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June 1st, 2014, 21:53 Posted By: wraggster
You can't just make Pikachu your World Cup mascot and not put him on a bunch of merchandise. Adidas is well aware, as evidenced by the above glimpse (provided by Inside Games) at replica jerseys, which fans can purchase for 7,400 yen ($73) to support Japan's team in the coming tournament.
According to Siliconera's translation, the visual concept for the jersey relates to Adidas Japan's Enjin (Ring) Project, the name of which references the circle made by players huddling together. If you can imagine a team wearing this, hunched over with arms above each other's backs ... yup, the red stroke across the shoulderblades would form a ring. It's almost like somebody planned this or something!
If you're still lost on how Pikachu relates to soccer in the first place, Siliconera adds that the choice is meant to get more Japanese fans invested in their World Cup team, with an emphasis on drawing in younger fans. That makes sense - what appeals to younger kids more than Pikachu? More than candy and recess, anyway.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/31/ad...d-cup-jerseys/
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June 1st, 2014, 22:08 Posted By: wraggster
 Format: SNES Publisher: Squaresoft Developer: in-house Reviewed: E4
In 1994, the very idea of a multiplayer offline RPG was as implausible and ridiculous as it sounds today. By definition Japanese RPGs are sprawling, drawn-out experiences demanding weeks of concentrated play before they let go of all of their stories and secrets. As such they are hardly best suited to being simultaneously enjoyed by two or three friends over a few weeks of on-and-off gaming. But somehow, with its easy-going dip-in-and-dip-out play system – whereby friends could wrest control of two supporting party members from the AI at any point – the otherwise traditional action-RPG Secret Of Mana is a riotous success. So much so that, for many, the memories of adventuring in partnership with friends through this green and pleasant world are some the very fondest videogaming has provided.Unusually for a Square game of the era, Secret Of Mana (known as Seiken Densetsu 2 in Japan) is set in a cute and charming pastoral world. The game sets up a classic save-the-world-from-the-evil- empire narrative arc but does so inventively and with keen and unexpected creativity so as to deftly avoid cliché. Produced by Koichi Ishii, the inventor of Final Fantasy’s yellow-feathered Chocobo, it’s not just the flair with which the game’s ideas are presented that is so remarkable, but also their quality. From the imaginative and oft-mimicked ‘ring’ inventory system, to the exceptional use of the Super Nintendo’s Mode 7 3D effects, through to the simple but iconic design of the game’s mascot characters, the Rabites, Secret Of Mana exhibits style in just about everything it attempts. As a result it has become known by fans as one of the high points of the 16bit era, surpassed only by the third Legend Of Zelda for the accolade of best action-RPG on the system.While the two games share similarities – the bright colours, endearing Japanese sprites and occasionally overwrought storyline – Mana is more RPG than action. The game places an emphasis on statistics that its rival does not and, likewise, there are magic spells, elementals and weapons which level up over time: all elements more usually associated with Square’s output than Nintendo’s. The three playable protagonists do not have default names in the English version and so have instead become known by their titles in the Japanese instruction manual: Randi, Purim and Popoie. The trio find each other far from home, estranged and with only the most vague of purposes early in the game. But from its well-worn beginnings the narrative uncoils in a delightful fashion, ending on an unusual note of tragedy for a JRPG as the team secure a victory but at great and unbearable cost.
http://www.edge-online.com/features/...ecret-of-mana/
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June 1st, 2014, 22:13 Posted By: wraggster
If you have an old broken NES lying around and have no idea what to do with it, you may want to check out [snoius's] latest project. He replaced the guts of his old NES with a Raspberry Pi. [snoius] started out by removing most of the electronics from his original NES to make room for the Pi. He left the original control panel board so he would be able to use the original power button and power LED. The NES power switch is an on/off toggle switch. [snoius] decided to just route the 5V USB power input directly through this switch. The result is a hard power switch for the tiny computer. The original power LED is wired up to the Pi’s 3.3V GPIO header through a 330 ohm resistor. Now when the Pi has power, the LED lights up.
The next step was controllers. It looks like [snoius] is using some USB SNES controller clones. He wanted to use the original NES controller ports but obviously the NES did not utilize USB. [snoius] used a saw to cut the backs off of the controller ports, leaving a flat surface. He then used a utility knife to carve out a hole in the shape of a female USB port. He mounted some ports in place and then wired the inside up to some short USB cables with male ends. These were plugged into a USB hub that is hidden inside of the NES case.
The Pi is also hooked up to a short HDMI cable and a short power cable. The loose ends of the cables are mounted to a small block of wood. Notches are cut out of the wood to better fit the cable ends. The rear of the NES has two holes cut out where the original connectors used to be in order to accommodate the new connectors.
With all of the hardware taken care of, [snoius] still needed a way to actually play his games. That’s where RetroPie saved the day. RetroPie is a Linux distribution for the Raspberry Pi that is specifically created to make it easy to play old video games. It includes emulators for many old systems including NES, SNES, SEGA Genesis, Gameboy, etc. [snoius] installed RetroPie onto an 8GB SD card and copied over all of the ROMs he could find. The end result is what appears to be an original NES at a glance, but is in fact multiple retro gaming systems in one. It also contains hundreds of video games in on board memory instead of requiring a large library of physical cartridges.
http://hackaday.com/2014/06/01/origi...with-retropie/
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June 2nd, 2014, 21:21 Posted By: wraggster
Mario Kart 8 came out on Friday and, judging by the weekly chart sales figures, there's a good chance the Wii U owners among you spent the weekend enjoying it.
While we have no doubt Nintendo is delighted by this news, not everyone at the company has a smile on their face.
Yes, we're talking about Luigi. Having recently enjoyed the spotlight with 2013's Year of Luigi festivities, Mario's brother has been relegated to supporting character status again, and he's PISSED.
Luigi is clearly treating Mario Kart 8 as an excuse to get revenge on the other Mushroom Kingdom characters who have started ignoring him again since the Year of Luigi ended, and he's deadly serious about it.
Here's a selection of clips shared on NeoGAF that scream one thing: when you're on the track and Luigi is there too, keep your distance.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ess-seriously/
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June 2nd, 2014, 21:21 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has detailed this week's European eShop update.
The main release this week is Tomodachi Life, the Nintendo-developed life sim known for its bizarre sense of humour.
 Meanwhile, the big release for Wii U owners this week is a Virtual Console title, GBA platformer Wario Land 4.[h=3]Wii U[/h] - Wario Land 4 (GBA Virtual Console) - £6.29 / €6.99
- How to Survive (505 Games) - £12.59 / €13.99
[h=3]3DS[/h] - Tomodachi Life (Nintendo) - £34.99 / €39.99
- Farming Simulator 14 (Focus Home Interactive) - £29.99 / €34.99
- Color Zen (Cypronia) - £2.99 / €2.99
- Jewel Match (Joindots) - £4.49 / €4.99
- Super Dodge Ball (NES Virtual Console) -£3.59 / €3.99
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June 2nd, 2014, 21:22 Posted By: wraggster
The UK release of Mario Kart 8 helped boost weekly Wii Usales by 666 per cent.
Retail monitor Chart-Track said the game recorded the highest week one sales for any Wii U title since the console's November 2012 release and the second best launch in the series' history. Mario Kart 8 hardware bundles accounted for 82 per cent of weekly Wii U sales.
 Nintendo will be hoping the release of Mario Kart 8 can kickstart a turnaround for the console globally following disappointing Wii U sales in the year ended March 2014.
