The Tendo Project – Daily Nintendo News

Alright, E3 has officially kicked off. No, I’m not there, but it’s all good. Seriously, don’t be sad for me. Before we the E3 train gets going at full speed, how about some news that comes from out of nowhere?

POWER A has just announced they will be releasing the world’s first “Mini” Wiimotes!! I’m sure all of you are just like me and thinking, “Are Wiimotes too big?” Honestly, no, they’re not. The thing is, we’ve never seen any sort of drastic redesign of the controller. They have all been well made replications that basically offer different colors, like the ones I reviewed from UltraSaves. So, the fact is that we don’t know if making them smaller is necessary or not. What I do know, is that I love the fact that POWER A is making something we haven’t seen yet, and certainly didn’t expect.

The Pro Pack Mini will include a MiniRemote and MiniChuck (awww….cutest name ever!). They will offer full functionality with WiiMotion Plus; I do hope the add-on doesn’t look silly when attached… The Pro Pack Mini will be available sometime in August for $49.99 in multiple colors, including thundersex black!! I haven’t gotten any media for the controllers yet, but you can find the full press release after the jump.

POWER A UNVEILS FIRST MINI CONTROLLERS FOR WII™

New MiniRemote™ and MiniChuk™ Put Big Game Play in a Smaller Package

Los Angeles, CA– June 14, 2010 (E3 EXPO, Booth #5312) – POWER A, the retail consumer products brand of Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc. (BDA), today announced the launch of its Pro Pack Mini, a MiniRemote™ and MiniChuk™, for Wii™. The first of its kind, the Pro Pack Mini offers the same functionality as the Nintendo Wii™ Remote and Nunchuk, in a sleek, miniature size ergonomically designed to provide a more comfortable grip for players of all ages. POWER A will be showcasing the new controller, along with introducing additional video game accessories, at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles from June 15-17.

Including the MiniRemote™ that is 35% smaller than the original Wii™ Remote, the Pro Pack Mini features:
· MotionPlus™ compatibility
· Contoured surfaces providing a natural grasp for more precise handling and eliminating edge pressure points during extended play
· A silky, soft touch finish for a no slip grip that doesn’t require a glove
· Larger A, 1 and 2 buttons for overall increased accuracy and enhanced game play
· Glowing main control buttons for anytime use in any environment
· A variety of color options including Black, Purple, Pink and Teal

The Pro Pack Mini will have a MSRP of $49.99 and will be in all key retailers beginning in August 2010.

“Players will immediately enjoy the sleek feel and handling of the MiniRemote™ and MiniChuk™,” said Eric Bensussen, president of POWER A and BDA. “While the smaller devices work well for children with smaller hands, they really provide a more comfortable grip for kids and adults, extending game time, control and enjoyment.”

About POWER A
POWER A creates reliable, high quality and innovative accessories that amplify consumers’ experiences with the world’s best technologies. This consumer products division of Seattle-based BDA, Inc. partners with some of the most popular consumer electronics companies in the world, including Nintendo of America Inc, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Microsoft® and Apple®. Committed to producing the safest products possible, POWER A carefully monitors product development and quality assurance to exceed the testing requirements of its licensors. POWER A products are available at major retailers in North America, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. To learn more about POWER A accessories, please visit www.PowerA.com . POWER A: Amplify Your Experience™.

So, E3 is less than a week away, and the World Cup is just a couple of days away. Yeah, I’m freaking the eff out over here!! You know what, I realized that if I was going to E3 it would totally kill my footy watching time, and that just would not do. I’m sure some of you are saying, “This is just Mike trying to be adult about getting snubbed, yet again, from E3…”, but you’re wrong. YOU’RE WRONG!!

Square Enix is most well known for the Final Fantasy series. It’s been rumored that the company will be announcing the highly anticipated, Kingdom Hearts 3, at this year’s E3. One game we know the company will be showing off is the WiiWare title, The Tales of Bearsworth Manor. It’s a creepy puzzle type game that honestly seems like Tim Burton may have created it. In keeping with the Pre-E3 tradition of showing off new games in trailer form, Square has released a trailer for the game. I’ll be posting it below.

I’m also going to be posting the new trailer for Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions. There’s really no reason why I’m doing that other than I watched it and it looked okay. Also, I want to get back to playing Red Steel 2 which I just got. It’s so choice!! Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

Okay, we all know that Apple stole all the attention today with their WWDC conference and the iPhone 4. I’m not gonna lie, the thing is too sexy and I’m sold. That’s right, Mrs. Mike and I will finally make the leap and buy an iPhone. Now, excuse me while I go and take a Crying Game style shower…

Give it up to Nintendo for going along like Apple doesn’t even matter, and pushing out more titles for WiiWare and Virtual Console. Unfortunately, it’s not exactly a whopping offer. Lead The Meerkats is the most interesting title, and that’s mainly because I kinda like that show, Meerkat Manor. It’s weird as hell watching the rodents and imagining they interact the same way you and I would. Maybe it’s just me though…

You can find the full press release for Nintendo Downloads after the jump. Before that though, you should check out the Adidas Originals’ video for the World Cup. It’s got Daft Punk, Becks, and Snoop Dogg doing their thing in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

Nintendo Download
Fur, Fins and Fiery Tails Bring Ferocious Fun to Nintendo Fans

From tidying up the galaxy to trying out life as a meerkat, this week’s new game downloads from Nintendo offer a wealth of wonderfully unusual activities. For the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, Flametail™ invites players to incinerate all manner of space garbage, while Don’t Cross The Line puts timeless puzzle-solving thrills in the palms of their hands. Also, Nintendo DSiWare users have just a few more days to download the hilarious hand-held battle game Photo Dojo™ for zero Nintendo DSi Points™. (Starting June 11, the game will require 200 Nintendo DSi Points for download.) Meanwhile, fresh additions to the WiiWare™ service include the new fishing-simulation sequel Reel Fishing® Challenge II and the furry fun of Lead the Meerkats™.

A new week also brings a new addition to the “Big Name Games” section of the WarioWare™: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry’s most talented figures. Nintendo Power™ magazine staffer Chris Hoffman is the creator of this week’s featured game, Power Surge, which asks players to locate and match various Nintendo Power staffers. New “Big Name Games” will be added every Monday through July 26, all available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.

Nintendo DSiWare

Flametail

Publisher: Nintendo

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: The year is 2099, and the solar system is littered with space junk. Our best hope for a tidier cosmos is to send the Flametail incinerator pod from planet to planet for a little fiery cleanup. Take control of the Flametail pod and start winding your way through obstacles, then watch as your flaming tail ignites blocks of troublesome debris and eventually eliminates them. Be careful not to work yourself into a dead end, and don’t let the hazard line that follows you catch up to your tail or reach any leftover garbage. Luckily, you can find useful items (such as bombs or score multipliers) along your path and earn special power-ups (like radar or a missile) by collecting letter panels to spell particular words. Effectively burn up the floating garbage in the game’s two modes – Space Tour and Time Limit – and earn new graphics and other surprises as you progress. The straightforward controls make it possible for anyone to take on the job of restoring space to pristine condition. Do you have what it takes to make your way to the outer reaches of the solar system?

Don’t Cross The Line

Publisher: Aksys Games

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Don’t Cross The Line is a puzzle game in which the player must connect lines to various boxes, from one identical box to another, without crossing the lines they draw in the process. There are roughly 50 stages in all. Depending on how quickly you complete each stage, you’ll be awarded with a bronze, silver or gold award. To unlock additional stages, players must achieve a certain ranking in previous stages. Can you outwit the puzzles at hand and receive gold awards all around?

