Category: DS

200 Million Online DS Game Sessions

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has crossed two huge milestones within just days of one another. Worldwide, since its launch in November 2005, Nintendo’s wireless gaming service has now connected more than 5 million unique Nintendo DS owners, and those gamers have racked up more than 200 million game-play sessions. Worldwide, nearly 65 games can be played via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The five most popular globally are Animal Crossing: Wild World,
Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl.

“Nintendo DS gamers globally use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as an easy, fun place to find fellow players, all without paying anything extra for the service,” explains Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The milestones represent millions of hours of fun and camaraderie despite miles between players.”

Nintendo DS continues to enjoy record-breaking success. According to new figures from the independent NPD Group, DS was again the top-selling video game system in April, with more than 470,000 units sold in the United States alone. That’s nearly 16,000 per day.

Nintendo DS also finds success beyond the stereotypical young male gamer. According to internal Nintendo demographic tracking studies, in less than 18 months, DS purchases have increased by 42 percent among women, 127 percent among people 30 and older and 212 percent among people 35 and older.

Geometry Wars Wii

Geometry Wars: Galaxies

Sierra Entertainment announced that Geometry Wars: Galaxies, a 2D arcade shooter game, will be coming to Nintendo exclusively on the Wii Console and Nintendo DS system. The Geometry Wars: Galaxies video game is developed by Kuju Entertainment (Surrey) and is the follow-up to Bizarre Creations’ Xbox LIVE Arcade sensation, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved.The Geometry Wars: Galaxies videogame delivers an all new mission-based campaign where players blast-off on action-paced quests across the galaxy, defending solar systems one by one, defeating waves of alien enemies on new and classic Battle Grids. The controls have been optimized for Nintendo systems, allowing gamers to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller or DS touch screen to execute hotshot moves as never before.

For the first time ever, the Geometry Wars videogame will let players battle via hot seat, co-op, simultaneous and versus in multiplayer mode. Those that own both the Nintendo DS and Wii can link the game together using Wi-Fi to unlock bonus content. Elite players will be able to challenge the universe by posting high scores on the Wii’s online leader board.

The Geometry Wars: Galaxies videogame also includes the full version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, winner of IGN’s 2005 Best XBLA Title of The Year.

“The Geometry Wars: Galaxies videogame is an entertaining title blending old-school arcade fun with next-gen gameplay and action,” said Al Simone, SVP of Global Marketing for Sierra Entertainment. “We are excited to bring the Geometry Wars brand to the Nintendo platform as both the Wii and DS enable a fun and frenetic experience for gamers.”

For more information, please visit the game’s official Web site at http://www.sierra.com/geometrywarsgalaxies/.

Nintendo’s Summer Lineup

Here’s the list of upcoming titles and their release dates for the next batch of Wii and DS games in 2007! Sadly Super Mario Galaxy is not even listed. 🙁

Wii
July 30 – Mario Strikers Charged
Aug. 20 – Metroid Prime 3 Corruption
September – Battalion Wars 2
Aug. 14  – High School Musical: Sing It!
Aug. 14 – Madden NFL ’08
August – Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’08
August – Space Station Tycoon
August – Brunswick Pro Bowling
August – Dave Mirra BMX Challenge
August – Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
September – Brothers in Arms
September – Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal
September – George of the Jungle
Fall – Boogie

Nintendo DS
July 30 – Picross DS
Aug. 20 – Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day
Sept. 10 – DK Jungle Climber
Sept. 24 – Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol
July – SimCity
July – Namco Museum DS
July – Drake & Josh
July – Glory Days 2
Aug. 14 – Madden NFL ’08
Aug. 14 – High School Musical: Makin’ the Cut!
Aug. 14 – Heroes of Mana
August – I SPY: Fun House
August – Jewel Quest Expedition
August – Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’08
August – Worms: Open Warfare 2
August – Luminous Arc
August – Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus
August – Mega Man Star Force: Leo
August – Mega Man Star Force: Dragon
August – Operation: Vietnam
August – Turn It Around
August – The Wild West
August – Fulllmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game
September – Drawn to Life
September – Zoey 101
September – Crayola Treasure Adventures
September – Nancy Drew and The Deadly Secret of Olde World Park
September – Holly Hobbie & Friends
September – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations
September – Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck
September – Pet Luv Spa & Resort Tycoon
September – Animal Genius
September – George of the Jungle
September – Jam Sessions
September – Professor Brainium
September – Indy 500 Legends

Nintendo Rules America

Already riding a streak as America’s No. 1 seller of video game consoles, No. 1 seller of portable game systems and No. 1 publisher of video games, Nintendo added more chips to its pile in April — with not just one, but the country’s four best-selling games.

According to independent sales data gathered by the NPD Group, the two best-selling games in April were Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, exclusively for the Nintendo DS hand-held game system, followed by Super Paper Mario and Wii Play for the Wii home video game system.Combined sales for the two related Pokemon titles exceeded 1.75 million units in just 14 days of availability during the reporting period.

The DS remained the most popular game system of any kind in April, with projected sales of more than 470,000 units. At the same time, the Wii from Nintendo, despite nearly universal sold-out status, was still purchased by twice as many consumers as any other home game console, according to the NPD data. Unit sales of 360,000 Wii systems in April bring the console’s installed base in America to nearly 2.5 million in less than six months on the market.

“Nothing is more valuable in the entertainment world than an evergreen franchise,” says Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO, Nintendo of America. “These new Pokemon titles have cemented their place alongside the most enduring intellectual properties of the book, music and movie industries. And that appeal will expand even further with the introduction of PokemonBattle Revolution to our Wii home console next month.”

Activision dropped the ball

Okay when it comes to games based on movies the consensus is generally that they suck. The rare exception is the Chronicles of Riddick and Spiderman 2 the game. Now Spiderman 3 has come out, and so did the game. It took the same brilliant swinging system from last Spiderman movie game, and put it on numerous platforms making the area you can swing around much larger. Well they screwed it up.

Spiderman 3 is a horrible excuse for a sequel. The camera controls suck, you can’t climb a wall without it going utterly bonkers giving you a headache. The graphics look like ASS, even on a 360. The combat is decent, but nothing to write home about. Sure, swinging is fun, but swinging around for hours on end gets quite tedious.

From what I’ve seen of the Wii version it’s the same deal. Poor controls, bad graphics, and an almost worthless experience. If you want a superhero Sandbox game pick up either Spiderman 2, Crackdown, or Hulk Ultimate Destruction, but avoid Spiderman 3 at all costs.