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Now that the most prominent gaming expos have all come and gone, it seems we’ve hit a lull in video game news– announcements have all but slowed to a trickle, and the media at large has little to do but await the coming onslaught of holiday releases. Still, despite this relative placidity, this past week has not been entirely devoid of news, producing a few stories that should be of particular interest to Nintendo fans the world over.
Foremost among them, Nintendo has announced a new “Ice White” variation of its 3DS console. The color is set to coincide with the release of Super Mario 3D Land (much as the recent Flame Red system launched alongside Star Fox 64 3D), which goes on sale in Japan on November 3. There has been no word on whether or not the new coloration will be released in other parts of the world, but given Nintendo’s recent push to increase 3DS sales, it seems all but inevitable that the console will be available around the globe before the year’s end.
In some more worrying news (at least for our friends across the pond), Nintendo of Europe has recently stated that the special edition bundle of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (which includes a gold-colored Wii Remote Plus in addition to the symphony soundtrack that comes standard in each package) will be in limited supply and only available through pre-order at GAME stores and on Amazon. While it is possible that some copies will still be available for purchase after the title goes on sale, fans hoping to snag the bundle would do well to reserve one as soon as possible before stock runs out. It bears repeating that the only difference between the standard and special editions of the game is the inclusion of a Triforce-themed controller, but those who do not already own some variation of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral (or simply like the design of the new Wii Remote) should consider choosing the bundle as the title cannot be played without it.
Lastly, the Nintendo World store, located in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, is set to host a launch party for Pokémon Rumble Blast on Sunday, October 23. The event will include a scavenger hunt and other activities, and attendees will be able to purchase the game a day before it goes on sale at other retail outfits in the nation. Rumble Blast is the handheld successor to 2009’s WiiWare release, Pokémon Rumble, and it marks the series’ debut on Nintendo’s newest portable console. While not traditional installments in the franchise, the two games have become popular in their own right thanks to their emphasis on fast-paced action, with the 3DS iteration even earning a respectable 32/40 score from Famitsu magazine.
And if those weren’t enough to sate your appetite for Nintendo-related news, here’s a small collection of other noteworthy stories from this past week:
All these new colors and special editions of 3DS systems make me really wish the system wasn’t region-locked! That new Char Aznable 3DS model is looking goooood: http://bit.ly/nirG06