Nintendo

Let’s Watch Zelda Spirit Tracks Japanese Ads

Let’s! We’ve already seen the U.S. television spot, so now why not check out a handful of the Japanese ones? It’s hallucinating-free.

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 10, 2009

It’s Nintendo vs France In Flash Card Showdown

Earlier this week, a French court dismissed Nintendo’s case against Divineo, a manufacturer of DS flash cartridges, on the grounds that Nintendo shouldn’t be locking people out of development on the handheld. Instead, the presiding judge advised Nintendo that it should adopt a more accessible development platform, like that you’d find on a PC. As…

By Luke Plunkett Published December 10, 2009

Nintendo Calls Chinatown Sales ‘Frustrating’; Implies Lack of Marketing

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sale and marketing, confessed to being frustrated by the sales numbers behind Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and suggested Rockstar hasn’t learned something Nintendo already knows about marketing. Asked by MTV Multiplayer if Nintendo was disappointed by Chinatown Wars’ showing, Dunaway said: It’s frustrating, quite frankly.…

By Owen Good Published December 9, 2009

Frankenreview: The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Are game critics sick and tired of these Zelda-loving Links on this Zelda-loving train? Find out, in our Frankenreview for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Spirit Tracks takes place in the future of the Wind Waker timeline, utilizing the same sort of cel-shaded graphics that everyone complained about in the Gamecube title but have…

By Mike Fahey Published December 9, 2009

Kotaku’s Zelda Contest Continental Clarification

In case you missed it, we launched a pretty impressive Legend of Zelda giveaway yesterday. But one point of clarity. When we said it was open to anyone in the Americas, we did mean anyone living in either North or South America. So if you live in any of the many countries those two continents…

By Brian Crecente Published December 9, 2009

R4 Vending Machine Will Be Removed From Osaka’s Den-Den Town

Earlier this summer, a vending machine selling R4 devices appeared in Osaka’s electronics district, Den-Den Town. The vending machine will be removed from the area. The vending machine came in the wake of a crackdown on R4 cartridges which can be used to play pirated video games. As we posted previously, Nintendo announced that it…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Extended Spirit Tracks Commercial Has Twice As Much Hallucinating

The 60-second version of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks‘ television commercial displays in more vivid detail why you should probably put down the DS and sleep once in awhile. The 30-second version was nice, but I love the little details Nintendo threw in for the extended cut of the commercial. The passenger paying the…

By Mike Fahey Published December 8, 2009

Win A DSi Signed By Zelda Director, $1000 Shopping Spree (And More!)

If you’re a Zelda fan you’re going to want to sit down before reading this. We’ve got an amazing prize pack to give away to the biggest Kotaku Zelda fan: A copy of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, a Spirit Tracks t-shirt, a $1,000 Nintendo World Store gift card, a Zelda’s “biggest fan” trophy…

By Brian Crecente Published December 8, 2009

Nintendo Reminds Us Why The Wii Sells At Christmas

It may have had a disappointing year by its own lofty standards, but the Wii should still do well this Christmas. Why? Because Nintendo know its target audience like the back of this commercial. Families, accessibility, paunches, sweaters, grandpa, a snarky daughter…yup, they’ve got this down pat. Nintendo’s Wii holiday commercial [Go Nintendo]

By Luke Plunkett Published December 8, 2009

This Super Mario Bros. Mushroom May Be Too Realistic

Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the mushroom. And were I in need of a height-doubling fungi in order to save a kidnapped princess, I might have a hard time swallowing this disturbingly realistic Super Mario Bros.-style mushroom. The above creation, from Kotaku tipster and sculptor Jaime (aka “Kalapusa”), fits in wonderfully with…

By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009

Custom Punch-Out!! Action Figures Prove Demand For Real Punch-Out!! Action Figures

As part of The Fwoosh’s eight annual CustomCon, figure customizer “Fugazi” has created the Punch-Out!! line-up in full, plastic boxer bodies harvested from other toys and repurposed for the greater good. They’re all here, from Little Mac to Soda Popinski. Check out the full gallery at The Fwoosh for detail shots of each classic Punch-Out!!…

By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009

Reviews

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review: Nice One

There are two ways Zelda games can be great. The newest entry in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks summits one of those rarefied heights. There are the Zelda games that are great in ways that influence an industry and nearly mandate that they be played. These groundbreakers include the very first Zelda…

By Stephen Totilo Published December 7, 2009

The Nintendo Download: Rayman, Street Fighter, And Shinobi

Eleven new titles make their debut across WiiWare, DSiWare, and the Virtual Console this week, with performances by Street Fighter Alpha, the arcade version of Shinobi, and a little Rayman for your DSi. Kicking things off this week despite a startling lack of actual limbs is Ubisoft’s Rayman (800 DSi points). Ubi has taken the…

By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009

How To Make A Fan Game And Not Get Your Ass Sued

Making a fan game – like this, or this – can be a tricky thing. Is it a tribute, or is it stealing? We like to think it’s the former, but lawyers often think the latter. Over on Gamasutra, attorney Mona Ibrahim has provided a handy guide on how to go about making a fan…

By Luke Plunkett Published December 7, 2009

Metroid is Also the Name of a Band, Apparently

When you think of “Metroid,” this band hopes you’ll think of them, and not just cannon-armed space pirate hunters. “Metroid” bills itself as an indie/electro/pop band “somewhere at the intersection of rock and the score to your favorite video game.” You can pick up that T-shirt (if you dig barfing robots) and some free mp3s…

By Owen Good Published December 6, 2009

The Special Guest Star Who Wasn’t

Link rendered as a Simpsons character. As seen on Springfield Punx [Thanks, Samit.]

By Owen Good Published December 5, 2009

Mario Theme: One-Hand Me, Good Sir!

Here’s a virtuoso piano performance of the Super Mario Bros. theme – using one hand. If I’d remembered anything from my piano lessons beyond playing Old MacDonald on the black keys, I could probably describe how difficult this is. A commenter asks “Was that one hand for left AND right hand, or was it just…

By Owen Good Published December 5, 2009

Nintendo’s 1955 Cameo In The New York Times

As seen on NeoGAF.

By Luke Plunkett Published December 5, 2009

Here’s Where The Idea For Spirit Tracks Came From

See this book? It’s called せんろはつづく. Or “Senro wa tsuzuku” (“The Tracks Go On And On”). It’s a children’s book by husband and wife team Fumiko Takeshita and Mamoru Suzuki. And it’s the inspiration behind Spirit Tracks. In one of his regular “Iwata Asks” columns, the Nintendo president sat down with Zelda mastermind Eiji Aonuma…

By Luke Plunkett Published December 4, 2009

Wii Hits British Sales Milestones

The Nintendo Wii has carved two big notches on its belt today, passing not only the six million-sold barrier, but also becoming the fastest console in British history to do so. The Wii went on sale in the UK in December 2006, so we’re looking at an average of 2 million per year. Not bad.…

By Luke Plunkett Published December 3, 2009