There's no new DS software in the top of the charts to report this week, but that doesn't mean Nintendo's little handheld didn't completely clean house. In fact, nineteen of the top thirty were DS games, showing how gluttonous the dual-screened portable can get when it comes to sales. Some old favorites also popped back up around the bottom, including Brain Age 2, Animal Crossing, and the original Taiko Drum Master DS.
Hardware continues to be a struggle, though. That doesn't mean the DS is doing poorly, because it's not; sales for the handheld even jumped up almost 10,000 units since last week. However, since the PSP and Wii have been doing so well lately, it's hard for Nintendo's handheld to compete:
PSP: 89,884
Wii: 67,308
Nintendo DS: 51,228
PlayStation 3: 8,054
PlayStation 2: 7,464
Xbox 360: 1,29
We have no doubt that the DS will be on top again soon enough, but until then, you can check out the satisfactory software numbers posted after the break.
Here's a puzzle for you, and we think you'll find it to be an absolute humdinger: if you haven't already purchased Professor Layton and the Curious Village, then why not? There are several different answers to this brainteaser, but you'll have to go past the break to find them.
Anyway, Level 5's gorgeous adventure is now available at Target for $26, a minuscule price to pay for what is easily one of the best DS games of 2008 so far. Also in Target's bargains line-up this week: Brain Age 2 (for $17), Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (also $17) and, um ... Petz Bunnyz 2 ($26 too much).
Did you know the Crimson & Black DS Lite is the "senior version?" Yeah, it's news to us (especially those of us who own it), but according to Gary Krakow, anything with a leatherette case and math is clearly not for kids. Usually, we limit the Friday video spotlight to something we can embed here for your viewing pleasure, but this time, we're making an exception -- and when you watch Mr. Krakow hesitate over 0 +1, you'll know the reason why. Head on over and take a peek.
GoNintendo's "inside guy" is usually spot-on with his scouted information on upcoming Download Station games, but keep in mind that this tally is anything but official. According to the mole's report, this Version 7 update to the in-store wireless stations will feature a total of twelve game demos and five videos, all of which you can see after the post break.
Playable demos for Contra 4 and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword top the gossip, promising to bring run-n-gun shootin' and ninja-of-the-night flippin' to our handhelds soon. Once this update hits, we are going to be on these two titles like gravy on mashed potatoes. Who knows, we might even eat some mashed potatoes with gravy while we play the demo. These are crazy times we live in.
Remember how we were telling you just last night that the black and red DS Lite is on sale now on its own, without the bundled copy of Brain Age 2? Well, if you're like us (see: tall, dark and handsome), you're already setting aside those precious monies to pick up the new DS Lite model. Well, if you decide to pick it up from Target, you can get it for a whole $10 cheaper.
It may not be the biggest sale on the planet, but we can all appreciate a few saved bucks.
Nintendo issued out a statement today, confirming rumors that the black and red DS Lite that came bundled with Brain Age 2 would be sold without the title, as a stand alone unit. It is currently available in stores right now with the appropriate price tag of $129.99. Color us super jazzed.
Anyone else planning on picking this beauty up with us?
It looks like NoA is taking steps to increase not only the popularity of Brain Age 2, but the DS as a whole. After an aggressive ad campaign, Brain Age 2 is taking Dr. Kawashima's show on the road. But will it work? Brain training is a worldwide phenomenon, but less popular in the U.S. with a nontraditional gaming audience -- and so is the DS, despite dominating sales on a regular basis. We'd still like to see Nintendo expand on this with some of the other "nongames" in the DS lineup, if only to ensure a wider audience and greater interest in the handheld, but hey, everything has to start somewhere. Do you think a mall tour and a salon presence will help shed a little more light on the DS and Brain Age in the U.S.?
Nintendo is ramping up the advertising campaign for Brain Age 2, taking care to make sure more people know about the title than those who just watch TV. First attack takes form in mall tours, where the game will be on showcase at over 50 different malls in the United States. To check where and when you can get your hands on it at a demo station, hit up this page here.
Next, Nintendo will be sponsoring several different Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk events, making sure that participants can try the title out. Also, Nintendo is apparently taking over a hair salon in Beverly Hills, CA. While patrons wait to get their hair done, they can shape up their mind by trying the title out.
