You can contact us at webmaster.nintendocosmos@gmail.com. Our old email has been hacked and we are having problems with it.

It's hard to imagine it's been 6 years since the Wii was launched. Many wrote it off, calling it technically underpowered and claiming a gimmick such as motion control would not sell consoles in the current age of high definition. Microsoft had launched a full year earlier.

Sony were unleashing a powerhouse in the PS3. Could a console with no traditional controller really compete? Nintendo's little white box went on to sell 96 million units worldwide and in the process, opened up gaming to a brand new audience. After an underwhelming E3, Nintendo are ready to take the gaming world by storm and prove that lightning really can strike twice.

Here are a few reasons why the Wii U will dominate the next gen battle.

Nintendo really struck gold with the Wii. It didn't need a blu ray player or HD graphics. It didn't need a competitive online community. The Wii succeeded in it's brilliant simplicity. The motion control felt natural, meaning anyone, young or old, could just pick up and play. It broke down barriers between gamers of all levels and styles.

The hardcore gamer bought a Wii for Super Mario Galaxy. Your Grandad bought one for Wii Sports. For all the money companies spend on advertising, the best method also happens to be free; word of mouth. The Wii became much more than a video game console, it became a family experience. The Wii U is taking this to the next level.

Core gamers are finally at the forefront of Nintendo's plans but they are also yet again catering for the lucrative casual market. Finding the balance will be key but if anyone can do it, Nintendo can.

Nintendo has announced the launch of a new Nintendo 3DS system application that will give users a chance to play with their hardware in a new and interesting. Having already been something of a success on the Nintendo DSi with doodlers of all ages, the company is bringing Flipnote Studio 3D to its more modern handheld systems later on this year.

In a recent Nintendo Direct mini video, company president Satoru Iwata revealed some of the details of the animation studio, which will be made available from the Nintendo eShop this summer as a free download. Users will be able to create their own Flipnote images and animate them just as they did on the previous platform – only this time they’ll be able to make them look even better thanks to the 3D capabilities of Nintendo’s 3DS and 3DS XL consoles.

Like it has already done with the Wii and Wii U console, Nintendo is also pushing the social elements of its devices with the option to share their creations across two different gallery facilities. The first of these, Gallery Friends, is a free community that lets you view, comment, rate and download the stuff your registered friends have produced. However, for those who want to put their Flipnote creations out there on the global stage there’s also Gallery World, a subscription-based community. However, it was noted that there will be a free 30-day trial of this version of the sharing platform – and the chance to earn free months if you get enough ratings on what you submit.

Flipnote Studio 3D claims to give you your very own animation centre in the palm of your hand, allowing you to put together either simple or complex images – according to your personal drawing skills – that really pop when rendered in 3D. Simply start up a sketch using different layers according to what you want to sit at the ‘front’ of the animation, using your stylus to craft whatever your imagination can come up with. As there are even more useable colours than ever before, the sky really is the limit it seems!

It’s already been a big year for Nintendo in terms of announcements, with Direct conferences being used to tease us all about upcoming action games and racing games, as well as the two Super Mario games arriving soon on Wii U which will be previewed at E3.

SOURCE: Nintendo UK

Nintendo has announced the launch of a new Nintendo 3DS system application that will give users a chance to play with their hardware in a new and interesting. Having already been something of a success on the Nintendo DSi with doodlers of all ages, the company is bringing Flipnote Studio 3D to its more modern handheld systems later on this year.In a recent Nintendo Direct mini video, company president Satoru Iwata revealed some of the details of the animation studio, which will be made available from the Nintendo eShop this summer as a free download. Users will be able to create their own Flipnote images and animate them just as they did on the previous platform – only this time they’ll be able to make them look even better thanks to the 3D capabilities of Nintendo’s 3DS and 3DS XL consoles.Like it has already done with the Wii and Wii U console, Nintendo is also pushing the social elements of its devices with the option to share their creations across two different gallery facilities.

The first of these, Gallery Friends, is a free community that lets you view, comment, rate and download the stuff your registered friends have produced. However, for those who want to put their Flipnote creations out there on the global stage there’s also Gallery World, a subscription–based community. However, it was noted that there will be a free 30–day trial of this version of the sharing platform – and the chance to earn free months if you get enough ratings on what you submit.Flipnote Studio 3D claims to give you your very own animation centre in the palm of your hand, allowing you to put together either simple or complex images – according to your personal drawing skills – that really pop when rendered in 3D. Simply start up a sketch using different layers according to what you want to sit at the ‘front’ of the animation, using your stylus to craft whatever your imagination can come up with. As there are even more useable colours than ever before, the sky really is the limit it seems!It’s already been a big year for Nintendo in terms of announcements, with Direct conferences being used to tease us all about upcoming action games and racing games, as well as the two Super Mario games arriving soon on Wii U which will be previewed at E3.

SOURCE: Nintendo UK

We have a game company straight from the UK, that will be helping us post Nintendo news to the site.
So more news/updates will be posted to the main page of the site. MEC is going to be a great part of our website
news section.

The latest Wii U/3DS-specific UK software sales are as follows:

Wii U

1. Nintendo Land – Nintendo
2. New Super Mario Bros. U – Nintendo
3. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – SEGA
4. Darksiders II – THQ
5. ZombiU – Ubisoft
6. Sports Connection – Ubisoft
7. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – Warner Bros. Interactive
8. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth – Ubisoft
9. Rabbids Land – Ubisoft
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Activision Blizzard

3DS

1. New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Nintendo
2. Mario Kart 7 – Nintendo
3. Paper Mario: Sticker Star – Nintendo
4. Super Mario 3D Land – Nintendo
5. Sonic Generations – SEGA
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – SEGA
7. New Style Boutique – Nintendo
8. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate – Konami
9. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games – SEGA
10. Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask – Nintendo

Source: Chart-Track

In 2006, Nintendo launched the Wii. The system was an instant success and sold more than any other console in the 7th generation of video games. In 2012, Nintendo launched the Wii U, an entirely new system with a 6-inch touchscreen built into the main controller. It's Nintendo's first 8th generation system and is compatible with all Wii accessories and most Wii games. Even though it's only 2013, should Nintendo's 9th generation system have Wii and Wii U capabilities? Yes, but only to an extent.

The Wii U has had a tough launch because many individuals see it as an add-on to the original Wii instead of a new console. On another note, individuals have grown out of the Wii and have moved onto mobile gaming. Nintendo is trying to counter this with the Wii U and so far, they've been moderately successful. The Wii U will be a success, but nowhere close to the original Wii.

So when 2019 comes, the 9th generation of gaming will be extremely close. In my opinion, Nintendo should create a console that uses Wii U style GamePads, but much more advanced. Original Wii support will be dropped and you'll need a Wii U to play any old Wii games. With their 9th generation system, each GamePad can be used as a separate portable device. If you buy a game for the console, the GamePad's internal memory will connect to Nintendo and confirm that you bought the game. The game will be downloaded to your GamePad and you can play games anywhere. If wireless internet is in range, you can play with your friends at home or on the go. Nintendo could end up offering unlimited 4G or 5G gaming at a very low price as well.

So from Nintendo's 9th generation console, here's what I'd love to see:
Wii U support, No Wii support
No "Wii" in the system's name
Comes with 2 GamePads which can be used as portable devices
GamePads will be similar to the Wii U GamePad, but much more efficient
Online gaming anywhere for free that has WiFi.
Optional 4G/5G support for GamePads
Ability for GamePads to be used as an entirely separate console
GamePads will have the option to connect to any 9th generation or Wii U console

What I've explained above is something that will most likely happen, but first, Nintendo must merge handheld and console teams for this new offering. This happened in January and they are probably close at work on their 9th generation system. Will the system be exactly the way I described it? Nothing is confirmed by Nintendo yet, but it's expected that Nintendo will quit cutting down on power and possibly release a system with some incredible hardware.

Sony has claimed that Nintendo will be only a software company in the near future because they are afraid that the PS4 won't live up to the hype, after it announced it's PS4 controller and specs.
Nintendo claims that the company being software only in the future will never happen. Nintendo stocks are rising and more game companies are making games for Nintendo's Wii U console and the 3DS. So Nintendo fans shouldn't have to worry. But this news is going to tick off all the Sony fanyboys.
Nintendo has no interest in being a 3rd party developer anytime soon or in the future. Creator of G.O.W. doesn't know what Nintendo's yearly income is. And the G.O.W. creator is scared that Sony will drop out of the console business. That's why he wanted to start a false rumor against Nintendo. Shame on you Sony. You played the dirty game.

Nintendo shares have risen after Sony revealed its long-awaited PlayStation 4 console on Wednesday. Sony’s U.S shares were down 2.7% to $14.08 by midday, with Nintendo’s shares up 2% to $11.79. Trade on the Japanese market were similar as Sony slipped about 1.8% by the close of that session, and Nintendo Japan gaining about 1.3%. There isn’t any real explanation as to why Sony shares dropped and Nintendo’s rose, but it’s good news for the Kyoto based company.

Since We are still working on getting images back for the site. We decided to put up Wii U cheats for everyone. We only have one cheat at the moment but we hope it can hold you over until we get things fix around here.
You can find the Wii U cheats section in the NavBar.

We are under MAJOR site constructing to rebuild our images links around the site. We lost most of our images due to a server error. And we are now at the process of rebuilding the images and the images links. so please sit tight has we fix this.
We are very sorry for the site looking like a mess right now. but we are on the way of fixing this.

February 7, 2013
Free
After June 1, 2013 in Japan. can be downloaded from a fee (price TBD).
Nintendo
Street View
1 person
146MB or more
(Shared by all users of each body) 1

Up, down, left, or right GamePad, but only in the direction you want to see 360 degrees, also linked to will change the direction of the street view screen, overlook around freely. You can enjoy a more realistic sensation of Street View, such as if you were in that place myself. Also, you can simply press the button to go in the direction of his face. ※ The "Wii Street U powered by Google", street view you can see only a part of the game "Street View guide" is out.

By reflecting the map to your TV, you can place and making sure you have your own, where you want to see and enjoy the view on the street GamePad hand. If you display a map on the GamePad, you will be able to zoom in or move the map easily, easily find the place you want to see. In addition, you can also find the location by entering characters in the GamePad.

You can be projected to a big screen television screens GamePad, street view to look at the screen with family and friends. You can enjoy traveling and living together in a variety of locations around the world to the virtual, and the rehearsal of the outing.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi isn't sold on the idea of violent video games, movies and TV shows as the reason for violent behavior in America, according to a recent interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday. Research into the effect of violent video games has become a hot topic, with bills making their way back into Congress. According to Vice President Joe Biden, no one should "be afraid of the facts" of doing research. Wallace, however, doesn't think that more study is necessary. A video of the interview was posted by The Huffington Post.

"As part of your plan, you call for more scientific research on the connection between popular culture and violence," Wallace said. "We don't need another study, respectfully. I mean, we know that these video games, where people have their heads splattered, these movies, these TV shows — why don't you go to your friends in Hollywood and challenge them? Shame them, and say, 'Knock it off?'" Pelosi, however, disagreed that violent video games were the only cause. "I understand what you're saying," Pelosi said. "I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother. But the evidence says that in Japan, for example, they have the most violent games than the rest and the lowest mortality from guns. I don't know what the explanation is for that except they may have good gun laws."

