Nintendo Direct during E3 2013 announced a slew of new titles, and details about games we already know of.

In the next generation console war, a lot of attention has been directed at the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, but Nintendo almost stole the show announcing some new games and detailing the games we already know are coming.

The full video for Nintendo’s Direct webcast is below in case you missed it yesterday. As of now, here are the games and details revealed at the event:

• Wii Party U – This title is a series of mini-games accessible via a virtual board game, the latest installment of the series made popular by Nintendo 64′s Mario Party.
• Super Smash Bros. – The Wii U title made quite a stir this time around after introducing Megaman, an Animal Crossing villager, and the Wii Fit Trainer as new additions to the roster, as previously reported by The Inquisitr.
• Wii Fit U – This is the latest in Nintendo’s popular fitness game series, and possibly the second game that the Wii Fit Trainer is back in.
• Pikmin 3 – The biggest game series that made it fun to play with plant life is getting a new followup.
• New Super Luigi U – Luigi takes his high jump and slide to levels that only Mario had previously traversed. New content will be available to download for this title.
• Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games – Two previous rivals now star together in Nintendo’s take on the Olympic games being held in Russia next year.
• Super Mario 3D World – This game will feature online competitive modes and a new cat suit.
• Mario Kart 8 – The latest in Nintendo’s flagship racing series will include motorcycles and carts that will be able to transform into hovercrafts.
• Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze – The latest in the famous ape’s platforming series will feature Dixie Kong in a starring role.
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD – The high-definition update of the classic water-borne Zelda game.
• Bayonetta 2 – The female equivalent of Dante from Devil May Cry is getting her own sequel.

As for 3DS titles, the following titles were announced or updated:

• Pokemon X and Y – The infamous duo of the mega-popular game series has a whole slew of new updates, with the biggest of which being the addition of Fairy-type Pokemon and possible sky battles.
• Super Smash Bros. – Little is known if there are many differences between this and the Wii U version.
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds – This is the direct sequel to A Link To the Past, using a new ability to become a drawing to traverse the world in 3D mode.
• Yoshi’s New Island – The third entry in the Yoshi’s Island series brings back the old abilities and introduces new ones, such as giant eggs that Yoshi can use as projectiles to take down obstacles.
• Mario & Luigi: Dream Team – This is a comedic action RPG that combines Luigi’s dreams with the “real world.”

What do you think of the Nintendo Direct E3 2013 announcements?

Nintendo Direct Roundup: New Releases And Details is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wii U will be a major subject in tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct webcast.

As you well know, Wii U hasn’t done well at all since its launch last year, consistently facing sales that fall significantly short of Nintendo’s expectations. Nintendo blames their dismal outlook on the lack of major games and the failure of its advertising to convince gamers that the Wii U is a worthy addition to their collection of consoles.

In response to the lack of major titles for Nintendo’s Wii U, the Nintendo Direct webcast is where they plan to address new game launches. One webcast will cover the Summer releases, while the second will cover releases from Autumn forward. The first webcast is expected to begin around 3pm British time and will stream from the UK. The second Nintendo Direct webcast is being planned for E3 2013 in June.

Nintendo knows that the reason its Nintendo 64 did as well as it had is because of its first party titles. Aside from Goldeneye 64 and Perfect Dark, there was very little of any quality titles for the system. Wii U is now facing the same problem. In spite of its innovative design and approach to gaming, a hallmark of Nintendo if you think about it, the Wii U just isn’t doing well.

Among the new games being planned for the failing Nintendo console are a new 3D Mario title, Pikmin 3, and Wonderful 101, as well as a new Mario Kart. But will it be enough?

Shelly Pearce, the PR director at Nintendo UK stated:

“From July onwards we will launch a succession of Wii U titles and we will promote these extensively until the end of the year. Marketing activity will include TV, print, online and PR as well as comprehensive experiential and social media campaigns. We have a strong line up planned for Wii U in the second half of 2013 including the likes of Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Wii U. We are looking forward to launching these in the UK and for the opportunity to showcase the full potential of Wii U.”

If Nintendo’s new tactics work, and the Nintendo Direct webcasts gather the kind of interest they are hoping for, Wii U may just survive in this period of transition as the next generation consoles hover on the horizon.

Do you think Nintendo’s webcasts will be enough to save the Wii U?

Nintendo Direct Webcast Tomorrow Will Cover The Future Of Wii U is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move was released May 9 for the 3DS.

A Nintendo eShop exclusive, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a puzzle game where the “minis” are miniature Mario character robots that cross the game board. It’s your job to place blocks on the checkered board and make a path for the robots to their goals. Each block has different path markings on it. Fans of BioShock should be somewhat familiar with the concept, as it resembles the “hacking” minigame.

There is also a custom level challenge, giving the player the chance to make a level that will stump other players.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a spinoff of sorts from the Mario vs Donkey Kong series that began in 2004, dropping the “vs” and giving us a top-down perspective. You never control the robots directly as you use building block marked with pathways to create a path from start to finish. You’re technically changing the stage around them.

This is a hardcore puzzle game, demanding that you build a path for the windup robots in the midst of difficulties such as Shy Guys and spike pits. Along the way, you have to collect whatever keys are necessary, and the occasional coin whenever possible. Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move throws regular challenges at you, so that just when you think you have it down, it gives you something else to figure out. This is the classic puzzle game formula at its most beloved, with a dash of platforming to keep it fresh.

Sometimes it may feel like Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is technically a time trial, forcing you to finish the level within a given amount of time. The challenge will have you wrestling with your sanity, but the end goal always feels like an accomplishment. The added 3D look of the game really doesn’t change the dynamic of the way it plays, and that’s usually a good thing.

Nintendo’s latest entry in the Mario vs Donkey Kong games is addictive, challenging fun.

What do you think of Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move?

