Long-running children's franchise Sesame Street will be making its Wii debut this autumn with two games that use none of the Remote’s buttons. The games – entitled Elmo’s A-To-Zoo and Cookie’s Counting Carnival – will be packaged with plush covers for the controller in the shape of Elmo or Cookie Monster. These will cover all buttons and triggers, making the game more accessible for younger gamers.
“This is the first time anything like this has been developed and licensed for Nintendo,” said Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of media distribution Scott Chambers.
“We will be the first to introduce such an aid. We’re doing it so that preschoolers can play learn from these Sesame Street games without feeling frustrated with the controller.”
 
The games will be published by Warner Bros, and will also be available on PC and DS – with a larger stylus for the latter included with each title.

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/30218/New-games-coming-from-Sesame-Street

Activision is working on a new GoldenEye game for the Wii and DS, to be released this November.

That's according to our sister site Eurogamer.net, which expects the title to be shown at E3 this year.

The report suggests the game may be a remake of the fondly-remembered Nintendo 64 game, originally developed by Rare, with the new title in development at the UK's Eurocom and US-based n-Space.

Activision has already registered a number of domain names derived from the original James Bond game, and a survey this week has also been gauging gamers interest in a possible remake, according to VG247.

Activision's other 007 game is in development at Bizarre Creations, James Bond: Bloodstone, and is an action racing game for multiple formats.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-goldeneye-game-due-in-november

Shigeru Miyamoto has defended Nintendo’s online console strategy while admitting that it perhaps has been a bit slow to develop its business model – and suggesting that the platform holder may at some stage charge for access to its online network.
Elements of Nintendo’s online strategy that have been criticised in the past include its use of Friends Codes as opposed to simple Friends lists and its refusal to offer post-release DLC for its core titles.
“We are desperate to realise the core business structure,” the development star told Edge Online.
 
“Do we need to demand customers pay monthly fees to enjoy online activities? Or give an online subscription that is free of charge, but then offer something extra for people that pay, so that they get some extra value? With these core business strategies I think we are less active than we should be.”
However, regarding the online services Nintendo already offers, Miyamoto things some of the criticism levelled at the firm has been unjust.
“To be honest, I think it’s rather unfair whenever I hear such comments – that Nintendo isn’t proactive when it comes to its online strategy,” he added.“The fact of the matter is that we always want all Wii consoles to be connected online, all the time, so Nintendo has never been less than proactive in that kind of endeavour.
“It is true, though, that Nintendo hasn’t been very proactive in developing such online activities as an MMOG. But when it comes to our endeavours that try to take advantage of internet technology, where we can provide our customers with more fun and entertainment, then I think we can say we have been very, very proactive and well-received. And that attitude won’t be changed at all in the future.”

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/30207/Miyamoto-defends-Wii-online-strategy

Wii owners hankering for another “party” game can look forward to Wii Party. The game, which first appeared in a Nintendo financial presentation, is sailing to stores on July 8.

 Nintendo hasn’t said much about Wii Party, but a screenshot hints at what kind of games are in the collection. Look forward to Bingo, Roulette, Sugoroku (board game), Mii compatibility checks, the overseas travel game, and “balance ship.”

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/06/02/wii-party-sets-sail-for-july/