PARTY INTO THE WEEKEND WITH Wii PARTY U - OUT TOMORROW

25^th October 2013 – If you’re looking for a game to get the family and friends together this weekend, then look no further than Wii Party U, the ultimate party entertainment title for family and friends of all ages to come together - regardless of videogame skills or levels of experience. Available exclusively on Wii U  and releasing in stores tomorrow, 26^th October, Wii Party U features 80 new minigames that utilise the unique features of the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote controllers, and launches as part of a Wii Party U and Wii Remote Plus bundle* while stocks last.  

With Wii Party U, prepare to witness your living room turn into a game show floor with a wealth of interactive board games, off-TV tabletop challenges, and 80 quick-fire, ‘pick up and play’ minigames. Variety is the name of the game in Wii Party U, whether you are looking for a quick 5 minute round of Tabletop Football – where table football comes to life on the Wii U GamePad – on your own or against a friend, or a fully-fledged game show experience such as inTV Party mode, comprising of five different games that can last between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on how tough you wish to make the competition! 

In Highway Rollers, Mii characters battle it out along a zigzagging highway, rolling dice at each turn in the style of a classic board game. But with a Wii Party U twist, you must tackle minigames at regular intervals along the highway, such as ‘Close Knit’, where you’ll need to frenetically waggle the Wii Remote as fast as you can to knit the longest scarf, or ‘Cliff Rider’, where a steady hand is crucial when using the Wii Remote to steer your Mii character across a treacherous canyon path whilst riding a unicycle.

Aside from the TV Party mode antics, House Party puts the focus squarely on turning your living room into the actual game field. In ‘Name That Face’ get ready to pull some silly faces to step up to the challenge, with the Wii U GamePad camera capturing your expression and challenging your friends and family to guess what you’re trying to convey. Meanwhile in ‘Water Runners’, the Wii U GamePad screen displays a stream from which you must ladle up the running water using your Wii Remote and bring it back to the water jugs displayed on the TV. With up to 4 players able to participate, be quick but be careful – the last one to fill the jug is the loser! 

Whether you’re a videogame veteran or newcomer, prepare to get hooked on one of 80 minigames and a variety of gameplay modes which utilise the unique features of the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote controllers when Wii Party U releases on Wii U tomorrow, 26^th October. From guiding a Mii character across a treacherous canyon whilst riding a unicycle, to competing in a ‘knit-off’, Wii Party U offers gameplay experiences which are always fresh and packed with variety!

*The Wii Party U and Wii Remote Plus bundle comes with a choice of either a black or white Wii Remote Plus, plus a Horizontal Stand for the Wii U GamePad.

TAKE TO THE SLOPES IN MARIO & SONIC AT THE SOCHI 2014 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES ON Wii U

18^th October 2013 – Whether you are a winter sports enthusiast or don’t know your Skeleton from your Bobsleigh, get ready to go for glory when Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games launches in Australia and New Zealand on Wii U on 9^th November. Featuring 16 different Olympic Events and 8 Dream Events set in the worlds of Mario and Sonic, join your favourite characters for fun-filled competition in individual and team events, new game modes such as Legends Showdown and the Action & Answer Tour, as well as a new online competition mode, Worldwide VS.

Taking players to Sochi, Russia, host city of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games invites players of all abilities and ages to compete in classic disciplines such as Speed Skating and Alpine Skiing. For all skaters and boarders alike, Figure Skating Pairs, Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboard Slopestyle are introduced for the first time in the Mario & Sonic series, with the latter event due to make its debut at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Also for the first time in the series, the Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers are used to control the action, offering the player greater depth of control and more intuitive gameplay. In Figure Skating Pairs, link up with a friend by holding the same Wii Remote Plus controller and perform graceful moves while two of the legendary characters on-screen perform the same routine. Only with perfect timing and by synching up effectively with your partner will you succeed. In an event like Curling, use the Wii U GamePad touch screen to plan your strategy by deciding upon the path of each stone, before releasing the stone onto the rink by flicking the Wii Remote Plus. If you are the player at the end with stones closest to the centre of the circle, victory is yours!

Alongside the Olympic Events, the Dream Events featured in the game allow players to perform dynamic moves not possible in real life. In the adrenaline-fuelled Winter Sports Champion Race, prepare to hop from a pair of skis onto a snowboard, from the inside of a bobsleigh to a pair of skates, in an environment befitting of the diverse blend of winter sports packed into this single event. For an alternative take on a winter sport, Snowball Scrimmage allows you to take part in the ultimate snowball fight, while in Snow Day Street Hockey, you’ll experience the sport of Ice Hockey like you’ve never seen before!

Away from the individual events, the Legends Showdown mode is designed for those who want to experience the deeper Mario & Sonic world. In this mode, 20 characters join forces to compete in an ultimate showdown, and it’s down to you to strategise and select which character will be put forward for each event. Come out on top in each of the five areas and defeat their respective Bosses to aim for the coveted Legend Trophy, earning different rewards as you complete areas. Meanwhile, an all-new party mode set up for multiplayer fun is the Action & Answer Tour, which is presented in the style of a TV quiz program and allows up to four players to compete against each other in minigames based on Olympic events. With the pressure on, you will need a mixture of quick reactions and observational skills to earn points and overcome your opponents – whoever has the most total points at the end wins!

Finally, a new online mode for the Mario & Sonic series, Worldwide VS, enables you to face off against players from across the globe in four events – Freestyle Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Short Track 1000m (Speed Skating), and the aforementioned Dream Event, Winter Sports Champion Race. Whether your opponent is a friend or a fellow competitor on the other side of the world, every time you earn a medal in competition, you’ll in turn earn points for your home nation, so give it your all and help propel your country to the top of the rankings.

