The image above is supposedly beta art from the new Pokemon anime, but it’s legitamacy hasn’t been confirmed 100%. In the picture, a new bat Pokemon called Koromori (besides Jessie), the evolution of Tsutaja and Mijumaru, and a new Pokemon next to Iris are shown. That’s the only information we have now, though if it’s true, these Pokemon will probably be showing up in Black/White.
“Wii software sales were down 19% year-over-year and DS software sales were down 13%, while PS3 software sales were up 58% and Xbox 360 software sales were up 29%. We think this is remarkable, given growth in the Wii hardware installed base of 44% and growth in the DS installed base of 33% over the last 12 months. In contrast, the PS3 installed base is up 60% and the Xbox 360 installed base is up 32% over the same period. Software sales growth mirrored hardware unit growth for both the PS3 and Xbox 360, but sorely lagged hardware unit growth for the Wii and DS. In our view, this indicates that Nintendo’s customers either are not finding enough software to satisfy their needs, or need less software than the typical Sony or Microsoft customer…software attach rates for the Wii continue to decline, and publishers appear to be reluctant to support the console as broadly as the other two, notwithstanding its huge lead in installed base. We think that Nintendo will continue to dominate sales on its console, with its first-rate lineup of games, but fear that other publishers have prematurely abandoned the very large Wii audience, and see further year-over-year software sales declines for the Wii for the next several months. These declines will make year-over-year industry sales growth difficult to achieve.” – Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter
Right now, it’s tough being a third-party publisher that is looking to support the Wii. The fact of the matter is, a lot of titles just aren’t selling well. This year, for instance, only one third-party game – Just Dance – has made it into the top 10 in NPD sales.
Nintendo Wii
North America:
1. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner Bros.)
2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo)
3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo)
4. Just Dance (Ubisoft)
5. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
Japan:
1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo)
2. Xenoblade (Nintendo)
3. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
4. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
5. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo)
2. Dance on Broadway (Ubisoft)
3. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner Bros.)
4. Just Dance (Ubisoft)
5. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Nintendo)
Nintendo DS
North America:
1. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner Bros.)
2. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
3. Toy Story 3 (Disney)
4. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
5. 100 Classic Books (Nintendo)
Japan:
1. Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! Spark (Level 5)
2. Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! Bomber (Level 5)
3. Tokimeki Memorial Girls Side 3rd Story (Konami)
4. Love Plus+ (Konami)
5. Eigokoro Kyoushitsu DS (Nintendo)
UK:
1. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner Bros.)
2. Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (Nintendo)
3. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
4. Club Penguin: Herbert’s Revenge (Disney)
5. Pokemon HeartGold Version (Nintendo)
Director: “The feel and reverberation when you’ve played this game is probably the sense of ‘companion.’ After having seen everything through repeated test play, this is what always remains in the end.”
– Director believes game gives you this feeling since of connections it shows with your companions in other parts of the game besides the story
– Conversations might be related to the skill system
– You can have conversations with A partners within the “intervals” of realtime battles
– “Trivial” conversations when you’re on the move as well
– Director: “There exists drama even in battle”
– Producer says your comrades in the game talk a lot, including during battle and when on the move
– Producer: “You’ll hear conversations amongst your comrades in all sorts of situations.”
– Conversations will stay with you and help show the characters’ personalities/relationships
– Producer: “Players are surrounded in their comrades’ conversations.”
– Producer believes players will realize the warmth of being surrounded by friends when they’re alone
WiiWare
Jett Rocket (1000pts – Shin’en Multimedia)
VC
Ufouria: The Saga (500pts – Sunsoft)
DSiWare
Maestro! Green Groove (500pts – Neko Entertainment)
Prehistorik Man (800pts – Interplay)
Extreme Hangman (200pts – Gamelion Studios)
Ball Fighter (500pts – Teyon)
Puffins: Let’s Fish! (500pts – Other Ocean Interactive)
NINTENDO DS AND WII TOP U.S. VIDEO GAME HARDWARE SALES IN MAY
Nintendo’s video game systems again increased their lead versus other platforms in May, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks video game industry sales in the United States. The Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems took the top hardware spot with more than 383,000 sold, with sales representing more than 86 percent of all hand-held gaming platform units sold during the month. Nintendo’s Wii™ home console followed at No. 2 with more than 334,000 sold.
Four of the top 10 best-selling games of May play on Nintendo systems. These include Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 at No. 3 with more than 563,000 sold, New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii at No. 6 with more than 183,000 sold, Wii Fit Plus with the Wii Balance Board at No. 7 with more than 161,000 sold and Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version at No. 8 with more than 141,000 sold.
