NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - MAY 31, 2012

content:

Nintendo eShop
Rayman® – This classic, award-winning platformer is the first game in the Rayman series – now available on Nintendo 3DS™. Explore six unique worlds and play through more than 70 levels of platforming madness. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo eShop
Order Up!! (demo version) – Experience the dizzying life of a top-notch chef and restaurateur as you prepare all manner of exotic food on your way to building your own restaurant empire from the ground up. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo eShop + Nintendo DSiWare™
99Seconds – 99Seconds is a fun, retro-style video game in which you can modify time to avoid all kinds of danger. Dodge enemies and use SlowDown to slow, stop and even go back in time. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi™)

Also new this week:
Kakuro by Nikoli (Nintendo eShop) 
Metal Slug 3 (Virtual Console™ for Wii™) 

Ubisoft and Poptropica Partner to Bring Popular Virtual World for Kids to the Nintendo DS System

Ubisoft announced a partnership with Poptropica®, the massively popular virtual world for kids, to develop a video game featuring the site’s best-loved characters and most popular Islands. The game will come to life for kids during the 2012 holiday season and will be available on the Nintendo DS™ system.
“Through our exciting new partnership with Ubisoft, kids will now have another way to explore Poptropica’s story-based adventures and solve its challenging quests,” said Jess M. Brallier, publisher of Poptropica. “This is yet another milestone in the explosive growth of Poptropica as a global brand.”

Mind Candy Announces Second Video Game "Moshi Monsters: Moshlings Theme Park"

MoshiMonsters.com is an online world of adoptable pet monsters for kids aged 6-12. Players can customize and nurture their very own Monster as well as play mini-games, solve puzzles, share artwork and communicate in a safe environment. With more than 60 million registered users worldwide, the site has proved to be a hit and has expanded into a physical products line including best-selling toys, books, trading cards, the Moshi Monsters Magazine and a new music album. According to market research firm, The NPD Group, Moshi Monsters was the No. 1 toy license in the UK for the month of April.
Activision is a key partner in helping Mind Candy bring the beloved pet monsters to the handheld gaming platform. The debut title, "Moshling Zoo," released in 2011, found success around the world and is one of only seven 3rd Party games to ever top the UK charts, and is the only one to hold the No. 1 spot in Nintendo DS charts for an impressive five months.
"We look forward to working with Activision to build continued success for the Moshi Monsters brand and to bring new gaming experiences for our millions of fans to enjoy," said Moshi Monsters creator and Mind Candy CEO, Michael Acton Smith.

List Of New Functions Available In Latest Wii U Dev Kits?

We’ve already heard that Wii U developers have received their final development kits for the console, but what do surprises do they contain? Well according to a source over at Neogaf the latest dev kits allow for voice chat, multitasking and facial recognition. Here’s a supposed list of the latest features:

• Video Chat is available, but must be from the main menu of the system (not while playing a game).
• Voice Commands are available (similar to this rumor we heard about the 3DS maybe?)
• Facial Recognition (similar to features of the Xbox Kinect)
• Ability to suspend games, similar to 3DS.
• Ability to share achievements with friends by sending videos or screenshots with drawings on them.
• Watch a friend play online
• Multitasking (example: keep a text or video walkthrough open from the site while playing the game, swap back and forth as needed)

GameStop Announces First-Ever Consumer Expo

US retail emporium GameStop has announced that GameStop PowerUp Rewards members will be entitled to attend the first-ever GameStop Expo 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. The GameStop website says that attendees will have the opportunity to experience the hottest new video games months before they’re released, enter to win great prizes and meet with top video game publishers and special guests

Nintendo 3DS Hits Sales Milestone In Japan

The Nintendo 3DS surpassed 6 million units sold in Japan last week, according to gaming mag Famitsu. According to Nintendo, they will finally start making money off each unit soold starting in September of this year.
 
As of May 20, the 3DS has moved 6,017,206 units, with a worldwide number of 13.35 units by March 31, 2012. The lifetime sales of the handheld since its launch in February of 2011 in Japan total 17.1 million units.
 
In the UK, the 3DS in said to have moved 950,000 units, with 1 million sales expected to hit by next month.

Wii U Price, Release Date, Details Leaked By Ubisoft Dev?

