Joystiq

Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary shirt is a real treasure, for a limited time

Mike Schramm — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:15:00 EST

You enter the quiet, overgrown cavern by pushing open the heavy stone door with all your might. Inside, sunlight streams through the broken ceiling, and dust that hasn't been disturbed in hundreds of years lazily floats through the air, shaken up by your entrance. The sunbeams land on the summit of a small set of stairs, where an ornate, red and gold chest sits, teasing and waiting for you to open it.

You do. As you crack open the ancient treasury, a small fanfare plays, starting quietly and then opening up into a triumphant series of simple notes, telling you that you have finally done it. The item you pull out of the centuries-old coffer is fine treasure indeed.

It's a shirt, adorned with some kind of legendary logo, a heart container tag, and the number "25" on the back. It's available in five sizes, for a special one-time only printing. Order now, before February 20, 2012, to get it sometime this May. You fold the shirt into your leather pack, and move on through the dungeon -- who knows what fearsome beast you might have to use this on, three different times, to defeat it?

Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary shirt is a real treasure, for a limited time originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now you can exchange Club Nintendo Coins for games

JC Fletcher — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

If your home is already full to bursting with Mario paraphernalia, you'll be delighted to learn that you can exchange your Club Nintendo Coins for downloadable games. Nintendo is featuring a rotating selection of WiiWare, Virtual Console, DSiWare, and eShop downloads offered on the North American Club Nintendo site.

Through January 10, your choices include Super Mario Kart (100 Coins), 3D Classics: Xevious (100 Coins), Fluidity (150 Coins), and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again (150 Coins). In a way, this is really cheap as it trades illusory fun money for games -- but in another way, it's outrageously expensive as said fun money is only acquired through the for-real purchase of multiple games.

Those of you with more space for swag have new reward options as well: three different, adorable Mario notebooks, and a Zelda poster set.

Now you can exchange Club Nintendo Coins for games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto: Retro could handle a Zelda game, smartphones aren't competition

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:15:00 EST

The full transcript of Wired's interview with Shigeru Miyamoto -- in which the industry legend triggered some panic over his future -- has been posted. Surprisingly, that pseudo-retirement news isn't even the juiciest angle; Miyamoto also discussed the company's troubled recent past, as well as its potentially Miyamoto-less future.

He explained that Nintendo's goals this generation have focused on "the expanding of the gaming population," a task which would seemingly put them at odds with the ever-increasing smartphone market. Miyamoto posits that his company isn't "directly competing" with phones; rather, both might just have increased the size of the gaming market, and "expanded the definition of videogames" themselves.

In the more recent past (last week, in fact), Nintendo launched the Retro-developed Mario Kart 7 for 3DS, a project which Miyamoto said succeeded due to its multicultural development approach. "We were able to join forces in order to realize a variety of different courses, a variety of different tastes," he explained. "I think that's one reason how it worked out well between a Japanese development team and a Western development team."

It seems Retro has earned the games industry maven's trust, as Miyamoto added, "As you know, we have already collaborated with Retro for the Metroid Prime series in the past. And I think when we talk about any other franchise, Zelda might be a possible franchise for that collaboration." We think we speak for everyone when we shout in support of this idea while doing fist pumps into the air. Check out the full interview for more on the future of Zelda, the 3DS, the Wii U and the other pies Miyamoto's got his fingers in.

Miyamoto: Retro could handle a Zelda game, smartphones aren't competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword review: Such great heights

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a game that is going to mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For the base which took hold of Nintendo's initial vision for the Wii console, imagining future games where the controller in your hand was -- hey! -- not a controller, but the Master Sword itself; it is that. For those who simply imagined a narrative evolution of the long, long-stagnant Hylian franchise, it is that, too. For Wii owners who just want something to play, it is that as well. It must be that.

As the flagship component of the Zelda franchise's 25th Anniversary, you couldn't ask for a better identikit of the series. As it moves through the all-too-familiar cycle of temples, tools and time-travel, it touches on the franchise's lowest points, adopts its most stellar attributes and, at frequent intervals, taps into a kind of magic that no game ever has before.

Continue reading The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword review: Such great heights

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword review: Such great heights originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword media sets the scene

David Hinkle — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:20:00 EST

Link, a young boy from the floating island of Skyloft, sets out on a journey to find his childhood friend in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Both he and Zelda ultimately find themselves on a destined mission handed down by an ancient goddess. At Link's side is a magical sword possessing the spirit of Fi, a servant and aid sent by the goddess herself.

