The Nintendo Spot

Change For The Spot

2016-04-21T09:22:00.003+01:00

To keep in line with our other social media pages (YouTube, Twitter & Facebook) we will be changing our Nintendo Spot header to Dan's Distillery. This doesn't mean that we won't still be providing you guys with up to date Nintendo news, that will still continue, however we will be more flexible in bringing you even more news and reviews from the entertainment world, be it in games, movies, cosplay or entertainers. We want to say a big thank you to all of our followers and subscribers so far and hope you stick around and check back soon for our latest news and reviews.

Prowlers Join The Hunt In Monster Hunter Generations!

2016-04-07T22:09:00.000+01:00

Today, Capcom and Nintendo released a brand new trailer for Monster Hunter Generations, which shows off one of the features of the game that sets it apart from its predecessors: the ability to play as a Felyne in the all new Prowler mode. Previously only available to hunters as companions known as Palicoes, these feisty furry friends can now be directly controlled by the player as they set out on their hunting quests.

Aside from being irresistibly cute, playing as a Felyne is a purr-fect introduction to Monster Hunter as a whole, as it gives players the chance to not only take on all Hunter quests in Prowler form, but to get their claws into a whole new set of additional Prowler-specific quests too. Prowler Mode features a streamlined set of game mechanics, making bug-catching, fish-reeling and ore-mining simpler than ever, and serving as a welcome introduction to hunting for beginners. With more plentiful materials on offer, forging and upgrading armour and weapons for your Prowler also becomes that little bit more accessible.

Simplifying the gameplay even further, Prowlers don't require as many items on quests as hunters do. For example, as they have no limit to their stamina, they don't need to pawse their hunting to enjoy a barbequed steak to replenish their stamina gauge. They can also instantly restore health by chowing down on an acorn, so they don't need to carry any potions. Prowlers can take up to two Palicoes with them when playing in single player, and craft specific armour and equipment for them. Best of all, the whole game can be played in Prowler mode if players like.

A perfect combination of adorable and entertaining, Prowler mode provides a whole new perspective of gameplay for veteran hunters, with new and exciting skills to pull off, and provides a brilliant foundation for new players.

Monster Hunter Generations will be coming to Nintendo 3DS in Summer 2016.

Mega Man Legacy Collection

2015-06-08T18:31:00.002+01:00

Capcom today announced new details for its upcoming title lineup and confirmed its roster of playable titles to be shown at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles next week and the newly announced Mega Man Legacy Collection.

This title is a celebration of the 8-bit history of Capcom's iconic Blue Bomber. Featuring faithful reproductions of the series' origins with the original six Mega Man games, the Legacy Collection will remind long-time fans and introduce newcomers to what made Mega Man such a popular and iconic character. In addition to the six Mega Man games, Mega Man Legacy Collection features new ways to experience the classic games with the Museum Mode and new Challenge Mode. Challenge Mode remixes gameplay segments from all six games, with plenty of scaling difficulty objectives for experienced players to conquer yet serving as a good starting point for new players, too. Museum Mode contains a comprehensive collection of history, high-res art and original concept pieces - a mega treat for any fan of Mega Man and video game history.

Mega Man Legacy Collection is coming to the 3DS this winter.

Pre-E3 Smash Bros Presentation Incoming

2015-06-08T18:23:00.001+01:00

Nintendo has announced it will be holding a Smash Bros. video presentation on June 14, hosted by Masahiro Sakurai. On the same day Lucas will also become a playable character as well as new costumes for the Mii fighter and the new MiiVerse stage. The presentation will air at 7:40 PT, 3:40 BST and Sakurai will outline his plans for future DLC.

The EuroGamer Expo 2012

2015-03-20T13:28:00.001+00:00

Yes I like videogames and no I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to try out the latest upcoming releases at this years EuroGamer expo.
There was alot on offer this year with Nintendo showing off their latest home console the Wii U. I got a chance to get my hands on one and surprisingly had alot of fun playing Nintendo Land, an addictive little title made up of 12 games and similar to the Wii's Wii Sports. However Nintendo Land feels much less of a tech demo as the games are fleshed out alot more and have an addictive replayability to them. I got to try out a few of the games and I walked away quite impressed with what I played. The Zelda game was definitely my favourite with 2 players using remotes to attack with swords while another player uses the gamepad to fire arrows at enemies.
New Super Mario Bros. U didn't win me over as much but it does use the gamepad quite interestingly, allowing 4 players to run through while the fifth can use the touch screen to either help or hinder the others by placing platforms or disorientating enemies. I naturally decided to not be helpful, it was just more fun that way. Trine 2 was also on show, which looks amazing and plays really well, as was The Wonderful 101, Pikmin 3 and Zombi U.
The Wii U gamepad takes some getting used to holding at first and knowing where to look at the tv or at the gamepad screen makes things a little confusing. But much like the DS I'm sure after playing it for a while it will become like second nature.

