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Guitar Hero: On Tour huge hit, sells 300K in its first week

Posted Jul 3rd 2008 6:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Looks like Activision struck gold yet again with its Guitar Hero franchise, as word hits that the DS title Guitar Hero: On Tour has sold more than 300,000 units in its first week in North America. It set all kind of company precedents, telling us that it probably won't be the only Guitar Hero game to release on the DS.

So, what about those precedents? Well, for one, it's the single most successful game launch on the DS for the company. Not only that, but Guitar Hero: On Tour is also "one of Activision's top five best-selling launches of any title on any platform in the company's history." Now that's impressive.

Did you pick up On Tour? What do you think of the game?

Gallery: Guitar Hero: On Tour



[Via Joystiq]
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DS download centers and new colors boost sales in the UK

Posted Jun 27th 2008 3:30PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Downloads, News

Following word that the UK would be receiving some new download stations, as well as some new DS Lite models, we now hear that this new switch is driving sales in the region. It's pretty much a winning combo.

Despite the success, don't bet on more DS Lite models being released anytime soon. "There are now seven different DS colours available, so we have no plans to release more colours at this time," said a Nintendo spokesperson. The new download centers, however, will be rolling out in a "steady and consistent manner," so expect new demos on a regular basis.
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Nintendo shares back on the climb

Posted Jun 26th 2008 11:45AM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News



"The only is way up, baaay-beee!"

Oh, Yazz. Not only did your wise words get us through tough times during our early teenage years, but they're also oddly relevant when it comes to the current value of Nintendo stock. If you've been keeping up, Nintendo shares haven't looked that hot recently, but now it appears things are improving for the Kyoto firm.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Nintendo stock has hit a five-month high, and that this rise is mainly thanks to U.S. consumers spending their hard-earned on lots of lovely Nintendo produce. If you're one such person, go you!

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
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Tecmo fires back, says details of lawsuit are 'inaccurate'

Posted Jun 20th 2008 8:45AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News


Much like a war that rages on for centuries, the struggle between Tomonobu Itagaki and his almost-former (July 1) employer, Tecmo, continues. The latest volley in this exchange between parties shows Tecmo bashing the lawsuit, claiming the details are "inaccurate."

Within the statement, Tecmo is quick to point out that all of Team Ninja's employees aren't following their leader and quitting. Tecmo also says that all 300 employees aren't filing lawsuits against the company.

For the rest from Tecmo's official statement, we suggest you head past the post break.

Continue reading Tecmo fires back, says details of lawsuit are 'inaccurate'

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Try and play Nobunaga's Ambition, win green tea [Update 1]

Posted Jun 18th 2008 7:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Imports



In one of the oddest gaming tie-ins we've heard of since the glorious days of Yo! Noid, Koei and Coca-Cola have announced a cross-promotion between Kunitori Zunou Battle Nobunaga no Yabou (Domination Battle of the Brains: Nobunaga's Ambition) and ... some kind of Coca-Cola-branded green tea.

We've not the foggiest how the two products are related (we find it difficult to imagine Sengoku period warlords indulging in some green tea-sipping action), but the deal did give us a chance to sample the game through the promotional site that's been set up (scroll down and click on the white box to get things rolling). It looks and plays very nicely, so give it a go!

Famitsu also mentions that 100 Japan-based players who try the demo will randomly be chosen to win a six-pack of Coca-Cola's green tea. Alas, it's not the most import-friendly of games, so even if we did reside in Japan, it looks like we'd be purchasing our green tea supplies like everyone else who doesn't have the knack for turn-based strategy.

[Update: Corrected minor details regarding brand of green tea and prize.]

Gallery: Kunitori Zunou Battle Nobunaga no Yabou


[Via Famitsu]
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Tecmo hits Itagaki with gag order

Posted Jun 18th 2008 6:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Man, things are crazy at Tecmo. Itagaki leaves (and sues), then Tecmo responds (and stocks plummet), then just about everyone at Tecmo sues their employer. Now, Tecmo has dropped a suppression order on Tomonobu, which would prohibit him from making any other public statements about what's going down.

