2DS might be a step back, but it says a lot about what Nintendo wants for Christmas

November 1st, 2013, 01:45 Posted By: wraggster

Be honest: if you own a 3DS, have you moved its 3D slider to its lowest position and removed its supposed USP as a matter of course? That’s what we thought. As such, the invective that greeted Nintendo’s announcement of a 3DS revision that removes stereoscopic 3D at a hardware level always felt misguided. In any case, 2DS isn’t aimed at the snarky grown-ups for whom rounding on Nintendo’s every strategic blunder has become a reflex. The company may have been targeting families for most of its time in the videogame business – and the marketing department’s usual lifestyle photography makes out that this is also a system for all ages – but 2DS is for kids.Kids that play Pokémon in particular. 3DS was undermined right out of the gate, first by tabloid scare stories with illustrations of grown-ups going boss-eyed on public transport, then by Nintendo’s own admission that its new handheld’s signature feature wasn’t suitable for the under-sevens. That demographic may not matter greatly early on in a Nintendo system’s life – early adopters tend to be a little greyer about the temples – but with 3DS’s chance of a good Christmas depending heavily on Pokémon X/Y, something had to be done.The result is 2DS, a 3DS without 3D and the first Nintendo handheld in a dozen years to eschew a clamshell design. There’s sound logic behind the latter decision, judging by how many of the Edge brood have seen a handheld’s hinge as something to be snapped or smeared with an unidentifiable sticky substance, but there are subtler forces at work. This flat design is clearly meant to look and feel familiar to a new generation of players whose formative gaming experiences have involved jabbing at an iPad’s touchscreen.It also means Nintendo can cut production costs. Replacing 3DS’s two discrete screens with a single larger one (separated into two not by a hinge but a wedge of plastic) will help reduce manufacturing overheads. And while the chunky plastic shell may seem like more cost-cutting, it makes for a typically robust piece of Nintendo hardware that fits as snugly in adult as juvenile hands, one that should survive being flung unprotected into a schoolbag thanks to the thick layer of plastic over the screen. It’s still clearly designed for kids – the L and R buttons that curve around 2DS’s top corners have much more travel at their lowest point on the outer edges of the system, accommodating the slight of index finger – but the weight and feel continue Nintendo’s family-friendly design legacy.There are other little changes. The wireless switch on the launch model’s left side has been removed, and the feature is now toggled by tapping a wrench icon in the system’s Home menu (which also provides access to brightness settings). With no lid to snap shut, you put 2DS into Sleep mode by flicking a switch on its lower edge. There are odd little hangovers from the system’s 3D parent – it still has two cameras on the rear, enabling you to take and share 3D photos – but there are changes for the better, too. Start and Select now have circular buttons like the DS Lite and DSi, instead of the unpleasant flat surface found on the launch 3DS, which was only slightly improved on the 3DS XL.We’ll admit we too have played more 3DS games with the slider at its lowest point than at its maximum, but even if we rarely used it, it’s impossible to see the loss of 3D as anything but a retrograde step. Now the only discernible difference between DS and 3DS software is resolution. Most disappointing of all is the absence of the biggest potential benefit of dropping the system’s one-time USP: improved battery life. 2DS lasts three-and-a-half to five hours, a minor improvement on existing models, rising to five to nine hours while playing a DS game. Yet at £110 – around two-thirds of the suggested RRP of a 3DS XL – it’s competitively priced, and while it might not be able to match a tablet for industrial design or versatility, you can’t play Pokémon on an iPad. Nintendo will hope that proves incentive enough to get 2DS into the hands of a new generation on Christmas morning.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...for-christmas/

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf sells 6.35 million

November 1st, 2013, 01:57 Posted By: wraggster

3DS sees five million-selling games in Nintendo's first half of the year, Luigi's Mansion tops 3 million
While the Wii U struggles to find its stride, Nintendo is enjoying plenty of success with the 3DS. In a supplemental release following yesterday's earnings report, Nintendo updated sales figures for its million-selling titles over the first half of its fiscal year.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf led the way with sales of 2.49 million copies worldwide from April through September, bringing the game's lifetime total to 6.35 million copies. Luigi's Mansion was the next best seller, adding 1.91 million worldwide to bring its total to 3.13 million.
A trio of new releases also cracked the seven-digit sales threshold. Tomodachi Collection sold 1.63 million copies despite only being released in Japan, while Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D sales totaled 1.37 million and 1.19 million, respectively.
Expect Nintendo's next earnings report to show the 3DS momentum continuing unabated. Those figures will include the launch of Pokemon X and Y, two games that combined to sell 4 million copies worldwide in their first two days on sale.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...s-6-35-million

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Legend of zelda and pikmin headline entertaining new shows for nintendo video

November 1st, 2013, 22:28 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo Video is ready to launch a fresh lineup of great new shows for the fall. The free video application for theNintendo 3DS family of systems will debut new short-form videos starting Nov. 1 that will continue into 2014. Five new series have been slated, including two featuring The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Pikmin 3.

Owners who have downloaded the Nintendo Video application from the Nintendo eShop will automatically receive the new shows on their device, including:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Misadventures of Link: This original series of comedic shorts shows Link, the series' star, in a new and hysterical light. His surroundings will be familiar to fans of the series, since the shorts are based on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD game for the Wii U console.

• Pikmin Nature Documentaries: These "nature documentaries" explore the wonderful world of the tiny Pikmin. The animations, highlighted by dramatic voiceover work, are a tongue-in-cheek take on safari nature shows.

• Bravest Warriors: The latest hit show created by Pendleton Ward, the mind behind Adventure Time, follows four teenage heroes-for-hire as they warp through galaxies to save adorable aliens and their worlds using the power of their emotions. The series is produced by Frederator Studios and launched on the Cartoon Hangover channel on YouTube. New episodes ofBravest Warriors will appear every Friday on Nintendo Video.

• Wildheart Riukiu: This new series of 3D shorts comes from the creator of Meat or Die, which has already amassed more than 5 million views on Nintendo Video. Wildheart Riukiu incorporates charming 16-bit graphics with some not-so-charming, but hilarious, characters. Think ninja puppets.

• Bee and PuppyCat: A Cartoon Hangover Shorts fan favorite, this two-part series by Natasha Allegri follows Bee, an out-of-work 20-something who has a life-changing collision with a mysterious creature she names PuppyCat.

"This latest set of great new shows for Nintendo Video gives fans a unique way to enjoy two of their favorite Nintendo franchises, in addition to hand-picked series from some of the most imaginative and successful creators in the world of animation," said Tony Elison, Nintendo of America's senior director of Business Development.

Fred Siebert, founder and executive producer of Frederator Studios, producer of the new Bravest Warriors series, said, "Cartoon Hangover is honored to be part of Nintendo's entry into the new golden age of TV innovation."

Since launching in July 2011, Nintendo Video has delivered a variety of premiere and exclusive videos automatically to Nintendo 3DS owners. The Nintendo Video application is available to download for free from the Nintendo eShop.

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Nintendo suspends Swapnote on 3DS due to 'offensive material'

November 2nd, 2013, 00:41 Posted By: wraggster

Messaging function 'actively misused'
Nintendo has suspended its Swapnote messaging service on the 3DS due to the exchange of "offensive material".
The console firm said the service, which allows users to send photos and hand drawn messages to each other via SpotPass or StreetPass, had been "actively misused".
In a statement the company was investigating methods of preventing the transfer of offensive images to minors. The suspension of the service has affected all regions.
"Nintendo always wants to provide a positive experience for all consumers and limit the risk of any inappropriate activity or misuse of a service. We feel it is important on this occasion to take this action," read a statement from Nintendo.
"We are very sorry for any inconvenience to the many consumers who have been using this service responsibly; however this decision was made considering the point that many minors also use this feature of Swapnote. Thank you for your understanding."

http://www.develop-online.net/news/n...terial/0185399

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Nintendo keeps things PG on the 3DS, kills off Swapnote's internet messaging

November 3rd, 2013, 00:37 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo demos Wii Fit U and Fit Meter pedometer before they go on sale

November 3rd, 2013, 00:46 Posted By: wraggster

Wii U owners wanting more exercise are about to get their fix, as Nintendo is releasing its long-promised Wii Fit U and companion Fit Meter in the US tomorrow, November 1st. Balance Board owners can pick up the pedometer by itself for $20, and they can download the game trial from the eShop for free. Don't be too quick to buy the full $50 game and sensor combo -- anyone who picks up the Fit Meter by January 31st and syncs it with the Wii Fit U trial can keep using the fitness app indefinitely. Newcomers who'd like the Balance Board and Fit Meter in the same box will have to wait until they're united in a bundle shipping on December 13th for $90. If you're curious as to how the hardware and software work together -- or you're just feeling nostalgic for your Pokewalker --

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/31/w...e-us-tomorrow/

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River City Ransom: How an NES Classic Returned 20 Years On

November 4th, 2013, 01:51 Posted By: wraggster

River City Ransom: Underground is the latest high profile game campaign on Kickstarter but as an interview with the title's creators this week highlights, it's not exactly a new game. Rather, it's an official sequel to a Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom classic, belt-scroller River City Ransom. Remarkably, getting the license and the help of original River City creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto proved easy for the team, indie developers who were submitting game designs to Atari in crayon, aged six. 'I asked for the license and I asked Kishimoto-san if he had an interest in helping us make a better Kunio-kun game,' producer Daniel Crenna says. 'It's not particularly dramatic to say that, but I asked.' As the author points out, it's interesting to imagine what other games could be resurrected with a little bit of polite curiosity.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/1...ed-20-years-on

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No DLC for Super Mario 3D World

November 4th, 2013, 01:57 Posted By: wraggster

Super Mario 3D World producer Yoshiaki Koizumi has made it clear that there will be no DLC for the latest Mario title.
While New Super Luigi U was released as DLC for New Super Mario Bros. U earlier this year, it doesn't look like the DLC trend will continue with Super Mario 3D World.
Producer Koizumi told French gaming site Gamekult, that there are no plans to release DLC for Super Mario 3D World.
On the topic of the GamePad and asynchronous gameplay, Koizuma said "there will be levels where the GamePad will be particularly useful and in which you can find that kind of approach. There will also be a special mini-game with Toad, but I can't talk about it right now."
While DLC doesn't appear to be a major factor in Mario's future, Koizumi noted that the possibility of an open world Mario title would be explored if a large enough number of players expressed interest in it.
Wanting to keep Super Mario 3D World accessible, Koizumi said that it's important that players know where to go, and for this reason the developers "have given great importance on the placement and visibility of the flags."
Last week Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed that Super Mario 3D World would be the key title to drive Wii U sales.
Nintendo has confirmed a Super Mario 3D World release date of November 22 in the US and November 29 in Europe and Australia.
In our Super Mario 3D World preview we said "there's every likelihood that this will be the best Nintendo game since Galaxy - and maybe, just maybe, it'll provide enough consistent moments of magic to surpass it."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ario-3d-world/

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Super Mario 3D World will feature 'a lot' of live-recorded music

November 4th, 2013, 02:01 Posted By: wraggster

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Gateway 3DS News - 2.0 release and clones

November 4th, 2013, 02:12 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.gateway-3ds.com/

Our work is close to completion, but as our users know, we care very much about quality and we won't release our new firmware before it has been tested in depth and approved by our beta-testing team.
Besides better compatibility for the latest roms, we also have in the meanwhile started working on some new features that will surprise and please you all. There are many more good things to come in the future of Gateway 3DS and its users. The Future is Gateway 3DS !