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (9/29/11)

Continue reading Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword media sets the scene

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword media sets the scene originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$70 Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle includes gold Wii Remote Plus

JC Fletcher — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:20:00 EST

You'll need a MotionPlus or Wii Remote Plus to play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. If you don't already have one, don't worry: Nintendo will offer the game in a $69.99 bundle, which includes the limited-edition gold Wii Remote Plus first seen at E3. If you don't want the fancy (and exclusive) Wiimote, the game will still be available as a standalone, for $49.99.

The initial print run of both versions, out November 20, will include a CD of performances from the upcoming Zelda 25th anniversary concert. So don't make too much noise when you go to that concert, or you'll ruin our CD. Thanks!

Continue reading $70 Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle includes gold Wii Remote Plus

$70 Zelda: Skyward Sword bundle includes gold Wii Remote Plus originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo celebrates Zelda's 25th with new website

David Hinkle — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:40:00 EST

To celebrate 25 years of Octorok abuse, Nintendo has launched a commemorative website. The Zelda 25th Anniversary site is home to a mess of goodies aimed at your nostalgia core, including an interactive history of the series, some wallpapers and a video of the 2011 E3 keynote where a live symphony played music from the games.

For you more artistic types, Nintendo is also asking for your Zelda-themed Flipnote Studios animations, with the best entries receiving top billing on the Zelda 25th site. You can also send in a paper drawing, if you prefer, but we don't know if that'll actually make it onto the site. Flipnote Studios, as you may recall, is available as a free download on the DSi and DSi XL. Nintendo will take submissions from now on through September 9.

The 25th Anniversary site is live right now, so click over if you're looking to take a trip down memory lane. Or, if you're like us and have had enough, feel free to sign our petition. If we don't help the Octorok, who will?!

Nintendo celebrates Zelda's 25th with new website originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With Wii U, Mario will use two screens and Zelda won't look like this

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST

Yoshiaki Koizumi, producer of the Super Mario series, has his team working on a new Mario game for the Wii U, even though he didn't know what Nintendo's new console would even look like prior to its unveiling at E3. In an interview with Wired, Koizumi said now that he knows what the Wii U can do, he wants to "create a console game where two people are playing at the same time but can't see each others' screens." You know, much like how the internet operates, but without all those messy tubes.

Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma also spilled some secrets about the HD demo Nintendo used to show off its new graphics -- mainly, don't believe everything you see. "You probably remember that when we introduced the GameCube, we showed a somewhat realistic Zelda demo," Aonuma said. "And what we actually created was the cel-shaded Wind Waker. So when we show a graphic demo, people think, 'Oh, this is what the next Zelda will look like,' but that's not necessarily the case." Secrets and lies, Nintendo. Secrets and lies.

With Wii U, Mario will use two screens and Zelda won't look like this originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New HD Zelda hinted for Wii U

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

During the last few seconds on Nintendo's Wii U announcement video, we caught a quick glimpse of what looked like a new Zelda title, in which Link fought a massive, hairy spider. Game Informer is now reporting that it was indeed real-time footage. Nintendo wouldn't confirm whether or not an actual game is in development, but we'd say it's more than probable.

New HD Zelda hinted for Wii U originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's music hides a secret in plain sound

JC Fletcher — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:40:00 EST

Here's something for all the Zelda continuity conspiracy theorists. FPAwesome was reversing the sound on YouTube videos one day, as we all do when bored, and discovered a big secret in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's GDC 2011 trailer. The background music, which sounds at first like a totally original composition, is actually "Zelda's Lullaby" in reverse! GoNintendo extracted just the audio, which you can hear after the break.

Is it a clue about the storyline of Skyward Sword, or is it the work of a playful composer? That's another one for the conspiracy theorists, as is the possibility that the back-masked music is a form of mind control.

[Thanks, Sean]

Continue reading The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's music hides a secret in plain sound

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's music hides a secret in plain sound originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 May 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protect your slingshots with an authentic Zelda treasure chest (with sound!)

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

Are you looking for a quick-and-easy storage solution for the adventure-ready knick-knacks you've got laying around the house? Oh, sure, you could probably just tuck that slingshot, Deku stick and empty bottle into any old Rubbermaid tub, but if you're looking for a more authentic way to put things into other things you need a real-life Legend of Zelda treasure chest, complete with brief musical interlude. (You know the one.)

You can follow the instructions posted on Instructables to make your own Hylian lockbox, and check out the video after the jump to see (and hear!) it in action. Just be sure that you make everything to scale -- if you make the chest too large, you're going to have to put something way more awesome in it.

Continue reading Protect your slingshots with an authentic Zelda treasure chest (with sound!)

Protect your slingshots with an authentic Zelda treasure chest (with sound!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reggie admits that Nintendo is 'juggling two big balls'

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST

Speaking to IGN on the current state of the Wii -- which has seen few first party releases lately -- Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime admitted that the company has "pushed out some Wii launches so that [Nintendo] could focus on our handheld business." Fils-Aime was referring to the launches of Pokemon Black/White and the 3DS, saying that Nintendo is "already juggling two big balls" and that adding more to the company's plate would have proven "a little bit challenging."

Fils-Aime reassured Wii owners that "there's content coming, and we'll be sharing more, certainly, in the weeks ahead." He added that there will be new content released before E3 and that there will be "more news" revealed at the expo this June.

Finally, Fils-Aime teased The Legend of Zelda's impending 25th anniversary, which was briefly mentioned by Satoru Iwata during Nintendo's GDC keynote earlier this month. "All I can tell you," said Fils-Aime, "is that it will be different than what we did for Mario, and it will be just as special." If it's anything other than free ocarinas, we'll be disappointed.

Continue reading Reggie admits that Nintendo is 'juggling two big balls'

Reggie admits that Nintendo is 'juggling two big balls' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peach and Zelda come down with a case of Stockholm Syndrome

David Hinkle — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST

Even outside of being recognizable and beloved Nintendo royalty, Peach and Zelda have a lot in common: They've both grown quite contemptuous of their heroic better halves. In their defense, we can't imagine living without central air, either. It's the little things in life, people.

Continue reading Peach and Zelda come down with a case of Stockholm Syndrome

Peach and Zelda come down with a case of Stockholm Syndrome originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zelda and Peach are a bit more outgoing in this new music video

David Hinkle — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST

While we find the promiscuous portrayal of Princess Peach and Zelda in this music video for "8-bit Ho" unfaithful to the real-life heroines, we're still compelled to give props: Patrick Donahue's rap is a catchy reflection on having your Heart Container broken.

Continue reading Zelda and Peach are a bit more outgoing in this new music video

Zelda and Peach are a bit more outgoing in this new music video originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube musician covers Zelda's Song of Healing on wine glasses

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:00:00 EST

Don't ask us why, but this time of year, we love watching YouTube users' creative takes on musical themes from Zelda games -- and they don't get much more creative than Sp0ntanius' wine glass rendition of Majora's Mask's "Song of Healing." It's watchable in the video posted below.

Continue reading YouTube musician covers Zelda's Song of Healing on wine glasses

YouTube musician covers Zelda's Song of Healing on wine glasses originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First 4 Figures reveals Wolf Link and Midna statue

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST

First 4 Figures has returned to challenge gamers' budgeting skills with another high-end statue: this time The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess's Midna, riding Wolf Link. The 15-inch figure, shipping in the second quarter of 2011, is available to order in two options: a $330 "regular" edition or a $350 "exclusive" edition, which adds a light-up feature to Midna's hair.

If you pre-order a statue before January 1, you can get it a little cheaper. A F4F newsletter on the topic features pre-order coupon codes good for $25 off the regular version or $30 off the "exclusive" glowy one. If you use a coupon, you can also maybe convince yourself that you're being thrifty when buying a $300-plus toy.

First 4 Figures reveals Wolf Link and Midna statue originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Haunted' Majora's Mask cartridge detailed, on video

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:54:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is already a rather creepy game. The darkest iteration of the franchise yet, MM's tale of a world constantly on the verge of ending is oftentimes haunting. But what if the cartridge were actually haunted? What would the game look like?

A tale credited to Jadusable has been chronicled on Creepy + Pasta. The story begins with a mysterious shop keeper and an odd cartridge -- "It was the standard grey color, except that someone had written Majora on it in black permanent marker." Given away for free, the recipient played through the game without a problem; the only noticeable glitch involved NPCs calling him BEN, the name assigned to the cartridge's first save file.

Activating the Day 4 glitch, however, spawned a number of odd, unexplainable events that only a ghost (or a very determined hacker) could produce. One of the game's most iconic lines -- "You've met with a horrible fate, haven't you?" -- repeats throughout the eerie series of events, chronicled on YouTube. Who is BEN? And what could this all mean?

Continue reading 'Haunted' Majora's Mask cartridge detailed, on video

'Haunted' Majora's Mask cartridge detailed, on video originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Existence of a secret master timeline for the Zelda universe confirmed

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

First and foremost, that headline is the most skin-crawlingly nerdy thing we've ever committed to virtual paper, and we write about video games professionally on a daily basis. Moving on.

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine (as transcribed by ZeldaDungeon), Eiji Aonuma commented on the placement of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in the oft-speculated timeline of the franchise. More notable than the game's positioning was Aonuma's confirmation of an overarching Zelda timeline -- though he explained that it's a "confidential document" to which only "myself, Mr. Miyamoto and the director of the title" have access.

Aonuma revealed that Skyward Sword comes before Ocarina of Time in said timeline, but wouldn't comment on whether it's the first game in the chronological series. He explained, "for us to add titles to the series, we have to have a way of putting the titles before or after each other," hence the secrecy. That makes sense -- as long as they're all comfortable with the swirling, black morass of insanity that's surfaced due to their reticence.

Existence of a secret master timeline for the Zelda universe confirmed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

JC Fletcher — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:45:00 EST

Nintendo may be looking to shake things up with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, in terms of visuals and interface, but in every other way, the demo I played at Nintendo's E3 booth was the same Zelda we've seen for twelve years, with some hints of bigger changes behind the curtain that couldn't quite be discerned from where I was.

Continue reading Preview: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Preview: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer is eye-meltingly colorful

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:34:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We know it's hard for you to stay excited about the new Zelda when the remake of the best Zelda was just teased -- nevertheless, the debut gameplay trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is waiting for you just past the jump. Check out the Twilight Princess-meets-Wind Waker aesthetics, and witness some of the new tools of Link's trade. Which is, of course, Ganon-slaying.

You can look forward to the write-up of our hands-on time with Skyward Sword later this week.

Continue reading Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer is eye-meltingly colorful

Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer is eye-meltingly colorful originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword revealed and detailed

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:17:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

As promised by Cammie earlier this year, Nintendo's E3 press conference brought the first solid details on the next installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise, subtitled Skyward Sword. The brief trailer for the game shown during the Nintendo E3 press conference featured far more vivid visuals than those of Twilight Princess, but with a very similar UI.

It also features a new control scheme, which uses the MotionPlus peripheral for more direct swordplay, and the Nunchuck for more direct ... shieldplay. There's no actual aiming the game's ranged tools using the WiiMote pointer -- everything appears to be motion-based. Unfortunately, the press conference tech demo seems to be experiencing some "technical difficulties." Hopefully we'll have better luck when we try the game out on the E3 show floor.

New items (which appear on a new radial menu) include a remote-controlled beetle, which you can use to collect faraway objects, and a whip, which you ... can use to collect faraway items. Man, Link has gotten really lazy, hasn't he? Miyamoto announced that the game will be available next year, at which point Link's stationary lifestyle should have transformed the typically lean hero into a slovenly mess.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword revealed and detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zelda 2 remade in ... first-person

JC Fletcher — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you just can't deal with Zelda as a side-scroller, good news: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link has been remade in 3D! Credit goes to one Michael A. Johnston, who designed this fan remake as a Unity-based game that you can play right in your browser. Zelda II FPS is an impressive feat, combining authentic 8-bit textures with brand new 3D models of all the creatures and environments.

It's also freaking impossible. Even the once docile slime enemies are now dangerous, since you can't tell when there are three of them right behind you. Enjoy being murdered repeatedly by weak enemies, for now, before Nintendo catches wind of this project -- which it will, now that people like us are telling everybody -- and likely shuts it down. Sorry!

[Via Kombo]

Zelda 2 remade in ... first-person originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet heroes help blind gamer beat Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

Man, we hope your hearts are wearing some light, loose-fitting clothing, because they're about to get warmed. CNN recently aired a video report on mild-mannered Roy Williams, a young man whose love of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is surpassed only by his love of doing awesome, considerate things. Like, for instance, playing Ocarina of Time blindfolded, and writing a guide on how to play the game by only using sound clues, so that a visually impaired gamer living in another country can topple Ganon's tyrannical reign.

