The 2D Option

Today Nintendo dropped an unexpected bomb. Instead of another iteration of the 3DS (like a 3DS Lite) they announced the 2DS. Yes, they have decided to go back to not hurting your eyes when trying to watch your friend play a game. No big surprise there, but what is odd is they have gone back to the slate design of gameboys past. The system is also going to be cheaper than the normal 3DS by $40. This lands it at $129.99 when it launches on 10/12/2013. So what does this tell us?

It tells us that it is made for a younger audience. The lack of hinge makes it a bit hardier and since it is only a 2D unit Nintendo can remove that warning label about eyesight for kids 6 and younger. The price also makes it more affordable for a families that may have been on the fence for a near $200 system.

This leaves one final question: is this system needed? Honestly, no it is not. But in all honestly, video games are not needed, but we want them. There are there going to be people that want this system. They may not be the core audience, but Nintendo has done OK looking beyond that core. And while I most likely will not purchase one, I do look forward to getting my hands on one of these, just out of curiosity.

Young Justice: Legacy - Creator Interview / Preview

"Young Justice", the Cartoon Network TV series about the younger DC heroes, is getting its own game. This game is 100% canon with the TV series. To get more on this we sat down with the creators of Young Justice for details on how this will work.

First a little background on the series. "Young Justice" has reached the second season, and if you are following it you may have noticed their was a five year gap between season one and season two. A lot changed during that gap. Artimis and Kid Flash both left the super hero life style, Beast Boy and Blue Beetle joined the team, and Aqualad turned to the dark side and works for Black Manta, his father, now. But how did this all happen? When Little Orbit (the studio making the game) approached the creators they decided the game would be the perfect way to tell how what happened. The game focuses on what is initially a search for a missing archeologist, but turns into something much bigger. The mission takes team members to locations such as Greece and Siberia for this major event, and eventually involves members of the Justice League.

The creators of Young Justice (the TV Show).This game has been in production since October and is going to play a little like "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" where you choose your team and level them up. This allows you to fell as if you are growing them into the heroes you see in "Young Justice: Invasion". Robin (Dick Grayson) becomes Nightwing and Robin (Tim Drake) is introduced as an example. As you play this, you form these characters into what you see in the show. The game overall will have 12 playable heroes. They are Nightwing, Superboy, Miss Martian, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Artimis, Zataana, Beast Boy, Tempest, Robin (Tim Drake), Rocket and Batgirl. Together the will have to defeat 12 villains. The tag line for the game is "One will rise. One will fall. One will die". Given the series will see Dick Grayson rise to Nightwing, Aqualad fall, but the death is a mystery to me. I can guess that it may be Zatanna since I have not seen her in the series, but that is just a guess. Look for more on the game at http://www.youngjusticelegacy.com/.

Edit: Looks like I was wrong about who will die, the mystery is still alive! Thanks commenters!

Falling Like Dominoes

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if some people with too much time on their hands arranged 30,000 dominoes into Nintendo shapes and then set them all off?  Me neither, but that does not mean that someone did not do it, and here is the video as proof.

Still worth it be a Toy R Us kid

So the 3DS is about to come out, and at $250 clams it is not all that cheap.  But Toys R Us has your back on this.  On the launch day (03/27/2011) of the system if you buy 1 game you can get the second 1/2 off.  Not a bad deal for new games.  Many "Tru" Locations will have demos of the system as well.  You know, just in case you are on the fence.

According to source you will also be able to trade in your old DS for a nice new one, but this is not being recomended, and I would have to agree with their reasons.  The 3DS has a screen with a higher resolution, but this comes at a price to older DS games.  The games are either blown up to look fuzzy, or if you hold select and start while it boot the system will use the original resolution, which means you have a much smaller play area.

Pokémon Shatter Sales Record

Pikachu in line to get his copySo March 6th heralded the release of two new Pokemon titles; Pokémon Black and Pokémon White for the Nintendo DS game systems.  With their release came a new Pokémon sales record. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games held the previous record with a one-day sale record 780,000 copies sold in April of 2007.  Pokémon Black and Pokémon White broke this record with 1.08 million copies sold in 1 day.  

Now why are so many people attracted to this? Lets check this convient quote from the press release shall we:

"Longtime Pokémon fans are attracted to the new Pokémon, new battle systems and a new region to explore, while newcomers enjoy the ability to jump in and have fun right away,” said Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo of America’s senior director of Corporate Communications. “These sales numbers illustrate the continued strength of the Nintendo DS family of systems. Already established as the nation’s best-selling video game platform of all time, the installed base of more than 47 million makes it the ideal hand-held for developers to reach a huge gaming-focused target audience."

So there you have it.  More areas to explore, more Pokémon to collect (how the hell are you supposed to collect them all now?) and a new battle system are luring 47 million fans to the game.   So grab your copies and try to collect all 649 Pokémon.

Nintendo 3DS for $199 or less?

So, are you wanting to buy a Nintendo 3DS when it hits store shelves but don't want to drop $249.99?  Will you also have an older DS system that will get no love once you buy a 3DS?  Well, you're in luck.  Now until April 3, 2011, GameStop is promoting a 3DS Trade Up Offer.  When you trade your old DS system you will receive a credit towards a new 3DS.  If you trade in your DSi XL you will receive a $100 credit towrds a 3DS.  If you have a DSi your trade in value will be worth $75.  Finally, if you're like the majority and have a DS Lite, you will receive a $50 credit.  So, instead of spending the full amount and keeping your old DS system, you might as well head down to your local GameStop and reserve a 3DS while saving some dough.  Check out the full details to GameStop's 3DS Trade Up Offer here.

Professor Layton - Third installment for DS released!

Cover box art for the third installment of the seriesI don't know how in the world I missed this one!  Apparently on September 12th the third installment of Professor Layton series, the Unwound Future was released in the United States market.  I really enjoyed the first two installments of the series and had heard that there were more games in the series but hadn't heard any news about the next release.  Color me surprised when I just learned today that the next one had come out and I totally missed it!  Guess this one will be going on my wish list for Christmas this year.  You can check out IGN's review of the game here.  Sounds like it's another solid entry into the series.  Can't wait to get ahold of it some time soon!

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks-DS Review

Zelda with Link riding the Spirit TrainI wish I had started playing this game sooner!  A review on the Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS.  I had received this game from IrishPride for Christmas, but since I was still abroad at the time and coming home in about 5 months, we decided that I would just get the game when I finally got State side.  

Well I got State side, got the game and then let it set for the past 3 months on my nightstand.  I finally decided that I really should play the game and see what it was all about and I'm very glad I did.  As I stated before I should have started this game when I first got it!  I'm over half way as far as general game play is concerned and I can't wait to finish it.  

So this is a game that has me enthralled and wanting to complete it which is something that has happened for awhile, so I insist on you checking it out!