After one week, homebrew developer Lino is back with a new update for iDeaS. While the previous release added GameBoy Advance emulation to the mix, this new update of the Nintendo DS emulator for Windows is more of a bugfix release.

Download: iDeaS 1.0.3.1 version for Windows

It's that time of the week again, eh? Time sure flies. It's been a busy week for Nintendo and the Wii and DS games, so let's get crackin'! For starters, we've got lots of Monster Hunter 3 updates for you guys, so you'd better check those out. Then the new Wii MotionPlus is making some noise with a few bundles and the biggest pre-release markdown you'll ever see. And barely making it to today's recap is a brand new Nintendo DS, only it's a bunch of rocks and a newspaper, minus the DS. Catch all that and more on this week's Weekend Warrior.

Guess who hit the motherload? Previously just a Nintendo DS emulator for Windows, iDeaS v1.0.3.1 now includes support for GameBoy Advance emulation!

Download: iDeaS 1.0.3.1 beta (Windows)

Here's an interesting new homebrew app from developer Maximus32. Contrary to the initial idea its name gives, Bricks-OS is an operating system for several platforms and allows them to share resources. More details after the link.

Download: Bricks-OS v0.0.3 (PSP)
Download: Bricks-OS v0.0.3 (DS)
Download: Bricks-OS v0.0.3 (Wii)

As we know from the DSi's specs, the GBA slot was taken out. But what's this? We've spotted a faxed document which outlines a DSi-KH bundle that includes, not just a copy of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, but also a copy for Chain of Memories. No wai! Could this also mean that there's a DS-to-GBA function for 358/2 Days, just like how you could unlock an Easter egg in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow by inserting a GBA cartridge for Aria of Sorrow? Ooh...

Nintendo Japan's website has been updated to include a section for the new Nintendo DSi. Some of you might be particularly interested in the spec sheet, which shows the evolution (and devolution) of the new model from the DS. Bigger screen, check. Camera, check. Shorter battery life? Boo. Longer stylus though - does that count for something?

And another salute to ISOHaven for sending in the tip!

After overcoming some real-time saving bugs, Team Cyclops has released a new firmware update for CycloDS Evolution. If this beta 3 version proves to be bug-free, they're going to be release it as the final v1.4. So... Just in case it does happen to be free of errors, you might want to download it now for an early treat.

Download: CycloDS Evoution firmware v1.4 BETA 3

Martin's No$gba finally received an update that adds 3D rendering software to the nifty emulator. Running Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance games on PC should now be easier with proper 3D capabilities included in No$gba version 2.6. Head over to the full article for details.





Download: No$gba v2.6

In a recent interview by GameDaily.biz, George Harrison talks about the Game Boy and WiiWare. GameDaily.biz hasn't published the whole interview yet though so there's still some more coming.

But one thing to note in the interview is mention of the Game Boy's "retirement." Harrison commented in an interview during E3 that "this year [...] you really won't see much push against Game Boy itself [...] It's hard to say in the future if we will ever bring back the Game Boy trademark." With the DS so popular, attention was slowly diverted away from the Game Boy and gamers aren't really clamoring for new games on the handheld so there isn't much call for it to make a comeback.

The DS can be seen as a natural evolution of the Game Boy, and in many ways it is. Part of the reason that the DS wasn't given the same name was that Nintendo President Satoru Iwata wanted to reach a new audience with the DS's new approach to handheld gaming. Harrison puts it to us in this way:

It was a big risk for us to actually pass on it and call the new product the Nintendo DS, but it was part of Mr. Iwata's philosophy that if we're going to make a radical difference and try to reach a new audience, then we have to change the name... We had to make a break even though we had one of the greatest trademarks in the history of the industry.

And it really is one of the gaming industry's prodigies. The Gameboy Color released in 1998 it had already sold 49 million units by the end 2004 and the Gameboy Advance released in 2001 sold 75 million by June of 2006. The very first Game Boy sold 70 million units worldwide.

But really, it's not the Game Boy that's retiring, just its name. You have the DS anyway, why settle for one screen when you can have two? Besides, there's always emulators. Always look forward.

On a completely unrelated note but from the same interview, Harrison said that Nintendo's WiiWare might still make it to the market before the end of 2007. He furthers that it all really depends on the game developers. Since they recently just released the technology, some developers haven't even started.

 

GameStop is offering more deals on some of the products they're carrying. If you plan on making a purchase any time soon it might be in your best interest to check this out.

First up, we've got some big news for you: Halo 3 Zune. Yup you can pre-order said Zune from GameStop outlets now. And don't expect to get this from any other place as they've said that its a GameStop exclusive. They also have a new promo where you can trade in your Gameboy Advance or old DS for a brand new one. Of course, you will have to add some cash but if you feel like upgrading and think your old unit will just be taking up space then it might be worth the trade-in.

If you plan on taking advantage of their promo, you'll have to download their PDF file from their site, print it out, then cut out the coupons. For more information on the other offerings, you can go to GameStop via our read link.