justinluey

Wow. Great week for Europe. I hope we get Metroid and the Sega sale in North America.

@LEGEND_MARIOID No. The PDP and Hori (pictured above) controllers are Wii Classic controllers with a very similar design to the GameCube controller. They both plug into a Wii Remote. They will work with Smash Bros. for Wii U and any game that supports the Wii Classic controller.

Nintendo is releasing an adapter that allows you to use original GameCube controllers, and they are also selling a Smash Bros. branded GameCube controller. It's a regular GameCube controller, so it doesn't have a Home button and will only work with Smash.

@dok5555555 No, those are made my PDP and were announced before E3.

@FX102A Nintendo said that the pre-order DLC would be available in the eShop, but no one knows if it will be included in the season pass.

@Hy8ogen The flyer was wrong. eShop cards are 25% off at all locations. I've bought several. http://forums.redflagdeals.com/target-psn-xbox-live-cards-25-also-10-off-currency-cards-1544931/

Great list and prices.

For Canadians:

Today is the last day to save an additional 25% by buying eShop cards at Target.

Heads up to anyone in Canada:

Starting tomorrow eShop cards are 10% off at Target (additional 5% for Redcard members).

Excellent list. I hope North America gets the Hyrule Warriors sale too. I'd liked to complete my Zelda VC eShop collection.

I love my XL, but these cover plates have me considering a "New" 3DS instead of a "New" XL.

They must have added a very small number of Pikmin bags, or there was a huge pent up demand for physical rewards, because the Pikman bag was available for months previously.

I wouldn't count Hyrule Warriors out just yet. Nintendo games tend to have a long life, and even though this isn't a really Nintendo developed game, it is part of two strong franchises.

It also looks like they intend to support the game with significant DLC, so that will also help in the long run.

Reviews are better than expected, so that will help with a game that a lot of people took a "wait and see approach".

I don't think the Zelda "skin" helps that much (maybe even hurts the game?) in Japan, but will be huge in the West. I know lots of people (including myself) who have never played a Warriors game, but have Hyrule Warriors pre-ordered. This is also a game that will sell well this holiday.

My only concern is the title. I wonder if Nintendo should have found a way to work "Zelda" into the title in the West. I know why they didn't, but it is a risk.

I wouldn't count Hyrule Warriors out just yet. Nintendo games tend to have a long life, and even though this isn't a really Nintendo developed game, it is part of two strong franchises.

It also looks like they intend to support the game with significant DLC, so that will also help in the long run.

Reviews are better than expected, so that will help with a game that a lot of people took a "wait and see approach".

I don't think the Zelda "skin" helps that much (maybe even hurts the game?) in Japan, but will be huge in the West. I know lots of people (including myself) who have never played a Warriors game, but have Hyrule Warriors pre-ordered. This is also a game that will sell well this holiday.

My only concern is the title. I wonder if Nintendo should have found a way to work "Zelda" into the title in the West. I know why they didn't, but it is a risk.

Good numbers for the 3DS and Wii U.

The most interesting thing is that a new PS3 title (Persona 4 Arena Ultimax) can still significantly increase the sales of a last generation console.

I think that is one of the reason's Nintendo is struggling in other regions. In Japan a single great title can still move consoles, everywhere else people seem to value choice or quality.

I know Internet commenting attracts negativity, but you guys are ridiculous. Nintendo said from the beginning these would be priced "similarly" to other products in the market.

This is the suggested retail price, and it's the same as Disney Infinity and less than Skylanders. They look fantastic and they have the potential to work with many games across two platforms.

You can also except to see sales and other promotions. So if you're patient, you'll be able to buy them for less than $10.00

I was buying both anyways, but this is a nice bonus. This is exactly what Nintendo should be using Club Nintendo for.

@Caryslan (and the few others that are upset)

You have the right to be angry (or any other emotion) but don't try to justify it by saying Nintendo is being anti-consumer or making a bad business move.

This announcement is close to perfect. It's inline with what they've done in the past, and it blows their competitors way.

