Today's Special Archives: January 2006

News Archives Index Resident Evil 4 Goes Player's Choice [ Capcom ] Capcom today announced its critically acclaimed survival horror masterpiece, Resident Evil 4 , has been awarded inclusion into Nintendo’s Player’s Choice program for the Nintendo GameCube. The game will be relaunched with new packaging at a suggested retail price of $19.99. No new stuff is here (such as the rumored inclusion of the PS2-exclusive features), but such is life. If you haven't picked up RE4 yet, what the hell are you waiting for? Pick up one of only two games to get a perfect score here at the Café today! Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 31 2006 23:14 PM [Top] D3Publisher Gets Flushed Away [ D3Publisher ] D3Publisher has announced it will publish a game based on the upcoming animated feature film Flushed Away, a film created by Aardman Features, the team behind the Wallace and Gromit films, and produced by Dreamworks Animation studios. The film is about a group of brutish talking sewer rats in the streets of London, where, of course, hilarity ensues. Versions of the game are in the works for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS, and will be released along with the film this November. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 31 2006 23:03 PM [Top] The Nintendo "Revolution" [ Home Brewed ] A couple of weeks ago, Will brought you his editorial as to why the Revolution would be a success and bring Nintendo back to glory. This is AJ's rebuttal article, about why the Revolution will only put Nintendo further from the pack. Oh, he still loves the Big N though. AJ Henderson -- Posted on Tuesday, January 31 2006 16:14 PM [Top] Cisco Systems Looking to Buy Nintendo? [ CNet ] Already Cisco has announced plans to spend $6.9 billion on cable set-top maker Scientific-Atlanta. When the deal closes in the next couple of months, it will be the third significant acquisition Silicon Valley-based Cisco has made in the consumer realm. Ciscoo seems to be making a push to bring itself into more homes worldwide. Over the last two decades, they have acquired more than one hundred companies; successfully expanding themselves to a global leader in corporate networking. In 2003, they acquired Linksys, which was their first crack into the consumer market. Two years later they bought Kiss Technology, a European maker of DVD and DVR players. Now they have bought Scientific-Atlanta, the second biggest maker of cable set-top boxes. Right now I am watching HDTV courtesy of one of their boxes. Cisco systems seems to be committed to trying to dominate the consumer market like they have the corporate market and there is no better way to do that than entering the world of video games. It sounds like a stretch, however, Microsoft, which is emerging as a key competitor to Cisco in the home entertainment market, is already in this market with the Xbox 360. Gaming has already proved to be a strong application for broadband, so it makes sense that Cisco would want to own a game device to help drive more traffic on its network. With its popular Game Boy product, Nintendo would also provide Cisco an entree into the mobile-handheld market. While I love Nintendo and would hate to see them overtaken by another company, it is hard to deny that Cisco is an amazing company that could do amazing things with/for Nintendo. Nintendo is still number two in the world, but in the last generation has fallen to number three in North America with the introduction of the Xbox and Xbox 360. Hit the link to check out the full article on CNet and we will make sure to watch this situation in case anything more develops. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Tuesday, January 31 2006 14:52 PM [Top] Baten Kaitos II Trailer [ Nintendo of Japan ] Nintendo has released the trailer for the upcoming Baten Kaitos II, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed RPG from developer Monolith Soft and publisher Namco. This time around, Nintendo will be publishing the title in both the US and Japan, and by the looks of it the sequel will be just as good as the original. Check out the trailer by clicking the source link, then clicking the bottom link with the feather on it. Baten Kaitos II will be released in Japan on February 26th, with a US release expected to be announced for later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, January 30 2006 18:41 PM [Top] Chibi-Robo Official Site Opens [ Nintendo ] Nintendo has opened the official site for Chibi-Robo, the Nintendo-published adventure title from developer SKIP. The website features information about the game's characters, the tools and power-ups Chibi-Robo can use, and some exclusive videos of the game in action. Check out the website by clicking the above source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, January 30 2006 18:30 PM [Top] Activision Announces Over The Hedge [ Activision ] Activision has announced that they will publish Over The Hedge, an action-adventure game based on the upcoming CG-animated motion picture from Dreamworks Animation, on all consoles, including the GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance. Gamers will play the role of four seperate animals: RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel, and Stella the skunk, as they escape from a backyard to discover there's a whole world living over the hedge. The game will feature tons of puzzles, mini-games, and a two-player cooperative mode. Over The Hedge will hit stores later this year, and you can check out the first screens of the game below. Images: Over The Hedge Screenshot 1 Over The Hedge Screenshot 2 Over The Hedge Screenshot 3 Over The Hedge Screenshot 4 Over The Hedge Screenshot 5 Over The Hedge Screenshot 6 Over The Hedge Screenshot 7 Over The Hedge Screenshot 8 Over The Hedge Screenshot 9 Over The Hedge Screenshot 10 Eric Jones -- Posted on Monday, January 30 2006 18:21 PM [Top] Brain Training US Bound as Brain Age [ Nintendo ] After decades of exercising players' thumbs, Nintendo is now moving to their minds. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day for Nintendo DS will help players flex their mental muscles. Brain Age represents the first in a series of U.S. brain-training titles that already have taken Japan by storm. Baby Boomers picking up a video game system? It's not as far-fetched as you might think. Three separate titles in the brain-training series are currently a huge craze in Japan. Each of them has achieved sales of more than 1 million units, with the most recent title hitting that milestone in less than a month. The craze has been fueled largely by older players, many of whom had never played a video game system before. Brain Age (known as Brain Training in Japan) was inspired by the work of Professor Ryuta Kawashima, a prominent Japanese neuroscientist. His studies evaluated the effect of performing reading and mathematic exercises to help stimulate the brain. Brain Age presents players with a series of fun mental brain-training challenges that incorporate word memorization, counting and reading. It even includes sudoku number puzzles, which have become extremely popular features in newspapers around the country. The distinctive touch screen of Nintendo DS lets users write their responses, just as though they were using a PDA. Players even turn the Nintendo DS sideways to make it feel more familiar, like a book. The more often users challenge themselves, the better they become at the tasks and the lower their estimated DS "brain age." Nintendo's brain-training series of games represent a cornerstone of Nintendo's aim to expand the world of video games to new audiences. The second title in the series, Big Brain Academy (known as Brain Flex in Japan) offers players 15 fun activities that test their brain powers in areas like logic, memory, math and analysis. Up to eight people can play with a single game card, and each activity takes less than a minute to complete. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day is rated E for Everyone and launches on April 17. Big Brain Academy is Rated E for Everyone and launches May 30. Images: Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day Boxart Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, January 30 2006 11:16 AM [Top] Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers Announced for DS [ Majesco ] Handheld gamers have a new reason to fight as Majesco Entertainment Company today announced a new handheld installment of the popular Guilty Gear fighting series. Guilty Gear Dust Strikers for the Nintendo DS system is due in early spring. The game is being developed by ARC System Works. "Widely praised as one of the leading 2D brawler franchises, the Guilty Gear series has a long history of offering gamers deep, character-driven game play," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing for Majesco. Guilty Gear Dust Strikers for Nintendo DS features 21 historic Guilty Gear characters whose intertwining stories reveal all-new insights into each character's personality and past. Players battle on multiple levels across both DS screens, against the computer or up to four players via wireless networking. The game also features six modes of play including Arcade, Story and VS Battle plus seven unique touch screen mini games and a Robo Ky Factory where you can customize your fighting moves. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Monday, January 30 2006 11:13 AM [Top] Call of Duty 2: Big Red One [ Reviews ] World War II shooters are what I do best, hit the link and see if Big Red One stands up against previous WWII games. Matt Marlow -- Posted on Sunday, January 29 2006 12:40 PM [Top] US Press Release for Nintendo DS Lite [ Nintendo ] Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DS. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter. Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales in Japan and around the world, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game system there. Nintendo will announce more information about the availability of Nintendo DS Lite in North America and other territories in the future. Check out a high-res image of the newest addition to Nintendo's handheld family below. Images: Nintendo DS Lite Image Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, January 27 2006 23:48 PM [Top] New Tetris DS Info and Screens [ Nintendo ] Nintendo's greatest characters team up with one of the most popular games of all time. Every mode in Tetris DS features a theme based on a famous Nintendo character. Up to 10 players can clash using DS Download Play to form a Tetris DS match of massive proportions, all with just one game card. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, up to four players can compete in wireless two- or four-player battles against friends or strangers, near or far. Each game mode features a theme based on a famous Nintendo character or game. The game has six game modes to choose from. Information will be released periodically about each mode. Standard: This Mario-themed mode features the same addictive game play that made the original Tetris so wildly popular. Players guide falling Tetriminos (falling blocks) and form horizontal lines to clear them away. Mario runs around Super Mario Bros. levels in the background. Touch: This unique take on Tetris really shows off the touch-screen capability of Nintendo DS. Players use a stylus to drag and move Tetriminos in a giant stack to make them fall into horizontal lines. In early levels, they can tap Tetriminos to spin them just the way they need them. Players have as much time as they need to carefully plan their moves, so it plays very differently from the other frantic modes. Tetris DS is rated E for Everyone and heads into stores on March 20th. Images: Tetris DS Screenshot 1 Tetris DS Screenshot 2 Tetris DS Screenshot 3 Tetris DS Screenshot 4 Tetris DS Screenshot 5 Tetris DS Screenshot 6 Tetris DS Screenshot 7 Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, January 27 2006 23:46 PM [Top] Another Splinter Cell: Double Agent Trailer [ GameCube Café ] This is the first official French trailer of the game. Seeing as how Ubisoft headquarters are in France, it is no surprise that they get a much better trailer than North America. But, seeing as how are so cool here at the Café we managed to get our hands on it just for you, because we love you. Yeah, something like that. Hit the link to watch the trailer in any browser or right click to save it to your computer. Video: Splinter Cell: Double Agent French Trailer (10.7 MB) Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, January 27 2006 7:15 AM [Top] Splinter Cell: Double Agent Delayed [ Ubisoft ] Today Ubisoft announced that its highly anticipated title Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent will launch in the company’s second quarter of its fiscal year 2006/2007 (September/October). Splinter Cell Double Agent will be available in September for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube system and Windows PC. Ubisoft is extending the launch of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent in order to deliver the highest quality gaming experience. The additional development time will allow for a simultaneous worldwide launch on all platforms and will allow Ubisoft’s development teams to push the technical boundaries on each platform. Ubisoft is confident that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent will revolutionize and reinvent the spy action genre by introducing an unprecedented double agent concept and an entirely new breed of game play that adds an exciting new dimension to the gaming experience. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, January 27 2006 6:47 AM [Top] Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop Trailer [ GameCube Café ] TamaTown is open for business! Join your Tamagotchi friends as they open their first shop. Keep your customers happy and watch your business grow! Partner with your favorite Tamagotchi character, choose your shop type and open for business! Players can clean teeth, do laundry, perform music and more for your customers. Plus, you can swap items with your friends wirelessly! Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop will be released for the Nintendo DS on January 31st. Check out the trailer for the game below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop Trailer (5.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 18:03 PM [Top] Super Monkey Ball Adventure Announced [ Sega ] Sega has officially announced a brand-new Super Monkey Ball game is in development for the GameCube, but it's not like any of the previous games in the popular series. Super Monkey Ball Adventure is developed by American developer Traveller's Tales, developer of Lego Star Wars, and is an adventure game - but still includes the action-puzzle gameplay of previous Monkey Ball titles. Players take on the role of one of 4 monkeys, as they both trek through new platforming stages and race through more than 50 brand-new puzzle levels, as the monkeys race to reunite the 5 split Monkey Ball Kingdoms. Super Monkey Ball Adventure is set to hit stores in Q3 of this year. Check out the first screens of the game below. Images: Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshot 1 Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshot 2 Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshot 3 Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshot 4 Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshot 5 Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 17:27 PM [Top] Nintendo Greatly Increases Profits [ Nintendo of Japan ] While profits for Nintendo were on decline for the first two quarters of 2005, the company reported that Nintendo hit its stride for Q3 of the fiscal year and delivered knockout profits. For the period from October-December, Nintendo's operating profit increased from 55.56 billion yen ($479.7 million US) compared to 21.3 billion yen for 2004. This gives makes Nintendo's net profit for 2005 a whopping 92.2 billion yen ($801 million US), which is a 36% increase from Nintendo's 2004 net profit of 67.8 billion yen. The company also announced that they should easily be able to hit their profit goal of 75 billion yen ($652 million US) at the conclusion of the company's fiscal year in