Adam Shear's E3 2011 Predictions Part 3: Nintendo

Well it comes to the final part of my E3 predictions, Nintendo. In my opinion Nintendo's story for this year is definitely the most interesting with the recent launch of Nintendo 3DS and a drought of first party software on all of its systems. Not only that but Nintendo will be unveiling their next home console at their E3 press conference. It looks to be exciting and all of the current information makes it easy to predict what will happen. Nintendo has been more open this year than in the past but they still somehow have so much to still unveil. Remember, what you are about to read are my predictions and opinions so take it all in with a grain of salt.

First, let's focus on Wii games. Nintendo has not released much for Wii for the first half of this year. Their holiday lineup for 2010 was spectacular with Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Metroid leading the pack. The biggest Wii title for the first half of 2011 is Wii Play Motion which is somewhat sad. Obviously Nintendo is going to reveal some new Wii games to come out this holiday season. The only holiday showstopper we know of is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. There will no doubt be new information and I think Nintendo will also reveal a release date for Skyward Sword and will make it clear that this will be the year of Zelda. The 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda is also this year and Nintendo might tease their plans which they promise to be big. Another possible Wii game I think is Pokemon. Nintendo already confirmed that a new Pokemon game is in the works for Wii. It would make complete sense for it to be a sequel to the failed Pokemon Battle Revolution to feature the Black and White Pokemon. Again, this is just a guess but if it were true, it's gotta have some sort of single player mode that will keep fans coming back. There might also be more surprises for Wii like localizations of interesting games to recently hit Japan like Pandora's Tower and The Last Story.

For the Nintendo DS, there won't be much going on. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo did not talk about Nintendo DS at all. I would still predict that the newest DS games to hit Japan like the Pokemon typing game and the new Kirby game will come to America later this year.

Nintendo 3DS will have the most interesting showcase of games out of all of Nintendo's existing consoles. The launch of the eShop will take place just hours before Nintendo's E3 press conference begins and I'm sure Nintendo will comment on it. I'm also hoping that 3D trailers for most or all of the new 3DS games will be available to stream and/or download from the eShop. New eShop content will definitely be shown. More 3D classics and at least two 1st party 3DSWare titles. I also think Nintendo might show off new AR and Streetpass games to download via the eShop. It's a stretch but it's definitely possible.

There will be a decent amount of downloadable 3DS titles but the amount of retail 3DS games shown will be enormous. Super Mario will definitely lead the pack as the marquee 3DS title for 2011. Kid Icarus: Uprising will also be important and will most likely receive a release date at the press conference. I also believe Star Fox 64 3D will be given a US release date or at least a release window. It hits Japan next month so the wait can't be too long. There are rumors going around that Mario Kart 3DS scheduled for release later this year might have been delayed to 2012. No matter what happens to the release date of the game, E3 2011 will hold its big debut and I'm sure Nintendo will have new game modes and features to surprise all Mario Kart players. Other 3DS games coming in 2012 like Animal Crossing and Paper Mario might get new trailers and playable demos on the show floor but there probably won't be much new info on those. 3rd party 3DS titles will also be important with Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D leading the pack.

One thing many people forget about is that Nintendo aims to make Nintendo 3DS a 3D entertainment platform. I think Nintendo might talk about an update for 3DS that allows 3D video recording but I honestly think that feature will make its way instead to the first redesign of Nintendo 3DS which will probably have better cameras. They pretty much have to talk about 3D movies and I really hope they are available on game cards instead of being downloadable or streamable. I believe either Disney or Dreamworks will be the first major studio on board. They have a lot of great 3D content that appeals to all types of people. I also think they will give a release date for Netflix on 3DS but I don't expect it to support 3D movies until maybe 2012. I could be wrong but we'll see.

But of course there's only one thing most people are interested in seeing and that is Project Cafe, the supposed codename for Nintendo's next console. So far the only things that have been confirmed is that it will be playable at E3 and it has enough processing power to match the graphical quality of its HD competitors, and obviously it will also be in HD. There have also been rumors of a six inch touch screen on the controller. This is a possibility but its probably not as crazy as everyone thinks. Nintendo usually aims to make a profit while keeping cost low. I don't think they will announce a final name at the show but maybe the real codename. Keep in mind, Nintendo never confirmed their new console was codenamed Project Cafe. Some journalists just said that and it kind of caught on. I believe it will exceed the power of PS3 but for disc format use a proprietary disc that can hold a decent amount of data, anywhere from 15-30GB minimum. There will be something unique about it and it will shock everyone. Figuring out how to please the hardcore and casual markets is easier said than done but Nintendo has got it figured out.

As for games, there will be mostly tech demos utilizing new innovations in control and interface. While new games might not be announced, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll see Mario, Link, Samus, and more in beautiful HD. Nintendo will probably announce a new Smash Bros. game and leave it at that, its probably years away. As for third parties, Nintendo's main goal with this new console is to bring the third parties back to Nintendo. The biggest rumor is that Rockstar Games is planning to bring Grand Theft Auto V to the new Nintendo console. This is probably believable. Rockstar has definitely been at work on the next GTA game for the last three years so I would not be surprised to see the first trailer exclusively at Nintendo's press conference. I would also expect Activision to be on board with a Call of Duty game at launch and obviously EA will put Madden out on day one as they always do. In terms of a release date and price, I can guarantee we won't hear a price but in terms of a release date, they will definitely announce what season in 2012 its coming out whether that is Spring or Fall.

