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Tag Archives: Nintendo

Upcoming DSiWare Title Features Motion-Controlled Interactive 3D Dioramas

By Andrew Liszewski on 02/28/10 • 2 Comments

I have no idea what this game is called since the page on Nintendo.co.jp is made up of images (hence Google translate is useless) but an upcoming Japanese DSiWare title features a clever system of motion-controlled 3D dioramas that allow you to change the view’s perspective by tilting the DSi. It’s actually kind of hard to explain, so I recommend watching the video above to really get the gist of the game’s mechanics.

But here’s the really slick part. The DSi doesn’t have motion controls or a built-in gyro, and since this game will be available for download via the DSiWare online store, that functionality won’t be added through a cartridge. So I have to assume the DSi’s camera is being used to track the person playing the game, and 3D motion is being extrapolated from that. Looking at the video it’s not as flawless as it would be with dedicated hardware, but it’s still pretty impressive. So here’s to hoping the game eventually becomes available in North America and the rest of the world.

Update: According to Kotaku the game is called Rittai Kakushi e Attakoreda and is actually available now for download.

Upcoming DSiWare Title Features 3D Interactive Diorama (Image courtesy Nintendo)

[ Nintendo.co.jp ] VIA [ MAXCONSOLE ]

Game Boy Advance Turned Into An iPhone Case

By Andrew Liszewski on 01/20/10 • 3 Comments

Game Boy Advance iPhone Case (Images courtesy Goteking)
By Andrew Liszewski

Nintendo fans might want to skip this mod because it requires sacrificing a Game Boy Advance, but since you couldn’t really see the LCD display on the original non-backlit model anyways, this seems like a far better use for the housing. The mod doesn’t require much in the way of electronics capabilities, short of removing screws and various bits of circuitry, but ‘Goteking‘ who created this bit of hackery did manage to stash the iPhone’s sync cable in the GBA’s battery compartment for easy access. And thanks to some clever alignment the ‘B’ button on the GBA can actually be used to press the iPhone’s ‘Home’ button.

[ Goteking - Stupid iPhone Case ] VIA [ ALBOTAS ]

Use The DSi’s Camera To Star In Your Own Mortal Kombat With Photo Fighter X

By Andrew Liszewski on 12/22/09 • 4 Comments

By Andrew Liszewski

I think everyone has a favorite character from Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter they’d play with more than others, but what makes Fight With Photos: Photo Fighter X for the Nintendo DSi better than both of those titles is the fact that your favorite character could be you.

The DSiware title uses the DSi’s built-in camera to capture photos of you in various poses to build your character, as well as random objects that can be used as weapons or backdrops for your epic brawl. You can even do your own foley work creating custom sound effects for every action using the DSi’s built-in mic. Now since it’s a DSiware title that will cost just 200 points, don’t expect an in-depth game, but for originality it seems like a must-have. Just check out this amazing game play action if you have any doubts.

Photo Fighter X is available in Japan as of the 16th, and hopefully gamers in the US, Europe and elsewhere will eventually get their own localized version.

[ Fight With Photos: Photo Fighter X ] VIA [ andriasang ]

Nintendo Officially Announces The DSi LL/XL

By Andrew Liszewski on 10/29/09 • 9 Comments

Nintendo DSi LL/XL (Image courtesy GoNintendo)
By Andrew Liszewski

So it turns out that ‘speculation’ about a newer, larger screened DSi was bang on, as Nintendo officially announced a new version of their dual-screened console this morning. The DSi LL will be available in Japan on November 21st for about $220, and will later be renamed the DSi XL for the Europe market when it’s available there in Q1 of 2010. As for availability in North America? Currently unknown.

The biggest improvement on the LL/XL is the 4.2 inch screens, a full inch larger than the ones the DSi sports. It’s also claimed to have about 1 to 3 hours more battery life than the DSi depending on screen brightness, but since the new model is considerably larger and about 50% heavier than the DSi, there’s plenty of space for a larger battery. And in addition to the standard DS stylus, the DSi LL/XL also appears to come with a larger “touch pen” that’s 4cm longer and considerably more ergonomic than the built-in one.

