The BBC has announced that its catch-up iPlayer service will shortly be available as a native channel on the Wii. The service has been available through the Wii's internet browser since April 2008, but the addition of a native channel should improve the user experience considerably.

The new channel will be made live on 18 November, but only consoles with a broadband connection in the UK will be able to access it. It'll be free, but you'll have to download it from Nintendo's online shop - search for "iPlayer" and you should be able to find it without much trouble.

The iPlayer is also available on the PS3, but not the Xbox 360. The BBC is competing with rival broadcaster Sky to try and get its services on as many consoles as possible, but has - in the past - labelled Sony and Microsoft as too "controlling". Sky Player is available only on the Xbox 360.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 has concentrated on making its 4OD service accessible through YouTube, which can be accessed on a range of devices, including mobile phones. But given that the Wii is present in 6 million homes across Britain, this could give the BBC the lead, despite the lack of high-definition support in the console.

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Tags: Home Cinema Wii Nintendo BBC iPlayer Gaming

Nintendo Wii gets BBC iPlayer channel originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:44:59 +0000

2009 has been something of a glass ceiling for gamers. Yes, the software has continued to come and in more inventive ways than ever, but it's been pretty much the same kinds of consoles available on the shelves. At the same time, at E3 this summer, we saw some of the most ground-breaking and exciting projects for years with motion sensitivity and augmented reality the stars of the show.

Unfortunately, there are no prizes in the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Best Gaming Hardware category for anything still caught up in the ether. The fact is what we need is feedback from people and that's exactly what we hope you give us in the comments below. Which do you think are the worthy winners?

The Machines

With the major boxes and handhelds still in their place, 2009 was very much a year of upgrades. The bloated PS3 went slim, the Nintendo DS got itself an "i" and the PSP, controversially, ditched its UMD slot favouring digital downloads with the PSP Go. With rumours already of a PSP-4000, you wonder whether that's a move that Sony regrets. Even the new gaming conundrum that is the iPod touch/iPhone only got a minor perk in power and performance with the new iPhone 3.0 software, and 3rd generation and 3GS releases. But, with apps getting all the more sophisticated, it's no longer a platform we can ignore.

Perhaps more interesting on the hardware side was the advance in PC gaming that's once again on the rise owing to a clutch of hugely popular and painfully addictive titles. Asus came out with two turbocharged super-PCs with the W90 and G60 - both featuring over 1GB of memory on the graphics units alone as well as all the usual trimmings. 2009 was also the year that Dell decided to hand Alienware the complete set of keys to its gaming line and brought out both 17 and 15-inch laptops in the familiar sci-fi-look colour schemes, complete with Alien language and more chip ports than you could shake a stick at. Even budget specialist Medion took the time to get involved with the launch of the Erazer. Naturally, it's a lot cheaper than the others, despite impressive specs, but the catch is that she ain't much of a looker.

Game controllers

With the machine manufacturers taking a breather - relatively speaking - it's given the peripheral gang an excellent chance to both catch up and really push themselves to get inventive. Naturally, those unleashing the limitless potential of the Wii have been having a lot of fun. To add to the already brimming closet of unused plastic you can now bag yourself a Wii Bowling Ball, a slightly disturbing baby doll controller for Baby and Me, a series of machine guns - as well as one that transforms into a sawn-off - and some dumbells. Mercifully, there have been some serious technological developments with the Wii Motion Plus improvement to the original WiiMote, as well as the addition of the Jog for Wii controller for fitness fans everywhere.

Probably the most interesting developments in the field have been in the controllers for the software explosion that is still the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games. You no longer have to put up with having Fisher Price-looking toys in your arms when striking out on a solo. Logitech brought out some enviable wireless instruments plus, of course, Harmonix splashed out on making guitars and even a drum kit that ape those of the Fab Four for the release of The Beatles Rock Band. Just a shame we're still waiting on the availability of the Krator Orpheous WG-07. Beyond that, Activision broke the mould with an entirely new device for DJ Hero, however there are very few opinions on just how well that's worked out as yet.

Of course, for Logitech, there's nothing peripheral about peripherals and it wasn't just music games where the company spent some money. Naturally, there's a load of mice and keyboards with their logo stamped on, but the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel and pedals complete with VR3 racer was quite clearly a drool-fest for petrol-head gamers and the G940 Flight Simulator was equally well-received by the specialists.

Last of all was the highly entertaining Novint Falcon gun controller for the PC, riding on the back of the success of games like Left 4 Dead. Anything with a realistic sense of recoil is always guaranteed to get a smile out of gamers.

Keyboards and Mice

Of course, if it's all about PC gaming for you, then there's no more important tools than your keyboard and mouse and, as ever, 2009 has seen advances here too. Whether or not, they help you get more kills is another thing altogether but at least it might make it a little easier to keep up with the pack. Logtiech has been as busy as ever with the highly inventive G19 keypad as well as the full G110 board and the G500 mouse and headset too. Razor has honed in with the RazorNaga MMO mouse with more buttons and shortcuts than ever right where you need them - all very well if you can remember what they're for - and Sidewinder has stuck with wireless and produced the X8 mouse which the company considers to be the fastest in the world.

Audio

Audio is rarely top of most people's lists for gaming, but add the right piece of kit and it can add a profound finish to your experience. If you need to do things on the quiet Verbatim, Sennheiser and Creative have each come up with excellent value solutions at a respective price increase. Whether you're after a heavy sub, some in-ear isolation or on-ear noise cancelling, they represent something for everyone.

Of course, if you're happy to blast the premises, Creative and Logitech have sculpted and tuned several high quality and good looking options for serious desktop power and Altec Lansing have gone and invented something highly unique for the home in the shape of a stage-monitor type speaker for guitar console games. You can even put your foot on it like you're really there having underwear thrown at you. Hello Cleveland!

Displays

Last of all come the screens on which you get to enjoy your interactive entertainment, and 3D has been the new projector in 2009. Yes, the likes of Epson, Optoma and LG are still supplying some wonderful hardware to make your Street Fights 60 inches tall, but ViewSonic, Nvidia and Vuzix are working on the idea of your avatars actually leaping out and punching you in the face. Admittedly, this works with varying degrees of success, depending upon whether you're going for a goggles or traditional monitor solution but it's certainly a serious edge that can add to the fun.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Gaming Hardware 2009? What have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

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Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - laptops

Tags: Gaming Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Xbox PlayStation Nintendo PC games Mice And Keyboards Keyboards Mice Speakers PC speakers Logitech

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - gaming hardware originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

The Best Game nominees for the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadgets Awards 2009 are likely to be much more of a fight than last year's cut and dry selection. Without quite such monumental hits as Little Big Planet, GTA IV and Wii Fit, the field is wide open and there are one or two more platforms of maturity to compete with the big three consoles. Who would you choose?

The Blockbusters

Somehow sequels are infinitely more respectable in video games than they are at the movies, which is fortunate for the industry seeing as pretty much all the big hits this year have been just that. The annual releases of FIFA 2010 and PES 2010 probably take the award for the longest running of the lot but with Resident Evil 5 and its slightly awry publicity stunt zombie hunt coming in close behind. Back from the dead came Street Fighter IV with all your favourite faces plus a few new ones just waiting to be pummeled by a few well placed Shoryuken and a cheap 100 hand slap.

COD looks like it might just squeeze in its sixth episode in time for the deadline with Modern Warefare 2 but it looks as if both Left 4 Dead 2 and the hugely anticipated Tony Hawk Ride have left it too late this time. Probably just so they can be hot favourites for our pick of 2010.

The Halo series has managed two releases on its own with its first person shooter and strategy lines - Halo ODST and Halo Wars respectively - and if it's shooters you're after, then there's the recent launch of both Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and the highly regarded Borderlands to consider - the latter of which comes with strong RPG elements and a gaggle of console players currently at its mercy.

The trouble with most big games is we hear about them 12 months before they arrive. By the time they get here, they're almost old news. There was a seemingly endless wait for a certain DC title in the dark shape of Batman: Arkham Asylum, but it didn't disappoint when it turned up at the end of the summer. Definitely another big title worth a shout for the award.

Rock Band & Guitar Hero

We were going to use Rhythm Games as a title but frankly these two warring factions pretty much eclipsed every other party in 2009, so between Harmonix and Acitvision it is. Both companies have world domination on their minds releasing multiple titles for multiple platforms. Probably biggest of all was the moment the Fab Four finally went digital with the release of The Beatles: Rock Band but the EA backed franchise has also remembered to think small with the launch of Rock Band for the iPhone as well.

The big release for Activision was a little harder to spot. You'd have to pick between Guitar Hero 5 and and DJ Hero for the largest splash, but with Band Hero out today, there's room for a third party in the debate. GH too went portable with Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits for the DS and brought another band their own version of the game with Guitar Hero Metallica too. The list for both dynasties is set to continue despite Rock Band's latest confession. We're told there's a version for The Who in the pipeline and we're sure there's plenty of acts to get through before they start scraping the barrel with Guitar Hero Color Me Badd.

Portable

Just when you think portable gaming has exploded, it explodes some more. According to one Steve Jobs, Sony and Nintendo have a new kid to worry about now that the app store is in full swing. Whether you believe it has the same potential as a platform or not is one thing, but what we have seen for sure this year is that there are a lot of big titles focusing on an iPhone release.

Rock Band we already know about but some of the other stand out serious titles for Apple have been the wildly addictive Championship Manager, Command and Conquer Red Alert, for those who just can't put the mouse down, and the return of a classic in digitised form with the Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone Fighting Fantasy role play series getting an app of its own.

As for the PSP and DSi, there have been hundreds of titles but the two standouts for our money are GTA Chinatown Wars, which brought the first 18 certificate to Nintendo's handheld, and the enormous cult success that is Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

PC

Some games are still just too hardcore for a simple console interface and this year has seen Will Wright come back one more time with the latest chapter of his god game classic, the Sims 3 - even if it did arrive a little earlier than anticipated. But it wasn't just the one classic for 2009. Another season brings us another Championship Manager, but it was the people's champion who made the biggest splash in this field bringing the beautiful game to the Internet with Football Manager Live, and they weren't the only ones to do so. The seminal first person shooter, Quake also hit the Web and ruined worker efficiency everywhere with Quake Live as well.

Thankfully, we also had a few fresh starts in PC gaming or perhaps more accurately computer gaming in this case. Playfish brought out another of their social networking phenomenon games with Quiztastic - to challenge and annoy your friends with and there was also proof that Flash gaming is as strong as ever with the appearance of the Super Mario 63 web game for all to enjoy. Last of all though was another of the big hitters for 2009 in the small and cute form that is Plants vs Zombies. The game is set to take over the world on just about every level as soon as it hits the iPhone but for now you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own computer.

Wii

At the other end of the scale there's a certain brand of games that are only going to work on the Nintendo Wii. The fitness wave rolls on with Wii Sports Resort and more recently Wii Fit Plus but there's also been the resurrection of Punch Out, this time without Mike Tyson. Finally, though, one of the biggest storms in a d-pad was caused by the release of the dark MadWorld beat'em up from Sega, which received plenty of complaints given its launch on such a family minded console. It's unlikely to cause issues when it comes to other machines soon but it's the gameplay that counts and word is that it's one that certainly delivers.

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What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Game 2009? Who have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

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Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - laptops
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - digital cameras

Tags: Gaming Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Xbox PlayStation Nintendo PC games

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:30:19 +0000

Ever since games consoles came into our front rooms, both the hardware and software developers have looked for new ways to make their titles stand out from the crowd. One sure fire method is to reinvent the interface or design one with just your game in mind. With game controllers getting wackier by the minute (there is everything from skateboards,?baby dolls, to exercise bikes, to yourself and even replica guns), do the latest plethora of gaming?controllers have what it takes to make it to the ranks of these five great game-changers below?

