We all know by now that Australia gets the short end of the stick when it comes to Nintendo releases. The country can wait up to a year after the North American release before getting a sniff of a new Wii or DS game. Frustrated gamers may be tempted to pirate these titles, but Nintendo, fresh off winning $1.5 million from one Aussie pirate, has claimed that piracy affects Australian release dates. 

"Nintendo Australia is always pushing for games to be released here at the same time as the rest of the world, so we were pleased to get New Super Mario Bros. Wii before anyone else," explains Nintendo of Australia. "Unfortunately, due to to the actions of this individual, future release dates may be affected for Australia, which is disappointing for us."

Now, I fully understand that it must be insulting to have New Super Mario Bros. Wii ripped and uploaded in Australia when it was one of the few games to be released on time in the country, but I have to call bullsh*t on this statement. Nintendo has a long history of delaying Australian games while giving no justifiable reason for it. To retroactively try and shift the blame onto pirates is a bit of a pathetic move, in honesty. 

Australian gamers are frustrated with Nintendo and its long history of shafting the territory. I don't think any smart Aussies are going to fall for Nintendo's buck-passing.

Nintendo Stomps Aussie Mario Pirate [GameSpot]

A person in Australia fudged with the wrong game maker. He ripped and uploaded New Super Mario Bros. Wii a week before it was even available in that country. Naturally, he was busted and was taken to court. Now that Federal Court has awarded Nintendo $1.5 million dollars in damages to compensate for loss of revenue.

Speaking of revenue, they've sold 10 million copies of the game.

And Nintendo on why you shouldn't pirate their games:

“Fewer sales of Nintendo’s hardware and software systems means fewer resources that Nintendo, its licensees, developers and publishers have to create and market new video game products which is ultimately to the detriment of video game enthusiasts. When there is a decrease in game development, there is also a decrease in the number of jobs in the industry. The existence of piracy jeopardizes the strength of the video game industry overall.”

Nintendo Awarded $1.5 Million In Piracy Suit [Edge]

In amazingly shocking news, it's been discovered that a game designer is designing games! Shigeru Miyamoto, the Nintendo genius who's gone off the rails a bit, is making a new MotionPlus game. Of course, if we knew what the game in question was, this story might be halfway useful. We do not know what the game in question is.  

Surprisingly, this is about the best story this morning. This is what happens when there is a Super Bowl at the weekend. Bloody videogame PR people were too busy shouting "WHO DAT" to give us some actual good stuff to post. Now we're talking about Miyamoto making a MotionPlus game. No sh*t he is.

Miyamoto working on new MotionPlus game

It's another week, another set of Nintendo downlo--oh my God... Blaster Master Overdrive!!

WiiWare

• Blaster Master Overdrive (Sunsoft, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points)
• Tomena Sanner (Konami, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points)
• Blooms (Hands-On Mobile, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
• Hubert the Teddy Bear Winter Games (Teyon, 1-16 players, 500 Wii Points)

DSiWare

• Oscar in Movieland (Virtual Playground, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)
• Link 'n' Launch (Nintendo, 1 player, 500 DSiPoints)
• Fieldrunners (Subatomic Studios, 1 player, 500 DSiPoints)
• Sudoku 4Pockets (4pockets.com, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)
• Extreme Hangman (Gamelion, 1-2 players, 200 DSi Points)

Virtual Console

• Prince Tomato in the Salad Kingdom (Hudson Entertainment, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)

Outside of Blaster Master, this week's a tough call on where the Nintendo points should go. Tomena Sanner is a Japanese oddity that looks like a can't-miss. Hubert the Teddy Bear is finally going to get to play winter games. Fieldrunners should be a good buy for anyone who doesn't already own in on the iPhone.

What else is catching your eye?

We've known for a little while that an all new Pokemon game is in the works, but that could mean a million different things. It could be a puzzle game, a Wii spin-off with Nintendo 64 quality graphics, or any number of other "less important" games. As any Poke-fan will tell you, there are certain Pokemon announcements that mean something, and others that are more-or-less worth ignoring.

