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Tag: Nintendo

  • Microsoft Signs 10-Year Nintendo Contract Over ‘Call of Duty’

    Microsoft Signs 10-Year Nintendo Contract Over ‘Call of Duty’

    Microsoft has signed a 10-year contract with Nintendo, ensuring the popular “Call of Duty” game remains on the platform.

    Call of Duty (CoD) is at the heart of the issues surrounding Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard. Sony, in particular, has made the case to regulators that Microsoft will use the purchase to favor its own Xbox platform, withholding CoD from the PlayStation and other platforms.

    Eager to put those claims to rest, Microsoft just signed a binding legal agreement with Nintendo that will see the latter’s gamers playing CoD for at least the next decade.

    Microsoft President Brad Smith tweeted the news:

    https://twitter.com/BradSmi/status/1627926790172811264?s=20

    The announcement should go a long way toward undermining Sony’s claims.

  • E3 2023 May Be Missing Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony

    E3 2023 May Be Missing Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony

    Despite being the first E3 in four years, E3 2023 may be missing the biggest console makers: Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.

    IGN reports that none of the three biggest console makers plan to attend E3, citing unnamed sources. No reasons were given for the three companies skipping the event, and none of the three replied to IGN’s request for comment.

    The news is even more interesting since Xbox CEO Phil Spencer seemed to voice support for E3 and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) just a week ago.

    “E3 is just, to me, one of the seminal moments of gaming. I love the history of going down to LA, thousands of people there, getting to see great new things…getting to see people in the industry, the fan events that we’ve had. I definitely want that to continue,” Spencer told IGN.

    “Xbox is on the board of the ESA, and I think a successful and healthy ESA is critical to what we’re trying to go do. So we place our showcase, like we always have done, at a time where hopefully it’s convenient for press and even consumers that are going to the E3 event, and that’s what we’re trying to do now. We will continue to work with ESA in terms of their plans. As I said, we’re on the board, and we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help make the E3 successful.”

    It’s likely Xbox plans on timing any announcements it may have to coincide with E3, giving it a chance to cash in on the hype without having a presence at the event. It’s unclear if the other two console makers have similar plans.

  • Nintendo Veteran Doesn’t Think Meta’s Metaverse Vision Is On-Target

    Nintendo Veteran Doesn’t Think Meta’s Metaverse Vision Is On-Target

    Meta may be going all-in on the metaverse, but former Nintendo President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime isn’t a fan of its approach.

    Meta has been aggressively trying to establish itself as the market leader in the race to the metaverse, the term for the convergence of in-person, virtual, and augmented reality. The company even changed its name from Facebook to Meta to reflect its focus. Nonetheless, Fils-Aime isn’t sure the company has what it takes to be the market leader.

    “Facebook itself is not an innovative company,” Fils-Aime told Bloomberg’s Emily Chang. “They have either acquired interesting things like Oculus and Instagram, or they’ve been a fast follower of people’s ideas. I don’t think their current definition will be successful.”

    Instead, Fils-Aime believes it will be smaller companies, ones that are doing “really compelling” things, that will be the ones dictating the industry. Even some larger companies have showed more vision than Meta, with Fils-Aime citing Microsoft and its acquisition of Activision Blizzard as “a fantastic purchase.”

  • Microsoft, Nintendo & Sony Announce Shared Commitment to Safer Gaming

    Microsoft, Nintendo & Sony Announce Shared Commitment to Safer Gaming

    Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are collaborating to make gaming safer, especially for those most vulnerable.

    Video gaming has grown far beyond its original audience and is now enjoyed by people across all demographics. In fact, a recent survey shows the biggest area of growth is among those 35 years-old and up, with the single biggest jump among 45 to 54 year-old individuals.

    As the pandemic has forced people to social distance, gaming has become an important social interaction for many people. Some games have even found their way into Esports, with video gamers playing professionally. This widespread adoption has increased the call for video game companies to do more to be inclusive and protect participants.

    “We believe gaming is for all people of all ages, including our youngest and most vulnerable players,” writes Dave McCarthy, Corporate Vice President, Xbox Operations. “Technology makes compelling entertainment experiences possible, and we want to ensure that those experiences – especially when they involve interaction with others – are positive and respectful. All players deserve to have fantastic social gaming experiences in settings where respect and safety are mutual.

