Nintendo’s refurbished store may offer better deals compared to other resellers. Prices start at $99.99 for a Nintendo DSi XL and $129.98 for a Nintendo 3DS. The systems are fully functional, but Nintendo warns users that there could be “minor blemishes” on the system. All refurbished products come with a one-year warranty, the same warranty it offers for its new products, just in case you have an issue with the system later on.

Nintendo is looking to keep its sales in the family, because while it can’t stop people from purchasing used systems over new systems, it can stop people from purchasing used systems from other companies. In order to make its refurbished products more enticing, not only is Nintendo offering its refurbished products with all of its original gear, but its also throwing in a charging cradle and an AR Card Pack for free.

The Nintendo 3DS has been successful in the market, despite the huge decline that the portable gaming console industry has been seeing. It sold over 31 million units so far and has been said to be the “best portable gaming console” to date. Its no surprise considering all of the major titles that have been released onto its platform, including a remastered Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, as well as an upcoming remaster of the portable Pokemon franchise.

[via Nintendo]

That definitely isn’t chump change, so it’s no wonder that Nintendo went after him. Brooks found himself on the wrong end of an investigation carried out by the big N and the United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment Association after it came to Nintendo’s attention that an online retailer was selling unauthorized Nintendo goods. The two began buying these bogus products from various online retailers, and their investigation eventually brought them back to the mastermind behind the whole operation: Brooks.

According to Croydon Guardian, Brooks was charged “two counts of fraudulent trading, two counts of supplying an article to use in fraud, two counts of unauthorised possession of goods bearing a trademark and one count of unauthorised use of a trademark,” and appeared in court last Friday to plead guilty to all of the charges brought against him. He’s currently out on bail at the moment, but he’ll be back in court soon enough – he’s scheduled to go back in front of judge on Friday, November 9 to receive sentencing.

Don’t expect the court to just let him off with a slap on the wrist either. As we said, making nearly $1 million from the sale of bogus products isn’t anything to scoff at, so it’s almost certain that he’ll be thrown in jail. This shows that Nintendo is obviously taking this anti-piracy thing seriously, so it may not be the best idea to hit up those Super Mario Galaxy torrents you’ve been eyeing.

Today, the company announced that everyone who purchases the latest Pokemon installments between October 7 and November 12 will be awarded with opportunity to download that particularly scary-looking Pokemon you see pictured above. Its name is Genesect, and it’s a legendary bug and steel type Pokemon. Introduced prior to the release of the original Black and White, Genesect is the final Pokemon listed in both the Unova and National Pokedex. Aside from this upcoming event, there hasn’t been any legitimate way for players in the US to nab one, but that’s all set to change with the release of Black and White 2.

In order to get a Genesect of your own, all you need to do is purchase a copy of Black 2 or White 2 during the dates mentioned above. Once you’ve done that, connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, and in no time at all, Genesect will be on the way to your game cart. Genesect comes with an exclusive move, Techno Blast, that isn’t used by any other Pokemon, and has the ability to “adjust its power levels based on the foe it’s battling.” Nintendo isn’t entirely clear on what it means by that, so it looks like there are still some surprises in store when it comes to Genesect.

Nintendo held a similar promotion for early purchasers of the original Black and White, handing out the legendary psychic and fire type Pokemon Victini. There’s no word on what level this promotional Genesect is, but the Victini that early Black and White buyers received was level 15, so it seems safe to assume that Genesect will come at a similarly low level. Is anyone out there planning to pick up Pokemon Black and White 2? Let us know what you think of this giveaway!

The Kuruma de DS game card is Bluetooth-enabled for connecting to the Smart Navi system and offers an interface with Nintendo Mii characters. With the game card, passengers can use the Nintendo DS handheld to enter destinations and save places to the DS. It also shows maps and sightseeing information directly on the handheld.

Although the system may seem a bit kiddy, there’s nothing kid about when it comes to the price. Just the Smart Navi car navigation system itself costs ¥206,850 (US$2,586). The Kuruma de DS must purchased separately from Toyota for ¥7,329 ($92). And then of course you would still need to buy the Nintendo DS if you don’t already have one.

[via Kotaku]

Thought up by Shigeru Miyamoto, who is famous for the Legend of Zelda, the patent idea uses a system of overhead infrared transmitters that communicate with a portable gaming console, such as a Nintendo DS Lite. Users carrying the DS will be tracked from overhead as they move through a building. The device communicates with a server to trigger signs to light up or other mechanisms built into the building to guide the user.

Users can also pick their own paths through a building via a custom app on the console. The app will let the users view maps and read up on sightseeing suggestions. The patent was filed in January, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that Nintendo will follow through on the idea and start wiring up museums with the new tracking system.

[via Engadget]

In the game, players will move away from familiar characters and instead play a Japanese warlord who is paired with a Pokémon. Nintendo say that the duo “set out to recruit Warrior allies to strengthen their growing kingdom. Along their journey, players will encounter a variety of Pokémon, as well as Warriors and Warlords inspired by the Japanese feudal era.”

Interestingly, the game wasn’t made by Nintendo, instead developed by Tecmo Koei. The game uses strategy RPG elements as opposed to traditional Pokémon gameplay too. The reception when the game was released in Japan was good, with reviewers praising the replay value and the easy to understand concept for children.

The game will feature over 200 Pokémon, including some from the recent Pokémon Black and Pokémon White games. You’ll be able to pick it up on June 18th, so if it sounds like something that takes your fancy, remember to pre-order when those links go live.

