Tag: Nintendo

‘Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons, Oracle Of Ages’ On North American eShop This May!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Back in February, Nintendo announced the digital rerelease of the acclaimed portable Zelda adventures, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. The Capcom developed Game Boy Color titles originally released in 2001 to much fanfare, and while Japan only at first, Nintendo assured fans that the rerelease would eventually be hitting North American consoles too.

We now know just when we’ll be able to jump back into Holodrum and Labrynna, and it’s just over a month away. Mark your calendars: May 30th is the day you’ll be able to relive these amazing adventures.

I couldn’t be more excited, how about you?

Today’s Nintendo Direct presentation featured plenty of other great news too. Look for more coverage coming later today!

‘Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate’ Announced For 3DS And Vita

by Derek Kraneveldt

Along with today’s announcement of Batman: Arkham Origins, Warner Bros. Interactive announced a very exciting portable spinoff.

Very little information was announced about this side project, but we do know that it’s being developed by Armature Studios, a relatively new developer… made up largely of ex Retro Studios employees (creators of the Metroid Prime trilogy). Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate will release for 3DS and Vita on the same day as its console sibling (October 25th). It’s said to be a 2.5D Super Metroid / Castlevania style action game. That sounds absolutely amazing.

Look for more news from both games in the coming weeks. We couldn’t be more excited!

Side scrolling Batman makes for a good time.
Side scrolling Batman makes for a good time.

Geekscape 283: The WonderCon Preview, GI Joe, Luigi’s Mansion and More!

by Jonathan

I go a bit nuts on the show this time around, letting everyone know who is Number 1 or will be very soon! Geekscape has an agenda and we’re going to play it to the end! WonderCon is this weekend and you know we’ll be representing on the floor at Booth 953! I talk comics books and what DC books you can afford to drop from your pull lists! ‘Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon’ on the 3DS brings me tons of ghostly fun! Shawn Madden drops by to say that ‘GI Joe: Retaliation’ is Triple A Plus Plus! My wife calls up to calm me down and Linder, our new British listener, calls in to talk gardening… and I roll with it! Because gardening rules! PLUS! It’s horn-blowing time!

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:55 — 22.4MB)

Slow Wii U? Watch How Much Faster It’s About To Get!

by Derek Kraneveldt

As much as I love my Wii U (which is now gathering just a bit of dust due to Ni No Kuni), the console does have its share of issues. By far the biggest and most annoying of these problems is just how damn slow the console is, whether you’re switching between menus or launching software. Sometimes I feel like I could go make a sandwich, come back, and still have to wait for something that should have been much, much quicker, right from the console’s launch day.

Things are about to change however (better late than never, right?); in late April, Nintendo will launch the first (of two) software updates meant to drastically improve the speed of the console’s UI. The big N has released a video of the anticipated update, showcasing just how much of a difference it will make to the console’s usability.

Watch the video below, and let us know what you think! It’s going to be a great year for the Wii U and its owners, and these updates are going to be a huge part of it!

‘Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D’ Launches On May 24th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Via an extremely short (and unorthodox) press release, Nintendo today announced the official release date for their upcoming 3D remake, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.

 

The anticipated release is a 3D reimagining of the 2010 Wii platformer, Donkey Kong Country Returns. The game garnered critical acclaim, and was an extremely faithful contemporary adaptation of the classic Donkey Kong Country style.

 

3DS owners, you’ve got just over two months to wait at this point; Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D will launch on May 24th. Watch the trailer for the game below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up!

 

Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Seasons, Coming To 3DS Eshop!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Earlier this morning Nintendo hosted a Japan-centric Nintendo Direct, showcasing titles that will be hitting the 3DS eShop later this year.

 

One of the most exciting announcements (for me anyways); both The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons are coming to the eShop. Word spread that these releases would be Japan only, but Zelda producer Eiji Anouma later confirmed that other areas will follow, stating “The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages will be released for Virtual Console on Nintendo 3DS in Japan, but it’ll be a little while longer till the’re out in other territories. We”d like to ask for your patience until they’re ready for release. Thank you!”

 

It’s been almost a decade since I’ve played the games, but I remember an 11 year old me having an absolute blast with both titles. They’re a bit of an anomaly in the Zelda universe being developed by Capcom, but if my memory serves, the Oracle team did a fantastic job.

 

What do you think of the news? Were you a fan of the games back in 2001? Interested in seeing what else was announced? Watch the (Japanese) Nintendo Direct here!

 

 

Source: Joystiq

2013 Is The Year Of Luigi: Huge Wii U And 3DS Announcements!

by Derek Kraneveldt

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it is a phenomenal time to be a Nintendo fan.

