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Nintendo UK launches digital magazine, Nintendo Extra
Nintendo fans in the UK may have lost their ability to peruse Nintendo-related news and features via the printed page when the Official Nintendo Magazine shut down last month, but now there's a digital magazine to take its place. Dubbed "Nintendo Extra," this new branch of the Nintendo UK site features articles based on several key company franchises, including Pokemon, Mario Kart, Pikmin and The Legend of Zelda. Before you get too carried away however, most of the content included in this first issue of Nintendo Extra is quite short, and few articles amount to more than advertisements for their respective game. There is some noteworthy content however, including tips on getting the best time in Mario Kart 8 and an interview with Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma (though the questions - such as "Who are Link and Zelda?" - aren't exactly what you'd call "hard-hitting"). So maybe "digital magazine" isn't quite the way to describe Nintendo Extra - perhaps "digital pamphlet" or "brochure" might be better. But hey, a digital whatever-it-is is better than nothing, right? [Image: Nintendo]
Report: Nintendo UK planning Wii U awareness strategy with Tesco
Nintendo UK is planning a marketing effort with Tesco to boost customer awareness of the Wii U in an effort to address that "many people out there that don't know what this is," Nintendo UK's marketing director Shelly Pearce told MCV. The marketing push will include a purchase of in-store space at Tesco, a five-page flier that will be sent to 300,000 Tesco customers that previously purchased a Wii, and coupons for unspecified games. MCV reports that Nintendo is also planning "major online activity" in addition to an "out-of-home promotional tour aimed at reaching 115,500 shoppers." "There was a big misconception at launch about what Wii U is," Shelly said. "And one of the big messages is that this is a new console and a new controller." The strategy reflects Iwata's statements in June concerning plans to regain the console's momentum "towards the end of this year." Once that momentum is obtained, Iwata said the company will then "try to establish successful third-party support for Nintendo platforms."
Nintendo opens 5,000 free WiFi hotspots across the pond, connects your 3DS to The Cloud
Still fuming over that 3DS price drop despite the Big N's conciliatory make-goods? If you happen to be a resident gamer in the UK, tack some 5,000 free WiFi hotspots onto the company's apology. According to a report from International Business Times, the service, backed by BSkyB-controlled The Cloud, goes live today, bringing users access to all the console's usual online features and should come in handy when in-game DLC becomes available later this year. No doubt the move from Nintendo's British outfit is intended to add a little purchase incentive to the DS' underwhelming successor, as well as boosting the gaming giant's own declining earnings. No matter, with twenty free games and gratis WiFi -- it's looking good to be an early adopter.
Apple reportedly hires top UK gaming PR execs from Nintendo and Activision
As you may have noticed, Apple has been more serious about gaming lately that it was even during its Pippin-fueled haze in the mid-1990s, and it's now offering yet more evidence of just how invested it is with a pair of new hires. While the company isn't confirming the move just yet, MCV is reporting that Apple has snatched up Nintendo UK's former head of communications, Rob Saunders, who just left the big N last week and will apparently be focusing on PR for iOS apps at Apple. What's more, he'll reportedly be joined at Apple by former Activision PR director Nick Grange, who's said to be focusing specifically on the iPad -- which, as we've seen, can be a pretty versatile gaming device in its own right.
Nintendo responds to 3DS headache complaints
Nintendo UK Head of Communications Robert Saunders recently responded to a post on MaxConsole, which corralled a number of Twitter users complaining that their time with the 3DS was causing headaches and dizziness. Saunders explained, "When viewing any kind of 3D images (TV, movies etc.), some people might experience minor discomfort." He added, "The effects are short term and have no lasting effect, in fact most players can continue after taking a short break." Click past the jump for his full statement. For those who find Saunders' response a little too corporate, Penny Arcade also released its response to 3DS discomfort earlier today. Sure, it's a smidge exaggerated, but we find it to be a tad more entertaining than the company line.
Nintendo 3DS more resistant to piracy, claims Nintendo UK manager
Before all you Zero Cools and Crash Overrides out there start taking the headline you see above as a challenge, we'd like to note that Nintendo wasn't intending on baiting would-be hackers regarding its forthcoming 3DS' hackability (or lack thereof). "It's always like a red rag to a bull isn't it? I almost don't want to comment on that sort of thing," Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton said in an interview with CVG recently. Yarnton continued, shying away from getting too specific. "We can't divulge any technical details ... but needless to say this is probably one of our best pieces of equipment in that respect," he said, adding, "There are a lot of things we've learned over time to try and improve the security and protection - not only of our IP but of our third-party publishers' IP as well." That said, it's not all technology driving the protection. "People are aware that video games, music and movies make massive contributions to the economies of countries. They need to make sure they start protecting those things," Nintendo UK marketing manager James Honeywell noted. "I think perhaps there's been a 'heyday of piracy' and we've now seen a lot of rules come in to stop it." Honeywell also points out precedent-setting legal cases regarding the R4 cart, and other DS flash carts as helping with the 3DS' piracy protection. "This now makes a precedent that potentially in the future it won't be a viable thing for people to do." We're not sure if additional laws prohibiting piracy will make the act any less viable, but it'll at least drop a hefty penalty on those who get caught.
DSi price drop set for June 18 in UK
Nintendo announced price drops for the DSi, DSi XL and DS Lite in Japan today. Nintendo UK has confirmed to MCV that a similar price drop will occur in that territory, starting June 18 -- but only for the DSi. Because Nintendo UK chooses not to dictate the retail price of any of its consoles, Nintendo is simply cutting the trade price for the DSi in the UK (meaning retailers will purchase the system for less). It's up to the individual retailer to pass the savings on to the consumer (or not) -- though most retailers will want to cut prices fairly consistently with the market standard to remain competitive. MCV estimates that the retail price of the DSi would drop from the current £150 ($220) standard to around the £120-£130 ($175-190) mark. Though we'd expect a similar announcement from Nintendo of America, the company told Joystiq that "We have nothing to announce on this topic at this time." Maybe it's saving it for E3?
Nintendo UK announces Reflect Missile for DSiWare, releases it
Ready for some fairly unsurprising news? Nintendo UK recently revealed what we all expected yesterday following the OFLC rating of a Q-Games project titled Reflect Missile -- the game is designed for the DSiWare platform, and features Breakout-esque gameplay with strategy elements. You have to use a special set of missiles to help you clear out the aforementioned bricks, but you've only got a limited number, so ballistic conservation is key. Ready for some completely flabbergasting news? According to the same Nintendo listing, the game is out right now in the UK. Like, this second, now. You can own it, provided you live in the UK, and have access to the fungible assets required to purchase 500 DSi Points. We've contacted Q-Games to find out when Reflect Missile will be fired at North America.
Wii launches in Europe, loads of people buy it
The demand for the system has been "unprecedented," according to Nintendo UK's David Yarnton. He notes that Nintendo is very confident about the Wii's launch and predicts nothing but a huge success -- a prediction very much backed up by the gigantic lines that formed at the UK's HMV store in Oxford Street yesterday. The crowd even had to be broken up and asked to return at a later stage, though not before being given several (likely sturdy) wristbands. Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Tim Ellis, head of games at HMV, says that demand is most certainly exceeding supply and that the retailer could easily have "sold many more times than we've got, to be honest." Despite the presence of orderly lines and a lack of violent, Wii-related crimes (so far), he goes on to label the launch as "bedlam." Not to worry, Nintendo promises more stock is on the way and aims to satisfy everyone that wants a Wii this Christmas. That would be everyone, then.
