Nintendo Details DSi Ware Lineup

via IGN


Following its financial report yesterday, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata gathered the press today in japan to give some background detail behind the numbers and also give a glimpse at Nintendo's future software plans.

Notable in Iwata's speech were details on Nintendo's upcoming DSi Ware lineup as well as further details on the previously announced Made in Ore, a spinoff of Wario Ware.

First, DSi Ware. Set to kick off in Japan in mid December, this DSi-only lineup of titles consists of games that are downloadable directly to the 256 megabytes of memory in the DSi system, similar in fashion to WiiWare games on the Wii.

Iwata mentioned a handful of games, some of which were previously detailed at the press conference last month where the DSi itself was announced.

First up was Art Style. This is a new puzzle game series. At the press conference, Iwata showed a screen split in four, with each screen representing a different title. In all, the series will consist of six games, each selling for 500 Nintendo Points.

Next, Iwata showed not a specific title, but hinted at a series of games based off the mini games in the Wario Ware series. These will be priced at 200 Nintendo Points.

Nintendo is also looking into application-style software, said Iwata. He showed one example, "Rousenzu." This is an interactive mapping program that's based off a print title, updated with the expected DS-style functionality improvements.

Back to the gaming area of the DSi Ware program, Iwata announced that Nintendo is developing a lineup of titles that make use of the DSi's camera. He only showed one game, though, "Utsusu Made in Wario." "Utsusu" is Japanese for being shown in a picture or in a video, with "Made in Wario" being the Japanese name for Wario Ware.

As suggested by the name, this is an entry in the Wario Ware series that makes use of captured video images for control. You play by setting the DSi on a table. Your silhouette appears on the screen as you move about, making the title look a bit like Sony's EyeToy games. Set for 500 Nintendo Points, Utsusu Made in Wario will launch with the DSiWare program in mid December.

Moving on to Made in Ore, Iwata first noted that Nintendo recognizes the importance of user-generated content. He pointed to the hit Japan-only Band Bros. DX, which allows players to make and distribute their own song edits. Users have created over 3,000 songs so far, he said.

Made in Ore allows players to make their very own mini games. The title is a variation of Made in Wario (the Japanese name for Wario Ware) with the word Ore, Japanese for "Me," in place of Wario.

The game includes tools for making games, music, and manga. Iwata showed a demonstration clip of a user making backgrounds, moving characters, and background music, and even programming simple logic routines. It's even possible to design your own cartridge before you make your creation available to other Made in Ore players.

Joining Made in Ore will be a WiiWare counterpart, Asobu Made in Ore. "Asobu" is Japanese for "Play." WiiWare owners use this program to play the games that others have made using the DS's Made in Ore. No game creation tools are included.

Video shown at the event suggested that Asobu Made in Ore runs in full screen using Wii assets, rather than simply emulating the DS game screen.

These are just a hint at things to come for the DS and DSi. Expect more details to surface following the DSi's Japanese release on Saturday.