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Pile on: Contact takes a jab at Sony meme
1UP's Jeremy Parish was kind enough to post the above picture on his blog, reminding us all that the lifetime of a particularly stinging internet meme is likely to extend beyond that of a mere mortal. The depicted DS game is Contact, an Earthbound-ish RPG from Atlus, one of the few developers that can don the "quirky" tag with pride even as they bounce around a drunken cosplay party. Our first instinct was to question Tomm Hulett, the man in charge of the game's localization, regarding the whereabouts of his elbow in relation to Sony's battered ribs."I'll be honest, I can't really speak for the Professor. He has a mind of his own, and he's sure to say all manner of crazy things as you play through Contact. It certainly seems like he's up on his gaming news, though, doesn't it? I have heard that battles in Contact ARE based on actual battles which took place in space, though, so who knows."Tomm confirmed the presence of crabs in the game, though didn't specify if they were of the "giant enemy" variety as commonly found in feudal Japan.
Nintendo plays numbers game, wins!
Nintendo certainly struck the jackpot with their little dual-screened device, didn't they? With 21 million DS units having been sold worldwide, you can bet that the Japanese giant is enjoying every last penny spilling forth from the one-armed consumer. In the celebratory press release, Nintendo points out that what they've accomplished in under two years easily trumps the 1 million iPods Apple shifted in 19 months. Apparently, that equates to 23 DS systems sold per minute ever since the November 2004 launch.As you may vengefully recall, we accused Nintendo of having suspiciously puffy sleeves in our last game of marketing poker. You'll be happy to learn then that there are no such shenanigans here and that the numbers check out based on a 24-hour business day. We suspect that if the day were any longer, Nintendo would make such a huge amount of money that they'd be taken into a back room, sternly questioned by Joe Pesci and ... this casino allegory is going nowhere.
Japanese hardware sales, 10 July - 16 July: rapid weight gain
It seems Japanese gamers are still maliciously toying with the original DS, kicking it to the bottom of the charts one week and hoisting it back up again the next. Shortages and a shifting focus to the Lite are likely to blame, but we can't help but picture a somewhat nervous and haggard DS Phat staring into a cracked mirror, contemplating whether people want him ... or just want him dead. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 140,858 8,596 (5.75%)- PSP: 35,283 3,324 (10.40%)- PS2: 23,927 595 (2.55%)- DS Phat: 11,821 10,812 (1071.56%)- GBA SP: 2,619 199 (7.06%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,581 202 (14.65%)- Xbox 360: 1,105 505 (31.37%)- Gamecube: 928 6 (0.64%)- GBA: 28 8 (40.00%)- Xbox: 10 3 (23.08%)The PSP continues to do well this week (despite boasting only half as many screens as its main competitor) while the Xbox 360 takes a bit of a tumble. The latter system's fortunes continue to look glum in Japan, a situation that could easily be reversed by one ingenious move -- releasing the console in pink. What else have they got to lose?[Source: Media Create]
Japanese hardware sales, 3 July - 9 July: paging Rod Serling
There are times when reading the Japanese sales charts can be a decidedly odd and disturbing experience, as if your mind suddenly becomes aware that all is not right in the universe. Like a homicidal clown lurking in a dark corner, this week's situation is certainly amusing, but it's not something you want to come into contact with on a regular basis. It's just wrong. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 149,454 4,112 (2.68%)- PSP: 31,959 6,024 (23.23%)- PS2: 23,332 199 (0.86%)- GBA SP: 2,818 101 (3.46%)- Xbox 360: 1,610 287 (15.13%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,379 64 (4.44%)- DS Phat: 1,009 2,495 (71.20%)- Gamecube: 934 68 (6.79%)- GBA: 20 3 (17.65%)- Xbox: 13 5 (62.50%)Looking at the opposite ends of the list is like glancing into the cackling face of madness (it bears a vague resemblance to Groucho Marx). The DS Lite endures a minor slip, its older sibling takes a complete fall down a set of stairs and the original Xbox experiences the biggest improvement percentage-wise out of the whole lot. Did we enter into some sort of zone where normal things don't happen very often?[Source: Media Create]
DS Lites invade McDonald's in Times Square
Yesterday, we told you about a series of DS Lite demonstrations being held at various McDonald's joints in New York City. While some of you made the astute observation that the nearby Nintendo World Store made that sort of thing a bit redundant, it didn't stop one of our fellow bloggers, Andrew Yoon, from stopping by and shoving his camera into every available face. The fact that Mr. Yoon writes for PSP Fanboy will be conveniently glossed over.He summed up the event as follows: "The DS guys aren't timely. They arrived half an hour late." "The games playable include New Super Mario Bros, Tetris DS, True Swing Golf, Brain Age and Big Brain Academy." "Every person that plays will get an iced coffee and cool (but useless) frisbee thing." "It seemed like a success: people asked, 'Where's the nearest Toys R Us?' so they can buy these suckers." "A mom seemed completely entranced by Tetris DS." Entranced mothers could likely be taken as a good sign for Nintendo's ongoing Touch Generations campaign, and events such as these are a great way of grabbing the attentions of those who call every single gaming device "a Nintendo." More pictures follow in the second part of the post.
