Tag: Japan - Page 72
News River City Ransom 2 Gives WiiWare a Wallop this Summer
Beat it
Last week we shared news that River City Ransom 2 had been announced, but at the time it was still up in the air whether the game would come to WiiWare. Will it? Won't it? It will, says Miracle Kidz. Andriasang pegs the game for a release on WiiWare this summer, though that's likely to be a Japanese release only at this stage, so don't...
News Chrono Trigger is Coming to Virtual Console in Japan
Will the Western world follow?
It's one of the most requested games for Virtual Console: Square's Super NES classic Chrono Trigger, but its chances of coming to the Wii's download services in North America and Europe just got a bit of a boost as the game is coming to Japanese Virtual Console next month. In its native country the game would retail...
Rumour Using Piracy Devices May Disable Your 3DS
So don't do it
Nintendo has spoken before about the strong anti-piracy measures in 3DS, but there's been little more specific said. Now a rumour has surfaced that using a flash cartridge or similar device will actually render the console useless through a firmware update. A rough translation of a poster outside Japanese retailer Enterking reveals...
News Japanese Gamers Have Bought Plenty of Consoles Already
All gone?
Saturday saw the Japanese release of the Nintendo 3DS, and predictably the console sold extremely well, with newspaper Nikkei (via Andriasang) reporting the initial shipment of 400,000 units of the machine have all sold out across the country. Shop shelves shouldn't be bare for too long though, with Nintendo promising to deliver a total of...
News Cast Envious Eyes at Japanese Gamers Buying their 3DS Today
Go on, give 'em a scowl
Today's the day: Nintendo's new handheld, the 3DS, is officially available to buy for the first time in Japan, for ¥25,000 (around $305 / £190 / €220). Kotaku reports the majority of Tokyo stores sold out of their stocks all-but immediately, and has put together a short video below showing some of the sights of the first...
News Last Story Tops the Japanese Sales Charts
Is there hope for a localisation?
While Nintendo may not have any concrete localisation plans to announce with regards to Japanese RPG Last Story, but the news it's shot to the top of the all-format charts in its home country can't do its chances of heading Westward any harm. In its first week on sale the game shifted 114,722 copies, according to...
Rumour The D in DSi May Soon Stand for "Discontinued"
From two screens to zero
Nintendo has already announced plans to continue to support the DS once the 3DS is released. Some disquieting information from a Japanese retailer, however, suggests that the Big N is already discontinuing one popular incarnation, the DSi, which hit store shelves there in fall of 2008. The source states that the Nintendo DSi...
News Wii Balance Board Gets its First Horror Title Next Year
From Marvelous Entertainment, surprisingly
Fitness, physiotherapy, monkeys: that's largely the array of gaming styles you can play with the Wii Balance Board, but Marvelous Entertainment is about to introduce the horror genre to the board's repertoire with next year's Ikenie no Yoru, or Night of the Sacrifice. Players will be using the Wii Remote...
News Japanese Retailer Sells Wii & Entire Games Catalogue Dirt Cheap
Although some will be second hand copies
Ever wondered what it would be like to own a console and every single game available for that system? Sankei News has reported that Japanese retailer Enterking will be making that a reality for someone as part of the fukubukuro tradition this New Year's. Fukubukuro is a custom in Japan where retailers offer...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Smashes 4 Million Units Block in Japan
Now the country's biggest seller
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a global sales sensation, having racked up over 16 million sales worldwide since its release just one year ago, with four million of those sales in Japan alone, making it the territory's biggest selling Wii title. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first title to pass the four million...
News We Want Skinless Mr Science to Reach the Western World
DS's oddest game ever
You don't need to have a very vivid imagination to guess what a skinless chap named Mr Science might look like, and you'd probably be right. Japanese TV show Tobidase! Kagaku-kun features the muscular man going on adventures and teaching kids about science, the perfect basis for a DS game, of course. Roughly translated as Fly...
News Japanese Public Get to Play the 3DS at Nintendo World 2011
Might a similar demo event be planned for the West?
With the 3DS only months away from release, Nintendo of Japan has announced its upcoming Nintendo World 2011 event where members of the public can finally get their hands on the handheld system and see the wonder machine in all its glory. The Japanese site has launched and reveals the demo event...
