Mario Galaxy 2 & Metroid in 2010 plus Vitality Sensor and Zelda News at E3

In a report to Japanese investors, Nintendo has confirmed that both Metroid: Other M and Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be out this year. Metroid will be out in the summer, nothing more specific other than "this year" was offered about Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Nintendo also promises to show off games for the Vitality Sensor (maybe WiiRelax?) and bring us more news about the new Zelda game for the Wii at this year's E3. If Zelda was released in 2010, it would be the first time Nintendo ever released a Mario, Metroid and Zelda game in the same year. But that seems unlikely to happen, since Nintendo is more likely to space out their big releases, they will need something for 2011 after all.

And perhaps most surprising, they announced the Wii has now become the company;'s best selling console of all time at 68 million units, passing the original Nintendo's 62 million. Also the DS has become their best selling handheld with 125 million units sold, passing Gameboy's 118 million.

I find that shocking. The original Nintendo was the system when I was younger. Everybody I knew had one. There was no competition like today, where we have three systems sharing shelf space. And Gameboy  debuted in 1989, and had an unprecedented life span of 11 years, before it was finally replaced by the Gameboy Advance. The DS has managed to overtake that in less than 6 years. Amazing.  

Iwata Finds iPad Unimpressive

Nintendo president Saturo Iwata does not seem all that thrilled by the new iPad announced by Apple earlier this week.

"It was a bigger iPod touch," Iwata commented.

The iPad is meant to be a device that fits somewhere between an iPod or iPhone and a laptop. Its functionality and user interface is very close to that of an iPod touch on a 9.7" screen. But at a price of anywhere between $499 to $869 depending on the features you want, many technology experts are balking at the logistics of it. 

Not that is at all news. At least that he would say that. He has to say that, he can't acknowledge the iPad as a competitor to the DS even if it was.

Personally I would have to agree. The iPad is too big to carry with you, and too limited to use as a computer.

Zelda Concept Art Revealed

As part of the Iwata Ask series on the official Nintendo website, original perviously unseen Art for the first Zelda is being shown off.

Such tidbits of information have been revealed such as one of the working titles for the game was "Adventure Mario."

If you are a retro Zelda fan, take a look, it'll stimulate your nerd glands. On a side note, for some reason many of the images didn't load for me, however I was still able to look at them by clicking on the "Click To Enlarge" links located under each unloaded picture.

Iwata Asks: Zelda Handheld History

Wii Classic Controller To Be Sold Separately

It has been confirmed that the Wii Classic Controller will be sold separately. Beginning this April you will be able to walk into your favorite video game retailer and pick on up for $19.99.

As previously reported, the Wii Classic Controller Pro will also be bundled with Monster Hunter 3.

The Classic Controller Pro is a lot like the regular Classic Controller, with slight variation on button and control stick location and extra grips. Plus the wire has been moved from the bottom of the controller to the top, which in my opinion, is worth $20 alone.

Nintendo Turned Down Natal

Natal, Microsoft's answer to motion control for the XBox 360, was originally offered to Nintendo first. At least according to somebody at CVG.

According to this unknown person:

"Honestly - I've heard Iwata describe the prototype he saw at length, and it's definitely Natal… What we witnessed at E3 was smaller and the facial [reading] stuff had improved, but it's the same technology. We remain unconvinced Natal will deliver on the more sophisticated elements of what Microsoft is promising at the price they're aiming for." 


Nintendo apparently thought the Natal would suffer from being too expensive and had latency issues. 


Natal is to feature a camera that will let you "act out" the actions you want to take place on screen. In other words, it will be motion controls without the controller, almost like Sony's EyeToy on steroids. It will also feature voice recognition.


If this is true, was Nintendo wise to turn it down, because Natal will just wind up being an expensive one trick gimmick? Or has Nintendo made the worse mistake since putting Jay Leno on at 10pm? I guess we'll have to wait and see.


Source: Techspot

Classic Controller Pro Headed To USA

Just as in Japan, the Classic Controller Pro will be bundled with Monster Hunter 3.

The main differences between the pro version and classic version of the classic is the Z buttons are now located behind the L and R buttons, the control sticks are now slightly further apart and added grips. Oh, and they finally have the wire coming from the top of the controller rather than the bottom.

All of these features are supposed to make the controller more comfortable to hold while playing Virtual Console games like Ocarina of Time or newer games like Super Smash Bros. and, of course, Monster Hunters 3. As of now, it is not known if the controller will be available by itself or only bundled with Monster Hunters 3.

Monster Hunter 3 was a huge deal when it was released in Japan, selling over a million copies in its first week there. It also helped spike Wii sales when a bundle featuring the game, the classic controller pro and a black Wii. The controller that will be bundled in America will also be black. The bundle is expected to sell for $59.99.

Wii Get's Discounted Game Line In Japan

For the first time on the Wii, Nintendo has introduced a line of discounted games. Like the Player's Choice Line here in the US that has graced past systems like the Game Cube, this series will contain games discounted and rebranded to make them easier for people to pick up.

However there are major differences between the two lines. This new one will be called "Everyone's Recommendation" and will only contain games that have been highly rated by users of the Nintendo Channel on the Wii. Unlike the Player Choice series, it will not be games that necessarily sold well, but it'll be ones that were loved by other players out there.

Games to get the initial treatment in Japan include: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World and We Ski and Snowboard.

These games will retail for 2.500 yen, or about $30 American.

I think its cool that Nintendo is trying to get more people to play good games that they may have overlooked the first time around, but I honestly can say I don't have the slightest interest in any of these titles.