[ Nintendo DSi LL/XL ] VIA [ GoNintendo ]

Mario. Naked. Your Childhood Memories Tainted Forever.

By David Ponce on 10/29/09 • 11 Comments

mario-naked

By David Ponce

What else can be said about this, other than I’ve enjoyed ruining your childhood now that mine has been.

Remember: it cannot be unseen!

VIA [ Geekologie ]

Nintendo Announces Black Wiimote Bundle

By Andrew Liszewski on 09/01/09 • 4 Comments

Black Wiimote Bundle (Image courtesy Nintendo)
By Andrew Liszewski

Throughout their lifespans the Nintendo 64 and the Gamecube came in a variety of different colors, and if I remember correctly, the Cube was even available in black or purple right at launch. But the Wii has been a different story. Since it launched everyone has had to settle for a white console, though that limitation clearly hasn’t had much impact on its sales. But there is hope that the Wii might eventually get a splash of color.

Today Nintendo announced a black Wiimote bundle that will be available this holiday season. The bundle includes a black Wiimote, black Wii Jacket and a black version of the Wii MotionPlus dongle, but if you want a matching black Nunchuck, you’ll have to buy that separately. There’s still no black version of the Wii coming to North America mind you, but this is a step in the right direction.

[ Joystiq - Nintendo announces new Wiimote, DSi colors for North America ]

AI Playing Super Mario Bros. – Dude, This is FAST!

By David Ponce on 08/06/09 • Leave a comment!

By David Ponce

There’s a competition going on right now, in association with the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Games Innovation Conference 2009 and the IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Games where you can win up to $500 for submitting an artificial intelligence controller that plays Super Mario Bros. Not the original version of the game mind you, oh no, but Infinite Mario Bros., an “all-Java tribute to the Nintendo’s seminal Super Mario Bros game, with the added benefit of endless random level generation.”

There’s already some pretty impressive progress being made and the video you see here can’t really be described with an adjective any weaker than “freaking insane”. Just watch it, it’s worth it. And if you’re into developing artificial intelligence algorithms, why not enter?

[ Competition Homepage ] VIA [ Crunchgear ]

Nintendo Mini Classics

By Andrew Liszewski on 08/04/09 • Leave a comment!

Nintendo Mini Classics (Images courtesy Firebox.com)
By Andrew Liszewski

Don’t fret too much if you missed out on that complete Nintendo Game & Watch collection auction we posted last week. Not only did you save yourself 11 grand, but it turns out Nintendo has actually re-released some of the more popular G&W titles, but smaller! These Mini Classics include Mario’s Cement Factory, Donkey Kong Junior and Super Mario Bros. but are now small enough to fit on a keychain. They also include basic clock and alarm functions and have a retractable stand in the back allowing them to be used as a desktop clock if for some reason your PC/cellphone/watch have all stopped telling the time. $16 each from Firebox.com.

[ Nintendo Mini Classics ] VIA [ Newlaunches.com ]

Namco’s Upcoming ‘Easy Piano’ Game For The DS To Feature Piano Accessory

By Andrew Liszewski on 07/31/09 • Leave a comment!

Namco Easy Piano (Images courtesy Casualgaming.biz and MCV)
By Andrew Liszewski

I think we’ve all grudgingly accepted that the Wii is a magnet for crappy gaming accessories, but the DS? The little dual-screen handheld that could? It’s almost painful to see the ridiculous types of add-ons game designers have created that essentially negate the DS’s portability. So what’s next you might ask? Well Namco Bandai have a new piano learning title called Easy Piano that comes with an eight note full-octave keyboard peripheral allowing newcomers to play along with various tutorials.

More advanced pianists will be able to play classics from Mozart and Beethoven or more modern fare like Bohemian Rhapsody and Jingle Bells. And there’s also a create mode that will record up to three minutes of a performance so you can show others why that ridiculous keyboard peripheral was actually a good investment.

Easy Piano should be available in “PAL territories” this November for an undisclosed sum.

[ Casualgaming.biz - Namco unveils DS piano title ] VIA [ MAXCONSOLE ]

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