That’s next week folks.

Premiere episode, “Homestar Ruiner,” will release simultaneously on WiiWare and PC

Telltale Inc., the leader in interactive episodic entertainment, is announcing that “Homestar Ruiner”, the first of five monthly Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People episodes, will premiere Monday, August 11. “Homestar Ruiner” will release on Nintendo’s WiiWare™ download service in North and South America and worldwide on PC simultaneously. WiiWare availability for Europe, Australia and New Zealand will follow shortly.

As the star of the popular Homestarrunner.com web cartoons, Strong Bad has been answering emails (in boxing gloves), pranking his friends, pummeling his enemies, and making people with questionable taste snort milk out of their noses for years. Now he’s branching out to star in the monthly Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People series developed in partnership with Homestarrunner.com creators Mike and Matt Chapman.

In the season premiere, Strong Bad’s plans to beat the snot out of his rival Homestar Runner backfire, and he ends up with an unwanted houseguest cramping his style. Now he needs to get life back to normal, by any means possible. Comical point-and-click gameplay progresses the story, with side quests, mini games, achievements, and an “extended play” sandbox mode that unlocks after the story is completed rounding out the game experience.

“Homestar Ruiner is a great series premiere and kick-off for the season. The next five months will be filled with lots of surprises,” says Telltale CEO Dan Connors. “This is how we always envisioned episodic gaming—monthly releases, straight into the living room. We’re happy to be working with the Chapmans and Nintendo to make it a reality.”

New Strong Bad episodes can be downloaded from the Wii™ Shop Channel each month for 1000 Wii Points™. The series takes advantage of the WiiConnect24™ technology by giving players the ability to send Strong Bad-themed emails to Wii friends directly from the Lappy. Photos taken using the in-game camera feature can be attached to emails, allowing players to show off Easter eggs uncovered or hidden costumes collected during the game.

“We are very excited,” said a Videlectrix spokesperson from his pretend high-rise office, “Our last game topped out at 8 bits. We’ve heard this one might reach 9 or 10!”

Downloadable versions of each Strong Bad episode will also be available for the PC exclusively from Telltale’s website, with preorders starting today at www.telltalegames.com/strongbad. Episodes can be purchased individually for $8.95 or as part of a five-episode subscription for $34.95. As with Telltale’s popular Sam & Max series, customers who purchase the full series from Telltale will later be eligible to get a disc version for the cost of shipping and handling.

After the “Homestar Ruiner” premiere on August 11, storylines in the monthly episodes will run the gamut from political struggles to rock’n roll to the world of videogames (of course), building to the exciting season finale in December. Many fan favorite characters from Free Country USA will appear in each episode, along with special new super 8-bit style mini-games from Videlectrix. Additional details about the series can be found at www.telltalegames.com/strongbad.

About Homestarrunner.com
Homestar Runner was conceived in 1996 by Mike Chapman and friend Craig Zobel as an idea for a weird kids’ book they would only make a few photocopies of for friends. In 2000, Mike and brother Matt dusted off the idea and launched Homestarrunner.com, featuring the Flash-animated exploits of the characters. Since 2002, they have updated with new cartoons almost every week including the popular feature ‘Strong Bad Email’ in which fans get their emails answered by the cartoon’s charming antagonist, Strong Bad. Mike and Matt write and animate the cartoons with Matt and Missy Palmer providing voices for the characters. The site has been featured and mentioned in the New York Times, Wired Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Time, The Wall Street Journal, and, most importantly, two songs from the site were featured in the Guitar Hero series.

Interesting Western Arcade Shooter

Wild West Guns (Gameloft, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Draw your revolver to see if you’re the fastest gun in the West. Adjust your speed and precision as targets or enemies appear in front of you. Point and shoot to earn more points. You can aim at anything, so be sure to explore the environment for elements that will earn you more shooting points. Identify your enemies among the characters you encounter, but don’t shoot at innocent citizens. Take part in an Old West-style train attack, or challenge your skills in a variety of increasingly difficult shooting challenges in other beautiful, classic and lively Western environments. As you progress through challenges, you’ll earn medals and rewards, making for nonstop, addictive action. Play in a two-player multiplayer mode where you and your partner can combine points, or play against each other to find out who’s the fastest gun in the West.

Pong Toss-Frat Party Games™ (JV Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Language, 800 Wii Points): Pony up-it’s Pong Toss time. Compete against your friends or the computer in this ultimate party-game favorite. Play on a regulation table with up to four players. Make consecutive shots for the Fireball bonuses and Roll-Backs as you or your team try to dominate the table and reign as Pong Toss champs. In Speed Pong, up to three challengers can compete at the same time. Speed and strategy are the keys to this fast-paced game. Jack up your opponents by using a slew of power-ups that will slow them down. The first one who sinks the last cup wins it all. Be fast. Be furious. Be victorious.

Interesting looking.

Reflexive Entertainment bringing multiplayer Big Kahuna Party to WiiWare

Reflexive Entertainment is proud to announce Big Kahuna Party, a new multiplayer edition of the popular Big Kahuna franchise that will be surfacing exclusively on WiiWareTM for the WiiTM.

Reflexive Entertainment has always been a fan of multiplayer gaming and is excited to announce Big Kahuna Party, a special multiplayer focused version of one of its most beloved franchises, coming exclusively to WiiWare™ on the Wii™.

Featuring both cooperative and competitive play for 2-4 players, in addition to single-player mode, Big Kahuna Party takes players on an exciting adventure through underwater reefs, captivating players as they discover new and exotic fish and explore all 99 levels. Each level has been carefully conceived to create an oceanic holiday for players as they match up sea-themed objects, and unlock 26 beautifully rendered and stunningly life-like fish.

With new intuitive Wii-specific controls, players can swap tiles faster and more fluidly than ever before using either just the Wii Remote™, or with both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk™. That speed will come in handy in the multiplayer modes, where the underwater matching madness can get intense.

“When we made the Big Kahuna games on the PC, we added a feature that allowed players to play together using multiple mice, and in the office it was a smash hit,” said Lee Cooper, Producer of Big Kahuna Party. “Unfortunately, as most people don’t have multiple mice connected to their computer, not enough people have gotten to experience the frantic fun of multiplayer Big Kahuna. For WiiWare, we’ve made multiplayer the focus. People can still enjoy the game by themselves, but after playing multiplayer we expect you’ll only use single-player to brush up on your skills for your next competitive game night with friends.”

Big Kahuna Party also features explosives, which have been one of the most popular additions to the Big Kahuna series. Created as players make matches of 5 or more, explosives come in various sizes from little sticks of dynamite to huge nuclear bombs that can be used strategically to clear out large sections or difficult to reach areas of each level. Explosives are especially useful in multiplayer competitive matches where players race to own the most territory on the board by clearing squares before their competitors.

With nearly a hundred levels sure to keep players entertained for hours and friendly casual game play that ensures everyone in the family can join in on the fun, Big Kahuna Party is an unbeatable way to take the family on a tropical holiday from the comfort of your own living room.

Big Kahuna Party is rated “E” for Everyone. A release date will be announced soon.

Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-’em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades and ultimately battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a navy captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless pirate in order to seek out and retrieve the Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artifact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship’s crew, gaining performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including rockets, mines, chain shot, saw blades and a flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies. Play against three of your scurvy friends or A.I. opponents in pitched multiplayer battles over 35 levels, set in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. Play in turbo mode if you’re pirate enough.

Major League Eating: The Game™ (Mastiff, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Crude Humor, 1,000 Wii Points): The ultimate chomp-off is about to begin. Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and dig into 12 different foods as you compete against the greatest major-league eaters in the world. This isn’t just a race to stuff your face-you’ll need strategy to master a smorgasbord of digestive attacks, defenses and counters. These include the Mega Burp, Gas Attack, Antacid and more. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your Barf-O-Meter, because if the food hits the plate twice, you’re out. Unlock more than 10 characters in single-player career mode, go gut-to-gut against your friends in versus mode, or compete online using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Online play supports friend codes, random matchmaking and leader boards.

Hey Wii Owners … It’s Time to Eat!

“Major League Eating: The Game” Launches Monday, July 14, 2008 for WiiWare

Video game publisher Mastiff announced today that the first videogame based on the exciting world of competitive eating will launch exclusively for WiiWare on July 14th, 2008. Major League Eating: The Game features the world’s greatest gurgitory athletes competing across a variety of foods and venues.

As featured on ESPN during the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, NY, MLE: The Game is built much like a classic fighting simulation, with offensive attacks and defensive counter moves, MLE: The Game requires players to master a smorgasbord of weapons including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas and jalapeño flames while cramming and chewing food at a world-class pace. It’s not for the faint of heart, the slow of reflex, or those with an overly strong aversion to a Technicolor reversal of fortune.

Major League Eating: The Game uses the Wii Remote to simulate a variety of eating techniques including the cram, toss, and ‘typewriter.’ Burp-offs and Hot Potato challenges during the contests keep the competition intense and eaters on their toes. Major League Eating: The Game is for one or two players, offers online play and a leader board. MLE: The Game also features eleven of the best-known professional eaters in the world including Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese eating phenomenon, and American Joey Chestnut, current champion of the world together with eaters such as Tim ‘Eater X’ Janus, Patrick ‘Deep Dish’ Bertoletti, Crazy Legs Conti, Sonya ‘The Black Widow’ Thomas, and ‘The Lovely’ Juliet Lee.

“Top level competitive eaters are more than brilliant athletes and tacticians, they are more than fierce competitors. These brave men and women are artists of the alimentary canal, warriors who create living poetry with each wiggle of the epiglottis. Each gurgitator is like a classical musician in a symphony of salivation, A pile of hot dogs sing like a Stradivarius in the hands, mouth and stomach of maestros like Joey Chestnut or Takeru Kobayashi. It took more than thirty artists, engineers and designers, and of course the Wii’s motion sensitive controller and excellent online abilities, to recreate the Major League Eating experience as a videogame. But we did it.” says Bill Swartz, Head Woof at Mastiff.

Despite its July 14th launch date, curious Francophiles should note that Major League Eating: The Game has nothing to do with Bastille Day. More information on Major League Eating: The Game can be found at http://www.mlegame.com/.

Title: “My Aquarium”
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Developer: Hudson Soft
Format: Digital download for WiiWare™
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Pricing: TBD
Availability: TBD
Release Territories: Worldwide

About My Aquarium:
My Aquarium is an all-new, original IP for WiiWare™. In this pleasant and relaxing software experience, much like a real aquarium, you can customize your fish tank with different backgrounds, gravel styles, decorations, plant life, and of course, fish.

Product Overview:
My Aquarium brings the relaxation of an aquarium to your Wii™. Sit back, interact with the fish, and enjoy the wondrous things that can happen. Don’t worry if you have to go away for a while; you might even find a brand new fish when you come back! Fish & fun for the whole family. Why not add an aquarium to your home?

Features:
· Create a captivating world for your enjoyment and relaxation – Decide exactly which fish you want in your aquarium and what decorations they’ll get to enjoy. Choose the glass color, lighting, background design, style of gravel, rocks, or plant life for the world your fish will inhabit. Mix and match different fish in up to 6 individual aquariums. You can even send aquariums to your friends using WiiConnect24™ if they also have My Aquarium!
· A wide selection of colorful fish – Choose from 40 different types of fish, from groupers to jellyfish. Both freshwater and saltwater fish can cohabit just fine. If you want to feed your fish, you can choose from a variety of food. You can even interact with your fish and keep a watchful eye on your favorite. Learn more about your fish in the Fish Database.
· Interacts with the Wii Forecast Channel – Tank conditions change depending on the weather in your area!
· Focused on Fun –You can simply relax and enjoy the fish. Don’t worry about water temperatures or other special knowledge needed for a real aquarium. My Aquarium requires only your imagination.