Two new Nintendo DS releases will be available this fall. Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, releasing November 10, allows players to catch Pokemon with the stylus. Protect people and nature with the power of Pokemon to become a top-ranked ranger.
Also due out this fall for the DS is the next addition to the Personal Training series, Personal Trainer: Cooking, releasing November 24. It will include over two hundred recipes, transforming the DS into a personalized cookbook complete with dictionary and glossary. New Personal Training editions such as walking, which will feature a pedometer, and math are due out sometime next year.
The Wii brings a combination of two highly anticipated games and a new set of original WiiWare games. Arriving just in time for the holiday season are Animal Crossing: City Folk and Wii Music. Animal Crossing: City Folk once again gives you an expanded opportunity to live in your own customized city. Nintendo's newest peripheral, WiiSpeak, adds an entirely new function to Animal Crossing, letting players talk with up to three other friends. City Folk will release on November 16 alongside WiiSpeak which can be purchased separately for $29.99, or in a bundle with City Folk for $59.99.
Wii Music is the second big Wii holiday title. In production since the Wii's launch, Wii Music lets the player create music by mimicking the controls of a real instrument. This is a game for the whole family, as up to four people can cooperatively play together. Some song titles include, "Material Girl", "Ode to Joy" and even the original "Super Mario Brothers Theme". Wii Music will launch on October 20.
WiiWare games have not been forgotten this season, with at least five new titles including Tetris Party, Strong Bad Episode 3, World of Goo, Cave Story, and Boingz. All expected additions due out sometime before the end of this year, with the exception of Cave Story which is due early next year.
Additionally, Nintendo has addressed the common issue of a holiday season Wii shortage, assuring consumers that the number of Wii consoles shipped during October and November will be significantly higher than those during 2007. They will also be shipping out extra DS units to stave off any spike in demand
As we reported from the Nintendo Media Summit, Nintendo has also officially revealed that Club Nintendo will finally be making its way to North America. Players who register Nintendo games and complete surveys will be issued loyalty coins which they can use to redeem special items through Club Nintendo.
Finally, Nintendo discussed their plans for the upcoming year. For the DS, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Mario & Luigi RPG 3, and Rhythm Heaven have all been announced for 2009. Likewise a new Punch-Out!! and Sin and Punishment 2 will be releasing for the Wii.
NINTENDO'S HOLIDAY 2008: WII SPEAK CHANNEL, CLUB NINTENDO, MORE SURPRISES
Nintendo Announces 'Significant Increase' in Q4 Wii Supplies over 2007
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 2, 2008 – Nintendo today disclosed a number of surprises, including new games, the ability to use the Wii™ console to chat with friends near and far, and the expansion of the popular Club Nintendo rewards program to North America.
Continuing its commitment to supply new game experiences for every level of player, Nintendo revealed a wide range of games for the 2008 holiday season and beyond. A number of games are slated for 2009, including a new Punch-Out!! ™ and Sin & Punishment 2 for Wii, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon and Mario & Luigi™ RPG 3 for Nintendo DS™. Consumers also can expect a new "Personal Trainer" series of titles designed to help users enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways.
Nintendo also announced that North American supplies of the Wii video game console between October and December will see a significant increase from 2007's levels, and that Nintendo DS will also be available in greater abundance than ever before.
"We have new games and new experiences for every kind of player this holiday season, and that will certainly fuel increased interest in Wii and Nintendo DS," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "While there's no way to gauge total demand for our hardware systems, we're trying to satisfy as many of those players as possible."
The new Wii Speak™ Channel arrives on Nov. 16 and uses the Wii Speak™, a microphone that sits on top of your television. This accessory is sold separately at an MSRP of $29.99. People who buy the microphone are given a code that allows them to download the Wii Speak Channel from the Wii Shop Channel at no charge. The Wii Speak lets people in up to four locations who have traded Friend Codes chat with one another at no extra cost. When you use Wii Speak in real time, your Mii™ appears on your TV screen and mimics your chat. You also can leave audio messages for your friends and family members or use Wii Speak to narrate captions for your photos.
Gamers have longed for the expansion of Club Nintendo to North America for years, and now Nintendo is making it a reality for everyone. Club Nintendo rewards Nintendo loyalists who complete surveys and register Nintendo products with loyalty coins that can be redeemed for exclusive items available only to Club Nintendo members. Club Nintendo is set to debut in North America this holiday season.
Key software available for Wii this holiday season includes:
WiiWare delivers great new games directly to Wii consoles that are connected to the Internet. Nintendo's downloadable game service will see games like:
Key games planned for Wii in 2009 include:
Some Nintendo products available this fall for Nintendo DS include:
Key games planned for Nintendo DS in 2009 include:
Nintendo has a strong lineup of legacy games and accessories that have continued selling well, even a year after they launched. These include Super Mario Galaxy™, the Wii Zapper™ accessory, Wii Fit™, Super Smash Bros.™ Brawl and Mario Kart™Wii. These five products are expected to remain in high demand as shoppers look for ways to make their holiday dollars go further.
Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about these and other Nintendo products, visit www.Nintendo.com.
Nintendo's newest peripheral, WiiSpeak, adds an entirely new function to Animal Crossing, letting players talk with up to three other friends. City Folk will release on November 16 alongside WiiSpeak which can be purchased separately for $29.99, or in a bundle with City Folk for $59.99.
Their holiday lineup just outright SUCKS.
Oh wait, 3rd parties don't want to make games for Nintendo systems.
This holiday season is shaping up to be another sell-out period of Wii and DS alike for the 3rd consecutive time.