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 Joins The Cloud for UK 3DS WiFi Coverage
5,000 new hotspots
The 3DS's innovative SpotPass service — where the console automatically downloads content as you carry it around — is contingent on there being easily discoverable, unsecured WiFi access. While gamers in North America have access to 10,000 AT&T hotspots, there's been no such deal for the UK — until now. Nintendo UK will...
News de Blob Developer Blue Tongue Shuts Up Shop
This is sad
Australian studio Blue Tongue Entertainment — creators of the ludicrously enjoyable de Blob games — has been closed by owner THQ. The original Wii-exclusive adventure was critically and commercially well-received — it scored an 8/10 in our de Blob review — and the team moved on to produce a sequel for Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360. de...
Rumour MTV Has Release Dates for Mario 3DS Outings
Salt at the ready
Nintendo's press release this morning for the Flame Red 3DS launch mentioned upcoming titles but only stuck to its vague November and December windows for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Now the MTV Multiplayer blog thinks it has the exact North American release dates. The blog puts Mario's 3D platformer out on 13th November...
News Flame Red 3DS Reaches North America on 9th September
Hot stuff?
You knew it would happen sooner or later: the snazzy Flare Red 3DS console is leaving Japan and coming to North America next month. The new colour machine — renamed to Flame Red — launches on 9th September alongside Star Fox 64 3D, with retailers and publishers re-pledging their support for the console in advance of its price cut. Are...
News Walmart Already Selling 3DS for $169.99, But Be Quick
Won't last forever
On 12th August Nintendo of America officially drops the price of 3DS to $169.99, and is compensating anyone who bought the machine at its earlier, higher price with 20 free Virtual Games from the eShop. What if there was a way to get both — the cheaper console and free games? Could you have your cake and eat it? The answer is...
News EA Totally Confident in Wii U Online Functions
Digs controller too
Electronic Arts' chief operating officer Peter Moore has been around the block once or twice in this industry. He first came to gamers' attention at SEGA of America before he moved to spearhead Microsoft's Xbox and Xbox 360, and he was recently promoted to COO of the company after being president of its EA Sports division. He's...
Competition This Zelda Drawing Video Will Help With Your Flipnote
More than that, we can't say
Yesterday we told you about the Legend of Zelda Flipnote Studio competition, and if you're struggling to get a grasp on sketching the Hero of Time this instructional video might help you out. The video shows how to draw Link in his classic adult look as well as the more divisive Toon Link style, and should help improve...
Rumour Punch-Out!! and Three Marios Join Nintendo Selects
Range extended
According to Kotaku's retail sources, the Wii's budget Nintendo Selects range will get boosted with four new titles in the coming weeks. Super Paper Mario, Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Strikers Charged and Punch-Out!! will join the line-up of $19.99 games later this month. We'll have more as we get it.
News Let's Play Xenoblade Chronicles Channel Reaches YouTube
Rubbing it in some more
European Wii owners can buy Xenoblade Chronicles next week. They can play it on their Wii consoles, without modification or anything like that: just put the disc in, pick up a pad, off they go. North American gamers though... well, they're not so lucky. You know what would take some of the sting out of that, though? How about...
News EnjoyUp Promotes DSiWare Games with New Video
Also in the eShop
EnjoyUp has a decent array of games available to buy in the DSi Shop and 3DS eShop, but it's no good having them if people don't know about them, right? Good job this new video sums up the company's line-up so neatly, then. Featuring innovative retro shooter 99Bullets, red hot Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ and sibling...
News 3DS Ambassador Titles Earn You Club Nintendo Coins Too
Just keeps getting better
We continue to update our 3DS Ambassador and free eShop games FAQ but in case you missed it, the latest update is that Club Nintendo members in North America will be able to earn coins from the free Virtual Console games. Nintendo confirmed that anyone who links their 3DS eShop account and Club Nintendo account will be...
Feature Staff Roundtable - Metroid's Past, Present and Future
Primed and ready
25 years ago, Nintendo released the original Metroid on the world, kicking off a franchise that has hit incredible highs and suffered the odd low point too. Here news editor James Newton is joined by reviewers Jacob Crites and Thomas Whitehead to discuss the series, its heritage and where it might go in the future. James Newton:...
