Nintendo America Media Summit Recap
Galaxy 2 and Metroid Other M dated, Sin and Punishment 2 as well? Monster Hunter Tri online is free? You betchya
The event began like most Nintendo events, with sales leading the pack. We won’t bore you with them, and apparently Nintendo won’t either, as Cammie Dunnaway who has taken the stage promises this is the shortest part of the day. Also, it’s clear this summit’s focus is on the first half of 2010, with the rest of the year being left for E3. "The good news is that the first half of 2010 is absolutely packed," says Cammie.
Straight out of the gate was Nintendo with information that the DSi XL will be heading to North America on March 28th for $189.99US. But directly after that, they moved onto America’s Test Kitchen – another cooking title for the DS – and how it’ll work great in your kitchen with the huge DSi XL. If it makes you feel any better, they just announced 100 Classic Books. Yeah, we got that what a year ago? Moving on!
Next to be shown was a new demonstration of Super Mario Galaxy 2; a new galaxy ’Spin Dig Galaxy’ is shown with has the new drill that tunnels through planets. The next level shown off was one with Yoshi. The level contains remixed music from SMW, so it’s a shame we couldn’t hear it. Nintendo also showed off what happens when Yoshi gets inflated with air, allowing you to ride him upwards. A trailer is shown as well, we’ll post them up as soon as we get them!
Super Mario Galaxy 2 will out in America on May 23rd!
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Next to be shown is Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, which is also confirmed now to be out this half of the year (as it should). It’ll be out on June 7th in North America.
Remember Span Smasher from last years E3? It’s now called Fling Smash and has gained MotionPlus support – it’s out in the American summer. No firm date for that yet.
Now only DSiWare and WiiWare titles as Dan Adelman takes the stage. First up is Wario Ware DIY, which isn’t far away on March 28th for both the DS retail game and the WiiWare companion. There are also more Art Style games on the way for WiiWare with Light Trax (Color Stream on GBA) and Rotozoa coming. And finally, Cave Story will be hitting the US WiiWare service on March 22nd – about damn time. Who’s guessing a 2 month wait for no reason here in PAL land?
Bill Trinnen then took the stage to show off PhotoDojo or Photo Fighter X as it was known in Japan. The game lets you put yourself in the game with photos taken on your DSi Camera. We already knew the game was heading to Australia thanks to an OFLC rating, but yeah America, you’re getting it too. The demo of PhotoDojo went on for quite a while…
FlingSmash
Time for some Metroid?
No not yet, it’s time for third parties and SALES Charts, fun times! Third parties are doing pretty well says Nintendo, with 54 third party games on the Wii worldwide having sold over a million compared to ’just’ 22 first party games. DS is similar, with 63 third party games on the DS selling over 1 million copies and a nice 45 for Nintendo, too.
Third party titles start being shown off; first up is Ghostwire, which uses the DSi Camera. Next is Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, showing off the co-op gameplay on Wii and neat inclusion of a SNES remake of POP – very nice and exclusive to Wii.
Next it’s onto Monster Hunter Tri and finally the confirmation of FREE ONLINE PLAY for North America – hopefully this filters down here, too, but we see no reason why it wouldn’t. There will also be a demo disc for the game at GameStop coming on March 8th – nifty! Monster Hunter Tri is out April 20 in North America. The demo disk includes two quests, but pre order and you’ll get 500 Nintendo points. How random.
Cammie has retuned to the stage and announced that Nintendo will publish (in NA at least) Dragon Question IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.. Changing tack to Club Nintendo, which is going to receive new items on the Club, including posters and original artwork. Game and Watch Collection 2 is also coming – heh, Club Nintendo updates, we’d like some of those too please. Also coming to the club is Grill-Off with Ultra Hand, a digital download of the first game released on the Japanese Club.
What’s This?
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Metroid!
It will be demoed at the event and is out June 27th – earlier then many predicted, great news! No trailer or video, but the US media will be getting their grubby hands on it! There is an embargo for the end of their day, so expect coverage Friday morning, no video of either Galaxy or Metroid Other M is allowed.
That’s it from the event; if you’re lazy, here’s a brief recap.
Point recap
– Nintendo sold a lot last year
– DSi XL for America on March 28th for $189US
– Galaxy 2 out May 23rd
– Sin and Punishment: Star Sucessor out June 7th
– Span Smash is now Fling Smash and uses WM+, out this summer.
– Picross 3D out May 3rd in the US
– Wario Ware DIY DS and WiiWare companion out March 28th
– Cave Story out March 22
– PhotoDojo
– Sales Charts!
– Prince of Persia Wii contains SNES version remake
– Monster Hunter Tri will have free online.
– Dragon Quest IX published by Nintendo in NA
– New Club Nintendo goodies
– Metroid: Other M out June 27th!
