Last night, the news from Nintendo's Conference in Japan broke all over the internet. This morning, NWR got the English version from the Nintendo Fall Media Summit.

Like Iwata, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime wasted no time: he officially unveiled the DSi in America. He talked about how users could now download games onto the flash memory built into the DSi, and that Nintendo's own Brain Age series will be included amongst the first games from the service, called the Nintendo DSi Shop.

Reggie introduced the DSi's multimedia features, claiming that Nintendo didn't set out to create the world's best camera or media player. Instead, Nintendo was seeking to make the DSi the most fun possible for all people, and hoped to find new forms of entertainment via the camera and audio playback features.

The DSi will have two cameras, one facing towards the player and one facing forward away from the player. The DSi will have the ability to perform real-time manipulation on the pictures it takes, and features a photo diary that can be shared with other users.

The DSi will also serve as a music player, supporting the AAC format through a compatible SD card. Nintendo made sure to point out that users would be able to fast forward, change pitch, change playback speed, and apply filters to their audio files. (The given example was someone listening only to the lyrics of a song, not the instrumentals.) They'll even be able to record their own voice via the built-in microphone and play with that.

Fils-Aime also confirmed that the Game Boy Advance slot was removed. This was done to preserve the durability, weight, and size of the system, while actually decreasing the portable's size.

Reggie went on to confirm that the DSi will have a built-in Opera web browser, and that this would run faster than the previous Nintendo DS Opera Browser, which had been sold separately and required the GBA slot.

However, America will not see the DSi until "well into" in 2009. Reggie pointed to still surging demand for Nintendo's existing DS hardware. In fact, he pointed out, the DS had just set a sales record for the month of August. Reggie went on to promise that this October, November, and December there would be more DS hardware available than last year, and the same went for Wii hardware. Wondering if that would be enough to meet demand, he responded, "Talk to me in January."

As for the Wii, Reggie confirmed that Nintendo had settled on a storage solution for their system involving use of the SD card. Wii Shop Channel downloads would be eligible for download directly to an SD card inserted in a Wii system, and this data could be transferred to the Wii in what was said to be an improved process. However, no details were provided on how this would play out exactly.

Then Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Cammie Dunaway took the stage. The first item on her agenda was the announcement of a new Punch Out!! title for the Wii. She showed a video reel for the title, featuring classic Punch Out!! characters and music, but new graphics and motion control. The game is due out in the first half of 2009 in the US.

Cammie also showcased Sega's Mad World, which will be available in March 2009. The game's stylized ultra-violence will have something to do with a bizarre game show called Deathwatch. Mad World, as well as Activision's Call of Duty: World at War, would be playable at the event. Cammie also mentioned a winter 2009 release window for Capcom's Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop.

Continuing her games focus, Cammie introduced The Conduit, and Eric Nofsinger and Micah Skaritka from High Voltage to demo the game. The Conduit is currently in pre-alpha, with single player nearly complete, enemies that blink in and out of phase (necessitating the game's all seeing eye weapon), textures that retain their definition up close, specular lighting, interactive water, heat distortion, and more from an engine that was built for the Wii. The game will not have a hard lock, but soft lock for selected targets, and the team at High Voltage is incorporating feedback they've received in developing the game. They also announced that The Conduit would feature 16-player multiplayer, deathmatch, teams, and capture the flag modes.

Cammie then returned to the stage to re-introduce everyone to Nintendo's Wii Music. Giving a live demo, it was explained that Wii Music was not intended for high-scoring, but to be played however one wanted. It will feature more than 50 instruments and 60 songs, and Cammie offered positive quotes from musicians that Nintendo had given hands-on of their upcoming game to.

Talking about Animal Crossing, Cammie credited the core with the success of previous games and said that Nintendo planned to bring the franchise to a wider audience with the Wii game. Cammie also let the audience know that Nintendo had brought a celebrity fitness trainer to the event to help them through Wii Fit, and talked about Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party and it's innovative butt play via the Balance Board.

As the last Wii game she presented, Cammie let the audience know that Sin and Punishment 2 would indeed be making it to American shores. She credited the sales of the original game on the Virtual Console and promised the audience that they wouldn't have to import its sequel.

Turning to the DS library, Cammie introduced the Personal Trainer brand for the DS. The first title in this line is Personal Trainer Cooking, which has a November 24 release. Further titles involving walking and math would appear in 2009.

Cammie then promised that Rhythm Heaven for the DS would come to America in the first half of 2009, and showcased a range of third party DS titles coming to the DS this October and November: Age of Empires: Mythologies, Tecmo Bowl, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, and Chrono Trigger.

Cammie also showcased Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon for the DS, a remake of the original NES title that tells the story of Marth, previously known to American audiences only thought Nintendo's Smash brother series. The game would include prologue chapters not in the original, and would feature voice chat over wireless battles. Additionally, players would be able to use in-game money to purchase items from an online ship where the selection changed daily, and players would be able to borrow characters from friends, level them up, and send them back.

Afterwards, Cammie gave a release date for the next Pokemon Ranger game (November 10) and mentioned EA's puzzler adventure Henry Hatsworth, coming in 2009. Then she announced that Mario and Luigi 3 is coming, played video showing that Bowser was joining force with the Mario Brothers in the RPG, and informed the audience that they could expect the game in 2009.

Nintendo had two more announcements before the presentation ended. The first announcement was that everyone who purchased the Wii Speak microphone accessory for their console would be able to download a special Wii Speak Channel, which would let them talk to three other Wii owners over the Internet at once.

The second announcement was about Nintendo of Japan's Club Nintendo shopper rewards program, which lets consumers register games to earn points to be redeemed for Nintendo-themed prizes, accessories, and games. Cammie announced that Club Nintendo will debut in America by the end of this year.

Thanks to NWR staff member Aaron Kaluszka who was at the event keeping us updated.

NINTENDO'S HOLIDAY 2008: WII SPEAK CHANNEL, CLUB NINTENDO, MORE SURPRISES

Nintendo Announces 'Significant Increase' in Q4 Wii Supplies over 2007

NINTENDO'S HOLIDAY 2008: WII SPEAK CHANNEL, CLUB NINTENDO, MORE SURPRISES

Nintendo Announces 'Significant Increase' in Q4 Wii Supplies over 2007

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 2, 2008 – Nintendo today disclosed a number of surprises, including new games, the ability to use the Wii™ console to chat with friends near and far, and the expansion of the popular Club Nintendo rewards program to North America.

Continuing its commitment to supply new game experiences for every level of player, Nintendo revealed a wide range of games for the 2008 holiday season and beyond. A number of games are slated for 2009, including a new Punch-Out!! ™ and Sin & Punishment 2 for Wii, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon and Mario & Luigi™ RPG 3 for Nintendo DS™. Consumers also can expect a new "Personal Trainer” series of titles designed to help users enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways.

Nintendo also announced that North American supplies of the Wii video game console between October and December will see a significant increase from 2007's levels, and that Nintendo DS will also be available in greater abundance than ever before.

"We have new games and new experiences for every kind of player this holiday season, and that will certainly fuel increased interest in Wii and Nintendo DS,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "While there's no way to gauge total demand for our hardware systems, we're trying to satisfy as many of those players as possible.”

The new Wii Speak™ Channel arrives on Nov. 16 and uses the Wii Speak™, a microphone that sits on top of your television. This accessory is sold separately at an MSRP of $29.99. People who buy the microphone are given a code that allows them to download the Wii Speak Channel from the Wii Shop Channel at no charge. The Wii Speak lets people in up to four locations who have traded Friend Codes chat with one another at no extra cost. When you use Wii Speak in real time, your Mii™ appears on your TV screen and mimics your chat. You also can leave audio messages for your friends and family members or use Wii Speak to narrate captions for your photos.

Gamers have longed for the expansion of Club Nintendo to North America for years, and now Nintendo is making it a reality for everyone. Club Nintendo rewards Nintendo loyalists who complete surveys and register Nintendo products with loyalty coins that can be redeemed for exclusive items available only to Club Nintendo members. Club Nintendo is set to debut in North America this holiday season.

Key software available for Wii this holiday season includes: