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Believe it or not, the Wii U is getting a 'new' game
Nintendo's long-dead Wii U is getting a "new" game this Wednesday. If you're so inclined, you'll be able to dust off the system, power it on and download Drop It: Block Paradise! for a mere $2.
Full-size downloadable Wii games come to the Wii U
If you own a Wii U and wish you hadn't missed out on years' worth of classic games for the original Wii, you're in luck. Nintendo has revealed that full-size downloadable Wii games are coming to the Wii U's eShop, starting today. Only Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be available at first, but that'll soon be followed up by Punch-Out on the 22nd and Metroid Prime Trilogy on the 29th. It'll probably be a while (if ever) before you're playing an epic like Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword without finding a hard copy, but you have to start somewhere.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate breaks out a bit later on Wii U in Europe
European Wii U owners aren't getting the Deluxe Edition of Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate until later in April, Warner Bros. revealed today. A press release confirmed the enhanced re-release of last year's 2.5D bat-former is still coming to Wii U today in North America as well as PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, but the European Wii U version won't hit until later in the month. That delayed date may well be April 17, if the launch trailer's YouTube description is anything to go by. The Wii U version was previously slated to release alongside the other platforms, and Warner Bros. didn't note a reason for the delay. We approached Warner Bros. about the date listed on YouTube, and a representative directed us to the press release. Today's news isn't the first time Warner Bros has had Wii U-related issues, especially in Europe. Blackgate Deluxe Edition is an enhanced version of the Vita and 3DS take on Origins, as developed by the Metroid Prime ex-pats at Armature Studios. In addition to polished up visuals, the $20 Deluxe Edition features a brand new map system, and that's definitely a good thing given our review said the previous system's "2D representation of a 2D view of a 3D world" was as it sounds: not great. Despite that awkwardness, we gave last year's version of Blackgate a plenty respectable three and a half stars out of five - the same score we gave its big brother, by the by. [Image: Warner Bros.]
Nokia closing its UK online storefront by month's end
It doesn't take four years of business school before realizing that a shopkeeper must sell sufficient inventory to keep afloat. With this in mind, we must sadly declare that Nokia will close its UK online storefront at the end of the month -- a harsh revelation for pre-order loving Brits. The news was announced today in a brief message to affiliates, and later confirmed with a representative stating to TechRadar, "We are planning to close the current UK online store to simplify our channel structure and focus our resources on our key trade customers." Keeping a stiff upper lip, this untimely ending follows Nokia's reduced sales projections and similar closures in France, Spain and Netherlands, and leaves its remaining e-stores to hope for a better fate.
Nintendo finally sells millionth 3DS unit in Japan, lives in the shadow of older brother
A million in (Japanese) sales is a far cry from failure, but even big daddy Satoru Iwata admits the 3DS isn't quite living up to expectations. Nintendo's tenderfoot handheld finally hit the mark after 13 weeks, a snail's pace when compared to the original dual-screen wunderkind, which reportedly made the grade in a mere four. The 3DS' predecessors will undoubtedly forgive it for being a late bloomer, it's the competition it ought to worry about; the PSP sold its first million in about seven weeks. The 3DS could still plow its way to the top -- but with the PlayStation Vita looming large on the horizon, and the fledgling handheld having already lost a round the PSV's predecessor, Nintendo could be in for a rough ride.
Nintendo 3DS clocks up 400,000 US sales in opening week, nearly matches month-long total for DS
Now we're talking. After Nintendo slyly told us that the 3DS set a day-one US sales record for its handheld division, it has now been more forthright and actually disclosed some cold hard numbers. 400,000 3DS units were shifted in the month of March, says Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aime, which amounts to just one working week's worth of sales when you consider the portable console launched on March 27th. That was still enough time for it to threaten the DS' overall March tally of 460,000, however, and extrapolated over a full 30 days would total a whopping 2.4 million transactions. Of course, sales rarely sustain such a roaring pace after launch, but Reggie foresees good things for the 3DS with a marquee Legend of Zelda game, the launch of the E-Shop, and Netflix integration all coming over the summer. So the future's bright, we just wish it didn't have to be turquoise.