‘Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move’ Review Roundup is a post from: The Inquisitr

iPhone owners want Mario and other Nintendo games on their mobile devices.

In these near-apocalyptic days of financial crisis, Nintendo can use all the help they can get. Must-own games are only trickling in for the Wii U, though first party licensed titles are said to be coming by October. Now iPhone owners are speaking up and saying they want Nintendo games on their mobile devices.

Such a move could easily boost Nintendo’s profit margins, as iPhone users still outnumber Android according to The Inquisitr. Offering older Mario games on iPhone for even ten or twenty dollars each could help Nintendo even further with their flagging sales. Yes, the controls would require a touchscreen overhaul on the most part, but iPhone owners want their Mario. Supply and demand are laws Nintendo really can’t afford to ignore at this point.

Coupled with Nintendo possibly allowing smartphone apps to be ported to the Wii U, giving iPhone owners Mario and other first party titles could easily be the break they’re looking for. Just think about reliving your glory days of Super Mario Bros. 3 on a mobile device and you can see where the profits could boom.

While demand for Wii U is lower than any console Nintendo has ever produced (except the Virtual Boy), demand for their first party games will never drop. At least as long as the first party titles are made with the same quality we expect from the company that Shigeru Miyamoto built, we will never stop wanting them.

Online game developer Zynga has been reported as saying that tablets will be the ultimate gaming platform of the future, so if Nintendo decided to bank on the idea and port Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Metroid and the like to iPhone and iPad, Apple consumers will most likely grab those apps faster than birds in a bread store.

Do you think Nintendo should port Mario and other first party titles to the iPhone?

‘Mario’: iPhone Owners Want Nintendo’s Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wii U may be getting a new Mario title by October.

The flagging sales of Wii U may be coming to a close, as one of Nintendo’s flagship titles is said to be due by October. It is said to be a 3D Mario title, which evokes imagery of their recent game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2 on 3DS. The new Mario game is being developed by the team behind Super Mario Galaxy, and may be accompanied by a new Mario Kart.

Will Mario be enough to save Nintendo from financial ruin? Only time will tell, but if the technological prowess of Link to the Past 2 is anything to go by, this could be just the killer app Nintendo needs to make it with the Wii U.

Nintendo claims to have plans to release a whole series of first party titles in the second half of 2013 to boost the system and keep them afloat. Could this mean we’ll be seeing Kirby, Pokemon, Metroid and Zelda on the Wii U as well? Considering the possible development time, it could spread them really thin to attempt such a thing by the end of the year. However, the Metroid Prime trilogy was done by an outside publisher and Capcom once made one of their Zelda titles, so outsourcing to push development quantity without sacrificing quality could be done if they really wanted to.

Nintendo refuses to comment on its development of a 3D Mario game, but a source has stated they are working on a slew of new titles:

“From July onwards we will launch a succession of Wii U titles and we will promote these extensively until the end of the year. Marketing activity will include TV, print, online and PR as well as comprehensive experiential and social media campaigns. We have a strong line up planned for Wii U in the second half of 2013 including the likes of Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Wii U. We are looking forward to launching these in the UK and for the opportunity to showcase the full potential of Wii U.”

What do you think about Nintendo possibly releasing a 3D Mario title for Wii U by the end of 2013?

Wii U May Get ‘Mario’ By October is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wii U appears doomed, but can Mario save Nintendo this time?

Super Mario Bros. was the reason a lot of us bought Nintendo’s eight bit console, and the franchise has sold strong ever since. Between Mario and Zelda, Nintendo has never had to worry about money. The goofy Italian plumber and the silent elf-like swordsman of Hyrule have always pulled Nintendo out of some tight spots. It’s no wonder, really, as those games have always oozed quality and fun.

However, ever since the Virtual Boy, Nintendo has been slipping further into a financial hole. The failed virtual reality console gave us eye strain and called itself portable, but just try playing it on the bus and you’ll see how portable it really wasn’t. I never once felt the urge to buy one.

The last few consoles Nintendo has produced barely had a profit margin beyond the retail price, but the games have helped make them worth owning, so Nintendo stayed afloat. They went the shaving razor route, expecting the attachments to make all the money. It looked like doom was imminent with the N64, to be honest, and it was because of Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, and Goldeneye that the console gained staying power. The upgrade to 3D with most franchises failed most of the time (Castlevania, anyone?), and the N64 was hit the hardest with the bad attempts.

Now the Wii U has launched, and the games are trickling in like water through a terminated connection that someone forgot to turn off all the way. Need for Speed Most Wanted U, Dead or Alive 5 Plus, and possibly Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate look like the most promising games on the console, but it doesn’t seem to be enough to pull Nintendo out of the hole they dug themselves into.

Even the Virtual Console launch lineup looks like a list of games that will end up sitting on the shelf while you go back to Call of Duty on a console that’s still profitable in spite of the looming next generation. We’ve already played Super Mario World. We want something new and different.

It looks like Nintendo is going to need a phenomenal Mario or Zelda game to keep the Wii U from going the way of Sega’s Dreamcast. And I do mean phenomenal. No remakes or any of that noise: gamers demand things they haven’t seen before, and if anything can save Nintendo this time, it’s going to have to be a damn good Mario or Zelda game.

Mario is starting to stink of desperation now because we haven’t seen anything innovative from him in a while. Too little too late is only going to be the nail in the coffin.

Do you think Mario or Zelda can save the Wii U from being the death of Nintendo?

Wii U: Can ‘Mario’ Save Nintendo This Time? [Op-Ed] is a post from: The Inquisitr

As the two cornerstones of Nintendo’s vast franchise stable, Mario and Zelda games have sold hundreds of millions of copies.

Thus, it’s not surprising that the Wii U will be getting its own dedicated titles, as confirmed in the latest Nintendo Direct online broadcast.

While nothing was shown of the new games and details in general were scarce, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed the next home console Mario game was already in development.

Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma also popped up in the broadcast to talk about how the new Zelda will “redefine” the conventions of the series. Aonuma hinted that the game may contain co-op aspects and could abandon the tradition of having to complete dungeons in a certain order: Zelda MMO, anyone?

We’ll find out more about both games at the E3 expo, due to be held from June 11 to 13 in Los Angeles. Both Iwata and Aonuma confirmed the titles would be on display at the event.

To help make the wait for a new Zelda more bearable, Iwata also confirmed a full HD remake of the GameCube’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, complete with fancier graphics, off-TV Play, and MiiVerse compatibility. You can see some impressive screenshots from the remake below.

While the HD reboot of Wind Waker will sate many fans, plenty more will be hoping for a game with similar visuals to this pre-release Wii U demo:

Elsewhere in the Nintendo Direct conference, the company confirmed Yarn Yoshi (which looks like a seriously boosted Kirby’s Epic Yarn — again, see below), Wii Fit U Communities and a new Mario Kart game. Nothing too surprising, but all likely bestsellers.

Which of Nintendo’s new announcements has you most excited? Let us know in the comments!

New Mario And Zelda Games Announced For Wii U is a post from: The Inquisitr

An Ohio marching band has performed a sensational live tribute to classic video games from years gone by that has become an internet sensation.

Consisting of 225 members, the band moved seamlessly in formation for the nine-minute-long performance and acted out scenarios from the likes of Tetris, Space Invaders, Halo, The Legend of Zelda, and Pac-Man. They were watched by an adoring crowd of 100,000 spectators who had come to watch the Ohio Buckeyes’ against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Columbus on Saturday.

It was filmed by various members of the crowd and has been viewed more than three million times on Youtube. Characters from Pokemon and Super Mario were created, and one of the most scintillating formations was that of a running horse from the legendary Nintendo game Zelda.

Adding to the whole experience was the music that the band played, which consisted of theme songs from the games they were acting out. OSU has developed a reputation for incredible drills at their half-time shows, with the band members creating moving cars and even a man riding a surfboard in the past.

Ohio State went on to defeat Nebraska in the encounter, and you can only come to the conclusion that each player was heavily inspired by the marching band’s antics. Maybe the likes of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and The Who will have a lesser known rival for the coveted Super Bowl halftime show next year?

You can watch the incredible performance below that seems to have enthralled sports fans and geeks alike.

Ohio Marching Band Perform A Video Game Tribute [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Director Rich Moore’s Wreck-It Ralph appears to take a very loving look at the world of video games. Although a number of iconic characters make an appearance in the upcoming feature, one plumber in particular is reportedly missing from the storyline. According to Kotaku, Mario and his brother Luigi apparently won’t be making a cameo in the film.

In order to keep fanboys from crying foul and boycotting the film, producer explained Mario’s absence to the folks at Total Film. “The hard thing was, we were trying to work out the right way to use a character like Mario,” he explained. “It had to be organic to the film, we didn’t want to just paste him in there. For Bowser, it made perfect sense for him to be a member of the Bad Anon group. For Mario himself we couldn’t think of the right way to incorporate him into the film, and so we didn’t do it.”

To keep certain video game companies happy, producers of Wreck-It Ralph had to adhere to a very specific set of rules. If the filmmakers didn’t follow orders to the letter, they ran the risk of not being able to use the characters completely.

“We had a scene where we wanted the rings to come out of Sonic, and SEGA said the only way that happens is if he falls over, and we didn’t have him fall over in the scene, so we actually went back and re-animated it,” he explained.

Since Wreck-It Ralph has its roots in the video game industry, it’s only natural that the movie would have a tie-in. According to Gamespot, the official Wreck-It Ralph video game will be released for the Wii, DS, and 3DS. Instead of portraying scenes from the movie, the title will reportedly be an extension of the story.

Are you looking forward to Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph? Can you live with the fact that Mario and Luigi won’t make an appearance in the film?

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ Explains Why Mario Won’t Make An Appearance is a post from: The Inquisitr

Players who pick up Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition will be able to dress up their characters as both Mario and Luigi, according to Eurogamer. In addition to these beloved heroes, fight game enthusiasts will be able to stuff their brawler into Bowser, Link, and Zelda costumes. Since these industry icons are exclusive to Nintendo’s consoles, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners probably shouldn’t hold their breaths.

CVG reports that the latest installment in the Tekken franchise will also feature Nintendo-oriented power-ups — keep an eye out for Mario’s magic mushrooms during showdowns — which are exclusive to this particular version of the game.

Although the idea of seeing your favorite Tekken characters dressed up as Mario and Luigi may sound appealing, early reviews of the mode haven’t been overwhelmingly positive. Shack News writer Andrew Yoon described his experience with the exclusive mode as follows:

“Perhaps my biggest gripe with Mushroom Battle Mode is that the fights are much too short. Given how absurdly powerful some of these characters can become, fights can be over as soon as they start. Also, there’s no tagging in this mode, meaning fights are (essentially) half as long as they could be.”

Of course, the Wii U isn’t the only console with exclusive content. According to Gamenguide, those who pre-ordered Tekken Tag Tournament 2 were given access to “The Snoop Dogg Stage” and “The Big Bikini Bundle”. As of this writing, these additions haven’t been announced for the Wii U. Then again, console owners are getting Mario and Luigi costumes, so, chances are, they’re not crying too much over missing out on Snoop Dogg’s arena.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition is scheduled to arrive for the console sometime after November 18. Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners, meanwhile, can pick up their copies of the fighter right now. The trailer for the title has been embedded below.

‘Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition’ Features Mario And Luigi Costumes is a post from: The Inquisitr

Who says video games don’t impart any important life lessons?

