NoA’s Dan Adelman and Damon Baker lay out Nintendo’s digital plans As we creep towards the one-year anniversary of Wii U’s launch, players are readying themselves for the second-generation lineup of games that will hopefully make up for the rather dull spring and summer months. But with upcoming eShop titles likeShovel KnightandArmikrogturning more than a few heads, it may be Wii U’s digital software that draws the most attention. This kind of exposure isn’t exclusive to Wii U, of course....

I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these for every anniversary Nintendo is going hard on Mario’s 35th anniversary. We’ve already gottenSuper Mario Bros. 35,Mario 3D All-Stars,andMario Kart Live, but there’s more to come. This past weekend Nintendo just released the Game & Watch Super Mario Bros. handheld, in fact, and we put it through the paces for a bit. $50 is a lot to spend on two NESMariotitles, a classicGame & Watchminigame, and a clock: but collectors will likely cherish it....

And goblins! Always overlooked Of Orcs and Menis out October 11, and Focus Interactive has released a nifty little launch trailer to celebrate. If you were unaware of this one, it’s a story about an orc and a goblin as they fight their human oppressors. The video does a great job of selling the promising story. Looks a little rough around the edges, but I do have a soft spot for these kinds of titles, and the ideas have some serious kick to them....

Put up your dukes One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knowswill finally arrive later this week, bringing the escapades of Saitama, along with his friends and enemies, swinging wildly on PS4, PC and Xbox One. Publisher Bandai Namco has released one final trailer to get those knuckles cracking before the big day. And, you know what? It does exactly as it says on the tin, as One Punch Man lays waste to almost the entire roster with a simple cocking of the fist, taking down Vaccine Man, Crablante, Terrible Tornado and more with a gentle straight jab....

Still not ditching microtransactions Last weekPayday 2developer Overkill had a sit down to discuss various things with their Steam community moderators, who had gone on strike following even further tweaks to the game’s controversial new microtransactions. Now Overkill has taken to their own steam forums tomake an apologyfor uh…something.They never explicitly mention the microtransactions that caused this mess for them in the first place. They simply apologise forsomething, say they’ll fix itsomehow, and then go on to talk about all the community figureheads they’ll be talking to shortly....

[Update:Capcom announced today that theResident Evil: Chronicles HD Collectionwill be available for purchase on the PlayStation Network starting June 26th for $27. If you’re only interested in purchasing one of the two titles, they will be sold separately by July 17th for $15 apiece.] All too well known for their nasty habit of issuing re-releases, ports, and slight upgrades for full sticker price, Capcom is back and at it again withResident Evil Chronicles HD Selection....

A definite compromise At a private appointment in Culver City, Logitech representatives showed me an iceberg on a presentation slide. The tiny summit above the water symbolized the dedicated gamers who already know about the best of the best in tech, and the hidden mass underneath the waves portrayed the people who play games but don’t dedicate themselves entirely to the hobby. Logitech’s new Prodigy line is targeting the bottom of the iceberg, providing mid-tier hardware for the people who perhaps want to upgrade but don’t need to spend more than $100 on each piece of gear....

Pre-order discount available for PS4, Switch, and Xbox One Castlevaniafans will want to set aside some time and money forDead Cellsin August. Motion Twin’s “roguevania” titledelighted uson Steam Early Access, and the team is in the home stretch.Dead Cellshits PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on June 14, 2025 for $24.99. I know some of you have tinkered with the Early Access build and are awaiting the final version before pushing further....

A smaller one and a more powerful one The Xbox One has had a rough time, and not just in Japan. Once upon a time the 360 was the first choice for a lot of publisher-led exclusivity deals, the Xbox Live Arcade storefront was thriving, and Microsoft was making money hand-over-fist with Gold subscriptions, while Sony was just toying with the idea of charging for multiplayer. But after the infamous anti-consumer DRM snafu, it was never the same....

One enterprising consumer pulled a slick move when he was able to use European law in order toget a partial refundfor his PS3 from Amazon. Sony’s decision toremove the OtherOS featureon the PlayStation 3 angered some consumers, because that’s what happens when pull a bait and switch with your products. Despite the rage, Sony has decided to be a bitch about things and is refusing to refund any retailer who tries to keep their customers happy....

PSA: Don’t be a jerkface Whether you’re intoLeague of Legends,Dota 2, or are just some sort of MOBA-playing fiend — where do you find the time? — the message of this PSA video from Riot Games should ring true. Teamwork and keeping your cool are key to winning, and there’s data to support it. Players with a record of positive behavior win 10 percent more games than the average player, according to Riot’s findings, while those with a report history will win 35 percentfewergames....

Back in March,Stardew Valleycreator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone released thelong-awaited 1.6 updatefor the farming sim sensation. The patch was nothing short of mega, adding tons to do for veterans and newcomers alike. Seriously. Just try not getting an aching scroll finger checking out thechangelog. Unfortunately, at the time, it was only available on PC. Barone has made it clear that the console and mobile ports of the game are still being worked on, but it’s going to take a bit more time....

What’s your go-to scary game? What timing. I’m wrapping up my replay of Monolith’s hobo smash-’em-up / survival horror gameCondemned: Criminal Originsand while it’s not nearly as scary as I remember it being in 2005, it’s sure worth $3.73. Hoping to share that experience tomorrow but, for now, eff the mannequins. There’s plenty more to dig through in theSteam Halloween sale— it’s not just creepy games! The deals are valid until Monday, November 3 at 10:00am Pacific....