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Nintendo continues to do these random online streams to show off their content. Overtime, I've gone from hating these little videos to loving them. They are generally always great and packed with content, both announced and unannounced. The purpose of the most recent Nintendo Direct was to look at games coming out in 2014 and through Spring 2015.

We all know that beautiful New 3DS and New 3DS XL will be coming to the west in 2015. We just weren't sure if it was going to be region locked, a practice which most hardware makers are passing on now. Well, not surprisingly, Nintendo has no plans to ditch region locking.

If you have no idea what Amiibo is or why you should be excited about it, you probably are not alone. I was in the same boat. Sure, I had seen all the videos and images, but I wasn't 100% sure what purpose they were going to serve. Obviously, it was going to be implemented with the launch of Super Smash Bros, and would be compatible with Mario Kart. Aside from that, I didn't know much else.

Nintendo's move towards DLC has been surprisingly great. Their content is aaggressively priced, generally making it hard not to purchase it when available. I assumed the Mario Kart 8 packs would come in at 12-14$ each, but fortunately that isn't the case. What Nintendo hasn't done - until now that is - is do the number one thing gamers hate about DLC.

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about Nintendo's new download options. Most interesting was the ability (finally) to download games from a computer and push them to your Wii U. This was great, and frankly overdue. What wasn't announced at that time was a pre-download option for digital title. Apparently Nintendo is ready to deliver that as well.

Fantasy Life really is a fantasy. But it's a good fantasy, and one that will take up a lot of your time. It's not everyday you get to swap between 12 different occupations, ranging from fighting to crafting to gathering, but in this charming and addictive title from Level-5, you can. Although the game struggles with some pacing issues throughout, the overall charm and depth of the game makes the smaller issues seem unimportant.

Get the Pokemon demo. Do whatever you have to do, but get the demo. This especially goes for anyone looking for that little extra advantage when the game launches on November 21st. The demo, while short, is packed with unlockables that will transfer over to the new game. I've played through the demo six times, and here is what I think.

Demo's are not something Nintendo has done in the past, but with the Wii U and 3DS, it appears as if almost every AAA title will receive some kind of demo. Yes, the demo's are hampered by one major problem: limits on the number of times you can play. Regardless, it is nice to try something ahead of release. This time around, the demo is for Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. There are a number of ways to get codes for this demo, outlined below.

Nintendo is taking another step in the right direction this week as they begin to roll out new purchasing options for Nintendo Wii U and 3DS owners. At this time, it is strictly available in North America, although I suspect the feature to launch in Europe soon. Essentially, Nintendo owners can now do almost everything Xbox and PS4 owners have been able to do for years when it comes to purchasing games via a computer or smart phone.

It's not an opinion. It is a fact. Nintendo's brand has taken series blows over the years, and the company now sits in spot 100 out of 100 when it comes to the worlds most valuable brands. Many analysts predict that Nintendo won't even make the list in 2015.