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Majesco reveals fresh info on Mama’s DS sequel.

Forget Gordon Ramsey: Mama’s returning to the kitchen in Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends on DS and it sounds like it’s going to be hotter than ever, thanks to all-new modes and recipes, plus 150 different food-based mini-games.

Cooking Mama 2 once again sees you teaming up with the titular chef as you peel, chop, slice and boil your way to culinary success in one of three modes - Cook With Mama, Let’s Cook (cooking without assistance) and a four-player cooking contest called, erm, Cooking Contest.

Publisher Majesco is promising improved graphics with “real-time effects that make you feel like you’re actually cooking. Adjust your timing and make decisions about your next course of action based on what you see on screen”.

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FUNimation claims deal for games based on popular anime was terminated after publisher violated license agreements.

It’s been a rough month for Atari, starting with the dismissal of five members of its board of directors, courtesy of parent company Infogrames. While the outgoing directors had been replaced within a week, a group of frustrated Atari shareholders accused Infogrames of intentionally undermining the company’s stock price in preparation to buy out the remaining shareholders.

The month is ending with even more corporate drama for the company, as an Atari Securities and Exchange Commission filing last week revealed that it is currently embroiled in a dispute over its Dragon Ball Z license.

According to Atari, the company has the rights to release games based on the series thanks to a pair of agreements with US anime firm FUNimation Productions. However, the publisher received a notice from FUNimation earlier this month accusing it of breaching those agreements.

As a result, FUNimation now claims that Atari’s license to make Dragon Ball Z games has been terminated. Atari doesn’t agree and has been distributing the games as usual. The two companies are now in talks to reach a temporary agreement that would buy them time to resolve their issues regarding the original license.

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If only they made real wallpaper this cool.

 Haven’t updated your desktop wallpaper in a while? Loving Phantom Hourglass? Graphic artist Jay Smith over in the UK has a treat for you. Smith recently made two DS Zelda-themed wallpapers available for download from his blog.

The two wallpapers, seen below, are quite “busy.” But they are very cool.

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The turn-based strategy classic has quietly shipped.

Today Square Enix announced Front Mission, the remake of the original turn-based strategy game featuring giant mechs, has shipped to retail. This is the first time the origin of the series, now over ten years old, has been localized for North America. Players will utilize the DS touch screen to command a squad of customizable robots.

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to present Front Mission to our North American audience,” said producer Koichiro Sakamoto. “We have recreated this classic masterpiece utilizing dual screen presentation and stylus-driven controls, allowing players to experience the intuitive gameplay in a whole new way.”

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After three weeks at the top, the PSP is knocked down by Nintendo’s handheld in an almighty tussle.

With the launch of the new PlayStation Portable Slim in Japan, along with the release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, a PSP-exclusive title, Sony’s handheld has been enjoying some time at the top of the Japanese charts.

However, this week it was just pipped to the post by the Nintendo DS Lite, which sold 87,445 units, compared to the PSP’s 86,895, according to figures released by Media Create for the week ending October 7.

The other consoles did as follows: the Wii sold 20,704 units; the PlayStation 3 sold 10,822; the PlayStation 2 sold 10,446; and the Xbox 360 sold 1,547. Media Create notes that the release of a new DS Lite in red and black likely caused the figures to leap up in this chart.

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Nintendo plans to bring Advance Wars: Days of Ruin to the DS in January.

The latest installment in the Advance Wars series of military strategy games is set for a Jan. 21 release date in the United States.

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for the Nintendo DS is the latest in the turn-based strategy series that started on the Game Boy Advance and moved to the DS with Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

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Everybody’s Nintendo Channel will allow access to demos from home.

At Nintendo’s press briefing in Japan today, the company finally announced a new Wii channel that will allow gamers to download demos for their DS. Called Minna no Nintendo Channel (Everybody’s Nintendo Channel), the service will act much like the download kiosks often seen in retail locations like Target and Best Buy — only now you’ll be able to download demos from the comfort of your living room.

The channel will include a search feature to help with finding the demos you are looking for. In addition to trial games, Everybody’s Nintendo Channel will also provide promotional videos of upcoming titles.

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Our little strategy game looks all grown up.

Back at E3 2007 Nintendo quietly announced another Advance Wars for the DS to be released this year — in Europe. According to jeuxfrance.com, the sequel was playable at the Micromania Games Show in Paris over the weekend. The Site has some (fuzzy) shots of the game being played and sporting a more mature look than previous iterations.

According to Google’s translation of the convention’s official Website, the Micromania Games Show is “the largest living room of video game in France.”

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Voices?

 A big 3D facelift isn’t the only update Final Fantasy IV is receiving in its trip to the DS. Square Enix is also adding voice acting to better tell one of the series’ classic story lines. Today, the company announced the Japanese voice actor cast.

Square Enix is apparently planning on getting the voice job right. The list of previous work for the for the cast includes such big productions as Blood+, D.Gray-man, Saiyuuki, Galaxy Angel, Dragon Ball Z, Hajime no Ippo, and Naruto.

Here’s the full cast:

Cecil: Shizuma Hidoshima
Rosa: Yuko Kaida
Kain: Koichi Yamadera
Gilbert: Ryo Horikawa
Rydia: Noriko Shitaya
Palom & Porom: Rie Kugimiya
Yan: Tesshou Genda
Edge: Hiroya Ishimaru
Cid: Ichiro Nagai
Fusoya: Banjou Ginga
Tellah: Gorou Naya
Globez: Takeshi Kaga

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From one of the masters.

Console modder artiste Jeremy, notable for the rather slick Zelda Wii Mod we looked at a while back (link) and more recently the cool Metroid Wii, has released a picture collection of what appears to be the product of his newest modding endeavor. His gold and black Zelda DS sports a pewter Zelda crest with integrated backlighting for a rather sweet look. Jeremy also gave some treatment to a charging dock for the DS. Looks like another excellent project finished quite nicely. Peep Jeremy’s Picasa gallery of all his mods.

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Story and multiplayer details, straight from Japan.

Following up on our report on Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep for the PSP, we’ve got the latest on the new DS entry in the series, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.

Square Enix has drafted Japanese development studio H.A.N.D. for the new game, but the regulars are, of course, overseeing the project. Tetsuya Nomura is the director, with Tomohiro Hasegawa, who served as art director and was responsible for texture work in Kingdom Hearts II, serving as co-director. On the HAND side, the head of production is Kouji Yamamoto. He previously worked on Chocobo and the Magic Picture Book.

The three shared new details on the game in an interview with Famitsu.

The storyline this time around focuses on Roxas and his days with Organization XIII. The game will tell the story of why why Roxas attempted to enter the Organization XIII, and eventually why he attempted to leave. The game starts off when Roxas enters Organization XIII, but we could end up seeing his birth in the game’s prologue.

Looking at the Kingdom Hearts story timeline, the game takes place before Kingdom Hearts II, during the one year period where Sora is asleep. Sora’s memory is being reconstructed during that time. The development staff is currently thinking up some methods for incorporating the ability to see Sora’s memories into the game; this is just in the idea phase, but it could involve something that focuses on the connection between Sora and Roxas.

The game’s single player mode will focus on the Disney worlds. The developers are selecting the worlds from past titles that fit in well with the new title. According to Hasegawa, the game may end up featuring different types of play for each world.

As for gameplay specifics, the three developers aren’t talking. Hasegawa hinted that the game will have the action-oriented gameplay of past titles, although he admitted that there’s a problem with button count. The lack of buttons on the DS is an area that HAND is currently addressing.

Outside of the single player story mode, the game will include a multiplayer mode. This mode has nothing to do with the storyline, according to Nomura, but it will likely have some connection as far as items and character growth are concerned.

Four players can play together in multiplayer mode. The game will let players select from all members of Organization XIII, with at least thirteen characters on offer. The characters have different skills and different weapons.

Multiplayer mode will be mission-based, with bosses to fight and puzzles and traps to clear. The focus will be on short gameplay experiences with high replay value. We can look forward to both competitive and cooperative modes, with Yamamoto even hinting that a score attack mode could be in the works.

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Enjoy eight classic games in one tiny package.

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that Namco Museum DS has shipped to retail stores nationwide. Delivering unprecedented gaming value to the Nintendo DS, Namco Museum DS lets players enjoy eight all-time video game classics, including the standout Nintendo GameCube title Pac-Man Vs., with updated dual-screen presentation, full wireless multiplayer support and game sharing capabilities at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Compiling over 25 years of video game history on one game card, Namco Museum DS provides players with the definitive experience for all of their favorite games. In addition to pixel-perfect translations of all eight included titles, the game also lets players experience new dual-screen presentation for additional gameplay flexibility and fun unlockable content such as sound tests and original arcade cabinet artwork. Players are encouraged to pass the fun along to their friends and family by wirelessly sending demo versions of each game, and can even go head to head in multiplayer action via a local wireless connection.

Namco Museum DS includes the following gaming classics:

• Pac-Man VS.
Originally released in 2003 - Play as Pac-Man and his famous ghost enemies in this breakthrough multiplayer game! Up to four players can get in on the action with just one game card, collecting power pellets as Pac-Man while the other players assume the role of ghosts and try to track him down.

• Dig Dug II
Originally released in 1985 - Equipped with only a drill and a pump, hit weak fault lines in an attempt to sink portions of an island, sending your enemies deep into the sea!

• Galaga
Originally released in 1981 - Pilot a space ship, fend off frantic swarms of aliens, try your luck with “Challenging Stages,” and find the best way to deal with enemies’ powerful tractor beams!

• Galaxian
Originally released in 1979 - A precursor to Galaga, shoot flying aliens as they move in formation to attack you.

• Mappy
Originally released in 1983 - Control Mappy, a police mouse, as he attempts to bring a band of criminal cats to justice. Bounce on trampolines and open or close doors to dodge chasing enemies, all in an attempt to retrieve valuable items from the cats’

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Bleach: The Blade of Fate is the latest game to be based on the popular Japanese manga comics to hit the US. Although the series has been around since 2001, it came to the US only in 2004, but nevertheless quickly found a following. As a result, we’re starting to see the various games that have been based on Bleach also find their way to the States. One of most interesting is Bleach: The Blade of Fate. The fighting game is being developed by 2D sprite gods Treasure for the Nintendo DS, and it’s one of the few 2D fighters for the system. We had the chance to try out a work-in-progress version of the US game, and we have much to report.

The game features a meaty selection of modes that include story, arcade, versus, training, and challenge. The story mode casts you as Ichigo Kurosaki, a high-school student with the ability to see ghosts. Ichigo winds up battling ghosts and other afterlife phenomena after accidentally absorbing the powers of Rukia, a “shinigami” sent to patrol his hometown. You’ll play through various scenarios based on his early adventures. Story sequences offer setups for the many fights you’ll engage in, and you’ll face off against a broad array of quirky fighters. Arcade mode lets you pick whichever character is available and fight through a series of enemies, whereas versus mode lets you take on a friend. Training mode lets you practice against a customizable artificial intelligence opponent. Finally, challenge mode features a series of character-specific battles with specific requirements for success. In addition to these play modes, the game also has a gallery where you can check out artwork, and an in-game shop to buy cards, character colors, 2D art, and audio.

Combat in the game is an engaging blend of traditional 2D fighting that lets you mix standard attacks, special moves, and super moves. The basic action is tricked out with the addition of a second plane to fight on and up to three enemies to face off against. The system also features a card system that lets you use cards during battle. Each card offers unique effects during combat that will enhance your abilities or cause a negative effect for your foes. The whole system works well on the DS and makes effective, low-key use of the touch screen. You’ll mainly use the D pad, face buttons, and shoulder buttons to attack, guard, jump, and switch planes. You can use the touch screen to activate one of the cards you’re holding and trigger any of the special and super moves. Overall, the system seems to work well, though the touch screen makes the moves dead easy to do. The plane shifting is cool and is one of the many elements in the game that reminds us, favorably, of Treasure’s awesome Sega Genesis classic Yu Yu Hakusho from back in the day.

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What we heard: In February, Activision president and CEO Mike Griffith made a seemingly off-the-cuff remark in an analyst conference call about the future of the Guitar Hero license that sent reverberations of excitement, though not exactly surprise, through the gaming industry. Not only would Guitar Hero be making it to the Wii, but a Nintendo DS version was also in the offing. At the time, many speculated on whether RedOctane, whose roots are in peripheral development, would create a customized experience for Nintendo, who’s traditionally been quite keen on add-on hardware.

Since then, the Wii version has been confirmed as an extension to Neversoft’s upcoming multiplatform release of Guitar Hero III, and as such, the game would closely mimic the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2 versions of the game. However, RedOctane and Activision have been surprisingly tight-lipped about the surefire hit in waiting on the DS, aside from dropping a few unsatisfying teasers.

Foremost among these came in mid-August, when RedOctane cofounder and chief operating officer Charles Huang responded to GameSpot’s query about the game’s controls. According to Huang, Guitar Hero on the DS “will play probably unlike any other DS game that has come out.” Expanding upon this, Huang stated that the possibility of creating a custom DS peripheral was definitely being explored. His comments debunked the control scheme that many had naturally assumed the DS version would employ–something along the lines of a stylus-based tapping or rubbing motion on the touch screen, as seen in other rhythm games on Nintendo’s handheld such as Inis’ Elite Beat Agents or Ubisoft’s Jam Sessions.

Exploration established, it now appears RedOctane may be going ahead with its plans for an alternative control scheme. Reporting from last week’s Austin Game Developers’ Conference, industry site GamesAreFun quoted Adrian Earle, design manager for portable specialists Vicarious Visions, as saying that Guitar Hero on the DS won’t use the stylus at all. Instead, the game will employ an as-yet-unfinalized new peripheral. GamesAreFun didn’t reveal any other details on what the input device might look like or how it will function.

