There is a community race now! **Closed**

If anyone wants to get in on a community race you can come in the room now! There is only me and another player at the moment, but more players may join. Come check it out!

Name: PlayNintendo.ca
MK7 Community Number: 42-6017-8174-9943
Class: 150cc
Items: All Items

**Closed**

Thank you to everyone who participated in tonight's community game! I had three players besides myself join in the fun and I consider that a pretty good success for our first try! Another community event will come sometime soon. I'm not sure when the best night would be for community races, but I'm happy to listen to some feedback. (Saturdays have already been eliminated)

Thanks once again to all who raced with me tonight!

Sonic 4: Episode 2 not coming to the Wii

SEGA officially confirmed that Sonic 4: Episode 2 will not be coming to the Wii. This comes as a surprise to me as they have already released Episode 1 on the WiiWare service, but after some thought it may make some sense. Sonic 4: Episode 2 may not fit the WiiWare's extremely low 40MB limitations. To improve on the original, Sega will likely enhance the graphics, mechanics, more content, etc.

I have always thought that releasing a game of Sonic 4's caliber on downloadable services was a mistake from the beginning. Well, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if they released the entire game as one game instead of multiple episodes. I'm not too fond of the episodic format and believe it doesn't really work for a game like Sonic anyways. Cutting it up into episodes almost guarantees that some people will miss out on the full experience, and what do you know, that is going to happen to Wii owners.

Source

Nintendo Download for December 29, 2011

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - DECEMBER 29, 2011

Dec. 29, 2011
This week's Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

Nintendo eShop VVVVVV – There's something terribly wrong in an alternate dimension. Help Captain Viridian flip to find five crew members, locate 20 hard-to-reach Trinkets and save a dimension on the brink of destruction.  (For Nintendo 3DS™)

BIONIC COMMANDO™ – When the Federation's greatest soldier is captured while infiltrating the enemy Doraize Army and investigating the development of a powerful super-weapon, elite commando Rad Spencer is sent in to save his missing comrade. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™Cake Ninja – This casual game invites you to slide the stylus across the screen to slice cakes into small pieces like a true ninja warrior. The more cakes you slice, the longer you stay around. (For Nintendo 3DS /Nintendo DSi™)

Also new this week:• Slingo Supreme (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Big Ben Burglary (WiiWare™)

To view this week's Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/downloadWz29gKlm.php.

Source: Nintendo PR

What to expect from Play Nintendo before the New Year

Hey guys! It's been an extremely slow week for Nintendo news, so there haven't been many posts at all. However, I did get a 3DS for Christmas and a few games to review for the handheld, so that should keep me busy until the new year. Here is a tentative schedule of what to expect within the next couple of days:

• Pushmo Review - December 29 
• Mighty Switch Force Review - December 29
• Mario Kart 7 Review - December 30
• Super Mario 3D Land - December 31
• Best of 2011 - December 31/Jan 1

There will be no First Four Hours of... posts for the list of games above as I just can't find the time between family, social, and gaming life. Most of these interactions have ended and now it's time to focus on clearing these games.

Thanks for sticking around over the past week and I look forward to playing many of you in our official Play Nintendo Mario Kart 7 Community!

Play Nintendo now has a Mario Kart 7 Community

Hey everyone! I just wanted to pop in real quick and give some basic details for our Mario Kart 7 community! I won't be playing tonight, but here are the details if you guys want to play together in the meantime.

Name: PlayNintendo.ca
MK7 Community Number: 42-6017-8174-9943
Class: 150cc
Items: All Items

Let me know in the comments when the best time a community gathering would be and we will arrange our first community race! I'm looking forward to racing each and every one of you in the coming days!

Nintendo holding another Nintendo Direct Online Conference Today!

Nintendo will be holding its second Nintendo Direct online conference this year on December 27, in Japan. That means we will get to watch it tonight! It starts at 7:00 P.M, PST and will likely features information about new Nintendo games on the way in early 2012.

Click over to find the live stream that Nintendo will activate at 7.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The time has come for holiday treats, family, and of course presents! Every year Christmas is an exciting day to look forward to because us gamers will likely get some games or gaming related items. I'm happy to say that I'm now a proud owner of a Flame Red Nintendo 3DS! With it I received Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, so you can expect reviews of those games soon; I'm also thinking of starting up a Play Nintendo Mario Kart 7 community. I also received a pretty nifty Mario and Luigi T-Shirt.

Did you receive any games or gaming related items this year? Tell me about them in the comments section!

...oh and Happy Holidays and have a fantastic day!

SwapNote Release Trailer

Direct Link

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Data Repair Channel Now Available!

For those of you that discovered Skyward Sword's game breaking glitch you can now head to the Wii Shop Channel and download the "Save Data Update Channel" which will repair your save data. It may be a good idea for those playing the game to download this channel just in case you encounter the glitch later in the game.

SwapNote now Live in North America!

Nintendo 3DS users have been asking for some way to communicate with those on their friends list even before the handheld was released. Well, it seems that Nintendo has finally honored the request. 3DS owners can hop on the eShop now and download SwapNote for free!

SwapNote allows gamers to send 3D messages to those on their friend list with the options to include pictures and sound! Although the software can't be used while playing games, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Nintendo Download for December 22, 2011 Tetris for Game Boy and Mighty Switch Force!

Nintendo News: Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

• Nintendo eShop
  • Mighty Switch Force! – Space Hooligans have escaped custody and are wreaking havoc all over Planet Land. HQ calls on cybernetic peace-keeper Patricia Wagon to bring these renegades to justice. (For Nintendo 3DS^™)
• Nintendo eShop
  • TETRIS^® – TETRIS, the iconic block-slotting puzzle game, gets a re-release on the Nintendo 3DS system. It’s easy to pick up, yet impossible to put down! (For Nintendo 3DS)
• Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare^™
  • Doodle Fit – Doodle Fit challenges players to fit sets of blocks into a given shape. The game features more than 100 different levels with a variety of unique shapes and nearly 550 solutions in total. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi^™)

Also new this week:

• Rytmik Retrobits (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Chronicles of Vampires: Origins (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Soccer Up (WiiWare^™)
• Gnomz (demo version) (WiiWare)

To view this week’s Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit:
http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/download22LMZq91.php

Source: Nintendo PR 

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Announced for 2012 Release

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance will release on the Nintendo 3DS in North America sometime in 2012. While a specific release date hasn't been announced, this is a highly anticipated 3DS title that will add to a library of games that is slowly becoming very impressive.

Source: Square Enix PR

Nintendo of America Offers Fix for Game Breaking Skyward Sword Glitch

There is a certain quest in Skyward Sword that can prevent you from finishing the game. This glitch occurs by performing this quest in a very specific order, so it's likely that many of us will never encounter the glitch. What about those whom accidentally caused the game to break?

Well, you're in luck because Nintendo is offering up a fix for the problem. Currently, you will need to send your save data to Nintendo for repair, but they are also working on a fix that can be downloaded to resolve the issue, which will be much more convenient for those who have their Wii connected to the Internet. Regardless, I'm glad that Nintendo is acting on this problem and hope to see this kind of support when the Wii U rolls around in 2012.

If you want detailed information on the problem, or details on how to get your save data fixed you can find that here at Nintendo's support page. I've refrained from posting the details as they do contain some spoilers that reveal a quest near the end of the game.

Wii U Will be at CES 2012 **Update**

Anytime there is potential for some Wii U news it is an extremely exciting time. The big news today is that Nintendo will be bringing the Wii U to CES 2012 which begins January 10. What exactly will Nintendo showcase at CES 2012? Will Nintendo show some of the games that they have in development for the console, or will we just get a rehash of E3 2011? Personally, I hope we get to see more of what third party developers have to offer for the console. If Nintendo wants to throw in some goodies as well, I'm fine with that.

