@Andrewroxsox Plenty of E3 stuff coming soon, don't worry

RE: SNES image - Yep, my bad, that's actually the PAL region controller. Caption has been updated.

@metafaniel - 'Nintendo controllers have developed in interesting ways, so here's a run down of its major home console control schemes', emphasis on home consoles, not handhelds

@rudydog13 Their English is better than our Japanese, to be fair.

@GameCube I think that your save data will be wiped, but I don't know whether WayForward will have the extra levels in their own menu for immediate access. I'd suggest jumping onto Amazon or somewhere and getting a 16GB SD card. Amazon in particular is quite cheap, and it'll give you a huge amount of free space in future to avoid this kind of thing happening.

@Kirk I've just been exchanging some tweets and it looks like, as I hinted at in the article, someone at TT Games has been silly. Not long after the image was posted the profile was deleted, then the image, and the suggestion seems to be that the guy responsible is in a bit of bother, as he's possibly broken non-disclosure agreements.

I'm personally with those that say this is a recent image that someone foolishly tweeted to show off. You may be right though, so time will tell

@Kirk That may be right. The original tweet, after I found a screenshot, said 'Nintendo fanboys alert: look what we have at work!'. Maybe that's a fake-out, and as I've said in the article that tweet has now been deleted, but the concensus seems to be that this is a new design.

Still, who knows, E3 will be definitive either way.

@tat2 Apologies, that's now fixed.

@LztheBlehBird Maybe Des didn't have time to say this week, or maybe she's like me and just doesn't know yet. Last week she was playing Xenoblade as I remember and I'm sure she'll play something, like everyone else

@SageofShadow The 3DS version is single player only I'm afraid - http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/01/rayman_origins_3ds_has_no_multiplayer

@Bass_X0 Great minds and all that...

I missed that thread, I must admit, and the idea for this article occurred to me when playing Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, a game I'd been tracking down for a while. If it had been available for download, I would have picked it up right away. GBA points are absolutely valid, I guess my main point is that it makes sense to expand the backwards compatibility to digital for DS, especially with Nintendo taking downloads more seriously.

Will this happen? I think it's quite unlikely, but you never know. Times change, and Nintendo seems to be revising its online plans pretty regularly right now to try and get the most out of it. Remember they said MK7 wouldn't be patched? Well, it happened

An ideal scenario at E3 2012 would be an F-Zero release on both 3DS and Wii U, with cross-platform play. Already done with WipeOut on Vita, it would be pretty memorable with F-Zero.

@grimbldoo This wasn't a news story, but an interview. The interview can't be 'old', as Michael reflects on the project and his thoughts on the Zelda series now that he's hit his target, which we reported on a little while ago. I do believe you've got mixed up

@Ren I think it's a reflection of what we've come to expect from Nintendo's digital strategies that the idea of bundles is 'fantastical', and to a point you're actually right. It shouldn't be so unlikely, frankly, because ideas like this are a vital part to any modern digital strategy, though each platform has its own style. Sony has PS Plus, Xbox has sales, indies have humble bundles etc. If Nintendo is actually serious about its download stores becoming a major part of its business - rather than just a sideshow - then it needs to join in with modern methods.

@Mickeymac I do think it could work if there was a minimum price, so to some it'd ultimately just be a sale. For those actually interested in supporting the devs and charity, they can pay more. From what I can understand the average spend on the likes of Humble Bundle is reasonably good, which suggests that it's a minority that takes advantage.

@Hyperstar96 You're absolutely right, and I've updated the article. I only became aware of humble bundle personally earlier this year with the first Android bundle, and I had the (incorrect) impression that iOS games had been included previously. Clearly I was wrong

I used to play this obsessively back in the day, and I think it was on a collection cart with Columns and World Cup Italia 90. Oh, nostalgia!

@LadyStarstorm I've updated the article as it has a tiny 'ww/cf' button at the bottom left that will play music from the Wii and DS games.

@bezerker99 Good point!

I'd specified the GameCube version, but I've tweaked the article to make it clearer

Great stuff guys

It was an interesting listen for me, as I didn't actually get caught up in the launch hype. I'd been gaming on PC for a good while, and it was actually footage of Super Mario Galaxy that grabbed me and reintroduced me to a love for Nintendo. After listening to you guys, I feel like I missed a trick!

