Nintendo

Super Mario knockoff makes it into the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 31, 2018

We're not expecting this one to last long on the App Store so all you fans of retro gaming out there in search of a Super Mario Bros-like experience on your iPhone should act now before it's too late.

I'm old enough so you can trust me when I say that Super Bros! by Greek developer Papadakis Kostas (not to be confused with Greek pianist Konstantinos Papadakis) is the closest thing to the original game.

Somewhat incredibly, Super Bros! has managed to get past Apple's App Store review team and is available for download, for now. The $1.99 iPhone game is a total knockoff of the 1985 classic platform video game internally developed by Nintendo R&D4 and published by Nintendo as a pseudo-sequel to the 1983 game Mario Bros.

Nintendo changes tune, confirms bringing its beloved videogame franchises to mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2015

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo confirmed Tuesday a broad partnership with fellow Japanese videogame maker DeNA that will see it create games for smartphones and tablets based on its classic characters, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The iconic company has also teased its next-generation gaming system code0named "NX."

For a long, long time a staunch opposer to porting its prized Mario, Zelda and Pokémon videogame franchises to mobile, Nintendo has thankfully changed its rigid stance in response to lagging sales of its own console hardware and software and the mobile gaming industry becoming an estimated $25 billion market.

Nintendo working on social ‘Mii’ smartphone app

Cody Lee ∙ February 13, 2015

Nintendo is working on a new smartphone app, the company's President Satoru Iwata told business magazine Nikkei on Thursday. It's in development now, and should be finished around the time Nintendo reports its annual earnings in May.

According to Iwata, the app will feature Miis—the lovable, customizable avatars that represent players used in Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Wii U. Players will be able to customize their Mii characters, and share them on their social networks.

Another Nintendo emulator sneaks onto App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

A file management app innocently named Floppy Cloud, which contains a hidden emulator of the Nintendo NES and Super Nintendo, is now available in the App Store.

As pointed out by TouchArcade, its developer Kyle Hankinson has cunningly exploited the annual App Store shutdown to sneak Floppy Cloud onto Apple's servers “moments before the iTunes freeze,” which started yesterday and ends on December 29.

Developers are unable to upload new code to the App Store during the iTunes freeze window so Floppy Cloud should be available on the App Store for a few days before Apple pulls it first thing in the morning on December 29.

Nintendo files for patent for Game Boy emulation on phones and other devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 28, 2014

As TechCrunch reported this morning, the United States Patent & Trademark Office yesterday published a patent application for “Hand-held Video Game Platform Emulation” that Nintendo filed on June 23, 2014.

The invention describes software emulation of Nintendo's popular mobile game consoles such as the Game Boy family on a variety of mobile devices, including smartphones and in other settings such as seat-back displays in airplanes and trains.

Good deal: 25% off NES-style Bluetooth controller

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 6, 2016

If you're an iOS gamer, or have one on your holiday shopping list, you might want to check out this deal on this NES-style Bluetooth controller. It's called the NES30, and for a limited time, Stack Social is offering it at 25% off of its regular retail price.

The controller features two additional action buttons, and two shoulder buttons, but other than that it's nearly identical to Nintendo's classic gamepad. It works via both Bluetooth and USB, supports multiplayer, and has a 20+ hour rechargeable battery.

Another official Pokemon game has landed in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ October 21, 2014

The Pokemon Company today released its second official game for iOS called Camp Pokemon. Aimed at kids between 6 and 8 years of age, the title takes place on an immersive island filled with various mini games that teach players what it takes to become a Pokemon trainer.

Completing each of these activities will net players a pin, which they can view later in their Pin Book, allowing them to track their progress. They can also collect stickers, which can then be used to decorate photos taken with either iPhone or iPad cameras from within the game.

How to play Super Nintendo games on your iOS 8 device

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated June 11, 2018

Although there is no iOS 8 jailbreak, there is still a way to add a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator. Because Nintendo is missing the opportunity to make millions of dollars by releasing their games to the Apple App Store, people have turned to emulators for years. Since the iPhone was jailbreakable, it seems there was some way to play the old classics.

Thanks to a tip from @flawlessfox, whom you may recognize as one of the JailbreakCon organizers, we tested the SNES emulator "SiOS" and can confirm it works quite well, especially on the iPhone 6 Plus. Step inside for quick step-by-step instructions and you will be enjoying your favorite SNES games in about 5 minutes time. Yes, you read it correctly, there is no jailbreak required.

Pokemon Trading Card Game coming to iPad

Cody Lee ∙ August 16, 2014

Good news Pokémon fans, the company is bringing its popular Trading Card Game to the iPad. While we've seen several Pokémon and Pokemon-related apps released for Apple devices, this will be the first time that a full game from the franchise has landed on iOS.

That's the actual title in action shown in the photo above. A beta version of the game is being shown off to some attendees at The Pokémon World Championship, which takes place this weekend at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C...

Mobile hit ‘Candy Crush’ made more money than all Nintendo games last quarter

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Critics have been saying for years that Nintendo should get into the mobile gaming business. It's not just that the company's hardware business is slipping, or that it's losing money, but mobile games happens to be a very hot space right now.

Case in point is this recent report from research firm Newzoo, which ranks public companies by game revenue. According to the firm's data, hit mobile title Candy Crush generated more money last quarter than all Nintendo titles combined...

Nintendo’s first mobile app to be for ‘Mario Kart TV’ web service

Cody Lee ∙ May 9, 2014

Nintendo continues to stand against the idea of porting its popular games to iOS or Android, but it's not writing off mobile completely. Earlier this year, the company confirmed it was working on 'service apps,' which would serve as a bridge to bring more customers over to its console platform.

And this week, we get a good idea of what at least one of those apps could look like. During its financial results briefing yesterday, Nintendo announced that it's planning to release an app for Mario Kart TV—a web service that allows players to access and share videos captured from Mario Kart 8...

Upcoming ‘Castaway Paradise’ is an Animal Crossing-like game for iPad

Cody Lee ∙ April 17, 2014

It doesn't look like Nintendo is going be bringing any of its games over to iOS anytime soon—despite pleas from both fans and critics—so iPhone and iPad gamers are going to have to make do with the titles they have. Fortunately, that list will soon include Castaway Paradise, which looks and plays a lot like Animal Crossing.

For those unfamiliar with Animal Crossing, it's a cluster of community simulation games developed by Nintendo. Set in a village of talking animals, players are tasked with carrying out a variety of activities in an open-ended storyline. And if you consider yourself a fan, you should check out Stolen Couch's 'Castaway Paradise.'