Nintendo is taking handheld supremacy very seriously indeed and to confirm the fact, the company has launched its massive, multimillion-dollar "Touching is good" campaign to spread the word about the innovative, touch- and dual-screened Nintendo DS. The new hand-held video game and communications system launches Nov. 21, and will be backed by the largest launch program ever for a Nintendo product. To view one of the first ads for the device follow the screens tab above.
Since childhood, we've been told please do not touch - don't touch that lamp, stop touching your food and don't touch anything in this store. Nintendo DS changes those rules. The Touching is good multimedia campaign creatively touts the unique features of the dual-screened Nintendo DS, which include a touch screen, a built-in chat function, wireless communication and voice recognition.
Intriguing pre-launch television ads begin airing on Oct. 25. The series of three ads presents a static-filled screen with a female voice-over that encourages viewers to interact with two blue boxes that appear on the screen. The sultry requests for interaction coincide with the special features of Nintendo DS.
To support this pre-launch effort, Nintendo has aligned itself with powerful media partners that target a hip, male demographic. MTV produced a custom ad for Nintendo DS featuring the stars of Wildboyz using Nintendo DS to play a wireless multiplayer game while engaging in one of their exciting trademark adventures. Nintendo will offer a video with behind-the-scenes footage of the making of this commercial on Nintendo.com.
In addition, custom advertorials will run exclusively in Dennis Publishing's Maxim, Blender and Stuff magazines, instructing readers How to Score. The ads relate to readers and viewers of these popular media brands by speaking their language.
During the launch phase for Nintendo DS, three new television ads will showcase the unit's unique features. This engaging and surreal campaign will demonstrate the appeal of Nintendo DS to a wide range of ages and demographics. Consumers will not be identified simply by age, but rather by the kinds of lifestyles they lead. Nintendo will market Nintendo DS to the full spectrum of hipsters, budding enthusiasts and hard-core gamers.
In December, Nintendo will run ads on more than 5,000 movie screens across the country. Print ads in gaming magazines will support the launch, along with a full range of Internet and broadband efforts. There will be unique program integration with major TV networks. In addition, Nintendo DS is being featured on the Nintendo Fusion Tour, a multi-city tour that presents the best in music and video games.
Nintendo DS will sell at an MSRP of USD 149.99. In addition to the built-in PictoChat chat function, Nintendo DS will come bundled with a playable demo of Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, the latest installment in an extremely popular first-person shooter franchise.
Before the end of the year, Nintendo DS users will be able to enjoy games of all kinds, from Super Mario 64 DS from Nintendo, Madden NFL 2005, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2005 and The Urbz: Sims in the City from EA, and Spider-Man 2 from Activision. Other third-party titles available during the launch window include Ping Pals from THQ, Feel the Magic : XY/XX from SEGA, Rayman DS and Asphalt Urban GT from Ubisoft and Ridge Racer DS and Mr. DRILLER : Drill Spirits from Namco. More than 120 games remain in development for Nintendo DS around the world.
Super Mario® 64 DS
Super Mario® 64, the genre-defining Nintendo® 64 classic, arrives on the Nintendo DS with all-new features that take full advantage of the new portable system's dual screens, touch screen and wireless multiplayer capability. New characters, stages and puzzles await. In addition to MarioTM, players will be able to play as Yoshi®, Luigi and even WarioTM, each of whom has different abilities integral to collecting every last one of the 150 Power Stars hidden in the castle and grounds. Play through Adventure mode, try your hand at tons of new touch-sensitive mini-games or battle up to three friends in Wireless Versus mode, which you can play with only one DS Game Card.
Metroid® Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Experience the ferocious first-person action of the Metroid Prime universe on the Nintendo DS in the playable demo, Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt. Hone your skills against a slew of enemies in single-player training modes like Regulator, Survival and Morph Ball, then put them to the test when you compete in Death Match arenas with your friends over a wireless connection. Multiple control schemes take full advantage of the touch screen, giving all gamers an ideal way to play.
PictoChatTM
Keep in constant contact with your friends with PictoChat - a wireless chat program that's built into the Nintendo DS. With PictoChat, up to 16 people per chat room can link over a wireless connection and chat and swap drawings all they want. Simply hand-write words or draw pictures on the Nintendo DS touch screen, and then send them to your friends. You can even copy someone else's message, edit it, add to it and send it back. Draw, doodle, share ideas or do anything else you can think of - dreaming up new ways to use PictoChat is half the fun. Anyone with a Nintendo DS can play with PictoChat - no Game Card is required.
Software in Development:
Advance Wars DS (temporary title)
Armchair strategists rejoice - Advance Wars is coming to the Nintendo DS. The latest game in the vaunted military tactics series features a new battle system that takes full advantage of the system's two screens. New missions will have you commanding air forces in the sky on the top screen and ground forces below on the touch screen. Not only that, but you can take the fight to the enemy in all-new Survival and Combat game modes. In addition to leading your army to victory with a slew of original COs, you can also clash with your friends over a wireless connection.
Another (temporary title)
Uncover clues to a family's painful mystery in Another, the first true adventure game on the Nintendo DS. Featuring a riveting plot and unique puzzles that must be solved using the touch screen and microphone, Another breaks new ground in adventure gaming. Players can expect to encounter detailed environments populated with gritty characters. During play, one screen displays conversations while the other screen displays character actions.
Jam With The Band (temporary title)
Jam With the Band gives you the chance to rock out on your Nintendo DS. To make sweet music, all you have to do is grab the stylus, choose your favorite instrument and a song and cue the scrolling dots on the touch screen with perfect timing. If your solo career isn't flying, you can always join a band. An unlimited number of people can link up and form a massive jam session, as long as all players are in wireless range and have their own Game Cards. Plus, up to eight people can jam together over a wireless connection with just one Game Card. If you aren't in the mood to play one of the included songs, you can create original compositions just by humming into the microphone.
One-Line Puzzle (temporary title)
One-Line Puzzle is an elegantly simple and stylish puzzle game designed to be played entirely with the Nintendo DS touch screen and a stylus. To play, you've got to use the stylus to draw a stroke, flipping black and white tiles to change and match their color. Three game modes and scores of puzzles will put your puzzle-solving abilities and stylus skills to the test. You can even challenge a friend to a duel over a wireless connection!
Puppy Times (temporary title)
Puppies are invading the Nintendo DS. In Puppy Times, you can raise up to three adorable puppies and play with them to your heart's content. You can also teach your pups new tricks - just speak into the built-in microphone and they'll respond to the voice commands you've taught them. Not only that, but you can even play Puppy Times over a wireless connection!
WarioWare, Inc. DS (temporary title)
Wario makes his mad debut on the Nintendo DS with 180 all-new, factory-fresh microgames! WarioWare, Inc. DS features all of the frantic five-second microgame action of the previous games, but with a touching new twist. You can play every microgame with the Nintendo DS touch screen, making it the perfect game for the system's unique touch-screen technology. Not only that, but you can even play some microgames with the Nintendo DS built-in microphone.
Yoshi's Touch & Go (temporary title)
Yoshi and Baby Mario are about to embark on another wild adventure - this time on the Nintendo DS. Using the Nintendo DS system's two screens and touch screen capability, you'll have to help Yoshi guard Baby Mario and guide him to safety. On vertical-action levels, players must use the stylus to draw clouds on the touch screen to protect Baby Mario from enemies and lead him to Yoshi. On horizontal side-scrolling levels, players must use the stylus to look out for Yoshi as he gallops across the countryside. On top of all that, Yoshi's Touch & Go also features two-player wireless play.