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User-generated content rules Band Brothers DX
For most of us, Band Brothers DX is just one of many unattainable titles in the Japanese market. We want to play it and love the crap out of it, but our inability to understand the Japanese squigglies keeps us from realizing just how great the game is. Thanks to Spencer at Siliconera, we can keep up with the most beloved content for the title.You can see the top 100 downloads yourself right here. It's not going to mean much to a majority of you, but if you're looking for the top downloads of this week, then peep this: Shuchi Shin (Shuchi Shin) Gake no Ue no Ponyo (Miyazaki movie theme?) Nakanai de (Shuchi Shin) Kiseki (GReeeeN) Nando mo (Aoyama Thelma)* created by Nintendo [Via Siliconera]
Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 7/7-7/13
There's so much DS software love in the top ten that we don't know what to highlight! If pressed, though, we'll have to choose Densetsu no Stafi 5, because 1) Stafy is just the cutest and 2) it performed better than the rest. Band Brothers DX is inching toward 200,000 sales, though, and will probably hit that landmark next week.The other DS love goes to Hana Yori Dango: Koi Seyo Onago, an otome based on an anime/manga/j-drama. Although the chances of it happening are about ... zero ... we'd love to see that one localized, as Hana Yori Dango is one of our guilty pleasures. Last but not least, we'll mention the sometimes inappropriate Gegege no Kitarou, which debuted in ninth. (Oh yeah -- there's also Derby Stallion, but really.)Software sales gave DS hardware a small boost, but Nintendo's handheld is still stuck behind the PSP: PSP: 56,998 (559) Nintendo DS: 48,540 (1,085) Wii: 41,768 (2,757) PlayStation 3: 12,458 (1,901) PlayStation 2: 10,405 (1,363) Xbox 360: 3,807 (969) To check out the Japanese software sales numbers and rankings, just click past the break. (Our apologies -- we could only find translations for the top ten games!)
Nintendo delays Daigasso! Band Brothers bootlegging
In a likely accidental move similar to Square Enix's FFCC "Moogle of Death" screen, Nintendo has temporarily stalled pirates from completely enjoying Daigasso! Band Brothers DX. Not long after the rhythm game shipped out in Japan, crooked gamers around the world downloaded the ROM only to find that it didn't work as expected. According to initial reports, because Band Brothers DX uses a 1mb save instead of traditional 512kb saves, the ROM refuses to load on many flashcarts. Of course, determined delinquents have already found a workaround, and some flashcarts will load the ROM successfully without any required hacking, but pirates are also finding themselves unable to access the 200 downloadable songs available through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.Seeing as the game comes with only 30 tracks installed, the online songs are a huge draw for people playing Band Brothers DX! Though we expect hackers and flashcart manufacturers to fully "patch" the ROM in a few days, if not in a few hours, it's nice to hear that there are still a few things out there capable of temporarily flummoxing the DS piracy scene.%Gallery-24427%
Bust ghosts and wish upon stars with Band Brothers DX
As we've previously noted, there's a lot more to Band Brothers DX than J-pop. Nintendo just updated the list of the game's downloadable content, and there are several tracks (most of which tick the "shamelessly camp" and "80s" boxes) that will be recognizable to western eyes. These include cheesy power rock anthem "The Final Countdown," "Last Christmas," "Y.M.C.A.," and ... the Ghostbusters theme?! Man, you better believe that we're just one Thundercats theme away from getting our import on right this second, Nintendo! Here's what being offered up, complete with YouTube linkage: "Ghostbusters" "Last Christmas" "Daydream Believer" "Stand by Me" "The Loco-Motion" "Saturday Night" "The Final Countdown" "When You Wish Upon A Star" "Gonna Fly Now" "Highway Star" "ABC" "Y.M.C.A." As if choosing what to download wasn't already difficult enough! Hit the gallery for a dozen fresh shots of the title. %Gallery-24427%[Via Siliconera]
Band Brothers DX: choose your DLC carefully
It feels churlish to complain about the expansive range of DLC offered up by Band Brothers DX. In case you forgot, the game will allow users to download up to 100 extra songs from a choice of 200 (far outstripping the amount of tracks offered by any other DS music game), yet posters on NeoGAF have now discovered that once you've downloaded one of your 100 tracks, that's it -- there's no way to delete tracks, or replace them with new songs.Curious about this limiting feature, N-Sider's Matt Behrens checked out the official site for the game, which seemed to confirm the findings. On the site, Nintendo explains that this is due to rights restrictions that prevent the erasing or replacement of the music, and urges players to use "Audition Mode," a feature that plays songs before you elect to download them. Sounds like solid advice![Via N-Sider]
