Now Playing: December 9-15, 2013

by Steven Wong on Dec 9th 2013 7:30PM

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Now Playing: December 3-9, 2012

by Steven Wong on Dec 3rd 2012 8:30PM

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Now Playing: December 16-22, 2013

by Steven Wong on Dec 17th 2013 5:45PM

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Upcoming Wii U Game to be Featured on VGX for December 7, 2013

VGX is set to launch soon. This next evolution of the Spike TV “Video Game Awards” will now showcase some exclusive world-premiers on its December 7, 2013, show. This will be a huge event filled with premiers, awards, concerts, and more. Even Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime will be there presenting a brand new Wii U game. You will be able to watch the event on a number of online streaming services, including Twitch, Hulu, Yahoo, Spike, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, and GameTrailers. Head to VGXLIVE.com for more information.

—————
PRESS RELEASE

VGX TO FEATURE A SPECIAL ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE OF THE MUSIC OF “GRAND THEFT AUTO V”

“SOUTH PARK” CREATORS TREY PARKER AND MATT STONE CONFIRMED TO APPEAR ALONG WITH AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK OF “SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH”

VGX REVEALS FIRST WAVE OF EXCLUSIVE CONTENT TO BE STREAMED DURING LIVE MULTI-PLATFORM GAMING BINGE FOCUSED ON WORLD PREMIERES AND BREAKING NEWS

“VGX’ To Showcase the Most-Ever Exclusive World-Premieres Including “Titanfall,” “Quantum Break,” “Broken Age,” “Dying Light,” “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” and An Upcoming Wii U title from Nintendo

VGX to Live Stream Across All Screens and Gaming Devices Worldwide Including Xbox One, Xbox 360®, Playstation®3, Twitch, Hulu, Yahoo, Steam And Viacom Properties Spike.com, ComedyCentral.com, MTV.com, MTV2.com, BET.com and GameTrailers.com on Saturday, December 7 at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT on VGXLIVE.com

New York, NY, December 3, 2013 – VGX, the inaugural all-day live multi-platform gaming event, revealed today that it will include a special one-night only performance of the music of “Grand Theft Auto V,” featuring a host of artists from the game’s soundtrack and score, and streamed on VGXLIVE.com and across all screens and gaming devices worldwide.

VGX (#VGX) also announced that “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone will be on hand along with an exclusive sneak peek of the highly anticipated game “South Park: The Stick of Truth.” Additionally, VGX unveiled its first wave of exclusive world premieres that will be debuted during the three-hour live stream on Saturday, December 7, beginning at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT.

The new VGX format dives deeper into the world of gaming and extends its coverage beyond awards presentations. Fans will have unprecedented access to the industry’s top developers and talent and more exclusive world premieres than ever including exclusive new looks at “Titanfall,” “Quantum Break,” “South Park: The Stick of Truth,” “Broken Age,” “Dying Light,” “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.” VGX will also feature Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime presenting a new look at an upcoming Wii U game. Additional exclusives to be revealed shortly.

[PR Email]

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Now Playing: November 25 - December 1, 2013

by Steven Wong on Nov 25th 2013 5:15PM

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Now Playing: December 3-8, 2013

by Steven Wong on Dec 3rd 2013 5:30PM

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Nintendo Download – December 13, 2012

It seems that Nintendo is still pushing for full retail games to make their way to the eShop, as two more additions are made this week. On top of that, we get two new demos of retail games on the eShop for Wii U.

For those RPG fans, you will want to check out CRIMSON SHROUD on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. If Adventure Time is your thing, you can get the digital version of Adventure Time: Hey Ice King why’d you steal our garbage?!! also on the 3DS eShop.

If racing is more your style, download the free demo of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on the eShop for Wii U. For those seeking adventure, you can get the digital version of Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition or the free demo of Rayman Legends — both on the eShop for Wii U.