@Retro_Hype I appreciate that you don't agree with this Black Ops 2 article appearing, and of course that's your right, but the purpose of it is to highlight the attention CoD games demand, and why it will be a boost for Wii U if it does arrive. As mentioned in the article, Treyarch have, possibly in an unguarded moment, teased about a Wii U version, and its an equally important issue if Wii U misses out on this title. The sales figures for this series are phenomenal, and perhaps if Wii U can boast the same graphics (maybe marginally better) and unique functions with the tablet controller, it could be a boost for the system in its early days.

To be completely upfront and honest, I haven't owned a Call of Duty game since the first sequel on PC, which was years ago. I've seen the others on friends and relatives' systems, but never wanted to buy one myself. It's just not my kind of game, which is just one of many reasons why I own a Wii and 3DS rather than rival systems, because I'd sooner play Mario than an FPS.

That's a personal preference, but CoD and titles like it have a huge audience, and Nintendo needs to get whatever share of that market that it can. With the crazy hype since the 'global reveal' of a trailer for Blops 2, now seemed like a sensible time to think about it in the context of Wii U.

Edit - and what TBD has said while I was writing my comment

@Retro_Hype 'While it's tempting to be cynical about the breadth of coverage, and some may lament that the series is as unbelievably popular as it is, it’s a reality of these gaming times. Any game with Call of Duty in the title will dominate headlines, public attention and, ultimately, software charts.' That and Wii U is potentially out in the same month as this game.

That's why. We all like different things, and it seems that millions of gamers like CoD.

@Swiket A setting last used in the late 1980s - I think it'll be relatively fresh compared to the Mushroom Kingdom or outer space, for example

As others have already said, anyone without something constructive to say (by which I mean 'who cares' comments, to be clear) should perhaps, in this particular thread, say nothing at all. David Yarnton is the head of Nintendo UK, and as an independent Nintendo-centric website we wanted to report the news.

The important thing is that he's recovering well.

@TLink9 I see what you mean, that first link was going to the wrong URL: fixed

On the 'Wii is a Toy' comment that's clearly still bugging some, I found Trent's blog where he explains that he did clarify this on Twitter after the event, and he also says some of what came across in this interview - 'So, I recently tweeted “Wii is a Toy”. I clarified my point was around the large sales numbers not really representing the software market on Wii for independent developers.' The blog post entry can be found at the following link - http://www.trentoster.com/?p=261

The eShop is clearly moving in the right direction, but valid complaints about WiiWare are valuable to ensure that the Wii U service is more attractive for developers of all sizes. Without enthusiastic independent developers, it'll have a tough time.

There is online multiplayer, it looks like this press release only specified local for some reason. Fear not!

I think this is a title that seems particularly suitable as a download, especially as Iwata has said that it'll ideally be played in short, five minute sessions. I may be tempted by this, simply because my concentration levels of late are rather wonky, so something that focuses my mind will be very welcome!

@Hejiru You're right, and I didn't suggest that Nintendo's 'going down' or anything, they have plenty of cash

I referred to shareholders in particular because, regardless of stockpiles of cash, they don't like seeing their share value go down. Nintendo will be hoping the loss is a one-off, whether it is depends on lots of things, including the Wii U launch. I'd say that even if it makes another loss next year, Nintendo will still be a force to be reckoned with long term, because of all those spare funds.

@Stuffgamer1 That's a fair point actually, as figures are generally under a 'DS family' banner. The redesigns of DS may bring the figures closer, as you rightly say, but I still suspect that Wii and 3DS may be showing that shift where certain brands and titles are even more prominent. It's worth bearing the DS re-models in mind though.

I found it interesting when going through some figures (thanks @James for help) that Wii has shown a shift of select titles being bought up by more users, whereas on DS the likes of New Super Mario Bros didn't have quite the same impact. I did cringe when I saw the announcement for New Super Mario Bros. 2, as it seems very likely that New Super Mario Bros Mii (or whatever it'll be called) will hit Wii U early doors. DS was two years old when NSMB hit, but 3DS is getting a bit of Super Mario overload.

I love Mario games, but I'm worried it'll all get repetitive if more Mario sequels hit in another 12-18 months, and hope that won't happen. Over saturation is possible, even with Mario.

