Nintendo's 2006 fall catalog is out in Canada

Yes that's right, Nintendo has released this year's fall catalogue and it's all about one thing, Nintendo DS Lite. Excluding a page or two, each, for the Wii, GameCube and GBA, the catalogue is primarily devoted to the Nintendo DS Lite system, the colours it comes in and its games. The catalogue has many individual features about DS games, including Starfox Command and Mario Hoops 3 on 3, and a full explanation of Touch Generations series of games. The catalogue released in the U.S. at the beginning of this month, and as it always seems to be, we don't always get things at the same time. Either that, or some stores, like the one I got the catalogue in, forgot to put them out. If you're not familiar with the Nintendo DS and its games, this is a great way to get some info on it. You can pick it up at a game store near you. I'd try EB Games or GameStop, but some other large chains may have them too.

New Ubisoft titles leaked via the Internet

gamesindustry.biz is reporting that a list of Ubisoft games that have yet to have been announced has leaked to the Internet. Ubisoft shared its “displeasure” with the fact that the 2 gigabyte file which contained the list, artwork, logos, and screenshots for, both, announced and unannounced titles, including a tech demo for Far Cry 2, was posted in a location accessible to the public. The file has since been removed, but the list of games, including Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell Conviction and Far Cry for PSP is already out there. For the full article go to http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19863.

NASDAQ puts Take-Two on notice

It seems Take-Two just can't seem to keep out of trouble these days. Take-Two announced, today, that it has received a NASDAQ Staff Determination letter indicating that it is not in compliance with certain filing requirements which allow companies to be listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. Take-Two says they are already dealing with the matter and says the notice was actually expected because they are doing an internal investigation of the company's stock option grants, causing a delay in the filing of the form NASDAQ is requesting. While we understand that this news is not related to any of the lobbying against the company's games, it's not like it needed any more bad press. Let's hope Take-Two can put all the bad stuff behind itself and get back to making great games.

The Sims 2, in airplanes?

Electronics Arts and in-flight entertainment content maker, DTI Software, announced a new partnership today. The two companies will be working together to bring The Sims 2 and various Pogo.com games to in-flight entertainment systems worldwide. Seems like a good way to use up free time during a flight. No word on pricing yet.

Namco Bandai announces DS and Xbox 360 games

The first Digimon game ever for the Nintendo DS, Digimon World, will be hitting stores this fall. The game will feature Digimon training and turn-based combat. The game will take advantage of the DS's dual screens and as such, it is being developed exclusively for the handheld. The story of the game will follow a Digimon tamer on a journey to discover, raise, train and command over 230 unique Digimon. When players are finished collecting Digimon, they will be able to make Digi-Farms to breed, evolve and even communicate with their Digimon. Since the game will be Wi-Fi capable, players will also be able to exchange Digimon, have online battles and create rare breeds of Digimon with friends. Pricing for Digimon World is not currently set.

Also on Namco Bandai's announcement plate today was the upcoming Xbox 360 RPG, Eternal Sonata. The company is taking a bold stance with describing the game, saying it will take full advantage of the Xbox 360, “boasting gorgeous graphics, 3-D character models, and a groundbreaking battle system.” If the screenshots below are any indication of what the game has to offer, it looks like they've already taken care of the graphics portion of that statement.

Eternal Sonata also has a rather unique set of features, including a monster morphing system and the battle system, which mixes turn-based and action battle systems. Yoshi Niki, Namco Bandai's Product Group Director, says that the game “will set a new standard in next-gen RPGs” because of its in-depth story. We do find the synopsis of the story rather amusing, though. This is the synopsis in its entirety – “The story of Eternal Sonata begins as a famous composer, on his deathbed, drifts between this life and the next. In his reverie, a happenstance encounter of a young girl who accepts her terrible destiny and a young boy fighting to save her, changes the destiny of the world. Uncover the light that shines in each of us in this enduring tale of good and evil.” It certainly sounds like the game has a lot of potential, and we're definitely looking forward to checking it out. Eternal Sonata is set to be ready for North American release in 2007.

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