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Preorder Justice for All, get swag
GameStop is offering a Phoenix Wright stylus as a bonus if you preorder Justice For All. We're so there. We were, in fact, already there, before it happened, because we are psychically attuned to all the world's lawyery* goodness. Or maybe it's just that we're obsessed. We'd probably pick up special edition Phoenix Wright diapers and spend the day trying to wrap them around the cat.*Lawyery can so be a word.
The bling you just can't live without [update 2]
You know, as we walk in the 'hood with our decked out diamond chains, pinky rings, and various gaudy objects of choice, we can't help but feel that something is missing. We thought it was something like love, or a sense of self-respect, but that's just silly. Future Shop Accessories has shown us the truth: what we're missing from our lives isn't some intangible emotion or joy, but a bitchin' 18K gold DS Lite stylus.That's right. It's shiny. It's bling-tastic. And it's yours for only (Canadian) $19.99! Not to do their advertising for them, but this might just be the most important video gaming purchase of your lives. Don't miss out. Make like Midas and get clickin'.[Update 1: They appear to have run out of stock for the time being, but more should be available soon. Also, noted that the $19.99 was in CDN.][Update 2: They're back in stock!][Thanks, Hannah!]
Comfort Stylus wraps it up
From the weird-but-potentially-cool files comes this new third party stylus. Ho hum, says you. It's a stylus, who cares? But check this out -- it wraps around your finger. Crazy. Comfort Stylus has been around for a while, but they've just released a new gamer stylus that's mean to make those DS games with sprawling control schemes a little bit easier. Those spunky fellows at IGN were all a-flutter over this new entry in the stylus pantheon, so we had to check it out. The possibilities seem vast, but we can't help but be curious about how it feels. But hey, it comes in various colors, so maybe a flexi-stylus is what we need after all. Perhaps for the gamer who has everything?[Via IGN]
Sony Ericsson Z558i does pen input
At first glance, the new Sony Ericsson Z558 looks like nothing more than a rehash of the Z550 geared toward the Chinese market. By and large, that's an accurate assessment, save for one critical detail: the new model packs a touch screen and stylus for handwriting recognition -- a feature that seems like overkill for Latin characters, but thinking about Chinese puts things in an entirely different perspective. Much like the Nokia 6108 before it, the Z558 sports handwriting recognition for the sole purpose of making life a little easier on folks whose languages are composed of thousands of characters (though as you can see from the press photo, you can write in English too, if you're into that sort of thing). Other features include a 1.3-megapixel cam, 18MB of internal memory expandable to 1GB via Memory Stick Micro cards, and a 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz GSM radio with EDGE; look for it in Z558c and Z558i variants for mainland China and the rest of the world, respectively.[Via Slashphone]
Curling for the DS
Finally, something to play in the middle of the night when insomnia makes everything a little wiggly around the edges! At least, that's when we watch curling at the Olympics -- but maybe that's only because that's the only time it's aired in the U.S.All jibes aside, curling is a very serious game with a huge worldwide following, and since it is so intense on the strategy side (rather than on the heart-pumping-action side of things), it'll likely fit the DS like a glove.Curling DS will hit the ice in Japan this November. If the game is in any way a hit, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see it released on the Wii as well.
Super Mario Bros. stylus
We have shown you all the stylus options and let you ponder which one fits you best as a gamer. Now, we have to tell you that you were wrong in your choice and you have to go with these! Not really, but they are fun to look at plus you get a pair with Mario and his trusty sidekick and brother, Luigi. These are only 9 bucks and would come in handy if you lost your current stylus like the bad gamer you are. Thinking about it, we would bet dollars to donuts that this guy already has an entire case. [Via Siliconera]
Secret "Simple Start" Wi-Fi connection? [Update 1]
File this one under "What the hell?" Some astute gamer has discovered a hidden feature inside the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection setup menu, and one that certainly leans itself toward DS-to-Wii connection theory. The video gives an extremely detailed explanation, so check it out....now. Go ahead.Done? All right. The system asks for the player to press a "Simple Start Wi-Fi Button", something that clearly doesn't exist on any existing Nintendo hardware. So, is this how the Wii and the DS will sync up? Before you run off wildly screaming the news throughout your house, we offer these two bits of counter-evidence. First, regading the Wii, we've seen essentially every button and switch on the damn thing, even inside the "mysterious" front flap; no "Simple Start" or even remotely related button has been seen or reported. Second, accessing this mode by hitting the absolute upper-left pixel on the touch screen is ridiculous; in certain cases the stylus can't even reach the pixel, and a toothpick or other thin, prodding device must be used.We've seen no reason why "DS Download Play" would fail to properly pick up and sync with a Nintendo Wii console, so we'll chalk this up as a feature that will fade, like the legendary city of Atlantis, into one of the unexplained mysteries of the past.[Update 1: The internet, it seems, will brook no mysteries. Save Atlantis. Click here for an extremely detailed explanation of this feature, and as speculated, it has nothing to do with Wii connectivity.][Thanks, Super-Jesse-Mario!]
