News Articles
Monday17th Sep 2012
News Super Mario 3D Land Clone Hits iPhone, and Looks Rubbish
Making Mario mad
While the iOS and Android platforms have some blockbuster downloads that have been downloaded millions of times, they also have quality control that's as effective as a Power Glove. We present to you 3D Cartoon Land: Safari, which is a rather blatant copy of Super Mario 3D Land, the same in everything except graphics, design, tight...
Friday24th Aug 2012
News Nintendo In The Game For Golden Joystick Awards
Your votes can help
It's awards season, once again, with nominations for the 30th Golden Joystick Awards now confirmed and Nintendo games or exclusives featuring in a number of categories. These awards are decided entirely by the public, so if you feel that the big N deserves a chance to win you can have your say. Below are the nominations for...
Tuesday12th Jun 2012
News Mario and Kim Cattrall Star in New 3DS Advert
Run Mario run!
Advertising in video games is a funny business, and we've seen Nintendo hook up with a lot of different celebrities to promote Wii, DS and 3DS in recent years. The latest team up is with Kim Cattrall, of Sex and the City fame, who appears to promote Super Mario 3D Land and, sorry North Americans, the Ice White 3DS system. It's a...
Friday27th Apr 2012
News Mario's Presence in UK is 'Smallest in the World'
"We need to promptly improve this situation"
It's become apparent from the weekly UK software charts that Nintendo titles are struggling to make a significant impact in the country. Today's financial report statements from Nintendo revealed an interesting statistic about the sales of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 throughout Europe, and the...
Friday13th Apr 2012
News Super Mario 3D Land Director Shares Level Design Inspirations
Similar to four-panel 'Kishōtenketsu' comics
Super Mario 3D Land has been the recipient of critical acclaim and big sales figures. It was also the first 3D Super Mario title developed exclusively for a handheld, posing interesting challenges for Director Koichi Hayashida and his team, such as finding a way to provide short levels that are also...
Thursday15th Mar 2012
News Super Mario 3D Land Director Wanted Cape Mario
Fluttering in 3D
Last week's Game Developer's Conference was clearly an ideal opportunity for Nintendo's brightest to talk about the company's main mascot. Koichi Hayashida, a key figure in all things Mario nowadays, revealed that Mario could have had a skateboard, amongst other things, and that he wanted Donkey Kong and Pikmin cameos in Super Mario...
Thursday8th Mar 2012
News Bathe in the Glory of Miyamoto's Development Wisdom
Quotes from the master
Shigeru Miyamoto knows a thing or two about making games. As general manager of Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis Division he's worked with staff including Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takeshi Tezuka and many more. One of his protégés is Koichi Hayashida, director of Super Mario 3D Land, who took to the stage at GDC 2012 yesterday and...
News Super Mario 3D Land Could Have Had Skateboarding
Cockroaches too
Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida took to the stage at Game Developers Conference and revealed some of the stranger ideas Nintendo's EAD team cooked up but ultimately left out of last year's platformer. Among the oddball ideas were a pro skater Mario, where the plumber rode a Koopa shell around a half pipe; an elongated...
Thursday16th Feb 2012
News Zelda and Mario Up for Multiple BAFTA Awards
Can they conquer HD?
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is up for BAFTA Game of 2011 — the only award decided by a public vote — but the BAFTA board itself will have to decide if Link's most recent adventure deserves awards for Best Game or Game Innovation at the upcoming ceremony. Zelda's not the only flagship Nintendo franchise nominated:...
Monday6th Feb 2012
News 3DS Big Three Keep on Selling in Japan
Nearly 4 million served
Nintendo's Christmas trio of top titles continues to sell in Japan into January, with Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land and Monster Hunter 3 G still topping the country's sales charts. Between them the games have sold 3.94 million copies in Japan, an incredible figure as the most recent hardware sales put the machine at 3.6m...
Monday30th Jan 2012
News Nintendo Wants to Keep Old Titles Fresh with DLC
Add-ons a-go-go
It's a common problem in these days of overly crammed release schedules: wait around for a few weeks and you might find that the game you've just spent your precious pennies on is already considered old hat. The community has already moved on to the next title, nobody wants to talk about it any longer and, while it might still be...
Friday27th Jan 2012
News Super Mario 3D Land is 3DS's First 5 Million Seller
Just can't get enough
Super Mario 3D Land is the first 3DS game to sell over 5 million copies worldwide. According to Nintendo's latest figures, the game sits at 5.03m units sold around the world, just ahead of Mario Kart 7's 4.54m sales. Both have easily trumped the previous best-seller, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, whi
Sunday11th Dec 2011
News Nintendo Takes Home Four Awards at Spike VGAs
Read all about it
Last night's Spike Video Game Awards might have been more of a glossy advert reel than a bona fide awards show, but that doesn't take the sheen off Nintendo's four awards on the night. The biggest gong saw The Legend of Zelda receive the first-ever Video Game Hall of Fame Award, picked up by none other than Shigeru Miyamoto, who...
Tuesday6th Dec 2011
News Japan Buys Half a Million Copies of Super Mario 3D Land
Off to a flyer
Super Mario 3D Land saw release in Japan last month and made light work of the competition, selling over 500,000 copies across the country. Andriasang reports the game shifted 542,842 copies across Japan between 31st October and 27th November, with the best first-week sales of any 3DS game yet. In North America Super Mario 3D Land set...
Tuesday29th Nov 2011
News Mario and Skyward Sword Set Series Sales Records
Quick off the mark
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has told USA Today that the latest outings for Mario and Zelda have smashed series sales records. Super Mario 3D Land became the fastest-selling handheld Mario game in history, shifting over 500,000 units since it launched on 13th November. The plumber's long-awaited début gave 3DS...