    “At Xbox, we are aligned with both Nintendo, on behalf of the community of Nintendo Switch players, and PlayStation in our belief that protecting players online requires a multidisciplinary approach – one that combines the benefits of advanced technology, a supportive community, and skilled human oversight. We can accomplish more when we work toward the same goal, and so we will each continue investing in, evolving, and amplifying our approaches to user safety. As we continue this work, we will prioritize protecting the safety of our players, especially those most vulnerable.”

    The three companies are working to prevent issues through more control over the gaming experience, as well as partnering with trade organizations, industry members, law enforcement and regulators to create better safety initiatives. The three companies will also make it easier for individuals to report abuse and violations of their code of conduct.

    The three biggest names in gaming backing such an endeavor should go a long way toward making video games a safer environment for all players.

  • Apple Watch Gets Pokémon Go

    Apple Watch Gets Pokémon Go

    “Oh boy, here we go,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic Labs when speaking at Apple’s iPhone 7 event today. “Pokémon Go is coming to the Apple Watch.”

    Hinke stated that Pokémon Go has had more than 500 million downloads and that trainers have walked more than 4.6 billion kilometers. Although possibly the most successful digital game in history, it has also generated controversy from trespassing and nuisance lawsuits to deaths caused by the games mobile distractions.

    The Apple Watch version of Pokémon Go includes features that make the game playable without having to always be glaring at your phone, mitigating some of the more dangerous pitfalls. The basic game is the same but is designed to be a more walking experience, where users can view distances walked, calories burned and be alerted when a Pokémon is within reach.

    Picture 8

    The app will be available before the holidays.

  • Nintendo Is Finally Going to Make Smartphone Games

    By the end of this year, you’ll be able to play a Nintendo game on your iPhone.

    Wading into a market its always been wary of, Nintendo is finally going to start producing smartphone games.

    The first one should be out by the end of 2015, and the company says it plans to make a total of five by March of 2017.

    “You may think it is a small number,” said Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata during an earnings call, “but when we aim to make each title a hit, and because we want to thoroughly operate every one of them for a significant amount of time after their releases, this is not a small number at all and should demonstrate our serious commitment to the smart device business.”

    “Even with highly popular IP, the odds of success are quite low if consumers cannot appreciate the quality of a game. Also, if we were simply to port software that already has a track record on a dedicated game system, it would not match the play styles of smart devices, and the appropriate business models are different between the two, so we would not anticipate a great result.”

    Translation: Nintendo’s not just going to throw a bunch of games against the wall and see what sticks. And it’s not just going to port already existing titles because they might such when played on a smartphone.

    Nintendo is taking this venture slow, and that’s no surprise considering how long it took them to even begin making games for the smartphone.

    Nintendo is also taking its massively popular characters to the real world. Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts just announced the creation of “spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds” to Universal theme parks.

  • Nintendo Rides At Universal Theme Parks To Become A Reality

    Gamers everywhere rejoice.

    Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts just announced that they will be creating “spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds” to Universal theme parks.

    The agreement between these two giants is seen as a major move by Nintendo to expand the reach and popularity of its characters and intellectual property.

    Nintendo may be getting into developing new video content based on its characters, according to reports. It’s even been rumored to be developing a live-action Legend of Zelda series with Netflix, but Nintendo has denied that.

    “This is a first of its kind deal for Nintendo, which previously has been extraordinarily protective of its IP,” writes Variety reporter Chris Morris. “As the Wii U console has struggled against the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, though, the company has been aggressively exploring other ways to capitalize on its holdings. Two months ago, Nintendo announced a partnership with Japanese mobile giant DeNA to bring games featuring its characters to Android and iOS mobile devices.”

    The announcement says:

    Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories and characters – using powerful storytelling and innovative technology. Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks.”

    The immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal’s theme parks and will feature Nintendo’s most famous characters and games. More details will be announced in the future, as the Nintendo and Universal creative teams work to create specific concepts.