On a side note, there has been a first clone announced under 2 different brand names.

We want to advise people interested in this product that it is a simple clone based on our 1.0 firmware (with all its limitations), with cheap Chinese design and components. It will inevitably fail and brick over time with or without updates as it is using our software which was not designed for their hardware.

By purchasing this device, you face the certainty of an unsupported and dead product before long. Please keep in mind the short life span of such products before going through a purchase, you might end up thinking you have been scammed.


We provide support and innovative features unprecedented by any other team before, and we will continue doing so with firmware updates that everyone can enjoy.

We will be back soon with 2.0 firmware and more exciting news about the future of Gateway 3DS!

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Apexicon heading to wii u

November 5th, 2013, 10:50 Posted By: wraggster

Actos Games has announced through their kickstarter to the world one of the best stretch goals yet: A Wii U version of APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat to the platform. Setting the goal at $20,000, just a scant $5,000 more than the initial goal, it will allow Actos Games, LLC. to bring this heavily anticipated Puzzle game to the console, allowing Nintendo fans to download it from the eShop and engage in word wars with their Wii U GamePad. Current backers can choose the Wii U version if the game makes its stretch goal.

"There's nothing more exciting than having Nintendo extend their hands out to you as a developer," said Jonathan Meyer, CEO of Actos Games, LLC. "Our first game, APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat, is perfect for the system, and it's clear Nintendo fans would love to see more interesting indie games hit the console. It's up to the Nintendo fans to really see if they wantAPEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat on their favorite system. We will be able to use the power of the Wii U to help with our battle graphics, including processing power handling all the background coding that goes on which is thanks to the Nintendo Web Framework."

APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat is a puzzle RPG based around creating words from a boggle-like board. Calling itself a "successor to Puzzle Quest", it features four RPG classes, town-building, side-quests, and special hidden NPCs you can find to change the game's multiple endings. Similar to Bookworm Adventures, you are able to deal more damage to enemies with your words based on the skills you activate and use during combat.

For more information on APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat's Kickstarter, please visit at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...-puzzle-combat. The Kickstarter ends on December 1st.

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Shin Megami Tensei IV and Dragon's Crown on Sale!

November 5th, 2013, 10:51 Posted By: wraggster

Have you done all your chores? Is everything caught and all your badges earned? Well then you are in luck, because the cult hit RPG Shin Megami Tensei IV AND its DLC are on sale beginning today! For the next week, players can pick up a copy of the epic demon recruiting 3D dungeon crawler that pits you squarely in the middle of the struggle between Law and Chaos for $39.99 in stores and the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS™. Plus, for the first time, DLC for Shin Megami Tensei, which adds new dungeons, new demons to recruit, and new equipment, will be on sale as well for 25% off. SMT IV packs more than 60 hours of content into "one of the best RPGs for the Nintendo 3DS."

Oh, but we didn't stop there. For the PlayStation®3 or PS Vita® owner that unfathomably has not bought a copy of Dragon's Crown yet, the game is on sale beginning Nov. 5 in stores and on the PlayStation Network. The PS3 version of the game will be on Sale for $39.99, while the PS Vita version will on sale for $29.99, and the Storyteller Voice Pack DLC and PS Theme are on sale as well. Dragon's Crown is the side-scrolling fantasy beat 'em up from Vanillaware with more than 100 hours of loot hunting, dragon beating, intense action gameplay. A recent patch made the game cross-play compatible too!

Here's a list of all the content that will be on sale and their sale prices:

Nintendo 3DS

• SMT IV Full Game - $39.99
• SMT IV DLC - Experience of the Afterlife - $1.49
• SMT IV DLC - Underworld Money-Maker - $2.24
• SMT IV DLC - Death Has Its Applications - $2.24
• SMT IV DLC - Overlord Equipment - $1.11
• SMT IV DLC - Clipped Wings 1 - $1.86
• SMT IV DLC - Snake Scale Equipment - $1.11
• SMT IV DLC - Clipped Wings 2 - $1.86
• SMT IV DLC - Ancient One of the Sun - $1.86
• SMT IV DLC - The Eternal Youth - $1.86
• SMT IV DLC - Radiant Equipment - $1.11
• SMT IV DLC - For the Past... For the Future - $2.24

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Wii Mini US launch confirmed

November 5th, 2013, 11:12 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's $99 Wii Mini console will launch at US retail later this month.
Nintendo Life reports the console's budget version will land in “mid-November,” packing a red WiiMote/Nunchuck combo and a copy of Mario Kart Wii.
Unlike the original Wii, the Mini doesn't include online functionality. It made its debut at Canada retail (selling just 35k units as of March), and later saw a limited UK release.
The news comes following word that Nintendo has officially ceased Wii production in Japan and Europe.

http://www.amazon.com/RED-WII-MINI-C...kiangagenew-20

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Iwata on third-party publisher relations: Nintendo does not 'follow or imitate'

November 6th, 2013, 01:12 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has commented on the Wii U's lack of third-party support, claiming the company does not wish to "follow or imitate" its competition.
During a recent earnings Q&A, Iwata responded to queries regarding the Wii U's third-party support, and why Nintendo is trailing behind other platforms.
"In terms of how we view our relationship with third-party publishers, I think it is natural that there is a difference between publishers who have the software development resources like Nintendo's to build a software lineup of their own and publishers who do not," Iwata said.
"Since former President Yamauchi passed away, I have been considering what he taught us in the end, and his words that the worst thing we can do in entertainment is to follow what others are doing spoke directly to my heart.
"Following and imitating others is the kind of reasoning that Nintendo tries to avoid the most, and while we certainly do not have a negative attitude toward strengthening our ties with third-party publishers, employing the same methodology as the other manufacturers would only lead to the most simplistic competitive approaches, such as price wars or money-giving that would never end.
"We would like to take a unique approach of our own and build sustainable relationships with our third-party publishers."
Iwata also addressed the looming release of Sony and Microsoft's next-gen consoles. He said more competition will only strengthen the industry as a whole and thus Nintendo's outlook.
"Though there are some who take the view that intensified competition means overseas competition will be tough for Nintendo, no matter how Nintendo does domestically, I do not necessarily see it that way," Iwata said.
"This year, what Nintendo is promoting is, conversely, to stand out in the game industry for individuality. I believe we have become a unique value."
During the same investors call Iwata said Nintendo has no plans toabandon 3D, despite the release last month of a new Nintendo 2DS model.
Nintendo revealed last month that 3DS sales for the first half of the financial year totalled 3.89 million worldwide, compared to 5.06 million in the same period last year.
Overall, Nintendo has made $2 billion in sales since April this year, with a $6.1 million net profit.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ow-or-imitate/

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Wii U Karaoke adds warning about @!#$ing swears

November 6th, 2013, 22:48 Posted By: wraggster

To prevent Tupac from posthumously teaching modern kids the Thug Life vocabulary, Nintendo will add "explicit language" warnings to Wii Karaoke U.

As its name suggests, Wii Karaoke U allows players to sing along to their favorite songs. Unlike Rock Band or Guitar Hero however, Wii Karaoke U does not alter or censor the music it features. This becomes a problem for parents the moment somebody's kid develops a taste for old NOFX albums, so in response Nintendo is adding a warning to the game's eShop page.

"Wii Karaoke U by Joysound is intended to provide users with access to a large catalogue of songs from a broad range of music labels across a variety of musical genres - designed to appeal to all music tastes," reads Nintendo's official statement on the matter. "As such Nintendo does not restrict which songs are included in the catalogue of songs featured within the Wii Karaoke Uby Joysound application."

"It is however very important to us that all users of Wii Karaoke U by Joysound understand that some lyrics contained within songs may not be suitable for all audiences and as such we will immediately be implementing an additional message within the Nintendo eShop (prior to downloading the application and ticket purchase) as well as on the Wii Karaoke U by Joysound website pages."

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/06/wi...ut-ing-swears/

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Nintendo leading with digital for new IP

November 6th, 2013, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

Titles featuring new kinds of gameplay may not reach full sales potential at retail, says Iwata
Nintendo says it will focus on digital releases for its new IP given the platform’s flexibility.
The firm’s president Satoru Iwata suggested during Nintendo’s Q2 earnings Q&A that customers were hesitant to buy boxed releases of new IP.
Instead, Nintendo will focus on digital launches and its “wide flexibility in terms of their prices and ways to market them” with titles such as Wii Sports Club.
“When we launch a brand-new IP or when we release a game with well-known characters but with brand-new gameplay that our consumers are not familiar with, it is hard for them to anticipate and appreciate the value of the content before actually purchasing and playing with it,” said Iwata.
“For these titles, if we take the ordinary approach of selling the packaged software, the software might not reach its full sales potential. When we offer our consumers such new play experiences exclusively in a digital format, we intend to have wide flexibility in terms of their prices and ways to market them.”

http://www.develop-online.net/news/n...new-ip/0185624

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Why Call Of Duty is increasingly under threat as king of the console shooters

November 7th, 2013, 00:03 Posted By: wraggster

This morning’s round of Call Of Duty: Ghosts reviews saw the series plot a new point in the series’ gently declining critical trajectory, but that’ll mean nothing to the millions that pick up the game today. For many, Call Of Duty turned from product into a pastime long ago.The tight loops of satisfying play, multiplayer perks and progression that Modern Warfare defined – and subsequent titles have refined – have been pulling in new players and refusing to let them go for years; when Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin speaks of Call Of Duty players, he refers to them as being part of a culture, not just a fanbase.No matter what you call the Call Of Duty phenomenon, after the release of GTAV on top of expected new entries in the FIFA, Battlefield and Assassin’s Creed series, Call of Duty has more to worry about this year. These are games which play in the same space as Infinity Ward’s shooter – the kind which crossover to become one of the handful of annual purchases made by the mainstream videogame player.“I’m not worried, we have a very strong user base, we have a massive amount of people that buy the game and buy it every year,” says Rubin. ”It is a tough year – tougher than most from a competition standpoint. We did have GTA, we have Battlefield 4 – there are a lot of games coming out. So it’s definitely tough but we’re nowhere near afraid of the competition.”Right now, Rubin’s confidence is justified. Call Of Duty has become so ingrained in game culture that its many achievements have almost become invisible. Most reviews of the game barely even comment on Infinity Ward’s skilful handling of gunfeel or just how compulsive its suite of multiplayer modes continue to be; they are almost taken for granted in what is the tenth mainline Call Of Duty game.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...sole-shooters/

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Nintendo remains committed to 3D content, despite 2DS switch

November 7th, 2013, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster

Big questions were asked of the 3D future of the 3DS when Nintendo revealed that its latest version, the 2DS, had done away with the 3D screen.
Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata, however, has told investors that the new machine does not represent an end to the company’s portable 3D ambitions.
"We already realised beforehand that it would be difficult to maximize the sales potential of Nintendo 3DS without an entry-level product ready in time for the release of a new Pokémon title," Iwata said, according to CVG.
"We are offering such an option in order to further propel the popularity of the Nintendo 3DS platform in the overseas markets. Nintendo 2DS is, however, simply one of the options for consumers.
“We will continue to offer the existing Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL platforms in the overseas markets and we are not saying that we will abandon 3D or cease to make new propositions in 3D."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ninte...switch/0123827