1) Atari 2600 Joystick (1977)

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Boil all joysticks down to their most basic and this is what you get. The Atari 2600 broke a hell of a lot of ground, in fact, by the time it was through, it was pretty much surrounded by dust. One hugely important area was the game controllers. The paddles used in Pong and such are obviously legendary in their own right but it was the classic, stubby, heavy rubber knob and single red fire button that was the face that launched a thousand sticks. It wasn't the first such device. They'd existed for many years in more complex forms in aircraft and other serious applications, but it was Atari that came up with the electrical standard for gaming that took the design on through 16-bit computing and as far as the Atari ST and Amiga.

2) Nintendo Famicom Gamepad (1983)

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The seeds of downfall had long been sowed before the decline of the joystick in the mid 90s. The gamepads, joypads, thumbpads or however you wish to refer them were all inspired by the controllers of Nintendo's first gaming console, and original take on the NES, the Famicom. The classic d-pad and fire buttons combo was brought from the hugely popular Game & Watch series and ported onto separate paddles, the like of which we still use today.

3) Shooting Gallery (1968/1973)

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Invented as a prototype in 1968 by Ralph Baer, Shooting Gallery was the first laser gun controller for, in fact, the first ever home video games console - the Magnavox Odyssey. Somewhat less friendly looking than later incarnations, like Nintendo's orange NES Zapper, the Shooting Gallery was a scarily real, sober styled rifle that you had to cock between shots. The gun worked only by detecting light from the TV screen, rather than specific targets, which meant you could cheat by pointing the thing at a light bulb to register a hit. But, seeing as the Odyssey didn't show an on-screen score anyway, cheating was a little irrelevant.

4) Guitar Hero Gibson SG (2005)

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Harmonix was by no means the first to come up with the idea of a guitar controller, but it was the company that brought it to the games console when Guitar Hero was released on the PS2 in 2005. Games like Konami's Dance Dance Revolution and, more specifically, GuitarFreaks had paved the way at the arcade in Japan and it was Red Octane - who developed the controllers for the latter of the two - that approached Guitar Hero's creators with the idea of a console game that used a completely different type of device. The original game went on to sell 1.5 million copies and the rest, as they say, is history - well, until Harmonix went off and started Rock Band, but that's another story.

5) Nintendo Wiimote (2006)

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Whether or not you like the console, you have to admit that the latest game-changer is probably the biggest in video gaming history. Yes, there was a lot of work done by the likes of the Eye Toy but it was Nintendo who got it right. On the one hand, it's still very much based on the original Famicon gamepads, but it's taken the scope of what you can do to a whole different level and has been the first to help capture the minds of an entirely new section of the public. It works via Bluetooth connection with the console itself, rather than on light gun principles, meaning that it works equally well regardless of what kind of TV you have. It has a trigger, it rumbles, but what gives it its essence is that it has an accelerometer that can accurately sense movement on three different axes. It has since spawned tens of gun, racing wheel and music instrument controllers in its own right and has become the new standard by which the opposition are attempting to measure.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Tony Hawk Atari Famicom Guitar Hero Features Magnavox Odyssey Shooting Gallery

Five game-changing console controllers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:55:10 +0000

In the States Thrustmaster has unveiled the T-Freestyle NW, describing it as the ultimate controller for snowboarding and skateboarding Wii dudes.

"Experience the extreme action of boarding this winter from the comfort of your living room", says Thrustmaster who is flogging the board at the arguably affordable price tag of $29.99 - but you'll need a Wii Balance Board to use it.

The claims for the new board is that it allows gamers to execute freestyle tricks and to control their boarding runs with the same "spirit of freedom" and the "sensation of no limit" as in real life.

Crafted from gen-you-ine maple the board gets a bad-ass skull design and attaches to the Balance Board for "endless hours of fun". We'll keep you posted on a UK launch.

Tags: Gaming Nintendo Thrustmaster Nintendo Wii Controllers Wiimote Sports Fitness Sports games

Thrustmaster announces the T-Freestyle NW originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:46:54 +0000

Footage of Nintendo's new DSi XL (or LL as it's known in Japan) has been unearthed that gives a good comparison of how much larger the new model is over predecessors.

It's considerably larger - and more expensive - than the DSi. The XL offers dual 4.25-inch screens and comes with a bigger, thicker, pen-shaped stylus controller.

Hit play now to see the brief video - the Nintendo DSi LL will go on sale in Japan on 21 November for 20,000 yen - about ?132 - while here in the UK it's due in Q1 2010.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Video Nintendo DSi XL

VIDEO: Nintendo DSi XL caught on camera originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:32:50 +0000

Wii Fit Plus hits shops across Europe today and brings new exercises for those that splashed out on the orginal Wii Fit system with its Balance Board accessory.

New Fit-ters can also buy the game bundled with the Balance Board to play the 15 new balance games and six new strength training and yoga activities.

New features include "My Routines" offering the option to customise routines and a calorie counter that joins the weight and BMI tracking of the original.

Wii Fit Plus is available now - a quick Google search for pricing reveals the game only can be had from ?13.99 while the game plus Board is priced at ?79.99.

Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Wii Wii Fit Wii Fit Plus Sports Fitness Sports games

Wii Fit Plus launches in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:43:44 +0000

Nintendo has confirmed recent rumours as true by announcing the launch of a new version of its popular DS handheld with the introduction in Japan of the fourth-generation DSi LL.

The DSi LL will, as rumoured, and contrary to the usual trends in the handheld gaming market, take the form of a larger model than the current DSi offering dual 4.25-inch screens and come with a bigger, thicker, pen-shaped stylus controller.

Considerably larger - and more expensive - than the DSi, it's thought Nintendo might be offering such a super-sized device for its older (causal gaming) audience, who, without tiptoeing around and with a nice dose of generalisation, have poorer eyesight and a need for less fiddly gadgetry.

Alternatively, and less likely, the Japanese gaming giant could be planning a push into the pre-school educational gaming market, rivaling the likes of LeapFrog with coming-soon titles for little 'uns to be played on the chunkier console.

The Nintendo DSi LL will go on sale in Japan on 21 November for 20,000 yen - about ?132 - while here in the UK Nintendo tell us "a new Nintendo DSi XL console is launching in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The retail price of the Nintendo DSi XL is expected to be higher than that of the Nintendo DSi. Further details will be released soon".

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi Nintendo DSi XL Gaming hardware

Bigger Nintendo DSi XL caters to the older gamer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:40:14 +0000

It's being reported that Netflix streaming of movies may soon be available on Nintendo's Wii console. The service, which is already available on PCs and on the Xbox 360 and PS3, will allow customers to choose from a selection of films to view on-demand from their sofa.

There's a bit of contention about whether the service will be coming to the Wii, or its successor, the Wii HD, which is rumoured to be due early next year. It may be the case that it comes to both, but the service could prove a powerful motive for existing Wii owners to upgrade.

Not long ago, Netflix's CEO confirmed that the service would be coming to an as-yet-unnamed other country outside of the USA, but for now Netflix remains a US-only proposition.

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Tags: Home Cinema Wii Netflix Video on demand Media streaming Nintendo

Netflix streaming coming to Wii originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:50:12 +0000

It's official, video games are good for you. The NHS says so. Well, one videogame, anyway. Nintendo's hyper-successful Wii Fit has been granted the health service's "Change4Life" logo.

The scheme aims to try and get families to be healthy, and stop eating so many damn chips, given that the population is well on its way to an obesity epidemic. The NHS said that using Wii Fit can help players maintain a better shape and health as part of a "structured exercise scheme", which presumably means not taking pizza breaks between exercises.

A spokesperson for the department of health told The Telegraph: "Active video games, where kids need to jump up and down or dance about as part of the game, are a great way to get kids moving".

Nintendo's PR manage, Rob Saunders, added: "If you are worried about your bingo wings or your flabby bum, the game will give you specific exercises to target those areas".

Nintendo is the first video games company that has been issued the logo. Despite the game's ?75 cost, it's proved popular amongst Wii owners that don't want to play traditional video games.

