Nintendo Direct 9.13.12: Wii U launch details

Sorry you all, but I didn't give any prior notice about today's Nintendo Direct, which was so packed with news I'll be talking about it for days to come. It took place at 10:00 AM Eastern time this morning (8:00 for me), with a singular theme: Wii U. Today I'll be talking about the essential info. that we've been waiting on for a long time:

• Launch date: November 18, 2012
• Launch prices: Basic Set - $299.99; Deluxe Set - $349.99

You're probably wondering about the basic set vs. the deluxe set. Here's the rundown:

•  Basic Set
• Color: White
• Includes:
• Wii U console
• Gamepad controller
• AC adapter
• HDMI connection
• Sensor bar

• Deluxe Set
• Color: Black
• Includes
• Everything listed above for the basic set
• Gamepad charging cradle
• Console stand
• Gamepad stand
• 32 GB storage
• Nintendo Land game disc
•  Enrollment in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which rewards points for digital purchases

First of all, I'm very impressed with the price points. Before today, I was certain of one thing: the Wii U wasn't going to be $249.99, which was the launch price of the Wii. Still, for an HD console and its controller-with-a-six-inch-touch-screen, $299.99 comes off as very fair. Add a game, a stand for the console, etc. for just $50 extra, and you won't see me complaining. As for the release date, I'm basically indifferent, aside from the fact that my birthday comes 8 days after.

I have to confess, I find it odd that the two launch colors correspond only with their respective sets. If I had my way, I would be able to get the deluxe set in white. Maybe that's just me...

Now I've told you what I think, so I would love to know what you think! Is the launch price too expensive in your opinion? Will you go with a basic set or a deluxe set? Let me know your thoughts in a comment!

More Nintendo Direct 9.13.12 Posts

• Nintendo Land and Other First Party Wii U Games 
• Thoughts on Nintendo TVii 

To the sufferers of gaming frustration

It's funny that I should start thinking about the idea for this post during a time when I feel like I have little touble in the way of gaming frustration. Nevertheless, you can be assured that I understand gaming anger probably better than most people, being myself an easily-frustrated person.

To better understand this issue, let's break it down and examine it piece by piece. What is gaming anger? It's the process of becoming upset, frustrated, or angry due to some unfortunate game-related occurrence. What kinds of occurrences could trigger frustration? The most common and easily acknowledged answer is pure game difficulty. And it's in this instance that you might hear stupid comments like "Wow!!!! Mario really doesn't want me to succeed here!" from the player. Why then, when we know that "it's just a game", do we take it so seriously it drives us to anger? "It's just a game" only causes me to get mad all the quicker. There's an evil little voice in my head that says, "It's just a game, so you should be the master of it!" I want to beat the game, not see it beat me! So I get mad when I can't beat something.

How can you combat your gaming anger? Though I didn't like the DS game Professor Layton and the Curious Village very much, I allowed it to teach me something worthwhile. When it comes to games, I am a perfectionist. Playing that game, I hated spending coins to unlock hints, because I felt like it tainted my perfect file. I came to understand that many games aren't meant to be easy, and so some will offer assistance. You can see that assistance as a slap in the face and then scream at it, or you can see it as part of the game and embrace it whether you chose to use it or not.

For the moment, I guess it seems I'm taking my own advice! Comments? Questions? Derogatory remarks? You know where the comment box is!

Nintendo recruits Penelope and Monica Cruz to promote New Super Mario Bros. 2

Kudos to Nintendo for getting Penelope and Monica Cruz, two high-profile celebrities, to promote New Super Mario Bros. 2. Watch the video above to see a humorous wager unfold between the two sisters.

You've probably noticed by now that I don't share many videos on the blog. So when I do, you know that they're something special! If watching this doesn't put a smile on your face, you have proven me wrong. Either way, let me know what you think in a comment! 

Can you believe a non-fan drew these Zelda characters?

I have many friends who are not Nintendo fans. And I know they're pretty much awesome when they spend several hours drawing Zelda characters for me. In this case, I'm referring to my friend Clarissa Jack, whose work you can see here on this post. I highly encourage you to view an enlarged version by clicking on it, because the limited space on the blog doesn't do it justice.

Clarissa also allowed me to take even more of her time in an interview, which you can read right here:

Me: You're not a gamer. What drew you to these characters aesthetically?
Clarissa: I started out just wanting to do Midna, but I looked at some of the other characters and decided to do a montage.

You seem to have mixed different iterations of the characters to create a more original look for them. What made you take those liberties?
Well, it's true, I had at least three different pictures for each character. I didn't just want to copy/paste. In fact, I'm against that style. I wanted to make them my own.

About how long did it take you to complete this project?
It took the longest just penciling them in; I would say it took about five hours to do the pencil work, about one hour for the pen work, and about four hours for the coloring. Fi alone took about an hour to color, but she was the most fun.

Are there any other Nintendo franchises that you have an interest in doing artwork for?
Probably not. I'm not familiar enough with any of the other franchises to draw them.

Thank you for your time!
You're welcome!

Nintendo 3DS XL unboxing and first impressions

Remember when I said I most likely would not get a Nintendo 3DS XL system? Well, I kinda did. See for yourself:

Strangely, the box is about half as big as the one the original 3DS came in.

The smaller box is a hint that the Nintendo 3DS XL doesn't include a charging cradle.

I was frankly shocked at how big the system actually was. It's massive!

Having owned both models of the Nintendo 3DS system now, what do I think of the upgraded XL version? In short, I love it. It solved all of the problems the original had that bugged me. The original had a strange reflective quality in the surface area surrounding the top screen. Problem solved. The stylus fit into a slot on the back of the original system. Problem solved: the stylus fits into a more convenient side slot on the XL. The top flap of the original stuck out over the bottom slightly, earning it the embarrassing nickname "muffin top". Problem solved. The boxy shape of the original dug into one's palms terribly. Problem solved...mostly. The XL is definitely more comfortable to hold than the original, but I still get the hand cramps at times.

I know many are disappointed that the Nintendo 3DS XL system doesn't have a built-in second analogue. If that bugs you, then go ahead and do your thing. I don't find it bothersome at all. I could complain about one or two things, though. These are minor issues, though, so keep that in mind. The XL is fairly heavy. I didn't expect much else, but it does feel a little out of balance that way. Also, I think the 3-D effect takes a hit because of the XL's low resolution. Turning the 3-D on makes a notable difference in the graphics...to me anyway. Fortunately I prefer to play in 2-D anyway, so no big deal.

Overall I think the Nintendo 3DS XL is superior to its smaller counterpart. I can honestly say I'm glad I made the upgrade.