Hasta La Gadget!

In an effort to increase profitability, Nintendo is rumored to be looking into smartphone apps for their Wii U gaming console. Nintendo is hoping that the boost of the number of games available for the Wii U will increase sales for the new console, as well as offer a more diverse library of games to play.

According to The Japan Times, Nintendo has been offering game developers conversion software for use with mobile devices and consoles that allows smartphone apps to be played on the Wii U, and Nintendo is encouraging developers to create smartphone games that can be playable on the company’s gaming console.

This comes after Nintendo is continuously reporting poor sales for their new console, selling way less than they expected during the last quarter, and reporting a $366 million operating loss, which is the company’s second annual operating loss in a row. Nintendo is apparently hoping that the addition of smartphone apps will turn things around.

It’s certainly a bold move on Nintendo’s part, but it slightly makes sense. The smartphone games would be played on the Wii U GamePad’s 6.2-inch touchscreen display, which is obviously the ideal playing field for a smartphone and tablet game. However, we’re not sure how these games would be implemented, as far as being able to use the physical controls, or if you’ll be able to beam the game to your TV through the console. Hopefully there will be a field of options available if smartphone apps eventually do come to the console.

[via The Japan Times]

Nintendo Wii U smartphone app support rumored is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

While we knew Nintendo was happy to hook up its newest consoles with smartphones, we thought that would only extend to social networking and shopping. Nope, it looks like the company is planning to go a step further, with a report from Japan Times suggesting that the games maker is offering high-level conversion software to app developers “so they can produce smartphone games that can be played on Wii U.” A weak existing games library has been blamed for Nintendo’s recent financial woes and the company is hoping the addition of some popular titles will offer enough of a reason to invest in a dedicated device. We just hope it’s able to glean some fresh gaming gems — the first Angry Birds title launched in 2009.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Comments

Via: ZDNet

Source: Japan Times

It’s been less than a day since Activision and Infinity Ward officially announced their next Call of Duty installment, titled Call of Duty: Ghosts, but it’s already the best-selling video game on Amazon right now. The online retailer began pre-orders yesterday, and it’s already on top in several countries.

According to Amazon’s Best Sellers list in the video game category, the game is in third place behind PSN and Xbox Live memberships. Thus, Call of Duty: Ghosts is the best-selling video game on the website. The game leads in the Xbox 360 category and comes in second place in the PS3 category behind BioShock Infinite. Sadly, it’s a no show on Amazon’s Best Seller list for PC games, but that could change.

As for the UK, Call of Duty: Ghosts takes the number one and two spots with the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, respectively. While many people would argue that the Call of Duty series is quickly dying, it seems many gamers are still loyal to the series, and want to continue on with the story that each game extends on.

We’ll get our first look at the new game on May 21, when Activision and Infinity Ward will make an appearance at Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox unveil, which confirms that we’ll see Call of Duty: Ghosts come to next-gen consoles like the rumored Xbox 720 and the recently-announced PlayStation 4 from Sony.

Call of Duty: Ghosts already best-selling game on Amazon is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Earlier today, Activision and Infinity Ward revealed a teaser trailer for its latest Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: Ghosts. The game is set to be the 10th installment in the series, and is confirmed to be heading to the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and of course, the upcoming Xbox 720 (or whatever it’s going to be called) on November 5th. What’s surprising is that we’ll see this game’s first demo on the next-gen Xbox.

We’ll get to see Call of Duty: ghosts and all of its glory come May 21st when Microsoft holds its event for the unveiling of the Xbox 720. The game will most likely be used as a marketing tool to get more gamers to purchase the next-gen Xbox instead of buying the game for their current Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3′s. Because wouldn’t you rather play the game on a next-gen console that has a better GPU and is less prone to lag?

Having first-showing rights would help Microsoft hype up the Xbox 720 even more, however, if the rumors are true that the Xbox 720 will require an always-on connection, chances are Microsoft is going to need to do a lot more than show off the next Call of Duty in order to sell its systems. If the always-on feature is a reality, this Call of Duty unveiling would still convince many users to purchase a next-gen console, however they would be more likely to purchase a PlayStation 4 instead.

One of the major changes Call of Duty: Ghosts has to offer is a completely revamped single-player campaign. If its most important selling point is its single-player mode, players will wonder why they need an internet connection to play it. For gamers who live in remote areas with spotty internet, or who have roommates who hog all of the bandwidth, having a console that is required to always have access to the internet would be a punishment, which has been pointed out by many game developers.

While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed that the Xbox 720 will have an always-on connection requirement, it has been hinted at several times through interviews, in leaked documents, and from controversial tweets involving Microsoft’s former Creative Director. We’re hoping that Microsoft will take note of EA’s situation with SimCity and kill all plans of requiring an always-on connection. Be sure to check in with SlashGear on May 21st, where we will be covering the Xbox Reveal event live and seeing if the rumors are true.

Call of Duty: Ghosts bound for Xbox 720 with first teaser trailer is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’ve talked about GRID 2 before, but a new feature that developer Codemasters is showing off today is called LiveRoutes, and it aims to make sure that you never experience the same track twice, meaning that while there are a set number of tracks, the game will randomly change the turns on the track in order to change up the route.

LiveRoutes is a system in that game that dynamically alters the upcoming part of a race course in order to keep gamers/drivers on their toes. It accomplishes this by streaming a section of the race track further in front of you, changing the turns randomly, as well as changing detailed elements like crowds, signage, barriers, and even the road surface.

Not every track in the game supports LiveRoutes, so there will be some races where you’ll race the same route more than once, but either way it seems Codemasters wants to test a gamer’s reaction time rather than their ability to memorize a course, which we can see both sides to the argument, but a crucial factor in winning a race is knowing the course and all the turns that it has.

We’re curious if gamers will be able to turn off LiveRoutes in the game, because there are certain to be a lot of gamers that won’t take too kindly to this new feature. Nonetheless, GRID 2 will be out on May 28 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. If you want to learn more about the game’s multiplayer, Codemasters detailed all that earlier last month.

GRID 2 LiveRoutes juggles tracks to prevent race deja vu is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.