NIS America is teaming up with Natsume to release a limited edition for Harvest Moon: Skytree Village later this year. Those who purchase the package will receive a copy of the game, Collector’s Box, 44-page softcover art book in full color, original soundtrack with jewel case, six lapel pin set, and a blue feather rubber strap keychain.

Pre-orders are up on the NIS America store here. Pricing is set at $49.99.

More: Harvest Moon: Skytree Village, Natsume, NIS America

23 minutes of Metroid Prime: Blast Ball footage

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Videos | 1 Comment

Metroid Prime: Blast Ball made its way to the 3DS eShop earlier today. Check out 23 minutes of footage from the download below.

More: Metroid Prime: Federation Force, Next Level Games

Nintendo explains why it settled on Metroid Prime: Federation Force’s art style

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 30 Comments

A few hours ago, Nintendo shared a new Metroid Prime: Federation Force video. It contained commentary from Kensuke Tanabe, the game’s producer.

Kotaku picked out one excerpt from the interview which is particularly interesting. At one point, Tanabe explained why Federation Force’s art style was chosen.

Tanabe spoke about how Next Level Games wanted “to make a multiplayer gameplay experience great on a handheld system” following Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Technical hurdles were in the way, however. Another issue was that players would be shooting objects that look tiny on a small handheld screen. That eventually led to the “more rounded art style for the characters”.

Here’s Tanabe’s full explanation:

More: Kensuke Tanabe, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, top

Sonic sale live on the North American Wii U and 3DS eShops

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 6 Comments

Various Sonic games are now on sale through the North American Wii U and 3DS eShops. You can save on 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sonic Lost World, and more.

The full lineup is as follows:

3DS

3D Sonic the Hedgehog – $2.99 (was $5.99)
3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – $4.19 (was $5.99)
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – $11.99 (was $29.99)
Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal – $14.99 (was $39.99)
Sonic Generations – $11.99 (was $29.99)
Sonic Lost World – $14.99 (was $29.95)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble – $2.49 (was $4.99)

Wii U

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – $11.99 (was $29.95)
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric – $14.99 (was $29.99)
Sonic Lost World – $14.99 (was $29.95)

These deals are valid until 8:59 AM PT / 11:59 AM ET on July 28.

Source: Wii U / 3DS eShops

More: sale, SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog

Pokemon 3DS games and apparel receive big boost in the UK stemming from Pokemon GO

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, Mobile, News | 4 Comments

In the UK, Pokemon is getting a huge sales boost on 3DS thanks to Pokemon GO. GfK numbers from last week show a 145 percent increase in combined sales of previous Pokemon titles on Nintendo’s handheld.

MCV shares the following data about the Pokemon boost:

Top selling Pokemon games for week ending July 16 (sales increase %)

1. Pokémon Alpha Sapphire – 148%
2. Pokémon Omega Ruby – 148%
3. Pokémon X – 238%
4. Pokémon Y – 188%
5. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon – 65%

These five games in total –148%
Pokémon Total – 145%

MCV also heard from licensing sources that Nintendo has raised projections for Sun and Moon. Speaking of those two games, both are among the top ten most pre-ordered games on Amazon.

More: Pokemon, Pokemon GO, sales, UK

Monster Hunter Generations – New 3DS / 3DS frame rate test and analysis

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS, Videos | 2 Comments

Having launched in the west last week, Digital Foundry put up a new video today showing how Monster Hunter Generations stacks up on regular 3DS systems compared to the New 3DS. Both offer the same effects and frame rate for the most part, but the New 3DS does have an advantage with loading times. Watch the full video below.