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12 March 2009: Get ready for the return of some of Nintendo’s best-loved characters – PIKMIN and Donkey Kong – as PIKMIN 2 and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, two of the most creative games of recent years, have been added to the Wii’s NEW PLAY CONTROL! family!

The NEW PLAY CONTROL! series, in which classic games are reinvented to take advantage of Wii’s unique motion sensing capabilities, already boasts the original PIKMIN and Mario Power Tennis, with fans delighting in the new controls and new widescreen experience.

PIKMIN 2, released across Europe on 24 April, sees Captain Olimar, now joined by his assistant Louie, return to the planet of PIKMIN, motivated by that noblest of goals – treasure! Additional species of PIKMIN, randomly generated dungeons and an exciting two-player battle mode make this much more than just a sequel. Packed with deft creative touches, PIKMIN 2 strikes a beautiful balance between challenge and fun, and is even more charming than its classic predecessor.

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We mentioned this yesterday but here’s the official press release from Nintendo, and a break down of the sales.

REDMOND, Wash., March 11, 2009 – Somewhere – perhaps in Chicago, maybe in Paris, possibly in Tokyo – the 100 millionth system in the Nintendo DS™ franchise has been shipped to a distributor or a retailer as of March 6, 2009. The combined total sales of 100 million Nintendo DS systems, Nintendo DS Lite systems and Nintendo DSi™ systems represent a significant milestone in the life of this franchise, which is still going strong.

“Consumers have shown their love for Nintendo DS – 100 million times over,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are grateful that people of all ages continue to respond to our products, and we will continue to look for ways to please current gamers and create new ones.”

Since the original Nintendo DS launched in late 2004, its dual screens, touch screen and voice-recognition capabilities ushered in an era of new experiences not previously possible on portable systems. The successor, Nintendo DS Lite, launched with a slimmer, trimmer look.

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VC

1 (1) – Super Mario Bros. 3 2 (2) – Super Mario Bros. 3 (3) – Super Mario World 4 (4) – Super Mario Bros. 2 5 (5) – …
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– Delivers Significant Increase in Revenue and Profitability – — Increases Fiscal 2009 Guidance – — Net Revenues Increased More Than 75% to $32.8M – — Net Income Increased 54% to $4.2M or $0.15 per Share –
EDISON, N.J., March 11, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Majesco Entertainment Company (Nasdaq: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2009.

For the first quarter ended January 31, 2009, Majesco’s net revenues increased 75.8 percent to $32.8 million versus $18.7 million in the same period a year ago. During this same period, the Company reported operating income of $3.7 million compared to operating income of $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2008. Net income for the quarter was $4.2 million versus net income of $2.7 million in 2008. The Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.15 compared to $0.10 in the same period last year.

Results for the first quarter of 2009 include $0.4 million of non-cash compensation; a loss of $0.1 million related to a change in the fair value of warrants; a $0.1 million charge related to settlement of litigation; and $1.1 million of net proceeds from the sale of rights to a state tax operating loss carryforward. Results for the first quarter of 2008 include $0.4 million of non-cash compensation; a gain of $0.5 million related to a change in the fair value of warrants; and a $0.3 million gain related to settlement of litigation. Non-GAAP operating income for the first quarter of 2009 was $4.3 million and $2.5 million for 2008. Non-GAAP net income was $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2009, and $2.3 million for the same period in 2008.

Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Majesco, said, “We had a terrific holiday season as reflected by our outstanding financial performance in the first quarter and our best quarter since implementing our casual gaming strategy three years ago. Revenue for the quarter grew more than 75 percent to $32.8 million and net income increased 54 percent to $4.2 million, which further demonstrates our ability to execute on our strategy and convert revenue growth into bottom-line returns. Our success was driven by strong demand across our product line, specifically for our Cooking Mama titles and the newly released Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009, which has become a hit with approximately 500,000 copies sold to date. We are well positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand for family friendly mass market games, the fastest growing segment of the industry, which in part is being driven by the success of Nintendo’s platforms. We are focused on the right market, have the right strategy and have a proven management team that is delivering profitable growth and building value for our shareholders.”

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Everyone’s Favorite Ninja Infiltrates DS With All-New Storyline and Grown Up Characters From Hit Animated Series

LOS ANGELES – Mar. 11, 2009 – TOMY Corporation today announced that NARUTO™ Shippuden: Ninja Council® 4 is currently in development exclusively for Nintendo DS™. As the latest installment to the popular Ninja Council series of videogames that has sold more than 800,000 units to date in North America, NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 is the first DS game to feature the NARUTO Shippuden story arc in North America, allowing fans to play as Naruto and his friends in the next generation of the series. Based on the enormously successful animated series from VIZ Media, NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 introduces consumers to a host of playable characters sporting their updated NARUTO Shippuden looks, and wireless multiplayer battles for up to four players.

“NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 encourages franchise fans and newcomers alike to experience the next iteration of the classic Ninja Council series,” said Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software at TOMY Corporation. “The addition of multiple new playable characters and an immersive story mode based on the NARUTO Shippuden story arc, coupled with the touch screen capabilities of the DS, make this a classic action-adventure videogame.”

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Milton Keynes, 11th March 2009 – 505 Games today revealed the list of songs available for its upcoming music title We Rock: Drum King. The selection of over 30 songs spans modern broken beats to classic stadium rock, offering something for everyone to have a literal bash at.

The songs on offer feature the best of British bands such as Blur, Bloc Party and Queen, as well as a variety of American greats including Steppenwolf, Queens of the Stone Age and Soundgarden. The complete track listing is as follows:

We Will Rock You – Queen
The Final Countdown – Europe
Be My Baby – The Ronettes
Song 2 – Blur

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RENO, Nev. – March 11, 2009 – 3G Studios, Inc. responded to reports that the game has sold over 500,000 units and is an NPD Top Seller. Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 continues to set records as it has since its release. The game was the first celebrity workout title to ship on the Nintendo Wii^TM and has proven to have opened the door for additional workout and health based games to enter the market going forward. 3G was also the first independent developer to ship a title which incorporated the use of the Wii Balance Board^TM.

3G Studios helped redefine what it takes to have a successful game by targeting a new audience. “We never set out to make a hardcore video game. We focused on creating an interactive training session with arguably the best-known fitness trainer on the planet. We want people to sweat and have fun doing it,” said James Kosta, CEO of 3G Studios, Inc. He continued, “Jillian is fantastic to work with. We had a blast trying to keep up with her.”

Analyst Michael Pachter from Wedbush Morgan successfully predicted big things for Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 saying, “Not all consumers might be aware of what Wii Fit is, but most weight conscious women know Jillian Michaels as a brand. She’s branded as a fit person who helps people lose weight,” he said, “and that brand affinity could help more people see the Balance Board as less of a video game gizmo and more of a health product.”

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