TNB Latest News

We have had a real “ranger” week of releases, ranging from a new Pokemon Ranger game to Wii Music. There’s a game for everyone!

Releases inside.

The Nintendo DSi, the third and latest version of Nintendo’s handhelds, sold over 170,779 units in Japan over just two days of being on sale, according to Japanese magazine publisher Enterbrain. The DSi went on sale Saturday November 1st during the start of a three-day holiday weekend in Japan. It carried a retail price of 16,800 yen (Approx. AU$250.00).  

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told buyers that 200,000 units were shipped out for the launch. The extra approx. 30,000 copies are in rollovers of stock for the third day of sales after the main release or waiting to be picked up by people that pre-ordered them. It has been reported that the whole Tokyo area is almost completely sold out of units.

Nintendo plans on having another 100,000 units out about a week after the launch. It is expected to be released in Australia sometime in 2009.

After the slight improvement of the stylus size from Nintendo DS to the DS Lite, many of us giant-handed souls were still getting hand cramps in both Elite Beat Agents and Metroid Prime Hunter.

Yes, we have all seen big stylus’ on Play Asia but not all of us can be bothered importing, especially when you’re paying over $10 just for a stylus!

But now we have our own pens, available at most good toy retailers (I picked mine up at K-Mart).

These pens come in different colours, each with a unique Nintendo iconic figurine on the head, for looks of course. Although they don’t slide in to your DS, they come with a strap to attach it to it making losing it almost impossible.

Good luck picking the one you want, they come in a little egg that isn’t see through, kinda like a lucky dip.

On its release day the second game in the Pokemon Ranger series will have two special missions that can be downloaded from the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. After downloaded conditions in-game must be met before undertaking the missions.

Completing the two missions “Recover the Manaphy Egg!” and “Rescue Kidnapped Riolu!” will allow you to transfer a Manaphy Egg and a Special Riolu over to your Pokemon Diamond/Pearl respectively.

The missions will be available for a limited time from the game’s release on the 13th of November.

You read it right, today is the last day to get Darkrai from Target or Toys R Us. This is, so far, the only legit way to get Darkrai in Australia, and with only one day left, I’m sure many Pokemon fans who haven’t already will be rushing to Target or Toys R Us.

To get Darkrai, all you have to do is take a Nintendo DS with Pokemon Diamond or Pearl to either store and use the Mystery Gift function from the main menu. It’s as simple as that.

For further information, head here.

Nintendo and Nikkei have struck a deal to create a DS title that “makes learning about the economy fun!” With the current economic crisis affecting most of the world right now, it seems to be perfect timing.

The game will aim to teach players the basics of an economy, how it works, etc. and will, on a whole, familiarise the player with keywords and concepts that will help them develop a fuller understanding of what’s going on at present in the world around them. The game will practice its teaching through a series of touch screen quizzes.

TNB would like to personally thank those responsible for the economic meltdown, because without them this game would not have been possible.

EA have announced that Skate It for Nintendo Wii and DS will be hitting shelves on November 20.

The Wii version features optional Wii Balance Board support, as well as intuitive Wii-mote and nunchuk controls, whereas the DS version will be controlled by the stylus.

Skate It also received the “Best Wii Game” award at this year’s Leipzig Games Convention. Definitely one to add to the Xmas list.

There is no doubt that the Nintendo DS is popular, and even in Australia one console seems to be in at least one household that you know. But with success comes piracy and Nintendo Australia is rightfully not too happy with pirates here in Australia and has called upon help from the Australian Federal Police. Australians have followed in the footsteps of the rest of the world by purchasing R4 and other flash cards.

Continue reading…

Firmware update 3.3 has been released for the Nintendo Wii today. The update has changed the name of Wii Points to Nintendo Points in the Wii Shop Channel. This change has occurred because the Nintendo DSi and its download service will be released next month in Japan.  

Those with Freeloaders can expect to be blocked out if they upgrade to the latest firmware, so it is advised to hold off until a patch is released.  

A recent interview with Vicarious Visions’ Decades development team has revealed the Nintendo DSi will not stop the production of future hand-held Guitar Hero.

The producer David Nathanielsz confirmed the continuation of the Guitar Hero series on the Nintendo DS with the following statement, “I’ll tell you we’re very excited about the DSi. We’ve seen the news and are excited about the capabilities of that system and really excited to hunker down here and look at ways we can support it.”

Owners of Guitar Hero: On Tour may be wondering if the original grip will be compatible with future Guitar Hero games on the DSi, but unfortunately no information in relation to this was discussed during the interview.