Fire Panic

Publisher: Playtainment

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence

Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: As a futuristic firefighter in Fire Panic, you face the continuous challenge of extinguishing more and more fires that keep flaring up. To do this, use your Nintendo DSi™ stylus to mark the fastest route for your fire engine to reach each blaze. The engine will follow the line you draw and automatically douse each fire it passes along the way. It’s a thrilling experience every time you play.

Flips: The Magic Faraway Tree

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Jo, Bessie and Fanny take their cousin Rick on an adventure he’ll never forget to the magic Faraway Tree, where he meets Moon-Face, Silky the fairy and Saucepan Man. They visit all the different lands at the top of the Faraway Tree, including the Land of Spells, the crazy Land of Topsy-Turvy and the Land of Do-As-You-Please, where the children ride a runaway train. The new Flips range brings modern classics to the Nintendo DSiWare service. Readers can collect, solve, interact and learn as they progress through various stories and challenges.

WiiWare

Reel Fishing Challenge II

Publisher: Natsume Inc.

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Wii Points™

Description: Reel Fishing is back! This sequel to the smash-hit fishing game takes you to a pristine new freshwater environment teeming with fish that look and move just like the real thing. You’ll go after these wily lunkers with a huge variety of lures and refined controls that provide the most natural and realistic fishing action yet. You’ll need every advantage you can get as Reel Fishing Challenge II’s 30 varied missions put your angling abilities to the ultimate test. This stunning, true-to-life fishing experience will have you hooked.

Lead the Meerkats

Publisher: Lapland Studio

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Animated Blood, Mild Violence

Price: 1,000 Wii Points

Description: In Lead the Meerkats, you are a young meerkat with a lot to accomplish. You’ve been separated from your pack, and the time has come for you to form your own meerkat pack. Are you ready for the challenge? Name your pack and its meerkats. Dig burrow networks and enlarge your territory. Forage for food and grow your pack size. Stay on guard and be ready to make quick decisions. Run to the safety of the burrows or fight your enemies. Go head-to-head with a rival meerkat pack. Lead your pack to victory and rule the savanna. Lead the Meerkats is the first game to simulate the exciting life of meerkats, offering fun game play for animal lovers of all ages.

Zoo Disc Golf

Publisher: Sonalysts, Inc.

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 1,000 Wii Points

Description: Each zoo enclosure is a “hole” in the Zoo Disc Golf course. The objective of the game is to get your disc into each “goal” using the fewest number of throws – the “goal” being the Emergency Animal Control station in each enclosure. A throw of the disc is equivalent to a stroke in golf and counts as one point. Available characters are the Rockhopper Penguin, Kangaroo, Panda and Meerkat. The Zoo Disc Golf course is made up of 18 holes. Each player is allowed a maximum of 10 strokes on each hole. When players reach 10 strokes, they move to the next hole with those 10 points added to their score.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii™ Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Just so you guys know, we got Roxy back. Apparently a crackhead picked her up from the middle of the road and sold her to a nice family who called us when they saw our flyers. I detail the whole saga over at GeekyPopular. Since that drama is over with, it’s back to the depressing reality of virtually zero game news coming out before E3. Seriously, enough is enough! There’s like nothing at all being announced and it’s getting a bit annoying. The best part of all this is the realization that during E3 I’m going to be hella busy with posts, which will probably give me full blown carpal tunnel typing it all up on my netbook…

Here at The Spin, we’ve got no problem pointing out how shit a game is. We did it with Daisy Fuentes Pilates and Your Shape w/Jenny McCarthy and Sexy Poker and We Cheer 2. Now, we get to do it with the next fail from those damned Frenchies at Ubisoft, Dance On Broadway. I hate this game already and I just heard about it. I’m going to blame So You Think You Can Dance, which I watch with Mrs. Mike. The show used to be pretty good, and by “used to be” I really mean “when T. Wall, Ivan, and Legacy danced that shit was awesome”. Now, it’s all lame “contemporary” dancing, which is basically a jump-spin move and being emo in slow-mo on the ground. So, there you have it, Dance On Broadway is the next fail and I wish Ubisoft would have sent me a check equaling whatever amount they dumped into the game instead of punishing their staff by forcing them to develop the title.

