If you choose to update your Virtual Console copy of this game, you'll get both upgrades and downgrades (am total).

It doesn't happen often, but some Virtual Console games are updated after their initial releases to correct various bugs. Many users of the service may not realize these updates are available, because Nintendo does not announce them or notify consumers through Wiimail or any other means. The only way you can keep abreast of the updates is to look at "Titles You've Downloaded" on the Store Channel. Games with updates available will have a small "Updated!" tab above the title. Of course, these patches are free, but you will have to download an entirely new ROM, which may take a while in the case of larger games like Star Fox 64.

Trading cards featuring Nintendogs and Zelda characters, for those of you who need to own it all.

You may not have known it, but trading cards do still exist outside of major athletics. A company named Enterplay has recently been releasing trading cards featuring Nintendo characters. Card sets for Nintendogs are already available, and the company is working on sets for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and "Mario & Friends". The Nintendogs set contains 20 cards, while the Zelda set will have 86 cards when it is release in July. Mario's set is due in August. The cards feature characters and items from the games, and also include game tips.

The father of Metal Gear Solid recently got the chance to test-drive his own character against Sakurai's Mario.

Speaking on the (official) Kojima Productions Report podcast, host Ryan Payton let it be known that Metal Gear Solid series creator Hideo Kojima played Super Smash Bros. Brawl at Masahiro Sakurai's development studio. According to Payton, Kojima thought that Brawl, as he played it, "felt very complete" and "was a lot of fun." Kojima later said that Nintendo "could probably put it out now and it would sell millions of copies."

The KP Report podcast also noted that Kojima was playing as Snake and Sakurai was playing as Mario during his play time. Apparently, Kojima didn't want to attack Mario "out of respect," seeing as how he grew up with Nintendo's number one mascot.

Even the Nintendo prez can't believe the success of the DS. Also, 40% of Wiis are connected to the Internet and a lot of games are being developed by Nintendo.

In addition to releasing its financial report this week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata held a press conference for his company's investors. The presentation highlighted Nintendo's reasons for success over the past year, most of which was due to the Nintendo DS. Predictably, Iwata focused his attention on the handheld for the bulk of his speech.

Here are some of the highlights of the press event, which you can watch here.

Lists are out for all systems in Japan and TurboGrafx-16 in the US and Europe and include some big-name games.

First up, we have seventeen games scheduled for release in Japan next month with Super Famicom oddly absent. Three games, Exerion, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Neutopia come out on the first of the month, while the rest will follow.

Famicom (NES)

Exerion [Jaleco]

Super Mario Bros. 2 (The Lost Levels) [Nintendo]

Tsuppari Oozumou [Tecmo]

Challenger [Tecmo]

Nintendo 64

F-Zero X [Nintendo]

The developer has jumped from Namco to Nintendo even as Disaster: Day of Crisis is being prepped for Wii.

In a bit of Japanese business news that may affect gamers, Nintendo has purchased 1920 shares of stock in Monolith Soft (or 80% of the company) from the previous stockholder, Namco Bandai. No details were given on specific game titles or the exact nature of Monolith Soft's new relationship with Nintendo, although some kind of exclusivity deal is highly likely.

Nintendo fans may recognize the developer's name from the two Baten Kaitos titles on GameCube. They are also developing the still mysterious Wii game, Disaster: Day of Crisis. Other Monolith Soft games include the Xenosaga series and bizarre crossover RPG, Namco x Capcom.

Sales and income are way up over last year; 14 million more Wii consoles and 40.3 million more DS portables to be sold in the next 12 months.

Nintendo opened up its books to the world today, and the numbers tell the story. For its 2007 fiscal year, which started last April and ended this March, Nintendo accumulated ¥966.5 ($8.19) billion in total sales, a third of which came from Nintendo's home country of Japan. That is an astonishing 89.8% increase over the same period last year. Total profit during the same time was ¥174.3 ($1.48) billion, which is an just-as-equally-impressive 77.2% jump. That's some serious cash, folks.

Wiis won't be on shelves until 2009?!

In what is possibly the most optimistic (in regards to Wii) analyst report yet, IDC research analyst Billy Pidgeon predicts Wii demand to outpace supply until 2009!

From the Home Media Magazine Article:

“I believe the Wii will continue strong growth although supply continues to be a problem," Pidgeon said. “I’d like to see Wii hardware shipping in larger quantities or mass market consumers may cool on it. Having said that, I don’t believe supply will meet demand for the Wii until 2009. Xbox 360 and PS3 need system-selling games ASAP. Halo 3 will help, as will Lair and Heavenly Sword, but that leaves a hole in Q2 which will be filled by Wii, DS and PSP hardware and software. We’ll also see more PC and PS2 software picking up the slack."

Two different versions allow you to pick your side.

Activison just announced two Transformers titles for the DS. Taking a page from the Pokemon craze, each version will interact with the other with both local and online features. Appropriately titled Transformers: Autobots and Transformers: Decepticons, each game represents a side of the epic conflict. It's up to the player if they want to be good or evil.

The games will allow you to play as many of your favorite classic Transformers as well as create your own character, choosing colors and vehicles. As you play, the stats and abilities of your custom robot will be improved.

Partial song list revealed.

Namco Bandai is bringing their popular rhythm game to the Nintendo DS this summer in Japan, making it the first time the series will appear on a Nintendo system. A partial tracklist has been announced, including the Super Mario Bros. theme, which was also included in the eighth iteration of the arcade version.

The control for the game, known as Taiko no Tatsujin in Japan, has not yet been revealed. The game will feature four player multiplayer, and its characters can be customized. No US release has yet been scheduled.