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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%
Australia's DSiWare launch lineup
The Nintendo DSi has officially launched in Australia, and with it, the DSiWare service! Six downloads are already available, including, of course, the free web browser. This may be a hint as to upcoming content in other regions' DSi Shops, but it's definitely a hint that awesome times have started for Australian DSi owners. We wish we could be playing WarioWare:Snapped! right now! We've linked to Nintendo of Japan's site for each game so you can see screens and video. DSi Browser (free) Pyoro (200 Nintendo Points) Paper Plane (200 Nintendo Points) WarioWare: Snapped! (500 Nintendo Points) Art Style: Aquite (500 Nintendo Points) Art Style: D-Code (500 Nintendo Points) Not invited to GDC 2009? Don't worry -- we've got you covered on your DSi needs. Check out our unboxing of a Japanese system for a hands-on rundown of features, and have a look at the awesome DSiWare downloads that have come to Japan. Then torture yourself with the limited-edition FFCC: Echoes of Time DSi that probably won't make it here!
GDC09: Gameloft's DSiWare plans include popstar, soccer simulators
Even though Nintendo has been tight-lipped about its DSiWare plans, Gameloft showed us a couple titles it has coming to the system during GDC last week.Although Gameloft wouldn't show us Assassin's Creed or its other iPhone titles, it did showcase two titles currently underway for Nintendo's new DS revision. Wannabe pop stars will have a chance to climb the social ladder in the adventure/mini-game American Popstar: Road to Celebrity, while footy fans will get to flex their sports-sim muscle in Real Soccer 2009. The ESRB also lists both titles as rated for the Nintendo DS, which either means the pair will see a retail release for non-DSi adopters or that it's an overlap measure on the ESRB's side. Either way, mobile pop stars and cellular soccer players are coming to the DS ... um, yay?
GDC09: Nintendo confirms DSiWare titles for US
Tucked away in a press release that Nintendo dished out following Satoru Iwata's GDC09 keynote earlier today, was confirmation that certain Japanese DSiWare titles would be making their way out of the Land of the Rising Fun. But that's not all, as Nintendo also revealed that Japan's pricing structure will also make its way over here, with apps and games falling into the following price brackets: free, 200 points, 500 points, and 800+ points.Art Style: Aquia and WarioWare: Snapped! are among the first titles mentioned for the US DSi Shop, along with Moving Memo (tentative titlel). A date for these titles has not been set, but we're hoping they'll be available around the launch of the DSi in North America on April 5.%Gallery-48558% Not invited to GDC 2009? Don't worry -- we've got you covered on your DSi needs. Check out our unboxing of a Japanese system for a hands-on rundown of features, and have a look at the awesome DSiWare downloads that have come to Japan. Then torture yourself with the limited-edition FFCC: Echoes of Time DSi that probably won't make it here!
April DSiWare for Japan: More like Appril
Nintendo wants small non-game apps on DSiWare, and it is leading by example, as evidenced by the lineup it has announced for April in Japan: just two of the six downloads announced for April 1 are games! Luckily, the announced apps sound pretty interesting. Nintendo DSi Clock (200 Points): A clock app in two varieties: Famicom Mario Type and Animal Crossing Type. The Mario version lets you jump and hit coins, and the Animal Crossing version lets players create a new town tune that is played on the hour. Chotto Magic Taizen: Suki Kirai Hakkenki (200 Points): This magic trick from Master of Illusion uses the mic to determine how someone feels about you. Kuru Kuru Action Kuru Pachi 6 (500 Points): A puzzle game about rotating numbered pieces to line up matching pairs. Band Bros. Radio including Photo Stand (500 Points): A photo-viewing app featuring Barbara the Bat from Band Bros. -- and a music player for songs created in Band Bros. DX by both players and staff! Kakonde Keshite Wakugumi no Jikan (500 Points): A puzzle game about surrounding pieces of an opposing color with pieces of your color by moving them around the screen. Ganbaru Watashi no Osaifu Ouendan (500 Points): Literally "My Wallet Cheer Squad," this budgeting app allows players to export data as a CSV file for use in PC money management software. Nintendo is starting to build up a pretty good catalog of DSiWare for ... whenever it decides to announce the launch lineup worldwide!
DSiWare to include Game Boy and Game Boy Advance downloads?