What's the difference? Well, if an all new Pokemon is involved, then you've got to pay attention. So pay attention, Pokefans, because that rather bland-looking silhouette of a fox/wolf-thing is the signal -- something truly new in the world of Pokemon is going to happen.

Sounds like we'll be getting a full look at who this Pokemon is on February 21, so keep your eyes peeled. I'm expecting we'll also find out exactly what game this Pokemon will be showing up in as well.

Pokemon Sunday's Reveal - First 5th Generation Sihlouette [Serebii.net]

In what will probably be the strangest rumor this weekend, a new slice of gossip is claiming that Sonic the Hedgehog will be a playable character in Mario Galaxy 2. In a way, that's very plausible -- if you've not been able to star in any decent games yourself for the past ten years, why not gatecrash someone else's game?

The rumor's being spread by NGamer, a UK-based Nintendo Magazine. According to NGamer, a "trusted source" at Nintendo has spilled the beans, explaining that Sonic will be in a stage called "Green Hill Galaxy."

These guys could just be yanking our cranks, but it would kind of make sense. We already know that Mario and Sonic are more than happy teaming up, with the Mario & Sonic games and Super Smash Bros. Brawl being prime examples. Also, with the announcement of Sonic 4, it would be good for Sonic to get as much face time with the public as possible. 

Then again, this was posted Friday night, so the NGamer chaps might just have been drunk and screwing with us. Who knows?

[Via NGamer's Twitter]

Does Nintendo have a hardware reveal planned for Game Developers Conference 2010? One unnamed source has heard something along these lines. Speaking to VideoGamer, an employee "at a major international publisher" said, "Just heard a rumour that you may be interested in: Nintendo are going to announce a new platform at GDC." He added, "Some devs have already started work on it."

Nintendo already shot this tasty rumor down as such, so we don't expect to know for sure if the hardware publisher plans to finally unveil a new DS, Wii or Virtual Boy until GDC closes. Still, it's something to think about. Just like the fact that it can't rain all the time, Nintendo sure as hell can't keep releasing DS variants. Right? Right?

Devs already working on 'new Nintendo platform' [Videogamer]

Yoshio Sakamoto's job title at Nintendo is Group Manager of the Software Planning and Development Department. I have no idea what that means. I do know that he has been at Nintendo since 1982, which had him working on many of my favorite videogames. Rhythm Heaven and WarioWare? He worked on those. Most recently he has worked on the game I'm most excited about: Metroid: Other M. In fact, he worked on the whole Metroid series.

Now we've got word that Sakamoto will be lecturing at GDC in an hour-long bit called Metroid to Tomodachi Collection to WarioWare: Different Approaches for Different Audiences.  GDC describes it like this:

Sakamoto will talk about his thought processes and techniques on game designs that have allowed him to find market acceptance for his expansive portfolio of titles.

Of course, I just want to hear him talk about Metroid: Other M. I'll be attending this keynote next month to hear what he has to say.

Other GDC keynotes include Motomu Toriyama (Final Fantasy XIII), Peter Molyneux, Tim Schafer, and R.A. Salvatore

Sakamoto added to GDC keynotes [Edge]

Have you bought the little Motion Plus doingle for your Wii remote yet? If you want to play the new Zelda, then you're going to have to. The next time we travel to Hyrule on the Wii, we will only be able to do so with the Motion Plus accessory. 

"After actually making it compatible," explains producer Eiji Aonuma, "it just feels so natural. Link's sword and the controller that you're holding become one." Players will use Motion Plus to freely swing Link's sword, and it's been hinted that the way in which you fight enemies will be integral to some of the game's puzzles. 

Elsewhere, Aonuma has stated that he hopes to have the new game playable at E3. The team will be working hard to get playable code ready as soon as possible. He also reveals that the game's basics are more or less ready, stating that "the core areas have come into clear view."

Sounds good. I'd love to check out a playable Zelda at E3, but I don't relish the massive line that will form around that particular kiosk.