Monday21st Nov 2011
News Mario and Zelda Bundles Coming for Thanksgiving
Special additions
In news that probably just secured a sizeable chunk of Black Friday spend for Nintendo, two limited edition 3DS bundles are on the way to North America on Thanksgiving Day. Starting this Thursday, for $199.99 you can pick up a Flame Red 3DS with Super Mario 3D Land or the limited edition Legend of Zelda 3DS console bundle with The...
News EB Down Under Sells Super Mario 3D Land Early
Ask and thy shall receive
Australia's release delay woes have been well documented, but retailer EBGames is doing its best to take the sting out of it by selling Super Mario 3D Land early. While the game is down for an official release in Australia this Thursday, Vooks reports that branches of the retailer will sell the game as soon as it arrives in...
News Zelda and Mario Break Into UK Top Ten
Strong showing
In one of the most crowded release weeks in the gaming calendar, Nintendo's key players have performed well to enter the UK top ten chart. Super Mario 3D Land leapt into ninth place, while The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword grabbed seventh position. Further down the chart, the latest crossover between plumber and hedgehog, Mario and...
Friday18th Nov 2011
Out Today Super Mario 3D Land and Wallpapers
Double whammy
Talk about good days: Nintendo fans in Europe have a new Mario and a new Zelda to choose from today, as the much-anticipated 3DS release Super Mario 3D Land finally reaches European shores. To celebrate the plumber's first true 3D platforming game we've put together some awesome computer wallpapers to bring a touch of the Mushroom...
Monday14th Nov 2011
News PETA Launches Campaign Against Mario
We're not kidding
If there was any doubt that Super Mario 3D Land is a high-profile game release, that has now been banished. It has emerged today that PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — has launched a campaign against Mario. The complaint revolves around the Tanooki suit, with the PETA website stating the following: When on a...
Thursday10th Nov 2011
News Super Mario 3D Land Leaps to a Strong Start in Japan
Bigger than galaxies
By now you've read in our Super Mario 3D Land review that Mario's latest outing is very good indeed, but has it succeeded in lifting the console's sales in Japan? Yes, and how. In its first week the game shifted a staggering 343,492 copies, according to figures from Media Create (via Andriasang). That's nearly triple the amount...
Wednesday9th Nov 2011
News Mario and Zelda's Babies Would Play Like This
The ultimate crossover chaos
We found out after E3 that there's a Zelda-style level in Super Mario 3D Land, and now we have a video look. As you can see below, the game takes more than a few cues from old-school outings like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Link's
Tuesday8th Nov 2011
News Atlanta, You're On Mario's Touring Itinerary Too
He gets around
Atlanta, Georgia is the next stop on Mario's tour of the United States to promote Super Mario 3D Land. The plucky plumber is taking in the unique sights of the Atlanta Underground this Friday, 11th November, with a surprise performance by a gang of Marios in Tanooki tails and ears. ATLANTA ON ALERT FOR MASS MARIO SIGHTING AT ATLANTA...
Monday7th Nov 2011
News GAME and Gamestation Give Away Mario 3DS Pouches
But only if you pre-order
With Super Mario 3D Land out next week and Mario Kart 7 hot on its heels two weeks later, GAME and Gamestation are stepping up their pre-order initiative with two giveaways. Pre-order customers will receive a 3DS pouch bearing artwork from the relevant game when they purchase their game. Neat giveaway items, but as we'd bet...
Thursday3rd Nov 2011
News Chicago, Mario is Coming to See You Too
He gets everywhere
Mario visits the Windy City next week to promote upcoming 3DS release Super Mario 3D Land, appearing at the John Hancock Center on 9th November. As with his other events in Austin, TX, New York City and San Diego, there'll be an army of Tanooki Marios making an appearance for a surprise performance. What city do you think will be...
Wednesday2nd Nov 2011
News Austin, Texas Gets In On the Mario Launch Love
Spreading far and wide
After San Diego and New York, where else can Nintendo go to spread the word about Super Mario 3D Land? How about Austin, Texas? On 7th November Nintendo will take a host of Tanooki Marios to the Republic Square Park in Austin, TX for an impromptu (as in "extremely rehearsed") performance of a surprise nature. Still...
Tuesday1st Nov 2011
News Super Mario 3D Land Made for Snacking, Not Gorging
Handheld finger food
3DS might be as powerful as Wii, but it's in a very different setting, as Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida explains in a recent Iwata Asks. According to Hayashida, if Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a grand imperial banquet, Super Mario 3D Land is fast food, designed to be consumed quickly in short bites: [Super Mario...
Monday31st Oct 2011
News Super Mario 3D Land Launch Spreads to San Diego
Nothing in between
Mario mania isn't just taking in New York, as Nintendo has revealed San Diego California can expect a Mushroom Kingdom-themed party next week to celebrate the launch of Super Mario 3D Land. This Friday, "sometime between 12pm - 1:30pm" according to Nintendo, dozens of Marios in Tanooki ears and tails will race through...
Friday28th Oct 2011
News Explore Super Mario's 3D Land at New York Launch
Tanooki tails mandatory
For the North American launch of Super Mario 3D Land, Nintendo is going all-out by turning Times Square into a real-life rendition of the Mushroom Kingdom. From 12th November, fans will be able to pick up their very own Tanooki tail and ears to wear while leaping through Mario's world: green pipes, coin jumps and even the...
News Iwata: We Want 3DS Sales to Show Consoles are Here to Stay
President comes out swinging
One of the most anticipated 3DS games is nearly here: Super Mario 3D Land releases in Japan next week, and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata expects it to ignite 3DS hardware sales. Speaking to investors after the company's quarterly results, Iwata revealed that since the price drop the 3DS is selling at a better pace than...
