News Article

USA WiiWare Update: Major League Eating

Posted Mon, 14 Jul 2008 by Darren Calvert

YOGA FLAME!!

YOGA FLAME!!

The moment you were all dreading (or possibly looking forward to!) is finally upon us. Today Major League Eating: The Game is up on WiiWare for North America as promised the other day!

We’re going to try and keep an open mind about this game until Alex’s review pops up in a day or so, but we sense that many of our readers will have dismissed this in their minds already.

It would be easy to write off the game concept as a bad idea, but we are impressed that Mastiff added online modes, something which even more well-known devs haven’t bothered to implement on their WiiWare games. If anyone does download this before our review hits, be sure and tell us what you think below.

More from Nintendo’s Wii-kly update:

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. This week’s new games are:

Major League Eating: The Game (Mastiff, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Crude Humor, 1,000 Wii Points): The ultimate chomp-off is about to begin. Grab your Wii Remote controller and dig into 12 different foods as you compete against the greatest major-league eaters in the world. This isn’t just a race to stuff your face - you’ll need strategy to master a smorgasbord of digestive attacks, defenses and counters. These include the Mega Burp, Gas Attack, Antacid and more. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your Barf-O-Meter, because if the food hits the plate twice, you’re out. Unlock more than 10 characters in single-player career mode, go gut-to-gut against your friends in versus mode, or compete online using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Online play supports friend codes, random matchmaking and leader boards.

If all this binge eating doesn’t sound like your bag then in Virtual Console land you can choose from the rather excellent Ninja Commando from the Neo Geo system, or the rather monotonous Donkey Kong 3 on the NES. The choice is yours!

Tags: WiiWare, North American Releases.

Game Screenshots

User Comments

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1. Taco_Human United States 14 Jul 2008, 13:38 GMT

I have still yet to buy a Wiiware game, and it seems its gonna stay that way until Megaman 9 comes out.

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2. zss_shadow Japan 14 Jul 2008, 13:50 GMT

Hmmm...Major League Eating once looked like just shovelware to me, but as the article says, the fact that they'd add any form of online means it might be better. Guess I'll just wait for the review.

bwaybuddy26

3. bwaybuddy26 United States 14 Jul 2008, 14:01 GMT

I actually think this game could be fun.

That being said... if Nintendo only releases one WiiWare game a week every week, it's going to be YEARS before the quality stuff gets out. =P

Jupiter Adept

4. Jupiter Adept Canada 14 Jul 2008, 14:11 GMT

I wanted Strong Bad, too... Oh well.

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5. Objection_Blaster United States 14 Jul 2008, 14:24 GMT

looks better than it once did but i really want Strongbad- typed on Wii :]

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6. Terranigma United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 14:26 GMT

i won't be getting this when or (hopefully), if it comes to Europe. especially when it's priced at 1000 points.

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7. PHANTOM93 United States 14 Jul 2008, 15:15 GMT

Meh, while i'm sure somebody in the world is going to like this game, it isn't my cup of tea. (ten bucks this game sells better than Star Soldier R)

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8. Terranigma United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 15:19 GMT

Not really fair to compare it to Star Soldier R as that's been out ages. I can see people wanted Strong Bad but personally, i think you'll all be waiting for 2 weeks as Plattchen should be out next week, so i imagine it will only be 1 Wiiware game for the US. Hope i'm wrong though

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9. Mike United States 14 Jul 2008, 15:32 GMT

Seems like shovelware...

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10. PHANTOM93 United States 14 Jul 2008, 15:32 GMT

@ Terranigma
Comparing the two games in sales was a joke, sorry if you thought I was serious :-)

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11. Terranigma United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 15:38 GMT

I know it was. that was just for those who actually did think you were serious.

Edit: Is it known if there will be any WiiWare games shown at E3?

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12. MrPoo6321 United States 14 Jul 2008, 16:19 GMT

This game looks like it could either be a blast or it could be completely retarded. Hopefully, its not bad, but I have low expectations.

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13. classicmike United States 14 Jul 2008, 16:54 GMT

Well, at least we got two decent games for the Virtual Console. Too bad they have to share a release date with this garbage Wii Ware game.

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14. Omega Germany 14 Jul 2008, 16:58 GMT

Oh no! I have a sensitive stomach. Why do they do that to me? I do not want to puke all over the Wii-Console. BTW: I wonder if this ever comes out in EU?

