Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Neurologists examine the brain on video games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/neurologists-examine-the-brain-on-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/neurologists-examine-the-brain-on-video-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/neurologists-examine-the-brain-on-video-games/#comments The New York Times' Bits blogger Matt Richtel recently took part in a University of California at San Francisco study of the brain by playing a "primitive" racing game inside of an MRI machine. This wasn't one of those attempts to show that gaming can improve brain functions, but rather the early stages of a larger project to "measure and map the ethereal concept of attention." Ritchel's brain was observed as he maneuvered around or ignored "distractions" in the game (a multitasking simulation).

Personally, we think this science project needs to evolve a bit. Look at that brain! It's bored out of its mind. For real, when there are other researchers out there bringing back giant aurochs from extinction or growing an "alien" form of bacteria, it's on today's scientists to step their game up. At least force test subjects to make some real Split/Second decisions.

Following Richtel's playtime in the MRI scanner, Dr. Adam Gazzaley, lead researcher of the UCSF project, concluded that the results were "neither surprising nor novel and consistent with existing literature." Yeah, but what would happen if you threw in an attack helicopter and some exploding barrels?

[Image sources: The New York Times; Shutterstock]

JoystiqNeurologists examine the brain on video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gazzaleyattentionbrainmrineurologystudyucsfTue, 04 Jan 2011 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Playing puzzle games will make you better at puzzle solving]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/30/study-playing-puzzle-games-will-make-you-better-at-puzzle-solvi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/30/study-playing-puzzle-games-will-make-you-better-at-puzzle-solvi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/30/study-playing-puzzle-games-will-make-you-better-at-puzzle-solvi/#comments
[flickr: Stephen Hampshire]
Wheaton College psychology professor Rolf Nelson has come to a startling conclusion based on the outcome of a recently conducted study: Playing games makes people better at playing ... games. According to GamePolitics, the study results -- published in the journal Perception (subscription required) -- showed that its 20 participants performed more accurately on two spatial relations tests after spending time playing a puzzle game, but were faster at completing the tests after sitting down with an action game.

In one test, participants were tasked with clicking on a spot where a target had briefly flashed on-screen; the second required them to choose from four shapes the one that most closely matched a target shape -- so, essentially, they were playing puzzle games after playing ... puzzle games. We're puzzled by the fact that Professor Nelson hadn't himself realized much sooner that, hey, this Professor Layton game tape is making me better at these here tests.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqStudy: Playing puzzle games will make you better at puzzle solving originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionbrainpsychologypuzzlesciencestudywheaton-collegeWed, 30 Dec 2009 03:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Emotiv mind-control device shipping December 21 for $299]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/#comments Wait, you guys are still playing video games with your hands? What, are they baby games? For babies? We've been using Emotiv's EPOC human-computer interface for months now, allowing our cerebellums to play our games for us, completely cutting our appendageal middle men out of the equation. You'll have the same opportunity on December 21, when Emotiv ships limited quantities of the device to customers who decide to pony up for the $299 price tag.

Of course, it doesn't work with all your games. Actually, from what we've seen, it's only capable of making boxes spin around and disappear. What it's really great at, however, is creating super awkward press conferences.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqEmotiv mind-control device shipping December 21 for $299 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainemotivEmotiv-Epocepocgadgetmind-controlscienceWed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NeuroFocus analyzes brain waves for better games marketing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/neurofocus-analyzes-brain-waves-for-better-games-marketing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/neurofocus-analyzes-brain-waves-for-better-games-marketing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/neurofocus-analyzes-brain-waves-for-better-games-marketing/#comments
What really turns a gamer on? Why waste money with trial and error when you can take advantage of NeuroFocus' new NGame service! The company specializes in measuring brainwave activity. The company then analyzes this information to derive three metrics: persuasion, awareness and novelty. By seeing how the brain responds to various stimuli, game developers will then be able to design characters, stories, weapons, scenarios and sound effects that create the most compelling experience possible. The company argues that by using their service, game developers will be able to "shave years off the typical game development timeline, and many millions in costs." Really?!

Perhaps we're a bit old-school, but we think we have a cheaper, more effective way of making a profitable game: put breasts in it. And guns! And chainsaws!

JoystiqNeuroFocus analyzes brain waves for better games marketing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braindevelopmentneurofocusngameFri, 27 Mar 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain fitness software market is very fit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/brain-fitness-software-market-is-very-fit/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/brain-fitness-software-market-is-very-fit/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/brain-fitness-software-market-is-very-fit/#commentsFiled under: ,

Say what you will about Nintendo, they know how to create new market segments. Case in point, the SmartBrains "State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 report" which cites the Nintendo's Brain Age games as a key driver in growing the brain fitness software market to a $225 million industry, up 125% since 2005.

Though Brain Age games dominate the $80 million consumer segment of the market, the game has also been a key inspiration to the 20 companies that create similar brain training tools for everything from sports teams to the military. The various brain training products have been used in over 400 elder care facilities and five successful randomized clinical trials. One product even gained FDA approval for use in stroke rehabilitation. We just hope those stroke patients don't have an accent.

[Via BoingBoing]

JoystiqBrain fitness software market is very fit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrain-agebrain-trainingDSeducationexercisehealthmentalreporttrainWed, 12 Mar 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Together, PS3s can be very brainy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/together-ps3s-can-be-very-brainy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/together-ps3s-can-be-very-brainy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/together-ps3s-can-be-very-brainy/#commentsFiled under:

Students from UC Irvine and Dartmouth college have netted themselves the $10,000 prize at IBM's Cell Broadband Engine Professor University Challenge on September 24. By connecting three PlayStation 3s together the team have emulated functions of the human brain - specifically, visual recognition algorithms. While other gaming platforms had substantial lag when performing visual recognition tasks, the PS3 lowered that to only a second of thinking time in order to recognise an object.