If you feel like torturing yourself, you can find the full press release for Dance On Broadway after the jump. The jump will directly follow a video of dancing that I actually like. It’s those masked weirdos Jabbawockeez showing everyone at SYTYCD what real dancing is all about. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

Update: I’ve been YouTubeing dance videos for the past hour and needed to add a video from The League of Extraordinary Dancers. This crew is so effing sick, and my main man Legacy (LEGACY!!) is the first B-boy who takes the lead when they get started. You’re welcome.

Ubisoft Brings the Magic of Broadway to Your Living Room
Now, everyone can dance on Broadway.

June 2, 2010
Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO - Today Ubisoft announced Dance On Broadway, a brand new take on the music trend to launch on Nintendo Wii. For the first time in a video game, Dance On Broadway brings all the richness and fun of the most beloved musicals direct to fans’ living rooms and will be available in North America on June 15, 2010 at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $39.99.

“Remember my name … Fame! I’m gonna live forever” (Fame)! Musical fans, along with their friends and families will discover an innovative dance title that gives them the thrill of performing original choreography to the songs they know and love from a variety of musicals across the past 30 years including Fame, Hairspray, Hair and more.

A fun experience for everyone
Dance On Broadway allows up to four players at a time to immerse themselves into a stage performance while sharing these magic moments with friends and family: together, they will become stars. Fun for players of all ages, Dance On Broadway requires only one Wii Remote per player as they dance and sing following on-screen choreographed movements and lyrics putting themselves in the spotlight. So, who will be the most talented star to “Let the sunshine in …” (Hair) on stage?

The magic of Broadway in a unique track list
Especially designed for musical fans, Dance On Broadway’s track list includes titles from some of the longest-running Broadway shows. “Cause you can’t stop the beat” (Hairspray), the game offers players a wide range of songs to enjoy, including:

* All That Jazz
* Luck Be A Lady
* Aquarius
* My Favorite Things
* Bend and Snap
* One Night Only
* Dreamgirls
* Time Warp
* Fame
* We’re in the Money
* Let The Sunshine In
* You Can’t Stop the Beat
* Little Shop of Horrors Theme
* And more!

Now YOU are the new star on Broadway! For more information and updates, feel free to visit the Dance on Broadway Facebook page: http://ubi.li/xyxk3

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 26 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2009-10 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of € 871 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Press Release

This has been an extremely stressful few days for me. Roxy The Dog decided to runaway Sunday evening and Mrs. Mike and I have barely been able to function. We put her and Rambo out after dinner the other night, and when I went to bring them in, the bitch had bounced. She got through a small hole in our fence, a hole that she had ignored since we moved here. The not knowing factor is what has been the worst, and don’t even get me started on the misery that was felt when it was time for Rambo’s dinner last night. Hope is not lost though, we got a call from a couple who say they have her. We should know this evening when they get home, but I hope like hell they do because I’m missing Roxy like crazy…

In news not at all related to my dog, we traded in our boring-ass old Wii for the Thundersex Black Wii on Saturday! Man, this beast is soo nice! The main reason I wanted to get it was that my Wii was old and suffered from some pixel tearing at times, being out of warranty it was the perfect time. Besides, new hardware is definitely a plus when it comes to gadgets. If Treyarch is to be believed, I should have my mind blown playing Call of Duty: Black Ops on this bad boy! The lead designers gave an interview recently discussing the possibilities of making the Wii game just as good as the PS3/360 versions.

“We do everything we can to make the two as similar as possible,” Lamia told ONM.

“Whereas we’re able to create the same assets that can be displayed on the PS3, PC and the 360, we actually have to do quite a bit of work both on the technology and the assets and the investment is heavy to get it working on the Wii but we’re committed to it as we were with World At War and Call Of Duty 3 which was a Wii launch game.