For most people, scoring an age of 64 on the DS’s Brain Training game would seem like an insult. To Connell, it’s proof that video games help keep her 100-year-old brain cells in full working order. “I much prefer to be using my brain. And I find I am very forgetful, I can’t remember things the next day. So I try to do these and it really is helping,” she said in an interview with the UK publication The Telegraph.

A corresponding video interview with Connell has received praise from around the Web. Comments on YouTube praise her spirit, with users saying, “I wish that lady were my grandma” and “I hope I’ll be [as] cool as her when I’m like 60.” She praises Nintendo for helping her stay agile and witty. In addition to Brain Training, she also owns Art Academy, Scrabble, and other largely cerebral games.

[via Telegraph]

Trials for the technology started Monday in Tottori Prefecture and Okinawa, where disabled students will be able to read what they otherwise could not hear of their teacher’s lessons. The technology converts vocal instruction into text that shows up on the Nintendo DSi or on an electronic blackboard.

Beyond converting from speech to text, the technology also saves lectures to the cloud so that students can access them later. Students can also use the Nintendo DSi to interact and communicate.

[via JoyStiq]

Have a peek at the 50 million DS units sold since launch and note again that this isn’t a race between final totals, (or it isn’t yet,) instead it’s a comparison between the first year’s sales for both the DS and the 3DS, the newer handheld model. This will be quite the feat and a gigantic win for Nintendo as the original DS is still the best-selling game platform in US history. The DS’s first-year sales in the USA were 2.37 million units with 50 percent of those sales happening inside the holiday season. Nintendo America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing Scott Moffitt seemed rather ready to hit the mark again with the 3DS:

“With a massive lineup of software on the way and the first-year sales record of Nintendo DS in its sights, Nintendo 3DS enters its first holiday season with a full head of steam.” – Moffitt

In addition to the apparent jet engine rocketing the 3DS to victory here, Nintendo let known a few more impressive statistics on its recent sales, including 675,000 combined hardware units sold in October. A whole 250,000 of these were the 3DS, while 180,000 of the rest are also in the Nintendo DS family of systems. Of course this is nothing compared to the 7 million hardware units sold this year alongside more than 55 million units of software for those systems.

And don’t forget the Wii, up 8 percent in sales this month compared to last year at this same time, while the original DS has increased 23 percent this month compared to just last month. These two units are heading in to their sixth and eighth holiday seasons and are set to continue their wave of sales event though the 3DS is the new handheld and the Wii is up against the wall with the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360.

Note also that we won’t see the next Wii until at least late inside 2012 while the 3DS is still set to be Nintendo’s great handheld hope. What do you think, is Nintendo in a good place with you, the consumer?

Have a nice refresher on the 3DS while you think of it courtesy of Chris Davies:

Gaming on mobile devices has been on the rise, but this is the first time that gaming revenue from iPhones and Android smartphones have overtaken dedicated portable gaming devices such as the Nintendo DS and the Sony PlayStation Portable.

“We see, for the first time, that smartphone revenue in the U.S. has leap-frogged portable game revenue,” said Flurry’s vice president of marketing Peter Fargo. “The disruption has been downright brutal.”

With ever faster mobile processors as we’ve seen with the recently launched iPhone 4S and the upcoming Tegra 3 chips for Android tablets, smartphones will increasingly be able to play console-quality games, making the future even more bleak for dedicated portable game machines.

Nintendo reported its first loss in profit this year since 1982, caused by a decline in game and console sales, losing $925 million in the six-month period that ended in September. Its Nintendo 3DS was considered a flop and now it’s attempting to turn things around with a whole new game console concept with the Wii U.

Sony’s PlayStation Portable has likewise been slipping, waiting for its next iteration in the form of the PS Vita. However, reception to the PS Vita has thus far been lukewarm and the device won’t arrive in most parts of the world until early next year.

[via AppleInsider]

I was just a lad when my uncle first brought my sister and I our first Nintendo Entertainment System, and it was then that we first learned that to make the game work, one simply had to blow on it. The same does not appear to be true for the greater Nintendo business as overall sales during this half-year period have fallen 41% to $2.8 billion, a half-year loss equalling two times as large a loss as the big red gaming group predicted in July. Comparatively the same period last year had Nintendo at a loss of right around $26 million.

It is on the Nintendo DS and the 3DS that the group places a lot of its hope for the future, even though the regular DS has had sales drop from 6.69 million units to 2.58 million units from the same unit of time last year to this half-year report. Software on the original DS also fell from 54.84 million units to 28.99 million units. The 3DS similarly hasn’t been selling all that well, but after the price cut this year, the six-month report this week putting sales at 3.07 million units and 8.13 million units of software.

Then of course there’s the Wii. This stationary console that works, as you know, with wireless controllers that detect their position relative to the console’s reader, has had half-year sales at 3.35 million units compared to last year’s same period sales at 4.97 million units. Software sales for the Wii also fell from 65.21 million units to 36.45 million units.

Time for a new device? Maybe a Wii U?

That title aside the dog is a cute little blue robot that comes with the game. The game allows the kids to feed and play with the robot puppy with the upside that when your kid gets tired of messing with Wappy Dog you can just turn it off rather than having to clean up poo yourself. This is sort of an extension of those odd virtual bet key ring things that were popular with kids a few years back.

We don’t have much in the way of hard details on the game. I think we can count on an E rating for sure considering what the game is. Details like the launch date and the price aren’t offered right now. I know my daughter will want this game, I hope it’s reasonably priced.

