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Wallace & Gromit creators use Flipnote Studio to create Spirit Tracks animations

by David Hinkle { Jan 22nd 2010 at 5:45PM }

You likely know Aardman Animations as the creators of the hilarious cheese-loving man and surprisingly capable K-9 duo, Wallace & Gromit. To celebrate last month's release of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks in Europe, Nintendo tapped the studio to create a trio of custom animations paying homage to the game in Nintendo's free animation app for the DSi, Flipnote Studio. Now we get to see their labor bear fruit and, oh my, these came out looking sharp, as the video above this text can attest.

However, the real feather in this (Minish?) cap is the odd video past the break showing Link's game-long companion, Zelda. For us, the uneasy feeling we get witnessing Link's lack of concern seeing Zelda in poltergeist form is only exceeded by Zelda's apparent glee, despite being a creepy specter. That just weirds us out!

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Bash SpongeBob's boat in SpongeBob's Boating Bash

by JC Fletcher { Jan 19th 2010 at 2:30PM }

THQ describes the latest SpongeBob SquarePants game, SpongeBob's Boating Bash, as its "first demolition derby style party game," which makes it perfect for when you want to throw a demolition derby style party without all the cleanup.

Boating Bash puts SpongeBob and his friends behind the wheel of customizable "boat mobiles," as they attempt to knock parts off each other's vehicles to earn points and advance through the game. The ultimate goal of the thousands of violent collisions? A driver's license, of course!

Boating Bash will be out on Wii and DS this spring.

This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Marching to the muscular beat

by David Hinkle { Jan 18th 2010 at 4:00PM }

This week's Nintendo Channel update has been pumped up beyond all recognition, and not because there's a bunch of new stuff to look at. In fact, there's really not that much at all, save for some new No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle teasers; however, the inclusion of a brief Muscle March info trailer is enough for us to question whether or not this week's update is on some kind of performance-enhancing drug. We've contacted the appropriate authorities, but in the meanwhile, head past the break for this week's content.

Gallery: Muscle March (WiiWare)

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DSi motion control demoed by Engine Software

by David Hinkle { Jan 7th 2010 at 11:06AM }

Netherlands-based handheld gaming studio Engine Software has developed a cool new piece of tech for the DSi: motion sensitivity. To show off this breakthrough, the company has developed a brief demo video of TILT, a kind of Marble Blast Ultra clone where the player guides a ball around the gameworld by tilting the DSi. It's not the first we've heard of this kinda tech, and it won't be the last.

Engine Software isn't stopping with just this tech demo, however. The company is currently working on a full DSiWare game that will incorporate this new technology; though it likely won't be a full version of TILT, but rather an entirely new game. Head past the break to check out a brief video showcasing the tech.

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NintendoWare Weekly: Castlevania ReBirth, Pilotwings, Oregon Trail

by David Hinkle { Dec 28th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Nintendo's been on quite the roll recently, providing plenty of content in its weekly offerings -- and today is no different. There are ten new titles to check out, including high-profile downloads such as Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, Oregon Trail and -- finally! -- Pilotwings on the Virtual Console. Head past the break to check out the full list.

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8-bit Dark Void Zero rocketing to DSiWare in January

by JC Fletcher { Dec 22nd 2009 at 9:45AM }

Mega Man 10 isn't the only pseudo-NES game coming out of Capcom in early 2010. Capcom is expanding Airtight Games' jetpack adventure, Dark Void, with side-scrolling DSiWare game Dark Void Zero.

Zero follows Rusty, one of the first humans to land in Dark Void's world, as he fights the Witchers with Nikola Tesla's help. Like Will from the next-gen games, Rusty has a jetpack, which can be used to hover in place or fly upward. Unlike the next-gen adventure, Rusty's fight is presented as a somewhat Metroidvania-style NES game, with graphics reminiscent of Capcom games like Strider and Bionic Commando.

Rather than making a quick promotional game, Capcom seems to have gone all out for Dark Void Zero, recruiting Dark Void composer Bear McCreary to create an authentic NES soundtrack for the game. Capcom has also invented a fiction not just for the game, but about the game, portraying it as a lost dual-screen PlayChoice-10 project. See a trailer and some thrilling in-game footage after the break. According to GameSpot, Dark Void Zero will be available in January for 500 DSi Points.

Gallery: Dark Void Zero (DSiWare)

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Datel's Sound Speaker DSi eats handhelds for breakfast

by David Hinkle { Dec 11th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Nothing's ever going to top Nyko's crazy Zoom Case, but Datel Japan's bulky DSi speaker attachment thing -- the official title is the Sound Speaker DSi -- is definitely making a strong play for Most Crazy DSi Accessory Ever. As you can see, the accessory is not only meant to protect by consuming the handheld whole, but it also amplifies the DSi's audio ... because that's what you want from your DSi. The multitasking capabilities of Datel's device also allow you to charge your handheld (through an included AC adapter or some AA batteries) after you've spent hours being kind of a jerk.

The Datel Sound Speaker DSi runs 3,990 yen (about $45) and can be purchased here.

[Via GoNintendo]

The Chinese DSi is full of puppies

by JC Fletcher { Dec 8th 2009 at 5:45PM }

Nintendogs is being released as a DSiWare game! But instead of being distributed over the Internet like most non-cartridge DSi games, Nintendogs will be distributed on the new iQue DSi when it launches in China. That's right, instead of a cartridge, it's being delivered on a whole DSi.

The iQue DSi will launch in China (with piracy-averting free Nintendogs) on December 15. Like other regions, iQue will offer 1,000 free DSi Points to new buyers, which they can spend on games including Paper Plane, Bird and Beans, the clock apps, and WarioWare: Snapped.

[Via Andriasang]

Atlus announces PhotoWorld for DSi -- through the ESRB

by JC Fletcher { Dec 8th 2009 at 1:00PM }

Using its cost-effective ESRB method of announcing new games, Atlus revealed a new DSi program called PhotoWorld. As you may expect from a game with that title, it involves taking pictures with the DSi camera. Players shoot a self-portrait and then "customize the pictures with a variety of stamps, photo effects, and text boxes."

As Siliconera notes, Atlus already sort of has a program like this on DSiWare. Nintendo's Sparkle Snapshots is based on Atlus's popular Print Club (Purikura) booths. We look forward to finding out how this one differs -- there's absolutely no way it could be any more sparkly, that's for sure. Of course, we aren't even sure this is DSiWare -- while this sounds like the kind of thing you would sell as a download, all we know is that it's for the DSi.

NintendoWare Weekly: Rayman, Stop Stress, Shinobi, Street Fighter Alpha 2

by David Hinkle { Dec 7th 2009 at 10:30AM }

There's some classic platforming to be had in both Rayman and Shinobi in this week's Nintendo downloads, and even a way to deal with Jack's overabundance of stress in Stop Stress: A Day of Fury. There's over ten titles in all, so cruise past the break for the full list.

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Nintendo gives thanks for plenty of holiday week hardware sales

by JC Fletcher { Nov 30th 2009 at 10:00PM }

Nintendo announced that over 1.5 million of its various game systems were sold last week. Not last month, last week. Thanks to Black Friday and two new DSi bundles, Nintendo could afford all the trimmings for a resplendent company Thanksgiving. Not that we know whether or not Nintendo had one of those. The point is, Nintendo sold a bunch of stuff and made a lot of money.

According to Nintendo's estimates, more than 550,000 Wii systems were sold last week, and over 1 million DS and DSi systems. The release of two new DSi bundles (along with a few crazy prices) could have had something to do with that last statistic. By selling that many handhelds, Nintendo broke its own sales record for the holiday weekend! Though the company didn't manage to beat last year's 800,000 Wiis sold, which means that, despite still selling a huge number of Wiis, and despite all those DS sales, Nintendo is completely doomed, right?

This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Jon Heder shows off Flipnote Studio

by David Hinkle { Nov 30th 2009 at 4:45PM }

Apparently, Jon Heder has been spending his downtime with Nintendo's Flipnote Studio. The video above shows the actor knows how to do a thing or two with Nintendo's software, though you'll find his doodlings are severely lacking in Ligers. Still, it's a neat video for some very neat -- and very free -- software for your DSi.

Head past the break for the full list of this week's Nintendo Channel content.

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NintendoWare Weekly: Tales of Monkey Island, Bookworm, The Combatribes

by David Hinkle { Nov 30th 2009 at 12:00PM }

If you thought last week's NintendoWare Weekly update was huge, well ... you'll probably think the same thing about this week's update! That's mostly because Nintendo provides quite the overweight offering this time, with a total of ten new titles available for your post-Thanksgiving download. Loosen that belt and make some room for more by heading past the break for the full list of this week's releases.

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Iwata: DSi XL is a spectator system

by JC Fletcher { Oct 30th 2009 at 5:58PM }

The DSi LL (or XL) isn't just for the poorly sighted or hugely handed. In his financial results briefing, Satoru Iwata revealed another purpose for the jumbo system: playing with crowds. "Nintendo DSi LL features not only bigger monitor screens," Iwata said, "but an improved view angle on the screens to make it the first portable system that can be enjoyed with people surrounding the gamer."

He envisions the DSi XL as allowing for a "new play style where those who are surrounding the game player can also join in one way or the other to the game play." Tomodachi Collection, one of the best-selling DS games of the quarter in Japan, is named specifically as a game that already benefits from having friends nearby. "Because communications and interactions with other family members and your friends are one of the key elements of the game, the fun aspect is intensified when other people can watch how you play in comparison with when you are playing by yourself."

As a bonus, your friends can help you hold the system up.

DSi XL FAQ: Sized up

by JC Fletcher { Oct 30th 2009 at 9:22AM }

Early yesterday, Nintendo of Japan announced the DSi XL (DSi LL in Japan), a larger, larger-screened version of the DSi. It's a big system, and kind of a big mystery, given that the only advance notice we had of the thing was a Nikkei blurb two days prior. While we can't answer the big questions, like how long this idea has been in the works, and whether a bigger handheld is a good idea as an alternative to the DS's continual miniaturization, we can round up what we know and can reasonably speculate about the DSi XL -- right after the jump.