Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Touring the Louvre with a 3DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/touring-the-louvre-with-a-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/touring-the-louvre-with-a-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/touring-the-louvre-with-a-3ds/#comments Image
The Nintendo 3DS debuted in its latest occupation last week, as tour guide at the biggest and best museum in the world, Paris' legendary Musée du Louvre. I just happened to be in the neighborhood this week while on a month-long trek across Europe, so I paid my 5 € along with the 10 € museum admission for the audio guide, and was handed a Korean Air-branded black 3DS and a pair of headphones on the way to go see some of the world's finest art.

The 3DS isn't the only portable device in use as a museum tour guide. While visiting the Musée d'Orsay last week, I was handed an iPod touch in a special security case, and walked around among the works of French impressionists while using Apple's device to hear insights in English. And I've used quite a few other audio guides on this trip - in London, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Observatory both used custom-made audio guide systems, with a keypad and a play button to choose certain audio tracks for various sights on the tour.

But the 3DS was definitely the only gaming-specific device I've seen in use so far. And because of all of the various technologies included, specifically the wireless features, it actually did a great job.

Gallery: 3DS Louvre Audioguide

Continue reading Touring the Louvre with a 3DS

JoystiqTouring the Louvre with a 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsartcommentaryexploreguideinsightkorean-airlouvremuseumnintendonintendo-3dsparisparis-franceThu, 19 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: 'Nintendo 3DS Ambassador' (free games) program ends at midnight Eastern]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/psa-nintendo-3ds-ambassador-free-games-program-ends-at-midn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/psa-nintendo-3ds-ambassador-free-games-program-ends-at-midn/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/psa-nintendo-3ds-ambassador-free-games-program-ends-at-midn/#comments
Listen, it doesn't matter to us (or Nintendo) if you paid $250 for the 3DS or grabbed it this week for $170, following some early price cuts. What we care about (Nintendo, not so much) is that you get those free games you're entitled to as part of Nintendo's early 3DS adoption apology.

Those who own a 3DS must connect to the Nintendo eShop before 11:59PM EST tonight to be enrolled in the "Nintendo 3DS Ambassador" program. You'll obtain 10 free NES Virtual Console games on September 1 (including The Legend of Zelda, Balloon Fight and Ice Climber) and 10 more Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games (Yoshi's Island, Metroid Fusion and Mario vs. Donkey Kong) by year's end.

So, just make sure you log in before midnight tonight. Procrastination will not be rewarded.

JoystiqPSA: 'Nintendo 3DS Ambassador' (free games) program ends at midnight Eastern originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DSdsnintendoNintendo-3DSPSAThu, 11 Aug 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Nintendo 3DS available at Walmart for $170 today (get your 20 free games!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/psa-nintendo-3ds-available-at-walmart-for-170-today-get-your/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/psa-nintendo-3ds-available-at-walmart-for-170-today-get-your/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/psa-nintendo-3ds-available-at-walmart-for-170-today-get-your/#comments As rumored by Cheap Ass Gamer, Walmart has indeed kicked off the massive price cut on the Nintendo 3DS a few days before the competition, bringing the price of the handheld to a cool, crisp $170. Not only is this good for the obscenely impatient among you, but it also means that early purchasers will be able to get the lower price and the 20 free downloadable games which were meant to be reserved for the console's earlier adopters.

Most of the Walmart locations we called to check on the cut confirmed the lower price, though some seemed to have not gotten the memo quite yet. Make sure you call ahead to your location before you make the drive to avoid wasting all your precious time and even-more-precious gasoline.

[Thanks, Rippe!]

JoystiqPSA: Nintendo 3DS available at Walmart for $170 today (get your 20 free games!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsnintendonintendo-3dsprice-cutwalmartTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[The Rolling Western rolls up genres in an armadillo shell]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-rolling-western-rolls-up-genres-in-an-armadillo-shell/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-rolling-western-rolls-up-genres-in-an-armadillo-shell/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-rolling-western-rolls-up-genres-in-an-armadillo-shell/#comments We're going to do our best to describe what happens in this debut trailer for The Rolling Western, an action/strategy title for the Nintendo 3DS eShop. Let's see -- you play as an armadillo wearing a cowboy hat, who can spin around to attack enemies, explore a 3D world (picking up something called Manju Grass), and even build up towers to defend against giant ... rocks, maybe?