Two of gaming’s biggest headliners come face to face once again when Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games launches on Wii U on 9^th November. With members of both the Mushroom Kingdom and Sonic Universe competing in 16 Olympic Events and 8 Dream Events, plus a variety of new game modes including Worldwide VS, which character will you choose to play as in the quest for glory?

Teenage Mutant Koopa Troppas

Wii Sports Club - Coming Soon to Nintendo eShop

                                 

The five beloved sports from the original Wii Sports – bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing and golf – are making a dramatic and competitive return on Wii U. The games are being released individually as downloads on Nintendo eShop featuring HD graphics, enhanced controls via Wii MotionPlus technology, as well as a much-requested online multiplayer versus mode, so users with broadband Internet access can face off against competitors online. And that’s where the “Club” part of Wii Sports Club comes into play. Players will be registered to regional clubs and will be able to interact with one another via Miiverse during matches. People will be able to play casually against members of their own club, or take on members of rival clubs to increase their club rankings.

Tennis and Bowling will be the first two sports available from Nintendo eShop on 7th November, with Boxing, Baseball and Golf scheduled to launch in the months ahead. Wii U owners who download Wii Sports Club will get a trial pass that will let them play any available games for a 24-hour period from when the Wii Sports Club game is started. Once the trial period ends, players can purchase a Day Pass on Nintendo eShop for £1.79 to play all available sports for a 24-hour period, or can buy permanent access to individual sports for £8.99 each.

Local pricing has yet to be announced.

Wii Fit U - Nintendo Direct Presentation

The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD Gameplay

Meet Nintendo 2DS

*Update*
The system will be released here in Australia for a RRP of $149.95 on October 12th
No word on a local release yet.

Nintendo Unveils 2DS and a slew of release dates for upcoming titles

                                                                     

 

29^th August - Nintendo today introduces a new member to the Nintendo 3DS family - Nintendo 2DS*, which will arrive in Australia and New Zealand on 12^th October 2013 with a SRP of AU $149.95/NZ $179.95**. Offering you additional variety and value in your handheld gaming options, the Nintendo 2DS is a streamlined version of the Nintendo 3DS that will play games available for Nintendo 3DS, as well as Nintendo DS in 2D.

The Nintendo 2DS retains many of the same hardware features as the Nintendo 3DS including the same Nintendo 3DS gameplay controls, backwards compatibility with the vast existing library of Nintendo DS games, as well as wireless connectivity features such as access to Nintendo eShop as well as StreetPass and SpotPass functionality. However the console takes on a new distinctive fixed, slate-form design, and will play all packaged and download Nintendo 3DS games in 2D. The new console is designed as an entry point into, or a new way to enjoy the Nintendo handheld experience and will be available at launch  in two colour combinations, White + Red and Black + Blue, with a Nintendo 2DS Carrying Case (in either Red or Blue) that can be purchased separately.

The end of year games line-up for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS is going to feature a vast array of games coming exclusively to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS this year, ensuring all can enjoy a choice of some of the best known and most loved franchises Nintendo has to offer. From Pokémon to Donkey Kong, Mario to  Zelda, Nintendo will be offering unforgettable gameplay experiences in the months ahead.

Take a look ahead at some of the games and hardware bundles coming soon from Nintendo and third party publishers for Wii U & Nintendo 3DS.

Wii U Software	Publisher	Release date (2013)
Rayman Legends	Ubisoft	29th Aug
Just Dance 2014	Ubisoft	1st Oct
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD	Nintendo	5th Oct
Sonic Lost World™ Deadly Six Edition (Limited Quantity)	Nintendo	19th Oct
Skylanders SWAP Force	Activision	16th Oct
Batman: Arkham Origins	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	25th Oct
Wii Party U + Wii Remote Plus (White) (Limited Quantity)	Nintendo	26th Oct
Wii Party U + Wii Remote Plus (Black) (Limited Quantity)	Nintendo	26th Oct
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag	Ubisoft	31st Oct
Call of Duty: Ghosts	Activision	5th Nov
LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes™	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	13th Nov
Watch_Dogs	Ubisoft	21st Nov
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games	Nintendo	Nov
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze	Nintendo	Dec
SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD	Nintendo	Nov
Wii Fit U	Nintendo	2013

Nintendo 3DS Hardware / Accessories	Publisher	Release date (2013)
Nintendo 2DS (White + Red)	Nintendo	12th Oct
Nintendo 2DS (Black + Blue)	Nintendo	12th Oct
Nintendo 2DS Carrying Case (Red)	Nintendo	12th Oct
Nintendo 2DS Carrying Case (Blue)	Nintendo	12th Oct

Nintendo 3DS Software	Publisher	Release date 2013
Etrian Odyssey™ IV: Legends of the Titan	ATLUS	30th Aug
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers	ATLUS	20th Sept
Harvest Moon: A New Beginning	MAQL Europe	Sept
Moshi Monsters Katsuma Unleashed	Activision	16th Oct
Pokémon X	Nintendo	12th Oct
Pokémon Y	Nintendo	12th Oct
Sonic Lost World	Nintendo	19th Oct
Skylanders SWAP Force	Activision	16th Oct
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Activision	23th Oct
BEYBLADE™: Evolution	Rising Star Games	24th Oct
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	25th Oct
Angry Birds Star Wars	Activision	30th Oct
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy	Nintendo	9th Nov
LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes™	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	13th Nov
Mario Party: Island Tour	Nintendo	Nov
Ben 10 Omniverse™ 2	NAMCO BANDAI	Nov
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds	Nintendo	Nov
LEGO Friends	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment	Q4
Bravely Default	Nintendo	End of 2013