Those who purchase Mario Kart 8 then register their copy on the Club Nintendo website before July 31 will receive a code to download a free Wii U game.
Mario Kart 8 debuted at No.2 on the UK all formats all prices chartbehind Watch Dogs, which set a new IP sales record and also enjoyed the 17th highest week one sales of any game in the UK.
"This is Nintendo serving up unprecedented helpings of joy as only it can," we said in our Mario Kart 8 review. "Each and every track is a delight to experience," it reads, and "the master of karting is a real looker to boot."
See what other critics thought of the racer in our Mario Kart 8 review round-up.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...are-sales-666/
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June 2nd, 2014, 21:25 Posted By: wraggster
A new Mushroom Kingdom stage has been revealed for Super Smash Bros for Wii U & 3DS.
The stage, which will only feature in the Wii U version of the game, is called Mushroom Kingdom U and is, as the name suggests, based on New Super Mario Bros U.
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Game director Masahiro Sakurai explained more details about the stage in a recent Miiverse post.
"When Kamek casts a spell, the stage transforms drastically," he said. Sakurai went on to state that "this is not what you would call a moving stage," implying the stage will differ greatly from the auto-scrolling Mushroom Kingdom level in Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Sakurai also confirmed that the Mushroom Kingdom U stage will be one of the levels featured in the E3 demo build of the game, scheduled to be shown next week and playable at over 100 Best Buy locations across America.
Confirmed returning playable Smash Bros characters include Ike, King Dedede, Luigi, Captain Olimar, Sonic, Princess Peach, Toon Link and Diddy Kong.
Making Smash Bros debuts in the upcoming games are Mega Man and Animal Crossing's Villager,Wii Fit Trainer, Rosalina and Luma from Super Mario Galaxy, Punch-Out hero Little Mac and Pokemon Greninja.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...tage-revealed/
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June 2nd, 2014, 22:40 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo's mascot racing title becomes fastest-selling Wii U title to date
[h=3]Nintendo[/h]nintendo-europe.com
Mario Kart 8 is off to a turbo start, as Nintendo today announced the Wii U-exclusive racing game has sold 1.2 million copies worldwide in its first weekend, making it the fastest-selling Wii U game to date. The game launched in Japan on May 29, and across Europe and the Americas May 30.
Despite the strong start, Mario Kart 8 has a long way to go to catch up with its predecessors, as previous entries in the series combined to sell more than 100 million copies. The last console installment, Mario Kart Wii, was also the most successful in franchise history, selling 35.53 million copies to date. Even the least successful, Mario Kart: Super Circuit on the Game Boy Advance, sold 5.91 million copies over its lifespan.
Nintendo is banking on Mario Kart 8 in a big way. The Wii U has struggled to gain sales traction, and the company has said it expects the racing game, along with the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Wii U title, to drive system sales this year. Nintendo has also tried sweetening the deal in North America and Europe, offering a free Wii U game to those who register a copy of Mario Kart 8 in the launch window.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-first-weekend
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June 2nd, 2014, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
NES emulator has been updated recently. Changes:
- Fixed graphics modes, switching to fullscreen always use the desktop resolution.
- Fixed bitmap blitters 2x stretched to 640x480.
- Fixed toggling fullscreen and windowed modes.
- In windowed mode, changing the blitter adjusts the window size.
- Fixed a problem with palette startup.
File: Download
News source: http://rocknes.web.fc2.com
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June 2nd, 2014, 23:35 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
NES emulator for Windows/Linux has been updated. Changes:
- Fixed all the bugs that did not allow the proper functioning of many gamepads. Are now properly recognized all those tested (XBOX 360 controller, DualShock 2, DualShock 3, DualShock 4, Twin USB Joystick and many other [Thx to Kirkor and to the other "volunteers"]). Linux and Windows versions.
- Added support for the UNIF mappers : UOROM, TC-U01-1.5M, SA-NROM, SLROM, 22211, TLROM, TBROM, TKROM, Sachen-8259C, SA-016-1M, Sachen-8259D, ANROM.
File: Download
News source: http://forums.nesdev.com
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June 2nd, 2014, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster
via http://pdroms.de/
WiiLauncher by Conanac is a simple alternative to Gecko OS application. It has most of the Gecko OS features and has additional features for downloading and editing cheat codes.
Changes:
* Regain the ability to download cheat codes from geckocodes.org by using libcurl
* Add specific treatments for WiiMode-WiiU
* Homer Simpson easter egg (hint: donut)
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/WiiLauncher
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June 2nd, 2014, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster
via http://pdroms.de/
Ambushed is a tiny shooting game for NES by Sly Dog Studios. You’re walking down the street and suddenly, from a couple of attached buildings that are across the street, you are ambushed by multiple gunmen… luckily you’re packin’ some heat! Use the D-Pad to move the player’s scope around, and ‘A’ to fire. Score 99 (then +1) and you win the game. That’s a lot of baddies for one area! However, if a single bullet reaches you on the other side of the street, you’re a goner. Shoot them before they get to you!
http://slydogstudios.org/index.php/1k-series/
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June 3rd, 2014, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster
via http://pdroms.de/
FBZX is a ZX Spectrum emulator for FrameBuffer written by Sergio Costasand ported as FBZX Wii to Wii by Oibaf.
Main features:
* Emulates accurately the Original 48Kspectrum (both issue 2 and issue 3), the classic 128K, the Amstrad Plus 2, the Amstrad Plus 2A and the Spanish 128K. This includes screen, keyboard and sound (both speaker and AY-3-8912 chip).
* Screen emulation is extremely accurate, so it can emulate border effects and even attribute effects.
* Supports Z80 snapshots, both loading and saving, and loading .SNA snapshots.
* Supports TAP (both read and write) and TZX (only read) tape files, supporting normal speed loading and fast speed loading.
* Emulates up to 2 joysticks of types: kempston, cursor and sinclair1 and sinclair2.
* All the wiimote, nunchuck and classic controller buttons and joypads are fully configurable.
* Virtual keyboard support.
* Emulates the Interface I and Microdrive.
* Emulates the ULAPlus
* Based in a new, fully free, Z80 emulator (Z80Free).
Changes:
* GUI interface with ZX Spectrum style and sound
* Added screen preview in scr menu
* Added tape settings menu
* Added green color mode
* Added submenu for 48k issue 2 & 3
* Fixed several bugs (mainly memory leakage)
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/FBZX_Wii
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June 3rd, 2014, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster
via http://pdroms.de/
Insect Combat is an attempt to create a fighting game, only using insects instead of people.
Release notes:
OK, so my monthly visit to this game only took about one hour to implement and perfect instead of a couple. I have not tested it on real hardware yet, though. I’ll do that later and report back if I see anything that needs to be fixed. Anyway, I added fire breath for Panzer Dragonfly. Seems a little ridiculous, but let’s remember this isn’t really supposed to be based in reality. The year in the game is 2047, though, so dragonflies may be able to breathe fire by then if they hurry up and start mutating that trait. And they are, after all, “dragon”flies. Since this is the special move, you have to be near the foe to do this, just like all the other special moves. To do next is the last special move, Slaying Mantis’s head chomp.
http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newb...3718&start=250
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June 3rd, 2014, 00:52 Posted By: wraggster
I am pleased to announce the release of my Manager for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil " Brasil World Cup 2014 DS Manager "for the Nintendo DS. I took the motor Manager DS released in 2010, I fixed some bugs there and I remade all the graphics in the colors of Brazil.