What Doesn’t Kill Us, NES Edition is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you ever really needed proof that PETA was all about attention driven publicity stunts the animal rights group on Friday said they were “just kidding” about their anti-Mario campaign. Earlier in the week the company attacked Nintendo because Mario wears a Tanooki suit make from raccoon dogs.

Speaking about the PETA attack a representative told Kotak that people need to “relax” and realize that it “was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur.”

Yeah I didn’t think that sounded like a “joke” response given their “just kidding” statement either.

Another representative for PETA told USA Today that the organization was:

“A little surprised that the game was taken so literally by some, but we’re thrilled that we’re able to bring so much attention to raccoon dogs whose suffering is very real … Our spoof is simply making a serious point: that there is a much darker story behind tanuki skins than Mario lets on.”

In reflecting on the issue perhaps PETA should have thought before they came up with their “joke” which simply ended up promoting the game as 250,000 people played with their Tanooki suited character in the last 36 hours.

In other news PETA has petitioned the town of Turkey, Texas to change their name to Tofurky, Texas for Thanksgiving Day, a request that was denied by just about everyone in the town.

Do you think PETA was just trying to make a Mario fueled joke about the Tanooki suit or are they now attempting to save face with people who found the campaign to be ridiculous?

PETA: We Were Just Kidding About Mario’s Tanooki Suit is a post from: The Inquisitr

Animal rights group and serial point-missers PETA have a new target in their sights: Super Mario.

The Nintendo mascot has attracted the ire of PETA because he “wears the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers.” This, argues PETA, means Mario has a “pro-fur” stance. Yesterday, the not-for-profit group launched its ‘Mario Kills Tanooki‘ campaign, complete with a Flash-based platformer called Super Tanooki Skin 2D, in which a skinless raccoon tries to chase down Mario and get back its hide. They say:

“When on a mission to rescue the princess, Mario has been known to use any means necessary to defeat his enemy – even wearing the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers. Tanooki may be just a ‘suit’ in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur.”

What PETA seems to have forgotten (or plain doesn’t realize) is that ‘tanuki’ dogs have been a part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. Furthermore, the tanuki in Japan is considered a master of disguise and shapeshifting. In short, I seriously doubt pushing a pro-fur agenda was on Nintendo’s mind.

PETA also neglects to mention that nobody in the recorded history of the universe has ever mentally equated with Mario with the skinning of raccoon dogs. Until now, obviously.

Anyway, Nintendo has now responded to PETA’s ranting to Eurogamer:

“Mario often takes the appearance of certain animals and objects in his games. These have included a frog, a penguin, a balloon and even a metallic version of himself. These lighthearted and whimsical transformations give Mario different abilities and make his games fun to play. The different forms that Mario takes make no statement beyond the games themselves.”

Exactly. Now I advise you all go buy Super Mario 3D Land and a Nintendo 3DS. It’s really very good.

PETA Loses It Over Mario’s Tanooki Suit is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ever notice how old games look pixelly and so damn OLD? Well researchers Johannes Kopf and Dani Lischinski did, and evidently it pissed them off because they developed a program to smooth down pixels. As a result, you can now make everything in Mario’s world look sandpapered to heck.

Designed specifically to work with 8-bit games, Kopf and Lischinski’s algorithm takes every pixel in a 2D image and turns it into a soft, gooey blob. It’s something of a step forward: whereas other programs may discard pixels it deems unimportant, this one hangs on to every pixel, allowing for completely smooth, accurate gradations (the following pictures are from dvice):

It’s not perfect, however – its creators acknowledge that it isn’t too hot on more anti-aliased graphics, as this image of the marine from Doom demonstrates:

Also, I just can’t get used to curvy Space Invaders. I don’t want to surrender to these. I want to cuddle them:

[ExtremeTech, via dvice]

Looking smooth: New program smooths out 8-bit graphics is a post from: The Inquisitr

Proof positive that art can really come from anything. Also, I want a Diet Coke, but OMG, it’s perfect!

Epic Supermarket Mario Display is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s been a day in which a new princess was made, but the most famous princess in videogames isn’t about to be outshone. This risque depiction of Nintendo’s Princess Peach is (brilliantly) titled ‘Barely Regal,’ and was designed by artist Bjørnar Frøyse. It was “made for a competition at a large LAN party in Norway – the crowd consists of a lot of 16 year old geeks, so I decided to cater to the masses.”

I’d say you hit your target audience, Bjørnar.

See also:[VIDEO] The REAL reason Princess Peach and Zelda get kidnapped

[CGTalk, via Kotaku]

Barely Regal, Bjørnar Frøyse

[Mildly NSFW] How 16-year-old boys view Princess Peach is a post from: The Inquisitr

Though I doubt the Goomba-squashing, Koopa-kicking capabilities of these rad Super Mario Bros. Converse sneakers, DO WANT. Sadly, these are only coming out in Japan this July, which basically guarantees my size 14 plates of meat won’t ever be squeezing themselves into these.

As well as dozens of ickle 8-bit Mario sprites and the Super Mario Bros. logo on the tongue, these also feature the famous Mario invincibility star in place of the Converse star. They’re available in black and white, and – because this event has hardly been recognized whatsoever – are meant to celebrate Super Mario Bros.‘s 25th anniversary.

Also, because I couldn’t justify two consecutive posts about Mario merch, Shapeways (via technabob) is now selling these terrific 3D Mario dioramas, as made from colored sandstone. They’re steep at $83 apiece, though pretty snazzy:

[SHOES MASTER, via Albotas]

Super Mario, now immortalized on Converse shoes is a post from: The Inquisitr

Finally, after more than 25 years, we know …

See also:[NSFW] Yoshi tattoo destroys childhood memories

[it8bit, via Kotaku]

Where does Mario go when he falls down that hole? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The importance of sound, an oft-forgotten part of videogames, is beautifully highlighted in this video of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. mashed up with modern sound effects. It’s not unpleasant, just … deeply odd:

Apparently, the guy who made this landed a job at Saints Row developer Volition. Noice.

