Perhaps British folks keep losing their copies of Brain Age and keep buying replacements? Perhaps they're just crazy for brain games? Perhaps.

Sales Figures [Chart Track via Eurogamer]

It's hard not to think of Patrick Stewart in his creepy Extras faux persona, in which he talks about his screenplay that involves him telekinetically removing women's clothing. We're just thankful that he's not tearing the clothes off of his fellow female traveler while she plays Brain Age 2 in this commercial. We're going to need a higher quality version of this for animated GIF purposes. That "The synapses are firing!" moment is gold.

For those, who haven't seen the Japanese box art for the original Brain Age and its sequel, click here and here.

NDS「脳トレ」のパロディAVが登場！ [Hatimaki]

I think we'd gotten to a point where videogames were something that everyone could no longer enjoy. As a designer, I'm always focusing on what is fun — ideas that people can enjoy. For me, I'm trying to entertain as many people as I can, creating games that the widest number of people can enjoy. Of course, that being said, we do have the existing teams at Nintendo working on the kinds of products we've always made over the years. The Zelda team is forming again to work on new games! But to me, it's about finding these new interactive experiences and bringing them to people.

Portal Brain Age 2 Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass BioShock Puzzle Quest Rock Band Super Mario Galaxy Wii Sports The Witcher WoW: Burning Crusade

And now that the industry has become so successful at creating high quality, more polished sequels, will any of these titles really be in play a decade from now?

The Future Of Videogames [Forbes via WiiWii]

"We envision future cars will be able to monitor brain and emotional activity to back up elderly drivers," said Kawashima, a Tohoku University scientist who worked on Nintendo Co.'s best-selling "Brain Age" games _ and whose smiling image is the guide in the series.

While I am all for promoting driving safety, I just don't know about helping the elderly drive longer. I respect the elderly. I have some of the elderly in my family. I just think there is a certain point where you have to resign yourself that you can no longer safely operate a vehicle. I know Kawashima's heart is in the right place, but age happens.

Kawashima hopes to extend the technology towards all ages of drivers in the future.

"Ultimately, we hope to develop cars that stimulate brain activity, so that driving itself becomes a form of brain training," Kawashima said.

Toyota and brain-game professor to develop cars for the elderly [The Sydney Morning Herald via Gizmodo]

The better you get at it, the faster it goes, and the more you want to try it.

In humans, exercise improves what scientists call "executive function," the set of abilities that allows you to select behavior that's appropriate to the situation, inhibit inappropriate behavior and focus on the job at hand in spite of distractions. Executive function includes basic functions like processing speed, response speed and working memory, the type used to remember a house number while walking from the car to a party.

More impressive? That some 25% of DS owners in the UK have purchased the original Brain Age, known as Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? over there. Another half-million have snapped up the sequel, all but confirming that Dr. Josef Rich's Dental Training will be a massive success when it's released next year.

UK DS sales hit 4 million [Gamespot]

NINTENDO'S POPULAR BRAIN AGE 2 POPS UP IN UNLIKELY PLACES

People Everywhere Find the Brain-Training Game Engaging

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 27, 2007 - Hair salons, RV shows and shopping malls might not be the first places you think of when it's time to exercise your brain. But that's exactly where Nintendo is showing off the brain-training abilities of its new Brain Age™ 2: More Training in Minutes a Day program for Nintendo DS™.

"Many different people are sampling and playing Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day, including some people you might not expect to be trying video games," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The title draws people in with its engaging game play, so this summer we're giving all kinds of people a chance to energize and sharpen their brains while demonstrating that everyone's a gamer."

Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day contains a collection of 15 fun, challenging exercises to get users' brains pumping. Tasks in memory, math, reading and even music challenge users to complete them as quickly - and as accurately - as possible. Combined, global sales of Brain Age™: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day and Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day already have topped 14 million and still are increasing. Between now and January, Nintendo will showcase Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day in a variety of expected - and some unexpected - locations:

* A 50-City Mall Experience: Between now and Jan. 8, Brain Age 2 will be part of a 50-city nationwide mall game-play experience. Visitors can train their brains and check out all the latest Nintendo games. To find a location near you, visit http://wii.nintendo.com/malltour_07.jsp.

* Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk Events: As part of this nationwide event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research, Nintendo is sponsoring booths at Memory Walk events in Chicago, Austin, New York, Washington and Los Angeles. Participants and visitors can sample Brain Age 2 and learn how to keep their minds active.

* A Hair Salon (yes, a hair salon): In honor of National Self-Improvement Month, Nintendo has sent Nintendo DS systems and copies of Brain Age 2 to the new Nelson J Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif. During September, visitors to the salon will have the chance to freshen up the insides of their heads while stylists coif their tresses.

* Nintendo Street Team Appearances: Members of the Nintendo Street Team will fan out across the country to show off Brain Age 2 at a variety of major landmarks and expanded-audience events like home shows and fitness expos, including the Atlanta Home Show (Sept. 28-30) and the Long Island Fall Home Show (Sept. 28-30).

Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day is rated E for Everyone. For more information about Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day, visit www.BrainAge.com.

