RipTen Videogame Blog » Donkey-Kong

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Adventure Kong

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:02 +0000

What time is it?! I would look at my watch and tell you, but I’m too busy dodging all of these barrels.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

HeroOfTheDead42 is also a hero of the living.

What Would It Be Like If The Wii U Had Achievements?

Chris Carlson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:00:34 +0000

Nintendo has already said much about their next console at E3 this year. They’ve mentioned the controller, the features and the games… but what about achievements? What would happen if the Wii U obtained achievements, what would they look and be like? We’re here to show you.

WiiChevo’s - (We-cheev-ohs)

Yup that’s right. The unofficial name for my Wii U achievement presentation. I could have just went with Wii Achievements, or Wii Trophies but that’s too easy. I’m going to take it a step further. I started with a name, but now I’m going to show you what it would be like if the Wii U had achievements. Could you imagine playing the next Zelda and when you reach a point in the game you see this?

Yes I'm still on that joke.

Similar to the 360′s achievement system, you see a pop up message with the name of the WiiChevo and stars. Yes stars. Every time you think of Nintendo you think of one character. Mario, and Mario has a ridiculous, stupid amount of stars everywhere. So why not implement a star system? Each WiiChevo is tied to a number of stars, the maximum being 3 stars. As you progress through each Wii U game you can obtain a total of 50 stars per game, similar to how 360 has a maximum of 1000G per game. You’re probably thinking, “Why does this matter? Who’s going to see this?”. So, I present you with this. The Wii U…. err Mii U Gamer Card thingy.

Wii U, Mii U, Pee U, Card Thingy

This would be the card you could share with your friends online, Nintendo forums etc. You have your “Wii U Picture” in the top left, followed by the number of total stars you’ve earned across all Nintendo games. On the far right is your last 4 played games. Below that is a quote you can set to describe yourself, and at the bottom of course is your Wii U Tag, or whatever Nintendo plans to call it. Now, of course one thing you do when browsing your collection of Achievements/Trophies is look at the nice little thumbnail picture it brings with each one. Since this entire article is about Wii U having achievements, I think it’s time I share a few that I’ve came up with myself.

What do you think? Could Nintendo really pull off some kind of achievement system for the Wii U? More importantly would it make you play games just for WiiChevo’s?

Face it, people love these things. It’s an addiction. Gamers will buy the shittiest game on the planet just so they can complete it in a few hours to get 1000G. If you’re the type of person who hates Achievements or Trophies, it’s possible you won’t have to worry with Nintendo, I’m just speculating, conceptualizing and having some fun. Just don’t expect Microsoft or Sony to give up on these things so easily.

Meanwhile, feel free to make up your own WiiCheveo’s and share them in the comment section.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Donkey Kong

Dylan Duarte — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Just when I think I’m sick of realistic depictions of Mario, I see another realistic depiction that blows my socks off. And then that scantily-clad Princess blows them off even further.

The signature on the image points to this Czech website, but I have no idea what I’m looking at.

The King Nintendo Fanboy’s Collection Showcase: Nintendo Power 100 Coins

Justin Berube — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:24:54 +0000

Over the years I’ve added many great items to my Nintendo collection. Even though I’ve gained a large horde of Nintendo goods, I have yet to show much of it off. That’s what the Nintendo Collection Showcase is for.

Previous Showcase Item: Limited Edition Super Metroid Poster

The item I’m showing this week are some commemorative Nintendo Power 100th Issue Coins. The coins were available for sale in the Nintendo Power Super Power Supplies catalog that came with the 100th issue of Nintendo Power magazine and that’s where I got these. These coins were just one of several items being sold for the magazine’s 100th issue and I may showcase more of those items in the future.

Want to know when the next Nintendo Collection Showcase will be up? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to let me know if there are any items in particular that you’d like to see me showcase.

Donkey Kong Country Returns Cheats, Extra Lives, Bonus Levels and Infinite Coins Guide

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:36:09 +0000

The Super NES Classic Donkey Kong Country series has returned to the Nintendo Wii to much success. Check out our guide to unlock all the secrets to maximize your Donkey Kong Country Returns experience.

Bonus levels

All levels in a world except Boss levels have hidden K, O, N, and G letters. Collect all four of those letters in all levels in a world to unlock a bonus level. There are a total of eight bonus levels.

Rare Orbs

Successfully complete the bonus level in a world to get a Rare Orb.

World 9 – The Golden Temple

There are 8 Rare Orbs to collect, one in the bonus level of each World. Once they are all collected, the path to World 9 via The Golden Temple will be unlocked.