While in the Nintendo area I also managed to try out Luigi's Mansion and Castlevania on the 3DS. I'm a big Castlevania fan so I was pleasantly surprised with how good Mirror of Fate was to play and at how good it looked too.
The game of the show for me though was Assassin's Creed 3 it just felt so good to play. The combat has been improved slightly so you won't get away with hammering one button to take down groups of enemies. The visuals have been updated and although there wasn't a Wii U demo to play it is definitely one to look out for when the Wii U is released.
I also got to meet and talk to a few gamers, some of whom were first timers to the expo and get their thoughts on the show and what it had to offer. Playstation All Stars and Tomb Raider were a couple of the favourites of the show and to be fair they actually played quite well. I think Tomb Raider would be another great title for the Wii U and while Playstation All Stars is no Smash Bros it does a good job of being another brawler in that category. Game Over.

Daniel Morris, The Nintendo Spot.

Monster Hunter 4 StreetPass Event

2015-03-11T09:46:00.002+00:00

Located in the heart of Peckham in South London lies a hidden gem, The Four Quarters arcade bar. With a selection of arcade machines, pinball tables, retro consoles and board games The Four Quarters is a fun hangout spot as well as a well stocked bar with craft beers and ales from local breweries. Naturally this had to be the place where our next event was to take place.
Last weekend saw fans of all ages and from all over London descend down to celebrate the launch of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate with us.

Already selling over 3 million copies Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is already becoming a firm favourite with fans of the series also attracting newcomers to the series. The day was filled with hunting as newcomers to the series teamed up with veterans to learn some tips and take down some large monsters. Also thanks to the awesome people at CAPCOM UK we were able to have little prizes up for grabs throughout the day just to make the hunts a little more special.

All in all it was a great day and we can't wait to get everyone back together to have another day full of gaming fun. Check out our video below for some footage of the days events and please check out our Facebook page for more pictures.

Thank you to all those who came along and we hope to see you next time.

HYPER JAPAN CHRISTMAS MARKET 2014

2014-10-29T12:29:00.002+00:00

HYPER JAPAN

Christmas Market 2014

14-16 November
National Hall, Olympia, London
www.hyperjapan.co.uk

Get ready for a pop culture explosion at the UK’s largest J-culture event!

Music, street fashion and cosplay – 3 pillars of Japanese pop culture which have captivated audiences and amassed devoted fans across the globe. At our HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market, we bring together the best of this trendy crowd and offer visitors the rare chance to experience a range of Japanese musical acts (both real and virtual), and to enjoy our HYPER J-style fashion show and world-class cosplay competitions!

Watch Hatsune Miku live in 3D!
For the first time in the UK, volunteer organisation Mirai no Neiro (Sound of the Future) will be running a Vocaloid (singing voice synthesizer) concert, starring the globally famous pigtailed android girl, Hatsune Miku. A 3D image of Miku singing and dancing along to her songs will be projected onto a large screen, following the style of ‘live’ Miku concerts which are hugely popular in Japan. Fans will also receive a special talk on the Vocaloid phenomenon, focusing on the impact which virtual singers like Miku have had on the Japanese music scene. Vocaloid-themed activities and competitions outside our exclusive concert room are also not to be missed!

An exciting line-up of musical talents

Among the all-star acts gracing our stage this November will be none other than America-born singer/songwriter Inoue Joe, best known for his songs “Closer” and “Kaze no Gotoku” which were used as opening themes in the anime Naruto Shippuden and Gin Tama. Joe also regularly appears on “J-MELO” – an NHK World television programme which airs in over 150 countries! Adding to the onstage excitement will be Diana Garnet, winner of the Nihon TV 2013 “Nodojiman THE WORLD” contest. Diana achieved her major debut whilst working as an English teacher in Japan, and released her first Japanese album “COVER ☆ GIRL” in 2013. Finally, Harajuku-style model and singer Yano Anna is back by popular demand after rocking the stage at our summer event! Anna’s love of anime spurred her perform the opening theme songs for Magica Wars and Stella Women’s Academy, Class 3. We can’t wait to see what musical marvels these 3 will unleash upon lucky visitors to our Christmas Market!

