We’ve known that a new Smash Bros game is in development for the Wii U and the 3DS since this year’s E3, but if a supposedly leaked photo of an internal Nintendo Spec sheet is to be believed, we may finally have a title.

The photos, which popped up this morning around the web seem to be for a game called “Super Smash Bros Universe,” and bears the Wii U logo. Get it? U-niverse. Wii U? Ahh Clever.

Don’t take it as a sign that development is moving along on the title though — project lead Masahiro Sakurai took to his Twitter account to address the progress of the game following the leak.  Sakurai noted that all of his attention is currently going towards Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS, and progress on Smash Bros won’t progress until Uprising is finished.

By the way, Uprising was recently delayed until next year, so don’t hold your breath.

Remember at this year’s E3 when everyone went crazy for the announcement that we were getting Super Smash Bros  on the 3DS and Wii U. What they didn’t tell you was that you’re going to have to wait for them a while. A long while.

In his weekly Famitsu column, series creative director Masahiro Sakurai commented that both games were “several years away from completion.” Adding that the two projects being on his plate “makes him cringe,” Sakurai commented on the wait that will no doubt be the death of some of the Nintendo faithful,”I’m not sure it’s the smartest thing to make gamers wait for several years, but the early announcement was made chiefly in order to attract new team members.”

That doesn’t mean that Sakurai and his team are bidding their time, as most of their resources are going towards another highly anticipated title; Kid Icarus: Uprising. “We’ve got no plans whatsoever — we’ve got two new games out there in the open when there’s no extra time to work with them at all.”

Sakurai also commented that a 3DS version of the game was always planned, but after seeing the Wii U, his studio, Project Sora began to look at creating the new version. “If we went solely for the Wii U, the HD graphics would really bump up the visual effects, but then we’d be stuck in another arms race. If we made this game another extension over the previous one, we’d have to cut out the new things we could possibly do on the 3DS hardware and compete with ourselves again over the size of the character roster and the amount of gameplay we can put in it.”

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the latest in the legendary zany action fighting franchise celebrates its first birthday today.‚  Make a wish, blow out the candles, give it a pinch to grow an inch, and observe a moment of silence for all those foreheads that were undoubtedly face-palmed in dismay from the many release delays that plagued gamer’s psyches everywhere.

If you were like me, in the months leading up to Brawls release, would check the Dojo multiple times a day in thirst of any nugget of information large or small.‚  Brawl is brimming full with characters, items, stages, and game-play modes and the Dojo did a painfully excellent job at teasing me and the rest of Brawl nation.‚  The Wii forums were abuzz with giddy fanboyistic excitement with every new sliver of information unveiled even if it was an image of a slippery banana rendered in high def quality.

Brawl was the title so many Wii owners were so hotly anticipating.‚  Officially announced at a pre-E3 event in 2005 by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, Brawl had a tough act to follow in the chart-topping Melee, but Sora Ltd., the developers of Brawl knew they could build the best Smash Bros. game to date.‚  Nearly 8.5 million copies later and a growing global renown for the genre, Brawl succeeded both monetarily and as a cultural phenomenon sucking in more and more with this new and exciting release.

What is it about Brawl that makes it so appealing?‚  On its face Brawl is a bunch of funny looking characters smacking each other around with a plethora of weaponry ranging from the annoying red shell, to the ultimately powerful smash ball. ‚ ‚ I believe the lasting appeal with Brawl is that it creates an environment for gamers of all ages and abilities to enjoy.‚  Whether that be duking it out in a hardcore winner-take-all fashion or sitting back and putting all items on high to have the craziest brawl imaginable.

Many gamers were excited about the inclusion of online play with Brawl, and I must say, I was too, but these hopes were crushed in my first lag-filled, time-limited match.‚  Finally, so many gamers could settle those scores, originating from forum flame wars, over the internet with their friend code and wireless connection.‚  Well I guess they still can, but Nintendo’s stance on multiplayer gameplay has always preferred the local to the vast and unknown internet space.

I have spent hours and hours and hours playing Brawl and 95% of the time is spent with Wavebird in hand, room filled with friends, soft insults flying, with the result being a great time to be had by all.‚  The harrowing excitement when a smash ball drops is like nothing else, I “zee-rok” my way to the sphere as fast as I can in hopes of slaying an enemy with my mighty finishing move.‚  After a match when three heads are hung and one is smiling, the determination and will to avenge the loss is lingering in the air, with the only remedy being a rematch.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the epitome of Nintendo’s pursuit of perfection in quality and lasting appeal.‚  ‚ Brawl feels fresh every time I play it.‚  Some of my fondest memories of gaming revolve around the series of titles.‚  Rooms filled with friends, enjoying the pure, non-violent (okay it is violent, but it’s no Gears of War) experience, it’s something that will stay with me forever.

What can we expect as Brawl’s successor? According to Kotaku.com, Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Nintendo character Kirby and designer of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, is creating a new title for Nintendo.‚  The project is currently titled Project Sora.

About this project the new company is working on, Satoru Iwata assured that it’s not another Smash Bros. game, saying, “It’s not Smash Bros. I asked for.” Sakurai added, “I can promise an experience that’s different from anything [you've played] up until now.”

In this world of sequels I welcome a new IP, and especially due to Sakuri’s involvement. I can’t even imagine what he is planning, let the hype begin.

If you’re reading this after a hard day of work at the local grind, or after suffering through an excessively boring astronomy lecture in school, ease some of that pain away by commemorating Brawl’s birthday and getting the group together for a session of some wholesome Nintendo animated violence, its healthy, I promise.

For more information on Sakuri’s new game check out the official Project Sora website here.‚  I just hope you brought your Japanese translator.

Delectable images in the gallery to draw you back!

Blast wants to hear from Y-O-U.‚  Are you still enjoying Brawl? If so who is your favorite character and why?

During our interview with A Cursive Memory, we asked Shaun, Colin, Mark and Dillan what their top five games for the tour were. Here were there responses:

1. Super Smash Bros. for N64

Shaun and Mark were emphatic that it was the Nintendo 64 version of Super Smash Bros. they were hopelessly addicted to, not Melee which was “whack” or Brawl which was “whack too.”

2. Call of Duty: World at War

By CoD:WoW, they really meant Nazi Zombies, which they were playing both before and after our interview and referenced during their show.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog

This was Dillan’s pick. There was no explanation needed.

4. Grand Theft Auto

The guys were tied between Vice City and San Andreas as their favorite. However, since they grew up in San Andreas, it led to this anecdotal exchange:

SHAUN “Mark will just roll up, sock an old lady in the face, and take her money.”

COLIN “That’s my life at home. Running people over. We’re wanted.”

SHAUN “For fun, we see who can get a tank on [the cops] the fastest.”

5. A toss up

The number five spot was a tie between Call of Duty 4 (Colin), Mortal Kombat: Armaggedon (Dillan) Pac-Man (Mark) and Hanoi for the iPhone (Shaun).

So there you have it, the top five (or eight) games A Cursive Memory plays while on tour.

Reuters is reporting that Nintendo has given a May 19 release date on their new fitness product, Wii Fit

With Wii Fit, gamers will burn calories on a weight-and-motion sensing Wii Balance Board.

Nintendo will also launch of a new online service, called WiiWare on May 12. WiiWare will let game publishers distribute titles over the Internet instead of retail discs.

Finally, we have the firm release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl set for March 9. **Fingers crossed**

Correction: Reuters reported Super Smash Bros. Brawl’s release date incorrectly as May 9.