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3DS system update pushed back to December 8th, Nintendo confirms
November is just about over and 3DS users are still without that firmware update announced last month. They needn't worry, though, because Nintendo says it's on the way. In a statement posted to its site yesterday, the company confirmed that the refresh "is in the final stages of internal testing," and that it will be released by December 8th -- not the end of November, as previously indicated. When it finally hits, users will be able to record 3D video, access new StreetPass games, and transfer data across their 3DS systems. These all sound like good things, but they'll only come to those who wait.
Nintendo looks to keep you warm, bundled even, with two more 3DS packages
So you've got a few folks on your holiday shopping list that just aren't Zelda fans. You can still spring for some Nintendo hardware with two more bundles due out December 4th. Inside, you'll find a pink Nintendo 3DS paired with your choice of nintendogs + cats: French Bulldog and New Friends or nintendogs + cats: Toy Poodle and New Friends. Both of the aforementioned bundles will set you back $169.99 -- the same cost of a lonely 3DS system purchased solo. If a pink handheld just isn't what you're after, you may opt for one of The Big N's other bundles already on shelves, including the Midnight Blue DSi XL. In need of a quick refresher before hitting the mall? Check out the PR below for a complete list of Nintendo's holiday package offerings.
Nintendo 3DS available for $145 at Target's pre-Black Friday sale
It's official: Black Friday has transcended both space and time. No longer bound to the Hipparchian constraints of the 24-hour day, the Mother of all Sales has now given birth to an entire generation of equally stygian offspring, oozing her mercantile tentacles into nearly every crevice of our American existence. Case in point: Target's pre-Black Friday sale. It's a sale in honor of a sale that's in honor of a holiday -- the Apollo to Thanksgiving's Jupiter, if you will. It's also where you can grab a Nintendo 3DS for just $145, as noted in this ad that we came across yesterday. So loosen those purse strings and clench your fists, because the Supra Sale draws nigh.
Nintendo gives thanks to gamers with special edition Zelda 3DS bundle
Looking to match your Black Friday with a similarly noir games console? You're in luck. Nintendo has confirmed what we saw on promo literature last week, with a 3DS bundle that includes a special edition (possibly Hyrulean-crafted) console and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Nintendo says the bundle, arriving alongside a similar Flame Red iteration with Super Mario 3D Land, can be snapped up for $200. However, bargain hunters should be able to sniff out some cheaper deals come Friday.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: gaming
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Ah, the holiday season. That special time of year when we give our loved ones the new hotness of the video game world, and then promptly exploit their over-excited reactions to propel them into unwanted YouTube fame. Even if your familial relations don't have the stuff to become this generation's "N64 kid," you can still kick a few rad toys their way just for the love of it. And if you're having trouble finding the perfect gift for the gamer in your life, we're here to help. Head past the break to take a peek at Engadget's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for video games. Not finding what you're looking for? Skip on back to our 2011 Back to School Guide for bonus gift ideas.
Zelda-branded Nintendo 3DS coming to US GameStops?
Is Nintendo's Zelda-branded 3DS making its way to the US? It certainly seems to be, based on the above GameStop ad. Spotted by one of our eagle-eyed tipsters, this leaked Black Friday promo offers the gold-and-black, Hyrule-emblazoned console as part of a bundle deal that also features The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. This can all be yours, apparently, for the price of $200 (or as little as $100, if you're willing to part with one of your older consoles). Nintendo has yet to issue an official word on Zelda's stateside arrival, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we hear more. [Thanks, Colin]
3DS to beat out original DS' first year sales, land killing blow during holiday season
First 3DS sales were great, then not so much, and now things seem to be evening out somewhere around "normal." According to numbers released by Nintendo, the fledgling handheld is poised to break the original DS' first year sales numbers -- closing out its 8th month with 1.65 million units sold, or roughly 69 percent of its predecessor's 2.37 million first year sales. Noting that half of the old DS' year one sales were made during the holiday season, Nintendo is confident the 3DS will surpass its predecessor's numbers before hitting the one year mark. We'll let you make your own predictions -- Nintendo's press release is after the break, if you want to compare notes.
Timber! iOS and Android take 60 percent cut of mobile gaming dollars
The last time we reported on these figures, paid iOS and Android games were chipping away happily at the US market share of those two old oaks, Sony and Nintendo. Well, peer through the cloud of leaves and sawdust and you'll see that the job is done: the two newcomers will generate $500 million more than DS and PSP titles this year, according to stats from Flurry. Click past the break to see the trend since 2009 crystallized into a cold, hard pie chart. On the other hand, there's a bit of good news for everybody: the overall American mobile gaming market is growing at a rapid pace -- this year's total revenue of $3.3 billion represents a 25 percent increase on 2010, so new devices like the PlayStation Vita and the Transformer Prime should find plenty of room to take seed.
