Throughout the summer, Big Time Rush—the teen music phenomenon that stars in Nickelodeon’s hit television series Big Time Rush—is working with Nintendo to offer free hands-on demos of Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS system at select stops during the band’s “Big Time Summer Tour.” After weeks of rehearsal and hours of game-play time, the band kicked off the tour on July 5 in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently traveling throughout the United States. From now until Aug. 5, attendees of select Big Time Rush concerts can visit Nintendo 3DS demo stations and experience the game’s wild Mario-themed action, multiplayer features and kart customization options firsthand.

The biggest names in basketball are battling for a chance to take home the NBA trophy. Although their bank accounts dwarf that of the average gamer, NBA All-Stars do have something in common with videogame fans. They log a lot of their free time playing games online on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network.

It’s inevitable with all “cute” franchises.  Eventually, someone’s going to get the idea of making a “kart” game, where familiar characters can get behind the wheel of a race car and (playfully) compete against others through a similar universe, one that’s been in previous games.  Mario’s done it countless of times, Crash Bandicoot did it a couple, and several other clones have emerged over the years as well.  Joining the fray is LittleBigPlanet Karting, collaboration between Media Molecule and the game’s main developer, United Front Games – the same team behind ModNation Racers.  But don’t go dismissing this as just another knock-off.  This one has a lot of kick behind it.

SAN FRANCISCO – Nintendo had a strong showing at the Game Developers Conference (GDC 2012). The game maker abandoned Wii U for Nintendo 3DS and featured some brand new games. On display and playable was Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir, Mario Tennis and Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Driven by fast-selling software Nintendo 3DS sells more in its first nine months than Wii did, capping a very good 2011 for the game maker. Whether they were on the go or at home, whether they played in 2D on the TV or in glasses-free 3D in their hands, gamers of all ages celebrated the holidays with Mario and Zelda. Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 for Nintendo 3DS not only became the fastest-selling titles in the history of their respective franchises when they launched, but they are now also the first Nintendo 3DS titles to sell 1 million units each in the United States. On the console side, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which also broke launch records, became the 45 Wii title to sell more than 1 million units in the U.S.

Nintendo of America’s rewards program has a new website. As part of this overhaul, the game publisher has introduced downloadable games for loyal Nintendo fans. Now, Club Nintendo members who earn enough coins can redeem them for select downloadable Wii and Nintendo 3DS games. The revamped site offers members a streamlined online experience and more exciting ways to redeem coins.

Gamers have been able to play with miniature remote-controlled Mario Kart toys in the past. But Nintendo and West Coast Customs have teamed up to bring these video game creations to life in full-scale go-karts. The Mario and Luigi karts from the upcoming Mario Kart 7 Nintendo 3DS game are on display at the LA Auto Show. Visitors attending the show will be able to take photos of the karts and play the multiplayer game before its Dec. 4 launch.

Nintendo has seen better times.  The company is preparing to report its first quarterly loss in quite some time, and it's still trying to put faith back into its Nintendo 3DS user base, despite its botched launch earlier this year.  But things are on the mend, and along with the promise of a Wii U final build coming to E3 next year, the company will be updating the 3DS with new features, starting with a firmware update this November.  What can we expect?

The Mario Kart games will always remain a beloved multiplayer institution, with players of all ages taking on each other in real-time racing action, no matter what their skill level.  But if there's one thing that annoys so many of us to no end, it's not being able to counter against turtle shells, most notably red homing ones and the dreaded spiked flying shells.  However, with Mario Kart 7, Nintendo is looking to introduce a new degree of strategy to help deal with that.

Nintendo has seen better days.  Not only was it forced to downgrade its price on the Nintendo 3DS to improve sales and business attention, but it's facing flack from investors for its previously announced Wii U system.  Furthermore, the same investors are pressuring Nintendo to spread some of its business to mobile platforms, specifically iPad and iPhone.  To which we respond: "Hey, why not?"

Nintendo is making sure the holidays are hot this year with a new Flame Red version of its portable Nintendo 3DS system. The new color launches September 9 alongside the new Star Fox 64 3D game, and comes on the heels of a new $170 price point, which goes into effect August 12 in the United States. Flame Red joins launch colors Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue.

After a fast start at retail, Nintendo 3DS has experienced sluggish sales. A lack of killer apps was originally blamed, but with Legend of Zelda now on the market Nintendo decided to cut the price by $80. Starting on August 12, the Nintendo 3DS will retail for $170, down from $250. Nintendo has a strong line-up of fall titles to lure gamers, and this price cut will certainly help.