As 2015 begins to kick into gear Nintendo seems intent on starting with a bang. While we had to wait until mid-February for the first Nintendo Direct broadcast last year, the company has now confirmed a new broadcast for 14th January.
It's not been given a specific title - which suggests one of those packed general broadcasts - and the press release says it'll feature "Mr. Iwata and crew focused on spring 2015 Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles"; Nintendo of Europe's press release says Spring "releases". Naturally the New Nintendo 3DS is high on a number of wishlists in Europe and North America - especially since the arrival of the Ambassador bundle in the EU - while there are a host of titles on Wii U and 3DS due in the next six months that are yet to receive release dates. Surprises and extra treats are also hoped for whenever a Nintendo Direct comes around, too.
It's all going down at 6am Pacific / 9am Eastern / 2pm UK / 3pm CET on 14th January, and naturally we'll be hosting the streams - the EU and NA regions look set for slightly different broadcasts - live blogging, reporting the news and providing plenty of reaction right here on Nintendo Life.
What do you hope to see announced in this Nintendo Direct? Speculate and dream away in the comments below!
Comments 257
Should be interesting.
Ermagerd! Can't wait. N3ds majora mask bundle pl0x
Oh, look, it's that animated walking alien avatar guy. I bet he's going to say something about Flipnote Studio 3D!
Dang, how did you know. Eh, I think it would be a good time for NOA and NOE to finally release the dang thing. It's no longer the holiday season, so they should be able to squeeze in a simple animation app/online community into their priorities, right? RIGHT?
So Steam, Kirby & Majoras release dates in EU?
Damn, Wednesday is generally my day off, but I'm working tomorrow... starting at three! I'll miss it live but I'll be looking forward to catching up when I get a chance!
My bucket is ready for the disappointment tears.
Dr Kawashima?
E3 was 7 months ago, I think that promised Metroid info is overdue.....
@LEGEND_MARIOID Probably not Kirby as 2nd half of 2015 isn't spring.
They are going to announce 1 title coming wiiu's way. As to the 30 coming Xbox and PlayStation way. But we don't need 3rd party support honest
With the way this year kicked off, hearing this news is like finding an oasis in the middle of the desert.
I'm still keeping fingers crossed for the Ambassador program to hit NA's shores (I might be obsessed at this point), but a concrete release date for regular N3DSs would be the next best thing! Everything else would just be a bonus~
Woohoo.
Awww I'm in an exam at two
Wooooooo hhhhhyyyyyyype!!!
This is exactly what I wanted to see. Hopefully plently of news about Majora's Mask, Monster Hunter and the New 3DS. I'm also still waiting for Flipnote 3D.
Just waiting for MH4, MM3D, and possibly any news about Mewtwo DLC.
I fully expect a release date for the New 3DSV in North America (Feb 13th) and possibly Majora's Mask to be launched alongside it. We'll naturally see new footage about Kirby and Yoshi, and probably MewTwo for Smash. I don't expect any news about Flipnote because of what happened with Swapnote. And I'm hoping for an Animal Crossing Wii U teaser of some sort!
all i want is a release date for youkai watch. and maybe attack on titan too.
Don't really know what I want lol. So many things. A surprise would be nice
I imagine the new 3DS will get it's date revealed, but as always I'll be hoping for a western release of DQVII.
Knew it! Thank Christ, been a while.
I know it's asking way too much but ... how about SOME SMTxFE info, anything really at this point.
"Please understand..."
@ericwithcheese2
hehehehe. awesome. nice profile pic. check mine out, almost the same. did u meet mario at the mall too?
New 3DS release dates, special MH4U and Majora edition New 3DS XLs. Majora's Mask 3D release date. New info on Kirby Rainbow Curse, Splatoon, Yoshi's Woolly World, Codename STEAM and Mario Maker. Eshop titles coming soon. Details on Mewtwo DLC for Smash and Animal Crossing DLC for MK8. Those are all the things I think are safe bets. As for what I want to see but don't think will happen?
1. Release dates for Splatoon, Yoshi's Woolly World and Mario Maker.
2. New info and footage from Star Fox, Zelda U and Xenoblade X.
3. More DLC announced for MK8. Two more packs with Pikmin and Metroid featured would be awesome.
4. A surprise game announcement for 3DS. Seriously, aside from its initial lineup in Spring, it has nothing coming. Metroid? Mario 3D Land 2? Wario Land 5? WarioWare 3D? Donkey Kong 3D Land? I don't care. Something cool would be nice.
5. N64 and GCN games on WiiU VC already. At the least give us N64 games that you promised back in January 2013, Nintendo. Why has this taken so long?!?!
I think MANY of us here are forgetting that we could be getting a release date for Yoshi's Woolly World! That game is set to release in the "first half of 2015," which is Spring. I'm actually looking forward to this game.
I also really want to see the New 3DS because I want to get my hands on that for my birthday.
Release dates please. Imminent ones for Kirby, Splattoon, Yoshi, MM3D maybe Devils Third. If the European dates are much delayed me and you are falling out Nintendo. A Western release for Fatal Frame 5 would be great too. Won't get my hopes up though.
Yoshi's Wolly World, StarFox and Mario Maker, please!
Mario Party...eh.
A really safe bet here is that there will be a formal announcement of Puzzle and Dragon: Super Mario Bros. Edition. As for the actual Puzzle and Dragon game, it may actually get localized too.
Other than that, I think the Attack on Titan game will finally get a release date as well.
Please confirm Etrian Odyssey V for Wii U, Nintendo.
looks good
Hoping for some surprise announcements to kick off the year but I dont think we will get it. Does anyone know if Japan is getting a Nintendo Direct too or is this just Europe and NA?
Instant possible candidates are yoshi's woollen world, n3ds release date / even bundles, splatoon preview, and probably an update on or a release date for mario maker.
I'm also hoping for bananas... or a surprise metroid game on wii u ?
Meanwhile, may I crawl back in my hole? Sucks that of all of the anticipated games of 2014, TU was Terrible and PuyoTet has no likelihood of being released Westside. I'm still angry at Sega, so it's understandable I guess. (Sonic Boom was Terrible too, by the way, and I hope Sega redeems themselves this year.)
New 3DS would be nice. When I've bought Majora's Mask, I'll buy OOT just to play that too.
Nintendo Direct Confirmed: Hell Yeah!!
I can't finish all the things I wanna here and see, plus get Release Dates of..
I am sure we will hear more from Devil's Third, I hope very much to get info to Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem for Wii U and TONS of mind blowing surprises (Metroid..?!)
Alright, here we go! I love these directs, you never know what theyre gonna show!
But its time to unleash Starfox to the world Mr. Miyamoto (you wacky guy!) I dont care if no gameplay is shown, and its just a cinematic trailer, i just want it to be epic. Lets do this!!
If they don't give us anything on New 3DS in Europe/America then I may just punch my screen in.
I knew it, with the New 3DS consoles coming out, we were bound to get a new direct. I hope we get a release date for the Mewtwo DLC in Smash Bros and a teaser trailer for Star Fox. I don't care if it has footage, anything Star Fox related.
I'm guessing "new" 3DS and maybe a Mewtwo trailer for Smash 4. I'm thinking only one or two games we don't know Jack about.
Finally! 3DS and bundles, Majora's Mask and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimates release please! Bundles for both too! ^^
oh yes, Youkai watch Eng. Ver.
I dont really care about Monster Hunt 4
Probably Zelda bundle but the console itself should come out first, no?
Test the water then release bundle with specialize face plate.
They will definitely be talking about the New 3DS. And probably even introducing a new Majora's Mask 3D bundle.
Nice! Will probably not see it until the day after tomorrow though - I'm working late + there's a potential after work afterwards with my work buddies, so yeah...
Anyways, looking forward for this direct. What I'd like to see are release dates for Majora's Mask 3D and Mario Party 10 (<--my Mum's favourite video game series, I'm looking forward to playing it with her, might even be able to convince her to buy it, hehe!). Also mayhap some info on the upcoming DLC packs for Hyrule Warriors.
I guess the leak was true. Can't wait for the N3DS!!!!
http://i.imgur.com/1g1ucuu.jpg
Must. get. Xenoblade Chronicles X release date. HHNNGGG
I think we're gonna get SNES Remix tomorrow and Iwata telling us it will be available immediately after the Direct.
One thing I hope for is for the Virtual Console to get addressed. also new first party game for 3DS please.
@OorWullie But SNES Remix without DKC would be an abomination!
As much as I want the new 3DS, I'd rather get an actual new game surprise or two. Either way, woo hoo! I'm on vacation, so I'll be able to watch it straight from my Wii U.
I doubt they'll mention the new 3DS, but I expect a release date for Zelda Wii U, and the spiritual successor to SMG2 for Wii U too, thank you.
Can't watch this live, will be in the chat afterwards though!
Im going to be taking a semester exam during the stream
Hoping for:
New 3DS XL release date for the US
LOZ MM release date
More info about new games that will utilize Amiibo fuctionality
A new Advance Wars game for the 3DS?
Why so early in the morning? Don't they know that undergraduates and High School students can't make it to these directs if they live in America...
I'm hoping for the funnies. The humour has been a little lacking in past Directs so I'm hoping for some gags this time around
@Grumblevolcano Very true,never thought of that.Maybe they have worked something out?
Hoping for some solid info on releases. So much to look forward to this year! Maybe we will or least get Yoshi or Mario Party soon. Perhaps even Xenoblade X?
Idk why people are "hoping" for a New 3DS release date announcement. it's almost guaranteed to happen.
This is where that "more info this month" on XCX will come from. I just want a little more footage and a new song on the website and I'll be good.
They'll probably announce that 3DS sticker game at some point, but as long as we get Mewtwo (please more DLC) and Amiibo wave 4 I'll be fine.
Just really pleased this is happening Surely a n3ds release date, but otherwise info on anything else they've got coming up will be a bonus. As always, more special miis please!
Yo-Kai Watch would be fantastic!
@3dcaleb I sure did! Mine was taken during the 2013:Holiday Mall Experience. It was a really fun day.
@OorWullie @Grumblevolcano I'd want the dk series included but it could come in a sequel, nes remix 2 has the better game selection after all I'd Love to see a snes Vs mega drive game, never gonna happen but I can dream!
Can't wait to watch!
I still don't have a 3DS, so I've been waiting eagerly for the New3DS to be released...just give us a date and take my rupees!
Also, for the millionth time: N64 virtual console, please!
9 AM Eastern? Really?????
While I think teasers of unannounced games may happen (Animal Crossing for Wii U please!), it's also important to remember that this is "focusing on Spring 2015" releases. I'll be happy with the obvious New 3DS launch details we'll be getting and some release dates on games like Yoshi's Woolly World and DLC details about Mewtwo and MK8. While a surprise may be in the cards, I'd just keep that in mind so we don't come away from this Direct disappointed.
I'm interested to see what the UK price for the new 3DS ends up being, because based on the prices so far, my imported one from Australia looks to be cheaper. Which should not be possible.
Other than that, I want Mario Maker more than anything. I swear that could be the only game I ever need for the rest of my life. Endless downloadable stages!
Yes! Codename Steam info
This will be my last chance for SMTxFE info though. Otherwise it's vaporware
@NintyMan
Puzzle & Dragons has already been confirmed for release outside Japan.
@Tmoneymonkey Hoping for smash info.
With new hardware upon us, I'm expecting a very heavy dose of 3ds news. On the WiiU front, no surprises. More info on already announced titles would still be welcomed. More amiibo support would be fantastically fantastic. Patch in some compatibility with SM3DW and DKCTF.
@NintyMan - I think that's a fair expectation.
I think some Starfox news and footage is long overdue and should make an appearance though.
