Are Nintendo Preparing A Wii 1.5?

According to Screen Digest analyst Piers Harding-Rolls, Nintendo could release a Wii 1.5 before they release the Wii 2.

Talking to GamesIndustry, Harding-Rolls said…

“We expect the Wii to have a shorter lifecycle than the high definition consoles. We’re actually pitching it for an end of 2012 Japan release and the rest of world in 2013. Our forecast actually incorporates the idea that there will be an upgraded version of the Wii available. There is potentially significant movement to come from Wii pricing in the future. If you look at the handheld strategy they’ve got the DSi and the 3DS, so I think they’ve got room to have to this iterative version before a 2012 or 2013 release.”

I know that Nintendo are famous for constantly tweaking their handheld consoles throughout their life-span’s but I just can’t see Nintendo releasing a revamped Wii with HD tacked on.

Remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS

Along with the unveiling of Nintendo's new 3D-capable 3DS handheld today came a series of demos, some of games penned in for retail release and others that were more-or less tech demos. Among them was a clip of a spruced-up version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

"More-or-less tech demos?" I hear you ask. Well according to Nintendo maestro Shigeru Miyamoto, Ocarina of Time and a 3D version of Star Fox 64 are both being "actively developed".

It's hard to ascertain exactly what "actively developed" means; it certainly is not confirmation of a remake, but the demo showed that it was indeed easily possible, and that Nintendo are sifting through their back catalogue with an open mind. Miyamoto himself stated that he would love to see Ocarina of Time's ground-breaking Hyrule Field area recreated in 3D himself, so there every possibility that it could happen.

Regularly heralded as one of, if not THE, greatest games of all time, a portable Ocarina of Time in 3D would have Nintendo fanboys and the general gaming community at large foaming at the mouth, myself included.

E3: Nintendo announces 3DS, games

Nintendo just unleashed the beast: 3DS!

Satoru Iwata took to the stage, holding the new unit aloft dramatically. It has a 3.5 inch widescreen display, and will be full 3D without the need for the glasses, a point reiterated constantly.

The 3DS features a 3D depth slider, that can minimise or maximise the 3D experience the top screen offers (the bottom screen is still touch-sensitive). As expected, the unit boasts improved graphics, and also has a 'slide pad', essentially an analog stick.

As if that wasn't impressive enough, the 3DS has two cameras, allowing you to take photos and view them in 3D. This functionality extends beyond static images however, as Iwata was proud to announce that 3DS is capable of showing 3D ready Hollywood movies from Disney, Warner Brothers and Dreamworks, referencing the movies How to Train Your Dragon and Tangled, which he stated was the first time such content could be shown without glasses.

Iwata then mentioned the following list of games and franchises in development for the console:

-Project Sora, which encompasses Kid Icarus Uprising

-3D Nintendogs + Cats

-DJ Hero

-Kingdom hearts

-Saints Row

-Madden

-Resident Evil title

-Assassins creed

-Ridge Racer

-Metal Gear Solid

-Golden Sun

More news to come about the 3DS in the next few days.

Nintendo Wii HiFi? E3 2010

According to French site GameBlog.fr, Nintendo’s next console will be dubbed “Wii Hi-Fi” (not Wii HD) and is set for a reveal during the company’s E3 conference next week.

Claims from the French site say that the new machine will reach Xbox 360 levels of visuals make a very clear ping on our radars.

Here’s what GameBlog.fr are citing (translated into English) as the main differences between the Wii and whatever the follow-up will be:

•It should be on par with the 360
•It should not be called Wii 2 but Wii HiFi
•It will be very online-oriented this time
•Community aspects will be a big component
•It should be out around November 2011

Naturally, this is all hearsay and rumours just now, we’ve certainly not heard anything on this ourselves but if it’s true it’s basically what we’d expect Nintendo to do next, anyway.

Hopes are high for the big reveal of a new Zelda title from the Japanese company next week.

Nintendo may charge for online

All Nintendo's online gaming services on Wii and DS are currently free to play but Miyamoto suggested that this could change.

He told Edge Online: "Probably the other thing that we are desperate to realise is the core [online] business structure. Do we need to demand customers pay monthly fees to enjoy online activities? Or give an online subscription that is free of charge, but then offer something extra for people that pay, so that they get some extra value? With these core business strategies I think we are less active than we should be."

It seems like Nintendo may just be brainstorming at the moment, so those late night Mario Kart sessions will remain free for now.

Conduit 2 Confirmed For Wii

The cover of the May issue of Nintendo Power reveals a sequel to the famed first-person shooter, The Conduit, is in development for the Wii.

While we are yet to receive a copy to confirm exact details, it appears SEGA will again be publishing the title. Conduit 2 is also said to feature a 4-player split screen competitive mode.

The first title sold modestly, shipping 150,000 units worldwide during its launch week. High Voltage Software CEO Kerry Ganofsky told us in February the game has gone on to sell over 350,000 copies since then.

High Voltage Software is also working on another title, The Grinder, a multiplatform game due out late next year. The Grinder was originally a Wii exclusive title before it was revealed it would also be coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Nintendo to launch 3D game console

Nintendo has unveiled plans to launch a handheld 3D video game console that does not require special glasses, seeking to harness surging interest in images that appear to jump out of the screen.

The Japanese electronics giant, which competes with Sony and Microsoft in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, said the new machine, tentatively called the Nintendo 3DS, would be introduced some time by March next year.

The device will succeed Nintendo's DS series - the best-selling portable video game console ever with sales of more than 125 million units since its launch in 2004 - and will be compatible with DS games, the company said.

The announcement comes as handheld game consoles face growing competition from games available on mobile telephones such as Apple's iPhone.

Nintendo, the maker of the hit Wii games console, did not say how much the 3Ds would cost, promising more details in June at the annual E3 videogame convention in Los Angeles.

Consumer electronics makers are battling for a share of the market for 3D televisions and other gadgets, aiming to ride a new wave of interest in the technology thanks to recent movies such as sci-fi blockbuster Avatar.

Sony is also aiming to make its PlayStation 3 compatible with 3D games but, unlike Nintendo's planned device, users are expected to have to buy a new television and special glasses to enjoy 3D images.

Many experts think consumers are unlikely to rush to buy the premium-priced 3D TVs due to the need for special glasses and because many people have already upgraded to high-definition sets in recent years.

Nintendo is striving to reverse a decline in sales of the DS as well as the Wii home console, which has easily outsold the PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 since its launch in 2006 but has struggled recently due to a lack of new games.

Nintendo DS 2 Rumours

Website RPAD dig up information on Nintendo's handheld successors at the Game Developers Conference, they spoke with several third-party developers, and according to their findings the DS2 look a lot like current Nintendo handheld, only with better screens and better performance.

•The system has two screens, just like the DS, but they are bigger and higher resolution. I’m sure most of you could have guessed that, but the interesting part is that the gap between the two screens is negligible. Developers will be able to use them as one giant screen.

•The next Nintendo handheld has an accelerometer.

•The dev kit is similar in power to the GameCube. Developers that worked on GameCube or Wii games will find it easy to create with. I found this information unusual. The DS successor is rumored to use an Nvidia Tegra chip, while the GameCube and Wii have PowerPC CPUs and ATI GPUs. The people familiar with the dev kit made it sound like there wasn’t much of a learning curve on the new system.

•The developers I spoke with will be finished with their games before the end of the year. The Nintendo DS is still going strong and the company could delay the next handheld’s release if it wanted to, but it looks like an E3 2010 announcement and a late 2010 release.

Take this as a rumor, since the info is not coming from Nintendo, but as of right now these DS2 rumors sounds very interesting and on the same line of previous rumors. E3 is at the next corner, so stay tuned!

2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Nintendo Wii Trailer

2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Nintendo Wii Trailer

NHL 2K11 to release on Wii only

In a clarification of the absence of the series from their annual investor call Take-Two announced that NHL 2K11 would be a Wii exclusive.

For the PS3 and 360 versions, 2K is taking a year out to make sure that NHL 2K12 will be more than a match for the competition.

Take-Two told Joystiq: "We have decided to reevaluate our NHL strategy and will only be releasing NHL 2K11 for the Wii in fiscal year 2010. We want to become a stronger competitor in this category and taking a year off on PS3 and Xbox 360, while focusing on making the best possible game for Wii, should allow us to accomplish that goal."

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Review

Rating Description out of 10:

8.0 Presentation
There's a huge variety of characters and tracks that reference SEGA games, but it's hard not to wonder where missing franchises are.

7.5 Graphics
The Wii version keeps up with the HD versions, but sacrifices definitely had to be made, especially in multiplayer.

8.0 Sound
Lots of variety in the background tunes and the character remarks during a race. The obnoxious play-by-play is hilariously Americanized British: "The crowd go crazy!" and "Tails takes a pounding."

8.0 Gameplay
Fun and tight action racing with a decent sense of speed that lifts most of its ideas from Mario Kart Wii.

8.0 Lasting Appeal
Tons of single player modes, and a great focus on multiplayer, both offline and on.

8.0
Impressive OVERALL
(out of 10)

Mario Galaxy 2 Gets European Release Date

The European release dates for several of Nintendo's big upcoming titles were announced in London today.

The most exciting of these is surely Super Mario Galaxy 2, which is slated for June 11 release in Europe. We heard yesterday that it will hit stores in May 23 in the US.

At the same US event Metroid: Other M was handed a 27 June release date, however the game has only been given a Q3 date in Europe for now.

Other release dates announced were April 23 for Monster Hunter Tri for and May 7 for Sin and Punishment: Star Successor.

Nintendo Wii 2010 Best Games Preview

Overview: The Wii system launched alongside the last console Zelda title, the GameCube-converted Twilight Princess, back in the Fall of 2006 -- but rumor has it this Wii-specific installment in the series had already been in development for some time even before then. Not much is known about the next big Zelda game quite yet, but it is confirmed that it will require the MotionPlus peripheral for Link's swordplay and that it's supposed to be coming out this year -- Reggie's promising it's going to be perfect, too. We can't wait to learn the identity of the mysterious girl and all the other details of what will surely be one of the biggest Wii releases ever.

Why It's Hot: We are already getting mixed messages from Nintendo on the latest Legend of Zelda for Wii. We've been told the game is hitting this year, but then later countered by statements that "It'll come when it's perfect." Regardless of when we truly do get the next Zelda, it should come as no surprise that it'll be a game-changer, and one Nintendo fans can anticipate without worry of disappointment. Miyamoto and company have mentioned that the next Zelda will be a break from the formula, and a truly innovative affair. I'd expect Nintendo's latest tech advancement Wii MotionPlus will be a focal point, and with as much talk as there was about unused Wii horsepower in Twilight Princess I also expect Link's next adventure to be a feast for the eyes. If it's even Link, that is…
Overview: Video games are most often associated with fast action, high intensity and constant tension meant to get your blood pumping faster and faster -- so it was quite a shock when Nintendo introduced a game that tried a completely different approach and succeeded so well. 2008's Endless Ocean was a tranquil, calming, soothing-to-play underwater exploration experience, as it was a joy to just spend some time kicking around under the waves. Blue World, the upcoming sequel, is set to offer more of the same -- but with lots of improvements. Enhanced graphics, two-player online co-op and WiiSpeak support are just a few of the new additions you'll find when you dive in to relax a second time.

Why It's Hot: The first Endless Ocean came out of nowhere for me. What seemed like a casual-only, lackluster little diving game turned out to be a true sleeper hit, and I spent hours upon hours diving in multiplayer, snapping pictures of rare fish, evolving the story through side-quests, and taking on night excursions in Nintendo's innovative underwater adventure. We (myself and dive buddy Matt Casamassina) begged for more and the Big N has answered, bringing new dangers, more dive locations (including both fresh water and saltwater areas), and online Wii Speak support for a stronger multiplayer experience. Endless Ocean may not seem like the token "hardcore game" we often endorse, but trust me when I say you'll get pulled in by its strangely addictive design. Overview: Capcom brought classic 8-bit Mega Man action back with a vengeance in 2008, when Mega Man 9 blazed its way into the Wii Shop and reminded all of us gamers alive back in the '80s what real challenge was all about. Mega Man 10 is the inevitable follow-up, scheduled to arrive this mark and keep the pain coming -- unless you select the new Easy Mode. Yes, if you had trouble finishing 9, 10's got you covered with a concession that should let you at least see all the new bosses. Like Sheep Man. Gotta love Sheep Man.

Why It's Hot: After the rebirth of the Mega Man franchise with Mega Man 9 last year I started to wonder where Capcom would take their series next. Well, in typical fashion the company is out to sequel the hell out if its success, and I couldn't be happier. Mega Man 9 kicked off the world of 8-bit action once again, and Mega Man 10 is following in its footsteps, allowing for three playable characters, a new group of hilariously awesome robot masters, and even more nostalgic old-school action. It's more of the same, but when that "same" is responsible for many of the top titles in our industry's past it's hard not to get hyped for a little more 8-bit action from Capcom. Overview: Nintendo's famous fighting femme fatale, Samus Aran, has concluded her adventures in the Metroid Prime trilogy-- and now it's time for something new. The alien-blasting bounty hunter will return this year in Metroid: Other M, an all-new and re-imagined take on her world developed in a new partnership between Nintendo and Tecmo's Team Ninja. Early looks at the game from last year's E3 suggest that the gameplay style of this next mission for Samus might be a mix between first-person 3D shooting and more traditional 2D exploration. We're looking forward to finding that out for sure, later this year.

Why It's Hot: It's safe to say that nobody saw Metroid: Other M coming. As an all-new direction for one of Nintendo's longest-running franchises, M is out to turn the Metroid series on its head. From what I've seen so far is already evidence of its evolution, mixing what looks to be sidescrolling action with first person boss fights and intense action. It'll be tough to beat Retro's Prime series, but Team Ninja has a rich history of beautiful CG and action, and that's already evident in Other M's debut trailer. There's plenty of reasons to be excited for Other M's release, but remember: Metroid has a rich history of delayed releases, so being true fans means we'll be adding this little blurb every year until the game's real release date surfaces. From the looks of it though, Nintendo's latest Metroid offering looks to be well worth that wait. Overview: Just announced as a Wii exclusive a couple of weeks ago, NBA Jam is an all-new revival of a classic arcade sports design that had nearly every gamer alive in the '90s screaming "he's on fire!" while pumping quarter after quarter into its original Midway-developed coin-op cabinet. This reboot is set to offer the same style of over-the-top two-on-two hoops action with real NBA all-stars, along with a new and compellingly absurd visual style that renders the players' bodies in 3D, but uses comical photographic images for their faces. Sounds just like the sort of wackiness that'll fit right in with classic NBA Jam gameplay.

Why It's Hot: Back in the day NBA Jam introduced a new type of sports videogame that was based on fast-paced arcade action instead of realistic simulation. We played the holy heck out of the arcade original and can't wait to get back on the court. The primary designer and programmer on the classic game, Mark Turmell, is back as a consultant on this Wii edition. Early screenshots give us hope that the team is trying to replicate the look of NBA Jam with a modern twist. Several classic games have found new life on the Wii, so we have high hopes for the return of this one.
Overview: Originally intended to be a late 2009 release, Red Steel 2 is now scheduled to arrive and slice your mind in half this March. The MotionPlus-enhanced first-person shooter/slasher gives you control over a mercenary armed with both kinds of steel -- gun and sword. Pointing and aiming the pistol is handled by IR while the MotionPlus kicks in to translate your sword swipes to the screen in the closest 1:1 control the Wii's seen yet. And, if you don't yet have a MotionPlus for some reason, the game will ship to stores with one in the box -- ensuring you've got the right equipment to carve up some Jackals in old Caldera.

Why It's Hot: After the disappointing release of the original game it's safe to say I was very skeptical about Red Steel 2. Well, all skepticism left after my first playthrough the night before E3 kicked off. I played it, and then I played it again. And then again. And again. Red Steel 2 is an impressive FPS from top to bottom, as Ubisoft's shooter hits 60 frames per second with smooth controls, has more customization than most Wii games out there (save for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and The Conduit) and blends impressive shooting with MotionPlus swordplay. I've seen a few levels from front to back, and already I'm happily convinced. Everything from the new visual look, the pseudo-western theme, and revolutionary controls are priming Ubisoft's second Red Steel for a successful Cinderella story.Overview: Just released in Japan this past October, Sin & Punishment 2 is the Wii-exclusive shooter sequel we never thought we'd see. The original Sin & Punishmentwas an incredible experience, an on-rails shooting design that tops the list of best games ever made for the Nintendo 64 -- but it never came to America. It was only through the Virtual Console a couple of years ago that we finally got to play it here in the States. But with an appreciative audience now established, we can look forward to a localized release of the new, over-the-top, kill-everything-that-moves adventure coming very, very soon.

Why It's Hot: What started as a Japan-only import from the N64 has since become one of the biggest fan-influenced moves I've seen from Nintendo in years. People begged for more, and the first acknowledgement of the fan support for Sin and Punishment came when Nintendo finally released the game stateside on October 1, 2007; seven years after its original Japan-only release. Momentum continued, with a partnership between Nintendo and Treasure unveiled a year ago with Sin and Punishment 2. Now US-bound, the long-awaited sequel is a nice little reminder that Nintendo still listens to its hardcore fan-base. I played it at E3 last year, and can't wait to play more. Overview: After the incredible success of Mario's first trip out to outer space, Nintendo's designers decided they weren't quite done with the idea -- so the plumber's going galactic again. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be a direct sequel to the 2007 original Mario Galaxy, and promises to include even more mind-bending gravity puzzles, brilliantly colorful environments and incredible music than before. New additions to the design, too, will make their debut -- like Mario's new drill item that lets him bore straight through to the other side of spherical planetoids and the highly anticipated return of Yoshi (who'll have some brand-new tricks of his own).

