February2013

  • News Developer States That Wii U Woes Were a Focus At DICE

    More was spoken about cancelled games than those on the way

    A number of game developers and publishers from every corner of the globe gathered at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas earlier this week. It's essentially a networking event for developers to come together, share ideas and talk about industry trends. Naturally Wii U was spoken about a fair...

  • News New ZombiU Hardware Bundle Shuffling Towards North America

    Will cost $389.99, also includes a ZombiU art book and download of Nintendo Land

    With the Wii U launch window approaching its close and Nintendo turning attentions to boosting sales, Nintendo of America is lining up a new hardware bundle to hit stores in the U.S. and Canada on 17th February. The ZombiU Deluxe Set is notably picking up on the bundle...

  • News Miiverse Friend Requests Restricted For Gamers Aged 12 And Under

    Nintendo doing its best to protect younger users

    On Miiverse, Nintendo gamers can interact with one another and send friend requests to those they want to stay connected to - even if they do not actually know them. Nintendo has recently made a small announcement regarding the service, saying it will be restricting younger gamers from sending or...

  • News Local Multiplayer Confirmed For Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity

    There'll also be some downloadable dungeons

    The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series is venturing onto the 3DS in March with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity. Nintendo has announced some interesting news about the upcoming release, including the fact that for the first time ever, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon will have a multiplayer mode...

  • News Amazon Lists The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker HD For $59.99

    Nintendo taking the full-price route?

    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is an updated version of the GameCube classic, which may lead you to assume that Nintendo will follow the example set by HD remakes on other consoles and give the game a lower-than-usual retail price. Of course, that isn't how Nintendo works - recent 3DS remakes for The...

  • News Pikmin 3 Will Allow For GamePad-Only Play

    Bloomin' marvellous

    Nintendo's latest Q&A session with investors certainly had a few things of interest that got people talking, most notably the possibility of an additional platform on top of the company's existing systems. In the very same Q&A session, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed more information about Pikmin 3, the upcoming flowery...

  • Talking Point Wii U's Graphical Grunt is Laid Bare - Shall We Play Games Now?

    As with Wii, developer talent and creativity will be vital

    Today perhaps brings a little closure, for those inclined to allow such a thing, with details and analysis emerging of the Wii U's GPU. Since before its release Wii U has been scrutinised by some in terms of its graphical capabilities, and there are plenty of people who focus on that area...

  • News Paper Mario: Sticker Star Advert Gets Literal

    A big effort for 30 seconds

    So, there's a cool new advert for Paper Mario: Sticker Star running in North America, which some of you may have already seen. It works with the idea of representing gameplay with stop-motion animation, using paper and card for an authentic look that, to the game's credit, isn't actually a million miles away from in-game...

  • News GPU Images Reveal Wii U Graphical Power

    If you're into that sort of thing

    Since before it even hit stores, much speculation has swirled over the graphical power of the Wii U, by which we mean how many polygons, shaders and effects it can push all at once. The launch window line-up includes exclusives that look gorgeous, others that have modest visuals, as well as ports and multi-platform...

  • News Nintendo Set For Yearly High In Download Sales

    The 3DS eShop is delivering the goods

    Nintendo's recent Q&A with investors, following the third quarter financial results, has now been officially translated and published in English. Comments such as those about potential additional platforms will raise some eyebrows, but further details have revealed some less surprising news, though...

  • News Nintendo Hints At An Additional Platform In The Future

    Because Wii U and 3DS are not enough

    Nintendo recently confirmed that it would be merging its handheld and console divisions into one single entity this month. The two departments have always run separately in the past, but Nintendo now feels the time is right to bring them together under one roof. With the two departments merged, Nintendo's...

  • Feature Wii U Blockbusters - What to Play While You Wait

    If in doubt, go retro

    The start of a new Nintendo generation is always cause for excitement for many, with the promise of new entries in the company’s greatest franchises often enough to convince many to buy the system on day one. But with Wii U, Nintendo kept very quiet about its big franchises, and when the system arrived we had little idea of...

  • News Fire Emblem: Awakening Cut Down By Shipping Delay

    That eShop version is looking very attractive right now

    Fire Emblem: Awakening recently launched in North America, and if you've already consulted our review, you'll be aware that it really is a game that all 3DS owners should own. Sadly, it would appear that a manufacturer shipping delay is preventing many people from actually acquiring the game...

