Kotaku: DS Only

"Milk" Squirting Comes To The Nintendo DS

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:00:00 MDT

Boob, butt and even little "boy" DS touching games? Been there, done that. It's time for new ground to be broken. This time with white liquid (RELAX FOLKS, IT'S ONLY MILK) squirting mini-games. August 28th sees the release of To LOVEru, which follows he adventures of a high school boy and an alien girl named Lala who one days appears out in his home of nowhere buck naked.

In a total fan service mini-game, players must squirt condensed milk on a strawberry Lala is holding.

Milk dribbling screen after the jump.

Let's review: The object is to squirt it on the strawberry. We repeat, on the strawberry. Don't shoot the milk elsewhere! That's not the point of the game. We repeat, that's not the point of the game.

To LOVEru is rated 15 and up.

ポリゴンキャラは13人も！Ｖジャンプによる、DS版のゲーム「To LOVEる」情報！ [To LOVEる -とらぶる- 考察]

Is This The First Transvestite Game Protagonist?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:00 MDT

DS visual novel Ikamono no Jiken: IKATAN ("The Squid Events") features a main character who cross-dresses in order to collection information and new evidence as well as gain new personalities. As game site Insert Credit explains: The hero becomes a member of scenario group "Prawn Productions". As a number of mysterious event unfold, the protagonist must dress as a woman to unravel the story in a series of timed investigations. Breaking new ground — that's what the DS does, you know.

『いかもの探偵-IKATAN-』凶悪犯罪が一切起こらない推理アドベンチャーゲーム [Famitsu via Insert Credit]

Dragon Quest V DS Ships A Million

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:00:00 MDT

Dragon Quest is popular stuff! Take the DS Dragon Quest V remake , which went on sale July 17th in Japan. Square Enix announced that the game has shipped over a million copies in Japan. It's interesting to note that Dragon Quest IV also moved a million copies (rather quickly, apparently!) when it went on sale last November. So pencil in all future DQ remakes at a million copies shipped, then!

「ドラゴンクエストV 天空の花嫁」国内出荷本数100万本突破 [IT Media]

Homebrew Japanese DS Development Brings Tentacles

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:00:00 MDT

We've gotten dangerous close to actual naughty games on the DS. But those always end up being big teases! Now, we're going to get an actual dirty game at this year's Comic Market this summer. The person who's making it says there are plans even to sell it in Akihabara after that. The self-made game's entirely homebrew and certainly does not have the Nintendo Seal of Quality — and never will! And the best part? The name of this 18 years old and up game is Half Elf Tentacle Assault. The developer says game play clips are forthcoming. For better or worse.

Hit the jump for a THANKFULLY pixelated promo-scan. Still might be NSFW, depending on where you work. You've been warned!

Half Elf Tentacle Assault [NSFW via Hatimaki]

Pokemon Platinum Dated For Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:00:00 MDT

DS title Pokémon Platinum details are divulged in the August issue of CoroCoro comics. Besides announcing official Japanese release date is September 13th, there's a bunch of new details like a new "Wi-Fi Club" area that's able to hold up to 20 folks at once, a new Team Galatic member, new international police member, a "Battle Recorder" that allows trainers to record and share battles, and Dialga and Palkia appearing simultaneously in story.

CoroCoro [Filb.de via blue skY via Moetron]

This Year Sees Two New DS Chocobo Games

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Square Enix has announced not one new Chocobo title, but two new DS titles: Chocobo and the Magic Storybook: The Witch and the Girl and the Five Valiant Men and Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time DS Plus. The Magic Storybook is a Chocobo adventure title, while Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon DS Plus is a DS version of Wii title Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon, which was released abroad with the localized title Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. Regarding release time windows, Magic Storybook is slated for the Winter in Japan and Mysterious Dungeon DS Plus should hit this Fall. Hit the jump for very small Mysterious Dungeon DS Plus pics.

