3DS owners can now update their systems to version 4.5.0-10. Fortunately, the download doesn’t take nearly as long as the Wii U’s new firmware.
The update is fairly minor. As with Wii U, the upgraded 3DS firmware offers improved system stability. There are also minor adjustments that improve the user experience.
Nintendo has released the first firmware update for Wii U following launch, and it comes in at nearly 600MB. The download makes additional improvements to the overall stability of the console, and other minor adjustments have been implemented. Once applied, the system will be upgraded to version 2.1.0.
The strange this is, despite how minor the update seems, users are reporting that the download is taking an incredibly long time to finish up and install.
The graphic pictured above is the entire release schedule for Japanese Nintendo games in January. Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 is the only title confirmed for release next month. And that’s across all of Nintendo’s platforms – Wii U, 3DS, DS, and Wii.
That’s kind of crazy knowing that the schedule includes first and third-party releases. Where are the games, Nintendo?! Maybe we’ll see some release date announcements tomorrow through Nintendo Direct?
And there’s the Japanese Nintendo Direct we’ve been waiting for! NCL has confirmed that a presentation will be shown at 6 AM EST / 3 AM PST tomorrow.
Japan’s broadcast joins the previously-announced North American and European presentations. The latter two streams will be held at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST.
You’ll be able to watch the Japanese event directly on Nintendo Everything. Alternatively, you can visit the official page. Japan’s broadcast will cover the upcoming Wii U launch, and presumably games that are on the horizon.
Nintendo’s different online shops are experiencing maintenance today. The Wii U and 3DS eShops, Wii Shop Channel, and DSi shop are all seeing downtime. Maintenance will be completed by 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST.
Could this be related to tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct? Or is this just routine stuff?
If you’re a core gamer, I can’t see this video explaining anything you didn’t already know. Parents could certainly learn a thing or two, though.
Have you heard about Twilight Symphony? It’s a 3-disc orchestral rearrangement of music consisting of pieces from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Originally, the soundtrack was expected to be with fans by November. Orders were never sent, however.
Orders were pushed back for one important reason: Nintendo got involved Twilight Symphony. Zelda Reorchestrated has revealed that Nintendo took interest in the initiative and decided to lend a hand rather than going after the project with their lawyers.
An email from Zelda Reorchestrated reads:
Some of the top people at Nintendo have taken notice of the project and have become involved in an advisory capacity. This is the largest fan-project of its kind, and the first time that a lot of this material will be legally available to the public beyond the game that made it popular.
Nintendo wants to make sure our entire project is consistent with their brand identity. Joypad Records is currently working with Nintendo’s head of copyright to make sure that this release complies with their wishes, above and beyond what is required by law. However, most of the changes Nintendo has asked us to incorporate are cosmetic, and should not affect the audio quality or physical packaging of Twilight Symphony as originally advertised.
Because of this, discs aren’t expected to be finalized, pressed, and shipped until early-to-mid December. Unfortunately this also impacts the digital release, so we are unable to distribute the digital album until we receive the green light from Nintendo. Fear not! Pre-order customers are still alotted a download code for the digital album, which you will recieve by e-mail, before the physical albums ship! The time frame has simply shifted. We hope that you now understand why.
Those who payed for a copy of Twilight Symphony can now expect their orders before December 25. International orders could take slightly longer to arrive. The digital release will launch on the Joypad Records website, and through iTunes.
“It is a challenging market, and challenging in a number of ways. From a gameplay immersiveness standpoint, from price point and business model standpoint, I mean it’s $40 for some of those games and you can get great experiences – not necessarily comparable experience, but great nonetheless – for seven dollars on a tablet. Our relationships with Sony and Nintendo are important and we continue to support them by creating games on both [Vita and 3DS] platforms. Beyond that the market’s going to speak ultimately as to the viability of those products.” – Activision’s Vice President of Mobile Development, Greg Canessa
Well, I think the market is speaking fairly strongly on the issue! The 3DS just recently surpassed the lifetime sales of the Gamecube (yes, after just two and a half years being out), it’s halfway to meeting the lifetime sales of the SNES, and two-thirds of the way to meeting the N64’s lifetime sales. On top of that, it’s still outselling the original DS on a week-to-week basis!
Vita isn’t doing so hot, but I think the 3DS’ performance alone speaks to how healthy/unhealthy the portable gaming market is.