Quote:
Version history: Version 1.0 (30-05-2014) . - Manual Handling scores . - Hours, dates, places of 64 matches . - Automatic Classification of hens . - Automatic Qualification (hens and finals) - Update results via a WiFi connection. - Photos and information (city, capacity, construction, renovations) 12 stages. - Photos and information (coach, founded, number of entries, number of title world champion, ranked fifa, fifa code, confederation, color jerseys) of 32 teams.
http://www.nintendomax.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15276
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June 4th, 2014, 00:19 Posted By: wraggster
 Publisher Natsume has unveiled a new Nintendo 3DS entry in its flagship rustic life simulation franchise, dubbed Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley.
"Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley is truly evolving the franchise," stated Natsume CEO Hiro Maekawa in this morning's announcement. "But the incredibly exciting thing that really elevates the game is that while it does get back to what everyone loves about the early games, it also innovates in a way that noHarvest Moon game ever has."
Though Maekawa failed to mention exactly how the game innovates, the rest of the announcement picks up his slack. According to Natsume, Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley is the first entry in the series to feature a fully three-dimensional setting. Instead of planting crops then letting photosynthesis do the dirty work, players will be able to directly shape the landscape of their farms. Examples offered by the publisher include a farm riddled with canals a la Venice, Italy, and a field full of tulips, like those stereotypically found in Holland.
Keep in mind, this is not the same game we revealed last week. That game,Story of Seasons, shares a developer lineage, aesthetic and gameplay mechanics with the Harvest Moon games, though it's technically not an official sequel. Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley is an official Harvest Moon entry, and while it currently lacks a solid release date, Natsume promises to reveal more at the upcoming E3 conference.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/03/na...e-lost-valley/
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June 4th, 2014, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
A new 2DS bundle is coming to Europe on July 4 featuring gold-crazy platformer New Super Mario Bros. 2. The box includes the red-and-white system and the game pre-installed on a 4GB memory card, with all the Coin Rush add-on content bundled in too. There's no word on a price, but we expect it'll be available at the system's regular tag of £130/130 euros.
The new bundle is the latest in a burgeoning line of color variants and packages for the unhinged handheld. When we say it's unhinged, we don't mean it's a bit nuts - you can be the judges of that - rather that it doesn't bend like the regular 3DS. Also, while the system can play all 3DS games and DS games too, it doesn't display them in 3D.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/03/2d...bros-2-bundle/
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June 4th, 2014, 00:27 Posted By: wraggster
The Wii U's summer system update is available now, headlined by quicker booting and auto-installs of further updates. When you turn on your Wii U the firmware's Quick Start menu lets you select recently played or installed games and boot into them in seconds. In other words, getting into Mario Kart 8 just got a triple mushroom boost.
Nintendo already introduced auto-downloading of system updates in the powered-down Standby mode, and now the Wii U can install them in Standby too. Another new Standby feature is GamePad Alerts, namely optional "special notifications from Nintendo" that pop up on the tablet even when the system's turned off.
Other additions include a revamp of the Users Settings screen, a Notifications icon on the Home menu, and the ever-faithful improvements to system stability.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/03/ge...pdate-out-now/
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June 4th, 2014, 00:44 Posted By: wraggster
Sega has said that both versions of Sonic Boom will be released in the UK in November.
And to differentiate between the Wii U and 3DS SKUs, each has been given its own subtitle – Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal respectively.
The Wii U game according to the publisher, “will deliver a different experience than past titles” featuring “detailed levels and emphasis on each character’s unique abilities will showcase the distinctive feel of an action-adventure game, giving players more choice in exploration as they work as a team”.
The 3DS SKU, however, “is a standalone adventure that shares key characters, events and lore of the Sonic Boom universe with exclusive environments and characters”.
Added Sega: “While the Wii U game is focused on action-adventure and exploration, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal will place a bigger emphasis on platforming and puzzles. Additionally, unique collectibles featured in the Nintendo 3DS version will unlock special content on the Wii U via local communication.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sonic...nd-3ds/0133340
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June 5th, 2014, 00:27 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo will bring the final two Wii Sports mini-games, Baseball and Boxing, to Wii U on 27th June and offer all Wii U users free access for two days.
The mini-games are the last Wii Sports activities to be updated for Wii Sports Club, Nintendo's HD re-make of the Wii original.Baseball and Boxing will be available at a discounted price of £8.99 for the pair - cheaper than the other sports (likely because they are two of the least popular).Boxing now lets you use a Wii Remote Plus controller in each hand, rather than a Remote and Nunchuck, while Baseball's pitching and catching is now performed using the Gamepad screen.Like the other mini-games, the two have also been updated with fresh visuals, online multiplayer and Miiverse community support.After that, Nintendo will release all five sports together on disc - that'll be available on 11th July.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...g-on-27th-june
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June 5th, 2014, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has released its first DS game for the Wii U's Virtual Console - the mega-selling puzzler Brain Training.
As a special offer, Japanese users can currently nab the game for no cost until 30th June (thanks, NintenDaan).After that date it will be sold for a to be announced price.Nintendo had previously not mentioned the release, although first made reference to DS games coming to Wii U back in January.It's likely that support was added in yesterday's Wii U system refresh - the offer is only available to Japanese users who have updated their consoles.Game Boy Advance titles began launching on Wii U Virtual Console earlier this year, joining NES and SNES games on the service.Nintendo UK told Eurogamer it had nothing to announce yet on when DS games would filter through to Europe.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...lable-in-japan
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June 6th, 2014, 00:33 Posted By: wraggster
Mining adventure game SteamWorld Dig will receive a Wii U version, developer Image and Form announced today. The game first launched on 3DS in August 2013 before arriving on PC and Mac (seen above) in December. PS4 and Vita versions were announced in February, and are expected to launch this year.
SteamWorld Dig is a 2D platform game that blends the action of Mr. Driller and Mossmouth's Spelunky, in which players dig beneath the town of Tumbleton to uncover secrets in its mines. Players search for cash to upgrade their abilities and valuable minerals such as coal to keep their lights going. Image and Form isn't sure how it will use the Wii U's Game Pad and Miiverse in SteamWorld Digyet, but is certain the game is "perfect" for the console.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/05/st...gold-on-wii-u/
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June 6th, 2014, 00:33 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo announced that the upcoming 2014 Pokemon US National Championships will be livestreamed for the first time via its Pokemon Twitch channel.
The event kicks off at noon Eastern time on July 5, with Pokemon X andPokemon Y players competing in a Swiss-system tournament. Pokemon Trading Card Game competitions will follow afterward, with a concluding video game tournament scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on July 6.
Competitors and attendees will receive a Level 50 Shiny Mamoswine throughPokemon X or Pokemon Y. Finalists will move on to the 2014 Pokemon World Championships, which will also be livestreamed when the event takes place on August 16 and 17 in Washington, DC.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/05/ni...ips-on-twitch/
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June 8th, 2014, 21:09 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo will close its European headquarters located in Großostheim, Germany, resulting in several redundancies in its workforce. The Wii U and 3DS manufacturer will cut 130 jobs in the process at various European locations and will consolidate its German HQ to Frankfurt.
"Nintendo of Europe has entered into a consultation process on a number of changes it is intending to make to its European business which, in the long term, will better enable the European business to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment," Nintendo said in a statement to Games Industry International. The company posted a $229 million net loss last monthin its financial results for the year (ending March 31, 2014). It shipped 6.17 million Wii U systems total as of then, well off its original projection of 9 million.
"These intended measures have not been made lightly and have only been arrived at after thorough analysis and careful consideration," the company continued. "The intended measures will sadly have a direct effect on some of the employees based in the Großostheim and Frankfurt offices in Germany and would lead to the release of approximately 130 permanent employees."
