Kotaku: nintendogs

DSi Gets Release Date in China, Packed With Nintendogs

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:00 MST

China's iQue, which officially hands Nintendo releases in the territory, will be launching the DSi (iQue DSi) in China on December 15.

The game will come pre-loaded with Nintendogs. There will be a line-up of DSiWare titles localized into Chinese, which should correspond with the DSiWare launch line-up in Japan. Players get a 1000 DSiWare point gift card that must be used by March 2011.

To promote the hardware launch, DSi demos have been popping up in cities like Shanghai.

神遊科技、DSiを12月15日に中国で発売―『Nintendogs』を内蔵 | インサイド [Inside Games]

So, Shigeru Miyamoto Got A Cat

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:30:00 MDT

Remember when Shigeru Miyamoto started weighing himself everyday? We got Wii Fit. And before that, he had a dog. We got Nintendogs. And even before that, he took up gardening. We got Pikmin. Now, Miyamoto has a cat.

At a Nintendo meeting today, Kotaku has learned that it was announced that, yes, Shigeru Miyamoto has a cat. Nintendo typically keeps Miyamoto's hobbies secret because they sometimes end up as the inspiration for new games.

Currently, Miyamoto is working on the new Zelda Wii title, which will sport swordplay with the MotionPlus feature. He is also working on a "DS game to play at home" and is interested in how the DS can be used in "public spaces".

Nintendo mentioned that the company was not against HD, and Miyamoto pointed out that a title like Wii Fit would not benefit greatly from HD, but the Nintendo creator added that a game like, say, Pikmin would.

Who Says Nintendogs are Only on the DS?

Owen Good — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:00:00 MDT

Gizmodo is gonna think I am copying their homework but, seriously, you gotta see these two dogs dressed as a Wii and a Wiimote for Halloween, and these poor sons of bitches (literally) do not look happy about it. Looks like they are having less fun playing Nintendo hardware than this guy did.

In deference to our sister site for this great get, you can see the second one on the link.

Halloween Wii Dogs Make Us Laugh, Shed Single Tear [Gizmodo]

"Over the Last Five Years, My Games Have Changed Somewhat"

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:00:00 MDT

Miyamoto gets a dog, makes Nintendogs. Miyamoto starts weighing himself for fun, makes Wii Fit. See a trend? It wasn't always that way! While his earlier games were influenced by his life and experiences, they were influenced abstractly — more make-believe, less reality. According to Miyamoto:

I would say that over the last five years or so, the types of games I create has changed somewhat. Whereas before I could kind of use my own imagination to create these worlds or create these games, I would say that over the last five years I’ve had more of a tendency to take interests or topics in my life and try to draw the entertainment out of that.

Every artist goes through phases — even Shigeru Miyamoto.
Resistance is Futile [NY Times]

Watch Female Celebs Promote the DS

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:00:00 MDT

Have a look! Here are the Metallic Rose Nintendo DS famous people commercials we previously mentioned. Above, American Idol-born country singer Carrie Underwood has at Nintendogs on her tour bus. After the jump, she and Ugly Betty star America Ferrera talk about their experiences with the DS. Fascinating.

Promoted By Celebs [VGB]

Nintendogs-Type Game with Human Babies!

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 MDT

Nintendogs was a great pet sim. If you didn't have a pet, you could play with your virtual pet! Because, really, let's face it, real pets are a hassle. You have to feed them, wash them and play with them. Worst part? You can't switch off real pets when you get sick of them and then switch them back on when you're keen for a game of fetch. Upcoming DS game Konnichiwa Akachan does the same — for babies! In this "communication" game, players can do things like feed a baby and wash a baby, but not play fetch. As like with Nintendogs, when you get sick of your baby, you can just cut the power. Oh, the humanity!

Konnichiwa Baby [Game Watch Impress via Hatimaki]

Nintendo Million Sellers Revealed

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:20:00 MST

We recently got a look at the top five selling Wii games in Japan, courtesy of publisher Enterbrain, but Nintendo themselves have released a more expansive list of the first party-published, platinum-plus titles worldwide, giving us a status update on just how well Nintendogs is selling. While the Nintendo DS dog-raising sim boasts an impressive 17.79 million copies sold globally, it's been bested by Wii Sports which, as of the new year, is at 17.85 million copies. Both have probably been helped by their respective hardware bundles, which are factored into totals, but we suspect Wii Sports got the biggest boost of the two.

Solid numbers for new-ish games like Metroid Prime 3, Link's Crossbow Training and Wii Fit pad the top ten, a list equally filled with mini-game comps as it is traditional games. For worldwide Nintendo DS software numbers, make the jump.