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Finding Shiny Pokemon Automatically

November 7th, 2013, 00:16 Posted By: wraggster


In case you’re not up to speed with the world of Pokemon, nearly every species of this game’s titular creatures have a ‘shiny’ variety – a differently colored sprite for each pokemon. As far as gameplay goes, they’re exactly the same as their non-shiny brethren, but the shiny varieties are so impossibly rare not many players have seen them. [dekuNukem] over on Youtube automatically with the Hackaday reader’s favorite tools – an Arduino and a few parts from Sparkfun.
The build hinges on the fact that all shiny pokemon have a short animation whenever the player encounters them in the wild. This setup uses a fishing rod, so an Arduino Micro first presses the Y button to cast the rod, while the ‘duinos ADC listens to the audio signal until a bite is indicated.
A light sensor taped to the bottom screen of the 3DS then measures the amount of time the screen is blacked out. The extra animation for every shiny pokemon means this blackout period is about half a second longer. If the Arduino doesn’t see a shiny, it ‘runs away’, but if a shiny is detected a buzzer sounds to tell the extremely lazy pokemon trainer they have a shiny on their line.
From the video, it took about 36 minutes to find a single shiny pokemon, and about 8 shinies in the three hours of testing this rig has under its belt.

http://hackaday.com/2013/11/05/findi...automatically/

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Nintendo's now-discontinued Letter Box service used by alleged child predators

November 7th, 2013, 01:14 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's recently-discontinued 3DS messaging service Letter Box was used by alleged child predators in Japan to target young girls, reports state.Two cases have recently come to light, discovered by Kotaku, where men used their 3DS to meet young girls and receive nude photos.A 44-year-old man has been arrested on child pornography charges after two girls aged 11 and 12 sent him indecent pictures of themselves via Letter Box, Japanese newspaperYomimuri Online has revealed.In a separate incident, two men aged 49 and 36 have been arrested on multiple rape charges after meeting a 12-year-old girl in a hotel room. They arranged the meetings via 3DS, Mainichi reports, although the Letter Box software was not specifically named.The above cases both state that parents had enabled the 3DS' parental controls to limit online connectivity - only for their children to switch them off again.Earlier this week Nintendo pulled the plug on Letter Box's SpotPass feature, making the app essentially redundant. 3DS owners can no longer send messages to each other or receive official communication from Nintendo. Only a simple StreetPass feature remains, to send a pre-written welcome message to random passers-by."Nintendo has learned that some consumers, including minors, have not only been exchanging their friend codes on Internet bulletin boards but also have then used Nintendo Letter Box and Flipnote Studio 3D (Flipnote Gallery: Friends) to exchange offensive material," the company stated in response to the reports above."Nintendo has been investigating ways of preventing this and determined it is best to stop the SpotPass feature of Nintendo Letter Box because it allowed direct exchange of photos and was actively misused."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...eport-suggests

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Report: Nintendo trademarks mysterious 'Great Detective Pikachu'

November 8th, 2013, 20:54 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's most lucrative electric rat may be trading in his Thunderbolt attack for a Meerschaum pipe, as the publisher has trademarked something called "Great Detective Pikachu."

Normally, trademarks come and go. You're as likely to see a 'mark spawn a full-fledged game as you are to see a company sit on a term or phrase for potential future use. Great Detective Pikachu however, is a bit different as it directly ties to a recent, official video depicting a strange, talking blue Pikachu.

Scant little is known of how the game will actually perform or what Pikachu might be detecting, but it has been revealed that motion capture techniques are being used to properly animate the rodent's facial expressions and speech routines. Whether that sounds adorable or intensely terrifying comes down to your opinion on overly-anthropomorphized Pokémon.

Either way, we aren't likely to know how things play out until Nintendo decides to shed more light on this mystery.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/07/re...ctive-pikachu/

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New Nintendo eShop releases: Wii Sports Club, Toki Tori, Wario's Woods, KORG M01D

November 8th, 2013, 21:01 Posted By: wraggster

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Trial bowling and tennis at the Wii Sports Club, starting today

November 8th, 2013, 21:01 Posted By: wraggster

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Fire Emblem's Marth confirmed for new Super Smash Bros.

November 8th, 2013, 21:04 Posted By: wraggster

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Pikmin 3 DLC brings more baddies to the battle

November 8th, 2013, 21:05 Posted By: wraggster

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TV campaign for new 3DS Zelda

November 8th, 2013, 23:10 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo is backing its new Zelda 3DS game with an extensive Christmas marketing campaign.
A Link Between Two Worlds launches later this month, and will run from launch right up until December 25th. The firm is also booking advertising around specialist websites and social media.
“The Legend of Zelda series is a cornerstone franchise for us and always performs very positively,” said UK product manager Roger Langford.
“We achieved some great results with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D in 2011. With the increased Nintendo 3DS install base as well as seasonality we are confident in A Link between Worlds being a top seller on Nintendo 3DS.
“To herald the Launch of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds we will have a substantial marketing campaign both pre and post launch.
“We will also have bespoke activity aimed at a kids audience showcasing the characters and ingenious gameplay.”
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds is out on 3DS on November 22^nd.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/tv-ca...-zelda/0123982

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GameBoy Color Costume

November 8th, 2013, 23:28 Posted By: wraggster


Okay, okay. We know it’s November now, but when [John] sent this project in, we just had to share it. He made a fully functional
The costume makes use of a Raspberry Pi (located on his back), running RetroPie, which is an open source project dedicated to creating a universal console emulator. To create the controllers he used two Teensy microcontrollers in his gloves, setup to emulate two USB keyboards on the Pi. Since he’s using Teensy 3.0, it supports capacitive touch sensing, so all he had to do was wire pieces of aluminum to the input pins to create touch-sensitive metal buttons on the gloves. He then slapped a cheap 10″ LCD from Adafruit onto his chest, stuffed a few 12V LiPo batteries in his pockets, and was ready to be the hit of any party he went to.
The costume was a great success, although a pesky pair of Mario and Luigi kept holding his hands all night… Stick around after the break to see a demonstration video!

http://hackaday.com/2013/11/07/gameboy-color-costume/

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puNES v0.71 (Bugfix release)

November 9th, 2013, 20:17 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

The NES emulator puNES for Linux and Windows (SDL) has been updated.

Quote:
Changelog:
0.71 (Bugfix release)
In linux version the menu bar is not displayed correctly. Fixed.

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DeSmuME JIT 0.9.10 (08-11-2013)

November 9th, 2013, 20:30 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo DS emulator (build by CrazyMax) has been updated. Changes:
- includes all latest SVN changes.
File: Download
News source: http://nds.baronline.net.ua

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New Hacks Added to the Database

November 9th, 2013, 20:57 Posted By: wraggster

The following Hacks have been submitted and approved to the database (in submitted order oldest to newest):

• General Violence (Improvement)(Final Fantasy VI Advance)(GBA)
• Phantasy Star 2 Fuzzical Fighter (Spoof)(Fuzzical Fighter)(NES)
• Imbued Magic (Improvement)(Final Fantasy VI)(SNES)
• Phred’s Cool Punch Out!! (Improvement)(Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!)(NES)
• Phred’s Cool Punch Out 2 - Turbo!! (Improvement)(Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!)(NES)
• Final Fantasy Restored (Improvement)(Final Fantasy)(NES)
• Pokemon Gold HardType (Improvement)(Pokémon Gold)(GB)
• Royal Flush - Princess Sidestory (Complete)(Super Mario Bros. 3)(NES)
• Super Metroid - B2-TW (Complete)(Super Metroid)(SNES)
• Super Metroid - Rulers of Ruin (Complete)(Super Metroid)(SNES)
• Super Metroid - Low Impact (Complete)(Super Metroid)(SNES)
• Twinbee AC (Improvement)(TwinBee)(NES)
• Salamander AC (Improvement)(Life Force)(NES)
• Arkanoid - Annoid (Improvement)(Arkanoid)(NES)
• Arkanoid - Bigger Ball (Improvement)(Arkanoid)(NES)
• Arkanoid - Dimension of DOH!! (Complete)(Arkanoid)(NES)
• Arkanoid - Rehabilitation Hack (Improvement)(Arkanoid)(NES)
• Arkanoid - Teknoid (Improvement)(Arkanoid)(NES)
• Warsaw City (Complete)(Battle City)(NES)
• FF Otherworld (Complete)(Final Fantasy)(NES)
• Loony Pool (Improvement)(Lunar Pool)(NES)

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Jewel Warehouse v0.55 => 0.6

November 9th, 2013, 21:55 Posted By: wraggster

Egotrip password " Jewel Warehouse "version 0.55 and version 0.6, platform game / puzzle very well made ​​for the Nintendo DS.

Quote:

Here's version 0.5 New since last release: Slower movement makes it easier to control breaks When lid is closed / open summarized When Saves Properly now New levels, some tweaks to Existing levels A few tidy ups and minor tweaks here and there --- Version 0.55 added to main post. No new happy just bug fixes. stays off Music When turned off. Properly Keys are responsive in game. Crate on ladder bug fixed. --- OK I Decided to fix MOST of the issues now as They Were quite minor . I have tested and everything Seems to be working fine now. Version 0.6 Uploaded to OP. Fixed: Changed timers on acid, They drop at a challenging speed again. Changed speed of water Fixed bug ladder Level 24 As regards to the exit, it * should * (and there is no reason why it can Does not, other than DMMS Being DMMS) only go through the exit When It is fully aligned with the grid. I need to look into why it Does not APPEAR to. Will this make the fixing spikes puzzles SEEM more logical, but I'm gonna work on this after my break. I have played around with the music / fx settings, tried every combination, and I can not seem to replicate your issue. It works just like it shoulds for me. aussi I am going to aim at making the next release the final release. So THAT May mean it Will Be A Few weeks at least. And do not get your hopes up for 100 levels, Unless people design some for me, I think the max Will Be around 50-60.

http://www.nintendomax.com/viewtopic...03496cbb4879d5

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Senran Kagura Burst hits North American 3DS eShop Nov. 14

November 9th, 2013, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

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lolSnes Git (2013/11/10)

November 11th, 2013, 01:43 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

lolSnes Git (2013/11/10) is compiled. lolSnes is a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) rom emulator for the Nintendo DS (NDS) flash cards. It is compatible with all versions of the 3DS / DSi / DS Lite and the original NDS as long as you have a NDS Flash Card capable of running homebrew .nds roms.

