We are truly living in the future, folks. The rumors about Netflix coming to the Nintendo are quite true. Now your Wii can play movies without ninja-hacking the poor thing.

Nintendo announced that it will be adding Netflix’s streaming video service to its Wii console this spring. Wii owners jonesing for some Netflix action will need a Netflix subscription (but of course); and, like the PS3, a streaming disc.

I guess this is good news for Wii-only gamers; but for the general gaming audience, this isn’t necessary. Wii owners who also own a PS3 or 360 not only already have access to Netflix on their TVs, but they can also watch many movies in 720p resolution. The Wii isn’t an HD console, so Wii-only folks will need to stick to their computers for non-eye-straining viewing experiences.

If you enjoy Wii-motes and courtrooms, Nintendo’s got you covered. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the first game in the popular DS lawyer-RPG (if in fact one can label the genre) series, is coming to the Nintendo Wii via the WiiWare service.

It’s a straight port, so don’t expect upgraded graphics, sound… Just don’t expect anything extra at all, and you’ll be happy. Well, you will be if you’re a Ace Attorney fan. Otherwise, you might want to steer clear of this particular port.

I honestly don’t get the appeal of the series. But, to be fair, I equate being a lawyer with having a monstrous giant repeatedly smash my feet with a humongous hammer. This series is obviously not for me. If it is for you; you own a Wii; and you don’t own a DS, well, rejoice!

No doubt you’ve read several rumors concerning an upcoming Wii price drop. Everybody and their cousin reported the rumors, evening posting scans from store computer inventory screens depicting a $50 price cut.

File this under Rumor Comes True: the Wii price drop is indeed happening, and sooner than you think. On September 27, the Wii will officially drop to $199.99 in North America. You won’t get a new package out of the deal—no inclusion of Wii Sports Resort or a MotionPlus peripheral. The $199.99 Wii is the same ol’ Wii; just cheaper.

Will the price drop matter? Are any of you fine folks planning to buy one now that the price is a bit lower? Better question: do any of you readers who already own a Wii actually play the little guy, or does he sit on your entertainment center collecting dust? I sold mine to my brother-in-law a while back, but even a price drop isn’t enough incentive to get me to buy another. What say you?

Forget about other band-specific music games, folks—this is the only one that matters. Throw your Aerosmith and Metallica games out the window, and don’t bother with Van Halen. None of them can touch the golden excellence achieved by Harmonix’s loving tribute to one of—if not the—greatest pop-rock groups of all time: The Beatles. Yes folks, The Beatles: Rock Band is really that good.

Harmonix really outdid themselves with this one. Sure, the core game is essentially the same as Rock Band 2. Players pick up plastic guitars, bang on fake drums, or sing their lungs out on a mic (which is, for all intents and purposes, quite real), following lyrics and note charts for big points. Harmonix didn’t exactly change anything or shake things up, and that’s probably for the best. After all, Rock Band and its sequel are very simple to pick and up play, and a game bearing the name and likenesses of The Beatles deserves to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Complicated technology would get in the way of that enjoyment, so thank goodness Harmonix stuck to the basics. (more…)

Do you like to sit on your butt watching movies and/or TV shows all day? Do you own a Wii? Well, good sir or ma’am, prepare to be wowed and amazed by today’s news.

PlayOn, MediaMall’s online video streaming service currently available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners, is coming soon in open beta form to the Nintendo Wii. Interested parties can sign up for a 14-day free trial, after which they’ll need to pay a $40 license to continue using the service.

Xbox 360 owners might not see much of a need for PlayOn—especially if they don’t have much use for Hulu or Youtube—but PS3 owners could make good use of the service. But at least the PS3 has other media-streaming options; to my knowledge, the Wii has none without a little (*cough* illegal *cough*) homebrew action. PlayOn will likely be a welcome treat for folks who only own a Wii and want to get their Netflix or Hulu viewin’ on.

Brian Brinegar, John Groth and Chris Deckard from the original Mario Marathon are at it again this year, playing through every major Mario Bros. console game. Their goal, like last time, is to raise money for charity. This year’s charity is Penny Arcade’s Child’s Play, which raises money to buy toys and video games for sick and dying children.

As you can see from the live feed, the boys are well on their way to meeting their goal of 100% completion in each game, and are hoping to hit their monetary goal of $98, 000 before the marathon ends Wednesday, July 13. As I write this, the gang has raised $23, 370.50 for Child’s Play.

It warms my heart to see fellow geeks banding together to turn their favorite hobby into a means of helping others. Seeing these guys at it again has me thinking of pitching in a few bucks for Child’s Play this year. What about you folks?

Teenage boys Joshua Carter (age 18), Patrick Early (age 16) and Derrick Henson (age 13) worked together to steal a Nintendo Wii in Altamonte Springs, Florida. That’s a fairly messed up situation, right?

It gets better—or worse, depending on your point of view. Patrick Early claims his mother, Maxine Law, helped the boys pawn the Wii for cash, knowing that the console was stolen.

Florida’s state attorney general is looking into the matter. If the attorney general decides Law should be held accountable, the 41-year-old mother could be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and dealing in stolen property.

The article title says pretty much all we know about the latest Metroid adventure. It’s called Metroid: Other M, and is a collaboration between Nintendo and Team Ninja.

Metroid: Other M will be a 3D adventure game with some first-person shooting elements, though to what extent remains to be seen. We saw platforming elements mixed with combat and a few FPS-style shooting sequences.

As for story, the game promises to further explore Samus Aran’s background along with the Metroid universe. As much I liked the Prime games, there wasn’t much in the way of story. Hopefully this one will deliver.

Look for more info from us as it comes.

In a truly bizarre turn of events, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is no longer being published solely by Atari, but rather also (mainly) by Sony — the PS3 and PS2 versions, that is. Those are now timed exclusives, and will still be released on June 16, alongside the Blu-Ray release of the first Ghostbusters film. There will also be a PSP version released at an unannounced later date.

But what about the Xbox 360, Wii, and DS versions? Word is they will still be released, but not on June 16. If in fact they ever see the light of day, these versions will not release until later in the year.

A strange move on Atari’s part, to be sure, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Business decisions like this are made all the time — we just don’t typically hear about them. I guess this is one of those cases where such a decision jumps up and bites our butts. Hard.

UPDATE – It now appears that this is only true for Europe. Atari is still publishing the title in North America, and it will be released for all platforms simultaneously there.

If SpongeBob SquarePants doesn’t wet your rocker whistle, maybe Willie Nelson’s buddy Toby Keith will.

The “Toby Keith 6-Pack” is coming to Rock Band next week (on Xbox 360 Tuesday, April 7, and PS3 on Thursday, April 9). Keith fans get — you guessed it — six songs from Keith’s 16-year music career to honk their proverbial tonk: “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” “Beer For My Horses,” “Who’s Your Daddy,” “I Love This Bar,” and “She’s a Hottie.” That last one was previously only available on Keith’s 35 Biggest Hits album, so I guess that makes this special.

Although I detest the man (and his music), I’m sure there are plenty of Toby Keith fans to whom this news is like waking up on Christmas morning and seeing a brand new Ferrari in the driveway. Well, maybe not. It could be more like winning a game of bingo. Anyhoo, the pack will set you back $9.99 (800 MS Points), or $1.99 (160 MS Points — which is actually cheaper) individually.