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/06/ni...130-employees/
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June 8th, 2014, 21:26 Posted By: wraggster
After three decades, billions of points and far too many of those useless Z-shaped monstrosities that always arrive at the worst possible moment, the universally-beloved puzzle game Tetris is now celebrating its thirtieth birthday.
Originally conceived by Alexey Pajitnov during the final years of the Cold War,Tetris did what so many other Soviet creations could never manage: It escaped the Iron Curtain and proved an even bigger hit in the international market, reportedly selling more than 150 million copies since it debuted in 1984. Nintendo owes much of the success of the original GameBoy - and its success as a company - to Pajitnov's puzzler, as it was the handheld's "must own" game from its debut all the way up until 1996, when that title was usurped by a certain fuzzy, electric rat.
"I never imagined Tetris was going to be this successful, but the simple, yet addicting nature of Tetris still has me playing it a few times every week," said Pajitnov. "I meet fans from around the world who are also as passionate aboutTetris as me, and there is no doubt in my mind Tetris will continue to expand and bring its classic appeal to new players in new ways and on new devices, whatever they may be."
To officially celebrate this milestone, Ubisoft plans to debut Tetris Ultimate on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC later this year.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/06/te...e-puzzle-game/
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June 8th, 2014, 21:31 Posted By: wraggster
Mario Maker may be one of Nintendo's E3 reveals, at least if the above image is genuine. The photo, posted by Nintendo Enthusiast, is alleged to be of Nintendo's show floor at next week's conference in LA. The grainy image makes it hard to tell, but both it and the name suggest a kind of content creation game based around making your own 2D Mario levels.
Nintendo Enthusiast doesn't note how it obtained the photo, so be sure to apply the grain-of-salt rule to what you're seeing; this is very firmly an unconfirmed rumor. Either way, we'll find out what Nintendo has up its sleeve in a few days' time, both at the show and during the company's live stream event.
Update: Hat tip to eagle-eyed commenter arockefellow, who notes what looks like - it's hard to say for sure - grey bases beneath The Villager, Pikachu and Kirby. Of course that could just be innocuous, or maybe we're looking at NFC integration with Super Smash Bros. Again, the image is unverified, so keep those salt grains near.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/06/ru...o-maker-at-e3/
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June 9th, 2014, 22:39 Posted By: wraggster
As new-gen titles slip to 2015, Nintendo must capitalise with MK8
[h=3]Nintendo[/h]nintendo-europe.com
Anyone who has spent much time playing Mario Kart - and that's a pretty huge number of people, given that even the franchise's weakest instalments comfortably sell over 5 million units - knows that there's a certain trick to how items are handed out. If you're at the front of the pack, you don't get very many good power-ups; if you're at the back, however, great power-ups are scattered on you like confetti at a wedding. It's designed to give weaker players a chance to catch up. Right at the moment when you think all hope is lost, the fates hand you something that will put you back in the game.
Life imitates art, sometimes. The Wii U may not strictly speaking be at the back of the pack - it's still got a larger installed base than the Xbox One, though Microsoft's console has been steadily catching up - but it's undoubtedly the most troubled of the new generation of consoles. By some metrics, it's under-performing the late lamented Dreamcast, and plenty of the "Nintendo is Doomed" contingent (a choir with a limited repertoire but a seemingly endless wellspring of schadenfreude-fuelled enthusiasm) are being terribly generous with their advice that Nintendo should abandon the console or quickly reveal a "proper next-gen" successor.
"Looking at the relative positions of the consoles, I can't help but wonder if Nintendo hasn't just been gifted a power-up"
Yet looking at the relative positions of the consoles, I can't help but wonder if Nintendo hasn't just been gifted a power-up. At E3 next week, Sony and Microsoft will both pull out the stops to convince gamers of their future software line-ups - but the vast bulk of what they reveal will probably be 2015 software. Several key releases have slipped already, with Sony's The Order: 1886 only the latest game to disappear from the 2014 release schedule. In fact, in terms of platform exclusives, Sony's DriveClub and Microsoft's Sunset Overdrive are arguably the only real tentpole titles in the second half of 2014 on PS4 and Xbox One, with Bungie's Destiny one of the only real stand-out cross-platform games on the roster.
This kind of software drought isn't new, unusual or even unexpected. It's common for there to be a lull in releases between the games hurried out for the launch window, and the true "second wave" of games that arrives some time later. Developers and publishers spend this period coming to grips properly with the hardware, building up the tools and processes that will allow them to tackle the rest of the generation more effectively. In Sony's case, at least, it seems like the company planned for this lull and is trying to paper over the cracks; the PS4 is getting a steady feed of interesting indie titles, and HD updates of last-gen games like The Last Of Us and Final Fantasy XIV. Still, the reality is that the rest of 2014 is going to be quiet for many gamers; there are good games out there, certainly, but compared to the release schedule already shaping up for 2015, this is the calm before the storm.
"In Sony's case, at least, it seems like the company planned for this lull and is trying to paper over the cracks; the PS4 is getting a steady feed of interesting indie titles, and HD updates of last-gen games"
Except, that is, if you look at Nintendo's Wii U line-up. Kicking off with Mario Kart 8, which has already sailed past a million copies sold (no mean feat given the low installed base of the console) and which seems to be driving a significant uptick in hardware sales, Nintendo has a fairly remarkable 2014 on the cards - a point it's sure to hammer home throughout E3 week, when it will be showcasing games you can play this year, and much of the rest of the excitement will be about games you won't be getting your hands on until after your next rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne.
Super Smash Brothers U is the other massive first-party title on the roster. While it doesn't have the broad appeal of Mario Kart, Smash Bros has established itself as a firm favourite on Nintendo consoles in recent years. If this latest iteration can match the quality of Mario Kart 8, which is earning almost universal praise from critics and gamers alike, it will likely be a major factor in the Wii U purchasing decision for a lot of consumers. Then there's the third-party line-up; Bayonetta 2 is a much-anticipated core title, Monolith Soft's X is an extremely promising RPG from the team that produced the acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles, and both are firmly placed on the 2014 schedule. Question marks remain over Hyrule Warriors, a crossover of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors, but if it hits the quality bar high enough, this could be another important title for Nintendo this year. Then there are host of other interesting titles, which are more niche or less certain in their release dates; Yarn Yoshi, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem, and so on.
If all or most of those titles turn up in 2014, and all or most of them are of high quality and well-received, then the Wii U will have had a pretty remarkable year for software. Bear in mind that the console's back-catalogue is already pretty impressive - Super Mario 3D World was lauded as one of 2013's best games by many critics - and it starts to look like late 2014 will be an important tipping point for many consumers who haven't been swayed by Nintendo's offering as yet.
"There's every chance that by the end of this year the Wii U will have a line-up of first- and second-party software that's easily good enough to justify the 'second console' purchase"
Granted, there are a lot of "ifs" up there. The weak release schedule for PS4 and Xbox One this year is an opportunity for Nintendo, because it's going to create a window in which next-gen consoles are gathering a little dust and their owners start to think about making that "second console" purchase; a role traditionally and very effectively filled by a Nintendo system. If that Nintendo system offers a great Mario game, a great Mario Kart game, a great Smash Bros game and a host of other interesting core titles - Bayonetta 2, X (which will likely be the only decent JRPG on any next-gen system) and so on - then the purchasing decision will be swayed for a pretty large group of consumers. However, if Nintendo is going to actually capitalise on this opportunity, it needs to execute almost perfectly. It can't afford for any of its key games to be flops or critical misses; every one has to be superb.
