Hasta La Gadget!

Nintendo is starting to make a habit of quietly releasing products at trade-shows they don’t attend. Kyoto’s premiere gaming outfit still isn’t present on the TGS show floor, but Capcom has once again seen fit to trot out the firm’s latest kit: The Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL. Just like last year’s model, this beefy cradle puts the already large 3DS XL outside the realm of pocket-ability, trading the handheld’s slim profile for a luxuriously thick grip. Indeed, the fatty accessory makes the console quite comfortable to hold, adding a smooth, slightly contoured back, larger shoulder buttons and, of course, that all important starboard analog pad.

The new Circle Pad’s bulk is slightly more forgivable for the size of its host device. Yes, the attachment makes the XL a bit more unwieldily, but its supersized form already made it a non-contender for most pants pockets. Sadly, the accessory still sports its predecessor’s greatest fault: it blocks the 3DS’ cartridge slot. Gamers will have to get used to undocking their console, or else make a habit of buying more downloadable titles. Mum’s still the word on pricing and availability, but the accessory was shown with a copy of Monster Hunter 4, which is due out in March of next year. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it show up in early spring. Hungry for more? Check out our gallery below for an eyeful, or peek past the break for quick video overview.

Continue reading Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL spotted at TGS, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL spotted at TGS, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo rather quietly announced that it’ll be bringing the Circle Pad Pro to its colossal 3DS XL handheld. The release doesn’t go into the specifics beyond confirming the eventual arrival of the accessory, which adds a second analog stick (and a few more centimeters of heft) onto the already roomy device. There’s no word on pricing or availability, with both currently marked as “undecided,” but hopefully the company will make its mind up before the start of the holiday season. The original Circle Pad add-on cost ¥1,500 ($19.50), so we expect this will run about the same amount. It’s unclear thus far if the device will launch outside of Japan, but we expect to hear more shortly.

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Nintendo circle pad for 3DS XL announced in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Being a Pokemon trainer can be rough, especially if you made some bad decisions throughout your journey. Sure, that Pidgey was cute, but cute doesn’t matter much when that same Pidgey has to go up against something like a Dragonite. Luckily, Nintendo is here to give you an edge in battle, provided you’re willing to show your support for the Pokemon franchise and purchase Pokemon Black and White 2 early.

Today, the company announced that everyone who purchases the latest Pokemon installments between October 7 and November 12 will be awarded with opportunity to download that particularly scary-looking Pokemon you see pictured above. Its name is Genesect, and it’s a legendary bug and steel type Pokemon. Introduced prior to the release of the original Black and White, Genesect is the final Pokemon listed in both the Unova and National Pokedex. Aside from this upcoming event, there hasn’t been any legitimate way for players in the US to nab one, but that’s all set to change with the release of Black and White 2.

In order to get a Genesect of your own, all you need to do is purchase a copy of Black 2 or White 2 during the dates mentioned above. Once you’ve done that, connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, and in no time at all, Genesect will be on the way to your game cart. Genesect comes with an exclusive move, Techno Blast, that isn’t used by any other Pokemon, and has the ability to “adjust its power levels based on the foe it’s battling.” Nintendo isn’t entirely clear on what it means by that, so it looks like there are still some surprises in store when it comes to Genesect.

Nintendo held a similar promotion for early purchasers of the original Black and White, handing out the legendary psychic and fire type Pokemon Victini. There’s no word on what level this promotional Genesect is, but the Victini that early Black and White buyers received was level 15, so it seems safe to assume that Genesect will come at a similarly low level. Is anyone out there planning to pick up Pokemon Black and White 2? Let us know what you think of this giveaway!

Pokemon Black and White 2 early purchasers get Genesect free is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Nintendo 3DS XL has finally arrived in North America, where it will cost you a couple of Benjamins (that’s $199.99 for the uninitiated), and it goes one up over its Japanese and European brethren considering how it will include the missing AC adapter. As the name of the Nintendo 3DS XL suggests, this handheld console will come with a larger display as well as a better battery life, with a copy of New Super Mario Bros. 2 to get you started right out of the box.

GoNintendo has one word of advice for you though – it would bode well for you to perform a backup of your 3DS SD memory card before you perform a transfer over to the new Nintendo 3DS XL, as users who did not do that did report a permanent loss of eShop content and save files, which are major bummers considering the number of hours you might have possibly invested into your game(s) by then. Good thing content can be re-downloaded again.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Incredibly cute Pikachu-themed Nintendo 3DS XL can be yours for $239, Nintendo 3DS XL sells almost 200,000 units in two days,

Pikachu is probably one of the most recognizable Pokemon characters out there, and if its cuteness is something you just can’t get over, then perhaps this Pikachu-themed Nintendo 3DS XL might not be the gadget for you, lest you spend hours admiring it instead of actually playing it! Yup it seems that this Pikachu-theme 3DS XL is official and can be purchased via the Pokemon Center (real life, not the in-game Pokemon Center) and is expected to cost ¥18,900, which is about $239. The handheld console will sport Pikachu’s face on the front, with the tail at the back and as expected, will be yellow pretty much all over! This special edition Pikachu 3DS XL will only be available through pre-orders via Pokemon Centers from the 25^th of August until the 14^th of September.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nintendo 3DS XL hits US for $199, comes with AC adapter , Nintendo 3DS XL sells almost 200,000 units in two days,