チョコボ関連のニンテンドーDSソフト2タイトル [IT Media]

Butt Touching DS Game Trailer Clip (Plus Non-Touching PSP One)

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:00:00 MDT

Back in April, we brought word that saucy manga/anime To LOVEru was getting not just a DS game, but also a PSP game. Above is the trailer for the DS version, which features touch pen butt touching. If you can stomach that clip (congrats for that!), hit the jump for the PSP version, which obviously doesn't. Both games are rated 15 and up in Japan.

Another Moe English DS (With Game Promo Video!)

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Remember that English-teaching jailbait DS game featured on Japanese site Famitsu? Well, here's another. Innocuous enough! Dubbed Moe Sta, the title features 5,000 English questions that cover the spectrum from junior high school school tests to the Tokyo University entrance examination to help players "level up" their English. Hit the jump for the slightly NSFW promo trailer that features the angels Grammar, Idiom and Word. Might want to watch it without the sound — unless you want a headache. Or have developed a tolerance to being jabbed in your ear drums with sewing needles.

Moe Sta [Akiba Blog]

A Bus Wrapped In DS Cat Sim Cuteness

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:40:00 MDT

There it is, have a look, the cutest bus in Tokyo. To promote DS game Kawaii Koneko ("Cute Kitten"), the above bus was wrapped in cavity inducing sacchrine. The pet sim went on sale way back in January and lets players pick from eight different breeds like Russian Blue and American Shorthair. The bus ad features cutesy Japanese celebrity person Becky. See that old dude flagging down that pink bus? His teeth hurt.

Pic of Becky, a cat and part of a wheel after the jump.

Cute Kitten Bus [Dengeki Online]

Cat Cuddling! Ear Cleaning! Boobs!

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:40:22 MDT

Besides featuring SNK characters with big jubblies (old hat!), DS title and romance sim Days of Memories 2 offers things like EAR CLEANING and CAT CUDDLING scenes. Sure, Days of Memories 2 is a repackaging of previous Days cell phone games, but hey! There's ear cleaning and cat cuddling, and even if there're not mini-games (they're not), stuff like that gives us a warm fuzzy feeling in our bellies.
Days For DS [Game Watch Impress]

Doki Doki Majo Shinpan 2 Offers Better Butt Touching

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:00:58 MDT

Was SNK satisfied with Doki Doki Majo Shinpan's schoolgal boob flicking? No, SNK was not. What about with the boy butt touching? No, SNK was not. So for the DS game's sequel, Doki Doki Majo Shinpan 2 Duo, the developer vamped things up. Yes, it added better butt touching (hello butt flicking!). This leaves us wonder: How will SNK ever top this innovation? We fear SNK might've shot its load prematurely with Duo. Please, think of the next sequel!

Hit the jump for the demo clip.

Doki Doki Demo [Akiba Blog]

Bape Nintendo DS Now Available For A Ridiculous Sum

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:20:00 MDT

Label conscious Nintendo fans will want to perk up their ears and check their credit card balances, as the Baby Milo by A Bathing Ape limited edition Nintendo DS has been released. It retails for 16800 yen (now about $167), but we wish you great luck in securing one at that price. The newly revamped (and finally usable) Bape web site lists the item at its standard price, but Bape reseller Boboshop is selling the white version for an impressive 44940 yen. That translates to about $447 US if you're considering it.

You may want to call in a big favor to a friend in Japan to see if there are any left at the official Bape stores. No word yet on whether it's available at the New York, London or other Asian locations. And that gold version? I'm betting it's just shy of impossible to get.

APE × Nintendo DS BAPEXCLUSIVE [Boboshop via High Snobiety]

SEGA's Cat Cafe (LOL)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:40:10 MDT

Oh, hai! To get everyone excited (see above) for cat game Ume Neko DS, SEGA is rolling out the cat cafe! Starting tomorrow in Tokyo, the Nintendogs-cat-clone will be playable at feline friendly cafe Cat Café Kayriko. The game is supposed to relax players. Below, there's a buncha pics of real cats at the SEGA press preview today. Some of them are obnoxiously cute. Beware.

