Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Following the Wii U’s announcement, there’s no denying that there was confusion as to what the system actually was. Some believed it was an add-on to the Wii. Others had no idea it was Nintendo’s next console.

One thought people had was, if Nintendo called the console Wii 2, consumers would get a better understanding of the system. However, Reggie Fils-Aime told Kotaku recently that Wii U’s name isn’t an issue.

“The challenges we’re facing with Wii U are not issues of the name. The issue is the lack of a steady rate of software launches to motivate the consumer to drive buzz and engagement and to highlight the wide variety of uses of the GamePad. That’s the issue.”

Reggie also says that people do in fact know the Wii U exists. Its problem is simply a lack of strong titles.

“As we sit here today again I would say that’s not the issue. The consumer understands that we have a new system. But the consumer is saying: ‘What am I going to play? And what am I going to play that’s a new and unique and compelling experience vs. what I can do today, whether it’s on the Wii or any other system?’

“And that’s why experiences like Pikmin 3, like Wonderful 101, like Zelda Wind Waker HD, with the off-TV play, experiences like Super Mario 3D World—that’s why it’s critical that we launch those, have consumers experience them in malls across the country, which we’ll be doing. It’s critical that the consumer see for themselves the range and breadth of compelling software for the system.”

Source

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U eShop | 3 Comments

This week’s North American Nintendo Downloads are as follows:

Wii U retail

Rayman Legends – $59.99 (available Sept. 3)

Wii U download

Pokemon Rumble U – $17.99

Wii U VC

The Legend of Zelda – $4.99

3DS VC

Wario Land 3 – $4.99

eShop sale

Bit.Trip Saga – $4.99 until 9 a.m. PT on Sept. 15.

Source: Nintendo PR

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 5 Comments

How does Reggie Fils-Aime feel about the competition? Not too strongly.

Regarding the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch lineups, Nintendo of America’s president gave a “Meh”. In contrast, he has good feelings about the Wii U’s upcoming titles and “the value proposition we’re putting out there for the consumer.”

“It’s all about the games. The competitive systems have announced their launch lineups. I’m allowed to say ‘Meh’. I look at our lineup of titles and I feel good about our lineup. We’ve got Zelda. We’ve got Mario. We’ve got Donkey Kong. In addition to great titles like Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101, I feel very good about our lineup, and I feel very good about the value proposition we’re putting out there for the consumer.”

When asked how Nintendo can compete with new services offered by the competition such as cloud gaming and more, Reggie responded:

“We’ve got cloud technology that we’re delivering with Wii U. Nintendo TV is all cloud-based technology. But the difference is, we don’t talk about the tech. We talk about the experience. We make sure that the consumer has fun with the game experiences that we provide. And so I think as you compare and contrast Nintendo with other players in the space, for us it’s about games, about the fun, about the entertainment value, and not about the tech.”

Source

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories | 0 comments

The 2DS is mainly designed to appeal to a younger demographic, according to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

Fils-Aime told IGN that the idea for the new system came about in hopes of appealing to children under the age of seven. With the 3DS and 3DS XL, those products were designed for players seven and up.

Fils-Aime stated:

“We’re always thinking about what we can do that’s new, unique, different, and brings more people into this category that we love. And so with the Nintendo 3DS, we were clear to parents that, ‘hey, we recommend that your children be seven and older to utilize this device.’ So clearly that creates an opportunity for five-year-olds, six-year-olds, that first-time handheld gaming consumer.”

“We’ve always been thinking about, ‘how do we approach that as one target?’ And that certainly helped spur the idea of the Nintendo 2DS. Let’s have the consumer have access to all of these great games – Mario Kart 7, Animal Crossing – but do it in a 2D capability with a device that has a dramatically lower price point. That’s just an example of how we’re always thinking about, ‘how do we get more people playing games? How do we get more people playing Nintendo games?’”

Source

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Kotaku has published a few comments from Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime regarding the 2DS, Wii U’s price drop, and fate of the Basic Set (say goodbye!). You can find them all below.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 2 Comments

GamesIndustry has published a new interview with Nintendo’s Scott Moffitt. Head past the break for talk of an account system on 3DS, a whole bunch of 2DS talk, and more.

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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Not one, but two Wii U bundles are coming to Europe in October. In addition to the Zelda: Wind Waker HD Premium Pack, Nintendo will also launch a LEGO City: Undercover Premium Pack. It will come with a 32GB console and a copy of the game (not specified if download or physical).

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 1 Comment

Nintendo has revealed release dates for several key Wii U and 3DS titles. We now have final dates for Super Mario 3D World (moved to November instead of December), Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (now in December instead of November), and lots more.

Here’s the full lineup:

Wii U

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD: Launches Sept. 20 (downloadable) and Oct. 4 (packaged) at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
• Wii Party U: Launches Oct. 25 bundled with a Wii Remote Plus controller and stand at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
• Super Mario 3D World: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $59.99.
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: Launches Dec. 6 at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
• Wii Fit U: Launches this holiday season. Further details, including launch date, pricing and bundling information, will be revealed at a later date.
• Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games^™: Launches this holiday season. Further details, including launch date and pricing, will be revealed at a later date.
• Third-party titles: Previously announced titles on the way from Nintendo’s publishing partners include: Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure(Sept. 24) and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Fall) from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment; Skylanders SWAP Force (Oct. 13) and Call of Duty: Ghosts(Nov. 5) from Activision Publishing; Sonic Lost World (Oct. 22) from SEGA; and Rayman Legends (Sept. 3), Just Dance 2014 (Oct. 8), Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Oct. 29) and Watch_Dogs (Nov. 19) from Ubisoft.

Nintendo 3DS

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
• Mario Party: Island Tour: Launches Nov. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
• Third-party titles: Previously announced titles on the way from Nintendo’s publishing partners include: Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure(Sept. 24); LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (Fall) and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (Oct. 25) from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment;Skylanders SWAP Force (Oct. 13) from Activision Publishing; Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! (Nov. 19) from D3Publisher; andSonic Lost World (Oct. 22) from SEGA.

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 13 Comments

In addition to today’s surprising 2DS reveal, Nintendo has announced that the Wii U will be receiving a price drop. Starting on September 20, the Deluxe system will be available for $50 less – $299.99.

Nintendo has additionally confirmed Zelda: Wind Waker HD’s Wii U bundle. Launching on September 20, it’ll include a black Deluxe Wii U console; a GamePad controller adorned with gold lettering, a gold Hyrule crest and gold symbols from the game; a download code for the digital version of Hyrule Historia, a book that details the chronology, history and artwork of The Legend of Zelda series; and a code that can be used to download The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD from the Nintendo eShop immediately at no additional cost.

Zelda: Wind Waker HD will be available as a download on September 20. The full retail game launches on October 4 with distinctive gold-foil packaging. Both are priced at $49.99. GameStop will be handing out an exclusive Ganondorf figurine for $54.99.

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories | 14 Comments

Nintendo has announced a brand new 3DS-esque model, the 2DS. The system works with all 3DS and DS games, but can’t play games in 3D.

The 2DS also ditches the 3DS clamshell design. To put games in sleep mode, you’ll need to use a slider. Turning Wi-Fi on/off is now a setting rather than its own switch.