Konami to sell skincare software for Nintendo DS

Konami Digital Entertainment Co's designer Yukiko Nishimura poses with the company's ''Dream Skincare'' software for Nintendo DS in Tokyo June 14, 2007. The software, which goes on sale in Japan on October 18 at the cost of 4,500 yen ($36.60), tracks basal body temperature and demonstrates face massage among other features.

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese software maker plans to launch a skincare guide for use on Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s hot-selling portable game gear DS, giving beauty tips based on users' basal body temperature and hormone balance.

Konami Corp., known for such sports titles as "Pro Evolution Soccer", said that by marking a target date such as a wedding in the software, DS users can get customized, daily skincare instructions in the runup to the big day.

"We have developed the software under the concept of getting pretty while having fun," Konami Digital Entertainment Corporate Officer Naoyuki Notsu told a news conference.

Konami Digital Entertainment is Konami's game software unit.

The DS has two screens, opens like a book and allows gamers to control play with a stylus, instead of manipulating a keypad.

Its intuitive playing style coupled with software designed to cater to game novices, such as the "Nintendogs" pet training game, have helped Nintendo expand its clientele beyond a young male audience to include women and the elderly.

The skincare software will go on sale on October 18 in Japan for 4,500 yen ($37). Konami has no specific plans at the moment for an overseas launch.

($1=122.74 Yen)