A developer claiming to be from Ubisoft Milan has posted a batch of Wii U related information on an Italian message board. The developer believes that the price for Wii U will be between $350 – $450, and that the system will launch on November 23rd. Nintendo isn’t expected to reveal pricing or a release date until sometime after E3.

• Wii U supports DirectX 11 and is already running Unreal Engine 4
• Wii U will support to touch-screen controllers
• The console has 2GB or RAM, 560MB dedicated to the OS
• The launch date will be 23 November
• Launch price hasn’t been decided but will be between $350 – $450
• Rayman Legends, The Avengers, Assassin’s Creed 3, Just Dance 4 are all on Ubisoft’s Wii U schedule, with Killer Freaks from Outer Space set to arrive weeks after launch.
• There are currently multiple versions of the console with developers
• Graphics are powered by the Radeon HD 6770 chipset
• Assassin’s Creed 3 will run at 60fps at 1080p, compared to 720p on PS3 and Xbox 360
• Wii U will come with pre-installed software

Nintendo Details Their Online E3 2012 Plans, Provide Streaming

Fans from all over the world can look forward to accessing the latest Nintendo news right from the comfort of their homes. Nintendo will be using a mix of online, broadcast and social platforms to provide a steady stream of breaking news and announcements during the video game industry’s biggest annual trade show, taking place June 5-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Featured content will include the Nintendo All-Access Presentation @ E3 2012, which viewers can access online, watch commercial-free on Viacom’s Spike TV and MTV2 television networks or stream via Facebook on June 5 at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Fans also will enjoy easy access to news and updates from Nintendo on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook throughout the E3 Expo, including information about the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system and the upcoming Wii U console.

“We don’t want anyone to miss the energy and excitement of this year’s E3 Expo. “By offering different ways to tune in and follow all the Nintendo news, we aim to make fans all over the world feel like they’re right there with us at the show.”

- Cindy Gordon, Nintendo of America’s vice president of Corporate Affairs

Wii U Controller To Feature ‘Clickable’ Analogue Sticks?

A source close to UK trade publication MCV has told the publication that the recentlyleaked Wii U controller will feature clickable analogue sticks. The revised controller – which was revealed by a QA tester at Traveller’s Tales, is apparently based on an older design which has been given the go-ahead due to developer feedback.

QA Tweets Photo Of Revised Wii U Controller

A tester over at Traveller’s Tales has tweeted a photo of a slightly revised Wii U controller. The redesigned controller comes complete with twin Analogue Sticks, rather than Circle Pads, and features other minor tweaks. Nintendo has always maintained that we will see the final version of the Wii U controller at E3 2012, as the design which was revealed at last years E3 wasn’t final.

Toyota turns to Nintendo DS as in-car GPS remote

Let's say you liked adding GPS to your Nintendo DS. How about adding a Nintendo DS to your GPS? Toyota is trying just that through a new Smart Navi GPS unit in its Estima Hybrid minivan that will let passengers control the mapping system. Load up the Bluetooth-equipped Kuruma de DS cartridge and you can enter directions from the back seat instead of waiting for the driver's next chance at a red light. " levels of ennui to a minimum by providing trivia questions, hand-drawn map notes and a surfeit of tourist info. Mii characters speak out text information, and you can even use the car as a speaker system in the event your Starfox game needs that much more audio immersion. Estima buyers can get the new Smart Navi and Kuruma de DS in Japan on June 1st, although the $2,586 equivalent price for the GPS, the $92 cartridge and the cost of the Nintendo console itself might be too rich.

Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

• Nintendo eShop
  • Mario Kart^™7 update now available– Visit the Nintendo eShop to download the update for Mario Kart 7. This update is required for online multiplayer mode. For more information, visit http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/announcement. (For Nintendo 3DS^™)
• Nintendo Video^™
  • Men in Black^™3 in 3D (available May 18 at 6 a.m. PT)– They’re back! Men in Black hit Nintendo Video this week with the trailer for the latest installment in this epic franchise. (For Nintendo 3DS)
• Nintendo eShop
  • Kirby’s Block Ball^™– Kirby^™ takes center stage in this frenzied, block-clearing free-for-all. Use the paddles on all four sides of the screen to bounce Kirby around and destroy the blocks and enemies. (For Nintendo 3DS)
• Nintendo eShop
  • Rayman^®Origins (demo version)– Meet the new crazy. Rayman Origins is a comic adventure set in a lush world with more than 60 levels, teeming with secrets and crazy enemies. Taking advantage of the StreetPass^™ feature, you can share your progression, number of collectibles, time played, unlocked achievements and avatar with others. A demo version is now available in the Nintendo eShop. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Also new this week:

