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Wii U OS Will Be Huge

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:57:44 -0700

More juicy rumors on the Wii U seem to sprout every day. E3 is just 2 weeks away but the wait will seem like 2 months. Today we hears some news on what to expect from the OS of Wii U, some very positive and exciting rumors. What do you make of it?

- Wii U OS has an element that is 'huge, surely never seen before on a normal home system'
- Nintendo reserved a certain amount of memory (at least 512MB to be clear) for the Wii U OS
- looks to be the biggest software layer seen on this kind of platform
OS may to see some tweaks/cuts to free up more memory for devs

If these rumors hold true, the operating system of Wii U alone will be as big as the entire Wii NAND. I would guess it would look similar to the 3DS but capable of so much more. Can’t wait to be surprised.

LINK

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

Rumor :: New StarFox May Show At E3

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:34:02 -0700

When the 3DS arrived last year one of the biggest reasons for the slow start was a lack of AAA games available. As for Wii U, we’ve heard many rumors, and even from Nintendo themselves, that the big games will be ready at launch. Could this new rumor be true that a new StarFox will be shown? Also would Nintendo pass this franchise off to Retro? Another recent rumor says Rare’s upcoming project will be massive. Is StarFox considered massive enough to be labeled as such? I think a StarFox at launch would be a first for the franchise and would definitely start the Wii U off on the right foot. Combined with new Mario and things are already starting to look good.

LINK

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Voice Chat Is Ready To Go On Wii U

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:09:19 -0700

We have another batch of new and slightly old rumors on Wii U, but the one that stands out that should be a given and good news to boot is the voice chat system up and running. Wii Speak never took off and two big reasons why were because it wasn’t part of the system at launch and only a handful of games supported it. With Wii U each tablet controller will have a camera, mic and speakers right out of the box. This will encourage developers to include support for voice chat in their games and quite possibly we could see something like the Wii Speak Channel. This time around everyone will be on board and with the camera we probably will get a video feed to go with the audio. Here are the rest of the recent rumors.

- Wii U models at E3 2011 and CES 2011 didn't house optical drives
- games were put onto SD cards
- E3 2012 will see Wii U games off of SD cards and USB thumb drives
- Wii U size may have changed slightly, but in what direction we do not know
- redesigned Zapper and Classic Controller are being prepared
- Nintendo-branded HDMI cable is also being prepared
- Retro's project will be shown at E3 2012 and is 'massive'
- Wii U camera may have been upgraded to .7MP
- voice chat is up and running
- lots of Wii U/3DS software at Nintendo's E3 2012 booth
if there are any other last-minute mods to the Wii U, EA and Ubisoft are the only 3rd parties to know

LINK

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

First Ever 3DS Game Patch Available Now

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:34:34 -0700

Nintendo taking online seriously has brought about the very first 3DS game patch for Mario Kart 7. The update available now in the eShop will correct some issues on 3 tracks in the online portion of the game that allowed racers to cheat, specifically Maka Wuhu. On this track players were allowed to skip most of the race using a secret shortcut that frustrated players trying to enjoy it fairly. Now the only way to play the game online is after you download the patch. Fixes to Wuhu Island Loop and Bowser Castle 1 will also take place with the patch. Reports of cheaters quitting in the middle of the race after finding the shortcuts not working are buzzing the interwebs already. To that I say good.

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

New Nintendo Selects Titles Coming Soon

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:22:38 -0700

If you thought the integration of Pikmin with motion control was a match made in heaven, get ready for another dose. Pikmin 2, along with Mario Power Tennis, will be the latest Nintendo Selects titles to arrive on the Wii June 10 for only $20. It’s also rare when first party titles see a drop in price which is why I should mention that Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Donkey Kong Country Returns are now available for only $30. This is a trend I’d like to see Nintendo continue. After a game has run its course at standard retail price, sell it cheaper. It helps reignite sales and frustrates used game sales, which I know some developers discourage. Get out there and bask in the savings!

LINK

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

More Hints That Monster Hunter Is On The Way

Fri, 11 May 2012 23:12:47 -0700

Fans of the Monster Hunter franchise in North America have been hounding Capcom lately for news of another Monster Hunter game coming to the states. Just 3 days ago we reported what Christian Svensson said on Twitter about the situation. This time a staffer at Capcom had to make another statement. From what is said I can’t tell whether or not an announcement will be made at E3. We just need to be patient.

Hang in there, guys. Unfortunately nothing's been announced for the West and I can't tell you to hold your breath for E3 either. But Monster Hunter's not done in the West. It's just going to take a little longer for something to hit our shores.

I know it's been awhile since we've had a new MH game, but for what it's worth, it ain't cheap to keep those Tri servers running. Take that as a symbol of our ongoing stake in the franchise until we can get an actual game over here. - Capcom Unity staffer

LINK

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Kid Icarus Super NES Style

Thu, 10 May 2012 01:26:46 -0700

Have you ever wondered what Kid Icarus would look like on the Super NES? Wonder no longer! Jmatchead has created a few fictional screenshots that show a 16-bit Pit in heated battle with a 16-bit Medusa and other enemies. This is a perfect example of graphics being meaningless. This is art and I can truly appreciate this style, and wish it was a real game. If there was any chance for something like this to ever come out the eShop would be the perfect home. For those that haven’t been keen on the new Uprising title do these two screenshots have you wishing this was the new Kid Icarus Nintendo brought out this year? Give us the 16-bit Pit Nintendo!

LINK

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

Podcast #29 :: The Crusade For the Crystals

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:54:08 -0700

E3 gets jumping next month so we decided to talk a bit about what we think we’ll see at this year’s big show. Also this month we talk about what was just added to the website, what games we are playing, big stories of the month, new releases, poll results on do you play non-Nintendo consoles, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story game review, top 5 games we want to play that were cancelled, E3 predictions, Final Fantasy 2 retro review, and your emails. Find the new podcast in the Podcast Channel. You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. An easy way to do this is by hitting the subscribe button near the top of the main Podcast Channel page. Want to be in our next podcast? Send us any questions to ninfest@me.com and we'll read and answer them on the next show. Also if you'd like to be included in the podcast send us a video or audio file and we'll put you in! Hope you all enjoy it. Play on, player.

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Monster Hunter Tri G Selling Big in Japan

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:21:11 -0700

Japan loves hunting monsters which is why they always get these games first. They’ve proven it yet again by picking up 1.6 million copies of Monster Hunter Tri G on the 3DS. When Capcom finally decided to give North America a try with Monster Hunter Tri for Wii, it sold a modest 540,000 copies. Apparently we don’t like the franchise as much as Japan does, but there have been hints that eventually this game will make its way stateside.

“There is method to the madness… that’s all I can say for now. I understand it not being clear or rational to you right now but you’ll see.” -Capcom’s Christian Svensson

“…I think it’s fair to say I’ve said everything that I can on this topic without getting myself into trouble. Please be patient.” -Capcom’s Christian Svensson

Take what you will from these comments but to me it looks like an announcement might come at E3 this year.

LINK

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

New Poll :: Would You Buy a Wii U For $350?

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:31:47 -0700

Google recently ran an ad for Walmart with a listed price for the Wii U at $350. There have been many guesses at how much it will eventually be, but back before we knew how much the Wii would cost, Walmart was posting it at $250. That was exactly how much the Wii cost when it came out. With another early pricing from Walmart for Wii U, I’m going to run with it until further notice. Analyst Michael Pachter said Nintendo would be screwed if it sells for any more than $250. Will Nintendo prove him wrong yet again? Personally I think $250 is too low, but $350 might be too high. We won’t know for sure until sometime after E3. Visit the Poll Channel to put in your vote.

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Poll Results :: Do You Play non-Nintendo Consoles?

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:19:52 -0700

The votes have been tallied and we have the results on if you play non-Nintendo consoles.

1st :: Occasionally—when a game interests me - 42%
2nd :: All the time—real gamers play everything - 40%
3rd :: Nah—I'm a one-console kind of guy - 18%

For the record my vote was occasionally when a game interests me. Triz gave me his old PlayStation 3 three months ago and since then I find myself turning it on from time to time to get in a little non-Nintendo gaming. Even before that I usually call him up before I head to his house hoping that he can have a game that I’m interested in ready to spin. The majority of you also voted occasionally. Most of the gamers that visit Ninfest are Nintendo gamers and now we know that you guys like to dabble in other console gaming even if Nintendo still has a firm grasp on your playing time. Thank you to all that participated. Visit the Poll Channel to put in your vote on the latest poll.

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

The Kid Icarus Control Issue Continues

Tue, 1 May 2012 23:13:49 -0700

Ever since Kid Icarus: Uprising was released, a war has erupted over the quality of how you control the game. In one corner you have all the gamers that are having no trouble at all pulling off amazing moves and taking the gold. In the other corner is a bunch of gamers hunched over a table playing with cramped hands trying to get Pit to move this way and that. The stand helps the control issue but is it just a bit odd that a stand was released for a portable in the first place? I, for one, have not been too fond of the controls. I preordered a Circle Pad Pro from GameStop to help improve matters even more but April came and went and they never called. So now I am a disgruntled gamer because GameStop ripped me off AND I have trouble controlling Pit. I’m trying hard to be one of the cool kids, but why do I have to try this hard in the first place?

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Nintendo E3 Presentation Dated

Tue, 1 May 2012 22:48:48 -0700

When Nintendo announces when their E3 Press Conference is going to take place, that is your cue to start going ape (Donkey Kong) for what might be revealed. Today Nintendo tells us that it will take place on Tuesday, June 5 at 9am PST at the Nokia Theatre, the first day of the festivities. Nintendo has made us a bunch of happy campers by inviting Ninfest to the show and we’ll do our best to make it. Just thinking about being in the same room as Miyamoto, Reggie, and Iwata makes me want to do the worm dance down the sidewalk.

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

Possible New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario 4 Mii Connectivity

Tue, 1 May 2012 21:56:16 -0700

Nintendo has been pushing out Mario in all sorts of games like he’s going out of style. This holiday season it looks like we will get a new 3DS Mario game in New Super Mario Bros. 2 and a new Wii U Mario game in Super Mario 4 Mii. Two very similar games coming out at the same time. Could there be any chance that the two will have connectivity? We haven’t seen it since the GameCube but now with wireless technology commonplace the 3DS and Wii U could take gaming to a whole new level. Imagine the possibilities of players getting together or going online using the TV and tablet controller as two screens, or the two screens of the 3DS. To make it less confusing, imagine playing someone online with your 3DS while they are on the Wii U. This is all speculation but I hope Nintendo shows something like this at E3.

