Newer, heavier DSi coming early next year.
Announced this morning from Japan, Nintendo has revealed it will release the new DSi LL in North America and Europe in Q1 2010. The console will receive a bit of a name change over here, though, now being called the DSi XL.
"A new iteration of the Nintendo DSi; system will be introduced in Japan on November 21, 2009," Nintendo said in a statement sent to IGN. "To be known as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan, and as Nintendo DSi XL in North America and Europe, it will offer a screen 93% larger than the current Nintendo DS Lite with a better view angle, an additional longer touch screen stylus, and preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare software."
"The new version will arrive in North America and Europe in the first quarter of calendar year 2010."
Pricing details have not been revealed, though the DSi LL in Japan is said to cost 20,000 yen (about $220), up a bit from the DSi's current 18,900 yen price point.
Showing posts with label Nintendo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nintendo. Show all posts
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New Colors for DSi, Wii Remote Bundle Coming
New DSi colors coming September, Black Wii remote this holiday.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Opera Browser Now Free
Nintendo opens up the Internet Channel on Wii for no cost, and gives back to those who paid.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Wii Fit Plus Priced, Dated for October
Stand-alone disc, bundles being offered.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Vitality Sensor Coming 'Not Too Late' Next Year
President Iwata says this could have a similar impact to Wii Fit.
Surely topping most Nintendo fans lists of most anticipated games, the Wii Vitality Sensor will be making its way to store shelves next year, according to President Satoru Iwata.
During Nintendo's recent financial briefing, Iwata was asked for his feelings on how well the Vitality Sensor would sell, and if it would be comparable to Wii Fit.
"Before Wii Fit launched, everyone doubted how well it could sell. As for Wii Vitality Sensor, I think it will face similar doubts as to whether such a product will sell well in the video game market," he said.
"Of course no one can tell how people respond to it before the launch. We understand everyone wants to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle, so I believe if the product could support that desire, it would make a large impact in society."
Iwata then followed up his comments by giving a release window for the finger-inserting game.
"We would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year," he added. "As I have mentioned, last-minute polishing is crucial for developing video games, so please understand that we'll need to refrain from commenting on an exact release date."
Surely topping most Nintendo fans lists of most anticipated games, the Wii Vitality Sensor will be making its way to store shelves next year, according to President Satoru Iwata.
During Nintendo's recent financial briefing, Iwata was asked for his feelings on how well the Vitality Sensor would sell, and if it would be comparable to Wii Fit.
"Before Wii Fit launched, everyone doubted how well it could sell. As for Wii Vitality Sensor, I think it will face similar doubts as to whether such a product will sell well in the video game market," he said.
"Of course no one can tell how people respond to it before the launch. We understand everyone wants to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle, so I believe if the product could support that desire, it would make a large impact in society."
Iwata then followed up his comments by giving a release window for the finger-inserting game.
"We would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year," he added. "As I have mentioned, last-minute polishing is crucial for developing video games, so please understand that we'll need to refrain from commenting on an exact release date."
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Conduit Developers Want To Do Sequel
High Voltage has more stories to tell in the series. Fans need to buy more copies.
Fans hoping for a sequel to Nintendo's exclusive first-person shooter will have to buy a couple more copies each.
According to the Radio-Blodec podcast (via Nintendoeverything), High Voltage Software, the developer, would love to continue the series.
Producer Joshua Olsen was asked about the impact the sales for the first game will have on the possibility of doing a sequel.
"I have no idea, it all depends on the fans and sales but it's a little early for now to assume anything," said Olsen.
"Anyway, we are very interested to make a sequel to The Conduit, it's quite a robust world and there are more stories we want to tell."
So, are there plans to make a sequel?
"Sure there are, The Conduit is the first part for our hero and we want to make more parts to tell more things about him," he added.
If everyone who bought The Conduit the first time would buy three more copies each, that would probably be enough.
Fans hoping for a sequel to Nintendo's exclusive first-person shooter will have to buy a couple more copies each.
According to the Radio-Blodec podcast (via Nintendoeverything), High Voltage Software, the developer, would love to continue the series.
Producer Joshua Olsen was asked about the impact the sales for the first game will have on the possibility of doing a sequel.
"I have no idea, it all depends on the fans and sales but it's a little early for now to assume anything," said Olsen.
"Anyway, we are very interested to make a sequel to The Conduit, it's quite a robust world and there are more stories we want to tell."
So, are there plans to make a sequel?
"Sure there are, The Conduit is the first part for our hero and we want to make more parts to tell more things about him," he added.
If everyone who bought The Conduit the first time would buy three more copies each, that would probably be enough.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Won't Have A Deep Narrative
Miyamoto says he wants to keep his Mario games light on storytelling.
Fans expecting an epic, deep narrative from Nintendo's recently announced Super Mario Galaxy 2 might be disappointed to know the game won't focus on such heavy storytelling.
Speaking to Wired, legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto says he likes to keep his Mario games light on story and focus on gameplay, while leaving storytelling to the Zelda franchise.
"I'd like to go with as little story as possible," Miyamoto said. "I've always felt that the Mario games themselves aren't particularly suited to having a very heavy story."
So why can't fans see their favorite Italian plumber star in a game with a serious, Kojima-esque plot?
"I just feel that the Mario games are something that should be a much more bright and active experience," Miyamoto said. "With the Mario games, you don't need to have such a complicated setting where you have these particular characters with complicated backstories that can weigh down the bright and fun feel of the game."
Miyamoto would continue on saying "I feel that even if all that you have is that the villain is just simply a villain and you fight them, and you throw them down, and you find out, well, that wasn't such a bad villain after all, that's enough story for ultimately what is just about a very fun experience."
Fans expecting an epic, deep narrative from Nintendo's recently announced Super Mario Galaxy 2 might be disappointed to know the game won't focus on such heavy storytelling.
Speaking to Wired, legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto says he likes to keep his Mario games light on story and focus on gameplay, while leaving storytelling to the Zelda franchise.
"I'd like to go with as little story as possible," Miyamoto said. "I've always felt that the Mario games themselves aren't particularly suited to having a very heavy story."
So why can't fans see their favorite Italian plumber star in a game with a serious, Kojima-esque plot?
"I just feel that the Mario games are something that should be a much more bright and active experience," Miyamoto said. "With the Mario games, you don't need to have such a complicated setting where you have these particular characters with complicated backstories that can weigh down the bright and fun feel of the game."
Miyamoto would continue on saying "I feel that even if all that you have is that the villain is just simply a villain and you fight them, and you throw them down, and you find out, well, that wasn't such a bad villain after all, that's enough story for ultimately what is just about a very fun experience."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
E3 2009: Reggie Fils-Aime on the Record
Nintendo's president says Galaxy 2 is for the hardcore and teases Shigeru Miyamoto's roundtable.
Earlier today, we caught up with Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime, who chatted candidly about Metroid Other M, Galaxy 2, Pikmin 3 and Miyamoto's E3 roundtable. Below, we've provided the interview both in video and transcribed forms for your viewing pleasure.
