Hasta La Gadget!

The amount of high-quality games launching on the Nintendo 3DS this year has made us believe it will be the console to beat this year with games like Mario & Luigi Dream Team, a new Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, a new Yoshi’s Island and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. That’s why we’re not surprised to hear Nintendo of America president Reggie FIls-Aime has been praising the system in a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz.

During his interview, Fils-Aime said game sales on the Nintendo 3DS have “surpass[ed] 20 million units” since its launch in 2011. He also pointed out 11 percent of all 3DS software sales have been digital sales. “So far in 2013 — through April 15 — 3DS game sales are up 55 percent versus last year, counting both physical and digital,” Fils-Aime said in the interview. (more…)

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Nintendo is gearing up to bring an extra nub to your 3DS XL, if that’s what you’re into. The company listed the previously Japan-only accessory on its website in the U.S. today, with an anticipated ship date of this Friday. The Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL is like the original version for 3DS, but beefier, and perhaps even more unsightly when glommed on to your portable console.

Less than stellar looks are a trade-off for a much more ergonomic and comfortable design, however, according to most who have used the accessory. Nintendo got a lot of flack back when it first revealed the 3DS for not just including a second analog control pad to begin with in the device itself, and clearly the Circle Pad Pro was a concession designed to calm those whiners.

Nintendo’s got a lot riding on the 3DS, especially since it looks like the Wii U isn’t doing too well in the initial offing. The mobile console faces an even greater threat from multipurpose devices like iPads and tablets that are also getting plenty of software to add to their gaming libraries, and which follow a hardware upgrade cycle that sees them get more powerful on at least a yearly basis, but often even more frequently.

The OUYA Android-based gaming console so far mostly challenges the home console market, and then even not very well, according to early reviews. But Sony at least seems to be investing more time and effort into PlayStation Mobile, its attempt at crossing the divide between dedicated gaming devices and the smartphone market, and third-party devices with more of a gaming focus, possibly from startup sources, likely aren’t that far behind. The Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL isn’t revolutionary, but it is a cheap way to offer something smartphones generally don’t, so it could help convince fence-sitters unsure about a purchase, at the very least.

This week the folks at Nintendo have released a big batch of information on their star handheld 3DS including none other than a brand new Legend of Zelda title! With this new Legend of Zelda game you’ll find a completely new game build from the ground up – but with a universe that’s set in the same environment as the 1992 classic “A Link to the Past”. That fabulous Super Nintendo game remains fresh even today – and its experience will be jumped in upon by Link in full 3D action soon!

What you’re working with here is the same environment – that’s not the same as a re-issue of the game: don’t get it twisted. Instead we’ve got what would essentially be like jumping in on the Death Star with a new Star Wars game. It’s the same, but different.

Here you’re getting a new set of mechanics, a new way of looking a the environment, and in the end: a whole new game. This game will be a top-down adventure which Nintendo says will reinvigorate the 2D world. You will still be getting a full 3D experience, on the other hand, and the fun you’ve had with the Zelda franchise thus far will burst forth upon your fingertips with the greatness that is the future of this game.

This game will introduce your ability to turn Link into a drawing, too!

When you flip yourself into a drawing on the wall of a dungeon with this new game, you’ll be exploring the environment in a whole new way. While the bulk of this game does exist inside the top-down 2D way of looking at things, you’ll find that the height of objects throughout the game will be creating a whole new way of running around. Watch out for windows!

Have a peek at the brand new 3D video in your eShop on the 3DS and see a preview courtesy of Nintendo above as well!

[via MTV News]

Entirely new 3D Legend of Zelda title revealed for Nintendo 3DS is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nintendo just announced, via a Nintendo Direct presentation, that a handful of new games that will be heading to the company’s 3DS handheld gaming console this year. Mario Party will be making its first appearance in the 3DS, Yoshi’s Island will be getting a sequel, Mario and Luigi will be teaming up again in Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, and Donkey Kong is coming back with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.

Mario Party will be heading to the 3DS in the winter, which could mean late 2013 or early 2014. The game will include 81 new mini-games that will test your speed, concentration and luck, and the game will also take advantage of the 3DS’s various hardware features. Some of the mini-games use AR cards, amongst other unique things.

As for Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, the game will have you visiting an island for what was planned to be a relaxing vacation. However, Princess Peach is kidnapped (go figure) and is pulled into a fantasy dream world. The only way to make your way into the dream world is when Luigi sleeps on special pillows that have magical powers. Gamers will be able to start playing the game on August 11 in North America, July 12 in Europe, and July 18 in Japan.

The Yoshi’s Island sequel will feature some of the same art concepts and gameplay as featured in past installments, with Yoshi being tasked to protect Baby Mario by using deadly eggs on enemies, as well as ground stomps and other maneuvers that any Yoshi Island gamer will be familiar with. The official title of the game and its release date will be announced later in the future.

Donkey King Country Returns 3D will simply be a remake of the Wii game with the same name (only without the 3D). This time around, however, Nintendo added a new mode that features an adjusted game balance. This is because portable gamers tend to play in shorter sessions than home Wii console gamers, so the game is catered around that. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D will launch on May 24.

Mario Party, Yoshi’s Island sequel, and more heading to 3DS is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

A new Mario & Luigi RPG game is headed to the Nintendo 3DS this year, which if you’ve ever experienced any of these games that were released on various Nintendo systems, you’ll know it has been a favorite series for both Nintendo and RPG fans alike. Mario & Luigi Dream Team is the name of the game and Nintendo announced this morning the game will be made available on the Nintendo 3DS on August 11.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata not only announced the game’s release date, but he also gave some information on the game’s story. Mario & Luigi Dream Team takes place on Pillow Island as Mario and friends are visiting for a tour. As you would expect, Princess Peach gets kidnapped once again and is taken into a dream world. The only way Mario and Luigi can help her is by entering the dream world which can only be accessed when Luigi sleeps on a magical pillow. When Luigi is asleep, you’ll be able to manipulate the game world by manipulating Luigi’s face in the lower portion of the 3DS.

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