In a move that’s got tails wagging from Hollywood to Manhattan, Nintendo of America is teaming up with Uggie, the talented Jack Russell terrier known to moviegoers as the canine co-star of The Artist. Starting today, Uggie will sink his teeth into a memorable new role as Nintendo’s first-ever “spokesdog,” spreading the word about the interactive fun of nintendogs + cats for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system.

To help celebrate February as Responsible Pet Owners Month, Uggie will lend a paw by showing how the game includes valuable tips on how people can maintain happy, healthy relationships with their furry friends in real life. Though he previously announced plans to retire after this year’s awards season, the chance to team up with Nintendo was too doggone good for Uggie to resist.

Uggie is no stranger to the spotlight, having appeared in numerous television commercials and films during the last decade. As Nintendo’s spokesdog, he’ll appear alongside his owner Omar Von Muller to promote nintendogs + cats and the Pearl Pink Nintendo 3DS system, which offers a wide range of wireless features and entertainment experiences that can be enjoyed in 3D without the need for special glasses. In particular, Uggie and his owner will show consumers how nintendogs + cats can not only provide players with an adorable, customizable companion but also teach them skills that can translate to real-world dog or cat ownership. With February as Responsible Pet Owners Month, it’s the perfect time for this partnership.

“Uggie didn’t have to sit up and beg for his role as Nintendo’s spokesdog,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s truly our pleasure to work with a star of Uggie’s magnitude, especially to help animal lovers and portable gaming fans discover the fun of nintendogs + cats.”

With nintendogs + cats, players can use the Nintendo 3DS system’s built-in touch screen, camera and microphone to interact with their dog or cat in amazing ways to form a lasting friendship. Players can feed, train and care for their choice of more than 27 breeds of puppies, and can also care for a variety of lovable kittens. If they take their Nintendo 3DS systems when going out, players can exchange Mii™ characters, puppies, kittens and presents with other nearby players via a wireless connection using the StreetPass™ feature. Nintendo will soon be adding a free playable demo of nintendogs + cats to the Nintendo eShop, so players can download the game and check it out at no cost.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

For more information about nintendogs + cats, visit http://nintendogspluscats.nintendo.com.

In an all-new storyline that takes place between the events of Resident Evil®4 and Resident Evil®5, Resident Evil Revelations follows branching stories of franchise favorite characters Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. Chris has disappeared and it’s up to Jill, along with her new partner Parker Luciani, to track down his whereabouts. Their only clue leads them to an abandoned cruise ship in the Mediterranean.  Far from being empty, the vessel hides danger around every corner as Jill and Parker explore the confined spaces of the ship, facing frightening horrors that emerge from the darkness. For the first time in the franchise, players will venture underwater in an effort to escape the terrifying creatures roaming the ship. Full of conspiracies and plot twists, Resident Evil Revelations is told in the style of a TV drama as players work to discover the location of Chris Redfield, the source of the T-Virus, and the intentions of a mysterious terrorist organization, Veltro.

Along with the new characters and setting, Resident Evil Revelations debuts a new piece of equipment, the Genesis Scanner. This innovative device allows players to scan the environments and enemy remains to find hidden objects, uncover secrets, and earn additional health benefits. Found objects include customizable weapon parts which tailor weapons to the taste of the player via the in-game workbenches. Customizations range from simple increases in ammunition capacity to affecting the strength of a player’s weapon relative to their health.

Players needn’t face the terrifying T-Abyss virus alone. Raid Mode, new to the Resident Evil® series, offers a different kind of experience separate from the main campaign. Players compete in a variety of time-based missions either solo or cooperatively via online or local play.  Players earn points by attacking enemies and select from a range of upgrades to improve their weapon’s performance. New missions, additional ammunition, and custom parts can be earned via the StreetPass™ feature on the Nintendo 3DS system.

Resident Evil Revelations also supports the Circle Pad Pro peripheral from Nintendo. Adding an additional directional pad and two shoulder buttons, the Circle Pad Pro takes the Resident Evil Revelations experience to the next level.

