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Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 17 Comments

Well before Super Mario 3D World launched, Nintendo made it clear that online play wouldn’t be included. It does feature Internet-enabled elements like ghost Miis and Miiverse support, but direct multiplayer is only available locally.

Shigeru Miyamoto previously said that online play “simply wasn’t the focus for us this time around.” He also mentioned how Nintendo wanted to make “something that people could experience fully while playing comfortably with others who were nearby them”.

Super Mario 3D World producer Yoshiaki Koizumi echoed similar thoughts while speaking with Game Informer this month. He also revealed an interesting tidbit: the staff over at EAD Tokyo have been experimenting with online play “since the days of Super Mario Galaxy”. But for Super Mario 3D World, the team decided to place the focus on gaming with others nearby.

Koizumi’s comments in full:

Read More

More: interview, Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Galaxy, top, Yoshiaki Koizumi

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 8 Comments

With The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Nintendo took a SNES classic and made it completely new again. Yet even though there’s a lot that’s new in the game – new dungeons, a new item system, and more – it also uses A Link to the Past as a base.

Could A Link Between Worlds set a new standard? What if Nintendo were to return to the core/basic elements of its other franchises and put a new spin on them?

When Game Informer asked Zelda: A Link Between Worlds director Hiromasa Shikata if he believes Nintendo is more interested in revisiting the structure/perspective of classic SNES games such as Metroid or Star Fox, he said:

It’s an honor that people consider the game to be a success. When we make a game we often start by thinking of the basic system and letting that in turn determine a suitable setting. If there’s something fitting for the basic Star Fox and Metroid formula then I think we’ll be able to develop something. On this title, if we hadn’t come up with the idea of going into the walls at the beginning and instead thought of something new which had the player curling up into a ball, we might have ended up with Metroid, not Zelda.

Source

More: Hiromasa Shikata, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 4 Comments

Famitsu has published a listing of the top-selling games in Japan for 2013 through data collected by Enterbrain up through December 29. The results can be found below.

01. [3DS] Pokemon X/Y – 3,976,829
02. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 – 3,293,312
03. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 1,730,182 / 4,017,159 total sales
04. [3DS] Tomodachi Collection – 1,580,067
05. [3DS] Dragon Quest VII – 1,227,377
06. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z – 1,005,697
07. [3DS] Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – 982,737
08. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V – 605,882
09. [WIU] New Super Mario Bros. U – 584,479 / 965,794 total sales
10. [WIU] Wii Party U – 518,766

Famitsu also published a listing of hardware totals for 2013:

3DS – 4,931,509 / 14,694,011 total sales
PS Vita – 1,197,980 / 2,275,139 total sales
Wii U – 880,088 / 1,518,427 total sales
PS3 – 824,167 / 9,568,500 total sales
PSP – 429,393 / 19,608,493 total sales
Wii – 77,337 / 12,738,079 total sales
Xbox 360 – 19,548 / 1,607,559 total sales

More: Enterbrain, Famitsu, sales, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Podcast Stories | 14 Comments

If you happen to have a 3DS with v4.5 firmware or older, you might just be able to avoid the system’s region lock. Some folks over at GBAtemp have created a workaround that allows for games in different regions to be successfully booted.

All you need is a DS or 3DS flashcard, which runs a special patched launcher file. The code modifies your system to load cartridges from other regions. Once completed, more recent firmware can be installed to play imported games that require it.

Keep in mind that this method is not at related to piracy. Users can only play retail games – not ROMs – that have been purchased legally.

You can find more information about the workaround here.

Source
Image source

More: region lock, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

This week’s European Nintendo Downloads are as follows:

Wii U Virtual Console

Contra III: The Alien Wars (US version) – €7.99 / £5.49

3DS Retail

Cooking Mama 4 – €29.99 / £24.99

3DS Download

KORG M01D – €24.99

3DS Virtual Console

Mario Bros. – €4.99 / £4.49

Special Offers

MYST – €9.99 / £8.99 until January 31; regularly €13.99 / £12.99
Aqua Moto Racing 3D – €5.99 / £5.39 until January 23; regularly €7.99 / £7.19

Permanent Price Reductions

Gabrielle’s Ghostly Groove 3D – €3.99 / £3.59; was €13.99 / £12.59
Tangram Style – €2.99 / £2.69; was €5.99 / £5.39

More: Europe, Nintendo Download, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 1 Comment

The latest issue of Famitsu finally confirms Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson for 3DS. Additionally, the magazine includes a release date: August 7 for Japan.

Tamsoft is once again handling development. The studio also made the series’ previous entries.

Not too many details have leaked out of Famitsu thus far. Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is a side-scrolling 3D action game, and it will include boss encounters on a 3D field as well as two male characters.

That’s all for now!

Source

More: Japan, Marvelous AQL, Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Screenshots, Wii U | 7 Comments

Along with today’s screenshot, Sakurai passed along the following message on Miiverse:

Zelda’s strong side attack. It’s a slash attack that utilizes her magic to make even a simple slash look sharp.

