Super Monkey Ball headed to XBOX

[Adrian M]

According to NTSC UK:

So far Sega's comedy monkey puzzler has only seen release on Gamecube, but Sega has confirmed to Official Xbox Magazine that the chimp's coming to Xbox in Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. The new title will feature 300 stages: 114 from Super Monkey Ball, 140 from Super Monkey Ball 2 and 46 Deluxe-exclusive boards. Thats a lot of bananas to collect.

 

But thats not all you get. Deluxe will also include a new Challange mode, integrated varying skill settings (beginner, advance, expert) into one fluid learning curve rather then breaking them up into independant settings. You also get an enhanced story mode, featuring stages from the two Gamecube games. All 12 Party games from Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2 will also be included.

 

Amusement Vision, the team responsible for the original arcade releases, is supervising development and a release is penned for early 2005

[liquid_sky]

[figgler]

Looks like a very nice package. With 300 stages, you'd best be prepared for sky high levels of unmitigated frustration though

[MegaManFan]

Indeed. As if the levels on 1 and 2 (2 in particular) weren't mind-numbingly exasperating, I can't imagine more being better.

 

I still think the difficulty curve could have been lowered if they had gauged the pressure sensitivity on rolling with the analog stick better.

[Adrian M]

More importantly though, it looks like the Monkeyball franchise which has been a longtime Nintendo console-exclusive property (handhelds were a different story), is now fully cross-platform.

 

Going into the next hardware generation, that's one less exclusive title that Nintendo will have up in its arsenal. Of course, they could always get minor concessions like a 6 month exclusive (much like with Splinter Cell on the XBOX), but still, it's not the same.

[figgler]

I don't know how important that is really. Going into the next generation, all the smart money is on Nintendo having a brand new gaming interface, a controller totally different than your Analog on the left, buttons on the right formula. If this is indeed the intention, essentially every title will be an exclusive experience. You know, a "if you want to play in this cool new way, you have to play on Nintendo" sort of deal. The exclusivity element won't be so much a factor as it is this generation with 3 gaming machines that are all basically the same

[Adrian M]

I don't know how important that is really.  Going into the next generation, all the smart money is on Nintendo having a brand new gaming interface, a controller totally different than your Analog on the left, buttons on the right formula.  If this is indeed the intention, essentially every title will be an exclusive experience.  You know, a "if you want to play in this cool new way, you have to play on Nintendo"  sort of deal.  The exclusivity element won't be so much a factor as it is this generation with 3 gaming machines that are all basically the same

 

Somehow I doubt that Nintendo will stray that far from what the current gaming interfaces offer.

They do have make things accessible to all, and going the "totally unique" route is a huge gamble at this point in time.

[Jess Ragan]

This proves that Bill Gates can buy anything. Even YOUR SOUL!!!

(haunting music follows)

 

Seriously, though, I kind of find this news annoying. The GameCube's become a low priority for game manufacturers and losing an exclusive like Super Monkey Ball makes a bad situation even worse. Sometimes I think Nintendo should just give up on consoles entirely and just stick with handhelds. It's where they first found their fortune and it's the only segment of the video game industry that they seem to think is still important.

 

JR

[MacGurl]

Thank God. This is one of the very few titles I've truly missed playing since getting rid of my GC

[+kisrael]

Mixed feelings. I'm still a Nintendo loyalist, but I think Xbox has done alot of things right, with their 4 slots for their very good controllers, strong network support, etc.

 

That said, if it's just the same minigames, forget it.

 

And single player mode is just abysmal. IMO.

[raindog]

I think of Monkey Ball as a "reflex puzzle" game, so to me the single player stages are the bread and butter and the minigames are just party games, short attention span fun for when I'm playing with my nieces or nephews or whatever.

 

I don't think this is really news though, in terms of Nintendo losing an exclusive.... since PS2 "Super Monkey Ball DX" already got announced last month for a December release, with similar features to the Xbox one.

 

Also, as a Gamecube owner who never cared much for Nintendo prior to the Gamecube, I have to say their comments about exclusive gaming interfaces, etc., are ominous at best. I don't *want* to have to do the electric slide in the middle of my living room to make Mario run.

[Scooterb23]

I think I need to borrow a towel.

[+kisrael]

I think of Monkey Ball as a "reflex puzzle" game, so to me the single player stages are the bread and butter and the minigames are just party games, short attention span fun for when I'm playing with my nieces or nephews or whatever.

Eh, I've always been all about multiplayer fun. I find the single player mode so impossibly frustrating in parts...now I view it as just an obstacle to unlocking minigames, thank goodness they don't make you beat single player, just play it over and over on easy if you're stuck on the harder levels...

[Clock]

Have you got a link?

 

I luuuurve monkeys

[NE146]

Have you got a link?  

 

I luuuurve monkeys  

 

Sure! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2st...toys/Duglis.jpg

[NintendoDieScreaming]

 

Sure! :)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/Duglis.jpg

 

 

 

....resist... ....resist... ....resist.... ...resist........

 

 

*Head explodes.*

[liveinabin]

With the great popularity of Super Monkey Ball it's a great surprise to me that it isn't on PS2 as well. Compared to the PS2 user base (with it's increasing number of 'family' gamers thanks to Eye toy and those Dance mat things), both the GC and Xbox are still very niche markets. Odd move.

[+kisrael]

With the great popularity of Super Monkey Ball it's a great surprise to me that it isn't on PS2 as well.  Compared to the PS2 user base (with it's increasing number of 'family' gamers thanks to Eye toy and those Dance mat things), both the GC and Xbox are still very niche markets.  Odd move.

They're not "very niche markets". While it PS2 is clearly dominant, and there was probably some special deal to keep MB a GC exclusive for a long time, Xbox and GC have significant market penetration. And it's better to be a standout title in a less saturated market, I think.

 

Oh...plus this to explain the "Odd Move" :(and it's one of my biggest gripes w/ Sony) -- the damn system doesn't have 4 controller ports without an optional add-on, and most of the minigames are pointless w/o at least 3 people.

[orangest]

Sure! :)http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/Duglis.jpg

 

no, no. super monkey ball. singular.

[Agent X]

With the great popularity of Super Monkey Ball it's a great surprise to me that it isn't on PS2 as well.

 

They are making it for PlayStation 2.

 

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244475.asp

[junglehunter]

Custom Soundtracks?

[+kisrael]

With the great popularity of Super Monkey Ball it's a great surprise to me that it isn't on PS2 as well.

 

They are making it for PlayStation 2.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244475.asp

Is it confimed beyond that?

 

Maybe it'll use that awesome multitap, snicker.

[Clock]

Ok I've spoken to friend who is very much in the know (has many many contacts in the games industry) and he says 2005 should also see Monkeyball 3 released on Xbox with Live support.... sounds interesting.

[Agent X]

They are making it for PlayStation 2.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244475.asp

Is it confimed beyond that?

 

I'd say so.

[Shannon]

Custom Soundtracks?

 

Yes please....

 

If there is anything worse than the single player mode, is the music.