• News
• Reviews
• Hacks
• Homebrew

Say 'awww' to these new National Geographic Panda screens

Posted Jun 7th 2008 4:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Screens

Seriously, if there was anything that could melt the heart of the most cold individual, it's images of a panda bear playing with a beach ball. And, we have just that, in our gallery below, courtesy of Namco Bandai.

We have to say, that with each new National Geographic Panda screen we're exposed to, our desire for the game grows. We just want to take care of cute little panda bears. Is that so wrong?

Gallery: National Geographic Panda

[Via press release]

99 Tears Vs. 96 Tears

Posted Jun 4th 2008 2:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News, Screens

Remember that time you spent fifteen minutes on all fours on the kitchen floor, violently bawling your eyes out over the final, bitter departure of a loved one, or the sudden death of your dog in a road accident? Good times, right? Well, 99 no Namida (Tears of 99) will be aiming to replicate those surges of emotion throughout Japan from tomorrow, when the sob-inducing game gets released. It's intended to be for your own health, apparently.

In case you somehow doubted the game's efficacy in making you blubber through one of its 200 short stories, Namco Bandai has attempted to scientifically prove just how much inner turmoil the title can generate. The pie charts above came about after the company conducted a survey of 500 people to highlight the effectiveness of 99 no Namida.

And this is where it gets a bit obscure. We know that the white areas in the pie charts represent people who didn't cry, and the dark blue indicates those who cried heavily. We also know that the right chart depicts the proportion of people who cried while playing 99 no Namida, while the left chart displays how many cried when ... well, we're not actually sure, but the headline does reference 1960s rock and roll band Question Mark & The Mysterians and their song "96 Tears." Man, beats us.

Whatever the first chart represents, the central message remains the same: 99 no Namida will make the majority of players cry big, salty tears. Now weep your sad selves into our gallery for six new shots.

Gallery: 99 no Namida

Namco reveals National Geographic Panda and Digimon World Championship

Posted Apr 17th 2008 3:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Screens

Today is a very happy day for us here at DS Fanboy. We had no idea that pandas on see-saws would be making their way to our country. Back when we saw the scans showing the Japanese game, we thought it was much too quirky and original to be released over here. Oh how glad we are to be wrong.

So, what is the game, exactly? National Geographic Panda and it will release this fall. The game has you interacting with panda bears at Panda Park. Mistreating the bears will cause them to leave your park, whereas nurturing them and making sure they're having fun means new pandas will come to your park and stay. Sounds great to us!

The other game Namco announced in the press release we received is Digimon World Championship. The new game will feature over 200 kinds of Digimon and will feature Wi-Fi support for battling online. Those of you familiar with the Digimon series of games should know what to expect here. No word on a release window for the game.

Check out our galleries below for screenshots of both these games.

Gallery: National Geographic Panda

Gallery: Digimon World Championship

[Via press release]

Boxart battle: Emblem of Gundam vs Front Mission 2089

Posted Apr 14th 2008 12:00PM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: Fan stuff

Above, we have the covers for two upcoming strategy titles, Emblem of Gundam and Front Mission 2089. Both series have similar themes -- giant mechas battling it out against an intricate backdrop of political drama -- so it's startling to see the different approaches in their packaging designs.

Front Mission 2089 puts more emphasis on its character lineup, masking a lone Wanzer in the mist, and the result is a lusterless jacket that looks as unexciting as the starring crew's listless expressions. Emblem of Gundam's cover has more action to it, giving its mobile suits and story characters even billing. One guy is flying through space with a rapier! Another has a gun! And a massive Gundam oversees the entire scene, jets blasting and fingers positioned like a master pianist preparing his next attack. This is how you design a box!

Today's lesson: If you have huge robots, use them. Pilot your mecha past the post break for a better look at the two covers.

