No 3DS games in the eShop: Why the Nintendo 3DS Shop Will Never Beat The PSN Store...

It is now almost three weeks since Nintendo launched their new eShop service, and a lot of gamers out there are all wondering the same thing: Why are the games on offer all retro Nintendo titles? Why can't I download new Nintendo 3DS games from the eShop as well?

These are two very valid questions, and as yet, there has been no satisfactory answer as to why the actual 3DS games that you can find in the shops are not available to purchase from the eShop as well, but this could be one of the core reasons why the new eShop has not proven to be very popular amongst 3DS fans so far.

Instead of offering a few good 3D games to play and download, the eShop tends to be filled with several 2D retro Gameboy and DSiware titles, which is fine for those gamers who want to play them, but has left several other 3DS users feeling disappointed recently.

A sample of the only 3D game on offer in the eShop at the moment

Don't get us wrong, the Nintendo 3DS eShop is very useful when one is planning which Nintendo 3DS title to buy next. The 'Coming Soon to Shops' section, provides details of several up and coming titles as well as video trailers, which are displayed in full-3D, so that you can really tell how the games will actually look on your 3DS console.

The 'Now in Shops' section is also useful for keeping track of new 3DS game releases as well, as it lists several new titles along with customer reviews, trailers and information, which is very good.

Retro 2D games feature heavily in the eShop

However, it could be said that the 3DS eShop is still lacking in several ways. Nintendo's rival, the Playstation Network Store offers a whole range of new games for its various Playstation consoles, including its PSP handhelds. These games are purchasable and are instantly downloaded onto the console's special Memory Stick.

Frogger would look so much better in 3D, but alas, 2D only...

The Nintendo 3DS has a removable SD card for data and game storage, so it would not be too difficult for Nintendo to offer its own type of 3DS game download service if it wanted to. This would save gamers having to pre-order new games, and would add real value to the 3DS eShop.

Furthermore, Sony's Playstation Network Store also offers its own video rental and download service, so that gamers can get the latest films straight onto their consoles.

Nintendo has recently begun a 3DS TV streaming service in Japan, and has suggested that this type of service might eventually become available throughout Europe via a company called NetFlix, but with no commencement date in place, it seems like this could be a long way off in the future.

So will we ever get 3DS games in the eShop? Nintendo has mentioned that they will be adding playable demos alongside video trailers but they did not say whether they would ever consider adding purchasable 3DS downloads to the eShop.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Would you like to see downloadable 3DS game titles in the Nintendo eShop, or do you think that the Nintendo eShop is okay just the way it is? What other services do you think Nintendo should provide in the 3DS eShop?

Please feel free to leave us a comment, and let us know your thoughts on this subject. We'd love to hear your opinions.

Nintendo 3DS Game Release Calendar: July 2011- Dec 2011

A list of new 3DS games with potential 2011/2012 North-American release dates has recently come to light on the Internet. The list gives details of upcoming 3DS games along with their currently scheduled North-American release dates.

The leaked Nintendo schedule contains a few titles that already feature in the pre-order sections of many online shops at the moment, but also contains a few interesting titles that we did not know about.

 It has to be said that some of the games shown in the list are North American releases only, and there does not seem to be any UK equivalent release date at all.

How The Calendar Is Arranged:

As Mini Gamers has attempted to modify the 3DS release date list in order to include confirmed UK 3DS release dates as well, you might notice some slight differences between our calendar and the original list. We have tried to make the calendar as easy to follow as possible by implementing the following rules:

•  In order to distinguish between the North-American and UK release dates, we have included either (NA) or (UK) alongside the relevant titles.

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• Where the UK date has been confirmed as being in the same week and/or month as the North-American release of the game, we have only listed the UK release date in order to avoid confusion.
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• Where the North-American release date for a game has been generalised, (ie. FALL 2011) but the scheduled UK release date has been given in full (ie. 07 July 2011), we have given the UK release date only, in order to avoid confusion.
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• Where the release date for a game has been generalised (ie. FALL 2011), and there is no UK release equivalent, we have placed the game title in the most likely month for its release, (ie. Fall = October etc) but we have listed the game as 'FALL 2011 TBC'.

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• Where a game has two separate release dates (ie. the same game is released in different months of the year) we have listed the game twice in its respective release month and used the (NA) and (UK) symbols to differientiate between the two versions.

