Nintendo Wii Mini fatal flaws: No internet, no UK release date

 

The surprise reveal of the Nintendo Wii Mini got us hot under the gadget collar yesterday, promising all the fun of Nintendo’s back catalogue with a handy Netflix and BBC iPlayer streamer for a rock bottom price. But Nintendo’s since made the little console official, and we’re afraid it’s got some fatal flaws…

The Nintendo Wii Mini, sporting a $99.99 (£62) price tag and new red hue, will play all the games the current Wii can muster – but right now, it’s only available in Canada. We asked a representative if it’ll be coming to our shores, simply to be told “No announcements have been made regarding other regions”.

Now, if you’re thinking “Why would Nintendo go to the trouble of shrinking down its console for just one country?”, you’re not alone. We’d be very surprised if the Japanese gaming giant doesn’t roll this out globally at some point, but even if it did, there’s another problem: there’s no internet.

That’s right: unlike both generations of the Nintendo Wii, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so you can’t play online, watch videos or download updates. And worst of all, it means no access to Nintendo’s Virtual Console store packed with so many amazing retro games.

Unless the Nintendo Wii Mini ships to the UK with a drastically reduced pricetag (New Wiis can be had for £90 with a game), this looks like one to avoid – we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, let us know in the comments: would you ever buy a console without internet access?

www.tell-me-first.com

Top 5 party console games for Christmas 2011

The current crop of games consoles have shattered the notion that gaming is anti-social once and for all. Today’s consoles are all about entertainment, movement and fun – in other words, they’re perfect for a party. Join us as we look at five top titles to get the party started this Christmas.
This time of year is party season, but instead of dishing up the same old combo of snacks, tunes and small talk, why not spice the occasion up with some party games to get everyone involved? With all three major consoles now featuring motion control add-ons, gaming is more active and immersive than ever before, so let’s check out the top party games on the shelves right now.

Just Dance 3 (all platforms)There are loads of dance titles out there, but we’ve selected Just Dance 3 because not only is it one of the best of the breed, but it’s also available on all three platforms and is one of the newest titles on the scene. Up to four players can dance together (or eight on the Wii) and you can even create your own dance routine for your fellow players to try and emulate.
We Sing Rock (Wii)We Sing was the first karaoke game to appear on the Wii, and the franchise has now gone on to sell more than a million copies worldwide. The latest release is focused around rock music, but features the same well-designed formula of fun and interactivity that has made the series so successful. Checking out your mates doing their best Alice Cooper or Motorhead impressions should be worth a few laughs this Christmas!

Wii Party (Wii)The Wii’s rival consoles have come a long way since Wii Party first surfaced more than a year ago now, but it remains a great example of what made Nintendo’s console such a favourite in the first place. Just about useless for a solo player, Wii Party cranks up the fun for two to four players with a series of games designed to raise a smile and get everyone involved.

Michael Jackson: The Experience (all platforms)The King of Pop had a style all his own, and now you can showcase your own dancing and singing talents against the backdrop of nearly all of MJ’s best-known hits. Perfect your signature dance moves and you’ll unlock achievements, plus of course you’ll earn the adoration of thousands of fans. A treat for Jackson fans, and good fun for everyone else, The Experience is well worth considering.

Mario & Sonic at the London Olympic Games (Wii)For some unashamedly simple multi-player gaming giggles, surely the Mario and Sonic mashup to mark London’s hosting of the Olympic Games next year delivers a gold medal performance. It’s comprehensive enough that there’s something for everyone, but doesn’t take itself so seriously that things become overly competitive. A solid choice for any party.

Americans spent over $15 billion on video games in 2010

Americans spent over $15 billion on video games in 2010 According to a preliminary estimate released by NPD, total consumer spending on all video game content in the US was between $15.4 and $15.6 billion during 2010. That figure includes physical console and PC games, digital downloads, used games, rentals, subscriptions, social network games, DLC, and mobile game apps. Assuming the initial data is correct, the research firm believes overall sales have fallen by about 1% from 2009. Although retail games accounted for the majority of spending with $10.1 billion in revenue, sales dropped 5% from $10.6 billion in 2009.
 
PC game sales increased by 3%, and that's no surprise with blockbusters like StarCraft II and WoW: Cataclysm breaking records last year. That, combined with increased spending on downloads, mobile games and other segments offset the declines in physical sales, rentals and subscriptions. "The increasing number of ways to acquire the content has allowed the industry to maintain total consumer spend on content as compared to 2009, and we should expect 2011 to be a growth year in the games industry as the consumer demand for gaming continues to evolve," NPD said. The outfit expects to release a final estimate of consumer spending in March's "Games Industry: Total Consumer Spend (2010)" report.  http://www.d-skin.com/

Nintendo Wii U: Everything You Need To Know

 The Wii U is a next-generation successor to the Nintendo Wii promising to cater for all types of gamer and deliver top-notch graphics on par with anything we’ve seen before. Here’s everything else you need to know about Nintendo’s new console.

From the controller, the specs of the actual console, to the games – here is the lowdown on the Nintendo Wii U.

The controller
So far, the controller is the unique selling point of Nintendo’s new console. The Wii U controller features a 6.2-inch 16:9 widescreen touchscreen. From the demo shown at E3, the screen will be able to act as a mini-map displaying a players location on a map, be able to show positions of enemies, be used for augmented reality games, and inevitably more down the line.

The screen will also be able to act as a second display for the console. If somebody in your house enters the room, and wants to watch a programme on the television, you’ll be able to carry on the game on the Wii U controller. Nintendo says the Wii U controller adds a extra screen in the home.
Other features include an accelerometer, gyroscope, rumble vibration feedback, an inward facing camera, a microphone and speakers. The Wii U pad will feature a familiar six-button layout, with A/B/X/Y buttons on the right and L/R and ZL/ZR shoulder buttons on the top.

The console
Wii U will feature full backwards compatibility with the Nintendo Wii. Wii U will be able to play all Wii games. Up to four Wii Remote controllers can be connected at once. The Nunchuk controller, Classic Controllers and the Wii Balance Board will also work with Wii U.

Nintendo has said that Wii U will use its own high capacity 12-inch discs, not Blu-ray discs, however the capacity of these discs is reported to be on par with Blu-ray technology. The console will output video in full high-definition (1080p) where available via the use of a HDMI cable. Wii U will also take component and composite cables.

Wii U storage capacity has yet to be revealed. However it has been confirmed that Wiii U will feature an internal flash memory in addition to having the option to expand its memory using an SD memory card or an external USB hard disk drive. Four USB 2.0 slots also feature, letting players plug in accessories.

The games
Nintendo confirmed a number of titles for the new console that appear to keep to the company’s promise of catering to all types of gamer. Among those confirmed are: Pikmin 3, Smash Bros, Lego City Stories, Ninja Gaiden: Razor’s Edge, Batman: Arkham City, a new Assassin’s Creed game, Darksiders II and Rabbids. A trailer was also shown teasing probably future titles that included driving game, DiRT, Tekken, FIFA and Battlefield 3 and a new HD Zelda game. Irrational Games boss Ken Levine was also part of the conference in video, increasing the chance of a new BioShock game appearing on the console.

How much will Wii U cost and when can I get my hands on it?
Nintendo has yet to announce or confirm anything at this stage. However Nintendo maintain that its price will be competitive. The Nintendo Wii, when it first went on sale cost £179.99, but given that Wii U will be a more powerful, high definition console, there is a strong possibility it will cost more. We’ve also spotted the Wii for £400, although we suspect it’ll be a lot cheaper than that. A release date has not been announced, although the console is predicted to launch between April and December 2012.

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