Nintendo's press conference has the most potential to be amazing and I believe Nintendo will deliver and excite gamers even more than they did last year. See if I'm right and watch Nintendo's press conference on June 7 at 12pm EST. Check it out streaming live at e3.nintendo.com and keep an eye on this news for the updates.

Review: Spongebob Squigglepants for Nintendo 3DS

Spongbob Squarepants is easily the most popular children’s cartoon around. Just about every kid and even many adults watch Spongbob’s antics on Nickelodeon multiple times per week. Spongebob Squarepants video games are very popular and the newest one, Spongebob Squigglepants for the uDraw tablet on Wii and Nintendo 3DS is very different from any other Spongebob game around. Although for the most part, the two versions of the game are the same, the Nintendo 3DS version which I got to review also has an exclusive level aside from the addition of stereoscopic 3D. Is Spongebob Squigglepants a game that will entertain more than just younger gamers? Find out in my review.

Spongebob Squigglepants is basically WarioWare with Spongebob characters put into the mix. You go through microgames which are called nanogames and try your best to keep up as the nanogames as they become quicker and quicker. The nanogames take advantage of the Nintendo 3DS’s touch screen, accelerometer, and circle pad. Patchy the Pirate, the president of the Spongebob fan club acts as your guide as you unlock more microgames and extra minigames. Spongebob Squigglepants also has a drawing application built in which allows players to draw whatever they like and even save their creations to an SD card.



The game’s graphics are pretty much the same as the Wii version. The art style is very unique and different from any Spongebob game out there. You will be able to see your favorite Spongebob characters in ways you have never seen them before. It is all 2D but looks more like sketched drawings rather than like the cartoon. It’s kind of hard to explain unless you see screenshots or play the game. The 3D effect on Nintendo 3DS is incredibly subtle and just adds a little bit of depth to many of the nanogames. I would have liked to see a lot more effort with making the game 3D but it is clear that WayForward, the dev team that made the game did what they can. The 2D art style is meant more to be two dimensional but the layered look of the 3D works nicely with the 2D drawings. The cutscenes featuring Patchy the Pirate are all live action and in 2D but can sometimes look a bit pixelated. This is probably due to compressing the video files to fit on the 3DS game card. Although it probably would have taken some extra time and effort, a 3D conversion of the 2D live action cutscenes and the main menu could have been good for Spongebob Squigglepants. The soundtrack is very much like Warioware with stable tunes that let you know when you win and lose at microgames.

There are a lot of things I really like about Spongebob Squigglepants. I love that it is like Warioware and the game gets frantic and crazy. There are over 100 nanogames, each with their own themes and art style and each taking advantage of the 3DS’s touch screen, accelerometer, and circle pad. I love the 2D look of the game, simply because nobody has seen the Spongbob universe in the way it is portrayed in the game. The drawing studio is also great and kids will really have fun drawing with it since there really is not a way on the 3DS to draw pictures and save them to an SD card.



Spongebob Squigglepants also has plenty of flaws. I really had two major problems when playing it. The first is that the ideas for most of the nanogames were literally taken from Warioware. I’m glad it is in of the same genre but the fact that many of the nanogames are literally microgames from past Warioware titles with Spongebob characters in them really gets me annoyed. Copying something that’s great is not as good as an doing an original take. This in a way should be considered plagiarism. Those who have played Warioware games in the past might get annoyed with this. The next problem is that the game is way too short for most people. I played through the main story mode in an hour. Then, the game forces you to go through all the nanogames again just to unlock some more cut scenes. What’s great is that you can always challenge yourself to beat your high score but most gamers might consider themselves done with the game in just a couple of hours. In no way is Spongebob Squigglepants worth the $40 it’s asking for. It’s worth $15-$20 tops.

If you have not ever played a game like Spongebob Squigglepants and are someone who likes to compete for a high score, I would suggest looking into trying it out if you’re hungry for a new Nintendo 3DS game. I would not suggest picking it up at it’s current $39.99 price point. Finding it for cheap is great. Young kids will love the game. Adult gamers and Spongebob fans may find the game too short. If the game were worth a lot less, I would give it a higher score but I feel as if for being at times unoriginal and short, my final score is fair. This is by no means a bad game, it is just way too overpriced.

Final Score: 6.0

Special thanks to THQ for providing us with a copy of the game for review.

Nintendo Announces New Games and Important Release Dates

Today, Nintendo has announced the remainder of their lineup for the first half of 2011. Lots of great first and third party games. Release dates or release months have been announced for games like Dead or Alive: Dimensions which comes out in May, Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion on May 24, Spongebob Squigglepants 3D on May 17, and Cave Story 3D on June 28. This list also pretty much confirms that we won't be seeing the release of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D until July at earliest. But of course the one Nintendo 3DS release everyone is looking forward to also got a release date today. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be released on June 19 and will include Master Quest

Also, Nintendo announced a couple of new Wii titles including Wii Play: Motion which is a new version of Wii Play utilizing Wii Motion Plus. The game which will release on June 13 will be bundled with a black Wii Remote Plus controller. A new Nintendo title Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust has also been just announced and will release on June 27.

