Ten Franchises Nintendo Needs To Update

1. PilotWings

There was nothing like it on either the Super NES or N64. Bizarrely, Nintendo haven’t updated this in recent years, but the Wii is crying out for this game. Actually, I’m crying out for this game, but they’re essentially the same thing as far as I’m concerned.

2. Star Fox

Let’s get this straight: nobody wants to see a repeat of Starfox Adventures (when did that ever seem like a good idea?) What we all want (and what would be for everyone’s own good) would be a Lylat Wars style incarnation of the game. With online co-op. Please. Now. Please.

3. F-Zero

Probably not likely because it’s Nintendo at their most hardcore - but dammit Nintendo! - we need a disgustingly fast version of this, with a thumping soundtrack. Something to make the masses (and WipEout) quake. Like F-Zero X.

4. Super Tennis

Okay, so we have Wii Sports, but Super Tennis was the ultimate. I want to be able to control my own character, thanks Nintendo. And I want characters that are openly bad losers.

5. Animal Crossing

Ok, this one is on the cards already and given the tack that Nintendo have taken with the Wii, this is a shoe in. Noodling about writing letters and growing stuff, when you think about the Wii’s other funtions, it actually almost seems built around this game.

6. Kid Icarus

Ok, I never played it and it’s only bloody available on the US Virtual Console at the moment, but everything that I’ve heard makes me want to play this. Hopefully the inclusion of Pit in Super Smash Bros. Brawl will make this more likely but, well, did that happen for the Ice Climbers? Oh, and please make it in spangly 2D.

7. Pikmin

This was born for the Wii. The Gamecube original was a fantastic game, that was once again overshadowed by it’s stable-mates. Actually, wait - if they release this, then I won’t be able to get anywhere near the Wii because my mates will be hogging it. Don’t do it Nintendo!

8. Wave Race: Blue Storm

I played this for hours on the N64. The combination of stunts, waves and some breathtaking tracks plus customisable jet skis hooked me in a way I never expected, despite the really annoying commentator.

9. 1080 Snowboarding

One of the most overlooked Nintendo franchises, this and Wave Race are a double-whammy of extreme sports racers.

10. Luigi's Mansion

Much better than people gave it credit for. Just because it didn’t star Mario, wasn’t a platform game and was a launch title for the Gamecube, people overlooked all of the good stuff, most particularly the sense of humour and strangely creepy comedy horror vibe (is it me, or is Evil Dead II creepier than most straight horror films?) The only gripe is that it was a little too slight. Seems ripe for some online hide-and-seek hilarity too.

Windows 7? Is Vista Really That Bad?

Now I thought Bill Gates was done with Microsoft? I guess not. Speaking at a meeting at the Inter-American Development Bank he hinted that a 'Windows 7' might be released "Sometime in the next year or so"

So what does that mean for Vista? Was it all just one big screw-up? Will there be no 'Vista '09'ish type update in the same vein that Windows used to update its software?

Assuming that we don't see any new software from Microsoft until sometime in 2010 (as they have been known to be a bit over confident with release dates in previous years) that would still be just three years since the release of Vista. XP was around for a good five-six years before it was succeeded.

So what do you think? Is Vista that bad a version of Windows that it needs replacing ASAP, or is this just a sign of the speed technology moves at these days?

Are Hydrogen Planes The Way Of The Future?

The worlds first ever manned hydrogen-powered plane took to the air yesterday. It was only a small jet, but it was a huge step for aviation as we know it.

Obviously these kinds of tests are being done in order to develop more planet friendly aircraft (and transport in general). But at the moment Boeing, whose aircraft it was, said that fuel cells are not suitable for larger aircraft like the 747's.

Whether hydrogen power will lead to cleaner fuel for air travel is a bit of an unknown right now, but what this latest test does show is that the big corporations are looking into it. Twenty years ago tests like this would have been unheard of. In todays climate however, the demand for cleaner energy is affecting everybody.

Welcome To The World Of The Virtual Tube

There is a whole underground world that you didn't know about. It's a virtual world based around the London Underground system (The Tube) and apparently, a ride on one of it's trains can help those with anxiety and paranoia issues.

Could virtual reality and specifically, Tube World, really help with medical disorders? Dr. Daniel Freeman, lead researcher of the project thinks so...

"Paranoid thoughts are often triggered by ambiguous events such as people looking in one's direction or hearing laughter in a room.But it is very difficult to recreate such social interactions.

Virtual reality allows us to do just that, to look at how different people interpret exactly the same social situation. It is a uniquely powerful method to detect those liable to misinterpret other people."

One things for sure, a ride on the virtual tube sure looks like a lot of fun. And you can even apply to be a driver!

Richard Branson Has Space Tourism Competition

It's hard to imagine commercial competition existing for a service that isn't even a reality yet, but when it comes to Space Tourism, anything goes.

U.S. company XCOR is designing a 'rocket plane' that, unlike Virgin's spaceliners, will only have room for two people; A pilot and a passenger. The finished design will be called The Lynx (artists impression in the picture).

Because of it's small size (The Lynx would be just 8.5 metres in length) and economical nature, XCOR says that The Lynx could operate several times a day. This would mean several people would have the chance of traveling to space, rocket plane style.

I'm still sceptical about the market for space tourism. It all sounds very pleasant, nipping into the stratosphere for an hour over lunch, but how realistic is it? Will your average working Joe really have the money to afford such a trip? And (perhaps more importantly) will he/she actually want to?

Blu-ray Cracked (allegedly)

A company called SlySoft claims to have cracked Blu-rays copyright protection system.

They also say that the development was made a while ago but that they were waiting to see the outcome of the HD-DVD vs Blur-ray war.

Now that the war is over, SlySoft say they have cracked the software that sony said would be uncrackable for at-least ten years. Sony themselves, have not yet commented.

BD+ is supposed to be able to react to attacks on it's system, in some cases locking discs and making them unuseable, but SlySoft say they are ready for this as well. They claim the latest version of their software 'AnyDVD' can now make 'backup security copies' of any DVD.

It remains to be seen if these claims are true.

You Could Soon Be Able To Use Your Mobile Phone On An Aircraft

Recent developments in aviation planning have meant that everyone may soon be able to use their mobile phones on an airplane, once it has reached 30,000 feet.

In the beginning usage will be solely allowed whilst passengers are in European airspace. Legal usage will also depend on the individual carriers; some still may not allow it.

Personally I don't understand the need to be contactable 24 hours a day. I mean, even if you're some sort of crisis management person, what are you going to do about a situation when your at 30,000 feet?

One thing's for sure though, if this legislation comes through there will be a whole lot of 'Guess where I am!' phone calls being made. The networks will be overjoyed!