December2009
News New Zelda Advert Takes Different Track
Not what you'd expect from a Spirit Tracks commercial
Nintendo has just been in touch with a video of the extended version of the Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks commercial being run in the US currently, and it's certainly not your average Zelda commercial. Staying away from the cutesy cartoon characters that typify the game itself, it takes place in...
Nintendo Download 8-9 December 2009 (Japan)
Virtual Console and DSiWare hog the spotlight
A second week in a row with a solo WiiWare entry, but a bumper crop of Virtual Console goodness and a hefty helping of DSiWare downloads help make up for it. WiiWareChokkan! Balance Labyrinth (500pts - Gameloft) - Not a new title from Gameloft, but just them publishing Digital Leisure's The Incredible...
News Final Aardman Flipnote Hits DSi
Last call for animation wizardry
If you've got a DSi, you should really have Flipnote Studio, the brilliant (and free) flip-book animation program that lets you doodle away, add sound and then share your creation with the world. Whilst the efforts among Nintendo Life staff are far too crude to show to the public, master animators Aardman Animation...
News Wii Becomes Fastest Selling Console In UK History
Six million Brits served since 2006
Nintendo has proudly revealed that the Wii has shifted six million units in three years, making it the fastest selling home console in the history of the UK video game industry. Since its launch in December 2006, the popular system has entertained and enthralled countless stiff-upper-lipped Brits and made its way...
First Impressions 530 Eco-Shooter
Recycling - with a vengeance!
Intelligent Systems has a reputation of being one of Nintendo's better first-party development teams, with an impressive resume including the Fire Emblem games, Tetris Attack, the Paper Mario series, the WarioWare games and Super Metroid. Seeing a WiiWare title from them naturally raised our curiosity, and that...
News Nintendo: We Don't Want To Remake Past Zelda Games
Producer Eiji Aonuma doesn't want to break "emotional attachment" to classic titles
In an excellent interview with IGN, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has explained why Nintendo doesn't follow the lead of other companies and remake vintage entries in the franchise: Whenever we have to think about the remake, we have to also think about the background,...
News Nintendo Cutting Back On Wii Production?
Has the machine reached its zenith?
The Nintendo Wii may have sold a shed-load of units over the past few weeks but reports from Japan indicate that even this increase in revenue is unlikely to completely turnaround the machine's flagging fortunes. A report issued by Japanese news firm Nikkei has revealed that two Japanese companies involved with...
News Nintendo Shifted A Boatload Of Hardware Last Week In US
Over 1.5 million units bought between bites of turkey
Last week was yet another good time to be Nintendo as the company reports on selling around a hojillion hardware units in the US. According to the company's internal tracking numbers, over 1.5 million Wii and DS/i systems combined were sold during Thanksgiving Week. If you want to get all micro,...
November2009
Nintendo Download Monkey Island, Zoos, 'Copters, Face Stealing and Puzzles! (US)
A mix of catch-up and new titles in another big update for Wii and DSi.
There's a mix of new and catch-up titles in the update this week including the penultimate chapter in the new Tales of Monkey Island series: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4. Copter Crisis and My Zoo were both recently released in PAL territories. Reviewer Tommy Bowskill...
News Giant Mario Coins Hidden in Aussie CBDs
Nintendo holding strange new contest to win copies of New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane? Haven't got much to do between Tuesday the 1st and Friday the 4th of December? Like looking for stuff? Well, you're in luck! Nintendo Australia are hiding coins in each of the three Central Business Districts in honour of the recent...
Nintendo Download 1-2 December 2009 (Japan)
A light download selection next week after this week's mega releases.
This week's update was full to bursting, so it's just as well that next week is a little on the light side with only a few downloads for both Wii and DSi. WiiWare: Ponjan (1000pts - Tomy) -- The Wii counterpart to the DSiWare release of the kiddy version of mahjong (real mahjong...
News Mario Was Almost Called Mr Video
"It's-a me Mr Video" just doesn't have the same ring to it
Legend has it that Super Mario was named after the landlord of Nintendo's North American offices back when the company first started, but in the new 'Iwata Asks' feature it was revealed that our lovable tubby plumber was also going to be called 'Mr Video' at one stage. Shigeru Miyamoto said...