Oh, ALSO, fun Super Mario Bros. trivia, because it seems to fit here: the game’s sound engineer Koji Kondo recently revealed how he recycled the same sound in the game for different actions, to save memory on the NES cartridge. So the ‘CHUNG-CHUNG-CHUNG!’ sound of Mario being hit by an enemy is the same as when our hero enters a pipe:

Useless facts. ♥

[VideoSift, via technabob]

Super Mario Bros. mashed up with modern sound effects is a post from: The Inquisitr

Today at the Game Developers Conference, Nintendo showed off an all-new Super Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS. It’s not a shock – indeed, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto already confirmed this – but hey, new Mario. This is a big deal.

Oh, and it has a tail in the logo. Nintendo is keeping mum about what that means, but we can all make a pretty safe guess, right? It’s the return of the raccoon!

In other HELL YEAH Nintendo news, the company confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D remake would hit stores in June. As you can see from the fresh screens here, Nintendo 64 fuzz has been replaced by 3DS clarity. It’s looking terrific.

[Via Tiny Cartridge]

Nintendo unveils Super Mario 3DS, confirms Zelda remake for June is a post from: The Inquisitr

Shigeru Miyamoto, the genius behind Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda, has confirmed a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS. Speaking in an interview with Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, Miyamoto revealed, “In the interests of adopting new technology for the Super Mario Bros. tradition, I am now making a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS system.”

This hardly qualifies as news, of course. Mario has appeared on every Nintendo console since the Game Boy, so his appearance on the 3DS was only a matter of time. That said, YAY!

What this post really lets me do is link you to the full interview HERE, in which Miyamoto and his colleagues talk about the development of the first Super Mario Bros. game from 1985, revealing all sorts of quirky facts, sketches and ideas they had for the game. Well, that stuff is pretty interesting to a shameless old nerd like me!

Mr. Iwata’s had a haircut as well. He looks very smart.

[Via Wii.com]

Of course: Super Mario Bros. game coming to Nintendo 3DS is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cross stitching, the art of of, err, stitching crosses, is a boon to gamers with a creative touch. Thanks to its rigid grid layout, this traditional craft lends itself perfectly to recreating pixelated scenes from awesome retro games. Here are eight of the most epic videogame cross stitch projects I’ve encountered:

Super Mario Bros. 3 (Stitched byRayna Fahey)
This incredible cross stitched map from Super Mario Bros 3 contains roughly 50,000 stitches, and comes in at a respectable 28cm x 34cm. Check out the close-ups!

Metal Gear Solid (Stitched by Andrea)
Only one color is used in this terrific cross stitch of Metal Gear Solid‘s Solid Snake, but simple is beautiful in this case. This iconic piece of game art was for the original game on PSone.

Mega Man 7(Stitched by LiquidKarma)
Meanwhile, this Mega Man 7 masterpiece is the exact opposite: bursting with vibrant colors.

Snatcher(Stitched byklammyq)
Here’s an obscure one: this Snatcher cushion took creator ‘klammyq’ two years to complete, and around 26,000 stitches.

Super Mario Bros.(Stitched by sgoheen06)
This colossal (150cm x 60cm!) recreation of a (fictitious) Super Mario Bros. level took around 200 hours to complete, and 397 yards of thread! It contains ‘just under’ 50,000 stitches, and even boasts some metallic gold accents for a classy finishing touch. Make sure you go HERE to see a far bigger version!

Super Punch-Out!!(Stitched bySewsew-a-Gogo)
An absolutely knock-out cross stitch next, based on the SNES’s pugilistic boxing game:

Super Street Fighter II(Stitched by StitchPleaseMD)
This 23-color Super Street Fighter II cross stitch features the character select screen we old, fusty gamers know and love. This piece is actually for sale at Etsy (HERE) for $100, if you feel like treating yourself (or me. Treating me is fine also).

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past(Stitched byServotron)
Zelda is surely the most popular franchise with cross stitchers, so it seems fitting to end on this awesome cross stitch of the map in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

http://spritestitch.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2856&p=21952#p21778

8 Awesome Videogame Cross Stitch Projects is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ever pondered about how many times you’ve had to rescue Princesses Peach and Zelda in a game? You think they’d learn, right? Ever considered the little sods may just like getting kidnapped? The truth, at last:

[Via CollegeHumor]

[VIDEO] The REAL reason Princess Peach and Zelda get kidnapped is a post from: The Inquisitr

… and OH MAN THOSE DAMN BUBBLES:

Not that rival Mario is beyond treachery, of course …

[Via Dorkly]

[VIDEO] Sonic the Hedgehog is a damn jerk … is a post from: The Inquisitr

Holy — is that you, guys? ‘Cause I think the fuzz may want a word …

[Via Digg]

Mario and Luigi snapped in real life! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hackers of Microsoft’s Kinect, perhaps appalled by the slightly lame current line-up of Kinect games, have started hacking the device to play other games. As in proper, really good games like Super Mario Bros. 3.

The author of this Nintendo lawyer-baiting Kinect/Mario hack is YouTube user Yankeyan, who is shown on the video below running, jumping, and kneeling to control Mario on screen. It looks … sort of awkward to play, but it definitely works. Yankeyan IS the controller Mario. In the video below, you can watch him as he tackles the three NES Mario games.

While I applaud the man’s skills in getting this set up, this does raise one good point: Kinect is still nowhere near as responsive or reliable as a traditional controller, particularly for games that require precision pressing.

[Via technabob]

[VIDEO] Hacker plays Mario on Microsoft’s Kinect is a post from: The Inquisitr

… and also fondant and sponge or whatever. But mainly awesomeness. Let’s say 98% awesomeness.

