This comes from the most recent Rare scribes mailbag we posted about a few days ago. This tidbit of information is worth mentioning, though:
“I don’t think it’s fair to assume that we’ve permanently quit DS development, but yes, we are focusing on other things at the moment. Natal is a pretty big deal and needs a lot of attention.”
Even though Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002, the company has produced content for Nintendo handhelds. I hope that we haven’t seen the last of Rare games for the DS, though. Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise, was an absolutely fantastic title and I’d like to see what else the developers could pull off on the system.
Famitsu has posted a listing of the best-selling games in Japan for September. The exact dates range from August 31 to September 27.
01. [NDS] Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver (Pokemon) – 2,067,609 / NEW
02. [NDS] Tomodachi Collection (Nintendo) – 320,767 / 1,156,103
03. [PS3] Tales of Vesperia (Bandai Namco Games) – 272,465 / NEW
04. [PS3] Kidou Senshi Gundam Senki (Bandai Namco Games) – 210,092 / NEW
05. [NDS] Dragon Quest IX: Hoshizora no Mamoribito (Square Enix) – 159,825 / 3,925,285
06. [PSP] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 4 (Konami) – 151,146 / NEW
07. [WII] Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo) – 144,499 / 1,194,491
08. [NDS] SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu – Goddess of Destiny (Square Enix) – 130,051 / NEW
09. [NDS] Love Plus (Konami) – 81,279 / NEW
10. [PSP] Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Tag Force 4 (Konami) – 66,352 / NEW
**ROCK BAND MEDIA ALERT** THE RACONTEURS MAKE ROCK BAND DEBUT, PLUS TRACKS FROM ALANIS MORISSETTE, ELECTRIC SIX AND FLOBOTS
Also, tracks from Green Day and Rush for Rock Band Unplugged!Guildford, UK. – 2nd October, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that The Raconteurs will make their Rock Band debut next week with a three pack of songs available for download in the Rock Band Music Store. A three pack of songs from Electric Six and additional tracks from Alanis Morissette and The Flobots will also be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™. Tracks from Green Day and Rush will also be available for download next week for Rock Band Unplugged on PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.
Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii
Nashville-based rockers The Raconteurs, composed of Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, will release three songs for Rock Band Oct. 6. “The Raconteurs Pack 01” features “Steady, As She Goes” from the group’s first album, Broken Boy Soldiers, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards; as well as “Many Shades of Black” and “Salute Your Solution,” from the group’s Grammy Award-winning second album, Consolers of the Lonely.
Dawn of Heroes (DS) – E10+
Vegas Party (Wii) – T
Famous (DS) – E
Final Fight 2 (Wii) – E10+
LEGO Rock Band (Wii) – E10+
Safecracker (DS0 – E
Fix It (Wii/DS) – E
Glacier 2 (Wii) – T
Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 (DS0 – E10+
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight (Wii) – T
Buck Fever (Wii) – T
Winter’s Tail (DS) – E
Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral (DS) – E
Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked (Wii) – E
Foto Frenzy (DS) – E
Fieldrunners (DSi) – E10+
PES 2010 (Wii) – E
Sled Shred featuring the Jamaican Bobsled Team (Wii) – E
Jakers! Let’s Explore (Wii) – E
Ball Fighter (DSi) – E
Alien Monster Bowling League (Wii) – E10+
The Oregon Trail (DSi) – E10+
Yoga (Wii) – E
International Karate + (Wii) – E10+
Thanks to Ross M for the news tip!
The word on the street is that Nintendo is set to hold a retailer briefing/conference this coming Thursday. But will there any significant revelations from the event?
The thing is, these types of conferences are fairly standard for Nintendo. Just about every month, the Big N participates in retailer meetings so that upcoming first and third-party games can be displayed. Most recently, the release dates for a few games (including Sin and Punishment 2) were announced at one of the conferences, but other than that, there was nothing too noteworthy shared.
Also, it was made publicly known in 2008 that there would be a “Fall Conference.” But unlike this year, that information was published about a month before the event took place.
Taking all of that into consideration, in addition to the fact that Nintendo’s Denise Kaigler told IGN that the company is “not planning to do another big summit for all media this year,” the possibility of a big conference on Thursday doesn’t seem entirely likely. However, Kaigler’s statement was somewhat ambiguous, therefore one has to wonder whether or not that includes Nintendo’s annual conference in Japan.
Right now, no one can say for sure what will happen on Thursday. Will this just be another simple retail meeting, or will it shape up to be an event filled to the brim with announcements? Well, we’ll find out for sure in just a matter of days.
Up to this point, the Wii has yet to see a traditional Final Fantasy game. Square Enix has been sticking with the Crystal Chronicles universe, which is considered to be more of a side story. In a recent video interview, Akitoshi Kawazu, producer of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, spoke about why Square Enix has gone in this direction on the Wii rather than the route that has been taken on the PS3/360.
“The Crystal Chronicles series is a more action-oriented game, with a little bit more movement in the gameplay itself, so we felt that the Wii was a very fitting console for that.”
I’m actually quite pleased that Square Enix has gone with the action route on Wii. I’m not a huge fan of the other Crystal Chronicles titles, but this is the most I’ve been excited for a Final Fantasy game in a long time.
Best Buy
The Conduit (Wii) – $39.99
EA Sports Active (Wii) – $49.99
Konami has actually done pretty well with reviving their retro franchises. It would be difficult to deny that Gradius Rebirth and Contra Rebirth are faithful entries in their respective series. The latest Rebirth title we know about is Castlevania, but we haven’t heard a word about it since its leaked ESRB rating.
That could change tomorrow, though. Latt Meone and Jeremy Parish – two editors over at 1UP – are teasing a retro revival reveal. Both have a similar message displayed on their Twitter accounts:
“We’re revealing a new Konami retro revival in Monday’s 1UP Cover.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Castlevania Rebirth will be showcased on 1UP tomorrow, but I’d say that it’s likely. After all, Nintendo did say that the game is supposedly releasing in Q3 2009.
Thanks to Jake for the news tip!
Game Info
Genre: Fitness/Activity
Available: 10/04/2009
Video: 16:9/480p
Audio: Stereo
Players: 1-2 (Depending on activity)
Nintendo Wi-Fi: None
ESRB: Everyone
With “Wii Fit Plus” Nintendo re-offers players a unique way to become active and introduce exercise with a gaming approach.
For owners of the original Wii Fit, Plus offers 15 *new* activities (some are new takes on older ones), 5 new balance tests, 3 new exercises in the Strength and Yoga categories and a lot of new improvements and additions overall.