That's a big ask, but then again, this is Nintendo - and however we may critique the company's overall strategy, executing brilliantly on software is Nintendo's home turf. There's every chance that by the end of this year the Wii U will have a line-up of first- and second-party software that's easily good enough to justify the "second console" purchase for a pretty large audience of gamers. Indeed, in the wake of Mario Kart 8, there's a sense that the tide is turning in terms of the console's perception; it will take a few more good shoves to get things moving in sales terms, but the opportunity exists. If a price cut were to come along by autumn (which Nintendo could afford, in marketing terms, as its console is significantly older than its next-gen rivals') that opportunity would be very significant indeed.
"Wii U has had, perhaps, the weakest first year of any console in over a decade - but with Nintendo's studios seemingly firing on all cylinders right now it's still far from dead"
Moreover, this is an opportunity enhanced by the realities of the modern retail market. In the past, when consoles performed badly, their failure became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Retailers withdrew support, shelf space dwindled, point-of-sale marketing disappeared and sales plummeted further. Third-party publishers bailed out not just because of the small installed base, but because retail support was gone and there was no shelf space to put their titles onto. Today, that problem still exists (although the success of the 3DS has given Nintendo some clout with retailers regarding Wii U support, at least) but it has been alleviated to a significant degree by online shopping. Amazon has no shelf space; Wii U will always be in stock there, and especially for the core audience (which Nintendo wants to exceed eventually, but baby steps, eh?) that's good enough, since they buy a console and software after deliberation and research, not based on shop displays.
Wii U has had, perhaps, the weakest first year of any console in over a decade - but with Nintendo's software development studios seemingly firing on all cylinders right now, the console is still far from dead. Nobody expects it to scale the heights achieved by the Wii, but it could yet sell enough to remain relevant, profitable and respectable by comparison to its rivals. The opportunity to turn things around exists in 2014; if Nintendo can grasp it, it will be arguably the most extraordinary second act in the history of any console, a comeback to rival even the most well-timed blue shell.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...he-banana-peel
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June 9th, 2014, 22:53 Posted By: wraggster
There are hundreds – perhaps thousands – of builds out there on the Internet that put a Raspberry Pi in an enclosure with buttons meant solely for running emulators for old games. This one is unlike any other. Yes, it’s still basically a RetroPi emulator, but this Game Boy Pocket casemod goes beyond any remotely comparable build.
The Game Boy Pocket is incredibly small, but after sanding down the bosses on the inside of the case, gluing the battery door shut, and installing a bit of plastic over the cartridge slot, [WarriorRocker] was able to fit a Raspi inside. The buttons use the same PCB as the stock Game Boy, connected to a Teensy 2.0 board that simulates a USB keyboard.
With the two largest components taken care of, [Warrior] turned his attention to the sound, video and power. The display is a 2.5″ composite LCD that actually fits quite nicely behind the screen bezel. Audio is taken care of by a $3 audio amplifier, a new, smaller speaker, and a side-mounted pot stolen from the original Game Boy guts. There’s no chance on running this with the same 2xAAA cells the original Game Boy Pocket had, so [Warrior] somehow found space for a 2600mAh Li-Poly battery, a step-up regulator, and a charge circuit.
The result is a full-color RetroPi build capable of running for three hours before needing a recharge. All the classic Game Boy games are loaded onto the SD card along with select titles for other systems. The result is one of the best portabalized Raspi builds we’ve ever seen. Video below.
http://hackaday.com/2014/06/05/the-g...hers-to-shame/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:28 Posted By: wraggster
The Nintendo GameCube controller adapter for Super Smash Bros. Wii U, which will grant the use of classic GameCube or WaveBird controllers with the fighter, has been priced at $19.99. Nintendo will also launch a Nintendo GameCube controller with Super Smash Bros. markings for $29.99. There will also be a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U bundle with one controller and one adapter for $99.99. All of these items will be available the same day Super Smash Bros. launches this holiday.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ni...r-wii-u-price/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster
That mini Mario factory just doesn't let up – Mario vs. Donkey Kong is coming to the Wii U eShop, as revealed by a debut trailer on Nintendo's YouTube channel. In the trailer, the player uses the stylus to guide wind-up heroes over spikes, steep drops and other obstacles that are generally hazardous to miniature toys, but levels can also be created and shared over Miiverse.
A star-based currency can be spent to unlock new level-building components or figurines like Luigi. If you're feeling particularly generous, you can leave star-based tips for the creators of stages played on Miiverse. Comments can also be left on pages displaying stages for download, in case players get stumped on a solution or just want to tell others whether a level is worth playing.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ma...o-wii-u-eshop/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster
Last we heard of Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third, the game was nearly finished and ready for launch later this year, though we have now learned that the game will appear exclusively on Nintendo's Wii U console.
Itagaki broke the news during an IGN E3 stream, though the developer most famous for the gravity-defying Dead or Alive franchise offered no further information on what we can expect from the Wii U game. Nintendo "really understood my vision," Itagaki stated, "so I felt I really had to work with them."
Lacking from Itagaki's revelation was any sort of release date.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/de...vely-to-wii-u/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:30 Posted By: wraggster
Mario Party 10 is coming to Wii U in 2015, marking the series' first appearance on Nintendo's new console. The game stars the big baddie Bowser, and you can play as him using the Wii U gamepad against four friends. Bowser smash!
Mario Party 10 uses Amiibo, Nintendo's new Skylanders-esque figurine and NFC system. In addition to the Bowser Party mode, the game also has a classic Mario Party mode.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ma...er-and-amiibo/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:30 Posted By: wraggster
Art Academy is coming to the Wii U, with a multitude of new features designed to take advantage of the system's unique controller. Virtual virtuosos will be able to record and playback their artistic process, and subsequently hang their completed works in a digital gallery. The game will also enable artists to share images on Miiverse.
Note that this game is different from the previously-released Art Academy: SketchPad. It will be coming to the Nintendo eShop sometime in 2014.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ar...into-a-canvas/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster
Level-5's Fantasy Life will be released in North America for the 3DS, a Nintendo representative announced today. After creating their own avatars, players can set out to save the world or unwind with low-speed events like cooking or fishing. The game features music from Nobuo Uematsu and illustration from Yoshitaka Amano.
Fantasy Life is coming to the 3DS on October 24.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/le...coming-to-3ds/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster
Shigeru Miyamoto returns to starships and animal people for a new Wii U entry in Nintendo's classic shooter series. Three levels were on hand in a small pre-E3 event hosted by Miyamoto himself, two in small arena style stages similar to those in Star Fox Command and a third showing off the game's new helicopter vehicle.
While these levels demonstrated how classic Star Fox combat has been adapted for the unique two-screen set up offered by Wii U and its tablet controller, they're far from representative of the full version of the game Nintendo plans to release in 2015. Even as a prototype, though, Star Foxdemonstrates great potential.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/em...tion-on-wii-u/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster
R.O.B. the Robot was an adorable add-on for the NES that didn't really work. InProject Guard, Shigeru Miyamoto's Wii U dual-screen take on tower defense, R.O.B. the Robot is an insane stressor, an unrelenting sneak that ruins your carefully-laid security plans.
