My guess is that the developers wanted it, and wanted it really badly, but that’s not normally how Nintendo works. They make the systems, they make their own really good first party games… ok, maybe some of them are really good… for their systems, and if third party developers can make good games they can sell them too. If developers are angling for cross platform Vita and 3DS development, a second stick is really a must for that to make sense, especially since the attachment and future version of the 3DS with both of these things built in also gets another shoulder button. There’s also the idea that the battery compartment will get bigger, allowing longer battery life.

Did Nintendo actually come to the realization that they needed better control options for this platform to avoid it sinking under the weight of re-releases of everything that was on the DS with no real innovation other than maybe passable 3D visuals? How would this ever matter to Nintendo, the masters of remanufacturing their very strong (and even not so strong) franchises onto each successive platform with success?

So is the idea of twin-stick parity for the 3DS bad news for Sony on the heels of a price cut? I doubt it. They’re still different enough animals hardware-wise, and the Vita isn’t going to succeed based on the hardware alone. It’s going to be the software that sells it, and we won’t know more about that until it lands stateside in 2012.

The 3DS is down to $170 as of today, and that Ambassador program entry window has closed as well. You will hear me on podcast 192 waffling about whether or not I want to get a 3DS. I point out that the new price point is interesting, but that there isn’t really anything out yet that I want to play. Long story short, I bought one yesterday at a small used game shop that had a used one for $160, including Pilotwings Resort, a case for the system, all the original packaging and literature, and a $10 credit for another game (which I took as a gift certificate). I got the system home in time to wipe the internal memory, run a firmware update, and link up to the eShop to nab Ambassador status. Not a bad deal.

I really enjoyed the wireless DSi to 3DS transfer process, which involved groups of Pikmin tromping around in 3D carrying images representing the software and data from a region with a DSi silhouette on it to a region with a 3DS silhouette.

I’ve mailed off Pilotwings already for some Goozex points, and I’m still not sold on Zelda, so I’ve been spending some time playing Dead or Alive: Dimensions, which it turns out is a surprisingly fun fighting game. The 3D function has me a little mixed up, unfortunately. Playing last night, while tired, I felt queasy, but today it’s been ok, though sometimes I have trouble finding that “sweet spot” where the 3D looks good and the images are in focus. Most impressive to me is the system itself, as it seems to have taken the best design decisions of the DSi and the PSP to heart in its physical construction and in the interface. All of this is news to me, because until now the device was largely under my radar.

I’ll have more impressions as I start getting some games to review from publishers. Until then, I’ll be enjoying DOA Dimensions, and I may rewatch the neat 3D trailer for that Glee 3D movie that’s in the Nintendo Video channel.

Starting August 12, the $249.99 handheld gets a significant price drop to $169.99. Clearly this is Nintendo shoring up fortifications well in advance of Sony’s PS Vita arrival, and removing the single biggest objection that has been dogging the 3DS since launch: that price.

And that’s not even the best news.

In a very classy move designed as a peace offering to existing 3DS owners (dubbed “3DS Ambassadors,” thankyouverymuch), anyone who connects a 3DS to the Nintendo eShop at least once before midnight on August 11 will receive twenty free downloadable games. Twenty free downloadable games.

And we’re not talking about a bunch of old questionable DSiWare games, or the complete collection of downloadable Clubhouse Games and Brain Age fragments. We’re talking classic NES games and classic GBA games. Super Mario Bros, Balloon Fight and Legend of Zelda represent on the NES side, while the GBA list includes favorites like Metroid Fusion, WarioWare MegaMicroGames, Yoshi’s Island and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Nintendo has not released a full list.

The ten NES Virtual Console games will be made available to Ambassadors before they go on sale on the eShop for the general plebian public. The ten GBA games are Ambassador-exclusive, with Nintendo outright stating that they have “no plans” to make these ten available as downloadable Virtual Console eShop offerings in the future. This is going to be some serious damage on the SD card.

Holy freaking crap, aggressive Nintendo is fun to watch.

Nintendo 3DS Price Drops to $169.99, as Great Value and New 3D Games Come Together

Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 and Kid Icarus: Uprising Prep Nintendo 3DS for a Strong Holiday Season

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™ system to $169.99 in the United States, as new games based on some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective Aug. 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “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.”

Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who’s Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season.

In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:

- The new Nintendo Video™ service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.

- A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.

- The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.

Since Nintendo 3DS launched in the United States on March 27, more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These 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 program contains two elements:

Starting Sept. 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.

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.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS 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/3ds.

