Last Days

As the semester comes to a close it's always a little bittersweet. This semester will mark the end of a project I've been working with for the past year and a half, and while I'm going to be really excited to pass it off to the next person in line, I'm also a little sad to see it go.

Game Over has a freeplay segment. You've probably seen us over the last three semesters at some point, set up in the lobby of park playing video games and interviewing people. While I'm still going to be involved in Game Over, it's not quite the same. This was the project that brought me onto the show, and it's a lot of fun. I've met a lot of people through it, and it was the first thing I really worked on as a freshman. Hanging out with friends, playing video games, and making something. It can't get much better.

I've learned a lot doing this little segment. Not only how to set up interviews in a matter of seconds, but also a lot about people in general. Today is the last day we'll be shooting for the segment and we're going to try sending it off with a bang. If any of you manage to see this before 5 or 6 tonight, come stop by. We'll be playing Halo 4 and testing out the WiiU with Nintendo Land.

That being said, I'm excited to move onto the next phase of projects and ventures in the crazy little world Park is. And I'll probably try and crash freeplay at least a few times next semester.

Wii U

I'm looking forward the release of the Wii U on the 18th; the system really seems to be a return to Nintendo's roots with a broader selection of games for players of all ages. Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Batman: Arkham City: Armored Edition are some of the darker games that Nintendo has added to the Wii U's repertoire.

I've been very impressed by the Wii U GamePad, as it seems to have a lot of potential. The pad has a touchscreen, camera, accelerometer, gyroscope, sensor, and a built in microphone, which I hope will add many new ways to enjoy classic Nintendo franchises. A mini-map and inventory display on the GamePad would certainly be a fantastic addition to a new Zelda!

For those looking for a controller with less "bells and whistles," the Wii U also has a second controller: the Pro Controller. Some critics have noticed that the controller looks remarkably similar to the Xbox 360's controller, but I feel that older fans will find the Pro Controller to be refreshing and a welcome addition to the Wii U's arsenal of periphery devices.

While the Wii U certainly has many new additions, I believe the most exciting aspect of the console is that it is High Definition. I believe that games with rich and diverse landscapes and backgrounds like Pikmin will really benefit from this; it's no surprise that Pikmin 3 will be in the system's launch window!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break. Nintendo has certainly given its fans something to be thankful for!