Randomer Nintendo

The Cat Mario is out of the bag and the biggest Wii U game of the year is upon us. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our impressions of Super Mario 3D World and discuss whether it is the one game that can save the Wii U. As always, we first start the show with news, including thoughts on the new 3DS Guide: Louvre app, the growing lineup of 2014, the changing face of third-party Wii U support, and Nintendo’s continued family-oriented marketing push. Plus, be sure to stick around until the very end of the episode for our impressions of Wii U eShop puzzle-platformer EDGE and the announcement of our eShop credit giveaway winner! What do you think of Super Mario 3D World? Can it carry the Wii U through the holidays? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on all future site updates. We have included links below for more information on the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, letting you know exactly where to find the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Nintendo 3DS Guide Louvre Direct – 11.27.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:09] GT.TV’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Episode (GameTrailers) [0:21] Super Smash Bros. Wii U gets Super Mario Galaxy-inspired stage (Joystiq) [0:23] New Sonic stage structure shown in ‘Super Smash Bros. 4’ on Wii U (Examiner.com) [0:25] Fossil Fighters Returns On Nintendo 3DS In 2014 (Siliconera) [0:27] Mario Kart Arcade GP DX hits western arcades this winter (Polygon) [0:32] LEGO The Hobbit Coming to Wii U and 3DS (Nintendo World Report) [0:35] Nintendo 3DS – 3DS Holiday TV Commercial (YouTube) [0:40] Nintendo’s Partnership With Southwest Airlines Takes Off As Mario Gives Away Free Wii U Systems (Nintendo Life) [0:42] Wii U – “The Pitch” Commercial: Kids Edition (YouTube) [0:47] Luigi-themed Wii Remote Bundled with Nintendo Land (IGN) [0:49] Nintendo shares hit three-month high ahead of game release in U.S. (Reuters) [0:49] Pokémon X & Y moves over 2 million units in US, contributes to 135% increase in 3DS sales (VG247) [0;50] Monster Hunter 4 breaks 3 million sold in Japan, keeps on truckin’ into the holiday season (Polygon) [0:52] YouTube Now Available on Nintendo 3DS (Cubed3) [0:54] Miiverse update prepares for 3DS version with new display options (Polygon) [1:31] NYTimes – ‘Wii U is also the only new console with a video game worth playing’ (GoNintendo) [1:33] Super Mario 3D World Suffers Low Sales in Japan (Nintendo World Report) [1:42] EDGE to Roll Its Way Onto the 3DS eShop (Nintendo Life) Games [0:59] Super Mario 3D World (Official Site) [1:38] EDGE (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:02] Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre (Official Site) [0:09] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Official Site) [0:21] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [0:25] Fossil Fighters 3DS [0:27] Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:32] LEGO The Hobbit (IGN Game Page)

Between coverage of Wii Sports Club, Wii Fit U, and the Wii U’s casual-oriented holiday season, you could say this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is a casual affair. The show begins with a slew of news, including a full breakdown of the latest Nintendo Direct and the Wii Mini’s stateside debut. We also look at the business side of Nintendo, analyzing the decision to market Wii U as a casual/family-friendly console, new comments by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, and the Wii U and 3DS’s October sales performance. We then circle back to the casual games that started it all with full impressions Wii Sports Club and Wii Fit U. This episode also marks our two-year anniversary and to celebrate, we’re giving away a $20 eShop credit! As longtime listeners of the show may know, Jason isn’t very good about beating his games. He plays them heavily, but rarely makes it to the end. It’s time to change that for at least one game. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post to tell us if you think Jason should beat Super Mario 3D World or The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and we will pick one commenter at random to win the $20 in eShop credit. The game with the most votes will be the one Jason has to beat during the remainder of 2013. We’ll announce the winner in our next episode, so make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss it. You may want to stick around, too: if Jason fails to beat the chosen game before the year ends, we will then be giving away a second $10 eShop credit to another commenter. As always, we have included links below to all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, making it easy to find the segments of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 0:46] Nintendo Direct 11.13.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:47] Marth Confirmed For Super Smash Bros Wii U and 3DS (IGN) [0:53] Nintendo is bringing the Wii Mini to America for $99.99 (The Verge) [1:03 – 1:29] Second Quarter Financial Results Briefing for the 74th Fiscal Term Ending March 2014 – Q & A (Nintendo Investor Relations) [1:10] Nintendo’s Family-Oriented Wii U Commercials: “The Pitch”, Super Mario 3D World, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (YouTube) [1:23] Ubisoft financials: Rayman Legends goes next-gen in February, first-half sales hit €293 million (VG247) [1:25] UK chart: COD Ghosts top, more copies sold on PS4 than Wii U (Eurogamer) [1:29] NPD: GTA 5, Pokemon Top US Sales (IGN) [1:42] Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience (Nintendo.com) [1:44] Wii U Game Lounge at Pottery Barn Teen (PBteen.com) Games [1:49] Wii Sports Club (Official Site) [2:03] Wii Fit U (Official Site) [0:19] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Official Site) [0:27] Bravely Default (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:35] Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (IGN Game Page) [0:37] Kirby: Triple Deluxe (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:38] Animal Crossing Plaza (Official Site) [0:43] Pikmin 3 (Official Site) [0:47] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) Official Contest Rules: All registrants must be a resident of the United States of America and age 13 or older. The contest begins on November 17, 2013 at 12:00 AM PST and ends on November 29, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST. Visitors may only enter the contest once by leaving a comment below. Any additional entries that a given visitor makes will be disqualified. One (1) commenter will be chosen at random and receive the following prize: one (1) digital code redeemable for $20 in credit on the US Nintendo eShop. Random Nintendo staff members may not participate in this contest. Random Nintendo reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason. The winner will be chosen at random on November 30, 2013, announced in Episode 58 of the Random Nintendo Podcast, and then notified via email.

There ain’t no party like a Wii U party, or is there? In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our impressions of Wii Party U to see if it’s a party worth attending, plus visit the courtrooms of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies. The show kicks off with the latest sales numbers as we break down the beginning of the Wii U’s turnaround and analyze the next steps Nintendo is taking to make the console a hit. We then discuss the games that will drive these changes, including fresh details on Wii Sports Club and Super Mario 3D World, before turning our attention to all things 3DS with the announcement of a Pikachu detective game, the controversy surrounding Swapnote’s SpotPass functionality, and more. We want to hear your thoughts, too. Whether you have your own impressions of Wii Party U or an opinion of Nintendo’s Wii U strategy, be sure to leave a comment below. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo, which we recommend doing so you don’t miss a special giveaway coming up in our next episode. As always, the below links provide additional information on all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link lists a time stamp as well, letting you know exactly where to find the segments that most interested you. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 0:42] Nintendo Q2 financials: 300k Wii U consoles sold in quarter, software up (VG247) [0:04] How Do Wii U’s Sales Compare to Nintendo’s Past Consoles? (Nintendo World Report) [0:08] Wii and Wii U account for 1% of EA sales (CVG) [0:11 – 0:42] Second Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2014 (Nintendo Investor Relations) [0;26] Wii U and Skylanders Pack Big Value into Holiday Bundle (Nintendo.com) [0:28] Mario and Luigi Jump Into the New Wii U Deluxe Set (Nintendo.com) [0:32] Nintendo Co., Ltd : Nintendo Racks Up Operating Loss (4-Traders) [0:42] Iwata Asks in Motion: Wii Sports Club (Nintendo.com) [0:53] Lengthy new Super Mario 3D World trailer features smorgasbord of power-ups, reveals online features (Infendo) [0:58] Two Ideas You May Not Have Seen in Super Mario 3D World (IGN) [1:02] Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Has Link Batter Up For Some Baseball (Siliconera) [1:04] Yes, of course Nintendo is releasing its Zelda-themed 3DS XL in the US as well (Engadget) [1:07] New 3DS Pokemon title is a detective adventure starring Pikachu (Polygon) [1:11] Nintendo Pulls 3DS Feature, Says Kids Were Sharing ‘Offensive Material’ (Kotaku) [1:20] New Zelda and Pikmin Video Series Land on 3DS (IGN) Games [1:39] Wii Party U (Official Site) [1:24] Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (Official Site) [0:42] Wii Sports Club (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:53] Super Mario 3D World (Official Site) [1:02] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Official Site) [1:07] Pikachu Detective Game [1:11] Swapnote (Official Site) [1:20] Nintendo Video (Official Site)

There’s something about Pokemon. Something in its DNA that makes it stand above other games in the RPG genre. Is it the battles, the exploration, a combination of everything? Through impressions of the newly released Pokemon X & Y, we discuss what makes the Pokemon games tick and what the future may hold for the series. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is about more than just those lovable pocket monsters, though. We also break down all the latest news, including the introduction of the land of Lorule in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, the unexpected delay of Watch Dogs, and new game announcements for 2014 and beyond. Plus, we analyze the Wii U’s sales turnaround. What is your favorite aspect of Pokemon? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on the latest site happenings. As always, we have provided links below for more information on all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link lists a time stamp as well, letting you know exactly where to find the segments that most interested you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Zelda: A Link Between Worlds connects Hyrule’s Zelda and Lorule’s Hilda (Polygon) [0:06] A Link Between Worlds’ Impact on Zelda’s Past, Present, and Future (IGN) [0:11] Zelda producer on why money matters in A Link Between Worlds (Shacknews.com) [0:18] StreetPass in Mario Party: Island Tour Detailed (Nintendo World Report) [0:24] Watch Dogs Delayed Until Spring 2014 (Kotaku) [0:29] Watch Dogs on Wii U ‘is superior to current-gen’ (CVG) [0:31] Assassin’s Creed 4 DLC not coming to Wii U version (Joystiq) [0:35] Two Tribes shelves Toki Tori Wii U editor to focus on new game (Eurogamer) [0:40] The Fall Targets an April 2014 Release on Wii U (Nintendo Life) [0:43] Hyper Light Drifter coming to the Wii U too (Destructoid) [0:46] The Amazing Spider-Man 2 video game coming spring 2014 (Polygon) [0:51] Grand Theft Auto V Dominates US Sales in September (IGN) [1:01] Wii U UK sales spike 685% on Zelda launch (MCV) [1:04] Ubisoft: Splinter Cell Blacklist and Rayman Legends have underperformed (CVG) [1:10] Lifetime 3DS Sales Are Higher Than the Wii in Japan (IGN) [1:12] Pokemon X and Y top 4 million in first two days (GamesIndustry International) [2:08] Pokemon Bank and Transporter coming in December (GamesRadar) Games [1:14] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site) [0:02] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Official Site) [0:17] Mario Party: Island Tour (Official Site) [0:24] Watch Dogs (Official Site) [0:31] Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Official Site) [0:35] Toki Tori 2 (Official Site) [0:40] The Fall (Official Kickstarter Page) [0:43] Hyper Light Drifter (Official Kickstarter Page) [0:46] The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Official Site) [2:08] Pokemon Bank (Official Site)

Hoist the sails, the return of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is upon us! In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we not only share impressions of the anticipated HD remake, but also go hands-on with the next wave of great eShop games straight from IndieCade 2013. From armadillos in space to worlds built out of rice paper, we pick our four favorites from the indie festival. Of course, there’s plenty of news to be had as well, ranging from a breakdown of the latest Nintendo Direct to a look at how Nintendo may handle its software development in the future. So join us as we dive into all things Nintendo! Have questions about the eShop games showcased at IndieCade? Let us know in the comments section below and we’ll answer them next episode. Be sure to also check back later this week for photos and further impressions from the festival. You can follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes to make sure you don’t miss any of our coverage. As always, you can learn more about any of the news and games discussed in this episode via the links below. Each link also lists a time stamp, letting you know exactly where to find the segments of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:01 – 0:26] Nintendo @ IndieCade (IndieCade.com) [0:21] Spin the Bottle: Bumpie’s Party DLC will use the Wii U GamePad’s camera (Eurogamer) [0:27 – 1:17] Nintendo Direct – 10.01.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:58] Pre-order A Link Between Worlds at GameStop and Receive Oracle of Seasons Download (Zelda Informer) [1:09] Toon Link from Zelda: Wind Waker joins Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS roster (VentureBeat) [1:18] Mario Party: Island Tour Features No Online Play (Nintendo World Report) [1:22] Sonic Lost World: Why Slowing Down is a Good Thing (IGN) [1:26] Mighty No. 9 concludes funding with over $4 million (Joystiq) [1:29] Mega Man 2 composer joins the Mighty No. 9 team (Destructoid) [1:32] WayForward’s Shantae Kickstarter achieves funding goal (Polygon) [1:36] Wii U 4.0 firmware update live, puts Wii games on GamePad screen (Joystiq) [1:45] Nintendo Acquires Stake In Panasonic’s PUX For New Software Engine (Siliconera) [1:50] Nintendo To Bring MonoGame Framework To Wii U (Siliconera) Games [1:53] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Official Site) [0:04] Armillo (Official Site) [0:09] Shovel Knight (Developer’s Official Site) [0:14] Scram Kitty and His Buddy on Rails (Official Site) [0:17] Tengami (Official Site) [0:21] Spin The Bottle: Bumpie’s Party (KnapNokGames.com Game Page) [0:27] Super Mario 3D World (Official Site) [0;39] Wii Party U (Official Site) [0:45] Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:51] Pikmin 3 (Official Site) [0:54] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:01] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Official Site) [1:06] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [1:12] Bravely Default (IGN Game Page) [1:14] Kirby 3DS (IGN Game Page) [1:18] Mario Party: Island Tour (IGN Game Page) [1:22] Sonic Lost World (Official Site) [1:26] Mighty No. 9 (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:32] Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Official Kickstarter Page)

Listeners, unite up! In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share impressions of Platinum Games’ action-packed Wii U title, The Wonderful 101, as well as the eShop’s Art Academy: SketchPad. But before we save the world, there’s plenty of news to discuss, including Wii Fit U and the return of Wii Sports, fresh Pokemon X & Y details, and a bevy of third party games. We then focus on the business side of the industry with thoughts on Sega buying Atlus and a look at August’s sales numbers. Plus, we pay tribute to former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi. Have you tried The Wonderful 101? Let us know what you think of the game or the podcast as a whole by leaving a comment below! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss any future site updates. As always, we have included links below for more information on the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, letting you know exactly where to find the segments of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! [0:01] Wii Fit U Direct 9.18.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:21] Extra: Diving Into The eShop’s Blue Ocean [0:27] Mega Mewtwo X Is Cool. More Gender-Specific Pokemon Forms Are Cooler. (Kotaku) [0:38] Princess Peach confirmed for Wii U/3DS Smash Bros. (Destructoid) [0:41] What’s new with the upcoming Curtain Call edition of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (Polygon) [0:46] Child of Light Announced (UbiBlog) [0:52] Original Toki Tori Flocking onto Wii U (Cubed3) [0:53] Toki Tori 2+ Free Update On Wii U Releases Today! 40% Off For A Week (GoNintendo) [0:57] Mighty No. 9 Passes Wii U Stretch Goal With A Fortnight Remaining (Nintendo Life) [1:00] Mario, Luigi, Link costumes in Monster Hunter 4 (Joystiq) [1:01] Monster Hunter 4 Enjoyed The Highest Debut Of The Series (Siliconera) [1:04] Sega buying Atlus parent company Index (Destructoid) [1:09] Madden NFL 25, Saints Row IV Top US Sales in August (IGN) [1:17] Nintendo Adds Deutsch L.A. to Its Roster (Adweek) [1:23] Splinter Cell: Blacklist – unconfirmed US sales data (GoNintendo) [1:26] Nintendo visionary Hiroshi Yamauchi passes at 85 (Joystiq) Games [1:31] The Wonderful 101 (Official Site) [1:52] Art Academy: SketchPad (Official Site) [0:01] Wii Fit U (Official Site) [0:17] Wii Sports Club (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:27] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site) [0:38] Super Smash Bros. for Wii/3DS (Official Site) [0:41] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:46] Child of Light (Official Site) [0:52] Toki Tori (TwoTribes.com Game Page) [0:53] Toki Tori 2+ (TwoTribes.com Game Page) [0:57] Mighty No. 9 (Offical Kickstarter Page) [1:00] Monster Hunter 4 (Giant Bomb Game Page)

Wind up those Pokemon toys, start those mining drills, and grab that… 2DS? This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast offers a little something for everyone, including impressions of Nintendo’s first foray into NFC-enabled gaming with Pokemon Rumble U and the must-play eShop title SteamWorld Dig. As always, the show begins with the latest news as we analyze the unexpected Nintendo 2DS, share thoughts on the Wii U’s upcoming price drop, and give our takes on the recent Pokemon Direct. We also look at two Kickstarter projects that have grabbed the gaming spotlight and deserve your money. So whether you’re interested in Pokemon toys gone digital, steampunk mining adventures, or a 3D-less 3DS, there’s something in this episode for you! Have you had a chance to play Pokemon Rumble U or SteamWorld Dig? What are your thoughts on the 2DS? Leave a comment and let us know! We also encourage you to stay up to date on all site happenings by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. Below, we have provided links to all the news and games discussed in this episode. A time stamp is listed next to each link so you can easily find the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 0:23] Introducing… The Nintendo 2DS. No, That’s Not a Typo. (Kotaku) [0:06] Extra: Why The 2DS Is Actually A Good Idea [0:11] Nintendo: “We don’t want to walk away” from 3D gaming (GamesIndustry International) [0:15] Nintendo Targets Japan Sales of 5 Million 3DS Units in 2013 (Bloomberg) [0:17] Nintendo Is Still Making Its Most Popular System Ever (Kotaku) [0:24] Nintendo Says Wii U’s Name Not Responsible For Wii U’s Problems (Kotaku) [0:27] Wii U Price Drop Confirmed (IGN) [0:30] Nintendo Confirms Limited Edition Wii U Bundle For The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Nintendo Life) [0:34] Nintendo Falls Most Since May After Wii U Price Cut: Tokyo Mover (Bloomberg) [0:37] Zelda: Wind Waker HD download launching early, hits Wii U Sept. 20 (Polygon) [0:41] Sessler’s… Something – Nintendo’s Potential Next-Gen Gamechanger (YouTube) [0:46] Nintendo Confirms Release Dates For Fall First-Party Lineup (GameInformer.com) [0:55] Nintendo: ‘Online Play is Always Important’ (IGN) [1:04] Pokemon Direct 9.04.2013 (Nintendo.com) [1:28] Wayforward Kickstarting Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Joystiq) [1:33] Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse puts the rest to shame (Destructoid) [1:36] PAX: Mega Man Creator Announces Mighty No. 9 (IGN) [2:12] How an indie game made a word-of-mouth rise to the top of the eShop charts (Polygon) Games [1:44] Pokemon Rumble U (Official Site) [2:01] SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt (Official Site) [0:37] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Official Site) [0:47] Wii Party U (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:49] Mario Party: Island Tour (IGN Game Page) [0:56] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:04] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site) [1:05] Pokemon Bank (Official Site) [1:28] Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:33] Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (Giant Bomb Game Page) [1:36] Mighty No. 9 (Official Kickstarter Page)

Prepare to embark on a whirlwind tour of alternate realities: the dream worlds inside Luigi’s head, a monster-filled version of 1970s Tokyo, and one of three different dimensions of street fighting. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast stops in each of these worlds as we bring you impressions of 3DS RPG Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, eShop downloadable title Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale, and the Wii U Virtual Console version of Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers. But before we can depart on these journeys, it’s important to be fully packed – with news, that is. The show kicks off with a look at what’s new on the indie front, both in terms of new game announcements and changes to Nintendo’s own eShop policies. We then focus on the major players, discussing fresh details on upcoming Wii U titles such as Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World, and Call of Duty: Ghosts, plus a rumored Pokemon fighting game. In a final bit of news, we break down July’s sales numbers and Nintendo’s latest attempts to turn around the Wii U. So put on those virtual walking shoes, press play, and let the travels begin! Have you played Mario & Luigi: Dream Team? What are your thoughts on a potential Pokemon fighting game? Let us know by leaving a comment! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on all things Nintendo. As always, you can find links below to all of the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp to let you easily locate the sections of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Beatbuddy Brings the Rhythm to the Wii U eShop (Nintendo Life) [0:05] Retro City Rampage is Coming to Nintendo 3DS! (RetroCityRampage.com) [0:11] Stylish adventure game Candle meets funding goal, announced for Wii U (Joystiq) [0:14] Monochroma Hits Funding Target to Confirm Multi-Platform Release, Including Wii U (Nintendo Life) [0:22] Wii U now allows eShop purchases from within indie games and ported apps (Engadget) [0:25] Nintendo removes line barring Japanese indie devs from supporting Wii U (GoNintendo) [0:28] The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Offers a Definitive Experience (IGN) [0:37] Report: Wii U 32GB with Wind Waker HD bundle coming (Destructoid) [0:43] Sonic Lost World Deadly Six edition revealed (GameSpot) [0:48] Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer adds female soldiers, new modes (Polygon) [1:01] Nintendo confirms Metroid: Other M stage for next Super Smash Bros. (GamesBeat) [1:07] New Pokemon Trademarks Could Be Anything, Sound Like Fighting Games (Kotaku) [1:14] Nintendo 3DS, NCAA Football can’t save US retail game sales in July (GamesIndustry International) [1:24] The Nintendo Experience Tour (Nintendo.com) [1:25] Iwata: Wii U Basic model sales show price isn’t the issue (CVG) Games [1:42] Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Official Site) [1:28] Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale (Official Site) [1:35] Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:02] Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians (Official Site) [0:05] Retro City Rampage (Official Site) [0:11] Candle (Official Kickstarter Page) [0:14] Monochroma (Official Site) [0:28] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Official Site) [0:43] Sonic Lost World (Official Site) [0:48] Call of Duty: Ghosts (Official Site) [1:01] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site)

It’s been nine years since Pikmin last sprouted up on a Nintendo system and a whopping nineteen years since Earthbound graced the Super NES. But now, thanks to Wii U, they’re both back and we’ve got them covered! In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our full impressions of Pikmin 3, weighing the game’s pros and cons, as well as the Virtual Console version of Earthbound. We first kick off the show with a breakdown of the latest Nintendo Direct and The Wonderful 101 Direct, including impressions of the new Animal Crossing Plaza and the eShop demo of The Wonderful 101. Additionally, we take a look at some major changes in store for Pokemon X & Y and a new Monster Hunter for Wii U, followed by an examination of Nintendo’s Q1 2013 financial report and what it all means. Plus, we announce the winner of our Pikmin 3 shirt giveaway! This episode also marks a milestone for the Random Nintendo Podcast: 50 episodes! In the time since the show first started, we’ve experienced the rise of the 3DS, the ongoing ups and downs of the Wii U, and a slew of really great games. Thank you for letting us bring you our thoughts and opinions on everything Nintendo, and we look forward to continuing to do so. We would love to hear what you think of the show, so please feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below. If you haven’t already done so, you can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, we have provided links below for more information on the games and news covered in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, allowing you to easily find the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 0:54] Nintendo Direct – 8.07.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:31] Breath of Fire II coming to Wii U Virtual Console (Capcom-Unity) [0:38] Pilotwings stage revealed for Super Smash Bros. (Infendo) [0:46] Rayman Legends – exclusive costume for those that downloaded the Challenges App (GoNintendo) [0:50] Indie Titles Line-Up – Trailer (Wii U) (YouTube) [0:52] Wii U eShop Title Cubemen 2 Will Bring Cross-Platform Multiplayer Gaming with PC, Mac and iOS Versions (Nintendo Life) [0:55] The Wonderful 101 Direct 8.09.2013 (Nintendo.com) [1:08] Here’s How Pokemon X And Y’s New Mega Evolutions Work (Kotaku) [1:09] Mega Kangaskhan Revealed For Pokemon X & Y (My Nintendo News) [1:21] Monster Hunter Frontier G coming to PS3 and Wii U (Polygon) [1:24] Wii U sales plummet as Nintendo records quarterly profit (GameSpot) [1:26] Asda no longer selling Wii U consoles, games in supermarkets (Eurogamer) [1:29] Batman: Arkham Origins multiplayer skips Wii U (Eurogamer) [1:34] Animal Crossing: New Leaf Sales Are Over 5 Million Worldwide (Siliconera) [1:35] Iwata: New StreetPass Mii Plaza games have been successful despite lack of promotion (Nintendo Everything) [1:37] Exactly How Bad is the Nintendo Situation? (IGN) [1:58] Nintendo Considering DLC for Pikmin 3 (Nintendo World Report) Games [1:40] Pikmin 3 (Official Site) [2:10] Earthbound (Official Site) [0:03] Animal Crossing Plaza (Official Site) [0:14] Professor Layton and The Azran Legacy (Level-5 Game Page) [0:15] Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Level-5 Game Page) [0:17] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:24] Art Academy SketchPad (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:32] Summer Carnival ’92: RECCA (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:37] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [0:40] Sonic Lost World (Official Site) [0:43] Rayman Legends (Official Site) [0:52] Cubeman 2 (Official Site) [0:55] The Wonderful 101 (Official Site) [1:08] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site) [1:21] Monster Hunter Frontier G (Giant Bomb Game Page) [1:29] Batman: Arkham Origins (Official Site)

Some people go to Comic-Con for the comics. Others go for the movie and television news. Us? We go for the video games. It’s impressions galore in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast as we go hands-on with the many Wii U and 3DS games that were on display, including The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Yoshi’s New Island, Bayonetta 2, Sonic Lost World, and Disney Infinity. And that’s just the beginning! We then dive into the latest news from both Comic-Con and beyond, covering the latest Nintendo Direct Mini, Activision’s renewed commitment to the Wii U, and the recent 3DS sales surge. We conclude with full impressions of StreetPass Plaza’s four DLC games, which we put through their paces in the midst of all the Comic-Con chaos. But wait, there’s more: we’re also hosting a special giveaway! You can win a Comic-Con exclusive Pikmin 3 shirt (pictured below) that was only given out at Nintendo’s Gaming Lounge. The shirt not only features Pikmin artwork, but is also branded with a “Comic-Con Exclusive” emblem on its sleeve. To enter, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this page telling us which upcoming Wii U or 3DS game you’re most excited about. We’ll announce the randomly-chosen winner in our next episode, so make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss it. As always, the links below provide more information on all the games and news discussed in this episode. Time stamps are listed next to each link, making it easy to find the segments that most interest you. You can also view pictures of the many Comic-Con sights in our gallery, Extra: Comic-Con 2013 in Photos. Enjoy the episode! News [0:37] Sonic Lost World has a casino world called Frozen Factory (Destructoid) [1:01] Regular Show 3DS game takes Mordecai and Rigby to 8-Bit Land (Polygon) [1:19] No plans for Ultra Street Fighter 4 on Wii U, Xbox One, PS4 (Joystiq) [1:21] Nintendo Direct Mini – 7.18.2013 (Nintendo.com) [1:30] Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara Pushed to August (Nintendo World Report) [1:31] First Pokemon Game Exclusively for Wii U, Pokemon Rumble U, Launching August 29 via Nintendo eShop (Nintendo.com) [1:37] Activision Confirms Six For Wii U, Including Call of Duty: Ghosts (GameInformer.com) [1:44] ‘SEGA 3D Classic Series’ Coming to Nintendo 3DS (SEGA Blog) [1:47] Mega Man Game Boy games coming to 3DS Virtual Console (Capcom-Unity) [1:48] Nintendo 3DS tops systems as June game retail sales drop 15% in US – NPD (GamesIndustry International) [1:55] Get up to $10 to spend in the Nintendo eShop (Nintendo.com) [1:56] 3DS sales spike in the UK, pushes ahead of PS3 and 360 (MCV) [1:57] Nintendo’s Stock Skyrockets To Highest Value in Two Years (DualShockers) [1:58] Wii U has only sold 179,000 software units in the UK this year (Nintendo Everything) [2:01] This Is Probably Why Ubisoft Wants Nintendo To Sell More Wii U’s (Kotaku) Games [0:03] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:10] Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Official Site) [0:20] Yoshi’s New Island (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:27] Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:37] Sonic Lost World (Official Site) [0:49] Disney Infinity (Official Site) [0:56] Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (Official Site) [1:01] Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land (IGN Game Page) [1:07] Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don’t Know! (IGN Game Page) [1:09] Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Official Site) [1:22] Earthbound (Official Site) [1:25] Pikmin 3 (Official Site) [1;31] Pokemon Rumble U (Pokemon.com Game Page) [1:37] Call of Duty: Ghosts (Official Site) [1:42] Angry Birds Star Wars (IGN Game Page) [2:03] StreetPass Mii Plaza (Official Nintendo.com Page) Win this Comic-Con exclusive Pikmin 3 shirt just by telling us which game you’re most excited about! Official Contest Rules: All registrants must be a resident of the United States of America and age 13 or older. The contest begins on July 28, 2013 at 12:00 AM PST and ends on August 9, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST. Visitors may only enter the contest once by leaving a comment below. Any additional entries that a given visitor makes will be disqualified. One (1) commenter will be chosen at random and receive the following prize: one (1) special edition Pikmin 3 shirt given away by Nintendo at San Diego Comic-Con (size: Medium). Random Nintendo staff members may not participate in this contest. Random Nintendo reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason. The winners will be chosen at random on August 10, 2013, announced in Episode 50 of the Random Nintendo Podcast, and then notified via email.

Game & Wario packs a lot of games onto one Wii U disc, but are they worth it? We answer that very question in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast with full impressions of the minigame compilation. Plus, we go hands-on with the upcoming Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies and 1001 Spikes, two eShop titles that won’t be released until later this year. But before we play games, we talk about them. The episode begins with eShop news, including an early peek at Cave Story publisher Nicalis’ unannounced next title and the triumphant return of Chibi-Robo, followed by the latest details on Nintendo’s own slate of retail games. We then look beyond the games themselves, breaking down the news from Nintendo’s recent shareholder meeting and weighing in on the current region locking debate. Come for the insights and stay for Wario’s crazy Wii U antics! What do you think of Game & Wario? Let us know your thoughts on the game, or any of this episode’s topics, by leaving a comment below. Be sure to also tune in to our next episode on Sunday, July 28 for full coverage of Comic-Con 2013! We’ll be making the trek to San Diego to bring you impressions of all the games on display, plus we’ll put the new StreetPass Plaza DLC through its paces. During the week leading up to that episode, we’ll also be posting an Extra packed with photos of the convention’s many gaming sights. We recommend subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to make sure you don’t miss any of our coverage. Until then, enjoy Episode 48! The below links provide more information on all the games and news discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, allowing you to easily locate the segments that most interest you. News [0:02] New 3DS eShop RPG from Nicalis: Grinsia [0:07] Chibi-Robo Returns With A Photography Game, The Denpa Men 3 Coming In August (Siliconera) [0:15] Broken Rules unveils Secrets of Raetikon for Wii U (Wii U Daily) [0:19] Wii Karaoke U By JOYSOUND Is Coming To The West This Year (Nintendo Life) [0:24] Runner 2 DLC brings back old friends from indie hits (Polygon) [0:32] Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem Is At Least Partly Set In Modern Times (Siliconera) [0:36] Club Nintendo: $30 Credit for Shin Megami Tensei IV and Fire Emblem Awakening (Nintendo.com) [0:40] Creating Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (IGN) [0:47] Super Smash Bros. roster blooms with Captain Olimar & Pikmin (Joystiq) [0:51] Pikmin 3 GameStop Event Announced, Get Digital Copy One Day Before Launch (GameTrailers) [0:55] Q&A: Zelda’s Producer Crafting New Legends for 3DS, Wii U (Wired.com) [1:16] Miyamoto Talks Zelda, Pikmin, and Wii U Development (GameInformer.com) [1:22] It’s Time Nintendo Brought Out a New Franchise, Says Shigeru Miyamoto (Kotaku) [1:25] The 73rd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders – Q&A (Nintendo Investor Relations) [1:38] Does Nintendo stand a chance this holiday? (GamesIndustry International) [1:43] Iwata’s Approval Rating Drops to Around 77 Percent (Nintendojo) [1:44] Nintendo fans call for an end to region-locking (Barrel Roll Gaming) [1:45] Nintendo’s President Discusses Region Locking (IGN) [1:48] Nintendo to integrate departments as more games release around the world simultaneously (Nintendo Everything) [1:50] Nintendo 3DS system update, new StreetPass games available (Examiner.com) [1:52] Wii U Firmware Update Available, Future Update Planned (IGN) Games [1:53] Game & Wario (Official Site) [2:32] Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (Official Site) [2:39] 1001 Spikes (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:02] Grinsia (Official Site) [0:07] Photography with Chibi-Robo (Official Japanese Site) [0:14] The Denpa Men 3 (Giant Bomb Page Page) [0:15] Secrets of Raetikon (Official Site) [0:19] Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND (Nintendo UK Game Page) [0:24] BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Official Site) [0:32] Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (IGN Game Page) [0:40] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [0:51] Pikmin 3 (Official Site) [0:55] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:01] The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:09] The Legend of Zelda Wii U (IGN Game Page) [1:50] StreetPass Mii Plaza (Official Nintendo.com Page)