Why It's Hot: Super Mario Galaxy headlines our Top 25 Wii Games list, so obviously we're hecka excited for the sequel. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has told us that part two is being made for the hardcore Nintendo fans and will be a bit more challenging than the first game – which sounds great, considering so many Wii games are designed to be casual friendly. The first game is arguabl the prettiest on the system and the footage we've seen so far of Mario Galaxy 2 also looks beautiful. Plus, we haven't seen Yoshi in a 3D Mario game for a while and we can't wait to get back in the saddle.

Nintendo & Sony Downplay Apples New Ipad

Sony and Nintendo aren't too worried about the new Apple iPad.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, SCEA's Director of Hardware and Marketing John Koller said Apple's inclusion into the haldheld space has been beneficial for the company.

"Apple's entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony," said Koller. "When people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP."

Nintendo, meanwhile, is less than impressed.
President Satoru Iwata said the new iPad delivered "no surprises" and added the new device was too similar to Apple's other products, the Associated Press reported.

"It was a bigger iPod Touch," Iwata said.

The company recently released the Nintendo DS XL in Japan, and like the Apple iPad, is also just a bigger DS Lite with no new surprises.

Nintendo reported worldwide life-to-date sales of its current hardware. The Wii console has sold nearly 70 million units, while the Nintendo DS has top 125 million units sold.

Zelda Wii details leaked?

Since Eiji Aonuma told us to expect surprises at E3, we've heard very little about the forthcoming Legend Of Zelda Wii adventure. However, claims have emerged this morning that following are leaked details on the much-anticipated Wii sequel. It's probably a load of shite, but here you go anyway...

The rumours - originally posted on usually reliable Japanese message board, 2chan (via Zelda Informer) - appear to confirm what Aonuma said about changing the structure of Zelda.

It claims that the next Zelda will vary from the 'dungeon-field-dungeon' gameplay we've been used to.

Apparently, the gameplay and basic components are complete and Nintendo are currently working on the story and character, one of which is reported to be an innkeeper in Link's home village. He has a son who looks up to Link.

Contrary to many internet rumours, we're also told that the girl featured in the officially-released art is not the Master Sword. Not only that, the Master Sword will not be in the game.

As for her name, the website isn't so sure. It could be Adelle, Adella, or Aderu. She is not said to be with you throughout the game like Ezlo and Midna.

Enough about the girl. What about Link? It's claimed that Link's sword will have several unlockable abilities and the mysterious girl will communicate with you through this sword.

You will be able to select whether you are left or right handed and this will be reflected on screen

The rumours also suggest that Epona will be back - there will be horseback combat and Epona will avoid obstacles automatically.

As for the story, the idea of this version of Link also being The Hero of Time has apparently been highly considered, and may already be implemented.

Finally, we're told that time travel will play a part in the game, though the actual location of the game isn't revealed.

It all sounds fair enough to us but Nintendo games very rarely leak before their official unviel. So it goes without saying that you should take this information with a pinch of salt.

Nintendo Confirm Spring Line Up

Nintendo has chucked us a confirmed its release schedule for Spring 2010, highlights of which include the DSi XL, Picross 3D and Mario Ka... we mean Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing.

It also reaffirms the March 26th release of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, as Nintendo announced last week.

Here's the full list:

Nintendo Wii Q1 2010

Resident Evil Zero (Capcom) - 22 January
Tatsunoko vs Capcom (Capcom) - 29 January
U-SING : 2 Microphone Edition (Mindscape) - January
Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep (Nintendo) - 5 February
Karaoke Revolution (KONAMI) - 11 February
Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll (SEGA) - 12 February
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (SEGA) - February
The Sky Crawlers (NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe SAS) - February
Alice in Wonderland (Disney Interactive Studios) - 4 March
Silent Hill Shattered Memories (KONAMI) - 4 March
CALLING (HUDSON SOFT CO.,LTD.) - 18 March
Rune Factory Frontier (Rising Star Games) - March
Red Steel 2 (Ubisoft) - March
Fragile Dreams (Rising Star Games) - March