Monthly Archives: October 2009

The just-announced DSiLL will release in Europe in the first quarter of next year, Nintendo just confirmed to VG247.

Here’s the statement, sent by a UK rep:

“Nintendo today confirms that a new Nintendo DSi XL console is launching in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The retail price of the Nintendo DSi XL is expected to be higher than that of the Nintendo DSi. Further details will be released soon.”

Nintendo said today that DSiLL, a big-screen upgrade, will release in Japan on November 21 with a 4.2 inch display and a ¥20,000 (US$220) price tag.

Wii sold 5.75 million units in the six months ending September 30, Nintendo said today, taking the machine’s life-to-date total to 56.14 million.

Over 76 million software units were sold in the same period. Life-to-date Wii software now stands at 429.23 million units.

Nintendo announced six monthly financials this morning, showing heavy drops in both revenue and profit.

DS, in all its revisions, has now sold over 113 million units worldwide, Nintendo said today.

The machine moved 11.7 million consoles in the six months ending September 30.

Over 71 million DS games were sold in this period, taking the life-to-date software total to 638 million.

Nintendo today announced DSiLL for a November 21 Japanese ship.

The company announced six monthly financials this morning, showing heavy drops in both revenue and profit.

Nintendo’s six months ending September 30 saw the company suffer a 35 percent drop in revenue and a 59 percent cut in profit.

Revenue fell from to 548.06 billion yen from 836.88 billion in the same period last year.

Operating profit was down from 252.18 billion yen in the first half of 2008 to 104.36 billion yen this year.

The company is now forecasting 1.5 trillion yen sales for its March year-end. Projected Wii sales have been moved down to 20 million units from 26 million, with Wii software now expected to be 180 million, down from 220 million.

The full-year DS hardware estimate has remained the same at 30 million, but DS software sales are now expected to be 150 million, not 180 million.

Get the full thing here.

Having this morning announced its big-screen DSiLL, Nintendo’s posted up a page comparing all the physical specs of its three non-brick DS models – get it here.

Pull the slider up and down on the right to see how they all size up.

Nintendo said this morning that DSiLL will ship in Japan on November 21, replete with a 4.2 inch screen and a ¥20,000 (US$220) price tag.

Nintendo just posted the first comparison image of the two styli that’ll ship with DSiLL, the now-announced big-screen DSi, in Japan on November 21.

The longer “touch pen” is 129.3mm long, Nintendo said today. The shorter stylus is 96mm. Fancy.

DSiLL features 4.2 inch screen and will cost of ¥20,000 (US$220).

Nintendo’s just put its DSiLL site live – see here.

There’s a screen comparison section there, as well as lots of information in Japanese about the machine’s pre-loaded games, menus, and so on.

The big-screen DSi has now been announced for a November 21 release in Japan, and will sport a 4.2 inch screen for a cost of ¥20,000 (US$220).

Nintendo Japan’s just confirmed that a big-screen version of DSi will launch next month in Japan and in the first quarter of next year in Europe.

The DSi LL will feature a 4.2 inch screen and is to be sold at ¥20,000 (US$220).

It’s out on November 21 in Japan.

The upgrade is designed to help those that want to use the machine for internet viewing and a music player.

It’ll be bundled with two touch pens: one short and one long, and comes will three DSiWare titles pre-installed: two brain training games and DS Easy Dictionary.

It’ll be available in Dark Brown, Wine Red and Natural White.

Still waiting for a US date.

Thanks, Kotaku. Get first images here.

• Update 1 – DSiLL home site launched, old and new screens compared
• Update 2 – DSiLL styli pictured: one’s fat, one’s thin
• Update 3 – DSiLL, DSi and DS Lite dimensions compared

Update – Stewart told us this morning the game’s actually out in December.

Just Add Water boss Stewart Gilray said at the EG Expo yesterday that PSN-only vector-graphics shooter Gravity Crash is to release in November.

That’s the European date, apparently, with a Japanese release happening soon after.

Thanks, PS3Center.

Sounds as though the grand experiment may be switching off a few lights. PlayStation Home director Pete Edwards admitted at the London Games Conference this week that the online PS3 world doesn’t have “priority” status any more.

“It’s been a long road,” he said.

“We’ve proved there is a market out there and we’ve got a lot of people that spend a lot of time in [Home]. It’s not a priority right now but there is a business model there.”

Edwards said at Develop this year that European users spend an average of 56 minutes in Home per session.

Thanks, Edge.

Siliconera sends word of a casting call for an upcoming Final Fantasy XIII ad that, among other things, will dramatically unveil the game’s North American release date.

The ad, which is getting off the ground at LA-based ad agency Liz Paulson Casting, will end with a camera pan and a release date, according to the casting call.

There’ll also be new footage and a “never before seen look at Final Fantasy XIII,” apparently. Something for everyone, it would seem.

We fully expect to see the launch date trailer for Final Fantasy XIV the day before FFXIII’s launch date is ready for its close-up.

We’re joking. Hopefully.

Is that a squad of Navy Seals in your pocket, or are you just happy to see us? Oh, you say SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 on the PSP’s been delayed until January 12, 2010? Hm. Well, this is awkward.

“It’s looking and playing great…some high value visual assets have only recently been made available to global marketing and we have decided to move the release and allow time to get the word out to everyone,” said senior producer Mark Rogers on the PlayStation Blog.

“I understand that this move is disappointing to some in the community, however as a result, you will be seeing a lot more of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 in the following weeks! – stay tuned.”

So that’s that.

As promised, the Left 4 Dead 2 PC demo is live. Or at least, as live as something primarily concerning the undead masses can be.

Remember, though – preorderers only. If you’re still on the fence about Valve’s brain-munching sequel, you’ll have to wait until November 3 to get off it.

Ok. We’re pretty much done saying stuff now. Go play the game. After all, ’tis the season.

Epic Mickey was originally in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, Warren Spector told Official Nintendo Magazine.

“The reality is that we started Wii development in 2008, but before that we were a PC, PS3, and 360 title,” said Spector. “It’s burned in my brain – Graham Hopper [Disney Interactive boss] pulled me into my office one day and said ‘What does it take to deliver on the goals we have for this product? And I said, well, you need enough time and enough money to be competitive. And it’d be awfully nice if we could focus on one platform.

“At that time we were talking about a Wii port and I was begging people – no, we can’t just port to the Wii, it’s not going to work. It needs to be its own game. A lot of the design ideas just won’t work on the Wii, we need to give the Wii its dues. Graham looked at me and said ‘What do you think about a Wii exclusive?’ And I went ‘Holy cow – yeah!’

“They walked away from three other platforms – no other publisher on the planet would have done that. It was a magic moment for me. No-one has even mentioned other formats since that point.”

Interesting. Hit the link for the rest, and since you are slapping links around head on over to CVG for some more new screens – just in case you didn’t get enough with ours.

Tucked away on page 13 of the manual for GTA IV: Episodes from Liberty City, owners will find a fake advertisement that possibly hints at the location of the next game in the series.

Who knows with the folks at Rockstar. They are your typical prom night tease.

At any rate, the advert says: Liberty City, It’s Over! Next Stop …. something Seagull. The corner of the advert is intentionally ripped with what looks like countryside.

Nice one there.

It does say “opens March everywhere” as well, so who knows what that mean – if anything – or if it even pertains to the same thing. Bah. We’re confused now, so we’ll stop.

More through GTA4.net.

Netflix has confirmed that all PS3 users who request a disc for the streaming service will get one come Novemeber.

Speaking with Joystiq, Netflix vice president Steve Swasey said that there will be no disc shortages, as it as “produced enough discs” with distribution centers currently hoarding units until the ship date.

While the company is still working out distribution details, customers will receive the red envelope as fast as it normally takes for a Netflix rental to hit their doorstep.

Also, since there isn’t a “VIP list or special circumstance list”, everyone should get it around the same time.

Netflix also confirmed that PS3 service will be similar to the Xbox 360 service, which outputs 720p and stereo sound.

More through the link.

Paradox Interactive has released Privateer, the downloadable expansion pack for East India Company, and to celebrate, Steam has the original game up for 60 percent off the normal price.

Sale ends on November 2, but until then it will cost you $11.99 instead of $29.99 and includes the Director’s Cut update for free.

The new Privateer expansion adds two campaigns among other new features and is available for $9.99 on Steam.

Hit the link.

Platinum Games has released a developer diary featuring Hideki Kamiya and Yusuke Hashimoto discussing the backstory for Bayonetta.

Apparently, the witch has lost her memory one the battle withe angels begins, but as the game progresses she regains it and it is up to the player to find the mysteries surrounding her past.

Also mentioned was the creative license the designers were given with enemies, weapons, and the ability to customize Bayonetta.

It is never mentioned why her head looks smaller compared to the rest of her body, but that is not what matters. What matters is that the game looks badass, and will hopefully play that way as well.

Video is past the break, game’s out early 2010.

More »

Those interested in purchasing “District 9″ on Blu-ray when it comes out December 29 will get a surprise in the form of a God of War 3 demo.

“Blu-ray functionality has long been a differentiator that separates the PS3 from other home entertainment systems,” said SCEA’s Peter Dille in the press release. “Through this collaboration with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment we’re able to create a unique experience only available on the PS3 system that blends two of the most popular entertainment options available, watching ‘District 9′ and playing ‘God of War 3′ off the same disc.”

The God of War Collection will be released in the US next month, so this gives people a different demo opportunity should they decide not to purchase the game disc.

No word on whether the demo would be included with “District 9″ disc across the pond, but we’ll ask for you.

Press release is below.

More »

Those expecting anything other than both versions of Halo 3, Call of Duty: WaW, Modern Warfare and Gears 2 to be in the top five for games played over Xbox Live last week are living in a dream world.

If you ever decide to let tourists visit, let us know and we’ll stop by sometime.

Live Titles

1. Halo 3
2. Call of Duty 4
3. Call of Duty: WaW
4. Halo 3: ODST
5. Gears of War 2
6. FIFA 10
7. Madden NFL 10
8. GTA IV
9. Borderlands
10. Left 4 Dead

Arcade Titles

1. Trials HD
2. SOUTH PARK LET’S GO TOWER DEFENSE PLAY!
3. Tower Bloxx Deluxe
4. Zombie Apocalypse
5. Panzer General Allied Assault
6. Battlefield 1943
7. Hasbro Family Game Night
8. Magic: The Gathering
9. Castle Crashers
10. Shadow Complex

Original and Indie titles are after the break, courtesy of the Major.

More »