Japanese Gamers To Get TV Programmes On Their Nintendo 3DS...

Japanese Gamers are to receive a specially streamed television service directly onto their 3DS consoles from Tuesday.

According to gaming website andriasaang,  Japanese 3DS gamers will receive exclusive access to both Fuji and Nippon television services, including Sport and Sumo Wrestling, News and Information and even Animal Care or Wildlife programmes all in  full-3D.

The 3DS Television Streaming capability will become available via a downloadable application, which is called Itsu no Ma ni Terebi in Japan.

The 3D Television App

It is unclear whether this is a totally pay-per-view TV streaming service or whether some programmes might actually be free to download, but we do know that there are plans to have some of the programmes available for daily download via SpotPass.

A sample of 3DS Programmes on offer

The announcement has once again sparked interest from European gamers who are wondering whether they might also receive a similar service in the near future. The recent Green Lantern 3D Trailer has raised questions about whether a film service may actually be made available at some point as well.

Programmes will be available via SpotPass

However, although Nintendo has admitted that they have been working with companies such as Eurosport, Sky TV and NetFlix to bring these kinds of services to the European 3DS market, no actual dates have been given for the commencement of any type of television services yet.

Mini Gamers is excited by the prospect of 3D television and films on our 3DS consoles, but we realise that it could be a very long wait yet. Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blog for more information on this subject as it arrives.

New System Update Solves Charging Light Problem For Nintendo 3DS

For the last nine days or so, many European 3DS owners have been struggling with a bizzare problem: The 3DS charging light indicator, (which glows orange when the console is first placed on charge,) now refused to turn off, which meant that many 3DS fans did not know whether the system had reached its full charge or not - some people were forced to leave their consoles on charge for over a day before realising that the console had already reached its maximum charge, and many other 3DS users feared that prolonged charging could damage the battery pack.

For those of you who have been affected by this issue, we can reveal that the charging light indicator problem is actually a minor problem caused by the introduction of the Nintendo eShop and Internet Browser in the last Systems Update, but it made many 3DS users understandably very worried.

 Various 3DS forums have been awash with concerns and complaints since the problem began, from 3DS users, who have all tried different and inventive ways to combat the problem, including removing and then replacing the 3DS battery pack in order to get the charging indicator to turn off. Others simply contacted Nintendo and were told to return their consoles for testing and repair.

Thankfully though, Nintendo has today released a second Systems update, which does seem to have solved the charging light problem. Good on you, Nintendo! It is so far unclear whether this Systems Update will also fix the Ridge Racer 3D compatability issues mentioned by Nintendo on the 7th of June 2011, but at least it will now put thousands of minds at ease about whether the Nintendo 3DS is actually charging correctly.

If you are a new 3DS user and are unsure of how to download the latest update, simply go to Settings, select System Update and then follow the onscreen instructions.  Happy Gaming!

Nintendo 3DS eShop: Is 'The Green Lantern' 3D Trailer A Sign That 3D Movies Are Coming To The 3DS?

When Nintendo  first showcased the new 3DS console back in January this year, they mentioned the fact that the new console was capable of showing 3D TV programmes and films, which could be downloaded using the 3DS SpotPass feature.

Amongst the television production companies said to be involved at that time were Eurosport, Sky TV 3D and Aardman Animations, who would apparently be responsible for producing a set of exclusive fifteen-minute  short films in full 3D, starring Children's TV favourite, Shaun the Sheep.

 Several Hollywood movie studios were also said to be partenering with Nintendo in order to stream 3D movies onto the console. A trailer for a 3D version of Disney's Tangled was shown during the Nintendo Press Conference in January as an example of this.

However, nothing further has really been mentioned about the possibility of using the Nintendo 3DS to stream TV programmes and films since that time.

Now, however, a trailer for the new Warner Bros film,  The Green Lantern, (which is set to debut in cinemas across the UK on friday) has recently appeared in the Nintendo 3DS eShop.

The trailer looks incredible when viewed in full-3D on the Nintendo 3DS and certainly gives a good indication of the kind of quality gamers could expect from 3D films that might be shown on the console in the future.

Nintendo is currently said to be in negotiation with an American firm called Netflix - the company which allows films to be streamed onto the Nintendo Wii console. The idea is that the Netflix company will stream 3D films directly onto the 3DS console via the newly-launched Nintendo eShop.

The NetFlix film service is expected to be available from July/August 2011 in North America, but as Netflix is largely unsupported outside of the USA, it is likely that another similar service, such as LoveFilm, will have to be used in other countries.

