Tag Archives: Nintendo

Train2Game News New amiibo’s and functions

Posted on by

image

The Nintendo games launching in the first part of the year are going to include some fun amiibo functionality.

Games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for the Wii U console and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games™ for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, both launching in March, use a wide variety of different compatible amiibo figures. Some new amiibo figures will also launch in March, including the legendary Wolf Link amiibo that is included in every physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, as well as three new figures in the Animal Crossing amiibo series, featuring fan-favorite characters like Timmy & Tommy, Kapp’n and Rover. The previously announced Ryu, Roy and R.O.B. (Famicom Colors) amiibo figures will also launch in March.

“New amiibo figures and functionality will keep surprising fans in 2016,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “All the upcoming amiibo prove that the must-have figures are continuing to evolve in unexpected and fun ways.”

When the physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD launches on March 4 at a suggested retail price of $59.99, it will include a beautiful Wolf Link amiibo figure based on the same character from the classic game. Purchasing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD and Wolf Link amiibo bundle will currently be the only way to get this amiibo figure. When tapped to the Wii U GamePad controller, this legendary lupine opens the Cave of Shadows, a challenging new bonus dungeon in the game. After completing the Cave of Shadows, players can save their remaining hearts to the Wolf Link amiibo, and then use those hearts inside the Cave of Shadows to replenish life energy. After conquering the cave, players can save a record of their remaining hearts to the Wolf Link amiibo and attempt to beat their score at any time. Some of the data stored on the Wolf Link amiibo figure can also be used with The Legend of Zelda game for Wii U, which launches this year. More details about this functionality will be revealed in the future.

In addition to the Wolf Link amiibo, other amiibo figures in the Super Smash Bros. series like Link, Toon Link, Zelda, Sheik and Ganondorf will work with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. By tapping the Link or Toon Link amiibo, players can replenish their arrows. Tapping Zelda or Sheik will refill the player’s hearts, while, in a devious twist, tapping the Ganondorf figure will actually make Link take double the damage!

On March 18, new amiibo figures in the Animal Crossing series will launch in stores, including characters like Timmy & Tommy, Kapp’n and Rover. Digby will also be made available as a stand-alone amiibo. The next series of Animal Crossing amiibo cards also launches in March, bringing the grand total of available amiibo cards to be used in games like Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival for Wii U and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for Nintendo 3DS to a whopping 300. Let the collecting begin!

Fans who are ready to compete in Rio de Janeiro with Mario, Sonic and the gang in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will also have to warm up their amiibo-tapping fingers. When the action-filled game launches for Nintendo 3DS on March 18 at a suggested retail price of $39.99, both Mario and Sonic amiibo figures will be compatible. By tapping the Mario or Sonic amiibo figures to the New Nintendo 3DS system (or on a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS system using the NFC Reader/Writer accessory), players can boost Mario and Sonic’s outfits with that character’s power for the day.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, some of the Pokémon amiibo will be made available again at select retailers. Fans should be on the lookout for Charizard, Jigglypuff, Greninja and Lucario to once again return to shelves right next to Pikachu.

Finally, Star Fox Zero delivers a new beginning for the classic shooter series. With a unique control scheme that uses both the TV screen and the screen on the GamePad, players pilot multiple vehicles through intergalactic levels with Fox and his classic crew. The game launches exclusively for Wii U on April 22 and will feature amiibo compatibility. More details will be revealed at a later time.

For more information about amiibo, visit http://www.nintendo.com/amiibo.

Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

Train2Game News Pokémon 20th anniversary

Posted on by

image

2016 will be a landmark year for the Pokémon Company International.

On February 27, Pokémon celebrates 20 years since the first games launched in Japan. The company is gearing up for a period of festivities centered around the best-known Pokémon experiences—video games, Trading Card Game (TCG) and animation…plus much more!

Since the video games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green were first launched in Japan for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1996, Pokémon has delighted fans around the world. Over the past two decades it has become a hugely successful and popular entertainment brand and continues to be held dear by fans of all ages. More than 275 million copies of Pokémon video games have been sold worldwide, 21.5 billion TCG cards have been shipped to 74 countries in 11 languages and over 450,000 players take part in Pokémon events every year. There are also more than 800 episodes spanning 18 seasons of the animated TV show.

