Check out this review of Electroplankton, with pictures and videos:

http://www.livejournal.com/community...432.html?nc=21


A new Wario game:



Can any of you guys explain ASH - Archaic Sealed Heat to me?

http://www.the-magicbox.com/0510/game051030e.shtml













It looks like some sort of interactive FMV or something.

Where can I get game cases to hold a single game. I have only been able to find the big ones that gba games and ds games. That wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so big. I want something more pocket friendly, besides I usually only bring one extra game anyway . I've been to eb, sam goody, fred meyers, and toys r us.

I'm thinking about importing some from japan but it seems odd that nobody has any on the shelf.

Did Phoenix Wright go OOP? None of the online sites have it anymore. Over at cheapassgamer they are talking about ebay copies going for $50+. I really hope it is just between printings.

I'm pretty sure it went OOP, which is what pushed me over the edge to finally buy the game, and I'm glad I did. I've heard they just stopped prouction of it since it wasn't doing that well at all.

Isn't this what happened to Lost In Blue also?

Anyway, check your locak Blockbuster Gamerush store. Most people have been having luck there (just like me).

EBgames.com still has Lost in Blue. At least they did at 3pm. I'm off to hunt for Phoenix tomorrow.

These are actual sales, not shipments. (As pointed out by Nintendo)

Wow, awesome. So that is 13 million sold in just over a year. How does this compare with the GBA, SP and PSP. Anyone know?

Great news for my favorite system that's getting 100% of my gaming time lately.

gamesindustry.biz
Daily Update
05/01/2006

When the Nintendo DS was shown to the public for the first time, both vocal fanboys and many media correspondents who should have known better were quick to dismiss it as large, clunky, ugly and most of all, a gimmick. It was viewed by many as a rushed and desperate attempt by Nintendo to claw back some attention from Sony's PSP; at best, a stopgap Virtual Boy style curiosity that would fill in the gap before the arrival of a "proper" new handheld platform, unofficially dubbed Game Boy Advance 2.

Right up to the launch of the device, analysts were down on its prospects, swayed - as they assumed consumers would be - by the power and shiny design of the PlayStation Portable. Even though journalists and analysts alike hedged their bets to some extent, the tone of their comments on the DS made it clear that they expected the PSP to do to the DS what the PlayStation had done to the N64.

Today, the final figures from the first year of the life of the Nintendo DS came in, and it would appear that a staggering 13 million people around the globe have disagreed with that assessment. In Japan, well over a million people bought a DS in December alone, and over a million units of the newly released Animal Crossing: Wild World flew off shelves in a fortnight. Here in Europe, where 3.5 million units of the console have been sold, Mario Kart DS has sold 800,000 copies since it was launched in November.

Even looking past the sales figures to simple critical reception, for many people compiling a list of their favourite games of the year, DS titles have flooded the top ten. Speaking from a personal perspective for a moment, this year would have been a far poorer one in gaming terms without the likes of Mario Kart DS, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Castlevania: Dawn of Souls and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan to brighten up every journey - be it to the other side of the planet or simply to the bathroom.

Put simply, 2005 has been the year of the Nintendo DS - and while in 2006 the handheld market is likely to be overshadowed in the headlines by the arrival of PlayStation 3 and Revolution, the software release schedule suggests that the best is yet to come for the DS.

Animal Crossing hasn't even been launched in Europe yet, and nor have either of Nintendo's "brain training" games, which have sold over a million units each in Japan. For the immense casual gaming market which Nintendo has cornered with the DS, there are more brain training games on the way, a range of travel phrasebooks which will speak selected phrases in foreign languages for you, and there's even talk of "Nintencats". For the more hardcore gamers, the likes of Metroid, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda and a new 2D Mario platformer are DS-bound.

All of this praise for the DS has a point; two, in fact. The first is that the DS provides perfect evidence for the argument that more innovation in videogaming will bring in new audiences. The second, perhaps more relevant, point is that the success of the DS needs to be put in context alongside the incredibly tough environment experienced by other platforms at retail last year. At a time when almost everything else was in decline, Nintendo's star rose - doing much to save the bottom lines of some retailers and perhaps even publishers in the process. It may be doing its utmost not to compete directly with Sony and Microsoft, but we cannot forget that Nintendo remains a potent force in the industry - and 2005 is perfect proof of that fact.