News Take a Stroll Through Miyamoto's DSiWare Audio Guide
Free app for Japan
Based on his previous games, Shigeru Miyamoto's first DSiWare application could have been a handy guide for finding a local plumber, gardener or dog-walker, but instead it's a handy tool for creating and listening audio guides for museums, journeys and almost anything else. A free download available in Japan today, Make It...
News Nintendo's DS Line Out-Sells Competition in Mid-October
Gotta buy 'em all!
Japanese shoppers are still snapping up Nintendo's portable hardware more than any other range of systems as sales figures for the week ending 17th October shows the various DS models are top of the pile. Although Sony's PSP sold the most on an individual basis with 37,127 units, a total of 47,101 units of the Nintendo DS and all...
News Harvest Moon and Little King's Story Creators Join Grasshopper
Suda51, Kimura and Wada create new dream team
Goichi Suda's Grasshopper Manufacture should need no introduction to fans of Japanese gaming: its No More Heroes series has attracted plenty of praise from gamers across the world. Former Marvelous Entertainment men Yasuhiro Wada and Yoshiro Kimura, while not necessarily such familiar names, have both...
News Japanese 3DS Surveys Reveal Awareness Low, Price Too High
Not a winning combination
There's just four months until the 3DS lands on Japanese shores, so you'd expect the excitement to be mounting in the Land of the Rising Sun. Two surveys have uncovered intriguing information however, which may not be good news for Nintendo. The first survey by Macromill polled 1,000 people, with 56% responding to say they...
News How Nintendo Manufactured the Famicom on the Cheap
Recently revealed report hints at Scrooge-like attitude
As we all know, the Nintendo Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES, in case you were wondering) was pretty damn successful back in the day. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to state that the machine practically created the modern console market - certainly in Japan, at least. Nintendo...
News Japan Receives Red Wii in Honour of Mario's 25th
Super special limited edition on the way
Nintendo already announced a limited edition red DSi XL to celebrate Mario's anniversary, but it's also put together a very special edition Wii console for Japan only. Not only is the Wii itself in the plumber's favourite hue of red, the Wii Remote is one of the new Wii Remote Plus designs containing...
News Capcom's Okamiden Limps to Retail in Japan
DS sequel lags behind PS2 and Wii versions in day one sales
We're absolute suckers for cute animals here at Nintendo Life so the high expectations we hold for Capcom's DS title Okamiden are entirely understandable - it's just a shame that Japan doesn't seem to feel the same way. First-day sales figures for the Okami sequel suggest that only 10,000...
News Nintendo Predicts 4 Million 3DS Units to Sell in Debut Month
That's Nintendo with its conservative hat on
It's all very well showering us with release dates and pricing (well, for Japan anyway) and the trailers and screenshots certainly don't do any harm, but how well does Nintendo think the 3DS will perform sales-wise? Nintendo is predicting the 3DS to shift more than 4 million units by the end of the...
News Nintendo of Japan Shows Off Upcoming DS Games
New Kirby title and more (now with video!)
As part of its recent conference, Nintendo's released screen shots of six upcoming DS titles including a new Kirby adventure, a Pokémon typing-based game and the next entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, Mini-Land Mayhem. There are some friendly dogs and fearsome dinos to see as well, not to mention...
News Nintendo of Japan Showcases Wii Line-up in New Video
Includes footage of (presumably) a new Rhythm Heaven game
As part of their recent conference, Nintendo of Japan's just released a video showcasing some hotly anticipated games in the upcoming Japanese Wii line-up. Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to Super Mario Collection Special Pack and Mar
News Japan Receives Red DSi XL in Honour of Mario's 25th Anniversary
Limited edition console on the way
Yes, it's the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and even the most ardent plumbing fan might be getting just a little fed-up of the fanfare. Just show that person this upcoming Mario edition DSi XL and watch their face light up again, though. Released in Japan on October 28th, the machine is of course in...
News Nintendo Japan Humbly Attending to Metroid: Other M Bug Fix
No word on other territories yet
There's a serious bug in Metroid: Other M that requires gamers who encounter it to restart their game from the beginning, unless they've been saving in multiple slots along the way. Nintendo of Japan is the first company out of the blocks to arrange for those unlucky souls to receive help. Affected Japanese gamers...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Named Game of the Year in CESA Awards
Top Japanese designers give Mario the nod
New Super Mario Bros. Wii was Nintendo's big Christmas hit of 2009, sweeping all before it in a multi-coloured wave of shells, fire flowers and multiplayer rage. It wasn't just a big hit with consumers though, netting a range of awards, the latest being the Grand Award from Japan's Computer Entertainment...
