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Nintendo's Dunaway says DS has 'room to grow' in US market
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Mar 4th 2010 at 9:30PM } 
Yet, in spite of its success, Dunaway believes there's still a lot more to be done with the US market. Dunaway notes that -- in terms of market penetration -- "in Japan, one in two consumers has a DS." But in America? "It is one in four. So we have room to grow." Essentially, if Japan is the benchmark for America, Nintendo must sell twice as many DS systems as it already has.
If there's one thing we've learned not to doubt this generation, it's Nintendo's ability to sell systems and make money. In January, the company was able to sell over 400,000 units in America -- and that figure is likely to grow with the introduction of the DSi XL in March. Perhaps we need to add even more money to this already-overused JPG.
[Via Edge]
DSi XL releasing March 28 for $190 in North America
by JC Fletcher { Feb 24th 2010 at 12:25PM } 
At its Media Summit today, Nintendo just announced the North American release date for its new, enormous DSi, the DSi XL: March 28. On that day, you'll be able to walk into a store and pick up a DS that makes your hands (and Cammie Dunaway's head) look super tiny for $189.99; a $20 premium over the regular-sized DSi.
Hopefully, we'll hear about some new DS games to play on the vast expanses of DSi XL screen space today as the Nintendo Media Summit continues.
Update: The system will be available in Burgundy and Bronze at launch, and will be preloaded with both DSiWare Brain Age games, Photo Clock, the DSi Browser, and Flipnote Studio.
Wii sales surpass NES; DS Nintendo's best-selling hardware ever
by Richard Mitchell { Jan 29th 2010 at 6:01PM } 
In addition to revealing its latest financial figures, Nintendo has released some interesting facts about its two star performers, the Wii and DS. As revealed in the financials, the Wii has sold over 67 million units since its launch in 2006. Putting that in context, Nintendo reveals that the original Nintendo Entertainment System sold 61.91 units in its lifetime, which now makes the Wii the company's most successful console of all time. As for the DS, it has now sold 125.13 million units, surpassing Game Boy and Game Boy Color lifetime sales of 118.69 million units. That makes the DS Nintendo's most successful piece of hardware ever.
It's important to point out that Nintendo counts all four iterations of the DS in its life-to-date sales numbers. Considering each version has a number of improvements over previous versions, we're sure there's plenty of overlap among consumers. Still, there's no denying that Nintendo's latest hardware lineup has been incredibly successful, even if it was slightly less successful in 2009.
[Via Shacknews]
It's important to point out that Nintendo counts all four iterations of the DS in its life-to-date sales numbers. Considering each version has a number of improvements over previous versions, we're sure there's plenty of overlap among consumers. Still, there's no denying that Nintendo's latest hardware lineup has been incredibly successful, even if it was slightly less successful in 2009.
[Via Shacknews]
Pachter: More console price cuts coming by summer
by Randy Nelson { Jan 12th 2010 at 8:00PM }
In his latest advisory note to investors, Wedbush Morgan prognosticator and analyst Michael Pachter goes on record with his belief that we'll see "another price cut for both systems some time this year (around summer)," noting in the email that "because its manufacturing costs are lower, Microsoft has the ability to lower price as early as March or April."
In lieu of a price cut on Microsoft's part so soon, Pachter feels that the company may instead introduce "a more feature-packed Xbox 360 in early 2010 (likely with a 250GB hard drive) at the same $299 price point." The great seer believes that Microsoft will only drop the price on its console before summer "if it begins to lose significant market share to Sony," adding that he anticipates last fall's price cut on PS3 will continue to help Sony gain ground on Microsoft.
On the portable front, Pachter doesn't expect PSP Go (remember that?) to make much headway this year unless Sony prices it "more reasonably," and says that the biggest challenge facing Nintendo DS is "its own high installed base," stating that he anticipates sales of the handheld to steadily decline in 2010. Good thing Nintendo's started talking about a "DS2," huh?
In lieu of a price cut on Microsoft's part so soon, Pachter feels that the company may instead introduce "a more feature-packed Xbox 360 in early 2010 (likely with a 250GB hard drive) at the same $299 price point." The great seer believes that Microsoft will only drop the price on its console before summer "if it begins to lose significant market share to Sony," adding that he anticipates last fall's price cut on PS3 will continue to help Sony gain ground on Microsoft.
On the portable front, Pachter doesn't expect PSP Go (remember that?) to make much headway this year unless Sony prices it "more reasonably," and says that the biggest challenge facing Nintendo DS is "its own high installed base," stating that he anticipates sales of the handheld to steadily decline in 2010. Good thing Nintendo's started talking about a "DS2," huh?