We’re going green in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast with full impressions of Animal Crossing: New Leaf and New Super Luigi U! But before we can talk up our roles as mayors and second-fiddle plumbers, we have news to cover. Lots of news. The show kicks off with a look at newly announced Wii U indie games, including a claymated point-and-click adventure and a new title from the man behind Conker’s Bad Fur Day. We then turn our attention to a large serving of E3 2013 leftovers, discussing a slew of interviews that shed new light on big games such as Mario Kart 8 and the next Super Smash Bros., Nintendo’s plans for free-to-play gaming, and more. We round out the news by focusing on the May sales charts, examining what went right with 3DS and what continues to go wrong with Wii U. As an added bonus, this episode also includes the return of our occasional third chair to provide an additional perspective on all the big stories. Feel free to us know what you think of the tweaked dynamic by posting a comment below, and while you’re at it, we’d also love to hear your thoughts on any of the topics discussed! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on all site updates. Below, you can find links to all of the news and games discussed in this episode. As always, each link includes a time stamp to let you easily locate the sections of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:03] Steampunk Puzzle Platformer Teslagrad Looks Gorgeous, And It’s Coming To Wii U (Nintendo Life) [0:06] Earthworm Jim Creator’s Armikrog Set for Nintendo Wii U (Cubed3) [0:13] Exclusive: Conker’s Bad Fur Day Creator Chris Seavor Is Bringing Rusty Pup To Wii U (Nintendo Life) [0:17] Indie RPG Soul Saga set for Wii U release (Nintendo Insider) [0:22] Star Wars Pinball cloned on Wii U July 11 (Joystiq) [0:33] E3 2013: Nintendo’s Hideki Konno Pulls Back The Curtain On ‘Mario Kart 8’ (MTV Multiplayer) [0:40] NowGamer’s Super Smash Bros Interviews: ‘We Don’t Have Time To Bring All Characters Back’ and Pokemon: How They’re Selected (NowGamer.com) [0:51] Smashing the Definition of Smash Bros. (GameSpot) [0:59] Pikmin 3: Little plants in the shadows of giants (Polygon) [1:08] Hometown Story: Once more with feeling (Polygon) [1:12] Angry Birds flying furiously onto Wii U (GamesRadar) [1:16] Don’t Get Your Hopes Up For F-Zero (IGN) [1:21] The Future of Nintendo Game Development (IGN) [1:25] Nintendo’s Free-to-Play Game is Steel Diver (IGN) [1:33] Nintendo E3 Analyst Briefing – Q&A (Nintendo Investor Site) [1:37] Nintendo is open to making a free-to-play Animal Crossing (VentureBeat) [1:39] 3DS System Update 6.0 Brings New Games to StreetPass Mii Plaza in Europe and Japan (Nintendo World Report) [1:48] E3 2013: Reggie Fils-Aime Weighs In On E3, The Wii U, And The Digital Landscape (MTV Multiplayer) [1:51 – 2:05] NPD Sales Results for May 2013 (NeoGAF) [1:55] Analysis: Xbox 360 poised to pass Wii in US sales by year’s end (Arstechnica) [2:06] WBIE: We’re a believer on Wii U (GamesIndustry International) [2:07] For Nintendo, the Impossible is Possible (IGN) [2:08] Nintendo: Saying Next-Gen is Only Sony vs. Microsoft Is So 2006 (Kotaku) [2:09] Nintendo CEO: ‘We Are to Blame’ for Poor Wii U Sales (CNBC) [2:10] Nintendo Boss Didn’t Say He’d Quit, Yo (Kotaku) Games [2:13] Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Official Site) [2:34] New Super Luigi U (Official Site) [0:03] Teslagrad (Official Developer Blog) [0:06] Armikrog (Official Site) [0:13] The Unlikely Legend of Rusty Pup (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:17] Soul Saga (Official Site) [0:22] Star Wars Pinball (Official Site) [0:33] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:40] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [0:59] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:08] Hometown Story (IGN Game Page) [1:12] Angry Birds Trilogy (Official Site) [1:25] Steel Diver Free-to-Play (IGN Game Page)

E3 2013 may be over, but our coverage certainly isn’t! In our second episode dedicated to the year’s biggest gaming expo, we share hands-on impressions of four of the Wii U’s most anticipated games: Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. We pick up where we left off in our previous E3 episode (Episode 45: E3 2013 Direct Response), combing through Nintendo’s many E3 interviews and briefings to bring you the latest details on these four games and a slew of others, including Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS and the Wii U’s mysterious, original Zelda title. We then turn our attention to third parties, discussing both newly announced titles and Nintendo’s revised strategy for boosting Wii U support. To wrap it all up, we look beyond the games with an analysis of Nintendo’s stance on going multi-platform and the ongoing used games debate. For an expo as big as E3, it’s only right that this episode is packed with content! What was your favorite E3 announcement? Do you think Nintendo had a good showing this year? Let us know by leaving a comment! We’d also love to hear what you thought of our overall coverage of E3, from the special podcast episodes to the Extra articles. Feel free to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo as we bring you more coverage of Nintendo’s lineup heading into Fall and beyond. As always, you can find links to all the news and games discussed in this episode below. Each link also lists a time stamp, allowing you to easily listen to the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:07] Super Mario 3D World: Keeping Mario weird (Polygon) [0:11] Exploring Super Mario 3D World with Its Development Team (TIME.com) [0:13] Super Mario 3D World reunites Mario Galaxy composers (Destructoid) [0:28] Nintendo Defends Choice To Have Retro Make a New Donkey Kong Country (Kotaku) [0:30] E3 2013: Nintendo, Retro Discuss Future of Metroid (IGN) [0:38] Aonuma on why the 3DS isn’t used in Zelda: Wind Waker HD for the Tingle Tuner (Nintendo Everything) [0:42] Streamlined Triforce Quest, No New Dungeons For Wind Waker Remake (Kotaku) [0:46 – 1:01] Super Smash Bros: New Details – No Plans for DLC, Tripping Removed, Smash Bros. Will Not Use Touch Screen Controls, Namco Bandai Characters Receive No Priority, and Final Names Revealed (IGN) [0:52] No cross-platform play for Smash Bros on 3DS and Wii U (Joystiq) [0:55] Don’t Expect A Lot Of Third-Party Characters In The Next Smash Bros (Kotaku) [1:02] E3 2013: Discovering Yoshi’s Island (Again) (IGN) [1:07] E3 2013: A Quick Update on Yarn Yoshi (IGN) [1:11] Nintendo Considered Showing New Zelda Wii U Game At E3 (GameInformer.com) [1:12] Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma on the Wii U’s stumbles, Virtual Console support and a ‘need to evolve’ (Engadget) [1:15] Interview: Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma Talks DLC, Missing Dungeons And Majora’s Mask (Nintendo Life) [1:21] Nintendo E3 Analyst Briefing (Nintendo Investor Relations Site) [1:28] Call of Duty: Ghosts Will Release on Wii U, Says Executive Producer (Kotaku) [1:31] Ubisoft announces Just Dance 2014 (Vooks) [1:34] Pac-Man Museum Coming to Wii U and 3DS (Nintendo Enthusiast) [1:37 – 1:45] 2013 Wii U Nintendo eShop Releases (YouTube) [1:39] Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty and Stranger’s Wrath HD Coming to Wii U eShop (Nintendo Word Report) [1:43] Here’s your first look at Scram Kitty, Dakko Dakko’s Wii U exclusive (Eurogamer) [1:47] Nintendo Chief Defends Console Strategy (Wall Street Journal) [1:50] Interview: Shigeru Miyamoto on DRM and banjos (CVG) [1:52] Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut No Longer Exclusive to Wii U (IGN) [1:53] NBA 2K14 shuns Wii U, opts for next-gen consoles instead (CNET) [1:54] Ubisoft to Nintendo: Sell More Systems and We’ll Make More Exclusives (Kotaku) [1:54] Ubisoft: ‘The Wii U will find its audience’ (Gamasutra) [1:55] EA: Wii U’s lack of Madden, FIFA a ‘rational’ business decision (Joystiq) [1:58] Nintendo believes Wii U can succeed against Xbox One, PS4 this holiday (GameSpot) [2:01] Nintendo’s Miyamoto: All this talk about our earnings is “silly” (GamesIndustry International) [2:08] Nintendo: If devs are worried about used game sales, they should make better games (Polygon) Games [0:02] Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:15] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:24] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:34] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:46] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS (Official Site) [1:02] Yoshi’s New Island (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:07] Yarn Yoshi (IGN Game Page) [1:11] Legend of Zelda Wii U (IGN Game Page) [1:18] Mario Golf: World Tour (IGN Game Page) [1:21] Mario Party

E3 2013 is well underway and Nintendo came out swinging. While its lineup may be short on surprises, there is no doubt that Nintendo still delivered a ton of news. We’ve got it all covered in this special E3 episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, from Super Mario 3D World to every last detail on the next Super Smash Bros. We kick off the show with an analysis of the E3 Nintendo Direct and its many announcements, ultimately determining whether the Wii U’s newly solidified lineup has what it takes to turn around disappointing hardware sales. We then shift our focus to the 3DS with a discussion of upcoming titles such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Yoshi’s New Island, concluding the episode with a look at big Pokemon X & Y news from the game’s Developer Roundtable. With this much to talk about, Episode 45 is one you don’t want to miss! This is just the beginning of our E3 2013 coverage. Check back later this week as we’ll be visiting The Nintendo Experience at Best Buy to try the Wii U’s upcoming games. Coverage of the event will begin with a new Extra article tomorrow, June 13, followed by full hands-on impressions in our next regularly scheduled podcast episode on Sunday, June 16. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to make sure you don’t miss it. As always, we have provided links below to all the news and games covered in this episode. Time stamps are listed next to each link so you can easily find the segments that most interest you. Enjoy Episode 45! [0:01 – 1:54] Nintendo @ E3 2013 – Official Site (Nintendo.com) [0:01 – 1:43] Nintendo Direct @ E3 2013 (YouTube) [0:11] Super Smash Bros. New Character Attacks Revealed, Exclusive 3DS Stages (Nintendo World Report) [0:23] E3 2013: Why Nintendo Didn’t Make Mario Galaxy 3 (IGN) [0:48] David Wise composing Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Destructoid) [0:57] Pikmin 3 Features 3 Modes, Bingo Battle Unveiled (Nintendo World Report) [1:22] E3 2013: Reggie Interview – Part 1 and Part 2 (GameTrailers) [1:43] E3 2013: Pokemon X & Y Details Revealed (IGN) Games [0:05] Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / 3DS (Official Site) [0:21] Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:31] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:40] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:49] The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [0:57] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:02] The Wonderful 101 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:07] Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:11] X – Untitled Monolith Soft Project (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:15] Wii Party U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:17] Wii Fit U (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:26] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:29] Yoshi’s New Island (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:32] Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) [1:36] Art Academy Wii U (IGN Game Page) [1:38] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site)

From Donkey Kong to Sonic, Rayman to Luigi, Nintendo systems continue to offer a plethora of platformers. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is dedicated to all those run-and-jump games. We begin with a look at what’s ahead, breaking down the first details of Sonic Lost World, new features for both Rayman Legends and New Super Luigi U, and the next 3DS side-scroller from Renegade Kid, Treasurenauts. We then detour to other topics as we examine the latest ups and downs of Wii U’s third party support, discuss upcoming Wii U demo events, and share a Nintendo perspective on the newly announced Xbox One. To round out the episode, we return to platforming with hands-on impressions of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, as well as Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition and the Wii U Virtual Console versions of Super Metroid and Mega Man X. With E3 2013 right around the corner, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Be sure to also keep it locked to Random Nintendo during the week of the expo. On Wednesday, June 12, check back for a special episode covering the E3 Nintendo Direct and Nintendo’s 90-minute Pokemon X & Y roundtable. We’ll be posting Extras throughout the week, plus have even more E3 goodness during our regularly scheduled episode on Sunday, June 16. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to make sure you don’t miss a thing. In the meantime, enjoy Episode 44! As always, you can find more information on all the news and games covered in this episode via the links below. Each link also lists a time stamp, making it easy to find the segments you’re most interested in. News [0:01] Sonic: Lost World – Taking a Page From Mario Galaxy (IGN) [0:15] Rayman Legends shines brighter with new lighting, stealthy gameplay (Polygon) [0:19] New Super Mario Bros. U Update Arriving with Luigi’s DLC (Nintendo Life) [0:23] First Treasurenauts details (Nintendo Everything) [0:30] Mutant Mudds Deluxe hits Wii U eShop June 13 (Joystiq) [0:32] Shantae is Ret-2-Go! (WayForward.com) [0:34] New Adventure Time, Regular Show games from WayForward this fall (Joystiq) [0:35] Gunman Clive Developer Working On Zelda Inspired Game For Nintendo 3DS (Siliconera) [0:37] Yakuza on the Wii U Is an “Experiment” and Not Happening for the 3DS (Kotaku) [0:42] Wii U Sniper Elite V2 lacks online play and DLC (Eurogamer) [0:46] EA is developing Wii U games, has bigger plans for PS4 and Xbox One, CFO says (Polygon) [0:50] Nintendo Brings Exclusive E3 Games to More Than 100 Best Buy Stores (Nintendo.com) [0:58] Wii U Tour 2013 (Nintendo.com) [1:01] Improved Wii U GamePad Battery and More Headed to Japan (IGN) [1:07] Microsoft Xbox One: everything you need to know (The Verge) [1:31] x86’d: How PC architecture could push Nintendo out of the next gen (Engadget) [1:38] Shin’en Multimedia Defends The Wii U Hardware (Nintendo Life) [1:42] Wii U sales drastically spike after Xbox One presentation (Destructoid) Games [1:43] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (Official Site) [1:51] Super Metroid (Nintendo.com Game Page) [2:00] Mega Man X (Nintendo.com Game Page) [2:03] Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition (Official Site) [0:01] Sonic Lost World (Sega.com Game Page) [0:15] Rayman Legends (Official Site) [0:19] New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U (Official Site) [0:23] Treasurenauts (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:30] Mutant Mudds Deluxe (Official Site) [0:32] Shantae (IGN Game Page) [0:34] Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! (IGN Game Page) [0:34] Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land (IGN Game Page) [0:37] Yakuza 1&2 HD (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:42] Sniper Elite V2 (Official Site)

The theme of this episode may be mini, but the episode itself is anything but! We cover a lot in this Random Nintendo Podcast, including our impressions of the eShop’s Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, the upcoming Wii U version of Resident Evil Revelations, and the recently updated Wii Street U. To kick off the episode, we first focus on the latest Nintendo Direct, breaking down all of Nintendo’s newly detailed plans for summer and beyond. We then shift our focus to third parties, discussing the likes of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies on 3DS and the multiplayer modes of Splinter Cell: Blacklist on Wii U. If that wasn’t enough, we also tackle EA not making Wii U games, the controversy surrounding Nintendo’s handling of Let’s Play videos on YouTube, and April’s sales charts. Like we said, nothing about this episode is mini. Have you downloaded Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move? Share your impressions by leaving a comment! In fact, we’d love to hear what you think of any of the episode’s topics or of the show itself. Don’t forget to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay up to date on all site happenings. As always, we have provided links below for more information on all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp so you can easily locate the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:01 – 0:50] Nintendo Direct – 05.17.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:10] Sonic The Hedgehog Getting 3D Classics Style Remake Next Week (Siliconera) [0:39] Yakuza 1 & 2 HD collection coming to Wii U in Japan (Polygon) [0:43] A Closer Look at the World of Pokémon X and Y (IGN) [0:51] The Next Phoenix Wright Will Hit The West This Fall (Kotaku) [1:03] Scribblenauts Unmasked amasses thousands of DC Comics characters (Joystiq) [1:07] Sega Plans Multiple Games For Wii U and 3DS, Details Sonic Racing Wii U Sales (Nintendo World Report) [1:08] Splinter Cell: Blacklist is full of multiplayer goodness (Destructoid) [1:12] Watch Dogs multiplayer mode will have element of invasion (Joystiq) [1:14] Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures launching this fall (Polygon) [1:16] EA Has No Games in Development For Nintendo’s Wii U (Kotaku) [1:17] Wii U to miss out on 15 EA games using Frostbite Engine 3 (Eurogamer) [1:19] EA Signs Exclusive Publishing Deal With Disney For Star Wars Games (GameInformer.com) [1:24] Who owns a ‘Luigi’s Mansion’ walkthrough video, the player or Nintendo? (The Verge) [1:36] Injustice, Dead Island Lead US Sales for April (IGN) [1:47] Nintendo Wii U: Death By Apathy (GamesIndustry International) Games [1:51] Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (Official Site) [2:05] Resident Evil Revelations (Official Site) [2:14] Wii Street U powered by Google (Official Site) [0:02] Sonic Lost World (IGN Game Page) [0:05] Mario & Sonic at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games (IGN Game Page) [0:10] 3D Sonic The Hedgehog (Official Japanese Site) [0:14] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:20] New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U (Official Site) [0:25] The Wonderful 101 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:26] Game & Wario (Official Site) [0:30] Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages & Oracle of Seasons (IGN Game Pages) [0:32] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (Official Site) [0:34] Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Official Site) [0:39] Yakuza 1&2 HD (Giant Bomb Game Page) [0:43] Pokemon X & Y (Official Site) [0:51] Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (IGN Game Page) [1:03] Scribblenauts: Unmasked – A DC Comics Adventure (Official Site) [1:08] Splinter Cell: Blacklist (Official Site) [1:12] Watch Dogs (Official Site) [1:14] Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (IGN Game Page)

The Wii U is a system of many challenges. On the one hand, you have the fun daily and weekly challenges of the new Rayman Legends Challenges App. On the other hand, you have the not-so-fun sales struggle of the console itself. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our thoughts on all these challenges, good and bad. We kick off the show with an analysis of Nintendo’s recent financial report and the company’s plans to turn around Wii U sales, weighing the various ways the Wii U’s weak start can be transformed into a bright future. We also discuss some surprising news out of Nintendo’s financial meeting, including the abandonment of a traditional E3 press conference. But of course, not everything is doom and gloom as we then take a look at a variety of interesting new games bound for the Wii U and 3DS, followed by our impressions of the Rayman Legends Challenges App, the free-to-play Tank! Tank! Tank!, and the quirky Wii U Panorama View. Have you had a chance to try the Rayman Legends Challenges App? How do you think the Wii U’s misfortunes can be turned around? Leave a comment and let us know! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss out on future site updates. As always, you can find links below for all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, making it easy to find the parts of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Nintendo posts $366 million annual operating loss, Wii U and 3DS sales miss targets (Polygon) [0:08] Nintendo’s Own Stats Show That the World Just Isn’t That Into Wii U (Kotaku) [0:15 – 1:15] Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2013 (Nintendo Investor Relations) [0:15 – 1:15] Financial Results Briefing for the 73rd Fiscal Term Ended March 2013 – Q & A (Nintendo Investor Relations) [0:28] Madden Skipping Wii U in 2013 (Nintendo World Report) [0:38] Nintendo’s latest Wii U commercials showcase real-life Wii U owners (GoNintendo) [0:56] No Nintendo Press Conference at E3 2013 (IGN) [1:08] Nintendo Co., Ltd. Announces Promotion of NOA Chairman Tatsumi Kimishima to NCL Managing Director (Nintendo Press Site) [1:16] Dark Seas Games confirms Road Redemption for Wii U (Nintendo Everything) [1:19] Exclusive: Tengami Confirmed For Wii U Release (Nintendo Life) [1:21] Eternal Darkness Spiritual Successor Slated for Wii U Release (Nintendo World Report) [1:28] Call Of Duty: Ghosts will be released for Wii U (Official Nintendo Magazine UK) [1:34] Next Scribblenauts Is a DC Superheroes Game (IGN) [1:37] Denpa Men 2 Coming to North American 3DS eShop in Late May (Nintendo World Report) [1:41] Platinum Games producer addresses The Wonderful 101 game length (CVG) [1:43] Game and Wario will retail for $39.99 (Joystiq) [1:47] Major Wii U update adds new services and features, faster performance (Nintendo.com) [1:51] Wii U Virtual Console launch: Punch Out, Excitebike, F-Zero, 5 more (Joystiq) [1:52] Mega Man, Super GnG coming to Wii U this month (Capcom-Unity.com) Games [1:56] Rayman Legends Challenges App (Official Site) [2:07] Tank! Tank! Tank! (Namco Game Page) [2:14] Wii U Panorama View (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:28] Madden 25 (Official Site) [1:16] Road Redemption (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:19] Tengami (Official Site) [1:21] Shadow of the Eternals (Official Site) [1:28] Call of Duty: Ghosts (Official Site) [1:34] Scribblenauts Unmasked (IGN Game Page) [1:37] The Denpa Men 2: Beyond The Waves (Official Site) [1:41] The Wonderful 101 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:43] Game & Wario (Nintendo.com Game Page)

Does a chicken in need make a good game indeed? In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we answer that very question with our full impressions of Toki Tori 2, Two Tribe’s anticipated Wii U puzzle-platformer. But first, we break down the recent onslaught of game announcements, from the Nintendo Direct reveals of Zelda and Yoshi on 3DS to new indie titles shown at the iDEAME conference in Madrid. Factor in the likes of Batman and Splinter Cell, and there’s a lot on the way to Nintendo platforms. We then discuss newly released sales numbers, examining the success of the eShop and the continuing struggle of the Wii U. It’s a big episode, but we can assure you of one thing: contrary to the title, there’s no ‘bird is the word’ song to be heard. Which Nintendo Direct announcement are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments section! While you’re there, we’d love to hear your feedback on the podcast as a whole and any specific topics you would like for us to cover in the future. Feel free to also stay up to date on all things Random Nintendo by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, we have provided links below to all the news and games covered in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, so you can easily jump to the parts of the show that most interested you. Enjoy! News [0:01] Nintendo Direct – 04.17.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:02] New 3DS Zelda falls after ‘A Link to the Past’ (Joystiq) [0:43] Level-5 International America To Release Three Ttiles From Japan-Only Collection Guild02 in North America and Europe (Gamasutra) [0:52] Pikmin 3 Delayed to August (IGN) [1:09] Batman: Arkham Origins – Game Informer May 2013 (GameInformer.com) [1:15] Maverick Hunter: The Mega Man first-person shooter that could have been (Polygon) [1:18] Splinter Cell Blacklist coming to Wii U on August 20 (Shacknews.com) [1:22] Disney’s Planes coming exclusively to Wii U, 3DS and other Nintendo platforms (GameZone) [1:25] Frontier Developments goes Coaster Crazy Deluxe on Wii U (Joystiq) [1:28] Q.U.B.E To Bend Minds on Wii U (The Escapist) [1:30] Carps & Dragons, Cut the Rope heading to the 3DS eShop (Nintendo Everything) [1:36] Shovel Knight Kickstarter Campaign Ends After Reaching All Stretch Goals (Nintendo Life) [1:37] Indie platformer Cloudberry Kingdom will be published by Ubisoft, coming this summer (Polygon) [1:41] BioShock Infinite Leads US Sales for March (IGN) [1:44] Nintendo: Our digital sales are soaring (GamesIndustry International) [1:49] Report: Wii U, Vita continue poor US sales performance in March (Ars Technica) Games [1:52] Toki Tori 2 (Official Two Tribes Page) [0:02] The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2 (IGN Game Page) [0:11] Mario Party 3DS (IGN Game Page) [0:17] Yoshi’s Island 3 (IGN Game Page) [0:23] Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (IGN Game Page) [0:27] Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Official Site) [0:29] Mario Golf: World Tour (IGN Game Page) [0:32] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (Official Site) [0:34] Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:39] Bravely Default (IGN Game Page) [0:41] Professor Layton and the Arzan Legacy (IGN Game Page) [0:43] The Starship Damrey (Level 5’s eShop Hub Page) [0:45] Bugs vs. Tanks (Level 5’s eShop Hub Page) [0:47] Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale (Level 5’s eShop Hub Page) [0:52] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:54] Game & Wario (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:57] New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U (Official Site) [1:00] Earthbound (IGN Game Page) [1:09] Batman: Arkham Origins (Official Site) [1:14] Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (Official Site) [1:18] Splinter Cell: Blacklist (Official Site) [1:22] Disney’s Planes (IGN Game Page) [1:25] Coaster Crazy Deluxe (Official Site) [1:28] Q.U.B.E. (Official Site) [1:30] Carps & Dragons (Nintendo Life Game Page) [1:31] Cut The Rope 3D (Nintendo Life Game Page) [1:36] Shovel Knight (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:37] Cloudberry Kingdom (Developer’s Official Site)

We ain’t afraid of no ghosts and to prove it, we fired up our Pultergusts and explored the world of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our full impressions of the ambitious new 3DS title, as well as of Game Freak’s first non-Pokemon game in seven years, HarmoKnight. To kick off the show, we first take a look at a noticeable shift in Nintendo’s third-party support strategy, analyzing whether new indie initiatives announced at the Game Developers Conference are in place to counteract weakening support from major publishers. Plus, we discuss a variety of big stories, including new Wii U eShop titles, first details on Donkey Kong Returns 3D’s additional features, and late-breaking Pokemon X & Y news. So strap on that Pultergust and join us as we sweep through the latest on all things Nintendo! What are you thoughts on Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, HarmoKnight, or any of the news discussed? Let us know by leaving a comment! We also encourage you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on all future updates. Below, you can find links to all the news and games covered in this episode. As always, each link also lists a time stamp, so you can easily jump straight to the parts of the show that most interested you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Nintendo hopes to win app and web devs to Wii U with JavaScript tools (Polygon) [0:08] Nintendo’s indies guy tells you how to get your games approved (Gamasutra) [0:13] GDC: Unreal Engine 4 and Frostbite 3 won’t support Wii U (Destructoid) [0:21] Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U Version Canceled (IGN) [0:30] Miiverse to come to smartphones and PC by May, 3DS version in the works (Polygon) [0:33] Miiverse Expansion Planned (Nintendo World Report) [0:37] Game & Wario Miiversketch Mode Revealed (Nintendo World Report) [0:40] A New Pokemon with a Familiar Look! (YouTube) [0:46] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D – local co-op, new content for 3DS, easy mode (GoNintendo) [0:49] Kung Fu Rabbit Comes Out Kicking on Wii U eShop (Nintendo Life) [0:51] This Wii U Indie RPG Is Like Earthbound Meets Little King’s Story (Siliconera) [0:54] Shin Megami Tensei IV demonizing North America this summer (GameSpot) [0:59] Fast & Furious: Showdown pulls into retail May 21 (Joystiq) [1:02] Nintendo Is Rolling Out a New AR App for Japan (Kotaku) [1:08] Mega Man composer Manami Matsumae contributing music to Shovel Knight (Joystiq) [1:10] Need for Speed: Most Wanted Easter eggs reveal Super Mario-styled pipes on Wii U (Polygon) [1:13] Updates for Nintendo Letter Box and Colors! 3D this week (N-Europe) Games [1:18] Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Official Site) [1:39] HarmoKnight (Official Site) [0:21] Aliens: Colonial Marines (Official Site) [0:37] Game & Wario (Nintendo.com Game Page) [o:40] Pokemon X & Y (Pokemon.com Game Page) [0:46] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (IGN Game Page) [0:49] Kung Fu Rabbit (IGN Game Page) [0:51] Citizens of Earth (Official Site) [0:54] Shin Megami Tensei IV (Official Site) [1:00] Fast & Furious: Showdown (IGN Game Page) [1:02] Photos Together with Super Mario (No Link Available) [1:08] Shovel Knight (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:11] Need For Speed: Most Wanted U (Official Site) [1:13] Swapnote (Official Site) [1:15] Colors! 3D (Official Site)

Whether you’re chasing a giant beast in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate or being chased by the police in Need For Speed: Most Wanted U, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast. We give our impressions of both of these new Wii U titles, as well as enter the ring of the Wii U Virtual Console’s Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream. We also take a look at a variety of upcoming indie games including Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight, WayForward’s Mighty Switch Force 2, and Renegade Kid’s Cult Country, discussing how Kickstarter and Nintendo’s own eShop policies make such strong indie support possible. To top it all off, we break down new Wii U game announcements from established publishers such as Capcom and Square Enix, plus provide an analysis of February’s sales numbers. It’s a monstrous episode you don’t want to miss! Have you had a chance to play Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate or Need For Speed: Most Wanted U? Share your own impressions by leaving a comment! We’d love to hear what you think of the podcast as a whole, too. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss any future updates. As always, the links below provide more information on the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, giving you the option to jump straight to the sections of the show that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02] Nintendo tests the waters for new cartoon series based on Pikmin (Polygon) [0:07] Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut Announced (Eidos Montreal Community) [0:19] Resident Evil Revelations news: Rachel raids, Wii U gets unique features (Capcom-Unity.com) [0:25] Pokemon Rumble U NFC figures revealed (CVG) [0:33] Announcing Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (Capcom-Unity.com) [0:35] WOO-HOO! DuckTales is back (Capcom-Unity.com) [0:42] NES-Style Platformer “Shovel Knight” Announced for Wii U and 3DS (Crunchyroll) [0:49] Developer Interview: Scientifically Proven Is Bringing “Brutal, White Knuckle” Platforming To Wii U (Nintendo Life) [0:52] A World of Keflings is targeting Wii U this year (Destructoid) [0:55] Toki Tori 2 Dated for April 4 (Nintendo World Report) [0:58] Innovative party game Spin the Bottle to shake its booty on Wii U this May (Eurogamer) [1:01] The New Pikachu Nintendo 3DS XL Hand-Held is Electrifying (Nintendo.com) [1:03] Harvest Moon creator’s Hometown Story coming to North America and Europe for 3DS and ‘mobile platforms’ (Pocket Gamer) [1:07] Shake hands, hearts with Ace Attorney 5’s heroine, Kizuki Kokone (Joystiq) [1:14] Nintendo Direct Mini: Flipnote Studio 3D – 03.13.2013 (Nintendo.com) [1:19] Mighty Switch Force 2 Announced for Nintendo 3DS (IGN) [1:22] SteamWorld Dig Is Burrowing Its Way To The 3DS eShop This Year (Nintendo Life) [1:25] First Cult Country details (Nintendo Everything) [1:30] Super Hang-On 3D hits Japanese 3DS store next week (VG247) [1:31] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Launching on May 24 for Nintendo 3DS (GoNintendo) [1:33] Dead Space 3 Leads U.S. Sales in February (IGN) [1:39] Wii U sells 66,000 in February (GamesIndustry International) [1:41] Nintendo moves to calm Wii U fears as unofficial UK price cuts fail (MCV) Games [1:48] Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Official Site) [2:03] Need For Speed: Most Wanted U (Official Site) [2:19] Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:02] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:07] Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut (Official Site) [0:19] Resident Evil Revelations (Official Site) [0:25] Pokemon Rumble U (Official Japanese Site) [0:33] Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (IGN Game Page)) [0:35] Ducktales Remastered (IGN Game Page) [0:42] Shovel Knight (Official Kickstarter Page) [0:50] Blood of the Werewolf (Nintendo Life Game Page) [0:52] A World of Keflings (Official Site) [0:55] Toki Tori 2 (Official Site) [0:58] Spin The Bottle (Official Facebook Page) [1:03] HomeTown Story (IGN Game Page) [1:07] Ace Attorney 5 (Wikipedia Page) [1:14] Flipnote Studio 3D (IGN Game Page) [1:19] Mighty Switch Force 2 (Official Site) [1:22] SteamWorld Dig (Official Site) [1:25] Cult Country (Official Site) [1:30] Super Hang-On 3D (Official Japanese Site) [1:31] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (IGN Game Page)

