...in Japan.

Hello Kitty & Me! Block Crash Z has been announced for 3DS release in Japan.

The game is part of the Hello Kitty & Me series, traditionally featuring human mascots dressed in Hello Kitty branded clothing. The Block Crash games have gameplay similar to Breakout and Arkanoid, and the 3DS version has 200 stages to play through.

Japanese people receive some good news on the standalone adapter.

The price for the standalone AC adapter for the Nintendo 3DS has received a price cut in Japan. The price was originally set at ¥1500, but the adapter will now be sold for ¥1000. The new price will be in effect starting July 12, 2012. 

This price drop comes not long before the Japanese launch of the Nintendo 3DS XL, where the adapter is not included with the system in that country.

Don't worry though. It's not as bad as you think.

Nintendo "cannot promise" that all online services will be free of charge no matter what, as reported by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata during the recent investors meeting.

"[Nintendo] cannot promise here that Nintendo will always provide you with online services free of charge no matter how deep... Read more...

At least we're not missing out on anything too important in America.

Cave Story 3D will have three bonus exclusive playable characters when it releases in Japan this month.

The three playable characters include the protagonist from Dragon Slayer, the protagonist from Crazy Climber, and one of the farmers from Ikki. Although their inclusion has been known for a while, this is the first time that screens have been released (available in the gallery below).

Two new colors are joining the 3DS family this September.

Two new Nintendo 3DS colors, cerulean blue and shimmer pink, will be launching in Taiwan and Hong Kong on September 28, 2012.

Even with the 3DS XL coming out later this year, Nintendo has not forgotten the original 3DS. The two new colors will see release first in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but it is currently not known if they will make it to other regions. 

You can expect tons more actual songs than what was found in the Mario collection soundtrack.

Hoshi no Kirby 20 Shūnen Special Collection (Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition) for Wii will include a 45-track CD on the included Memorial Soundtrack packaged with the game in Japan. The tracks are all taken from 16 separate Kirby games as well as three additional tracks recorded specifically for the 20th anniversary soundtrack. Tracks are from the following Kirby titles:

Enjoy the game with someone else on separate systems.

Ice Climber on the 3DS Virtual Console now has download play multiplayer in Japan via an update for 3DS Ambassadors.

As of right now, no other Virtual Console game on 3DS has the ability to do this. It is not currently known if or when other games will get similar treatment, though multiplayer capability for the NES games was promised in future updates when the Ambassador program was announced.

UPDATE: The update is now available in North America.

UPDATE: The update is now available in North America from the Nintendo eShop.

European and Japanese 3DS owners can now update their Swapnote application to feature six different colors of ink.

Using the QR code found in this article, your 3DS will take you directly to the eShop to update the application. The update gives you access to multiple colors, but still only allows you to use one kind of color per note.

Pre-orders at GAME and Gamestation stores will come with a nifty gold case.

A collectible gold coin case will be included in pre-orders of New Super Mario Bros. 2 at GAME and Gamestation stores.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 places an emphasis on coin collecting, and gamers will now be able to take the beloved gold coins they collect out of the game. The case itself is large enough to hold the game card, making it a useful way to transport the game in style.

Nintendo vows to not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Iwata commented recently on the lack of momentum for Wii, citing poor third-party support and no social networking functionality.

During the 72nd annual shareholders meeting at Nintendo HQ in Tokyo, Iwata was grilled on the poor showing of multiplatform titles for Wii, and asked how he intended... Read more...

Nintendo stocks aren't the best, but there is one way to fix that.

During Nintendo's Annual Shareholders Q&A Satoru Iwata discussed the best way to raise Nintendo's stock price.

Nintendo suffered a financial loss in the last fiscal year but Iwata seems to believe Nintendo will soon recover. Iwata explained that when they announced the Wii and DS's and claims... Read more...

Don't expect the next Zelda game to be revealed this year.

A full list of exhibitors has been revealed for the 2012 Tokyo Game Show, taking place from September 20 until September 23.

Although a full list can be viewed on the official website, some notable attendees include the following:

Capcom

Konami

Level-5

Namco Bandai

Sega

Sony Computer Entertainment

Sports games seem to have taken over this week.

Nintendo's 8-Bit Summer has begun and not only does it kick off with some classic games, there are plenty of new non-8-bit titles to enjoy, as well.

3DS eShop Games:

Family Tennis 3D - $6.99Play tennis with eight different characters across six different courts in Family Tennis 3D. Not only can you try your hand in a tournament, there are plenty of mini-games to enjoy, too, including Roulette Rally, Human Backboard, and Survivor.

Wii U hasn't been specified, but at least the idea is neat.

Neon Alley, a 24-hour anime service from Viz Media in the vein of Netflix, will be coming to game consoles this fall.

The service will include entirely dubbed and uncut episodes of shows (and entire films) from various distributors including Viz Media, Aniplex USA, and Tai Seng. It will debut at $6.99 per month and offer limited commercial interruption.

The latest entry in the series will be launching this July.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance will be launching in Australia and New Zealand on July 26, 2012 through a distribution deal between Nintendo of Europe and Square Enix.

In the game, new Disney worlds will be making their first appearance in the Kingdom Hearts universe. Some of the worlds include La Cité des Cloches from the Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Grid from Tron: Legacy.

The North American DLC is now available for download.

UPDATE 2: The North American DLC is now available.

UPDATE: The North American DLC will be available "later today" according to Square Enix.

The first set of downloadable content for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy in North America and Europe has been revealed. The "add-on content" will launch in Europe on Thursday, and it is coming soon in North America.

Nintendo has learned their lesson from both the DS and Wii.

Nintendo took into account what they learned from the security mistakes of the DS and Wii while designing the 3DS and Wii U, according to the recent Investors Q&A.

Unlike the Nintendo DS and Wii, the 3DS has maintained its security system since its launch. Nintendo is looking to continue that success with the Wii U.

He's not getting any younger.

Nintendo is preparing for the eventual retirement of longtime creative force Shigeru Miyamoto, according to the recent investors Q&A held in Japan.

Although Miyamoto is not planning on leaving imminently, Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata reassured investors that Nintendo is bringing up young developers to fill the role as the older guard of Nintendo mainstays, Miyamoto included, retire.

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of their life.

Electronic Arts is eventually "going to be a 100% digital company, period" according to President of EA Labels Frank Gibbeau. Gibbeau stated that he believes that a time will come in the not-too-distant future when game companies are making most, if not all, of their money from digital sales rather... Read more...

The anticipated WiiWare title might have a new publisher in Europe.

The WiiWare title La-Mulana may still be coming to Europe. According to NintendoLife, the title appeared on the European ratings board PEGI with a rating of 12 for a second time, and was subsequently removed. Yet, this time the publisher was listed as the Spanish publisher EnjoyUp!, instead of Nicalis. NintendoLife contacted the EnjoyUp!, only to receive the reply “no comment.”