I used to breed all the time. Hell, I bred until my body just couldn’t take it anymore and I had to sleep. I bred so much that eventually I felt like things had gone sterile, like there was just nothing more I could do. Yes, long hours were spent in my garden–a task which I both loved and hated–and I was ready to be done with it.

Until this revelation.

Thanks to Kotaku, who provided the above screen, and revived my desire to breed. I am ready to once again absorb myself into the world or ridiculously named animals, strange humanoid creatures, and the sense of omnipotence that only tending a pinata garden provides.

The DS provides the perfect platform for this sort of game. The touch screen will provide the responsiveness that is needed for the master gardener and the demographic of the DS (i.e. the children), will help sell this game. If marketed right this game could very well be one of the best selling games in the year of its release. Rare just has to capitalize on the Nintendogs market, since they already have good word of mouth hype with the hardcore market, and they will have a multi-platinum hit.

Chufmoney

Full disclosure: My black DS Lite hasn’t been turned on for 3 weeks. However, I’m still glad I own it, because the upcoming Zelda title for the DS, Phantom Hourglass looks amazing:

I’ve been saying for a while now that the only Zelda title from the past 14 years that will continue to hold up graphically over time is Wind Waker - it’s a classic example of designing to a platform’s strengths while minimizing the effect of its weaknesses. It’s something I hope we see more of on the Wii, and a Windwaker style Zelda in 480p would be pretty nice. This title is a similar sort of concept for the DS as well, as the game is using the hardware efficiently, and uses effective visual design rather than throwing as many polygons and textures around as possible.

That in mind, it’s good to hear that the title finally has an official release date of October 1st in the US, which is actually a surprising delay given the soonish release window for the title in Japan. I won’t complain though, as a shortage of games late this year isn’t going to be a problem. The bad news here is that the release date announcement for Zelda DS contained a quietly and strategically phrased delay for the next big Nintendo release this year, Metroid Prime 3, which has had it’s fair share of development troubles. It’s only a week though, and now it’s conveniently scheduled after the Penny Arcade Expo (which Chuf and I will be attending), so Wii owners won’t have to agonize so much between launch day Metroid marathons and their nerd pilgrimage requirements.

-Aegies

BBC News posted an article on their site about the UK’s version of Mind Quiz for the DS, and the use of “an offensive term.” Apparently a woman in the hospital recovering from giving birth was playing the game in the hospital. A few months previously, she lost her son who had cerebral palsy. She failed at something and the DS told her she was, well, come on, fill in the blanks here. Thus, the production of the game has been ceased and the good people of the UK are pulling the game off the shelves. Is this a bit much, or a steady response to a sensitive time in our lives? With Britains refusals to show Manhunt 2 love and the quick response to Mind Quiz’s stupid mistake, it is going to be a hard time for gamers trying to play or do anything offensive on the other side of the pond. (via BBC News)

Yesterday, I could not give two shits about a Final Fantasy title on the DS, though I now own one. I haven’t been a fan of the franchise since VI a long time ago, and although I commend Square-Enix for the drastic departure in style, gameplay, and story style featured in Final Fantasy XII, I’m still alright with not playing it anytime soon. Things have changed.

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