Other Nintendo 3DS eShop releases this week include an Art of Balance TOUCH! demo, Ninja Gaiden, and Gardenscapes for the 3DS. As for Nintendo DSiWare, we get Chuck E. Cheese’s Alien Defense Force, Rytmik: World Music Edition, and Zombie Skape. The one release for Wii Virtual Console is REAL BOUT FATAL FURY. Also, a new Meat or Die video is available on the Nintendo Video app for 3DS entitled, “Linda.”

We have posted the full list of all 13 games/videos and prices below, along with the official press release, straight from Nintendo of America. Be sure to let us know what game(s) or apps get you excited to play. Let us know in the comments below or in our forums!

Nintendo 3DS eShop

CRIMSON SHROUD ($7.99)Adventure Time: Hey Ice King why’d you steal our garbage?!! ($29.99)Art of Balance TOUCH! – demo version (FREE)Ninja Gaiden ($4.99)Gardenscapes ($7.99)

Nintendo Video (3DS)

DSiWare (3DS & DSi)

Chuck E. Cheese’s Alien Defense Force ($4.99 / 500 Points)Rytmik: World Music Edition ($7.99 / 800 Points)Zombie Skape ($1.99 / 200 Points)

Wii U eShop

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition ($49.99)Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - demo version (FREE)Rayman Legends – demo version (FREE)REAL BOUT FATAL FURY (900 Points)

——————————–

[PR Email from Nintendo of America]

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Nintendo TVii Launches on Wii U in North America December 20

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The company that changed how we play is about to change how we watch. On Dec. 20, Nintendo will introduce Nintendo TVii, a free, integrated service for the recently launched Wii U console that combines what you watch and how you watch into one seamless, second-screen experience on the revolutionary new Wii U GamePad controller.

The rapid increase in both the quality and availability of video entertainment content – hundreds of satellite and cable channels, a seemingly endless amount of video-on-demand options – has made finding something to watch a complex and occasionally frustrating process. The solution to this problem is coming from perhaps an unexpected place: a video game console.

“After Dec. 20, you’ll never look at your TV the same way again,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “Wii U owners have already experienced the transformative effect that the GamePad has on game play and social interaction. Nintendo TVii shows how the integrated second screen of the GamePad can also transform and enhance the TV viewing experience. Welcome to the new world of TVii.”

Nintendo TVii maximizes Wii U owners’ current cable, satellite and video-on-demand services by pulling all of their available content sources – such as a Comcast cable package or Hulu Plus subscription – into one place. This empowers Wii U owners to focus on what they want to watch and not howthey want to watch. And once users find the show, sporting event or movie they want, they press an icon and Nintendo TVii does the rest.

In addition to greatly simplifying finding and watching video content, Nintendo TVii also includes a series of social features that enable Wii U owners to share experiences and exciting moments with friends as they are happening on live TV. People can engage with others by commenting and sharing on Miiverse, Facebook and Twitter. Or they can comment, post or tweet about an incredible touchdown, a remarkable performance or a shocking plot twist, all using the personal screen of the Wii U GamePad.

Nintendo TVii requires no additional equipment and can be enjoyed with very little setup, demonstrating what’s possible when the second screen is truly integrated with the TV. Wii U owners can also discover more information about what they’re watching by easily accessing information on the GamePad via an Internet connection, including cast details, movie reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and sports data such as live stats and scores.

Nintendo TVii launches in the United States and Canada on Dec. 20. At launch, the service will support cable and satellite providers in both regions, as well as direct integration with Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus subscriptions in the United States. Further integration with Netflix subscriptions and TiVo are expected in early 2013 in the United States. Wii U owners with a Netflix subscription can still access the Netflix application from the Wii U system’s main menu and enjoy their favorite content accordingly.

All elements of the Nintendo TVii service are included in the purchase price of the Wii U system. Users will define which services they currently subscribe to – including the channel lineup in their cable package and video-on-demand service subscriptions – as part of the setup process.