Continue reading Boxart battle: Emblem of Gundam vs Front Mission 2089

Hit up the Corner Shop for some fresh screens

Posted Feb 29th 2008 5:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Screens

Namco Bandai sent out a press release today, letting us know that some fresh screens for Tamagotchi Corner Shop 3 are available. As is our usual process of presenting screens to you, we've dumped them all into our handy gallery below. So be sure to thumb through there if you're interested in the latest entry in the series.

Gallery: Tamagotchi Corner Shop 3

Detective Conan 2 puzzles fail to leave us puzzled

Posted Jan 11th 2008 11:15AM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Screens, Imports

These screenshots from the Detective Conan follow-up (full title: Detective Conan Kieta Hakase to Machigai Sagashi no Tou) transport us back to a less complicated age, when our younger selves would fill idle afternoons with "Spot the Difference" puzzles. Hence, we really like the concept behind this game -- identifying inconsistencies between two images -- but there's just one problem: these puzzles look ridiculously easy.

We appreciate that only so much detail can be squeezed into the DS's dainty screens, but hopefully the difficulty will be ramped up further on in the game.

Sleuth your way past the break for a further five shots.

Continue reading Detective Conan 2 puzzles fail to leave us puzzled

Namco reveals new Tamagotchi game for DS

Posted Jan 8th 2008 12:45PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Screens

Namco dished out a press release to let us know that Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop 3 would be making its way to the DS. With a release window of this summer, the game will feature 13 brand new shops to run and expand, a new park to design and the ability to trade journals with friends wirelessly. And, of course, there will be new characters added to the mix.

So, who's anxious to give this a play this summer?

Gallery: Tamagotchi Corner Shop 3

[Via press release]

GeGeGe no Kitarou to feature jacket gliding, wang monsters

Posted Jan 4th 2008 10:00PM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: Screens, Imports

In our enthusiasm to learn more about Namco Bandai's latest 2D platformers, Kekkaishi: Kokubourou Shuurai and GeGeGe no Kitarou: Youkai Daigekisen, both based on anime licenses, we came across this screenshot for the latter (minus the picard-wtf.jpg photoshop, of course).

Sure, Touch Detective introduced phallic creatures to the DS years ago, but that mushroom thing was cartoonish and nonthreatening. As for this thing? This wrinkled beast? We imagine that if Picard and crew were to ever bump heads with this walking willy, screens would be off-ed, shields would be raised, and photon torpedoes would be fired. "Ensign, get us out of here! Maximum warp!"

Deformed wang monster aside, GeGeGe no Kitarou looks to be a tame platformer with some gliding portions to keep things interesting. Float past the break for a few more of the screenshots we grabbed from Famitsu.

Continue reading GeGeGe no Kitarou to feature jacket gliding, wang monsters

Detective Conan detects a sequel

Posted Dec 27th 2007 6:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Screens

Namco has dropped news that it will be bringing Detective Conan 2 to the DS come sometime next year and is based on the popular manga and anime in Japan. But, wait, what about Detective Conan? Why haven't we heard about the first game?

Well, it was apparently a loose collection of minigames much like those found in the Brain Age games, which could possibly understand how it flew below our radar. The sequel, however, is going to be a more substantial game, with an honest-to-goodness story and will even have Wi-Fi Connect compatibility for up to four players. According to Siliconera, however, the gameplay is going to be very reminiscent of another Namco title in Quickspot, where the player will have to spot differences between pictures in the top screen and bottom screen of the DS.

The title is currently slated for a spring 2008 release in Japan and be sure to keep an eye on DS Fanboy for information as it develops.

Tales of introductions and battle

Posted Dec 3rd 2007 2:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Video

Continue reading Tales of introductions and battle

Two cute anime games for Japan

Posted Nov 28th 2007 2:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Screens, Imports

These two games are almost intolerably cute -- our internal cute-ometers are spinning out of control, having long since passed "awwww". The first, Yes! PreCure 5, is an isometric 2D action game from Bandai based on a magical girl anime. The premise of the anime involves, according to Wikipedia, a girl named Nozomi receiving a "Pinky Catch" from a pink butterfly, thus enabling her to transform into "Cure Dream", at which point she begins assembling a team of young girls as "Pretty Cure." Each member of Pretty Cure has her own special attacks, like "Mint Protection!" and "Cure Lemonade!"