 

Just three weeks ago we were treated to a fantastic Nintendo Direct presentation, and the things we saw on that day alone were more than enough to make us believe that we’d have a good year. It seems as though that presentation was just the tip of the iceberg, as today’s follow up revealed things we NEVER would have expected.

 

2013 has been hailed as the year of Luigi, and it’s about freaking time. If you have 30 minutes to spare, watch today’s presentation below! If not, all the details are outlined in the press release, just scroll down!

 

Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

 

 

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– After decades of playing second fiddle to the No. 1 video game hero, Luigi is getting some love from Nintendo. Nintendo has named 2013 the “Year of Luigi,” thanks to the numerous appearances that Mario’s timid, green-clad twin brother will be making in games this year. In a Nintendo Direct video, Nintendo provided details about games on the way that feature Luigi, as well as information about more than two dozen upcoming games, including content for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS across packaged and digital formats.

 

“Luigi is just the green tip of the iceberg of all the great news we have to share with Nintendo fans this year and beyond,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and COO. “We’re showing how Nintendo 3DS and Wii U continue to be a source of fun, entertainment and great surprises.”

 

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Today’s announcements included:

 

The Year of Luigi

 

  • Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon: The game that kicks off the Year of Luigi launches March 24 and will include additional multiplayer modes beyond the previously revealed Hunter Mode. Up to four players with their own Nintendo 3DS systems can team up via local wireless, pair up in Download Play or connect over the Internet to escape each floor within the time limit in Rush Mode and search for the hidden ghost dogs in Polterpup Mode (up to four game cards may be required).

 

  • Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: A new installment in the Mario & Luigi role-playing series is coming to Nintendo 3DS this summer. The game takes place inside the mind of a sleeping Luigi, who is a powerful, brave hero in his dreams.

 

  • New Super Luigi U: To continue the fun of New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U, Nintendo is letting Luigi take over in new downloadable content that is coming in the Year of Luigi that provides alternate versions of the game’s more than 80 stages. Players can freely change between the New Super Luigi U and New Super Mario Bros. U stages. These Luigi-focused stages provide a whole new level of game-play challenge and will be available for purchase as a single download.

 

  • Fore!: Luigi and his Mushroom Kingdom neighbors are teeing up once again in Mario Golf: World Tour. The Nintendo 3DS game includes both simple controls and a deeper experience for golf fans, plus courses that range from traditional to those inspired by the Mushroom Kingdom. The game launches this summer.

 

Nintendo 3DS

 

  • Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: The smash-hit Wii game is getting a portable 3D makeover that makes the already-amazing layered graphics pop. The game launches this summer, but an exclusive 3D video is available now in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS.

 

  • Turning Over a New Leaf: Animal Crossing: New Leaf launches in North America on June 9. It is the definitive version of Animal Crossing, with new features and general improvements across the entire game, including new species of animal neighbors, new ways to customize your house and town, and a new main street shopping area and model home showcase.

 

  • Animal Style: Style Savvy: Trendsetters is getting the Gracie Grace line of clothes, inspired by the fashion-forward giraffe from the Animal Crossing series. Owners of Style Savvy: Trendsetters can download the trendy free clothes via SpotPass. Additional fashions are planned to arrive via SpotPass, including in-game fashions based on the popular Japanese brand Liz Lisa.

 

  • The Chase Begins: LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins launches April 21. The game is set two years prior to the action of the Wii U game, and follows the first case of rookie cop Chase McCain in a still-growing and -developing LEGO City.

 

  • Downloadable Games: Nintendo announced a number of new games coming to the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS, including Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (coming soon), Dillon’s Rolling Western: The Last Ranger(coming April 11), HarmoKnight from Game Freak (demo available March 14, full game on March 28) and Kersploosh! (coming March 7).

 

  • Spreading Like Fire Emblem: Two new downloadable maps are now available for purchase at the Outrealm Gate on the world map in Fire Emblem Awakening. For $2.50, the Champions of Yore 3 map lets players battle against legendary characters such as Marth, Roy and Ike. Players who have already purchased the Champions of Yore map pack can now access this new map to earn a new playable character named Michaiah and a special skill that will increase all of a character’s stats by two points. The Golden Gaffe map is the first in a second set of three maps, and is also now available for $2.50. It pits players against a group of very wealthy enemies, and is a great way to earn gold. Nintendo plans to release fresh downloadable content in the weeks and months ahead to keep the adventure going with more playable characters and class types. The Champions of Yore 1 map is available as a free download through March 6.

 

  • Virtual Console: Two classic Game Boy Color games from Natsume, Harvest Moon and Legend of the River King, are on their way to the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in the coming months.

 

  • Buy and Register Nintendo 3DS XL, Get a Free Game: As a special promotion for people who have not yet purchased a Nintendo 3DS XL system, anyone who registers a Nintendo 3DS XL and either Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon orPokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity between March 21 and April 30 will receive a code to download one of these five great games for free from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario 3D Land, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone!, Star Fox 64 3D or Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! For more information, visit http://club2.nintendo.com/3ds-xl-promo.

 

  • Nintendo eShop Sale: Nintendo 3DS owners can now buy and download select games from the Nintendo eShop at a discounted price for a limited time. These include BIT.TRIP SAGA from Aksys Games; Crashmo, Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword and Ketzal’s Corridors from Nintendo; Fractured Soul from Endgame Studios; and Mutant Mudds from Renegade Kid. One game will be available at the reduced price each week. Visit http://www.nintendo.com to see the full schedule.

 

  • Castlevania Demo: A demo of Konami’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate hits the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 28. The full digital game download launches on March 5.

 

Wii U

 

  • Zelda Miiverse Community: Nintendo is launching a Miiverse community dedicated to The Legend of Zelda series today, letting fans discuss the past, present and future of this timeless franchise.

 

  • LEGO® City Comes to Life: LEGO City® Undercover launches March 18. Nintendo revealed some new sections of the game, including LEGO City Airport, Kings Court and Paradise Sands.

 

  • City Mapping: The Wii Street U powered by Google application is now available as a free download for a limited time from the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The application taps into the Google Maps service and allows users to get a 360-degree view of locations around the world using the Wii U GamePad.

 

  • Razor’s Update: A new, free update to Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge later this month includes one new costume each for Ryu Hayabusa, Ayane, Momiji and Kasumi, as well as 25 new Ninja Trials missions.

 

  • Third-Party Games:

 

    • BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien from Gaijin Games is coming to Wii U in February. It features narration by Charles Martinet, and a demo is planned for the Nintendo eShop soon.

 

    • This month, Zen Pinball 2 from Zen Studios introduces a number of pinball tables, including Marvel Pinball and Plants vs. Zombies Pinball. The game will be available as a free download in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U with additional tables available for purchase.

 

    • Soon Two Tribes will release Toki Tori 2, a puzzle/platforming game that will support off-TV game play on the Wii U GamePad. A level editor will be released at a later date.

 

    • Need for Speed Most Wanted U from EA is arriving on Wii U on March 19 as the first third-party title to incorporate Miiverse functionality into the game play. Exclusive features include a new Co-Driver mode for local co-op play, Off-TV mode to play on the Wii U GamePad and the Ultimate Speed Pack included at no additional charge. The Ultimate Speed Pack includes 25 additional High Speed Races and Speed Runs, five of the world’s fastest production cars and more than 70 new speed-themed milestones, plus stacks of additional rewards and unlocks.

 

    • The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct from Activision is coming to Wii U on March 26 with a unique style of game play that blends first-person action with resource management for a focus on surviving the undead nightmare.

 

    • Injustice: Gods Among Us from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment launches on April 16. The game includes Off-TV play and lets players battle as some of their favorite heroes and villains, like Batman, The Flash, Superman, The Joker, Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman.

 

Coming to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS

 

  • Capcom’s Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate launches for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on March 19. A Wii U player can connect with up to three Nintendo 3DS players to create a hunting party. People can play the game on Wii U and then transfer their data to the Nintendo 3DS to continue the hunt. A demo will be available in the Nintendo eShop on both platforms on Feb. 21.

 

  • Disney Infinity from Disney Interactive is coming to Wii U and Wii this summer. For the first time, players will use real-world interactive figures to activate original, story-driven adventures in the game worlds, also known as “Play Sets.” At any time, players can also access their personal “Toy Box” and use the items to create one-of-a-kind Disney adventures featuring any combination of characters, environments and items across all franchises featured in the game. Disney Infinity will also be available on Nintendo 3DS.

 

Amazing, right?

 

LuigiBrawl

Wii U ZombiU Deluxe Set Hitting North America February 17th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

If you’re a zombie fan and haven’t yet picked up Nintendo’s Wii U, you’re about to have a fantastic opportunity.

 

Nintendo announced today that the Zombi U Deluxe Wii U Bundle is finally coming to North America (it’s been available in the UK since the console’s launch). On top of the regular Deluxe console contents (32gb Black Console, Gamepad, Nintendoland, Digital Deluxe Promotion, etc), this bundle also includes Ubisoft’s phenomenal ZombiU, and one of Nintendo’s Pro controllers.

 

 

The bundle becomes available on February 17th, and will retail for $389.99 (a cool $70 savings from all items being purchased separately).