“What we want to be able to do is create the most intense, the most cinematic ‘you can’t believe this is running on the Wii’ situation that you could imagine. That’s what people expect from Call Of Duty. They expect to be blown away. We’re going to blow you away.”

Now, you get to see the trailer for the upcoming game, Batman: The Brave and The Bold. I’m not gonna lie, this looks kind of lame. It’s like they took the newest shitty Batman cartoon and made a game out of it in about a week and a half. I’m sure it may have taken longer than that, but whatever. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

Well, this kinda sucks. There’s basically zero news whatsoever worth posting. How can this be happening to me? I know E3 is coming up and the industry is going to keep their cards close until then, but damn, this is just crazy. I’ve been staring at my computer screen for like the past hour, while my brain rots in this void-like vacuum of non-news. That means today you’ll be getting news that is old news, and not really news in the first place. Wrap your head around that…

So, you guys know how I’ve been all like a little girl over the black Wii lately? Well, it turns out I may actually get one. I mean, if Mrs. Mike buys into the hype, which actually means I probably won’t be getting one so shut up. You see, Gamestop is having this ridiculous deal where if you trade in a Wii and two Wiimotes/Nunchucks, they’ll sell you a new Wii for $49.99 Yeah, I could get it for like $50; even less considering I’ve got a couple of crap games I could get like $30 for. However, Mrs. Mike isn’t too keen on us losing a nunchuck, even if we do gain a WMP…Still, I think the deal is going until June 6. Even if she never gets about it, you guys should go for it as I say it’s definitely worth it.

Believe it or not, there aren’t any badass videos or trailers for that Wii deal we were just talking about. I know, it’s cuh-ray-zay!! That’s okay though, because there is a retardedly BA commercial I’ve been dying to share with you guys. We all know the World Cup starts in a few weeks. Tonight our boys, the Stars and Bars, take on the Czech Republic in one of their final friendlies before heading to South Africa. I’m effing hyped. If you’re not, then Nike’s first commercial to kickoff their campaign should snap you out of your coma. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

If you’ve spent any time here at The Spin, you should be aware of at least 3 things: I’m a massive Suda 51 fan, I think Travis Touchdown is retardedly BA, and No More Heroes 2 is one of the best games on the Wii. Those are the facts, and by now they should be common knowledge.

We all know NMH2 is not at all a kids game. I generally don’t get all up on the censorship train, but Suda 51’s classic is one kids should not be playing. Just in case anyone out there was in doubt about that, a company has designed a line of lingerie based on the game; which is why I kept this post all innocent and cute with the puppy up there. Kotaku posted the story yesterday, and today they have more images from Bedtime Flirt’s (that link may be NSFW…) collection. I don’t really know what else to say except, do you expect anything less (or more) from Suda 51? Nope, me neither. Dude’s such an effing legend.

I’m totally not going to lose access to TheSpin by posting a video of betties in underwear, sorry. You can watch IGN’s video review of Super Mario Galaxy 2 instead, which comes out Sunday, btw. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

I’ve tried my best not to talk about this, but I can be silent no longer. E3 is less than a month away, and it looks as though I’m gonna have to wait till next year to fulfill my dream of being in attendance. In case you’re keeping count, this will be the 16th straight time the event will happen without me. It’s starting to get a bit ridiculous. Sure, I probably could have gotten in, and I probably could have flown myself and Mrs. Mike out there with a hotel room to stay in. That’s not the point though! The point is, I should have all of this done for me. I mean, I write for one of the most popular and influential Wii blogs known to about 1000 people. I’m just sayin’, if the organizers know what’s good for them I’ll be given the royal treatment for E3 2011.

Okay, so what about that mysterious new Wiimote? Oh, you mean the one Engadget posted today after it cleared the FCC? Well, there’s really nothing known other than the “RVL-036″ model number. There’s speculation that it could be Ninty’s answer to Nyko and have WiiMotion Plus built in. Actually, I’m gonna go ahead and confirm that. Yeah, with zero proof whatsoever, WiiSpin is officially confirming that Nintendo will be announcing a new Wiimote with built in WMP at E3 next month. Not gonna invite me to E3? Fine, I’ll start confirming shit before it’s announced. Suckas! Since I can’t find a video that would make sense with this post, here’s a video giving you the chance to create your own boom-shalaka-laka type saying for NBA Jam. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

I know I’ve talked about the black Wii a few times now, but we saw one at Target the other day and I really want one. It’s a completely ludicrous desire since my Wii is in perfect working condition, but it just look so nice. I wonder if I could use the argument that even though I have shoes that are perfectly fine I still shop for new ones. What do you think, will Mrs. Mike go for that? Nah, I don’t think so either…

Ever since the Wii took the world by storm a few years ago it’s been associated with health and fitness. It looks like now it can add American Heart Association to the mix. The AHA sticker, which you may recognize from your favorite cereal, will soon be stamped on all copies of WiiFit Plus and WiiSports Resort. If you ask me, it makes total sense. One of the best things about the motion-controlled movement in gaming is the ability to stimulate the mind and body at the same time. I don’t subscribe to the thought that you can substitute Daisy Fuentes’ Pilates for the gym, but even that is more productive than pwning n00bs in Halo.

Below you can find the video from Nintendo announcing the partnership, and if you follow the jump you’ll find the full press release. Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The American Heart Association and Nintendo of America today announced a first-of-its-kind, multifaceted strategic relationship aimed at helping people create healthy lifestyles through physically active play. The two organizations will work together on multiple fronts to help consumers discover how active-play video games contribute to healthy living. Their joint efforts will arm consumers with information, provide people with hands-on experiences and arrange a summit of representatives from different backgrounds to discuss the benefits of active-play video games.

“Our two organizations come from different worlds, but we share a common goal,” said Clyde Yancy, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Showing people accessible ways to stay active has been a part of our mission for decades, but our research tells us nearly 70 percent of Americans are getting no regular physical activity. As an organization we are looking for ways to change this. Nintendo has demonstrated clear leadership in active-play video games with the popularity of the Wii system, and I’m confident that together we can encourage Americans to become more physically active.”

Recent research indicates that the average person spends more than eight hours of each day sitting down*. The American Heart Association has been conducting its own studies to investigate the reasons why many Americans aren’t more physically active. In a recent survey, more than half of respondents identified lack of time as one of the main obstacles preventing them from enjoying regular physical activity. Of those who almost never exercise, nearly 40 percent said that “exercise is not fun.” The American Heart Association and Nintendo aim to help eliminate these common barriers with a call to action that motivates people to “Get Informed,” “Get Empowered” and “Get Active.”

“Nintendo has been helping people get up off the couch and get playing since the Wii system launched in 2006,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “By joining forces with the American Heart Association, we further our commitment to bringing fun and accessible active-play video games to a broader audience.”

To “Get Informed” about products that can be used to create a more physically active lifestyle, consumers will see the iconic American Heart Association brand on boxes for the Wii Fit™ Plus and Wii Sports Resort™ software and for the Wii™ system itself beginning this summer. Nintendo and the American Heart Association will also launch an online information center at www.activeplaynow.com, where visitors can read about the benefits of physically active play, conduct personal assessments and learn more about living a more physically active lifestyle.

Additionally, later this year Nintendo and the American Heart Association will convene a multidisciplinary summit of representatives from areas such as science, health care, research, physical activity, fitness and video gaming. The goal will be to bring together thought leaders, each with a unique perspective, to take a closer look at the synergies and potential benefits of active-play video games and physically active lifestyles. Some of the people involved in the development of the summit include Dr. Timothy Church, exercise physiologist and chair of the American Heart Association’s Physical Activity Committee; Hank Wasiak, a communications industry leader and self-help author; and Michael D. Gallagher, president and chief executive officer of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers.