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.4 billion video games and more than 420 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario™, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda™ and Pokémon®. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

It's fairly simple to follow the laws of effective marketing in Greece, at least as demonstrated by this recent promo event for Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day. Four of these faux nurses pounded sand at a Greek beach in the name of lowering the native brain age. The results were of course, extremely sexy and satisfyingly smart.

Η Nintendo εξορμα στις παραλίες... [Nintendo of Greece, thanks Agapitos!]

58 Across: Nintendo game with exercises for mental acuity.
Answer: Brain Age

Now that says something about Nintendo's drive into popular culture.

Alba, currently starring in the new Fantastic Four and probably best known for her work as Some Girl With A Fantastic Ass in Into The Blue, explains of her Nintendo sales domination contribution:

I had my DS on the set of Fantastic Four and I bought it for my entire cast when we wrapped. I guess I just felt bad because between takes they'd be chatting and we were in the Fantasticar and I'd always have my iPod and my DS with me. It was like fingernail-biting, gripping moments in the movie and then, "Cut!" I'd pick up my DS and try to beat my 82 age in Brain Age. I'd try to memorize all of those damn words.

Sure she may have a brain age of 82, but I'm sure you're mostly interested in the fact that Jessica Alba knows what the hell a DS is. Should help ground your masturbatory fantasies involving Jessica and a heated Mario Kart DS battle with high (sexy) stakes. Michael McWhertor

Celebrity Byte: Exclusive Interview With Jessica Alba [Yahoo!]

With over 4.2 million copies of More Brain Training for the Nintendo DS sold in Japan, a Western release of the sequel to the original Brain Training was inevitable. The North American iteration, Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day doesn't divert too far from the brain game formula established by the original, but adds a few new tricks to keep it fresh.

There's still a focus on tricky math exercises, including Sign Finder, a spin on the original's Calculation. Sign Finder asks players to fill in the missing operator (÷, ×, + or -) instead of the final number. Math Recall takes a different angle on Calculation, giving you a sequence of math problems that scratch out a number carried over from the previous equation, forcing you to keep up while quickly computing.

Other creative exercise types include games like Word Scramble, a jumbled word that rotates on the left screen, and Word Blend, which will vocalize multiple words on top of each other and require great focus (and, sorry senior citizens, decent hearing). Memory Sprint sees the return of the Head Count man who races at varying speeds requiring you to remember in what position he's placed. Change Maker and Piano Player are aptly titled descriptions of their challenges, with the latter adding a welcome musical challenge.

While most of the mini-games seem harder at first blush, they're simply more difficult because they're less traditional than the first. Rock Paper Scissors, for example, forces you to rethink as it will randomly ask you for a winning or losing hand form. And you have to speak the answer.

For those looking for more traditional handheld gaming fun, Brain Age 2 includes an unlockable version of Dr. Mario (redubbed Virus Buster) and an additional 100 Sudoku puzzles. There's plenty to do for $20 and while it may look very familiar, the puzzle are less dry stuff when compared to the first Brain Age.

Brain Age 2 was a surprising amount of fun and, as a Brain Age sudoku junkie, an easy purchase. Check out 10 new shots in the gallery below. Michael McWhertor

New exercises will keep everyone in Europe throwing DS's against the wall and pressing the start button frantically as they see their age of their brain falling futher and further away from them. New tests include calculating correct change as well as trying to follow sheet music by playing the piano.

More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima: How Old is Your Brain will launch in Europe on 29th June 2007. Kim Phu

PRESS RELEASE
The Multi Million Selling Brain Training Series Continues With All New Exercises!

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? launches in Europe on Nintendo DS

16th May 2007. Training your brain became a worldwide activity following the launch of Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? in Europe last summer. This continued into 2007 and now over 10 million people globally are currently including it in their daily lives. But, as with any exercise, continual training is required to help stay active and now you can keep on training your brain with the second instalment in the Brain Training franchise, More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? Featuring all new exercises and DS Brain Age Checks, this is set to challenge even the most trained brains as it launches across Europe on 29th June 2007.

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? has been enjoyed by people of all ages, including those who would not normally be associated with video games. Inspired by the research of renowned Japanese neuroscientist Dr Kawashima, this original title and the soon to launch More Brain Training are designed to help stimulate your brain and challenge memory, math and perception skills. Users can train their brain by exercising for just a few minutes each day, whether on the go or when relaxing.

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? uses the same format as its predecessor. Held like a book, you are invited to use the unique and intuitive touch screen and microphone features of the Nintendo DS as you take 5 - 10 minutes a day to help your brain stay active with challenging new exercises. All exercises contained in the software are based on easy to execute mathematical, cognitive and language-based tasks. The DS Brain Age Check measures the speed and accuracy with which you perform simple tasks to establish your DS Brain Age. Once this is established you will be set a regime to help stimulate your brain. The DS Brain Age Check allows you to see your progress on the inbuilt calendar.

The DS Brain Age Checks take on a new form in this title as you're tested on three randomly selected exercises including old school classic Rock, Paper, Scissors which asks you to name the position to either win or lose against the object shown, Memorising 5x5 which sees you remembering the position of numbers on screen and Speedy Symbols which challenges your memory of symbols associated with specific numbers.

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? features fun new training exercises including Correct Change which challenges you on an everyday day task - to work out the right amount of money to hand back after a transaction as quickly as possible, Missing Symbols, a twist on the classic '20 calculations' test, and Masterpiece Recital which invites you to follow a music sheet shown on one screen and touch the corresponding piano keys on the touch screen. As your daily training continues, additional new exercises are unlocked, opening up a variety of new activities with varying levels of difficulty.

With More Brain Training you can also play with your family and friends. Using a single game card, two to sixteen players can participate in four different exercises together. Challenge each other to Word Scramble, Memorise 5x5 or Correct Change to see who reigns in the worlds of math, memory and perception. Three to sixteen players can also compete in a picture quiz to test each others artistic skills, where players score the other drawings to find a winner.

Making a welcome return to this new title is the popular numbers game, sudoku. Featuring three difficulty levels from Basic to Intermediate to Advanced, there are over a hundred puzzles to keep you occupied!

More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? launches across Europe on 29th June 2007 at the estimated retail price of around 30 ( 19.99 in the UK).

- ends -

For more information please contact the Nintendo Press Office On 0207 307 3103

About Nintendo
The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii , Nintendo DS , Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.4 billion video games and more than 409 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario , Donkey Kong , Metroid , Zelda and Pok mon . As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

Too bad I forgot to pack my DS!

So, in addition to revisiting Bully and Super Paper Mario this weekend, I'll be dusting off Brain Age. Something's definitely out of whack with my memory and only Dr. Ryuta Kawashima can help.

But enough about me, what are you playing this weekend? To the comments with you! Michael McWhertor

How 2006! Last year, brain games were all the rage. Or the year before that for Japan. Don't tell Ubisoft, though! The publisher is bringing Sega's Atama Scan ("Brain Scan") to the West, redubbing it Mind Quiz: Your Brain Coach. Sega is no stranger to brain games, making some of the first ones so many moons ago. Info about the Ubisoft import:

Moreover "Mind Quiz" is different from other Brain-related software in below 2 points.

• It does not depend on academic ability
• It was developed based on Scientific Research

I thought all of brain games were based on "Scientific Research," and last I checked, the ability to pronounce "blue" does not depend on academics. Brian Ashcraft

Ubi Releases Sega Brain Game [Sega Nerds]

When not out lounging by the pool at the Four Seasons, pina colada in hand, I'll be making time with any number of portable games I'll have on hand. From Mario Vs. Donkey Kong 2 to Brain Age to Trauma Center, I'll be making sweet gaming music with my Nintendo DS. If I feel like mixing it up, maybe I'll throw in some Exit for the PSP. Maybe I'll even remember to bring my copy of Diablo II, dispatching all manner of hellspawn while my body processes gallons of fresh Guinness.

Pity the other Kotaku editors, as they'll have to pick up the blogging slack in my absence. But enough about us. What have you got planned for the weekend? Hit the comments and let us know. Michael McWhertor

Hot on the heels of the Twilight Princess' 1 million sales news, comes Nintendo's honors at the recent AIAS awards at DICE. Nintendo received nineteen nominations in eleven different categories eventually going home with five awards. The list of honors are as follows...

• Outstanding Innovation in Gaming: Wii Sports
• Outstanding Achievement in Story and Character Development: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Outstanding Achievement in Game-Play Engineering: Wii Sports
• Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Wii Sports
• Hand-Held Game of the Year: Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day

Brain Age got best hand-held game of the year? Really? I shake my head in wonderment.
God, I hated that game. Flynn De Marco

Southwest Airlines, famous for their no-frills flights and cattle-call boarding procedures, have teamed up with Nintendo to hand out free DS Lites and copies of Brain Age to some of their frequent flyer members.

Fifty members of the airlines Rapid Rewards program have been mailed the Nintendo care package as a big thank you.

"We are helping our Members welcome the New Year with low fares, frequent flights and, of course, exercise ... exercise for their mind while they travel," said Blair McGrain, Director of Marketing Planning and Customer Loyalty. "We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo to give our Members some FUN in the New Year."

The lucky recipients have flown a combined 79.2 million miles, spent more than 132,854 hours in the air, represent more than 600 years of membership and have eaten a combine 400 billion bags of cocktail peanuts in lieu of real food. Yummy! Brian Crecente

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Nintendo and Southwest Airlines are
giving some of the airline's most-traveled flyers a surprise gift, and we're
not talking peanuts here. Fifty of Southwest's Rapid Rewards Members have
been mailed a Nintendo DS(TM) Lite and a copy of Brain Age(TM): Train Your
Brain in Minutes a Day, marking the first time that Southwest has partnered
with an outside company to provide a special treat for Rapid Rewards Members.
The gifts are being offered both as a thank you and to help these travelers
pass the time during their next trip, which no doubt is coming up soon.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050516/NINTENDODSLOGO )
"We are helping our Members welcome the New Year with low fares, frequent
flights and, of course, exercise ... exercise for their mind while they
travel," said Blair McGrain, Director of Marketing Planning and Customer
Loyalty. "We are thrilled to partner with Nintendo to give our Members some
FUN in the New Year."
Selected by Southwest Airlines for their longtime loyalty and accumulated
miles, the Rapid Rewards Members who received the Nintendo DS and copy of
Brain Age have collectively flown more than 79.2 million miles, spent more
than 132,854 hours in the air and represent more than 600 years of membership.
Nintendo DS is the world's best-selling hand-held video game system, and
has sold nearly 7 million in the United States alone. DS has games for kids
and adults alike. Brain Age keeps users' minds active with sudoku puzzles,
memory quizzes and fun tests in reading and math. Rapid Rewards Members can
write their answers directly onto the touch screen of Nintendo DS and
stimulate their brains during their flights (as long as they remember to turn
off their portable electronic devices before takeoffs and landings).
"Nintendo DS has long been a favorite of travelers," says George Harrison,
Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate
communications. "Providing some of Southwest's premiere travelers with these
gifts helps us reach out to new audiences and shows that we make fun games for
everyone."

For eight straight years in a row, Southwest Airlines was honored with
first place for Best Award Redemption at InsideFlyer magazine's 18th annual
Freddie Awards. The airline has won this honor each of the eight years that
the magazine has awarded it. Along with the Best Award Redemption,
Southwest's other first-place honors include Program of the Year, Best Web
site and Best Bonus Promotion. Southwest Airlines serves 63 cities in
32 states with more than 3,200 flights per day.

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment,
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and
software for its Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance and Nintendo
GameCube(TM) systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video
games and more than 387 million hardware units globally, and has created
industry icons like Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(R), Metroid(R), Zelda(TM) and
Pokemon(R). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in
Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the
Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's
Web site at www.nintendo.com.

For English speakers, it was the word "blue." Brain Age just didn't like it. But what about for Korean folks? The game just launch there and is apparently having localization issues as well. According to The Korea Times:

The game is supposed to recognize spoken words in some of exercises, but some words rarely register correctly. Also, when you write your answers on the touch screen, the machine sometimes confuses similar Korean words and numbers such as 9 and 0, 7 and 9, and 6 and 0.

Korean readers, we feel your pain. We really, really do. Brian Ashcraft

Korean Brain Age Problems [The Korea Times]

Nintendo has chosen 100 Americans between the ages of 54 to 104 to receive their 'Ageless Award', which honors the type of people who don't let age get in their way, like teenagers with fake I.D.s, only older. People like Rubin G. of New York, a 54 year-old professional racquetball player, or Waldo M. of Kansas, a 104 year-old beekeeper and author. Each of the 100 winners are receiving

a DS Lite and a copy of Brain Age.
"These honorees represent the kind of people we all want to grow up to be," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "They refuse to act their age. They think young, and therefore they act young. Brain Age is one more tool in their anti-aging arsenal."

This is of course all a crafty method of getting older people who act young connected with video gaming. I am sure the grandchildren of at least 75% of the people on the list will really appreciate the gesture. Michael Fahey

NINTENDO RECOGNIZES 100 'AGELESS AMERICANS'

'Ageless Award' Honorees are Inspirationally Youthful, Receive Nintendo DS and Brain Age to Keep Minds Active

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 22, 2007 - Nintendo is honoring 100 individuals, whose ages range from 54 to 104, from around the country who personify the term "ageless." They run marathons and tame lions. They are stuntmen and NASCAR racers. They don't let their chronological age define who they are, and they set a positive role model for people of all ages. These are qualities Nintendo has fostered with its wildly popular Nintendo DS title Brain Age : Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, which offers users a series of challenging puzzles to keep their minds active. The 100 recipients are living demonstrations of how a youthful mindset can keep a person truly "ageless." Each of the honorees has received a Nintendo DS Lite portable video game system and a copy of Brain Age.

"These honorees represent the kind of people we all want to grow up to be," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "They refuse to act their age. They think young, and therefore they act young. Brain Age is one more tool in their anti-aging arsenal."

A 2006 survey by the Entertainment Software Association revealed that 25 percent of all gamers are age 55 and older. Brain Age has been a big hit with older, active adults, who use it daily to help keep their minds sharp with tests of memory, mathematics, reading and counting.

"The award is a reminder to people of all generations that age is just a number," says award recipient Cathi Watson, a 73-year-old radio show host and producer. "Keeping your body and mind fit and active are the keys to remaining young at heart."

To help Nintendo find 100 people in the United States who personify the ideals of Brain Age, the Grandparent Marketing Group conducted a nationwide search and identified the following honorees. For more information about them, please contact Eileen Tanner at etanner@golinharris.com.