    One can only assume there will be a whole lot of Mario and his friends and enemies involved. Characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Wario, and others have been capturing the imaginations of children and adults alike for decades. And that’s not to mention the Zelda, Metroid, Mega Man, Kirby, Star Fox, and Pokémon franchises. Personally, I’m hoping for some Punch-Out themed attractions.

    Whatever Nintendo and Universal come up with is sure to draw a huge amount of people beyond what the theme parks already have to offer.

    Images via Nintendo (Facebook)

  • Ace Metrix Ranks Top 10 Holiday Ads

    Ace Metrix Ranks Top 10 Holiday Ads

    Television and video advertising analytics firm Ace Metrix announced the top 10 highest scoring holiday ads heading into Thanksgiving.

    “As is true throughout the year, advertisers develop ads based on a variety of creative strategies. During the holiday season, however, it is even more challenging to break through the clutter and to grab the attention of increasingly distracted consumers,” said Ace Metrix CEO Peter Daboll. “Many of the ads on this list not only generated product passion and delivered on persuasive components, but they demonstrated extraordinary breakthrough power necessary to rise above the noise of the season and to drive performance for the brand.”

    These are determined by the Ace Score, which is describes as the measure of ad creative effectiveness based on viewer reaction to national TV ads. A sample of over 500 people, which the firm says is representative of the U.S. TV viewing audience, scores each ad. Results are presented on a scale of 1 to 950, and take into account attributes like Persuasion, Likability, Information, Attention, Change, Relevance, Desire and Watchability.

    Here’s the rankings at a glance, followed by a few of the actual ads.

    Image via BusinessWire

  • Pokemon Games to Include “Soaring” Mega-Evolutions

    Pokemon fans are in for even more new content next month when Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire arrive on store shelves.

    Nintendo and The Pokemon Company this week confirmed that legendary dragon/psychic type pokemon Latios and Latias are still a part of the new remakes. Normally Latios can be found in Omega Ruby while Latias can be caught in Alpha Sapphire, though players will be able to obtain an item that takes them to a special island where the other pokemon can be captured in either game. Details about how players can get their hands on this item (an “Eon Ticket”) will be announced at a later date.

    The Latios and Latias announcement isn’t surprising on its own. What makes it special is that Nintendo has revealed players will be able to mega-evolve both pokemon. Once mega-evolved, players will then be able to use the new “Soar” ability with Mega Latios or Mega Latias to fly around the Hoenn region. Doing so will allow players to enter floating “Mirage Spots” where rare pokemon and valuable items can be found.

    Nintendo this week also revealed two common pokemon that will be getting mega-evolutions in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Mega Pidgeot will be able to learn the “Hurricane” move. Mega Beedrill will be even more deadly with its “Fell Stinger” move. These two pokemon add to the ever-growing list of mega-evolved and shiny pokemon that will be included in the new games.

    Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Pokemon Omega Ruby are full remakes of the 2002 Game Boy Advance games Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire. The remakes have been re-created in the style of Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, allowing them to take advantage of new Pokemon features such as the Player Search System (PSS), Pokemon-Amie, and Super Training.

    Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire will be released for the Nintendo 3DS in the U.S. on November 21 and in Europe on November 28.

  • Mario Kart 8 Hits Shelves, Hailed Best In The Series

    The much-anticipated Mario Kart 8 hit stores yesterday, and it’s already seeing tons of high praise. The latest installment, which is only available on the Wii U, includes 32 racetracks (16 new, 16 repurposed classics), 30 different drivers, and 26 vehicles to choose from. This 8th version of the game most definitely expands the Mario Kart universe, including new items and an anti-gravity feature, but doesn’t stray far from its roots.

    “Ever since the launch of the original Super Mario Kart on the Super NES more than 20 years ago, the words ‘Mario Kart’ have represented the gold standard for unpredictable and competitive racing fun,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo’s vice president of Sales & Marketing.

    “[Mario Kart 8] isn’t a great evolution from 1992’s “Super Mario Kart,” but Nintendo has never been a company that tried to fix things that aren’t broken,” adds Yahoo! Finance.