Competition Zelda Developers Want to Judge Your Zelda Flipnotes
So make 'em good
Last year Nintendo celebrated Mario's 25th anniversary with a Flipnote Studio competition. This year it's celebrating Zelda's 25th anniversary with a Flipnote Studio competition. It's nothing if not consistent. As with last year's effort, Nintendo wants you to use its DSiWare animation tool Flipnote Studio to create a short skit...
News Try to Escape from Makatu in North America on 18th August
Acclaimed title crosses the pond
DSiWare gets new games every week, but not all of them are worth your hard-earned Points — that's why we review every single one of them, of course. One of the better titles to reach the service this year is Zoonies - Escape from Makatu, which is heading to North America on 18th August in both the DSi Shop and 3DS...
News Zelda Anniversary Site Launches, Has Awesome Wallpaper
Pick your favourite
The Zelda 25th anniversary celebrations are in full swing now, what with the Zelda symphony London tickets on sale now, and Nintendo has just launched an official website for the shindig too. There's a graphical depiction of how Link's design has changed over the years, along with links to all his main-series appearances to date:...
Nintendo Download 11th August 2011 (Europe)
Back with a vengeance
A small download this week with four titles reaching European shores. Wii owners get nothing sadly, with the Wii Virtual Console drought stretching to two months now. 3DS Virtual Console: Avenging Spirit (Game Boy, JALECO, £2.70/€3) — You play a murdered gangster out to rescue his girl. Luckily your ghostly form can...
News Pixel, Team Ninja and More Join Metroid 25th Celebrations
All in one video
We've been having our own Metroid anniversary celebrations here at Nintendo Life, inviting your Metroid memories as well as reviews of every Metroid game. Metroid fansite Shinesparkers put together a special video containing tributes from community members as well as Cave Story creator Daisuke
Talking Point Your 25 Years of Metroid Memories
Charge your beaming smiles
Today is the 25th anniversary of Metroid and we want to know your favourite Metroid moments. Do you remember the first time you faced off against Ridley? Touching down on Tallon IV for the first time in Metroid Prime? Whatever your favourite moments and memories of Metroid, we want to know. Leave them in a comment below...
News Metroid Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Today
A quarter-century of hunting bounties
25 years ago today, 6th August, Samus Aran took her very first steps into the gaming world in Metroid on the NES, and she never looked back. To celebrate we have a great week of content planned, but for now let's recap on some of our past Metroid coverage. Want to know which game rises above the rest? We have...
News Europe, Your Spirit Will Avenge on 3DS VC Soon
Get your dollface
Jaleco's Avenging Spirit is the next 3DS Virtual Console game to hit Europe; its spectre will inhabit the service and start knocking things over on 11th August. For £2.70/€3,00 you'll be able to relive the story of a murdered mobster out for revenge in ghostly form, taking hold of 20 different creatures as you try to rescue your...
News Join Forces With this Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Trailer
Level up
We're not far from Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, so it's time to take a look at the plot that drives Square Enix's spin-off from the ever-popular RPG series. Islands, monsters and statistics are the order of the day as usual, but with a twist: you can recruit monsters to fight alongside you in this sub-series, lending a new twist to the...
News Super Mario Converse High-Tops Let You Jump Real High
(May not be true)
Converse high-top sneakers are iconic. Super Mario Bros. is iconic. Combine the two, and you get an iconoblast. These four officially licensed pairs of Mario sneakers might be a little garish for some wardrobes, but if you've ever wanted World 1-1 on your feet then they're your best hope, as long as you live in Japan or don't mind...
News Nintendo DS Sales Figures Make Wii's Look Tiny
More big numbers
The Nintendo Annual Report Wii sales figures were impressive, weren't they? 86m Wii consoles sold with over 716m games sold as well. The DS sales figures dwarf those big numbers, though. Worldwide, the DS family of consoles — that's DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL/LL of course — has shifted a massive 146.42m units. An estimated...
News Codemasters Lining Up Formula 1 for Wii U Grid
Push Button's buttons
Codemasters is known for its racing games, and while it was announced at E3 that the studio's well-respected Dirt rally franchise is on the way to Wii U, its flashier equivalent F1 is racing to the new console too. CEO Rod Cousens told MCV that both its flagship racers will be making the move to Wii U, and gave his support to...