Below are all the games releasing on Nintendo systems for the remainder of the first half of the year courtesy of Kotaku.com

Wii

The Conduit 2 - April 12
Rio - April 12
SpongeBob SquigglePants - April 12
ExerBeat - April 26
Reader Rabbit Preschool - April
Reader Rabbit Kindergarten - April
Reader Rabbit 1st Grade - April
Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade - April
Thor: God of Thunder - May 3
Kung Fu Panda 2 - May 24
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game - May
Get Fit with Mel B - Spring
Karaoke Revolution Glee: Volume 2 - Spring
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters - June 7
Wii Play: Motion - June 13
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Stealth Force Edition - June 14
Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust - June 27
Cars 2: The Video Game - Summer

DS Family

Rio - April 12
Squinkies - April 12
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets 2 - April 19
Match 3 Madness - May 3
Thor: God of Thunder - May 3
Loving Life with Hello Kitty and Friends - May 10
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's World Championship 2011 - May 10
Picture Puzzle Collection - May 17
Kung Fu Panda 2 - May 24
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game - May
Cake Mania Main Street - May
LEGO Battles: Ninjago - Spring
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters - June 7
Transformers: Dark of the Moon AUTOBOTS - June 14
Transformers: Dark of the Moon DECEPTICONS - June 14
Hollywood Files - June 14
Cars 2: The Video Game - Summer
Duke Nukem: Critical Mass - Q2

3DS

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Stealth Force Edition 3D - June 14
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II - May 24
Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion - May 24
Dream Trigger 3D - April
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game - May
DualPenSports - May
PAC-MAN & Galaga DIMENSIONS - June
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D - June 19
Cave Story 3D - June 28
DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions - May
SpongeBob SquigglePants - May 17
Driver Renegade - Spring
Rabbids Travel in Time - April 10
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D - April 10
James Noir's Hollywood Crimes - June 7
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters - June 7

Source: Kotaku link

Editorial: Nintendo Vs. Apple: The Great Debate

Over the last couple of weeks I have heard so many debates and assumptions about the portable game market that drive me crazy. Some moron on CNN (no seriously, he is a moron. He said he is a hardcore gamer that grew up of Halo meanwhile he looks like he's at least 25) said that Nintendo 3DS does not stand a chance against Apple's iPhone. Many other people have come out and said similar things. Yes, the iPhone and other iOS devices like the iPod Touch and iPad all play games. The games on iOS devices are extremely cheap and attract a lot of consumers. Even the iPhone 4 is $50 cheaper than a Nintendo 3DS and the iPod Touch is also cheaper by $20. Being both an iPhone and Nintendo 3DS owner, I definitely see that both of these are winners but both Apple and Nintendo have succeeded and failed in certain areas.

Let's start off with the iPhone. I love playing games on my iPhone every once in a while but it is not something I do regularly. The reasons I'm not playing Angry Birds or Infinity Blade every second I can is that I feel my iPhone 3GS is not a device meant for hardcore gaming. I am constantly getting interrupted while I play with emails, text messages, various push notifications, and of course phone calls. Another problem is the touch screen. It works great but some games like FPS games really do need actual analog sticks and buttons in order to be enjoyed to the fullest and unfortunately, iOS devices do not have that. My final problem with playing games on my iPhone is battery life. Games suck the battery dry very quickly and I need my iPhone to always have some juice in case of an emergency. I'll play for maybe ten or fifteen minutes at a time but when I see more than one tenth of my battery gone in that same amount of time, I immediately stop and instead do something less battery intensive like listening to music. The iPhone does have some great games but they only appeal to a one particular market. The games on iPhone should be something that does not have a lot of depth within the gameplay. A user should be able to play it for a small amount of time each day. Are hardcore games with a lot of depth possible on iPhone? Absolutely, the iPhone is pretty powerful. The problem is battery life and the constant obtrusive notifications and calls. The pricing of iPhone games is also somewhat off. A game like Angry Birds will give players at least $10-$20 of value for only $1. It is a smart idea but it is not healthy for those who really want to make a high quality, high budget iPhone game and charge $30 for it. It would probably sell like a led balloon. Simple ideas like Doodle Jump and Fruit Ninja are what sells. They are games that easy to pick up and hard to put down. These are the games that makes iPhone popular but they are not necessarily the types of games everyone desires.

I personally like more "hardcore" games which contain a lot of depth and take a while to play through. Nintendo 3DS as well as other gaming devices like Nintendo DS, PSP, and NGP offer these types of games as well as the "casual" types of games iPhone is known for (for the record, I hate this whole hardcore and casual thing. It is such a dividing line and these phrases need to go away in order for the game industry to move forward to allow more types of video games to be more widely accepted). If you did not realize it, Nintendo 3DS like the iOS devices is also a multimedia device. It takes 3D pictures (albeit low resolution ones), plays .MP3 music files, plays 3D movies, and browses the web. The iPhone may do some of these things better in 2D but even still, 3DS owners are missing nothing. I have heard the 3DS battery life is low but I have experienced no problems as of yet. Sure, the iPhone is definitely capable of running games like Pilotwings Resort. Even Street Fighter IV has an iPhone version. What makes these games work better on a 3DS rather than a mobile phone is that the 3DS actually has buttons which is significantly better than virtual buttons on a touch screen. There are also no obtrusive notifications to worry about so I can continue playing without the worry of being interrupted. Also, the 3D visuals are amazing and 3D will probably stay exclusive to Nintendo for a long time as Apple will probably wait for this glasses free 3D technology to be more advanced and have a much wider viewing angle.

