Patent filing reveals more on Wii U controller

August 13th, 2011, 22:54 Posted By: wraggster

A poster on gaming forum NeoGaf spotted a filing at the US Patent And Trademark Office, submitted in February but only published last week, which reveals new details about the Wii U's tablet controller. Like the Wii remote, it has a microphone, speaker, and built-in flash memory, and also sports an IR port and magnetometer, which is also found in PlayStation Move and is used for calibration

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/patent-...i-u-controller

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Nintendo to offer free Zelda tickets

August 12th, 2011, 00:28 Posted By: wraggster

UK Club Nintendo members will soon be given the chance to win free tickets to London's Zelda Symphony tour, Nintendo has told Eurogamer.
The London concert is the only fixture of the Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony tour planned for Europe. It will feature a live orchestra performing music from throughout the Legend of Zelda series.
"UK Club Nintendo members will soon be able to receive information regarding a special chance to win free tickets to the London performance," Nintendo told Eurogamer today. "More details on this will be released soon."
Normally tickets prices for the event start at £38.50. The most expensive seats cost £110.50 and include the chance to meet members of the orchestra after the show.
Nintendo's competition is a consolation for UK fans yet to buy tickets, and it comes as the company cleared up confusion over a previous offer that listed Zelda tickets at a cheaper price for all UK Club Nintendo members.
Nintendo fans were offered a 15 per cent discount on tickets when purchased with a special Club Nintendo code, but this code was exclusive to US Club Nintendo fans. This was an error and has now been amended, Nintendo clarified to Eurogamer today.
Gamers were previously able to select the discounted tickets, which had the cheaper prices visible, although were then unable to complete their purchases due to Nintendo not having issued the necessary code to redeem the offer.
US Club Nintendo members are currently being offered that same 15 per cent discount when buying tickets for the tour's Los Angeles leg. Gamers simply enter the word "Zelda" to unlock the cheaper price.
But this promotion is only for American gamers, Nintendo has now clarified: "This is a special offer only available to US Club Nintendo members and as such has been removed. We would like to apologise for any confusion caused," Nintendo explained.
Tickets for the Zelda 25th Anniversary tour are currently still available via Ticketmaster.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...tour-confusion

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Nintendo to offer free Zelda tickets

August 12th, 2011, 00:28 Posted By: wraggster

UK Club Nintendo members will soon be given the chance to win free tickets to London's Zelda Symphony tour, Nintendo has told Eurogamer.
The London concert is the only fixture of the Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony tour planned for Europe. It will feature a live orchestra performing music from throughout the Legend of Zelda series.
"UK Club Nintendo members will soon be able to receive information regarding a special chance to win free tickets to the London performance," Nintendo told Eurogamer today. "More details on this will be released soon."
Normally tickets prices for the event start at £38.50. The most expensive seats cost £110.50 and include the chance to meet members of the orchestra after the show.
Nintendo's competition is a consolation for UK fans yet to buy tickets, and it comes as the company cleared up confusion over a previous offer that listed Zelda tickets at a cheaper price for all UK Club Nintendo members.
Nintendo fans were offered a 15 per cent discount on tickets when purchased with a special Club Nintendo code, but this code was exclusive to US Club Nintendo fans. This was an error and has now been amended, Nintendo clarified to Eurogamer today.
Gamers were previously able to select the discounted tickets, which had the cheaper prices visible, although were then unable to complete their purchases due to Nintendo not having issued the necessary code to redeem the offer.
US Club Nintendo members are currently being offered that same 15 per cent discount when buying tickets for the tour's Los Angeles leg. Gamers simply enter the word "Zelda" to unlock the cheaper price.
But this promotion is only for American gamers, Nintendo has now clarified: "This is a special offer only available to US Club Nintendo members and as such has been removed. We would like to apologise for any confusion caused," Nintendo explained.
Tickets for the Zelda 25th Anniversary tour are currently still available via Ticketmaster.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...tour-confusion

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Nintendo 3DS: Where's cheapest?

