Author Profile
James started his career in video games as News Editor on Nintendo Life. Since leaving in 2012 to join Nintendo of Europe, James has risen through the ranks to become NoE's Senior Product PR & Corporate Communications Manager.
News Nintendo Applies for Patent on Wii U Golf Tech
Taking a swing
Remember Nintendo's bold new vision for sports games on Wii U, shown off at E3 last year? It's dead serious about making it a reality, applying for a patent on its concept for golf. The patent pertains to using the new controller on the ground to see the lie of the ball, but it goes into more detail, revealing it's possible to 'miss'...
News DSi and DSi XL Price Drops Announced for North America
Dollars to donuts
Nintendo of America has announced sizeable price drops for the DSi and DSi XL consoles. From 20th May the DSi console will cost $99.99 — down from $149.99 — while the XL will set you back $129.99, down from $169.99. 3DS remains at $169.99. If you haven't already picked up a DSi or DSi XL, this might be a good time. New Prices...
Nintendo Download 10th May 2012 (North America)
Very early edition
Believe your eyes: the Nintendo Download for North America is out, several hours ahead of usual. There's two Virtual Console treats and more to get stuck into, so here's what's up this week. Virtual Console: Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Virtual Console Arcade, SEGA, 900pts) — Just like Europe, North America gets a double dose of...
News Pledge to Diamond Trust of London's Kickstarter Campaign
If you want to
Diamond Trust of London — sorry, Jason Rohrer with Music by Tom Bailey: Diamond Trust of London — passed Nintendo's approval process recently and now sits on the verge of release. Before it gets there, though, there's the small matter of money, and that's where crowdfunding site Kickstarter comes in. Citing Nintendo's "large...
News A LEGO Lord of the Rings Game is Definitely Happening
One does not simply code into Mordor
After years of rumours and hushed whispers, it's finally official: there will be a LEGO Lord of the Rings game. New figures based on Peter Jackson's movies contain flyers for the game, according to MCV, who led with the leak of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes earlier this year. No word on which formats the game...
News Sakurai Won't Make a Kid Icarus: Uprising Sequel
Smashing hopes
We've only just asked if Kid Icarus could be Nintendo's next big franchise, but along comes Kid Icarus: Uprising director Masahiro Sakurai to say he won't create a sequel. IGN asked if Project Sora had created a "lasting universe" the team could return to in future projects, to which Sakurai replied: If by ‘lasting u
News Marvel Pinball 3D's eShop Release Swings Closer
Age rating outed
It's been a while since we had an update on Zen Studios' Marvel Pinball 3D, but fear not — it's definitely still happening. The Australian classifications board has given the game a PG rating, which is nice. A recent Nintendo release schedule had the game down for the second quarter of this year, which draws to a close at the end...
News Felt Sew Good Sells Cushions of Your Favourite Consoles
Soft sell
An NES controller coffee table is all well and good, but we'd rather have something softer in our living room, wouldn't you? Online store Felt Sew Good just opened up and sells a range of cute cushions based on retro gaming consoles and controllers. NES, SNES, Game Boy and more are all represented in adorable form; there's even a Speak...
News Kid Icarus: Uprising on SNES Might Have Looked Like This
Pit's on fire
Forget for a moment that Kid Icarus: Uprising is one of the best displays yet of the 3DS console's stereoscopic screen, and imagine it existing in an altogether simpler time: the 1990s. Talented pixel artist jmatchead (via Pixel Art Guild) has done just that, creating two SNES-style illustrations of Pit's new adventure. Both images...
Review Super Hang-On (Wii Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
Winning run
Name a SEGA arcade racer from the 1980s. Now name one that isn't Out Run. Chances are you've come up with Super Hang-On (or maybe Power Drift if you're really trying), the motorbike racer that's the Pepsi to Out Run's Coke. The fact it's taken SEGA five years to bring Super Hang-On game to the Western Virtual Console is a big surprise,...
Nintendo Download 10th May 2012 (Europe)
It's a Virtual Console explosion
As if any further proof were needed that SEGA is the greatest video game company in the whole world, this week it's bringing no fewer than three games to lucky European fans this week. Elsewhere there's a long awaited piece of 3DS download software and an out-of-nowhere DSiWare game too. To the list! 3DS Virtual...
Podcast Episode 23 - When We Were Excited About Wii
Kappa and the captain talk Wii
After looking back at the magic of console launches we decided to hone in the last Nintendo home console launch back in 2006: the good old Wii. What better way to relive those halcyon days than with the return of the Nintendo Life podcast? NL editor and podcast host James Newton is joined by writer Joe Walker for a...
