Nintendo Signs Up Capcom, Reveals Q1 Plans For Europe

Nintendo of Europe has announced that it will be distributing a number of key Capcom titles in European territories, bolstering Nintendo's first-party releases for the first quarter of 2006, alongside a larger release update for Q1 2006 Nintendo titles. Specifically, Nintendo will be distributing Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Megaman Battle Network 5: Double Team on the Nintendo DS and Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble for Nintendo GameCube in Europe. Capcom remains the worldwide publisher for these titles. Jim Merrick, Senior Marketing Director for Nintendo of Europe, commented with regard to the deal: "Nintendo is delighted to have signed a distribution deal with one of the most prestigious developers in the gaming industry. Capcom games are of the highest standards in both creativity and quality and fit perfectly with our line-up for the first half of 2006." However, any concerns that this might imply Nintendo was short of new third or first-party titles for European published have been allayed by updated release information for Q1 2006. In particular, it shows the Japanese DS casual hit Brain Training due for March 2006 release in Europe, though the final European name for the game is undecided. In addition, DS surgery sim Trauma Centre: Under the Knife will be published by Nintendo in Europe next March, and other key DS dates include Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time on January 27, Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble in February, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney on March 10, and Animal Crossing: Wild World on March 31. GameCube titles are a little thinner on the ground, but notables include Mario Party 7 on January 27, Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble in February, and Yoot Saito's sure to be cult Odama on March 31. Final Fantasy 4 Advance was also confirmed for European release on the Game Boy Advance in early 2006.