On Feb. 8, the first episode of BearShark will premiere on Nintendo Video for Nintendo 3DS. Subsequent episodes will premiere exclusively on Nintendo Video on a regular basis. BearShark marks the continuing partnership between Nintendo and CollegeHumor.com, which previously brought the wildly popular and ongoing Dinosaur Office series to Nintendo Video.

Nintendo Video brings a wide variety of short-form comedy, animation, music and Hollywood programming to Nintendo 3DS. On a regular basis, new videos are automatically delivered to Nintendo 3DS owners, and are ready to be viewed in glasses-free 3D. The Nintendo Video application is a free service that can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop.
For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

- Download software can only be used on 1 Wii U per 1 USB media
- Download software can be saved to internal memory or USB media
- Download software can't be saved to the SD card
- Cannot play downloaded Wii U games on another Wii U

Not exactly the kind of news we wanted to hear. Looks like an external hard drive is going to be the better way to go. Thanks to all that sent this in!

Two Tribes is working on ways to let you know when you should look at the GamePad. They're sent out a teaser image
to see if it does the job. I'd say it works just great, and it's ridiculously cute to boot!

Sony’s always held their cards close to their chest, and for a while now, they’ve been known to attempt to reduce the expanse of the secondhand game market through bonus content tied to a game’s primary sale. But now it appears that Sony has patented technology that can actually nullify used games on their system altogether.

Essentially what Sony plans to implement is a device called an RF tag. This tag will be built into all games and ties the physical copy of the game to a console or PSN user account. Before starting the game up, this RF tag will check to ensure the machine and account it is being played with match those of the time it was first played. Hopefully this patent won’t come to fruition, but if they follow through with this system for PlayStation 4, you can kiss your used games goodbye. Not only does this affect used games, but if you have a friend who wants to borrow your game when you’re done, they’re also out of luck.

It seems like this is an attempt to optimize profit in an age when Sony is already struggling, but with the secondhand game market as large as it is, this can only serve to further ravage their financial standing. They see it as promoting sales of first-hand games and giving developers more cash to pocket, but what they fail to consider is why people buy and sell used games in the first place. Often, the price is not just a few dollars lower, but enough to actually make the difference in what game a consumer buys. On a tight budget, if you see a used copy of Assassin’s Creed for fifteen dollars and a new one for sixty, you’re undoubtedly going to go for the cheaper option. If that option doesn’t exist, you won’t be convinced to buy the sixty dollar copy—you’ll instead look elsewhere. It also means that people are less inclined to buy games in the first place if they know they won’t be able to sell them back to the store once finished.

By killing off consumers’ rights to redistribute a game how they please after purchase, Sony is essentially killing off the PlayStation 4 before it hits shelves. If you knew you wouldn’t be able to buy nor sell used games for the console, would you even consider buying it? Surely the percentage of gamers willing to pay full price for every game and never let it go is very small. Smaller still are those who think limiting their options is worth sticking with Sony. I love everything PSN has to offer, and I’m quite fond of Sony’s first-party IPs, but if this is the direction the PlayStation is headed, they’ve actively prevented Sony fans continued support. But don't worry Nintendo Gamers. Nintendo has no Intention of doing this at all.

Nintendo didn't divulge many details on Wind Waker HD. However, they did say that the game will be playable on your TV or on the screen of the Wii U GamePad. Furthermore, it will utilize the Miiverse social network in some way. Today company also acknowledged that they're making an all-new Zelda for Wii U. However, they say it's too early to say anything about the project, rumored to be the company's most expensive game yet.