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15. Jerichoholic Josh United States 14 Jul 2008, 17:16 GMT

I can live with 1 WiiWare game a wiik, as long as therer are more 0-1 VC games available. Thats the part that ticks me off, so many old games to put up and they dont care. Enough of my whining though :)

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16. Ricardo91 United States 14 Jul 2008, 17:19 GMT

1000 points? Hmmmmmmmmm no. It might be better w/ online, but I'll wait for the review. I smell a 5/10, or maybe a 6.

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17. Mario64DStyle United States 14 Jul 2008, 17:31 GMT

I won't want this game, even if its a 10/10

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18. Objection_Blaster United States 14 Jul 2008, 17:48 GMT

So yeah...rumors are that Plattchen is next week, followed by Strongbad...maybe we'll get some VC info at E3, like how it might start to suck less??

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19. Atlantis1982 United States 14 Jul 2008, 18:29 GMT

No thanks, this game will make me puke. x.x

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20. Mr.Game and Watch United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 20:16 GMT

Just out of curiosity,how many blocks does this take up.

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21. ACK United States 14 Jul 2008, 20:18 GMT

@Mr. Game and Watch: Just over 250 blocks (257, if I recall).

I'll say this for Major League Eating--it's certainly has a fair amount of effort put into it... And it's not nearly as bad as you might think.

Actually if it wasn't for a burping minigame that essentially amounts to who can jack off the Wiimote faster and longer, I'd be having a pretty good time.

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22. ACK United States 14 Jul 2008, 20:45 GMT

Some more quick impressions:

So far I'd say it's akin to a conglomeration of minigames molded into a sort of fighting game. It's all largely rhythm-based, in timing how you cram your food with Wiimote gestures along with chewing (press the B button twice on each piece of food in your mouth without biting your tongue) and jiggling your stomach to settle the contents (hold A and waggle). But there's also some strategy here in how you juggle all this while gauging your opponent's condition and using powerups at the most effective oppurtunity.

Really, the closest experience I can think of off-hand are the boss and multiplayer battles in Guitar Hero 4. I know that may sound strange, but MLE relies on similar mechanics (focusing on the rhythmic act of cramming, chewing, and jiggling while grabbing powerups, encouraging your opponent's regurgitation reflex, and preventing a messy incident yourself) to unique effect.

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23. Terranigma United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 20:47 GMT

Just watched E3 through IGN. Fantastic. Banjo Kazooie on the XLBA might cause some controversy with Nintendo fans though. I don't care as i have a 360 so yay!

When will the review for M.L.E: T.G be up?

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24. ACK United States 14 Jul 2008, 20:48 GMT

Tomorrow sometime (hopefully closer to the beginning).

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25. Terranigma United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 20:49 GMT

ok, cool

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26. Peznaze United States 14 Jul 2008, 20:57 GMT

Yup, "Day late and a dollar short" for me. And of course it's going to outsell Star Soldier R - every single WiiWare does that in a day and a half, tops. :P

I've always been sure it'll be a good game for the minigame crowd, those that aren't too sensitive to play it. I suspect it will rank up there with Cocoto Fishing, Game Show King, Family Table Tennis... So by Wednesday... maybe top 10. Next Wednesay, floating around the mid top ten... 6, I'd guess.

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27. Roboto Mexico 14 Jul 2008, 22:22 GMT

yea its fun and there some guys online to play
but that burping minigame sucks i cant defeat juliet lee yet...

supermario2

28. supermario2 United Kingdom 14 Jul 2008, 22:46 GMT

@Objection_Blaster
(sorry if I spelt your name wrong) Do u know when E3 is anyway?
Written on Wii :)

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29. Ricardo91 United States 14 Jul 2008, 22:46 GMT

@Terranigma comment #23. Fine by me. I'm on my way to getting a 360 myself. Hoorah!

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30. Virus United States 14 Jul 2008, 23:30 GMT

MLE may get a pretty okay review, but sadly I'm turned off by its concept which would make this week's release a disappointment for me... I'm hoping WiiWare will go the way of the VC and provide at least two games a week...

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31. Roboto Mexico 14 Jul 2008, 23:37 GMT

@supermario2

the E3 just begins today with some interesting news check ign :)

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32. ACK United States 14 Jul 2008, 23:56 GMT

OK, so I just realized how the burping minigame really works--you actually have to shake the Wiimote in rhythm with the one on-screen... Not as wildly as possible as previously thought (which is basically how the manual explains it). Imagine my embarrassment when I realized I wore out my arms furiously masturbating my Wiimote for no quantifiable purpose whatsoever... And with my family watching, no less!

Anyway, to say I'm enjoying the game considerably more now is an understatement. It's still a challenge though.

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33. Draygone United States 15 Jul 2008, 00:39 GMT

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this turns out decent. Maybe, a 7/10. That's what most decent games on WiiWare have rated so far.