A game with a name like Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien catches your attention. Luckily, it also deserves it. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our impressions of Gaijin Games’ new Wii U runner and WayForward’s Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition, as well as go hands-on with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate. But before we get to all those games with lengthy subtitles, we round up and analyze Shigeru Miyamoto’s recent batch of interviews, in which he discusses everything from the Wii U’s future to his eventual retirement. We also give our takes on all the latest news, including the just revealed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, new Game & Wario minigame details, and a whole lot more! What do you think of Runner2 or any of the other games we discussed? Feel free to share your thoughts by posting a comment below! We also encourage you to stay up to date on the latest Random Nintendo happenings by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, we have provided links below for more information on all the games and news discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp, allowing you to go straight to the segments that most interest you. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 0:40] Nintendo’s Miyamoto discusses Wii U’s future dual GamePad and NFC support (Polygon) [0:02 – 0:40] Miyamoto: The Wii U GamePad Gives Us Advantages over Tablets, Smartphones (Time.com) [0:02 – 0:40] Miyamoto: I Couldn’t Have Imagined Where We’ve Ended Up (Time.com) [0:02 – 0:40] Miyamoto: ‘I’m Creatively Satisfied’ (GameSpot) [0:41] The Dawn of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (IGN) [0:45] PETA Condemns Assassin’s Creed 4’s Whaling as “Disgraceful” (IGN) [0:51] LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes targeting Wii U in spring (Destructoid) [0:53] Retro Platformer Another Castle Is Coming To The Wii U eShop (Nintendo Life) [0:58] Jett Rocket II Will Run At 60fps In 3D; Here Are The First Screenshots (Siliconera) [1:02] Namco Bandai announces Disney Magic Castle for 3DS (Gematsu) [1:05] New Game & Wario trailer, screenshots and gameplay information (Official Nintendo Magazine) [1:18] Monster Games Developing Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (Nintendo World Report) [1:20] Art Show “Printing Miiverse” (Miiverse Art) [1:45] Mighty Switch Force 2 coming to 3DS eShop (Joystiq) [2:04] New Features Coming to Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (IGN) Games [1:23] BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Official Site) [1:40] Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition (WayForward.com Game Page) [1:46] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (Official Site) [1:55] Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate (Official Site) [2:05] Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Site) [0:22] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:41] Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Official Site) [0:51] LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (LEGO.com Game Page) [0:53] Another Castle (Official Site) [0:58] Jett Rocket II – The Wrath of Taikai (Official Site) [1:02] Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life (No Link Available) [1:05] Game & Wario (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:18] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (IGN Game Page)

It’s a 3DS renaissance! After a quiet few months, the handheld is back in a big way and the Random Nintendo Podcast has it all covered. In this episode, we focus on a slew of new 3DS titles with impressions of Fire Emblem: Awakening and a breakdown of all the games revealed in the latest Nintendo Direct. We then turn our attention to Wii U as we discuss upcoming titles such as Watch Dogs and Need For Speed: Most Wanted, analyze the console’s January sales performance, and share impressions of Wii Street U, F-Zero on Virtual Console, and Nano Assault Neo. Plus, we provide a Nintendo perspective on the recent PlayStation 4 announcement. No matter what you’re interested in, this episode’s got something for you! Have you had a chance to play Fire Emblem: Awakening? Which upcoming 3DS games are you most excited about? Let us know by leaving a comment! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on all things Random Nintendo. If you’d like to learn more about any of news or games discussed in this episode, links can be found below. Each topic also lists a time stamp, making it easy to jump straight to the parts of the podcast you most want to hear. Enjoy! News [0:02 – 1:02] Nintendo Direct – 02.14.2013 (Nintendo.com) [0:41] Zelda Oracles Hitting the 3DS eShop in Japan Next Week (Nintendo World Report) [0:50] Ubisoft games get a fairly hefty discount on Wii U eShop (Destructoid) [0:52] Trine 2: Director’s Cut discounted 25 percent worldwide (Polygon) [0:54] Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition 50% Off In Wii U eShop For A Limited Time (My Nintendo News) [1:03] Pokemon Rumble U Announced For Spring Release In Japan (Siliconera) [1:05] Ubisoft confirms Watch Dogs for Wii U (Joystiq) [1:09] Angry Birds Trilogy flutters to Wii / Wii U in celebration of one million sold (Engadget) [1:11] Side-Scrolling Fighter Dusty Raging Fist Is Punching Its Way To The Wii U eShop This Year (Nintendo Life) [1:13] 90s Arcade Racer set for Wii U with help from Nicalis (CVG) [1:15] Need for Speed Most Wanted on Wii U the ‘definitive version’ of the title, says Criterion (Polygon) [1:21] Rayman Legends Dev Team Reveals Online Challenge Mode (YouTube) [1:25] US game sales climb 9% in 5-week January period (GamesIndustry International) [1:27] At 57K sold, Wii U’s January performance is historically abysmal (Gamasutra) [1:33] Sony PlayStation 4: everything you need to know (The Verge) [1:43] Destiny’s preorder page contains source code info for Wii U (GoNintendo) Games [1:48] Fire Emblem: Awakening (Official Site) [2:01] F-Zero (Nintendo.com Game Page) [2:11] Nano Assault Neo (Official Site) [0:03] Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Official Site) [0:09] Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (IGN Game Page) [0:13] Mario Golf: World Tour (IGN Game Page) [0:16] Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (IGN Game Page) [0:20] Animal Crossing: New Leaf (IGN Game Page) [0:22] Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins (IGN Game Page) [0:27] Kersploosh! (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:30] HarmoKnight (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:32] Dillon’s Rolling Western: The Last Ranger (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:36] Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:41] Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (IGN Game Page) and Oracle of Seasons (IGN Game Page) [0:56] Wii Street U [1:01] New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U (Official Site) [1:03] Pokemon Rumble U (IGN Game Page) [1:05] Watch Dogs (Official Site) [1:09] Angry Birds Trilogy (Official Site) [1:11] Dusty Raging Fist (Nintendo Life Game Page) [1:13] The 90s Arcade Racer (Official Kickstarter Page) [1:15] Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Official Site) [1:21] Rayman Legends (Official Site)

The disembodied head of Dr. Kawashima has returned to Nintendo handhelds and he’s more devilish than ever. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we train our brains with impressions of Brain Age: Concentration Training, as well as share our thoughts on Wii U puzzler Puddle and the gorgeous Hyrule Historia book. We also discuss the Wii U’s struggle with third-party support, highlighting issues raised by the delay of Rayman Legends and by cryptic comments from big-name publishers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Plus, we break down Nintendo’s latest financial report and how the company plans to keep sales strong in the future. With so much covered in this episode, all that Concentration Training comes in handy! Have you had a chance to try the new Brain Age or Puddle? Feel free to let us know what you think of either game, or any of the news discussed in this episode, in the comments below. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo for the latest on upcoming episodes and Extra articles. Below, we have included links to all the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link is timestamped so you can easily jump to the sections of the podcast you are most interested in. Enjoy! News [0:01 – 0:31] Nintendo cuts sales targets for Wii U, 3DS consoles (GamesIndustry International) [0:01 – 0:31] Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2013 (Nintendo Investor Relations) [0:01 – 0:31] Corporate Management Policy Briefing / Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing Q&A (Nintendo Investor Relations) [0:09] Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse with the New ZombiU Deluxe Set (Nintendo.com) [0:32] Rayman Legends coming to PS3 and Xbox 360, launching with delayed Wii U version in September (Polygon) [0:41] Ubisoft promises Wii U-exclusive Rayman Legends demo after fans vent anger at delay (Eurogamer.net) [0:44] Ubisoft Discusses Next-Gen, Exclusivity, Wii U Support (IGN) [0:47] Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge coming to PS3, Xbox 360 (GameSpot) [0:51] Confirmed: The Walking Dead Survival Instinct isn’t coming to Wii U in Australia (Vooks) [0:53] EA CEO says Wii U isn’t next-gen, but pledges support for future consoles (The Verge) [0:58] RUMOR – Devs down on Wii U at DICE, say projects being cancelled (GoNintendo) [1:00] Castlevania: Mirror of Fate HD already exists (Gematsu) [1:02] Oliver and Spike: Dimension Jumpers coming to Wii U (GoNintendo) [1:06] Skylanders Swap Force assembles this fall, developed by Vicarious Visions (Joystiq) [1:12] Sniper Elite V2 Coming to Wii U (IGN) [1:15] XSEED Publishing Rune Factory 4 In North America (Nintendo Life) [1:17] Mario Kart Returns To Arcades With Gliders And Double Dash Co-op Mode (Siliconera) [1:47] The Legend of Zelda is a New York Times Bestseller. No, Really. (Kotaku) Games (and a book) [1:30] Brain Age: Concentration Training (Official Site) [1:42] Puddle (Official Facebook Page) [0:13] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:32] Rayman Legends (Official Site) [0:47] Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (Official Site) [0:51] The Walking Dead Survival Instinct (Official Site) [1:00] Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Site) [1:02] Oliver and Spike: Dimension Jumpers (Official Site) [1:06] Skylanders Swap Force (Official Site) [1:12] Sniper Elite V2 (Official Site) [1:15] Rune Factory 4 (Official Site) [1:17] Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (Giant Bomb Game Page) [1:47] Hyrule Historia (Official DarkHorse.com Page)

It’s been a roller coaster of news for Nintendo fans with the disappointment of a weaker than expected winter Wii U lineup, followed by a burst of excitement from a new Nintendo Direct. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is dedicated to all that news, from the HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to the yarn-based worlds of Yoshi’s next adventure. We also discuss upcoming third-party games, including the ambitious Disney Infinity, the crossover extravaganza that is Project X Zone for 3DS, and the first details on Need for Speed: Most Wanted for Wii U. As if that wasn’t enough, we go hands-on with Fire Emblem: Awakening and Brain Age: Concentration Training. It’s an episode so big it feels like E3 in January! Which newly revealed games are you most excited about? Leave a comment below and let us know! While you’re scrolling down the page, you may also notice a much-requested feature: time stamps. We now include hour and minute marks for each news item and game discussed in the episode. The time stamps can be found within our usual list of links, allowing you to jump straight to the topics that most interest you. We appreciate all your feedback and hope this makes listening to the show even more enjoyable. As we always do, we also encourage you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay up to date on future episodes and Extra articles. Enjoy! News [0:02] Nintendo Direct – 01.23.13 (Nintendo.com) [0:35] Sakurai explains Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS’ trickle of info, why we have to wait for E3 (GoNintendo) [0:42] Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign (Nintendo.com) [1:02] Disney’s Biggest Stars Join Forces for Skylanders-Style Gaming Mash-Up (Wired.com) [1:13] Project X Zone – The tactical RPG crossover coming to the US (GamesRadar) [1:18] Resident Evil Revelations coming coming to 360, PS3, Wii U and PC (Capcom-Unity) [1:22] Maestro Interactive Games Bringing Super Ubi Land To Wii U eShop (Nintendo Land) [1:23] Fuzzy Wuzzy Games Is Rolling Armillo Onto The Wii U eShop (Nintendo Land) [1:25] XSEED Games Announces Pandora’s Tower for Spring 2013 Release (XSEEDGames.com) [1:30] Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Kick Off 2013 With New One-Of-A-Kind Experiences (Nintendo.com) [1:36] Need for Speed: Most Wanted slams Wii U in NA on March 19, EU March 21 (Joystiq) [1:42] ‘Fist Of The North 2: Ken’s Rage 2’ Will Be Download-Only For The Wii U (MTV Multiplayer) [1:45] Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon to feature multiplayer (Polygon) [1:51] Capcom To Make Their Nintendo 3DS Games Available As Downloads (Siliconera) [1:52] Report: Nintendo to Restructure Hardware Divisions (IGN) Games [1:55] Fire Emblem: Awakening (Official Site) [2:01] Brain Age: Concentration Training (Official Site) [0:03] Yoshi for Wii U (IGN Game Page) [0:08] The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker for Wii U (IGN Game Page) [0:18] Monolith Soft’s “X” (IGN Game Page) [0:22] Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei (IGN Game Page) [0:28] Wii Party 2 (IGN Game Page) [0:38] The Wonderful 101 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:37] Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:48] Balloon Fight (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:56] Wii Fit U (Nintendo.com Game Page) [0:58] Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) [1:02] Disney Infinity (Official Site) [1:13] Project X Zone (IGN Game Page) [1:18] Resident Evil: Revelations (Official Site) [1:22] Super Ubi Land (Official Site) [1:23] Armillo (Nintendo Life Game Page) [1:25] Pandora’s Tower (IGN Game Page) [1:36] Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Official Site) [1:42] Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 (Official Site) [1:44] Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Official Site)

Some people just want to watch the world burn… Good thing there’s Little Inferno on the Wii U! In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we give our impressions of the indie eShop title, as well as impressions of fellow Wii U downloadable Chasing Aurora and the 3DS’s Gunman Clive. We also dive into the announcement of Pokemon X & Y, sharing all the known facts and speculating about the changes the 3DS pair might bring to the franchise. To top it all off, we discuss the latest news, plus take a look at the Wii U’s holiday sales performance and put the numbers into perspective. So grab some marshmallows and get ready to roast ’em. Just this once, it’s okay to play with fire. Have you had a chance to try Little Inferno or any of the other games discussed in today’s show? What do you think of the Pokemon X & Y news? Let us know by posting a comment! Be sure to also stay up to date on all Random Nintendo happenings by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, we have provided links below for all the news and games covered in this episode. Enjoy! News Pokemon Direct – 01.08.2013 (Nintendo.com) Pokemon X and Y to boost franchise to over 700 Pokemon (Gematsu) Downloadable Content Keeps The Epic Adventure of Fire Emblem Awakening Burning Bright (Nintendo Press Site) Fire Emblem 3DS bundle North America-bound (Tiny Cartidge) Capcom Looking At Newer Games For Wii U, Not Porting Older Ones (Siliconera) ‘Crysis 3’ not coming to Wii U due to lack of “business drive” (Digital Spy) ‘No chance’ for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 on Wii U (GoNintendo) Walking Dead Survival Instinct Release Date, Coming to Wii U (IGN) Excelsior! LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Assembles the Avengers to Save the Earth This Fall (Kotaku) New Levels, Enemies Heading to Mutant Mudds Deluxe (Nintendo World Report) Wii U Virtual Console development underway, titles will be playable using GamePad only (Polygon) CES: Nyko Breathes Life into Wii U’s Controllers (IGN) Call of Duty dominates an awful 2012 for US retail (GamesIndustry Interational) Wii U Hardware Sales Surpass Wii Sales by More Than $30 Million Through First Six Weeks (Nintendo Press Site) GameStop sold 320,000 Wii U consoles in six weeks (Eurogamer.net) Year-end Wii U sales steady, says Nintendo chief (Reuters) Animal Crossing: New Leaf at 2.3M sold in Japan, bringing in new female 3DS owners (Joystiq) Iwata: Nintendo Open To “Free-To-Play” Gaming Model (Nintendo Life) Nintendo has now sold over 10 million 3DS units in Japan (The Verge) Games Little Inferno (Official Site) Chasing Aurora (Official Site) Gunman Clive (Official Site) Pokemon X & Y (Pokemon.com Game Page) Fire Emblem Awakening (Official Site) The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (Official Site) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (LEGO.com Game Page) Mutant Mudds Deluxe (IGN Game Page) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (IGN Game Page)

Game drought? What game drought? If the eShop is any indication, we won’t be seeing one and this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast proves it. We discuss the biggest downloadable games on the horizon for Wii U and 3DS, as well as share impressions of Trine 2: Director’s Cut, Ubisoft’s new Rayman Legends demo, and the just launched Nintendo TVii app. Plus, with 2012 coming to a close, we take time to reflect on our favorite games of the year. All that, plus new game announcements and more, make this a perfect episode to help launch you into the new year! Which eShop games are your current faves? Post a comment and let us know! Don’t forget you can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay in the loop on future episodes and articles. As always, we have provided links below for more information on the news and games covered in this episode. Enjoy! News Why Mario’s Martinet is Runner 2’s narrator (Joystiq) The Cave on Wii U uses GamePad for camera and character switching (Joystiq) Namco Bandai Turning Wii U Game Into A Free-to-Play Title (Siliconera) Mega Man 1 through 6 coming to 3DS eShop (Capcom-Unity) XSEED Games Bringing Artistic RPG, Unchained Blades, to Nintendo 3DS on January 3, 2013 (XSEED Games) Swords & Soldiers 3D Coming To Nintendo 3DS (Siliconera) Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity to Release on March 24 for Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo.com) Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers coming to 3DS in North America in spring 2013 (Polygon) Miyamoto: “very likely” he’ll return to unrealized GCN-GBA link ideas with Wii U (Nintendo Everything) Announcing Nintendo Force Magazine (Nintendo Force’s Official Site) Spiritual successor to Nintendo Power, “Nintendo Force” announced (NeoGAF) Reggie Asks: Nintendo TVii (Nintendo.com) Games Trine 2: Director’s Cut (Official Site) Rayman Legends (Official Site) Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Official Site) The Cave (Official Site) Tank! Tank! Tank! (Namco Bandai Game Page) Ikachan (Wikipedia Page) Gunman Clive (Official Site) Unchained Blades (Official Site) Swords & Soldiers (Official Site) Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (Pokemon.com Game Page) Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Official Site)

