Nintendo @ E3 11: Wii 2 is officially called the Wii U; all the rumors are true!

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Enough with the rumors… Nintendo has officially unveiled the Wii 2! The next generation system will actually be known as “Wii U.” Let the lame name jokes begin!

The controller includes two analog sticks, a D-Pad, four face buttons, four shouler buttons and a 6.2-inch touch screen. The touch screen can be used with a stylus as well as detached from the system to play simple games. And if someone wants to take over the TV, the Wii U can stream the game right to the controller. Basically, all of the rumors are true.

The screen can be used to control the action such as pitcher control in a new version of baseball on Wii Sports. There’s also a front-facing controller that can be used to make video calls. The system also makes use of all Wii peripherals like the Wi Remote, Nunchuk and Wii Balance Board and can stream a game right to the touch screen.

It looks like it is officially the first real “sequel” to a console. It’ll be available in 2012, but no price was announced.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo @ E3 11: Luigi’s Mansion 2 announced

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

The 3DS announcements continue as Reggie Fils-Aime just announced that Luigi’s Mansion 2, a brand new game featuring multiple mansions, is in development. The game looks to include a lot of the same ghost-vacuuming fun of the underrated original and, according to Reggie, the 3DS’ 3D display will be very important.

No release date was announced.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,

Nintendo @ E3 11: Super Mario 3D, Star Fox 64 3D detailed

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

More from Reggie Fils-Aime: Star Fox 64 3D is coming in September and will include a four-player battle mode where the 3DS’ camera records your facial expression after a kill. Controlling your Arwing by moving the 3DS as a flight yoke was also confirmed.

Meanwhile, Super Mario 3D was described as “the first 3D Mario game designed for a handheld” and it sees the return of the Tanooki Suit as well as looking a lot like the direct sequel to Super Mario 64 we always wanted. The game will also include side-scrolling and overhead sections. Neat!

Super Mario 3D will be released before the end of 2011.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged , ,

Nintendo @ E3 11: Mario Kart 3DS is tricked out

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime just introduced Mario Kart 3DS and he described it as a “tricked out version you’ve never played before.” And he may be right. Karts can now be outfitted with gliders to get a little extra air off of jumps as well as travel underwater. Also, coins are back for speed boosts.

Mario Kart 3DS will be released this holiday season.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,

Nintendo @ E3 11: Zelda’s 25th anniversary celebrated with four games

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Accompanied by a full orchestra, Shigeru Miyamoto unveiled the 25th Anniversary celebration of the NES release of The Legend of Zelda.

According to Miyamoto, each of Nintendo’s platforms will get in on the celebration. Starting today, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX will be added to the newly launched 3DS eShop. It will be followed next week by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. In September, the DSi will receive The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords as a free download.

Miyamoto also confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be released “this holiday season” alongside a gold Wii Remote with Triforce styling.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii | Tagged ,

See the Halo 4 trailer again

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

While it’s still over a year away, the announcement of Halo 4 has overshadowed pretty much everything to come out of Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference. In case you missed the trailer during the show, here it is again.

Halo 4 is in development at 343 Industries and will be released in late 2012.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Halo CE Anniversary priced at $40, includes “Classic” graphics mode

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Microsoft’s announcement of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary may not have surprised anyone, but some of the newly announced details just might.

The good news is that Halo Anniversary won’t be sold as a full-priced game. Recognizing the fact that the majority of the Xbox 360 userbase already owns the game, Microsoft has slapped a $39.99 MSRP on the re-release. And according to Frank O’Connor, the Halo Franchise Director, the game will also include a layered graphics engine that recreates the fell of Halo: Combat Evolved while layering the high definition makeover on top of it. Players will be able to switch back and forth between the graphics filters on the fly with a single button press, as we see in the trailer above. The game will also include links to the upcoming Halo 4 in the form of unlockable motion graphics that will tell the backstory and “foreshadow new mysteries” of the fourth game in the series.

Six multiplayer maps from Halo: Combat Evolved will be remade in Halo Anniversary using the Halo: Reach engine with a seventh redesigned as a Firefight map. “Damnation” is the first confirmed map and Microsoft promises to reveal more during HaloFest at the PAX Prime this Summer.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is being developed by 343 Industries, Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity and will be released exclusively for the Xbox 360 on November 15.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Daily Scoop: June 7, 2011 – Infamous 2!

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

So it’s the first day of E3, and it’s also launch day for inFAMOUS 2. Can anyone confirm what the replica slingpack looks like? Is it like, a real bag you can use? Anyone? Bueller?

Well, there’s not much else going on today, really. I guess the Internet figured everyone would be too busy with E3 to offer any good deals. All Amazon’s got is there Deal of the Day in video games, which is EA’s EA Sports MMA for the PlayStation 3, which is just $14.99. Those awesome Dads & Grads deals are still going on, so go gobble up some handheld games, wouldja? Unless you’re like us, and you’re super excited about the PS Vita, and you aren’t sure how you feel about buying another UMD…

That’s all for today, folks. Except this t-shirt, which is called Intensive Candy Unit and reminds me of Viva Pinata:

I suddenly want some licorice.

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |