The console is set to launch in Japan on November 21st 2009 at 20,000 Yen (about Ł135), essentially the same retail price the DSi was launched at earlier this year. The DSi comes in three mild colours; Natural White, Wine Red (pictured) and Dark Brown, which is speculated to be targeted towards more mature Nintendo DS users. Fine-combing the specifications for the device -- apart from the screen and form-factor changes -- the DSi LL's battery will supposedly last 3 hours, not the 2 and a half hours which the DSi could sustain and comes pre-loaded with several DSiWare titles out of the box.
There is currently no European launch date or pricing.
Piracy is such a divisive matter. Every consumer knows that piracy is inevitable and any measures taken on products to prevent piracy usually harm legitimate end-users more than pirates. But, it doesn't mean it wont stop companies at least trying while keeping face with consumers. On console platforms, which are closed and contained computer systems which have heavy copy-protection and detection in a predictable environment (unlike PCs which come in multiple setups, specs and makes) it's easier to crack down on piracy. However, even this doesn't prevent the distribution of piracy-enabling devices, even if this isn't the only feature they present end-users. Everyone has a different view on piracy or use of R4s, but what Nintendo knows about them and their uses is simple; they're bad news.
Nintendo has been more active this console generation than any other. The Nintendo Wii was the first console of Nintendo's to accept downloadable firmware updates, which have become the warzone for homebrew, pirates and Nintendo fighting over control of what the platform can do. The DSi also operates under downloadable firmware updates, designed to thwart loopholes in the DSi's copy-prevention/detection methods and stop 'flash cards' (like the R4, devices which have the ability to play game ROMs downloaded from the internet on legitimate, untampered hardware) from working. However, this is only half the battle Nintendo is fighting. They're also going after those that actually sell R4 and R4-like devices and those that distribute bootleg devices filled with ill-gotten games loaded onto them.
Today saw the announcement of Nintendo's new 'snitch-on-people' scheme in which you too will be able to help in the fight against piracy... So long you can understand Japanese. The new form includes the ability to tell Nintendo where you can download game ROMs, where you can purchase R4-like devices whether that be online websites or auctions or in retail stores and an ominous 'other' option, probably for things like markets or car-boot sales. Who knows? Just, don't tell the internet you've done so... Trust me on this one.
[Source: Famitsu]
23/09: New DSi colours in October
Although I'm still quite confused, as must be most of the western world, why Nintendo wont bring any new Wii colours outside of Japan, they are still quite happy to lay new DSi colours on us. Those hoping for a new range of colours will be slightly disappointed to find that you're getting two shades of blue and a red coloured DSi on October 23rd 2009. The colours; Light Blue, Mettalic Blue and Red will be ready for the shelves just in time for Christmas and I'm sure will sell very well. It's also bonus points for Nintendo by releasing red-coloured electronics, which I am an enthusiast for.
Personally, I think a nice shade of green (not that awful light green colour) or perhaps some experimental colours like a dark purple, chocolate or two-tone consoles which don't look terrible. But hey, at least we're finally breaking the monotone colours the DSi has been lingering around with now. Still very reluctant to pick one up though.
[Source: EuroGamer]
I actually started playing this game the weekend before E3 and quite frankly, it's a brilliant title. After amassing almost 30 hours on the game, I can tell you that this game is well worth the play, especially if you like Action RPG games and want a lengthy handheld title to see you through long commutes or travels/boring stuff in general. I'll let the review do the rest of the talking:
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (Nintendo DS)
Developer: Square Enix / Publisher: Square Enix / Genre: Action RPG / Release Date: TBA / Age Certificate: TBC
"So here comes Kingdom Hearts 538/2 Days another portable Kingdom Hearts adventure on a Nintendo console. My expectations of this game were very low, after seeing just the first handful of screens to be released for this game, I had already assumed that this game would be another Chain of Memories; a gimmicky title which resembled nothing of the game I had enjoyed so much on the Playstation 2. However, upon popping this bad boy into the DS, my expectations were shattered... But for once, in a good way. Shattered so much, that this game could actually be my favourite Kingdom Hearts game of the bunch."
It's been a while since the last review (there's been a few Previews on the site, however they aren't reported here) on 50Hz Gamer. Things have been a little manic, but I have found some time to write to you about a little game I like to call Poke-ee-mon. Yes, the latest iteration of the Pokémon series lands on European shelves next week and here's what I thought about it. I honestly can't remember too much about Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, so don't feel those games biased my review much. But yes, enjoyable times were had with this game.
Pokémon Platinum (Nintendo DS)
Developer: Nintendo / Publisher: Nintendo / Genre: RPG / Release Date: May 22nd 2009 / Age Certificate: 3+ PEGI
"... let's see if it stands the test of time. In a nutshell: Yes, just about. Pokémon Platinum is by no means a perfect game or RPG for that matter. It's archaic approach to an RPG game, probably in an attempt to cling on to the things which made the game special to millions back in the 90's, seem to hold the game back from being special to millions in the naughties (00's)..."