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Video :: Rayman Legends trailer for Wii U

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:04:12 -0700

Oops! That’s all that can be said about this accidental leak before E3. The trailer here was not supposed to be released to the public, and Ubisoft says that what is shown in the video isn’t the final build of the game. Nintendo may be pretty upset as an updated tablet controller can be seen that has a few additional parts that we aren’t supposed to know about yet. These parts are the IR like sensor at the top of the controller and the port with a wire attached to it also at the top. What is exciting to see in action is the use of NFC (near field communication) to bring items and characters into the game by placing figures on the touch screen. This is very similar to the Portal of Power that comes with Skylander’s Spyro’s Adventure, which has become a smash hit. Enjoy the video while it lasts. Not sure if Ubisoft or Nintendo is going to want this yanked off the internet.

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

A Great Title We All Forgot to Play

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:33:51 -0700

Rhythm Heaven Fever for the Wii came out back in February this year, being the sequel to the popular rhythm based DS game Rhythm Heaven. Somehow it was quietly released and not much was said about it, while all the attention went to the eventual release of Xenoblade Chronicles. Since motion control is not the most precise form of control, Nintendo kept the controls simple using only the A and B buttons. Filled with more than 50 mini-games, the WarioWare fan would find much to love about this title. While jokes about no games to play on the Wii in its twilight year continue, the second best Wii release this year fails to get even a nod. During these slow months of game releases, why not go back and see what all the fuss should have been about.

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Sony Reeling, Nintendo Going For the Knockout

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:14:36 -0700

Sony is hurting. Bad. When it comes to video games though, they are doing fairly well. The PlayStation 3 has closed to within $2 million units behind the Xbox 360 and sells the most units week to week second only to the 3DS. It’s when you look at the rest of Sony’s products that the water starts to smell and 10,000 workers are out of a job because of it.

Sony has been losing money for four years straight now and expects to lose another $6.4 billion by March 2013. Never have things looked so bad for the electronic juggernaut in its entire 67 years in the business. The only way CEO of Sony Kazuo Hirai thinks things can get better is by dropping many of its products and focusing on smartphones, digital imaging and, you guessed it, video games. Think there are too many different kinds of Sony TV’s out there? Not for long since the television market hasn’t helped Sony make a profit in 8 years.

Coming back to the gaming industry where things aren’t looking as dim, they still sit at the bottom of the console heap when just a generation ago they sold more units than any other system, ever. The PSVita just arrived and it is having a hard time selling more units than the six year old Wii. Sony built the PlayStation 3 to have the lifespan of two gaming generations, but was that a wise choice? Nintendo will move onward to the next generation later this year, and Microsoft will follow suit presumably soon. Sony on the other hand will be left stuck in this gen as newer, fresher hardware gets picked off the shelves. It sounded like a good idea when the PS3 first launched, but when you think about it, people like new hardware on a consistent basis. Apple has something new every year. The console lifecycle has always been about 5 years. We’re ready to move on to the next chapter of technology.

With Sony bleeding money and trying to find a band-aid big enough to keep from falling over, Nintendo has found a market for the 3DS and hype is building for the much anticipated Wii U. If the Wii U hits a home run at launch like the Wii did, the old PlayStation 3 will quickly be forgotten. It may deliver a blow Sony can’t deal with, and ultimately force them to bow out of the hardware business much like Sega.

Nintendo, do what you must. But if Sony wants to work with you, be the bigger company. Put past differences aside and team up. Great minds from both gaming giants can be a formidable force in providing the best possible gaming experience. Then get ready to zero in on that other console. Nerd rage now.

Editor: Mike LeSueur (streex)

New Play Control: Pikmin 2 Headed to America

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:18:55 -0700

How about this for a surprise. New Play Control! Pikmin 2 has been available all over the world for 3 years and finally Nintendo decided to release it in America. Why so long? We’re not sure, but it might have something to do with the soon to be revealed Pikmin 3 at E3. Nintendo probably wants to remind us of how great this game is so we’ll all be hyped for the new title on Wii U. The game was originally on GameCube in 2004 and sold 1.2 million copies. The New Play Control version on Wii in other regions has not done as well, selling only 320,000 units. This surprise move is definitely not to make more money, but rather spark interest back into the franchise.

LINK

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Ocarina of Time Built to Look Like Link to the Past

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:48:53 -0700

MaJoRa of Zelda Fan Game Central has been working hard the last 2 years trying to recreate Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to look like the 16-bit The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. He has put together an impressive overworld map that he will continue to make improvements on. This leads me to ask, are there any recent games that you would like to see remade (or de-made) to look like an older title? I wonder what Metroid Prime would look like if it were made into a side scroller like the original Metroid. Or maybe Metal Gear Solid to resemble the likes of the NES Metal Gear? If a company ever recreated one of their games in this fashion I would not be against it.

LINK

Editor: Donny Boggs (triz)

Video :: A Mockumentary on the Life of a Gamer

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:24:51 -0700

As a gamer, you know all the stereotypes people have of you. Gaming has made you a violent person, have no social life, utter lack of exercise, low grades in school, and you probably will live with your parents until you are in your mid 40’s. Thanks to RunTrainEntertainmen, in his mockumentary we see that at least one guy manages to be a gamer and not run his life into the ground.

How have these stereotypes affected you? Knowing what casual and non gamers might think of you if they knew what your main hobby was, do you keep it to yourself? Well, fear not my friend, you’re in good company. There are a lot of us out there. If only we could find a way to treat each other as equals regardless of the console of choice, the world would be a beautiful place.

- triz

Super Mario Bros. 4 at Wii U Launch Would Get Things Moving

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:44:23 -0700

Right now Nintendo is getting ready to prep the world with the new Wii U console at E3. They want to forget the slow 3DS launch, learn from their mistakes, and have the Wii U mirror the early success of the Wii. It’s been awhile, but a guaranteed way to do this is by launching the console with a brand new Mario title. Since 2D Mario games seem to sell much better than 3D Mario games even today, a Super Mario Bros. 4 would certainly be the ticket to rapid success. Mario games always appeal to gamers of all ages and that is what Nintendo needs from day one. Must own software for everyone. A 2D Mario game for Wii U has been confirmed to be in development and Nintendo recently registered the domain supermario4.com. Speculating this reveal at E3 is not that hard to imagine.

- streex

Mario and Pikmin on Wii U will Make an Appearance at E3

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:15:46 -0700

It usually goes without saying that Mario in some shape or form will be on hand at E3 every year, but now it is confirmed. It was said that it will be based on the demo shown last year which should mean a full on New Super Mario Bros. Mii title. Also confirmed to be at the show is the dormant Pikmin franchise, which hasn’t had a new game since the 2004 release of Pikmin 2 on the GameCube. Pikmin 3 has been teased by Miyamoto the last 4 years but finally we’ll get to see how this title is shaping up. Here are your confirmations, straight from Nintendo:

The Mario Wii U game that will be shown at E3 “is based on the Mario experience that was demonstrated at last year’s E3 Expo.”

“I’m working on several projects but I think that I cannot talk about them all [laughs]. Some are small but important projects for Wii U. Also on a new Pikmin, which will take advantage of the new HD screen resolution, and on Luigi’s Mansion for 3DS.” -Shigeru Miyamoto

“In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Pikmin game will be shown at the E3 Expo in June. He believes that anyone who has played Pikmin games in the past will enjoy playing.”

- triz

Podcast #28 :: Ninfest Requests Your Presence. Beam Aboard.

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:09:50 -0700

The heated debate over the worth of Wii Music continues and I’m glad some of you out there come to the games’ defense! This month we talk about what was just added to the website, what games we are playing, big stories of the month, new releases, poll results on what was your first Nintendo system, Cyberbike: Cycling Sports game review, top 5 evil clones, the best of 2011 Ninfest game awards, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary retro review, and your emails. Find the new podcast in the Podcast Channel. You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. An easy way to do this is by hitting the subscribe button near the top of the main Podcast Channel page. Want to be in our next podcast? Send us any questions to ninfest@me.com and we'll read and answer them on the next show. Also if you'd like to be included in the podcast send us a video or audio file and we'll put you in! Hope you all enjoy it. Play on, player.

Results :: Game of the Year Awards for 2011

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 17:47:48 -0700

Another year of great gaming has been analyzed! Let’s take a look at what you guys thought were the best of the best in 2011. Does the DS complete a 3-peat in the Overall Game of the Year category? Let’s take a look at the winners.

Game of the Year- 3DS :: Super Mario 3D Land

Game of the Year- DS :: Kirby Mass Attack

Game of the Year- Wii :: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Game of the Year- Downloadable :: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (DSiWare)

Best Graphics- 3DS :: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Best Graphics- DS :: Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

Best Graphics- Wii :: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Best Original Score :: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Best Adventure Game :: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Best Action Game :: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (3DS)

Best Role Playing/Strategy Game :: Pokemon Black and Pokemon White Versions (DS)

Best Platformer :: Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

Best Sports Game :: Mario Sports Mix (Wii)

Overall Game of the Year :: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

According to you guys, the Wii finally pulled down the overall best game of the year with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Honorable mention goes to Super Mario 3D Land and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D which pulled down the second and third most votes respectively. If you’re looking for something good to play, go back and try some of last years winners! Thank you to everyone that voted. We look forward to finding out what game will be the best of the best in 2012 next year. There will be Wii U games to vote on! Play on, players.

-streex

New Poll :: What are your thoughts on 3DS?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 17:37:06 -0700

It’s been a year since we first got our white gloves on the hot new handheld from Nintendo. Some have stayed glued to the 3DS while others have moved on. Then there are others that are still holding out for a redesign because Nintendo loves making new versions of their portables. Where do you fit in? Visit the Poll Channel to put in your vote.

Poll Results :: What Was Your First Nintendo System?

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 17:08:10 -0700

The votes have been tallied and we have the results on what your first Nintendo system was.

1st :: NES - 29%
2nd :: GameBoy - 26%
3rd :: GameBoy Advance - 16%
4th :: Super NES - 11%
4th :: Nintendo 64 - 11%
6th :: Wii - 7%

For the record my vote was the good ol’ NES. When my father asked what system I wanted I made a grave mistake and chose the Atari 7800 over the NES. It didn’t take long for me to realize how stupid I was. I welcomed the NES into my home soon after. The majority of you also voted the NES. This tells me that many of you are about the same age as us. I hope you all are still gaming! The systems that didn’t get a single vote are the GameBoy Color, Virtual Boy, GameCube, DS, and 3DS. Sorry Virtual Boy. Surely there will be a poll in the near future where you will get some votes. Thank you to all that participated. Visit the Poll Channel to put in your vote on the latest poll.

