NINTENDO

Just weeks after E3 2012, Nintendo has announced its next release in its family of gaming products. Fans may be awaiting more information on the Wii U console, but the company has just unveiled its Nintendo 3DS XL handheld, a follow-up to the three-dimensional portable gaming device.

A listing on the German division of online retailer Amazon has indicated a Dec. 21 release date for Nintendo?s Wii U console. However, this could just be a placeholder for the European launch of the Wii U, according to Game Informer.

Fans were able to see some footage of Ubisoft's upcoming 'Assassin's Creed' game at E3 2012, but it looks as if more uncut and unedited clips have surfaced. The video consists of more than five minutes of untouched gameplay from 'Assassin's Creed 3,' showing lead character Connor in a Boston market making some dirty dealings.

Two of the leading names in the video game industry, Microsoft?s Xbox360 and Sony?s PlayStation 3, both offer Internet-based services to enhance the gaming experience through social and multimedia platforms.

The gaming industry may be focused on the future of gaming consoles, but PCs may be the platform to watch. A recent report from New Scientist says that modern PC graphics cards are 24 times more powerful than those found in Xbox 360 consoles.

Microsoft has just announced that it will not be attending GamesCom or the Tokyo Game Show this year. However, the German video game trade show doesn?t seem to be shaken by the news, as an organizer says the event is still ?on track? according to MCV.

Next-generation consoles such as the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 won?t be available for a while, but Nintendo is already boasting that the Wii U will support some high-end graphical power.

Nintendo?s keynote at E3 2012 has left some fans and viewers with unanswered question about its next generation console, the Wii U. The long-time gaming company had not included any information about a release date or price for the system, and has left some heavy hitters in the Nintendo universe out of the equation thus far.

At its E3 2012 press conference, Nintendo made some insightful revelations about its next-generation Wii U console. The company revealed a list of 22 games that will be available for the system, but there was one prominent character that was notably absent: Zelda.

Ever since ?Tekken? debuted in arcades in 1994, is has been deemed as a classic of the fighting genre. Recently, the ?Tekken? team has joined forces with those of ?Street Fighter? in a mash-up of traditional fighting game goriness. However, for ?Tekken Tag Tournament 2,? fans are in store for an unexpected collaboration with a different type of pop-culture icon from the 1990s.

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are all pushing for what?s next in terms of technological advancements to enhance gameplay. At E3 2012, some have revealed more about their next generation consoles than others, such as Nintendo whose press conference centered on what the Wii U will bring to gamers.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo taking place in Los Angeles is undoubtedly the biggest week of the year for the video game industry, from the perspective of devoted fans and developers alike. E3 2012 has been packed with news and updates on next-generation consoles and gaming titles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Wednesday amid positive US economic data and the G7 meeting's promise of a closer collaboration to tackle economic problems.

At E3 2012, the focus seems to be on a lot more than gaming. Each console is competing to gain dominance as the prominent entertainment system in living rooms around the globe, with a different approach from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.

On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled a stunning new technology platform at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles called SmartGlass, which essentially connects the television and the Xbox to smartphones and tablets, letting users consume their media in a much simpler and more fun way.

Nintendo is set to hold its E3 2012 press conference at 12 p.m. EDT, and there is no doubt that fans can expect to hear some revelations about the next-generation Wii U. This may include features, prices, or more titles that will be available on the follow-up to the Wii gaming system. A list of 25 games leaked earlier this spring, but a new rumor suggests a release that fans and analysts have not predicted.

It?s the biggest week of the year for video game fanatics?the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo begins tomorrow June 5. The three-day-long developers? conference will run through Thursday, and will showcase what 2012 means for the video game industry.

Nintendo has made its first official unveil ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, set to kick off on June 5th in Los Angeles. On June 3rd, the gaming company revealed the name of a component to its upcoming next-generation console , the Wii U. The gaming system?s tablet-esque controller will be called the Wii U GamePad, according to PCMag.

Sony considered a download-only format for its next-generation gaming console, but ultimately rejected the idea. The idea that a traditional disc tray could be excluded from one of the most anticipated consoles indicates the growing presence of online networks in the industry.

The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, developers' conference may be the most exciting time of the year for gaming enthusiasts. With the conference set for June 5-7, it's time to speculate on what's in store for E3 2012.

Asian stock markets mostly advanced Monday as concerns of potential Greek exit eased after recent opinion polls showed that pro-austerity parties could be able to form a coalition government.