EL33TONLINE: News tag archive: nintendods
US sales tracking firm NPD has revealed that December 2009 has become the videogame industry’s best ever month in terms of sales in the US, generating $5.53 billion in console retail game market revenues – a 4% year-over-year increase from $5.32 billion in December of 2008.
Nintendo has responded to the November NPD results by praising its record-setting month, but with almost 3 million hardware units sold last month you can hardly blame them.
Nintendo claimed the top two spots on the hardware chart, representing over half of all videogame systems sold in the US in November. The DS sold almost 1.7 million units in November, setting a record for the most handheld videogame systems sold in the month of November and beating the previous record of 1.57 million held by the Nintendo DS in 2008. Meanwhile the Wii sold over 1.25 million units in November, making it the fastest-selling home console to reach the 23 million install base in the US.
While it’s pure speculation until confirmed, the details of a Grand Theft Auto game, Chinatown Wars, have been revealed in the latest edition of Nintendo Power. While Chinatown Wars was confirmed to be in development during Nintendo’s press event at E3 earlier this year and in a press release, no further concrete details have been announced. Sam Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games said of the game:
“This is a game that will deliver a rich, fast-paced and intense ‘Grand Theft Auto’ experience that will be truly unique to Nintendo’s handheld platform. Rockstar Leeds, along with the team at Rockstar North, has built upon a decade of progressive design on Grand Theft Auto, and has created something fundamentally fresh and immersive.”
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is expected to be available on the Nintendo DS in North America and Europe later this year. Click ahead to get the unverified details…
No-one in the game industry likes to cash in on the impending Christmas months more than hardware manufacturers, and Nintendo are going make for darn sure their dominance in the handheld market remains as is.
To this end, Nintendo have announced a set of DS Christmas bundles, hoping to appeal to all the European gamers who haven’t yet invested in the console, as well as those seeking to buy one for family and friends this holiday season. Five bundles were revealed, each offering something different. The list is as follows:
Have you entered El33tonline’s competitions yet? You haven’t? Well, if you want to win iMP accessories for your DS Lite or Wii Balance Board, as well as some great Xbox 360 games and accessories just by answering some easy questions, read on!
El33tonline, in association with MobileG, have two iMP accessories to give away. The first is a nifty device called the iMP Play and Store Case, for storing 3 cartridges and a stylus with your Nintendo DS Lite - no extra carry cases required! The other accessory is the iMP PowerFit Battery, a rechargeable battery for the Wii Balance Board! If you’d like to win either of these prizes, head over to the iMP competition page for more details.
We also have two Xbox 360 games for you to win, each with their own accessories. A copy of Ninja Gaiden 2 with a Play and Charge kit is up for the taking, while a copy of Vampire Rain with an Xbox cap and lanyard is also up for grabs! Fancy adding those to your game library? Go to the Xbox 360 game competition page for more details.
Nintendo has faced a barrage of negative publicity following its media briefing at E3 last week. Many self-proclaimed hardcore gamers were expecting a new game to be revealed but instead were presented with games they either knew about or dubbed “casual” games.
Nintendo has since been working hard to win back the support of its fans. In a recent interview with Forbes, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata commented “If there is any perception that Nintendo is ignoring the core gamers, it’s a misunderstanding and we really want to get rid of that misunderstanding by any means.”
Iwata continued “We are sorry about [the E3] media briefings, specifically for those who were expecting to see Nintendo show something about ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Legend of Zelda.’ However, the fact of the matter is the so-called ‘big titles’ need a long, long development period. …We really didn’t think this year’s E3 media briefing was the time to do so.”
Metal Slug 7 will be arriving on European shelves this autumn, courtesy of SNK and Ignition.
Metal Slug 7 marks the debut of the popular franchise on the Nintendo DS and promises “fast paced and frantic ‘run and gun action’” that has become synonymous with the series.
The game includes 7 new missions, 6 playable characters as well as new weapons and features. Metal Slug fans will once again take on the forces of General Morden, but this time will have the “biggest and baddest SLUG vehicle to date” at their disposal.
“With a Metal Slug game you know that you’re going to have a hugely enjoyable experience,” Says Peter Rollinson, Product Manager, Ignition Entertainment. “The latest addition to this great franchise will continue that trend.”
An interesting ‘crime-puzzler,’ called Defenders of the Law, coming to Wii, DS and PC later this year, has had a little light shed on it. Defenders of the Law is a puzzle-based crime drama, tasking players with putting clues together in order to solve the mystery. So far, so Phoenix Wright.
Further game play features will involve the player in a search for evidence via a hidden-object mechanic, later analyzed in ‘the lab.’ That evidence is then presented in a card-game mechanic, played against the district attorney. The winning hand decides the fate of the defendant as the final verdict is revealed. This apparently leads to not-insignificant replay value. Apparently.
For some reason, GAMEINVEST, the developers, are still looking for publishing partners for Defenders of the Law.
The Nintendo DS dominated console sales in the US for June, however, Nintendo chose to focus on the Wii in their response to the latest NPD data.
Nintendo announced that the Wii has emerged as the best-selling console in the US, just 20 months after its launch in November 2006. NPD data shows that the Wii sold 666 000 units during June while almost 10.9 million Wiis have found their way into US gamers’ homes to date.
“Wii was created with the goal of expanding the gaming universe through its intuitive motion-sensing controller,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “As we have demonstrated this week during the E3 Media & Business Summit, Wii continues to pioneer new ways for people to interact with their video games and with one another.”
