Nintendo, Portable Console | featured news

For Apple and Zynga, this E3 was a magical event. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all retreated within the crumbling walls of aging franchises and spin-off sequels. Under attack from mobile and social games, the Big Three console vendors are stumbling through the year 2012. Nintendo had a notably disappointing Wii U showcase and Sony’s Vita lacks the powerful slate of new titles it needs. We may be drifting towards a scenario where Nintendo shrinks to a rump company focusing only on portable gaming – and knocks out Sony’s PS Vita in the process.

Nintendo has sold 4.5 million 3DS units, its latest hand-held device, in the U.S., setting what the company said was potential momentum for its next big product, the Wii U console.

The 3DS has continued to gain momentum, crossing four million units sold in the U.S. thanks to strong sales of Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land.

In the wake of another investor backlash, the company president remains adamant in his stance against mobile gaming.

Nintendo is taking the idea of the "second screen" to a new level. The company on Tuesday showed off a prototype gaming system called Wii U, which consists of a smartphone-like remote control that works with its existing Wii gaming system to let gamers play on two screens at the same time.

The 3DS is Nintendo's follow-up to its successful and incredibly lucrative DS console. The new handheld launched last Sunday with the typical tech-demo titles like Pilotwings Resort, Steel Diver, and Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. And the glasses-free 3D effects selling point? Very effective.

Nintendo has done its best to launch a new era in video games with the launch of its 3DS portable gaming system, which goes on sale for $249 on Sunday. The appeal of this device, which can display games in stereoscopic 3D without glasses, is growing on me. But I’m not sure it’s the greatest thing since the iPhone.

According to NPD analyst Anita Frazier, the United States install base of Nintendo's portable console should surpass that of the PlayStation 2 "by October or November."