This marks only the beginning of the group's research into utilising artificial brain algorithms for use in robots, cars and other machines. Recreating the human brain, curing cancer - what can't the PS3 do? Maybe one day it'll even have some games to play. We kid, we kid ...

[Via Digg]

JoystiqTogether, PS3s can be very brainy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIbrainPs3Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Train your brain in public]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/train-your-brain-in-public/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/train-your-brain-in-public/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/train-your-brain-in-public/#commentsFiled under:


Imagine an alternate universe in which arcades not only exist, but are still stocked with new games. Now imagine that one of the biggest and most impressive-looking units in the place is a brain training game. As you may have guessed, it's not an alternate universe! You know, because the coverage on this site is limited to just the one universe.

Minna de Kitaeru Zenno Training is an arcade brain training game released in late 2006 by Bandai Namco, created under the supervision of the smartest disembodied head we know, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. Much like Brain Age, it uses a touch screen to present simple mathematical and logical tasks. But unlike Brain Age, Zenno Training is on a huge screen in the middle of a game center.

It's quite amazing how popular brain training has become! We wonder if Bandai Namco expects people to go back to the arcade every day for training. That would be so diabolical!

JoystiqTrain your brain in public originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandaibrainbrain agebrain trainingBrainAgeBrainTrainingdsds liteDsLitekawashimakitaerulitenamconintendonoutoretrainingTue, 03 Jul 2007 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Nicole Kidman enjoys Nintendo products*]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nicole-kidman-enjoys-nintendo-products/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nicole-kidman-enjoys-nintendo-products/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/nicole-kidman-enjoys-nintendo-products/#commentsFiled under:

Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman has joined the ranks of the brain-trained. The star of Practical Magic, Batman Forever, and Days of Thunder has agreed to become the official face of More Brain Training (well, the other official face) in a series of print and television advertisements to be shown across Europe.

"I love the concept that Nintendo is reaching out to new audiences with their self improvement products like Brain Training," Kidman said. "Most importantly, I've quickly found that training my brain is a great way to keep my mind young." Maybe now Nintendo and Brain Age will finally be able to achieve some success.

*For money.

JoystiqNicole Kidman enjoys Nintendo products* originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsagebrainbrain agebrain trainingBrainAgeBrainTrainingcommercialcommercialsdseuropekidmannicole kidmanNicoleKidmannintendonintendo dsNintendoDstrainingMon, 25 Jun 2007 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age 2 boxart is BLUUUUUUUUUE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/18/brain-age-2-boxart-is-bluuuuuuuuue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/18/brain-age-2-boxart-is-bluuuuuuuuue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/18/brain-age-2-boxart-is-bluuuuuuuuue/#commentsFiled under:

We don't necessarily make a post about the box design for every new game, but we pretty much had to for Brain Age 2, for the following reasons:
  1. It's a huge game
  2. We are too weak to resist the obvious joke (see title)
  3. hahahaha bluuuuuuuue
We don't know if it's possible to be as excited about the return of Brain Age as the Japanese public continues to be, but we eagerly await the return of our teacher, friend and constant source of Photoshop inspiration, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima's Disembodied Polygonal Head.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqBrain Age 2 boxart is BLUUUUUUUUUE originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebluebrainbrain agebrain trainingBrainAgeBrainTrainingdskawashimanintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamestrainingMon, 18 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Toys R Us summer toys list contains up to one video game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/toys-r-us-summer-toys-list-contains-up-to-one-video-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/toys-r-us-summer-toys-list-contains-up-to-one-video-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/13/toys-r-us-summer-toys-list-contains-up-to-one-video-game/#commentsFiled under:


Toys R Us has put out their list of the top 24 hottest toys for this summer, and, surprisingly, there is only one video game on the list-- and even that one's kind of a non-game, according to some people's definitions. Nintendo's brain-teasin' hit Brain Age represents the entirety of our hobby in Toys R Us's summer marketing campaign, despite being a game about math problems, and despite being over a year old. Technically, they also advertise the Leapster, but ... don't worry about the Leapster..

Are we seeing early signs of a Japan-style Brain Age phenomenon? Should we start hoarding DS Lites?
[Via Game|Life]

JoystiqToys R Us summer toys list contains up to one video game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrain ageBrainAgedsds liteDsLitekawashimalitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon-gamenongamessummertoys r usToysRUstruWed, 13 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Did it work?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/ds-daily-did-it-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/ds-daily-did-it-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/ds-daily-did-it-work/#commentsFiled under:


So we've all had a while to mess with Brain Age. We've Stroop tested and memorized lists of words and been yelled at by a floating head. Did it work? Do you feel smarter ... more aggressive ... like you could take on the world?

Or can you at least do division a little more quickly? That's pretty good too.

JoystiqDS Daily: Did it work? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrain ageBrainAgedsds litedsdDsLitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsMon, 28 May 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: NMS excitement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/wii-warm-up-nms-excitement/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/wii-warm-up-nms-excitement/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/wii-warm-up-nms-excitement/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fresh from the Nintendo Media Summit, we've quite a few impressions of games coming out in the immediate future. Among them:
We're most jazzed for Strikers, especially after reading such effulgent impressions from Penny Arcade. But which game shown at NMS excited you the most? If you were stuck on an island and could only have one game ... you know, assuming you had a Wii and a couple Wiimotes, and a nice TV ... maybe some nunchuks, oh, and the sensor bar, and I guess you'd need a standard 120 W outlet somewhere in the sand ... and a decent supply of food and water, or you wouldn't spend your time playing the Wii ... you know what, never mind.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: NMS excitement originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcademyArcadeBattleBigBigsBoogieBrainChargedCoachMariomediaNMSPartyPennyPokemonRabbidsRavingRaymanRevolutionStrikerssummitWordwwuSat, 26 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese hardware sales, May 14 - May 20: Satisfactory edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/#commentsFiled under:

Um...hot?
Having issues with performance? Can't seem to keep those sales numbers up? Disappointed in your ability to satisfy Japanese schoolchildren? It's okay, Mr. Miyamoto. It's not you, it's just ... you know ... they've seen it all before. They want something new. They need something big, and yours just isn't big enough. But boy, do we have a product for you!

Trust us. With regular use comes a guaranteed increase in size, or your money back! Girls will flock to you, women will be putty in your hands! After all, we've seen the results firsthand. Yes, that's right, we've sunk quite a bit of our own money and time into this product, and we're just absolutely 100% positive you'll start seeing results within a few weeks. And hey, it's not your fault nature didn't give you a little more to work with! So go ahead and start Training Your Brain, Miyamoto-san, and give those women what they really want: your astronomically high IQ.

- DS Lite: 111,213 52,572 (32.10%)
- Wii: 52,193 351 (0.67%)
- PSP: 27,505 6,928 (20.12%)
- PS2: 10,881 467 (4.48%)
- PS3: 8,659 180 (2.04%)
- Xbox 360: 2,026 79 (3.75%)
- Game Boy Micro: 428 20 (4.90%)
- GBA SP: 330 13 (3.79%)
- Gamecube: 276 39 (12.38%)
- GBA: 33 15 (83.33%)
- DS Phat: 26 13 (33.33%)

[Source: Media Create]

JoystiqJapanese hardware sales, May 14 - May 20: Satisfactory edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2007 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BrainEditionEnlargeHardwareJapaneseKawashimaMiyamotoNumbersPenisSalesSexualSuggestiveTrainingSat, 26 May 2007 00:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese hardware sales, May 14 - May 20: Satisfactory edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/26/japanese-hardware-sales-may-14-may-20-satisfactory-edition/#commentsFiled under:

No satisfaction
Having issues with performance? Can't seem to keep those sales numbers up? Disappointed in your ability to satisfy Japanese schoolchildren? It's okay, Mr. Miyamoto. It's not you, it's just ... you know ... they've seen it all before. They want something new. They need something big, and yours just isn't big enough. But boy, do we have a product for you!

Trust us. With regular use comes a guaranteed increase in size, or your money back! Girls will flock to you, women will be putty in your hands! After all, we've seen the results firsthand. Yes, that's right, we've sunk quite a bit of our own money and time into this product, and we're just absolutely 100% positive you'll start seeing results within a few weeks. And hey, it's not your fault nature didn't give you a little more to work with! So go ahead and start Training Your Brain, Miyamoto-san, and give those women what they really want: your astronomically high IQ.

- DS Lite: 111,213 52,572 (32.10%)
- Wii: 52,193 351 (0.67%)
- PSP: 27,505 6,928 (20.12%)
- PS2: 10,881 467 (4.48%)
- PS3: 8,659 180 (2.04%)
- Xbox 360: 2,026 79 (3.75%)
- Game Boy Micro: 428 20 (4.90%)
- GBA SP: 330 13 (3.79%)
- Gamecube: 276 39 (12.38%)
- GBA: 33 15 (83.33%)
- DS Phat: 26 13 (33.33%)

[Source: Media Create]

JoystiqJapanese hardware sales, May 14 - May 20: Satisfactory edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2007 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braineditionenlargehardwarejapanesekawashimaminutesmiyamotonumberssalestrainingSat, 26 May 2007 00:20:00 EST<![CDATA[NMS: Big Brain Academy hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-big-brain-academy-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-big-brain-academy-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/nms-big-brain-academy-hands-on/#commentsFiled under:

Our friends over at Joystiq have already started enacting nefarious plans against us, planned with their newly enlarged brains. The tiny-brains at Wii Fanboy don't stand a chance against the bigness of their horrible brains.

How did Joystiq get such big old brains? They got a hands-on preview of Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree. And even with their freakishly enlarged brains, they were positive about the game. It contains a series of minigames, each designed to improve one mental ability (Identify, Memorize, Analyze, Compute and Visualize) as well as presumably being fun. In addition to 8-player games at home, you can trade student profiles online to compete with your friends. Check out the screenshots in our People on the Couch Gallery!

Gallery: Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree

JoystiqNMS: Big Brain Academy hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academybbabig brain academyBig-Brain-AcademyBigBrainAcademybrainminigamesnintendonintendo wiiNintendo-EADNintendoWiinms07trainingwiiFri, 25 May 2007 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Non-games selling non-poorly in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/non-games-selling-non-poorly-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/non-games-selling-non-poorly-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/non-games-selling-non-poorly-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's no secret that Japan has got Brain Age on the brain. Brain Age and its sequel, which was just now (kind of) announced for the US, have broken all kinds of sales records and been pretty much the sole motivator for the insane success of the DS.

But what is less well-known is that, in addition to driving the creation of a ton of copycat software, training fever is pervasive enough to drive sales of that stuff. In other words, Brain Age has created a market for non-games, just like Nintendo hoped it would.