Resident Evil Revelations is available for Nintendo 3DS at an MSRP of $39.99 with a rating of “M for Mature” by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). For more information about Resident Evil Revelations please visit: http://press.capcom.com and http://www.capcom-unity.com.

Nintendo eShop
Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword - Travel a world rife with beauty and danger to rescue the legendary Princess Cherry Blossom. Her kidnapper has placed dozens of blade-wielding henchmen in your path. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Nintendo eShop and Nintendo DSiWare™
GO Series: Undead Storm – Six months after a mysterious meteorite strike, the undead have awoken and are taking over the city. What lies behind this zombie epidemic? Only you can uncover the truth. (For Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo DSi™)

Nintendo Video™
“Drown in the Now” by The Crystal Method (available Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. PST) - UVPHACTORY created a graphic black, white and red New York neighborhood that has been infested by small robots. The video culminates with Matisyahu’s rescue via boat by The Crystal Method. (For Nintendo 3DS)

Iwata Asks
Swapnote – Read the latest edition of Iwata Asks for an inside look at Swapnote, a new application that allows Nintendo 3DS owners to write, decorate and send handwritten 3D notes to people on their friend lists via SpotPass™ and StreetPass™. Swapnote is available to download from the Nintendo eShop at no cost.

Also new this week:
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Great Gateway Grab (WiiWare™)

To view this week’s Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://www.news2know.net/nintendo/download3Cb1LaF8.php.

In addition to video games available at retail stores, Nintendo also offers a variety of content that people can download directly to their systems. Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS™ system, to the Nintendo DSi™ Shop for the Nintendo DSi system and to the Wii™ Shop Channel for the Wii console at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Thursdays.

The Nintendo eShop is a cash-based service and features games, applications and videos in both 2D and 3D. Users can add money to their virtual wallets using a credit card or by purchasing a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card.

The Wii Shop Channel offers games and applications and uses Wii Points™, which can be purchased via the Wii Shop Channel. The Nintendo DSi Shop offers games and applications and uses Nintendo DSi Points™, which can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Wii Points Card™ and Nintendo DSi Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one card must be redeemed in either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, respectively. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii, http://www.nintendo.com/3ds or http://www.nintendo.com/ds/systems/dsi.

Driven by Fast-Selling Software Nintendo 3DS Sells More in Its First Nine Months Than Wii Did

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 3, 2012 – Whether they were on the go or at home, whether they played in 2D on the TV or in glasses-free 3D in their hands, gamers of all ages celebrated the holidays with Mario™ and Zelda™. Super Mario 3D Land™ and Mario Kart™ 7 for the Nintendo 3DS™ system not only became the fastest-selling titles in the history of their respective franchises when they launched, but they are now also the first Nintendo 3DS titles to sell 1 million units each in the United States. On the console side, The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword, which also broke launch records, became the 45th Wii™ title to sell more than 1 million units in the United States.

“One of the strongest software lineups in our history helped Nintendo have a great holiday season and to close 2011 with a full head of steam,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Not only have the new Mario and Zelda titles already broken records, but with strong reviews and satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences, all three are also shaping up to be the latest long-tail titles from Nintendo. Couple that with a massive first- and third party lineup in the first part of the year and the prospects for 2012 are extremely promising.”

Nintendo sold more than 12 million total hardware units in the United States in 2011, marking the fifth year in a row that the company has accomplished that feat. This includes more than 4.5 million units of Wii, more than 4 million Nintendo 3DS systems, and more than 3.4 million units of the Nintendo DS™ family of systems. This brings the installed base for Wii and Nintendo DS to 39 million and more than 51 million, respectively.

With a strong lineup of software on the horizon, including new installments in the Mario Party™, Pokémon™ and Kid Icarus™ franchises, as well as third-party games such as Resident Evil® Revelations from Capcom and METAL GEAR SOLID® 3D Snake Eater from Konami for Nintendo 3DS, that momentum should continue into the first quarter of 2012 and beyond.

