Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has gone on the record with the Financial Times as being "interested" in the strategy Amazon has adopted for free internet access on its Kindle eBook reader. "I'm interested because it's a new business model in which the user doesn't bear the communications cost," he told the publication.There's no fee for accessing Amazon's "WhisperNet" 3G network on Kindle, as the cost is built into the price of the device up-front. Taking a similar route with DS would mean the handheld would have a free, "always on" connection, something PSP doesn't and mobile platforms such as the iPhone do, but at the cost of a cellular data plan. "Only people who can pay thousands of yen a month [in mobile phone subscriptions] can be iPhone customers. That doesn't fit Nintendo customers because we make amusement products," Iwata said. Such a move would definitely expose more DSi (and DSi XL) buyers -- especially those without access to home WiFi networks -- to Nintendo's DSi Store, but Iwata admits there would be mixed reactions among consumers, saying, "In reality, if we did this it would increase the cost of the hardware, and customers would complain about Nintendo putting prices up, but it is one option for the future."[Via Pocket Gamer]
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Stop Stress sounds like one of those My Coach non-games for DS: based on the title, we'd assume it would be full of relaxing exercises and tips about reducing the strain of daily life. But Abylight's Stop Stress: A Day of Fury on WiiWare encourages its players to take their stress out on the virtual world by beating everything nearby to pieces. Swinging the Wii Remote to control the arm of Jack, a stressed-out guy in a world that grows increasingly hostile as he gets more worked up, players use bats, axes, and other weapons to smash everything in sight. According to the ESRB description, "One mission is to 'search and destroy all the alarm-clocks' by using a soft slipper; another mission requires players to 'break all the windows and escape from the evil traffic jam.'" Publisher Abylight expects to release Stop Stress this fall. Try not to get too anxious for it! Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Another football game came out in the UK last week and, once again, it came in first place in the region's weekly software sales charts. This time around, the game was Football Manager 2010, in which soccer isn't played, but rather, managed. That's far too boring a concept to discuss further, so instead, let's move to the other big debuts: Wii Fit Plus, for instance, came in second place for the week, which is -- wait a minute. Doesn't Wii Fit Plus have a "Soccer Heading" minigame? Oh, Nintendo. You know exactly what you're doing. Episodes From Liberty City and Tekken 6 also made a splash during their launch week, garnering sixth and eighth place finishes, respectively. However, DJ Hero seems to be following its expected, slow-starting sales trajectory, debuting at twentieth place in last week's chart. We've got a small suggestion for FreeStyle Games to improve the rhythm title's performance in the UK: Needs moar Dizzee Rascal. Source -- Sega's FM 2010 Kicks Off at No1 [Chart Track] Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If you're in the market for a Wii, perhaps as a gift for someone this holiday season, then you may want to hit up Dell. The computer company is offering the console for $179.99 (as part of a sale that expires tomorrow), complete with free 3-to-5-day shipping, on its web store. If you snag the console and, say, a Wii Fit Plus bundle, you could inspire a great holiday for someone special -- or gravely upset them by insinuating they could stand to lose a few pounds. [Thanks Matthew!]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments