Nintendo has confirmed this afternoon that it will announce details of the European Wii U launch this Thursday, to coincide with the US event in New York.
All will be revealed via a Nintendo Direct broadcast, which you can watch on the Nintendo Direct website, from 3pm UK time (that's 4pm in Europe and 6am PST). We'll be reporting everything as it happens.
It will be hosted by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata.
Early details from the latest issue of Game Informer are starting to come in. According to early details coming through NeoGAF, two new Nintendo Land attractions are revealed in the Wii U-themed magazine - Metroid Blast and Balloon Fight Breeze.
Metroid Blast is very much like the 'Battle Mii' Wii U demo first shown at E3 2011, albeit one that is more themed to Metroid, including classic music from the series, a Norfair level and a mechanical replica of Kraid that can be interacted with. Up to five players can play at one time, with one player always taking the role of Samus's iconic ship through the Wii U GamePad. (The other four use Wii MotionPlus controllers with nunchuks.) Free-for-All, Team and Horde modes seem to be present, and the attraction features several maps.
Balloon Fight Breeze is a side-scrolling challenge, which controls through the GamePad's touch screen and the stylus. Players must navigate their characters through a variety of obstacles, by directing gusts of wind with the stylus, getting as far as they can in the aerial obstacle courses. The Pad itself shows a close up view of the player's Mii while the TV gives a wide perspective of the level.
No doubt more information will emerge from Game Informer's latest issues as it reaches more subscribers. Plus there's always that Wii U Preview Event next week...
Rich is an Executive Editor of IGN.com and the leader of IGN's Nintendo team. He also watches over all things WWE, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed and much more. Follow him on Twitter, if you dare!
You can take a look at the entire game board here which has properties jointly based on characters and the stages they inspire. The pieces - which are really 3/4 of the point of playing Monopoly - will be Chun Li's bracelet, Vega' mask, a hadouken fireball, Bison, Ryu, and Zangief's shorts. We were kind of hoping for Zangief's thigh hair, but whatever.
This iteration of the old-as-dirt board game will cost $39.99. No word on whether or not this version of Monopoly will fix the painfully boring process of playing Monopoly.
Bethesda Softwork's VP of PR and marketing has revealed the company is unsure whether it will support Nintendo's Wii U.
In the latest issue of MCV, Pete Hines explained that Bethesda has traditionally "put our games out on all of the platforms that will support them.
"So far the Wii hasn't fitted into that. Whether Wii U does down the road is TBD."
I don’t think the current generation of consoles are holding us back. There is still plenty that we are able to do visually, technically and from a story-telling standpoint.
Despite admitting that Bethesda is clearly looking to the future in terms of consoles, Hines did reveal that he disagrees with the likes of Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot, Square Enix's Julien Merceron and EA's Frank Gibeau who have claimed that the current console generation has lasted too long. In fact, he thinks the transition to the next wave of consoles could cause a whole new set of problems.
"I don’t think the current generation of consoles are holding us back," he said. "There is still plenty that we are able to do visually, technically and from a story-telling standpoint. And there’s this huge built-in audience now.
"For me the problems with new consoles are two-fold. The developers are trying to hit a moving technical target, because the platforms are being built. A new console doesn't just show up a year before launch and is exactly what it will be when it comes out.
"It moves and iterates along the way. And introducing something like that to games that are in development is always a bit tricky. And that is obviously an element of risk.
"The second point is that your install base always starts at zero," he continued. "Then it comes out and suddenly a certain number of people buy it but it won't be the same number as the current gen. So you have divided your audience.
"It's then a case of: Are we just making it for the next gen? Or next gen and current gen? And how many people from the current gen that I'm targeting have moved over to the next gen? It does complicate things a little bit."
"Obviously the changes they are going to make technologically, in terms of the things we will be able to do, are exciting. But it comes at a price."
Cheers, Videogamer.
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.
In late-breaking election news, Non-Specific Action Figure has just announced he is entering the race in hopes of representing Nintendo in the Video Game President Election.