Gpara compiled a list of 95 DS non-games ordered by Media Create sales numbers, and NeoGAFfer Jonnyram has translated the first ten. These things don't cost much to make, and they are bringing in stacks of money. That's Economics Training at work. Or it would be if that existed. Give it a couple of weeks.
  1. Brain Age 2: 4,266,000
  2. Brain Age: 3,403,000
  3. Eigo Zuke (English Training): 1,937,000
  4. Big Brain Academy 1,519,000
  5. General Knowledge Training/Common Sense Training:1,381,000
  6. Cooking Navi: 815,000
  7. Kanji Test: 523,000
  8. Tokoton Kanji Brain: 406, 000
  9. IQ Suppli DS: 219,000
[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqNon-games selling non-poorly in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebig brain academyBigBrainAcademybrainbrain ageBrainAgedsds liteDsLitelitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon gameNonGamenongamestrainingWed, 23 May 2007 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[My Word Coach lets you be like us (plus DS-to-Wii connectivity!) [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/my-word-coach-lets-you-be-like-us-plus-ds-to-wii-connectivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/my-word-coach-lets-you-be-like-us-plus-ds-to-wii-connectivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/my-word-coach-lets-you-be-like-us-plus-ds-to-wii-connectivity/#commentsFiled under:

FallibLe.
[Update: Fixed broken link.]

Surely you've thought at some point, hunched over your keyboard because that damned essay is due tomorrow morning, that words could flow glibly and beautifully from your fingertips, as they do so often at Nintendo Wii Fanboy.

All right, that was a little arrogant. We're sorry.

Anyway. As you very well may know, Brain Age focused fairly heavily on the numerical side of things. Equations = sadness. Did it teach you how to express, or to inspire? Hell no. And so Ubisoft jumps into the brain training genre, with both Wii and DS versions of their literary inculcator, My Word Coach.

There's an in-depth preview over at IGN, and we highly encourage you to peruse their hands-on experience. We'd also like to point out that this game features a simple and effective DS-to-Wii communication feature, in which handwriting performed via stylus is instantly translated into the Wii title, which coincidentally happens to have a far more robust handwriting recognition system than did Brain Age. Is your brain tingling in excitement? We certainly hope so.

JoystiqMy Word Coach lets you be like us (plus DS-to-Wii connectivity!) [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AgeBrainConnectivityDSKawashimaMy Word CoachMyWordCoachTrainingWed, 23 May 2007 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age for $14: a smart move]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/16/brain-age-for-14-a-smart-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/16/brain-age-for-14-a-smart-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/16/brain-age-for-14-a-smart-move/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you're not one of the approximately 12 million people training their brains in minutes a day, then you aren't truly participating in the DS cultural phenomenon. We won't put a value judgment on that decision-- some people just aren't interested in brain training, or non-traditional gaming, or math. But if you have yet to get into Brain Age for financial reasons, we may be able to help you.

Circuit City is offering the game this week for $13.99, which, as anyone who has played it will tell you, is less than $19.99. Also available: Zoo Tycoon and, uh, some unknown media for other devices.

Now is a great time to pick up Brain Age and see what all the fuss is about (it's about short, brain-teasing minigames!) It would make Satoru Iwata happy, and isn't that what it's really all about-- the smile on one absurdly rich man's face?

JoystiqBrain Age for $14: a smart move originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrain agebrainagedealdealsdsds liteDsLitelitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDssalestycoonzoo tycoonZooTycoonWed, 16 May 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata reminds Nintendo of America who's boss]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/iwata-reminds-nintendo-of-america-whos-boss/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/iwata-reminds-nintendo-of-america-whos-boss/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/iwata-reminds-nintendo-of-america-whos-boss/#commentsFiled under:




(Hint: it's Iwata. Iwata is boss.) Nintendo just released their financial results briefing, which contains a transcript of a question-and-answer session with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Ever wondered what it would be like to work for Iwata? This quote should replace that wonder with terror: "When I received a report from the U.S. that they sold 1 million Pokémon Diamond & Pearl already, I asked them, 'why did you sell only 10,000 Brain Age last week, when Europe sold through 30,000?' This is a typical example of how I communicate with our people in the U.S."

Why would Iwata be so mean in the face of ostensibly great news? Because he's a huge jerk? Probably not. For one thing, Pokémon selling a million copies doesn't mean that anyone at Nintendo of America did anything particularly well. All they had to do was release it, making sure that the word "Pokémon" was clearly visible on the box.

But more importantly, Iwata isn't looking just to sell a bunch of games. He wants to expand the gaming market in the US like the DS has in Japan, and for that, Brain Age needs to get into non-gamers' hands. Then Nintendo can sell a bunch of games to them as well as to Nintendo fans. As Iwata notes in the report, 500,000 DS systems were sold in the US in March, which is a large number, but not as large as the 600,000 to 700,000 sold in Japan each month.

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqIwata reminds Nintendo of America who's boss originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrain ageBrainAgediamonddsds liteDsLiteeuropefinancesfinancialinvestorsiwatalitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnoapearlpokemonsalesFri, 04 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a degree in knowing how to play Big Brain Academy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/get-a-degree-in-knowing-how-to-play-big-brain-academy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/get-a-degree-in-knowing-how-to-play-big-brain-academy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/get-a-degree-in-knowing-how-to-play-big-brain-academy/#commentsFiled under: ,


We haven't read any research on the particular brain-embiggening properties of Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, and we're also quite certain that playing it won't result in an actual degree conferral (which is too bad, because we could use some more of those!) Whatever health or brain-bigness benefits it may have, the game certainly looks cute and fun.