Come January 10th you can be sure to find any new Wii U information here. Whether it be for the console itself or any new games that may be coming our way. Nintendo will have a big year in 2012 and maybe they are wanting to start it with a bang?

**Update**

Nintendo World Report is reporting that only E3 2011 demos will be present at CES 2012. It is basically a complete rehash of the E3 showing because some members of the media missed out on the initial opportunity.

Source

Play Nintendo Presents Best of 2011 Awards... Vote for your favourites now!

2011 is coming to a close and it's now time to reflect on the past year in gaming and crown a definitive winner! The actual awards article will come shortly after Christmas, but before the new year begins; however, it's not too early to get the ball rolling!

For approximately two weeks I will be selecting my picks for the Best of 2011, but I will not be alone in my quest. I invite you, the Play Nintendo readers to participate in the ceremony as well! I will be posting polls for each category and wholeheartedly ask you to vote for the games that you think deserve to take home its rightfully deserved award. After you have hand picked our favourites, I will include them along with my own selections and make it a community effort. So, without further ado, here are the nominations for the Best of 2011:

Best Nintendo DS Game of 2011
	Pokemon Black/White
	Kirby Mass Attack
	Professor Layton and the Last Specter
	Aliens Infestation
pollcode.com free polls

Best Wii Game of 2011
	Mario Sports Mix
	The Conduit 2
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land
	The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
pollcode.com free polls

Best Nintendo 3DS Game of 2011
	Dead or Alive Dimensions
	Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
	Super Mario 3D Land
	Mario Kart 7
pollcode.com free polls

Best WiiWare/VC Game of 2011
	MotoHeroz
	Bit.Trip Flux
	Final Fantasy III
	Mega Man X
pollcode.com free polls

Best Nintendo eShop/DSiWare Game of 2011
	Mighty Milky Way
	Pushmo
	Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive!
	Mighty Switch Force
pollcode.com free polls

Best Game of 2011
	Pokemon Black/White
	The Conduit 2
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land
	Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
	The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
	Mario Sports Mix
	Dead or Alive Dimensions
	Super Mario 3D Land
	Professor Layton and the Last Specter
	Kirby Mass Attack
	Aliens Infestations
	Mario Kart 7
	Pushmo
	MotoHeroz
pollcode.com free polls

Mighty Switch Force Coming Right in Time for Christmas

WayForward announced on Twitter that Mighty Switch Force, a highly anticipated eShop title, will be available for download on December 22. That puts it in next week's Nintendo Download lineup. We can expect to pay $5.99 for the game, and from the looks of things that is an incredible price for this game. I know I will be getting it as soon as possible.

This will release across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand simultaneously.

Kid Icarus: Uprising Box Art Revealed

This box art has to be among the best of the best. Its breathtaking art makes me wish I had the game right now. I am extremely excited for Pit's long-awaited return and this art celebrates that in the best possible way. Hopefully this will catch the consumers' eye at retail.

Gameboy Advance Titles now Available to Download for 3DS Ambassadors

Although Nintendo hasn't officially announced it yet for North America, 3DS Ambassadors can now download all 10 Gameboy Advance games they were promised earlier this year. Seems like they went live early this morning. This of course wraps up Nintendo's promise to early adopters of their 3DS handheld, but the fun will surely last for many years to come.

Here are the 10 GBA games available to 3DS Ambassadors:

• The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
• Metroid Fusion
• Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3
• Wario Land 4
• Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit
•  F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
• WarioWare Inc
• Mario vs Donkey Kong

Nintendo Download for December 15, 2011

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - DECEMBER 15, 2011

Dec. 15, 2011
This week's Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

Nintendo eShop
Blaster Master: Enemy Below - Using the strong weapons and high jumping power of his legendary battle vehicle, Jason must explore a subterranean region where a sinister life form resides. (For Nintendo 3DS™)

Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™
Elite Forces: Unit 77 - Drive armored trucks and tanks, defuse mines, locate explosives and rescue hostages. Gather your forces into a crack squad or control a single game character based on the strategic requirements. (For Nintendo 3DS /Nintendo DSi™)

WiiWare™
Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Lady Liberty Larceny - The Statue of Liberty has vanished! The Chief wants ACME's best agent on the case. Carmen Sandiego is back, and only you can foil her V.I.L.E. plans. (For Wii™)

Also new this week:
• WordJong Arcade (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Just SING! Christmas Vol. 3 (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Paint Splash (demo version) (WiiWare)

To view this week's Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/downloada2s3d4F9.php.