Games with long single player modes and a lot of depth are much better off on a dedicated handheld gaming platform. Developers that want to go all out and create a very long, high quality gaming experience need to do so on a handheld gaming system like Nintendo 3DS and NGP. Games that are simple and do not have much content within them are better off on iOS devices. Both are great gaming devices but it is easy to see that both products will succeed. One will not take market share from the other. The difference in games and features like 3D will most likely force many consumers to get both.

GamersCast Exclusive: New Details on Spongebob Squigglepants 3D

As I had posted yesterday, a Spongebob game known as Spongebob Squigglepants will hit the Nintendo 3DS this May after its appearance on uDraw for Wii this April. The game will have nanogames similar to WaroWare's microgames. I had the opportunity through THQ to get some questions answered about how the developers are handling the 3D effect of this game and here is what they had to say:

Q: How important was the stereoscopic 3D in Spongebob Squigglepants' development?
A: The 3D look is important to get a the full effect visually, but it is not necessary for gameplay. In fact the game is designed so you can play it without 3D without penalty.

Q: Is all of the gameplay in 3D and are the live action cut scenes in 3D as well?
A: We were careful to balance what was shown in 3D and what wasn’t. After evaluating the project, we felt restricting the 3D to the games/artwork felt more cohesive, so we made the Patchy and Potty sequences play without 3D.

Spongebob Squigglepants 3D will release on Nintendo 3DS this May. Stay tuned to the GamersCast News Feed for more information on all your most anticipated games.

Nintendo 3DS Costs Under $100 to Build

As many of you know, the Nintendo 3DS will launch this weekend with a launch price of $250. However, a recent report from Eurogamer.net shows that the Nintendo 3DS costs Nintendo under $100 to develop per system. So, essentially Nintendo is making over $150 profit per system sold. While the Nintendo 3DS is currently the cheapest and most accessible form of glasses-free 3D technology, if you somehow bought a 3DS and got another free Nintendo would still be making a profit. Personally, I find this absolutely insane, especially when you compare to the most recent console launches.

Back in 2005, when the Xbox 360 launched, reports showed the Microsoft was actually losing around $50 per Xbox console sold. But they opted to do this to get their console in the hands of consumers at a relatively affordable price. Hopefully, hardware manufacturers won't buy into this strategy that both Nintendo and Apple (where the iPad 2 is earning them over $300 profit per iPad) have taken.

If the Nintendo 3DS doesn't hit their expected launch numbers this Sunday, expect a price drop by early 2012. The original Nintendo DS had a price drop around April 2005, after only being on the market since the previous November. And with the estimated levels of profit Nintendo is making with the 3DS, they would easily be able to afford a price drop, early on in this handheld's life cycle.

My advice: If you're really not sure, if the NIntendo 3DS is worth the $250 plunge, wait for my review videos this weekend, which can be found on my YouTube Channel, at: YouTube.com/GamersCast

Otherwise, if you think you can hold off, wait till Q2 of 2012, as that's when I'm expecting a price drop by. But if Nintendo does hit their mark, it could take a while before we see one (eg: the Wii).

Spongebob Squarepants Making his 3DS Debut this May

Already making his debut on the uDraw GameTablet for Wii on April 12, the world's most famous sponge will get his very own game on the new Nintendo 3DS in May. Spongebob Squigglepants will have players going through over 100 nanogames through seven worlds. If you love the WarioWare franchise, you will be very familiar with the gameplay style of Spongebob Squigglepants. Live action cut scenes will feature Patchy the Pirate as he quides players through the story of the game. Squigglepants will also boast a unique 3D world that boasts a unique art style. Spongebob Squigglepants is being published by THQ and will be released on Nintendo 3DS this May. Stay tuned to GamersCast for more information on the game.

Adam Shear's Nintendo 3DS Launch Coverage

Hey guys! It's Adam Shear. First of all, I just wanna say thanks to everyone who watched Matt, Deo Gen Z, Vladamir Z, and the others who defeated The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 19 hours. We so far have an amazing $753 in donations, all of which is going to The Red Cross to help Japan. I'm leaving the donate button at the bottom of this post in case you also want to chip in. Every dollar counts. I believe you will have until this weekend to donate through us at GamersCast. If you do, we will make a video and in that video Matt will individually thank every donor. If you want to view any of the 19 hour stream, it is all up on youtube.com/gamerscast. It is over 90 parts and every second is there.

As we all know, the launch of Nintendo 3DS is in only nine days! I know that Matt is planning on attending the official Nintendo 3DS launch event in New York City. This should be very exciting and I will let him update you guys on that. Due to my location at the time, I will not be able to be there with him. Instead, I'll be picking it up when my Gamestop opens at 9am on March 27. Immediately after I get it, I will do a live unboxing via my ustream page (http://www.ustream.tv/user/AdamShear).

