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Almost all DSiWare games available at 3DS eShop launch, transfer limits clarified
We know that Nintendo is planning "3D Classics" for the 3DS eShop -- retro games with 3D effects added. We also know that unaltered retro games will be available in the Virtual Console, and that DSiWare will be available as well when the service is launched in May. But what about downloadable 3DS games -- a "3DSWare" equivalent to the DSi's DSiWare? We may be waiting a while for that. Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo's senior director of corporate communications, told Joystiq that not only was Nintendo not ready to announce any downloadable 3DS games, there isn't even a name for that service at the moment. "We have Virtual Console games," Scibetta said. "Anything that's rendered in 3D, converted into 3D, is called 3D Classics, but we don't have any other terminology yet." He assured Joystiq that downloadable games would be made available "under the eShop banner." That the terminology is still up in the air suggests that this part of the plan has yet to be finalized -- or just that Nintendo isn't ready to talk about the finalized plan. The good news is that you'll have access to a lot of DSiWare when the eShop launches. Of the existing DSiWare lineup, "pretty much the whole thing" will be available right at launch. "There might be a few exceptions, but the majority of the games will come over." A few games are being left off the 3DS's eShop for undisclosed reasons. Scibetta also offered a bit of clarification about the limits on the DSiWare software transfer feature, also coming as part of that late-May update. "It's not the number of transferred games -- it would be the same game, the number of times you could transfer it from device to device," Scibetta said. "So if you build up a large category of DSiWare games, you won't be penalized. Just how many times you can move that same group of games, there'll be a limit on."
Nintendo GDC keynote roundup: Netflix and free AT&T WiFi coming to 3DS this summer!
We survived the keynote address here at GDC 2011, where Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime just got done revealing a veritable cornucopia of info about the 3DS. On the video content front, the 3DS will get Netflix this summer along with the ability to pause a video on your handheld and continue watching on your Wii -- though we presume you may recommence your cinematic experience on an XBox or PS3 too. The addition of Netflix wasn't the only announcement by Iwata, however. Get the rest after the break.
3DS Virtual Console getting Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 games, coming late May
In addition to select, hand-picked Game Boy and Game Boy Color classics, the 3DS's Virtual Console will also play host to titles from two slightly surprising sources: The Sega Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 handhelds. No specific entries from the two devices were named during Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation at Nintendo's GDC keynote today -- though we've got our fingers crossed for the speedy arrival of Sonic Chaos. Fils-Aime also confirmed the late May arrival of the Virtual Console via a system update, which wiill also introduce a handful of the device's other online features, including: DSiWare (and the ability to transfer DSiWare games from a DSi or DSi XL), the web browser and eShop. It's likely to be the same update that will add Netflix and some 3D video features, too.
NintendoWare Weekly: Faxanadu, Cozy Fire
Wow, it's a Virtual Console game -- and a good one at that. Faxanadu for NES was developed by Falcom, creators of the Ys and Dragon Slayer series (to which Faxanadu is tangentially connected), and published in America by Nintendo. Oddly enough, however, the now-defunct Hudson Entertainment is listed as the publisher for the VC version (Hudson Soft published the original game in Japan). In gameplay terms, it's a slightly more RPG-ish (and more brown) Zelda 2. And it's on the Virtual Console, in North America, today. Meanwhile, on WiiWare, there's another damn fireplace sim.%Gallery-117232%
NintendoWare Weekly: Pucca's Kisses
Nintendo celebrates Valentine's Day with a licensed WiiWare game about some Korean cartoon character. It sounds a lot less random when you find out that Pucca's Kisses Game is about a young girl hoping to kiss a boy (who happens to be a ninja). Sadly, the two WiiWare demos don't quite fit the V-day theme, unless you consider blowing up baby chickens or splitting your consciousness across two time periods romantic. And we hope, for several reasons, that you don't. DSiWare features a game about a guy searching for treasure to impress a girl, which is a suitably grandiose romantic gesture for the day. Also, pandas!%Gallery-116590%
NintendoWare Weekly: Spot the Differences, S.C.A.T.
