NINTENDO E3 2007 PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

I’d like to preface this post by saying that I normally hate reporting on anything I haven’t seen in person. Since I had to work today, I was unable to catch the Nintendo press conference, so instead I followed along with Kotaku’s liveblog of the event. While I trust Kotaku’s take on things, keep in mind that I could be wrong about a lot of the below information as I didn’t have the perspective of actually seeing the same thing the folks at Kotaku were seeing, nor did I have the luxury of following the transcript uninterrupted.

Based on what I read, here are the more important bits of information that came out of the briefing. If you’re looking for a more complete breakdown of Nintendo’s conference, check out the full text of Kotaku’s liveblog here.

• DS market share is almost 25% of U.S. hardware sales
• Typically 80 percent of gamers are male – on DS it’s only 67% – Looks like the DS is crossing traditional borders
• DS has now sold over 40 million units – #1 handheld in the world
• They expect the Wii to take #1 console shortly
• Wii Zapper unveiled (new housing for Wiimote and Nunchuck) – available this year for $19.99
• Wii Zapper “approved” for RE: Umbrella Chronicles
• Games: Medal of Honor (Wii – 32 player mp), Smackdown vs Raw (Wii), Soul Calibur Legends(Wii), Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS), Dragon Quest: Swords (Wii)
• Super Smash Bros Brawl coming Dec 3rd.
• Metroid will have 3 sensitivity modes and a lock-on mode.
• 5.6 million downloads via Wii shop so far
• “Check Mii Out” channel announced (You can enter your Mii in online popularity contests)
• Mario Kart Wii will be online in the first quarter of next year
• Custom Wii wheel will be available for Mario Kart (Another housing for the Wiimote)
• Super Mario Galaxy coming Nov 12
• Brain Age 2 coming Aug 20
• Flash Focus (DS Observation training) coming to the US
• WiiFit coming – aerobics, weight training, yoga and balance exercises. Will include a weight sensing footpad.

As you can imagine, Nintendo is pretty thrilled with how things are going for them at the moment – hell, who wouldn’t be?

• Liveblogging the Nintendo Presser – Kotaku

TOYS R US – ANIMAL CROSSING: WILD WORLD VIRTUAL GIFT

Tenwyn at the Gamer’s Lounge forums posted that he received an e-mail from Nintendo stating that Toys R Us will be offering a free downloadable Animal Crossing: Wild World item from July 23rd through July 30th.

As with other Nintendo handheld games, there’s also a bit of community building involved here as there are actually six different items available and players can swap, sell or simply give the items away. Those wanting to get more than one of the items may be forced to do a bit of wheeling and dealing. Here’s what you have to do to get yours as per the Nintendo Event site;

• Insert your Animal Crossing: Wild World Game Card into your Nintendo DS. Power up.
• Purchase Bottle Mail at Tom Nook’s Shop.
• Write a message and release your Bottle Mail into the river or at the beach. Save and end your game.
• Visit the specially marked Animal Crossing: Wild Word promotion in the video-game section of your nearest Toys ‘R Us July 23-30. At the main menu, tap Tag Mode.
• Watch and wait for something to arrive in your town!
• Restart your game and comb the beach for Bottle Mail containing a special rare item!

Check out the Nintendo Events detail page here for more details and start thinking of ways to convince five of your friends with Animal Crossing to go visit Toys R Us so they can score you some free swag. After all, what are friends for?

DOES THE DS-LITE HAVE A CRACK PROBLEM?

It seems there’s a crack in the armor of Nintendo’s handheld juggernaut. Reports are coming in from all over the web that the hinges on the DS-Lite are prone to cracking. The story began with a few posts over at MaxConsole and quickly spread to other sites as they picked up the news and started hearing about their own readers crack problems.

In a poll over at Kotaku, nearly 14 percent of the respondents that owned a DS-Lite reported some type of crack around the hinges. Nintendo has not officially commented on the crack epidemic it’s latest handheld is facing at this time, but I somehow doubt they’re going to give it the same loving attention they recently gave a man who claimed his dog ate his DS-Lite.

Now I haven’t played with a DS-Lite yet, so I don’t know how sturdy the plastic it’s made out of is, but if it’s anything like the hinges on the GBA:SP or the fatty DS, I’d have to assume there’s something more to it… like people “snapping” the screen open, pressing down on it/over-extending it or the like. Why? Because if my GBA:SP can still be intact despite the things that have happened to it, I can’t see the crack just forming from normal wear and tear.

