Legendary games designer Shigeru Miyamoto has gone on record to say that 2010 will be a “really great year” for Nintendo Wii owners.
“This year’s going to be really great for the hardcore Nintendo player, especially with Super Mario Galaxy 2.”
“I really want many households to be able to have a hands-on experience of Mario Galaxy 2. I didn’t have any involvement in Metroid Other M, but it is on its way. And also we are working on the New Legend Of Zelda for Wii.”
- Shigeru Miyamoto
M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pigeon recently informed CNBC that Nintendo’s surprisingly early announcement of the Nintendo 3DS was primarily because the company feared that journalists were about to leak too much information regarding the device.
“Apparently, the Japanese press was all over it and talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak.”
- Billy Pigeon, M2 Research
A new peripheral released by VDIGI promises to upscale the Wii’s native resolution to 1080p.
The VD-W3 works by connecting the Wii console to one side of the device and then connecting the HDMI input into the other side. The device is available from VDIGI’s website, but it will set you back a rather pricey 75 dollars.
Specs
* Input: Wii AV Connector x 1, USB Type A Plug x 1.
* Output: HDMI x1 , 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack.
* Video In Supported: EDTV(480i/576i), SDTV(480p/576p)
* Video Out Supported : 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1650×1050 (at refresh rate 59.94Hz)
* Audio Out: HDMI audio, Analog audio.
* Bi-Color LED: Blue and Red.
* Operating Temperature: 5°C to 60°C (41°F to 140°F)
* Dimensions (approximate): 12cm (L) x 7cm (W) x 2.5cm (H)
* Mass (approximate): ~180gPowerful Video Signal conversion
* Crystal shape image, Outstanding picture quality.
* Full HD (1080p) output.
* True 10-Bits high definition video scaler engine.
* AV grade scaler engineUser Friendly
* No external power required.
* Easy to setup.
* LED status indication.Wide Range Video Display support
* Support TV (HDMI) and PC Monitor (DVI).
* HDMI-Audio and Analog audio out.
* Various HDTV video out.
* Native resolution for LCD monitor.
Online media site Super Power Bros have created an interesting comparison video which looks at the differences behind Netflix streaming on the Nintendo Wii and on the PlayStation 3.
The embedded video shows that Netflix on the PlayStation 3 takes 2:53 to load up a preview clip from start to finish, whilst the Nintendo Wii only takes 2:25. The author also claims that the video actually looks better on the Wii than the PlayStation 3.
The Nintendo DSi XL is set for release Sunday, March 28th in the United States and Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has stepped forth to explain why we might want to purchase one.
“The DSi XL is a form factor addition to our line up. We are not representing it as a revolution. Having said that, once you use the DSi XL you won’t go back. I haven’t gone back. For me to give up those big beautiful screens is not going to happen.”
“In our mind, the big advance with the DSi XL, besides the obvious – the larger screens, is actually the wider view angle. We think making portable gaming more social is a big opportunity and I say this from experience. When you are working on a Zelda puzzle and your spouse, your significant other, son, daughter, want to see what’s going, that’s awfully tough, versus now with this wider viewing angle sitting literally side-by-side on a couch, it is a great experience.”
“Consumers are going to upgrade. I think predominantly if there are still consumers with the DS fat that will upgrade to this, consumers with the DS Lite will upgrade into this. Brand new consumers will opt for this whether they are new youth consumers, whether they are older consumers.”
“We see the potential consumer as being a very wide very diverse audience opting into the DSi XL.”
- Nintendo president, Reggie Fils-Aime
Netflix have announced that they’ve shipped out a batch of instant streaming discs to select customers just before the service officially goes live.
Those participants who receive the preliminary streaming discs during the next couple of days will in turn help the company fine-tune the overall Netflix experience on the Nintendo Wii.
Nintendo have finally decided to lift the wraps on the gorgeous looking Super Mario Galaxy 2 boxart.
It’s pretty much identical to the image Nintendo released via its press kit during the Nintendo Media Summit, but this time it’s adorned with the Wii logo and an additional orange Luma soaring high alongside the title.
Jools Watsham, the developer behind Dementium 2, has told gaming publication Pocketgamer that he believes the Nintendo 3DS will be the best handheld games console ever.
“Based on what I’ve heard about the 3DS specs, I think it will be the best handheld system to date. To be honest, I think the 3D aspect of the console is just the icing on what is already an extremely powerful system.
“I expect the 3DS to have the graphical power of a GameCube, plus all of the other delights such as two screens, rumble, motion control, Wi-Fi, and an analogue stick. The 3D feature is wonderful, for sure, but it will only be appropriate for certain things. [Nintendo] produces the best handheld systems, [the system will] deliver a platform worthy of a successor to the Nintendo DSi. [I am] very interested in developing for the 3DS.”
- Jools Watsham, Dementium 2
Sony’s John Koller claims that the Nintendo DS is primarily used by young children and therefore its successor, the Nintendo 3DS with its built in 3D capability’s, just won’t appeal to them.
“I think it remains to be seen where Nintendo goes with 3D on a portable. Having been in the portable space for quite awhile, I think it’s an interesting move but one I’d like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint. 8 and 9 year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now.”
- Sony’s Director of Hardware and Marketing, John Koller
Nintendo have officially announced that that the successor to the Nintendo DS system is a 3D capable version of the popular hand-held but neglects the need for 3D glasses and is titled the Nintendo 3DS.
Whilst the company didn’t reveal too much regarding the specifics of the hardware itself, apparently leaving the details to E3, the company have stated that the new hand-held will be released sometime during Nintendo’s next financial year (April 2010 – March 2011).
- The Nintendo 3DS, will be released sometime during Nintendo’s next financial year (Apr 2010 – March 2011).
- It will be capable of producing 3D graphics, without the need for 3D glasses.
- The 3DS will be backwards compatible with the entire line of Nintendo DS products.
- It will be properly revealed during the E3 trade show in Los Angles, which will take place in June.
- Nintendo 3DS
