Here is the ad. Yummy instant ramen!

Now, here is the Bubble Bobble theme song. Kwinky dink or highway robbery? YOU DECIDE.

Update: We have contacted Taito, and according to a company spokesperson, the Bubble Bobble song has been licensed out for the commercial.

韓国の三養ラーメンのCMソングが『バブルボブル』のテーマ曲のまるパクリな件 [はちま起稿]

Five new games in total were released yesterday across WiiWare, DSiWare, and the Virtual Console, though since one of those is a Photo Clock for the DSi (200 points) we can probably whittle that number down to four, unless watching seconds tick by is your idea of interactive entertainment. Joining Photo Clock on the DSi is American Popstar: Road to Celebrity (800 points), a Gameloft music-themed social adventure that sees players rising from obscure high school student to pop celebrity. Form relationships, customize your appearance, sign autographs, and compete in four musical mini-games - singing, drums, guitar, and dance - on your road to becoming a silly person signing your name on your DSi screen.

On the WiiWare side of the fence we have two classic games given a Wii makeover. Taito brings us Bubble Bobble Plus! (600 points), with all of the classic bubble popping action of the arcade original, plus 100 Arrange Mode rounds. Players can also download Expert Mode 1 and Expert Mode 2 for even more levels of colorful ball-shooting action.

Continuing the WiiWare redux trend, Hudson delivers Adventure Island The Beginning (800 points), which has players exploring Adventure Island with new powers and skills and playing mini-games while trying to achieve the "Master Higgins Feat" and earn a Master Higgins costume.

Finally, on the third side of this very odd fence, comes Clay Fighter for the Virtual Console (800 points), the Sega Genesis version of the claymation fighter, complete with evil clowns, Elvis impersonators, and of course - Bad Mr. Frosty.

That's a hell of a lot of gaming for one week, and I'm sure the clock is nice as well. Check out the official descriptions below, and let us know if anything gives you that tingly must-buy feeling.

Nintendo DSiWare

American Popstar: Road to Celebrity (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, 800 Nintendo DSi Points™): This is your enthralling and interactive success story as a young hopeful in the music milieu. The adventure begins when you get the chance to audition at your Hollywood high school. But the road to celebrity isn't an easy one: Your secret crush is also auditioning, and so is your evil rival. This unique mix of music-themed gaming and social adventure will let you show your talents to the world, take your best photo with the Nintendo DSi system's built-in camera and meet lots of people who may help you build your career. You're about to become the greatest pop star in the world. Talk, share activities and be friendly or unfriendly with numerous characters. Customize your character's name and appearance, and develop skills and personality through your actions. Four musical mini-games include Guitar, Singing, Drums and Dance. Record your voice, take your own photos and sign autographs.

Photo Clock (Nintendo, 1 player, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Photo Clock allows you to enjoy the photos taken with your Nintendo DSi Camera application in a new way. Watch your images appear on the top screen of your Nintendo DSi system according to your chosen display settings (specific photos or all photos; in order or randomly displayed). Select from either an analog or digital clock, using the system's internal clock or offsetting the time however you like. Program up to three alarms – with snooze functionality for those who need it – and assign them a preset ring or use a sound created in Nintendo DSi Sound. Experience all the enjoyment of a photo album while ensuring you won't lose track of the time.

WiiWare

BUBBLE BOBBLE Plus! (TAITO, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points™): BUBBLE BOBBLE Plus! is a simple yet exhilarating action game where you control the bubble-blowing dragons Bub and Bob, trapping enemies in bubbles and then popping them. You can play all 100 of the Standard Mode rounds, which faithfully recreate the nostalgic arcade game, or try 100 new Arrange Mode rounds, which allow up to four players to play on stages with exciting new features such as new enemies and stage layouts. There are also Super Mode rounds for you to enjoy. Determine the true ending by solving puzzles hidden on each stage to defeat the final boss. In Ranking Mode, players with broadband Internet access can use the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service to compete with players from around the world. Enjoy an additional 100 rounds and face off against new boss characters by purchasing "Expert Mode 1" and "Expert Mode 2" add-on content.

ADVENTURE ISLAND® The Beginning (Hudson Entertainment, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence and Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): ADVENTURE ISLAND The Beginning comes to the Wii console with exciting new skills and elements. Learn how to use new skills while exploring Adventure Island from coast to coast. Search for Golden Melons hidden throughout the stages and mini-games. When obtaining Golden Melons, you'll be able to purchase various items to help you on your adventure. These items can increase your attack power or enable you to reach places you couldn't get to before. Fulfill certain requirements while playing in any of the modes to achieve a "Master Higgins Feat" and you'll be awarded a Master Higgins costume.

Virtual Console

Clay Fighter™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen – Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence, 800 Wii Points): In this zany 2-D fighter, it's just another day for a humble traveling circus troupe when a meteor crash-lands in their camp. The otherworldly orb, made entirely out of interstellar clay, contaminates all the circus employees, turning them into bizarrely superpowered versions of themselves. Choose from among the unique clay creatures, such as Bonker, the cheerfully manic clown, or Blue Suede Goo, the mild-mannered Elvis impersonator turned violent vocalist. Master their "Claytalities," like the operatic Helga's deadly high note and Bad Mr. Frosty's fists of snowball fury!

Bobble Bobble Wii will pack in 400 old school-style stages in a WiiWare release that includes the original Bubble Bobble levels — the NES version is available via the Wii's Virtual Console — plus whatever else Taito can pack into 800 Wii Points worth of download.

Siliconera notes that the game will likely not be limited to Japan, as the German ratings board, the USK, has rated Square Enix's Bubble Bobble Plus! for Nintendo's console. More Bubble Bobble in 2009... count on it!

合計400ステージの大ボリューム『バブルボブル Wii』 [Famitsu via Siliconera]

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

December 31, 2007 - What are you doing New Year's Eve? Thanks to the Wii™ Shop Channel, you've got some outrageous new options. This week's classic game additions offer brilliant fantasy and crackling action to help you ring in '08. So if you haven't made any New Year's resolutions yet, allow us to suggest a few: pop more bubbles, battle more medieval beasts and try to save the universe a little more often.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

BUBBLE BOBBLE® (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): BUBBLE BOBBLE's release in 1986 introduced the two bubble dragons, Bub and Bob, and brand new play mechanics, with players defeating enemies by trapping them in bubbles and then popping them. Although the puzzle-action game can be beaten by clearing all 100 rounds, it also contains secret elements such as not being able to get the "true ending" in single-player mode; hidden commands that lead to secret rounds; and a ton of different items. These elements are some of the game's most memorable and important features. Each round even has different air currents that are not visible, so bubbles rise in unpredictable patterns. Aspects like forcing players to understand and utilize these different patterns while playing help make this a revolutionary game that is fun to play anytime.

Light Crusader™ (Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Each day, more good townspeople of Green Row have been mysteriously disappearing, and beleaguered King Weeden summons the knight Sir David to investigate. Armed with his wits and his sword, Sir David must find the cause of this strange evil and save the citizens of Green Row before things get any worse. Take the role of the brave knight in this action RPG and get to the bottom of the mysteries of Green Row as you fight enemies, solve puzzles and use your best combination of brains and brawn to save the kingdom.

TOP HUNTER (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and older-Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): Take on the role of either Roddy or Cathy, bounty hunters in this side-scrolling action game set far in the future when humans have colonized space. But all is not well: Space pirates called the Klaptons are making their way through the galaxies, wiping out peaceful settlements along their path. This disgraceful behavior leads to them having a price on their heads, so now Roddy and Cathy must travel through four distinct worlds on a mission to defeat their leader, Captain Klapton. Both characters have retractable arms-used to grab enemies or other objects in the scenery-that can then be thrown at others to destroy them. Also, be on the lookout for rings or levers to pull, as this might reveal special bonuses. Further adding to the mix, the game uses a unique system where the action happens on two planes, with the player switching between them at will. Can you prove yourself worthy of the Top Hunter name and help save the universe?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Too cute! Back in 2002, these Nintendo character bobbleheads were released. Yup, Mario, Yoshi, Luigi and Bowser were all immortalized as 17cm tall statues with giant heads that bobble. They even have the official Nintendo stamp of approval. Ah, 2002 was a very good year.

Kotaku fun fact: Crecente has a bobblehead in his own likeness. No, really. Brian Ashcraft

Nintendo Bobbleheads [GameSniped, Thanks Chilly!]

Did I ever mention just how much Puzzle Bobble (aka Bust A Move) I played on the Neo Geo in college? I pretty much minored in Puzzle Bobble, but have yet to receive credit from the university. Michael McWhertor

Awww... Bubble Bobble! [Wonderland]

From the oddly capitalized item description:

The System Has been Custom Hand Painted With Acrylic Paints and then Sprayed down with 3 to 4 Coats of Clear Acrylic Sealer to protect your Painting from being Scratched or Ruined. It also Gives your Painted Nintendo a Wicked Awesome Shine to it that really does the artwork Justice. Over 10 Hours of Painting Went into this Nintendo! This Hand Painted Nintendo's is 1 of a Kind. No One on Ebay is Doing anything like this and The Painted Nintendo Is in Absolute Center Piece To your Video Gaming Collection.

At those prices, I won't be biting, but those with deeper pockets should check out the whole line. Michael McWhertor

Custom Painted Nintendo Nes Game System Metroid Samus [eBay via Insert Credit]

Dear Taito: we know that making games is hard. Heck, that's why we pay you guys to do it. Still, perhaps in the future you might want to budget for more than 30% of the game to be play tested?

Because your latest game? Bubble Bobble Revolution? It's clear no one bothered playtesting this past level 30, the level in which a big boss who is supposed to appear to allow you to proceed absolutely, positively doesn't.

And this? It's not cutting it:

We have been looking very hard into this issue with Nintendo and have now determined that all of the cartridges that have been shipped in North America are faulty. Needless to say we are extremely sorry that this situation has arisen and would like to apologise to you for this issue.

We have already started the process whereby a corrected version is to be manufactured and will ensure that all customers have their copies replaced. Unfortunately this will take 8-10 weeks (simply because of the time required to manufacture new carts). We will update you with what you will need to do to get a replacement game, as soon as this has been determined.

8-10 weeks for people to actually play the game they already paid you for? Are you out of your flippin' gourd? Florian Eckhardt

Bubble Bobble Revolution DS production issues confirmed *UPDATE* [Go Nintendo]

This must be a Kotaku first: Gaming drink coasters, courtesy of Alice. And Bubble Bobble. Adorably crafty! Brian Ashcraft

Cute Bubble [Wonderland]