Infinite DK Coins

In Level 2 – 2 ( Sloppy Sands) there is an area before the checkpoint pig with two squid turrets below a bridge. Use Diddy Kong’s jetpack to super bounce from the lower squid to the higher squid. Hit the squid and drop to the lower squid again. Keep bouncing between them for infinite DK Coins.

Extra lives – Low Battery Special

Resume a saved game with a Wii-mote that has a low battery. Cranky will warn you that your battery is low and give you three extra lives. He’ll give you 5 extra lives for no reason sometimes.

Using Roll Recovery to get KONG letters

When there is a KONG letter hanging off the edge of a cliff, use the Roll Recovery move to get it. Roll off the edge of the cliff, and then jump at the last second to reach a safe ledge above. Note: This requires precise timing and is not easy to master, but it is the only way to get some collectibles.

Kobayashi Gets It On Like Donkey Kong – Eats 16 Bananas In One Minute at Launch Event (Video)

Dave Oshry — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:29:20 +0000

RipTen previously reported that champion competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi would be taking on Donkey Kong at a launch event for DKC Returns in Toronto. Well, Kobayashi-san got it on like Donkey Kong and woofed down an impressive 16 bananas in one minute. Even Cranky Kong would think that’s a lot. Check out these videos:

For more coverage of the event, including a plethora of pictures, check out the full story at the Canada Nintendo Examiner.

Takeru Kobayashi To Take On Donkey Kong

Justin Berube — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:02:13 +0000

Nintendo of Canada has just announced that on November 20th, in Toronto, that “The Tsunami” Takeru Kobayashi will compete against Donkey Kong Country in a banana eating contest. Weather this means he will be going against a real gorilla, or some in game Donkey Kong Country Returns element, is currently unknown.

Fans showing up for the event will also be able to play Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Nintendo Wii before it is released on November 21st. Event details are below:

DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS BANANA EATING CHALLENGE WITH TAKERU KOBAYASHI
Saturday November 20, 1pm-4pm
RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre
20 Eglinton Ave West, Toronto, ON
Upper Plaza Level in front of Toys ‘R’ Us

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What Mario Is Missing In North America For His 25th Anniversary

Justin Berube — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:45:34 +0000

As many of you already know, Super Mario Bros. is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year and Nintendo has been releasing tons of new hardware, software, and promotional goods to commemorate the occasion. In most regions, so far, Nintendo has released the beautiful Red Wii, and the Super Mario Bros. 25^th anniversary Nintendo DSi XL. They also has plans to release a special version of Super Mario All-Stars in most regions of the world.

Despite all of this there are some key items missing in North America and other regions. At this point I am currently worried that these awesome Mario related goods might not find their way outside of the release territories and into the states.

1. Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary Nintendo DSi

The Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary Nintendo DSi system is, without a doubt, a gorgeous piece of hardware. It’s red to match the other anniversary hardware and has an 8-bit jumping Mario above the outer camera.

This hardware has currently only seen a limited release in Japan. It was only made available at 7-Eleven stores and will probably remain hard to get. My question is, why hasn’t this been released outside of Japan? The limited edition Nintendo DSi XL was released, why not have this available too?

The solution? Just release it. I’d completely understand if Nintendo wanted this hardware unit to remain even harder to obtain than the Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary DSi XL they released in North America this week, so why not make it a store exclusive?

2. Donkey Kong (Original Edition)

This is a European exclusive believe it or not. The Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary Red Nintendo Wii hardware comes packed with Donkey Kong Original Edition preloaded onto the Wii’s internal memory like a Virtual Console game. This special edition of the game appears to be the NES version of the game Donkey Kong with the Pie Factory level edited back in.

For those who don’t know, the Pie Factory level was originally deleted off the NES version of Donkey Kong due to memory restrictions. This is the version of the game that many people have been waiting for and it makes me sad to see it currently unavailable in North America, where the top Donkey Kong players in the world hail from.

The solution? Nintendo of America could easily make this available as a special Virtual Console download. Another option is that it could be released as a Club Nintendo Reward or just given out for free to those who buy the upcoming game Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo has options here, but I fear that this game may sadly remain a European exclusive.

3. Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary Edition

Similar to how Europe got Donkey Kong Original Edition loaded on to the Red Wii’s sold in that region, Japan and Australia got their own game. Preloaded on to each and every Red Wii console in Japan and Australia is a Virtual Console style version of Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary Edition.