This 25th anniversary Zelda 3DS kind of Hyrules
Sure, it may not have one of those coveted right circle pads, but this Zelda-branded Nintendo 3DS is just dripping in Hyrule awesomeness. The limited edition portable console will be released in Europe to mark the 25th anniversary of Link, Zelda and the rest of the Hyrule crew. The 3DS has a Hyrule emblem and gold-colored decorations on its lid and comes bundled with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. It'll hit European shops on the 25th of this month, so start saving up those silver rupees. Press info after the break.
Caption Contest: Real-life Super Mario party searches for Princess Peach
Mamma Mia -- it's 'a me whole lot of Marios! If we were you, Bowser, we'd return Her Majesty to Mushroom Kingdom at once. Okay, okay... in actuality, the above was merely Nintendo hyping the upcoming US release of its psychedelic-consuming plumber's first 3DS title, Super Mario 3D Land. So there's no need to worry folks, Ms. Peach is safe -- at least until you get your grubby paws on the game come November 13th, that is. Darren: "Mario has sabotaged the Beastie Boys' redux of Sabotage." Terrence: "Occupy Mushroom Kingdom." Joe: "Will the real Super Mario please jump up?" Mat: "Someone got the infinite lives cheat massively, massively wrong." Sean: "The Mario family reunion took a turn for the awkward when Luigi realized he was the only attendee out of uniform." Tim: "It's 'a me... your worst nightmare." Richard Lai: "I ate the wrong mushroom." Jon: "After defeating multiple Agent Smiths, Neo finds that he advances to level 2 in the Matrix..." Brian: "Moments later, the mob located a pet store, went to town on the turtle tank and escaped safely through the toilet." Myriam: "Where's Waldo?" Zach Honig: "Darn it, Myriam... you took mine!" Billy: "The first rule of Project Mayhem is..." Brad: "This would've made that lousy Super Mario Bros. movie a whole lot better." Amar: "King Hippo + $2 Taco Night = this" Richard Lawler: "And not a single flying Cape Feather was given that day." Josh Fruhlinger: "Another Sunday in Williamsburg, Brooklyn."
Nintendo posts first half loss in earnings report, slashes forecast yet again
Nintendo's latest earnings report may be one of its most forgettable. The company posted a net loss of ¥70.27 billion ($923 million) this morning, in a report covering the first six months of the fiscal year ending on September 30th. That's significantly deeper than the ¥2.01 billion loss Nintendo posted during the same period last year, though Nintendo attributed the result, in part, to a strengthened yen and sagging demand for its 3DS console. Revenue, meanwhile, fell by 40.6 percent on the year, to ¥215.74 billion ($2.84 billion), as the manufacturer reported an operating loss of ¥57.34 billion. Things are looking so bleak, in fact, that Nintendo has decided to slash its financial projections yet again, predicting a net loss of ¥20 billion for the full year (ending in March 2012), compared with the ¥20 billion in profits it projected only in July. And, as Bloomberg notes, if these prognostications hold true, it would mark Nintendo's first annual loss in a full 30 years. Ouch. Check out the full report for yourself at the source link, below.
Mario Kart 7 Steering Wheel for Nintendo 3DS should help you drift past Toadie
It's no secret that Mario Kart 7 is due out in December, but it now appears that a certain 3DS-compatible steering wheel from Hori will be too. (Stoked?) According to Andriasang, Amazon's Japanese site listed the peripheral sans photos, pricing it at a cool ¥1,280 (about $17). Not long after that the blog snagged a few press shots of said unit, which looks like a odd blend of the iPhone-oriented Helix grip and Nintendo's own Wii Wheel. The attachment is said to feature tweaked shoulder triggers and Nintendo's Official Seal of Approval, but won't score you extra SlidePad functionality. You'll find a shot of the back past the break and more details at the links below.
Nintendo 3DS SlidePad coming to the US under the name Circle Pad Pro?
Last month, Nintendo quietly unveiled the SlidePad -- a battery-powered "extended slide pad" for the 3DS, slated to hit the Japanese market on December 10th. At the time, there was no indication that the add-on would be coming to North America anytime soon, but according to Capcom, it's on its way. Speaking at New York Comic Con last week, Capcom's Ryan McDougall confirmed that the attachment will indeed arrive Stateside by February 7th, alongside the company's new 3DS game, "Resident Evil: Revelations." It's not clear whether the add-on will arrive for other games released before February, but it may very well have a different name by the time it does. According to Siliconera, Nintendo has already filed a Japanese trademark for the name Circle Pad Pro, which could be the moniker we'll be seeing in the West. Nintendo, it should be noted, has yet to confirm any of this, nor has it mentioned anything about US pricing, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear more.
