Wow.... Uhhhh.... Press Home, tap Manual, learn to read?

@DefHalan
No. Nintendo made their money when the LPer played their game, and they will make much more when people who see their game in action decide to buy it because it looks fun. Taking money away from people who are giving you free marketing is completely counter-productive.

Yeah, bad move Nintendo. LP videos are free advertising, and discouraging people from making them just means lost money in the long run.

EA can go suck a nut. And no, this opinion would not change even if EA became Wii U's strongest supporter tomorrow. They'd also have to fire all their executive management, restructure their business model and update their policies in a way that removes their "Developer = Sweat Shop" mentality before I would seriously consider changing my mind.

Gah, this again? What is this, 1993? There needs to be a new term to describe people who utilize hacking skills for illegal or immoral purposes, such as identity theft or software piracy. People with hacking skills who use it to run custom homebrew on their own systems, dissect the machine to learn how to emulate it, or simply explore the hardware they purchased are not evil. It is exactly these types of people who help the industry thrive. Don't hate them!

If the person who made that video can help write software that will allow me to use my Wii U gamepad on my PC as a touch-screen controller, then that person is my hero. Why shouldn't I be allowed to do this? I legally own my PC, the Wii U and its gamepad, and I should be able to use it as I wish so long as it does not infringe Nintendo's rights. If Nintendo would just do what Microsoft does and make their console hardware work with my PC, I wouldn't be relying on a "hacker" to do it in the first place!

This sounds like something I will spend money on.

By the way, why is there still only like, 3 games available for the Game Gear on the 3DS VC? Get on that!

Ubisoft, what happened? You do realize your name is not Electronic Arts, correct? With this debacle and the Rayman Legends disappointment, you are beginning to approach their level of underhanded backstabbery at an alarming rate.

Love Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony would never do this.

As with any good argument, there are good points on both sides of this one. Nintendo is in the business of keeping games on store shelves. If they know that game X would cause controversy in region Y, they have shown they aren't shy about taking steps to prevent it. Sometimes they go too far, but it's easy to see why they might adopt the strategy of "better safe than sorry" here.

On the other hand, I am a firm believer that the consumer should be allowed to decide exactly what they wish to tolerate for themselves and their children. Games which allow options to limit blood and gore work great for me — I can choose to tone it down so my child can participate, or leave it on to experience the author's original vision. If the only version I'm allowed to use in my region has had the censorship hammer taken to it, that might upset me — of course it's all based on how important the censored content is to the work as a whole. As with all things, whether censorship can be seen as appropriate or not is all based on the situation.

However in general, I would hope that responsible adults would care enough to make an informed decision, then decide themselves what they want to see. Unfortunately, in the West and especially in the US we have a large portion of the population that has adopted the attitude that they should be allowed to tell everyone else what is and isn't appropriate for them. That doesn't seem likely to change any time soon.

Yawn. Absolutely no loss here. The world does not need another crappy sports title from EA.

Not an issue. Upgraded my SD card practically on day 1. Do not want Nintendo to include more storage, as it would cost me more that way. Exact same situation as Wii U. Move along, nothing to see here...

I don't know that it's the design of the character that makes a mascot successful. Just create a game series that's fun and original and success will follow, right Mario? Oh, right, we're talking about Sega here...

If you're seriously doubting the decision to buy this at this price, you're crazy. It's not the greatest game of all times, but it's certainly one of the best for the NES, and at this price it's an absolute steal.

I do remember the lag on this game from the original NES, so that's not the emulation slowing it down. The game came out very late in the NES' lifecycle. As such, it pushed the NES to its limits and unfortunately it often shows when there are more than a couple enemies or effects happening on the screen. Fortunately I don't believe it detracts too much from the experience.

Also, if you have a 3DS and are willing to pay more (which you should be for this fantastic game), the 3D Classics version does not lag.

Ugh. NL owes me $60. This game is truly terrible. Your review forgot to mention the total lack of storyline, the way the "Easy Race" features completely remove any semblance of smooth game progression, the way the cars all handle like roller skates on butter, the way the cop chases can go on for 45 minutes without ever feeling like you're anywhere close to being caught, and most importantly the absolute lie that is the subtitle of this game.

The original NFS: Most Wanted was my favorite in the series. It combined tight car handling with epic police chases and an immersive storyline that develops as you complete races and unlock cars to progress up the most wanted list. This game doesn't even deserve to be called a cheap knockoff of the original. If it had gone straight to the $10 bargain bin I still would have rated it "Buyer Beware."

