NINTENDO DS GAMES SUMMARY

News by GamesIndustry.biz Contributor

Published on Jan. 27, 2005

The launch of the Nintendo DS in the UK will be supported by 15 software titles when it launches on 11 March 2005. On top of first party titles Super Mario 64 DS, Polarium, WarioWare Touched! and Pokémon Dash, the Nintendo DS launch will be supported by 10 titles from the world's top independent publishers including EA, Activision, Sega, Ubisoft and Namco.

Super Mario 64 DS (NINTENDO)

Nintendo's genre defining N64 classic Super Mario 64 is back and better than ever before. Taking advantage of the Nintendo DS's unique features, gamers can control the game using the touch screen and enjoy wireless gameplay. Mario makes his Nintendo DS debut in this fast paced platform adventure and this time the fearless plumber has help in the form of Luigi, Yoshi and Wario. He must collect 150 Power Stars scattered in and around the grounds of Princess Peach's castle with one quest; to save the princess from the clutches of Bowser. Super Mario 64 DS features glorious 3D worlds with complex puzzles and obstacles to overcome. This version features new levels, extra stars, 36 touch-screen minigames and 4 player wireless multiplayer. This enables four players to download and play the game from a single game card.

WarioWare Touched! (NINTENDO)

Wario and friends are back in the latest instalment of minigame madness, this time with a totally unique Nintendo DS twist. Over 180 all-new games await you inside! New characters and challenges are unlocked by successfully completing sets of games. Each game has its own unique control method making players draw, tap, rub and blow on their DS in order to win. With over 12 characters to unlock and a huge selection of souvenirs to collect this game will keep even the most hardcore gamer busy for hours.

Pokémon Dash (NINTENDO)

The world's most famous and much loved character is back and this time it's on the Nintendo DS. Pikachu and friends make their touch-screen debut in Nintendo's innovative racing title Pokémon Dash. Players must race through over 25 courses with varying cups and difficulty levels, to be crowned as the champion. Pokémon Dash is controlled with the touch-screen, players rub in the direction they want Pikachu to run. As well as a six player wireless multiplayer mode and the first appearances of all new Pokémon, Game Boy Advance Pokémon games like Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen can be used to unlock over 380 extra courses.

Polarium (NINTENDO)

Strain your brain with the most addictive puzzle game released for years. Polarium (called Chokkan Hitofude in Japan) is a block based puzzle game where you use the stylus to draw a stroke, flipping black and white tiles to change and match their colours. Three game modes and scores of puzzles will put even the most talented gamers puzzle-solving abilities to the test. Two players can duel using the Nintendo DS wireless connection.

Project Rub (SEGA)

FALL WEIRDLY, WONDERFULLY IN RUB LOVE...

Welcome to the utterly weird world of Project Rub, the insanely addictive game where you'll have to flick, blow, poke, stroke and rub your way into your girl's affections. With 30 increasingly bizarre love matches, from poking balls to vomiting goldfish, you'll have to use the power of touch, voice and even your breath to bring the game to its climax.

The URBZ: Sims in the City (EA)

Welcome to Miniopolis! A bustling city filled with interesting characters and exciting locations. The Urbz lets you create your very own Urb and guide them through everyday life. Your decisions and the way you interact with other characters affects your Urb's 2 life. Eat, sleep, work or go out. What you do in the Urbz is totally up to you, but remember it is like real life. Stuff doesn't come for free and without rest your Urb will suffer. Exclusive DS mini-games added to help you earn extra cash and to fully utilise the touch screen.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR^® (EA)

Tee off with the world's number one selling golf franchise. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR^® lets you create your own unique golfer and take on golf's premier tour. As well as custom characters Tiger Woods and seven other world famous PGA TOUR^® golfers such as Jack Nicklaus and Vijay Singh are selectable in stroke play. This game features eight courses and multiple game modes. The touch screen is fully utilised to select all options before taking a shot. Players then use the screen to control their characters stroke, giving this game an ultra realistic feel. Wireless multiplayer is available for up to four players.

