NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: FROM CASINO KICKS TO CANINE TRICKS, THERE'S DOWNLOADABLE FUN FOR EVERYONE

August 2, 2010 - Whether your tastes run to hunting, gambling, puzzles, battles or virtual pets, Nintendo has you covered with a fresh batch of downloadable games for the Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems. For the WiiWare™ service, Fantasy Slots: Adventure Slots and Games invites you to chase giant jackpots, while Deer Captor challenges you to pursue big bucks of a different sort. For the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, both Match Up! and Hints Hunter offer portable puzzle fun for players of any background. Hand-held gamers can also interact with personalized pooches in Petz® Dogz® Family or brawl with fierce competitors in Blayzbloo: Super Melee Action Battle Royale. Whichever type of play you prefer, the selection of downloadable games is wider and wilder than ever.

WiiWare

Fantasy Slots: Adventure Slots and Games
Publisher: Big John Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling
Price: 700 Wii Points™
Description: Players can bring the exciting "Slots" experience home. Choose from six adventure-themed, five-reel bonus slots, or try your luck with classic Cherries or Diamonds slots. Win big jackpots and earn access to VIP suites. Players can use their winnings to purchase vibrant merchandise to customize their suites. As players progress, they can win multiple awards and achievements. Five-reel bonus slots include Gold Rush, Power of Zeus, Pirate Cove, Wild Safari, King Arthur's Excalibur and the Rising Sun. Classic three-reel slots are Diamonds and Cherries. Additional features include: High Roller Suites, where you can live like a VIP while customizing your own high roller suite with items such as artwork, pool tables, trophies and furniture; Bonus Games, offering six great games that can be played separately to challenge your nerves and increase your winnings; and Unlockables with achievement trophies that are tracked and awarded for exceptional play.

Deer Captor
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Deer Captor is a shooting game that offers an immersive hunting experience. Choosing from a rifle or crossbow, players can put their marksman skills to the test as they try to capture a variety of wildlife such as deer, hares and kites in the comfort of their living rooms. Aim for a high score in Instant Mode, where the objective is to capture as many animals as possible within a set time, or test your mettle in Mission Mode, where you must complete a series of objectives to advance to the pinnacle of the hunting world. Play against your friends and family in friendly competition, or post your single-player score to online leaderboards for nationwide bragging rights. (A broadband Internet connection is required for online play.)

Nintendo DSiWare

Match Up!
Publisher: Digital Leisure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Flip, match and… kaboom! How fast can you find the right set in Match Up!? No matter how old you may be, Match Up! will have you captivated for hours. Reveal shapes, colors and hidden bonuses with a new take on a childhood favorite. You'll need quick hands and a sharp mind to beat the clock and disarm the explosive cards riddled throughout the game. Not quite ready for the explosive action? Start with the engaging classic concentration play and see if you can level up.

BlayzBloo: Super Melee Action Battle Royale
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Blayzbloo: Super Melee Action Battle Royale pits Ragna, Rachel, Jin, Noel, Taokak and others against one another in five stages of rumble-and-tumble brawling action to see who's the best. There's also a Free Battle mode you can play to your heart's content. Use items in battle to pummel your opponent into oblivion. Drive attacks and special moves may also come in handy to finish off your opponents. Do you have what it takes to become the best Blayzbloo brawler?

Hints Hunter
Publisher: CIRCLE Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hints Hunter is an easy, casual game that you can play anytime and anywhere. The objective is simply to find hidden keys by working out the meanings of the hints in each level. You can play using only the stylus. Most of the hints are helpful and may require you to think about the time of day, game functions like clicking or dragging, or the principle of opening or closing. Be sure to observe the smallest details very carefully, including the name of a level or even a tiny flower.