This special edition of Super Mario Bros. looks and plays exactly like the NES game. The difference is that all the “?” Blocks have been replaced with the number 25. I think this is really cool and would love a chance to have a copy.

The solution? Since this is similar to the last one several of the same solutions apply. Nintendo could easily make this available for the Virtual Console in North America or just make it a Club Nintendo Reward. Also Nintendo could give it to players that purchase a copy of Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition.

The truth is that I’m a huge fan of Super Mario Bros. It is, in fact, my favorite video game of all time and I just want a chance to celebrate this occasion with all the same stuff as the rest of the world!! (I’m not completely upset at NoA because they did just hold an amazing event in New York for the Super Mario Bros. 25^th Anniversary)

Why do these items have to be so exclusive and how come the North American Red Wii doesn’t come with any cool software preloaded on it? Also, why can’t Nintendo fans who already supported the company by purchasing a Wii get these digital goods in another way? Does this bother anyone else? Let your voice be heard!!

Want to stay up to date with my Nintendo discussions, news, event coverage, and more? Or maybe you just want to talk about Nintendo. Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook and tell me what’s on your mind.

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Uncivilized Donkey Kong

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:07 +0000

This is not the lovable Donkey Kong that we remember. This Kong is a monster, and he’s rude at that. Why is the Princess so happy being manhandled by this guy? Jumpman, you need to put a stop to this. It’s on like Donkey Kong (TM).

Today’s piece is the work of Andrea Gadaldi.

Nintendo Files Trademark Request For “It’s On Like Donkey Kong”

Justin Berube — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:02:08 +0000

Nintendo has announced that they have filed a trademark request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the phrase, “It’s on like Donkey Kong”. Over the years this phrase has made it’s way into pop culture and has been heard on television, in music, movies and more. Nintendo has also been using the phrase lately at some of their events.

Perhaps this will be the name of a new fighting game? We can only hope.

Either way, it’s on . . . LIKE DONKEY KONG!!

Source

What’s Next For Nintendo DS?

Justin Berube — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:17:27 +0000

These days everyone is talking about Nintendo’s next handheld, the Nintendo 3DS, and forgetting about the classic Nintendo DS. Yes, the Nintendo 3DS’s big release may be just around the corner, but the Nintendo DS isn’t going to die the day it comes out. In fact the Nintendo DS has plenty of quality titles coming out in 2010 and 2011.

All of these classic Nintendo DS titles will be playable on the Nintendo 3DS and are worth taking a look at even if they won’t be taking advantage of the new technology found within the Nintendo 3DS. You see, a good game is good forever regardless of the tech behind it.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Developer: Nintendo Software Technology
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle
Release Date:
November 14, 2010 (North America)

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is a puzzle game where players try to navigate Mini Mario toys, via the stylus, to the level exit without getting them destroyed. There are also optional items to collect within each stage that add a layer of challenge for players wishing to fully complete the title.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! is one of the best DSiWare titles to this day. Once I sat down with the DSiWare title I was hooked and wanted to really complete the game, which I eventually ended up doing.

Because of my love for the previous title I am really looking forward to the upcoming fourth installment of the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series in Mini-Land Mayhem! Mini-Land Mayhem! also brings back the level editor from the previous installment and Nintendo has promised to have level design contests within the game!

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: RPG
Release Date:
October 28, 2010 (Japan)
November 29, 2010 (North America)
December 10, 2010 (Europe)

Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age are two of the most popular RPG’s on the Game Boy Advance. Fans of the series have been waiting for another installment for years and they are finally about to get their wish when Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is released for the Nintendo DS.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn takes place 30 years after the ending of the second title and features some of the offspring of characters from the original games. This is one title that RPG fans will not want to miss!

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
Developer: h.a.n.d.
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Action RPG
Release Date:
October 7, 2010 (Japan)
January 11, 2011 (North America)
January 14, 2011 (Europe)

Kingdom Hearts fans have something to look forward to with Kingdom Hearts Re:coded on the way. Kingdom Hearts Coded was originally released in Japan as an episodic cell phone game. This cell phone game never made it outside of Japan. Now the original game is getting an overhaul and being put on the Nintendo DS and released in all major regions!

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts 2. Jiminy Cricket is looking at his journal when he notices a strange message. From there he and King Mickey are determined to figure out what it means.

Pokémon Black & White Versions
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Genre: RPG
Release Date:
September 18, 2010 (Japan)
Spring 2011 (North America)
Spring 2011 (Europe)

Pokémon Black & White Versions mark the fifth generation of Pokémon. This game has been on every Pokémon fans radar for quite some time and is going to sell more copies than you can imagine.

