Amazon.comThanks to UbiSoft's My Japanese Coach for the Nintendo DS, you can carry a tutor in your pocket that lets you learn a new language in as little as 15 minutes a day. With plenty of entertaining lessons, loads of fun-to-play mini-games, and a host of helpful features, this unique language coach will have you not only speaking like a native in no time, but reading and writing like on as well!
Carry a tutor in your pocket with My Japanese Coach. View larger.
Learn in Fun and Interactive Ways My Japanese Coach is an installment in the My Coach series from UbiSoft series that teaches the basic pronunciations unique to the Japanese language. This convenient and easy-to-use tutor allows users to compare their pronunciation to that of native speakers via the Nintendo DS's microphone. It also lets you use the DS stylus to practice writing Japanese Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji characters.
My Japanese Coach takes you on a virtual tour of Japan while you're learning the language. Lesson plans take place in a wide array of Japanese locations, from the densest of population centers like Tokyo, to the idyllic Japanese country side. You actually get to explore Japan while you learn new vocabulary as you open each point of interest.
Learn From a Master Meet Haruka, the in-game digital sensei, or teacher, that exists solely for the purpose of teaching you Japanese. After giving you a small placement-style test, Haruka will get you started working through the various stages of your lessons. Gaining mastery points by playing the various learning games allow you to clear each level. Once you master all the words given in a specific level, you move on to the next level.
As you work your way through over a 1,000 lessons, your language skills are constantly tested and sharpened by various mini games. My Japanese Coach includes 12 types of mini games, ranging from Flash Cards, in whichyou hear a word and have seconds to choose the correct English translation, to Bridge Builder, where you are required to string words together in the correct order to create a complete sentence. And with mini-games that add a clever twist to classic favorites--like Memory that forces you to match the same words in two different languages--you will be sure to have fun while you learn.
My Japanese Coach also features a built-in dictionary and phrase book that includes over 12,000 words and hundreds of useful everyday phrases.
Meet Haruka, the in-game digital sensei, or teacher. View larger.
Sharpen and test your language skills with mini games. View larger.
Use the DS stylus to practice writing Japanese characters. View larger.
REVIEW
Great tool to learn hiragana and katakana For 29 bucks, for a language tool, its worth every penny.
It is actually a very good supplement to books and pimsleur.
What I like:
- fun and various ways to learn hiragana and katakana (flash cards, multiple choice, hit-a-word, etc)
- inexpensive(this is a bargain compared to other language tools out there)
- very refreshing (various games available and much fun to learn vs using books and audio cd).
What I dislike:
- there is no option to write complete sentences in hiragana/katakana.
- limited vocabulary.. but for 29 bucks, it's worth every penny.
I look forward to more language products from Ubisoft. Hopefully, they will release Japanese advanced level.
Playing My French Coach for 15 to 20 minutes a day is all you need to become fluent in French, no matter your age. The simple touch screen interface lets you spend less time learning the game and more time learning French. The game includes 8 touchpad mini-games to sharpen your skills at your own pace, and lets you track your progress with charts showing your performance learning the language. ESRB Rated E for Everyone.
REVIEW
Not bad, but the games are stupid and repetitive The repetition of vocabulary is good, but the games are lame. One has you clicking on gophers that pop up out of holes, that's kind of pre-school. Since I have a 12 year old using the game to learn a second language it just seems infantile for both of us. The other game is a word search, but it gives you so little time to find the phrases, I ended up with tired eyes from having to scan so fast.(I also don't think that it helped me learn the language any better.) I thought the flash card games were better and saved me from having to sit there and painstakingly print out index cards.
Brush up or start from scratch on the Chinese language with My Chinese Coach. Learn Chinese using carefully structured lessons that guide you through vocabulary and calligraphy exercises. Learn the basic pronunciations unique to the Mandarin language. Use the Nintendo DS stylus to properly write Chinese Kanji Characters. Play through a series of fun and informative mini-games that reinforces the lesson content.
REVIEW
Good on it's own, great as a supplement! Never used any other product in the series, and to behonest I've always been a skeptic when it comes to any way of learning. Used this as a supplement to my beginner's Chinese class, and it's definitely helped me remember/learn a few things, and it's fun! Although obviously a game can't replace a classroom setting and a textbook, I could see someone using this to see if they like the language before signing up for a class, as an educational game for a worldly child, or as a way to practice that's more fun than flashcards. If all the "My [Language] Coach" games are this good, let's hope they keep building up the series! The developers probably wouldn't have gotten to Chinese so quick if it wasn't for the Olympics, even though they missed it by a few weeks.
