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Nintendo has a lot of franchises to draw from. They're continuing to pump out those Pokemans, gave us a new Zelda game last year and a new Super Mario Bros. game before that. So what's next for them? We think it's high time we got an Elite Beat Agents 2 already, but what about you all? What's the next major Nintendo game you want to hear about?

So the DS has been on the receiving end of some great games from Nintendo's most popular franchises. We had the excellent Phantom Hourglass, the million-billion-selling New Super Mario Bros. and some solid installments in the Animal Crossing and StarFox franchises. But what's next?

Which one of Nintendo's franchises do you want to see hit the DS next? A new Punch-Out!!! game? Or what about the next installment in the Pikmin franchise? What would you like to see from Nintendo?

A list of the top fifty best-selling games in the UK last year has surfaced, and the DS snagged six of the spots, though you may be somewhat surprised by what made it. Of course, considering that there are a lot more regular folks than there are "hardcore gamers" (and even the hardest of the hard like a little break now and again), you may not be that surprised after all.

The original brain game, Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training, took the number two spot as the second best-selling title overall, and the sequel, More Brain Training, slid in at number five. Considering that Big Brain Academy turned up at number 37 (along with its console cousin at number 24), there must be a lot of healthy and exercised brains trundling around Dear Old Blighty these days. The other games that turned up were New Super Mario Bros., at number 13, Cooking Mama just above it in twelfth place, and way down near the bottom, Pokémon Diamond turned up at number 44. Perhaps our friends in the UK have already caught them all.

For a lot of us, this updated list of current and forthcoming "primary" Nintendo releases doesn't offer much, but for European gamers, there's a lot to speculate on. We keep seeing this DS Novel pop up, but what exactly is it? When it's shown up before on lists, there was also a "temporary title" tag attached, but no longer, though other titles on the list are tagged as such. Is it settled? Is it just the e-book reader? Literature-themed nongame? Sounds like it might be worth importing for litgeeks in the rest of the world. If you know something we poor Americans don't, please clue us in!

In other news, Nintendogs continues to lead the pack among DS titles in sales, with Pokémon and New Super Mario Bros. lagging a little behind. Unsurprisingly, the phenomenal Brain Age duo keeps churning out the dollars as well.

To see the full list of releases, check after the jump.

I may write about PSP gaming news, but I own and play every system (including the new and next-gen consoles). So while I do get to play most any game I want, I can't help but wish in a feverish state, that certain system exclusives went to other consoles. In this case, if I wanted to list 7 DS games I'd love to see show up on PSP (however unrealistic that may be). So here it is:

1. New Super Mario Bros (My favorite DS game, but I would like better power ups and more variety. It would also be great to see what the creators could do in 2D with the power of PSP)
2. SNK vs Capcom Cardfighters (Addictive and strategic gameplay that makes me giddy. Only if it comes to PSP, add back in free-roaming and take out the game killing bug)
3. Ace Attorney (Great characters, funny cases and it makes you think. That sorta game would work on any system)
4. Kirby (He may be cute, but the gameplay is classic)
5. Advance Wars (Because Field Commander is good, but not THIS good)
6. WarioWare(Because there aren't enough mini-game titles on PSP)
7. Meteos (Because every Q? Entertainment game should be on PSP)

What about you reader? Are there any DS games you'd like to see on PSP, or do you refuse to even entertain the thought?

Bathroom gaming has been a popular pastime for as long as handheld consoles have been around. We like to imagine that even before our age of technology, kids spent their lavatory leisure time playing ball-in-a-cup or some other antiquated equivalent. That's how far back this honorable tradition goes.

As Infendo Radio host Scott Johnson can tell you, however, bathroom gaming does not come without its hazards. It's easy for things to go wrong while multi-tasking, but when you're sitting on the toilet is one of the worst times that can happen. Johnson has an entertaining, animated short describing his woeful experience. The Flash cartoon also serves as a warning to all you extreme bathroom gamers out there: playing New Super Mario Bros. in the work washroom might be fun, but if you aren't careful, it can quickly turn into a commode catastrophe.

Nintendo of Korea has put out a 30-second commercial to accompany its recent release of New Super Mario Bros. The advertisement continues the Korean branch's trend of using a popular face to push their products, enlisting the help of an actress famous for both her TV and film roles.

The commercial is set up much like its Italian and Japanese counterparts, introducing the scene with a shot of an enthusiastic girl playing with a DS Lite in her bedroom. The ad alternates between clips of gameplay and close-ups of Lee's reactions. An extended, minute-long video without the gameplay clips is also available.