Setting the stage for the World Cosplay Summit
Attention all cosplay aficionados – sewing machines and glue guns at the ready! The UK preliminary for the World Cosplay Summit is returning to HYPER JAPAN this year, and promises to once again draw dozens of costume-savvy candidates from across the country. The triumphant team will win much-coveted tickets to Japan, where they will represent the UK at the prestigious World Cosplay Summit in 2015. So don’t miss out on this wonderful chance to meet fellow cosplayers and make some lasting friendships, or else simply sit back and admire the creativity and dedication that goes into these dazzling outfits.

HYPER J-Style Collection – paying homage to Japanese chic
HYPER JAPAN is well known as the UK’s largest exhibitor of Japanese fashion, showcasing a wide variety of trends fresh from the streets of Tokyo. This November we’re back with a vengeance with our new HYPER J-style Collection, which boasts a range of modern Japanese trends including “Lolita”, “Gyaru” and “Visual Kei”. The collection also features chic outfits from J-style fashion retailer Dreamy Bows, whose pop-up shop will be selling everything that fashion-conscious visitors need to create their own kawaii ensemble. A whole host of booths selling fashion accessories, make-up, ribbons, shoes, false eyelashes, handbags and more will ensure that HYPER JAPAN remains the go-to destination for Japanese couture.

Tickets cost £12 for the Friday and Saturday sessions, and £15 for the longer Sunday session
To book tickets and for more information visit: www.hyperjapan.co.uk
For a schedule of stage performances see: www.hyperjapan.co.uk/whats-on/stage/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hyperjapan
Twitter: @hyperjapanevent
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperjapanofficial
Instagram: http://instagram.com/hyperjapanofficial

Address: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14 8UX
Nearest Tube: Kensington or Kensington Olympia

Opening Hours:

Friday 14^thNovember – 14:00-20:00
Saturday 15^th November First Session – 09:00-15:00 Second Session – 15:45-21:00
Sunday 16^th November – 09:00-18:00

HYPER JAPAN is organised by: Cross Media Ltd

Hyper Japan Back With A Bang

2014-07-30T11:39:00.001+01:00

We were pleased and excited to be invited back to another year at Hyper Japan London's number one celebration for everything Japanese. From cosplayers to artists and group performers such as Siro-A this was another fantastic year for the event which took place at Earls Court and ran for 3 days.

I always enjoy seeing the different displays and stage shows but this year I was blown away by Nintendo's presence at the Hyper Japan, there is no doubt that they stole the show.

Not only did they come with demos of a few upcoming titles such as Bayonetta 2, Hyrule Warriors, Sonic Boom and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker but they also brought along demos of Monster Hunter 4 and Super Smash Bros for the 3DS and the Wii U. Not to forget they also had their store with official merchandise for sale which is always a pleasure to see. I'm still holding out for an actual store to be made somewhere in Central London, we can always hope.

In the center of all this magic was a stage with a large screen where they held competitions for Mario Kart 8 and for Super Smash Bros Wii U, the crowds it attracted was incredible. I would leave to have a look around the rest of the event only to find myself drawn back and watching the intense matches that were made even more fun by the crowds comments and reactions.

Talking a little more about the games I got to play I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed in the slightest with any of them. I was quite pleased I got to play Hyrule Warriors which is as fun as it looks in the videos but my favourite title on the day has to be Captain Toad Treasure Tracker which I can tell will give me hours of fun when it's released. Monster Hunter 4 was another great title but like with any Monster Hunter game you really need to spend time getting into them to really appreciate everything it has to offer and I don't think the demo's really allow for that. As for Smash Bros, well you don't need me to tell you how fantastic the game is, plays well on the 3DS too runs smoothly and looks great, it's a must buy title.

Nintendo also brought along their Amiibo's to show off in their section, thought they weren't demoed in any of the titles I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do in future games.

Going around the show floor it was good to run into some familiar faces and even get a quick glimpse of Siro-A in action. These guys are amazing fusing mime and video technology to produce really incredible visual entertainment, I'd recommend going to see them perform in the West End at the Leicester Square Theatre if you get the chance.

This was another great year for me at Hyper Japan an event which just seems to get better and better each time, I definitely look forward to going back again.

Oh and I bought a Bonsai tree which is nice.

Please check our Facebook page for more pictures of the day TheNintendoSpot .

IGN Vote Super Mario Galaxy The Greatest Game Of Last Gen

2014-05-24T17:11:00.000+01:00

Before anyone says it yes I know that picture is from Super Mario Galaxy 2 but I like it ok.