Alabama
Ray M., 69, of Decatur: Motorcycle drag racer and city councilman

Alaska
Don H., 66, of Haines: Snowmobile racer

Arizona:
Charlie H., 90, of Payson: Cowboy
Lute O., 72, of Tucson: America's oldest college basketball coach

Arkansas
Oakland D., 78, of Fort Smith: Runner and triathlete

California
Bob B., 75, of Palm Desert: World champion body surfer
Alan C., 74, of Altadena: Master puppeteer and owner of America's largest puppet collection
Jack C., 82, of Lakeside: World-famous bongo and conga player
Bill B., 66, of Oakland: Three-time national and world yo-yo champion
Leroy G., 89, of Carlsbad: Surfer and surfing photographer
Bob H., 73, of Fontana: Champion mountain bike rider
Joyce H., 72, of Atherton: Director of the Living Strong, Living Well program
Rueben M., 66, of Santa Ana: One of the largest commercial sellers of Spanish-language books
Lagrand N., 99, of Hemet: Nemean Games competitor
Donald P., 90, of Mountain View: Champion jumper
Ora R., 87, of Sacramento: Served as a mentor to more than 3,000 children
Raleigh R., 88, of San Jose: World War II POW, Blue Angel
Terry R., 90, of Los Angeles: Physical trainer since 1935
Gordy S., 88, of El Cajon: Unstoppable bicyclist
Barry S., 59, of Citrus Heights: Adult Baseball League champion

Connecticut
George B., 72, of Ridgefield: Oldest person ever to swim the English Channel
Donald M., 90, of New Haven: Competitive swimmer and teacher of ballroom dancing
Jose S., 80, of Norwich: Stonemason who built or repaired thousands of miles of stone walls in New England

Florida
Donald A., 68, of St. Petersburg: Health and wellness publisher and duathlete
George B., 91, of Winter Haven: Oldest barefoot water skier
Lucille B., 93, of Babson Park: Oldest female waterskiing champion
Cav C., 71, of Fort Lauderdale: Swimming champion
Iris D., 62, of Cocoa: Champion bodybuilder
Dorothy G., 98, of Jensen Beach: America's oldest mayor
Al O., 70, of Fort Meyers Beach: Four-time gold Olympics discus champ, painter
Edward R., 98, of Apollo Beach: Took up golf at 65, now plays every day
James S., 84, of Lady Lake: Three-sport Golden Age Games medalist
Helen W., 69, of Newberry: Basketball champion and coach

Hawaii
Jack S., 61, of Honolulu: Oldest pilot in U.S. military

Illinois
Cathi W., 73, of Schaumburg: Producer and host of eight weekly radio shows

Iowa
Hank M., 65, of Muscatine: Diving civil engineer

Kansas
Norvin A., 80, of Saint Francis: Oldest police officer in Kansas
Waldo M., 104, of Quinter: Beekeeper and author
George M., 68, of Emporia: Tennis coach at Emporia State University
Shirley R., 85, of Mission: Founded and runs the American Stroke Foundation

Kentucky
Red C., 90, of Somerset: Master mechanic
Christine C., 83, of Louisville: Worked for the state of Kentucky since 1958

Louisiana
Charles M., 91, of Baton Rouge: Champion weightlifter

Maine
Jim M., 68, of Bangor: Oldest car crash stuntman in America

Maryland
Joseph F., 71, of Frederick: Food bank driver who has transported more than 2 million pounds of surplus food
Douglas H., 63, of Chevy Chase: Six-time winner of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
Charles M., 87, of Bethesda: Tuskegee Airman, highest three-war fighter mission total

Massachusetts
Curtis H., 84, of Boston: 12 gold medals, National Veterans Wheelchairs Games
Jerry Y., 61, of Chestnut Hill: America's longest-serving hockey coach

Michigan
Paul B., 82, of Gaines: Water skiing legend
Lois Kivi N., 82, of Huntington Woods: World record swimmer
Nancy N., 63, of Grand Blanc: Mountain climber, motivational speaker
Harry S., 82, of Bloomfield Township: One of the original Tuskegee Airmen

Minnesota
Scott B., 55, of Bemidji: Oldest Olympian
Ardell L., 71, of Caledonia: First heart and kidney recipient to sail solo around the world
Jerome S., 97, of Minneapolis: Avid roller skater

Mississippi
Helen B., 86, of Ripley: High jumper and javelin thrower

Nebraska
Sarah G., 97, of Lincoln: Assistant sergeant-at-arms, Nebraska State Legislature
June H., 63, of Arcadia: Rodeo barrel racer

New Hampshire
Arnold G., 69, of Ashland: Restores vintage wooden bridges and builds new ones

New Jersey
Charlie C., 92, of Whippany: New Jersey's oldest firefighter
Barbara J., 74, of Princeton: Champion rower
Paul K., 76, of Far Hills: Relay swimmer, marathon runner

New Mexico
Mary M., 88, of Roy: Deputy municipal clerk
Lynn R., 82, of Quemado: Archery champion

New York
Rubin G., 54, of Staten Island: Professional racquetball player
Wilson G., 87, of Lancaster: Inventor of the first successful implantable pacemaker
Herman G., 89, of Great Neck: Deep-sea diver and underwater photographer
Reggie J., 80, of Bellmore: Country's oldest lifeguard
Diana K., 65, of New York: Artist, Holocaust survivor
Betty P., 75, of Penfield: Olympic coach, earned Ph.D. at 74
George S., 78, of Brooklyn: One of the oldest working magicians in the country
Warren S., 79, of New York: founded Legal Services for Children
Hoy W., 90, of New York: New York City's oldest bartender

North Carolina
Margaret H., 83, of Concord: Oldest person to have completed a marathon on each of the seven continents
Domenick I., 80, of Jacksonville: Has run 54 marathons
Morgan, S., 65, of Conover: Oldest NASCAR driver