Transcribing OoT in this manner took Williams and "three other diehard gamers" two years, but allowed Jordan Verner, a blind gamer living in Ontario, to finish the game for the first time. If that doesn't make you just a little verklempt, then you probably have robot parts where your heart should be.

[Thanks Kevin!]

Internet heroes help blind gamer beat Zelda: Ocarina of Time originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dunaway hints at new Zelda in 2010, unsure about Xenoblade and The Last Story

JC Fletcher — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

As if Satoru Iwata's pronouncement of a 2010 release date for -- let's call it -- "New Legend of Zelda" wasn't exciting enough, Nintendo of America's Cammie Dunaway referenced a similar timeline for the upcoming Wii game at the Nintendo Media Summit this week. Speaking to GameLife, Dunaway said, "If you compare the first half of 2010 with the first half of 2009, it's night and day. And from some of the things that Mr. Iwata has talked about, and things that we will talk about at E3, like Zelda, you know that we're going to have a good back half of the year, as well." So then, Zelda in the back half of 2010? Yes, please.

In regards to North American releases of RPGs Xenoblade and The Last Story, Dunaway somewhat baffling said, "It's too early to say whether we're going to bring those here" -- even though Nintendo of America already announced Xenoblade back at E3 2009 when it was called Monado: Beginning of the World. It's possible Dunaway simply misspoke, or she just forgot about Monado -- like everyone else in the world.

Gallery: Monado: Beginning of the World

Dunaway hints at new Zelda in 2010, unsure about Xenoblade and The Last Story originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aonuma hopes to show 'playable' build of new Zelda at E3

David Hinkle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:20:00 EST

The latest carrot to be dangled before the teeming mass of The Legend of Zelda fans comes from a recent interview in Famitsu magazine, via Andriasang. There, director Eiji Aonuma says he hopes that Nintendo will be able to "show something playable" at E3. What? That's, like, four years ahead of schedule! We jest, but it's not like Nintendo really needs to rush anything. It's The Legend of Zelda. You want it, even if it's supposed to be different this time around.

Aonuma wouldn't provide much in terms of how far along the game has come, other than talking up the MotionPlus support and stating the team has "progressed in development since last year" and that the "core areas have come into clear view." We take that to mean the team has finished rendering Hyrule Field.

Aonuma hopes to show 'playable' build of new Zelda at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ninty News promo video says Zelda Wii coming this year

David Hinkle — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:29:00 EST

Here in the States, we get a weekly dose of Nintendo marketing via Nintendo Week, a sponsored program that runs on the Nintendo Channel. Over in the UK, they get a similar program: Ninty News. Yeah, we're not big fans of the name, either.

In this week's episode, the spotlight is cast on the upcoming year in gaming on Nintendo platforms. Games like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Epic Mickey are discussed, as well as -- wait, did he just say The Legend of Zelda on the Wii would release this year? Rambling Rupees, we think he did!

You can see the entire episode of -- ugh -- Ninty News past the break. The brief mention of Zelda Wii is a little past the one-minute mark.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Continue reading Ninty News promo video says Zelda Wii coming this year

Ninty News promo video says Zelda Wii coming this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Zelda Wii to be Majora's Mask sequel

Mike Schramm — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

Let's get this straight: There are rumors about video games, and then there are crazy internet rumors about video games that are so intriguing you can't help but get excited about them, even though you don't believe they're anything more than products of an overactive fan imagination. This post is about the second kind.

Information has bubbled up from the Japanese 2chan message board about the new Wii Zelda game and, while 2chan's record on rumors hasn't been bad (they've broken information on Japanese anime, Resident Evil and other games that later turned out to be true), these rumors are crazy. Like Majora's Mask crazy. See what we mean after the break.

Continue reading Rumor: Zelda Wii to be Majora's Mask sequel

Rumor: Zelda Wii to be Majora's Mask sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iwata: DS2 to feature movement sensor, new Wii Zelda coming 2010

JC Fletcher — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has offered the first concrete information about the next DS system -- as in, not the next revision of the current DS, but the true next Nintendo handheld system -- in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. "[It will have] highly detailed graphics," Iwata said, "and it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing." Sort of like the iPhone, yes, but Nintendo isn't exactly an also-ran in the field of motion-controlled gaming. Iwata declined to specify a release window for this DS2 -- or a better name than our suggestion.