Cafe Cat [IT Media]

Bashcraft Buys Duel Love, Feels Shame

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:00:39 MDT

Yep. I did it. Yesterday I went out and bought man-sweat scrubbing game — so embarrassing! (My wife even refused to buy it for me.) People may not know this, but I'm painfully shy. So doing things like buying suggestive games makes me red. Of course, I have no problem posting some seriouslyfuckedupshit. That's what we call "irony." Anyway, I'll be playing the game over the weekend, while staying at the in-laws so I can review it sometime next week. That's what we call "awkward."

Duel Love On Sale [Akiba OS]

Korg's Nintendo DS Synth In Action

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:40:25 MDT

We posted about Korg's DS-10 software the other day, the music app that makes your Nintendo DS a pretty capable sequencer and synthesizer. What we neglected to do was include helpful video of the software in action. Looks perfect for those of us lacking in rhythm and pitch detection. Musically incapable, unite!

DS Game for Star Gazers Nerds

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:00:25 MST

This one's for you, stargazers! Japanese magazine Hoshi Navi announced that they will be releasing DS star observation software Starry Sky Navi this summer. The cartridge will have a built-in tilt sensor that will make it easier for users to hold their DSes up in the air and ~~wave them around like they just don't care~~ find stars in the night sky. The game has an astronomical encyclopedia, and it also can simulate different night sky views — for example, next year's Hawaiian solar eclipse. Pretty neat! For a non-game.
Watch The Sky [Hobby Blog]

Meet The Boy Scrubbing Game's Female Producer

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:00:12 MST

Remember Duel Love? That female-geared DS game that has players whip the sweat off fetching young males. It's a Japanese dating game that centers around a school's secret fight club. Players "help" the fighters by wiping off sweat, treating injuries or giving "massages." The game's out this month, and that's the game's producer decked out in Duel Love gear. Here's what she says about her boy sweat scrubbing game:

Spring's in bloom! The season of love has arrived. Now, people want to fall in love, some people are tired of love, other want to forget it. Wouldn't you like to start fresh with Duel Love's Passion Mode? If lovey-dovey couples can play together, it'll be no accident that they get aroused!

Hit the jump for a picture of this saucy female game producer.

She really has a beautiful mosaic. Check out the game's trailer below.

Duel Love [Akiba Blog]

Chew on Butt Biting Bug Game Trailer

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:00:31 MST

DS title Oshiri Kajiri Mushi ("Butt Biting Bug") looks like nothing more than your standard rhythm game dressed up with your not-so-standard butt biting bug. "Oshiri Kajiri Mushi" was originally a silly child's song that appeared on NHK, but later became a top ten hit in Japan. Note: Butt biting bugs aren't supposed to bite people's asses until they turn eight years old. Uh-huh.

If you've stomached the game trailer, hit the jump for the original song.

Oshiri Kajiri Mushi Game [DS Fanboy]

A Bathing Ape Comes To DS

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:40:00 MST

Japanese clothing label A Bathing Ape (aka Bape) is the latest to lend its signature brand to the Nintendo DS, with new white and gold portables hitting in April. Nintendo's Mario and Bape's Baby Milo will adorn the packaging and the top half of the DS, the latter of which mimics the familiar Louis Vuitton pattern that has adorned overpriced baggage for decades.

Like many things Bape, we suspect that these DS Lites will be in short supply and go for a mint when they're out of stock.

Bape x Nintendo DS Lite [High Snobiety]

This DS Lite Is Rare, Beautiful

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:30:00 MST

Super-influential streetwear designer Hiroshi Fujiwara and Japanese fashion mag Honeyee have teamed up on this very, very limited edition DS Lite. It's got a classy matte black exterior with white body and hinges, and as you can see, kicks the ass of every colour scheme Nintendo currently have on the market. Before you get excited, however, it needs to be repeated that this is limited. How limited? Don't know, further info is forthcoming. It might even just be this one. Needless to say, you'll never own one.