Sample the DS Lite at an NYC McDonald's
If you live in or around New York City and have yet to part with your old DS in order to embrace the Lite, you may want to stop by a McDonald's in the next few days and try the system out for yourself. Several of the burger joints will have demo units to try out and, if you're lucky (or a rampant kleptomaniac), you might just walk away with a free iced coffee, a handful of Nintendo vouchers or even a DS Lite. These are the times and places you need to barge in:Thursday, July 13, 200612:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.McDonald's restaurant at:220 West 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10036Friday, July 14th, 200612:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.McDonald's restaurant at:1560 BroadwayNew York, NY 100364:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.McDonald's restaurant at:427 10th Ave and 34th StreetNew York, NY 10001Wednesday, July 19th, 200612:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.mMcDonald's Restaurant at:946 8th Ave and 56th StreetNew York, NY 10019Just be sure not to get your filthy hamburger grease all over the precious things.[Thanks to Elicia Baker at MWW.]
Japan gets black DS Lite too, America sulks
Many would gladly offer up their lunch money for an opportunity to get their hands on the coveted black DS Lite, but unfortunately that simply isn't good enough for the Japanese and European schoolyard bullies tossing the sleek device back and forth over the head of a constantly leaping and visibly frustrated America. Nintendo of Japan's official website has been updated to reveal the Jet Black DS Lite which sees release this September, just a few months after Europe got the dark dual-screener. Unless the Nintendo of America headquarters are equipped with cauldrons of bubbling oil and other defensive devices that deal with vehement rioters, it would seem likely that the darkest Lite won't dally too long before finally landing on North American shores. Rioters keen on seeing the Noble Pink variant, however, will likely have to wait a bit longer. Attacking Nintendo HQ astride unicorns and flinging colorful streamers at the walls has been shown to be decidedly less effective at stirring up interest -- trust us, we found out the hard way.[Thanks creamsugar!]
Moogle joins Mario Hoops team roster
A recent Famitsu scan seems to indicate that the obscenely colorful cast of Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 will be joined by a fluffy Final Fantasy favorite -- Moogle. Franchise crossovers are always amusing, though we thought that Square Enix would at least have the good sense to toss Quina Quen from Final Fantasy IX in there. We're convinced that Mario would rather have a freakish, grammatically challenged cook on his team as opposed to a little white creature that's probably a bit crap at playing basketball. [Via 4CR]
Smile for the DS Lite camera [Update 1]
This video depicts a supposedly makeshift camera (which, to be honest, looks a little scary) hooked up to a DS Lite and, thanks to some homebrewin' magic, it starts taking pictures. Barring the horrendous framerate, it seems like an amusing device with equally amusing future applications. The thought of taking a snapshot of someone's face, only to doodle on it with a stylus is pleasing in ways best left unmentioned. Still, there's every chance that it's an elaborate fake, with homebrew software merely displaying some images taken previously with a real camera. It's hard to make a decision on the legitimacy based solely on this video, though we expect the homebrew crew to quickly show up and put things into focus. Either way, at least we got the whole "doodling on people's faces" imagery out of the deal.[Thanks Nushio & MikeLacks!][Update 1: Check out the originating site here. Thanks David R!]