Nintendo: Iwata's DS2 comments were 'misinterpreted'
by David Hinkle { Jan 12th 2010 at 5:30PM }
[Reuters]
We all know a brand-new Nintendo handheld is coming eventually, but in what seems like an effort to detract from the buzz surrounding such a device (and likely to get some of that buzz back on the latest DS revision, the DSi XL), Nintendo has issued a statement regarding reported comments from Iwata on a new handheld -- what we've affectionately dubbed the "DS2." Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo of America's senior director of corporate communications told Kotaku, "Mr. Iwata did not make any comments regarding the functions of Nintendo's future hardware systems," adding that Iwata's statements as reported by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper were "misinterpreted."As for those statements, it seems to be a given that Nintendo would add motion-sensing technology to its next handheld. Looking to ape the Wii's success, the entire industry has moved in the direction of motion-based gaming -- including Microsoft, with Project Natal, Sony, using the PlayStation Motion Controller, and Apple, a direct competitor in the portable market, chiefly with the IPod Touch. And let's not forget, motion control isn't out of the realm of possiblity for the current Nintendo handheld.
Nintendo DS exceeds 10 million units in the UK
by Richard Mitchell { Dec 10th 2009 at 2:30PM }
We've been holding this back for a while now, but it's probably time to just come out and say it: It looks like the DS is a success.
Dragon Quest IX save data 'enormous;' only one slot allowed
by Andrew Yoon { Jul 8th 2009 at 6:00PM }
While those who prefer creating multiple save points (before a dungeon, for example) will be disappointed, we're reminded of yet another huge DS game: Pokemon. And like Nintendo's monster collecting RPG, Dragon Quest IX will feature a backup system just in case your DS battery dies. "The scariest for save data is when the battery dies," notes DQ creator Yuji Horii. With this system in place, you'll be safe knowing a failed save won't result in hours of gameplay lost.
[Via Kotaku]
COP: The Recruit takes you to an urban open world on the DS
by Mike Schramm { Jun 2nd 2009 at 12:58PM }
We've got no date at all for when this might actually appear on store shelves, but we're guessing it'll be some point in the future. Sometime after this exact second right now.
April NPD: DS breaks a million, PS2 beats PS3
by Andrew Yoon { May 14th 2009 at 7:30PM }
- DS: 1.04M
477K (+85%)- Wii: 340K
261K (-43%)- Xbox 360: 175K
155K (-47%)- PS2: 172K
60K (+87%)- PS3: 127K
91K (-42%)- PSP: 116K
52K (-31%)Custom DS styli will blow your cover
by Justin McElroy { Apr 17th 2009 at 5:00PM }
While we love these custom game-themed styli like a Trauma Center scalpel or Link's Master Sword, if there's a quicker way to tip people off that you're not sending a business email, we haven't seen it.
Ubisoft's My Healthy Cooking Coach is DSi Enhanced
by JC Fletcher { Apr 6th 2009 at 6:00PM }
My Cooking Coach contains 240 healthy recipes, along with "tips and tricks to create healthy and delicious meals that will delight friends and family." My Cooking Coach will arrive in June.
Gallery: My Healthy Cooking Coach (DS)
Nintendo launching DSi in North America on April 5
by Jason Dobson { Feb 18th 2009 at 8:37AM }
For those who have been living under a rock (it's difficult to take pictures of you under there), this latest hardware revision will shoehorn a pair of cameras onto the handheld, as well as an interactive voice recorder and ability to play tunes stored on an SD card. Downloadables are also promised with what Nintendo creatively calls its DSiWare application, with software available for a range of prices starting at 200 DSi Points. It's unclear what software will be available at launch, however. What we do know is that the system will retail for $169.99, a bit cheaper than expected, and will be available in any color you want. As long as those colors are either blue or black.
Direction-sensing DS card used for stargazing app
by Griffin McElroy { Jan 24th 2009 at 11:30AM }
The app, which runs a little pricey at 8,190 yen ($92), charts over 9,300 stars, planets, suns and moons
Comparing Echoes of Time on Wii and DS
by David Hinkle { Jan 23rd 2009 at 10:54AM }
Some new videos for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time have hit GameTrailers and they show us what we're dying to see: integration between the DS and Wii versions of the game. As you all know, playing the two are very similar, so it should be nothing but good times come this spring when the game releases.
Check out the comparison video above, then head past the break for two more videos, which show off character customization and two-player gameplay.
Nintendo patent 'points' to direction-sensing DS card
by Randy Nelson { Jan 15th 2009 at 12:30AM }
Siliconera reports that Nintendo has filed for a new trademark in Japan on something called the "DS Houi Sensor Card." As the site points out, the full English translation is "DS Direction Sensor Card," leading to (inevitable) speculation that Nintendo is planning DS games with built-in direction / motion tracking.
Current games, such as Tony Hawk's Motion, utilize custom cartridges -- inserted into the DS' GBA slot -- for added functionality. But with the DSi ditching GBA cart compatibility, Nintendo had to do something; this may be a sign of more nifty gimmicks to come on the handheld, which is (possibly) soon-to-be-released in North America.
Current games, such as Tony Hawk's Motion, utilize custom cartridges -- inserted into the DS' GBA slot -- for added functionality. But with the DSi ditching GBA cart compatibility, Nintendo had to do something; this may be a sign of more nifty gimmicks to come on the handheld, which is (possibly) soon-to-be-released in North America.
