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Blaze Nintendo DSi game selector improves cart management, uglies up your handheld
Have a habit of losing those DSi carts on the bus, in between the couch cushions or in other darker, more taboo locales? Fret not, as the carefree crew over at Blaze has your best interests in mind. Hailed as the first 3-in-1 game selector for Nintendo's DSi, this mildly unsightly attachment simply plugs into your game port and then houses a trio of your favorite titles. Once you've got it mounted, just flip the switch to change the title, though we'd suggest powering your DSi down before doing so. It's available now to solve a problem you probably only think you have for £14.99 ($24).
Darren Murph09.16.2009Konami announces DSiWare puzzle-platformer 'Reflection'
click for gallery Konami has decided to dip its massive toes into the murky waters of the DSiWare platform with Reflection, a downloadable puzzle-platformer designed to invoke the handheld's dual-screen capabilities. In the game, you play as Kirra, an adventurer on a journey to recover a broken magic mirror. Actually, you play as Kirra's good and evil halves simultaneously on the two screens -- a nasty side-effect of the aforementioned mirror-breaking. Though the game's art (seen in the gallery below) isn't exactly stunning, that concept actually sounds pretty neat. According to the game's press release announcement, it's set to drop this fall, so we should be seeing Reflection in the DSi Shop soon. We also expect to see it in a snow-covered hill, shortly before the landslide brings us down. %Gallery-73148%
Griffin McElroy09.16.2009Two cheapo DSiWare shmups in Japan this week
The surprise announcement that Nintendo would publish an Arika-developed shooter on DSiWare was weird enough. We didn't expect to see more shmups on the service within a couple of weeks, but Genterprise has revealed exactly that.Publisher Genterprise has announced two shooters as part of its 200 DSi Point "GG Series," both developed by Wario: Master of Disguise/Boing! Docomodake DS developer Suzak. Z-One is a horizontally scrolling shooter featuring a "Pod," a multidirectional-shooting "Option" kind of device that flies near your ship. And Wonder Land is an Alice in Wonderland-themed vertical shmup. Being made specifically as super-cheap games, it's doubtful they'll be great. But they will be very cheap when they come out in Japan this Wednesday.[Via Andriasang]
JC Fletcher09.14.2009Hudson announces Bomberman Anytime for DSiWare
Nintendo's DSiWare platform is set to become a bit more combustible later this fall -- according to AndriaSang, the Japanese release list in the latest edition of Famitsu reveals an October launch for Itsudemo Bomberman (which translates to Bomberman Anytime) on the handheld's download service. The magazine also lists a price of 500 DSi Points ($5) for the portable title. Hudson hasn't taken the trouble of actually announcing Itsudemo Bomberman yet -- regardless, we've contacted them to see what, if any, details we can surmise about the game. [Thanks, Fernando.]
Griffin McElroy09.13.2009Aardman using Flipnote Studio to create short holiday films
Nintendo has just announced a very cool promotion for its free DSiWare animation app Flipnote Studio (which you should really have if you have a DSi -- did we mention it's free?). Tim Ruffle, an animator with Wallace and Gromit creator Aardman Studios, has created twelve Christmas-themed animations using the software, one of which will be made available each week starting September 16.The first animation, "Sandwich Twins," and all following will be viewable through the Flipnote Hatena site, the official portal for viewing and sharing Flipnote animations. Because the Aardman animations aren't up yet, we've embedded a completely unrelated one after the break. Enjoy!
