The Biggest Gaming Convention Of The Year, E3! (And Other Gaming News You Should Be Aware Of)

Anyone who is anyone that loves video games knows about 2 things for sure: the ongoing console wars, and the upcoming E3 event. E3 is where all of the magic is going to happen. Think of it as a "pre-Christmas" for gaming nerds like myself. June 10-12 will be a madhouse of video games, gaming companies, gaming tech, cosplayers, and more all at the Los Angeles Convention Center in LA, California. I can only imagine how many new, and unannounced games that will be brought into the light. As a huge gamer myself, I'm way too excited to see what all is going to go down at this year's event. There is bound to be another extensive look at the PS4 and Xbox One. After all, this will be the first E3 event since both of the new platforms have dropped. We should expect all eyes to be on these two powerhouses.

The press conferences will basically tell us what we can expect in terms of the console wars. At least, in my eyes they will. You have to figure, it's always a business competition correct? Well naturally, each one of the three competitors (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) will be painting themselves in the best light. Notice I've not talked much about Nintendo or the Wii U. Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo, and have loved them since I was playing "Super Mario" on the Super Nintendo back in the day. All nostalgia aside however, that doesn't negate the fact that Nintendo's sales and business performance have been less than extraordinary in comparison to both Sony's and Microsoft's systems. As much as some of us may hate, love, or find the Wii U strictly used for a light-hearted/family oriented gamer(s), as long as there are "Legend of Zelda" and "Mario" games out, Nintendo is going to be alive.

If you've been keeping up with the 2 "hardcore" systems/gaming giants, then I'm sure you're aware of the exclusive titles that are to be coming out. Where there are exclusive titles however, there are a laundry list's worth more multi-platform titles. Expect one of the top talked about games to be Bungie's new "Destiny" game. This one I'm very excited for just for how much hype it's getting due to the developers being the same people who who created the massive "Halo" franchise that essentially put the Xbox on the map. I feel that the new game "Watch Dogs" will be talked about quite a bit as well simply because of it's release date being so close to the E3 date.

"Watch Dogs" has been being hyped up now for quite a while. It's incredibly immersive open-world set in Chicago, IL is looked at to be the most dynamic open-world created in any game to date. The graphics look incredible so far. The gameplay looks amazing. It really looks to be an incredible game.

Other games such as the new "Uncharted" and "Titan Fall" will definitely be getting talked about as well. If nothing else, the press conferences will give us more fuel to fight with in terms of our favorite consoles. I'm definitely a Sony fanboy, is I'm rooting for Sony's press conference to make the biggest splash this year. Having said that, I know that Microsoft's Xbox fanbase normally outshines Sony's by a bit of a margin, so I wouldn't be shocked if Microsoft came out of the gates swinging.

Sony's PS4 is still ahead of the Xbox One in terms of sales, which is a big step for Sony, but that doesn't mean that Microsoft is down for the count. Nintendo also has the opportunity to catch everyone off guard. This year's E3 Conference could be anyone's game still, and I'm more than excited to see what we have to look forward to in the future.

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Will The New Steam Machine Takeout The New PS4 and Xbox One?

It seems like over the past 15 to 20 years, we have seen the top three contenders in gaming continue to make their rise. Sony's Playstion, Microsoft's Xbox, and the multitude of Nintendo's consoles. As of recently, we have seen Nintendo fall off where as Sony and Microsoft have taken the console wars head on. But then again, we also know how big PC gaming still is, and how ruthless PC gamers can be about their opinions on console vs. PC gaming. PC's are widely looked at as being more powerful than gaming consoles. Whether it be better graphics, better frame rate, better anti-aliasing, the ability to mod, etc., PC gamers are very adamant on their stance.

Console gaming is still very, very much alive, as the recent 4.2 million PS4 units sold has shown us. But now PC wants to move into the console world as well. Valve and Alienware have joined forces to see this dream lived through. Their new Steam Machine looks to make its own push on the console wars.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Steam and it's gigantic community, Steam is ran by the PC gaming company Valve. Steam is both an app and game store that offers a multitude of different games for your gaming pleasure. They even boast games that have been out of the loop for a while on normal console multi-player formats. Games like Team Fortress 2. The only catch is that it is PC only.

With the new Steam Machine, Valve and Alienware are now able to expand their app and game store to the living room where the other console heavy hitters reign supreme. The system itself is basically a smaller version of a normal gaming PC. It runs on the SteamOS that allows for the Steam App to run via standard console methods. Since it is looked at as a console, it is also designed to be hooked up to your TV. So should you have a brand new 4K TV and , essentially, a small gaming PC/console hybrid, you have the ultimate gaming set up.

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The controller for the Steam Machine is a bit different then what most console gamers are used to. Instead of  analog sticks and D-pads, you are met with a touch screen and two track pads. The controller is also compatible with almost all versions of Steam and Steam games. The touchscreen in the center of the controller is not to be confused with the touch pad idea that is on the current PS4 controllers. Instead, it is designed to keep players on track in terms of their game. While the touchscreen is in use, it will appear on your game as a visual overlay so you can see exactly where your finger is placed. The 16 total buttons might be a bit more than one most gamers may be used to as well.

The fact that the SteamOS was designed with streaming purposes in mind shows just what this new gaming machine could do. The OS is Linux based, and allows for Mac and Windows games to be streamed directly onto the machine, and then from the machine to your TV. All of your first person shooters, action adventures, online multi-player, and even MMO's will now be available from your living room instead of your bedroom desk. Should the application of this prove to be both easy and beneficial, Sony and Microsoft may have a whole new monster to worry about.

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Nintendo Announces Pricing and Launch Dates for the Wii U

For some reason unbeknownst to me, Nintendo has decided to create yet another gaming console. If you ask me, Nintendo should just stick to making handheld systems, but I digress. The Wii U (because Nintendo couldn't think of a better name for their console than to add a "U" onto the name of the last one) is poised to launch on November 18th in North America, on November 30th in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and on December 8th in Japan.

The Wii U comes in two variations, the Basic and Premium. The Basic model comes with 8GB of memory, the console, a gamepad, sensor bar, HDMI cable and AC adapter (U.S. version) and will cost you $299.99. The Premium model comes with 32GB of memory, the console, gamepad, sensor bar, charging cradle and stands for both the console and gamepad. In addition to that, the Premium model comes with Nintendo Land and will run you $349.99.

The Premium model also comes with a Nintendo Network Premium subscription, giving you discounts on Nintendo games bought online. According to the company, this is a reward program that gives you points for digital purchases in the Nintendo eShop. The credit is valued at about 10% of the original Nintendo eShop price and can be used against future purchases once you reach a minimum of 500 points.

Many people are wondering about the games that the Wii U will be offering on launch day and whether or not Nintendo has decided to step away from the family-friendly entertainment offered by the Wii. Launch day games (at least in Europe) have been confirmed as New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, FIFA 13, ZombiU, Rayman Legends, Mass Effect 3 and Call of Duty Black Ops 2. A definitive list for the U.S. launch has yet to be announced, though it will probably be similar to the European list.

The biggest shock with the announcement of the Wii U was that Bayonetta 2 would be on the console. While many people will be thrilled to see a sequel to the highly popular game, they will be utterly crushed to find out that it is a Wii U exclusive! This came as a major shock to almost everybody, mainly due to the fact that a sequel for a game that was extremely popular on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 won't be showing up on either console.

I can't say I'm personally excited about the Wii U. While the tablet/controller hybrid gamepad is a very unique and innovative idea and will undoubtedly have some cool workings with certain games, I can't help but feel like the Wii U is going to be the iPhone 5 of Nintendo. What about you? Are you excited for the Wii U? Do you think Nintendo is going to look more towards the hardcore gamer with this console unlike how it did with the Wii? Sound off in the comments section below!

Source: IGN

Kaz Hirai Squashes Rumors of a PlayStation 4 Reveal at E3 2012

E3, otherwise known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the world's largest convention for video games, consoles and gaming technology and the 2012 event is right around the corner. Last year's E3 saw a few very nice announcements, like Halo 4 and the PS Vita, but the big thing everybody is going to be looking for this year is the next generation of consoles. It's been seven years since we've had a new console debut for any of the top names in the business and many people believe that E3 2012 will show us the "PlayStation 4", "Xbox 720" and whatever boring piece of motion-controlled crap Nintendo decides to pollute the industry with, or will it?

Gaming website MCV launched a story not too long ago rumoring that the PlayStation 4 would see its world premiere on the stage at E3 2012. However, ever since that story dropped, there have been an exorbitant amount of contradictory stories, including one from gaming analyst Michael Pachter, who stated, "there's zero chance of a tease from Sony for PlayStation 4 at E3." But if Pachter's thoughts weren't enough to convince you, maybe news from Sony itself will.

Sony has officially declared that the PlayStation 4 will not premiere at this year's E3 convention. Sony's Kaz Hirai spoke with a roundtable of reporters at CES this week, as the Wall Street Journal reports, and answered a question about the PlayStation 4 debuting at the show set to take place this summer. Hirai stated, "Andy [House] is absolutely right in that we are not making any announcement at E3. I've always said a 10-year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away with that."

If Hirai and Sony seriously commit to the 10-year life cycle, that means we won't see the PlayStation 4 for another four years in 2016. With this report it seems pretty official that the PS4 won't be popping up its head at E3 anytime soon. However, that still leaves a serious opening for Microsoft and Nintendo to debut new consoles. The only real threat to Sony would be if Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 720 (or whatever they decide to call it) at this year's E3. Getting that big of a jump on the competition could completely obliterate Sony while nobody is really threatened by anything Nintendo could release.

I, for one, am not too hip to the idea of a new console anytime soon. I am deeply in love with my Xbox 360 and I see no real reason to upgrade at the moment. I feel like both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 both have a lot left to offer the gaming community so waiting another four years for a new console is fine by me. What do you think? Are you disappointed in Kaz Hirai's announcement? Do you think it's time for another console war? Sound off in the comment section and tell me what you think.

Source: IGN - Sony Executive Says No PlayStation 4 at E3 2012

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Pink Nintendo 3DS Bundle

There have been several different Nintendo 3DS bundles that have been announced recently. The latest was announced on Monday, November 28 and will include a pink Nintendo 3DS with one of two nintendogs + cats games: French Bulldog and New Friends or Toy Poodle and New Friends. The bundle will cost $169.99 and will be available starting December 4.

As I mentioned before, there are several other 3DS packages that Nintendo is offering this holiday season. These bundles include:

• The Legend of Zelda bundle: A special edition 3DS device with the Hyrule emblem and gold embellishments and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D game for $199.99.

• The Mario bundle: A red 3DS with the Super Mario Land 3D game for $199.99.
Nintendo kicked off holiday sales for the 3DS on Black Friday by taking $10 off the price of the device.

Nintendo also announced last week that they would be setting up special kiosks in malls across the nation between now and December 18. There consumers will be able to try out Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Nintendo also said that the displays will also have "all the best video games for the holidays."

Nintendo is also offering two other special packages this holiday season. The company is offering a Legend of Zelda package for the Wii featuring The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword game, a gold Wii Remote Plus controller and a CD with music from the Zelda games for $69.99. They are also offering a metallic rose or midnight blue Nintendo DSi XL system and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! game for $169.99.

These packages are all great deals. They would be fantastic, reasonably priced presents to give this holiday season.

Sources: PCMag - Pink Nintendo 3DS Bundle Coming Dec. 4 and Slash Gear - Pink Nintendo 3DS announced with nintendogs in tow

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Black Friday Nintendo 3DS Bundles

If you’ve been interested in buying the Nintendo 3DS, but you just haven’t been able to justify spending the money on the hand held console, as well as games, then Nintendo’s Black Friday deal might just help you justify the purchase. Nintendo just announced that they will be offering two different 3DS bundles this holiday season.

One of the bundles includes a bright red 3DS, as well as Super Mario 3D Land, which was Mario’s first full appearance in a 3DS game. The other bundle is themed around The Legend of Zelda. It features a limited edition black 3DS with a “Hyrule emblem and gold-colored embellishments.” The bundle also includes The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

The Zelda bundle has already been introduced in Europe. Kotaku said that in the United States, the bundle will be sold at GameStop and Best Buy. They did not mention where the 3D Land bundle will be sold, but I would guess that it would be available at vendors like GameStop and Best Buy as well.

Both of the bundles will begin selling on Thanksgiving Day (November 24) and will cost $199.

Nintendo made sure to mention that it will have special setups in malls across the nation between Thanksgiving and December 18. These stations will allow potential customers to try out the two games featured in the bundles. They will also display "all the best video games for the holidays."

The Nintendo 3DS was a huge disappointment for Nintendo when it was released. It was hyped up like crazy, but the sales have not been anything to talk about. In October Nintendo reported that the company has lost close to a billion dollars in the past six months. Between the months of March and September Nintendo only sold 3 million units, much less than the company had originally projected.

Back in August Nintendo dropped the price of the 3DS from $249 to $169. Since this price drop, Nintendo’s sales numbers have been a little better but certainly still not on track. However, this new bundle could help the company boost its numbers for the device at least somewhat. Will Greenwald, a PCMag analyst, believes that the 3DS bundles really could help Nintendo get back on track with the device.

"In the gaming field, Nintendo offers the best buys for holiday gifts," he wrote. "That simply can't be disputed."

If you are interested in getting an even better deal on the bundle, Best Buy is offering both of the 3DS bundles for $179 on Black Friday. If you feel like dealing with the crowds, this could be a deal definitely worth taking advantage of.

Sources: PCMag - Nintendo Offering Two $199 Black Friday 3DS Bundles, GamesBeat - Nintendo 3DS bundles featuring Zelda and Mario Land Nov. 24 and joystiq - Best Buy selling Mario, Zelda 3DS bundles for Black Friday.

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Special Edition Gold Wii Remote to Be Released

On Monday August 29, Nintendo announced that it will be releasing a special edition gold Wii remote. The remote will be included in the limited edition Zelda bundle that also includes the first run of Zelda: Skyward Sword and a CD featuring different arrangements of the Zelda theme songs that can be found in the Zelda games that have been released over the past 25 years. The package will be released on Sunday, November 20 and will cost $69.99.

If you don’t want to spend $70, Nintendo is offering just the game and the CD for $49.99, but if you’re already going to spend that, you might as well spend an extra $20 to get the special edition shiny, gold controller.

The controller was first introduced to the public at the E3 conference in June, but they didn’t give out any information about a release date or pricing. The remote was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, a prominent developer at Nintendo, and it features the Zelda 25th Anniversary logo.

Across the Internet there have been mixed emotions about the news concerning the limited edition package.

"Never mind that the Wii is on its last legs and people probably won't play any other games on it after this, they'll still hook people in with a new controller for the Wii even though the Wii-U is announced," wrote a commenter at GameSpot.

"This is a MUST BUY. All is forgiven NINTENDO," wrote a user at My Nintendo News.

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Nintendo Drastically Drops the Price of Its 3DS

On Thursday, July 28 Nintendo announced that it would drop the price of its 3DS hand-held console in the United States. Starting Friday, August 12th the console’s price will drop from $249.99 to $169.99.

"For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said in a statement. "We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games."

The price drop will also occur in other countries sometime between July and September. Nintendo said in its earnings statement that the price drop is intended to "create momentum for the Nintendo 3DS and accelerate its market penetration toward the year-end sales season, when the lineup for the applicable software shall be enriched."

So ,what if you have already bought the 3DS? Wouldn’t you feel slightly cheated having had to pay plenty more than the new retail price for the device? Well, Nintendo hasn’t forgotten about you! In a statement, the company said that customers who already own a 3DS are “some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and we’re rewarding you for getting in on the action early with not one, not 10, but 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop!”

If you ask me, that is a pretty good way to make up for the extra cash that you had to shell out for the device. Nintendo said that it will be easy for 3DS owners to download their new games. Here is what you will have to do.

“The 20 free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program.” The statement goes on to say that the program has two different elements:

The first element starts “September 1. Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.”

The second element of this program that Nintendo will offer to their “loyal customers” will be available “by the end of 2011. Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.”

Nintendo said that more details about the program will be made available soon.

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New Updated Nintendo Console Announcement

Gamers around the world are hyped for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Conference in Los Angeles this week. There companies will reveal countless new games and Nintendo is expected to unveil an updated console.

So, do gamers even want a new, updated Nintendo console? According to data that was collected from Nielsen, there is almost a completely equal number of gamers that would like to see a console from Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft.

"Beyond expectations, nearly a quarter of gamers say they would buy a new console from Nintendo (27 percent) within six months of release, but a near-equal share say the same for new Sony and Microsoft consoles," Nielsen said in a blog post.

Nintendo has already confirmed that they will be showing off some new hardware at their Tuesday press conference but that won’t be happening during Sony and Microsoft’s press conferences.

Microsoft released some stats on its Xbox 360 on Friday, June 3. It showed that there is plenty of interest still in the Xbox 360, so there really isn’t a need for Microsoft to produce a new console right now; however, some are speculating that Microsoft will be announcing a new Xbox subscription TV service instead.

Sony, on the other hand, will most likely be focusing on its Next Generation Portable (NGP). The company has been posting previews about the device and the games that will be available for it on its Sony PlayStation blog.

So, because Microsoft and Sony are both focusing on things besides a new, updated console, if gamers are looking for a new console, they will either have to turn to Nintendo or simply wait on Microsoft and Sony. Nintendo said that it "will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo," so it will be very interesting to see what they roll out tomorrow.

Nielsen said that "Nintendo's comparatively larger Wii audience is behind much of the interest in the new Nintendo platform." They did, however, go on to say that the Wii gamers surveyed that also had experience with an Xbox 360 or PS3 "voice greater interest in a new Microsoft or Sony console than in one from Nintendo."

Nielsen reported that, despite this, it "will ultimately depend on the actual features, price point, and timing of release for the Nintendo console, versus satisfaction with currently owned platforms and other new system options."

Nielsen went on to report that the online chatter about Nintendo’s new console at the E3 conference is much higher this year than the buzz and hype was last year for the unveiling of Microsoft’s Kinect add-on for the Xbox 360. The talk about Nintendo’s new console has accounted for 22 percent of all of the current E3 talk right now. Last year, the Kinect was only able to grab 4 percent during the same period of time.

"Trended buzz shows a substantial increase in interest generated by rumors and confirmation of the new Nintendo console seven to five weeks pre-E3," Nielsen said. "This is especially so compared to 2010 buzz for Kinect and Nintendo's own 3DS handheld, which was unveiled last year at E3 as well. In the past several weeks the differences in chatter have narrowed, though it remains to be seen if any more key buzz-driving information will be released before the much-anticipated unveiling."

There is definitely a lot of hype surrounding the new Nintendo console unveiling. I personally can’t wait to see it, despite the fact that I am indeed a fan of Sony gaming products. One more day to sit and wait. I think I can make it until then.

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25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda

There was a milestone that was reached in the gaming community today…“The Legend of Zelda” celebrated its twenty-fifth year of existence. Exactly 25 years ago to the day, the game was released in Japan. Eighteen months after the Japanese release, the game came to the United States, and since then, the concept has been utilized for a TV show, books, merchandise, and a fan following that has been described by some as “cult-like.”

Link and his world were first introduced in 1986 via Nintendo’s Japanese Famicom console. When it was first presented to the U.S., it went on sale for the NES. Since the game’s first appearance, there have been 15 official versions of The Legend of Zelda that have been released on Nintendo’s different consoles. It’s safe to say that the series has done quite well.

Link’s magical world was designed by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the man who also created the Mario Brothers series. The Legend of Zelda has currently sold more than 59 million copies worldwide. It is actually the fourth best-selling Nintendo game of all time, coming in behind the first three Super Mario Brother games.

The most recent Zelda game that was released was Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS. This was released in December of 2009, and I can attest that I heard about it every day for months from my twelve-year-old brother before its release. Later this year, Nintendo is lined up to release the next Zelda title, Skyward Sword.

In celebration of The Legend of Zelda, the Web has been jam-packed with memorabilia from the games that have spanned across a quarter of a century. There have been a collection of the best Zelda commercials, Zelda merchandise, and even 25 facts about the games that you didn’t know.

If you are a fan of the Zelda series, than I’m sure that today was a great day of memories. Link, Zelda, and the whole cast of characters have made it through 25 years of gaming, and they’re still going strong. Hopefully, we’ll see them continue to thrill fans for at least another 25 years!

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Clarification About the 3DS Warning

Just a few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about the warning that Nintendo released concerning their 3DS that will soon be available. I talked about the effect that Nintendo said the 3DS’s screen could have on young children’s eyes. Well, at the Consumer Electronics Show, Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo for America, spoke about the recent reports concerning the company’s 3DS. He wanted to clarify the extent of the hazardous effects that the gaming device could have on young children.

Fils-Aime was interviewed recently by Gearlog’s Brian Heater. He claimed that the warning that Nintendo put out about their 3DS is very common when it comes to any kind of 3D display.

"Essentially, there's manipulation of your vision being done to get the 3D effect, and we're recommending that not happen for children six and under," he said. "All 3D devices carry a similar warning. Some of them, the age begins at six, some of them they say seven and under. What we’re saying is six and below should not experience the 3D images."

He went on saying that Nintendo has very similar warnings for many of their existing devices. "We do that with every device. With the Wii we recommend that you take a break and go outside. We're recommending the same thing. The insight here is, anything you do for an extended period of time, it'll put stress on your eyes."

The 3DS is a portable device that delivers 3D images without gamers having to wear any special 3D glasses. Fortunately, for concerned parents the 3DS also has a 2D mode that is completely safe for children of all ages. This allows gamers who are younger or have a disability and cannot safely experience the 3D mode to still have the opportunity to enjoy the device.

"The screen, even in 2D mode, is substantially better than any DS we've done to date," Fils-Aime said. "So even if you were going to use it only in 2D mode, there's a substantial experience that you can have."

Although the warning about the 3DS was released by Nintendo when the device was revealed in the summer, no one really seemed to pay any attention to it until late December when the 3DS quickly became the center of scrutiny by the media. The warning is posted on the Japanese Nintendo Web site. Translated it says, "Vision of children under the age of six has been said [to be in the] developmental stage. [3D content] delivers 3D images with different left and right eye images, [which] has a potential impact on the growth of children's eyes."

Fils-Aime warned that even older children who are using the 3DS should take a break from viewing the 3D content. Every 30 minutes or if users are feeling sick at all, gamers should take a break from their 3D device. In the past, Nintendo has advised gamers to take a break from their hand-held devices every hour, but since 3D causes eye fatigue much more quickly than 2D game play, this is why Nintendo decided that the 30 minute intervals were more appropriate for the 3DS.

One issue that needed to be addressed though was the 3D movies that the 3DS can play. Movies are obviously a lot longer than a mere 30 minutes, so what are kids supposed to do? Do they have to take a break from the movie every 30 minutes? That’s not exactly practical when we’re talking about kids here. Fils-Aime commented on the situation saying that parents will just need to use their best judgment when it comes to letting their kids watch 3D movies on the 3DS. If it seems as though their children’s eyes are getting fatigued, they should suggest that they take a break.

Fils-Aime also pointed out the convenient parental control feature that is built into the 3DS. It allows any concerned parents to turn off the 3D mode on the device.
I think that this clarification about the 3DS was a good move for Nintendo. People were a little freaked out when they first heard about the warning, but now that they know that Nintendo has similar warnings for most of their devices just as a precautionary measure, they should hopefully feel a little better.

The 3DS will soon be released, and like a lot of people, I absolutely can’t wait.

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Nintendo's 3DS Possibly Damaging to Young Children's Eyes

If you were thinking about buying your preschooler a Nintendo 3DS, the latest information about the gaming device may cause you to want to wait a few years. Nintendo has posted a warning before its Nintendo World 2011 demo that suggests that children under the age of six should not use the device with its 3D functions.

"Vision of children under the age of six has been said [to be in the] developmental stage," stated a note that was posted to Nintendo's Japanese site. It continued saying that 3D content, including the 3DS, "delivers 3D images with different left and right eye images, [which] has a potential impact on the growth of children's eyes."

Nintendo is now recommending that parents use the parental controls on the device that only allow their younger users to play on the 3DS in its 2D mode. Nintendo says that the device offers “enough for everyone to enjoy.”

Nintendo is also recommending that 3DS users of all ages should take a break from the 3D content that the device provides every 30 minutes or if users are feeling sick at all. Usually, Nintendo advised gamers to take a break from their hand-held devices every hour, but since 3D causes eye fatigue much more quickly than 2D game play, they decided that the 30 minute intervals were more appropriate for the 3DS.

Nintendo came right out and said, "If your physical condition worsens or you become ill, please stop playing at once."

Kotaku does point out the fact that Nintendo had previously warned parents against letting their younger children use the 3D function on the 3DS, but I guess they felt the need to reiterate their warning before revealing and demonstrating the 3DS at Nintendo World 2011. The event is taking place in Japan from January 8-10. Nintendo will be showing off the 3DS to the public for the very first time. According to Escapist, children under the age of six will not be allowed to use the 3DS at the event due to the warnings about its 3D features.

Right now, the game lineup for the Nintendo 3DS includes: Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D: The Naked Sample, Winning Eleven 3DSoccer, Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Resident Evil Ribereshonzu, and more.

If you’re looking at getting the Nintendo 3DS, you may want to head to your local GameStop store to reserve your device. According to a GameStop manager, the gaming retailer is now accepting pre-orders across the nation. Unfortunately, the GameStop manager was not exactly sure how much the device will cost or when specifically it will be released.

Nintendo initially stated that they would be releasing the portable 3DS gaming device in March. The company claimed that the device would “succeed [the] Nintendo DS series.”

Since that initial statement, Nintendo has announced that they will only be releasing the 3DS in the United States and Europe in March. They also revealed earlier in the year that the device would be selling for $300 in Japan, but they have not yet announced the specific price that the device will cost in the U.S. and Europe.

The Nintendo 3DS is a highly-anticipated portable gaming device. My twelve year old brother can’t seem to shut up about the 3D capabilities of the device. I think that the concept is intriguing, but I can’t really picture how the device will really work. It will be great to see what the 3DS is really all about in March. Until then, we will all have to wait patiently for Nintendo to release the ground-breaking technology that will be featured in the gaming device.

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Pre-orders Now Available for the Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo completely revolutionized the handheld gaming industry when they released their DS back in 2004. Well, here we are six years later and the company is about to rock the handheld gaming market again with their release of their newest device the 3DS. The 3DS is a handheld gaming device that is said to deliver 3D images without the need of 3D glasses. Another unique feature about the device is that instead of projecting 3D images towards the viewer it concaves images away from the viewer giving a 3D effect.

The device is one of the most talked about gaming platforms this year and is one of the boldest projects to come out of Nintendo since the Wii. According to reports that hit the internet earlier today, people who cannot wait to get their hands on the device can throw down a pre-order for the 3DS at any GameStop location, who are now accepting pre-orders according to an inside source.

According to the source, "Yes, we have started taking reservations, though we do not know what the price will be, what colors will be available or when it will release." That seems to be the gist of all the information on the 3DS. Nobody seems to know when it will release or how much it will cost when it does release. In fact, the only release date and pricing that are available is in Japan where the 3DS will retail for around $300 and will release on February 26th, 2011.

There are a few other things available for pre-order at GameStop including Sims 3, Lovely Lisa, Cartoon Network Super-Toon Rumble and Madden NFL Football. No information has been released about when other retailers, like Amazon or Best Buy, will get pre-order availability, but it is speculated that the 3DS will launch in March 2011. I guess we will just have to wait until Nintendo's press event scheduled to take place on January 19, 2011.

Source: G4TV, IGN

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Sony’s PSP Go Just Dropped in Price

Just in time for the holiday season, Sony has decided to drop the price of their PSP go mobile gaming device. It previously was being sold for $249.99 but has now dropped to $199.99.

The PSP go first hit stores in October of 2009 for $249.99. The device is a downsized version of the original PSP-1000. Instead of the UMD optical drive and game cartridge that was part of the original PSP, the PSP go features 16GB of internal storage, download only titles, and a great, new slider design. The device also features access to Sony’s online download store, so that gamers can search for and download the games that they want.

Many people have said that the PSP go is really best for gamers that are new to the PSP platform. Gamers that have been dedicated PSP fans would do better sticking with the original PSP-1000. It is a little chunkier, but PSP fans will be more comfortable with it. If you want a thinner PSP that still sticks to the original ideals of the PSP-1000, you should check out the PSP-3000. It is great for playing multi-player games. Sony released the PSP go in an attempt to compete with other portable gaming devices like Nintendo’s DS Lite and Apple’s iPod Touch. You simply must consider what you want out of your PSP and what you will be using it for. This will help you to decide which PSP fits you best.

The PSP go fits perfectly in your pocket. It measures 2.7 x 5 x 0.65 inches (HWD). Volume-wise, the PSP go is about half the volume of the original PSP-1000. As I had mentioned, the PSP go has a sliding screen. All of the controls, the analog stick, the d-pad, and the game buttons, are under the screen. The display is bright and the screen itself is 3.8-inches and features 480 x 272 resolution. It also has 802.11b Wi-Fi, which is a great thing to have.

This price drop for the PSP go is coming about a month after Sony’s release of their new PlayStation Move motion controller system. Since its release, Sony has said that they have sold more than 1 million Move units in North America and Latin America. Jack Trenton, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, told MSNBC that Sony has already had to increase production of the Move twice to meet the demands of the public. “Retail demand is incredibly strong and we're working hard to keep the product in stock,” he said.

The price drop is likely to help Sony get ahead of their biggest rival, Nintendo, for the holiday season. Fortunately for Sony and their sales, Nintendo announced last month that they will not be releasing their new Nintendo 3DS in Japan until February 26th or in the U.S. until sometime in March.

As of now, the device is listed for $199.99 at a variety of online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

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Nintendo's 3DS Release Date Pushed Back

Nintendo disappointed many children with the announcement that they made Wednesday. Their 3DS will not be available by the holiday season for Japan. When they first introduced their 3DS portable gaming system to the world at E3 back in June, Nintendo said that they would be releasing the device to the United States in March 2011, but that they would release the 3DS to its native Japan for the holidays. Now they are saying that this simply is not possible.

Due to this disappointing news, Nintendo's stock has dropped 9.34 percent in the Osaka Securities Exchange. Now I thought that this news would make a difference to the company’s numbers but not an almost ten percent drop!

The Nintendo 3DS has been highly anticipated since its announcement. A mobile device that utilizes 3D technology without the need for 3D glasses, now that’s something to talk about. The tech community was in awe after several demonstrations following Nintendo’s announcement. It was the week after the demonstrations that Nintendo publicized their release dates for the device.

Nintendo told the press Wednesday that Japan would unfortunately not be seeing the device until February 2011. This means that Nintendo will not have any kind of blockbuster device being released for the holiday season. That most likely means that holiday gaming sales will be dominated by Sony’s Playstation Move and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Kinect. Motion-based gaming is expanding to all game systems this year and is set to be a hit. Unfortunately for Nintendo, they will not have a new product to offer for the 2010 holiday season, but I’m sure that many people will still patiently wait with great anticipation for the release of the 3DS, even if they won’t be seeing it under their tree this year.

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DSi XL and DSi Price Drop

On Monday, Nintendo announced that they will be dropping the prices of their hand-held game systems, the DSi XL and the DSi. Each device’s price tag will be lowered by $20 as of September 12th. The DSi XL will now be available for $169.99, while the DSi will be set at $149.99.

Nintendo of America’s vice president of sales and marketing, Cammie Dunaway, stated, “We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend. Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications, and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems."

Nintendo’s DSi XL premiered in February of this year, while the DSi has been around since March of 2009. Nintendo gave the public a glimpse at their newest edition at the E3 gaming conference this year. The 3DS is a 3D version of the DS system. Unfortunately, it is not expected to be released until sometime this March.

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Zoo Entertainment Announces Tons of New Releases

Zoo Entertainment, a developer and marketer of casual gaming software, announced its summer and fall 2010 release schedule and, well, let's just say casual gamers will be thrilled. From game shows to family fun and simulation to racing games, there's something for everyone from this company based out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

In a press release Zoo Entertainment's CEO Mark Seremet said, "We believe our robust 2010 new releases offer broad-based, value-added appeal to the casual game player. Our strategy to offer a diversified portfolio of titles and leverage our strong licensing partnerships is working. It has enabled Zoo Entertainment to grow even in very challenging economic conditions. We’re also pleased that this year’s line-up includes an initial contribution from indiePub Games. Our strong 2010 release schedule combined with our digital initiatives positions us well for continued growth.”

Some of the notable titles to be released include:

• Minute to Win It - Based on NBC's popular reality show, this game will be available for Nintendo Wii & DS later this year.


• Deal or No Deal 2011 Anniversary Edition - Out in September, the anniversary edition of this popular game based on the NBC game show will be available for Wii & DS.


• Matthews Bow Hunting - Matthews is the "premium international hunting bow manufacturer" and together with Zoo, they'll release a hunting simulation game in October. The game will come along with a hunting bow that gives you a realistic sense of hunting.


• Kevin Van Dam Fishing - Van Dam is the five-time Angler of the Year and this realistic bass fishing game that features his name will come along with a fishing rod-type Wii controller. It will be released in September for Wii and PS3.


• Shawn Johnson Gymnastic Challenge - To be released in October for Nintendo Wii, DS, and DSiWare, this game was created in collaboration with 2008 Olympic superstar Shawn Johnson.


• Hello Kitty Seasons - The first of several Hello Kitty games to be available for Wii, it will hit stores in October.


• Auditorium - This game will be one of the first developed by the Zoo's indiePub Games online gaming site and will also be the company's first digital release. An exact release date has not been set.

Earlier this year the company released several hunting and sports games among others. These included Chocolatier, Arcade Shooting Gallery (which comes with a gun), and Remington Bird Hunt (which also comes with a gun), all released in February. In March the company released Dream Chronicles, Remington Great American Bird Hunt, and Hall of Fame Ultimate Hoops Challenge. In May the company released Color Cross, Monster Frenzy, and Let's Paint.

Several games were released on June 14, 15, and 22 including many games that come with steering wheels: ATV Quad Kings, Chrysler Racing, Jeep Thrills, Monster Trucks, and Speed. Also, Beach Fun, The Garfield Show, Astro Invaders, Nursery Mania, Redneck Racing, and Armada were released in June. In July and August the company released Puzzle Time, Crash Time, Winter Sports 3, Redneck Racing, Little Bears, Winter Sports 3, Martian Panic, Wild West Shootout, Martian Panic (with a blaster) and Wild West Shootout (with a blaster). September will bring Dond Anniversary (with or without a case), KVD Fishing (with or without a rod), Glacier 3 (with or without a wheel), and the Shawn Johnson game.

Just in time for the holidays Zoo expects several games to hit store shelves including Auditorium, 25 Mini Game Compilation, The Garfield Show, Flatout, Hello Kitty Seasons, Matthews Bow Hunting, Flatout (with the wheel bundle), and Minute to Win It.

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Summer 2010 Wii Games

When people think of the Nintendo Wii, they don't just think of it as a video game. Many see it as a way to not only have fun and be entertained, but to help get themselves in shape as well. Nintendo of America recognizes that and is ready to encourage Wii-players of all ages, shapes and sizes to get out and play with the first-ever Wii Games: Summer 2010."

The national competition begins July 16 and will kick-off at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It ends in Los Angeles, with a national championship in Los Angeles on September 3-5. During the time between July 16 and September 5, the competition will include actual in events in 24 United States markets. Players will have the opportunity to compete for top scores, and get together with other gamers for tons of fun and Wii games!

Wii Games: Summer 2010 will have opportunities for kids, teens, adults, seniors, and whole families. The focus of the events will be the following five sports: basketball and bowling (both of which can be found in Wii Sports Resort), Hula Hoop from Wii Fit Plus, the platforming adventure from New Super Mario Bros, and high-speed racing from Marko Kart Wii. From mid-July to mid-August, tournaments will be held every weekend at Six Flags parks in Texas, Georgia, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. There will also be more events at sixteen various shopping malls across the nation. Prizes will be awarded.

Those who qualify will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the event's national championship. Prizes such as Nintendo systems, games, home entertainment packages, a cruise, trophies, and national exposure will be awarded to those who win. Shawn Johnson, Olympic gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars winner, will serve as the Wii Games: Summer 2010 Ambassador. She will be appearing at several events. Said Johnson of the event, “I play Wii games with my friends and family all the time“I play Wii games with my friends and family all the time. I’m looking forward to watching people from all over the country coming together to have fun and compete.”

Wii games such as Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus have become very popular amongst people looking to improve their health and Nintendo has used that to help increase awareness about good health. The company is working together with the American Heart Association, as well as USA TODAY for the "Family Fitness Challenge." The Wii Games: Summer 2010 is the just the latest in a long line of projects.

So, you ready to participate? The Games will be open to both two- and four-player teams. Categories will be organized by age with a teen, adult, and super adult category, plus categories where adults can play with younger children and family members. Your best scores from all five sports will be combined to determine your total scores. Best of all, if you can't make it to an event, you can participate online. And if you're not looking to compete, you can still have fun. Attendees at events can participate in noncompetitive games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Punch-Out! All events are open to the public.

For more information, visit wiigames2010.com.

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Play My Dolphin, Win $10,000

Want to win $10,000? If you're a fan of WiiWare Games' "My Dolphin," your chances of doing that have become a lot easier. The Dolphin Trainer World Championship Hit contest will provide one lucky winner with the $10,000 grand prize. All you have to do is get the highest score in the game, making you the "best dolphin trainer." For every 50th (50, 100, 150, etc.) place, $100 will be awarded.

To enter the contest, you'll need to email your nickname, score, and a photograph of your ending screen with the score from the game to 100@my-dolphin.net. Anyone can apply between the dates of June 15, 2010 and August 31, 2010.

Announcements about the winners will be made on July 1, August 2, and August 20, allowing contestants to see who is the "middle ranking best 10." Upon completion of the contest, the winner will be notified via email.

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The Nintendo 3DS Set to Release in March

To many people’s dismay, the Nintendo 3DS will not be out in time for Christmas, as Nintendo does not plan to release it until the end of March 2011. It is suspected that Nintendo might plan to release the 3DS in Japan for the holidays, but unfortunately we will simply have to wait patiently for it.

So what is all the hype about the 3DS you might ask? Well, it has the capabilities to output 3D graphics without needing 3D glasses. Nintendo has also organized to have classic games released in 3D form including: Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Donkey Kong Country, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Who know how expensive this new handheld game system will be, but I can guarantee that whatever the price is its going to sell. There has never been any piece of gaming equipment like this ever before.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a Nintendo 3DS. The concept is fascinating, but its something that will have to be seen in person so that your mind can fully grasp the wonder of the device. Many people will be sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear more information that is released about the 3DS. The little device is greatly anticipated by the entire gaming world.

Click here for more information about choosing a gaming system.

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