• Chronicles of Vampires: The Awakening (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare^™) 

Get Metroid: Other M For $7.99

US retail emporium Best Buy are selling the fairly controversial Metroid: Other M for the ridiculously cheap price of $7.99. Admittedly the game did receive rather mixed reviews from the gaming press. If you were previously sitting on the fence about buying it, then now’s the perfect time to do so.

First 4 Figures Modern Sonic Hype Video!

First4figures has released this great modern sonic on pre-order starting now you can click Here for Modern Sonic Exclusive limited to 750

Nintendo Wii U will have Luigi’s Mansion 2: rumor

There is a rumor to Luigi’s Mansion in the works, and it is slated to appear on Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console. At least, that’s what one online retailer seems to believe. The website Play.com has listed Luigis Mansion 2 as a title available for pre-order on the new home console. Nintendo has not made any sort of official announcement about such a game being in the works.

However, the company has confirmed that Luigi’s Mansion 2 will be coming out for the 3DS. So what this means is that either Nintendo is working on making it multi-platform for its new console as well, or someone over at Play.com is just confused. When an online retailer adds a new title to its database, sometimes it is based on conjecture, sometimes it’s just a mistake. It could be any of the above. Luigi’s Mansion has a somewhat interesting history. It was a launch title for the Gamecube, and it scored a fairly strong level of sales. But that is partly because it wasn’t until much later in the Gamecube life cycle that Luigi’s much more popular brother, Mario, got his own game on the platform. There was a new Luigi’s Mansion game that was on the drawing board for the Wii, but that would have included a 3D display periphaeral that ended up not panning out.

Pikmin 2 Makes Its U.S. Wii Debut, Joins Mario Power Tennis in Nintendo Selects

Nintendo is adding two great games to the Nintendo Selects value collection for the Wii console on June 10 with Mario Power Tennis and Pikmin 2, a Nintendo GameCube classic making its U.S. debut on Wii. Nintendo Selects games are available at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Separately, two of the best-selling Wii games of all time will be getting new prices: Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Donkey Kong Country Returns each will be available at a suggested retail price of $29.99. The value pricing provides shoppers with a great way to expand their game collections with some of the hottest Wii games around.

Global Test Market, a world-wide panel of people participating in online market research studies for rewards, has showed users Wii U concept art and subsequently asked whether or not they believe the system is worth $299.99. Global Test Market were apparently the firm that first revealed the Goldeneye 007 remake for the Wii, before it was unveiled at E3 2010

Nintendo to pull the plug on 3D TV service in Japan

If you were holding out for those 3D-erific videos of cute dogs and sumo wrestlers for your American 3DS via Nintendo's "Itsu no Ma ni Terebi" service, bad news just got badder. It's not coming. Ever. In fact, worse than that, the service will take its last look at the rising sun on the 20th of June, as Nintendo has announced that it's shuttering the service one day short of a year since it launched. There is mention of occasional content coming to both 2D and 3D devices via the Nintendo Video service,

Nintendo DSi & Nintendo DSi XL Prices starting May 20

Effective May 20, the suggested retail price for the larger Nintendo DSi XL will be $129.99 and the suggested retail price for Nintendo DSi will be $99.99.

Both the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems come pre-loaded with a variety of fun software, including Flipnote Studio, Nintendo DSi Camera and Nintendo DSi Sound. Nintendo DSi XL comes with additional pre-installed games and applications, including Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - MAY 10, 2012

Nintendo Video™Dinosaur Office: Office Party (available May 11 at 6 a.m. PT) – When the office throws an after-work party to celebrate a productive quarter, Craig finds himself in the middle of a dinosaur cat fight. (For Nintendo 3DS™)

Nintendo eShop Sudoku by Nikoli – Enjoy 50 high-quality sudoku puzzles created by Nikoli, who gave the world-famous puzzle its name. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Also new this week:
• Paul's Shooting Adventure 2 (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land™ (Virtual Console™ for Wii™) 
• Monster World IV (Virtual Console for Wii) 

To view this week's Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/downloadmU5it14p.php. 

