Earlier today, Nintendo of Japan launched the "Digicam Print Channel" for Japanese Wii owners, which allows users to order prints of photos from their SD card for 30 yen each. Users can also order Wii-themed photo albums for 1,575 yen, and special Mario-themed photo albums for 2,480 yen.
Sure, all that's cool, but users can also now order business cards emblazoned with their Miis and system friend codes.
Will the Digicam Print Channel make its way to other countries? The Japanese press release seems to mention a worldwide relesae in the future. American Wiis received an update this morning, but no one knows what functionality it adds...
UPDATE:
Nintendo has sent word that the update for American Wiis added "behind-the-scenes support for a new service that has been released only in Japan." I'd say it's coming soon!
Spook81 came accross the following article in Mexican Newspaper, EL Norte. It's an interesting read, and he's translated it for us. Is the DS the new Speak & Spell?
Tokio, Japan (26/6/2008).- The portable videogame console, Nintendo DS, will no longer be just fun and games for Japanese girls studying English at Tokio’s Joshi Gakuen school for girls. The console is used there as an important tool for education, breaking with the standard academic methods for teaching.
During a seventh-year class with 32 students, the girls used their stylus pens to spell words such as “hamburger” and “cola” on the device’s touch-sensitive screen -a main feature of the Nintendo DS- after listening to the console’s electronic voice.
It is a high-tech Spelling class. When the students write each word with correct spelling, the word “good” is displayed on screen and the student can move on to another exercise. The first five students to complete the tests receive vivid-colored stickers.
"It’s fun!", claims 12-year-old Chigusa Matsumoto, who solved the test in time and won herself a sticker. “You can study while you have fun”.
This English teaching program for the Nintendo DS console was developed by Paon Corp.
Pokemon151 is officially open! - to those who can read japanese only . Hopefully they still can take orders from and ship to other continents. Because if they can a little help from a babelfish translation could at least get us through the process right?
Somewhat ironically, a while back Super Mario RPG was rated/leaked by the OFLC. Since then, we've been waiting for any word on when the title will be released in North America or PAL regions. Unfortunately, we still don't have that news.
However, Nintendo of Japan announced that the game will hit their VC service this Friday, so it can't be long until it makes it way over here!
Sweet, we got some new news on Fatal Frame IV, as well as some new screen shots! Legend has it that these shots are in-game graphics... do you think so?
We already know the most important info on the game, but today we learn a bit more:
The story revolves around three main character's points of view.
You, along with two other characters were kidnapped, and rescued by a criminal.
Players can vary from chapter to chapter in order to manipulate the story and each other.
Explore wasted Japanese houses, run-down hospitals, and other haunted areas to solve the mystery, and seal away the spirit.
A "Projection Machine" (the YAEIKI) can be used, that holds spirits. (the spirits may also fight for you)
The story is unknown at first, waiting for the player to unwrap it's secrets using notes, memos, newspapers, etc.
Also we learn a bit about the controls:
Control Stick = Movement
Wii Remote = Movement of flashlight, projector, the YAEIKI, other manipulations of in game items so that you get to "experience the touch of terror"
And finally, the screenshots! Visit the FFIV Gallery for images, including the 7 new shots! - via famitsu
Not too much has been said about Wii exclusiveFatal Frame IV since we found out Nintendo may actually own all the rights to the series. Now, it seems that we have a Japanese release date, as well as a decent but not awesome magazine scan with a couple new screens, including the "Emblem, or Logo Design" for the game.
We haven't heard anything about Disaster: Day of Crisis since E3 2007, where it was very briefly mentioned in an interview with Beth Llewelyn. The game was first shown at E3 2006, and most thought it had been left for dead. Luckily, Famitsu reminded us of the game, and even confirmed that it is indeed still coming out!
According to the Japanese magazine, the game is coming out on July 3 in Japan. Still no word on an American release date, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese date changes. Famitsu also announced a release date for Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball, which is due out on June 19 in Japan.
Personally, I've very pleased with any news about D:DoC. I've been interested in the game since it was revealed, and can only hope it's as good as it seems...
Rock ON! Just because Smash Brothers has launched throughout most of the world, it doesn't mean that the DS is being forgotten about! Korg DS-10 has crammed the DS-10 synthesizer software into the DS, and no, it's not JUST a port of already existing synth software (although it DOES come from one of their original builds), it includes DS specific controls and tweaks. You can draw lines from one connection to another to get wires flowing to specific knobs to make that perfect sound. You can even slide the stylus around to specific points to get the pitch and "wah" you want! Just, just check out the video!
Announced in 2007 at the Nintendo Conference in Japan, the TV Guide channel for the Wii has now been released in Japan. The channel, whose title is roughly translated as "TV Friend", allows you to connect to the Internet and download television programming information. You can view the listings, highlight or rate interesting programs, send a message to friends with TV information, have alerts sent to you via mobile device or e-mail when your favorite shows are on, and even use you Wii Remote as a universal televison remote.
The most interesting part of the new channel for me is the television remote feature. This allows you change channels, adjust the volume, and switch between live broadcasting and the TV Friend Channel. The technology used to achieve this is very interesting. Apparently, the Wii sensor bar emits IR light which reflects off a wall and then hits the IR port on your TV. Nice.
Unfortunately, there are currently no plans to bring this channel to American or European Wii consoles. Maybe if it's successful in Japan...
As a change of pace from all the Smash Bros news that's been leaking out of Japan lately, We found a completely different bit of news to forward to you! Horror fans, Grasshopper Manufacture fans, Tecmo fans, and more importantly Fatal Frame fans get ready for some spooky screenshots of Fatal Frame IV, so far scheduled for a Japanese launch of Winter 2008, and an undecided price point. Also remember that this game is Wii exclusive!
Japanese site GameWatch claims that Tecmo has teamed up with Grasshopper to develop the game with fresh ideas, while Suda 51 is directing, and Nintendo themselves will be producing, publishing, and advertising! ...What better parents could a game have?!
Want to check out the sweet first-look screens visit the brand new Fatal Frame IV gallery!
I feel bad for the Japanese. No, I really do. Americans got to play the latest Metroid game in August and Europeans got their hands on it in October. Our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun, however, haven't even had a release date, until now that is.
Nintendo of Japan has announced that the final game in the Prime series will be released in Japan on March 6th. What took so long? The fear of poor sales? Can't be worse than Super Mario Galaxy's sales ...
Apparently the Japanese Megaman website has a countdown now. A countdown to what - we have no idea. But this could be an announcement about a Wii Megaman game! How pumped would you guys be for this? What gameplay would you want it to be? Comment here and let us know! (I want it to be Megaman 64-esque!!)
So the Nintendo Conference is winding up and N+ has sifted through the Japanese language barrier to bring you awkward titled games - only because of translation mind you. Anyway In this blog you will find some of the highlights of this years Nintendo Conference...
The Brain Age 2 DS bundle was so popular because of it's Crimson and Black coloring that Nintendo has made it an official color in Japan. You can learn more at the DS Lite colour site, athough there isn't much to say other than the Release date, set for October 4, 2007. I like this colour, but I think the Black one looks even better.
I+ is a group for those that are interested, developing and curious about discussing independent media such as games, music, movies, literature, and everything else in between.
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