Here’s a roundup of the last 30 days worth of rumors and developer hints. Some are quite believable and others seem outright fake. But, I’ll let you be the judge:
New 3DS Lite in Development
we have it in rumor from Nikkei Trendy magazine that it is currently being worked upon with three goals in mind:
1. Improve the internal firmware’s transition between menu screens so it will be quicker.
2. Extend the longevity of the battery life.
3. Make the model slimmer/thinner.
Miyamoto Considers Collaborating With Retro on A Future Zelda Installment
In an interview with Wired, Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto spoke of the company’s relationship with Retro Studios and specifically pointed to the Zelda series as a point for a potential collaboration. “We have already collaborated with Retro for the Metroid Prime series in the past. And I think when we talk about any other franchise, Zelda might be a possible franchise for that collaboration,” Miyamoto told the site. (Personally, I think they should let them have a go at Zelda on the 3DS while Aonuma works on the Wii U version. The handheld Zeldas have recently fallen from the heights they once achieved with Link’s Awakening and the Oracle series.)
Next Zelda Already In Development
Fans have translated the words of Eiji Aonuma in Hyrule Historia:
“The long sailing time of creating Skyward Sword, a game to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Zelda series, has just come to an end,” said Aonuma. “The voices of those who’ve played it from around the world reach us. We hear their admiration comments, and their criticism too. All those voices become energy for the next voyage. Well, to tell the truth, we’ve already set sail in a new voyage.” (No one’s mentioned this but is he hinting at more boat sailing in the next game when he says , “we’ve already set sail on a new voyage”, or is that just his way of sounding poetic?)
Wii U Zelda to Keep Control Scheme of Skyward Sword, Ditch the Art Style
These are really two separate interviews with Aonuma:
“I honestly think we cannot go back to button controls now, so I think that these controls will be used in future Zelda titles, too.”
“With Wind Waker, the graphics were suited to handheld gaming. Also the game ended with Link embarking on a journey, so it left open the possibility of what comes after the game. With Skyward Sword, positioning it as the first Zelda game means everything else connects to it and comes after it. It becomes a little bit difficult to do something else within that world and certainly much more difficult to do something that comes before it.â€
GameStop Approached Nintendo about Localization for Xenoblade Chronicles
GameStop reached out to Nintendo in an effort to bring Xenoblade to America, according to an anonymous source. The source also claimed that GameStop is aiding with publishing costs.
Information from the same source claims that Nintendo has interest in localizing The Last Story for the States, but the decision to follow through with this will be determined by Xenoblade’s sales and pre-orders. The source claims that currently pre-orders for Xenoblade Chronicles are not doing well. Xenoblade Chronicles will be available exclusively from GameStop and Nintendo’s online store.
Beyond Good & Evil 2 Will Release This Generation
That’s according to a report in the latest issue of Xbox World magazine, which claims that “some sources are saying we’ll see it this generation rather than next.” Which of course, would lead us to speculate that it might end up timing well with the Wii U’s launch. A launch game, perhaps?
Wii U on its Fourth or Fifth Dev Kit Already?
According to this Singaporean government site, Nintendo is currently on it’s fourth Wii U dev kit, labelled CAT-DEV.
Super Smash Bros Universe Character List Leaked, Concept Art?
Please take the following two 4chan rumors with a grain of salt. The first, “revealed” playable characters in the next Smash Bros. game:
King K Rool (Donkey Kong)
Zoroark (Pokemon)
Ghirahim (Zelda)
Little Mac (Punch Out)
Saki Amamiya (Sin and Punishment)
King Hippo (Punch Out)
Ridley (Metroid)
Prince Sable (Frogs the Bell Tolls)
Palutena (Kid Icarus)
Professor Layton (Professor Layton)
Megaman (Megaman)
Crystal (Star Fox)
Slime (Dragon Quest)
Shulk (Xenoblade)
Sonic (Sonic)
The second had images from a Japanese sketchboard with concept art, supposedly saying this:
“King K.Rool
It says something about using crocodiles (Kremlings/Klaptraps?) as part of his moveset, along with cannonballs. The last line describes using great power to summon his ship. It will then fire cannonballs on the stage. (Final Smash?)Ghirahimu
Uses a sword and evil magic. Final Smash is calling his master.Crystal
Will use a magic stick. She makes barrier and shoots fireballs. Final Smash involves dinosaur friends?Saki Amamia
Acrobatic sword user with a fast gun. Final Smash is a bit iffy. Something monsters or something.”