Pokémon fans can follow all the 2016 celebrations at Pokemon.co.uk/20, where they’ll find information about events, product details, and video messages from some of Pokémon’s best-known followers. They are also encouraged to join the conversation by sharing their own memories of Pokémon using the hashtag #Pokemon20 on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

To kick off the year-long celebrations in style, a new TV commercial will air during the US Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, February 7. From then on, a series of exciting activities are planned to mark Pokémon’s milestone year. A special app—Pokémon Photo Booth—has been designed for the occasion and will be available to download at no charge for iPhone and Android later this year. Numerous limited-edition toys, figurines and plush items from TOMY will be available to be discovered and collected at participating retail locations. The fun will continue throughout 2016 with new video game releases, TCG expansions, movies and more.

·         VIDEO GAME:

Timed to coincide with the birth date of Pokémon on February 27, the games that started it all—Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow—will be relaunched on Nintendo eShop for systems in the Nintendo 3DS family .

On the same day, three new Nintendo 2DS Special Edition bundles, sure to trigger warm feelings of nostalgia, will also launch. The Special Edition bundles include a Nintendo 2DS system in transparent red, blue or yellow and are pre-installed with Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue or Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, corresponding to the system’s colour.  These Nintendo 2DS Special Edition bundles feature classic packaging reminiscent of the original Game Boy games, a sheet of 15 stickers that can be used to customise the system and a download code for a HOME Menu theme.

Numerous collectible Pokémon characters will be distributed to owners of the hugely successful Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y throughout the year . Mew, Darkrai, Arceus and other popular Pokémon will be distributed via various methods in Europe, bringing fans a number of Pokémon to collect throughout the 2016 celebrations!

·         POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME (TCG):
Pokémon TCG fans can celebrate 20 years of Pokémon with the Pokémon TCG: Generations expansion. It contains more than 110 cards to collect and play with, including Pikachu, Snorlax, Ninetales-EX, Jolteon-EX, plus Mega Charizard-EX, Mega Blastoise-EX and Mega Venusaur-EX. The expansion covers every stage of a Trainer’s journey, from the choice of a first partner Pokémon to the most elite of Trainer battles.

Pokémon TCG: Generations boosters will be available within the specially labelled and designed range for this special year, starting with the first Mythical Collection released in late February in the UK and Germany and slightly later in other European countries. New Mythical Pokémon Collections will be released throughout 2016, each containing additional Pokémon TCG: Generations boosters, and four Red & Blue Collection boxes will be released containing even more boosters.

For more information, visit Pokemon.co.uk/20.

·         TV ANIMATION:

Pokémon fans can look forward to a programme of promotional stunts with broadcast and video-on-demand (VOD) platform partners screening the animated series and movies to celebrate 20 years of Pokémon. Beginning early 2016 and continuing throughout the year, several Pokémon full-length feature films will be screened by key broadcasting partners across Europe. The same films will also become available for digital download from key VOD platforms such as iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.* Pokémon movies will also be featured on Pokémon TV each month.

An interactive iBook will accompany the release of Pokémon: The First Movie on iTunes and can be viewed in English on any device that supports iBooks, including Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

The year-long programme of screenings will kick off with digitally remastered versions of the first two feature-length Pokémon movies, Pokémon: The First Movie and Pokémon: The Movie 2000, with more slated to follow throughout the celebrations.†  

*VOD availability may vary by territory and platform.
†Broadcasting dates and times subject to territory and broadcaster scheduling. For more information, keep checking Pokemon.co.uk/20.

·         20 YEARS OF POKÉMON: IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING!

Pokémon is respected for its quality, adaptability and attention to detail. The joy of collecting, battling and trading runs through everything the company does. Consistently innovating and moving with the times, Pokémon is a brand that combines a deep and respected heritage with a strong and exciting future. Pokémon fans are a unique band, spanning a range of ages and interests; they have been—and continue to be—a positive, committed, sociable and interactive community like no other fan base.

2016 will be a landmark year for Pokémon in many ways. Not only will the Pokémon Company International celebrate a rich 20 years of history, it will also evolve by developing plans for a bright future!

New video game titles are slated for release during early 2016—Pokkén Tournament arrives in spring 2016 for Wii U, Pokémon Rumble World releases on January 22 and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon releases on February 19 for the Nintendo 3DS family systems. 2016 will also see Pokémon fans catching ’em all in the real world with the release of Pokémon GO, a game for mobile devices which was announced in September 2015. The project is a collaboration between the Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc., and Nintendo Co., Ltd. It is a groundbreaking mobile game designed to encourage fans to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO will be available for download at no charge on the App Store and Google Play in 2016.