Ohio
August B., 90, of Maple Heights: Oldest football coach in Ohio history
George K., 94, of Gahanna: One of the oldest practicing therapists in the country
Jan L., 72, of Findlay: Champion unicycle rider
Bonnie R., 80, of Mansfield: Oldest woman steelworker

Oklahoma
Lena H., 74, of Lawton: Spent six months in Iraq with Army Exchange Post
Ken M., 84, of Ponca City: Music store owner

Oregon
Maude B., 94, of Portland: Champion bowler
Mary B., 84, of Grants Pass: Newsroom librarian, Grants Pass Daily Courier
Caye I., 83, of Jacksonville: Two-medal winner in tennis at Senior Games
Daniele P., 84, of Lincoln City: Oldest working chef on the West Coast
Del W., 73, of Eagle Point: Competes in world-class poker tournaments

Pennsylvania
Karl S., 69, of Port Matilda: 17-time U.S. national glider champion

Texas
Margaret C., 73, of San Antonio: Nationally ranked tennis player
Betty P., 52, of North Richland Hills: One of the world's oldest female body builders
Lillian R., 90, of Dallas: Senior Games gold medalist in two sports
Katherine S., 66, of Dallas: Basketball coach and player, composer
Guy S., 85, of Round Rock: Multi-sport athlete

Utah
Ronny A., 73, of Washington: Oldest skydiver in Utah
John W., 82, of Salt Lake City: Triathlete

Virginia
Emily K., 75, of Richmond: Long-distance hiker and cyclist

Washington
Madonna B., 76, of Spokane: Oldest woman to ever finish an Ironman
Kelly N., 79, of East Wenatchee: Champion bodybuilder

Wisconsin
Wilbert B., 88, of Aniwa: World's oldest lion tamer

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii , Nintendo DS , Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 387 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario , Donkey Kong , Metroid , Zelda and Pok mon . A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

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Psychologists at the University of Rochester polled 1,000 gamers and asked them what keeps them glued to games. They found that gamers "reported feeling best when the games produced positive experiences and challenges that connected to what they know in the real world."

Sometimes we need a virtual replacement of tasks we don't get to accomplish in real life to make our brain happy:

"It's our contention that the psychological 'pull' of games is largely due to their capacity to engender feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness," says Ryan. The researchers believe that some video games not only motivate further play but "also can be experienced as enhancing psychological wellness, at least short-term," he says.

See mom? I'm not wasting my life, I'm just doing right by my brain. Michael McWhertor

A reason why video games are hard to give up [PhysOrg]

While trolling the lovely NeoGAF this morning for my pre-breakfast news, I came across this shameful Brain Age cash-in for Windows.

A PC version developed by some wacky budget-studio, copying the looks and name of the original. Bart Smit even helps misleading the customer by saying "Now also available on PC!" next to it, making it look like it's just a PC-version of the original. Right... the Dutch description beneath it says "Train your brain while having fun! Answer as many questions as you can in a short period of time!", which leads me to believe it's just a couple of hundred questions you have to answer.

Funny, it just happens to share the same title as Dr. Ryuta Kawashima's book of brain exercises as well. Have the Dutch NO SHAME? Michael McWhertor

Nintendo's Brain Age for PC? No, rip-off! [NeoGAF]

What better way to promote a game than by with a brain suspended in swirling white crap? Wired's Chris Kohler shows this Brain Age Nintendo sent him. Odd. But Cool. In an odd way. Brian Ashcraft

Brain Globe [Game|Life via GayGamer]

Chris Tarrant, British radio personality best known for hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, has also appeared in advertisements for Brain Age.

His recent marital infidelities, heavily covered by British paparazzi, have reputedly increased sales drastically for both the DS Lite, and Professor Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?

One particular advert depicted Tarrant forgetting his wedding anniversary and getting kicked out by his wife, only to use the game to improve his memory skills. Obviously this particular scenario rang true for countless husbands across the nation, resulting in mass Brain Training to avoid similar marital situations.

While cheating is never on the up-and-up, one must hand it to the old bean.Eliza Gauger

Brain Training sales improve after Tarrant's marital breakdown [Computer and Video Games]

There are tons of these vids floating around the Intertubes, making me think that there either a lot of people really good at math or a lot of people good at cheating. Regardless, I'm amazed the game can read this guy's chicken scrawl, because mine causes it to go haywire. That, and when I say "blue." Brian Ashcraft

Interesting. An IGN Insider forum member who previously established some cred as a Nintendo insider by predicting the Wiimote speaker says that voice recognition technology is coming to the Wii.

"voice communication will be via wireless, head-mounted microphones" - To be expected, there will be a similar DS VoIP set soon to chat easily in Pokemon Diamond/Pearl.

"Some peripherals for the DS will be compatible with Wii and vice-versa." - So you could use the DS stylus to write a letter to a friend on Animal Crossing Wii.

"Many Nintendo first party games (specifically games designed for a younger audience) will feature a new system currently being developed by Nintendo called 'voice to text communication'. This system also allows online voice communication to be easily censored by the user." - That's a great way to sensor bad language from people not on your friends list, or to not have to hear a friend all the time in a co-op game of Super Smash Bros Brawl.