“Super Mario Galaxy wasn’t just the latest and greatest 3D Mario game when it released in 2007 — it redefined the platforming genre. Again. Nintendo’s best designers rebounded from the excellent but still somewhat underwhelming Super Mario Sunshine on the GameCube and unleashed Galaxy, a meaty, deep adventure that married Mario’s traditional fireballs and Koopaling knockouts with a healthy dose of M.C. Escher. Its game design is as smart and challenging as it is refreshing, and, Wii Sports be damned, it was and is worth owning a Wii for all on its own.”

Well there you have it, Super Mario Galaxy is a delight and still is to this day, a wonderful title that oozes that special Nintendo flair and magic. What do you think?

E4 and Nintendo Partner Up For Mario Kart 8 Launch

2014-05-23T14:52:00.001+01:00

Channel 4 Sales today announced a new partnership with E4 and Nintendo to celebrate its latest release Mario Kart 8 on Wii U, due to hit the shelves on Friday 30^th May.

Mario Kart 8’s new Mario Kart TV feature allows players to share a 30, 45 or 60-second highlight reel of their best race moments with their friends immediately after play via Nintendo’s MiiVerse social network and YouTube.

In this exclusive partnership with E4, from the game’s release on Friday 30^th May to Monday 2^nd June, players using Mario Kart TV to upload their race highlights to MiiVerse and YouTube, will also be able to enter a competition to win one of five chances to have their race highlights broadcast on E4. Players can enter their details for a chance to win via a linked E4 Nintendo competition page.

Each evening from Monday 2^nd June to Friday 6^th June, one winning player’s race highlights showreel, including the player’s name, will be broadcast in commercial airtime at approx. 8.10pm on E4. The five winners will also each win a real-life Mario Kart cup.

To promote the competition to win this unique opportunity – and find out more about the new Mario Kart 8 game – ad spots will be broadcast across E4 between Friday 23^rd May and Sunday 1^st June.

E4 viewers will be given the chance to win a Wii U – the competition will be advertised in the winning players ad spots.

Danny Peace, Agency Principal, Channel 4 Sales said: “This bespoke partnership with Nintendo and E4 gives viewers a money can’t buy opportunity to win the chance to see their very own game play broadcast in peak-time on E4. It builds upon Channel 4 Sales’ strong track record in creating truly innovative and creative marketing solutions that engage clients’ brands with consumers in a unique way.”
Roger Langford, Mario Brand Manager at Nintendo UK said: “Mario Kart TV is a great addition to the Mario Kart functionality and we think it’s something that fans will really enjoy. It’s great to rewatch in detail those key moments in the race, whether it’s getting blue-shelled, exploring the new anti-gravity mode or reliving your victory as you cross the finish line, E4 is a perfect vehicle for highlighting this feature to a young and engaged audience and we’re looking forward to seeing the entries.”

Watch Dogs Now Back On Track For The Wii U

2014-05-01T19:49:00.001+01:00

Watch Dogs creative director Jonathan Morin has announced that the development team at Ubisoft is now concentrating on developing the delayed Wii U version of the game. The team is fully focused on the task at hand and are making sure it gets the attention it deserves to make it the best version it can be.
If you're like me I'm sure you can understand my excitement for the Wii U version as it seems like the perfect platform for this title.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Direct

2014-04-09T00:21:00.000+01:00

Masahiro Sakurai gave a full rundown during todays special Nintendo direct on what we can expect from the upcoming release Super Smash Bros on the Wii U and 3DS.

First the important news the release windows. Super Smash Bros on 3DS will arrive this Summer, while the Wii U version will arrive in the Winter. Both will feature online multiplayer and are reported to run at 60fps.

There are two modes when playing online with anyone ‘For Fun’ and ‘For Glory’ modes.

For Fun mode only records players’ wins, pits opponents against each other in random stages (excluding Final Destination), and includes all items. For Glory, on the other hand, levels the playing field for competitive players by removing items entirely, and setting every match on a Final Destination version of certain levels. Wins and losses are both tracked in your For Glory record. When playing with friends, locally or online, you’ll be able to play with custom rules.

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS will feature Smash Run, a multiplayer mode unique to the platform. Smash Run pits four players against each other in a sprawling dungeon full of randomized enemies, including Goombas, Shy Guys, and other notable Nintendo villains, in a battle to collect stat-boosting power-ups as quickly as possible. Treasure chests and enemies can improve your speed, jump, strength, defense, special move effectiveness, and more, which comes into play after the Smash Run timer runs out. After five minutes of exploration, 2-4 players, local or online, go head-to-head in a standard Smash Battle using their newly acquired stats. Those who’ve collected more bonuses improve their chances of winning. Additionally, you can equip items ahead of each Smash Run battle to gain an edge.

Character transformations have now been removed from this version of Smash. Instead characters like Zero Suit Samus and Sheik will now be their own playable characters separate from their counterparts.

Sakurai revealed, “All characters who used to change forms during a match will no longer change. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on a single move set for the entire fight.”

Zero Suit Samus and Sheik are the 25th and 26th characters added to the Smash Bros. roster. Sakurai said that, in Brawl, Zero Suit Samus was designed with slightly less physical strength, so he needed to find ways to make her stronger. She can be seen wearing a pair of jet boots in the game footage shown and the development team has added two new special moves for Sheik as well.

Yoshi of course returns as a playable character as well as the Pokemon Charizard & Greninja.

Sakurai has mentioned that more information will be coming at a later date in regards to how the systems will be linked and presumably more information on the Wii U version as well as their firm release dates.

New Mario Game in Development

2014-04-08T18:39:00.002+01:00

Nintendo producer Yoshiaki Koizumi has revealed that another Mario game is in development at EAD Tokyo, which made Super Mario 3D World.

Speaking to Edge Magazine, Koizumi, who directed Super Mario Galaxy, said that EAD Tokyo is already creating the next Mario game, though he wouldn't confirm whether it's for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U. "That’s still a secret!” he told Edge. “I can tell you, though, that we’ve already started approaching our next challenge.” Kenta Motokura, co-director and team leader of EAD Tokyo, said that if the next Mario game does come to Wii U, it would need to better utilize the console's GamePad.

Shigeru Miyamoto had previously stated that Super Mario 3D World would be a stepping stone to a proper 3D Mario title. Could this secret project be it?

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Direct Approaching

2014-04-06T19:10:00.000+01:00

Nintendo have announced another Nintendo Direct which will take place next Tuesday, April 8, focusing on the new Super Smash Bros. titles for Wii U and 3DS. Kicking off at 11pm GMT / 3pm PT / 6pm ET.
Nintendo haven't detailed what will be revealed but hopefully they will show off more of the games features, hopefully including new characters and levels and perhaps a release date on when we can expect to get our hands on their new title.

Takashi Iizuka Wants More DLC For Sonic Lost World

2014-04-06T19:03:00.001+01:00

Takashi Iizuka, the producer behind Wii U and Nintendo 3DS exclusive Sonic Lost World, has revealed his interest in creating more DLC for the title.

“Sonic Lost World is a title that only released on Nintendo hardware, which is an opportunity that I couldn’t believe, collaborating together. This time, the appearance is interesting, as combining Sonic into such a world is extremely foreign, and I wanted to aim at the unexpected.”

“In normal production, the hardest part is building up the base of the game. Stages can normally be changed simply by variations, but this time, it was shaped to be a different experience on each stage of the DLC, which is why it took so long to complete.”

“The team says that the music, sound and songs of The Legend of Zelda were entertaining to try and re-create and is now interested in working on more levels that allow it to collaborate with Nintendo.”

I for one would love to see more DLC for Sonic Lost World after the fantastic job they did with the Zelda and Yoshi themed levels.

Next Level Games Happy by Nintendo's Side.

2014-01-10T15:58:00.000+00:00

Next Level Games, the studio behind Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and Mario Strikers Charged have expressed that they are focusing on Nintendo IP’s for the time being.

“We are doing only Nintendo products now."

“We’re super happy with our relationship with Nintendo. There’s no reason to look anywhere else. They keep giving us better and better IP to work with, and as long as we do our job and make good games for them there’s no reason for us to venture out."

“There are a lot of benefits to working with a first party. Nintendo’s great. They give you the time to make they games good. They’ve done really well — the Wii’s done really well, the DS has done really well, the Wii U is not the strongest start but we trust that they’ll come up with something to get it going, and the 3DS was a blast to work on.”

An Interview With Samantha Whitten Creator of The GaMERCaT.

2013-12-24T18:17:00.000+00:00

Hello World, here at the Nintendo Spot we have been lucky enough to get a short interview with the creator of the ever popular webcomic series The GaMERCaT, Samantha Whitten. If you've never read any of the comic strips now's your chance to catch up on the "wacky misadventures of a cat obsessed with video games."

Q: When did you realise you had a passion for art and that you wanted to share you work online?