The Nintendo DS was the best-selling console in US, selling 783 000 units in June and recording sales of over 20.8 million units in the US to date.
Nintendo dominated the software side of things as well with six of the Top 10 games for June being for Nintendo systems. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS) was at number 2, Wii Fit at number 4, Wii Play at number 5 and Mario Kart Wii at number 6. The Wii version of Lego Indiana Jones came in seventh and the DS version at number 9.
Ultimate Band, the latest game to try to cash in on the rhythm-based music genre coming to Nintendo Wii and DS, is playable with only the WiiMote and Nunchuk - no expensive plastic guitar or drum peripherals bundled with this one!
While customisable avatars feature, the main hook is allowing players to ‘play’ drums and guitar as well as act as the front-man (person) for each of their in-game performances, trying to get the crowd excited as the instruments are played - all with the WiiMote and Nunchuk. You’ll have to be really enthusiastic to play that part, although the game is aimed at ‘youngsters.’
Disney Interactive also recently announced a ‘Music for Relief’ concert tie-in with the upcoming Projekt Revolution 2008 tour. Ultimate Band will be featured in special booths at each of the concerts while the ‘Music for Relief’ concert will be playable in Ultimate Band. Music for Relief is a non-profit organisation founded by Linkin Park.
If you are struggling to store all your DS games, we have the perfect solution. We have two Thrustmaster carry cases plus neat accessories up for grabs, one for girl gamers and one for boy gamers.
Want to play Mario Kart Wii multiplayer but only have one Wii Wheel? Then why not enter and stand a chance to win a Thrustmaster T-Megapack for Wii which includes a Kart-style racing wheel as well as a storage base with built-in battery charger (in Wii White of course) and 2 rechargeable batteries AND a protection cover for the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.
Don’t delay because there is only one more day to enter this competition. Check out more details on our competitions page.
Schnell!!!
In a bright, vibrant community of honourable ninjas, the worst thing that could happen is for the nearby volcano to mysteriously erupt, leading to their beloved home, Ninjatown, to be attacked. That, however, is exactly what has happened and Mr. Demon is leading a horde of sinister enemies on a path of destruction.
Luckily, it’s a town full of skilled Ninjas that know how to defend themselves, and with moves like ‘Stealth Hug,’ ‘Sneak Snuggle,’ ‘Fists of Tickle Fury’ and ‘Get Off My Lawn,’ they’re going to take the fight to the invaders. Players will be able to help out by placing buildings and issuing commands to the Ninjas, leading to a new take on the tower-defense genre.
Based on the series of plush toys from Shawnimals, Ninjatown brings a great graphic style to the mix, releasing in October this year on DS.
Nintendo held its E3 media briefing yesterday. The factory that built Mario focused on its efforts to remove the barriers between expert and novice gamers. Nintendo is well known for this approach, releasing games and gaming consoles such as the Wii and DS that appeal to veteran gamers and casual gamers alike
Nintendo demonstrated an enhancement for the Wii Remote called the Wii MotionPlus, which plugs into the base of the Wii Remote and helps to enhance precision and create a realistic motion experience. The publisher also revealed Wii Music, Wii Sports Resort, Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii as well as Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars (Rockstar Games), Spore Creatures (EA) and Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades (Activision) for the DS.
“Much has been reported about the ‘expanded audience’ for games, but what’s really at play is an expanded experience,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “People of all ages having fun together—whether in the same room or from remote locations—puts smiles on faces and drives millions of new players into video game entertainment.”
Konami has announced that the Eledees series will soon be invading the Nintendo DS. The energy creatures will be heading to Europe this winter in a new adventure titled Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero.
An original title designed for the Wii, Eledees introduced gamers to energy creatures who have the ability to supply electricity when gathered together. The game saw players locating and collecting the small Eledees in order to power their home.
Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero retains the basic concept of the Wii game but features a touch screen adventure created specifically for the Nintendo DS. The game is a direct sequel to the Wii game but promises to add a “mystical slant to the story.”
After being transported into a mystical realm by a magical bus created by Kai’s father, the two main characters must use their skills to gather Eledees in order to progress in the game. Kai is armed with a special capture gun which he can use to grab Eledees as well as manipulate and move objects standing in the way.
Players must locate various Eledees to power devices but must also keep a look out for a new species of Omega Eledees who feature a wider range of abilities and act as Kai’s side-kicks through the stages. Players will need to locate Omega Eledees who can find hidden areas, freeze water and light up dark areas.
Players will be able to compete head-to-head in multiplayer mode thanks to Wi-Fi as well as participate in four player battles to round up misbehaving power sources.
Thanks to everyone who entered our Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart DS competitions.
We have drawn the winners…drum roll! Congratulations to Fayyaad Hendricks who won himself a copy of Super Mario Galaxy and Marc Crowther who walks away with Mario Kart DS.
Thanks again to Core Gaming for sponsoring the prizes. We are sure our winners are going to spend many happy hours gaming.
If you did not win this time, fear not because we still have some amazing Thrustmaster prizes up for grabs as well as a copy of the Guinness World Record Gamers Edition 2008 to giveaway to one lucky reader.
As if this was not enough to keep you occupied we have just added two more competitions to El33tonline. We have a couple of copies of Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and Kung Fu Panda to giveaway - thanks to Megarom for the prizes.
Head over to our competitions page for more details and make sure you read our Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda reviews to see what you would be missing if you don’t enter today.
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