Mr. DRILLER: Drill Spirits (Namco)

Puzzle fans of all ages are sure to dig Namco's cute puzzle game. Travel the world in search of your fellow drillers as you scramble to reach air capsules, rush to avoid falling blocks and race to unlock extra characters in a pulse-pounding, puzzle-solving frenzy. Four different modes and dozens of stages are available to keep players coming back for more. Up to five players can compete in the wireless Driller Race mode, with both single-card and multi-card play.

Spider-Man 2^TM (Activision)

Based on last summer's blockbuster feature film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel, Spider-Man 2^TM for the Nintendo DS leverages the new system's processing power and dual-screens to deliver an entirely new game play experience. Players assume the role of the most celebrated super-hero of all time and re-live the movie experience through all new missions featuring unique enemies, objectives and combat maneuvers. Utilising the touch screen and new controller layout, players can quickly swing, run, jump, solve puzzles, engage in combat and switch to an arsenal of moves on the fly, while patrolling and protecting the city of Manhattan from the nefarious Doc Ock.

Rayman DS (Ubisoft)

Hand-held platform adventures have never looked so good! Ubisoft's hugely popular Rayman makes his Nintendo DS debut with a bang. The fearless Rayman must travel through gorgeous 3D worlds defeating the pirate terror and collecting Lums. This game features over 45 intricately designed areas including deep waterfalls, sea caves and pirate hideouts. Benefit fully from the Touch Screen by controlling Rayman with the stylus or your finger and challenge your friends in exclusive wireless multiplayer.

Asphalt Urban GT (Gameloft/Ubisoft)

Simulation and arcade racing come together in this fast paced racing title. Outstanding 3D graphics accentuated by realistic engine sounds and music make this one of the most exciting racers of the year. Use prize money to buy one of 20 officially licensed cars and then tweak them to your personal taste. Nine tracks inspired by real cities and five game play modes will keep you busy for weeks. Up to four players can wirelessly race against each other or team up to take on Championship mode.

Sprung^TM: The Dating Game (Gameloft/Ubisoft)

Dating has never been so much fun! This dating game invites you to meet, flirt and date different characters dotted throughout the game. You choose the path your character takes by their behaviour towards people they meet. In Sprung you have total freedom to try and say anything you like, with funny dialogue, realistic characters and a broad range of adventures to experience. Two gender specific adventures allow for relevant experiences throughout more than 50 dating missions. Sprung: The Dating Game will available from launch in the UK, The Netherlands and Scandinavia.

Zoo Keeper (Ignition)

Ignition Entertainment is giving their highly addictive puzzle game Zoo Keeper a touch-screen twist. Players use their stylus to match up groups of three or more animals in order to capture them. With five different play modes to choose from gamers will be happily tapping away for months to come. Nintendo DS download play even lets you share the fun with a friend for free.

Robots (Vivendi)

Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios, makers of the hit animated feature Ice Age, have teamed up again to create another spectacular universe: Robots. In the Robots video game, published by Vivendi Universal Games, players will be able to explore the Robots' vast environment, playing as the film's hero Rodney Copperbottom, a young genius inventor who dreams of making the world a better place. The innovative touchscreen feature of the Nintendo DS is essential to gameplay, allowing players to successfully navigate a mechanical metropolis of moving gears and winding parts, while trying to stop an evil tyrant from taking over the Robots' world.

Ping Pals^TM (THQ)

Standing out from the crowd has never been so easy! Design and personalise your very own unique character by choosing from literally thousands of items. Ping Pals lets you buy items, play mini-games and trade with your friends in a quest to earn Coins and create the ultimate Ping Pal. Up to 8 players can simultaneously chat and play games with only a single copy of the game!

The Nintendo DS will launch in the UK on 11 March 2005 at the estimated retail price of around £99. Software will be available at selected retailers at the estimated retail price of around £29 and £19, depending on the specific title.

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For further information please contact Simon Watts or Stephanie Moses at the Nintendo press office on 020 7307 3103 or register on the Nintendo Extranet www.nintendo-europe-media.com.

