Patents sometimes come and go. That’s exactly what happened with an idea Nintendo reserved over two decades ago, which is rather reminiscent of Super Mario Maker.

In 1994, Nintendo registered a U.S. patent for a “Video game/videographics program editing apparatus with program halt and data transfer features”. This would let users pause the gameplay and edit parts through a streamlined UI. Players would not need any knowledge of programming – just like Super Mario Maker.

In the patent description, there are various tidbits about the standalone hardware’s potential functions. These include changing the amount of items and behavior of enemies, rearranging level designs, resuming gameplay after editing, and saving the revised game. One portion of the patent mentions exchanging user-generated content via a telephone line as well. If given the right tools, players could even come up with their own gaming experience with the hardware.

It’s definitely an interesting concept, but one that never made it to market. You can see the original patent in full here.

Source

European Wii U owners have been waiting quite some time for Adventures of Pip. Good news: it’s finally due out next week. A listing on the eShop indicates the game will be available on January 21.

Source

More: Adventures of Pip, Europe, indie

The Play Nintendo YouTube account just published another video to promote Yo-kai Watch. View the “Roughraff Yard Work” clip below.

More: Level-5, Yo-kai Watch

A demo for Hyrule Warriors Legends is on the way to Japan. Actually, those who have picked up this month’s CoroCoro can use a QR code for early access. It’s expected that the download will be available to everyone in the very near future.

Based on early reports, the Hyrule Warriors Legends demo includes the first mission (Hyrule Field). Link, Zelda, and Impa are all playable. The demo can also be started 30 times.

Source, Source 2

More: demo, Hyrule Warriors Legends, Koei Tecmo, Omega Force, Team Ninja

Additional information from the December NPD report has emerged. We have sales for two Wii U titles that debuted in North America, plus lifetime sales for a bunch of 3DS and Wii U titles.

Leaks from NPD reveal that Xenoblade Chronicles X sold over 200,000 copies in the United States last month. Devil’s Third, on the other hand, had sales over 3,000 units. Neither figure includes digital sales.

The same source has also come through with lifetime sales figures for a multitude of 3DS and Wii U titles. The lineup includes Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (almost at 1 million), Yo-kai Watch, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Splatoon, Yoshi’s Woolly World, Shovel Knight, and more. Head past the break for the full list.

Read More

More: Devil's Third, NPD, sales, top, Xenoblade Chronicles X

The Nintendo UK store is now taking pre-orders for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. Reserve the game here. Various options are available, including the standalone game, bundle with the amiibo/T-shirt, and more.

Source

More: pre-order, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, UK

Another round of Pokken Tournament screenshots have come in showing characters such as Chandelure. Check them out below.

Source

More: Bandai Namco, Pokken Tournament

Following today’s release date announcement, the European boxart for Pokken Tournament has been made available. We’ve attached it above.

More: Bandai Namco, boxart, Pokken Tournament

Tatsumi Kimishima, the new president of Nintendo, outlined his plans for 2016 in the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper. Dr. Serkan Toto was kind enough to share an overview.

Here are the key points:

– Wants to surprise fans with new ideas rather than building on old ones
– Nintendo will in 2016 release “details” on the NX
– Kimishima claims the expansion to smartphones and theme parks, but also to movies and TV anime (via character licensing) is progressing
– Believes it’s vital for Nintendo to experiment with new business models
– First smartphone app reconfirmed for launch in March
– Smartphone apps with Nintendo’s famous characters promised for 2016
– He wants to bring the company’s financials to a new level
– The plan is to bring profits to 100 billion yen ($855 million) in “several years”
– This would be 4 times of last year’s profit

Source

More: Tatsumi Kimishima, top

Update 2: Added in the official announcement after the break.

Update: How’s this for a quick update? It’s confirmed for March 18 as well. It’ll be a worldwide release!

Pokken Tournament is launching in North America very soon. On Twitter, the official Pokemon account passed along a final date: March 18. The game was previously only said to be coming in spring.

Japan is actually getting Pokken Tournament on the same day. As for Europe, it’s coming sometime in spring.

Read More

More: Bandai Namco, Pokken Tournament, top