Pokémon Black & White Versions feature over 150 new Pokémon and several new features. One new feature allows friends to video voice chat when both are using a Nintendo DSi system. Another feature allows users to upload Pokémon to the Internet for use on an official website.

It has also been confirmed that players can, after certain requirements are met, bring their Pokémon from the previous generation to this title. I personally can’t wait to bring my favorite Pokémon, Mewtwo, over so that I can cause some chaos!

Ōkamiden
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release Date:
September 30, 2010 (Japan)
2011 (North America)
2011 (Europe)

Ōkamiden is the official sequel to the hit game Ōkami and is only available on the Nintendo DS! Ōkamiden’s main character, Chibiterasu, is the child of the star of the previous title, Amaterasu.

The game will once again feature the ability to draw with the Celestial Brush. This time, however, drawing with the Celestial Brush will be made easier thanks to the Nintendo DS’s touch screen.

Chibiterasu will often times have a partner riding her back. This partner can be removed and moved around with the stylus creating several two character puzzle scenarios. Fans of the original title should be watching out for this game.

Kirby
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Release Date:
2011(Japan)

Very little is currently known about the new Kirby title coming to the Nintendo DS. What is known is that it appears as though up to 10 Kirby’s will somehow be playable at once.

This title has yet to be announced for release outside of Japan, but I think it’s very likely that it will happen.

Battle & Get! Pokémon Typing DS
Developer: ?
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Typing?
Release Date:
2011 (Japan)

Much like the new Kirby title, very little is known about Battle & Get! Pokémon Typing DS. The title will come with a wireless keyboard and will probably just be a typing tool for children. I still think this is a title to look out for just for the novelty of having a keyboard for the Nintendo DS and who knows, maybe players will be able to obtain some Pokémon for the main games within it?

This game has yet to be confirmed for release outside of Japan. I do feel the game does have a chance to make it overseas due to the vast amounts of Pokémon fans all over the world.

Professor Layton and the Specter’s Flute
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: ?
Genre: Puzzle/Adventure
Release Date:
December 19, 2009 (Japan)

The Professor Layton series is, without a doubt, one of the best series of games for the Nintendo DS. Professor Layton and the Specter’s Flute will be the fourth installment in the series but takes place long before the previous games. The first three Professor Layton games are the first trilogy and this title will be the start of the prequel trilogy.

Professor Layton and the Specter’s Flute will no doubt feature several puzzles to solve while a great mysterious story plays out. The story in previous Professor Layton games entices players to work hard to solve puzzles so they can figure out what’s going to happen next.

This title has yet to be officially announced for regions outside of Japan but there is evidence to support that it is coming. At E3 2010 it was announced that Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle would be coming to the Nintendo 3DS platform. Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle takes place after The Specter’s Flute. If anyone thinks they are going to skip over a game they are crazy.

Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo: Hikari to Kage no Eiyū
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Tactical RPG
Release Date:
July 15, 2010 (Japan)

This game has yet to be announced for any region outside of Japan but I thought it would be worth a mention. You see Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo was released for the SNES and contained a remake of the original Fire Emblem and an entire new game that was the sequel to the first. These halves of the game were called Book 1 and Book 2 respectively.

In 2009 a remake of the first Fire Emblem game (Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon) which features Marth of Super Smash Bros. fame came out in North America for the Nintendo DS. This would mark the first time fans outside of Japan have been able to play the game and it’s the first time players could experience the tale of Marth.

Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo: Hikari to Kage no Eiyū is a remake of Book 2 from the SNES Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo. I think it’s time that Nintendo allowed the rest of the world to experience the next chapter of the story. Ever since Marth was put into Super Smash Bros. Melee fans have wanted to know more. This is the perfect opportunity.

In addition Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo: Hikari to Kage no Eiyū has a bonus feature that has a remake of BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki. BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki was available to play over the now defunct Nintendo Satellaview service for the Super Famicom and there is currently no real way to play the game fully on that system. The remake within this latest Fire Emblem title for is the only real way to play it today.

Nintendo should really release this game outside of Japan and there is still hope that it could hit in 2011. If it doesn’t hit then I’m sadly positive that players outside of Japan will have to wait a long time for this installment in the series.

Is there a Nintendo DS title that you’re anticipating that I missed? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like me on Facebook and be sure to tell me about it so that I can add a mention of it to the list! Long live Nintendo DS!

