Yes yes, very good ideas!

@Crystalking18: I think it's a bit too harsh to say Nintendo only has exploited Mario in recent years. Mario Galaxy 2 was released only 2 yrs ago, Mario 3D Land just last holiday season. Those were fresh, creative and fun. We gotta remember Nintendo has also a buisness to run and as we saw with the 3DS, it can go really quick with the bad sales/negative press. If the NSMB series outsells most other games by so much, why not use this to create some security for a console? I don't think this is exploiting, but a smart and good move. And let's not forget how far other companies out there go with the real cashing-out of yearly-renewed game series, that are almost identical releases to the previous ones. Nintendo is by no means anywhere close to this yet.

I dont perceive this as an overkill just jet. Let's wait to see how both sequels, 3DS and WiiU, turn out. Nintendo might just trump all our expectations, remember SMG2's insane creativity progression from the first title (although I do not expect such a big triumph here).

And from a business point of view I think it's a good choice, making sure the 3DS stands on deeper ground, which can only be a good thing for all involved. Also, as the article says, the release timing is very clever in terms of building more base for the holidays.

And as players let's not forget that almost all Mario games (standalone) are usually thought to be excellent. I don't expect major changes to occur in this regard.

@Alienfish is making sense

oh no I hope it will not be cancelled!

@paburrows: errm, we dont know the price yet...

Great decision, gives them more time to prepare it properly and more games will be ready. Also better for sales probably. May be even hard to get one then, like with the Wii. I got the 2nd last one just with luck and then for months nothing in the shops.

Wow wohoo!! This is so cool Had a really long day at work and came home to an eMail that I won a red 3DS! I never win anything in competitions! Thank you Nintendolife, now I can play with my lil' sis )

oh nooo, boo Nintendo! If my PC can do it, why not add it to Wii U??

So I guess you wont need this stand when you get the Circle Pad Pro?

totally fine with me too! better not rush it and do it properly, have console smoothed out and better launch games prepared. I can wait until next Xmas

One word: AMAZING!

that's odd, at least on the imaged above the added scanline make it look so much worse... :-/

OMG that would be thrilling!! We've been asking for this, is it gonna happen now?? Retro is the best

what's the deal with the Gamestop exclusivity? First Xenoblade, now the Circle Pad as well.

oh nooooo already?? I was hoping he would do that not for another 10 yrs.....

hmm, retails price for an iOS game? I dont think so...

only an 8... lol
what a huge misstep NL. Ok, fair enough, everyone can have their opinion. But you should know better than give this game an 8. It's a master piece of game creation to which most of the rest of the industry only can look up in wonder.
While I do agree partially to the criticism given in the review, I do not think that those are enough reason to cut 2 points off.
You make this game stand alongside other games that got 8 or 80%. no disrespect to those games, but the magnitude and scale of TP is so much bigger you simply cant put it in the same range as an 8.

That is an outstanding result! The Wii's install base was enormously higher at the time of the release of SMG 1 and SMG 2 than the 3DS install base is now.

Well done!

Sweet! I am REALLY looking forward to this.
I think even if the new Mario might not set new standards this time, it doesnt have to because Mario titles so many times have, and I have a feeling this is going to be a favorite among players.

pretty!

I think some people are misunderstanding what Iwata is saying here. It is more about the structure of the layout of the game rather than its content.

And it does make sense to me to go this route on a handheld console. It fits for a portable machine (not saying that the other structure doesnt fit necessarily). Remember how short Super Mario Land was on Gameboy?

Remember, it doesnt necessarily mean the game will be short. In fact, in the same Iwata Asks session it is said that 3D Land has about the same amount of content than the Galaxy games (this is including the unlockable levels after the main game).

Wohooo LUIGI!!!

@YellowChocobo: If you're affraid that "the market" is going to develop past Nintendo then you're right about online. But that's it. Nintendo has a long history of being the innovator in the industry that everyone else then follows. I have no doubt that they will continue to be the leaders or wayshowers here.

It's starting to annoy me how some people think they know what Nintendo should do or should not... Yes, the company has a slow year. But give them a break. Have you forgotten what Nintendo is all about and what they have achieved in the past (innovative driver since NES, high quality franchises, incredible financial success in recent years).

Just because it isnt going so well this year in some areas isnt a reason to jump ship on big N and declare their doom and failure.

@ThumperUK: The casul games train has departed. That story is over. Who buys casual games for retails prices when iOS games are everywhere for a dollar or two...

I'm not worried at all by this. This is a transitional year for Nintendo, the Wii and DS are fading out, Wii U isnt out yet, 3DS had its problems (which I think have been addressed sufficiently, I dont think Nintendo needs to do anything now).
It's fine. The only one who screams now are shareholders who only think about money.
Nintendo took some risks with the way they released 3DS, but they could take risks because they sit on a HUGE pile of cash from the last years.

Aww this is the cutest Mario game ever, I just love those colorful grafics!
Really have no better idea what that Mystery box is about, it IS mysterious. hehe

True that, the quality of the 3DS camera is disappointing and so for me just a gimmick I dont really use. Maybe the low resolution wont be noticeable in videos so much.

cool, already wanted to get this when I heard about it a few weeks ago. so now I just ordered mine!

Great article! I love getting 3D remakes of titles I used to love playing.
I really enjoy OoT 3D and Star Fox 64 3D. Although I think N cud've chopped at least a tenner off the price. So a sort of budget line would be great, although I somehow doubt N would go there.
Apart from N64 though, I'd really love to see SNES titles remade in 3D too. They might be 2D games, but looking at how Twinbee appears in 3D I really want SNES games too

looks good and engaging! Definitely interested.
And how cute is the little guy!

Ridiculously misleading article!
As mentioned before by some users this is only due to high exchange rates. So if you live in Japan, nothing has changed for you. The article even says, it costs the same as TP used to back in 2006.
Just because the Yen is expensive for people outside Japan, why would that make a difference for the Japanese? Do prices in the US go up and down depending on what worth the dollar has? No.
You always have to put prices in relation to local markets, not compare internationally.

very well

great week for the eShop!

I think I need some sort of accessory for better grip. Star Fox 64 3D makes my hand ache after a while because I use the buttons so much

I'm a collector and I can tell you it IS worth the money, given the size and high-end quality. It could easily have cost more from other manufacturers.

I pre-ordered one, and also the Metroid Prime Gunship with the ultra-cool lighting effects

as already said, just update the game, there's no excuse for not doing it

nice, pinball in 3D!

Good article and good take on where the games stood and now stands.
Luigi's Mansion was a day one purchase for me and loved it for all the reasons. Very excited about the sequel!

@wariowoods: that's a matter of personal taste.

Looks fantastic! I'm totally excited for this! cant remember a time when I did get that excited about a Mario game (and usually I'm thrilled anyway!)
Bring on Nov. the 19th

I agree also with the general consensus here, if you want to play Nintendo do it on Nintendo
Not dismissing smartphone gaming I have to say it just does not compare to console gaming because of more limited controls and general simplification. I like my iPhone games, but I hardly play them more than a few minutes. Sure, there are some games on smartphone that are exception to that, but generally I think it's fair to say that consoles delivers a deeper and more sophisticate basis for gaming.
Unless smartphones start to get some more serious game controls they will stay the realm of casual, quick games.

it's only the timing that is annoying, because it comes so early after launch.
the idea itself is fine if they realized too late they should have it's better they put it in now than later. It will open the 3DS to more games and better controls, so I'm excited about it. Even though, it looks clumsy and I will most likely have the urge to trade my 3DS in for the revised version that will for sure have 2 pads and come not far in a future

wow this is great news! good to hear all this effort is being made for a free release, we need this in a year that's been a bit of a rocky road for Big N in some ways.
I do agree though, the continuous lack of online implementation in games is frustrating...

Wowi I'm so excited! Cool new features, intriguing!
I'm still crossing all my fingers for Mario AR mode, I want to play Mario levels on my table!

Looks amazing! So colorful and cute and gives me sooo the Mario feeling! Wohoo looking 4ward to playing this in 2 months!!!

I agree, making it not able to stand and putting it flat on the picture of the box will probably create more confusion with WiiU.......
I dont understand this move....

On the other side, I understand they got rid of GC support to make it cheaper, it will last longer this way, like PS2 hopefully.

not gonna happen as long as the 3DS is around. it would be going against their own handheld

meh!

I dont understand either why they hesitate with bringing games into the US market that are already translated and available in English (through EU release). The effort must be minimal. What is the reasoning behind it?