We're sure you'll have no trouble spotting the difference between this week and most other weeks, in terms of Nintendo downloads: there's a Virtual Console game! Also, a game called Spot the Differences. In addition, WayForward offers a demo of its spooky WiiWare action puzzle game Lit. DSiWare is led by G.G. Series Dark Spirits, a budget shmup from Genterprise's G.G. series. And Zoo Games presents Shawn Johnson Gymnastics, a licensed DSiWare sports game. That doesn't happen often.%Gallery-115826%
Angry Birds also flying to 3DS
Just in case you didn't get the memo: developer Rovio is planning on bringing Angry Birds to every platform imaginable -- including platforms that aren't out yet. Speaking with 3DS Focus, the team confirmed plans to bring all three Angry Birds games to the 3DS as downloadable titles "later this year," including the recently-announced Angry Birds Rio. A behind-the-slingshot 3D camera would certainly make the best use of the handheld's capabilities, but that's undoubtedly a pipe dream. In case you don't already have it on your phone, Angry Birds is also out now for PS3 and PSP.
NintendoWare Weekly: Zombie Panic demo, Magic Destiny
This week, you have a chance to try out the WiiWare game Zombie Panic in Wonderland, an entertaining forward-scrolling shooter in which Momotaro, Dorothy, and Snow White shoot at zombies and avoid being hugged (fatally). We suppose you've always had the chance to try it, but thanks to the demo you can now do so without spending money. If you'd like to know when you'll be able to afford more WiiWare games, you can pick up Magic Destiny, which tells your fortune using tarot, seashells, numerology, and, uh, virtual palm reading. That kind of makes the DSiWare game about adopting 101 dolphins seem tame.%Gallery-115397%
Sudoku DSiWare exploit enables homebrew on DSi [update: and it's gone!]
For just 200 DSi Points (that's $2), a whole world of digital sudoku can be yours -- plus DSi homebrew capabilities! The hacking troupe known as "Team Twiizers" has found a hole in EA's Sudoku DSiWare game -- exposed using a false save file -- through which homebrew games and applications can be run on a DSi without a flashcart. Notably, this exploit can not be used to play pirated games or applications, but only enables true homebrew software. Perhaps most exciting for homebrew developers, this breakthrough brings the DSi's hardware upgrades (over the original DS) into play. "In DSi mode, the DSi SD card slot is accessible, the whole 16MB RAM is available, and the CPU is clocked 2x higher than DS-mode," Twiizers notes in on post on HackMii. As of publishing, [see below] the Sudoku game is still available in the North American DSiWare store, but has already been removed in Europe. At the very least, it would be an excuse to throw away that ratty copy of Snakes on a Sudoku, right? Update: Looks like Nintendo has already removed the game from its DSiWare store in North America as well. Sorry homebrewers!
NintendoWare Weekly: Jam City Rollergirls, 1942, Black Tiger
Today's Wii Shop update brings the official sports game of a sport without much official game representation: roller derby. Jam City Rollergirls carries the Women's Flat Track Derby Association license, so if you happen to follow the sport, you'll recognize the teams and players. Also available: two more Virtual Console Arcade games by Capcom, which is dangerously close to making us forget how moribund the Virtual Console has become. DSiWare is home to the first non-PSN release from MonkeyPaw Games, and it's ... a poker game! That company is defying expectations left and right.%Gallery-114973%
NintendoWare Weekly: Doc Clock, Glory Days
Today, another weird PC indie finds its way to WiiWare: the time-traveling, junk-inventing adventure Doc Clock and the Toasted Sandwich of Time. There's also a city-building Qix clone ported from iOS, and a returning WiiWare demo for Bit. Trip Beat. DSiWare features Animal Boxing, the second retail title from Gammick Entertainment to move over to a DSiWare download. There's also a surprisingly cute card game about driving competitors to bankruptcy!%Gallery-114523%%Gallery-114524%
NintendoWare Weekly: Jelly Car 2, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Exed Exes
We're treated to a surprise today from Capcom, something we didn't think we'd see in 2011: two Virtual Console releases on the same day! Bask in it, because even a single Virtual Console release is a rare event. This time, it's two of Capcom's announced arcade releases, Ghosts 'n Goblins and the shmup Exed Exes. Additionally, WiiWare is host to Disney's Jelly Car 2, a build-it-yourself racing game with realistic physics and weird, jiggly cars.%Gallery-113645%
Firemint acquires Puzzle Quest dev Infinite Interactive