Fire Emblem: Awakening - First 77 Minutes ファイアーエムブレム覚醒

.
Mesut from Nintendo Domination has uploaded the first 78 minutes of Fire Emblem: Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS. The game has enjoyed great sales in Japan and has already been confirmed by Nintendo Europe to receive a Western release. Nintendo of America recently registered a Fire Emblem Awakening domain, which suggests that the game will be coming to the United States later this year.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Is $19.99 At K-Mart

US retail emporium K-Mart is selling the fantastic The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the ridiculously cheap price of $19.99. Gamers will be able to purchase the game at the discounted price from the 6th May until May 12th. So If you never played this game now the time to go pick it up.

N-Space Isn’t Developing Call Of Duty Black Ops 2 For Handhelds

Development studio n-Space has confirmed that it has no plans to bring the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 to handheld platforms. The news will come as a disappointment to many as the developer has a long association with developing handheld entries within the Call of Duty franchise.

“We have no first-person shooters in development at this time,”

- n-Space studio president Dan O’Leary

Master the art of flying on Nintendo 3DS

Teyon, a video games developer and digital publisher, revealed today the upcoming Nintendo 3DS™ release available only through Nintendo eShop™. Bird Mania 3D, a skill-based action game, will be launched in North America on May 3 ^rd 2012 for only $1.99! The same month the game will be also published in PAL region. Beware, it’s totally addictive!

When Mojo realizes his friends from the flock set out to Africa he begins a frantic chase after them because he wants to go on a vacation too! Fly faster and faster, dash, soar, glide, and collect all bonuses. How far can you get in pursuit of a delightful vacation?  Bird Mania 3D is a skill-based action game where you steer a little birdie on his way to Africa. Keep him out of trouble as long as possible and beat your best score! You will be hypnotized for long hours while trying to collect all bonuses and avoid obstacles. And if you really want to perfect the art of flying, try to get all achievements.

Nintendo’s Iwata Pledges ‘Unprecedented’ 3DS, Wii U Games

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke confidently about the future of the 3DS and Wii U in explaining last week’s digital distribution announcement during the Q&A portion of last week’s investors briefing in Tokyo.

“[W]e have not designed [Nintendo 3DS and Wii U] to be mere improved versions of their predecessors,” Iwata said. “We have designed them so that they can realize what has been impossible.”

Since the launch of Nintendo 3DS last year, Nintendo has put more of an emphasis on developing traditional games for hard-core players and less on Brain Age-style games for casual players. Iwata said that this was a deliberate strategy.

“[R]egrettably, what we prioritized in order to reach out to the new audience [on Wii and DS] was a bit too far from what we prioritized for those who play games as their hobby. Consequently, we presume some people felt that the Wii was not a game system for them or they were not willing to play with the Wii even though some compelling games had been released,” he said.

“Once consumers have a notion that ‘this system is not for us,’ we have learned that it is extremely difficult to change their perceptions later,” Iwata said. “Therefore, in promoting the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U, we have announced that we would like ‘width’ and ‘depth’ to coexist. With the Nintendo DS and the Wii, the approach of ‘width’ was well accepted by many people; however, what we did in terms of ‘depth’ was not satisfactory for some consumers. This time, we would like consumers to be satisfied in both aspects. In order to do so, we started to work on the ‘depth’ aspect first, and the current and existing software you can see for the Nintendo 3DS is based on that idea.”

If Wii U and 3DS appear to be just enhanced iterations of Nintendo’s previous machines, “because the company is yet to provide what it has done for the Nintendo DS with the Brain Age series or for the Wii with Wii Sports and Wii Fit,” Iwata said, it is only because Nintendo has not yet introduced software that truly makes them stand out.

He asked for patience, saying that just as “not so many people were able to comprehend the potential” of the killer apps for Wii and DS prior to their release dates, “it is not easy for us to convince many people by explaining what kind of new experiences we are developing now.” Iwata was also wary that if he explained projects under development too early, “it is possible that products with similar concepts could be launched before Nintendo itself can finalize and launch the products.”

Iwata faced many questions about Nintendo’s plan to offer downloadable games both on its own eShop store as well as on shelves at regular game retailers. He denied that digital games have less value than physical ones, because “being able to store a number of software titles in a hardware system” is an advantage consumers might prefer.