We let you know about Kurikin Nano Island Storylast week, now here's the Japanese TV ad for your viewing pleasure. There's also some new stuff about the game on Nintendo's official site. You can take a look at some of the germs you'll be collecting, Pokemon style, on the viewer pictured above.
A few ads for the game are doing the rounds on TV at the moment. This one shows a basic pincer movement. Another we've seen shows you can blow into the mike to spread your sick little minions around the battlefield. Click through to watch the ad.
Posted May 14th 2007 12:30PM by James Konik
Filed under: News
Nintendo's Japanese website has been updated with details of Kurikin Nano Island Story for the DS. A few videos and screens demonstrate the soon to be released game, which has a definite whiff of Pokémon about it. Taking on the role of a student at Nano Academy, players must collect bacteria and send them into battle against rivals. There are over 100 types of bacteria to collect and they look a lot cuter than you'd expect.
The videos on the site show how the game's battle sequences will work. You use the stylus to select your germs, then send them into battle against the enemy. It's kind of like a sneeze based Command & Conquer. The battles in the videos take place in a fairly dull laboratory setting, but we're hoping to get the chance to take the battle into the human body; perhaps via a nose, or gangrenous leg.
As well as the screens and videos, you can also listen to perhaps the world's funkiest intro track on the site. The game is out in Japan on May 24th.
If you're in Japan this summer, you can audition for the chance to sing the game's vocal track. You need to be over eighteen and have a voice that can make a grown man weep like a baby. Any Fanboy readers feel like heading along?
The game's battle screens are looking very much like Final Fantasy Tactics, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The three difficulty settings should help out players who are new to the whole tactical RPG scene, whilst keeping veteran players happy.
We're promised around 50 hours of gameplay, with branching storylines and multiple endings to find. You'll also be able to trade items with your friends over wi-fi.
There's a party going on tomorrow and the Tanooki got a sneak preview of the decor. It's a full-on Super Mario themed bash, complete with all the stuff you'd expect to find in a Mario game. This fantastic Chain Chomp piñata is just waiting to be smashed, hopefully by a jumping kid in a Mario costume. Seriously, if there's an invite going free, we'd love it.
Head past the break for the giant Pirahna Plants and chocolate coins!
We've got a bunch of screens for theWild West, Majesco's new DS shooter. Looks like there'll be shoot outs, mine cart rides and cow herdin' a plenty in the budget title. Navigation, aiming and shooting will all be handled through the stylus, of course. They've really tried to keep things historically accurate, with 30 foot robots and killer bats populating the game, but hey, you'll be able to defend yourself with your trusty machine gun. Oh, and you're a lion.
So, you found all the coins in New Super Mario Brothers? Easy. All the levels on Super Mario World? No problem. If you're after a real challenge, try Hard Relay Mario Brothers. This swirling maelstrom of spikes, jumps and spinning fireballs looks almost impossible to play through. You'll need to take advantage of minor glitches in the game to complete this emulator-only hack. You'll also need patience, skill and balls of steel if you want to make it to the end. Making use of emulator save states might also give you an edge.
A lot of the jumps here involve lining Mario up exactly with the bottom of each block. If this done correctly, the game tries to push Mario through the block, enabling him to jump again. Around the 11.30 mark, more than 20 of these jumps are strung together - impressive stuff.
Demand for the DS and DS Lite show no signs of abating. Japanese retailers are sitting on such a goldmine that they can get away with putting stuff like this on the shelves: a scratched, stylus-free, filth-ridden DS, yours for only $100!
Box? Instruction manual? Get out of here! Gift wrapping extra. Store takes no responsibility if your kids get beaten up in the playground, or your partner leaves you for someone who knows crap when they see it. We'll take three. Do they come in candy pink?
Rumours are going around the internet that Alone in the Dark 5: Near Death Investigation will be heading to the DS, along with versions for the home consoles and PC. The latest entry in the survival horror series sees Edward Carnby fighting for his life in Central Park. We'll get an episodic story and the chance to hot-wire a car in a minigame.
Atari is also bringing at least five other titles to the DS: Tabaluga 2, Lucky Luke: Go West, Asterix Olympic Games, Cooking and Fashion Academy. Something for everyone then, and a real treat for image conscious chefs who like French cartoons.
The Japanese boxart for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is up on Amazon for all to see. We're hugely excited about the new Zelda, and advise you check here for the screens we showed you last week. It's coming out on Saturday July 23rd, exactly 11 years after the Nintendo 64 hit the shelves. It's highly unusual for a game to come out on a Saturday in Japan, where Thursday is the traditional release day for new titles. Whatever -- we want to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass as soon as possible!
Posted May 7th 2007 12:46PM by James Konik
Filed under: News
Attendees at the Square Enix party 2007 will be able to pick up a ton of fantastic gear, including the pictured clock. The 'Ivalice Alliance' inscription is taken from the Final Fantasy universe. Other things up for grabs include Final Fantasy XI treasure coins, Dragon Quest pin badges, coaster sets and manga. The party takes place this weekend in Chiba, Japan.
All this swag doesn't come for nothing -- you're expected to earn your game memorablia. The requirements aren't too onerous though; most of them involve collecting stamps from the various game stands present at the party.
You could just wait for this stuff to find its way onto your online auction site of choice in the not-too-distant future.
Here are a bunch of new screens for Touchmaster DS, which should awaken a few hazy memories. The collection of 23 minigames will be familiar to bar patrons everywhere, as they come from Midway's touch screen range.
The minigames include trivia, solitaire, and a range of card and puzzle games. You'll also be able to upload your high scores onto worldwide leaderboards. Better start saving that beer money now-- Touchmaster DS goes on sale June 11th in North America.
The Sims 2: Castaway Stories, the new tropical island-themed entry in the series, may be heading to DS. Gamefly, the online rental service, has the game listed on its site. According to the listing, it's due for an October 11th release.
It's a shame this is coming out in October, as this would make a great summer title. Who wouldn't want to sit on the beach, stylus in one hand, cocktail in the other, designing the perfect holiday island paradise?
The stylus should suit the series perfectly; getting that beach furniture in just the right spot should be a cinch. As well as the usual Sims fare, there will also be a story mode wherein you'll be able to guide your character through life's various challenges; don't be surprised if there's a whole heap of romance in there, too.
Posted May 5th 2007 12:04PM by James Konik
Filed under: News
So many DS games are fighting for shelf space that Japanese stores are having trouble squeezing them all in. Space is now at such a premium that most games have to be displayed spine-out, making things difficult for consumers, particularly the army of first time gamers that Nintendo has been so successful in attracting.
Nintendo's butt-kicking boss, President Iwata, is concerned that too much choice may lead to consumers missing out on the best games. They may even turn their backs on gaming completely. Keeping standards high is, he says, "one of the most critical themes for us to combat this year." Having recently bitch-slapped Nintendo of America, and clipped the sails of Korean pirates, it seems Nintendo expects Japan to pull its socks up, too.
Those Nintendogs are adorable creatures. Sometimes they seem almost ... real. Well there's at least one guy in Japan having serious trouble distinguishing life outside the screen from life inside the screen. No dogs were harmed in the making of this video, but one carpet needed a damn good clean. After the credits we go for a little drive Mario Kart style.
The 
Rumours are going around the internet that Alone in the Dark 5: Near Death Investigation will be heading to the DS, along with versions for the home consoles and PC. The latest entry in the survival horror series sees Edward Carnby fighting for his life in Central Park. We'll get an episodic story and the chance to hot-wire a car in a minigame.
Attendees at the Square Enix party 2007 will be able to pick up a ton of fantastic gear, including the pictured clock. The 'Ivalice Alliance' inscription is taken from the Final Fantasy universe. Other things up for grabs include Final Fantasy XI treasure coins, Dragon Quest pin badges, coaster sets and manga. The party takes place this weekend in Chiba, Japan.
Here are a bunch of new screens for 
The Sims 2: Castaway Stories, the new tropical island-themed entry in the series, may be heading to DS. Gamefly, the online rental service, has the game listed on its site. According to the listing, it's due for an October 11th release.
So many DS games are fighting for shelf space that Japanese stores are having trouble squeezing them all in. Space is now at such a premium that most games have to be displayed spine-out, making things difficult for consumers, particularly the army of first time gamers that Nintendo has been so successful in attracting.
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