In addition to the milestones reached by new software, two evergreen Nintendo titles celebrated milestones as 2011 drew to a close. Mario Kart Wii™ passed 11 million units sold and New Super Mario Bros.™ for the Nintendo DS family crossed 10 million total units sold.

Remember that Wii and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.8 billion video games and more than 610 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

3D Video Recording, Download in Sleep Mode, StreetPass Mii Plaza Updates and Automatic and Free Internet Connections Included

A new system update now available for the portable Nintendo 3DS system adds a wide range of enhancements, including the ability for users to record 3D videos in continuous or stop-motion style, updated Nintendo eShop features, new StreetPass Mii Plaza features and enhanced online gaming. All of the upgrades are available at no additional charge to Nintendo 3DS owners.

“The addition of these new features demonstrates how Nintendo 3DS continues to grow and evolve,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Nintendo 3DS is our most connected system to date, and the added functionality strengthens the system’s position as a must-have holiday gift.”

Some of the features available with the system update include the ability to record up to 10 minutes of glasses-free 3D video in continuous or stop-motion style. Now users can capture moments from sporting events or family gatherings, or make their own imaginative 3D movies to share with friends. In the Nintendo eShop, it’s now easier to buy and download your purchases. Use your credit card to purchase content by adding only the needed funds. You can choose to Download Now or Download Later. Cue up the games and videos you want and let the system do the rest in Sleep Mode. Fans of StreetPass Mii Plaza™ will enjoy updates to Find Mii and Puzzle Swap. Nintendo 3DS owners can transfer photos, audio recordings and games, including save data, to other Nintendo 3DS systems. For more information about the features included in this update, go to http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/system-update.

With the new system update, Nintendo Zone™ is now available for the first time at more than 29,000 Nintendo 3DS Hotspot locations. Nintendo Zone offers users free and automatic access to game previews, 3D videos, trivia challenges, retailer promotions, coupons and much more.

Additionally, Nintendo is adding more than 2,800 Nintendo 3DS Hotspot locations in the United States and Canada, including hotels, airports and malls. These new Nintendo 3DS Hotspot locations include 42 Boingo airports, 800 iBAHN hotels, 13 Westfield Malls and more than 2,000 Bell Canada Hotspots. This brings the total number of free Nintendo 3DS Hotspots to more than 29,000, which already includes 25,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots, approximately 1,000 Best Buy stores nationwide and nearly 200 Simon Malls. Nintendo 3DS owners can find a Nintendo 3DS Hotspot by visiting http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hotspots.

Nintendo 3DS owners who have downloaded previous system updates do not need to do anything, as the new update will happen automatically. Users who have never performed an update before can update by going to the main menu, tapping System Settings, then Other Settings, then System Update.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds. For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.8 billion video games and more than 610 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

If you work hard, invest your money and make smart choices, soon you’ll be making a bundle on Fortune Street. The virtual board game for the Wii console launches today and invites players of all ages to try something new: navigating the stock and real estate markets to maximize their wealth and take control of the board. The game will have everyone in the family having fun together and competing to see who will be living large in the living room.

The game lets players choose from more than 20 characters from different worlds. Mario™, Princess Peach™ and Bowser™ are among those representing the Mushroom Kingdom, while Angelo, Bianca and Slime are some of the DRAGON QUEST® characters in this Square Enix-developed game. Players can also opt to play as their own Mii™ characters, and can even choose custom clothing and accessories once they earn enough stamps. Mii characters can dress as ninjas, be surrounded by three shells or even dress as Mario or other characters from the game.

“During the holidays people like to get together with friends and family members to play games,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Fortune Street lets everyone have fun while buying, selling and trading property to grow their bank accounts.”

Players move around one of more than 15 game boards based on popular Mushroom Kingdom and Dragon Quest locales. They buy shops and collect symbols that can be traded in at the bank for promotion and gold. When other players land on a shop, the owner collects a shopping fee. When players own all of the shops in one district, the property value goes up and so do the shopping fees.

Fortune Street includes an easier beginner setting (Easy rules) that helps players learn the rules as well as a more advanced setting. The Standard rules introduce more challenges, new strategies and the option for players to invest their earnings in the stock market to maximize their moolah.

Up to four players can compete at once. Even players who are far away can join in the fun. As long as all players have a copy of the game, they can get together via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection using a broadband Internet connection.

Fortune Street (known as Itadaki Street in Japan) is the ninth installment in the popular series. This is the first time an Itadaki Street game has been published in North America.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wii.

For more information about Fortune Street, visit http://fortunestreet.nintendo.com.

Xenoblade Chronicles is finally coming to the US in 2012.

It’s man vs. machine in a new game coming to Nintendo’s Wii console in spring. Xenoblade Chronicles asks players to use the Monado blade to take on a seemingly endless series of invading Mechon robots in a sweeping role-playing adventure.

The main character is Shulk, a weapons researcher who must confront the Mechon by wielding the ancient Monado blade. It’s the only weapon that has any effect against the Mechon, and it also enables Shulk to see the future.

Players can customize their characters with a variety of weapons and armor choices, as well as headgear, boots and gloves. As in many role-playing games, players can then gain experience and upgrade their characters. Players can watch their enemies, learn their tactics and unleash real-time counterattacks.

The vast open world of Xenoblade Chronicles is ripe for exploration. Players can avert their focus from the main story and venture out looking for other challenges and side quests. Hidden areas and unique monsters are scattered throughout the game’s massive world, which players can explore freely.

Xenoblade Chronicles has already launched in Japan and Europe, and has received unanimously positive reviews, including several perfect scores.

Xenoblade Chronicles will be available exclusively through U.S. GameStop retail locations, http://www.gamestop.com and http://www.nintendo.com at a suggested retail price of $49.99 in the United States. Additional information about the game will be announced in the future. For more information, visit http://xenobladechronicles.nintendo.com.

Ever wanted to see a real-life kart from Nintendo’s hit Mario Kart series outside of the Mushroom Kingdom? Nintendo has teamed up with West Coast Customs to create life-size models of two karts – one for Mario and one for Luigi – from the upcoming Mario Kart 7 video game for the portable Nintendo 3DS system. These unique electric vehicles were unveiled today at the LA Auto Show, where they will be on display Nov. 18-27 in the lobby of the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visitors attending the show will be able to take photos of the karts, sample the Mario Kart 7 game before its Dec. 4 launch and participate in multiplayer game play.

Additionally, members of the GameStop PowerUp Rewards program will have the opportunity to claim the Mario Kart as his or her own as part of the monthly Epic Reward Giveaway™ program. To be eligible for an Epic Reward Giveaway entry, members must make a purchase or trade at their local GameStop or on GameStop.com during the month of December. PowerUp Rewards Pro™ Members automatically get two entries with purchase. The lucky winner will be announced in February; for more information, visit http://www.poweruprewards.com.

West Coast Customs is known for TV shows such as the classic Pimp My Ride on MTV and the current show Inside West Coast Customs on the Velocity Network. The company has re-created two vehicles from Mario Kart 7: the classic Mario Standard kart, complete with glider attachment for soaring through the air, and the Luigi Bumble V kart, which resembles a bumblebee and features a rear propeller for underwater navigation.*

“Mario karts offer more fun per mile than any other vehicle,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Mario Kart 7 is a perfect example of the many great games Nintendo has lined up for the holidays.”

“We’ve played Mario Kart games for years, so it’s a dream come true to bring these karts to life,” said West Coast Customs CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus. “We think people will be blown away by seeing these cool video game vehicles in person.”

In early 2012, an episode of Inside West Coast Customs will show how West Coast Customs and Nintendo worked together to make these video game vehicles a reality.

For more information about Mario Kart 7, visit http://www.mariokart7.com. For more information about West Coast Customs, visit http://www.westcoastcustoms.com.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

*Note that while the gliders and propellers on the in-game go-karts let players soar through the air or drive underwater, these real-life karts do not. Trust us on this one.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.8 billion video games and more than 610 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.