Nintendo Collectors Journal 10/12/2010

Justin Berube — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:33:17 +0000

Many people know that I’m a big Nintendo Fanboy and that I collect Nintendo games, goods, memorabilia, and more. If it says Nintendo on it, and it’s official, I want it. That’s what the Nintendo Collectors Journal is for. From this point on I’ll be documenting all the exciting Nintendo items I gather on my travels. I come across things both new and old so be sure to check back to see what I’ve come across.

Nintendo Collectors Journal 10/4/2010: Zant Figures

Nintendo Collectors Journal 10/21/2010

This week I didn’t find that many things, but they are still cool. First is the Limited Edition Yoshi three pack that contains a blue, yellow, and pink Yoshi. These three figures are NOT part of the Series 1 or 2 figures from the same manufacturer and don’t fall into any series from what I can tell. I got this at Toys”R”Us for $12.99. I also got a Donkey Kong Monster Truck toy at Toys”R”Us for $3.99.

It took a while to track down, but I found a Wal-Mart that was selling the Wii Party bundle that comes with a Wii Remote for $69.99. This bundle is only available at select Wal-Mart locations. I also got a copy of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs for a whopping $5.00 after savings!

Want to stay up to date with my Nintendo collecting? Or maybe you just have a tip on where to find some nice Nintendo items. Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like me on Facebook and be sure to tell me about it.

Nintendo Collectors Journal 9/30/2010

Justin Berube — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:45:06 +0000

Nintendo Collectors Journal 9/14/2010

Zant Figures: Nintendo Collectors Journal 10/4/2010

This is my largest Nintendo Collectors Journal to date, so hang in there! The first thing I have to show off this week is my latest issue of Nintendo Power Magazine. I love the cover and am especially happy to see Little Nemo on it! For those of you who aren’t old enough to know about that game, I feel sorry for you. This issue of Nintendo Power also came with a double sided Super Mario Bros. poster.

Above is the other side of the poster.

I was also able to finish my Mario Key Chain collection as well as get the last tin I needed in this particular series of Super Mario Bros. Collectable figures. Both of these came from Toys”R”Us so if you’re interested be sure to check out the store or website.

This week I finally received my Dragon Quest IX hat in the mail. I was able to get this hat by purchasing Dragon Quest IX at Best Buy. This offer was open to Reward Zone members who are also part of the Gamers Club.

I made sure to pick up the latest Nintendo First Party game release this week, Samurai Warriors 3 for the Nintendo Wii.

Over the weekend I hit up several yard sales, small local game shops, and seedy dealers from various places and was able to walk away with some great deals on Nintendo stuff. I was able to get the above lot of Nintendo goods for $7.00. A nice window sign, and various Nintendo wrist ware. A great deal if you ask me.

I bought this copy of Battleclash for $1.00. I know Dave Oshry is in love with this game.

This Game Boy Advance box is the box only. I got this for $5.00 and it includes all the manuals and everything that came with the hardware. Yeah I’m one of those people who likes having boxes. The guy I bought it off of thought I was crazy but I don’t care.

I got the above lot of games for $30.00. Games include Alleyway, Pokémon Silver Version, F-Zero Maximum Velocity (Not For Resale), Golden Sun, and Metroid Fusion. The Madden game was just given to me by the seller for free. He wanted to get rid of it and it kind of makes me sick too. The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team is still sealed. Should I open it? Let me know what you think.

Both of these items together cost $12.00. I needed the red Game Boy Pocket so I’m pleased.

I bought this GameCube set for $20.00. The only reason I really got it was because I wanted the somewhat uncommon Indigo Clear controller. The controller has some great control stick as well. The GameCube works but the button to open the top sticks a bit. I’ll work on it this weekend and repair it to its former glory.

The set of three Nintendo 64 controllers and the third party memory pack cost me $20.00. Two of the control sticks are in excellent shape. The Donkey Kong Jungle Green controller has a stick I would rate as moderate but I needed it for my Donkey Kong Green Nintendo 64 console.

The above lot of games also cost me about $20.00. Milon’s Secret Castle, Tetris, and Blades of Steel are just box and the game. The two John Elway’s Quarterback games and Roger Clemens’ MVP Baseball are all complete.

The above set of games cost me $18.00. I was happy to get the Tetris 2 manual as I have the box. I still don’t own the game but whatever. It will come to me when it’s ready.

This Pokémon travel bag was a whopping $1.00. It’s in amazing condition and my girlfriend is extremely jealous that I got it.

This SNES with two controllers, AC adapter, and Ken Griffey Jr.’s Winning Run cost $4.00. The SNES doesn’t seem to work though, but I think I may be able to fix it up. Even with a dud SNES I think this was a great deal.

