The November 1st release of the Nintendo DSi in Japan is approaching quickly. Here’s an “informational video” from Nintendo Japan. It shows off the new UI, camera and voice modulation. The DSi store and the DSi’s revamped UI are also highlighted. But some questions remain. Will it allow you to change game cards and system settings without having to reboot the unit?

These days it’s unusual to hear about a new game console that isn’t from Sony, MS or Nintendo. But it looks like we have a new contender from Envizions Computer Entertainment. This is their first console, the Evo “Smart Console” which is available for pre-order. Interestingly, the console itself is basically a Linux-based computer.

Some specs include an overclocked Athlon 64×2 5600 processor and an ATI Radeon 3200 graphics card. Envizions sees the console being used as a development platform with a “cloud” computing system. What that means is that developers would have to make games specifically for the Evo “Smart Console.” Could that happen? They think so. The new console should ship on November 20th for about $600 and you can pre-order one now with a $100 deposit.

You’ve probably wondered how game manufacturers get the Nintendo Seal of Quality on their boxes. Click through for a complete rundown of just what it takes on every generation platform. As you may have noticed, the standards have gone down since the days of the NES. Full chart below.

September games sales actually showed the first decline since March of 2006 according to the NPD Group, however things are still not looking too tough for the gaming industry. September of 2007 saw a huge hike in sales due to the release of Halo 3 which is contrasted by slightly lower sales this last September of 2008.

The drop is sales was not the only change of events for September, either. Due to the price cut of the Xbox 360 models, Microsoft saw a significantly noticeable boost in sales for its console from 195k units sold in August, to 347k units sold in September of this year, bringing it ahead of Sony’s PS3. Microsoft dropped the price to $50 less than the Wii and half of what the PS3 costs, making it the least expensive current-generation game console on the market.

So, we have more info on that pedometer we told you about the other day. It’s not just a crap Wii-Fit add-on that threw our way to pacify us. It’s called the Life Rhythm Counter and is apparently for a fitness game on the DS (and new DSi?). The price is about $17, and interestingly the title lets you transfer Wii Miis to the DS. It traps their souls in there or something. Looks like it will be out in November.

Last year one of the most difficult to find gifts was the Nintendo Wii. In fact, the Wii is to this day still very difficult to find in stores and remains one of the most sought after consoles available. Nintendo has announced some of its holiday line up for the Wii and says it hopes to fix the Wii shortage.

One of the most important announcements is that Nintendo says supplies of the Wii in America will be significantly increased in October to December of 2008 compared to 2007. Nintendo also said that its Wii Speak Channel and the required Wii Speak accessory will be available in November. The accessory will retail for $29.99.

I don’t think you’ll find this controller at your local Gamestop. Aside from being several years out of date, it’s also a bong/pipe. Which makes sense. I mean, what magical land has mushrooms that can make you bigger and spit fireballs, ride a green dinosaur named Yoshi and warp travel through pipes, all while collecting coins so that you can presumably earn enough to fill up your homemade modded bong again?

Now, I question whether the game ever existed in the first place. It may have all been illusion. Some guy spent an entire weekend putting this together and claims it doesn’t work.

Nintendo has come up with a solution to the number one issue that Wii gamers face. Storage. And yes the solution is obvious. During the Japan fall press conference they announced that in the spring of 2009, gamers can expect the ability to load and play software directly from an SD card in your SD slot, as well as download items directly to the SD card. There’s a 2GB maximum, so you’ll want to stock up on 2GB SD cards. I guess it’s better then another peripheral to clutter up our lives.

After numerous information leaks about an updated version of the DS, Nintendo has now officially announced the release of the Nintendo DSi. The DSi, is the third iteration of the handheld game console and the company has managed to pack even more features into the device while even making it slightly smaller.

The new DSi looks very similar to the DS Lite with the same clamshell design and dual screens but the chasis is about 2.6mm thinner. They’ve also made the dual screens a little larger, bringing them from 3 inches to 3.25 inches, but that’s those aren’t the most interesting features of this new handheld console.

Cue 2001 theme, but think “2011: The Year Wii Makes Contact”. 2011 is three years from now. So you would expect a new Wii by then right? HD would be nice on a new console. Word is that they are showing off a Wii-HD to developers and publishers, who’ve nicknamed it “Wii HD”. Reportedly, the followup will stick with all of the motion control goodness and amp up graphics, digital distribution, local storage and even be backwards compatible.

The only hard evidence was cited by What They Play, and that is the fact that Nintendo’s R&D spending has grown greatly since the Wii’s launch. I don’t see that that makes the case for a new Wii by itself, but it’s not a stretch as they are surely looking toward the future of the Wii. Many of us would like to see some improvements now rather then later. Like storage for instance.

Nintendo has stated that it doesn’t plan to release “a whole lot more” accessories for the Wii. Most of us take that to mean that there is at least something coming, but is this that something? The images come from some European trademark registry site with very little detail, but it’s some kind of pedometer.

Personally I’m hoping that this doesn’t count as one of the accessories they had in mind. Maybe it’s just a Wii-Fit add-on. That’s what we’re hoping, because we deserve something a bit neater then a pedometer. To release this thing in place of something cooler is…Well it’s evil…And lame. It just looks like a freakin’ box.

This allegedly leaked photo of new Nintendo DS screens has everyone scratching their heads. Apparently the difference in the updated display is a screen size from 3 inches to 3.25 inches. Though it’s not the widescreen system that many of you were hoping for, the new screen size shouldn’t mess with the aspect ratio of existing DS titles. Could this be a sneak peek at the new DS’ upgraded screens? We’ll find out soon enough.

This is not my first console mod, but I think it’s the neatest. As far as I know it hasn’t been done before. I wanted to be able play Atari 2600 games like you play Guitar Hero… With a guitar. With this mod, you just pop in your favorite 2600 cartridge, and play the game on your guitar. The screen is right in front facing you as you hold it. Instead of strumming, just use the small joystick on the upper right, or for games like Breakout use the paddle controller below the screen. The fire button is the top button on the neck of the guitar, so yes, you really hold it in guitar fashion as you play.

I had originally intended to make an NES-Hero, taking advantage of all the guitar buttons, but didn’t have a spare laying around. Which was just fine with me because this Atari-Hero turned out just awesome. It took me about 2 months more or less, simply because it was hard to find the time with my duties here at the ‘Brick, but it’s finally finished. I incorporated actual pieces of the Atari console itself, like the faux woodgrain front panel with logo and the grill from the top of the console, even the cartridge slot itself. The circuit boards all had to be fabricated and custom shaped, then put in place. The Atari console combined with the circuit boards makes for a stunning look in person. (Sorry about the crappy pics. It’s so shiny it’s hard to get a good shot) More pics below.

Nintendo has plans to launch a new version of the popular Nintendo DS handheld game console by the end of this year, and it sounds like they are doing more than just adding new colors this time. The new model, yet to be named, will feature a camera and music player, putting itself in competition with a larger number of portable devices and opening up a whole mess of new game possibilities.

This news does not come straight from Nintendo, or at least not yet. It does however come from the Sunday edition of The Nikkei Business Daily, which is a well renowned newspaper in Japan. The new DS from Nintendo is expected to cost around $190 in Japan compared to the $158 price tag on the current DS. The DS goes for $129 currently in the United States.

Thrustmaster is getting in on the fake lightsaber game too with these Glow Sabers, which may arguably be the best take on the Wii lightsaber yet with their attention to detail. They actually resemble Jedi instruments of death.

The red and blue dueling Glow Sabers each have 17 LEDs and the Dual Trigger Gun comes complete with a Nunchuck holster. The Glow Saber 2-pack can be had right about now for $34.99, while the Dual Trigger Gun will be available shortly for $17.99. Pretty sweet deal.