Tag: Japan - Page 71
News Analogue Stick Add-On for 3DS Revealed
First look inside
Update: A Nintendo UK representative has confirmed the device is real, saying: We can confirm that Nintendo does plan to release the attachment but that any further announcements on the attachment will be made at some later time by Nintendo. The rumours of a second analogue stick add-on for Nintendo 3DS continue to strengthen,...
Rumour Monster Hunter Tri G To Be Revealed Next Week
It's that time again
Every man and his dog is predicting a Monster Hunter reveal for 3DS soon: Mizuho Security pegged it for TGS 2011, and now another rumour has reared its monstrous head, claiming we'll see the game shown off next week. The source of the rumour is an anonymous Internet poster claiming to work for the Computer Entertainment...
News Dragon Quest X Requires Online Connection
Subscription confirmed too
The revelation of Dragon Quest X for Wii and Wii U came with some uncertainty: will the game be fully playable offline, and will it require a subscription fee to play online? Now a Square Enix FAQ has answered the questions, with mixed results. According to AndriaSang, the document claims that you'll need an Internet...
News A New Dragon Quest Announcement Approaches
Prepare to battle
Square Enix has announced a press conference on Monday to reveal a new entry in the Dragon Quest franchise. While we know that the company is developing Dragon Quest for 3DS, it's more likely the show will bring us our first look at the much anticipated Dragon Quest X on Nintendo Wii, a game that's been in development for years...
News Expect New Product Announcements at 3DS Conference
What could they be?
Nintendo will host a 3DS conference in Japan on 13th September, the company has confirmed. Kicking off at 12:00 midday Japan time, it's being billed a "Nintendo 3DS new product announcement" event, more likely referring to the revelation of new 3DS software than any new hardware. Unlike previous conferences the show...
News Fatal Frame Spin-Off Looms Over 3DS
Spirit Photo comes into focus
The West is still waiting for Fatal Frame IV on Wii, but the development team is now working on a spin-off for the 3DS called Spirit Photo, according to Famitsu (via Andriasang.) Predictably you'll be taking photos of the departed, using the 3DS's cameras in the process. The game also contains something called an AR...
News Picture Lives! Comes to Japan on 7th September
Drawing more details
One of the handful of 3DS downloadable games shown off at E3, Picture Lives! caused a stir with its strange premise: you draw a picture, and it comes to life. The clue's in the name. We haven't heard much about it since that day in June, but we're about to see a lot more as it's reaching Japan on 7th September. Among the new...
News Musical Mario Toys Hit Japan, Score Continuous 1-Ups
Most wanted
Music and Mario go together like Princess Peach and promises of cake, so it's good to see the two celebrated in a new set of Mario toys hitting Japan. Inside Games reports on two new toys, set to retail for around 790 Yen ($10/£6.25/€7), each based on iconic moments from the history of Super Mario. One sees Mario descending into an...
News These Are The 10 NES Ambassador Games in Japan
Here we go
The Nintendo 3DS NES Ambassador games are just two days away, and although there's been no official announcement of the full line-up yet the official Japanese 3DS eShop page has seen an update to feature the 10 NES games. Here's what's going to be available in Japan on Thursday. There may be a few changes to the Western releases, but for...
News A Better Look at Those Samus Aran Statues
Zeroing in
Last weekend saw some new Metroid: Other M figures revealed, and now we have some decent photos of the statues courtesy of Tomopop and Tokyo Hunter. Zero Suit Samus is stood next to a baby Metroid, whereas the poseable Power Suit version of the heroine just comes as-is ready to save the universe, presumably. We're sure some savv
News Analyst Predicts Monster Hunter Announcement at TGS 2011
Here we go again
Every time a major games event comes around, the rumour mill fires up to maximum efficiency and churns out a sludgy stream of hype and nonsense, in which one may occasionally find a glimmering diamond of truth. With Tokyo Games Show a few weeks away, Japanese analyst Mizuho Securities has predicted a big announcement from Capcom at...
News Max Factory to Unleash New Metroid: Other M Figures
Comes in two flavours
Compared to Nintendo's other main franchises, there's an undeniable lack of Metroid merchandise out there in the wild, but Japanese figurine manufacturer Max Factory is taking a stab at correcting that with two new figures based on Metroid: Other M as spotted at a recent Japanese toy fair. One figure will be a small replica of...
News Rhythm Heaven Wii & 3DS Take Japan Chart Top Spots
A good week
Last week 3DS sales leapt in Japan after the console dropped from 25,000 Yen to 15,000 Yen, and it's still ruling the roost this week according to Media Create's figures. The console sold 105,639 units to sit pretty at the top of the chart, outselling all other consoles combined. It was still a sharp decline from the previous week...
News Japan Gets Cool Zelda-Themed Prepaid Cards
Grab the Skyward Sword
Over in Japan, Nintendo releases all kinds of themed cards for its digital stores, from Mario and Link eShop cards to a new range of Zelda 25th Anniversary eShop cards. The cards each focus on a different game, from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to the latest design promoting Skyward Sword. Each costs 1,000 Yen. There's a...
News SEGA's New 3DS Rhythm Game Has the Best Name Ever
Are you ready?
SEGA's supporting 3DS with some of its well-known franchises — Sonic Generations and Shinobi, for instance — but the company is preparing to unleash a brand new series on the console with one of the greatest game names we've ever heard. Are you ready? According to Famitsu, SEGA's readying Rhythm Phantom Thief R: Inheritance of the...
Rumour Nintendo Readying Big Announcement Next Month
What could it be?
According to a collection of rumours rounded-up by Andriasang, Nintendo will make a big announcement on 13th September. A Japanese analyst told Bloomberg that Nintendo share prices had increased on the back of reports of a 3DS-related event to take place on 13th September, two days before the Tokyo Games Show where Nintendo once...
News 3DS Price Cut Helps Machine to Huge Sales Hike in Japan
Back on course?
Last week Nintendo sliced 10,000 Yen from the price of the 3DS with the aim of boosting sales, and it's done just that as the console has leapt to over 200,000 sales in the past week. While exact figures differ — Enterbrain says 215,000, Nikkei reports 207,000 — they're both head and shoulders above any week's sales figures since...
News Japanese 3DS Sales Slump Coincided with Price Cut Announcement
No doubt sales will pick up again soon
How do you temporarily halt sales of the 3DS? In Japan's case at least, an announcement of a price cut that will come into effect the following month will do it. According to Media Create and as reported by Andriasang, the 3DS sold about 16,415 units during the week that ran from 25th to 31st July in Japan...
News Iwata Writes Open Letter to 3DS Owners to Say Sorry
Mail from the boss man
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata speaks to all the key players in Nintendo's company: investors, shareholders, developers and more all meet with the big boss to share concerns and discuss the industry's future. Iwata is a busy man then, but he still took the time to pen a letter to 3DS owners, thanking them for their purchase...
News Iwata Shoulders Blame for Low 3DS Sales, Cuts Salary in Half
"Very, very sorry"
As the 3DS only shifted 710,000 units worldwide between 1st April and 30th June, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is feeling the hit in his own pocket, cutting his own salary in half. Iwata isn't the only high level Nintendo executive taking a hit: Shigeru Miyamoto's salary will drop by around 30%, as will fellow that of managing...
News 3DS Gets Big Price Drop in Japan Next Month
Shaving zeroes
The 3DS has had a sluggish sales start so far but Nintendo is hoping to give the machine a kick start in Japan with a huge price drop effective 11th August. The recommended retail price will drop from 25,000 Yen (around $317 / £196) to 15,000 Yen ($190 / £117), a huge decrease this early in the console's life span. A similar price...
News There's Nothing Suggestive About This Video At All
It's quite normal
Have you heard of Senran Kagura? It's a new 3DS game from Japanese developer Marvelous, best-known for its Harvest Moon games of course. It's going for a slightly different market than the super-family friendly farming series with its newest title, though. The hack-and-slash game was announced back in April, but now we have a new...
News Dr. Mario Cures Japanese Virtual Console Next Week
Say "ahhh"
Japan's about to come down with a fever, and Dr. Mario is the cure. The medicinally-minded Game Boy puzzle game comes to the console next week for 400 Yen. DSiWare fans might already be familiar with the game from Dr. Mario Express, but interestingly this is the first time we've seen the original released on Virtual Console — the NES...
News 3DS Double Sales in Japan After Star Fox and Flare Red Launch
The Fox effect
Star Fox 64 3DS hits the West on 9th September, but it's already out in Japan and has given the console's sales a sizeable boost. Between 11th and 17th July, the game shifted 32,475 units across the country, putting it in sixth position behind two PlayStation baseball games, Taiko Drum Master Portable DX on PSP, Puyo Puyo!! on DS and...
