Along with the Japanese conference, Nintendo of America held their own fall briefing today, with a few US surprises.

A bulk of the company's games announcements were rehashed from the Japanese counterpart, including reconfirmed Wii and DS games - Punch-Out!!, Sin & Punishment 2 for Wii, and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Mario & Luigi� RPG 3 for Nintendo DS.

For more on these games, be sure to check out our earlier news post for Wii and this post for DS.

Wii Announcements

Increase in US Wii console supplies, compared to the difficult holiday season in 2007, and the DS being available in huge quantities across the country.

The Wii Speak Channel uses the previously announced TV-top microphone and allows up to four people go at it aurally over the internet (providing Friend Codes have been exchanged).

The channel will be free to those who have purchased the Wii Speak peripheral (via a code) for an MSRP of $29.99.

Players can also use the microphone to leave answerphone-style messages for their friends and fellow Wii users, and also narrate captions in the photo channel.

A personal series will help consumers "enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways".

Club Nintendo will be expanded in the US to allow for those who complete surveys and register Nintendo-published products with "loyalty coins" that can be spent on unique items, rare games, and Nintendo merchandise. Set to debut in the US this fall.

Purchase/download WiiWare/VC software directly to SD card. Transfer process will become "dramatically easier".

DS Announcements

The DSi Will be released "well into 2009" due to continual demand for the system in the States

22 million DS units have been sold in North America alone, 23 million units in Japan..

Key US Wii Release Dates 2008

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) - October 21 2008
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Alma (DS) - November 10 2008
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) - November 16 2008
Wii Speak Channel - November 16 2008
Personal Trainer: Cooking (DS) - November 24 2008
Tecmo Bowl (DS) - November 2008
Age of Empires: Mythologies (DS) - November 2008

Key US Wii Release Dates 2009

The Conduit (Wii) - Q1 2009
MadWorld (Wii) - March 2009
Punch-Out!! (Wii) - First half '09
Rhythm Heaven (DS) - First half '09
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS) - First half '09
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii) - Winter 2009
Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (DS) - 2009
Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii) - 2009