News
May 15, 2012
Mario Kart 7 Update Is Out - Maka Wuhu Is Playable Once More! 05:25:59 PM CT [David]
An update for Mario Kart 7 was released on the 3DS eShop today.  The update removes track-warping exploits found on Maka Wuhu, Wuhu Loop, and Bowser Castle 1.  However, the update only fixes these exploits in online games; the exploits/glitches continue to work in single player mode and in local matches.

The eShop entry for the update states that the update will be required for online play starting on May 16th.

Source: Nintendo eShop
May 14, 2012
New $29.99 MSRP for Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Donkey Kong Country Returns 10:59:30 PM CT [David]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Donkey Kong Country Returns are both getting official price drops this June.  On or around June 10th, the MSRP for both titles will be just $29.99.

Source : Nintendo.com
Nintendo Selects Mario Power Tennis, Pikmin 2 on June 10th for $19.99 Each 10:55:35 PM CT [David]
The Nintendo Selects line of Wii titles will be getting two new games on June 10th of this year.  New Play Control Mario Power Tennis is being added to the line, and New Play Control Pikmin 2 will finally get a North American release as well.  Both will carry an MSRP of $19.99.

Source: Nintendo.com
April 26, 2012
Digital and Physical Release for New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS 08:45:04 PM CT [David]
Iwata revealed that the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be simultaneously released as a cartridge and an eShop download.

Iwata directly stated that digital copies of retail titles would be available for direct purchase from the eShop itself, and that retail stores would be selling download codes for those same titles.

In a seeming contradiction, Iwata also seemed to state that Nintendo would be eschewing from the standard digital sales practice and selling through retail partners instead of directly to the consumer, thus letting stores set the prices of games.  Given that these two comments appear to flatly oppose each other, perhaps there was a mishap in translation.

Iwata regarding direct eShop sales of digital titles:
"Naturally, consumers can digitally buy packaged software at the Nintendo eShop."


Iwata regarding direct corporate sales of digital titles vs. retail sales of digital titles:
"As you can see here, in the common digital product distribution of today, it is the standard business model where the platform holder makes direct sales to consumers, which is often called the disintermediation type of digital product distribution. However, the digital product distribution channel Nintendo conceives is not the disintermediation type.

As you can see, Nintendo sells its digital download products to its retailers, and the retailers sell them to the consumers.

In this case, retailers are going to decide the retail prices of our digital download products, which have been decided by Nintendo so far. Nintendo will not be involved in the retailer’s retail price decision. Also, Nintendo has so far been shouldering the billing and the settlement costs at the Nintendo eShop business, but with this system, just like the ordinary packaged products, Nintendo will not shoulder these costs."


Source: NCL Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2012 (English)
April 20, 2012
Mario Kart 7 Gets Patched This May 11:28:52 PM CT [David]
During today's Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo revealed that an upcoming firmware update would provide patching capabilities on the 3DS.  In May, Mario Kart 7 will receive a patch to eliminate the glitched shortcuts being used on Maku Wahu and other tracks.

Link: NCL Nintendo Direct Presentation (Japanese)
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