Iwata also addressed potential service changes for both the current DS network and its successor, suggesting that there would be no "monthly service plan" offered for games. He indicated that Nintendo was looking to increase the number of businesses that host DS Wi-Fi hotspots instead of supporting a 3G-like service (à la Kindle or iPhone) for the DS. The "Mac de DS" service Nintendo provides in partnership with McDonald's offers free wireless connections for the handheld, along with exclusive downloadable content.

In Wii news, Iwata dropped one bomb that will delight fans ... and one that will probably initiate eyerolls. First, the good news: The new Zelda game -- sort of revealed at E3 last year -- is scheduled for release by the end of 2010. And now, that other news: The Wii Vitality Sensor, the bizarre biofeedback attachment also unveiled at E3, will be released somewhere in the neighborhood of July, following a press conference about the device.

[Via Kotaku]

Iwata: DS2 to feature movement sensor, new Wii Zelda coming 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Aonuma pitched Link's Crossbow Training 2

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Aside from efforts like The Conduit and Call of Duty: World at War, Nintendo's Wii hasn't exactly enjoyed a glut of capable FPS titles. According to a recent interview with games[TM] (via NowGamer), Zelda director Eiji Aonuma recognizes this -- and sees great potential for fixing that problem in Link's Crossbow Training, the pack-in minigame included with the Wii Zapper. "To tell you the truth, I actually wanted to create Link's Crossbow Training 2 ... I thought that we should do something more and better in the field of the first-person shooter." Wait, haven't we heard this before?

Unfortunately for Aonuma, the execs above him at Nintendo didn't think much of the idea, nixing it in favor of a completely new entry in the Zelda series. "I was thinking that maybe we could intensify the multiplayer mode ... [but] a lot of people inside Nintendo insisted that I should work on a new Legend of Zelda title." We're sorry about that, Mr. Aonuma! And to the Nintendo executives who killed a sequel to Link's Crossbow Training, we'd like to personally thank you.

Nintendo's Aonuma pitched Link's Crossbow Training 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo's Aonuma: Majora's Mask the result of Miyamoto challenge

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

[Image credit: Rich Lem]

Eiji Aonuma has spent a lot of time developing Legend of Zelda games. In fact, he's been in a managerial role on the franchise ever since the series' arguably most popular installment, The Ocarina of Time. So when Mario creator (and his boss) Shigeru Miyamoto asked Aonuma and his team to develop an "Ura Zelda" (a flipped version of Ocarina of Time -- what would eventually become the Master Quest), Aonuma protested. Miyamoto's compromise, though, instead turned out to be a much greater challenge -- produce a sequel to OoT within one year.

"We were supposed to make its sequel in a year ... at first, we had absolutely no idea what sort of thing we were supposed to make, and we just kept expanding our plans," Aonuma told Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata during a recent Iwata Asks column."in the beginning, it was all trial and error ... ultimately, we adopted the 'three-day system,' and made it so that, if you couldn't clear the game inside of three days, the world was destroyed." Aonuma claims this concept was what allowed Majora's Mask to be created and released just 18 months after OoT came out. He also adds that lessons he learned from the development of Majora's Mask -- from having to remember a sequence of events in order to proceed, to "deep, compact play" -- helped to shape the development of the most recent Zelda release, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

We'd like to say that Aonuma will have a break from the series after serving as producer on Spirit Tracks, but he's the man in charge of the upcoming LoZ game for the Wii. We're sorry, Mr. Aonuma! Keep on truckin'!

[Via Gamasutra]

Nintendo's Aonuma: Majora's Mask the result of Miyamoto challenge originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Introducing the Spirit Tower in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

JC Fletcher — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arcade

The latest trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, featuring what appears to be the game's introduction, highlights what is certain to be one of the most bemoaned features of the new game: the Tower of Spirits. Yes, like Phantom Hourglass, this game has a central dungeon area to which you'll return throughout the game, though players will be able to skip areas they have already completed this time.

The trailer also seems to suggest that all the train tracks are magical shackles placed on the ground to imprison an evil presence. So that's why there are train tracks around! We would have guessed "interstate commerce."

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Introducing the Spirit Tower in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zelda producer teases surprises for next title at E3 2010

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Our absolute favorite thing about the Zelda series is how much it saves us on strategy guides. See, you can pretty much follow the walkthrough for Link to the Past to beat every installment in the franchise released thereafter. (Get the sword! Get the shield! Beat the Forest Temple! Get the power bracelet! Beat the Fire Temple!) However, in a recent interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed that we can expect some big changes from the franchise's next iteration -- changes which he hopes will be revealed during next year's E3 showcase.

