IT’S THE ONE THAT YOU WANT! GREASE VIDEO GAME SHIPS TO NORTH AMERICAN RETAIL OUTLETS

Woodland Hills, CA – October 18, 2011 – 505 Games, a global publisher of video games, today announced that the all-singing, all-dancing video game Grease™ for Kinect™ for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®Move motion controller for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system has now shipped to North American retail outlets.

Developed by Zoe Mode and published by 505 Games under license from Paramount Digital Entertainment, with officially licensed song compositions and timeless choreography from the movie, Grease provides an interactive social singing and dancing experience where they can turn up their style and release their inner rock ‘n roller.

“Grease is an all-time classic entertainment property and it is with great pleasure that 505 Games is able to bring this updated re-imagining of the brand into the homes of fans this holiday season,” said Ralph Pitt-Stanley, general manager, UK and Export for 505 Games. “The cutting-edge new motion control technology of today’s consoles has enabled us to bring all the excitement of classic choreography and 1950’s attitude to life in ways not possible before.”

Grease for Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move motion controller for PS3™ is rated “T” for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).  For more information about Grease please visit www.greasethegame.com.

###

About 505 Games
Based in Los Angeles, CA, 505 Games (U.S.) is the North American division of 505 Games, a global video game publisher. Launched in the U.S. in 2008, 505 Games publishes quality interactive entertainment on all handheld, mobile and console gaming platforms, offering a broad selection of video game titles in all genres for players of all ages.For more information on 505 Games and its products please visit www.505games.com.

About Zoë Mode

Zoë Mode makes games that are accessible; simple, social, games that are effortlessly fun but don’t take themselves too seriously. Based in Brighton, London and San Francisco, its diverse work force is unified by its attitude to gaming. Zoë Mode believes that games are powerful ways of bringing people together and having fun and that there’s more to life than gaming, but that gaming can make life better; and strongly believes that there is a game for everyone. Zoë Mode is part of Kuju Entertainment Limited.

Kinect, Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS – AUGUST 18, 2011

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

Nintendo Video™
Jason Derulo, “It Girl” – Now until 3 p.m. Pacific time on Aug. 26, you can check out Jason Derulo’s latest video in 3D. His new album, Future History, releases on Sept. 27 and features the smash hit “Don’t Wanna Go Home.” (For Nintendo 3DS™)

Nintendo eShop
3D Classics: Urban Champion™ – The first fighting game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System™ is back for another round. Use a combination of punches to knock your opponent backward into an open manhole before time expires. (For Nintendo 3DS)

WiiWare™
Flight Control™ – Take on the role of an air traffic controller at an increasingly busy airport. As more and more planes begin to arrive, you’ll need nerves of steel and smart strategy to keep the chaos under control. (For Wii™)

Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™
Zoonies – Escape from Makatu – Only you can help Leo the tiny lion find his way back to his friends and family. Clear a path for Leo as he tries to escape the evil shaman Makatu and the treacherous jungle. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi™)

Also new this week:
• Build-a-lot® (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)

• Blockado – Puzzle Island (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)

• UYUYUI! (Nintendo Video) – available 3 p.m. PT on Aug. 20

• Duel (Nintendo Video) – available 3 p.m. PT on Aug. 18

In addition to video games available at retail stores, Nintendo also offers a variety of content that people can download directly to their systems. Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS™ system, to the Nintendo DSi™ Shop for the Nintendo DSi system and to the Wii™ Shop Channel for the Wii console at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Thursdays.

The Nintendo eShop is a cash-based service and features games, applications and videos in both 2D and 3D. Users can add money to their virtual wallets using a credit card or by purchasing a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card.

The Wii Shop Channel offers games and applications and uses Wii Points™, which can be purchased via the Wii Shop Channel. The Nintendo DSi Shop offers games and applications and uses Nintendo DSi Points™, which can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii, http://www.nintendo.com/3ds or http://www.nintendo.com/ds/systems/dsi.

Sakura-Con 2011 Report by Michelle Tymon (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

Sakura-Con 2011 Report and Photography by Michelle Tymon

Sakura Con 2011 proved that the popularity of anime and Japanese culture are still very strong in the US and especially in Seattle.  The attendance at the yearly convention grows every year and this year, it was no exception bringing in an amazing 19,040, over 1,000 more than last year’s number of 18,002.  The weather also proved to be nice for most of the weekend, but because it is taking place in Seattle, there was still some rain.

However, that definitely didn’t stop anyone from going to the con.  Anime fans could be seen walking up and down the streets of Seattle that weekend, rain or shine.