This incredible Super Mario Bros. cake was spotted in the Nintendo World Store on Sunday, as part of the ongoing neverending celebrations over the Mario series turning a quarter of a century old.

It was cut (and partly eaten) by none other than Mario creator and Shigeru Miyamoto, alongside Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. How could they?! Well they could and they did. Kotaku has a video to prove it.

See also:Gamer’s bride-to-be surprises groom with awesome Mario cake

[Via Kotaku]

Mario celebrates 25th birthday with cake of awesomeness … is a post from: The Inquisitr

… And frankly, who doesn’t?

A recent survey in Japan has revealed the game series most Japanese gamers would like to try on a big-screen 3D television. 1,072 Japanese internet users – 68% female to 32% male – said they’d like to see a Mario game in 3D over any other title. Mario Kart and Final Fantasy were second and third in the list. Of course, we know for certain that a 3D Mario Kart game is on the way.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Dragon Quest RPG series, a sales juggernaut in Japan, didn’t feature in the top 30 games picked – but Need for Speed did. Groan. Here’s the full list:

1. Super Mario
2. Mario Kart
3. Final Fantasy
4. Resident Evil
5. The Legend of Zelda
6. Super Smash Bros.
7. “Musou” (i.e. Dynasty Warriors)
8. Monster Hunter
9. Street Fighter
10. Dragon Ball
11. Gran Turismo
12. Winning Eleven
13. Tekken
14. Metal Gear Solid
15. Tomb Raider
16. Ace Combat
17. Silent Hill
18. (tie) Virtua Fighter
19. (tie) Love Plus
20. Ridge Racer
21. F-Zero
22. The House of the Dead
23. StarFox
24. Siren
25. Medal of Honor
26. Call of Duty
27. Virtual-On
28. (tie) Need for Speed
29. (tie) Panzer Dragoon
30. Space Harrier

[Via What Japan Thinks]

Japan dreams of Super Mario in 3D is a post from: The Inquisitr

For what’s it’s worth Luigi, I freaking loved Luigi’s Mansion. Here’s the full version:

[Dorkly, via Geekologie]

Facebook fight!: Mario and Luigi’s not-so-brotherly exchange is a post from: The Inquisitr

Oh man, some of these need to be on my wall, or a t-shirt, now. These are a bunch of iconic videogame characters, as drawn by artist Alexander Shen. The catch? He only had 25 pixels – a 5×5 block – to squeeze in their likenesses.

The resulting images are highly abstract, yet still recognisable if you have a reasonable knowledge of games. I mean, that first one up there is laughably easy – Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach With A Moustache. You ain’t fooling me, Shen!

Did you get ‘em? If so, head to Shen’s Flickr page for a lot more of these.

[Alexander Shen's Flickr, via Kotaku]

Guess who: Videogame heroes in 25 pixels is a post from: The Inquisitr

1985′s Super Mario Bros. is a bonafide landmark in gaming history, a platforming masterpiece that still plays beautifully today, 25 years after release. If I created that game, you’d better believe the damn world would know about it. But Shigeru Miyamoto, the genius who actually did make it? He’s embarrassed.

In an interview between Miyamoto and Japanese game designer Shigesato Itoi*, Miyamoto confessed watching his classic game on a high-definition TV caused him to blush:

Miyamoto: (looking at images of Super Mario Bros. on a large-screen TV) When I see this so clearly, it’s a little embarrassing.
Itoi: Oh, really? How so?
Miyamoto: Back then, with tube televisions, it was a little blurrier and the images weren’t quite so sharp. The places where we tried to fudge it a bit really stand out! (laughs)

Miyamoto’s perfectionist streak shines through again – little wonder he’s so freaking awesome as what he does, eh? Catch the whole interview here – it’s well worth a read!

* Little known (well, to me) Itoi fact I only just unearthed: while many gamers will know he created RPG classic Earthbound, he also invented the name ‘Game Boy’. Heh.

[Via Nintendo]

Super Mario Bros. creator “embarrassed” by his game is a post from: The Inquisitr

Against my better expectations, Nintendo will be bringing those shmexy limited edition Super Mario 25th Anniversary consoles to the west – Europe, to be precise.

Nintendo’s UK arm announced that both the Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary DSi XL and Wii systems will reach European shores on October 22nd and October 29th respectively. The Wii will come with Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, while the DSi XL will be packed with – of course – New Super Mario Bros. They are the reddest things ever.

One (incredibly slight) downer: while the Japanese version of the Wii will come with a special version of 1985′s Super Mario Bros. loaded onto the system (all the question marks on item boxes have been replaced with a ’25′ – go here and scroll down for a screenshot), the Euro edition has the original Donkey Kong. That’s still kind of neat, of course! I … don’t feel like I should be ungrateful right now.

Nothing announced for North America yet, but I’m sure demand will justify bringing these sweet trinkets Stateside.

[Via Nintendo]

Mario anniversary Wii and Nintendo DSi coming west! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ever seen the charming show Undercover Boss, where real-life bosses go incognito to spy on their employees? Well this is the videogame version, where evil bosses from the Metroid, Street Fighter, Mario, and Sonic universes go behind the scenes

Favorite bit: “NO MORE WATER IN THE WATER TEMPLE!”

See also:[VIDEO] What if all games had a Super-Easy mode?

[Via CollegeHumor]

[VIDEO] Videogame villains play Undercover Boss is a post from: The Inquisitr

We’ve all heard the same Mario factoids over and over again: creator Shigeru Miyamoto gave him a mustache because he struggled to fit a mouth in, Mario wears a cap because his hair was difficult to draw, and so forth.

Interesting stuff, but how about those famous dungarees?

Don’t know how I missed it.

[Via TopCultured]

REVEALED!: Where Super Mario got his overalls is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yeah, yeah, the 3DS blah blah whatever.