 

ZombiU is a fantastic title, but be warned: it’s damn scary, and hard as hell. If you like your games to hold your hand through their entirety, you should probably avoid this one. If you like badass experiences and insanely affective atmospheres, please check this out, you won’t be disappointed.

 

ZombiUScreen

Mario Kart Arcade Game Coming From Nintendo And Namco!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Unlike North America, the Japanese arcade market is still (somewhat) flourishing. This means that they’re getting some amazing titles that we’ll never, ever see.

 

Like the new Mario Kart arcade title, Mario Kart: Arcade GP DX. The game is set to release later this year, but will be shown off in just a few weeks at the Japanese Amusement Expo. Of course, it looks like classic Mario Kart, but with some fresh ideas; the gliding mechanic from Mario Kart 7 is still around, and this new edition will also show driver’s faces using a unique camera system. It’s also being developed by Namco Bandai… yep, you read that right.

 

Mario Kart
Every loves gliders, right?

 

So Namco Bandai is doing an Arcade Mario Kart… now what about the Wii U version? Could Namco be developing that as well? Will the camera features make it to the Wii U version? Maybe we’ll see some classic Namco characters! We should know everything come this year’s E3, as Mario Kart will be unveiled and playable at the popular expo.

 

In any case, I wish there was an arcade around me so I could get my hands on this!

 

Source: IGN

Nintendo Direct Rundown: Games, Games, Games!

by Derek Kraneveldt

You’ll have to watch this morning’s Nintendo Direct to really feel the excitement (embedded below), but essentially, it’s a fantastic day to be a Nintendo fan, and a wonderful time to be a Wii U owner.

 

 

First, let’s get the non-game news out of the way. Now, I love my Wii U, but of course, like anything, the thing isn’t perfect. My main issue (which rears its ugly head every time the console is turned on) is just how slow the damn thing can be. It seems to take forever to move between menus on this system, and if you’re trying to return to the menu from inside a game, well, you may as well hit the restart button.

 

Nintendo knows about the speed issues, and is working to fix them. Two system updates are on the way (one due this Spring, one this Summer) that will address these problems, along with adding new functionality to the machine.

 

Almost more exciting than any new game.
Almost more exciting than any new game. Well, not really.

 

As Nintendo mentioned previously, Miiverse (which everyone seems to love) is still coming for smartphones. In the Spring, you’ll be able to access the service via your phone’s browser, but dedicated applications are in the works, so that you’re always just a tap away.

 

Along with the upcoming Spring update is (YES!) Virtual Console functionality for Wii U. The service will (strangely) launch with just NES and SNES titles, while GBA games will be added sometime in the future (hmmm… what about all of the other stuff on the Wii VC?). Pricing will be equivalent to the Wii Virtual Console Versions, and (lamely) if you’ve already purchased a title, it’ll cost you another $1 (or $1.50 for SNES) to get it on your Wii U. Hopefully for that, they come with some added functionality (fully customizable controls have already been revealed), and the ability to play the games on JUST the GamePad.

 

Now, the good stuff.

 

First, Zelda. In a completely unexpected piece of news… we’re getting two of them! Remember how AMAZING The Wind Waker looked when it came out all the way back in 2003? Well it’s about to get a lot prettier: this Fall, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is going HD. Featuring improvements to gameplay and (hugely) to graphics, you’ll also be able to play this one on just the GamePad. This looks like is an absolute must buy.

 

Wow... Wow... Wow...
Wow… Wow… Wow…

 

It was also revealed that a Wii U specific Zelda title is in the works, set to “rethink the conventions of Zelda”. This one won’t be ready for some time however, so Wind Waker HD will have to do for now.

 

Everyone’s favourite Italian has two titles in the works for the Wii U. A new version of Mario Kart is in development, as well as a new Mario platformer, which will also be playable in 3D. Both games are set to be revealed at this year’s E3 convention (which hopefully means a holiday release).

 

The team behind the underrated Kirby’s Epic Yarn is at it again, but this time it’s Yoshi’s turn. The director of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story is supervising the development of this one, which is Yoshi’s first starring role since 1998. Yarn Yoshi looks pretty damn… well, pretty.

 

WiiU_Yoshi012313_Scrn03

 

We all knew that Pikmin 3 was coming, and Nintendo kindly treated us to some new screenshots during the presentation. They look beautiful, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the game. Check them out in the gallery below! A ‘camera’ mode was also revealed for the game, which lets you shoot from the perspective of the Pikmin, using what else but the Wii U gamepad. You can then share them to MiiVerse. No word yet on whether or not you’ll be able to apply cheesy filters after the fact.

 

 

Those are the biggest titles, but a few others were revealed via trailer, including what appears to be a Fire Emblem / Shin Megami Tensei crossover, a new title from Monolith Soft, and a new trailer for the cool looking The Wonderful 101. Check them out below.

 

 

 

 

Game and Wario and a new Smash Bros. were also mentioned, but need to be further in development before being officially revealed.

 

So what do you think Wii U owners? Excited? Shout out below!

‘Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon’ Releases March 24th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

It’s been over 11 years since the much beloved (and often overlooked) classic Luigi’s Mansion vacuumed its onto our shelves (and into our hearts). I was just 11 years old when the game released, and I can still remember playing far too long into the night, even when I had school the next morning.

 

As much as I’d have loved to see a sequel for Nintendo’s latest home console (the Wii U of course, imagine the gamepad acting as a large, real life Game Boy Horror), I’ll take what I can get, and that’s Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for the 3DS.

 

 

Nintendo today revealed the release date for Luigi’s upcoming adventure, and it’s a lot closer than you might think! Dark Moon will hit shelves just two days before 2K’s Bioshock Infinite, on March 24th, 2013.

 

I almost feel like tracking down my old GameCube in anticipation for this. I can’t imagine Dark Moon being anything but wonderful. Are you planning to pick it up?

 

DarkMoon

Geekscape 273: Oscar Noms, CES, Superior Spider-Man and Nonstop Calls!

by Jonathan

This week the Geekscapists are the stars of the show as I take on an avalanche of nonstop phone calls from the audience! I also respond to last week’s feedback on the brand new format! Who got snubbed in today’s Oscar nominations? Who should have been? Superior Spider-Man swings onto shelves and already seems like he doesn’t want to stick around! Gunman Clive is the coolest, and cheapest, videogame around! Goodbye to the PS2! The changing trends and news from CES! PLUS! TV’s Chris Gore calls in to talk Star Wars!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:22 — 22.6MB)

Pocket Monsters Go Polygonal With ‘Pokémon X And Y’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Via a special Nintendo Direct early this morning (my time anyways), Nintendo announced the next generation of the Pokémon series.

Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will hit 3DS handhelds worldwide (for once) THIS October. Watch the announcement trailer below!

Now, I’ve skipped out on the last couple generations on Pokémon titles, but there’s no way I’d miss this for the world. These latest titles look wonderful if only for the fact that after what feels like a million years, we’re getting a 3D Pokémon RPG (plus the protagonist looks just a little bit like Egoraptor).

How about an MMO next Nintendo? Please?

Geekscape 272: Jason Trost and Lucas Till Talk Superheroes

by Jonathan

Geekscape arrives at the ToadHop Network with a brand new episode featuring guest co-host Corey Roberts and guests Jason Trost and Lucas Till! Jason and Luke talk about their new movie ‘All Superheroes Must Die’! Luke talks about his character of Havok in ‘X-Men: First Class’ and the chances of returning in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’! Corey Roberts says some inappropriate jokes! ‘The Baytown Outlaws’ director Barry Battles calls in to talk about what it took to make the movie and how you can check it out now on VOD, iTunes and Amazon! PLUS! Appearances from Geekscape’s Shawn Madden and Frank Sanders!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Check out the episode on The ToadHopNetwork’s Geekscape Page!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:05 — 22.1MB)

Nintendo TVii Launching Tomorrow In North America!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Though it doesn’t sound like it will be fully functioning, North America will be getting a taste of Nintendo’s TVii service TOMORROW!

Announced back in January, TVii intends to make the WiiU not just a game system, but the entertainment hub of your living room. Rather than having to search through cable, PVR, and Subscription options for your favourite movies and shows, TVii looks to use a beautiful interface to amalgamate everything into one! Check out the trailer below and see what it’s all about!

According to today’s press release, tomorrow the service will support cable and satellite providers, as well as Amazon Instant and Hulu plus. Netflix and TiVo integration are set to come in early 2013.

The TVii experience looks pretty phenomenal, and at no extra monthly cost I could definitely see the WiiU becoming the media centre of choice for many people. Remember when you bought a PS3 and justified the fact that even if you didn’t play it, you had one of the best Blu-Ray players around? This is the same thing!

Too bad I live in Canada, where we have neither Amazon Instant or Hulu. I’m still looking forward to checking it out!