Get ready to embark on a journey to multicolored airports, giant soccer stadiums, and fantastical race tracks. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we give our impressions of 3DS eShop puzzler Aero Porter and FIFA 13 for the Wii U, as well as share updated thoughts on the recently patched Wii U edition of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. We also take a look at the early 2013 lineups for both the Wii U and 3DS, discussing the big games that will (and won’t) be hitting in the new year. Plus, with the Wii U now available worldwide, we breakdown the system’s launch sales and explore what they mean for the console’s future. What are your thoughts on the games and news discussed in today’s show? Do you agree with our analysis of the Wii U’s launch performance? Let us know by leaving a comment! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay up to date on all site happenings, be it new podcast episodes or bonus Extra articles. As always, you can learn more about everything discussed in this episode via the links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo Direct – 12.05.2012 (Nintendo.com) Wii U – Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo, Plays Game & Wario (YouTube) Zen Pinball 2 Coming to Nintendo Wii U eShop (Zen Studios Blog) Most of Early 2013’s Biggest Games Seem to Be Skipping Wii U (Kotaku) ‘Call of Duty,’ Wii U can’t stop video game slide (USA Today) Nintendo Sells More Than 1.75 Million Hardware Units in November (Nintendo Press Site) The Wii U launch by the numbers (Gamasutra) At Least 1,408 People Are Playing Black Ops II Online on the Wii U Tonight (Kotaku) Wii U sells 40k units in the UK in its opening weekend (MCV) Premium Wii U bundle claims 60 per cent of launch sales (MCV) Wii U sells 308,570 units over Japanese launch weekend (GamesIndustry International) Japanese 3DS Lifetime Sales Overtake PlayStation 3 (Nintendo Life) Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Didn’t Do So Great (Siliconera) How Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Was Created (Siliconera) Games Aero Porter (Official Site) FIFA 13 (Official Site) Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Official Site) Lego City: Undercover (Official Site) Game & Wario (Nintendo.com Game Page) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Wii Fit U (Nintendo.com Game Page) Panorama View (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Zen Pinball 2 (Official Site) Fire Emblem: Awakening (Nintendo.com Game Page) Brain Age: Concentration Training (IGN Game Page) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (IGN Game Page) Tokyo Crash Mobs (IGN Game Page) HarmoKnight (IGN Game Page) Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney (IGN Game Page)

It’s easy to forget the little guys during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. For every 3DS flagship title and Wii U system seller, there’s the eShop-only Crashmo and the under-the-radar Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is dedicated to those less hyped games. We share our impressions of both Crashmo and Sonic, along with thoughts on all the latest news, including hints of what’s to come for Wii U, the shrunken down Wii Mini, Black Friday sales numbers, and more! What games are you currently playing that may have been overshadowed by holiday blockbusters? Lets us know in the comments below! While you’re there, we would love to hear your thoughts on this episode and the podcast as a whole. You can also stay up to date on all things Random Nintendo by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, you can learn more about today’s topics by clicking the links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo’s Relentless Quest for Success (IGN) Nintendo on Wii U: ‘Still a lot to do’ (GameSpot) Yoshi’s Land Surfaces for Wii U (IGN) Wii Mini launches December 7th in Canada for $99.99 (The Verge) Nintendo: 400K Wii U units sold, 1.2M devices total (CNET) Nintendo’s Official Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Weekly Deals (Nintendo.com) Nintendo Sets Black Friday on Fire with Flame Red Nintendo 3DS Bundle (Nintendo.com) Nintendo 3DS XL Bundle Races Into Stores for the Holidays (Nintendo.com) XSEED Games Releases New Standalone Version of The Last Story to replace the sold-out Premium Launch Edition (XSEED Games) This Week In Sales: Animal Crossing Hits 1 Million; 3DS XL Outsells Vita (Siliconera) Wait, what? 3D Space Harrier coming to the eShop? (Tiny Cartridge) Colors! 3D Receiving Update Before The New Year (Nintendo Life) Nintendo Direct Mini — November 27, 2012 (YouTube) Games Crashmo (Official Site) Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) The Last Story (Official Site) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (IGN Game Page) 3D Space Harrier (IGN Game Page) Colors! 3D (Official Site)

Two E3 expos, 18 months, way too long… However you want to quantify the wait for the Wii U, it’s finally over and Nintendo’s newest home console is now available! To celebrate, we recorded a special bonus episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast packed with our thoughts on everything Wii U, from the final hardware and built-in apps to an assortment of post-launch news. We also have the big launch games covered with impressions of Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, ZombiU, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. So click that play button and join us as we usher in the next generation of Nintendo gaming! With the Wii U now available, what are your thoughts on the system? Have a crazy launch day story? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll pick a few of our favorites to share. Don’t forget to also check back next week as we return to our regular podcast schedule. Our next episode will be posted on Sunday, December 2 with even more Wii U game impressions and news. To make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed in this special episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo Network ID Tied to Individual Wii U Consoles (IGN) Nintendo: Miiverse Debug A ‘Mock Up’ (GameInformer.com) Nintendo Steams Up the Wii U eShop (IGN) Wii U will have a Ubisoft Uplay app (Polygon) RUMOR – Another Wii U patch coming next week, will fix freezing/loading issues (GoNintendo) Treyarch details some elements of Call of Duty: Black Ops II’s next update (GoNintend0) Games Nintendo Land (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. U (Official Site) ZombiU (Official Site) Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Official Site)

The Wii U is less than 48 hours away and the final countdown is on! This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast features late breaking news just in time for the system’s big launch, including long awaited Miiverse details and first information on Wii U Chat. We also look beyond the Wii U to share our impressions of 3DS must-have Paper Mario: Sticker Star, plus go hands-on with Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion and Pokedex 3D Pro. To top it all off, we have the announcement of our Wreck-It Ralph shirt winners and thoughts on the movie. Whether you’re in line for the Wii U or just relaxing at home, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Episode 29 marks the first anniversary of the Random Nintendo Podcast and we can’t thank you enough for tuning in over the past year. When we first started the podcast, we had no idea how it would turn out. We are now happy to report that the response has exceeded our expectations! We would love to hear what you think of the show thus far and any suggestions you may have for the future. Feel free to leave your comments below and we’ll be sure to incorporate any and all feedback. Once again, thank you for listening! Be sure to also check back next week for a special episode of the podcast dedicated to all things Wii U! The episode will go live on Sunday, November 25 and include full impressions of both the hardware and its games. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to ensure you don’t miss it. Enjoy! News Wii U – Nintendo Network, Miiverse, and Internet Browser (YouTube) Wii U – WaraWara Plaza and Wii U Chat (YouTube) Iwata Asks: Miiverse: The Producers (Nintendo.com) Iwata Asks: Wii U Chat (Nintendo.com) Wii U Will Have Day One Update (IGN) Nintendo outlines Wii to Wii U data transfer process (Polygon) Nintendo Direct covers Wii U USB storage, Wii backward compatibility (Joystiq) The Pinball Arcade added to Wii U launch window (Warp Zoned) Toki Tori 2 Wii U Release Date! (TwoTribes.com) Rayman Legends to have playable demo on Wii U launch day, new screenshots (Polygon) Nintendo and Old Navy to Offer a Special Power-Up for Black Friday Shoppers (Nintendo.com) 2012 Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience (Official Site) Wii U’s software preorders double those of the original Wii (Gamasutra) Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse – first details (GoNintendo) Pokedex App Coming to iPhones and iPads in Japan (Tiny Cartridge) NPD: NBA 2K13, Resident Evil 6 Top U.S. Charts (IGN) Animal Crossing: New Leaf Flying Off Shelves; Download Version Over 200k (Siliconera) Games Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Official Site) Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (Official Site) Pokedex 3D Pro (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. U (Official Site) Nintendo Land (Official Site) The Pinball Arcade (Official Site) Toki Tori 2 (Official Site) Little Inferno (Official Site) Rayman Legends (Official Site) Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (IGN Game Page) NBA 2K13 (Official Site) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (IGN Game Page)

We’re all about rewards in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast. We share our impressions of Virtue’s Last Reward, the 3DS entry in the point-and-click Zero Escape series, along with our thoughts on eShop puzzle-platformer NightSky and NES classic Ghosts’n Goblins. On the news front, Nintendo released its latest financials and then rewarded fans with an onslaught of news that includes new details on the Wii U’s first-party launch titles, the first glimpse of the Wii U ad campaign, and a variety of 3DS tidbits. The rewards don’t stop there, though. We are also rewarding you, the listener, with a giveaway! We have two special Wreck-It Ralph t-shirts that we are giving away in honor of the movie’s release this weekend. To win one of these shirts, simply leave a comment below with your thoughts on the movie or on this episode of the podcast. We will chose two comments at random and reward each comment’s author with a shirt. We’ll also be featuring your takes on the movie, and announcing our two winners, in the next episode of the podcast. To make sure sure you don’t miss a thing, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Earnings Release: Six Months Ended September 30, 2012 (Nintendo Investor Relations) Second Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2013 (Nintendo Investor Relations) Nintendo halves operating loss from a year ago despite falling Wii and DS sales (The Verge) The Nintendo 3DS’ Other Problem Appears To Be The DS (Kotaku) Nintendo Details Three Final Nintendo Land Attractions (Nintendo Press Site) Nintendo Reveals New Details About Upcoming New Super Mario Bros. U For Wii U (Nintendo Press Site) Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge for Wii U Arrives Nov. 18 with Exclusive Features (Nintendo.com) Need for Speed: Most Wanted confirmed for Wii U in 2013 (Polygon) Wii U Advertising Campaign Launch Video (YouTube) Nintendo and Burger King are teaming up (Nintendo.com) Nintendo Deluxe Digital Promotion (Official Site) Playing online EA games on Wii U creates an Origin account, Nintendo Network ID/friend list info gathered (GoNintendo) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a giant download on Wii U (Joystiq) Nintendo Direct 10.25.12 (YouTube) New Wii Bundles Keep Families Grooving and Imaginations Soaring this Holiday Season (Nintendo.com) Games Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward (Official Site) NightSky (Official Site) Ghosts’n Goblins (Nintendo.com Game Page) Nintendo Land (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. U (Official Site) Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (Official Site) Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Official Site) Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) Fire Emblem: Awakening (IGN Game Page) Animal Crossing: New Leaf (IGN Game Page) Official Contest Rules: All registrants must be a resident of the United States of America and age 13 or older. The contest begins on November 4, 2012 at 12:00 AM PST and ends on November 14, 2012. at 11:59 PM PST. Visitors may only enter the contest once by leaving a comment below. Any additional entries that a given visitor makes will be disqualified. Two (2) comment posters will be be chosen at random and each receive the following prize: one (1) Wreck-It Ralph t-shirt given out by Disney at San Diego Comic-Con (size: Large). Random Nintendo staff members may not participate in this contest. Random Nintendo reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason. The winners will be chosen at random on November 15, 2012, announced in Episode 29 of the Random Nintendo Podcast, and then notified via email.

Maybe you don’t need to catch them all. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss the Pokemon fatigue that has prevented us from picking up the newly released Pokemon Black & White 2. Can you really have too much of a good thing? We also dig into an assortment of Wii U and 3DS news, including the first signs of trouble with the Miiverse, new Nintendo cameos in third-party games, and the latest eShop news. All that, plus rumors of a major Nintendo restructuring, await you in Episode 27! We also want your take on the Pokemon franchise! Are we right for skipping the new entries in the series or are we making a huge mistake? Let us know in the comments below, and feel free to share your thoughts on this episode as a whole as well. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay up to date on all the latest site happenings. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News You Can Voice-Chat On the Wii U While Gaming, But There’s a Catch (Kotaku) Call of Duty Elite and DLC plans unknown on Wii U, Activision ‘working out the details with Nintendo’ (The Verge) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 – no Online Pass for Wii U, more details (GoNintendo) Scribblenauts Unlimited Adds Mario, Zelda Characters (IGN) Puddle Coming to Wii U eShop (Nintendo World Report) Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion getting dual release at retail/3DS eShop (Nintendo Everything) Mutant Mudds free DLC update coming this month! (GoNintendo) Satoru Iwata: Nintendo 2013 R&D Preview [Large Scale Restructure, New Miyamoto Team] (NeoGAF) U.S. retail sales continue to decline as new releases roll in (Gamasutra) Nintendo Drops Price of Wii to $129.99, Includes both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo.com) Nintendo 3DS Software Sales Increase by 89 Percent (Nintendo Press Site) Games Pokemon Black & White (Official Site) Pokemon Black & White 2 (Official Site) Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Official Site) Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition (Official Site) Scribblenauts Unlimited (Official Site) Puddle (Official Facebook Page) Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion (Official Site) Mutant Mudds (Official Site)

This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is a trip through time. We go back to the past with our impressions of both Kirby’s Dream Collection, a compilation that celebrates twenty years of the pink puffball, and the old-school RPG stylings of The Denpa Men for 3DS. We also look ahead to the future with our thoughts on the Wii U’s launch day lineup and the avalanche of upcoming titles for the 3DS eShop. Of course, we additionally spend some time in the present, sharing our views on New Super Mario Bros. 2’s just-released downloadable level packs and the latest details on Animal Crossing for 3DS. It’s an episode that spans the entire time spectrum, so sit back, make sure your self-lacing shoes are tightly tied, and enjoy! We’d love to hear your feedback, whether it’s your take on a specific topic we discussed or the podcast as a whole. Please leave any and all comments below. Don’t forget to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss a thing! As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. News Nintendo Announces 23 Games Launching with Wii U on Nov. 18 (Nintendo.com) ZombiU Dev Diary #2 – The Story (YouTube) The Wonderful Surprise Hiding in the Wii U Launch Line-Up (Kotaku) eShop gets even more new games, new Virtual Console stuff, and demos this year (Joystiq) Level-5 IA Announces Liberation Maiden, Afro Porter, and Crimson Shroud for Release in North America (Level5IA.com) Nintendo Offers Downloadable Add-On Content for New Super Mario Bros. 2 (GoNintendo) Donkey Kong Free Game Giveaway (Nintendo.com) Japan Getting Mario & Animal Crossing 3DS XLs (IGN) Masses of New Animal Crossing 3DS Details (IGN) The Difficulty Discussing Wii U (IGN) Games Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition (Official Site) The Denpa Men: They Came by Wave (Official Site) ZombiU (Official Site) Cloudberry Kingdom (Official Developer Blog) NightSky (Official Site) Crashmo (IGN Game Page) Fluidity: Spin Cycle (IGN Game Page) Liberation Maiden (Official Site) Aero Porter (Level 5’s eShop Hub Page) Crimson Shroud (Level 5’s eShop Hub Page) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) Animal Crossing 3DS (Official Japanese Site)

We finally have launch details for the Wii U, which begs the question: will you be buying one? In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss all the latest Wii U details and what it means for launch. We also go hands-on with the system for a second time at the Los Angeles stop of the Wii U Experience tour, sharing a new batch of game impressions and thoughts on the event itself. From new Nintendo Land attractions to The Wonderful 101, we go in-depth in an episode that can only be described as Wii U galore! Are you planning to buy a Wii U on launch day? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo to stay up to date on the latest site happenings. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo Announces Nov. 18 Launch Date and Details for Revolutionary Wii U Console (Nintendo.com) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate’s online play is Wii U only (GoNintendo) New Super Mario Bros. U: Game Informer details/updates to details (Nintendo Everything) The 12 Attractions of Nintendo Land, Revisited (IGN) Tekken Tag 2: bizarre Wii U trailer shows Mario & Link outfits (VG247) Wii U – Nintendo TVii Trailer (YouTube) Q&A: Quizzing Nintendo on Wii U, GamePad, TVii (Wired.com) Wii Virtual Console Titles Not Playable on GamePad (Nintendo World Report) No Wii U games support NFC yet, including Skylanders and Rayman (The Verge) Wii U First-Party Games Priced At $59.99 (IGN) The Wii U Start-Up Screen Is Like Nothing Ever Seen On Consoles Before (Kotaku) Nintendo’s Wii U Already Selling Out Online (CNBC) Why We Didn’t Get a White 3DS XL (IGN) Games Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo.com Game Page) The Wonderful 101 (Nintendo.com Game Page) SiNG Party (Nintendo.com Game Page) Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (Nintendo.com Game Page) Bayonetta 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Official Site) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Official Site) Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Official Site) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Official Site)

