News round-up

Some big news making the rounds today. So here is another news round-up.

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1. Nintendo raises profit outlook

Nintendo has upped their profit outlook once again, this time by 66 billion Yen (which approximates to 500 million US Dollar). According to the note to investors, the main reasons for this are ´robust trends in sales of "Nintendo DS" hardware and software.´

Source: Nintendo Co. Ltd. investors notice

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2. European Wiis to get online gaming May 25th

´Mario Strikers´ will be the first Wii game in Europe to feature online gaming. This emerged from an article on Eurogamer, detailing the game´s online features.

It will be possible for two players on a single Wii to play on the same team against two players on another Wii connected to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection network. (...)

The game will use the usual Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection "Friend code" system, and will also offer random matches. These will be region-locked though, so you won't ever be randomly paired with an opponent in Australia, for example.

However, you will be able to play against gamers in other regions if you have their friend code, meaning that there won't be anything to stop you smacking the Aussies around when the game arrives on 25th May if you already know them.

Source: Eurogamer
Thanks to: Kotaku

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3. Wii breaks sales records in first four month

Kotaku have compiled a handy chart of various consoles´ sales figures from their respective first four months of sales in the US.


And here is the same chart, each console pitted against the respective system´s software sales.


With the latter chart adding a few systems, we should note that Wii is only beaten by the N64 - a grim reminder that four months are too early to declare a winner in the console wars.

Source: Kotaku

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4. UK retailers reduce PS3 price to clear stock

UK retailers WH Smith and Play have temporarily dropped the PS3´s price tag by £25 (approximately $50) to £399,99 ($790). The latter even includes an HDMI cable and a Blu-ray movie.


If Sony has managed to come close to their shipment target of six million consoles by March, the estimated sales figures suggest that around three million consoles worldwide could be sitting on store shelves.

The price drop by those retailers comes out of their own pockets (since Sony has not reduced the wholesale price retailers pay). With the console launching less than two weeks ago, such a move - albeit for a limited period - is a clear indicator that the system is not selling through.

Those retailers are clearly looking to sell off PS3 stock in order to restock faster-selling products, like the Wii.

Sources: MCV, MCV
Image Source: Coneee NOTE: The image does not show either retail outlet mentioned above
Thanks to: Joystiq

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5. ´Resident Evil 4´ confirmed for Wii

Almost forgot this one... Famitsu has confirmed that ´Resident Evil 4´ will be the first Gamecube game to be re-released for Wii (discounting ´Zelda: Twilight Princess´), CVG reports.

Expect many more such ´Wii-makes´, as Miyamoto announced them back in August.

Miyamoto envisages any such remakes will retail at a much lower price to their 'Cube originals, and may even help bring third party support to the system. "Even now," continued Miyamoto, "[GameCube titles] are sold at used shops, so we don't feel we could sell them for full price.

However, development costs have been taken care of, so we could probably sell them at a more accessible price. If we make it so that such GC to Wii remakes can be produced quickly, it's possible that many titles will also be released from third parties."

There is apparently no mention of a lower price in the Famitsu article. But Gamestop had listed the game in question for only $29,99 - before removing the page.

Sources: CVG, IGN, CVG