Get your stylus on -- tons of DS pens
Now, the DS already comes with a stylus that seems to work just fine, but, life needs a little spicing up now and then. These are merely a new way to touch your DS. We, personally, like the pencil. Reminds us of days spent not paying attention in class while playing Feel the Magic. [Via Go Nintendo]
Olympus announces Mju 725 sw, Stylus 730, Stylus 740, Stylus 750, and Stylus 1000
Olympus also knocked out five new digital cameras in their Stylus line this morning, all of which are weatherproofed. Click on for images and details of each of them:
DS Lite Pro Stylus
It is a known fact that serious gamers require serious gamer accessories. These metal Battle Stylus's fall into that category. If you consider yourself to be among the serious gamers in need of serious gamer accessories, PDA Panache has your back. They have introduced this lovely upgrade to their original Battle Stylus with all sorts of features. Well, as many features as a stylus can have anyway. The question is, are you willing to drop $15.95 on a stylus? It seems a little steep to us, but if you have the cash to spare, trust this company and really, desperately want a stylus that won't, supposedly, screw up your screen and helps you bring your A game, then go for it. Then again, all that metal and mass that helps balance sure could come in handy when rapidly aiming in Metroid Prime: Hunters. [Thanks Ryan]
Get your game on with Mario Hoops, kupo!
The folks over at Siliconera were kind enough to drop us a note about their one-on-one experience with Mario Hoops: 3 on 3, and their glowing praise has us ready to get off the bench and into the game. The simple stylus commands we recently saw are fully elaborated at Siliconera and the game seems easy to pick up. And if the stylus isn't for you? That's cool, just turn it off in the options mode and use a more traditional control scheme instead. Mario Hoops is stuffed with features, from mini-games like dribble races to booby traps on the court. Nothing like a basket that fights back when you roll up for a dunk, eh?And thanks to Square-Enix on the development side, several unlockable characters with roots in the Final Fantasy series turn up. A moogle, a white mage, a black mage, a ninja, and a cactuar are included. Think the black mage's special move will demonstrate his mastery of the dark art of destruction? For now, we can only dream.
New Justice For All interview, and the single greatest accessory of all time
Phoenix Wright: Justice For All is probably the most anticipated game for the collective DS Fanboy staff. As such, when an interview arises filled with such ambiguity and non-commital statements that would make the current presidency green with envy, we still post with glee, hanging on every word. Though the 1up.com interview fails to reveal much about gameplay, some interesting views on the game's creation process and audience differences are revealed. Certainly worth a read......but the real treat here, folks, is found on the second page of the interview. Those lucky enough to be attending the annual San Diego Comic-Con will not only be able to try out the English build of the game, but also have the ability to obtain a specialized DS stylus shaped like Phoenix Wright's finger. Move over, Power Glove. Stand aside, Rez Vibrator. This is the single greatest accessory in video gaming history. San..San Diegans? San Diegoans? San DiegAAAns. If you attend this event, do yourself a favor. Pick up a part of gaming history...and grab us a few, too.
Project Hacker Kakusei; Uplink for your DS
An intriguing television commercial for a Japanese game called Project Hacker: Kakusei, a title for the DS that closely resembles the innovative hacking title Uplink, has popped up on the internets. The game will place you in the role of Satoru, a detective with an organization called the GIS, for which you will have to face hacking-themed puzzles like password cracking. The commercial demonstrates effective use of the stylus combined with Uplink-style hacking, along with elements similar to Phoenix Wright's detective style and 2D anime artwork; hopefully the developers plan to emulate Ace Attorney's over-the-top dialog and light-hearted premise too.According to IGN's page on Project Hacker, the title was announced in October '05 when it was originally called Detect Hacker. It's being produced by Nintendo and developed by Red Entertainment and is due for release in Japan before the year is out. I couldn't find anything online about an English localization, so unfortunately we must assume that this is going to remain exclusive to Japan for now. With a little luck (and some pressure from you guys--for a start, the game's wiki page could do with some work), that will change.