News Get Up Close and Personal with Your Lover in Rune Factory 4
See it all in 3D
Marvelous's popular marriage of farming and action RPG battling Rune Factory is coming to 3DS in the well-rounded form of Rune Factory 4. Whereas previous instalments have jumped you from the "we're in love" stage straight to "marriage, now", Rune Factory 4 wants to slow things down. It's been hurt, you know?...
News Here's How You Play Capcom's 3D Sound Game
You know, Nazo Waku Mansion
Capcom's Nazo Waku Mansion isn't content with just 3D graphics — it's using 3D sound too, along with almost every other 3DS feature imaginable, as you can see in this video below. The young lady playing the game uses the console's gyro sensor, motion detection, microphone, touch screen and more in ways that include...
News First Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Screens and Art Appear
To the Cloud!
The 3DS's first taste of Final Fantasy gaming is coming in the unexpected form of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a rhythm game in a Chibi style. Contrary to early reports, the game is not developed by Jupiter, the team behind the phenomenal The World Ends With You, but instead Electroplankton and Retro Game Challenge team indieszero is...
News Let's Get Ready to Super Pokemon Rumble on 3DS
Gotta bash 'em all
WiiWare monster fans will remember Pokémon Rumble, in which your toy Pokémon fought others in a last-one-standing battle royale. That excitement is coming to 3DS soon with Super Pokémon Rumble (also known as Super Pokémon Scramble) out in Japan this summer. The game uses the classic top-down viewpoint as you battle other toy...
News Iwata Discusses More Built-In 3DS StreetPass Games
Find Mii again
Nintendo's built-in StreetPass games Find Mii (also known as StreetPass Quest) and Puzzle Swap are rather neat incentives to carry your 3DS console around, but once finished there's less reason to venture out into the world with your 3DS in your pocket. Nintendo realises this, and president Satoru Iwata acknowledged the issue at a...
News Square Enix's Final Fantasy 3DS Game is a Little Off-Beat
Cloud used Rhythm Stick!
Square Enix's first foray into 3DS for its beloved Final Fantasy series hasn't come in the expected RPG or Chocobo racing; it's something very different. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a "theater rhythm action game" according to Square Enix, with players tapping the screen in rhythm to progress. Of course the game's...
News Nintendo Still Not Heading into iPhone Games
Pokémon app out of their hands
The announcement of an official Pokémon game for the iPhone and iPod Touch caused some news outlets to speculate that Nintendo was testing the App Store water for its other major properties. This isn't the case of course, as the company clarified. Nintendo shares rose as much as 4.9% after the announcement of...
News Nintendo Invests 16 Billion Yen in Kyoto R&D Building
Got to spend money to make money!
Japanese news publication Nikkan has recently reported on Nintendo's new Kyoto, Japan facility and the amount of investment the company has put into the project. As translated by Andriasang, Nintendo is investing ¥16billion (approximately $204million or £127million) into the new building which will be situated at...
News Japanese 3DS Virtual Console Gets Pac-Man and More
Grey and green with envy
3DS owners in the West can expect to suck up some Kirby's Dream Land today, but over in Japan they're racing ahead with the number of Game Boy games available to download from the eShop. Yesterday saw Golf and Gargoyle's Quest loaded onto the service, with Pac-Man confirmed for release next week. At the moment, the number of...
News Dragon Quest Collection Contains Clip from Dragon Quest X
See it at last
The Japanese Dragon Quest Collection contains Famicom and Super Famicom versions of Dragon Quest, Dragon Quest 2 and Dragon Quest 3, but it also comes with something a little more future-facing. Square Enix announced the game will hit Japan on 15th September, priced ¥4,440 — approximately £34/€38/$54. While this would be steep...
News Japanese Virtual Console List - July 2011
Four more for the Wii
The 3DS Virtual Console is only getting its titles revealed every week, but the Wii Virtual Console is still sticking with the tried and true method of revealing the entire next month's plans at the end of the previous month. There's not really any big surprises this time, though there is one small one in the form of G-mode...
News Nintendo Directors Have Spent 285 Years Shaping the Industry
EXP off the charts
Nintendo's joint position as the venerable grandfather of gaming and constant innovator is a combination of imagination, intelligence and experience, and the latter is something the company's guiding lights certainly are not short of. Nintendo's annual general meeting is coming up next week, and the company will be electing ten...
News Two Japanese Minutes of Star Fox 64 3D Video
Barerurōru o okonaimasu
Star Fox 64 3D is out in Japan in a few weeks, and Nintendo is keen to let the public know about it with a new trailer for the game. By now you likely know what to expect from Fox and team's next adventure: a reimagining of the N64 original (known as Lylat Wars in Europe), this new 3D version also boasts local multiplayer...
