Saturday, January 22, 2011

Nintendo 3DS event: live coverage

At its press event in Amsterdam today Nintendo is expected to announce the European release and price details of its 3DS handheld console. We're covering the action as it happens...

Today is the day European fans of glasses-free handheld 3D gaming have been waiting for. At a packed press event in Amsterdam, Nintendo is set to tell us when we can get our Euro-hands on the Nintendo 3DS console. But what will be the retail price? And can we expect an enhanced line-up of games? The console will launch in Japan on February 26 with a 25,000 yen price ? that's about �190. But the smart money over here is on a UK figure of �229.

All will start to become clear at 2PM, when the event begins. I'll be live-blogging throughout and if you're watching Nintendo's live stream, feel free to share your comments and observations on the Twitter hashtag #gdn3ds.

Okay, Nintendo, we're ready when you are...

Slight technical hitch there. But now we're on.

Jonathan Ross is on stage going through the key features of the Nintendo 3DS.

14:10 We're being introduced to Spot Pass a new way of receiving content from Wi-Fi networks on the go. It will allow gamers to receive game elements and DLC on the go. They're working with hotspot partners around Europe.

14:12 Eurosport has signed up to provide sport content for 3DS users. In the UK, Nintendo is also working with Sky 3D to provide shortform 3D content for 3DS users.

14:13 David Sproxton from Aardman is on stage. He's the creator of Morph. "Aardman prides itself for being at the vanguard of new developments," he says.

14:16 Shaun the Sheep is coming to Nintendo 3DS in a series of one minute movies, starting at the end of the year.

14.19 We're now being introduced to Street Pass which allows oyu to have head-tohead battles with other passing gamers. A sort of on-the-go ad-hoc system for gamers, who will be able to match-up while on the move.

14.22 Okay, Nintendo Europe European chief Laurent Fischer has gone, to replaced by Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono. He's making everyone in the audience do a hadoken!

14.25 Okay what are we going to get? Ono has refered to Laurent as the boring version of George Clooney, brilliantly riffing off of Jonathan Ross' early joke.

14:27 They're saying that when playing Super Street Fighter IV 3D edition, you receive virtual figurines, which you need to set into your Street Pass system, then you close the system, put it in your pocket and go out into the street. Your character then has mini-Street Fighter battles with the figurines of passing players without you even noticing. Hmm. Street Pass Fighter IV

14.31 Owners of other 3DS consoles will also be able to link-in to two player battles and watch their friends fight. A sort of 3D ad-hoc spectator mode.

14.33 There will be 35 characters in the Super Street Fighter IV 3DS game, some veterans and some complete newcomers.

14.35 Mr Shibita, president of Nintendo Europe is coming on stage. Jonathan has asked Ono who he plays as in Street Fighter. He's said Ken. He's asked Jonathan if he plays as Blanka. They're having fun.

14.36 Satoru Shibata says they're offering a range of 3DS software from hardcore games to casual titles. That seems like a really good idea.

14.38 Yves Guillemot the CEO of Ubisoft is on stage now. "I am a big fan of the 3DS," he confesses.

14:39 "Ono IS Ricky Gervais" says GarethAxford on our Tweeter feed.

14.40 Guillemot is showing off Ubisoft's range of 3DS titles, including Rayman. More on that in a bit.

14:41 Mr Enomoto and Mr Hatsumi from Konami are on now. They're the producers of the Pro Evolution Soccer series. What are we about to discover?!

14.45 They're launching PES on the 3DS.

14:47 "3D has enabled us to express depth and improve realism, so players can experience the game as though in the stadium". They're a new 'player's view' camera which hovers right behind the player. It's like actually being on the pitch!

14.50 Mr Enomoto and Mr Hatsumi reckon this new 3D player view will change the whole experience.

14.52 Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja are next on stage. They developed the Dead or Alive series of gighting games. Yosuke Hayashi is coming on.

14.53 Yosuke Hayashi will no doubt be talking about Dead or Alive Dimensions, which was mentioned at the Japanese launch event.

14.55 Yosuke Hayashi says they've always wanted to do a handheld console version of Dead or Alive, but the technology wasn't available to bring the game's ludicrously bouncy female characters to the small screen. I'm paraphrasing here.

14.55 Yes, Dead or Alive Dimensions. Yosuke Hayashi says it contains all the highlights of the DOA series so far. Apparently, it's not just the elaborate stages and lovely characters who are returning. Due to the 3D visuals, it's coming back "with attitude!" Players will also be able to access combo moves via the touch screen, and the game uses the new 3DS communication features with internet play, local network play, co-op and StreetPass.

14.58 OKay, Jonathan is welcoming back Nintendo Europe's Laurent Fischer to talk about Nintendo's games. He's talking about Pilot Wings, and Nintendoogs + Cats, a new version of the classic pet game, with added cats. "The fur looks absolutely pettable," says Fischer. Now there's a USP.

15:01 A quick mention of Kid Icarus and Legend of Zelda. "When I was a kid, throwing stones at each other was a 3D shooting experience," quips Ross.

15.06 Satoru Shibata is back on stage after a short game preview video. He's talking about making Mii characters, the avatars that Wii owners use to represent themselves in games. They will apparently be more fun to create on 3DS - and they won't just appear in games, they'll also support StreetPass, the ad-hoc Wi-Fi feature. There will also be dedicated Mii-based games, and an updated online shop for downloadable game titles.

15.08 A video of software titles is playing, inlcuding Paper Mario, Driver, Nintendogs + Cats, Resident Evil Mercenaries, Splinter Cell, The Sims 3, Ridge Racer, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater, Animal Crossing, Pilot Wings Resort, Mario Kart and Kid Icarus. Nothing new...

15.10 Launch date is March 25 across Europe.

15.11 In launch window, between March and start of June, there will be 25 compatible games. The console is also compatible with DS and DSi titles of course.

15.12 Nintendo is embarking on a marketing tour throughout February, putting the 3DS into consumers' hands throughout Europe. Shibata says, "this is the start of a new entertainment era".

There's no price announcement as Shibata says that retails are currently fixing their own prices.

15.15 Okay, so we got the launch date, Shaun the Sheep, some clarification on StreetPass, a behind-the-player view for PES, and lots of references to Nintendo Europe's marketing chief Laurent Fischer as 'the poor man's George Clooney'. A bit lightweight then.

We'll have some reaction on the blog later!


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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/gamesblog/2011/jan/19/nintendo-3ds-event-live-coverage

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