Rumor has it that Nintendo is looking into forming ties with a variety of partners for digital distribution on Wii U. In doing so, it would appear that the company has interest in making the console a media entertainment device that goes far beyond what we saw on Wii – it’d be more like what Microsoft is offering with the Xbox 360.
Adweek claims that the company held discussions with “a select number of top content companies” at CES last month “including multiple cable networks and Web video producers”. Sports, music, television, and other entertainment content would be involved in these plans.
One of Adweek’s sources says that “This is very preliminary. It could go nowhere.”
Meanwhile, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter has already weighed in on the rumor:
“I don’t know if they have the chops to pull it off. I don’t think game publishers are going to support it (the console).”
The 3DS’ library of games continues to expand…
Critically Acclaimed Stealth-Action Title Comes to Nintendo 3DS™
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – February 21, 2012 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D for the portable Nintendo 3DS™ system is now available. METAL GEAR SOLID fans can now explore the immersive jungle setting as it comes to life using the Nintendo 3DS glasses-free 3D imaging system.
Set during the Cold War of the 60s METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D sees series hero Snake infiltrating the Soviet jungle to bring back a scientist being held against his will. Beginning on the outskirts of a military base, the player must use Snake’s stealth skills along with the foliage and shade that the jungle offers as cover to infiltrate unseen. As the game progresses, old faces make unwelcome appearances and a series of terrifying boss characters must be defeated before leading up to a dramatic twist that brings Snake face to face with a key figure from his past.
Aksys Games’ teased an upcoming reveal for the latest issue of Nintendo Power. The magazine is finally arriving in subscribers’ mailboxes, and we now know that it contains a confirmation of Extreme Escape Adventures: Good People Die for North America. Aksys will be bringing the game stateside this year.
A final release date hasn’t been announced. Furthermore, Aksys hasn’t settled on a final English name yet.
At least we can rest easy knowing we’ll be getting the game in a few months time!
As far as we know, David Franco is a freelancer in the video game industry. Having said that, it seems that all of his previous work has been for 5th Cell, the developer behind the Scribblenauts and Drawn to Life titles.
So why is this information useful? Well, it looks like 5th Cell might be making a launch title for Wii U.
Franco listed the following games as projects he’s worked on in the past:
LATEST TITLES:
Drawn to Life, Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter, Lock’s Quest, Scribblenauts, Super Scribblenauts, Hybrid, Unannounced Wii U launch title.
Given Franco’s history with 5th Cell, one would think that the mysterious “Unannounced Wii U launch title” is being made by the studio.
Update: Added in another photo.
Nintendo of America posted the photo above to their Facebook page a short while ago. Additionally, the company wrote the following:
“?#Regginator himself was spotted getting ready to make some announcements. Stay tuned on this page tomorrow for the latest and the greatest!”
So… there will be announcements then? Nintendo Direct presentations have mainly been about games that have already been revealed. Maybe tomorrow’s show will be slightly more special than normal. We’ll see…
Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts blog has detailed some of 3D’s “Memoir” menu functions.
The new information is as follows:
– Kingdom Hearts 3D has a “Memoir” menu
– This menu contains tutorial, game help, recollections, and chronicle options
– Tutorial: mini tutorials designed to teach the controls as you play
– Options include Free Flow Action, Reality Shift, Link with Spirit options
– Recollections: shows a look back at the happenings of the game
– Chronicle: shows a look back at all the past games in the series
– In Chronicle, you can see a summary of the stories of Birth By Sleep, Kingdom Hearts, 358/2 Days, etc.
– Pre-launch event on March 3
– Event will take place somewhere in Tokyo
You can find a couple of Memoir menu screenshots above.
Thanks to 4Him for the tip!
Japan gets a different Swapnote relating to tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct. President Satoru Iwata sent out the following message to fans (in Japanese obviously):
