Infantile Paralysiser have released a new version of their Nes Sound Format player for the Nintendo DS, heres whats new via a translator:

– File list scrolling added
– Key repeating added
– GBA interchangeable LZ77 (confused on this one)
– Playback speed added
– Playback volume added
– Advance to the next song with Start added
– Sound modification of the DMC and Noise channels
– Others to come with the translation of this:

Download from our SimpleNSF page here --> http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk/simplensf.shtml
Official Site --> http://mdxonline.dyndns.org/archives/nds/ ...

Patater has begun to compile a list of NDS-related websites ranging from Development to commercial news and homebrewers websites. If you're looking for the best sites in DSDev, check out his list.

Pataters Site --> http://www.patatersoft.info/links.html

Source --> http://dsdev.org/ ...

Gamespot posted this

Nintendo and Sony are reporting that the DS and PSP are luring a new kind of consumer into the game-playing fold--more women and more gamers over the age of 25, the Asahi Shimbun is reporting.

No-o Kitaeru Otona-no DS Training, a Nintendo DS game created by Tohoku University professor Ryuta Kawashima, has been a hit among older consumers. The game is based on a best-selling book about training the brain to operate at peak performance, and it features drawing exercises, simple calculations and math problems, and literary-based reading exercises.

A Nintendo official claims, "We eliminated a barrier to playing the game." That barrier was making users, who were unaccustomed to using standard controller buttons, write on the DS screen instead.

The game had sold about 205,000 copies through June, and 68 percent of purchasers were over the ages of 25, according to Enterbrain, Inc. and Nintendo.

Women accounted for 42 percent of sales of Nintendogs for the DS, beating the existing percent average of women across all games purchased by women--which currently stands at 23 percent. Reportedly, Nintendogs has sold over 490,000 copies since its release in April.

On the PSP front, 360,000 copies of Minna no Golf have been sold for the Sony handheld, making it the best-selling game for that system.

Japanese sales figures show that 2.33 million DS units have been sold, along with a corresponding total of 4.4 million DS games. Almost 1.5 million PSP consoles have been sold, along with a corresponding total of 2.65 million games.

As previously reported, the Japanese hardware market has generated 73 billion yen ($651 million) in revenue over the first half of 2005, a 50 percent increase from the previous year.

...

Today at the Xbox Summit 2005 in Japan, Microsoft corporate vice president of worldwide retail sales and marketing Peter Moore reconfirmed that the Xbox 360 will be launching as scheduled in Japan, Europe, and North America at the end of the year. His statement at the summit shot down rumors that the console's release in Japan may be delayed until 2006.


"We are going to make history when we launch in three regions [of the world] this holiday season: Japan, Europe, and North America. That's never been done before, but we will do it," Moore confidently told the crowd. Bach also reiterated Microsoft's commitment to the Japanese market, where the Xbox has captured only a small segment of consumers.

"We all know that Japan is the world's first gaming superpower, and this country remains the gold standard for success in the industry," said Moore. "This time, the rest of the world is starting to realize that the Xbox 360 is a real contender, right here in Japan. That is a very important point, because I know that success in this country is the ultimate tribute to the compelling power of our new platform." ...

At the Xbox Summit 2005, Microsoft showed off its first mockup of the Xbox 360 's retail packaging--a simple white and green box that matched the console's color scheme.


The side of the Xbox 360's packaging listed the accessories that will be included with the console: a hard drive, wireless controller, Xbox Live, headset, and Ethernet cable. No cables for hooking up to a monitor were listed.

One side of the packaging had the slogan "Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system is you. It's your future. With the most strong games and the most powerful technology, Xbox 360 puts you at the center of your entertainment experience. With the Xbox 360, you can play the most compelling games, watch DVD movies, and share your digital music, photos, videos, and TV."

The packaging for the console's games was shown as well--it was a standard-size, plastic DVD case. The Xbox 360's controller was also on display, and it had a comfortable grip akin to Nintendo's GameCube Controller. The alignments of the analog sticks and direction pad also resembled the GameCube controller.

Microsoft also showed off auxiliary accessories that will be available for purchase separately from the console itself. They are:

Wireless Controller - The 360 comes standard with one wireless controller. Additional controllers are sold separately.