Source: Nintendo PR

Rhythm Heaven Fever Box Art

I have to hand it to Nintendo on this one, Rhythm Heaven Fever has the most colorful and attention grabbing box art I've seen in quite some time. I'm a complete Rhythm Heaven newb, but I will definitely try and get my hands on this game for review. I can only imagine that the gameplay is just as whimsical as the box art.

Club Nintendo Receives a Major Overhaul

Club Nintendo has been updated this morning with a brand new aesthetic and new rewards! Savvy fans may have already heard about this update and the new rewards through a small leak last week, but now you can actually start getting these rewards! Among the new rewards are games for coins, a set of The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary posters (400 coins) and some neat character notebooks (250 coins).

While the posters are cool and the notebeaks are neat, I think gamers will agree that getting games for coins is the best Club Nintendo idea to never be implemented until now. Nintendo is restricting the titles that can be downloaded by only allowing us to choose from four games; Super Mario Kart (100 Coins - SNES VC), Fluidity (150 Coins - WiiWare), 3D Classics Xevious (100 Coins - Nintendo 3DS eShop) and Mario vs Donkey Kong Mini's March Again (150 Coins - DSiWare). However, Nintendo will be replacing the lineup with a surprise group of games each month, so if your favorite isn't on the list at the moment, it may be next month!

Check out the NEW Club Nintendo

Xenoblade Chronicles Box Art Revealed for North America...

and it's pretty much the same as the European box art. It was only the other day that I was wondering if it would be different or not and apparently it will not. Nintendo certainly has a strong lineup for early 2012.

New Kid Icarus: Uprising Trailer

First Four Hours of Fortune Street

Upon hearing Nintendo's announcement of a stock trading video game I can't honestly say that I was looking forward to the game. However, seeing that it is one of four major Wii releases from Nintendo this year I had to give this game a chance. And you know what? I'm glad that I did.

The best way for me to describe Fortune Street is to say that it is like Monopoly, but with stock trading (should you choose the standard rules). It takes a little bit of willingness to learn on the player's behalf or you'd otherwise be lost. I spent an hour playing and not really knowing what I was doing, but after watching the computer make their moves and getting some hands on time with buying properties and buying/selling stocks it became natural to me, as well as competitive. The objective of Fortune Street is to reach the board's target amount before the other players. This amount is your net worth which is calculated by the properties you own, the stocks you buy and the cash on hand. This will increase as you make investments in your properties and when the price of the stocks rise, that is if you own stocks. Sounds a bit complicated, right?

Well, from what I've experience so far, Fortune Street will definitely not be for everyone. Even though it is rated E for everyone, it will only be enjoyed by those who fully enjoy the Monopoly like experience. Those looking for Mario Party type mini-games will be sorely disappointed. Those willing to learn the business board game rules will have a lot of fun. Single player is OK and gives you a chance to learn the rules, but I'm willing to best that players would be more invested in the multiplayer experience. I wish I could comment on the fun I've had playing with people, but it's hard to find three other people who want to trade stocks for fun. Luckily, a fully functioning online feature has been included. I would love to tell you what it's like to play this game online, but I can't do that either. I've tried multiple times, upwards to 30 times, and haven't found three others to play with online. That is both internationally and regional.

In closing I'd like to say that if you have three hours to blow (which is what it takes to play one board) then go ahead and give Fortune Street a try. As of right now, I could only recommend this game as a rental. The full review will come a little later in the week!

Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Party 9, Rhythm Fever and other Major Titles get Release Dates in North America

Kid Icarus: Uprising has finally received a release date and it's not too far off either. Nintendo has announced that they will release Kid Icarus: Uprising on March 23. Mario Party 9 will also drop on March 11. Nintendo has also announced that PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond will release on February 27 with Rhythm Heaven hitting stores February 13. Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater will also see release in early 2012 along with Capcom's Resident Evil Revelations and a ton more downloadable titles in the eShop.

Nintendo also announced that gamers can buy the Circle Pad Pro for $19.99 at GameStop on February 7. Lots more release dates were announced and can be seen below:

Nintendo 3DS 
2K Play 
Nicktoons MLB 3D - March

Capcom 
Resident Evil® Revelations - Feb. 7

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. 
METAL GEAR SOLID® 3D Snake Eater - Q1
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 - January

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. 
TEKKEN 3D Prime Edition™ - February
Tales of the Abyss® - Feb. 14

Nintendo 
Kid Icarus: Uprising - March 23

Published by SEGA® of America 
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games™ - Feb. 14

SEGA® of America 
CRUSH™3D - Q1

Ubisoft 
NCIS The Video Game (Based on the TV Series) - March 6
Horses 3D - March 6
Funky Barn - Q1
Rayman® Origins - Q1

Nintendo eShop 
Collecting Smiles 
Colors! 3D - Q1

Nicalis 
VVVVVV - Q1
NightSky - Q1

Nintendo 
Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword - Q1
Dillon's Rolling Western - Q1
Kirby's Block Ball™ - Q1

Renegade Kid 
Mutant Mudds - Q1

Shin'en Multimedia 
Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH - Q1
Jett Rocket Super Surf - Q1

WayForward 
Mighty Switch Force - Q1

Zen Studios 
Zen Pinball - Q1

Wii

2K Sports 
MLB 2K12 - March 6

GameMill Entertainment 
Country Dance™ Special Edition - Feb. 1

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. 
Karaoke Joysound - Q1

Nintendo 
Rhythm Heaven Fever - Feb. 13
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond - Feb. 27
Mario Party 9 - March 11

WiiWare™ 
NicalisLa Mulana - Q1

Nintendo DS™ Family 
2K Sports 
MLB 2K12 - March 6

ATLUS 
Shin Megami Tensei®: Devil Survivor™ 2 - February

GameMill Entertainment 
Silverlicious™ - March 20
Xia Xia™ - March 20
Gogo's Crazy Bones™ - March 20

Mentor Interactive 
Chess for Kids - Feb. 14
NARABA: The Labyrinth of Light - Feb. 21
NARABA: The Mysterious Palace - Feb. 21

Nintendo DSiWare™ 
Cosmigo 
Box Pusher - Q1

Cypronia 
Cake Ninja - Q1

Source: Nintendo PR

The Legend of Zelda Enters the Video Game Hall of Fame

Last night was another milestone in The Legend of Zelda series as it received the honor of being the first video game franchise to be inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame. The award was accepted by the one and only Shigeru Miyamoto, who made a surprise appearance on Spike TV's live VGAs. This is a very appropriate choice for the hall of fame as we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series.

The Legend of Zelda also received a couple of honors at the VGAs last night. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword took home the Best Wii Game Award and Best Motion Game Award. Skyward Sword was also prepared to received game of the year, but then it took an arrow in the knee.

Press Release: Nintendo Zone Viewer Now Available at over 2,000 Hotspots Across Canada

NINTENDO ZONE VIEWER AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MORE THAN 2,000 NINTENDO 3DS HOTSPOT LOCATIONS ACROSS CANADA 

Automatic and Free Wi-Fi Service Offers Seamless Connectivity for Nintendo 3DS

VANCOUVER, B.C., Dec. 8, 2011 – Canadian Nintendo 3DS™ owners are now able to connect automatically to the Internet for free at more than 2,000 Hotspot locations across Canada. This access, provided through the Bell Wi-Fi network, will allow Nintendo 3DS owners to get special offers and content in the Nintendo Zone™ Viewer, download items from Nintendo eShop, receive surprise SpotPass™ content, automatically receive 3D videos from the Nintendo Video™ service, and more.

These features were announced in Canada today in a press release outlining details of a special system update for the Nintendo 3DS, which will add a wide range of enhancements, including the ability for users to record 3D videos and access free demo versions of games in the Nintendo eShop. All of the upgrades, as well as the Wi-Fi access at participating locations, are available at no additional charge to Nintendo 3DS owners.

Nintendo 3DS Hotspots:

•         Nintendo has announced agreements with a variety of partners in Canada and the United States to offer automatic and free connectivity to all of the great digital content that Nintendo 3DS has to offer.

•         In Canada, the Bell Wi-Fi network will offer automatic and free connectivity for Nintendo 3DS owners at more than 2,000 participating locations.

•         The Nintendo Zone Viewer offers features like 3D videos, Nintendo 3DS game previews, video game trivia, and retailer promotions and coupons.

•         Nintendo 3DS owners can find a Nintendo 3DS Hotspot in Canada by visiting: http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hotspots.

Nintendo 3DS owners who have downloaded previous system updates do not need to do anything, as the new update will happen automatically. Users who have never performed an update before can upgrade by going to the main menu, tapping System Settings, then Other Settings, then System Update.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.com.

Source: Nintendo E-Mail

Nintendo Download for December 8th, 2011

Nintendo News: Nintendo Download Highlights New Digital Content for Nintendo Systems

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

• Nintendo eShop
  • Pushmo^™ – Push, pull and climb through incredible puzzle-like climbing toys called Pushmo. Enjoy adorable characters, charming 3D graphics and endless replay value. Available in the Nintendo eShop for $6.99. (For Nintendo 3DS^™)
• Nintendo Video^™
  • Foster the People, “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” – Foster the People and Gabourey Sidibe star in a relentless, stunt-heavy car chase film. When a driving exam goes very wrong, the ensuing chase tears up a small town in this outrageous music video, now available on the Nintendo Video service. (For Nintendo 3DS)
• Nintendo 3DS
  • Nintendo 3DS system update – The latest Nintendo 3DS system update is now available. For a full list of what is included, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/system-update. (For Nintendo 3DS)
• Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare^™
  • Castle Conqueror - Against – You are a great warrior from an ancient tribe. The god of the island bestows his blessing upon you, giving you the power to curse the invaders and save your tribe. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi^™)
• WiiWare^™
  • MotoHeroz (demo version) – Racing game thrills meet platformer charm in MotoHeroz, a side-scrolling racer with simple controls and engaging physics. The result is a new kind of racing adventure. (For Wii^™)

Also new this week:

• Word Searcher 4 (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)
• Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder (WiiWare)

To view this week’s Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/download9Vr9Q93a.php

Source: Nintendo PR 

Xenoblade Chronicles is Also Coming to Canada but No Distribution Yet...

I have received an e-mail from Nintendo of Canada that reassures fans of Xenoblade Chronicles release here in the Great White North. This is of course in addition to the announcement of the game reaching the United States. However, there is one little tidbit of information in the e-mail about the distribution of the title here in Canada. As of right now, there is no information released concerning the distribution of the game in Canada, however, Nintendo of Canada said an announcement for distribution is coming a little later.

Source: Nintendo of Canada E-Mail

Press Release: Record 3D Videos and More With the Latest System Update for Nintendo 3DS

3D Video Recording, Download in Sleep Mode, StreetPass Mii Plaza Updates and Automatic and Free Internet Connections Included

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 7, 2011 – A new system update now available for the portable Nintendo 3DS™ system adds a wide range of enhancements, including the ability for users to record 3D videos in continuous or stop-motion style, updated Nintendo eShop features, new StreetPass Mii Plaza™ features and enhanced online gaming. All of the upgrades are available at no additional charge to Nintendo 3DS owners.

New Nintendo 3DS System Update is Available Early!

If you have yourself a Nintendo 3DS then what are you doing here? Go download the new update! That's right, the highly anticipated Nintendo 3DS System Update is available a couple of days early. Its release was planned for December 8th, which would have accompanied the weekly Nintendo Download. Well now that it's here, what can you expect from the new System Update?

3D video recording via the Nintendo 3DS Camera

New game content in StreetPass Mii Plaza, including StreetPass Quest II

Transfer of downloaded software and data between Nintendo 3DS systems 

There is also a new Accomplishments, "Achievement"-Like system for the OCD. Expect more official details when the press release drops.

Press Release: Nintendo's Virtual Board Game Brings the Family Together on Fortune Street

Mushroom Kingdom and DRAGON QUEST Characters Inhabit New Game for Wii

                      

VANCOUVER, B.C. – December 5, 2011 – If you work hard, invest your money and make smart choices, soon you'll be making a bundle on Fortune Street™. The virtual board game for the Wii™ console launches today and invites players of all ages to try something new: navigating the stock and real estate markets to maximize their wealth and take control of the board. The game will have everyone in the family having fun together and competing to see who will be living large in the living room.

The game lets players choose from more than 20 characters from different worlds. Mario™, Princess Peach™ and Bowser™ are among those representing the Mushroom Kingdom, while Angelo, Bianca and Slime are some of the DRAGON QUEST® characters in this Square Enix-developed game. Players can also opt to play as their own Mii™ characters, and can even choose custom clothing and accessories once they earn enough stamps. Mii characters can dress as ninjas, be surrounded by three shells or even dress as Mario or other characters from the game.

"During the holidays people like to get together with friends and family members to play games," said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. "Fortune Street lets everyone have fun while buying, selling and trading property to grow their bank accounts."

Players move around one of more than 15 game boards based on popular Mushroom Kingdom and Dragon Quest locales. They buy shops and collect symbols that can be traded in at the bank for promotion and gold. When other players land on a shop, the owner collects a shopping fee. When players own all of the shops in one district, the property value goes up and so do the shopping fees.

Fortune Street includes an easier beginner setting (Easy rules) that helps players learn the rules as well as a more advanced setting. The Standard rules introduce more challenges, new strategies and the option for players to invest their earnings in the stock market to maximize their moolah.

Up to four players can compete at once. Even players who are far away can join in the fun. As long as all players have a copy of the game, they can get together via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection using a broadband Internet connection.

Fortune Street (known as Itadaki Street in Japan) is the ninth installment in the popular series. This is the first time an Itadaki Street game has been published in North America.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii.

For more information about Fortune Street, visit http://fortunestreet.nintendo.com.

Source: PR

Mario Party 9 Coming in March 2012

Yesterday we were all surprised with news of the release of Xenoblade Chronicles in North America, but tucked away in the Gamestop release list was a release date for Mario Party 9. According to the Gamestop list, Mario Party 9 will release on March 2, 2012.

Now the only reason I'm posting about this is because of the validity of the Xenoblade Chronicles release in North America, and the fact that other Wii titles are dated correctly on the list. While some may be sick of the Mario Party series, or think that it needs a serious kick in the arse (I'm one of those people), I just re-watched the E3 2011 trailer and I'm surprised at how great the mini-games look. I'm a little confused with the party vehicle that they shows, but I'm a little more excited for the game now.

3D Classics Kid Icarus

A Blog for Other Stuff

As I'm sure you're all aware of by now, I write about video games. However, there comes a time when I want to talk about other stuff and being under the restrictions of a Nintendo blog prevents me from doing so. OK, I could if I really wanted to, but that would shift my focus for this place and that's not something I'm going to do, except for this post.

I have wanted to comment on Movies, TV, culture, coffee, blah blah, etc., for some time now and out of a bout of boredom, tonight I have created a new blog called A Blog for Other Stuff. I saw the American Reunion trailer and just had to blab on about nothing, so I created a blog for that. My posts there will be less frequent than here at Play Nintendo. but I will be making it a semi-daily event. So, if you're interested in other stuff, I got other stuff. 

A Blog for Other Stuff

The other blog is intended for an older audience (18+) and may feature foul language and references to alcohol, so I thought I'd put out that warning before you clickety click over.

Xenoblade Chronicles North America Announcement Trailer

Direct Link

It's Official! Xenoblade Chronicles is Coming to North America Spring 2012

While it was a very strong rumor earlier today, Nintendo of America has just officially confirmed in a press release that Xenoblade Chronicles is indeed coming to North America during Spring of 2012. It came as a total surprise to me and I would imagine every other Wii owner as well. Looks like we have something to look forward to in the early months of 2012.

Not only does this speak volumes of Nintendo's dedication to their fans, but it is also a huge victory for the fans themselves who have been petitioning for the game's release in the states. It will only be available through pre-order from Gamestop and Nintendo themselves for $49.99.

Xenoblade Chronicles May Be Coming to North America

Here at Play Nintendo we will rarely post about rumors and call it a "news story", but there seems to be credibility with this latest information, and it's of extreme importance to Wii gamers. Gamestop has listed Xenoblade Chronicles as an exclusive which indicates its release here in North America on April 3rd, 2012 for $49.99. It comes on the heels of an announcement from Reggie Fils-Aime about how the Wii still has some games left to be released. This of course is extremely exciting for fans that have been pushing for the game's release for months and months.

Now here is the kicker that actually strengthens the story for me. Nintendo of America has posted art from the game on their official Facebook page, which of course has sent fans into a frenzy, myself included. Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the biggest Wii releases that might have slipped our fingers, but it looks like hope is still alive.

Source

Press Release: NINTENDO KICKS HOLIDAY FUN INTO OVERDRIVE WITH MARIO KART 7 FOR NINTENDO 3DS

Discover the Land, Air and Sea Chaos of New Mario Kart 7

                     

VANCOUVER, B.C. – December 1, 2011 – No matter how they travel from place to place, consumers will soon be buckling up for an unforgettable ride with Mario™ and his Mushroom Kingdom friends. The Mario Kart™ 7 game launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system on Dec. 4, adding a wild new installment in Nintendo's fan-favourite racing franchise. Players of any experience level will get to drive, glide through the air and dive underwater for the first time in Mario Kart 7. They will also discover new customizable karts, new courses and abilities, Community features and multiplayer options that allow up to eight friends to race together wirelessly. Best of all, the game makes use of the remarkable capabilities of Nintendo 3DS with access to StreetPass™ and SpotPass™ content and the ability to play in full 3D without the need for special glasses. Mario Kart 7 will be offered at a suggested retail price of $39.99 in Canada.

New Resident Evil Revelations Story Trailer

Nintendo Download for December 1, 2011

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - DEC. 1, 2011

Dec. 1, 2011
This week's Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™
House M.D. - Episode 5: Under the Big Top – Dr. Gregory House and his elite diagnostic team race against the clock to unravel a medical mystery involving a middle-aged circus manager who is strangled by a horse. (For Nintendo 3DS™ / Nintendo DSi™)

Nintendo eShop
Adventure Island  – Master Higgins' princess has been kidnapped, and he is the only one who can save her. To aid in his search, he'll need to equip his skateboard and use a variety of weapons as he fights his way through eight different worlds. (For Nintendo 3DS)

WiiWare™
Xmas Puzzle – Xmas Puzzle is a game in which you must solve progressively more difficult puzzles as you advance through the plot. As many as four friends or family members can enjoy playing at the same time. (For Wii™)

Also new this week:
• Double Bloob (Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare)

To view this week's Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/downloadZ3M29t51.php

Source: Nintendo PR