This upgrade is good for everyone:

• It will breathe new life into the platform, which will mean better software/hardware/retail support.
• It will attract new people into the ecosystem. More incentive for developers to pump resources into the platform.
• It will enhance the experience for some existing users. The upgrade cost is relativity small for people who have hundreds, if not thousands invested in software.

The only potential negative is fragmentation, but Nintendo has a long track record of minimizing it. In this case:

• They will sell an adapter for NFC (already confirmed).
• If games require the second circle pad, I can almost guarantee the Circle Pad Pro will work.

And if developers (including Nintendo) decide to make games exclusively for the new revision (it will be rare), you'll have to decide if it's worth the upgrade for you. Nintendo isn't doing anything underhanded. Nintendo products (also like Apple) hold their value incredibly well. So if you took care of your 3DS/2DS you will be able to upgrade for next to nothing.

@chiefeagle02 You're right that Nintendo is like Apple and that's a good thing. Both companies continue to improve their already best-in-class platforms and make backwards compatibility a priority. Apple and Nintendo may release new hardware every year, but they do a great job supporting their old stuff.

Most Android manufacturers release a new phone every few months, and often it's not possible to upgrade the OS.

PS4 and Xbox One have no backwards compatibility. And the Vita supports some PSP games digitally but you have to buy them again.

Nintendo is a lot like Apple. They often take longer to introduce certain features, but they usually get it right when they do.

Even without DLC Nintendo has the most "evergreen" games in the industry, if they add quality DLC to the mix and a more reasonable account system, their games can sell for 10+ years.

That's what so many people (analysts and fans) miss: Nintendo is playing the long game.

@unrandomsam

I agree that Mario Kart 8 doesn't offer the amount of content that those two games, but there is a lot of content there. I doubt there are many people who feel they didn't get $50-$60 worth of value.

@mystman12

@IxC 's opinion is absurd, but at least he admits it.

No one should have a problem with DLC, if the extra content is worth the price, and the original game was worth it's initial price.

Mario Kart 8 was a bargain at the original asking price. It was loaded with content and it's one of the best rated games of the year (press and consumers). The DLC is completely optional and adds a lot of content for a small amount of money.

@yuwarite Where is the evidence that it's not? History isn't a guarantee, but it's usually a pretty good indicator. I'm betting that it will be.

@kereke12

Sorry, but your post makes no sense. So "people (gamers)" don't "respect" Nintendo because they aren't on mobile or because they are considering it?

Your entire premise is flawed, because Nintendo is probably the most respected company in the history of the industry. Some people criticize them for not being on mobile, but many respect them for not releasing watered down ports. In many cases mobile ports hurt the reputation of the game and drive down the value of the game.

In a perfect world, Nintendo will continue to build unique hardware and release exclusive games for them, and at the same time release quality apps on mobile.

@yuwarite Who said it wasn't?

Plus, it can easily be justified. Nintendo's reason for not rushing to mobile is because they don't think they can create great experiences on the current hardware and they are worried about devaluing their games.

A card game is obviously perfect for a touch screen device, and it doesn't devalue the Pokemon brand or the main series. If they feel they can create a quality experience on 3DS and Wii U, I'm sure they will.

Very smart move by Nintendo. It's a great way to expand the reach of the card game and the Pokemon brand without comprising their vision for the main series. Especially with the current popularity of card games.

I don't understand why some people are so emotional about the issue of Nintendo on mobile. This shouldn't be viewed as a "black or white" or "all or nothing" issue. If Nintendo believes they can offer a compelling experience on mobile, they absolutely should. A healthy business built on third party mobile platforms doesn't hurt their exclusive titles.

It's too soon for the Galaxy games. My money is on Super Mario Sunshine.

@unrandomsam That is exactly the conundrum I was referring to. Typically DLC doesn't sell well for older games, but I could imagine that being different for Nintendo, because people tend to play Nintendo games longer and revisit them more often.

The Mario Golf DLC disappointed some people, because of the perception that the content was ready and just should have been added to the game.