Playing like a lost Nintendoland mini-game, Project Guard does take keen advantage of the Wii U's often underutilized controller. While only a single person can play at this point, it's also a deeply amusing group activity. Guardcertainly doesn't feel like a standalone game, even with the presence of a long lost Nintendo icon, but based on Miyamoto's comments this experiment is likely tied into another of Nintendo's recently-resurrected classics.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/mi...project-guard/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:33 Posted By: wraggster
One of three Wii U experiments Shigeru Miyamoto debuted at an intimate pre-E3 event, Project Giant Robot has the simplistic, goofy appeal of Nintendo's earliest games. Customize a big, brawling automaton, from its head to its toes, then try to knock down another bot in a crowded city block. Inspired by sumo wrestling, Robot is awkward and silly when you try it out, especially if you make a top heavy automaton prone to falling over.
While it has some of that immediate charm that's characteristic of Miyamoto's best work, not to mention a vital sense of humor, it doesn't feel like anything representative of a full game. In fact, it scarcely feels on par with the amusements in Nintendoland or Wii Play.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/pr...periment-from/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:34 Posted By: wraggster
Surprise! Mario Maker is indeed a real game that lets you build your own Super Mario Bros. stage, stop while building it, and play your creation. While rumorssuggested the creation game would be coming to Nintendo 3DS, it's in fact a Wii U game.
The game arrives in 2015 in Europe and North America, and will allow players to create Mario stages using graphics from either the original 8-bit Super Mario Bros. or in the style of New Super Mario Bros.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ma...-1-1-on-wii-u/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:37 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has announced Hyrule Warriors, featuring playable co-op characters Zelda and Midna, will launch for the Wii U on September 26, 2014, in North America. Europe will receive the game on September 19.
Hyrule Warriors pits The Legend of Zelda series protagonist Link against spawning hordes of familiar foes. The game is a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Tecmo Koei. Nintendo has said Hyrule Warriors is a placeholder name for the title. The "celebration of both the Zelda and Dynasty Warriorsfranchises" will reportedly arrive in Japan this August.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/hy...oming-sept-26/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:39 Posted By: wraggster
 During Nintendo's E3 press conference, Eiji Aonuma revealed a new entry in the fan-favorite Legend of Zelda series.
Scant information was offered, but we were shown an attractive vignette, featuring Link riding his trusty steed Epona away from what appears to be a particularly angry, laser-equipped Octorok. Aonuma claims the game will be far less linear than past Zelda entries, a change he says "will create new opportunites for gameplay not seen in earlier Zelda games."
No solid release date was offered for this as-yet-unnamed Wii U Zelda sequel, but it should arrive at some point during 2015 in both North America and Europe.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/ni...sequel-coming/
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June 11th, 2014, 00:39 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has announced that its next Yoshi adventure – Yoshi's Wooly World – will include a two-player co-op mode. Yoshi's Wooly World is coming to the Wii U in 2015.
Though the the game is helmed by the team behind the adorable Kirby's Epic Yarn, Yoshi's upcoming Wii U adventure is not a simple follow-up to that game's ideas. Yoshi's Wooly World will emphasize exploration, utilizing the yarn world and Yoshi's abilities to give players an opportunity to investigate every fluffy element of the environment.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/10/yo...ld-adds-co-op/
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June 11th, 2014, 22:13 Posted By: wraggster
Mario Kart 8 has done much to improve the fortunes of the Wii U in recent weeks, and it certainly gave Nintendo a positive springboard to launch the fresh volley of upcoming titles from its E3 broadcast. More importantly, it did an even grander job of killing the dead time between late-night conferences in the office this year.We wanted to put together a quick guide to help you get to grips with what's new in the eighth edition. Regardless of your experience with the series there should be something useful for everyone in our roundup, from our breakdown of all the shortcuts tucked away in the game's 32 tracks, to navigating Nintendo's shy acceptance of an online 21st century.Mario Kart 8 - tips, tricks, fire hopping, drifting, slipstream, stunts
First up, we've got around a dozen essential tips for getting to grips with Mario Kart 8, from using the Rocket Start trick to get off the grid nice and quickly, to making the most of the new anti-gravity sections in the game. Whether you're a complete newcomer, series veteran or lapsed player, there should be something here to help you get off to a better start.Mario Kart 8 - shortcuts, Nitro tracks, courses, hidden ramps
Just as you'd expect from a Mario Kart game there are plenty of shortcuts tucked away in the 32 courses used to fill up the many cups and challenges. We've split our shortcuts guide up into two different sections - one for the all-new maps, and another for the retro tracks that have been given a fresh lick of paint for the new game.Mario Kart 8 - shortcuts, Retro courses, mushrooms, gliding
Just like the new tracks, you'll find the retro course shortcuts much more useful in the Time Trial mode of the game, where you've got a handful of speed-boosting mushrooms to help you burst through the rough terrain that often forms part of the secret path. Still, it never hurts to know where all of these corner-cutting spots are, should you be lucky enough to land a mushroom in the middle of a close multiplayer race.Mario Kart 8 - best karts, combinations, characters, vehicles, gold parts, friend's ghost
Finally, we've pulled together some of the most common questions you're likely to have about Mario Kart 8, from the best kart combinations you can piece together, to grabbing your friends' ghost data from Nintendo's rather archaic online server system. We'll also show you how to work on unlocking every character and kart part available in the game.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...icks-shortcuts
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June 11th, 2014, 22:15 Posted By: wraggster
The 3DS and Wii U versions of Super Smash Bros. will include another new fighter - Pac-Man, Nintendo has announced.Namco's spherical yellow fighter can throw fruit and spawn fire hydrants. His Final Smash move appears to be his powered-up form, albeit grown to a screen-filling size.Smash Bros. series boss Masahiro Sakurai revealed the latest addition to the games' roster last night during an E3 roundtable discussion. Namco is aiding Nintendo in the game's development, so the inclusion makes sense.Pac-Man's introduction trailer below also includes a brief glimpse at returning fighter Mr. Game and Watch - suggesting he too will be appearing.Yesterday saw the confirmation of Mii fighters and Palutena from the Kid Icarus series, and details on how Nintendo's Amiibo figurines would be integrated.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-3ds-and-wii-u
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June 11th, 2014, 22:17 Posted By: wraggster
The Wii U version of Bayonetta will run at 60 frames per second and include new touchscreen controls.
Bayonetta originally released in 2009 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.Bayonetta 2 is a Wii U exclusive, however Nintendo announced at E3 earlier this week that it will also include the original game.
 According to the title's official website, players can use the Wii U GamePad's touchscreen and stylus to control the action in both games. It also supports off-screen play using solely the GamePad.
Players can choose between English and Japanese audio tracks, along with optional subtitles for both languages.
Bayonetta can also don new Samus, Princess Peach, and Link themed costumes, complete with new special attacks, in the original game.
Bayonetta 2 was initially unveiled during a Nintendo Direct web broadcast in September 2012, when it was revealed to be a Wii U exclusive. It will release in November.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...reen-controls/
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June 11th, 2014, 22:25 Posted By: wraggster
Major publishers like EA and Take-Two have opted not to bring series like Battlefield and Grand Theft Auto to Nintendo's home console, while FIFA 15 won't appear on Wii U either.
 And earlier this week, Ubisoft's CEO said the company is holding back a finished Wii U game until the console's user base grows sufficiently to warrant marketing investment in the title.
Asked if Nintendo is having to create more games than ever before to fill holes in its software release schedule, Fils-Aime told IGN in a video interview: "We have a very robust development pipeline, and it's not just first-party.
"What you're seeing more and more, Devil's Third is a great example of it, is what we call second-party development. So, partnering with an established studio to bring some exclusive content to our platform. And then what you're also seeing are the big third-parties creating games like Just Dance, the Lego series.