 

 

The guest lineup at this year’s Sakura Con was impressive as ever as they brought big names from both Japan and America.  Guests this year included: Kotono Mitsuishi, Berryz Kobo, exist+trace, Daisuke Moriyama, Tony Oliver, Clarine Harp, Christopher Bevins, Tiffany Grant, Cynthia Cranz, Wendy Powell, Stephanie Sheh, and 6%DOKIDOKI.

 

For a complete listing for the 2011 guest lineup, http://www.sakuracon.org/programming/guests.php

Fans can come to Sakura Con to enjoy many activities involving manga/anime, video games, Japanese music, and Japanese tradition and culture.

For those interested in manga/anime, the convention offers panels, Q&A’s, autograph signings with industry guests, a huge exhibition hall where fans can buy all sorts of merchandise, Artist Alley where artists can show off their own art, and cosplay photoshoots.

Video game fans can enjoy 24 hour gaming rooms, video game tournaments, retro gaming, DDR and other arcade games, Microsoft playtest, and the Rock Band stage.

For fans of Japanese music, there are a few concerts during the weekend they can go to (this year it was the JRock band exist+trace and the JPop group Berryz Kobo) and people can enjoy open mic karaoke, karaoke contests, and various dances.  As for those interested in Japanese culture, people can go play the game “Go”, watch various cultural and traditional demonstrations or get information through various organizations like the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, the Japan America Society of the State of Washington, and the Hyogo Business and Cultural Center.

There are also various theaters at Sakura-Con including the AMV theater, anime theaters, and live-action theaters.  They are not only a great way to watch great anime and movies, but also a great place to relax if you ever had free time in between events you wanted to go to and they are also open 24 hours.

 

 

For the past few years, Sakura-Con has been known to bring some amazing musical guests from Japan.

On Friday night, the JRock band exist+trace held a concert.  exist+trace is a visual rock band consisting of all female members.  At their concert, they showed that they could definitely hold their own and rock out even harder than their male colleagues.  Despite some technical problems in the beginning, they still managed to rock the house and the crowd had a great time.

On Saturday night, the JPop group Berryz Kobo performed to a packed house and even brought some of their hardcore fans from Japan with them.  They started out the concert talking about the earthquake and tsunami that had just devastated Northeastern Japan and kicked off the concert with a cover of the popular 1992 song “Ai wa Katsu” by Kan.

I happened to be sitting next to four fans from Japan who were jumping, cheering, shouting, and dancing through the whole show.  While looking around the audience, I also spotted another older fan from Japan who was in one of the aisles dancing the choreography to each and every song they sang perfectly.  The fans from Japan definitely made themselves known among the crowed but the American fans were also full of energy and enjoyed the show.

 

 

Every year at Sakura-Con they hold a charity auction.  This year was no different, except this year the charity auction was for both the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as Peace Winds America, the latter to help out the relief efforts in Japan for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March of this year.  Things that were auctioned off at both auctions were quite impressive this year.

Items included shikishi drawings done by artists attending Sakura-Con as well as other famous artists, huge Sakura-Con 2011 posters that were displayed at the various hotels, signed anime goods, anime cels, and many other items.  The first two badges for next year’s convention were also auctioned off and went for about $2,000.

The package included badge #’s 1 & 2, a free hotel room for the whole weekend as well as advanced VIP seating for all the events.

 

 

During the Peace Winds America auction, very rare and amazing things were offered with the help of Kotono Mitsuishi and Run Sasaki.

Kotono Mitsuishi offered items from her own merchandise from her website; she had three bundles available which included a signed original t-shirt, cellphone charms and a handkerchief.  Mitsuishi-san also managed to get other items signed by other cast members on shows she’s currently working on and auctioned them off.

One of the most amazing things that Run Sasaki auctioned off was a replica of the coat Luffy wore in the movie, “One Piece: Strong World”.  Not only was the coat a one of a kind, Mayumi Tanaka (the seiyuu who does Luffy’s voice) wore it at last year’s Sakura-Con during her performance with Team Dreamcatchers and signed it as well.

One of the items that I highly regret not getting was a one of a kind “Anpanman” handkerchief.  I am not the biggest “Anpanman” fan, but this handkerchief was not sold in stores and it was signed by the cast members.  It being signed by Keiko Toda (the seiyuu who does “Anpanman” is also a famous actress in Japan who has done many dramas and movies) alone would make it worth quite a bit, but since it includes so many other signatures including Koichi Yamadera (another famous seiyuu whose credits include Ryoga from “Ranma 1/2″), it was priceless.