Nintendo TVii observes the Wii U system parental controls, and additional options specific to the Nintendo TVii features can be chosen in the Nintendo TVii settings. Every member of the family can create a different viewing profile. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4 billion video games and more than 637 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

[Nintendo PR Email]

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Nintendo Download – December 20, 2012

In addition to Nintendo TVii launching today, we have an array of downloadable content across all Nintendo systems.

Much of today’s content includes retail titles for Nintendo 3DS. If you have been holding off on games like Mario Tennis Open, Pilotwings Resort, Pokémon Rumble Blast, or BIT.TRIP SAGA, you can now download them from the eShop. However, it is important to note that Pilotwings is much cheaper if you purchase the cartridge.

You can also get great ports like Wario Land 2 and escapeVektor from the 3Shop on Nintendo 3DS. If you desire more New Super Mario Bros., you can get two more Coin Rush packs today. Also available is a demo of 2 Fast 4 Gnomz on the Nintendo 3DS. If you are looking for something to play with others over the holidays, both JEOPARDY! and Wheel of Fortune are both downloadable from the eShop on Wii U today.

We have posted the full list of all 20 games, packs, and videos and their prices below, along with the official press release, straight from Nintendo of America. Be sure to let us know what game(s) or apps get you excited to play. Let us know in the comments below or in our forums!

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS

Wario Land 2 ($4.99)escapeVektor ($9.99)2 Fast 4 Gnomz – demo version (FREE)Mario Tennis Open ($39.99)Pilotwings Resort ($39.99)Pokémon Rumble Blast ($34.99)3D Game Collection ($5.99)BIT.TRIP SAGA ($14.99)PIX3D ($3.99)Riding Stables 3D ($29.99)

New Downloadable Content on Nintendo 3DS

New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Coin Rush: “Mystery Aventures Pack” ($2.50)New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Coin Rush: “Impossible Pack” ($2.50)

Nintendo Video on Nintendo 3DS

Dinosaur Office: New Year’s Party (FREE)

DSiWare (eShop on Nintendo  3DS & Nintendo DSi Shop)

Anonymous Notes Chapter 3 – From The Abyss ($1.99 / 200 Points)Cake Ninja: XMAS ($1.99 / 200 Points)Castle Conqueror – Heroes 2 ($4.99 / 500 Points)

Nintendo eShop on Wii U

JEOPARDY! ($49.99)Wheel of Fortune ($49.99)Vampire Crystals (1000 Points)Vampire Crystals – demo version (FREE)

——————————–

[PR Email from Nintendo of America]

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Nintendo Power officially closes, last issue should be out December 11

by Sinan Kubba on Nov 14th 2012 2:00PM

Yesterday marked the day Nintendo Power, after running for 24 years, officially closed. The news of the magazine's end broke back in August, but yesterday some of the now former staffers revealed on Twitter they'd completed the last issue, and the office had closed its doors. That final issue should be out on December 11.

You can read the favorite memories of many Nintendo Power staffers here, as well as reminisce with us and other writers as we remember a publication so prominent in our gaming childhoods.

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Joystiq's Fall Release Cheat Sheet: December 2012

by Joystiq Staff on Oct 18th 2012 4:00PM

Oh, December, with your regionally specific cold or warm nights, sugarplums and gift giving. It's also a time when the video game industry stops jamming the accelerator on so many video games. Which is good, because you have a lot of games to catch up on from both October and November.

December, however, does have a few highlights. Far Cry 3 arrives, along with the retail package of the outstanding Walking Dead adventure game series. So keep warm (or cool – we don't know where you live!) inside and spend some time with a few new video games.

Of course, there are plenty of other great games available this fall we didn't get a chance to highlight. That's why we want to hear your anticipated Fall 2012 games for a follow-up "Community Response" feature to these Cheat Sheets. Give us your list in the comments below and tell us why you're looking forward to it; we may even highlight your comment.

