January2010

  • News Two More WiiWare Demos for Lucky Japan

    Phoenix Wright and Pokémon for Japanese Wiis

    It appears that Nintendo are continuing to back the new WiiWare demo service, as they have added two new titles: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Aim! Light Adventure Team and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Although different in nature, both titles offer a massive amount of entertainment, whether it be rescuing...

December2009

  • Nintendo Download 5th & 6th January 2010 (Japan)

    A quiet start to the new year.

    The Japanese Wii and DSi shops have seen some massive updates this past year much to the envy of 'net-reading Wii owners in other territories, but Nintendo are taking it easy at home with a mere handful of releases to start 2010. WiiWare: Boku wa Plarail Untenshi (1000pts - Takara Tomy) -- This is an example of a...

  • News Online Mario Multiplayer May Happen Down the Line

    Miyamoto not ruling it out

    A feature requested by fans and ultimately denied for New Super Mario Bros. Wii was online multiplayer, which would have been a potential new way to get angry at your friends for stealing all of the stupid Ice Flowers when they clearly don't need more than one. Official Nintendo Magazine UK asked series creator Shigeru...

  • Nintendo Download 28 December 2009 (North America)

    Ten new games to celebrate the advent of 2010!

    Nintendo have updated their weekly North American downloads for the last time in 2009, and the year is going out with a corker of an update! Not only is Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth out today but also PilotWings to boot for Virtual Console fans. This is in addition to eight other ones released...

  • News Poketunes: Translated Interview with Heart Gold and Soul Silver Sound Team

    Musical discussions and a few curious tidbits

    In Japan on 28th October 2009, the soundtrack for the newest Pokémon titles, Heart Gold and Soul Silver, was released. The three CD set came with a booklet containing various details and a six page interview with the sound team. Pokémon fansite Dogasu's Backpack has translated the interview in full...

  • News Intel in Talks with Nintendo

    Hope to build Larrabee into next-generation console

    Intel are in discussions with Nintendo about the use of the Larrabee processor for the next-generation Nintendo console. It is rumoured that a power efficient processor with modest specifications is desired, with power consumption and cost being main drivers for Nintendo. Consequently, it's likely...

  • News Final Zelda Flipnote Released

    Last, but certainly not least...

    Aardman Animation, the forces behind Wallace & Gromit, have just released the final video in their Zelda: Spirit Tracks series and we've got it for you. This final video has a little bit of a humorous spin to it, and once again is quite an impressive Flipnote feat. And for those of you who haven't yet read our...

  • Nintendo Download 25 December 2009 (EU)

    Not much in the Wii's stocking this year, but DSiWare users must have been very good indeed!

    Well, after North America's big release Monday this week, it has to be said that Nintendo of Europe are coming off a little like Ebenezer Scrooge with this week's European download offerings on the Wii: just two WiiWare offerings and no Virtual Console...

  • Nintendo Download 21 December 2009 (North America)

    Eco-shooting, arcade ninjas, Super Smash Bros., Dragon's Lair and more in this week's download offering.

    Nintendo are putting out a decent number of titles in North America with the end of the year rapidly approaching, with a nice mix of new and catch-up titles on offer. Todays VC and WiiWare offerings mean that there's now 500 titles to choose...

  • News Gotta Catch 'em All In the Next 72 Hours

    Gamers attempt to capture all 493 Pokémon in charity speedrun

    Speedruns evoke a special kind of excitement in most gamers: the unbridled thrill of seeing highly trained controller-jockeys doing what they do best, coupled with the shame and resentment felt when you witness someone accomplish in hours what you spent months of your childhood working...

  • News Wii Fit Doesn't Improve Fitness?

    New study reveals it has little impact on increasing fitness levels.

    It appears that a few extra minutes on the Balance Board won’t make up for that extra mince pie or second helping of Christmas pudding, according to new research made available by the University of Mississippi. The purpose of the research was to ascertain how effective...

  • News Glory of Heracles Coming to DS in January

    Here comes the Greek squad!

    Nintendo's upcoming RPG Glory of Heracles has flown under the radar for the most part, but with the game's upcoming January 18th release in North America, we thought it might be time to get some information up on the unique title. You can check out the official press release below for a little more information on the game...

  • News Second Zelda Flipnote Pulls Into View

    Der-ner-ner-nerrrr!

    The middle part of Aardman's Spirit Tracks trilogy has just arrived on our desk(top) here at Nintendo Life, and naturally we wanted to share it with you. Don't forget our review of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is already available if you're in any doubt of whether or not you need this latest lovely slice of handheld gaming...