Other items included shirts signed by Ikue Ohtani (who does Pikachu’s voice in “Pokemon” and Chopper’s voice in “One Piece”) and other amazing goodies.  Both charities raised thousands of dollars for wonderful causes.

For more information on either of these charities, please go to: http://www.wish.org and http://peacewindsamerica.org/

 

 

As someone who has been going to the convention since 2004, I’ve seen this convention grow quite a bit.

Every year the convention would grow in attendance and bring in even more guests and the names got bigger every year.  And because of the convention’s growth each year, there have been a few minor bumps in the road along the way but this year the staff did an outstanding job keeping everything running smoothly and their hard work was very apparent.

The staff members and volunteers put in countless amount of hours every year to bring such a big event to the growing number of fans every single year.  One of the biggest improvements that I saw was in dealing with the lines for the autograph signings.

In past years of Sakura-Con, the autograph signings sometimes caused frustration because there would be only an hour and some guests were so big that the line of people that would show up would be too long and not everyone would be able to get an autograph because of the time constraints.

This year the lines were still insanely long for some guests but they were better organized and the lines moved smoothly.  They also held two autograph sessions at once (the room that the signings were in as huge) most of the time and also held more than one autograph signing for a number of the big guests to help everyone who wanted an autograph to get one.

One of the biggest lines that I personally witnessed for Sakura-Con was the line for Kotono Mitsuishi on Saturday.  There was a slight confusion with people lining up early for the session who were given bracelets to come back later (this year the convention made a rule where people were not supposed to line up earlier than 30 minutes before the signing) but even with that, everyone there was able to get an autograph.

 

 

Another bump in the road they managed to fix this year was the wait time for registration.  Last year, registration took hours for some con goers but this year, registration was speedy.

The con goers I talked to mentioned that the time to get their badges this year only took minutes and every time I passed by the registration room, the lines were very short.  That is an incredible feat considering the 19,040 con goers this year.  Despite some frustration that may be caused, this convention really wouldn’t be possible without the staff and the volunteers.

This year they were able to show that past problems can be resolved so it really will be exciting to see what kinds of guests and events they bring us next year.

 

Big guests, amazing concerts, cosplaying and tons of fun events: Sakura-Con 2011 was amazing and anime fans can definitely look forward to Sakura-Con 2012.

For more pictures check out my flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28410146@N06/sets/72157626884064456/

E3 2011: Turtle Beach Powers Audio for Top Publishers and Partners with Livestream for Show Floor Coverage

Elmsford, N.Y., June 3, 2011 ­ Turtle Beach, the leader in premium gaming headsets, is proud to announce their latest list of publisher partners showcasing their new game releases with optimized audio courtesy of Turtle Beach¹s premium gaming headsets. To further support their role as the preeminent authority on game sound and to showcase their industry partners¹ incredible audio achievements, Turtle Beach has teamed up with Livestream to give fans an inside-view of E3, the game industry¹s biggest and most important event of the year!

Publishers and partners utilizing Turtle Beach headsets in their E3 booths, meeting rooms and displays include:

· Activision

· Electronic Arts

· 2K Games/Take Two Interactive

· Warner Brothers Interactive

· Nexon

· Konami

· Bethesda

· IndieCade

· Kalypso

· NVIDIA

This partnership with Livestream gives Turtle Beach an opportunity to share
the latest news, action and highlights from E3 directly with fans.
Livestream reporting will take place at the Turtle Beach booth as well as
its partners¹ displays, giving fans a behind-the-scenes ³look and listen² to
upcoming games, most of which will be demoed onsite using Turtle Beach
headsets.

The Livestream broadcasts will be co-hosted by Matt from Turtle Beach, a
familiar face from Turtle Beach¹s popular YouTube channel and Kona from
Quantic Gaming, a prominent competitive gaming commentator. Matt and Kona
will spend time reviewing the latest audio advancements from Turtle Beach
and meet with many of the developers and audio engineers behind all the hot
new games; getting their unique points of view and insight on the sound
design and overall development of these major titles.

³Turtle Beach is the game audio authority and we are already committed to
delivering the very best sonic experience possible to gamers with our
premium lineup of console and PC gaming headsets,² notes Michael Arzt, VP of
Marketing and Business Development for Turtle Beach, ³and with our many
publisher partnerships and the exciting Livestream initiative, we¹re also
able to provide fans with a unique look and listen to all the games and
audio excitement of the 2011 E3 Expo.²

Turtle Beach¹s Livestream will commence at 10:00AM PT on June 7, 2011 with
an address from Turtle Beach regarding its exciting new products being
introduced at E3. The E3 stream will then be running from 11:00AM to 5:00PM
on June 7, 10:00AM to 6:00PM on June 8 and 10:00AM to 5:00PM on June 9 (all
times Pacific).