Please announce the Ambassador edition for the US! Or a Majora bundled with the new model XL. Either way I'll be stoked! Who am I kidding, any Nintendo news is likely to get some fist pumping going on here.
I wanna see the New 3DS, Majoras Mask 3D, Splatoon, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, and new Amiibo
I knew we're due for a direct.
I'm keeping expectations low.
@Tsurii897 I can wait thankfully, also ya, the CD offer ends today in NA but the Mewtwo offer still goes on for another 2 months.
On my birthday? You are so sweet, Ninty! And yesterday I asked the day off too.
If Xenoblade Chronicles X's director's wife has retweeted this direct, then we are getting XCX info tomorrow too.
3 things I want to see-
Mario Maker-Because I am really hyped for this game and what else is new that they didn't show off at E3 or TheGameAwards.
Majoras Mask 3D+New 3DS bundle and release date-It seems like a given that both will go hand in hand. Nintendo would stupid not to allow this to get potential increased New 3DS sales at launch by having a bundle of one of the most requested 3DS releases ever.
Mario Kart 8 May DLC news-At least talk about a new track or two and a new vehicle or at most, a trailer of said things. However, I don't see this happening as the DLC has still a bit of time until release. However, that being said, it's not impossible as it is releasing in Spring and this is what the Direct is about.
What I don't expect to see-
Zelda U and Starfox
On a side note-
Mario Maker-Mario 30th Anniversary game.
E3 2015-Zelda Maker-Zelda 30th Anniversary game???
Please
@BassLotie
Wow that cover art looks really cool. Legit?
Would love to hear release dates of Xenoblade X, MH4U, and Splatoon!
And then:
Surprise me, Nintendo!
Please have Ice Climbers game by Next Level games for the 30th anniversary of the Ice Climbers. Also details about Mewtwo and New VC.
I really hope they don't focus too much on the New 3DS (sorry, not interested) and instead focus more on GAMES.
@Takerkaneanite6 Or... something for Metroid's 30th? sigh Why does everyone forget about it?
I really hope they at least mention Xenoblade Chronicles for New Nintendo 3DS for North America. I need a handheld version of that game in my life lol.
@NinjaWaddleDee Or both. It's doesn't have to be one or the other...
@Baker1000
Don't punch your screen. You have been warned.
Betting the Hyrule Warriors Majora's Mask DLC would get some sort of tie into the 3DS release, a few release dates and some Amiibo functionality, MK8 and Smash possible DLC, hopefully some actual games which will be use the New 3DS aside from Xenoblade (Bayonetta N3DS?), plus news on the E3 titles, Yokai Watch and other Japanese 3DS games being brought over.
Also, I'm guessing we'll see a Nintendo franchise being handed over to a Japanese developer and mixed with a familiar game type- maybe the console version of Pokken?
@LasermasterA
It's fan-made cover.
http://www.xenobladex.jp
I'm so HYPED for anything Xenoblade.
So.... Spring Releases.... that would mean a mostly 3DS direct then? Probably about the New 3DS mostly. We might get to see Mario Maker.
@Takerkaneanite6 Agreed, that would be preferable for everyone's sake. Okay, so here's my little listy thingy:
OMG im soooooooo stoked, i cant believe this
Remember guys this will mostly focus on Spring and obviously New 3DS for NA and EU. Don't get mad if you don't see Retro's new project. Spring titles are what we are promised. ANY non-spring thing is a bonus. Keep those expectations in check guys.
Sweet! Can't wait to see more about upcoming games tomorrow. I'd like to hear about Paper Mario U though... I really hope that exists. Nintendo Directs never cease to excite me!
N64 games on the Wii U VC - my body is ready.
I think it's obvious why we didn't get many directs last year, Iwata's health. This year Might be more inline with 2013 with the directs.
@BassLostie
Yea thought so. Still amazing though. Still stoked for the game though. The original Xenoblade Chronicles was one of the best RPGs I had played in the recent years.
Can't wait for an even bigger game, this time in HD
Looking forward to new info on Xenoblade for New 3DS and the WiiU version. Hopefully they announce a new Metroid and Bayonetta as well!!
HOPEFULLY I'll be able to see it when it airs.
Betting on a mewtwo trailer
I hope it's to showcase an Animal Crossing title for Wii U and some more goodies, not something that everyone already knows is coming to the system. I want to see actual games, not downloadable indie titles, add-on dlc and titles that have already been known as coming out this year. We know Zelda, Star Fox, Splatoon, Yoshi, Kirby and some others are coming out on Wii U, show us some more that's coming out for the system that will show people out there to buy the console and try to get back the third-party support that it desperately needs (sorry, but it can't survive with just nintendo-made games).
Oh man, tomorrow is my sons birthday and I was all excited for a 4 or 6 PM ND but 9AM he'll be in school. I guess if it's any good Ill rewatch it with him when he gets home.
I do feel pretty confident about it being good though - dates for Mario Maker, Splatoon and Yoshi is pretty much all I need. And a Captain Toad amiibo and whatever it is amiibo are supposed to be doing in that game.
Hoping for Region Free gaming on 3DS and Wii U.
Give me a new Fire Emblem and a Pokémon (not a remake) until the end of this year and we are good.
A new Golden Sun game.
Crossing fingers for MH4U release date
Here's hoping for some Yoshi Woolly World news. Hopefully we'll get a Woolly Yoshi pre-order bonus for it!
Otherwise looking forward to news from both Zelda games, Mario Maker, and Splatoon. Oh, and possible release dates for some of the Super Smash Bros DLC that they promised, and maybe a first glance at Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 (in video form, that is). And some information on what amiibo support holds for games like Captain Toad, Yoshi's Woolly World, Mario Party 10, and others.
Aside from all that, maybe a fun little surprise or two. Maybe we'll finally get an update on the Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei game that they announced two years ago?
Anyone forgot Racing NEO? Iz time to share new gameplay video at least!
I have my wallet at the ready. New 3DS here I Come!
Please give us New 3DS XL news (Ö_Ö)
@BensonUii Amazing.
