Nintendo promises good holiday lineup

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 9/15/2009 9:15:00 PM

Well well, Nintendo bragging again? Try to act surprised. This time they're touting the supposedly hefty holiday lineup for the DS and Wii. In my opinion you should only brag when you have a good hand, and Nintendo's first party offering is admittedly weak this year. The New Super Mario Bros. sequel is wasted on the Wii when it should be on the DS, and it doesn't even have online co-op. Wii Fit Plus is essentially a remake of last year's game, with a few more minigames and a price tag that's $10 more. Oh, and what's this, more Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Zelda Spirit Tracks? Is anyone excited for Spirit Tracks?

Thankfully the third party list is massive, but you have to wonder how much of it is shovelware. There are some great games in that list--Ubisoft has a good lineup, Spyborgs looks amazing and there's some stuff for the Square fans, but many others are just watered-down ports of 360/PS3 games. The jury's still out on Dead Space Extraction (I'm supposed to sit in on a conference call for that this Thursday) and the epic Scribblenauts is hitting now. There's even some good Wii/DSiWare games like the new Shantae, Castlevania Adventure Rebirth and Cave Story,  but since when did Nintendo care about third parties, much less list all their games in their braggy press releases?

To me it looks like Nintendo is padding their anemic holiday launch list, but this might actually be a good thing--Sony and Microsoft grew their consoles on talented third parties, and with the attention off Nintendo for a change, maybe the notoriously fickle Nintendo fans will look to other publishers for their Christmas games. Maybe a little arrogant slacking on Nintendo's part is just what smaller studios need to get the attention they deserve, and this year is different with so many quality games showing up amid the me-too partygame shovelware. I just hope the good stuff outshines the mediocre.

Nintendo’s Holiday Lineup Has Something for Everyone

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As summer draws to a close, the air begins to chill and people begin to turn their thoughts to holiday gift lists. Whether the people on your list have been playing since the 1980s or only since last week, Nintendo has you covered. The Wii^™, Nintendo DS^™ and Nintendo DSi^™ systems have a huge selection of games for everyone on your list, including many that you won’t find anywhere else.

“This extensive lineup will keep players busy throughout the fall and into 2010,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Shoppers know that Nintendo offers fun for everyone in the household.”

Upcoming Nintendo-published games for the Wii console include Wii Fit^™ Plus (Oct. 4) and New Super Mario Bros.^™ Wii (holiday 2009). These games will join the current hot seller, Wii Sports Resort^™, which comes with the new precision-control Wii MotionPlus^™ accessory. Fans of portable games will enjoy Pokémon^™ Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (Oct. 12), Style Savvy^™ (Nov. 2) and The Legend of Zelda^™: Spirit Tracks (Dec. 7) in addition to the just-released Mario & Luigi^™: Bowser’s Inside Story, all playable on both Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems.

The changing autumn leaves will be in good company with some new colors for the Nintendo DSi system and the Wii Remote^™ and Nunchuk^™ controllers. New White and Pink Nintendo DSi systems made their debut on Sept. 13, while a Black Wii Remote controller and Wii MotionPlus accessory package will be available this holiday season. A Black version of the Nunchuk controller will be sold separately as well.

Third-party publishers are supporting Nintendo platforms with impressive quality and wide-ranging titles. Wii exclusives like Dead Space^™ Extraction from Electronic Arts and FINAL FANTASY^® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES^®: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS^® from Square Enix will provide thrills that can’t be found elsewhere. At the same time, Nintendo DS owners are anxiously awaiting another powerhouse release: KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS from Square Enix. And Activision’s Band Hero^™, available on both Wii and Nintendo DS, features compelling interactivity between the two hardware systems through wireless connectivity.

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii, the WiiWare^™ service, Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DSiWare^™ service. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.

Wii
Publisher		Game		Available
2K Sports		NHL® 2K10		Sept. 15
		Baseball Blast!		Sept. 28
		NBA 2K10		Oct. 6
2K Play		Dora the Explorer™: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom™		Fall
		Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day		Fall
		Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey™ Circus		Fall
505 Games		My Ballet Studio		November
		Baby and Me		November
Activision Publishing, Inc.		Animal Planet Vet Life		Sept. 15
		Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2™		Sept. 15
		Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010		Sept. 22
		Rapala We Fish		Sept. 22
		Bakugan® Battle Brawlers ™		Oct. 20
		iCarly™		Oct. 20
		Madagascar Kartz		Oct. 20
		Mountain Sports		Oct. 20
		Hidden Mysteries Titanic		Oct. 27
		Barbie™ and the Three Musketeers		Oct. 27
		Jurassic Hunter		Oct. 27
		DJ Hero™		Oct. 27
		Chaotic™: Shadow Warriors		Nov. 10
		Hot Wheels™ Battle Force 5™		Nov. 10
		Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Reflex		Nov. 10
		Tony Hawk®: RIDE™		Nov. 17
		Band Hero™		November
		Guitar Hero® Van Halen®		Dec. 22
Aspyr Media		My Baby and Me		Nov. 17
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.		101-in-1 Party Megamix™		Oct. 27
		Trauma Team™		Spring
		Shiren the Wanderer™		Spring
Capcom® Entertainment, Inc.		Spyborgs™		Sept. 22
		Resident Evil®: The Darkside Chronicles		Nov. 17
City Interactive USA, Inc.		Chicken Riot		November
		Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII		January
		Art of Murder		March
D3Publisher		Family Party: 30 Great Games™ Outdoor Fun		Sept. 22
		Astro Boy®: The Video Game		Oct. 20
		THE SECRET SATURDAYS™: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN		Oct. 20
		BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE™: Vilgax Attacks		Oct. 27
		Kamen Rider Dragon Knight		Winter
Destineer		We Wish You A Merry Christmas		Oct. 13
		Buck Fever		Oct. 20
		Alien Monster Bowling League		Oct. 27
		Marines: Modern Urban Combat		Nov. 3
		Satisfashion		Nov. 17
		Rec Room		Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios		Disney Sing It: Pop Hits		October
		Princess and the Frog		November
Electronic Arts		MySims™ Agents		Sept. 22
		Dead Space™ Extraction		Sept. 29
		Spore™ Hero		Oct. 6
		CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ Pajama Party		Oct. 20
		SimAnimals™ Africa		Oct. 26
		LITTLEST PET SHOP™ FRIENDS		October
		NERF 2: “N-Strike”™ Elite		October
		HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2		October
		FIFA 10		October
		Need for Speed™ Nitro		Nov. 17
		EA SPORTS Active™ More Workouts		November
Knowledge Adventure		JumpStart® Escape from Adventure Island		Nov. 1
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.		Walk It Out!		October
		Silent Hill: Shattered Memories		November
		Storybook Workshop		November
		Karaoke Revolution		November
		Ultimate Party Challenge		November
		DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3		November
		pop’n music		November
		Pro Evolution Soccer 2010		Q4
LucasArts		Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™		Oct. 6
		LEGO® Indiana Jones 2™: The Adventure Continues		Fall
Majesco Entertainment		Our House: Party!		Sept. 22
		A Boy and His Blob		Oct. 13
		Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010		Oct. 20
		Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel		Dec. 1
		The Daring Game for Girls		Holiday
Mastiff		Shimano Xtreme Fishing		Sept. 29
		Remington Great American Bird Hunt		Oct. 27
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc		Dragon Ball®: Revenge of King Piccolo		October
		Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked		November
		We Cheer™ 2		November
Nintendo		Wii Fit Plus		Oct. 4
		New Super Mario Bros. Wii		Holiday
Playlogic		Sudoku Ball Detective		Sept. 22
SEGA®		Wacky World of Sports™		Sept. 22
		Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™		Oct. 13
		Planet 51		Nov. 17
		Jambo! Safari:™ Animal Rescue		Q4
		Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing™		Feb. 10
		Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll™		Early 2010
SouthPeak Games		My Baby First Steps™		Holiday
		Sushi Go Round™		Holiday
Square Enix		FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS®		Dec. 26
Storm City Games		The Island of Dr. Frankenstein		Oct. 6
		Vegas Party		Oct. 27
		Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral		Nov. 9
Tecmo		Family Fun Football™		Sept. 29
THQ		The Biggest Loser		Oct. 6
		Cars Race O Rama		Oct. 13
		Marvel® Super Hero Squad™		Oct. 20
		WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010		Oct. 20
		SpongeBob Truth or Square		Oct. 26
		Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time		Oct. 26
		World of Zoo™		Oct. 26
		All Star Cheer Squad™ 2		Oct. 27
		Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter		Oct. 27
		Daniel X		Jan. 12
		World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars		Feb. 2
TOMY Corporation		NARUTO™ Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution 3		Nov. 17
Ubisoft		Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs™		Sept. 15
		Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey		Sept. 22
		Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Smash-up		Sept. 22
		The Price is Right ® 2010 Edition		Sept. 22
		Family Feud® 2010 Edition		Sept. 29
		CSI™: Deadly Intent		Oct. 20
		Monster 4x4™ Stunt Racer		Oct. 27
		Rabbids Go Home™		Nov. 3
		Academy of Champions™		Nov. 3
		Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage		Nov. 8
		Just Dance™		Nov. 17
		James Cameron’s Avatar™ The Game		Nov. 24
		Your Shape™ Featuring Jenny McCarthy		Nov. 24
UFO Interactive Games, Inc.		Army Rescue™		Sept. 29
		Rock Blast ™		Oct. 20
		Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo		Oct. 27
		Geon Cube		Oct. 27
		Smart Series Presents: JaJa’ Adventure		Nov. 10
Vir2L® Studios		Medieval Games™		Oct. 20
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment		Scooby-Doo™! First Frights		Sept. 22
		Where the Wild Things Are		Oct. 13
		Game Party® 3		October
		LEGO® Rock Band™		Holiday
		SCENE IT?® BRIGHT LIGHTS! BIG SCREEN!™		Holiday
XSEED Games		JU-ON: The Grudge		Oct. 13
		Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga		Fall

WiiWare
Publisher		Game		Available
Aksys Games		BIT.TRIP VOID		Q3
		BIT.TRIP series (3 additional titles)		Q4, Q1
Broken Rules		And Yet It Moves		Q4
Frontier		LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias		Q4
Gameloft		Ghost Mansion Party		Q3
		The Oregon Trail		Q4
Ghostfire Games		Rage of the Gladiator		Q1
Incredible Technologies		Carnival King		Q3
Konami		Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth		Q3
		Frogger Returns		Q4
Nabi Studios		Toribash		Q4
Natsume		Moki Moki		Q3
		Harvest Moon: My Little Shop		Q4
Nicalis		Cave Story		Q3
		Night Game		Q1
		La Mulana		Q1
NinjaBee		The Amazing Brain Train		Q4
Nintendo		You, Me, and the Cubes™		Q3
		Eco Shooter: Plant 530™		Q4
Nintendo/TPC		Pokémon™ Rumble		Q4
Press Play		Max & the Magic Marker		Q4
React Games		Archon: Classic		Q1
Taito		Arkanoid Plus!		Q3
Team Meat		Super Meat Boy		Q1
Telltale Games		Tales of Monkey Island™: Lair of the Leviathan		Q3
		Tales of Monkey Island™: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood		Q4
		Tales of Monkey Island™: Rise of the Pirate God		Q4

Nintendo DS/Nintendo DSi
Publisher		Game		Available
2K Play		Dora the Explorer: Dora Puppy		Oct. 26
		Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year’s Celebration		Oct. 26
		The Backyardigans		Oct. 26
		Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus		Fall
505 Games		My Ballet Studio		November
		Discovery Kids SpiderQuest		November
		Dream Diary		November
		Picture Perfect Hair Salon		November
505 Games		IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey		Sept. 15
Activision Publishing, Inc.		Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2™		Sept. 15
		Animal Planet Vet Life		Sept. 15
		Bakugan ® Battle Brawlers ™		Oct. 20
		iCarly™		Oct. 20
		Madagascar Kartz		Oct. 20
		Barbie™ and the Three Musketeers		Oct. 27
		Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Mobilized		Nov. 10
		Chaotic™: Shadow Warriors		Nov. 10
		Hot Wheels™ Battle Force 5™		Nov. 10
		Band Hero™		November
Aspyr Media		Fighting Fantasy™: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain		Oct. 26
City Interactive USA, Inc.		Sushi Academy		Oct. 13
		Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple		Oct. 27
		Animal Country: Life on the Farm		November
		Party Designer		November
		Art of Murder		February
		Jewels of Sahara		March
D3Publisher		Astro Boy®: The Video Game		Oct. 20
		THE SECRET SATURDAYS™: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN		Oct. 20
		BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE™: Vilgax Attacks		Oct. 27
		Kamen Rider Dragon Knight		Winter
Destineer		Satisfashion		Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios		Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure		October
		Disney’s A Christmas Carol		November
		JONAS		November
		Princess and the Frog		November
Electronic Arts		MySims™ Agents		Sept. 22
		Spore™ Hero Arena		Oct. 6
		CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Fashion Show		Oct. 20
		CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Fashion Mall		Oct. 20
		CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Perfect Prom		Oct. 20
		SimAnimals™ Africa		Oct. 26
		LITTLEST PET SHOP™ CITY FRIENDS		October
		LITTLEST PET SHOP™ COUNTRY FRIENDS		October
		LITTLEST PET SHOP™ BEACH FRIENDS		October
		HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2		October
		FIFA 10		October
Ignition Entertainment		Nostalgia		Oct. 20
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.		WireWay		November
LucasArts		Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™		Oct. 6
		Star Wars Battlefront™: Elite Squadron™		Nov. 3
		LEGO® Indiana Jones 2™: The Adventure Continues		Fall
Majesco Entertainment		Our House		Sept. 22
		Sideswiped		Sept. 29
		Cake Mania® 3		Oct. 13
		Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010		Oct. 20
		Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop		Oct. 27
		My Hero: Astronaut		Nov. 3
		Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel		Dec. 1
		Dawn of Heroes		Dec. 1
		My Hero: Firefighter		December
		The Daring Game for Girls		Holiday
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc		Dragon Ball® Z: Attack of the Saiyans		November
Nintendo		Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky		Oct. 12
		Style Savvy		Nov. 2
		The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks		Dec. 7
NIS America		A Witch’s Tale		Oct. 6
		Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island		Oct. 27
PopCap Games, Inc.		Bookworm™		Dec. 1
SEGA®		Bleach:™ The 3rd Phantom		Sept. 15
		Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™		Oct. 13
		Phantasy Star™ Zero		Nov. 10
		Planet 51		Nov. 17
		Jambo! Safari:™ Animal Rescue		Q4
		Sands of Destruction™		January
		Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing™		February
		Infinite Space™		Spring
SouthPeak Games		Montessori Music™		Oct. 20
		My Baby First Steps™		Holiday
		Sushi Go Round™		Holiday
		Crime Scene™		Holiday
Square Enix		KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS		Sept. 29
		SPACE INVADERS EXTREME™ 2		Oct. 20
Storm City Games		Hands On! Tangrams		Oct. 13
		Jewel Master Egypt		Oct. 20
		Flaw		Oct. 27
		Foto Frenzy		Nov. 2
		Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral		Nov. 9
THQ		James Patterson Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion		Sept. 15
		Fabulous Finds		Sept. 21
		Just in Time Translations		Sept. 21
		The Biggest Loser		Oct. 6
		Cars Race O Rama		Oct. 13
		Marvel® Super Hero Squad™		Oct. 20
		WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010		Oct. 20
		Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time		Oct. 26
		World of Zoo™		Oct. 26
		SpongeBob Truth or Square		Oct. 26
		Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter		Oct. 27
		MX vs. ATV™ Reflex™		Holiday
TOMY Corporation		NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2		Sept. 15
Ubisoft		Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs™		Sept. 15
		Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey		Sept. 22
		The Price is Right® 2010 Edition		Sept. 22
		Family Feud® 2010 Edition		Sept. 29
		Battle of Giants™: Dragons		Sept. 29
		Imagine® Salon Stylist		Sept. 29
		Imagine® Sweet 16		Oct. 4
		Imagine® Zookeeper		Oct. 6
		PETZ® PONY BEAUTY PAGEANT™		Oct. 13
		Imagine® Fashion Designer World Tour		Oct. 20
		CSI™: Deadly Intent - The Hidden Cases		Oct. 20
		Jam Sessions 2		Oct. 20
		PETZ® DOLPHINZ ENCOUNTER		Oct. 27
		Might and Magic® Clash of Heroes®		Oct. 27
		Imagine® Artist		Oct. 27
		C.O.P. The Recruit™		Nov. 3
		Rabbids Go Home™		Nov. 3
		Imagine® Babyz Fashion		Nov. 3
		Fairyland Melody Magic™		Nov. 8
		Style Lab™ Jewelry Design		Nov. 10
		Style Lab™ Makeover		Nov. 10
		PETZ® NURSERY		Nov. 10
		PETZ® DOGZ® TALENT SHOW		Nov. 17
		PETZ® HAMSTERZ® SUPERSTARZ		Nov. 24
		James Cameron’s Avatar™ The Game		Nov. 24
Virtual Play Games		Junior Brain Trainer		Nov. 10
		Junior Classic Games		Nov. 10
UFO Interactive Games, Inc.		Smart Boy’s Gameroom 2®		Sept. 29
		Smart Girl’s Playhouse 2®		Sept. 29
		Smart Kid’s Mega Game Mix™		Sept. 29
		Reversal Challenge		Oct. 13
		Balloon Pop		Nov. 12
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment		Scribblenauts™		Sept. 15
		Scooby-Doo™! First Frights		Sept. 22
		LEGO® Rock Band™		Holiday
		Where the Wild Things Are		Oct. 13
		TouchMaster® 3		Oct. 27
XSEED Games		THE WIZARD OF OZ™: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road		Sept. 29

Nintendo DSiWare
Publisher		Game		Available
Gameloft		Uno		Q4
Hudson Entertainment		Bomberman Blitz		Q4
Nintendo		Art Academy™: Second Semester		Sept. 28
		Art Style™: DIGIDRIVE™		Q4
		Electroplankton™ (10 titles total)		Q4
		Picturebook Games™: The Royal Bluff		Q4
		Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon™		Q4
		Sparkle Snapshots™		Q4
Subatomic Studios		Fieldrunners		Q4
WayForward Technologies		Shantae: Risky’s Revenge		Q4

Remember that Wii and the Nintendo DS systems feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about these and other features, visit Wii.com, www.NintendoDS.com and www.NintendoDSi.com.

For more information about Nintendo, visit www.Nintendo.com.

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^™, Nintendo DS^™ and Nintendo DSi^™ systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.1 billion video games and more than 526 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, 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, visit the company’s Web site at www.Nintendo.com.