To access the E3 stream, viewers must visit and ³Like² Turtle Beach¹s
Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/turtlebeach
. The Facebook page will also have
additional information on the Livestream event and a player to watch the
stream. To add more excitement throughout the 3-day event, Turtle Beach and
its partners will offer prize giveaways on the stream. Viewers will be able
to chat with one another, Turtle Beach employees and other special guests.
After the event is over, viewers can enjoy video on demand from Livestream
and on Turtle Beach¹s YouTube channel.

To learn more about Turtle Beach¹s products and watch Matt¹s videos, please
visit http://www.youtube.com/turtlebeachvideos/

About Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach (www.turtlebeach.com ) designs
and markets premium audio peripherals for personal computer and video game
platforms, including its acclaimed line of Ear Force gaming headphones and
headsets crafted for XBOX 360 and PS3 game consoles and PC games. Turtle
Beach¹s Ear Force X41 wireless headset is Official XBOX Magazine¹s “2009
Peripheral of the Year.² Turtle Beach, headquartered in Elmsford, New York,
is a brand of Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc., which has been at the forefront of
music and audio technology for more than three decades and is recognized as
a pioneer of today¹s PC audio industry.

Turtle Beach and Ear Force are registered trademarks of Voyetra Turtle
Beach, Inc. XBOX 360 is a registered trademark of Microsoft, Corp. All

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NEW DOWNLOADABLE LINEUP FEATURES SUPER BONK AND FRESH BASEBALL ACTION

April 4, 2011

Showers or no showers, the onset of April brings another round of new downloadable games for Nintendo systems. The Super NES™ favorite Super Bonk is now available on the Virtual Console™ service, giving Wii™ owners a fun new way to enjoy the hard-headed fun of the classic series. And as real-world baseball comes back to life in ballparks across the nation, the Nintendo DSiWare™ service offers the hand-held excitement of Absolute Baseball, challenging players to guide their own customized teams to big-league victory. Dark dungeons, fairytale adventures and exotic fish add even greater variety to this week’s lineup.

Nintendo DSiWare

Anonymous Notes Chapter 1 – From The Abyss -
Publisher: Sonic Powered Co.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Discover an exhilarating RPG set inside an infinitely extending dungeon. Sweep away the monsters wriggling in many places and defeat the strong boss monster lurking in the deepest part of the dungeon. Even after the boss monster is defeated, the dungeon automatically re-creates itself, so players can try new games over and over. Using the skill called Soul Capture, the male character can take magic and other skills away from the monsters, as well as weapons and shields to power up.

A Fairy Tale
Publisher: Lemon Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: When a giant menace threatens the village, young faeries Delfbert, Wilf and Angelica set out on a fantastic journey to save their home. Join them on their whimsical quest through 100 puzzling levels, marked by stunning graphics and magical music that will fill you with wonder. Featuring an exciting new type of puzzle game play and a humorous, lighthearted storyline, A Fairy Tale is an unforgettable journey of enchantment.

Absolute Baseball
Publisher: Tasuke
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Become the manager of a baseball team and lead it to the championship. Make all the decisions for your team, from selecting the starting lineup and switching pitchers and runners to giving your players pitching, fielding and batting orders. Earn points as you play games throughout the season, and use them to increase your players’ abilities. Build them into the team that will respond to your strategy and make it to the top. In addition to regular league games, there are interleague games, playoffs and the championship series.

Virtual Console

Super Bonk
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points™
Description: Dive headlong into the action in the first installment of the Bonk series on the Super NES. This time, Bonk has been caught in King Drool’s trap and hurled into darkness. To find his way back to prehistoric times, he must embark on an adventure through streets, caves and eventually outer space. Control Bonk as you progress through the stages, but watch out for enemies blocking your path. Eat meat to transform Bonk and perform even more powerful attacks. Many challenges lie in Bonk’s path. In addition to his spin and climb moves, you can use items such as candy, which changes Bonk’s size, to overcome these obstacles.

WiiWare™

Planet Fish™
Publisher: Ludia
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ready, aim…fire suction bubbles from your underwater craft to trap fish to display in your personal aquarium. Catch and collect exotic fish in colorful deep-sea environments such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Ryukyu Islands and the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. Try to avoid obstacles and dangerous species lurking in the depths. Grow your aquatic collection with beautiful marine life from around the world. Navigate through 30 unique levels of play, each with its own challenges and obstacles. Watch out for jagged surfaces, dangerous jellyfish and paralyzing algae. Win bonus collectible fish as you advance in the game. Unlock animated Trophies with each region that you successfully complete.