At a press conference earlier today, Non-Specific Action Figure confirmed with the crowd in attendance that his “body is ready” to enter the hotly contested field of Nintendo contenders, and reminded everyone that even when he’s doing nothing, he still helps us all. He closed the press conference exuberantly. With thumb fully extended in an upright position he heartily exclaimed, “Non-Specific Action Figure approves this message,”
Non-Specific Action Figure may be entering the race late, but he knows how to excite the Nintendo Party base.
He even has the endorsement of high-level officials within the Nintendo Party as Nintendo’s own Satoru Iwata told us that he thought Non-Specific Action Figure would do “the best job” as Video Game President.
For more ongoing Video Game Presidential Election coverage, stayed tuned to IGN Election Headquarters.
With over 1.5 million face-offs in the first 24 hours of the Nintendo Primary during the 2012 Video Game Presidential Election, recent polls show battle-tested Pikachu in the lead by a small margin.
Are Jumpluff and Pikachu celebrating too early?
“We couldn’t be more excited about the early results we’re seeing,” Pikachu’s campaign manager Jumpluff told us. “With Pikachu’s unwavering stand against cramped Pokéball conditions and support for the Freedom From Trainers Act, Pikachu has solidified support from his fellow Pokémon, from Sinnoh to Unova and even Cinnabar Island!”
Pikachu responded simply, “Pika!”
Is Pikachu your pick for the Nintendo Party Nominee? If so, make sure Pikachu continues to dominate the Nintendo Primary! If not, make sure your voice is heard!
If you watched Nintendo's brief E3 demo of Paper Mario: Sticker Star, then you've pretty much seen exactly what was playable at this year's Penny Arcade Expo. Without any real introduction Mario's simply dropped into Sticker Star's take on the Mushroom Kingdom, moving as a 2D character in an environment that's a mixture of 2D objects in a 3D space. Mario can do iconic things like smash brick blocks, nab coins and items from question mark blocks and collect the stickers that drive the main mechanics of the game.
Sticker Star takes away the traditional RPG attack menu, replacing it with a sticker board on the bottom screen of the 3DS. Mario doesn't just get access to a number of pre-learned skills, but instead has to find attack-enabling stickers around the environment, either by peeling them off of surfaces or by smashing blocks. Powers include simple moves like a single stomp, which makes Mario jump on the heads of adorable 2D Goombas, a more powerful boot that makes him stomp on all enemies in a line, and even a hammer he can use to smash a target. Sticker Star maintains the timed combat elements of the other Paper Mario titles, allowing you to press a button at just the right moment to mitigate some incoming damage by blocking. And like you'd expect in an RPG, killing enemies in battle nets you some of those coins Mario just can't ever seem to get enough of. In the demo groups of enemies were represented by a single character on screen, allowing you to avoid them if you weren't interested in fighting. This is important, since if you're stickerless your only real option in a battle is to run away or avoid it altogether.
Beyond the battlefield, stickers can be useful for getting you out of...erm...sticky situations. In the demo Mario needed to get inside a windmill, but the door was blocked by one of the fan's gigantic blades. While an actual fan was present in the environment, it was unfortunately not a sticker, and thus Mario was unable to use it. That is, at least, until he gathered it up and "stickerized" it at a special shop back in a village. After a quick conversation with a Toad, Mario was back in the field with a 2D version of the fan which, when placed in just the right spot, unleashed a torrent of air, pushing the fan blade out of his way. Nintendo representatives on hand indicated this is just an example of how players will have to use their smarts to stickerize items they find so that they're useful to our favorite little plumber.
For now that's unfortunately all there is to know about Paper Mario: Sticker Star. While it on November 11, 2012, Nintendo is keeping a lot of the details -- and longer game demos -- close to its chest. To satiate your Paper Mario needs, though, why not check out our excellent features, including a Paper Mario RPG retrospective and a look at the franchise's evolving art style.
Anthony Gallegos is an Editor on IGN's PC team and doesn't get a chance to check out Nintendo games all that often. But a chance to play anything with Mario in it is always awesome. You can follow him on Twitter and on IGN.
The title was originally announced for PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PSN.