Runner games are taking over the world and Nintendo platforms are no exception. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss Nintendo’s first foray into the genre with the recently announced Harmo Knight for 3DS, as well as look back on BIT.TRIP Runner and the entire BIT.TRIP franchise with impressions of BIT.TRIP Saga. We also debate different approaches to downloadable content and dive into a flurry of news, including Wii U release date rumblings, the announcement of Ace Attorney 5, and the latest Nintendo Direct. To top it all off, we’re giving you a chance to play the Wii U months before its release! If you live in the Los Angeles area and would like to go hands-on with the Wii U, simply leave a comment below saying which Wii U game you are most excited to try. We’ll choose three comments at random, sending each selected poster an invitation for the 8:00 – 9:30 PM time slot of the Wii U Experience tour on Saturday, September 22. More information on the event and how you can get in can be found in this episode. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss a thing. Enjoy! News Animal Crossing 3DS: New Details, Japanese Release Date (IGN) Pokemon Developer’s New 3DS Game: Harmo Knight (IGN) First Look at the New Professor Layton Adventure. It’s the Last One. (Kotaku) Denpa Ningen RPG 2 Screens and Trailer (Andriasang) Nintendo Has a New Tomodachi Collection. This Video Justifies Its Existence. (Kotaku) Brain Age 3DS coming to US in December, Animal Crossing next year (Tiny Cartridge) Source: Gaming Accessory-Maker Says Nintendo Will Launch the Wii U on November 18 (Kotaku) Nintendo Wii U pricing, release date revealed? (CNET) Phoenix Wright to return in Ace Attorney 5 (Eurogamer.net) La-Mulana/EnjoyUpGames Announcement (Official La-Mulana Blog) Ron Gilbert’s platformer / adventure game ‘The Cave’ also headed to Wii U eShop (Joystiq) Bethesda not yet sold on Wii U (VideoGamer.com) Pissed Off ‘Employees’ Bash Pretty Much Every Major Video Game Company (Kotaku) Nintendo Products Represent 70% of Entire Japanese Game Market (Wired.com) Darksiders, Mario sequels lead as U.S. retail sales continue to decline (Gamasutra) New Super Mario Bros. 2 Emerges as the Best-Selling Video Game of August (GoNintendo) Where Are Our New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coin Rush Mode Download Courses? (Andriasang) Games BIT.TRIP (Official Site) Animal Crossing 3DS (IGN Game Page) Rhythm Hunter Harmo Knight (Official Japanese Site) Professor Layton And the Legacy of Advanced Civilization A (IGN Game Page) Brain Age: Concentration Training (Nintendo World Report Game Page) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Ace Attorney 5 (Official Japanese Site) La-Mulana (Official Site) The Cave (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) Official Contest Rules: All registrants must be a resident of the United States of America and age 13 or older. The contest begins on September 9, 2012 at 12 AM PDT and ends on September 14, 2012. at 8:59 PM PDT. Visitors may only enter the contest once by leaving a comment below that includes the Wii U game they would most like to try. Any additional entries that a given visitor makes will be disqualified. Three (3) comment posters will be given an invitation code to sign up for the 8:00 – 9:30 PM time slot of the Wii U Experience tour on Saturday, September 22 in Los Angeles, CA. The winners will be chosen at random at 9:00 PM on September 14 and contacted by email. Random Nintendo staff members may not participate in this contest. Random Nintendo reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 has arrived and the coin rush is on! In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our impressions of Mario’s latest side-scrolling adventure, as well as our final thoughts on the new 3DS XL hardware. We also discuss a slew of news, including the 3DS’s Fall lineup, the Miiverse as a gaming social network, and the closure of Nintendo Power. Oh yeah, and Penelope Cruz wearing a Mario mustache. What do you think of New Super Mario Bros. 2 and the 3DS XL? Share your impressions, or thoughts on any of the topics discussed in this episode, in the comments section below. While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of the RN Podcast as a whole! You can also stay up to date on everything Random Nintendo by subscribing on iTunes and following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo’s Portable Game Lineup Offers Boundless Fun for Everyone in 2012 (Nintendo.com) Looks Like We’ll Know the Wii U’s American Launch Date and Price by September 13 (Kotaku) Rayman Legends is a Wii U exclusive (Joystiq) Nintendo Patent Application Reveals Wii Remote and GamePad Versus Wii Remote and TV Multiplayer (Nintendo World Report) Nintendo Chief: Mario Is Part Of Gamers’ DNA (Kotaku) Unintimidated By Apple, Nintendo’s Boss Says The World Still Needs Dedicated Gaming Handhelds (Kotaku) It Sounds Like Nintendo Wants to Make A Gamer’s Version of Facebook (Kotaku) Nintendo Power’s last issue coming in December (Ars Technica) Hyrule Historia is Being Officially Localized, Published by Dark Horse Comics (GenGAME) Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney Development at Climax (Andriasang.com) New Super Mario Bros. 2 digital sales at 5% (GoNintendo) Onitore digital downloads account for 20% of sales (GoNintendo) New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Penelope & Monica Cruz TV ad (Nintendo 3DS) (YouTube) Games New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! (Official Site) Crosswords Plus (Official Site) Sparkle Snapshots 3D (Official Site) Style Savvy: Trendsetters (Official Site) Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (Official Site) Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! (Official Site) Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Official Site) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Site) Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney (IGN Game Page)

The 3DS’s summer lineup was dominated by one thing: rhythm. Both Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure recently arrived on the handheld, leading to a very musical summer. We compared the two games in our 3DS Rhythm Rundown, and now, in this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we go into more in-depth impressions of each title. We also share our thoughts on the latest wave of Wii U game announcements, including EA’s newly revealed launch lineup and Toki Tori 2. Plus, we discuss July sales numbers and present a ridiculously detailed analysis of the Wii U’s game box design. Whether you prefer music, sports, or box art chitchat, this episode’s got something for you! Have you played Theatrhythm or Rhythm Thief? We’d love to hear your impressions! Just leave a comment below with your thoughts on either game, any of the news discussed in today’s episode, or even what you think of the podcast as a whole. We appreciate any and all feedback. Be sure to also stay up to date on the latest Random Nintendo happenings by subscribing on iTunes and by following us on Twitter @RandomNintendo. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News FIFA 13 Showcases The Wii U’s Special Traits (GameInformer.com) FIFA 13 Graphical Improvements Focused on Crowd and Pitch (Nintendo World Report) Madden NFL 13 Will Arrive At Wii U Launch (IGN) Hands-on with Mass Effect 3 for Wii U (Joystiq) Capcom says they’re bringing ‘good stuff’ to Wii U (GoNintendo) Toki Tori 2 Trailer for Wii U & Steam! (TwoTribes.com) WB bringing ‘Game Party Champions’ to Wii U this holiday (Joystiq) Masahiro Sakurai Talks Super Smash Bros. 4 (IGN) Amazon Leaks Wii U Box Art Designs? (Kotaku) Entertainment Software Association Names Los Angeles to Host E3 Through 2015 (E3Expo.com) Nintendo 3DS XL sells 193k launch day units in Japan (The Verge) Game sales down another 20 percent during July for US (GamesIndustry International) Games Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (Official Site) Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (Sega.com Game Page) FIFA Soccer 13 (Official Site) Madden NFL 13 (Official Site) Mass Effect 3 (Official Site) Toki Tori 2 (TwoTribes.com) Game Party Champions (IGN Game Page)

You asked, we answer! Following our hands-on impressions of the Wii U and 3DS XL in Episode 20, we asked you to send in your questions about the upcoming systems. This episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is dedicated to addressing all those burning questions, including thoughts on the new play styles of the Wii U and just how comfortable the 3DS XL really is. We also announce the two winners of our Comic-Con swag giveaway. Plus, we bring you all the latest news on the World of Goo team’s next game, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Crytek’s Wii U plans, and lots more! Still have Wii U or 3DS XL questions? Let us know in the comments section below and we’ll answer them in the next episode! We would also love to hear what you think of the show as a whole, so please leave your comments and suggestions. You can also stay up to date on all the latest Random Nintendo Podcast happenings by subscribing on iTunes and by following our brand-new Twitter feed @RandomNintendo! As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News World of Goo Developers Announce ‘Little Inferno’ for Wii U eShop (eShop Gamers) Iwata Asks: New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com) New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Double The Coins (Club Nintendo) Celebrate The Month of Mario (Nintendo Press Site) Nintendo Likely To Stick With 3D For Future Portable Game Systems (SIliconera) Crytek ‘working with Nintendo’, Crysis 3 Wii U ‘a possibility’ (ComputerAndVideoGames.com) Nintendo reports operating loss of 10.3 billion yen, 3DS sales double compared to year earlier (The Verge) Nintendo’s Q1 2012 Financials: Still in the Red, But 3DS Now Profitable (GameTrailers) Games Little Inferno (Official Site) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Official Site) ZombiU (Official Website) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page)

We saw the sights. We played the games. We got hands-on time with the Wii U and 3DS XL. Episode 20 of the Random Nintendo Podcast is coming to you from the epicenter of pop culture that is San Diego Comic-Con, and it’s our biggest episode ever! We’re packing this episode with impressions galore as we discuss our four-hour Wii U play session, our time with the 3DS lineup and revamped XL hardware, and the expo as a whole. Plus, as always, we bring you all the latest Nintendo news. This is definitely an episode that you do not want to miss! We are also happy to announce that you can now subscribe to the Random Nintendo Podcast on iTunes! To celebrate our new iTunes listing, which can be found right here, we’re giving you a chance to win our Comic-Con swag haul just by leaving a comment. We couldn’t cover everything about the Wii U and 3DS XL in this episode, so ask us your Wii U or 3DS XL questions and we’ll answer them in our next episode. Just by asking a question, you will be entered into our Comic-Con swag giveaway! If you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News The 72nd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders Q&A (Nintendo Investor Relations Site) Virtual Toys confirms first Free-to-Play Wii U game (GoNintendo) Miyamoto Discusses Metroid on Wii U (IGN) Project Sora is No More (Andriasang.com) Nintendo 3DS Crosses 5 Million Units Sold (Nintendo Press Site) July 2012 – NPD data and analysis (3DS up compared to DS at same point in lifetime) (GoNintendo) Games Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Rayman Legends (Ubisoft.com Game Page) ZombiU (Official Website) Game & Wario (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Panorama View (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Lego City: Undercover (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Site) Official Contest Rules: All registrants must be a resident of the United States of America and age 13 or older. The contest begins on July 16, 2012 at 12 AM PDT and ends on July 26, 2012. at 11:59 PM PDT. Visitors may only enter the contest once by leaving a comment in the “Comments” section below that includes a question related to the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS XL. Any additional entries that a given visitor makes will be disqualified. The prize package contains an assortment of freebies given away during Comic-Con 2012. A total of two (2) prize packages will be given away. Random Nintendo staff members may not participate in this contest. Random Nintendo reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason. The winner will be chosen at random on July 27, 2012, announced in Episode 21 of the Random Nintendo Podcast, and then notified via email.

With the announcement of the 3DS XL, Nintendo went big. Literally. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss the revised system, which features the largest screen of any handheld in Nintendo’s history. We also share our take on the latest Nintendo Direct news, including the game announcements and Namco Bandai’s role as the developer of the next Super Smash Bros. game. And speaking of Smash Bros., we tell our tale of woe of tournament play. All that, plus a live audience, are only a play button away! What do you think of the 3DS XL? We want to hear your thoughts, so be sure to tell us in the comments section below. While you’re there, we would also love to hear your feedback on this episode and the RN Podcast as a whole! As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo Direct – 6.21.2012 (Nintendo.com) What Has (And Hasn’t) Changed About the 3DS XL (IGN) 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro Expansion Coming This Year (Andriasang.com) Pokemon Black & White 2: Black Beats White, Pre-Order Figures and Other Stats (Andriasang.com) ‘Animal Crossing 3DS’ resurfaces, now with StreetPass visitors (The Verge) Go! Go! Kokopolo creator says a sequel is a ‘no-brainer’, work started right away (GoNintendo) Mutant Mudds Sequel Coming in 2013 (Nintendo World Report) Nintendo offering “insane incentives” to publish on Wii U eShop (Wii U Daily) Four keys to next-gen success, according to Take-Two’s Zelnick Exclusive (Gamsutra) Report – Nintendo has co-ownership in Fatal Frame IP (VG247) Wii U’s Miiverse won’t connect with other social networks (GamesIndustry International) Okami HD Announced (Game Informer) Games Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] (Official Site) Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure (Sega.com Game Page) Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (IGN Game Page) Fire Emblem: Awakening (IGN Game Page) Art Academy 3DS (IGN Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Pokemon Black and White 2 (Official Site) Kirby’s Dream Collection (IGN Game Page) Chasing Aurora (Official Site)

With a steady stream of new releases, it’s easy to miss out on some of the 3DS eShop’s great games. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our thoughts on two of those gems, Dillon’s Rolling Western and the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, as well as the new demos of Lego Batman 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man. We also discuss the biggest E3 2012 news scraps, including even more Wii U tidbits, what’s in store for Zelda on 3DS, and the first details on the Wii’s Kirby anniversary compilation. Which eShop games do you think are the best? Let us know in the comments section and we’ll be sure to mention them in future episodes. We would also love to hear what you think of this episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Wii U Experience (Official Site) 2012 E3 Analyst Q & A Session (Nintendo Investor Relations Site) Hands On the New Nintendo Wii U at E3 (Wired.com GeekMom) Zelda 3DS: It’s Majora’s Mask vs. Link to the Past (IGN) The Creator of Mario and Zelda Wants to Make a First-Person Shooter (Kotaku) The Origins of Pikmin 3 (IGN) Better Friend Codes, Achievements and More: Nintendo Answers Our Burning Wii U Questions (Kotaku) Nintendo’s Fils-Aime outlines Wii U’s dual GamePad plans, value proposition Exclusive (Gamasutra) The Inside Story on the Making of Nintendo’s Wii U (CNBC) Kirby Anniversary Collection Games Revealed (Nintendo World Report) Kirby’s Dream Collection Receiving Extra Original Content (Nintendo World Report) Diablo III tops May US game sales, but industry down 28% (GamesIndustry International) May NPD reactions: 160 thousand 360s sold, Sony sees ‘strong results’ from PS3 exclusives [Update: Now with Nintendo statement] (Joystiq) Games Donkey Kong (Nintendo.com Game Page) Dillon’s Rolling Western (Official Site) Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Lego.com Game Page) The Amazing Spider-Man (Official Site) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Kirby’s Dream Collection (IGN Game Page)

E3 2012 was big. So big, in fact, that we needed to dedicate a second special episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast to covering it all! Continuing where we left off on Tuesday’s episode (E3 2012 Blowout), we take an in-depth look at Nintendo’s 3DS lineup of New Super Mario Bros. 2, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. We also discuss the latest round of Wii U news, including how Nintendo plans to moderate the Miiverse and the status of both the next Zelda and the next title from Retro Studios. All that, plus our overall take of the expo, await you in this super-sized episode of the RN Podcast! Now that E3 2012 has come to a close, which games are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below! Be sure to also let us know what you think about this episode and the RN Podcast as a whole. We’re always looking to improve, so we would love your feedback. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News: Nintendo All-Access @ E3 2012 (Nintendo.com) Nintendo 3DS Software Showcase @ E3 2012 Video (YouTube) Fire Emblem: Awakening Coming to North America (Nintendo World Report) Madden Coming to Wii U This Year (Nintendo World Report) E3 2012: Skylanders Giants Stomping onto Wii U (Nintendo Life) Wii U games run in 720p (Wii U Daily) E3: Miiverse and Nintendo’s plan for keeping it clean (Los Angeles Times) E3 2012: Reggie Discusses Launching Wii U, Retro (IGN) E3 2012: Exclusive Wii U Interview (GameTrailers.com) Nintendo’s Wii U Virtual Console to Play Old Wii Games, Company Says at E3 (ABC News) E3: Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto talks bringing ‘The Legend of Zelda’ to the Wii U (Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch) Miyamoto designing a new game, but it’ll be a while (Joystiq) Why the Wii U Literally Can’t Stand Up (Kotaku) Nintendo originally planning a big game reveal at E3? (GoNintendo) E3 2012 had 45,700 attendees, will announce dates and venue for 2013 soon (Joystiq) Games: New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Fire Emblem: Awakening (IGN Game Page) Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Site) Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Scribblenauts Unlimited (Official Website) Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Project P-100 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) ZombiU (Official Website) Wii Fit U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page)

E3 2012 is officially underway! Whether you liked or disliked today’s Nintendo Press Conference, there’s no doubt that there was a lot of news to take in. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you digest it all. From the theme park minigames of Nintendo Land to the sprouting of Pikmin 3, we share our thoughts on all the big announcements from Sunday’s pre-E3 Nintendo Direct and today’s conference. So sit back, relax, and take a listen as we discuss the Miiverse, ZombiU, New Super Mario Bros. U, and so much more! What were your favorite Nintendo announcements? Think they scored a home run today or botched the whole thing? Let us know in the comments section below! While you’re there, we would also love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode and the RN Podcast a whole. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News Nintendo Direct Pre E3 2012 (YouTube) Nintendo E3 Press Conference Video (Nintendo.com) Nintendo All-Access @ E3 2012 (Nintendo.com) Filed Under Gaming Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost – and now with video) (Engadget) Hands-On With The Wii U, Nintendo’s Risky New Revolution (Kotaku) E3 2012: Ubisoft Announces Wii U Lineup (IGN) Ubisoft’s Infectious ZombiU Coming Exclusively to Nintendo’s Wii U (Ubisoft Press Release) Ubisoft Embarks on Legendary Adventure With Rayman Legends (Ubisoft Press Release) Ubisoft to port Wii U software to tablets, smartphones (GamesIndustry.biz) ‘Watch Dogs’ trailer stuns E3 with next-gen-level graphics (The Verge) Chasing Aurora to launch on Wii U (GoNintendo) Xbox SmartGlass official as second-screen feature (SlashGear) Games Nintendo Land (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Pikmin 3 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Wii Fit U (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) SiNG (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Project P-100 (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Game & Wario (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Wii U Panorama View (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) ZombiU (Official Website) Rayman Legends (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Just Dance 4 (Official Website) Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Scribblenauts Unlimited (Official Website) Tank! Tank! Tank! (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo.com E3 Game Page) Chasing Aurora (Official Site)

Mario and the gang are back on the courts in Mario Tennis Open, and we’ve got our full impressions of the 3DS game in today’s episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast! That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though: with E3 2012 mere days away, we dive in to all the latest game announcements, including Injustice: Gods Among Us for Wii U and Castlevania for 3DS, along with the final round of pre-E3 Wii U rumors. We also took a trip to the LA Convention Center to check out the setting up of the expo. You can find our photos below, but be sure to listen to the podcast for the full harrowing tale, complete with Nintendo employee sightings and angry security guards. As you can guess, E3 2012 is going to be huge. To help cover it all, we will be posting two special episodes of the RN Podcast over the next week. Be sure to visit the site on Tuesday, June 5 for an episode dedicated to the Nintendo Press Conference. Then, check back on Sunday, June 10 for a second episode that covers the rest of E3, including Nintendo’s Software Showcase and third-party game news. You don’t want to miss this! With E3 right around the corner, what are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments section below! While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! Photos: Exploring E3 2012 In this episode… News Nintendo Offers Video Game Fans Everywhere a Front-Row Seat at 2012 E3 Expo (Nintendo.com) New Castlevania Title Confirmed for 3DS (Nintendo Life) Injustice: Gods Among Us Announced (Game Informer) NBA 2K13 slams into the Wii U in ‘holiday season’ (Joystiq) Shin Megami Tensei 4 coming to 3DS (Eurogamer) ‘Metro: Last Light’ no longer confirmed for Wii U, says THQ (Digital Spy) RUMOR – Did Geoff Keighley just confirm a Mario title at Wii U launch? (GoNintendo) The Wii U’s Ability to Run Unreal Engine 4 is In Doubt (Again) (Kotaku) Unreal Engine 4: Epic says it has not declared its Wii U strategy (ComputerAndVideoGames.com) Confirmed status update on Retro Studios making “Star Fox – Metroid: Fusion Saga” for Wii U. Rumors put to rest. (Paul Gale Network) Rumor: Wii U’s Revolutionary Gamer Card Feature Detailed (Dual Pixels) Games Mario Tennis Open (Official Website) Order Up!! (Nintendo.com Game Page) Mighty Switch Force (Official Facebook Page) Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Official Website) Injustice: Gods Among Us (Official Site) NBA 2K13 (Official Facebook Page) Shin Megami Tensei 4 (Official Japanese Website)

There are rumors and then there are crazy rumors. The idea of a Metroid/Star Fox crossover game falls into the latter category. It’s not often that Nintendo combines franchises, so an intergalactic mashup of this nature deserves special attention. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss this very rumor, along with Ubisoft’s ambitious Wii U plans, a slew of other Wii U rumors, and the latest video game sales numbers. We also share our impressions of both Go! Go! Kokopolo for DSiWare (which stars the “mad cat” of our episode title) and the 3DS demo of Rayman Origins, so be sure to take a listen! What’s the craziest Nintendo rumor you’ve heard? Do you think a mashup of Star Fox and Metroid will happen? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News RUMOR: Is Retro Studios’ Wii U game “Star Fox – Metroid: Fusion Saga”? (Paul Gale Network) Luigi’s Mansion 2 listed for Wii U – Retail Radar (GameSpot) AP NewsBreak: Ubisoft assembling Avengers for game (seattlepi.com) Ubisoft Readying Seven Wii U Games (Nintendo Life) Nintendo to offer Wii U cloud storage for save games and player profiles (Wii U Daily) RUMOR – Wii U survey possibly indicates two Wii U controllers at once, suggests $300 price (GoNintendo) RUMOR – TT Games employee shows off new Wii U controller (GoNintendo) No Sequel for Kid Icarus Uprising (IGN) Nintendo Phasing Out 3DS Aqua Blue (Andriasang.com) Video game sales hit five-month sales slide (USA Today) April 2012 NPD update – Kid Icarus: Uprising, Spirit Camera sales details (GoNintendo) Games: Go! Go! Kokopolo (Official Site) Rayman Origins (Official Site) Luigi’s Mansion 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth (Official Site) Kid Icarus: Uprising (Official Site)

Nintendo is not very well known for its online support. After all, this is the company that brought us Friend Codes and the tiny 40 MB file size restrictions for WiiWare. But in what appears to be a complete 180 for Nintendo, it will begin to offer the majority of its games as digital downloads. In today’s episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss this new direction and whether Nintendo finally “gets it” when it comes to online support. We also take a look at a new wave of games that heavily borrow ideas from Nintendo: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. All that, plus first details on Rayman Legends for the Wii U and our impressions of Sakura Samurai for 3DS! What do you think of Nintendo’s sudden new love for digital downloads? Share your thoughts on this and all the other big news from today’s episode in the comments section below. While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News: Nintendo faces hard choices for a soft landing (Reuters) Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2012 (Nintendo “Investor Relations Information” Site) Nintendo Preparing for Third Party Digital Downloads (IGN) Leaked Rayman Legends Wii U trailer shows graphics, touch-screen, NFC tech (Eurogamer.net) Change Coming to Super Smash Bros. Wii U, 3DS (IGN) See PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in Action (PlayStation Blog) Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Changes the Rules of Racing (Sega Blog) New Play Control: Pikmin 2 finally coming to North America (GoNintendo) La-Mulana WiiWare cancelled for NA and Europe (Destructoid) Games: Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword (Official Site) Rayman Legends (IGN Game Page) Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (IGN Game Page) New Play Control: Pikmin 2 (IGN Game Page) La-Mulana (Official Site)

It took the work of many Wii fans to convince Nintendo to bring Xenoblade Chronicles to North America, and now that it’s finally here, was it worth the effort? In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we share our impressions of the massive JRPG, along with our thoughts on the 3DS eShop’s latest gem, Ketzal’s Corridors. We also discuss a slew of big news, including the latest from Nintendo Direct (New Super Mario Bros. 2! 3DS menu folders!), Shigeru Miyamoto spilling the beans on some of Nintendo’s E3 plans, and the first details on crossover fighter Project X Zone and Pokemon Black and White 2. We want to hear from you, too! Share your own impressions of Xenoblade and your thoughts on all the latest news in the comments section below. While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! News: Nintendo Direct Live Blog (Andriasang.com) 3DS Firmware Update Adds Patch Support and Folders (Andriasang.com) Nintendo’s Bringing New Wii U Pikmin and Mario to E3 (Kotaku) Miyamoto on a Legend of Zelda directly after ALttP, F-Zero and Wii U, Angry Birds praise, smartphone games (GoNintendo) Pokemon Black & White 2 Details (Serebii.net) Pokemon AR Searcher, Pokedex Pro – more details (GoNintendo) Capcom x Sega x Namco Bandai: Project X Zone First Details (Andriasang.com) Nicalis bringing 1,001 Spikes to 3DS eShop, Wii U online shop (GoNintendo) NPD: Mass Effect 3 Tops Charts (IGN) Touring the Louvre with a 3DS (Joystiq) Joel McHale Goes Viral for Nintendo (YouTube) Games: Xenoblade Chronicles (Official Site) Ketzal’s Corridors (Official Site) Pyramids (Nintendo.com Game Page) New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo.com Game Page) Pokemon Black and White 2 (Pokemon.com Teaser Page) Project X Zone (IGN Game Page) 1,001 Spikes (Nintendo World Report Game Page)

The Wii U hype train is picking up steam! With only two months to go until the system’s re-unveiling at E3 2012, information is starting to leak about everything from the console’s release date to its tech specs. In this episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we discuss the biggest and most probable Wii U rumors, along with a slew of new game announcements, Sega’s financial woes, and a bizarre April Fools’ Day prank pulled by Nintendo. To top it all off, we also dive back into the world of Kid Icarus: Uprising for more in-depth impressions and try out the eShop’s newest killer app, Colors! 3D. With Wii U hype reaching new heights, what do you think of the latest rumors? Share your thoughts in the comment section below! While you’re there, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. As always, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! In this episode… News Wii U launch date set for November 18, 2012: Report (Wii U Daily) New Proof of Wii U’s Release Date Emerges (IGN) Nobody Knows How Powerful The Wii U Actually Is (Kotaku) Gearbox boss says impressive Wii U ‘a really nice bridge’ to the next generation (Joystiq) Developers claim Wii U weaker than PS3, 360. Nintendo says focus on “play,” not “numbers.” (Yahoo! News) Rumor: Nintendo’s Answer To Gran Turismo And Forza In Development – Details (Dual Pixels) Pokémon Conquest for Nintendo DS Set to Launch on June 18 (Nintendo.com) Disney Epic Mickey Paints Its Way To The Nintendo 3DS System With “Disney Epic Mickey: Power Of Illusion” (GoNintendo) Unchained Blades Coming To PSP And 3DS As A Digital Download (Siliconera) Sega cancels games, plans layoffs (Gamasutra) Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Hirokazu Yasuhara joins Nintendo Exclusive (Gamasutra) Games Kid Icarus: Uprising (Official Site) Colors! 3D (Official Site) Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (IGN Game Page) Pokemon Conquest (Nintendo.com Game Page) Unchained Blades (IGN Game Page)

Our first double-digit episode of the Random Nintendo Podcast is all about the comebacks. After twenty years, Pit is back in the gaming spotlight with the release of Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS; and after a briefer five year hiatus, the Mario Party franchise has returned on the Wii with the launch of Mario Party 9. In this episode, we share our impressions of both of these comeback titles, along with the latest news on Wii U third party support, the announcement of Epic Mickey 2, and more! Oh, and did we mention that we hung out with Mario and Luigi last weekend? Yes, it really happened (see the photos below for proof), but the only way to find out why the mustachioed mascots paid us a visit is by listening to today’s episode! We want to hear from you, too! What are your thoughts on Kid Icarus: Uprising and Mario Party 9? Were the years of waiting worth it? Just leave a comment below and share your own impressions! As always, we would also love to hear what you think of today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole, so please leave us your comments and suggestions. Additionally, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Enjoy! Photos: Mario and Luigi Stop By In this episode… News Kid Icarus: Uprising – Where to find AR Idol Cards (Official Kid Icarus Site) Epic Mickey 2 coming this Fall (GoNintendo) Epic Mickey 2 360/PS3 being developed by Blitz Games (Gameranx.com) Samus and Link Suits Pop Up in Dynasty Warriors Vs. (Nintendo Life) ‘Darksiders II’ to be Wii U launch title, adds ‘enhanced’ controls (Digital Spy) Epic VP: “I’d be shocked if Wii U doesn’t do well” (Eurogamer) Is Nintendo doomed? Not likely. Just take a look at how much money it’s got in the bank (GamesRadar) Adventure Time Game Heading to DS (IGN) More music videos coming to 3DS today (Joystiq) Games Kid Icarus: Uprising (Official Site) Mario Party 9 (Official Site) Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Disney’s Official Game Page) Dynasty Warriors Vs. (IGN Game Page) Darksiders II (Official Site)

Over the past few episodes of the Random Nintendo Podcast, we’ve discussed the 3DS’s biggest and brightest games, featuring the likes of Mario, Resident Evil, and Metal Gear. But what about the lesser-know games? The ones that slip right under the radar? Don’t worry, we’ve got those covered, too! In this episode of the RN Podcast, we’re sharing our thoughts on two of these potential sleeper hits: Tales of the Abyss and Crush 3D. We also discuss all the big Nintendo news, including the latest from last week’s Game Developers Conference, the announcement of Pokemon Black & White 2, Ubisoft’s plans to bring Assassin’s Creed III to Wii U, and the 3DS’s newest sales milestones. So sit back, enjoy, and who knows, maybe you’ll discover a new 3DS game to get! We would love to hear what you think today’s episode and the RN Podcast as a whole. If you have a comment, question, or suggestion, please let us know in the comments section below! Additionally, if you would like to learn more about any of the topics discussed on today’s episode, we have provided links below. Correction: In the podcast, we said that Super Mario Galaxy 2 sold over five million units. It was actually the original Super Mario Galaxy that reached this milestone. Our apologies for the mix up. In this episode… News Pokémon Black Version 2 And Pokémon White Version 2 Announced (Nintendo.com) Feast your eyes on the first Assassin’s Creed III Wii U trailer (Nintendo Gamer) RUMOR – Medal of Honor: Warfighter coming to Wii U, release date speculation (GoNintendo) Unreal Engine 3 Shows Off Some Epic Abilities and Footage (Zelda Informer) Wii U updates: Havoc, Autodesk technology (Nintendo Everything) We’ve Played Mario Tennis 3DS… Poorly (Kotaku) Exclusive: Valve said to be working on ‘Steam Box’ gaming console with partners, could announce at GDC (The Verge) Shooting Down Rumors, Valve Says They’re Not Making a Game Console Any Time Soon (Kotaku) Upcoming Nintendo eShop Titles Include Ketzal’s Corridors, Colors! 3D and SEGA Game Gear (Nintendo.com) “…Nintendo has decided NOT to allow Binding of Isaac denied on the 3DS…” (Twitter) Rovio wants Angry Birds Space on ‘all the screens,’ Vita version up to Sony (Joystiq) Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward Coming To 3DS And Vita (Game Informer) Nintendo’s 3DS Doubles Up on DS (IGN) Super Mario Galaxy Becomes Ninth Wii Game to Sell More Than 5 Million Units (Nintendo Press Site) NPD’s top 25 includes at least eight 3DS games (Joystiq) Games Tales of the Abyss (Namco.com Game Page) Crush 3D (Sega.com Game Page) Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 (Pokemon.com Teaser Page) Assassin’s Creed III (Official Site) Medal of Honor Warfighter (Official Site) Mario Tennis Open (Nintendo.com Game Page) Kid Icarus: Uprising (Official Site) Ketzal’s Corridors (Nintendo World Report Game Page) Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward (Aksys Games Blog)