[via Kotaku]

Interestingly, it’s only the portable segment which is really feeling the squeeze. Smartphone gaming revenue increased from 5- to 8-percent of the US market, while console gaming revenue grew from 71- to 76-percent. In contrast, traditional portable gaming revenue dipped from 24-percent to 16-percent.

Overall, though, it’s billed as bad news for the mobile gaming segment as a whole. While smartphone game sales are increasing, the per-app price is generally less than what’s charged per DS or PSP title; that’s seen the value of the market drop from $2.7bn in 2009 to $2.4bn in 2010. Sony’s push with the PlayStation Suite of development tools for the NGP – which will allow developers to create games for both the new console and Sony Ericsson’s Android handsets – may only speed that drop, as mini-titles on dedicated handhelds become more commonplace.

The original Nintendo DS sold 87,000 in its opening weekend, and of course the numbers are ultra devastatingly good in the US and the rest of Europe as well. The launch has trumped the original DS sales figures in both areas, Europe as a whole (we’re assuming this figure doesn’t include the UK) totaling in at 303,000 units on opening weekend. Of course Japan sold their entire allotment out – 400,000 during the February 2011 release month.

Also check out how the 3DS has set a one day sales record, how secret ninjas are purchasing up stock from cheaper retailers to sell in their own stores, and behold our totally full review and hands-on look!

The Nintendo 3DS has significantly better internals than the original handheld, including a 200MHz PICA200 GPU, but it may need more processing power due to the higher resolution. GameSpot concludes, “We’re guessing that the software emulation hoops the Nintendo 3DS needs to jump through to run DS games bog it down a bit.” Is the longer loading time worth it, in order to have the 3DS be backward compatible?
[via Red Ferret]

According to Nintendo, the company has sold 47 million total DS handheld consoles in the United States since the console’s launch in November of 2004. As Nintendo puts it, this makes the DS the best-selling videogame console in the nation — of all time. However, Nintendo’s not finished with the announcements — the Wii is selling just as well, and in the last three years has managed to move 21 million consoles.

In total, the Wii has sold 34 million consoles, total, in the United States alone. This marks the third consecutive calendar year that Nintendo has managed to sell more than 7 million consoles per year. With these sales numbers, it could go to say that the newer portable gaming console, the 3DS, will see the same kind of sales. At least, Nintendo can hope.

Press Release

Nintendo DS and Wii Set New U.S. Sales Records in 2010

Nintendo DS Becomes All-Time Best-Selling Video Game System; Wii Sells More Than 7 Million for Third Consecutive Year

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The close of 2010 produced two sales milestones for Nintendo in the United States.

“When we look ahead to 2011, we see new portable technology and more great Wii games that need to be seen to be believed.”
According to Nintendo’s internal sales figures, the Nintendo DS™ family of portable video game systems has sold more than 47 million in the United States since the original model launched in November 2004. That tally makes Nintendo DS the nation’s best-selling video game system of all time.

For the second major milestone of 2010, Nintendo’s internal figures show that the Wii™ home console marked its third consecutive calendar year with U.S. sales of more than 7 million – a feat never before accomplished in the history of video games by a home console. To date, the Wii system has sold more than 34 million in the United States alone.

“When we look back at 2010, we see consumers time and again turning to the value and enjoyment of our products,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “When we look ahead to 2011, we see new portable technology and more great Wii games that need to be seen to be believed.”

Nintendo is set to release its new Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system in the United States in March. The portable system lets players see 3D content – without the need for special glasses. More details about the system will be announced in the future.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://wii.com. For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.5 billion video games and more than 577 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at http://press.nintendo.com, a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please contact Deanna Talamantez at 213-438-8742 or dtalamantez@golinharris.com. Users can receive instant Nintendo information by subscribing to the site’s RSS feed.

According to the site’s parent company, Enterbrain, the game has sold a whopping 6,015,255 total units so far. And those numbers were taken with the final results tallied by December 26th. That makes the updated Mario title for the DS the very first game to reach six million sold for the gaming unit. How long did it take? Four years and seven months. The title launched on May 25th, 2006. Even if anyone imagined for a second that Mario wouldn’t be sticking around for Nintendo as a main character, these numbers should pretty much confirm that the plumber isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

[via Andriasang]

Courtney Johnson, manager of research and analysis for Interpret, said the following: “The proliferation of highly multifunctional smartphones and messaging phones is a very real threat to the dominance by the DS and PSP of the handheld gaming market, … Devices which satisfy a variety of entertainment and utility needs are fast outstripping single-function devices as consumer favorites.” Statistics surrounding this event have led to Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter saying “We’re starting to see DS hardware sales crack, … I think the ubiquity of the iPod Touch is cutting into the handheld market, I think the PSP was dead on arrival and I think the PSP2 is going to be dead on arrival.” He said these monstrous things on a recent episode of Pach Attack.

[Via Ars Technica]

It’s unclear whether this means Ubisoft created this ROM and released it into the wild themselves or planted this functionality into the game, making it activate only once it’s torn down to ROM. A Ubisoft spokesperson speaking with Wired Magazine confirmed the wackiness: “The development team worked this feature in as a creative way to discourage any tampering with the retail version of the game.” Very wacky indeed. Video below from YouTube user ctkxtreme

[Via Telegraph]

The company sold 1.5 million consoles over the week, and thankfully Nintendo was nice enough to break it down for us, in their press release. When it came to the Wii home video game console, consumers managed to pick up 600,000 of them. As for the DS line-up of portable gaming consoles, consumers managed to purchase 900,000 of those over the week. If you’re curious, that means that people were buying 9,000 Nintendo-branded video game consoles every hour, of every day, throughout the Black Friday week. You can check out the full press release below.

Press Release

CONSUMERS SNAP UP 1.5 MILLION NINTENDO VIDEO GAME SYSTEMS DURING BLACK FRIDAY WEEK

Value-Minded Shoppers Purchase 900,000 Nintendo DS and 600,000 Wii Systems

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 29, 2010 – When confronted with a wide range of Black Friday retail options, U.S. holiday shoppers again turned to Nintendo. Nintendo sold 900,000 combined units in the Nintendo DS™ family of systems and 600,000 Wii™ consoles between Sunday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 27, according to the company’s internal sales estimates.

“U.S. shoppers bought about 9,000 Nintendo hardware systems nonstop for every hour of every day during the week of Black Friday,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “For the past several years, consumers have decided that Nintendo defined both top value and all-inclusive entertainment, and that sentiment continues again at the start of this shopping season.”

Nintendo’s Black Friday surge was fueled by multiple new hardware colors, each of which comes bundled with games. The bundles provide a great value for shoppers who are looking to get the biggest bang for their video game bucks. These bundles, all of which are available while supplies last, include:

Limited-edition Mario red Wii hardware in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros.™ game on the NES™. It includes a new red Wii system, a red Wii Remote™ Plus controller, a red Nunchuk™ controller, and games New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii and Wii Sports™ at a suggested retail price of $199.99.

A limited-edition red Nintendo DSi XL™ bundle in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. game on the NES. It features a Mario red Nintendo DSi XL system with three iconic Super Mario Bros.-themed graphics, the Mario Kart™ DS game and preloaded software, including Brain Age™ Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock. It is available at a suggested retail price of $179.99.

Orange and green Nintendo DSi™ systems, which are bundled with the Mario Party™ DS game. They are available at a suggested retail price of $149.99.
In addition to the great hardware bundles, shoppers have dozens of great video game options for everyone on their shopping lists. Some exclusive games for the Wii console include Super Mario Galaxy™ 2, Metroid™: Other M, Wii Party™, Kirby’s Epic Yarn™, PokéPark™ Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure, FlingSmash™ (which comes bundled with the new Wii Remote Plus) and Donkey Kong Country™ Returns. Third-party Wii games include New Carnival Games® from 2K Play, NBA JAM from EA Sports, Just Dance® 2 from Ubisoft, Sonic Colors™ from SEGA, GoldenEye 007™ from Activision Publishing Inc. and Disney Epic Mickey from Disney Interactive Studios.

On the portable Nintendo DS family of systems, shoppers can choose games like DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future™, Pokémon Ranger™: Guardian Signs, Art Academy™, Mario vs. Donkey Kong™: Mini-Land Mayhem! and Golden Sun™: Dark Dawn. Some key third-party Nintendo DS games include Super Scribblenauts™ from WB Games, Rock Band® 3 from MTV Games, GoldenEye 007 from Activision Publishing Inc. and Sonic Colors from SEGA.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.5 billion video games and more than 577 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

As far as I can see, this Donkey Kong Returns game looks almost EXACTLY the same as it did when it was on the Super Nintendo – which – since it was completely amazingly fun then, I don’t see many people complaining about. AND, if you pre-order it from GameStop, you get an exclusive Banana Pouch for your Wii Remote. Cute! While supplies last, of course. Some words from Nintendo:

With Diddy Kong™ by his side, help them barrel-blast, rail-ride, and ground-pound through over 70 gorgeous levels on Donkey Kong Island. Grab a friend or family member to enjoy two-player cooperative play. With secrets galore and intuitive controls that anyone can get into, it’s going to be bananas!

Then there’s Mario VS Donkey Kong Mini-Land Mayhem which uses the Nindendo DS just the way I think it aught to be used: lots of pen action, lots of puzzles, fun wild action and a super ridiculously fun storyline. Wahoo!

It’s a clash of gaming legends as Mario™ must save Pauline from Donkey Kong™ once again, with the help of the Mini Marios. Use your stylus to guide the marching Mini Marios through over 200 fun and puzzling levels. Place girders and springs, build ramps, and keep an eye out for those Mini Marios as you make your way through each level—but watch out for Donkey Kong’s devilish traps. Tap into an endless stream of levels created by players like you, or build your own with the level editor. You can share levels through DS Wireless Communication, or through Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection*. Build fast, think faster, and make your mark in Mini-Land!

Donkey Kong Country Returns will be released November 21, while Mario VS Donkey Kong Mini-Land Mayhem is slated to be released November 14. Expect both of these to be sitting in your holiday socks. Check out the Mario game here: [mariovsdk] and the Donkey Kong game here: [donkeykong]

[Via Nintendo]

The patent itself outlines Nintendo’s plans to use the Nintendo DS as a way to create a shopping list, which would connect to a wireless shopping program in the store. The end result would be the network relaying information to the DS, from product information to the actual location within that particular store of something you’re searching for. Nintendo wants you to create your list within the store, using some kind of program to do so, and then the store would tell you where to find it, among other need-to-know pieces of information.

Here’s the description of the patent:

“An example system includes a display, a communication circuit, a memory storing a shopping program, and a processor in communication with the display, the communication circuit and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the shopping program to access a product database including product information, to process inputs supplied to the system to generate a shopping list comprising one or more products from the product database and to provide guidance information on the display relating to product location in a store of the products on the shopping list.”

By allowing owners of the DS to do more things than just play video games, it gives the owners more of a reason to take the DS with them. And, while the idea has been done before in other devices, including iOS and Android-based handsets, it looks like Nintendo wants the experience to grow ten-fold, with the inclusion of the wireless shopping network. The big hurdle will be the way they implement the system, not only on the DS itself, but as well as in the particular supermarkets, and other stores, across the globe.

[via iSmashPhone]

The brand new Nintendo Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary DSi LL edition was announced last night, but Nintendo officially unveiled an image of the mobile gaming console today. And, just as we should have expected, it’s a bright red version, featuring images from the game right on the front. The DSi LL features the three graphics on the front, while an even more special Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary DSi also broke cover, which is red too, and featuring a little Mario jumping over the camera.

If you’re in Japan, then you’re in luck. The DSi LL (pictured above) will be made available on October 28th, and cost about 18,000 yen (or about $215). The smaller DSi will be available on the same day, cost 14,800 yen ($177), and be available for purchase from 7-Elevens, or its online retailer. You can see the special edition DSi in the gallery below.

[via Joystiq]

The Collector’s Edition seems to be only aiming for customers who own a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, which means those with a Wii aren’t going to be feeling any Light Cycle love. That’s right — inside the box you’ll find one of those all-too-familiar Light Cycles tucked away inside a very attractive display case. And, you’ll find the game itself in a drawer underneath that display case, which slides out.

The Collector’s Edition of TRON: Evolution will be made available on December 7th, as will all of the other editions of the game, along with the multi-format titles. You’ll be able to find it on PC, Nintendo DS, Sony’s PSP, and Nintendo’s Wii, as well as Sony’s PS3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. As for the price of the CE? That’ll run you a cool $130. But, hey, that Light Cycle makes it all worth it, right? Too bad you didn’t win a real one, though.

[via Joystiq]

Yasushi Hiroshi Minagawa spoke out on Nintendo’s behalf today, and told the world that the company will be ready to make another announcement on September 29th. The spokesman was speaking with the Japanese branch of Bloomberg, and disclosed that more details about the 3D handheld would be released in just one month. We’re still waiting for the announcement, of the announcement that the Nintendo 3DS’ price and availability has been announced. That’ll be a good day. So, start placing your bets now, folks — in just a month, we’ll find out whether or not Nintendo’s pricing the 3DS to move, or sit on shelves for eternity.

[via TechRadar]

According to Nintendo, there’s been over 100,000 game-copying devices seized since 2009. R4 cards would be part of that number, so you can see how that would be a problem for the Japan-based company. Of course, defendants within the court case argued that the cards themselves are not the problem, as many people just use them to have access to homebrew applications, and don’t steal software. The courts disagreed, apparently just agreeing with the “other side,” in saying that getting rid of the source will fix the problem.

An R4 card is an easy way for someone to load any type of software they want onto it. It’s a blank Nintendo DS game, essentially, and someone in the know can easily put whatever they want onto it. As Nintendo points out, one title in particular gets utilized quite often: Dragon Question IX, as they’ve seen plenty of copies of that game find their way into the illegal market.

So that’s one giant win for Nintendo, even if it is just in the UK at the moment. Will other countries follow suit? Who knows. And, considering the new laws put forth by the DMCA here in the States, things could get very interesting. We’ll have to wait and see if Nintendo stays on a winning streak with this one.

[via MCV UK]

According to Schappert, who was speaking with Industry Gamers, the 3DS is not only “incredibly cool,” but also “magical.” He believes that the 3D technology, especially with the fact you don’t need to actually wear glasses to access the tech, is just about as good as it gets, especially considering the platform you’re playing it on. He goes on to add that the whole experience is amazing, and that he is happy that EA is part of the device’s existence.

EA is bringing titles like The Sims, FIFA, and Madden to the platform, so it’s good to see some of the company’s biggest franchises making an appearance on the new mobile video game console. Of course, we can’t say whether or not the new 3DS from Nintendo is magical or even incredibly cool. Not yet, anyway. As soon as we’re able, we’ll be sure to take it through its paces, and let you know what we think of it. So, Nintendo — any day now, thanks.

[via TG Daily]

As NTT DoCoMo’s president, Ryuji Yamada puts it, “We are discussing this with various plalyers.” And, as we just mentioned, the WSJ has put some of the puzzle pieces together as well, and calls out Nintendo as being one of the major players probably within talks with the wireless carrier. Considering the 3DS is still being worked on, with a launch date several months out, adding 3G to the mobile console may not be all that big of a deal at all. Plus, that “always connected” approach that Nintendo spoke about at the 3DS’ launch would make a lot more sense.

[via The Wall Street Journal]

The Best of R3 Media

Dell Streak Available Now in UK Unlocked: If you’re at all interested in the Dell Streak, the 5-inch Android-powered MID from Dell, and you find yourself in the United Kingdom right now, then start saving up your monies. Because the new gadget is available right now for 449 Euros, completely SIM-free. What you’ll get is the Android 1.6-based device, featuring a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and a 5MP camera on the back. Not as big as a tablet, and dangerously close to some smartphones out there, the Dell Streak finds itself placed nicely in the middle. It’s up to you whether or not the price tag is too steep for the unlocked variation. [via Android Community]

New Domain, .xxx, Allowed to Move Forward: Well, that’s definitely one for the record books. When it comes to domains, we’re all accustomed to things like .com, .net, or even .org. But, now thanks to a long-winded domain application, the new domain .xxx has been approved to move forward through the process of ultimately being allowed onto the Internet. And yes, the domain would be primarily used for what you’re imagining it would be used for. And yes, that does mean it will make it easier to watch over those folks that may need to sneak around while doing what that domain is meant for. So, that’s a good thing. [via SlashGear]