What is currently supported :
CPU -- 99% (all opcodes emulated; may miss a few unimportant bits about timing)
PPU -- ~20% (supports 2bpp and 4bpp BGs with scrolling)

Next priority :
SPC700 support -- any ROM that isn't a basic test, requires basic SPC700 functionality
More PPU stuff -- OBJ support, and perhaps 8bpp BGs
Proper interface (or atleast letting users select a ROM)

lolSnes Git (2013/10/31) Changelog:
* ** WORK IN PROGRESS **

Start working on PPU priorities. Not finished, still tons of bugs.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/pvke5g

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DeSmuME SVN r4851

November 11th, 2013, 01:45 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

DeSmuME SVN r4851 is compiled. 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:
r4851
core: - fake boot: read secure area before boot and remove this from readROM function (fixed);
---------------------
r4850
revert my last commit, this is wrong way;
---------------------
r4849
core: - fake boot: read secure area before boot and remove this from readROM function;
---------------------
r4848
core: - don't read from secure area buffer for ROMs with GBA Loader; - fix declare importData function in BackupDevice class;
---------------------
r4847
Cocoa Port: - Add slot2_passme.cpp to all projects. - Fix compiling. (Regression from r4843.)
---------------------
r4846
core: - fix load ROM with GBA Loader (*.ds.gba);
---------------------
r4845
linux compile fix (missing include)
---------------------
r4844
GBA slot: - add emulation PassME (required for old Homebrew libs);
---------------------
r4843
- moved import/export backup code from NDSystem into MC; - moved write BMP/PNG code from NDSSystem into common; - removed old GC log;

http://www.sendspace.com/file/duvf4f

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IodineGBA Git (2013/11/09)

November 11th, 2013, 01:49 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

IodineGBA Git (2013/11/09) is released. IodineGBA is a GameBoy Advance emulator that utilizes HTML5 canvas and JavaScript audio APIs to provide a full emulation of the console.

IodineGBA Git Changelog:
- Adding some helper functions
* For anyone who wants to integrate ajax downloading over the net, use these handler functions.
- Fix some resetting on webkit browsers
- Add a scaling algorithm option

http://www.sendspace.com/file/k4y8fw

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Fceux SVN r3027

November 11th, 2013, 01:51 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Fceux SVN r3027 is compiled. FCEUX is a cross platform, NTSC and PAL Famicom/NES emulator that is an evolution of the original FCE Ultra emulator. Over time FCE Ultra had separated into many separate branches. The concept behind FCEUX is to merge elements from FCE Ultra, FCEU rerecording, FCEUXD, FCEUXDSP, and FCEU-mm into a single branch of FCEU. As the X implies, it is an all-encompassing FCEU emulator that gives the best of all worlds for the general player, the ROM-hacking community, and the Tool-Assisted Speedrun Community.

Fceux SVN changelog:
r3027
UNIF BMC 12 IN 1 - fixed with correct hardwre info, new "12-in-1" dump is working now
---------------------
r3026
Creating a private feature branch for the voxel engine

http://www.sendspace.com/file/7yr5j4

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Dolwin SVN r31

November 11th, 2013, 01:52 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Dolwin SVN r31 is compiled. Dolwin is a Nintendo GameCube Emulator for Windows. Dolwin is an emulator of Nintendo Gamecube console. This platform is based on PowerPC-derivative processor, produced by IBM Corp. and codenamed Gekko. Dolwin mainly purposed to emulate homebrewn applications.



Dolwin SVN Changelog:
r31
(none)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/rgmwlx

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GameBoy Online (2013/11/09)

November 11th, 2013, 01:54 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

GameBoy Online (2013/11/09) is released. 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.

GameBoy Online Changelog:
- more settings twiddling
- clamp adjustment for buffer under-runs
limits audio buffering per iteration so an iteration doesn't block the
main thread too long in case there was a large underrun.
- adding retest notes
- clarify
- Updating readme
Firefox killed low latency audio in nightly it seems

https://github.com/grantgalitz/GameBoy-Online

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NESICIDE v. 24

November 11th, 2013, 01:55 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

NESICIDE v. 24 is released. NESICIDE is an Integrated Development Environment for the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). NESICIDE is a NES development application written with MFC and works only on Windows. The goal of NESICIDE2 is to bring this application into the modern age; it will support all 3 major platforms, as well as feature an easier to use interface. It will also have a community element that will allow users to share code, multimedia, and even entire projects/games. This is a new project and much is left to be done.

https://sites.google.com/site/nesicideproject/

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Dolphin Git 4.0-330

November 11th, 2013, 01:56 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Dolphin Git 4.0-330 is compiled. This is the trunk of Dolphin Project. Dolphin is the first Gamecube emulator able to run commercial games! Dolphin is a Gamecube, Wii and Triforce (the arcade machine based on the Gamecube) emulator which supports many extra features and abilities not present on the original consoles. It has a partial Wii support and plays most Gamecube games.

Dolphin Git changelog:
* Revert "VideoCommon: create native texture pool"
* Re-plumb window handle to the dsound backend.
* VideoCommon: fix custom textures
* Fix the filter for some files in the Core VS project related to the JitIL. They were in the root of the project. They should actually be in their own filter named JitILCommon.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/x786zp

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WinDS PRO 2014.1.5

November 11th, 2013, 02:01 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

WinDS PRO 2014.1.5 is released. WinDS PRO is a Nintendo DS & GameBoy Advance emulator package. This have NO$Zoomer, NO$GBA, NO$MOOZ, NOZ, myZOOM, NGZoom, NO$GBA 2X, iDeaS, DeSmuME, VBA Link & VBA-M.

WinDS PRO 2014.1.5 Changelog:
- DeSmuME JIT 4831 x64
- DeSmuME JIT 4831 x86
- NO$GBA 2.7a 'Modify'
- USRCHEAT.dat 01-11-2013

http://windsprocentral.blogspot.com/

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Project64k Stable Version (2013/11/04)

November 11th, 2013, 02:05 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Project64k Stable Version (2013/11/04) is released. Project64k is a version of the Project64 emulator that supports multiplayer games using the Kaillera network.

Added new Rom hack information into the RDB.
Excellent connection as default
Removed broken/unreliably servers

http://pj64k.blogspot.com/

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GameYob Git (2013/11/02)

November 11th, 2013, 02:10 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

GameYob Git (2013/11/02) is compiled. GameYob is an open-source gameboy emulator for the DS. It has excellent compatibility and speed, and runs many games flawlessly. Notably, it can use the Gameboy Color bios to colorize pre-color games, just like on a real gameboy.

GameYob Git Changelog:
* Gb Printer enable/disable option
* Gfx tweak
* Fixed a few printer bugs
* Printer registers as printing for 30 frames
* Implement a timeout for the printer
* Get rid of arm7 waitloop
* Merge branch 'printer'
* Icon indicating printing
* Ironed out printer functionality
* Initial printer emulation

http://www.sendspace.com/file/blfyp7

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Yanese v0.15

November 11th, 2013, 02:11 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Yanese v0.15 is released. Yanese is a Yet Another NES Emulator.

Yanese v0.15 Changelog:
- Fixed serious bug with SDL not playing sound and keeping yanese.exe process opened. 0.14 Download Link removed from page.
- Optimized code

http://yaneseland.com.ar/

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Gearboy jailbreak Git (2013/11/02)

November 11th, 2013, 02:12 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Gearboy jailbreak Git (2013/11/02) is compiled. Gearboy jailbreak is a branch of Gearboy. Gearboy is a Nintendo Game Boy emulator written in C++. The emulator is focused on readability of source code, but nevertheless it has good compatibility. A lot of effort has gone into this in order to follow OOP and keep it as simple as possible.

Gearboy Features:
* fixed minor warning with LLVM
* updated to Xcode 5

Gearboy jailbreak Git Changelog:
* Merge branch 'master' into jailbreak

http://www.sendspace.com/file/it4xhr

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No$gba v2.7b

November 11th, 2013, 15:20 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

A new version of the Gameboy Advance/Nintendo DS emulator NO$GBA has been released.

Quote:
10 Nov 2013 - version 2.7b
- a22i: prevents unsupported [dest-1] for .pack_lz77 (fixes no$firmware loading)
- help: added caution on unsupported [dest-1] for LZ77UnCompVram bios function
- sav: support for 1024kbyte and 8192kbyte nds flash save memory (both untested)
- sav: dynamically allocates save memory as needed (between 128k and 8192kbyte)
- bugfix: hwreset preserves gba/sav media creation date (got destroyed in v2.7a)
- nds/help: added more nds cartridge rom IDs and nds flash IDs (thanks jimmsu)
- poc/clone: fixed bug in pocketstation bios-clone (added INT_BASE to show_date)
- poc/loader: accepts checksum for newly discovered "J110" BIOS version
- poc/emu: applies 4x4 pre-zoom (less tiny window, avoid StretchDIBits failure)
- poc/help: added notes on BIOS versions (in no$psx help, see there)
- poc/help: added POC-XBOO circuit and sample code for xboo TTY debug messages
- poc/xboo: tty debug window (ascii characters transferred via FUNC3 feature)
- poc/xboo: verify-before-write and skip-if-same (higher lifetime/faster upload)
- poc/xboo: pocketstation upload/download memcard and download bios functions
- nds/help: added basic notes on special ds carts (infrared, nand, microsd slot)
- sound: optional 16bit output (instead of 8bit) (maybe fixes ´noise´ problems)
- gui/setup: uses asia-compatible TabControl instead of unreliable PropertySheet

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EU Nintendo eShop update: Mega Man X2 and Picross e3

November 11th, 2013, 20:12 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has released a list of this week's new European eShop content.
Highlights include the releases of Mega Man X2 on Wii U Virtual Console and Picross e3 on 3DS.

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The Massive Nintendo Paradigm Shift

November 12th, 2013, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo's latest earnings report left many observers worried about the company and its prospects, Yes, Nintendo made a small profit of $6 million this time, compared to losing $282 million in the same quarter last year. That's a significant turnaround. What's worrisome is that the Wii U has yet to show a sustained turnaround (sales have jumped since the price cut, but it's only been a few weeks) and 3DS hardware sales showed a decline from last year. These indicators are interesting, but miss the larger picture that puts Nintendo's current status in the proper perspective.
Let's step back in time to the 1980s, when Nintendo first began to make an impact on the video game industry. From the industry low point in 1985 of about $100 million in retail sales ($213 million in inflation-adjusted dollars) following the crash of 1983, Nintendo led the industry to billions of dollars in annual sales. By 1990, retail sales were at about $5 billion (close to $9 billion adjusted for inflation) - and Nintendo represented 90 percent of those sales.
Think about that for a minute. In 1990, Nintendo was the game industry. Sure, there were some PC games being sold, and some quarters being spent in arcades. Any company that aspired to be a major player in the games business, though, had to build their strategy with Nintendo in mind. Either you built products that worked with Nintendo, or you were competing directly against Nintendo. Consumers who thought about games at all mostly associated them with Nintendo and the company's iconic characters.
"Here's the change that many long-time gamers and even industry executives haven't really internalized: Whatever Nintendo does just doesn't affect the whole industry anymore"

