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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[People of Europe to receive improved faces in Q2?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/people-of-europe-to-receive-improved-faces-in-q2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/people-of-europe-to-receive-improved-faces-in-q2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/people-of-europe-to-receive-improved-faces-in-q2/#commentsFiled under: ,

Remember Otona no DS Kao Training? Non-game. Free camera. Facening. Well, the folks at French site JeuxActu are just absolutely goshdarn convinced that Intelligent Systems' face training non-game is packing its bags and heading to Europe during Q2 this year.

As Nintendo has yet to pass official comment on this, we're cautiously treating this as rumor for now, but the incessant popularity of training games in Europe makes us think there could be some truth in the speculation. If it does turn out to be correct, it also means Europeans will be getting that rather dinky camera add-on. As well as having totally awesome faces.

JoystiqPeople of Europe to receive improved faces in Q2? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameraeuropefaceface-trainingfaceningFaceTraininglocalizationnon-gamenongamestrainingMon, 07 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix continues mapping the world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/square-enix-continues-mapping-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/square-enix-continues-mapping-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/square-enix-continues-mapping-the-world/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apparently Square Enix did decent business on the first series of World Walking travel guide things, or at least made back their teensy budget. Maybe the team knows a guy who travels a lot and has a poor sense of direction. Whatever the reason, they're expanding the line, with another set of DS cards with maps and helpful cultural information.

The World Walking non-games provide travelers with maps with landmarks and touristy points of interest marked. They also include pictures of attractions, information about local culture and food, and even niceties like dual time zone clocks. Oh, and also minigames, but you surely knew that.

Read - World Walking: Shanghai
Read - World Walking: England
Read - World Walking: Seoul
Read - World Walking: Hong Kong

JoystiqSquare Enix continues mapping the world originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ds-styledsstyleenglandhong-kongnon-gamesnongamesseoulshanghaisquare-enixworld-walkingworldwalkingFri, 09 Nov 2007 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy Review: Jam Sessions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/29/ds-fanboy-review-jam-sessions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/29/ds-fanboy-review-jam-sessions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/29/ds-fanboy-review-jam-sessions/#commentsFiled under:


Ubisoft's Jam Sessions isn't a guitar. It sounds kind of like one, and encourages you to play melodies with it that were written for guitar. There have even been guitar-pick-shaped styli designed to be used with the program. But don't think of it as a guitar. It's not even a "virtual guitar." It's certainly not a game either, and not in the way that Brain Age is a non-game, but rather in the way that the web browser is not a game.

Jam Sessions is a new, digital musical instrument that is every bit as innovative as Toshio Iwai's Tenori-On, with the added benefit of making sense to someone other than Toshio Iwai. It is endlessly configurable, ridiculously feature-rich, and easy to operate. It is potentially useful for traveling musicians, but is just as enjoyable for amateurs who just want to mess around and make some impromptu music.

Continue reading DS Fanboy Review: Jam Sessions

JoystiqDS Fanboy Review: Jam Sessions originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Sep 2007 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitarjam-sessionsjamsessionsmusicnongamesubisoftSat, 29 Sep 2007 19:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Non-game wins Great Canadian Video Game Competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/non-game-wins-great-canadian-video-game-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/non-game-wins-great-canadian-video-game-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/non-game-wins-great-canadian-video-game-competition/#commentsFiled under:

Telefilm Canada announced the winner of its Great Canadian Video Game Competition: a game called MindHabits Trainer designed for the DS. The game is intended to increase social aptitude and create positive feelings toward social interactions, through daily minigame sessions.

Developer MindHabits received $50,000 in January to work on the game after passing the first round of the competition. They went on to best Hobby Shop for Wii and Ambush! Trivia for PC, Xbox Live Arcade and cell phones as the title that most exemplified "the Canadian creativity and innovation that our panel of esteemed industry judges was looking for," in the words of Telefilm executive director Wayne Clarkson.

