Nintendo details Namco Bandai Super Smash Bros. 3DS partnership

Nintendo followed up today's 3DS XL news with a string of software announcements for the handheld, with the aim to boost the 3DS release schedule for the remainder of 2012 and into 2013. The upcoming New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be followed up by paid Coin Rush DLC available from the Nintendo eShop, the company noted during a Nintendo Direct presentation. Fire Emblem: Awakening, due for release in early 2013, will also receive paid DLC. Elsewhere, Nintendo revealed that Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, the next installment in the puzzle series due for release in November, will receive a free downloadable puzzle every single day for an entire year after it is released. Development of the next in the Super Smash Bros. fighting series, first announced at E3 2011, has finally kicked off, with franchise director Masahiro Sakurai working alongside Masaya Kobayashi, Yoshito Higuchi and the rest of their team at Namco Bandai Games. With this partnership, Nintendo says it is taking "a different approach" to the game's development. No estimated release window for the title was offered. "The project has just gotten started," admitted Sakurai. "Bear in mind that not only are we developing two titles simultaneously, but we announced the project before we even started actual development, so I'm afraid we will likely have to keep you waiting for quite a while." Kobayashi added, "All the top creators from Namco Bandai are gathered here to create a never-before-seen dream team for this project. We will fully utilize our experience and knowledge in action/fighting game development, technical capability, and organizational strength." A new Art Academy title for 3DS was also announced, while the Nintendo Photo Showcase, by which users submit 3D photos for consideration for a new '3D Photos of the Week' scheme, was detailed. That will begins on July 2. The European Nintendo Direct presentation had a few extra announcements. A retail version of Freakyforms called Freakyforms Deluxe was revealed with a European release date of July 28, and will include a new RPG mode. Sega introduced the Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games Card Collection, a free virtual trading card album for the 3DS handheld with 70 cards which you collect through StreetPass and Play Coins. Japanese typing tutor Learn With Pokemon Typing Adventure is also getting a European DSi release in September, complete with a wireless DS keyboard release.