It's been a while since my last WiiWare purchase, but I think you've persuaded me Mr Mason. This review sealed the deal with 'Rush Rush Rally Racing's visuals are a shock when you first boot up – they look like they could have popped out of a Mega Drive upon first glance.' Sweet

@SuperDel It's still 'today' for a good while yet I'm sure it'll be up and running tomorrow at the latest.

It's not a bad update, and surely the last few weeks have been pretty good for fans of puzzle games, as well as those with an enthusiasm for art. I don't really fit into either category (bit of a platformer nut, to be honest), but it's been a solid run on eShop, generally.

Once VVVVVV and Mutant Mudds arrive, I'll be back on the eShop topping up my funds

This and Fire Emblem are very much top of my list, and I particularly love the idea of daily challenges in this title. It promises to be an excellent Summer and Autumn

@DeMoN-13ruce Stores and countries are unconfirmed, but I suspect they'll try to accommodate all the countries in Europe, as far as possible.

@C-Olimar Yes, now fixed

@RyanE Disc one is 187MB when it's unzipped, I haven't quite got around to downloading disc two yet. There's no DRM (because it's free), so you can move the files around at your leisure

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance is second in the chart, the same position it held last week

@Monkeh That line was included (not that you quoted the whole line) because some, probably a minority, do appear to have an attitude of defending Nintendo and WiiWare at all costs. That's their prerogative, but to those who do reject criticisms of WiiWare, I was making the point that supporting a company such as Nintendo doesn't have to mean shooting down any dissenters.

I'm passionate about Nintendo and, on a personal level, hope for its continued success, but that doesn't mean I won't consider the negatives and mistakes that the company makes.

@Hyawatta We can only comment on the eShop improvements that we can see, such as a more dynamic shop-front and a higher file-size limit. I strongly suspect that non-disclosure is in place for this platform too, and the only way WiiWare policies have come to light in recent months is from developers breaking cover. I'd rather not speculate too much on areas that are still unknown.

You make a good point though, there have been some positive noises so far from developers who have been using eShop, so hopefully that is a sign of things to come.

I adored Micro Machines back in the day. It's also good to hear about the team persisting after an initial event was cancelled, definitely a good attitude to have

As a fan of Canabalt, I may just give this a cheeky download. The fact it's 200 points is excellent for this kind of game, a pleasingly realistic price.

@Ren Of course if you consider a donation you should always make sure you're happy to give to the charity in question. In the case of Games Aid, they contribute to a variety of organisations, and as you point out their website, in particular the video on the home page, explains it well - http://www.gamesaid.org/

We always check that any charity fund-raisers that we write about have a valid donations page (Just Giving is widely used) and are contributing to a cause that seems appropriate. People should always research and consider details before deciding whether to donate, and hopefully the various links in the article (and now in this comment) will help with that.

@CapedGodot If you spot something awesome that we haven't found yet (the internet is quite big, after all!) and think it deserves attention on here, you can always use the news tips option on the Contact Us form

If the tip's a good 'un, we may just post an article for it.

@pixelman I'm pretty sure that would undermine the basics of democracy

It was just a play on words, extra votes instead of lives. I'm sure the candidate is hoping that the stunt will win him a few votes, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered paying to have it produced.

@SteveW That's exactly what I'm saying

The NES could do some cool stuff, but zooming on command, scrolling quickly enough and having actual physics for environments getting knocked over? Any attempt at a game like this on a humble 8-bit cart would be too bad for words and impossible to recreate a genuine equivalent, in my opinion

That's good news indeed. Along with Mutant Mudds this is my most anticipated eShop game. You lucky North Americans!

@chiptoon Indeed, I did just find examples that were older, film and literature aren't in the same ball park (arguably about 1800 years for literature, if you count the oldest discovered manuscripts). Both get a lot more attention for their history though, which is something that needs to be remedied, as far as possible, for gaming.

EDIT: I've just edited the literature reference out, I clearly didn't have my brain engaged when I included that (it was after midnight when I typed it up). As a student of Book History (no, really), I've given myself a slap on the wrist.

Well, I had no idea there was a sports-themed barber shop chain in the U.S called 'Sports Clips'. The idea of a themed chain of barbers is rather strange to my 'old-world' British mind.

Apologies for the confusion, and I shall refrain from using that particular phrase in the future