Wii News

September2013

  • Rumour Nintendo Set To Rename The Wii U Facebook Page

    It'll soon be known as "Nintendo Console Gaming"

    Earlier today we reported that the 3DS Facebook page would be getting a name change after several people received emails from the social network telling them that from 19th September it would be known as "Nintendo Handheld Gaming". Well, it appears Nintendo has also decided to go down the same route...

  • News Three Wii Classics Get A Price Reduction in North America

    Two Mario titles and a visit to Wuhu Island now available for $29.99

    Part of Nintendo's push for the Holiday season is to promote the good value of its various systems and games, and with that in mind Nintendo of America has confirmed three major Wii titles that, as of today, will have a suggested retail price of just $29.99 in the region. These are...

  • News Club Nintendo Rewards Updated for September

    Take to the skies and march with the minis

    It's that time of the month when Nintendo offers up some tasty rewards for North American Club Nintendo members to enjoy. This year really is flying by isn't it? Two Wii Shop and two 3DS eShop games will be available to download in exchange for your hard earned coins and of course Wii U owners can access...

August2013

July2013

June2013

  • News Nintendo Wins Another Patent Battle, This Time Over MotionPlus

    That legal team is on fire

    Nintendo faces its fair share of patent battles, which in most cases — not all, with a notable loss on 3DS screen technology — go the Kyoto company's way. Plenty of these disputes focus on the Wii and its various peripherals, which is more than likely due to the console's phenomenal sales success and its various...

  • News Xbox 360 Sales Set to Pass the Wii's in the UK

    Dem FPS and footie gamez

    The Wii has kicked some serious booty in terms of global sales, getting close to 100 million sales and 'winning', at the time of writing, its generation of systems. That impressive success can mask the fact that the diminutive console has seen momentum go off the cliff since early 2012, as games dried up and the Wii U...

  • News Angry Birds Trilogy Flocks to Wii and Wii U in August

    Just when you thought the piggies were safe...

    If by chance you're one of the three people that hasn't yet played Rovio's mega-popular Angry Birds series, or prefer to play your pig-killing physics puzzlers on the big screen, you're in luck — Rovio has announced that Angry Birds Trilogy will launch on both Wii and Wii U in North America as retail...

  • News A Study Suggests the Wii Could be Used to Improve the Balance of Parkinson's Sufferers

    Could reduce fall risks as part of exercise routine

    We know the Wii brand has often been promoted to push activity and fitness, but a preliminary study reported in Medpage Today suggests that Wii games, and specifically the Balance Board, can play a role in strengthening the balance of Parkinson’s patients. According to the report, the “use of...

  • News Nintendo Succeeds in Wii Fit Balance Board Patent Appeal

    Original decision in the company's favour is upheld

    Nintendo, and particularly the Wii, have faced a number of patent challenges in recent years. In most cases Nintendo has emerged as the victor, with a loss on the 3DS screen technology being a rare blip. The big N has faced challenges to its Wii Remote, in particular, and various devices and gizmos...

  • Review Sengoku 3 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    Third time's the charm

    While SNK was far more well known for its one-on-one fighting games, it did toss out a few beat 'em ups along the way. Some of the attempts were better than others: Sengoku 3 is one such example. It basically takes many of the solid gameplay perks of the first two games and amps things up considerably. Toss in a fresh coat of...

  • News FIFA 14 Is Coming To Nintendo Consoles After All - Except The Wii U

    Coming to a Wii and 3DS near you

    In April this year, Electronic Arts announced the newest addition to its FIFA franchise, FIFA 14. Sadly, the Wii U wasn't shown in the initial line-up, but EA promised other consoles would be revealed at a later date. It didn't help that before this, EA confessed that Madden NFL would be skipping a Nintendo console...

  • News Activision Bringing Skylanders Swap Force And Call of Duty: Ghosts To E3

    "This is obviously a big year"

    There has been a lot of confusion surrounding Call of Duty: Ghosts, the latest in Activision's long-running franchise. Nobody seems to definitively know if it's coming to Wii U or not. When it was announced in early May, the publisher did not mention Nintendo's home console, however, since then several media outlets...

  • Feature The Humble Origins of Animal Crossing

    How an obscure little N64 title grew into a hit franchise for Nintendo

    The hype and excitement for Animal Crossing: New Leaf across the web is reaching a critical level. Hitting North America on 9th June and Europe on 14th June, it begs the question whether some people might literally explode as a result of not being able to contain their...

