Nightly News Roundup: 2011.01.28

3DS’s eShop, Internet Browser, DSiWare Transfers to Launch Late May

Nintendo folks told Wired at last week’s 3DS Media Event that 3DS’s eShop wasn’t going to be ready on the handheld’s launch day. Then Eurogamer claimed to have an insider source saying eShop would be available on launch day as a firmware update, at least in Europe. Angst and finger pointing ensued.

Leave it to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata to settle things during the company’s third quarter financial results briefing today: “The first system update is scheduled for late May, at almost the same time around the world.”

In this important update will be 3DS’s web browser, the ability to transfer previously purchased DSiWare from a DSi to your 3DS, and the very important eShop, which will be home to 3DS-specific ‘Wares, compatible DSiWare, Game Boy and Game Boy Color Virtual Console titles, and a “3D Classics” Virtual Console offering. While no games were named for 3D Classics, they will presumably be old Nintendo titles (perhaps both Game Boy and/or NES) with enhanced 3D effects in their visuals. Games purchased through 3DS’s regular Virtual Console will not feature 3D visuals. At E3 last year, 3D trailers of NES classics were being shown on the demo units.

No mention was made of whether or not eShop would also include the sale of 3D motion pictures– this portion of 3DS’s strategy remains undefined.

With at least a two-month delay (three months in Japan) between system launch and eShop launch, some DSiWare and Virtual Console enthusiasts (not to mention third party developers) may feel a little let down. But there should be plenty of hardcore day-one adopters to make up for them in the meantime.

Source: Nintendo Japan

New Kirby Game Being Created at HAL

Unexpectedly, Iwata also announced a few new games in development for Wii and DS during the aforementioned third quarter financial results briefing: most notably a new Kirby Dream Land Wii platformer from original Kirby creators and developers HAL Laboratory. During last year’s Iwata Asks Kirby’s Epic Yarn interview, a HAL employee revealed his team was working on a Kirby title of its own; Iwata has now confirmed this and that the title will launch this year– in Japan, at least. You can see a video of the game in action on Nintendo Japan’s site (second block down on the left) or a bit blurry and stretched on YouTube.

I’m excited to see if this new game from Kirby’s creators will be as well-received as Epic Yarn (we gave it an A!). The heat is on!

Source: Nintendo Japan

Ringo Starr Trademarks “Ringo” for Video Games

Death of music games be damned, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr’s  gonna have anotha’ go at ya, luv.

Alright, he doesn’t talk with a Cockney accent, but on January 23, he trademarked his name “Ringo” with “computer game software” and “downloadable computer games via the Internet and wireless devices” listed under “goods and products.” Starr apparently believes The Beatles: Rock Band wasn’t enough to satiate the world’s hunger for video games featuring him and/or his persona. Nothing further was detailed about what Starr has planned for games, but whatever is, we hope it’s good.

Source: Gamespot