Posts Tagged ‘Nintendo DS’
DSi Moves One Million Units In Europe
The Nintendo DS seems posed to take the crown as the most successful gaming device ever sold. Since its original design the handheld has leaped to the top of the sales charts and sat there like a cash-spewing frog. The DSi, the newest iteration of the system doesn’t have much of significance to offer when compared to its predecessor the DS Lite, at least where gamers are concerned. It offers a relatively poor quality camera, takes away the GBA cartridge slot and lets owners listen to certain kinds of music files.
It seems that the system is even more popular than its predecessor; it has already sold over a million units across Europe since its launch in April of this year. It took a mere eight weeks to reach this milestone, a significant accomplishment when you consider that the DS Lite took thirteen weeks to sell over a million units. The previous models are still popular too, with half a million units of prior iterations being sold since the launch of the DSi.
D3Publishers Bringing in Astroboy This Fall
For the many anime buffs out there who love to get a hold of characters used in gaming consoles, here is a new one for you. Thanks to D3Publishers, ASTRO BOY: The Video Game is coming this fall for Wii, Nintendo DS, Playstation 2 and PSP.
Based on the upcoming feature film which itself is inspired by one of the most beloved characters of all time, ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME will allow players to become Astro Boy, a young boy robot with incredible powers. ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME is slated to ship worldwide this fall to coincide with the North American and international release of the movie in October 2009 from Summit Entertainment.
“We are confident that the ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME will be a faithful adaptation of the movie by successfully blending action gameplay with immersive storytelling,” said Alison Quirion, vice president of marketing, D3Publisher. “Players of all ages will interact with the much-loved characters from the movie and square off against powerful foes from the movie for a rock solid gameplay experience from start to finish.”
ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME for Wii, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system is under development by High Voltage Software and Nintendo DS by Art Co. Ltd. The game is currently rated “RP” (“Rating Pending”) by the ESRB.
(Source) Press
Newest Extreme Sports Game
The nineties saw skateboarding evolve from a passing fascination into a full blown phenomenon. Names like Tony Hawk could be dropped in casual conversation without a need to explain yourself. Snowboarding also shot up in appeal, likely because of the overall similarity between the two ‘extreme sports’. As with all fads however much of the ‘extreme sport’ fascination died down and while the events are still televised they’re watched these days more by die-hard fans than the general public. Though the appreciation of the skill involved in executing a daring mid-air maneuver is still there, the ‘ooh’ novelty has long since faded.
Recently though a new sensation has begun sweeping across the public consciousness. Parkour, or free running, no matter what you call this particular combination of strength, acrobatic prowess and sheer guts, it’s incredibly impressive to watch. It’s been featured in some films; briefly in the newest Die Hard film, the action-packed beginning scene of Casino Royale and heavily in French action film District B-13, which is a must-see for anyone and everyone.
Mirror’s Edge was one of the first games to feature this style as a central focus of action, though games like Prince of Persia and the recent NInja Gaiden titles have incorporated elements of it without doing so, but recently a game was released in which pulling off cool tricks and complex maneuvers is the central focus. It’s from Reef Entertainment and bears the accurately descriptive yet boring title Free Running. Originally released for the PSP and PS2 its success has garnered it the honor of being brought to the Nintendo DS, Wii and PC in Europe later this year. They’re retooling the game a bit to take advantage of the processing power and unique control scheme of each system.
EA Unveils MySim Agents for the Sleuth Gamers
Gamers have their share of people wanting to play investigators or some socialite adventure and with Electronic Arts new game, MySim Agents, expect a lot of plot twisting tales to come forth. EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. today announced MySims Agents, an original IP, mystery-solving adventure game for the Wii and Nintendo DS where players are the heroic agents who must stop a sinister plot that threatens the fate of an entire city.
“We’re thrilled to bring you MySims Agents, the next game from MySims, and something completely different than any MySims game before,” said Tim LeTourneau, General Manager of the MySims franchise. “Its mystery-meets-adventure theme allows players to hone their problem-solving skills while still enjoying all of the beloved MySims charm; characters, customization and humor.”