August 12th, 2011, 00:14 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo is officially dropping the Nintendo 3DS price tomorrow, but many retailers across the UK have gone early with mass price reductions.

Having sold just 700,000 units in the three months ending June 30. Nintendo was left with little choice but to take action and duly announced plans to slash the 3DS price by a third.

If you've always wanted a 3DS but have been holding out, now's your time to strike. But before you sprint to the nearest electronics store, you might fancy a look at who's selling it the cheapest.

Play's current cheapest offer is still a whopping £196.99, placing it marginally behind Zavvi's £196.85.

GameGears is offering a price of 194.99, followed closely by HMV, which currently has the 3DS at £189.99, the next cheapest being Dixons at £169.99.

GameStop started offering 3DS at under £135 earlier this week, and from tomorrow you're going to see some similarly competitive deals.

Game is offering bundles with Zelda: Ocarina of Time strapped to the console for £159.99 in store and £154.99 online with free delivery. The console alone is priced at 149.99.

Also coming down from the £190 region tomorrow is Gamestation. It brings the same deals to the table as Game with Zelda bundles at £159.99 in store and £154.99 online.

3DS consoles are listed on Amazon UK at £155.00. However, a source at the giant web retailer claimed that this figure may soon see a 25-30 percent reduction.

If you're really serious about finding the best bargain, you might want to check in-store at the following retailers. Seen advertised in papers today, Morrison's has cut the price to £120.00. You'd be forgiven for imagining it was an unbeatable price but, coming in at £115.00, Tesco currently has the lowest priced systems anywhere.

But wait, there's more. Curry's and PC World will price-match any of the above stores located within a 30 mile radius with a further 10 percent discount on top! That means that if there's a Tesco near your local Curry's - and let's face it, there probably is - you'll be able to pick up a 3DS console for just over £100.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...eres-cheapest/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

US Nintendo downloads

August 12th, 2011, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's US downloads update list is in, and it's one for retro gamers this week.

Classic Super Nintendo platformer Super Adventure Island II has arrived on the Wii Virtual Console, while the 3DS Game Boy VC sees the arrival of Avenging Spirit, which tells the story of a ghost who can take control of other characters in an effort to save his kidnapped girlfriend.

Here's the full list:

Nintendo eShop and Nintendo DSiWare
Go! Go! Kokopolo - Take control of hyperactive wildcat Kokopolo in a fast, frantic, action-packed caper set across 80 stages of pure arcade mayhem. Hunt down those responsible for disturbing your afternoon slumber. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi)

Nintendo eShop
Avenging Spirit - This classic action game introduced a unique system for possessing and controlling other characters. Help a heroic ghost rescue his girlfriend from her kidnappers so he can finally rest in peace. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo Video
Next Level: Hugs! - Everyday activities are boring. Let us show you how to take it to the next level. This latest offering for the Nintendo Video service becomes available today at 3 p.m. Pacific time. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Glee 3D Trailer - A new offering from the Nintendo Video service invites viewers to experience the multi-generational musical fun of Glee in a whole new way. Check it out and embrace your inner Gleek. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Also new this week:

My Asian Farm (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)

Kyotokei (WiiWare)

Super Adventure Island II (Virtual Console for Wii)

Crazy Hamster (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ndo-downloads/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

US Nintendo downloads

August 12th, 2011, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's US downloads update list is in, and it's one for retro gamers this week.

Classic Super Nintendo platformer Super Adventure Island II has arrived on the Wii Virtual Console, while the 3DS Game Boy VC sees the arrival of Avenging Spirit, which tells the story of a ghost who can take control of other characters in an effort to save his kidnapped girlfriend.