IGN: We saw Metroid Other M and Galaxy 2 on video, but you guys aren't showing either in playable form. Why not?
Reggie: Those games are 2010 games. What we have in playable form is really what we're focusing on for this year. That's really the only difference.
IGN: The other question sort of related to that is, what happened to Retro Studios' next project? We know it's deep in development. We know it's going to be big. We thought it'd be here, but it's not.
Reggie: We have nothing to announce right now. The team at Retro is hard at work. They're doing great stuff. But it's not ready to show quite yet.
IGN: Is it going to blow us away? Can you give us a super hype filled comment? [No shame, we know]?
Reggie: Let me put it this way. Did Other M blow you away? Did Galaxy 2 blow you away? Did New Super Mario for Wii blow you away? Our goal is that everything we do blows people away.
IGN: You have a bit more insight on the development of Galaxy 2. What's the direction for the game? Do they really want to blow it out or will it be more of the same?
Reggie: What Mr. Miyamoto has shared is that if the first Galaxy was maybe more inviting in terms of all the audiences, what Galaxy 2 is going to be is maybe a little more Nintendo fan / harder gamer focused. A little tougher. The use of Yoshi makes it a little more challenging. We showed some of the snippets of some of the activities -- it's a bit more challenging. It's going to be, if you will, for more of that passionate Mario fan who grew up getting challenged with Super Mario World. It's going to be much more in that area.
IGN: What can you tell us about Metroid Other M other than what we saw in the trailer?
Reggie: What I can tell you is that it's going to be fabulous. I've seen it working. I personally didn't have a controller in my hands, but it looks great. And it really is going to do a fabulous job giving you more backstory on Samus, taking you more into the mythology of what Metroid is all about. It's going to be great.
IGN: So this is going all the way back to her teens?
Reggie: We're not going to tell you exactly where it fits in the Metroid mythology. We're going to share that a little bit later. But it definitely fills in some of the gaps.
IGN: You didn't show Pikmin 3, which is what we were expecting you to show. That kind of surprised us. Why not?
Reggie: Matt, we're all about surprises. We will show that game when it's ready. At the right time. Close to when it's going to be launched. It's not there yet. But Mr. Miyamoto still has his roundtable to do, so maybe you'll see. Maybe you might get that surprise after all.
IGN: Yeah, that's the next question. Mr. Miyamoto didn't have a stage presence here today. The first question is, why not because he usually does? And then, he is here. He has a roundtable. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?
Reggie: Sure. Well, first off, if you look at how Mr. Miyamoto has interacted in our press conferences, it's been a wide range -- everything from making an appearance at the end in 2004 to being on hand to do a demo. This year, given all the content that we had, we thought it would be best for him to go in-depth with a handful of games during his developer's roundtable and that's what he's going to do later today.
IGN: So you think we might get a surprise or two out of the roundtable?
Reggie: Again, we're always trying to surprise you. So we'll see.
IGN: Are you going to be saving any announcements for Japan? We heard there was some sort of mystery conference.
Reggie: The meeting in Japan is much more retailer oriented so they'll be going through all the details specific to when products are launching in Japan. And within that, there really isn't anything new versus what we've announced today.
IGN: We saw a bunch of games on your show floor that you didn't really highlight at your event. Titles like Line Attack Heroes. We didn't, however, see games like Trace Memory or Cosmic Walker. What's going on there?
Reggie: The interesting thing is that even though E3 is back into a larger footprint, this footprint here is about two thirds the size of our footprint in 2006. So that always forces us to make tough decisions about what we show. And even here today, I'm hearing that we have a line around our booth for Spirit Tracks for Zelda. We have more content than we're able to show in this type of space, which means that fall conferences that we hold here in Americas -- those take on more meaning to highlight some of the games that you mention.
IGN: So if a game isn't here, does that necessarily mean that it won't release this holiday?
Reggie: There are maybe some games that will still make it this year. A lot of it is how the final tuning in development goes. And again, anything like that we'll talk about in the fall.
IGN: Your press event had a few games that were more hardcore, but you didn't show some of the titles that we think are of the highest caliber for the traditional gamer. Titles like Red Steel 2, Silent Hill and No More Heroes 2. Was that a calculate decision?
Reggie: You know, there's no master plan in terms of not showing those titles. It's really all about what we think is best ready to highlight and show and where's the best way to show it. Do we show it in the booth? Some of those games are here in the booth. Is it something that the licensee wants to highlight in their own booth. Really, all that comes into play.
IGN: What're your thoughts on Natal, Microsoft's controller-less video camera getup?
Reggie: It's interesting. You could make the argument that the health genre, like Wii Fit, is becoming red ocean -- there's a lot of different content coming out. You could say that in the future, that potentially active playing might be a red ocean in the future depending on what happens with our two competitors. For us, we're making precision control a reality today. What we're showing with Wii Sports Resort really takes the way you handle the controller to a whole new level. So for us, we're focused on the reality of today of how to drive that in an important way within gaming. We'll let our competitors talk about what might or might not be in the future.
IGN: Finally, what are you personally excited about at the show?
Reggie: In terms of what I'm excited about, in many ways I'm becoming the prototypical gamer that Nintendo is going after. I'm really enthused with Wii Fit Plus. I love New Super Mario Bros. for Wii. I love Spirit Tracks -- I'm a Zelda fan all my life. And I love Wii Sports Resort. So for me there's a little bit of core stuff. There's a little bit of more audience expansion stuff. Plus, I was thrilled that I got to make the announcement about more Golden Sun. That's one of my favorite franchises. For me, everything that we touched on really strikes a chord with the type of consumer we're going after.
Earlier today, we caught up with Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime, who chatted candidly about Metroid Other M, Galaxy 2, Pikmin 3 and Miyamoto's E3 roundtable. Below, we've provided the interview both in video and transcribed forms for your viewing pleasure.
IGN: We saw Metroid Other M and Galaxy 2 on video, but you guys aren't showing either in playable form. Why not?
Reggie: Those games are 2010 games. What we have in playable form is really what we're focusing on for this year. That's really the only difference.
IGN: The other question sort of related to that is, what happened to Retro Studios' next project? We know it's deep in development. We know it's going to be big. We thought it'd be here, but it's not.
Reggie: We have nothing to announce right now. The team at Retro is hard at work. They're doing great stuff. But it's not ready to show quite yet.
IGN: Is it going to blow us away? Can you give us a super hype filled comment? [No shame, we know]?
Reggie: Let me put it this way. Did Other M blow you away? Did Galaxy 2 blow you away? Did New Super Mario for Wii blow you away? Our goal is that everything we do blows people away.
IGN: You have a bit more insight on the development of Galaxy 2. What's the direction for the game? Do they really want to blow it out or will it be more of the same?