The Cave stars a magical talking cave that is being explored by a group of adventurers drawn to the mystical location. At the beginning of the game, the player chooses three characters they'll use (out of a cast of seven,) to explore the cave in a Metroidvania-style experience.
As of right now, it's unclear whether the game will feature any additional functionality for the Wii U's unique tablet controller.
A recently-surfaced 1980s brochure reveals that Nintendo nearly released a knitting add-on for the NES. Posted on the Facebook page of former Nintendo employee Howard Phillips, the brochure shows off the Nintendo Knitting Machine, a device that would have connected to the NES and allowed players to create and print their own designs.
“You're looking at the Nintendo Knitting Machine,” the ad reads. “It's not a game; not a toy; not something a young girl can outgrow in three or six months or even a year. It's a machine that interacts with the powerful Nintendo Entertainment System to actually knit sweaters: and not just one or two patterns but a multitude of different and unique designs.”
“The Nintendo Knitting Machine is just one more example of the innovative thinking that keeps Nintendo on the cutting edge of video technology," it continues. "And your customers on the edge of their seats. Of course we should probably mention that no other video game system offers anything even remotely similar. But why needle the competition?”
According to Phillips, original Nintendo of America president Minoru Arakawa asked him to pitch the peripheral to Toys R Us chairman Charles Lazarus in a live demo, which he humorously describes as “one of my least genuinely enthusiastic demos.” While no reason for the cancellation of the Knitting Machine has been revealed, it’s said to have been briefly shown off at a late 1980s Consumer Electronics Show and has never been seen or heard from since.
Source: Tiny Cartridge
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.
Now that the Wii’s life cycle is coming to an end - and the next generation of Nintendo home consoles is right around the corner - we’ve been taking some time to recall the long and colorful journey of Nintendo’s little, white system. Join us as we celebrate the Wii’s last few months by continuing to look back at all the things that helped define how gamers, and the world at large, will come to remember the Wii generation.
Today we’re taking a look at a few of the Wii’s greatest success stories, and also at some of its biggest letdowns…
While many people associate the name “Wii” with massive amounts of shovelware, the truth is the system actually has some incredible software to its name - especially from the Big N itself. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 were both exceptional 3D platformers, bringing the Mario 64 magic into space and adding some impressive gravity-based physics to the mix. Other great Wii titles we got out of the Mushroom Kingdom include New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Super Paper Mario, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves and Wario Land: Shake It! Not too shabby, considering this is just one of Nintendo’s beloved properties.
On the Hyrule side of things, the system launched with the Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which was originally developed for GameCube. While that game was amazing, more impressive was the Hylian adventure that was built from the ground-up for the system. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword proved a sweeping and epic addition to the franchise, one that ranks among the best of the best in the land of Hyrule. With a touching story, expert execution of motion controls, and gorgeous, painterly graphics, Skyward Sword represented the realization of everything the Wii was capable of - and a beautiful realization it was.
Nintendo’s first party offering didn’t stop at their flagship franchises, either. We also got Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metroid Prime 3 (as well as Metroid Prime Trilogy, which added motion controls to the first two titles), Donkey Kong Country Returns, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Punch-Out!!, and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. Altogether it’s a pretty impressive library, especially for a system that often gets too little credit in that regard.
To many gamers, the Wii didn't exactly live up to the rocking code name we were initially teased with. But in hindsight, the system really was nothing short of a “Revolution” - just maybe not in the way we were expecting. Wii helped expand the medium from a niche hobby to a worldwide phenomenon, shattering traditional expectations of gamer demographics and bridging the generations like no gaming system had ever done before.
Grandparents, parents, kids, adults - everyone you can imagine showed up for the Wii party, from hardcore gamers to people who had never touched a D-pad in their lives. They all invested in Nintendo’s tiny box, if only to have a few rounds of golf in Wii Sports or watch their weight with Wii Fit. Wii helped people who had never played video games transition from these casual focused experiences to more gamer-oriented titles like New Super Mario Bros. Wii. While most gamers begrudge the Wii’s more casual reputation, you can’t take away from Nintendo that it’s truly impressive what the Wii accomplished, and how important its success has proven to the industry as a whole.
