it after its release. So we both should just wait and see, knowing that Nintendo will have a plan.

Are you still running Windows 98?!?

I agree with you and you make tons of sense but I think we're just in the minority.  So much of business relies on people spending money they don't have on stuff they don't need.  I know people who buy a new iPod every year.  How many people on this forum who owned an original DS and a DS Lite will buy the DSi?

Though I don't know why we're discussing Motion+ in a Punch-Out thread.  There's no need for it to support it.  Hell, if you know what Punch-Out is REALLY supposed play like you'll know that the remote itself doesn't even need to be supported.  Punch-Out isn't a boxing game.  If they change it into one then the developers completed missed the point of the game.

If you know what Paunch-Auht is REALLY supposed to play like you'll know that it doesn't need a new game.

But having a new look with physical rythm gameplay is a nice thought.

Sorry in advance about all of the quotes but I can't think of a better way to formulate this post.

I wouldn't consider any of the various accessories or peripherals released over the years to be upgrades. The Rumble Pak and Transfer Pak were never a requirement for any game. While the Expansion Pak may have had two games which absolutely required it, most games which supported it used it optionally, and one of those two games was sold with the Pak. Many accessories had exclusive games but they don't count as upgrades unless they try to replace a part of the system, thereby being forced onto people. The exclusives were sort of like a bonus for those who had the accessory but the real meat of the system's games didn't require them. Even with the original PlayStation's upgraded analogue controller replacing the original as the standard, many games still supported the original controller.

System add-ons are hard to classify, as they're more like a new system than they are an upgrade. Whatever they are, their track-record should go to show that such a concept will be met with failure. With the ever-changing times though, suddenly it's acceptable.

What is it which leads you to believe this? I know that Smash and Mario Kart have multiple options but the former doesn't use an accessory and the latter's accessory isn't something Nintendo was going to aggressively pursue. Wii Fit isn't playable without the Balance Board (I think...). The GameCube Wiileases don't allow support for GameCube controllers. Methinks Nintendo is really going to want to push people to use the WM+ and that's easier to do if it's the only choice.

I didn't know Wii Music used the Balance Board. I guess I'll take that off my list. :-\

The Game Boy Color was a new system, it wasn't an upgrade. It was more powerful than just a Game Boy with colour.

On the contrary, I declared that Wii Sports Resort was going to be a bigger hit than Wii Fit. Considering how well that has sold I'd say I have high expectations for its sales. It isn't going to ruin Wii gaming for me but it could potentially result in a few games which I won't bother with because they require the accessory.

Like I said, I hope to be able to try it out but I'm not buying it on blind faith. I learned that lesson with SSBBrawl.

In all honesty, I'll probably end up buying it at some point. I complain because I love. :-*

Yes. It is the best of Microsoft's operating systems. I don't know why anyone would want Vista as it seems to cause more problems than it solves.

With Next Level Games, you never know. They completely missed the point of a Mario game with Mario Strikers.

Nintendo missed the point of a Mario game by porting an old tennis game.

Strikers is a great game.

I personally enjoy XP. I find it superior to 98 and still very game friendly. Vista I refuse to touch with anything that will then touch my computer.

I disagree with you about Strikers. I found it to be very fun and enjoyable to play.

Also, look at your last post's response to mine, then look at your following response to pap64; I think your first statement answers your second. Accessories like the Rumble and Expansion were not required to play most games.  That logic is what makes pap say what he does about WM+ being optional in other games.

Stratos: Mop is talking about Striker's style and its take on the Mario Universe. The game features a cartoony, exaggerated outlook on the generally clean Mario universe and it bothers him.

In my opinion, it gave the characters LIFE. No offense to any of the Mario games before it, but I sometimes grow tired of the stiff characters saying the same lines and doing the same stiff motions. Strikers was ballsy enough to portray the Mario characters with actual emotions. Really the characters express themselves in many ways that seemed impossible. The setting might have been the best, but I would KILL to see another Mario game with the clean setting but with the life and attitude seen in Strikers.

I think the Camelot Mario titles did really well with this.

I just like '98 because it is the easiest to use. XP is alright though, especially now that the kinks have been worked out.

Different systems, different accessories, different times. Lots of variables. I hope he's right but I'm not just going to assume it's true. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

For the record, I never stated Mario Strikers Charged wasn't a good game. It just doesn't follow the pick-up-and-play mentality of other Mario games, and is probably the most hardcore Mario game of them all, even more so than the platformers and RPGs. It is very un-Mario, so much so that I'd probably like it better if it didn't have Mario characters in it. It is quite detailed in its animation and presentation, but it isn't in a style which I like, and it sometimes feels a bit mean-spirited. I'm sorry but I just don't like to see Birdo doing crotch-chops. Even I think that's just wrong.

The same could be true for Punch Out!!. It might not be very Punch-Out!!-esque but it could still be good nonetheless.

I agree on that. Camelot made the best Mario games, which is why I'm sad that they don't seem to be interested in creating any more. All I can do is hope their attitude will change someday.

Windows 98 has horrible resource management.  XP (2nd edition) is great.

I don't even know what that means, which likely indicates it isn't something that would matter based on the limited number of things I use my PC for.