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Nintendo tells developers not to share digital sales numbers
Richard Hill-Whittall is the owner and director of Icon Games Entertainment, and his company has released several games in the last year for various platforms, including WiiWare. He recently shared some sales numbers over on Gamasutra, but was asked by Nintendo to take the numbers for its platforms down. According to Hill-Whittall, Nintendo doesn't allow developers to share digital sales numbers for self-published WiiWare and downloadable DS titles. That's an interesting tack to take, and Hill-Whittall argues that it hurts smaller developers who might need to make those sales numbers known in order to secure financing or plan out their business. He doesn't see it as surprising, however, because Nintendo doesn't allow developers to change their prices or offer demos or promotions either, which are all tactics that Microsoft, Sony, and other digital publishers have used to pick up lots of digital sales before. Obviously, not everyone will want to share sales data, and Nintendo itself must see this data as valuable information to be protected. A restriction on sharing the data, says Hill-Whittall, could be fatal for a smaller developer like his, especially if they rely on Nintendo's platform alone.
You've got Mario in my DSi calculator app
So, you've got $2 burning a hole in your pocket and you want to calculate money you only wish you had? Well DSi users, you're in luck with a nifty calculator. But, the convenience doesn't end there. The application utilizes sound effects and visuals from Super Mario Bros. If you think about it, it's a really smart idea! For years we've been joking that the DS prints money, but now the DSi can count it, too. Oh, technology ... where would we be without you? Check out a video of the application in action after the break.
New Art Style, WarioWare on DSiWare shop starting December, plus first look at Made in Ore
Nintendo buried some awesome news in the slides for their financial briefing today. With just one day until the Japanese launch of the DSi, we finally get a brief look at some upcoming downloadable DSiWare software. Nintendo plans to release six Art Style puzzle games on the service, for 500 points each. Of the four games shown in screens, all are brand new. One features a flat surface being folded into cubes, one looks like sort of a flat Rubik's Cube, one features a little guy walking around and specifying where to drop cubes, and one features three columns of colored blocks that the player shifts around.A brand new WarioWare will be available from the shop at launch for 500 Points. Utsusu! Made in Wario (Take a Picture! Made in Wario, basically) uses the camera to involve your pictures (and your live motions!) in microgames.In addition to Utsutsu!, minigames from previous WarioWare titles, like Paper Plane, will be available as separate downloads from the DSi Shop for 200 Points each. Also on the way: a Japanese train line map and guide software.It's not a DSiWare game, but Iwata also showed off a bit of Made in Ore, (at about 44 minutes), which is a full-on WarioWare microgame creation utility! You can draw sprites, create music, and even design the logic of the in-game elements, saving your microgames to virtual Famicom cartridges. There will even be a WiiWare game, Asobu! Made in Ore (Play! Made in Me), that allows you to upload your games to the Wii and play them with friends! Allow us to be absolutely clear: this is the greatest event in human history.To see the DSiWare stuff, scroll to the "DSiWare" slide (using the second button) and start the video (third button) to look at the footage for yourself, or head to Vooks for a series of screen captures![Via NeoGAF]
Nintendo points don't transfer between Wii, DSi
The new Nintendo Points cards will force you to pick a platform when it's redeemed. Siliconera reports that the House of Mario currency will not go into one main Nintendo piggy bank for the user, but will need to be redeemed for either DSWare or WiiWare titles.Another way of putting it is that consumers won't be able to transfer points between the Wii and DSi after activating the cards. It's a shame really, we certainly expected a more 21st-century solution (i.e. an all-purpose Nintendo account) from the company which brought us the brilliant 16-digit friend code system.[Via WiiFanboy]%Gallery-33459%
Nintendo: DSi is region-locked
Those of you who intend to import a DSi from Japan next month may wish to revise your plans, as Nintendo has now confirmed that all DSi software will be region-locked. "DSi software (software that is only compatible with DSi) is region-locked, e.g: European DSi software can only be played on European DSi consoles," stated Nintendo's spokesperson to CVG, brutally driving a stake through our dreams of ever playing Japanese DSWare.There are elements of the DSi that are region-free -- you'll be able to surf the 'net wherever you are in the world, exchange photos with friends in other regions, and still play non-local DS games on the DSi -- but it looks like we can forget about importing Japanese DSi software. It simply won't work.Nintendo's messenger says this is because the DSi "embeds net communication functionality within itself" and provides "net services specifically tailored for each region." The fact that each region has unique age limits is also mentioned. What a thoroughly depressing start to the week! We're off for coffee and extra donuts.%Gallery-33263%
DS Daily: Ware Down
We don't know exactly what kinds of experiences Nintendo has in mind for the DSi's DSWare, beyond Brain Age variations: the rigid pricing scheme makes us think that Nintendo is exerting more control over this service than on WiiWare, or at the very least they have different plans. We're guessing it may have more applications than WiiWare (which has pretty much only the browser).But for fun, let's assume it's a service for downloading games, just like WiiWare. Are there any WiiWare games you'd like to see adapted to the small screens? Defend Your Castle? Orbient? Anything as long as it isn't Protöthea?
Nintendo announces Nintendo DSi
Click image to enter our DSi gallery! Nintendo's Media Summit has just thrown us its first juicy bone of the night, and it's a big one. As was previously rumored, Satoru Iwata has revealed the Nintendo DSi, the direct successor to the DS Lite which comes absolutely jam-packed with new features and trinkets, including two cameras, music playback functions, expanded screens, an SD card slot, and a whole new, DS-specific download service. Hit the break for the full list of improvements and adjustments, as well as the Japanese launch date and price!%Gallery-33263%
