Nintendo has announced a rough release date for the Nintendo Wii U, reigning in the launch to this side of 2013. But can a holiday launch tip the balance in Ninty’s accountants’ favour?
The Nintendo Wii U has been floating around looking for something resembling a release date ever since it debuted last year at the E3 gaming expo. Now, thanks to Nintendo Japan CEO Satoru Iwata, it has one.
At an earnings conference in Osaka, Japan, Iwata revealed that the Wii U will ship in time for the holidays this year in all major territories, including the UK. The launch is primed to soak up the majority of this year’s Christmas console sales and to help Nintendo return to profitability, after a year that’s seen them dip into the red for the first time ever.
If the Wii U can sell in equally monstrous numbers as the original Nintendo Wii, then the gaming behemoth should be fine… Even if efforts from Sony and Microsoft are just around the corner.
Razer have shown off a concept at CES that will easily excite a few PC gaming fanatics out there. Call Project Fiona, this is the first gaming tablet. Despite the fact that Project Fiona is a concept, Razer does plan to release the product. Reports suggest that it is targeting a Q4 2012 launch, priced under $1,000 (£650). Razer said that other gaming tablets are suitable for casual titles, but the limited navigation and control capabilities make them “impossible for hardcore PC gaming”.
“Adapted from a full featured PC gamepad, Project Fiona’s integrated dual controllers coupled with its advanced multi-touch screen are designed to make complex game navigation ergonomic and intuitive without compromising on the portability of the tablet,” said the firm on its website.
“You’ll be able to carry out headshots and command troops in-game with ease. This first-of-its-kind PC gaming tablet with integrated dual controllers is definitely not for playing casual games about unhappy birds or zombie-killing flora.”
This is the WikiPad: a 3D, glasses-free tablet that’s serious about gaming and is gunning for some of the market share that Nintendo’s 3DS has. Its spec sheet ticks all the right boxes, packing in technology two years in the making.
The WikiPad is 8-inches of tablety goodness that will come with a gaming dock to turn it into a serious gaming machine. It’ll run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which means that it can access all the best titles on the Android app store such as GTA III, alongside the Android client for OnLive.
The gaming dock gives the thing proper control thanks to a full compliment of controls arranged much like the Wii U controller. There’s also HDMI out and expandable memory up to 64GB. The best feature is the 3D though, which – like the Nintendo 3DS – doesn’t require you to don any glasses.
Sharp demoed similar tech in 2010, saying that 3D tablets of this ilk were just a year away. The wait’s been a bit longer than that, but we suppose that’s the time it takes to do 3D on an 8-inch display properly. The WikiPad is set to launch in the Spring.
Retailers in Japan have begun unofficially slashing prices on Sony’s PS Vita next-gen portable gaming device after disappointing sales continued through the holiday. The PS Vita debuted in Japan last month to initial sales of 321,000 units in the first two days. However, that number quickly sunk to a paltry 72,479 units by the second week, a very low figure compared to the second-week sales of rival Nintendo’s 3DS back in February of last year and is still flying off shelves.
The discounts being offered on the PS Vita are said to be as much as 20 percent, but only on the more expensive 3G version of the device. Apparently, the 3G version isn’t moving and it’s understandable given the added cost for the 3G capability itself plus the extra cellular data plan that would be required. Here in the US, that means signing up with AT&T for either a $14.99 per month plan for 250MB or a $25 per month plan for 2GB.
The PS Vita is set to debut stateside starting February 22 along with the release of several game titles for the device. GameStop has already posted pricing and arrival estimates for the PS Vita and its accessories, listing the WiFi-only version at $249.99 and the WiFi-plus-3G version at $299.99. Games are priced at around $39.99. It’ll be interesting to see how the PS Vita is received here and if we’ll also be seeing a price cut.
Kaz Hirai probably had a sleepless weekend as he and the team waited for the two-day sales figures for Sony’s PlayStation Vita. He can probably relax a little, knowing that 321,400 of the things were exchanged for cold, hard cash in the retail outlets of Japan. In comparison, Nintendo’s 3DS sold 50,000 more units but sales soon stalled — only to be rescued with a hefty price cut. Of course, now the company has to ensure that the performance issues that early-adopters have been facing are resolved — we’d hate to experience the same teething trouble when it arrives over here in February.
Too skint to get involved with all the Xbox LIVE Gold action but want a taste of the new features? Well then, you’re in luck as Microsoft has announced a free weekend of goodies for all Xboxers, even those who haven’t ever coughed up for the premium online content.
The Xbox LIVE Gold Weekend kicks off today (Friday 9 December) and will give non-subscribers access to the Lovefilm app (with a 30 day free trial on offer), the Facebook side of Xbox LIVE, Video Kinect features and the biggie – access to online gaming so you can pwn (sorry) your friends at COD and FIFA 12.
There are Zune movie deals aplenty going live, with up to 40 per cent of some pretty decent titles and there is also the chance to win the Xbox Christmas Entertainment Package which comprises a Samsung TV, an Xbox Kinect bundle, 8000 Microsoft Points more.
To get started, simply login to Xbox LIVE on your console.
In other Xbox 360 news, Disney Pixar has announced that Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure will be available on 23 March for £39.99. Previously codenamed Rush, the game brings together characters from The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, Cars and Toy Story.
OnLive has launched its smartphone and tablet cloud gaming apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, bringing console-class gaming to WiFi and 3G/4G mobile devices with an optional wireless controller. This updated control pad uses what OnLive calls “adaptive wireless” to automatically find the best connection with your TV, PC, Mac, Blu-ray player, smartphone or tablet, and will go on sale on December 9 at $49.99/£39.99. Check out the video demo after the cut.
The iOS and Android apps themselves are free, though you’ll of course need to pay OnLive for the privilege of using the games. If you’re on a budget, though, you can bypass the wireless controller and just stick with the touchscreen on your phone or slate, though only 25 titles actually support that method of input; if you want to use most os OnLive’s near-200 games, you’ll need that controller.
Up to four controllers can be paired with a PC using a bundled USB adapter, along with a Bluetooth headset for in-game voice communication. It’s powered either by a pair of AA batteries or an OnLive rechargeable pack, which rejuices via a USB connection and is apparently good for up to 36hrs of play.
Those gaming on their phone or tablet can play against others using their PC, Mac or the OnLive Microconsole itself, and all the usual social and “Brag Clip” features are present. Touch-supporting games include L.A. Noire, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and 5-7, and Defense Grid Gold.
October certainly was a big month for Rockstar Games as the announcement of Grand Theft Auto III coming to Android and iOS was received by many a squeal of delight by mobile gamers everywhere. After going hands-on with the game at New York Comic-Con later that week, I can tell you that we all have a very good reason to be excited about the game, especially now that Rockstar has officially announced the game will be hitting both Android and iOS next week.
If I had to guess on a price point for GTA III, I easily could see people paying $10, maybe $15 for the game on their mobile device, which is why I’m befuddled but also excited Rockstar is releasing the game for only $4.99. When you consider how much content is in the game, as well as the fact that you can bring the GTA III experience with you wherever you go, then you’ll hopefully realize this is a complete steal.
Rockstar has also updated the list of phones and tablets Grand Theft Auto III will run on next week. If you’re device isn’t listed, don’t worry as Rockstar has said they’ll continue working on supporting more devices in the coming months.
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive
iOS gamers should take note that Rockstar has worked on supporting the original iPad and iPhone 4, which is a welcomed addition as it was originally said only the iPad 2 & iPhone 4S would be supported from the get-go. As for Android gamers, the list of sporadicly supported devices shouldn’t surprise us as developers tend to support more of the latest and greatest devices than some of the older ones. If you’re phone isn’t supported, don’t forget that you could always purchase an Android tablet, iPad, or iPod touch in order to experience the goodness of Grand Theft Auto III when it’s released next week.
Looking for a great gadget Christmas idea? You could do worse than the OnLive micro console, which brings the cloud powered game streaming service to your TV. It’s been available in the UK since September, but is now making a move on the high street: retailer Game will sell the device in the run up to the 25th.
MCV reports that chain Game will sell the tiny OnLive set top box in its stores before the end of the year, while other retailers will begin flogging it in 2012. OnLive declined to comment when asked by Electricpig for an exact date.
It’s a surprise move, given that OnLive games can’t be bought in shops, and high street retailer disinterest killed the download only Sony PSPgo. But it’s an interesting fit: Game says it will sell top up vouchers for the service in store, and use OnLive to provide playable demos on its website.
Of course, it’s not necessarily the best way to pick up the excellent £69.99 OnLive micro console: the company, which is backed by BT and HTC amongst other investors, frequently gives them away with purchases of games on it servers. But it could be the shot of adrenalin the ailing bricks and mortar store, which saw declining sales of 6.7 percent in 2010-11 needs to survive.
The Xbox 360 Dashboard update hits tomorrow (6 December), but while it comes with plenty of new features and applications for content providers, including 4OD and Demand 5, the much-touted BBC iPlayer won’t be one of them. Yet.
Pocket-lint has been told, in a one-to-one briefing, that the iPlayer app is unlikely to be available on the platform this year, with a 2012 release date much more likely. This is because both parties, Microsoft and the BBC, want the functionality and look of the service to be as good as it possibly can be, and to feature complete integration with the new features offered by the refreshed Metro-style interface:
“We are working with them to deliver their application, probably in 2012,” said Pav Bhardwaj, Xbox Live UK product manager. “We are working to make sure that the app that we deliver for the BBC is the best app that we could possibly deliver. That it is seamless. That it is a great consumer experience. That’s what both the BBC and Microsoft want to deliver.”
However, at least this means that the iPlayer app for Xbox 360 will feature search through voice control, for example:
“That’s what’s most important. Rather than rushing it through, we’re going to make sure it’s a quality app,” he added.
“What’s important about the BBC is that they have such rich content. They’ve got so much content that’s it’s really important that we bring the whole Bing experience, the whole Kinect experience, and the whole search and gesture control functionality correctly to that application. And that it works seamlessly.”
Additionally, the company is working with the other major UK terrestrial broadcaster ITV to bring its ITV Player service to the platform in 2012 too:
“They are one of the partners we’re looking to work with,” Bhardwaj said.