An Unexpected Journey Into Darkness! The Geekscapepod For December 18th, 2012!

by Jonathan

Alright! It’s an Unexpected Journey Into Darkness! My almost complete thoughts on ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”! Why 48 fps doesn’t bother me! Are there really pacing issues? What IS the Geek Movie Of The Year? Star Trek Into Darkness gets a new trailer and 9 minutes… but what does it mean!?! Getting into comics? What should you read? ‘Adventure Time’ gets an awesome game! PLUS! Jonathan opens the FINAL issue of Nintendo Power! The sadness!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:08 — 27.4MB)

The ‘Wii-Mini’ Has Been Revealed! BUT ONLY FOR CANADA!!!

by Shane O'Hare

You read that right kids. The Wii gets a facelift, err well uhhh more like invasive fat removal surgery. Take a look at the little guy below!

That does look pretty slick, doesn’t it? Under the hood we have a drastically different machine. All GameCube compatibility has been torn out, WiFi removed and a new top loading disc drive (think portable walkman CD-Player) Nintendo has been able to scrape out most of the cost off the console. At $100 you get a Wii, Wii-Mote Plus and Chuck and that’s it.

The most interesting part of all this is that is a Canada exclusive. December 7th our friends to the North (East for me) get this little guy. At first I was confused, but looking into the though process behind it, everything makes sense. A lot of the Wii’s already out there have just devolved into a Netflix machine and Netflix not being as popular in Canada like it is here in the USA makes it the perfect place to do some retail level market analysis.  Who knows, this may be crazy successful and be sold in the US shortly.

Nintendo has a history of releasing compact versions of consoles at the end of their life cycles. Top loading NES, SNES-2, GBA-Micro and GameBoy Pocket are all prime examples of their logic.

So the world will wait, see what Canada does with this device. Hey, Derek, why don’t you enjoy this rare opportunity to have some delicious exclusivity.

December 7th the lovely Canadians can pick this up along side a stack of Tim Hortons treats. Lucky bastards.

Geekscape’s Almost Six Years Old! The Geekscapepod For November 27th, 2012!

by Jonathan

Welcome back from Thanksgiving break! I talk ‘Lincoln’ vs ‘The Life of Pi’ in the Oscar race! Is Joseph Gordon Levitt playing Batman in a Justice League movie? Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart return to the X-Men franchise! What’s Star Trek 2 about? A big ‘Doc of the Dead’ update! Doc Ock pulls a fast one in Amazing Spider-Man 698! The Walking Dead is on a roll! And Geekscape is having a birthday party and YOU’RE invited!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:44 — 30.6MB)

‘New Super Mario Bros. 2’ Players Have Collected Over 300 Billion Coins! Free DLC To Celebrate!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Well this is neat. Nintendo has just announced that New Super Mario Bros. 2 players have collected over 300 billion coins worldwide! That’s enough for every single person on Earth to gather 43 coins! It’s a huge number, and a huge achievement for all players, and of course for the big N too!

To celebrate, Nintendo is doing something very cool. Available now, free to all NSMB2 players is a brand new Coin Rush pack featuring courses from Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3. The new pack is fittingly called the Gold Classics Pack, and will remain free until February 1st, when it shoots up to the staggering price of $2.50.

Way to go players, and thanks Nintendo! Here’s the info:

  • This retro-inspired pack pays homage to iconic Super Mario Bros.™ and Super Mario Bros. 3 courses from the NES™ era and has been injected with the coin-fueled fun of Coin Rush mode.
  • To celebrate the collection of 300 billion worldwide coins, this course pack is available free for a limited time !
  • Free Download between 11/27/2012 – 1/31/2013
  • Starting 2/1/2013, it will be $2.50

Excited? Are you still playing New Super Mario Bros. 2? Anyone get to a million coins!?

Love The Wii U System Music? Download It (Unofficially) Now!

by Derek Kraneveldt

The Wii U menu music is pretty wonderful. It’s groovy, relaxing, and genuinely makes you not mind the time you spend wandering through the Wii U’s sometimes slow (for now) menu system.

DJ CUTMAN thought the music was great too. Great enough in fact, to collect the tunes and release them as an unofficial 9-track album! The album is called WiiU Grooves, and if you like the style of music (or if you simply want to feel like you’re near your beloved Wii U while away from home), it’s certainly worth the download!

Check out the album below and let us know what you think! If you feel like downloading it for offline play, simply head to DJ CUTMAN’s official website! The album of course, isn’t endorsed by Nintendo, so it may be taken down at any time!

Source: Engadget

It’s Almost Turkey Time! The Geekscapepod For November 21st, 2012!

by Jonathan

Longtime friend of the show Tyson Breuer joins in on a brand new Geekscape to talk about film festivals, his history with Geekscape… and Geekdrome before it… and the WiiU! We talk about Tyson’s addiction to Yoshi’s Fruit Cart, the hell that is the Octopus Dance and whether or not Nintendoland is just a collection of iOS games! And what about New Super Mario Bros. U? Jonathan shares his thoughts. Also… how does Zombie U break away from the zombie games that came before it? PLUS! We watched ‘The Silverlining Playbook’ and weigh in on whether or not its an Oscar contender!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:53 — 17.2MB)

Geekscape Podcast! Jonathan Camps Out For the WiiU!

by Jonathan

This is my WiiU camp out audio diary! From 4pm to midnight, I camped out in front of a Los Angeles Best Buy with other Nintendo Die Hards, excited to be one of the first to get my hands on the Wii U! What dangers did we face? What games were we looking forward to the most? Would we fight with the guy in the Black Friday line? Would I even get a chance to get a system? Listen to all the excitement and drama of the WiiU Launch Day!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:00 — 22.7MB)

Miis Invade New York!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Have you been living under a rock for the past year? No? Then you’re probably aware that Nintendo’s new home console, the Wii U is set to launch in just over 24 hours. You’re probably also aware that it looks absolutely incredible.

Nintendo is understandably, and so are their classic Mii’s, who after six years are finally about to get a new home! As a promotion for the upcoming launch, a lot of Mii characters took over New York City, and the results are pretty hilarious.

Check out the photos below, and let us know what you think! Will you be waiting in line for a Wii U? I know I’ll be picking one up the second my finances allow it!

If anyone is interested in buying a kidney, I’m not opposed to selling it. I’d love be able to pick up a Wii U this Sunday!

New Details Abound As Nintendo Unboxes A Wii U!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Nintendo again took to the internet this morning, livestreaming Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata unboxing his own Wii U, and giving us even more details about the fast approaching console.

Iwata (naturally) chose to pick up the sexy black premium Wii U package (let us know which one you’ll be gettting!). Aside from the console and gamepad, you’ll also get an HDMI cable, and a nice charging stand for the tablet style controller as well as one for the console itself. His edition also included a beta code for the next Dragon Quest title (though I can’t verify if that will be included in North America).

I am so envious of this man.

He went on to explain that each Wii U console will support 12 separate user accounts (finally!). Each user will have individual console settings and game saves, as well as bookmarks and play history. Multiplayer progress will also be synced across appropriate accounts. This is freaking exciting, I hated the lack of this on the Wii!

Even more awesome details would be revealed before the end of the broadcast: you’ll be able to pause your gameplay and jump right into a web browser on the GamePad (hopefully for something like Geekscape or Gamefaqs, and not for an adult video fix). The gamepad can of course act as a universal remote as well, and should allow you to control all of your media peripherals. As previously demonstrated, you’ll be able to send content from the gamepad screen to the television screen to share it with others in the room.

I am unbelievably excited for this controller.

Another piece of fantastic news: it appears as though Friend Codes are no more! Instead you’ll get a much less clunky (though still pretty clunky sounding) Nintendo Network ID, which should be usable between multiple Nintendo consoles, and even smartphones and web browsers. It certainly sounds interesting and I can’t wait to try it out myself.

Seriously Friend Codes, burn in hell.

I’ve saved the best for last: this one is going to rock you to your very core. Karaoke is coming to the Wii U. KARAOKE! A standalone microphone peripheral will be available at some point in the future. Karaoke will be a subscription service and cost about $25 for a 90 day pass. A subscription will grant you access to the entire catalog of songs, which is an interesting (and fantastic in my opinion) way of doing things. This has only been announced for Japan at this point, but hopefully it will make its way to North America!

The Wii U launches in just 11 days. Will you be getting one?

You can also watch the unboxing for yourself if you’re so inclined! Check it out below! It’s an awesome watch and reveals even more small tidbits!

Yahoo! ‘New Super Mario Bros. 2’ Gets 2 New DLC Packs!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Just a few weeks ago we showed you some of the DLC that was coming for Nintendo’s New Super Mario Bros. 2. The initial Coin Rush packs were awesome, and Nintendo promised us more down the pipeline. Looks like that pipe was pretty short, as today Nintendo released two more!

Each new pack can be yours for just $2.50, and Nintendo was nice enough to release a video highlighting each and giving you a score to aim for! Check them out below!

 Is anyone else extremely excited that Nintendo finally knows that DLC exists?

Be Afraid With This New ‘ZombiU’ Trailer

by Shane O'Hare

Fucking Nintendo, how does it work? Remarkably well. It looks like they really are listening to the hardcore and will deliver a solid new console. Check out the newest trailer for the survival horror launch title ZombiU. It looks, pretty damn fun!

You can get your hands on a WiiU as well as ZombiU November 18th!