Hulu Plus coming to 3DS and Wii, handheld getting 3D video capture
Rejoice Nintendo fans, Hulu Plus is coming to your console of choice... provided you're up on the latest in Nintendo hardware. Both the Wii and 3DS will be getting access to the streaming service's vast archives of TV shows and movies some time before the year is out. Though, you shouldn't expect to see the Galactica popping out of your portable -- this is a strictly 2D affair. A software update coming at the end of November will also deliver the ability to record 3D video with the Nintendo handheld (up to ten minutes) or even stitch together stereoscopic images for stop motion animation that jumps out of the tiny screen at you. With both Hulu and Netflix in tow, as well as the ability to create your own content, the 3DS is actually turning into quite a powerful little portable. For more details, including some game release dates, check out the PR after the break.
Spyro figurines bridge the console divide, bring flame-grilled peace to the world
Kids lacking the imagination to bring their own toys to life now have the option of letting a games console do it for them. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure has teleported into stores, boxed with three toy figures and a 'portal device' that brings them to life in-game. The bundle totals up at $70, and Activision is billing it as the "first true cross-platform game", with the toys playing nice across Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, 3DS and iOS versions. The statuettes, which connect to the portal peripheral through embedded RFID tags, also store game data across platforms. The business plan presumably involves groups of kids investing in Spyro's latest yarn and swapping characters amongst themselves, while holding onto their own precious in-game achievements. If your little brother has trouble trading with friends who couldn't care less about the antics of lava-belching monsters, they can always can stump up an extra $8 for new figures. Click 'Read more' for some explanatory cartoon violence.
Nintendo sells over 50 million DS units, 3DS sales fall flat in comparison
Nintendo's twin-screen wonder has seen almost as many reinventions as Lady Gaga, so it may not come as a huge shock to hear that the DS (in all its guises) has now sold over 50 million units in the US. The home entertainment maestros are still chasing similar success for its three-dimensional sibling, the 3DS, however. Nintendo has managed to sell almost half a million three dee units units after its weighty price cut, but there's now some very potent competitors seeking their own slice of the (portable) gaming pie. Good luck, Nintendo, you're probably going to need it.
Nintendo 3DS expansion up for pre-order in Japan, ready to bulk up consoles in December
Ever feel like your life is one right hand circle pad short of perfection? We've got some good news if you happen to live in Japan -- Nintendo's 3DS Expansion Slide Pad is now available for pre-order via Amazon in that country. Sure, not everyone out there is excited about the thing, but aside from some obvious problems with bulk, we didn't find it entirely unpleasant during our hands-on time at the Tokyo Game Show last month -- and if that's not a ringing endorsement, we don't know what is. The add-on will run you ¥1,500 ($19.50) and should start shipping on December 10th in Japan.
3DS gets a Monster Hunter TriG paint job, makes the limited edition love Japan-only
As Nintendo is wont to do, a new assortment of colorful 3DS handhelds will soon be flooding the market -- in Japan. Yes, it's time once again for that tried-and-true approach of treating gamers in the company's homeland to special edition packs. This time out, it's the release of Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 (Tri) G that'll ring in the above pictured red-on-white portable, in addition to Ninty's recently unveiled slide pad add-on. Unfortunately, interested parties'll have to choose between the 20,800 yen (about $271) game plus console bundle, or merely opt for the hardware-less 6,990 yen (about $91) peripheral and software option -- both available on December 10th. If neither of the above has your inner Big N fanboy aflutter, you can always drop 15,000 yen (about $195) on that bland Ice White version slated for October 20th. Speak Japanese? Then hit up the source links below to parse through the official pressers.
Deluxe Power Grip bulks up your 3DS with extended battery life, charges over USB
The Nyko Power Pak+ does an admirable job of keeping Nintendo's 3DS out of the red, but what if you want an extended battery that won't fit in your pocket? Look no further than CTA Digital's Deluxe Power Grip, the 3DS cradle that doubles your console's bulk to match its newly extended battery life. The grip's form mimics that of an Xbox 360 controller, replete with a 2600mAh battery pack and a game-card storing kickstand. The peripheral's grips seem to lend better access to the handheld's awkwardly positioned D-pad, but its real triumph comes in the option to charge the unit via USB; folks looking for a standardized charging solution can kick Nintendo's official AC adapter to the curb. Comfy grips and USB compatibility will set you back about $30. Not convinced? Barrel roll past the break for the official PR and a cheesy overview video.
Keiji Inafune: handheld consoles don't need to fear the smartphone... yet
Yeah, we know that the whole mobile-gaming-is threatening-dedicated-gaming thing has been done to death, but when some of the industry's software MVPs start weighing in on the matter, well... that's when our ears perk up. Nintendo has made clear that it's shunning smartphones as a gaming platform, and now it's Mega Man co-creator Keiji Inafune's turn to windmill into the argument. Speaking with our sister site Joystiq, he opines that the two worlds aren't set to eclipse each other just yet, illustrating it wonderfully through the medium of simile: "I think it's very similar between cellphone cameras and professional digital cameras. You don't use a smartphone camera for an interview, and you don't use a really professional camera to take some small pictures when you're going to work." Hard to knock the underlying logic, but it's pretty tough to pretend that handset gaming isn't seriously denting handheld gaming. For the full spiel, be sure to give that source link a tap.
