Nintendo is prepping a new 3DS Super Mario title for its next fiscal year, which begins in April. Interestingly, the title will mark a return to the franchise roots a la New Super Mario Bros., with traditional side-scrolling gameplay set on a 2D plane.

The tidbit was revealed in a recap of its third-quarter financial results briefing. Notably, the effort joins several other key titles destined for 3DS later this year, including Paper Mario, Luigi’s Mansion 2, Heroes of Ruin, Bravely Default, and Mario Tennis.

No further details were spared, though we’d wager a bet that it will make an appearance at E3 later this year. Nintendo hopes its broad software lineup will position 3DS as the dominant mainstream platform.

Here is the latest weekly update for you folks either on Nintendo 3Ds or Nintendo Wii. Click on the link to be forwarded to each titles profile page on Nintendo.com.

Nintendo eShop 
Blaster Master: Enemy Below - Using the strong weapons and high jumping power of his legendary battle vehicle, Jason must explore a subterranean region where a sinister life form resides. (For Nintendo 3DS™)

Nintendo eShop / Nintendo DSiWare™
Elite Forces: Unit 77 - Drive armored trucks and tanks, defuse mines, locate explosives and rescue hostages. Gather your forces into a crack squad or control a single game character based on the strategic requirements. (For Nintendo 3DS /Nintendo DSi™)

Check out more after the break.

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After the report posted in an interview with Wired last night, Nintendo was quick to maintain damage control. Today a Nintendo spokesperson has said that it is completely untrue that Miyamoto is considering retirement.

“This is absolutely not true,” said a spokeswoman for Nintendo. “There seems to have been a misunderstanding. He has said all along that he wants to train the younger generation.

“He has no intention of stepping down. Please do not be concerned.”

So, it appears the leading creator behind both Mario and Zelda will be sticking around a little while longer.

Source: Reuters

According to a Wired report, Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto is stepping down from his current position at Nintendo. He plans on staying at the company, albeit in more of an advisory role. Miyamoto wants to focus on smaller projects, rather than big-budget productions that require multiple years of development time.

“What I really want to do is be in the forefront of game development once again myself,” explained Miyamoto. more »

Joining Best Buy, retailer Target wants to push lots of Nintendo 3DS hardware this holiday season, offering up a $50 gift card with the purchase of any standalone 3DS unit. The deal goes into effect tomorrow through the 10th across all US stores, according to an ad flyer posted on its site. more »

Nintendo 3DS momentum is strong, with sales on the verge of eclipsing the 3 million unit mark according to Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata. At the current rate, the milestone will be hit two weeks faster than its predecessor, the DS.

Additionally, Nikkei reports (translated by Andriasang) that Mario Kart 7 has sold an upwards of 420,000 units in Japan — nearly double that of the DS iteration. It would seem that bustling 3DS sales, combined with key software launches have pushed Nintendo back onto the road to profitability, despite posting a financial loss earlier this year. Iwata expects the firm to make a recovery financially in the next fiscal term.

Alright here’s one that strikes the funny bone. In the wake of last week’s announcement that the fiscal year ending in March 2012 will see the company post it’s first annual loss since 1981 Mr. Iwata has gone on to clarify, among other things, some of the company’s strategies in dealing with the 3DS this holiday season during a Q&A session.

Here is the interesting tidbit:
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After 6 months since stating that 3DS sales are off to a smooth start and roughly 3 months since the handheld received an early price cut Nintendo now has to admit it has a very real problem. The company has forecast its first annual loss since it began reporting finances in 1981. Specifically, Nintendo expects to suffer a loss of ¥20 billion ($264 million) for the year ending March 2012. It seems the Wii 2 could be make or break for the company which was once leaps ahead of Sony and Microsoft.

Looks like one of Nintendo’s big announcements at its upcoming 3DS conference – or at least one of them, will involve the unveiling of a control expansion pack. It’s a bulky attachment that straps onto the 3DS’ rear, adding a second analog nub and extra triggers in the form of an L2, R1, and R2 button.

A photo of the peripheral was shown in the latest issue of Japanese gaming mag Famitsu (picture above), alongside a feature on Monster Hunter 3DS. It’s not clear if the device was designed specifically for MH, or if other titles will take advantage of it. We’d side towards the latter, though.

Nintendo is prepping significant product announcements for its 3DS Conference in Japan this year. While it’s anyone’s guess as to what will be shown, the briefing will be held on September 13 and we now have another nugget of information to go along with that. According to Nintendo’s official website, it will be accompanied by a live stream, which will no doubt raise the hype meter for some.

It’ll be broadcast 12:00 PM Japan time through UStream and NicoNico video.