A Monsteca Corral: Monsters vs. Robots (demo version)
Publisher: Onteca
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 0 Wii Points; full version available for 500 Wii Points
Description: The planet Monsteca is no longer the harmonious world it once was. It’s been overrun by a robotic army set on ruling and conquering. Monsteca natives, known as the Stompies, have no choice but to run or be captured. Unable to defend themselves against such heavy machinery, they must rely on the strength of their herd to work together and defeat the meddling robots. Take control of the cute, not-so-bright Stompies, and help them avoid being captured by invading robots. It’s your duty to guide them successfully through each level. This fun strategy game offers 20 levels for many hours of game play.

Note: Some demo versions do not support all game features, and players cannot save their in-game progress in demo versions.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

NINTENDO REVEALS LAUNCH-DAY LINEUP OF 18 NINTENDO 3DS GAMES

With More Than 30 Games Total Launching by Early June, There’s Something for Everyone

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 22, 2011 – On day one, new Nintendo 3DS™ owners will have plenty of video games to keep them busy. Nintendo and its third-party publishing partners have made sure that people who buy a system on March 27 will be able to choose from a variety of experiences that leverage the system’s new features. A steady and diverse stream of games of all kinds will keep the fun going, with more than 30 Nintendo 3DS games total launching before the E3 Expo in early June.

“Seeing 3D visuals without the need for special glasses is just one aspect of Nintendo 3DS,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The real test of any system is whether the games and applications draw you in and keep you engaged. Through the launch window and beyond, Nintendo 3DS delivers.”

On March 27, new Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to choose from the following Nintendo-published games, each available at a suggested retail price of $39.99:

• Pilotwings Resort™, an aerial adventure featuring airplanes, hang gliders and rocket belts. Players soar above tropical Wuhu Island in 3D as they complete missions or snap pictures.
• Steel Diver™, a submarine game that involves strategy and combat. The 3D visuals give players the sensation that they are looking into a miniature aquarium as they control the sub’s speed, depth and pitch, and fire torpedoes.
• nintendogs™ + cats, a game that lets players interact with realistic puppies – and kittens – in a variety of fun ways. There are three versions of the software, each with different starting breeds: French bulldog, toy poodle and golden retriever. But in each version players can unlock and enjoy more than 20 different breeds.

Other Nintendo 3DS games in the works for 2011 from Nintendo include The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Kid Icarus™: Uprising and a new installment in the Mario Kart™ series.

Third-party publishers also have a strong slate of games ready to go on March 27. These include:

• Super Street Fighter® IV 3D Edition from CAPCOM
• The Sims™ 3 from EA
• Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
• LEGO® Star Wars® III: The Clone Wars™ from LucasArts™
• RIDGE RACER® 3D from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
• Super Monkey Ball™ 3D from SEGA
• BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE™ from Square-Enix, Inc.
• SAMURAI WARRIORS®: Chronicles from TECMO KOEI AMERICA Corp.
• Asphalt™ 3D from UBISOFT
• Combat of Giants™: Dinosaurs 3D from UBISOFT
• Rayman® 3D from UBISOFT
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Shadow Wars from UBISOFT

Nintendo 3DS also comes pre-loaded with a variety of fun games, applications and features, such as the Nintendo 3DS camera, which can be used to take photos in 2D and 3D as well as be used in other games and applications. For instance, the built-in Face Raiders™ game asks users to shoot at funny depictions of their own photographed faces, while the Mii Maker™ application lets gamers use the camera to take a picture of a person and have an automatic Mii™ character created. The system also comes with six AR Cards, which, when viewed through the outer cameras, bring to life fun and interesting animations and images. For example, when used with nintendogs + cats, users might see their puppies or kittens sitting on their coffee tables or in the palms of their hands. With Nintendo 3DS Sound, users can enjoy sound-manipulation tools or rock out with their Nintendo 3DS system while listening to their MP3 or AAC music files.

