nintendo-of-japan
Latest
Rocky Japanese debut delays Western Pokémon Bank release
Pokémaniacs outside of Japan will be waiting longer than expected to see the Pokémon Bank storage application, after it wounded the Nintendo Network at debut. Though much of the blame for the ongoing, worldwide Nintendo Network server outages must be placed on the hordes of new Wii U and 3DS owners spawned by yesterday's holiday, Nintendo of Japan has posted a notice on its website which states that the Bank has been causing more of a traffic crush than its creators expected, and has compounded the company's traffic problems. To regain control of the situation, Nintendo has removed the problematic storage application from the Japanese eShop. If you're able to visit the North American or European eShop despite its traffic woes, you'll now find the Bank bears a "to be determined" release date. It was originally scheduled to arrive today, but Nintendo of America followed suit with an official delay. "As you may know, we are currently experiencing a large volume of traffic on the Nintendo Network service," reads a post on Nintendo's Facebook page. "Due to the high traffic, we are postponing the launch of Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter until further notice. As a Nintendo standard, we strive for the utmost quality before launching any of our applications. We truly regret the inconvenience, and wish to reassure you that providing a solution is our top priority. We apologize for the delay and thank you for your continued patience." We have attempted to contact The Pokémon Company for more information on the delay and possibly a new release date for the Bank. We have yet to hear back.
Nintendo debuts 3DS screenshot sharing tool in Japan
Nintendo has released a web tool for use in the 3DS' internet browser, which allows the user to share screenshots from compatible games on Twitter and Tumblr. So far, only Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Tomodachi Collection: New Life work with the service – our friends at Engadget attempted to upload a picture taken with the 3DS' camera and were given an error about "incompatible software."No indication from Nintendo that a westernized version of the utility is in the works, but the Japanese tool still works on this side of the globe, provided you can either read Japanese, or have a lot patience and spare time. Folks interested in investigating should point their 3DS browsers to i.nintendo.net.
Lets-a go look at nearly 70 New Super Mario Bros. 2 screens
Stop looking at whatever else it was you were looking at and start looking at this incredible wealth of New Super Mario Bros. 2 screens. No, seriously, you should start looking. It's gonna take a while.
Skylanders-esque NFC tech built into Wii U's WiiPad
Adding onto the mounting pile of news coming from an investor's briefing with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata comes word that the Wii U's tablet-like controller will have "Near Field Communication" technology (NFC). In Nintendo's words, the tech will serve to "read and write data via noncontact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world." Owners can reportedly create their own cards and figurines for use with the WiiPad's NFC functionality.Confusing as that may be, Iwata means that the Wii U's WiiPad will come equipped with similar tech to that used in Skylanders alter its gameplay via real world objects (Skylanders uses RFID tech, which isn't exactly the same, but a similar concept). The tech could conceivably be used to make credit card payments as well, which Iwata specifically mentions in the last paragraph.We wish it was all announcements of new entries in classic franchises and promises of unified online systems, folks, but that's just how it goes. On the bright side, more Drobot?Update: This post originally stated that Near Field Communication tech is also used in the Skylanders game from Activision, which isn't accurate. Skylanders uses RFID technology, which is similar but not identical. Sorry about that, folks!
Legend of Zelda is Japan's first NES release for 3DS Virtual Console, Ambassadors get free update
Quietly, and very much in Japanese, Nintendo released the original NES game, The Legend of Zelda, on its eShop Virtual Console section. Zelda marks the first of the 10 NES "Ambassador Program" games to arrive on the eShop for sale, replete with save states and a price tag: ¥500 (approximately $6). Those of you who already have the game downloaded via Nintendo's early adopter Ambassador Program are able to snag the updated VC version of the game for free as well. And for those of you who really wanted a virtual copy of the game's instruction manual, Nintendo's got that covered as well! Hot dog!
Pre-order a 3DS Expansion Slide Pad in Japan, if you're into that kinda thing
We are so, so not into ordering a Nintendo 3DS Expansion Slide Pad, but you may very well be. Here's hoping you also live in Japan, as the device is currently available for pre-order on Amazon in its country of origin. As previously revealed, the Slide Pad launches in Japan on December 10 for just ¥1,500 ($19.50) and works with several 3DS titles. Oh, and if you really wanna grab one and you live somewhere outside of Japan, Play-Asia's got you covered. Of course, if you're the kind of person who's counting the days until Monster Hunter Tri-G launches, you've already pre-ordered the bizarre attachment, haven't you? You can tell us, it's okay.