Hapi Hapi Clover is too cute to be the work of humans. We assume that some cuteness-making computer is working night and day churning out dangerous levels of cute, stopping only for Mallomars and hugs. The game is an adventure game with included minigames (an adorable Breakout-type game is shown in the link); the anime and manga seem to be about rabbits having cute adventures in the woods -- and learning.

Read - Yes! PreCure 5
Read - Hapi Hapi Clover

Duel Love: Finally, a game for REAL men

Posted Sep 17th 2007 8:00PM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: Imports

As racy as Doki Doki Majo Shinpan is, its cutesy art style and playful witch themes just doesn't meet our testosterone quota, a standard set by years of exposure to bald space marines and beefy Konami ads. Bandai Namco's Duel Love, however, is definitely something more suited to our virile tastes.

Yes, you play as a female transfer student vying for the affection of effeminate boys, and there are, at the very least, five pairs of male nipples that can be displayed at any time, but at the game's core is a secret fight club in which the shirtless lads duke it out during after-school hours. That's pretty much just like Street Fighter, right? It doesn't get any manlier than that.

Oh yeah, you don't actually trade punches with anyone in the game; instead, you beguile one of the fighters into inviting you to one of his backdoor bouts. Once there, you can cheer him on with the DS's mic to strengthen him and aid his attacks. You'll also be able to wipe him down afterwards in the locker room, toweling off his sweaty physique via a touchscreen minigame.

And if you want to take it further, but aren't sure how he'll react, after you've massaged all the knots out of his muscular shoulders, you can whisper breathlessly, a fraction of an inch away from his ear, "I have always admired you ... senpai," before running out of the room with a single tear trailing down your face.

That last feature might not be officially supported by Duel Love, but we're not going to let that get in the way of our completely heterosexual, red-blooded relationship with Yuki-san!

Tales site offers up some assets

Posted Jul 30th 2007 12:20PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

If you're interested in navigating Japanese websites, the online space set aside for Namco Bandai's upcoming Tales of Innocence game is a cup of tea you should be most satisfied with. There's some screens from the game, character bios and an incredible wealth of Japanese text that our minds are incapable of translating. There's also a trailer at the site, but we already showed it to you, fine reader.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Train your brain in public

Posted Jul 3rd 2007 1:10PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Imports

Imagine an alternate universe in which arcades not only exist, but are still stocked with new games. Now imagine that one of the biggest and most impressive-looking units in the place is a brain training game. As you may have guessed, it's not an alternate universe! You know, because the coverage on this site is limited to just the one universe.

Minna de Kitaeru Zenno Training is an arcade brain training game released in late 2006 by Bandai Namco, created under the supervision of the smartest disembodied head we know, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. Much like Brain Age, it uses a touch screen to present simple mathematical and logical tasks. But unlike Brain Age, Zenno Training is on a huge screen in the middle of a game center.

It's quite amazing how popular brain training has become! We wonder if Bandai Namco expects people to go back to the arcade every day for training. That would be so diabolical!

Translate! Ultimate Stars

Posted Jun 11th 2007 10:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Fan stuff

Jump Ultimate Stars is one of the most popular DS games with importers. Since it's a fighting game, it's not a huge deal to play Jump without knowing Japanese, but there are a lot of missions that may be difficult to figure out. Also, the game actually tries to tell a story, which is rare for a fighting game.

Abel Tamayo wrote in to tell us about a wonderful wiki project he's managing, called, appropriately enough, the Jump Ultimate Stars Translation Project. We've seen amazing fan translation projects from single translators, but never a project done in a collaborative wiki format. It's a great idea, one that will allow tragically busy people to help out. If you know Japanese, why not sign up? Translating a fighting game-- that's another rarity. SNK never bothered to do it.

