Topic: Nintendo Announces European DS Release Schedule

[NWR_pap64]

Kirby, Dragon Quest and Professor Layton headline the DS releases in Europe.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/27521

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, Kirby Mass Attack, and Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call now have October release dates in Europe thanks to today's announcement by Nintendo.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, the sequel to the Dragon Quest monster training spin-off, is the first out of the game as it releases on October 7.

Kirby Mass Attack will be released on October 28. The game has players using the touch screen to direct multiple Kirbys in order to complete levels.

Finally, an October release date has been given for Professor Layton and The Spectre's Call. The fourth game in Level-5's Layton series, Spectre's Call is a prequel to the first game, The Curious Village, where it chronicles how Layton met Luke and how he became the Professor's apprentice.

[famicomplicated]

Are NoE trying to embarrass NoA on purpose now?


It's been non-stop European exclusiveness for a while now. Such crazy times we live in.

[TJ Spyke]

What do you mean? North American is getting Kirby 5 weeks before Europe, Dragon Quest about 2 weeks earlier, and Layton sometimes this fall (no exact date yet). I don't see ow NOE are embarrassing NOA when NOA is releasing all 3 game here and two of them are confirmed to be out before the European releases.

[Oblivion]

Still, five and two weeks later is a small price to pay when they get the Op Rainfall exclusively.

[NWR_Neal]

I have to agree with TJ Spyke here. Other articles from this news 'splosion might embarrass NoA, but this one is a draw. Both regions are getting every game listed here, and at the usual "NoA before NoE" pace.

If I were a betting man, I'd say Layton 4 comes out in mid-to-late October in NA.

[famicomplicated]

Yeah, rather then comment on every article, I decided to go for the latest one - it was a blanket statement for all the awesomeness NoE have been doing recently, not just this list!

So yeah, Op Rainfall games and the new Wii is what it comes down to.

[TJ Spyke]

I wouldn't be too jealous of the UK getting a Wii 0.7, it's hard for them to boast about getting a Wii that has fewer features than the existing one. Whether you would use the GameCube features or not, I can't see any reason you would prefer the new Wii model (especially since it looks like it is the same size as the current one).

[KDR_11k]

Layton sells best in Europe so NoE pays more attention to it. Usually the games show up in the US first though.

[Chozo Ghost]

I can't see any reason you would prefer the new Wii model (especially since it looks like it is the same size as the current one).

No its not; its smaller. That would be one reason why it might be preferred. It is also possible this new version may be more durable and reliable due to it being simpler and having less potential things to break down and cause issues. Some people may also prefer that it has a horizontal orientation as opposed to vertical. Maybe it runs cooler and quieter and uses less energy too? I dunno, I'm just saying...

[TJ Spyke]

The pics I saw made it look like it's the same size (including comparison pics having them right next to each other), could you show me something that contradicts that?

You can use the current Wii horizontally with no problem. All that changes now is that Nintendo switched the logos direction.

[Mop it up]

If they actually removed the GameCube components from the disc drive instead of simply disabling it, that would make the drive more durable which would be a reason to get that version instead. I'd certainly buy one if I could transfer my data, but I don't expect that to ever be possible.

[Chozo Ghost]

I'm not 100% about it being smaller, but it makes sense that it should be because if you take out the controller and memory card ports then that should free up some space that could be shaved off. I also seem to remember reading that in the thread BnM posted, but it might have just been people speculating. I hope its true.

I am also holding out hope this revision will be more durable. Disc drive failure seems to be one of the biggest problems the Wii faces, and the GC discs are odd because they are so small so maybe that ability to accept those is somehow part of what is causing the drives to fail? Even if you do not use GC discs in it just the fact the drive is built to accept them may somehow be causing issues. I dunno. It just seems like that's a possibility, but I guess its something that would have to be tested out somehow.

[King of Twitch]

I thought it would be less durable at a smaller size, like a baby. You can't even drop them a little ways off the couch without their mom getting really mad.

[Mop it up]

Since the GameCube components are on the side of the system, I wouldn't expect it to be any smaller. That would require rearranging the parts inside, which would probably cost more that leaving those spots as empty space. It still needs to be that wide for the disc drive to fit inside of it.

As for the drive itself, I forget the exact functionality of it, but there is some sort of mechanism inside the drive that allows it to accept smaller discs. Some kind of springs or something I think it was. Removing it would be one less part that could wear out. The kind of revision I'd really want is a flip-top drive like the GameCube, it's more durable than a slot-loading drive due to less moving parts. It's a shame that Nintendo (and companies in general) these days usually choose style over durability.

[Chozo Ghost]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the slot loading drives myself. They seem cool and its convenient that they grab the disc from you and pull it in, but I don't mind putting in an extra second worth of effort to load a game disc manually especially if by doing it that way it results in a drive that's more durable and less susceptible to failure at some point down the road.

The Gamecube was built to be a very rugged system and is probably the most durable optical based gaming system ever made. The only way a system could be more rugged is if it was cartridge based, which obviously isn't going to happen ever again. Nintendo makes quality systems and the Wii is no exception, but due to its slot loading nature its probably Nintendo's least durable system.