News Super Mario Collection Special Pack Revealed
Game details, box art, promo video and more
We've been bringing you all the news regarding the enticing yet vague announcement of the Japan-exclusive Super Mario Collection Special Pack, including a posting from an online retailer somewhat obliquely detailing its contents. Now comes the definitive announc
News You'll be Shocked by Japan's Most Wanted 3DS Franchises
Better sit down
We all want 3DS, and we all know the games we want to see on the system, but what do our gaming counterparts in Japan want to play? If you said "Square Enix RPGs", you just scored five points. Japanese site 4gamer surveyed over 20,000 gamers to find out which title – announced or otherwise – they were most excited...
News Pikachu Wants to Charge Your DSi Console with Love
But where is it plugged in?
Pikachu's been in the licensing business for a long time, so he knows what he's doing: stand here, smile please, hold this. You'd think he'd get tired, but no: witness the love he's showing this DSi as he charges its battery using only smiles and electricity. Launching in Japan on September 18th – the same day as...
News Get Ready for a Story Mode Full of New Pokemon in Black & White
And there'll be no old monsters until you've finished
Video chat, three-on-three battles and a brand new graphical style are just some of the surprises awaiting folks who plan to pick up the new Pokémon Black & White, out in Ja
News Here's a Pokemon Black & White Video Chat Video For You
And another mysterious beast revealed
A few weeks ago we brought you news that video chat could be coming to Pokémon Black & White for DSi and 3DS owners. Now the feature's been confirmed, with its television debut on the Pokémon Sunday show, and it seems you can even draw on your friends' faces using the touchscreen for some on-the-fly facial...
News Grasshopper Podcast Gives You the Inside Scoop
Webcast from deep within GhM
You may remember a few months ago Japanese developer Grasshopper Manufacture hosted a live webcast in celebration of the European release of No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. It seems the show was successful, as the studio's new weekly audio podcast started last Friday. Hosts Esteban Salazar and John Davis will be...
News Mario Enters the Shuffle with Nintendo Playing Cards
Super paper Mario
In recent years, we've seen video game companies harken to their histories with such successful releases as New Super Mario Bros., Mega Man 9 and the Virtual Console itself. Always one to outdo themselves and the competition, Nintendo's set to top all of these by returning to what started it in the first place: playing cards. While...
News DSi XL Brightens Up with Three New Colours
Blue, yellow and green to reach Japan
With its enormous screens and somewhat muted colour palette, the DSi XL is very much aimed at the more distinguished gamer. What about a slightly brighter take on the portable, though? Well, Japan is about to get the first wave of new colours for the XL as these pictures show. Sticking to simple blue, yellow and...
News Man Who Sold Modded Wiis Was In It for the Money
Not a story from The Onion, we promise
It may not be a huge deal but Japanese police have arrested a 52-year old man for selling modified Wii consoles and copied games after he made over £20,000 (about $28,000) selling the units over a two-year period. Selling the consoles for around ¥32,000 – ¥12,000 more than a standard Wii – the man...
News Hiroshi Yamauchi Gives Millions to Cancer Treatment Hospital
Former Nintendo president opens new centre in Kyoto
Under the fifty-year reign of Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo went from a tiny company to the multi-billion pound giant we know today, so it's no surprise to hear Mr Yamauchi is still pretty well-off when it comes to cash. He's not buying solid gold race cars and diamond-encrusted TVs though: he's...
News Nintendo's Next Winning DSiWare Combination: Monkeys and Music
Mickey Dolenz not included
This one may have got lost in the recent maelstrom of financial reports and Kirby sightings, but a new DSiWare game featuring monkeys playing instruments deserves your full attention. Titled Make and Sing: Monkey Band, it's a pseudo-music creation game that writes songs for you based on certain themes and musical styles...
News Nintendo's 2010 Release Schedule is Predictably Vague
Zelda, Golden Sun for 2010, Famicom Wars DS 2 and Kirby there too
Some of the recent doom and gloom surrounding Nintendo's recent and projected sales results may have put some fans in a melancholic state, but the company's upcoming release schedule should provide a welcome bit of optimism, though as always it's tempered with calls for caution. Big...