We really would like to think this is inevitable, but it's just been sourced from Nintendo itself (albeit at a GameStop meetup) that the DSi might be getting Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles as downloadable DSiWare -- in addition to previously announced apps like browsers and calculators. This was heard second-hand from a Club Nintendo member, and Nintendo has pointed out to the folks at Kombo that reported it that so far such functionality has only been announced for Japan, but didn't go on the deny it outright. If it does come true we're supposed to expect some first party titles out of the gate, with all games being region locked and ranging from $5 to $8. There were also mumblings of playing downloaded titles off of SD cards, which Nintendo shot down as well, but hopefully we'll at least be able to make backups -- we're still waiting on similar functionality for the Wii.[Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Downloadable Game Boy and GBA games as DSiWare
According to a secondhand report from one of last night's GameStop Club Nintendo DSi preview events, Nintendo is planning to release Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games as downloads in the DSi Shop. According to Kombo's "man on the scene," only first-party Nintendo titles will be offered at first.Other details from the event: Apparently, North American DSiWare includes three pricing levels: free, 500 Points, and 800 Points, which differs from the Japanese model in that there's no 200 Point category. The event seemingly confirms the Mario and Animal Crossing calculators for North America as well, though both of those are in the 200 Point category in Japan.Of course, like all news that comes from something heard at GameStop, take this with as much salt as you can find.%Gallery-33263%
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."
Nintendo working up "major app strategy" for DSi?
Every major handset has one, so why not the handheld gaming consoles, right? According to a report on Develop, the suits at Nintendo are thinking of making the DSi Shop a bit more than it is right now. Reportedly, bigwigs from the Big N who met up at a company developer conference in London discussed "an exciting and major new app strategy for the DSi," with one source noting that the firm was keen on having devs "offer all kinds of software once the DSi store fully launches in Europe and America." It makes sense to have downloadable short-form titles available; after all, the DSi has an inbuilt camera and microphone, making it perfect for downloading "DSi Ware-like" apps. We'll be keeping a close eye on Iwata's Game Developers Conference keynote for more insight, but 'til then, we're filing this one in the "we want to believe" folder.[Via GameDaily]
DSiWare Master of Illusion, Brain Age, Art Style rated by OFLC
While we can't be sure what the launch lineup for the DSiWare shop outside of Japan will look like, we can guess that the Australian shop will feature at least one of these games, thanks to OFLC ratings: Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche A Little Bit Of ... Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: Maths Edition D-Code (probably Art Style: Decode) The standard ratings board disclaimer applies: we don't know when these will be out, or if this release implies other regions. But if you wanted to know if Nintendo planned to localize any of its Japanese DSiWare lineup, here is evidence that yes, it is. Also found on the OFLC: The WiiWare version of Rainbow Islands (yay!) and Adventure Island: The Beginning. Also, Karate Phants. %Gallery-39571%
Phantasy Star Zero coming to DSiWare in bite-size form
According to an IGN writeup of an article in Famitsu, Sega of Japan has announced plans to release its first DSiWare game, Phantasy Star Mini. The game is a tiny "score attack" version of the DS's Phantasy Star Zero, in which players (in parties of up to four) select from a roster of three characters and fight a boss called Raven. Phantasy Star Zero's signature (pun unintended) visual chat interface is still available.The game is supposed to be out this month, but Nintendo's DSiWare page makes no mention of it. When it does come out, we suspect a Monster Hunter-obsessed Japan will be happy to drop 200 points for a quick bout of multiplayer boss-fighting.%Gallery-31775%
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Inaugural Edition
Last week, as we prepared to start our new Ask Joystiq Nintendo column, we put out a request for, well, requests, and our readers came through! This week, in response to your submissions, we clear up some misconceptions about Wii and DS upgrades, indirectly tout DS homebrew, and accidentally imply that Space Invaders Get Even is somehow better than Space Invaders Extreme. If you'd like us to set the record straight with any Nintendo-related issues, or perhaps inadvertently cast aspersions at your favorite DS retro remake, send us an e-mail at asknintendo at joystiq dot com!
WayForward's new IP is DSiWare's Mighty Flip Champs
WayForward's new IP, teased last week in its newsletter, has been revealed: a DSiWare game called Mighty Flip Champs! Matt Bozon, director of Shantae and Contra 4, is in charge of the new puzzle game, which faintly evokes Away: Shuffle Dungeon.In Mighty Flip Champs, protagonist Alta navigates a series of mazes that flip from one to another like pages. Alta must position herself in one room such that she'll be in a safe position in the next (shown on the bottom screen). She then uses her Magical Warp Wand (which we are guessing represents the stylus) to trigger the flip.WayForward has yet to release the details of Mighty Flip Champs, like the pricing or date. Of course, Nintendo has yet to discuss the price structure for North American DSiWare games, so that will have to happen first.
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.
DSi design history to be revealed in GDC talk
Nintendo will reveal some inside information about the new DSi at this year's Game Developers Conference. DSi Project Leader Masato Kuwahara will present a talk called "The Inspiration Behind Nintendo DSi Development" at the conference, discussing the system's new features, the decision process behind their inclusion, and "what kind of new software development opportunities the team had in mind."Last year, Nintendo delivered talks about the technical design of Wii Fit and the introduction of WiiWare. This DSi talk could potentially cover the subjects from both of those talks: new hardware and a new software download service! And we hate to be crass and reduce this no doubt fascinating talk to its potential news, but this would be a great opportunity for Nintendo to unveil the North American DSiWare launch lineup.%Gallery-33263%[Via Gamasutra] Don't worry if you haven't been following the DSi for the last few months -- your crazy friends at Joystiq Nintendo have been all over it. Check out our unboxing of a Japanese system for a hands-on rundown of features, and have a look at the awesome DSiWare downloads that have come to Japan. Then torture yourself with the limited-edition FFCC: Echoes of Time DSi that probably won't make it here!
Namco's DSiWare Katamari puzzler, downloadable Mr. Drillers, in screens
GAME Watch has some direct-feed screens of Namco Bandai's DSiWare and WiiWare lineup, along with the title of one as-yet-unrevealed DSiWare game, Diet Memo, that probably isn't that exciting. We were most curious, of course, about Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy, imagining some kind of completely bizarre puzzle game with quirky music and completely unique gameplay elements. It will have one of those, in the form of an ending theme, "Katamari of Love," created using the vocal synthesis software (and singing star, of sorts) Hatsune Miku. As for the gameplay: it's basically Pac-Attack, or Cosmo Gang: The Video, again. Players arrange sets of stuff, and occasionally a Katamari will appear to roll up adjacent objects. That's not bad for 500 points, but it's certainly not the kind of originality we associate with Katamari.Speaking of originality: screens of DSiWare Mr. Driller confirm that it really is content from Drill Spirits, directly excerpted. It looks exactly the same. Again, for 500 points, it might be a viable download for DSi owners this week, but not those who already own Drill Spirits. Mr. Driller World for WiiWare, on the other hand, is new, with a bright new visual style!
Touch Ruminations: Dreaming of DSi
In the latest edition of Touch Ruminations, former DS and Wii Fanboy Lead David Hinkle talks about the big news of the week: DSi release date and price. The opinions expressed here belong to the author and don't necessarily reflect those of Joystiq, Weblogs Inc. or its affiliates.Earlier this week, I hit a wall thinking about this week's topic. I was going to talk about atmosphere and House of the Dead: Overkill, but the column focused on Wii last week, and I really wanted a DS-centric piece for this week. But, really, the only DS game I've been playing is Retro Game Challenge, and everything that needed saying was covered in the review.Luckily, Nintendo bailed me out when they announced the DSi release date and price on Wednesday. Now I can talk about that!%Gallery-33263%
Two new Art Style games lead Japan's February DSiWare lineup
Nintendo has announced its monthly DSiWare update for February, including eight programs in all -- five of which are actually games! Fans of downloadable Nintendo games will be most excited to see the Art Style series continuing with Art Style: Nalaku and Art Style: Hacolife. But there's also unexpected innovation in one of the most mundane titles available! Not to mention the first third-party DSiWare game.Here's the rundown on each title: Nintendo DSi Calculator (200 Points) A simple calculator app, which is sold separately in Famicom Mario style and Animal Crossing style. Nagameru Dake de Kashikoku Nareru! Mojipittan Shiritori Tokei (200 Points): The title translates to "You can become wiser just by looking! Shiritori Clock." Shiritori is a Japanese game about spelling a new word from the final character of a previous word. This clock app puts a constant scrolling display of words and their definitions on the top screen, along with adorable Mojipittan characters. Art Style: Nalaku (500 Points) A puzzle game about guiding a little character around structures made of cubes, and painting the surfaces by contacting them. Sort of like Q-Bert, but with moving stages in which blocks fall out of and drop into the stage. Art Style: Hacolife (500 Points) Literally "Box Life," this game involves taking groups of six contiguous squares from flat levels and folding them into cubes. It also manages to be super cute. Chotto Asobi Taizen: Onajimi Table (500 Points): A selection of games from Clubhouse Games including reversi, hasami shogi, go, shogi, and hanafuda. Chotto Bungaku Zenshu: Sekai no Bungaku 20 (500 Points): A selection of 25 books in the style of the Japanese version of the 100 Classic Book Collection. This pack includes 20 translated versions of foreign works, and five Japanese books. Reading is fundamental! Ide Yousuke's Kenkou Mahjong (800 Points): What is in one way one of the most boring releases this month (it's a mahjong game!) is also one of the most exciting: this mahjong game features cross-platform online play with the WiiWare version of the same game. Sakutto Hamareru Horihori Action Mr. Driller (800 Points): This downloadable version of Namco's puzzle franchise features the Mission Mode, Time Attack Mode, and Dristone mode from the DS launch title Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits. All of these games will be available Wednesday, February 25 on the Japanese DSi Shop.