Wired Controller - Wireless controllers can sometimes run into interference from outside sources.

Memory Unit - Xbox 360's memory unit comes included with a plastic case to protect your saved data from harm.

Rechargeable Battery Pack - Additional batteries are available for the Wireless controller.

Play and Charge Unit - This accessory lets you play with your wireless controller hooked to the Xbox 360 while also recharging it.

Quick Charge Unit - As the name may suggest, this accessory lets you charge your controller's battery quickly.

Wireless Network Adapter - This adapter is an antenna unit that can be plugged into the Xbox 360's USB port for wireless connection to the Internet (wireless LAN). It is compatible to IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11c.

Hard Drive - Additional hard drives will be officially available from Microsoft.

Remote Control - A remote control is available for accessing the Xbox 360's various functions.

Headset - Additional headsets will be offered for the Xbox 360.

Face Plates - As Microsoft announced during its initial Xbox 360 unveiling, the console's faceplates can be switched around to give it different looks.

VGA HD Cable - If you want to play with HD graphics, this is the cable that you'll need.

Component AV Cable - For players that want to use component AV.

S-Video AV Cable - For players that want to play with S-VHS output. ...

It's no secret that Microsoft's entrance into the console market has been met with tepid interest in Japan, a region dominated by the company's rivals in Sony and Nintendo. While North American gamers have welcomed the prospect of the Xbox 360 with open arms, the Japanese interest in the Western console, as shown in a recent market survey, is limited to a paltry two percent of gamers.


To help spark interest in the Xbox 360, Microsoft has sought some of Japan's top game designers to create games for the unit. Former Square Enix producer Hironobu Sakaguchi (Mistawalker) and Sega's Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Q Entertainment) are among the many developers that are currently developing games for the Xbox 360.

Today at the Xbox Summit 2005 in Tokyo, Japan, even more Japanese game developers jumped on the 360 wagon.

"The Xbox 360 has achieved a true breakthrough with far more third party publishers support than anybody ever expected," said Peter Moore, Microsoft corporate vice president and chief of worldwide Xbox marketing. "Today, I am proud to say that every major third party publisher right here in Japan, is committed to supplying games to Xbox 360."

Moore's words were backed up by the line-up of trailers that were later shown during the summit. One of the first titles shown was Ninety Nine Nights, developed by Mizuguchi's Q Entertainment and Sang Youn Lee's Phantagram. Mizuguchi showed two of the many playable characters, who were sisters named Inphyy and Aspharr. He then showed off an in-game trailer that featured them in battle, and boasted nearly a hundred enemies onscreen at once without any noticeable signs of slowing the game's performance down.

Capcom producer Keiji Inafune appeared at the summit to show off the latest trailers of two zombie-themed games, Dead Rising and Resident Evil 5. When asked what season the games are slated for release, Inafune replied that he had no idea, since it could take more than a year forh either to come out. Inafune also announced that he is working as a producer for a new title currently in development for the Xbox 360. "I couldn't prepare a trailer for different reasons, but I should be able to announce the title by the Xbox 360's launch. I can't disclose its genre, but there won't be zombies in it," joked Inafune.

Other large Japanese publishers made some big announcements as well. Namco announced Ridge Racer 6 for the 360, but was not showing any trailers or footage of the game. The company also announc3ed an unnamed original fantasy role-playing game. No details, trailers or screens were available, but it is known that several members of the "Tales of" franchise development team are working on the game.

Bandai is at work on a first-person shooter set in the Gundam universe. Though a trailer was prepared for the show, the company decided not to show it, citing quality issues.

Konami is bringing three very different sports titles based on existing franchises to the 360. Winning Eleven (working title), the popular soccer simulation, Rumble Roses XX, a new version of the foxy female wrestling game, and Pro Yakyuu Spirits, a baseball title, are all in development.

Team Ninja chief Tomonobu Itagaki revealed that Tecmo has five Xbox 360 titles coming to the console, two of which were announced for the first time. In addition to the three Dead or Alive titles previously announced (Dead or Alive 4, Dead or Alive: Code Cronus, Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 2), Tecmo will release the action game Project Progressive and a to-be-named game on the platform.

