Zaphod_Beeblebrox

This game undoubtedly uses peer-to-peer networking (meaning the 3DSes communicate directly with each other, not through some game-managing server other than for the initial handshake to punch a hole through each other's NATs). If true, the lag is the fault of the Internet, not the game, and isn't going to go away. It's just an annoying fact of life.

Search apparently only searches your own region (even if you switch the community list to a different region). I was not able to find the KORG M01D community using search (since it only exists in the European community list). Extremely annoying.

I'd be all over this if it were on the 3DS. Koi-koi was my favorite game in the Clubhouse Games (42 All-time Classics) collection for the DS.

I hope they can consider bringing this game to the 3DS eShop in the future.

I have absolutely ZERO interest in VR gaming. None. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. I will spend $0.00 on VR gaming in my lifetime.

setInterested(true);

Are the streams still about 30 seconds behind real time?

Got my attention. Hopefully there will be a Winnebago space ship. Because Spaceballs.

@Undead_terror Neither have I.

@Scary_Old_Lady They're actually saying "Snowmads" (a portmanteau of "snow nomads").

Brian Blessed. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES.

Did someone say "ideas similar to those seen in franchises such as Dragon Quest"??? I'm a Dragon Quest fanatic. I played DQIX until the cartridge almost burst into flames.

I don't (and won't) have a Facebook account so I hope Level-5 is reading these comments too.

Thank goodness for the YouTube alternative (in the US). Nintendo needs to fire Ustream.

As for the content of the Direct, I thought it was great. I don't understand the negativity. Oh well. Can't make everyone happy, I guess.

I loved Xenoblade Chronicles. It was astounding what they managed to do with the Wii console. I can't wait to see what they can do with a Wii U. I'm glad they are taking their time to make a great game.

@Philip_J_Reed said: "Samus's Epic Yarn"

That is actually not a bad idea.

@MrPockets That's what I thought. Thanks.

Wasn't Hometown Story reviewed by Nintendo Life? Has the review been deleted?

XSEED can't mention the eShop option because some sociopath was spewing venom on their Facebook page about the games XSEED has only published digitally. The XSEED rep was politely and patiently trying to explain (over and over) that it is financially unfeasible to release some games physically. And the sociopath would just respond with more hateful, oblivious venom.

Bought my copy of RF4 on the eShop (on day 1, hour 1). Love not having to hunt for a cartridge to play the game.

Classic Games Overload: Card and Puzzle Edition ($19.99 in the eshop) has over 200 variations of solitaire. It also has some casino games like poker but I'm not a poker player so I cannot give a qualified opinion about the quality of implementation (rules, AI, etc.).

I own a copy but I only play the solitaire card games. The user interface is adequate...not great but it gets the job done.

Here are some links for more info:

http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/4Z1xZdHkgOuCW0hBZtvbK9EQFQrOA03C
http://www.telegames.com/3ds-cgo_cp.htm

I bought and played all the way through Arkanoid Plus! (WiiWare) so it's a pretty sure bet I'll be buying Siesta Fiesta.

Will Nintendo Life be changing its name to Nintendo Quality of Life?

I am extremely skeptical. Specializing in non-wearable "QOL" devices sounds like they'll have the same problem they now have in the mobile gaming arena: the majority of people are carrying smart phones, not dedicated portable gaming devices.

It's too late to abandon the GamePad. Sacrifices were made to the main console to compensate for the cost of the GamePad. It's too late to turn back now unless they are going to update (i.e., replace) the main console with something more capable (which is very unlikely to happen).

Google won't care what Nintendo does with its Android apps but isn't Apple extremely defensive about its territory? I think if Nintendo tries to promote its own hardware and software platform in iOS apps, Apple is going to boot them out of the app store. That's just my prediction.

Angry Catapults.

Go away, EA.

Here's another link:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/earnings/140117/index.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-17/nintendo-forecasts-net-loss-on-stagnating-sales-of-wii-u-games.html

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2014/140117e.pdf

If they are hiring for online right now, it's going to be bolted-on, box-checking ("yeah, we got online...check dat box") garbage. Or the game isn't going to be released this year. Pick at least one.

