Dcubed

Nah I doubt they'd do that. They'll probably just have a hardware region lock like before and you can only create an account in your specific region. They've been good in regards to not using IP blocking and they know that lots of people like to import (where they actually make quite a bit of money, especially given the high Yen price for JPN imports!) and secretly they actually sort of encourage it anyway (Nintendo World in New York is full of import stuffs, they sell "import" titles on the VC, NOE love to highlight regional exclusive stuff and their repair centres actually accept foreign consoles - they even offered to import a US Wii for me when I sent my one in for repair!)

The sad thing is that they do still have good development staff (yes, even after losing most of Production Studio 4 and Clover), but they're constantly getting blocked by the BOD and their executive producers. It's sad, but they have to fight tooth and nail to get anything they want made (see SF3rd Strike Online, Lost Planet, Dead Rising and the sadly failed MML3) and there's no light at the end of this tunnel. They could quit and join Platinum, but their legacy would still get left behind. Ideally, we'd see their BOD get the boot but that's not going to happen It's pretty much the perfect example of how this industry has shifted over the last generation. To go from having such creative freedom and success last generation (and prior), to being ruled by metrics/game design science & focus testing where you're being dictated to by people "who don't understand games". So very sad.

Oh shit! I just realised that as someone who plans to import a US Wii U, this is the best news ever! If all or most games are going to be made available via DD at retail, I would be able to buy games and not have to wait weeks for them to ship over from the US to UK!!!! YYYEEESSSS!!!! Release dates would actually mean a release date for me!

My guess would be that they were talking about the US market, since NOA staff typically translate these investors briefings. I can't recall a time when they've retracted an announcement for a localisation.

I'd just replay the older games for the rest of my days. This industry is mostly turning to complete shit; Nintendo just happens to be one of the few points of solace still left in this crumbling spire of cinematic, visceral, focus tested, skinner box and microtransaction powered, dudebro infested quasi-interactive QTE shitpile of an industry. Save for a few other exceptions like Platinum Games, Treasure, Capcom (whenever they can sneak the games they want to make past their shiteating execs) and indie developers, the rest of the industry can fall to pieces for all I care.

AWW YYYEEEAAAHHHH!! I was spot on about the eShop retail titles and NSMB2! (To be fair, it was pretty obvious) BTW: Here's the full briefing http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/120427/index.html It confirms that full retail games (starting with NSMB2 and including Animal Crossing & Demon Training) will be made available on the eShop. Also (and here's the kicker!), Nintendo will releasing download codes at retail BUUT unlike Sony and MS' ones, Nintendo will be allowing open pricing, meaning that retailers can charge whatever they want for them, just like a retail game! RRP will be the same for the retail and DD versions of all 3DS & Wii U download games, but retailers set the price for all DD games sold in their stores (so yes, that does mean that you can pick up the DD version of NSMB2 on the cheap in stores) Wii U will have full retail games available via DD on day 1. Sadly no mention of a western MH3G release...

Series 8 wasn't shit (it wasn't as good as 2-6 but still good). Series 7 however WAS a pile of crap. Back to Earth wasn't that great, but it seems that they're doing everything right with this series so far. I'm a bit nervous that they might ruin the series' legacy with this one, but I'm cautiously optimistic so far

Easy. Their Wii and DS hardware and software sales have collapsed and they make substantial losses on 3DS hardware sales because they sell them below cost (they will finally be breaking even on hardware come August-September, which is also when a certain big name game is getting released for it...) Combine that with a rising Yen (meaning that they make less money from US and EU sales) as well as enormous Wii U R&D costs and voila! This is a transitional year for them. They'll be fine once they get the 3DS costs down and the Wii U out of the door. Edit: Another little tidbit I missed. Brain Training 3DS is coming out in Japan in "summer" (so it's probably coming out in August) Brain Training 1 & 2 took over a year after their respective JPN releases to come out in the west, but given the series' popularity now, I reckon they'll fast track its US/EU localisation to September/October.

Hey Serebii, you missed the most important bit! Seems that Nintendo are going to be offering full retail 3DS games on the eShop by the end of this year (and very likely within just a scant few months, going by the fact that they expect their 3DS software sales to roughly double!) My guess is that there will be a surprise release of retail games announced during the E3 conference (with games made available right after the announcement) and that the NSMB2 listing wasn't a typo, it will be made available on the eShop on launch day (or even a little sooner, to encourage purchase via DD) Of course the big question for me here is whether or not this will also include retail versions of DS games (back catalogue games as well as surprise localisations and Pokemon B&W2/Pokemon X Nobunaga's Ambition)

Woah that's creepy! My nearest one is Phones4u too! Of course I could always just do that trick to access Nintendo Zone at home anyway

I wouldn't imagine that the retail version is drawing in a significant amount of sales at this point (if ever it did!) I suppose we did get the WiiWare version (A year late, but they got there in the end!), so we'll probably get the 3DS download version... eventually... in 2015... if we're lucky...

I always thought that was odd, considering how Skyward Sword is basically like Minish Cap in 3D in terms of gameplay (World/dungeon design is extremely similar and, just like Minish Cap, riddled with shortcuts everywhere!)

Coming to Europe in 2015!

The eShop update was unexpected and much appreciated. It really needed those categories present at all times. One minor gripe though, the eShop doesn't save your filter settings for the bottom 4 categories (it always defaults to Most Popular) and the eShop STILL isn't fully controllable with d-pad and buttons only (it's a bit clunky to have to switch between touch and buttons if you can't be bothered to get the stylus out) Also, glad to see they took my advice and have finally moved the search option to the top of the screen. It's really funny going to other sites and seeing people discovering the search option for the first time The web browser also got a slight update too (from version 1.7455 to version 1.7498) Seems a bit faster when loading 3D pictures, but I cant see anything else different. While it's nice having folders at last, am I the only one who feels that their Home screen is a bit empty now? I kinda miss the hustle and bustle of that messy Home screen Also, it's a bit of a shame that you can't change the folder colour or make your own icon for it; feels a bit too functional and not very Nintendo like. Oh well, I guess they've gotta save something for future updates!

BWAHAHAHAH! That is hilarious! Hey! If you're willing to do this with NPC Pikmin 2, how's about doing it with Excitebots and Trauma Team in Europe, Disaster DOC & Another Code R in the US and Captain Rainbow & Fire Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem worldwide!!!

The web store/smartphone app wouldn't need to necessarily come as part of a 3DS update; after all, the whole point is that it's separate from the 3DS!

That crash happened to me quite a bit. Really surprised that Nintendo let that one slip through!

YYYYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boo has his Mario Power Tennis voice!!! That's it, game is now perfect

Did anyone get a Fire Emblem puzzle piece? Or did we all just get a Mario Tennis one?

They've avoided de-valuing the VC releases with their past anniversary offerings (SMAll Stars coudn't be released on the VC without devaluing the NES versions and NOA's request for a Zelda anniversary ROM collection disc was turned down by NCL, who didn't want to ruin the value of the original VC versions), so it'll be interesting to see if these are indeed just ROM dumps or if they have done something to differentiate these versions from their originals. Besides, with them releasing 3D Classics Kirby's Adventure on the JPN eShop, I doubt they'd want to devalue it right away by releasing a ROM collection. If it does turn out to be a ROM collection, I'll pass. I already own all of the Kirby games on VC (and the remaining ones on cartridge)

"And now, I'm pleased to finally announce for Europe..." Me: Yes! COME ON MONSTER HUNTER 3G!!! "New Super Mario Bros 2!" Me: What a bastard! E3 is my last hope it seems

OH YOU BUNCH OF CUNTS!!!!! I'VE ALREADY IMPORTED THE US VERSION!!! Bastards! The US soundtrack is perfect (I actually prefer it to the JPN version) but I don't think I can resist double dipping anyway. It's Luigi's Mansion/Metroid Prime all over again.

If it includes every Pokemon, then I think it's safe to say that Gen 6 will be using these 3D models. They'd be crazy not to!

I prefer Y & B, but I have no real issues with B & A. The issue is really overblown, the space between the buttons on the DS/DSi/3DS is so small that it doesn't really matter either way. It's nothing like playing Super Mario World with a GCN controller (now THAT is a fucking nightmare!)

Nice! Will buy