- In MySims Agents players take on the role of a special agent hired to foil the sinister plans of Morcubus, lord of the criminal underworld. By recruiting different MySims, each with their own special characteristics, players can build up their very own crime-busting dream team. From tracking footprints and using forensics to picking locks, hacking into computers, following leads and collecting clues, players must rely on their wits, skills and trusty gadgets to piece together the clues to solve the mystery. Jump aboard the jet to reach an ancient temple, a spooky mansion or an icy mountaintop chalet in search of clues that lead players closer to the sinister Morcubus. Return from the adventure with cool treasures that players can use to construct and customize their headquarters and make it their own.
- In MySims Agents on the Nintendo DS players are agents assigned by their agency to help the mayor stop a notorious thief from stealing an ancient treasure. By searching for clues, solving intricate puzzles and matching wits with the thief, gamers can protect the treasure and the town! Along the way they can talk to their favorite MySims, sharpen their agent skills with 10 different mini-games, and search through underground caverns for clues to the thief’s undoing!
(Source) Press
Casual Gaming CEO Says iPhone “Freaking Out” Sony and Nintendo
A few years ago the trash talking and constant speculation about whose gaming system was superior was limited to consoles. The Nintendo DS and PSP had for the most part kept to their own audiences, releasing games and brightening the commutes/lines of gamers everywhere. Recently a self proclaimed competitor has arrived and has ushered in a whole new wave of inflammatory statements.
If you hadn’t guessed I’m talking about the iPhone (and iPod Touch). Since Apple launched the device and its App store they’ve been saying that the handheld will eventually push both Sony and Nintendo out of the portable gaming market. Now another company is jumping in on Apple’s side. Digital Chocolate’s CEO Trip Hawkins has said that the iPhone is more than capable of challenging the DS and PSP and says that he thinks the unit is “freaking out” Sony and Nintendo since it has “ only penetrated one half of one percent of its total market.” However with some simple calculations given the 30 million iPhones sold he’s including the more than six billion people on the planet as possible iPhone buyers.
Unfortunately as with everyone proclaiming the iPhone as the doom of all other handhelds, he’s neglecting the fact that the lack of buttons limits the number of possible control schemes, thus limiting the possible range of games. The games offered on the Apple App store are just too simple to hold the attention of serious gamers for long. We thirst for strategy, complexity and storylines, not another block breaker game.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Coming to Video Games
The greatest show on earth makes its way on the Wii thanks to the joint efforts of 2K Play and Feld Entertainment. It was revealed that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be taking the excitement of “The Greatest Show on Earth” to the next level by partnering to develop circus-themed video games.
For the first time in the near 140-year history of Ringling Bros., the breathtaking thrills and timeless magic of this storied brand will be coming to the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and Nintendo DS™. The new Ringling Bros. themed games are scheduled to ship this holiday season as 2K Play further extends its portfolio of family friendly video game offerings.
During a recent Ringling Bros. performance at Madison Square Garden, and in celebration of this partnership with 2K Play, a Ringling Bros. high-wire artist took to the air and made a thrilling 25-foot walk across a tightrope while maintaining his balance with only a Wii Remote and Nunchuk in his hands, to the delight of upward-gazing onlookers. It no doubt was a precursor of what to expect in the upcoming video games.
More information on 2K Play’s upcoming games for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be available at the 2009 E3 Expo in Los Angeles this June.
(Source) Press
Tags: barnum bailey circus, e3 expo, game offerings, greatest show on earth, home video game, madison square garden, Nintendo DS, ringling bros and barnum, ringling bros and barnum bailey, tightrope, timeless magic, upcoming games, upcoming video games, video game system, Wii, wii remote, wire artist
Rhythm Heaven for Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS offers another kind of game to help hone up the gaming experience. When you hear a catchy tune, you probably find yourself tapping your fingers in rhythm to the beat. If you can do that, you’ll be a natural for Rhythm Heaven, a new game that is now available for the portable Nintendo DS system.
Rhythm Heaven asks you to tap, hold and flick your stylus on the touch screen as you keep the beat in more than 50 rhythm-based mini-games. It’s hard not to crack a smile as you enjoy the game’s unique visual style and infectious game play.
