The 3DS game cases show off a little bit more on their spine label than most game systems.

Nintendo seems to be giving gamers a little bit more with the 3DS even when its games are on the shelf.

Each 3DS game case's spine label has a small icon - used on the system's main menu to represent the game - alongside the usual game title and system name information.

For example, Madden NFL Football's spine features an up-close look at a football, while Pilotwings Resort's features a plane on a blue background.

The new Californian branch is about more than just localization.

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has said that new, English-specific software will be developed at their North American branch.

Last year, Level-5 opened up a North American branch in Santa Monica, California, with plans of using the new office for localization of its Japanese titles. It has recently been revealed, however, that CEO Akihiro Hino has his sights on something much bigger.

It conveys 3D without fancy screens.

An advertisement for Nintendo 3DS at an Australian EB Games features a mock-up Nintendo 3DS display, with a picture of Mario placed further back than the surrounding image. This gives off a perception of depth which helps to illustrate what the 3DS is all about.

Displays like this will undoubtedly be used around the world in similar places. 

Expect the unexpected from their upcoming company press event.

Level-5, the developer of well-known Professor Layton and not-so-well-known Inazuma Eleven, has promised to unveil a lot of big news at their annual press release, known as Level-5 Vision.

The company CEO Akihiro Hino said they expect to announce 20 titles, twice the amount shown at last year's... Read more...

The natural disasters in Japan have not impacted Western launch deliveries of the new handheld.

Nintendo Co. Ltd. has confirmed that the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week will not affect their plans to release the Nintendo 3DS later this month, nor do they see it impacting future shipments.

In a statement, the company confirmed that the ongoing effects of the natural disasters... Read more...

3DS game titles from other publishers include a points code for Club Nintendo Europe.

Nintendo 3DS games from publishers such as Ubisoft now include a card with a code for Club Nintendo Europe points. Previously, codes were only included with Nintendo published titles. The points can be redeemed for limited edition items on the Club Nintendo official rewards website.

Websites Planet3DS.de... Read more...

Several titles are going on sale in order to help Japan's earthquake relief fund.

Aksys Games, known for games like BlazBlu, has started a game sale as a way to aid Japan after it suffered an earthquake last week.

Starting today, players will be able to buy many of Aksys's titles at a discounted price across many platforms. All of the profits made in this sale will be sent to Japan's earthquake relief fund.

The classic dodgeball game will see a rebirth on the downloadable game service.

The classic Technos NES title, Super Dodgeball, will be remade and released for WiiWare in the near future.

Developer Miracle Kidz has released screenshots to confirm the upcoming release of the remake. Known in Japan as Downtown Nekketsu Dodgeball, the title will be a re-arrangement of the classic... Read more...

Sega and Marvel announce the first two Avengers to appear on the portable.

Sega announced at a press event today that two Marvel properties, Captain America and Thor, will be receiving 3DS games. Previously, Captain America: Super Soldier and Thor: God of Thunder were only know to be bound for Wii, DS, PSP, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, and it was also revealed today that the latter two versions will feature stereoscopic 3D.

Dragon Quest rises into the starry skies.

Square-Enix, the developer behind the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series, has announced that the ninth numbered entry in the Dragon Quest franchise has shipped 5.3 million units worldwide as of December of last year. Dragon Quest IX is now the best selling entry in the series.

The franchise itself has sold through 57 million units since its inception in 1986.

The earthquake results in another game missing its initial release date.

Due to recent events caused by the earthquake in Japan, Tecmo's Dead or Alive Dimensions for 3DS has been delayed. The title was set to launch on March 24. Tecmo, however, has expressed that this title and several others were delayed due to "various circumstances". The company has yet to announce a new date for the game.

Nintendo's latest system appears lacks a dedicated application to directly communicate with other players.

The Nintendo 3DS lacks a built in communication application, like PictoChat on the DS or the Wii Message Board. 

PictoChat, which came with the DS, allows players to connect wirelessly and chat through text and drawings. The Wii's Message Board allows users to send what were essentially emails to people on their friends list.

The new game will feature '2D artwork' but will still take 'full advantage' of the 3DS.

Marvelous is working on an original 2D 3DS game that will take advantage of the system's 3D capabilities. In an interview with Siliconera, Yoshifumi Hashimoto, credited producer on many Marveolus Entertainment published titles including Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Rune Factory, revealed that they are working on a new title. 

Square Enix has launched a new teaser website promoting the Dragon Quest spinoff's introduction to 3D gaming.

A sequel to Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (itself a sequel to a Japan only GBA title) is heading to Nintendo 3DS in Japan, according to a new teaser page at the official Dragon Quest website. 

The game, which is called Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3: Daikaizoku to Shippodan, and appears to be pirate themed (kaizoku means pirate in Japanese).

Nintendo's famed game designer explains to Iwata why he wanted to remake Ocarina of Time in 3D.

One of the main reasons Ocarina of Time was remade in 3D for the 3DS was because Shigeru Miyamoto, the title's original director and producer, wanted to experience the game in a new dimension.

In the latest installment of Iwata Asks, the Nintendo President sits down with Shigeru Miyamoto to talk about his upcoming Nintendo 3DS projects: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D. 

Nintendo's Steel Diver submerges off the radar once again. 

Numerous games that were due for imminent release in Japan were delayed over the past few days as a result of the devastating earthquake that shook the country last Friday. Today, Nintendo announced that its second first-party Nintendo 3DS title, Steel Diver, would indeed suffer the same fate.

Steel... Read more...

Inazuma Eleven's console debut has been pushed to a summer release. 

Inazuma Eleven Strikers for the Wii was originally scheduled to release in Japan late next month, but today, Level-5 announced that the game will miss its initial release date and launch sometime this summer.

While many Japanese games are being delayed due to the recent earthquake, Level-5 stated that the reason for the delay has more to do with the quality of the title. According to Andriasang, Level-5 released the following statement:

The new duo of Pokémon games have shifted over one million copies since release. 

In just 10 days since launch, Pokémon Black and Pokémon White have sold over a million copies in Europe, thereby making it the most successful launch of a Pokémon game in the region.

To date, the Pokémon series has now reached over 35 million units in Europe, a figure which is sure to rise as sales continue.

Plants fight off zombies and lights create music in this week's crop of games.

The week's update sees three games for DSiWare and one game and one demo for WiiWare. Highlighting the week's DSiWare updates is PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies. The tower defense-style title has players fighting off hordes of zombies using plants. Alongside the main game, there are four additional mini-games. Plants vs. Zombies can be downloaded for 800 DSi Points ($8).

The series' tradition of silly costumes continues with Dimensions.

Dead or Alive Dimensions will feature downloadable costumes using the 3DS's SpotPass feature.

According to a Famitsu news article, players will eventually be able to download 28 different costumes for the game's characters thanks to the 3DS's SpotPass. When players come in contact with a Wi-Fi signal, the game will automatically download new costumes.