The plush Donkey Kong and Pokémon Book cost me $3.25. How can I pass up deals this good?

This NES Game Case cost me $10.00. I like it a lot because it has the Nintendo logo and can be mounted onto the wall!

And finally I got this Tommy Hilfiger Game Boy Color for $10.00.

This week was ridiculous for me and I still have two special items that I didn’t show off. Hopefully they will be shown on the next Nintendo Collectors Journal.

Donkey Kong Country Returns Pre-order Goes Bananas

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:49:04 +0000

Gamestop has been known to get creative with pre-order bonuses, only this time they’ve gone bananas!

Yes, if you pre-order Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Nintendo Wii you get cute little covers to dress up your Wii remotes with. Really cute isn’t it? Only I wouldn’t recommend getting too close to a real Gorilla with one of them.

Donkey Kong Country hits the Nintendo Wii November 21st.

Source

Steve Weibe is Once Again the King of Kong

Garrett Hartman — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:54:07 +0000

Steve Weibe is once again the King of Kong, all hail the King!

Steve Weibe, all American fan favorite and star of 2007′s King of Kong, is king again after shattering rival Billy Mitchell’s record.

It’s been and exciting battle over the past 6 months for the Donkey Kong record title. Newcomer Hank Chien shocked the World when he raised the bar in March besting Mitchell’s three year record. Never one to accept defeat, Mitchell battled back setting a new record in July at 1,062,800.

Earlier this month fan favorite everyman Steve Weibe made his mark again shattering Mitchell’s record with a score of 1,064,500.

The King is back baby.

Source: TwinGalaxies

The King of Kong Reclaims His Crown and Walks Away

David Oxford — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:32:20 +0000

Restaurant owner and hot sauce mogul Billy Mitchell is now once more able to add another title to the list of things by which people describe him as: Champion.

Mitchell, who has achieved a perfect game in Pac-Man and has also set records in BurgerTime and Centipede, recently went on to reclaim his spot as the world-record holder in Donkey Kong, an accomplishment he first performed in 1982 and has fought against all comers to hold on to since. In the meantime, he has been named one of 1983′s “Video Game Players of the Year” by Time magazine, “Video Game Player of the Century” by Namco in 1999, one of “The 10 Most Influential Video Gamers Of All Time” by MTV in 2006, while also putting up $100,000 to the first person to conquer Pac-Man‘s infamous “split-screen level.”

Until now, the most recent holder of the record was newcomer to the scene Hank Chien, who had scored 1,061,700 points in March of this year to capture the crown. But, as officially revealed by Twin Galaxies (who officiate such records), Billy Mitchell was more recently able to serve up his own special blend of burnsauce by reclaiming his crown at Florida’s Boomers-Grand Prix Arcade by scoring 1,062,800 points … and then walking away from the machine.

What would possess the man to do such a thing? Was he simply keeping the bar low for the next time he would have to perform this tête à tête with the likes of Chien and King of Kong documentary rival Steve Wiebe?

“Some say I’m being cocky. Some say I’m being lazy. I say I’m being Billy Mitchell,” he responded when asked.

Of course, that may also mean that he was on a schedule. After accomplishing his goal for Donkey Kong in 2 hours and 24 minutes, he realized he had some free time, soon setting his sights on other goals:

“I remember a lot of celebration; hugs, kisses and a lot of hooting and hollering. Once that died down, stood there looking at Donkey Kong Jr. and thought ‘there’s one more thing I have to take care of’.”

And take care of it he did. Almost four hours later, he set another world record with the son of Donkey Kong, scoring 1,270,900 points.

“I can’t think of a better time and place than at the eve of the [International Videogame Hall of Fame] to have this happen,” says Mitchell, explaining: “I really have to give a nod to my son who prodded me to do something special for this historic event and Boomers-Grand Prix for graciously giving me the place to set my records.”

Added Twin Galaxies International Director of Adjudication David Nelson:

“This has been a landmark event for Twin Galaxies International. We’re proud and excited to be here in Ottumwa, Iowa, birthplace of Twin Galaxies, celebrating the very first International Video Game Hall and now playing a key role in this significant gaming achievement.”

Now that the King is back atop his throne, two questions remain: how long until another steps up to meet the challenge, and for how long will Mitchell allow him (or her, you never know) to bask in their glory?