Japanese hardware sales, 26 June - 2 July: You've got red on you
Oh, the horror. Be sure to keep angry fanboys and dubiously trained pet bulls away from the monitor this week, as it displays an awful lot of red. Even the mighty DS Lite experiences the strange sensation of slipping, possibly caused by the tight grip of an overweight sibling. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 153,566 3,456 (2.20%)- PSP: 25,935 1,198 (4.84%)- PS2: 23,133 2,334 (9.16%)- DS Phat: 3,504 6,628 (65.42%)- GBA SP: 2,919 829 (21.91%)- Xbox 360: 1,897 728 (62.28%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,443 59 (3.93%)- Gamecube: 1,002 195 (16.29%)- GBA: 17 8 (32.00%)- Xbox: 8 2 (20.00%)As a commenter jokingly suggested last week, it's awfully difficult to resist the temptation of traveling to Japan and purchasing 10,000 Xbox consoles, just to ... exacerbate things. [Source: Media Create]
DS Fanboy vs. GBA Movie Player
Deep within the recesses of the DS Fanboy labs, the SD version of the GBA Movie Player has been enduring poking, prodding and occasional squeezing for quite some time now, up until the point where failure to post a review would be deemed by many as inappropriate and downright offensive. Doubly so considering that said labs don't actually exist. Compelled by the logo prominently emblazoned all across this site, we mainly tested the device on the Nintendo DS and the DS Lite and were pleased to find that the device performs surprisingly well. There is a caveat, however, one that should loom over your online purchase like an owl slowly circling a confused mouse, waiting for the opportune moment to swoop down and devour a furry feast. Once you look up and become aware of the bird of prey, you'll be better equipped to determine whether or not the Movie Player is worth your money. Ignoring it will only lead to disappointment which, going by this ill-conceived allegory, means you will get eaten by an owl. A big one.Essentially, the problem with the GBA Movie player isn't a problem with the GBA Movie player at all. It's that thing it plugs into. As a media playing device, the DS is a bit crap.
DS Lite pwned Japan in June
As if those weekly hardware charts weren't enough to convince you, Next Generation has put up a report that once again underlines just how well the DS Lite is performing in Japan. The words "ridiculous", "ludicrous" and "criminal" certainly spring to mind when noting that the Lite sold 575,000 units last month, making for a grand total of 2.6 million thus far. New Super Mario Bros. has been flying off the shelves with equal aplomb, right into the hands of 1.8 million nostalgia-craving gamers. It has become one of eight DS games to break through the meticulously guarded million sold barrier. As part of those who initially thought the DS to be a silly device that would be beaten to a pulp in the handheld gaming ghetto, we've been proven wrong again and again. And again. Let's be honest now. Did you expect this to happen back in 2004?
Happy Fourth of July
From everyone here at DS Fanboy, we wish you fine lot a fantastic Fourth of July, one free of work stress, responsibility, and aliens intent on blowing up every recognizable landmark in sight. We recommend you play some DS games, but that you avoid using your DS Lite in the vicinity of fireworks displays -- it's hard enough spotting fireworks in broad daylight.If, like me, you're not of the appropriate geographical position to celebrate this holiday, remind yourself that you don't always need a reason to avoid work and play DS games instead.
New Super Mario now stomping across Europe
Not content with conquering Japan and America, the newly revamped, newly released, New Super Mario Bros. now set its non-insidious sights on Europe, land of collosseums, queens and curiously leaning constructions. Nintendo of Europe has announced that the game has shipped to stores, just in time to be snatched up over the weekend. Expect Mario to hit his presumed homeland of Italy in full force, devouring mushrooms and smashing bricks, though sadly not fixing leaky plumping. If you haven't purchased the game already, check out its updated official site and catch yourself whistling along to the music.
