Nintendo is introducing a new network structure for Wii U. Announced today during a Japanese presentation, president Satoru Iwata revealed the “Nintendo Network Premium”.

Those who register for the initiative will receive points for their purchases as well as 10% back on digital purchases. Controller stands are included in the package.

Nintendo Network Premium will be carried through December 2014.

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Update: Nintendo published a new page on its Japanese website clearing up a few things. Both bundles include the HDMI cable and AC adapters. The Premium set offers a console stand, GamePad stand set, and Nintendo Network Premium.

After many, many months of speculation, Nintendo has finally started to share launch plans for Wii U.

Japan comes first. During a presentation hosted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata today, it was revealed that the system will be sold in two bundles: a Black 32GB Premium Set (31,500 yen) and White 8GB Basic Set (26,250 yen).

The Premium set comes with the console, GamePad, AC adapters, HDMI, and 32 GB of memory. The Basic option comes with the hardware, a GamePad, and 8GB. Each will be available on December 8.

Stay tuned for US/European launch details. That information should be coming in a few hours.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed a few new Wii U specs during a Japanese presentation today. Much of the information relates to memory and the game discs.

Iwata shared the following information:

– Supports full 1080p
– “GPGPU” used
– Main memory: 1GB
– System memory: 1GB
– Total memory is 2GB
– Games only use 1GB of main memory
– System memory is for the OS
– Can use the browser while playing
– Game discs are 25GB
– Discs run at 22.5 MB/s
– Uses up to 75 watts of electricity
– Typical power usage is 45 watts
– Reconfirmed: import Wii VC and WiiWare games

This one should be on the short-side – looks like it’s only 20 minutes long. It’ll begin in just under a half hour.

You may have come across some speculation on certain publications that Game Boy Advance games could become an official platform for the 3DS Virtual Console. Essentially, the rumor came about when Dr. Mario was shown on Nintendo of Australia’s website as a GBA game that would be released soon on the eShop.

This was, in reality, nothing more than an error. The Dr. Mario entry was intended to be for the Game Boy version, which is already out on the eShop.

Nintendo of Australia said in a statement:

“Nintendo Australia would like to confirm the recent update to the website highlighting Game Boy Advance titles are available on Nintendo eShop was posted in error. Nintendo Australia can confirm there are no current plans for Game Boy Advance games to be released on Virtual Console for Nintendo 3DS. We would also like to confirm Dr. Mario is available as a Game Boy title on Virtual Console via Nintendo eShop. We would like to apologise for any confusion this has caused. Game Boy Advance games on the Nintendo 3DS of course remain for all Ambassadors, this hasn’t changed.”

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No, this isn’t Wii U news, but it’s big news nonetheless!

According to the latest CoroCoro, Pokemon: Mysterious Dungeon: Magnagate and the Infinite Labrynth is in the works for the 3DS. The fully-3D game has you playing as a character who turns into Pikachu after falling into a dream. Oshawott, Axew, Snivy and Tepig will be available as partner Pokemon. Fans can expect Unova Pokemon to make an appearance, including Gurdurr, Hydreigon and Virizion.

Dunsparce hands out quest requests. Cofagrigus runs a store. Also confirmed is that Rampardos runs the Treasure Store. Kecleon is back as well and he’ll run a general goods store.

Take a look at the first “scans” of Pokemon: Mysterious Dungeon: Magnagate and the Infinite Labrynth above.

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Here’s a quick rundown of the Wii U events happening today:

3:00 AM ET / 12:00 AM PT – Japanese presentation; Japanese release date and price, other news
10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT – Conference in New York City; US release date and price, other news
10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT – Nintendo Direct for Europe; European release date and price, other news (Australian event planned as well)
10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT – Nintendo Direct presentation for Japan – first/third-party games overview

Assuming I’m not dead, I’ll try to cover as much of these events as possible. We should be fine for the first Japanese presentation, but the three events happening at 10:00 AM could be tricky…

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon will be one of tomorrow’s digital downloads for North America. It will go live as a 3DS Virtual Console release on the eShop at 12 PM ET.

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Platforming Fans: You have a new game to buy. I’m not kidding either.

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MegaMan 2 was a game I grew up on. I never beat it as a kid- it would be ten years until that accomplishment- but I played it more than any other NES title I owned, plowing through the harrowing platforming puzzles, dodging beams of light on FlashMan’s stage, and cursing (as good as any 6 year old could, anyhow) at the frustrating spikes scattered about BubbleMan’s underwater fortress. By age 8 I had beaten every robot master thirty times over, and though I never defeated Wily himself, I got as close as anyone else my age.

I was- and still consider myself to be- a very skilled platformer.

It is with great consideration, then, that I concede (temporary) defeat in front of the latest game I have had the pleasure of reviewing. That game is ‘Fractured Soul’, a dual-screen platformer from the makers of nothing you’ve likely heard of. If you want to know more about the developer, you can read my interview with them here. If you want to know more about my concession to ‘Fractured Soul’?

Simply hit the break and I’ll tell you all about it.

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Who’s up for a few more screenshots of New Super Mario Bros. U?

Thanks to Quorf for the tip.