Rumour Blockbuster UK Lists 25 Wii U Games
Some surprising names
We're a month away from E3 but Blockbuster reckons it's got the Wii U software line-up all figured out, listing 25 titles for pre-order. The list, according to photos sent to GoNintendo, is: Aliens: Colonial Marines Assassin's Creed III Batman: Arkham City Darksiders II DiRT 3 Formula 1 All Stars Game Party Ghost Recon...
News Mario Bros. Battle Marathon to Raise Money for Charity
Bro-off
Mario marathons are nothing new, but this weekend sees an oft-overlooked entry in the franchise take centre stage — and all for charity. The Bro-Off puts Mario Bros. front and centre, with four world class players battling simultaneously to set a new world record. It all kicks off tomorrow at 12 midday Eastern (9am Pacific, 5pm UK, 6pm...
Rumour This is Wii U's Controller Charging Dock
Looks the part
Wii U's controller will come with a built-in rechargeable battery, so naturally Nintendo will provide a means of charging it with the console. It may not be as boring as a cable though: it could be an immensely exciting cradle. NeoGAF user Aostia claims to have unearthed a patent showing off a charging dock for the controller, which...
News Ratings Board Leaks Ubisoft's Rabbids Rumble
They're bwaaah-ck
Ubisoft is preparing another outing for the Rabbids, as we've unearthed a rating for Rabbids Rumble. The Australian Classification Board slapped a G rating on the game, citing "very mild crude humour", which doesn't really give much away. The rating doesn't specify which formats the game is heading to, but as there have...
News Kirby's Pinball Land Dinging to Virtual Console
Bumper crop
3DS Virtual Console fans can get another dose of Kirby download fun soon as Kirby's Pinball Land is heading to the service, as outed by — you guessed it — the Australian Classification Board. The Game Boy pinball game stars Kirby as the ball across three themed tables, but there's a semi-story mode to progress through: each table has...
Nintendo Download 3rd May 2012 (North America)
Germs and birds
The eShop gets its cheapest game yet, a $1.99 'infinite challenge' title, and real-time strategy fans can rejoice that Intrinsic Games' molecular head-scratcher is finally out, plus the return of VC Arcade. Here's what's up and competing for your money today. 3DS eShop: Bird Mania 3D (Teyon, $1.99, 227 blocks) — Fly as far as you...
News Enclave Finally Steps Out of the Shadows on 22nd May
Twilight ingress
Originally scheduled to reach Wii way back in June 2010, Enclave: Shadows of Twilight should hit the console on 22nd May. A Wii-enhanced version of the 2003 PC original (also available on Xbox), players can now "charge into battle brandishing the Wii Remote," which will sound familiar to console veterans. Still, there's...
News GameCity Returns On 20th October with "World's Best School"
Learn a trade
Video games celebration GameCity returns to Nottingham, UK this year on 20th October with a host of big names and ambitious initiatives. GameCity director Iain Simons, councillor Nick McDonald and Eidos life president Ian Livingstone OBE all took to the stage to explain their vision for this year's festival, which for the first time...
News Nintendo Confirms E3 2012 Press Conference Date & Time
It's coming
Nintendo will host its E3 press conference on Tuesday 5th June. It'll be our first look at Nintendo's Wii U games including Pikmin 3 and Super Mario Bros., plus new games for 3DS. It all kicks off at 9am Pacific Daylight Time, which we've handily converted into these time zones for you: 9am — Pacific 12 midday — Eastern 5pm —...
News Wii U Designed to Do The Impossible
Nintendoes what Nintendidn't
While Nintendo may have struggled to explain adequately the Wii U's unique charms at E3, the machine was created with one principle in mind: to do what Wii can't. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told investors that while being an improved Wii — it does full HD output for a start — it's designed to be a brand new...
News Nintendo Games Back in Force at Game Stores
Back in One Piece
Nintendo-published games have returned to the shelves of UK retailers Game and Gamestation. Tekken 3D Prime Edition was the first game to skip the retailer in February, but is now available to buy in store or online. It's joined by fellow 3DS outing One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP and DS sequel Inazuma Eleven 2, plus Pandora
News Nintendo "Very Eager" to Help Third Party 3DS Developers
Mi casa es su casa
As we all expected, so far Nintendo's arguably made the best use of the 3DS's stereoscopic screen, but it's not all high and mighty about it — it wants to help third party developers get up to the same level. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told investors the company would happily pass on knowledge of how to leverage the 3DS...
