Feed: Nintendo DS Stockists - AggScore: 72.3

According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, a revision of the Nintendo DS sporting a screen twice as big as the existing version is on it’s way to Japan, possibly by the end of the year.

The larger screens are expected to attract elderly people who complained that the existing version is hard to look at. In addition, new applications such as watching videos and reading electronic books can be introduced.

Now you may think, ‘But we only got the DSi a few months ago!’ which is indeed very true but remember that the DSi was released in Japan a year ago so it’s not unusual for Nintendo to be thinking of a new, improved version.

Of course, a spokesperson for Nintendo denied this report stating it was ’speculation’.

We’ll keep you updated!

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The Guitar Hero series has been one of the biggest game franchises of recent years, racking up millions of sales, and thankfully a new version of the music game is on its way to the DS. Guitar Hero Modern Hits will feature a set list of more than 25 master tracks from artists including Coldplay, The Strokes and Weezer, and you play the game using the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip, an accessory that mimics a guitar fret board.

As well as a single player mode that challenges you to raise a band from humble beginnings on the underground music scene to worldwide stardom, you can rock out with friends in multiplayer modes and share songs via local wireless connectivity. We’ll have more details on the game for you in the near future.

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If you’re set for a long journey somewhere this weekend then you might want to pick up a copy of new DS title Travel Games For Dummies. Aimed at providing a fresh way to learn and play new games on the go, the title will feature tutorials and game play for three popular pastimes – solitaire, sudoku and crossword puzzles.

“Players begin learning the basics, such as rules and vocabulary, through a simple tutorial mode,” says publisher EA. “Then, they participate in practice mode where a coach guides them along offering tips and advice. Finally, when they are ready, players engage in game play on their own, putting their new skills to use!” Sounds good to us, plus it’s always more fun to play these types of games using the DS stylus and touch screens than it is using a pen to scribble on the back of a newspaper.

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Professor Layton And The Curious Village has won the Nintendo DS chart battle for another week, with Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training holding onto second place. Mystery Case Files: Millionheir jumped six places to third, followed by New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart DS.

Hit the link for the full top ten… DS Full Price Chart For The Week Ended March 7th (Last week’s chart position appears in brackets) 1. (1) Professor Layton And The Curious Village (Nintendo) 2. (2) Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (Nintendo) 3. (9) Mystery Case Files: Millionheir (Nintendo) 4. (5) New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) 5. (3) Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) 6. (4) Disney’s Bolt (Disney Interactive) 7. (6) Ben 10: Alien Force (D3P) 8. (8) 100 Classic Book Collection (Nintendo) 9. (7) More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima (Nintendo) 10. (10) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Sega) Source: Chart Track

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Disney will release Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force on the DS this week, marking the UK debut of the smash hit internet-based game on Nintendo’s handheld console. The title is based on the popular Club Penguin online world that launched back in 2005, a snow-covered virtual island where children can play games and interact with friends in the form of colourful, personalised penguin avatars.

“Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force will introduce kids to all new adventures in the Club Penguin world, giving players a chance to complete secret agent missions, solve mysteries and connect with friends in new ways,” says Disney. “The game allows players to take on the role of a covert agent in the Elite Penguin Force. Players embark on missions utilising familiar and all-new gadgets, accessories, vehicles and locations to investigate mysterious events in the Club Penguin world.” Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force proved to be a major success when it released in the States late last year and we expect it to perform equally well over here.

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The arrival of Nintendo’s DSi could herald the end of the road for the current version of the handheld, the DS Lite. Nothing’s set in stone yet though, as Nintendo says that ultimately the DS Lite’s fate will be down to consumers.

Asked in an interview with MCV whether the company plans to end the DS Lite’s presence in stores following the DSi’s April 3rd release, Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton said: “We’ll let the market decide. We expect some people will upgrade, but we also anticipate that we’ll win over people who were still undecided on DS – the extra features will help convince them. There’s an extra incentive… “With the DSi we see multiple consumer types for it. As with everything now, we look at our target market being five to 85, offering different things for different people. The functions of the device really open the platform up to more consumers – it gives the DS format unlimited potential.” Have you pre-ordered yours yet?

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The creators of the DSi have been talking about the design process behind the new handheld and their ultimate aims for the product. In a revealing discussion, which explains in detail many of the DSi’s new features, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says that the system wasn’t designed to compete with the iPhone or other mobile devices, despite the inclusion of cameras and a music player.

Essentially, as with the Wii and DS before the DSi, Nintendo says its aim was to make the product enjoyable to use, plain and simple. “We want to make something you can play with, something fun, and we dedicate ourselves to that end,” says design legend Shigeru Miyamoto. We wholeheartedly recommend you check out the roundtable DSi discussion here for some great insight into what the system will offer straight from the horse’s mouth.

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Nintendo has warned shoppers hoping to get their hands on a DSi this year to buy one as early as possible. The DSi, the latest iteration of the DS handheld gaming system, doesn’t launch in the UK until April 3rd, but Nintendo’s already saying that it may have trouble meeting demand in the run up to Christmas.

“I always advise people to buy early,” Nintendo UK General Manger David Yarnton told The Times. “One of the things that people don’t seem to understand is that factories are producing constantly; they don’t peak and trough. So we’re producing product all the time, but then everyone wants it all at the one end of the year. It’s just so hard to try and keep up.” Coming from some companies this might sound like a cheap ploy to get shoppers reaching for their wallets, but those who’ve ever tried to pick up a Wii or a Wii Fit around Christmas will know how hard it can be. You have been warned!

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Professor Layton And The Curious Village has retained the top spot in the weekly DS chart. The game held off Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training, a non-mover in second, to make it two weeks in a row at the top of the rankings.

Mario Kart moved up a place to third, Disney’s Bolt climbed two places to fourth, and New Super Mario Bros. remained in fifth. Click through for the full top ten. DS Full Price Chart For The Week Ended February 28 (Last week’s chart position appears in brackets) 1. (1) Professor Layton And The Curious Village (Nintendo) 2. (2) Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (Nintendo) 3. (4) Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) 4. (6) Disney’s Bolt (Disney Interactive) 5. (5) New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) 6. (7) Ben 10: Alien Force (D3P) 7. (9) More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima 8. (8) 100 Classic Book Collection (Nintendo) 9. (3) Mystery Case Files: Millionheir (Nintendo) 10. (10) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Sega) Source: Chart-Track

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Combining number based games Sudoku and Picture Logic, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles is due to hit stores this Friday. There are 500 Sudoku puzzles on offer, in addition to 500 Picture Logic challenges – such as the one in the screen below – which require you to solve puzzles in order to build a picture.

As we wrote a couple of weeks back, the game’s “designed to relax and stimulate your mind” and “may also improve your mental skills”, although recent research questions such improvement claims. You can pre-order the game via the link below.

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