Wii U won't have DVD or Blu-ray playback, will include social media functionality
We already knew that the Wii U's games wouldn't be coming on DVD (like the Xbox 360) or Blu-ray (like the PlayStation 3), but we didn't know that Nintendo's next console wouldn't be able to play video from either format. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed as much in a recent investor Q&A, flat out stating that "Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities." He explained the reasoning behind this as -- unsurprisingly -- the cost, and the notion that "enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray." Something that Nintendo will apparently be including in the Wii U, though: social media functionality. When asked about the new console's online experience, Iwata deftly avoids providing direct information, admitting only that "we are no longer in a period where we cannot have any connection at all with social networking sites." How this will be applied seems to still be up in the air, with Iwata later in the Q&A elaborating, "We're looking at ways that will convey to this audience which games are fun and, ideally, in a way that will enable people who are playing those games with others, to share that information socially." He also said that the console's online infrastructure needs to be more flexible for developers, repeatedly citing third-party studios as the drive for Nintendo's new stance. Worryingly, he never speaks to the necessity of online persistence or the company's messy past with online functionality.
Iwata: Nintendo to plan first-party game launches around third-party publishers
Nintendo clearly understands the importance of the international economy's fragile supply and demand formula, as evidenced in statements made during a recent investor call. Italian plumbers and pocket monsters are, in the case of Nintendo games, highly sought after properties that are somewhat constrained in supply. The result of this, of course, is high demand for Nintendo's games -- such high demand, in most cases, that third-party game sales on Nintendo's consoles are outstripped by first-party. Nintendo, however, hopes to appear mindful of stepping on toes. When asked about potential release dates for 3DS versions of Super Mario and Mario Kart, Nintendo head Satoru Iwata noted, "We want the other companies to be successful." He continued, "In order to accomplish this goal, we would like to decide on the dates after we know the release plans of other companies' games so that we are able to consider how we can maximize the sales of our titles without affecting the sales of other companies in the short term." It's also possible that Iwata is just blowing smoke to avoid answering specific questions about release dates for major franchises, though our mothers always told us not to expect the worst in people.
Iwata: 3DS launch sales below expectations
For Nintendo, 3.61 million just isn't enough. That's the number of 3DS systems sold since launch, and it's approximately 400K short of Nintendo's launch goal, says company head Satoru Iwata. Speaking to investors today in Osaka, Japan, Iwata specifically noted (in an official translation), "Nintendo 3DS started very well but, on the other hand, did not perform as expected after the second week." Iwata cited the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan earlier this year as a factor, but added, "I should not blame this situation just on the impact of the earthquake. There are other challenges that have shown up." Without being specific, he said that the company is "making efforts to get the popularity of Nintendo 3DS back on track for the upcoming summer season." How about, you know, some games we'd want to play? Nintendo has a followup earnings briefing scheduled for next Tuesday in Tokyo, so perhaps we'll find out more about the company's plans then.
Nintendo World 2011's 3DS games unveiled
Nintendo's official website for Nintendo World 2011, next month's public showing of the 3DS in Japan, has been updated, now highlighting the full list of games to be shown during the Tokyo event. Playable versions of everything from MGS3: Snake Eater to Pilotwings Resort will be on hand, though, bizarrely, some demos that were playable at this year's E3 will be for display only, including Starfox 64 3D. Nintendo has also announced that the 3DS will make an appearance at next month's World Hobby Fair (also in Japan) and at two Japanese outlet shopping centers, according to 1UP. We suspect you'd find the shortest lines at those outlets, but, personally, we'd rather take our chances at the Makuhari Messe event to check out the long list of titles (found after the break) than watch a few demos at the local Uniqlo.
Japanese 3DS showcase named 'Nintendo World 2011'
Nintendo opened the official website for its previously announced public 3DS demo event (in Japan -- calm down), dubbing the showcase "Nintendo World 2011." Taking place from January 8 - 10 in Hall 9 of the Makuhari Messe convention center (home of Tokyo Game Show), admission to the event will be free for the public. Unfortunately, none of the games on display have been listed, but the event's website promises more info as January draws closer. It's not clear whether this event will become a regular shindig or not -- Nintendo holds events sporadically in Japan, but the 3DS is anomalous in being most effectively marketed in person. Regardless, Nintendo World 2011 will mark the first time the general public will get its hands on Nintendo's next big thing. Given our experience with the handheld at E3, we suspect the public is in for a good time.
