A pair of applications are new to the DSi Ware shop. Featuring the Animal Crossing license and each costing 200 DSi Ware points, Nintendo released a calculator and a clock. The caculator is, well, just that, a calculator. Only slightly more impressive than Donkey Kong Jr. Math, the Animal Crossing calculator is a wonderfully delicate blend of digital abacus and franchise sell-out. Not to be outdone, the Animal Crossing clock has a clock, specialized alarms and a special sticker you can wear that indicates you were a sucker for paying two dollars for this product.
I think the addition of these Nintendo-licensed applications is a great idea. Nintendo is pushing the concept that the DSi is the essential asset you must carry around with you as you live your life. Fun games, downloads and applications, the Nintendo DSi is positioned to do it all for you. What is bothersome is the price point they have set for this revolution. Once again, the omnipresent monolith of Nintendo attempts to squeeze every last penny out of its consumers. What they should have done is bundled the calculator, clock and a scheduler and sold it for 250 DSi Ware points. Of course, Nintendo does not have to cater to the whims of the people since they will buy anything the Big 'N' releases. Pikmin Swine Flu Remedy confirmed and only 7,000 DSi Ware points with surgical mask peripheral.
Look for this feature next week as I delve into the weekly released Nintendo DLC.
Fans of the popular Animal Crossing series can enjoy a pair of downloadable—and practical—debuts this week via the Nintendo DSiWare service. Whether you're telling time or doing arithmetic, these handy applications will give your daily number-crunching a critter-friendly boost. A new WiiWare game also takes a fun peek into the animal kingdom, while the latest Virtual Console release sends players underwater for classic Commodore 64 action.
Nintendo DSiWare
Animal
Crossing Calculator (Nintendo, 1 player, 200 Nintendo DSi Points):
Need to figure out what you owe Tom Nook or the amount in your savings
account? Animal Crossing Calculator features the full functionality of a
traditional calculator, including a Memory key and the ability to
display up to 13 digits, adding a layer of atmosphere unique to Animal
Crossing. Use the Unit Converter to turn one unit of measure into
another (such as length, weight, volume and age), or track the history
of calculations you've performed. Listen to the Animalese pronunciation
of numbers when you press them, and watch for a favorite Animal Crossing
character to appear when your result meets certain criteria. Get ready
for an inventive and practical way to experience the charm of Animal
Crossing.
Animal
Crossing Clock (Nintendo, 1 player, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Enjoy
the atmosphere of Animal Crossing in a whole new way with Animal
Crossing Clock. Select from either an analog or digital clock and set up
to three alarms (with snooze functionality for those who need it). Make
your own Town Tune or use sounds created in Nintendo DSi Sound, then
assign them to the alarms you've set. Use the system's internal clock or
offset the time however you like. Then sit back and watch as different
characters from Animal Crossing appear and the color of the sky changes
as time passes. You'll never miss an important appointment with one of
your Animal Crossing friends again.
WiiWare
Penguins
&Friends - Hey! That's My Fish! (Gammick Entertainment, 1-4
players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): The penguins are hungry
and need your help. Catch all the fish you can before someone steals
them from you. Strategy is fundamental in this exciting game. Keep
moving ahead of the other penguins so you don't get trapped, and try to
get to the ice floes that hold more fish. One to four players can play
Penguins&Friends at the same time, provided they can handle the polar
cold. The board is made up of ice blocks with a set number of fish under
them. The ice blocks are hexagonal and form a structure like a beehive.
The starting position of the ice blocks can change, creating different
game boards.
Tower Toppler (Commodore 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Weird things are happening on Planet Nebulus. Someone or something has begun building huge towers on the sea floor without a construction license. Your mission is to ascend each of the eight cylindrical towers, passing various obstacles along the way, and to trigger the tower's destruction mechanism to demolish the evil threat. Praised upon its original 1987 release for its graphical innovation, this is considered to be the most outstanding game from Hewson. Don't miss out on this classic favorite.
Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