December 4, 2012 – PC, X360, PS3
"After replenishing my supplies – and buying a silencer for my SMG, for all the good it will do me – I check out the bulletin board in my newly acquired base of operations. It seems a bandit has taken over a local farm and someone wants me to take revenge. The only catch is that I have to honor the local tradition in doing so, which means I have to kill him with a knife. Sounds easy enough." – Joystiq's Far Cry 3 Preview
December 4, 2012 – X360, PS3 (Retail Collection, Episodes Available Digitally)
All five episodes of The Walking Dead crawl to retail shelves in one convenient bundle this December, for Xbox 360 and PS3. Each episode so far has been a treat of terror: The writing is "fraught with tense pauses and biting, yet humane, dialogue;" the gameplay "has found the balance between personalized gaming and coherent drama;" and Telltale Games has a surprising smash hit on its hands. The retail package is out just in time for the holidays, and really, there's nothing more eternal than the ravenous hunger of the undead. And they say diamonds are forever.
December 4, 2012 – X360 (Download), PS3 (Retail and Download)
"Believe it or not, the controls work: I was able to pull off abilities and combos with nearly as much complexity as the PC MOBAs. Legolas, for example, has a rooting ability that locks enemy players down, as well as a quick dash ability, and another one that knocks back targets away from him. After a little bit of practice, I was able to use those abilities together, dashing forward past a fleeing enemy, knocking him back into harm's way, and then locking him down in place for the finish. The toughest part is making sure the aiming is lined up (you move with the left stick, and target with the right), but it's amazing that it works on a controller at all." – Joystiq's Guardians of Middle-earth Preview
2012 – PC, Mac
"Luftrausers is a fitting continuation of the gameplay style that Vlambeer explored in Super Crate Box. It's easy to play, and relies on a combination of continuous unlocks and – most importantly – responsive, satisfying explosions on the regular, to get players hooked on repeated short sessions." – Joystiq's Luftrausers Preview
2012 – PS3 (Download)
Ratchet and Clank return! Insomniac's latest installment brings the action to PSN with cross-play funcationality across the PS3 and Vita. Full Frontal Assault promises to return to the series roots, packing in plenty of action and weapons, but also throwing in some new tower defense elements.

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Nintendo Power's last issue will run in December

by Richard Mitchell on Aug 22nd 2012 1:00PM

After yesterday's report that the 24-year history of Nintendo Power was coming to an end, Nintendo has confirmed that the December 2012 issue will be the magazine's last. "Nintendo can confirm that Future US will end the production of Nintendo Power magazine with the last issue slated for December 2012," the company told CVG (which is also owned by Future Publishing, incidentally).

According to yesterday's report, Nintendo was "difficult to work with" and did little to help Future transition the magazine into the online era. Nintendo Power staff members will reportedly migrate to other Future publications.

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December NPD: MW3, Just Dance 3 and Skyrim lead an overall down month

by Jordan Mallory on Jan 12th 2012 6:31PM

The industry as a whole still managed to bang out $3.99 billion in combined new sales of hardware, physical software and accessories between November 27 and December 31, 2011. This is, however, a 21 percent drop year-over-year, as the industry pulled down a combined $5.07 billion during the same period in 2010.

"Overall industry results are not entirely surprising given that we are on the back end of the current console lifecycle, combined with the continued digital evolution of gaming," said Anita Frazier, an analyst with The NPD Group. "Core gamers continue to be engaged and spend on established franchises across both the digital and physical format using multiple devices for different gaming occasions."

A smooth $2.04 billion of that $3.99 billion total was caused entirely by new physical software sales, a dash for the cash that continues to be lead by Modern Warfare 3. The pseudo-medieval allure of November's second place podium finisher, Skyrim, was not enough to keep its throne for a second term; the Dovahkiin has been usurped by Ubisoft's compulsory neon-dancing simulator, Just Dance 3.

Comparatively, Skyrim got off easy: Uncharted 3, Saints Row: The Third and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, are all absent from December's Top-10 list, just weeks after their respective releases. Skyward Sword wasn't Nintendo's only horse in this race, however, as Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land closed out December in fourth and ninth place, respectively. Overall, Nintendo, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts claimed more Top-10 real estate than their competitors, each publishing two of the month's best selling titles.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3)Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (360, PS3, PC)Mario Kart 7 (3DS)Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)Madden NFL 12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2)Assassin's Creed: Revelations (360, PS3, PC)NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC)Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC)

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Now Playing: December 12-18, 2011

by Steven Wong on Dec 12th 2011 7:30PM

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Now Playing: December 19-25, 2011

by Steven Wong on Dec 19th 2011 7:30PM

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Now Playing: December 5-10, 2011

by Steven Wong on Dec 5th 2011 3:35PM

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Nintendo 3DS System Update Delayed to December 8, 2011

Many have been patiently awaiting the Nintendo 3DS system update for a while now. The previous date given was November 30, but after a recent note from Nintendo of America on November 28, it looks like 3DS owners will have to wait another week, making it available by December 8.

The upcoming Nintendo 3DS system update is in the final stages of internal testing and will be available by December 8. We will provide an additional update once the system update is officially available. 

The update is said to include a few things including 3D video recording via the Nintendo 3DS Camera, new game content in StreetPass Mii Plaza (including Find Mii II), and transfer of downloaded software and data between Nintendo 3DS systems.

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Nintendo DSi 1.4.2 Firmware Update available, blocks flash carts

Nintendo 3DS System Update is LIVE!

[3DS] Tales of the Abyss – 10 Nightmare Screenshots.

Wii: 3.2 firmware now available

Mushroom Men – Delayed Again

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Ubisoft's 'Drawsome Tablet' coming to Wii on December 6

UBISOFT® INTRODUCES DRAWSOME TABLET

New Drawing Peripheral for Nintendo's Wii™ System Bundled with Two Games

SAN FRANCISCO - November 8, 2011 - Today, Ubisoft® announced the development of the DrawsomeTM Tablet, a new drawing peripheral for the Wii™. Set to release exclusively in the United States on December 6, 2011, the video game tablet allows the entire family to show off their artistic creativity through an intuitive and engaging device. The Drawsome Tablet comes with two games, DrawsomeTM Artist and Drawsome Sketch QuestTM. Both games encourage players to unleash their creativity as well as challenge players to embark on fun family-friendly gaming adventures.

"Ubisoft is always looking for new ways to marry quality family time with a quality gaming experience," said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft North America. "With the Drawsome Tablet, Ubisoft is bringing to the market a peripheral that will allow families to sit down together and create their own unique works of art while participating in fun, creative adventures."

The Drawsome Tablet features a large 6.5x5-inch screen that allows for unrestricted drawing movements and features an innovative transparency layer that covers the drawing area, so players can trace their favorite images. The tablet comes with a wireless stylus which means players movements will not be limited by a tether; the size, shape, and feel of the pen also allows for a user-friendly experience for children. Everything drawn on the tablet will be displayed in real time on a home television. Using an SD card, users will be able to easily share their masterpieces with friends and family.

In Drawsome Artist, players can draw, paint and color by sketching on their own or learning advanced art techniques step by step. They even can interact with their favorite characters from The Smurfs, the world renowned animated brand, and learn how to draw and color them thanks to a huge gallery of predefined models. Also included is Drawsome Sketch Quest, in which players embark on an adventure to help a variety of cute animals race through their world by drawing bridges, trampolines and more. With 40 characters and 80 levels there is never a dull moment in either solo play or family-friendly four person co-op.

For more information on Drawsome, please visit: www.drawsometablet.com

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NPD December 2010 – Hardware and Software Sales Detailed - RipTen

Nintendo led in the Hardware count with the DS selling 2.5 million while the Wii moved 2.36 million units. While this sounds good, both systems were down from their numbers posted last year.

The Xbox 360 saw incredible growth in December, moving 1.86 million consoles in its best sales month ever recorded by tracking firm NPD – the only console that improved it’s numbers when compared to 2009.

The PS3 came in third out of the major consoles moving only 1.21 million units.  The DS passed the PSP in total U.S. sales.

The NPD recognized Call of Duty: Black Ops, Madden NFL ’11, Halo: Reach, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Red Dead Redemption as the top five titles of 2010 in terms of sales volume.

Hardware
Nintendo DS – 2.5 Million
Wii – 2.36 million
Xbox 360 – 1.86 million
PS3 – 1.21 million

December 2010 Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms incl. PC)
01. Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC) ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
02. Just Dance 2 (Wii) UBISOFT
03. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm** (PC) ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
04. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3) UBISOFT
05. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) NINTENDO
06. Disney Epic Mickey** (Wii) DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
07. Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP) ELECTRONIC ARTS
08. Michael Jackson The Experience** (Wii, NDS, PSP) UBISOFT
09. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE
10. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (360, PS3, Wii, PC) ELECTRONIC ARTS

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Annual 2010 Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms incl. PC)
01. Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, PC, NDS) ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
02. Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP) ELECTRONIC ARTS
03. Halo: Reach** (360) MICROSOFT
04. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) NINTENDO
05. Red Dead Redemption (360, PS3) TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE
06. Wii Fit Plus** (Wii) NINTENDO
07. Just Dance 2 (Wii) UBISOFT
08. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2** (360, PS3, PC) ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
09. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3) UBISOFT
10. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC) TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE

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Analyst: Wii down, Xbox 360 way up in December

The Wii continues to see slumping sales.

(Credit: Nintendo)

December may have been a bittersweet month for Nintendo.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates that Nintendo sold about 2.6 million Wii units last month, helping it to once again secure the top spot in hardware sales. The analyst believes it was trailed by the Xbox 360's 2.5 million unit sales and the PlayStation 3's 1.2 million unit sales.

But that's not quite the whole story on December.

If Nintendo did in fact sell 2.6 million Wii units, that means it saw a 32 percent decline compared with December 2009. Sony's PlayStation 3 would have seen unit sales decline 12 percent year over year. And with 2.5 million unit sales, the Xbox 360 would have seen 91 percent growth compared with December 2009.

Nintendo might have experienced bad news on the portable front as well. Pachter believes Nintendo sold 2.55 million DS units in December, representing a 23 percent decline year over year.

Overall, Pachter estimates that unit sales of game hardware industrywide were down 12 percent in December, compared with the prior year.

Pachter examines the retail channel each month and delivers sales forecasts, based on his data, prior to NPD releasing its official count. NPD is expected to make December sales figures available on Thursday.

Assuming Pachter's estimates are correct, they top off an extremely difficult year for Nintendo, which had easily bested the competition since the Wii's launch in 2006.

Throughout the year, Nintendo struggled to push hardware on consumers. During the six-month period ended that September 30, the company posted a $24.6 million loss on poor Wii and DS sales. It sold 6.69 million DS units and 4.97 million Wii units in that period. During the same six-month period in 2009, it sold 11.7 million DS units and 5.75 million Wii units.

For its part, Nintendo has kept a brave face on the trailing sales. The company has said that it had another banner year in 2010, selling over 7 million units of its Wii console for the third-consecutive time. However, it failed to mention that in 2008, it sold over 10 million Wii units and nearly hit the 10 million milestone again in 2009.

On the portable side, Nintendo has acknowledged that DS sales are lower than they were in 2009 but expects that its upcoming 3DS platform, which allows gamers to play titles in 3D without glasses, to help buoy sales. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said yesterday that he expects Nintendo to sell 4 million 3DS units by March, but acknowledged that potential health issues related to the device--namely, its potential to harm the vision of children under the age of 6--could have a negative effect on earnings.

Nintendo's 3DS launches in Japan on February 26 for $300. It's expected to be released in the U.S. in March.

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