BlackBerry Storm 3 to Have 1GHz Processor: The original BlackBerry Storm was a pretty big hit for both RIM and Verizon, but then it got marred by bad press when people started hating pressing down their screens to do anything. So then the Storm 2 released, with an updated input function, but unfortunately the damage had been done. Now rumors about the Storm 3 have sprung up, and thankfully they’ve been updated to today’s standards. It will apparently feature a new input method, as well as a 1GHz processor. And, because it’s going to launch on Verizon, it will apparently be ready for LTE, or Verizon’s chosen 4G technology. Our fingers are crossed, because we want this to be true. [via PhoneMag]

The Dredge ‘Net

Windows 8 Shows Up Early: There’s no doubt that Windows 7 is selling well, but that’s not stopping the Redmond-based company from looking into the future. And by future, we mean the future where computers act on their own, just because you get close to them. According to some features that have sneaked out onto the Web, Windows 8 will feature thing like “visual login,” and a far improved performance boost for start-up. Meaning it won’t take you ten minutes (exaggeration, yes) to start up your Windows-based PC anymore, hopefully. There’s also facial recognition for log-in, log-out, and that’s straight out of science-fiction, so we’re all for it. We’re more than happy to see new features hit Windows 8, but we’re just hoping that they actually improve the experience, and not just make the development paper look good. [via Engadget]

PSP-4000 and 3DS Could be Launched in Japan This Year: Thanks to some recent documents that have just been published online, it looks like the fate of the upcoming handhelds from Sony (which actually hasn’t been officially unveiled), and the 3DS from Nintendo, are sealed. At least for Japan, anyway. According to the document, both handheld gaming platforms are scheduled to release by the end of 2010. We’ve heard contradictory reports from Reggie Fils-Aime about the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, but obviously Sony hasn’t said anything considering their new peripheral hasn’t even been announced. This is getting interesting, so we’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more. [via CrunchGear]

NASA Reimagines the Supersonic Jet: Supersonic jets are ridiculous in of themselves, and despite the fact that it isn’t the main way to fly right now, that’s not stopping NASA from designing their own version of a jet of the future. The machine itself is designed in a partnership with NASA and Lockheed Martin, and it features something called an inverted V-wing, which is actually connected to the tail section thanks to the massive engines on its back-side. The design is meant to increase energy efficiency, as well as decrease the noise created from a sonic boom. It’s just a concept right now, but we’re hoping that this gets put into development as soon as possible. We want to fly everywhere around the world as quickly as humanly possible. Yes. That’s our dream. [via DVICE]

“We are working with the experts in the field,” he said. “We’ve done extensive testing. We have a legacy of bringing only the best and finest products to the marketplace.”

That line was in comment to the suggestion that playing the 3DS for a long period of time could cause headaches, or any other number of discomforts. Furthermore, while the warning isn’t necessarily in place for “older” people, Reggie Fils-Aime –Nintendo of America’s President– did say that children should not play the 3DS in its actual 3D mode. Why? Because kids’ eye muscles are not fully developed yet, and therefore can be put under strain faster, and therefore be damaged faster.

So, according to Fils-Aime, what’s the cut-off range for children? At around age 7, he suggests, kids should be able to play the 3DS to its full potential. There is a slider on the side of the 3DS that allows for customization of the intensity of the 3D image. Also, you can shut off the 3D image with that same slider, preventing the player from witnessing any 3D at all. We’re glad that Nintendo’s looking into the technology, and making sure that people are aware of the risks that the technology inherently projects. We’re also glad for that slider. Either way, we’re sure the 3DS is going to a success, even for kids around the age of 7.

[via Kotaku]

Reggie Fils-Aime believes that the 3DS is the best way to play 3D games. After all, it’s the solution for your desires to bring 3D gaming with you wherever you go. And, that’s pretty neat. As for specs, you’re getting an upper-screen that’s 3.5-inches. Along the side, you’ll find a slider that will let you adjust the 3D for how far you’re holding the device away from your face, making the graphics all that much better. You can also choose to turn off the 3D effect entirely, if you wish.

The bottom screen is not 3D compatible, and it’s a touch panel. The 3DS is also going to be compatible with Nintendo DSi titles, so that’s another bonus. There’s no mention of pricing or availability quite yet, but that’s coming, we’re sure. Nintendo’s still on stage, talking up their mobile device of the future. So, stay tuned.

Press Release:

NINTENDO INTRODUCES GLASSES-FREE 3D GAMING, AND

UNLEASHES THE INDUSTRY’S BEST FRANCHISES IN ENTIRELY NEW WAYS

A Dream Lineup: Nintendo 3DS, Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, Kirby, Mario, Golden Sun,

GoldenEye, Mickey Mouse, Kid Icarus, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, PilotWings, Paper Mario …

LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2010 – Nintendo is raising the bar – again.

Nintendo changed the world of video games with touch-screen gaming on the Nintendo DS™ in 2004. Nintendo then pioneered the motion-controlled gaming revolution with the Wii™ console and the Wii Remote™ controller back in 2006. Today the company unveils an even more immersive gaming experience: Nintendo 3DS™.

At the E3 Expo today, Nintendo gave the world the first look at a portable system that lets people view games in 3D, without the need for special glasses. Nintendo also announced a substantial list of upcoming games for Nintendo 3DS, the Wii console and the Nintendo DS family of systems – a lineup that reads like a who’s who of some of the greatest franchises in video game history with a completely new look and feel.

