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Nintendo headset revealed
Remember when we told you Nintendo was releasing a headset? Well, we finally have a picture of it to show you! Releasing for ¥1,200 (around $10 bucks US), the headset will be made available to the Japanese gaming public on September 14th. No word as of yet on the availability of this headset at brick and mortar locations or if it will only be available online. For the price, this looks to be a very welcome addition to Metroid Prime Hunters fans.
Ian Dunlop chats Konductra
It's no secret that we here at DS Fanboy enjoy puzzle games. Whether they be multi-colored blocks or...well, they are always multi-colored blocks, but that's besides the point! We love 'em. We want to hold them. In fact, soon we will marry them. So when we were flying through the vast cyber spaces and stumbled upon this interview with oeFun's President Ian Dunlop, we knew a post had to be generated. Ian apparently worked on the original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, so he definitely gets an internet high-five for that. The idea behind Konductra is the same behind most puzzlers; grouping together similarly colored blocks in order to erase them from the game board will help the player proceed. Where other games such as Meteos and Tetris put a dose of gravity into their games, Konductra doesn't play like that, allowing the player to use the touch screen and move blocks to any place they desire on the game board. Click on for the full interview and a more intelligent in-depth description of the gameplay along with screenshots.
Trauma Center available again
Faithful reader (and flying metal machine pilot) Clarence, recently wrote us to tell of the popular title Trauma Center: Under the Knife, which is one of our most treasured games, is available for purchase again for the sum of $27.95 US at web site overstock.com. The listing currently reads "in stock if you order today: this product ships within 1-4 business days." So, if you missed out on one of the DS' best titles yet, get on over and whip out that plastic. There are lives at stake here![Thanks Clarence! What's our clearance?]
DS Phat light mod
For those of you who love to check out tutorials for modding hardware, we've got a great one for you. With this DS Phat light mod, you can add some flair to your old DS Phat, as well as provide yourself with defense against any attacking deer. By adding some bright LED lights to the top portion of your DS Phat, you might be able to compete against the stylish appeal of the DS Lite. Also be sure to check out other mods for your DS Phat: Koopa Troopa mod Game and Watch mod Old School mod Tank mod Famicom mod
Duh: Japanese market growth largely due to DS
Next Gen recently ran an article reporting on the latest CESA (Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association) White Paper, which is a collection of video game-specific statistical data for Japan. Looking over the last year figures, it's shown that the Japanese gaming market grew 49.6% in 2005 to 1359.8 billion yen, or $11.6 billion US. Now how much of this do you think is due to the DS and Brain Training craze? Well, just look at the increase in hardware sales over there, which doubled to 872.7 billion yen, or $7.47 billion. Well, it's not like the Japanese were desperately buying up every last PSP on the shelf.
Phantom Hourglass pushed back?
Reports are rolling in that Link's latest adventure on the DS has been pushed back. Way back past the reaching arms of year 2006 and on into the future, almost certain to be an apocalyptic one, year 2007 is the date that is now when most are expecting to see The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass available on retail shelves, undoubtedly to be eagerly wrestled free from its noisy prison upon placement on said shelf to the quiet, almost romantic sanctity of your domicile. We're fairly sure you'll have some candles lit.This news stems from reports that the title was not present during the recent San Diego Comic-Con. When asked, the rep supposedly stated that their presence was to showcase DS titles available for 2006, implying once again that we would not see Phantom Hourglass until 2007. Stay glued to DS Fanboy for future updates as we await official word from Nintendo on this matter of great import.[Via NeoGAF]
DS Opera endures real life test
Joshua Zimmerman, the gentleman responsible for creating the above video, decided he'd enlighten us all with a lengthy demonstration of the final DS Opera browser that recently released in Japan and will soon make its way to the rest of the gaming world. In taking it through its paces, Joshua shows how surfing, inputting text, and the zoom-in feature will work, as well as giving us a close look at page loading times for the browser. [Thanks Twenty5!]
56K users beware: huge FFIII images
When we say huge, we mean gigantic. Yet, for those with speedier internets, these images from what we assume is a shop display somewhere in the vast land of Japan, which depict some promotional materials as well as images from the game itself, will be a nice treat. Some of the pictures are a bit blurry, but for the most part should only compound upon your already incredible desire for this title to form some sort of Voltron-esque super desire able to vanquish ne'er-do-wells and win dance competitions. Final Fantasy III is currently slated for a November release.[Via QJ]
Phantom Thief Rousseau in action
Here we're shown a small snippet of gameplay for Phantom Thief Rousseau, a game that the DS Fanboy staff would love to see release stateside. The main focus of the game, which should be obvious if you watched the video, is drawing disguises from pictures taken in the game in order to stay out of the law's grasp as you satiate your rampant kleptomania.
Down Home Cooking: It works, it really works
When we reported on Down Home Cooking for the DS, we were intrigued at the possibilities such a title could offer. Well, a forum poster by the name of Jonnyram got ahold of it and put it to the test, creating a Sweet and Sour Pork plate through entire instruction from the title. He says it turned out good, and by the looks of it, we'd agree that it is in fact edible food and not some weird concoction of various poisons.Check out the thread, Jonnyram also goes on to answer some questions about the game.
Nintendo gives in, offers free repair
While we reported that Nintendo did indeed recognize the problem, we weren't sure if they would repair the issue for free or continue charging the $50 US fee to repair the unit. Word is, they'll do it for free, with both American and UK spokespersons verifying the statement as truth. And why not, their release even states its such a freak problem that it wouldn't even cost them that much to repair them. So, got a crack in the hinge? Call 'em up![Thanks Patrick!]
Harvest Moon trailer available
The videos just keep on rolling today. Next course up in our delectable entree of tender cuts of game footage for the day is a trailer for the farming sim Harvest Moon DS. Should you be the type of person who is thrown into bouts of rage when viewing farming duties such as tending to soil, cleaning livestock, and playing simple card games (the bane of every good farmer's existence), you might want to avert your gaze, instead opting to close your browser window and enjoy a nice bubble bath. May we suggest you go with the Pina Colada scented variety? We like the way it makes you smell.[Note: Video opens and plays in Windows Media Player after the link.]
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin in action
We couldn't be filled with more envy right now as we watch the above video where a human being, a human being who is not one of the DS Fanboy staff, was able to play a build of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. This occurred during a supposed Nintendo press event held this month. Highlights of the video include tag-team gameplay, acquisition of beef jerky, and running from Behemos.
Nintendo answers hinge claims
Being a part of the Joystiq network, we here at DS Fanboy feel humbled every day, to have both incredible readers like yourself, and to be in charge of finding and reporting on all things Nintendo DS. However, when we reported on problems of the hinge sort, we knew we would not be able to command the presence that Papa J does and contact Nintendo for answers, so we left the task of sending an appropriately-titled WTF Nintendo?! email up to them. Nintendo's response reads:"In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems."Honestly, Nintendo may have fudged up the numbers a bit. That percentile deals with only the reported cases of "hinge crackage" and not the actual ratio of unharmed-to-cracked DS Lites. While I cannot speak for the other bloggers here, my DS is without harm. Whether this is due to how I open it (see: like a book) is unknown, but I do treat it very well. Regardless, we feel that the warranty should cover this issue and collectively wag our finger at Nintendo.
Mario Hoops special shots videos
The Japanese web site for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 has put up some videos depicting various characters laying the smack down with their specialized shots. The available videos of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, and Diddy Kong getting nasty on the court may take a bit to load, but they are very much worth the wait. The Nintendo sports titles may not be the most grounded-in-reality interpretation of whichever sport they're based on, but they have consistently been fun throughout each iteration. As such, we're dying to get our hands on this game and have our own DS Fanboy playoffs.
Noble Pink releases, retailers rejoice
No, they are not rejoicing because they enjoy having crazy-long lines of consumers standing about in their store, waiting with quiet desire to get their hands on the newest edition of the DS Lite. They rejoice because those puppies sell out with the quickness and the latest release, the Noble Pink DS Lite, was no exception.The link over to Famitsu's coverage of the release in Japan show consumers of all ages toughing it out in line, no doubt their feet hating them for the long bout of standing. The ends justify the means, however, as several of those with a vendetta against their ten-toed appendages posed for the camera with pink DS in hand, showing the unbridled joy that usually comes on the morning of December 25th, for some of us.
Bruckheimer gets his DS on
During the Japanese premiere event for the recently-released, and box-office-shattering, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the producer Jerry Bruckheimer sat down to chat about his interests in gaming as well as to play the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest game for the DS. While Google's Japanese-to-English translation software could use a little work, we were able to understand that Mr. Bruckheimer enjoys a bit of Oblivion now and again. Aside from that, he seems to support game tie-ins to movies as he feels the extra money is nice that the two experiences, exciting for the game and relaxing for the movie, complement each other well.[Update: Fixed a typo. Thanks DSGirl!]
New Mega Man scans
When we reported on a new Mega Man game being announced via Coro Coro Magazine, we had no idea that the announcement featured an entire multi-page spread. In the scans, we get a new glimpse of the main hero, even in his Mega Man battle suit (we're not impressed), as well as the new battle system. The battle system looks like it's some kind of variation on the game tic-tac-toe, where instead of X's and O's, there are deadly robots fighting for their very lives.
DS Opera browser in action
In this wonderfully Japanese video of the DS Opera browser in action, you can see how smooth the zoom feature will work with the stylus and touchscreen, as well as inputting data into fields to search via Google. Looks great and we can't wait to give it a whirl![Via Go Nintendo]
Mac & Nintendo: So happy together
While this guide is fairly old, we're sure some of you Mac lovers, especially the recently converted, could get some use out of it. If you're unable to utilize the wondrous ease of wireless routing, you can easily acquire an adapter to bridge your PC's connection, but what about Mac users? How are they to get online with their DS and throw some blocks around in Tetris?This guide, which shows you how to turn your Airport into an access point for your DS, is very informative and, while we cannot attest to how easy the guide is to follow (we own PCs), we're sure you Apple fans will get it in no time. I mean, you guys are smarter than us, right?[Via 4cr]
