Goichi Suda, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture says that No More Heroes 2nd game may be the last to appear on the Wii. Gamestooge.com has reported his statement regarding the future of the NMH franchise:

“I really want to make NMH a big franchise and with this second episode have bigger success. I’m putting a lot of care into developing this IP, as I feel there’s a lot of potential. I think this is the last NMH that is going to be developed on Wii. To expand NMH to new possibilities, we need a new platform. Wii is a great platform, but we’ve done everything we can with it now.”

Sounds to me like the sales returns may not have been what he was looking for--given the Wii's install base. It shouldn't be a surprise though. No More Heroes isn't the type of game the majority of Wii owners are looking for.

The fun of NMH is the fact that it was coded from the ground up to utilize the Wii's built in control scheme to produce an over-the-top action game that was fantastic fun to play. Honestly, I can't imagine playing this game with a Dual Shock3 or a 360 controller. Sure, graphics w would be better, but unless he's got a total re-boot for the series in mind, most of the fun will be left behind.

The originator of just about every 3rd person shooter cliche' is comming back, and ShackNews has some info from the upcoming July issue of GameInformer's cover story, as well as some screenshots. A few of the known details: The game takes place 12 years after the events of Max Payne 2, with Max leaving New York behind to work personal security for a wealthy family in Brazil. From a tech side, the game uses Rockstar's Rage engine (GTA 4, Red Dead Redemption), and will have heavy environmental destruction. Game play wise, Max will use a cover system, have the ability to use human shields, and of course bullet-time will return--this time with gratuitous ultra violent results. A multiplayer aspect will be comming as well, which seems to be the feature of the day for all games--even those that can more than stand on their single player assets as the Max Payne series can. Maybe it'll be fun.

Remedy (the series creators) aren't doing this game. Instead, coding duty falls upon Rockstar Vancouver's more than capable shoulders. Release date is vaguely listed as "winter 2009."

Personally, I'm looking forward to stepping into Max's tormented shoes again.

CVG is reporting on a 1Up article which claims that--according to reliable sources--Project Natal is actually a glimpse of Microsoft's next console.

If 1Up's source is to be believed, a new Xbox console will be released next fall, and the Natal motion controller will come standard with the re-branded system. Microsoft's next console is said to have more programming horsepower that can be harnessed by developers, but won't be a completely "new" system. Apparently this system will be the answer to various developers who've claimed that the Xbox360 potential has been "maxed out," and will give developers more to work with in terms programming power. The system is said to be backwards compatible with Xbox360 games, but will display and run them better. Supposedly, we'll hear about the system at next year's GDC, with a release date for this next system to hit fall 2010, according to 1Up's source. Comments by Shane Kim regarding Natal's launch being "....like the launch of the Xbox360. It's going to be that big," seem to give added weight to this rumor.

When I saw the demo video of Natal during E3, I felt it would be part of their next console. Not because of "insider info", but because it simply doesn't look like a peripheral that belongs in the Xbox360 family. Microsoft has adopted an Apple-like approach this console. Look at an iMac, Macbook, iPhone, or iPod, you know they are members of the same product family. Microsoft copied that mode--look at the HDDVD peripheral drive they released during the Microsoft/Samsung ill fated hi-def duke-out with Sony's BluRay. Look at the Zune HD--even it has a 360-ish look to it. Natal doesn't follow that equation at all. I would even suggest that Natal may contain some very subtle design clues as to Microsoft's next console.

We're not even done with 2009 yet, and 2010 just might be just as interesting--if not more so.

Starting Friday those of us lucky enough to be near Philadelphia get to experience Wizard World Philadelphia! A big thank you to Wizard World for granting GamerHusbands a press pass for the event. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the celebrities and cool events.

The Video Game Expo is teaming up with Wizard World this year. If you are lucky enough to come, don't forget to sign up for the Halo 3 or Super Smash Bros Tournaments.

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