Sales of the 3DS have surpassed 15 million units in the United States, Nintendo announced today. In doing so, it’s become the eighth system in the company’s history to reach this feat.
Super Mario 3D Land, Pokemon X, Pokemon y, Mario Kart 7, and Super Smash Bros. for 3DS have all sold more than 2 million copies in the U.S.
Nintendo says that, through the first six months of 2015, 3DS hardware sales have risen by more than 50 percent over sales in the same period in 2014. The system’s growth comes in large part due to the launch of the New 3DS XL, which shipped in mid-February.
Nintendo has sold nearly 270 million units of hardware since the NES debuted in the fall of 1985 – almost 145 million units of handhelds, and another 125 million home console units.
Head past the break to read up on today’s announcement in full.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is now the most funded video game on Kickstarter. The previous record holder was RPG Torment: Tides of Numenera, which collected over $4.1 million in April 2013. Bloodstained currently sits at over $4.2 million with about 1.5 days remaining.
Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has sometimes been accused of playing favorites when it comes to the roster. These people aren’t pleased with the strength of characters such as Kirby/Pit, and feel that they have higher strength because Sakurai created them.
In his latest Famitsu column, Sakurai addressed these accusations head on, stating:
“With Smash Bros., every now and then someone will vent their misplaced anger towards me. They say that I ‘prioritize the strength and playability’ of characters that I’ve created.”
“First off, what merit is there for me to play favorites with characters I worked on? To bring up an example, two characters I have trouble with and can’t use very well are Pit and Palutena. Therefore, for me, I feel that ‘Pit and Palutena are weaker than the average character.’ If I were to adjust them to fit myself, they would become even stronger – but as you may notice, I haven’t.”
While Sakurai is one of the developers behind the character balance in Smash Bros., there’s also a monitor team that offers a separate perspective on his decisions and that any adjustments that do not fit with their input is not implemented. He also say that he and the team do their best to maintain game balance, but different factors can affect how a game will play.
Specifically regarding Kirby’s move that lets him turn into a rock and drop on other players, Sakurai mentioned that the despite its usefulness, Kirby becomes immobile during transformation and open to attack when transforming back. That makes it a difficult strategy to use against experienced players.
Sakurai’s column ends with a mention that fun comes first, and Smash Bros. is ultimately balanced so that mid-ranged players can enjoy it. He said: “The game is essentially made as a ‘fun party game.’”
Additional videos have been uploaded to YouTube showing the new Kelp Dome map in Splatoon. You can watch three new ones below.
Comcept and Inti Creates have decided to share a few details about their upcoming multi-platform title, Mighty No.9. Although the new details are light at this time, they have listed out some of the details by console and here is what we know so far:
Wii U
The version available will have GamePad support, but no motion control, amiibo, or Miiverse support. The details for the Classic Controller are unknown yet and are listed as TBC.
3DS
The 3DS version will be 3D enabled, as well as have Touch screen support. However it appears that there will be no SpotPass, StreetPass, or Mii support, and as with the Wii U version no amiibo.
Keep in mind some of these details could change once the game has launched, so we will keep you posted as more information is released.
This week’s Wii U eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Splatoon
2. Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition
3. The Fall
4. Stealth Inc 2
5. Sportsball
6. OlliOlli
7. SteamWorld Dig
8. Runner2
9. Super Mario 64
10. Cube Life: Island Survival
11. Paper Mario
12. Don’t Starve: Giant Edition
13. Donkey Kong 64
14. Super Mario World
15. EarthBound
16. Super Mario Bros. 3
17. Super Metroid
18. Zelda: A Link to the Past
19. Super Mario Bros.
20. Mario Party 10
Videos
1. Splatoon Direct 5/7/15
2. Splatoon amiibo Trailer
3. Nintendo Direct 6/1/15
4. Cube Life: Island Survival Trailer
5. Splatoon Extended Cut
6. Get Ready for E3
7. LEGO Jurassic World Announcement Trailer
8. Play Nintendo Introduction Video
9. Nintendo Minute – AMAZE-Ink May Splatoon Turf War
10. LEGO Dimensions Announce Video
11. Don’t Starve: Giant Edition Trailer
12. Don’t Starve: Giant Edition Trailer 2
13. Splatoon Single Player Spot
14. Yoshi’s Woolly World E3 2014 Trailer
15. Mario Party 10 Launch Trailer
16. Super Mario 64 Trailer
17. Adventures of Pip Trailer
18. Nintendo Minute – Mario Party 10 with Lamarr Wilson
19. Nintendo Minute – AMAZE-Ink May Splatoon Battle Dojo
20. Great Games to Buy with eShop Cards
Source: Wii U eShop
It’s a double dose of Monster Hunter updates today. Along with new screenshots from Monster Hunter X, Capcom has shared more images from Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village DX as well. Those screenshots are posted below.
This week’s video additions to the Wii U/3DS eShops are as follows:
Wii U
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Announcement Trailer
LEGO Jurassic World Trailer
Comic Workshop 2 Trailer
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate June DLC Pack Trailer
Adventures of Pip Launch Trailer
3DS
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Announcement Trailer
LEGO Jurassic World Trailer
Comic Workshop 2 Trailer
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate June DLC Pack Trailer
Adventures of Pip Launch Trailer
G.G Series Wonderland Trailer
Source: Wii U/3DS eShops
This week’s 3DS eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Mighty Switch Force!
2. Woah Dave!
3. OlliOlli
4. SteamWorld Dig
5. Gunman Clive
6. Moon Chronicles
7. Mario Kart 7
8. Puzzle & Dragons + Super Mario Bros. Edition
9. Super Mario Bros. 3
10. Cave Story
11. Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
12. Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure
13. Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures
14. The Legend of Zelda
15. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
16. Shovel Knight
17. Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains
18. Animal Crossing: New Leaf
19. Cube Creator 3D
20. Super Mario Bros.
Videos
1. Nintendo Direct 6/1/15
2. Stretchmo Trailer
3. Pokemon Rumble World Trailer
4. Get Ready for E3
5. Splatoon Direct – 5/7/15
6. Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains Full Trailer
7. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition Trailer
8. Bravest Warriors – Catbug
9. Splatoon “Splat the World” Commercial
10. Bravest Warriors – Time Slime
11. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Mewtwo Strikes Back
12. Dinosaur Office – Computer Problems
13. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition Trailer 2
14. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Lucas Comes Out of Nowhere
15. Cube Creator 3D Trailer
16. Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven Trailer
17. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition Accolades
18. Dinosaur Office – The Beginning
19. Mario Kart 7 Video
20. Super Smash Bros. Mii Fighters Suit Up for Wave One
Source: 3DS eShop
Following the most recent Japanese Nintendo Direct, Battle Cats came to the 3DS eShop. Footage from the game is posted below.
