SpentAllMyTokens

Meh, I'll just pick up the 3DS version when I get all that sorted out.

That market looks goooood.

Oooh, purty.

Are you guys going to be doing a liveblog again for those who can't watch livestream (stupid work)?

Well written article. I really think AR could be the wave of the future, though in these, still formative stages, you need a simple, yet well polished and fleshed out, hook for it to work - think the original SMB back in the day. Also, I'm wondering how useful it AR really be on a portable device. I can't be flailing around with my DS on the subway.

That being said, portables don't need to be "revolutionary." Just give me some solid, fun games (I'd love to see new IPs too), and I'll be happy. The grandest and most revolutionary experiences have been in the home console medium for the most part.

@Cowlaunch
That sort of happened with the DS launch too with every game forced to shoehorn in touch screen controls to demonstrate it was a viable control method. After the initial experimentation phase, devs learned when touch screen controls worked best and how to make intuitive control schemes. At least everything with the 3DS right now is optional, so if an experiment doesn't quite work, you can always fall back on your trusty buttons. You can choose which makes a game more fun for you - 3D or motion controls. Unfortunately, given the nature of portable devices, you can't have both.

How much is it going to cost to play 2 player? Wiimote+Nunchuck was bad enough!

I'll definitely pick this up, even though I have the GCN disk, just so I won't feel bad about losing the ability to play MQ if the Wii2 loses GCN backwards compatibility. I may even get it before I get my 3DS!

@everyone complaining about this stuff not being online, how archaic Nintendo's online system is, blah blah blah.

This is a deal struck with Best Buy. Best Buy is likely PAYING Nintendo to offer this content (much of which will probably be offered online after the BB distribution ends). The benefit of this is that 3DS owners are going into Best Buy and will likely be tempted by games and other tech things Best Buy sells. They will buy said things there, and not at, say, Gamestop or Target.

I'm not sure how this makes Nintendo's online program worse than Microsoft/Sony. Many PS360 games offer exclusive preorder items (costumes, weapons, sometimes even entire missions) for games that are different at every store. Customers have to choose where they want to preorder and no-one has the option of actually getting, you know, the entire game at launch (unless they preorder/buy 5 different copies from different stores). This really isn't that big a deal guys. At least this stuff is free to anyone.

Cool. Want. (I never could unlock 3D green hill in SA2, so sweet!)

Will handhelds disappear in the foreseeable future due to smartphone competition? maybe.
Will physical media? probably.
Will home consoles? no way. They'll be very different from what we have today (see my prediction above of abandoning physical media), but you can't get a group of people to gather around and play together on portable devices (well, you can, but it's not the same as on a TV).

I'd like to see the Neo Geo Pocket Color Sonic game. I heard it was good, but the NGPC died to quickly for it to be worthwhile to pick up just for one game.

Checked out a comparison video between WW/DC, and it doesn't look that much different. It looks like most of what was cut was audio resolution and shadows, which doesn't bother me too much and is more than made up for by pointer controls and convenience. It's really impressive they got this game down to 40MB while keeping it a respectable port. You really have to wonder about certain devs pulling their games from WW due to size restrictions after this (though, more space for music would have been welcomed here, certainly). I have this on DC, but maybe now I'll finally beat it!

Not a whole lot I can add, but I thought this was a really good game. I thought Midna was quite an interesting and funny sidekick character, and I like the take on her transformation from the article. I think she's definitely the best sidekick. I also loved searching the towns in the dark. Honestly, my only issue was the low difficulty level (except for the sky temple, that was really tricky), especially with the bosses. The dungeons, while mainly interesting, were a little too formulaic as well. I hope SS mixes things up a bit.

I also thought sailing in WW was the most BORING thing ever. I'm planning on replaying it, and I'm hoping I like it more, but I quit that game, because I just got sick of sailing. It seems people like either WW or TP, but not both. Don't know why.

Also, I think a lot of people look at Zelda games expecting to feel the same sense of wonder and excitement their first Zelda game gave them. That's not going to happen. It can't. You're not a child anymore; no game will blow you away like the greatest titles during your formative years. You just need to accept that and enjoy games for what they are!

Added to the ever increasing wishlist. I still need to finish MFC and Shantae!

Microsoft is supposedly announcin their new console at E3 too, so Cafe's parity with other consoles won't last long.

Sega still does what nintendon't! Hooray for VC translations!

I'd love to see this game released here, though I can't see it coming out un-dubbed to save $$ in the US (though I'd buy it with just subs). The translators cost more than the voice actors. Also, Americans in general don't like to read. Foreign films rarely do well here, unless they are dubbed compared to other countries. It'd really be only niche. I hear Europeans are generally a little more amenable to subtitles, so maybe there.

Hopefully, we'll hear something at E3!

I guess that's why we haven't seen them on the VC yet.

Hopefully all of the stuff with devs for close to launch shop games have been worked out, and this is just an opportunity for them to tech demo the final shop interface and all of the features they will have when they update, which is why everyone is meeting in person all together.

The next Monday would be the 23rd, and then there's Memorial Day. Those were the two dates everyone was guessing anyways, so no surprises here.

Finally the update we've all been waiting so long for....

Oh wait, flashcart blocks and possible compatibility for DSi Transfers. That makes sense. I don't use flashcarts, so I'll update next time I get out my DSi.

Can't believe it's almost that time of year again. Where does the time go?

Can't wait for the MDK2 review. If there are pointer controls for shooting and the port is smooth, I'm definitely picking this up.

I don't think this is for NA, because I can't see anything either.

I'd pick up NSMBWii and maybe Wario Ware if they made budget editions of them.

@TeeJay

My thoughts exactly!

