A few days ago Nintendo issued a US patent for a new cartridge design for their Nintendo DS handheld. This patent reminds me a lot of one of the first Slot1 flashcarts for the Nintendo DS, the NinjaDS (which I reported about back at my days on QJ). The patent application is very sparse on details and just shows some photos of the device and a photo of it in the Nintendo DS Lite. I think it’s pretty safe to say Nintendo has a little secret up it’s sleeve and I have no clue what it could be. You can see more pictures after the break and feel free to speculate about this new cartridge in our comments.

Cartridge for Electronic Game Machine [US Design Patent] [Warning: PDF]

Originally thought to be slated for a 4th quarter release, Nintendo announced today at their Media Summit that the "first 3D Super Mario sequel for a single Nintendo console" will hit store shelves in three months time on May 23rd.

The release date isn't all that's new folks! Nintendo has also provided an all new trailer which you can view after the break.

Nintendo Wii owners today will be finally be able to join in the movie streaming fun as Netflix's online streaming service hits the Wii console. Similar to the situation this service presents on the PlayStation 3, users will need to use a Netflix DVD in order to launch the streaming program. One significant downside to this new option is the fact that the Wii cannot display high-definition streaming videos like the counterpart services on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 can. (Unless of course the rumored Wii HD decides to make an appearance this year.)

This is a smart move by Netflix to get a stranglehold on the home console market allowing no room for any competitors to step in. With the Wii numbers still crushing those of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it will be interesting to see how well received this service will be. I'd be willing to bet that every home with only a Wii console will try to take advantage of this and sign up for the $9 per month Netflix subscription.

The Wii price cut that went into effect late September has been a boon to sales, no doubt, but it hasn’t exactly brought them back up to pre-2009 levels — putting Nintendo in a tight spot. Currently, more Wii units are being produced than sold. As it’s never a smart business decision to allow supply to outstrip demand, Nintendo is cutting back on Wii production according to a Nikkei report. The firm reportedly told two of its major suppliers to cut back on producing units of the console.

While November’s NPD results have yet to emerge, we have a sinking feeling that Wii sales fell below last year’s figures for the holiday shopping season. The Wii is still a hot item, of course, but the days of it pulling off record-breaking monthly sales numbers on the charts are over, it seems. That is, until the inevitable next hardware revision comes out.

Nintendo Tapers Off Wii Production - [eXophase.com]

Nintendo is serving up a special deal for Black Friday shoppers eying the DSi. This Friday, participating retailers will be stocking Metallic Blue or White DSi units that up the value with pre-installed DSi software.

The Metallic Blue DSi comes with Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Dr. Mario Express, WarioWare: Snapped: Wario, Mario Calculator, and Mario Clock: Mario Clock. The White DSi bundle is decidedly more academic-focused, packing three Brain Age express titles, Clubhouse Games Express, and Photo Clock.

“These limited-edition bundles come packed with some of the great Nintendo DSiWare games and applications that have made Nintendo DSi such a big hit with shoppers young and old,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The special price and pre-installed titles make the bundles a huge value for the holidays.”

Nintendo calls it a $20 a value that will be available “for a limited time only,” so expect stock to move quickly. It’s a nice gesture and should increase visibility of the DSiWare service to customers that otherwise may not be aware of its offerings. It’d be even sweeter if this wasn’t a limited offer, though.

Nintendo Preps Black Friday DSi Bundles With Preloaded Software - [eXophase.com]

The first Wii Music wasn’t quite the runaway success Nintendo expected it to be, but that doesn’t mean they’ve bailed out of the genre entirely. Speaking in a recent interview with Official Nintendo Magazine UK, producer Shigeru Miyamoto has hinted that a follow-up is not out of the question.

“[Wii Music] was a really unique game, and even today, we are receiving several different offers from people in the field of music education… I think it still has great potential.

Unique, yes, but lacking in fun factor. The concepts within Wii Music definitely have potential but were hampered by poor execution. A complete revamp is in order if Nintendo has any hope of selling a sequel. Tacking “Plus” onto the title isn’t going to work in this case.

Miyamoto drops ‘Wii Music Plus’ hints [CVG]

Miyamoto Considering Wii Music Sequel - [eXophase.com]

October NPD results are in. Nintendo had a strong showing, shifting 506,900 Wii units, no doubt thanks to the $50 price cut that went into effect late last September. Despite an overall slump in sales elsewhere across the spectrum, PS3 sales remained relatively brisk, edging past the Xbox 360 by around 70,000 in total unit sales.

All in all, it was a $1.07 billion month for the video game industry, a 13 percent drop from last year. Much of that decline can be attributed to the hardware sector. Expect things to perk up next month, though, evident by the blockbuster sales of Modern Warfare 2. Front-runner titles like Assassin’s Creed 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 will likely follow in its footsteps. See the full breakdown of hardware and software sales past the jump.

While many industry pioneers share the belief that digital distribution is the future, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes this method of selling product will not even come close to overtaking retail until 20 years at least. Here’s an excerpt from the latest Iwata Asks column:

Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time. But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time. In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital. In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in 5 years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then. Habits of life do not change such radically and quickly. Especially for the expanded audience of various people, to whom we are and will be trying to appeal, I believe their habits will change more slowly.

Iwata prefaced this statement by saying that only around 35 percent of the current Japanese Wii user base actively connects to the shop channel. That said, it seems Nintendo still has more of a conservative view of the online space. With all the strides Sony and Microsoft have made towards a digital future in such a short time span, it’s not unrealistic to think it could reign as the primary method of distribution in much sooner than 20 years. Ten years seems more realistic at the current pace. Of course, an opinion is just an opinion, so we’ll see.

Iwata Believes Digital Distribution Not Overtaking Retail for At Least 20 Years - [eXophase.com]

The Wii is no longer the object of desire that it once was in Japan, with sales tipping below the 50K mark each week despite a recent price cut. This dip in sales hasn’t gone unnoticed over at Nintendo HQ, of course, leading to performance concerns by company president Satoru Iwata.

Speaking to investors in the company’s latest financial results briefing, he noted that the “the current situation of Wii cannot be defined as healthy.” While the price cut has seen moderate success in other regions, it’s interesting that it has done little to boost sales in Nintendo’s homeland. Could the Wii be hitting a point of market saturation? Perhaps.

As you’d expect, Iwata says that Nintendo’s main strategy for this holiday is to bring back a constant uptick in Wii sales. While it remains to be seen how such a feat will be accomplished, we have a feeling that simply spending more marketing dollars isn’t going to fix things in the long run.

Iwata Concerned Over Wii Performance In Japan, Hopes To Turn Things Around This Holiday Season - [eXophase.com]

The DSi LL is heading to North American and Europe under a slightly more identifiable moniker — the DSi XL. XL, obviously standing for extra large. Official word from Nintendo is that the unit will offer a screen 93% larger than the current DS Lite, coupled with a better view angle, a jumbo-sized stylus, and unspecified preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare software.

It’s slated to hit “first quarter calendar year of 2010.” No word on pricing yet, but expect it to carry a premium like its Japanese counterpart, which will retail for approximately 1100 more yen over that of the standard DSi model.

DSi XL Pegged for 2010 Release In North America, Europe - [eXophase.com]