I hate the idea that developers are holding back content or shipping games with less content, because they want to sell DLC. Mario Golf didn't bother me, because the game already had more content than previous games in the series, and was sold at a reduced price. Plus the DLC provided good value for the price.

@jos I understand why it upsets you, but it doesn't bother me. I wouldn't pay for cosmetic DLC anyway. I'll just download the free stuff from Club Nintendo, and if the costumes are available in a "pack" that includes other valuable content, I'll consider buying it.

@sillygostly I don't think that will be the case with Hyrule Warriors. Nintendo is wary of DLC because of the perception that it's a crash grab or poor value, and even though this isn't their game, I bet they put restrictions on Tecmo Koei.

I think you'll see a limited number of DLC "packs" that will include costumes, weapons, characters, and maybe even stages.

Keep in mind that this isn't a first party Nintendo title, and Nintendo is one of the only companies left that hasn't jumped on the DLC and retailer specific exclusive DLC.

They are in a no-win situation: people complain when they don't offer DLC, but complain when they do (see Mario Golf).

I think it's great that they are offering free DLC to Club Nintendo members. They should keep finding ways to reward Nintendo fans through Club Nintendo.

I hope the pre-order bonus DLC is available to everyone for free at some point in the future, or available to purchase at a reasonable rate.

Smart decision to offer more games per month, and this is an awesome list to start with.

I wonder if Nintendo is toying with the idea of turning Club Nintendo into a Playstation Plus competitor? Remember Iwata said they were working on a new way to reward loyalty.

Here's an idea off the top of my head:

Club Nintendo becomes a loyalty program that lets you download a "couple" free games a month, a Gold or Platinum digital reward at the end of the year, and eventually extras like cloud saves.

To become a Club Nintendo member, you can either pay $50/year or earn a free membership by redeeming coins from games.

I also hope that Club Nintendo goes 90% digital, but offers a couple awesome physical rewards per year.

Where did the $10 price come from? I wouldn't expect them to be less than $15.00 USD.

I'll probably end up buying them all. I'll wait for a sale or clearance for Marth and the Wii Fit Trainer, but the rest will be instabuys.

I've gone from: "maybe I'll pick this up from the bargain bin" to pre-ordering it.

I like this decision, if there will still be physical rewards available throughout the year. If this is a sign that all physical rewards are being phased out, I will be very disappointed.

@Intrepid I agree. I really like Nintendo Life, but this isn't the first time they've used misleading titles or images to get clicks.

I understand that sites need to make money, but in the long run, great content is more profitable than cheap tricks.

I hope @Dazza responds. It would be nice to know why he chose the title or if there is an editor that made the decision.

I knew it was going to be a Tomodachi Life video, but I assumed it was going to be a fan creation. I love that Nintendo is doing stuff like this.

Awesome.

I've never played a Warriors game and I don't really like 'hack and slash' games, but the addition of Zelda piqued my interest. Now that I've read the recent interviews and seen the gameplay, I'm sold.

I think it's a no lose situation for hardcore Zelda fans. If the game is mediocre, it will be worth the price just to spend a few hours playing with these beloved characters and having another Zelda game to add to the shelf.

If the game is great, and has the added depth that the developers are promising, than it's a really nice bonus.

@DefHalan I think we'll see more Wii Sports Resort. They've already added the golf course from Wii Sports Resort to Wii Sports Club for free.

Boxing and Baseball were the sports I was least interested in, but the added gamepad support for Baseball and the "two for $10" price model makes it a no brainer. It also makes the retail game the same price as the digital, so the early adopters won't feel ripped off.

Almost 200 comments, and no one has been able to articulate why they are against this.

This is free and totally optional; sounds like the perfect scenario for DLC.

Well done Nintendo! This is how you do a bundle moving forward. Nintendo is a hardware and software company that has a lot of fans that still like to buy physical releases.

@Smooching

You're right. Nintendo needs a cloud storage solution for saves, but in the meantime they should allow users to backup their saves on the SD card. That could easily be added in a firmware update.

This is fantastic news. I'd buy one just for Smash Bros., but I hope this is a sign that Nintendo is about to get its act together when it comes to the Virtual Console. The first step is to get all the games supported on the Wii into the eShop.

