For those who are anticipating Infantile Paralysiser's latest MoonShell (the super-famous media player homebrew app for the DS) installment, well we got good news for you. Moonshell 1.6 beta has just been released today and from what we can make out of the Google-translated changelog, it looks like it's packed with lots of new features.

Speaking of which, why don't you check out the the changelog right now? Pardon our French, ahem, I mean, our translation. Awful puns aside, take a look at the changelog:

• 'Game_Music_Emu 0.5.It updated in 2 '.
• The NSF/GBS/HES/AY/SAP/KSS driver is made effective.
• [GMEPlugin] section was added of global.ini.
• When skin.ini is selected and it is skin reload.
• Corresponded to the MSE plug-in.
• The number of tracks of NSF version 2 can be acquired.
• [GMEPlugin] section was added of global.ini.
• Update to 'libpng-1.2.14'.
• Corresponded to the TTA plug-in.
• Corresponded to the AAC plug-in. (Not practical level).

Download: [MoonShell v1.6 Beta]

So, ya think your favorite plumbing, swooping brothers from Nintendo are all kid-friendly? Well, Reverend Anthony from Destructoid probably wondered just the same thing, and as a result, he came up with a zany list just to point how "sinister" Mario is.

First off, there's the deal about mushrooms. I know you're probably thinking about *ahem* various chemicals to alter mental states, but well, it's too early for that. You see, Reverend Anthony speculates that maybe, just maybe, those mushroom power-ups are actually dismembered citizens from the Mushroom Kingdom, comfortably snuck in question-mark boxes for Mario to "unwittingly" come across.

Second on the list is Mario's allegory for the Bolshevik Revolution. Come to think of it, mario's got the whole thing down pat: the "trademark" Stalin mustache, the star on the flag, the "overthrowing an empire" thing, AND the red outfit.

Check out the rest of the article after the jump!

Heads up guys! We just got wind of another update for MoonShell, one of Infantile Paralysiser's homebrew apps for the DS.

For those who aren't in the know, MoonShell basically transforms your DS into a media player, which means you can play MP3s, view pictures, even watch movies in your DS.

Anyway, this article isn't about a bumped-up version of MoonShell, rather, it's about a plugin for the said app. Infantile Paralysiser just posted on his site that the MPEG-4 AAC plugin is now available for MoonShell, which you can get directly here. Check out these notes via Google translate:

This is for testers.
Library: libfaad2-2.5 - AAC decoder library.
Author: shevious
Functions.

MPEG-4 format: MAIN/SSR/LTP/LD profile AAC
DRM (copyright protection mechanism) is unsupported.
High-bitrate stream is unsupported.
Seek cannot be done.

Download: [MPEG-4 AAC plugin for MoonShell]

Heads up guys! The DSLua team is back, with a no crew to boot. From now on, Sypherce, Daltonlaffs, and Jeremysr will be handling DSLua. In fact, they just released DSLua v0.6. For those who aren't in the know, this homebrew app allows DS users to access the Lua structure, paving the way for more innovative games using the Lua script.

Anyway, this one has a Wi-Fi function library, script auto-start (behaves like an actual DS homebrew program), new system and stylus functions, and a microphone library.

According to Jeremysr, this version has also been compiled with newer versions of PAlib and devkitPro, making Lua programs run faster. Jeremysr adds that DSLua still comes in CF (the CF version uses LibFATDragon and comes with grey, green, and blue versions for compatibility with other homebrew devices) and GBFS flavors.

Download: [DSLua v0.6]
Download [DSLua v0.6 Source Code]

If you're one of those DS fans who just can't get enough of DS homebrew (you got Infantile Paralysiser's website bookmarked in your web browser) well, today's your lucky day. Errr no, this isn't an update from Infantile Paralysiser but it's just as fun.

Anyway, we just heard that Tassu from the PAlib forums has made a nifty DS homebrew game called, TagDS. According to the dev, it's a "two player 3D action game that is played on one DS. I coded it from start to finish last night. I think this turned out to be a very fun game." He also adds that he's nearly done in PAlib.

The said dev seems to be open for comments and suggestions, so it will probably be nice if you can give Tassu a heads-up once you're done checking out the game. It's up for grabs here, just click the "download" link below.

Download: [TagDS]

Metalproductions is one hardcore Ninty fan. Born in the late seventies, he has been into gaming since he started toying around with his grandma's Radioshack Pong. He says that he progressed to Atari VCS when his dad bought him one, but he attributes his "crowning gaming memory" to NES: "Never before or after has a game made such a leap (for its time) in imagination, game play, and overall presentation. It was light years ahead of any other game before it."

Well, he's got a two year-old son now, and it seems like he's passing the torch to the little chap. He says that his toddlers' room is bedecked with Mario stuffies: he has Mario-themed curtains, a pillow case, a comforter with red M's on it, even a Mario-painted wall!

In fact, he even took pictures of it to prove it. Also, he's added some Photoshopped versions of his son in full Mario garb and a Mario background to boot. Guess he's one hell of a gamer dad, isn't he?

Click "Full Article" to see the rest of the pics!

Heads-up guys! Japanese DS homebrew dev extraordinaire, Infantile Paralysiser just released his latest NDSkybok update, and it sure gives you one more reason to learn Japanese!

You see, we have nothing but Google translate to shed light on the incomprehensible Japanese characters that appeared on our screen, so we can't expound on this homebrew app's capabilities more. Anyway, we're still adding the Google translate version in this article, to give you an idea what this app does:

Building NDSKybook suitably, playing, changing [ru] human version selfishly, suitably playing, it is [ru] human version. "2006/11/01 Source codes.zip 411465byte" was designated as the base. The ndsuser2006 way it is appreciation. Other than the adding movie it is not operational verifying. The book mark file is common. Frequently the disk format as for having done being just I? The adapter summary perhaps it is corresponding. The memo your own. It is not the list which guarantees operation. MoviePlayer/CF, AdMovie/CF, M3/CF and M3/SD all kind, SC/CF, SC/SD (as for MicroSD edition ##), EZ4/SD (perhaps all kind), MaxMediaLauncher/CF, EWin2/SD, MagicKey2/3/SD and DS-Link/SD

(We're guessing this is the changelog)

The bug where it has become not be able to retain the book mark turning extended function to a ON was corrected. INI was added to the file extension which you open. The bug which Japanese file name has stopped opening was corrected. Configuration file ' ndskybok.sys'[wo], '/NDSKYBKM/ndskybkm.sys'[ni] it moved. (Configuration is cancelled, but the book mark that way is) Optimization option of the compiler, because of safety - from O3 - was modified in O2.

If you can do a better translation, please let us know. We - and the DS homebrew community - will surely appreciate it.

Download: [NDSkybookM v0.2]

The next gen war is now on, as the much-awaited PS3 and Wii have consecutively launched in various parts of the world. As such, predictions are continually being made, flamewars thrive probably even more, and various statistics just keep on coming.

That's right. If you're talking about a commodity, you can't escape the subject of numbers, and these stats will inevitably enter the conversation whether you like it or not. And this article's all about numbers, and is entirely based on findings by the Japanese game organization, Computer Entertainment Software Association. Oh yeah, you might want to take note that all the respondents are Japanese.

Basically, the said group found out a rise in consumer interest on the Wii, which shot up from 20.9 % (around this time last year) to 48.9%. Its competitor, PS3, garnered 57% of consumer demand, as opposed to last years' 64.4%. Last year, 23% responded that they would go for the Xbox 360, now the said demographic trickled down to 13.6%. Those interested in the DS went up from 13.7% last year to 31% this year.

Yes, we've said it again and again, but what can you say? Infantile Paralysiser is just one hardworking developer. Two days ago, we just reported on an update to his image viewing homebrew application for the DS, Image Viewer. Well he's back and this time, he's got v0.5 beta 6 Image Viewer with him. What's new with this one? Let's see:

• Update of EZ4 driver
• Update of DSLink driver

Now, we weren't able to glean other details from his site, except this one: "Once it is completion edition. The [tsu] the tired way. If there is no problem at all, Saturday we would like to raise formal edition in around evening. The test, something we ask may." Of course, the Google translation just made me go "huh?!" - so ifya have a better translation, we'd really appreciate it if you let us know.

Download: [Image Viewer v0.5 beta 6]

Wii's The Sims now has its site up and running, and it reeks of all things cute. Never mind if I don't recall all the hiragana characters plastered in the frontpage. Never mind if Google can't translate it. Never mind that it only contains a movie and some animated gifs. It's just sooo cute!

Anyway. Cuteness aside, I really can't tell say much about this EA game. But I'm sure we'll be deluded by info about this game in the near future. I wonder though, why did EA do a paradigm shift to fun anime-like, cuteness-abounding avatars from the usual "grown-up looking" Sims characters that we have been used to?

But, I'm not saying this isn't a nice change. Kids would probably love to get their hands on this, and probably tons of girlfriends because of the cute factor. Imagine their squeals creating their own characters and houses with the Wiimote (provided that this game, will indeed make use of the said controller).

Interestingly, the Google- translation of the site's name is "Me and waiting". Hmmm...it sure is apt.

Anyhoo, below is the exact same video you'd see when you visit the site. We thought we might as well give you a preview of the cuteness you can expect from the site. Enjoy!