BioWare Pondering Mass Effect DS

If you're going to make the move from PC and console epic RPGs to handheld titles, testing the waters with someone else's property is pretty smart smart way to do it. That's what BioWare is doing with Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, according to the game's lead designer Miles Holmes. The Sonic RPG will launch BioWare's handheld division, which could then explore the possibility of bringing Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and Dragon Age to the handheld.

"We have a lot of big plans for Mass Effect. Having a DS version would be an awesome way to keep interest alive and keep it going in addition to the next one [Mass Effect 2]," said Holmes.

While I myself am partial to their big production numbers, having handheld versions to keep me occupied between their larger efforts is a rather attractive prospect. Plus, the Nintendo DS can only make hot alien sex that much better.

BioWare liebäugelt mit einem Mass Effect für den Nintendo DS [Eurogamer.de via GamesIndustry.biz]

Carmack Respectfully NOTHANKYOU.jpgs Wii Development

Id Software's John Carmack spends his free time playing Nintendo games with his son. They're currently making their way through Super Paper Mario. And when not playing that, they have a go at Mario Kart DS. So does that mean Carmack is keen on, say, Wii development? According to Carmack:

The Wii is one of those markets where Nintendo owns both the hardware and the software, but part of that is because they make such damn good products. So it’s the toughest platform for third party developers. We don’t have a software or content base ideally suited for it. So it doesn’t really play to our strengths and we’re pretty busy with other stuff right now. I’m thrilled that Nintendo has had this kind of success because they took some risky bets, and it’s always nice some bold thinking pay off for them. But I don’t think we’ll be on the platform.

At least he's honest!

Carmack on Doom, Rage, EA and More [Tom's Games via Go Nintendo]

Japan Only Limited Edition DS Finally Comin' Stateside

One of our friendly, GameStop-employed readers let us know that Nintendo will be bringing a new-old limited edition Nintendo DS to North America soon. When? I said "soon," dammit! The black DS features Pokémons Palkia and Dialga from the Pearl and Diamond version of the game and was previously only available at Pokémon Center stores in Japan. Take that, Japan exclusivity!

According to marketing materials, the limited edition black DS comes with a few other goodies, including a matching carrying case, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DVD, a poster featuring Grovyle, and a GameStop exclusive Pokémon shirt. You simply cannot lose.

The collection of things can be had for $129, which our GameStop tipster says may be "eligible for the 'Trade in GBASP or Old DS Get DS Lite for $90' deal." Call your store. They'll know.

Games for Dummies

The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts has teamed up with Beanbag Studios to launch a new line of video games under the For Dummies label. What's that mean? Apparently a bunch of repackaged casual games with the words For Dummies tacked on after their name.

First up, Poker for Dummies, which teaches gamers to play Texas Hold 'Em, Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. Over the coming months EA Casual plans to release Solitaire for Dummies, Sudoku for Dummies, Brain Training for Dummies and Travel Games for Dummies.

I guess I'm going to have to see how this differentiates itself from the flood of other poker, Sudoku and travel games that have already flooded the market. Hopefully it won't just mean a bunch of bad black and white cartoons.

George Lucas, Dave Filoni Talk The Clone Wars Video Game

Entertainment Weekly got a chance to meet up with George Lucas, Dave Filoni and company to talk about the upcoming Clone War movie and video games.

The DS version is being developed by LucasArts Singapore and looks to be very touch-heavy, while the Wii version is being developed by Krome Studios in Australia. The LucasArts folks call Wii game the "ultimate light saber dueling experience."

Check out the whole interview over at EW.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Exclusive [EW]

To LOVEru Loves The Touching

We first heard of the DS version of manga/anime To LOVEru last spring. To LOVEru follows the adventures of a high school boy and an alien girl named Lala who one days appears out in his home of nowhere buck naked. The game is rated 15 and up. Hit the jump for one of its touching mini games. Titled To LOVEru Waku Waku, the game is out in Japan later this month.

Patrick Stewart Engages Brain Age 2 Pitch Engines At Shill Factor Ten

It's hard not to think of Patrick Stewart in his creepy Extras faux persona, in which he talks about his screenplay that involves him telekinetically removing women's clothing. We're just thankful that he's not tearing the clothes off of his fellow female traveler while she plays Brain Age 2 in this commercial. We're going to need a higher quality version of this for animated GIF purposes. That "The synapses are firing!" moment is gold.

Chrono Trigger DS Doesn't Hit Europe Until, Yes, 2009

Is This The First Transvestite Game Protagonist?

DS visual novel Ikamono no Jiken: IKATAN ("The Squid Events") features a main character who cross-dresses in order to collection information and new evidence as well as gain new personalities. As game site Insert Credit explains: The hero becomes a member of scenario group "Prawn Productions". As a number of mysterious event unfold, the protagonist must dress as a woman to unravel the story in a series of timed investigations. Breaking new ground — that's what the DS does, you know.

『いかもの探偵-IKATAN-』凶悪犯罪が一切起こらない推理アドベンチャーゲーム [Famitsu via Insert Credit]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Details Allegedly Leaked Via Survey

A report from UGO, sourced from a reader submitted survey, hints at unreleased details on Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS. It's worth mentioning that virtually no details have been released on the game so far, so anything we hear will be considered "unreleased." We should also consider it rumor for now.

According to the UGO post, Chinatown Wars focuses on "an outsider navigating the criminal underworld of a major city", with the player controlling "a young gang soldier involved in the internal power struggle for control of his gang."

The survey also allegedly spills details on what that Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support will be.

Flower, Sun, and Rain Trailer High In Suda-isms, Commercial Impractibility

The Europeans are lucky enough to get Goichi "Suda51" Suda's mystery adventure game Flower, Sun and Rain for the Nintendo DS this October. We, the rest of the Earth, are at least able to enjoy the game's trailer, which not only features someone (Suda?) taking the Nestea plunge, but has pink alligators and a fantastic smooth jazz soundtrack — the kind that makes me want to donate my ears to the less fortunate.

Described as "an unyielding Groundhog Day style adventure", Flower, Sun, and Rain is a remake of the PlayStation 2 release of the same name. The trailer proudly proclaims that "Suda51's masterpiece is finally here" which we hope isn't a slight to the man's other titles.

True story: I once shared a cab with Suda. That's the entire story. It was largely uneventful as everyone made it home safely in a short amount of time.

Sega's Cosmetics Game For DS Comes With 'DS Scan' Add-On

Sonic Chronicles Trailer Maintains High Hopes

While it is still extremely strange to see a trailer for a Sonic the Hedgehog game with the words, "From the creators of Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" in it, I can't help but have extremely high hopes for BioWare's upcoming Sonic RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Between the action in this trailer and Crecente's hands-on back in May, I've seen and heard nothing but good things about the game. Perhaps Sega has finally found the key to making a good Sonic game - letting someone else do it.

Kirby's Back And Not As Pissed In Kirby Super Star Ultra's Box Art

One might think that HAL Laboratory's puffy pink protagonist Kirby has not a care in the world, that his disposition, due to his pinkness, would be beatific. Not so, according to virtually every video game box art appearance Kirby has made for the better part of the past decade. After Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, the spherical mascot went from tickled pink to pissed.

The transformations from pleased as punch to enraged were most noticeable in Kirby's journeys to America, going from happy go lucky to in a lather in games like Kirby Squeak Squad. Kirby Super Star Ultra changes all that, as Kirby's gay old times are back, with nary a furrowed brow to be seen.

If you'd like to fondly remember Kirby's more bitter box art outings, hit the jump.

Nintendo DS Successor By End of Year?

With Nintendo DS sales slowing in Japan, could Nintendo have a successor waiting in the wings? Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter think so, telling investors in a note that Nintendo "has a new handheld device ready for launch in [Japan] before the end of the calendar year," according to a report from Edge Online.

In fact, it's those cooling hardware sales on the DS that may force Nintendo to react, making an end-of-year announcement more likely, Pachter writes. The DS has been regularly outsold by the PSP for the past few months in Japan, with marquee software releases doing little to boost matching hardware sales.

Ragnarok Online Is Nintendo DS Bound

Korean MMO Ragnarok Online is coming to the DS. This is the first time the game has been released on a non-PC platform. The online game is getting the portable treatment by a new console division in GungHo Online Entertainment (the company responsible Ragnarok in Japan). Gameplay in Ragnarok Online DS doesn't differ too much from the PC, but has streamlined things a bit. Players control their character via the Touch Pen, which acts as the PC mouse. Players tap the screen to attack and retrieve and can draw little circles for spells and whatnot. Ragnarok Online DS lets up to 3 players team up over Wi-Fi. The game is out December 18th in Japan.

Ragnarok Online Storms the DS [1Up]

Flower, Sun, and Rain Hits Europe In October

Suda51's PlayStation 2 mystery masterpiece is heading to North America via Marvelous Entertainment, but what about you charming Europeans? Rising Star Games has you completely covered, announcing Flower, Sun, and Rain for the Nintendo DS, coming to Europe in October. It's a unique adventure game is full of Suda's trademark bizarre style, placing you in the shoes of a detective who must locate and diffuse a bomb by solving puzzles, just like the real bomb squad.

Commenting on its imminent release, Goichi Suda, aka Suda51 commented, “It’s great news that European gamers are getting to play Flower, Sun and Rain. All of my creative work involves a touch of the bizarre and unexpected and this game is no different!”

There's a trailer for the game coming out on Friday. Hopefully these latest screenshots will tide fans over until then.

Do BLANK With Me?

Above we have two backcover magazine ads. One is for Soulcalibur IV, and the other one is for Moe Sta. You remember Moe Sta, it's that English training game that features cutesy girls and features 5,000 English questions that cover the spectrum from junior high school school tests to the Tokyo University entrance examination to help players "level up" their English.

While SCIV is rated CERO C (15 and up) for violence most likely, Moe Sta is CERO B (12 and up). Just check out that Moe Sta ad! It reads: "Do BLANK with me?" Hit the jump for a bigger version.