Filed under: Gaming

Hey, remember that odd Nintendo pedometer we spied the other day? Well now we’ve got a possible explanation for its existence. According to our homeboys at Joystiq, the tiny device will be tied to some type of fitness game for the DS (and new DSi, we assume). There’s not a lot known, but they claim that one of the videos shown during the company’s Fall event in Japan indicates the title will be available in November, and will actually require some type of physical movement. Needless to say, the entire Engadget team has begun rigorous training to prepare for the totally raw competition which will commence once this as-yet-unnamed device / game is available.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Hey, remember that odd Nintendo pedometer we spied the other day? Well now we’ve got a possible explanation for its existence. According to info from our homeboys at Joystiq and some dirt we’ve dug up, the device — dubbed the Life Rhythm Counter — will be tied to a fitness game for the DS (and new DSi, we assume). The hardware will sell for ¥1800 (or about $17), and the game will be the first title to allow Wii Miis to be transferred to the handheld. Needless to say, the entire Engadget team has begun rigorous training to prepare for the totally raw competition which will commence once this device / game is available.

Update: It turns out the game is called Walking Can Tell Your Life Rhythm DS (translated from Japanese, of course), and we’ve got video after the break showing it (and the hardware) in action.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Nintendo’s mystery pedometer linked to DS “fitness game” (updated)

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

We heard last night that we wouldn’t be seeing the DSi in the States until next year, and now Reggie has confirmed the damage: no DSi until “well into calendar year 2009,” which sounds disturbingly like the holidays to us, but hopefully he’s just implying a few months in. We would hope Nintendo would be following the pattern of the DS Lite, which hit Japan in March of 2006, and made it Stateside in June, but Reggie says DS Lite sales are still strong in the US — which means it’s basically our fault that we don’t get a shiny new toy for Christmas.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

You know how it goes — first comes the far-out rumor, then comes something a touch more believable, and then the company itself issues an all-too-familiar non-denial denial. According to MCV sources, the next step in the process will happen tomorrow, as a revamped DS storms into action at 5:00AM GMT on the 2nd of October. As for specifics, we’ll have to wait for Iwata’s supposed announcement to find out more, but we’d be utterly shocked to see this ship after Christmas. That is, if this isn’t just some elaborate scheme from the Big N to distract us all from realizing that Wiis will still be impossible to find this holiday season two full years after launch.

[Image courtesy of Parade, thanks Michael]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Whoa, whoa — what’s this? A fresh report from Nikkei is pretty confidently talking about a new Nintendo DS destined to hit “within the year,” though we aren’t claiming to be full-fledged believers just yet. To be fair, this isn’t the first we’ve heard of such a beast, though the translated description is pretty far out there. For instance, the new model will reportedly boast a camera that will be used heavily for games and offer a stronger wireless signal. Even crazier is the bit about “competing with cellular phones” and “exceeding the frame of the game industry.” The article mentions that the device will eventually ship for ￥20,000 ($189) or less, though it doesn’t say what kind of sauce the author hit before writing commenced.

[Image courtesy of Techeblog, thanks RS]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Nintendo might be cranking out new DS Lite colors left and right, but IGN says something bigger’s brewing in Kyoto — a third iteration of the DS with dual touchscreen displays, one of them widescreen. Those are pretty significant changes, so we’d actually say that sounds more like a second-gen DS rather than another rev of the current hardware, but IGN says the rumored release date of April or May 2009 doesn’t jive with a whole new unit. We’ll see when we see — hopefully we won’t be waiting long.

PS.- That’s just IGN’s mockup, don’t get too excited.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Handhelds

There’s no two ways about it — getting Twitter functionality on your Nintendo DS is pretty difficult. In all seriousness, you should probably remain content with sending tweets from your handset and / or computer, but those who just can’t turn a blind eye to a hack won’t be able to look beyond this one. For starters, the Twitter for DS application is based entirely in Spanish, so unless you’re halfway fluent in the language (or are just really good at deciphering Google’s translations), you’ll likely be baffled. Still, a great reward awaits you if you’re able to pull it off — sending a message to all your devout followers that you just tweeted from a DS.

[Via PMPToday]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

It really does pay to be a foreign minister representing the 8 richest countries in the world. This Japanese-lacquered DS lite is just one of the items presented to the G8 ministers participating in last week’s talks in Kyoto. The other items included a scented perfume ball and manga-styled stickers for each of the participant to attach to their diplomatic tricycles.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Not like you really need another excuse to use your DS as a MIDI controller, but the hacking fiends over at Division 6 have just made available the aptly-titled Midify board. The tiny creation enables users to add a MIDI port to just about anything, but it specializes in Midifying Nintendo handhelds. It can be installed directly into a GBA, GBA-SP, DS or DS Lite, though it’ll play nice with other electronics should you procure a few extra parts. We won’t even bother mentioning what all you can do with this, but those already salivating at the thought shouldn’t have too much trouble parting with $34.99.

[Via Hack A Day]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

While Nintendo has yet to confirm its upcoming trio of new DS Lite colors for Europe (and hopefully the rest of us soon after), the much-leaked units have already been spotted in the wild and unboxed for your viewing pleasure. In addition to its regular warnings about getting outside and not hitting people in the face, Nintendo might want to inform consumers on the danger of eating their handheld consoles — we’d hate to see unsuspecting Advance Wars fans succumbing to the incredible temptation these new colors present. Now, how about a little bit of confirmation and release dates for these, Nintendo?

Update: Turns out Nintendo indeed confirmed the new colors — a solid week ago. They’re hitting Europe on June 13th. Still no word on the US, though, unless we missed another memo. [Thanks, Daniel]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Chicks and dudes, get ready for extremely spicy, delicious, and stimulating news. Remember those new DS Lite colors we mentioned a few days ago? Apparently Nintendo has all but confirmed the forthcoming arrival of cool ice, hot red, and lime green — at least in Europe. According to DS Fanboy, the big N has started circulating an e-teaser with the new paint jobs, which pretty much puts to rest any chance that this was just some over-eager Photoshopper’s weekend art project. The landing date of June 13th seems to be holding as well, but what we really want to know is when we can see some of these provocative color schemes Stateside. Well Nintendo?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Just in case the Big N hadn’t doled out enough variations of pinkish DS Lites, along comes yet another one to spend your discretionary income on. Later this month, a standalone Metallic Rose version of the handheld will be widely available in the US, but folks who managed to snag this very device in that Nintendogs bundle last year can pass right on by. Additionally, Nintendo is once again looking to the celebrities to push its wares, with America Ferrera and Carrie Underwood starring in spots with the aforesaid Rose DS and Liv Tyler showing up with the two-toned Crimson / Black edition. We’re expecting the not-entirely-new hue to run the same price as all of the others, but we’d still recommend grabbing one quick if you’re interested. One more look after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo re-launching Metallic Rose DS Lite as standalone system

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Waiting for a price drop on the Nintendo Wii or DS? Don’t hold your breath. Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata told analysts on Friday that there are no price drop plans for the hot-selling units. Iwata insisted this is because Nintendo doesn’t want to annoy those who already paid full price, but we think this is simply because there’s no need to drop the price on something that’s already selling like mad.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Nintendo’s DS Lite tends to find itself intertwined in obscure MIDI projects fairly often, so it’s no shock to see yet another enterprise linking the handheld to some fairly swank beats. By utilizing a homegrown DS MIDI apparatus along with dSTAR sequencer software, the DS Lite is able to transform into quite the potent little step sequencer. Of course, anything musically-related digests easier with video, so jump on past the break for a lengthy demonstration (and peep the read link if you’re eager to replicate).

[Via MAKE]

Continue reading Nintendo’s DS Lite doubles as MIDI sequencer (again)

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

According to reports (translated, possibly misunderstood, clearly speculative reports), come this year’s E3, Nintendo could be rolling out a brand-spanking-new DS — most likely very unlike the one pictured above. If you follow the text in a Bloomberg Japan article, Famicom magazine publisher Hirokazu Hamamura says that the timing of E3 would fall right in line with the two-year stagger the Big N has applied to other handheld releases. Of course, Nintendo is saying “no comment,” though we find that’s usually the last thing they say before introducing the Wii, Game Boy, N64, Harry Potter Wand, or Ultimate Doomsday Device.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Good news, DS owners! You too will soon be able to shred just like those kids with stay-at-home consoles — sort of, at least. According to a first look over at Video Games Zone, the summer-bound Guitar Hero on Tour title can be really enjoyed with the aptly-named Guitar Grip. As you can see above, it is limited to just four buttons, but nevertheless, it allows users to hold the DS upright and tap the buttons of the peripheral — which is suitably fitted into the GBA slot — and strum the touchscreen to take care of the pickin’. Sure, it’s a far cry from wielding a full-fledged axe, but it’s not too shabby for shredding on the run. Check out a smorgasbord of pictures and a promo video in the read link below.

[Via NeoGAF]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Quite frankly, we’re a bit shocked it took this long for the paint gun-wielding gurus over at Colorware to start fancying up Nintendo’s famed DS Lite, but just in case The Big N has yet to unveil a hue that floats your boat, look no further. As with most everything else it sells, you can send in your current unit in order to receive it back in a whole new outfit, but those who’ve yet to jump on board the bandwagon can acquire their very first DS Lite already modified. Best of all, Colorware lets you paint up the main frame, button pad, front port, bottom, L / R buttons and even the stylus separately (for a cost, of course), so those looking to relive the 70s can toss together some seriously groovy combinations. Go on, hit up the read link and exercise that artistic muscle.

[Via CNET]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Displays, Gaming

Price fixing isn’t ever fun — unless you’re the company doing it and expect to get away with it, and then it’s like a total blast, dude. But hopefully that isn’t actually the case with Sharp and Hitachi, whose offices were apparently raided by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission on suspicion of fixing display prices for the DS; Nintendo’s throw its hands up in the air exclaiming that it was unaware of the supposed screen cartel, and something else about just when they thought were out, they got pulled back in.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments