Still big in Japan

Pokémon Black & White 2 landed in Japan on Saturday 23rd June and racked up an astonishing 1,618,621 sales across the country in its first weekend.

It's the fastest-selling game of the year, the first 2012 game on any platform to pass 1m sales and the third fastest-selling DS game of all time.

It's a big drop-off in sales from its predecessor, though: back in 2010 Pokémon Black and White scored 2,637,285 sales in its first weekend.

Lifetime hardware sales in Japan so far stand at 32.8m units for DS and 6.3m for 3DS.

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Hum the music

Popular Pokémon destination Pokémon Global Link has just received a new lick of paint and brand new features, ahead of the release of Pokémon Black & White 2 later this year.

The site now includes a Global Trade Station for observing Pokémon trades and new statistics for you to pore over, such as which country is home to the strongest trainers or the most prolific cyclists. My Page has also been upgraded, letting you look at your own records more easily.

Elsewhere, the Icy Cave area has opened up in the Pokémon Dream World, letting you catch chilly Pokémon like Sneasel, Swinub and Spheal. You can also more easily control which area of the Dream World you visit based on the type of Pokémon you 'tuck in'; bed down an Ice-type for a bigger chance of reaching Icy Cave, for instance.

Fans who buy Pokémon Black & White 2 later this year will get access to an exclusive Dream World area where they can encounter and capture Pokémon from the Unova region.

This is all well and good, but sadly this announcement hasn't come on the best day: the Pokémon Global Link site goes down for maintenance on Tuesdays. You should be able to check out the new features tomorrow.

POKÉMON GLOBAL LINK RELAUNCHES WITH A FRESH LOOK AND COOL NEW FEATURES

Unique Features Also Added for Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Video Game Players

London, UK — 26thJune 2012 — The Pokémon Company International relaunched the Pokémon Global Link website today, delivering a fresh look and exciting new features for Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video game players to explore this summer. The updated website includes new player data in its Reports and My Page sections, plus a brand-new area to visit in the Pokémon Dream World. The Global Trade Station has also launched at the site, allowing players to observe Pokémon trades happening around the world.

On the Pokémon Global Link’s new Reports page, players can view and analyze previously unavailable Global Battle Union and Wi-Fi Competition information such as the most popular Pokémon used by top players. The Reports page will also track Ratings and Rankings for players all over the world who battle via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. And, in the page’s Game Sync World Records section, players can view how countries around the world rank in different game stats, including top cycling locations, top healing locations, top battling locations, and more. The new My Page section will make it easier to track your own game’s progress and statistics, including personal reports like Global Battle Union results, Global Trade Station trades, and more.

A brand-new area in the Pokémon Dream World has also arrived. Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video game players can now tuck in their favorite Pokémon and explore the new Icy Cave area. In the Icy Cave, players can meet Ice-type Pokémon such as Sneasel, Spheal, and Swinub, and bring them back into their copy of Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version. Also new to the Pokémon Dream World, players have more control over which Island of Dreams area they visit, based on the type of Pokémon they have tucked in. For instance, players can give themselves a better chance at arriving in the new Icy Cave area by tucking in an Ice-type Pokémon.

When the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video games launch this autumn, only players of the new titles will be able to meet Unova region Pokémon in the Pokémon Dream World and bring them back into their copy of the game. More Pokémon Global Link features for the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 games will be announced later this year.

For more information about the Pokémon Global Link and the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video games, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

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One love

This week sees the start of Wimbledon, and with Mario Tennis Open only a month old Nintendo's combined the two in infographic format.

The official series history starts from 3D sports game Mario's Tennis and ends with... 3D sports game Mario Tennis Open. Weird.

It's a bit confusing, though: it mentions Mario Tennis in 2004, presumably meaning Mario Power Tennis, and notes it was re-released on Wii as New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis. It also says Mario Tennis Open is the series' return after a 7-year wait; impressive time-bending skills, as Mario Power Tennis launched on Wii in 2009.

See if you can pick up on any other inaccuracies while chowing down on your strawberries and cream.

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Nintendo Champions the History of Mario Tennis

To celebrate the start of Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world, Nintendo has released a special Mario Tennis Open infographic which showcases the great history of Mario Tennis titles released since the first game in 1995.

Nintendo has delivered action-packed tennis fun since Mario’s Tennis first appeared on the Virtual Boy handheld in 1995. Each new game across the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Colour, GameCube and Game Boy Advance brings more excitement and features, increasing the number of playable characters, mini-games, multiplayer modes and colourful graphics.

The latest in the popular 17-year series, Mario Tennis Open launched on 25th May on Nintendo 3DS and brings together the best elements from the franchise in a champion game! It is the first Mario Tennis title to feature online play and has amazing 3D graphics, without the need for special glasses. Players can choose to compete as their favourite Mario character or as their own Mii and can customize their skills by dressing in different tennis gear. There are also quirky mini-games where tennis is used to complete a level from Super Mario Bros. (NES) and players are challenged with obscured vision thanks to three Ink Flowers.

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Steelbook and more

Every big release needs a special edition, and Capcom's Resident Evil 6 is no exception. The publisher's just lifted the lid on its collector's edition for Europe and Australia, and it's a whopper.

Here's what the package contains:

• Resident Evil 6 Game
• Zombie Steel Book
• Exclusive RE6 hardback artbook showing concept art from the game
• Resident Evil 6 Dynamic Theme for PS3 owners
• Ivy University, Tall Oaks hooded sweatshirt (one size)
• ‘The Resident Evil 6 forces emblems’ – High quality enamelled zinc alloy emblems of the three main protagonists squad insignias, mounted and set in a limited numbered frame authenticated with signatures from Senior producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi , Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi and Resident Evil 6 Director Eiichiro Sasaki. A must have piece for any fan of Resident Evil.
• All of the above amazing goodies are bundled together in the lenticular ‘Needle Bomb’ collectors box (as seen in the announcement trailer)

If you don't want all these extra Resi gubbins® you can just pre-order the Steelbook edition from most retailers. You know you want that hoodie, though.

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Marvel Pinball and more

A motley group of superheroes headlines this week's Nintendo Download, but there's also the second week of the store's anniversary if you're after a bargain. Here's what's up this week.

eShop

Marvel Pinball 3D (Zen Studios, £6.30/€7) — The follow-up to the successful (and rather good) Zen Pinball 3D, this brings with it new tables and new gameplay modes. Look out for our full review very soon.

DSiWare

Let's Create! Pottery (Infinite Dreams, 500pts) — The only pottery game you're ever likely to need (or see) on a Nintendo platform, this lacklustre effort leaves a lot to be desired, as our Let's Create! Pottery review explains.

Lola's Fruit Shop Sudoku (BeiZ, 200pts) — The self-proclaimed "easiest sudoku game ever", that's a double-edged sword for cute panda Lola as it rather removes the satisfaction of solving a puzzle. Find out more in our Lola's Fruit Shop Sudoku review.

eShop Sale

Starting from this Thursday you'll be able to get 20% off selected 3DS downloads. Here's what's on sale from 2pm UK/3pm CET this Thursday:

Dillon's Rolling Western — €8 / £7.20 (from €10 / £9). Read our Dillon's Rolling Western review.

Freakyforms Your Creations, Alive! --€4.80 / £4.30 (from €6 / £5.40). Read our Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! review.

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! — €4 / £3.60 (from €5 / £4.50). Read our Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! review.

Mighty Switch Force! — €4.80 / £4.30 (from €6 / £5.40). Read our Mighty Switch Force! review.

Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins — €3.20 / £2.90 (from €4 / £3.60). Read our Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins review.

If you're quick (and are reading this before Thursday afternoon) you still have a little time to take advantage of five other eShop sale titles.

Is anything coming home with you this week? Let us know on our Facebook poll.

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Finally a grown man

SEGA's loveable blue mascot reaches another milestone today, celebrating his 21st anniversary.

On this day in 1991 SEGA unleashed Sonic the Hedgehog on North America. His speed and spectacular stunts made him an original, and players took him to their hearts. Nearly 50 games and over 80 million sales later, Sonic's still here.

Last year for the hedgehog's 20th anniversary we brought you plenty of spiky content, so be sure to read about The Sonic Games That Never Were, our Staff Memories of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic: The Nintendo Years Part One and Sonic: The Nintendo Years Part Two.

Happy birthday, you little scamp.

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Updated with battery life, dimensions

Nintendo will release a bigger Nintendo 3DS console later this year.

The new console offers a 4.88" top screen, and the total viewing area on the top and bottom screens has increased by a massive 90%. According to Nintendo, it's the biggest screen ever available on a handheld Nintendo console, but the resolution is unchanged. It's also Nintendo's heaviest handheld console since the Game Boy, weighing in at 336g compared to the DSi XL's 314g.

It comes with a 4GB SD card too, up from the regular system's 2GB. In Japan and Europe it will not come with an AC adaptor or charging cradle; in North America, the 3DS XL will come with an AC adaptor. Here are the official dimensions with some other consoles for comparison:

Nintendo 3DS XL: Length 156mm x Width 93mm x Height 22mm (closed) Weight: 336g.
Nintendo 3DS: Length 134mm x Width 74mm x Height 21mm (closed) Weight: 235g.
Nintendo DSi XL Length 161mm x Width 91mm x Height 21mm (closed) Weight: 314g.

The console also gets a boost in battery life compared to the regular 3DS console:

Nintendo 3DS XL
3DS software — Between 3.5hrs and 6.5hrs
DS software — Between 6hrs and 10hrs

Nintendo 3DS
3DS software — Between 3hrs and 5hrs
DS software — Between 5hrs and 8hrs.

3DS XL launches in North America for $199.99 on 19th August, alongside New Super Mario Bros. 2. It will be available in red and blue.

In Europe, 3DS XL launches on 28th July. It will come in red + black, blue + black and a neat silver + black version.

Seems like Nikkei was right after all.

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Go hands-on first

Assassin's Creed III will be one of the new titles on show at this year's Eurogamer Expo in London.

Assassin's Creed III joins Far Cry 3, Just Dance 4 and Rocksmith in Ubisoft's line-up at the show, which runs from 27th to 30th September at London's Earl's Court.

Tickets are available now and start from £9 for an afternoon ticket or £12 for an all-day pass for each individual day. You can also get a full four-day pass for £50, which gives you nine hours of gaming excitement over four days. Pound-for-pound that's better value than most games, actually.

The Push Square team will be there this year so make sure you come say hello!

Ubisoft Confirms Big Line-up at Eurogamer Expo 2012

Brighton, UK – 22nd June 2012 - Eurogamer Expo, the UK’s biggest and best gaming festival, and Ubisoft today announced this year’s big-hitters, Assassin’s Creed™ III, Far Cry™ 3, Just Dance™ 4, and Rocksmith™, will be playable at the Eurogamer Expo at London’s Earls Court from 27th-30th September 2012.

Around 50,000 gamers will be able to try out the epic Assassin’s Creed III exclusively at the Expo before it’s available in the shops!

The massive Far Cry 3 will also be on the show floor, as well as a full size Disco Bus showcasing the latest in the dance phenomenon series, Just Dance 4.

Rocksmith is the eagerly awaited game that lets you plug in any real guitar or bass and learn while you play. For those wanting to swap power-ups for power chords, this year’s Eurogamer Expo will not only be the biggest, but also the loudest!

Rupert Loman, Managing Director of Eurogamer, said: “The buzz surrounding these games is enormous, and to be able to give Expo-goers their first opportunity to play them is fantastic. This year’s Eurogamer Expo promises to be the biggest gaming show the UK has ever seen.”

Tickets for Eurogamer Expo 2012 are now available at www.eurogamerexpo.com.

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Gold standard

After years of competing, it looks like Mario's finally realised that Sonic's better.

As New Super Mario Bros. 2 is all about the coins, one of Mario's new ways to earn gold is turning enemies into coins. How does he do this? By grabbing a gold ring, of course. A sneaky hat-tip to Mario's great rival or an out-and-out admission that Sonic was always superior and always will be? You decide.

The game's out on 19th August in North America alongside the new 3DS XL console. Europe gets it 48 hours earlier on 17th August.

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Hats off

Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask is coming to Europe and North America later this year, and we have a teaser trailer to show more of Herschel and Luke's adventures.

It's worth watching not just for the always impeccable animation quality and atmosphere, but because you get to see a young Herschel Layton without his trademark top hat. There's something about puzzles and adventure in there too, but we're most interested in Herschel's haircut.

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