    Perhaps the most notable aspect of Mario Kart 8 are its stunning high definition graphics. “It’s the first iteration in the series where we feel like the game is living up to its full potential. The HD quality will likely even have PS4 and Xbox One gamers gawping,” says The Inquirer. “You’ll see sparks fly off tires as you drift around corners, the grimace on your opponent’s face as you bash them with a red shell, and even water drying on the camera lens as you reemerge from the watery depths of Dolphin Shoals.”

    The game also upped its difficulty in Grand Prix mode, making the computer challengers in its 150cc cup much more difficult to beat. There’s also a neat new “Mario Kart TV” feature, which highlights the best moments from each race. Players can edit, rewind, and slow down their highlight reels, and even share them on their Miiverse channel.

    In addition to the classic red shells and bananas, players can also find the long-range boomerang, which can be thrown and used to attack three times, and the piranha plant, which attaches to the player’s cart and bites other players that come too close. Nintendo also brought coins back to Mario Kart, which help increase your top speed.

    Mario Kart retails at $59.99, but there’s also a Wii U bundle available, that includes the console, a Mario Wii Wheel, and the game for $329.99.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Mario Kart 8’ Informational Video Released

    ‘Mario Kart 8’ Informational Video Released

    Mario fans only have one more month to wait until Mario Kart 8 hits the stores, and to get them even more pumped, Nintendo released a Nintendo Direct video.

    The video covers some exciting news, including word of a Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle, new characters and items, a free downloadable game offer for Wii U owners who buy Mario Kart 8 and more.

    “Everyone loves Mario Kart,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s a franchise that brings people together for fun at a family gathering, a frenzied race against friends or just an afternoon break at the office. The numerous new features of Mario Kart 8 make this the most ambitious version yet, and one that will have players of all skill levels racing for the checkered flag.”

    The exclusive Mario Kart 8 bundle will include a Wii U Deluxe Set System, a red Mario Wii wheel accessory, a red Mario Wii Remote Plus controller and the Mario Kart 8 game.

    The video also stated that those who buy the game and register with Club Nintendo before July 31 will receive a Nintendo eShop download code for an addition Wii U game. Players can choose from New Super Mario Bros. U, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker 3, Pikmin 3 and Wii Party U.

    Mario Kart 8 will also feature a few new players, including Pink Gold Peach, Metal Mario, Baby Rosalina and other baby characters.

    A few new items have also been added to each player’s arsenal, such as the Blue Spiny Shell, Super Horn and the Crazy 8.

    Mario Kart 8 in now available for pre-order at major retailers in North America, and will be available for purchase May 30.

    Image via YouTube

  • Super Mario Bros. Theme Sounds Good On Just About Anything

    What’s the most iconic video game song ever composed? If you ever played an NES, you’re likely to say the music that plays in World 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. The ditty has become so synonymous with Mario that Nintendo continues to use the song in Mario games to this day.

    While Nintendo may be remixing and reusing the song in games to this day, fans have been recreating the song on just about every instrument known to man for just as long. The most common is the piano as the song’s simple melody makes it easier for beginners to easily pick up. Of course, big bands and even full orchestras have even performed the song. With almost every instrument exhausted, where does the maestro turn to when he/she wants to be original?

    Wine glasses, of course!

    YouTube user Dan Newbie has shared a rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme as performed by himself on wine glasses and a frying pan. It’s a little unorthodox, but the results are amazing:

    Oh, and remember how I mentioned that the Super Mario Bros. theme has been performed on just about everything? I wasn’t lying. Here’s the theme being played on a Tesla coil:

    Tesla coil too tame for you? How about a theremin?

    Tesla coils and theremins too extreme for you? Here’s the Eminence Symphony Orchestra performing a Super Mario Bros. medley that’s to die for:

    There are many, many more where that came from. I’m sure even recorder fans out there can find somebody playing the theme on the world’s simplest instrument.

    But I digress, Dan Newbie isn’t just playing the Mario theme on wine glasses. He’s also playing Oscar-winning songs from hit films:

    [h/t: Kotaku]
    Image via Dan Newbie/YouTube

  • Nintendo Finally Lower The Price On Select 3DS Games

    Nintendo has a reputation for never lowering the prices of their first party titles. During the Wii and DS days, it took them years to finally release “Player’s Choice” versions of some earlier titles thus effectively dropping the price to $20. There were still many older games that were retailing for $50 though. With the 3DS, it looked like Nintendo would be doing the same, but it’s now finally lowering the price on some select titles.

