We’ve been wondering for a while now when Nintendo would update the current Wii bundle in North America to replace the same launch version from 2006 which includes just the system, controller and Wii Sports.

If some posts over on VGChartz are to believed, then Nintendo may have secretly rolled out a new (still white) Wii bundle that includes Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, as well as Motion Plus.  Note that Europe has already received the bundle shown above, in black no less.

A poster on VGChartz’s forums is claiming to have run into the Wii bundle pictured above at a Wal-Mart in Illinois.

It has already been confirmed by both Nintendo and outside sources that the Wii is currently suffering from shortages due to the insane sales numbers from December, so a new SKU would make sense at this point.

Unfortunately, we can only file this report under rumor status for now as Nintendo has released no information on any new bundles, which is odd considering that the company just wrapped up its 2010 Media Summit presentation.  With GDC coming up this month though, Nintendo could still drop some news on a new bundle.

A new trailer for the Wii’s upcoming Metroid: Other M has debuted, which you can view above.  Sadly, the new trailer does not display any actual gameplay footage, merely showcasing heavily voice-acted cutscenes.

Nintendo sure appears to be taking a different approach with the new title, delving heavily into Samus Aran’s history and apparently, her emotional side.  The trailer itself features Samus talking about how she “was so young” and “was scared.”  I’m not exactly sure if I like the prospect of the galaxy’s deadliest bounty hunter getting in touch with her emotional side, but we’ll see how the gameplay turns out this June.

Other than that, the trailer could easily pass for a one-minute clip of Coruscant from the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Go ahead, take a look at the video above.  The footage is from a DSiWare title called “Rittai Kakushi E Attakoreda” that adjusts your viewpoint based upon how you tilt your DSi.  It is the craziest simulation of 3D technology we’ve seen without actually being 3D, and it instantly reminds us of holographic cards.  Perhaps Nintendo will find other ways to utilize this new gameplay style for larger titles.

In the video above, the player is looking for the letter “A,” so apparently, the game involves players simply looking for things.  Not too shabby compared to the majority of unimpressive DSiWare titles out there.  The downloadable game should at least impress your friends and family.

For more information (assuming you’re fluent in Japanese), you can visit the game’s website here.

We had heard for a little while that the North American and European versions of Monster Hunter 3 would likely not be hampered by Nintendo’s friend codes system.  But now, thanks to statements by Nintendo’s sales and marketing EVP, Cammie Dunaway, we can officially confirm this rumor.

During Nintendo’s Q1 Media Summit in San Francisco this week, Dunaway confirmed the lack of a friend code requirement in the upcoming Capcom title for the Wii, stating, “We felt that this was the best way to deliver [Monster Hunter Tri].”

This means that not only will the title have free online play and text and voice-based chat (available through Wii Speak) when it arrives in the U.S. on April 20, but the game will allow you to group with anyone, and evidently, speak with anyone via text or even Wii Speak.  Hello annoying 12-year-olds!

So why the exception to the usual rule of “make it free, make it easy, make it safe” in regards to Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection service?  After all, friend codes were part of the keep it safe idea since they would “create an online environment free of harassment.”  Without friend codes in place, I could very well run into this lovely kid.

Dunaway is quoted as saying, “With each title we’ll make the right determination.”  So I guess that means if you have a good enough game Nintendo will let you fudge the rules a bit.

But Nintendo’s voice chat has an interesting feature: it’s based on a table top – er, TV top – microphone that picks up every nearby voice in the room.  So let’s say a pre-pubescent little foul-mouth gets pissed at me for not killing that massive water-dwelling Lagiacrus and starts throwing out every available curse word in the English dictionary.  Not only would his parents likely hear everything I say back, but I would hear everything his parents say him, including any subsequent scoldings and/or beatings.  Youtube is going to love this.

I’ll report back in April with my findings on the unhampered voice chat soon to be flooded by Nintendo fans.  We’ll see if they behave themselves any better than certain Xbox Live gamers, though I’m not holding my breath.

