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    AMD ships 50 millionth 'Hollywood' graphics processing chip for Wii

    March 11, 2009 - 5:30pm


    A recent AMD press release brought word of yet another hardware milestone for Nintendo -- earlier today, AMD shipped its 50 millionth "Hollywood" chip, the graphics processor for the Wii. With such a large number of units sold, the "Hollywood" has become AMD's most successful (and likely most profitable) gaming console chip in the company's history.It's safe to assume by AMD's missive that Nintendo has manufactured around 50 million Wiis -- though their most recent LTD numbers place the console's sales around 45 million. Since Wiis stay on store shelves an average of fourteen seconds, this can mean only one thing: Someone, or something, has stolen five million Wiis. As usual, we blame the Nazis.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Joyswag: Mario Power Tennis (New Play Control Edition)

    March 11, 2009 - 4:00pm


    We're gifting one lucky reader with the "New Play Control!" version of Mario Power Tennis. What do you have to do to enter? Just follow the handy bullet points below:

    • Leave a comment telling us who your favorite tennis star is
    • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
    • Limit 1 entry per person, per calendar day
    • This entry period ends at 2:59 pm ET on Tuesday, March 17. We'll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive one copy of Mario Power Tennis (ARV: $50)
    • For a list of complete rules, click here

    Best of luck to you all and thanks for reading!Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Monster Hunter G's online Monster Hunting Fees

    March 11, 2009 - 3:30pm

    Capcom's Japan-only Wii port of the PS2 Monster Hunter G adds two significant features: online multiplayer and a fee for online multiplayer. The company announced the fee structure today at an event celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Monster Hunter series.For 800 Wii Points, players will get a 30 day subscription. 1,500 Wii Points provides access to Network Mode for 60 days, and a 90 day subscription costs 2,000 Wii Points. Each game comes with a 14-day free trial.Why are the fees for a Japanese game that isn't being localized significant to us? Because this is most likely a preview of the pricing scheme for online play in Monster Hunter 3, which is being released worldwide.Update: commenters are pointing out that Monster Hunter games have always been fee-based in Japan, but not the US. That puts the situation regarding Monster Hunter 3 right back up in the air. It doesn't change anything for G, of course, which is not leaving Japan.[Via Siliconera]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    UK Wii-tailers about to get charged more by Nintendo

    March 11, 2009 - 2:44pm


    Nintendo will raise the price of the Wii to UK retailers by approximately £20 due to the depreciation of the island kingdom's currency. GI.biz reports that the Chateau de Mario had to "reluctantly" raise the cost to retailers following the "unprecedented and sustained depreciation of the pound." The publisher may also need to raise the price of software to retailers in the future.The Wii currently has a recommended retail price of £180 ($249 USD) to UK consumers. Nintendo is leaving the price charged to customers up to the stores.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    DS sells 100 million units worldwide [update]

    March 11, 2009 - 1:19pm

    As of the end of last year, the Nintendo DS had sold 96.22 million units around the world. Since it continues to sell, it should be no surprise, then, that the handheld has now achieved the ginormous 100 million milestone. According to a press release sent out today by Nintendo, the 100 millionth DS system was sold on March 6. Did you buy a DS on March 6? You could have a piece of history! And you'll never know.The worldwide DSi launch next month should only speed the rate of sales for the handheld. That number is only going to get crazier. It seems likely to pass the PlayStation's 102 million this year, on the way to overtaking the Game Boy/Color's 118 million!Update: after the break, a graph of worldwide DS sales, sent along with Nintendo of America's press release about the milestone.

    Continue reading DS sells 100 million units worldwide [update]

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    GameStop offers No More Heroes/Red Steel bundle

    March 11, 2009 - 11:30am

    No More Heroes' combination of simple-but-fun brawling, compellingly freaky storyline, and, uh, t-shirt collecting just worked for us. We could play (and have played) that over and over again. If you never picked it up (and you're not too young to do so), maybe this latest offer of No More Heroes plus a game that isn't as good as No More Heroes will finally entice you into checking out Grasshopper Manufacture's very weird action game.GameStop is currently taking preorders on a NMH/Red Steel bundle for $30. We suspect that it'll just be a shrinkwrapped package of two games, rather than a single box like the image suggests -- having to print new boxes wouldn't really help Ubisoft clear out its back stock.[Via Kombo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Professor Layton returns to DS (in Japan)

    March 11, 2009 - 10:17am

    You guys are going to be furious about this. Now, instead of two Professor Layton sequels (and one movie) that have yet to appear outside of Japan, there are three. The latest Famitsu has unveiled Professor Layton and the Devil's Flute, a new puzzle adventure from Level-5 starring Luke and the Professor. It appears to be a new game just like the previous ones, and not a DSiWare calculator or anything.Oh, and it's the beginning of a new trilogy, so two more are coming. Perhaps this continued support for the series in Japan will influence the decision processes of Nintendo's offices worldwide. Or perhaps we should just get used to feeling despondent every time we see a tall hat.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rumor: Resident Evil 'Darkside Chronicles' coming to Wii

    March 11, 2009 - 8:25am


    According to the latest issue of Japanese mag Famitsu, the Wii's Resident Evil fans indeed have something to be "very happy" about. Well, at least if they're keen on another round of super-speed Resident Evil nostalgia, likely presented in the form of another first-person point-and-shooter. Though Capcom USA has yet to officially announce the game nor any specific details, Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles looks to feature Resident Evil 2's protagonist pair, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Oh, and zombies. Lots of 'em.We'll update with more information as soon as we can.[Thanks, Kevin]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Super Mario Galaxy voted 'best game' by BAFTA

    March 11, 2009 - 4:00am


    The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has handed out its annual video game awards, and this year's top honor went to ... Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo's topsy-turvy Wii platformer beat out Call of Duty 4, Fallout 3, Fable II, Grand Theft Auto IV and Rock Band in being crowned "Best Game." (Guess that settles it.)Meanwhile, Call of Duty 4 earned the title of "People's Choice" winner based on votes placed via BAFTA's website. In an epic upset, Grand Theft Auto IV won exactly ... zero awards, despite being nominated in seven categories. That's alright; it's selling just fine. You'll find the full list of categories and respective winners after the break.

    Continue reading Super Mario Galaxy voted 'best game' by BAFTA

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    Pachter: Nintendo is like McDonald's

    March 10, 2009 - 10:50pm


    The man with his own Joystiq tag, Michael Pachter, is at it again, this time talking about Nintendo and the Wii. In likening Nintendo's success with the Wii to that of McDonald's success in slowly killing you, Pachter says a lot of what worked for the food chain is working for Nintendo right now. Does that make Mario a Big Mac? "They buy the Wii games that they buy for the same reason that people go to McDonald's," Pachter said on consumers. Further elaborating on his comparison of the two companies, he said, "McDonald's doesn't win a lot of restaurant critic awards but they are approachable, they're consistent, and you know what they're going to serve you." He says that if the "concept is right," the "recognition factor" is there, and if "you can 'get it' from what's on the box," then "sometimes the game doesn't even have to be that good in order for it to sell." He must have skipped lunch today, because Pachter also brought Nintendo's competition into the food comparison mix, saying, "Nintendo has become the fast food machine. Sony is very much the high-end restaurant. And Microsoft is somewhere in between." So, basically, the Wii is like a #4 on the value menu, the Xbox 360 is like lunch at Applebee's, and the PS3 is like getting a reservation at Dorcia on a Friday night. Got it.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments