Items tagged with Nintendo
It was a good and relatively long run for the Nintendo 3DS, at least in the realm of game consoles, and it has seemingly come to an end. There is a message on Nintendo's website in Japan saying "production of the main body of the Nintendo 3DS series has been discontinued." And on Nintendo's US site, the 3DS page no longer exists. So aside from lingering stock and second-hand sellers, the 3DS has reached its end of life. Not that we are all that surprised—the Switch turned out to be a bit of game changer by going the hybrid route initially. The ability to dock the console and play on a TV and also game on the game in a portable form factor has proven immensely popular. This was followed...
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Back in late August, we heard more rumors that Nintendo is currently developing a Switch Pro console that would serve as the flagship of its console gaming portfolio which currently consists of the Switch and Switch Lite. Today, more evidence has appeared in a report that was primarily focusing on Nintendo’s alleged plans to boost Switch production by 20 percent to meet demand. The Bloomberg report states that Nintendo had already raised its production target to 25 million units for its current fiscal year, and that the new target is now 30 million units. But buried further down in the report was a reference to several game developers that wished to remain anonymous...
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It looks as though we’re still gaining access to a treasure trove of information that was gleaned from the massive Nintendo “gigaleak” that sprung back in July. The leak clued us into canceled Nintendo game projects, hidden characters, and other oddities throughout the Japanese gaming giant’s long history. The latest nugget of info that apparently comes from the gigaleak involves a hybrid version of the popular GameCube game console. As most of the gaming community already knows, the GameCube featured a settop-only form-factor, but Nintendo execs and engineers reportedly wanted to develop a version that took on a hybrid form-factor. In essence, it would have been...
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2020 marks the 35th anniversary of the release of the original Super Mario Bros. Many anticipated that Nintendo would celebrate this anniversary in a big way, and we finally have received more details about this celebration. Nintendo plans to release several new and classic Super Mario games, host Super Mario events, and offer various pieces of merch for fans. Fans will perhaps be the most excited about the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. This is a package that includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. All three games have been optimized for the Nintendo Switch. The package also features an in-game music mode where players will be able to listen to music from...
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Linux typically does not get all that much love when it comes to games. Now, the penguin-people out there are getting an update to a free kart racer called Super Tux Kart with Tux the penguin as the main character. First off, what is Super Tux Kart? According to the project’s webpage, it is an “3D open-source arcade racer with a variety characters, tracks, and modes to play.” In the early 2000s, a project called TuxKart floated around for Linux (if you want to see this lovely Word-webpage, you can do so here). Once the project tapered off around 2004, it was picked up again in 2006 by Joerg Henrichs, now with the moniker of “Super Tux Kart.” Over time, updates...
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We love crazy gaming mods here at HotHardware, and another impressive one just slid across the news desk. Witness this custom Nintendo Wii system that has been squeezed into a case that is roughly the same size as a GameBoy Color. Its creator, GingerOfMods, affectionately refers to it as the WiiBoy Color. Whereas the original GameBoy Color has a 2.3-inch (160x144) display, this WiiBoy Color has a larger 3.5-inch IPS display with a 480p display resolution. The larger display also means that the bezels are a lot smaller with the GameBoy Color-style case. Speaking of the case, it was constructed using a 3D printer, and it features controls from a number of donor Nintendo gaming systems...
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Has it really been 35 years already since Super Mario Bros. first graced the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)? It sure has, which means two things: I'm old, and a celebration is in the works. Rumor has it Nintendo will be launching a Super Mario 35th Anniversary Collection, and that it will arrive on the Nintendo Switch in short order. Nothing has been confirmed as of this moment, but you just know Nintendo is going to do something—anything—to celebrate the occasion. I hope so, anyway. The persisting rumor is that both Super Mario 35th Anniversary Collection and Super Mario 3D World Deluxe will be getting their own releases, with Jeff Grubb from VentureBeat feeling confident...
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Could there be a third Nintendo Switch on the way? That appears to be the case according to a new report coming out of Taiwan. The Economic Daily News is alleging that a new Switch will enter production during the closing months of 2020, and will be on sale globally during Q1 2021. We’ve been hearing rumors off and on about a new Nintendo Switch model making its way to console gamers, and this is just the latest one. The Switch started off as an immediate success for Nintendo when it launched in early 2017, giving users the choice of playing games on a big screen TV with the included dock or on-the-go with detachable Joy-Con controllers. It was followed up in July 2019...
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On hindsight, it seems incredibly shortsighted and silly to have ever questioned whether Nintendo's hybrid Switch console would be a hit, considering its comparatively under-powered specifications. We now know better. Lest anyone needs further proof, however, Nintendo just reported a gigantic uptick in operating profits in its latest earnings report, because of the Switch. Nintendo's operating profit skyrocketed to 144.7 billion yen (around $1.37 billion in US currency) in the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. That represents a massive 427.7 percent increase over the same quarter from a year ago, when the operating profit stood at 'just' 27.43 billion yen (around $260.2 billion). This also...
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A well-loved Wii U game is making a comeback. Pikmin 3 Deluxe will be available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch on October 30th, 2020. The game still retains all of its original charm with several new features. Pikmin 3 Deluxe will include its original content and all of the subsequent DLCs. There are also new missions, better targeting, a new hint system, and various difficulty levels. The new side mission features Olimar and Louie, but there are few other details about the extent of the mission. Fans of the original game are especially excited about the multiplayer options. Players can now run through Story or Mission mode with a friend. The game will ring in at $59.99 USD on Nintendo.com,...
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We are all doing the best we can to stay sane during this time of self-isolation and social distancing, and if you are looking for a fun distraction, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a great escape from the real world. It is also getting another update. The upcoming Summer Update - Wave 2 will bring some features and goodies to the table, including cloud saves. Being able to save your progress to the cloud is a potential godsend, should you lose your Switch console, or if it gets damaged. By saving to the cloud, you would at least be able to recover your island paradise, if something bad were to happen to your Switch. "The island backup feature is separate from the Save Data Cloud functionality...
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The recent Nintendo “Gigaleak” has provided the Internet with the source code for several classic Nintendo games. Those who have dug through the leaks have found everything from unused minigames to early prototypes for Yoshi and Donkey Kong. Fans have now discovered an even bigger surprise from this leak. Fan-favorite Luigi was discovered in the source code for Super Mario 64. Super Mario 64 was originally released in 1996 for the Nintendo 64. The developers originally intended to include Luigi as a playable character in multiplayer mode. According to a 1996 interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi did not make it into the final version of the game due to “memory issues.”...
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Many early video game projects and source codes have been lost to the sands of time. However, a recent leak may reveal information about many of Nintendo’s early projects. The Nintendo “Gigaleak” reportedly includes source code for games like Super Mario Kart and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The leak recently appeared on 4chan in /v/, a video game forum. Some believe that this particular leak is related to another one that occurred in May. The servers of BroadOn, a company that was hired by Nintendo during the era of the Wii, were reportedly hacked. Users are still digging through the leaked information, but an image of a list appeared on the 4chan. The list...
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Nintendo today kicked off its first "Direct Mini: Partner Showcase" event, which entail a preview of some upcoming Switch games that have already been announced, but are not yet available. What exactly is this event, though, and what can we expect going forward? Those are good questions, and apparently this is going to be an recurring segment on Nintendo's part. The company announced the event on Twitter last night, saying this will be the first in a series of Direct Mini: Partner Showcase events. Nintendo promised to "share a few updates on small group of previously-announced games," which hints that more of these types of things will follow. However, it's not clear when exactly the next one...
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Yesterday, we brought you news about the latest fruit produced from the collaboration between Nintendo and LEGO. LEGO posted a short teaser of the set yesterday, and not long after images of the set leaked onto the internet. Today, LEGO has gone official with the set, confirming the previous leaks. The set features a staggering 2,646 pieces and includes a retro CRT-style TV sitting on a stand, a faithfully recreated Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a single controller (with wire), and a Super Mario Bros. game cartridge. We also like the added touches like a moveable antenna and composite inputs on the TV. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the set is that the TV is actually "interactive",...
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Part of LEGO's collaboration with Nintendo looks like it will entail a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) set with a whole bunch of blocks, which when assembled will become a replica of the vintage console. Not only that, you'll be able to slide in a LEGO cartridge of Super Mario Bros. and see the famous plumber in action on a retro CRT television. Remember those? This is geek overload, folks. LEGO, NES, and Super Mario Bros. coming together is just a pile of awesomeness, no matter how you slice it. Add in a faux-working CRT from the 1980s and, well, you have the makings a LEGO set that is going to fly off store shelves. Pictures of the actual retail packaging popped up on VJGamer. According...
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If you grew up in the 1980s, chances are that Super Mario Bros. has a special place in your heart. The game was a smash hit on the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and is without a doubt one of the best video games of all time. But just how much would you be willing to spend to get a pristine copy of the original game cartridge? Sure many of us still have our old NES consoles complete with copies of Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt and Excitebike; but those cartridges are probably old and worn, and have been blown on countless times to get them to work. So how does $114,000 sound to you for a brand new, mint and sealed copy of Super Mario Bros.? For one lucky bidder, it was...
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch is the gift that keeps on giving. The latest free content release is the Summer Update that launched on Wednesday, and now you can swim with the fish. But before you dive into the ocean, you've got to be dressed for the occasion. Unlike most of the clothing in Animal Crossing New Horizons that comes from the Able Sisters' tailor shop, you'll have to head on over to Nook's Cranny with 3,000 Bells in your pocket to pick up a horizontally-striped wet suit. If you don't mind waiting a day and would rather spend Nook Miles, you can pick up one of several other wet suit styles from the Nook Stop ATM. Go For A Swim In ACNH Once...
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When the Nintendo Switch arrived, some wondered if the hybrid game console would fall flat because of its comparatively under-powered hardware (to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4). Instead, it sold like gangbusters, and continues to pull in consumers, because it's an excellent game system. Well, except for an annoying Joy-Con drift issue, for which Nintendo has issued an apology. We reviewed the Switch when it came out a little over three years ago, and from then until now, we have not experienced the issue ourselves. Others have, however, complaining that the Switch registers movements even when not holding the Joy-Con controllers. For those affected, it is certainly a frustrating phenomenon,...
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It is time for you to bug off, at least in Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now hosting a Bug-Off Tournament. Players will be tasked with catching as many bugs from their island as possible and will receive bug-themed rewards. How to Participate in the Bug-Off Tournament Flick, a red chameleon, will appear on the player’s island on four Saturdays during the summer. Players can find Flick in the main plaza between 6am and 9pm. Isabelle will announce in the mornings when the tournament is about to begin. The player will need to catch as many bugs as possible within a three minute time limit. Each caught bug is worth 1 point and every third bug is worth 2 points....
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It has been a hot minute since Nintendo released a major Animal Crossing update, but the next one is on its way. Wave 1 of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Free Summer Update will be available on July 3rd. The update will include several summer-themed items and activities. Players will now be able to swim and dive in the ocean. They can also capture sea creatures like starfish, sea anemones, and spotted garden eels. These creatures can then be donated to the museum. Players will also experience two new encounters. First, if a player catches a scallop in the ocean, Pascal will ask you if they can have it. If you give Pascal the scallop, they will in turn tell you that they have left something...
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You can probably stop hoping for a Super Mario Run 2, because barring a sudden change in fortune and/or strategy, it does not look like Nintendo is super interested in mobile gaming. Sure, at one point it was, with hopes of cashing in on a lucrative market. But following the launch of the Switch console and recent events, mobile gaming just does not appear to be high on Nintendo's radar. It is an interesting pivot for Nintendo. Three and a half years ago, we wrote about Super Mario Run being downloaded over 40 million times during its first four days of availability. Not too shabby, especially since all of those downloads came exclusively from Apple's App Store, as Super Mario Run launched to...
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