About Nintendo

Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario^® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda^® and Pokémon*. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 170 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

NINTENDO DS SPEC SHEET

European Launch Date: 11 March 2005 (£99.99)

Size (when closed): 148.7mm (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7mm (3.33 inches) long, 28.9mm (1.13 inches) tall

Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT colour LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colours

Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent touch screen

Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card

Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice input, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons

Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy Advance Game cartridges, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone

Other features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm

CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7

Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software

Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter

Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese

Colour: Silver and black

-Ends-

For further information please contact Simon Watts or Stephanie Moses at the Nintendo press office on 020 7307 3103 or register on the Nintendo Extranet www.nintendo-europe-media.com.

About Nintendo

Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario^® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda^® and Pokémonÿ. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 170 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

THE NINTENDO HISTORY OF HANDHELD

Nintendo have done it again! They have consistently revolutionised the world of gaming with innovative hardware and software - and the Nintendo DS is no exception! The Nintendo DS incorporates advanced touch-screen technology, with breathtaking 3D graphics, all in a sleek silver clamshell design, and is set to take the world by storm.

"The Nintendo DS will change the future of hand-held gaming"

Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Nintendo takes a look at its history of handheld gaming to mark the launch of the latest console, the Nintendo DS.

1980

The Nintendo Game & Watch series takes off and becomes the most successful of the LCD games

1980s

Throughout the 1980's the handheld market continued to grow and build on the initial success of the Game & Watch series. Game after game continued to launch to astounding success. Games including Donkey Kong JR and Donkey Kong 3 were particular favourites

1989

The 'birth' of Game Boy and a revolution in the gaming market. The Game Boy was the only hand held video games system that had success around the world and still keeps Nintendo as the leader in the hand held market

1996

Game Boy Pocket launched. With Silver casing the Pocket Game Boy was 30% smaller than the original Game Boy, with a bigger screen, and improved LCD technology giving a sharper picture

1998

Game Boy Color launched with a colour LCD screen across Europe and Japan

Game Boy Camera and Game Boy Printer launched. Enabled the Game Boy to act as a mini digital camera, with built in software to modify the pictures and a mini-movies maker

1999

The Pokémon Franchise launches in Europe with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. The franchise becomes a worldwide success and the largest video game franchise ever. By the end of 2004, over 130 million Pokémon games had been sold worldwide.

2000

Nintendo ships its 100 millionth Game Boy system worldwide

2001

Launch of the Game Boy Advance in Europe which sold 500,000 units in the first week

European Game Boy Advance launch colours are announced as Purple, Clear Blue, White and Clear Red

European launch of the Game Boy Color Pokémon Special Edition Pak

2002

Game Boy Advance Black console launched on 12th April in Europe to celebrate the simultaneous release of the Nintendo classic, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

Platinum Game Boy Advance hit the shelves in Europe

Total number of Game Boy, including Game Boy Advance, games sold worldwide to date is over 700 million

2003

Game Boy Advance SP launched in Europe

400,000 Game Boy Advance SP shipped to Europe in first weekend

2 million Game Boy Advance SP sold in Europe in 6 months from launch

2004

Nintendo launched the Game Boy Advance SP Tribal Edition

Nintendo launched the Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Edition

Nintendo launched the Pink Game Boy Advance SP

The Game Boy Advance Wireless Adaptor, a first for Game Boy Advance, allowing wireless game play

Nintendo launched the Nintendo DS in North America and sold more than 500,000 units in the first week

Nintendo launches the Nintendo DS in Japan and sales exceed half a million in just four days

By the end of 2004, over 50 million Game Boys have been sold across Europe, and of this, almost 14 million own a Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP.

2005

11 March - Nintendo DS launches and is set to take Europe by storm after selling 2.8 million units in US and Japan by the end of 2004

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For further information please contact Simon Watts or Stephanie Moses at the Nintendo press office on 020 7307 3103 or register on the Nintendo Extranet www.nintendo-europe-media.com.

About Nintendo:

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