“The additional dimension of depth in 3D makes it easier for players to judge distances while giving developers a new tool to create games and experiences that play with both height and depth,” said Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who pioneered the fully rendered 3D video game world with Super Mario 64™.

Nintendo 3DS comes with a 3.53-inch top screen and a 3.02-inch bottom touch screen. It has three cameras – one inner and two outer – to deliver the 3D effect and take 3D pictures. It includes a motion sensor, a gyro sensor and even a Slide Pad that allows 360-degree analog input. At the E3 Expo, Nintendo showed attendees a range of games and applications for Nintendo 3DS that reinvent some of the industry’s most beloved franchises. These include:

· Kid Icarus™: Uprising, the long-awaited franchise follow-up to the NES™ classic.

· Mario Kart™, which shows off the potential of driving and tossing bananas in 3D.

· nintendogs™ + cats, a new version of the best-selling nintendogs franchise that lets players interact even more with their virtual puppies – and kittens!

· PilotWings Resort™, a flying simulation that lets players soar above Wuhu Island.

· Animal Crossing™, a new installment of the charming community-building franchise.

· StarFox 64™ 3D, a game that demonstrates the true distance and depth of outer space using Nintendo’s well-known franchise.

· Steel Diver™, a new submarine-navigation game from Nintendo.

· Paper Mario™, which brings paper-based 2D environments to life.

Nintendo 3DS also comes to market with the strongest third-party support of any video game system in Nintendo history. Games on display at the Nintendo booth at the E3 Expo include:

· DJ Hero® 3D from Activision

· RESIDENT EVIL® REVELATIONS from Capcom

· The Sims™ 3 from Electronic Arts

· HIDEO KOJIMA’S METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D “The Naked Sample” from Konami

· Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles (name not final) from LEVEL-5

· RIDGE RACER® (name not final) from Namco Bandai Games

· KINGDOM HEARTS franchise game from Square Enix

· DEAD OR ALIVE® 3D (name not final) from Tecmo Koei Games

· SAMURAI WARRIORS® 3D from Tecmo Koei Games

· Battle of Giants™: Dinosaur Strike from Ubisoft

· Hollywood 61 (name not final) from Ubisoft

A sampling of other Nintendo 3DS games already in planning includes SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D Edition (name not final) from Capcom; Madden NFL and FIFA Soccer games from Electronic Arts; CODENAME: Chocobo Racing® 3D and a FINAL FANTASY ® franchise game and from Square Enix; a NINJA GAIDEN® (name not final) game from Tecmo Koei Games; Saint’s Row: Drive By from THQ; Assassin’s Creed™Lost Legacy, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon™ and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory™ from Ubisoft; and a Batman game from Warner Bros. Additional games are in development by Atlus, AQ Interactive, Disney Interactive Studios, Harmonix, Hudson Soft, Majesco, Marvelous Entertainment, Rocket, SEGA, Takara Tommy and Take-Two Interactive.

Nintendo also announced a substantial slate of games on the way for its Wii console and Nintendo DS family of systems, with a list of characters and franchises that appeal to all types of gamers.

“If the video game industry had an All-Star team, Nintendo’s games would fill the starting lineup,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The combination of advanced interface and engaging game play broadens our appeal to all audiences. This is evidenced perfectly at the E3 Expo this year by the incredible new experience and controls that Wii MotionPlus brings to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.”

Wii:

· The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword: The game marks a turning point for the franchise, as the introduction of full motion controls enabled by the Wii MotionPlus™ accessory synchronizes player movements with Link’s actions while offering the most intuitive play control of any Legend of Zelda game to date. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.

· Donkey Kong Country™ Returns: The classic franchise makes a return with new levels and updated graphics, but with the same sense of fun and excitement of the original. For the first time in the series, two people can play through the entire game cooperatively. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· Kirby’s Epic Yarn™: Kirby’s entire immersive world is created from different fabrics and textiles. Kirby himself is made from yarn, which gives him the versatility to take the shape of a car, submarine, parachute or UFO. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.

· Wii Party™: A party game that brings the fun off the screen and into the living room. Players must perform tasks in the real world to achieve success in the game. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.

· Mario™ Sports Mix: A collection of four amazing sports – Mario style. Players can compete with their favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters in basketball, volleyball, hockey and dodgeball. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.

· PokéPark™ Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure: The first Pokémon adventure game on the Wii console puts Pikachu™ at the center of a fun, expansive area filled with adventure, Attractions and Pokémon. Players take on the role of Pikachu and interact with Pokémon and compete in Skill Games and Attractions, such as races, battles and other challenges, to save the PokéPark from disaster. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· Samurai Warriors™ 3: Players can choose from more than 35 playable samurai characters, many based on actual figures from Japanese history. Each samurai has different skills and weapons, and each one offers a different perspective on the overall story of the unification of Japan. The game is scheduled to launch on Sept. 27.

· GoldenEye 007™ from Activision: The original revolutionized first-person shooters, and this Wii-exclusive sequel features four-player split-screen competition or up to eight players competing online. It’s the signature GoldenEye experience for a new era, and is scheduled to launch this fall.

· Disney Epic Mickey from Disney Interactive Studios: In this Wii exclusive, players take Mickey Mouse on an epic journey of creativity and discovery. In Wasteland, an alternate world with lands inspired by Disney’s animated films and theme parks, players use paint and paint thinner to change the world and affect the outcome of the game. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· NBA JAM from Electronic Arts: In this revival of the classic franchise with vintage game play, the Wii-exclusive sequel includes new features that bring outrageous moves and over-the-top hoops action to new levels. The game is scheduled to launch this October.

