A trademark for Turnabout Prosecutor, registered by Capcom, has been discovered and points to a North American release. The official trademark name is Ace Attorney Investigations and has Miles Edgeworth and Detective Gumshoe using their detective skills to explore crime scenes/putting evidence together to solve cases. Turnabout Prosecutor will not ship until May in Japan. Seeing as how it took about ten months for Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney to receive localization, the game would not become available until at the end of the year in North America at the earliest.

Source

World’s Premier Motorcycle Racing Championship Game Crosses the Finish Line March 24th
SAN MATEO, Calif – March 24, 2009 – Capcom® a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today confirmed that MotoGP for the Wii™ home video game system will ship on March 24, 2009. This is the first officially licensed MotoGP title to be published for the Wii™ platform and comes as part of Capcom’s five year deal with Dorna Sports, providing exclusive rights to publish video games based on the world’s premier motorcycle championship across all hardware platforms.

MotoGP for Wii™ turns the Wii Remote™ into a virtual set of handlebars to deliver the definitive two-wheeled racing experience. Players are put at the center of the MotoGP experience by letting them join a team and compete alongside their sporting heroes in all three race classes – 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP. The game features a scaled and competitive AI which adjusts within limits to give a more enjoyable race experience on the lower levels but shows no mercy in the higher levels.

Read More

An Italian Nintendo press release suggests that Nintendo’s upcoming boxer title Punch-Out will make use of the Wii Balance Board. While using the Wii remote and nunchuck, players can throw punches, dodge blows, and weave. It’s a bit odd that Balance Board support was not mentioned in any other press release, but I can guarantee that that Italian release explicitly confirms that the game will have Balance Board support.

Source 1, Source 2

Disney Interactive Studios Announces Toy Story Mania!, Inspired by the Disney/Pixar Feature Film “Toy Story,” Exclusively for Wii™
Beloved “Toy Story” Characters and Theme Park Attraction Provide Backdrop for Family-Friendly Carnival-Style Video Game

BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Disney Interactive Studios today announced Toy Story Mania!, inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated feature “Toy Story,” will be released exclusively for the Wii™ home video game console this fall. Toy Story Mania! showcases an array of entertaining games based on the new Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions, while featuring the iconic characters and humor from the popular Disney/Pixar “Toy Story” franchise.

“The ‘Toy Story’ franchise is a fun, dynamic and heart-warming series containing characters and themes that connect with every age group,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Toy Story Mania! combines those popular elements with the unique antics of the new theme park attraction for the ultimate in family entertainment.”

Read More

Nintendo has told Eurogamer that a DSi Virtual Console-style service offering downloadable Game Boy and GBA games is “purely rumour and speculation”.

Nintendo has partially responded to the rumors that downloadable Game Boy/GBA titles will be heading to the DSi. The official word from the company is that this is all “purely rumor and speculation,” yet the service has apparently been announced for Japan.

Nintendo additionally want to clear up some misinformation. Game Boy and GBA titles cannot be played directly from an SD card, which does make sense – Not even the Wii offers a similar set up with the Virtual Console. More information about the DSi can be expected tomorrow, when Satoru Iwata takes the stage at the Game Developers Conference.

Source 1, Source 2

Marvelous and Ignition Bring the Darkness of LUX-PAIN for Nintendo DS™ To North America Today!

Glendale, CA – March 24, 2009 – Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a UTV Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, in conjunction with Marvelous Interactive Inc. and developer Killaware, announce that Lux-Pain for Nintendo DS™, the all-new text-based adventure game, is available in stores nationwide today!

Showcasing the work of hot Japanese animator Robin Kishiwada, whose credits include cover illustrations for Eureka Seven series, Lux-Pain features music composed by Kenji Ito, well-known for the music in SaGa, Mana, and Culdcept series’, and Yasuyuki Suzuki, of Operation Logic Bomb, Tail of the Sun, and Space Invaders Extreme fame.

Read More

Update: Added some more details – looks like Iwata will be announcing quite a few titles tomorrow (Thanks for the news tip, Jake)

Some information regarding Nintendo’s presence at GDC are available, including new game announcements, thanks to the IGN Nintendo Team (and 1UP). On the latest Nintendo Voice Chat podcast, it was stated that Punch-Out will finally be playable on the showfloor. Impressions of the game will be available sometime this week. The DSi and Excitebots: Trick Racing are likely to be at the event as well and the DSi itself is sure to be a focal point of Satoru Iwata’s hour-long speech. Strangely, members of the press will only be allowed to film the first five minutes of Mr. Iwata’s speech.

Update below comes from 1UP’s Sam Kennedy…

“I’d say Nintendo’s Iwata keynote is the one that you’ll really want to watch (Jeremy will be live blogging it tomorrow morning). I thought he was just going to be talking about Motion Plus and DSi, but it turns out he’s going to be announcing quite a few new games — for Wii, Wiiware, and Virtual Console (and this won’t just be Nintendo titles, but also third party stuff). I’ve already heard about a few of them (including one that makes me all giddy…I can’t wait for tomorrow now).”

GDC

– Doesn’t really start until Wednesday
– Iwata will have a keynote
– Can only film first 5 mins of the keynote

Punch-Out

– Playable at GDC
– Looks pretty good
– Almost a remake – what they want
– Disco Kid is a new character
– 13 fighters
– Will have multiplayer
– Looks like there are different moves for old characters
– 13 fighers doesn’t seem like too much
– They will have impressions on the game

Read More