  • Feature Fire Emblem's Western Adventure

    From humble Japanese strategy RPG to important Western franchise

    The long arduous wait for Fire Emblem: Awakening is almost over. North Americans will be getting hold of it on 4th February while Europeans, whose patience must be more enduring, will have it in April. Naturally, Japan has had the title for over a year now. Fire Emblem is a tactical...

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Sales Outpacing Super Mario Galaxy's In First Year

    Mix of 2D and 3D appealed greatly in Japan

    Nintendo President Satoru Iwata held a Corporate Management Policy Briefing recently in which he explained how the video game market had begun to contract in recent years, meaning hardware and software sales were flagging. There has been some cause for optimism this week, though, with the revelation that...

  • News Nintendo Is Strengthening Development Teams, Defends Wii U Capabilities

    Unannounced games slated for late 2013

    Following this week's financial reports, Nintendo had its standard Q&A session with investors to discuss the results and business plans. The full transcript has been published in Japanese but, at the time of writing, the English translation is yet to arrive. Thankfully, NeoGaf member farnham has translated...

January2013

  • News Nintendo Plans To Make It Easier For Developers To Share Their Assets Between Platforms

    Expanding developer capabilities with technology like Unity, JavaScript and HTML5

    Nintendo President Satoru Iwata recently held a financial briefing with investors that wasn't exactly brimming with good news for the company. Iwata-san revealed that Nintendo recorded an operating loss of 5.85 billion Yen in the nine month period and spoke about a...

  • News Latest Figures Show The Video Game Market Is Contracting

    Satoru Iwata briefs investors and reveals many challenges for the industry

    Nintendo is certainly having a good old time in Japan. The 3DS is dominating hardware sales in the region, so much so it has already surpassed the 10 million sales mark. However, things aren't looking as rosy in the overseas markets, namely the US and Europe, where Nintendo's...

  • News Wii U Price Cut Isn't in Nintendo's Plans

    Iwata: "I would like to make this point absolutely clear"

    Following the announcement of the latest financial results for Nintendo, Satoru Iwata addressed a number of issues in a subsequent briefing, some of which we've already reported. Naturally, Wii U was a major part of the presentation, with data presented by the Nintendo President that showed...

  • Preview Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

    We ain't afraid of no ghost!

    There’s no denying that the 3DS was somewhat overshadowed by the Wii U during the holiday period and that it didn't quite have the packed software line-up it had enjoyed back in late 2011. Aside from Paper Mario: Sticker Star there wasn't a great deal for us to sink our teeth into, and things were made worse when the...

  • News Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training Arrives in Europe on 12th April

    Our old brains will need to wait

    While Brain Age: Concentration Training will encourage youthful and focused brains in North America soon, it seems Europeans will need to wait until 12th April. Snappily titled Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training: Can You Stay Focused? in the region, it will arrive as both a physical and downloadable retail...

  • News Nintendo's Financial Results Bring Operational Losses But Overall Profit

    Wii U sales to date pass three million

    Nintendo has today published its quarterly financial results, which cover the nine months up to the end of December. In terms of the baseline figures that concern shareholders the outcome is disappointing if not a disaster, while sales of hardware seem to be in reasonable shape. Wii U is reported to have...

  • Feature Reimagining The Wind Waker on Wii U

    The possibilities are exciting

    Leaving Nintendo’s Space World presentation in 2001, few would have imagined that of all the games shown, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker would become a watershed moment for the company. Panned by some fans and critics alike for its cel-shaded look, the game has since arguably become a symbol of how to create a...

  • News Pokémon Black and White 2 Claims Top Spot for Japan in 2012

    A year to remember for Nintendo's handheld business

    Media Create, the most trusted source for the weekly hardware and software charts in Japan, has released details of the top selling games in the region for the whole of 2012. As anyone who follows our regular posts on the weekly Japanese chart will know, Nintendo's been having a good time in its...

  • Feature Nintendo at Sundance - Short Films, Brain Training and Wii Fit U

    A trip to the movies

    Once every year, the most creative minds in the film industry gather in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival to showcase their talents to celebrities and movie-goers alike. Not to be outdone, in an era where the line separating film and video games continues to blur, Nintendo of America joined in the fun to show off the...