· Just Dance 2® from Ubisoft: The second installment of the popular franchise features hot dance moves choreographed by experts in every style of music. Up to eight players can compete or, for the first time, two players can dance side by side as a duo. It’s a nonstop dance party only available on Wii this fall.

· Sonic Colors™ from SEGA: In Sonic’s latest adventures, he blasts through obstacles like never before as he uses coloured power-ups to boost his abilities and speed through stages. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· New Carnival Games® from 2K Play: This sequel to the multimillion-selling original features more than 30 new games and 300 new prizes, plus multiplayer action for every game. Only available on Wii this September.

Nintendo DS Family:

· Pokémon Ranger™: Guardian Signs: The third installment in the action-packed Pokémon Ranger series lets players take on the role of a Pokémon Ranger tasked with protecting Pokémon, people and nature. With new Ranger Signs to call powerful Pokémon, including Legendary Pokémon, and the addition of multiplayer missions, players investigate the nefarious actions of the Pokémon Pinchers, who have been disrupting the peace by chasing and catching Pokémon. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.

· Golden Sun™: Dark Dawn: A classic role-playing game branches out with a new look, countless adventures and heroic battles. The game picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off with amazing graphics and beautifully animated summoning abilities that span both Nintendo DS screens. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· Dragon Quest® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™: For the first time, this storied franchise is appearing exclusively on the Nintendo DS family of systems. Character customization, cooperative multiplayer adventuring and an epic story make for a one-of-a-kind experience. The game is scheduled to launch on July 11.

· Professor Layton and the Unwound Future™: This third installment in the series includes more than 165 puzzles and even more animated sequences and voice acting than the previous game. The game is scheduled to launch on Sept. 20.

· Mario vs. Donkey Kong™: Miniland Mayhem: Players use the stylus to draw red girders and control items like ladders, pipes, springs and conveyor belts. The goal is to bring the Mini Toys to the door. Using an intuitive tool kit, players can create new level maps and share them with the public. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· Super Scribblenauts™ from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment: The sequel to the smash-hit original includes 120 new levels, the ability to use more than 10,000 adjectives, a hint system and a level editor for players to create their own levels and objectives. The game is scheduled to launch in Q4.

· Ghost Trick™: Phantom Detective from Capcom: Players are transported into the spirit world of a murder victim who has lost his memory and returned as a ghost. Players must possess and manipulate objects to solve puzzles and the mystery. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.

· Rock Band® 3 from MTV Games: The franchise makes its first appearance on Nintendo DS with a stylish interface that puts players into the Rock Band universe like never before. Eight play modes challenge players in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, and both co-op and competitive multiplayer options are available. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

· Okamiden™ from Capcom: Players use a brush to draw bridges into existence, traverse canyons and connect winding paths through space. This sequel to Okami follows the story of an adorable wolf pup that fights off a new threat that has drained vibrant colours from the world. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.

· FINAL FANTASY®: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT™ from Square Enix: This first original FINAL FANTASY game for the Nintendo DS family of systems uses charming storybook visuals and a fun, intuitive combat system. Players can customize their characters and up to four players can join forces for cooperative play. The game is scheduled to launch on Oct. 5.

· Sonic Colors™ from SEGA: The portable version of the game doubles the excitement and action by using both screens as a giant, unified landscape. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

For the duration of the E3 Expo, Nintendo will provide fans with exclusive videos and Nintendo content on the Nintendo E3 Network. People can visit http://e3.nintendo.com to watch developer interviews, get all the information about new games and see coverage coming directly from the show floor. The same exclusive content also will be streamed through the Nintendo Channel to Wii owners who have a broadband Internet connection.
Remember that Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about these and other features, visit http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at www.nintendo.ca.

[images via Ars Technica]

Everyone, including Nintendo, knows that the Nintendo DSi XL isn’t doing all that well. At least not here in the States. It was doing quite well for itself over in Japan, but once it hit store shelves locally, sales slumped. In an industry that’s getting smaller in most cases, adding 40% overall size to the mobile gaming platform may have not been the best bet. In any event, Nintendo wants to go ahead and freshen up the line-up, adding the Midnight Blue color to their current models available in stores.

The unit will be available starting on July 11th. It will cost you $189.99, and there’s absolutely nothing different about this model when compared to the others in the line-up. Other than the distinctive color, that is. So, are you going to go run out there and grab one for yourself, or are you going to wait for the Nintendo 3DS? It is “cool,” after all.

[via Engadget]

According to UK publication MCV, there has been a major increase in spending for marketing at two key publishers, all of which are aiming for a fourth quarter, 2010 launch of whatever it is they’re marketing. Of course, no one is able to say anything definitively at this point. Another publisher is waiting for a specific announcement from the platform holder, before they can move forward with their own announcements and marketing campaign. Though, they did dance around the talk of ongoing development for titles behind closed curtains.

As it stands right now, the PSP has seen a few revisions, along with the introduction of the PSPGo, and it’s now in its sixth year on the market. Many believe that now would be the perfect time to release a new handheld, and not just another “variation” of the one before it. Then again, many people have said a new PSP should have been out three years ago. With Nintendo going to announce their new DS model, featuring 3D capabilities, it seems now would not be only the perfect time for Sony to announce a new PSP, but also a time where they need to announce it.

[via The PS3 Blog]