Tag: Hardware - Page 17
News Nintendo Confirms GameCube Controller Adapter Will Have More Use Than Just Super Smash Bros.
UPDATE: Or Not, as the case may be
UPDATE: Nintendo has revealed that the text was a mistake. ORIGINAL STORY: The official description for the GameCube Controller Adapter – set to be released on the 5th of December this year in Europe in time with
News Hyperkin Responds To Accusations Of Infringing On The Rights Of Emulator Creators
"We have not been as quick as we could have been"
Last week, we reported on accusations that Hyperkin had infringed on the right of emulator authors with its RetroN 5 console, and at the time we gave Hyperkin the chance to put across its side of the story. We've now had an official response from Hyperkin developer Lawrence Lee: It has always been...
Video Nintendo Australia Gives Us A Jaunty Tour Of The New 3DS
Turn the volume up
As you may be aware, Australia got its first Nintendo Direct today, and the big news is that it's going to be one of the first regions outside of Japan to get the New 3DS and New 3DS XL. As well as putting the Direct online for non-Aussies to watch, Nintendo Australia has produced another, shorter clip which shows off the console...
News Nintendo Unveils Transparent 2DS Models and Pokémon Bundles
We can see everything
Last October Nintendo launched the first 2DS models alongside Pokémon X & Y; it's clearly a strategy that worked well, as the hardware and games will be intertwined once again this year. Nintendo has announced new transparent 2DS models, and also related bundles with Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. The basic models, in...
News You Need To See This Amazing Hand-Sculpted Donkey Kong GBA SP Case Mod
Good luck trying to play a game on it, though
If you follow the hardware modding community then the name Vadu Amka will be instantly familiar to you. A seasoned pro when it comes to taking existing systems and making them even more attractive, Amka has recently released another new creation: a Game Boy Advance SP which is based on the model used in...
News This Fan-Made NES 3DS XL Offers a Cool Alternative Design
Better than Nintendo's?
Nintendo certainly grabbed attention when it announced a NES-themed 3DS XL; the model will be exclusive to GameStop in North America, and unfortunately there are no plans to bring it to Europe. It's due for release on 10th October and will cost $199.99. Not all love the design, however, with the presence of the NES...
News Pre-Orders Open For NES, Persona Q and Smash Bros. 3DS XL Models in North America
"No plans" for the first two in Europe
This week has brought some exciting news for compulsive hardware buyers or those still remarkably on the fence about the 3DS, with an NES-themed XL model confirmed for North America, along with an eye-catching Persona Q model and two variations of the Super Smash Bros. XL that's also coming to Europe, with the...
News NES-Themed Nintendo 3DS XL On The Way as GameStop Exclusive
Smash Bros. and Persona Q 3DS XL models also confirmed
While Japanese gamers are already gearing up for the New Nintendo 3DS models, gamers in the West need to wait until 2015 — that means that some special bundles of the existing hardware will arrive in time for the Holiday season. Confirmed by Nintendo of America at a GameStop conference and now...
News The Japanese New 3DS Packaging Is Both Cute And Colourful
The wait is killing us
Nintendo has revealed what the packaging for the Japanese version of the New 3DS will look like, and we're sure you'll agree that it's pretty sweet. The box is colourful and stylish, and very, very different from the kind of packaging design we've seen for the 3DS range so far. It hints at the bright and fun Cover Plates...
Gallery It's OK, We Want Each And Every One Of These Gorgeous New 3DS Cover Plates Too
Nintendo has it covered
We don't know about you, but we're pretty hyped about the forthcoming release of the New 3DS — there's just something about fresh Nintendo hardware that excites the places other companies simply cannot reach. However, out excitement levels have been pushed to the limit by the news that the standard "New" 3DS system will...
Reaction Picking Apart The New Nintendo 3DS And New 3DS XL
Tom and Damien chew the fat over today's shock reveal
Earlier today, Nintendo shocked the video gaming world by announcing the impending launch of not one but two revised 3DS models. The New 3DS and New 3DS XL take the core template of the original model and add in NFC, a nipple-like C-Stick, additional shoulder buttons and an improved screen...
News New Nintendo 3DS Models Announced
NFC, Second Circle Pad, Extra Shoulder Buttons And Improved Screens
It has been revealed during today's Japanese Nintendo Direct that Nintendo is refreshing its 3DS line of consoles with new features. The revised hardware will include NFC as standard — for Amiibo support — a second, smaller Circle Pad, additional shoulder buttons and improved...
News Wii U Sales Continue to Rise with the Release of Hyrule Warriors – 3DS Sales Also Strong
Yokai Watch 2 still top banana
Hyrule Warriors was released in Japan last week, and it appears that the unprecedented level of promotion and advertising the game received has paid off. The crossover game holds second place in Japan's charts this week with just shy of 70,000 copies sold. This is certainly a promising figure, and we can only hope for...
News Yokai Watch 2 Passes Two Million Sales in Japan as Wii U Sales Increase
3DS hardware also holds momentum
To the surprise of no one, Yokai Watch 2 has once again dominated the Japanese charts, bringing its sales to 2 million, and this figure doesn't even take into account any digital downloads so the total number is bound to be significantly higher than that. Not only this, but Level-5's original Yokai Watch takes ninth...
News Beautiful Limited Edition Super Smash Bros. 3DS XL Console Bundle Revealed
And it's not just a dull logo on it either
Nintendo has announced a new addition to its range of limited edition 3DS XL consoles, and this time it's celebrating Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. The special edition red console will come bundled with a digital copy of the game it represents, as well as an undeniably gorgeous design displaying many...
Video Hyperkin RetroN 5 Review - King Of The Clone Consoles?
Tom and Damien put the wonder machine through its paces
The Hyperkin RetroN 5 has been with us for a while now, and we've had ample time to really get to know the system inside out. With that in mind, we present to you a video review of this talented piece of tech, which is capable of running games from a wide range of retro platforms, including the...
Hardware Review 8Bitdo NES30 Bluetooth Controller
A familiar friend, reinvented
If you're an Android user then you'll already be well aware of the operating system's native connectivity with wireless Bluetooth peripherals, including dedicated game pad controllers. Apple has recently introduced a similar protocol for its iOS platform, and Android-based micro-consoles like the Ouya, M.O.J.O. and
News Looks Like You Can Only Install 300 Games And Apps On Your 3DS
Still enough to keep you busy for a while
We've all experienced the irksome problem of running out of storage space on our 3DS consoles, but it would appear that even the most spacious SD card in the world won't help overcome this issue totally — the hardware seems to have a maximum ceiling of 300 applications. Reddit user Rayquaza3010 received...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Release in Japan Sees New Circle Pad Accessory
Vaguely resembles a Wavebird if you squint
Thanks to console accessories manufacturer Hori, the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL are about to get even bigger in Japan. To celebrate the upcoming release of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Hori is releasing the Extended Slide Pad Controller, a grip controller-style accessory that places a second circle pad...
News Official Nintendo UK Store Adds Cool T-Shirt to Wind Waker HD Hardware Bundle
Or there's the Link Between Worlds 3DS XL with a t-shirt
Update: Nintendo's store is also offering the Link Between Worlds 3DS XL bundle with a retro-styled Zelda t-shirt, for £199.99. Original Article: There are a variety of attractive Wii U hardware bundles doing the rounds at present, with the best surely being the Mario Kart 8 bundle, in...
News Nintendo UK Store's Kirby Hypernova Pack Aims to Suck You In
2DS deals everywhere
If you've not yet picked up a 3DS — what are you doing? — then the 2DS is perhaps a tempting option. Released by Nintendo to target a young demographic, it also provides a slightly lower entry point than the standard and XL 3DS models; all you lose is the 3D effect and clamshell design. When it last provided figures...
News This Rather Neat "Mario White Edition" 3DS XL Will Run North American Games
A sort-of Western release
In the past we've shared some lovely 3DS hardware designs that are often rare and limited to release in Japan or other out-of-reach territories — some of the best examples are the iQue 3DS XL models released in China, too. It seems that the red and white Mario model from that iQue range will be an option for North...
News Wii Owners Are Upgrading To PlayStation 4, Claims Sony
Lies, damn lies and statistics?
Sony Worldwide Studios senior VP of product development Scott Rohde has made the bold claim that Wii and Xbox 360 owners are choosing the PS4 as their next system. Using stats collected by industry tracker Nielsen, Rohde explained that many new PS4 owners did not previously own a PS3, and instead upgraded from a...
News Sony Overtakes Nintendo In Global Hardware Sales For The First Time In Eight Years
Sony shifted 18.7 million consoles, Nintendo 16.3 million
It has been revealed that in the financial year that has just concluded, Sony has sold more consoles worldwide than its rivals Nintendo and Microsoft. For the first time since 2006, Sony has beaten its Japanese competitor in terms of hardware units retailed. Sony sold 18.7 million PS4, PS3,...