Siliconera has posted some impressions of the Japanese version, with plenty of screenshots and explanation of the various minigames involved. We suggest you check it out and dramatically increase the size of the area of your brain that holds Big Brain Academy gameplay details!

JoystiqGet a degree in knowing how to play Big Brain Academy originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academybbabigBig-Brain-Academybigbrainacademybrainbraintrainingdegreeminigameminigamesnintendonintendo wiiNintendo-EADnintendowiinongamespuzzletrainingwiiTue, 01 May 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Am our gaming learning?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/am-our-gaming-learning/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/am-our-gaming-learning/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/am-our-gaming-learning/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seed Magazine has an interesting article that talks about the effects of Brain Age on your own grey matter, and calls it "entertainment masquerading as neurology." However, there might be more to it than that.

The same article talks about a company called PositScience that sells brain training sessions for a mere $395 a pop, and it might actually be doing something. According to program developer Michael Merzenich, "We've demonstrated that you can take the brain of a 75-year-old and make it function like the brain of a 35- or 40-year-old. It takes training, and some hard work, but it's possible."

It involves big words like "neuroplasticity," but it's a brain-fitness workout, which Brain Age is as well. So you can pay almost four hundred smackers for the big words, or try your hand at the sub-$20 version. Either way, something's gotta be happening to your neurons. Right?

[Thanks, Cam]

JoystiqAm our gaming learning? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainBrain AgeBrainAgeDSlearningMon, 16 Apr 2007 12:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Brain Academy screens, WiiConnect24 details]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/big-brain-academy-screens-wiiconnect24-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/big-brain-academy-screens-wiiconnect24-details/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/big-brain-academy-screens-wiiconnect24-details/#commentsFiled under:

It breaks our hearts to see that only a few games on the Wii's roster support Mii integration and WiiConnect24. Nintendo's lack of third-party cooperation might be to blame, but at least the company will be implementing both features with Big Brain Academy for the Wii. Users will be able to import their Miis when creating a student profile, solving the game's reflex puzzles with their customized characters.

According to the latest issue of Nintendo Power, WiiConnect24 will allow other people's Miis to wander into your game, equipped with the student profiles of their creators. You will also be able to test your brain against theirs in any of the multiplayer modes. We're going to be pretty depressed if our friends' Miis turn out to be much smarter than us. At least we have our wit! There's always that, right?

Big Brain Academy won't be coming out in the US until June 11, so there's still some time to hit the books and get your brain in shape. Jeux-France has several dozen screenshots of the game in action along with some Mii artwork. Check past the post break for a few of those images.

Continue reading Big Brain Academy screens, WiiConnect24 details

JoystiqBig Brain Academy screens, WiiConnect24 details originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artworkbbaBig-Brain-AcademybigbrainacademybrainmiimultiplayernintendoNintendo-EADnintendowiionlinescreensscreenshotswiiwiiconnect24Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age works, it really really works!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/brain-age-works-it-really-really-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/brain-age-works-it-really-really-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/brain-age-works-it-really-really-works/#commentsFiled under:

And with a scientific headline such as that, who's to argue, amirite?

But seriously, according to some Israeli scientists the brain-training exercises found in the game MindFit (very much like Brain Age), when compared against classic computer games such as Tetris, actually improve brain power more. Using a total of 121 volunteers over the age of 50, the study spanned over 3 months and, at the end, when each group was divided the scientists found that both groups had improved, but the group playing MindFit actually had better spatial short-term memory, spatial learning and focused attention.

[Thanks, Andrew!]

JoystiqBrain Age works, it really really works! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrainagedsdslitekawashimalitenintendonintendodsnintendodsliteMon, 19 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UK retailer celebrates Brain Awareness week with Brain Age deal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/uk-retailer-celebrates-brain-awareness-week-with-brain-age-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/uk-retailer-celebrates-brain-awareness-week-with-brain-age-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/uk-retailer-celebrates-brain-awareness-week-with-brain-age-deal/#commentsFiled under:

Did you know this week was Brain Awareness week? Neither did we, which might say something about the current state of our brain (see: mush). As part of this week's focus on the brain and the wonderful things it can do, UK retailer GAME is selling some bundles, along with a few games, at a discount to help you get the most out of that wrinkled little guy that rests snugly within your skull.

The deals offered include the pink and onyx DS Lites, bundled with Brain Training (Brain Age for us Americans) at a discounted price. Also up for grabs are Big Brain Academy, as well as Brain Training by itself, allowing those of you who already have a DS Lite (as you should) to still get in on the action.

JoystiqUK retailer celebrates Brain Awareness week with Brain Age deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbraintrainingdsdslitegamenintendonintendodsnintendodsliteWed, 14 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: New horizons]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/04/ds-daily-new-horizons/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/04/ds-daily-new-horizons/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/04/ds-daily-new-horizons/#commentsFiled under: ,

There have been a lot of familiar franchises on the DS, and we love them! But, and this is where a lot of the system's publicity comes from, there has also been an explosion of new genres and new experiences, as well as revivals of past trends. So, as hardcore gamers (the kind who read game blogs), has your gaming universe been expanded by the DS? Have you taken part in any completely new experiences? Played your first graphical text adventure? Minigame collection? Whatever Brain Age was?

Or maybe what you discovered on the DS is something popular that you just missed out on for some reason, like Final Fantasy or Castlevania. We want to hear about your experiences! We want to know how the DS has affected your gaming tastes! We want to know how you classify Brain Age!

