Nintendo DS

Despite the summer's reputation for meager game sales, analysts from NPD are reporting that the industry experienced a 25% increase in sales during June. The increase is attributed mainly to the success of the DS Lite, Cars from THQ, and the widespread availability of Xbox 360 consoles. Nintendo sold just under 600,000 DS handhelds, Cars sold 646,000 copies, and 277,000 Xbox 360's were purchased in June.

[via Reuters]

The DS Lite is a big improvement over of the original handheld.

PlayGadgets.com is reporting that a massive shipment of black DS Lites went missing during its trip to Europe. The cargo container, which also contained a large number of DS games, was valued at $2.32 million USD.

As a part of Nintendo's effort to bring gaming to the masses, the company will use the Touch Generations brand to indicate casual DS titles. Beginning in June, games that are accessible and fun for everyone will ship with the distintive Touch Generations logo.

"We remain committed to turning video games into an inclusive mass medium that everyone can enjoy," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Touch Generations will help novices and newcomers identify the fun and uniquely engaging experiences that are available only on Nintendo DS."

Ever wondered what it would be like to meet Mario in person? No? Me neither. But just in case, Nintendo has created four video podcast episodes that will feature, among others things, a one-on-one interview with Mario. An introduction and the first episode was released today, which contains an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto about the history of Mario's character.

Nintendo will release one episode every Monday through June 12th. You can subscribe to the feed or find it in the iTunes directory to receive each episode.

The Nintendo DS was at work one day, sitting on the counter, waiting to be booted up when it looked at itself in the mirror. It asked itself, "Am I really happy?"

The quick answer was yes. And why shouldn't he be? The Nintendo DS was hugely successful and popular despite critics, warnings, and doubt. But that wasn't the problem. It turns out the DS was a little self conscious. The DS wanted to go on a diet.

EA unveiled their E3 list today. With 8 titles under the EA Games brand, 2 under the EA Sports brand, and some possible surprises, EA's lineup is pretty darn big. But as far as we're concerned, only the games that are truly innovative count. And this year's big innovator from EA has to be Spore. The full list, after the jump.

[image:699 align=left hspace=5 size=medium]Nintendo has doubled the number of game play videos on the New Super Mario Bros. website. They had one, and yesturday, they added one more. Both videos are worth a look. Mario has mastered some cool new abilities like wall jumping and getting really, really big.

If the story about the Origami didn't fill your appetite for rumors, then this will surely do the trick. Dean Takahashi from Mercury News posted a blog entry this morning claiming that Microsoft is indeed working to create a mobile gaming and entertainment device--or, in other words, an "iPod Killer". The device would allow its users to play games, music, and video.

"In a bid to capture the huge audience for handheld entertainment gadgets," wrote Takahashi, "Microsoft is designing a product that combines video games, music and video in one handheld device."

[image:484 align=left size=medium hspace=10 vspace=10]Nintendo Co. Ltd. announced plans to sell a Web browser for their portable DS in June of this year, as well as a card with a digital television receiver before 2007. "These products propose a different use for the DS in entirely new fields," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

Japanese broadcasters are already expected to begin offering programs starting April 1, and the card containing the Web browser (developed with Opera software) is expected out in June. All users will need to do is pop in the card and surf to their heart's content, thanks to the DS's Wi-Fi wireless networking capability.

Although all of this cool new jazz is only for those lucky folks in Japan, a Nintendo spokesperson hinted that the company was considering similar products for overseas consumers.

LucasArts announced their plan to release of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for the 2006 American International Toy Fair in New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (the working title) was created by TT Games, developed by Traveller's Tales and is set to be released for the public in the fall of this year for all current seven gaming platforms (Nintendo DS, Windows, PlayStation 2, PSP, GameBoy Advance, GameCube, and Xbox).

[image:418 align=left hspace=10 vspace=10 size=medium]Rumors have been circulating the web for the past week or so, regarding the launch of another DS handheld. Today, Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata announced that Nintendo has slated the Nintendo DS Lite for a March 2006 release in Japan. According to an announcement that Nintendo sent to Joystiq, the DS Lite will be smaller and will feature brighter displays.

[image:234 hspace=5 align=left size=medium]King Kong, the game based on Peter Jackson’s new film, is truly a wonder to behold. The game is split into two different scenarios, each with a different feel to it. In one of these scenarios, you play as Jack, the main character from the film, in a first person shooter mode that puts a new twist on the genre. What sets this portion of King Kong apart from all other FPS games is the lack of a health bar or an ammo count on the screen. All you see is your weapon and raw action unfolding in front of you. The game's clever audio, instead, keys you into how much health and ammo you have remaining. Jack will say something out loud like, "I have about 40 bullets left in this clip." This makes the game seem incredibly dramatic and adds an unprecendented level of realism to the game.

I know what you’re probably thinking. "Another racing game? They're all the same, who cares?" Well, hold on one second, especially street racing fans. Need For Speed Most Wanted (NFSMW), is a continuation of the Need for Speed street racing series. Gamers can purchase visual upgrades, performance upgrades, and enter races in an effort to build the ultimate rap sheet. The performance and visual upgrades, although similar to those of the previous Need for Speed games, will be more diverse.

Where does this game differ from the previous Need for Speed Underground games? The main answer to that question is the presences of cops. Cops will often pursue you during the race and you must utilize the environment, your ride, and your wit to outsmart them and make your escape. There is not only a stress on being the fastest racer, but also the most notorious and (henceforth) 'most wanted' street racer.

[image:152 align=left hspace=5]Ever notice the attention people get when they bring a custom built PC to a LAN Party or Network Tournament? Well, we all know that you can't exactly custom build consoles like you can PC's. But Gamer Graffix is a new company allowing gamers of all platforms (even mobiles like PSP and GBA) to "skin" there consoles and add some flare to their device.

[image:154 align=right hspace=5]The skins usually cost around $20 and are avalaible for Xbox, PS2, PS2 Slim, PSP, Gamecube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. Gamer Graffix soon hopes to expand to provide skins for cell phones. They currently have several different themes and styles of skins including Elemental, 50 Cent, Tribal Flames, and Leopard Skin.