A few hours before its software conference kicks off, Nintendo of America has released new details on the software lineup for its new DS handheld. In particular, we now know which games will be coming from Nintendo and other publishers as soon as the dual-screened portable game system hits shelves next month.

In addition to the PictoChat software built into the system and the Metroid Prime: Hunters demo packed in the launch package, Nintendo plans to launch the following titles at retail on November 21 or between then and the end of the year.

Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft) Feel the Magic XY/XX (Sega) Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts) Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco) Ping Pals (THQ) Rayman DS (Ubisoft) Ridge Racer DS (Namco) Spider-Man 2 (Activision) Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 (Electronic Arts) The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)

The game formerly known as Super Mario 64 X 4 will no longer have the clever title -- instead, it will just have the "DS" tacked on to differentiate it from its Nintendo 64 predecessor. However, in addition to remixing the 3D action of the original Mario 64, it will also feature new mini-games exploiting the touch-sensitive DS interface.

The following titles from Nintendo's first-party developers and other publishers will arrive in North America after the DS launch, within a wider timeframe:

Advance Wars DS (Nintendo) Animal Crossing (Nintendo) Bomberman (Hudson) Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Square Enix) Frogger (Konami) GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (Electronic Arts) Metroid Prime: Hunters (Nintendo) Need for Speed Underground (Electronic Arts) New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) Viewtiful Joe (Capcom) Wario Ware Inc. DS (Nintendo) Yoshi's Touch & Go (Nintendo)

Metroid Prime: Hunters will include multiple control schemes, according to today's announcement, suggesting that different screen orientations will be available to players who want to control the game with or without the touch-sensitive lower screen.

Nintendo plans to have between 10 and 12 DS games available in the North American market within 30 days of the system's November 21 release -- in other words, those titles will see release before Christmas. By the end of the first quarter of 2005, it expects the DS lineup to number between 20 and 25 games. Whether some or all of the above will see release by the end of next March, however, remains up in the air.

Today's announcement doesn't nail down a specific price point for DS software. The lower limit, however, will be $29.99, suggesting that some titles may reach higher console-esque price points.

Check back at 1UP for a full report from Nintendo's event, where we'll no doubt learn much more about the entire DS software lineup.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.