Microsoft have now announced that they will change their mind on originally supplying the Xbox One console as a complete bundle with no exception. They now are looking to supply a cheaper bundle that excludes the Kinect, yet still comes with everything else.

The decision was on the basis that this is what the customer wants. It can also help in the long run for Microsoft should their customers need a replacement Kinect. Another decision on the basis of customer feedback was the ability to access popular features such as YouTube and Netflix from the Xbox Live area without the need for a Gold subscription. Now whether you have Xbox Live Gold or Silver you can now enjoy a plethora of online streaming services at no additional costs.

There is also a new system update available for the Xbox One console that changes the layout, has better app integration and an improved security and party app integration.

Mario Kart 8, is both an innovation and a trip down memory lane for many. Nintendo have upgraded the Mario Kart game elevates the franchise to another level. Anti-gravity tracks will be a different point of call from the original, yet will still have the power-ups that you knew and loved with a modern twist.

The graphics are at 60 frames per second and in stunning HD for enhanced game play. Circuits expand though many different courses through Princess Peach’s Castle, haunted mansions and many more. Go upside down, back to front and in the air for a new dimension for game play.

These stunning graphics can be captured and shared with your friends in the “Miiverse” feature on Mario Kart TV. Whether you are playing at home with friends or with up to 12 players online you have all of your favourite characters from previous titles.

Mario Kart 8 will be released in the United Kingdom on May 30th on Nintendo Wii U.

Climbing its way up the Wii U charts is Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and it’s a game that the whole family can enjoy.

Donkey Kong goes back through generations, well almost, and that means it is a game that many people are familiar with. The new game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is different to the previous titles and you’ll find yourself travelling through fruit factories and roller coasters while there will be plenty of snow and ice about.

Donkey Kong is out of his comfort zone in this one, and you now have the task with dodging and jumping obstacles with perfect balance. The game probably doesn’t have the strongest plot, but it doesn’t need to because it maintains its retro feel and sticks with a fast paced adventure. There are likely to be times where you get stuck on certain tricky levels but practice does pay off.

Many people have got to know Mario as a person, perhaps even a friend and he’s been a big character in the entertainment industry since the early 1990s, well that’s at least when he became prominent. Mario games are strictly still for Nintendo consoles only, and rightly so, why should they give up the character they design to other game makers.

Mario games can really bring the family together, they’re suitable for all ages, and they’re definitely addictive in terms of gaming. Mario tends to stick to traditions and even today it remains a relatively straightforward game (in terms of game play) but it can get challenging, and you do need to acquire the skills to move on through Mario levels.

Super Mario is still loved, and we hope the affection continues for many years to come. So far Super Mario is alive and well with new releases, and they’re certainly fantastic games to play, if not better than those played on older game consoles.

The Nintendo Wii U may not be leading the line along with the likes of Playstation and Xbox, however, it can still be successful. The range of games Nintendo can offer will always see some kind of demand, and though it may not be an audience that’s extremely large in size, it’s still an audience none the less.

What Sony or Microsoft deems as successful may not be exactly what the Wii deems successful, and though sales are not the best for the Wii U right now, there are going to more releases, and more games means more sales, that’s a fact.

Once the sound quietens over Sony and Xbox we feel Nintendo will begin to gather some pace, because many people can grow bored of the new gaming systems quickly and that’s when things can look brighter for the Wii.