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NintendoWare Weekly: Dr. Mario Express, Deep Psyche, Crystal Defenders, and Wonder Boy
Another week and another slew of content is available for your Nintendo consoles. DSi enthusiasts receive Dr. Mario Express, while WiiWare lovers can check out Square Enix's Crystal Defenders. Let's get to the full rundown, which you can find resting comfortably past the break.%Gallery-39567%
Virtual Wares: Introducing DSiWare
It's a big week for Nintendo fans. First of all, the first 6 downloadable goodies on the US DSi Shop are available, and we've got 1 new WiiWare and Virtual Console title to consider. So let's not waste any time and get right down to the nitty-gritty. What will you be downloading this week?%Gallery-39654%
Reggie: DSiWare about quality, not quantity, third-party titles coming soon
Wired recently talked with Nintendo president Reggie FIls-Aime and the upcoming DSi was obviously a focal point of the conversation. More specifically, when quizzed about the DSi Shop and potential DSiWare that will populate its virtual shelves, Reggie wanted to stress that Nintendo will be focusing on quality titles, and not an overabundance of games and apps, like one might see on the iPhone. Reggie rather smartly compares the emphasis on quality over quantity to that of a film festival and YouTube. He says Nintendo will focus on "high-class content done by knowledgeable developers," instead of the "YouTube approach of everything under the sun that is difficult for the consumer to navigate through."He also says that the company will be granting third parties licenses to develop DSiWare and titles should be available around six weeks after the DSi's launch. But, he stresses that these companies need to create experiences unique to the platform and not available anywhere else, so don't expect a DSi version of SSFIITHDR or anything.
Nintendo DSi on sale in Europe, DSi Shop open for business (video)
Nintendo's DSi, the youngest of the dual screen triplets, is now available in Europe, priced at £150 (US $222) in UK and €170 elsewhere. As for everyone across the pond, we'll have to wait until Sunday for the official North America debut, but if you somehow managed to procure one early (hello there!), you can check out the DSi Shop, which has officially flung open its doors for eager buyers. Check out video of Josh spending some quality time with the DSi Shop after the break.
DSi Shop's American lineup is ... diverse
So, Nintendo has announced all the games you'll be able to purchase for your brand new DSi in the online DSi Shop on April 5. The list is ... well, we were going to say "eclectic", but it's just plain weird. You can Nintendo's full descriptions after the break, but here are the titles: WarioWare: Snapped! Bird & Beans Brain Age Express: Math Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face Art Style: AQUIA You can level a lot of complaints at Nintendo and be well within reason, but you can't say that it's not trying some different stuff. As previously announced, you'll also get $10 in credit (1,000 DSi Points) if you log on to the store by October 5, which leads us to ask: Which game will you be picking up?
Nintendo reveals early DSi Shop titles
With the release of the Nintendo DSi mere days away, we imagine many folks have chewed their fingernails right to the bone. Here at the office, we're mostly concerned with the DSi Shop and how we're going to spend those free 1,000 Points. Thanks to Eurogamer, we know of at least three new games that will be available in Europe and (hopefully) North America, adding to the games we already know about.The first title is from the Art Style series of games, called Art Style: Code. The game released in Japan under Art Style: DECODE and is a puzzle game that tasks players with correctly organizing a series of numbers. Next is Pyoro (Bird and Bean), a game where you catch fruit falling from a tree with Pyoro's long tongue. The other new game is Paper Plane, where players must successfully guide a paper airplane through a series of mazes. Sadly, a price or US release date has not been mentioned for any of these titles, but the fact that they're leaving Japan is a very good sign for the future of DSiWare in the US.%Gallery-39571%
Target reveals free 1,000 DSi Points with DSi purchase
All DSi systems in Japan come with 1,000 free points with which to explore the DSi Shop. Nintendo hasn't said anything about such an offer in North America, but it seems that Target has broken the news ahead of time. The store's product listing (for either the black or blue model) includes the following text within its fine print: "Free downloadable games from Nintendo DSi Shop included with the purchase of a Nintendo DSi system. Upon initial access to Nintendo DSi Shop, 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points will be credited to your account, which you can then use to download your free Nintendo DSi-exclusive games and applications." The listing directs people to dsioffer.nintendo.com for more information, confirming that this is a Nintendo offer and not just a Target promotion. Unfortunately, that site is not yet active. In other DSi Points news, the image (via Amazon) shows what the new cards are going to look like. So what DSiWare are you going to buy with your free points? Oh, right, Nintendo hasn't announced any. Pop Plus Solo?%Gallery-33263%[Via NeoGAF]
Rumor: Nintendo pushing developers to make small DSiWare 'apps'
Develop reports that at a secret Nintendo developer conference this week, the company outlined a strategy to encourage developers to create short applications for the DSi's new DSiWare download service. Unnamed developer told Develop that Nintendo wants DSiWare developers to consider both short games and non-game apps, rather than the games-only selection found on WiiWare. The emphasis on small utilities and extremely brief games does call to mind a certain other device.One dev said that "Given the advanced functions in the DSi, such as the microphone and camera, the company told us that there are a variety of opportunities for a variety of apps, both in a games sense and a non-games sense, that we could offer."Nintendo of Japan already has a few non-game apps on the DSi Shop, including Nintendo-themed calculators, two clocks, and a travel guide. The rest of the service consists of small games, many of which are miniature versions of existing DS games. It seems that Nintendo's western branches have the same kind of thing in mind for third-party DSiWare offerings. We'll most likely find out next week, when Nintendo will present two talks at GDC: one about the DSi's design, and the other from Satoru Iwata called "Discovering New Development Opportunities."
DS Daily: The best the DSi Shop has to offer
Yesterday, we got a better look at some of the offerings of the DSi Shop, which is set to launch on Christmas Eve in Japan. Of all of the trailers and available info on the DSi Shop wares available, which do you think looks the most promising? Are you excited for Chotto Dr. Mario (A Little Dr. Mario), or are you more excited for the Art Style games Aquario and Decode? What excites you most?
DSi Shop to open with Brain Age 1 & 2
At its media summit today, Nintendo announced that the DSi Shop, a digital distribution vendor compatible with the new DS model, will launch with two capable titles: Brain Age 1 and ... Brain Age 2. "Retooled," of course, Reggie promised. With combined sales of well over 10 million units, the pair was an easy choice to lead the new service. Risky business this is not.