“Rhythm Heaven represents another example of how Nintendo creates new experiences that surprise and delight people,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The game exudes a simple charm and captures an endearing quality that makes it very appealing to all types of players.”
Remember that Rhythm Heaven, as with nearly the entire library of 850+ Nintendo DS-compatible games, also can play on the new Nintendo DSi system which was launched last April 5.
To catch a better glimpse, here is the commercial spot of Rhythm Heaven with Beyonce:
(Source) Press
Elements of Destruction Game Review–Everybody Talks About The Weather….
If you, like me, spend a lot of time complaining about the weather and wishing you could do something about it, then Xbox Live has the solution for you. Also available on your Nintendo DS, it’s called Elements of Destruction, and it’s plenty of fun for one low price–either in dollars or Live points which were formerly dollars.
The DS version is, not surprisingly, toned down, but in the 360 version, you play a research scientist downsized at the height of his career. Vowing revenge, he converts his body into energy and takes control of the very elements, including earthquakes, lightning and tornadoes, and goes forth to destroy everything in his path.
First disgruntled mailmen, now disgruntled scientists. These days, you’ve got to watch who you fire, because you never know when they’re going to come back with a gun or a tornado on a leash or something. All kidding aside, the result is surprisingly fun if a bit repetitive, and allows you to grind entire civilizations into the dirt with a variety of weather powers, which is undeniably fun, especially in small doses. If you want a quick shot of fun that doesn’t take long to get into or get out of, then the forecast is clear for Elements of Destruction.
Meteos Wars for Xbox 360
Picking up from the success that they had from their Nintendo DS version, Meteos Wars focuses on a different game console in the Xbox 360. Gameplay is simple. If you are familiar with Tetris, they are practically similar.
Blocks fall from the sky ala Tetris, and in turn must be matched in vertical or horizontal lines of three. Once a match is made, the triplet will be boosted back into space where it belongs. However, it’s not always that simple; as gravity is your enemy. If your group of blocks is too heavy to make its way back into the heavens, it will steadily descend back into your original pile of blocks. That’s when you will need to match more in order to keep it aloft.
However, the correct blocks will not always be available to match. You can accelerate the speed of the falling squares, but beware – if one line reaches the top of the game board, an alarm will sound. If you cannot reduce the line’s height in a timely fashion, it’s game over! Paired with these harrowing rules, you’re also in a close match with an AI (or human, if you’re in multiplayer) opponent who is trying to clear their board in the same manner.
(Source) Video Game Generation
Tags: game board, gravity, horizontal lines, meteos, Nintendo DS, squares, tetris, video game, Xbox, xbox 360, xbox 360 gameplay
Nintendo Announces New Wii Storage Solution and Zelda Game
Nintendo has announced a couple of new offerings that many gamers will surely find interesting. On one hand is that announcement of the new Wii Storage Solution. Video game developers now have expanded opportunities given that worldwide shipments for the Wii system surpassed 50 million units and worldwide shipments for the Nintendo DS franchise are at more than 100 million units.
The new The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks game that will utilize the intuitive touch control of Phantom Hourglass in an all new adventure that will please longtime Zelda fans while keeping the game accessible to all DS owners. The concept behind this Zelda game includes utilizing a steam locomotive to travel around the world, switching Phantom and Link to explore the dungeons, and solving puzzles using new items.
(Source) Press
LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring for the Nintendo DS Released
LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring for the Nintendo DS, a game that is catered more towards little girls is now available at retail stores. The latest in the line of highly successful LITTLEST PET SHOP video games for girls ages 6 to 10, LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring is the perfect addition for girls who want to expand their LITTLEST PET SHOP collection.
Inspired by Hasbro’s popular girls’ toy brand, LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring includes all of the favorite activities from the previous LITTLEST PET SHOP Nintendo DS versions, plus brand new content and features unique to this latest release. In addition to playing with six new pets exclusive to LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring, including a Lop Ear Bunny, a Fox, a Jack Russell, a Dwarf Bunny, a Porcupine, and a Kitty, girls can now explore a new, spring-themed environment that features new play areas.