Click here for the MaxConsole forum post, here for the Kotaku DS-Lite crack poll and here just because I can’t come up with something witty to write here despite the billions of possibilities the term crack allows for.

MOMMY LOVES YOU MORE THAN ME

Kotaku reports that Nintendo has announced that 2 new models of the ever so sleek and shiny DS-Lite will be made available in Japan.

The first of the 2 new models will be the Final Fantasy III branded DS-Lite. This model will be released on August 24th and should retail for 22,780 Yen (appx $199). The unit will come bundled with a copy of the remake of Squaresoft’s classic game Final Fantasy III which releases on the same day.

The second model will be colored Jet Black, exactly as the european DS-Lite is. This model will go on sale on September 2nd at a cost of 16,800 Yen ($146). As this is just another new color DS-Lite, the contents of the box will remain unchanged from other regular edition DS-Lites.

Nintendo currently has no plans to bring either model to the United States. While I’m sure we’ll eventually be seeing the black DS-Lite, my guess if that if you want the FF3 branded model, you’d best get to your favorite importer real soon – with the demand the DS-Lite has drawn in Japan, I can’t see that model lasting all that long on the open market.

Check out the FF3 edition DS-Lite article at Kotaku here and the Jet-Black DS-Lite article here. I guess now we all know how Jan Brady felt, don’t we? Japan, Japan, Japan – all I ever hear is Japan. *sniffle*

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS SECRET GAME MODE

4 Color Rebellion is repotting that there’s a hidden game mode in New Super Mario Bros for those that have finished the game;

“Gamers who’ve already finished the game will be able to access this secret Challenge Mode by hitting Start in the world map and pushing the following combination of buttons during the Start Menu:

L R L R X X Y Y

So what sort of obstacles does the game set against you for this challenge mode? Tougher enemies and tighter level design? A white, disembodied head that doesn’t just chase you in the game, but stares at you from outside your window while you sleep at night? Having to beat a castle while your mother bangs on your bedroom door, yelling at you to give back her nightgown?

Unfortunately, it’s nothing too fancy like the examples above. Challenge Mode puts a forced scroll on all the levels just like with the original Super Mario Bros. game. Players will no longer be able to backtrack, picking up coins and power-ups that were left behind.” -4 Color Rebellion

So there you have it. Those of you with a Nintendo DS and a copy of New Super Mario Bros have some work to do, so get moving – what are you waiting for? Click here for the linkage.

ARSTECHNICA REVIEW OF THE NINTENDO DS-LITE

While I’d like nothing better than to regale all of you with tales of my DS-Lite launch adventure and give you the lowdown on Nintendo’s newly streamlined portable, I can’t. Like many of you, the fact of the matter is I don’t have one and probably won’t be getting one for a month or two at the least. However, far be it from me to keep those of you who need to know the ins and outs of the DS-Lite from finding out all you can, and so I direct you to this full review of the redesigned system over at ArsTechnica.

For those who don’t feel like doing the required reading, I’ll quote their summary directly;

“Are these changes worth an upgrade? Easily. If you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore fan who takes your portable everywhere, you’ll like the way your games play and look on the DS Lite. It doesn’t take long to get spoiled by the improved screen and smaller size.

Nintendo does it again, and I have a sneaking suspicion many gamers won’t be able to resist trading in their old systems for the new hotness. If you don’t have a DS, this is an even better purchase. Nintendo may do this product refresh stuff a little bit too often for some tastes, but it’s hard to argue they don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to portable gaming.” -Ben Kuchera, ArsTechinca

While there do seem to be some rough spots with the redesigned DS, the overall impression I’ve seen it that it makes the old one look like a pile of… well, you fill in the details. Check out the full ArsTechnica article here, and then join me in the corner for the “No DS-Lite for me” pity party a little later. Bring booze. Lots of it.

DS-LITE: IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?

There are a lot of reports coming in from around the ‘net about fresh out of the box DS-Lites with dead pixels on screen. Whether this is a case of a widespread problem or just the fact that those who wind up with dead pixels are going to gripe while those with perfect units remain silent remains to be seen, but it certainly casts a slight pall over the DS-Lite launch. The good news is from most of the sites I read about people trying to return their DS-Lite’s for a replacement, no one seems to be giving consumers a hard time yet. However, I’m sure as the available supply of DS-Lite’s gets lower, that could change pretty fast.