    Nintendo announced today that five of its best selling 3DS games will have their prices lowered to $30 starting April 22. The five games are Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario Kart 7 and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. Nintendo says these five games represent over 9 million software units sold across both retail and digital. The price drop should increase the number of units sold even more.

    If you have yet to pick any of these games up, now would be a good time to do it. If you need some help, let’s take a look at each title individually.

    Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the latest entry in the best-selling life simulation series from Nintendo. You’ll move into a town, quickly become its mayor and then help the residents with their everyday lives while enjoying the quiet town in which they all live. Here’s a trailer:

    Super Mario 3D Land is a combination of old and new with gameplay inspired by both Super Mario Galaxy and older titles like Super Mario Land. It’s easily the best handheld Mario platformer ever made and those who haven’t played it yet are definitely missing out.

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a direct sequel to the original New Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo DS. The original game was a callback to the original game on the NES while the sequel puts a twist on the formula with a focus on coins. Players will not only make their way through platforming challenges, but will also be challenged to remain focused on collecting as many coins as possible.

    Mario Kart 7 is the latest in long running franchise. While not much has changed in the series since the original, Mario Kart 7 does introduce some new elements, including hang-gliders and tracks that are partially underwater.

    Finally, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a remake of the DKC reboot that appeared on the Wii. All the levels from the original are here and even some new ones were added.

    Image via Nintendo/YouTube

  • Nintendo Is Bringing Tomodachi Life To The U.S.

    Over the past few years, one of the biggest performers on the DS in Japan has been the Tomodachi Collection franchise. We never got any of the titles in the U.S. before, but the latest game in the franchise is finally making its way over.

    Nintendo announced this morning that it’s finally bringing the Tomodachi Collection franchise to the U.S. with Tomodachi Life for the Nintendo 3DS. The latest entry in the series came out in Japan last year and was an instant best seller. Now Nintendo is going to see if its unique take on The Sims can make a splash in the West as well.

    “Nintendo fans are familiar with Mii characters, but now they come to life in ways they never have before – with their own lives, interests and personalities,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Customization and open-ended play are two big video game trends for 2014, and Tomodachi Life delivers a fun, creative experience that makes you want to visit again and again, because there’s always something interesting going on.”

    For those in the dark, you can think of Tomodachi Life as a cross between Animal Crossing and The Sims. The game stars the adorable Miis that every Nintendo hardware user makes, but throws them into weird scenarios with other Miis that live with them:

    After completely customizing all your Mii characters, from their voices and appearances right down to their personality quirks, you’ll recognize them instantly. But you can’t possibly predict what they’ll do next. For the first time ever, Mii characters behave based on the personality traits you select, playing out the drama you set in motion. A celebrity might fall in love with your math teacher. Your mom might jump on stage to belt out heavy metal songs. Or you could become famous striking poses down the runway of a fashion show wearing cute and silly outfits. Best of all, you can document these unbelievable moments for posterity and share them all with your friends via the Nintendo 3DS Image Share service.

    For the game’s launch, Nintendo will be partnering with Christina Aguilera who will be participating in the promotional campaign for the game. She’ll even have a Mii that players can download at the game’s launch.

    For more information, be sure to check out the surprise Nintendo Direct that’s focuses exclusively on the game:

    Tomodachi Life will launch on June 6 exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

    Image via Nintendo/YouTube

  • NES Remix 2 Gets New Mode Inspired By Nintendo World Championships

    NES Remix 2 Gets New Mode Inspired By Nintendo World Championships

    One of the rarest Nintendo games of all time is the Nintendo World Championships cartridge handed out to the winners of the competition in 1990. The cartridge contained levels from Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer and Tetris and would track the scores from all three games over the course of 6 minutes and 21 seconds. While it’s all but impossible to obtain one of these cartridges today, you can experience the same kind of gameplay in the upcoming NES Remix 2.