Petz Dogz Family
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There's a whole family of dogs you can adopt and love! Take care of them, discover their unique personalities and teach them fun tricks. Choose from favorite breeds such as golden retrievers and Labradors. Give your dogs the best care. Feed them, groom them and discover their individual personalities – some will be funny, others will be shy. Engage in fun activities with your pups – including playing with a flying disc and running obstacle courses – to turn them into talented dogs.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

News: Nintendo Takes DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies on the Road for Nationwide Sampling Events and Downloadable Treasure Maps

July 29, 2010 - Consumers across the United States will have a unique opportunity to come together and experience the new DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies game this summer as Nintendo offers interactive demo opportunities and special downloadable content at retail destinations from coast to coast. In addition to live game-play demos and the chance to enjoy the game's multiplayer mode with fellow DRAGON QUEST fans, attendees who bring their Nintendo DS™ system and DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies game card to these upcoming sampling events will have the opportunity to experience the game's cooperative "Tag Mode" feature by connecting with other players and acquiring special downloadable treasure maps.

On July 31, select GameStop stores will host "The Ultimate DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Experience," inviting visitors to enjoy guided demos and connect with other DRAGON QUEST fans. Also at most GameStop stores, visitors will be able to access a special downloadable treasure map called "Zoma," available for the first time in North America, via the game's Tag Mode feature. Sampling events will also be held on Aug. 7 at select Best Buy retail locations, where attendees will have access to the "Estark" treasure map, available for the first time in North America.

From Aug. 7 to Sept. 19, weekend sampling events will be held at select shopping malls around the country, highlighting the game's rich customization options and multiplayer fun. Visitors to these mall events will have access to the downloadable "Malroth" treasure map.

To access treasure maps, players must have their Nintendo DS system running the DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies game, set to Tag Mode. Once players reach the town of Stornway, they are able to access Tag Mode by talking to Erinn at the Quester's Rest Inn.

The latest installment in the popular DRAGON QUEST franchise, DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies lets players embark on an epic hand-held adventure. Players can choose their own appearance, occupations, companions and special items to aid in their quest, and even connect wirelessly with friends for cooperative multiplayer quests. The game has already become a social phenomenon in Japan, selling more than 4.2 million units to date.

A complete schedule of events can be found at http://dqnine.com/#/do-you-dq/events/. For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.

©2009, 2010 ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/LEVEL-5/SQUARE ENIX All Rights Reserved. DRAGON QUEST, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. SENTINELS OF THE STARRY SKIES is a registered trademark or trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Unfavorable exchange rates and a contracting DS business slugged Nintendo's balance sheet during its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, and the company today reported a 25.2 billion-yen ($288.4 million) loss -- in the same period last year, it saw a 42.3 billion-yen ($483.7 million) profit. Sales slipped over 25 percent year over year to 188.6 billion yen ($2.16 billion).

Although Nintendo pointed to the hardware discounting in Japan and Europe and the strong yen, DS unit sales were also down about 45 percent in the quarter to 3.15 million units.

"Appreciation of the yen and the lowering of the price of Nintendo DS hardware in Japan and Europe adversely impacted net sales and operating income," the firm said.

Though it appears pleased with the continuing performance of Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (which sold 1.69 million units in the quarter to surpass 10 million units life-to-date) and Tomodachi Collection, the company noted it had fewer major new releases during the period to act as hardware sales drivers.

A total 22.4 million units of DS software sold in the first quarter compared with 29.1 million the previous year. Wii software also declined, from 31.7 million to 28.2 million.

Wii hardware sales were up from 2.2 million units last year to 3.04 million, but software sales declined from 31.07 million units to 28.17 million. Super Mario Galaxy, which sold 4.09 million units during the period was the company's top seller, and Wii Sports Resort sold 3.02 million.

Wii Sports sold 273 million, Wii Fit Plus sold 187 million, and New Super Mario Bros Wii sold 110 million during the period -- as Nintendo often points out, it routinely has quarterly million-sellers in its portfolio of "evergreen" core properties.

