September
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September NPD: we can live with bronze
Normally, we'd be unhappy with third place in the NPD sales round-up, but just look at the sales last month! It seems like everyone bought something, so we really can't complain. We can afford to be magnanimous about it; after all, we'll be back on top soon enough.All jokes aside, it is interesting to note that sales of the Nintendo systems didn't really drop -- rather, Xbox 360 sales simply increased, thanks to the incredible power of Halo 3. No matter what happens with the rest of the industry, Nintendo is looking more and more like a rock in the volatile market. Microsoft Xbox 360: 527,800 Nintendo Wii: 501,000 Nintendo DS: 495,800 Sony PlayStation 2: 215,000 Sony PSP: 284,500 Sony PlayStation 3: 119,400 Which two DS games slid into the top ten last month? Hit the break to find out.
Wii Warm Up: So where is our September surprise?
Maybe when Reggie said we could expect something good by the end of September, he meant the actual end. That means he's got until Sunday, but he's cutting things quite close. Maybe sometime today we'll hear something ... or do you think it's silly to get our hopes up? A lot of people have been speculating that it has something to do with recent forum closures or the changes in store for Nintendo Power, but unless we're getting that content in channel form (a possibility, to be sure), then that's probably not it, since Reggie was talking about channels and WiiConnect24 at the time.So what -- and where -- is it? We've been very good, and we deserve a surprise.
DS releases for the week of September 17th
No rest for weary wallets this week -- but is that really a bad thing? Our sources say no, though it can certainly be hard to find fundage for all the DS games that catch our eye. Good thing they're cheap! 7 Wonders of the Ancient World AniMates Backyard Basketball Digimon World: Dawn Digimon World: Dusk Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Master Jin Jin's IQ Challenge MySims Namco Museum DS Nancy Drew: Deadly Secret of Olde World Park Sonic Rush Adventure Anything catch your eye this week, or are you saving up for later releases, or still hurting from previous weeks?
DS releases for the week of September 10th
This is such a good week for releases that we're not sure if we'd rather be here at home or over in Europe, where DS owners can get a taste of Tingle this week! Not that we're displeased with the array of titles available anywhere, frankly. If only every week could be this week. Except then we would be poor, and would require a very large cardboard-box-house in which to store our massive DS collection. Every rainstorm would see us huddled under a garbage bag in a futile effort to protect our babies. It's not a pretty picture. Drawn to Life Jam Sessions Spelling Challenges and More! Zoey 101: Field Trip Fiasco Travel past the break to see what's out in the rest of the world this week.
Wii releases for the week of September 3rd
Maybe that should be release, singular, sans 's,' since there's only one. Pool Party Before you start complaining that it's a little late in the year for a pool party, we must step in and clarify that this is the other kind of pool. Y'know, the one with sticks. If there are sticks in your watery pool, we seriously suggest you get out there with the net for some cleaning. We're so not coming over until you do.
DS releases for the week of September 3rd
Looks like we've only got two this week, fan folks -- including one that was delayed from last week. Slim pickings for a short week (for those of us in the U.S., at least), but hey ... something is usually better than nothing. Garfield's Nightmare Worms 2: Open Warfare For a glimpse at releases in the rest of the globe, check out the lists after the break.
Apple iPhone hitting Europe by December
Just in case you missed it yesterday, Apple did indeed confirm that it'll ship the iPhone to a few major countries by Q4 2007, which ends September 30th. Most signs point to the UK, France and Germany as being those lucky "majors," and Apple also mentioned it'll announce carriers (plural) in the coming months. The rest of Europe will have to wait until 2008, presumably as retribution for recent seasons of Eurovision.Update: A re-read of the transcript seems to point at Q4 of the calendar year, not their fiscal year. In other words, December not September.
Wii Warm Up: The coming 'surprise'
Possible megaton alert! Cue the excitement -- or the yawns; your mileage with these announcements-about-announcements may vary. NoA President Reggie Fils-Aime dropped a not-so-subtle hint that we'll be seeing something special on our Wiis come September. A surprise, and just for us! He even says it'll be a good surprise; awesome, says us, because that's the best kind. It's probably not the Check Mii Out channel, because he was talking about that in the same breath in his interview with Game Head's Geoff Keighley. So what could it be? Perhaps an early peek at WiiWare? Some of you thought such a thing could be possible (though not quite that early). A channel we haven't heard about? Maybe demos? Get your speculation on.