Most of us take the Virtual Console for granted - but that doesn’t take away from how incredible it really is. A Link to the Past, Chrono Trigger, the original Final Fantasy, Mega Man 2, Super Mario 64 - all these titles and many more can now be played without digging through the attic for your old collection or tracking down a used copy online or in a vintage game store.
The Virtual Console - giving some of gaming's best another chance to shine.
Allowing Wii owners access to a couple decades worth of games was not only great for longtime fans of those classics, it also allowed newer generations of gamers to experience some of the best games of all time for the very first time. For those who were born long after the NES, SNES, and N64 days, this was a huge service. Keeping the legacy of these gaming gems alive is easily one of the greatest contributions of the Wii generation.
Say what you will about motion controls, but you can’t knock the Wii’s slick interface and motion-based menus. Everything was so streamlined and easy-to-navigate, and using the Wii remote to flip through the different pages was great. The addition of Miis also brought a whole new level of personalization to Nintendo’s systems, one that has now become something of a staple.
The best part of Wii’s interface, however, was how straightforward it was. There were no ads trying to sell you something, no notifications popping up in your face around every corner. As with all Nintendo systems, the experience was more about the games than anything else. The moment you turned the system on, all of your content was right there in front of you, you only had to flip through the pages to locate which game from Nintendo’s past or present you wanted to sample. The company seems to be continuing this tradition of a slick, easy-to-navigate menu system with its latest handheld, the 3DS - with customizable rows and columns and the minimally invasive approach of its online features. It’s a format that is important to the success of modern day Nintendo, and it all started with the Wii.
One of the biggest (and most justified) complaints against the Wii generation was its relative lack of third party support. Not to say there weren’t any, mind you - Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story were two incredible RPGs that just recently made their way from Japan to North America. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Red Steel 2, Okami, Little King’s Story and more round out the third party roster. When the third party games came, they were great…
But they didn’t come - at least not with the frequency impassioned gamers would hope for. Sadly, the Wii saw far too few Xenoblades and TvC’s in its time. Worst of all was that when they did arrive, they rarely sold well - only further sending the message to third party developers that the Wii was not a profitable system to develop for. Perhaps the system’s market penetration rate was better than you could hope for, and perhaps the company’s first party software set record sales, but the truth is third party games just never really found much of a home on the system.
It’s hard walking down the Wii aisle only to drown in the stinking cesspool of shovelware you’ll find there. Even if you stick to the numerous and amazing titles mentioned earlier, the fact remains that the Wii is widely known amongst the jaded masses for its shocking amount of shovelware… and it's hard to blame them. For every Mario Galaxy it seemed there were a hundred cheap mini-game collections. For every Skyward Sword, there was inevitably a Super Fashion Babies 3: Babies in the City. Throw in the long droughts Wii owners frequently experienced - where we’d go months or even years without a substantial new release - and you have the red-handed culprit behind the Wii’s tarnished legacy.
This is actual box art for an actual Wii game. SIGH.
Considering all the things mentioned earlier - all the great games and cool innovations the system brought and its impact on the industry - it’s a shame so much shovelware brought the experience down. To be fair, no system is without these cheap, throwaway titles. But games like this were just so prevalent and hard to escape when it came to Wii that it seriously distracted from the system’s truly excellent software lineup.
The hardest things to swallow now that the Wii’s days are coming to an end are not the things the system flubbed, but rather the things it didn’t do at all - all those missed gaming opportunities we’ll now likely never see realized. The fact that there was never a truly amazing light saber game using the Wii’s motion controls was a huge shame. As was the fact that we never saw the system realize its potential as a perfect home for real time strategy games - using the controller to maneuver units and plan attacks would have been incredible. And again, it’s surprising that so many genre mainstays like the RPG were so scarce, especially considering the rich legacy of Nintendo’s other systems (just think of how many examples you could name for the SNES or DS alone).
The system’s tech was also severely underused. First party games like Skyward Sword showed how the Wii Remote and Motion Plus technology could be used to simulate wielding a sword with amazing precision, but few third party developers ever took the time to figure things like that out. Even first party titles often resorted to the dreaded waggle mechanic, having players simply shake the remote rather than actually using it to interact with the game world. When the Wii tech was used, and used correctly, it could result in an incredible and immersive experience. It’s a real shame much of the Wii’s catalogue didn’t achieve this.
