News Nintendo: Indie Developers are 'Definitely Important' on 3DS
Independently speaking
Nintendo 3DS's eShop has seen quite a lot of action from independent developers since its launch, with the likes of VVVVVV, Bomb Monkey and Zen Pinball 3D gracing the service so far, to name just a few. It's a trend that Nintendo is keen to continue. Speaking to VG247, Nintendo UK marketing manager Ben Tayl
News Full 3DS Retail Downloads Have Teething Troubles
Bandwidth buster
Full retail games can now be downloaded to Nintendo 3DS in Japan, but there was a problem or two early on. Nintendo's online service page reported server troubles on the eShop shortly after launch, though it's now been fixed. Andriasang reports that the eShop issues came between 9:00am and 11:30am on the service's launch day. It...
First Impressions New Super Mario Bros. 2
Master of coin
New Super Mario Bros. 2 feels like any of the other games in the New sub-series. The look of it, the audio, the themes of the worlds – they're all safe, familiar comfort blankets that hit the same beats as the rest of the family. That is, until you encounter the central focus that Nintendo is betting its coin on: this time, Mario...
News Take a Look at These Nintendo DS Testing Machines
Plastic breach
Readers of a nervous disposition, turn away now — the following images of Nintendo DS testing may prove disturbing. Nintendo has published its 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility report, which contains several images of portable console torture. The report shows off some of the vigorous tests that Nintendo hardware goes through to...
News Namco's Harada: Smash Bros. Design is Sakurai's Job
Super Smash Boss
If you're worried that Namco Bandai's involvement in the next Super Smash Bros. will mean an influx of Tekken characters, fear not. Tekken series director Katsuhiro Harada says that usual Smash main man Masahiro Sakurai remains in control of design. Harada assured Dusty Cartridge that he is focused on Tekken — including upcoming...
News Toki Tori Hatches on European eShop Next Week
Is it cheep enough?
Two Tribes' platform puzzler Toki Tori is chirruping its way into the European 3DS eShop next week. It was originally released on Game Boy Color in 2001; if you missed it back then, here's your chance to see what all the squawking was about. The concept is the same as the WiiWare version. You join the titular chick on a mission...
News The Last Blade Sharpens Up for European Wii Virtual Console
Unsheathed
The Last Blade is finally slicing down onto the European Wii Virtual Console on 2nd August. That means you've got a week to make sure your swords are sharpened up before it's released. The 2D fighter thrusts you into the Bakumatsu era of Japanese history. You can choose between two different sword types per character, so it's up to you...
News Mole Mania Burrows onto US eShop Tomorrow
Can you dig it?
North America's 8-Bit Summer promotion continues to heat up 3DS' Virtual Console — tomorrow you'll be able to dig into Game Boy puzzler Mole Mania. Mole Mania originally came out in North America in 1997. Shigeru Miyamoto was producer on the puzzle game, in which you push, pull and throw a black ball around to help Muddy Mole work...
News Here's a Freakyforms Deluxe Launch Trailer
I told you I was freaky
If the mere idea of creating hilarious beasts doesn't entice you to try Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive!, maybe this launch trailer will help. The expanded retail version of the 3DS eShop game is arriving alongside 3DS XL on 28th July in Europe. Just like the download-only original, you'll be able to play at Dr...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 was Once Called NSMB Gold
Gold digger
The latest edition of Iwata Asks is out now, and it focuses on 3DS's next goldmine: New Super Mario Bros. 2. This time Nintendo global president Satoru Iwata is joined by director Yusuke Amano, art director Masaaki Ishikawa and, arriving fashionably late, EAD general manager Takashi Tezuka. Apparently Mario's latest adventure is so...
News Go Behind the Scenes of Disney Epic Mickey 2's Story
Power paintbrush
Disney Interactive has given us a peek at the story writing process behind Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. But just a little one — you wouldn't want any surprises spoiled now, would you? Junction Point creative director Warren Spector and senior designer Brian Freyermuth speak of their excitement at Marv Wolfman joining...
News Bonsai Barber is a Snip at 150 Coins on US Club Nintendo
Hairing to go
There's some vegetation in need of a trim if you pop over to the North American Club Nintendo page right now. Bonsai Barber is the latest reward in the program, listed for just 150 coins. Zoonami's bizarre WiiWare barber simulator takes Mario Tennis' spot and will be available until 5th August. Read our Bonsai Barber review if you're...