Reggie: What Mr. Miyamoto has shared is that if the first Galaxy was maybe more inviting in terms of all the audiences, what Galaxy 2 is going to be is maybe a little more Nintendo fan / harder gamer focused. A little tougher. The use of Yoshi makes it a little more challenging. We showed some of the snippets of some of the activities -- it's a bit more challenging. It's going to be, if you will, for more of that passionate Mario fan who grew up getting challenged with Super Mario World. It's going to be much more in that area.
IGN: What can you tell us about Metroid Other M other than what we saw in the trailer?
Reggie: What I can tell you is that it's going to be fabulous. I've seen it working. I personally didn't have a controller in my hands, but it looks great. And it really is going to do a fabulous job giving you more backstory on Samus, taking you more into the mythology of what Metroid is all about. It's going to be great.
IGN: So this is going all the way back to her teens?
Reggie: We're not going to tell you exactly where it fits in the Metroid mythology. We're going to share that a little bit later. But it definitely fills in some of the gaps.
IGN: You didn't show Pikmin 3, which is what we were expecting you to show. That kind of surprised us. Why not?
Reggie: Matt, we're all about surprises. We will show that game when it's ready. At the right time. Close to when it's going to be launched. It's not there yet. But Mr. Miyamoto still has his roundtable to do, so maybe you'll see. Maybe you might get that surprise after all.
IGN: Yeah, that's the next question. Mr. Miyamoto didn't have a stage presence here today. The first question is, why not because he usually does? And then, he is here. He has a roundtable. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?
Reggie: Sure. Well, first off, if you look at how Mr. Miyamoto has interacted in our press conferences, it's been a wide range -- everything from making an appearance at the end in 2004 to being on hand to do a demo. This year, given all the content that we had, we thought it would be best for him to go in-depth with a handful of games during his developer's roundtable and that's what he's going to do later today.
IGN: So you think we might get a surprise or two out of the roundtable?
Reggie: Again, we're always trying to surprise you. So we'll see.
IGN: Are you going to be saving any announcements for Japan? We heard there was some sort of mystery conference.
Reggie: The meeting in Japan is much more retailer oriented so they'll be going through all the details specific to when products are launching in Japan. And within that, there really isn't anything new versus what we've announced today.
IGN: We saw a bunch of games on your show floor that you didn't really highlight at your event. Titles like Line Attack Heroes. We didn't, however, see games like Trace Memory or Cosmic Walker. What's going on there?
Reggie: The interesting thing is that even though E3 is back into a larger footprint, this footprint here is about two thirds the size of our footprint in 2006. So that always forces us to make tough decisions about what we show. And even here today, I'm hearing that we have a line around our booth for Spirit Tracks for Zelda. We have more content than we're able to show in this type of space, which means that fall conferences that we hold here in Americas -- those take on more meaning to highlight some of the games that you mention.
IGN: So if a game isn't here, does that necessarily mean that it won't release this holiday?
Reggie: There are maybe some games that will still make it this year. A lot of it is how the final tuning in development goes. And again, anything like that we'll talk about in the fall.
IGN: Your press event had a few games that were more hardcore, but you didn't show some of the titles that we think are of the highest caliber for the traditional gamer. Titles like Red Steel 2, Silent Hill and No More Heroes 2. Was that a calculate decision?
Reggie: You know, there's no master plan in terms of not showing those titles. It's really all about what we think is best ready to highlight and show and where's the best way to show it. Do we show it in the booth? Some of those games are here in the booth. Is it something that the licensee wants to highlight in their own booth. Really, all that comes into play.
IGN: What're your thoughts on Natal, Microsoft's controller-less video camera getup?
Reggie: It's interesting. You could make the argument that the health genre, like Wii Fit, is becoming red ocean -- there's a lot of different content coming out. You could say that in the future, that potentially active playing might be a red ocean in the future depending on what happens with our two competitors. For us, we're making precision control a reality today. What we're showing with Wii Sports Resort really takes the way you handle the controller to a whole new level. So for us, we're focused on the reality of today of how to drive that in an important way within gaming. We'll let our competitors talk about what might or might not be in the future.
IGN: Finally, what are you personally excited about at the show?
Reggie: In terms of what I'm excited about, in many ways I'm becoming the prototypical gamer that Nintendo is going after. I'm really enthused with Wii Fit Plus. I love New Super Mario Bros. for Wii. I love Spirit Tracks -- I'm a Zelda fan all my life. And I love Wii Sports Resort. So for me there's a little bit of core stuff. There's a little bit of more audience expansion stuff. Plus, I was thrilled that I got to make the announcement about more Golden Sun. That's one of my favorite franchises. For me, everything that we touched on really strikes a chord with the type of consumer we're going after.
E3 2009: Miyamoto Talks Next Zelda
Series creator drops the details during roundtable discussion.
If you were wondering why there was no new Zelda news at Nintendo's E3 press conference this morning, it's because Mr. Miyamoto wanted to save a little something for his own private roundtable. At the closed door, no-photographs-allowed discussion with a select group of journalists this afternoon, the man who created Link dropped details and showed off artwork of the Hero in Green's next iteration.
The next console Zelda adventure will feature a Link who is more mature than ever before, and a swordplay system that is far more advanced than any ever seen before in the series. The game may ship as a MotionPlus-only design, as well, which should give you an idea of the swordfighting scheme Shigeru has in the works.
"Think of Zelda while you're trying some of the archery and sword play in Wii Sports Resort," Miyamoto said.
If the next Zelda were to employ MotionPlus in that way (and it totally will), it would be a significant shift for the property -- and one that may well be the change the franchise needs.
"There are people who think of Zelda more as an RPG with simpler controls, so trying to figure out how to make everybody happy is something that's going to concern me," says Miyamoto.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. And get hyped!
If you were wondering why there was no new Zelda news at Nintendo's E3 press conference this morning, it's because Mr. Miyamoto wanted to save a little something for his own private roundtable. At the closed door, no-photographs-allowed discussion with a select group of journalists this afternoon, the man who created Link dropped details and showed off artwork of the Hero in Green's next iteration.
The next console Zelda adventure will feature a Link who is more mature than ever before, and a swordplay system that is far more advanced than any ever seen before in the series. The game may ship as a MotionPlus-only design, as well, which should give you an idea of the swordfighting scheme Shigeru has in the works.
"Think of Zelda while you're trying some of the archery and sword play in Wii Sports Resort," Miyamoto said.
If the next Zelda were to employ MotionPlus in that way (and it totally will), it would be a significant shift for the property -- and one that may well be the change the franchise needs.
"There are people who think of Zelda more as an RPG with simpler controls, so trying to figure out how to make everybody happy is something that's going to concern me," says Miyamoto.
Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. And get hyped!
E3 2009: Mario Galaxy 2 Announced
Yoshi's coming along this time.
During its E3 press conference today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the news every Nintendo fan wanted to hear: a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy is on the way. This time Yoshi will be playable and he can be inflated in order to reach new areas. Footage shown during the conference was very pretty. Huge boss battles were spotted, as well as shots of Mario swimming, flying in his bee suit, and rolling a giant snowball around a planet.