JoystiqDS Daily: New horizons originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrain agebrainagedailydsds dailyds litedsdDsDailyDsLiteduskfantasyfinalfinalfantasyhotelhotel duskhotelduskmarionintendonintendo dsNintendoDsphoenixphoenix wrightphoenixwrightwrightSun, 04 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at some unsung DS villains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/a-look-at-some-unsung-ds-villains/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/a-look-at-some-unsung-ds-villains/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/27/a-look-at-some-unsung-ds-villains/#commentsFiled under:

Modojo's Ryan Morgan took a trip into the underworld of DS games, finding the meanest of the mean villains and delivering stern warnings about them. These aren't the everyday spiny, cloaked, "NOOOOOOO"-bellowing villains we know, the kind that telegraph their evilness to the world, but some more insidious cads who, while they look innocuous enough, will strike and attempt to force you to feed their twisted, evil obsessions.

The biggest offender? The color blue, who Nintendo seems to have collaborated with to render Brain Age players hoarse or even mute from repeated attempts at the Stroop test. Bluuuuuuuuuuuue!

JoystiqA look at some unsung DS villains originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebluebowserbrainbrainagedsdsliteganonganondorflistlitemodojonintendonintendo dsnintendo ds liteNintendoDsnintendodslitenoooooooovillainvillainsTue, 27 Feb 2007 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Koreans encountering some problems with Brain Age]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/02/koreans-encountering-some-problems-with-brain-age/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/02/koreans-encountering-some-problems-with-brain-age/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/02/koreans-encountering-some-problems-with-brain-age/#commentsFiled under:

With news that Nintendo was going to directly stake a claim in the bolstering Korean games market, many in that market were happy to hear that the company with a knack for creating wonderful and original games would be arriving, saving them from horrible importing fees and lackluster customer service. Now that Nintendo has arrived and launched their DS Lite system, along with Brain Training, some are finding the same technical flaws that plagued the game in America and Japan have come to Korea.

At least, one reporter for the Korea Times has discovered such, claiming that both the voice recognition exercises, as well as the written ones, are failing to register the proper data. Hmm, sounds familiar, doesn't it?

See also:

JoystiqKoreans encountering some problems with Brain Age originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainbrainagedsdslitekorealitenintendonintendodsnintendodslitenintendokoreaFri, 02 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Epilepsy and games: A closer look]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/epilepsy-and-games-a-closer-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/epilepsy-and-games-a-closer-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/epilepsy-and-games-a-closer-look/#commentsFiled under:

Anyone who plays video games has probably come across the scary-sounding warnings about epileptic seizures that affect "a very small portion of the population." But it's still a bit shocking to stumble across a headline that urges reader to "Beware! Video game turn kids epileptic."

The sensationalistic headline in the Hindustan Times is a bit misleading -- as the Epilepsy Therapy Development Project (ETDP) explains, "playing video games can, in rare cases, trigger seizures, but there is no scientific evidence that video games can cause epilepsy." Still, the article points out how otherwise normal children who have not yet been diagnosed with epilepsy can have scary, violent, seemingly unexplained fits when exposed to certain games.

Research shows that while 1 in 200 people have some form of epilepsy, only about 1 in 4,000 have the photosensitive type that can be triggered by video games. That might not sound like much, but multiplied over tens of millions of video game players it adds up to thousands of people who are potentially susceptible.

ETDP has some suggestions for preventing the risk of seizure, including playing in a well lit room and playing for shorter periods of time. NIH suggests that TVs running at 100 Hertz won't induce seizures, and that some children simply outgrow the problem as they get older. In short, while video game-induced epilepsy is something to keep an eye out for, it's not something to be overly panicked about.

JoystiqEpilepsy and games: A closer look originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainepilepsyhealthresearchvideo gamesVideoGamesTue, 19 Dec 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Famitsu's top 100 DS games in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/11/famitsus-top-100-ds-games-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/11/famitsus-top-100-ds-games-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/11/famitsus-top-100-ds-games-in-japan/#commentsFiled under:

Remember this scan?Japanese mag Famitsu has compiled, using black magic and voodoo, a list of the top 100 best-selling DS games in Japan. The numbers they use appear to be different from the Media Create numbers we usually use, but one has to wonder how in the world they can claim accuracy down to individual units. We think it has something to do with spirits. Here's the top ten (Japanese sales only, remember), and for the rest, follow the link!
  • 1. More Brain Training (Nintendo) - 3,417,956 sold
  • 2. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) - 3,351,234 sold
  • 3. Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo) - 3,335,195 sold
  • 4. Pokémon Diamond / Pearl (Nintendo) - 3,060,032 sold
  • 5. Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo) - 2,837,394 sold
  • 6. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) - 1,626,242 sold
  • 7. English Training (Nintendo) - 1,408,243 sold
  • 8. Nintendogs (Nintendo) - 1,335,185 sold
  • 9. Big Brain Academy (Nintendo) - 1,299,188 sold
  • 10. Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop (Bandai) - 1,110,046 sold

JoystiqFamitsu's top 100 DS games in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BrainFamitsuHundredListOneTopMon, 11 Dec 2006 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Sports: Training and Fitness modes documented]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/wii-sports-training-and-fitness-modes-documented/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/wii-sports-training-and-fitness-modes-documented/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/wii-sports-training-and-fitness-modes-documented/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've been spending tons of time with Wii Sports and we never took the chance to check out the Fitness and Training modes. In correcting the situation, we found that each are fairly straight forward and just how you would imagine them; Fitness is a kind of Brain Age semi-clone, yet instead of a brain age you are given a fitness age, and with Training you are taken through several scenarios in each of the sports. Fitness mode is a good deal more in-depth, so initially you'd want to head into Training mode before checking that out so that you can train up before committing yourself to a fitness age the system is looking to label you with.