Nintendo is ready to address the decline in the DS market with the launch of the 3DS, which the company said will happen this fiscal year (by March 2011). Pachter suggests the new handheld "will be able to sell millions of units, even at a price upwards of $250," and also says it's likely the company will leverage the platform launch to set slightly higher price points for DS software.

Despite its losses, Nintendo still plans for 200 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in profits for its full fiscal year, and a 320 billion yen ($3.7 billion) operating profit, betting on the strength of upcoming launches like the 3DS, Pokemon Black/White, Metroid: Other M, the U.S. launch of Wii Party, and more.

via www.gamasutra.com

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NEW GAME DOWNLOADS DELIVER GOOD TIMES BY AIR, LAND AND SEA

July 26, 2010 - From dizzying heights to watery depths and everywhere in between, downloadable games for the Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems can take you to some unforgettable places. New arrivals for the WiiWare™ service include the undersea adventure of Dive: The Medes Island Secret and the intense arcade-style action of Heavy Fire: Special Operations. Fans of the Virtual Console™ service can now enjoy high-flying fun from the Super NES™ era with AERO THE ACROBAT™. And for fresh gaming kicks on the go, check out the camera-based controls and customization options of Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! or tangle with legions of battle-ready beasts in Crystal Monsters, both available via the Nintendo DSiWare™ service.

We've also got one last update for the "Big Name Games" section of the WarioWare™: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry's most talented figures. This week's additions come from the Treehouse, Nintendo's game localization team. All "Big Name Games" are available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points™ to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.

WiiWare

Dive: The Medes Island Secret
Publisher: Cosmonaut Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: During the past five centuries, hundreds of ships flying every ensign have succumbed to the power of the ocean. Merchant boats, pirate ships, navy vessels – all have ended up covered in coral at the bottom of the ocean. All of them guarded secrets that remained hidden... until now. In Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, you are John Sanders, a treasure hunter and experienced diver who spends months planning and documenting a major expedition to locate and recover several ships of different ensigns around the world.

Heavy Fire: Special Operations
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood, Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Join an elite army unit in Heavy Fire: Special Operations, an arcade shooter for the WiiWare service. Play challenging missions in the Middle East from the ground, Humvee or Blackhawk. You will need a quick trigger finger to finish extremely dangerous levels. Rise through the military ranks and accumulate more powerful weapons with different features and controls. Replay the game to improve your best score and submit it to the world rankings. Make combos and smash the environment to get more points. You can take out enemies in a single-player mode or with a friend in multiplayer mode. The Wii Zapper™ accessory is supported but not required.

Virtual Console

AERO THE ACROBAT
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Sunsoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The madman industrialist Edgar Ektor has seized control of the World of Amusement. He and a deranged cast of fairground freaks threaten the circus. The only hope for survival is the high-flying, death-defying Aero the acrobat! Spine-tingling terror unfolds as Aero tackles Ektor's wicked henchmen. Bungee-jump into a battle against evil. Skydive toward the danger below. Hang on for the ride of your life as you rise and plunge on a roaring roller coaster. Tiptoe across a terrifying tightrope. Power-drill and twist Aero right through every sinister circus enemy imaginable. All the while, the show must go on. It could become a carnival of carnage in the World of Amusement. Because the evil Ektor isn't clowning around … and there's nothing amusing about that.

Nintendo DSiWare

Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: With the innovative game Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!, you can soar through the sky in a hang glider from the comfort of your sofa. Not only will you put your face into the game with the Nintendo DSi Camera, but Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! also tracks your head movements to give you complete control of your glider. Simply tilt your head sideways to steer left or right, lean back to climb and bend forward to dive. Choose from two play styles and fly through three different types of game play: bursting all of the balloons in a variety of courses, throwing balls at targets for a high score and trying for a fast time in the high-speed challenge. Also, look out for hidden medals that help to unlock new courses and even new gliders. If you're looking for a truly unique and inventive game, schedule a flight to experience Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! for yourself. The only thing missing is the wind in your hair!