During its E3 press conference today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced the news every Nintendo fan wanted to hear: a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy is on the way. This time Yoshi will be playable and he can be inflated in order to reach new areas. Footage shown during the conference was very pretty. Huge boss battles were spotted, as well as shots of Mario swimming, flying in his bee suit, and rolling a giant snowball around a planet.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii due this holiday
E3 2009: Nintendo uses press conference to reveal co-op heavy platformer featuring popular plumber will debut later this year.
Despite Nintendo's best efforts to keep the game under wrap, rumors of a new Mario game on the Wii have quickly spread across the internet.
At Nintendo's E3 press conference today, the company confirmed that New Super Mario Bros is indeed coming to Wii.
According to Nintendo, New Super Mario Wii offers a "new way to play Mario Bros that's never been done before."
The all new Super Mario Bros for Wii include four player multiplayer. It's a competitive multiplayer Mario game, where players run through the classic style levels, fighting each other for coins and powerups.
Nintendo demoed the four player mode, with Cammie Dunaway and three other Nintendo employees.
Players can jump on each other, shoot each other with fireballs and other attacks. Item boxes generally produce one item per character. Killed players reappear in bubbles and players can free them, or leave them stuck for a while. One of the new powerups is the Propeller Suit, a jump suit that has a helmet with a propeller. Shaking the Wii-remote will let players fly in the air.
When a player goes into a warp pipe the game forces the other players to follow in, where they fight over the coins in the secret room.
At the end of the level, as soon as one player grabs the flag pole, the other players have about three seconds to grab it for bonus points. The points are tallied up and the players are ranked.
New Super Mario Bros Wii is scheduled for a Holiday 2009 release. The game is on the show floor, so look for our hands-on later today.
Despite Nintendo's best efforts to keep the game under wrap, rumors of a new Mario game on the Wii have quickly spread across the internet.
At Nintendo's E3 press conference today, the company confirmed that New Super Mario Bros is indeed coming to Wii.
According to Nintendo, New Super Mario Wii offers a "new way to play Mario Bros that's never been done before."
The all new Super Mario Bros for Wii include four player multiplayer. It's a competitive multiplayer Mario game, where players run through the classic style levels, fighting each other for coins and powerups.
Nintendo demoed the four player mode, with Cammie Dunaway and three other Nintendo employees.
Players can jump on each other, shoot each other with fireballs and other attacks. Item boxes generally produce one item per character. Killed players reappear in bubbles and players can free them, or leave them stuck for a while. One of the new powerups is the Propeller Suit, a jump suit that has a helmet with a propeller. Shaking the Wii-remote will let players fly in the air.
When a player goes into a warp pipe the game forces the other players to follow in, where they fight over the coins in the secret room.
At the end of the level, as soon as one player grabs the flag pole, the other players have about three seconds to grab it for bonus points. The points are tallied up and the players are ranked.
New Super Mario Bros Wii is scheduled for a Holiday 2009 release. The game is on the show floor, so look for our hands-on later today.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
New Wii Mario, WiiFit This Year
Japanese newspaper confirms sequels.
Word of WiiFit Plus already leaked out a little while back. But a sequel to the multi-million-selling fitness software isn't all Nintendo has in the works.
The online version of Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reports today that Nintendo will release both the new version of Wii Fit along with a new Wii Mario game to Japan later this year.
For Wii Fit, the article says to expect internet connectivity, allowing for users to compete with friends and families in weight loss races. The new version will be able to more accurately measure weight and center of gravity.
The story does not mention if a new version of the Balance Wii Board will be required for this greater accuracy or if Nintendo has managed to attain the greater precision strictly at a software level.
For Mario, the article says absolutely nothing -- just that it's a new entry in the popular series. It lists this as being one of Nintendo's tools for pushing domestic (Japanese) Wii sales, so this is definitely a Wii game.
Wii Fit Plus will hit Japan some time this Fall. The new Mario game is planned for the latter half of the year.
These time frames are just for Japan. While we imagine a new Mario game would be a simultaneous worldwide affair, it's possible we'd have to wait for a new Wii Fit. Japan got the original a few months before us.
Word of WiiFit Plus already leaked out a little while back. But a sequel to the multi-million-selling fitness software isn't all Nintendo has in the works.
The online version of Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reports today that Nintendo will release both the new version of Wii Fit along with a new Wii Mario game to Japan later this year.
For Wii Fit, the article says to expect internet connectivity, allowing for users to compete with friends and families in weight loss races. The new version will be able to more accurately measure weight and center of gravity.
The story does not mention if a new version of the Balance Wii Board will be required for this greater accuracy or if Nintendo has managed to attain the greater precision strictly at a software level.
For Mario, the article says absolutely nothing -- just that it's a new entry in the popular series. It lists this as being one of Nintendo's tools for pushing domestic (Japanese) Wii sales, so this is definitely a Wii game.
Wii Fit Plus will hit Japan some time this Fall. The new Mario game is planned for the latter half of the year.
These time frames are just for Japan. While we imagine a new Mario game would be a simultaneous worldwide affair, it's possible we'd have to wait for a new Wii Fit. Japan got the original a few months before us.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Nintendo Posts Massive Profits
The company's yearly report card comes in.
Nintendo today announced its results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. The company posted sales of more than 1.83 trillion yen (US $18.6 billion) and operating profits of more than 555 billion yen (US $5.6 billion). Nintendo also announced worldwide sales of close to 26 million Wiis and more than 31 million Nintendo DS systems in the past fiscal year. Nintendo has now sold over 50 million Wiis and over 100 million DS systems. Fiscal year retail software sales also rose for each platform from the previous year, reaching 197 million units for Nintendo DS, and over 204 million for Wii.
In terms of individual titles, Pokemon Platinum sold 3.75 million units in the last fiscal year, and Kirby Super Star Ultra sold 2.36 million units. The Brain Training games continued to sell well, totaling 7.31 million units in the last fiscal year and 31.12 million units in their life-to-date. On Wii, Mario Kart Wii sold 15.4 million units, Animal Crossing: City Folk sold 3.38 million units and Wii Music sold 2.65 million units. Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit was the biggest success of the year, selling 16.37 million units. There are now 91 million selling games on DS (up from 57) and 54 on Wii (up from 26).
The full figures for Nintendo's year on year performance are as follows. Sales rose 9.9% from the previous fiscal year, up to 1,838,622 million yen (US $18.6 billion), operating profit rose 14%, up to 555,263 yen (US $5.6 billion), recurring profit saw a small increase, up 1.8% to 448,695 (US $4.5 billion), while net profit rose 8.5% to 279,089 yen (US $2.8 billion).
For the fiscal year that kicked off on April 1, 2009, Nintendo is projecting that it will sell another 26 million Wii systems and 220 million Wii software units, and another 30 million Nintendo DS systems and 180 million pieces of DS software.