More Pokemon Games Coming in 2012, Pokemon Grey Hinted At
The Pokemon Company has sent out a greeting card in Japan for the new year. The card says a number of things, but there’s one line in particular that is of interest to us. Within the text we see the card say that “more amazing Pokemon games” will be released in 2012 than in 2011.
This goes well with an advert for the new Pokemon movie in the latest issue of Corocoro Magazine which has multiple captions which read “What mystery is hidden in Kyurem?†and “Kyurem’s unseen power will be revealed!â€. Kyurem is the third member of the Tao trio, which exists in the legends of the Unova region and is gray. Those who read the advert in Japanese say that it seems to hint that a new game will reveal the power of this particular Pokemon. This hints at Pokemon Grey.
Miyamoto is Retiring/Not Retiring
Miyamoto: “I’m not saying that I’m going to retire from game development altogether. What I mean by retiring is, retiring from my current position.”
Nintendo: A Nintendo spokesperson tells Reuters that the report of Shigeru Miyamoto stepping down to a different position is “absolutely not true.” The company asserts the story is a “misunderstanding,” and that Miyamoto has “no intention” of stepping down.
Miyamoto Is In the Middle of Developing a New IP
In an interview with Dutch website Zoomin.tv, the father of Nintendo’s most influential franchises announced that along with the previously announced Luigi’s Mansion 2 and Pikman 3, there is a new IP in the works.
Final Fantasy XV to be Announced at E3 2012, Coming to Wii U
Popular UK games publication GamesMaster is claiming that Final Fantasy XV will be announced at this year E3 event for Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Square Enix recently announced that it wants to make the Final Fantasy series an annual series, so it’s definitely a possibility that we will catch a glimpse of the next Final Fantasy at E3. Earlier this year Final Fantasy XIII/XIII-2 producer Yoshinori Kitase did express interest in bringing the series to the Wii U. If true this would be the first time that a direct installment to the Final Fantasy series has ever graced a Nintendo platform in over a decade.
Wii U to Have Full-Blown App Store
The rumour originates from The Daily, which claims that it has learned of plans “to implement a full-blown app store for the system.”
Currently, both the Wii and 3DS have rudimentary app support in the form of the DSi and Wii Shop channels. The source claims that the Wii U’s store will “go far beyond this, proffering a wider variety of apps.”
Wii U and 3DS to Receive e-Reader Software by Nintendo
Nintendo showed off the Wii U’s new controller reading the web, but surely it’s got far greater potential when it comes to giving you something to read. According to Forget the Box, Nintendo is prepping full-on e-reader software for its new console.
The site’s anonymous developer source claims Nintendo is getting ready to add books, magazines, newspapers, comics and strategy guides to Wii U’s abilities, all streamed to the console’s new controller. According to the source, Nintendo wants all past issues of Nintendo Power to be available, as well as its official Player’s Guides for older Virtual Console games, the idea being to flick through a strategy guide on your Wii U controller while playing your VC game on the TV. The source also claims 3DS will be updated to receive the same service, with Nintendo aiming to unify some services between both consoles.
Toki Tori 2 for Wii U
Two Tribes, the development team behind the well received Toki Tori and Swords & Soldiers has announced via Twitter that it’s considering bringing Toki Tori 2 to Wii U. The team wouldn’t reveal whether or not they had a Wii U development kit.
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