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Dragon Quest IX save data 'enormous;' only one slot allowed

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 8th 2009 at 6:00PM }

The upcoming DS-exclusive RPG, Dragon Quest IX, is massive. In fact, producer Ryutaro Ichimura notes that "the amount of freedom we give players is huge." The consequence? "The data that needs to be saved is enormous." Instead of providing multiple save slots, as found in most DS games, Dragon Quest IX is too large to fit more than one save file in the DS cartridge's limited memory.

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 }

Nintendo has just announced COP: The Recruit, created by Ubisoft, for the DS at their E3 press conference. It's an open-world third-person urban crime game with an anime edge -- you play as a street racer who's been cuffed, and has to choose between working for the police or returning to your criminal ways. The short video they showed was reminiscent of both Driver and GTA -- running, shooting, committing acts that would normally get you locked up, all on the DS's dual screens.

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 }

Everything old is new again. The DS makes a resurgence thanks to camera-enhanced DSi, while the PS2 makes substantial gains thanks to its price drop. Pfft? Current gen hardware? That's so passé. We can't wait until the N64 and Dreamcast surge back onto the NPD lists.

- 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%)

See the software charts after the break. Warning! The list will feature some very old games.

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Custom DS styli will blow your cover

by Justin McElroy { Apr 17th 2009 at 5:00PM }

When we play our DS in public, we occasionally like to pretend it's a PDA, just so we look like grown-ups. To complete the illusion, we'll often say things like "Ugh, I have so many business appointments in my PDA," or "Ugh, why can't I find Johnson's phone number in my PDA?"

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 }

Ubisoft just announced its first game to take advantage of the DSi's camera feature, and it's, uh, My Healthy Cooking Coach (or simply My Cooking Coach in the UK). The game will work on both DS and DSi, but DSi owners will have access to ten extra recipes for some reason (mostly just to make DSi owners feel special, probably), and will be able to use pictures taken with the DSi camera in their own chef profiles. The press release mentions DS and DSi versions, so we've contacted Ubisoft to clarify, in case there are separate cartridges for each system [Update: it's just one DSi-enhanced cartridge].

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 }

Early adopters can begin forming a line outside their electronics boutique of choice as Nintendo has officially announced the street date for the DSi. The company's third stab at its popular touchable moneymaker will hit and, we predict, promptly fly off store shelves on April 5. The date is just 24 hours off of an earlier prediction last month, which by prognosticator standards isn't half bad.

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 }

When news that Nintendo had filed a patent for a "DS Direction Sensor Card" dropped last week, many of you were curious as to how the technology could possibly be implemented in the highly touchable handheld. Sadly, the system's new capability isn't being used to ease navigation through perilous, poké-infested environs (at least, not yet) -- it seems the first application to use the compass-esque tech is Astroarts' Hoshizora Navi, or Starry Sky Navigator.

The app, which runs a little pricey at 8,190 yen ($92), charts over 9,300 stars, planets, suns and moons ~~and hearts and clovers and red balloons~~ from 1900 to 2099. It's not just used as an astronomical reference tool, however -- the system's new capabilities allow the charts to change their orientation to match the direction you're currently facing. Finally, we're approaching the day when we don't have to carry these cumbersome astrolabes with us everywhere we go! Thanks, technology!

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.

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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.

Iwata still sees vast market for current DS hardware

by Randy Nelson { Jan 9th 2009 at 4:53PM }

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has dispelled rumblings that the global games market has become over saturated with the DS Lite, hence the roll-out of the DSi. In an interview with Japanese paper Daily Yumiuri, Iwata pointed out that, for example, only 18% of people in Japan own a DS.

"Some say the market for the DS is saturated, but I disagree. In Japan, a country with a population of 127 million, we've sold 23 million DS units," he told the paper. "The United States is inhabited by over 300 million people, and there are more than 490 million people in the European Union. Sales of the product could grow further in foreign countries considering their populations." That's a big blue ocean.

So then, DS won't die until every last man, woman, and child on Earth owns one. Or something like that. Oh, and a DSi. Iwata's dream is of a world where "each family member will have his or her own DSi with their favorite software installed." That's a big dream.

