Also, if they're sitting there lamenting that Pokemon is promoting mistreating animals for human gain, they must not have seen the episode: Pikachu's Goodbye.

Wait. So they didn't learn their lesson when they attacked Super Mario 3D Land? It wasn't funny the first time.

And is this really supposed to be some kind of joke to accumulate attention?? I fail to see how making claims that a household name is promoting immoral crimes is supposed to make people laugh...

Nope. I think the mobile gamers will be perfectly fine with Mole Kart, Little Masters and 3D Cartoon Land Safari.

...But I think this ties into why mobile developers keep trying to claim that they have a lead on the 3DS, and why we've been seeing all those rip-offs. Nintendo's making a lot of money, so naturally third parties want in on it.

Honestly, the GameCube controller to me feels light and (I guess) cheap compared to other controllers, and yet it's my favorite controller to use.

They've done it again...
Is it THAT hard to come up with your own idea, even if it's not that popular?

*Even if this kind of stealing isn't completely illegal, I'm sure it's at least frowned upon...

I don't see how it's such a big problem for Nintendo to charge the same amount as 360 and PS3 games, if Wii U games are about in the same level...

That being said, I still think $60.00 is too much for a game. I was disappointed when they announced a $60.00 price tag for Wii U games.

Where they're going with the Mario franchise makes sense to me. It's about timing and accessibility; they want to create a simple, basic Mario game or two to coincide with the releases of the 3DS XL and Wii U so their systems will attract the most attention and sell. They're not gonna keep releasing 2D Mario games annually.

However, I would like to see the "new" palette go away; it seems like it's constraining the series. Accessibility is great and all, but we need to see something that's genuinely, new.

*Come to think of it, Mario isn't as big as he was many years ago, so maybe by sticking to the basic Mario formula, Nintendo wants to 'remind' us (the masses) of Mario, so to speak.

A bunch of people are clamoring that they need a reason to get the Wii U, then this gets announced for Wii U only, and everybody throws a tantrum (because they got exactly what they wanted), how paradoxical. Man, Nintendo just can't catch a break.

And to think, some mobile developers claim that they can deliver the same quality experience as dedicated handhelds... I see where they're coming from now!

Another rumor. I bet it's gonna be a busy week for the media, with the upcoming announcements on the 13th.

It really sounds like they were saying this from a business standpoint rather than a technical standpoint. It makes sense that they would say this because of the other next generation consoles being so far away (not even officially announced yet). Perhaps they were referring to the entirety of the next generation.

***At this point, all I care is that the console is bringing the next era of Nintendo games; that is something to look forward to.

I'm cautiously optimistic towards Miiverse. It'll be tough, but I really hope Nintendo can create an environment that's safe, mature, insightful, and able to be taken seriously; I hope it's fun, but ultimately maintains a propriety.

Why are there people who obsess over specs? I don't get it. Do people need to be consciously aware of shaders, polygons, clock speed, and tessellation to be immersed in a game?

I can understand that they needed this to sell the 3DS XL, but I would have preferred them to pool all their ideas into one game for the Wii U, and I bet there were people holding out for the inevitable new 3DS model anyway; in fact, if NSMBU is going to push Miiverse, and multiplayer aspects, wouldn't it have made sense to put the worldwide coin total in that game?

Frankly, I think it's not too shabby if the Wii U is doing graphics like this in its infancy. Imagine what's down the road.

As much as digital media has become more accessible and usable, physical media in a form such as this was still really fun (I think more fun than Internet articles). I'll accept this thought.

At least they didn't misspell their own name...

Hopefully they're serious about this.

Slow day...

Super Mario Sunshine is my favorite; also my introduction to the GameCube.

I loved how you could interact with just about anything with the water to fight off enemies, collect items, and pass obstacles. The game struck a good balance between Mario's athletics and F.L.U.D.D., so it had sufficient challenge. Even if there wasn't as much content as there could have been, the fun of experimenting with F.L.U.D.D. and just exploring made up for it. I also loved the setting, atmosphere, and puzzle solving aspects of the game; they made so many great memories. One of the most innovative, memorable, and above all, best Mario titles.

I really hope the two-screen potential of the Wii U isn't squandered on generic party games... I dream of how they can incorporate the Wii U's tech into their core games, but seeing these games come up is just frustrating. If 3rd parties want to do these games then fair enough, just bring the core games over too!

Also, I think it would make these games look better if they didn't put them up as full retail units.

I thought so.

@TheDreamingHawk "Not every game will be better because of online. Local Co Op is better anyway."
^^^ This.

I don't really know if I agree with Nintendo's strategy of releasing two Mario games this close to each other. With NSMBU on the way, it may undermine this one, as some people might bypass this game altogether, assuming that NSMBU will be better. Also, why split gameplay mechanics and content among two Mario games, when they can make one supreme Mario game? Nevertheless this game was a good way to commemorate the 3DS XL; the 3DS needs attention too, not just the Wii U.

@gamermii
Apparently so; the same type of thing is going on with Motorola trying to sue Microsoft. These bogus lawsuits are just obvious ploys for money.

Really? More patent trolls?

sigh, I'm sick of all these unnecessary lawsuits that are clearly meant to make a quick buck. I hope Microsoft trounces Motorola, and Apple isn't planning anything with that 'patented' controller which is CLEARLY an innovation stolen from Sony...

I hope they can balance the rate at which we earn coins throughout the stages so we won't end up playing the same levels again and again, and I also hope they add fun new gameplay mechanics so the game won't feel like a grind. Other than that, I think the coin collecting will be a fun new way to play.

Also, maybe coins can affect the progression of the game, and not just be a hiscore type of thing, or just some extra task.

I think the 3DS XL WILL be compelling for consumers. They've fixed some of the 3DS's flaws, some people had plans to upgrade, and there are some nice software releases coming soon. I think it'd be in Nintendo's best interest to time the launch of the XL with those game releases. I expect sales to increase considerably because there are probably, as of now, a bunch of people holding out for the redesign.

By the way, did he even explain WHY the 3DS XL isn't compelling?

I don't like where this is heading... Nintendo announced that they're getting into the DLC business, and now Heroes of Ruin has glitches that could do with a patching...

I'm okay with them using DLC to patch glitches, but I really hope we don't start seeing brazenly unfinished games on Nintendo consoles... and all kinds of other DLC abuse...

Huh, we're getting Pokemon Black & White 2, and this was almost named New Super Mario Bros. Gold...

Hm... weird.

This doesn't surprise or disappoint me too much, because platformers aren't really story-driven games; we're in it more for the action. Nintendo should save more complex plots for more story-driven games like RPGs. It'd be better if they changed up gameplay mechanics like in Kirby games.

That said, I'd be fairly disappointed if Paper Mario Sticker Star was little more than, "Peach gets kidnapped by Bowser, again."

I'm glad Nintendo has no intention of becoming this horsepower juggernaut. It'd be extremely out of character of them to spend a whole bunch of money to make a powerhouse console, when they can use their creative minds to innovate. Nintendo's greatness comes from their inventiveness, not their budget.

I'll concede that he managed to back this argument up. Saying that Nintendo was pressured by multiple 3rd parties (although I'm sure the gamers pressured them too) to make the controller is much more believable than saying that Activision forced them to make it, and not having any evidence to prove it.

But he still needs to give us some legitimate logic about why the Wii U won't work. Saying that they just got lucky with the Wii doesn't cut it.

@LittleIrves

Exactly my thoughts. The whole "photo-realism or bust" standard to me is just boring. It seems like it actually puts a curb on imagination. Games that are quirky, dreamlike, and colorful do a lot more for me than games that are hyper-realistic and mundane looking. Many fun, lovable characters like Mario and Sonic would have never been created, had it not been for technical limitations.

Either way, Nintendo would have lost on putting the second circle pad on there.

Since they didn't, everyone was complaining and questioning why.

If they did, it would have sent mixed messages to consumers. Old 3DS owners would look at this and be put out and feel that they MUST upgrade, some who hadn't planned on upgrading would feel that they're outta luck because THIS is the newer 3DS and it's going to be getting all of the attention, updates, and maybe games. And some people would be wondering why didn't Nintendo do this in the first place? The last thing Nintendo needs is more confusion.

Heheheh... This makes me think of all the things I could get with $30.00...

Rip-off much?

Couldn't they have shown THESE projects at E3 this year instead of Wii Fit U, Sing, and Just freaking Dance 4? I know they consider E3 to be just the tip of the iceberg, but that was the BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR! Everyone's saying Nintendo bombed!

Eh, I guess it might have been too early to show them... like Retro's project? This is still good news nevertheless. Let's hope they're games that people want to play.

I rather wish Nintendo would stop with these guides and helping hands. I don't think it's appropriate for their AAA titles, because it just seems to beat down the hardcore aspect of their games. It's things like this that make Nintendo look like a bit of a softy rather than the slick, cool gaming company they really are. Don't get me wrong, it's great that they're taking a family friendly approach to gaming, but I think this is too much. And it may be optional, but it still pops up even if you have no intention of using it.

I honestly don't get why everyone's saying it looks ugly.

It looks like they tried to use up some of the negative space on the console rather than just increasing the unit's size, which is nice.

Let's see... I have the 3DS, a dedicated video game console... I can get Paper Mario Sticker Star, or Angry Birds... it's such a tough choice!

No really this sounds dumb...

@black-kyurem

We also care that our games are affordable; gaming is somewhat expensive as it is. It's most likely that the Wii U, PS4, and Next Xbox will be neck and neck in specs. Remember that the Wii was the FIRST EVER console by Nintendo to be significantly less powerful than it's competition; Nintendo having lousy graphics is not a trend. MS and Sony making powerhouse consoles is also not a trend; they took a huge financial hit from it.

Nintendo's got the right idea about gaming. I think people will start to lose interest in raw horsepower when the cost of gaming keeps going up up up up up up, and not a whole lot has changed, except how the game looks.

Looks awesome! I think I'm most interested in reading about the Sonic Adventure games.

I remember looking at the Gameboy Advance SP in a magazine and I thought it was the best! Times sure have changed...

@bobbiKat Yeah, I don't understand how Microsoft and Sony plan to create new consoles to follow up on the momentum of their predecessors the way gamers expect without breaking the bank. They must be affordable for consumers, AND creators. I also don't see much on Xbox360 or PS3 where a radical improvement is necessary or even possible.

By the way, it doesn't make sense for Microsoft to say that Wii U won't do well when both Microsoft and Sony have jumped on board with Wii U in the streaming and cross-play departments.

Methinks that this is a good reason to NOT go digital only.

Brawl had an awesome cast of characters; it'd be best if the team simply refined our 35 current characters. Maybe a few extra would be nice, but there's plenty of other content that can add to the game, like new stages, new items, new stadium modes, new collectibles, all sorts of things. Also, having to do EVERY game mode with a huge roster would get tedious.

Notice how I didn't say better online; (not because I don't want it) that's because I'd rather invite friends over and share some laughs in the living room together. I think you'd get more out of SSB4 if you had real people to fight in person. I think that's how Sakurai envisioned the game.

One way or another, we GOT our second circle pad for the new 3DS which is what everyone wanted on it. I assume that it'd cost more to implement another pad directly onto the system, and I don't predict that everyone would require such a wide range of buttons and such on a simple handheld, so people who prefer a second circle pad can purchase it separately. This can ultimately keep the cost of the 3DS down (remember the 3DS price fiasco). The added bulk may not LOOK appealing, but then again, let's wait until someone actually tries it out.

And I never got why handheld game consoles NEED so many buttons. The kind of games that need that many buttons are more for serious gaming and should be found on a home console system. When I pick up a handheld, I'm typically looking for a way to pass time as I travel or something (it's more casual); I don't buckle down, and go into full-on competitive gaming mode. Look at iPhone users: all they have is a touch screen!

I don't care whether or not Wii U fits under this nebulous term of "next gen" or not. Video game consoles don't need to do everything; as long as they can play a great selection of fun games at an affordable price, then that's what counts. If the Wii U misses out on ultra futuristic, cutting edge technology, I won't be hurt, because I still play GameCube and Wii games today, and I don't see anything wrong with them. I won't buy a video game console for excess technology. I find it ironic that things like graphics would strongly influence a person's decision on a console; those things seem more like bonuses than organic parts of the game experience.