We’re not going to get into the Wii’s lack of online profiles or things of a similar nature - that’s another discussion for another day. And, in truth, Nintendo has always walked its own path, and it’s unlikely the company will ever try to shoehorn itself into the online/multiplayer-focused communities dominated by services like PSN and XBLA. But even that aside, there were a few things Wii’s online presentation simply never got right, and we’re still scratching our heads trying to figure out why.
Friend Codes, for instance. We understand that Nintendo, with its kid-friendly tendencies and focus on privacy, wanted to control how people connected online. It wanted to avoid, as much as possible, having a situation where an 8-year-old kid is crying because some 40-year-old stranger is using inappropriate and disgusting language toward them as they’re trying to have race in Mario Kart Wii. But there had to have been a better way. Friend Codes were just a pain in the butt, and made it really hard to want to coordinate online time with friends and family.
The system’s online store also left much to be desired. As mentioned earlier, the Virtual Console was a dream come true, and even WiiWare offered some great games in its time. But the store was riddled with problems and unintuitive to navigate - and, in truth, amazing WiiWare games were few and far between. While we respect Nintendo’s decision to blaze its own path in terms of online connectivity and e-commerce, it’s still fair to expect quality in terms of online presentation, and this is something the Wii simply never delivered on.
All things said and done, all pros and cons considered, the Wii still earns its place among Nintendo's beloved line of home consoles. It had some amazing highs, but also some embarrassing lows. These are just a few of the ones that come to mind, but did we miss any? Sound off in the comments below and share your favorite Wii features and memories, as well as the ones that still get you angry to this day.
Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!
Harmo Knight is the new Nintendo 3DS title from Game Freak, the team behind the Pokémon series.
The game was announced by Satoru Iwata during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. From the footage released, it looks like a hybrid of a traditional side-scrolling platformer, replete with a Mario Bros-style world hub, and a rhythm action game. The game's hero charges through levels, from verdant hilly landscapes to city rooftops, collecting musical notes and swinging a quaver like a battle axe/golf club. Presumably, you have to execute your attacks in time with the game's music.
Official logo
The game is scheduled for release in Japan on September 5, 2012, priced at ¥1,800. No word on a Western release date.
Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer. You can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.
The second Professor Layton for Nintendo 3DS will also be his last, according to a translation by Andriasang.
The news was announced by Level-5's CEO Akihiro Hino during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. Roughly translated from the Japanese, the new game will be titled Professor Layton & the Remains of an Advanced Civilisation.
Although this game might mark the end of Hershel Layton, the series will in all likelihood continue with other characters occupying the central role. Layton Brothers: Mystery Room, for instance, places Layton's son Alphendi centre stage.
The game is scheduled for a Japanese release sometime in 2013.
More details to come.
Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer. You can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.
While Nintendo prepares for its Wii U Preview Event in just 2.5 weeks, more leaks continue to suggest the publisher is planning on launching the system November 18. This time the information comes from the GameStop Manager's Conference, where peripheral maker PDP reportedly revealed it plans on releasing Wii U accessories on the Sunday date.
This isn't the first time we've seen suggestions of a November 18 release date. Furthermore the weekend timing and proximity to Black Friday/Thanksgiving in the United States fits Nintendo's pattern of home console debuts for the past decade (Wii launched on November 19; GameCube on November 18).
To add a healthy bit of skepticism to the mix though, PDP's plans do not necessarily have to align with Nintendo's. Accessories frequently ship prior to console launches, and there's nothing to say that PDP might arrive after the system arrives at retailers. Until Nintendo outright reveals its plans, we won't know for sure. Fortunately we don't have long to wait.
Rich is an Executive Editor of IGN.com and the leader of IGN's Nintendo team. He also watches over all things WWE, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed and much more. Follow him on Twitter, if you dare!