Analyst: Nintendo pressured by Japanese media into early 3DS reveal
M2 Research analyst Billy Pidgeon claims that the Japanese press were "all over" the upcoming 3DS before Nintendo revealed it, forcing an announcement out of the company's headquarters in Japan. In a recent CNBC report, Pidgeon alleges that the media in Japan had "talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak." This comes in response to the oddly-timed reveal of Nintendo's next handheld device, less than a week before the fourth iteration of its Nintendo DS was set to land on retail shelves. "Does it clash with the DSi XL? Yes it does," Pidgeon says. He goes on to claim that (even though stock prices for Nintendo jumped following the 3DS announcement), "the corporate parent in Japan may not be acting in the best interest of Nintendo of America." Alright, so, while we're not convinced that those looking to buy a brand new handheld from Nintendo are necessarily the same crowd snatching up a DSi XL, it's also probably not in Nintendo of America's best interests to have console announcements thrust upon it suddenly by the Japanese parent corp. Either way -- if it is true -- good on you Japanese press! [Via Gamasutra]
Iwata Asks: 25 years with Miyamoto's dev posse
In the most recent edition of Iwata Asks, Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata gathers up Takashi Tezuka and Toshihiko Nakago for a thorough discussion of their time with the company, the many projects they've worked on and their 25-year-long partnership with Shigeru Miyamoto. Let's break it down: Takashi Tezuka and Toshihiko Nakago both started at Nintendo around 1984, helping to shape everything from Balloon Fight to Super Mario Bros. These guys were part of the team that developed Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda -- at the same time. During the 10-page chat, a plethora of interesting tidbits are revealed about some of the game industry's most influential Nintendo titles. Did you know that Zelda was initially designed as a dungeon game without an overworld? Or, how about the revelation that World 1-1 was created last, after the rest of the levels in Super Mario Bros., and designed implicitly to teach the game to non-gamers? The chat even gets into the lurid sleeping arrangements of Miyamota-san and Nakago-san while on business trips for ExciteBike (spoiler: it's not that lurid).
Nintendo of Japan carefully denies redesign rumors
Nintendo of Europe has already officially denied the rumor that a new version of the DS would debut at this year's E3. Possibly due to the fact that the most recent rumor originates from a credible source (Enterbrain's Hirokazu Hamamura), Nintendo of Japan has also chimed in, in a statement given to Yukan Fuji.Nintendo told the website that "We cannot comment on the specifics of what will be announced at E3, but at the very least there won't be anything like what Mr. Hamamura suggested, so we would like to clearly deny this." The statement continued "We're having a hard time understanding what kind of evidence [Mr. Hamamura] had for saying this."Conspiracy theorists can read Nintendo's aggressive denial as confirmation, of course. They didn't say there wouldn't be any new hardware, just that there won't be exactly what Mr. Hamamura suggested. Which means that the new hardware, if it exists, is something other than a minor upgrade. Would Nintendo really have such a hard time figuring out why Hamamura would predict a new hardware revision? It's been over two years since the last one, and if history is any indication, Nintendo is due to drop a new system on all the people who just bought one.%Gallery-20355%
Nintendo of Japan calling it quits on Famicom hardware support
It's an end of an era, we suppose. No longer can you bash up your Famicom for flatly refusing to entertain your cartridge of choice and expect Nintendo of Japan to fix it up all pretty for you, like it's been doing for the past 20+ years. For whatever reason, Nintendo has been providing hardware support for the Famicom since its inception, which certainly seems a little extreme, but who's complaining? That support is finally ending, along with support for the Super Famicom, Nintendo 64, Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket -- relative newcomers to the console game when pitted against grandpa Famicom. Repairs will officially end on October 31st, and the reasoning is pretty simple: there just aren't enough spare parts laying around to make the repairs. Nintendo of America stopped supporting the NES a few years back, so this really is the end of the line. Oh, and Nintendo would like to take this opportunity to remind you that it wouldn't mind at all if you give it money again to repurchase your old favorites on the Wii's Virtual Console -- now that's service.[Via Advanced MN Wii]
Nintendo? Who's he?
Not thirty years ago, the question of who or what Nintendo is would have been answered "Nintendo? Who's he?" Several years later, Nintendo continues to shock gamers worldwide. Sure there have been some rough patches but with the success of the DS and the release of the Wii just around the corner, Nintendo could come full circle and then some. News 4 Gamers posted a news segment that takes a look at Nintendo when the NES was first released. Gone is the banter that video games are the devil's work and you can't see a Jack Thompson for miles. It's just a great exploration of gaming at its popular birth. See the video after the break and get ready to have tons and tons of flashbacks.
Opera browser optional?
The official Nintendo of Japan website was recently updated with some new information. Thanks to the Babel Fish, implanted in the skulls of all Wii Fanboy staff members, an accurate translation is as follows. 512MB of internal flash memory for storing applications, data, etc. Opera browser (optional) Short start-up times for applications stored in flash memory, such as virtual console games and the browser. That's interesting. Nintendo will certainly not offer two retail packages that differ only in the inclusion of a piece of software, and we doubt the browser will be sold as a traditional game at retail outlets. Therefore, the probable scenario is that Nintendo will offer the Opera browser as a download through their Virtual Console service, and most likely make you pay to do it. While we gnash our teeth, we also understand that those guys at Opera want a piece of the pie...and hopefully, it won't be terribly expensive.