Nintendo 3DS is also able to play nearly every game in the massive Nintendo DS library, except those that require use of a secondary Game Boy™ Advance slot.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.5 billion video games and more than 577 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as 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, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: THIS PRESIDENTS DAY, MAKE AN EXECUTIVE DECISION TO DOWNLOAD NEW GAMES

Feb. 21, 2011

Not everyone is cut out to be a president, but every Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ user must act as commander-in-chief of his or her own gaming republic. On this Presidents Day holiday, Nintendo recommends reaching across the aisle in the spirit of bipartisanship, creating harmony between new and classic titles, puzzle games and platformers, sprawling console adventures and crisp hand-held challenges. Start with the fantasy-fueled fun of Faxanadu, a memorable RPG from the NES™ era making its appearance on the Virtual Console™ service. Test your resolve even further with a demo version of the action-filled Rage of the Gladiator for the WiiWare™ service, available to download for zero Wii Points™. Most importantly, boost your diplomacy by sharing your favorite WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare™ game recommendations with friends and spreading fun throughout the 50 states and beyond.

Virtual Console

Faxanadu
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Tobacco
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: You are an adventurer who has just returned to his hometown, the Elf town of Eolis, at the base of the World Tree. You find the village in peril: The Elven water supply has dried up, monsters are causing chaos and the once-proud Tree is slowly wilting. Equipped with the last of the King’s money and the trust of the people, you set out to climb the World Tree, braving obstacles, fiends and dangers to discover the source of this corruption. Wield weapons and magic, get hints from townsfolk and experience a world of new environments as you ascend to the top of the world.

WiiWare

Jewel Keepers: Easter Island
Publisher: Nordcurrent
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: One day, world-renowned Easter Island expert Professor “H” received a strange letter from the capital city of Hanga Roa. It was a cry for help from an unknown person, saying that something bad was happening on the island. Without hesitation, the Professor, his assistant Joel and his granddaughter Ivie rushed to the island, where many puzzles, mysteries and quests awaited them. Can you help him to reveal the greatest secret of Easter Island?

Cozy Fire
Publisher: dtp young entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: We all long for a cozy open fire, particularly during the cold season. But not everyone is able to snuggle in front of a warming blaze. The WiiWare service opens the door for a fireplace to fill the room with a magical and cozy atmosphere. Select from a variety of logs and use the Wii Remote™ controller to stack them up. Next, light the virtual match and your home will soon be snug and glowing. Choose from six available fireplaces: fire alone, campfire, rustic, classic, elegant and Zen. Poke and tend the fire to keep it going. Add more logs to keep the fire burning, just like a real fire. Want to just sit back and relax? In Butler mode, new logs will be placed on the fire automatically, and the logs never burn down in Non-stop mode.

Rage of the Gladiator (demo version)
Publisher: Ghostfire Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood, Alcohol Reference, Violence
Price: 0 Wii Points; full version available for 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy-based fighting game in which you must fight for your life in the arena. Prove yourself by conquering all opponents. Features include: amazing 3D graphics, animation, lighting, shadows and special effects. With full voice acting, each boss has its own personality and taunts you mercilessly. Use insane finishing moves – summon a fiery meteor or a savage tornado, or transform into a hulking colossus 10 times your size. Customize your character and specialize in skill trees – Offense, Defense or Magic – to gain new powers. Enjoy masterpieces of blood-pumping music by legendary composer Sean Beeson. Beat the game to unlock Challenge Mode, where bosses are much tougher. The game also supports the Wii MotionPlus™ accessory.

Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1 (demo version)
Publisher: Lexis Numérique
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: EC (Early Childhood)
Price: 0 Wii Points; full version available for 500 Wii Points
Description: Welcome to the first fun, poetic brain-trainer for children aged 3 to 6. With the PooYoos, a merry band of adorable baby animals, children will have fun while learning development basics like numbers, letters, lateralization, shapes and colors. Children get to dance with their new friends and receive lovely interactive rewards. There are two levels of interactivity, so any child can play. This game has been designed for use by children who have not yet grasped reading.

Note: Some demo versions do not support all game features, and players cannot save their in-game progress in demo versions.

Nintendo DSiWare

G.G Series DRIFT CIRCUIT
Publisher: Genterprise Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Use your drifting technique to gracefully slide past the competition. Steering around corners lowers your speed, so it’s all about choosing the best course line and being able to use your drifting skills with precision. At the start of each three-lap race, conditions for winning will be displayed. After that, it’s up to you and your speed-demon prowess to drift through the Grand Prix and steal first place. Choose between EASY, NORMAL and HARD difficulty levels – perfect for beginners and advanced racers alike.

Arctic Escape
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Take control of a bunch of penguins that are always getting into all sorts of trouble. A cunning scientist abducted them from Antarctica, and now they need your help to get back home. Lead them safely through more than 100 frosty levels by using commands such as walking, jumping and waiting. Guide them to avoid broken ice areas, falling cages, wolves and other dangerous obstacles. This special top-down-view puzzle game is easy to pick up but impossible to put down.