Features

Another Week in ... (42)

DS Daily (455)

DS Fanboy Lite (38)

DS Fanboy poll (41)

Friday video (66)

Game Night (141)

Metareview (51)

Promotional Consideration (51)

Show and Tell (57)

The DS Life (51)

What are you playing? (86)

Bits

Accessories (129)

Downloads (57)

Fan stuff (1376)

Features (258)

GBA (126)

Hacks (79)

Homebrew (197)

How-tos (65)

Imports (828)

Interviews (143)

Meta (114)

News (2974)

Nintendo Wi-Fi (180)

Reviews (173)

Sales (177)

Screens (837)

Video (612)

Rumors (170)

RESOURCES

• Send us news tips
• About Us
• Contact Us
• Advertise
• Corrections?
• Problems?

RSS NEWSFEEDS

• 
• Feeds by category

Featured Galleries

 

Most Commented On (14 days)

• DS Fanswag: Etrian Odyssey II (197)
• DS Daily: What lured you in? (66)
• DS Daily: What's your favorite Nintendo handheld? (45)
• DS Daily: Favorite GBA games (37)
• DS Fanboy (European) poll: Gonna get a new DS Lite? (29)
• DS Daily: Too many devices (29)
• DS Daily: Good representation (22)
• Find a use for that extra DS (22)
• Metareview: Jake Hunter (20)
• DS Daily: Does the lack of paddle support make you rethink your purchase? (20)

Recent Comments

• Bull on Third time's a charm with Mega Man Star Force 3
• Biscuit on Cases in point: DS Lite
• -Z- on DS Daily: Gaming habits
• yost on DS Daily: Gaming habits
• RJ on DS Fanswag: Etrian Odyssey II
• Merridiah on DS Fanswag: Etrian Odyssey II
• Dio on DS Daily: Gaming habits
• Chi Cho on DS Fanswag: Etrian Odyssey II
• Chrismix on Izuna's milkshake brings all the boys to Amazon's yard
• Chrismix on DS Daily: What's your favorite Nintendo handheld?

Weblogs, Inc. Network

• Autos
  • Autoblog
  • AutoblogGreen
  • Autoblog Spanish
  • Autoblog Chinese
  • Autoblog Simplified Chinese
• Technology
  • Download Squad
  • Engadget
  • Engadget HD
  • Engadget Mobile
  • Engadget Chinese
  • Engadget Simplified Chinese
  • Engadget Japanese
  • Engadget Spanish
  • Engadget Polska
  • Switched
  • TUAW (Apple)
• Lifestyle
  • AisleDash
  • DIY Life
  • Gadling
  • Green Daily
  • Luxist
  • ParentDish
  • Slashfood
  • Styledash
  • That's Fit
• Gaming
  • Joystiq
  • DS Fanboy
  • Massively
  • Nintendo Wii Fanboy
  • PS3 Fanboy
  • PSP Fanboy
  • WoW Insider
  • Xbox 360 Fanboy
• Entertainment
  • Cinematical
  • TV Squad
• Finance
  • BloggingBuyouts
  • BloggingStocks
  • WalletPop
• Sports
  • FanHouse Main
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NCAA Football
  • NCAA Basketball
  • NASCAR
  • NHL
  • Golf
  • Fantasy Football
• Also on AOL
  • African-American Culture
  • Cars
  • Games
  • Maps
  • Money
  • Movies
  • Music
  • News
  • Radio
  • Sports
  • Television
  • Travel

More game info on GameDaily: GameDaily Biz, Fast & Free Game Downloads, Video Game Trailers, Video Game Cheats, Video Game Reviews, Video Game Screensho

All contents copyright © 2003-2008, Weblogs, Inc. All rights reserved

DS Fanboy is a member of the Weblogs, Inc. Network. Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Notify AOL

• DS Fanboy
• Web