New Play Control!
Encyclopedia
The New Play Control! series, known in Japan as is a program by Nintendo
to upgrade several GameCube
games for release on the Wii
. These re-releases incorporate graphical improvements, which include 16:9 widescreen support. They also feature reconfigured controls to fit the Wii Remote
. The Australian/New Zealand Official Nintendo Magazine has used the term "Wiimakes" to describe the series.
on in Japan, followed by a new version of Pikmin
on and Mario Power Tennis
, also in Japan. Other games, such as Chibi-Robo!
, Pikmin 2
, Metroid Prime
, and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
were all released in .
The adaptations of the Pikmin games allow players to point-and-click
with the Wii Remote to select and direct units. The adaptation of Mario Power Tennis draws on the swinging motions seen in Wii Sports
, while it is also possible to move the character directly with the control stick. The adaptations for the Metroid Prime series use the same control functions as in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
. An earlier prototype of the control scheme had already been used with Metroid Prime 2, back when the remote was first announced.
Some of the games feature improvements beyond the graphics and control scheme. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat features new levels, modified level design
for existing levels, and has more emphasis on traditional platform
gameplay. Pikmin features a more flexible save game system, where players can restart play from prior in-game dates. Metroid Prime uses the achievements system from Metroid Prime 3 to unlock bonus content, as well as the ability to take snapshots.
The games all have reversible cover art (besides Metroid Prime: Trilogy
, which comes in a metal box case); reversing the cover shows a version of the box-art with no white border and subdued New Play Control! branding.
The updated Wii versions of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes were released alongside Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
in a compilation called Metroid Prime: Trilogy
, released in 2009: August 24 in North America, September 4 in Europe and October 15 in Australia.
The New Play Control! lineup was intended primarily as extra support due to Nintendo having a slow year in 2008-2009 before announcing their next big titles. However, due to the poor sales of each game in the NPC! lineup, it was ultimately discontinued from June 2009 onwards.
games currently planned for the New Play Control! range confirmed for release in Japan, Australasia, Europe, and North America:
* Released as part of the Metroid Prime: Trilogy
compilation in Australasia, Europe, and North America.
The reason for Pikmin 2 seeing no NA release is unknown.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
to upgrade several GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
games for release on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. These re-releases incorporate graphical improvements, which include 16:9 widescreen support. They also feature reconfigured controls to fit the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
. The Australian/New Zealand Official Nintendo Magazine has used the term "Wiimakes" to describe the series.
Summary
The first game released for New Play Control! was Donkey Kong Jungle BeatDonkey Kong Jungle Beat
is a Nintendo GameCube video game featuring the ape Donkey Kong and played with the DK Bongos. It was released in Japan on December 16, 2002, in Europe on February 4, 2003, in North America on March 14, 2005, and in Australia on March 17, 2003. In 2008 and 2009, the game was re-released in the New...
on in Japan, followed by a new version of Pikmin
Pikmin
is a strategy video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube video game console in 2001. Pikmin is the first game in the Pikmin series of video games, and the third game for the Gamecube overall. It was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto. Pikmin was released on October 26, 2001...
on and Mario Power Tennis
Mario Power Tennis
Mario Power Tennis, known in Japan as , is a sports game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. The game is the sequel to the Nintendo 64 title Mario Tennis, and is the third game in the Mario Tennis series...
, also in Japan. Other games, such as Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo!
, fully titled Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!, is a platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. It was developed by Skip Ltd. with collaboration from Nintendo. The game was first released in Japan on June 23, 2005, in North America on February 6, 2006, and in Europe on May...
, Pikmin 2
Pikmin 2
is a real-time strategy video game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on April 29, 2004, in North America on August 30, 2004, in Europe on October 8, 2004, and in Australia on November 4, 2004....
, Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002...
, and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, known as in Japan, is a first-person, action-adventure video game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube video game console. It is the seventh game in the Metroid series, a direct sequel to Metroid Prime, and the first game in the series with...
were all released in .
The adaptations of the Pikmin games allow players to point-and-click
Point-and-click
Point-and-click is the action of a computer user moving a cursor to a certain location on a screen and then pressing a mouse button, usually the left button , or other pointing device...
with the Wii Remote to select and direct units. The adaptation of Mario Power Tennis draws on the swinging motions seen in Wii Sports
Wii Sports
is a sports game developed and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Wii video game console , and part of the Touch! Generations. The game was first released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and was released in Japan, Australia, and Europe the following month...
, while it is also possible to move the character directly with the control stick. The adaptations for the Metroid Prime series use the same control functions as in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a first-person action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the tenth game in the Metroid series, and the final entry in the Metroid Prime trilogy—excluding two spin-off titles. It was released in...
. An earlier prototype of the control scheme had already been used with Metroid Prime 2, back when the remote was first announced.
Some of the games feature improvements beyond the graphics and control scheme. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat features new levels, modified level design
Level design
Level design, environment design or game mapping is a discipline of game development involving creation of video game levels—locales, stages, or missions. This is commonly done using level editor, a game development software designed for building levels; however some games feature built-in...
for existing levels, and has more emphasis on traditional platform
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
gameplay. Pikmin features a more flexible save game system, where players can restart play from prior in-game dates. Metroid Prime uses the achievements system from Metroid Prime 3 to unlock bonus content, as well as the ability to take snapshots.
The games all have reversible cover art (besides Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy is an action-adventure video game compilation developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The compilation features three games from the Metroid series: Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption...
, which comes in a metal box case); reversing the cover shows a version of the box-art with no white border and subdued New Play Control! branding.
The updated Wii versions of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes were released alongside Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a first-person action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the tenth game in the Metroid series, and the final entry in the Metroid Prime trilogy—excluding two spin-off titles. It was released in...
in a compilation called Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy is an action-adventure video game compilation developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The compilation features three games from the Metroid series: Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption...
, released in 2009: August 24 in North America, September 4 in Europe and October 15 in Australia.
The New Play Control! lineup was intended primarily as extra support due to Nintendo having a slow year in 2008-2009 before announcing their next big titles. However, due to the poor sales of each game in the NPC! lineup, it was ultimately discontinued from June 2009 onwards.
List of games
Nintendo GameCubeNintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
games currently planned for the New Play Control! range confirmed for release in Japan, Australasia, Europe, and North America:
| Title | Japan | Australasia | Europe | North America |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong Jungle Beat | June 5, 2009 | |||
| Pikmin | ||||
| Mario Power Tennis Mario Power Tennis Mario Power Tennis, known in Japan as , is a sports game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. The game is the sequel to the Nintendo 64 title Mario Tennis, and is the third game in the Mario Tennis series... |
||||
| Metroid Prime Metroid Prime Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002... |
* | * | * | |
| Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, known as in Japan, is a first-person, action-adventure video game developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the GameCube video game console. It is the seventh game in the Metroid series, a direct sequel to Metroid Prime, and the first game in the series with... |
* | * | * | |
| Pikmin 2 Pikmin 2 is a real-time strategy video game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It was released in Japan on April 29, 2004, in North America on August 30, 2004, in Europe on October 8, 2004, and in Australia on November 4, 2004.... |
||||
| Chibi-Robo! Chibi-Robo! , fully titled Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!, is a platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. It was developed by Skip Ltd. with collaboration from Nintendo. The game was first released in Japan on June 23, 2005, in North America on February 6, 2006, and in Europe on May... |
Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Metroid Prime: Trilogy is an action-adventure video game compilation developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The compilation features three games from the Metroid series: Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption...
compilation in Australasia, Europe, and North America.
The reason for Pikmin 2 seeing no NA release is unknown.