Nintendo today announced its results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. The company posted sales of more than 1.83 trillion yen (US $18.6 billion) and operating profits of more than 555 billion yen (US $5.6 billion). Nintendo also announced worldwide sales of close to 26 million Wiis and more than 31 million Nintendo DS systems in the past fiscal year. Nintendo has now sold over 50 million Wiis and over 100 million DS systems. Fiscal year retail software sales also rose for each platform from the previous year, reaching 197 million units for Nintendo DS, and over 204 million for Wii.
In terms of individual titles, Pokemon Platinum sold 3.75 million units in the last fiscal year, and Kirby Super Star Ultra sold 2.36 million units. The Brain Training games continued to sell well, totaling 7.31 million units in the last fiscal year and 31.12 million units in their life-to-date. On Wii, Mario Kart Wii sold 15.4 million units, Animal Crossing: City Folk sold 3.38 million units and Wii Music sold 2.65 million units. Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit was the biggest success of the year, selling 16.37 million units. There are now 91 million selling games on DS (up from 57) and 54 on Wii (up from 26).
The full figures for Nintendo's year on year performance are as follows. Sales rose 9.9% from the previous fiscal year, up to 1,838,622 million yen (US $18.6 billion), operating profit rose 14%, up to 555,263 yen (US $5.6 billion), recurring profit saw a small increase, up 1.8% to 448,695 (US $4.5 billion), while net profit rose 8.5% to 279,089 yen (US $2.8 billion).
For the fiscal year that kicked off on April 1, 2009, Nintendo is projecting that it will sell another 26 million Wii systems and 220 million Wii software units, and another 30 million Nintendo DS systems and 180 million pieces of DS software.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Nintendo Sets MotionPlus Date, Price
Advanced motion controls arrive in June, but not with Wii Sports Resort. Details here.
Nintendo of America on Tuesday revealed release date and pricing details for its anticipated Wii MotionPlus accessory. The pass-through device, which plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote and enables greater, more accurate sensitivity, will ship to U.S. retailers on June 8. The peripheral will debut in Europe four days later.
The MotionPlus accessory will be sold as a stand-alone hardware for $19.99 in America. No information on European pricing is yet available.
Although consumers will be able to purchase the hardware itself in June, they will have to wait a month to play Nintendo's showpiece MotionPlus software, Wii Sports Resort. The game will debut on July 24 in Europe and July 26 in America bundled with MotionPlus. The package will retail for $49.99 stateside, but no details regarding price in Europe have been made official yet.
"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing, in an official release. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."
The release of the stand-alone MotionPlus in peripheral is a clear indication of Nintendo bowing to the needs of third-parties. Both SEGA and Electronic Arts have MotionPlus-compatible software shipping this June. Had Nintendo not released MotionPlus before Wii Sports Resort, such critical third-party titles as Virtua Tennis, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 would have shipped sans what could be their greatest selling point.
Nintendo of America on Tuesday revealed release date and pricing details for its anticipated Wii MotionPlus accessory. The pass-through device, which plugs into the bottom of the Wii remote and enables greater, more accurate sensitivity, will ship to U.S. retailers on June 8. The peripheral will debut in Europe four days later.
The MotionPlus accessory will be sold as a stand-alone hardware for $19.99 in America. No information on European pricing is yet available.
Although consumers will be able to purchase the hardware itself in June, they will have to wait a month to play Nintendo's showpiece MotionPlus software, Wii Sports Resort. The game will debut on July 24 in Europe and July 26 in America bundled with MotionPlus. The package will retail for $49.99 stateside, but no details regarding price in Europe have been made official yet.
"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing, in an official release. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."
The release of the stand-alone MotionPlus in peripheral is a clear indication of Nintendo bowing to the needs of third-parties. Both SEGA and Electronic Arts have MotionPlus-compatible software shipping this June. Had Nintendo not released MotionPlus before Wii Sports Resort, such critical third-party titles as Virtua Tennis, Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 would have shipped sans what could be their greatest selling point.
John Madden Retires
What does it mean for the EA Sports franchise?
The end of a broadcast era was announced today, as John Madden announced his retirement from broadcasting. In a statement released by NBC Sports, Madden said, "It's time. I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not. ... It's been a great ride."
John Madden has been a fixture in the sports world for more than four decades, starting his football career as a linebacker coach at the Oakland Raiders in 1967. Two years later, he was named the head coach of the Raiders, and eventually led the team to seven AFC West titles as well as a victory over the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. His overall coaching record of 103-32-7 is still a record for any coach in NFL history with a win percentage of .750.
After his retirement in 1979, he joined CBS as a broadcaster, where he worked until 1994. When CBS lost broadcast rights to NFL games, he switched to Fox and worked there until 2002, when he became the lead analyst for ABC's Monday Night Football. When NBC took over the primetime Sunday night game in 2006, he switched networks for the final time. His last broadcast game was Super Bowl XLIII between Arizona and Pittsburgh. Over his entire career as an analyst, Madden also managed to win sixteen Emmys for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Replacing John Madden in the booth at NBC with Al Michaels will be Cris Collinsworth, who has filled in for Madden this past year.
Madden has also had a significant impact on the gaming world. The Madden NFL Football franchise is widely known to be the top selling sports series of all time, and recently celebrated its twentieth installment. But what does Madden's retirement mean to the acclaimed franchise from EA Sports? Will it continue in the same format, or will it change to reflect the exit of the legendary analyst? The speculation is obviously going to swirl around what steps will be taken in the wake of Madden's departure from the booth. While it may not wind up affecting Madden NFL 10, which has been in production for quite a while, this could significantly affect development of Madden NFL 11. John Madden's visible role with the title has been diminishing over the recent years, with Madden no longer contributing in-game commentary. In fact, with the exception of "Cyber Madden" to test a player's skills in Madden NFL 09, the game is virtually Madden in name only.
The retirement raises two separate and obvious paths that Madden NFL 11 could go. Madden has admitted that he "still loves all aspects of the game," which is the reason that it took months to come to the decision to retire. Without having to worry about driving the Madden Cruiser around the country on a weekly basis during the football season, it's possible that he could assume a larger consultant role on his game, adding additional coaching features and even revamping other EA Sports franchises like Head Coach. The other direction revolves more around Cris Collinsworth. Since Collinsworth seems to have been groomed as the heir apparent of John Madden at NBC, will this extend to EA Sports as well? Collinsworth's additions to last year's game was rather notable, as he did commentary with Tom Hammond, and was instrumental in breaking down plays with the EA Sports Backtrack feature to help players learn from their mistakes. But to be blunt, Collinsworth NFL 11 doesn't have the same ring to it that Madden NFL 11 does. Clearly, these are all speculative ideas regarding the future of the franchise, but they do raise significant questions that all football fans would want to know.
