Chipbit ®

A bit of Everything

With global sales approaching 50 million units, Wii Sports has comfortably overtaken Super Mario Bros. as the best-selling videogame of all time. Of course a great deal of that success can, as with the previous record-holder, be ascribed to the fact that the game comes bundled with the console upon which it plays in every country outside of Japan. But the link between Nintendo’s Wii and its number one sports game runs far deeper than a physical tie at the point of sale.

Just as Super Mario Bros. defined the NES so Wii Sports exemplifies the Wii’s functionality and appeal, along with its maker’s current vision and ambition, better than any other. Arguably the principle success of this immediately irresistible sport-themed mini-game collection has been in revealing to non-gamers why gamers play videogames.

With a barrier to entry as low as swinging the controller like a racket or bowling ball, anyone can experience for themselves the joy of digital cause and effect. In this way Wii Sports has broadened gaming’s boundaries and improved the mainstream cultural standing of the medium more significantly than almost any other title.

Source

Nintendo and McDonalds Japan announced today the start of a new tie-up that will give DS owners access to a variety of free services at nationwide McDonalds restaurants starting June 19.

The service is known as “Mac de DS,” or “DS at McDonalds.” DS owners who visit McDonalds shops with their system will have access to such free services as character distribution, digital stamp rallies, coupons for McDonalds food items, comic distribution, and exclusive game demos.

The first character distribution offer will be the Jirachi Pokemon for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum. This will be available from June 19 through July 17.

For the stamp rally component, the DS will display a digital collection sheet, which can be filled out with digital stickers that will be available for download at McDonalds shops. Collect a certain number of stamps, and you’ll be able to get coupons for free food items. Each McDonalds shop will offer one stamp per day, meaning to get more stamps quickly, DS owners will have to either visit one shop over multiple days or run around visiting multiple shops in a single day.

Source

Reggie Fils-Aime, President of Nintendo of America has said the company does not believe second hand game sales are in the best interest of consumers.

Quite ironic if you’ve asked me, I would usually prefer to pick up something cheaper even if its “used”. The fact is (at least for me), you’re still going to be playing the same game. The only thing you’ll notice is the cosmetic differences which are normal tear and wears on the game cartridge, and even so, it’ll be from the time you buy it up until you stick it into the wii. Nonetheless, as long as it works its still good.

According to this chart, 49 million have purchased a used game.

Full Post