I think people are reading too much into this "same overworld" theory. Yes, Nintendo has stated it fits in the same timeline, and clearly the comparison above shows the same section of map. However, there's the distinct possibility that the developers started with the existing map as a "framework" for updating the graphics to a 3D world in order to make it look nostalgic. That does not mean that the final map will be laid out anything at all like LttP's overworld.

Obviously, I could be dead wrong, but I don't think we should all assume that the map is going to be the same just because these shots shown in a video demo 8 months before the game's release use it.

Without reading the above comments, I'm going to agree with the "at least 10 people" who have already pointed out that you don't have to worry about stock issues if you buy the game on the eShop, as I prefer to do.

This is not an attempt to "convert" anyone, just pointing out one advantage of the digital distribution model.

Would having EA's full support help bring money to the console? Of course. Is EA the devil incarnate? Absolutely. Are all of EA's huge sellers the same mindless sports title rehashed year after year? Duh.

If the answer to Nintendo's long-term success is to pander to companies which keep pumping out mindless games for the intellectual sheep of the gaming industry, I worry what that would do to the unique and original quality gaming Nintendo has been able to push over the years... and what Microsoft and Sony would be expected to rip off afterwards.

When used effectively, every feature of the gamepad can serve as a fantastic addition to the game. Off-TV play is very nice when you need to share the screen or you just want to kick back and relax on the couch. Asynchronous multiplayer is incredibly fun when done right — Unfortunately the only game I've personally played so far where it's done right is Nintendo Land, but I'm hoping there will be more on the way. The motion controls for "scanning" and "steering" are my least favorite feature, but that's not to say horrible. Scanning the environment with the pad can serve as a way to naturally bring the player deeper into the game setting. That said, this is the feature most often abused or handled poorly, which is not so much the fault of the controller as the developers utilizing it. Drawing on or using the gamepad as a touchscreen is very natural and feels great, again only when done right. If the game mainly uses the "standard" button controls but with some funky ability that requires use of the touch-screen, it's usually a gimick that could be done just as effectively without the screen's involvment.

In light of this, I don't see a large difference between the motion controls of the Wii versus the gamepad in terms of whether the features Nintendo has provided are "good" or "bad." When used effectively, the Wiimote+Nunchuk controls could put to shame so-called "standard" control styles handily. When used poorly, you get the feeling you've been sucked into a gimicky game that's not doing Nintendo's console any favors.

I will say that Nintendo made the smarter move this time around in building in controls that mirror other console's input methods so that the developers can more easily decide to use them instead of having to force an alternate control method on the player. Last time Nintendo provided the Classic Controller as an alternative but because it was an add-on device it was ignored far too often.

Given how terrible this game is on other platforms, I couldn't care less about it not showing up on Wii U. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason for the cancellation was Nintendo not letting them put the worthless piece of trash on their console until they fixed some of the game-breaking bugs evident in the released versions.

Perhaps not a cross-Nintendo reference, but I laughed pretty hard the first time I waited long enough in Super Mario 64 for Mario to fall asleep on the floor and then start talking in his sleep. "Ahhh spaghetti... Ahhh ravioli. Mama-mia..."

Hopefully they will make this downloadable. If they do, I'll probably pick it up. I didn't have a chance to play the game yet, and the additional features sound nice.

Got a 500GB hard drive hooked up to my Wii U and I don't mind waiting for the DL if it means I don't have to touch a disc. No problem here.

Also, if the installed size is 22GB, it's likely you still need a HDD even with an empty Deluxe model because the install files have to briefly live alongside the game files and there's not enough working room left after you remove 22GB of the Wii's 25GB of space. They also might be factoring in a reasonable amount of space for the save files, which will be put in the same location as the game files and if they're large enough could present a problem if multiple saves are used.

Still, I think Nintendo made it pretty clear when they launched the system that people wanting to take advantage of retail downloads would need to obtain an external drive. The whole entitlement issue that some people seem to have is silly to me. For $350 you got an HD console system, the world's most advanced controller, a fantastic collection of first-party games and a modest amount of internal storage suitable for storing several eShop games or many hundreds of virtual console titles. If you want more than that, having to shell $50-100 for supplemental memory is not that unreasonable of a request.

Wait, people actually played that game online? I ventured into the lobby several times but was never able to get a match started.

This is round one guys. Nintendo will be appealing.

So... Zen Pinball? No? OK.....

Seems pretty harmless, but yeah was going to say the same thing about replacing the optional item graphics. It's a bit disconcerting to see the "heroine" taking a few moments to go grab her purse and umbrella before saving the victim...

