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 Intelligent Systems Rejected Modern-Day Fire Emblem Idea
Gunfire Emblem?
As we prepare for Fire Emblem: Awakening to reach the Western world, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata sat down with some of the game's development staff to discuss this latest entry in the tactical fantasy series. Producer Hitoshi Yamagami and project manager Higuchi Masahiro began discussing the 3DS instalment while working on 2010's...
News These PokéPark Trailers are Too Silly Not to Share
Music maestro
The only thing better than a Pokémon theme tune? Three Pokémon theme tunes, of course. Nintendo UK's hit the jackpot with this trio of tunes to celebrate the upcoming European release of PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond this Friday. The videos even have lyrics so you can happily sing along to tunes of unbelievable heroism from the...
Rumour Vectorman May Finally Come to Virtual Console
Rated Down Under
Fed up with never completing the epic storyline of SEGA's Vectorman series on Virtual Console? You may be able to play series closer Vectorman 2 on Virtual Console in the near future. The good old Australian Classification Board has rated Vectorman 2 for "multiple platforms". Virtual Console may be included in that — we...
News Looks Like Namco Wants to Sell You One Piece SP 2
Rating out
Remember the controversy when the localised version of One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP only came with half the content of its Japanese counterpart? People weren't happy. Stand by to relive those emotions. The Australian Classification Board has rated One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP 2 for sale, so it's very likely we'll get the second part...
Rumour Epic Mickey 2 Heading for 3DS
Or is a powerful illusion
We're almost certainly going to see Disney Epic Mickey 2 revealed next week, but on what platforms? According to the Twitter account of the French Official Nintendo Magazine, the mouse is coming to 3DS. The account tweeted the title Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion for 3DS, saying to look out for more details next week...
News New Film "100 Yen" Looks at Japan's Arcade History
Insert coin
A new documentary exploring Japan's still-thriving arcade scene is about to hit the 'net. 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience — a reference to the nationwide shortage of 100 Yen coins following the release of the original Space Invaders — investigates what's helped Japanese arcades stay alive, while those in the West have all-but...
News Rollercoaster Tycoon 3DS Springs Back Into Life
Out this season
The appropriately up-again-down-again fortunes of Rollercoaster Tycoon 3D are heading up again: developer n-Space has announced the game should be out this Spring. In fact, as Spring starts today, that gives us a fairly large three month window of expectation. Last month we revealed Rollercoaster Tycoon 3D had hit the skids, but it...
News UK PokéPark Treasure Hunt Set for Saturday
Toys 'r' you
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond launches in Europe this week, and Nintendo UK is kicking off the party with a treasure hunt this Saturday. The Toys 'R' Us store at Brents Cross will host the expedition on 24th March, starting at 10am. Be one of the first 25 people to find toys of the game's four playable Pokémon — that's Oshawott, Tepig,...
News GameStop Starts Selling eShop Download Codes
Lots in store
Want to download Pushmo or Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins but don't want to type your credit card details into the 3DS? GameStop has started selling DLC codes for both games through its website and stores. GameStop.com lets you purchase a digital redeem code for either game at exactly the same price it'd cost you through the eShop...
News Johnny Kung Fu for eShop Goes All Game & Watch
Bleep blorp
UFO Interactive's supporting the 3DS eShop pretty heavily: it's already released Samurai Sword Destiny and has Zombie Slayer Diox lined up for this week. It's got another project in the works in the old-school shape of Johnny Kung Fu. The side-scrolling beat 'em up has a stage based on the classic Game & Watch LCD display, where...
Nintendo Download 22nd March 2012 (Europe)
The doctor is in
No Game Gear games for Europe this week sadly as we have a truly paltry selection available to download. Here's what's on offer. 3DS Virtual Console: Dr. Mario (Game Boy, Nintendo, £2.70/€3) — The monochromatic medicinal puzzler slots in to the 3DS Virtual Console line-up this week. Is it good for what ails you? Our review soon...
Exclusive Tons of PAL WiiWare Demos to Return This Month
And they're here to stay
In January Nintendo of America reinstated all previous WiiWare demos while Europe looked on enviously. Well, readers in PAL regions, your time is coming. An inside source has confirmed to us that previously removed WiiWare demos will be reinstated for users in PAL regions before the end of the month. Not only that, whereas...