When we contacted EA Sports President Peter Moore, he issued this statement, "John is a true sports icon who has made an indelible impact on the sport of football which will be felt forever. His prolific coaching and broadcasting careers, as well as his distinct role in shaping the EA SPORTS football experience have redefined how multiple generations have come to know and love the sport with unrivaled passion. We're excited to see his legacy live on in the 21st year of Madden NFL football, and well beyond. It's been a privilege for EA SPORTS to have had the strong relationship we've had with John for more than two decades and one that will continue into the future."
The end of a broadcast era was announced today, as John Madden announced his retirement from broadcasting. In a statement released by NBC Sports, Madden said, "It's time. I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not. ... It's been a great ride."
John Madden has been a fixture in the sports world for more than four decades, starting his football career as a linebacker coach at the Oakland Raiders in 1967. Two years later, he was named the head coach of the Raiders, and eventually led the team to seven AFC West titles as well as a victory over the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. His overall coaching record of 103-32-7 is still a record for any coach in NFL history with a win percentage of .750.
After his retirement in 1979, he joined CBS as a broadcaster, where he worked until 1994. When CBS lost broadcast rights to NFL games, he switched to Fox and worked there until 2002, when he became the lead analyst for ABC's Monday Night Football. When NBC took over the primetime Sunday night game in 2006, he switched networks for the final time. His last broadcast game was Super Bowl XLIII between Arizona and Pittsburgh. Over his entire career as an analyst, Madden also managed to win sixteen Emmys for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Replacing John Madden in the booth at NBC with Al Michaels will be Cris Collinsworth, who has filled in for Madden this past year.
Madden has also had a significant impact on the gaming world. The Madden NFL Football franchise is widely known to be the top selling sports series of all time, and recently celebrated its twentieth installment. But what does Madden's retirement mean to the acclaimed franchise from EA Sports? Will it continue in the same format, or will it change to reflect the exit of the legendary analyst? The speculation is obviously going to swirl around what steps will be taken in the wake of Madden's departure from the booth. While it may not wind up affecting Madden NFL 10, which has been in production for quite a while, this could significantly affect development of Madden NFL 11. John Madden's visible role with the title has been diminishing over the recent years, with Madden no longer contributing in-game commentary. In fact, with the exception of "Cyber Madden" to test a player's skills in Madden NFL 09, the game is virtually Madden in name only.
The retirement raises two separate and obvious paths that Madden NFL 11 could go. Madden has admitted that he "still loves all aspects of the game," which is the reason that it took months to come to the decision to retire. Without having to worry about driving the Madden Cruiser around the country on a weekly basis during the football season, it's possible that he could assume a larger consultant role on his game, adding additional coaching features and even revamping other EA Sports franchises like Head Coach. The other direction revolves more around Cris Collinsworth. Since Collinsworth seems to have been groomed as the heir apparent of John Madden at NBC, will this extend to EA Sports as well? Collinsworth's additions to last year's game was rather notable, as he did commentary with Tom Hammond, and was instrumental in breaking down plays with the EA Sports Backtrack feature to help players learn from their mistakes. But to be blunt, Collinsworth NFL 11 doesn't have the same ring to it that Madden NFL 11 does. Clearly, these are all speculative ideas regarding the future of the franchise, but they do raise significant questions that all football fans would want to know.
When we contacted EA Sports President Peter Moore, he issued this statement, "John is a true sports icon who has made an indelible impact on the sport of football which will be felt forever. His prolific coaching and broadcasting careers, as well as his distinct role in shaping the EA SPORTS football experience have redefined how multiple generations have come to know and love the sport with unrivaled passion. We're excited to see his legacy live on in the 21st year of Madden NFL football, and well beyond. It's been a privilege for EA SPORTS to have had the strong relationship we've had with John for more than two decades and one that will continue into the future."
NPD: Nintendo Hardware Still Top
Nintendo's systems outsold all competitors in March, but key third-party titles failed to make the cut.
It's that time of the month again. Yep -- NPD's anticipated top-selling videogame hardware and software recap, this time for March. As is usually the case, Nintendo's own two systems ranked number-one and two, Wii with 610,000 units sold and DS with 563,000 respectively. Microsoft's console managed the third spot with 330,000 more units moved. PlayStation 3 came in fourth with 218,000. PSP 168,000. And PS2 -- nearly a decade after its release -- sold to another 112,000 people.
While Nintendo held the top positions in hardware, the same could not be said of its software showing for the month. Capcom's Resident Evil 5 was the big winner with 938,000 units sold on Xbox 360, easily earning it the number-one spot. Nintendo made a killing with the DS Pokemon Platinum, managing to suck in 805,000 new gamers. Halo Wars debuted strongly for the third spot with 639,000 units. Resident Evil 5 for PS3 took fourth with 585,000. And old trusty, Wii Fit, filled out the top five with another 541,000 in sales. MLB '09: The Show proved successful with 305,000 sold. Killzone 2 added 296,000 to its roster for seventh place. Wii Play manaed another 281,000 for eigth. Mario Kart Wii another 278,000. And Major League Baseball 2K9 for Xbox 360 rounded out the top 10 with 205,000 sold.
Perhaps the biggest news is what didn't make the top 10 list. Namely, SEGA's MadWorld, which released March 11 and sold less than 205,000 copies. The company gambled that Wii owners would be willing to snap up a well-produced, mature-rated title, and thus far the results do not look promising. We've got queries into NPD for specifics, so stay tuned.
It's that time of the month again. Yep -- NPD's anticipated top-selling videogame hardware and software recap, this time for March. As is usually the case, Nintendo's own two systems ranked number-one and two, Wii with 610,000 units sold and DS with 563,000 respectively. Microsoft's console managed the third spot with 330,000 more units moved. PlayStation 3 came in fourth with 218,000. PSP 168,000. And PS2 -- nearly a decade after its release -- sold to another 112,000 people.
While Nintendo held the top positions in hardware, the same could not be said of its software showing for the month. Capcom's Resident Evil 5 was the big winner with 938,000 units sold on Xbox 360, easily earning it the number-one spot. Nintendo made a killing with the DS Pokemon Platinum, managing to suck in 805,000 new gamers. Halo Wars debuted strongly for the third spot with 639,000 units. Resident Evil 5 for PS3 took fourth with 585,000. And old trusty, Wii Fit, filled out the top five with another 541,000 in sales. MLB '09: The Show proved successful with 305,000 sold. Killzone 2 added 296,000 to its roster for seventh place. Wii Play manaed another 281,000 for eigth. Mario Kart Wii another 278,000. And Major League Baseball 2K9 for Xbox 360 rounded out the top 10 with 205,000 sold.
Perhaps the biggest news is what didn't make the top 10 list. Namely, SEGA's MadWorld, which released March 11 and sold less than 205,000 copies. The company gambled that Wii owners would be willing to snap up a well-produced, mature-rated title, and thus far the results do not look promising. We've got queries into NPD for specifics, so stay tuned.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NPD: Wii and DS Destroy February
Nintendo's systems outsell all others again. And Wii Fit is officially unstoppable.
