Hudson Entertainment’s Bomberman Blitz debuts on the Nintendo DSi today for 500 points. Bomberman Blitz allows gamers to relive the classic Bomberman flavor on DSi. Players have the ability to play up to 8 players at home or online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, battle in 10 unique locations, and the ability to control the game using the DSi’s dual screens. All the power-ups that affect bombs, strengthen blast range, running and much more are also in the mix. Finally the game offers a new training mode that allows newcomers to learn the Bomberman gameplay and get right in on the action.

For more information on Bomberman Blitz and other Hudson DSi titles, check out www.hudsonent.com.

James Patterson’s Daniel X becomes a game

THQ today announced its plans to bring James Patterson’s book series, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, to the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS in January 2010. The books revolve around a boy named Daniel, who has special powers that allow him to create things - a power he inherited from his alien parents. Meep, meep. Daniel also inherited a Wanted List of aliens that are bent on destroying planet Earth. It is up to Daniel to use his powers to stop them.

Daniel X allows players to create objects out of thin air and implement them to overcome obstacles, save friends and prevent the aliens on The List from taking over the world. As Daniel traverses an alien world, that skill will be vital in solving puzzles and battling enemies so that he can return home to Earth.

The game is being developed by Griptonite Games and will be available for the Nintendo DSi and DS for a suggested price of $29.99 this upcoming January.

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail this week for Wii, DS and Nintendo DSi. In Rabbids Go Home the crazy bunnies introduced in Rayman Raving Rabbids just want to go home so they try to build stairway to the moon. But in order to make it tall enough they need to collect lots and lots of things of all shapes and sizes.

Promising a “wacky storyline,” new game play, cooperative play, 40 Missions and 15 Environments, controls that take advantage the Wii Remote, a special support for the camera on the DSi version of the game..

Rabbids Go Home for the Wii is rated “E10+” and has an MSRP of $49.99. Rabbids Go Home for the DS and DSi is rated “E” and has an MSRP of $29.99.

Ubisoft’s Jam Sessions 2 in stores this week

Ubisoft has released Jam Sessions 2 for the Nintendo DS and DSi at retailers across the U.S. Jam Sessions 2 is a guitar game developed by Plato that attempts to make improving your guitar skills fun and rewarding.

Each song in the game play mode serves a different role in advancing players’ guitar skills and songwriting abilities. By progressing through the songbook, players can learn techniques that will help them play the guitar and write songs. Armed with their new skills, players can then play, create and share their original music with others.

Jam Sessions 2 is rated E10+ by the ESRB and has an MSRP of $29.99.

Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

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Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery announced for DSi / DS

Today Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery for the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS will launch on November 17 for the suggested retail price of $29.99. The game is rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB. Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery takes players in an untold chapter from the Assassin’s Creed II console storyline utilizing the strengths of the Nintendo DS platform. In this new adventure, Ezio travels to Spain to rescue fellow assassins being held under the guise of the Inquisition, only to uncover a Templar plot to sail west and discover the New World.

The game takes platforming into the next generation with an emphasis on speed and acrobatics. The in-game animations provide players with a visceral experience and the intuitive controls enable players to execute assassinations and navigate obstacles at high speeds - at least according to Ubisoft. Nintendo DSi owners will be able to take pictures of themselves and put them directly into the game as “WANTED!” posters as well.

Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery is being developed by Griptonite Games. More details at www.assassinscreed.com.

Wii price cut to $199.99 USD

Nintendo has finally decided that a price drop is in order, putting its Wii home console system in the familiar position of being the cheapest one on the market. Starting Sunday, Sept. 27, Nintendo will lower the suggested retail price for the system by $50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point includes the same content as the original including 1 Wii Remote and Nunchuck, and Wii Sports.

“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.“

This is the smartest move Nintendo could have made given that both Sony and Microsoft have already cut the price of their home consoles. 

Naturally this will open up new players to already popular franchises like Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort, Metroid Prime Trilogy - and new stuff like New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nov. 15), and Wii Fit Plus (Oct. 4). Nintendo also announced that it will run some in special events in select cities called World of Nintendo. Kicking off in Long Beach, Calif., World of Nintendo will show off the latest Nintendo Wii and DS games and give consumers hands on time with the likes of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Punch-Out!! and WiiWare titles as well as DS/ DSi games like The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box and Nintendo DSiWare titles. A full list of dates for the month of Oct. after the break.

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