We'd definitely play a game about boosting our social skills. There's definitely a need for it, let's say. And, even though it doesn't sound like the most entertaining of concepts, we didn't think we'd like a game about doing math problems and memorizing numbers either.

[Via Gamasutra]

JoystiqNon-game wins Great Canadian Video Game Competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>indiemindhabitsnongamestrainingTue, 25 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Style screens for travelers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Screens of three new Square Enix DS "games" have made it to Famitsu. Before you get too excited, these are not new RPGs or anything, but rather three of the World Walking programs in Square Enix's DS Style series. There's sort of an upper bound to the enthusiasm that can be generated by maps, unless you're a cartographer, we suppose.

In the absence of megaton-level hype, we'll just say that these programs look very well-designed and incredibly useful for Japanese travelers. We love that they keep time for Japan and for the destination region, and we quite wish our maps were more automated, searchable, and compact.

Read - World Walking Taiwan
Read - World Walking New York
Read - World Walking Hawaii

JoystiqDS Style screens for travelers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsstylehawaiinewyorknongamestaiwanworldwalkingThu, 06 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[I read the classics of Japanese literature and all I got was this lousy t-shirt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/i-read-the-classics-of-japanese-literature-and-all-i-got-was-thi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/i-read-the-classics-of-japanese-literature-and-all-i-got-was-thi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/i-read-the-classics-of-japanese-literature-and-all-i-got-was-thi/#commentsFiled under:


Spike's Nihon Bungaku 100 Sen (100 Selections of Japanese Literature) is a pretty cool product to start with. It contains 100 classic works from famous Japanese writers like Natsume Soseki and Akutagawa Ryunosuke in a single, tiny DS card.

It gets cooler, though, but, like the software, is of precious little use to non-Japanese readers: in order to promote their game reading, Spike is giving away some clever Nihon Bungaku 100 Sen swag to people who can answer questions about the readings on their site. Correctly completing the quiz enters players for either a DS Lite carrying case, a waterproof DS holder (for reading in the bath, of course!) or a t-shirt featuring one of the authors whose works appear in the program. We're partial to the Natsume Soseki Wagahai wa neko de aru shirt, ourselves.

[Via Dengeki]

JoystiqI read the classics of Japanese literature and all I got was this lousy t-shirt originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caseliteraturenihonbungaku100sennongamesshirtspikeMon, 20 Aug 2007 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Feedback Fallout: Nintendo's Wii Fit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/feedback-fallout-nintendos-wiifit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/feedback-fallout-nintendos-wiifit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/23/feedback-fallout-nintendos-wiifit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

At ten o'clock and on the busiest of E3 mornings, Nintendo unveiled their latest plot to further expand their business outside the realm of gamers: Wii Fit.

Along with the new Wii Balance Board, Wii Fit looks to do for fitness what Brain Age did for our math skills. Following the unveiling, Nintendo brain child and industry icon, Shigeru Miyamoto, took center stage, claiming Wii Fit held personal presidence over more widely anticipated titles such as Super Smash Bros Brawl, Super Mario Kart and even his baby, Super Mario Galaxy.

Like most people, "Uh-oh" was the first thing that sprang to the mind of Electronic Gaming Monthly's managing editor, Jennifer Tsao, but in a more observational sense. "[This] is exactly the kind of thing that annoys hardcore gamers, even though it's an interesting application for the quirky Wii."

Correct in her assertion, the hardcore populace had begun their meltdown.

Continue reading Feedback Fallout: Nintendo's Wii Fit

JoystiqFeedback Fallout: Nintendo's Wii Fit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afterthemeltdownDSjoystiqfeaturesnongamesWiiwiifitMon, 23 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Face Training's price causes us to make a thoughtful face]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/face-trainings-price-causes-us-to-make-a-thoughtful-face/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/face-trainings-price-causes-us-to-make-a-thoughtful-face/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/face-trainings-price-causes-us-to-make-a-thoughtful-face/#commentsFiled under:

It is possible that some of you may be persuaded to buy Face Training. This is assuming two things: first, that you would like to have a stand, and second, that something other than Adults' DS Face Training, homebrew or official, will make use of the DS camera. A distant third possibility, that you feel a strong desire to stretch your face at your DS, would supercede the first two. We would enjoy a DS Lite stand, and we hope we'd have a use for the camera, so it's not inconceivable that we'd consider this a deal worth looking into.