More: Masahiro Sakurai, Miivetse, Super Smash Bros., top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 11 Comments

The existence of a new “AAA” title from Tantalus Media, seemingly for Wii U, was outed over the weekend. Director of development Joss Ellis has since provided a few hints as to what the company will be working on.

Ellis teased that the game in question is a port, “but more of a complete rework for the Wii U” – think Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It’s also “for an absolute top notch publisher” and won’t be a mature/hardcore experience.

According to Ellis:

It is a ‘port’ but more of a complete rework for the Wii U: a bit like the work we did on Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut.

I can’t say what the title is but it is very exciting and is for an absolute top notch publisher.

This game will be credited Tantalus … it’s not an MA / 18 or ‘hard core’ game which ME-3 and DX:HR are.

Source, Via

More: Tantalus Media, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 9 Comments

Going forward and valid through the system’s entire lifespan, Nintendo will be forced to pay Tomita Technologies 1.82 percent of the wholesale price on every 3DS sold. That’s because a US judge ruled last month that Nintendo had infringed on company’s camera tech after using it without permission. Nintendo could end up paying Tomita $3 for every 3DS moved on the market.

Source, Via 1, Via 2

More: Tomita Technologies, top

Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 5 Comments

This week’s UK software sales are as follows:

Individual formats

LW		TW			Title	Format	Label	Publisher
5		1			FIFA 14	PS4	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
2		2			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	XB360	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
1		3			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
8		4			MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
3		5			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
4		6			FIFA 14	XB360	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
15		7			FIFA 14	XB ONE	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
17		8			BATTLEFIELD 4	PS4	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
14		9			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	PS4	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
19		10			BATTLEFIELD 4	XB ONE	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
9		11			BATTLEFIELD 4	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
13		12			GRAN TURISMO 6	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
21		13			FORZA MOTORSPORT 5	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
6		14			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	PS3	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
18		15			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	XB ONE	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
7		16			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	PS3	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
24		17			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	PS4	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
12		18			FIFA 14	PS3	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
10		19			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
28		20			DEAD RISING 3	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
11		21			JUST DANCE 2014	WII	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
29		22			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	PS4	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
16		23			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
20		24			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
27		25			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2014	PC	SEGA	SEGA
35		26			RYSE: SON OF ROME	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
39		27			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	XB ONE	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
37		28			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	PS4	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
22		29			BATTLEFIELD 4	PS3	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
23		30			KILLZONE: SHADOW FALL	PS4	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
34		31			WWE 2K14	XB360	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
32		32			THE LAST OF US	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
25		33			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	PS3	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
40		34			SAINTS ROW IV	XB360	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
31		35			BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
–		36			TOMB RAIDER	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
–		37			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	XB360	SEGA	SEGA
30		38			ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
33		39			POKEMON X	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
26		40			KNACK	PS4	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.

All formats

LW		TW			Title	Developer	Label	Publisher
1		1			FIFA 14	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
2		2			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	INFINITY WARD	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3		3			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
4		4			BATTLEFIELD 4	DIGITAL ILLUSIONS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
5		5			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	ROCKSTAR NORTH	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
6		6			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	GHOST GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
7		7			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
9		8			MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION	4J STUDIOS	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
8		9			JUST DANCE 2014	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
10		10			GRAN TURISMO 6	POLYPHONY DIGITAL	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
13		11			FORZA MOTORSPORT 5	TURN 10 STUDIOS	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
11		12			BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS	WB GAMES MONTREAL	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
19		13			DEAD RISING 3	CAPCOM VANCOUVER	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
12		14			WWE 2K14	YUKE’S	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
20		15			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	SEGA	SEGA
21		16			SAINTS ROW IV	DEEP SILVER VOLITION	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
17		17			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2014	SPORTS INTERACTIVE	SEGA	SEGA
25		18			RYSE: SON OF ROME	CRYTEK	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
26		19			TOMB RAIDER	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
18		20			DISNEY INFINITY	AVALANCHE SOFTWARE	DISNEY INFINITY	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
14		21			KILLZONE: SHADOW FALL	GUERRILLA GAMES	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
15		22			SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE	VICARIOUS VISIONS	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
23		23			THE LAST OF US	NAUGHTY DOG	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
28		24			LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
27		25			LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
33		26			NBA 2K14	VISUAL CONCEPTS	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
30		27			RAYMAN LEGENDS	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
22		28			ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
24		29			POKEMON X	GAME FREAK	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
16		30			KNACK	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
29		31			POKEMON Y	GAME FREAK	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
32		32			THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK BETWEEN WORLDS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
38		33			MAX PAYNE 3	ROCKSTAR VANCOUVER	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
35		34			HALO 4	343 INDUSTRIES	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
37		35			INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US ULTIMATE ED.	HIGH VOLTAGE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
–		36			FARMING SIMULATOR 2013	GIANTS SOFTWARE	FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE	KOCH MEDIA
39		37			SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED	SUMO DIGITAL	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	SEGA
34		38			SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		39			NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED	CRITERION GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
36		40			F1 2013	CODEMASTERS BIRMINGHAM	CODEMASTERS	CODEMASTERS

Source 1, Source 2

More: Chart-Track, charts, sales, top, UK