Majoras mask new 3ds xl bundle would be fantastic
I'll be watching with my credit card on hand just in case they announce a Majoras Mask N3DS bundle, I don't want to miss a chance and let freaking scalpers take advantage lol
I don't care about anything but that New 3DS with Xenoblade.
@Azooooz
Please understand, we failed, I apologize, please accept this Yoshi consolation prize.
I hope they release some Majora's mask faceplates for the New 3DS as well as a New 3DSXL limited edition that we will undoubtedly see. Also, would love to see Yoshi's woolly world released in the next 2-3 months.
I expect them to announce the New3DS, Majora's Release and MH4U release date,some more information about CodeName Steam, and I hope to hear X's release date. Also something abou SMT x FE, just to let us know if it's still alive.
Anyway here in Italy GameStop just announced the New3DS price... I don't think that's just a coincidence.
@Grumblevolcano
Probably Kirby because it comes out on Feb. 13, 2015 in NA.
My other guesses are Yoshi, Steam, Majora's Mask, and a release date for the "New" 3DS.
@markybbop That's the way it is. You know what you're signing up for with Nintendo. Everyone does. Way less games, but just as many worth buying.
30 games on PS4/X1, yet I bought no more games for PS4 last year than Wii U. In fact, I bought more for Wii U/3DS combined than PS4/X1/Vita combined.
So no, we really don't need 3rd party. Besides, we had our chance to get 3rd party games and fans responded with a resounding "no, we don't buy those games". So it's really not up for discussion. We had our chance, no one bought the games and now they'll never come. That's life.
Realistically this Direct needs to announce at least 2 unknown (new) 3DS games because right now the only confirmed games coming out in the first half are Codename STEAM, Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. That sure would lead to a bad game drought.
@JaxonH that's rubbish. Majority of people would have bought more ps4 games than wiiu. Where was the action fps's that sell more than any other genre.wiiu got none.and didn't produce one. Cod or grand theft auto alone destroys all the wiiu titles which most people bought. Then there is destiny. The last of us remastered again was an exceptioal title which people bought. The sport titles that have been released. Even the indie titles are far better than the wiius. We are stuck with android tablet games which is shocking. We got donkey Kong. Mario kart and smash that are worthy games. That's it 3 games.
It's true the third party companies have left Nintendo but what have they done to get them back. Nothing.
Which is why this console will be replaced I two years. It will be announced at e3. The released the following year.
An actual 3ds game? nah that would be silly. Probably new 3ds stuff, Hyping up some wii u games we already know, the end.
Glad I'm off tomorrow morning! Here's hoping we see new details on Majora's Mask 3D!
N64 and Turbografx for Virtual Console! I don't want JUST DS games for the next year. Oh and sort the 3DS Virtual Console too. That could do with SNES and/or GBA games since releases, especially in Japan, have been at a low lately.
Oh and do date the New 3DS systems too. Let my wallet know when doomsday is coming...
@JaxonH
I'm pretty sure I explained this before, but if Nintendo's consoles only have "value" because of first party games and almost nothing else, they will not sell, and Nintendo will lose money and eventually have to stop making consoles. You know, exactly the problem that is currently happening.
If Nintendo fans are buying Nintendo hardware as "Nintendo only" hardware, they're already treating the company like a third party, not a console maker, because, literally, no where else in the industry do consumers buy a console just for a few first party games.
If what you say is true, that 3rd party games aren't needed, then the Wii U would be selling on-par with or better than the PS4 and XBO, but it's the exact opposite, because like it or not, third party software matters. I never bought a Nintendo console just for Nintendo games. If that's what this comes down to, then I'll stop buying Nintendo consoles, because yearly Zelda releases and 3~6 Mario-themed games per year is not what I'm looking for in a console. I want extensive variety, options, features, indie, and first and third-party games as well as first-party titles and unique exclusives. All Nintendo is now offering is first part titles, and outside of maybe Splatoon and Xenoblade, not much in the way of really unique exclusives. Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Country, Smash Bros, Mario U, Mario 3D World, Mario Party--these are not really unique experiences you can only get on the Wii U, as they've been on multiple Nintendo consoles already.
The PS4 alone has more exclusive games known for it in 2015 than the Wii U seems to have games in general, and on top of that, the PS4 has all the third party and indie support.
Without 3rd party support, Nintendo has no right making a console and forcing their fans to have to buy unnecessary hardware (and the Wii U has become very unnecessary and barely even makes use of it's unique features) just to play their games when every single one of their games could have been put on the PS4 or XBO and they'd be almost no different at all. Unless being able to honk the horn on a touch-screen in Mario Kart was a major innovation to you.
-new 3ds status
-yoshi update and amiibo tease
-amiibo details for Toad Treasure Tracker
-splatoon info (looks better each time I hear/see more)
-starfox details
-another amiibo wave
NEW 3DS X MAJORAS MASK 3D
@markybbop Those games may "blow Nintendo games out the water" sales wise on other consoles, but not on Nintendo consoles. On Nintendo consoles, those games scrape the bottom of the barrel, fighting over the scraps.
And that's the thing- Nintendo is not the same as other consoles, the fanbase is not the same as on other consoles, and the games that sell well are not the same as on other consoles. There's no point having games clogging up store shelves that nobody buys, then stores get mad and stop stocking product.
It's a free market enterprise. If 3rd part games sold well on Nintendo, 3rd parties would bring their games. They go where the money is (evidenced by the recent mobile trend). There's nothing to discuss- if the games sold well enough to warrant a Nintendo version, there would be a Nintendo version. Nintendo doesn't have to "convince" anyone to bring their games. Profit is the only convincing these companies listen to. If there were profit to be made, they'd be making it.
What I want them to show:
What they will show:
@JaxonH so are you saying there that if destiny had been released on the wiiu and at the same time as the other consoles with the same attention in creating the game it wouldn't have sold?
I think it would have done.
