June2011
Features A View from Hyrule Field
We remember why Ocarina of Time is more than just a game
As we move through life, we will at times look back fondly at memories that we hold dear. And, as gamers, many of us merge recollections of the virtual world with those of reality. Some titles simply bring the right elements together in the perfect way, making this feel natural, normal,...
First Impressions Mario Kart (3DS)
Mario Kart goes 3D!
The Mario Kart titles have become a staple of Nintendo's consoles and handheld systems over the past 19 years, so the fact that a new game is being released for Nintendo's new 3DS system comes as no real surprise. What does come as a surprise is how many new ideas the developers have injected into this newest rendition and the...
News We May Have 8-Player Online with Mario Kart 3DS
Bring on the competition!
There will be a number of new features in the upcoming Mario Kart for 3DS, and if all goes according to plan, an increase in the number of players competing against each other online will be one of them. Mario Kart DS featured four-player online and Nintendo is looking to double this figure with the 3DS instalment. The game...
News Nintendo Website May Be Victim of Phishing Scam
Nothing to do with overpaying for haddock
Nintendo's European website may be the victim of a phishing scam as investigations are underway to determine the severity of the situation. Until further notice, certain parts of the site have been shut down while Nintendo investigates. Taken from the online notice that's posted on the website, Nintendo...
News Following Wii U Unveiling, Nintendo Shares Drop 10%
Iwata: "It's very strange."
Much like the 3DS, Nintendo is adamant that Wii U has to be seen and experienced first-hand if it is to be understood. Could this be the reason why Nintendo shares took a plunge following the new console's announcement at E3? In the two days following Nintendo's E3 conference on Tuesday, shares dropped by almost 10...
First Impressions Luigi's Mansion 2 (3DS)
Busting makes Luigi feel good
It's hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since the release of the original Luigi's Mansion, but fans of the game can certainly attest to the lengthy wait. Now, with the announcement of Luigi's Mansion 2, Nintendo is bringing back Mario's spooked brother and this time with a wealth of new gameplay touches and...
Everything you need to know about the 3DS eShop, internet browser and DSi transfer functionality
For those who bought their 3DS on launch day there was some disappointment. The eShop, internet browser and the ability to transfer DSiWare games and data were unavailable, promised in a ‘late May’ update. The update slid to early June, but it's...
News Miyamoto: "3DS Could Be a Convenient Wii U Controller"
Ah, the possibilities
With Nintendo considering the prospect of making Wii U games that use more than one of the new controllers, it's apparently possible that we could even be using the 3DS as an additional controller too. During E3 2011, Shigeru Miyamoto was asked by Switched On whether gamers would be able to use two of the touch pad Wii U...
News Looks Like That Red 3DS is Releasing in Japan
Score one for late adopters
Underwhelmed by the shimmery Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black launch colors of the 3DS? Perhaps you were holding out for a handheld with a little more fire on the outside? Nintendo is set to kill two of your birds with one color by making official the new 3DS colour dubbed Flare Red. The new colour will launch in Japan on 14th...
News Wii U Uses 25GB Discs and Lacks GameCube Compatibility
Good news, bad news?
Along with the unveiling of Wii U at E3, Nintendo subsequently revealed further details regarding the technical specifications of the console. There is, however, plenty we still don't know about Wii U and with a scheduled launch in 2012, we can expect these unknowns to be revealed slowly like a season of Lost. A couple of things...
News Wii U Games Using Two New Controllers Being Considered
The more the merrier, right?
For all the questions that Nintendo's appearance at E3 2011 answered, many more new ones have arisen. Nintendo EAD designer Katsuya Eguchi is working on a five-player Wii U prototype game that utilises just the one Wii U controller and four regular Wii Remotes and Nunchuks. Is this because the Wii U controller will have...
News Wii U Hopes to Rectify Problems that Wii is Experiencing
Terms like "core" and "casual" pop up, again
Without getting into semantics, the Nintendo Wii was and still is a huge success. With all the people that the console managed to please, there's naturally a percentage of people it failed to win over. With Nintendo's next console, the company hopes to fix several issues that come as a result of being...