Are You Fit Enough? The Geekscapepod For October 7th, 2012!

by Jonathan

How fit are you? I start this episode trying to find out! Then I tell you how good or just silly ‘Taken 2’ is! Plus, is AvX really over? Where does it go from here? What Batman comics should I read if I’m scared of crossovers? Why Jeff Lemire’s ‘The Underwater Welder’ is definitely something you should pick up! Does the New Super Mario Bros 2 ‘DLC’ add anything and is ‘Resident Evil 6’ deserving of all the hate?

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:26 — 15.9MB)

Buddy-Up With A New Trailer For ‘New Super Mario Bros. U’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Nintendo today released a trailer featuring some co-op play for the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. U. 

It’s pretty amazing how fresh these side scrolling Mario titles can feel, even 27 years after the launch of the original NES / Famicom titles. Each new game manages to retain the same feeling as the originals, which is a feat that not many series’ manage to do.

All I can say is that I can’t wait. I’ll be among the first to pick this up when it releases on November 18th.

Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!

Is Nintendo Getting Serious About Downloads? Revamping eShop To Include More Full Games!

by Derek Kraneveldt

This can only be good news, and straight from the big N!

Today we welcomed Nintendo into the 21st century as New Super Mario Bros. 2 welcomed its first few pieces of DLC. Sunday’s pod had the first information about this, and on Tuesday we followed up with all the details. Those coin rush packs are now available for purchase!

That isn’t todays big news however. Nintendo has announced that this holiday season there will be a heavy focus on the eShop and revamping its catalogue. They’ve announced that more FULL 3DS titles will be hitting the virtual shelves this month, and that more are in the pipeline for the future!

Nintendo also revealed several more original titles and Virtual Console games that are set to hit the store in the coming months!

From the press release:

“The Nintendo eShop demonstrates Nintendo’s commitment to providing consumers with unique digital content through a combination of creativity and convenience,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The variety and quality of games coming this year is unmatched, from new entries in established franchises to original properties.”

The following content is scheduled to launch in the Nintendo eShop in 2012:

ORIGINAL GAMES

  • NightSky launches Oct. 25. NightSky is an action-puzzle game that offers an ambient game-play experience with cerebral challenges that fill uniquely designed, picturesque worlds. Each of these worlds is broken into different areas in which the player must maneuver a sphere by using realistic physics to advance.
  • Crashmo launches Nov. 22. Players can embrace the laws of gravity and challenge themselves with a whole new kind of action-puzzle play in this exciting sequel to the critically acclaimed Pushmo. New gravity mechanics and gadgets like floating blocks, doors and move switches await, testing players’ skills as they push, pull and slide each puzzle’s colorful blocks in order to climb to the top. Just be careful where those blocks are moved—unsupported blocks will come crashing down.Crashmo contains lots of puzzles to test your brains, and enhanced puzzle-creation and -sharing features mean that even when all the puzzles are cleared, the fun never has to stop.
  • Fluidity: Spin Cycle arrives on Dec. 27, letting players tilt, turn and even rotate their Nintendo 3DS system 360 degrees to maneuver a puddle of water named Eddy through a maze-like, magical world. Change from liquid to a block of ice or a steam cloud to solve fun, gravity-defying puzzles and defeat Goop monsters. Fluidity: Spin Cycle features a new storybook setting to explore that spans the ages, from a lost world full of dinosaurs to the modern world and beyond.
  • Three original games from LEVEL-5 and several well-known Japanese collaborators will launch in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS before this holiday season. The first of these games, SUDA 51’s LIBERATION MAIDEN, is set 100 years in the future, when the president of Japan boards her Liberator, Kamui, and fights to free her country one region at a time. AERO PORTER by Yoot Saito and Yasumi Matsuno’s CRIMSON SHROUD are also slated for release by the end of the year.
  • Get ready to unleash pedestrian-tossing pandemonium with Grace and Savannah in Tokyo Crash Mobs, a fast-paced action-puzzle game coming to the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in early 2013. Players will need lightning-fast reflexes and an eye for strategy to survive the three chaotic weeks that lie ahead for our heroines, as they take on anyone and anything that gets in their way.

RECENT NINTENDO 3DS HITS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

  • Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D and Mario Kart 7 will become available for purchase from the Nintendo eShop on Oct. 18 at a price of $39.99 each. Additional Nintendo 3DS software currently only available at retail stores will become available in the Nintendo eShop in the future.

VIRTUAL CONSOLE

  • Mario Golf (launches Oct. 11)
  • Castlevania: The Adventure (launches Oct. 25)
  • Ninja Gaiden (launches Nov. 8)
  • Zelda II – The Adventure of Link (launches Nov. 22)
  • Wario Land II (launches Dec. 20)
  • Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (launches Dec. 27)

Can you imagine if every 3DS game had a day one digital edition?