Continue reading The Rolling Western rolls up genres in an armadillo shell

JoystiqThe Rolling Western rolls up genres in an armadillo shell originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armadillodseshopnintendonintendo-3dsrolling-westernthe-rolling-westernFri, 10 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Load up your 3DS AR cards on your internet-equipped phone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/load-up-your-3ds-ar-cards-on-your-internet-equipped-phone/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/load-up-your-3ds-ar-cards-on-your-internet-equipped-phone/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/load-up-your-3ds-ar-cards-on-your-internet-equipped-phone/#comments Last week, Android users got their hands on an app which let them load up images of the 3DS AR cards on their smartphones -- but the rest of the world had to go without. Today, a more accessible mobile site has launched, opening up the doors to anyone with an internet-enabled portable device.

Continue reading Load up your 3DS AR cards on your internet-equipped phone

JoystiqLoad up your 3DS AR cards on your internet-equipped phone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsarar-cardsaugmented-realitydsmobilenintendonintendo-3dsMon, 28 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gallery: Say hello to the Nintendo 3DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gallery-say-hello-to-the-nintendo-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gallery-say-hello-to-the-nintendo-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gallery-say-hello-to-the-nintendo-3ds/#comments A beautiful aqua blue Nintendo 3DS arrived from Japan while we were away GDC-ing the sights. For those of you who haven't obsessively inspected every angle of the upcoming device yet, we set to work taking Glamour Shots of the handheld and its included accessories.

We'll be bringing you additional coverage of the Japanese 3DS as we stop taking pictures of it and actually turn the thing on. The European and North American 3DS systems will be out on March 25 and 27, respectively (and will look identical to this one).

Gallery: Nintendo 3DS (3/7/11)

JoystiqGallery: Say hello to the Nintendo 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsnintendonintendo-3dsMon, 07 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS to launch in Europe on March 25, £229.99 in UK, €249.99 in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/3ds-to-launch-in-europe-on-march-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/3ds-to-launch-in-europe-on-march-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/3ds-to-launch-in-europe-on-march-25/#comments While we were busy debating the price for the 3DS stateside, our friends at Nintendo's European event were still having to listen to some dude talk about soccer games. By the end of it, the 3DS was set to launch on March 25 in Europe -- a little later than was rumored. Though no price was announced, Nintendo noted that pricing details had been passed along to retailers. The handheld will run £229.99 in the UK according to retailers HMV and Game. Amazon France and GameStop have listed a European price of €249.99.

Okay, you can all go back to talking about soccer games now.

[Thanks, Sean C.!]

Joystiq3DS to launch in Europe on March 25, £229.99 in UK, €249.99 in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3ds3ds-launchdseuropenintendonintendo-3dsWed, 19 Jan 2011 10:13:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS pre-orders open at GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/26/3ds-pre-orders-open-at-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/26/3ds-pre-orders-open-at-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/26/3ds-pre-orders-open-at-gamestop/#commentsIf you know for sure you're going to want a Nintendo 3DS whenever the system is released (sometime around March) and at whatever price, you can now pre-order the handheld from GameStop. You'll have to pre-order it in 3D, though -- by which we mean go to an actual store, rather than shopping online. According to Engadget, different stores are asking for either $25 or $50 deposits. At the moment, searching for "3DS" on GameStop.com redirects to a page where you can sign up for updates about the system.

We suspect we'll find out the final price, along with other details like launch colors and software lineup, at Nintendo's January 19 event in New York City. This is also likely when we'll see pre-orders begin at other retailers.

[Thanks, Edward]

Joystiq3DS pre-orders open at GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsgamestopnintendonintendo-3dspre-orderSun, 26 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaijin not done with Bit.Trip games yet, working on title for 3DS launch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/gaijin-not-done-with-bit-trip-games-yet-working-on-title-for-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/gaijin-not-done-with-bit-trip-games-yet-working-on-title-for-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/gaijin-not-done-with-bit-trip-games-yet-working-on-title-for-3d/#comments Sad that Bit.Trip Flux is presumably the last game in the Bit.Trip series? Dry those eyes, pixel lover, because Gaijin Games seems to have something else up its sleeve. CEO Alex Neuse has confirmed that the series isn't quite over, though the developer is "not ready to make any specific announcements yet."

Neuse also told EGMi that the company is working on a title that "will be out within the launch window" of the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo told Joystiq that it "can't wait" to bring Bit.Trip Runner to the new handheld, but Neuse also said that whatever Gaijin does after Flux will be "something totally different" from the standard music/retro games we've seen from the it so far.

Gaijin's CEO does admit that he's making games for himself, and suggests that the next game or series the company puts out might put a twist on "a hugely popular game now," much like Bit.Trip Beat originally twisted the premise of Pong. So you heard it here first: the next game will be Red Dead Redemption, done Gaijin Games-style. We're looking forward to it!

JoystiqGaijin not done with Bit.Trip games yet, working on title for 3DS launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-neusebit-tripbit-trip-fluxdsgaijin-gamesnintendonintendo-3dsThu, 23 Dec 2010 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata says 3DS will beat 3DTVs to mass market]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/iwata-says-3ds-will-beat-3dtvs-to-mass-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/iwata-says-3ds-will-beat-3dtvs-to-mass-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/iwata-says-3ds-will-beat-3dtvs-to-mass-market/#comments A lot of the scuttlebutt we've been hearing about 3D and video games has been centered around 3DTVs (and this week's Call of Duty: Black Ops release has been impressing some folks with 3D-enabled televisions), but Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata says that if anything ushers 3D out of the movie theaters and into the household, it'll be the 3DS. He told the company's investors recently that "people in Hollywood currently do not believe that 3D television sets will be able to spread into ordinary households with rapid speed. I have the impression that they see Nintendo 3DS as a strong candidate to become the very first 3D device to be able to spread into the mass market in massive volumes."

Really, the president of Nintendo thinks the 3DS will be popular? No kidding, tell us another one. But Iwata also said that developers around the world have shown "much stronger interest" in the 3DS than its old dimensionally-challenged cousin, the regular Nintendo DS, did at its own launch. So maybe by next March, we'll all be seeing things in 3D at home. Wait ... without glasses, we mean. No, wait ... aw, you know.

JoystiqIwata says 3DS will beat 3DTVs to mass market originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3ds3dtvsdsinvestorsnintendonintendo-3dssatoru-iwataWed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ: Saint's Row for 3DS was already being made for Xbox Live Arcade]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/thq-saints-row-for-3ds-was-already-being-made-for-xbox-live-ar/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/thq-saints-row-for-3ds-was-already-being-made-for-xbox-live-ar/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/thq-saints-row-for-3ds-was-already-being-made-for-xbox-live-ar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Nintendo 3DS game list has a lot of predictable titles on it, but seeing Saint's Row on there was somewhat of a surprise. But it was a natural fit, as THQ VP Danny Bilson recently said. Not only was Nintendo enthusiastic about putting mature content on its new system, but "the interesting thing about the game is we were already making it. We were already making it as our Xbox Live game and in 3D also. It's designed for 3D already."

Wait, an Xbox Live title? The Saint's Row 3 universe is full of surprises -- THQ is planning a whole fleet of games to launch together, and among those is a downloadable XBL game that will unlock content in the full game (and vice versa). The 3DS will share content as well -- "all of our extension properties," says Bilson, "all connect and unlock things in each other."

Looks like the game's "new direction" is actually split a few different ways. All of these games are still due out sometime after March of next year.

JoystiqTHQ: Saint's Row for 3DS was already being made for Xbox Live Arcade originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsnintendonintendo-3dssaints-rowsaints-row-3saints-row-3dsSaints-Row-Drive-Bythqvolition-incxblaxboxTue, 29 Jun 2010 20:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS uses DMP's PICA200 GPU]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/nintendo-3ds-uses-dmps-pica200-gpu/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/nintendo-3ds-uses-dmps-pica200-gpu/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/nintendo-3ds-uses-dmps-pica200-gpu/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Instead of going with the rumored Nvidia Tegra chip to power the display in the 3DS, Nintendo has chosen a product from Digital Media Professionals. The Japanese hardware company announced last night that its PICA200 chip was selected by Nintendo as the GPU in the Nintendo 3DS.

DMP boasts that the 200MHz chip can provide 15.3 million polygons a second, 800 million pixels a second, and can perform alpha blending, full-scene antialiasing, and other features that sound like they make nice graphics. Nintendo has yet to reveal the CPU or any of the other chips behind the 3DS, but at least we're starting to get an idea what's going on in there.

After the break, check out a video made by DMP to show off the chip's abilities. Perhaps you can look at it on two monitors at once to get an idea of the 3D capabilities of the system, or wiggle your monitor back and forth.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS uses DMP's PICA200 GPU

JoystiqNintendo 3DS uses DMP's PICA200 GPU originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDigital-Media-ProfessionalsDMPdsGPUGraphicsnintendonintendo-3dsPICA200Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/interview-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-on-3ds-retro-zelda-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/interview-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-on-3ds-retro-zelda-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/interview-nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-on-3ds-retro-zelda-and/#comments Nintendo recently unveiled its 3DS handheld, and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto is hard at work on the next evolution of virtual pets, Nintendogs + Cats, for the system. While the core mechanics remain the same, players will interact with their pets in full 3-D. We had a chance to sit with Miyamoto to see what he thinks of 3-D gaming and more.

Joystiq: We knew the 3DS was coming. It was announced a while ago, but we didn't expect so many games to be available. How long have you been working on the technology?

Shigeru Miyamoto: Nintendo's been researching 3-D games for over 20 years. The first time we started looking at 3D with an LCD screen was during the GameCube days. We've continued to experiment with it since then, particularly implementing it into the 3DS. That's something we've been working on for the past three years.

With games, what's the ratio of Nintendo first party to third party? It seems like some of them are remakes, such as Star Fox. How many are new and updated experiences?

When we first launched Nintendo DS, the touch screen became a new innovative face for gaming, and we spent a lot of time creating things that were probably different from the standard games that you've seen, games that are more like books or Brain Training type games. But with Nintendo 3DS, and specifically with the ability to create 3-D visuals, we're finding that, in addition to creating new game ideas, the 3-D visuals really do a lot for past experiences. It'll be a blend. We'll see remakes that take advantage of the 3-D, but we'll also work on new ideas as well.

Continue reading Interview: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3

JoystiqInterview: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDonkey-Kong-Country-Returnsdse3-2010legend-of-zelda-skyward-swordsnintendonintendo-3dsnintendogs-plus-catsshigeru-miyamotowiizelda-skyward-swordsWed, 16 Jun 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA['The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D' coming to Nintendo 3DS [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d-coming-to-nintendo-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d-coming-to-nintendo-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d-coming-to-nintendo-3ds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're alarmed by the futuristic technology employed by the Nintendo 3DS, you might just need something familiar to anchor you in this brave new world. How about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, a new 3DS tech demo based on the classic N64 adventure? Beyond a rather glib video of the game's iconic title screen, which we just saw on a 3DS at a Nintendo E3 roundtable event, we haven't learned any further details yet. Update: During the event, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma made its status as a game explicit when he discussed simplifying its menu system on the 3DS, in order to (among other things) make the Water Temple easier by allowing Link to add and remove the Iron Boots more quickly.

While we wait to learn more, why don't you take a step into this cognitive mindfield: Since Ocarina of Time has a strong element of time travel, wouldn't this be a 4D game?

[Special Thanks: Zelda Informer]

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)

Joystiq'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D' coming to Nintendo 3DS [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdse3-2010nintendonintendo-3dsthe-legend-of-zeldathe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-timethe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3dTue, 15 Jun 2010 21:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdom Hearts 3D returns to Destiny Islands]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/kingdom-hearts-3d-returns-to-destiny-islands/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/kingdom-hearts-3d-returns-to-destiny-islands/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/kingdom-hearts-3d-returns-to-destiny-islands/#comments Square Enix has just released the first screenshots of its tentatively named Kingdom Hearts 3D. Fans of the franchise will find it looks startlingly similar to the PS2 original, featuring the character models of the first game. Check out all the images after the break.

Continue reading Kingdom Hearts 3D returns to Destiny Islands

JoystiqKingdom Hearts 3D returns to Destiny Islands originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2010kingdom-hearts-3dnintendo-3dssquare-enixTue, 15 Jun 2010 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo registers several '3DS' trademarks in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/nintendo-registers-several-3ds-trademarks-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/nintendo-registers-several-3ds-trademarks-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/nintendo-registers-several-3ds-trademarks-in-japan/#comments Though Iwata recently alluded to the fact that a "formal" moniker for the Nintendo 3DS hardware would soon be announced, a set of trademarks recently filed in Japan seem to hint that the device won't actually undergo a name change. Siliconera reports that Nintendo recently registered Japanese trademarks for "Nintendo 3DS," "N3DS," "3DSPlay" and "3DSWare." There's a lot of room for conjecture in those listings -- for instance, is Nintendo planning on implementing a separate online store specifically for the stereoscopic handheld?

More importantly, do they really think they can make the shorthand version of the device's name "N3DS" and not expect us to exclusively refer to it as a "Ned's?" Because, heads up guys, that's exactly what we're going to call it. "It might be a long car ride, Billy," we'll say. "You'd better bring your Ned's."

JoystiqNintendo registers several '3DS' trademarks in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 May 2010 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3ds3dsplay3dswareDSjapannedsNintendonintendo-3dstrademarkTue, 18 May 2010 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata addresses Wii's future and 3DS at investors briefing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/iwata-addresses-wiis-future-and-3ds-at-investors-briefing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/iwata-addresses-wiis-future-and-3ds-at-investors-briefing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/iwata-addresses-wiis-future-and-3ds-at-investors-briefing/#comments Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata recently spoke to his close circle of super best friends -- hereafter referred to as Nintendo's investors -- about the future of the company's gaming hardware, and how said hardware will translate directly into monies for their wallets. According to Andriasang's translation of the briefing, Iwata shot down the possibility of revealing a successor to Nintendo's home console any time soon, adding, "we believe there's still more we can do with the Wii." Sure there is! You can paint it different colors.

On the subject of the Nintendo 3DS, Iwata explained the seemingly random March 23 announcement date was set to give third-party developers a chance to come up with something for the platform in time for E3. He mentioned these developers may incur a bit more development costs on these projects due to the "trial and error" involved in creating 3D games, but wouldn't comment on how these costs might translate over to consumer software prices for the console.

He also revealed that "the announcement of the formal name [of the 3DS] will not be too far off," meaning it's time to go place your bets with your friendly neighborhood Video Game Technology Marketing bookie. (As of this writing, even money's on "Nintendo Virtual Boy 2.")

JoystiqIwata addresses Wii's future and 3DS at investors briefing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbriefingDSinvestors-briefingiwataNintendonintendo-3dssatoru-iwataWiiTue, 11 May 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata: 3D functionality of Nintendo 3DS can be turned off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/#comments Afraid that the jump-off-the-screen 3D effects promised by Nintendo's next handheld (code-named the 3DS) will become tiresome and overly gimmicky? Addressing concerns that there may be possible health consequences with 3D gaming, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata assured Forbes that the 3D function can be turned off easily, allowing players to enjoy games in a more traditional 2D manner.

While little else is known about the device, it seems like a smart move to ensure Nintendo's next system is attractive to as wide of an audience as possible. Of course, we may change our minds after its E3 debut -- perhaps the 3D effect will be so captivating that we'll be unable to think of gaming in any other way.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqIwata: 3D functionality of Nintendo 3DS can be turned off originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2d3d3dsforbesnintendonintendo-3dssatoru-iwataFri, 07 May 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reggie: five million Wiis sold this year; almost a million have 'participated' in Netflix]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/reggie-five-million-wiis-sold-this-year-almost-a-million-have/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/reggie-five-million-wiis-sold-this-year-almost-a-million-have/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/reggie-five-million-wiis-sold-this-year-almost-a-million-have/#comments Nintendo's had quite the start this year, president Reggie Fils-Aime revealed during a recent CNBC interview (that you can watch after the break). Both the Wii and DS are performing exceedingly well in 2010, Fils-Aime reported -- a level of success we're certain Nintendo isn't familiar with.

"In the last four months, consumers have bought over five million Wii consoles," Fils-Aime boasted. He was quick to jab competitors Sony and MIcrosoft as well, stating "that amount is equal to the entire amount that our competitors have sold over the previous 12 months."

Fils-Aime also offered a neat statistic on Wii Netflix usage. Since launching on the console in March, "almost a million" have participated in the service. He added that "we're getting great consumer compliments."

Fils-Aime said that the DS has been selling extremely well and that "we think that through April that we'll have the best four month time period to kick off a new calendar year that we've ever had with the device." We'd comment but, really, doesn't this happen every year?

Update: We were contacted by Charlie Scibetta, senior director of corporate communications for Nintendo of America, who offered this clarification on Reggie's reported sales figures: "The sales figures referenced in the CNBC interview were not for the first four months of calendar year 2010, but rather the last four months of current publicly reported NPD data which runs December of 2009 through March of 2010." Well now, we're glad that's all cleared up!

[Via Edge]

Continue reading Reggie: five million Wiis sold this year; almost a million have 'participated' in Netflix

JoystiqReggie: five million Wiis sold this year; almost a million have 'participated' in Netflix originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDSNetflixNintendonintendo-3dsReggie-Fils-AimesalesWiiTue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Finding a new dimension for gaming at the 3D Gaming Summit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/3d-gaming-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/3d-gaming-summit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/3d-gaming-summit/#comments A small crowd of movie and game producers met this week at Universal City in Los Angeles for the first-ever 3D Gaming Summit, to sit down and discuss the trend of 3D imaging in gaming and film. Much of the talk at the summit was speculative -- with almost no actual consumer devices on the market and nearly none within price range of the average consumer anyway, gaming in 3D isn't much more than an idea at this point. Most of the technology companies in attendance are still working to get content producers to use their systems to create games and films rather than selling hardware directly to consumers.

Still, the panels and discussions at the summit offered an interesting look at what many believe to be the eventual future of the industry. From a lunchtime interview with Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson to a Playstation Move demo (and a panel moderated by a Joystiq editor), the 3D Gaming Summit showed off a lot of guesswork, a few interesting demos, and a few big holes that will need to be filled if 3D gaming is going to ever take off.

Continue reading Finding a new dimension for gaming at the 3D Gaming Summit

JoystiqFinding a new dimension for gaming at the 3D Gaming Summit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-gaming-summit3d-gaming-summit-2010batman-arkham-asylumdave-perrydavid-coombesDSepic-gameseverquest-2gran-turismoinsomniacluis-gigliotimajesco-entertainmentmark-reinmetro-2033michael-pachtermike-actonmlb-10-the-showmortal-kombatNintendonintendo-3dspaul-ws-andersonplaystation-3resident-evilsonythqSat, 24 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mega64 shows off the Nintendo 3DS's revolutionary tech]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/mega64-shows-off-the-nintendo-3dss-revolutionary-tech/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/mega64-shows-off-the-nintendo-3dss-revolutionary-tech/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/mega64-shows-off-the-nintendo-3dss-revolutionary-tech/#comments We're not quite sure what we like best about the new video from comedy goldmine Mega64 after the break: the proposed lifelike tech behind the upcoming Nintendo 3DS (we've got our fingers crossed!) or that Korn is currently recording a new song for Haze 2. It's probably the Haze 2 thing.

Regardless, it's a great spoof on an upcoming gaming handheld we know virtually nothing about, which kinda makes the handheld the easiest thing to make fun of right now. Besides Haze, of course.

[Via Destructoid]

Continue reading Mega64 shows off the Nintendo 3DS's revolutionary tech

JoystiqMega64 shows off the Nintendo 3DS's revolutionary tech originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscomedyDSmega64Nintendonintendo-3dsspoofvideoThu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reggie Fils-Aime: Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo's next 'platform']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/reggie-fils-aime-nintendo-3ds-is-nintendos-next-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/reggie-fils-aime-nintendo-3ds-is-nintendos-next-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/reggie-fils-aime-nintendo-3ds-is-nintendos-next-platform/#comments It may sound like the obvious statement to make, but for how much Nintendo has enjoyed marginally improving its handheld over the last few years, it's a big deal. According to an interview with Businessweek, Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that the upcoming 3DS will indeed be Nintendo's next platform -- not simply another revision of its already existing DS tech.

"The Nintendo 3DS for us is our next handheld platform," Fils-Aime assures. Even though Nintendo's business is "fundamentally about software, not hardware," the new tech will be "a means to an end" -- the final goal being "a great consumer experience."

Reggie wouldn't offer anything else on the proposed new handheld, other than mentioning Nintendo's plans of debuting it at E3. We'll be there.

[Via MCV]

JoystiqReggie Fils-Aime: Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo's next 'platform' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDSinterviewNintendonintendo-3dsreggiereggie-fils-aimeTue, 13 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo stock rises following 3DS announcement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/nintendo-stock-rises-following-3ds-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/nintendo-stock-rises-following-3ds-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/nintendo-stock-rises-following-3ds-announcement/#commentsYou may have been a bit bewildered by Nintendo's out-of-nowhere announcement of a new DS a week before the North American launch of the DSi XL, but one group seems to have no issues with the timing or technology of the Nintendo 3DS: investors.

Marketwatch reports that Nintendo stock rose 9.7 percent yesterday in response to the hardware announcement. While it's hard to gauge exactly what it is about the 3DS that has inspired such confidence among investors, we would guess it's less about the current 3D trend and more about the fact that Nintendo announced a new thing, and Nintendo things have been good for stocks in the last five years or so.

JoystiqNintendo stock rises following 3DS announcement originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDSnikkeinintendonintendo-3dsstocksWed, 24 Mar 2010 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Koller says Sony keeping 3D on PS3, Nintendo 3DS is 'bit of a stretch']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/sony-keeping-3d-on-ps3-nintendo-3ds-is-bit-of-a-stretch/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/sony-keeping-3d-on-ps3-nintendo-3ds-is-bit-of-a-stretch/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/24/sony-keeping-3d-on-ps3-nintendo-3ds-is-bit-of-a-stretch/#commentsIt doesn't sound like Sony's going to jump on the 3D handheld bandwagon right away. SCEA Director of Hardware and Marketing John Koller told IGN that Sony's interest in 3D technology is limited to the PS3 -- you know, the system that can sell Bravias. "Our focus on 3D right now is on the console," Koller said. "There's a tremendous amount of opportunity on PlayStation 3 with 3D. The amount of interest in 3D from the retail side and game publishers is off the charts. We know we have a hit with 3D on PS3, and we're going to concentrate our efforts there."

While that in itself isn't a definitive dismissal of adopting whatever 3D tech is in the Nintendo 3DS for a new PSP model, Koller's followup statement makes clear his skepticism about the competitor's new strategy: "I think it remains to be seen where Nintendo goes with 3D on a portable," he said. "Having been in the portable space for quite awhile, I think it's an interesting move, but one I'd like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint. 8- and 9-year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now."

Of course, having been in the portable space for quite awhile, Koller must have some suspicion that a new DS could be a massive hit -- as Nintendo handhelds tend to be -- and create a market for 3D handhelds. In the meantime, PSP players looking for a 3D experience have the third-party V-Screen and Solid Eye peripherals at their disposal.

JoystiqKoller says Sony keeping 3D on PS3, Nintendo 3DS is 'bit of a stretch' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3dsjohn-kollernintendo-3dsWed, 24 Mar 2010 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst: 3DS will help Nintendo stave off iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/analyst-3ds-will-help-nintendo-stave-off-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/analyst-3ds-will-help-nintendo-stave-off-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/analyst-3ds-will-help-nintendo-stave-off-iphone/#commentsLazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian has said in a new report that the Nintendo 3DS system will not only increase unit sales for the DS platform (obviously), it will satisfy demands of consumers now excited about 3D technology, and help differentiate Nintendo's offerings from iPhone software. He notes that cheap iPhone games are cutting into the DS business. "However," he suggests, "with a differentiated 3D display, high quality games, and profitable business model for publishers, we believe the 3DS could help reduce the competitive threat from smartphones."

