Nintendo today announced it will increase total shipments of Nintendo DS to North America by 40 percent, to 1.4 million systems before the end of the year. Due to the system's popularity, many retail stores across the country are reporting shortages, and the initial batch of 500,000 units all but sold out a week after Nintendo DS launched on Nov. 21.

I'm working on an article for Retro Gamer magazine concerning the old censorship rules under which Nintendo of America operated during the NES/SNES period. If you're a developer, translator, or writer who worked with Nintendo back then and ran afoul of these rules, I'd like to interview you for the article. If requested, anonymity is, of course, guaranteed. Prospective interviewees can contact me at multimedia.superstar@gmail.com.

Conspiracy Entertainment today announced that they have been approved as a Nintendo DS platform publisher for the North America territory. The company is already a publisher on the Nintendo Gameboy Advance and Nintendo Game Cube platforms.

With long lines and huge excitement, the innovative new Nintendo DSTM launched today in Japan. Nintendo Co., Ltd., increased initial launch-day shipments of Nintendo DS in Japan to nearly 500,000 from 300,000 units to accommodate demand from Japanese consumers. Nintendo DS has sold more than 500,000 units since North America led the worldwide launch on Nov. 21.

Shoppers spent Thanksgiving week stuffing their shopping bags with Nintendo hardware, setting the stage for 2004 to be the year of the hand-held holidays. Shoppers snapped up more than 500,000 Nintendo DS systems during Thanksgiving week, representing more than 90 percent of all units available in stores across the United States.

Ubisoft today announced Rayman DS, Sprung and Asphalt Urban GT as official launch-window titles in the U.S. for the upcoming release of the Nintendo DS system. In fact, Asphalt Urban GT is one of only five launch-day titles arriving on store shelves nationwide on November 23, 2004, at the manufacturers suggested retail price of $29.99.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has issued a temporary restraining order against the import and sale of video game systems containing counterfeit versions of Nintendo games being sold at numerous shopping malls.

Nintendo held a huge press event today in preparation for the DS launch, and here are some screens from the titles that were presented:

Asphalt: Urban GT (NDS) - Crush (NDS) - Duel Masters 2: Kaijudo Showdown (GBA) - Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (GBA) - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA) - Madden NFL 2005 (NDS) - Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (NDS) - Need For Speed Underground 2 (GBA) - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (NGC) - Ping Pals (NDS) - Pokemon Dash (NDS) - Rayman DS (NDS) - Ridge Racer DS (NDS) - Spider-Man 2 (NDS) - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (GBA) - Yoshi's Touch & Go (NDS)

Click "Read More" to check them out!

Namco announced today that it is supporting the launch of the Nintendo DS with two of its cherished franchises, Mr. DRILLER Drill Spirits and Ridge Racer DS. Taking advantage of the technology the new platform has to offer, both titles will utilize dual screen support and wireless connectivity to the fullest -- providing players with the ultimate Nintendo DS gaming experience.

Nintendo has announced that the NDS will retail for $149.99, and upon initial launch November 21st, it is expected to have 10-12 available titles, including Super Mario 64 DS, Madden, and The Urbz. Read more for details & screens for Metroid Prime, Mario Kart, Super Mario, Advance Wars etc.

Majesco announced two exclusive titles for the Nintendo DS system, Moonlight Fables and Nanostray. Both titles feature touch screen input, multiplayer network play and dual screen support and are scheduled for release next year.

The Nintendo DS will make its worldwide debut in North American stores on November 21, and then in Japan on December 2. Selling at an MSRP of $149.99, Nintendo DS will become the company's first system ever to make its sales debut outside of Japan.

Head over to our dedicated EGN section to check out the following new screens from Nintendo's EGN 2004 lineup:

• Animal Crossing
• Mario Tennis
• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
• Super Mario Ball (GBA)
• Wario Ware Inc.: Mega Party Games

Metrowerks Corporation and Nintendo have signed an agreement and begun distributing a comprehensive tools suite for the creation of innovative, feature-rich games for the handheld Nintendo DS videogame system.

Nintendo DS will rock the Western Hemisphere with an amazing lineup of games, as the video game industry's heavy hitters prepare to support Nintendo's revolutionary dual-screened hand-held innovation. Many of the industry's biggest software companies confirm that they will deliver names like Madden NFL, Viewtiful Joe, Rayman and SpongeBob SquarePants to the Nintendo DS, so players can enjoy their favorite franchises in ways never before possible.

Major Japanese developers have announced significant backing for Nintendo DS, the innovative portable video game system from Nintendo that will revolutionise the video game industry. Some 32 companies, including Sega, Capcom, Konami, Square Enix and Namco, have a total of 64 games in development for Nintendo DS. Read more for details ...

In preparation for the launch of Nintendo DS in North America and Japan later this year, Nintendo today announces developments for the dual-screen, wireless, hand-held video game system. Nintendo DS, originally chosen as the code name, has been selected as the official product name. Read more to check out the new design!

Electronic Arts today announced that The Urbz: Sims in the City, the latest franchise from the celebrated studio behind The Sims, is in development for the Nintendo DS. EA, in conjunction with Griptonite Games, is developing the game in Redwood City, CA and will ship in November 2004 under the EA GAMES brand.

I didn’t make it to the Microsoft or Sony pre-E3 events, but if they were half as intriguing as the Nintendo keynote speech I just attended, which came to its crescendo as an impossibly youthful Shigeru Miyamoto (decked out in elven garb) performed some basic Link-style maneuvers in front of a captivated audience – his visage exponentially magnified on giant plasma screens hanging overhead -- then, well, it’s probably safe to assume that I missed a lot.

E3 is over, it was great fun and we literally brought back a truckload of material, 40+ previews, trailers and hundreds of screens which we will be bringing to you over the next few days...Today we have Nintendo's lineup of roughly 20 titles, check the new screens for :

• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (NGC)
• The Legend of Zelda (NGC)
• Fire Emblem (NGC)
• Donkey Konga (NGC)
• Pikmin 2 (NGC)
• Paper Mario 2 (NGC)
• Mario Tennis (NGC)
• Geist (NGC)
• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (NGC)
• Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (NGC)
• Star Fox (NGC)
• Advance Wars: Under Fire (NGC)
• Metroid Prime: Hunters (DS)
• WarioWare, Inc. DS (DS)
• Super Mario 64x4 (DS)
• Odama (NGC)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
• DK: King of Swing (GBA)
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest (GBA)
• F-Zero: GP Legend (GBA)
• Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games (GBA)
• Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA)
• Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA)
• Mario Party Advance (GBA)
• Mario Pinball (GBA)
• Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)

Wait `til you hear! On June 7, Nintendo is going totally retro with a classic collection of eight Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games for the GBA and a tubular new GBA SP that looks like an itty bitty NES console. The `80s were, like, a long time ago. But everything from then is way cool again. Back then, games went from blocky bleeps and bloops to sweet side-scrollers like Super Mario Bros. And the most excellent NES saved the day for the video game industry. Bonus!

Nintendo's Vice President, Merchandising, John A. Sakaley III, retires at the end of this month from the position he served with distinction for more than 16 years. Sakaley, who joined Nintendo of America Inc. in 1987, pioneered the first shop-within-a-shop in-store display in the video game industry. He also created the first hands-on interactive displays allowing customers to try video games before they buy them. Since 2000, his team at Nintendo has placed more than 40,000 interactive displays at more than 15,000 retail locations.

An unprecedented approach to video game play -- holding two separate game screens in the palm of your hand -- hits the scene later this year when Nintendo introduces a new portable game system, code-named Nintendo DS.

After rocketing up the charts the past several weeks, the Nintendo GameCube has now reached No. 1 -- it's America's top-selling home video game console, according to direct sales data from the nation's leading retailers.

The official numbers are in, and they confirm that Nintendo GameCube is upending the console video game market. The Sept. 25 price drop of Nintendo GameCube to an MSRP of $99.99 continues to have a massive ripple effect throughout the video game industry, according to October's Toy Retail Sales Tracking Service (TRSTS).. More about it below!