Nintendo

3DS’s First Update Brings A Familiar Tune

Today in Japan, the 3DS got its first update. Much of the update is typical firmware stuff, fixing bugs and improving the network connection. But there was also a special treat included. Nintendo sent out a 3D clip of the Super Mario Bros. theme being performed by the song’s composer Koji Kondo at this year’s…

Eat Up, Mario!

They take a little longer to eat in real life. And taste better with a good bottle of red. By Mario Siabatto Gameface is a photographic celebration of the people who make, play and love video games.

If You Are Going To Buy One 3DS Game, Get This

Let’s face it. The 3DS launch line-up is so-so. But more than dark horse Steel Diver or the Japan-only Professor Layton title, there is one 3DS title you should get. This is that game. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is the 3DS version of console-turned-arcade-game Super Street Fighter IV. It’s…Street Fighter. You fight other…

What The 3DS Comes With Is Pretty Great

Nintendo really screwed up when it named its new portable the 3DS. A better moniker would have the Nintendo Super DS, because thanks to its on board software, that’s exactly what it is. The Nintendo 3DS hardware is only one part of the equation. It’s a big, important part. But players also interact with Nintendo’s…

The Menus On The 3DS Are A Breeze

Nintendo hasn’t only just released a stylish piece of hardware, the Kyoto-based games maker has just launched a piece of hardware powered by elegant software. If only other Japanese companies could follow suit. Anyone who has ever owned a cell phone in Japan knows exactly what I’m talking about. Heck, if you’ve played Japanese video…

Nintendo 3DS Allows Racist, Sexist And Vulgar Character Names

The 3DS’s “StreetPass” function allows players to automatically trade Mii Avatars with whomever they pass on the street. But the streets are dangerous, and some 3DS owners are bound to be total dicks Offensive and Not Safe for Work language to follow. “Dick” is actually a nickname that brings up a warning screen on the…

Metroid Prime’s Coolest Concepts From The Cutting Room Floor

What could Metroid mainstays Mother Brain, Crocomire and Kraid have looked like in the beloved Metroid Prime video games? See for yourself in some recently excavated art work from the artists behind Nintendo’s first-person Metroid adventures. My personal favorite may be the Galactic Federation super suit seen above, a concept sketch from artist Sammy Hall…

The Bit.Trip Saga Reaches Its Final Destination

After five wonderfully retro-tastic installments, the Bit.Trip series comes to a close with the release of Bit.Trip Flux in this week’s edition of the Nintendo Download. CommanderVideo’s final WiiWare adventure is a return to form, in this case, paddle-form. After spending the previous five games steadily evolving, the Commander is back in the ball-bouncing form…

The Nintendo 3DS’ Time Is Now

The 3DS isn’t just another Nintendo portable. It’s the successor to the Nintendo DS, one of the most successful gaming machines ever. A big act to follow. Next month the 3DS will go on sale in the West. Until then, there’s this guide to tide you over and tell you what to expect when it…

So, What Was The Most Popular 3DS Launch Game?

Japanese publishing giant (and sales trackers) Enterbrain have published some preliminary sales figures for the launch of the Nintendo 3DS over the weekend, outlining how many of the handhelds were sold, and what the most popular game was. While there were early reports that 400,000 units had been sold, Enterbrain’s figures (which may change slightly…

A VERY Close Look At The 3DS’ Fancy Screens

The new Nintendo 3DS is able to produce a 3D image without the need for glasses. How can it do this? By using a “parallax barrier”. Here’s what one looks like up close. A parallax barrier is basically a “screen” on top of a regular screen, which has tiny little blocks in it that allow…

Sony Ads Turn Up In The Darndest Places

This isn’t the first time Sony advertising has appeared in a football game on a Nintendo or Microsoft platform. It happens all the time. But there’s something delightfully poignant about this particular case. Pro Evolution Soccer 3D, freshly-released for the freshly-released Nintendo 3DS, has – like its console siblings – the full suite of actual…

Nikkei Says Japan Retailers Sell Out Their First 3DS Shipments

Some 400,000 units of the new Nintendo 3DS sold on Saturday, reports Nikkei, veritably selling out the first shipment and requiring reinforcements on Sunday. Long lines for the device were a common sight on debut day. Andriasang, which noticed the Nikkei report, noted that stores in Tokyo’s famed Akihabara district, didn’t disclose they had units…

Here’s the 3DS Already Running an R4 Cartridge

Not 24 hours since its release, here’s the Nintendo 3DS running the notorious R4 flash cart. It’s not that much of a surprise – probably doesn’t even qualify as a hack, as a 3DS is fully backward compatible with DS cartridges, essentially what this is. But this does let you know that, yes, for those…

The 3DS Turned My Sofa Into A Monster’s Lair

Today, eight games launched along with the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. But if you don’t end up getting any packaged titles, there is already pre-bundled software on the 3DS that should keep you entertained. It’s doing that for me! The 3D camera is fun and all, but AR Games really seems to be the most…

How To Keep Your Barfing And Eye-Melting To A Minimum

I’ve been playing with the 3DS all day for much longer than Nintendo’s recommended allotment of time. My head isn’t killing me, and I’m not barfing. Yet. Gaming for me has always been about relaxing and unwinding. And I do think you can do that with the 3DS. You just need to know there is…

Let’s See If DS Games Look Better On The 3DS

This is hardly scientific. In fact, it’s not scientific at all. But since the 3DS has better screens, then DS games should look better on them, no? That’s exactly what I tried to find out! I’m comparing how the New Super Mario Bros. looks on the DSi XL and how it looks on the 3DS.…

A Visual Guide To The 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS Is Stylish, Grown-Up And Flawed

Following up the most successful game handheld in history is no easy task. That’s exactly what Nintendo is doing starting today with the Nintendo 3DS. The future begins now. Note: This is a straight-up hardware review. The Basics The Nintendo 3DS is a portable gaming system capable of displaying more realistic graphics than any of…

Buying A 3DS Without A Pre-Order Is A Beautiful Thing

The lines for the Nintendo 3DS didn’t start this morning. No, many of them started last night. Those who waited in line were most likely able to snag a 3DS. Those who simply waited probably weren’t as lucky. Besides the 3DS, a set of Kamen Rider medallions went on sale today. These are extremely popular…