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, however, doesn't believe 3D on its own is enough -- because if that's all it is, Apple will simply copy it. "It seems that if 3D on portable devices was easy," he told CVG, "Apple would have beat them to it. If they truly pioneer a technology, my guess is that Apple will mimic the technology." That's a pretty pessimistic outlook. We're going to have to play a lot of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on our touchscreen-based handheld game console to cheer ourselves up after reading that.

JoystiqAnalyst: 3DS will help Nintendo stave off iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsApplecolin-sebastianDSiPodmichael-pachterNintendonintendo-3dsTue, 23 Mar 2010 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS said to feature 3D control stick, Sharp LCD screens; will be playable at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/3ds-said-to-feature-3d-control-stick-sharp-lcd-screens-will-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/3ds-said-to-feature-3d-control-stick-sharp-lcd-screens-will-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/3ds-said-to-feature-3d-control-stick-sharp-lcd-screens-will-be/#comments As if news of a new handheld device coming from Nintendo in the middle of the night wasn't enough, Engadget today spotted two reports out of Japanese newspapers Asahi and Nikkei detailing the 3DS' known hardware so far. Asahi claims that the handheld's 3D output (remember, sans silly glasses) comes via a "parallax barrier LCD" from Sharp, while Nikkei backs this up and adds that the device's screens will measure roughly four inches diagonally across (each).

Nikkei also claims the device will feature a "3D control stick," though this could presumably be an analog control stick, as well as rumble support and an upped battery life / speedier Wi-Fi. And while we heard last night that the device would arrive on retail shelves sometime in "Fiscal 2010" (before the end of calendar year March 2011), the report says it will arrive during the "second half of [calendar] 2010," owing the new handheld's reveal to slowing DS sales. In speaking with a representative from Nintendo of America, the New York Times confirmed that we'll get our first hands-on with the 3DS at E3 2010, so we'll get our chance to find out exactly what that hardware contains soon enough.

Source 1 - Asahi
Source 2 - Nikkei
Source 3 - The New York Times

[Via Engadget]

Joystiq3DS said to feature 3D control stick, Sharp LCD screens; will be playable at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d-control-stick3dsDSNintendoNintendo-3DSparallax-barrier-lcdsharptouchscreenTue, 23 Mar 2010 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo 3DS handheld announced, more news at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/breaking-nintendo-announces-the-3ds-more-news-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/breaking-nintendo-announces-the-3ds-more-news-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/breaking-nintendo-announces-the-3ds-more-news-at-e3/#comments A press release on Nintendo's Japanese website appears to confirm the company's next handheld console, temporarily named the "Nintendo 3DS," and said to include hardware and software that will enable "3D effects" without the need for special glasses. The console is stated to be backwards compatible with DS and DSi games and is expected to go on sale (in Japan, presumably) "during the fiscal year ending March 2011" -- so within the next year. The press release has no pictures or other information, and save for the fact that it appears as a file on Nintendo's website, there's no other official word about the new hardware.

There are a few dots to connect, however: 3D gaming is on the rise, and a few other companies have also experimented with head tracking as a way to implement 3D effects. Nintendo's own Satoru Iwata hasn't been impressed with 3D gaming in the past, but his issue is with the glasses, not the technology. "I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home," he said recently. We've also heard that the next handheld would have a "movement sensor" of some kind, so if Nintendo really has designed a head-tracking 3D solution, then maybe the console is ready to go. The press release, which you can read after the break in full, says we'll see more at E3, so stay tuned.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Source -- Nintendo (PDF)

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS handheld announced, more news at E3

JoystiqNintendo 3DS handheld announced, more news at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-gaming3dsDSdsihandheldhardwarehead-trackingnintendonintendo-3dsrelease-datesatoru-iwataTue, 23 Mar 2010 03:44:00 EST