Girls can also make sure their pets head into spring in style by outfitting their pets in the latest seasonal fashions with new accessories. Additionally, with LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring, girls can play up to 20 mini-games, including four new games — Snack Sort, Volley Paws, Remember Me, and Fruit Fling.
LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring for the Nintendo DS carries a MSRP of $29.99. It is currently available at major retailers and is rated “E” for Everyone.
(Source) Press
GTA Staying with PSP
Contrary to speculations that Grant Theft Auto may be jumping to the Nintendo DS side, Sony has made it clear that is has no plans to remove the popular franchise from their sleek portable unit.
According to what SCEA head of PSP marketing John Koller told MTV Multiplayer, GTA is “a tremendous franchise for PlayStation in general,” which means PSP owners will once again see a handheld installment on the PSP in the near future.
“No one should sleep on that franchise. That’s a tremendous franchise for PlayStation in general. We’ve had two that are the top two sellers on PSP right now. So, there’s definitely continued conversations with ['GTA' development studio] Rockstar on all their brands. That’s nothing that’s left the PlayStation family.”
All of these rumors started to come about when Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was ready to go for the Nintendo DS. But then again, it only makes sense to bring one of the most popular video game franchises in history to as many different platforms as humanly possible, and of course, that does include the PlayStation brand.
(Source) PSXtreme
Fire Emblem Remakes Depend On Sales, Pope Catholic
The turn-based strategy title has become big in the USA in the past few years. For many of us who like a more slow-paced, thoughtful style of gameplay this was a blessed relief from the hectic micro-management of real-time strategy games. One of the most enjoyable and challenging series to come out of this genre is the Fire Emblem series. With intricate storylines involving lifelike characters and a very challenging style of gameplay (units that fall in a mission are gone forever) this series has seen great success to the point that the original which was never before released in the USA is getting a remake on the DS entitled Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon.
Fans of the series are undoubtedly excited and hoping for more Nintendo DS remakes, but their future is somewhat uncertain. Intelligent Systems, the developer working on the remake has said they’re not definitively planning on releasing more remakes of the series. If the game turns out to be a ‘very big hit’ they’ll ‘keep their options open’, although the whole studio seems to like the idea of making a new title in the series over doing more remakes. Other ideas that have been tossed around are a more casual-style Fire Emblem game or an ‘all-star’ game that pulls in characters from various games in the series. While I remain hopeful that the game will do well and more Fire Emblem games will be put out for the DS, it seems a bit redundant to say that sequels will be made only if the previous game sells well.
Take Your Friendship Destruction On The Road
It seems that the port of PS2 game Dokapon Kingdom was a success for the Wii, because Atlus has announced that they’re now bringing the game to the Nintendo DS. Beginning April 14th you’ll be able to whittle away at boring hours on the bus, train or whatever transportation method you favor by battling against up to three friends or the game’s AI characters.
If you’ve unfamiliar with the game, it takes place in the magical Dokapon Kingdom where the King has offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to anyone who can purge the horde of monsters that has overrun the kingdom. It’s a mix between board game randomness and RPG strategy.
You can not only attack the monsters and save infested towns, but you can turn your swords and spells against your friends, stealing items or humiliating them when you defeat them in duels.
Activison Details Tony Hawk’s Motion
It look’s as Activision has just about given up with it’s Tony Hawk franchise, with EA’s skate taking all the glory and what not.
Further proving this theory is the announcement of Tony Hawk’s Motion for the Nintendo DS, and from the looks of the screen shots, it won’t be pretty.
All jokes aside, Tony Hawk’s Motion promises to include an innovative new way to play the game, utilizing accelerometer technology which allows the player to turn, twist, and tilt their way to the finish line.
New to the series however is the inclusion of snowboarding. Yep, snowboarding in a Tony Hawk video game. The game will feature 20 mini-challenges in which to snowboarding (and skate?) through. Also featured in the game is a completely unrelated Hue Pixel Painter, which allows players to bring color to a dull world, whatever that means.
Tony Hawk’s Motion is currently undergoing development by Creat Studios and is expected to hit shelves this November, for the Nintendo DS.