Does anyone else have the problem where the game crashes often, requiring your 3DS to be restarted, when selecting to do a Quick Ride in Sandbox mode?

Hmmm, I wasn't sure about this one, but I might buy it just to support this man.

At least this guy has a claim that sounds like it could potentially be infringement. It'd be different if he had no relationship with Nintendo prior to the lawsuit, but it sounds like both sides are admitting that they met with the intention of creating a 3D system. Still, it sounds like they didn't opt to go with his specific technology so he might just be looking for a quick buck. I'm sure if Nintendo had chosen his design they would have given him the appropriate compensation.

@sak904
It doesn't make sense to you. It makes a whole lot of sense to the people trying to make a fair return on the product they made with their time, money and effort. Region locking may be a necessary evil, but the key word is necessary. The world is a large and complex place, and economies vary heavily. If every consumer in the US could choose between going to Walmart to drop $60 on a game or import it from China for $20 and shipping, which option do you think they'd take? Yeah, it sucks when you just can't play a local version of a game you'd like to try, but the blame there lies firmly at the feet of the developer and/or publisher, who usually aren't Nintendo.

The best (legal) way to play a game that's not released in your region is to let them know you're interested. It's risky to release in a market where you're unsure your product will sell, and if they know there's more interest that can only help your cause.

This is a dangerous area to tread as trying to be too heavy-handed can lead to a PR backlash, but I have always approved with Nintendo's efforts. They continue to provide great games at outstanding prices, avoid the types of products that people just WANT to steal because of ridiculous and self-serving "features" like DLC, anti-reselling measures and overbearing copy protection schemes. But they also have an active legal department that keeps a watch out for websites hosting their IP and gets them to remove it. This is the type of action that a responsible IP holder should do while avoiding stepping on the toes of their loyal paying customers. They might end up losing some more money by not going the RIAA route and litigating their own customers into oblivion, but they'll also continue to be respected by their fans, and I firmly believe that can only help them in the long run.

@McHaggis

As a consumer, which trade-off would you rather have? Complex copy-protection schemes that cause a hassle only to the paying customers and have the potential to brick systems, or more hands-off protection that can be slipped through easier, but coupled with a responsible company that keeps a close watch out for illegal distributors? I know which I'd choose, and it's nothing the MPAA or RIAA would approve of.

I have a long-standing love affair with all things Roller Coaster, so I'll probably grab Coaster Creator 3D if it's not revealed to be a complete turd. The screenshots and previews I've seen so far look promising, so here's hoping.

Naturally, I'll also pick up that one running game at some point, but.... yeah... COASTERS!

Dag, yo. 35,000 units is nothing to shake a stick at. This product may seem baffling and pointless to you and me, but apparently there is at least a tacit market for it, and given the tiny investment, manufacturing and distribution costs Nintendo must be spending on it, it sounds to me like they made a smart business decision.

What the...? Since when is the 3DS's wireless capability not enough to get online by itself? This is just bizarre.

Oh thank God. Halo is really the steamiest pile of FPS garbage to ever come out. Please, Bungee, keep your junk away from Nintendo's systems.

Oh yay, another "insert successful-first-party-franchise-on-a-Sony-platform,-oh-wait-there's-no-such-thing-crap-never-mind here" game.

I've been wanting an XL for awhile, and I'll almost certainly buy Luigi's Mansion so I might go for this to get the free copy of Layton.

Seriously where's Zen Pinball 2?

Nice work, guys. It takes courage to stand up to people who have direct influence over your career, and I'm glad to see that at least the dev team responsible for the game doesn't approve of the delay and is willing to let their voices be heard.

I doubt Ubisoft will let this sway their decision at all since Microsoft and/or Sony is probably padding their pockets with spare cash, but it was worth a shot all the same.

I don't normally put any stock into what "insiders" or "analysts" say, as these people seem to be wrong more often than they're right. However, the evidence of cancelled and delayed games, and games going multiplatform which were originally going to be exclusive, that evidence speaks for itself. The Wii U's start is rockier than anticipated, third parties are either bailing or hedging their bets, and Nintendo needs to fix that situation now.

For an example of how to turn this around successfully, Nintendo doesn't need to look any further than Netflix. When Netflix's instant streaming feature seemed in jeopardy because the content owners were preparing to pull out, Netflix started writing checks that kept the movies on there long enough for the subscriber base to grow, then started a huge marketing campaign to tell the world how they could stream content directly from devices they all had at home (ironically focusing mostly on the Wii's huge install base). It worked perfectly, and today it'd be difficult to agree with an "analyst" who says Netflix instant streaming feature isn't successful.

I don't think I'm quite to the $400 mark but I do have at least hundreds put into VC games on the Wii that have now been transferred to the Wii U. When I got my Wii U, I pulled my old Wii out of storage (I had a new one, but the original had all the VC titles on it) to transfer the games. I found out it would no longer turn on. I called Nintendo support and they confirmed that the system had to power on to complete the transfer, so I was SOL with a broken system.

The options I had were basically to lose all those purchases, or to send the Wii in for repair. I was told the standard repair fee was $80 plus shipping. Given the circumstances, the technician cut that in half and I paid $40 plus shipping to repair the system and I did eventually get my games transferred.

That's not a horrible outcome (certainly not as bad as Jon's example above), and I did appreciate the technician being very friendly and ready to give me a 50% discount because of the inconvenience, but things like this just shouldn't be happening today. If Nintendo had a unified online account that my stuff was tied to, and their systems respected that, none of this bad PR would be happening to them. You'd think they would fix the system rather than lose business to their competitors who implemented better models years ago.

Strange. I was sure I was getting this game. Now I get this weird feeling like my pocket book is going to feel differently in another 7 months. Too bad for Ubisoft, huh?

This doesn't really affect me. Most classic games I'm interested in don't have such long campaigns that losing save data would be that big of deal, and if it is something I can't stand replaying from scratch, I probably just won't rebuy that game.

I know some people get up in arms over this type of "controversy". (Waaah, don't change my beloved game!) but guys, this isn't Star Wars and Nintendo is not George Lucas. They are not going to actively seek to prevent you from playing the original, insisting that this new form is a replacement and that you all must partake of it.

I would personally LOVE to see Nintendo lavish major changes on this title. I don't care one bit if they have to cut the Triforce-gathering quest entirely out if it means I get one or more new dungeons to explore instead. I would love to see them reinstate some of the dungeons they didn't get a chance to use the first time around, and I wouldn't at all care if they made other major gameplay changes that some "purists" would squak at.

One idea: When you use the grappling hook to grab treasure underwater, show us what's going on instead of just a top-down view of Link staring at the ocean. Maybe this could go to a short minigame on the gamepad screen where you see the rope from the side and have to direct the hook to the treasure while dodging various obstacles as it climbs back up to your boat. Such sequences could be used to show more of the hidden underwater world in the background, allowing Nintendo to further show off some of the beautiful scenes the Wii U is capable of showing without them having to create a whole other game worth of content for you to explore in the meantime.

While they're developing it, I hope they start with the original cel-shaded flavor of the original, and then improve on it in every way possible. If they decide that adding more sharp edges would make the characters pop a bit more and it fits the improved scenery, they have my blessing. People who want to whine all day about Nintendo changing things on them, they already have what they want. It comes on a small Gamecube disc and plays on your Wii console natively. For the rest of us, I can't wait to see how Nintendo can provide something new and different that is worth some rupees to play on their shiny new console. Bring on the upgrade!

yawn Nothing to see here. Another crappy game from Sega. Move along.

Glad to see Nintendo getting recognized. I haven't had to deal directly with Nintendo's customer service a whole lot (which is a testament to the quality of their products), but when I've had to, the service has always been top notch and they've gone out of their way to help me resolve issues quickly. I also love Nintendo's willingness to bend over backwards to keep customers and investors happy, even if it involves the execs taking pay cuts or spending millions to upgrade everybody's Wiimote straps.

Well done, Nintendo!

All of these are nice and I'll probably get them all when they come out since 30 cents is so cheap as to not even be money...

However, what I'm really looking forward to is specific announcements of what GBA titles they are going to release. I'd love to see Metroid Zero Mission since I never had a GBA and the only way I've been able to play it to this point is shoddy emulation.

Good info all around, really excited about the Wind Waker rerelease as it's one of my favorite Zelda titles and the HD looks great. Hopefully when they say they'll "tune up the gameplay" they will make the right changes (shorten the Triforce farming quest, maybe?) while leaving most of the gameplay untouched.

The new Zelda announcement is what really got to me though. A Zelda game without a linear storyline and multiplayer? Can't wait to see what they do with those ideas...

What a load of horse pucky. NONE of the features shown in that commercial can be done in every game you can play on the system, so why aren't they calling those out? Why is it obvious that not every game will let you "pick out clues and investigate your surroundings" using the gamepad but it's not obvious that some games might be made in a way that can't be taken off the TV entirely? Simply ridiculous.