If Wii U is Underpowered, Nintendo Innovation Still Leads Market

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 23:46:54 -0700

A couple of unnamed developers came out recently and stated that the Wii U will be underpowered when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3. This was the first rumor of its kind following many rumors of just how much more powerful it would be over current consoles. If this eventually becomes true fellow Nintendo fans, fear not. The past shall repeat itself.

The Wii was underpowered from the very beginning of its lifecycle. Thanks to the innovation of motion controls and software that was in high demand, the Wii went on to be sold out for the first two years of its existence. There were lines in front of stores two holiday seasons later filled with people still trying to get their hands on their own Wii. It was priced right, had killer software, and innovated from the starting line. So even being underpowered it quickly passed sales of the Xbox360 and left it and the PS3 far behind.

The recent rumors do raise a few eyebrows to their validity. We were shown some very impressive demos at E3 last year, particularly of Zelda, that displayed an HD Link in battle that was more beautiful than any of us could have imagined. Would Nintendo take a step back from early dev kits to provide something less stellar? Also keep in mind if that was strangely the case, we still have the new innovative tablet controller that Nintendo will surely put to good use, addicting the world once again to new ways to play.

True or not, these rumors shouldn’t have anybody worried. The system will be HD, the tablet will innovate the way we play once again, and the first party software will continue to dominate. What you should be worried about is how you are going to get your hands on one when they arrive this November.

LINK

-streex

Video :: Kid Icarus: Uprising with Stand and AR Cards unboxing

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 22:59:48 -0700

One of the most beloved franchises in Nintendo’s long history makes its glorious return in spectacular 3D! Pit of Kid Icarus fame is back in a new game designed specifically for the Nintendo 3DS system, by Masahiro Sakurai, creator of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. franchises, and his development team at Project Sora. The game comes bundled with the new 3DS Stand peripheral and 6 Kid Icarus AR Cards.

-streex

On Location :: The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 22:46:19 -0700

This event was the second largest in history behind the birth of Jesus. Well maybe it was to some people. Totally worth it. They had a big screen hanging over the orchestra showing clips from many of the Zelda games. They played the music in time with the events on screen, almost telling the story of each game with music.

The conductor lady you might recognize from the videos on Nintendo Channel was there, but she was really pregnant. Looked like she was a month away from birth! Hope that doesn't create any show cancellations. They were selling concert T-shirts for $25 and Zelda posters for $15.

The place was filled with an assortment of music and game enthusiasts. People dressed up nice in suits and ties, some cosplaying dressed as Link, Midna, Fi, or just elf ears and Link hats, and then there were those like me that just wore Nintendo themed apparel. I wore my DK shirt and Bowser's Inside Story beanie. They had a wine bar and coffee bar for the thirsty patrons. Also, IGN was there doing interviews.

Here's where I'm pissed. I was expecting to get hundreds of StreetPasses there. For some reason I didn't know that the 3DS caps at 10 StreetPasses at one time! You have to greet the 10 you meet before getting any more. RAGE! I did not know this so I came home with only 10. Even the seldom used Sound StreetPass I got 23 of. I never got more than 8 before so I was not aware.

I was wondering why so many people at intermission had their 3DS out. They all probably knew.

I wish more of you could witness this event. It truly is epic. Honestly, it will probably go down as the third biggest event this year in gaming for me behind the launch of Wii U and E3.

-streex

Poor Economy Forces Sega to Cancel Games

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:11:50 -0700

The economy in the US is stabilizing, but not fast enough for Sega. They are facing losses in the current financial year and will try to correct it by canceling some of their titles because of "the severe economic environment in the U.S. and Europe and rapid change in market environment of home video game software". They have not mentioned which games will be canceled, but said they will instead focus more on the IPs that sell well such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Football Manager, Total War and Aliens. For Nintendo fans, the bullet will be dodged for the most part since most of the lineup of games for Wii and 3DS have already been completed. Sadly they will also go through a round of layoffs in both North America and Europe in the next few months.

LINK

-triz

Happy Birthday 3DS

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:35:51 -0700

Can you believe it has already been a year since we all picked up our launch 3DS systems? The first few months started off slow, the launch titles were suspect, and a price cut was quickly dropped to right the sinking ship. After that storm the big holiday titles came out, more addicting apps like SwapNote became available, and the eShop is looking like a very populated selection of great games. It can now look at its older brother the DS and say it sold better in its first year, already at 16.5 million sold. Newcomer PSVita has its work cut out for it, currently sitting at 1.6 million sold. Looks like game centric portables still have a place in todays market! To celebrate the first birthday of the 3DS, Reggie popped up in our Mii Plaza’s today, sharing with us a new puzzle piece. Unfortunately for me, he didn’t fare to well in Find Mii. He ran away from the ghost before he even attacked once. But that’s ok. Since Reggie is considered a special Mii, we all received the achievement for meeting one. Happy Birthday 3DS!

-streex

Protect Your 3DS From Your Stylus

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:34:18 -0700

Kid Icarus: Uprising can be quite an intense game if you set the intensity meter to maximum. You’ll be flinging that stylus over your touch screen in all directions feverishly as you try desperately to obtain stronger weapons. Because of this, we’ve seen a few screen protectors take a beating. Those of us who go commando better concentrate on not letting the moment consume you and remember to tread lightly on that bottom screen. Just look at what a screen protector looks like from a few hours of heated Kid Icarus gameplay. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword on the DS was similar in that you had to fling the stylus rapidly over the touch screen to succeed. Don’t let one game trick you into ruining your 3DS. Protect it or tread lightly.

LINK

-triz

Contest Results for Kid Icarus: Uprising and 3D Classics: Kid Icarus

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:28:46 -0700

Another contest is in the books! This time Ninfest would like to congratulate ZeldAnTales and Avacam. ZeldAnTales will receive a brand new copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS, which includes 6 AR Cards and a 3DS Stand. Avacam will receive a download code to get 3D Classics: Kid Icarus from the eShop for free. This contest was too easy as all 6 participants correctly guessed Medusa as the character pictured. Congratulations ZeldAnTales and Avacam, you're the newest winners! Thank you all that participated.

-streex

Grab Core Gamer’s Attention with Black Wii U at Launch

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:33:21 -0700

All we have seen so far is a white Wii U, the same color Wii had for its first 2 and a half years. It is a neutral and accepted color, one which Apple has turned to again and again, but if Nintendo is going for the mature market with guns blazing, black should also be a choice at launch. Color is not going to be a huge issue for most of us. If it’s magenta we would still grab one at launch, but I believe a black Wii U would sit uniformly with all our other components the best. I can see it now...all the core gamers picking up the black Wii U consoles, the casual gamers choosing white. Everyone would be happy as they look proudly at their new HD Nintendo console sitting next to the last gen heap.

-streex

Kid Icarus Preorder for Europe is Raining AR Cards

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:49:19 -0700

If you live in the states and preorder the upcoming Kid Icarus: Uprising you will receive a code to download 3D Classics: Kid Icarus for free. If you live in Europe your preorder bonus is a hefty pack of 24 Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards. Which is better? If you are a collector I think the answer is easily the AR Cards. If you are anybody else the answer should also be the AR Cards since the downloadable game is going to be available to anybody with a 3DS and a couple bucks to spare. With over 300 cards to collect and found only at events, tournaments, and packed in with magazines, it’s starting to look like America got the short end of the preorder stick.

LINK

-streex

Kid Icarus: Uprising Reviews are all over the place

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:50:15 -0700

I’m getting ready to pick up my copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising this Friday. I’m ready for the AR Cards and ready for the stand. In the meantime I’m jumping through a stack of reviews and I’m getting really confused. On one end you have the game getting perfect scores, and on the other it is getting a 5 out of 10. So this game is really good or really bad, and it all depends on if you can get a grasp of the awkward control scheme. From what I understand, this game is going to be one of the best, but only if you take the time to master one of the control schemes. If you haven’t already, read about and enter our Kid Icarus: Uprising contest HERE and maybe you can hate it or love it like the rest of us!

-triz

Operation Rainfall Proved Nintendo is Listening

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:36:23 -0700

Nintendo has a reputation where they like to drag their feet when it comes to changing company standards and values. Once they’ve made a decision, they stick to it and nothing else could matter. That is how it’s been, until now. Thanks to the efforts of Operation Rainfall, 2 of the three petitioned games (Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story) are indeed coming to the Wii before the second half of 2012.

The guys behind Operation Rainfall and all of you who supported the cause should be given an award. Even Michael Pachter used his anti-Nintendo trolling to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nintendo fans. This is the first time that I can remember Nintendo ever changing their mind. A true shocker in the industry, especially after they released a statement saying that the efforts of Operation Rainfall had little to matter in the decision. This comment almost felt like a slap in the face. How can a company that always sticks to its word change its mind just this once?

Whether they admit it or not, it looks as if Nintendo is truly making the effort to listen to gamer complaints and recommendations. This turning of a new leaf can only mean bigger and better things as we head towards the launch of Wii U.

-streex

Unfulfilled 3D Movie Promises

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:12:04 -0700

During Nintendo’s E3 Conference in 2010 they talked about planned support for 3D movies from major Hollywood studios. While saying this, there was a logo for How to Train Your Dragon on the big screen and a playable trailer on the show floor for the movie on the 3DS. Nothing was mentioned about it again. Netflix became available and allowed us to watch movies on the device, but where were the 3D movies? It was at this point Nintendo then told us that they never confirmed that the 3DS would play 3D movies off Netflix, and that the 3D video content would only come from them via Nintendo Video.

Since Nintendo Video has been available not one video has been longer than 10 minutes. Where are the full length 3D movies? If not from Netflix can they come from Nintendo Video? How much longer until we get to watch these full length 3D movies or has the idea been scrapped and quietly swept under the rug?

-streex

Nintendo’s Censorship Strikes Again

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:03:10 -0700

Back when Nintendo censored games with blood like Mortal Kombat, it hurt sales but upheld their strong image. A “better safe than sorry” decision made since at the time there was no ESRB rating system in place. Once initiated, sequels to the popular game had just as much blood on Nintendo consoles as their counterparts. When it comes to violence, America is very forgiving and any censorship in this arena might not have truly been necessary. We like a good beat down as a nation.

Religion on the other hand, America is a very touchy bunch. Back in the day, Nintendo made Konami remove all crosses from Castlevania to avoid any religious backlash. Seems silly and crosses are more than welcome in today’s games, but now we have another issue, Team Meat’s game The Binding of Isaac. In this game Isaac’s mother starts hearing the voice of God demanding a sacrifice be made to prove her faith. To keep from being killed by his mother, Isaac escapes into the basement facing droves of deranged enemies, lost brothers and sisters, his fears, and eventually his mother. It is a game based on the Biblical story that goes by the same name. The game was supposed to come out on 3DS in the eShop, but Nintendo refused to allow it due to questionable religious content.

I am not a fan of censorship, but as an American surrounded by people of so many faiths, religion is a touchy subject. You see the coexist bumper stickers on cars but in the media there are so many people complaining about others expressing their right to freely express their faith. A game like The Binding of Isaac would draw a lot of negative attention to Nintendo, even though the game has been available on the PC and Mac since September 2011. It’s because of the family friendly image Nintendo has painted of themselves that would allow this game to get them the wrong attention, which is not needed when they are trying to convince us we need a Wii U this holiday season.

Censorship sucks, but in this case, it was the only logical choice. Remember when news outlets tried to convince viewers that Pictochat was a tool used by pedophiles to molest kids? Nintendo doesn’t need that heading into a console launch holiday season.

LINK

-streex

Free Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards for Members of Club Nintendo

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:59:08 -0700

For a limited time only, Club Nintendo members can order a set of 3 Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards at no cost to you. Your coins will be untouched and the shipping is free! The 3 cards included are Great Reaper, Drill Arm, and Palutena (rare). Time to get started collecting those AR Cards as there will be around 329 in total, and it won’t be easy. At this time there are no plans to sell the cards at retail and will only be handed out at events, tournaments, and packed in with magazines. The AR Cards unlock idols and hearts and will cover every character, weapon, item and ability in the game. By scanning the cards you will add their data to your game’s vault. Each card will have character or item info printed on them. Good luck collecting them all.

LINK

-triz

Nintendo Not in Danger of Going Broke Until 2075

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:01:40 -0700

Nintendo posted their first losses last year and quickly Nintendo was said to be in trouble. Turns out that Nintendo has made so much money from their successes dating back to 1985 that they could turn the same losses every year from here on out and not be broke until 2075.

"Buried in reams of financial data is the revelation that Nintendo have 812.8 billion Yen (£6.7/$10.5 billion) in the bank - enough for it to take a 20 billion Yen loss (£163/$257 million) every year until 2052. Then there's almost 469 billion Yen (£3.8/$6.0 billion) held in premises, equipment and investments. When that runs out - we're in the year 2075 by this point - they've got some of the most valuable intellectual property in gaming to sell off before the company goes out of business." -UK's Nintendo Gamer magazine

Judging from the chart above, it’s a good thing Microsoft has money coming in from other venues or they wouldn’t be making consoles today. They have been in the red since the dawn of the original Xbox.

Somewhere in a Nintendo haters room I can hear a pin drop.

LINK

-streex

Michael Pachter Backpedals, Wii U Demise Not Certain Yet

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:10:48 -0700

Everyones favorite Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has really laced into Nintendo more than usual recently. In just the last 3 weeks he has publicly stated that he doubts game publishers will support Wii U, Nintendo is in disarray and doesn’t see them returning to profitability, Wii U is toast, they dropped the ball with Wii U and Nintendo didn’t behave as rational business men. Whew! With this epic trolling you have to wonder if he’s getting paid by Microsoft or Sony.

Just today he might have decided that maybe he’s setting himself up to lose his job, and backpedaled just a bit. Instead of guaranteed Nintendo doom with Wii U, the tone he paints is that it could happen.

I think that if in fact it’s a lot like an Xbox 360 in terms of graphics, frame rate and control scheme, then it’s probably not going to sell well unless it’s priced a lot cheaper, and I don’t think they’re launching the console at $150. So, yeah I think they are about to Dreamcast themselves. I don’t think Wii U is going to be as popular as probably Nintendo thinks it’s going to be.

Question is, what does Nintendo do next, and I don’t know the answer yet. Let’s see how Wii U sells, and I’m not going to predict this demise until I know pricing and features. When I know more about it, I’ll offer a better opinion.

According to Pachter Wii U was toast just a few weeks ago and now he needs to see more before predicting its demise. Still not the most flattering comments. Yeah, people still pay to listen to him.

So what are some of Michael Pachters worst predictions? There are many. Remember, he’s only correct about 30% of the time, but here are a couple of my favorite Pachter blunders.

The PlayStation 3 will win the next-gen battle. (ended up dead last)
Midway will have a significantly better year in 2008. (four months later they filed for bankruptcy)
Ken Kutaragi will replace Howard Stringer as head of Sony. (6 years later...nope)
People will bore of World of Warcraft (I’ll just post the words straight from his mouth. This cost investors millions in 2005 "I don't think there are four million people in the world who really want to play online games every month…. eventually it will come back to the mean, maybe a million subscribers."

LINK

-streex

Contest :: Win Kid Icarus: Uprising or 3D Classics: Kid Icarus

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:39:55 -0700

We are giving away a copy of the game Nintendo has been hanging above our heads for 2 years now. Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS will be dropping on March 23rd and comes with the stand peripheral and 6 AR Cards. To enter send an email to ninfest@me.com telling us the name of the pictured character. All correct answers will be entered. The first winner picked at random will receive the retail copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising. The second winner will receive a code to download 3D Classics: Kid Icarus for free. Winners will be announced on March 23rd. Good luck!

ENTER HERE

-streex

Rumor :: Donkey Kong Country 3D Coming This Year

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:59:43 -0700

Huge rumor here since Nintendo hasn’t even hinted, but online retailer multiplayer.com is taking preorders for Donkey Kong Country 3D, a 3DS game due out May 25th. This is very questionable since E3 doesn’t even take place until June, leaving no time to create some buzz for the game. Also listed on the site is a 2012 release date for Super Smash Bros. 3DS and upcoming 3DS releases for Kirby 3D, Final Fantasy 3D, and Dragon Quest 3D. I’m not doubting that these games will ever arrive but to be listing them and taking preorders seems a bit bonkers. Do they have the ultimate inside source to Nintendo’s future lineup or are we being taken for a ride? When it comes to Super Smash Bros. 3DS coming out this year, I’d say don’t count on it. Save your preorder cash for games you know are coming soon, and exist for that matter.

LINK

-triz

649 Pokemon are Quite the Crowd

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:14:39 -0800

I’ve always loved the RPG elements of Pokemon but never got into collecting all of them. Just seems like a lot of work to me and I just don’t have that kind of time anymore. I have a few friends that have tried to keep up with all of the Pokemon as they come out but sadly it has become overbearing to them. Is Nintendo oversaturating the Pokemon lineup with too many characters? It currently sits at 649 and there will be more on the way. I personally know that by continuing to add new Pokemon a few fans have fallen off the Poke-bandwagon. I can’t feel the burden personally, but if you are a Pokemon fan, are you thirsty for more or is this roster getting out of hand?

-streex

Eternal Darkness 2 on Wii U Very Possible

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:05:53 -0800

One game that gamers have been asking about for a very long time is a sequel to the GameCube hit Eternal Darkness. Silicon Knights' Denis Dyack had this to say:

"I don't think it (Eternal Darkness II) is too much to ask. Certainly we love Eternal Darkness. It's a project that's near and dear to our hearts."

Denis mentioned that they are asked to do a sequel quite often but can’t reveal what game they are currently working on. He also said that anything is possible when asked if Eternal Darkness 2 could make it to a next gen console.

Let’s put the pieces together shall we. Remember, this is all rumor. A few months ago they mentioned "Our next game is the most requested game we've gotten." This time they tell us Eternal Darkness 2 is "requested a lot by a lot of people". Nintendo owns the rights to Eternal Darkness. To me this looks like Silicon Knights is working on Eternal Darkness 2 under Nintendo for Wii U! Wishful thinking I know, but what if...

LINK

-streex

Zelda Should Star in Her Legend

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 23:47:30 -0800

Girls these days, I tell ya. So much stronger and independent. Who needs men? Which is why I’m calling out Nintendo to give us something completely new in The Legend of Zelda franchise. A Legend of Zelda game where you are Zelda. We’ve seen what she can do in Smash Bros and know how agile and quick Zelda is when dressed up as her alter ego Sheik. After all this is her legend, allow her to write her own destiny. As great as Zelda games are there are still those that find the gameplay to be a rehash and getting stale. Time to mix things up a bit and surprise the world! Ganon doesn’t stand a chance against her magic. Why should Samus have all the fun?

-streex

Japanese Games Suck According to this Guy

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 23:26:59 -0800

At a GDC event this week there was a screening for Indie Game: The Movie, which Phil Fish, an indie dev himself, was on hand to answer questions afterwards. When asked his opinion on modern Japanese games by a Japanese developer his answer was simply ‘your games just suck’. Of course this spurred outrage which was fueled even more when he posted on his Twitter page “im sorry japanese guy! i was a bit rough, but your country's games are f****** terrible nowadays”.

You may know that Japanese games haven’t been what they used to be, but there are still many great games coming from across the pond. All you have to do is look at many of Nintendo’s titles, along with recent hits Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story, which will be arriving in the states soon. Such blatant and childish comments has thrown him in the dog house, but maybe this publicity stunt will help him sell a few copies of upcoming game Fez.

LINK

-triz

Podcast #27 :: Tackle a Whole New World with Streex and Triz

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 02:34:54 -0800

We threw down the challenge for our Zen Pinball 3D high scores to be beat and you guys wasted no time to prove your worth on the tables! Congratulations! This month we talk about what was just added to the website, what games we are playing, big stories of the week, new releases, poll results on how often you comment on websites, Wii Music game review, top 5 launch titles, the best of 2011 Ninfest game awards, Super Mario World retro review, and your emails. Find the new podcast in the Podcast Channel. You can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. An easy way to do this is by hitting the subscribe button near the top of the main Podcast Channel page. Want to be in our next podcast? Send us any questions to ninfest@me.com and we'll read and answer them on the next show. Also if you'd like to be included in the podcast send us a video or audio file and we'll put you in! Hope you all enjoy it. Play on, player.

Vote :: Best of 2011 Ninfest Awards

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:33:04 -0800

So many great titles for the Wii, 3DS and DS graced our systems last year and we want to hear what you guys thought were the best of the best. If you have a minute to spare, there are 13 categories to vote on with 7 games nominated in each. Pick your favorite game in each category and we’ll reveal the winners in April on the Podcast and right here in the News Channel. So have at it! Jump into the BEST OF 2011 NINFEST AWARDS page and may your favorite games be victorious!

In case you were wondering, the Overall Game of the Year winner for 2009 was Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the DS and in 2010 it was Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, also on the DS. This may be the first time a DS game doesn’t get that honor.

LINK