JC Fletcher09.12.2009First DSi-exclusive game found: Monster Finder
Just yesterday we heard that DSi-only retail games would be on the way soon. Today, Japanese publisher Alpha Unit announced the first one, Monster Finder -- though, since it was announced for Japan, we doubt it's one of the games being referred to yesterday!Basically the only details available about Monster Finder right now are that it includes over 100 different varieties of monster and that those monsters are found with the DSi camera (hence the DSi exclusivity); and probably represented in-game by the scanner-gun thing seen in the teaser artwork. It's part Monster Rancher, part augmented reality. Monster Finder will be released sometime this winter in Japan.[Via Andriasang]
JC Fletcher09.01.2009Black Wii remote bundle coming to North America, no matching console in sight
Oh Nintendo, you tease. You still won't give us that jet black Wii console bound for Japan, but you've got no problem giving us in North America a taste of the dark side with a black Wiimote and Motion Plus bundle, coming this holiday along with a black nunchuk sold separately. With any luck this is just the sign of things to come, and should the Wii's sales momentum drop, we're sure quite a few new colors will start shipping their way over here (light blue, anyone?). On the more portable side of things, the DSi will be adding pink and white to its repertoire on September 13th. Unless the House that Mario Built is feeling particularly nasty, prices should be the same as their pre-existing color counterparts -- you wouldn't put a premium on a palette swap, right Nintendo? [Via Joystiq]
Ross Miller09.01.2009Nintendo announces new Wiimote, DSi colors for North America
Nintendo just announced that you'll finally be able to get a new color for your Wii ... mote. Black. This holiday season the company will be making a black Wiimote bundle available with the Wiimote and Wii MotionPlus, including a black Wii jacket, which is very slimming. However, you'll have to buy your black Nunchuk as a standalone, also available Holiday 2009.According to the presser, "The Black bundle is the first new color for the Wii Remote and Wii MotionPlus," so let's hope this means a rainbow of colors coming down the pipeline next year. Right now this has nothing to go with, especially since the Wii won't be available in black over here, only in Japan. No mention of new console colors, nor of the blue Wiimote, seen recently at the World Hobby Fair. Will this be a case of having to chase down colors and accessories in different regions?Nintendo is also bringing new DSi colors to North America, in the form of pink and white, available starting September 13. So we'll now have black, blue, white, and pink DSi ... why no funky colors like Japan? They get all the cool stuff.%Gallery-71345%
Kevin Kelly09.01.2009Rumor: DSi-only games coming this fall
Some DSi-enhanced games are out or on the way soon, mostly from Ubisoft. But nothing yet, aside from DSiWare, that requires the latest version of Nintendo's handheld, despite an announcement at GDC that such games would be on the way.According to a "retail source" who spoke to Kotaku, the first DSi-exclusive games will be out sometime this fall, which seems rather abrupt, since those games would have to be announced and then released in just a couple of months. Kotaku says that both the cases and the actual cartridges for DSi games will be white, to distinguish them from normal DS software.
JC Fletcher08.31.2009Sony and Nintendo increasing effort in fight against piracy
Though Nintendo already has a pretty solid system in place for combating piracy -- the persistent threat that Reggie Fils-Aime will crush any software buccaneers between his mighty jaws -- the company recently increased its piracy-preventing ranks. Neil Boyd was recently appointed European anti-piracy counsel for the company. Boyd, along with a pair of Nintendo's legal advisors, will "take action against criminals who are making money out of the infringement of games developers' copyright," according to Nintendo anti-piracy director Jodi Daugherty. Sony's also increasing its piracy prevention efforts, albeit through more technological means. The PSP Go will contain a non-removable internal battery, which keeps would-be hackers from implementing the popular, homebrew-enabled Pandora battery. Also, we hear the PSP Go's boot-up screen displays a pouty, doe-eyed Jack Tretton that's said to strike crippling pangs of guilt into anyone who tries to conduct dubious dealings on the handheld. Consider PSPiracy beaten, friends.
