Nintendo 3DS gets official, includes 3D camera

We’ve been reading about it for what seems like ages, looking over images of the FCC prototype with a magnifying glass, and now Nintendo is showing it off at its E3 press conference. The company that Mario built is trumping up how superior its glasses-free technology is better than others, “a solution that lets you take 3D gaming along with you wherever you go” according to Reggie. The upper screen is surprisingly only 3.5-inches, not the wider that we’d expected. There is a slider on the side that lets you tweak the 3D effect, seemingly enabling you to adjust its depth based on your distance from the screen — or turn it off entirely. As with the current DS, the bottom is a touchscreen, and is not 3D.

That’s what looks to be an analog stick on the side there, as well, that Nintendo is calling a “Slide Pad.” There is a gyro, motion sensor, it’s compatible with DSi games, and has two cameras enabling 3D photos. Nintendo is also talking up partnerships including Disney, games that are said to be playable today, at the show, with one of the highlights being a new Kid Icarus game which looks quite action-packed to say the least — and has better graphics than most of the Wii titles Nintendo has shown thus far. Nintendo has mentioned the 3DS will have the “biggest launch support ever” from third party devs, and a 3D Nintendogs should be a huge seller — if only because it has cats too. Other games include Madden, Ninja Gaiden, Resident Evil, a Batman title, Splinter Cell, and, finally, a Metal Gear Solid entry.

Nintendo is also talking about how the system will seek out WiFi hotspots or other 3DS systems “without you knowing,” which sounds a bit ominous, to be honest. Systems can communicate regardless of which games are being played. It can even pull in new DLC directly from other consoles, all without a monthly fee.

Still no release date or price, but Nintendo is showing off two colors, red and blue, and they’re said to be playable on the show floor. You can be sure we’ll be running there right now.

Update: Complete press release and full list of launch games after the break, including some biggies, like Metal Gear Solid “The Naked Sample,” Madden, FIFA, and more!

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS gets official, includes 3D camera

Nintendo 3DS gets official, includes 3D camera originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Live from Nintendo’s E3 2010 keynote!

Here we are, day 2 of E3 2010. If your existing Xbox 360 is doing just fine, and you’ve always been partial to things that grow in Mushroom Kingdoms, you’re in the right place. The Big N is just about ready to take the stage here in LA, hopefully bringing a three-dee DS and a Wii console with — gasp — 1080i output. Just kidding about that last one. Sadly.

We’re going to get started at 9AM Pacific, 12PM Eastern. Don’t miss it, you’ll be sorry!

Continue reading Live from Nintendo’s E3 2010 keynote!

Live from Nintendo’s E3 2010 keynote! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Engadget is live from the Nintendo and Sony E3 events

Engadget is live from the Nintendo and Sony E3 events

Kinectimals didn’t get your juices flowing enough yesterday? That slinky new Xbox 360 not enough to tempt you to the dark side? Maybe you want a glasses-free 3D handheld or a light-up lollypop themed controller? Today’s the day your wishes will come true, with Nintendo and Sony hosting back-to-back press conferences. We’re expecting a 3DS at one, and full details on the PlayStation Move at the other. We’ll be there liveblogging both events and bringing you luscious photos from the inside that you won’t want to miss. Nintendo starts at 9:00 Pacific, noon Eastern. Sony’s starts at noon Pacific, 3:00 pm Eastern.

Engadget is live from the Nintendo and Sony E3 events originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)

Good news for Nippon-based handheld lovers: from June 19, Nintendo will be selling the DSi at a new reduced price of ¥15,000 ($165), accompanied by a more affordable DSi LL, which lands at ¥18,000 ($198). That will make the jumbo portable console cheaper than the regular-sized one costs today, while the whole effort seems clearly aimed at maintaining the market for Nintendo’s classical wares after it blows all our minds with its 3DS debut at E3 in a couple of weeks. We look forward to it, we just wish this price cut would go global — Europeans need love too, you know.

Update: We’ve also just learnt Nintendo is bringing out a trifecta of new color options for the Japanese LL: blue, yellow and green jumbo DSis will be available on June 19, right alongside the price trim. Come past the break to see the other two hues.

Continue reading Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated)

Nintendo trims DSi and DSi LL prices in Japan, adds new color options for bigger console (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceYahoo! News, Nintendo Japan  | Email this | Comments

Navy Surgeon General eyes Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution for boot camp

We understand that Wii Fit has dubious health benefits at best (whatever CTA Digital might say top the contrary), but apparently word hasn’t reached the Navy’s top brass. According to the Navy Times, recruits need more work than ever before to get into fighting shape, “given that many young people prefer computers and video games” to sports and physical activity. The solution, says Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam Robinson, is to use break in would-be sailers slowly, introducing “the equivalents of Nintendo’s Wii Fit or Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution” in basic training. This sounds rather silly to us, but what do we know? We’re lovers, not fighters.