@Quorthon It's not that they aren't needed, it's that they will have zero impact, will sit on store shelves collecting dust and the poor sales will just cement what we already know- that there isn't a market for the games on the system. I don't make the rules, I just observe them. And reality is, for better or worse, those games don't sell.
@markybbop Right. I think it would have sold 250-500k, and that's being generous. Nintendo fans who play those games already have a system to play them on, like me. Those games just aren't what interest Nintendo gamers, and the ones they do interest have another system to play them on
If Ninty announce N64 on Wii U VC, I will eat my own sh*t
Hype! I want everything related to 3DS, including MM and the New 3DS release dates. I was hoping for a Direct this week. ^_^
@JaxonH why should we have another console though. You wouldn't need one if these games were on this console and because of that the increase in sales of that game would go up for this console. Plus 500k would be a great enough amount to continue production of these 3rd party titles on this system.
I get what you are saying with Nintendo having quality games but they are just too far between and because of this they lose console sales or interest. Plus if you don't like a genre of game that Nintendo are releasing next then that consumer is in a pickle and has to turn there attention else where. For example. I got Mario kart. But after that game has come hydrule warriors. Bayonetta2. Smash. Captain toad. Genres I don't like so because of this my wiiu is just creating dust. I will probayonly buy splatoon because I haven't had a game for the wiiu in almost a year. That is not good in terms of selling a product.
It amazes me that people are hoping for all these announcements/ release dates for the Wii U when the Wii U has very little for Spring and most stuff seems to be later in the year. This direct is for spring people.... don't expect so much otherwise you just walk away mad when everything you want might be missed.
Been waiting for this. hopefully I get Mario Maker release date at least.
Everything else is just extra.
@Pianomanfreak
If a new Golden Sun is announced, it would be the most amazing Nintendo Direct EVER!
I sense disappointments tomorrow...
Seriously though, I'm not keeping my hopes high. I would love to be wrong, as always.
That said, I expect to see some new info on already announced games and New 3DS price+release date.
I just need a Mewtwo trailer/release date, and I'll be set.
Just give me a release date for the New 3DS!That's all i want
Wouldn't it be awesome if they announced the arrival of tournaments and the Miiverse stage in SSBU as one of those "donwload right after this presentation" type deals?
@markybbop No, because unlike Sony or Microsoft, Nintendo remains loyal and has secured many years in the future of gaming. Nintendo has shown many times that they set trends and people like them, not follow the trend of releasing fps every year
@ikki5 Wii U has little for spring? Kirby, Yoshi, Mario Maker, Splatoon, and a bunch of DLC. That's more than the 3DS as far as 1st party titles go.
@Quorthon Zelda is only a yearly release if you bunch the handheld and console releases together. On just the home consoles only it is not a yearly release (not counting 2013/2014/2015). Besides, for last gen your "MZP" games that Nintendo relies too much on is really MZPK because Kirby was just as bad.
C'mon SMT x Fire Emblem! Also some new 3ds info would be nice. As nintendo of America hasn't said jack about the New 3ds. In fact, I'm pretty certain the only person to say that it was coming here was the President Of Nintendo of Australia in that Australian Direct a few months ago. I'm sure it's coming here. It's still wierd that they hadn't said anything yet.
@markybbop From the sound if it, maybe Nintendo just isn't for you. For people like me, who play pretty much any genre as long as it's good (except sports and racing sims), I end up with about as many Wii U games each year as any other console I own.
I get what you're saying with having all games on one console, but the truth is that's a pipe dream people have talked about for the past 20 years and it's just never going to happen. Even if Nintendo got every single 3rd party game (which will NEVER happen), but even if they did, people would still buy the games on Sony/MS because of brand loyalty. They've been doing it for so long now it's a habit.
There's a lot of things that would be nice in this world, but 3rd party games on Nintendo is a lost cause. Worst case scenario, you buy 2 consoles (I bought a Mfi controller for $70 and a $40 adapter just to play Knights of the Old Republic iPad on TV with a proper controller, so $110 to play one great game- when you enjoy games, spending money to access them isn't an issue, it's just what you have to do when this is your hobby).
I don't deny it would be awesome, but it's never going to happen so no sense getting upset about it. It is worth noting that Nintendo seems to be upping production now that they recognize the permanent absence of any market for multiplats. But ya, Idk, it is what it is. Nintendo will never be more than a niche market in the home console arena. But I like their games, so I buy their console. I like a few PS4 games, so I bought that console. Heck, I bought an X1 for just 3 games. But it was worth it cuz I didn't wanna miss those 3 games.
@justlink take fps out of the argument then. Why haven't we secured resident evil HD or revelations 2? Why havnt they approached pro evolution soccer about a wiiu version?But you are talking rubbish if you think Nintendo wouldn't want an exclusive fps that sells millions of copies annually. They wouldn't be loseing profits like they are now.
Don't get to hyped, I feel that the January track record for directs has always of the none hype type.
Release date and price for new 3ds and 3ds xl, xenoblade3ds and monster hunter bundles.
Steam release date. Kirkby release date. Splatoon release date. More on zelda Maj Mask.
Some rubbish from each region on 3ds (like rustys baseball)
End.
I was waiting for this First of 2015. Let's see some art academy, mario maker, zelda, mario kart dlc and smash bros dlc!!!
@markybbop
Do you understand what would happen if there is only one console? That console would cost probably 5 times more than what it is now and if all the games were on just one console, they would sky rocket too because there is nothing to compete against it to drive the sales down.
@JaxonH actually... all game on one console would be horrible.... that console would be so expensive because the competition for it would be gone and they'd charge an arm and a leg for games and consoles... XD
New footage and release dates for Splatoon, Starfox, and Yoshi's Wooly World.
Zero Mission on eShop.
New 3rd person Metroid from Retro Studios.
F-Zero U.
New HD footage of Zelda U.
@IceClimbers
Yes, as I've pointed out. Attempting to nitpick "which Zeldas count" and which ones don't is a waste of time. Humorously, attempting to argue with me on this is when Nintendo fans suddenly, and largely discount the portable system as if it doesn't matter.
But again, as I've illustrated several times, Nintendo works to ensure a major, retail and/or physical release of something Zelda on a yearly basis, sometimes twice a year. Yes, that includes remakes and ports and portable and basically anything that is a "Zelda" game and yes, that includes Hyrule Warriors, which is a Zelda game.
The only thing I don't count in that is Virtual Console games as they are straight emulations and tend not to be as high profile as any of the physical releases.
Since 1998, there have only been three years without something Zelda being printed or released to retail. And seriously, there is a special collector's edition of Majora's Mask 3D--if someone is going to claim that game magically "doesn't count," it's because they can't handle the reality that Nintendo pushes out something of Zelda yearly. On top of that, what kind of idiot would ignore something as high-profile as a collector's edition that has already sold out?
@ikki5
You're far too narrow-minded in your definition of a single console. A unified platform would be more like Android or a PC--many devices, one unified operating system or set of agreed-upon features. Competition would then revolve around actual games, and anyone could then make the hardware, with different price ranges and hardware heft (all games scaleable) for consumer choice.
A unified platform would be extremely beneficial to consumers and the industry:
1. MS, Sony, Nintendo simply have digital stores inside the console, like set-top boxes have different services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc).
2. Major publishers could sell direct with their own stores (Square, EA-Origin, Activision, Ubisoft, etc).
3. Anyone with the funds can release a physical game.
4. No more dedicated consoles means gaming reaches a wider audience, which means more revenue for the industry to prop up bigger and better games. This is important as the gaming industry has a major issue in that we now have Hollywood budgets but not Hollywood audiences.
5. Anyone can make their own controller for the system.
6. More consoles can exist with differing power and differing price points.
7. Major generational hurdles would not be so catastrophic as the technology would evolve more naturally, than with major leaps every 5~7 years.
8. MS and Sony already feature largely identical consoles, a better solution for consumers would be a platform where all their games are easily available in one place.
It's not about 1 manufacturer making 1 console. It's about a unified OS standard that everyone uses, with shops for everyone. Imagine, there could even be a shop just for indie games up there with the Nintendo shop, the Sony shop, and the Capcom store.
This is the ideal the industry should be working towards, because the dedicated hardware, while selling well now with the PS4 and XBO, it is also a bottleneck with a limited audience.
@Ralek85 I was just thinking the same thing. I would even be happy with a confirmation that it is not cancelled at this point.
Well, it starts when work starts. I'll just have to be sneaky.
Can't wait. Too bad it's that early though. 2014 was a great Wii U year and 2015 looks even better. Plenty of awesome Nintendo titles. And every Wii U title seems to be amazing, unlike the crap on the other consoles
@JaxonH
I agree that third party doesn't sell on Nintendo, and a big part of that is Nintendo failing to help them to sell, but a more damaging part is that Nintendo is seen and treated, even by their fans, as a third party publisher already.
Nintendo has some of history's greatest games, but these days, they are clearly unable to maintain almost sole support of two platforms simultaneously. And these last two generations have seen such an over-use of Mario for damn near everything that it does not endear the company to anyone but a core Nintendo fanbase. I mean, I grew up with Mario on the NES. Now I'm personally sick of seeing him all the time. Nintendo is clearly banking on easily recognizable games (lots of stuff with Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon) over creativity and originality. We had to wait until the third year of the Wii U to finally see an actual original game from them with Splatoon. And around Splatoon (and Xenoblade)? Lots of sequels and overly recognizable franchises.
It's a viscous circle where Nintendo fans drive away third party support, which further damages sales of the consoles. It baffles me that Nintendo fans are so adamant that they want Nintendo hardware, when they don't treat it like any other game hardware.
The sooner Nintendo goes third party, the better. But more than that, the sooner this industry adopts a unified hardware platform (following the Android model, unified OS, a variety of hardware from different companies, everyone's games on all platforms) the better.
@BassLostie Yeah uh... I doubt Xenoblade Chronicles X will be rated E xD
@Quorthon The portables do count, but saying Nintendo's home console isn't worth it because of yearly Zelda releases that are spread across two platforms doesn't make sense. The portable releases shouldn't make the home console worthless.
Also, Kirby had just as many games last gen as Zelda. 5 total.
@markybbop Nintendo doesn't care about 3rd party fps because they aren't trying to appeal to that market. They appeal to kids. They have some adult third party games to appeal to older audiences, but they know such games arent system sellers. Games that have sold systems are Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros, not Call of Duty or Bayonetta
Maybe the future is one console for Nintendo that works as a portable and home console, then more games will arrive as they only have one system to work on.
@Quorthon
Lol... wow... that's quite the dream..... a very impossible dream especially in a capitalist society Which is the biggest flaw in your arguments, you are totally missing the point of how our society works.
You are wanting all three to now united, become friends and share a wealth between them in one unified system. The console which will still be VERY pricy if everything was on i and if it was the only one. You should take an economics course on why competition is good for the consumer. Also, not only will the consoles rise in price but the games will also as there is only one platform, they may not rise as much in ratio as the console due to competition in the genre but it will be there as there is only one place to get the games and one place to put them which would mean the developers would increase them and your "unified alliance" would also increase the fees for the companies to put the games on there too since there is only one place (other than PC of course... unless you wanted that unified too).
It is actually funny when you think about it because you keeping going on about how it would be better if Nintendo went Third party and I am assuming it is because you love their games but don't want to buy another consoles when really.... them being First party... it will probably be cheaper overall to just spend the extra $300 for the second consoles than increase prices on one main console and games. it doesn't matter if there are different price points for stronger hardware or not, over all it will be more expensive. Look at it this way. if Nintendo was the only company and the only console, would you still have a $300 consoles? Heck no! You'd probably see it more like $600-$700 or a decent grade Laptop.
Another thing you are forgetting about is if all three unified for one system... imaging the job losses in that. You'd lose probably several thousands of jobs because a lot of the maintenance and overall stuff would just become redundant and not needed.