News Over 1 Million 3DS Consoles Sold in Japan
Software sales aren't too bad, either
The 3DS is approaching its forth month on the Japanese market, and video gaming magazine Enterbrain has reported that the handheld console has reached an important milestone in terms of hardware sales. It's taken the 3DS 13 weeks to surpass one million domestic sales, slightly slower than the original DS which...
News Here's Japan's 3DS eShop Launch Day Line-Up
3D classics and 3DSWare abound
The eShop launches next week, and Nintendo Japan has revealed the games that will get the ball rolling. In the 3D Classics stakes, there's the already-confirmed Excitebike as well as a new 3D version of classic top-down shooter Xevious. Both games will sell for 600 Yen in Japan, though Excitebike is free for a limited...
News Japanese Gamers Put Off by High Price of 3DS
Are you the same?
3DS had a decent start in Japan but its sales have notably fallen behind the Monster Hunter-powered juggernaut that is the PSP. Japanese survey firm Goo Research quizzed over 1,000 Japanese citizens about why they haven't bought the console yet, with the most common reason simply being "it's too expensive". Other reasons...
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,...
News 16-Shot Legend Takahashi Meijin Leaves Hudson
No parting shots
Takahashi Meijin, known to many as Master Higgins or as the master of rapid fire button-tapping, has announced he is leaving Hudson after nearly 30 years at the company. Joining the company in 1982, Takahashi rose to prominence for his ability to fire 16 shots per second in Hudson's Star Soldier, a skill that led to the creation of...
News Kirby's New DS Game Has a July Date with Japan
So we Gather
The pink puffball's next appearance is locked down for Japan: Atsumete! Kirby — which roughly translates to Gather! Kirby — is coming to DS on 7th July. Last month we brought you the first Atsumete! Kirby gameplay details, which revealed the player will control multiple Kirbies and use their combined power to overcome puzzles and...
News Pandora's Tower Trailer is Very Japanese in A Good Way
Chains of love
Wii adventure Pandora's Tower may be Japan-only for now, as neither Nintendo's American or European arms have revealed any plans to bring the game to the West. Whether or not the game stays in Japan, the trailer below is too good not to share. Key to Pandora's Tower is hero Ende's chains, which can be used to attack enemies, scale...
Rumour Famitsu Details 3DS eShop Launch Line-Up
What have we here?
Everyone's still waiting for details of the 3DS eShop launch: when, what, when, how, when. Apparently a translation by The Magic Box of this week's Famitsu Magazine contains the details of what Japanese gamers will be able to play when the eShop goes live. The firmware update — a date for which was not given — will include...
News Japanese Hardware / Software Sales Show the 3DS Needs a Boost
Launching more decent games might help
If there's anything to be learnt from the Japanese hardware and software sales numbers, it's that Nintendo is struggling to recapture the dominant performance of the 3DS when it first launched. After reclaiming the top spot in the hardware chart, the 3DS was once again overtaken by th
News Nintendo Expected Higher 3DS Sales
Slips from the top of the Japanese hardware chart
It's been on the Japanese market for a couple of months now and worldwide for about half that time, but the 3DS simply isn't selling as expected by Nintendo. During Satoru Iwata's presentation at Nintendo's Financial Results Briefing, the president admitted that sales of the handheld started to slow...
News 3DS Soars Back to the Top of the Japanese Hardware Chart
The back and forth struggle between 3DS and PSP begins
After a dominating start, sales of the 3DS in Japan have slowly been on the decrease and more recently, have been overtaken by the PlayStation Portable in the hardware sales chart. Now, it seems the 3DS is regaining momentum as the sales figures from last week are revealed. For the period...
News There's a Touch of Virtual On to this New DSiWare Game
Called "Battle of Elemental"
There aren't enough games that pit giant weapon-packed robots against each other and there never will be, but even after several years we've still got a soft spot for Sega's Virtual On series. This arena-based robot combat title has never quite conquered the mainstream, but its influence is keenly felt in several titles,...
News Your First Look at Pandora's Tower is Below These Words
Open the box
Nintendo's financial report in January this year unearthed all sorts of interesting bits of news, including Pandora's Tower on Wii. The game stayed hidden atop a lofty tower until now, as Nintendo has released the first trailer for its Wii adventure. The game appears to be a story-driven action game, with cutscenes spliced between...