Navy Surgeon General eyes Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution for boot camp originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 05:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink CNET  |  sourceNavy Times  | Email this | Comments

Wii Weighted Gloves turns gamer into virtual badass, actual outcast

We’re beginning to encounter an odd psychological effect of too much exposure to CTA’s wild and wacky game accessories. It’s almost as if we’ve developed some strange variant of Stockholm Syndrome that’s tricked us into believing that the Weighted Gloves for Wii are worth twenty bucks. At least the premise makes sense — strap your Wiimote and Wii Nunchuk into these weighted gloves and start in on your fave boxing game. The space-age velcro fasteners will hold your controllers tightly in place as you throw punches and dodge jabs with the best of ’em. And if you really want an out-of-this-world experience, try it while wearing wings! Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Wii Weighted Gloves turns gamer into virtual badass, actual outcast

Wii Weighted Gloves turns gamer into virtual badass, actual outcast originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCTA Digital  | Email this | Comments

Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)

CTA strikes again! The company known for its unorthodox (and rather silly) game controllers is back with a plastic drawbar / foot pedal combo that is supposed to be “very similar to a rowing machine you would find at the gym,” although we highly doubt it. Designed for games like Wii Sports Resort and Jillian Michaels’ Angry Sports Resort, this is something that would probably only enter your home as an ill-considered Christmas gift before gathering dust in the back of a closet, alongside your Bowling Ball and Football controllers. But we must admit, even if the company’s products are dubious, its infomercials are an endless source of entertainment. See for yourself after the break. As for the rowing machine, it’s up for pre-order now at Amazon, as if you care.

Continue reading Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video)

Wii Rowing Machine aims to sculpt abs, achieves belly laughs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAmazon  | Email this | Comments

Nintendo trademarks 3DS, 3DSPlay, and 3DSWare in Japan: begin speculating as soon as you’re comfortable

It’s been a couple months since Nintendo rush-released a statement on its up and coming 3D handheld, and the company’s been predictably mum on most of the details. To be honest, we’re not even sure what the official name for the thing will be — although Nintendo 3DS has been the working title (and the one that makes the most sense, if you ask us). Now the kids at Siliconera are reporting a flurry of activity in Japan’s trademark database, with Nintendo registering such names as: Nintendo 3DS, N3DS, 3DSPlay (a 3D WiiPlay variant?) and 3DSWare (similar to DSiWare, perhaps). All in all, it seems safe to assume that the device we see at E3 will be dubbed the 3DS, but who knows? This certainly wouldn’t be the first time that a trademark has thrown us for a loop.

Nintendo trademarks 3DS, 3DSPlay, and 3DSWare in Japan: begin speculating as soon as you’re comfortable originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceSiliconera  | Email this | Comments

Nintendo, American Heart Association Promote Active Play

aha wii.jpg

Nintendo is teaming up with the American Heart Association to promote its Wii consoles as a means to stay active.

Under the deal, Wii boxes will soon include the AHA brand, Nintendo and AHA will jointly host a health summit, and Nintendo consoles will be on display at future AHA health walks. They have also launched a Web site at activeplaynow.com.

“The two organizations come from different worlds but share the common goal of helping consumers discover how active-play video games contribute to healthy living,” according to the site.

The partnership focuses on the Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort, and the original Wii console. Boxes for these products will soon include an AHA stamp of approval, and an encouragement to purchase active-play games.

Nintendo Wii gets American Heart Association’s stamp of approval

When we heard that Nintendo and the American Heart Association would be making an announcement today, we (and most everyone else) assumed that it would have something to do with Nintendo’s forthcoming Vitality Sensor. As it turns out, however, it’s something altogether more surprising — the AHA has announced that it’s actually putting its stamp of approval on the Wii itself (as well as Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort). That’s obviously a first for a video game console, and fairly unprecedented for the AHA — as ABC News points out, the association hasn’t seen fit to put its seal on other “active” things like baseball bats. It apparently had some small incentive to do so in this case, however, as the organization says it will be receiving a cool $1.5 million from Nintendo over three years as a result of the partnership. Head on past the break to see the AHA president explain the arrangement.

[Thanks, Katie]

Continue reading Nintendo Wii gets American Heart Association’s stamp of approval

Nintendo Wii gets American Heart Association’s stamp of approval originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceABC News, Nintendo / AHA  | Email this | Comments