Nintendo has confirmed that Disaster: Day of Crisis is set to be released in Japan on September 25th. This confirmation comes just days after Nintendo of Europe released their announcement for an October 24th launch in the UK region.

September 25th?! Monolith Soft spends over three years developing this title just to have it released a mere three weeks from now? Where are the trailers, and promotional adverts? Either way this gives U.S. Wii owners more to consider when predicting a western release date. There’s a very good chance NoA could slip Disaster into the upcoming lack-luster holiday line-up without worries.

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Japanese gamers sure love their rumble packs.

Apparently WiiBrew dev “Crediar” has released a Wii menu hack that allows you to edit some of the internal settings of the Wii. (Which could prove to be very dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.)  You could say this is similar to the DVD Hack that was seen a few days ago, where you could play and watch DVDs on your Wii. However, Starfall is a hack that unlocks many of the Wii’s internal services, including games and certain channels, to become region free.

With this you can finally run that copy of Dairantou Smash Brothers X you bought thinking the Wii was region free to begin with, or even go and import some games that would never come out here. Let us all go and get that shinkansen game “Densha de Go!”. All in all, this is some interesting developements since WiiBrew developers seem to be doing amazing things with the Wii. I wonder what Nintendo’s response to all of this is going to be.

So, you think Wii Music isn’t a game? What about AQ Interactive’s KORG DS-10 synthesizer? It’s not even pretending to be a game — you can’t even buy it at the game store! 

As baffled as I am by this cartridge’s limited release on Amazon.co.jp today (why wouldn’t everyone want a synthesizer on their DS?) I doubt it was to make a statement about the title’s “un-gaminess.” It may not have points, levels, downloadable content, or plumbers, but it sure looks like fun: check out AQI’s You Tube channel for a slew of demo videos.

I’ll post my thoughts (and first tune) when it comes in the mail this week!

Dear America,

Do you want to cause a REVOLUTION? Do you want to create chaos among the populous and fill every public train with rabid children itching to spend money just to utilize your travel services? It’s easy — just ask Nintendo for some back-up!

In Tokyo this weekend saw the beginning of the Pokémon Stamp Rally, a yearly event where kids are encouraged to ride government-run trains (not those private ones), to select stations in Tokyo where stamps of various Pokémon have been placed over night. Once you collect at least six Pokémon, it’s off to one of the big stations to trade in your stamped card for a lanyard with two Pokémon posing in front of the Japan Railroad emblem — oh, and don’t forget a Pikachu visor (it’s made out of paper)!!

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Fatal Frame IV is apparently going to be released for the Nintendo Wii sometime in the near future. The Fatal Frame series is based around Japanese myths surrounding ghosts and tainted spirits. The game also has extensive roots in Japan mythology and settings as the games have always been in Japan, usually placing the main characters in abandoned mansions or town.

It’s still a little surprising to see Fatal Frame to be released on the Wii since the series was originally made for the PlayStation 2. The game is apparently a joint effort between Tecmo, Grasshopper Manufacture, Inc (Suda51), and Nintendo. It was also revealed that the game will be published under the Nintendo banner, does that mean that Nintendo now owns the rights to Fatal Frame? Who knows at this point, I can’t wait to hear more information about this game at E3, hit the jump to see some new character information.

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Just behind Super Robot Battle for PSP and Metal Gear Solid 4, Mario Super Sluggers (Called: Mario Stadium Family Baseball in Japan) is number three for game sales according to Famitsu’s retail ranking from June 16-22. This shows extremely strong sales for the title since it was released on the 19th of this month, three days after Famitsu started their ranking numbers and has already hit the top three. Additionally, the chart shows little signs of a sell-out, which means sales have remained steady despite a low frenzy-factor.

I’ve been in Los Angeles since the end of May for the convention circuit but I’m heading back on the 12th, so you can bet we’ll be previewing this game at least a month ahead of it’s US release.

Reuters Japan reported yesterday that a Japanese girls middle school has begun utilizing Nintendo DS software inside the classroom to teach students everything from reading and writing, to vocabulary and listening comprehension.

Since May, teacher Soshi Okubo has been having class sessions that use the DS once a week. “The students have become extremely involved — it’s a fun way for them to learn spelling. At our school, we think learning English should be something fun.”

Since the year 2000, fifteen-thousand Japanese middle schools and high schools have resolved to find creative new teaching methods, and reduce route memorization.