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Nintendo to release red and black combo minus Brain Age 2

Nintendo Japan announced today its latest color variation for the DS. Following the June releases of Gloss Silver and Metallic Rose, timed for the release of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, comes a Crimson and Black system.

US-based gamers will recognize this combination of a crimson cover and black base. Nintendo America released the same unit as part of a Brain Age 2 set last month. Of course, the Japanese version lets you purchase the system without the game (Brain Age 2 has already sold 4 million copies in Japan, so this makes a lot of sense). Plus, you won’t have to tear apart the packaging!

Pricing for the new color is set at the standard 16,800 yen, with the same set of standard accessories included.

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Electronic Arts reveals that its less-than-well-received rhythm game will prance on two new platforms this holiday season; DS edition to use 3D glasses.

Last month, Electronic Arts took its first stab at the growing rhythm-game market when it released the dance-karaoke title Boogie for the Wii. Like harsh judges on So You Think You Can Dance, critics were none too kind to the game. However, like a plucky contestant on the wildly popular show, the publisher is pressing on, today announcing Boogie for the PlayStation 2 and confirming that it would also be arriving on the DS.

Like its Wii sibling, the PS2 and DS Boogies will feature covers of hits from pop sensations past and present, including the Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Kool and The Gang, and the Jackson 5. Both games are also being developed by EA Montreal, and both will be due out this holiday season, with some retailers listing the game with a mid-November launch date. Presumably, both will also bear the original’s E for Everyone rating.

Both versions of the game will also feature new, platform-specific features. The DS Boogie will sport 10 minigames and five modes superficially designed for quick play on the handheld: copycat, freestyle, choreography, DS download play, and multi-card play. The game will also be the first DS game to ship with a special pair of 3D glasses, allowing for eye-popping visuals.

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Motomu Toriyama discusses the US release.

July 13, 2007 - Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is quite the departure from Square Enix’s standard franchise fare - it’s an RTS-inspired RPG aimed at the novice Final Fantasy player. Everything from the battle system to the story caters to the casual Nintendo DS demographic. But the quirkiness is no surprise considering the title is directed by the man responsible for Final Fantasy X-2, Motomu Toriyama.

During the bustle of E3, IGN had a chance to sit down with Toriyama and Revenant Wings producer Eisuke Yokoyama to discuss the North American localization, why they decided to create a “My first Final Fantasy” for the Nintendo DS, and the possibility of Final Fantasy Fit.

Revenant Wings launched in Japan last April. What sort of changes can US gamers expect for its North American debut?
 

Motomu Toriyama: We’re changing the overall game balance and adjusting that for the US audience. We’ve also placed new enemy units in battles and added new enemy unit gambits. The North American release will provide a completely different game play experience than the original domestic release. 
 

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Enter the ballzy world of Sheeta.

This past week, Nintendo pulled another game off that tree (reportedly located somewhere in Kyoto) that buds DS puzzle games, introducing the world for the first time to Sheeta.

A new puzzler from VITEI, Sheeta actually includes two games, Kaiten Puzzle and Aquarium Puzzle.

In Kaiten Puzzle (Rotation Puzzle), you’re presented with a set of gears that are stacked vertically, spanning the two DS screens. You start off with two balls located in slots in the topmost gear, and must strategically rotate the gears to guide the balls to the bottom gear.

In Aquarium Puzzle, you guide balls into red, green and blue spheres that are strategically placed across your aquarium. Your goal is to collect the correct number of balls in each sphere in order to match a sample image. As you meet your goals, your aquarium slowly becomes more complex and full of life.

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Launching in Japan in August alongside weird Face Training game.

Ever since the original DS was launched, there’s been speculation that its GBA slot could be used to host a camera. Now, all that is set to come true in Face Training, a collaboration between Intelligent Systems and beauty expert Fumiko Inudo.

Seriously, we’re not even joking. Nintendo is releasing a game that teaches people (mainly women we imagine) to exercise their face by moving certain muscles. The bundled camera displays a real-time video of your face on the bottom screen so you know you’re moving the right muscles.

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PRESS RELEASE: LIKE SANDS THROUGH THE HOURGLASS, ZELDA’S DEBUT ON Nintendo DS APPROACHES

Legendary Franchise Goes Portable Oct. 1

REDMOND, Wash., July 2, 2007 – What do you get when you combine the world’s best-selling video game system, the Nintendo DS™, with one of Nintendo’s best-loved franchises, Zelda? An epic new adventure that satisfies longtime fans but draws in new players with intuitive touch-screen controls. Launching Oct. 1, The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass, complete with crisp 3-D cartoon graphics and multiplayer battles over Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, marks the debut of the franchise on Nintendo DS™.

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