Play Asia is taking preorders for the game at $48.90, which is their normal asking price for a Japanese DS game. That's not too bad for a camera, a stand, and (ahem) miscellaneous bonus content. We hope it's within range for a few homebrew developers, at least.

Of course, its regular-priced-ness in Japan means that if, by some clerical error, Adults' DS Face Training somehow came out in the US, it would be regular US price of $30-$35. Don't hold your breath on that one-- although it may be good for your face to puff out your cheeks like you're pretending to hold your breath.

JoystiqFace Training's price causes us to make a thoughtful face originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adultscameraface trainingfaceningFaceTrainingnon-gamesnongamesplay asiaPlayAsiastandFri, 13 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Guess what kind of game uses the new DS camera]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/guess-what-kind-of-game-uses-the-new-ds-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/guess-what-kind-of-game-uses-the-new-ds-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/guess-what-kind-of-game-uses-the-new-ds-camera/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you guessed any kind of game at all, sorry. If you correctly identified that as a trick question, then you win at DS fandom. That's right, the DS Lite is getting an official camera peripheral, and the first piece of software to use it is Otona no DS Kao Training (Adults' DS Face Training.) In fact, the camera is called the Facening Scan, leaving no question as to its intended use.

What's Facening, you may ask? Well, it's a regimen of facial stretching designed to reduce wrinkles and sagging, and to make your face appear smaller.

The camera is included with the software, as is a DS Lite stand. You bring your own ridiculous face-- you probably already got your first lesson in Facening when you read about this piece of software!

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqGuess what kind of game uses the new DS camera originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adultsdsds liteDsLitefaceface trainingfaceniingFaceTrainingfumikofumiko inudoFumikoInudoinudokaolitenintendonongamestrainingWed, 04 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Conjecture Countdown: 8 days to go]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/conjecture-countdown-8-days-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/conjecture-countdown-8-days-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/conjecture-countdown-8-days-to-go/#commentsFiled under:



Even with a diminished E3, there's no controlling the wave of rumors that hit the Internet every year before the show. Why fight it? From now until E3 hits, we'll be posting one piece of wild speculation every day. Some may be patently ridiculous, and others just might turn out to be true. Even some of the ridiculous ones might turn out to be true! Rest assured, everything will be totally made-up and unfounded. Except, of course, when we speak about all the ass Reggie is going to kick. That part? Totally true.

Rumor: The third Train Your Brain installment, Brain Age: With a Vengeance, will be announced for a late 2007 release. To keep the non-game series fresh, this third episode will come packed with popular gimmicks like customizable outfits, alternate endings, and a new, sinister villain -- Dark Dr. Kawashima!

JoystiqConjecture Countdown: 8 days to go originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brain ageBrainAgedr kawashimaDrKawashimadse3e3cchumorkawashimanintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon gamenon gamesNonGameNonGamesrumorsTue, 03 Jul 2007 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The newest DS accessory: squares of paper]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/ds/#commentsFiled under:

Here's a training game we'd totally spring for: Minagara Oreru DS Origami (Fold While Watching DS Origami). Just like you'd expect, this nongame shows tutorials of origami patterns and invites players to fold along. You can watch the steps as a slideshow with variable speed, or you can manually step through the diagram.

The game contains 100 patterns, and has voice controls so you can page through the tutorials while your hands are full! Unfortunately, it costs 3900 yen ($31) which is a little over our origami aid budget. Guess we'll have to stick to folding and unfolding the DS over and over again.

