via Nintendo DS Fanboy


We've just updated our gallery of screenshots and art from SNK's Doki Doki Majo Shinpan. As is the norm for this game, there's a lot of weird stuff to enjoy.

We'd like to point out the character seen here, who is a retro game freak and therefore totally not a witch so leave her alone. Oh, wait ... is that Athena? Hmm. Either she is a witch and she uses awful games as weapons, or she's proudly displaying a copy of Athena and something is terribly wrong with her. In either case, should you encounter this character in the game, just put your DS on the ground and run away from it until you pass out.

There's also a boy witch, apparently. Good to know SNK is providing equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of sex or sexual orientation, to be uncomfortable.


Screenshots can be viewed here. ...

The DS Motion Card and DS Motion Pak are revolutionary motion sensors for the DS and DS Lite handheld gaming systems. They each contain a 3-axis accelerometer and a single-axis gyroscope, and plug into the DS to enable full motion sensing on the DS and the DS lite.

They are the first tri-axis accelerometers that can be used for homebrew DS development, and the first accelerometer/gyroscope combinations available for handheld gaming.

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How They Work
The DS Motion Card fits in the DS card slot (slot-1), and contains a tri-axis accelerometer and single-axis gyroscope that communicate with the DS using SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) on the DS card.

The DS Motion Pak fits in the GBA card slot (slot-2), and contains a tri-axis accelerometer and a single-axis gyroscope that communicate with the DS using the SRAM bus of the GBA slot.

The accelerometer measures acceleration in all directions (both gravitational acceleration and acceleration caused by a change in velocity). The gyroscope measures angular rotation rate (speed of rotation) around an axis perpendicular to the bottom screen of the DS.

Custom software turns the sensors on, reads the accelerations and angular rate, and controls the display based on the sensor readings. Functions to communicate with the sensors have already been written and are simple to integrate into any existing or new projects.

By using the latest ndsmotion functions in libnds (new functions are in devkitpro CVS), developers can create software that is compatible with both the DS Motion Card and the DS Motion Pak, as well as the Neoflash MK6 Motion.

For more information and source code, download the DS Motion Card QuickStart Guide (zip).

For instructions on updating your programs from the old (before May 22, 2007) ndsmotion functions to the new ndsmotion functions, download the readme (txt).

What they can be used for
There are many uses for the DS Motion Card and DS Motion Pak

• Tilt Sensing
• Motion Sensing
• Twist Sensing
• Gesture Recognition
• Possibilities are endless

Games or applications can easily be written or modified to work with DS Motion Card and DS Motion Pak, using the C code that is available from this website.

DS Motion Card: If you are using FlashMe, just plug the DS Motion Card into the DS card slot (slot-1) and plug your media cartidge in the GBA slot (slot-2). If you are using a Passthrough device, boot the DS with the Passthrough device, then remove the Passthrough device and insert the DS Motion Card.

DS Motion Pak: Plug the DS Motion Pak into the GBA card slot (slot-2) and plug your DS flash card into the DS card slot (slot-1).

There are currently no emulators that support the DS Motion Sensors.

Source: NDSMotion ...

WiiFree is an open source Wii modchip. It required you to load your own code onto a PIC 12F629/675/683. In order to load the code, you would need to purchase a programmer as well as the PIC chip. Now there is an easier way to install and upgrade WiiFree.



For more information regarding WiiFree, you can visit the homepage as well as other alternatives for modchips at our CycloWiz / WiiKey / Wiinja / WiiD Seller/Installer List and Open Source Wii Modchip.

Source: WiiFree EasyConnect

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After a massive console launch such as that of the Nintendo Wii, the bustling community of modders is never far behind. Some tinker their machines for honest and genuine aesthetic means, but a small, damaging percentages use their knowledge to fuel the industry’s black market for pirated games. In its first step to clamp down on this illegal activity, Nintendo is shipping hard-to-mod Wiis in Japan, reports DailyTech.

Modchips for the Nintendo Wii began to appear just months after its release, so in a keen attempt to halt the business expanding further, Nintendo has revised the console’s hardware to make what were once simple modifications a lot more difficult.