  • Feature For Your Consideration - New Super Mario Bros. Wii

    Why the mushroom kingdom needs your help to raise the flag!

    As part of our Game of the Year Awards, Nintendo Life is inviting you to choose one game as your Reader’s Game of the Year. You can vote for anything released on a Nintendo platform in 2009, be it WiiWare, DSiWare, Wii or DS, but you only get one vote, so use it wisely! To remind you of...

  • News Nintendo Trademarks "WiiRelax"

    Could this be the Vitality Sensor's first game?

    There's a lot Nintendo still needs to explain about their upcoming Vitality Sensor peripheral, which was announced at E3 and then plunged into media darkness. Like how it'll be implemented in a game, or what upcoming games will even support the device. During some European trademark probing, Siliconera...

  • News Nintendo to Introduce New Touch Screen Kiosks in Japan

    Ignorance no longer an excuse when buying games

    Nintendo has revealed new kiosks for display in major retail outlets in Japan. They come in two flavours: flat screen devices for counters and retail kiosks for floor display. Both come with wonderfully hi-tech touch screens and cameras. Customers will be able to pick up any DS or Wii game and flash...

  • Nintendo Download 22, 24 December 2009 (Japan)

    WiiWare catch-up and more MSX games for the Virtual Console.

    The Wii gets the lion's share of Japanese downloads next week with four new WiiWare and three new VC titles. DSiWare gets a couple of games and two more Rurubu travel guides to round things out. Note that the DSiWare releases will be on Thursday the 24th rather than Wednesday due to the...

  • News Club Nintendo US Update: Binders, Bookmarks and Cards, Oh My

    Spruce up your paperwork

    Looks like Club Nintendo updates aren't just for Europe this week now that its American counterpart has gone ahead and added a slew of stationary to its offerings. For 250 Coins, you're able to snag a folder and bookmark (three of each per) set with a Bowser, Toad & Friends or Mario & Friends theme. Big spenders can...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Twenty Years In The Making

    Well, not literally

    Revelations afoot in the Iwata Asks interview for New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Toshihiko Nakago, currently the President of SRD2, reveals that Miyamoto’s dream of a multiplayer Mario was born during the development of Super Mario Bros. 3. Ultimately hardware limitations scuppered the plan, leaving the team to step back their...

  • News Just What Is The Nintendo Zii?

    A new trademark registered in Japan is fuelling speculation on the internet

    Silicon Era has reported that a new trademark registration has appeared in the Japanese trademark database for the word "Zii." Nintendo submitted the application on the 30th of October, though there's no indication of what it's for. It could be trying to block the...

  • Nintendo Download 15-16 December 2009 (Japan)

    The focus is on DSiWare this week

    After bumper crops of WiiWare and Virtual Console titles on the Wii in Japan recently, this week will only see one for each service. The DSiWare service, however, will have a fairly typical seven releases to choose from. WiiWare: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (900pts - Capcom) - Everyone's favourite trial lawyer...

  • News Twilight Princess "Starting Point" for New Wii Zelda

    Aonuma continues cryptic discussion of new title

    With all the secrecy surrounding the new Zelda title - for which we still don't have so much as a title or even anything other than a single piece of artwork - it wouldn't be a surprise to see it feature a minigame requiring you to get blood out of a stone. Eiji Aonuma continues to talk in tongues...

  • News Japanese Wii Sales Double in a Week

    In translation: ker-ching!

    Famitsu have reported the Wii's sales figures have risen from 46,674 units to 101,000 units over the week ending 6th December, boosted by the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wii in the homeland. The notion that the Japanese only like small devices continues to be thwarted however by the DSi LL, with sales of over 62,000 in the...

  • News Children's Book Was Inspiration for Spirit Tracks

    Secret influence revealed!

    It's practically raining Spirit Tracks stories today, but this story actually pre-dates Link's latest - it's the children's book that inspired Nintendo to create Spirit Tracks. Called "The Tracks Go On", it's a story where cute kids build the tracks for a train as it explores the land, with cutesy animals and all...

  • News Aardman Create Zelda Flipnote

    "Weatherman is last Aardman Flipnote" statement proves erroneous

    Contrary to our earlier reports that The Weatherman was Aardman's final Flipnote creation, we've just had word about this rather cool Zelda animation from those talented Brits. Obviously a neat way to promote the new Zelda: Spirit Tracks game, it's just as cute as the title itself and...