“Video games’ remarkable ability to inspire and motivate are keys to reaching new audiences. This alliance between Nintendo and the American Heart Association marks an extraordinary opportunity, not only for both groups but for the interactive entertainment software industry at large,” Gallagher said. “At a time when most Americans could benefit from more regular physical exercise, these high-profile efforts to promote healthy entertainment help to make active-play video games even more appealing to consumers of all kinds.”

The American Heart Association and Nintendo also will help people to “Get Empowered” by making personal choices about creating a healthy lifestyle. People can find fun new ways to incorporate physical activity into their lives, such as participating in Start! Heart Walk events and using the American Heart Association’s My Life Check test to evaluate their lifestyles. The relationship is also designed to help people “Get Active” through active-play video games like Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort, which also will be showcased at select Start! Heart Walk events around the country.

Separate from this strategic relationship, the American Heart Association has recognized Nintendo of America as one of its Start! Fit-Friendly Companies, a designation for employers who go above and beyond when it comes to their employees’ health and provide opportunities for wellness in the workplace.

For more information about Nintendo, visit www.nintendo.com. For more information about the American Heart Association, visit americanheart.org.

*According to a December 2009 poll by the Institute for Medicine and Public Health.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at www.nintendo.com.

About the American Heart Association: Founded in 1924, we’re the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — we fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

You would think that Nintendo was releasing that ridiculously sexy black Wii in order to boost sales. Wrong. Nintendo doesn’t need to do anything to help the Wii sale more. They are straight up smashing the charts. Still.

The Wii sold 277,000 units last month, a month before the black Wii was released. They killed the competition selling near 100,000 more units than both of the HDC’s. If you think Ninty is only killing it in hardware sales, you’d be wrong again. Four of the games in the Top 10 are Wii games, and two of them are DS titles. That’s right, Nintendo dominates 60% of the list. Shit’s gotta be kind of embarrassing to the “big boys”. They should just quit.

I’ll post the full Nintendo press release after the jump, but I want to share a video with you first. IGN has put together a jealousy and awe inducing video montage showing off some of the changes in Super Mario Galaxy. In case you’ve somehow forgotten, Galaxy comes out May 23. That’s in 10 days. 10 DAYS!!!! Enjoy, and stay thirsty my friends.

Nintendo News

Nintendo Tops U.S. Video Game Hardware Sales in April

According to the independent NPD Group, Nintendo’s Wii™ system and Nintendo DS™ family of systems outsold all other gaming hardware in the United States during the month of April. Even before the announcement of the new Wii hardware package, U.S. sales of the Wii console topped 277,000 for the month. Meanwhile, the Nintendo DS family of hand-held systems sold more than 440,000 units nationwide. Together, Nintendo video game system sales represented 60 percent of all hardware sold in the United States in April.

“Consumers recognize the unprecedented combination of value and fun offered by Nintendo game systems,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “But including even more hardware and software with every Wii system should drive consumer interest even higher.”

New additions to the basic Wii package in North America went on sale May 9. In addition to a Wii console, one Wii Remote™ controller, one Nunchuk™ controller and a copy of the Wii Sports™ game, each system now comes bundled with a copy of Wii Sports Resort™ and a Wii MotionPlus™ accessory. Consumers can also choose between two hardware color schemes: white or black. The suggested retail price of the system remains unchanged at $199.99.

Six of the top 10 best-selling games of April play on Nintendo systems. These include Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version at No. 2 with nearly 243,000 sold, New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii at No. 3 with more than 200,000 sold, Pokémon HeartGold Version at No. 4 with more than 192,000 sold, Wii Sports Resort™ with Wii MotionPlus at No. 5 with more than 179,000 sold, Just Dance by Ubisoft at No. 8 with more than 144,000 sold and Wii Fit™ Plus with the Wii Balance Board™ accessory at No. 10 with more than 130,000 sold.