News Get a Double Helping of Cooking Mama With New Combo Packs
Well done
Sometimes just one serving isn't enough. Majesco understands that, so it's pulled together a few Cooking Mama double-game packs for Wii and DS. They're currently only announced for North America. For starters there's a pair of DS appetisers. Mama’s Combo Pack Volume 1 is a stew of the original Cooking Mama and Camping Mama: Outdoor...
News FIFA Producer: Wii U Potential is "Pretty Exciting"
Goal?
FIFA 13 hasn't been announced for Wii U yet, but during an interview about the game and the future of the series, FIFA executive producer David Rutter expressed interest in the potential of Wii U GamePad, labelling it "pretty exciting". CVG asked Rutter if he found Wii U interesting and received an enthusiastic response in return. Rutter is...
News WayForward is Making a Hotel Transylvania Tie-In Game
Such a lovely place
To coincide with the upcoming release of Sony Pictures Animation's animated comedy Hotel Transylvania, GameMill Entertainment has announced a 3DS / DS game of the same name. Don't look so terrified — WayForward is on development duties. We're promised a wide variety of locations, puzzles and boss battles, but that's about all...
News Vigil: Darksiders II Uses Wii U GamePad in "Interesting Ways"
But deathly silent for now
We're all a bit in the dark about just what Darksiders II will be doing with Wii U GamePad. So far we only know that it'll be used for an easy access inventory — but according to the game's lead designer, there's more to come. Speaking to our sister site Push Square this weekend, Vigil Games' Haydn Dalton implied that...
News Level-5's Fantasy Life Living it up With Official Website
What a life
The official website for Level-5 / Brownie Brown RPG Fantasy Life has finally burst into existence. The website can be found here. It's all in Japanese, but if you pop over there you can at least see some new screens and artwork that show off the town and avatar system. Much of the information was also published in Japanese magazine...
News Dot Runner Comes to the US eShop 26th July
Eat up
Get ready to devour some dots when Dot Runner: Complete Edition is released on the North American eShop next week. It's a follow-up, of sorts, to the rather excellent DSiWare title GO Series: Picdun; it's known as Dot Eater New Picdun in Japan. You've got to trample through 100 stages gobbling up all the orbs and destroying any enemies in...
News Grab Your Kirby 20th Anniversary Puzzle Swap Piece Now
Hiii!
If you're a Kirby fan, you'll want to check the blue SpotPass light that's blinking on your 3DS today. Nintendo has released a brand new Puzzle Swap panel to celebrate the upcoming release of Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition on Wii. Internet-connected 3DS systems will receive a SpotPass message informing them of the new treat. With...
News Streets of Rage Gets Real in Fan Movie
Street art
If you like Streets of Rage and have 23 minutes to spare, grab some popcorn and make yourself comfortable. Some ambitious fans have brought the series to life with the magic of street fighting, fireworks and YouTube. The video follows Axel Stone as he swaggers through the streets, punishing any thugs that dare to threaten him and kicking...
News Pokémon Orchestra is Suitably Epic
Gotta compose 'em all
The Pokémon franchise has always been home to some quality music, but one fan has taken it to another level. Over the last couple of years Braxton "Skotein" Burks has been putting together orchestral versions of some of the series' best loved tunes to super effect. Burks is currently working with Joypad Records to release a...
Review Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition (WiiWare)
Hopping mad
Frogger reached its 30th anniversary last year so, as is tradition for gaming birthdays, Konami has marched out a new edition of the arcade classic. Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition sets out to bring multiplayer and new play styles to the franchise, but it's not quite all it's croaked up to be. It's split up into eight modes – six game...
News First Kart Krashers DSiWare Trailer Skids In
Krash out
Big John Games' Kart Krashers is speeding onto DSiWare and the 3DS eShop later this summer. Unlike many kart racers it's a single player affair; your aim is to charge through 10 courses looking for stars and smashing up any obstacles in your way. Grab enough points and you might just earn some Golden Wheels. Check out the first trailer...
News NetherRealm Still Unsure About Injustice's Wii U Features
Indecision
NetherRealm's DC Universe fighter Injustice: Gods Among Us has already been confirmed for Wii U — but the team isn't yet sure what to do with the unique features of Wii U GamePad. Speaking to Polygon, creative director and Mortal Kombat master Ed Boon said that the game will share the same features across every platform, but also...