The NPD Group released February videogame sales figures on Thursday and, somewhat predictably, Nintendo's systems again stole the show. On top of that, sales of key Nintendo titles like Wii Fit proves that when it comes to shelf life, nobody can touch the company's software.
Wii sold 753,000 units for the month to take the number-one spot. DS grabbed number-two with 588,000 units sold. Xbox 360 pulled in another 391,000 gamers. PS3 another 276,000. PSP 199,000 and PS2 131,000.
The top-selling game for the month was Wii Fit with a whopping 644,000 units sold, according to NPD. For the record, Nintendo's exercise program shipped in America last May -- nearly a year ago. With February totals considered, accumulative U.S. sales of Wii Fit are now higher than those for Grand Theft Auto 4 and Halo 3 on Xbox 360. Don't forget -- Wii Fit costs $89.99, too. Whether you appreciate the software or not, it's hard to deny the success of Nintendo's strategy.
Capcom's Street Fighter IV grabbed the second and third selling spots on Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively with 446,000 and 403,000 sold. In fourth, Wii Play, with another 386,000 sold. The title and its controller pack-in has sold more than 10 million copies in America. Killzone 2 managed to suck in 323,000 players for the fifth spot. Mario Kart took sixth with 263,000 sold. Call of Duty: World at War for 360 fragged 193,000 players for seventh. The eighth top-seller went to Mario Kart DS with 145,000 units. Ninth to New Super Mario Bros. with 144,000 in sales. And Guitar Hero: World Tour for Wii rounded out the top 10 with 136,000 in additional units sold.
"Wii Play mini-games are fun and they get people playing together," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Even if you believe people are buying Wii Play solely for the controller, that indicates that there are now more than 10 million people who have an extra Wii Remote controller in their homes. When added to the 12.7 million Wii Remote controllers that have sold separately, this reinforces the growing 'social gaming' trend we have been seeing where friends and family use their Wii games as a social hub – both in person and online."
The NPD Group released February videogame sales figures on Thursday and, somewhat predictably, Nintendo's systems again stole the show. On top of that, sales of key Nintendo titles like Wii Fit proves that when it comes to shelf life, nobody can touch the company's software.
Wii sold 753,000 units for the month to take the number-one spot. DS grabbed number-two with 588,000 units sold. Xbox 360 pulled in another 391,000 gamers. PS3 another 276,000. PSP 199,000 and PS2 131,000.
The top-selling game for the month was Wii Fit with a whopping 644,000 units sold, according to NPD. For the record, Nintendo's exercise program shipped in America last May -- nearly a year ago. With February totals considered, accumulative U.S. sales of Wii Fit are now higher than those for Grand Theft Auto 4 and Halo 3 on Xbox 360. Don't forget -- Wii Fit costs $89.99, too. Whether you appreciate the software or not, it's hard to deny the success of Nintendo's strategy.
Capcom's Street Fighter IV grabbed the second and third selling spots on Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively with 446,000 and 403,000 sold. In fourth, Wii Play, with another 386,000 sold. The title and its controller pack-in has sold more than 10 million copies in America. Killzone 2 managed to suck in 323,000 players for the fifth spot. Mario Kart took sixth with 263,000 sold. Call of Duty: World at War for 360 fragged 193,000 players for seventh. The eighth top-seller went to Mario Kart DS with 145,000 units. Ninth to New Super Mario Bros. with 144,000 in sales. And Guitar Hero: World Tour for Wii rounded out the top 10 with 136,000 in additional units sold.
"Wii Play mini-games are fun and they get people playing together," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Even if you believe people are buying Wii Play solely for the controller, that indicates that there are now more than 10 million people who have an extra Wii Remote controller in their homes. When added to the 12.7 million Wii Remote controllers that have sold separately, this reinforces the growing 'social gaming' trend we have been seeing where friends and family use their Wii games as a social hub – both in person and online."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
NPD: Wii and DS Rule Galaxy as Father and Son
The numbers don't lie. Nintendo's hardware prints money, but so does its software.
The December sales figures are in from the NPD Group and once again Nintendo's two platforms outperformed all competitors by a wide margin. DS was the month's top-seller with 3.04 million units moved. Wii sold to another 2.15 million users. Xbox 360 1.44 million. PSP 1.02 million. PlayStation 3 726,000. And PlayStation 2, 410,000.
The top-selling games for December, as follows:
1. Wii Play w/ Wii Remote -- 1.46 million
2. Call of Duty: World at War (360) -- 1.33 million
3. Wii Fit -- 999,000
4. Mario Kart Wii -- 979,000
5. Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii) -- 850,000
6. Gears of War 2 -- 745,000
7. Left 4 Dead -- 629,000
8. Mario Kart DS -- 540,000
9. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) -- 533,000
10. Animal Crossing: City Folk -- 497,000
Wii controlled five of the Top 10 slots for the month. Wii Play (which includes a controller) continued its reign at the top. More interestingly is the shelf life of Wii Fit, a $90 game that released last May and still sold almost a million copies in December. Also of note, Guitar Hero World Tour apparently sold 850,000 copies in December, just for Wii. It's clear that the franchise officially performs best on Nintendo's system.
Perhaps most shocking of all are the best-sellers of the year. According to NPD data, Nintendo owned the top four slots in 2008 with Wii Play (5.2 million), Mario Kart Wii (5.0 million), Wii Fit (4.53 million) and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (4.17 million). These titles outsold Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 (3.29 million), Call of Duty 4: World at War 360 (2.75 million), Gears of War 2 (2.31 million), Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 (1.89 million), Madden NFL 09 360 (1.87 million) and finally, Mario Kart Wii (1.65 million).
By the way, Nintendo also sold 865,000 copies of Wii Music in 2008, we're sorry to report.
The December sales figures are in from the NPD Group and once again Nintendo's two platforms outperformed all competitors by a wide margin. DS was the month's top-seller with 3.04 million units moved. Wii sold to another 2.15 million users. Xbox 360 1.44 million. PSP 1.02 million. PlayStation 3 726,000. And PlayStation 2, 410,000.
The top-selling games for December, as follows:
1. Wii Play w/ Wii Remote -- 1.46 million
2. Call of Duty: World at War (360) -- 1.33 million
3. Wii Fit -- 999,000
4. Mario Kart Wii -- 979,000
5. Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii) -- 850,000
6. Gears of War 2 -- 745,000
7. Left 4 Dead -- 629,000
8. Mario Kart DS -- 540,000
9. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) -- 533,000
10. Animal Crossing: City Folk -- 497,000
Wii controlled five of the Top 10 slots for the month. Wii Play (which includes a controller) continued its reign at the top. More interestingly is the shelf life of Wii Fit, a $90 game that released last May and still sold almost a million copies in December. Also of note, Guitar Hero World Tour apparently sold 850,000 copies in December, just for Wii. It's clear that the franchise officially performs best on Nintendo's system.
Perhaps most shocking of all are the best-sellers of the year. According to NPD data, Nintendo owned the top four slots in 2008 with Wii Play (5.2 million), Mario Kart Wii (5.0 million), Wii Fit (4.53 million) and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (4.17 million). These titles outsold Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 (3.29 million), Call of Duty 4: World at War 360 (2.75 million), Gears of War 2 (2.31 million), Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 (1.89 million), Madden NFL 09 360 (1.87 million) and finally, Mario Kart Wii (1.65 million).
By the way, Nintendo also sold 865,000 copies of Wii Music in 2008, we're sorry to report.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Rumor: DSi U.S. Launch Date, Price Revealed
Nintendo's next-generation handheld may be coming to America sooner than you think.
Multiple sources close to Nintendo tell IGN that the company is gearing up to debut the anticipated successor to its DS Lite handheld during the first half of this year in America. More specifically, the company has allegedly relayed to its partners that DSi will ship stateside in early April, most likely on April 4. Insiders assert that they have been told the system will retail for $179.99 when it launches domestically.
Nintendo's DSi handheld looks similar to its predecessor, but boasts a built-in camera, an SD Card slot, internal memory, an improved user interface and access to DSiWare, an ever-expanding list of downloadable DSi games and content available over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
DSi released in Japan last November and presently retails in the homeland for 18,900 yen ($211 USD). More than a million gamers purchased the system through December 2008, according to overseas data tracking services. DS Lite, meanwhile, sells in Japan for 16,800 yen ($188), a cost difference of almost $25. If our sources are to be trusted, the price divide between the two systems in America would be much wider, as DS Lite currently retails for $129.99 stateside, approximately $50 cheaper than DSi's alleged U.S. price point.
In contrast to the Japanese market, where penetration of DS Lite has peaked, Nintendo of America may be planning to market DSi alongside the still-popular DS Lite, which would at least explain the different price points: one version for casuals and another for the core.
Nintendo of America said last October that it did not feel it necessary to release DSi in 2008 because its predecessor continued to sell at a phenomenal rate. Last year, NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime was also quoted as promising that DSi would not debut in America until sometime after the first quarter.
When contacted for comment, a Nintendo representative told us that the company does not comment on rumors and speculation. Although IGN verified today's story through three independent sources, we have filed the information as rumor until Nintendo makes an official announcement.
Multiple sources close to Nintendo tell IGN that the company is gearing up to debut the anticipated successor to its DS Lite handheld during the first half of this year in America. More specifically, the company has allegedly relayed to its partners that DSi will ship stateside in early April, most likely on April 4. Insiders assert that they have been told the system will retail for $179.99 when it launches domestically.
Nintendo's DSi handheld looks similar to its predecessor, but boasts a built-in camera, an SD Card slot, internal memory, an improved user interface and access to DSiWare, an ever-expanding list of downloadable DSi games and content available over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
DSi released in Japan last November and presently retails in the homeland for 18,900 yen ($211 USD). More than a million gamers purchased the system through December 2008, according to overseas data tracking services. DS Lite, meanwhile, sells in Japan for 16,800 yen ($188), a cost difference of almost $25. If our sources are to be trusted, the price divide between the two systems in America would be much wider, as DS Lite currently retails for $129.99 stateside, approximately $50 cheaper than DSi's alleged U.S. price point.
In contrast to the Japanese market, where penetration of DS Lite has peaked, Nintendo of America may be planning to market DSi alongside the still-popular DS Lite, which would at least explain the different price points: one version for casuals and another for the core.
Nintendo of America said last October that it did not feel it necessary to release DSi in 2008 because its predecessor continued to sell at a phenomenal rate. Last year, NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime was also quoted as promising that DSi would not debut in America until sometime after the first quarter.
When contacted for comment, a Nintendo representative told us that the company does not comment on rumors and speculation. Although IGN verified today's story through three independent sources, we have filed the information as rumor until Nintendo makes an official announcement.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
NPD News: November Sales Numbers
Bad economy? What bad economy?
Despite terrifying news to the contrary, it appears that the economy (at least in the land of videogames) did quite well for what is typically the biggest shopping month of the year. The industry as a whole grew ten percent over 2007, rising from 2.64 billion in sales to 2.91 billion in total sales for this November. The same goes for videogame hardware sales which were up 10 percent from 1.1 billion to 1.21 billion, as well as videogame software which is up 11 percent from 1.31 billion to 1.45 billion. Add hardware, software and accessories sales together and thus far in 2008 people have spent 22 percent more this year than last, totaling out at 16.04 billion as opposed to 13.14 billion this time last year.
But now for the section that everyone wants to know about: console sales. Here's the breakdown:
PlayStation 2 – 206K
PlayStation 3 – 378K
PSP – 421K
Xbox 360 – 836K
Wii – 2.04 Million
Nintendo DS – 1.57 Million
The biggest surprise in all those statistics is that Xbox 360 more than doubled the sales of PlayStation 3, despite both systems seeing monster titles release this past month. Of course, looking at the software breakdown reveals the reason why. Here are the top 10 selling videogames for the month of November 2008:
1. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360
2. Call of Duty: World at War - Xbox 360
3. Wii Play w/Remote - Wii
4. Wii Fit - Wii
5. Mario Kart - Wii
6. Call of Duty: World at War - PS3
7. Guitar Hero World Tour - PS3
8. Left 4 Dead - Xbox 360
9. Resistance 2 - PS3
10. Wii Music - Wii
Despite terrifying news to the contrary, it appears that the economy (at least in the land of videogames) did quite well for what is typically the biggest shopping month of the year. The industry as a whole grew ten percent over 2007, rising from 2.64 billion in sales to 2.91 billion in total sales for this November. The same goes for videogame hardware sales which were up 10 percent from 1.1 billion to 1.21 billion, as well as videogame software which is up 11 percent from 1.31 billion to 1.45 billion. Add hardware, software and accessories sales together and thus far in 2008 people have spent 22 percent more this year than last, totaling out at 16.04 billion as opposed to 13.14 billion this time last year.
But now for the section that everyone wants to know about: console sales. Here's the breakdown:
PlayStation 2 – 206K
PlayStation 3 – 378K
PSP – 421K
Xbox 360 – 836K
Wii – 2.04 Million
Nintendo DS – 1.57 Million
The biggest surprise in all those statistics is that Xbox 360 more than doubled the sales of PlayStation 3, despite both systems seeing monster titles release this past month. Of course, looking at the software breakdown reveals the reason why. Here are the top 10 selling videogames for the month of November 2008:
1. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360
2. Call of Duty: World at War - Xbox 360
3. Wii Play w/Remote - Wii
4. Wii Fit - Wii
5. Mario Kart - Wii
6. Call of Duty: World at War - PS3
7. Guitar Hero World Tour - PS3
8. Left 4 Dead - Xbox 360
9. Resistance 2 - PS3
10. Wii Music - Wii
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