Nintendo recently announced that starting in August with New Super Mario Bros. 2 most new Nintendo retail releases will also have a digital counterpart. These releases will make it onto the eShop the same day as their retail brethren, and will probably cost the same as well. I guess the real question end up being how will this change the current market?

Animal Crossing 3DS is most likely coming out later this year, and so far it doesn't look like there are very many changes. Yes, you get to be the mayor and it is wonderful that you get to swim, but I want more. After the series staying the same for so long I want more. Here are just some of the few changes and additions I'd like to see in Animal Crossing 3DS.

Last night, during another Nintendo Direct event, Nintendo revealed New Super Mario Bros. 2. This finally clarifies things a lot, because that means that Super Mario 4 will be on Wii U.

Currently, we know very little about the game. The game will be released in August 2012 in both Japan and the US and it will feature the return of the power/super lead (aka. Raccoon Mario). We also know that Luigi will be in the game.

Enjoy these screenshots we have of the game!

Let me get this out of the way. I think that Super Mario 4 should be for the 3DS. I feel like the New Super Mario Bros. franchise has veered away from the path set by its NES and SNES predecessors. Due to all the new features and power ups it seems as if the New Super Mario Bros. franchise belongs on a console. I loved the DS version but the Wii version was superior. The console setting allowed for simultaneous co-op play, and the "bubble" system was brilliantly engineered, allowing younger players to still enjoy the experience. The levels became larger and power ups became much more abundant with a larger variety. This type of a game naturally called for a larger console setting.

Nintendo has been letting quite a few leaks into the press. It all began in January, when at an investor briefing Mr. Iwata revealed that a new Mario title was being developed for the 3DS. Then, there was silence for a few months...

SPOILER ALERT. You're going to have a rival...and fight a bunch of gym leaders..and catch a lot of Pokemon.

Surprises aside, this new trailer for Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2 looks pretty nice. We get to see what the protagonists look like, the professor, your rival and a few gym leaders.

The female protagonist looks an awful lot like Princess Leia...and it looks as if the rival has no nose..I'll never understand Japanese animation.

There's also small gameplay teasers as well and this Pokemon game looks a lot better than previous ones.

Pokemon Black and White 2 will release in Japan June 23rd, and in America in the Fall. 

There has been some talk around the internet as of late regarding the Nintendo Wii U's price. Some suggest that the Wii U will "atleast be $300 at it's U.S. launch date."

That number becomes even more impressive when compared to the take-up rate of the 3DS predecessor, the Nintendo DS, which only sold 2.3 million on its first year.

Rumor has it that the Wii U will be priced at $299. The aggressive price of $299 was set to compete with the current competition, Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. 

The price will be about the same in Europe and Japan, running at $299. and 200,000 Yen (which rounds up to about $250.

This is, of course, only the hardware pricing, the software pricing has yet to be announced, we will keep you posted as we find out more information. 

UPDATE: Our original story stated that this was announced by Nintendo, which it turns out is not the case. For now, this is to be taken as rumor.

During a hit Japanese TV show entitled Pokemon Smash, the director of Gamefreak, Junichi Masuda, announced officially that Pokemon Black and White 2 is coming to Japan in June of this year. Interestingly enough, the sequel will be released as a Nintendo DS title, as opposed to the 3DS.

"So wait....there's a part two?" 

Apparently Gamefreak has run out of colors or something. I'm not entirely sure, to be honest, and there's no definite assurance that it will come to the states under the same guise. We'll keep you posted as we get more news in weeks to come. 

Here's the extremely Japanese source of this announcement. Get your Google translate ready...We'll keep our eyes peeled for more news on this...intriguing story.

UPDATE: 

Nintendo has announced via press release that Pokemon Black and White 2 will be coming to America in the fall of this year. Let's see if it's any good. I'm personally confused as to why there's even a part two. Guess we'll find out in days to come.