Nintendo Everything

When you think about it, the fact that Nintendo allowed Next Level Games to make Super Mario Strikers was somewhat unexpected. The studio was a bit unproven at the time yet the Big N nonetheless allowed the developer to get its hands on some of the company’s most-beloved characters.

You might be wondering: how did Next Level’s partnership with Nintendo begin? It was actually the initiative on the part of Next Level that got the ball rolling. The team first decided to make a Mario soccer demo “with no direction from Nintendo”.

Read on below for comments from Next Level Games discussing how Mario Strikers as well as Punch-Out!! came to be.

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Not much has been said about the Wii U version of Project Cards, but it sounds like it’ll be a fairly competent version.

Developer Slightly Mad Studios is looking to achieve a resolution of 720p while maintaining 30 FPS. While some may have hoped for a higher resolution or FPS count, the company is assuring that the game will “look and feel amazing”.

Creative director Andy Tudor, in an interview with NowGamer, said:

“We always prefer to aim for 30fps generally in order to keep gameplay-specific features like having more cars on track or better weather effects etc. So that’s standard across all consoles, and we’re more likely to utilize the native 720p support of the Wii U for launch especially since our physics and rendering systems demand a lot of processing power in order to deliver a truly next-gen experience. All you need to know is that when you get the game, it’ll look and feel amazing and you’ll want to show it off to your friends.”

Source

Back in December, we finally received a confirmation that F1 Race Stars would be heading to Wii U. A newly outed boxart reveals that Codemasters will be bringing “Powered Up Edition” to the console.

This new version of F1 Race Stars will include all four DLC tracks – Europe, Canada, India, and China – along with nine accessory pack bundles. It’s currently unknown if Codemasters will be cramming in any additional content on Wii U.

We originally heard that F1 Race Stars was intended to ship on March 1. That day has obviously passed, so we’ll have to wait for a new date from Codemasters.

Source

Individual formats

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

All formats

LW		TW			Title	Developer	Label	Publisher
1		1			TOMB RAIDER	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
–		2			GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION	SCEA SANTA MONICA	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
–		3			STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM	BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT	BLIZZARD	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
–		4			SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE	CITY INTERACTIVE
2		5			SIMCITY	MAXIS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
5		6			FIFA 13	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
8		7			FAR CRY 3	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
6		8			CRYSIS 3	CRYTEK	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
7		9			CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II	TREYARCH	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
4		10			THE SIMS 3: UNIVERSITY LIFE	THE SIMS STUDIO	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
11		11			ASSASSIN’S CREED III	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
14		12			HITMAN ABSOLUTION	IO INTERACTIVE	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
13		13			SKYLANDERS GIANTS	TOYS FOR BOB	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
12		14			NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED	CRITERION GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
19		15			DEAD SPACE 3	VISCERAL GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
10		16			THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	BETHESDA	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
16		17			LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
18		18			GRAND THEFT AUTO IV	ROCKSTAR NORTH	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	TAKE 2
9		19			METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE	PLATINUMGAMES	KONAMI	KONAMI
3		20			NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 3	CYBERCONNECT2	NAMCO BANDAI GAMES	NAMCO BANDAI GAMES
15		21			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	SEGA	SEGA
22		22			GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY	ROCKSTAR NORTH	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
20		23			FORZA HORIZON	PLAYGROUND GAMES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
23		24			JUST DANCE 4	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
21		25			LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
26		26			RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY	ROCKSTAR SAN DIEGO	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
17		27			HALO 4	343 INDUSTRIES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
24		28			SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED	SUMO DIGITAL	SEGA	SEGA
36		29			DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION	TECHLAND	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
35		30			THE SIMS 3	THE SIMS STUDIO	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
25		31			FORZA MOTORSPORT 4	TURN 10 STUDIOS	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
33		32			HITMAN: HD TRILOGY	IO INTERACTIVE	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
31		33			SLEEPING DOGS	UNITED FRONT GAMES	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
29		34			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013	SPORTS INTERACTIVE	SEGA	SEGA
34		35			WWE ’13	YUKE’S	THQ	THQ
28		36			NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
37		37			PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2013	KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT	KONAMI	KONAMI
27		38			MARIO & SONIC LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES	SEGA	SEGA	SEGA
30		39			DISHONORED	ARKANE STUDIOS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS	BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
40		40			GRAN TURISMO 5 ACADEMY EDITION	POLYPHONY DIGITAL	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.

Source 1, Source 2

Nintendo has confirmed a European release date for LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins. The game will be available on April 26 – 5 days after the North American launch. Chase Begin’s Wii U counterpart releases in Europe on May 28, as previously announced.

Source: Nintendo PR

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon has fairly extensive download play features. After a host connects with other 3DS users, players can hop online or participate in games locally. In other words, the host isn’t needed, and players can continue playing even with a copy of the title.

Any limitations to the feature are currently not known. Even if there are any, this is still a pretty neat inclusion.

Source

LEGO City: Undercover has now launched in North America, meaning you can purchase the game on the Wii U eShop if you so please. There’s just one caveat: the game costs $10 more than most retailers are selling it for.

If you want a digital copy of LEGO City, you’ll need to fork over $60. Meanwhile, retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop are selling the game for $50.

It’s unclear why there is a price increase on the eShop, but keep that information in mind if you plan on making a digital purchase.

This week’s European Nintendo Downloads are as follows:

Wii U retail

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – €59.99 / £49.99
Need for Speed: Most Wanted U – €59.99 / £49.99

Additional Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate content – Nintendo eShop from 22/3/13

Wii U (Download) – Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Packet Relay Tools for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS (Download) – Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Data Transfer Program

Wii U VC

Punch-Out!! – €0.30 / £0.30 (runs at 60Hz)

Wii U sales

ZombiU – €34.99, was €69.99 (£29.99, was £54.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Assassin’s Creed III – €29.99, was €69.99 (£29.99, was £54.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Just Dance 4 – €24.99, was €49.99 (£19.99, was £39.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth – €24.99, was €49.99 (£19.99, was £39.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Rabbids Land – €24.99, was €49.99 (£19.99, was £39.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Sports Connection – €24.99, was €49.99 (£19.99, was £39.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (Ubisoft) – €24.99, was €49.99 (£19.99, was £39.99) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST
Little Inferno – €4.99, was €9.99 (£4.99, was £8.99) – Until 24/3/13, 23:59 CEST

3DS sale

Pokedex 3D Pro – €11.99, was €14.99 (£10.79, was £13.49) – Until 4/4/13, 14:59 CEST

3DS retail

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – €44.99/£39.99
My Foal 3D – €29.99/£24.99

3DS demo

HarmoKnight

Video download

The Beet Party: Call Me Aneek Neek – €0.99 / £0.89

DSiWare

Bloons TD4 – €4.99 / £4.49

Source: Nintendo PR