My Initial E3 Press Conference Reactions

Despite having seen all of the press conferences, here I am only going to comment on the one's by the three console manufacturers. Anyways, as you all know Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo's plan for the next year is now out of the bag and we know what to expect. Well, what does this mean? Well, this Friday, I'm going to try to arrange everyone together for a podcast to decipher it all. But here were my initial reactions that immediately followed each company's press conference.


Microsoft's Conference


Sony's Conference


Nintendo's Conference

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.

Wii Price Drop and Nintendo Selects Announced

In a move that is most likely preparing Nintendo for the end of it's current generation console, Nintendo dropped the price of the Nintendo Wii to $149.99. With this price drop, Nintendo is removing Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort from the console purchases and is now instead bundling all Wii Consoles with a copy of Mario Kart Wii and a Wii Wheel (which will match the color of the console purchased).

Alongside this announcement, Nintendo also announced their "Nintendo Selects" line of games. These game are basically the "Player's Choice" equivalent of this generation. Games which are branded as "Nintendo Selects" receive the branding on the box, as well as a price drop to $19.99.

The first games in the Nintendo Selects line include, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and Mario Super Sluggers. Nintendo is also releasing Wii Sports as standalone software for the system, in case you still want Wii Sports after getting the Mario Kart bundled system.

The price drop, Mario Kart bundle, and Nintendo Selects line will begin to take effect starting on May 15th.

Nintendo Confirms Project Cafe

So, I've been avoiding the majority of the project cafe things that have been flying all over the internet, mainly because I didn't trust it. No one cited any truly substantial evidence that it is actually happening, so, not wanting to lead you astray, I decided not post about the potential new console.

Well, today some nice people who crawl the web for a living, found this PDF file lying around on the Nintendo of Japan website. The URL says it all, it's official. You can see this document here: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2011/110425_4e.pdf

The new console supposedly has a GPU that can outperform the PlayStation 3, and a triple-core PowerPC processor, similar to the Xbox 360 that will outperform Microsoft's current console as well. Most evidence points to the device costing around $300 and that it will launch either early next year or this November.

Until official confirmation comes, we will be referring to this new console as Project Cafe.

Rumor: Nintendo Ready to Reveal Its Next Console at E3

The rumors are flying today and they say that Nintendo is ready to pull the curtain on its next console. Game Informer has reported that they have heard from multiple sources that the next Nintendo console is being shown to publishers now and will have its first public unveiling at E3 with a plan to release it in late 2012. If the rumors are true, the new console will have HD visuals comparable to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This could mean it could have a little bit less power or it could be superior which will most likely be the case. One source has said "Nintendo is doing this one right. It's not a gimmick like th Wii." This could mean many things. Also, the rumored May 15 price drop bringing the Wii down to $149.99 could also be a sign that Nintendo wants to maximize the Wii audience before the new console arrives. You can check out the Game Informer article here

I personally think that this report is legitimate. It is about time that Nintendo talks about their next console. The HD consoles may be on a 10 year timeline but the Wii is probably not capable of keeping up after 4.5 years on the market. The next console needs to be more than just an Nintendo HD system. Knowing Nintendo, I'm sure they are working to make this console different than anything anyone has seen before. The only hope is that third parties will support it, especially if Nintendo is coming to them this early. I believe Nintendo will talk about the new console at E3 but will not reveal much. They might talk about a philosophy behind the idea of the system as well as system specs but that will most likely be about it. Don't expect software announcements and even if any software is announced, take it with a grain of salt. Back at E3 2005 when Nintendo revealed the first information on Wii or Codename Revolution at the time, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that a new Super Smash Bros. game will come out for the launch of Wii in 2006 but we didn't see Super Smash Bros. Brawl until 2008. If revealed at E3, we will not hear the first information on the control methods or specific features and software until most likely Fall 2011 around the time the Tokyo Game Show is happening at earliest.

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.

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).

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.

Pokemon Black and White Sell Big with New Song

Nintendo has announced that Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version have sold through 1.08 million copies on launch day alone. This is definitely an impressive number beating Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Versions by over 300,000 copies.

In honor of the release of Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version, a new theme song for the new games has been announced today. The song is called "Can't Stop (Catchin' 'Em All)" and is written and performed by The Presidents of the United States of America. The song features many of the 156 new Pokemon introduced in the new games. Hope your having fun playing Pokemon Black and White. Download and listen to the new song here and also be sure to check out DeoGenZ's review of the game in the news feed and my interview with serebii.net webmaster Joe Merrick in our podcast feed either on the gamerscastpodcast.com home page or through iTunes.

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

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.

GamersCast Interview with Serebii

We at GamersCast Podcast are happy to announce the start of our epic coverage of Pokemon Black and White versions releasing in the US in only eight days. We are starting our blowout coverage with an interview with Joe Merrick. I'm sure you probably don't know who he is but if you are a hardcore Pokemon fan, you definitely know his work. He is the founder and webmaster of serebii.net, the number one Pokemon fansite and online database in the world. I got to talk to him and learn about his opinions on the Pokemon video games, anime and more. He also shares his opinion on Pokemon Black and White and discusses why he thinks its the best Pokemon game ever made. Look forward to listening to that when we release it on March 1 which is three days from now. You will be able to listen to it by going to gamerscastpodcast.com or by searching "GamersCast: Video Game Podcasting" on iTunes.

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

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

The Legend of Zelda turns 25

Last year, one of the most beloved franchises of all-time turned 25 years old. And to celebrate Nintendo, released a limited edition Mario Wii console and a Super Mario All-Stars re-release pack for the budget price of $30. But today, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of a franchise much closer to me. On February 21, 1986, The Legend of Zelda was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan.

What is arguably one of the greatest video game franchises of all-time was born. And to this day, many of our modern games are still being influenced by that original game. The question is, will Nintendo do anything to commemorate the occasion? It would make a lot of sense, especially as a means of hyping this year's Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Or even the other Zelda re-releases coming out this year on the 3DS, Ocarina of Time and Link's Awakening. Only time will tell, but for now it looks like Nintendo might just be letting this occasion pass by.

The American anniversary of the series isn't going to be until July 1st of next year, but regardless of this, if Nintendo of Japan doesn't do anything to mark the day, odds are Nintendo of America won't either. Especially taking into account that the Super Mario All-Stars bundle didn't do so amazing as far as sales go.

So, while Nintendo may not be doing anything to mark the day, take this opportunity to look back at the past 25 years and appreciate one of the most influential epic tales of our time.

Since it started 25 years ago, over 62 million Legend of Zelda games have been sold worldwide.

Editorial: Top Five Games That Need to be on Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS offers a lot of new features including a gyroscope, more processing power, enhanced connectivity, and of course, the 3D screen. There are many games that really can take advantage of all of these features. Nintendo has many franchises that are and can take advantage of all of these features. Here is my list of the top five Nintendo franchises and spinoffs that can really use the 3DS's unique capabilities to its advantage. This list only will not include games already announced by Nintendo.

5. Metroid Prime: Metroid Prime: Hunters on the original Nintendo DS was a smashing success. It really showed off the power of the original DS as well as that first person shooters can work with a stylus. Having a new Metroid Prime in 3D would be a stunning sight to see. Not only would the game look amazing but it could also sport an amazing online multiplayer experience, even better than the one on the original DS. Streetpass can also be used to swap stats.

4. Super Smash Bros.: This is one of the most popular Nintendo franchises. Super Smash Bros. Brawl was easily the most anticipated Wii game of the Wii's life cycle. Brawl delivered on many of its promises but one it struggled with was laggy online play, and sadly enough, the online multiplayer was the most demanded feature. Nintendo can change this with Nintendo 3DS. Some would say Smash Bros. is a party game which is more fun with everyone playing on the same screen. I think Smash Bros. would amazing things on the 3DS and finally get the online multiplayer right. Imagine stages that pop out of the screen or characters bouncing from one screen to another. A portable Smash Bros. game would be an amazing idea.

3. Super Mario Galaxy: No matter what, I'm sure the 3D Super Mario Bros. game Miyamoto is currently working on will look and play spectacularly but Super Mario Galaxy would be a native fit for 3D. The planets are all so far away and a sense of depth would add a lot to the gameplay. Whether it's the best of both Mario Galaxy games in 3D or an all new space adventure, there's no doubt this game was made to be in 3D.

2. WarioWare: There have been many installments of WarioWare in the past and I'm pretty surprised there is none for the 3DS launch window. It seemed like the DS and Wii versions of WarioWare were tech demos shown to show off the capabilities of touch and motion gameplay styles. 3DS has all of that as well as 3D capabilities. Imagine microgames where things pop out of the screen and into your face. Nintendo can really get away with being as gimmicky as they want while showing consumers what the 3DS is capable of. Maybe even building on the DIY aspect of the game would be cool.

1. Pokemon Snap: Honestly if there is one spinoff Nintendo fans want to revisit, it is Pokemon Snap. There have been hundreds of new Pokemon added since the game came out more than a decade ago. Seeing the environments in 3D would add so much to the realism of the game. Imagine seeing Pokemon in full 3D. Using the gyroscope to move the 3DS around would also make controlling the game a very realistic experience as you move your body to change the camera angle. Not to mention Streetpass and Spotpass can be used to share photos with friends and strangers.

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.

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.