Over at 4 Color Rebellion, writer (and Seoul resident) N Rumas tells us of a nation's ability to love Nintendo again. In riding the train, he reports of daily sightings where people are enjoying the DS and Brain Age, as well as seeing the handheld plentifully stocked at local retail outlets. He even reports of a friend, who owns a shop, enjoying a boost in business.

Now, with the release of New Super Mario Bros. this week, sales in the region for Nintendo should skyrocket that much further. With the universal appeal and popularity of Nintendo's plumber mascot, the game should sell very strongly upon release.

[via 4cr]

As gamers, we are members of a very unique culture that permeates every fiber of our being. Odd gaming quotes and an insatiable desire to explode all barrels in sight are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of gamers (the rest are just as nice, we assure you), and upon seeing this Rubix Cube, which is affixed with various pictures of Mario and Luigi from the game New Super Mario Bros., we knew that we had to have it. Do you share our desire?

[Via Tokyo Mango]

Where can you find Hannah Montana hanging out with FFIII? No, not on a shelf at your local GameStop -- in Next Generation's list of the top 100 best-selling games in North America in 2006. But you get more than just a regular ol' list; they also broke the games down by average critical rating, and it's pretty interesting to compare sales with review ratings. More signs that the review system could use an overhaul? Or just an indication that critics and gamers often look for different things?

Some interesting things we noticed while perusing the list:

• Bratz outsold a lot of very good DS games, including Tetris. We can only guess that Games 4 Girls campaign worked. Also, we're now certain that Bratz dolls should be banned, due to the fact that they're obviously both evil and insidious.
  
• People really dig Cars.
• DS games started to get fewer and further apart as the list wound down. We suspect that's simply because there are too many great DS games for people to buy. Our wallets hurt. Really. But we're not complaining.
• Nintendogs barely made it into the top 50. We're surprised.
• The highest ranked DS exclusive: New Super Mario Bros., which came in at number 5.

Siliconera has documented the above game cases, which are distributed in Japan by company Takara Tomy, available for the small price of 200 yen (about $1.61 USD) each. The only snag is that you do not get to pick which one you get, instead offering your money int he hopes that you'll randomly get any case other than the bricks.

We've included the Pokemon cases after the post break, which will become available next month.

Man, Japan gets all the best stuff! The above are two different board games (Crystal Attack and The Tower variety) based on the smash hit New Super Mario Bros. and, while they do not look entirely like the traditional board game, they certainly bring the kid in us out. With moving parts and warp pipes, we would love to import ourselves both of these, but in all honesty the price is a bit too steep.

The games are set for a March release in Japan and will cost importers $45 USD for the Crystal Attack version and $35 USD for The Tower version. The site makes no mention of shipping and handling costs, but we're sure it has to be at least $10 USD a piece.

Anyone going to pre-order this?

It's always nice to be reminded that it's not just about us. Y'know, the hardcore devotees the folks who cackle over zany niche titles, when we're not busy whipping it good in something a little more mainstream. Awesome as we are, we're not the only ones who drive the DS market ... and the list of the bestselling games of 2006 (in the U.S.) serves as a great little reminder. The DS grabbed two of this year's top spots with New Super Mario Bros. and Brain Age, which took 2nd and 10th, respectively. Numero dos behind Madden '07 is a pretty big deal, and surely not all of the people who bought New Super Mario Bros. would consider themselves Nintendo fanfolk, and that's almost certainly true of Brain Age, as well. The DS may not be recognized as the top system in the U.S., but we're still in your lists, stealin' your slots. And, of course, that money.

Spike TV has released the list of its 2006 Video Game Awards winners, expunging all temptation to tune into the televised presentation this coming Wednesday. While the results hold little standing in the industry, it's interesting to note that Sony has seemingly fallen out of popularity with Spike TV's award ceremony, perhaps implying a shift in popular brand.

Last year, Sony enjoyed (at least shares in) Game of the Year, Best Action Game, Best Original Score, Best Graphics, Best Handheld Game, and Best Technology; this year, Xbox 360 is tied to all of those awards (except 'Best Technology' & 'Handheld Game'), along with Studio of the Year, Best Shooter, Best Multiplayer Game, Best RPG, Best Racing Game, and Most Addictive. Sony currently has stake in none*.

Sure, PlayStation 3 hasn't even been on the market for a month, but Wii managed to earn the 'Breakthrough Technology' award, and Twilight Princess nabbed Critic's Choice; plus, with New Super Mario Bros., DS won out over PSP. Is 'Comeback Company of the Year' in the cards for Sony in 2007?

*Oblivion will end up on PlayStation 3 next year.