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Nintendo Network smuggles Pinsir, Heracross through Pokemon X / Y's customs
"Gotta catch 'em all" is a seriously-demanding life motto these days, considering there's more than 700 Pokemon out in the wild. With some of those only appearing in one version of a region's dual-release debut, earning the Pokemon Master title can be tough if you can't find someone willing to trade. Pokemon X / Y owners will soon be able to get a little closer to Master status though, thanks to an upcoming Nintendo Network distribution event. You see, Heracross only resides in Pokemon Y, whereas Pinsir only prowls the wildlands of Pokemon X. But starting August 13, X / Y trainers can end the hunt and download level-50 versions of either Pokemon using the Nintendo Network. Beyond boosting their Pokedex headcount, trainers can also head into GameStop from August 18 - 31 to find codes for the Heracronite or Pinsirite Mega Stones, items that allow either Pokemon to Digivolve Mega Evolve mid-battle. You can get a complete stat rundown of both Heracross and Pinsir at the promotion's description page, as well as instructions for nabbing your free Pokemon. If you're all set on bug-type Pokemon and would rather not turn Pinsir into a winged nightmare, you can still get a poster by pre-ordering Pokemon Omega Ruby or Pokemon Alpha Sapphire from GameStop. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
North American, European eShops to close temporarily again [update]
Following the eShop's struggles with serving its global holiday traffic that resulted in a delay for the Western launch of Pokemon Bank, Nintendo's North American and European eShops will temporarily close again today. North American users are urged to wrap up any pressing purchases through the digital storefront before 4 p.m. EST. Nintendo of Europe's tweet states the European eShop will be closed from 10 p.m. CET to 10 a.m., which almost sounds like enough time for it to ... sleep. Oh no it's developing human-like needs Nintendo will have "more updates soon" concerning the NA eShop's status, presumably involving when users can expect it to reopen its imaginary doors. Update 2: Both the Wii U and 3DS NA eShops appear to be stable and fully accessible. A post on Nintendo's Facebook page explained that the outages were caused by an "influx" of new Nintendo Network accounts being created. Transfers of existing 3DS account information to new Nintendo Network accounts also contributed to the downtime. Update: Nintendo's Online Service Status page lists the planned network outage from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. specifically for the 3DS eShop. This is reflected in attempts to access the 3DS eShop itself, which result in an error explaining the temporary downtime. However, we're also currently experiencing problems connecting to the North American Wii U eShop. Several attempts to connect have all resulted in the initial eShop loading screen fading into a white screen that goes nowhere, though the home menu can still be accessed from this state.
Nintendo Network stutters under holiday traffic, Pokemon Bank and Transporter delayed
Unwrap a Wii U this holiday season? Apparently, you weren't the only one: the company's Nintendo Network seems to be stumbling over increased traffic. "Players are having trouble setting up Nintendo Network IDs and downloading content in the Nintendo eShop on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS," Nintendo writes on its US support page. "We truly regret the inconvenience, and wish to reassure everyone that providing a solution is our top priority." The network issues are sure to be a thorn in the side of new users pursuing the Wii U's requisite updates, not to mention current owners hoping to check out this week's eShop sales. Folks planning to pick up Pokemon Bank and Poke Teleport (a pair of programs designed to allow players to save, store and transfer their pocket monsters between new and old versions of the games) will have to wait too -- both apps have been delayed until the network issues can be resolved. With any luck, that won't take too long, but if you care to nip at Nintendo's heels you'll find the company's official announcement at the source links below.
PSA: Extended Nintendo Network maintenance today
There'll be an extra bit of Nintendo Network server maintenance this morning, but it's only scheduled for five more hours. Wii U and 3DS downtime regularly occurs between 1PM and 5PM PT (4PM to 8PM ET/9PM to 1AM UK time) every Monday, but today's maintenance begins early at 8AM PT (11AM ET, 4PM UK time). Some in-game and Miiverse features won't be accessible during the downtime, and disconnections from online games may occur. Nintendo hasn't said what the extended maintenance is for; we wonder if we'll find out in tomorrow's Nintendo Direct, billed for Wii U and 3DS games due later this year.
