Consumers can now pre-order the “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag GameStop Edition” which comes with the exclusive in-game content known as “The Black Island Pack”. As the name implies, it can only be found at GameStop.

We’ve personally confirmed with Ubisoft that the GameStop Edition will be available for Wii U. That makes this product one of the first special/collector’s editions for the console.

The Black Island Pack includes:

• The dark and dangerous treasure-hunting quest: Black Island.
• The deadly Black Ship.
• Legendary silver flintlock pistols used by Captain Morgan.
• Valuable multiplayer items including Captain Morgan’s costume, picture, and title.

And here’s a description of the content straight from Ubisoft:

“In Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag’s The Black Island Pack, Captain Morgan’s favorite ship sank off the coast with a full load of legendary sailing equipment. Explore the Black Island and retrieve sought-after treasure to aid you on your adventures.”

Those who pre-order Assassin’s Creed IV from GameStop will also receive a double-sided poster featuring the Bloody Seas Treasure Map and original artwork made by Todd McFarlane. A shot of the poster is posted below:

Source: Ubisoft PR

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag gameplay premiere

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

More Nintendo maintenance taking place over the next two days

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, DS, DSiWare, News, Wii Shop Channel, Wii U, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

Another round of Nintendo maintenance (“extended” this time, not “emergency”!) will be taking place on all of Nintendo’s platforms over the next few days.

The bulk of the downtime is happening today. Each one of Nintendo’s online shops will be down between 12 PM and 6 PM PT. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 will be affected at different parts of the day as well.

Tomorrow’s maintenance is much lighter – only Pokemon Black/White 1/2 will see downtime.

The full schedule is posted below.

UK software sales (Week ending 3/23) – Wii U/3DS-specific charts

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 0 comments

The latest Wii U/3DS-specific UK software sales are as follows:

Wii U

1. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – Capcom
2. Nintendo Land – Nintendo
3. ZombiU – Ubisoft
4. New Super Mario Bros. U – Nintendo
5. Need for Speed: Most Wanted – EA
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – SEGA
7. The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct – Activision
8. Darksiders II – THQ
9. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth – Ubisoft
10. Sports Connection – Ubisoft

3DS

1. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – Capcom
2. New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Nintendo
3. Mario Kart 7 – Nintendo
4. Super Mario 3D Land – Nintendo
5. Paper Mario: Sticker Star – Nintendo
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – SEGA
7. Sonic Generations – SEGA
8. Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask – Nintendo
9. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games – SEGA
10. New Style Boutique – Nintendo

Source: Chart-Track

UK software sales (Week ending 3/23)

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments

Individual formats

LW	TW	Title	Format	Label	Publisher
–	1	GEARS OF WAR: JUDGMENT	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
1	2	TOMB RAIDER	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
–	3	THE WALKING DEAD: SURVIVAL INSTINCT	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3	4	TOMB RAIDER	PS3	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
2	5	GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
5	6	SIMCITY	PC	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–	7	THE WALKING DEAD: SURVIVAL INSTINCT	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
6	8	SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2	XB360	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE
9	9	FIFA 13	XB360	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–	10	MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE	3DS	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
7	11	SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2	PS3	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE
–	12	MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE	WII U	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
12	13	FIFA 13	PS3	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
13	14	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
10	15	FAR CRY 3	XB360	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
28	16	METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE	PS3	KONAMI	KONAMI
11	17	CRYSIS 3	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
14	18	FORZA HORIZON	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
18	19	HALO 4	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
17	20	FAR CRY 3	PS3	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
16	21	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
21	22	ASSASSIN’S CREED III	XB360	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
4	23	STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM	PC	BLIZZARD	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
8	24	THE SIMS 3: UNIVERSITY LIFE	PC	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
15	25	THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	XB360	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
38	26	ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	XB360	SEGA	SEGA
34	27	ASSASSIN’S CREED III	PS3	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
–	28	METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE	XB360	KONAMI	KONAMI
22	29	JUST DANCE 4	WII	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
30	30	FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013	PC	SEGA	SEGA
20	31	HITMAN ABSOLUTION	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
19	32	CRYSIS 3	PS3	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
26	33	NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
37	34	SKYLANDERS GIANTS	WII	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
24	35	GRAND THEFT AUTO IV	XB360	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	TAKE 2
–	36	NINTENDO LAND	WII U	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–	37	ABBA: YOU CAN DANCE	WII	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
27	38	GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
–	39	DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION	XB360	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
23	40	DEAD SPACE 3	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS

All formats

LW	TW	Title	Developer	Label	Publisher
–	1	GEARS OF WAR: JUDGMENT	EPIC GAMES/PEOPLE CAN FLY	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
1	2	TOMB RAIDER	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
–	3	THE WALKING DEAD: SURVIVAL INSTINCT	TERMINAL REALITY	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
6	4	FIFA 13	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
4	5	SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE
2	6	GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION	SCEA SANTA MONICA	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
–	7	MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE	CAPCOM	CAPCOM	CAPCOM
5	8	SIMCITY	MAXIS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
7	9	FAR CRY 3	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
9	10	CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	TREYARCH	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
19	11	METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE	PLATINUMGAMES	KONAMI	KONAMI
8	12	CRYSIS 3	CRYTEK	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
11	13	ASSASSIN’S CREED III	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
13	14	SKYLANDERS GIANTS	TOYS FOR BOB	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
14	15	NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED	CRITERION GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
21	16	ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	SEGA	SEGA
16	17	THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	BETHESDA	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
28	18	SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED	SUMO DIGITAL	SEGA	SEGA
12	19	HITMAN ABSOLUTION	IO INTERACTIVE	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
17	20	LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
18	21	GRAND THEFT AUTO IV	ROCKSTAR NORTH	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	TAKE 2
23	22	FORZA HORIZON	PLAYGROUND GAMES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
27	23	HALO 4	343 INDUSTRIES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
3	24	STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM	BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT	BLIZZARD	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
15	25	DEAD SPACE 3	VISCERAL GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
24	26	JUST DANCE 4	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
10	27	THE SIMS 3: UNIVERSITY LIFE	THE SIMS STUDIO	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
25	28	LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
29	29	DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION	TECHLAND	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
22	30	GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY	ROCKSTAR NORTH	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
34	31	FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013	SPORTS INTERACTIVE	SEGA	SEGA
38	32	MARIO & SONIC LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES	SEGA	SEGA	SEGA
35	33	WWE ’13	YUKE’S	THQ	THQ
26	34	RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY	ROCKSTAR SAN DIEGO	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
–	35	DARKSIDERS II	VIGIL GAMES	THQ	THQ
33	36	SLEEPING DOGS	UNITED FRONT GAMES	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
39	37	DISHONORED	ARKANE STUDIOS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
–	38	BATTLEFIELD 3	DIGITAL ILLUSIONS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–	39	NINTENDO LAND	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–	40	ABBA: YOU CAN DANCE	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT

Source 1, Source 2

February 2013 NPD: Wii U, 3DS software rankings

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 0 comments

Update: Added in 3DS rankings.

New Super Mario Bros. U continued its reign as the best-selling Wii U game in the US last month. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed overtook Scribblenauts Unlimited for the second position, though 5th Cell and Warner Bros.’s third-party effort only dropped down one spot. ZombiU and Call of Duty: Black Ops II round out the top 50 for February.

Here’s the full list:

Wii U

1. New Super Mario Bros. U
2. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
3. Scribblenauts Unlimited
4. ZombiU
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
6. Just Dance 4
7. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
8. Skylanders Giants
9. Epic Mickey; The Power of Two
10. Wipeout
11. Assassin’s Creed III
12. ESPN Sports Connection
13. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
14. SiNG Party
15. Rabbids Land

3DS

1. Fire Emblem Awakening – more than 95k / 117k (not sure if they count bundles or not)
2. New Super Mario Bros. 2 – >10k
3. Paper Mario: Sticker Star – >10k
4. Mario Kart 7 – >10k
5. Super Mario 3D Land – >10k
6. Angry Birds Trilogy – >10k
7. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – >10k
8. Scribblenauts Unlimited – >10k
9. Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan – >10k, less than 15k
10. Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of lllusion – >10k-<15k 11. Wreck-it Ralph – >10k-<15k 12. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The – >10k-<15k 13. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance – >10k-<15k 14. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes – >10k-<15k 15. Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask – >10k-<15k 16. Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage?! – >10k-<15k 17. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games – >10k-<15k

Source

Kamiya reiterates that Bayonetta 2 wouldn’t be possible without Nintendo

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Update: Added in another tweet from Kamiya:

If Nintendo wasn’t around, Bayonetta 2 probably wouldn’t be either. This is something that has, more or less, been stated a few times before, but supervisor Hideki Kamiya – and director of the original game – reiterated the situation on Twitter.

When one fan asked about who came up with the idea to make Bayonetta 2 a Wii U exclusive, Kamiya responded by noting that “There was no way other than that.” Kamiya is saying that the project wouldn’t exist (or perhaps would have been canned) if Nintendo wasn’t involved.

Right. RT @joshawott: Bayonetta 2 wouldn’t even exist without Nintendo’s support, right Mr. Kamiya?
— ???? Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) March 25, 2013

Idea? There was no way other than that. RT @snatch_the_fox: Who’s idea was it to make Bayonetta a Wii U exclusive ?
— ???? Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) March 19, 2013

Thanks to Tim for the tip.

Source

[Video Feature] Eggbusters – New Super Mario Bros. U

Posted on 11 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in Features, Videos, Wii U | 0 comments

A 2D game doesn’t seem like a great candidate for glitches… does it? Turns out that New Super Mario Bros. U has a handful of em to check out, so I tackle two of them in this new episode of Eggbusters. The first glitch doesn’t go quite as planned, but all things considered I’d say that the second one easily makes up for the frustration. Check it out! (pah!)

Artwork courtesy of Andrew Nixon. :]

Nintendo refunds consumers $12 for $60 LEGO City eShop purchases

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

Remember how Wii U users were at first forced to pay $60 for a digital copy of LEGO City: Undercover? It was an error on Nintendo’s part that was quickly fixed, but consumers who did pay the initial amount made out pretty well.

After contacting Nintendo, affected Wii U owners have received a $12 refund on their credit card or eShop account depending on the form of purchase. Additionally, Wii U Deluxe Set owners maintain the extra $10 worth of points in the Digital Deluxe promotion. Not too shabby!

Thanks to Jake for the tip.