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34. Ray United States 15 Jul 2008, 00:45 GMT

Lol this game is so bad it's not even worth it to download for a review.

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35. ChocoDK Canada 15 Jul 2008, 01:08 GMT

@Taco_Human: I am in the same boat as you right now. I haven't even downloaded one Wii Ware game yet and am going to wait for Mega Man 9 now I think.

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36. WarioFan63 United States 15 Jul 2008, 02:24 GMT

Anyway, to say I'm enjoying the game considerably more now is an understatement.

I...am I reading that right? Are you enjoying the game or you regretting it?

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37. Roboto Mexico 15 Jul 2008, 06:00 GMT

@ACK!
forget the masturbation..
my worries are blowjobing the wiimoto when eating burritos hohohoho

and thanks for the tip about the burping i have an injury in my hand for using my wimote as a weel of fortune haha

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38. Virus United States 15 Jul 2008, 07:14 GMT

Wait a sec, is this game really only rated E10? After the above descriptions, I think hand gestures should be rated. :P

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39. Mr.Game and Watch United Kingdom 15 Jul 2008, 07:48 GMT

@Virus
E 10+! :lol:
7 year olds can play it here It has been rated 7+.

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40. WindOnFire Australia 15 Jul 2008, 12:17 GMT

@Terranigma comment 11- Mega Man 9 is being shown at E3

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41. Terranigma United Kingdom 15 Jul 2008, 12:25 GMT

Ok, cool stuff. I expected that Mega Man will be shown. Any Other games?

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42. ACK United States 15 Jul 2008, 16:04 GMT

Some stuff came up. The review will be somewhat delayed. My apologies.

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43. Objection_Blaster United States 15 Jul 2008, 19:59 GMT

@supermario2
Technically, E3 doesnt start until tomorrow (??) but MIcrosoft and Nintendo already had their conferences. Sony has theirs tomorrow. Ninty confirmed Voicechat, Wii Sports 2, AC Wii, and Wii Music....so in other words, some nice surprises but nothing hard-core or awesome...

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44. Peznaze United States 15 Jul 2008, 22:57 GMT

Ah, Now I see. Nintendo released this game this week, in the shadow of E3, so that it would be ignored completely! Boy, Mastiff must have really made Nintendo mad; their game got the shoddiest treatment of all WiiWare.

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45. Thomas United States 16 Jul 2008, 01:06 GMT

FINALLY! A game that's going to save Star Soldier R from getting knocked off the charts for a week! :D

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46. Jerichoholic Josh United States 16 Jul 2008, 03:08 GMT

@ ACK!

I just figured you all were bickering over who got to review this awesome looking game (Sarcasm) :D

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47. Roboto Mexico 16 Jul 2008, 06:10 GMT

hey where is the revew guys???
i just ended this game and no new caracters were unlcked
i just kick Kobayashi's ass for nothing???
ACK! did you unlock someone?

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48. ACK United States 16 Jul 2008, 06:49 GMT

Sorry about the review. It's been a long day around here so it's going to have to wait until tomorrow.

@ Roboto: The first character you unlock should be Tim "Eater X" Janus after you beat the single-player mode for the first time.

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49. Roboto Mexico 16 Jul 2008, 06:54 GMT

really?
i think he was there from the beginig
so i have to beat the game for like 6 more times or make records or only wining by making puke the contestants?

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50. Corbie United States 16 Jul 2008, 08:43 GMT

It's an interesting game, that's for sure. :)

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51. ACK United States 16 Jul 2008, 20:04 GMT

@ Roboto: There were four characters available at the start--Crazy Legs, Erik "The Red", Juliet Lee, and El Toro. (Meaning "Eater X" is unlockable.)

There game doesn't specify how exactly you unlock the other characters. I'm assuming you just have to beat the game with each one, though maybe the records play a role... I can't say.

Again, sorry about the review, guys. Let's just say it's been a hard week, but it's pretty close to being done... So hopefully it'll go up sometime tonight. No promises.

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52. Roboto Mexico 16 Jul 2008, 21:23 GMT

@ACK!
tanks im gonna try in the nigth cus i just eat and the game makes me feel stomache hehehe but stil its fun and hard to beat and i wanna know who is the last character that looks like a bear to me

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53. ACK United States 16 Jul 2008, 21:50 GMT

@ Roboto: Earlier today I played after scarfing down a monsterous burrito and once I got to the burrito eating contest it felt like my stomach was trying to escape break through my torso... Not pleasant.

Good news, though, the review is done! It may have to wait to be proofed until morning, but hopefully we can get it up tonight.

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