"We're seeing a tremendous indie community really supporting our platforms," Fils-Aime added, "not only Wii U but 3DS as well, and those games are doing exceptionally well. From the developer's standpoint having those games merchandised side-by-side with Mario, with legacy Zelda-type games, they love it because the traffic is there, the attention is there, and so those independent games are also going to be a very key part of our product pipeline."
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...t-first-party/
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June 11th, 2014, 22:30 Posted By: wraggster
Today, I wrote my very own level of Super Mario Bros. at E3. Featuring a pyramid of goombas, several randomly placed pipes, a dozen mystery blocks in a row and countless coins scattered throughout, my creation was a jumbled mess; coming up with a cool world for Mario to navigate is a lot easier said than done. But it wasmine.
In the first half of next year, Wii U owners will have the same opportunity thanks to a game called Mario Maker. It's Nintendo's first attempt at producing a level creator similar to LittleBigPlanet or Project Spark, and it tugged at my heartstrings. For a brief moment, I shared the same experience as a small group of video game designers: Armed with a Wii U GamePad and its included stylus, I placed enemies, pipes, platforms and other Mario obstacles anywhere I wanted. In my demo, I was allowed to choose between the original game's 8-bit style and the high-def style from the franchise's recent titles. And just to make sure my Mario genesis was actually playable, I was able to play through it in real time.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/11/m...aker-hands-on/
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June 11th, 2014, 22:40 Posted By: wraggster
Last year, Zelda tastemaker Eiji Aonuma told us that he wanted to give players more freedom. "I want them to be able to explore more." Back then, he was talking about A Link Between Worlds; today Nintendo is talking about the franchise's first game designed natively for the Wii U. Taking the screen during Nintendo's Digital Event at E3, Aonuma showed a deep, lush landscape and pointed to the horizon. "You can even reach those mountains in the distance if you walk far enough." It's the first truly open-world Zelda game.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/10/Zelda-Wii-U/
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June 12th, 2014, 01:42 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo’s first party Wii U showing is improving all the time, but third parties continue to distance themselves from the console.
However, Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime has insisted that third party support remains strong for the console, highlighting the indie development sector for particular praise.
"We're seeing a tremendous indie community really supporting our platforms," Fils-Aime told IGN, as transcribed by CVG. "Not only Wii U but 3DS as well, and those games are doing exceptionally well.
“From the developer's standpoint having those games merchandised side-by-side with Mario, with legacy Zelda-type games, they love it because the traffic is there, the attention is there, and so those independent games are also going to be a very key part of our product pipeline.
"What you're seeing more and more, Devil's Third is a great example of it, is what we call second-party development. So, partnering with an established studio to bring some exclusive content to our platform. And then what you're also seeing are the big third-parties creating games like Just Dance, the LEGO series.”
Ubisoft admitted this week that it was holding back a fully developed Wii U title until the machine improved its sales. Publishers like EA, Take-Two and Deep Silver, meanwhile, seem intent on now ignoring the machine altogether.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/reggi...peline/0133934
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June 12th, 2014, 01:44 Posted By: wraggster
 Mario and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata celebrating a victory over NoA’s Reggie Fils-Aime, yesterday.
And now for something completely different. It doesn’t matter whether you believe Nintendo’s determination to do things its own way is its greatest asset or its greatest flaw, few will have watched Nintendo’s version of an E3 press conference without cracking a smile.The tone was set from the very beginning with an extraordinary, GIF-friendly scrap between Reggie Fils-Aime and Satoru Iwata, and the Robot Chicken interstitials that ran throughout the show were genuinely funny too, poking fun at fanboy demands and subverting established Nintendo tropes. A well-judged sense of humour at E3! Who’d have thought it?And the games? An unexpected and uneven mix, to be perfectly truthful, and there’s little here to turn Nintendo cynics into believers. Carefully described by Nintendo as a ‘digital event’ rather than a press conference, this wasn’t an event aimed at journalists, industry analysts or shareholders – it was for players. And it was all the more entertaining for it. The new games on show here were designed to please Nintendo’s demanding, sometimes restless fanbase rather than turn Wii U into a blockbuster gamebox.It worked. We saw familiar, much-loved mascots return in Super Smash Bros, new Pokemon games, Yoshi’s Wooly World, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, new spin-off Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker and, of course, that captivating Zelda Wii U reveal. All of which are likely to be released to an enthusiastic critical and player response, even if they won’t sell in the numbers Nintendo once enjoyed.
http://www.edge-online.com/news/nint...this-much-fun/
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June 13th, 2014, 23:20 Posted By: wraggster
Kirby's Canvas Curse was an early success story for the Nintendo DS, aptly demonstrating the platform's capacity for inventive touch screen-driven gameplay. Instead of assuming direct control of Kirby, players instead drew lines across vibrant backdrops to guide the pink puffball to each level's exit. The game was a unique dexterity test, challenging players to think ahead and draw lines quickly and accurately in order to keep Kirby from careening out of control.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse translates Canvas Curse's line-scrawling gameplay to the Wii U, and if the game's E3 2014 demo is of any indication, Nintendo's tablet peripheral is an even better fit for Kirby's serpentine adventures.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/13/ki...-the-wii-us-g/
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June 13th, 2014, 23:22 Posted By: wraggster
The next Zelda game coming to the Wii U is anything but traditional fare for the series. Instead, it follows a different set of traditions, basing its core mechanics on Tecmo-Koei's Dynasty Warriors franchise. Rather than putting players in the midst of history-inspired battles in ancient China, the upcoming Hyrule Warriors for the Wii U takes its cast and settings from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series.
Choosing one of nine characters (including series mainstays Link, Zelda, and Impa), players embark on a quest to save Hyrule from vast enemy armies. In the context of the Dynasty Warriors series, this amounts to mashing the attack button and slaughtering thousands of weaklings who dare to get in your way.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/13/hy...knew-you-want/
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June 13th, 2014, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster
Splatoon is a game out of time. Steering its funky kid combatants around brightly lit arenas, spraying down thick smears of hot pink and olive green paint out of what looks like Super Soaker 50s, recalls the neon cartoon style of early-'90s cartoons. "Up next on Snick we've got the kids from Splatoon!" yell Keenan and Kel between commercial breaks.
That each pony-tailed gunner turns into a squid that can sink into paint smeared on any surface, refilling their ink stockpile for more shooting and speedily sneaking around the grounds avoiding fire, gives Splatoon a surrealistic Nintendo flair but even its cephalopodic nature has a whiff of theDouble Dare about it. Even if it feels a bit like a cultural relic, it's a vibrant and vivacious entry in the Wii U library, bright and pleasing to hand and eye in the same charismatic way as Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World. My time with the game was encouraging, but I sincerely worry about Splatoon finding its audience on Wii U.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/12/th...f-squidly-joy/
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June 13th, 2014, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster
Tomonobu Itagaki has been away for a long time. After finishing Ninja Gaiden IIfor Xbox 360 back in 2008, the man behind some of gaming's most flamboyant creations broke from his team at Tecmo to go independent. He founded Valhalla Studios in 2008 and announced Devil's Third in 2010. Shifting from the martial arts pyrotechnics of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, Devil's Third would be a third-person shooter of all things. After delays, disappearances, and the death of its publisher THQ, Third re-appeared at E3 2014 under an unlikely banner: the Nintendo Wii U.