According to a forum post on Hacken.cc, three pins used by current modchips to alter the console’s drive software are now physically cut, making modifications impossible for all but those with highly advanced skills and tools. So far the revisions have only been spotted in Wiis shipped to the land of the rising sun, although we’re sure that similar models will soon be winging their way to regions across the world in the ever-ongoing struggle against pirates.

Just over a month ago Nintendo of Europe released a statement that warned gamers over modding their Nintendo Wiis. It read:


To put the problem into some perspective, a Gamasutra report recently stated that pirated Wii games were being sold in China (a country where the videogame black market is rampant) for as little as $1.30 USD each. When you consider how much money both Nintendo and other developers lose in potential sales because of this, it isn’t difficult to see why they take the issue so seriously. ...

Via PSX Extreme

If any of you have latched on to the rumor that Sony has dropped PS3 production, you can dismiss that right now. The rumor started with a statement from a Lazard Capital Markets analyst earlier this week- "Reports from Asia suggest that Sony has reduced production of PS3s, at least temporarily, which may suggest that a price cut is less likely this year." In turn, this caused a subsequent rumor that said we actually wouldn't see a price drop this year.

SCEE has stepped up and denied that it's reducing production of the console, and told MCV there is no link between a potential price drop and any temporary change in manufacturing.

“I’m not aware of any cut in production," said Sony's director of corporate communications Nick Sharples. "We have our forecast for the year for PS3 of ten million and that still stands. Of course, production is adjusted according to stock levels and requirements of different territories. The normal seasonal uplift towards the peak season will happen, but that’s completely normal."

So if you were worried that we really wouldn't have a price drop this year - which, prior to this rumor, seemed almost inevitable - don't be too concerned. According to Sharples, production changes constantly depending on retailer stock, which makes perfect sense, but that certainly doesn't indicate anything permanent.

"There’s absolutely nothing that you can read from that," Sharples concluded. "The idea of price certainly doesn’t follow on to any adjustment in production. Analysts may wish to think so, but there’s no basis of fact in any of it."

We still anticipate a price drop in 2007, although Sony's policy is to not discuss price until they're ready to make a move. At this time, though, there is no drop in PS3 production, and everything is progressing according to Sony's initial forecast. We'll update if anything changes, though. ...

Via PS3 Center

According to the Official PlayStation Magazine UK, Bioshock is in development for the Sony PlayStation 3 console.

The magazine states many times that the game is in development even though the thought up until now was that the game is going to be an exclusive for the Xbox 360 console.

The magazine mentions that the exclusivity of Bioshock is only a timed-exclusive for Microsoft. This means that the game will be an exclusive on the Xbox 360 but for just a short period of time. It will then be released by 2K Games on all next-generation consoles, meaning the PS3.

When Bioshock was first announced it was made clear that it was going to be for all next-gen consoles. Since then though Microsoft has tried to lock up the game as an Xbox 360 exclusive.

With rumors that games such as Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy XIII going multi-platform, it would be absolutely no surprise to anyone that Bioshock be released on the PS3 as well as the Xbox 360, especially since it was already in development on the PS3 to begin with. ...

Via PS3 Center

Sony has come out and stated in the past that they believe the PS3 can be as successful as the PlayStation 2 was, and they still back that belief.

Nick Sharples of Sony Computer Entertainment has come out and responded to rumors that Sony was going to begin to cut back on the production of the PS3 consoles due to the lack of sales on a worldwide level. Sharples reiterated that Sony believes that the PS3 is going to sell tens of millions of units and that it could be in the position to win the next-generation console war for the third-time in a row.

Analysts have been reporting that Sony may already begin to pull the plug on the PS3 a bit by lowering production levels. Sharples, who is the director of corporate communications at Sony, told MCV that..

"I’m not aware of any cut in production. We have our forecast for the year for PS3 of ten million and that still stands. Of course, production is adjusted according to stock levels and requirements of different territories. The normal seasonal uplift towards the peak season will happen, but that’s completely normal.

"There’s absolutely nothing that you can read from that. The idea of price certainly doesn’t follow on to any adjustment in production. Analysts may wish to think so, but there’s no basis of fact in any of it."

"We announce when changes in price will happen and we don’t discuss them beforehand."

Even though analysts may not be behind it, it sure seems that Sony stands firm that the PS3 can and will still win the console war. ...

MrD has released a new version of Lemmings for the Nintendo DS:

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Beodeulpiri has posted an update to his card game

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