"The more changes we have to make to a game the less and less palatable it becomes because making a game is an enormous process. Just doing 360, PS3 and PC - I don't think people understand the amount of work that goes into that. All of the localisation you have to do... all of the testing you have to do... on every platform in every language... It's a pretty huge undertaking." "So you aren't just supporting the Wii U; You're supporting it in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. We'll see. It's definitely a possibility." The Wii U is expected to arrive next year. Skyrim hits the PS3, PC, and Xbox 360 on November 11th. The fact that Skyrim may be about a year old by the time Wii U launches might lower the chances of a Wii U Skyrim. Bethesda might figure that by this time next year, everyone who wanted Skyrim already has it and it's not worth it to port the game to a new platform. Still, Hines says they're looking into it so that's the key takeaway. Even if Skyrim doesn't end up on the Wii U, Bethesda's interest in the platform means that perhaps the next Elder Scrolls (or Fallout) could end up on that console.

Software

1. Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition
2. Little Inferno
3. Trine 2: Director’s Cut
4. Nano Assault Neo
5. New Super Mario Bros. 2
6. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
7. Scribblenauts Unlimited
8. ZombiU
9. Assassin’s Creed III
10. Chasing Aurora
11. Darksiders II
12. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
13. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
14. Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
15. Just Dance 4
16. Madden NFL 13
17. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
18. Wheel of Fortune
19. Nintendo Land
20. Warriors Orochi 3

Videos

1. The Cave Trailer
2. Trine 2: Director’s Cut
3. Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition
4. New Super Mario Bros. U
5. Little Inferno Video
6. Little Inferno Video 2
7. Nano Assault Neo Video
8. Scribblenauts Unlimited Video
9. Zen Pinball 2 Trailer
10. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
11. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Video
12. Tank! Tank! Tank! Video
13. ZombiU Video
14. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Video
15. Toki Tori 2 Video
16. Darksiders II Video
17. Puddle Video
18. Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition Video
19. ZombiU Video 2
20. ZombiU Video 3

Source: Wii U eShop

This week’s ESRB updates are as follows:

The Croods! Prehistoric Party! (3DS/DS) – E
Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS) – T
Chimpact (DS) – E

Namco Bandai has announced a surprising localization today: Project X Zone. The Capcom, SEGA, and Namco Bandai mashup 3DS title is coming to North America and Europe this summer.
You can probably thank Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada for Project X Zone’s arrival overseas. In September, Harada said he was pushing hard for localization.

Listings on the 3DS eShop have provided release dates and prices for a few upcoming games. Most notable, we now have a confirmation that Ikachan is launching on January 31 for $4.99 / 500 points.

Below is the list in full:

January 24

Cocoto Alien Brick Breaker (3DS Download) – $4.99
Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (3DS retail) – TBA

January 31

Ikachan (3DS Download/DSiWare) – $4.99 / 500 points

February 4

Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS retail) – $39.99

Source: 3DS eShop

A Colorado family bought a refurbished Nintendo 3DS from GameStop as a Christmas gift for their 5-year-old son, but it all went terribly wrong, Meagan Fitzgerald at 9 News reported. The child found some unfamiliar pictures on it and asked his older brother to delete them. "He said that he didn't take these pictures so I went over to these pictures and I see two people in a bed. I told my dad and I said dad this has porn on it and he got up and went right to the phone," the older brother told 9 News. There were nine pornographic images that the boys saw in the 3DS' library, the family said. Now, the family is mad about it, claiming that the younger child is "traumatized." How did GameStop allow a porn-filled 3DS to be sold? Here's the explanation it gave to 9 News: "GameStop is currently researching this situation. We have a rigorous quality control process in place to ensure that existing content is removed from all devices before they are re-sold. Out of millions of transactions each year, ones like this happen very rarely. Our number one priority is to make this right for our customer." GameStop gave the boy a brand new device and a few games.

This is Nintendo world now. the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons, and you call us criminals. We explore... and you call us criminals. We seek after knowledge... and you call us criminals. We exist without being graphic whores, without the baby consoles like the xbox & playstation, without religious bias... and you say Nintendo sucks. You get little kids think that graphics are everything, you talk shit about Nintendo, thinking you know everything about video games., you are blind, under educated in the video game universe, and lie to us and try to make us believe that better graphics makes better games, when it doesn't, yet we're the criminals. Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for. I am a elite gamer, and this is my manifesto. You may stop this individual, but you can't stop Nintendo... after all, we're all alike.

The seller is, evidentely, not a video gamer, saying his experience with games "starts and stops" at the NES. Yet when he was cleaning out the warehouse of Westwood Studios - a games maker evetually bought out by Electronic Arts - something told him to hang onto this. "I knew it was odd, so I asked if I could have it," he writes. "My supervisor said help yourself to anything that's being tossed out."

The unit has been in his garage for the past 10 years, "where I have regarded it as a curiosity but also as a possible piece of video game history."

Currently its bid is $305; the seller says he's set a high reserve, content to let it sit in his garage another 10 years "before I get a good price" if necessary. It evidently isn't operational - "the screen blinks off and on with a white background" when connected. "I have no idea if there is a game on it or not." Still "The bottom portion of the kit works because I was able to run another game cartridge on it." I guess that means the NES itself functions but the SDK motherboard is toast. Sitting exposed in a garage for 10 years may do that.

Sega is suing the crap out of Level-5. Best known for the Professor Layton puzzle games, Level-5 isn't taking this one lying down. As previously posted, Sega is claiming patent infringement in Level-5's Inazuma Eleven soccer role-playing games and suing for the equivalent of US$11 million. Sega is contesting that Inazuma Eleven's touch interface that allows players to move characters with the touch pen and stylus violates two of its patents. "Inazuma Eleven does not violate Sega's patents," a new statement by Level-5 reads.

Level-5's argument is based around the fact that the first Inazuma Eleven game was released in August 2008, which, according to Level-5, is before Sega received its first patent in 2009. The second patent was granted in 2011. Level-5 noted that there were games that used touch pen controls before Sega filed for these patents. "As a result of examining these discrepancies," Level-5 stated, "we've concluded that there is no patent violation." Moreover, Level-5 pointed out that controlling characters via touch pen has spread throughout gaming and has become a fundamental mechanic.
"While Inazuma Eleven does not violate Sega's patent, we do recognize that Sega's lawsuit could restrict choices in gaming from here on out as well as hindering the growth of the game industry." Level-5 said the lawsuit makes the company "uncomfortable", and it plans to fight it in court.

That was quick. Scarcely two hours after Best Buy spoiled the party, Nintendo is launching the Wii Mini. The crimson console is billed as a Canada-exclusive for now -- we're reaching out to confirm if and when it might go elsewhere -- and is clearly meant to catch those families that find the Wii U (or even a regular Wii) too pricey. To get there, though, they'll have to make some big sacrifices. The Wii Mini cuts out both GameCube compatibility (seen in some regular Wii variants) and, more importantly, internet access; unfortunately, this won't be your budget Netflix box. Still, when gamers in the Great White North can pick one up on December 7th for $100, it might be the ideal fit for that TV in the basement or the occasional party.

Shimamura Yes. After development of Wii Sports Resort, Yamashita-san and I were thinking about something new that would draw upon the knowhow for Wii MotionPlus. We tested gameplay that involved moving the Wii Zapper and having images from the Wii move in sync on a monitor in your hands. It was fairly well received…

Iwata When (Shigeru) Miyamoto-san saw that experiment, he said that he definitely wanted to put a gyro sensor in Nintendo 3DS, so even though the ship was headed out of the harbor, he called it back. This happened after the people in the hardware department had already been declared that "all features are now set!" (laughs)

Yamashita Yeah. (laughs) We intended to present it as a Wii U project, so when it was snatched away for the Nintendo 3DS, we were sad, but also pleased.

Shimamura But thanks to this prototype, however, we were able to explain the structure of Wii U—having a screen in your hands—and it became more compelling.

Iwata The way that Nintendo makes hardware is to take an idea that has arisen and make something makeshift and actually try it out.