The thing was filed on June 10th and seeks to prohibit Itagaki from:
  • Talking about, destroying or leaking any Tecmo secrets concerning software, development or marketing
  • Making false or misleading statements regarding Tecmo's business practices or other games
  • Saying anything to defame Tecmo
  • Making public statements about Tecmo in any way, as well as accepting media invitations to discuss Tecmo while still employed (July 1st)
[Via Joystiq]
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May NPD: Buoyant

Posted Jun 13th 2008 12:30PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News, Sales



"Safe and steady" was the theme of May's NPD figures, with no console either enjoying a majestic surge or suffering a crushing collapse -- the DS simply registered a decent if unspectacular 9% rise in hardware sales. As it turns out, that bump was timely, because it meant the console reached 20 million units sold in North America, a landmark that has now been passed in all major regions.

Of course, we could snicker at how the PSP only clinched 29% of the handheld market, and so we will.
  • Wii: 714.2K 39.1K (5.5%)
  • DS: 414.8K 37.8K (9.1%)
  • PSP: 192.7K 10.4K (5.4%)
  • Xbox 360: 188K 1.4K (0.8%)
  • PS3: 187.1K 21.6K (11.5%)
  • PS2: 124.4K 8.3K (6.7%)
Software sales are waiting past the break.

Continue reading May NPD: Buoyant

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Mom wins her fight in Rayman Raving Rabbids epilepsy ordeal

Posted Jun 12th 2008 6:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Over the last year, UK mom ("mum" is the word over there, we believe) Gaye Herford has been fighting to change the way games are tested before they are sent to retail. Her 10-year-old son, while playing Rayman Raving Rabbids, went into an epileptic fit. She had no idea that games could send players into photo sensitive epileptic (PSE) seizures. We guess she hasn't seen the intro splash screen Nintendo has had around since the Pokémon incident.

But, after a long year, she has won her battle. Ubisoft has volunteered to do the testing itself and will try to ensure such a thing does not happen again. Herford also managed to secure a debate in Parliament, for a future date that is yet to be determined. "As a parent myself, I was shocked that a single game could possibly trigger a sudden first-time seizure, with its life-long implications," says Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose, who helped Herford in her battle. "Right now, most electronic game publishers simply issue written warnings about PSE on or inside their products - and that's on a voluntary basis. But that's no good for the thousands of people with dormant PSE because they don't know the warnings - if they even read them - apply to them."

At the time of the article, no comment was made by Nintendo. Ubisoft did say, though, that testing of Rayman: Raving Rabbids on the DS "showed that no images posed a high risk for photosensitivity epilepsy. However, we made a corporate decision to pre-screen and pre-test all Ubisoft in-house developed games regardless of platform, prior to publication."
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Nintendo and Burger King team up to promote Pokemon

Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

We have to tell you, whenever we see that king of the burgers, we immediately think about training pocket monsters. Or greasy food. We can't really recall at the moment.

But, someone at Nintendo and Burger King think the two are a hot ticket, as it's revealed that Burger King will be offering Pokémon-based prizes in their kid's meals. We can't say we're surprised, given Nintendo's recent enthusiasm with fast food outlets. Included in each kid's meal will be a Pokémon Trading Card Game card and accessory. There will be 12 different Pokémon TCG cards and accessories available through this promotion.

The promotion will start on July 7th and runs until August 3rd domestically, and throughout the late summer and fall internationally. The press release also lists a site here, but it's currently down.
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Nintendo teams up with distributor to bring DS to Taiwan

Posted Jun 10th 2008 12:30PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

For all of you in Taiwan who have relied on non-official distribution to satisfy your need for Nintendo, know that a new third-party distributor has made a deal with Nintendo to supply the region with video games from the Kyoto-based company. FarEasTone (FET) will be teaming up with Nintendo to provide the region with DS units and hopefully find as receptive a market as the handheld has in all other regions of the world it's available for sale.

Two specific models of DS Lite were mentioned, in the crimson black (or "senior") unit and a "New Super Mario DS Lite console." The handheld will be available from July 3rd on.
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Tecmo responds to Itagaki, stock prices fall

Posted Jun 5th 2008 1:15PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Well, what did you expect when one of the most notable icons in the gaming industry decided to depart from his longtime employer practically out of nowhere? Certainly Itagaki and Tecmo's president, Yoshimi Yasuda, wouldn't just shake hands, agree to disagree and go their separate ways. There's money at stake here!

