The Wii Mini has been announced!

I may be a day late with this news, but it seems that Nintendo is about to release a new version of the Wii called the Wii Mini. While i'm still waiting for the Wii U (which releases in Australia in two days!) and couldn't care less about a new version of the Wii, Canadians who have missed out on the motion controls craze may be very happy to know that in just over a week they will be able to buy a Wii console for just $100!!!

This console does not include any support for Gamecube titles (no Gamecube controller ports) and lacks any form of internet connection, but can play any Wii retail title out right now! Nintendo says that this console can play the selection of Nintendo Select titles which are currently available for less than $20, which really shows its value! Unfortunately, as of now this has only been announced for Canada. Still, if you're interested in getting your Mario fix without forking out the money for a Wii U, this is amazing value!

There's a New Mario Game in the Works for the Wii U!

Remember the Super Mario Bros. Mii game that Nintendo showed a bit of at E3 last year? Well, it looks like that game is going to become a reality, even sooner than expected.

Either that or it's some other Mario game, hopefully a SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE 2!

But it looks like a Mario Bros. game. When asked by IGN, here's what Nintendo had to say-

"In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U system will be shown at this year's E3 Expo. This is based on the Mario experience that was demonstrated at last year's E3 Expo. We'll have more to announce about our plans for the E3 Expo at a later date."

Useless Mario Trivia #1- Mario Originally Had a Gun

It seems hard to believe now, but the fat, loveable and almost harmless Mario was once planned to have a beam gun and rocket pack. Not very harmless then, eh? This trivia was found in the original developer's notes for Super Mario Bros. which turned up online about two years ago. Luckily, Nintendo soon realised that people thought they were more skilful when jumping on Goomba heads instead of blowing them up.

Image from http://www.wiiplaygames.com/2010/12/28/mario-had-a-gun/

Of course, this all brings up the question- Would you still like Mario if he had a gun and blew things up?

I definitely wouldn't, as that would mean that Mario games would probably now have evolved into First Person Shooters instead of racing, sport and platforming games.

New Nintendo Network Details

It turns out that all the rumors about the Nintendo Network are true! It is not just a new name for Nintendo WFC, but a whole new Network similar to PSN and Xbox Live available on the 3DS and Wii U.

This Network will allow us to-

• Create personalised accounts, also allowing multiple of them per system.
• Buy downloadable content- meaning that you can buy an add-on for a game with extra levels, playable characters etc.
• Purchase games online- so we don't have to go to a shop to get games.
• And MORE!

That is pretty much all that is known about the Nintendo Network so far, so watch this space for more info in the upcoming months!

New Mario Party 9 Information!

Nintendo has recently revealed the box art for Mario Party 9, which currently is looking far better than expected.

As well as 80 new minigames, there are multiple changes being made in Mario Party 9. These include mini-bosses and bosses on each of the game boards and that all players will travel together in a car across the boards. Hopefully this means less annoying board game style gameplay and more minigaming!

Mario Party 9 is set to be released on the 2nd of March (My Birthday) in Europe and the 11th of March in the USA. I think I know what I'm getting for my Birthday...

Nintendo Network?

It seems the final box art for Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is online and, well, just look at the top right corner. There is a logo saying NINTENDO NETWORK? Is Nintendo going to release an online network with messaging and everything similar to XBox Live and PSN? Or is it just another internet rumor? Only time will tell...

... but I would love an online enabled Mario game!

Nintendo's Best Ads

I was searching through all of my Nintendo-ey news today and I stumbled upon an article about Nintendo ads through the ages, and, well let's just say that Nintendo ads aren't normal. Here's an example-

And let's just say that Japenese Zelda ads got even stranger...

Mind you, that was all 90s stuff, Nintendo ads aren't nearly as weird and strangely addictive to watch anymore. To view the full article, go to http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/121/1215214p1.html

Miyamoto is Making a New Franchise!

Shigeru Miyamoto, president of Nintendo and the creator of the Mario, Zelda and Star Fox series among others, is currently designing a brand new game series! This is very exciting news for people like me who LOVE HIS GAMES!!!

Little has been said about this new IP apart from the fact that it will be a cartoony game rather than realistic. But odds are it is designed with the new Wii U controller in mind.

I doubt this game will be the next Mario or Zelda series but one thing is for sure, I am going to get it!

Miyamoto = Legend