October 9, 2007 - Just as all good American citizens sit themselves down for the Daily Show, across the Pacific, Nintendo is playing host to its annual Fall press briefing. The Nintendo Conference 2007 Fall press conference is taking place right now somewhere in the company's home country.
Where exactly? Well, we're not quite sure. If we knew, we'd have gone.
Thankfully, Japan's monthly Ge-maga magazine is in attendance, and they're live blogging to their website. Since we're sure most of you don't speak the Japanese, we've decided to, in turn, blog their blog, in English.
Keep refreshing this page through the hour for the latest word on Nintendo's plans for the Japanese market.
[most recent posts are at the top of the page]
14:24: Smash Bros. has been delayed in Japan until January 24, 2008.
Nintendo shows a new trailer. Sonic is going to be a playable character! The trailer shows him transforming into Super Sonic.
The game will include online fights. In addition, it will have online cooperative play of some form.
14:22: Mario Kart Wii will include a steering wheel controller. The game will also include motorcycles! A release is set for Spring 2008.
14:20: Wii Fit will be released on 12/1. It will cost 8,800 yen.
14:10: Nintendo will put more emphasis on the Wii Vote channel in the future. You'll be able to put rankings for games that you've played and search for games that fit your liking.
Nintendo will also begin a service similar to the DS Station retail service. You'll be able to download demos from your home.
14:08: The Wii Ware service will get more than just mini games and puzzle games. Square Enix will release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for the service. It will be be subtitled The Young King and the Promised Land and will be exclusively available for Wii Ware. In the game, you build your own country. Service will begin in March (in Japan).
14:06: Nintendo has announced Pokemon Bokujou, which translates to the English Pokemon Farm. With this Wii title, you can transfer your Pokemon from Pearl and Diamond to the Wii, then raise them in a farm-like environment.
Other Wii software shown includes Star Soldier R, Mojipittan Wii (this is a Bandai Namco word puzzle game that's a big hit on the PSP and DS) and Doctor Mario.
14:05: Software for Wii Ware will be released at a low price. There will be no problems with stock, so there will be no missed opportunities for sales. The competition of ideas will be important.
14:04: Virtual Console has reached 7.8 million downloads. Next, Nintendo will introduce Wii Ware, which consists of new game downloads.
14:00: From here on, Nintendo is hoping to increase Wii internet usage. They will open up a counceling center for connecting to the net from the Wii. They will offer support for setting up the internet at homes, and will also offer equipment.
13:57: Following the release of the DS and the Wii, the next step is to continue increasing the gamer population.
13:56: For each household, the DS has 3.0 users, the Wii has 3.5 users. DS has a 53% female user base. Wii has a 51% female user base.
13:54: In 2005, the DS had three million owners with a userbase similar to the GBA. In 2007, it's expanded to 18 million owners, with a wide range going from adults to children.
13:53: Nintendo apparently ran a survey of 3000 people in Tokyo and Osaka. In 2005, the GBA had a large presence with many teenage owners.
13:50: "In Japan, Nintendo has 50% of the DS software market this year. From here on out, the share should shift to other software markers."
13:46: "The first step was the DS. As the second step, we offered the Wii."
13:46: "The Wii is being accepted even overseas by a previously unheard of wide ranging audience."
13:45: Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata takes the stage and begins his usual talk about the game market place. "Expanding the Gamer Population is our Basic Strategy"
13:44: The MC takes the stage. It's none other than Miho Nakai. I guess she's pretty hot, if you're into 40-year-olds.
13:40: Next, Wii trailer clips. Mario Kart Wii, Famicom Wars Wii, Super Mario Stadium Baseball, Wii Music and other games. Wait... one of those is new...
13:37: First, quick trailer clips of DS games set for the end of the year. Each title gets five seconds. Footage of Fire Emblem DS and Dragon Quest IX shown.
Silly Ge-maga... we all know DQIX isn't due out until some time in 2008.
13:35: The conference begins
