The Tanooki » Matthew Dominick

3DS to get free AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot access by May

Matthew Dominick — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:25:17 +0000

Great news for Starbucks customers and frequent flyers! According to Reggie Fils-Amie in yesterday’s GDC keynote, the Nintendo 3DS will have complimentary automatic access to over 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots after a May firmware upgrade. In conjunction with yesterday’s Netflix announcement, this is a step in the right direction for the 3DS to truly become a portable multimedia device.

NINTENDO PLANS NEW 3D SUPER MARIO GAME, ANNOUNCES AT&T, NETFLIX COLLABORATIONS

Upcoming Nintendo 3DS System Will Expand the World of Nintendo Entertainment

SAN FRANCISCO, March 2, 2011 – A new 3D game from Nintendo’s iconic Super Mario series is in the works for the Nintendo 3DS™ portable system. Nintendo also announced two upcoming collaborations: Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to connect automatically to the Internet at more than 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, while Netflix members will instantly stream movies and other content on their Nintendo 3DS systems. These features were announced today at the Game Developers Conference during Nintendo President Satoru Iwata’s keynote address, titled “Video Games Turn 25: A Historical Perspective and Vision for the Future.”

During his speech, Iwata said Nintendo 3DS gives developers new tools to create games and experiences never before possible while enabling them to reach the public in new ways.

“There is great potential to increase the number of people who enjoy video games by opening up new game-play opportunities that are only available through the use of 3D.” Iwata said. “Nintendo 3DS will be the most connected Nintendo device ever, with its ability to link people via local wireless connections, while at the same time connecting them to people and content worldwide via hotspot connectivity.”

Nintendo 3DS launches March 27 in the United States at a suggested retail price of $249.99. It lets users view 3D content without the need for special glasses. The announced 3D Super Mario game will feature traditional Mario™ game play and will fulfill the dream of Nintendo video game designer (and Mario creator) Shigeru Miyamoto to bring true depth and distance into the game’s mechanics. The game is being developed by the same Nintendo team that created the Wii™ console hits Super Mario Galaxy™ and Super Mario Galaxy 2.

At the end of May, Nintendo will provide Nintendo 3DS owners with a wireless system update that will activate the Nintendo eShop and give users access to a number of features:

A short-form video service will let people view trailers for Hollywood movies in 3D and access video game trailers, screen shots, background information and links to publishers’ websites. Content will include short video clips, such as comedy shorts or music videos, selected by Nintendo and delivered to Nintendo 3DS users who choose to receive them.

Downloadable classic games via the portable Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console™ service will include Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color games, as well as those from the Game Gear and TurboGrafx-16 systems.

“3D Classics” will introduce select classic video games remastered in 3D.

Games currently offered as Nintendo DSiWare™ and an Internet browser will be available.

The system update will also provide a solution for Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ owners to transfer their Nintendo DSiWare games to their new Nintendo 3DS systems.

To help make the wireless features of Nintendo 3DS as smooth as possible, Nintendo has collaborated with AT&T to provide Nintendo 3DS owners with automatic and free access to more than 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide with the May system update. Nintendo’s aim is to make getting connected easy for everyone, so people who opt in to the system’s SpotPass™ service will tell their Nintendo 3DS systems to automatically connect to AT&T Hot Spots at restaurants, book stores, coffee shops and airports across the country.

This summer, Nintendo 3DS will incorporate Netflix functionality. Netflix members who have an unlimited plan starting at $7.99 a month can access a broadband wireless Internet connection and instantly stream movies and TV shows directly to their Nintendo 3DS systems, similar to how the service is used on the Wii console. This means people can start watching a movie via Netflix on their Wii systems at home and then pick up the same movie later from a different location using their Nintendo 3DS systems.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo3ds.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 and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.5 billion video games and more than 577 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, 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.

Chicago Blackhawks bond over Mario Kart Wii during Stanley Cup Playoffs

Matthew Dominick — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Hey guys! I wanted to pass along a link to a video that I just made for work.

The Chicago Blackhawks are currently one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Most of their success has come on the road, which might be because the team is away from the distractions of home and can just focus on hockey and bonding with each other. How do they bond you ask? With Mario Kart!

Blackhawks TV

The Tanooki heads to Chicago Comic-Con!

Matthew Dominick — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:38:53 +0000

I know, it’s not the Comic-Con, but it’s still a Comic-Con! That means a ton of C-list celebrity appearances, tons of crap that I don’t need but will probably buy, and of course, cosplay.

We will be updating our Twitter as we make our way through the convention. We also have some prizes to give a few lucky readers if you are able to find us today.

And we’re off! Expect some interesting cosplay photos when we get back, otherwise the trip totally wasn’t worth it.

Tanooki Original: Warp Whistle

Matthew Dominick — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:07:57 +0000

It’s been almost two years since my last Nintendo extravaganza, I Am Error, and needless to say, I’ve been hankering to give it another whirl. This time around, Mario decided that he wanted in on the movie magic, so let’s just hope that he doesn’t regret it…

Dailymotion

Reminder: Last day to vote for the 2008 Tanooki Awards!

Matthew Dominick — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:48 +0000

I am just about to head off for work, but I just wanted to remind you that today is the last day to vote for the Tanooki Awards. We are pleased with the response so far, so we want to thank everybody who already voted!

Voting not only helps us decide our Reader’s Choice award for each category, but it also registers you for an awesome awards show prize package. So what are you waiting for? Jump on over to our awards page now to get your vote in before the 5:00PM CST deadline!

Tanooki Awards

Mega Man X9 coming soon? Only if you beg for it…

Matthew Dominick — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:00:28 +0000

With 2008 finally coming to a close, I think it’s safe to say that Mega Man 9 was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. Given the widespread success of the game, the next question tends to be, “So, when can I play my retro version of Mega Man X9?” Thankfully, 1UP’s Ryan Scott tried to get an answer to that question from Hironobu Takeshita, producer of Mega Man 9.

1UP: Will we ever be lucky enough to get a Mega Man X9 — but with Super NES era graphics and music?

HT: It all depends on fans’ demand! We might see that day, as long as there is passion!

Oh, there’s passion alright. Just as long as you stay far, far, far away from naming the Mavericks after Guns ‘N Roses members again. And don’t even think of naming them after the Jonas Brothers. I’m just throwing that out there.

1UP

The 2008 Tanooki Awards- Let the voting begin!

Matthew Dominick — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:16:53 +0000

While 2008 might have been a terrible year for the world economy, it was a spectacular year for entertainment. So while most people would love nothing more than to jump right into 2009, we want to celebrate 2008 for just a little longer with our first annual Tanooki Awards.

We will be announcing our award winners on January 6th, but until then, we want to open up the voting to you to determine our “Reader’s Choice” awards. As a “thanks for voting” gift to you, a few random voters will win a prize pack consisting of a Video Games Live album and other swag from 2008.

Voting ends on January 5th at 5PM CST, so put on your favorite voting hat and fill out those ballots!

Amazon’s 2008 Cyber Monday deals (with a few weekend leftovers)

Matthew Dominick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:55:59 +0000

If you’re like me, then you passed up Black Friday’s long lines and deals for something better- sleep, warmth, and some Thanksgiving leftovers. Thankfully, Cyber Monday is here, so us lazy types can take advantage of today’s deals, along with a few that are still left over from Black Friday.

Wii
Okami- $19.95 ($39.99)
Guitar Hero: World Tour Guitar Kit- $69.99 ($99.99)
Guitar Hero Aerosmith Bundle- $44.99 ($99.99)
Top Spin 3- $19.95 ($49.99)
Game Party- $9.95 ($19.95)
We Love Golf!- $9.95 ($39.95)
We Ski- $19.95 ($29.99)
Shaun White Snowboarding- $39.99 ($49.99)
Wii Net Connect- $3.95 ($21.99)
Wii Fit Balance Board Mat- $4.95 ($24.99)
Wii 5-In-1 Fitness Bundle- $25.95 ($59.99)

DS
Nintendo DS Lite Limited Edition Pink Ribbon - $99.95 ($129.99)
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff- $9.95 ($29.99)
Ninjatown- $14.95 ($29.99)
N+- $11.95 ($19.99)
What’s Cooking? With Jamie Oliver- $9.95 ($29.99)
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (Gift With Purchase)- $14.95 ($29.99)

PS3
Grand Theft Auto IV- $39.99 ($59.99)
Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution- $39.95 ($59.99)

Xbox 360
Fable 2- $39.95 ($59.99)
Halo 3- $37.99 ($59.99)

The above games are just our top picks from today’s sale, so I highly recommend checking out Amazon for all of the deals.

Amazon

Wii Music – Video Review

Matthew Dominick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:49:20 +0000

After a few weeks in the making, I am proud to finally bring you our first video review!

Since this is our first video review, please give us some feedback on what you like, and more importantly, what you think can be improved. And who knows, maybe we’ll whip up a few more video reviews before the holiday season is over.

Dailymotion

The Tanooki’s Black Wednesday Podcast/Videocast

Matthew Dominick — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:50:17 +0000

Sure, you could spend this Black Wednesday by going to the bars. Or, you could watch our videocast as we record our fourth podcast!

The top 6 games to play during the current economic crisis

Matthew Dominick — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:08:02 +0000

During the depression of the 1930s, the entertainment industry boomed. People flocked to movie theaters as an inexpensive form of entertainment, but more importantly, movies offered an escape from reality.

Even with the world economy continuing its downward spiral into oblivion in 2008, the entertainment industry is showing no signs of slowing down. So, before you rush out and pick up Gears of War 2, consider these options to help put you at ease during the tough times ahead.

6. Rock Band

The last piece of financial advice that Jim Cramer, Ben Stein, or even Matthew Lesko will give you is to “drop everything and become a musician.” You can be the next Eddie Van Halen or Bruce Springsteen, but as long as Nickleback and Staind are alive and kickin’, you’re just going to end up frustrated and very, very poor.

Enter: Rock Band. The game’s World Tour Mode allows you to finally earn the money you deserve by playing sold out arenas across the world with your band, “Global Warming.” Just try not to pull an M.C. Hammer with your newfound riches.

5. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Pokémon, and every other RPG ever created

Does life suck at home?

Not a problem in the RPG world! Just gather a friend or two and prepare yourself to embark on the most epic journeys of journeys. And don’t fret if your lack of friends forces you to fly solo at first, since you’re sure run into a few friendly wizards, warriors, or Bulbasaurs on the way.

Oh, and don’t worry about digging into your nonexistent 401(k) to fund your journey, since you’ll surely earn some nice bank after defeating every monster, slime, or disgruntled Pokémon trainer in your path.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Sure, you could always make money by beating up prostitutes, working jobs for the mob, and eventually creating your own gang empire, but that’s almost too easy.

Vice City allows you to unleash your inner Donald Trump by allowing you to own real estate throughout the game. Owning property such as a film studio, taxi company, car showroom, and a “dance” club not only brings in a great deal of revenue, but it gives you that warm and fuzzy Tony Montana feeling that only comes when you combine real estate with polyester suits.

3. Monopoly

Want a wealth of properties without the bloodshed? Then Monopoly is your ticket to success, my friend. Monopoly first became popular during the 1930s, so it’s only fitting for the classic game to regain its former glory during our latest economic disaster.

While the newfangled digital versions of the game are tempting, I suggest ditching the polygon version of Uncle Pennybags for the tried and true board game version. Just try your best to avoid those classic Monopoly arguments that seem to always plague me whenever I play with family/friends/the elderly.

2. Super Mario Bros. 3

With the entire stock market in shambles, many people are turning towards safer investment choices, such as gold. While some people are just starting to jump onto the gold bandwagon, it’s now obvious that a certain gold coin-collecting Italian plumber was well ahead of his time.

Mario is certainly no “Joe the Plumber” either, since he possesses the ability to find gold coins in some truly odd places — beneath the ground, under water, and in the clouds are just a few places that come to mind. Combine that with when Mario occasionally rescues a princess, conquers an evil empire, and saves an entire kingdom, and we might have a hero to look up to through the next few years.

Now, if only we were able to get an extra life for every 100 coins we collected.

1. Resident Evil 4

Just when you think that life is at its absolute lowest point, just remember that it could always be worse. So, unless you find yourself in the midst of a zombie apocalypse with Dr. Salvador chasing after you, try to remind yourself that a few closed banks and some worthless stocks don’t necessarily signal the end of the world.

On second thought, the Merchant had a pretty decent gig throughout Resident Evil 4. Life must be pretty sweet when you are always able to “Buy it at a high price!” from your customers.

Editor’s note: Due to budget constraints, the original list of “The top 10 games to play during the current economic crisis” had to be narrowed down to six games. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Meet Mega Man’s newest Robot Master: Heavy Metal Man!

Matthew Dominick — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:12:49 +0000

Sometime last year, Christian and myself tried to make a list of our favorite videogame music of all time. What seemed like a good idea at the time quickly turned sour when 70% of my list was dedicated Mega Man music.

What can I say? I’m just a huge fan of the blue bomber’s melodies.

GameVideos

Mega Man decides not to save the world; chooses to ‘twist ‘n’ paint’ instead

Matthew Dominick — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:54:33 +0000

Sorry Vectorman, but it’s all about the Blue Bomber this week. Between the 8-bit style graphics, the return of the “man” bosses, and the overly frustrating, but oh so satisfying stages, I can’t recall the last time I was so willing to depart with 1000 Wii points.

Unfortunately, PSN customers will have to wait until Thursday, while XBLA subscribers are stuck waiting until the 1st of October for their Mega Man fix.

Oh, and PLÄTTCHEN twist ‘n’ paint also comes out today! As always, a full description of both WiiWare releases are after the break.

Mega Man™ 9 (CAPCOM, 1,000 Wii Points)
PLÄTTCHEN twist ‘n’ paint (Bplus, 1,000 Wii Points)

WiiWare
Mega Man™ 9 (CAPCOM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Mega Man fans, the wait is over! The classic Blue Bomber that debuted in 1987 is back with the ninth installment in the classic series. It’s a new adventure for Mega Man done in an 8-bit style-graphics, music and gameplay are all like you remember them.

PLÄTTCHEN twist ‘n’ paint (Bplus, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): PLÄTTCHEN twist ‘n’ paint is a crazy, challenging puzzle shooter that delivers more than 100 hours of fun, supporting up to eight players simultaneously. Guard the birth of ZeLeLi and free them from the menace of the evil black Shadow Plättchen. Play as one of the countless FantasyMEs and fight as an astronaut, butterfly, car or football against sharks, cowboys, asteroids and skulls in numerous, fabulous fantasy Worlds. Use items and multipliers in combos to fight yourself to the top of the high scores and find the perfect way to solve a level. Go wild in three completely different game modes of PLÄTTCHEN twist ‘n’ paint with more than 300 levels. Twist cooperatively with your friends or compete through many multiplayer modes.

The Tanooki returns from E3

Matthew Dominick — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:29:04 +0000

After four days, eight hours of flights, twelve hours of L.A. traffic, one hundred dollars worth of Wi-Fi fees (stupid hotel), two gigabytes of photos, and ten hours of video footage, I think it’s safe to say that E3 has officially kicked our ass, but we loved almost every second of it. Hey, that sounds a lot like Mega Man 9, which I will be gushing about sometime later this weekend.

E3 might be over, but the best of our coverage has only begun, so stay tuned over the next week as our impressions, opinions, and an unhealthy amount of videos begin to trickle in. Now, excuse me as I continue to capture the remaining six hours of our video footage.

Live broadcast schedule for July 15

Matthew Dominick — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:38:48 +0000

Hey folks, our apologies for not getting a live feed of Nintendo’s press conference. However, we were still able to get video of it, so highlights from this morning’s conference will be up by tonight.

The live feed seems to be working now, so we will be making another attempt at a live feed for Ubisoft’s press conference at 4:30 CST and Capcom’s at 6:30 CST. Once those are over, I am running as fast as I can back to hotel to edit today’s footage from the show floor, which will be up sometime tonight. We will also be having another live chat session at around 10:30 CST, so start thinking of those questions!

The Tanooki » Matthew Dominick

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