Jul 30

Nintendo finally sees Wii demand slowing, calls iPhone a DS / DSi competitor

Posted in: Apple, business, console, DS, earnings, gaming, handheld, industry, iPhone, nintendo, recession, Today's Chili, wii

While it seemed that all was going well for the Big N, it looks like those jovial times are finally coming to a (temporary) end. In an earnings report filed today, the company posted a 66 percent fall in quarterly operating profit on “slowing demand for its Wii console and a stronger yen.” It’s not so much the profit slide that’s surprising, but the sudden admission that Wii demand has finally (finally!) slowed from a raging boil to simply piping hot definitely caught us off guard. Still, Nintendo maintained that it would sell 26 million Wii consoles before the year was out alongside 30 million DS handhelds, the latter of which has seen momentum slow due to “increased competition in the handheld business from Apple’s iPhone.” Now, we’ve known for some time that the suits in Cupertino have always viewed the iPhone as a game console, but to hear it called out as such from an entity not named Apple is another matter entirely. Maybe it should reconsider that whole “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” thing? Nah.

[Image courtesy of QuiteCurious]

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Nintendo finally sees Wii demand slowing, calls iPhone a DS / DSi competitor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 30

PlayOn media server now serving Wii customers (in beta, anyway)

Posted in: console, contest, download, nintendo, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, Opera, Software, Today's Chili, wii

We knew good and well that the fine folks over at MediaMall were toiling away in an attempt to bring internet TV content from YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, CBS, CNN and a host of other sources to Nintendo’s white-hot Wii, but there’s just nothing like hearing that intentions have become reality. Based on an email from MediaMall support to a particularly curious user, the “latest version of PlayOn includes a beta version of Wii functionality in it.” Naturally, the company’s doing its darnedest to keep this under wraps for now, but we’re eager to get legions of Wii users testing it out and reporting back with performance evaluations. The note does mention that quality will be lower than on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 due to the inherit hardware limitations on Nintendo’s baby, but hey, you knew that going in, right? Hop on past the break for the letter in its entirety, which includes instructions on getting this going on your console.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading PlayOn media server now serving Wii customers (in beta, anyway)

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PlayOn media server now serving Wii customers (in beta, anyway) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 29

Papercraft NES and Dreamcast cost less, play just as many cutting edge games

Posted in: console, diy, nintendo, Today's Chili

Finally, your lovingly prepared SNES model is getting some well-heeled new friends to hang out with. Cubeecraft is a website wholly dedicated to the paper-based recreation of cultural icons, and it’s prepared a pair of exquisitely detailed clones of the NES and Dreamcast. While some such projects might require patience and finesse, putting together the above templates doesn’t even ask for any glue or tape. So what are you waiting for, grab your scissors and run to the links below for full 150dpi printouts — just be sure to make the time for some imaginary Contra action afterwards.

[Via Technabob]

Read – NES cutout
Read – DC cutout

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Papercraft NES and Dreamcast cost less, play just as many cutting edge games originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 29

THQ’s CEO joins the fun, says Natal is coming “late next year”

Posted in: console, gaming, Microsoft, rumor, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

So, let’s recap. We’ve got Microsoft’s own Steve Ballmer on record saying that the company’s Project Natal is on track for a 2010 release, a redaction of said statement, and a slimy report from overseas noting that the motion-sensing accessory is slated for a 2H 2010 launch. Just in case you needed one more modicum of evidence that Natal is headed for Christmas trees far and wide next year, THQ CEO Brian Farrell has said as much on the company’s Q1 earnings call. To quote:

“With respect to the cycle itself, if you look at what’s happening in the industry, the fact that we have for example, Natal from Microsoft, a platform addition coming late next year.”

Of course, Mr. Farrell here may just be regurgitating news that he heard through the grapevine rather than inadvertently slipping the world a piece of insider knowledge, but hey, are you seriously going to question the insight of the guy who green-lit Bratz: Super Babyz? Exactly.

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THQ’s CEO joins the fun, says Natal is coming “late next year” originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 24

Epic Games VP says new consoles are a “long way off,” Natal is the “next Xbox”

Posted in: console, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, Today's Chili, video games, VideoGames, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

We’ve heard plenty of talk about ten-year console life cycles for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and it looks like there’s some consensus starting to build around the idea that any new consoles really are still a long ways off. Speaking with Eurogamer earlier this week, Epic Games VP Mark Rein cast some doubt on the very need for new consoles anytime soon, pointing out that “over half the users who played Gears of War 2 so far do not have HDTVs,” and adding that “there’s no way we’re ready for the PlayStation 4 or the Xbox Whatever.” He did also note, however, that the current consoles would see some major changes, and in the case of the Xbox 360 he says, “it’s called Natal. That is the next Xbox.” For the curious, Rein also concluded that Natal would win in a fight with Sony’s motion controller, but only if it was a kickboxing fight, “because it can see you kicking.”

[Via The Digital Home]

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Epic Games VP says new consoles are a “long way off,” Natal is the “next Xbox” originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 16

Nintendo shatters dreams, has “no plans” to ship black Wii console in USA

Posted in: console, gaming, nintendo, Today's Chili, us, usa, video games, VideoGames, wii

Seriously Nintendo, what is it? Do you hate freedom? Are you still bitter about the US reception to your underwhelming GameCube? Whatever the case, we’re never going to forgive you for this one. After waiting for years for a Wii in any color other than glossy white, it seems that only the Japanese will be able to enjoy the sleek, sexy and altogether drool-worthy black Wii console. In fact, a rep for the Big N informed GameDaily that there are “no plans to have other colors of the Wii in the United States.” As for us? We’re plugging our ears and pretending this “individual” has no idea what he / she is talking about. And weeping, uncontrollably.

[Via Joystiq]

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Nintendo shatters dreams, has “no plans” to ship black Wii console in USA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 06

Stand-up console plays Nintendo DS and Sony PSP games, somewhat defeats the purpose

Posted in: console, DS, hack, mod, nintendo, psp, sony, Today's Chili

Depending in your level of geekness, an extravagant mod can be pretty cool. And arcade consoles are damn near always really cool. But making a stand-up console game out of your beloved Nintendo DS? That is pretty amazing. And throwing in a Sony PSP for good measure — well, that might just elevate your project to a work of art. We don’t have too many technical details on this bad boy (after all, the hacker is in Japan — and there is a bit of a language barrier) but you we think the video of the thing really says it all — if not in so many words. Peep it for yourself after the break.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Stand-up console plays Nintendo DS and Sony PSP games, somewhat defeats the purpose

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Stand-up console plays Nintendo DS and Sony PSP games, somewhat defeats the purpose originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 04

GameStop hits the sauce for the 4th, offers up bizarre Wii bundles

Posted in: console, gaming, nintendo, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, Today's Chili, video games, VideoGames, wii

Are you in the market for a “Summer Fun” Wii bundle to get your Independence Day started right? Oh, yeah? Fantastic, ’cause GameStop has just the packages for you. For the low, low price of $249.99, the aforementioned bundle consists of a Nintendo Wii console, a water gun and… wait, what? Amazingly enough, GameStop has seen fit to bundle a $0.25 water gun with a Wii and call it a bundle; heck, it’s even limiting them to two per household. If that’s not strange enough for you, there’s also the Pirate Tattoo bundle and Take a Bath with a Buddy (a rubber ducky, just so we’re clear) bundle. Talk about really taking advantage of that whole “freedom” thing.

Read – Summer Fun bundle
Read – Pirate Tattoo bundle
Read – Take a Bath with a Buddy bundle

[Via Joystiq]

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GameStop hits the sauce for the 4th, offers up bizarre Wii bundles originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 18

Microsoft confirms new Xbox 360 Arcade systems are bumped to 512MB

Posted in: console, Microsoft, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

There wasn’t much doubt that Xbox 360 Arcade systems equipped with 512MB of on-board memory were now shipping, but Microsoft has now come out and confirmed as much to Eurogamer to put any last bit of doubt to rest. For those not familiar with the world of hard drive-less Xbox 360s, that’s twice as much memory as before, although that of course doesn’t mean all that space will actually be available to gamers. As Microsoft notes, “the Xbox 360 system software uses some of the included 512MB memory,” so “less storage will be available to users.” Of course, finding one of the newly-upgraded consoles will also be a bit hit and miss for the time being, but it’s looking like any console manufactured after April will have the added boost.

[Via Joystiq]

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Microsoft confirms new Xbox 360 Arcade systems are bumped to 512MB originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 05

Another look at Nintendo’s kuro Wii, jet black Classic Controller Pro

Posted in: console, controller, nintendo, Today's Chili, wii

We know, it’s just another angle — and one that we’re not quite sure the origin of — but considering just how many years we’ve been waiting for the Wii to be anything other than glossy white, we’ll take every opportunity we can to relish this moment. Hop on past the break for a more official look at the jet black controllers. Hey Nintendo, you do realize that North Americans love new hues too, right? Cool, just checking.

[Thanks, Craig]

Read – Kuro Wii
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Continue reading Another look at Nintendo’s kuro Wii, jet black Classic Controller Pro

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Another look at Nintendo’s kuro Wii, jet black Classic Controller Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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