Here's the full list:

Nintendo eShop and Nintendo DSiWare
Go! Go! Kokopolo - Take control of hyperactive wildcat Kokopolo in a fast, frantic, action-packed caper set across 80 stages of pure arcade mayhem. Hunt down those responsible for disturbing your afternoon slumber. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi)

Nintendo eShop
Avenging Spirit - This classic action game introduced a unique system for possessing and controlling other characters. Help a heroic ghost rescue his girlfriend from her kidnappers so he can finally rest in peace. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo Video
Next Level: Hugs! - Everyday activities are boring. Let us show you how to take it to the next level. This latest offering for the Nintendo Video service becomes available today at 3 p.m. Pacific time. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Glee 3D Trailer - A new offering from the Nintendo Video service invites viewers to experience the multi-generational musical fun of Glee in a whole new way. Check it out and embrace your inner Gleek. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Also new this week:

My Asian Farm (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)

Kyotokei (WiiWare)

Super Adventure Island II (Virtual Console for Wii)

Crazy Hamster (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ndo-downloads/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

3DS Ambassador offer expires tonight

August 12th, 2011, 00:00 Posted By: wraggster

A friendly reminder to 3DS owners interested in the 20 free games included in the Ambassador programme, Nintendo's compensation to early adopters for the global price drop: you need to connect your 3DS to the eShop before 11.59pm CET tonight - 10.59pm UK time - to be eligible. There are ten NES games on offer, though the only ones confirmed so far are Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Jr, Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend Of Zelda. We know seven of the ten GBA games: Yoshi's Island, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Mario Vs Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros 3 and Kirby & The Amazing Mirror.

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/3ds-amb...xpires-tonight

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

A Quest For the Perfect SNES Emulator

August 11th, 2011, 23:55 Posted By: wraggster

"It doesn't take much raw power to play Nintendo or SNES games on a modern PC; emulators could do it in the 1990s with a mere 25MHz of processing power. But emulating those old consoles accurately — well, that's another challenge entirely; accurate emulators may need up to 3GHz of power to faithfully recreate aging tech. ... As an example, compare the spinning triforce animation from the opening to Legend of Zelda on the ZSNES and bsnes emulators. On the former, the triforces will complete their rotations far too soon as a result of the CPU running well over 40 percent faster than a real SNES. These are little details, but if you have an eye for accuracy, they can be maddening. ... The primary demands of an emulator are the amount of times per second one processor must synchronize with another. An emulator is an inherently serial process. Attempting to rely on today's multi-core processors leads to all kinds of timing problems. Take the analogy of an assembly line: one person unloads the boxes, another person scans them, another opens them, another starts putting the item together, etc. Synchronization is the equivalent of stalling out and clearing the entire assembly line, then starting over on a new product. It's an incredible hit to throughput. It completely negates the benefits of pipelining and out-of-order execution. The more you have to synchronize, the faster your assembly line has to move to keep up.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/0...-SNES-Emulator

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

How Apple Is Beating Nintendo At Its Own Game

August 11th, 2011, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

In an industry obsessed with polygon counts and frame rates, Nintendo's Wii console and DS handheld were the proverbial knives at a gunfight. They were grossly underpowered compared to the competition, meaning Nintendo could sell them at a profit from day one. Their innovative control methods ensured they still sold like hotcakes. An animated GIF of Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata holding a DS that printed money became the go to picture to run alongside quarterly announcements of Nintendo's gargantuan profits. If a disheveled man emerged from a time-traveling Delorian with tales of a near-future Nintendo struggling to sell its latest handheld, I'd have been more surprised about the Nintendo thing. Sowhat on earth happened?

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...t-Its-Own-Game

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

How Apple Is Beating Nintendo At Its Own Game

August 11th, 2011, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

In an industry obsessed with polygon counts and frame rates, Nintendo's Wii console and DS handheld were the proverbial knives at a gunfight. They were grossly underpowered compared to the competition, meaning Nintendo could sell them at a profit from day one. Their innovative control methods ensured they still sold like hotcakes. An animated GIF of Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata holding a DS that printed money became the go to picture to run alongside quarterly announcements of Nintendo's gargantuan profits. If a disheveled man emerged from a time-traveling Delorian with tales of a near-future Nintendo struggling to sell its latest handheld, I'd have been more surprised about the Nintendo thing. Sowhat on earth happened?