[Via Edge Online]

Best Buy vending machines now offering portable games in airports

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 3rd 2009 at 12:00PM }

We live a fairly fast-paced, jet-setting lifestyle -- an unfortunate side-effect of which are the hours of frequent layovers we are forced to suffer while flying between Hugh Hefner's Sky Villa in Vegas and our private, opulent island getaway off the coast of O'ahu. These long stretches are made even more unbearable when we forget to pack our handhelds -- a situation that often causes us, in a sheer fit of boredom, to overdose on Dramamine and attempt to ride the baggage carousel.

Luckily, we'll never again have to know the firm, rubber-gloved grip of an annoyed Air Marshal -- Best Buy recently began offering DS Lites and select DS titles in their Best Buy Express vending machines. These machines are located at several major airports throughout the U.S., and sell a number of important devices for travelers, such as headphones, chargers, and most recently, Pokémans catching simulators.

DS screen manufacturer accused of price fixing

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 20th 2008 at 4:15PM }

We reported back in February that Sharp and Hitachi, two tech industry juggernauts who are responsible for supplying the DS with its LCD screens, were under investigation for their suspected collusion to control the price of said screens. Earlier this week, the Japan Fair Trade Commission concluded their investigation, and accused Sharp of violating the nation's "Antimonopoly Act", ultimately fining the company 261.07 million yen ($3 million).

In a statement delivered on Thursday, Sharp agreed to "strengthen [their] effort of compliance with law and business ethics," though they denied that they participated in activities that violated the Antimonopoly Act, stating that two manufacturers alone would be unable to control the market in the manner the JFTC has accused them of. They stated that they are looking into their "next steps," and are considering a hearing request.

5th Cell announces next DS project: Scribblenauts

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 6th 2008 at 12:00PM }

Developer 5th Cell is known for their unique use of the Nintendo DS touch screen in their titles, which include Drawn to Life and Lock's Quest -- however, their next project makes those two titles seem like the creative equivalent of Madden 09. In a recent interview with IGN, 5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka gave a brief run-down on Scribblenauts, which will have players traversing puzzle-filled worlds, spelling nouns to make objects appear that will help solve said puzzles.

For instance, in the first gameplay trailer that 5th Cell provided (posted after the break), Maxwell (the game's protagonist) is trying to collect a "Starite" from a treetop. Writing "ladder" will provide the vertical assistance needed to reach the Starite, but you could just as easily create a "football" with which to topple the Starite from the tree. Then again, you could spawn a "beaver" to chew the tree down. Or maybe you could summon basketball superstar (and crically-acclaimed actor) "Shaquille O'Neal" to grab it for you.

Okay, we made that last one up -- but if the possibilities are as endless as the trailer suggests, we better see some Shaq functionality in the final product.

[Via DS Fanboy]

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DSi sales surpass 500K in Japan

by Ross Miller { Dec 2nd 2008 at 2:00PM }

Nintendo's DSi has sold 535,379 units in Japan since its November 1 launch, according to a report from Enterbrain. The latest cog in the company's perpetual money-making machine was reportedly short on supply for the first few weeks, which most readers should know by now is the modus operandi.

To date, the DS lineup has sold over 24 million in Japan since launching December 2004. The not-so-hack proof DSi should be launching worldwide by Summer 2009.

[Via Gamasutra]

Nintendo DS trademarks secure limitless future

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 13th 2008 at 2:14PM }

The ginormous list of trademarks filed by Nintendo just before DSi was unveiled in October has been made public -- and Siliconera has done a fine job of translating each and every one for us! From "DSArcade" to "DSZone," the list is packed with branded trademarks for just about any (safe, legal and 16-digit-protected) activity one could imagine using a handheld device for: cooking, clubbing, shopping, walking, mailing, mapping, phoning, friending -- you name it!

Siliconera has highlighted several software-related filings, too, including "Friends Collection," which could be an allusion to Tomodachi Connection, an upcoming Japanese DS game where players "interact" with Mii-celebs like Shiggy, Reggie and Iwata. "3D Picross" and the mysterious "Kuβoς" (or "kyubosu") were also put in writing.