Today, most people in the industry (as well as most consumers) remember this at a visceral level. Many people had a Nintendo game as their very first gaming experience, and Nintendo was the dominant gaming brand of their formative years. Even for older executives, their early careers were dominated by Nintendo, and their memories of the industry at that time are heavily influenced by Nintendo's actions, their products and their marketing.
The picture in 2013 is completely different. The Gartner Group projects total worldwide revenue for games at $93 billion for all of 2013. Nintendo is projecting its revenue for the current fiscal year (which ends in March, but we'll throw in the first quarter for free) at 920 billion yen, or about $9.3 billion dollars. In other words, Nintendo this year represents about 10 percent of the game industry.
That's a stunning change - from 90 percent of the industry to 10 percent in 23 years. And it's not that Nintendo shrank; in fact, the company revenues in 2013 are twice what they were in 1990. The industry, however, has grown about 20-fold in that same time period. This is a remarkable achievement both for Nintendo and the game industry, one that's rarely seen in any industry, much less a tech-based one. Typically early leading companies in a field will either continue to be significant leaders, or they will be acquired, or go out of business. Nintendo's done none of those things - it's just continued to do well, some years better than others, but it's been steady. The industry has grown tremendously around it.
Here's the change that many long-time gamers and even industry executives haven't really internalized: Whatever Nintendo does just doesn't affect the whole industry anymore. It's only 10 percent of the total business, and there are billion-dollar companies making games that aren't even sold in the same geographic areas as Nintendo, much less in the same market segments. Other companies, for the most part, don't base their investment decisions or strategies around Nintendo's actions. Sure, some publishers (a very small number) do at least consider creating products for Nintendo hardware, but even for most of them that's not anywhere near the majority of their business. Total Nintendo-based revenue for Capcom or Ubisoft or Konami does not come anywhere near a majority of the company's income.
Yet we still worry about Nintendo, and that the sales of its hardware aren't going to be leading the pack. We shouldn't worry about the competitive picture, because Nintendo doesn't. The company is rightly concerned with making a profit, and doing that by making good games. Nintendo is back to profitability, and while it may not be the immense profitability of the Wii in its heyday, that's still a good thing. Will the Wii U become a solid seller? Maybe, maybe not... but Nintendo has had consoles before that never sold particularly well (*cough* GameCube *cough*). If the Wii U doesn't generate the sales Nintendo expects in a couple of years, the company will create some new hardware to replace it.
"When Nintendo stops making games that are fun, that's the time to get worried about the company. That time is not now, nor is it any time soon"

In the meantime, Nintendo is profitable and has $10 billion in cash to see it through any possible transitions it needs to make. Do mobile games affect its business? Yes, indeed. Does that mean Nintendo can't sell handheld gaming devices anymore? The 3DS line has sold tens of millions of units so far. Those are respectable enough numbers that many third-party publishers are building games for the platform.
Does the Wii U compare in graphics or CPU horsepower to the PS4 or the Xbox One? Not hardly, but that doesn't matter. Nintendo's really working on a very different level than Sony and Microsoft, selling the experiences to kids (and those gamers who remember the fun they had with Nintendo as kids). Sony and Microsoft are really targeting older gamers, and pushing the wide variety of media capabilities of their platforms. Deeply immersive experiences await Xbox One and PS4 players, as well as some really cool technology and useful features for all sorts of lifestyles.
Meanwhile, Nintendo just keeps focusing on games that are fun, which goes all the way back to its founding as a playing card company. Nintendo's always made things for people to have fun with, including toys and games and playing cards. That's the company legacy, and even though that mostly revolves around technology these days the goal is still to help people have fun. We would all do well to remember that when we think about Nintendo and its place in the game industry.
Nintendo's got a strong lineup of fun games coming for the Wii U, with Super Mario 3D World about to come out, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. coming out next year. The 3DS has an even more jampacked release schedule of titles, but we're all too busy playing Pokemon X and Y right now to notice these: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Mario Party: Island Tour, Monster Hunter 4, and Super Smash Bros., among many others.
When Nintendo stops making games that are fun, that's the time to get worried about the company. That time is not now, nor is it any time soon.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...paradigm-shift

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RealBoy 0.1.2

November 12th, 2013, 11:55 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

RealBoy is a Complete, Fast, Yet Accurate, Free/Open-Source Game Boy® / Game Boy Color® Emulator for Linux/Unix.

Quote:
Version 0.1.2
* gboy_ioctrl.c: Crucial fix to some LCD registers´ writes.
* gboy_joy.c: Minor change to key mapping.

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Fceux SVN r3028

November 12th, 2013, 13:23 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Fceux SVN r3028 is compiled. FCEUX is a cross platform, NTSC and PAL Famicom/NES emulator that is an evolution of the original FCE Ultra emulator. Over time FCE Ultra had separated into many separate branches. The concept behind FCEUX is to merge elements from FCE Ultra, FCEU rerecording, FCEUXD, FCEUXDSP, and FCEU-mm into a single branch of FCEU. As the X implies, it is an all-encompassing FCEU emulator that gives the best of all worlds for the general player, the ROM-hacking community, and the Tool-Assisted Speedrun Community.

Fceux SVN changelog:
r3028
win32-dont crash when attempting to open file picked as target for CDLogger save stripped rom operation

http://www.sendspace.com/file/6sikdl

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DeSmuME SVN r4867

November 12th, 2013, 13:24 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

DeSmuME SVN r4867 is compiled. 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:
r4867
core: - add slot2 to savestate;
---------------------
r4866
Fix r4862 and make the input system a bit saner.
---------------------
r4865
Cocoa Port: - Integrate new SLOT-2 code with all projects.
---------------------
r4864
winport: - fix initialize slot2;
---------------------
r4863
slot2: - added new games to auto-selection list; winport: - added customizing the keys for Taito Paddle Controller; - now don't need reset DS when you change the slot2 device;
---------------------
r4862
Reset the keypad status before reading. Fixes spurious keys being pressed at startup.
---------------------
r4861
Integrate the new slot2 system in gtk/cli frontends.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/gkc1cq

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Yanese v0.16

November 12th, 2013, 13:26 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Yanese v0.16 is released. Yanese is a Yet Another NES Emulator.

Yanese v0.16 Changelog:
- Optimization: Yanese uses about 15% less CPU than before.
- DMC emulation. It's not perfect by now, but its working.
- Drag and Drop support: Simply drop your .nes file in Yanese window and it will load the rom.
- XBOX 360 D-Pad support trough DirectInput.
- Emulation is "Suspended" when the Window loses the focus or it's minimized.
- Fixed PPU Bugs

http://www.sendspace.com/file/rjt81p

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Europeans to stay unfit for another week after Wii Fit U retail delay

November 12th, 2013, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo Direct tomorrow on previously announced 3DS games

November 12th, 2013, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo Direct round-up: Dates, balances, YouTube, Rosalina, and Reggie

November 14th, 2013, 00:06 Posted By: wraggster

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Apple tosses iTunes ball, captures Pokémon X/Y soundtrack

November 14th, 2013, 00:08 Posted By: wraggster

For the first time in series' history, Nintendo is celebrating its most recent Pokémon games by issuing a gigantic soundtrack collection.

As noted in our review of the games, Pokémon X and Y feature a massive overhaul in the game's audio. Older entries in the franchise are almost obsolete when compared to the new arrangements and technologies used in Xand Y, and the more modern soundtrack lends much to the game's atmosphere.

Thanks to Nintendo and the iTunes Store, you can now purchase all 200-plus songs on the Pokémon X/Y soundtrack for $9.99. As a bonus, the "super soundtrack collection" also includes "a battle game music track" from the upcoming Pokémon Origins animated miniseries, as well as five songs from Pokémon Red and Blue created by original composer Shota Kageyama.

Alongside this announcement, Nintendo has also revealed plans to release future Pokémon soundtrack collections. Throughout 2014, the company will issue music collections for every game in the series, dating back to Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green. It's currently unknown when these soundtracks will appear, or what price point they might feature.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/13/ap...-y-soundtrack/

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Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy hits North America Feb. 28

November 14th, 2013, 00:11 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has pegged Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, the sixth entry in Level-5's puzzle series, for a February 28, 2014 launch in the US. The news came from this morning's Nintendo Direct presentation.

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy revolves around an extinct people known as the Azran. Layton, along with his trusty apprentice Luke, discover a girl frozen in ice who is the last living member of the once-great Azran civilization. This sets the two on a globe-trotting mission in search of artifacts and the truth behind the Azran peoples' downfall.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/13/pr...merica-feb-28/

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Rosalina joins the party in Super Mario 3D World

November 14th, 2013, 00:11 Posted By: wraggster

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Bravely Default launching on February 7 in US, gets collector's edition

November 14th, 2013, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy will glide to US shores on February 7 and bring a collector's edition with it, today's Nintendo Direct revealed. Bravely Default: Collector's Edition will include the game, an art book, a soundtrack CD and 34 AR cards. Unfortunately, the statue of Agnes included in the collector's edition for the UK was not mentioned.

The US version of Bravely Defaultwill include the extra content that was added to the game's Japanese re-release.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/13/br...ts-collectors/

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Nintendo Pocket Football Club unveiled for 3DS in Europe

November 14th, 2013, 00:13 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo releases Wii U and 3DS eShop indie montage video

November 14th, 2013, 00:18 Posted By: wraggster

The montage includes Shantae And The Pirate's Curse on 3DS and 1001 Spikes from Cave Story studio Nicalis.
The full list of games shown is as follows:

• QUBE Director's Cut (WiiU)
• Scram Kitty And His Buddy On Railers
• Shantae And The Pirate's Curse (3DS)
• Armillo (Wii U)
• Grinsia (3DS)
• 1001 Spikes (Wii U)
• Tengami (Wii U)
• Picross e3 (3DS)
• Pier Solar HD (Wii U)
• Putty Squad (3DS)
• Teslagrad (Wii U)
• Treasurenauts (3DS)
• Wooden Sen'Sey (Wii U)
• Retro City Rampage (3DS)
• Knytt Underground (Wii U)
• Unepic (Wii U)
• Siesta Fiesta (3DS)
• Shovel Knight (Wii U)

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Zelda: A Link Between Worlds trailer shows StreetPass features

November 14th, 2013, 00:19 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has released a new The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds trailer.
The video shows off the title's StreetPass functionality and some of its new dungeons.
Players can customise their own Shadow Link character which can be stocked up with weapons and hearts. This can then be sent to other players via StreetPass.
When you receive another player's Shadow Link over StreetPass, you can battle them and earn rupees for defeating them.
The trailer also shows the return of a popular Zelda boss enemy. It appears near the end of the video if you want to avoid spoilers.
A sequel to the SNES classic A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds will release on November 22 in Europe.
Speaking in July, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma said that the top-down levels in Super Mario 3D Land were a source of inspiration for the new Zelda game.
Aonuma recently starred in a video in which he demonstrated the title in detail.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...pass-features/

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Update unites Wii U currency and Miiverse with 3DS

November 14th, 2013, 00:21 Posted By: wraggster

A forthcoming firmware update for the Nintendo 3DS will allow customers to tie their accounts with the Wii U, meaning that digital currency can be deposited and spent through either device.
Due in December, the software update will allow 3DS users to sign into their Nintendo Network ID via the handheld. Along with this, if users already have an active Nintendo Network ID on their Wii U, these will combine together.
Digital cash will no longer be segregated by platforms, but combined as a single pot to take from and add to. Nintendo warns that, if users register the wrong Nintendo Network ID on their 3DS, they will be unable to combine balances with the Wii U, so it urges caution.
Since the release of the Wii U in November last year, dedicated fans had urged Nintendo to fuse the console's online network with the 3DS, much like the same way Sony does between PS3 and Vita.
The update will also bring another long-wanted feature to 3DS - Miiverse. Users will be able to post comments and sketches via their 3DS, with the messages appearing on both handheld and home consoles.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...erse-with-3ds/

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Call of Duty Ghosts patch released