Shimamura Right. The next makeshift thing we made for Wii U GamePad concept—a second prototype—is this. Iwata Behold the original form of the Wii U GamePad! (laughs)

Eguchi This was the start of two-screen gameplay. Iwata Yes. I did that, too. An experiment using the Wii Zapper4 controller was what inspired us to put a gyro sensor in the Nintendo 3DS system, which was in the final phases of development.

Shimamura Yes. After development of Wii Sports Resort, Yamashita-san and I were thinking about something new that would draw upon the knowhow for Wii MotionPlus. We tested gameplay that involved moving the Wii Zapper and having images from the Wii move in sync on a monitor in your hands. It was fairly well received…

Iwata When (Shigeru) Miyamoto-san saw that experiment, he said that he definitely wanted to put a gyro sensor in Nintendo 3DS, so even though the ship was headed out of the harbor, he called it back. This happened after the people in the hardware department had already been declared that "all features are now set!" (laughs)

Yamashita Yeah. (laughs) We intended to present it as a Wii U project, so when it was snatched away for the Nintendo 3DS, we were sad, but also pleased.

Shimamura But thanks to this prototype, however, we were able to explain the structure of Wii U—having a screen in your hands—and it became more compelling.

Iwata The way that Nintendo makes hardware is to take an idea that has arisen and make something makeshift and actually try it out.

Shimamura Right. The next makeshift thing we made for Wii U GamePad concept—a second prototype—is this. Iwata Behold the original form of the Wii U GamePad! (laughs)

Shimamura It's very high-tech—a monitor and controllers stuck together by double-sided tape. (laughs)

Iwata I remember that you made a lot of prototype software with this.

Shimamura Yeah. If we made a list, I think there'd be about 30. Eguchi We used this prototype and two Wii consoles to run simulations for Wii U. EAD isn't a hardware department, but a "handicraft team" knowledgeable about hardware makes stuff like this.

Iwata Making this prototype led to Nintendo Land, so the development period for Nintendo Land was quite long. Shimamura Yes, it was.

"If you are going to connect Wii U with a home TV capable of displaying 3-D images, technologically, yes, it is going to be possible," Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata told the Mercury News when asked if the Wii U would support 3-D, "but that's not the area we are focusing on." In statements reminiscent of the company's justification for not adopting HD for the Wii, Iwata says "when it comes to the home console, it depends upon the availability of 3-D TV sets at home, which, unfortunately, is not expanding enough."

On the other hand, the first Wii very directly targeted a non-core gamer and, as a result, the absence of features that appealed primarily to the early adopting, core gamer crowd made sense; with the Wii U, Nintendo is clearly catering to that audience. "These hardcore gamers are the ones that are looking forward to something brand new, some brand new entertainment," Iwata says. "With Wii U, we will be able to provide them with that."

Considering a massive part of Nintendo's marketing for the still-nascent 3DS involves highlighting its glasses-free experience, we don't think Nintendo is likely to start making 3D games for Wii U anytime soon. But much like Nintendo's do-what-you-want online strategy, it sounds like Nintendo isn't going to stop third-party developers from asking you to put on some 3D glasses.

It was recently announced that Nintendo’s old Wii Ambassador program, used to help others get online with the console, would be coming to an end in Japan. Plans are now in motion to wrap things up in Europe as well.

Nintendo of Europe made it official yesterday – the Connection Ambassador Promotion is ending on November 21 2012 at 23:59 CET (22:59 UK time).

The company highlighted a few things that those who are participating should keep in mind:
If you have reached Gold or Platinum status but have not yet downloaded the titles you are entitled to, you will still be able to download them after the promotion has ended.
After the end of the promotion, it will no longer be possible to gift titles which you received due to your Gold or Platinum status.
After the end of the promotion, the person who has been helped can no longer receive 500 Wii Points if he or she has not started the Wii Shop Channel after both parties registered each other’s Wii Numbers.