All in all, looks like a pretty aggressive campaign.
Of course, we've all seen the store displays saying it was releasing in October, but when exactly? Rumor has it, the thing will be on sale soon. So, if you're one of the folks who held off even though it was bundled with a fine title (see: us), you should be able to get your hands on one soon enough.
Word hits via Toys R Us' website that the unit will be available on its own for purchase come October 3rd. This is merely a rumor at this point, but it isn't stopping us from crossing our fingers, closing our eyes tight and whispering "pleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease." And, since the thing is going to Japan without a bundle on October 4th, we're willing to believe.
You may notice a little bit more swagger in our writing style-- it's the confidence that comes from having a youthful, energetic brain. Yes, we've been playing Brain Age 2, tapping on piano keys and unscrambling words and remembering big groups of numbers with the best of them.
One thing that bothers us a bit about Brain Age and its sequel is the daily-play design. Sometimes we like that we can fit a satisfying gaming experience into just a few minutes, but sometimes we have two hours to kill playing games, and we want to play Brain Age. While you can train all you want, you can only make so much "progress" in one day, due to artificial constraints. If one can even be said to make progress in a nontraditional game like Brain Age, that is.
What about you? Do you like it when games feed you pre-measured portions of game time? Or do you really hate running out of stuff to do?
Okay, so the number of DS (and Wii) systems sold in August was smaller than the number sold in July. That's okay! Everything else sold fewer units this month, too, except the Xbox 360-- and 106,000 fewer of those sold than did DS Lites. As long as everyone did worse than Nintendo, we're still happy, because we're bitter, horrible people!
Thanks, everyone who didn't buy one of the other systems, for making up for the people who didn't buy a DS this month! It's just not as much fun if we're not on the winning team.
Nintendo Wii: 403K
Nintendo DS: 383K
Microsoft Xbox 360: 277K
Sony PS2: 202K
Sony PSP: 151K
Sony PS3: 131K
The DS didn't fare as well in software sales this month, with the first DS game on the list (Brain Age 2) coming in at #13. We've provided the top 20 here so you could see some DS games on the list.
1. Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360)
2. Madden NFL 08 (PlayStation 2)
3. BioShock (Xbox 360)
4. Madden NFL 08 (PlayStation 3)
5. Wii Play (Wii)
6. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
7. Mario Strikers: Charged (Wii)
8. Guitar Hero 2 Bundle (PlayStation 2)
9. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
10. Guitar Hero Encore (PlayStation 2)
11. Madden NFL 08 (Xbox)
12. Madden NFL 08 (Wii)
13. Brain Age 2 (DS)
14. Two Worlds (Xbox 360)
15. Pokemon Diamond (DS)
16. High School Musical: Makin' The Cut (DS)
17. Guitar Hero 2 Bundle (Xbox 360)
18. Madden NFL 08 (PSP)
19. Pokemon Pearl (DS)
20. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360)
We couldn't help but giggle when we saw this article on "facial yoga" that described it as the hot new craze. It's certainly not new to us DS hipsters; after all, we've already got a game dedicated to stretching and firming our faces, and since the practice is apparently the latest it-exercise (despite being around for years, much like regular yoga), it seems likely that Otona no DS Kao Training may sweep in on the heels of Let's Yoga and hit the United States.
Of course, then the real question becomes: will Nintendo (and others, like Konami, the company behind Let's Yoga) start to change the way they advertise the DS in the United States? We can't help but wonder if it seems unlikely; after all, we still have no official "face" for Brain Age beyond our favorite disembodied head, and it's rare that we see advertisements for our favorite piece of hardware on the scale that we see those for the Wii.
GoNintendo's "inside guy" is usually spot-on with his scouted information on upcoming 
Nintendo is ramping up the advertising campaign for Brain Age 2, taking care to make sure more people know about the title than those who 
You may notice a little bit more swagger in our writing style-- it's the confidence that comes from having a youthful, energetic brain. Yes, we've been playing 
Okay, so the number of DS (and Wii) systems sold in August was smaller than the number 