JoystiqThe newest DS accessory: squares of paper originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLitelitenintendonongamenongamesorigamitrainingWed, 27 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Non-Game Boy: Serious games before they were cool]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/non-game-boy-serious-games-before-they-were-cool/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/non-game-boy-serious-games-before-they-were-cool/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/non-game-boy-serious-games-before-they-were-cool/#commentsFiled under:


Since the release of Brain Age in Japan, Nintendo has turned their attention toward casual, nontraditional fare for adult audiences. Much of it, like Brain Age, is casual game material with a slight educational slant, but other successful DS releases, like Cooking Navi and Eigo Zuke, are not games at all, but rather educational aids and tools designed to use the DS's unique interface. They're all doing massive business, which makes it difficult to laugh at them no matter how silly they are.

But Nintendo was not the first company to attempt to sell application software on a gaming system, however. That distinction probably falls on BASIC Programming for the Atari 2600. Nintendo wasn't even the first company to sell application software on a Nintendo handheld. In fact, Game Boy non-games appeared in 1991. They didn't change the face of gaming. But they make for an interesting historical footnote now, and isn't that better than selling millions of copies? It is for us!

Continue reading Non-Game Boy: Serious games before they were cool

JoystiqNon-Game Boy: Serious games before they were cool originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austin powersAustinPowersbrain ageBrainAgecalculatordsds liteDsLitefeaturesfrenchfrommersgame boyGameBoygametekgbgbcinfogeniuslitenintendonongamenongamesshagulatorspanishspell checkerSpellCheckertravel guideTravelGuideMon, 25 Jun 2007 10:00:00 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[Jam Sessions delayed until September]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/jam-sessions-delayed-until-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/jam-sessions-delayed-until-september/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/jam-sessions-delayed-until-september/#commentsFiled under:

Ubisoft's Jam Sessions, which would officially be our personal most-anticipated game if it were a game, was originally slated for a summer release in both Europe and the US. It was going to be a beautiful summer of trying to play metal on a fake acoustic guitar. But fate (or Ubisoft; the two are interchangeable) had other plans.

Cubed3 reports that Ubisoft has confirmed a delay for the European release of Plato's guitar simulator, to September 28th. We don't have an official word on the US version, but GameStop lists the release date as September 11th, which is corroborated by Ubisoft's website. How long does it take to translate guitar notes?

JoystiqJam Sessions delayed until September originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLiteguitarjamjam sessionsJamSessionsnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon-gamenongamessessionsubisoftWed, 06 Jun 2007 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[DS gets Hearing Training]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/ds-gets-hearing-training/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/ds-gets-hearing-training/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/ds-gets-hearing-training/#commentsFiled under: ,

The march of training games continues into uncharted territory. Now there's a game to improve your hearing and listening skills! DS Chounoryoku tests the frequency range of players' hearing, and asks them to identify tones and spoken words. We can't figure out everything that's going on, but it's all hearing-based, and the art is surprisingly poppy and attractive.

There are also musical selections for aural relaxation. All of this from Milestone, who usually develops shooters like Radio Allergy and Karous. Their Chounoryoku homepage has a weird promotional video that doesn't really show the game at all.



[Via Famitsu]

JoystiqDS gets Hearing Training originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chounoryokudsds liteDsLitehearingjapankarouslisteninglitemilestonenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamesradilgyradio allergyRadioAllergytesttrainingTue, 29 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bug-hunting game looks like edutainment done right]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/bug-hunting-game-looks-like-edutainment-done-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/bug-hunting-game-looks-like-edutainment-done-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/bug-hunting-game-looks-like-edutainment-done-right/#commentsFiled under: ,

Insects are huge in Japan. We don't mean in the Mothra kaiju sense, but in that they're very popular. Kids like to collect and battle stag beetles (sound like another popular Japanese form of entertainment?) Therefore, a bug reference guide on the DS seems like a pretty good decision.

Quiz & Touch Kensaku Mushi Sukan (Quiz & Touch Insect Encyclopedia) is our kind of non-game: not only does it provide visual and sound information about many species of bugs, but it also has quizzes and minigames about the bugs, including games based on identifying particular insects by sound and color. Librarians and those training to be librarians will probably agree: more reference books should have games in them.

JoystiqBug-hunting game looks like edutainment done right originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugdsds liteDsLiteinsectkensakumushinintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamenongamesquizreferencesuccesssukantouchMon, 28 May 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marugoto Teikoku Hotel provides accommodations for your DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/marugoto-teikoku-hotel-provides-accommodations-for-your-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/marugoto-teikoku-hotel-provides-accommodations-for-your-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/marugoto-teikoku-hotel-provides-accommodations-for-your-ds/#commentsFiled under:


Shaberu! DS O-Ryouri Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel (Talking DS Cooking Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel), the cooking tool based on recipes from the upscale hotel, is headed to Japan on June 21. When it comes out, e-gourmands will have an option as to how they'd like their service: with or without pouch.

For 4,280 yen, Japanese consumers can buy the basic program, but for only 1,000 yen more (about $8.25) they can add this Koei-branded DS case. What's $8 to someone who eats at the Marugoto Teikoku Hotel? Probably a roll or something.

JoystiqMarugoto Teikoku Hotel provides accommodations for your DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2007 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casecookingcooking naviCookingNavidshotelimportskoeimarugotonavinintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamesThu, 24 May 2007 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The Narrow Way to the Dual Screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/the-narrow-way-to-the-dual-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/the-narrow-way-to-the-dual-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/the-narrow-way-to-the-dual-screens/#commentsFiled under:


Here's a really cool non-game from Success: it's a DS version of the Basho poetry collection Oku no Hosomichi, (The Narrow Road to the Deep North) in a form where you draw over each character as an actor reads the poem. Enpitsu de Oku no Hosomichi DS is based on a similar book release, which featured the poems in grey print for readers to trace over, thereby forcing them to think about each kanji as they read. It's a beautiful idea for a book release, and equally nice-sounding on the DS.

We know that it's basically an attempt to cash in on the non-game craze, but Enpitsu de Oku no Hosomichi DS is such a great idea that we don't care. More importantly, it makes a pretty strong case for the e-book, not only on DS but in general, with features that improve on the traditional print version.

[Via Insert Credit]

JoystiqThe Narrow Way to the Dual Screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bashodsds liteDsLiteenpitsuhaikulitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamenongamesoku no hosomichiOkuNoHosomichipencilpoemspoetryThu, 24 May 2007 10:40:00 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[Get serious with new DS Style screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/new-ds-style-series-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/new-ds-style-series-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/new-ds-style-series-screens/#commentsFiled under: ,

We're expecting a load of news when the Square Enix Party starts. For now, we've got new screens from the DS Style series, which is obviously too serious for parties. Specifically, new screens were released of Flower Blooming DS: Gardening Life, Shall We Listen to Classical Music on the DS?, and three World Walking map programs: Italy, France and Taiwan.

We could kind of see picking up a DS map program instead of a guidebook when we go on vacation, since we tend to take the DS with us anyway. We are definitely feeling a strong urge to buy the classical music "game" as well, since it's being developed by iNiS. Smart move, Squeenix.

Continue reading Get serious with new DS Style screens

JoystiqGet serious with new DS Style screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicalclassicalmusicdsds liteds styleDsLitedsstyleenixfrancegardengardeninginisitalylitemapmapsmusicnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon-gamenon-gamesnongamenongamessquaresquare enixSquareEnixstyletaiwanwalkingworldwalkingWed, 09 May 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtually Overlooked: Taboo: The Sixth Sense [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/virtually-overlooked-taboo-the-sixth-sense/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/virtually-overlooked-taboo-the-sixth-sense/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/virtually-overlooked-taboo-the-sixth-sense/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.

Rare has been responsible for many of the most beloved games on Nintendo systems throughout the years. RC Pro-Am, Goldeneye 007, and Donkey Kong Country come immediately to mind when thinking about the company and its history of great games.

Taboo: The Sixth Sense is not great, or beloved, or even a game. If it were a game, it would be one of the worst ones on the NES. But if something like Taboo can even have a time, then that time has come.

Continue reading Virtually Overlooked: Taboo: The Sixth Sense [update 1]

JoystiqVirtually Overlooked: Taboo: The Sixth Sense [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kusogenesnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiinon-gamenon-gamesnongamenongamesrarerarewaresixth sensetabootaboo the sixth senseTabooTheSixthSensetarottradewestvowiiThu, 03 May 2007 17:30:00 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[Your Hello Kitty research is about to get a lot easier]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/your-hello-kitty-research-is-about-to-get-a-lot-easier/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/your-hello-kitty-research-is-about-to-get-a-lot-easier/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/your-hello-kitty-research-is-about-to-get-a-lot-easier/#commentsFiled under:



Ever been asked a question regarding biographical information about a Sanrio character, but you can't answer because you're too far away from your extensive Hello Kitty database? You're in luck, if you get into that very unlikely situation in the future, and you can read Japanese!

Hello Kitty's Fashonable Party contains biographies of 300 Sanrio characters, with info about their birthdays, favorite food, and ... probably other stuff too. The game will quiz you about this stuff, presumably so you can memorize it. Fashionable Party also contains a dress-up mode and, predictably, a spate of minigames as well. In this case, though, the minigames are probably welcome since they bring the only actual gaming to the Party.

JoystiqYour Hello Kitty research is about to get a lot easier originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLitehellohellokittyjapankittylitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamenongamessanrioMon, 16 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play DS while learning to drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/play-ds-while-learning-to-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/play-ds-while-learning-to-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/play-ds-while-learning-to-drive/#commentsFiled under: ,



Vingt-et-Un, the developer responsible for some of the weirder Simple 2000 games like The Zombie vs. Ambulance, have created a new entry in D3 Publisher's Simple DS series. Simple DS Vol. 14: The Driving School is a DS program designed to teach the rules of the road, with text-based quizzes and drills. It also attempts to teach driving skill with "practical" driving-instruction segments.

This looks great for us, since we taught ourselves to drive on Spy Hunter anyway. We just need to break our habit of trying to drive into 18-wheelers and we'll have it down.

While we're talking about this game, we want to complain about the lack of Simple series games in the US. D3 started a US branch, and they currently publish the Naruto games, but the only games we've seen from their hilarious budget series were Break 'em All and Dino Rider. The Xbox 360 just got Earth Defense Force-- we hope that's the start of a trend.

Continue reading Play DS while learning to drive

JoystiqPlay DS while learning to drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d3d3publisherdriverseddrivingdrivingschooldsds liteDsLitelitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamenongamesscantronschoolsimplesimple2000simpledsspyhunterSat, 07 Apr 2007 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Style details emerge-- screenshot-style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ds-style-details-emerge-screenshot-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ds-style-details-emerge-screenshot-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ds-style-details-emerge-screenshot-style/#commentsFiled under: ,

The first screenshots of Square Enix's DS Style series of nongames have shown up, and they look ... well, functional. The problem with nongames is that it's impossible to build hype for something that is used just for looking at a map of France, or teaching yourself yoga, even if the software in question is extremely well-designed.

These screens answer the biggest question we had about the series: how could a game about listening to classical music possibly fill two screens meaningfully? The answer: dog animations and quizzing you on your feelings about the music.

Continue reading DS Style details emerge-- screenshot-style

JoystiqDS Style details emerge-- screenshot-style originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicalclassicalmusicdsds liteds styleDsLiteDsStyleenixflowerflowersfrancegardengardeninglitemusicnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnon-gamenon-gamesnongamenongamessesquaresquareenixstylewalkingworldwalkingFri, 06 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cooking Navi goes high-end]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/cooking-navi-goes-high-end/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/cooking-navi-goes-high-end/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/cooking-navi-goes-high-end/#commentsFiled under:



Cooking Navi has been a smash in Japan, so it's hardly a surprise that the game would get a sequel. This particular sequel, however, is somewhat of a surprise. Shaberu! DS O-Ryouri Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel (Talking DS Cooking Navi Marugoto Teikoku Hotel) is a new version of the game containing recipes from the chefs who cook in the prestigious Japanese hotel.

We're thinking about picking up Koei's latest nongame, since we'd love to try some gourmet Japanese cuisine. But we have a concern: isn't Cooking Navi supposed to be about basic recipes and helping regular people make them? Seriously, look at those seven chefs on the box. This interactive cookbook has the potential to be the hardest game on the system.

JoystiqCooking Navi goes high-end originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingcookingnavidsds liteDsLitefoodhotelimperialkoeilitemarugotonavinintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnongamenongamesryourishaberuThu, 05 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hilarious press event promotes hilarious walking "game"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/hilarious-press-event-promotes-hilarious-walking-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/hilarious-press-event-promotes-hilarious-walking-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/hilarious-press-event-promotes-hilarious-walking-game/#commentsFiled under:


Healthy Walking Navi spokesman and star Duke Saraie led a demonstration of his exercise techniques for members of the Japanese press, in order to promote his first DS program. In addition to showing off some of the exercise routines used in the game, Duke talked about his success with exercise books and DVD's. He said (within the context of a press event promoting this particular product) that the DS software is superior because it's more like one-to-one training. The president of developer Dorasu also gave a presentation, indicating that Walking Navi is only the first of six health games planned.

Check after the break for two new screenshots. We've also included our favorite picture from the event, where Duke proves how strong his walk-fu is by teaching reporters about walking while they're sitting down at their desks.

Continue reading Hilarious press event promotes hilarious walking "game"

JoystiqHilarious press event promotes hilarious walking "game" originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLiteexerciselitenavinintendonintendo dsnintendodsnongamenongamestrainingwalkwalkingwalkingnaviThu, 29 Mar 2007 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Opera browser boxed, demonstrated]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/ds-opera-browser-boxed-demonstrated/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/ds-opera-browser-boxed-demonstrated/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/ds-opera-browser-boxed-demonstrated/#commentsFiled under:

Siliconera got a chance to check out the American release of the Opera browser at SXSW, and they handily took some video of the demonstration, so we can see ... what Japanese and European DS users have been seeing for quite some time. We've been waiting so long for this application. Could it really be on the way?

They also got some pictures of the US boxart, which says that the DS browser puts "The Internet at your fingertips". That's somewhat of a strange choice of slogan; as far as we can tell, the Internet is always at your fingertips, except when you use a stylus-based input method.

JoystiqOpera browser boxed, demonstrated originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationsboxartbrowserbrowsersdsds litedsliteinternetlitenintendonintendo dsnintendodsnon-gamenon-gamesnongamenongamesoperaWed, 14 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn to walk with Walking Navi]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/learn-to-walk-with-walking-navi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/learn-to-walk-with-walking-navi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/learn-to-walk-with-walking-navi/#commentsFiled under: ,


Now that your brain is sufficiently trained, you can begin figuring out how to move around! Okay, so really it presumes you already know how to walk and are interested in walking as exercise. Too bad, because it's a lot funnier the other way.

Just like Cooking Navi and Dokodemo Yoga, Duke Saraie no Kenkou Walking Navi (Duke Saraie's Health Walking Navi) is designed so that users can choose their program, set their DS systems down and have directions barked at them while they follow along. Fitness celebrity Duke Saraie will help you warm up, then lead you through your workout.

Wait, workout? We want to try this to see what kinds of "workouts" could be involved other than "walk for a while", "walk for longer than the last time", and "walk for a while, but faster".

Try Screenshot Inspecting Navi after the post break.

[Via NeoGAF]

Continue reading Learn to walk with Walking Navi

JoystiqLearn to walk with Walking Navi originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainagecookingcookingnavidsdslitedukeexerciselitenavinintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnonnon-gamenon-gamesnongamenongamessaraietrainingwalkwalkingwalkingnaviyogaMon, 12 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST