"Everything inside is eatable, I mean edible, I mean you can eat everything." - Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Designer cake maker Brian Walak put his talents to good use (not to marginalize his other, impressive work, but we can't exactly cover non-gaming culinary art) and made a cake modeled after a Wii, complete with remote (but no sensor bar in sight).

Wired's Chris Kohler has posted some advice from Walak for budding chefs who want to make their own Wii cake. Walak's creation got him on the Martha Stewart show to discuss the game console and his pastry. Video embedded after the break.

Just in time for the winter, Nintendo has offered a free Wiimote Jacket to keep its controllers cozy. And by "cozy," we mean, "potential-lawsuit free." All of the demo controllers at Nintendo's "Fall Media Summit" had been fitted with the silicon sock. In my use, the extra layer added bulk, but the result felt about the same as -- and occasionally better than -- an unprotected controller.

The sleeve attaches tightly to the sides of the Wii Remote, only adding a few millimeters around the waist. More thickness at the bottom -- perhaps for pounding in that annoying straighten-the-papers WarioWare game -- adds about another centimeter of girth.

But the bulb-shaped top is significantly bigger than the naked Wiimote. Its spongy feel should absorb a lot of energy; I could imagine unintentionally hitting a table or younger sibling without causing injury. I was concerned that the bigger shape would ruin horizontal, NES-style games, but I ended up liking it a little more than the plain Wiimote. My left hand has always felt cramped next to the D-pad, and the Jacket gives it more to hold.

The Jacket also includes a port cover for use without the Nunchuk. I was mildly annoyed by moving the flap to plug in attachments, but gamers could cut that part off of their own Jackets. (See the gallery for a closer view.)

We've shrugged at Nintendo's 18-million dollar move seemingly to preempt American lawsuits. But even minimalist-preferring adult gamers may like the cover's extra size.

Amidst all the Sonic celebration and delay debacle, we seemed to have a missed a crucial bit of info regarding Nintendo's other multiplayer prodigy. As 1UP graciously points out, Satoru Iwata made the formal announcement at Nintendo's Japanese press conference that Mario Kart Wii will support up to 12 players in an online race, making it the largest Mario Kart yet, and the biggest multiplayer effort on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection so far.

According to 1UP, Iwata also stated that Nintendo would attempt to streamline the matchmaking process in Mario Kart Wii. We'll go ahead and put in a "second" for that "no friend codes" request, futile though it may seem.

Did someone say something about a lack of third-party support? Nintendo is eager to dispell that notion – or perhaps they simply feel bad about delaying Smash Bros. Brawl – but, regardless, they've released an enormous list of games coming to the Wii and DS platforms. Nintendo's George Harrison (is he still working there?) crowed, "Because of Wii and Nintendo DS momentum, third-party publishers are supporting our systems like never before." We don't know how much we'd brag about a history of poor third-party support but the list – conveniently contained after the break – shows off many of the releases planned through early 2008.

Notable inclusions: The long-rumored Assassin's Creed for Nintendo DS, the Japanese imports Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day and Master of Illusion, and the soon-to-be-blockbuster Elf Bowling (Collector's Edition no less). Alright, so this is a really big list, so let's use the power of numbers to defeat it! Anything really important we're missing?

With shortages possibly running into early 2008, it would appear that the Wii is a clear-cut success in the current generation of consoles. So why are software companies so nervous to develop games for Nintendo's white wonder?

IGN reports on a recent article from The Nikkei Business Daily. After speaking to a number of software houses on the future of the Wii, The Business Daily reveals that several developers, preferring to stay anonymous, expressed concerns over the longevity of the system, and were hesitant to develop games in the event of the Wii's popularity dropping suddenly.

Several houses perceive the motion-sensing Wii as a fad, and believe its success to be ending shortly. This could possibly be in response to the Wii's sales in Japan, which The Nikkei Business Daily reports are at their lowest point since late last year. Several developers also blamed Nintendo for their hesitancy, claiming that the company puts third-party developers at a disadvantage while ensuring the success of first-party titles. It remains to be seen if any of this Wii fear is justifiable, although a lack of third-party confidence is never a good sign for a console manufacturer.

