This week’s Nintendo downloads

What’s going on in the wonderful world of Nintendo downloads this week? Plenty, according to Nintendo. For the DSi they are offering Sparkle Snapshots (500 Nintendo DSi Points), a tiny little application that lets you embellish photos that you take with the DSi camera. Users get access to a virtual photo booth where they can customize pictures with extras, fancy frames, and stamps. Other DSi games being released include Viking Invasion (800 Nintendo DSi Points) and Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition (800 Nintendo DSi Points).

Hitting WiiWare for Wii this week is Incredible Technologies’ Carnival Kings (a carnival management sim, in case you couldn’t figure it out); Ateam’s “Aha! I Got It!” Escape Game, and Aksys Games’ Family Card Games. The Virtual Console will see the Sega Master System classic R-Type, and the TurboGrafx16 classic beat ‘em up Fighting Street.

Visit Nintendo.com for more details.

Tomena Sanner coming to WiiWare in 2010

Konami Digital Entertainment, today announced Tomena Sanner, an upcoming downloadable game for Nintendo WiiWare based on the popular title released in Japan earlier this year. Tomena Sanner challenges players to run through crazy obstacles in order to reach the finish line and take part in the “ultimate dance party.” Okay..

In Tomena Sanner, players become businessman Hitoshi Susumu, who is behind schedule and won’t stop running until he gets to his ultimate dance party. Dashing past samurais, T-Rexes, cowboys, and odd obstacles using just one button, seems normal in this game. Tomena Sanner also features a unique timing based control system that players can utilize as they jump, dance and fly over hurdles that come their way. As players glide across the screen they can read the silly notes that flash along the in-game ticker as well.

Players will be able to lead Hitoshi through nine different levels including the Moon, jungle, a city and more. Multiplayer with up to four players is also planned, along with online rankings, an Endless Level Mode that keeps players gunning for the ultimate high score, and a Turbo Mode that tests skill level at high speeds.

Tomena Sanner will be available for Nintendo WiiWare in Q1 2010.

Brütal Legend map pack in Nov.

Electronic Arts and Double Fine Productions announced plans to release new downloadable content for Brütal Legend in Nov. Tears of the Hextadon , a new double map pack, will be available on Xbox LIVE on November 3rd for 400 MS Points and on PlayStation Network on November 5th, where the two-map pack will be downloadable for free until November 19th, then costing $4.99 after November 19th.

The Brütal Legend Tears of the Hextadon map pack expands the Brütal Legend Stage Battle multiplayer experience with two new multiplayer maps. In the first map, Circle of Tears, vile waters have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent. In the second map, Death’s Fjord, players find themselves on an icy mountain pass with a dense cluster of fans that lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from enemy attack. All players who download the new map pack will receive a free axe, the Blade of Ormagöden.

Look for the maps in early Nov.

Abbey Road now available for The Beatles Rock Band

Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix have released Abbey Road for The Beatles: Rock Band - the first Beatles album available for purchase as downloadable content in The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store. You can find out more about the contents of the package by reading this story from yesterday.

More Beatles albums that have been announced as upcoming downloadable content include Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) in November and Rubber Soul (1965) in December. The Beatles: Rock Band downloadable content will be available for purchase on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, PlayStation Network and via the in-game The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store for Wii.
The album is available today on Xbox 360 and Wii, and will be released Oct. 22 on PS3.

This week’s Nintendo downloads

This week’s downloads on the Nintendo Wii and DSi mix old school action RPG with the popular mascot of Japan’s NHK television station. Games hitting WiiWare this week include LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias (1,000 Points), the sequel to Frontier’s popular Wii title; and Hudson Entertainment’s action arcade game, Shootanto: Evolutionary Mayhem (500 Points). The Virtual Console gets the classic Tecmo NES game Rygar (600 Points) - which I’m pretty excited about for some reason.

Nintendo DSiWare is all about Domo, the popular mascot of Japan’s NHK television station. Five games for 200 DSi Points each are being released including Crash-Course Domo, Hard-Hat Domo, Pro-Putt Domo, Rock-n-Roll Domo, and White-Water Domo. As you can imagine Domo will be pretty banged up after doing all these activities so try to be gentle.

DRiiFT Mania shifts to WiiWare

Konami Digital Entertainment’s newest WiiWare title, DRiiFT Mania, is now available. The game promises fast-paced single and multiplayer racing for Wii fans for 800 Wii Points. In DRiiFT Mania, racers maintain pole position as they face up to eight drivers to determine who the best driver is. Players can choose from over 32 vehicles (from fast cars to powerful trucks) and race through 12 tracks based on various environments including hills, city, oasis and even snow. If racing in traditional Single Player Mode isn’t enough of a thrill, players can also engage in Multiplayer Championship or Team Race Mode, as well VIP, Meteorite, Cold Potato and Contamination Mode for extra racing fun.

Players can also take to the track using any combination of Wii Remote, Nunchuck or Classic Controller to operate their vehicles.

DRiiFT Mania is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and is now available for purchase for 800 Wii Points on Nintendo WiiWare.

Contra Rebirth details revealed, out next week

Konami Digital Entertainment some new details from the soon to be released Contra reimagining, Contra Rebirth. This arcade-shooter will be available on WiiWare next week. In Contra Rebirth, Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 AD to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the “Contra” on Earth.

The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite “Contra” warriors to save the Earth, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and the samurai, Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth and must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost.

Key features include 2 player local co-op (it wouldn’t be Contra with no co-op, now would it?), classic Contra firepower - including the popular Spreadshot, 2 unlockable characters, retro style 2D sprite graphics, side-scrolling action, and a new story that follows the classic Contra theme. Look for this new Contra game early next week on WiiWare.