And following Itagaki's departure, Tecmo has finally come out and said some things regarding the bad break-up. "The legal complaint is in regard to a claim to an incentive bonus linked to a past project," says the Tecmo press release. "The parties could not reach an amicable resolution to this matter, and Itagaki chose to seek a legal remedy. Tecmo will let the court decide the outcome of this case and will seek a true, fair, and quick resolution." For fans who are looking forward to other installments in Team Ninja's franchises, apparently Tecmo is still planning on producing those games, as the press release says that Team Ninja is "intact and, as a matter of fact, has several new projects already underway."

Despite the company's commitment to supporting these franchises, many think Itagaki's departure will be a bad thing for Tecmo, as stock prices plummeted in the wake of the Team Ninja head's resignation. Taking a 10% loss in price, you can bet Tecmo is not happy about this whole fiasco. One thing Tecmo will undoubtedly be giddy about, however, is the new smoke-free offices and policy that dictates employees aren't allowed to get wasted on whiskey while on the job.

Source - Tecmo fires back at Itagaki
Source - Stocks plummet after Itagaki departure
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Itagaki leaves Tecmo, sues them on the way out [update]

Posted Jun 3rd 2008 1:15PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Well now, somebody pass us the box of Kleenex tissues. Apparently, we'll never get another Ninja Gaiden on the DS, or any more Ninja Gaiden games period, as whiskey-swillin' and leather-wearing head of Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki, has called it quits with Tecmo. The president of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, hasn't paid money that Itagaki is owed, he says.

And that's why Itagaki is suing for 148 million yen (US$1.5m) on his way out. Not only that, but Itagaki also says Yasuda "made demeaning remarks" about him to other employees, affecting his status at work, giving him "significant emotional distress" and "worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment."

In his statement, Itagaki said there won't be any more Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive games from him, as the rights are retained by Tecmo. This will surely come as a huge disappointment to fans.

Update: Fixed a wording discrepancy.

[Via Joystiq]
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E.U. topples U.S., becomes second largest gaming market

Posted May 29th 2008 4:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News


Looks like we'll have to start focusing on your region more, Europeans, as it's come to our attention you folks love yourselves some video games. This news comes courtesy of Nielsen Games, who found out that the Europe Union spent over a billion more (in U.S. dollars) on video games in 2007.

Another interesting statistic comes from the average age of a gamer in the UK: 33 years old. On top of that, 42 percent of UK game players have children. This ties into another nice statistic, which shows 81 percent of parents across Europe admitting that they often enjoy games with their children.

It would seem the landscape is changing across Europe, for the better. Gaming is looking to be viewed in more and more of a favorable light. Now, if only we could get some of that over here in the United States. Because, here, if you play games, you must be a child.
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Square Enix might be squashing creativity

Posted May 27th 2008 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Rumors

Gamers like innovation when it's implemented well and creatively. Take a look, for example, at the positive critical reception (from gamers, bloggers, and journalists alike) for Square Enix's The World Ends With You. Such a refreshing break from Square's usual sequels and remakes might be a thing of the past, though, after the company's profits for fiscal year 2007 dropped 21% from the previous year's earnings.

According to Kotaku rumor, Square Enix higher ups were lashing out at developers in a meeting last month, claiming that the company's games are falling away from the mainstream crowd. Employees who continue to steer the company in this direction are apparently in danger of being fired.

As this is a rumor based on hearsay, don't take it as fact just yet. Still, if it's true, then we can't help but worry that this might scare developers from coming up with original ideas like TWEWY and Sigma Harmonics. After all, we like seeing things other than sequels and remakes from the company.
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DS almost hits 20 million in the U.S.

Posted May 18th 2008 6:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

While we're sure Nintendo will send a press release to mark the momentous occasion once 20 million DSes are sold in the U.S., recent numbers show that the handheld is almost there. After April's NPD numbers, 19.6 million of the systems have sold in the region since its launch.

Even though Japan has a much smaller population and reached the 20 million mark months ago, such a landmark can't be seen as anything but a success for Nintendo. It'll only be a matter of time now before the U.S. joins Europe and Japan in the category of "regions that have sold 20 million DS systems."
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