September NPD sales numbers
The September NPD sales numbers have come in and the DS, once again, did favorably. Out of all consoles, DS titles had a good showing, taking up four spots. Of course, Madden took the top spot, showing that we Americans love our football. Madden NFL 07 - PS2 Saints Row - Xbox 360 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - PS2 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team - DS Madden NFL 07 - Xbox 360 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team - GBA Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - GC Madden NFL 07 - Xbox Star Fox Command - DS New Super Mario Bros. - DS NBA Live 07 - PS2 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox 360 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus - PS2 Test Drive Unlimited - Xbox 360 Dead Rising - Xbox 360 Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - DS Okami - PS2 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - PS2 Madden NFL 07 - PSP We've included a listing of the top DS and GBA game only listings, available after the break.
Happy Birthday Mario!
September 13 is the 'birthday' of everyone's favorite plumber, and Nintendo's not letting September pass without a little recognition. Two new DS games this month feature Mario and company: the highly anticipated Mario Hoops 3 on 3 and the offbeat Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis. Salut! And many happy returns.Mario Hoops is scheduled for release next week, and March of the Minis follows two weeks later. If only every month could be September.
Cingular's September launches in writing (but not in stone)
We encourage everyone to take these tidbits with the usual boulder-sized grain of salt, but America's favorite (read: only) HSDPA carrier has dropped their September launch grid, and on account of our friends' slippery hands, it's subsequently found its way over to Engadget HQ. Thanks to our own Boy Genius among countless other tipsters, nothing on the grid has really taken us by surprise -- no UMTS 1900 N80s, for example -- but we're encouraged by Cingular's (foolhardy?) optimism that the 8525 might yet see a release this month. Also allegedly along for the ride are the 3125, the oft-promised but rarely-delivered Nokia E62 (which turns out to be a lifetime exclusive for Cingular), the Samsung SGH-C417 that now appears to be on limited sale, and Sony Ericsson's middling W300 Walkman flip. And, oh yeah, the Motorola L6 is in there, too. Don't ask us.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Nintendo Wii due for early launch?
Our money -- since we so regularly put down heavy cash on the intricacies of console launches -- is still on that November 6th date that's been going around, but we're always willing to entertain a bit more tasteful rumoring. This one's from CNNMoney.com's Chris Morris, who cites P.J. McNealy and other unnamed "industry insiders" that the Nintendo Wii is due for October, with a slight chance of late September if the cards are right. This would contrast it to the November 17 PS3 launch, and Microsoft's November 22 last year, and give Nintendo a bit of a head start in the holiday rush. Apparently Nintendo is in pretty good shape to do so, since they've already started manufacturing the Wii, and they so far have only launched one home system in November, the GameCube. It'll probably come down to manufacturing successes and title readiness, and Nintendo might want to give 3rd party titles a bit more time in the oven with the new control schemes that need to be perfected, but a least the anonymous and unverifiable signs are looking good for an early launch, and we're not complaining.[Via Gotakon]
Universal's September HD DVD releases
HD DVD isn't taking the Blu-ray launch sitting still. The lone major studio exclusively supporting the format, Universal has announced several additional movies coming to the format in September. All include Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks, no word on any additional extras. All will also follow Universal's recently announced price cut, SRP of $29.98 for HD DVD and $34.95 for multiformat discs.September 12: (star indicates newly announced releases, italics indicate Dolby TrueHD soundtrack) Backdraft Traffic Seabiscuit* Red Dragon* September 19: Dazed & Confused* End of Days* Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (DVD/HD DVD Dual Format)* George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (DVD/HD DVD Dual Format)* Read - Universal Unveils Extensive Summer LineupRead - Universal Announces September HD DVD SlateRead - Details of Newly Announced Universal Studios HD DVD releases (warning pop-ups)[Thanks for the tip WiFiSpy!]