Be sure to visit Pokemon.co.uk/20 for more information about Pokémon 20, Train On projects and join the conversation using #Pokemon20. Pokémon. Twenty Years. Train On.

Train2Game News Nintendo Direct

Posted on by

image

Nintendo debuted a new Nintendo Direct presentation today, revealing details about several new and upcoming  Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games.

Some of the exciting news included the reveal that iconic video game character Cloud from  FINAL FANTASY VII will be added as a playable DLC fighter in  Super Smash Bros. for Wii U  and   Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Other notable announcements included the reveal of an HD remake of  The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii U console, a new Wii U bundle featuring  Splatoon and  Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and news that the Pokémon games that started it all –  Pokémon Red Version,  Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version – will launch with new wireless communication functionality in the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS system on Feb. 27. To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct .

“There’s never been a better time to join in on the fun with Nintendo,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “From new experiences like  Xenoblade Chronicles X that you can enjoy this year to re-imagined favorites like  The Legend of Zelda and  Pokémon  coming in 2016, we have you covered with games you’re sure to love.”

Some of the highlights revealed in the video include:

Wii U and Nintendo 3DS

    A New Challenger Approaches!: Cloud Strife, the legendary protagonist from the classic RPG game  FINAL FANTASY VII, will enter the battlefield as a playable fighter in  Super Smash Bros.  for Wii U and  Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS  in the future. A special video presentation will be released in December, which will share more updates about the hit fighting games. More information is available at  http://www.smashbros.com/us/dlc/ .

Wii U

    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD: Originally released for Wii and Nintendo GameCube systems in 2006,  The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a visually remastered remake of one of the most critically acclaimed games in  The Legend of Zelda series. The new game launches on March 4 in a bundle with a detailed new  amiibo figure modeled after the Wolf Link and Midna characters in the game. The game will also be compatible with five other  The Legend of Zelda amiibo from the  Super Smash Bros. series. The game’s iconic soundtrack will be offered as a bonus for fans who pre-order the game from select retailers.

    The Legend of Zelda for Wii U (name not final): Next year marks the 30thanniversary of  The Legend of Zelda series. And with that comes  The Legend of Zelda for Wii U, the next entry in the storied franchise. During the Nintendo Direct presentation, it was revealed that certain saved data from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD on the Wolf Link amiibo can be carried over to this new game.

    New Wii U Bundle: A new Wii U Deluxe Set that includes the Wii U console and pre-installed versions of hit games  Splatoon and  Super Smash Bros. for Wii U launches this holiday season.

    Pokkén Tournament: A collaboration between The Pokémon Company and BANDAI Namco Entertainment Inc.,  Pokkén Tournament is a new fighting game for Wii U that lets players use their favorite Pokémon characters to battle it out in fighting arenas. Fans who purchase a first-run version of the game at retail stores will receive a limited-edition Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card that immediately unlocks the character in the game after tapping it to the GamePad.  Pokkén Tournament launches exclusively for Wii U in spring 2016 at a suggested retail price of $59.99.

    Star Fox Zero:  Star Fox Zero delivers a new beginning for the classic shooter series. With a unique control scheme that uses both the TV screen and the screen on the GamePad, players pilot multiple vehicles through intergalactic levels with Fox and his classic crew. The game launches exclusively for Wii U on April 22.

    An Ink-redible  Splatoon Update: Today at 5 p.m. PT, a free new update for Splatoon adds more than 40 pieces of new gear, including more winter items and some slick bandanas. And on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. PT,  another free new update adds a new stage called Museum d’Alfonsino. Further stages and features will be added in future updates through January. A Nintendo Treehouse  Splatoon Tournament will happen in December, featuring competitive game play as well as tips for players about setting up their own tournaments. The tournament will be live streamed at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo ,  http://www.twitch.tv/nintendo  and http://live.nintendo.com.

    Super Mario Maker Powers Up Once Again: In December, a new Web portal will offer a more robust search function to find and filter levels in  Super Mario Maker across a variety of Web-enabled devices!

    Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival: By tapping any of the  Animal Crossing amiibo figures, players can play as that character in the game’s main mode, a dynamic board game. Players can also tap in their  Animal Crossing amiibo cards to play other modes like an  Animal Crossing quiz. The Wii U game that includes the Isabelle and Digby amiibo figures and three amiibo cards launches on Nov. 13 at a suggested retail price of $59.99, the same day as the standalone  Animal Crossing amiibo figures.

    Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash: On Nov. 20,  Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash launches exclusively for Wii U at a suggested price of $49.99. The game includes a fun New Super Mario Bros. power-up, the Mega Mushroom, which is featured in the over-the-top “Mega Battle Mode.” Players can also select “Classic Mode” to enjoy a more traditional game of tennis. Players can compete online or together via local play, and the game is compatible with amiibo in select modes, including online matches.

    Xenoblade Chronicles X: Massive RPG  Xenoblade Chronicles X launches exclusively for Wii U on Dec. 4 at a suggested retail price of $59.99. For people who purchase the physical version of the game, four free high-speed data loading packs are available to download from the Nintendo eShop starting today. The data packs greatly increase the speed of loading times in the game, but are not required to play.

Nintendo 3DS

    Where it all Began: The original Pokémon games –  Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version and  Pokémon Yellow Version – are coming to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 27, the same day that the original games first released in Japan in 1996. And there’s no need to pull out those old Game Boy Game Link cables while playing. Using the wireless communication on Nintendo 3DS, players can trade Pokémon with other players.

    Hyrule Warriors: Legends: Take the epic  Hyrule Warriors experience on the go!  Hyrule Warriors: Legends offers players the entire  Hyrule Warriors game on Nintendo 3DS … but with even more content! This time, Tetra, Toon Link and the King of Hyrule from  The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker join the Skull Kid from  The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on the battlefield. In addition, new character Linkle, a girl who lives in a small village filled with Cuccos and wields two crossbows, joins the large cast of playable characters. Players will be able to command multiple characters, taking direct control of them at any time, leading to new strategic options on the battlefield.  Hyrule Warriors: Legends launches for Nintendo 3DS on March 25 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

    Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam: The hilarious  Mario & Luigi series meets the charming  Paper Mario series in the  Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam  game, launching exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. Using compatible amiibo, players can create a corresponding character card in the game, which has powerful effects during battle.

    Fire Emblem Fates: There are multiple adventures waiting to be experienced in  Fire Emblem Fates for Nintendo 3DS. By purchasing one of the two main games at a suggested retail price of $39.99 –  Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or  Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest – either at retail locations or in the Nintendo eShop starting Feb. 19, players choose to embark on a unique quest with a different story and different experiences. The decision that the player makes early in the game will dictate the game’s story and difficulty. After purchasing one game, the downloadable version of the other is only $19.99 via an in-game purchase. There will even be a third downloadable version in the near future,  Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation, for players who own either  Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or  Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest and want to take on a new challenge and experience an alternative version of the game. For fans of the series, a special edition will be available that includes all three games, an artbook and a Nintendo 3DS XL pouch at a suggested retail price of $79.99.

    The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes DLC: New free DLC is coming on Dec. 2, adding Linebeck’s Uniform and Fierce Deity Armor outfits, each with unique powers, as well as the new Den of Trials with more than 30 stages to conquer. The upcoming software update also makes it more convenient to get Friendly Tokens by purchasing them from the Street Merchant once the princess’ curse has been lifted. Additionally, two adjustments will ensure a more comfortable online experience: By answering a question before matchmaking, you will be matched with other players who gave similar answers, plus players who leave a game in progress through the Pause menu can be added to the blacklist.

    Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Players can  become one of 20 Pokémon in  Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, launching for Nintendo 3DS on Nov. 20 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. With turn-based battles and ever-changing dungeons, players can encounter every single known Pokémon in the game – all 720 of them!

    Nintendo Badge Arcade: Now available in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS,  Nintendo Badge Arcade is a free-to-start game that lets players control a classic arcade-style crane machine to earn badges from popular titles to customize their Nintendo 3DS HOME menus. The game is constantly being updated with new badges, so it’s always great to keep checking back!

    Two  DRAGON QUEST Games are Better Than One: The lineup of RPGs on Nintendo 3DS continues to grow with classic games  DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past and  DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, both remastered for Nintendo 3DS and coming in 2016.

    Pokémon Picross: The popular  Picross series meets the lovable world of Pokémon when free-to-start game  Pokémon Picross launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS in early December.

amiibo

    Jan. 22 sees the release of Lucas in the  Super Smash Bros. series, amiibo figures for Resetti, Blathers, Celeste and Kicks in the  Animal Crossing series, and Series 2 of the  Animal Crossing amiibo cards.