Smaller publishers have also announced on games; Genki announced that it is working on a new Tokyo Xtreme Racer; Hudson is developing a remake of Tengai Makyou: Jiraiya; Yuke's is making a pro-wrestling game based on Japanese wrestlers titled Wrestle Kingdom; Sega is working on a mech game named Chrome Hounds; Taito is developing an air-combat game named World Airforce; and Koei is releasing Dynasty Warriors 5 Special Edition.

Square Enix was also present at the summit to show a real-time demo of Final Fantasy XI, which was played at the stage by producer Hiromichi Tanaka. Takana revealed that the game is already close to completion, and that the company is just waiting for the launch of the Xbox 360 to begin beta testing.

Other trailers shown during the summit include: From Software's E[eM] -eNCHANT arM-; Electronic Arts' FIFA Soccer 06, NBA Live 06, and Need For Speed Most Wanted; Atari's Test Drive Limited; Microsoft's Gears of War and Kameo: Elements of Power; and Ubisoft's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter.

Moore explained that one of the reasons why the Japanese publishers have come forward in developing games for the Xbox 360 is Microsoft's XNA suite of development tools, which lowers the cost of high quality games.

"XNA, together with Xbox Live, is already giving Japanese publishers the tools they need to unleash their creativity through a seamless integration between artists, producers and programmers. That means better games can be created faster than ever," said Moore.

Xbox Japan marketing director Takashi Sensui revealed that Microsoft's support towards Japanese developers has been firm, which is the reason why so many publishers have been able to show their trailers at the summit. "Microsoft has been providing game makers throughout the world with Xbox development kits since one year ago, and there are already about one thousand kits being used in Japan alone," said Sensui.

At the end of the Xbox Summit 2005, Sensui disclosed that a total of 37 Japanese publishers are currently making 42 games for the Xbox 360 console. A complete list is below:

Activision
• "Call of Duty 2"
• "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland"
• "Quake IV"
• "Gun"


A R C System Works Co. Ltd.
• "Versus Tactical Action" (working title)


Artdink Corp.
• "A-Train ...

Shigeru Miyamoto, legendary developer (and snappy dresser) spoke with Electronic Gaming Monthly about his company’s upcoming baby, the Nintendo Revolution. While not much was learned from the interview (we still do not know anything about the controller), it is nice to hear some verification to what we had all come to assume, and that is the probability of Smash Brothers hitting the DS and Revolution (or, at least, they are ‘thinking’ about making a sequel to the greatest selling GameCube game of all time). He also showed interest in making sequels to Pikmin and Luigi’s Mansion. Miyamoto-san left some ambiguous words on the upcoming console’s DVD capabilities (it will be capable but will require an add-on to cut down on cost but it won’t be external add-on?). Also, there will be no ethernet port - purely wireless - but you can add one via a USB port.

Of course, Miyamoto had to do some gloating - viva la Revolution, right? In terms of technical prowess, he calls the Revolution more than capable by comparing this generation’s Zelda games with ‘next-generation visuals’. If that was not fighting words enough, Miyamoto believes that the Revolution’s controller will become the industry standard. Of course, we kind of have to take his word at this point since we know nothing about it, except that it would work great with the game Pikmin. ...

Nicolas Robert has been working on a cool 3D engine:

God isn't yet a game but "only" a tech demo; I focused on the engine development rather than the gameplay, the reason being that I wanted to see what are the limits of the GBA (though, I also have my own limits ;-). Eventually it will be a real-time strategy / management game, a kind of mix between Dungeon Keeper, StarTopia and Monopoly Tycoon.

Done already:
- Presentation, using bump mapping and voxel spacing,
- Main 3D graphic engine,
- Pathfinder (core of the AI),
- Support for texts and menus,
- Support for sound and music (PCM & ADPCM).

This tech demo allows the player to move around the map, and dynamically add and remove walls. The pathfinder is activated and finds the shortest path from the building in the center of the map to any of the 4 targets in the corners (the path is computed and displayed every time the map is modified).
http://www.gbadev.org/ ...

A good platform game has been released by Nessie:

Nessie here ( I developed the mapEd tool ), just thought I would submit a fairly complete game demo that I had been working on about a year ago. I had hoped the game might attract some attention from publishers, but no such luck, so I figured the time was right to just release it for free to the community!

http://www.gbadev.org/ ...