Remote Racers
Publisher: QubicGames
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Select one of eight vehicles: Speeder, Monster, Candy, Dozer, Tank, Stunt, Mantis and Rocket. Race against AI or the clock on 15 great tracks. Jump in the garden, drift through the cellar, ride on the beach and dive in the ocean. Use power-ups and transform your vehicle to gain an advantage over your opponents. Complete 32 challenges in eight Championships.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

PlayStation 3 “Demon’s Souls” – $14.99

Currently on sale at NewEgg.com for $14.99 (including free shipping) is Atlus’ “Demon’s Souls” for the PlayStation 3.   A Japanese RPG released in the US from Atlus and one of their best selling video game for the PS3, earning a “Greatest Hits” designation.

Description of the Game:

Beautiful, compelling, and unforgiving, Demon’s Souls is the hardcore RPG experience PLAYSTATION 3 system owners have been waiting for since the platform’s launch, delivering revolutionary online interconnectivity that serves in every instance to enhance the single-player game.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NINTENDO OFFERS A FLURRY OF DOWNLOADABLE FUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND

Dec. 13, 2010

At this time of year, it’s especially important to find a store that truly offers something for everyone. Luckily for Nintendo fans, both the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop boast a huge variety of downloadable games to satisfy every taste, size and experience level. Best of all, these online stores are open 24 hours a day and remain consistently free of big crowds and parking headaches. New additions to the WiiWare™ service this week include lilt line, an award-winning rhythm game that combines racing thrills with an irresistible soundtrack (there’s even a demo version you can download for zero Wii Points™). Meanwhile, Family Games™ delivers eight family-friendly gaming favorites straight to your Wii console, while fans of classic sci-fi shooters will rejoice to find the Super NES™ gem DARIUS TWIN on the Virtual Console™ service. And for something completely different, new arrivals on the Nintendo DSiWare™ service include Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ, a wild action title that invites players to ring in the season by fighting off a spooky supernatural threat. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or for yourself, check out these and hundreds of other games from the comfort of home.

WiiWare

lilt line
Publisher: Gaijin Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points; demo version available for 0 Wii Points
Description: lilt line is an award-winning rhythm racing game with a dubstep soundtrack and a visual aesthetic that will confound your senses and rock your soul. Control the silky-smooth rhythm line and do your best to stay on the track as you race to the finish, tapping the button to the beat of the catchy soundtrack by genre superstars 16bit. With 15 levels of intense musical racing, it’s a game that has to be experienced to be believed.

Note: Some demo versions do not support all game features, and players cannot save their in-game progress in demo versions.

Family Games
Publisher: Icon Games Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Family Games is a collection of timeless pen-and-paper games for the whole family. Games include Squares (Dots), Nine Men’s Morris (Mill), Safe Cracker, Matchsticks, Noughts & Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe), 4 In-A-Row, BattleFleet and Hangman. Numerous rule sets and game variations offer many ways to play. Up to four players can compete in Tournament mode. There are also 20 special achievements to unlock.

Violin Paradise
Publisher: KEYSTONE GAME STUDIO
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: Violin Paradise is designed for up to four people to enjoy (additional controllers sold separately). Players can choose to be a conductor, violinist, violist or cellist as they perform some of the most beautiful classical pieces in history. The game includes a micro-orchestra, which helps players feel the enjoyment of a group performance. The game environment changes dynamically and can be enriched with more objects if you play successfully.

Virtual Console

DARIUS TWIN
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Taito
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: For countless millennia, the space tyrant Belser and his cosmic marauders have terrorized this once-peaceful galaxy. No sector remains safe from these stellar mercenaries and their evil empire. The Galactic Federation has finally called on two of its ace pilots and their sleek Silver Hawk warships to do battle with Belser’s malicious metal menaces and reclaim their beloved planet Darius. Climb into the pilot’s seat for a solo mission against Belser’s forces or engage the enemy with a fellow Federation pilot in a simultaneous two-player team attack. The future of the galaxy depends on the success of this perilous quest.

Nintendo DSiWare

Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ
Publisher: Gammick Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Can you save Fairytale Land? Or will you let its creatures live unhappily ever after? Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ is a fun shooter in which you must advance by shooting down every living (or dying) creature in your path! Use the great arsenal of weapons at your disposal to destroy hordes of savage zombies.

Jam Space: PocketStudio
Publisher: HB Studios
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Jam Space: PocketStudio for the Nintendo DSi system puts the power of a recording studio in your pocket. You can compose tracks, jot down ideas and be musical no matter where you are. Choose from two modes. Quick Jam mode allows you to lay down tracks quickly and easily using natural instrument interfaces. This is a great mode if you’ve got a little melody you want to record and want to get it down quickly. Studio mode gives you access to a full-featured MIDI editor that lets you tweak and hone your compositions to a professional level. If you want to dig deep and really work on that masterpiece, this is the mode for you.