Wii

Wii Sports - 17,850,000
Wii Play - 9,230,000
Super Mario Galaxy - 5,190,000
Mario Party 8 - 4,350,000
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 4,300,000
Super Paper Mario - 2,160,000
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - 2,000,000
Mario Strikers Charged - 1,650,000
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 1,140,000
Link's Crossbow Training - 1,070,000
Wii Fit - 1,050,000

Nintendo DS

Nintendogs - 17,790,000
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - 14,170,000
New Super Mario Bros. - 13,140,000
Brain Age - 11,710,000
Brain Age 2 - 9,840,000
Mario Kart DS - 9,670,000
Animal Crossing Wild World - 9,200,000
Super Mario 64 DS - 5,780,000
Big Brain Academy - 4,610,000
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 3,820,000
Pokemon Ranger - 2,610,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness - 1,540,000

Looks like Nintendo is gonna be alright. As long as the kids still love them some Mario and Pokemon, they might just be able to keep the lights on.

Supplementary Information about Earnings Release (PDF) [Nintendo of Japan]

The Gamestop Nintendogs Bundle For Bitches

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:40:00 MST

Apparently the Gamestop corporation believes that the recently announced Nintendo DS bundles, featuring fancy new color schemes and packing-in of Nintendogs and Phantom Hourglass, will be in short supply. To wit, they've bundled in a bunch of things you probably aren't going to want when looking for a rose colored DS. For example, three copies of essentially the exact same game, plus one attempted bite of the other three with poorer production values.

For the low price of $249.96, you can walk away with three copies of Nintendogs and single copy of Petz Dogs 2. With sucker production rates now at one per minute, it's sure to find at least one rube with enough room on the credit card. Warn friends and family who won't know any better!

Nintendo DS Lite Nintendogs Bundle [Gamestop - thanks, Jeff!]

Nintendo Announces Two New DS Lite Bundles

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:00:31 MST

A while back, crummy Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS Lite retailer scans did the internet rounds. The quality was bad, and it was hard to decipher if the hardware was real or not. It is. It's just one of the new DS Lite bundles Nintendo is releasing on November 23rd, Black Friday. The other is a metallic pink version that will come with Nintendogs. Go figure. Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan explains:

We chose a couple of the products (games) we know are so loved ... and picked colors we know appeal to consumers right now... It's already this incredible cake and we just want to put more icing on it.

Nintendo is letting retailers set their own price, but a DS Lite and one game runs about US $160. Though, we'd expect Nintendogs to be less as the game is a couple years old.
New Bundles [Reuters]

New DS Colors, Bundles Coming This Holiday

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:20:08 MDT

Two Nintendo DS colors will be coming to North America later this year according to information creeping out of retailers gearing up for the post-Thanksgiving holiday spend frenzy. The two will be bundled with copies of the system's best-selling games, with a rose DS paired with Nintendogs and the gold DS packed with a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Each features a decoration on the outside of the top half, the former a paw print, the latter a Triforce.

Based on information from BlackFriday.info, both Sears and FYE are listing the bundles, but show different prices. Sears is listing both at $149.99, with FYE listing the Zelda bundle at $129.99.

Ad scan via GoNintendo. Thanks to BPMΩ and Andrew for the tips.

It's Nintendogs Meets Brain Age

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:00:02 MDT

IQ Breeder is a pet sim mashed with a brain training game. The game features three animals (dog, cat, pig) whose IQs can be raised when players get things like math problems correct. The mini-games include puzzles, rhythm games, mazes and whatnot. It's even possible to pit your pet against a friend's. A marketer's wet dream!
IQ Breeder [Game Watch]

Not Nintencats, But Damn Close

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:04 MDT

Years later after Nintendogs first hit, we don't get Nintencats, but a Nintencats clone. Dubbed Love Cat Life, the game lets players raise one of forty cats, dress them up and have them sing karaoke or toss free throws. Yes, karaoke and free throws — stuff that was sorely missed in Nintendogs. That Love Cat Life box art is really trying to capitalize on Nintendogs. Though, as much as I did enjoy Nintendogs, I can't ever see myself playing it again. Like ever. So a cat sim? Eh... I hate cats.
Cat Game [Official Site via Siliconera]

Sega's Nintendogs-Like Card Game Ride THING

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:00:17 MDT

SEGA's Isshyo ni Wan-Wan ("Together With Doggy") is a geared-for-children arcade game features a touch screen that lets players "pet" virtual dogs Nintendogs-style. What's more, the game dispenses cards of different dogs (there are 25 breeds) that can be swipe-scanned in like SEGA's own Mushi King. To top it off, the game is housed in a little car that rumbles and shakes once feed a coin. It's even covered with little dogs — like you hit them or something! In short: You put in a coin, you get a card. You swipe the card, and a virtual dog appears on the screen, which you pet. The little car you are sitting in shakes and vibrates. The end. Exciting if you are four years old! Isshyo ni Wan-Wan is a SEGA marketing person's idea of what Japanese children everywhere desire rolled into one odd machine.

