More casual games heading for the DS: Calligraphy, Aquarium, and Painting

Stress relief on your DS? Not a problem. Almost everything’s possible on Nintendo’s diminutive handheld, and now there’s a portable version of the Aquarium Channel coming to the DS.

Mercury Games and Ertain BV just penned an agreement that will make more recreational DS non-games possible on North American shores this year. No nerve-wracking competitions or gameplay here, just the good ol’ R & R. Nintendic revealed three titles slated for release: Paint Pleasure, Aquarium DS Real, and Calligraphy DS.

Paint Pleasure lets you replicate classical artworks with various mediums – watercolor, oil paint, coloring pencils (virtual, of course).

Aquarium DS Real is the aforementioned Aquarium simulation for the DS. Design your own fish tank, place rocks, plants or strange figurines. Aquarium customization and fish caring is very in-depth, even letting users change water temperature. Bored with the usual fish? Put a whale in your tank.

Calligraphy DS, the third of the three titles, is a calligraphy simulation using the stylus as brush. Now, this is where it gets tricky: it wasn’t clear whether Calligraphy DS will feature Japanese or Western calligraphy.

The upcoming releases of more “casual non-games” will certainly add more depth to the Nintendo DS’ library, offering more genre and choices for the incredibly varied DS crowd, broadening its appeal and not limiting the device to serious gaming. Tomo Ohno, COO of Ertain BV said:

Teaming up with Mercury Games is a great way to enter the Western market. We can develop our position alongside them and firmly establish our presence. The timing is great and we feel that we have the right mix of product, ambition and partner. We look forward to a great relationship.

Leo Zullo of Mercury Games concurs.

This is a great strategic step for Mercury Games. Japan has long been a source for innovative products. Now with Ertain, it is a great pleasure to be working with fun and expansive products that donÂ’t necessarily follow a trend, but cater to a distinct market, and follow a great ethos.

Stress relief on your DS? Not a problem. Almost everything’s possible on Nintendo’s diminutive handheld, and now there’s a portable version of the Aquarium Channel coming to the DS.

Mercury Games and Ertain BV just penned an agreement that will make more recreational DS non-games possible on North American shores this year. No nerve-wracking competitions or gameplay here, just the good ol’ R & R. Nintendic revealed three titles slated for release: Paint Pleasure, Aquarium DS Real, and Calligraphy DS.

Paint Pleasure lets you replicate classical artworks with various mediums – watercolor, oil paint, coloring pencils (virtual, of course).

Aquarium DS Real is the aforementioned Aquarium simulation for the DS. Design your own fish tank, place rocks, plants or strange figurines. Aquarium customization and fish caring is very in-depth, even letting users change water temperature. Bored with the usual fish? Put a whale in your tank.

Calligraphy DS, the third of the three titles, is a calligraphy simulation using the stylus as brush. Now, this is where it gets tricky: it wasn’t clear whether Calligraphy DS will feature Japanese or Western calligraphy.

The upcoming releases of more “casual non-games” will certainly add more depth to the Nintendo DS’ library, offering more genre and choices for the incredibly varied DS crowd, broadening its appeal and not limiting the device to serious gaming. Tomo Ohno, COO of Ertain BV said:

Teaming up with Mercury Games is a great way to enter the Western market. We can develop our position alongside them and firmly establish our presence. The timing is great and we feel that we have the right mix of product, ambition and partner. We look forward to a great relationship.

Leo Zullo of Mercury Games concurs.

This is a great strategic step for Mercury Games. Japan has long been a source for innovative products. Now with Ertain, it is a great pleasure to be working with fun and expansive products that donÂ’t necessarily follow a trend, but cater to a distinct market, and follow a great ethos.