"We developed the game up to an early playable version at THQ but then there was the unfortunate end of that company," Itagaki said via a translator. "Then, when we went looking for partners and found Nintendo who really supported my vision. I'm not really sure if it would have been possible ten years ago to be honest, but I've had a long relationship with Nintendo going back to the Nintendo and Super Nintendo. Once I went independent, I definitely went over to Nintendo to say hello."
It's been a long time since he went independent, though. Just like his games, Itagaki was alternately stoic and funny discussing how his development process has changed as he faced myriad challenges to get his game made.
"I like to think of myself as a warrior," said Itagaki.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/11/de...-mean-to-live/
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June 13th, 2014, 23:33 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo's newest IP is a turn-based strategy game for 3DS set in the steam age in London, and has players join an elite force created by Abraham Lincoln to battle an alien invasion. No, really.
It's Code Name: STEAM, it's developed by Intelligent Systems, and it's due out in 2015. Even though it's a turn-based strategy game, it's set up like a third-person shooter: Moving and shooting takes away from your turn points. The concept was to make turn-based games accessible and bring the camera down to the level of individual units.
Each fighter in Code Name: STEAM runs on steam – they all have boilers and draw from a set amount of steam to execute attacks. The main characters have animal motifs that impact the designs of their weapons, and some of the original aliens are riffs on Lovecraftian monsters. There's no overhead map – everything is from the perspective of your units. Think steampunk XCOM with real-time elements.
The game is done up in comic book-style art inspired by American artists Jack Kirby and Bruce Timm. Also, "STEAM" stands for "Strike Team Eliminating the Alien Menace."
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/11/ni...gainst-aliens/
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June 16th, 2014, 00:20 Posted By: wraggster
The gaming-dominated Twitch.tv might be the most popular livestreaming site in the world, but the Wii U remains without support for the service that helps PS4, PC and Xbox One players broadcast their games. Rather than the absence stemming from a shoddy relationship or tech-related issues, Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime told Polygon during E3 that Nintendo doesn't think streaming "30 minutes of gameplay by itself is a lot of fun."
Fils-Aime argues that features like Mario Kart 8's support for sharing highlight reels from races differs from sitting through livestreams that might not even have anything interesting to watch. In contrast, Nintendo used Twitch to broadcast its Nintendo Treehouse Live at E3 demonstrations and the Super Smash Bros. Invitational, and Fils-Aime says we can expect Nintendo to do "more of that type of activity, highlighting our games and providing a forum for players to learn how to play better."
While we understand that Nintendo is aiming for its games to be featured in a different style than what Twitch viewers are used to, it sounds an awful lot like the kid that used to tell us how to play with our toys.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/15/ni...treams-as-fun/
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June 16th, 2014, 00:21 Posted By: wraggster
E3 2014 wasn't just great for new games – Capcom showed Virtual Console users a little love with their upcoming release schedule, and now Natsume Inc. has done the same by announcing two new 3DS VC titles: Both Lufia: The Legend Returns and Harvest Moon 2 GBC are "coming soon" to the digital storefront.
While Game Boy Color cartridges of either game are still reasonably priced, we're hoping this will lead to a debut of the SNES' pricier Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals on the Wii U VC, which typically sells for $50 or higher. Hoping for the same scenario with Harvest Moon 64 might be futile, though – when a fan asked about the possibility of the N64's farm-and-relationship simulator arriving at a later date, the Natsume page responded: "Sadly, HM64 won't be appearing."
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/15/lu...-reach-3ds-vc/
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June 16th, 2014, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
Looks like Mario Kart 8 was just what the doctor mechanic ordered for Nintendo's struggling Wii U; Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime told Polygon that, compared to the week prior, Wii U sales quadrupled the week after the game's release.
Fils-Aime also noted that 18 percent of Wii U owners purchased a copy of the game in its first weekend, but this number likely includes sales of the game from the bundle that was offered upon release. Still, the numbers are nothing to sneeze at, as the game topped 1 million on release weekend, making it the fastest-selling Wii U game to date.
Now we wait to see which game for Nintendo's console, if any, will knock Mario Kart 8 out of first place with a well-timed blue shell.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/15/ma...ays-fils-aime/
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June 16th, 2014, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has hinted that some new entries in the Metroid series could be in development.
In an interview with Kotaku Shinya Takahasi, the GM of the platform holder's Software Planning and Development group, talked about the two different types of Metroid game – the original 2D style and the 3D games in the vein of the Prime series. He said that internal discussions were taking place about what to do next.
“So it has been a while since we released the last one and we're having discussions internally about what we can do next. So at this point we have two different types of Metroid games,” he said.
“We have the Prime style of Metroid game and we have the more traditional style of Metroid game. We feel that we do need to take care of both of these styles of play. And the hope is that at some point in the near future we'll be able to share something about them.”
It has been a while since a new Metroid game has launched. The last entry in the series was the divisive Wii title Other M, which was released back in 2010.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ninte...-games/0134006
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June 16th, 2014, 22:23 Posted By: wraggster
A federal appeals court has dismissed a patent infringement claim against Nintendo's Wii Remote controller.
 The suit was first filed by patent holder Triton Tech in 2010, after which a Seattle district court judge found the patent "did not adequately describe a complete invention" rendering it invalid, according to Nintendo. Triton took the claim to a federal appeals court, which upheld the previous ruling on June 13.
Triton's patent No. 5,181,181 was filed in 1990 for "a mouse which senses six degrees of motion arising from movement of the mouse within three dimensions". It describes several functions which are similar in use to the Wii Remote's motion control.
"We are very pleased with this result," Nintendo of America general counsel Richard Medway said in a prepared statement. "Nintendo has a long tradition of developing unique and innovative products, while respecting the intellectual property rights of others. Nintendo continues to aggressively defend itself against patent trolls. After many years of litigation, the decision today reflects an appropriate resolution of this case."
Electronics company Philips sued Nintendo in May over its patent on a "virtual body control device", which allows users to control interfaces using "intuitive" motions. If successful, the suit would block North American sales of Wii, Wii Remote, Wii U, Wii U GamePad, and Wii Mini.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ingement-suit/
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June 16th, 2014, 22:29 Posted By: wraggster
The Nintendo Wii U is currently running second in the next-gen console race, according to Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime.
Asked during an interview at E3 2014 last week whether the Wii U could ever outsell the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, Fils-Aime indicated that it already has.
 "The dirty little secret is if you look at life-to-date numbers, between Sony and Nintendo they'd be pretty close in terms of PS4 vs. Wii U, with Xbox coming in third place," Fils-Aime told The Seattle Times.
"I think it's going to be a three-horse race for the balance of this cycle."
The executive also said that Nintendo does not believe it will need to release a new console following the less than stellar performance of the Wii U since its launch.
"We think that the Wii U has a long and vibrant life in front of it," he said. "What it needs are games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros Wii U and Splatoon - those types of games that can really drive the installed base. We believe if we can do that effectively the Wii U has a long and robust life."
Fils-Aime also conceded that the Wii U's launch line-up was not as strong as it could have been, largely due to delays on Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101.
"The interesting point there is that when we announced the Wii U and when we announced all of the launch details, we fully expected games like Wii Fit U, Pikmin, the The Wonderful 101 to be in the launch window," he said.
"The Nintendo quality bar is really what kept us from launching those games potentially in February or March and so that's what created the lack of software during that initial launch phase."
While Nintendo managed to sell only 310,000 Wii U systems in the fourth financial quarter, sales have picked up since the release of Mario Kart 8 earlier this month. The game's release has lead to quadrupled Wii U sales in the US and a 666 per cent increase in sales in the UK.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ays-fils-aime/
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