Wow, this is a pretty cool setup right here. A professional photographer was sick of lugging his laptop around to photo shoots, so he rigged up his Nintendo DS and custom-coded some software to do the heavy lifting instead. He even leveraged the microphone on the DS to make his camera snap photos when triggered by sound. It also does other stuff that I don’t understand like providing unlimited shot brackets, acting as a very-precise intervalometer, and working in bulb-mode. He’s thinking of selling kits for $100 (DS not included), which seems like a pretty good deal. [via BBG] → Read More
This month’s NPD numbers don’t officially come out until Thursday, but a single note written by Lazard Capital’s Colin Sebastian has prompted all sorts of knee-jerk reactions. Lazard says it’s possible that the Wii could see a decline in sales for the month of July. Now, that’s not necessarily because demand has gone down, but could merely be a function of pre-holiday retail wizardry (read: retailers are stocking up for expected holiday demand). More interesting is Lazard’s expectation of some sort of DS and PSP “enhancements” this fall. What that even means, who knows. Besides, I’m pretty sure like 10 of us could get together and form our own research group based on random Digg comments and Web comics. We could call it CG Research 4 Real, or something equally silly. → Read More
According to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, Nintendo has a handheld gaming device in the works ready for launch by year’s end. “We think that the timing of a new product introduction will depend upon the sales profile for the DS, and believe that lower than expected DS hardware sales could trigger an earlier launch for the new device,” Pachter said in an investor note. “DS sales are solid worldwide, but are weak in Japan, leading us to expect an introduction of a new device in Japan before the end of the calendar year.” He said that Japanese DS demand will likely continue to decline. He adds, “We think that Nintendo has a new handheld device ready for launch in [Japan] before the end of the calendar year.” What new wonders might this handheld from Nintendo hold? → Read More
Ah, Duke Nukem. You bring me back to a simpler time. A time when you and Commander Keen were my two best digitally-rendered friends. You two, along with what’s-his-name from Wolfenstein 3D. According to Spong, Apogee Software is currently working on the Duke Nukem Trilogy, a trio of Duke Nukem-based games for the Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable. The games will be available next summer. The three games will be called Critical Mass, Chain Reaction, and Proving Grounds. They’ll each be developed to take “full advantage of each platform’s strengths…while staying true to the storyline.” → Read More
If Indiana Jones can come back, why not the first real handheld console? It’s a Game Boy, on a train to Philly, but it’s not one of the Game Boy Advances or even one of the ones that came after that, it’s just a Game Boy. Green screen, janky volume knob, and two hour, AA-battery-eating life. You can have your Guitar Hero for DS, or even your iPhone as a game platform. In ten years time, I highly doubt you’ll see people using those in the wild. What’s better, the Game Boy was being played by a girl. If anyone knows who she is, please give her my email address. I’m single, after all, and she seems to be just my type. → Read More
Set to launch June 22 is Activision’s DS Lite version of their popular Guitar Hero series. I’m a big fan of the game, but like I said in a previous GHOT post, I’m not at all impressed by this version. At least there’s a special edition silver and black DS. The bundle will retail for $180. via 1up → Read More
Who knew BAPE was struggling this bad in Japan. The once iconic label has seen its popularity dwindle in its homeland and apparently the only way to get kids back in stores is to release these special edition DS Lites with Milo plastered all over it. Whatever works, I guess. The white version sold like hot cakes smothered in crack and it appears that the gold edition is available for sale. So you best act now before these sell out too. → Read More
Tecmo Bowl! It’s coming to the Nintendo DS sometime this fall. EA has a lock on NFL licensing until 2012, so the teams and players in “Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff,” as it’ll be called, will likely have names like the Las Vegas Legends and the New York T-Bones or what have you. Details are scant, except for the gorgeous logo shown above. Ars Technica reports that… “Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff will include a number of different features released, including: customizable teams (colors, emblems, player names,etc.), WiFI multiplayer, stylus control, 32 different teams, cutscenes, and more. Unfortunately, like the original game, this version will not have an NFL license. But with what looks like some in-depth customization features, players should be able to recreate whatever teams and leagues they want to play as fairly easily.” …while I report that sometime this fall, I’ll be trying find my DS so’s I can play me some Tecmo Bowl. → Read More
