Sharp and Hitachi targeted by the probes.

Two producers of LCD screens used in the Nintendo DS are being investigated by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission on allegations of price fixing. The allegations date to 2005, when manufacturer Hitachi began producing screens for the DS. Officials allege that Hitachi reached an agreement with Sharp, who was already making screens for the DS, on what they would charge Nintendo for them. On February 28, investigators searched the offices and factories of Sharp and Hitachi looking for evidence.

Electronic Arts VP Louis Castle talks about making and designing Boom Blox, using an indie development process at EA, the Wii remote, the game's level editor, and even head-tracking!

If one of Nintendo's goals with the Wii was to inspire companies to step out of their comfort range and do new and different things, Boom Blox may be taken as a sign of success.

Boom Blox will be the first game to emerge from the collaboration between director Steven Spielberg and EA, but Louis Castle, Vice President of Creative Development at EA Los Angeles, was quick to admit that it was the sort of game that people wouldn't expect from them. In his GDC 2008 lecture "Creating Spielberg's Boom Blox", Castle told attendees that game actually got its start after Spielberg had a chance to play the Wii at E3 2006. Afterwards, Spielberg talked with Doug Church, a developer at EA, inspired by the potential of the Wii's unique control scheme and also wanting to create a game that would bring kids and adults together.

Cast a line from your couch.

SEGA BASS FISHING SHIPS TO NORTH AMERICAN

RETAIL STORES

Get Your Tackle Box Ready For An Arcade-Style Fishing Game

Now for the Wii

SAN FRANCISCO (February 27, 2008) – SEGA® of America, Inc. announced that SEGA Bass Fishing™ is now available in North America. Developed exclusively for the Wii™, SEGA Bass Fishing is the latest addition to one of the most successful fishing game franchises of all time.

SEGA Bass Fishing returns with all-new intuitive controls that fully utilize the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™. When players hook a big one, they can use the motion sensor to reel it in. With over 20 different types of lures to choose from, gamers can cast off using the Wii Remote to try to land one of four different types of freshwater bass. SEGA Bass Fishing also offers gamers the freedom to select time-of-day and season during play which impacts the activity of the fish, as well as their appetite and their depth. Featuring 15 beautifully designed lake environments, SEGA Bass Fishing has four fun-filled game modes including Arcade, Tournament, Practice and Nature Trip.

Big Willy Unleashed was designed for the Wii from the ground up.

Tainted Fast Food Warnings on the Rise as Destroy All Humans!® Big Willy Unleashed™ Ships to Retail Outlets Worldwide

Crypto and His Big Willy Conquer 1970s in Franchise's Wii Debut

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2008--THQ Inc. today announced Destroy All Humans!® Big Willy Unleashed™ for the Wii™ system is now shipping to major retailers throughout North America. The sci-fi action franchise's debut on a Nintendo platform features four unique open-world environments to explore and high fidelity destruction on the ground, in the air via UFO and in the all-new Big Willy, a prototype alien mech masquerading as a fast food restaurant mascot. Developed by THQ's Locomotive Games, Inc., Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed is now available for the suggested retail price of $49.99.

But don't expect to take home a copy early.

Our resident retail mole and NWR Forums regular UncleBob has informed us that his Walmart store has already received shipments of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo's all-star fighter for Wii. This delivery, and presumably many other deliveries in the Walmart chain of stores, comes eleven days ahead of the official March 9 North American release date of the game.

A pallet full of Super Smash Bros. Brawl,currently residing inan unidentified Walmart warehouse.

Nintendo's official European site confirms the use of text-based chat rooms for online friends waiting to race. Updated: Chat will be limited to a choice of pre-determined phrases.

Update: IGN has learned from Nintendo of America that the text chat feature will be limited to a selection of pre-determined phrases, and therefore will not be input via an on-screen or physical keyboard.

Following last week's announcement of an April 11th European release date for Mario Kart Wii, Nintendo has updated the game's hub page on its UK website with confirmation of the ability to text chat with registered friends outside of races.

Exercise software and Wii Balance Board to be available for £69.99 in the UK, €89.99 throughout the rest of Europe.

Nintendo has announced estimated retail prices for its forthcoming body awareness and exercise tool, Wii Fit, in European markets. Including the advanced Wii Balance Board peripheral for measuring weight and detecting physical action, the Wii Fit package will retail for £69.99 in the UK, while elsewhere in Europe the price will be €89.99.

Wii Fit launched in Japan last year for ¥8.800, approximately equivalent to £42, €55, or 83 US dollars. Nintendo of America has yet to set a price for Wii Fit, only commenting that it will be set lower than $100. With the European price points working out at around $140, this may be an indication that Wii Fit will hit US stores at closer to $100 than $80.

Nintendo wants you to find your inner Pokémon.

TWO NEW NINTENDO DS GAMES LET PLAYERS EXPLORE THEIR INNER POKÉMON

Randomized Dungeons, Online Features Fuel Latest Mystery Dungeon Adventures

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 26, 2008 – Ever wondered what it would be like to become a Pokémon? With the April 20 launch of Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness for Nintendo DS™, hand-held gamers will soon find out.

In this pair of action-packed adventures, players journey as actual Pokémon through a fantastic land untouched by humans. Before the game starts, players take a test to help them figure out which of 16 Pokémon best represents their personalities. Players then experience their adventure through the eyes of a Pokémon as they explore the land and embark on an epic journey through time and darkness. They talk and team up with other Pokémon to set out on an epic voyage while navigating an endless array of randomly generated dungeons.

Another day, another "Brain." Sega's take on the brain health genre features online play and DLC.

Sega Ships Brain Assist to Retailers in North America

Creativity and Perception Skills Increase with the Help of New Brain Teasing Game

SAN FRANCISCO (February 26, 2008) – SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that Brain Assist™ for the Nintendo DS™ portable handheld system has shipped to North American retailers. Designed to specifically target the right hemisphere of the brain, Brain Assist will test one’s visual perception skills and stimulate the creativity center of the human brain.

Move along, nothing to see here.

If your Wii is glowing tonight, it's because Nintendo has released Wii Menu version 3.2.

Compared to the last Wii Menu revision (which updated the Check Mii Out Channel), this update apparently doesn't do much at all beyond upgrading your Wii to version 3.2U. According to Nintendo's website, it only makes back-end tweaks to "improve system performance". The Wii console's update message claims that the Disc Channel will now be able to display a scrolling message notifying you of a required update if a game needs to install one.