Nintendo sent out a press release today triumphantly boasting of victory in an Australian court over a man accused of pirating New Super Mario Bros. Wii. And how this single man now owes the mega-rich company $1.5 million.
Last November, Nintendo says it was able to “employ the use of sophisticated technological forensics” to catch the man, James Burt, who has been convicted of uploading the word’s first pirated copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii onto the internet.
Burt – a single man, not a company or group – now must pay the Japanese publisher and platform holder AUD$1.5 million (USD$1.3 million), “to compensate Nintendo for the loss of sales revenue caused by the individual’s actions.”
Yes, he broke the law. And as a pirate, should be punished. But this is a game that’s sold over 10 million copies in just three months.
Nothing like a little disproportionate punishment to maintain that lovable image, eh Nintendo?
Popularity: 1% [?]
If cheering wasn’t your thing, you might want to consider All Star Karate by THQ. It’s the publisher’s new title in the “All Star” franchise, following the popular (no, really) All Star Cheer Squad.
The Wii title puts players in the role of a young martial artist in training who, in an attempt to save an old man from a group of ninjas, has to fight head-to-head against a karate master. What… the… ? Yeah, so in a Karate Kid inspired “twist,” you’re trained by the elderly karate master in an effort to earn a black belt. The game will feature full support fo the Wii MotionPlus (if you choose), and will let you use your choice of the Wii Remote/Nunchuck combo or two Wii Remotes.
All Star Karate is scheduled to ship this spring, so you might want to wait before starting sh*t with any neighborhood ninjas. Because, you know, this game is gonna make a man out of you. Or a tough pre-teen. Or something.
Popularity: 1% [?]
[New releases is your weekly look at all the hot new titles coming out this week.]
This week sees the release of two major games. BioShock 2 and Dante’s Inferno. Both games offer up some good action adventure goodness and we have reviews for both titles already up for you to see if you’ll like the games or not.
Other than that, this week is pretty light on releases. All for the best, as games like BioShock 2 and Dante’s Inferno in the same week will outshine everything else. What’s looking sw33t to all of you? Full list of releases is after the break!
X360:
Popularity: 1% [?]
Halfbrick, the studio responsible for putting Mr. Destructoid in Raskulls, has announced a brand new shooter for the PSP Minis service. Age of Zombies is a time-traveling undead genocidal romp in which Barry Steakfries slaughters countless ghouls in period dress.
Popularity: 1% [?]
If you’re needing a new kart racer and love some cheap nostalgia whoring, then you might want fire up your Xbox 360 and download the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing demo. It’s up on Xbox Live right now, so go and make that happen if you are so inclined.
Popularity: 1% [?]
As seen on Weekend D: It’s the old Donkey Kong Country promo. I truly miss videogame marketing like this. It’s just too serious today. Granted, it’s our jobs to try and make videogame news entertaining now.
We talked to 2K about BioShock, the new Monthly Musing topic is up, Holmes looked at the bosses of No More Heroes 2, you can win a bunch of Dante’s Inferno swag, Sonic might be playable in Mario Galaxy 2 and more happened over the weekend.
Destructoid Originals:
BioShock 2 devs prepared for fan backlashThe Videogame Show What I’ve Done: Sonic the Hedgehog 4
2K tells us why BioShock 2’s multiplayer existsMonthly Musings: the Areas of my ExpertisePromoted Community blogs round-up for JanuaryWeekend Destructainment: UhhhhhhhhAnalyzing No More Heroes 2, part 1: The bossesBioShock 2 devs under pressure to make a compelling storyDarksiders vs. Zelda: A compelling argument
The art of The Journalism Show: Episode 03
2K Marin: The console wars are ‘a bit silly’Indie games don’t have to act like indie games
Best of the Network this weekGames of the week for 02/07/10: Super Bowl edition
Community:How SimCity made me fall in love with JazzMy Expertise: Super Street Fighter II Turbo: HD Remix and the fighting community
Community blogs of 02/06/10 & 02/07/10Forum of the day: Careers in the game industry
Contests:Win Dante’s Inferno prizes by indulging in a sin!
News:
Star Trek Online doesn’t need WoW players to succeed
More details emerge on Fallout New Vegas
Bit.Trip RUNNER pays tribute to Vib Ribbon and Pitfall!
Sony losing even less on each PlayStation 3
Just Cause 2 gives you the freedom to cause chaos
Pharrell Williams rocks some Mario-themed bling
DISH Network bringing Tetris to your TVLeft 4 Dead 2 update: Special Infected botsRare showing off Perfect Dark at X10, we preview it now
Rumor: Sonic the Hedgehog playable in Mario Galaxy 2Saudis use videogames to reintegrate terrorists
Demon’s Souls swings the way you choose for V Day
Developers not developing as many Wii games
Here comes the new Pokemon…
New Blaster Master game coming to WiiWare this Monday?!?
Bungie will be sending Halo 2 off in styleModern Warfare 2 ‘care package’ patch incoming soonAlpha Protocol delayed again, this time with reasoning
Toys R’ Us all about free stuff this weekBattlefield: Bad Company 2 to have WWII level(s)
PlayStation 3 sales cross 30 million worldwideBuy two 360 Platinum Hits get one free at Amazon
Offbeat:Here’s some videogame rap music for your morning
Media:The Prince of Persia movie Super Bowl trailer sans sportsFirst R.U.S.E. making-of video is shinySyndicate art confirms the game was/is in the worksCan I get a hand-clap? Blaster Master: Overdrive video
Popularity: 1% [?]
