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Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 56 Comments

Update (11/29): Bumped to the top. Target’s press release clears up that Wii U was actually the #1 best-selling item on its website during Thanksgiving.

Original (11/27): Wii U sold extremely well at one North American retailer during Thanksgiving yesterday. Business Insider reports that the console, along with the iPad and iPad Watch, helped Target achieve its biggest online shopping day ever.

“Demand outpaced 2014’s record Thanksgiving performance, making it Target’s biggest day for online sales yet,” Target said in an official statement.

Nintendo brought out a new Wii U bundle for the holidays which comes with pre-installed copies of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Splatoon. At Target, the bundle has been available for just $250.

Source

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Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 4 Comments

Japanese outlet Game Watch interviewed Shigesato Itoi at an Earthbound event in Japan. The discussion has since been translated by Tuxedo Unmasked.

We’ve posted some of Itoi’s comments below. He addressed Earthbound’s continued popularity, Mother 4, Iwata’s passing, and several other topics. If interested, you can also read the full interview here.

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Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 22 Comments

Eurogamer published a new feature today about Monolith Soft and studio head Tetsuya Takahashi. You can read the full thing at this link, but we’ll be sharing some of it here as well.

With Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii, the team encountered some issues and were in danger of missing the launch deadline. But Nintendo producer Hitoshi Yamagami swooped in and assisted Takahashi in getting things back on track.

The situation was different with Xenoblade Chronicles X, as Takahashi explained:

“We wanted to achieve something that was more about us as Monolith Soft being able to create an open world system, to implement online features, and to transition into the high definition era. With that game we’d learned how to create locations that are fun to explore on a budget. If we had no restrictions at all in terms of costs, then for example we could easily make a varied and interesting map simply by creating textures and models for four or five different to use in a single 20km squared area. But within restrictions we had the difficult task of creating varied and fun locations using just the textures and models for a single kind of environment.”

Takahashi also mentioned also said that lessons were learned when making Xenoblade Chronicles. Monolith Soft was able to achieve its goals despite certain restrictions it put on itself, such as not using middleware to increase the speed of production.

Head past the break for a few more comments from Takahashi.

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More: interview, Monolith Soft, Tetsuya Takahashi, top, Xenoblade Chronicles X

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 2 Comments

Last month’s issue of GamesTM has a very interesting feature on the making of Excitebike 64. We encourage you to pick up the magazine to read it in full, though we wanted to share some of the information and comments here.

Excitebike 64 was the next title from Left Field Productions following the Nintendo-published NBA Courtside. Several ideas were pitched, many of which were focused around sports given the studio’s specialty in the genre. The possibility of a motocross game was flying about in part due to a few producers at Left Field enjoying it, and that’s what was ultimately selected.

Henry Sterchi, a producer from Nintendo working on the title, mentioned to GamesTM that Excitebike 64 began “as a more traditional motocross game”. However, as ideas were being prototyped and mechanics were being worked on, Left Field came up with an idea of developing a sequel to the NES classic. It was eventually proposed to Nintendo, who approved it soon after.

Sterchi told GamesTM:

“Excitebike 64 started out as a more traditional motocross game to prove out the core engine, handling and basic play. The handling was physics-driven and realistic, but I wouldn’t have called it a technical simulation. We did try some real-time track deformation such as tyre ruts, but it was abandoned because it wasn’t that fun and quite a technical drain.”

“We’d already discussed and prototyped the thing we wanted around the turbo mechanic and track designs in order for it to be an authentic Excitebike experience, so it was always the hope that they’d go for it and if it didn’t work out, it was ready to stand on its own as a more traditional motocross racer.”

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 3 Comments

Super Mario Maker has added another official level from Nintendo in Event Course titled “NES Remix”. Upon completion, players can unlock the Frog Mario costume. You can see the new outfit in action below.

Here’s an overview of NES Remix:

“Become the world’s greatest NES master! In the NES Remix series, a variety of classic Nintendo Entertainment System games are given a new lease on life. This course gives you a taste of the Remix Stages from that series, where you can play old games with a new twist! Enjoy rushing ahead with a Super Star or experiencing a course in reverse!”

Thanks to Kirbymania for the tip.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 1 Comment

This week’s North American Nintendo Downloads are as follows:

Wii U Download

Cutie Pets Jump Rope – $1.99

Wii U Virtual Console

Konami Krazy Racers – $6.99

3DS Download

Pet Hospital – $29.99

3DS Demo

I Love My Pony

eShop Sales

Wii U and 3DS

Nintendo eShop Cyber Deals are here! Gaming fans can save up to 50 percent on a selection of top-rated Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games until Dec. 2 at 8:59 a.m. PT. Head to the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS to see these great deals.