Playing My Spanish Coach for 15 to 20 minutes a day is all you need to become fluent in Spanish, no matter your age. The simple touch screen interface lets you spend less time learning the game and more time learning Spanish. The game includes 8 touchpad mini-games to sharpen your skills at your own pace, and lets you track your progress with charts showing your performance learning the language. ESRB Rated E for Everyone.
REVIEW
Spanish Coach learning easy This nintendo ds cartridge really helps to improve or practice or learn spanish. It has cool games to help improve memory and also you can listen and record to various spanish words from the"game" and being able to record your voice for comparison. Like anything, learning something new is a constant learning process and should be kept up.
A must-have for Japanese language students. Why drop $200-300 on a fancy electronic dictionary when you can have the same funtionality PLUS the ability to input characters by DRAWING them on the touch screen? Other features include: Japanese to English dictionary, English to Japanese dictionary, English pronunciation, search history, quiz mode, word clock and calendar.PS Like easter eggs? Try looking up 'Manhole' or 'Judge' (in katakana) on your new Sonomama Kanji Dictionary... Game & Watch in the house!
REVIEW
Excellent self study tool! A must-have for DS owners and Japanese students I lived in Japan for 3 years and wish the DS and this dictionary were developed earlier! They would've made my life easier and helped my Japanese tremendously.
I looked at many options for an affordable, portable dictionary that accepted writing input, but nothing met my needs. The dictionaries from Casio, Seiko, and others cost upwards of $300 and almost all of them didn't have stylus inputs. I tried a Sony Clie PDA, but the included dictionary was minimalist and terrible as a study tool, providing only basic translations and occasionally, examples.
The biggest problem for students of Japanese is seeing a word and not knowing how to pronounce it. Not knowing the yomikata means you have to count strokes and look up by radical, which is often a giant and time-consuming pain in the butt. Writing is invariably faster, and this software is a godsend! It provides plenty of example sentences and usage, and I recommend this highly. If you already have a DS, this is the cheapest and most functional electronic dictionary on the market, in my opinion.
If you don't have a DS, buy one and buy this dictionary. It will pay for itself very shortly in time saved and language skills acquired.
Amazon.com Whether you are just looking for fun on the run, or a way to work out your next hit song, the KORG DS-10 Synthesizer for Nintendo DS could be your newest best companion. The DS-10 combines the superior interface of the Nintendo DS with the design concept of the famous KORG MS-10 synthesizer to bring you portable music-creation software without rival.
KORG DS-10 Synthesizer brings portable music creation to the Nintendo DS.
Various sound textures are made possible by implementing the two VCO's, three filter types, and more.
Notes that you perform can be recorded in the sequencer, allowing for further editing.
A Professional-Grade Synthesizer in the Palm of Your Hand The ultra high-quality sound sources for the DS-10 come from KORG, maker of some of the world's finest musical instruments. Korg spared no effort in creating this ultra-portable yet powerful and easy-to-use music software with tons of the latest features-- and all with the unique accessibility of the Nintendo DS touch screen.
The KORG DS-10 Synthesizer gives you the choice of sculpting your own unique sounds with expansive on-screen controls, or starting from a preset template. With two dual oscillator synth parts and four synth/drum parts, users can create synth and drum lines using the on-screen touch keyboard and drum pads, or engage the elegant six-track, 16-step sequencer.
With powerful features such as KORG's KAOSS technology, users can add custom modulations in real-time, tighten the mix with a full-featured mixer, polish their grooves with multiple effects, and create complete songs that they can save on the spot.
The DS-10 features a chorus, flanger, and delay parameter that can be applied individually to each synth or the drum machine, either individually or as a whole. In addition, each of the editable drum sounds can have a separate effect added to it. Various sound textures are made possible by implementing the two VCO's, three filter types, and more, while notes can be recorded in the sequencer, allowing for further editing. This broad functionality, combined with patching functionality, makes the DS-10 suited to even the most avid sound designers.
Intuitive and Easy Use The sounds made by each of the two analogue synthesizer emulators are modified using virtual knobs, and users can patch particular parameters for further modification. The user interface is mainly through the DS's touch screen. Notes can be played using a two-octave keyboard, or through an interface that detects the X and Y position of the stylus on the touch pad, simulating a KORG KAOSS Pad.
The Nintendo DS's dual-screen touch panel is used to the fullest to provide a feel and operability that is unsurpassed. Although there are many expert-level features available with synthesizer, the DS-10 can be appreciated by the complete novice as well as the seasoned professional.
Music Without Limits The KORG DS-10 Synthesizer offers two types of wireless play in Multi-player and Data Exchange modes. Up to eight separate Nintendo DS players can connect via a wireless link to perform as an ensemble. Each DS-10 synthesizer can be played as its own independent instrument, or they can be assigned a part to create a band, allowing for virtually limitless applications.
What's more, users who have created new riffs, tunes, or complete songs can exchange their session data with other KORG DS-10 users. It is even possible to send session data in advance to your friends, so you can all play to the same tune. Not only does the DS-10 bring stylus music to the world for the first time, but this robust connectivity allows for performances and compositions that simply aren't possible on a single Nintendo DS.
The keyboard and KAOSS pad can be played directly with a stylus.
REVIEW
What canyou say....awesome!!! I think this showes that we are on new ground for this type of technology....as the economy goes in the crapper...at least we can look forward to streamlined, affordable useful technolgy! I would recommend this for anyone. Its like having a small swiss army knife...you don't really realize how much you need it until you need it. Capice?!
Get ready for the SATs the easy way. Developed in Ubisoft's Montreal studio and in partnership with The Princeton Review, My SAT Coach helps students prepare for the SAT exams by presenting timed drills and other activities in mini-games. Game scores are tracked and you are given recommendations on how to improve testing performance. It includes more than 2,000 practice questions and two full-length practice exams.
The Real Expert -- Methods are based on proven Princeton Review techniques, building your basic skill sets and allowing you to get the most out of your study time
Amazon.comMy Word Coach, developed in collaboration with linguists, helps players improve their verbal communication and vocabulary in a fun way. Practice with six different exercises to choose between. Players can input missing letters from words, spell out the answers to various definitions, choose which word matches a particular definition, form specific words with Scrabble-like tiles, and more. Three levels of difficulty are available, and the game includes a built-in dictionary of over 17,000 words. Two of the games can be played multiplayer over wireless and five multiplayer games can be accessed when linking the Wii and DS. The data of up to three different players can be saved.
REVIEW
Excellent! Met all my expectations! This is a lot of fun and really helps build some vocabulary.
Highly recommended!
If you take healthy steps, how far will you go? My Weight Loss Coach for Nintendo DS is a game for every adult, male and female, who considers reaching and maintaining their target weight a challenge. A program that fits your own objectives and respects your daily life constraints, My Weight Loss Coach supports you and tracks your progress and achievements by improving your energy balance. Developed in conjunction with a nutritionist, it helps you take control of your weight efficiently and feel better. Via an exclusive pedometer (included free with the game), you will be able to measure your real physical activity level and balance it, following the advice of a fitness coach. Your motivation will increase with coaching sessions, daily challenges, mini-games and quizzes play for only 10 to 15 minutes per day and you will feel the difference!
Key Features
Personal Profiles: Create your personal profile and evaluate your improvement potential, then set up your objectives following the recommendations based on your personal profile.
Input Reward System: On a daily or weekly basis, overall, per input category, via a pedometer, physical activity and nutrition.
The Pedometer: Free with the game and easily updated through your DS, it’s the best way to control your daily physical effort, challenge yourself and balance your food intake.
Real-Life Landmark Checkpoints: As a reward, all physical activities you achieve and good nutrition habits you acquire are converted into distance. Didn’t you notice you’d already been traveling the distance equivalent to the Great Wall of China?
Mini-Games:
10 coaching sessions, with different themes like alimentation and physical activity, help define your profile and give you strategies
300 to 500 fun challenges, depending on your profile and your needs
Four trivia games, featuring about 300 questions with learning and awareness objectives
More than 160 tips and hints within the game
Real Experts: Developed in collaboration with a fitness coach and a nutritionist.