March. Nintendo's great increase in profits can most likely be attributed by the incredible worldwide success of the Nintendo DS, which finally began to obtain must-have software in Q3 like Castlevania, Animal Crossing, and Mario Kart DS. Eric Jones -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 15:22 PM [Top] DS Lite, Not Suprisingly, Set for America [ IGN DS ] Although there has been no official announcement for any other region, the DS Lite is of course going to be coming to other regions of the world. The Japanese release date has, however, been announced for March 2, 2006. The Japanese release will also see the DSL released in not only white, but two other unannounced colors (black would be very nice). Hopefully Nintendo will launch the same colors here in the U.S. Much like with the original GBA, the current DS model will continue to be produced in Japan for now at its current price of approximately $130, with the DSL being around $145. The DS continues to perform well around the world, and this should only help the system sell even better. Judging by the looks of the system, it looks as though Nintendo may be adjusting the looks to connect it with the Revolution in future advertising. Just maybe Nintendo is on to something here. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 13:57 PM [Top] Nintendo Announces DS Lite [ Nintendo ] This new handheld will play all your previous DS titles, plus... oh wait, no plus. It's just a smaller, lighter version of the DS that millions of people already have. I guess Nintendo saw how popular the Game Boy Advance Micro was and figured they could capitalize on the DS with the same idea. Official information is below. It doesn't even seem all that smaller than the original DS. The modified dual screen handheld has been tweaked into a smaller chassis. The new unit measures up to 133 mm wide by 73.9 mm tall by 21.5 thick. (that's compared to 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.99 mm in the original.) DS Lite weighs 218g, compared to the 275 g of the original. DS Lite's biggest new technical feature is its updated set of backlit LCD screens. The system is brighter overall, and will give the user the ability to select from four different levels of brightness for viewing and/or battery consumption. A few other changes were made. The mic is now centered above the lower screen, the power light changed position, the speakers are more centered, the buttons are all white/grey, the power switch was moved so it no longer is above the D-Pad, and the official DS logo is on the top when the DS is closed. Lastly, it is the brightest white you have ever seen. Images: Nintendo DS Lite Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 10:06 AM [Top] Splinter Cell: Double Agent Site Opens [ Ubisoft ] Ubisoft has just opened the official website for the new Splinter Cell game, Double Agent. The site is definitely not your average game site with info and screens. The easiest way to explain it to you, is for you to just click the source link and check the site out for yourself. If you explore everything on the site and read everything, you will learn quite a bit about the story of the game. The release of this site has definitely got me excited about the game, which is suppose to release sometime in April. A while back it was announced that Splinter Cell: Double Agent would be released on the Revolution. This was back when it was believed the new Splinter Cell would not be released until late 2006 or early 2007. With the release of the game so close, it seems that it will not be on Revolution, but it will be on Cube as well as Playstation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. I have to be perfectly honest here, Splinter Cell in widescreen and high definition is tempting me to buy a 360. Look for more Double Agent news in the near future. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, January 26 2006 6:51 AM [Top] Konami Announces Tao's Adventure for DS [ Konami ] Konami has confirmed that Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal, an RPG exclusively for the Nintendo DS. A young boy with no knowledge of the outside world, Tao has learned the ways of magic. However, the unsealing of a tower of monsters in a far-off land has brought a great danger threatening to destroy the entire world. Armed with the power of the 5 elements: earth, fire, air, water, and lightning, Tao must make his way up the demonic tower and destroy the monsters within. In this turn-based RPG, player make use of the touch screen to choose attacks and items. Players can also seal monsters in eggs, then summon them later in battle. The game also features vivid 3D graphics and 40 individual levels. Tao's Adventure Curse of the Demon Seal will hit stores for the DS this March. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 25 2006 22:12 PM [Top] Konami Announces Steel Horizon for DS [ Konami ] Konami announced at today's Gamer's Day event that a new strategy game, entitled Steel Horizon, is in the works for the DS. Set in a fictionalized version of World War II, where an evil organization has joined the Axis powers with the hopes of world domnination. Playing the part of a military commander with the Allies, players take part in massive naval battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, with 20 missions in total. The game will also support a wireless battle mode between two players. Steel Horizon hits stores sometime later this year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 25 2006 21:32 PM [Top] Updated Release List for Europe [ Nintendo of Europe ] The following link is an updated release chart for the 2006 season for European Nintendo fans. Games to release this year include Electroplankton, Metroid Prime Hunters, ChibiRobo, Final Fantasy IV, and Wario Ware: Twisted!, among many others. Check out the full list below by downloading the document file. Word Document: Nintendo Europe 2006 Release Schedule Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Wednesday, January 25 2006 15:29 PM [Top] Star Trek Boldly Goes to the DS [ Bethesda Softworks ] Bethesda Softworks today announced it has secured the rights from CBS Consumer Products to publish a series of Star Trek games on all gaming consoles, handhelds and PCs. Bethesda has a DS title slated for release this year to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the epic series – Star Trek: Tactical Assault for the Nintendo DS. The game features real-time spaceship combat from the universe of the original Star Trek series. With a wide array of authentic Star Trek races, ships, and weaponry, you can engage in single-player battle through either the Federation or Klingon campaigns or in head-to-head wireless multiplayer combat. Star Trek: Tactical Assault is being developed in the studios of Quicksilver Software, creators of the highly popular Star Trek: Starfleet Command. Both the Federation and Klingon campaign modes feature real-time combat with branching missions and multiple outcomes. With a multitude of paths to choose from, you will decide the ultimate outcome of your campaign. Wireless multiplayer mode allows you to test your skills and tactical maneuvers against those of your friends. Successful gameplay relies on strategic movement and effective use of a ship's weapons and shields. Star Trek: Tactical Assault is slated for release this September. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 24 2006 18:28 PM [Top] New Tales of The Tempest Screenshots [ Namco ] Namco has released a handful of new screens from the first Tales RPG to hit the Nintendo DS, entitled Tales of The Tempest. While the screens don't reveal much in the way of gameplay or story, they do show off the game's graphical excellence. Tales of The Tempest is set to hit stores in Japan this April. While a US release has yet to be announced, expect one to be revealed before or at E3 2006. Images: Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 1 Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 2 Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 3 Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 4 Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 5 Tales of The Tempest Screenshot 6 Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 24 2006 2:51 AM [Top] Tales of Phantasia Screenshots [ Nintendo ] When young swordsman Cress Albane returns home to find his village torn asunder and his parents killed, he is forced to set out on a quest through time and space to uncover the villains behind the tragedy. This classic role-playing game from the popular "Tales" series comes to the United States for the first time. Battle in real time: The Linear Motion Battle System puts the emphasis on action as players attack their enemies without the use of menus. New game events, dialogue sequences and other features enhance the adventure on this release. Players can crack open the Monster Dictionary to view the strengths and weaknesses of the enemies they meet in battle. Players will want to collect data on them all. Players use the innovative Cooking System to collect ingredients and recipes to brew up meals that restore their health and magic. Check out a ton of new screenshots for this RPG below. Tales of Phantasia will hit stores on March 6th. Images: Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 1 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 2 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 3 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 4 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 5 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 6 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 7 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 8 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 9 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 10 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 11 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 12 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 13 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 14 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 15 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 16 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 17 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 18 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 19 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 20 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 21 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 22 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 23 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 24 Tales of Phantasia Screenshot 25 Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, January 22 2006 22:26 PM [Top] Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll Trailer [ GameCube Café ] The popular and acclaimed Super Monkey Ball series comes to the Nintendo DS with the latest installment, Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll! Use the DS touch screen to play in a whole new way by controlling the ball directly with your stylus. All of the most popular features of the highly addictive Super Monkey Ball series return for Touch and Roll, with 100 puzzling new stages and two new party games for up to four players! The new party games support the DS Download function, letting up to three friends play along with you, even if they don't have their own copies of Touch and Roll. Whether you’re rolling through the 120 stages in Challenge Mode, getting up to speed in Practice Mode, or reviewing your glory in Replay Mode, or taking on your friends in multiplayer, you’re sure to have a ball. Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll hits stores for the Nintendo DS on February 21st. Check out a new gameplay trailer of the title below by saving it to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll Trailer (9.5 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Sunday, January 22 2006 21:14 PM [Top] DS Hits 1 Million in UK [ Nintendo of Europe ] Nintendo UK has today announced that 1 million units of its Nintendo DS handheld console are in the hands of gamers across the country. The announcement is just another highlight in a long line of successes throughout 2005 where the Nintendo DS has led the handheld market not only in the UK but across the globe. Many stores across the UK are continuing to report they are sold out of Nintendo DS until new stock arrives in the coming week. Following Nintendo DS’s launch in Europe in March 2005, almost three and a half million Nintendo DS units have been sold. Worldwide sales have shown a similar pattern with millions of people turning to Nintendo for their portable gaming. Approximately 13 million Nintendo DS were in the hands of people all around the world by the end of December 2005, leaving any competition standing. UK sales of the Nintendo DS have been significantly bolstered by the launch of ground breaking games such as Nintendogs, which has sold over 1.6 million copies in Europe since launch in October and Mario Kart DS which stormed the Christmas charts selling 800,000 copies in Europe since its late November launch. UK gamers have a lot to look forward to in 2006, including Animal Crossing: Wild World which has been a huge success in Japan and the US, having already sold over one million copies. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, January 20 2006 17:54 PM [Top] Splinter Cell: Double Agent Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Veteran agent Sam Fisher is back. But he's never faced an enemy like this before. To stop a devastating terrorist attack, he must infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and destroy it from within. For the first time ever, experience the relentless tension and gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double agent. As you infiltrate a terrorist organization in its American headquarters, you must carefully weigh the consequences of your actions. Kill too many criminals and you'll blow your cover. Hesitate too long and millions will die. Do whatever it takes to complete your mission, but get out alive. Splinter Cell: Double Agent does not have an official release date as of yet but it is tentative for Spring 2006. Hit the link to watch the trailer in any browser or right click and save it to your computer. Video: Splinter Cell: Double Agent Trailer (12.1 MB) Matthew Silver -- Posted on Friday, January 20 2006 14:53 PM [Top] Sonic Racing Onto Revolution? [ IGN Revolution ] While there was no real doubt that Sonic the Hedgehog would make his way onto the Nintendo Revolution console at some point, IGN has gained some information from sources that a Sonic game is already in the works at Sega. The game will not be a port of the Sonic title already announced for the PS3 and Xbox 360, but will rather be a completely original game making use of the Revolution's controller. Sources also state that the game is being produced by Sonic Team's top-tier members, including Sonic creator Yuji Naka. While IGN makes sure to mention that this should just be taken as a rumor, it's still a safe bet a Sonic game will speed down the line someday. If these rumors are true, however, expect Sonic's Revolution premiere to make it's debut at E3 this May. Eric Jones -- Posted on Friday, January 20 2006 2:02 AM [Top] Nintendo at GDC [ IGN Revolution ] The Game Developer's Conference begins March 20, and as suspected, Nintendo will most certainly be there. Takao Ohara will be the guest speaker at the event. Ohara has been at Nintendo since 1988 and is leading the WiFi Connection project. He will speak about the WiFi Connection, its implementation on the DS, what went right and wrong on the DS, and how it will work on the Revolution. Perhaps we'll finally see something concerning the Revolution's download service? Look for more details here as it happens, and of course we'll be here to cover GDC in all its glory. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Thursday, January 19 2006 1:45 AM [Top] Reggie Talks Revolution, DS, Nintendo [ News.com ] News.com released an interview today with Nintendo's VP of sales and marketing, Reginald Fils-Aime. As usual, the outspoken Nintendo exec had plenty to say about Nintendo's future, without actually saying anything about Nintendo's future. Here's some tidbits from the interview. (On his resolutions for 2006) "The first [resolution] is keeping our eyes on the prize. This industry is about entertainment, and in the end, he with the best games wins. So at Nintendo, we're focused on putting the most entertaining products into the marketplace. The second resolution is keeping the mass in the mass audience. The world is fragmenting all around us, and many companies are making their products too exclusive and expensive for the general consumer." (On Revolution pricing and the third resolution) "The next-generation console from Nintendo, code-named Revolution, will cost less than $300. Our third resolution is to stop turning away new players. This industry has become more and more focused on the niche, and at Nintendo, we've opened our systems to a wide range of consumers. Whether it's consumers older than 35 or female gamers, we've attracted them with "Nintendogs" and "Animal Crossing," so we've resolved to bring as many new consumers into this industry as possible. (On the DS vs. the PSP) "The DS is outselling PSP across the world. The DS is also generating huge buzz in the blogosphere. The fact is, we have a number of not only worldwide but even U.S.-centric million-unit selling games, and Sony doesn't. We have games that are successfully expanding the audience for gaming for DS, and that's not true for Sony. The buzz for the DS is huge and growing, and the most anticipated handheld titles are on our platform, not on Sony's." (On the Revolution launch titles and E3) "We'll be showing a lot of titles at this year's E3, and we think that's where consumers will get a flavor for the full range of titles and the full range of activity that we will have for our launch window." (On how Nintendo consoles will do in 2006) "We will sell more units than Xbox 360 did here in the United States in our launch window. I mean, in December, we sold more GameCubes in the United States than Microsoft sold 360s, and Revolution will do better than that. We expect a gangbuster year for DS in 2006. I think that's because we've successfully launched the Wi-Fi Connection for Nintendo DS. We've had more than 10 million connections to the servers on a worldwide basis and over half a million unique users in a short seven-week time frame." To read the entire interview, click the source link. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 19:22 PM [Top] New MLB 2K6 Media [ 2K Sports ] 2K Sports made Nintendo fans worldwide very pleased when it was announced that Major League Baseball 2K6, now the only baseball franchise officially licensed by Major League Baseball, would be hitting the Nintendo GameCube for the first time in years. Now, the company has released a ton of screenshots, videos, and details on the game. A revolutionary breakthrough in batting control coupled with a new and intuitive pitching interface and truly accurate and individual player behavior brings the pitcher batter experience to a new level. Analog stick batting brings baseball video games to a new level. Control power swings, check swing and bunts all through simple and intuitive analog controls. An all-new physics engine brings running, throwing, fielding, tag outs, and player-to-player collision animations to life with more detail and variation than ever before. Stand up for your team and challenge close calls when they count the most. Feel the heat of the moment with new, interactive umpire challenges that have a direct affect team morale and performance. Successful team decisions and well-balanced team brings optimal performance to the field and the plate. Your team’s morale now hinges on every franchise move you make at any time in the year. Check out a ton of screens and videos from the game below. The videos can be downloaded to your hard drive or you can simply click the links to view them in your browser. MLB 2K6 hits stores for the GameCube on April 10th. Images: MLB 2K6 Screenshot 1 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 2 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 3 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 4 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 5 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 6 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 7 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 8 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 9 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 10 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 11 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 12 MLB 2K6 Screenshot 13 Video: MLB 2K6 Trailer 1 (3.1 MB) MLB 2K6 Trailer 2 (3.6 MB) MLB 2K6 Opening Video (3.8 MB) MLB 2K6 "Inside Edge" Video (10.2 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 19:12 PM [Top] Resident Evil DS Producer Talks Revolution [ IGN Revolution ] In an interview with Jeux-France, Minoru Nakai, head producer of the upcoming Resident Evil: Deadly Silence for the Nintendo DS, has revealed that he and his team are very interested in the Revolution and it's controller and are planning on creating a game for it. However, the game won't be a Resident Evil title, but one could concieveably come later. Says Nakai: "I think it be smarter to develop a game other than Resident Evil on Nintendo Revolution first so that we can become familiar with the advantages of this new control concept -- to better benefit from the potential of the controller," he said. "That's what we're working on at the moment." No further details were revealed on this new title, but you can expect Capcom to release more info down the road, perhaps as early as E3 2006. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 19:00 PM [Top] New Sonic Riders Trailer [ GameCube Café ] Dr. Eggman has thrown down the gauntlet, calling out Sonic and friends to join his World Grand Prix. But, just what is the egg-shaped genius really planning? And who are the legendary riders known as the Babylon Rouges that beat Sonic to the signup? At unparalleled breakneck speeds, you’ll catch the turbulence air stream of your board-bound opponents and blaze past them while busting out wild stunts and tricks. Take full advantage of your characters’ talents in Speed, Power, or Flight and challenge up to three friends to find out who really is the fastest rider in the world! Sonic Riders will hit stores for the Nintendo GameCube on February 21st. Check out the latest trailer for the game below by downloading it to your hard drive or clicking to view in your browser. Video: Sonic Riders Trailer (10.3 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 18:55 PM [Top] Top Spin 2 Announced for DS [ 2K Sports ] 2K Games has officially announced that Top Spin, the highly-acclaimed Tennis series, will be hitting the Nintendo DS later this year with Top Spin 2. The game will be a full tennis simulator featuring several of today's top tennis starts, including Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova. The game will also feature realistic courts and tournaments from all over the world, as well as several multiplayer modes. Check out a load of new screenshots from the game below as well, and watch for the title to hit stores later this year. Images: Top Spin 2 Screenshot 1 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 2 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 3 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 4 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 5 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 6 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 7 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 8 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 9 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 10 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 11 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 12 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 13 Top Spin 2 Screenshot 14 Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 18:50 PM [Top] New Revolution Details... Sort of [ IGN Revolution ] Speaking to a Japanese newspaper on Wednesday, Iwata dropped a couple more hints about the Revolution. First, they intend to get the system to America prior to Thanksgiving. This backs up what IGN formerly said about a Thanksgiving-week release being likely. Nintendo also has a habit of launch major things in the month of November (GameCube, Metroid Prime, Mario Kart DS, just to name a few). On price, he stated it would be something easy for consumers to deal with and that he didn't believe it would sell if it were at a price like $450. Look for the Revolution and all details to be fully unveiled by E3, and possibly some at the Game Developer's Conference in March. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Wednesday, January 18 2006 13:36 PM [Top] Nintendo's True Swing Golf Lives Up To Its Name [ Nintendo ] Imagine playing a golf video game that gives the same feel as swinging a club. Not just mashing buttons or toggling a joystick, but really swinging through the ball to make it sail toward the green. True Swing Golf, launching today for Nintendo DS, marks a new level of realism for a video golf game. Beyond the hallmarks of a great golf game, such as 15 beautiful 3-D courses, character customization and upgradeable gear, True Swing Golf lets players use the touch screen of Nintendo DS to actually swing a stylus to launch their shots down the fairway. The touch screen accurately registers everything from powerful drives to delicate greenside approaches. Players can even angle their clubs to slice or hook the ball in either direction. The dual screens show aerial views and close-ups of each hole. "This is a golf game that could not be played on any other system," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "As an avid golfer, this game has me muttering to myself as often as the real thing." The touch screen also allows players to access menus, switch clubs, change camera angles or send messages to other players. As players progress through the rankings, they earn money to buy better equipment to enhance their games. Just like on real-life courses, players can even make wagers with their in-game earnings against opponents. Whoever wins the round takes home the prize money. Up to four players can compete on the links, even if only one of them has a True Swing Golf game card. Pros and amateurs alike can pick up True Swing Golf and tee off with ease. And because Nintendo DS boasts a long battery life, players can enjoy round after round,whether they're on a plane, in a car or just relaxing at home (or in a business meeting). True Swing Golf is Rated E for Everyone. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 17 2006 9:31 AM [Top] Metroid Prime Hunters Boxart [ Nintendo ] A mighty race, now extinct, has left behind relics of their once-powerful warrior culture. Now bounty hunters from across the galaxy are racing against each other to lay claim to these relics to harness their power for themselves. Compete in a series of action-packed arenas. Try out at least three modes of play, with game-play features similar to Deathmatch and King of the Hill. Link wirelessly with up to three friends, or over the internet with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Six new bounty hunters, including Noxus, Spire and Kanden, fight against Samus in both single-player and multiplayer modes. All hunters have their own unique back stories, weapons (from sniper beam to mortar to shotgun) and fighting styles (i.e. stealth, melee, sniper, etc.). The game also features a full, non-linear single-player mode. Metroid Prime Hunters will hit stores on March 20th. Check out the game's boxart below. Images: Metroid Prime Hunters Boxart Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 17 2006 9:28 AM [Top] Tetris DS Logo [ Nintendo ] The long blue bar. The yellow block. And those darn zigzag things whose images stay on your brain. These familiar Tetris shapes started a generation of video game fans. Now Nintendo is putting a new spin on the classic with Tetris DS, available March 20 exclusively for Nintendo DS, which incorporates the use of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service. With 10-player wireless play using a single game card, tons of backgrounds starring classic Nintendo games and characters, and 4-player online play, Tetris DS is destined to become the next great puzzle classic. Tetris DS heads into stores on March 20th. Check out the game's logo below. Images: Tetris DS Logo Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 17 2006 9:25 AM [Top] The Rub Rabbits Trailer [ GameCube Café ] In this all-new "rub comedy" adventure from the quirky minds behind Feel the Magic, The Rub Rabbits! delivers a thoroughly original experience that makes great use of your DS like never before! Tap, rub, even rotate the DS through over 35 Story Mode episodes and seven hilarious gameplay modes where you try to win the heart of your love interest while overcoming challenges by 12 aggressive rivals...and that’s just the beginning! With new music, art, and characters, you get double the content with over 35 episodes in the Story Mode alone! Also, you can compete in a myriad of multiplayer contests with up to four players. The Rub Rabbits hits stores for the Nintendo DS a week before Valentine's Day, on February 7th, 2006. Check out the trailer for the game below by clicking to view in your browser or right-clicking to save to your hard drive. Video: The Rub Rabbits Trailer (26.1 MB) Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 17 2006 0:09 AM [Top] GUN [ Reviews ] This review ain't big enough for the both of us. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Saturday, January 14 2006 22:45 PM [Top] Jerry Bruckheimer Planning Prince of Persia Movie? [ Next-Gen.biz ] In an interview with ComingSoon.net, famed producer Jerry Bruckheimer declared he was planning several films, including one based upon the highly-lauded Prince of Persia game franchise. Although only considering it at this point, it's safe to say that Bruckheimer's action-oriented production style would be tailor-made for the PoP series. Rumors also abound that the script for the movie is being worked on as we speak by series creator Jordan Mechner. While it's rare that an actually good movie based on a video game is released, it's safe to say that Prince of Persia would be a perfect fit (especially if the director turns out to not be Uwe Boll). Now, who would play the Prince? Let the speculation begin. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, January 14 2006 1:38 AM [Top] Dragon Quest Creator Praises Revolution Controller [ Eurogamer ] Since the unique controller for Nintendo's upcoming console, codenamed Revolution, was revealed in September, developers worldwide have been eager to shower praise upon the Big N. The latest is Square-Enix's Yuji Horii, who, speaking at a press event in London, states he loves the interactivity the controller will provide. Says Horii: "I loved the fact that it was interactive, that you do something and you get feedback. I thought that an interactive story where you get feedback and rewards from everything that you do would be interesting. I like the idea of interactivity with the hardware, so there, where you mention the Nintendo controller, it's a new interface, and it's exciting to have that reaction. You do something, and it reacts to you. It's human nature that to have some feedback from your actions making it rewarding." Looks like you can add another hat into the ring of possible developers for the console. Hopefully more info will pop up at E3 about Square-Enix's plans for the console. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, January 14 2006 1:31 AM [Top] Mega Man ZX Official Site Opens [ Capcom of Japan ] Yesterday, we reported that Famitsu revealed a brand new Mega Man sidescroller in the works exclusively for the Nintendo DS console. Now, we have a bit more information, thanks to Capcom opening the official site. The game's official english title is Rockman ZX (Rockman being Mega Man's Japanese name, but I'm sure you already knew that) and will star two main characters: Van, a boy, and Ale, a girl, who obtain the power to transform into heros by obtaining a "living armor". The site also reveals a third character, who looks suspiciously like Zero, also of Mega Man games past. Expect Capcom to show off Mega Man ZX at E3, with a US release date to come near the end of the year. Eric Jones -- Posted on Saturday, January 14 2006 1:20 AM [Top] NOA to Bring Baten Kaitios II Stateside [ IGN Cube ] Rejoice Kaitos fans, the Big N is making sure us Cube-goers and future Revolution-owners will be able to play the sequel without import. I know some people were worried that Namco might not bother trying to bring the game over here so late in the GameCube's life, but apparently NOA has decided to publish the sequel here. No firm release date is set, but IGN says the game is due here sometime later this year. Very good news to hear. If you haven't picked up Baten Kaitos, do yourself a favor and snatch it up. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Saturday, January 14 2006 1:00 AM [Top] American PokéPark DS [ Wal-Mart ] Been wanting a PokéPark DS? But let me guess, you don't want to shell out the near $200 to import one of them from Japan. Fear no more, your prayers have been answered. Right now Wal-Mart, quite stealthily has added the PokéPark DS to their website as a New Wal-Mart Exclusive. Not only that, but it's at a far more reasonable price of $130, the same as a normal DS. If you really have been wanting one, buy it quickly, because it may not be there long and it will go up in price again after it is. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, January 13 2006 16:22 PM [Top] Nintendogs Packs Doghouse With Awards [ Nintendo ] In 2005 Nintendogs™ established itself as an unforgettable pop-culture phenomenon. The revolutionary puppy trainer program ended 2005 among the top video games of the year. Highlighted in publications like The New York Times, USA Today, Time magazine and Parade, Nintendogs continues to prove its appeal to gamers and people of all ages. Continuing its ground-breaking excellence in 2006, Nintendogs also won a "2006 Innovation Award" from PC World. The title was the recipient of a number of awards and was featured on year-end gift lists that included: --PC World: Nintendogs wins a "2006 Innovation Award" --Associated Press: Nintendogs is a "Best Game of 2005" --BusinessWeek: Nintendogs featured on "Best Products" list --Entertainment Weekly: Nintendogs highlighted on "The Must List" --Chicago Sun Times: Nintendogs is on the "Game Of The Year" list --FamilyFun.com: Nintendogs is No. 1 in the "Annual Video Game Toy Test" These accolades along with numerous others bolstered Nintendogs' status as a "must-have" video game from Nintendo. Nintendogs has surpassed sales of 1.5 million units since its U.S. launch in August. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Thursday, January 12 2006 9:30 AM [Top] Jim Merrick Leaves Nintendo [ Nintendo ] About two months ago, Nintendo announced that former Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe head of marketing Jim Merrick would be returning to the company's US branch after 3 years in Europe. However, it's now been confirmed that Merrick will not only be returning to the US, he will be leaving Nintendo entirely. The company confirmed today that Merrick, who was instrumental in the American production of the Nintendo GameCube as well as Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, will leave the company to "pursue other endeavours". No other details were given on Merrick's departure. We here at the Café wish Merrick the best in his future plans. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 11 2006 19:45 PM [Top] Mega Man Returns to DS [ Famitsu ] It's been years since a traditional original Mega Man sidescroller has been released (with the exclusion of the Mega Man Zero games for the GBA), but now, all that is about to change. The latest issue of Famitsu reveals a brand new Mega Man game, this time set for release on the Nintendo DS. The game will be a reimagining of the classic series entitled Rockman Zechs in Japan. The title will feature two playable characters, a boy named Van and a girl named Ale, who come into contact with a suit of "living armor" which they must use to defeat horeds of enemies. No word yet on if the game will use any special touch screen features, but its certainly good to see Capcom bringing the blue bomber back to his roots. Check out a scan from Famitsu magazine, featuring the first screenshots of the game, below. Images: Mega Man Zex Famitsu Scan Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 11 2006 19:11 PM [Top] Ubisoft Dines On Turtle Soup [ Ubisoft ] For years, Konami has been synonymous with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise - however, current-gen installments of the series have been nothing but mediocrity at it's best. Thus, the next generation will see the beloved heroes in a half shell finding a new home: namely Ubisoft. The highly-lauded developer/publisher has announced a partnership with 4Kids Entertainment and the Mirage Group for a new game in the franchise set for next-gen consoles, set to coincide with the release of the Turtles CGI-animated film due in theatres in 2007. No platforms were announced for the title, but since all of Konami's Turtles games saw light on the GameCube, the Revolution looks to be a sure bet for Ubisoft's. Keep it here as more information about the upcoming next-gen TMNT game is revealed. Eric Jones -- Posted on Wednesday, January 11 2006 17:56 PM [Top] E3 2006 Site Opens [ E3Expo ] The official site for E3 2006 has launched with just four months until the big conference. This E3 Nintendo will be showing off the Revolution in full and you can be sure that here at GameCube Café we will be bringing you all the great news and media straight from the show floor. Last year we promised our coverage would be better than the previous year and we managed to pull it off. Well, this year we are making the same promise. GameCube Café will be the place to come for the most FREE HIGH QUALITY Nintendo video content of anywhere on the internet. We aren't making promises right now, but we will also most likely stream the Nintendo Media Briefing live again. Last year that seemed like a pretty big hit and we had tens of thousands of people trying to access our feed. Sadly, our connection did eventually max out the number of people allowed but this year we hope to be able to accomdate anyone and everyone who wants to watch our feed. Lastly, we will also be doing another E3 DVD this year because of the success of our 2005 DVD. We ended up not releasing the 2005 DVD until July 1st last year but this year the DVD will be shipping IN MAY; while E3 is still fresh on everyone's mind. The 2006 DVD will prove to be even better than the 2005 DVD. With a year under our belts producing the DVD we know where we faulted and how to fix those faults to make it even better for you guys. Look for the official press releases regarding our plans for E3 2006 and the E3 DVD in the next month or so. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Wednesday, January 11 2006 8:59 AM [Top] Wi-Fi Ready Tetris DS Announced for March [ Nintendo ] The long blue bar. The yellow block. And those darn zigzag things whose images stay on your brain. These familiar Tetris shapes started a generation of video game fans. Now Nintendo is putting a new spin on the classic with Tetris DS, available March 20 exclusively for Nintendo DS, which incorporates the use of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service. Hard-core and casual gamers alike became obsessed with the original. Tetris DS builds on that emotional attachment by combining the original game with new types of game play that could only be possible on Nintendo DS. Each of the six modes of play features a theme based on a classic Nintendo game, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda or Metroid. The traditional Tetriminos (falling blocks) and line-clearing strategy remain the staples of the game, but the touch screen adds a new element of interactivity. Some modes give players special Tetris puzzles to solve. Others feature head-to-head action between two players, or massive wireless battles between 10 DS users, even if only one player has a game card. Players also can log onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to compete in two- or four-player battles. Tetris DS even includes a point-based rating system based on players' battle results. Opponents can see one another's ratings, which indicate their skill levels. UPDATE: Nintendo has now released a pair of screenshots from Tetris DS to go along with this morning's announcement. Check them out below. Images: Tetris DS Screenshot 1 Tetris DS Screenshot 2 Matthew Silver -- Posted on Tuesday, January 10 2006 9:08 AM [Top] Electroplankton Turns Music Novices Into Mixing Maestros [ Nintendo ] Whether you're musically inclined or musically impaired, Nintendo's new Electroplankton will make you a mixing maestro. The musical experience, launching today exclusively for Nintendo DS, lets users score music by using the touch screen or speaking into the microphone. Sounds can be sampled, manipulated, changed and rearranged to help even novices create engrossing beats and harmonies. Electroplankton exemplifies Nintendo's commitment to expand the frontier of innovation in the video game universe. Electroplankton, for instance, could not be possible on any other system. Only the special features of Nintendo DS make it possible for users to compose music ranging from techno beats to ethereal rhythms. And because Nintendo DS is portable, users can make music whenever and wherever inspiration strikes. "Electroplankton is a great way to kick off what promises to be an exciting year for Nintendo," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "It's the kind of casual game that will attract a broad audience and help Nintendo DS continue to expand its lead as the most popular new hand-held system." Getting started with Electroplankton could not be easier. Users simply choose one of 10 music-making modes and dive right in. One mode lets users manipulate the leaves of a plant using the touch screen. As colorful plankton launch into the air, they bounce off the leaves in melodic combinations. Another mode acts as a sampler. Users record up to four different sounds with the microphone and then layer them over drum loops to create a personalized beat. The game was designed by renowned Japanese electronic artist Toshio Iwai. His artistry adds both beauty and whimsy to Electroplankton and makes it as much a delight for the eyes as it is for the ears. Nintendo has selected a distribution method for Electroplankton befitting its quirky character. Electroplankton, Rated E for Everyone, is available now through Nintendo.com and major online retailers, as well as at the Nintendo World Store in New York. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 10 2006 0:58 AM [Top] EA Developing New Lord of the Rings RPG? [ IGN ] While EA is no stranger to turn-based escapades in the Lord of the Rings franchise, yet another RPG from the company appears to be in the works. IGN sources an interview by 3D Realms of EA software developer Jim Norwood, who reveals his current project is a new LOTR RPG entitled The Lord of the Rings: The White Council. While Norwood apparently believed the information was public knowledge, EA caught his gaffe, and has removed the information from the interview. Therefore, it's pretty safe to say the title is on its way, and since the The Third Age, the last LOTR RPG, hit the GameCube, it's a safe bet this one is coming over as well. Expect to hear much more on The Lord of the Rings: The White Council at this coming E3. Eric Jones -- Posted on Tuesday, January 10 2006 0:56 AM [Top] Dreaming of a Revolution: Part I [ Home Brewed ] What games would be really awesome to see on the Revolution? Joe thinks up a few concoctions for some of the games he'd like to see on Nintendo's next console. Joe McCollum -- Posted on Sunday, January 8 2006 12:06 PM [Top] Nintendo Still Owns Handheld Market [ Nintendo ] Without a doubt 2005 was the year of the handheld console. With the highly successful launch of the Nintendo DS and the continued success of Game Boy Advance SP Nintendo has dominated the handheld market. Following Nintendo DS’s launch in Europe in March, almost three and a half million Nintendo DS have been sold. Worldwide sales have shown a similar pattern with millions turning to Nintendo for their portable gaming. Approximately 13 million Nintendo DS are now in the hands of people all around the world. European Nintendo DS have been significantly bolstered by the launch of ground breaking games such as Nintendogs, which sold 1.6 million copies in Europe since launch in October and Mario Kart DS which stormed the Christmas charts with its global Wi-Fi capabilities, selling 800,000 copies in Europe since its late November launch. Game Boy Advance has once again continued to sell well throughout the year with Pokémon continuing to go from strength to strength, sales of the latest game Pokémon Emerald reaching a staggering 1.2 million since it launched in October 2005. Carl DeNovio -- Posted on Saturday, January 7 2006 1:07 AM [Top] The Nintendo Revolution [ Home Brewed ] Will sits down and tells us why Nintendo's next system, codenamed Revolution, will be a huge success and how it will skyrocket Nintendo back into the top spot as the number one console developer. Next week, look for AJ's followup article on why the Revolution will be a disaster. Will Szwagiel -- Posted on Saturday, January 7 2006 0:44 AM [Top] Happy Birthday Carl! [ GameCube Café ] Happy Birthday Carl! Today we want to wish GCC co-owner Carl DeNovio a happy birthday. Carl is 22 today. Kind of a strange age, 22. It's not like 18 or 21 where there is a whole lot of stuff attached to the age or anything, it's just, you know, 22. Seriously though, Carl's been here since the very beginning, and we're very lucky to still have him around. So go pop in the chatroom and wish him a happy birthday! Joe McCollum -- Posted on Friday, January 6 2006 22:12 PM [Top] Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones [ Reviews ] My witty remark for my review has already been used when I posted Carl's review. My quota of witty summaries has been filled. Hit the link and see what I thought of The Two Thrones. Matthew Silver -- Posted on Wednesday, January 4 2006 22:33 PM [Top] Nintendo Rules All In Holiday Season [ Nintendo ] Nintendo's 15 years of unsurpassed leadership in portable video gaming continued unabated through the 2005 holiday season. Sales figures show that Nintendo's dual-screened Nintendo DS, fueled by hit software and new global Wi-Fi capability, has sold approximately 4 million units to date in North America alone. Combined with Game Boy Advance, the world's most popular portable video game line, Nintendo now enjoys a combined U.S. market share of 78 percent. Nintendo also reports U.S. sales of Mario Kart DS, released on Nov. 14 and featuring live, global Wi-Fi competition, has topped the 1 million mark in just seven weeks. And Nintendogs, made for Nintendo DS, has surpassed sales of 1.5 million units since its U.S. launch in August. The Nintendo DS launch title Super Mario 64 DS has sold 1.3 million units in the United States alone. Other DS games that are enjoying dramatic success in the United States include WarioWare: Touched! and Advance Wars®: Dual Strike. The strong U.S. performance of these titles has been mirrored in Japan, where in just more than one year from its Dec. 2, 2004, launch, Japanese consumers purchased more than 5 million Nintendo DS units. This makes the Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game machine in the history of the Japanese video game market. In addition, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing: Wild World and the two games in the brain-training series (Brain Age and Brain Flex) achieved sales of more than 1 million units each. This is another record in Japan, as an unprecedented four titles have surpassed 1 million units sold in just more than one year from the launch of a system. In addition, Mario Kart DS and WarioWare: Touched! also are nearing the 1 million sales mark in Japan. All around the world, players have been competing on the new Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection wireless gaming service. Within seven weeks of the service launch more than 10 million game connections have been made and more than 550,000 unique visitors have connected globally.