Keep an eye on my Twitter @AdamShear to know exactly when I will be live. I can guarantee if things go according to plan, it will be sometime between 9:15 and 10:30am EST. During my live unboxing I will be obviously taking the 3DS and all of its components out of the box, setting up the system, making a Mii, and setting up Streetpass mode, as well as answering any questions I get. After that I'm guessing I will probably want to eat breakfast and play with the 3DS. I know it is so early in the morning but I will be giving out a SOCOM 4 beta code during my live unboxing. Hopefully that is enough of an incentive to wake up early.

After that, I will not go live again until about 4pm EST. During this time I will be discussing my experiences with my Nintendo 3DS thus far as well as answering any questions I get from you guys, the fans.

My advice is to bookmark this post and/or check it on the 26th as well as keep checking my Twitter account. Everything I have said above is subject to change. I doubt it will change but if it does, I will make note of it both in my Twitter and in this post. Hope to see all of you there!

Nintendo 3DS Hands On Impressions From Someone Who Actually Supports 3D (Updated)

3D is definitely a very interesting and controversial technology. There was a small period of time where people praised 3D but after horrible conversions like Clash of the Titans and The Last Airbender, people are only thinking of the technology as an eye straining and headache inducing gimmick that raises the prices of movie tickets and forces you to wear glasses. People sigh and roll their eyes when a movie trailer says "in 3D". I believe the opposite. 3D is an incredibly unique innovation that lets a person view images on a screen the same way their eyes look at the world. Less than an hour as of the time I am writing this, I got to try out Nintendo 3DS. It's 3D without the glasses which in my opinion is the biggest barrier. Was I amazed? Do I think it is the future? Do I think it will make people form a better opinion of 3D? All of this will be answered in my article.

The system itself felt very nice. It was not heavy at all. The buttons felt relatively similar but the analog circle pad felt better than I imagined. It works well as I really like the rubbery texture of it. The game I got to play was Pilotwings Resort, the game I'm planning on buying alongside my 3DS in less than two weeks. Pilotwings itself is very fun and the demo really gave me a full idea of what all the modes in the game are like. There are missions where you go through rings and hoops but what I really loved is the free flight mode where you can fly around the island for two minutes trying to fly into 75 different locations. Just flying in the game and exploring the island in 3D will keep me coming back to it for a while. My only complaint so far is the controls of the jet pack which were a bit hard to maneuver but I'm sure it won't be too hard after a little practice.

Now for my impressions of the 3D. I am about to give a more in depth impression on the 3D than any other impressions I've seen. The bottom line is that it works. I had seen my fair share of 3D televisions at SonyStyle Store and Best Buy before trying out the 3DS there. It definitely was comparable to what I had seen on the 3D screens. It felt great to not wear those heavy glasses. The screen very much seemed like a lenticular lens. The sweet spot for the 3D is fairly small. Moving it slightly will produce a split second glare similar to a lectinular lens and you will lose the effect until you bring it back to the sweet spot. Nothing really popped out of the screen aside from some text but Pilotwings focused on making the screen more of a window to look into. They definitely succeeded in that regard. Wuhu Island looked amazing in 3D and I could spend hours flying over it.

And of course what makes the 3D on Nintendo 3DS special is the 3D slider which allows you to adjust the 3D effect for your eyes. I played around a lot with this. The slider turned up all the way produces the most powerful effect but the sweet spot is incredibly small. You pretty much have to keep it completely still. I also found it very daunting on my eyes. It was hard to play with the slider all the way up. I found that keeping the slider about half way produced the best effect for my eyes. The effect was still present (maybe not as much as it was when the slider was at the max), there was a much larger sweet spot, and it was much easier on my eyes. Pilotwings also looked nice in 2D but the 3D effect was much cooler. I saw no performance drop between 2D and 3D but I still have to experiment with this further to really figure it out. I played the 3DS for about 25 minutes and I'll be honest, I had a small headache on the drive home. Not sure whether it was the 3DS or the additional 20 minutes of IMAX Under the Sea 3D at the SonyStyle store (the 3DS was the last 3D I saw today)but 3D will cause these health problems. I felt really good while playing it. It was only afterwards where I started to feel ill. It was pretty minor and it did not effect my overall impressions of the 3DS.

I cannot wait for the Nintendo 3DS to come out and it really blew me away. I really hope 3D is here to stay and that the 3DS will help people form a better opinion of 3D. It definitely has the power to do that.

Update: I have gone back to play it a second time and have answered many of the questions I got as well as answered some of my own questions. As to how motion controls and 3D could work, I found that moving the 3DS vertically (up and down) still kept the 3D effect but moving it left and right is going to be a potential disaster. I'm guessing some of the AR games will be fine in 3D but games like Face Raiders might not keep the effect so well. The 3D effect with the slider up to the max felt a bit better this time but again, I found it much easier to play with the slider about half way. The effect is noticeably less as the slider is moved down but thankfully it is not a major difference, even as the slider is the furthest down it can be before going into 2D. Again, no major difference in game performance between 2D and 3D. Last but not least, no health problems this time around. Maybe it's a little harder for me to focus my eyes on stuff for the time being but that really is not a huge problem. I only played fifteen minutes versus the twenty five I did yesterday but even still, I pretty much proved that the 3D effect will take some getting used to. Pilotwings is still fun and the game and the 3D effect looks amazing.

Master Quest is included in Zelda 3DS

It has been said that very few things in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS remake will be changed from the original. Nintendo confirmed that the pre-rendered backgrounds are all being replaced and the art style has obviously changed, but they've also said that there is no bonus content and it will be a straight port of the original.

However, Nintendo has recently also confirmed that the Ocarina of Time Master Quest expansion will be included in the OoT 3DS remake. Master Quest was originally released for the failed Nintendo 64 disk drive console expansion, which released in Japan only. But those outside the land of the rising sun, didn't get to experience Master Quest until the 2003 pre-order bonus for Wind Waker. That pre-order bonus was two straight ports (most likely emulations) shoved on a Gamecube disc as a free gift to those who pre-ordered The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Master Quest is the exact storyline of Ocarina of Time, with all of the game dungeon's replaced with harder challenges and more difficult obstacles. So, if you weren't a Zelda fan back in '03 and didn't get the chance to experience Master Quest, the OoT 3DS remake will a great time to do it.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS remake is expected to launch sometime around June with an expected MSRP of $40. Though it is possible that Nintendo could release this game as a budget title since essentially these games are straight port from 90's Nintendo 64 games. (fingers crossed for a $20 price tag)

Nintendo Announces Big Things at GDC

Moments ago, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata left the GDC stage and left audiences with important messages about the industry. He and Nintendo of America's president Reggie Flis-Amie (who made a surprise appearance) announced some missing pieces to the Nintendo 3DS puzzle and announced an exciting new game. Here is a brief rundown of the major announcements

-Netflix streaming will be available on Nintendo 3DS this Summer

- The first worldwide update in late May will bring the e-shop, web browser, ability to transfer DSi Ware games, access to over 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots (in US at least), and 3D Hollywood movie trailers starting with The Green Lantern (trailers might not come until June)

-Aside from Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, Game Gear and Turbografx 16 games will be part of the 3DS' Virtual Console

- 3D video recording on Nintendo 3DS confirmed and will come eventually

- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be released in June

- Miyamoto is working on plans to help Nintendo celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 25th anniversary which is this year

- New The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword trailer was shown

- Iwata unveiled the first screenshots and information on the new Super Mario Bros. game on Nintendo 3DS tentatively called Super Mario and from the mysterious logo there looks to be an interesting twist to the gameplay. Super Mario will be fully unveiled at E3 in June.

If you would like to contact Adam Shear, the author of this post, you may do so at adam@gamerscastpodcast.com

Cartoon Network's Best Battling it Out in 3D

Crave Games has officially announced that Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion is coming to Nintendo 3DS. What is Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion? Think about a game like Super Smash Bros. only with Cartoon Network's most iconic characters. Favorites from shows such as The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and more. You even get the not as good (that's just my opinion) characters from present Cartoon Network shows such as Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Eighteen characters will be included along with nineteen assist characters to help you in combat.

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion will feature thirty two single player levels over twenty one arenas from your favorite Cartoon Network shows. There will a story mode and battle mode. Online multiplayer has also been announced for the game.

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion looks to be a blast from the past for people my age who grew with many of these shows as well as kids who are growing up with Cartoon Network's current shows. Check out Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion when it releases on Nintendo 3DS in May. If you don't have a 3DS, you can always wait for it to come out on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii this holiday season.

Stay tuned to GamersCast Podcast's news feed for the latest news on Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion and all your favorite games.

If you would like to contact Adam Shear, the author of this post, you can do so at adam@gamerscastpodcast.com

Nintendo 3DS Launches in Japan

This past Saturday the Nintendo 3DS has launched in Japan, with an initial shipment of over 400,000 units, which instantly sold out across the country. And upon quickly releasing the second shipment, that sold out too. So, it looks like the 3DS is going to be making a powerful impact, whether that impact will surpass that of the last DS generation remains to be seen.

However, now that the 3DS is out and in the hands of gamers, we're learning more and more about the system. Some of it good, some of it, not so much.

As far as the bad goes, there are reports of massive eye strain when using the Nintendo 3DS for extended periods of time. Nintendo of Japan has released a statement saying that gamers should take a 15 minute break from playing, after every 30 minutes of playtime. That's twice the advisory they have with a typical console or previous handheld game. So, may we have yet another Virtual Boy on our hands? That remains to be seen.

The Virtual Boy was Nintendo's first attempt at full-3D gaming in the mid-90's and it only released 16 titles since, and was swiftly taken off the market afterwards. It's interesting to note this, as only 16 titles were released at launch for 3DS.

Another thing to note is, despite months of arguing that the anti-piracy technology is groundbreaking and that the platform is unbreakable, within the first weekend of the handheld's release, images of an R4 running successfully on the device have already been seen. And while it may not be "fully hacked" yet, it's still interesting to note the homebrew community have already made such impressive strides with the system.

The Nintendo 3DS will launch in North America on March 27 for $250.00 Nintendo says they want over 4 million units circulating worldwide by the end of March.

Nintendo 3DS Launch Titles Finally Revealed

We were all disappointed when Nintendo revealed no launch titles during its 3DS event in January. It only revealed titles that will make the launch window which is sometime between launch day and June. I'm happy to say that America is getting double the amount of titles that Japan is getting and three more games than the European launch. While Kid Icarus and The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D may be out of the picture for launch, Nintendo confirmed that both of these games as well as Star Fox 64 3D and Mario Kart will make their way to Nintendo 3DS by the end of this year. And without further ado, here are your Nintendo 3DS launch titles, most or all of which will cost $39.99 (at least that's what Nintendo is pricing their games at):


Pilotwings Resort from Nintendo
Nintendogs + Cats from Nintendo
Steel Diver from Nintendo
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition from CAPCOM
The Sims 3 from EA
Madden NFL Football from EA SPORTS
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars™ from LucasArts™
RIDGE RACER 3D from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
Super Monkey Ball 3D from SEGA
BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE from Square-Enix, Inc.
SAMURAI WARRIORS: Chronicles from TECMO KOEI AMERICA Corp.
Asphalt 3D from UBISOFT
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D from UBISOFT
Rayman 3D from UBISOFT
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars from UBISOFT

Stay tuned to GamersCast Podcast and the GamersCast News Feed for more updates on Nintendo 3DS as well as all your favorite video game systems.

If you would like to contact Adam Shear, the author of this article, you may do so at adam@gamerscastpodcast.com

Doctor Lautrec Digs Up His Debut on Nintendo 3DS

Today, Konami has announced an all new Nintendo 3DS game called Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights. The puzzle adventure game follows archeologist Doctor Jean-Pierre Lautrec in France during the 19th century as he searches for treasure underground. Doctor Lautrec and his assistant Sophie are in search of rare treasures and jewels belonging to Louis XIV, one of the most beloved rulers of France.

Players will solve puzzles in order to help Lautrec find what he is looking for. The puzzles in the game are specifically designed for the third dimension. You will be able to zoom in on objects and view them from all directions. Aside from interesting brain twisting gameplay, the game will also have beautiful 3D cutscenes.

Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights will include over ten hours of puzzle fun, multiplayer treasure hunts for up to four players, and new missions will be available for download. Check out Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights when it releases on Nintendo 3DS this Summer and for more information, go to the game's official website.

Keep looking out for more information on Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights as well as all of your favorite games right here on the GamersCast Podcast News Feed.

If you would like to email Adam Shear, the author of this article, you can do so at adam@gamerscastpodcast.com.

Editorial: My Thoughts on NGP

While it's clear the PSP is on its last legs, or possibly dead, Sony has finally announced that the PSP's successor known as NGP is on the way. It seriously blew my mind and exceeded my wildest expectations. Will it be the next big thing or will it lose right from the starting gate to Apple and Nintendo?

The specs of NGP really blew my mind. This thing is capable of bringing the same experience of playing current gen consoles like Xbox 360 and PS3 to a handheld. Sure NGP is huge but that's because it boasts a 5 inch OLED screen. It also has amazing new parts such as a second analog stick, front and rear cameras, Sixaxis motion controls such as an accelerometer and gyroscope, GPS, Wi-Fi and 3G, a touch screen, and a rear touch panel. I've never seen so many new things added from one generation to the next. The parts added are not just to catch up to its competitors who have motion controls, 3G, and touch screens, but these new parts also enhance gameplay. I was most definitely impressed by Little Deviants, one of the many games coming to NGP. The amount of control I can have over the environment is insane. Uncharted also looked amazing. I don't know if I would use the touch screen or touch panel to control Nathan Drake but the addition of the second analog stick brings those dualshock control I love on the go. I'm very excited for many of the games announced including LittleBigPlanet, Killzone, Uncharted, Call of Duty, and more.

In my editorial about the successor to PSP, I said that in order for it to succeed, it needs to find a core demographic. I am so happy to say that I think NGP found one. Its core demographic is hardcore gamers. I'm sure there are many hardcore gamers who have never even owned a handheld system. NGP will definitely appeal to all hardcore gamers so long as there is a quality software lineup. I'm sure NGP will see many ports of great current gen games within its first year or two as an easy way to cash in. But with such power comes great potential. Imagine a Call of Duty game on NGP that would rival the experience you would get on Xbox 360. This is clearly what NGP is capable of. With applications like Near and the LiveArea page for each game, NGP will feel even more connected to your friends than all current gen systems. It is clear to see that the success of NGP will depend on the software released. It must prove to be all the awesomeness of a current gen game in a tiny package. The new methods of controls such as the touch screen, rear touch panel, and Sixaxis will bring all new methods of control that were not possible before. Even casual games like Angry Birds will be able to receive a full port over to NGP thanks to the PlayStation Suite which will no doubt be successful.

Will I get an NGP at launch? Probably not. It will most likely be expensive, around $300 or $400. I'd rather spend my money on all the other great games releasing this holiday and I probably won't have even close to the amount of money I need for NGP. Seeing the way I get money throughout the year, I will most likely get one within the first year or so of its release. I am getting the Nintendo 3DS at launch since it is affordable at $249 and I definitely have the cash for it. Did NGP steal a bit of the 3DS's thunder? It definitely did but I'm sure both will be successful, even NGP so long as the software lineup remains strong and each system shows what they are capable of with each game.

If you would like to contact Adam Shear, the author of this post, feel free to do so at adam@gamerscastpodcast.com

Editorial: Nintendo 3DS Announcement Impressions

As most of you already know, Nintendo held their long awaited launch event on Nintendo 3DS this week. Although we will be discussing this on a future episode of GamersCast Podcast, I wanted to give my thoughts ahead of time.

As it was announced, the Nintendo 3DS will release on March 27 for $249.99. Many people are saying that this price is ridiculous. It costs as much as the Wii did at launch and its $100 more than what Nintendo DS costed when it released in 2004. I say that this price is actually reasonable. My original prediction was $250 with some software pack in and I was totally right. The Nintendo 3DS comes with tons of pre loaded software like the Mii Maker, Face Raiders, and more. It even comes with six augmented reality cards. Even if you don't pick up a game at launch, there will still be some great stuff to do right out of the box.

While the price is good, the launch titles do not appeal to me at all. It is very clear that Nintendo rushed the 3DS to market after seeing sales rapidly decline for both Wii and DS. No 3D video content, web browser, or eStore at launch is definitely disappointing. The launch games in terms of third parties are the usual suspects like Madden NFL Football, Super Monkey Ball, Asphalt, Ridge Racer Rayman, and more. The launch games with the exception of a few are probably rushed titles looking to cash in. That does not mean that they will be bad. A few titles like Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Dead or Alive: Dimensions and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition look great and really take advantage of the 3DS's features even through two of these three games are ports of console games. Nintendo's first party lineup easily looks like a rush job. Games like Nintendogs + Cats and Pilotwings Resort could easily be made in a little more than a year for a quick profit. Again, I'm not saying they are bad games. It's just that there are no great first party hardcore experiences at launch. Nintendo DS had Super Mario 64 DS while Wii had The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Although Nintendo GameCube did not have many standout hardcore titles, it did have WaveRace: Wave Runner and Luigi's Mansion. Only a couple of weeks later did Nintendo bring out the big guns with Pikmin and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Nintendo could have Nintendogs + Cats on launch day and then bring out The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Zelda was not confirmed as a launch window title but you never know what can happen.

The future for Nintendo 3DS looks bright but its launch window could suffer from a lack of great first party hardcore titles. Having a hardcore Nintendo title at launch would really increase the popularity of Nintendo 3DS. Many fans will probably wait until a Nintendo game they anticipate releases in order to put down the $250. Mario Kart, Paper Mario, and Kid Icarus are on the way but I guess it will have to wait while we are playing Pilotwings Resort along with the great 3rd party launch lineup. If you want the Nintendo 3DS now, I say its a great purchase but you better pre order now while you still can.

Nintendo 3DS Launch Details Announced

The day has finally come! Nintendo has revealed Nintendo 3DS launch details for the US. The Nintendo 3DS will come with the system, a charging cradle, six augmented reality cards, an adjustable stylus, a 2 GB SD card, and lots of pre loaded software such as a shooting minigame called Face Raiders, Mii Maker, a web browser, and much more. Nintendo also confirmed that you will be able to see 3D game trailers and play demos of retail games through Nintendo's online 3DS shop known as the Nintendo eShop. You can also purchase classic Game Boy games from the Virtual Console on the eShop as well as original titles. Additionally, those unhappy with friend codes will be happy to know that every user has only one friend code throughout all games.

Nintendo was not at all specific on which titles will be available on day one but they did show some of the 30 titles that will release between launch and E3 in June including Dead or Alive Dimensions, Super Street Fighter IV 3D (which will be out on day 1), Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Ridge Racer 3D, Madden NFL Football, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Nintendogs + Cats, Pilotwings Resort, Seel Diver, and many more.

Now for the important information which is date and price. Nintendo 3DS will launch in the US on March 27 for $249.99. Stay tuned to GamersCast for more information on the Nintendo 3DS.

New Information on Super Monkey Ball 3D

Check out some all new screenshots and a new trailer for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS title Super Monkey Ball 3D which will be releasing sometime this Spring. Aside from an all new Monkey Ball game which can be controlled using the 3DS's Circle Pad or tilting the 3DS, three new game modes will be included including new puzzles, Monkey Race, and Monkey Fight.
















Stay tuned to GamersCast Podcast for more information and coverage of Super Monkey Ball 3D and all of your favorite games.

Pokemon Black and White Dated For the States

Today Nintendo has finally pulled the curtain on all new information concerning the most anticipated Nintendo DS game of 2010 (and possibly the Nintendo DS's swan song). Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version will be released in the United States on March 6, 2011. In addition, the official Pokemon website unveiled some of the translated names for a few of the over 150 new Pokemon. These new Pokemon include Minccino, Gigalith, Munna, Darmanitan, Sandile, Pidove, Blitzle, and Klink.

The release date of Pokemon Black and White may actually be a clue as to the release date of Nintendo 3DS which may not be until one or two weeks later. Stay tuned for GamersCast for more information on Pokemon Black and White.