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Tags: Gaming Sports Fitness Sports Fitness equipment Nintendo Wii Fit Wii NHS

NHS gives Wii Fit stamp of approval originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:18:57 +0000

A report in Japenese newspaper Nikkei appears to be claiming that the Nintendo DSi is getting larger screens. The handheld gaming device is coming up to 1 year since its Japanese release, but there's apparently been a few older gamers complaining that they couldn't see the screen properly.

As a result, the paper says that the screen's getting an expansion - from 3.25-inches diagonally to 4-inches, so quite a sizable update. It's due to replace the current model at exactly the same price, though it's not clear whether the device's screen resolution will also be increased to match.

Whether it'll make it across the seas to Europe and the USA remains to be seen. Nintendo doesn't have the best track record of bringing small console updates to their international users.

UPDATE: This has been confirmed by Nintendo.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSi getting screen size upgrade? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:28:13 +0000

First it was the?Nintendo Wii Remote and Nunchuk going black, now Nintendo has confirmed the whole console will be getting a black lick of paint in time for Christmas in the UK.

The company has said that it will be launching a Black Wii bundle for Euorpe on Tuesday to be launched in the UK and Republic of Ireland from 6 November and mainland Europe on 20 November.

The bundle will come as a “Limited Edition” bundled with a Wii Remote, Wii MotionPlus and Nunchuk – all in black. Gamers will also get?Wii Sports Resort?and the original Wii Sports.

Also launching in Europe as part of the black range of accessories will be the new black Classic Controller Pro – an enhanced version of the Classic Controller.?

Additional black Wii Remote controllers, Wii MotionPlus accessories and Nunchuk controllers will also be available to purchase separately across Europe from November 20 onwards.?

Nintendo has not said how limited "limited edition" actually is.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Wii Nintendo

Limited Edition Black Nintendo Wii announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:32:00 +0100

Tomy has produced a set of Mario Kart racing toys, created by Q Steer, so that you can hold races in the real world as well as on your TV screen. Each is 3.5cm high and 5cm long, and are controlled by a 6-directional remote control.

There are seven to choose from in the video above, but only two are on sale right now - Mario and Yoshi. Both packs include spare batteries, and bananas and shells that you can scatter around your desk. Each also has a boost button that'll give you an extra lick of ?speed to sneak past your opponent.

Mario and Yoshi both cost ?14 each and they're available now from CuteBitz.com.

Tags: Gaming Toys Mario Kart Nintendo Tomy Video

VIDEO: Q Steer Mario Micro Racers incoming originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:58:30 +0100

Just in time for the holidays, US gamers will now be able to get their hands on a black Wii Remote and Nunchuk for the Nintendo Wii rather than just white.

Once the in colour, it seems black is the new cool with the new controllers hitting America on 16 November.

The new black Wii Remote controller will be available packaged with a black Wii MotionPlus accessory, which brings enhanced precision to games. The package will be available at a suggested retail price of $49.99 - $10 cheaper than the white offering. The black Nunchuk controller will be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Tags: Gaming Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii Remote Nunchuck

Nintendo Wii Remote goes black originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:48:35 +0100

Nvidia has won the contract to supply Nintendo with chips for the next edition of its ultra-popular DS handheld gaming device. The chip in question will be the Tegra - a "system-on-a-chip" processor which comes in two editions - a 65nm one and a new 40nm second generation option due to be launched in early 2010.

The Tegra currently only powers two devices - Microsoft's Zune HD and Samsung's BeatPlayer YP-M1 portable media players. Reviewers have showered the performance of the Zune HD with praise, though, and it's unlikely that fact escaped Nintendo's attention when deciding which platform to go for.

The device that results should be showing up in late 2010, according to sources quoted by Bright Side of News, perhaps surfacing at the Tokyo Game Fair. Whichever Tegra option Nintendo goes for, this will mean a big step up in the power of portable gaming devices - it should be able to power higher resolution screens on the handheld while providing improved battery life.

It's still up in the air at the moment, but when we hear something more concrete about the DS, we'll be sure to let you know.

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Related links:

• News - Nintendo DSi due in three new colours

Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo DS Nvidia Tegra

Next-gen Nintendo DS will come with Tegra chip originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:12:52 +0100

Amazon in the UK has slashed the price of Nintendo's Wii console, even though the game's maker hasn't reduced the official RRP in the UK for the console on its own.

Gamers keen to get some Wii Sports action can now do so from Amazon for ?140, ?40 cheaper than the RRP being touted elsewhere on the Internet and high street.

Nintendo promised at the end of September a price reduction was coming, however that appeared in the high street in a range of bundles priced at ?180 featuring Wii Resort or Mario Kart.

"We will be reducing the trade price of Wii to retailers from 2 October 2009. In the UK and Republic of Ireland we are also introducing a new configuration of Wii hardware from 2 October 2009 which will replace the current offering and will include the Wii console and Wii Sports with the new Wii Sports Resort game and Wii MotionPlus accessory. This will be available to retailers at the newly reduced trade price", a Nintendo spokesperson told us at the time.

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Tags: Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Wii Amazon

Amazon cuts Nintendo Wii price in UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:40:33 +0100

A NES game has just gone under the hammer for $20,100 on eBay in what is thought to be the most expensive video game ever sold.

The Nintendo Campus Challenge cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System was used during a national video game tournament Nintendo hosted in 1991 according to the auction blurb and gives its new owner, bidder p***s, the chance to play Super Mario Bros 3, Pin-Bot, and Dr. Mario against the clock.

Produced only for the event and presumed destroyed, the game is unique because it gives you one score for playing all three games based on a timer system.

The Campus challenges saw winners from each of the 58 locations sent to Orlando Florida to compete for the crown of National Champion at Disney World (think 80's movie The Wizard with Fred Savage).

Unlike the Nintendo World Championships held previously where Nintendo gave winner's copies of the special cartridges, the Campus Challenge cartridges were supposed to be destroyed.

It is the only copy known to exist.?

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Related links:

• Via - Joystick

Tags: Gaming NES Nintendo eBay

Rare NES game sells for $20,100 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:22:53 +0100

Microsoft should expect it to be an Xbox 360 Christmas this year if search queries for the games console are anything to go by.

Although the launch of the PS3 Slim caused a massive spike of interest according to search analytics firm Hitwise, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console is consistently ranking highly in searches suggesting its popularity will be strong come the Christmas rush.

"For most of 2009 the Microsoft Xbox 360 has been the most searched for games console in the UK, while the popularity of the Nintendo consoles has waned significantly", says Robin Goad, Hitwise UKs research director.

Good news for Sony is that its PS3 has maintained second place throughout most of year while Nintendo has struggled following its massive success in 2008.

Without the Wii Fit to dominate Christmas wish lists, as it did last Holiday season, Xbox 360 games are the most popular options, after all-format titles, picking up 11.9% of searches according to the firm.?

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Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Microsoft Sony Hitwise Nintendo Survey

Christmas 2009: The year the Xbox 360 should rule the roost originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:31:44 +0100

Nintendo has announced its Christmas lineup for the year, which includes release dates for the three big titles that everyone's been waiting for - New Super Mario Bros on the Wii, Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks on the DS, and Wii Fit Plus on the Wii.

New Super Mario Bros Wii lets players control Mario, Luigi, or one of two Toads to try and save Princess Peach using the Wii's motion sensitive controls. There's a new propeller suit, and a penguin suit too. It'll be out on 20 November.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is the sequel to Phantom Hourglass and retains much of the mechanics and art style of its predecessor. This time, though, you get to control a phantom, which you direct via the touchscreen. It's out for the DS on 11 December.

Lastly, Wii Fit Plus adds plenty of new activities to the original Wii Fit, and also lets you personalise your own exercise plan. Also included is a calorimeter which measures how many calories you burn on each activity. It includes all the features of Wii Fit and adds 50% more. It'll be out on 30 October.

There's also a handful of other titles that the company will be releasing, including Style Boutique, and Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquillity. Those will be arriving on 23 October and 9 October respectively.

Related links:

• News - Mario & Sonic 2 confirmed

Tags: Gaming Nintendo New Super Mario Bros Legend of Zelda Wii Fit Plus

Mario, Zelda, Wii Fit Plus get UK release dates originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:58:40 +0100