Third-Party

    FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS from Square Enix, Inc. (Nintendo 3DS): In the first  FINAL FANTASY action-RPG on Nintendo 3DS, players journey to an island filled with mystical crystals protected by powerful eidolons. More than 20 jobs can be learned, each with its own set of special skills. When  FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS  launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26, it will include all the DLC that was previously released in Japan. Multiplayer functionality for up to four players is enabled through Nintendo 3DS local wireless communication.

    Mega Man Legacy Collection  from Capcom (Nintendo 3DS): Capcom’s iconic Blue Bomber has been a classic part of Nintendo history since the NES days.  Mega Man Legacy Collection launches for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 23 and features faithful reproductions of the first six NES  Mega Man games (Mega Man 1-6), plus new ways to experience these classics with Challenge Mode’s remix stages and Museum Mode’s repository of original production art. In addition, the game comes with exclusive new challenges that can be unlocked using the Mega Man amiibo. But that’s not the only amiibo that can unlock these bonus challenges! A new gold-colored Mega Man amiibo figure also launches as part of the  Mega Man Legacy Collection Collector’s Edition.

    Hive Jump from Graphite Lab (Wii U): Players shoot their way through dangerous alien infestations in  Hive Jump, a frenetic run ’n’ gun platformer for one to four players.  Hive Jump launches in the Nintendo eShop with exclusive Wii U features in early 2016.

    Kerbal Space Program from Squad (Wii U): By using the Wii U GamePad, players can take part in the complete space agency experience, from building a spaceship part by part, to mission control by flying their creation and conquering the planets and moons of the solar system.  Kerbal Space Program launches in Nintendo eShop for Wii U in early 2016.

    SteamWorld Heist from Image & Form (Nintendo 3DS): For a limited time, players who purchase side-scrolling, turn-based strategy shooter SteamWorld Heist in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS when it launches this holiday season will receive an exclusive Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme.

    FAST Racing Neo from Shin’en (Wii U): It’s almost here!  FAST Racing Neo, the high-octane racing game with up to eight-player online multiplayer, launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U in early December.

    Typoman  from Headup Games and Brainseed Factory (Wii U): Typoman is a puzzling platformer that tells a dark tale of heroes and monsters, where words can either be a blessing … or a curse! Using the GamePad in a unique way, players set out on an adventure to explore the incredible power of words and how they can be used to survive the environmental hazards and overcome vicious enemies. The game launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U on Nov. 19.

    Mighty No. 9  from Deep Silver (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): From Keiji Inafune, the creator of the  Mega Man series, comes  Mighty No. 9. This action side-scroller can be played solo or with two players in online co-op and competitive modes. The Wii U version of the game launches on Feb. 9, with a Nintendo 3DS version following shortly thereafter.

    LEGO Marvel’s Avengers from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): With an extensive roster of new characters to play, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers features storylines and locations from six different films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as classic Avengers content seen in Marvel Comics, all retold with a unique splash of LEGO humor. The game launches for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26.

    Project X Zone 2  from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America, Inc.  (Nintendo 3DS): Everyone’s favorite Capcom, SEGA and BANDAI NAMCO characters are crossing over once again in  Project X Zone 2. But this time Nintendo is also joining the fun by adding Chrom and Lucina from  Fire Emblem Awakening and Fiora from  Xenoblade Chronicles to the game. Project X Zone 2 launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 16.

    Terraria from 505 Games (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): In  Terraria, players explore vast fantasy worlds and wage war on hundreds of enemies and giant bosses using weapons and armor they craft themselves. They can even use the touch-screen interface on the Nintendo 3DS system or the Wii U GamePad to reach directly into the world of Terraria, fashioning elaborate and amazing structures with their fingertips. It’s also possible to share the adventure with friends, with online and split-screen multiplayer for Wii U and local play for Nintendo 3DS. Hundreds of hours of entertainment await in  Terraria, launching in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in early 2016.

For more information about Nintendo, visit  http://www.nintendo.com/.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 05.10.15

Posted on by

FIFA-16LEGO Dimensions can’t move FIFA 16 from the number one spot debuting at number two followed by NBA 2K16 which has entered the chart this week at number three. Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer comes in at number 6 whilst lower down the chart the apparently bug ridden Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 grinds in to number twelve.