News Sales Charts, Meet Your Future King: Wii Party
Marquee game coming sometime before March 2011
In a presentation to investors this week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata filled in the blank for the next marquee "Wii ____" game with the word "Party." As the next entry in the barn-burning series – whose previous games include million-sellers Wii Sports and its follow up Resort,...
News Unreal Famicom Games are... Well, Unreal
Famicase project shows off 2010 line-up
The humble Famicom cartridge may not seem like the perfect canvas on which to create art, but every year Japanese game shop Meter hosts Famicase, a project aiming to prove just the opposite. Artists are asked to create artwork for a fictitious game and display it on a Famicom cart, and predictably the results...
News Japan to Cool Off with Mario and Animal Crossing Fans
Club Nintendo Japan gets all the cool stuff - literally
While the rest of the world can satisfy itself with tiny cards and Wii Remote baskets, Japan just got an item to once again pique the rest of the world's envy – Mario and Animal Crossing themed handheld fans for 150 coins a pop at their local Club Nintendo. This is especially distressing news...
News Only 8.8% of Japanese Consumers Want to Buy a 3DS
The next Virtual Boy?
Though Nintendo hasn't released much information on the system itself, a recent survey of 1,059 consumers by Japanese goo Research shows that only 8.8% want to buy Nintendo's next handheld, while 55.8% are interested in it and 35.3% don't want it at all. Perhaps once the system is debuted at this year's E3 as anticipated,...
News Nintendo's Room Migration Kit Makes it Even Easier to Move a Wii
Free yourself from the hassle of carrying cables
Although the Wii is meant to be a great living room experience for all the family, sometimes you just want to smuggle it away to a shady corner and indulge in some private gaming time. The only downside is unplugging all the myriad cables and setting it up again though, right? Here comes Nintendo with...
News Google Teams Up with Nintendo to Release Search Engine-Based Game
The world furrows its collective brow
Google is the type of company that makes people feel like their best friends are in charge. They even joke around with their users, playing a creative April Fool's joke on them annually. Lately, though, it seems that Google's gone a little screwy (Buzz, anyone?). And their big April Fool's prank this year was to...
News It's Tough at the Top for Nintendo
Japanese newspaper reveals the strain of being number one
Nintendo's consoles are massive sellers and the company is arguably more successful now than it has ever been, but at what cost? Japanese newspaper Nikkei Sangyou Shimbun has given a brief insight into the strain of being the best of the best. Apparently Nintendo's employees have been under...
News Nintendo's 3DS Announcement Wasn't Supposed to Happen Like That
Analyst: early reveal was meant to prevent further leaks
When a company announces new hardware, especially the successor to a massively popular one, it's usually done with much more pomp than what happened with Nintendo's recent 3DS announcement. The fanfare of the two-sentence press release was only slightly less than if Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata...
First Impressions Pinball Attack!
Pinball and shooters: two tastes that go great together
ArtePiazza is better recognised for its work on RPGs like Enix's Dragon Quest series and more recently Koei's Wii RPG Opoona, so it's interesting that their freshman effort on DSiWare is a marriage of video pinball and shooter called Pinball Attack! There are currently no other pinball games on...
News Final Fantasy Creator Working on Last Story for Wii
Nintendo trademark is for a new Mistwalker RPG
Remember that mystifying trademark that Nintendo registered a while back? Turns out it's not the subtitle of the next Mario adventure (as we half-jokingly predicted) but an RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi. Nintendo has confirmed the launch of a new Web site dedicated to the...
News Japan to Get Wii Budget Range
Rest of the world left waiting
Nintendo of Japan have finally introduced the "Minna no Osusume Collection" (or, for us English-speaking folk, the "Everyone's Recommendation Collection"), a range of re-released Wii titles to combat the 360 Classics and PS3 Platinum range. Titles with high user rankings from the Japanese Nintendo...
News Two More WiiWare Demos for Lucky Japan
Phoenix Wright and Pokémon for Japanese Wiis
It appears that Nintendo are continuing to back the new WiiWare demo service, as they have added two new titles: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aim! Light Adventure Team and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Although different in nature, both titles offer a massive amount of entertainment, whether it be rescuing...
Japanese researchers recreate Mario in a petri dish.
Evidentally, Japanese science folk at nanobiological laboratories of the University of Osaka got bored whilst solving real problems and decided to do something significantly more light-hearted to cheer us all up. Here we present Fungus Mario in all his fluorescent glory! Those Osaka University...
