Including a motion-based panoramic version of Street View!

Nintendo's latest home console will soon have an exclusive version of Google's map viewing application, as revealed today by Iwata during the Japanese Nintendo Direct.

Not only will users be able to browse worldwide maps using both their TV and GamePad, the Google Maps program will feature top-down satellite views similar to those first seen in Google Earth.

It is not yet available in North America, but Japan gets it in a few short days.

Nintendo TVii will be part of the Japanese Wii U's day one update, confirmed Iwata during this mornings Nintendo Direct presentation.

The service, which is currently not available elsewhere, will contain different content than its North American counterpart. Even though the service itself is free, the ability to change channels with Nintendo TVii will cost Japanese gamers 100 yen to unlock.

Not coming this year, but still on track for the spring of next. 

Both Pikmin 3 and Wii Fit U are still scheduled to arrive during Spring 2013 in Japan, Iwata confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct.

During a video of Pikmin 3, we were able to check out a few of the new enemies coming to the game. A giant moth-like creature was underground and could inhale Pikmin. A crab-like creature above ground could grab Pikmin, and then encase them in bubbles so they would fly away.

Ubisoft's platformer is coming to Japan courtesy of Nintendo in 2013.

Rayman Legends, developed by Ubisoft, will be published by Nintendo when it hits Japan next year, according to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata during the most recent Japanese Nintendo Direct.

Currently, the game is slated for a Q1 2013 in North America and Europe. It was originally set for a late 2012 release before a short delay. Recent rumors peg it for a February 26 release in North America.

Mario is still going for gold!

Two new level packs for New Super Mario Bros. 2 are currently scheduled to release tomorrow, December 5. The two new packs are Coin Challenge Pack C and Platform Panic Pack.

This news comes directly from the New Super Mario Bros. 2 Coin Rush Shop where players can view the new level packs, but cannot currently purchase them.

A quick update released alongside some larger Wii U firmware.

3DS Firmware Version 4.5.0-10U became available tonight around the same time as the Wii U's latest firmware upgrade.

According to Nintendo's website, the update further improves system stability as well as enhances the user experience. Those probing the update files have found that further blocks to DS flash cards were added, and the Nintendo Zone hotspot list was updated.

Update: We have a vague description on what the update does.

Update: According to Nintendo's website the update (version 2.1.0 U) further improves system stability and causes other minor adjustments to enhance the user experience

A new firmware update is now available for download onto your Wii U.

The update has just become available and comes in at a size... Read more...

Update: A Japanese Nintendo Direct will now happen earlier in the morning.

Update: Nintendo is now also holding a Japanese Nintendo Direct at 8 p.m. JST (6 a.m. EST, 3 a.m. PST) that will cover their Wii U Launch.

Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe will be releasing a new edition of Nintendo Direct on December 5.

This latest Nintendo Direct will focus on the remainder of 2012 and early 2013 games for both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

Is it regular maintenance, or something special? 

The Wii U eShop is currently offline and undergoing maintenance.

The reason behind the service's downtime is unknown, but it may have something to do with tomorrow's Nintendo Direct presentation. This is just speculation, seeing how the maintenance may just be regular upkeep of the service.

Stay tuned to Nintendo World Report as we look into the situation.

No word if this connects to Bravely Default at all.

Square Enix has filed a game-related trademark for "All The Bravest", as well as domains for AllTheBravest.net and AllTheBravest.com.

The domain names were registered through domain management company Thomson Brandy on November 29, with the trademark (number 011386349) filed on the same day.

Though the specifics for the trademark are unknown, Square Enix published the similarly-titled Bravely Default: Flying Fairy in Japan this year.

UPDATE: The game is officially coming to Wii U.

Update: The $200,000 stretch goal has been reached and Pier Solar HD is officially coming to the Wii U at some point in the future.

Original Story: Pier Solar HD, a high-definition version of 2010's Pier Solar, may come to the Wii U if the game's last Kickstarter stretch goal is reached.

The... Read more...

Is your brain new hotness or old and busted? Play Sudoku and find out.

DSiWare title Brain Age Express: Sudoku is the newest Club Nintendo reward. It can be claimed for 150 Coins, and the offer runs through December 16.

Brain Age Express: Sudoku offers puzzles at three skill levels. Complete three puzzles to determine your Brain Age, a value of one's mental strength... Read more...

Get ready for some slap-happy fun in February, maybe.

Rayman Legends, currently set to come out in Q1 2013 on Wii U, might be coming out on February 26, according to a report from Pure Nintendo.

However, Pure Nintendo's story, which was teased for a few days before it was posted, was taken down. Ubisoft issued the following statement after the story... Read more...

Nintendo has also shared information for our friends in New Zealand.

Nintendo Australia has detailed how the Nintendo Network Premium discount will work in Australia and New Zealand for owners of the Wii U Premium bundle.

Every purchase on the eShop will count towards earning points, which can then be used to add funds onto your eShop account. The conversion rate will be 6 points per dollar in Australia, and 5 points per dollar in New Zealand.

More justice could be served, if you want.

More levels could be added to Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition in the future, according to WayForward Technologies level designer, Chris Schroder during an interview with Siliconera.

As a response to a question on the addition of more content, Schroder said the following: ''You know it's... Read more...

Without an SD card slot, transferring saves is impossible on the Wii Mini.

The Wii Mini will not support SD cards, Nintendo of Canada has confirmed to us.

Without an SD card slot, the Wii Mini is incapable of importing or exporting saves. It was known that the Wii Mini would not be able to take part in the Wii U transfer process due to its lack of internet functionality,... Read more...

Special memory cards caused the short supply.

It is not uncommon for Japanese companies to apologize for supply shortages of their hot-selling product (they sometimes even stop selling such a product), but it may be unprecedented to publish a movie where the president apologizes for it.

Nintendo recently issued a document and movie online that... Read more...

A peak under the hood of Nintendo's latest.

Hector Martin, a hacker with experience in exploiting both the Wii and PlayStation 3, recently revealed specific details of the Wii U's CPU clock.

Martin posted some of the figures on his Twitter account:

 "1.243125GHz, exactly. 3 PowerPC 750 type cores (similar to Wii's Broadway, but more cache). GPU core at 549.999755MHz." 

The game has missed the Australian launch, but it won't be too far behind.

Trine 2: Directors Cut is absent from the Wii U Australian eShop.

The developer of the game, Frozenbyte, did not submit Trine 2 to the Australian Classification Board in time for launch. The developer takes full responsibility for this unfortunate situation.

The game is expected to release in mid-December with the 20 percent launch discount still applying. The full price for the game will be $19.99, and $15.99 with the discount applied.

Trine 2: Directors Cut shows up in spot number three.

A list of the 20 most popular Wii U eShop games to date has been released on the Wii U's eShop.

New Super Mario Bros. U came out on top, with ZombiU right behind. Two indie games, Trine 2 and Nano Assault Neo, came in at third and fourth place, respectively. Of the five indie titles released on launch day, Chasing Aurora was the only one that did not make the top 10. Check out the entire list below.