Chris

I was definitely a doubter when the DS was announced and even after playing some of the launch titles, but it is without a doubt my favorite gaming system right now. Since Animal Crossing came out I haven't touched my consoles and have barely even played GBA games. I have been totally absorbed by Animal Crossing, Mario and Luigi and Tony Hawk American Sk8land the past few weeks. Previous to that I spent a ton of time finishing Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Phoenix Wright, Trace Memory, Polarium, Meteos and even played some Wario Ware and Nintendogs.

The DS has destroyed all expectations I had for it in 2004. Can't wait for Electroplankton next week.

Struck out at every store looking for Phoenix Wright today. I really really hope this is just a temporary shortage.

probably better check eBay then.

Just jumped on the DS train last week. Wife bought me the Mario Kart bundle for Christmas, along with Animal Crossing. What a great little system.

I've owned a PSP since launch... and yet don't own a single game. There's nothing there that hold smy attention (though I've admittedly not gotten ahold of GTA yet) but I have to say I've gotten a lot more enjoyment out of this thing in a week.

Mario Kart is an incredibly immersive hand held experience... I love it. I'm not huge on the new Animal Crossing. I can't get used to the new interface, but I was a huge fan of the GC version. The wife loves it... so I've probably not given it a fair shake.

I plan on getting Mario and Luigi 2 soon, and probably Nintendogs.

I think that I saw Phoenix Wright at Target while I was searching for Animal Crossing. Don't know anything about that game though.

Because it is rare, I must go read reviews on it!

You don't need to read any reviews, just go on the word of mouth on this forum. The consensus is GET IT NOW!!!!!

but seriously, it's an awesome game if you love adventure games (like the old school PC kinds that they don't make anymore).

My wife loves it, I got it for her for XMas

I'm pooping out on Animal Crossing but that is because I averaged 5 hours a day... I've put in about 30 hours. Meteos is still a fun pick-me-up. Mario & Luigi is too hard for me, so I plan on swapping it. Still have to get into Trace Memory and Phoenix Wright, and I'm in the middle of XX:XY. Then there's Polarium and Elektroplankton coming up. Never really got into Nintendogs (I know, blasphemy ... they're cute to pet for a while but for my real-time fix I prefer AC).

I've had the same issues with Nintendogs. I've tried many times to get into it and get bored after a couple of days and stop playing. Animal Crossing is a much better time killer. AC will probably continue to dominate my days until I pay off my house completely. I don't really feel like playing anything else right now but hopefully Electroplankton will give me a much needed AC break from time to time.

Yes, buying Phoenix Wright is a total no-brainer. It is a fantastic game, period.

I know you've admited you suck at games, but I'm not great either and HATE hard games. But I think Mario and Luigi is incredibly easy. The first game was pretty easy, but this one is even more so. You always can have a gazillion mushrooms on hand to heal as you find them all over the place and get tons of money to buy more (don't waste it on badges most aren't helpful and you'll find them here and there for free anyway).

I thought I got lucky when I bought a Phoenix Wright off of Amazon Marketplace for 29.99 last night. The seller cancelled it and then relisted it at a higher price. Damn.

You should report him to the Amazon Marketplace?

Chris

quick question for the uninformed. I have about $80 in best buy rewardzone certificates heading my way thanks to the double-points when I bought my 360, so i'm thinking of picking up a DS. Looking at bestbuy.com, they have the sliver "DS Handheld Bundle with Mario Kart DS" for $165 and they have the red "Nintendo Mario Kart DS Bundle" for $150. Besides the color difference, is there a benefit in getting the more expensive bundle?

Nope, just get the red one, it's cheaper because that's the official Nintendo packed in bundle, the other is just best buy selling the standard $150 DS and the game seperately for $165.

Ahhh, I see now - thanks for clearing that up!