200 Club points can net you a Giant Mii AR Card… with the ? box on one side and Mario on the other. This is an upsized version of the cards packed with every 3DS, for use in the AR Cards app. The Giant Card is approximately 28.5″ tall by 18.25″ wide, allowing you to generate life-size pics of Mario and your Miis. Plus you could set up an AR target shoot or fishing game that encompasses your entire living room. Nintendo warns that the Giant Card arrives folded (quelle horreur!) but the single fold will not affect photography.

Donkey Kong is the latest star of a poster set; three posters for 400 points. And for the Metroid: Other M fan who has everything, 10 points gets you a downloadable screensaver. Unfortunately, this last item will constantly remind you about Metroid: Other M. Frowny.

Check them all out at your Club Nintendo page.

Nintendo has hinted around at this several times over the course of the 3DS gestation period: short form 3D video clips. We’ve already seen a handful of 3D game ads, and a single 3D movie trailer, but next week the service will launch with “short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.” Cited names include CollegeHumor, Blue Man Group, and OK Go.

Kotaku posted about a curious Nintendo Video preview clip, which was available on the eShop only briefly. The video was a snarky, text-heavy announcement of the service that struck me as completely not like anything Nintendo has ever done. And not in a good “they’re branching out” kind of way. More like a “who let the intern who’s a big Adult Swim fan produce a video” way.

The clip has since been pulled (you can still see it in Kotaku’s post), but it makes a big deal about how the Nintendo Video clips will vanish. Which is a fantastically strange methodology for a video service: guarantee at the onset that the provided clips will be pulled at some indeterminate point in the future. It’s not any different from how Nintendo handles the Wii’s Nintendo Channel, except that they’re trying to position the 3DS video service as more focused on entertainment than advertising.

July 27, you can download the Nintendo Video app and start seeing for yourself. Without the need for special glasses.

New 3D Video Service on Nintendo 3DS Delivers One-of-a-Kind Content

Nintendo Video Service Showcases Exclusive 3D Animation and Videos from OK Go, Jason DeRulo, Foster the People, CollegeHumor and Blue Man Group

NOTE: Multimedia available here

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo 3DS™ owners now have a ticket to free, exclusive 3D video content. The new Nintendo Video™ service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood, and the 3D content can be watched without the need for special glasses. On July 27, OK Go will launch a new music video and will debut the 3D version exclusively on Nintendo Video.

“Nintendo 3DS is a unique platform for creativity,” said Tony Elison, Nintendo of America’s senior director and general manager of Network Business. “OK Go and all our partners are helping us make Nintendo Video a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.”

In the coming weeks, Nintendo Video will feature exclusive 3D videos from Jason DeRulo, Foster the People, CollegeHumor and the world-renowned Blue Man Group, plus extreme sports and action videos, animation from various independent studios and 3D trailers for upcoming Hollywood movies. Specific content may vary across countries in the Americas.

To access Nintendo Video, Nintendo 3DS owners need to connect to a broadband wireless Internet service and visit the Nintendo eShop, where they can download the Nintendo Video application. Once Nintendo 3DS owners download the application, the video lineup will automatically update whenever users are within range of a wireless hotspot and have their SpotPass™ feature enabled, even if the system is in Sleep Mode.

Nintendo Video is just one of the many features of Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo’s newest hand-held system. Nintendo 3DS lets users experience 3D games, take 3D pictures and watch 3D videos without the need for special glasses. Nintendo 3DS offers users a completely new way to play and keeps people connected – to their friends, to their games, to their world. The Nintendo 3DS system builds on Nintendo’s legacy of creating unique experiences for the masses.

Naturally, this new version will include the critters from the latest generation of pokegames, Pokemon Black/White. I recall speculating that Nintendo would offer paid DLC for the original Rumble to add the newest monsters to the roster. Obviously I was wrong.

The press release sets October 24 as the release date, but does not offer a definite mention of price or format. Under the name Super Pokemon Scramble, the game gets a retail release in Japan next week (Source: Kotaku).

I spent some good times in the original Rumble… it was an arcadey take on Pokemon battles, kind of with a Robotron feel, and tons of unlockables. One expects that tradition to continue, EXCEPT IN 3-D. And StreetPass support, which gives me something to look forward to during next year’s E3.

Pokémon Rumble Blast for Nintendo 3DS Set to Launch Oct. 24

First Pokémon Game for Hand-Held Nintendo 3DS System Includes Fast-Paced Battles, Social Play Features and More Than 600 Pokémon

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Starting this fall, Pokémon™ fans will be able to experience the franchise’s battle-based action and adventure in a whole new dimension. Nintendo of America has announced an Oct. 24 launch date for Pokémon™ Rumble Blast, the first Pokémon game created exclusively for the hand-held Nintendo 3DS™ system. An action-packed Pokémon adventure in 3D without the need for special glasses, the game lets players battle against waves of opposing wind-up Toy Pokémon, connect and play with friends, and collect more than 600 Toy Pokémon.

As players advance through each stage in Pokémon Rumble Blast, their Toy Pokémon will face dozens of Toy Pokémon at once, creating fast and furious real-time battles. Players must also face off against giant Boss Pokémon, whose massive size and strength offer special challenges. Certain defeated Toy Pokémon can be added to the player’s team, and players may also collect special Toy Pokémon, each with its own unique stats and abilities. Players can collect more than 600 Toy Pokémon in all, including those from the recently released Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games. Players can quickly and easily switch between the various Toy Pokémon they collect throughout the game.

Pokémon Rumble Blast offers two ways for players to wirelessly connect with each other. Using a local wireless connection, they can enjoy a cooperative play mode that allows them to battle through levels together and more easily befriend defeated Toy Pokémon. Using the Nintendo 3DS StreetPass™ feature, they can challenge the Toy Pokémon of players they pass in their daily travels and view other players’ Mii™ characters in the game.

“Pokémon Rumble Blast delivers instant Pokémon gratification,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The controls are intuitive and simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, while new battle modes, more than 600 Toy Pokémon and social play opportunities offer deep experiences for longtime fans.”

Remember that Nintendo 3DS 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/3ds.

For more information about Pokémon Rumble Blast, visit http://www.pokemon.com/rumbleblast.

Nevertheless, one of the early bullet points for 3DS owners is now available, one you run an eShop system update first. The new 3DS app is free but of course Netflix is not. Very not.

Although there is one glaring omission: “an additional library of select movies that can be viewed in 3D” is still coming soon. I’m guessing that list will not include Dexter Season 2.

Netflix Streaming Now Available on Nintendo 3DS Hand-Held Systems

Free Downloadable Application Allows Netflix Members to Instantly Watch Movies and TV Shows on Nintendo 3DS

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Starting today, Nintendo 3DS™ owners across the United States and Canada can download a free application that allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix. The attractive, easy-to-use service adds a huge value to the Nintendo 3DS portable system, and again demonstrates how Nintendo 3DS continues to present new and different experiences for owners almost every day.

Nintendo 3DS joins the Wii™ console in its ability to stream Netflix content. On an average day, more than 1.5 million Netflix members instantly watch TV shows or movies via the Wii console. Now available for download from the Nintendo eShop, the Netflix application makes it easy for people to enjoy big action films, award-winning documentaries or hit reality shows and sitcoms on the Nintendo 3DS system anytime, anywhere.

“The new Netflix application looks great, plays great and is a fantastic consumer experience,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “It gives Nintendo 3DS owners access to an amazing wealth of movies and TV shows, which they can watch conveniently from thousands of free Wi-Fi access points across the country. Nintendo 3DS truly offers something for everyone.”

“Nintendo is a terrific partner with Netflix,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix. “We’re excited to extend the partnership to include streaming on Nintendo 3DS.”

The new Netflix application for Nintendo 3DS displays movies and TV episodes in 2D on the system’s upper screen. Users will soon have access to an additional library of select movies that can be viewed in 3D without the need for special glasses.

Use of the Netflix application on Nintendo 3DS requires a broadband Internet connection and a Netflix streaming membership starting at $7.99 a month. Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans can instantly watch on their Nintendo 3DS systems and other devices, including the Wii console.

To download the free Netflix application or any other content from the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo 3DS users must first install the free system update that became available on June 6.

The Nintendo 3DS system’s parental control settings can be used to manage access to the Netflix application. Parents who wish to manage the specific content their kids watch will be happy to know that the parental control settings associated with their Netflix account will be applied to the streaming content viewable on the Nintendo 3DS system.

Issue #269, July 2011
featuring Rayman Origins (Wii/3DS), Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (DS), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (3DS)

Isn’t it weird that both Rayman Origins and New Super Mario Bros Wii have four player action, but feature a cast of two characters you know/care about and two generic background fops? Given that the Mushroom Kingdom has a ridiculously large cast that everybody knows and loves, the bizarre character choice of Mario/Luigi/Toad/Toad is more egregious than Rayman/Globox/Teensie/Teensie, but you still have to wonder why both Nintendo and Ubisoft went down the same route (watch for Kirby Wii to buck this trend!)

Origins follows Nintendo’s 2D platforming lead in more ways than one, and Nintendo Power’s seven-pager can’t stop comparing the two games. Origins also lets stressed-out players bubble up to float behind the one guy who knows what he’s doing. Although it seems like Ubisoft might be sidestepping dorky motion controls, which is a capital idea.

Something else we’ll see in Rayman Origins is some seriously pretty animated graphics. In action, this game looks like a dream, with stages and artistry tricks (silhouette levels!) that remind me more of Donkey Kong Country Returns than Mario. And while the 2D heritage may owe some subtle nods to Mario and Donkey Kong, Origins will include outright refs to other games… like a Tetris homage in the middle of a level, and NP even suggests one area brings Angry Birds to mind.

One super-important gaming secret is due to be revealed in Origins: why Rayman lacks arms and legs.

Rayman Origins was originally supposed to be a downloadable, episodic release. Rayman creator Michel Ancel says that positive fan feedback encouraged him to make the game a full retail release, but you have to wonder if the nigh-invisible nature of WiiWare made Ubi second-guess the downloadable decision.

I don’t get this at all.

You might remember Tail Concerto, a 1999 PS1 RPG that featured a anthropomorphic dogs and cats. The upcoming DS game Solatorobo: Red the Hunter is a not-quite-sequel to Tail Concerto, made by the same people and starring, again, anthropomorphic dogs and cats. In various forms, the game has been kicking around for years… the characters were even used a Japanese public-service campaign about disaster preparedness.

So why has it been over a decade since Tail Concerto returned (in some form) and why did Tail not sell that well in the first place?

Research was showing a lot of customer resistance to the game’s anthropomorphized dog and cat characters. “People see animal-based characters as having a small niche following and no mainstream appeal, “[developer Hiroshi Matsuyama] admits. “But that was an integral part of our game world, so I couldn’t back down.”

Talking animals have been a huge part of pop culture for decades, so why are focus groups suggesting developers shouldn’t make games with humanized animals? Is the supposition that animals are too kiddie? That animal worlds are too improbable? That you can’t do serious action or effective drama with anthropomorphics? Was publisher Namco Bandai constantly sending this guy letters telling him to change the cast to the usual eager cast of human anime visuals? Because hell yeah we need more of THAT.

Cheers to Matsuyama for sticking to his design guns, even though Solatorobo will likely hit the DS racks with a dull thud. It’s already a non-starter in Japan, having been released last year to minimal applause. Published by XSEED, the game hits the US this fall (in Europe, the publishing is being handled by Nintendo of Europe.)

Download Staff Picks: Chrono Trigger (SNES Virtual Console)

Top scoring Wii review: Cars 2: The Video Game, 7.0 (all scores out of 10)
Top scoring 3DS review: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, 7.5
Lowest rated Wii review: NASCAR 2011: The Game, 3.0
Lowest rated 3DS review: Reel Fishing Paradise 3D, 6.0

Weird month for reviews. Usually the licensed movie games take bottom rung, but Cars 2 managed the top Wii slot. Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident for Wii was given a 6.0, although I’d rate it considerably higher than that.

Who wants this? – There’s a Wii game coming in August that combines Nicktoons characters with Major League Baseball. It’s called Nicktoons MLB.

Face it: You’re never getting BG&E 2. – Michel Ancel calls Beyond Good & Evil 2 “the best game I’ve never done.”

Nearly Deleted. – Signature tune “Dearly Beloved” was actually cut from its original place in Kingdom Hearts, but the song found a greater role when recycled as the title screen music.

Oh yeah, the Wii U. – History shall mark #269 as the issue that announced the Wii U to NP readers, although the two page article on Nintendo’s Next says nothing we haven’t already heard online.

Next month in Nintendo Power… it’s another anniversary issue, this time celebrating the SNES turning 20. Someday I’m going to do a pie chart comparing the number of anniversary issues to the number of non-anniversary issues, because it seems like we have to endure a self-fellating retrospective every other month. Who wants to do a Super Metroid / Link to the Past drinking game?

The clock had barely run out on the Club Nintendo year of July 2010 to June 2011, when Nintendo released the details on what your twelve months of loyalty has earned you.

Platinum level members receive 25 commemorative pins featuring classic NES pixel graphics (above). The pins are boxed in six cases that can be arranged to show three different retro images, like the world’s easiest puzzle. Gold members get another calendar. Both prizes are set to ship sometime before the end of the year. The actual year, ending in December, not the new Club Nintendo year.

Check it out right here at the Club Nintendo page. Note that you have to claim your prize; they won’t just ship it automatically. And also note that Platinum members get to choose between the two rewards on offer.