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Wii U name might be rebranded

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:41:10 +0000

The Bard once said, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet – and while I agree with that statement in a general manner, surely a console name like the Nintendo Wii U would affect a small minority out there that would only purchase a console based on the coolness level of its name? Word on the street from a Nintendo insider has it that the Japanese company is considering a rebadging of their upcoming Wii U console, and might just call it something else. Right now, we will just have to make do with the Wii U as a frame of reference, and the Japanese gaming company certainly needs a hit in the next console, so perhaps maximizing its chances by giving it a decent name which appeals to the masses might just do the trick? Should Nintendo rename their upcoming console, what would you like to have Nintendo call it?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nintendo Wii U will see a end of year launch in time for the holiday season, Nintendo Wii U might be getting an app store of its own,

Heyzap Announces Mobile Gaming Partners: PocketGems And More

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:09:31 +0000

Gaming startup Heyzap first launched its social discovery service for mobile games nearly a year ago. Now it’s unveiling the first list of partners who are using the service. Some of these partnerships weren’t exactly a secret before — you could just open up the Heyzap app and see which games were available. But now the startup is really trumpeting those partnerships, in part to show off some of the big names who are buying into its vision. “Foursquare has its location network, Instagram has its picture network, Socialcam has its version of that,” says co-founder Jude Gomila. “No one’s really built the gaming community yet. They’ve done it in hardcore gaming … but no one’s done it for the Angry Birds and Farmville generation.” Specifically, with the Heyzap Android and iOS apps, users can share the mobile games they’re playing by checking in, and they can also find new games and new people to play with. Heyzap says it now partners with a total of more than 800 game developers. The new partner list includes Spacetime Studios…

Hands On: The Nintendo Wii U

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:28:25 +0000

One of the first things I was told when I ducked into one of Nintendo’s suites to play with the Wii U was what they wouldn’t tell me. Price, release date, technical specs, games in development — all of these were taboo topics that would be (and were) met with a gentle dismissal if I broached the subject. Great. With that load lifted, I picked up the Wii U controller and dove in. Holding the Wii U controller is your hand is… unusual. It’s been historically rare to see a controller that maintains such a considerable distance between the user’s hands (save for some funky Japanese one-offs ), but it’s not so large as to be awkward. It’s also surprisingly light, but again, not so light as to feel chintzy. Nintendo seems to have nailed a very tricky balance between size and weight, as well they should considering how critical the controller is to the new experiences they hope to deliver. The controller’s built-in gyroscopes were very responsive when we played Battle Mii (more on that later), and the buttons had…

45,000 Germans evacuated to make room for two-ton WWII bomb

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:33:16 +0000

Here’s one of the perils of living in a country that had 1.3 million tons of bombs dropped on it during World War II: every once in a while, you run across one that hasn’t decided to explode yet, and half your city gets evacuated so that they can go in and blow it up.

Ask Engadget: what’s the best sub-$1,000 HTIB setup?

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:30:42 +0000

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Dave, who just so happens to be in the midst of a new PC build. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Hey all! What is the best ‘home theater in a box,’ with connectivity for my component-out Wii, HDMI-out media box and optical-out TV? Room for plenty of future additions would be awesome. Wireless would be a plus, and of course, it needs to have at least respectable sound quality. Thanks!”

So, HTIB junkies — what’s the box rocking your socks at the moment? Drop your best advice in comments below!

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Dot Mario Cushion is the perfect cushion for Mario fans

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:08:55 +0000

The Japanese Club Nintendo seems to have cooler swag to redeem when compared to the US Club Nintendo, and their latest offerings are no exception. One of the recently revealed redeemable gifts from Club Nintendo Japan is the Dot Mario Cushion: an 8-bit Super Mario cushion which takes gamers back to the year 1985 where Super Mario was a pixilated hero running around on NES-connected TVs.

The other rewards include a Nintendo 2012 desk calendar and five video game soundtracks (Tomodachi Collection, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64 3D, Wii Fit Plus, and Mario Kart Wii). Folks with 400 points can redeem the Dot Mario Cushion, though you’ll need to be a member of the Japanese Club Nintendo. Definitely the perfect addition to any gamer’s couch.

Dot Mario Cushion is the perfect cushion for Mario fans, By Ubergizmo. Top Stories : iPhone 4S Review, Epic 4G Touch Review,

Gamecube-free Wii refresh heads to North America, competes with more versatile predecessor

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:51:10 +0000

Usually when a hardware refresh axes a major feature, it gets a comparable price drop. Not for Nintendo’s waggle star, however — the gamecube-free Wii refresh we’ve seen advertised for Europe is heading to North America for the same price as its backwards-compatible kin. $150 will get you a black console designed to lay on its side and streamlined to play only Wii software, a Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack and a copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. All well and good, except that Nintendo’s press release (which you’ll find after the break) also promises that the existing Wii bundle will stick around, packing Mario Kart Wii, a Wii Wheel, backwards compatibility for Gamecube games and the very same $150 price tag as the downgraded redesign. Mark your Christmas wishlists carefully folks, this one’s a doozy.

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BLACK WII HOLIDAY BUNDLE WITH NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII AND EXCLUSIVE MUSIC CD ARRIVING OCT. 23

Oct. 11, 2011
As the holiday season draws near, Nintendo of America is giving consumers a new way to discover the nonstop fun and exceptional value of the Wii™ system. Starting Oct. 23, a new Wii console bundle will be available at U.S. retailers, including the New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii game, a special Super Mario Galaxy™ soundtrack CD, a black Wii Remote™ Plus controller and a black Nunchuk™ controller. The new bundle will be offered at a suggested retail price of $149.99.

Particularly for first-time console buyers and newcomers to the world of Nintendo, this new Wii bundle delivers a mix of inclusive entertainment at an attractive price. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is one of the most widely enjoyed games for the Wii system with more than 20 million units sold worldwide. Featuring iconic characters from the classic Super Mario Bros. series, the game lets up to four friends or family members play together in a fast-paced platforming adventure. The Super Mario Galaxy music CD, which includes a selection of memorable music from the acclaimed video game, is available only as part of the new Wii bundle and will not be sold separately. The newly configured black Wii console sits horizontally rather than vertically and is designed exclusively for Wii game play and entertainment experiences (Nintendo GameCube™ software and accessories are not supported).

The standard Wii bundle, which includes a Wii console (white or black), matching Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk controllers, Mario Kart™ Wii game and Wii Wheel™ accessory, will continue to be available at a suggested retail price of $149.99. Both Wii bundles offer tremendous value to consumers and families looking to expand their home entertainment options.

Upcoming games for Wii include The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword, an epic new installment in the fan-favorite adventure series launching Nov. 20. In addition to a huge, diverse library of motion-controlled video games, the Wii system allows users to access a variety of fun online features by connecting their console to the Internet. Netflix members with an unlimited streaming plan can use the Wii console to enjoy thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix directly to their living rooms.

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Off The Couch: Explorence Wants To Turn Your Outdoor Activities Into Interactive Video Games (Invites)

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:39:44 +0000

Some startups and apps ( like Joypad and Brass Monkey to name a few) are turning your iPhones into customizable game controllers, while Wii and Kinect have turned you into the controller with their motion-sensing consoles. You’ve heard it hundreds of times, but smartphone technology is advancing at an astonishing rate. Five years ago, video recording was still a novelty. Now, our phones can understand human speech, make reservations, and tell us our new shirt makes us look fat . Mobile gaming has evolved rapidly over the last few years as well, but most serious gaming is still done via the browser or home console etc., and all gamers could stand to take their gaming out of doors. Riding the crest of smartphone innovation, and conceived as a way to get gamers off their couches, a new startup is opening its private beta today called Explorence , which is developing outdoor mobile games for Android — and soon for iOS. What does that mean? Simply put, through its mobile apps, Explorence plans to transform your outdoor recreational activities into …

Google Wallet Likely Launching Tomorrow

admin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:56:52 +0000

Last week, Google posted an awesome teaser video for Google Wallet featuring George Costanza. The implication: Google Wallet would finally be launching soon. Now we think we know when: tomorrow. As you can see in the above image, documentation is being sent around to partners stating a September 19 launch day. We’ve heard from others that this is accurate. And it also lines up nicely with NFC World Congress , which kicks off tomorrow in the French Riviera. Google is not listed as a speaker or exhibitor at the event, but their main partner MasterCard is the official sponsor. Back in May when Google Wallet and Offers were initially unveiled , Google stated that field trials for Wallet would beging immediately and that an official launch would come this summer. Initial reports pointed towards a September 1 launch. Technically, summer lasts until September 22, so it looks like Google will hit their deadline with a few days to spare…

Nintendo says one Wii U controller per console, robs player two of extra screen

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:42:01 +0000

Nintendo’s tablet-esque Wii U controller raised a few questions when it was announced at E3. Questions like, “What kind of crazy games are going to use that thing,” and “How much will a second controller cost me?” The latter, at least, has been answered. Nothing. You don’t need one. Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata recently said in an interview that games enlisting more than one Wii U controller aren’t being considered just yet — although they are possible. Our very own Ittosai tells us that Iwata told Diamond Online that the Wii U can technically support multiple screen-controllers, but that additional slabs would be too expensive to sell on their own. Iwata went on to say that the console would ship with only one, and that game developers should design titles under the assumption that each console will use a single Wii U controller. Player two will have to settle for a good ‘ol Wiimote, and even Satoru himself admits that there are plenty of those around.

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