All formats
Week ending 3 October 2015

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – FIFA 16 EA SPORTS 1
2 LEGO DIMENSIONS LEGO DIMENSIONS –
3 NBA 2K16 2K SPORTS –
4 DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING ACTIVISION 2
5 FORZA MOTORSPORT 6 MICROSOFT 3
6 ANIMAL CROSSING: HAPPY HOME DESIGNER NINTENDO –
7 METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN KONAMI 5
8 SKYLANDERS SUPERCHARGERS SKYLANDERS 4
9 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 8
10 MAD MAX WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 7
11 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2016 KONAMI 6
12 TONY HAWK PRO SKATER 5 ACTIVISION –
13 LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 10
14 DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 DISNEY INFINITY 12
15 SUPER MARIO MAKER NINTENDO 11
16 RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 BIG BEN 18
17 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 13
18 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 9
19 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 14
20 GEARS OF WAR: ULTIMATE EDITION MICROSOFT 16
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2015 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Celebrate retro gaming

Posted on by

image

Help Celebrate 30 Years of Super Mario at the Centre for Computing History.

Whilst Xbox One’s and Playstation 4’s strive ahead with high definition graphics, immersive online gameplay, and seductive surround sound scores, there are some people that see through the gloss and yearn for the simple 8-bit tunes and addictive 16-colour graphics of their childhoods.

With Mario turning 30 years old (yes really!) and the Sony Playstation turning 20 the Centre for Computing History is holding a special Retro Gaming Night on September 25th that celebrates all that is wonderful about those simple video games of yesteryear.

Adrian Page-Mitchell, volunteer at the museum said “Our retro gaming nights have been attracting more and more people with each event. They’re a really great mix of people – both young and old(er) – who have a shared experience of gaming and enjoy the opportunity to talk about, and re-play, the games that once rocked their world!”

It’s not just for guys – a recent poll showed that 52% of gamers are women. With the rise of gaming on social media platforms and mobile devices video games are now played in stolen moments on the train, waiting for a meeting, or making the most of a lunch break.

The games created specifically for these platforms need to be non-gender specific and just as playable in 5 or 30 minutes, or even more. Game developers turn back to the classic games of the 80s for inspiration and you can see elements of those games in the some of the most popular online games today.

Simplicity is king. Games like Flappy Bird are ingeniously simple yet insanely addictive and rooted in the easy to understand (but hard to master) gameplay of games you may have played on your Sinclair ZX Spectrum back in ‘82. In fact Flappy Bird is such a simple game that a version has recently been written for the Sinclair ZX81 and is on display at the museum!

Flappy Bird is even used to show a new generation of potential game designers how to create a game in a modern programming system called Scratch. Children at school use Scratch to learn the fundamentals of programming and can create a simple game in a single lesson.

So have the retro games had their day now multi-million pound block busters like Call of Duty rule current gen consoles? It would seem not. There is just as much love for Pacman and Mario as there ever was, in fact with a new generation discovering the classics there is now even more!

If you’re missing your old Sega Megadrive, Nintendo SNES, or Sony Playstation the forthcoming retro gaming night at the Centre for Computing History could just be the answer. With possibly the most complete collection of game consoles and over 8000 games in the archive, you’ll have the chance to play not only on the consoles you remember but also the ones you lusted after!

The event on the 25th September opens at 7pm and is open to anyone above the age of 18.

Booking is essential. Visit www.ComputingHistory.org.uk to book online.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 14.09.15

Posted on by

Metal gear solid phantom painNintendo’s Super Mario Maker couldn’t take Phantom Pain from the number one spot this week and lands in second as the only new game in the charts.

All formats
Week ending 12 September 2015

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN KONAMI 1
2 SUPER MARIO MAKER NINTENDO –
3 MAD MAX WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 2
4 DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 DISNEY INFINITY 5
5 UNTIL DAWN SONY COMPUTER ENT. 4
6 GEARS OF WAR: ULTIMATE EDITION MICROSOFT 3
7 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 6
8 LEGO JURASSIC WORLD WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 7
9 – MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 9
10 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 8
11 THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 9
12 DYING LIGHT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 13
13 BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 10
14 MADDEN NFL 16 EA SPORTS 11
15 DESTINY ACTIVISION 20
16 BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE EA GAMES 12
17 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 15
18 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS –
19 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 16
20 F1 2015 CODEMASTERS 19
< previous week

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2015 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Pokémon GO

Posted on by

image

The Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc., and Nintendo Co., Ltd. today announced their collaboration on a new project for mobile devices called Pokémon GO.

This ground breaking mobile game will encourage fans to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO will be available for download at no charge on the App Store and Google Play in 2016.

