Retro Game Challenge

Retro Game Challenge is a Nintendo DS game developed by indieszero and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is based on the television series "GameCenter CX" and Shinya Arino gave much input into the game creation process. The game was released on November 15, 2007 in Japan, and in North America from Xseed Games on February 10, 2009. The game received a score of 33/40 from "Famitsu". A sequel, "GameCenter CX 2", was released in Japan in February 26, 2009. Xseed Games said that the game was not likely to be translated into English.
Gameplay.
In the game, the player selects a boy or girl playing retro games to appease the Demon Arino (based on the TV show's host Shinya Arino). The Demon Arino gives four challenges to complete for each game.
Each game is original, but with graphic, sound and game-play elements which make it look old, or retro. Many of them are similar in both gameplay and appearance to real Famicom games of those years. They come with fully illustrated manuals.
Occasionally there will be a fake gaming magazine, Game Fan Magazine, that has articles about the games, rankings (with other fictional games named), and "game advice" from "GameCenter CX" ADs who have appeared over the seasons of the TV show. In the case of the North American version, the pseudonyms of journalists better known in English-speaking countries were used.
Some parts of the various games are inspired by actual challenges that Arino has faced in his TV episodes. For example, the bonus character in the second half of stage 1 of "Star Prince" is taken from his attempt to get bonus points from playing "Star Force" in season 1. The various "special" continue tricks (like in Haggle Man) come from the several instances in which Arino must use these features to complete tasks on the show. Even the ending to the game pulls a trick from "Takeshi no Chōsenjō" from season 1.
Reception.
As of June 24, 2009, "Retro Game Challenge" has sold fewer than 100,000 copies in North America. This was viewed as disappointing for its North American publisher, Xseed Games, discouraging them from also localizing the sequel. Director of Publishing Ken Berry stated that sales were initially strong, but died down.
Sequels.
"GameCenter CX: Arino no Chōsenjō 2" is the sequel to "Retro Game Challenge" and was released on February 26, 2009, in Japan. Like the original, it largely consists of NES-styled games reminiscent of actual games released in the late 1980s through mid-1990s. However, this game also features games styled after Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Famicom Disk System games, as well as variants on games included in Retro Game Challenge and a "game trainer" modeled after a "Game & Watch". All together, this title has 15 games in one. The game received an English fan translation in 2014.
Another sequel of the game, named "GameCenter CX: 3-Choume no Arino" for Nintendo 3DS was released on 2014, exclusively in Japan.
Reception.
The magazine "Game Informer" put it on their list of the best games of 2009.