At a media summit this morning in San Francisco, Nintendo of America's George Harrison (via MTV Multiplayer) has confirmed that the US version of Smash Bros. Brawl will follow in its Japanese brethren's footsteps and be delayed until February 10, 2008.

The loss of this future bestseller during the holiday season will definitely sadden some fans (and Nintendo's profit margin), but then again Mario Galaxy is also coming in November (so far as we know) and it was always uncharacteristic of Nintendo to space AAA-title releases so close together.

No word yet on a delay for PAL territories, though we suspect a similar fate.

Among the cavalcade of announcements from Nintendo this week comes details surrounding what appears to be a full fledged game based on the Wii's conductor demo shown during last year's E3. The game, tentatively titled Wii Music, was first brought to our attention earlier in an interview earlier this year, and will allow players to control a group of musicians in both single and multiplayer modes supporting up to four players.

Interestingly, while the E3 tech demo was based solely around the concept of conducting the orchestra using the Wii remote as a baton, this improved take on the concept will allow players to directly control of up to six band members using both motions and button presses, with Wii Music offing an impressive selection of 40 different types of instruments with which to outfit your band, leading us to believe that the game will support a wide array of music styles, though no details along this line have been announced. Wii Music is expected to ship in Japan sometime next year, however it's anyone's guess when the game will make the rounds to either North America or Europe.

An IGN translation of statements made by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says there are over 100 games proposed for WiiWare. WiiWare is Nintendo's answer to independent and smaller games development which is becoming more prevalent in the industry. We aren't aware nor have seen too many of these WiiWare games, but expect that to change dramatically in 2008.

But if you think it's easy getting a development kit for the Wii, think again. Those currently creating games for WiiWare have been vetted. To even get a developer kit you must have (or be) a known publisher or have "a name." Even then Nintendo is keeping strict control over development kits. With any luck Nintendo will have a better time getting third-party games sold if people don't actually have to go to retail.

[Via GI.biz]

Before mini-game compilations were crazy ubiquitous, there was Kirby Super Star. Released at the tail-end of the SNES's lifetime, Super Star advertised "8 Games In One!", one of which being a graphically enhanced version of the Game Boy original, and four more being full-fledged platformers in their own right.

Now, HAL Laboratories are bringing the Kirby party to the DS, with a remake of the SNES classic tentatively called Hoshi no Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe. No details yet on any additional features, but our buddies over at DS Fanboy have aptly observed that a wireless icon in one of the screens means that the game will at least have local wireless play, and additional screenshots show cutscenes in the same style as HAL's fighting phenomenon Super Smash Bros. Brawl. More details as they become available. For now, though, color us excited.

Update: Additional screens found at Jeux France show that this game is a remake, and not a true sequel. Thanks to reader Sonicandtails for the tip.



[Via DS Fanboy]

GameTrailers posts a clip of -- we assume -- Wii Music from the latest press conference flurry. We know what they say about assumptions and are digging for more details. Until then, the rumored game seems to be much more than a tech demo. Now when will Video Games Live use this -- or those other games -- in a show?

See the clip after the break.

Nintendo keeps the public relations love parade with the Wii going as they introduce MyWiiStory.com. The site is designed as a place for Wii owners to post "real-life anecdotes" about the way the Wii has changed their life. Like the time the Wii ran into the street and saved the family cat right before it was about to get hit by a car, or the time the Wii baked that amazing lasagna your in-laws are still raving about. "Everyone's a gamer and every gamer has a Wii story to share," said Nintendo's US Marketing Lead George Harrison, as he continued preparing to leave the company and contemplating whether he'll wear his tiny Speedo when he takes that trip to Ibiza he's always wanted.

The site isn't active yet, but feel confident in knowing it'll be comment policed to be only the happiest Wii place on earth. Expect the stories to be a demographic spread expounding the brilliance of the Wii. Some of the preview quotes we received were things like the mom who discovers video games for the first time with the Wii, or the bone cancer victim bowling again ... no, seriously, there's a cancer victim in there: "'I always liked to bowl, although I wasn't very good at it, but I had to stop 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with bone cancer. ... Thanks to Wii I am able to enjoy one of my life's pleasures again.' -- Randy Bhaga" We can't wait for the Wii story that helped some kid come out of the closet or solve gang violence.

Last night, Nintendo confirmed that Monster Hunter 3 is coming to the Wii. Capcom's uber-popular title was previously known to be a PlayStation 3 title, so what came of that project? According to Capcom, that version is gone.

"Due to high development cost of titles for PS3, we have decided to switch the platform to which we release our Monster Hunter 3 title," said Capcom's Katsuhiko Ichii in a report from Thompson Financial News (via Gamasutra).

Though the series has not enjoyed as much popularity here, Monster Hunter is a highly successful franchise in Japan and sure to drive hardware sales for Nintendo up a bit. We can't resist pondering, though, if the Wii version will re-use assets from the previous PSP games in the series.

Following last night's unveiling of upcoming Wii Ware titles, Nintendo has announced its first-party lineup for the downloadable service when it hits Japan in March.

In addition to last night's Dr. Mario and Pokemon Farm announcements, Nintendo will also release Maruboushikaku and Minna de Puzzloop (known stateside as Magnetica). Maruboushikaku involves three screens displayed, each with its own pattern (circle-, line- and square-based). We don't yet know the objective of the game, but your actions in one window will affect the other two.

The game previously known as Pokemon Farm is officially titled Pokemon Bokujou Channel (Pokemon Ranch Channel) and will let you take your Miis to the ranch to take pictures of your pokemon and send your friends. Pokemon management was mentioned, but no information on whether you level up your characters in the channel.

Dr. Mario & Saikin Bokumetsu (or "bacteria extermination") will also feature your Mii characters in-game and has options for online multiplayer. Saikin Bokumesu is a minigame from the Japanese Brain Age 2 and will feature four-player online co-op. IGN has a handful of pictures from the game.

Star Soldier R, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land and Moji Pittan Wii were also announced last night. Wii Ware is coming to Japanese consoles in March.

Come this November, Wii owners in Japan won't have to venture into the wilds of the internet for information on upcoming games or go down to the local retail chain to try out the latest DS titles, as Nintendo has announced plans to launch the Minna no Nintendo Channel (Everybody's Nintendo Channel), promising to turn the Wii into a Nintendo DS Station retail kiosk for the living room.

According to IGN, this latest channel in the Wii's arsenal, which was announced during Nintendo's 2007 Fall press conference in Japan, will offer promo videos for upcoming games, as well as allow players to download playable demos, though the report only mentions DS demos at this time, solidifying the linkage between both the Wii and Nintendo's touchable handheld.

Just the same, we remain thrilled to see Nintendo warming up to the idea of demos, and are hopeful that this could open the door for a similar treatment for Wii games, though sooner rather than later would be nice. In addition, the channel will also include a bit of social networking, allowing players to search for information on games based on data provided by other Wii users.

While less exciting, the Minna no Nintendo Channel will also be joined by the Mii Contest Channel this November in Japan as well, offering a place where players can show off their Mii creations, as well as vote on and even take home other people's Miis. While no release date for either channel has been announced for the U.S. or Europe, we've informed Dr. Zoidberg and he's already packed his bags.

The PC-and-console version of Call of Duty 4 rocks as much as expected. But at a recent hands-on session, the DS take also impressed. The 3D graphics look surprisingly good; after a few minutes of settling in, I stopped scrutinizing textures and focused on the gameplay. And that gameplay carries the title.

COD4 switches between FPS sequences, helicopter-gunner modes, bomb-disarming moments, and AC-130 gunship sections. The DS version feels full of care and craft, from thought put into controls, to the segmented sessions that play well on a handheld.