Continue reading for our first ever Wii Sports Fitness mode trial!

Continue reading Wii Sports: Training and Fitness modes documented

JoystiqWii Sports: Training and Fitness modes documented originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ageblogblogathon06brainbrainagedsdslitefitnessfitnessagelitenintendonintendodsnintendowiiwiiwiisportswiisportsfitnessSun, 12 Nov 2006 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo feel good moment: buying mom a DS Lite for her birthday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/nintendo-feel-good-moment-buying-mom-a-ds-lite-for-her-birthday/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/nintendo-feel-good-moment-buying-mom-a-ds-lite-for-her-birthday/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/nintendo-feel-good-moment-buying-mom-a-ds-lite-for-her-birthday/#commentsFiled under:

While we were navigating the tubes of the intertron today, we stumbled upon the flickr account of one edublogger documenting his mother's birthday and the DS Lite and Brain Training combo gift he bestowed upon her. Personally, it made us feel wonderful to see someone giving, and receiving, the gift of Nintendo.

We've stolen included pictures of the gifting and unwrapping embedded into the post, after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo feel good moment: buying mom a DS Lite for her birthday

JoystiqNintendo feel good moment: buying mom a DS Lite for her birthday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdaybrainbraintrainingdsnintendonintendodstrainingTue, 24 Oct 2006 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Brain Academy headed to the Wii?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/big-brain-academy-headed-to-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/big-brain-academy-headed-to-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/big-brain-academy-headed-to-the-wii/#commentsFiled under:

One of our wonderful readers sent us in a tip (note: sending in news tips may or may not increase your chances of becoming a billionaire) regarding Super Mario Galaxy. Turns out, Nintendo's listing of Wii titles has Super Mario Galaxy as only being a temporary name. More importantly, however, is the listing that shows Big Brain Academy (also a temporary name) is headed to the Wii.

Could this mean that a Brain Age sequel will not be releasing on the Wii, with Big Brain Academy being the only brain-training game to hit the platform?

[Thanks Modano!]

JoystiqBig Brain Academy headed to the Wii? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academybigbraingalaxymarionintendonintendowiisupersupermariowiiMon, 23 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kawashima ditches the DS for the PSP in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/kawashima-ditches-the-ds-for-the-psp-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/kawashima-ditches-the-ds-for-the-psp-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/kawashima-ditches-the-ds-for-the-psp-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

Dr. Kawashima, the jovial floating head accompanying you on your travels through swift mathematics problems and furiously shouting "brew!" at your DS whilst playing Brain Age, has decided to float on over to the competition with Mind Quiz for the PSP in Europe.

Ubisoft, the publisher behind Mind Quiz, looks to bring the same experience to Sony's handheld, sans touch-screen capable and voice-recognizing gameplay. One thing that makes Mind Quiz stand out from its Brain Age cousin is that it will feature online gameplay and mock exams to quiz your mind.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqKawashima ditches the DS for the PSP in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebraindskawashimamindnintendonintendodsplaystationportablepspquiztrainingWed, 04 Oct 2006 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age math challenge exploit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/19/brain-age-math-challenge-exploit/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/19/brain-age-math-challenge-exploit/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/19/brain-age-math-challenge-exploit/#commentsFiled under:


We're pretty sure that at least one of you have solved the 10 math problems exercise in Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. We aren't sure, however, that some of you have done it in 8 or less seconds. Considering this individual is exploiting the system a tad through the use of chicken scratch writing, we can't give him much credit.

OK, maybe we're just jealous...

As always, video is embedded into the post after the break.

Continue reading Brain Age math challenge exploit

JoystiqBrain Age math challenge exploit originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainbrainagedsnintendoTue, 19 Sep 2006 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age sells 4 million worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/10/brain-age-sells-4-million-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/10/brain-age-sells-4-million-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/10/brain-age-sells-4-million-worldwide/#commentsFiled under:

Nintendo recently sent out a press release where they went over the latest numbers for their popular brain-trainer DS title Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. In revealing the numbers for the three major regions of North and South America, Europe, and Japan, Nintendo stated they have sold over 4 million units worldwide. 600,000 of the units were sold in the Americas, 500,000 total in Europe, and an insane 3 million units have been sold in Japan.

"Brain Age is so easy to pick up and play, regardless of your experience level," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "You can play it for 10 minutes or an hour and keep yourself feeling sharp. As a baby boomer, it's like a treadmill for my mind."

[Source: Nintendo Press Release]

JoystiqBrain Age sells 4 million worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebraindaydsgeorgeharrisonminutesnintendotrainThu, 10 Aug 2006 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Touch Generations slogan ideas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/07/touch-generations-slogan-ideas/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/07/touch-generations-slogan-ideas/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/07/touch-generations-slogan-ideas/#commentsFiled under:


We don't normally post about advertisements, instead leaving that up to the ad critics, but this Touch Generations ad just brought some hilarious commentary to our mind. We envision a nice evening out, maybe the couple's 23rd anniversary, and after a few glasses of wine, the husband is feeling a bit frisky once the couple arrive home. "Not right now," she says, shouting "brew" into her DS Lite during an intense round of Brain Age. "I have to get my brain's age down," she quickly follows with. The husband, upset, rolls over and firmly fixes a frown upon his face, falling asleep.

In the spirit of cruelty, we decided we'd come up with our own ad slogans for the Touch Generations brand. Here goes:
  • Touch Generations: Now having a headache doesn't have to be your only excuse.
  • Touch Generations: Because you're too old for most stuff anyway.
  • Touch Generations: "Paddles" are too complicated nowadays.
  • Touch Generations: You'll be damned if you're paying for another dog from the pound. 6 is quite enough!
  • Touch Generations: Because reading is for dummies.
  • Touch Generations: Because you should at least be able to kick your kid's ass in one game.
What kind of brilliant marketing ideas are swimming around in your noggin?

JoystiqTouch Generations slogan ideas originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebraindsgenerationslitenintendotouchMon, 07 Aug 2006 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo's top 10 games of 2006 (so far)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/nintendos-top-10-games-of-2006/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/nintendos-top-10-games-of-2006/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/nintendos-top-10-games-of-2006/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With the year half-way over, Nintendo of America's Rufus has seen fit to put out his list of top 10 games so far this year. What's surprising is that Big Brain Academy comes in at the number one spot, a place which we're fairly sure should be given to New Super Mario Bros. instead. What isn't surprising, however, is that the list is dominated by DS titles.

  1. Big Brain Academy (DS)
  2. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
  3. True Swing Golf (DS)
  4. Drill Dozer (GBA)
  5. Super Princess Peach (DS)
  6. Chibi Robo (GCN)
  7. Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll (DS)
  8. Tetris DS (DS)
  9. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS)
  10. Odama (GCN)
What would your own personal list look like?

[Via Infendo]

[Note: This has nothing to do with sales numbers. This is a list purely based on personal opinion of one Nintendo of America employee.]

JoystiqNintendo's top 10 games of 2006 (so far) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academybigbrainbros.dsmarionewnintendosuperFri, 14 Jul 2006 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Age striking it rich in the mainstream media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/brain-age-striking-it-rich-in-the-mainstream-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/brain-age-striking-it-rich-in-the-mainstream-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/brain-age-striking-it-rich-in-the-mainstream-media/#commentsFiled under:

First up, CBS News has some rather extensive coverage, both in article and video form, on Nintendo's brain-tickling title Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. With the focal point of the piece being that these types of "brain games" are excellent for senior citizens, allowing them to keep a nimble mind through continuous use of the title, it paints one excellent picture overall. The debate as to whether these types of games actually can benefit your health is one that is sure to be without resolution for some time to come, but getting seniors and those who would otherwise be disinterested in games, playing and enjoying themselves, is a huge win for Nintendo.

CBS isn't the only news affiliate covering the Brain Age story, however, as a local Arizona news team also covered the game. This local Fox News team actually took the game to the streets and got it into the hands of average citizens, recording their reactions. What's also surprising is that the team even brought up the voice recognition problems that so many of us have had, which shows they really put their time in with the game.

Embedded video after the link.

Continue reading Brain Age striking it rich in the mainstream media

JoystiqBrain Age striking it rich in the mainstream media originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebraincbsdsfoxnintendoWed, 21 Jun 2006 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Competitive Brain Age: Joystiq pwns]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/competitive-brain-age-joystiq-pwns/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/competitive-brain-age-joystiq-pwns/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/competitive-brain-age-joystiq-pwns/#commentsFiled under: , ,



At the Nintendo booth, people have been constantly queueing for Brain Age. Calculating by yourself is fun, but it doesn't come close to the competitive thrill of remembering your times tables faster than the next guy.

We're proud to say we won our tournament, coming in with the respectable (for day three of E3) time of 28 seconds. Interestingly, the runner-up (with a very close time) was also a girl, with the two guys taking over twice as long to finish -- draw what conclusions you will from that.

JoystiqCompetitive Brain Age: Joystiq pwns originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 May 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boothbrainbrain ageBrainAgecompetitionDSE3e32006eventshigh scoreHighScorenintendoFri, 12 May 2006 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Lite and Brain Age not playing well together]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/19/ds-lite-and-brain-age-not-playing-well-together/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/19/ds-lite-and-brain-age-not-playing-well-together/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/19/ds-lite-and-brain-age-not-playing-well-together/#commentsFiled under:


No doubt you're too occupied with charting your brain's age and calculating simple arithmetic with the quickness of a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to read this post. That's OK, we'll forgive you and just post this blog here for when you encounter this most horrible issue while playing on your newly-acquired DS Lite. Seems the device doesn't recognize the word blue, a word that is so critical to success in the "game." Reader Sean even went so far as to knock upon the doors of Nintendo, demanding an answer to this most heinous issue. The response he received was:

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your e-mail.  We appreciate your comments.  The problem that you are describing is very likely because the Nintendo DS Lite is not designed for use in North America.  That means that we have not tested it for use here.  I will be sure to forward your e-mail along for further review, just in case.

So far, the redesigned Nintendo DS has only been released in Japan.  Look for any further announcements on this product by checking  the news section of our website at the following address:

www.nintendo.com/newsmain

Keep checking our website at www.nintendo.com for the latest on Nintendo games, systems, and promotions.  And, while on our site, also check out the My Nintendo program.  With this program, not only can you check on the status of a
subscription, part order or repair order, but you can also register your games and systems, and participate in the Nintendo Forums.

Nintendo of America Inc.
Lauren Taylor

The funny thing is, the "game" can hardly recognize when I say blue either, and that's on an original phat DS. Maybe it's my rough Philly accent, which makes me say "wooter" instead of "water."

JoystiqDS Lite and Brain Age not playing well together originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agebrainnintendo'dsWed, 19 Apr 2006 22:00:00 EST