  • News Armature Studios Gains Another Ex-Retro Staff Member

    Donkey Kong Country Returns designer Tom Ivey moves on

    As we all know, Armature is a company founded by former Retro Studios staff members — and it would appear that they've added another to their ranks. According to his CV on LinkedIn, Tom Ivey — who was one of the designers on Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was recently ported to the 3DS...

  • Video Disney's Planes Trailer Flies Into View

    Exclusive to Nintendo systems

    Earlier this year it was confirmed that Disney's Planes will be coming exclusively to Nintendo systems, covering Wii U, Wii, 3DS and DS. It'll arrive in North America on 6th August, just before the film arrives on 9th August; as most of you probably already know — or will have guessed — this is a follow up to the...

May2013

April2013

  • News The Monster Hunter Tri Servers Will be Shutdown Today

    The end of hunting season

    While a number of gamers can be found lurking on the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate online Wii U servers at all hours of the day, we feel it's worth paying a humble tribute to its predecessor, Monster Hunter Tri. Why do this? Because today is the last day when the Wii title's servers will be open for online multiplayer —...

  • News House Of The Dead: Overkill Rises From The Grave On Mobile Phones

    Sega's Wii classic makes the jump from consoles to smartphones

    Sega's Wii shooter The House of the Dead: Overkill has been ported to iOS and Android. Retailing for $4.99 (approximately £3.90), the game transports the expletive-filled zombie-blasting action of the Nintendo original to the small screen of your iOS or Android device. Here's the full...

  • News Nintendo to Pull the Plug on Several Online Wii Channels

    Pour one out for News cat this summer

    Better get those last rounds in with the Wii's Channels before Nintendo starts flickering the lights at closing time, as the company has announced that a chunk of the console's quirky online features are shuttering on 28th June. This will effect the Forecast, News, Everybody Votes, Check Mii Out and Nintendo...

  • News Cliff Bleszinski Likens The Wii To A "Virus"

    Outspoken designer agrees with earlier comment by ex-Epic colleague

    Back in 2008, Epic's Mike Capps described the Wii as a "virus" which infected gamers in the short-term but didn't leave any lasting impression. He said: It's a virus where you buy it and you play it with your friends and they're like, "Oh my God that's so cool, I'm gonna go buy...

  • News WayForward and Ubisoft Releasing The Smurfs 2 on Wii U, Wii and DS

    Hopefully it won't make us feel blue

    The Smurfs are making a comeback this Summer with the release of the aptly named The Smurfs 2 in cinemas across the world and Sony Pictures has decided to release a platforming game alongside it. Now, before you throw your arms up in despair, it might not actually be that bad as it's being developed by Ubisoft...

  • News Disney's Planes Jetting Onto All Nintendo Platforms This Year

    Wii U, Wii, 3DS and DS editions coming in August

    Disney Interactive Studios has revealed that Disney's Planes — which is based on the forthcoming CGI film — will be hitting all Nintendo platforms later in 2013. Wii U, Wii, 3DS and DS versions are in development, with August 6th being the take-off date in North America — just a few days before...

  • News Nintendo Working On Wii Remote Fast Charging Battery Pack

    Online survey points to long-awaited accessory release

    If there's one thing that really annoys us about using Wii Remotes in the Nintendo Life office, it's the fact that you need a constant supply of AA batteries on hand at all times, or a stock of rechargeable AA batteries which take ages to fully juice-up. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 feature bespoke...

  • News Pandora's Tower Release Date Announced for North America

    The slaying and serving up of monsters is set for 16th April

    The forecast for the final Operation Rainfall title is shaping up: XSEED Games has announced that Pandora’s Tower for the Wii will begin hitting North American stores on 16th April. Pandora’s Tower sees chain-wielding protagonist Aeron taking on The Thirteen Towers, in order to slay...

March2013

  • News UK Gamers Rate Wii As "Best Ever" Console

    2,000 GAME customers cast their vote

    A survey of GAME customers in the United Kingdom has revealed that the general public rates the Wii as the world's best ever console. The high street chain quizzed 2,000 of its customers to obtain the information, and the Wii claimed 15% of the total vote. The Super Nintendo was the next most popular Nintendo...

  • Ninterview Meet Adam Howden - Voice Actor For Shulk

    This is the Monado's power!

