Pokémon eShop games coming this Fall

Pokémon Dream Radar and Pokédex 3D Pro, the two new Pokémon eShop games that were announced during last month’s Nintendo Direct, are coming to North America and Europe this Fall just in time for Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. (Was there ever any doubt that they wouldn’t?)

Pokémon Dream Radar (formerly AR Searcher) uses the 3DS camera and augmented reality technology to allow players to find and catch Pokémon. Any Pokémon caught in Dream Radar can be transferred to Black 2 and White 2.

Also coming this Fall is Pokédex 3D Pro, a new edition of the existing Pokédex 3D. It will feature every Pokémon in the National Pokédex, and they will all be accessible from the first use. The Pokédex will feature comprehensive details, comparative stats, and the ability to sort through various types of Pokémon.
The exact release dates of the eShop titles have not been announced, but it would be safe to say they will be very close to the release of Pokémon Black Version 2 and White Version 2. Prices for the Western releases have also not been revealed, but they definitely won’t be free like the first Pokédex 3D.

Source: Press release email

Mario Kart 7 patch drops today

Today, Nintendo is sending out a 3DS update that is patching the often abused glitches in the Maka Wuhu and Bowser Castle 1 tracks in Mario Kart 7. Players online have been using these glitches to jump ahead in races, making many other players upset (some players had even started boycotting Mario Kart 7 online play until Nintendo repaired the glitches!). The new patches are required to be downloaded in order to race online, so everyone will be able to race in a glitch-free environment now. This patch sets a new precedent for Nintendo, a company which has never made an in-game patch of this sort before. The folks at Nintendo Life have step-by-step instructions for downloading the patch, which must be done through the eShop or by QR Code.

Source: Nintendo Life

Watch the first English Kingdom Hearts 3D Trailer

Square Enix released the first trailer of Kingdom Heart 3D: Dream Drop Distance to feature its English voice cast. Behold!

Source: Nintendo World Report

Pikmin 2 and Mario Power Tennis coming to the Wii this summer

So the good news, for all you Olimar fans out there, is that today it was announced Pikmin 2 will be hitting store shelves for the Wii on June 10 for the low price of $19.99! But wait, that’s not all; in conjunction with Pikmin’s release comes another Nintendo Selects installment, this time in the form of Mario Power Tennis! Gamecube fans around the world can begin rejoicing in 3…2…1…

Source: Nintendo Life

Smash Bros. Brawl and DK Country Returns Become Bargains

For all three of you out there who never originally picked up Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Donkey Kong Country Returns, rest easy knowing that you’ll be able snatch them up on the cheap very soon as Nintendo put word out today that both games will be seeing a price cut in the near future, dropping them down to $29.99. With that kind of price point, I’d venture to say everyone should at the very least own Smash Bros.; if for nothing else than to get in some practice time before showing up to your unsuspecting friend’s house and laying the smackdown on him for all those times he trolled you with Meta Knight.

Source: Nintendo Life

Aqua Blue 3DS still a go for North America and Europe

Fret not, future owners of the Aqua Blue 3DS, for Nintendo let loose information today that its reported discontinuation of one of the 3DSs original colors will only be affecting Japanese consumers… for now anyway. It was recently announced that Japan will have to wave sayonara to the beautiful Aqua Blue 3DS to make way for a new Cobalt Blue iteration. Worried consumers in both North America and Europe sat biting their nails in anticipation for Nintendo to provide a statement about the colors’ future for regions outside of Japan. Fortunately, if you’re one of those folks, you can let your anxiety subside as Nintendo Europe has reported, “this announcement is only for the Japanese market.”

Now, enough chat about all this blue nonsense; I’m just trying to talk about that sleek midnight purple 3DS, which conveniently drops next week in North America. You can bet your bottom dollar this guy will be at his local game store on its release day.

Source: GoNintendo

3DS Continues To obliterate Vita In Japan

The 3DS unsurprisingly continues to dominate in Japan, while the Vita has minimal successes (it is being outsold by both the dying Wii and the assumed-to-be-dead PSP). Below you can check out the top 8 best selling hardware in Japan through April 30 and May 6.