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...t-Its-Own-Game

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

UK retailers announce 3DS price cuts

August 11th, 2011, 11:48 Posted By: wraggster

UK retailers, lead by supermarkets, are to mirror the forthcoming official 3DS price cuts by slashing the price of the hardware, undercutting the predicted RRP of £140 which will come into force tomorrow.
Beginning tomorrow, Tesco will be retailing 3DS units at £115, with Morrison's selling at £120 and £25 for all games (via Eurogamer. GameStop are offering free delivery with a £135 3DS.
Nintendo announced the price cut last month, alongside disappointing financial results and low sales figures for the machine.
At the time of the cuts, Nintendo of Europe made clear that prices to UK retailers would be dropping, although it would be up to individual companies to decide how much of that saving was passed on to consumer.
"Nintendo of Europe will be reducing the European trade price of Nintendo 3DS to retailers by around a third from 12th August 2011, as part of a global trade price reduction initiative. "The ultimate price to consumers is, of course, determined by retailers, however we look forward to consumers benefiting from much lower retail prices very soon."
Early adopters of the hardware were 'compensated' by Nintendo with 20 free download games, old NES and GBA titles available from Nintendo's e-shop.
Following the announcement, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata issued a letter of apology to consumers via the Nintendo of Japan blog, having already accepted responsibility for the hardware's poor start and volunteering for a 50 per cent pay cut.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...3ds-price-cuts

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 dated

August 11th, 2011, 01:19 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo of America has reportedly confirmed US release dates for 3DS titles Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.
The games will launch on November 13 and December 4 respectively, according to MTV Multiplayer, while Pokemon Rumble Blast will hit the portable on October 24.

We've sent Nintendo a mail to see if we can get some UK release dates.

If you haven't already, check out CVG's latestSuper Mario 3D Land preview, and our most recent Mario Kart 7 preview.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/314947/super-mario-3d-land-mario-kart-7-release-dates-revealed/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

3DS needed better games, eShop at launch, admits Nintendo

August 11th, 2011, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has admitted that 3DS needed better first-party games at launch, and that the delayed release of the eShop was also a mistake.

"We needed to have key franchises and stronger first-party titles," he told USA Today. He reiterated the firm's high expectations for Pokémon Rumble Blast, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, but admitted: "Certainly, we needed to have stronger support at the launch from a first-party perspective and maybe have some of these key first-party titles earlier in the launch window in order to get the system selling stronger at the start and, ongoing, drive momentum."

He said the delayed release of the online eShop also contributed to the 3DS' early-life stumble. "We've seen very positive reaction to the digital offerings but it needed to be much sooner in the launch window. As a result that created a situation where the momentum wasn't sustained. And that's why we have now had to go back and reduce the price and reduce the price by a large amount in order to make sure we have stronger momentum beginning on Friday and powering through," said Fils-Aime.

"It's a situation where we weren't able to sustain those first few strong positive weeks. This is a momentum business and when you don't have the momentum it creates a tough situation whether it's with retailers or with third-party publishers who become a bit more reluctant to support a platform."

In response to disappointing sales, 3DS' RRP will officially drop from $249 to $169.99 in the US on August 12. A cut to the European trade price will come on the same day, but GameStop UK is already offering Nintendo's portable for just £134.97 with free shipping.

Nintendo today confirmed US release dates for its two big-hitters: Super Mario 3D Land will arrive first on November 13, followed by Mario Kart 7 on December 4.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...mits-nintendo/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Target drops Nintendo 3DS price to $170 today (get those 20 free games!)