これ、やっと形になりました。詳しくは次のhoneyee.mag で[Honeyee, via Hypebeast]

Bangai-O DS Hits Japan On March 19

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:30:00 MST

It's been announced that Bangai-O Spirits, Treasure's upcoming handheld version of its cheek-pinchingly adorable slice of bullet hell pie, will be out in Japan on March 19. Same day as Echocrome! Which is of course relevant to everyone able to work an import store's online store, seeing as with Bangai-O an ability to understand what's being said comes a distant second to being able to make an entire screen explode.
[Treasure, via GhostSeed @ GAF]

Japanese Island Real Life DS Treasure Hunt

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:00:40 MST

A real, live treasure hunt! And it uses the Nintendo DS. A small island fifty kilometers south of Tokyo is giving visitors free interactive software that sends them tromping around the isle. Called Treasure Quest: Enoshima — Treasure of the Dragon, the game gives players clues and that answered by interacting with the island's physical environment. Using the handheld's WiFi, the real locations correspond with the game's. After answering all the clues, players can locate the treasure — not an easy task! The developers created the title to promote tourism for the tiny island. The treasure hunt is held from 10am to 4pm and runs until February 19th. Reservations are required.
Island Hunt [Shonan Keizai Shimbun via Pink Tentacle Thanks, Randy!]

DS Game Wants You To Cry, Cry, Cry

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:07 MST

Crazy DS game time! Bandai Namco are releasing a game that encourages players to cry. It's a weepy game. Called 99 Tears, the story is set in a fictional city where the inhabitants have forgotten how to cry. The game analyzes the player's personality and selects one of 200 tear jerkers to make players cry. During the game, players will read 99 of them. Apparently, players are supposed to read them right at the end of the day and then cry. We know that crying is actually healthy and that Japanese do cry (lots!), but is there some sort of weepy trend nobody's told us about?
DS Crying Game [IGN via 1Up]

Robo Cat Movie DS Campaign Giveaway

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:00:05 MST

I really like Doraemon. Really, really like him. He's a robotic cat from the future who had his ears eaten off by a mouse. In his pouch, he can pull all sorts of gadgets out like a door that let's you travel anywhere. This spring, like every Spring, the character has a new movie in Japan. To get all the kiddos excited, there's a game that corresponds to the movie. Also, seventy customized Doraemon DS Lites are being given away in a raffle. Although this DS is kinda tacky in a kiddy way, I wish they were selling it. I'd totally buy it. Yes, I like Doraemon that much.
Doraemon Game [Famitsu]

Doki Doki Majo Manga Out Dirties DS Game

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:00:18 MST

We're overdue, it's been too long. Time for a Doki Doki Majo Shinpan post! The naughty DS game that let players "touch" 13 year old witches wasn't nearly as dirty as it sounds. That's what the Doki Doki Majo manga is for! The comic version has been serialized, but now a book collection is on sale in Den-Den Town and Akihabara. It's not totally explicit, it's just rather slimy.

Gallery after the jump. Proceed with caution!

Majo Shinpan Comic [Ota Road]

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart: Prologue

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:40:00 MST

Here's something you might not have expected. Despite having debuted in the second week of November, Mario Party DS for the Nintendo DS tops this week's Japanese software sales chart. It beat out the recently released Wii Fit—now past the half-million mark—and new debut Gran Turismo 5 Prologue for the PlayStation 3. In fact, this past week represents Mario Party DS's best sales week ever. In general, software for Nintendo platforms was way up, with Wii Sports and Wii Play returning to top ten glory. Probably going to be a good week for the console.

What didn't perform too well? The long-awaited sequel NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, which, according to Media Create, charted at #27 in its first week. Poor Sega. I almost feel bad for them! I'll try to maintain a straight face while you check out the top ten for the week of December 10th to 16th. More after the jump.

