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Dragon Quest X Wii U confirmed for Spring 2013 in Japan
Dragon Quest X will be released in Japan for Wii U in Spring 2013, Square Enix announced today. Last month DQX producer Yosuke Saito told attendees at the Tokyo Game Show that next Spring was the aim, but the release window was confirmed today during a Nintendo Direct for Japan.An open beta is scheduled for February 2013. Saito also confirmed Square Enix is working on making Wii characters compatible with the Wii U version.The MMO arrived on Wii back in August, selling over 400,000 units in its first week. A Western release for either verson remains unconfirmed, so don't start pencilling away the greater part of 2013 just yet.
Watch the 3DS, Wii U Nintendo Direct for Japan live right here [update: it's over!]
There are two Nintendo Direct broadcasts going out today, one for Nintendo of America and the first beaming live from Japan. This first Direct is expected to focus on 3DS games and cover previously announced Wii U games. The last few coughed up more than a few surprises. The broadcast begins at 7AM ET (4AM Pacific, 12PM British). The Nintendo Direct for North America is due three hours later at 10AM ET, and according to Nintendo it'll also focus on 3DS software. We'll also have that live stream for you, so don't be going anywhere.Update: It's all been and gone now, and as suspected a lot of it was a recap. There was confirmation, though, of a Spring 2013 release window for Dragon Quest X on Wii U in Japan. Don't forget to tune in for the North American edition at 10AM ET.
Animal Crossing 3DS detailed in Japanese Nintendo Direct
Nintendo just cannot stop doing Nintendo Direct videos, as evidenced by this morning's Japanese presentation about the 3DS Animal Crossing: Jump Out. You can go back and watch the whole 47-minute thing here, which you should do even though it's all in Japanese because cute.NeoGAFfer Streetsahead translated the information from the Nintendo Direct as it was happening, revealing new features and events, like the return of musician KK Slider. He performs DJ sets in the new comedy club, including performances of NES/Famicom style music. Shisho the comedian also performs, and you can choose how to react to his jokes.Players are now able to design roads, much as you can design ground textures in previous games. You can now use your voice to get in-game characters' attention, using a "megaphone" item, as befits a politician of such lofty stature.Local wireless play allows 2-4 players to enjoy co-op activities including a fruit-gathering game, for which you get medals that can be traded for souvenirs. These games take place on islands accessible by speedboat.
Pushmo sequel 'Fallblox' heading to 3DS in November [update: In North America Nov. 22]
A sequel to Pushmo is coming to the 3DS, Nintendo Europe president Satoru Shibata announced during the latest Nintendo Direct. Entitled Fallblox (the original Pushmo is called Pullblox in Europe), the game puts a new twist on the Pushmo formula.Rather than simply pulling blocks from the background, blocks can now be pushed and pulled in any direction. Depending on how the blocks are pushed, others may even fall. The video showcased a player moving three differently-sized blocks in order to create a staircase.Fallblox is slated to arrive in Europe this November. We've contacted Nintendo to see if it will head to North America as well. Just in case you glossed over the rest of this article: New Pushmo!Update: Nintendo has just announced that the sequel is indeed headed to North America, where it will be titled Crashmo. It's set to hit the eShop on November 22.
Level-5's Guild01 games coming to 3DS eShop
Level-5 is releasing three of the four minigames from the Guild01 collection on the 3DS eShop in Europe this year, as separate apps. Suda51's "Liberation Maiden," Yoot Saito's "Aero Porter," and Yasumi Matsuno's "Crimson Shroud" will be released in October, November, and December, respectively.Liberation Maiden will be available immediately following the Nintendo Direct presentation in Europe. Like, today.Update: Nintendo of America is also bringing these three games out, by the end of 2012. Liberation Maiden, Suda51's anime-inspired shooting game, is first, coming "before this holiday season."
Watch the 3DS Nintendo Direct for Europe live right here [update: it's over!]
Nintendo of Europe has a Nintendo Direct starting at 7PM British Time (2PM ET), and you can watch the live stream right here on Joystiq - right above where these words are, in fact. NoE President Satoru Shibata is set to take us through some 3DS games coming to the continent, and we're ready to report on all the goings on.Update: It's all over, albeit with a little bit of streaming trouble on Nintendo's side. Nonetheless, there's plenty of news to devour. That includes a bunch of 3DS games now available via the European eShop, and a December 7 release date for Paper Mario: Sticker Star. You can follow all the reveals via our always handy 3DS tag.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coin Rush DLC detailed [update]
Somehow, Nintendo World Report posted the Nintendo Direct presentation before Nintendo did (Update: we have the official embed from Nintendo of Japan above), revealing that tonight's big Nintendo Direct introduces the specific DLC packs coming to New Super Mario Bros. 2.The three packs include "Go! Go! As Gold Mario Pack," featuring three Gold Mario-themed courses offering up to 30,000 coins; "Challenge the Record A Pack," which posts the top scores on the game's website; and "Survival Panic Pack," an extra hard set of levels. These are all for the Coin Rush mode.The three packs will be out October 2 in Japan, for 200 yen each.Update: See screens of each level in each pack here.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate announced for Wii U and 3DS, available March 2013 [Update]
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime announced the return of Capcom's Monster Hunter series in the form of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate during a Nintendo Direct press briefing today.The game will be available in Europe and North America in March 2013, and features online multiplayer. Fils-Aime highlighted cross-platform multiplayer as a feature for the game, allowing players to progress their characters across Wii U and 3DS versions.Nintendo's Wii U system was dated and priced at the press briefing today as well.Update: Capcom sent us a press release with more features for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, including over 200 quests, touch-screen inventory and map functionality, and a "guild card" that can be swapped with other players using the 3DS' Street Pass feature.Players will also be able to transfer their save data between both systems. The 3DS version supports local four-player multiplayer, with no mention of online play for the portable version.Update #2: We've added an announcement video above from Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate producer Ryozo Tsujimoto.
Project P-100 now 'The Wonderful 101' [Update: Now with trailer!]
The Wonderful 101, a Pikmin-esque action game from Platinum Games for the Wii U, was just announced during Nintendo's European Wii U event. As it so happens, The Wonderful 101 is actually the official name of Project P-100, which was originally announced back at E3.In the brief trailer shown, players were shown controlling a large group of superheroes via the WiiPad, which could then combine into larger creatures to wage war with a seemingly invading alien race. As it did back in June, the game had a distinctly Viewtiful Joe vibe to it and seemed quite lighthearted.Update: The official trailer has been added above for your viewing pleasure.%Gallery-165266%
Watch a live stream of the Wii U Nintendo Direct for Japan [update: it's over!]
Today Nintendo announces the Wii U price and release date, along with other core launch details about the console. First up on the schedule is Japan's Nintendo Direct, in which Nintendo president Satoru Iwata may give us an idea of what to expect from the Nintendo of America event taking place later today. We're never really sure with Nintendo, which is half the fun.We've got the Nintendo Direct stream for you right here, and we'll cover all the important details and revelations as they happen. The stream starts at 3 a.m. ET (12 a.m. PT, 8 a.m. BT).Update: It's over, and we have the launch details for Japan right here.
Nintendo Direct video roundup: Layton, Animal Crossing, HarmoKnight, more
You didn't get up at seven this morning to watch a Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation? Why not? Possibly because you knew we would round up the videos here for you. Let's just go with that, shall we?Reliable Nintendo YouTube capturer Nintendaan has posted clips online, which we have here and after the break, so you can get your first look at Professor Layton and the Legacy of Super Civilization A, Rhythm Hunter HarmoKnight, and more.
Pokemon devs launching 3DS eShop game in Japan next week
Pokémon developer Game Freak is launching a new game, Rhythm Hunter: Harmo Knight, on the Japanese 3DS eShop next Wednesday. The news came from this morning's Nintendo Direct broadcast, hosted by Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata.Harmo Knight is a rhythm action game featuring 2D side-scrolling levels and, yup, some Pokémon music. The levels are set to a variety of tunes, and players have to run, jump, and attack in time with the music. The play looks similar to that of rhythm-based platformer Bit.Trip Runner.No word on any international release, of course, but with the Pokémon tie-in it seems likely. Andriasang notes Nintendo will release an Iwata Asks for the game later today.
The game where you take Satoru Iwata on vacation arrives next spring on 3DS
Nintendo's Mii-based game "Friend Collection" arrives in Japan next spring, according to Nintendo head Satoru Iwata. Iwata showed a brief video of the game featuring his own Mii – vacationing and learning how to Hula dance, playing in a rock band called "Game Boys," and emitting a terrifying robot sound on a roller coaster – and gave the game a "spring 2013" launch window for Japan.Additionally, the once Nintendo DS game is now headed to 3DS. Thankfully, it's just as bizarre-sounding as when we first heard about it way back when (like, in 2008.) Just look at Mr. Iwata in that image above! Madness, we say!
Animal Crossing 3DS hits Japan November 8
Animal Crossing: Tobidase Dōbutsu no Mori (translated as 'Jump Out') is coming to 3DSes in Japan on November 8. Nintendo announced the news in this morning's Direct broadcast, in which footage of the game showcased its enhanced customization features, along with the fun of putting your head in an Iwata cut-out.Andriasang reports that Nintendo will release more details in a special Direct broadcast nearer its release. The game is expected in Europe next year, and presumably (hopefully) the US too.
New Layton for 3DS revealed, will be Layton's last adventure
Level-5 announced a new Nintendo 3DS Professor Layton game this morning for Japan on Nintendo's Direct video feed. CEO Akihiro Hino introduced the game and teased a bit of in-game footage – spoilers: it looks like Professor Layton! – he also noted that this will be Layton's "last adventure." That doesn't necessarily mean the end of Layton, of course, just that the game's main character is on his way out.The 3DS Layton – which Andriasang called, "Professor Layton Choubunmei to A no Isan" – arrives in 2013, and per usual Layton announcements, no word was given on a US or EU launch just yet.
PSA: Nintendo 3DS XL now available in US, AC adapter included
That Japan-exclusive Pikachu clamshell might be slightly out of reach for US buyers, but starting today they can pick up a regular 3DS XL to the tune of $200. The oversized Nintendo handheld surpasses its predecessor in just about every category, shining through our review gauntlet with more battery life, a more comfortable grip and a more luxurious screen. On top of the usual fare, US buyers will also receive a power adapter, a necessary accessory that was oddly left out of the Japanese and European releases. Oh, and if you're looking for something new to play on that shiny hardware, New Super Mario Bros. 2 hits the US eShop today as well.
Fill your head with Brain Training info in next Nintendo Direct
The next Nintendo Direct for Japan, airing July 18, is a ten-minute special all about "Onitore," the demonic new 3DS Brain Training game. The presentation has yet to be given a specific time but, being for the Japanese audience, expect it to be really late at night in our time zones.In the segment, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will meet with Brain Age inventor-slash-mascot Ryuta Kawashima, who we're desperately hoping will show up in demon makeup.
Namco's Smash Bros. team includes Tekken, Tales, Soulcalibur staff
A pair of statements on Nintendo of America's Nintendo Direct site offers more detail on Namco Bandai Studios' involvement with the next Super Smash Bros. game, coming to Wii U and 3DS. Director and Sora studio head Masahiro Sakurai (who appears to have gotten even younger) said that the team started development after the announcement of the project. "Currently, the prototype prepared by Namco Bandai Games and Namco Bandai Studios' special team looks pretty good, and it's working great," he said.Namco Bandai Studios' Masaya Kobayashi named some of the staff from Namco's side who will work on the fighting game, also describing their pedigree. "Yoshito Higuchi, the producer and the director of the 'Tales' series, Tetsuya Akatsuka, producer and director of 'Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.,' the art director/sound director of the 'SoulCalibur' series, the main development team staff from the Tekken series...and that's just for starters." Kobayashi lists Ridge Racer games, We Ski, and Go Vacation as his own representative works.If having a random mishmash of Namco staff working on Smash Bros. concerns you, remember that Brawl had a lot of programming done by Game Arts, whose history of shooters, Lunar, and Grandia games is even less obviously transferable to fighting game expertise.
Nintendo Direct trailers: Kirby's Dream Collection, Professor Layton, and more
Last night during the US Nintendo Direct presentation, we were treated to footage of several new games including the Wii Kirby's Dream Collection and Pikmin 2, the 3DS's Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and the DS's Pokemon Black and White Version 2. There's also a video detailing the eShop's Virtual Console promotion. Find them all after the break!%Gallery-158919%
Fire Emblem awakens in North America in 2013
Fire Emblem: Awakening, hastily announced at E3 for North America, has been given a 2013 release window. Nintendo showed some Japanese gameplay and a logo for the game that is, at the moment, called just "Fire Emblem."Like in Japan, there will be paid DLC.