Check out the track lists for Band Brothers DX
The Band Brothers DX website lists all the jammable tracks available in the rhythm title, including both downloadable and in-game songs. Since the list is in Japanese, we did our best to translate (read: search the internet for a translation), which we've posted after the break.For classical music lovers (like this blogger), the in-game song list is like a piece of cake wrapped in brownie batter. Everyone else may be a wee bit disappointed, though, as the tracks only include five J-pop songs among a plethora of Mozart and the like. To keep it interesting, the classical songs are remixed in different styles, like tango, Eurobeat, pop, jazz, and more. Some unique combinations include a reggae version of Beethoven's "Pathétique Sonata" and a Famicom version of Schubert's "The Trout" (click here and here to listen to them in their original classical styles).The list of downloadable songs is much more J-poppy, however, offering tracks like "Flavor of Life" by Utada Hikaru, which is the recurring theme of J-drama Hana Yori Dango. There are also a handful of anime songs to help tickle your J-fetish.If you want to see both of the translated song lists for Band Brothers DX, just click on past the break. Gallery: Band Brothers DX
Band Brothers DX introduces new way to embarrass yourself in public
Along with the launch of its official Band Brothers DX site yesterday, Nintendo has released a set of screenshots showing off the rhythm game's new features, such as its downloadable songs and acoustic guitar.One addition that we've been hoping to see more of is the Karaoke Bar (pictured right), a mode in which you can practice your singing abilities with the Nintendo DS's mic. We bet you can't wait to sing Ashley's Theme Song while other people on the bus/train whisper and giggle about your off-key performance.Of course, following the lyrics might prove to be difficult considering that most the words will be written in Japanese, but there's no need to worry about that, as Nintendo will likely localize Band Brothers DX, just like it localized the original game, Jam With The Band ... on opposite day. When you're done feeling bitter about all that, jump into our gallery below for more screenshots. There's some great looking boxart to be found there!%Gallery-24427%
Band Brothers DX site open for jamming
Well, it seems like today we were just writing about Band Brothers DX. Oh wait, we were! Okay then, twice in one day it is.For those of you hungry for more Band Brothers DX, know that the website for the game has gone live. It's in Japanese, so navigation isn't going to be easy. But, if you decide to head on over there, you'll find a breakdown on the Speaker Channel, as well as some other goodies.[Via Go Nintendo]
Jam with the screens of Band Brothers DX
With all the new features that are being added to Band Brothers DX, the sequel to Daigasso! Band Brothers, we can't help but really, really hope it gets localized. Sure, importing is always an option, but we want access to all the drool-worthy downloadable content. We wouldn't mind English menus either, to make navigating around the software easier.At the moment, though, all we can do is stare at screens for a game that we hope we get. So, mosey on past the break to check out the newest images, and hope against all odds that Barbara the Bat's appearance as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be enough to kick-start the series outside of Japan.
Band Brothers DX: Now with 100+ downloadable jams
After Daigasso! Band Brothers' release in Japan over three years ago and its subsequent expansion pack, it's time that Nintendo of America follow through with its Jam With the Band plans and bring the rhythm game to the US. Perhaps with this new entry to the series, Band Brothers DX, stateside gamers will finally trade licks with the series' curvy mascot, Barbara the Bat, outside of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Japanese magazine Famitsu revealed the sequel in this week's issue, detailing plenty of additions to the original's offerings: 30 classical/J-pop tracks, 50+ playable instruments (including an NES/Famicom?!), a guitar which you can strum via touchscreen, and a new "Karaoke Bar" mode. Interestingly, according to initial translations, DX will only allow for six players in its multiplayer jam sessions, two players less than what the first Band Brothers supported.As for its online features, DX will also have over 100 downloadable songs for players to add to the included tracklist. We're assuming that this is for-real downloadable content and not faux downloadable content, as seen with Professor Layton and the Curious Village, but you never know! Band Brothers DX is scheduled to ship in Japan this June 26th. We'll let you know if we hear anything about a US release!Bring your axe and pick past the post break for the scanned Famitsu pages.
