Update: According to GoNintendo, the rating has existed for years, and refers to the official Zelda Universe website, despite what I initially thought. So that’s that. Nothing exciting.

Today, the Entertainment Software Rating Board – colloquially known as the ESRB – released a rating that is sure to spur lots of discussion.

The rating reveals a new Zelda game that apparently contains violence, but not enough for a Teen or even Everyone 10+ rating, for an unknown platform. The listed “online” platform may as well be meaningless, as it is often used by the ESRB to simply denote console or PC games that deliver an online experience. It may also point towards an interactive browser-based game, but knowing Nintendo, that’s probably not the case. Meaning, Zelda Universe – whatever it even is – is most likely a 3DS or Project Café game. It’s worth noting that Nintendo’s official website for the Zelda franchise is called “Zelda Universe,” but I doubt they’re related.

What exactly could this mysterious project be? I’m going to go all-out on this one and guess that it’s an MMO set in the Zelda world. MMO’s have proven to be massively popular over the years, and the Zelda…erm, universe seems like a great place to have one take place in. That’s just my own wild and crazy guess, though, so I’d love to hear yours in the comments.

Could we be seeing this in HD on the Wii 2?

Emily Rogers has done it again. This time her sources have apparently given her information on the Wii 2’s digital content. Firstly she was told that SEGA are getting ready to port some of their Xbox Live Arcade Genesis games to the Wii 2’s Virtual service. The details of which exact ones were not given.

One of the rumours which we can pretty much guarantee to be true is that the Wii 2 will be receiving its own version of WiiWare.

She was also told that a select few of virtual console titles will be made available in HD but it seems that a lot of them will not be receiving this treatment. Emily Rogers also mentioned that her source told her that a lot of the SNES games will not be made available in HD because they become blurry as they weren’t originally designed with widescreen TVs in mind.

It was also mentioned that Virtual Console titles will be transferable from from your Nintendo Wii to the Wii 2 but if you want the HD versions you will have to buy them again at full price. So if you already have a title from Virtual Console and you want the HD version you will not get a free upgrade and will have to buy that title again. Her source did not tell her whether WiiWare titles will be transferable or not.

So what do you think of Emily Rogers’ newest set of rumours?

Special thanks to Deer Huntresss and Fred for sending this in!

Will Super Smash Bros for the Wii 2 be displayed at E3?

Yes, if we are to believe the website Gaming Crusade who apparently have sources within the industry. According to their sources Nintendo will be showing off a new Super Smash Bros game for the Wii 2 at E3 this year. They did not share any other details about the game.

As with most rumours I suggest you take it with a pinch of salt (or maybe a skip load full). However, a Super Smash Bros for the Wii 2 is pretty much a given, we just don’t know when.

Josh has also brought to my attention an image that is meant to be from the game, for you to muse over. E3 will reveal the truth, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Super Smash Bros Strife… got a nice ring to it.

Remember that footage featuring Project Cafe? Well, new evidence has come in that the video is completely and utterly fake. The reliability of the video was questionable anyway but this new evidence seems to blow any thoughts that it was true out the window.

A French website gave students the challenge of creating a piece of multimedia work in order to bring 5,000 views to the page. The winning prize went to two students for faking an event displaying Project Cafe. And when you click the link to their work, it goes straight to the Youtube video we’ve all been debating over.

This seems to be heavy evidence that this video is definitely fake.

Thank you Josh for sending that in.

The Wii 2 could have a camera like its little brother.

A source has told the website Develop Online that the Wii 2’s controller will have a front facing camera. It seems that the camera will be able to create in-game images. What this means exactly is unknown as the source did go into more detail.

However, the source did go on to confirm that some of the rumours that we have already heard about the Wii 2’s controller may be true. They mentioned that the controller will indeed have a six inch touch screen, “possibly with a stylus” as well as having standard buttons.

Another source also discussed the possibility of the Nintendo 3DS being used as a controller for Nintendo’s next home console.

“The functions are the same,” the source said. “It is a standard wireless controller added with a front-facing camera and touch screen. That sounds far too much like a 3DS to me. But I can’t confirm this, Nintendo is being very cautious about the details.”

I can’t wait to see what Nintendo have in mind, if the front facing camera is true. Front facing seems to suggest taking a picture of one’s own face. It could be that the Wii 2 will possess the ability to add in features to a Mii’s face from a photo like the Nintendo 3DS. Speculations, speculations, I guess we will just have to wait until E3.

The following video has surfaced on Youtube, which is supposed to have been sneakily shot during a presentation at an unknown video game developer. Once again, it shows what some people have begun to call “the Windows 7 box that doesn’t want to die.”

Take it for what it’s worth. Do you think it’s real or not?

I’d like to give special thanks, by the way, to Kyle for sending this in.

It would be fun to duke it out with Link again

A SoulCalibur game hasn’t been on a Nintendo console since SoulCalibur II released on the Nintendo GameCube, PS2 and Xbox in 2003 (Legends doesn’t count). The GameCube version of the fighting game has the highest Game Ranking of all the versions. This was at a time when a multi platform release of a game didn’t mean Nintendo got a dumbed down version.

SoulCalibur II went on to be a GameCube classic, receiving positive reviews and even making it into IGN’s top 25 GameCube games. Unfortunately, when the next generation of consoles rolled around, the Nintendo Wii was left out of a version of SoulCalibur IV in favour of the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

SoulCalibur V was recently announced by Namco at a press event in Dubai. It is confirmed to be making its way to the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in 2012. But what about the Wii 2? The Wii 2 is rumoured to have graphics either on par or beyond that of the PS3/360. This would suggest that the Wii 2 would be capable of handling a next generation SoulCalibur game. It is slated for 2012 release which puts it neatly in the year that the Wii 2 is scheduled to come out. This is all speculation and it doesn’t mean that any game released in 2012 is coming to the Wii 2 but it is a possibility.

Namco Bandai mentioned that more info about the game will be released at E3. So what do you think? Will SoulCalibur find its way back to Nintendo?

A few days ago, Fox News ran a controversial article suggesting that the next generation of home consoles could be the last of their kind. Mobile gaming has seen a rise in popularity over the years. The cheap cost of the games compared to the price of home console games has helped to up their appeal.

“I actually think consoles are a thing of the past,” Mark Ormond told Fox News. He admitted to playing on his iPhone more than he played his Xbox 360 or Wii.

“Why pay $50-60 for sequels of the same games on $300 machines when I can play newer experiences elsewhere in a lot less time — and for a lot less money — on devices I already use more?” he asked.

Does this new type of gamer, who would rather play Angry Birds for 60 pence than Skyward Sword for 40 pounds, spell the end of video games? Will the Wii 2 be one of the last consoles of its kind? Nintendo doesn’t think so.

Nintendo’s director of PR, Marc Franklin doesn’t seem to think that consoles are going anywhere anytime soon.

“Consoles display games on the biggest screen in the house… No other game device can match their impact. No other type of gaming brings people together in the same way.”

Those are very reassuring words from Nintendo. I think it is safe to say that we can expect a Wii 3 and a Wii 4.

Wii 2 rumours must be getting quite popular, if what GoNintendo reader Juan found is any indication. Yesterday, the search phrase “wii 2” appeared on Yahoo!’s list of trending topics, and apparently stayed there for quite a while. It takes a lot for something to get into that list, so there must be a lot more people out there eagerly anticipating E3 than I thought.

Come on, June! Why can’t you get here faster?

Thanks to SonOfMrPeanut for telling me about this!

In other words, it won’t be going the way of Twilight Princess and jumping to the Wii’s successor at the last minute.

In an interview with MCV, Nintendo’s marketing manager Rob Lowe (re-)confirmed this by telling us that, “there are great new pieces of software launching this year such as Wii Play: Motion in June and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword later on in 2011.” So if you were afraid of Skyward Sword getting moved (and potentially delayed), you can rest assured that you’ll still be able to get your hands on it this year.