November 14th, 2013, 00:25 Posted By: wraggster

Infinity Ward has release a new Call of Duty: Ghosts title update on all platforms.
The studio says the patch improves operations functionality, fixes UI bugs, addresses an issue with splitscreen players' rank, and fixes a rare crash with specific private match settings.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Infinity Ward may have inadvertently revealed upcoming Call of Duty Ghosts DLC. The studio is said to have mistakenly made public a developer playlist featuring multiplayer maps not included in the base game.
In CVG's Call of Duty Ghosts review critic Nick Cowen calls Activision's latest series instalment "fun and familiar". We collated current-gen and PS4 verdicts from across the games press in our Call of Duty Ghosts review round-up.
The first verdicts on the Xbox One version of the game were published on Tuesday, with reviewers seemingly divided on which next-gen version best deserves consumers' time and money.
Infinity Ward has announced plans to host a Call of Duty Ghosts double XP weekend on next-gen platforms between November 29 and December 2.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...atch-released/

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Guide Captain Olimar through new Pikmin 3 DLC in December

November 14th, 2013, 00:46 Posted By: wraggster

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YouTube comes to 3DS soon

November 14th, 2013, 00:46 Posted By: wraggster

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Mario Party: Island Tour stops off in Europe in January

November 14th, 2013, 00:47 Posted By: wraggster

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New Nintendo eShop releases: River City Ransom, Adventure Time, Mario & Sonic

November 14th, 2013, 23:19 Posted By: wraggster

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'Stiq Tips: The Legend of Zelda - A Link Between Worlds Guide

November 14th, 2013, 23:20 Posted By: wraggster

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The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Review: Hi, it rules

November 14th, 2013, 23:22 Posted By: wraggster

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Hold it! Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies gets Turnabout Reclaimed DLC next week

November 14th, 2013, 23:25 Posted By: wraggster

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Super Mario 3D World doesn't herald end of Super Mario Galaxy, assures Miyamoto

November 14th, 2013, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

Super Mario 3D World may be the "present culmination of 3D Super Mario," but that doesn't mean Nintendo's EAD team is done with Super Mario Galaxy games. Speaking in a recent Iwata Asks interview, EAD General Manager Shigeru Miyamoto assured fans there could be another entry in the series that appeared twice on the Wii to high acclaim.

"The same team can't make both [Super Mario 3DWorld and another Super Mario Galaxy game] at the same time," Miyamoto said. "And we can't bring in a second party and slap the name Super Mario Galaxy on it. I suppose we could idealistically make both in Tokyo, but we want to do something new too, so there was that dilemma."

The same interview revealed a few interesting tidbits about Super Mario 3D World, including that fifth playable character Rosalina is unlocked by beating the main game i.e. getting the ending, and her unique ability is a "special spin attack" (see above.) Also, the cloning power-up that lets you control multiple heroes was inspired by a mistake, after an EAD developer accidentally used a placement tool to put in two Marios.

Not that it's very surprising, but 3D World Director Koichi Hayashida also noted Nintendo had the Wii U game in mind ever since it began development on 3DS entry Super Mario 3D Land. As for future Mario adventures, Miyamoto said, "Personally, I would like to take on a variety of new challenges with Super Mario Galaxy and design 2D Super Mario games in an easy-to-understand way within certain restraints."

Super Mario 3D World is out next week on November 22 for the Wii U.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/14/su...ario-galaxy-a/

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New Kirby 3DS game is called Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Nintendo confirms

November 14th, 2013, 23:28 Posted By: wraggster

Hidden in a press release beneath all the Nintendo Direct news are the wordsKirby: Triple Deluxe, the confirmed title of the puffball's new 3DS game. That title was originally just for Japan after the game's reveal last month, but now it's the moniker in North America too.

Also, it took me a full 46 seconds to work out why that title is oh so clever. Change the Triple to a number and the Deluxe to its first letter... yup, see? Clever, clever Nintendo.

Apart from the new title, there's not much more to go on. Triple Deluxe looks to be a fairly typical Kirby 2D platformer, with its first trailer showcasing some familiar powers as well as the ability to quickly jump to and fro between near and far planes. One thing we do know: It's due sometime next year.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/14/ne...nintendo-conf/

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Something about Japan: No next-gen hardware in Japan means the holiday is Nintendo’s

November 14th, 2013, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster

Lucky old Nintendo. By delaying the launch of PS4 in Japan, Sony has given the Wii U pretty much an uncontested run of the home-console sales this holiday season. (Xbox One was unlikely to be a contender in Japan even if it was coming this year, which it isn’t.) And with brand new Mario and a slew of family-friendly causal titles either on the way or freshly released, the troubled dual-screen tween-gen hardware is beginning to seem like an attractive proposition.Christmas isn’t as big a deal in Japan as it is in the West, but people do still exchange gifts, and even more so around New Year’s, when kids are given money by doting parents and grandparents to spend on whatever they like. Shougatsu, as the New Year’s holiday is known in Japan, is a family occasion just like Christmas is for us, and Nintendo is clearly betting that families in Japan will want to do their bonding over a Wii U.For a start, there’s Mario. Who needs next-gen hardware when Japan’s favourite plumber is back in a full-fledged new big-screen outing? Super Mario 3D World is released in Japan on 21 November, and its importance cannot be overstated. When 3DS was ailing in its first year in Japan, it was Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 (along with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 3) that saved it, right at the end of 2011, turning the handheld into the ubiquitous carry-everywhere item that it is today. It is obviously no coincidence that Super Mario 3D World’s release is at the same time of year as those games.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...endos-to-lose/

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Wii Sports Club: a minor triumph for an ailing console

November 14th, 2013, 23:41 Posted By: wraggster

Pity the Wii U GamePad. This Swiss Army knife of controllers was supposed to be all things to all players, and yet lately its creator seems to be doing its level best to ignore it. Instead it’s the Wii Remote – at least in its MotionPlus-enhanced form – that finds itself back in favour, as Nintendo attempts to welcome back the expanded market with a more accessible, familiar peripheral.Or does it? Because there can be few games that highlight the awkward position in which Nintendo currently finds itself quite so effectively as Wii Sports Club. It’s a high definition, online-enabled update to two-fifths of last generation’s biggest game: Tennis and Bowling are available now, with the rest of the collection to follow in the months to come. It’s not on a disc, instead free to download, but not to play – you’ll need to buy a 24-hour pass at £1.79 to access either Tennis or Bowling, or lay down £8.99 apiece to have them permanently available. It’s a setup that’s likely to confuse the very players that made the original a phenomenon, and that’s before you factor in the features that differentiate it: online features and improved controls.Wii Sports didn’t work because its controls were accurate, but because they were accessible. The inherent imprecision of the original Remote made it a great leveller: here was a game where anyone could beat anyone else, where timing was more important than accuracy. Rudimentary mimicry of the real-life action was enough to return the ball, or roll it towards ten pins. Now, Tennis has a much sharper learning curve, as spins, lobs, slices and smashes require a degree of nuance and finesse that may be beyond youngsters and beginners.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...iling-console/

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The 3DS Miiverse won't allow private messages or friend requests

November 16th, 2013, 00:15 Posted By: wraggster

Earlier this week Nintendo announced that it's bringing its Wii U social network Miiverseonto the 3DS in December. Unfortunately, it's just been revealed that the 3DS implementation of the service won't allows private messages or friend requests.A Nintendo rep confirmed the omitted features in a comment to NintendoLife, bluntly stating: "Miiverse on Nintendo 3DS does not include friend request or user messaging features."Ostensibly this is because the 3DS already has its own variant of these features with its Friend Code system used for adding mates, while messages/pictures can be sent to your pals via SwapNote.Still, players will be able to use the Miiverse to consolidate their eShop balances between both Nintendo platforms' digital storefronts, and they'll be able to leave comments and drawings about a particular game in the Miiverse's bulletin-board like setup.There's no telling if the missing features will be added at a later date, but we're looking into it.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...riend-requests

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Smash Bros. Wii U includes gorgeous Mario Galaxy HD level

November 16th, 2013, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has shown off Super Mario Galaxy in HD - as a level for Smash Bros. Wii U.The stage gives us our first official look at how Nintendo's Galaxy sub-series might look in HD."A new stage, Mario Galaxy!", series creator Masahiro Sakurai wrote on Miiverse today. "The pull of gravity emanates from the center of the planet, so this will require using brand-new tactics."The level includes the Planet Mario hub world from Mario Galaxy 2, although is itself based on one of the game's first spherical planets. Whether gameplay will continue all the way around the surface is unknown.Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto explained yesterday in a new Iwata Asks interview that Nintendo's recent focus on 3DS title Mario 3D Land and upcoming Wii U platformer Mario 3D World did not mean the Galaxy series has been forgotten."I should point out that this doesn't mean we'll never make another Super Mario Galaxy game," Miyamoto explained. "The same team can't make both at the same time," Miyamoto said. "And we can't bring in a second party and slap the name Super Mario Galaxy on it. I suppose we could idealistically make both in Tokyo, but we want to do something new too, so there was that dilemma."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...alaxy-hd-level

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Final Fantasy 7 unofficial NES port restored, improved by modders

November 16th, 2013, 20:21 Posted By: wraggster

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Extraterrestrial puzzle-platformer Paradise Lost to invade Steam, Wii U

November 16th, 2013, 20:30 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo buys shares in company with mobile video content platform

November 16th, 2013, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

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Original NES Advantage Controller Stuffed with Clone NES

November 16th, 2013, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster


Like all good hackers [Osgeld] makes regular appearances at the thrift store to scavenge for raw materials. This summer he was lucky enough to come across a couple of NES clone games. These are controllers that emulate the original Nintendo Entertainment System by connecting to a television using composite video. The mechanics of the controllers were pretty much shot, but he knew he could do something with the boards inside. It was a small gamble at a dollar apiece anyway.
As you can see above, he upgraded a vintage NES Advantage controller by stuffing it full of the emulator hardware. To start he disassembled the arcade-like peripheral and gave everything a thorough cleaning. Since he was going to be soldering onto the PCBs anyway he upgraded the controller by swapping out the original switches for a different set of tactile switches. The large base provided plenty of room for [Osgeld] to fit the emulator (with included ROMs) and now he’s Playing with Power.
The NES Advantage is a very nostalgic controller. Even !

http://hackaday.com/2013/11/16/origi...ith-clone-nes/

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Super Mario Bros. almost didn't have goombas

November 18th, 2013, 01:24 Posted By: wraggster

Goombas aren't just iconic staples of Nintendo's Mario universe, they're the first enemy players came up against in Super Mario Bros. That wasn't always the case, though. According to the first-ever Know Your Enemy video fromGameXplain, goombas weren't originally planned for the game at all.

The famous mushroom-heads were conceived of as a teaching tool so that players could organically discover that the key to defeating enemies was jumping on their heads without having to deal with the "tricky" koopas. There's plenty of other interesting details about the history of goombas in this video, so if you ever want to study up for a game of video game Trivial Pursuit, here is a good place to start.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/17/su...-have-goombas/

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EU Nintendo eShop update: Zelda, Lego Marvel

November 18th, 2013, 23:00 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has released a list of this week's new European eShop content.
Highlights include downloadable versions of The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Lego Marvel Super Heroes. Free demos ofSonic Lost World are also available on both Wii U and 3DS.
Meanwhile, SNES fighter Brawl Brothers comes to the Wii U Virtual Console, while the 3DS Virtual Console gets Donkey Kong.
Here's the full list of releases:

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Nintendo buys stake in mobile content firm, shares rocket

November 18th, 2013, 23:51 Posted By: wraggster

Shares in Nintendo have jumped over five per cent after it emerged that the platform holder has acquired a stake on Japanese mobile content provider Dwango.
Onlookers have for some time awaited Nintendo’s first move to bring its cherished IP to either the mobile market or even – if you can stomach the ideas – rival platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox.
But that isn’t what’s happening here.
Bloomberg reports that Nintendo isn’t planning to distribute games through Dwango’s delivery system.
In fact, Nintendo spokesman Yasuhiro Minagawa added that the company “acquired the shares at the request of Dwango Chairman Nobuo Kawakami for his personal funding needs”.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ninte...rocket/0124454

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Super Smash Bros. Wii U gets Super Mario Galaxy-inspired stage

November 19th, 2013, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster

A new screenshot on the Super Smash Bros. website has revealed that a stage inspired by Super Mario Galaxy will appear in the upcoming Super Smash Bros.game for Wii U. The stage will feature gravity-based gameplay according to a post from Game Director Masahiro Sakurai on the game's Miiverse.