    Nintendo announced this morning that it’s adding a new mode to NES Remix 2 that’s based loosely on the Nintendo World Championships. The company is quick to note, however, that the new mode will feature three new games and a new multiplier scoring system.

    Super Mario Bros. remains as one of the three games in Championship Mode, but is now joined by Super Mario Bros. 3 and Dr. Mario. Players will take on a series of three successive score-based challenges in these games to achieve a cumulative total score. Scores can be posted to Miiverse, so players can compete with friends and others who also have the game. The first NES Remix game is required to experience Championship Mode in NES Remix 2.

    We can only hope Nintendo hosts an actual competition again and the winners get golden Mario statues.

    NES Remix 2 isn’t all about the competition though. If you want to take things slow, you can also do that. The game features short challenges from a new assortment of NES titles, such as Kid Icarus, Metroid and Kirby’s Adventure.

    NES Remix 2 launches exclusively on the Wii U eShop on April 25.

    Image via Nintendo/Business Wire

  • New Super Smash Bros. To Appeal To Core And Casual Fans Alike

    Super Smash Bros. is an interesting beast. It has to appeal to its core fanbase that plays it like a fighter while still appealing to those who play it like a party game. Super Smash Bros. Melee heavily appealed to the former while Super Smash Bros. Brawl heavily appealed to the latter. With the latest game, Nintendo is working to appeal to fans of both.

    In a Nintendo Direct solely focused on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, game director Masuhiro Sakurai revealed all new details about the upcoming game. Over the course of 39 minutes, he talked about online multiplayer, stages, differences between the 3DS and Wii U versions of the game, character rosters and more. He even revealed the launch windows for both titles.

    Arguably, the most important news for Super Smash Bros. is its launch date and Sakurai came out with that information first. He revealed that Nintendo will not be releasing both versions at the same time. Instead, the 3DS version will be out in Summer while the Wii U version launches this Winter.

    Next up, Sakurai touched upon the online multiplayer portion of the game. In the previous game, players of all types were ushered into anonymous brawls with one another. In the new Smash Bros., players will now be able to choose between two lobbies – For Fun and For Glory. For Fun lobbies will allow players to play on all stages (sans Final Destination), all items are turned on and only wins are recorded. The For Glory lobby is the exact opposite, all items are turned off and the only playable stage is Final Destination. To prevent stagnation, almost every stage in the game has a Final Destination form so players will have the same flat platform to play on, but without having to see the same background every time.

    Speaking of stages, Sakurai reiterated that stages will not be the same across both platforms. The 3DS version will have stages inspired by Nintendo’s handheld titles while the Wii U version will have stages inspired by Nintendo’s home console titles. Some stages from past games have returned as well, including Halberd and Jungle Japes.

    Since the 3DS version of the game will out first, Sakurai thought it would be pertinent to reveal a game mode exclusive to that version. It’s called Smash Run and it gives players five minutes to make their way through a labyrinth of enemies while gathering powerups. At the end of those five minutes, four players will be thrust into a battle with all the powerups they collected during the exploration portion of the game. It’s very similar to the City Trial game mode in Kirby’s Air Ride for the Nintendo Gamecube.

    As for new characters, Sakurai started off by saying that there will no longer be characters that change forms mid-fight. This is meant to help players focus on one moveset instead of having to adapt to a brand new one midfight. Instead, those transformations are now their own characters. For example, Zero Suit Samus and Shiek are now their own characters with their own unique movesets that aren’t beholden to Samus or Zelda respectively. Since there’s no longer mid-battle transformations, Sakurai also revealed that Charizard is now a standalone character. It can also mega evolve into the black and blue Mega Charizard X.

    Speaking of Pokemon, the only completely brand new character revealed in this latest Nintendo Direct is Greninja. The ninja frog Pokemon will use his attacks from the games, but with a distinctly ninja-like flair. For example, he throws water covered shurikens and can use substitution magic to dodge incoming attacks.