PSA: Nintendo online maintenance today ahead of Wii U system update
Nintendo is performing online maintenance for all its systems today as it prepares the Wii U's spring system update. The update, which will introduce the Virtual Console proper (among other things), may be fully launched by tomorrow according to a Facebook tease by Nintendo of America.The extended maintenance is scheduled between 1PM PT today (4PM ET, 9PM UK) and 7PM PT (10PM ET, 3AM UK). The eShop and shopping channels for the Wii U, 3DS, Wii, and DS will be affected, so expect them to go down during those hours.
PSA: Emergency Nintendo Network maintenance Jan. 28 and 29
Various Nintendo services, as well as a small handful of specific games, may experience issues of varying frequency and severity from 3 p.m. Eastern on Monday, January 28 through 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, January 29, as Nintendo will be conducting emergency network maintenance.The full maintenance schedule, which can be found here, includes work on Wii, Wii U, DS and 3DS eShops, as well as matchmaking for Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper and network services for Pokemon Black & White and Pokemon Black & White 2. We're not tremendously sure what kind of emergency can be caused by Pokemon networking issues, but we assume someone left a Voltorb in the server room and things went south.
Rumor: Used Wii Us let you download previous user's games
We've known for a while that Nintendo Network IDs can only be associated with a single Wii U console, and now it appears that this restriction is providing unexpected benefits for used console buyers. Specifically, NeoGAF member DSN2K claims that second-hand console purchasers are able to redownload any games that were purchased via the previous owner. From a newly created account, DSN2K was able to download Nano Assault Neo and Trine 2 at no cost.It makes sense, given that all user accounts on a single Wii U console are able to access previously purchased content. What makes less sense is that previous purchases seem to remain connected to the hardware even after the associated accounts are deleted. Regardless, you might be in for a pleasant surprise if you pick up a used Wii U.We've reached out to Nintendo for comment.
Nintendo ID requires credit card verification for minors
Parents looking to create additional Nintendo ID accounts for their children are required to pay a one-time $0.50 fee via credit card to provide consent for minors to access Nintendo Network.Nintendo's confirmation email notes that Wii U owners can use a "Parental Control PIN" to create additional Nintendo Network IDs without any added charges. Credit card information used for the transaction doesn't appear to be stored on the system.
Nintendo Wii U unboxed alongside more details: Multiple users, 'karaoke' microphones and Wii U Chat (video)
Nintendo took to UStream again to announce even more details for its impending new console. The company's CEO was on hand to detail exactly what comes in the box with a very official-looking opening (Yep, Iwata-san just unboxed his own console.) It's some pretty familiar packaging, but we noted that the AC adapter appears to be a weighty block separate from the main console. Alongside the main unit and the GamePad, the process also gave us a glimpse at the rest of the premium package, including a charging stand for the Wii U GamePad, console stand, HDMI cable, more cable twists, packaging and a beta test for the new Dragon Quest title. White-gloved console handling aside, the CEO had plenty more to explain -- and some of it involved karaoke.
Nintendo: Wii U online functionality will be free
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata doesn't believe there should be a fee for connecting Wii U consoles to the Nintendo Network.According to a translation of Nintendo's annual shareholder meeting via Andriasang, Iwata said that having all users able to freely access the network will help spread the service's offerings through word of mouth. This tactic, his translated commentary suggests, is thought to lead to greater hardware and software sales.Iwata also revealed that external developers were brought onboard with Wii U at about the same time as internal studios, which he hopes will counter lagging third-party performance. To prove Nintendo's renewed focus, Iwata reportedly pointed to the upcoming Namco Bandai collaboration behind the new Smash Bros. coming to Wii U and 3DS.
Nintendo takes on Disney veteran as senior VP for digital in US, gets serious about this whole internet thing
Nintendo hinted it was improving its notoriously rudimentary online access with word of the Nintendo Network early this year, and was even more adamant at E3 about making a big push into digital video. Some have accused the company of nothing but flag-waving -- if that's true, the waving is about to turn into a full parade through a new hire. As of July 1st, Nintendo is bringing on Disney's former Interactive Media Group senior VP Duncan Orrell-Jones to take on the just-minted role of senior VP for the company's Network Business group in the US. He'll be handling the overall American digital strategy, which covers both gaming as well as content. We'll need to wait awhile before we see the results, but if it helps make sure friend codes never rise from the dead to haunt our Wii U, we're all for it.