01. Mario Party DS (DS) - 180,000 / 826,000
02. Wii Fit (Wii) - 124,000 / 535,000
03. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3) - 116,000 / NEW
04. Professor Layton and The Devil's Box (DS) - 74,000 / 444,000
05. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 74,000 / 550,000
06. Dragon Quest IV (DS) - 73,000 / 868,000
07. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) - 64,000 / 212,000
08. Wii Sports (Wii) - 55,000 / 2,341,000
09. Wii Play (Wii) - 55,000 / 1,921,000
10. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time (Wii) - 41,000 / NEW

11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)
12. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
13. Power Pro Kun Pocket 10 (DS)
14. Kirarin Revolution Tsukutte Misechao! Kime*Kira Stage (DS)
15. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)
16. Mario Kart DS (DS)
17. Taiko Drum Master DS (DS)
18. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)
19. Hot Shots Golf Portable 2 (PSP)
20. SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (PS2)
21. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
22. WarioWare Smooth Moves (Wii)
23. Tales of Innocence (DS)
24. Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (Xbox 360)
25. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS3)
26. Sengoku Basara 2: Heroes (PS2)
27. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
28. Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi: Mina San Kyu (DS)
29. Nep League DS (DS)
30. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)

Looks like Mario Party DS will easily pass the 1 million sold mark by the end of the year, with Wii Play passing 2 million as well. Go mini-games!

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Retailer Holiday Predictions

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:42 MST

Time for Japanese retailers to look into their crystal ball and see stuff. Stuff like which games and game hardware will sell this holiday season. Japanese game mag even made a top ten list of their predictions of the the hottest products. Let's dive right in and gaze at teh future:

1. Wii Fit (Wii)
2. Dragon Quest IV (DS)
3. DS Lite
4. Wii
5. Slim & Lite PSP
6. None (no response)
7. Professor Layton and the Devil's Box (DS)
8. Final Fantasy IV (DS)
9. Game Center CX (DS)
10. Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden (PS2)

Geez, wonder which retailers were BIG WET BLANKETS and refused to make unscientific predictions. Boo-hiss on them!
Japanese Retailers Predict Holiday Sales [1Up] [Image]

DS Lite or PSP - Which Does Japan Want?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:16 MST

　The holidays are coming up fast, and people need to think about presents! So, people of Japan, which portable game machine do you want: PSP or DS Lite? A year ago, it was really hard to get the DS Lite in Japan. So hard that DS Lites had to be re-imported from America to meet the demand. But now, things have cooled off considerably. The PSP has experienced an upsurge of late thanks to a much overdue redesign. So which one do most Japanese folks want? Cross Marketing poled 300 people to find out. Know: 20 percent were in their teens, 20 percent in their twenties, 20 percent in their thirties, 20 percent in their forties and 20 percent in their fifties. The results:

Nintendo DS 6.7%
Nintendo DS Lite 23.3%
PSP 22.3%
Other 1.7%
Don't want any 46.0%

Adding the regular DS and the Lite gives Nintendo a more sizable lead over Sony. Still nothing like the craziness of last year! Though, impressive showing for the PSP. There is one rational explanation for this dip in demand, you know: Everyone already has a DS.
PSP Challenging [What Japan Thinks] [Image]

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Good news! Mario Party DS' success probably means there will be future Mario Party games! Thanks, God. We appreciate you answering our prayers. What didn't hold up as expected was Shin Sangoku Musou 5, also known as Dynasty Warriors 6, which certainly didn't sell as well as Mario Party and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. Still, it's a fairly solid week for the underdog PlayStation 3, which charted with the aforementioned, Hot Shots Golf 5, Ratchet & Clank Future, and newcomer Heavenly Sword. Plus, folks bought Game Center CX. Good for them!

The following stuff sold pretty well in Japan for the week of November 12th to the 18th.

01. Mario Party DS (DS) - 116,000 / 350,000
02. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii) - 83,000 / NEW
03. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3) - 76,000 / 264,000
04. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS DS (DS) - 49,000 / NEW
05. Game Center CX (DS) - 46,000 / NEW
06. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 40,000 / 365,000
07. Heavenly Sword (PS3) - 15,000 / NEW
08. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) - 14,000 / 230,000
09. Wii Sports (Wii) - 13,000 / 2,211,000
10. Soukou Kihei Votoms (PS2) - 12,000 / NEW

11. Wii Play (Wii)
12. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS)
13. DS Nishimura Kyotaro Suspense Shin Tantei Series: Kyoto Atami Zekkai no Kotou - Satsui no Wana (DS)
14. My Housekeeping Diary (DS)
15. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
16. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
17. Hayarikami 2 (PS2)
18. Mario Kart DS (DS)
19. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (Xbox 360)
20. DS Literature Collection (DS)
21. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)
22. Taiko Drum Master DS (DS)
23. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
24. Dungeon Explorer: Meiyaku no Tobira (PSP)
25. Kanji Brain Test 2.5M (DS)
26. Anata o Yurusanai (PSP)
27. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)
28. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP)
29. Ghost Squad (Wii)
30. Hot Shots Golf 5 (PS3)

Fun with Game Center CX's Manual

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:00:14 MST

If there was ever an instruction booklet that demanded English translation, it's this. Here's the innards of the Game Center CX manual, which is delightfully retro. The game even comes with an Shinya Arino business card. So cool! The game, which went on sale today, got good Famitsu scores (8, 8, 8, 9) to boot.

Game Center CX Manual [AkibaOS via HOBBY BLOG]
On Sale [AkibaOS]

Boozin' It Up With Square Enix

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:00:29 MST

What's better than launching a game? Launching a game totally shitfaced! A "Beaujolais Nouveau Countdown Party" at Tokyo's Shin Marunouchi Building for, well, beaujolais nouveau as well as Square Enix's new title Wine no Hajimekata DS. (Beaujolais nouveau officially goes on sale the third Thursday of November, which is known as "Beaujolais Nouveau Day.") Demo kiosks were balanced by a free flowing beaujolais nouveau and a jazz band playing standards like "The Days of Wine and Roses." The Square Enix game quizzes players on basic wine info to increase their knowledge of the drink. Think of Wine no Hajimekata DS as like Brain Age-type game, but with even more "blue" slurring. Buroooooooooooooo.
Square Enix's Wine Game [Famitsu]

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Mario tops the charts again this week, with Mario Party DS selling close to a quarter million copies in its debut week in Japan. It's followed by the game that is sure to push tens of thousands of PlayStation 3s, Shin Sangoku Musou 5, to be known as Dynasty Warriors 6 in North America. Its Xbox 360 counterpart cracked the top ten, as did Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future, all of which should make for an interesting week in hardware sales.

Oddly enough, only one PlayStation 2 title appears this week and it's NBA Live 08. What a world...

01. Mario Party DS (DS) - 235,000 / NEW
02. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3) - 188,000 / NEW
03. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 74,000 / 325,000
04. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) - 23,000 / 215,000
05. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (Xbox 360) - 22,000 / NEW
06. Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - 19,000 / NEW
07. Wii Sports (Wii) - 15,000 / 2,197,000
08. DS Nishimura Kyotaro Suspense Shin Tantei Series: Kyoto Atami Zekkai no Kotou - Satsui no Wana (DS) - 13,000 / 129,000
09. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS) - 13,000 / 690,000
10. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) - 12,000 / NEW

11. Wii Play (Wii)
12. Kanji Brain Test 2.5M (DS)
13. Mario Kart DS (DS)
14. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
15. DS Bungaku Zenshuu (DS)
16. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)
17. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
18. My Housekeeping Diary (DS)
19. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3)
20. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)
21. World Soccer Winning Eleven DS Goal x Goal! (DS)
22. Gundam Battle Chronicle (PSP)
23. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
24. NBA Live 08 (PS2)
25. Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day (DS)
26. More English Training (DS)

Tomorrow, hardware sales figures hit later in the evening. It promises to be... interesting.
27. Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi: Mina San Kyu (DS)
28. Animal Crossing Wild World (DS)
29. Dragon Tamer: Sound Spirits (DS)
30. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP)