However, we should also point out that, as yet, there have been no dates given at all for the commencement of any such equivalent film-streaming service for the 3DS in the UK or the rest of Europe.

Thus it looks like gamers in the UK have a little while longer to wait yet until we can actually enjoy films on the 3DS. Until then, we can expect to see more 3D film trailers in the near future.

If you haven't seen the 3DS version of The Green Lantern trailer for yourself yet, it is well worth a look. It can be downloaded for FREE from the Nintendo eShop now.

Please note that Nintendo eShop content is currently updated every Thursday, and therefore items in the eShop may subsequently be added or removed at this time.

Game of the Week: Sports Island 3D [3DS]

The Sports Island game franchise  has burst its way onto the 3DS, making it one of the very first Sports Compendium titles to be played on Nintendo's new handheld system.

 For those of you who have not yet tried the Wii or DS versions of this game,  just imagine a handheld version of Wii Sports but with awesome 3D graphics.

Sports Island 3D boasts an impressive collection of ten sports - Sumo Wrestling, Tennis, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Snow Mobile Racing, Trampolining, Bowling, Target Shooting and  - rather bizarrely - Snowball Fighting.

Players can pick a team and then battle against the computer to win first place in the various sporting events, and can even take part in a random three-event championship. The game controls vary for each sport, which can take a bit of getting used to, but the game is very easy to pick up and play overall.

A few subtle game mechanics help to keep things interesting. For example, the various Power Balls found in each sporting arena can be collected to provide your chosen team players with a much needed power boost, which works especially well in Sumo Wrestling and Snow Mobile Racing.

Winning an event also unlocks special character abilities for the various sports, which can be activated during gameplay by pressing the L button. New character faces and styles can also be unlocked by winning championships and tournaments.

The single-player mode is immersive enough, but this game also boasts two rather impressive Multiplayer options as well. The first is a  Local Play Match mode, which allows you to game with friends via your wireless settings, and Download Play Match multiplayer mode for playing with a single game cartridge across two or more 3DS systems.

However, the 'Dowload Play Match' option presented us with a rather annoying problem: Although you can choose to play any of the ten sports on offer at the beginning of your match, there is no way to select a different sport at the end of your match, which meant us having to terminate the wireless connection in order to go back to the Main Menu selection screen. This got frustrating very quickly.

Nevertheless, the game itself is impressive. Mini Gamers loved the collection of sports on offer and found the game very addictive from the start.  Our favourite games were:

•  Tennis: Play either Singles or Doubles matches. 

•  Sumo Wrestling: Use the X, Y or B buttons to attack your opponent and push them out of the ring,

• Snow Mobile Racing:  Race around a three-lap track and stay ahead of your competitors to win.

• Bowling: Use the stylus to throw the ball down the alley and try and get those Strikes.

• Soccer: Use the B button to pass the football along to your teamates, the A button to perform sliding tackles and the X button to aim at the goal.

Sports Island 3D UK Trailer

This title is truly amazing. The 3D graphics really help to add a greater sense of depth and the cartoon-style characters make the game bright and appealing for all. If you like varied sports, then this is the perfect game for you. Overall rating: 9/10.

Professor Layton 2011: The Specters' Flute and Mask Of Miracle E3 News...

*Professor Layton 4 UK RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED. CLICK HERE for details*

Professor Layton and the last Specter (formally known as Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute in Japan,) has been confirmed for European release via a new trailer which was shown at the 2011 E3 Conference in Los Angeles.

The above trailer, (which is the same as the Japanese trailer but with no speech and an enhanced musical score,) comes on the back of an American Trademark request filed by Level 5 inc, the videogame developers behind the Professor Layton series.

A set of screenshots for Professor Layton and the Last Specter have been released alongside the new trailer.

The trailer and screenshots end months of speculation about whether the fourth Professor Layton game would actually ever be released outside of Japan.

There has been no specific release date Professor Layton and the Last Specter yet, although some sources are quoting 'Fall 2011' as a possible time-frame for the North-American release of the game.

However, this raises questions about the European release of the fifth Professor Layton game - Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, which is set to debut on the 3DS system in late 2011.

Originally, Mini Gamers reported that the game had been given a July 2011 release date. According to online retailer Zavvi, this has now been changed to the 7th of October 2011.

However, it could be said that the release of the fourth Professor Layton game is somewhat bittersweet for 3DS fans. 