1. 3DS: 91,868 (74,282)
2. PS3: 23,478 (21,114)
3. PSP: 20,033 (22,457)
4. Wii: 15,789 (9,200)
5. PSV: 10,583 (12,299)
6. PS2: 1,611 (1,395)
7. X360: 1,420 (1,327)
8. DSi LL: 1,097 (895)
9. DSi: 814 (717)

As you can see (if you have awesome math skills…), the 3DS is selling more than the Vita in Japan with a ratio of more than 8 to 1!

Source: GamesRadar

Wii U To Have Updated Circle Pads?

I don’t know about you, but one of the things that bummed me out most with the Wii U’s E3 showing was the return of the 3DS’ circle pads on the Wii U controller. It’s all fine and dandy on a handheld system like the 3DS, but with a console, I just want more precise control. It looks like Nintendo may be fixing this issue with a recently filed patent. Check it out below:

Wii U’s circle pads are starting to look more like analogue sticks…

This all makes sense with some recent rumors flying around that Nintendo will be updating the Wii U’s circle pads to be clickable, not unlike the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3′s analogue sticks.

Source: GoNintendo

Activision Estimates Skylanders Figures Are #1 Selling Action Figures

In a recent quote by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, it is revealed that Skylanders may have trumped Star Wars figures as the best selling action figure line. These toys really took off, I would have never guessed that Spyro would come back with such a bang, even if he isn’t the main character of the brand anymore.

“Based on our internal estimates, we believe that Skylander’s toys sales in the first quarter exceeded those of Star Wars, the #1 action figure line.” - Activision CEO Bobby Kotick

Source: Spong

Nintendo Patents Wii U Golf Tech

It seems Nintendo has applied for a patent for its Wii U golf technology.

The company demonstrated its…unique vision for Wii U golf at last year’s E3 expo, giving showgoers a taste of what they can expect from the console’s unorthodox controller. In the teaser video, a female gamer places the Wii U tablet controller on the floor, giving her an aerial view of her golf ball. Using a Wii remote as a makeshift club, she swings at the virtual ball, which is then transported to the golf course on her television screen.

It’s an interesting use, to be sure, but perhaps more important is that it lends a bit of credence to the rumor that Nintendo may include a Wii remote in Wii U’s packaging, as it seems this tech cannot function without one. Whatever the case, we will know for sure at this year’s E3, when the company is expected to finalize its Wii U launch line-up.

Source: Nintendo Life

April NPD Shows 3DS Ahead of DS First Year Sales

According to the latest NPD, the 3DS has outsold its predecessor in the first fourteen months of its life by about one million units.

This stands in stark contrast to the rest of the games industry, which has seen a noticeable decline from last year’s sales totals. Overall hardware sales have fallen by 32 percent since April 2011, with software sales plummeting by 42 percent.

There is a silver lining to all this, however. While concrete numbers have yet to be revealed, it is being reported that Kid Icarus: Uprising “ranked among the top 10 SKU’s” for April, making it the second strong month for the new title (and a promising sign for Pit’s viability as a franchise despite Sakurai’s hesitance to create a sequel). It should also be noted that Xenoblade Chronicles was excluded from the list by virtue of its exclusivity to GameStop, making its exact sales numbers unknown at this point.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

New Time Travelers Info and Screens

Level-5 has recently opened the official website for its upcoming 3DS and Vita title, Time Travelers, and with it comes a few new details about the enigmatic project.

Set in the year 2031, some eighteen years after a disaster known as the “Lost Hole” ravaged the greater part of Tokyo, Time Travelers begins with television idol Hina Fushimi conducting an interview with Kyugo Shindo, a famous physicist who was involved in an embezzlement scandal when he claimed to be developing a time machine. A sudden explosion rocks the site of the interview, threatening to turn the entire area into a 50-kilometer blast zone if further explosions aren’t prevented.

Beyond that brief synopsis, the website also revealed the five major characters who make up Time Traveler’s cast, each of whom will encounter a different version of the mysterious schoolgirl Mikoto while investigating the explosion. Details on the actual gameplay are currently scarce, but the website hints at the inclusion of a Quick-Time Event system and plenty of full-motion drama. More details are expected to emerge as the website is gradually updated.

Source: Andriasang

Nintendo Cuts Price of DSi, DSi XL

Nintendo announced today that it would be dropping the price of its DSi family of handhelds.

