Konami announces Suikoden: Tierkreis

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced that Suikoden: Tierkreis, the latest episode of the celebrated Suikoden series, will be exclusively for the Nintendo DS. Including a variety of different characters while exploring many exotic and beautiful locations and cultures across the game’s universe of different worlds, Suikoden: Tierkreis will expand the bounds of the handheld role playing games. Featuring the franchise’s established gameplay while maximizing the technological capabilities of the DS to provide all-new online elements, this epic RPG contains of many cinematic experiences that will drive the grand storyline of the 108 Stars of Destiny as they battle to thwart the powerful One King.
Read the full story on IGN.

Two New Nintendo DS Bundles

Just in time for the holidays, Nintendo releases two new DS bundles. One bundle features a gold colored DS and comes with Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Also, a metallic rose colored DS is available and comes with the Best Friends version of Nintendogs.

The Nintendo DS is sure to be on more than a few Christmas lists this year. With two new bundles, it gives those buying a DS a few more options.

Zelda is always popular with fans, and the gold colored case with the Zelda logo do make this a must-have fanboy item. Nintendogs is the flagship game for the DS that is very popular with kids, especially girls. Sporting a rose color with a metallic finish should be a hit with boy and girls alike.

Brain Age 2

Does your brain need exercise? It does and now it can get even more with Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day. Brain Age 2 is available for the Nintendo DS and is the sequel to the highly addicting Brain Age.

In Brain Age, you are presented with various questions and puzzles to solve usually dealing with reading, math, or spelling. After taking a sample of tests, your brain age is displayed. Age 20 is the best Brain Age to achieve. Don’t be surprised if your first brain age is in the 70s. With a few days or practice, that age will fall dramatically.

Brain Age 2 features new puzzles to test your brain. Players will use the stylist to answer questions while holding the DS like a book so the dual screens are side by side.

Brain Age is based on the theories of neuroscientist Dr. Kawashima. Some of the puzzle games included in Brain Age 2 include:

Rock, Paper, Scissors: Speak the symbol that beats the one on the screen. Players may be asked to lose as well as win.

Change Maker: Touch coins and bills with the stylus to make correct change.

Piano Player: Play notes on a keyboard as the cursor scrolls over the sheet music.

Brain Age 2 retails for $19.99.

The Nintendo BS

You’ve all seen the Nintendo DS but someone with a sense of humor made the Nintendo BS. This has been around for a few years, but I still have friends who have never seen it, so here it is The BS. More than anything else it’s pretty fun and makes a lot of people say “I’d like to them them fold it up”. I however think that if the nerds got beat up before, wait until somebody sees them with this thing. =)

Battles of Prince of Persia

Ah, Prince of Persia…The very first game I played on PC, when I still was a happy camper in junior high and would be in awe in front of those computers I could only use at friends’, during afternoons of gaming. Still a nice, nice memory.

The game has evolved a lot since then, and according to Gamespot, UbiSoft now releases some information on the upcoming Battles of Prince of Persia game for DS:

Battles of Prince of Persia will stray from the franchise’s traditional acrobatic action and take a mellower path. Battles will be a turn-based strategy game with a card system. Cards are acquired by progressing through the single-player campaign, and they can be used in competition or traded with friends through the wireless multiplayer support.

The story takes place between the plots of The Sands of Time and its sequel, Warrior Within. The prince unwittingly unleashes a great evil, spurring a war between Persia and India. Gamers will be able to play as nine different generals leading their respective armies on their various conquests for power.

Myself, I’m really not fond of “cards stuff”, but as usual with games, this will be of interest to more than one.

Lunar Comes To DS

GamesAreFun.com had previously reported that Lunar: Dragon Song was being developed for Nintendo DS:

According to the translation, the game is set to take place 1,000 years before Lunar: Silver Star Story. Players will assume the role of Gien Campbell, a 15 year-old who works in a harbor city. He will be accompanied by Lucia Collins (a 14 year-old magician), and Gabriel Ryan (who can absorb and reflect enemy attacks).

More info has now been added, notably regarding the players’ ability to use the microphone in order to directly give commands during combat, as well as release dates for the game: Lunar: Dragon Song is slated for U.S. release this September, a European release sometime in the 3rd quarter, and a Japanese release on August 25th.

The full article, along with screenshots and sketch artwork, is available here.

C - O - N - Spiracy

Our theory: Capcom’s bringing Johnnie Cochran back to life as a video game the same way OCP turned Officer Murphy into Robocop. Sound far fetched? Eat us.

Whatever the case, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (not to be confused with Harvey Bridman: Attorney at Law) is Capcom’s upcoming “lawyer adventure” for the Nintendo DS, as if the portable didn’t have an obscure enough library of games already:

Assuming the role of the intuitive Phoenix Wright, players will conduct interviews, question witnesses, and gather evidence in a series of court cases. Each possible answer by the witness allows for Wright to pose more questions about their motives in an attempt to attempt to unravel the truth.

Capcom’s Lawyer Game Comes to the DS [MODOJO.com]

Big Apple, Meet The Big N

Just when you thought Times Square had rid itself of freaks and losers, Nintendo comes along and builds its “World Store” in midtown, guaranteed to bring them back.

Planned for a spring opening in New York City’s Rockefeller Center, the two-story mega-complex will showcase the best of Nintendo, the worldwide leader in interactive entertainment. [It] will be a place where visitors can check out the best new and unreleased games for Nintendo DS(TM), Nintendo GameCube(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance SP at high-end sampling bars and interactive stations.

Upcoming Nintendo World Store in NYC Gives Nintendo and Pokemon Fans a New Home [WarCry Network]

Pierce Is Out, Sean Back In As 007

Despite amassing great wealth through his domination of such Celebrity Jeopardy categories as “The Rapists”, “Swords” and “Anal bum cover”, Sean Connery is going back to work as James Bond. The Scotsman will supply the voice and likeness for the skirt chasing (and usually catching) spy for EA’s From Russia With Love (based on MGM’s hit movie from 1963) due out this fall for the Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube. Sexy Hollywood Reporter reports.

He will be joined by other likenesses from the original cast of the film as the game will bring to life such characters as the original Q (Desmond Llewelyn), Donald “Red” Grant (Robert Shaw), Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), Kerim Bay (Pedro Armendariz) and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell). “As an artist, I see this as another way to explore the creative process,” Connery said. “Video games are an extremely popular form of entertainment today, and I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together.”

Connery back as Bond for EA’s ‘Russia’ [Hollywood Reporter]

Um, Should We Be Talking About This?

We don’t think it’s very politically correct, but Gamespot claims that “colored” (”collared,” if you’re on NBC’s “The Office”) Nintendo DS models have doubled sales in Japan.

Nintendo released its new Graphite Black and Pure White color models of the DS on March 24. The company will also be releasing two additional tinted models on April 21–Turquoise Blue and Candy Pink. New colors don’t mean a new price. The cost remains 15,000 yen ($139). Nintendo has not announced plans to release colored DS models in the US.

Something tells us the Red States won’t be as open to their teenage boys playing “Candy Pink” DS units as the Japanese. But we’ve been wrong before (psst! No we haven’t!).

Colored DS models double sales in Japan [GameSpot]

Nintendo DS Sales ‘Peak’

Kotaku reports:

Two twenty-somethings are on their way to becoming the youngest people in history to ascend the world’s tallest mountains on all seven continents—and they’re taking the Nintendo DS with them.

Just in case the lack of air causes the young climbers to pass out, Sherpas will be on hand to muscle through Yoshi Touch & Go.

Nintendo DS Makes Trek to Top of Everest [Kotaku]