Nintendo Universe to launch free digital magazine

Nintendo Universe ( www.nintendo-universe.co.uk  ), a website dedicated to providing extensive coverage for Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS platforms, is pleased to announce plans to launch a free, monthly digital magazine.     

With Nintendo Universe set to attend the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the full-fledged magazine will launch toward the end of June and will provide extensive coverage of the latest software, hardware and accessories that will be on the show floor, focusing upon Nintendo's anticipated reveal of the Wii U.     

To coincide with such announcement, a preview issue has been made available today which can be   viewed on Issuu  , outlining the initial concept for its finalised design. Within, you will find preview and review coverage of recent and upcoming releases including Mario Tennis Open, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Pandora's Tower and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure.

Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed: Announcement trailer

Sega has released the first footage of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. Sega announced the game earlier today for Nintendo 3DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Sega announced a few of the characters that will be made available which include Dr. Eggman and AiAi from the Super Monkey Ball games, Gilius Thunderhead from Golden Axe and Vyse from Skies of Arcadia

Rayman Legends Trailer (WiiU)

The trailer for the previously unannounced Rayman Legends for Wii U has leaked onto Youtube. The video shows plenty of Wii U related functionality in the game including players placing figurines of characters such as a Rabbid from Rayman and Ezio from the Assassin’s Creed series onto the screen of the Wii U controller, affecting the gameplay in Rayman Legends.

There will be a digital and retail release for New Super Mario Bros. 2

Nintendo has announced that it plans to make Nintendo published games available to download on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on release day. You’ll either be able to go out and purchase the physical edition or stay at home and download the digital release. The first game which will take advantage of this is New Super Mario Bros 2 for the Nintendo 3DS which will be released in August. This will also be available “from day one of the Wii U’s launch”.

Super Smash Bros To Focus On Wii U & 3DS Connectivity

Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has revealed that the key feature for the forthcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS is connectivity between the two consoles. Sakurai reiterated that he’s only getting started on the project, and the connectivity features, so it will be a while before we hear about a release date.

“There is a certain dead end we come to if we just expand the volume of the game. I intend to change direction a little as we go.

“The key to that’s going to be its dual support for 3DS/Wii U.”

“I’m really just getting started on this so it’s going to take time, but I’ll come up with something that uses that link as the game’s central axis, so I hope you’re looking forward to it.”

If you have $3,500 laying around check out this cool Mega-Sized Nintendo Game Controller

Charles Lushear of custom design studio The Boho Workbench in Venice Beach, California, has created this fully functional Nintendo Controller Coffee Table. The table (which is 42″ x 18.25″ x 18″) ditches plastic in favor of maple, mahogany and walnut, and lets you play NES games using the aesthetically designed piece of furniture.
It features a removable glass top for when you aren’t playing games, a retractable cord, dovetail joinery and mid century modern legs. A nonfunctional version is available, as well as a composite materials version that is painted to look exactly like the original controller.
USB capability can also be added, and the designer is currently working on an inverted color scheme version and one with Wii capability for those without a NES console. The coffee tables are made to order and the production time is 4-6 weeks. The functional table costs $3,500 and this first creation is currently being raffled off by DudeIWantThat.com. Click through to see photos of the table and check out the video below to see it in action:

New Super Mario Bros 2 coming to 3DS, not Wii

Nintendo found success in both New Super Mario Bros DS and New Super Mario Bros Wii, though both games were very different. The Wii version had more throwbacks to the classic Super Mario Bros series and seemed to be a more genuine return to those old-school mechanics.

For the next entry in this franchise, Nintendo has ditched the notion of including the system name in the title of the game. This one will be, simply, New Super Mario Bros 2.

Nintendo 3DS System Update Is Live In North America

The Nintendo 3DS system update is now available to download in North America and Europe. The biggest feature of the update allows you to create custom folders on the Nintendo 3DS home screen which is great news for ambassadors. You’ll also notice that the Nintendo 3DS eShop has been slightly redesigned dividing shop segments into two rows on the screen. To perform the update manually you’ll need to go to system settings, other settings, and then select system update.

Will there be a New Kirby Game Announced At Nintendo Direct? Plus New Kid Icarus Info

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has posted a photo of himself posing with a giant Kirby plushy to advertise the Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation. Of course this has prompted mass speculation from all corners of the internet that Nintendo is going to use the presentation to reveal a new Kirby related title for either Nintendo 3DS or Wii. Masahiro Sakurai has also urged Kid Icarus Uprising fans to watch the Nintendo Direct.

Nintendo 3DS Now Offers Sports Video Content

 Nintendo is offering a range of sports content, watchable on the 3DS. Device owners like me will be able to watch highlight videos from NBA Digital, MLB.com and even the Barclays Premier League from FOX Soccer, all on the 3DS. There are limitations, the main one being the content is only available when users connect at a Nintendo Zone location, it's not available at home.

Thundercats Confirmed For Nintendo DS

Namco Bandai has now confirmed that Thundercats will be coming to the Nintendo DS. The company hadn’t formally announced the game but it was found to be playable on the show floor at the Global Gamers Day’s press conference. Thundercats is a side-scrolling action game for the Nintendo DS and is based upon the new cartoon series. Namco Bandai announced that the game will be available to purchase sometime in August.

Save $5 on Kid Icarus at bestbuy

Save $5 on Kid Icarus: Uprising when you connect to Nintendo Zone at Best Buy 

Miyamoto Keen On A New Zelda Link To The Past For 3DS

Legendary games designer Shigeru Miyamoto has told Edge that he would like to make a new Legend Of Zelda game “based on, or starting from” SNES classic A Link To The Past for the Nintendo 3DS.

“I think the answer would be the same if we’re talking about just porting,” he said, “but I think I’d be even more interested in creating something new maybe based on, or starting from, A Link To The Past. I think it’s important to bring some really new software.”

“To be very honest and open, it really depends on the directors that have time at the moment as well,” he said. “Some directors, I can give them the title and I know they will do something great with it.

“Other directors I’m not so 100 per cent confident [in], so they’re the ones I’d rather take a more remake approach to the title. It really depends on that as well.”

Louvre Museum & Nintendo Have Joined Forces To Release The Audio Guide Louvre-Nintendo 3DS

From 11th April 2012 the Nintendo 3DS System Will Become the Exclusive Audio Guide in the World's Most Popular Art Museum

As part of an ongoing partnership between Nintendo Co., Ltd and the Louvre Museum in Paris, the most visited art museum in the world, Nintendo will be providing the Louvre with Nintendo 3DS(TM) systems that will house an exclusive audio guide. The Audio guide Louvre - Nintendo 3DS will become available in the Louvre for visitors to enjoy from 11th April 2012 onwards. With this partnership, Nintendo & the Louvre hope that visitors to the museum will be aided with a tool to deepen their knowledge of art culture in a fun and interactive way.

Developers working at Nintendo Co., Ltd, based in Kyoto, Japan have developed the audio guide which is housed within the Nintendo 3DS system, in order to support the enjoyment and appreciation of the Louvre's exhibits for many of the museum's 8.9 million annual visitors. The audio guide will provide audio and visual tools which will help visitors to understand and deepen their knowledge of the artwork and exhibits in place.

Rumors Put a Price Tag on the Wii U

Sources closely involved with manufacturing and distributingNintendo products” saying that the Wii U is going to retail for $300.

Source said the total materials involved in manufacturing the Wii U – not in developing it or distributing it, mind you – would total about $180. The source says that Nintendo is trying to build confidence in investors by cutting manufacturing content:

“Nintendo chose an economical GPU and CPU that could keep up with the performance of today’s current consoles, but keep hardware costs down to maximize profits. Nintendo got a bargain price on the custom GPU and CPU that the Wii U uses. There is a bigger focus on downloadable content, applications, video content, digital distribution, and services to create a stream of revenue. Investors will be ecstatic with the news.”

The price will likely be lower than whatever Microsoft and Sony’s consoles will sell for when they finally come out. But until that happens, Wii U’s competition won’t be with Playstation 4 and Xbox Next, but Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Both of those consoles would be competitive on price with Nintendo’s new offering, and a big title like Halo 4 is sure to give the Xbox 360 a sales push in the next holiday season.

Just remeber this is only a rumor

Katy Perry Sweetens Life for EA’s The Sims New Game Collaboration Available This June -- The Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats

Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that the next collaborative project between The Sims™ and Katy Perry will be available this June on PC/Mac. In The Sims™ 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats*, players can sweeten up their Sims’ lives with Katy Perry-inspired, candylicious items that will enhance their game experience such as décor, furniture, objects and of course, fashions and hairstyles. Players will sink their sweet tooth into all new in-game goodies and turn the homes and neighborhoods of their Sims into a whimsical Candyfornia™, complete with cupcake-themed guitars, candy playground equipment and delicious cotton candy trees. Outfitting their Sims in an array of new clothing and hairstyles, players will make their Sims look good enough to eat! Three pre-built venues will help transform the world for the Sims characters with a game packed full of Katy Perry-inspired content.
“I’m delighted to bring you more with The Sims 3 Sweet Treats," said Perry. "I love some of the accessories so much that I am going to get some of them made in real life! It's one of my small life goals to sit on a banana split couch."

Additionally, players will rock out to a Simlish version of Katy Perry’s hit song, ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F),’ which she recorded for The Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats. Simlish is the official language of The Sims.

Perry comments on singing the Simlish version of the track, saying, "'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' is a really fun song to sing along to in any language, so I thought why not in Simlish?"

Heroes Of Ruin For Nintendo 3DS Given Official Release Date

IGN has revealed the official release date for the long-awaited Heroes of Ruin for the Nintendo 3DS. Heroes of Ruin will arrive in the United States on June 26th. Square Enix has yet to announce an official date for Europe.

Virtual Boy Titles Coming to the 3ds

In an unprecedented move, US Nintendo President Reggie Fils-Amie announced today that plans are in the works to bring titles from Nintendo's original 3D device to their newest via the system's download service.

Due to the system's limited run, very few people got to try out the Virtual Boy, and a new generation of gamers has yet to experience the system. "After all," Fils-Amie said in a conversation with GoozerNation's Ryan Johnson, "there are only 22 games for the system, so it should be easy to port them over."

Fils-Amie went on to say that the idea actually came from a surprising outside source: Kevin Costner. "We were approached by Mr. Costner, who stated he intends to return to the Waterworld franchise. The Virtual Boy had the best screen-to-game translation of the plot, so he wanted to bring it back to consumers' minds, and the simplicity of the translation will allow us to import the entire catalog."

Games will be ported over in their traditional monochromatic red to maintain their historical integrity, and will vary in price between $6.99 and $15.99. Nintendo Club members who achieve Platinum status in 2012 will also be able to choose as their prize the Official Virtual Boy 3DS Viewer, a classic Virtual Boy-shaped shell that will allow you to slide your 3DS inside and use the eyepiece to experience these classics in their original glory.  

The service actually launches today, with WaterWorld being the first title, and a dozen more coming within the next few months. 

The Last Story Will Have A Limited Run In North America

XSEED the publisher behind The Last Story in North America has revealed that the game will have a limited run when it launches later this year. XSEED say they have a rough idea of how many copy’s of the well-received JRPG they will distribute. Sounds as though you will need to make sure you pre-order the game if you fancy getting hold of it.

“…we do anticipate a limited run for the game as we already have a number in mind of how many units we can expect to sell of this title, and all our pre-production efforts will be geared towards being able to manufacture a final number somewhat close to our initial estimated number. It’s too early to start thinking of doing additional runs, but as a general policy we haven’t been very active on doing reprints of our other titles so far.”