However, new numbers shine a bit of a light onto why Nintendo might be a little reluctant to leave their position as a hardware manufacturer. In short: the Japanse games market may be slowly flagging, but Nintendo's killing it. In the latest sales charts from Japan, games on their consoles represented 70% of the Japanese gaming industry. Though it's unclear if those numbers included mobile and PC games.
Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the 3DS is leading the charge with nearly 150,000 sales during the past week, aided in no small way by the success of the 3DS which Wired notes has been at the top of the Japanese charts for quite a while now.
Nintendo's success in the West may be more up for debate, however it hardly seems like it's time for Nintendo to abandon ship and layoff their entire hardware department. They've clearly got a lot more gas left in the tank. That said, the stakes get higher and higher every time Nintendo launches a console, and the whole industry will be watching when they launch the Wii U later this year.
After a slow launch, a dismal first summer and a drastic, course-correcting price cut, Nintendo's newest handheld, the 3DS, began to recover and finally prove its potential. The drama of those events is now more than a year behind us, and since the system found its footing we've been treated to more and more quality pieces of software. Now, as the system steps into its next chapter with the release of the 3DS XL, we've decided it's time for our first list of the handheld's best titles. So read on, and see if you agree with our picks for the Top 10 Nintendo 3DS games.
The release of this latest New Super Mario Bros. sequel may have kicked off a wave of complaints about how Nintendo's not innovating enough with 2D Mario any more, but when you set all the talk aside and actually play the game you can't help but have fun. The mustached man's running and jumping adventures are still home to the best, most precisely designed levels in the platformer genre – and the search for deviously hidden secret levels and new emphasis on collecting thousands upon thousands of golden coins make New Super Mario Bros. 2 an essential play on 3DS.
~ Lucas M. Thomas
Taking a break from his usual Super Smash Bros. development, Masahiro Sakurai resurrected one of Nintendo's oldest icons for a starring role on the 3DS. Part on-rails shooter, part third-person action game, Kid Icarus Uprising might very well pack some of the best replay value on Nintendo's young portable, from its fully-featured multi-player component to its insane weapons customization and unique, puzzle-based achievement system. The controls are tough to handle for any length of time, and its humor might not appeal to everyone, but the action is hard to beat. Definitely worth an investment if you're looking for something a little different.
~ Richard George
Nintendo's original DS system hosted an incredible variety of great first-party music and rhythm games over its life span, from Elite Beat Agents to Rhythm Heaven to Electroplankton. On the 3DS, though, it's third-party Square Enix that has carried that momentum forward with the brilliant Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, a game that pays homage to both those DS predecessors and the entire history of the Final Fantasy franchise while also presenting new, innovative ways to translate songs into engaging gameplay. We never thought we'd be slashing with swords and casting spells while paying attention to tempo, but now that we have, we can't get enough.
~ Lucas M. Thomas
Kingdom Hearts 3D is probably the best portable game in the franchise - and considering it’s a series that has largely only appeared on portable devices, that’s no small feat. KH3D used the system to its fullest, with gorgeous graphics that did a fine job of capturing the various Disney-themed worlds. Excellent cameos from The World Ends With You characters only further sweeten the experience. With fun combat, amazing music, and that certain, unmistakable Kingdom Hearts charm, this game is a fine addition to any 3DS library, and easily earns a place on our list.
~ Audrey Drake
The fact that Nintendo dropped the ball with the 3DS launch has been well documented. The company just didn't provide a killer app – Pilotwings Resort wasn't it, Steel Diver wasn't it, and the latest version of Nintendogs wasn't it either. Luckily, Day 1 adopters weren't left entirely without winning options thanks to Capcom and the unexpected best game to ship alongside the new system, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. This deep, focused and totally polished version of Capcom's legendary fighting series saved the 3DS launch for many, and has continued to prove its worth by even now still ranking as the best fighter available on the handheld.
~ Lucas M. Thomas
In less than a month, Nintendo will finally reveal more information about its forthcoming console, Wii U - hopefully including that long-awaited release date and price. Today the company sent out invitations to select media outlets, confirming that a Wii U preview event will take place in New York on Thursday, September 13 from 10:00am to 4:00pm EDT.
