N-Europe

Media: Street Fighter & Tekken Producers Fight

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:42:14 +0000

The producers of Street Fighter and Tekken fight it out as the release of Tekken 3D: Prime Edition draws near.

While Capcom's Street Fighter has enjoyed success as a beloved fighter on the Nintendo 3DS since the console launched it is about to face a tough adversary - Tekken.

To promote the upcoming title Namco Bandai has released a parody fight between the producers of these two beloved franchises. Street Fighter's producer Yoshinori Ono performs with his usual level of charisma as he and Tekken's Katsuhiro Harada battle to see who is best, right after exchanging a StreetPass hit!

Tekken 3D: Prime Edition makes full use of StreetPass as players can collect and trade original Tekken cards via the data exchanging system. Fans of the series are in for a treat as the game contains 40 playable characters, numerous game modes and the ability to play online.

The video also features footage from Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, the first 3D Tekken title, as well as a small sample of the 3D movie Tekken Blood Vengence. Be sure to check out the video below to find out who is the last man standing!

News: Metro: Last Light Delayed to 2013

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:38:23 +0000

THQ's horror-tinted FPS sequel gets pushed back til next year...

The sequel to the little-played dark FPS Metro 2033 was quietly announced to be heading to Wii U as well as other HD consoles back at E3, but it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer to get our fix of European, post-apocalyptic dreariness.

In their Q3 earnings report, publisher THQ confirmed that the tentative date for Metro: Last Light had been pushed back to the first quarter of 2013. THQ's other confirmed Wii U game, Darksiders II, received a vague summer release window. It is expected to release on Wii U at the console's launch.

Metro: Last Light is the sequel to Metro 2033, which was based on a novel of the same name. The game told the story of an alternate, post-apocalyptic Russia that is being ravaged by mysterious creatures.

News: GAME Hint At Selling Overseas Stores

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:24:32 +0000

In a recent statement GAME hinted that they may be selling their overseas operation, EA boss shows concern over "major retail partners".

We revealed yesterday how GAME were in financial trouble and today GAME has confirmed that it is in talks with its lenders.

Its lending syndicated is reviewing the company whilst GAME has hinted that it may sell its overseas operation which includes 94 shops in Australia, 67 in Scandinavia, 197 in France and 288 across Spain and Portugal.

GAME are still adamant that they will be selling new releases, including the PS Vita, despite apparent problems with obtaining stock.

It's believed that GAME have lost their credit insurance with agencies so any stock has to be paid for up front in cash.

"In response to press speculation the GAME Group plc confirms that it is in on-going dialogue with its lending syndicate to reach agreement on revised terms for its facilities. As part of these discussions, the lending syndicate is reviewing a strategic plan of the company which includes a review of its overseas operations."

Critics and analysts have been saying the GAME possibly bit off more than they could chew and tried to broaden the business too quickly in the "Wii boom" a few years back.

EA boss John Riccitiello voiced concerns over a retailer yesterday which many believe to be GAME.

"We are concerned with the financial condition of one of our major European retail partners, which could lead to both increased bad debt and lost sales"

GAME have confirmed that this Fridays releases are still on track and will be available in store though Metal Gear Solid has been taken from its website and pre-orders for Mass Effect 3 are being turned away.

News: Monster Hunter 3G Beats Capcom's Target

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:05:39 +0000

The 3DS-exclusive adventure title has shipped 1.2 million copies three months earlier than anticipated...

Capcom's Q3 earnings report for the fiscal year is in, and while it's not an overly rosy picture for the company, it did have one bright light in the form of Monster Hunter Tri G on 3DS.

Releasing in Japan in December, the game managed to ship a hefty 1.2 million units by the beginning of 2012. Capcom's original target was for the game to achieve the figure by the end of March.

The publisher has not given any official expectation for its other major 3DS title, the just-released Resident Evil: Revelations.

Capcom's total sales were down almost 30%, with profits down almost 50%. The company cites the mobile area as the key to getting its business model back on track. You can read Capcom's full earnings report here.

Monster Hunter Tri G is currently awaiting confirmation of a European release.

Media: The Last Story English Screenshots

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:07:09 +0000

We've got DOZENS of new screenshots from this month's English-language release...

With its European release impending, we've got sixty(!) new, English screenshots from Mistwalker's Wii-exclusive action-RPG The Last Story.

To check them out, clickety-click here or the screen below to head to the gallery (screen 13 onwards).

The Last Story releases across Europe on February 24th. Selected retailers are also offering a special edition, which includes an art book, a steelbook case and a CD with music from Nobuo Uematsu.

Media: The Last Story Characters Trailer

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:22:24 +0000

A new trailer for the European version of The Last Story has hit the net...

With The Last Story releasing in Europe in a matter of days, a new trailer has popped up. It shows off the localised names and voice talent for the main characters. In the game, you control a band of mercenaries trying to find a living across the fantastical Lazulis Island.

The game's director, Hironobu Sakaguchi, is currently in town to promote the game. He will be speaking at BAFTA on February 16th, and will appear for fans at the MCM Midlands Comic Con two days later.

The Last Story launches on February 24th.

News: Resident Evil Kept Off Top Spot in Japan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:30:49 +0000

Revelations certainly brings in the crowds, but it's not enough to secure the top of the chart...

The latest Japanese charts are out for the week of January 23rd to 29th, with two franchise titans battling it out for the top spot. It was Capcom's 3DS-exclusive Resident Evil: Revelations which had to settle for second-place, with From Software's Armoured Core V on PS3 earning the bragging rights for the week.

Some context for the performance of Revelations - it was the biggest opening week for a Resident Evil game on a Nintendo platform in recent memory, just about beating out Resident Evil 4 on Gamecube.

The only other notable new entry was Namco's remake of the DS RPG Tales of Innocence for Vita. Its debut fell short of the 3DS port of Tales of the Abyss, which shifted almost 75k on its opening week last year.

No.	System	Title	Publisher
1	PS3	Armoured Core V 163,906	From Software
2	3DS	Resident Evil: Revelations 146,559	Capcom
3	PSV	Tales of Innocence: R 54,853	Bandai Namco
4	3DS	Mario Kart 7 29,230 / (1,433,958)	Nintendo
5	3DS	Monster Hunter Tri G 27,032 / (1,186,898)	Capcom
6	360	Armored Core V 24,719	From Software
7	3DS	Super Mario 3D Land 23,003 / (1,288,495)	Nintendo
8	PS3	The Idolmaster: Gravure For You! Vol. 4 18,179	Bandai Namco
9	3DS	Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure 14,928 / (46,526)	Sega
10	3DS	Inazuma Eleven Go: Shine / Dark 10,479 / (370,804)	Level-5
11	PSP	Mobile Suit Gundam: Mokuba no Kiseki 9,121	Bandai Namco
12	Wii	Just Dance 7,837 / (519,199)	Nintendo
13	PS3	Warriors Orochi 3 7,419 / (355,033)	Koei Tecmo
14	PSP	Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP the Best) 7,072 / (178,978)	Capcom
15	PS3	Final Fantasy XIII-2 6,405 / (769,079)	Square-Enix
16	Wii	Wii Party 6,280 / (2,279,598)	Nintendo
17	Wii	Wii Sports Resort with Remote Plus 6,056 / (856,483)	Nintendo
18	3DS	Nintendogs + cats 5,397 / (487,201)	Nintendo
19	Wii	Mario Kart Wii 5,326 / (3,495,100)	Nintendo
20	Wii	Kirby Wii 4,873 / (590,133)	Nintendo

3DS itself set the tone for the year by staying well ahead of everything else. Tales of Innocence: R rose Vita levels slightly, but it's far off making any sort of convincing challenge to Nintendo's handheld.

No.	Console	Week Sales	Last Week Sales	LTD Sales
1	Nintendo 3DS	84,789	80,960	4,789,379
2	PS3	22,924	21,155	7,785,255
3	Vita	18,942	15,219	535,423
4	PSP	16,008	17,181	18,856,144
5	Wii	10,396	10,173	12,247,494
6	Nintendo DS	1,918	2,022	32,822,683
7	Xbox 360	1,235	1,588	1,543,125
8	PS2	713	903	21,777,812

News: GAME Struggle With New Stock

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:53:30 +0000

"No credit from the agencies means no stock for the stores. It's going to get worse before it gets better. You won't find a new release this Friday."

Things aren't looking good for online and high-street retailer GAME as they face more credit problems. Earlier in the month it was reported that GAME saw a 14.7% sales decline for the eight week Christmas period and things aren't looking any rosier in 2012.

GAME has financing issues and is currently having to work with individual publishers to find solutions. Some people speculated that this could be why Resident Evil: Revelations wasn't available to purchase online last week but GAME have stated that was due to "website errors" and not credit issues.

An anonymous publishing executive told MCV that things are going to get worse before they get better and people wanting new releases this Friday should look elsewhere.

"No credit from the agencies means no stock for the stores. It's going to get worse before it gets better. You won't find a new release this Friday."

Despite these claims though, GAME have said that this weeks big releases will be in stock and the company is currently processing Soul Calibur V and Final Fantasy XIII-2.

It's been stated by various people lately that certain new releases aren't available in GAME and whilst at first people assumed it was because of lack of demand, it may well have been because of credit issues.

GAME have denied rumours that staff wages have not be paid.

News: 100-Year-Old Nan Swears by DS

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:27:47 +0000

A 100-year-old gaming grandmother thanks the Nintendo DS for her sharp mind.

As Kathleen Connell celebrates her centenarian it is not her letter from the Queen that she most treasures but her Nintendo DS that she claims has helped keep her mind sharp.

Kit, as she is known to her friends, enjoys a range of mentally challenging titles such as Art Academy, Scrabble and the ever-popular Brain Training according to The Telegraph who spoke to the gaming granny. She plays the console every night and told the paper she doesn't know what she would do without it.

Continuing her praise of the console Ms. Connell claims that the Nintendo DS has helped to keep her mind active and is helping prevent her brain from becoming too forgetful. She also suggests that school children should use the Nintendo DS software at school for spelling and mathematics before adding that she "can't speak highly enough" for the Nintendo DS.

News: This Week's Euro Downloads - 02/02/12

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:27:51 +0000

3D Classics: Kid Icarus is the highlight of the eShop this week...

Nintendo has confirmed that the sixth and final (for now?) game in the 3D Classics line of remakes will be available to download on the eShop later this week.

Club Nintendo members who had already registered two eligible 3DS games on the site will have already received 3D Classics: Kid Icarus for free (or will be expecting their code very soon), but everyone else will get the chance to buy the retro-dimensionalised version of the cult NES game this Thursday.

Smugly informed readers will also note that Nintendo's DSiWare unknown Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon is getting an eShop re-release. The full list of new downloads is as follows.

3D Classics: Kid Icarus (Nintendo) - 3DS Download - �5.40/�6
Join angelic warrior Pit as this iconic Nintendo action-platformer returns, with remastered 3D visuals in 3D Classics Kid Icarus�. Pit must save goddess Palutena from evil Medusa to defend Angel Land. Using his trusty bow and arrow he must seek out the Three Sacred Treasures on a journey from the underworld to the sky.

Castle Conqueror Against (Circle Ent.) - eShop/DSiWare - �1.80/�2/200 Points
The Empire has invaded your beautiful island in search of gold, hunting many innocent people on the way. Some tribes have even betrayed their faith for fear of the intruders. As a famous warrior and a loyal worshipper, the island�s god has given you his blessing to curse and punish the invaders to protect your tribe.

Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon (Nintendo) - eShop/DSiWare - �4.50/�5/500 Points
Take on Zeus in a game of fast-paced pinball in Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon. Boost your points playing different modes based on the legends of Greek mythology such as Medusa, who can turn your steel ball into stone. The action happens across both screens of your Nintendo DSi or Nintendo 3DS featuring all the lights and sounds of a real pinball table with a stirring soundtrack to accompany your play.

TNT Racers (dtp entertainment) - WiiWare - 1000 Points
Start revving your engine and outrun your rivals in this action packed multiplayer racing game for Wii. TNT - Tracks �N� Tricks � is a game with new features, gadgets and race courses for you to master as your opponents eat dust!

News: Miyamoto Finding Next Big Hit

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:52:19 +0000

Shigeru Miyamoto isn't set to retire just yet as he's busy trying to find the next big hit for Nintendo.

It was cleared up by Iwata that Shigeru Miyamoto is yet to retire and now Miyamoto has spoken out himself about what he wishes to do in future.

According to Miyamoto San, he is focused on finding the next big hit right now as oppose to focusing on already established franchises such as The Legend Of Zelda and Super Mario.

Indeed, a new IP is always exciting and if Miyamoto can create something with as much appeal as Wii Sports or Wii Fit then Nintendo should have nothing to worry about when rolling out the Wii U later in the year.

Miyamoto supervises on big Nintendo projects when necessary but he admits that lately he has spent more time on his own ideas.

"[I've been] spending more time than before on finding new ideas for new developments rather than focusing my energy on work in my teams in order to solidify the contents of [existing] franchise titles."

"After all, developing big hit titles must be the solution. I am acting with the understanding that one big hit title can change multiple phases of a situation in the entertainment business, and I feel that finding such one big hit is my basic job."

Miyamoto believes that all it takes is for one big hit to solidify a product in the market and Wii Sports along with the original Nintendogs are perfect examples. If he could replicate this success with a new IP on Wii U or 3DS then Nintendo would be in a very good position.

News: Miyamoto Cannot Be Replaced

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:21:34 +0000

Satoru Iwata has stated that no one can ever replace Shigeru Miyamoto.

Iwata discussed with investors recently the headlines that emerged last year regarding Shigeru Miyamoto's retirement. Whilst Iwata stated that no single person can ever replace the mighty Miyamoto, Nintendo are confident that they have plenty of incredibly talented staff at Nintendo who have been inspired by, have learnt from, and can take over from Miyamoto San.

"Of course, no single person can replace Mr. Miyamoto instantaneously. They are living in a different age from Mr. Miyamoto and their experiences are different from Mr. Miyamoto's. On the other hand, there have been many people who have observed how Mr. Miyamoto works, have worked with him or have been left in situations where they have to take on more significant responsibility without being allowed to be dependent upon Mr. Miyamoto.

Those who have been close to Mr. Miyamoto have been making developments with the world as their target, and they have been coming up with a number of products. Because there are a number of people who have gained a significant amount of experience, I am confident that people are growing. Even for the development fields that required Mr. Miyamoto's involvement in the past, the situation is changing."

Iwata went on to state how those headlines last year were vastly over sensationalised. Shigeru Miyamoto often states that he could be 'retiring soon' and has been saying that to developers he works with for some years now so that instead of relying on him, they can make their own decisions and grow as individuals.

"During one of the interviews he accepted abroad, Mr. Miyamoto commented that he always tells his subordinates that he's going to retire soon, in order to nurture the young developers. Mr. Miyamoto's intention in making these remarks is to change the developers' mindset because they will continue to believe that "this is Mr. Miyamoto's responsibility, not ours" unless he encourages them to envision the workplace without him. Unfortunately, the article was reported as if Mr. Miyamoto had made his retirement announcement.

Iwata continued by saying that after one slightly misleading article, different sites were reporting more and more dramatic headlines until the gaming public were sobbing into their replica Mario hats. The original story ended up blowing way out of proportion and once again reminded Nintendo 'how scary the internet can be'.

"Follow-up articles were created one after another on the Internet. Before we knew it, articles containing completely different messages from Mr. Miyamoto's original message were circulated, which once again reminded us how scary the Internet can be."

So, Miyamoto is not set to retire just yet but rest assured that when he does there will be plenty of talented developers within Nintendo to carry on his legacy.

News: Wii U Will Not Support DVD/BluRay

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:33:12 +0000

Nintendo have confirmed that the Wii U will not play DVDs, BluRays or GameCube discs but will support Wii games.

Those of you hoping the Wii U would be an entertainment powerhouse are set to be disappointed as Nintendo reveals that DVDs, BluRays and GameCube titles will not be playable on the new system.

This won't come as a surprise to many Nintendo gamers as no previous Nintendo console (apart from the Japan exclusive Panasonic Q) have supported DVDs.

The lack of GameCube games have got people speculating whether such titles will appear in the Wii U version of the Virtual Console though and Nintendo did state last year that GameCube titles would be downloadable on Wii U before going back on their word.

Many people believe that with the growing popularity of streaming content, DVDs and BluRays won't be a necessity as the likes of LOVEFiLM and Netflix begin to play bigger roles in the entertainment industry.

News: Super Mario DLC Possible

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:10:34 +0000

Iwata states that the next Super Mario title may support DLC via Nintendo Network.

Nintendo fans have longed for the day that Nintendo embrace DLC and it seems that day may finally be upon us.

Iwata recently stated that a future Super Mario game would be able to support DLC which would not only give Nintendo bigger profits but also lengthen the lifespan and popularity of the title.

When you look at sales of Mario Kart Wii and New Super Mario Bros. you do wonder how on earth Nintendo could possibly squeeze more juice out of such games as even years after release they're clinging onto the charts.

Iwata believes that with new downloadable content, such titles could have an even greater return and even longer lifespan.

"The idea of supplying new stages to Super Mario users who want to play the game more but have completed the game and lost interest in the existing stages... This will not only give us new profits but will lengthen the life of a product, in that it will never be out of fashion and can keep attracting public attention as long as many people play it."

Remember though, Iwata is simply stating that it could happen and hasn't yet outright confirmed it for any particular iteration of the Mario series. Indeed, games that are already on sale will not be able to support DLC but upcoming releases may.

Iwata recently revealed in an investors meeting that a new Super Mario outing is in development for 3DS so perhaps that game will be the first to showcase Mario DLC.

News: More Letter Box Incentives On the Way

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:25:08 +0000

Satoru Iwata acknowledges the popularity of the 3DS messaging app...

It may not be the quick-and-dirty instant messaging service that some people wanted it to be, but we'd like to think that Letter Box has earned itself the status of being a worthy addition to any 3DS owner's army of apps.

According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, Letter Box - known as Swapnote in North America - has become a hit worldwide, especially among women. He hinted that future updates would further incentivize people to make use of the free software.

"More than 10 million handwritten notes have been exchanged in the four weeks after the launch of the SwapNote service. And, I believe that the number of handwritten notes to be exchanged will increase at an accelerated pace if we can have users continue to enjoy the software for a long time. In fact, we have some plans to encourage more people to use it, and you will find out what I am talking about when we reveal such plans in the future."

Letter Box can be downloaded for free on the eShop. With it, 3DS owners can send friends 3D doodles, messages, sound recordings and 3D photos to each other via SpotPass.

News: Kirby TV Arrives On 3DS

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:35:20 +0000

Remember Kirby TV on Wii? Well now it's on your 3DS, in 3D!

Kirby TV was a Wii channel released last year which allowed users to view episodes of the ever popular (ahem) cartoon, Kirby: Right Back At Ya!.

The cartoon, despite obviously being targeted towards younger audiences, was nice to watch simply because of the production values (it certainly had better animation than Pok�mon).

This 3D Kirby animation isn't quite the overhaul you may have thought it to be though, as Right Back At Ya! will not be a separate channel featuring all of the episodes but will instead be a two part animation made for 3DS.

Whether this is an all new episode or simply one of the old ones with a 3D makeover is yet to be seen but either way, you'll be able to view the pink blob in 3D on February 2nd via Nintendo Video.

Also due for Nintendo Video this week is a 3D trailer of the upcoming 3D movie, Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D.

News: Resident Evil Makes Strong Debut in UK

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:35 +0000

The 3DS horror romp tops the individual formats chart for the week...

Capcom's 3DS-exclusive blockbuster Resident Evil: Revelations has made an impressive debut in the UK, earning the seventh largest launch for a 3DS game to date.

For the week ending January 28th, the game was the highest selling 3DS game, racing ahead of Nintendo's own Mario Kart 7.

On the individual formats chart, it was the best selling game of the week, beating out Just Dance 3 on Wii and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox 360.

On the all formats chart, where the sales of multi-platform games are collated, it made its debut at number 6, behind FIFA 12, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim, Just Dance 3 and Battlefield 3.

For the full top 40, head on over to Chart-Track.

News: Ace Attorney 5 Confirmed

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:07:13 +0000

Capcom announces a fifth main game in the popular law 'em up...

A fifth main entry in the popular Ace Attorney adventure line of games has been announced by publisher and developer Capcom (via Andriasang).

No additional information was revealed for the game; not even a platform. However, the series has always had its home on Nintendo handhelds, so 3DS owners are surely in with a good shot. Capcom simultaneously announced HD re-releases of the first three Ace Attorney games on iOS and Android devices.

The last main game in the series was 2007's Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney on Nintendo DS. Capcom more recently earned the ire of fans for refusing to release Gyakuten Kenji 2 - the sequel to the Ace Attorney Investigations spin-off - outside of Japan.

News: Capcom Lower Revelations Price In US

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:13:06 +0000

US gamers can now enjoy Resident Evil: Revelations for the lowered price of $39.99

Capcom recently revealed a price cut in America for the hugely anticipated Resident Evil: Revelations that is set to release over there on 7th February.

The original price of the game was $49.99 which is typically $10 more than an average 3DS game. The reason for the inflated price is because of the hefty 4GB cartridge the game comes on (instead of the usual 2GB cartridge) thanks to the multiple voice overs and the general beauty of the game.

Whilst Capcom believe that the game is more than worth the $49.99 price tag they still wish to offer consumers the best possible price and were happy to announce that they can release the game for the same amount of money as other first hand 3DS titles.

"Since the announcement of the $49.99 price point, we've spent weeks looking for a way to bring your cost down to standard 3DS pricing. Today we can finally confirm we were successful in this, and hope the reduced price encourages even more people to check out this strong entry in the Resident Evil canon."

If you have pre-ordered the game you are advised to contact the store for more information on pricing and how it will affect your order.

Resident Evil: Revelations recently released in Europe with the Circle Pad Pro. Stay tuned to N-Europe as we will be giving our verdict on the game very soon.

News: Wii U Will Have Strong Launch

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:51:32 +0000

Last month Scott Moffitt promised us a great launch, this month Iwata is the one filling us with hope.

Nintendo have been drip feeding us morsels of information about the Wii U for the past year now and whilst they are still not prepared to show off any more titles they can confirm that big games are coming.

It seems that they aren't too far off either as Iwata is hoping for a strong launch after he still has a bitter taste in his mouth (the 3DS doesn't taste that good, clearly).

Iwata is also keen to let everyone know that Nintendo are aiming to firmly complete the development of the entire system and prepare software for a strong launch.

"The company is aiming to firmly complete the development of the entire system and prepare sufficient software so that the Wii U will be at its best at the time of the launch. Needless to say, we have learned a bitter lesson from the launch of the Nintendo 3DS."

The Wii U is set to launch some time before the end of the year so we won't be waiting much longer to see what these launch games are.