Those of you without a Wii or DS, don’t expect a price cut on either any time soon. Nintendo, which doubled its operating profit this past fiscal year, says it has no plans to lower the price of either system any time soon. And why would they? If people keep buying them at the current price—the Wii is still hard to find—what sense does it make to lower the price? Unlike Sony, which had to lower the PS3′s price merely to prop up demand, Nintendo can just sit back and watch y’all snap up system after system. → Read More
I’m sitting in the Virgin America gate at JFK waiting for my flight to Seattle and I come across this tidbit of news. I’m both stoked and bummed at the same time. I’m stoked because this is a pretty rad deal for Mariner’s fans and I grew up rooting for them, which explains my hatred for the Yankees, but I’m bummed because I forgot my DS at home. If you’re unfamiliar with the Nintendo Fan Network, it’s a network for DS owners at the ballpark that gives you player stats for the home and away teams, MLB updates, and SMS/chat service with other DSers in the stadium. You can also order food, watch live video, listen to radio coverage from KOMO and compete against others in mini-games and trivia. A new feature launching this weekend is Pitch Effect, which will let fans see the trajectory of each pitch, speed and placement. It was tested last year and fans had to pay $5, which is probably the cheapest thing you’ll find at the ballpark, but its free this season. Awesome. Someone in Seattle want to take me to a game and let me borrow your DS? → Read More
Nintendo put the kibosh on the rumor of a new DS at E3 after Enterbrain’s president supposedly told Bloomberg that there would be one. Now Enterbrain has issued a statement saying that Hirokazu Hamamura never said any such thing. “No such statement or announcement was made by the president,” the company said. “He did not, however, make a comment about the possibility of an announcement by Nintendo concerning a new model or successor to the Nintendo DS due to its current scarce product availability caused by its worldwide popularity,” the company added. → Read More
A few days ago I reported that Enterbrain’s publisher Hamamura was predicting that Nintendo would reveal a new DS at E3. Nintendo Japan is now clearing up the situation altogether instead of giving the typical “we don’t comment on rumors blah blah blah.” Nintendo Japan’s head of PR said, “We cannot comment on the specifics of what will be announced at E3, but at the very least there won’t be anything like what Mr. Hamamura suggested, so would like to clearly deny this. We’re having a hard time understanding what kind of evidence [Mr. Hamamura] had for saying this.” → Read More
The current Nintendo DS rumor going around according to Enterbrain publisher Hirokazu Hamamura is that a Nintendo will announce a new DS at this year’s E3. It was, however, unclear in the Bloomberg report whether or not it would be completely new hardware or a simple redesign. We’ll find out in mid-July. → Read More
I’ll start off by half-apologizing for that headline but these Ninja Gaiden games don’t come out all that often so I gotta strike while the iron’s hot. Anyhoo, ‘Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword’ is out today and it’s gotten some pretty good reviews from the big gaming sites. The gameplay features a top-down isometric view of the action along with stylus-heavy combat a la ‘The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass’. You also apparently hold the DS sideways like a book “to assist in the operation of the stylus which allows players to view a wider range of scenes.” → Read More
Activision/RedOctane’s hottest new addition to the Guitar Hero franchise will ship June 22 for a mere $50. That’s right, Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo’s DS is now up for pre-order from Amazon so get it now! → Read More
http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=191059 We’ve heard much romormongering about the Guitar Hero for DS controller, and now here it is. It’s, well, minimalist, comparatively speaking. It’s much like the Guitar Hero fretboard we have now, with the strum action taking place on the touch screen, which is cleaver, but this still looks unwieldely. I preferred the telescoping mock-up we saw awhile back, but I guess this will have to do. Exclusive Reveal: Guitar Hero DS [IGN] → Read More
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