Wii U Message Board older than one year ago

Why hello Wii U YouTube update! http://t.co/37cUJA3WNG

— Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan) November 27, 2013

Watching videos on the Wii U GamePad. #YouTubeUpdate pic.twitter.com/ZWBvrUlDb6

— Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan) November 27, 2013

All regions it seems. RT @moldyclay Is this for everyone or just one region right now?

— Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan) November 27, 2013

It's that time of year again, folks. The time where everyone scrambles to buy their loved ones a gift in time for the holiday season. Well, don't be that procrastinator. We're here to help. (At least in the games department.)Read more...

Slowly improving but not yet great, the Wii U is still not a must-own console. Consider this the one-year-later update to my review of a console that I thought I'd be telling you was mandatory by now.Read more...

Disney Infinity aims to live up to its name with the addition of three movie franchises to the platformer/adventure/sandbox/whatever-it-is game. Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled characters Ralph, Vanellope and Rapunzel have already found their way into stores, while Anna and Elsa from Frozen have yet to arrive.

Ralph is available exclusively at Best Buy until December 31, while Vanellope is exclusive to Target until the same date. Walmart, meanwhile, gets to braid and play with Rapunzel's ludicrously long hair until December 31 as well. Anna and Elsa will be released nationwide on November 26, a day before the movie they star in. So if you already know you're going to love the movie and its characters - or you're a time traveler and have already seen the movie - these toys are for you. And everyone else who can find them.

Along with the characters, Disney Interactive will also be releasing 20 new Power Discs. These discs grant various in-game bonuses, from items and aesthetic changes to boosts and abilities. You can see the full list of discs and their effects after the jump:

Now that ThirftyNerd has found Amazon's gaming lineup for its five-day Black Friday Deals Week, you can properly prepare for the dates and times you'll be sprinting through digital checkouts. The sale will run from November 25 - 29, with its first deal launching at 12:10pm Eastern Time. Unfortunately, the prices for each offer have not been shared, but they'll probably all sell out in minutes anyway. Because Black Friday.

Amazon's November 25 lineup will include deals on Xbox 360 and PS3 copies of Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition, DmC: Devil May Cry and Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition. The Xbox 360 version of LEGO: Lord of the Rings will also be offered.

November 26 will bring with it the Nvidia Shield, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for the Wii U, MLB 13 The Show and 4 GB memory cards for the Vita, and Xbox 360 and PS3 copies of Street Fighter X Tekken.

On November 27, PS3 and 360 copies of Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, Dead Space 3 and Remember Me will be available. Vanilla Resident Evil 5 will be up for grabs for Xbox 360 owners, but PS3 users will instead have a shot at Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition. The Xbox 360 version of Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition will also be offered, as will Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask for the 3DS.

The LEGO games series may build up a tribute to The Hobbit in 2014, according to alleged promotional materials posted by Brickset forum member sidersdd. The images suggest the adaption will involve series developer TT Games and will reach the Xbox 360, 3DS, Wii U, PC and PlayStation devices.

The materials also include a link to LEGO's Hobbit website, but as of this time of writing, there is no announcement on the page that correlates with the posted materials.

Just like that, the Xbox One was released worldwide, and the next generation of gaming became the current generation of gaming. In the last two weeks, we've gotten two new consoles in the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Add last year's Nintendo Wii U, and you've officially got a lot of new video game stuff to take in.Read more...

The third round of Infinity figures is hitting stores today, bringing Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope, Tangled's Rapunzel, and Anna and Elsa from Frozen to Disney's cross-property toy box. Now all you have to do is find them — at three different retailers. Read more...

As eShop weeks go, this one's a bit spectacular. A new five-star Zelda? Check! A new five-star Mario? Check again! What's more, you'll be able to download them as soon as today becomes tomorrow, midnight sharp.

Wait, you want more? You're genuinely not satisfied with Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, both games we awarded five stars to? Really?

Not even if we chuck in a week-long sale that lasers 30 percent off Mega Man 1-4 on 3DS and Wii U? Surely you aren't that greedy?

Fine.... fine. Fine. Be like that. Let's go through the whole list already.

The NPD Group announced today that consumers spent $3.45 billion on video game content during the third quarter (July through September) of 2013 in the United States - a 17 percent increase over the same period last year.

Analyst Liam Callahan attributes the growth to the release of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 5, which shipped a total of 29 million copies to retail as of last month. Americans spent $1.30 billion on brand-new, boxed retail games over the past quarter.

"Trends during the third quarter were the best that we have observed since the second quarter of 2011, driven by growth across both the physical and digital sides of the video game industry," said Callahan. "The launch of Grand Theft Auto 5 helped propel the new physical sales by twenty percent and continued growth of console digital full games as well as downloadable add-on content is an indication of the renewed health of the industry."

NPD added that digital game and downloadable content spending grew by 35 percent year-on-year, totaling $1.72 billion in Q3 2013. Used and rental sales reached $436 million over the last quarter.

Amazon gets into the Black Friday mood a little earlier this year, with offers starting Sunday, November 24 and running through to the violently bustling climax on November 29. The online retailer will as ever have plenty of quick-fire deals on games and consoles, but it's already noted a few eye-catchers on the way.

Software-wise, Amazon has Grand Theft Auto 5 and Batman: Arkham Origins pinned for a $34 sale, and the just-released Call of Duty: Ghosts to go at $40. Other recent blockbusters like FIFA 14, Madden 25, and Battlefield 4 are set to come down to $25, and there'll be a buy-2-get-1-free offer on Skylanders: Swap Force characters too.

As for the consoles, Amazon is going with the 250 GB PS3 bundle that's doing the rounds at several other retails, including The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins for a $200 total. On the Xbox 360 side, there's a 250GB bundle featuring Halo 4 and Tomb Raider for $190, but Best Buy tops that by chucking in Darksiders 2 and Batman: Arkham City in too.

If you can't wait that long to make your wallet lighter, you strange person, then Amazon's Black Friday Countdown has a few decent offers too. Among the standouts are a couple of 2012's big hits in Gears of War Judgment at $20 and Max Payne 3 at $10, while on the PC downloadable side there's all three BioShocks for just $15, and both Borderlands for $12.

All Walmart wants for Christmas is cold, hard cash, so the company is dropping tradition and offering the deals in its recent Black Friday ad to customers as early as 8AM on November 22.

Notable deals found in the ad include a 250GB Xbox 360 console for $100, a PlayStation 3 with The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins for $250 and a $100 2DS handheld. Many games are also discounted, including recent hits like Assassin's Creed 4, Battlefield 4 and Beyond: Two Souls.

Why release an ad specifically created for a singled day of the year before that day has ever rolled around? Simply put, Wal Mart is employing an especially aggressive sales strategy to combat the relatively short amount of time it has to entice holiday shoppers. "Black Friday is our Super Bowl and we plan to win," stated the company's chief merchandising officer, Duncan Mac Naughton. "With six fewer days from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the retail environment is more competitive than ever. Every opportunity to get a great deal - whether this weekend, on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday weekend - matters for our customers."

Additionally, Wal Mart has revealed plans to extend its annual Christmas price matching promotion. Now, every item you purchase between November 1 and December 24 is eligible for a refund, assuming you find it included in any other stores' ads at a price cheaper than what Wal Mart's.

Keep in mind however, that this deal does not apply to items purchased on Black Friday or Thanksgiving Day. This promotion also ignores items you've seen on Amazon or any other non-local retailer, removing the possibility of playing retailers off one another for massive savings.

Along with a lineup of great deals today on new releases like Wind Waker HD and Call of Duty: Ghosts, we've also got a new Humble Android Bundle featuring the fantastic Ridiculous Fishing. [Humble]Read more...

Ever since we heard about the Xbox One's HDMI input feature—which is intended to route HDMI devices like a cable box through it and "snap" to that program—I've been excited to put it to the test. Could we play another Xbox One through an Xbox One? What about an Xbox 360 hooked into an Xbox One which is itself hooked up to a second Xbox One? Xbox Inception? Read more...

A few days ago Amazon celebrated the opening of their Playstation Network store by providing customers who purchased select PS3 titles with a bonus $5 PSN credit. Now they've made the deal even sweeter by making a selection of Playstation 4 games eligible for that promo, effectively creating deals on new release games like Knack. Notably, this promotion includes the season passes for Battlefield 4, The Last of Us, Shadow Fall, Arkham Origins, and Black Flag. See the full list here. [Amazon]Read more...

Super Mario 3D World is a terrific video game. It's just not a very good Wii U game.Read more...

Spike TV puts this year's Game of the Year argument to public vote, asking players to pick their favorite nominees in the network's upcoming VGX awards.

BioShock Infinite, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Super Mario 3D World are in the running for the VGX Game of the Year award. Winners will be announced when the VGX broadcasts on December 7.

Users can also vote in individual categories, which range from Best Shooter to Best DLC. Competition is especially fierce in the Best Voice Actor category, which pits Troy Baker up against himself thanks to his nominated performances as BioShock Infinite's Booker DeWitt and Joel from The Last of Us.

