Fire Emblem: Awakening’s first downloadable content will be free for the first month of availability. Nintendo delivered a SpotPass notification stating that the “Champions of Yore 1” DLC will be available at no cost until March 6. After this date, it’ll cost $2.50.

Runner 2 submitted to Nintendo

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

Runner 2 developer Gaijin Games confirmed on its blog today that it has submitted the game to Nintendo. The team initially encountered “a bug that we absolutely couldn’t ship with.” While the fix wasn’t easy, Gaijin eventually “uploaded to Nintendo with confidence”.

Last we heard, Runner 2 should be out on the Wii U eShop this spring. It’s likely coming sooner rather than later given how the title has already been submitted.

Source

Costco: Wii U Deluxe Set for $300, Basic Set for $245

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

Costco is currently selling both Wii U models are a fairly significant discount. Consumers can purchase the Deluxe Set for $299.97 or the Basic Set for $244.97. You’d be saving around $50 with either model.

3DS receives new Fire Emblem: Awakening puzzle

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

Nintendo is celebrating the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening with a new StreetPass Mii Plaza puzzle. 3DS owners should be receiving a SpotPass notification about the news.

Visit the StreetPass Mii Plaza to begin filling the new puzzle. You can find it under Puzzle Swap in the “Play” section.

Iwata implies he may resign over poor sales performance

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

Satoru Iwata has been Nintendo’s corporate president and CEO for over a decade. But if the company can’t reach a goal of 100 billion yen in operating income for the next fiscal year, Iwata has hinted that he may be willing to step down.

Iwata noted during an analysts’ meeting earlier today:

“We feel greatly accountable for this severe outlook. …we plan to actively release our key titles for Nintendo 3DS which could potentially lead the markets this year.”

Iwata was later asked how he would take responsibility if the goal is not met. In response, he said:

“Please understand that [achieving it] is my commitment.”

Source 1, Source 2, Via

Nintendo restructure will help avoid software lineup shortages, other benefits

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

Nintendo’s upcoming restructure is a massive undertaking. A single development department will be created from a nearly 300 combined employees. But the payoff will be worth it.

As noted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata to investors, in 2012, “we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms.” Nintendo won’t be integrating its handhelds and consoles, but it hopes to “integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform.”

The benefits of restructuring also extend directly to gamers. Once the new division is in place, Nintendo will be able to “avoid software lineup shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware.”

Wii U Internet-connection rate stands at 74%

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

Much like the 3DS, Wii U is experiencing a rather high Internet-connection rate. Speaking with investors during Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing, president Satoru Iwata said the ratio is up to 74 percent. Nearly three out of every four systems have already connected online.

“The Wii U is a game console you can enjoy most with the Internet connection and the current Internet-Connection ratio is 74%, which means that almost three of four consoles have been online already. This is clearly higher than the previous hardware system we released. We will continue to inform our consumers about the advantages of using the Wii U consoles online to further increase this ratio.”

Source

Iwata on third-party collaborations for Wii U, willing to actively team up with partners

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

Nintendo announced a completely unexpected title during last week’s Nintendo Direct: Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem. Atlus and Nintendo are bringing the two legendary franchises together on Wii U.

During the Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata briefly talked about the rise of console development costs and the need to strengthen its lineup through partnerships. Iwata once again spoke about this subject during Nintendo’s financial results briefing today, stating that the company is “willing to actively cooperate with software developers to produce something new beyond the traditional licensing business.”

Iwata said:

3DS sees high connection rate, new 3DS StreetPass features coming this year

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

Never before has a portable system achieved the same kind of Internet-connection rate success as the 3DS. According to Satoru Iwata, over 80 percent of system owners in Japan and the US have ventured online. At one point in 2012, the rate was only hovering at around 60 percent.

The 3DS is also seeing success when it comes to StreetPass – well, in Japan and Europe. Gamers in Japan continue to use the social element, and Iwata says that it has started “gradually become popular in the metropolitan areas of European countries.” In order to increase StreetPass’ appeal, Nintendo will introduce new features this year.

Nintendo willing to help Japanese third-parties release 3DS games overseas

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

Western third-party support of handheld development has dropped off, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. Studios aren’t making as many portable titles as compared to the time of the DS.

That being said, Japanese companies are more involved than ever with 3DS game-making. Nintendo plans “to more actively support the Japanese software developers in distributing their key titles overseas this year.” Iwata specifically pointed to Professor Layton as a series that Nintendo has published in the west and said the that company will “increase the number of such games for the U.S. market as well as in Europe.”

Finally, Iwata expressed openness in working with third-party developers in releasing their games overseas. Maybe they’ll give Square Enix a kick in the butt when it comes to Bravely Default?

Recently, third-party software developers overseas have been inclined to focus on mega-hit titles for home consoles and have had less of their development studios develop software for handheld devices. Some developers, which make game content suitable for children, work on titles for Nintendo 3DS, but they are not as active as the time of Nintendo DS.
On the other hand, as the handheld devices occupy a large share of the video game market and software for handheld devices is important in the video game business in Japan, Japanese software developers are eagerly assigning their top teams to develop key titles for Nintendo 3DS.
We therefore plan to more actively support the Japanese software developers in distributing their key titles overseas this year.
Among those third-party titles both developed and published in Japan, there have been some games which Nintendo published in Europe, including the Professor Layton series. We will increase the number of such games for the U.S. market as well as in Europe. We are also willing to flexibly assist third-party developers in distributing their valuable games overseas.