Starting May 20, consumers can purchase a new DSi system for $99.99 (down from its original price of $149.99) or a DSi XL for $129.99 (down from $169.99). While no reason was given for this price reduction, it was likely done in an effort to phase out some of the older models of the handheld for the newer 3DS.

Unfortunately, it seems the price drop will not be extending to European markets (at least for the time being).

Source: Nintendo (via IGN)

Pit of despair

Kid Icarus Uprising landed less than two months ago and despite both financial and critical success, Masahiro Sakurai, the game’s creator, has already ruled out a sequel. In an interview with IGN, the Super Smash Bros. creator said, he and his team “pushed a lot into the game in order to let people have this short yet deep experience, but the novelty of that would likely grow thin in the next game.”

Pit had gone missing for over a decade-and-a-half before he joined Mario and company in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 2008. Let us hope we see Pit in his own adventure once again sometime before 2037.

At least we can look forward to seeing Pit again through the Super Smash Bros. series.

Source: IGN

The last limited edition

The Last Story finally hits store shelves in the States this July, only on Wii. Publisher XSEED Games is attempting to give North American gamers a chance to pick up a limited edition of the RPG. Europe received a limited edition earlier this year, which included the game, the steel book case, a soundtrack, and an art book.

The Last Story will be one of, if not the, final must-own Wii game(s) to buy and a steel book case would definitely grab my attention.

Source: Nintendo World Report

Japan knows how to party

In Japan, eighty percent of the top ten games sold last week were Nintendo games. First on the list was Mario Party 9. 3DS titles fill up the bulk of the list:

1. [Wii] Mario Party 9
2. [PS3] Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
3. [3DS] Fire Emblem: Awakening
4. [3DS] Super Mario Land 3D
5. [3DS] Mario Kart 7
6. [3DS] Kid Icarus: Uprising
7. [3DS] Monster Hunter 3 G
8. [3DS] Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
9. [PSP] Conception: Please Have My Children!
10. [Wii] Wii Sports Resort

Source: My Nintendo News

Zelda Lego?

Last year, an idea was submitted to Lego Cuusoo by Michael Inglis, displaying the appeal of a Legend of Zelda themed Lego range. Lego Cuusoo is a site that enables user submitted concepts for Lego sets to gain publicity and support, and eventually if enough support is gained, the idea will be officially reviewed by Lego. This is the same process by which the recent Lego Mincraft sets were produced, and Inglis’ Zelda concept reached its 10,000 target, meaning that the brains behind the popular building toy will now see and assess the feasibility of such a project.

Obviously, just because the idea is being reviewed, this does not mean that it is guaranteed to see the light of day, but the concept art created by Inglis is indeed promising and shows that this concept could work in real life; and of course, the Zelda franchise is hardly short of fans (and therefore prospective buyers of the set) or potential sources of inspiration, is it?

Source: gamesradar

What time is it…?

Yes, that’s right, it’s Adventure Time! The DS adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning Cartoon Network show Adventure Time has finally been officially confirmed, subtitled Hey Ice King! Why’d you steal our garbage?!. The show chronicles the weird and wonderful adventures of Finn, and his magical talking dog, Jake, along with various other odd characters living in the Land of Ooo.

The show, having a wider cast of supporting characters than most shows of its kind, features several Princesses, all who are subject to regular kidnappings by the evil/lonely Ice King, who just wants somebody to love. The game, developed by Wayforward Technologies and D3Publisher (with a “late fall” release), will tell the story of Finn and Jake’s quest to relinquish their trash from the Ice King, who is using it to construct a Garbage Princess. If that sounds weird, just go watch the show, and you’ll realise it’s just a normal day.

Source: nintendolife

EA reveals budget for Wii U development

CEO of Electronic Arts John Riccitiello announced in a conference call with investors the planned budget the company is putting into games for Wii U and other fourth-generation consoles at $80 million. He addressed Wii U (along with PS4 and Xbox 720) as key in the future of EA’s business strategy. This massive investment seems to disprove worries amongst the industry about the threat of mobile gaming to the ‘Big Three’, along with his own statement that he doesn’t see the console gaming industry as being threatened for a long time.