It is perhaps that last point that gives us the greatest pause. Is this the same voice recognition technology in play in Brain Age for the DS? "Blue. Buh-lew. Buh-rew. BREW! BREW DAMMIT!" Florian Eckhardt

Will Wii Feature Voice Recognition? [Video Games Blogger]

The non-game sold more than 4 million copies world wide, but 3 million of that was in Japan. That really says something about the cultural difference of gamers in different countries, even when you factor in the head start Japan got on sales.

It also shows that the world's gamers, and some non-gamers, are open to the concept of games that aren't just about traditional forms of play. Let's hope some of the other big companies take notice of that. Brian Crecente

Seniors aren't the only ones that need brain training. Dorks do, too. And now in Japan they can as a CD-ROM geek trainer called Moeru Nou Tore has hit otaku-land. The word "moe" refers to the pink, the cute and the dow-eyed doe-eyed, "nou" means brain and the "tore" is a shortened form of "training." The CD-ROM is a take-off on Nintendo's hugely popular "adult" brain training games that feature Prof. Ryuta Kawashima. The Windows game is divided into four sections: Calculation, Memory, Reflection and Judgement. Players attempt to win over a young lass, and in the process, keep their brains as young as the Lolitas they lust after. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Akiba Blog]

I'm learning English. Well, I think I am, or rather, I suppose I am. With the spate of "brain games" released for the Nintendo DS, also came the inevitable English game. Called Eigo ga Nigatena Otona no DS Training: Eigo Zuke ("DS Training for Adults Who are Bad at English"), the game is TOEIC-approved and was released this past January, but Mrs. Bashcraft didn't decide she wanted to learn English until yesterday.

For one reason or another, Japanese people feel compelled to learn English. Some say the "English fad" has faded, but Eigo Zuke has been a huge seller. Japan-centric site Mutant Frog Travelogue has an excellent post up tracking the state of the billion dollar English business in Japan.

If you are familiar with Brain Age, then Eigo Zuke's layout shouldn't come as a surprise. It's almost exactly the same, minus the floating head of Prof. Kawashima. The misses had a crack at it all day yesterday, and she said it was challenging. She scored high enough to leave the country, but only on vacation. For short periods of time. Good for her.

So, I decided to take a look at it. Eigo Zuke focuses on reading, listening, spelling, pronunciation, etc. I raced through and *duh* pwned the crap outta it. The handwriting recognition was most impressive. The original brain age had excellent Japanese handwriting recognition, but Brain Age's sometimes felt a bit wonky. That's not the case with Eigo Zuke. The irony.

Can someone learn English via the DS? Any software that can decipher my serial killer scrawl no problemo gives hope. Brian Ashcraft

Over the weekend, I went down to GAME on Dawson Street. At the counter, I had a small discussion with this man, pictured to the right. Notice that he is wearing a Brain Age t-shirt.

"I'd like to exchange these games for a game that doesn't suck," I said, flinging Brain Age and Sonic Rush on the counter with a contemptuous flick of my otherwise limp wrist.

"You didn't like them?" he asked.

"No. They're terrible. Anyone who likes them is an idiot. That goes for Mr. Precious Brian 'Brain Age 20' Crecente too."

"What didn't you like about them?"

"Well, Sonic is as terrible as any of the Sonic games have been ever since furries started wanking off to the franchise. And I don't particularly like zooming through levels so fast that I can't even see what just hit me. As for Brain Age, I was bored within thirty seconds. It should be called 'Grandma: The "Game"'. I'd like to put a pistol in Dr. Kahashima's smug, chortling face and pull the trigger until I hear 'click click'. Jack Thompson can quote me on that. What the fuck kind of game can't understand the word 'blue'?"

"Brew. BREW. BUH-REW," my anonymous buddy happily intoned. I like the guy, so I decided not to slap his mouth shut. And I'm glad I didn't, because then he explained the Kotaku Effect.

"You know, after you bought the DS Lites here for that contest, we got a lot of phone calls," he said. "What was the question you asked?"

"Oh, I dunno. Crecente made something ridiculous up. Multiply the circumference of the earth by the number of racist references in Loco Roco times the price of a draft of Guinness divided by the square route of Yahweh's true name mathematically expressed and divided by Pi to the 15,000th place." I spat on the floor, as I do whenever Crecente's name is invoked. "I didn't get it."

"You asked about the price of a pint? That explains it: we got a lot of Americans calling, demanding to know the price of a pint of Guinness across the street."

This surprised me: "Wow. How many?"

The GAME employee began counting on his digits, then rolled his eyes up to the heavens as if the number were too innumerable to count. "I don't know. DOZENS! Some of them were girls..." He intoned the word with mystical dread; knowing Eliza, I sympathized.

Anyway, there appears to be a vast clamoring horde of Kotaku readers who wanted to know the price of a pint of Guinness in Ireland, rounded up to the nearest dollar. Well, for the record, pints of Guinness generally cost between 3.80 and 4.20. The pint I purchase was made at Slattery's in Rathmines, and cost 3.80. Translated at the Oanda.com exchange rate for that day, it's about $4.94, or rounded up to the nearest dollar, five bucks.