    There was a lot more information in the Nintendo Direct, including Assist Trophies, that aren’t covered here. To learn more about the upcoming Super Smash Bros., be sure to watch the Nintendo Direct below:

    Image via Nintendo/YouTube

  • Game Boy Advance Games Come To Wii U In This Week’s Nintendo Download

    Nintendo promised and it delivered. Game Boy Advance games are finally on the virtual console. The only downside is that the games are only available on the Wii U. It makes much more sense to have them on the 3DS, but we gotta take what we can get.

    Speaking of Game Boy Advance games, this week sees the release of three classics – Metroid Fusion, Advance Wars and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. All three games are considered some of the very best the Game Boy Advance had to offer. One in particular – Advance Wars – is a classic that’s hard to find these days. With its arrival on the virtual console, a whole new generation of gamers can experience the classic turn-based strategy series for the first time.

    All three of this week’s Game Boy Advance games will cost $7.99 and feature off-TV play on the GamePad. In fact, it would probably be advisable to do so as GBA games probably don’t look so great blown up on a giant screen.

    While the Wii U is getting some GBA games, the 3DS is getting some love in the form of a new free-to-play title – Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball. Nintendo announced this one a while back and is notable for allowing players to haggle with the in-game character to reduce the cost of mini-games. Now if only other free-to-play games would let us lower the price of in-game goods.

    Sega is also releasing Super Monkey Ball 3D on the 3DS eShop. The title features the familiar tilting puzzle-platformer action the series is known for alongside a new sidescrolling melee combat mode and a kart racing mini-game.

    Here are all the other games hitting the Wii U and 3DS eShop this week:

    Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate – Deluxe Edition (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
    Evofish (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
    Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
    Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)

    Image via Nintendo

  • Mario Kart 8 To Feature New Items, New Courses And Live Music

    Mario Kart isn’t exactly what gamers would call a revolutionary series. Each game in the franchise knows what it is and doesn’t deviate far from that. The last truly innovative Mario Kart was Double Dash on the Gamecube, and it looks like Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U will be following in its footsteps. No, unfortunately the tag team kart racing isn’t back, but the game will be introducing a ton of new stuff.

    Nintendo unleashed the floodgates this morning with a veritable treasure trove of Mario Kart 8 information including information on new items, new tracks and even new music. The major addition in Mario Kart 8 is what Nintendo is calling the “Spin Boost.” When the anti-gravity mode is activated, players can bump into other racers or certain items on the track to get a speed boost. Nintendo says the new feature “fundamentally redefines the way that players compete.”

    Alongside all the returning items, Mario Kart 8 will also feature two new items – the Piranha Plant and the Boomerang Flower. The Piranha Plant attaches to the front of the player’s kart and eats other players, banana peels and incoming turtle shells. Even better, the player will get a small speed boost each time the Piranha Plant eats something. The second item – the Boomerang Flower – can be used to stun racers. It can be used up to three times, can be thrown ahead or behind the player and can even be thrown in an arc to stun multiple racers at once.

    As for courses, Mario Kart 8 will continue Mario Kart’s tradition of including brand new courses alongside old courses from previous entries in the series. This time around, Nintendo says Mario Kart 8 will feature 16 brand new courses and 16 remixed courses. The remixed courses will remain similar to the tracks they’re based on, but will feature new areas where players can use anti-gravity karts.

    In what may be the most exciting news, Nintendo says that some tracks in the game will feature live recorded music. It’s a first for Mario Kart and continues Nintendo’s move towards including more live recorded music in their games. Mario Kart has always had excellent music, and I can’t wait to hear what the composers can do this time around with a live band.

    Finally, Nintendo says that Mario Kart 8 will support numerous control schemes. As always, the Wii U Gamepad is the default option, but you can also use the Wii U Pro Controller, the Wii Wheel or the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Unfortunately, there’s no support for the Wii Classic Controller.

    To top off all the news hitting today, Nintendo also released a new trailer. Check it out:

    There’s also a new Nintendo Minute out with a more detailed look at some of the new courses in Mario Kart 8:

    Mario Kart 8 will be out May 30 exclusively on Wii U.

    Image via Nintendo/YouTube

  • Kirby Triple Deluxe Inspires Pink 2DS In Europe

    Nintendo loves to release special hardware in tandem with software. Just last month, it released a special Yoshi-themed 3DS to go along with the release of Yoshi’s New Island. Now it’s doing the same for Kirby Triple Deluxe, but only for Europe.

