Category: DS

100M Nintendo DS Units Shipped

Nintendo today announced that it has shipped the 100 millionth Nintendo DS unit on March 6, 2009. That is 4 years, 3 months and 14 days after the handheld made its debut in North America.

The company claimed that the system “helped redefine what a video game could be” and pointed out how the DSi is an example of its continued livelihood. The DSi is the third revision of the hardware, sporting a slimmer profile, bigger screens, two cameras and the ability to buy and download games online.

The DSi is already available in Japan and will hit Europe and North America next month for $169.99.

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 Announced

Tomy Corporation today announced that Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 is in development exclusively for the DS. The latest in the franchise that has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide, the game will feature the Shippuden story arc in North America.

It will feature a host of playable characters sporting their updated Shippuden looks. There will also be support for wireless multiplayer battles for up to four players. Here’s the deal:

In NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4, players will experience the new Shippuden storyline for the first time on the DS. Set two and a half years after the events of the classic NARUTO series, Naruto fans are introduced to older characters as the storyline advances and unfolds with copious plot twists. NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 also allows gamers to follow an older Naruto and his friends on the quest to save Gaara from the sinister Akatsuki organization. Players are able to choose their allies and form a three-man squad with special jutsu techniques to ward off looming danger. Dedicated franchise fans and new Naruto fighters alike can utilize the touch screen to unleash their unique jutsu attacks and take on anyone that gets in their way. As an added bonus, unlockable jutsu allows aspiring ninjas to explore previously unreachable areas.

The game will be out on the DS this spring.

2009 BAFTA Winners Announced

This year’s BAFTA marks the first time that a film director has won a video game award, as Steven Spielberg claimed his third BAFTA mask for Boom Blox in the Casual category.

Other winners include Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which won two BAFTAs and the game of the year award. Dead Space took home technical achievements alongside LittleBigPlanet.

Quite a few games won BAFTAs, including Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution, Race Driver: GRID, Left 4 Dead and Fable 2. Full list of winners after the jump.

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Dragon Quest Delay May Affect Final Fantasy XIII

It appears that the recently announced delay to the Japanese debut of Dragon Quest IX might impact the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII.

"There is a possibility that [the] Dragon Quest IX delay could affect Final Fantasy XIII," said Square Enix head Yoichi Wada.

The shift of DQIX from March to July has left the publisher without a major release for the rest of its fiscal year, which ends March 31. This delay was one of many reasons why the company lowered its profit forecast by nearly 63%.

Final Fantasy XIII is expected out in Japan by the end of this year on the PS3. North America and Europe will see Xbox 360 versions as well, though they aren’t expected before April 2010.

Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games

Their relations get even frostier than usual, as Mario and Sonic are teaming up once again in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for Wii and DS.

Developed by Sega of Japan under the guidance of Shigeru Miyamoto, the game will feature the legendary cast of playable characters, as well as new faces, as they square off against each other in winter-themed Olympic games. This includes alpine skiing and speed skating, among other events.

Scheduled for release late this year, the game will also feature multiplayer gameplay in both cooperative and competitive terms and will make use of the Wii Balance Board for more realistic gameplay.

Knights in the Nightmare Announced

Atlus today announced that it has secured the North American publishing rights for Knights in the Nightmare, an upcoming RPG/RTS for the DS. The game will have players “embrace something altogether new and fresh,” according to their press release, and that it will offer both tactical gameplay and a ‘captivating’ narrative.

It will combine strategy RPG, real-time strategy and shooter elements. There will be over 100 playable characters and the story will be told from two perspectives, having players step into the shoes of the antagonist, too.

The game is scheduled for release on June 2 for $35.

N+ Coming to Europe

European’s have long mourned the fact that they were not subject to the awesomeness of N+, but that time has come to an end as Atari will bring the antics of the beloved flash ninja to the region for the PSP and DS in March and April 2009, respectively.

N+ is an equal parts platformer and action game, offering fluid animation, fast action, acrobatics and instant playability. The portable game features pick-up-and-play style that has enamored gamers in the rest of the world.

The PSP and DS versions feature cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes and level sharing. They also have a built-in level editor, letting you and your friends share your weird maps; it also carries support for downloadable content.

Shin Megami Tensei Coming to DS

Atlus USA today announced Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, a new entry in the series, for the DS. Billed as a new RPG/SRPG hybrid, the game is due out this summer.

This is the first time the series is jumping to the small screen, but the studio states that no aspect of the experience has been shrunk in the process. It will feature a new RPG/SRPG combat system and more character customization options than before.

Finally, players will be able to use a new Demon Action feature to collect and fuse demons to create their own powerful party.

Devil Survivor will hit stores on June 23 for $29.99.