Nintendo have today announced what the internet has been all-a-buzz about for the last week; Pokémon Gold and Silver remakes for the Nintendo DS. The announcement comes after a Pokémon-related tease on the Japanese TV show: "Pokémon Sunday", which showed two pińata-style balls, one gold and one silver, telling viewers that they'll have a big announcement on the next show, when these two mysterious balls opened. Well, Nintendo went ahead and 1-upped Pokémon Sunday by outright announcing it on Friday instead. Have some of that, Sunday morning TV.
It's unclear as to what the new games will include, however if it's anything like the Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green remakes, it'll just be Pokémon Platinum (review comin' soon, by the way) but shaped to masquerade as, quite frankly, the best Pokémon games ever made. Apart from Crystal, which probably wont be remade. Also, what's with "Heart Gold"? I mean, Soul Silver is a pretty bad-ass name, but HEART gold? What happened to the 'it has the same colour so roll with it' naming convention? Like, Fire Red... Leaf Green... Let me tell you, Nintendo. I don't Heart Gold that name, so I wouldn't Leaf it as it is.
[Source: Dengeki]
No, I'm not joking you. I actually did review Gardening Mama. The spiritual successor to the Cooking Mama series. I thought I'd do a casual game for once and it was either Wagamama Girls Mode Fashion or this. And since this game is actually coming out in this region, it was the obvious choice. Plus, I could write a humorous review for once. Yes, I didn't take it at all seriously but I did express what I would normally in a review. Normal service will be resumed shortly.
Gardening Mama (Nintendo DS)
Developer: Taito / Publisher: 505 Games / Genre: Other / Release Date: May 1st 2009 / Age Certificate: 3+ PEGI
"Casual gamer or not, I'm sure you've heard of Cooking Mama. Mama has become the very symbol of casual gaming, like Mario or Sonic had become the symbol of hardcore gaming back in the 90's, she's so popular that even PETA went all-out to try and discredit her Mama credentials making a vegi-propaganda video game. But the less said about those bunch of loons the better. So, I look at the box of Gardening Mama and think to myself if I could bring myself to review it, I reviewed Sonic Unleashed, so why not?"
Nintendo's focus has undoubtedly shifted since the launch of the DS Lite back in 2006. Instead of dishing out what hardcore gamers consider AAA titles, they've opted for more 'casual' titles for their new 'casual' market. With 'casual' being the blanket terminology used to describe just about every pet simulator, Nickelodeon's TV-show tie-in or cooking teaching guide, language teaching software or ebook reader out there. The whole reason the DS has done so well is because Nintendo has managed to appeal to markets far reaching than the scope of say the Gamecube or the Xbox or even the Playstation brands. However, instead of admitting that hardcore gamers are no longer their primary focus, they continue to string along Nintendo fans with promises of new AAA titles which will keep them bound to the DS and the Wii.
Mr.Iwata, whom I have great respect for, has a lot to answer for, really. Although purposefully ambiguous, he told journalists that there was a new Legend of Zelda in the works. In a time where the Wii is suffering a crisis for all those lured in by classic Nintendo quality such as Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros Brawl, many had assumed that this new Zelda game was coming to the rescue of the Wii and Zelda fans started to get all hyped up. Then came yesterdays announcements at GDC where a new DS Zelda game; The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks was unveiled.
The game is essentially that of Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, which may not be all that bad. However, is this really what all those hopeful hardcore gamers were pinning their hopes on for hardcore gaming action? I mean, the game isn't even on the right system it should be attempting to save (he says, fully aware that the Wii has 50 million unit sales now, I meant 'save face' for non-casuals) anyway; The DS already has a fairly solid set of AAA titles for hardcore gamers to enjoy. Can't quite say that about the Wii which so far has very little to keep hardcore gamers interested.
Oh well. Wonder how that new Pikmin game is coming along...
25/03: DSi Virtual Console is a go
I posted a while back about the idea that Nintendo could be planning a Virtual Console-like service for the DSi, today news has spread that Nintendo, at an event over the weekend (and only coming to light now for some reason...) that Japan is getting a Gameboy and Gameboy Advance game download service. However, Nintendo has told the source; Kombo.com that there has been no announcements for North America [and Europe] and that players will not be able to (at least initially) to play the games off-of an SD card.
So now that Nintendo has done away with the GBA port and now practically forcing players to re-buy their titles in order to play them on the new, bigger, better screens... How much are they going to charge for the games? Well, expect all that
[Source: Kombo.com, via CVG]
Edited to reflect lack of announcement at GDC
Let's be honest, DSiWare has been pretty boring up until now. A solitaire game and a memopad application were the undoubted highlight of the currently available software lineup. However, from tomorrow; Japan will finally gain a decent application... And to top it off, it's a game as well. SEGA will be releasing a trimmed down version of Phantasy Star Zero; Phantasy Star Zero Mini for 200 Nintendo Points. The game is essentially a versus multiplayer game for local WiFi for up to 4 players, however there is no Download Play/Single Card mode, meaning each player has to buy the game in order to play.
In related news, the DSi has also hit the magical 2 million mark according to an independent evaluation by Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. That's already making a mark in the 6.4 million Nintendo DS (original) units sold in total in Japan, however has a long way to go before it catches up with the Nintendo DS Lite's 17.6 million units total sold in Japan. Seems Nintendo's money making machine will be doing double time for the foreseeable future. The DSi is set to be released in Europe on April 6th 2009.
[Source: Famitsu]
