With their focus on fun for everyone, Nintendo’s Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ systems are leading a new movement in the world of video games.

Games based on brain exercises. New experiences that surprise even core gamers. Grandparents buying video game systems – for themselves! Surely, these are unprecedented times.

“The video game industry has never had so many new players, and they’ve never had so much fun,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales & marketing. “Our momentum is not limited to one system or one game. We’re going broad and bold in 2008, with something for every member of the family.”

Nintendo DS and Wii finished as the No. 1 and No. 2 best-selling systems of the year, respectively. Nintendo continues its momentum into 2008 with a strong lineup of games.

In the first half of 2008 alone, more than 65 new Wii games will add to the current library of more than 195 and 80 new Nintendo DS games will add to the current library of nearly 500.

Nintendo DS opens the first half of the year with games that demonstrate the breadth of the Nintendo DS library. Advance Wars®: Days of Ruin is a treat aimed squarely at core gamers, while Crosswords DS™ is for all consumers, whether they currently play games or not.

Likewise, the first half of 2008 brings a diverse array of Wii games from Nintendo, including core games like Super Smash Bros.® Brawl; games with universal appeal for gamers old and new with Mario Kart® Wii, which uses the easy-to-pick-up Wii Wheel™; and Wii Fit™, which comes with the Wii Balance Board and has appeal for new consumers well beyond the traditional video game audience. On top of all that, new downloadable WiiWare™ games will make their debut.

These unique games have much lower entry barriers for developers and let consumers enjoy an incredibly diverse selection of content.

Third-party publishers also continue their strong support for Wii and Nintendo DS. Some of the innovative Wii games for the first half of 2008 include Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts, No More Heroes™ from Ubisoft, DeBlob from THQ, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts and Okami from Capcom, in addition to compelling Nintendo DS games like FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo and Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft.

The following is a partial list of upcoming third-party titles:

Wii:
January – Samurai Warriors: Katana (KOEI) / No More Heroes (Ubisoft)

February – Dream Pinball 3D (SouthPeak Games) / MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ) / Baroque (Atlus USA) / London Taxi: Rush Hour (Destineer) / Karaoke Revolution / Presents: American Idol Encore (Konami) / Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (Ubisoft)

March – Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed (THQ) / Worms: A Space Oddity (THQ) / Okami (Capcom) / Alone in the Dark (Atari) / Ninja Reflex (EA) / Target: Terror (Konami) / Nitro Bike (Ubisoft)

April – Pro Evolution Soccer (Konami) / Wild Earth: African Safari (Majesco)

May – Speed Racer (Warner Bros. Games) / The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Disney Interactive) / King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (SNK Playmore) / THE DOG Island (Ubisoft)

June – Catch of the Day (EA) / Cooking Mama Cook Off 2 (Majesco) / Rygar: The Battle of Argus (Tecmo) / DeBlob (THQ) / Wall-E (THQ)

LucasArts’ LEGO: Indiana Jones will be released for the Wii in the spring, with its Star Wars: The Force Unleashed scheduled for a summer release.

DS:
January – Mega Brain Boost (Majesco) / Aquarium by DS (Bold Games) / N+ (Atari) / Barnyard Blast (DSI) / Brain Challenge (Ubisoft)

February – Paws & Claws: Pet Resort (THQ) / Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Capcom) / Zoo Tycoon II (THQ) / Bubble Bobble Double Shot (Ignition) / Insecticide (Gamecock) / Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles (Ubisoft) / Real Soccer 2008 (Ubisoft)

March – Go Pets (Konami) / Disney Friends (Disney Interactive) / River King: Mystic Valley (Natsume) / Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate (Square Enix) / Lost in Blue 3 (Konami) / Pro Evolution Soccer (Konami) / Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword (Tecmo) / Alone in the Dark (Atari) / Ninja Reflex (EA) / Myst (Empire Interactive)

April – Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys (Ignition) / Rondo of Swords (Atlus) / Quick Yoga Training (Ubisoft)

May – Speed Racer (Warner Bros. Games) / The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Disney Interactive) / Winx Club: Mission Enchantix (Konami)

June – Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness (Natsume) / Catch of the Day (EA) / Wall-E from THQ