Hammer Bros, Nintendogs Coming To Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:20:28 MDT

The Super Smash Bros. Brawl official web site updated today with a number of new characters, from the Hammer Bros. to Nintendogs puppies to F-Zero racer Samurai Goro. Normally, that would be huge news. Three confirmed characters in one day? Surely worthy of a non-Dojo Dump update. The only problem with that is that none of them are actually playable.

The new additions to the Super Smash Bros. Brawl roster are simply part of the game's Assist Trophy element. Players will be able to utilize these invincible assistants in battle, deploying a random, mystery fighter or, in the case of the Nintendog puppy, provide distraction while you reorient yourself.

Watch for even more characters from throughout the Nintendo universe to make appearances.

Assist Trophies [Smash Bros. Dojo]

Famitsu Scores Zelda DS Almost Perfect

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:40:35 MDT

The bad news? According to Famitsu, by way of NeoGAF, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is not as good as Nintendogs. Sorry. The good news, however, for anyone looking forward to the continuing cel shaded adventures of Link, is that Famitsu loved the crap out of the game, passing numerical judgment to the tune of a 39/40.

This means one of three things. Either the Famitsu editors were too busy/lazy to play Phantom Hourglass, assigning marginally measured scoring to insure against Nintendo fanboy ire, the massive advertising check cleared prior to publish or—and I believe this above all in my Link-loving heart—that the game is many megabits of stylish stylus sex (minus the female participation, primal grunting and profuse apologizing).

Get your hype-proof vests on, just in case. Michael McWhertor

Ultimate Duck Hunting Gives New Definition To "Ultimate"

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 14 May 2007 19:20:05 MDT

If the duck shooting segments of Wii Play weren't realistic enough to satisfy your avian bloodlust, Detn8 Games has the solution. The "new videogame company that's been around a long, long time" is releasing Ultimate Duck Hunting—which, going by the box art, is possibly titled Ultimate Duck Hunting: Hunting And Retrieving Ducks for clarity's sake—for the Wii this July, bringing us our first proper duck destroying simulation.

Adding a little bit of Nintendogs flair, Ultimate Duck Hunting will let you train your labrador hunting partner to be the ultimate bird carcass retreiving machine. You can even choose what color your lab is! Sorry, Miyamoto and company, you just got served.

You can check out four screens of the duck blasting Wii game in our gallery, all-the-while pondering how the hell Wii software looks graphically inferior to the GameCube. Prepare for pain! Michael McWhertor

Clip: The Great Otaku Japanese TV Challenge

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 May 2007 03:45:52 MDT

That pink-helmeted warrior is today's nerd hero. His name is Naoto Fujimura, and he recently appeared on TV Tokyo's TV Champion 2. Vitals: Fujimura is 19 years old and actually owns an Xbox 360. No, really. His favorite game? THE iDOLM@STER. Pretty much the entire show is after the jump, complete with Aya Ueto and Yu Yamada ads. It's almost an hour and all in Japanese, but you should be able to follow. Grab a chilled beverage, settle in and cheer Fujimura on as he battles his way to the top! Brian Ashcraft

Human Mario. Contestants must jump on a trampoline, grab the giant coin and answer doozies like "Besides 'Developer System,' what does "DS" stand for?" or "What happens when you touch Stufy's sister Stapy?" or the nerd riot inducing "When choosing a file, how do you make Luigi appear in-game?"

The nerds have gotten better at jumping on the trampoline and get dished questions like "How many different types of dogs are in Nintendogs?" or "What happens when you say umeboshi twice to Dr. Kawashima?" Stage 2 includes having contestants name all 64 enemies appearing in New Super Mario Bros. from memory without repeats!

Note: "Kurokki—" does not appear in NSMB. Contestant Wada in the business suit owns this round! The loser does not advance, which is an insane Puyo Puyo giant fan battle.