Aonuma explained that, in order to try and keep the series fresh, he and Shigeru Miyamoto "have been trying something new in terms of the structure of the Wii version of the new Zelda game this time." You know what that means. They're going to put the Fire Temple before the Forest Temple. We're kidding, of course -- that's just crazy talk.

Zelda producer teases surprises for next title at E3 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 'hasn't committed' to new Zelda for Wii in 2010

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

We all know that home console Zelda games take longer to develop than most small, fledgling nations -- still, we'd secretly hoped that Nintendo would pull a hat trick next year, releasing new Wii installments in the Metroid, Mario and the aforementioned Triforce-centric series. Sadly, a recent quote from Reggie Fils-Aime has made us doubtful that this scenario will be realized -- speaking on GameTrailers TV, Fils-Aime explained that Nintendo hasn't "committed to Zelda for 2010."

So, feel free to keep that hope in your heart that you'll be Ganon-thwarting once more within the next 365 days -- but don't get too upset if it doesn't happen. Much like a college-aged Lothario, Nintendo's remaining non-committal. You might say the company's as free as a bird, darling -- and this bird, you cannot change.

Nintendo 'hasn't committed' to new Zelda for Wii in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto: Next Zelda will use MotionPlus for more realistic swordplay

Randy Nelson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Nintendo's resident legend, Shigeru Miyamoto, has revealed that the next installment in the Legend of Zelda series on Wii will make use of Wii MotionPlus for more realistic sword combat and targeting. "In this (installment of the series), we're using MotionPlus to make you feel much more like you're actually fighting while holding a sword in your hand," Miyamoto disclosed during an October 30 Q&A session, as translated by GameLife.

"In the previous game, you aimed at things by pointing at the screen, but this time we'll use MotionPlus to create a much more convenient targeting system and a more pleasurable playing experience," Miyamoto added.

Despite these revelations, Nintendo has yet to officially state whether Wii MotionPlus will be an option or a requirement for playing the game. When this next Zelda was announced during E3 2009, Miyamoto could only say that MotionPlus-exclusivity was "possible." These gameplay elements -- especially the swordplay -- only make it seem more likely.

[Via GameLife]

Miyamoto: Next Zelda will use MotionPlus for more realistic swordplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto: Next Legend of Zelda won't be 'radically different'

David Hinkle — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EST

If you subscribe to Nintendo Power, the latest issue should be arriving at your house very soon -- Aeropause has the scoop on some details on Nintendo's upcoming lineup from the issue. Most important to folks reading this text is likely what Miyamoto had to say regarding the new Legend of Zelda game, announced back at E3: "I don't think it's going to be that radically different." But, what about the theory of the girl being the Master Sword? Surely that is radically different!

In typical Nintendo fashion, that's all Miyamoto had to say. He left us hanging to speculate, and we're sure most will be able to turn this appetizer of a quote into a five-course meal.

[Via Videogamer]

Miyamoto: Next Legend of Zelda won't be 'radically different' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zelda art from developer roundtable released

JC Fletcher — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST

At his developer roundtable event, Shigeru Miyamoto sprang artwork from the next Legend of Zelda game on us. It killed us to be unable to share the image with you, because photography was prohibited. No exaggeration -- we died, and we've returned to the earth to (haunt people and) write about it.

Now you can look at it without being locked in a room with Miyamoto. It looks Twilight Princess-esque, but upon closer inspection, the character in front of the (surprisingly menacing-looking) Link looks less like a Zora than we originally thought. Inspect the full image after the break.

Continue reading Zelda art from developer roundtable released

Zelda art from developer roundtable released originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto: Zelda Wii coming in 2010, at the earliest

Christopher Grant — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST

Wondering where the in-development Zelda for Wii was at this morning's Nintendo E3 keynote? At an invite-only developers event with Shigeru Miyamoto, the revered designer confirmed that the title wouldn't see release until at least 2010. "We hope to bring it to you next year but it may take a little longer," he said through a translator. "To be honest, at E3 we wanted to announce a new Zelda game for Wii." Unfortunately, that desire didn't earn the title a spot in Nintendo's keynote and it was instead relegated to the developers event. He also said that the title could "possibly" be a Motion Plus exclusive - though if he's not sure, we don't know who would be.

The "announcement" included artwork - we weren't allowed to take pictures of (sorry!) - which was Twilight Princess-esque, featuring Link and a female Zora character. Here's the bad news: the more astute amongst you may remember that Miyamoto took the opportunity at last year's E3 developer's event to reveal a new Pikmin title for Wii in development (not the Wiimake) and, almost a year and two major keynotes later, we've yet to hear about it again.

Miyamoto: Zelda Wii coming in 2010, at the earliest originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop CEO: PS3, Wii could drop price, 'key' Nintendo title coming this year

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:25:00 EST

For once, someone at GameStop wants customers to be able to pay less. Of course, the items CEO Dan DeMatteo thinks are overpriced happen to be consoles, which don't have much of a retail markup -- so dropping the price on them would only give consumers more to spend on stuff with bigger markups.

The console most in need of a cut, according to CNBC's interview with DeMatteo? The PlayStation 3. "That price point is clearly an issue in this economy," DeMatteo said of the $399 PS3 price. And DeMatteo would prefer a $100 cut over a $50 cut when it does happen (which CNBC thinks will obviously be this E3). "I don't know that $50 gets you that much," DeMatteo said.

The executive also sees the possibility for a Wii price drop as soon as demand drops. "I think [demand for] the Wii could slow down to the extent that Nintendo may want to cut the price," he says. "Nintendo has it within its arsenal to do that. The component costs have come down considerably. They used to break even on the Wii, but now they're making a considerable margin."

If DeMatteo's prediction of a "key" Nintendo game out this year is true (and if it turns out to be a Wii game), the demand may stay steady. The CEO told CNBC, "They haven't given us any insight, but they have told us to reserve [shelf] space." Both CNBC and IGN speculate that it could be a new Wii Zelda. What about the Zelda game that we already know is coming out? Nintendo already told us about one. And it's coming out on a console with better sales than the Wii. Doesn't that count?

[Image: Penny Arcade]

GameStop CEO: PS3, Wii could drop price, 'key' Nintendo title coming this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Patent hints at casual Zelda title

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, RPGs

If you feel like a bit of light reading, you might want to turn your attention to a patent recently filed by one Shigeru Miyamoto for a "computer-readable storage medium." Sounds thrilling, right? However, the "medium" in question isn't what has had speculators buzzing for the past 24 hours -- the game which is referenced in the patent as an example for how the medium will be implemented is mysteriously titled Legend of OO. We wouldn't blame you for jumping to pointy-eared, Hylian conclusions.

NeoGAF's and CVG's analysis of the uber-verbose patent ultimately points to a handful of gameplay features that would make the next Zelda title more casual audience-friendly. These include hint videos which would be embedded into the game, which would unlock when the player gets stuck on a particular puzzle for a set amount of time; a "digest" mode which would show the game's important cinematics and gameplay sequences, giving the player the opportunity to take control of the game at any point; and a "scene menu" which would let the player choose exactly where to jump into the story.

This speculation is supported by Miyamoto's expressed wishes to make future Wii Zelda titles more accessible to a broader audience (this sentiment seems echoed in the patent itself) -- but keep in mind that Nintendo doesn't always cash in on every patent it owns. Also, the Legend of OO title described in the patent could just have been an example, not an actual game in development. Even if it is, we can't be certain that OO doesn't stand for, like, Nintendogs or something.

Rumor: Patent hints at casual Zelda title originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst predicts new Zelda game in 2009

Jason Dobson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

Here's a little-known fact: If industry analysts go too long without foretelling something - anything - they break out in a nasty case of hives. That may be why Lazard Capital Markets' Colin Sebastian has come forward with his latest prediction, namely that Nintendo will release a new Zelda game for the Wii sometime in 2009.

While anticipating "potentially fewer hit titles" across the board next year, the soothsayer notes to Gamespot that his prophecy for a follow-up to Twilight Princess, as well as a new "Princess Peach adventure," is little more than guesswork at this point. Traditionally, Nintendo has released just a single principle Zelda title per console cycle, though given that the last game started life on the GameCube gives Sebastian's prediction a bit more weight, if only slightly. As for us, we gave up trying to read Nintendo's body language a long time ago, and have just resigned ourselves to take the waggles as they come.

Analyst predicts new Zelda game in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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