"The pull of gravity emanates from the center of the planet, so this will require using brand-new tactics," Sakurai wrote. Since the 3DS and Wii U versions of the game have different stages - and thus, no cross-platform play - it's unclear if the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for 3DS will also get the Galaxy treatment in any way.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/17/su...nspired-stage/

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Europeans, grab Super Mario 3D Land for free in Nintendo promo

November 20th, 2013, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster

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How the Wii U launch nearly derailed development of A Link Between Worlds

November 20th, 2013, 00:27 Posted By: wraggster

Team behind 3DS title disbanded during prototype phase to work on next-gen
The launch of the Wii U nearly derailed the development of 3DS title The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, according to the lead developers behind the game.

Speaking during an Iwata Asks session, developers Eiji Aonuma, Hiromasa Shikata, Shiro Mouri and Satoru Iwata discussed the title’s problematic early development due to stretched resources at Nintendo.

Aonuma said the studio had a prototype ready and the team was prepared to enter full development on the title, only for staff to get called onto Wii U projects during October 2010.

Two years before Nintendo’s next-gen console was set to be released, Aonuma said Nintendo “absolutely needed more people to work on the Wii U launch titles”.

This resulted in A Link Between Worlds losing its core members. Aonuma revealed “basically, the team disbanded”.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/h...worlds/0186152

Game director Shikata said he was unsure whether the project would be started up again.

“So at the time I lost hope. I had hardly ever heard of a project starting, disbanding, and then starting up again later.”

As the project was put on hold, Aonuma moved to develop Skyward Sword, while Shikata developed Nintendo Land and Mouri went to work on New Super Mario Bros U.

After development on Skyward Sword finished in 2011, Aonuma said he picked up worked on a Link Between Worlds again, but without the core development team behind the game.

“Development of Skyward Sword ended two years ago in 2011 and I started thinking about the next project. Since the idea of entering walls had come up, I sensed the possibility of making a new kind of Zelda game from that and thought I should do something about it,” he said.

“I wanted development to make even a little progress, so while they were gone, I resumed work on it.”

He added: “If I hadn't, and we'd begun after they got back, we'd never have been able to bring it out by the end of 2013.”

“I brought in a programmer who would carry on Mouri-san's intentions, and had Tominaga-san join who carried over for Shikata-san. They kept on making the game until the two directors came back.”

By the end of 2012, the project was said to have people “flooding in” to assist with development. Aonuma said by the time work on the game was in full swing, “an incredible number of people” were put on the title.

The Legend of Zelda: A link Between Worlds, is set to be released on the 3DS this Friday. The title currently has an average Metacritic rating of 91.

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Wireless SNES Controller for Logitech Receiver

November 20th, 2013, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster


A while back, Logitech introduced their version of a wireless interface for keyboards, mice, and other human-oriented peripherals. Yes, they could have used Bluetooth, but that’s neither here nor there. What we do know, though, is that it’s now possible to stuff one of these Logitech transmitters into a Super Nintendo controller, allowing it to operate with your fancy-schmancy wireless keyboards and mice.
[Warrior_Rocker] wanted to retain as much of the stock appearance of the original controller as possible. To do this, he salvaged the Logitech transmitter from an old handheld Logitech keyboard/touchpad combo. The membrane of the keyboard connected directly to the transmitter, meaning tracing out the connections of the membrane to each pin was required to get a button mapping that made sense.
Once the lines of the SNES controller were wired up to the transmitter, [Warrior] needed a way to power his new wireless controller. The old keyboard used a pair of AA cells wired in parallel. With two AA cells, the keyboard had about a year of battery life, so with a single AAA cell, [Warrior]‘s SNES controller should last a few months or more.
Except for a switch and a missing cable, [Warrior]‘s wireless controller looks exactly like a stock controller. Pretty impressive, given this build is the product of stuff he just had lying around.
http://hackaday.com/2013/11/19/wirel...tech-receiver/

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Wii U system update 4.0.2 released

November 20th, 2013, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo has released Wii U system update 4.0.2.
The company says the update makes "further improvements to overall system stability" while "other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience".
An upcoming 3DS firmware update will allow customers to tie their accounts with the Wii U, meaning that digital currency can be deposited and spent through either system.
Due in December, the software update will allow 3DS users to sign into their Nintendo Network ID via the handheld. If users already have an active Nintendo Network ID on their Wii U, these will combine together.
The update will also bring another long-awaited feature to 3DS in the form of Miiverse. Users will be able to post comments and sketches via their 3DS, with the messages appearing on both handheld and home consoles.
Since Wii U's release in November 2012, dedicated fans have urged Nintendo to fuse the console's online network with the 3DS, much in the way Sony has with PS3 and Vita.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-402-released/

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3DS XL (Gold/Black) with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Pre-orders open

November 20th, 2013, 01:08 Posted By: wraggster


Nintendo - 3DS XL (Gold/Black) with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Pre-orders Available!
Pre-orders for the 3DS XL with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds[IMG]http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=W*5dQtnjw8M&bids=306591.1&type=10[/IMG] have kicked off at BestBuy.com!
Free shipping or in-store pickup options still available...
Check it out: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/nintendo...sGWpSTmKh2FM1g

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Donkey Kong world champion defends title for second year running

November 21st, 2013, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster

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Zelda: A Link Between Worlds hides a crooked secret

November 21st, 2013, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster

Before we got our hands on the game (and awarded it a perfect 5/5 score), the biggest selling point for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was the 3D overhaul it introduces to the beloved world first seen in 1991's A Link To The Past. What most don't know is that underneath the new visuals, the game has something to hide.

The secret to attaching 3D graphics to the top-down view most familiar to Link To The Past fans is to tilt every item in the game backwards by 45 degrees, creating the illusion of a world designed specifically for viewing at a perpendicular angle. Not just rupees and enemies, this tilting even includes the main character, who apparently spends the majority of his adventure strolling around Hyrule like a reject from a Monty Python sketch. The slant is never apparent to fans unless they go looking for it - Tiny Cartridge explains that you'd only notice it by switching to a sidelong view while Link is transforming into his 2D, painting form - but now that you know the reality, try not to let it tarnish your attempts to save the world.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds saunters onto the Nintendo 3DS on November 22.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/20/ze...rooked-secret/

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Metareview: Super Mario 3D World

November 21st, 2013, 00:37 Posted By: wraggster

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New Nintendo eShop releases: Super Mario 3D World, A Link Between Worlds, Mario Party

November 21st, 2013, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

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Nintendo 'experimenting with Android-based tablet'

November 22nd, 2013, 00:05 Posted By: wraggster

A Nintendo software engineer has claimed that the company is working on an Android-based tablet.
Nando Monterazo tweeted that he was "experimenting with a tablet of Nintendo, the system is based on Android, fully modified and unified as a database of the tablet."
The tweet was one of several mentioning the device, all of which were later deleted.
Monterazo, who claimed to be testing the tablet’s “communication environment”, added that the device wouldn’t be gaming-focused, but would instead be for “educational games” only.
Nintendo has not released any further comments regarding the rumoured tablet.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-tablet/032537

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Super Mario 3D World – the time to own a Wii U has arrived

November 22nd, 2013, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster

Next-gen consoles may have finally arrived, but it’s the year-old Wii U that takes centre stage in the new issue of Edge, which is available now in print, or in digital form on iPad, Android and Zinio.Naturally, it’s Mario that’s finally made Wii U a must-have, and in our four-page review we discover just how much Super Mario 3D World has changed since our disappointing E3 hands-on.Elsewhere, our next-gen launch special brings you reviews of Call Of Duty Ghosts, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4, while in Knowledge we speak to developers working on next-gen games about how they’re making use of new hardware without short-changing those sticking with 360 and PS3.In Features we gain a rare audience with Fumito Ueda, the enigmatic creator of Ico, Shadow Of The Colossus and the endlessly delayed The Last Guardian. This month’s My Favourite Game, meanwhile, stars TV host, screenwriter and former game journalist Charlie Brooker.The new issue of Edgemagazine is available now in print, on iPad, Android and Zinio. You can subscribe now at a specially discounted rate here to save money and get the print edition before it hits physical and digital newsstands.

http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/...u-has-arrived/

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DFC predicts GameCube-like sales for Wii U

November 22nd, 2013, 00:26 Posted By: wraggster

Another analyst has issued a damning verdict on the future fortunes of Nintendo’s Wii U.
GamesIndustry reports that DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole says in an upcoming report that the firm is lowering its lifetime Wii U sales forecasts, predicting that it will struggle to reach a quarter of Wii’s 100m lifetime unit sales.
"We are once again lowering our outlook for the Wii U,” he stated. “Right now it is looking to do about what the GameCube did during its lifespan which is mainly be another system for Nintendo first party product."
GameCube’s lifetime sales fell just short of 22m units worldwide.
"I think Nintendo is carving out a different audience,” Cole added. “I think that being said it is the right strategy. The audience they are going after is not the ones that Sony and Microsoft are going after. Right now they need to go after Nintendo fans first.
“They should have done that last year but better late than never. It is the right approach but really Nintendo now is just trying to do as well as the GameCube so they have a base to sell first party software."
Fellow US analyst Michael Pachter told the audience at London Games Conference last week that Wii U is “toast”, predicting lifetime sales of 30m units and saying: “If you are a Nintendo fan bitching about my opinion on Wii U, stop, put your money where your mouth is and buy a Wii U."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/dfc-p...-wii-u/0124739

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Super Mario 3D World included in new UK Wii U hardware bundle

November 22nd, 2013, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster

Nintendo UK is to release a new Mario-themed Wii U bundle on November 29.
Available to pre-order now for £299.99, the Mario Mega Bundle includes a Wii U Premium console, Super Mario 3D World, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, a red Wii Remote Plus and a Mario hat.
The Super Mario 3D World release date is also next Friday, November 29 in Europe and Australia.
In our Super Mario 3D World review, we said the game "blends the best of Galaxy and 3D Land in a Greatest Hits package that's comfortably among the top games of 2013".
Other critics were equally taken with the game - see what they had to say in our Super Mario 3D World review round-up.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...rdware-bundle/

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Retro platformer Edge out on Wii U eShop

November 22nd, 2013, 01:10 Posted By: wraggster

Retro platformer Edge launches on the Wii U eShop today priced £1.79, developer Two Tribes has announced.On Wii U Edge outputs at a native 1080p resolution, with anti-aliasing at 60 frames per second. There's off-TV play via the GamePad, too.The Wii U version includes over 100 levels, and the Edge Extended DLC and bonus levels from the Steam version.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...on-wii-u-eshop

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Lego The Hobbit video game due out next year - report

November 22nd, 2013, 22:42 Posted By: wraggster

A Lego The Hobbit video game will launch in 2014, leaked promo art has suggested.
Hobbit-themed Lego sets due to launch next year include the artwork on the back of instruction booklets, Lego fan siteTheBrickFan reports.3DS, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions appear to be in the works."Coming sortie prévue en 2014," the artwork states. "Coming out in 2014." Lego versions of Bilbo, Thorin and Gandalf are shown.The third and final Hobbit film is due to be released on 17th December 2014, which makes an end-of-year launch likely.Warner Bros. declined to comment when approached by Eurogamer, but we may hear more at the VGX Awards next month.Lego Lord of the Rings launched last autumn to high praise. It included an open world version of Middle Earth to roam around in, and a playable Tom Bombadil.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...xt-year-report

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Brits, cap off Super Mario 3D World with plumberific Wii U bundle

November 23rd, 2013, 20:12 Posted By: wraggster

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puNES v0.73 (Bugfix release)

November 23rd, 2013, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

The NES emulator puNES for Linux and Windows (SDL) has been updated.

