Touch! Generations[a] is a brand created by Nintendo to denote video games on the Nintendo DS and Wii that are intended to appeal to a broader audience (mainly adults and the elderly) than the traditional gamer. Nintendo initially conceived the brand alongside the DS in Japan as a response to the country's faster population aging rate compared to Western regions, seeking to attract audiences outside its traditional target market of young hardcore gamers to supplement its player base.[1][2] Titles under the brand were first introduced in Japan from April to June 2005, with the initial lineup consisting of titles such as Electroplankton,[3] Nintendogs, Brain Age, Rakubiki Jiten DS,[4] and Big Brain Academy.[5][6]
Big Brain Academy and Magnetica were the first games in North America to release under the Touch! Generations brand, with both releasing on June 5, 2006; they were followed up by Sudoku Gridmaster on June 26.[7] In addition, several previously released games were retroactively designated with the brand.[2] Meanwhile, the brand was introduced in Europe on June 9 with the release of Brain Age, which was renamed Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?.[8] The games designated with the Touch! Generations label varied between regions.[9][10]
Titles under the Touch! Generations brand have generally been commercially successful, with those under specific series receiving particular attention; as of March 31, 2023, titles under the Nintendogs and Brain Age series for the Nintendo DS have sold for a combined total of 57.85 million units, while the Wii has titles in its eponymous series represent six of its top ten best-selling games with a combined total of 197.21 million units.[11][12] The brand's popularity was most notable in Japan, where it was credited with invoking a significant push among developers in the country to create non-traditional titles for the Nintendo DS, with 220 such titles developed out of 810 total by May 2008.[13] Furthermore, a soundtrack album with music from games within and outside the brand was made available in Japan on audio CD starting on September 4, 2008, as a Club Nintendo reward for 400 points.[14]
Nintendo retired the brand with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, six years after its introduction.[15] Despite this, some games that were introduced under the brand continue to receive follow-up entries on the contemporary and future Nintendo consoles.
