Folks, call this “news you get out of bed for”. I got this email via my Droid Incredible not 12 minutes ago (it’s nearly 1 am PST), and felt it was worth disturbing my impending slumber. With the holiday season approaching, and with it, a number of amazing games like Star Fox 64 3D and the new Super Mario, Nintendo is reducing the suggested retail price of the 3DS. And not just a few bucks, folks. We’re talking a whopping $80. Starting August 12, the Nintendo 3DS will go for a jaw dropping $169.99, down from $249.99.

I’m shocked they made this big of a drop, and so soon. Surely this has to be in response to the 3DS’ slow start? What a blow the early adopters. However, it’s worth noting that if you already have a 3DS, you’ll be privy to the Ambassador program, which will provide a slew of free (and in some cases, otherwise unobtainable) downloadable 3DS games to those who sign into the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 PM Eastern time August 11. Several NES Virtual Console titles, slated for later eShop release, will be available early to Ambassador program members, and 10 Virtual Console Gameboy games, including Mario vs Donkey Kong and Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, will be made available before the end of 2011 (with no plans for release to the general 3DS public). All titles will also be free for Ambassadors. For more details check out the press release after the jump.

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After giving our friends across the pond first dibs, Nintendo of America rolled out the long awaited Nintendo Video service for the Nintendo 3DS before the start of the weekend. The free downloadable app regularly adds video content from around the net right to your 3DS, available automatically if connected to Wi-Fi and by using the SpotPass feature.

To kick off the new service, four videos became available for your viewing pleasure, including a 3D trailer of Captain America: The First Avenger, a Jurassic CollegeHumor comedy bit, a colorful animated short, and a Nintendo Video instructional vid. Next week, Nintendo will add a brand new music video from band OK Go, exclusively presented in 3D.

Over the next few weeks, Nintendo Video will be the exclusive place to watch 3D videos from performers Jason DeRulo, Foster the People, and the Blue Man Group, and they’ll continue to bring more 3D movie trailers for upcoming Hollywood blockbusters. Plus, expect more content from College Humor, sports and animation videos, and much more. So far, a promising start for Nintendo Video, wouldn’t you say? Have you been watching?

NintendoVideo

Some thing tells me that all of the Nintendites in San Diego this weekend patiently waiting to get there mitts on a Master Sword with a WiiMotion Plus attachment jammed into the hilt will be treated to a 90-second loop of this music. Luckily, the music is pretty darn fantastic.

While there is a fair amount of repeat footage in there, you really can’t complain about a Zelda trailer that eclipses the 90-second mark. That Goron with a backpack better be bringing me super rare wallpapers or carpets for my brand new house, especially considering Sahara hasn’t shown her face in quite some time.

This rumor will hurt like a kick to the face.

Here’s a fun rumor. Did I say fun? I mean this is a sheer masochism. According the sleuthing of SystemLink Nintendo, Rockstar Leeds, the developers of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, may have been working on an open world title for the Nintendo DS. An online resume listing by a former AI programmer who worked for Rockstar Leeds, read in part:

“Later I worked on an unannounced DS title set in a full 3D open world. For this title I worked on various AI Systems including a complex hand to hand combat system.”

Given how unlikely it is that Rockstar would continue to develop for the DS, the listing is probably referencing a cancelled title that will never see the light of day. Still though… fully 3D AND open world? I hope to the gaming gods the “DS” was a typo, and they programmer meant “3DS”, and this is for a title still on the way. Yeah, that’s what happened.

GameInformer
via GoNintendo

It’s late July, and you know what that means: fans. Both the oscillating, and the Comic Con kind! San Diego’s yearly event is nearly upon us, and attendees are in for a great set of Nintendo demos. For 3DS, Super Mario, Mario Kart, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Star Fox 64 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Pokédex 3D, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Shinobi, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, and Dead Or Alive Dimensions will all be available for play. And on the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Kirby Wii, Rhythm Heaven, Fortune Street, Captain America: Super Soldier, and Just Dance 3. Sorry, no Wii U for you! But with a line up like that, how could one complain? Visit booth 5135 during Comic Con’s July 21 through 24 run to get  your gaming thumbs on this fan-tastic opportunity.

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This should come as a sore disappointment to many across the Mega Man universe. Today, Capcom announced via blog post that they are officially cancelling the epic project Mega Man Legends 3. Apparently the title failed to meet necessary criteria to continue production, and as such, both the game and prototype will be abandoned. Driven by fan content and exciting many with the promised demo, Mega Man Legends 3 was one of the rarer bright spots in the Capcom community as of late, perhaps even contributing to 3DS sales in anticipation. While this is the second Mega Man title to be canceled this year, Capcom promises they are still dedicated to the series, saying they’ll “continue to pursue opportunities to create new titles”, however, the fan created content will not be used in any future games, and previous content winners will receive a gift in the mail for their participation.

Mega sads.

Capcom-Unity
via GameInformer

Despite only being on the market for only a fraction of the month, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D finished at an impressive place in sales for June. 283,000 units were sold, placing the third dimensional, hand held reboot of the classic N64 title solidly in second place for games an exclusive platform (and fifth overall). Not bad for only 11 days!

Were you among those contributing to Ocarina of Time 3D‘s sales?

This amusing video from Dorkly explores some of the attractive possibilities if Link were to find a Portal gun in Hyrule.

Having watched it, I now believe Cuccos + Portal gun is a superior weapon combination that should be required in every video game from here on out. Yes, even Minecraft II.

Dorkly

This sweet shindig, celebrating one special boy’s 4th birthday, was more than just a kid’s birthday party. For starters, there was the Mario cake and Mushroom cupcakes, and handmade Mario and Luigi caps for the boys and Princess Peach crowns for the girls. Next came an obstacle course worthy of the titular plumbers themselves. In the words of the birthday boy’s uncle:

My nephew’s dad and other uncle were “Bowser” and kidnapped the Princess (my niece) and the kids had to make their way through all the levels to rescue her.

The first level involved climbing through a bunch of tunnels and then stomping on all the Goombas. After they all touched the flag at the end, we proceeded to the level with lots of pipes and the underwater level. Each kid had to jump over the pipes without knocking them over. They then had to run through the water level, which consisted of all the other adults at the party blowing bubbles and tossing beanbag Cheep-cheeps at them.

After finishing the 2nd level, the third and final level involved them crossing the “treacherous” balance beams. The Bowsers were armed with fireballs (plastic ball pit balls) and were trying to knock them off the balance beams. Once all the kids were able to make it across the beams, they found a block they could smash so they could all get their own fireflowers (even more ball pit balls) to take down the Bowsers and rescue the Princess!

After rescuing the princess, there was even a Chain Chomp pinata for the adventurers! No word on if it was filled with coins.

For pictures of all the Mario madness, including the costumes and invitations (that look like a Nintendo DS!), check out the gallery below. The crafter in me is particularly impressed by the cake, cupcakes, and Piranha Plant.