If it is true that Professor Layton and the Last Specter is heading to Western shores in the Autumn of this year, it makes the October release of Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle much more unlikely. Unless of course, Level 5 inc choose to release both games simultaneously - one game for the DS/DSi and the other for the new 3DS console? Unfortunately,it is impossible to say at this present time.

Here at Mini Gamers, we are overjoyed to know that a European release for the Professor Layton and the Last Specter has now been confirmed, and we anxiously look forward to its release and the subsequent release of Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle on the 3DS. Hopefully it won't be too long before we have some definite UK release dates. 

 Keep checking the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this story as it develops! 

Nintendo 3DS eShop and Internet Browser launch: What Can We Expect From Day One?

Nintendo have now released details of the new Software Update that will launch the much-anticipated 3DS eShop and Internet Browser.

The update launches in North America from 6pm tonight, and will become available in Europe from tomorrow. The update promises to equip the Nintendo 3DS with many new features. According to Nintendo, the Software Update will add the following features and enhancements:

• The Nintendo eShop:

The eShop will allow users to download a variety of free and purchasable games and items directly onto their Nintendo 3DS.

Users will also be able to view video trailers, screenshots and background information on the latest 3DS games.

This function will replace the Limited-Time 3D Video which was provided in the last system update.

• Internet Browser:

Users can now browse the web on the Nintendo 3DS. This function also supports Spotpass Updates via thousands of free wi-fi hotspots across Europe, and includes software to allow any future updates to be downloaded automatically.

• System Transfer:

This piece of software allows users to transfer saved game data from older Nintendo handheld consoles directly onto their 3DS.

• Free Game Offer:

To celebrate the new enhancements, Nintendo are offering a free download of 3D Classics Excitebike, which will be available to all existing 3DS customers until the 7th of July 2011.

• Ridge Racer Compatibility Issues:

Nintendo have warned that users of the Ridge Racer 3D game might experience gameplay disruptions once they have installed the software update, but they also promise that a new patch will be made available soon in order to rectify this problem.

All in all, it sounds like the new update will offer some interesting enhancements to this intriguing console.

Nothing has been said about the possibility of 3D films or TV on the 3DS yet (an original promise made by Nintendo prior to the launch of the 3DS in March this year,) but further details about the eShop and browser are expected at E3 2011, which begins in Los Angeles tomorrow. Be sure to check in with Mini Gamers for all the E3 news throughout the three-day conference.

Spongebob Squigglepants 3D Review: The Craziest 3DS Game Yet!

It's Spongebob in a whole new perspective. This zany offering from the braniacs at THQ sees gamers compete in over 100 Spongebob related mini-games.

Players must use the 3DS stylus to flick, draw, drag and tap their way through various tasks. This game also uses the gyroscopic sensors of the Nintendo 3DS, so some games even require you to shake or tilt the console as well.

Players must successfully complete a chain of twenty consecutive games in each of the six mini-game catergories in order to unlock the next group. The mini-games vary from catching a hamburger in your hand, or helping a Plankton to escape a fly-swatter; to stopping a rock from crushing Sqidward.

All the games are introduced via a group of stunning live-action (but non-3D) videos by Captain Patchy. These videos can then be unlocked and replayed at a later date.

The 3D graphics are stunning in most of the mini-games, but unfortunately the effect does seem lost in certain sections such as the 'Abstract' collection of mini-games. Worst still, this game also contains some 2D games, which seems like a big waste on the 3DS system.

One of our favourite sections of the game is the Art Studio. This allows players to draw or paint their own scenes, or use character stamps to create a scene. There is also a digital colouring book for younger gamers.

Unfortunately, although the Art Studio control pad is shown in 3D, the pictures are always displayed on the 3DS touch-screen, which means that they can only be viewed in 2D. Furthermore, there is only space to save a single picture on the 3DS console, so if you create new artwork, you will lose your previous creations, which is a tad disappointing.

This is an interesting title, and quite possibly the most creative 3DS game to date. The 3D mini-games look fantastic. However, the game still contains a lot of 2D elements, which does seem to sour the experience a little.

 This game is unlikely to appeal to hardcore gamers, but it will appeal to both Spongebob and Rhythm Paradise fans alike. The mini-games will definitely help to fill in a spare five minutes at the office or on the bus, and the colouring elements will appeal to younger gamers. It would have been nicer to see a greater use of 3D in the 3DS version though, but the use of the gyroscopic sensor is a very good feature.  Overall rating: 7/10.

Spongebob Squigglepants is also available on the Nintendo Wii (uDraw) and Nintendo DS/DSi Systems.

Nintendo 3DS News: 3DS eShop and Internet Browser launches June 7th 2011 in Europe?

Nintendo have finally provided a date for the 3DS system update which will contain the much-anticipated 3DS Internet Browser and eShop functions.

The Browser and eShop were supposed to launch at the end of May this year in all regions via a special systems update, but this was subsequently delayed due to the Japanese Tsunami Crisis and the economic downfall that followed.

Now a notice on the Official 3DS website suggests that the systems update will be available in North America from the evening of the 6th of June 2011, one day before Nintendo is due to reveal its 2012 line-up at E3. 

The release date for the Internet Browser and eShop outside of North America, including Europe is expected to be the 7th of June 2011, although this has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo itself.

We are very excited about the new Nintendo 3DS eShop and the Internet Browser, as both of these two software additions will  greatly increase the functionality of an already superb console even more. Be sure to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this topic as it develops.

Nintendo 3DS: Flying High With Pilotwings Resort

Pilotwings Resort is a three-dimensional flying simulation game for the Nintendo 3DS. Players have a choice of three vehicles - Hang Glider, Sea Plane and Rocket Belt and several different missions to take part in.

Players can start of as Novices and can take part in basic flying missions such as flying through a set of rings, taking part in DogFights or landing in the centre of a specific Landing Pad.  Points are given for speed, accuracy of flying or landing and fuel efficiency. Players must amass a certain amount of points in order to pass that level.

The best thing about Pilotwings Resort is the ability to use your own Miis from the Mii maker. You can also use Miis that have been gained via QR Codes as well. The cartoon-style graphics of the game will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has played Wii Sports Resort on the Nintendo Wii.

The missions get gradually more difficult as players progress through the game. There are five mission classes, which range from Novice to Platinum.  Players can also choose to fly in Free Mode instead, which is a good way to get used to the controls of each aircraft in turn.

 This game is fantastic. The 3D graphics really enhance the flying experience. There are a few easy tutorial in the Novice level to help players get familiar with the in-game controls more quickly. If you have ever dreamt of soaring amongst the clouds, or if you just want a friendly, simple little game to enjoy in your freetime, then this is the perfect game for you. Overall rating: 10/10.

Legend Of Zelda and Professor Layton 3DS given June/July release dates...

Two of the most anticipated Nintendo 3DS games to date will now both receive Summer 2011 releases. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle are now scheduled for UK release in June and July of this year.

Please note that the PROFESSOR LAYTON INFORMATION HAS BEEN AMMENDED. TO READ THE LATEST PROFFESSOR LAYTON 3DS POST, PLEASE CLICK HERE

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be the first one to hit the shop shelves. According to Online Retailers Amazon and Zavvi, the game will be released to the UK public on the 17th of June 2011 and will be released in North America two days later.

Ocarina of Time is the fifth game in The Legend of Zelda series, and it was the first game in the series to have characters that were rendered with 3D graphics. Now for the first time, gamers will also be able to enjoy the game with full 3D environments and objects.

There will be a few new features included in the 3DS version, such as the ability to quickly equip items using the touchscreen and using the in-built gyroscope to assist the accuracy of aim with weapons like the slingshot in first-person view.

Mini Gamers is very excited about The Legend of Zelda in 3D. Expect a full review when the game is released to the public in a few months time.

Another gaming favourite, Professor Layton, is also expected to make his 3DS debut this Summer.  Zavvi lists the UK release date for Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (3DS) as the 22nd of July 2011.

The game is actually a prequel, set after the events of Professor Layton and the Spectre's Flute (DS/DSi) game. Again, the 3DS game has several  new design features in order to take full advantage of the new 3D capabilities.

For example, the typical hand-drawn 2D imagery has been replaced by 3D models of the characters, meaning that players can now examine areas in a 3D perspective. Furthermore, some of the game's puzzles will also use other 3DS functions such as the motion sensor.

Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (3DS) has proven to be one of the best-selling 3DS launch games in Japan, and sold in excess of 117,589 copies on its first day alone. Mini Gamers suspects that it will be just as popular when it reaches the UK.

As with other games, release dates are often subject to change and there is an unfortunate possibility that one or both of these games may yet be delayed before the stated release date has occurred. Nevertheless, it certainly looks like 3DS gamers could be enjoying these fantastic titles before the end of the Summer.

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite over the next few months for more news about these fantastic 3DS titles as it happens.