The presentation will be led by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, and will apparently shed light on "how the Wii U will change the future of gaming and entertainment." Since it's getting pretty late in the year for the console that was promised a global launch by the end of 2012, we can only assume official launch information will also be divulged at that time.
When can you get your hands on the GamePad? We'll know soon enough.
Although we can't say for sure, it's a good bet that Wii U will hit store shelves this November, considering Nintendo's past two console releases (the GameCube and Wii) arrived in North America on November 18 and November 19 respectively. Rumors and purported leaks seem to support this theory, though recent speculation of manufacturing problems has suggested the launch might actually miss Black Sunday and arrive in December instead.
Hopefully we'll know for sure following this September event - until then, keep it here on IGN for all the latest Wii U happenings.
Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!
Welcome back to another mushroom-y edition of Nintendo Video Chat, IGN's very own Nintendo-centric video podcast. This week we've got Audrey "OMG I Hosted The Fix!" Drake (otherwise known as ME!!), Sam "Mustache Power" Claiborn, Brian "I Hosted The Fix Too!" BRAP BRAP" Altano, and Fran "I Hate Wii" Mirabella. That last nickname was a joke, people. Well, they all are, but... anyway. Moving on. Let's talk Nintendo things, shall we?
This week we're playing through some levels of forthcoming 3DS game New Super Mario Bros. 2. Wahoo!! The game hits the States this Sunday, but if you don't mind a few spoilers, allow this podcast to serve as a lengthy early look at Mario's latest.
And as always, you can download the audio version of this episode on iTunes (whenever it decides to show up), or listen to it here.
While you're thinking of us, be sure to join our Nintendo Voice Chat Facebook page. Don't forget to give us a like while you're there! Why? Because every like we get is like an extra coin in your pocket. Except it's not like that at all. Do it anyway, though!
One last thing - don't forget to send your comments, questions and so on to nvc@ign.com. You can also follow us all on our IGN blogs and Twitter. We're especially interested in your feedback on our new format. This is all still very much in the experimental phase, so your insight is much appreciated.
Until next time, Koopalings - Game On!
Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!
Nintendo has announced a yellow, Pikachu-themed 3DS XL for Japan. The system (known as 3DS LL in Japan) will be released exclusively through Japan’s Pokemon Center stores and features a yellow front with a white hinge.
The Pikachu system will be released on September 15th and is only available to customers who pre-order. For now, it’s only been announced for Japan, but we’ll keep you posted on any announcements for other territories.
This is the first themed 3DS XL Nintendo has built since the new system was announced in June. Previously, Nintendo released multiple themed 3DS systems including a The Legend of Zelda system with gold buttons, a white Monster Hunter 3D system and a blue Fire Emblem system.
3DS XL will launch in North America on August 19th in red and blue.
Source: Andriasang
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.
If you're on the hunt for more coin codes to use in Nintendo's Coin Rush competiton, then you've come to the right place.
If you already know all about the competition and the prizes up for grabs then scroll down and watch the video below; it should help you in your search.
For the uninitiated, to celebrate the imminent release of New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS, Nintendo has hidden codes around the internet that can be used to earn coins. Inspired by the Coin Rush mode of the new game, these in turn can be exchanged for prizes.
The top prize on offer is a Nintendo 3DS XL console and every Nintendo 3DS first-party title released between the end of September 2012 and September 2013.
To enter into the competition you need to visit the Nintendo 3DS UK Facebook page, then keep your eyes peeled there and on the company's Twitter for hints about where the codes may lie.
To get started why not check out the video below? You never know, it could be worth your while...
Nintendo has announced release dates for the 3DS and DS fall line-up. First up is Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone on October 1st, followed by Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask on October 28th and Paper Mario: Sticker Star on November 11th.
Release dates were also revealed for Crosswords Plus, Freakyforms Deluxe and more, as seen on the release calendar below:
Titles without concrete release dates include FIFA 13 in September, Angry Birds Trilogy in October, Scribblenauts Unlimited this holiday and Rayman Origins in the third quarter of 2012. A complete list of planned titles for 3DS and DS - including Imagine Babyz and more - can be found on Nintendo’s full release calendar.
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.
