[Wii U] Wii U to Ship Worldwide in Holiday Season 2012

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GameStop holiday 2011 sales up slightly, reach $3.02 billion

by Alexander Sliwinski on Jan 10th 2012 2:30AM

GameStop reported sales for the nine weeks ending December 31, 2011. In that period, it achieved sales of $3.02 billion, which, on the surface, is a repeat of last year's number. Moving down the decimal point, the company reported $3,018.1 million in 2010 (itself a record) and $3,019.1 in 2011 -- a new record by a million dollars.

Digital sales increased 60 percent during the period, led by Call of Duty Elite, a 2011 blockbuster. The paid service reached 600,000 sales in early November and had already become one of the retail giant's "top 10 launches of the year."

New video game software increased 9.9 percent, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 leading the pack to the shock of nobody. New hardware sales declined 19.6 percent as "there were no new console products or low enough price points to stimulate consumer demand."

"During the holiday, our solid sales performance of new high-def console software was offset by weak Wii software sales and hardware sales due to the lack of new hardware offerings versus the 2010 period. We were pleased with the performance of our buy-sell-trade business, digital offerings and mobile initiatives," said CEO Paul Raines. The company's used sales increased 3.5 percent during the period, with iOS trade-ins exceeding expectations. "GameStop also retired the remainder of its long-term debt establishing a debt-free balance sheet as we go into 2012."

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UK game industry holiday snapshot suggests weakening retail sales

by Jessica Conditt on Jan 11th 2012 3:00AM

Two major UK video-game retailers, HMV and Game, saw a drop in sales over Christmas, prompting HMV to reconsider its investment in games as a whole, The Telegraph reports. HMV's gaming market share fell 16 percent over the holidays, while sales in music and DVDs saw no change; games now account for 20 percent of HMV's sales. Chief Executive Simon Fox said HMV may focus only on AAA titles in the future.

Game's Christmas retail sales were down 15 percent, while year-on-year it lost 13 percent in sales, GamesIndustry.biz says. Online sales rose 4 percent, and sales for the year ending January 2012 dropped 12 percent, less than the UK gaming market's total loss of 13 percent. Game recently closed 39 stores and is expected to have 550 in the UK by 2013, GamesIndustry notes. CEO Ian Shepherd is banking on the Wii U and PS Vita to revitalize sales in 2012.

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Iwata Claus drops a holiday Nintendo Direct vid on Dec. 26

by JC Fletcher on Dec 24th 2011 1:00PM

In October, Satoru Iwata hosted a "Nintendo Direct" video, in which he introduced the pink 3DS, detailed the big firmware update, and gave release windows for some eShop releases. Iwata will host another video press conference on December 27 at noon JST, or 10PM EST on December 26, according to a new "event" set up on the publisher's Ustream site. This time, we suspect we'll learn release dates -- or windows -- for at least some of its big upcoming releases, like Luigi's Mansion 2, Mario Tennis, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, or Paper Mario.

Last time, the Japanese video was followed the next morning by a Nintendo of America version, hosted by NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime. The same will probably happen this time.

[Santa hat from Maridav / Shutterstock]

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2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: Wii, DS, and 3DS

Maybe you want to give a new 3DS owner a headstart on filling out their collection. Or maybe you want to justify your own continued Wii ownership. Whatever the reason, you can be sure a ton of holiday shopping will include games and accessories for Nintendo platforms.

Allow us to help you guide your shopping, so that you don't enter the store in a fugue state and come out with 12 copies of Food Network: Cook or be Cooked. We'll help you find the best stuff from the last year. Just click the links below to jump to the section of your choice, or head past the break for everything.

3DS

Super Mario 3D Land ($39.96)

If you're a Mario player from way back, this will feel both familiar and new to you. It's a clever blend of 3D Mario design and perspective with 2D Mario-style stage layouts. It's also wonderful for bite-sized play sessions.

Mario Kart 7 ($39.99)

Everybody likes Mario Kart. You like Mario Kart. Even if you hate Mario Kart, you'll get hooked on it. This one has some nice online play, allowing you to lose to all your friends even when they aren't within taunting distance.

Cave Story 3D ($39.99)

This version of the classic Cave Story is ideal for people who don't identify as "retro" gamers, as it has fancy new graphics that disguise it as a new game. It's also great for people who want to see a familiar game in a new way. The important thing is that every single person should have a copy of Cave Story.

Bit Trip Saga ($39.95, currently eligible for buy one, get one half off)

Also in the "everyone should own" department: a collection of Gaijin Games' inventive, beautiful, rhythm explorations of the evolution of games. It's ... entirely likely you or your gift recipient failed to get these on WiiWare, so here they are in a nice portable format!

Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition ($18.58)

If you're able to live without an arcade stick, you'll find a clever port of the industry-standard fighting game here, one that can be played with distant friends anywhere there's a wi-fi signal.

Dead or Alive Dimensions ($25.23)

The single-player mode is loaded with absolutely hilarious, freeze-frame cutscenes. Take that as a plus or minus according to your own preferences. But regardless of that presentation, the story mode in this game is the best fighting game training sequence ever designed.

Pilotwings Resort ($34.98)

A nice, mellow plane or jetpack ride around Nintendo's Wuhu Island is a good way to familiarize yourself with the 3DS. At least, it's mellow until you start getting into the later challenges.

Star Fox 64 3D ($37.99, currently eligible for buy one, get one half off)

Pixeljunk developer Q-Games updated the Nintendo 64 game with new graphics and new gyro controls. And, necessarily, the ability to put the whole thing in your pocket.

Nintendogs + Cats ($32.87 - $34.41)

Cute puppies and kind of cute, kind of uncanny-valley-ish kittens living inside your 3DS. If you're in the "people who like puppies" demographic, this is probably something you'll enjoy in short sessions. If you're not in that demographic, get the hell off of our website, creepo.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D bundle ($199.99)

Look at it! Look at it.

Power Pak+/Charge Base ($14.39/$19.00)

If you ever decide to use your 3DS as, like, a portable system ... out of your house ... you'll probably need one of these. If you have the extra scratch, it's nice to have the Charge Base for drop-in charging, but it's not necessary. (Update: Nyko reminded us that it also has the $29.99 Power Grip, which doesn't require unscrewing of the 3DS battery case, and has handgrips. Another option!)

Wii

Pro Pack Mini Plus ($29.96-$40.83)
If you want Skyward Sword, but don't plan to pick up the hardware bundle, why not get one of these smaller Wii Remote Plus controllers? It's a lot more comfortable for the epic journey between the A and +/- buttons.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure ($65.98 - infinity)

The Wii was the lead platform on this cute, collectible-laden game, so it's not a bad way to experience it at all. A bad way to experience it, we think, would be anywhere near a child, in a toy store. That would be a bad, expensive way to experience Skylanders.

Donkey Kong Country Returns ($43.99)

Yes, this is from last year, but you didn't buy it, did you? Even if you did, you know somebody who didn't. Buy it.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword ($49.99-$69.99)

What are you doing with a Nintendo system if you aren't even a little interested in Zelda? Or in motion controls? This is a Zelda game, with cool motion controls. And for twenty bucks more (if you can find it) you can get a fancy gold Wii Remote Plus to enhance the experience ... of looking at your hand while playing.

Rayman Origins ($45.98)

A delightful 2D platformer with co-op co-interference that will remind you of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. But with more slapping.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land ($49.99)

It's a simplistic platformer that keeps the player overpowered at all times, but it's also adorable, and perfect as an introduction to Kirby for kiddos.

DS

Dragon Quest 6: Realms of Revelation ($24.80)

Take all the time you have for other games, and spend it recruiting monsters, leveling up in a variety of jobs, and traveling between a dream world and the "real" Zenithia.

Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 ($34.99)

Oh, your favorite part of DQ6 was the monster collecting? Well, how about a whole game about recruiting and training Slimes, Drackies, and other monsters from the RPG series? It's a Pokemon-type adventure in which you can capture, train, and even combine 300 monsters.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective ($14.11)

Combining unique puzzle mechanics and an unmatchedly odd story, Ghost Trick is an experience like no other. We can't seem to say anything about it that doesn't reference its singular nature. And sadly, given the sales, it'll likely remain singular.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter ($33.30)

Developer CyberConnect2 indirectly recalls Mega Man Legends and directly recalls its own Tail Concerto with a classic action-RPG adventure. As adventurer Red Savarin, you go from floating island to floating island, taking on any quest you and your bipedal robot can complete.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter ($29.99)

It's a pretty safe bet as to whether you'll like this: if you a) liked any previous Layton game, or b) like puzzles even a little, you'll like Last Specter. As a nice bonus, once you've completed the atmospheric puzzle adventure (or while you're playing it), you have the London Life RPG to get lost in.

Aliens: Infestation ($29.99, currently eligible for buy one, get one half off)

Meet a bunch of newly invented Colonial Marines as you attempt (and mostly fail) to survive against xenomorphs, robots, and other threats aboard the Sulaco. It's equally great for Aliens fans and people who love a good Metroidvania.

Kirby Mass Attack ($29.99, currently eligible for buy one, get one half off)

This is the kind of bizarre experiment we've come to expect from Kirby -- a side-scrolling action RTS in which you control ten adorable puffballs at once.

Domo Starter Kit for DSi ($24.46)

Your DSi doesn't look like Domo-kun? What's that about?

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword set for holiday 2011

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Jun 7th 2011 12:22PM

Taking to the stage at Nintendo's E3 keynote at the Nokia theater in Los Angeles, Shigeru Miyamoto announced that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will arrive on Wii during Holiday 2011. This represents a new release window for the MotionPlus-enabled adventure, which was pushed back until after the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

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Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 aiming for all consoles this holiday

by Ben Gilbert on May 19th 2011 11:25AM

If you're as obsessed with the boy who lived as we are, this summer's final chapter in the Harry Potter film series is unlikely to sate your desire for British wizardry. Thankfully, Warner Bros. has announced that the next entry in the Lego Harry Potter series will arrive on pretty much anything that plays video games, sometime "this holiday."

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 follows Harry and co. through the treacherous final years at Hogwarts, leading up to the seventh book's catastrophic conclusions. Interestingly, the game is one of a handful of announced games for Sony's forthcoming system, the NGP (in addition to the PSP -- they're going to live alongside each other, remember?)

If Lego HP lives up to its promise of launching on all those consoles this holiday, it looks like North America is still set to be one of the first territories getting Sony's new handheld before year's end. Reps from WBIE hadn't gotten back to us as of publishing.

[Pictured: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4]

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U.S. Troops Surrounded by Holiday Mail During WWII

Description: U.S. troops almost buried by parcels do their best to handle that year's holiday mail.

Creator/Photographer: Unidentified photographer

Medium: Black and white photographic print

Culture: American

Geography: USA

Date: c. 1944

Persistent URL: http://photography.si.edu/SearchImage.aspx?id=5639

Repository: National Postal Museum

Collection: U.S. Military Mail

Accession number: A.2008-51

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