“It’s fun and has really helped me in learning English,” says 9th grader Kanako Takahashi. “They even have DS software for learning math, so I’d like to try that too.”

The article has some DS details for the uninitiated, and explains that since there is still a ban on DS usage outside the classrooms, the students have to return their units once the English lesson is finished.

Before you jump on my back, know that this post is speaking more to the power of WiiFit than it is demeaning the PS3. Believe me, the system doesn’t need my help in that department.

As you can see from this screengrab of Malstrom’s Hardcore Gamer Suicide Watch page, WiiFit surpassed the PS3 in Japan. Not the Wii, mind you, but a Wii peripheral. Oh, and I still vehemently maintain that the WiiFit is no ordinary accessory. It’s still more of a console or platform in my book, and I’m sticking to it.

I’ve been balancing and lightly exercising on my copy of Wiii Fit for the past day and a half. I’ll have my thoughts on it later today. Initial impression/tease: “Hey, you know what? This thing actually works.”

Former President of Nintendo, Hiroshi Yamauchi has moved up to the number 1 spot for the richest man of Japan. Mr.Yamauchi gained the title when his net worth boosted 3 billion just last year. This brings his total worth to 7.7 billion dollars! Much has been increased due to his very successful shares in the Nintendo’s current Wii and DS platforms. This feat comes 2 years after Mr.Yamauchi donated $60 million to the Kyoto University Hospital.

Hiroshi Yamauchi served as Nintendo’s president from 1949 to 2002. He evolved Nintendo from a simple playing card company to the video game giant of today. Mr.Yamauchi stepped down from his duty in 2002 and was succeeded by current president, Satoru Iwata. Hiroshi Yamauchi is 80 years old.

Bloomberg

Since I moved to Japan I’ve begun to notice various instances of copyright infringement in ads, store windows, and various products. The convenient store near my job uses a poorly drawn “colonel” to advertise their chicken and the barber shop down the street has Mickey Mouse in the window for no reason. There just isn’t as tight a hold on improper intellectual property usage here, and so you will often see Mario used as the logo for video game stores that opened around the big Famicom boom in the 80’s.

This game-shop in a Nakano shopping arcade took the trend a step further and copped the plumber’s name for their store “Big Mario (ma-ri-o is written in Katakana).” Nice! Even though the shop sells more than just Nintendo-goods, the name harkens back to when “playing Nintendo,” or even “playing Mario,” could mean gaming of any kind. Ahh the memories.

Japanese sales tracker Media Create has announced 100 million units of DS software have been sold in Japan since launch. 100 million in almost three and a half years! That’s quite a feat when you compare software sales to Japan’s PS2 power house which took four years and three months to hit the 100 million software mark. Twenty one of the 922 DS games released have sold more than 1 million units.

Nintendo’s Top Ten DS games in Japan

New Super Mario Bros - 5,174,163 units
Brain Age 2 - 4,835,159 units
Animal Crossing DS - 4,693,662 units
Brain Age - 3,771,440 units
Mario Kart DS - 3,042,753 units
Pokemon Diamond - 3,005,505 units
Pokemon Pearl - 2,490,564 units
English Training DS - 2,216,322 units
Mario Party DS - 1,706,506 units
Big Brain Academy - 1,654,285 units

Will the juggernaut ever slow?

[IGN]

Before I started home from work today my bu-chou (head of planning) told me her father had bought her daughter a new Wii game and she wanted me to go up and see it before I went home (bu-chou and sha-chou (CEO)) live upstairs from the company office).

Not to get into the complex family dynamics of my employment situation, let’s just say I got to sit down and watch a 6th-grader take the Wii wheel for a spin, and then played one course myself. Obviously not enough play-time for a review, but I can definitely list some things I’m looking forward to, and somethings that I’m not. (more…)

Since the Wii, Nintendo has cut worldwide manufacturing for their previous consoles ingenious Gamecube controller. Since then Wavebirds can be seen going on ebay for $50+ used, mainly due to Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart Wii’s cube controller support. Thankfully, Nintendo is beginning to manufacture GC controllers once again, this time in Wii white color to please the overall wii presentation. In addition is a longer cord (three meters), and a welcome price point of 2,000 yen ($20).

As of right now, Nintendo is only planning to stock them on shelves in Japan, but don’t be surprised if you start seeing them pop up around here in the next couple months.

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Most of the rest of the world will get to hop online and take their Mario Kart for a spin on Wii this week.  The Americas will enjoy some Kart action later this month.  Anyone international Infendo fans out there getting their copy this week?