All the real cats know this special edition DSi LL (or DSi XL in the west) is where it’s at. This purdy, purdy thing is being released by Nintendo to milk celebrate Mario’s 25th anniversary year. It is precisely how I like my limited edition DSes, which is subtle and red.

Furthermore, Joystiq noticed a second special edition console, the 25th Anniversary DSi you see below. Also bedecked in that delicious red, it has a sole Mario sprite stomping on the camera:

Both of these are out October 28 in Japan only, where I expect them to stay because the universe is cruel and enjoys laughing at my torment. The DSi LL (top) is ¥18,000 ($215), while the DSi is ¥14,800 ($177).

[Via Nintendo]

Mario anniversary celebrated with limited edition Nintendo DSi consoles is a post from: The Inquisitr

This guy is about 1.5 seconds away from becoming half as tall.

[Details, via]

[Pic] Awesome Mario mural by art school students is a post from: The Inquisitr

As completely awesome as this anatomical sculpture of Nintendo’s mascot Mario is, I do have to wonder where his, y’know … Baby Mario is. His Bullet Bill. I’m being pretty subtle here, so I should probably explain: I mean his schlong.

Such unsavory ponderings aside, this is awesome and I need it. Artist Jason Freeny created this from a modified vinyl action figure, revealing once and for all what lies beneath Mario’s plumber dungarees and layers of flesh and flab. And whaddya know, the serial princess saver is just like you and I, really! Minus sex organs.

See also:Ewww: The creepy anatomy of game controllers

[Popped Culture, via technabob]

Super Mario anatomy lesson probably shouldn’t be taught in schools is a post from: The Inquisitr

I want a Yoshi horse and GODDAMN IT I WANT ONE NOW.

[Warkitty, via That Girl's Site]

Super Mario Bros. + Red Dead Redemption = ? is a post from: The Inquisitr

The very first Super Mario Bros. game turns 25 years old on September 13th, and if Nintendo’s really good at anything, it’s reselling reviving old games for a healthy profit celebration.

Today at a retailer briefing in Japan, the company unveiled Super Mario Collection Special Pack for the Wii, a straight-up revival of Super Mario All-Stars, a Mario-themed collection that first appeared in 1993 on the SNES. Just like in 1993, the Wii collection will contain:

- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

I assume these will feature the original graphics and sound, which begs the question: why not just buy these on the Wii’s Virtual Console?

Well, the “special pack” part of the title refers to the bonus goodies you get, a book called “Super Mario History 1985 – 2010″ that charts 25 years of Mario history and apparently contains “unseen development materials”. There’ll also be a free soundtrack CD spanning Mario’s entire career, right up to Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Exciting stuff for Ninty and Mario fans, then (so me). This pack launches October 21st in Japan, though I’d fully expect a western release at some point. Thanks to New Super Mario. Bros on the Wii and DS, 2D Mario is back in vogue!

See also:[VIDEO] Man beats Super Mario Bros. with a dance pad

[Via Andriasang]

Original Mario games returning to Wii next month is a post from: The Inquisitr

Is confessing that I’m jealous of an 11-year-old’s 1,000+ piece Mario merchandise collection my lowest point yet on the Internet? There are some good contenders for that title … but yes. Damn you, Oscar Bown!

But seriously, kudos, you young maniac.

See also:The greatest retro games collection ever?

[Via Destructoid]

[VIDEO] 11-year-old Mario enthusiast’s insane Mario collection is a post from: The Inquisitr

This majestic Mario mosaic, shaped like a glorious 1-UP mushroom, claims to show every depiction of Nintendo’s famous videogame plumber ever. In truth, some are missing, but it’s still a splendid bit of work.

By the way, you can catch a bigger version of this picture at the creator’s website, along with a guide to where each Mario comes from.

Now, anyone up for whacking this on a t-shirt?

[Kaycircle, via Go Nintendo]

Every Super Mario, ever is a post from: The Inquisitr

This picture. My wall. They need to be together.

[Robotpencil's DeviantART, via Geekologie]

If Nintendo made Fight Club … is a post from: The Inquisitr

Impossible-to-pronounce Swedish band Rymdreglage don’t do things by halves. For their third single, ’8-bit Trip’, the musical duo decided to create a tribute to retro gaming, in the form of a stop motion music video made entirely of LEGO. It’s been done before, I hear.

Anyway, it’s totally mental. This took over 1,500 hours to finish, and references an impressive array of characters and games, from Pong to Mario to Pac-Man to Yoshi to Mega Man. It also gets credibility points for its nod to International Karate+ from the Commodore 64.

Not a huge fan of the music myself, but this shows some serious patience:

[YouTube, via Design Boom]

[VIDEO] Amazing LEGO tribute to retro gaming took 1,500 hours to make is a post from: The Inquisitr

Oh, to be a student again. A heady life of guilt-free drinking, socialising, and building epic Mario stop motion movies from Post-It notes.

[YouTube, via Geekologie]

[VIDEO] Aaaaawesome: Stop motion Mario movie made from Post-Its is a post from: The Inquisitr

Get this, folks: Nintendo is allegedly “very strict” when it comes to selecting which games feature company mascot Mario. Yeah, THAT Mario. The one who’s been in more than 200 games over 29 years.

As part of the promotional push for the blindingly brilliant Super Mario Galaxy 2, Nintendo legend and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has discussed the dangers of having too many games featuring the plumber. And he talked about this while totally keeping a straight face.

“Mario is a very important character in the Nintendo world and so we want him to appear in our titles,” said Miyamoto. “Indeed, there are a lot of games to which he is well suited. However, if he appears in too many games, then they will lose their uniqueness, and so with that we are very strict when choosing which games to have Mario feature in.”

Right. Seriously though, has any game character been used quite as frequently as Mario? Admittedly, Mazza’s appearances have slowed down somewhat compared to the mid-2000s, when he was whored out to star in baseball, snowboarding, and even dancing games.

