Nintendo

Deciphering Pokémon‘s Mysterious Language

The Pocket Monsters anime originally used Japanese writing for on-screen text and signs. A pain in the ass if you need to localize the cartoon into other languages. So the Pokémon folks came up with a solution: a made-up language. A Pokélingo, if you will. Starting with anime series Pocket Monster Best Wishes!, the anime…

Sony And Nintendo, Best Friends Forever

Two decades ago, Sony and Nintendo were prepared to partner on a CD-ROM drive for the SNES. Things went sour. The deal fell apart. And Sony went their own way, eventually launching the PlayStation and paving their own path to success. Today, the two companies almost seem like best friends. BFFs! And as a dedicated…

PS4? What PS4? It’s the Nintendo Download.

Hey, did something happen in video games last night? You couldn’t tell from looking at Nintendo’s corner of the world. It’s business as usual over there, with wacky Nintendo Direct hi-jinks and a new crop of downloadable goodies for consoles and portables. Worth noting is the debut of Wii U and 3DS demo versions of…

This New App Turns Your Wii U Into A Network Router For Your 3DS (For Monster Hunter 3G)

A new Wii U downloadable app now allows 3DS Monster Hunter 3G players to enjoy co-op play over the internet. The Nintendo 3DS Monster Hunter 3G Packet Relay Tool is a free application available on the Japanese Nintendo eShop that basically turns a Wii U into a network router. By pairing a 3DS with the…

For 3DS title Super Robot Taisen UX, Nintendo is releasing a special Super Robot Taisen 3DS XL.

Gameboy Advance Color Zelda games (Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons) are virtual console bound in Japan on Feb 27th.

Europe Grateful for Faster, Less Authentic Version of F-Zero

So, remember that at the end of last month, European (and Australian) Wii U gamers were hopping mad because their Virtual Console re-release of Balloon Fight ran slower—at 50 frames per second—and smaller, reflecting the lower refresh rate of PAL tubes from the 1980s. NTSC TVs had faster refreshes, meaning gamers in the States and…

Nintendo’s Top Brass Blend Cosplay With Product Announcement

Just in case you didn’t stay up and watch the last Japanese edition of a Nintendo Direct presser, Nintendo of America has translated and re-uploaded this opening segment from it. Why? Because at the start it’s got Nintendo’s two biggest names—president Satoru Iwata and legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto—messing around in Luigi cosplasy in just about…

Mario Comes To Life In This Dramatic Speed-Painting

This dramatic piece of Mario art starts as a sketch, but winds up displaying the plumber at his most badass Posted by 8-Bit Ego, this speed-painting is the work of artist Josh Summana, who is doing a new “Heroes” series to accompany his “Bosses” set from last year. Nice. (Thanks, Jehrome and Adel.)

Rayman Legends‘ Online Challenge Mode will be Released Free on Wii U in April

Acknowledging the profound disappointment at the delay of Rayman Legends release on the Wii U—a holdup that seems to have no other reason than to wait for the Xbox 360 and PS3 editions to launch this fall—Ubisoft Montréal has decided to release the game’s Online Challenges mode early, for free, to all Wii U users.…

Pokémon Candy Comes with an Important Warning

In the Pokémon game, Rare Candy can be used to increase the level of a Pocket Monster. In Japan, you can buy Rare Candy (“fushigi na ame” or ふしぎなアメ) at Pokémon Centers across the country. But, bad news… As the candy’s label clearly states, “Even if you eat the candy, you will not raise your…

A Tribute To Fire Emblem‘s Most Gloriously Overpowered Character

The opening hours of Fire Emblem: Awakening can be harrowing. As with most role-playing games, your characters all start out pretty weak. It’s a long road to mastery—you’ll have to win many battles, earn enough money to afford better gear, and plunder treasure chests for rare spells before it starts to feel like your a-team…

It’s Super Mario As An Endless Runner, With Rabbits.

If Nintendo made games for mobile phones, an endless running Super Mario platformer would be a no-brainer. Since Nintendo does not make games for mobile phones, HeiGames is making Super Bunny Land, which is close enough. Don’t worry Nintendo, we’ve got this. That’s the message indie developers are sending with games like Banana Kong and…

This Legend of Zelda Vocal Arrangement Gave Me Chills

I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that lately, “Fi’s Theme” from Skyward Sword has sort of become my favorite piece of Zelda music. So, I very much enjoyed this vocal performance from Laura Shigihara. Shigihara is perhaps best known as the composer of the music for Plants vs. Zombies, though she’s…

What People Used To Say About The Game Boy

3D without glasses? No thanks. I’ll take my monochrome sprites and go and have some real fun. The Game Boy was kind of a big deal. Revolutionary, even. Console-quality games on the go? Great Scott. Let’s look at what people thought of that. “Game Boy promises ‘any game, anywhere.’ It has a 2 1/2-inch LCD…

Download title Pokémon Scramble U allows 100 Pokémon to fight at once. It’s slated for this spring in Japan.

Naming Your Son “Pikachu” Will Get Him Girls. Wait, What?

Selecting names ain’t easy—especially in Japan. Some Japanese parents consult with fortune tellers in hopes of picking a name that will bring their child good luck. One soothsayer has one. That name is Pikachu. Kotaku previously covered why Pikachu is a terrible name for Japanese children. Today, a fortune teller tells us why it’s a…

A Beautiful GIF Of My Most Hated Video Game Enemy

Look, I know if there was a list of the top 100 toughest bosses in video gaming, Minish Cap’s Vaati wouldn’t make the cut. There are NES games, or games that end in “Souls”, that are way harder than any handheld adventure Nintendo has ever conjured for Link. But for me, for some reason, I…

The Heroes And Villains Of Fire Emblem Wish You Happy Valentine’s Day

It’s Valentine’s Day, and so lots of video game companies are putting out goofy cards to celebrate. But what about Fire Emblem: Awakening, one of the most romantic games in recent memory? What would Fire Emblem Valentines look like? Cute, it turns out. The Nintendo 3DS Facebook Page has shared some fun Valentines based on…

Nintendo Keeps Trying To Be My Mom. It’s Weird, But Maybe More Developers Should Try It, Too.

It’s 4am. I’m lying down in bed, barely holding up my 3DS. By that point, I’ve been playing Fire Emblem: Awakening all night—long enough that I wouldn’t blame anyone for wondering if I’m sharp enough to keep pretending I’m still a competent tactician. But, I don’t care. The game has me wired; it’s that good.…