Yes.. a unified console would reach a wider variety of people and people would only ever need one consoles for all their gaming delights... but, at what cost? Would you be willing to pay the much higher prices? even more so, would you want to see the massive job losses? All of the sudden, your perfect world isn't so perfect.
Get hype! Fingers crossed for a majora's mask n3ds announcement!
Announce New 3ds titles and make me buy it!
@IceClimbers
Oh I see what you were getting at. Gotcha. It may go without saying, but I do own both the Wii U and 3DS, and I'm hungry for new games--but not for anything starring Mario or Link, and these characters really do not interest me anymore.
And yeah, Kirby is really getting a lot more games these days, but you know what? Here's some fightin' words:
Kirby > Zelda.
GameCube VC for Wii U, make it so!
@IceClimbers
This is the utter bullsh!t I was referencing, when suddenly some Zelda games are no good and magically "don't count," as if fans have some kind of paranormal power to decide "what is and isn't a Zelda game" all willy-nilly.
See the ridiculous post from this gem: @justlink
Don't know why people are arguing yearly Zelda release titles as potentially bad... look at the CoD series, they started in 2002 and they almost double the number of Zelda titles.
List of things I want to see:
-Monster hunter 4
-New 3ds
-Monster hunter 4
-Zelda
-Monster hunter 4
-Star fox
-Monster hunter 4
-New 3ds monster hunter 4 bundle
-Xenoblade
-Monster hunter 4
-mario maker
-Monster hunter 4
-Smash bros update
-Monster hunter 4
-Mario kart dlc info
-monster hunter 4
-Code name steam
-Monster hunter 4
-Restocks of GameCube adapters/amiibo
-Monster hunter 4
-Monster hunter 4 dlc
-Other stuff that I forgot
@Quorthon Yeah, Nintendo is never going 3rd party. It's just not going to happen. So really it just comes down to the fact Nintendo offers an alternative product to those who want something different. Either you like that product and buy it, or you don't like it as don't buy it. What others do is none of my concern. But as for myself, I will always play Nintendo. It ain't that serious- it's just video games.
@ikki5
What you say is impossible is already happening on Android, and if you reduce it to Capitalism... well, you pretty clearly don't understand Capitalism. For instance, capitalism decided the fate of Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD, just as it decided the fate of VHS vs Beta. The market craves a unified platform, and EA has been in talks with releasing games via Comcast boxes, and just as more and more major publishers are putting more and more games on mobile--because the unified format allows the games to reach massively larger audiences.
The video game industry should operate the same as the Blu-Ray/DVD industry or music industry and then it can reach wider audiences. It's that simple, and is very clearly demonstrated with Android. If I buy a game, it should play on any current game console, the same way my movies and music do. The latest, er, Carcass album plays on any CD player I own. My Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-Ray plays on any Blu-Ray player. Captain Toad and Halo 5 should play on any current console.
Literally, the only people would not benefit from this, are hardware fanboys. And hardware no longer matters.
I'm hoping for more amiibo and more info on Mewtwo, but most of all I want to know the release data of the amiibo adapter for the original 3DS and 3DS XL. Just give me that and I'm happy.
Pokemon online MMO for Wii U!
Seriously though...I fully expect a release for the N3DS and Majora's Mask. Hoping for more news on Zelda U or Star Fox but I doubt that will happen. And i want a big surprise of some kind! New 3DS titles!
@Quorthon What he's tryin to say, is that Zelda games on 3DS are irrelevant to a Wii U owner, because there's no slot for 3DS cartridges on the Wii U. They are separate systems. When you buy a Wii U, you will get 2 Zelda games for your money over the span of a generation.
We wish they would annualized Zelda. They need to. I wish I would get 6 Zelda titles on Wii U and 6 more on 3DS. That would be amazing. We should start a petition to annualized Zelda. And Mario. I want a new Mario on Wii U every Christmas.
@JaxonH
If the next console fares as poorly as the Wii U, then yes, Nintendo will have to go third party.
If you know anything about gaming history, you can see that Nintendo, unfortunately, currently mirrors both Atari and Sega before they stepped out of the hardware market. They lost third party support, they incurred heavy losses and debts (Nintendo is not quite to the debts yet), their hardware didn't sell, and their hardware fell into a release cycle outside of the other "mainstream" hardware makers, putting them in a cycle where they risk being a stop-gap, they pulled out of certain markets, and the rest of the industry has lost confidence in them.
I can understand that you don't want them to go third party, but all signs point to them doing exactly that with or after the next console.
Your last post is dangerously absurd and demonstrates the exact reason Nintendo should go third party. You want them to only appeal to you on a very small, very specific scale, which they are already halfway doing, and it is not selling hardware. So who cares what hardware those Zelda games are on? Might as well put them on the Playstation, there's a way bigger audience there, and has been every time except the PS3--the only Nintendo hardware it didn't outsell being the Wii and DS. It also demonstrates the ridiculous nitpicking that deliberately ignores my point about the current yearly Zelda releases, and with this comment, you diminish the value of the 3DS, DS, and GBA. The same way someone would if they hated Nintendo. Why do you hate Nintendo and lower the value of their portables?
What history are you reading? Nintendo is not even close to mirroring Sega
Any amiibo related news, release date on the new 3ds and Hyrule Warriors DLC (hopefully same day as direct) would be nice for me. I'm always content with the Nintendo direct so any news is good news overall.
Can't wait! Fatal Frame comes to NA?
Let the surprise begin, hoping for at least a mention of these games.
@Quorthon Actually I wouldn't really care, as long as I would be able to continue playing their games. Ya, it would suck to play those games on hardware that offers nothing but power, but as long as I can play them I'd be happy.
