Nintendo confirms the addition of chat functionality, and a new bundle to go along with it.

Today Nintendo of Europe issued a press release confirming that the Western version of Capcom's Monster Hunter Tri will feature Wii Speak compatibility. This often-requested functionality will allow gamers to talk to each other while hunting monsters online, creating strategies and assisting each other in real time.

In our first weekly video feature, we look at the recently released DS RPG adventure, Glory of Heracles.

In this new feature, we will showcase some of the latest trailers and gameplay videos from upcoming and recent releases on the Wii and DS.

For our first entry we will showcase Nintendo's Glory of Heracles for the DS, an RPG drenched in Greek Mythology.

First is the game's launch trailer:

A flash game lets players experience the title's gameplay ahead of time.

In an interesting alternative to a playable demo, Hudson Soft has created a flash game that mimics the gameplay of their upcoming Wii game Lost In Shadow. The game can be accessed from the "Trial" link on the title's official Japanese website.

Lost In Shadow (known as Tower of Shadow in Japan)... Read more...

Konami's classic looks to be available soon, but only in Japanese.

SiliconEra recently talked to Konami regarding Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, which showed up on the ESRB's game rating list earlier this week.

A representative confirmed to the website that the game is coming to the North American Virtual Console "shortly" as an import selection, and like other import titles it will not be translated into English.

Nintendo President also calls Steve Jobs a turtleneck-wearing sissy. OK, we made that up.

At a recent event at a Tokyo Hotel, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata expressed his skepticism of Apple's iPad, 3D gaming, and the importance of high-definition capabilities for game consoles.

The iPad, revealed last Wednesday by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, was dismissed by Iwata as "a bigger iPod Touch". He stated his feelings quite bluntly: "There were no surprises for me."

Third-quarter earnings report shows robust sales, but a decline in profits.

Nintendo recently released their financial results for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2009, and along with revealing lifetime sales data for some of their key titles, also detailed a drop in profits year-on-year.

In a statement addressing their financial results for the three quarters... Read more...

Nintendo's plumber is back on top.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a monster. Not only is the game the fastest-selling Wii title in Japan, but it’s managed to keep quite a few high-profile games off the top spot of the sales charts. Through the eight weeks that it’s been available, it has reigned supreme on five different occasions, preventing some big-name games like The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Tomodachi Collection from reaching the summit.

Square Enix brings another installment of the Dragon Quest spin-off series to the DS.

It’s undeniable that Square Enix has struck a gold mine on the Nintendo DS with the Dragon Quest series in Japan. Remakes of both Dragon Quest IV and V and Dragon Quest Monsters Joker have both managed to cross the million sales mark in the region, along with the four-times platinum Dragon Quest XI.

Upcoming slate of games includes an unannounced title, as well as a release window for a highly-anticipated one.

As part of its recent financial report, Nintendo has provided its upcoming Japanese release schedule. The Wii games listed are:

The Legend of Zelda (Wii, TBA)

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii, 2010)

Metroid Other M (Wii, Summer 2010)

Xenoblade (Wii, Spring 2010)

The Last Story (Wii, 2010)

The Last Story and Xenoblade are set for 2010 releases in Japan.

Nintendo has launched websites for two new RPGs in Japan: The Last Story and Xenoblade.

The Last Story, which is being co-developed by Nintendo and Mistwalker, is an attempt at a "new form of RPG" according to a translation provided by Andriasang. The official site does not give a firm release date, only saying the game will release in 2010. A developer blog will start up in March.

The Blue Bomber's red sidekick gets his moment in the hot summer sun.

Yesterday Capcom revealed that Mega Man Zero Collection for Nintendo DS will be available in North America this summer.

The collection, which releases in Japan on April 22, includes all four Mega Man Zero games on a single DS cart. The games were originally released for Game Boy Advance between... Read more...

Their 2009 financial report gives cold hard data on their market domination.

Nintendo has revealed their sales data for the period from April 2009 through December 2009, including lifetime sales of many of their products.

The Nintendo Wii console has sold 67.45 million units worldwide since its 2006 launch. 17.05 million sales occurred between April and December 2009,... Read more...

The Nintendo and Monster Games racer is finally coming to the PAL regions.

While North American Wii owners have been enjoying Excitebike: World Rally for several months now, Europeans have been anxiously awaiting the day when they could join in on all the fun. That day is rapidly approaching as World Rally is hitting the European WiiWare service as Excitebike: World Challenge on February 5.

The winner of the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii tournament will receive a golden Mario trophy.

At the start of the year, Nintendo confirmed that they would be holding a special New Super Mario Bros. Wii tournament. The tournament consists of coin collecting battles and will tour Japan throughout the month of February. The player that collects the most coins will be crowned the best NSMB Wii player in Japan and receive a special Golden Mario Trophy.

The Shattered Memories developer speaks out on their role in the franchise, and the sales of third party games on Wii.

In an interview with the Official Nintendo Magazine, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories developer Climax says that they would be interested in making future Silent Hill games.

Game Director Mark Simmons commented on the possibility. "Absolutely. We've always loved working on the series. Since... Read more...

The studio that brought us Izuna: Legend of The Unemployed Ninja are quietly working on a new title for the Nintendo DS.

On Ninja Studio's product page they have revealed that they are working on a new, top secret title for the DS.

Ninja Studio is known for their DS efforts which include Izuna: The Legend of the Unemployed Ninja and D3 Publisher's Tactic's Layer. Including this unannounced title, they have created six titles for Nintendo's handheld so far.

These titles are possible candidates for the "Everyone's Recommendation" series in Japan.

As announced last week, Nintendo will begin a new initiative called "Everyone's Recommendation Selection" in Japan. Nintendo will choose the highest ranking Wii titles according to the votes found on the Nintendo Channel's best games list. Website SiliconEra compiled a list of games fitting this description.

A report reveals that Nintendo was offered the opportunity to use Natal technology for Wii.

According to a report by European videogame news site CVG, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata was offered the opportunity to use the technology behind Microsoft's Project Natal on the Wii. Iwata turned it down.

The reason Iwata refused to accept the technology, despite being impressed by the demo... Read more...

The "evergreen", when it comes to Mario, is money.

Last week the NPD Group reported that New Super Mario Bros. Wii had surpassed the U.S. lifetime sales of its 3D brother Super Mario Galaxy. After roughly 45 days on the market, NSMB Wii had moved past Galaxy's 4.1 million copies sold with a tally of 4.2 million.

According to Nikkei (via Kotaku),... Read more...

Despite the title selling a million copies on Wii, the president believes it could have sold better.

In a recent interview with Japanese website Mainichi.jp, Enterbrain President Hirokazu Hamamura expressed his disappointment over the sales of Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 in Japan. "I thought it would sell more. Crossing the million mark was the passing grade, though. On the Wii, which doesn't have... Read more...