Tag: Hardware - Page 17
Rumour Pikachu 3DS XL Already In US Stores, March 24th Release Mooted
Update - Nintendo confirms release date and price
Nintendo has now confirmed that the Pikachu 3DS XL will be released on March 24th in North America. In will include a 4GB SD card — as is standard for the XL model — and will have a suggested retail price of $199.99. Original article Nintendo's recent TV commercial for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:...
News Nintendo Announces Mint White 3DS XL For Japan
Tomodachi Collection bundle coming, too
During Nintendo's latest Japanese Nintendo Direct, the company announced a brand new minty fresh colour to its ever expanding 3DS colour collection — a Mint White 3DS LL (XL in the West). The new addition will release in Japan on the 18th April, and will retail for 18,900 Yen (approx. €150 / £131 / $196)...
Ninterview Wiggy Design On Breathing Life Into Old Systems
Console modification with the human touch
Although it's always exciting to open up the latest and greatest consoles and get to grips with the incredible advances being made by hardware manufacturers, there's something about vintage systems which makes them appealing long after they fall out of fashion and become technologically obsolete. Your...
News Hyperkin's RetroN 4 To Support SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA Software
Everything but the kitchen sink
Hyperkin has been producing hardware clones for a few years now — clones which provide a decent alternative for those moments when your trusty SNES dies on you and you can't abide the feeling of buying a second-hand replacement. We've already covered the RetroN 3 and SupaBoy Portable on this site, and found them to...
News Does The JXD GamePad 2 Remind You Of Anything?
Certainly rings a bell
Last year we were graced with the Droid X360, a Chinese-made clone of the PS Vita which runs Google's Android operating system. This year, we've got another copycat device which shares more than a few similarities with the Wii U GamePad - it even has the same name. The JXD S7300 GamePad 2 has a 7-inch capacitive screen, a...
News Wii Mini Shifts 35,700 Units in Canada
Who needs internet connectivity?
It's been announced recently that the Wii Mini is on its way to European shores. Once a Canadian-exclusive, the stripped down system cannot play anything other than Wii games, has no slot for an SD card and is unable to connect to the internet. So how has the Wii Mini done in Canada? Since its release on 7th...
News Amazon UK Lists Wii Mini For £79.99
...after initially giving it a price of more than £100
Nintendo has so far refused to stick a price on the Wii Mini — which is coming to the UK on March 22nd — which means it's up to retailers to come up with a figure. Amazon UK initially went with the rather obscure amount of £103.56, while rival online store ShopTo picked £84.85, which is...
News Shiny Blue and Pink 3DS Models Coming to Japan
Making the move from Taiwan and Hong Kong
Over the past 25 years or more Nintendo's liked to give consumers a lot of choices with handhelds, with colours and design variations to keep almost anyone happy. It's now emerged that the pictured light blue and pink 3DS models — not XL — will arrive in Japan on 20th March; not that Japan has a shortage...
Rumour Wii Mini on the Way to Europe
Just, well... because
Remember the Wii Mini, released in Canada late last year? With a top-loading disc-drive, no online connectivity of any kind, SD slot or even support for component cables. It's the basic Wii with much stripped out to allow an even lower retailer price than the standard last-gen model, no doubt targeting those on exceptionally...
News 3DS Circle Pad Pro XL Coming To The UK March 22nd
Bolt (on) out of the blue
Nintendo has confirmed that the Circle Pad Pro XL will launch in the UK on March 22nd — just in time for Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate on the 3DS. The accessory follows in the footsteps of its smaller predecessor, which was designed to bolt onto the original 3DS console. The Circle Pad Pro XL offers an additional analogue...
News Pink 3DS XL Is Making A Comeback In Time For Valentine's Day
Show them you love them with a Nintendo portable
The pink iteration of the Nintendo 3DS XL was a surprise hit last year, quickly selling out and leaving many potential owners disappointed. However, it would seem that Nintendo of America has been struck by cupid's arrow and has taken pity on these very same people. The pink 3DS XL (it's actually...
Hardware Classics Nintendo Game Boy
Monochrome masterpiece
The Nintendo DS may be the biggest selling handheld console of all time, but you could argue that this is only the case because of the vital groundwork laid down by the Game Boy. The original monochrome brick was pushed onto the market in 1989 in the wake of Nintendo's popular Game & Watch range, and would go on to sell...