A: I've been drawing all of my life. There has never been a time I have not been drawing and I've always enjoyed sharing my creations with others. When I was able to get online, when the internet became a thing, sharing my art there was a natural step in the process.

Q: What was your original inspiration for the GaMERCat comics?

A: It actually started with a design for a game pouch. I created a little cat character to put on it and based it off of my pet cat. After that I thought he might be a fun outlet for silly jokes I had about video games, so I began drawing comics featuring him and it took off from there.

Q: How long does it take to complete one of these comic strips?

A: If I already have the idea down, it takes about 1-2 days of work, excluding browsing and lunch breaks, of course! Any special comics that exceed the standard 6-panel length take longer depending on the size.

Q: The GaMERCaT has become quite popular popping up all over the internet and on social network sites. Are you surprised by this and what is it that you think is it's main appeal?

A: I am surprised by it actually. I started the comic just for fun and I didn't expect people to have such a strong reaction to it. It's made me very happy thatit's been so widely accepted and embraced. I would say that the main appeal is that it involves cats and video games, two things that most people like, but I would also like to think that my jokes are appreciated as well.

Q: Would you say you had a favourite piece?

A: Yes, my favourite comic so far is the Journey comic. It was very enjoyable to draw and I'm glad that I was able to get such emotional responses to it, especially from people that haven't even played the game.

Q: A little aside from the comics, as the GaMERCaT is an avid gamer would you say you're big into gaming too?

A: I would consider myself a decently active gamer, but I don't play everything like alot of "avid gamers" do. I specifically dislike FPS's like Call of Duty or large MMO's like World of Warcraft and I have a disinterest in RPG style games too. They just don't interest me.

Q: Do you have a favourite games series?

A: That's a tough one. I would have to say Assassin's Creed or Uncharted.

Q: What are you playing at the moment?

A: I've kind of got my attention split between Assassin's Creed 4, Pokemon X and Super Mario 3D World. I also have a pretty big queue of games to get to. This holiday season has been jam-packed!

Q: If you could be a video games character who would you be and why?

A: I would like to be Elika from the new Prince of Persia game. She's really awesome with cool powers and she gets to hang out with a smarmy-yet-suave prince.

Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring artists who want to get their works out there?

A: Draw, draw, draw and never give up! The best way to get noticed is to constantly put out new content. People like artists that update with new stuff all of the time.

Q: Are you working on anything new at the moment, any big projects in the pipeline?

A: I guess the biggest project I have going on right now is getting GaMERCaT and Glitch plushies made! The investment is pretty big, so I'm going to be holding a Kickstarter with all kinds of special goodies to fund it. Keep an eye out for it soon!

Q: I see you want to put the GaMERCaT comics into print, how is this coming along? What has the fans reactions been to this? Do you have a time frame for when you would hope to release it and how will you fund it?

A: It's coming along slowly. The biggest hold up is that I don't have enough comics completed to make a book just yet, but the fans seem pretty eager to see it happen. It's exciting! I don't have an ETA on it, but I'm hoping there might be extra funds left over from the plush Kickstarter to fund it. If not, I'll probably host a new one to fund the books.

Q: Will we be receiving a signed copy :) ?

A: If you buy it ;).

Again a big big thank you to Samantha for taking the time to do this with us. We hope you all enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the awesome artist behind the GaMERCaT series and don't forget to check out her websites for more comics, merchandise and information on future projects, links are below.

The GaMERCaT Website

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Facebook

Twitter

Earthbound HD - Fan Art

2013-12-20T18:16:00.002+00:00

A fan by the name of Christopher Behr has revealed a project that has taken him over a year to produce and it looks fantastic. These Earthbound HD images are some of the best that have ever been done and just makes me want to play some sort of remake like this. If you've never played the original you should give it a go. In the mean time enjoy these lovely pictures.

London Anime Con 2014

2013-12-14T19:06:00.002+00:00

London Anime Con and London Gaming Con will team up to become one event, London Anime & Gaming Con this 8-9 February. Set in an expanded venue, some top guests have already been confirmed which includes Colleen Clinkenbeard, the Voice of over 100 anime/gaming titles such as Luffy from One Piece, Gohan from DBZ, Riza Hawkeye in Fullmetal Alchemist and Lilith from Borderlands 2. The gaming shall also be expanded, with a number of gaming exclusives, a dozen big tournaments and many smaller casual tournaments at stake. Tickets can be bought at a discounted £18 for the weekend via the website now HERE.

The Event Shall Feature:

GAMING: Gaming shall feature the community lounge, a place to chillout by gamers for gamers with fun and wacky challenges. Meanwhile in the tournaments zone, there will be over a dozen big tournaments planned with prize-pools between £50 and £250 for each tournament at stake (exact amount depending on tournament and signups). Games will include Street Fighter IV, Blazblue, Marvel v Capcom 3, CoD, Halo 4, League of Legends, Smash, Minecraft, DDR and Mario Kart. With gaming exclusives to be announced, there will be plenty for gamers to check out.

COSPLAYING: Returning to this London Anime Con shall be the Cosplay Stars. Over a dozen of the best cosplayers from the UK and Europe, which include Stacey Rebecca, Kelly Jean and Tabitha, shall be bought together to guest at the event and showcase their amazing costumes. Attendees will also be invited to participate in contests which will include the Cosplay Masquerade with the winner getting a £50 cash-prize. The Otaku Fashion Show shall also take place on the Saturday, offering attendees and aspiring models to show off their unique style, be it lolita, goth, steampunk or anything different and special.

ANIME: With Voice Actor Colleen Clinkenbeard (over 100 anime & gaming titles including Gohan in Dragonball Z, Monkey D Luffy in One Piece, and voice actor MasakoX from DBZ Abridged. More guest announcements to come.

PARTYING & COMMUNITY - THE EVENT FOR YOU: We are the party convention, with an amazing party atmosphere. As part of this we have a massive party planned for each night going on to 1am each night as part of your ticket. There will also be a lot of fun entertaining events such as the Clan Battle Showdown, Baka No Gameshow, Karaoke and more.

This is just a small sample of what London Anime Con has on offer, with more activities to engage in than ever before on both days. The event advises to make sure to come for both Saturday and Sunday to catch all the events and to experience everything on offer. You can read a full preview of what the event has in store at HERE and you can view the guests HERE.

EVENT DETAILS

Opening Times: 11am to 1am. (10:30am entry if you're pre-paid)
Pricing: Reduced price entry if you pre-pay now. On the day entry is £13 for Saturday, £10 for Sunday. £5 Evening Entry.
London Anime Con Website: http://www.londonanimecon.com
Guests & Performers List: http://www.londonanimecon.com/guests.php
Link To Pre-Pay: http://www.londonanimecon.com/register.php
Accommodation - Available to book when registering at £40 total for both Friday and Saturday night, or just £60 for from friday through to Monday.

Updates - Make sure you stay up to date with all the latest news by following LAC on twitter @londonanimecon or joining the forums at http://www.animeleague.net/forum

PS4 Vita Remote Play VS The Wii U Gamepad

2013-12-01T17:10:00.002+00:00

Richard Leadbetter from Digital Foundry tests the Vita Remote play to see if it offers a good enough experience that gamers are expecting from the connectivity between the PS4 and the Vita. Also after Sony came forward saying that this will offer the same experience that the Nintendo Wii U's Gamepad offers lets see if this holds up. Richard had this to say after testing it out.

“It was perhaps a bit much to hope that Vita Remote Play could match up to the Wii U GamePad, or even Nvidia Shield’s performance. Nintendo built its system around its controller – ultra low latency was built into the design, while Vita Remote Play simply doesn’t have that priority for Sony.”

"Image quality generally looks pretty decent, but despite the resolution advantage, it's far from the high quality presentation we get from the Wii U - closer to the picture you tend to get from Nvidia Shield, but still not quite up to scratch."

However, whether we’re talking about image quality, latency, frame-rate – or the simple fact that 1080p gaming doesn’t always translate well to a five-inch screen – we couldn’t help but feel that we were getting a less than ideal experience, and that nothing compares to just picking up the Dual Shock 4 and playing PS4 games in the conventional way.

"As it stands, PS4's Vita Remote Play functionality is a really cool value-added extra, but while fun, it can't really be compared with the Wii U GamePad experience."

It's good to see that the main selling point of the Wii U, the Gamepad, still holds up against it's competition let's just hope developers continue to push it's uses in various creative but useful ways.

Source: Digital Foundry

The Wonderful 101 Launch Party

2013-08-26T19:38:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday saw our Wonderful 101 Launch Party held at MADD in London, Soho. We were also joined by three of the delightful maids from Maids of England who were on hand to help the guests and join in the gaming fun. Despite the downpour outside it was great to see so many people coming along to make it such a wonderful event.
Wii U's and copies of the game were set up around the venue for people to come and try out and I think it's safe to say that everyone came away with the same feeling, one more go until I pass this level. The Wonderful 101 is anything but an easy game and if you don't like a challenge or prefer games that hold your hand throughout then this one may not be for you. It was good to hear that many who had tried the demo before were now enjoying the full game in all its glory much more now and multiplayer groups were popping up in attempts of breaking through the challenging levels.

The Wonderful 101 is a fast paced action game developed by Hideki Kamiya of Platinum Games exclusively for the Wii U. In it you control a crowd of superheroes from an isometric viewpoint turning them into various objects called "Unite Morphs" such as a fist, gun or sword to defeat your enemies. This can be done using the Wii U Gamepads touchscreen or if you prefer you can use the right analog stick.
As the game supports up to five players once everyone had got to grips with the controls and was punching, slashing and bombing their way through the levels we thought it would be good to hear what they had to say about Platinum games new title.

"So much time, love and energy has gone into this title, totally justifies buying a Wii U."

"Fast paced, exciting, really enjoyable."

"Multiplayer is fantastic and manic especially when working out weapons."

"Surprising, didn't enjoy the demo but after playing the full version would definitely give it an 8/10."

The Wonderful 101 is definitely a welcomed addition to the Wii U's library and it's great that once people get their hands on it they have so much fun playing it, let's just hope that it does well enough that Hideki Kamiya decides to do a sequel. We also want to thank everyone who came along, you guys are awesome and help to make our events what they are, as well as Nintendo who are always there to lend us their support, a big thank you.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist - Trailer

2013-08-14T09:54:00.001+01:00

The Wonderful 101

2013-08-13T20:15:00.000+01:00

The Earth has come under attack from an invasion of enormous aliens called the "Geathjerk", and the only thing that can protect the planet are the Wonderful 101. These uniquely different superheroes must morph together into powerful weapons in order to crush the invaders and return the planet to peace

The Wonderful 101 is a fast paced action game developed by Hideki Kamiya of Platinum Games exclusively for the Wii U. The Wonderful 101, you control a crowd of superheroes from an isometric viewpoint turning them into various objects called "Unite Morphs" such as a fist or sword to defeat your enemies. This can be done using the Wii U Gamepad's touchscreen or if you prefer you can use the right analog stick, though that way does take some practice. The GamePad can also be used to see things from a traditional third person angle and explore tighter environments better, such as indoors. As levels progress, players must explore each stage to find helpless citizens and recruit them to join their army of heroes. The more heroes you gather, the greater your special morph powers can be.

As well as a singleplayer mode, The Wonderful 101 has a cooperative mode that supports up to five players, with one person utilizing the GamePad and the four others using their own Wii U Pro Controller.

The Wonderful 101 is set for Wii U release on August 23rd.

The Nintendo Spot Visit Hyper Japan 2013.

2013-08-11T12:50:00.003+01:00

Another year and another Hyper Japan has come and gone. Home of the UK's biggest celebration of the Japanese culture there was lots on show from gaming, anime, fashion, technology and music.
With stage performances from Yun chi and techno troupe SIRO-A who wowed the crowds with their vibrant and futuristic fusion show which saw them interacting with projected displays to bring their visions to life.
Of course there were the excellent food and drink stands offering a range of delicious cuisines as well as the fashion and culture tables where guests were able to try their hand at making chopsticks, have a taste of the finest Sake or experience a day in the life of a Geisha house. There was lots to see and do as usual at Hyper Japan this year and many guests returned in some fantastic and vibrant displays of cosplay.

The highlight of the show for me had to be Nintendo's gaming area. Not only were they celebrating the launch of Pikmin 3 with its own dedicated area but Nintendo had also recreated their very own Animal Crossing town as well as setting up a Mario Kart Tournament and seating area, complete with charging stations for your 3DS'.
Also at the show was a chance for gamers to try The Wonderful 101 and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Wii U. Both games were a joy to play The Wonderful 101 is full of crazy fast paced action and loads of fun especially in multiplayer. The Wind Waker looked even more gorgeous than it did on the Gamecube, felt smoother to play thanks to the processing power of the Wii U. Usually at these sort of events Nintendo only have a small presence but I felt that this year they had done it right, everyone was getting involved and having fun and it was the perfect place to sit and relax after walking around for long periods of time and check how many streetpasses you managed to collect.
I do hope that this is something Nintendo continues to do with future events and it's a place you'll be sure to find me easily wasting away an hour or two.

Screenshots of Super Smash Bros WiiU.

2013-06-17T19:27:00.002+01:00

Here a whole host of pictures from the next installment in the Smash Bros series, Super Smash Bros. Wii U. Super Smash Bros is heading to the 3DS and Wii U in 2014.