Japanese hardware sales, 19 June - 25 June: the bigger they are
... the harder they fall. The Japanese population's brief rekindling of their romance with the DS Phat, showing a massive 1559% increase in sales last week, seems to have died out for now. Our obese friend takes the sharpest fall this week, with slimmer, trimmer machines like the Game Boy Micro and DS Lite faring better. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 157,022 15,535 (10.98%)- PS2: 25,467 4,730 (22.81%)- PSP: 24,737 84 (0.34%)- DS Phat: 10,132 12,616 (55.46%)- GBA SP: 3,784 858 (18.48%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,502 208 (16.07%)- Gamecube: 1,197 195 (19.46%)- Xbox 360: 1,169 238 (16.92%)- GBA: 25 5 (25.00%)- Xbox: 10 5 (33.33%)The rest of the chart seems intentionally unremarkable, with the Lite reigning on top and the spinless Xbox sweeping the ground floor. Very soon, it will be expected to clean up the explosion of confetti and glitter accompanying the launch of the Noble Pink DS Lite.[Source: Media Create]
Japanese hardware sales, 12 June - 18 June: Phat's back
Quite possibly the only sane thing we've received from Japan this week, the Japanese hardware sales charts show it like it is -- no silly comparisons, half-truths or fuzzy mathematics in sight. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 141,487 9,460 (7.17%)- PSP: 24,653 2,997 (13.84%)- DS Phat: 22,748 21,377 (1559.23%)- PS2: 20,737 1,756 (9.25%)- GBA SP: 4,642 526 (12.78%)- Xbox 360: 1,407 307 (27.91%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,294 360 (21.77%)- Gamecube: 1,002 41 (4.27%)- GBA: 20 10 (33.33%)- Xbox: 15 5 (25.00%)Aside from the soothing abundance of green, the most noticeable aspect of this week's chart is undoubtedly the DS Phat's performance, indicating either a surge in its popularity or a surge in desperation amongst those who couldn't track down a DS Lite. Perhaps it's time to import a black one from Europe?[Source: Media Create]
View Opera Browser box art through a web browser
These web browser things are fantastic innovations. We fully understand why Nintendo would want to have one on their DS. They no doubt envisioned situations such as these, where you could use the newfangled technology to actually look at images online, images depicting anything from adorable kittens to Japanese box art. The guys at Game Watch were quick to take advantage and have "uploaded" the two versions (one for each DS model) of the Opera Browser packaging. We know. Being at the helm of cutting-edge technology can be quite frightening.Larger images "after the break". Whatever that means.[Via Nintendo Gal]
DS Review: touching is good
We often consider ourselves to be the experts of touching, a label which has far more connotations than practical uses. Still, it has allowed us to become very intimate with Nintendo's latest portable, one that many would argue to be an open celebration of poking and prodding. In the above video, the esteemed and obviously mature Mark Slutsky explains why the DS has gained this reputation and why whipping it out in public is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. [Thanks Mark!]
Black DS Lite's flesh compared to PSP, DS Phat
Spudstercool, the tipster that sent us shots of the black DS Lite yesterday, was busy last night taking a few more photos of his black DS Lite alongside his PSP and now discarded DS Phat. This thing is hawt. Some answers to questions in the earlier comments thread: The DS Phat goes for around £70 on eBay.co.uk although GAME stores will give you £40 towards a DS Lite if you give them your DS Phat. The North American release date for the black DS Lite is, as yet, unannounced. You can import a U.K. DS Lite to your country without worrying about region encoding for games, but you'll still need to figure out a way of converting the UK DS Lite's 3-pin 230V/50Hz power adapter to your local mains power.
Japanese hardware sales, 5 June - 11 June: outnumbered
The sheer volume of words being displayed on the front page of this blog is, quite frankly, entirely ridiculous. It's time for a change. It's time we inundate you with the accountant's best friend and the alphabet's greatest foe. It's time we unleash the Japanese hardware sales charts for the week ranging from 5 June to 11 June and thoughtfully observe their effects on the human body. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 132,027 3,587 (2,65%)- PSP: 21,656 2,939 (11,95%)- PS2: 18,981 468 (2,53%)- GBA SP: 4,116 248 (5,68%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,654 384 (30,24%)- DS Phat: 1,371 212 (18,29%)- Xbox 360: 1,100 145 (11,65%)- Gamecube: 961 163 (20,43%)- GBA: 30 6 (20,00%)- Xbox: 20 23 (53,49%)For those perplexed by the friendly arrows, rest assured that their intention is only to indicate whether a platform's sales have increased or decreased since the last week (followed by the exact difference and a percentage). For those perplexed by the previous sentence, we politely suggest that you try attending school for once.[Source: Media Create]