Hey Kids! Exercise With Your DS

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:00:02 MST

Boy, the Japanese game industry is smart. Feed them games to fatten them up and then feed them games to slim them down. In Japan, the DS has already seen it's fair share of exercise titles with walking and yoga games. Now, Japanese kids and parents can exercise together with Hiromichi Oniichan no Oyako Taisou Navi. The title is fronted by kiddie exercise guru Hiromichi Sato. He's quite famous and popular in Japan. In the "game," Hiromichi show various exercises to keep fit, and kids can collect various in-game items. Though, call me old fashioned, but shouldn't kids go run around outside, get in fights and stuff?
Hiromich's Game [Famitsu]

DS TV Fails to Impress

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:00:12 MST

Nintendo has tons of good ideas. This isn't one of them. With many Japanese cell phones already sporting crystal clear displays and digital 1seg TV tuners (and smaller) antennas, why would anyone want this? Can you imagine pulling this out on the train? You'd put someone's eye out!

Read Japanese Books on Your DS

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:00:44 MDT

More non-games for your DS! Swell. That's a Shibuya billboard for DS Bungaku Zenshuu, a title crammed with a hundred books for folks to read. The game is made by Dragon Quest Swords dev Genius Sonority and even lets readers download abridged versions of modern literature via Nintendo WiFi. Game site Siliconera points out that Nintendo is devoting more effort in promoting this game than, say, ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat. And we all know what happened to that game...
DS Book Reader [Siliconera]

Charge Drained Portables with Nerd Bracelet

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:00:23 MDT

Breath a sigh of relief. For those times when your on the go and your portable's battery dies, there's Charger Bracelet. Strap this contraption to your wrist and recharge you PSP or DS with one of its adaptator cables. The bracelet has an on/off switch so you can control the flow of juice, and the strap can extend to 2 and a half feet. Recharge the bracelet via personal computer. Good product if you don't mind looking like a goober. A total goober, that is.
Charger Bracelet [Thanko via Gizmodo Japan]

Drug Stores Now Selling... DS Game?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:00:32 MDT

If you can buy video games in Japanese convenience stores, why not Japanese drug stores? Soon, you can! Beginning November 15th, DS title Kenko Kentei will go on sale at retail druggist Drug Segami nationwide. The game tracks your health data and recommends healthy diets and work-up regimes. The game was developed by Yudo, a company created by the folks behind Dance Dance Revolution and Beatmania. Curious to see how this will do.
DS Game at Segami [IT Media via Tokyo Mango]

Find Places to Bathe with Old Men, Monkeys

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:00:00 MDT

Onsens AKA hot springs AKA bathing with naked people are quite popular in Japan! Coed baths are rare these days (or are filled with old people), and private baths are on the pricey side. And those few onsens with monkeys? Monkeys crap in the water! Still, families do enjoy heading out of the city to take relaxing outdoor baths and eat delicious Japanese food. DS game Onsen Techo helps find the perfect hot springs for your next vacation. Self-proclaimed "Hot Spring Professor" Tadanori Matsuda oversaw the title, which provides info about 2,000 onsens as well as the beneficial effect of the various springs. There is also information about Japanese inns and hotels. With fall and winter being a great time to hit hot springs, I'd totally pick this game up — if I could use it more than once or twice a year.
DS Hot Springs [Japan Today via Fucked Gaijin]

Japanese Cell Phone Character Starring in DS Game

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:53 MDT

Japanese cell phone carrier NTT DoCoMo has put its character DOCOMODAKE in an action puzzle Nintendo DS game. Yes, even a cell phone character that has nothing to do with gaming whatsoever is getting a DS title. It's from AQ Interaction, out this December in Japan. Think of this not of an indication of DOCOMODAKE's popularity, but the DS's.
DoCoMo DS game [Gizmodo Japan]

Taito's TGS Looks Something Like This

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:00:00 MDT

The TGS anticipation continues! Taito has released its list of games appearing at TGS. And amazingly (or not, depending on how you look at it) all titles are DS games. They include:

Cooking Mama 2
Arkanoid DS
Exit DS
Space Invaders Extreme
The Legend of Kage 2
Pet Shop Monogatari DS
Paddle Controller DS (Peripheral)

Boy I hope it's Space Invaders Extreme and not Space Invaders eXtreme or Space Invaders Xtreme.
Taito's TGS List [ITmedia]