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Nintendo: New Super Mario Bros. Wii Sells 2 Million In U.S. Since Launch
Easing concerns that New Super Mario Bros. Wii selling 1.39 million copies in its first two weeks on U.S. store shelves might somehow not be impressive enough, Nintendo has announced that the game has since crossed the 2 million mark. Nintendo’s follow-up to yesterday’s sales figures says that the Wii game has racked up at…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 11, 2009 -
No Non-Gamers Allowed
There may not be any special handshakes or furtive high signs for it, but make no mistake: Video gamers are part of a secret society. Sure, nowadays billions of people from all walks of life enjoy the occasional video game. They play Farmville on their lunch break, Hearts while working on a term paper. Celebrities…
By Brian Crecente Published December 11, 2009 -
Fans Are Shearing For Mega Man 10’s Sheep Man
Only two days after his big debut, Mega Man 10’s Sheep Man has already generated more fan art than you can shake a shepard’s crook at. We’ve only known about Capcom’s retro-riffic Mega Man 10 since Nintendo Power revealed the WiiWare title on Wednesday, introducing the world to the glory of Sheep Man, Rock’s latest…
By Mike Fahey Published December 11, 2009 -
Who Put Out The Most Good Video Games In 2009? [UPDATE]
On Wednesday, EA CEO John Riccitiello provided evidence — in chart form — that his company published the most well-reviewed games of 2009. Wanting to test his assertions, I dug into the data and found some surprises. The EA chart was shown at an investor’s conference, designed to appeal to people who EA hopes will…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 11, 2009 -
Target Doles Out The Holiday Game Bargains
Target’s goes video game bargain crazy this Sunday, with gift card cash back on the Wii and DSi, $88 bundled games, and select Nintendo DS titles for only $25 – including The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Why did we rush out on to retailers on Black Friday again? This holiday season the retailers are…
By Mike Fahey Published December 11, 2009 -
Nintendo Exec: Software Sales Will Be Up, Hardware Will Be Down
Hardware sales are on the slide — check out this chart from Japanese TV. But Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime doesn’t see this as a problem. It’s cyclical. Fils-Aime points out that while hardware sales are down, software sales will be big this year and next. The record year of 2008 is very difficult…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 11, 2009 -
Miyamoto On Hyper Realistic Graphics
Nintendo graphics look fantastic — even on underpowered hardware, they’re great. Nintendo knows how to make characters and worlds with a strong visual flair. But what about hyper realistic graphics? The BBC put the question of why Nintendo’s games have a stylized look and not photo realistic graphics to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. His response:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 10, 2009 -
It’s Nintendo vs France In Flash Card Showdown
Earlier this week, a French court dismissed Nintendo’s case against Divineo, a manufacturer of DS flash cartridges, on the grounds that Nintendo shouldn’t be locking people out of development on the handheld. Instead, the presiding judge advised Nintendo that it should adopt a more accessible development platform, like that you’d find on a PC. As…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 10, 2009 -
Nintendo Calls Chinatown Sales ‘Frustrating’; Implies Lack of Marketing
Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sale and marketing, confessed to being frustrated by the sales numbers behind Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and suggested Rockstar hasn’t learned something Nintendo already knows about marketing. Asked by MTV Multiplayer if Nintendo was disappointed by Chinatown Wars’ showing, Dunaway said: It’s frustrating, quite frankly.…
By Owen Good Published December 9, 2009 -
Frankenreview: The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Are game critics sick and tired of these Zelda-loving Links on this Zelda-loving train? Find out, in our Frankenreview for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Spirit Tracks takes place in the future of the Wind Waker timeline, utilizing the same sort of cel-shaded graphics that everyone complained about in the Gamecube title but have…
By Mike Fahey Published December 9, 2009 -
Kotaku’s Zelda Contest Continental Clarification
In case you missed it, we launched a pretty impressive Legend of Zelda giveaway yesterday. But one point of clarity. When we said it was open to anyone in the Americas, we did mean anyone living in either North or South America. So if you live in any of the many countries those two continents…
By Brian Crecente Published December 9, 2009 -
R4 Vending Machine Will Be Removed From Osaka’s Den-Den Town
Earlier this summer, a vending machine selling R4 devices appeared in Osaka’s electronics district, Den-Den Town. The vending machine will be removed from the area. The vending machine came in the wake of a crackdown on R4 cartridges which can be used to play pirated video games. As we posted previously, Nintendo announced that it…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009 -
Extended Spirit Tracks Commercial Has Twice As Much Hallucinating
The 60-second version of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks‘ television commercial displays in more vivid detail why you should probably put down the DS and sleep once in awhile. The 30-second version was nice, but I love the little details Nintendo threw in for the extended cut of the commercial. The passenger paying the…
By Mike Fahey Published December 8, 2009 -
Win A DSi Signed By Zelda Director, $1000 Shopping Spree (And More!)
If you’re a Zelda fan you’re going to want to sit down before reading this. We’ve got an amazing prize pack to give away to the biggest Kotaku Zelda fan: A copy of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, a Spirit Tracks t-shirt, a $1,000 Nintendo World Store gift card, a Zelda’s “biggest fan” trophy…
By Brian Crecente Published December 8, 2009 -
Nintendo Reminds Us Why The Wii Sells At Christmas
It may have had a disappointing year by its own lofty standards, but the Wii should still do well this Christmas. Why? Because Nintendo know its target audience like the back of this commercial. Families, accessibility, paunches, sweaters, grandpa, a snarky daughter…yup, they’ve got this down pat. Nintendo’s Wii holiday commercial [Go Nintendo]
By Luke Plunkett Published December 8, 2009 -
This Super Mario Bros. Mushroom May Be *Too* Realistic
Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the mushroom. And were I in need of a height-doubling fungi in order to save a kidnapped princess, I might have a hard time swallowing this disturbingly realistic Super Mario Bros.-style mushroom. The above creation, from Kotaku tipster and sculptor Jaime (aka “Kalapusa”), fits in wonderfully with…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 -
Custom Punch-Out!! Action Figures Prove Demand For Real Punch-Out!! Action Figures
As part of The Fwoosh’s eight annual CustomCon, figure customizer “Fugazi” has created the Punch-Out!! line-up in full, plastic boxer bodies harvested from other toys and repurposed for the greater good. They’re all here, from Little Mac to Soda Popinski. Check out the full gallery at The Fwoosh for detail shots of each classic Punch-Out!!…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 -
Reviews
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review: Nice One
There are two ways Zelda games can be great. The newest entry in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks summits one of those rarefied heights. There are the Zelda games that are great in ways that influence an industry and nearly mandate that they be played. These groundbreakers include the very first Zelda…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 7, 2009 -
The Nintendo Download: Rayman, Street Fighter, And Shinobi
Eleven new titles make their debut across WiiWare, DSiWare, and the Virtual Console this week, with performances by Street Fighter Alpha, the arcade version of Shinobi, and a little Rayman for your DSi. Kicking things off this week despite a startling lack of actual limbs is Ubisoft’s Rayman (800 DSi points). Ubi has taken the…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009