Pier Solar HD, the Kickstarted remake of the Sega Genesis RPG Pier Solar, will be coming to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Watermelon Games President Tulio Goncalves announced in a Kickstarter update. This is in addition to the previously planned PC, Xbox 360, Wii U, Mac, Android, Linux, Ouya and Dreamcast versions. The initial release of Pier Solar HD has also been delayed and is now planned to launch by March 2014.

In the initial update, Goncalves explained that repeated applications for the consideration of Pier Solar HD on the Xbox 360's Marketplace were not met with a response. After hearing about Microsoft's self-publishing program for the Xbox One, ID@Xbox, Goncalves applied for the program several times.

Although the video update states Microsoft had not responded beyond a request for more information about the project, Watermelon Games has since commented on the post to confirm that Microsoft has contacted them. While it's not an outright confirmation that Pier Solar HD will reach either the Xbox 360 or Xbox One, the comment states that it "looks like good news will be coming along!"

Alien-on-the-run sim Paradise Lost: First Contact proved a breakout hit on Kickstarter, after achieving its $70,000 goal in under half its allotted time. In Paradise Lost you play as a tentacled test subject from another world, using your telekinetic powers to break out of a pixelated Earth research lab. The concept caught the attention of more than 3000 backers who ensured the puzzle-platformer is coming to Steam for PC, Mac, and Linux in fall 2014. Not only is the game confirmed for those platforms, it's definitely on the way to Wii U too.

Developer Asthree originally listed the Wii U port as a $250,000 stretch goal, but after listening to backer feedback the Spanish studio made it a definite thing. Now the stretch goal is for a same-day Wii U version, set at $230,000. If the fundraiser falls short, the game will still come to the Nintendo platform but some time after it' hits Steam.

Asthree also added an additional multiplayer mode as the furthest of its stretch goals at $270,000. Other stretch goals include achievements, additional languages, and secret chapters, plus a realistic-ish $200,000 goal for PS4, PS3, and Vita ports.

Headlining today's selection of Playstation 4 discounts is Killzone: Shadow Fall marked down to $45 on its release day. Beyond that we've got a selection of PS4 games and gear that come bundled with a $10 gift card to Newegg, including the DualShock 4.Read more...

Everyone may be all abuzz with PlayStation 4 madness (you're keeping up with our launch coverage, right?), but that doesn't mean the eShop is taking a week off. In fact, it's a very solid week for all the Nintendo downloaders out there. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games debuts on both Wii U and 3DS today, and staring on November 19, both platforms also pick up Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!.

Today on Virtual Console, the 3DS gets the classic beat-em-up and pompadour simulator, River City Ransom. Elsewhere on Virtual Console, Nintendo is running a sale on Zelda games. The 3DS and Wii U versions of The Legend of Zelda and Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link have been knocked down to $3.49 each. Meanwhile, Link's Awakening DX, the old Game Boy Color essential, is discounted to $3.99. The sale runs from Nov. 14, 9 a.m. PT through Nov. 21, 8:59 a.m. PT.

And, what's this? A WiiWare game? It is! For all you Wii obsessives, your collection won't be complete without Deer Drive Legends.

If you can condescend to play some current-generation games in the face of the PS4 release tomorrow, then we've got lots of great deals for you, include discounts on Skyrim Legendary, Battlefield 4, Bioshock Inifinite and the unmissable Pixeljunk Triple Pack. Click away.Read more...

You wanna see video of Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai in his day to day work overseeing game development? Apparently, there's tons.Read more...

In addition to a great price on the Playstation Vita Walking Dead Bundle, we've got Lords of Shadow 2, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, The Witch and the Hundred Knight, Enemy Within, Into the Nexus, and more in today's deal roundup. Enjoy.Read more...

Eighteen indie games are coming to the Nintendo eShop for 3DS and Wii U. They were showcased today in this Nintendo Direct video; you can see more about them here.Read more...

During the boom years, when both the DS and Wii were killing it, Nintendo used to make pretty good commercials. Or, at the very least, serviceable ones. A few years back, though, something changed.Read more...

Who would win in a fight, Wolverine-clone Lobo, or the Joker's unhinged girl Friday? The answer might be a lot more clear if this showdown weren't happening in the Injustice universe. Read more...

Amazon's Buy Two Get One Free Playstation 4 games promotion is on, and runs until 4pm ET, or while supplies last. As we noted in our Amazon Playstation Network Store announcement, customers who participate in this deal will get a bonus $5 PSN credit on top of all the other savings. Use promo code GR8TNESS [Amazon]Read more...

Now I'm no first-person shooter expert, but I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be able to kill the same opponent four times in ten seconds. Read more...

The PlayStation 4's launch gets revved up this week with Need for Speed: Rivals...

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