Source: Gamasutra.

Nintendo has released the first new trailer for Super Mario Galaxy 2 since its debut at E3 2009, and the title looks to make full use of the new drill item and long-time dinosaur pal Yoshi.  One boss fight in  particular uses the drill to bore through a planet and crack open the underside of the boss to break an enclosed star free.

You can also find a wealth of information on the game, as well as new screenshots, from Nintendo’s game information page.

Nintendo’s 2010 Media Summit is fully underway, and with it has come a wealth of information on upcoming games and the larger DSi model, the DSi XL.  Here is a breakdown of the information from Nintendo’s press release:

- The DSi XL launches March 28 at an MSRP of $189.99.  Will be available in both Burgundy and Bronze colors, and comes loaded with the following software: Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock, as well as two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio.  The system also includes the larger pen-like stylus.

- Super Mario Galaxy 2 launches May 23 for the Wii. Aside from Yoshi, the game will feature a drill that lets Mario tunnel through solid rock.

- Metroid: Other M launches June 27.  Nintendo has confirmed that “While much of the game is reminiscent of 2-D side-scrollers, players can switch the perspective into 3-D at any time as they explore the twisting passages of a derelict space station and delve deep into a cinematic, never-before-told story of bounty hunter Samus Aran’s past. This new approach uses a new control scheme in which players use the Wii Remote controller held sideways to battle enemies and navigate the expansive, gorgeous environments in classic Metroid fashion, then aim at the screen with the Wii Remote pointer to blast foes in first-person and hunt the world for clues and hidden passages.”

- Nintendo will publish Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in the Americas some time this summer.

- Monster Hunter 3 (Tri) will launch April 20.  Free online has been confirmed, and Wii Speak support has been confirmed as well.

- Sin and Punishment 2, the sequel to the Japanese-only Nintendo 64 title, has been renamed Sin and Punishment: Star Successor.  It will launch June 7 and feature international online leader boards.

- FlingSmash is a new Motion Plus-only title for the Wii launching this summer that “will test players’ Wii Remote skills as they bounce a ball-like hero through countless side-scrolling stages, combining the precision of racket sports with the unpredictable fun of pinball.”

- Picross 3D is launching for the DS on May 3 and will offer more puzzles to download via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection after launch.

- 100 Classic Books will launch for the DS on June 14 and will be highlighted by 100 works from authors such as William Shakespeare, Jules Verne, Jane Austen, Mark Twain and more. Readers can adjust the size of text, place bookmarks and even download new content via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

- Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands from Ubisoft will launch May 18 on both the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms.  As an added bonus, the Wii version of the game will exclusively include the 1992 Super NES version of the original Prince of Persia game.

- Disney Guilty Party is the official title of the first collaboration between Disney Interactive Studios and its recently acquired studio, Wideload Games. The mystery party game is set for release in the second half of 2010, exclusively for Wii.

- Majesco’s Nintendo DSi exclusive Ghostwire: Link to the Paranormal uses incredible augmented reality technology through the Nintendo DSi Camera. Launching this October, the game lets players become a ghost hunter as they interact with the paranormal.Nintendo also announced a variety of games available to download directly to the Wii console from the Wii Shop Channel via the WiiWare service, and directly to the Nintendo DS via the DSi Shop and DSiWare services.

- Mega Man 10 launches on WiiWare March 1.

- Max & the Magic Marker launches on WiiWare March 8.

- Cave Story launches on WiiWare March 22.

- WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase launches on WiiWare March 29.

- Nintendo’s Art Style: light trax and Art Style: Rotozoa launch on WiiWare this Spring.

- Rage of the Gladiator will launch on WiiWare this spring and utilizes Motion Plus.

- And Yet it Moves launches this spring on WiiWare.

- Super Meat Boy launches this summer on WiiWare.

- Nintendo’s Photo Dojo launches on DSiWare this spring.

- Nintendo’s Metal Torrent launches on DSiWare this spring.

- Nintendo’s X-Scape launches on DSiWare this spring.