The update allows the GBA media device to playback high-quality MP4 format movies.

Nintendo has just updated the Play-Yan page with a ZIP file download, containing a 544KB firmware patch for the Play-Yan media player. The update allows the Play-Yan to playback MP4 movies in high-quality stereo sound. After unzipping the patch, the file must be placed on the same SD card that contains the MP4 movies, and then they will be displayed on the movie menu as normal.

Phoenix Wright's Japanese counterpart will come in a special edition with the coolest DS stylus yet.

Gyakuten Saiban DS (known here in the United States as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney) is still a few months off from its Japanese release on September 15. However, that didn't stop Capcom from announcing a special edition of the courtroom drama game.

The package will include a copy of the game, a poster, soundtrack CD, wrist strap and special stylus. Here's a picture of the two latter objects in the pack:

That will happen on 30th September.

ADVANCE WARS CONQUERS THE NINTENDO DS

The handheld strategy game makes its dual screen debut on 30th September

11th July - The long-running and award-winning series Advance Wars, has struck the Nintendo DS, leaving no prisoners in its wake. The arrival of Advance Wars: Dual Strike on 30th September brings turn based strategy gameplay onto two screens - with the touch function acting as a perfect tool for the game.

Although everyone is talking more about the PSP, the DS is still the better overall handheld.

UK research firm WaveMetrix has been snooping around the Internet lately, gathering up data on what people think about the two new handheld systems, Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. After taking in comments from online forums and analyzing them, a finalized research report shows that two screens are apparently better than one.

According to their "Join Us" section, they're looking to start up DS development.

After Rare was bought by Microsoft in 2002, many thought it was the end of their relationship with Nintendo. Fortunately, Rare still releases portable titles, such as Banjo Pilot and It's Mr. Pants. Up until this point, though, no one was completely sure if Rare would support Nintendo's newest handheld, the DS.

Well, not yet. But for now you'll just have to settle with Nintendo teaming up with Rip Curl.

July 6, 2005

Dude, Didja Know?

Nintendo Makes Waves as Proud Presenter of Rip Curl's GromSearch 2005

Groms rejoice! Nintendo has solved the timeless summertime dilemma: to

surf or to game? This summer, the nations' top 6 to 16-year-old surfers,

known as "grommets," can do both. Nintendo is pleased to announce that it is

The sleeper hit is ready for yet another platform.

The Behemoth's quirky action game, Alien Hominid, is set to debut on the GBA after stints as an online Flash game and on all three major consoles, according to the official British website. The violent 2D shooter has drawn comparison's to SNK's Metal Slug series.

No further details are currently available, but the official site says more info will be announced soon.

The new song pack will see the first use of the DS's GBA slot for something other than GBA games.

Nintendo of Japan has updated their Band Bros. DS page announcing that an expansion for the game is in the works. The "Band Brothers Zouka Kyoku Cartridge" will feature 20 more songs for the DS music game, and Japanese gamers can vote for which songs they want to see included.

The way these... Read more...

Mario reportedly drunk.

July 1, 2005

Did You Know? Electric Blue Nintendo DS Bundle Sparks Sales

Major retailers are reporting sales of Nintendo DS(TM) units have increased

86 percent over the weekly average. The spike can be attributed to a special

bundle featuring the new Electric Blue version of Nintendo DS that comes with

Lunar: Dragon Song is the first original game in the series in a decade and is coming exclusively to a DS near you!

UBISOFT UNVEILS GAME DETAILS FOR LUNAR: DRAGON SONG FOR NINTENDO DS

The First Original Installment of the Lunar Series in More Than a Decade Set

for September 2005 Release

SAN FRANCISCO - July 1, 2005 - Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest

video game publishers, is delighted to announce Lunar: Dragon Song, a new

The mystery controller, the GB Micro, the DS online and more!

Electronic Gaming Monthly was granted an intervew with Nintendo's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, the one and only Reginald Fils-Aime. The boys at EGM asked some tough questions to Reggie, and surprisingly Reggie shot back by actually giving answers. You can pick up the newest issue of the magazine for the full feature, but EGM's partner site 1UP.com has the interview available to read online.

Get your Pokemon episodes on the go.

A Japanese company, AM3, has developed a new kiosk that lets users download movies to their Game Boy Advance. Using their technology, which seems similar to Nintendo's Play-Yan device, consumers have been able to buy anime episodes on SmartMedia cards and play them on their GBAs via a special adaptor.

Fans will be able question developers and compete this October in Southern California.

On Tuesday, Blizzard announced the first convention for fans of the Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo games. The convention will take place on October 28th and 29th in Orange County, California.

The convention will hold Q&A sessions with the developers of World of Warcraft and Starcraft: Ghost.... Read more...

The soccer manager sim will be released for GBA in August.

PREMIER MANAGER 2005-2006

ZOO digital are pleased to announce the latest instalment of the Premier Manager series 2005-2006. The multi-million selling series once again enters the race to become top of the league with budding football managers.

The game has been overhauled in terms of presentation... Read more...

Get fantastic with four new heroes, coming to the GBA and GameCube.

August issue to contain a DVD featuring the Zelda trailer in 5.1 surround.

Top Designers Perform Major Overhaul of Nintendo Power Magazine

August Issue Will Contain DVD Trailer of

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

REDMOND, Wash., June 28 -- The oldest video game magazine is

now also the hippest. Seventeen-year-old Nintendo Power® has decided to

That's one million less than two million but one million more than the PSP.

According to Nintendo of Europe, Nintendo DS sales have reached one million in Europe. The DS launched on the 11th March 2005 in the region, and it sold 500,000 units in its first three weeks alone.

Jim Merrick, Senior Director, European Marketing, Nintendo of Europe had this to say:

The PSP isn't the only one that can get firmware updates, you know.

Owners of the GBA Play-Yan Media Player will soon be able to upgrade the unit's movie playback capabilty. An update is in the works that will allow for higher-quality MP4 format movies to be displayed, as well as the addition to listen to them in high-quality stereo sound. Currently, the Play-Yan is only capable of playing back ASF format MPEG-4 video in mono sound.

I'm tempted to use the phrase, "Someone has been Yu-Gi-Ohned."

KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT - AMERICA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE YU-GI-OH! U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT

Five Talented Duelists Advance to the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2005 Tournament in Tokyo , Japan

REDWOOD CITY , Calif. - June 24, 2005 - Konami Digital Entertainment... Read more...

The director comments on voice acting in Twilight Princess and Zelda DS controls.

A recently published article from Wired News, based on interviews at E3 last month, includes some new information on upcoming Zelda titles, including the mysterious DS incarnation of the series.

Eiji Aonuma, who is the director of Twilight Princess for GameCube and is directly handling the next... Read more...