First Impressions Super Mario 3D (3DS)
Super Mario comes to life in full 3D
After the mammoth success of the two Super Mario Galaxy titles on the Wii, we had to know that a new Super Mario title was in the works for Nintendo's new 3DS system. While we received very little in the way of information when the game was first announced, Nintendo wasn't the least bit shy when it came time to...
Talking Point What's in a Console Colour?
Hardware colour is crucial in getting your message across. What will Café don?
In today’s gadget-obsessed world, design is key. How a new piece of tech looks and feels communicates wonders about what type of product it is and the experiences it hopes to bring to the table. Form is important, but colour makes the most immediate impression:...
Talking Point Where Nintendo Went Wrong with the DSi Shop
And how the eShop can fix it
The imminent launch of the eShop on the 3DS is eagerly anticipated, especially as it is arriving over two months after the launch of the device. Nintendo has gone to great effort to emphasise that the delay will be worth it, with assurances of compelling content and a high quality interface. There has been...
News Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge Coming to 3DS VC
After 20 years, Wily's still got beef to settle
Looks like North America will be getting one of the Japanese eShop launch titles soon, according to an Entertainment Software Rating Board classification. A quick search on the ESRB website for Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge brings up a rating page that confirms the Game Boy classic is headed for North...
News Sony President Thinks 3DS is Just an Updated DS
Aside from the 3D, same old same old, apparently
It seems Sony executives still don't appear too wowed by Nintendo's 3DS, despite both sides acknowledging that different demographics are being targeted by each company's handheld system. Is this a lack of sportsmanship, or a genuine lack of excitement? Sony Computer Entertainment president Shuhei...
News 3DS Users Will Soon Have 25,000 Hotspots to Connect To
Wi-Fi coverage gets super-sized in the United States
Remember when Nintendo said that thanks to its collaboration with communications firm AT&T, there would be 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots available throughout the United States? Well, that number just got even higher. Through an extended agreement with AT&T, 3DS users will have access to nearly...
News Alleyway Bouncing to 3DS VC
ESRB rating outs eShop release
Nintendo and Intelligent Systems's 1989 Game Boy-based Breakout clone Alleyway is making its way to the 3DS Virtual Console, outed by a recent ESRB rating. If you've ever played Arkanoid or any number of brick-breaker games, you should know what to expect here. The ESRB's descripton is as follows: This is an action...
News Canadian 3DS Summer Tour Details
Join in the fun
Nintendo is about to kick off its 3DS Summer Tour this month in Canada, allowing attendees to try out the console and sample a variety of new titles. Trucks kitted out with 3DS consoles will be stopping by Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario where gamers can have a go on the 3DS built-in software like Face Raiders, the AR...
May2011
News Mario and Link Make eShop Cards Look Good
Is this to trick us into buying more?
With the worldwide 3DS system update just around the corner, Nintendo still hasn't officially announced what the new prepaid cards will look like, and as Japanese gamers start snapping theirs up, we can't help but think: "The eShop Cards in Japan look cool!" In revamping its virtual currency system,...
Talking Point Should Nintendo Try to Recapture 'Hardcore' Gamers?
What is hardcore anyway?
In recent weeks the internet has been overloaded with rumours about Nintendo’s next home console, the successor to the phenomenally successful Wii. The rumours followed the usual pattern; anonymous sources said it was coming, speculation raged, ideas about the console started to find a level of consistency, and finally...
News Xenoblade Chronicles' Alternative Cover has been Decided
Is it the one you chose?
It's a shame that companies don't decorate games with alternative sleeve covers more often as it's a great way to introduce more artwork and a level of customisation to gamers. It's a good thing that Nintendo and Monolith Soft are into that sort of thing. Nintendo of Europe recently supplied four pieces of artwork for gamers...
News Ocarina of Time 3D is a Smoother Experience than Before
Both visually and control-wise
Zelda fans worldwide are surely counting down the days until the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D; with just just three days separating the game's release in Japan, North America and Europe, adventure fans will do well to dust off their shields and sharpen their wooden swords in anticipation of Link's...
News Miyamoto: We Want to Create Meaningful Download Games
How much they'll cost still undecided
With Nintendo's announcement that the eShop and other services will be available to download from 6th June came a sense of relief that the date had finally been finalised. Besides, even if it is a little bit later than originally planned, what's another week or so? The kind of software and features we'll be...
























