We're looking for new writers to join us!

Nintendo's huge release list for early 2010

by: Sean Colleli -
More On:
I remember when Nintendo's annual release got me really excited. Being burned numerous times over the past few years has tempered my enthusiasm, and it doesn't look like Nintendo themselves will have much for gamers in the packed-to-the-gunwales first quarter. There's a WarioWare game in there, some Pokemon stuff and the Endless Ocean sequel, but nothing like Mario Galaxy 2 or Metroid Other M.

Still, there's a lot of good stuff from third parties. We're getting Red Steel 2 and No More Heroes Desperate Struggle from Ubisoft, Shiren the Wanderer from Atlus, Tatsunoku vs. Capcom and even some cult stuff like Dementium 2 and Shin Megami Tensei.  The more Nintendo drags out the release dates for its good stuff the more third parties get to shine, so I'm looking at this more like an opportunity to see creative ideas flourish instead of a disappointment. If Nintendo fans didn't hang on every minigame the big N released and tried out some other games once in a while, I bet the Wii and DS would be healthier and far more respected platforms.  Give this release list a look--there's a lot more there than just the stuff Nintendo is cranking out.

Nintendo Unveils Its Video Game Lineup for Early 2010

 

Hand-Held Pokémon Adventures and New Wii Remote Colors are on the Way

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Consumers nationwide continue to snap up Nintendo products for the holidays, and Nintendo is poised to carry that momentum into 2010. Dozens of games for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems are on the way in a wide range of categories from both Nintendo and its third-party partners.

To bring a little color to the winter months, Nintendo will release two new colors for its Wii Remote controller. Starting Feb. 14, the controller will come in Pink or Blue and will be bundled with a Wii MotionPlus accessory. Along with the current White and Black versions of the controller, now every player in four-player matches can have his or her own color.

“During the holidays, tens of millions of Americans are going to spend enjoyable hours with both Wii and Nintendo DS,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “And the enjoyment will only grow in the early weeks of 2010, whether your taste in gaming comes from exploring ocean depths, catching, training and battling Pokémon or even designing your own micro-games.”

On the Wii console, Endless Ocean: Blue World arrives on Feb. 22 to provide players with an adventurous and educational experience, complete with underwater exploration, an adventurous storyline and Wii Speak compatibility. This January also sees the highly anticipated release of Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. Available exclusively on Wii, this new VS. series fighting game features global online game play for those who have access to a broadband Internet connection.

On the portable side, Nintendo’s hand-held systems will see the arrival of a number of diverse games, including the eagerly awaited Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version on March 14. Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version allow fans to return to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver games. The games have been fully enhanced with rich graphics, updated sound, new touch-screen controls and much more.

On March 28, WarioWare D.I.Y. lets users design their own micro-games from scratch and share them with other WarioWare D.I.Y. owners via a broadband Internet connection and Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Every element, such as the characters, the environment, the actions and even the purpose of the micro-game itself, can be created entirely by the player. Also on March 28, hungry gamers can dig into America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking, which gives family members the chance to prepare 300 different dishes together. All of the recipes and the how-to videos in the game were created by the popular public television show America’s Test Kitchen.

On Jan. 18, Glory of Heracles introduces U.S. role-playing fans to the popular Japanese franchise. The game is inspired by Greek mythology and written by Kazushige Nojima of Final Fantasy fame. The traditional role-playing game features an engrossing story and a robust battle system.

Below is a partial list of upcoming packaged and downloadable games for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.

Wii

         
Publisher   Game   Available
2K Sports   Major League Baseball 2K10   March
Activision   How To Train Your Dragon   March 23
The American Game Factory, Inc.   Build-A-Bear Workshop – Friendship Valley   March 17
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.   Shiren the Wanderer   Feb. 9
Capcom   TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS   Jan. 26
City Interactive USA   Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII   Feb. 16
  Chicken Riot   Feb. 9
Collision Studios   City Builder   February
D3Publisher   Family Party: 30 Great Games Winter Fun   February
Deep Silver, Inc.   Let’s Play Ballerina   March
  Let’s Play Garden   March
Disney Interactive Studios   Alice in Wonderland   March
Hudson Entertainment   Rooms: The Main Building   Spring
  Calling   Spring
Konami   Walk it Out   Jan. 10
  Yu Gi Oh! Duel Trancer   Q1
  DanceDanceRevolution   Q1
Majesco Entertainment   Data East Arcade Classics   January
  The Daring Game of Girls   February
  Pizza Delivery Boy   March
Nintendo   Endless Ocean: Blue World   Feb. 22
SEGA of America   Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll   Feb. 9
  Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing   March
SouthPeak Games   Sled Shred featuring the Jamaican Bobsled Team   Feb. 1
  Fast Food Panic   Jan. 5
Storm City Entertainment   Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral   February
UFO Interactive Games, Inc.   Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo   Q1
  Rock Blast   Q1
  Jaja’s Adventure   Q1
Ubisoft   No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle   late January
  Sleepover Party   Jan. 12
  Racquet Sports   March
  Red Steel 2   Q1
XSEED Games   The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces   Jan. 5
  FRAGILE DREAMS: FAREWELL RUINS OF THE MOON   March 16
         