It is impossible for Mini Gamers to list all the various pre-releases, so we have ommitted some of the games which have already been highly publicised, but there were a few 'surprise' titles that piqued our interest, which we felt were definitely worth a mention.

 Here we summerise the most interesting new 3DS pre-releases, along with their planned release dates. Please note, however, that all release dates are approximate, and may therefore be subject to change.

3DS GAMES July-Dec 2011

 JULY

Resident Evil: The  Mercenaries 3D July. 1 (UK)

Dream Trigger 3D July. 15 (UK)

MAHJONG CUB3D™ July. 19 (NA only)

AUGUST

Cave Story 3D Aug. 9 (NA)

Shin Megami Tensei® :Devil Survivor Overclocked™ Aug. 23 (NA only)

 

PAC-MAN® & GALAGA® DIMENSIONS Aug. 26 (UK)

James Noir's Hollywood Crimes™ Aug. 30 (NA)

 

Driver® Renegade Aug. 30 (NA)

 

Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights SUMMER 2011 (NA)

SEPTEMBER

DualPen Sports Sept. 2 (UK)

Driver® Renegade Sept. 2 (UK)

Face Racers Photo Finish Sept. 2 (NA only)

                                        

StarFox 64 Sept. 11 (UK)

FIFA Soccer 3D Sept. 30 (UK) 

OCTOBER

Thor: God of Thunder FALL (NA), TBC (UK)

Captain America: Super Soldier FALL (NA), TBC (UK)

FIFA Soccer 12 FALL (NA)

 

Tetris 3D OCTOBER (NA - TBC)

The Hidden Oct. 4 (NA ONLY)

WRC: World Rally Championship Oct. 7 (UK)

 

Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic Oct. 11 (NA ONLY)

 

Pet Zombies Oct. 11 (NA ONLY)

Imagine® Fashion Designer Oct. 11 (NA ONLY)


Order Up! Oct. 14 (UK)



Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Oct. 14 (UK)



The Sims™ 3 Pets Oct. 21 (UK)



Adventures of TinTin: The Secret of the Unicorn Oct. 21 (UK)

Cute Puppies Oct. 25 (NA ONLY)

 

Horses 3D Oct. 25 (NA ONLY)

NCIS (working title) Oct. 25 (NA ONLY)

Imagine® Babyz 3D Oct. 25 (NA ONLY)

Michael Jackson The Experience Oct. 25 (NA)

Dr. Lutrec and the Forgotten Knights Oct. 28 (UK)

James Noir's Hollywood Crimes™ Oct. 28 (UK)

 

NOVEMBER

Raving Rabbids® 5 (working title) Nov.1 (NA ONLY)

One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP Nov. 1 (UK)

Disney's Magical Star (3DS) Nov. 1 (UK)

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 Nov. 4 (UK)

Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D Nov. 4 (UK)

Reel Bass Fishing 3D Nov. 4 (UK)

 

Cooking Mama 4 Nov. 11 (UK)

Farm (working title) Nov. 15 (NA ONLY)

Sonic Generations Nov. 15 (NA), TBC (UK)

Need For Speed: The Run Nov. 18 (UK)

 

Tales of the Abyss Nov. 18 (UK)

Cave Story Nov. 25 (UK)

DECEMBER

Resident Evil: Revelations Dec. 2 (UK)

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Dec. 2. (UK)

Gundam Dec. 2 (UK)

Super Mario 3D Dec. 2 (UK)

Luigi's Mansion 2 Dec. 2 (UK)

Mario Kart 3D Holiday (NA), TBC (UK)

 

There you have it, several new 3DS games, which will apparently be released by the end of the year. We were pleased that  popular games such as FIFA Soccer 3D and Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 made the list, as well as many more besides.  

 As always, it is impossible to give accurate release dates as they tend to change so often, but we are hopeful that the information presented here is correct at the time of publication.

We have also used a reputable retailer for the scheduled UK dates (where listed), so we are confident that these dates are as accurate as possible. If you would like to read the original list, please click HERE.

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite regularly for updated news about these games as it happens.

  

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.

Game of the Week: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D [3DS]

If you had any sort of interest in videogames back in 1998, then it is likely that you will have heard of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The game has received much acclaim since its original release and is often heralded as: "The best Zelda game of all time..." [Sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Ocarina_of_Time]

The original Ocarina of Time also employed many new gameplay mechanisms such as an enhanced Targeting Lock System and solid-looking characters that were all rendered in full-3D, which was no easy feat at that time. Furthermore, the Legend of Zelda series has gone on to inspire many of the videogames that we have today.

Thus, it is not surprising that Mini Gamers had very high expectations for the newly-released 3DS version of Ocarina of Time, (simply referred to as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D,) and we are pleased to announce that we have not been disappointed.

The first things that springs to mind when you talk about a 3DS game is, of course, the graphics. There is only one word that truly conjures up the graphics quality of Ocarina of Time 3D, and that word is 'WOW!!!'.

Now, the usual high-quality 3D rendering that we have come to expect from the Legend of Zelda games is actually viewed in real 3D for the very first time. The result is a visual eye-fest!

There is also a greater feeling of depth within the game and the real-3D capabilities also enhance the Camera View and Targetting Lock System, giving the game an even more realistic feel than ever before.

It is hard to describe how brilliant the new sense of depth really is to someone who hasn't already seen it for themselves, but it really does add an extra dimension to the way the game unfolds.

Although the main plot of this game remains unchanged from the original Ocarina of Time, some new 3DS-exclusive mechanics have been added to the new version, including use of the 3DS gyroscopic functions when using Link's bow and arrow, boomerang and Slingshot. This makes the current version of the game more challenging than its predecessor and a lot more realistic.

For those that struggle with the gyroscopic controls however, there is an option to swap back to the original analogue controls as well.

The 3DS version also has a Boss Challenge Mode, which allows players to fight all of the main 'Boss' characters in the game one after another in the order in which they appeared in the game.

Furthermore, the game also features a new video-hint system, called Visions. Visions can be selected in the Save Options menu when Link has been killed.

 Visions are a video snapshot, which reveals information about where certain key items are hidden in the game. This can prove invaluable when searching for important weapons etc.

The 3DS version also contains Master Quest, which first started as an expansion to the original Ocarina of Time game, but has since become bundled with the game on several different platforms.  Master Quest will only become available when the main game has been completed.

The 3DS version of Master Quest differs from the previous versions however, because the entire map is mirrored, meaning that all the overworld map locations and dungeons will now be flipped and reversed. Furthermore, all 'Bosses' in Master Quest Mode cause twice as much damage as in the main game.

Official E3 2011 Trailer

In conclusion, this game is a stunning graphical masterpiece. The gameplay is very challenging but also fun. The new 3DS-exclusive functions enhance the overall gameplay and add a few new twists for hardcore Zelda fans.

If you played the original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time game, you will be instantly familiar with a lot of the areas of the game, but will also find new enjoyment in the amazing 3DS graphics and the new gyroscopic weapon controls.

If you have not had a chance to play this game yet, you really are missing out on something special. If you like RPG-Platform adventure games, then this is most definitely the game for you. Overall rating: 10/10.

A 3D trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is available to watch for FREE from the Nintendo 3DS eShop now

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.

Nintendo Announce Flare Red 3DS, No UK Release Date... Yet!

*THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED, TO READ THE LATEST RELEASE DATE INFORMATION,

PLEASE CLICK HERE...*

When Nintendo originally demonstrated its 3DS console at E3 2010 last year, it was shown in three distinctive colours, Aqua Blue, Cosmos Black and Flare Red.

However, to our disappointment, although the blue and black 3DS consoles made it to the March 2011 release date, the red one was missing from the line-up, prompting many European gamers to question why it had been removed.

Now Nintendo has announced plans to release the Flare Red 3DS in Japan, which is expected to go on sale from the 14th of July 2011. The Flare Red 3DS will cost the same as the two standard 3DS consoles, which equates to 25,000 yen or £192.

The announcement of a Red 3DS has sparked new hopes in the  3DS gaming community, but as yet, there does not appear to be any plans to release the new console outside of Japan, although that doesn't mean that the Flare Red console will not be making its way to Europe, but for those of us in the UK, it would simply seem to be a case of wait and see.

Don't forget to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite over the next few months for more news on this subject. We look forward to bringing you any updates as they happen.

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.