Guess we're going to be buying lots of SD cards if Ninty is offering the sort of DLC that other consoles have along with GCN games on the shop. It'd be crazy if they don't offer the hardware PS360 have offered for the past 6 years though.

@Rensch - I'd love to see NSMBWii drop to $20 too. I have all of the listed games I want. If it's still selling at $50, that probably won't happen though.

I do know people who have sold their Wii to get Kinect. But Kinect's going to get the "casuals don't buy games" criticism Wii has gotten to the extreme. The only game people I know have bought for it is Dance Central. I think you'll see people who just used Wii as a party console (and who already also have an Xbox) selling their Wii, but they probably weren't buying lots of software anyways.

^^I doubt that would happen so soon after the console's launch but that would be sweet! Gold 3DS ftw.

It would be a great 3D Classic. I'd rather see new games getting retail efforts for a while though.

Sweet. I've always wanted to play this, but was holding out for the cheaper VC version. Good to hear NA will be seeing this soon (well, soon by NoA's definition).

Meh, I take to long to beat games for this to be worth it. But for a quick demo for a game I'm on the fence about, this is nice.

I'm glad to hear this too. No button interfaces work great for some games, and I would be happy to see a touch screen somehow incorporated into the new console (taking notes on the map in Zelda PH was the biggest convenience ever). However, for many types of games, buttons are just necessary. I'm glad Nintendo seems to be about giving devs/players all sorts of control options.

I must say, the graphical update for Starfox is very impressive.

@James - Clever caption.

Hopefully they'll have a cheap standalone version without the Wiimote. I would have preferred a white WM+ to match my other Wiimotes.

While I think the eshop should definitely have been available out of the box (along with transfers), you can't really expect them to have gotten 3D movies out at launch. Netflix doesn't even have 3D movies for streaming (though I imagine some of their blu-rays support 3D).

Also, I believe while Netflix streaming was confirmed - 3D streaming was not. This makes sense as there will need to be a large enough market share of 3DTV's AND 3DS's to make that worthwhile.

As for launch titles, this is a great way for Ninty to put 3rd parties first for a bit. Of course, 3rd parties aren't huge system sellers, but I bet a lot of people bought these games who wouldn't have if they had launched alongside OoT. Plus, staggering these games leads to fewer shortages, which is great for me.

Is there anywhere one can get the classic Burger Time? Ugh, why'd you have to throw this interview up at dinner time. Now I'm hungry!

When will this update be Iwata?! Inquiring minds want to know!

I think there is a big issue with them putting the "DS" name on it, in that I think a lot of people really do think it's a DS with a 3D screen as opposed to the next generation in handhelds. I think Iwata is right in that they really have to advertise other features to show that even without the 3D, this is a device worth picking up. The 3D is just a really cool feature.

Also, it's difficult to advertise things like Streetpass before there's much market saturation. I don't know anyone in real life who has one yet, so I don't see that feature being very useful now. Plus, if there aren't any games I'm interested in that are out now that use it, well, it doesn't matter. As for online connectivity...well...they'd have to implement that first...

Playing with motion controls would be fun, but given the precision Rhythm Heaven requires, I'm glad they went with buttons too.

I agree that SS is all I need and everything else is just icing on the cake (I still need to get a 3DS after all). I'm hoping to see more of Last Story and Pandora's tower. There's also WiiPlay M+ and hopefully rhythm paradise, so thats...5 games. If you're having trouble meeting that release schedule in the US, Nintendo, there's always NPC Pikmin 2...

Hopefully this will stop all those who complain about NLife giving high review scores just because devs advertise/are friends with staff/etc. A 5 technically means average on Nintendo Life (even though sometimes with game reviews online it seems like 7 is the default "average"), so it's not like shooter fans can't get anything enjoyable out of it.

What a random game concept.

I think the games released this fiscal year were pretty big sellers: Mario Galaxy 2, DKCR, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Pokemon B/W, and Pokemon SS mid-March at the very end of last fiscal year. The DS lineup hasn't been the strongest this year though when it comes to big system sellers.

Really, between hardware price drops and market saturation. This makes sense. We're also on the cusp of a new hardware cycle, so people are probably biding their time on buying old hardware. That being said, while I'm sure the 3DS will do very well and the Wii 2 will turn a profit (can't really say more since I don't know much about it), I can't see lightning striking twice for Nintendo like it did this gen. with all the new competition.

Straight port of Diddy Kong Racing to eshop please (none of the changes they made for the DS version). I doubt it'll happen, but I would be one happy token.

They're really going to have to do something with this game (not motion controls, don't think it will be precise enough for a small screen) to get me to buy it. I think Nintendo gets away with remaking OoT, because there's no shortage of recent Zelda games. There have been 2 original ones on DS and there's SS coming out this year for Wii. Plus it includes MQ which was only released on a collectors edition GCN disc.

However, there hasn't been a Starfox game since GCN/near DS launch, and there hasn't been a true to form Starfox game SINCE N64. I think most people would rather have a new Starfox game than the same game they can play on the VC for $10. I'm not enthused about this game yet, but if they add some all new levels, maybe.

Oh, thank God! I was so worried!

Meh, I know it'll be a wait for these (but I do want to see Kid Icarus - I bet that will be a late summer release unless EVERYTHING else is delayed and they need it for the holidays), but I just can't wait to SEE all of this at E3. Plus Skyward Sword. Plus Cafe reveal. It's going to be a sweet E3.

Nice free game. It's a shame we have to wait until late may, but hopefully I'll have a permanent job by then (so I can buy it guilt free).

I just wish I could have a real cat. Virtually sitting on your lap (or ignoring you) just wouldn't be the same.