You'd think after selling a billion iPhone games, the Firemint crew, makers of those Flight Control and Real Racing games on your phone, would go buy a boat or something. But, oh no, they had to be "smart" with their money, acquiring Puzzle Quest developer Infinite Interactive to form an even stronger, more independent operation, which "works exclusively on self-published original games." Who do these guys think they are ... PopCap? It would seem that Firemint starter Rob Murray and Infinite Interactive founder Steve Fawkner, both Aussies, have been casually strategizing for years now. "Steve and I have been talking about working together for a long time, and I remember him showing me an early version of Puzzle Quest," Murray recalled. "This inspired me to make a game during my own holidays two years later, which was Flight Control -- and now, another two years later, we've finally found a way to work together!" (The financial terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.) Infinite Interactive will merge into Firemint's "recently expanded" (how convenient!) offices in Melbourne and continue work on some kind of infectious game that could endanger world health at a bargain price. And then, they'll all probably buy a fleet of boats and retire into Port Phillip Bay. [Image credit: Firemint]
NintendoWare Weekly: Jason Rohrer Anthology, Sneezies
If you believe that the first WiiWare and DSiWare games of the new year will set the tone for the rest of 2011, then ... man, this is going to be a weird year. DSiWare gets artsy with a three-pack of games designed by Jason Rohrer, including Passage, Gravitation, and Between. And WiiWare gets, um, sneezy ... with a port of Retro Dreamer's iPhone game Sneezies.%Gallery-112345%
NintendoWare Weekly: Chick Chick Boom, Around the World
The Flashy-looking Chick Chick Boom headlines this week's WiiWare releases, as a pair of Neo Geo titles comes to Virtual Console. On DSiWare, there's a virtual slots game and the sequel to DodoGo! (the exclamation being part of the game title). Check out the full breakdown of digital Wii and DSi releases for the week after the break. %Gallery-104897%
NintendoWare Weekly: Mario Party 2, Frobot
Gather up all your extra Classic Controllers and GameCube controllers. They are about to get seriously ruined, thanks to the arrival of Mario Party 2 on Virtual Console -- the first Nintendo-published Virtual Console game to arrive since June. If Nintendo 64 minigame collections aren't your thing, you can download Frobot on WiiWare, a top-down Zelda-style action game, with robots. And disco. DSiWare gets Dragon's Lair 2, almost a year to the day after the first Dragon's Lair hit the service ... and a month after Dragon's Lair arrived on DS cartridge.
Holiday Buyer's Guide: Nintendo Points for WiiWare, DSiWare & Virtual Console
Chances are, someone you know has or will receive a Wii or DSi this holiday season -- many people you know, if the November sales are any indication. Or perhaps you know someone who has owned one of these systems for a while but hasn't messed around with its downloadable games yet. In either case, 2010 has been a great year to introduce someone to WiiWare or DSiWare, with lots of interesting games and apps released just this year. Somehow, Virtual Console's been decent too, despite the fact that releases have slowed down to a trickle. To begin, click one of the links below to jump to a category or simply head on past the break to peruse the guide form top to bottom. Wii: Retro-esque Gamer | Authentic Retro Gamer Art Aficionado | The Independent | Person Who Would Enjoy Muscle March DSi: All DSi Band | Busy Gamer | The Eccentric | Longterm Portable Gamer
NintendoWare Weekly: Lilt Line, Darius Twin, Zombie BBQ
It is, without a doubt, an actually good, not disappointing day on the Wii and DSi Shops. It's a Christmas miracle! The very cool iPhone reflex / rhythm game Lilt Line is now on WiiWare, published by Bit. Trip developer Gaijin Games. And Taito's Darius Twin shoots 'em up on Virtual Console. On DSiWare, Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ, originally a retail DS game, can be downloaded for 800 Points, obviating the need to go to a store and hunt down that somewhat obscure (but fun) shooter.%Gallery-110454%
Zombie BBQ cooks up DSiWare release next week
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ never made it to retail in Europe, instead being released as a DSiWare download. Even though it did come out on a cartridge in North America, EnjoyUp is releasing the DSiWare version anyway, giving Zombie BBQ the unique honor of being available both digitally and in a box. Said DSiWare release will occur next Monday, December 13. Look forward to having two convenient options for fulfilling your Red Riding Hood-blasting-the-undead needs. Check out an oddly windowed trailer after the break.
NintendoWare Weekly: Fluidity, Commando, SonSon
Finally, this WiiWare game has arrived -- one we've been reading about for months, that will allow us to experience a common natural phenomenon in a new way. We're talking, of course, about Fireplacing (formerly My Fireplace). Oh, also, Fluidity is out. If you download them together, will they cancel each other out? Meanwhile, on Virtual Console, Capcom surprises us with a pair of games that weren't supposed to be out until next year!%Gallery-109311%%Gallery-109310%