I noticed this when I took my son to Toys R Us the other day. It's a Brain Age Folio Kit for the DS Lite. I guess the idea is that if you're a busy executive on the go who also likes to game, you can put your DS Lite in this faux leather carrier. It comes with a little wipe to clean your DS Lite's screen and a stylus that looks like a nice pen. It would sure be a lot easier to use the leather case and pen stylus to pretend to be working while playing Brain Age everything didn't have Brain Age stamped on it. Brian Crecente

Nintendo just announced that in cooperation with the opening of a retirement community in the "gated country club community" Stallion Mountain in Las Vegas, this weekend will be host to a Brain Age soiree of methuselan proportions. Says Gamasutra:

During the event, hundreds of seniors aged 55 and older will have an opportunity to play Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, a game designed to keep people's minds active with mental workouts that incorporate the voice-command and touch-screen capabilities of Nintendo DS.

In addition, Nintendo noted that ten individuals will win a Nintendo DS Lite and a copy of Brain Age. The event will take place Saturday, July 15, between 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. PDT.

So pack up grandma and tell her she's going to Vegas. Pick up an extra stylus or two because they're bound to be dropped and forgotten, buy the old girl a martini and peel out. Your family won't blame you for long. Eliza gauger

More here [Gamasutra]

Rumors abound as Microsoft looks to enter the handheld market as early as this Christmas. Will it be a portable Xbox (aka Xboy)? Most likely, no, as Bloomberg makes reference to music and movies and not so much games. We're still predicting some sort of Live-functionality, with on-the-go versions of Live Arcade titles in the mix.

We've also heard rumblings that Nintendo's Gamecube redesign, better known as the Wii, could ship as early as September. Retails models are already in production, but Nintendo is silent. We continue to hold our breath for the slightest Iwata whisper.

Speaking of Nintendo, they were kind enough to take advantage of the PR opportunities of George Dubya's 60th birthday by setting him up with a Nintendo DS and a copy of Brain Age. I'd really like to see how I stack up against the prez in Calculations x 100.

Sony stirred up more ire from the politically correct stormtroopers with their Dutch advertising campaign for the ceramic white PSP. Not only did the internet give Sony Europe what for, but so did the NAACP and the vocal California state assembly speaker Leland Yee. Also see Kotaku's Florian give knee-jerk reactionary types the business!

Just so you're up to speed on all your rumor-mongering, there was a minor hubbub at the end of the week as a mysterious Apple logo appeared on the official PlayStation 3 site. Sony says the wild and crazy speculation is unfounded, that the quick blink of Apple goodness was just an error. Nothing to see here, folks, move along.

Finally, Kotaku is giving away a ton of free stuff all month long. All you need is commenting priveleges and a sharp wit. Keep your eyes peeled for your opportunity to compete for tons of schwag.

Nintendo of America sent President Bush an early baby boomer gift pack today. The bag of presidential goodies includes a DS Lite and a copy of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. Bush turns 60 tomorrow. I'd make some age/ intellect jokes, but the sheer number of possibilities have temporarily locked-up my snark muscle.

Lets just hope that Nintendo didn't put it in one of those electronics-festooned, trumpet flaring boxes. I'd hate to see a Secret Service bomb squad called out to explode such a nice piece of portable gaming.

Hit the jump for the completly Mario-free letter that was included in the gift bag. Brian Crecente

Nintendo of America
4820 150th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98052
July 6, 2006
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:
Happy Birthday!
Don't worry, turning 60 is an exciting milestone. As you know, you've joined millions of other baby boomers in an invigorating new decade of your life. And, like many boomers, you may be looking for ways to keep your mind sharp. That's where we come in.

Please accept our gift of a new Nintendo DS Lite system and a copy of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. You now join millions of people around the world who have fun challenging themselves with Brain Age. If you have never played a video game before, don't worry. Brain Age is part of our new Touch Generations brand, which includes games that are easy for people of any age - regardless of their video game experience - to pick up and start playing immediately.

It's obvious you don't have a lot of time to play games, which makes Brain Age such a great activity for you - just a few minutes a day with more than 15 daily training tests will help keep your mind sharp. Training tests include categories like math, reading and memorization. Try it for a few days and watch your score improve. Brain Age also comes with more than 100 sudoku puzzles - these could make your next long flight on Air Force One a bit more fun! (Perhaps copies of Brain Age for journalists joining you on your next flight would be a nice distraction!)
Have fun exploring Brain Age with your Nintendo DS Lite and be sure to let us know your brain age!

Have a tremendous birthday!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Nintendo

A Fox News segment on Brain Age I don't really think much of Brain Age, but one thing's for sure... with all the negative publicity being garnered by anchorman idiots concerning Hot Coffee and the like lately, it sure is nice that at least one game out there seems to charm the pants off of everyone who meets it. Florian Eckhardt

This Father's Day, Nintendo is going after dear old dad with Brain Age ads that claim the software will hone that paternal brain by making pops better at math problems. Smart dads mean one thing: getting away with less. Bad kids might want to stick to the neck ties and Old Spice. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Infendo]