Wii U

– Rock ’N Racing Off Road is 50 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $2.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 31.
– Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune and more from Nordic Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3
– Skylanders SuperChargers Portal Owner’s Pack is 40 percent off (reduced from $49.99 to $29.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 4.

3DS

– Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai is more than 25 percent off (reduced from $8.99 to $6.70) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 17.
– Real Heroes: Firefighter 3D is 50 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3.

Activities

National StreetPass Weekend: Thanksgiving Edition – After you fill up on turkey, be sure to load up on StreetPass tags during the Thanksgiving National StreetPass Weekend (Nov. 26 – Nov. 29). Stop by any of the more than 29,000 Nintendo Zone hotspots across North America with your Nintendo 3DS system to get up to six StreetPass tags from across the globe. If you’re playing the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game, you might even run into Felyne, a special character inspired by the Monster Hunter series.

Miiverse Fan Faves Sweepstakes – What do you think were the best Nintendo games of 2015? Make your voice heard and earn a chance to win some cool prizes by entering the Fan Faves Sweepstakes. Head to the Miiverse Fan Faves 2015 community from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3 to vote for Nintendo 3DS games and from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6 for Wii U games. Good luck!

Source: Nintendo PR

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Videos | 1 Comment

The latest Japanese Hyrule Warriors Legends trailer shows off Skull Kid, one of the new playable characters in the game. View the video below.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News | 6 Comments

Pokemon Picross was announced during this month’s Nintendo Direct. We knew it would be coming in December, but we didn’t know when specifically.

A date has now been finalized for North America and Europe. On Twitter, the official Pokemon account confirmed that the game is launching on the eShop on December 3 – next Thursday.

Here’s the tweet:

Source

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 6 Comments

In just a couple of weeks, the European eShop will be open for business in several new European territories. These countries include Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania.

The opening date is set for December 10. Consumers will need to pay in Euros, and the shop will be displayed in English.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 27 Comments

Nintendo has kicked off a new set of eShop “Cyber Deals” in North America. Wii U and 3DS owners can save up to 50 percent on Wii U and 3DS titles.

Here’s the full lineup of games on sale:

Wii U

Zelda: The Wind Waker HD – $34.99 (was $49.99)
Metroid Fusion – $4.79 (was $7.99)
Don’t Starve: Giant Edition – $7.49 (was $14.99)
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – $27.99 (was $39.99)
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – $34.99 (was $49.99)
Rayman Legends – $19.99 (was $39.99)
Adventures of Pip – $7.49 (was $14.99)
Pushmo World – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land – $12.99 (was $19.99)
Teslagrad – $7.49 (was $14.99)
Chariot – $7.49 (was $14.99)
Star Fox Command – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Never Alone – $5.99 (was $14.99)
SteamWorld Dig – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Pikmin 3 – $38.99 (was $59.99)
Art of Balance – $4.49 (was $8.99)
Trine 2: Director’s Cut – $9.99 (was $19.99)
The Wonderful 101 – $19.49 (was $29.99)
Mario Golf – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Child of Light – $7.49 (was $14.99)
Blek – $2.99 (was $5.99)
Little Inferno – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Mutant Mudds Deluxe – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Scram Kitty – $4.99 (was $9.99)

3DS

Fire Emblem Awakening – $27.99 (was $39.99)
Metroid – $2.49 (was $4.99)
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – $23.99 (was $39.99)
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D – $20.99 (was $29.99)
Azure Striker Gunvolt – $7.50 (was $14.99)
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – $27.99 (was $39.99)
BoxBoy! – $3.49 (was $4.99)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy – $20.09 (was $29.99)
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Crashmo – $4.49 (was $8.99)
Kid Icarus: Uprising – $24.49 (was $34.99)
Rune Factory 4 – $19.99 (was $39.99)
3D Sonic the Hedgehog – $2.99 (was $5.99)
3D Out Run – $4.19 (was $5.99)
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move – $6.49 (was $9.99)
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream – $2.49 (was $4.99)
SteamWorld Dig – $4.99 (was $8.99)
Mario Golf: World Tour – $20.99 (was $29.99)
1001 Spikes – $9.99 (was $15.00)
Inazuma Eleven – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Retro City Rampage DX – $4.99 (was $9.99)
Mutant Mudds – $4.49 (was $8.99)
Siesta Fiesta – $2.99 (was $5.99)

This sale runs through December 2 at 11:59 AM ET / 8:59 AM PT.

Europe will be seeing its own set of holiday deals starting on Friday and lasting through Monday. We’ll let you know about those when they go live.

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