A Game That Wants You to Lose View Image
REVIEW
Too Complicated for a Lazy A** Like Me My main problem with this game was the food. You have to remember everything you ate every day -- and the portion size, which isn't easy to do -- and log it in. And make it fit the game's generalized food categories. If you hit the wrong button by accident, you can't undo it. Logging in my food was not fun and just a chore, and even when I barely moved at all that day, the game was telling me my food to exercise balance was good. I know it's not. Many of the challenges the game was offering me -- like put away the salt shaker and clean up the kitchen -- were things I was already doing.
To walk the number of steps on the pedometer it wanted me to walk was a lot of walking! And here's where I failed the game. Instead of getting out at night and walking around the block until I logged in those extra 3,000 steps I was failing to achieve, I just stopped wearing the pedometer. So if you are amendable to being challenged to walk more, than I guess this would be good for you.
But it started off good. It told me to drink a whole glass of water and walk 300 steps to calibrate the pedometer. But after that it never asked me to drink a glass of water again. I wish it had demanded that every time I turned it on. It reached the point where I was just laying on the sofa, trying to log in my food. So I guess it's back to the Wii Fit.
Now that I look at the review, I think I'm the one who should get 1 star and the game should get 4 stars!
200 man nin no Kanken is a Japanese kanji soft for Nintendo DS. Excercises include drills to improve your writing ability, testing your ability to pronunciation, and testing your ability to count a characters strokes.English instruction is not provided so it is recommended for intermediate Japanese langauge learns, but even beginners should enjoy it if you enjoy challenges and are prepared for a bit of trail and error and experimenting.
REVIEW
This is the only reason I bought a Nintendo DS... I should start by saying I've just finished my second semester of Japanese in college and have played this game for a month - just so you know where the review is coming from :D
Everything is in Japanese, of course. But I don't think this should discourage begining Japanese students. At first it was frustrating because I couldn't read the labels, instructions, buttons - nothing. So I went through each section and tried out every button and made myself a 'map' of the game in English. Now that I know what eveything is I can easily navigate to the part I want to work on. The game starts at level 10 (or first grade Kanji). Certain parts are unavailable (if you play brain age you'll recognize the little question mark labels. I assume that, like Brain Age, they'll become available as I play more or become more advanced).
Each Lesson Type has three parts to it. One part gives you aproblem and has a little box with the answer so that you can practice. It is not timed. Two other parts gives you a problem and has a little box that will slowly reveal the answer as the timer runs out. One is more of a practice test, just for fun, I think. The other is the real test and how well you do on that affects your overall proficiency percentage. (ie: 80% complete)
The Lesson Types are:
-Writing: the game gives you a sentence with a word or a part of a word written in katakana. It then asks you to write the kanji.
-Stroke Number: the game highlights a stroke in a kanji and asks what number that stroke would be using the correct stroke order
-Number of Strokes: the game shows a kanji and asks for the total number of strokes used
-Reading: the games gives you a sentence with kanji and asks you to write the pronounciation in hiragana
There were other lessons that I wasn't entirely sure of because the kanji level is way above me. I belive they were for testing okurigana and kanji compounds.
A month into the program and I'm very satisfied with my purchace. I specifically bought a Nintendo DS for this software (I was sick and tired of flashcards and endless pages of repetitive kanji) and am very happy. I have definetly seen an improvement in my Kanji (today I actually achieved 100% proficiency in the writing part of level 10!) and my vocabulary as well. It has also helped with my general reading skills, as kanji are presented in sentences.
My only complaint is that the practice sections are not randomly generated, or 'shuffled'. So each time you click on Practice Writing Level 10 you start with the setence that begins"sensei wa" and every time you play you get the same sentences in the same order. I love kanji, but even I don't have enough time to do the 80-something number of sentences in one go. But, you can click foward fairly easily and start somewhere in the middle, or even at the end.
Also, the game does not tell you stroke ORDER. This is very important because one of the ways the game recognizes your kanji is by order. So, if you see a new kanji and can't figure out the order, the game might not recognize what you're trying to say. I only had this problem once (with the kanji for 'thread') and I had to look it up online.
I only gave the game a '3 star' rating for fun because it's not super fun. There's no fancy music or bells or whistles - if you want or need that you might want to try a different game. However, the game is VERY addicting. I am not a SUPER serious student (I want to learn Japanese, I get A's in my Japanese classes, I'm going to Japan - but I'm not majoring in it) but I find myself always wanting to play this game.