Griffin McElroy08.31.2009NintendoWare Weekly: Tales of Monkey Island, Phantasy Star
Welcome to Monday, a dreadful day for most, but a means for celebration for Nintendo loyalists. This week, we've got the second episode of Tales of Monkey Island and Phantasy Star on the Sega Master System, among other additions to the Wii's downloadable lineup.%Gallery-64680%
David Hinkle08.31.2009Rumor: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set to assault DS and DSi
Heroes in a half-shell news now, as we've got a pair of juicy tidbits dealing with the pint-sized martial arts masters. First, we present this OFLC certification which says that recently released downloadable Turtles in Time: Re-Shelled is set to grace the DSi. Sadly, we have nothing else to go on but that, though we must say the prospect of yelling "turtle power!" at our DSi on the subway is an appealing one. Our second item is a little more interesting. GoNintendo points us toward the latest issue of Nintendo Power, which supposedly reveals TMNT: Arcade Attack, a new title for the DS that utilizes the Turtles in Time formula (see: arcade style beat-em-up). GoNintendo says the game "supports 2-player action, allows you to throw enemies at the screen, and even lets you jump-kick enemies...but in a way that doesn't let you spam the move to victory," though we haven't seen the issue ourselves yet to confirm. If you have it, well, send us a tip! Source - Turtles in Time: Reshelled OFLC cert [Via Gamerbytes]Source - TMNT: Arcade Attack in Nintendo Power
David Hinkle08.28.2009Japan's DSi Shop adds shmups, instrument tuning next month
Aa Mujou Setsuna is something DSiWare has yet to see: a vertical shooter! The downloadable shmup, releasing in Japan on September 2, is listed as a Nintendo/Arika collaboration. Arika is responsible for various home ports of Cave shooters, including the DS Ketsui Death Label. Aa Mujou Setsuna has two selectable ships, a chain-based scoring system and even online rankings, for just 500 DSi Points. Somehow we doubt this is the news Nintendo Power teased, but it certainly makes us happy. Check out some footage after the break.Less hardcore, but still kind of cool, are the two 200-point apps also releasing on September 2. Nintendo DSi Metronome is, well, a metronome, that allows users to input their own beats and tempo to play along with, and even record their own drum sounds. It has multiple "skins" including a Game and Watch look, and Balloon Fight and Donkey Kong minigames; the latter of which involves clapping to make Mario jump over barrels. Hey, it's a Mario counterpart to Jungle Beat! Except really simplified.Nintendo DSi Instrument Tuner also includes a Game and Watch skin. This useful program allows you to play an instrument into the DS mic and get information about its pitch.
JC Fletcher08.28.2009'Pokemon World Championships 2009' DSi boasts a winning design
You're looking at a limited edition Pokemon World Championships 2009 DSi. Given out by Nintendo as a prize at select events, only a handful of folks have ever been able to obtain one of these. The image above serves as a depressing reminder that, alas, we are not among those people. We hate them.%Gallery-25220%[Via Go Nintendo]
David Hinkle08.27.2009Nintendo Power teases DSiWare announcement
Framed as a conciliatory gesture for No More Heroes 2 coverage that didn't happen, the back page of the latest Nintendo Power promises that the next issue will reveal something of interest on DSiWare. The back-page blurb mentions that the mysterious reveal will be "a major DSiWare title that should make many of you very, very happy." Though, unless it's a free app that lets us read new information about No More Heroes 2, we don't see how we'll ever be satisfied. It shouldn't be too hard to make DSiWare users "very happy." So far, if you don't like Art Style games (and somehow, plenty seem to dismiss the series), the service has been lacking. Even if you love Art Style, for that matter, it's been light on content. We just hope the new announcement is truly new and not something that is already out in Japan.
JC Fletcher08.27.2009Pocket Gamer: Nintendo looking to revamp DSiWare, compete against PSP Minis
According to the UK's Pocket Gamer, Nintendo is launching a new initiative to reinvigorate the DSi's digital distribution platform, DSiWare. Though prices will stick to the current model ($2, $5, $9), the piece reports that developers will have a lower barrier to entry for publishing their games on the DSiWare store. Nintendo apparently still has some say over developer pricing, as it will charge developers different rates based on a game's file size -- the example given being a $5 game must be under 200MBs, otherwise Nintendo charges a higher royalty rate.After Sony announced the upcoming Minis for the PSP this week, it appears as though Nintendo has responded. Considering the fairly light support that the company has offered in the way of DSiWare -- that is, if you're not into themed clocks and, um, more clocks -- we're hoping that this effort will revitalize the downloadable game catalog on Nintendo's newest handheld.
Ben Gilbert08.22.2009European Nintendo downloads: Pilotwings (finally)
Without a doubt, the highlight of this week's WiiWare, Virtual Console, and DSiWare offerings in Europe is Pilotwings, the SNES launch title that should have been on the Virtual Console in 2006. It has finally arrived in PAL territories, and we have high hopes for a North American release soon. (Which we really shouldn't.) The other new additions are actually pretty great as well: Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Pop! Plus Solo are now up on DSiWare, and two distinctly different paddle games, Bit.Trip: Core and Arkanoid Plus, are on WiiWare: Pilotwings (SNES, 800 Wii Points) Bit.Trip: Core (WiiWare, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Arkanoid Plus (WiiWare, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points) Pop! Plus Solo (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)
JC Fletcher08.21.2009European Nintendo downloads: Flipnote Phantasy
If you're into RPGs and in Europe or Australia, today's Wii Shop update is killer -- the original Phantasy Star for Sega Master System is available! For a ridiculous 500 Wii Points, you can get one of the best role playing games ever made. We hope you have a high tolerance for first-person dungeons.WiiWare gets another of Arc System Works' Family titles, about which we've learned to be wary -- but we're intensely curious about the idea of a slot car racing game. Also, Tecmo's 3-2-1 Rattle Battle!, a game whose openness about being entirely about shaking the Wiimote frantically is impressive.On DSiWare, Europe gets a number puzzle game with online multplayer, based on a larger DS game that didn't come out there! And Flipnote Studio finally arrives! Go download it and make Flipnotes! Right now! Phantasy Star (Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Family Slot Car Racing (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) 3-2-1 Rattle Battle! (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Sujin Taisen Number Battle (DSiWare, 1-4 players, 500 DSi Points) Flipnote Studio (DSiWare, 1 player, free)
JC Fletcher08.14.2009Here's a post about Nintendo stacking a lot of UK money
Here at Joystiq, we try to be as direct and honest as possible. So, with that in mind, we present this news post documenting just how many handhelds and Wiis Nintendo has sold in the UK so far this year. The figures come courtesy of GI.biz and, well, it's the usual Nintendo fare. In short: Nintendo makes bucktons of cash money.On the Wii side, the console has managed to move 800,000 units since January. It's also revealed that the Wii has invaded an impressive 5.5 million households in the region. Sure, the console has earned Nintendo pounds of pounds, but it's over in Nintendo's handheld business where the real money is being made.The DSi has had a most successful launch, selling 370,000 units since its release earlier this year. In fact, it had a better UK launch than the DS and DS Lite, much like in the US. And, speaking of the DS and DS Lite, recent figures show their install bases have reached an epic 1.6 million and 7.5 million owners, respectively; meaning there's no shortage of kids playing their handhelds at annoyingly loud levels on public buses. You guys call them buses over there, right?
David Hinkle08.13.2009Flipnote Studio moving to Europe this Friday [Update: it's out in North America right now!]
[Baffling update: Hatena announced that the site and the software are available in the US and Canada today, which is totally not a Monday!]One of the DSi's killer apps will finally be available outside of Japan. Nintendo announced that Flipnote Studio, the DSiWare animation tool, will be released in Europe this Friday, for the price of zero DSi Points. The app, called Ugoku Memo-chou in Japan, allows users to draw "flip-book"-style animations, add sound, and share them via a special site, "Ugomemo Hatena," run by Japanese blog service Hatena.Delightfully, the site has already been relaunched as "Flipnote Hatena" for European users -- we were a bit worried that not all aspects of the service would make it, but you'll be able to upload your animations and watch and rate others' right away!For more on the development of the game and the Hatena connection, check out the "Iwata Asks" interview with staff from both Nintendo and Hatena, and a special Iwata Asks with animator Yoichi Kotabe. And after the break, see a Flipnote animation based on Rhythm Heaven's DJ School.
JC Fletcher08.12.2009