August 11th, 2011, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Gamestop moves first on UK 3DS price

August 11th, 2011, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster

The European 3DS price cut doesn't come into effect until Friday, but Gamestop.co.uk has already cut the price of the handheld to £134.97. This is a significant discount, and our first indication of the likely price of a UK 3DS after the price drop - there's no official RRP for the system, with Nintendo instead fixing a trade price, with the cost at tills up to retailers. Those thinking this might be a low-cost route to both a 3DS and the 20 classic games on offer through the Ambassador programme, however, should bear in mind that they have to connect to the eShop before 11pm tomorrow to qualify for the offer

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/gamesto...t-uk-3ds-price

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Nintendo: 3DS momentum needed to retain platform support

August 11th, 2011, 00:26 Posted By: wraggster

This week’s $80 price 3DS price cut, the upcoming release of a ‘Flame Red’ hardware colour, and an improved software line-up will be key to driving sales of the portable and retaining support for the platform, according to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. “This is a momentum business and when you don't have the momentum it creates a tough situation whether it's with retailers or with third-party publishers who become a bit more reluctant to support a platform,” he told USA Today. The executive also said The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, released in June, "is selling exceptionally well now. It's driving hardware. We've seen similar results from Japan with the launch of Star Fox.” The company has “high expectations” for October’s Pokemon Rumble Blast, November’s Super Mario 3D Land and December’s Mario Kart 7,” Fils-Aime added. “This is really about reinvigorating the Nintendo 3DS momentum and having that … power through all during the key holiday selling season."

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/nintend...atform-support

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

Nintendo to release Flame Red 3DS console next month, sunglasses not included

August 11th, 2011, 00:23 Posted By: wraggster

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

DeSmuME SVN r4074

August 10th, 2011, 01:39 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/2011/08/desmume-svn-r4074.html

DeSmuME SVN r4074 is released. DeSmuME is an open source Nintendo DS(NDS) emulator for Linux, Mac OS and Windows. DeSmuME supports save states, the ability to increase the size of the screen and it supports filters to improve image quality. DeSmuME also supports microphone use on Windows and Linux ports, as well as direct video and audio recording. The emulator also features a built-in movie recorder.

DeSmuME SVN Changelog:
r4074
r3396 is alleged to have broken reverse of arcadia. it is alleged to have fixed fifa 2010. r3396 contains a change to thumb ASR which is plainly wrong. after that time several other cpu fixes were made, and the ASR changes are not necessary to fix fifa 2010 anymore. so I am reverting that part, and reverse of arcadia should be retested.
http://www.mediafire.com/?14k84qzt4645dla

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

GameBoy Online (2011/08/08)

August 10th, 2011, 01:20 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/2011/08/news-ga...-20110808.html

GameBoy Online is a Game Boy and GameBoy Color emulator written in Javascript. It strives to be efficient and try to have a perfect compatibility. Currently the execution speed is not optimal even on browsers. For example on Chrome, which is nevertheless deemed to run Javascript faster on a PC running Windows 7 64-bit version with a double heart 2 CPUs at 2.2 GHz, games run at normal speed but almost skipping some frames.

The sound production is still experimental and rather poor quality. The video portion is by HTML5 or by creating images with BMP string URI. State backups are implemented using the object window.localStorage and are serialized / deserialized JSON. Ditto for backup SRAM.

Recent Changes:
- Adding hacks for Game & Watch Gallery 2 CGB running mode even with the header correctly.
- Update XAudioJS.
- Optimization of CPU instructions 0xFFXX reduced when writing.
- Remove the trash.
- Remove obsolete entry in the manifest.
- Reverse playback of the gyroscope as it should be.
- Launch of UpdateCore in the path of the loop of the interpreter. Optimization of the TIMA clock

http://www.grantgalitz.org/gameboy/

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here

[NDS] + or - DS v0.1

August 10th, 2011, 00:53 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.nintendomax.com/viewtopic...9cdcea4675ed40

Filou HB performs " + or - DS "game more or less on Nintendo DS.

Join In and Discuss Here

Submit News and Releases Here and Contact Us for Reviews and Advertising Here