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Forget relaxation, Norwegian Cruise Line offers up big screen Wii play
If you've been attempting to break into your local multiplex after hours ever since you saw that original Wii-in-a-theater video, here's something that could help put on the right side of the law, while still satisfying those big screen urges. Norwegian Cruise Line has outfitted its newest ship and its whole NCL America fleet with Wii systems galore, including setups for the kids, various public rooms, and that uber-screen in the atrium pictured above. The cruise line will offer up tournaments and other activities, and also says that "Cheering, yelling and high-fives will be highly encouraged." Pah, as if we needed the company of others to enjoy all that glorious square footage.
Nintendo encourages healthy eating with DS Lite Magnet Stand
That's right. And the DS Lite is set to be reborn as a kitchen aid-cum-refrigerator ornament. To coincide with NCL's latest edutainment venture -- which is in essence a sequel to Shaberu! Oryouri Navi* -- the DS Lite Magnet Stand (as in, a stand which contains a magnet, and can thereby stand attached to a fridge door) will be released in Japan next week at ¥1200 (about US$10). Presumably, this is to facilitate easy consultation when Japanese housewives are working their kitchen magic with the help of Kenkou Ouen Recipe 1000 DS Kondate Zenshuu (or, as we'd put it, "The Complete 1000-Recipe Healthy Eating Guide"). Or perhaps it's been designed to distract the portly gamer from reaching for so many refreshments. Either way, it's for the good of your body. And your body is your temple. Keep it clean. Over. *More e-book than game, Shaberu! Oryouri Navi (which we'd translate as "Audio Cooking Guide") compiles more than 200 popular recipes and guides users through the whole process of making grub. It was, in fact, released in Japan in July of this year and continues to sell steadily. Check out the relaxing CM:Shaberu! Oryouri Navi CM (file under 'Joystiq reprinting old news, again')
How much is Nintendo really worth? (Clue: very much)
Recent financial figures released by Kyoto's most successful hanafuda manufacturer explain just how sickeningly rich the company is. NCL's total net assets as of September 30th, 2006 stand at US$10.86 billion. Do you know how many Rares you could buy for that? Too many!Nintendo's net sales (nothing to do with this here internet) for this fiscal year, which ends on March 31st, 2007, are forecast to be US$6.378 billion, while net profits (after the taxmen have taken their pieces of the sumptuous pie) for this financial year are expected to total US$862 million. That's quite a lot of money. According to a statement released by Nintendo of Japan's accountants, which we've partially emboldened for scary effect: "In order to expand gaming population in the console business as well, Nintendo will aim to popularize "Wii" (the latest video gaming console to be launched at the end of the calendar year) as an "everyday-use gaming device for all the family" allowing the new emergence of gaming console inseparable from daily lives, under the concept of "brand new days with Wii". As for handheld gaming market, Nintendo will continue to strive to gain more popularity with an expansion in software lineup by launching new types of games that expand user base such as "Touch! Generations" as well as easy accesible games to challenging games in due proportion." Key phrase there, if we've read it correctly, is "inseparable from daily lives." The message is clear and just a bit frightening, dear readers: Nintendo wants your life!Read (.pdf) -- Nintendo.co.jp financial statement
