Slumping Wii Surprises Nintendo

If it's $500, analysts don't expect great sales

(AP) - The upcoming Wii U, part tablet computer, part game machine, could help Nintendo surpass its rivals once again. But not until we know how much it will set us back—investors so far are skeptical of that and other unknowns, and the company's stock has fallen 10% since the Wii U's unveiling this week. Expectations for the new machine have been high following the original Wii's roaring success. Wii U, which will go on sale next year, features a motion-sensing controller with a tablet-like touch screen and high-definition graphics. Only the tablet screen feature will be unique to the Wii U. More»

New console will replace Wii, could be called 'Stream'

(NEWSER) - Nintendo will follow up its popular Wii with a new console system next year, the company announced today. The new system, which IGN notes is codenamed Project Cafe AKA Wii 2, will be showcased at Los Angeles's E3 Expo in June. The announcement comes as Nintendo reported sagging earnings and sales, AFP notes. Despite the Wii's popularity, sales have been declining as Nintendo faces increased competition from other console systems as well as iPhones and iPads. More»

Nintendo: Don't play it so much then

(NEWSER) - Gamers— including some reviewers —who have tried out Nintendo's new 3D-effect console say it has left them feeling distinctly woozy. Customers complain that the Nintendo 3DS, which flashes separate images into each eye, has caused headaches and nausea, and now they're having trouble getting full refunds from retailers, the Telegraph reports. More»

'We Dare' implies orgies will ensue, but it won't be released in America

(NEWSER) - Picture this: You're at a nice dinner party with friends, someone busts out the Wii, and before you know it, you're ... bent over a random guy's knee while he smacks your butt? That's the general idea of a UK video game called We Dare, in which a variety of innocent-looking games (the spanking one involves the video game characters flying around) require you to make out, spank each other, and apparently strip down. See the highly disturbing trailer to get the idea. More»

'It's on like Donkey Kong' has become liability

(NEWSER) - Nintendo’s trying to trademark “It’s on like Donkey Kong”—so we need a new video-game based catchphrase. Contenders from Unplggd :

• I Got Mario Karted: Someone’s beaten you at the last minute, which often happens in Mario Kart. Example: “I almost got with this girl/guy, but then my friend Mario Karted me by buying her/him a drink!”