Nintendo of Europe have given us the first set of release dates for 2008...

Nintendo of Europe have given us a release schedule for 2008. It's mixed news all round, as Mario Kart has been bumped to Q2, while Smash Bros. Brawl is nowhere to be seen (though we expect to hear a definite date for that separately).

On the random side, Wii Chess gets an actual release date, despite Nintendo not showing us anything about it (could it be a Wii Ware title?). Meanwhile On the DS front, the next Advance Wars gets a January release date, while Professor Kageyama's Maths Training pops up from nowhere. We've highlighted the games we're most interested in... but how about you?

Wii Release List

PDC World Championship Darts 2008 (Oxygen Games) 11 January 2008 Wii Chess (Nintendo) 18 January 2008 Zack and Wiki Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Capcom/Nintendo) 18 January 2008 Donkey Kong Jet Race (Nintendo) 25 January 2008 Hamster Heroes (Data Design Interactive) January 2008 Kawasaki Jet Ski (Data Design Interactive) January 2008 Kidz Sports: International Football (Data Design Interactive) January 2008 Urban Extreme (Data Design Interactive) January 2008 NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (SEGA) January 2008 Ghost Squad (SEGA) January 2008 Last Ninja (System 3) January 2008 Battalion Wars 2 (Nintendo) 15 February 2008 No More Heroes (Rising Star Games) 29 February 2008 Call For Heroes: Pompolic Wars (Data Design Interactive) February 2008 EARACHE Extreme Metal Racing (Data Design Interactive) February 2008 Bleach (SEGA) February 2008 Kawasaki Snow Mobiles (Data Design Interactive) February 2008 London Taxi: Rush Hour (Data Design Interactive) February 2008 Pool Party (SouthPeak Games) February 2008 Destroy All Humans 3: Big Willy Unleashed (THQ) February 2008 Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis (THQ) February 2008 ATV Thunder Ridge Riders & Monster Trucks (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7 March 2008 The Wizard of Oz (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7 March 2008 Naruto Wii (Tentative title) (TOMY/Nintendo) 28 March 2008 Bomberman Land Wii (Rising Star Games) March 2008 SEGA Superstars Tennis (SEGA) March 2008 Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (SEGA) March 2008 MX vs ATV Untamed (THQ) March 2008 Harvest Moon Magical Melody (Rising Star Games/Nintendo) Q1/Q2 2008 Worms: A Space Oddity (THQ) Q1 2008 PES 2008 (Konami) Q1 2008 Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) Q2 2008 Dancing Stage HOTTEST PARTY (Konami) Spring 2008 Iron Man (SEGA) Spring 2008

DS Release List

Advance Wars: Dark Conflict (Nintendo) 25 January 2008 Betty Boop (ZOO Digital Publishing) 25 January 2008 Garfield Gets Real (ZOO Digital Publishing) 1 February 2008 Professor Kageyama's Maths Training (Nintendo) 8 February 2008 NARUTO NINJA Destiny (TOMY/Nintendo) 15 February 2008 8Ball Allstars (Oxygen Games) 15 February 2008 Powershot Pinball Constructor (Oxygen Games) 15 February 2008 Harvest Fishing (Rising Star Games) 15 February 2008 Bleach (SEGA) February 2008 Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis (THQ) February 2008 Command and Destroy (ZOO Digital Publishing) 7 March 2008 Magic & Illusion (Tentative title) (Nintendo) 14 March 2008 Ace Attorney Apollo Justice (Capcom/Nintendo) March 2008 Bomberman Land Touch 2 (Rising Star Games) March 2008 Dungeon Explorer (Rising Star Games) March 2008 SEGA Superstars Tennis (SEGA) March 2008 MZ vs ATV Untamed (THQ) March 2008 DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker (Square Enix) Q1 2008 Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings (Square Enix) Q1 2008 Crayola: Treasure Adventures (Ignition) Q1 2008 George Of The Jungle (Ignition) Q1 2008 Teenage Zombies (Ignition) Q1 2008 Iron Man (SEGA) Q1 2008 Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams (Empire Interactive) Q1 2008 Code Lyoco 2 (Game Factory/K.E. Media) Q1 2008 Zoo Hospital (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008 Nancy Drew (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008 Holly Hobby (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008 Fish Tycoon (Majesco/Eidos) Q1 2008 Hannah Montana - Music Jam (Disney Interactive Studios) Spring 2008

Disclaimer: These release dates are not final and, to be honest, are quite likely to change.

Update: Chances are, you've heard about the apparent 'delay' of Brawl, with a Nintendo spokesperson apparently claiming it won't be released until after Q2 2008 in Europe. This is to be taken lightly - keep in mind the list is for Q1 only. As you may also have noticed, Mario Kart is the one single title down for a Q2 release and we know there'll be plenty more. Indeed, there are several games coming out in Q1 missing, making the list incomplete.

What is also to be noted is that the much-quoted Nintendo spokesperson said that "If the game is not listed on the schedule up until the end of Q2 it is currently not due out until after that time." So is Mario Kart the only game in Q2? No. What about Fire Emblem and Wii Fit?

Stay with us for more news about the situation...