Upcoming DS Games Announced

Get your credit cards and wallets ready and mark these dates on your calendar. Nintendo recently announced the lineup of games sill waiting to pierce your savings. We spotted a couple that piqued our interest and we're sure you'll have your picks too.

• Nicktoons MLB - August
• AfterZoom - July 14
• Ben 10 Galactic Racing - Fall
• Ben 10 Triple Pack - Summer
• Beyblade Metal Masters - Fall
• Camping Mama Outdoor Adventures - Sept. 6
• Captain America: Super Soldier - July 19
• Cars 2: The Video Game - June 21
• Dora and Kai-Lan's Pet Shelter - November
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 - Aug. 28
• Generator Rex: Agent of Providence - October
• Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters - June 7
• Happy Feet Two – The Videogame - Fall
• House, M.D. - Blue Meanie - August
• House, M.D. - Skull & Bones - November
• Kirby Mass Attack - Sept. 19
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 - Holiday
• Madden NFL Football - March
• Moto eXtreme - June 30
• Moxie Girlz - Nov. 1
• Phineas & Ferb: Across the Second Dimension - Aug. 2
• Pillow Pets - Nov. 1
• Power Rangers Samurai - Fall 2011
• Pro Jumper! Chimaki's Hot Spring Tour Guilty Gear Tangent - June 23
• Professor Layton and the Last Specter - Fall
• Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover! - Summer
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 - Q1 2012
• Spider-Man: Edge of Time - Fall
• Super Fossil Fighters - Holiday
• Team Umizoomi - November
• The Smurfs - July 19
• ThinkSMART Chess for Kids - September
• ThinkSMART Crazy Machines - June 7
• ThinkSMART Labyrinth - June 7
• ThinkSMART NARABA: The Labyrinth of Light - October
• ThinkSMART NARABA: The Mysterious Palace - October
• ThinkSMART Scotland Yard - June 7
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon - June
• Ultimate Brain Games - Q1 2012
• Ultimate Card Games - Q4
• Wappy Dog - Holiday
• X-Men: Destiny - Fall
• Zoobles - November
• Zoonies - Escape from Makatu - Summer

Super Mario 25th Anniversary DSi XL and DSi looks good enough to eat

As part of the 25th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo recently announced that several limited edition DSi and DSi LL's will be available soon. These DSi's will feature unique Super Mario designs and will come in eye-popping red. The DSi LL will be available in Japan on Oct. 28 for around 18,000 yen ($215) while the DSi pictured above will set you back 14,800 yen ($177).

DSi firmware upgrade blocks flash carts

Nintendo's recent 1.4.1U firmware update for the DSi got flash cart owners up-in-arms. The update does not actually do anything fancy in terms of functionality, it just blocks the use of several known flash carts used by DSi gamers to play homebrew or, god forbid, pirated DSi games.

Some of the known DSi flash cart affected are Acekard 2i, Supercard DSTwo, M3i Zero, iPlayer and DSTTi. A couple got spared such as EZ-Flash Vi, iSmart DS and Hyper R4i.

Too bad for homebrew enthusiasts. Some people just don't get that flash carts are not all for pirating and piracy :(

DSi Price Cuts & New DSi XL Colors

We know that the Nintendo 3DS is just around the corner and you might be asking yourself why bother purchasing a DSi. Well this is one reason. Nintendo recently announced price drops for the DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL in Japan. Nintendo UK is to follow suite on June 18 but only for the DSi. No word yet from Nintendo America if they are willing to give American DS owners the same break.

Also, new colors for the DSi XL will be released in Japan on June 19. Expect blue, yellow, and green DSi XLs to litter the streets of Tokyo soon.

DSi Used to Train McDonald's Japan Employees

 Who said the Nintendo is all fun and games? Nintendo recently partnered with McDonald's Japan to use the top handheld gaming console to train its employees. The game, or app, is a hands-on training simulation teaching would-be employees different aspects of food preparation and assembly. Are we the only jealous of these employees playing DSi at work? ;p

DSi XL North American Release

We all know it's coming but there's nothing like hearing the officials call it! The Nintedo DSi XL will be released in North America on March 28 (mark it on your calendars!) for around $190. That's just about $20 more than your average-sized DSi.

The colors available at launch will be Burgundy and Bronze but, knowing Nintendo, we're all sure there will be more choices soon. The DSi XL will come with DSiWare Brain Age, the DSi Browser, Photo Clock, and Flipnote Studio.

Here's the official Nintendo DSi XL trailer.

Nintendo Announces DSi LL / DSi XL

 
Just a couple of days after rumors of a new and bigger DSi hit the web, Nintendo finally confirmed and announced the successor of the barely year-old Nintendo DSi. Dubbed as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan and Nintendo DSi XL in Europe and America, it will sport much bigger screens and more battery life among others.

The DSi LL / XL will be released in Japan on Nov 21 and will be expected on America and Europe in Q1 2010. Basically its features are the same as the current DSi but will feature a much larger body and screen as mentioned earlier.

Where the DSi's screens are 3.25 inches across, the new DSi LL / XL are 4.2 inches. There are no announcements as of yet whether the screen resolution will be improved.

Three DSi LL / XL colors will be available upon launch: Wine Red, Natural White, and Dark Brown. Based on Nintendo's track record, expect a lot more color variations to be available in the near future.

The battery life of the DSi LL / XL is supposed to be improved as well. Compared to Nintendo DSi's 9-14 hours on the lowest bright setting, the LL / XL can last upto 13-17 hours. The power adapter of the old DSi will fit the LL / XL.

As for the games, the Nintendo DSi LL/ XL can play old DS cartridges and DSi exclusive games. Also one can download and play DSiWare as well. Sadly, GBA cartridges are still shunned by this new DSi.

DSiWare Purchases Locked to Your DSi

 Looking to replace your old Nintendo DSi with a new one? Change of color preference perhaps? Then know that according to Nintendo of Australia, DSiWare purchases are permanently locked to the DSi system they are originally downloaded to.

With the exception of a broken DSi, you can't transfer software bought from the DSi Shop. And if you do have a busted DSi, you have to mail it along with the new one to Nintendo to get your DSiWare goodies transferred.

Many are outraged by this revelation. Note that this came from Nintendo of Australia but I would not be surprised if America and Europe has the same policy. Let's all hope not...

[source: NintendoLife]

Monster Finder: First DSi-Exclusive Game

We here at this humble blog are quite pleased when it was recently announced that there will soon be DSi-only retail games. Not that we hate our DS Lite totting brothers, we just like the idea of games making full use of the DSi's features. Among the first of such games is Monster Finder.

From what we have gathered, in Monster Finder one must use the DSi camera to find monsters, thus the name Monster Finder. With over 100 different varieties of monsters to hunt the game is compared to Monster Rancher (or maybe Pokemon?). Monster Finder is set to release in Japan sometime in winter.

DSi Madness: A Sales Update

 As soon as we've heard of the numbers after its initial release in Japan, there was no doubt in our minds that the Nintendo DSi would make it big. It seems every one and their dog has a DSi or two. Less than a year old, the DSi proved to be another hit from our good friends in Nintendo. Here's a quick summary of DSi sales so far:

435,000 - total sold during first week in US.
92,000 - 1st weekend on sale in UK.
3,000,000 - total DSi units sold in Japan.

The DSi proved to be a competent successor to the DS Lite. Here's to more success and more fun games!

Korg DS-10 Plus to be Released on September

Hey, remember Korg DS-10? It was a hit DS app where you get to play with a Korg synthesizer. It's quite fun even if you can't really figure out how to use it professionally. Well, AQ Interactive decided to follow-up on its success with Korg DS-10 Plus for the DSi.

Korg DS-10 Plus will work similar to its predecessor, but with the addition of certain features such as real-time editing. It also makes good use of the DSi's extra hardware, adding two more analog synthesizers (that makes it four!) and four more drum synthesizers (making it eight!). Also, there are now twelve tracks you can lay music on.

Korg DS-10 Plus will be released in Japan on September 17.

Here's the Korg DS-10 Plus "keynote" presentation video.

Share Your DSi Photos on Facebook

Nintendo recently announced another feature that will leave camera-happy DSi owners a reason to celebrate. In the near future, this coming fall to be more exact, pictures taken using the DSi's built-in camera can be sent to a user's Facebook page. I'm assuming that this could be done via WiFi connection and a simple software to access a Facebook account.

Thankfully, no word yet if you can answer Facebook quizzes using your DSi.

New Red Nintendo DSi

A new red DSi (I call it awesome-red) will be available in Japan on July 11 2009.

Along with this fiery news Japanese Wii lovers will also be treated to a new blac Wii, available on August 1 2009. Accessories in black will of course be released as well.

Now the big question: Will we see these awesomely colored DSi and Wii in North America? No word yet :(

Skype to Come to DSi... Sort of

Is the beloved VoIP/Instant Messaging application Skype headed for the DSi? The possibility is quite high, based on this post from TechRadar.

The Skype representative questioned did not give a definite yes, but did not shut down the possibility either. In fact the rep also said it would be technically possible to develop a Skype app for the Nintendo DSi.

Sony's PSP has had Skype for some time now. It would be another nudge for the DSi if they can pull this off.

DSi Sold 435,000 First Week in US

The numbers are in, and it looks like Nintendo has done it again with the DSi. After a week from its launch, Nintendo claims that the DSi sold a staggering 435,000 units. That's almost twice the DS Lite's numbers, which sold 226,300 systems during its launch week.

The DSi almost made waves in recently, becoming the fourth-fastest selling console in UK history. March is also a good month for Nintendo, outselling Wii and DS rivals.

If you're a fan of the DS or DSi, these numbers shouldn't surprise. Who could resist the DSi's unruly charm??

DSi US and UK Sales? 600k!

The DSi broke every sales record imaginable when it was released in Japan. Well, not really... But it did banged some numbers up! And it did so again when it was released in the US and UK, selling over 600k units!

Nintendo proudly announced that the DSi sold 300,000 units in the US and another 300,000 in the UK during its launch weekend. If Dr. Kawashima taught me correctly, that's a total of 600,000!