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Nintendo 3DS gets new friend code system, finds beauty in unification
Ever try to do multiplayer on a DS game? We're really sorry to hear that. It's a mess of lengthy friend codes that does more to discourage online play than enable it. That's going away with the 3DS. At Nintendo's 3DS press event in New York the company announced a new system where there's only a single code, assigned per-console and registered only once. You'll have a single group of friends and, when they pop online in a new game, you'll see them there. No need for multiple lists and, we hope, less of a need for Tylenol.
Nintendo 3DS escapes production line, strikes a pose with Yoshi (video)
No, not that Yoshi, but the real, officially licensed critter with a penchant for chomping Goombas and dropping eggs. Nintendo's 3DS handheld has, according to 3DS Buzz, been stolen from a Chinese manufacturing factory and leaked all over the Internet. This version is a little different than what we saw at E3 and even the "official" version from the September 29th announcement, the Select, Home, and Start buttons having been made flush into the screen bezel. Also, a 1300mAh battery is confirmed, as is 96MB of RAM. We have another picture of it below, showing it's size compared to everything from a Game Boy Micro to a DSi XL, nicely demonstrating that Nintendo's new hotness is a little bit smaller than even a standard DSi. That's progress for ya, folks. Update: David T. wrote in with a video of the thing in action -- well, in non-action, really. It's embedded below, and as you can see the poor backless 3DS is decidedly non-functional. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nintendo sees Apple as bigger threat than Microsoft and Sony
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made a point in recent keynotes to mention the fact that the iPhone and iPod touch are the world's best selling portable gaming devices, well ahead of longtime champion Nintendo. Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime has acknowledged the threat and sees Apple as a bigger problem for his company than either Microsoft or Sony. While hardcore gamers generally prefer the higher-powered Xbox and PlayStation platforms, far more consumers have bought into the casual gaming approach enabled by Nintendo's Wii and DS. The high quality and easy-to-play-in-short-burst games available on Apple's handheld devices combined with their wireless capabilities have made them even more compelling than Nintendo's offerings. At first unconcerned, Nintendo's anxiety gradually grew into Reggie Fils-Aime's admission. So far, the Apple incursion into the gaming space has mostly hurt the DS, but that could soon change. The surge in popularity of the new generation Apple TV could end up taking a big bite out of the Wii. Since the Apple TV runs on iOS and has already been jailbroken, the expectation is that, before long, Apple will make an app market available for the set top device. When that happens, we are likely to see games running on it that could possibly feature Wii-style motion controls for use with the iPhone or iPod. [Via Joystiq]
More details emerge of supposed PSP2 with backside touch controls, HD screen, hot personality
About a month before this year's Tokyo Game Show we started hearing new reports of the PSP2, a device that's been rumored since roughly the dawn of time (which could explain the prehistoric creatures on the concept render above). These rumors, however, were different, specifically the mention of a touchpad on the back of the device. Alas that device didn't make an appearance to the press at TGS, but supposedly Sony was showing it off to some developers. Kotaku has learned a few more things, most notable being a display an inch larger than the current PSP's and having a high-def resolution -- a detail that should surprise none. According to the report Sony is still tweaking the internal hardware, trying to mitigate overheating issues ahead of a release sometime in the fall of 2011. That would likely mean an unveiling at the 2011 E3, the same place the original unit was first shown in the flesh eight whole years earlier.
Panasonic's Jungle portable gaming system emerges, gets shown off on video (update: makes appearance on Rob Dyrdek's MTV show)
Apparently Panasonic has been working itself into a frenzy over a new handheld video game console designed solely around the concept of taking MMORPGs with you everywhere you go -- like you weren't already wasting too much of your life. The makers of the ill-fated 3DO are returning to the gaming world with a portable system dubbed "The Jungle." The clamshell device will allegedly sport a super high-resolution display, features a full QWERTY keyboard along with what looks like a touch sensitive d-pad and button arrangement, and may run atop a custom Linux build. The Jungle will also apparently sport a mini HDMI port, a micro USB port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. To our eyes, the system looks a little on the clunky side, with a definite air of something out of Nokia's N-Gage line -- not a good thing for a 2010 device. Alongside the system itself, Panasonic will launch a Battlestar Galactica title for the device, and a web show called Online Underground. We're digging up more details right now, but the company (actually an offshoot of Panasonic called Panasonic Cloud Entertainment) has already set up shop with a site and a few teaser videos. Check out the mysterious new handheld in another pic and some videos after the break (including a look at the Battlestar Galactica title), and stay tuned as we unearth the full story on the Jungle. Update: Well that didn't take long. We'd heard rumblings that the console would make its way to an MTV show, and sure enough, the Jungle has shown up on Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory. Rob apparently is making a "jingle" for the unreleased device, which looks rather huge in the hands of the skateboarder. Obviously Panasonic is desperately trying to create some viral hype around the device (leaks to a few blogs and this MTV appearance), but we're pretty unimpressed thus far. Maybe the jingle will convince us. If you've got video -- send it our way!
Modded Game Gear becomes portable home for N64 (video)
It may or may not actually be the most compact Nintendo 64 we've ever seen, but even if it's holding down the second spot, you can't knock the ingenuity here. Crafted by one Evil Nod, the self-proclaimed N Gear 64 is little more than an N64 console tucked, shoved and crammed inside a Sega Game Gear enclosure. Best of all, the modder somehow stuffed an N64 controller in there too, yet still left all of the original markings for nostalgia's sake. Head on past the jump for a video of it in action, or tap that source link to learn more about the build process. Riveting stuff, we tell ya. [Thanks, Alon]
Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)
Good news for Nippon-based handheld lovers: from June 19, Nintendo will be selling the DSi at a new reduced price of ¥15,000 ($165), accompanied by a more affordable DSi LL, which lands at ¥18,000 ($198). That will make the jumbo portable console cheaper than the regular-sized one costs today, while the whole effort seems clearly aimed at maintaining the market for Nintendo's classical wares after it blows all our minds with its 3DS debut at E3 in a couple of weeks. We look forward to it, we just wish this price cut would go global -- Europeans need love too, you know. Update: We've also just learnt Nintendo is bringing out a trifecta of new color options for the Japanese LL: blue, yellow and green jumbo DSis will be available on June 19, right alongside the price trim. Come past the break to see the other two hues.
Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say 'UK industry sources'
How the mighty have fallen. Where just last year companies like Apple and Nintendo were renowned for their ability to keep completely silent about impending hardware, these days the thrill of exposure and some media pressure go a long, long way. Now, if Computer and Video Games' sources are to be believed, Nintendo's had another leak: an October release date for its autostereoscopic 3DS handheld in the UK. That's well within the original "before March 2011" timeframe, and apparently a surprise for game publishers currently planning software for Holiday 2010. Besides, since Europe typically gets Nintendo systems after the US and Japan, some lucky dogs might get the system even earlier -- we'll let you know when we see it ourselves at E3 this June.
Jill Stuart's Sweet Limited Package PSP makes its own innuendos, coming in March
¥21,000 ($232), Japan, March 4. All of the foregoing should be irrelevant information because we're absolutely, positively, definitely sure you're not going to actually buy one. Right? Look, even if you genuinely don't object to Blossom Pink as your color scheme, and if you quite rightly find yourself attracted by the handy soft pouch for ensconcing your new PSP-3000 in, don't you care about what other people might think? And that's entirely aside from the generic and lazy expectation that women will buy anything so long as it bears a hue from the pink portion of the spectrum. Either way, this bundle of corporate greed and malevolence is coming in about a month's time, if you're weird enough to care. %Gallery-84471%
Nintendo DS2 to be announced this year, released not too long after?
Nintendo has already been talking up what a Nintendo DS successor might look like, so it wouldn't come as too much of a shock if we saw the device in the near term. That's what EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich believes, anyway. He has a research note out saying that Nintendo will be releasing a new handheld in the next 15 months, and make the announcement within the next eight months. The reasons are numerous, including the need to bone up on online distribution, rampant piracy, and just the regular march of technology that Nintendo is never unaware of -- just ask the routinely trounced handheld competition. Unfortunately, there's nothing "solid" in this report as far as we can tell, so we'll have to wait for some "unnamed sources" or our cousin's friend's dad's barber to weigh in and tell us how it really is.
Nintendo DSi XL coming to Europe March 5, US eventually
The last we heard, Nintendo's super-sized DSi XL (or DSi LL if you're Japanese) would be hitting the Colonies sometime in the first quarter of 2010. As of now we have no information contrary to that, but we do have news specifying when the European nobility will get theirs: March 5. That means UK gamers have less than two months to determine whether they are eligible for an upgrade from the slender DSi, and if you're not sure how to check, just measure the depth and breadth your pockets. If you have room in there for the new version, with its stereo 4.2-inch screens, you'd better make with that pre-order: Nintendo Japan sold more than 100,000 of the things in just two days.
ODROID, the Android gaming handheld, now shipping to Android gaming developers (video)
Did you get your ODROID order in promptly when they went up for pre-sale back in September? Hope so, as the first lucky developers should be getting theirs any day now. Just 300 units of the 833MHz handheld are shipping, including the various cables, additional hardware, and documentation needed to start filling the thing with fun games that look an awful lot like other games, but totally aren't. One of the first is Speed Forge 3D (which totally isn't Wipeout), shown after the break exhibiting some laggy accelerometer-based controls -- but 720p output via HDMI sure is sweet. Orders are still being accepted at $349, said to be shipping in roughly five days, meaning if Santa logs into his PayPal account quickly enough you might still find one of these under your tree. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Yinlips YDP800 projector PMP teases your wallet with video
We're not sure what's taken so long, but the Yinlips YDP800 pico projector PMP is finally available to the US, courtesy of online store Ownta. The good folks have released a demo video of the projector in action -- not quite at the maximum 80-inch picture that Yinlips boasts, but hey, we've just about done it before on another pico projector. For around $270 including delivery this feature-packed PMP seems to give a good run for your money, especially when compared to the $299 WowWee Cinemin Swivel. No sign of any sample pictures or videos from the 1.3 megapixel camera yet, so for now just enjoy the video after the break.
Android-based ODROID handheld shows off its SNES emulation skills on video
We've seen a few odds and ends on the ODROID -- an Android-powered gaming device due this December -- but we've never gotten a look at the handheld in action. That all changes today, as we're privy to a new video of the spec-stacked (833MHz Samsung S5PC100 CPU, 512MB RAM) gamer taking an SNES emulator out for a spin. As you can probably guess, the device doesn't flinch at a screenful of Space Megaforce sprites, but that's not surprising given the horsepower. Now if only someone could get this configuration into a phone. While you impatiently wait for that to happen, hit the clip after the break to see what kind of damage the ODROID does on its own.[Via SlashGear]
Conceptual Xbox 1080 handheld beautifully merges Xbox and Zune
Carl Archambeault: you sir, are a champion. We're not exactly sure if you're on a first-class seat to Redmond or not, but the boys and girls in Washington could probably stand to learn a thing or two from the Xbox 1080. 'Course, that's probably just the fanboy in us talking -- after all, who wouldn't want the powers of an Xbox 360 and a Zune HD merged into one beautiful handheld? -- but could you imagine the market shakeup if this thing became real? Paging Mr. Benjamin J. Heckendorn![Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Yinlips Projector PMP is a PMP with a projector
You might not know this, but your portable media player is "shackling" you down with its shockingly small screen. What you, and every other self-respecting technophile, need is a projector to explode your awesome digital media onto the nearest wall, flat surface, or just some guy's shirt. Nikon popularized this projector integration madness, and now Yinlips is continuing it with the 3.5-inch Projector PMP, which claims it can beam out a humongous 80-inch picture (we'd be impressed if it can do half that) and play 64-bit games of an unspecified variety. Further info is scant right now, but we suspect you could fill in the blanks with your favorite generic Chinese PMP's specs and you'll probably be pretty much spot on. You'll know more as soon as we do. [Via Cloned in China]
Retro Mini Handheld plays NES cartridges, brings tears of nostalgia to our eyes
We've seen scads of portable NES mods in the past but still: this is probably relevant to your interests. ThinkGeek's got a new portable gaming system on offer, the Retro Mini Handheld. It plays all those 8-bit cartridges you've had stacked in your room next to your hi-fi since the olden days, and it's got a pretty attractive look. Sure, the cartridge is essentially bigger than the handheld itself, but that's part of its charm as far as we can tell. It's got a 2.4-inch LCD and takes four AA batteries for about 8 hours of game time, and it's available now for $49.99. There's one more shot after the break.[Thanks, Adam]
Nintendo's Game Boy turns 20
In case you hadn't heard, Nintendo's trend-setting handheld, the Game Boy, just had its 20th birthday -- and that's no small thing for a game console. We won't bore you with stories from our childhood about wasted time and missed opportunities spent chasing the dragon that was Tetris, but we will entertain the hell out of you with this vintage ad touting the system's launch from way back in the totally excellent year of 1989. We know what you're thinking: does the robot create the kid or just warp him there? And if he does create him, does that mean he's some kind of metallic god? And does that mean that the kid kills god? And... why is the robot dancing? Hey -- now you're playing with power.
Modder creates Dreamcast portable from mom's plastic jewelry box
Dreamcast fans are doing what they can to keep the final Sega console alive in handheld fashion. This latest one certainly isn't the most elegant mod in the world -- in fact, it's a boxy Frankenstein that looks pretty uncomfortable and crampy after a long game session. That said, the clean, straight lines and generous 5-inch screen are an impressive step up from some rough versions we've seen elsewhere. Taking an entire Dreamcast's guts, adding an LCD screen, forging a portable power supply, and fitting it all in one portable box is no easy task -- so we salute you, modders. And we confess, we totally dig the brass hinges. Video after the break.
iPhone guns for PSP and DS market share as Gameloft commits, Id too
While Apple continues to market the iPhone as a 3-in-1 device -- web, phone, and iPod -- it's clear that Jobs has a 4th market clearly in his sights. It's no accident that EA and Sega were both selected to demonstrate their skills with the iPhone SDK during last week's press event. Now Gameloft, the worldwide number one mobile game publisher in terms of revenues -- has committed to developing games for the iPhone. "Over 15 titles" are expected in 2008, in fact. Oh iPhone, is there anything you can't do with your 3D processor, multi-touch display, and 3-axis accelerometer? Oh right, GPS, 3G data, corporate Exchange, A2DP Bluetooth audio, MMS, ... you get the idea. Update: John Carmack -- co-founder of Id Software -- just commented that, "We (Id) have put in our application like everybody else." So yeah, it'll play Doom... officially this time.