DS gets 'Point Blank' tap, light gun not required
Namco's classic arcade shooter Point Blank ships for the DS next week, as Point Blank DS. Back in 1998, the game was ported to the PlayStation and required the use of Namco's GunCon peripheral. Obviously, it would be awkward -- especially in public -- pointing a light gun at the DS's 3-inch screen, unless it was a really tiny zapper -- which would still be awkward in public. Thankfully, the stylus acts as an intuitive, if not unorthodox, alternative.Point Blank DS will be an important test for Nintendo's handheld, and if well received, will expand the possibilities for simple, addictive fun on the DS.
Extendable stylus from Hori
You know, if you're anything like me, you should be locked up get a lot of hand cramps when trying to play Meteos or Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for any kind of extended period of time. Most of this can be attributed to the small size of the stylus (some of us aren't lucky enough to have a DS Lite yet to enjoy its better stylus). So I was pretty psyched when I saw an extendable stylus that actually fits in the slot on the DS. In checking around to see if different types of stylus with this feature were available (I honestly couldn't find anywhere to purchase it at the original link), I came across this for the small sum of $2.99 US that also locks into the DS' slot. [Via Nintendo Gal]
DS gets wordplay, Japanese-English dictionary
Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten was released for the DS in Japan today, bringing an affordable electronic Japanese-English dictionary to the masses. KSRJ's major selling point is its stylus functionality, allowing users to input kanji (stroke-sensitive) and kana onto the touch screen. Japan Chronicles compared Nintendo's new toy tool to Canon's pricey ($299–$470) Wordtank V80 Chinese-Japanese-English dictionary, which also allows kanji inputs via a stylus. Here's what the site liked about KSRJ: Price* Same J-to-E and E-to-J dictionaries Word search by kanji English pronunciation Very readable, especially on a DS Lite Easy-to-use search history Useful quiz modes World clock Calendar Here's what Wordtank V80 does better: Vastly superior navigation Superior Japanese dictionary (Super Daijirin vs. Meiky%u014D) Includes Chinese dictionary, as well as dedicated English and Kanji dictionaries Stylus-controlled navigation Includes real (not virtual) keyboard *We're not sure what the official retail price for the dictionary software is, but we found KSRJ for as low as $48 at goldenshop.com.hk.
Engineering the DS Lite: 2 Nintendo hardware vets speak
Ever wonder what decisions go into a hardware redesign? Thanks to the latest edition of Nintendo's Japanese online mag, we finally get a portable peek into the DS Lite.Two Nintendo engineers who worked on the cuter DS sibling reveal how they pulled off the svelte new look while maintaining things like usability, battery life, and cost.Who knew that the new stylus was made "longer and wider to accommodate older users" (the Brain Age demographic who'd taken such a shine to the now shinier little system)? Durable, reliable hardware: it's what Nintendo does best. Let's hope they continue that trend with the Lite, as well as whatever other slicker iterations of the handheld that we're tempted to purchase -- or repurchase -- in the future.[Thanks, Princess Zelda; also via DS Fanboy]See also: Nintendo DS proven toilet-safe Playstation 2 goes silver (redux)
Brain Age footage
Etoychest has a video up of Jason Dobson taking a crack at the upcoming Brain Age. The video shows him explaining the interface of the game and going through some drawing and calculation exercises. While Jason admits his Brain Age is not very high, it's likely due to his lack of stylus use (seriously, you'd draw a lot better and get more numbers right it you used the stylus). So while upon start his Brain Age is only in the 40s, it's very possible this could be improved by switching that finger with a stylus on the touch screen. Regardless, the video has a lot of information and should interest everyone looking forward to getting their brain in shape come later in April.[Note: the video requires Quicktime]
Rumor: Mario Paint on the DS
1up editor Luke Smith recently posted about some tastey morsels that'll be running in the May issue of Electronics Gaming Monthly. Of these morsels, the tastiest to DS Fanboy readers (and Bloggers) is a rumor that the DS could be seeing an adaptation of the beloved SNES title Mario Paint. Considering how accessible the DS is to people who aren't hardcore gamers and the recent success Brain Training has enjoyed on the handheld, the idea of a Mario Paint game hitting the DS is a great idea. Using the stylus to swat flies would be too much fun!