    Xenoblade Chronicles is an epic adventure on Wii, receiving universal praise from critics and gamers alike. Its release was so desired that it partly prompted fan-movement Operation Rainfall, and was the first of a trio of fantastic JRPGs to be localised for the West - The Last Story being second, and Pandora's Tower...

  • News Wii Mini Generating Little Interest in The UK

    Maybe the cold weather is putting people off...

    The Wii Mini emerged as a Canadian exclusive back in December and, relatively speaking, it did reasonably well - shifting 35,700 units between its launch and 31st January. This lead Nintendo to bring the bizarre little console to other markets - one of which was the UK, where it was rele

  • News Pandora's Tower Will Be Invading North America in April

    XSEED reveals first US trailer

    Back in January, XSEED Games announced that it would be bringing the long awaited Japanese action-RPG Pandora's Tower to North America in Spring 2013. It's now been narrowed down a little bit more, as the publisher has announced it will be releasing it at some point in April. XSEED has a bit of a reputation for...

  • Video Possibly the Most Legendary Zelda Cake Ever

    Seriously, this is ridiculous

    Some video game fans, particularly those in the Nintendo camp, sure go to a lot of trouble to demonstrate just how much they love their chosen games or franchises. It also seems that there's no better combination than big gaming fans doing something for their own little gamers, as this cake based on The Legend of Zelda:...

  • News Another Study Claims Playing Wii Can Benefit Surgeons

    An hour a day keeps the doctor away

    Way back in 2008, while most of the world was getting to grips with the wonder of the Nintendo Wii, a group of researchers was looking into how the system could help with important medical procedures. That's right, a US study discovered that surgeons performed their duties much more effectively and efficiently...

  • Feature Series Reboots That Have Divided Gamers

    They did WHAT with [insert treasured franchise name here]?

    There are some undeniable truths in life, death and taxes being two examples, and the video game industry has its own rules and obligations that can never be avoided. One of these revolves around reboots of treasured franchises — if you're going to "re-imagine" a popular character or...

  • News Wireless Wii Portal Inspires Skylanders Chess Invention

    There's a use for those old Portals of Power after all

    As you will have no doubt read, Skylanders Swap Force will require a new Portal and Starter Pack this year. Family Gamer TV owner and occasional Nintendo Life contributor Andy Robertson asked his kids what they should do with their old Portal of Power, and they came up with a version of Chess...

  • News The Conduit Getting HD Remake For Mobile Tegra Devices

    ...but will it come to Wii U?

    The Nvidia TegraZone website has been updated with game information for the mobile port of High Voltage Software's The Conduit, and it appears that the game will be receiving a HD update. Tegra-based chipsets can be found in smartphones and tablets. Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer for High Voltage Software, has...

February2013

  • News Wii Mini Shifts 35,700 Units in Canada

    Who needs internet connectivity?

    It's been announced recently that the Wii Mini is on its way to European shores. Once a Canadian-exclusive, the stripped down system cannot play anything other than Wii games, has no slot for an SD card and is unable to connect to the internet. So how has the Wii Mini done in Canada? Since its release on 7th...

  • News Amazon UK Lists Wii Mini For £79.99

    ...after initially giving it a price of more than £100

    Nintendo has so far refused to stick a price on the Wii Mini — which is coming to the UK on March 22nd — which means it's up to retailers to come up with a figure. Amazon UK initially went with the rather obscure amount of £103.56, while rival online store ShopTo picked £84.85, which is...

  • News Wii Mini Is Hitting The UK On March 22nd

    Don't all rush out at once

    The Wii Mini — otherwise known as the hardware revision that nobody asked for — is coming to the UK on March 22nd. The system was launched last year as a Canadian exclusive, but we'd recently heard rumours that it was getting a wider release this year. A scaled-down edition of the original Wii console — which has...

  • Rumour Wii Mini on the Way to Europe

    Just, well... because

    Remember the Wii Mini, released in Canada late last year? With a top-loading disc-drive, no online connectivity of any kind, SD slot or even support for component cables. It's the basic Wii with much stripped out to allow an even lower retailer price than the standard last-gen model, no doubt targeting those on exceptionally...

  • News Cars Confirmed As Another Disney Infinity Play Set

    Parents, hide your wallets!

    Ahead of the summer release of Disney Infinity on Wii U, 3DS and Wii, we can expect Disney to continually reveal more details about the optional extras that we'll be able to buy. Like Activision's Skylanders series, there'll be all manner of toys that unlock characters, as well as other add-ons that'll act as buffs for...