(Can anyone explain why Nintendo 64 aren't available on the eShop?)

The next step is to make even more games available from even more systems. I hope the Wii U is capable of emulating GameCube games, but if not, every other system should be available.

The final step is to release a $99 - $149 streaming box that would compete with Apple TV, Roku, Google, etc. This Nintendo streaming box could offer video services (Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, etc.) with the current Wii U channel interface, but also offer all the classic systems as channels. If Nintendo is really smart, they will allow people to either buy games or pay a subscription fee to rent the games.

They could make more money by selling extra controllers. The base system would come with a multipurpose controller like the Wii Classic controller, but they could sell wireless NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and GameCube controllers.

This would be the "best of both worlds" for Nintendo. They would be fully embracing digital, but still selling hardware.

Nintendo and other developers need to learn from Bravely Default's demo. It was a standalone experience that actually encouraged you to play the complete demo and rewarded you for buying the full game.

Tomodachi Life would have been perfect for this approach. Nintendo should have let everyone populate their island with Miis and get settled into their "new life" for free, and then provide the option to transfer all the info into the full game.

The author was pretty clear that the image included with the article isn't the new Gamecube inspired controller, but it was still a poor choice of images, and it should have been obvious that it would lead to confusion.

This is the problem with sites that slavishly adhere to the "blogging 101" rule that every post has to have an image. I understand that this is a business, and typically blog posts with images get more clicks, but that doesn't make it okay to include misleading or irrelevant images.

The author could have (and should) have waited for PDP to supply a mockup, or commissioned a mockup, or used a placeholder graphic that stated the design is pending.

@Judah_83 This bundle is a great value, and had they launched with something similar, it definitely would have helped. But I still think the name and marketing hurt it more than the price.

As good of a deal as this is, $299 would have been a real statement.

This is a very good bundle, and will definitely attract former Nintendo owners, who decided against or weren't aware of the Wii U. The price is good, and even better with the downloadable free game. They better make sure they have stickers on the box or something in store to make sure people know they are getting a second game.

@gatorboi352 You are either exaggerating or live in a parallel universe. Trade/Industry shows are on the decline, because more and more companies are choosing to interact with customers and press directly.

And E3 is not covered by the mainstream media in any meaningful way. If a national or local "nightly news" broadcast covers E3, it is a 30-second package with: a shot of people standing in line, a sound bite from an executive, and 10 seconds of footage from the latest uncanny valley game.

@ikki5 I agree that these different approaches are not mutually exclusive, and Nintendo should always consider both. I also agree that creating a spectacle (excitement) in front of live people has benefits, but I think you (and others) are exaggerating those benefits.

Nintendo is a company that is still making some great products (their games) and some good products (their hardware), but are struggling to market them.

Nintendo fans are a pretty loyal bunch, so they aren't a big problem. And Nintendo products are mostly lost on the "hardcore" gamer who only plays the latest first-person-shooter. Nintendo has to market to a wider audience so they can sell some games, and convert a small percentage of those people into loyal fans.

As far as "sales people" go, we'll have to agree to disagree. I can't remember a single time that a sales person conveyed "excitement" or "dedication". I usually avoid them altogether. I research products online, consider opinions of people who actually use the product, and buy it somewhere that I can avoid "sales people" (no offense to any sales people reading, it's just not my thing).

@ikki5 I appreciate your response and respect your opinion, but I'm not sure that was ever true, and if it was, that time is over. Connecting with your audience (fans) directly online is a viable, if not preferable way to demonstrate your excitement about a product.

Kickstarter is a great example of this. The Pebble smart watch is more successful than any of the products from the "traditional" companies that held "press conferences" to announce their new device. The Pono player wouldn't even be on the radar if it was announced at a show like CES.

Nintendo doesn't have to choose between a "traditional" event and the "direct" approach, but if they are going to, I much prefer the latter. I've been enjoying the steady stream of updates from Masahiro Sakurai about Smash Bros., and I think it's more effective than him talking (through a translator) on stage for 10 minutes.