nintendo

It does matter if you've made the naughty or nice list, the only way you're scoring a Nintendo 3DS console for Christmas (that's right, we're not afraid to say "Christmas") is if you find a prototype left behind in a bar, a la the iPhone 4 pre-release fiasco.

You can scratch off New Year's too. Nintendo doesn't plan on releasing the 3DS until February 26, 2011 in Japan, with "other markets" slated for March, according to a report in The New York Times.

That gives Nintendo one more holiday shopping season to shove its regular DS console into consumers' hands. After that, it's game on for the 3DS, Nintendo's upcoming glasses-free 3D console. And before you chalk it up as a gimmick, the 3DS has already been scoring praise from those who played with a prototype at this year's E3 convention. When it does finally launch, Nintendo will have the market all to itself, as no one else seems to yet be working on a 3D console.

And the console wars continue as E3 started with a bang. Sony made a move with it's new motion controller (see what we did there?). Just in case you didn't catch that, the controller is called the "Move" (OH, I GET IT NOW!). But moving on, Microsoft was showing off their new motion sensor device as well, only it's not a wand type controller like the Wii and PS3 are offering up. Titled Kinect, it's a full body detection device.  So no more sitting on the couch playing a motion sports game with just the flip of a wrist. Yeah, we know some of you Wii Sports junkies made it back to your couch quicker than it takes to go to the store and pick up a bag of chips. And finally we wouldn't want to leave Nintendo out of the spotlight, even though we indirectly mentioned them and also let them offer up a sweet ass image (pun? where?). Focus. Back to gaming. Nintendo's new 3DS, is offereing handheld gamers some 3D options without glasses. Now that is sweet. source

image courtesy: stuffwelike.com

"When asked about the final name of the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata replied, 'the final product name shall be announced in the not-so-far-away future.' OK, but the final name of Nintendo’s new hardware might actually be Nintendo 3DS, if trademarks filed in Japan are an indicator.

Nintendo registered Nintendo 3DS, N3DS, and two more curious terms – 3DSPlay and 3DSWare. The latter sounds like the Nintendo 3DS’ version of DSiWare, a downloadable game service Nintendo introduced with the Nintendo DSi. Perhaps the Nintendo 3DS is getting its own shop with downloadable games. 3DSPlay is quizzical. Could it be a WiiPlay equivalent?" source

"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." source

"One word is synonymous with the most addictive two-on-two basketball in the history of the sport.

Boomshakalaka!

It's a word that instantly transports you back to 1993, when NBA Jam was introduced as the first arcade game officially licensed by the league and soon became the most lucrative coin-operated machine ever seen. It's a game so revered for its exaggerated dunks, long-distance swishes and unforgettable catchphrases ("He's on fire!") that literally dozens of current NBA players can't wait for December, when EA Sports unveils its updated version of "NBA Jam" for the Nintendo Wii." source

"The DS 2 (not to be confused with the XL, which only ate a super mushroom), is reportedly alive and kicking, with developers now testing the motion-sensing console—but it won't be ready in time for GDC in March.

CVG spoke to a developer at one of the studios that's been lucky enough to receive the early prototype, and apparently it's already making waves there...The Pokemon Company is a a division of Nintendo that handles marketing and licensing for Pokemon games—suggesting one of the launch titles that will take advantage of the HD screen and motion-sensing console will be a continuation of the Pokemon saga. It's been a while since I've checked in with Ash and Pikachu, but I'll definitely give it another spin if it's got some cool iPhone-like tilt control when battling." source

"Capcom Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Nintendo of America today announced an exciting new bundle featuring one of the most highly anticipated titles for 2010, Monster Hunter Tri, and combining it with the new Classic Controller Pro™ for the Wii™ system. The Classic Controller Pro's more traditional control configuration will give gamers the ultimate Monster Hunting experience when the bundle becomes available in North America this April at a suggested retail price of $59.99." source

"We've been hearing a lot of talk about a Wii HD (some say it'll even contain a Blu-ray drive), but Fils-Aime took the opportunity to deny (again) that it's on its way. He claimed Nintendo will only release a new console when everyone's bought a Wii—over 26 million have been sold reportedly—so we've got to wait until the market is "tapped out" until we see anything new.

Fils-Aime predicts that won't happen for "years." So, despite the Wii being on sale since 2006, don't count on Nintendo actually pleasing gamers—they're too busy after your Mom's money."

"Today, Netflix and Nintendo have announced that the Wii is now going to be the third and final major console to get access to the on-demand streaming content library. Netflix again skirts the exclusive deal with Microsoft by offering a disc that has to be in the Wii at all times for the content to be accessible.

Users will need at least a $9 monthly subscription to Netflix to access the streaming catalog. The PS3 and Wii will be cheaper ways to access streaming Netflix content than the Xbox 360. Xbox users are required to have an Xbox Live gold membership to access Netflix content. " source

"Wiiwaa is a forthcoming Wii game which involves you cramming your Wiimote into the mouth of the bizarre stuffed animal you see... oh just watch the video after the break." source