In the latest Iwata Asks roundtable segment, Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that he intended to make Zelda:  Ocarina of Time entirely in first-person. more »

A Nintendo representative confirmed to Wired at this week’s New York-based 3DS press event that the ability to browse the web and download digital games on 3DS will come post-launch. Reportedly, the functionality will be added later on in the form of firmware updates, similar to Sony’s strategy for the PSP.

Nintendo plans on populating the 3DS download store — dubbed “eShop” — with a Virtual Console subsection that includes Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles. Additionally, titles from a wide range of third-party developers will be made available, akin to DSiWare and WiiWare.

While the delayed launch puzzles us, it could be taken as a sign that Nintendo wants to spend extra time polishing its digital storefront this time around. In the past, DSiWare and WiiWare have both been under fire from indie developers, citing a lack of promotion and visibility woes. For Nintendo’s sake, hopefully the eventual rollout isn’t too far away.

The Xbox 360 platform saw incredible growth in December, shifting 1.86 million units in its best sales month ever according to retail tracking firm NPD. In fact, it was the only platform to enjoy a year-over-year increase in hardware sales over 2009.

Elsewhere across the spectrum, things aren’t looking as rosy, especially not for Sony. While big hitters like Black Ops and Assassin’s Creed: Brother landed spots in the top ten chart, Sony’s perpetually delayed racer Gran Turismo 5, which hit shelves near the tail end of November, was completely absent. It was outranked by Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson The Experience, among others. more »

No platform launch is complete without Madden, right? EA today announced that it is gearing up to bring gaming’s football titan over to the 3DS early next year, to coincide with the handheld’s March debut.

Backed by 3D depth camera effects, the 3DS iteration will bring with it a “comprehensive handheld experience.” Gameplay modes promised include authentic 11-on-11 football, fast-paced 5-on-5 action and Season Mode. more »

When it comes to product promotion, Activision is leaving no stone unturned with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops. The publisher sent word today that the game’s November 9 release will coincide with availability of the official soundtrack.

Scheduled to hit iTunes and “other major digital media retailers,” the 30-track offering features music of film composer Sean Murray, marking his second collaboration with developer Treyarch following the release of Call of Duty: World at War. Fans can pick up the entire shebang for $11.99 or $.99 per track.

DS sales took a massive hit this year, with Nintendo’s latest finanical report revealing worldwide unit sales of 6.69 million over the six months ending September 30, 2010. While that’s nothing to scoff at, the figure represents a significant decline of 42 percent — down from 11.7 million last year over the same time period.

Of course, with the 3DS looming on the horizon, it’s not surprising to see the DS hardware sales falter for the first time since… forever.

As a result, net sales took a steep decline, to 363.2 billion yen from 548.1 billion yen the previous year. Wii sales attributed to the decline, albeit not as sharply. Nintendo shifted 4.97 million Wii units, compared to 2009′s 5.75 million.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the company is projecting unit sales of 4 million and 15 million for 3DS hardware and software, respectively. That gives Nintendo a sales window of about one month. It’s hardly a lofty goal when you factor in how many DS owners out there are anxiously awaiting to make the transition, we reckon.

Nintendo of America finally jumped on the bandwagon with its other regional divisions today, announcing that a pair of red Wii and DSi XL bundles, reserved for Mario’s 25th anniversary, will hit the US on November 7.

The confirmation solidifies listings that inadvertently emerged over at retailer Wal-Mart last week, ahead of Nintendo’s official word. Here’s a run-down on what’s included: more »

Square Enix has stamped a January 11 release date on Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded, the publisher announced today.

Story-wise, the Nintendo DS title picks up where KH2 left off, as players unravel the mystery behind an entry in Jiminy Cricket’s journal that he did not write. Perplexed by its significance, King Mickey digitizes the journal, opening up a “datascape” to explore its contents and investigate. In a bizarre twist, a second Sora lies within the digital world. more »

Echoing criticism made by vocal core gamers, Nintendo has conceded that its suite of online services for Wii and DS are lagging behind the competition. While company CEO Satoru Iwata admits that Nintendo is “not currently satisfied” with its online offerings, he reassures that efforts to bring forth improvements are underway.

At the same time, Iwata feels online comes secondary to a compelling offline experience, noting that Nintendo still places high value in delegating the bulk of resources towards its strength, which lies predominately in offline play. more »

Popular consensus is that Nintendo stole the spotlight at this year’s E3, and we’re inclined to agree. With a venerable lineup strewn across both the hardware and software segments, Nintendo showcased offerings that pleased everyone: from the most casual to the most devout core gamers. A power-packed conference from beginning to end, Nintendo spent very little time on number crunching charts and related sales statistics: their message this year was clear, if not crystal clear. It was all about delivering great gaming experiences. more »