Source: Twin Galaxies

Donkey Kong Country Returns Top Five Wants

Justin Berube — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:01:51 +0000

I remember when the first Donkey Kong Country was about to be released back in 1994. I received that nice promotional video in the mail that many people remember and instantly wanted the game more than anything else. Now almost 15 years later I’m just as excited for the next installment in the Donkey Kong Country series.

Having been a Donkey Kong Country fan for so long got me thinking about what I’d want to see in this comeback game for Donkey Kong. So here are my top five wants for Donkey Kong Country Returns.

5. Over 100% Of The Game

In Donkey Kong Country trilogy, on the SNES, it was always possible to get over 100% on the save file screen. Each game brought that amount up a percentage point. So in the original DKC you could get 101%, DKC2 102%, and DKC3 103%.

I don’t want this tradition to end in Donkey Kong Country Returns. It would be great to be able to get 104%, in a nod to adding one more percent like the classic games, but I’ll take anything over 100%. If the game doesn’t have this feature then it will be turning its back on a great Donkey Kong Country tradition.

4. Online Co-Op

Nintendo avoided online Co-Op play in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but it’s something that I don’t think needs to be avoided. Donkey Kong Country Returns features Co-Op that is greatly enhanced over the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy.

In the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy each player would take control of one member of the Kong family. The problem here was that only one player could play at a time and the player waiting to play could only play if the currently active Kong died or agreed to swap. Donkey Kong Country returns fixes this issue by allowing both players to play simultaneously just like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I’d just love to play this game over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection with my friends.

3. Animal Friends

I’d love to see animal friends return. They were a very fun feature of the past Donkey Kong Country games and many of them have stuck in my mind. Most notably Rambi the Rhino. It’s a shame Enguarde the Swordfish probably won’t make an appearance in Donkey Kong Country Returns since he has made an appearance in all the other DKC games. Maybe he can be a cameo at the very least.

Let’s not forget about the other fun Animal Friends as well. Animals such as Expresso the Ostrich, Winky the Frog, Squawks and Quawks the Parrots, Ellie the Elephant, Rattly the Rattlesnake, Clapper the Seal, Squitter the Spider, Glimmer the Anglerfish, and Parry the Parallel Bird. Would this be a true Donkey Kong Country game without any animal friends? I don’t think so. I’d just like to see a mix of old and new Animal Friends return.

2. Other Playable Kongs

So far we know that Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong will be playable in Donkey Kong Country Returns. This is the same duo that took on the Kremlings original Donkey Kong Country. So what about those other Kongs?

My hope is that players will eventually be able to unlock more Kongs to play as and that they will be able to choose which pair they want to take to each stage. It’s either this way or that each new area requires the player to use a different set of Kongs. I like the first idea more.

I don’t want the other Kongs, Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong, to be forgotten. They are important characters in the Donkey Kong Country games and deserve to come back. I’m not a big fan of Donkey Kong 64, so while I’d like to see Chunky Kong, Lanky Kong and Tiny Kong in the game I don’t think I’d care to see them playable. Hopefully Donkey Kong Country Returns brings us multiple playable Kongs!

1. Cranky Kong

How can you have a Donkey Kong Country game without the original Donkey Kong, AKA Cranky Kong. Cranky Kong’s antics have always been a great source of comic relief in the Donkey Kong Country series and I can’t wait to see his return. Cranky Kong, for those who don’t know, would often comment on how games (in the mid 1990’s) were too advanced, complex, and high tech.

I wonder what Cranky Kong has to say these days. Will he hate the Wii and DS as much as he hated the Super Nintendo? Or will he join the many other senior citizens who love the Wii? Nintendo and Retro Studios could take it either way with this character and it will be fun to see what he has to say about gaming in this modern age.

Honorable Mentions:

Awesome Music
Kremlings and King K. Rool (So much for that idea)
Funky Kong
Candy Kong
A DS Spin-off Game Called Donkey Kong Land Returns
A Yellow Wii Game Case

Don’t Be a Goomba! Practice Safe Sex With These Nintendo Condoms

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:35:56 +0000

Oh man, Becky and I ended up playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl way into the early hours of the morning and now she wants me to stay over! And she wants me to sleep in her bed? What if things get serious? I don’t have any protection? Help me, Donkey Kong!

And right on cue, Donkey Kong burst through the door, looked the Nintendo fanboy right in the eye, winked, and flung him an assortment of Nintendo-themed condoms. He gave the gamer a thumbs up and disappeared back into the night.

The Nintendo-themed condoms that L337Lauren linked to her on her Twitter are the best thing I’ve ever seen. Hey Nintendo, you want to shake your kid-friendly image? Two words: Donkey Shlong.