Crystal Monsters
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can see monsters (called Neo-Seeds) and those who can't. Neo-Seeds wield extraordinary power and battle using tamed monsters in grand tournaments. As a Neo-Seed who has just discovered his ability, you're about to set off on an amazing journey to collect more than 160 monsters and become the greatest Monster Breeder. Explore a vast world, meet new friends and rivals, and engage in dynamic battles that require skill and strategy. Master the nine elemental types, train your monsters through battle, teach them new moves, use team attacks and fuse them together to unlock their true potential. You can even customize three of your favorite monsters by putting friends' faces on them using the built-in camera.

Puffins: Let's Race!
Publisher: Other Ocean Interactive
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get ready to challenge the speediest puffins on the island for the title of Fastest Flyer in Puffins: Let's Race! Race against the clock or go head-to-head with your opponents in a battle to the finish line. Use cleverly placed power-ups like the squawk shot to get ahead of the pack and claim victory. Race through four different game modes on eight different tracks to prove your skill, or challenge up to three of your friends via local wireless play. Do you have what it takes to become the race champion of Puffin Island, or will you be left behind with the rest of the flock?

Petz® Hamsterz® Family
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Adopt your very own family of hamsters! Care for them, teach them fun tricks and unlock new toys and accessories to give them lots of love! Care for your hamsters by feeding them, playing with them and keeping them clean and warm. Discover your hamsters' unique personalities – watch them react with cute and funny facial expressions. Teach your hamsters fun activities like bowling or running on ramps and watch them progress. Earn coins that can be used to unlock new toys and accessories for your lovable hamsters.

Absolute BrickBuster
Publisher: Tasuke
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Classic brick game action is here on the Nintendo DSi system. There are two modes of play: Free Play and Challenge. Pick one of eight characters and set special items to play at your own pace in Free Play Mode. The special items include different balls with special attributes, expandable paddle and paddle tilt. There are 10 stages in all. Each even-numbered stage gives you a mission, the result of which will determine the level of the next two stages. In Challenge Mode, different levels of missions are given – clear them to advance in the game.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

NINTENDO TO SHOWCASE ANTICIPATED SUMMER GAMES AT COMIC-CON

July 19, 2010 - Attendees at the upcoming Comic-Con International 2010 will have an opportunity to experience two of the summer's most anticipated video game releases. For the first time since 2006, Nintendo of America will be a featured exhibitor at the annual Comic-Con expo, scheduled to take place July 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center. Visitors will be invited to enjoy hands-on demonstrations of DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies for the Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems, which launched on July 11, and Metroid™: Other M for the Wii™ system, which launches across North America on Aug. 31. Both games will be available at the Nintendo booth, #2944.

The latest installment in the popular DRAGON QUEST franchise, DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies features deep customization options and remarkable wireless features that let players of all kinds embark on an epic hand-held adventure. Players can choose their own appearance, occupations, companions and special items to aid in their quest, and even connect with friends for cooperative multiplayer fun.

In addition to live demos of the game, Comic-Con attendees who bring their Nintendo DS systems and copies of DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies to the show will have access to a special downloadable treasure map called Mortamor, available for the first time in North America. The map will be available at the Nintendo booth for the duration of Comic-Con International 2010. To access the map, players must have their Nintendo DS system running the DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies game and set to “Tag Mode.” Once players get to the town of Stornway, they are able to access Tag Mode at the Quester's Rest inn.

The highly anticipated Metroid: Other M is a dramatic new chapter that brings the Metroid series back to its franchise roots. Starring the iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran, the game is the result of a dedicated collaboration between the director of Super Metroid™, Yoshio Sakamoto, and renowned game development studio Team Ninja. This joint effort blends expert level design, gripping visuals and a cinematic storyline with seamless third-person and first-person game play controls. For the first time, players will learn the story of Samus™ inside the suit. Comic-Con attendees will get a chance to play portions of the game in advance of its Aug. 31 launch date.

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.