Zelda Wii Sequel Goes Motion Plus Only; Expected playable at E3 [Andria Sang]

You know who's style savvy? Beyoncé, that's who. Did you see her at the Grammy's? Sasha Fierce got fierce all up on the mic, covering an Alanis Morissette song of all things. And then she threw Elton John into a hole and he turned into Lady GaGa who then covered a Pink song while suspended from Star Wars sheets.

When that's not happening, Mrs. Knowles is shilling Nintendo's Nintendo DS and DSi title, Style Saavy. You know, the clothing game, designed specifically for Destructoid's demographic. Which is why I'm writing about it, obviously. 

Here's some info for your brain's Useless Videogame Fact Bank: Designs from Beyoncé's real-life clothing line, Deréon, will be available as DLC in Style Savvy in the coming months. Now go on, impress a middle school girl with that fact. Just don't tell them you heard it from me.

Despite Nintendo's endless denials, talk about a Wii HD refuses to settle down. Now Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has enterd the fray, claiming that even if a Wii 2 did release with hi-definition compatibility, that would not be enough to on its own. 

"If asked if making the Wii compatible with high definition -- just making it compatible with high resolution -- will get players throughout the world to buy it," declares the Nintendo bigwig, "I would of course say, 'Do you think it would sell with just that? It needs something new.'"

So, the basic messages seems to be that when the Wii 2 ships, it won't just be a waggle box with prettier graphics. We have no way of knowing what hair brained nonsense Nintendo will cook up next, but we reckon it might be one of those toy ovens with slightly warm lights that you're supposed to make really terrible cakes with. 

Iwata Discusses Wii and DS Successor Confusion [Andria Sang]

Nintendo's Satoru Iwata on the Nintendo DS successor having motion sensing capabilities: "What? No way. That's stupid."

I'm kidding. He didn't really say that. But it was said before that Iwata mentioned motion sensing capabilities for the DS2 or whatever the hell they're going to call it. Turns out he was misquoted. Stupid ass journalists.

Iwata claims that the Japanese newspaper Asahi said to him in an interview: "The next DS will need to have high resolution graphics and include a motion sensor, wouldn't you say?"

Iwata replied: "Those are naturally considered requirements. However, do you believe it will sell with just this?"

Just a mix-up. I'm telling you right now: If I have to wave the DS2 around while looking at a little screen, I'm passing on it. Hopefully that won't be the case.

And here's the real word: "If there were no rival makers in the world, I'd could give examples of the things that we are considering. However, for competitive reasons, I cannot give specifics today on the what or when of the things we're considering."

Iwata denies DS2 motion statement [CVG]

Usually when we pull together these weekly round-ups of Nintendo's digital releases, we pick the most notable game in the group for our headline. This week I'm picking Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.

First off, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World has to one of the weirdest names ever for a game. It's also a strange combination of two Sega franchises. Don't let that hold you back, though. This is a fun game, especially for those that followed both franchises in the past. It's almost a parody of the Shinobi titles, right down to the title screen animation and the music. Definitely worth 500 Wii points, IMO.

That's your only virtual console game this week. There's plenty of WiiWare, though. Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 5, the manly sounding Tumblebugs 2, and the lonely sounding 5 in 1 Solitaire are also out this week (1,000, 800 and 500 Wii Points, respectively).

For DSiWare, there's that same solitare game, a Texas Hold'Em game, and Move your Brain Rollway Puzzle. Gameloft has a mini fantasy game for 800 DSi points: Legends of Exidia. Finally, there's a golf game: True Swing Golf Express (800 DSi Points).

What looks good to you this week?

This ought to brighten your day a bit. It's Professor Layton, master mystery mister, cavorting arou nd on an ice rink. Marvel as he twirls, spins and looks alternately quizzical and smug.

I swear, is there nothing that man in the stovepipe can't do? Next, we're going to see him pulling 720° spins on a halfpipe somewhere. Or wrestling bears.

Professor Layton - ON ICE! [AllAbouttheGames]