As Nintendo announced today, its new DS variant, the DSi, is outfitted with two cameras and music playback. And with DSi Camera, users can add effects that include face composition that combine faces, distortion, superimposing face altering expressions and adding picture frames. DSi Sound access SD memory card sound files to alter the tune’s playback. There are various music visualizers as well — baby chicks hatching out of eggs, for example. Via the mic, it’s possible to record up to 10 seconds of sound, and it’s also possible to alter the sounds as well as music.
ニンテンドーDSiの内蔵機能、「DSiカメラ」と「DSiサウンド」でできること [IT Media]
Those hoping for Wii or DS price cuts this holiday season, go on and hope some more. Well, at least in Great Britain! Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton says there are no plans for pricetag reductions this Christmas. According to Yarnton:
In terms of Nintendo’s business, we feel that Wii and Nintendo DS already represent great value for money. This combined with out focus on market expansion and bringing people of all ages to our products through making them smile and helping to enrich their lives means that we currently see no need to drop the price on either of our formats this year… As retailers continue to try and maintain footfall and secure share in the current difficult economic climate, this Christmas should see some interesting and very competitive retailer-led promotions.
No price drops from Nintendo, but retail enticements. Happy Holidays everyone!
Nintendo confirms no price drops for Xmas [Videogamer]
No, not the Wii version. The next proper version, the one that may or may not be in development at Blue Castle Games. The latest issue of the UK’s Official PlayStation Mag reckons that it’s not just in development, but that Capcom are trying something a little new with it: that it’ll be episodic. Like Siren: Blood Curse. Be worth watching to see how that plays out, if true. One episode per night/day, perhaps?
OPM UK Rumours: Crysis on PS3 in 2009? [PS Beyond]
At today’s Nintendo press conference, the game that former Sonic developer Yuji Naka is making was shown. Dubbed Let’s Tap, there are some screenshots, and it looks like a bunch of mini-games. Apparently mini-games that a penguin can even play. Guess we’ll find out more. All in good time, all in good time.
Let’s Tap [SEGA]
And here is Nintendo’s Wii line-up for 2008 and 2009. This year sees titles like Wii Music, Animal Crossing Wii, Samba de Amigo — along with Japan only titles like the Haruhi Suzumiya game, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Karaoke JOY SOUND and Happy Dance Collection. Plus! This December Japan gets the new PROPE game from former Sonic dev Yuji Naka, Let’s Tap. Next year sees Wii Sports Resort, Punch Out, Another Code, Cosmic Walker, and Sin and Punishment 2.
Don’t look now, but there are real games on the bricks-n-mortar PC sales charts for the week. Real, honest-to-goodness, not-made-by-Maxis-or-Blizzard games. Don’t believe me? Check out Warhammer Online at #1. Or Crysis Warhead at #4. Or, bless it, Stalker: Clear Sky, which doesn’t just make the charts, it beats out World of Warcraft.
1. Warhammer Online 2. Spore 3. Warhammer Online Collector’s Edition 4. Crysis Warhead 5. The Sims 2 Apartment Life 6. WoW: Battle Chest 7. Spore Galactic Edition 8. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe 9. Stalker: Clear Sky 10. World Of Warcraft
[figures courtesy of NPD]
Announced today at a Nintendo press conference in Tokyo, here are the first non-PR pictures of the Nintendo DSi, including a look at the portable’s box. Nothing quite like packaging. After the jump, there’s a close-up of the DSi, a blurry close-up at that. But it does show the new DSi interface.
Our question: Who’s keen on picking this up?
Tiberium has been cancelled. Can’t say we’re devastated, since there’s more than enough gritty sci-fi shooters on the market as it is, but whatever. Somebody, somewhere, will be upset. Looks like the write-off’s not a total loss, however; in the comments section of Gamasutra’s piece on the closure, some “insiders” have cut loose, ripping on EA, the development team’s management, and…well, everything, really. It’s all a bit of a mess, and there are conflicting stories, and there’s no way to actually verify any of it (though from the detail and the venom it certainly feels legit), but hey, it’s still a fun read. Who doesn’t love a good soap opera?
EA Cancels Tiberium, Cites Quality Issues [Gamasutra]
Enterbrain, the company behind Japanese publisher Famitsu, has released hardware and software sales data for Japan during the first half of fiscal 2008. According to Famitsu, sales data was collected between March 31, 2008 and September 28, 2008. Both hardware and software sales are down when compared to the same term last year. What’s more, the PSP was the biggest hardware seller during the first half of fiscal 2008, outselling the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii. Hit the jump for the full hardware and software sales rundown.
Ah, our first look at Platinum Games’ Bayonetta. Because scans can only convey so much sexy. Sadly it’s a sparse, brief trailer, and strangely for a Devil May Cry-kinda game, shows no combat. It does show, however, that the protagonist has one hell of a hip-shaking swagger. Curiously the GameVideos clip isn’t embeddable, so hit the link below to watch.
Bayonetta ‘Pre-TGS’ clip [GameVideos]