WiiWare

         
Publisher   Game   Available
Akaoni Studio S.L.   Zombie Panic in Wonderland   Q1
Broken Rules   And Yet It Moves   Q1
Capcom   Phoenix Wright:Ace Attorney   January
  Mega Man® 10   March
Ghostfire Games   Rage of the Gladiator   Q1
Hudson Entertainment   Military Madness: Nectaris®   Q1
Nabi Studios   Toribash   Q1
Nintendo   WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase   Q1
Press Play ApS   Max & the Magic Marker   Q1
Team Meat   Super Meat Boy   Q1
         

Nintendo DS/Nintendo DSi

         
Publisher   Game   Available
2K Sports   Major League Baseball 2K10   March
Activision   Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief   Feb. 2
  How To Train Your Dragon   March 23
Aksys Games   World Cup of Pool   Feb. 9
The American Game Factory, Inc.   Build-A-Bear Workshop – Welcome to Hugsville   March 17
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.   Shin Megami Tensei®: Strange Journey   March 10
Capcom Entertainment, Inc.   Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth   Feb. 16
City Interactive USA   Animal Country: Life on the Farm   Feb. 16
  Art of Murder   March 16
Deep Silver, Inc.   Let’s Play Flight Attendant   March
  Let’s Play Ballerina   March
  Let’s Play Garden   March
Disney Interactive Studios   Sonny With a Chance   Spring
  Alice in Wonderland   March
GameMill Publishing   Escape the Museum   Jan. 12
  Hidden Mysteries: Buckingham Palace   Feb. 9
Hudson Entertainment   Rooms: The Main Building   Spring
  DECA SPORTS   Spring
Konami   Scene It! Twilight   Q1
  Puzzle Chronicles   Jan. 10
Majesco Entertainment   Super Speed Machines   February
  The Daring Game for Girls   February
  Dawn of Heroes   February
  ATV Revolution   March
Nintendo   Glory of Heracles   Jan. 18
  Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version   March 14
  WarioWare: D.I.Y.   March 28
  America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking   March 28
Natsume Inc.   Squishy Tank   February
  Cheer We Go!   March
PopCap Games   Bejeweled Twist   Q1
SEGA of America   Sands of Destruction   Jan. 12
  Infinite Space   March
  Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing   March
  Sonic Classic Collection   Spring
SouthPeak Games   Crime Scene   Feb. 1
  Dementium II   Feb. 2
  Fast Food Panic   Jan. 5
  Sushi Go Round   Feb. 1
  Montessori Music   March 1
Storm City Entertainment   Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral   February
  Myst   February
  ATV Quad Kings   March
  T.A.C Heroes: The Big Red One   March
TECMO   Monster Rancher® DS   March
  AGAIN   March
Telegames, Inc.   Puzzle Overload   Spring
  Solitaire Overload Plus   Spring
THQ   Daniel X: The Ultimate Power   Jan. 12
Tomy Corporation   Lovely Lisa and Friends (enhanced Nintendo DSi content)   February
Ubisoft   Imagine Reporter   Jan. 20
  Imagine Party Planner   Jan. 13
  Imagine Sweet 16   Feb. 10
  Imagine Gymnast   March 10
XSEED Games   KORG DS-10 Plus   Jan. 19
  Ragnarok DS   Feb. 16
         

Nintendo DSiWare

         
Publisher   Game   Available
EA   Downtown Texas Hold’em Poker   Q1
  Surviving High School   Q1
Gameloft   Legends of Exidia   Q1
  Let’s Golf   Q1
  Real Soccer 2010   Q1
  Gangstar 2: Kings of L.A.   Q1
Nintendo   Trajectile   Jan. 4
  Number Battle   Jan. 25
  Starship Defense   Jan. 18
  Touch Solitaire   Jan. 11
  X-Scape   February
  Link ’n’ Launch   February
Subatomic Studios   Fieldrunners   Q1
WayForward   Shantae: Risky’s Revenge   Q1
         

Remember that Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about Nintendo, visit www.nintendo.com.