News SEGA: "Sonic VC Games Will Stay in Europe"
Good news, everyone
Last week we reported that SEGA is dropping four Sonic games from the Japanese Virtual Console, and naturally our thoughts turned to if and how this would affect users outside Japan. We've now heard back from SEGA Europe with good news. A SEGA representative confirmed that these removals "will not affect Europe, only...
Feature The Life and Times of SEGA's Game Gear
Black beauty
Ask any gamer of a certain age which handheld they grew up with and the overwhelming response will be "Game Boy". Long before the Pokémon explosion of the late 90s, Nintendo's portable dominated the competition — not even closest competitor SEGA could upset the balance with the release of its Game Gear in the early part of...
News Nintendo Leaves BAFTA Empty-Handed
Not a Tanooki statue in sight
Last night saw the GAME British Academy Video Game Awards in London, with Nintendo's brightest and best up for several awards. Shame the Big N didn't actually win any, then. Arguably the biggest upset came in the Mobile & Handheld Game category, where iPad title Peggle HD beat Super Mario 3D Land to take the title...
News SEGA Drops Four Sonic Games from Japanese VC
Are we next?
SEGA is taking four Sonic games off the Virtual Console in Japan. The Mega Drive/Genesis games Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic & Knuckles will all be removed from sale on 30th March, along with Sonic the Hedgehog on Master System. There's currently no word on whether these games will re
News Catch the BAFTA Awards Live Stream Tonight
Will Zelda or Mario win?
Tonight you can watch the 2012 GAME British Academy Video Game Awards live online through the magic of streaming. Zelda and Mario are up for multiple BAFTA awards and you can see how they get on over at the BAFTA website. The event starts at 9pm UK time — that's 10pm CET, 4pm Eastern and 1pm Pacific. Here's the full list...
News Arc Style: Soccer!! 3D Shoots, Scores on 29th March
3D dribbling
Arc System Works' Arc Style: Soccer!! 3D is two weeks away from slotting its first effort past the eShop goalkeeper. Or, in English, the 3D soccer game will hit the 3DS eShop in North America on 29th March. The sporty download will set you back $6.99 and includes the ability to customise players and kits, use your own photograph for a...
News Rayman Origins 3DS Pushed Back in Europe
Summer date
Ubisoft's pushed the 3DS version of Rayman Origins back to June for Europe. The platformer was originally supposed to be released today but instead Ubi's now put an 8th June release date on the platformer. No reason for the delay has been given. Over in North America, Nintendo.com still lists the game for 20th March but there's no...
News Game & Watch Gallery 2 Coming to Japan
Having a ball
What comes after Game & Watch Gallery? If you said Game & Watch Gallery 2, you get a cookie. The Japanese Virtual Console service gets the second compilation next week, retailing for 400 Yen. The original game was released on Game Boy and later revamped for Game Boy Color in the West, but as Japan only got the black and white...
News Samus and Link Suits Pop Up in Dynasty Warriors Vs.
Suits you
Tecmo Koei's next Dynasty Warriors game for 3DS, Dynasty Warriors Vs., features some interesting sartorial options for discerning Nintendo fans. The Japan-only scrapper lets you dress up as Link or Samus in her Zero Suit. They're included on the cart, but you'll have to get far enough in the tutorial mode to unlock them. Note that these...
News eShop Welcomes You With Update Notifications
Come in, sit down
Those exhausting days of opening the eShop, heading over to settings and scrolling through your download list to see if any of your purchased games have received updates are over. Power up the eShop now and, if any updates for your games are available, you'll be met with a message telling you exactly that; it's then a simple tap to...
Review Samurai Shodown IV (Neo Geo)
Another victoly
It's only taken 18 months since Samurai Shodown III for the fourth instalment, Samurai Shodown IV, to reach Virtual Console in Europe. As part of something of a Neo Geo resurgence following King of Fighters '97, Sam Sho IV is another strong addition to VC's fighter library. SSIV takes the basic three strengths of slash from its pre
News A Kid Icarus Tournament Winner Is Draenmhar
First past the post
Nintendo of America's nationwide Kid Icarus: Uprising tournament kicked off in San Francisco yesterday, with the mysteriously-named Draenmhar D. emerging victorious in the heat to win a trip to New York for the final. As you can see in his photo here he's pretty pleased with his victory, but one thing bothers us Draenmhar: why...