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 Get A Load Of These Awesome Custom Nintendo Consoles
Making old things new again
What do you do when a console reaches the end of its lifespan and is replaced by newer, more powerful systems? You give it a fresh lick of paint, of course. That's exactly what Zoki64 has done. This talented artist has taken custom paint jobs to the next level, transforming N64, Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance...
News Ubisoft: Wii U Power Meant No Limitations For Rayman Legends
Rayman creator lavishes Wii U with more praise
Rayman creator Michel Ancel has had nothing but positive things to say about Wii U since he’s been working with the new system. In previous interviews he has noted that Nintendo’s new home console is “surprisingly powerful” and that Ubisoft could really focus on making its latest game, Rayman...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Fire Emblem: Awakening 3DS Bundle
The game will come pre-installed
We reported earlier on a rumour circulating that a special 3DS bundle for Fire Emblem: Awakening was on the way to North America. The speculation sparked off after a full page advertisement for the strategic RPG was found in the latest issue of Game Informer, which showed a bundle not too dissimilar to the one Japan...
Rumour Fire Emblem: Awakening Bundle Coming To North America
Comes with a glorious special edition 3DS
Yesterday we reported that a demo for the highly anticipated strategic RPG Fire Emblem: Awakening will be made available to download from the North American 3DS eShop on 17th January. The game itself will launch on 4th February and will be available in both physical and downloadable forms. According to var
News Didn't Pick Up The Pink 3DS XL? Hard Luck
Strictly limited edition, according to Nintendo
Late last year, Nintendo released the Pink / White 3DS XL in North America as a limited edition. The system was clearly something of a hit with consumers, as it has since sold out - and if you missed the chance to pick one up, it looks like your only hope now is to purchase a pre-owned model...
News Nyko Power Pak Boosts Wii U GamePad Stamina By Three Times
More power to your controller
As great as the Wii U is, the one thing that bugs many owners is the terrible battery life of the GamePad controller. We've lost count of the number of times we've had to play with it connected to the wall charger because we forgot to top-up the battery after the previous day's session. Thankfully, peripheral...
News Team Ninja: Wii U Is "Definitely Next Generation"
"Players want new innovation"
A few months back Ukrainian developer 4A, the team behind Metro: Last Light, claimed that it was not impressed with the graphical processing power of Wii U, saying it has a "horrible, slow CPU". This comment naturally sparked off a debate within the industry with many people agreeing with the statement, while others...
Hardware Classics Game Boy Micro Famicom Edition
Micro Marvel
For more than a decade, the name "Game Boy" was as synonymous with handheld gaming as "iPod" is with portable music playback today. Following the launch of the original monochrome Game Boy console in the late '80s, Nintendo ruled the market with total dominance thanks to an incredibly popular line of million-selling systems. When the...
Hardware Classics Tezuka Osamu World Shop Game Boy Light
A gaming work of art
In the first of a new series of features, we'll be taking a look at some seriously beautiful and collectible gaming items - all of which are certain to get hardcore Nintendo fans seriously excited. First up is the Limited Edition Tezuka Osamu World Shop Game Boy Light, a super-rare Japanese exclusive which is emblazoned with...
News Nintendo DS Inspired The Uniqueness Of Wii U
Former president's philosophy still being put into practice
Wii U is currently the system on everyone’s lips. It’s the first home console to add an extra screen to the television with the inclusion of the GamePad, but it’s not the first time Nintendo has added one to its hardware. In an interview on Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun, President of...
News Nintendo Is Sorry For Wii U Load Times, Is Working On A Fix
Satoru Iwata apologises for lengthy waits when switching between applications
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has publicly apologised for the lengthy loading times endured by Wii U users when moving around the console's operating system. The comments were delivered in a Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast. Iwata admitted that the load times were an...
News 3DS Continues To Dominate Sales In Japan
Not even Wii U can stop it
Last week Wii U launched in Japan and clocked up some impressive sales, so impressive that it even outsold the 3DS, which has been dominating hardware sales in Japan for a sustained period and outselling the competition by 2.5 times. However, the Wii U wasn't on top for long as this week the 3DS came back with a...