Fan-Art: Donkey Kong vs. Batman

Dylan Duarte — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:48:28 +0000

Holy Barrel of Monkeys, Batman! This is one of the coolest pieces of fan-art to ever grace the internet, combining three things that I love: videogames, comics, and the Dark Knight. Donkey Kong can go to hell for all I care. Nah, just playin’, DK. You’re alright. This amazing piece of history is brought to us by Deviant Artist deankotz, who is apparently a fan of Dean Koontz, based on his name. The image is incredible, right down to the Comics Code Authority logo. And for those of you that aren’t into comics, The Brave and The Bold series always featured Batman meeting up with another popular character, so the crossover even makes a little bit of sense. Clearly this guy loves the source material. Well done.

Peter Cullen Talks About Playing Optimus Prime, and… Mario?

David Oxford — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:11:29 +0000

During the 80′s, Peter Cullen was a hero to an entire generation of young boys throughout their formative years. In fact, he may have even been two or three. They just didn’t really know it.

He is perhaps best known for his role as the leader of the Autobots in the 1984 Transformers animated series, a role which he would reprise in Michael Bay’s two smash-hit Transformers movies (like them or not, you can’t deny they made money), their associated merchandise (games included), and in Activision’s Transformers: War for Cybertron (Transformers: Cybertron Adventures on the Wii), which was released on Tuesday.

In an MP3 interview with Wired Game|Life (video aside, is there any other way to do an interview with a voice actor?), Cullen talks about how he came to acquire the role of the legendary Matrix-bearer, what influenced the voice, and being something of a pop-culture icon:

“For all the people listening that remember those years, so many years ago: to become aware of the significant influence it had was a real surprise to me. My daughter had convinced me to go back to a BotCon [an annual Transformers fan convention, which coincidentally happens to be going on now in Orlando --ed] in New York (or Rochester, I’m not sure, it’s been a while). She had convinced me to go, saying ‘Dad, Optimus is a very popular character!’ I said ‘what? Nobody’s going to remember me, that was back twelve… fifteen years ago.’ She said ‘oh, no, Dad… you have no idea.’”

“And so she convinced me to go back east, and I did. And the reception that I received was overwhelming; I was stunned. I mean, I was literally… my jaw dropped. And it was hard to imagine, I had to explain to them that I was so popular, or an icon, by any means, because I had never had any feedback. I hadn’t received fan letters… this is a story I’ve told several times, but there was no thermometer for me to judge where I was.”

“And so it was a total surprise… and it continues to be, the more I realize what impact it’s had, to hear a young man in his 30′s, or a writer say I was his other father, that’s very touching and it means a great deal to me. It’s very important, very important to me.”

So, for anyone who might not understand the significance to fans of Cullen returning to the role, there you have it.

Cullen goes on to discuss what it was like recording his lines for a video game, as opposed to the cartoons or movies, and as it so happens, Transformers is not his only brush with video game fame. In fact, though not in a game itself, it turns out that he as the original voice of none other than Mario, as seen in CBS’s Saturday Supercade Donkey Kong cartoon:

Cullen: *as this little reminder is brought to his attention* “Oh my… Oh my god, oh my… oh wow. Yeah, I remember vaguely… I remember because I played Donkey Kong, it was one of the first video games… am I right? Yeah, I remember seeing this little character, you know, when my kids would be playing it, and inevitably, when we went out somewhere, there would be some of those games. Donkey Kong was one of them, and it was kind of funny, I don’t remember how it goes today…

Soon after that, I am auditioning for Mario *laughs* There I was, this same little character that was on the video screen, and I told my kids about it: ‘Dad, that’s fantastic! Gee, maybe we’ll get our own game!’ *laughs* …it was short-lived.”

Wired: “It didn’t last very long, right?”

Cullen: “No, I don’t think so. And I think I was even replaced, so… which is not uncommon in this Tinseltown-world.”

Wired: “Right, right right. Well, apparently, you are the first person to give a voice to that character. So says Wikipedia.”

Cullen: “I’m… honored. *more laughter from both*

Before wrapping up, Cullen recalls one other voice people might recognize: Eeyore, the gloomy donkey from Winnie the Pooh.

You can hear the full interview here, though he does not touch on some of the other roles he has played over the years, including some from Voltron and Disney’s Ducktales. However, it appears that he will be reprising the role of Optimus Prime again, not only for the upcoming third Michael Bay Transformers movie, but also for the Transformers: Prime animated series, slated to come soon to Hasbro and The Discovery Channel’s new “The Hub” network.