Someone with sufficient privs (admin?) needs to rename a certain account to @BlatantlyTrolling

Also remember that Nintendo specifically recommends AGAINST using USB flash memory:

"Because these devices have a limited number of rewrites and are not suited to long-term storage of important game data, we do not recommend the use of Flash/thumb drives as an external storage device solution. For best results, we recommend using a hard drive with its own power supply that connects to the Wii U via the USB port on the console."

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wiiu/en_na/system_external_storage.jsp?menu=general_info&submenu=wup-external-usb-storage

@StarDust: Yes, Minecraft on PS3:

http://www.examiner.com/article/over-half-a-million-players-have-now-tried-minecraft-ps3-edition

Here's a review on NL's sister site, Push Square:

http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psn/minecraft_playstation_3_edition

Minecraft on Wii U is "dead as a can of Spam."

I'm not qualified to be a judge because I played a microscopic millifraction of the games. But that didn't stop me from voting, of course.

I have only one thing to say: FIRE EMBLEM AWAKENING, BABY!!!!!

I too would prefer a digital copy of the game (to avoid disc swapping). I'm glad the download offer is available until the end of January. Thanks for the info, @zipmon.

Funky Barn 2: GOTY Edition

I suspect Nintendo is holding Smash back to be a launch title for the "Wii U2".

only kidding, folks

Our local AT&T Mobile store and McDonald's don't work but Home Depot, Barnes and Noble (with a Starbucks), and Best Buy work great. I'll hit those places next weekend.

Oh, our local Best Buy had about 50 Wii U consoles in stock the last time I was in there. They were just piled on the floor. Not locked in a cabinet. I was tempted. One of these days I'm going to buy one.

I didn't sign any petition but I bought Xenoblade directly from Nintendo of America's online store. I wasn't able to buy the other two games because my Wii's disc drive died before they were released. Playing so many hours of Xenoblade probably killed it.

If the Rune Factory series is dead, I'm going to have to buy a Wii U so I can replay Frontier and Tides. The disc drive laser in my Wii is dead and it isn't worth repairing.

Whoa...so you can do all sorts of stuff you couldn't do in RUSH (WiiWare). It's like RUSH on steroids.

If he's really an employee, he's a world-class megalomoron. What is it with some people and Twitter? Duh?

Woohoo! I bought it and I've started punching in Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag (sheet music available in PDF format on the web). Nothing like diving into the deep end with some ragtime music. I haven't read music in decades so I had to give myself a crash refresher course on the web.

The default piano sounds great! I predict playing the Maple Leaf Rag with different instruments will be really amusing.

OK, I'll post my future blatherings in the forum thread.

@onyxbox Yeah, my wife used to have a professional Roland piano. How much can "just a keyboard" possibly weigh? Answer: BWAAAA HA HA HA HA!!!

No one has mentioned it so I'm going to say it: GREAT REVIEW. Thanks!

I have no artistic talent whatsoever but I've been debating about buying this anyway just to "play with music". And it's vastly, vastly, vastly cheaper (and more portable) than buying almost any other kind of musical instrument (not including the cost of the 3DS since I already own it, of course).

I wish the Nintendo of America web site would sell Hanafuda, Mahjong, etc. (for money, not Club Nintendo points).

I may express doubts about the Wii U from time to time but I've never been foolish enough to think that Nintendo is "doomed". Nintendo has the resources to learn from its mistakes. Whether the Wii U turns out to be successful or not, Nintendo will carry on.

It's only 879 miles (1,415 kilometers, drive time 12 hours and 55 minutes) to the Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience closest to me!!! Road Trip to Chandler, AZ!!!!

It would be cheaper to just buy a Wii U.

If Target is a "premier destination for video games in the US", my nose is a trombone.

@Nintenjoe64 said: "Please understand, m****** *******s!"

You got a genuine laugh from me for that. Thanks! In fact, I just laughed again.

@LUIGITORNADO One of the greatest tennis players of all time. Retired in 2006. Born in Las Vegas, lives in Las Vegas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Agassi