News Miyamoto: I Wanted To Patent Jumping In Games
Nintendo's latest Q&A session reveals an amusing tid-bit
Nintendo's regular "Iwata Asks" Q&A sessions have thrown up some interesting points and the latest one - featuring Shigeru Miyamoto - is no exception. Miyamoto: After Mario Bros., there were a fair few jumping-style games released by various companies and I felt that this kind...
News DSi LL Shifts 100K Units In Japan
Two-day launch sales beat the competition
No matter how much head-scratching came out of the arguably non-portable portable's announcement, we've now learned one thing: it sells. According to Famitsu and sales tracker Enterbrain, the giant handheld sold 103,524 units in two days. While an impressive number, it's still not too surprising given the...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Gets Perfect Score in Famitsu
Japanese magazine gives Mario's latest top marks
Print media might be suffering at the moment but that hasn't stopped Japanese magazine Famitsu's influence in the industry. The veteran publication is still seen as something of an authority - both in its native homeland and the West - so the news that it has awarded New Super Mario Bros. Wii a...
News Miyamoto Keeps Edging Toward Hardware Design
Role shifting since the DS
Shigeru Miyamoto is known for creating some of the best games ever made, some of which necessitated a few revolutionary hardware designs to even be able to play them properly. While his game-making style hasn't changed too much over the years (still mining those hobbies), Miyamoto explained to Edge that over the years his...
News Super Mario Kart Hits Virtual Console on Monday
The wait is finally over.
Well Super Mario Kart fans have waited long and hard for the Super Nintendo classic to make an appearance on the North American Virtual Console service, but it seems the wait is finally about to be over. Gamespot has just announced that Nintendo has confirmed to them that Super Mario Kart will be released on the North...
News Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Intro Video
A little insight into the Spirit Tracks.
The nice folks at Nintendo have just sent over the newest trailer for their upcoming DS release Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. The game is set to hit North American store shelves on December 7th and Europe retail shelves on December 11th. You can check out the new gameplay video that shows off the game's...
Nintendo Download 24-25 November 2009 (Japan)
WiiWare is back and the MSX returns with a vengeance, plus DSiWare and more Namco Arcade games!
Japan gets a lot of downloads ordinarily, but next week must be setting some kind of record - and there's not even a public holiday to account for it! WiiWareOkiraku Kart Wii (500pts - Arc System Works) - You cannot keep the Family down, especially if...
News Aonuma: Prepare for Zelda Surprise Next Year
Zelda big boss sets up E3 revelation
For a few years now, Eiji Aonuma has been promising something of a reimagining of the Legend of Zelda series. Twilight Princess was touted as the last Zelda "as we know it", and now Mr Aonuma has spoken to the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine about some of the developments in the next title. "It is...
News Prime Yourself for More Metroid
Developer interview teases possible DS outing for Samus
We may still be recovering from the majesty of Metroid Prime Trilogy, but a recent interview with the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine has unearthed an even more exciting titbit: there may be more Metroid Prime games on the way. Speaking to the magazine, Kensuke Tanabe of Nintendo said: We are...
Nintendo Download 17-18 November 2009 (Japan)
More Namco arcade games and DSiWare next week.
Another WiiWare holiday and only two Virtual Console releases - both Namco arcade games. Hardly seems possible given the number of announced Virtual Console titles for November yet to be released, unless the 24th is going to break all previous records! Virtual Console Bosconian (800pts Arcade - Namco)...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Strategy Video
Check out some useful tips from the pros.
The kind folks over at Nintendo were kind enough to send over a brand new gameplay video for their upcoming Wii console release New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In this video you can check out some of the helpful strategies the guys over at Treehouse have put together to help you get the most out of the game. You...
News NASCAR Gets A Mario Makeover
New Super Mario Bros. Wii car competing on Saturday
The world's of NASCAR and Nintendo fans alike will mesh together on November 14 (a.k.a. this Saturday, a.k.a. New Super Mario Bros. Wii Eve) thanks to a decked-out stock car co-sponsored by Gamestop and Nintendo of America. The car, and its driver, Denny Hamlin, will be competing in the Able Body...
News Britain's Best Nintendo Gamer 2009 - Report!
Who walked away with the crown?
Our UK readers will probably have seen our adverts for Britain's Best Nintendo Gamer a month or so ago - in fact, some of you may even have competed at a GAME or Gamestation store - but we left you hanging on who emerged from the competition victorious. Well, hang no more - all can be revealed! Well, almost all...
























