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Latest Nintendo Direct Filled With...Not Much

Nintendo mostly spent a few minutes on release dates, including some delays. You'll have to wait a little bit longer to control some Pikmin.

No Caption Provided

The Nintendo Direct promotions have proven a reliable source of interesting news from the Japanese company, and their frequency means they don’t have to include bombshells every time. The first one after the launch of your new console, which has largely received a mixed reaction? Bring your A game, man! Nintendo didn’t.

Instead, we have confirmation of games that were probably coming here and are now definitely are, vague new release dates for desired upcoming games that are actually delays, and looks at new features that do little than prompt you to scratch your head and wonder what Nintendo’s thinking (get excited for Google Maps?).

Here are your updated release dates for the next few months:

Wii U

3DS

Nothing about The Wonderful 101. Nothing about Bayonetta 2. Nothing about Virtual Console. No updates on the abysmally slow Wii U interface. No news on Nintendo Network coming to 3DS. No clarification on transferring accounts or data between machines in the future. There were a whole lotta opportunities to shore up support amongst people who have bought or will buy a machine, but instead, it felt like business as usual. Pretty strange.

I don’t mean to be so down, since I do really like my Wii U, but this was pretty disappointing.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

113 Comments

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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind

@evanbower: So did they need to do a big conference like this, just to announce a date for that one game?

Both of the games I mentioned are solely being released for Nintendo systems, just as the new Monster Hunter is. It would make sense to announce them here, because more people would see them.

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Meepasaurus

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Edited By Meepasaurus

I won't have time to play it anyway, but dang is that Pikmin 3 delay a bummer.

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BBQBram

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Edited By BBQBram

I might finally play a Fire Emblem game then, if it's the first big game for 3DS next year.

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Deusx

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Edited By Deusx

Well that sucks.

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SuperSonic1305

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Edited By SuperSonic1305

I still haven't played a single Wii U game because the overscan issue is so annoying. Get your crap together Nintendo.

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ThePhantomStranger

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So Nintendo finally gets one up on Apple....

OT: I wonder what Wii Fit U means for Wii Sports and such.

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orange_pork

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Edited By orange_pork

@Swick said:

Whys is that man wearing a helmet?

Standard Google Maps safety procedures.

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defe

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Edited By defe

Tokyo Crash Mobs seems cool except for the gameplay part. Maybe I'll be proven wrong though. I wonder if the panoramic videos will be fun. Seems like they have potential. Not too interested in the street view stuff, even if I can see a turtle.

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TadThuggish

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Edited By TadThuggish

What a stupid company.

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ilikepopcans

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Edited By ilikepopcans
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evanbower

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Edited By evanbower

@WinterSnowblind said:

@evanbower: So did they need to do a big conference like this, just to announce a date for that one game?

Both of the games I mentioned are solely being released for Nintendo systems, just as the new Monster Hunter is. It would make sense to announce them here, because more people would see them.

A lot of things would make sense to announce, but if Square isn't ready to announce that, it's silly to say "Nintendo, why didn't you say that on Square's behalf?" Also.. I don't think you saw it, because it couldn't by any stretch be called a "big conference." They do these all the damn time, they're pre-recorded videos which are basically just audio-visual press releases.

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fargofallout

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Edited By fargofallout

Glad I didn't pick one of these up.

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Hunter5024

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Edited By Hunter5024

@Video_Game_King said:

@oldenglishC said:

Damn you February 4th! Get here sooner!

My reaction was...different.

My reaction was... similar.

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kalmia64

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Edited By kalmia64

I want my Animallll Crossinggggg!!!!!!

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Eribuster

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Edited By Eribuster

"There were a whole lotta opportunities to shore up support amongst people who have bought or will buy a machine, but instead, it felt like business as usual. Pretty strange."

To be fair, they have to save something for January 2013. Nintendo Direct shows have been on a consistent monthly basis so far.

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peppermario

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Edited By peppermario

Pikmin 3 delayed and no word on Animal Crossing... man

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DeF

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Edited By DeF

@Eribuster said:

"There were a whole lotta opportunities to shore up support amongst people who have bought or will buy a machine, but instead, it felt like business as usual. Pretty strange."

To be fair, they have to save something for January 2013. Nintendo Direct shows have been on a consistent monthly basis so far.

That's only because of the launch ramp up. Nintendo Directs previously were on a two month schedule (starting in October 2011) with some special occasion installments in-between. So the next one should be in February (they typically had a Japan-exclusive thing around Christmas time as well in the previous two years).

So I don't think we'll see another one in January.

@Swick said:

Whys is that man wearing a helmet?

Because he is scuba diving in Google Streetview with his Wii U GamePad. Obviously.

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Scooper

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Edited By Scooper

Nintendo's last console.

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Gladiator_Games

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Edited By Gladiator_Games
@patrickklepek I love you patrick. I appreciate everything youve done for the community and the site :)
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kalmia64

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Edited By kalmia64

@patrickklepek:

No Caption Provided
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Eribuster

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Edited By Eribuster

@DeF: February then.

No matter how desperately we want it or how Nintendo needs it, I don't think we'll be getting megaton news from Nintendo Directs or Nintendo in general. Instead, it will be a somewhat regular steam (or trickle if that's how you see it) every other month. Sadly, that's better than what has been years before.

It is worrying that the Wii U doesn't seem to have anything in January or February coming out for it. I hoped that Nintendo had lined up some eShop games to plug such holes in the calendar.

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Peanut

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Edited By Peanut

If these fucks don't start talking Animal Crossing soon...well...I'll continue to be sad. :(((((((((((((((((((((

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DeF

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Edited By DeF

@Eribuster said:

@DeF: February then.

No matter how desperately we want it or how Nintendo needs it, I don't think we'll be getting megaton news from Nintendo Directs or Nintendo in general. Instead, it will be a somewhat regular steam (or trickle if that's how you see it) every other month. Sadly, that's better than what has been years before.

It is worrying that the Wii U doesn't seem to have anything in January or February coming out for it. I hoped that Nintendo had lined up some eShop games to plug such holes in the calendar.

Well, they dropped the Bayonetta 2 bomb via Nintendo Direct (though that was one of those special cases). They probably won't drop the earth shattering E3-level megatons but some plus-sized tons have been dropped in the past.

Wii U's schedule is weirdly empty in North America. Europe is still getting Scribblenauts, NInja Gaiden and Sing Party und January/February so that's something at least. Maybe Lego City Undercover still makes it out in January? Weird that they still won't talk about a clear date. I really hope that game delivers since I'm totally digging the premise.

As for eShop stuff, there will be more stuff coming that they just didn't talk about much. Like Puddle, for example, which launched with the Wii U last Friday in PAL regions without the slightest hint or mention. It's not even out in the US eShop yet.

They sure as hell could be talking about a lot more stuff :)

@Peanut said:

If these fucks don't start talking Animal Crossing soon...well...I'll continue to be sad. :(((((((((((((((((((((

Patrick seems to have missed that the European Nintendo Direct confirmed Q2 2013 launch for Animal Crossing ("as soon as possible").

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jacksukeru

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Edited By jacksukeru

Dam u IWATA! Why u so likable?

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ArbitraryWater

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Edited By ArbitraryWater

@Hunter5024 said:

@Video_Game_King said:

@oldenglishC said:

Damn you February 4th! Get here sooner!

My reaction was...different.

My reaction was... similar.

My reaction was... man I really need to get a 3DS.

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GaspoweR

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Edited By GaspoweR

@Orange_Pork said:

@Swick said:

Whys is that man wearing a helmet?

Standard Google Maps safety procedures.

Iwata aims to please ;)

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MikkaQ

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Edited By MikkaQ

Why would you need a google map in your house?

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Dogma

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Edited By Dogma

Didn't Patrick miss the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate date(ish) too? Or was that only talked about in the Euro version of the broadcast?

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ExplodeMode

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Edited By ExplodeMode

Hey, I might try a fire Emblem game now. That's something.

Also Iwata continues to be cooler than everyone else.

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blacklab

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Edited By blacklab

Google maps? Seems like a waste of effort.

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Jazz_Lafayette

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Edited By Jazz_Lafayette

I got a Wii in 2006 and waited 'til 2009 to grab a PS3. Methinks there'll be a role reversal this time around, especially since this initial round of U hardware seems to be bunk.

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Cybexx

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Edited By Cybexx

Nice to see them talking about Luigi's Mansion again but yeah the lack of Wonderful 101 info is weird since that was supposed to be "Launch Window", lack of Bayonetta 2 info isn't surprising though, that game isn't coming out till Fall 2013 at the earliest. It seems like the Pikmin 3 delay is for visual polish, since there was a lot of feedback during E3 that said it looked like a hi-res Wii game but the new footage they showed looks pretty good, especially the lighting.

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Milkman

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Edited By Milkman

@patrickklepek said:

No Caption Provided

I'm dead. This picture murdered me.

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beard_of_zeus

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Edited By beard_of_zeus

Hey now, I'm very interested in the release date of the new Fire Emblem! And look at Iwata in that helmet! A success in my eyes :)

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jsnyder82

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Edited By jsnyder82

So...is TVii still coming out this month? That would be great.

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VicRattlehead

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Edited By VicRattlehead

i got excited when i seen dqx then sad when i seen the japan sighhhhh

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ChaoticIgnorance

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Edited By ChaoticIgnorance

I'm pretty sure the Wii U update that went out fixed the load times a bit. It may not have been in the Nintendo Direct, but at least you got it.

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Dan_CiTi

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Edited By Dan_CiTi

Wooooo Harmo Knight! More GameFreak games!!

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TobyD81

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Edited By TobyD81

What are you supposed to do with Google maps on a system that doesn't leave your house?

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ThePilgrums

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Edited By ThePilgrums

@Scooper said:

Nintendo's last console.

Probably not since they still have like $9 Billion+ sitting in the bank. If the Wii U is a colossal failure their next one could be.

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awadnin

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Edited By awadnin

Pikmin 3 was the best game in this show.

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Turambar

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Edited By Turambar

A date for Fire Emblem is about all the news I needed.

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ninjalegend

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Edited By ninjalegend

Dude, that is a bummer. I was hoping they had something else kind of solid right around the corner. It would be a really good idea to get a game out that really shows what the system can do in an actual game, not a mini game collection. After losing interest in the Wii, I sold it a while back before Galaxy 2 or Skyward Sword came out. Now playing Skyward Sword on the WiiU, I understand what Patrick meant in his review. I see motion controls can work and be fun in an actual game. I hope Nintendo brings a game out that illustrates what this new system can bring to the table faster than the years later it took them to release Skyward Sword that did exactly that for the Wii.

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TheKing

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Edited By TheKing

@MattSchwabby said:

I really hate the cynicism that is taking over a lot of the gaming press.

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yukoasho

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Edited By yukoasho

Sounds like Nintendo being Nintendo again. I'll wait for a price drop or two, unless I get it for Christmas or something.

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MormonWarrior

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Edited By MormonWarrior

I'm finding myself less and less interested in getting a Wii U and more and more interested in making a kick-butt PC that can run that Dolphin emulator so I can play Mario Galaxy in HD for realz!

Now Luigi's Mansion...THAT I'm interested in playing.

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veektarius

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Edited By veektarius

I'm not sure how I feel about the phrase "largely received mixed reviews", because I feel like the phrase "mixed reviews" implies it is a summary of multiple reviews...

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npa189

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Edited By npa189

Sons of bitches delaying pikmin! Oh well, I'm sure it's in that June spot now, and I bet game and wario will be February.

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Dreamfall31

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Edited By Dreamfall31

Luigi's Mansion may get me to finally buy a 3DS!