My advice? If you wound up with a less than perfect DS-Lite, and feel the problem is bad enough that you want a replacement, do it as soon as possible, otherwise you may run into hassles. If you’ve got a story about your return experience at a particular retailer, be it good or bad, please feel free to share it in the comments section – I’m sure people would like to hear about it.

Nintendo hasn’t made any official comment on the situation as of yet, but if you read this article over at Kotaku, it appears that retailers aren’t exactly thrilled with the situation.

BESTBUY DS-LITE OFFER

For those who didn’t get a chance to pick up the DS-Lite yesterday, there may be a reason to smile. BestBuy currently has a coupon (good at retail only) for a free copy of Brain Age with the purchase of a DS-Lite. The coupon is valid from June 11th through the 18th, or until supplies are exhausted. Head on over to BestBuy’s website here to get a PDF file of the coupon for printing. (It’s currently on page 4 of the front page item display)

WII SHIP DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS SEPTEMBER

A posting up at Kotaku states that Famitsu.com is reporting that during Nintendo’s Management Policy Briefing, company president Satoru Iwata stated that Nintendo would be announcing the ship date for the Wii this September.

Iwata also gave a price range for the Wii Virtual Console games ($4 – $8), noted that the Nintendo DS would be able to be used as a touch-screen controller for the Wii, commented that Nintendo planned to ship 6 million Wii consoles by April 2007 and noted that those consoles would be sold at a loss.

Check out the article over at Kotaku here and if you can read Japanese, the Famitsu article here.

DS-LITE STREET DATE BROKEN?

CheapAssGamer is reporting that both Target and Walmart have broken the U.S. release date for the DS-Lite and have begun selling them to the public via their retail outlets. If you have either store near you and are planning on grabbing one without a preorder, you may want to head on over and see if your store is “participating” Check out the CAG story here.

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS IN STORES TODAY

Nintendo DS owners rejoice, your wait is over! New Super Mario Bros should be on store shelves today for your goomba stomping pleasure. For those of us who are waiting for the DS-Lite before taking the DS leap, the wait to June 11th suddenly seems a lot longer. Nintendo has also re-vamped the NSMB website, so be sure to head on over and check it out. Click here for the offical New Super Mario Bros website.

RARE TO MAKE DIDDY KONG RACING FOR THE DS

It looks like Rare will be having a homecoming of sorts. The UK based, Microsoft owned, developer has announced that they will be teaming with Nintendo to bring Diddy Kong Racing to the Nintendo DS. Given Rare’s long history with Nintendo prior to the Microsoft buyout, this should be extremely happy news for dedicated Nintendo fans.

"Diddy Kong Racing is our first official DS project, and Nintendo are busily promoting it as part of their next wave of big DS offerings for late 2006. Based on the N64 classic but improved and expanded in ways that only the DS allows" – Rare Press Release

DS owners, you may now do yet another “Dance of Joy”. Check out the Rare Website for more details.

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS VIDEO PREMIERES

Nintendo dropped us a line to let us know this week’s New Super Mario Bros video was up at the NSMB website. This weeks focus? Multiplayer. One week to go until this gem comes out, until then feast your eyes on the video here.

DS-LITE TO HIT U.S. SHELVES ON JUNE 11TH

Nintendo made the official announcement we’ve all been waiting for today – The Nintendo DS-Lite will be coming to the U.S. on June 11th at a cost of $129.99. Online retailers such as EBGames.com and Gamestop.com are already taking pre-orders, so act fast to make sure you get one at launch. You may now perform the dance of joy.

DS PRICE DROP AT GAMESTOP & EB – SORT OF

Gamestop and EB Games are offering the current model Nintendo DS in a bundle with Animal Crossing: Wild World for $129.99 – the previous cost of the system by itself. Odds are they feel the need to start moving the system out of inventory before demand drops when the DS-Lite hits on June 11th. If you don’t want to wait for the DS-Lite (and the inevitable DS price drop once it comes out) and are already planning on buying Animal Crossing, this could be the deal for you.