Source: TG Daily

That’s all the news for today. Are you looking forward to Adventure Time: The Game? Do you want to play with Zelda LEGO a little bit too much? Let us know in the comments!

Blockbuster UK leaks potential Wii U launch lineup

It appears Lady Luck is on our side today as Blockbuster UK has leaked 25 potential Wii U launch titles scheduled to hit store shelves this fall. On the list were some titles already announced, or at least speculated, however, a hefty portion consisted of games that had not garnered much attention at all. That being said, let’s just cut to the chase so you can feast your eyes on the catalog in question.

Since the story originally broke, a Blockbuster employee has spoken up and stated the lineup is purely speculation on the end of their sales team, and that the titles in the image are simply in the system as “placeholders.” …Right.

Source: GoNintendo

Nintendo patent to help lost tourists via a DS

Ever wish your DS would double as that helpful tour-guide who points out all the best locations and information when taking a little trip to your favorite far-away spot on the globe? Well, wish no more, as a newly published Nintendo patent unveils technology that could very well do just that! The mastermind behind the coveted Zelda franchise, Shigeru Miyamoto appears to be busy these days creating a concept that will help direct and rescue confused tourists.

This technology aims to assist lost travelers by beaming their location information through an overhead grid of infrared transmitters to a mobile device, which conveniently enough is portrayed as a DS Lite in the image. From there, the DS passes this information to a server that lights up floor displays with maps and directions, allowing the weary traveler to pick the route to their intended destination, all the while reading up on tantalizing tourism facts.

For this technology to work, Nintendo would need to pick out the more prominent tourist attractions in various cities and install some fancy IR blasters. Though, I don’t see them doing this any time soon, it’s still rather fascinating that this technology was patented in the first place.

That’s all the news for today, have something to say about the potential Wii U line-up? Looking forward to getting intentionally lost with your DS? Let us know in the comments below!

Nintendo patents a stand for the Wii U controller

A user in the NeoGaf forum has uncovered a new patent for a Wii U controller stand that was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The device appears to be similar to the cradle of the Nintendo 3DS. Judging from the notches on the bottom of the cradle, it’s safe to say that this device will be used to charge the battery of the Wii U controller as well as hold it.

Source: NeoGaf (via GoNintendo)

Sakurai defends Kid Icarus: Uprising controls

In an interview with IGN, Kid Icarus: Uprising’s director Masahiro Sakurai defended the game’s controversial control scheme. Many complained about the lack of an option to use the 3DS Circle Pad Pro in order to have a more traditional dual-analog scheme for moving and aiming. Sakurai responded to these complaints by saying that “Providing support for independent analog control was something that was technically impossible.” He went on to say that he wanted to provide a brand new experience with Uprising‘s controls, and that using traditional controls would have made the game have less of an impact. Sakurai also stated that he felt the speed of using stylus-aiming could not be matched by a joystick, which could cause the game’s multiplayer mode to be unbalanced.

For those who get hand cramps while playing Kid Icarus, Sakurai had this to say: “If there are players who say that it makes their hand tired, that’s because you’re applying too much force”. He firmly stands behind his design decisions with the controls, and stated that he thinks people will warm up to them much like they did to Super Smash Bros., which also had unconventional controls when it was released.

Source: IGN

Nintendo says the localization of Monster Hunter 3G is Capcom’s call

Games analyst David Gibson asked Nintendo today about the status of Monster Hunter 3G‘s localization for North America and/or Europe. “I asked nintendo and they said its up to capcom” he stated on his Twitter. The Monster Hunter series is wildly popular in Japan and has a cult following in other territories. However, it looks like we’re still in dark about whether or not the 3DS version will be released outside of Japan. Perhaps Capcom will announce it at E3?

Source: David Gibson (via GoNintendo)

Mark your calendars!!!

The Big N’s E3 2012 media presentation will officially take place Tuesday, June 5th at 9AM PST (12PM EST). The conference could last anywhere from one to two hours, most likely around ninety minutes. There will be enough Wii U news to keep you from focusing on school/work the next day.

Less than five weeks remain until the big day and if you call yourself a Nintendo fan, you cannot miss out!

My body is ready. Is yours?