    Nintendo of Europe announced today that Kirby Triple Deluxe will be launching in Europe on May 16. It will also be releasing a special white and pink 2DS to go along with the launch. At the moment, the 2DS has only been announced for Europe in what is obviously a slap in the face to the three American Kirby fans who don’t already own a 3DS or 2DS. We’re still about a month away from Kirby Triple Deluxe’s American debut though. Nintendo of America might just announce a similar system for us as well.

    To go alongside the announcement of the new 2DS, Nintendo of Europe also released a new trailer for Kirby Triple Deluxe that shows off some new levels and powers. It also reveals that Kirby’s trademark ability can be used to interact with the environment in numerous ways this time around. There’s even a four player competitive mode that can be played with only one game card if you want to convince your friends to pick up the game.

    Kirby Triple Deluxe will be out in the U.S. on May 2. There’s no word of a special 2DS or 3DS for the game, but I wouldn’t put it past Nintendo of America. If Yoshi can get his own 3DS, Kirby is surely deserving of one as well.

    Image via Destructoid

  • Six Mega Man Games Coming To 3DS In May

    Capcom may not be making any new Mega Man games anytime soon, but the company is no stranger to milking older games in the franchise. It’s already released all the NES Mega Man games on the Wii U and 3DS virtual console, and now it’s working its way through the Game Boy Mega Man games. Starting in May, Capcom will be releasing the rest of the Game Boy games and wants the fans to decide which one gets released first.

    Over at the Capcom Unity blog, the company announced that the following Game Boy Mega Man games will be hitting the 3DS virtual cosole in May – Mega Man II, Mega Man III, Mega Man IV, Mega Man V, Mega Man Xtreme and Mega Man Xtreme 2. Capcom wants fans to vote on which of these games will hit the 3DS virtual console on May 1. After that, another Mega Man game from the above selection will hit the virtual console every Thursday as part of what Capcom calls “Mega May.”

    So, which classic should you vote for? That’s a decision best left up to you, but you should know a few things about each of these games. Mega Man II is generally considered one of the worst Game Boy titles as it was outsourced to a different development company that had no experience in making Mega Man games. Mega Man III through V on the Game Boy were developed by the team that made Dr. Wily’s Revenge on the Game Boy so the quality is there. These titles also introduced elements found in the NES games as well as their own.

    As for Mega Man Xtreme, these two titles are Game Boy Color spinoffs of the Mega Man X series for the Super Nintendo. Mega Man Xtreme 2 is noteworthy as it allowed players to play as Zero alongside X.

    If you wanna see what Mega Man Xtreme 2 is like, here’s a Long Play courtesy of cubex55:

    Mega Man fans have until April 14 to let their voices be heard. It doesn’t matter who wins as all the titles will end up on the virtual console eventually, but it sure would be nice to play Mega Man Xtreme 2 sooner rather than later.

    Image via Capcom Unity

  • Disney Magical World Looks Absolutely Delightful

    It’s no secret that I’m a fan of pretty much everything Disney cranks out. I’m even willing to do away with my masculinity in exchange for a photo op with the Disney princesses. Thanks to Nintendo, however, I can now indulge in my Disney fantasy without leaving the house and, more importantly, exposing myself to the judgmental eyes of society.

    Nintendo released a new trailer detailing the features of Disney Magical World today. While some may dismiss the game as silly children’s fare, there seems to be quite a bit of depth to it. Not only will players be tasked with running their own cafe, but they will also be able to fish, explore the park and hang out with all of their favorite Disney characters.

    Now, you may be thinking that doesn’t sound all that appealing to you – the hardcore gamer that can pull of 20 headshots in a single Titanfall match. Well, that may be true, but you can’t even deny the allure of catching ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon was pretty great, and Disney Magical World introduces a similar gameplay mechanic that tasks players with capturing ghosts. It’s probably the closest it ever gets to being a “core” game, and that’s perfectly fine.

    You’ll be able to become the princess (or prince) of your dreams come April 11 when Disney Magical World launches exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS.