If the many Black Friday deals didn’t persuade you into jumping on the Nintendo handheld bandwagon, be prepared for your willpower to be tested once again. Target and Toys R Us will both be selling a $149.99 USD Pokémon X and Y bundle featuring Nintendo’s 3D-less portable, the Nintendo 2DS, starting December 6.

Somehow Nintendo isn’t quite content with the 2 million copies they already sold of Pokémon X and Y in North America, and if this particular bundle doesn’t move units, then I don’t know what will. The latest entry was introduced in October – around the same time as the Nintendo 2DS, funny enough – and finally brought the franchise into the 3D age.

It also had well integrated online to boot, which is surprising for a game on a Nintendo platform of all things. Who would have thought?

For $149.99 USD this bundle is a splendid value, and with 2013 coming to a close, I’m reminded of how much Nintendo has been kickin’ it with the 3DS. Dat software line up is impressive. Admittedly you’ll lose out on 3D-viewing in part of the Nintendo 2DS lacking it (stereo sound output, too), but aside from that, Nintendo’s fresh-face handheld is solid as a rock.

There is a tiny hitch to this deal though, but only in what version of Pokémon X and Y you want. Basically, Target will offering one bundle with Pokémon X and a red 2DS, while Toys R Us will have the reverse with Pokémon Y and a blue 2DS; both have the game pre-installed on each system, although the Toys R Us version comes pre-loaded on a SD card.

Stay with WiiNoob for more of the latest news, the future of Miiverse on the Wii U and 3DS, and a look at some future games coming to the Nintendo family.

The post Nintendo Announces Pokémon X/Y 2DS Bundle For $150 appeared first on WiiNoob.

Miiverse is coming. To the Nintendo 3DS, that is. Early in November, Nintendo announced that their social network introduced on the Wii U last year would be launching on the handheld side with an upcoming firmware update sometime in December, and this week Wii U users have started to see nuanced changes to the user interface.

With the influx of communities centered around 3DS games being introduced next door to the existing crop of Wii U ones, most of the tweaks are focused on ease of use and discoverability. The first nice change is a better extensive list of Miiverse communities – represented with that new blue bar in the page – that are now arranged according to latest software releases; so say, if this week’s biggest release is Super Mario 3D world (which, no duh, it is), then that game’s community will likely be at the top of the charts.

Another welcome interface difference comes within Miiverse communities itself. Instead of any new post being highlighted first, the default option has been changed to where only those users who have played the game in question will appear most prominently. That tiny fix alone should be excellent news for Miiverse communities, and will hopefully insure activity within them will stay buzzing like a hornet’s nest of goofy pictures.

The last Miiverse change is a odd one, but I can see the reasoning now that I think about it. Basically, the number of “Yeahs” on each person’s profile page has been removed completely, although they’re still clearly visible on individual posts for what what it’s worth. Perhaps this a forward move to put “Yeah” beggars, the Miiverse version of Facebook “Like Me Please” spammers, in their place, which I don’t personally mind at all.

As December approaches, Nintendo should be making more improvements to the Miiverse as they prepare for one Miiverse to rule them all – Wii U and 3DS. So stay here on WiiNoob for more news on that, what a Super Mario Galaxy stage in the next Super Smash Bros. will look like, and where you can get some cheap 3DS units.

The post Wii U Miiverse Gets A Slight New Makeover appeared first on WiiNoob.

The new courtship of Nintendo and Sega might be totally freaky to the generation of gamers who lived through the “SNES vs. Genesis” console wars of the 1990s, but so far it seems to be yielding some pretty cool stuff.

Mostly on the 3DS Virtual Console space, where ports from Sega’s illustrious gaming catalogue have graced the eShop. Such as the previous batch of releases focused on the Sega Game Gear that where near godly in their presentation, including loads of neat options that either allowed users to select unique borders to wrap around the game, or a display feature that mimics the Game Gear’s original LCD.

Talk about dedication. The talented Japanese outfit that worked on these 3DS Game Gear ports was M2, who have had a top notch career of previously handling the emulation of other legacy titles from Sega (the Phantasy Star series for example), and worked tirelessly to build the library of games on the Wii’s Virtual Console. And all to praise worthy results that have made them the revered emulation kings of the retro gaming world.

Now M2 is back again and are cooking up another batch of 3DS ports based on some Sega gaming hits of the past that are now available through the 3DS’s eShop; each starting at $5.99 USD. Sure that might seem a tad pricey, but not unreasonably so. These are all 3D remakes, and were all delicately rebuilt to use 3D, plus like the Game Gear series before them, they have their own toolbox of cool extra presentation options.

So far each Sega 3D Classic has come out in two-by-weekly fashion. Meaning reworked titles every week until 12/19/2013. Nintendo has already released 3D Space Harrier and 3D Hang-On, classic arcade games that I’ve heard have been getting lots of positive buzz from the retro-enthusiast crowd since their release on November 28. Here are the full release dates for the titles as follows:

• 3D Space Harrier, 3D Super Hang-On – 11/28/2013
• 3D Sonic The Hedgehog, 3D Altered Beast – 12/5/2013
• 3D Ecco the Dolphin, 3D Galaxy Force II – 12/12/2013
• 3D Shinobi III, 3D Streets of Rage – 12/19/2013

For any fan of Sega, that list is love at first sight. And hopefully if all goes well, we might see more of these 3D remakes in the near future and beyond. Because really, we all desperately want for M2 to do a 3D port of Streets of Rage 2. Not that the first Streets of Rage is all bad, but think about it, Streets of Rage 2, guys. Streets of Rage 2.

More Nintendo news coming your way, like checking out this sweet-looking gold Nintendo 3DS XL made in tandem for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and how the Nintendo Wii is now discontinued in Japan, right here on WiiNoob.

The post Sega 3D Classics Now Available On The Nintendo 3DS appeared first on WiiNoob.

Thrills of racing the circuits in the upcoming installment of Mario Kart won’t just be bound to the Nintendo Wii U. Arriving to arcades in the United States (if you can still find one in your neck of the woods) in 2014, is Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. As the name implies, this is the arcade equivalent to the popular Nintendo go-kart series with a cabinet that features a steering wheel, pedals, and driver’s seat.

Tested and released in Japanese arcades way back in July of this year, this third installment of the Mario Kart Arcade GP series (co-created by Namco Bandai and often features cameos by Pac-Man himself) takes the harvest of its courses from Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS. Not a bad selection if I do say so myself, especially with the nifty additions of hang gliding and underwater track sections that are a feast o’ fun.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX is typically linked both side-by-side, but in Japan the game is also linked via online where players can compare track times across the country. Racers can even insert memory cards to save their race data, but there’s no confirmation if online linked play will be available in the U.S. edition of the game. Neither has it been confirmed that you’ll get to play as a Japanese taiko drum like in this following trailer (please someone, say yes).

I guess I’ll have to search the likes of Dave and Busters to take a spin on one of these cool machines; I’ve always wanted to experience Mario Kart in a race car cabinet, and now I’ve got my chance. Hopefully you’ll get yours, too.

For more Nintendo news, on upcoming system firmware updates coming in December, and a closer look at The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds golden Nintendo 3DS, keep it right here on WiiNoob.

The post Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Racing Towards U.S. Arcades in 2014 appeared first on WiiNoob.

Not to be overshadowed by the likes of their rivals launching two new gaming machines around the same time, Nintendo aired a new Nintendo Direct on Wednesday morning. This one was a more 3DS-focused affair with a release forecast of what’s to come to the portable sometime next year to North America, like Square Enix’s Bravely Default: Flying Fairy and Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy.

There’s also more video love for the upcoming Super Mario 3D World thrown into mix for this month. Although major spoiler warnings, this newest trailer probably reveals too much about the game – things like surprise characters and bonus features. Why Nintendo decided this would be a good idea, who knows. So, best to avoid it if you want to go into the November 22 title fresh as new born babe.

With that said, enjoy this round-up of trailers from the latest Nintendo Direct.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Launch Trailer

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy – Coming to North America February 7

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy – Coming to North America February 28

10 New Things in Super Mario 3D World

Mario & Sonic at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games

Pikmin 3 DLC on December 2

Nintendo eShop Indie Game Sizzle Reel

For more Nintendo news, more Super Mario 3D World videos that don’t spoil things, and a look at The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds limited edition Nintendo 3DS, keep it here on WiiNoob.

The post Nintendo Direct Game Trailer Round-Up For November 2013 appeared first on WiiNoob.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the spherical sights and sounds of Super Mario Galaxy, and it’s great to see one of the best games of the previous generation getting some much deserved love with the next Super Smash Bros. game for Wii U and 3DS coming in mid 2014.

One of the latest revealed stages for the Nintendo all-star brawler features a Super Mario Galaxy inspired level with gravity-defying gameplay that should certainly cause a lot of chaos on the battlefield. Definitely more so when you think how crazy a 2-on-2 match of Smash Bros. can get.

Sadly, don’t expect this level to greet portable owners on the 3DS. Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U and 3DS each have their own set of stages; Wii U stages designed after Nintendo home console games, and vice-versa for the 3DS with stages based on Nintendo handheld titles.

Having their own set of stages was probably the main reason why neither game is cross-compatible with each other, which is a major bummer of its own. Hopefully both iterations of the next Super Smash Bros, will have fantastic stages of their own that look just as great as this one.

For more Nintendo news, the latest Super Mario 3D World trailer, and how the online portion of SwapNote got axed, stay tuned to Wii Noob.

The post Super Mario Galaxy Stage in Upcoming Super Smash Bros. appeared first on WiiNoob.

Later in the week the nation comes together to honor the sacred tradition of waking up before the crack of dawn to buy ridiculously cheap stuff. That’s right folks, it’s Black Friday time. Which is also to best time to stock up on videogames, and with that in mind, I’ve gathered up what the big-name retailers in the U.S. have in store for the most-wanted of Nintendo products.

Just as a reminder, all deals are subject to change and are on a first come, first serve basis. Most importantly guys, be nice, friendly, and polite to all those out shopping and to the people who sacrificed half a day to be with their loved ones so you can get that flatscreen for half off.

Thanks to BFAds.net and CheapAssGamer for the info provided here!

Best Buy

– Valid Thursday 11/28 to Sunday 11/30 –

• Wii U Black Friday Bundle, Deluxe Set w/ New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and Mario & Luigi Wii Remotes – $319.97
• Nintendo 3DS Luigi’s Mansion Bundle – $149.99
• Buy 2, Get 1 Free Skylanders Swap Force single characters
• Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack – $49.99

$29.99 each

• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Just Dance 2014

$14.99 each

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Wii/3DS)

GameStop

– All weekend: Buy 2 Get 1 FREE on ALL pre-owned products & 30% Trade in bonus when trading any items towards ANY purchase –

– Valid Friday 11/29 to Sunday 11/30 –

• Nintendo 3DS Luigi’s Mansion Bundle – $149.99
• Rayman Legends (Wii U) – $24.99
• ZombiU (used version) – $9.99

Wii – Buy 2 Get 1 Free on all pre-owned

• Xenoblade Chronicles – $39.99
• Metroid Prime Trilogy – $39.99
• Just Dance 2014 – $14.99

K-Mart

– Black Friday Morning Doorbusters – 6AM to 12 Noon –

• Nintendo 3DS Luigi’s Mansion Bundle – $149.99
• Mario & Luigi: Party Island Tour (3DS) $29.99
• Pokemon X/Pokemon Y (3DS) 29.99
• Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS) $29.99
• Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS) $29.99

Target

$10 gift card with purchase of Just Dance 2014(Wii), or Mario & Luigi Dream Team

$25

• Just Dance Kids 2014 (Wii)
• Lego Marvel Heroes (3DS)

$15

• Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph (3DS)
• Angry Birds Star Wars (3DS)
• Wipeout Create & Crash (Wii)

$10

• Just Dance 3 (Wii)
• Monster High Skultimate Roller Maze (Wii)

Toys R Us

General Deals

• Disney Infinity Starter Pack $37.49 (Thursday 5PM to 9PM)
• Buy 1, Get 1 Free $14.99 & $19.99 Superbuy games (Thursday 5PM to Saturday close)
• Spend $75 Thursday/Friday, get $10 credit towards next purchase

Systems

• Nintendo 3DS Luigi’s Mansion Bundle – $149.99 (Thursday 5PM to Saturday close)

Skylanders

• Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack $37.49 (Thursday 5PM)
• B1G1 70% off Skylanders Swap Force Single Character Packs (Thursday 5PM to 9PM)
• Buy a 3DS XL, get Skylanders Giants or Spyro Starter Pack for $9.99 (Friday 5AM to Saturday close)
• B1G1 Free Skylanders Giants & Spyro 3 Packs, Adventure Packs, Battle Packs (Thursday 5PM to Saturday close)
• $19.99 each: Skylanders Giants Battle Arena, Over the Door Storage, Skylanders Carry & Display Case (Thursday 5PM to Saturday close)
• Wii U Skylanders Swap Force Bundle $259.99 (Thursday 5PM to Saturday close)

Walmart

– Starting Thursday 11/28 at 6PM –

• Nintendo 2DS – $99
• Disney Infinity & Skylanders Swap Force – $38.96 each

$25 Games

• Just Dance 2014
• Lego: Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (Wii U/3DS)
• Scribblenauts Unmasked (Wii U/3DS)
• Animal Crossing New Leaf
• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
• Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
• Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins
• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates To Infinity
• Super Mario: 3D Land

$15 Games

• Angry Birds: Trilogy (3DS/Wii)
• Teenage Mutant Turtles (3DS/Wii)
• Spongebob Squarepants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge (3DS/Wii)
• Lego Legends Of Chima: Leval’s Journey
• Paper Mario: Sticker Star
• The Smurfs 2 (DS)
• Warner Bros. Lego Batman 2 Super Heros
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Wipeout 3 (Wii)

$10 Games

• Just Dance 3 (Wii)
• Bejeweled 3 (DS)
• LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (DS/Wii)
• Lego Battles: Ninjago (DS)
• Plants vs Zombies (DS)

For more Nintendo news, the latest trailer for Super Mario 3D World, and what to expect in the next system software update for both the Wii U and 3DS, stay tuned to WiiNoob.

The post WiiNoob’s Nintendo Black Friday Deals Guide appeared first on WiiNoob.

So long SwapNote, or at least the SwapNote that we’ve all knew and loved as a great way to send friendly notes, drawings, and pictures to our 3DS friends. Last week, Nintendo abruptly shut down the online portion to the popular Nintendo 3DS app – a feature that makes for most of app’s usefulness, honestly – over reports of minors exchanging “offensive material.” Photos, actually, from the wording Nintendo gave through their PR release.

The shutdown occurred instantly on October 31 at 10pm (yes, on Halloween), an action that shocked and disappointed a lot of 3DS owners in its wake. Nintendo saw it fit to completely remove the online functionality for SwapNote in an unfortunate “taking the ball and going home” manner that didn’t exactly do them any favors. Covering Nintendo for as long as I have though, this isn’t a totally surprising move considering their typical response when protecting their family-friendly image.

Remember Friend Codes? The long, random sequence of numbers used to identify Nintendo users, which was a stupid way of finding friends and was a godsend to all of humanity once it was removed? Well, that was conceived as a form of protection for younger users. And for better or worse, Nintendo’s dedication to being a “kid-tested, mother-approved” videogame company puts them in a prickly position, where the safety of “the children” can come at the cost of being seen out of touch. Especially in the online department.

Perhaps in this case though, their actions were somewhat rational. According to several new stories coming out from Japan, there seems to be a swelling upcurrent of scummy SwapNote-related illegal activity. One frightening story in imparticular concerns a 44-year-old man using the 3DS app to send messages to pre-teen girls and requesting nude pictures in return; and another tale of two Japanese men using a 3DS to interact and lure a 12-year-old to a hotel and perform “improper acts” multiple times. Yikes is right.

Certainly, a huge legal implication from all the above might find its way to Nintendo’s doorstep, even though the company does provide appropriate Parental Controls for all its devices. Not that that’s a forgone conclusion, nor was it the reason given for pulling the online features of SwapNote in the first place, but knowing how fierce Nintendo’s legal team is, again, it’s not out-of-step for them to take such exaggerated precautions to a foul situation.

All said, it’s still a real bummer how the company chose to address this matter in their own “less than forethought” way. The Nintendo way these days, I suppose. Maybe a rightful Twitter campaign the likes of the #NoDRMPS4 one can bring the online functionality back to SwapNote, and restore it to its former glory. Until then, enjoy sending cute scribbles of your pets to yourself in the meanwhile. *Shrug*

For more Nintendo news, delightful Pokémon frozen cocktails, and Nintendo 2DS tear downs, keep here on WiiNoob.

The post Nintendo Removes Online Features From SwapNote appeared first on WiiNoob.

Nintendo is finally giving the people what they want. One slow baby step at a time. Wednesday morning’s Nintendo Direct announced that coming next month a new system update for both the Wii U and 3DS will bridge together player account balances, meaning folks, that if you buy Nintendo points one system (Wii U or 3DS), you’ll be able to use those funds across either platform – easy pleasy.

To keep complete tabs on balance though, users will need to sign up for a Nintendo Network ID and then associate it with whatever hardware owned. Unfortunately – yeah, you knew I was gonna say that – you can only have one Wii U and 3DS under a NNID. Not only that, but each NNID registered to a Wii U can only be shared with one 3DS, and any Nintendo eShop balances from multiple 3DS systems can’t be combined with said NNID.

Yeah, so there’s no trying to game the system here. Sorry, region lock freedom fighters, maybe next time. It is nice to see Nintendo getting its digital-ecosystem act together on one front, especially with Miiverse now officially coming to the 3DS, but without true accounts, the kind that don’t tie down your eShop purchases to the hardware it’s on, it’s still a ridiculous reminder of how far behind Nintendo is to its more digital convenient competitors.

Who knows! This act of data convergence does show that Nintendo is listening to all the complaints they get about their poor online infrastructure. Let just pray it doesn’t take another year to see more improvements.

For more Nintendo news, the latest trailer for Super Mario 3D World, and when you grab the special edition 3DS for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, keep watching WiiNoob.

The post Future System Update Unifying Nintendo Network ID Accounts On Wii U & 3DS appeared first on WiiNoob.

Gold has always found its regal way into almost every release of a new Zelda game. It began with gold NES cartridges (fake ones, of course) for the first Legend of Zelda game, and now that tradition continues with a limited edition Nintendo 3DS XL that coincides with the debut of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, coming out on November 22.

Internet gumshoes had already took the wind out of the big surprise by discovering a leaked GameStop circular for Black Friday, which depicted the box for the limited edition 3DS XL for the suggested retail price of $219.99(USD.) Now official, Nintendo has gone ahead and provided some lovely up-close shots of the handheld that beautifully features gold-and-black coloring and a finely silhouetted Triforce printed on the top and bottom shell.

If you’re wondering about that twenty dollar price hike for this particular piece of Nintendo hardware, it should be noted that this is a limited edition bundle, and as such, every box comes with an eShop download code for A Link Between Worlds. So, that’s a rather gorgeous handheld, a copy (sadly, not physical, but you take what you can get) of one of the most anticipated games from Nintendo this holiday season, and all for around $200 bucks? Sounds like a winner to me.

Although, I’m pretty sure there’s a good segment of current Nintendo fans cursing themselves for jumping the gun a tad too early on getting a new 3DS XL, and are now contemplating an exchange for this A Link Between Worlds themed portable (seriously, it is really nice looking in these photos.) I spotted a few peeps on my Twitter feed who are in such a worrisome, not-so-really predicament.

Keep it here on WiiNoob for more Nintendo news, the Wii discontinued in Japan, and what’s in the latest firmware update for the Wii U.

The post Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL Headed To North America appeared first on WiiNoob.