Source: GoNintendo

Nintendo refocus on core gamer

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has made it publicly known that the company failed to strike a balance between casual and core gamers with Wii. Wii U’s first months are as vital as its second and third years on the market. Gamers want to see those core titles right away.

Prioritizing both width and depth, Nintendo seeks to satisfy not only people who loved Wii’s casual aspect but also the core market. The core fans will be the ones watching come E3 and it is up to Nintendo to win back old fans who gave up on Wii.

Wii had plenty of titles which took advantage of the Big N’s closet of heroes but they were few and far between. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a GameCube game with motion controls, came out in 2006. Zelda fans waited five long years for another adventure on Wii.

Source: Eurogamer

Pokémon go to war!

Nintendo has announced new details on the upcoming Pokémon Conquest, coming to DS, June 18th:

Story: To save the Ransei region from Nobunaga, a powerful Warlord who is trying to take over Ransei, players must conquer different kingdoms to strengthen and grow their own kingdom. There are 17 kingdoms in total to conquer. Conquering all 17 kingdoms and ultimately uniting the kingdom will awaken the Legendary Pokémon and save the land from destruction. Story mode is organized by episodes. Players unlock episodes as they progress and each episode features a different playable Warlord and victory conditions.

Army Mechanics: Players can grow their army by recruiting defeated Warlords and their Pokémon. After a kingdom is conquered, players will also have access to the kingdom facilities such as training grounds, shops to buy items and mines for money. Players can also strengthen their army by linking with Pokémon. Warlords can have various linked Pokémon and switch between them before battle to strategically prepare for the type of battle they are about to engage in.

Battle Mechanics: Players will encounter a wide range of battlefields as they progress through the game. Each of the 17 kingdoms has a different type-themed battlefield. For example, in the fire-themed kingdom of Ignis, players can battle around lava flows, lava beds and fire spouts. Strategically using water-type Pokémon to navigate through this battlefield will help players conquer this kingdom. Additionally, players can use the kingdom training grounds to train their army or find wild Pokémon and link with them. After battling with a Warlord, the game automatically registers them. Using the built-in local wireless features of Nintendo DS, players can use their registered armies to battle with friends who also own the game.

Warlords and Pokémon: Each Warlord has a special ability that can change the tide of battle. For example, Warlord Oichi has the ability to heal all the Pokémon in a player’s army. Also, like Pokémon, Warlords have types that will determine how well they link to particular Pokémon. Some Warlords will have the ability to choose from and link with several different kinds of Pokémon.

Source: PR email

Kirby is no longer a teenager!

Kirby turns 20! The round, pink, lovable…thing(?) celebrates his 20th birthday, marking two decades of fun gaming for one of Nintendo’s often forgotten flagship characters. Whether he is named after a lawyer that fought a lawsuit for Nintendo, or a brand of vacuum cleaner is still up for debate, but one thing’s for sure, he’s had a hell of a career.

Satoru Iwata blames casual image for Nintendo’s losses

Fresh from Nintendo suffering its first annual loss, Nintendo President Iwata has been quoted as placing partial blame on the company’s move towards more casual gaming, as opposed to the ‘hardcore’ gamer. Titles such as Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus, though best-sellers, may have alienated Nintendo fans who have become disillusioned with the broader image Nintendo is trying to convey, he claimed.

“[R]egrettably, what we prioritized in order to reach out to the new audience [on Wii and DS] was a bit too far from what we prioritized for those who play games as their hobby. Consequently, we presume some people felt that the Wii was not a game system for them…even though some compelling games had been released…”

said Iwata in an interview at an investor’s briefing.

Source: Pocket Gamer

Android for Wii U?

Though Nintendo has made clear it is opposed to venturing into the platform of mobile gaming, rumour has it that it is considering using Android software for at least part of the operating system for the upcoming Wii U. Not dissimilar in size and shape to an Android tablet, the Wii U may end up being similar in function to one too, with Nintendo in talks with Google.

This venture into the Android territory could mean an end to the threat of mobile gaming, as games such as Angry Birds (and its countless derivatives) have only continued to rise in sales. With the prospect of Wii U using Android technology, could this mean we soon could be downloading Android Apps alongside Nintendo apps, and playing Draw Something alongside Nintendo titles? While only speculation at best, only time will tell.

Source: Android Apps