Hasta La Gadget!

Ever feel like your life is one right hand circle pad short of perfection? We’ve got some good news if you happen to live in Japan — Nintendo’s 3DS Expansion Slide Pad is now available for pre-order via Amazon in that country. Sure, not everyone out there is excited about the thing, but aside from some obvious problems with bulk, we didn’t find it entirely unpleasant during our hands-on time at the Tokyo Game Show last month — and if that’s not a ringing endorsement, we don’t know what is. The add-on will run you ¥1,500 ($19.50) and should start shipping on December 10th in Japan.

Nintendo 3DS expansion up for pre-order in Japan, ready to bulk up consoles in December originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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