Launching on December 7, 2012 — a couple of weeks from now — Nintendo is set to launch the Wii Mini exclusively in Canada (at least for the holiday season). This smaller unit with unique colours is entirely focused on disc-based Wii games. At $99.99 and a library of 1,400 Wii titles to choose from, like Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Punch-Out!!, Mario Strikers Charged, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. But you should note that it does not play GameCube titles.
Do you live in a major population centre in Canada?
Then breakout the dogsled team and warm woolies because the Nintendo is touring the Wii U across the country in advance (and slightly after) the console’s November 18 launch.
Check the listings below for dates and locations from the official press release:
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has announced a new “Digital Rating Service” which looks to streamline some of the aspects of being rated by the ESRB. Parallel to this, the non-profit self-regulatory body for the video game industry has introduced some new information symbols. Pay attention, there’s a test later!
“Consumers have grown accustomed to using ESRB ratings when making decisions about the appropriateness of the games their families play. With the explosion of devices from which consumers can access games today, our goal is to ensure that those same tools are available everywhere games can be found,” said ESRB president Patricia Vance. “More recently, parents’ concerns have begun to extend beyond just content to include the sharing of their kids’ personal information or location and interactions with other players. ESRB’s Digital Rating Service now offers all digital platforms, storefronts and networks the opportunity to empower their customers with consistent, credible, familiar and useful upfront guidance no matter where their family chooses to play games.”
To coincide with the upcoming release of the film of the same name, Activision has announced that The Amazing Spider-Man is now available at retail.
Rated “T” (for Teen) and available for all major platforms, including Nintendo handhelds, The Amazing Spider-Man was developed by Beenox, makers of the previous Spider-Man release, Edge of Time, but brings Spider-Man back to an open-world Manhattan. (more…)
Listen to Mr. Nash and Aaron talk about “Sony All Stars, Half Life 3, TES Online, the Rock Band iOS debacle, Xenoblade, The Walking Dead, Prototype 2, and a slew of other games.” Listen, won’t you?
Apparently for the last number of years there’s been this thing called YouTube. Well, The Armchair Empire is finally making some use of it with it’s own YouTube channel, which can be found right here: The Armchair Empire’s YouTube Channel.
Along with gameplay clips (with commentary) you never know what may appear! Check this look at “Insane 2.”
Every day in September, The Armchair Empire will be filling up a big box with miscellaneous gaming (and non-gaming) goodies. One of a kind items, games, and chunks of effluvia that you will want to win!
In a move I thought should have been available out of the box, Nintendo has announced that an update is coming that will allow users to make 3D video clips. Besides that announcement, Nintendo also let loose:
Metal Mario and Lakitu will be playable in Mario Kart 7, which will also feature a 1st Person mode that will use the gyro functions of the 3DS.
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) will hit retail on November 13.
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii) arrives November 20.
The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Anniversary Edition will be available to download between Sept. 28, 2011, and Feb. 20, 2012. Price: FREE. It will also include a single-player outside the multiplayer focus.
Luigi’s Mansion (3DS) and Paper Mario (3DS) will see the light of day in 2012.
Kid Icarus: Uprising has been pushed back in 2012 because the team ” has determined that more time is needed to complete the game “
Expect more information to come out of Tokyo Game Show over the next few days.
Reported on Giant Bomb and spread by the likes of Gamesindustry.biz — where I read the story — Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has written an apology letter to early adopters of the 3DS for the incoming price drop for the system. From $249.99 to $169.99 (starting mid-August) is definitely a big drop but matches up well with the “disappointing sales of the system and the drastic reduction in Nintendo’s annual earnings forecast.” (Nintendo wants to sell more so they’re dropping the price.)
For Iwata’s part this is not an empty apology. In a conciliatory action, he also announced that’s he’s taking a 50% cut in pay and that “directors and executives also reduced their salaries by 20 to 30 percent.”
“Those customers who purchased the 3DS at the very beginning are extremely important to us,” [Iwata writes]. “We know that there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early.”
Nintendo has introduced the “Ambassador Program”, which gives 3DS owners 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.
Good on Iwata for stepping up and taking it on the chin with action!
It has been more than two months since the last “Imperial Proclamation Online” so rather than list every single article posted, I’m just posting the “Best of…” in no particular order.
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that, “US boxed video game sales in May 2011 totalled $743.1 million, a 14 per cent decline on the same period in 2010 and the lowest since October 2006.”
It’s important to realize that those figures are for boxed video game sales just as NPD makes clear, noting that the numbers do not take into account “the growing portion of the industry that is comprised of digital format content distribution.”
Besides the (top ten) best sellers for May (see below), the NPD report also notes “that at the current rate of growth and decline, the Wii will still maintain the lead in the console space” and that “sales of the 3DS were light.”
Point format for this edition of E3 2011: Shorts -
Nintendo’s announcement of “Wii U” was only halfway. The handheld controller, which includes a big touchscreen, and full Wii controls was shown but not the console hardware pushing it. A blurry, placeholder image was present in some of the slides. Arrival: 2012.
More classic Nintendo franchises on the way for 3DS: Mario Kart, Starfox, and a new Super Mario Bros. title.
Sony’s “PSVita” handheld will retail in two forms. The wi-fi version will retail for $249.99 and the 3G version will go for $299.99. Equipped with a camera in front and back, and a back touchscreen, there’s some potential for some interesting gameplay mechanics. And amazing graphics! Launch scheduled for later in 2012, though I think they forgot to say if that was Japan or North America.
“Jane’s Addiction” has nothing to do with flight simulators or strategic weapons (unless that includes “sound bombs”).
Kobe Bryant can’t play video games.
THQ’s “Welcome to Steelport” (Saints Row: The Third) parking lot has some really awesome cars.
“Resistance 3″ has an archaic health system. (i.e. health boxes instead of regenerating health) It always takes a little to get used to that again.
“Halo 4″ was announced (surprising no one)!
I’ve seen some of the fastest thumb-typing at this event…
StreetPass continues to rack up visitors.
Nintendo didn’t have breakfast at their press conference making me one hungry freeloa– journalist.
In case you missed it yesterday, Nintendo has announced that the company is “dropping the suggested retail price of its Wii system to $149.99“ beginning May 15, 2011. Not only that, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort have been swapped out for Mario Kart Wii and a Wii Wheel accessory.
To coincide with this price drop, Nintendo will also be launching “Nintendo Selects.” Four games are included in this initial group: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers and Wii Sports. And the price: $19.99US.