Iwata interested in NFC payments, tolerant of microtransactions
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata gave his customary Q&A session to stockholders following the company's financial results briefing. Surprisingly, the stockholders asked a lot of stuff about future plans, instead of just hostile questions about why Nintendo is losing money.Iwata elaborated on the NFC functionality of the Wii U, specifying its utility for reading credit cards. "If we can provide a system in which consumers can use such e-money," he said, "they will far more easily be able to make payments than by entering credit card numbers or purchasing the Nintendo Prepaid Cards at stores." Of course, Nintendo has been sheepish about going into online business, which Iwata admitted. "To the views that Nintendo is cautious, conservative, or even negative about business on a network," he said, "our answer is, in short, that we will make a bold attempt when the time is ripe. Unless the timing is right, we will lose the consumers who do not have an Internet connection."Iwata explained that Nintendo is working to find a solution that pleases both customers and retailers before offering full-game downloads, but went on to say that microtransactions, another new-ish development in online games, are not something he'd have a problem with. "We plan to ensure a relative level of flexibility for the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U software compatible with the Nintendo Network as long as the developer has built a trusting relationship with consumers, except for the cases that consumers will be too disadvantaged," he said. "Regulations with a certain degree of strictness" will be in place to protect customers. Nintendo "will not turn down" requests to add microtransactions to games "as far as they can establish an appropriate relationship with their customers."
Nintendo officially announces Nintendo Network, promises personal accounts for Wii U
Nintendo's third quarter financial briefing just spilled the beans on the recently spied Nintendo Network, causing Nintendo fans everywhere to collectively sigh, "It's about time." Company head honcho Satoru Iwata says the network will offer "competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content," and in the case of the Wii U, will introduce personal user accounts. Iwata stopped just short of confirming that the Nintendo Network will end the company's policy of tying downloaded titles to Nintendo hardware, rather than individual users, but mentioned that it packed an infrastructure that supports not only add-on content, but fully downloadable retail games as well."This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure," Iwata said, "We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it." Iwata pointed to Mario Kart 7's community building features and DLC offerings in the upcoming Theatrythm Final Fantasy as an early look at how the Nintendo Network is trying differentiate itself from the outfit's existing Nintendo Wi-Fi connection services. Hit the source link to read Iwata's briefing for yourself.
Wii U getting user accounts as part of 'Nintendo Network'
Nintendo is slowly catching up in the online department, as Satoru Iwata unveiled the "Nintendo Network" in an investor presentation today. The "Nintendo Network," whose logo was just spotted on the Japanese Theatrhythm cover, will cover "competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content," Iwata said, for both 3DS and Wii U. Elements, like the "Community" building functionality, have already been implemented in Mario Kart 7.For the Wii U, the Nintendo Network will support multiple personal user accounts per system, finally ending Nintendo's insistence on tying software purchases to a single system.The Network may also entail digital sales of retail 3DS games. "This concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure," Iwata said. "We will prepare the same infrastructure for the Wii U. However, we have not decided the concrete timing of when we will start it."
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy box points to first paid DLC for Nintendo 3DS
3DS owners have been waiting (and waiting) for a chance to take advantage of a downloadable content market, and while Nintendo already accomplished the tough part (read: launching it) a few days back, there's still been no word on when paid content would make an appearance. Pushing those freebies aside is Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, which is seemingly destined to be the first 3DS title in existence to offer up enhancements in exchange for a few yen. The box here is actually an "early retail dummy unit," though the verbiage on the back makes quite clear that downloadable material will be available at a cost. Furthermore, there's a heretofore unseen Nintendo Network badge on the front, which may be a new look for the existing Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. At any rate, the game is scheduled to ship on February 16th in Japan, after which all of this will-it-won't-it drama will presumably be cleared up.
Theatrhythm box reveals paid DLC, 'Nintendo Network' logo
The Japanese box art for Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, spotted in the wild by Twitter user joshua_x_ (probably on a retail poster) notes that the game features downloadable content, and, in fine print, that this downloadable content is paid. If you were wondering which game would be the first to support the 3DS's new DLC infrastructure, there you go.The front of the box also features a "Nintendo Network" logo, which hasn't been used elsewhere before. This is likely some kind of rebranding for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, rather than a completely new service, but we'll certainly find out before the game's mid-February release.Finally, the box identifies the genre as "Theatrhythm Action." That's just a bit on the nose.
