Hasta La Gadget!

Nintendo may be AWOL on the TGS show floor (as usual), but that’s not stopping Capcom from strutting the big-N’s hardware in its stead — we dropped by its booth for a gameplay-free handling of the 3DS extended slide pad add-on. The control-extending cradle is every bit as bulky as it looks, killing any hope we had of cramming the rig into our pocket. The trade-off? It’s much more comfortable to hold than the naked 3DS, giving our meaty hands a smooth, contoured surface to grip. The new right-hand circle pad feels just as solid as the handheld’s dedicated pad, and didn’t significantly obstruct our access to the 3DS’ face buttons. All in all, the cradle is a comfortable, if awkwardly large extension to the 3DS that doesn’t seem to compromise the handheld’s existing input. Hit up the gallery below to size up the plump peripheral for yourself.

Nintendo 3DS extended slide pad add-on, first hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last night’s Netflix / 3DS news was more than just empty promises — and now we have the official press release to prove it. Starting today, Netflix subscribers with unlimited streaming plans will be able to watch TV shows and movies from the service’s selection of online content on their Nintendo 3DS, like the Wii before it. Movies will show up in 2D (darn) on the upper screen of the device, with 3D content coming soon to the glasses-free portable. The Netflix app will be hitting the Nintendo eShop today as a free download. The app doesn’t appear to be in the store as of yet, but we’ll let you know when it pops up. In the meantime, feel free to check out the press release below — no glasses required.

Continue reading Nintendo confirms Netflix on the 3DS hitting today

Nintendo confirms Netflix on the 3DS hitting today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A million in (Japanese) sales is a far cry from failure, but even big daddy Satoru Iwata admits the 3DS isn’t quite living up to expectations. Nintendo’s tenderfoot handheld finally hit the mark after 13 weeks, a snail’s pace when compared to the original dual-screen wunderkind, which reportedly made the grade in a mere four. The 3DS’ predecessors will undoubtedly forgive it for being a late bloomer, it’s the competition it ought to worry about; the PSP sold its first million in about seven weeks. The 3DS could still plow its way to the top — but with the PlayStation Vita looming large on the horizon, and the fledgling handheld having already lost a round the PSV’s predecessor, Nintendo could be in for a rough ride.

Nintendo finally sells millionth 3DS unit in Japan, lives in the shadow of older brother originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot on the heels of a Wii price drop from about two weeks ago, Nintendo has announced that it’ll be lowering the DS Lite’s price to $100 (from about $130) starting on June 5th. The big N claims that its pushed over 48.9 million DS handhelds to consumers in the U.S., adding that many of the Mario DS titles have also sold well into the millions. To highlight the achievements, six of the best selling Mario themed games for DS will be getting a red makeover to their packaging — see above right — for easy pickin’s at your favorite retail shop (no discount apparently). It may not have 3D, but the drop in price, added with less eye strain, and a long lasting battery should be enough to make the 3DS a little jealous.

Continue reading Nintendo drops DS Lite to $100, makes it easier to (Mario) party

Nintendo drops DS Lite to $100, makes it easier to (Mario) party originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The death of Nintendo’s DS Lite getting you down? Good news: it may have long ago been eclipsed by the DSi and 3DS, but the svelte portable system is still being made — by someone, somewhere. And you can get a pretty good price on the thing, if you don’t mind a few flaws — like the above bootleg picked up a 1UP editor who though he was getting the real deal from eBay. As soon as the thing arrived in a corrugated cardboard box with pixelated text, it was clear that he had been KIRFed — hardcore. On top of the aforementioned packaging red flags, the portable has some minor cosmetic flaws, like discoloration, a pockmarked surface, and uneven rubber pads. What’s really amazing about this DS, however, is what its manufacturers got right — it plays DS and GBA games, including, fittingly, pirated titles. The police have reportedly called Wario in for questioning.

Keepin’ it real fake: a Nintendo DS Lite that gets it (mostly) DS right originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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