DS PRICE DROP AT GAMESTOP & EB – SORT OF

Gamestop and EB Games are offering the current model Nintendo DS in a bundle with Animal Crossing: Wild World for $129.99 – the previous cost of the system by itself. Odds are they feel the need to start moving the system out of inventory before demand drops when the DS-Lite hits on June 11th. If you don’t want to wait for the DS-Lite (and the inevitable DS price drop once it comes out) and are already planning on buying Animal Crossing, this could be the deal for you.

DS-LITE COMING TO U.S. IN JUNE?

Kotaku is reporting that they’ve received a tip that the Nintendo DS-Lite will be hitting the U.S. on June 21st at $150.00 and only in white. I couldn’t tell you how reliable their source is, but at this point I’m keeping my fingers crossed as I’ve been holding off picking up a DS in order to wait for the Lite. Perhaps my wait is almost over!

NINTENDO RELEASES LATEST NEW SUPER MARIO BROS FOOTAGE

Nintendo dropped us a note to let us know that they’ve updated the New Super Mario Bros. page with some new footage from the game. This time the focus is on the special moves in the game. It’s pretty nifty stuff, so why not check it out while I’m trying to figure out how to scam a DS-Lite somehow.

Datel releases Max Media Player for Nintendo DS

Well, it looks like Datel is at it again. As I posted in an earlier news bit, recently Datel has been coming out with some truly innovative products. The latest to down the pipeline is the MAX Media Player for the Nintendo DS. Simply put, it’s a 4 gigabyte hard drive and software package that will allow you to listen to MP3’s, watch videos, view pictures on your DS and uhm… run executable files. It’s a bit expensive at a suggested retail of $189.99, but if you want a device with those features, such is the price you’ll pay. How well does it work? That I couldn’t tell you, but I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who’s picked one up.
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So, do you think that for the price it’s worth picking up? If you’ve purchased one, how well does it work? Inquiring minds want to know!

DATEL RELEASES MAX MEDIA PLAYER FOR NINTENDO DS

Well, it looks like Datel is at it again. As I posted in an earlier news bit, recently Datel has been coming out with some truly innovative products. The latest to down the pipeline is the MAX Media Player for the Nintendo DS. Simply put, it’s a 4 gigabyte hard drive and software package that will allow you to listen to MP3’s, watch videos, view pictures on your DS and uhm… run executable files. It’s a bit expensive at a suggested retail of $189.99, but if you want a device with those features, such is the price you’ll pay – besides, a 4 gigabyte Ipod Nano has a suggested retail of $249.99. How well does it work? That I couldn’t tell you, but I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who’s picked one up.

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. DS SITE & VIDEO

Nintendo sent word that their site for the upcoming DS title New Super Mario Bros. is now up and running. Better yet, the site also includes in game video footage of NSMB. You know, the desire to run out and buy a DS just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Must… hold… off… until… DS Lite. Click here for the site!

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. DS SITE & VIDEO

Nintendo sent word that their site for the upcoming DS title New Super Mario Bros. is now up and running. Better yet, the site also includes in game video footage of NSMB. You know, the desire to run out and buy a DS just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Must… hold… off… until… DS Lite. Click here for the site!

CASTLEVANIA: PORTRAIT OF RUIN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED

Konami has officially announced the next game in the Castlevania series. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin will be appearing on the Nintendo DS this fall. From the press release;

"In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, players take on the role of vampire hunter Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Orlean, a young girl with tremendous magical abilities. Amidst the chaos of World War II, many lost souls from the global conflict were left to wander the world in search of salvation. Desperate to escape their terrible plight, they sought to resurrect Dracula’s Castle from the rubble of society, assisted by two mysterious vampire sisters. Now Jonathan and Charlotte must work together to confront the face of evil and ensure that this villainous catastrophe is not unleashed on the world.

Evolving the action-adventure gameplay that has been the series’ trademark for 20 years, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin lets players switch freely between Jonathan and Charlotte as they proceed on their heroic mission, each with their own strengths, abilities and style of play. Players can now utilize powerful Summon attacks in which both characters unleash the full extent of their combat abilities to decimate the game’s more than 100 different enemies and massive bosses in new environments such as the desert and Misty Town. In their quest to stop Dracula’s resurrection, Jonathan and Charlotte can collect and use different weapons, equipment and items to increase their overall skill level and acquire new abilities."

Yet another reason for me to run out and grab a DS – Hopefully the DS-Lite will be out in the U.S. by then.