News 2DS Hardware Bundle With New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coming on 4th July
It's all about the coins, remember
In its recent financial results, Nintendo confirmed that over two million 2DS systems had been sold since its launch in October 2013, a solid return considering its arguably limited demographic. The company remains keen to promote the system, particularly to young gamers, and has now announced a new bundle set for...
Video Watch Us Rigorously Test Hyperkin's New RetroN 5 Superconsole
Direct-feed footage, UI details and more
Hyperkin's much-delayed and highly-anticipated RetroN 5 console finally ships this week, and we've kindly been sent a review unit which we're currently putting through its paces. To tide you over until the review appears, we've put together a video which shows direct-feed footage captured from the system...
Weirdness This Cool System Supports Famicom, Super Famicom and PC Engine Games
Has its own screen, too
Retro console mods and units are certainly on our list of cool things here at Nintendo Life, and we often take the opportunity to review clone hardware that allows for extra convenient play of '80s and '90s-era systems. You may have the original units in your collection, but as their chips age and if you don't want multiple...
News Older Wii U Bundles, Including All Black Systems, Discontinued in Japan
White models, 8GB and 32GB, now the main draw
While Nintendo sets off a major Wii U push with the arrival of Mario Kart 8 and with the system likely to enjoy a prominent role at E3 2014, it seems the company is nevertheless making logistical cost-saving decisions to ensure that the systems it does sell are produced as cheaply as possible. Part of...
News Nintendo Confirms New 'Sea Green' 2DS Model
Arriving alongside Tomodachi Life
With Tomodachi Life arriving in Europe and North America on 6th June, Nintendo has been pushing some fairly heavy marketing for the title. Commercials produced by Nintendo of America in particular have certainly been aiming for a young demographic, so it's of little surprise that a new 2DS model has now been...
News Hyperkin Finally Shipping Its Retron 5 Console This Week
$140 in the US, £119 in the UK
Hyperkin will begin shipping its Retron 5 console this week, according to IGN. The system is a retro powerhouse, and will play NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Mega Drive and Super Famicom games. It will also play Master System games using the Sega Power Base Converter. It...
News Wii U Reportedly Uses Less Energy to Run Than Wii and Rivals
Natural Resources Defense Council highlights low energy use
A report by the the Natural Resources Defense Council suggests that the Wii U annually consumes less energy than the Wii, as shown in the graph below: The graph, which is designed to show how much energy your console drains across the year, illustrates that the Wii U is more effective in...
News Nintendo Promotes $99 2DS Target Deal, Available Until 17th May
Think of the children!
A statistic that probably got little attention when Nintendo was dishing out financial results and sales figures recently was that, between 12th October 2013 and 31st March 2014, 2.2 million 2DS systems were sold in Western territories. The budget 2D-only iteration of the portable, which comes with a slab / tablet design, has...
News Nintendo's Plan for "Redefining the Definition of Video Game Platforms" Around Two Years Away
Company has a "clear idea to some extent" on future hardware direction
Following the financial results issued last week, Nintendo has now issued the officially translated Q & A with shareholders in which company President Satoru Iwata addressed a series of tough questions, some of which concerned the company's plans over the next 2-3 years to...
First Impressions Does Mugen's 2DS XL Battery Make Or Break The Handheld?
With great power comes increased girth
Whether you love or hate the Fisher Price-style design of the robust 2DS, we can all agree on the need for longer battery life in our handheld devices. With that in mind, Mugen is just about to release a battery upgrade for the 2DS that doubles the capacity of the internal power cell and costs a princely $89.99...
News Nintendo Creating a New Console for Emerging Markets, Including China
"For us, Microsoft's approach wouldn't work," Iwata says
In an interview today with Reuters, Nintendo president and CEO Satoru Iwata revealed the company is planning to introduce new hardware and software for unspecified "emerging markets" over the next two years to take advantage of a rising middle class in many parts of the world; China...
News 2DS CPU Update Looks Set to Adjust System Security
FCC filings spotted
Following its launch in Western territories on 12th October 2013 — alongside Pokémon X & Y — the 2DS has sold (as of 31st March 2014) 2.2 million units. That's not too bad for a hardware iteration targeted at a rather specific demographic and not given the most high profile of launch campaigns. As a budget tablet-like...
News Western Markets Vital For Nintendo Hardware Sales as Japan Gains Ground
More 3DS units sold in Japan than North America
With Nintendo no doubt plotting its route to profitability in the coming financial year, one area of consideration is likely to be boosting sales outside of Japan. Worldwide results are important, of course, but the Wii U and 3DS are showing patterns of dropping sales in the West as compared to...
System predicted to stay behind PS4 and Xbox One in generation sales
We're now well and truly into a fresh generation of home consoles, with Nintendo's 2012 Wii U release now joined by the late 2013 arrivals of PS4 and Xbox One. The previous Wii / PS3 / Xbox 360 era brought impressive sales all around, though a continually evolving market and...
News Gaze at This Pokémon Game Boy and Know That You Want It
Design celebrates Red & Blue, and maybe a bit of Yellow
Pokémon is a powerful force, a franchise that continues to shift millions of units and draw gamers in not just to the core games, but spin-offs, animations and trading card games, too. Pokémon X & Y on 3DS have continued the success, bringing the franchise to Nintendo's current generation...
News Sleek Metal NES Analogue Nt Now Available for Preorder
$499 price point and colour options revealed
Seattle-based custom console manufacturer Analogue Interactive has spilled the beans on its upcoming Analogue Nt, a sexy aircraft-grade aluminium NES/Famicom we reported on back in March. Set for a release this summer, the Analogue Nt is now available for preorder through the company's website with a base...
Talking Point What We Want To See From Nintendo's Next Handheld
Pocket-sized predictions
The 3DS is now more than three years old, which — if tradition is to be followed — places it roughly halfway through its effective life span as Nintendo's main handheld system. It's almost certainly the next piece of hardware that Nintendo will seek to replace, and given the (quickly quashed) rumours of new hardware...
News Nintendo Quashes Rumours Of New Hardware At E3 2014
Official confirmation that no new hardware will be shown
Earlier today, we reported on some comments made by IGN's Jose Otero and Peer Schneider regarding Nintendo showing off new hardware at this year's E3. Schneider, who is the co-founder of IGN and has been working in the industry for quite some time, even stated: They're absolutely going to...
Rumour Nintendo Will Reveal New Hardware At This Year's E3
"They're absolutely going to show new hardware this year"
Nintendo has already revealed some of its plans for E3 2014, but if a new rumour is to be believed, it could be showing off more than just new software at this year's show. In the latest episode of Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN e
News Amazon Comes in Low With Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle Price, Awesome GamePad Skins on the Way
Nintendo UK store has impressive Mario Kart 8 bundles, too
You may have already seen the news that Nintendo of Europe has confirmed the Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack – Special Edition Wii U Hardware Bundle for the region, and we expect that a North American announcement is just a matter of time. As anticipated it's a 32GB system with a disc copy of...
News Nintendo Confirms The Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack – Special Edition Wii U Hardware Bundle
Peach and Yoshi Wii Remote Plus controllers coming to Europe, too
Update: Nintendo of Australia has now confirmed the Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack – Special Edition bundle, with the same details; it's stated the recommended retail price in the region will be AU$429.95. Original Article: Not so long ago there was a rumour of a Mario Kart 8 Wii U...
News Nintendo Launches 3DS XL "Recommended Software" Hardware Promotion in Japan
A free game with a 3DS XL purchase
Nintendo has run a number of eShop retail download promotions in the past couple of years to encourage gamers to buy its products. Most of these have focused on the 3DS, with varying schemes in different territories offering free game downloads in return for registering a fixed number of retail titles or hardware...
Weirdness These Chinese Game Controllers Look Wii-ly Familiar
The designers at Xiao Bawang clearly ran out of ideas
China has recently lifted its ban on games consoles, and as a result we're seeing a few new challengers arrive on the market in the hope of leveraging the country's massive number of potential players. One such outfit is Xiao Bawang, the company which tried — and failed — to conquer China...
News This Metroid Game Boy Advance Design is a Treat
Perfect for celebrating Metroid Fusion's arrival on Wii U
Metroid Fusion is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console, which is good news as it's rather brilliant. The arrival of Game Boy Advance titles on the Wii U also gives portable gamers with longer memories or retro leanings an excuse to look back wistfully on the original platform, the last...
News Nintendo of Europe Reveals Pink + White 2DS for Release Alongside Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Time for a 2DS...
Update: This model has also been confirmed for Australia and New Zealand, with a release date alongside the game of 17th May. Original Article: The May arrival of Kirby: Triple Deluxe is no doubt on the radar of plenty of 3DS owners — it hits North America on 2nd May and Europe on the 16th. While the latter region has to wait...
News Walmart's Mickey 3DS XL Will Sell for $199.96, Does Not Include Game
Some better images and box art emerge
We reported yesterday that North America will be getting a special edition Mickey-themed 3DS XL on 11th April to coincide with the release of Disney Magical World. Now we know the Walmart-exclusive 3DS XL will retail for $199.96, and it will not include a copy of the game... despite the Dis