Onto the Championship Stage! We get a tour of 19 year-old Naoto Fujimura's THE iDOLM@STER room. He's up against wanna-be game programmer Yoshihiro Nakajima, the ten-hour gamer! He's a gentle soul and *hearts* Pokémon Pearl. There's a quiz, and the winner gets an Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, DS and PSP. The first question involves naming Gundams in Gundam Musou, while the second one asks how to switch to the blue hard court in Wii Tennis. The third question involves the Xbox 360! And iDOLM@STER!! Can Fujimura pull it off?! The suspense is killing me!!!

And you were worried? Just look at the 10-hour gamer's reaction. But, there are two more questions, questions that don't involve the Xbox 360 or THE iDOLM@STER. But involve Nintendo stuff and Sony stuff.

And like that, it's over. Fujimura is no match for the soft hearted 10-hour gamer. But, watch out virtual idols!

Clip: Nintendogs/Mario Kart In Japan... For Reals

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 04 May 2007 04:00:11 MDT

I'm going to say this once and once only: This is the greatest thing you will see today. Brian Ashcraft

Real Nintendogs [clip]

Nintendo & Playstation Up for D&AD Awards

Kim Phu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:40:00 MDT

The D&AD Awards (which stands for "Design and Advertising" Awards) that LocoRoco, Buzz, and Wii Sports are nominated for this year for game development, is sited as being an "educational charity" on their website and many of the articles I have been reading. Although on paper that might be true, I would like to just take a moment to clear all of that up.

The thing about how the D&AD Awards works in advertising is you have to pay a truckload of of money for every entry (your creative work) you submit, in hopes that you win a yellow pencil so that your work can then be bound in a $150 book called the D&AD annual that showcases that the "winners". Winning a yellow pencil is how everyone is advertising knows they're the nacho chip with the most cheese, and the annuals are always "a way to steal a good idea" (thanks expensive art school teacher for the tip - I know why you went so far in life!).

What will be interesting to see is how Playstation and Nintendo can actually pick up a D&AD Award for their innovative work they do without winning an award for the way their games are marketed. Kim Phu

Sony, Nintendo nominated for D&AD awards [Games Industry Biz]

Purr Pals For Nintencats Cravers

Mike Fahey — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:20:07 MST

Since Nintendo wouldn't make with the Nintencats despite the wild success of Nintendogs, someone else had to step up to the plate. That someone is Crave Entertainment, who have just announced Purr Pals for the Nintendo DS. You'll get to choose from over 40 breeds of kittens, care for them, train them, and modify their behavioral traits...a process I highly doubt involves a bone saw an brain electrodes, the only real way to modify cat behavior. Further eschewing the realism of the puppy title, kittens in Purr Pals will actually respond to your voice.

The game is expected to be available in late March 2007, just in time for kitten season, for an MSRP of $29.99

Ahh yes, kitten season. I still remember Dad and I getting up at the crack of dawn on the first day of kitten season, grabbing our rifles, donning our camo, and heading out for a day of kitten hunting. Mom would wait at home with the oven preheating, ready to make her world-famous kitty-corn bake. They say there's more than one way to skin a cat. My mom knows 37. Maybe I'll get her a copy of Purr Pals for Mother's Day! Michael Fahey

Crave Entertainment Announces Purr PalsTM for Nintendo DSTM

Adopt & Raise Your Own Purrfect Kitten Pal

Newport Beach, CA - Feb 06, 2007 Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of console videogames for the casual gamer, today announced Purr PalsTM, a full-featured pet simulator for Nintendo DSTM that lets players adopt, care for, and raise adorable kitten playmates.

Choose your favorite breed of kitten, give it a name, feed it and play with it, all through the easy-to-use Nintendo DS interface. Your kitten will even respond to your voice, and interact with the environment you provide. Earn an allowance to buy cute accessories and toys for your pet.

Features include:

* Choose from 40 breeds of kittens, each with unique personalities
* Use proper care and training techniques to meet your kitten's needs and desires
* Modify your kitten's behavioral traits
* Customize your kitten with limitless choices
* Use voice commands your kitten will respond to
* Train your kitten with toys and food
* Interact with your kitten within the environment you provide
* Compete in fun mini-games with you kitten

The game is expected to be available in late March 2007, just in time for kitten season, for an MSRP of $29.99

About Crave Entertainment

Based in Newport Beach, California, Crave Entertainment is a subsidiary of Handleman Company. Crave, a publisher of videogame entertainment products creates games for the major console platforms including PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Nintendo DSTM, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCubeTM, WiiTM, the PlayStation game console, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. For more information about Crave Entertainment, please visit www.cravegames.com.