In the past, the Pokémon video game series has used real world locations like the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan, as well as New York and Paris, as inspiration for its fantasy settings. In Pokémon GO, players will be able to catch, trade, and battle in the real world by utilizing location information.

Pokémon GO’s gameplay experience goes beyond what appears on screen as players explore their neighborhoods, communities and the world they live in to discover Pokémon alongside friends and other players. Junichi Masuda, game director of the Pokémon video game series at GAME FREAK inc. will be contributing to the project. His involvement will ensure that the fun of Pokémon makes its way into Pokémon GO, while developing new types of gameplay and thinking of ways to connect this project with the main series of Pokémon video games. In-app purchases will be available in Pokémon GO.

Here’s a link to the announcement video: http://youtu.be/2sj2iQyBTQs

Watch the press conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUlX77BKLyY

“Our challenge was to develop a great game for smart phone devices that expressed the core values of Pokémon,” said Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company. “Pokémon GO is the answer to that challenge.”

“Pokémon GO is a wonderful combination of Niantic’s real world gaming platform and one of the most beloved franchises in popular culture,” said John Hanke, founder and CEO of Niantic, Inc. “Our partnership with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo is an exciting step forward in real-world gaming and using technology to help players discover the world and people around them.”

Players will be able to enhance their Pokémon GO experience even when they are looking away from their smartphones by using a unique device called Pokémon GO Plus.  By pressing a button on Pokémon GO Plus, simple in-game actions like catching a Pokémon can be performed. Developed and manufactured by Nintendo Co., Ltd., Pokémon GO Plus will connect to smartphones via Bluetooth and by flashing and vibrating, will notify players about events like the appearance of a Pokémon nearby.

Pokémon GO is being developed by Niantic, Inc. Originally founded by Google Earth co-creator John Hanke as a start-up within Google, Niantic is known for creating Ingress, the augmented reality mobile game which utilizes GPS technology to fuel a sci-fi story encompassing the entire world. Ingress currently has 12 million downloads worldwide.

Train2Game News Meet Mario in London

Posted on by

image

To commemorate the landmark anniversary of Nintendo’s best loved game Mario Bros, GAME will be hosting Charles Martinet, the iconic voice of Mario, at GAME Hamleys on Thursday 10th September.

Charles Martinet has voiced Mario since 1995, and also provided the voice for Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Toadsworth, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi among other legendary Nintendo characters.

GAME customers are in for a real treat as Mr Martinet will only be available at GAME to sign special anniversary edition Mario Bros posters and sleeves for fans at the following times:

    11:00 – 13:00
    14:00 – 16:00

Staff will also be plumbing away on the day taking photographs of fans meeting their Nintendo hero in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

GAME Hamleys is located in the basement of the Hamleys store on Regent Street, London. Gamers are encouraged to get there early to get involved.

For more information visit: www.game.co.uk or follow @GAMEHamleys1

Train2Game News New Nintendo 3DS

Posted on by

image

Nintendo Announces Two New Nintendo 3DS Systems Coming this Fall.

At the GameStop Managers Conference in Las Vegas, Nintendo announced that the New Nintendo 3DS system will launch in the U.S. as part of a special bundle on Sept. 25. The bundle includes the new hand-held system, the upcoming Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game, two cover plates and one amiibo card at a suggested retail price of $219.99. The more compact New Nintendo 3DS system joins New Nintendo 3DS XL, which has been available since Feb. 13.

In addition, a Hyrule Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system will launch exclusively in GameStop stores on Oct. 30 at a suggested retail price of $199.99, just in time for the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (sold separately) on Oct. 23. The system is gold-colored and features an intricate Hylian Crest on the front.

Other news revealed at the GameStop Conference included the debut of three new Wii Remote Plus controllers inspired by classic Mushroom Kingdom characters Bowser, Toad and Yoshi.

“More than 15 million systems in the Nintendo 3DS family have been sold in the U.S. alone,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “These new models offer additional fun ways to experience some of the great upcoming Nintendo 3DS games launching in the next few months.”

New Nintendo 3DS incorporates all the same enhanced features as the New Nintendo 3DS XL system, including a wider range of controls, face-tracking 3D and built-in NFC functionality that allows for communication with amiibo figures. The compact system also features interchangeable cover plates that can be easily swapped out to change the look of the device. Two cover plates inspired by Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer are included in the bundle.

Various amiibo cards launch with the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game on Sept. 25. Tapping compatible amiibo cards while playing Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is a way to meet favorite Animal Crossing characters with their separate personalities and design requests in the game. People who own the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS systems can still use the cards to enjoy Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer by purchasing the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The wireless accessory also launches on Sept. 25 and allows players to enjoy amiibo figures and cards on all other systems in the Nintendo 3DS family.

Joining previously released Wii Remote Plus controllers themed after Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, three new controllers inspired by Bowser, Toad and Yoshi will launch exclusively at GameStop at a suggested retail price of $39.99 each. The Bowser and Toad controllers will launch alongside the Super Mario Maker game for the Wii U console on the 11th of September, while the Yoshi version will hop on the back of the Yoshi’s Woolly World launch on Oct. 16. Wii Remote Plus includes Wii MotionPlus technology, and works with all Wii and Wii U games that are compatible with Wii Remote controllers.

Bowser, the newest member of the Photos with Mario series of Nintendo eShop Cards, is coming this fall – exclusively at GameStop. Customers can add $10 to their Nintendo eShop accounts and get the new Bowser AR card at no additional cost. With the Bowser AR card, players can use their Nintendo 3DS systems to play and pose with Bowser and other Mushroom Kingdom characters in the free Photos with Mario app.

For more information about New Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/new-nintendo-3ds/.

Train2Game News Pokémon 2015 World Championships

Posted on by

image

The 2015 Pokémon World Championships drew to a close this weekend in Boston.

Players from more than 38 countries competed in Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) matches and video game battles playing Pokémon Omega Ruby or Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. The road to the World Championships was a challenging one, with players qualifying through a yearlong series of regional and national tournaments. After three days of intense battles that saw the world’s best Pokémon TCG and video game players competing at the highest level, six players across two disciplines and three age divisions were crowned Pokémon World Champions.

More than 5,000 players, fans, and supporters attended the event at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, while more than 1.5 million Pokémon fans tuned in to the action from home via the official live stream at Pokemon.com/Worlds and Twitch.tv/Pokemon.

The 2015 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions are:

·         2015 Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion, Rowan Stavenow from Canada.

·         2015 Pokémon Video Game Junior Division World Champion, Kotone Yasue from Japan.

·         2015 Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion, Patrick Martinez from the United States.

·         2015 Pokémon Video Game Senior Division World Champion, Mark Mcquillan from Great Britain.

·         2015 Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion, Jacob Van Wagner from the United States.

·         2015 Pokémon Video Game Masters Division World Champion, Shoma Honami from Japan.

Scottish golden boy Mark Mcquillan went from finishing in the Top 4 of the Pokémon Video Game UK National Championships earlier this year to seizing the illustrious World Champion title at the event in Boston. Historically, he stands as the first UK player ever to win the Pokémon Video Game World Championship title. Mark has been playing Pokémon video games since 2007, and you can find more information on his team he used to secure victory here.

Winners of this year’s invitation-only tournament earned the title of Pokémon World Champion, collected scholarship money, won an invitation and Travel Award to the 2016 Pokémon World Championships, and received a special Pokémon World Championships trophy featuring Pikachu. The Pokémon Company International has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships since it began running tournaments a decade ago.

“The Pokémon World Championships are an opportunity for the global Pokémon community to come together and celebrate competition, comradery, and mutual respect,” said J.C. Smith, Director of Consumer Marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “We congratulate all of our new Pokémon World Champions. Their drive and dedication is truly inspiring.”

2015 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists—Junior Division (born in 2002 or later)

World Champion: Rowan Stavenow (Canada)

Second Place: Alejandro Ng-Guzman (United States)

2015 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists—Junior Division (born in 2002 or later)

World Champion: Kotone Yasue (Japan)

Second Place: Ryan Jaehyun Park (South Korea)

2015 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists—Senior Division (born in 1998–2001)

World Champion: Patrick Martinez (United States)

Second Place: Jeffrey Cheng (United States)

2015 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists—Senior Division (born in 1998–2001)

World Champion: Mark Mcquillan (Great Britain)

Second Place: Koki Honda (Japan)

2015 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists—Masters Division (born in 1997 or earlier)

World Champion: Jacob Van Wagner (United States)

Second Place: Mees Brenninkmeijer (Netherlands)

2015 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists—Masters Division (born in 1997 or earlier)

World Champion: Shoma Honami (Japan)

Second Place: Hideyuki Taida (Japan)

For more information on how to participate in future Pokémon Championship Series events, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk/play .