Quote:
Changelog:
0.73 (Bugfix release)
Fixed a problem with the simultaneous pressing of buttons A+B that was not handled correctly;

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Nintendulator 0.975 beta (11/16/2013)

November 23rd, 2013, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

The beta version of the NES emulator Nintendulator has been updated again.

Quote:
Notable changes include added NES 2.0 support, various emulation fixes, and numerous added or improved mappers.

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Mednafen 0.9.32.1 WIP

November 23rd, 2013, 22:53 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

NES/GBA/GB/Lynx/PC Engine/PC-FX/Wonderswan/Genesis/SNES/VirtualBoy/PS1 emulator has been updated recently. Changes:
- Atari Lynx II stereo support(thanks to "sage").
- More stable PSX DualShock rumble on Linux(fewer kernel panics, yay).
- PSX DualShock rumble is now working in Final Fantasy 8, and possibly other games where it was previously broken.
File: Download
News source: http://forum.fobby.net

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Gameboy Color A.D. 4.1

November 23rd, 2013, 22:54 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo GameBoy/GameBoy Color emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Fixed intermittent crashes.
News source: https://play.google.com

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Insecticide (12-11-2013) (VB Game)

November 23rd, 2013, 23:14 Posted By: wraggster

via http://pdroms.de/

Chris Read aka atari2600land continues working on his 2D fighting game Insecticide. It’s easy to kill a bug, but how about when you’re a bug yourself? Strap yourself into a bug’s shoes and fight to the death. Are you strong enough to perform insecticide?

Changes:


- no changelog found


http://www.atari2600land.com/banana/ic.html

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New Hacks Added

November 23rd, 2013, 23:28 Posted By: wraggster

The following Hacks have been submitted and approved to the database (in submitted order oldest to newest):

• Mario Evolution 2 (Complete)(Super Mario Bros.)(NES)
• Debug Menu (Improvement)(Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse)(NES)
• Ms. Pac-Man G (Complete)(Ms. Pac-Man (Namco))(NES)
• Ms. Pac-Man G2 (Complete)(Ms. Pac-Man (Namco))(NES)
• Pimpin Extasy (Spoof)(Little Nemo: The Dream Master)(NES)
• BattleToads - the Dark Queen Rematch (Complete)(Battletoads)(NES)
• Mega Man II (Barbie Dreams Type Hack) (Improvement)(Mega Man II)(NES)
• Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (Complete)(Final Fantasy VII (NES))(NES)
• Super Mario Bros 3-Item Slot hack. (Improvement)(Super Mario Bros. 3)(NES)
• Project II (Improvement)(Final Fantasy IV)(SNES)

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New Utilities Added

November 23rd, 2013, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster

The following Utilities have been submitted and approved to the database (in submitted order oldest to newest):

• CrygorTool (Game Specific)(NDS)
• HexTraImp (Hex Editors)(Multiple)
• ROM Hasher (Miscellaneous)(NA)
• Chrono Compressor (Game Specific)(SNES)
• exhal (Miscellaneous)(Multiple)
• Thunder Force 3 Editor (Level Editors)(GEN)
• Bobblicious (Game Specific)(NES)
• Zelda Edit (Level Editors)(N64)
• WarioWare D.I.Y. Editor (Game Specific)(NDS)
• miotool (Game Specific)(NDS)
• mml2mio (Sound)(NDS)
• mioedit (Game Specific)(NDS)
• Arabic Script Convertor (Hex Editors)(NA)
• SceneNavi (Level Editors)(N64)
• DSNESDS (Assembly Tools)(SNES)
• SNES TileEditor (Graphics Editors)(SNES)

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Announcing Project II, an extensive Final Fantasy IV mod

November 23rd, 2013, 23:30 Posted By: wraggster

Final Fantasy II for the Super Nintendo has an atrocious script. This we know. J2e, supposedly, made FFII obsolete by translating its Japanese counterpart with its proper numeral, Final Fantasy IV. Common knowledge these days, no?
Unfortunately, as shown on Tomato’s famed Final Fantasy IV page on his acclaimed site, Legends of Localization, that simply isn’t the case. While an admirable effort for the era, these days, J2e’s script just isn’t up to par.
Enter Project II: a total revitalization of the script of Final Fantasy II for Super NES! Using Pinkpuff’s FF4kster, the game’s text has been entirely rewritten from the ground up. But it wasn’t enough to give people the same Final Fantasy II they’d played and replayed—this time, dummy content has been restored, bugs have been fixed, game-play enhancements have been made, and Sirens can at last be bought!
Features:

• An entirely rewritten script, taking elements from various translations of Final Fantasy IV!
• Restored missing content! Use Pray, Salve, and Recall, find SomaDrops and Firebombs in chests, and cast Shell!
• An all-new title screen by Paladin!
• Every spell has an in-battle use thanks to Dragonsbrethren and Deathlike2!
• Reverted censored map graphics!
• Various bugs fixes!
• Sirens can be bought from an end-game shop!
• …And many more modifications! See the readme for detailed information.

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Obscure Translation Two for One!

November 23rd, 2013, 23:30 Posted By: wraggster

Today we present two translations for your usual NES translation and a more uncommon GB translation.
The Samurai Lord Musashi was an anime series that aired in Japan during the early 90’s and was made by the same folks who did Yu Yu Hakusho, Studio Pierrot. The games appear to have been cash-ins and were released while the series was still on the air.
The Samurai Lord Musashi is essentially a retelling of the life of Musashi Miyamoto, Japan’s legendary historical figure. The anime was most likely inspired directly by a trilogy of movies starring Toshiro Mifune, The Samurai Trilogy.
This is yet another joint project between aishsha and Pennywise and it is nothing short of perfection.
Unfortunately the NES game wasn’t tested as much as we would have liked. We would appreciate it if special attention could be paid to using the Search command to find stuff. The game makes that aspect quite difficult by being picky and not all the text relating to it has been found in-game. Therefore, some text might be messed up.

http://yojimbo.eludevisibility.org/

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Final Fantasy VII Advent Children RELEASED!

November 23rd, 2013, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

After 4 years the wait is over! Final Fantasy VII for the NES!
This project began in 2009 and picked up where Lindblum left off in 2008. After starting with a translated version of the game, this game has been altered little by little and is now ready to be released to the public!
No part of this game has been left untouched. Music, enemies, events, graphics…there’s just too many changes to list here.
Enjoy, everyone!

http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/1657/

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DSNESDS – the SNES devkit that never was…

November 23rd, 2013, 23:32 Posted By: wraggster

Here it is. DSNESDS. Digisalt SNES Development Studio. An integrated SNES development environment which was meant to become one of the most powerful development tools for SNES… Unfortunately due to lack of time and finally a shift in personal preferences this piece of software could never reach the state of a first complete release. As various issues had to be solved, there were three different versions developed which share hardly any common codebase…
Probably the most complete and advanced version is DSNESDS v2 which includes a quite advanced tileeditor for SNES games… it features copy/paste from other applications via the system clipboard as well as various editing modes and integrates with the color palettes of the current project… also version two allows integration of WLA-DX for final assembly of the source so you could actually compile stuff with it…
All three versions come with sourcecode attached so you can go and pick up where things were left… also some graphical libraries developed for version 2 are downloadable at the page…
Hope there’s someone who likes the idea of an IDE for SNES games and probably picks things up one day… you can grab everything here:
http://digisalt.wordpress.com/2013/1...-was/#more-128

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Digisalt SNES Tileeditor

November 23rd, 2013, 23:32 Posted By: wraggster

This is basically a reimplementation of TileLayer Pro in Java which makes it possible to run the program on any modern operating system (as opposed to the original program which was Windows only).
The original idea was to develop it for DSNESDS. In the end it was more of a finger exercise for the vastly superior tileeditor developed for the IDE… Still though this version was finished and features all of the original programs features (I think) including tileset editing and palette editing.
So if you’re a linux/Macos guy you might want to give it a try.

http://digisalt.wordpress.com/2013/1...es-tileeditor/

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AGTP Releases TwinBee Rainbow Bell Adventure

November 23rd, 2013, 23:33 Posted By: wraggster

Today sees the release of TwinBee Rainbow Bell Adventure for the SNES! Translation is 100% complete, so enjoy! It can’t be claimed that this is the best platformer on the SNES or even that it´s one of the best, as it frankly can´t hold a candle to Mario, Metroid, Megaman X or Front Mission Gun Hazard (heh!) But it´s still a damn good game, and if you´re itching for a cute but challenging platformer with plenty of secrets to find, here´s a great chance to have a good scratch.
Next AGTP release is currently slated for two weeks from today. Keep your fingers crossed!

http://agtp.romhack.net/

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EmuNand Function approach to R4I Gold 3DS Deluxe

November 23rd, 2013, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

The team behind the R4i Gold 3DS Deluxe announces the imminent release of their next firmware that integrates the function of virtualization NAND (emuNand). This feature, announced first by the Gateway team (which warned buyers clones telling them they could not enjoy) this is going to land in Clone Wars and make a good bang . The student seems to have surpassed the master, which is likely to be caught short ... To support their claims, they show us the video below where you can see Batman - Arkham and Blackgate Origins The Legend of Zelda - A Link Between Worlds running on the R4i Gold 3DS Deluxe with nand virtualized 6.3. Remember that these games, compiled with SDK 5.0.0 can not be launched on 4.x firmware and therefore remain for the moment, totally incompatible with the gateway! The eShop is also available at the same time.

The team also says r4ids.cn the update has been developed by their team and not is not a simple copy of the update for the Gateway ... Official website: r4ids.cn thank you to dcx for information.

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LEGO The Hobbit slated for 2014 release

November 24th, 2013, 20:51 Posted By: wraggster

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RealBoy 0.1.4

November 24th, 2013, 21:31 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

RealBoy is a Complete, Fast, Yet Accurate, Free/Open-Source Game Boy® / Game Boy Color® Emulator for Linux/Unix.

Quote:
Version 0.1.4
* gboy_keys.c: Added this file to the project for changing key bindings.
* gboy_conf.c: Added this file to the project for handling the new Configuration File.
* Makefile.am: Added new files for compilation.
* Code improvement: LOTS of code cleanups and improvements.

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