News Fresh Figures Suggest Nintendo DS Is The Most Popular Console Of All Time
Overtakes the PS2 in global sales
According to VGChartz, the Nintendo DS is now officially the most popular games console of all time. Updated sales state that Nintendo's dual-screen handheld has shifted an amazing 153.69 million units worldwide, while the PS2 has sold 153.68 million. The DS - which hit the market in 2004 - has sold 56.47 million...
News System Faults Didn't Stop THQ From Bringing Metro: Last Light To Wii U
Clarification incoming!
We reported last month that A4 Games - developer of Metro: Last Light - had found that the Wii U had a "horrible, slow CPU", with Huw Beynon of THQ elaborating that the console wasn't "worth pursuing at this time". The end result is that Wii U owners aren't going to see the first person shooter on their consoles next year...
News Japanese 3DS Lifetime Sales Overtake PlayStation 3
Nintendo consoles dominating on home soil
Recently we learnt that the 3DS was dominating sales in Japan with the portable console shifting 2.5 times more units than all other platforms combined. It seems this momentum isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either, as this week’s impressive sales have seen it leapfrog a big rival in total sales...
News Here's A Special Edition 3DS XL And First Trailer For Super Robot Taisen UX
Robot rock
Namco Bandai has released the first trailer for its upcoming 3DS title, Super Robot Taisen UX. Due to hit the portable console on 14th March 2013, the game is classed as a 2D side-scrolling action game based on the popular Japanese series - featuring plenty of anime mech battles with notable characters from the show. To commemorate the...
News Nintendo Confirms It Is Possible To Transfer Network IDs To Another Wii U
Only in the event of a repair, it seems
Last month we reported that Nintendo Network IDs were tied to one console - meaning you couldn't sign into your own account on a friend's Wii U or worse still, if you were unlucky and broke your brand new Wii U, there would likely be no easy way to simply login on a new console and retrieve your details. For...
I shall call it Mini Wii
To say the Wii Mini's announcement was something of a surprise is an understatement. Having just launched the Wii U you would have assumed that Nintendo would want to focus all of its attention on its next-gen system and not risk any other hardware-based distractions. Strange timing aside, the Wii Mini is now a reality - and...
Feature We've Unboxed A Wii Mini So You Don't Have To
Getting to grips with the newest Nintendo console
Exclusive to Canada and lacking online functionality, the Wii Mini might seem like an afterthought on Nintendo's part but that didn't stop us ordering one as soon as they became available and mobbing the courier the moment the package arrived. Nintendo hardware is still Nintendo hardware, after all...
News How A Modified Wii Zapper Inspired The Wii U
Prototype also impacted the development of the 3DS
With the Wii U launching in Japan tomorrow, the latest edition of Iwata Asks focuses on Nintendo Land, one of the console's most significant first-party titles. During the interview, Takayuki Shimamura from EAD's Software Development Department revealed a prototype Wii Zapper - with a screen...
News Nintendo Enjoys Bumper North American Hardware Sales In November
More than 1.75 million hardware units shifted in one month
Nintendo has released its sales figures for the month of November, revealing that it has sold more than 1.75 million units across the US. This means that November 2012 marks the 36th time that Nintendo has sold over 1 million units in a month in North America since 2004. Attributing to this...
News Wii U And 3DS Firmware Updates Go Live
"Further improvements to overall system stability"
Nintendo has pushed out firmware updates to its Wii U and 3DS consoles. In the case of both updates, Nintendo states that they offer "further improvements to overall system stability". This is the second update for the Wii U, following the 1GB install which occurs when new systems are switched on...
News Wii U Update Will Be Available Out Of The Box Next Year
Oh why must U make us wait
We all had to face that dreaded update for Wii U upon first setting it up, leaving no choice but to pop off for a cup of tea or a quick stroll to the shops and back. It has come as no surprise, however, that this hour long update - some have had less time to wait, while others had much longer - will come pre-installed with...
News Sony's President of Worldwide Studios Has A Wii U
Shuhei Yoshida gets his game on
Although most rabid fanboys would love to think that Sony and Nintendo's employees loathe each other so much that they can't even bring themselves to look at a system created by their rival, that obviously isn't the case. Just like common gamers, individuals within these two great companies will have access to a wide...
News Wii Mini Doesn't Include an SD Slot
Just another thing to add to the list
It has been discovered that the recently unveiled Wii Mini system does not have an SD card slot. The new miniaturised Wii, which — bizarrely enough — will only be available to purchase in Canada, is a cut-down version of the original Wii that lacks online functionality or GameCube backward compatibility...
News You Can Use PlayStation 2 Pads On Your Wii U, Should You Want To
Optional extra
Are you a bit bummed about the fact that the Wii U Pro Controller isn't compatible with original Wii titles? Do you consider Sony's iconic Dual Shock pad to be one of the best in the business? Well you're in luck - Datel Japan has released an adapter which allows you to use your PlayStation 2 joypad on the Wii U or Wii. All you have...
News Wii U Wasn't The Only Nintendo Hardware Launch In Europe This Month
We go hands-on with the gorgeous white 3DS XL
Nintendo doesn't do things by halves. November may mark the release month of the Wii U console in Europe, but that hasn't stopped the company from pushing out another piece of tech in the same time period. Today marks the release of the white 3DS XL Super Mario 3D Land bundle in Europe, which follows...
The Nintendo Life verdict on the biggest hardware launch of 2012
After months of waiting, the Wii U is finally here. The system launched in North America on the 18th and comes to European shores today. We’ve had our hands on a Euro console for a while now, and have been putting it through its paces to bring you our impressions of what is...
News Wii U Can Stream MP4 Videos Directly From Your Computer
Watch trailers and more
European Nintendo fans are only just getting their hands on the shiny new Wii U console today, but users in the States are starting to find out some cool hidden features - such as the ability to stream MP4 videos straight from your computer. Entering your computer's IP address into the Wii U browser allows you to beam movies...
News Nintendo Has No Plans To Launch Wii Mini In The UK
For Canada's eyes only
It began as a rumour which led to an official announcement, but we now know that the Wii Mini is real. It's a Canadian exclusive for the time being, but for those of you who may have been hoping that the pint-sized console could travel to the UK in the near future, we've got some bad news. Speaking with
News Molyneux: Wii U Is Good, But It's Not Great
Industry veteran has "unbelievable respect" for its creator, though
Co-founder of 22 Cans and industry legend Peter Molyneux has already spoken out a few times saying he doesn't think modern day consoles are equipped properly for the ever-changing gaming market. Recently the former Bullfrog and Lionhead boss said he "struggles to see anything...
News Wii U GamePad Offers Nine-Axis Controls
Utilises the earth’s magnetic pull
Motion sensors have been a major part of the gaming industry for a while now. Ever since the Nintendo Wii was first revealed all those years ago developers have been clambering over each other to implement motion controls into their games – even more so when it became so successful. Since then we’ve seen...
News Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Dogged By Performance Issues
More frame rate woes
Wii U has launched with more titles to choose from than ever before. Of course those with a keen eye will be quick to point out that this is largely because third party developers have simply ported some of their old games from other platforms over to Nintendo’s new console. One of those titles is Batman: Arkham City Armored...
News Wii Mini Is Official And Has No Online Connectivity
$99 price, December launch in Canada
The leak of the Wii Mini this morning has turned into an official announcement, with Nintendo confirming the existence of the system and launching a dedicated site. The new machine features a fresh two-tone design and retails for $99. At the moment, it looks like being exclusive to Canada, but there's a chance...
News Want To Know What It's Like To Drop Your Wii U GamePad?
Drop it like it's hot
Those crazy guys over at GizmoSlip are known for their drop tests, testing the durability of expensive new gadgets by dropping them from a maximum height of 6 feet onto a concrete surface with no other aim but to see if it smashes into a million pieces or not. The Wii U GamePad was next on their 'to break' list, plunging it to...
News People Are Already Queuing For The Wii U In London
Dedicated fans show their appreciation for Nintendo
Last week we reported that HMV's flagship store on Oxford Street would be hosting the UK's Wii U midnight launch, with the first 100 in the line getting a free copy of New Super Mario Bros. U. Some more prizes and goody bags will be given away on the night too to mark the occasion. It comes as no...
News Best Buy Canada Website Outs Wii Mini, States December 7th Launch
Where there's smoke, there's fire
Remember that Wii Mini rumour we posted the other day? Well Best Buy Canada just upgraded it from "huh?" to "legit". The store's site features an image of the new-look console, which appears to be more akin to a set-top box than the old design. Sadly, clicking the image itself currently takes you to the Wii section...