May this new-found choosiness continue, I say.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Hmmm: Nintendo “very strict” over which games feature Mario is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Nintendo was founded in 1889, it started life as a card company, manufacturing handmade hanafuda cards until the mid-1970s. Next month, the company will return to its roots as card maker with a brand new set of Mario-themed playing cards. Neat! And also, I’M ALL IN SUCKERS.

Entitled Mario Trump play cards, these bridge sized (58x89mm) cards come in three different flavors, depending on your gaming tastes. There’s the old-skool 2D Mario set above (which naturally anybody with incredible taste will choose), a sort of N64-era set, decorated with standard Mario drawings, and a CGI Mario set, for all the new kids on the Mario scene. Get off my damn lawn, etc.

No matter which set you buy, Bowser will feature on the Joker card, and I assume Peach will be the Queen. They’re out next month at your favorite import site – try NCSX or Play Asia – and are going for ¥1,050 ($11.40) per set.

[Via Andriasang]

DO WANT: Nintendo announces awesome Mario playing cards is a post from: The Inquisitr

Empire magazine is traditionally a film publication, but this month decided to list the 50 greatest videogame characters ever. Fair enough, I guess. And no, the winner isn’t in the picture above.

Instead, the mag opted for one of several videogame heroes who are also mute. Valve’s very own Gordon Freeman, the entirely silent hero of the sublime Half-Life series, is Empire‘s ultimate videogame character. While my own choice for top spot is at #12, I’d say Gordon’s a worthy winner.

Just behind the crowbar-wielding theoretical physicist is – of course – Mario, and again it’s hard to argue. From there, the list’s compilers make some impressively unpredictable choices, with characters from System Shock (which, shamefully, I never tried) and Planescape: Torment (which I have played, and it’s bleedin’ ace) in third and fourth.

You can start your tour of the top 50 here, though if you can’t be arsed clicking through fifty pages, here’s the top ten:

1. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life series)
2. Mario (Mario series)
3. Shodan (System Shock series)
4. The Nameless One (Planescape: Torment)
5. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
6. Link (Zelda series)
7. Guybrush Threepwood (Monkey Island series)
8. Master Chief (Halo series)
9. The Lemmings (Lemmings series)
10. Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

[Empire, via VG247]

Empire names 50 greatest videogame characters is a post from: The Inquisitr

GameSpot (full review here) is not alone in dishing out perfect marks for Galaxy 2 – at the time of writing, eight other sites and publications have awarded the title a flawless grade. As you’d expect, GameSpot didn’t have a bad syllable to say about it:

“Super Mario Galaxy 2 is simply an outstanding game. It never rests on its laurels for a second, constantly presenting new objectives and mechanics to push you to never before seen places. Even the two-player mode offers new abilities and delights.“
100%

Game Informer (full review here) admires Galaxy 2‘s ability to keep churning out fresh ideas, level after level:

“Most games today are willing to hang their hat on a small handful of new gameplay or level-design ideas. Super Mario Galaxy 2 throws something new at you nearly every single level – and with over 240 stars to collect, that’s no small feat.“
95%

Wired’s Game|Life blog (full review here) delivered the most DAMNING VERDICT yet, but it’s still a glowing 90% write-up:

“Simultaneously more and less than its predecessor. It expands and elaborates on the gameplay in unpredictable ways, but the last one felt like a bigger, more complete adventure.“
90%

GameTrailers (full review here) awarded the title 97%, currently the average score on Metacritic:

“There’s more creativity in some single stages in this game than in entire other games. It’s a bit familiar, but all the fat has been cut away to expose a pure gaming core. There’s something for just about everyone and games that we can truly recommend to almost everyone are rare.“
97%

See also:Super Mario Galaxy 2‘s amazing debut trailer

[Via Metacritic]

Super Mario Galaxy 2: Review Round-up is a post from: The Inquisitr

If YouTube wasn’t invented for people to video themselves completing NES games on Dance Dance Revolution dance pads, then hell if I know what it’s real purpose is. This is Nick Hagman, whose handy feet have helped him complete the original Super Mario Bros. using just a dance pad.

It took this gaming leg-end 14 attempts and a week and a half of practice to achieve his noble goal, and he taped it all for your viewing pleasure (mercifully fast-forwarding through duller sections). It’s mighty impressive, and next week he’s taking on Mega Man 2. I can’t even complete Mega Man 2 with my hands, so I look forward to it, Nick.

[YouTube, via Joystiq]

[VIDEO] Man beats Super Mario Bros. with a dance pad is a post from: The Inquisitr

Super Mario Galaxy 2, a.k.a What I’ll Be Doing All Summer Until StarCraft II Arrives, will come with a bonus DVD designed to show players how to control Mario. This is, to my knowledge, the first time a game has ever featured such an extra.

The DVD will form a guide for beginners, showing how to use the Wii Remote and nunchuk together, and explaining Starbits and other in-game details. Basically, it’s designed to make everything easy for the Wii’s predominantly ‘casual gaming’ audience, so there are no tears of frustration at the rest home.

“But a tutorial DVD?” you might ask. “Is that not what in-game tutorials are for?” Well, previously, perhaps. But Nintendo looks like it wants to make learning how to play a game even easier. The solution? Sit people down in front of a DVD and let them watch.

“Isn’t this just spoon-feeding and patronising people like babies?” you might also ask. Perhaps it is, but I think lowering the accessibility barrier does no harm. If you’re an 82-year-old who’s never seen a videogame in action before, these things probably seem pretty damn intimidating.

Oh, and amusingly enough, the DVD (like all other DVDs) won’t be playable on the Wii itself. Arf.

See also:Papercraft Mario is blocky, totally awesome

[Via Cubed3]

Super Mario Galaxy 2 comes with free how-to-play DVD is a post from: The Inquisitr