Just SING! Christmas Songs
Publisher: Engine Software
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get ready for a Christmas karaoke party where you are the star! Famous holiday tunes, including “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night”, are waiting for you. Dressed up as jolly Santa Claus, you enter a stage covered in snow and sing into the built-in microphone on your Nintendo DSi to create a magical Christmas mood. While singing, you’ll receive feedback. Did you hit all the right notes and sing in time? Compare your high score with previous singers, or just sing to your holiday heart’s content.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED ON NINTENDO DSI SYSTEMS

Oct. 4, 2010

From Samus Aran to Princess Zelda™, Nintendo® consoles have played host to some of the most memorable female characters in video game history. This week, a different breed of heroine makes her eagerly anticipated splash on the Nintendo DSiWare™ service. Shantae: Risky’s Revenge finds the famous “half-genie” Shantae using her wits and her belly-dancing prowess in a wild new adventure that players can carry with them everywhere they go. You’ll also find new additions to the WiiWare™ and Virtual Console™ services that offer more ways than ever to download a fresh dose of fun directly to your Nintendo game system.

Nintendo DSiWare

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge
Publisher: WayForward
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence, Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: The sequel to the critically acclaimed Shantae is here! Fans asked, and WayForward has answered with a powder keg of high-octane, hair-whipping, hip-shaking action available only on the Nintendo DSiWare service. Shantae: Risky’s Revenge sets the bar even higher with thousands of frames of animation, huge multi-sprite bosses and a quest so big it’s bursting at the seams. Guide “half-genie” Shantae through haunted wastelands, burning deserts, enchanted forests, dripping caverns and deadly labyrinths. Discover magical attacks, brew zombie coffee, save golden babies and master the art of belly dancing to transform Shantae into more powerful creatures. Use your powers to foil the lady pirate Risky Boots and save Sequin Land from certain doom. With its infectious characters, flirtatious humor and deliciously outlandish action, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge offers up all the hair-whipping, belly-dancing action you can handle.

Rummikub
Publisher: Games Factory Online
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: For more than 50 years, players have loved Rummikub for its combination of tactical thinking, luck and tense competition. In this new edition for the Nintendo DSiWare service, combine the tiles to create the smartest combinations and play with friends who have their own copy of Rummikub. You can also pit your wits against the computer in single-player mode at various difficulty settings. Collect all the medals Rummikub has to offer and become the world champion.

WiiWare

Racers’ Islands – Crazy Racers
Publisher: ZALLAG
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Six drivers are competing on a popular TV show: an English lord, a dangerous beauty from Russia, a Mexican desperado, an eccentric Frenchman, a Japanese prodigy and an American bulldozer. Whichever driver you choose, you’ll have to drive and shoot simultaneously to be the first to cross the finish line. The game includes 20 different races and six thematic islands styled to look like a big amusement park. Unique game play lets you drive with one hand while aiming with the other. Discover tons of content like new items, trophies and time trials.

Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 3
Publisher: Lexis Numérique
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: EC (Early Childhood)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Welcome to the world of the PooYoos, the first fun poetic brain-trainer for children ages 3 to 6. With the PooYoos, a merry band of adorable baby animals, children will have fun while learning basic development concepts such as numbers, letters, lateralization, shapes and colors. Children get to dance with their new friends and earn lovely interactive rewards. With two levels of interactivity, children can play activities based on plants and music. This game has been designed for use by children who have not yet grasped reading. The instructions are spoken in French, English or Spanish, depending on the language setting of your Wii™ console.

Virtual Console

FATAL FURY 3: ROAD TO THE FINAL VICTORY
Original platform: NEOGEO
Publisher: D4 Enterprise
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: Originally released in 1995, this is the fourth title in the Fatal Fury series of beat-’em-up games. Previous releases in the series used a two-plane battle system allowing you to move and fight between the foreground and background. This game features a three-plane format – foreground, background and main plane – known as the Oversway System. Characters will automatically move back to the main line after a certain period of time in the foreground or background planes. Other new features include Combination Arts (the ability to execute combo attacks with simple rhythmic button taps), Hidden Abilities (superior versions of the popular Special Moves and Super Special Moves from previous installments) and minor tweaks to all of the characters’ Special Moves. As a result, this installment offers the deepest strategies and tactics in the Fatal Fury series to date.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi™ Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

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