I'm not saying they won't go 3rd party because I don't want them to, I'm saying it because it actually, really, truly, won't ever happen. Nintendo has enough core fans to maintain business indefinitely. They might not ever roll in the dough like the Wii era, but at the same time, they're not going anywhere. 2012 was the worst year Nintendo had in their entire history. Even if every year from here on out was as bad as 2012 was, it would take 50 years for Nintendo to finally go bankrupt. That's just the math of the situation. And as we all know each year has been getting better to the point they're turning a profit again.
But, even if Nintendo saw losses equal to 2012 for the next 50 years, they have stated they will stop making video games and switch to a different form of entertainment before they will ever put their games on another console. So, it's just not going to happen, it's just not. For the remainder of our natural lives, if you want to enjoy Nintendo games you're going to have to do it on their hardware. That's just the way it is.
I mean, feel free to believe whatever you want. But 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now, when were still playing Nintendo games on Nintendo hardware, don't act surprised. Nintendo is not Sega. Sega has zilch for appealing 1st party support. Nintendo has enough appeal to maintain, at the very minimum, their current base which at the very minimum, is enough to keep them in business. And Sega made the mistake of releasing new consoles every couple years when the prior systems failed. Consumers lost faith in the product. Nintendo is doing the opposite. Regardless of how their console is doing, they're giving it the full 5 year lifespan and the full brunt of their first party support. That's the difference. They're not abandoning ship when the going gets rough. Which is why consumers don't lose faith like they did with Sega.
@Quorthon "I agree that third party doesn't sell on Nintendo, and a big part of that is Nintendo failing to help them to sell"
So... it's got nothing to do with the buggy and a-year-later ports? Damn it Nintendo!
"but a more damaging part is that Nintendo is seen and treated, even by their fans, as a third party publisher already."
What?
Nice!!!! A reason to get to work on time. Can't wait!
Woohooo!!! 6am baby! I will be sleeping.
@Quorthon
Whilst it is true that DVDs and CDs all went to a unified platform, they also became the primary source for data pretty much, but the reason they were unified was because the competition actually died and to be honest, prices still rose from that if I remember correctly. They are down today because... well, there is more competition of people who develop those, develop the hardware to use those, and over all more options other than using discs now. That's the problem, yes it was unified for a short time but guess what... it isn't so much anymore because people find new ways. and now there would be competition for these disc based products through digital, cards/ cartridges and disc. Just because it was once unified, it does not mean it will stay that way because that is what we do. People find new products and then compete, prices are driven down. This is capitalism.
Over all, CDs/ DVDs are actually on their way out. The competition is beginning to kill them. this is why DVDs and CD are so cheap now because there is other stuff competing against them (plus the manufactures competing making these products). For example, you talk about how everything is unified with the CD and DVD industry when it is not. There are songs, TV shows, Movies which you can only get on digital platforms... yes, exclusive to another platform and not on CDs or DVDs. Sound familiar? That's because it is, it is exactly what you don't want gaming to be only with music and video.
So in the end... you are just wanting two companies to die and one to release everything. Yeah it will be unified.... for a short time but something will always come up, someone will always release something that is a competitor.
Also, I hate to break it to you, Nintendo is not in debt and they also posted a profit on the Wii U before Black Friday sales. They won't be dying any time soon.
I need a Splatoon release date or I will be sad.
I can't wait!!! Lots of releases coming up that need more info!
My body is NOT ready yet. Have to work tomorrow and go to school after :/ Will have to be patient I guess...anyways, really hoping for a New 3DS release date for NA and hopefully some news on Bravely Second being released here as well
Direct discussion or Nintendo's future discussion? shrugs
@WebHead
donkey kong land 1
New Details on Zelda and Star Fox Wii U are probably going to be largely save for the E3 time frame. My guess is that this direct will have few if any shockers in it. Mostly it will be release dates for things we know are coming, and new footage/details for some other things later in the spring. We'll probably get some confirmation that things we knew were coming (MK8 DLC, Mewtwo DLC, Yoshi's Wooly World, Kirby & Rainbow Curse, MM3D, etc.) are still coming.
Also, I'm betting we finally learn the Amiibo functionality for Captain Toad, and get a few more Amiibo-related details.
Really, I'm just keen to hear a release date for the New 3DS in NA, and whether we will get an ambassador program. I imagine it will depend on how Nintendo thinks it went in Europe.
Oh yeah Im' very excited even if I'm let down.
I'm hoping for some info on certain titles but that will probably be saved for E3
I will try to keep my expectations tempered.
@NintyMan
land 1-3 will come to the 3ds vc not wii u
Atari...no, scratch that, the video game industry in 1983: too many consoles, awful quality of games, loss of consumer trust overall, 97% dip in revenue (yes, you read that right), and too many games at once.
Sega: CD! Fail. Mega Drive (right name?). Commercial failure. Saturn! Commercial failure. Dreamcast! Relative success, but the company was irreparable.
Nintendo: Wii - Super successful. DS - Super successful. 3DS - failure then relatively successful. Wii U - commercial failure, but somewhat relevant still.
I apologize if I fail to see how Nintendo is repeating Sega or 1983 Atari (and friends) for that matter
@shigulicious Agree about patching in Amiibo support. It doesn't need to be much; new costumes, skins, etc. will do. But it would be brilliant: you build on the success of Amiibo and Smash Bros. to sell copies of games from your back catalog to improve sales and revenue without the cost of producing new games. NSMB U and SM3DW are really obvious candidates for some Amiibo patches. (PLAY AS DONKEY KONG! Like the Captain Toad Bonus Levels, but DONKEY KONG!)
Honestly, I don't think they'll do that because I think they just have too much else on their plate, but it's a great idea for pretty much all the reasons, except the possibility that they worry it will reduce hype for new games, but that doesn't seem like such a big deal to me.
@JasonAnArgoNOT64 Intelligent Systems said development was going fine so if we don't see SMTXFE tomorrow, expect it at E3.
@WaLzgi
you forgot the part where Nintendo is profiting off both their consoles where Sega wasn't profiting at all....
game freaks new game announcement?!
most likely gonna be majora's mask 3d, new 3ds date, wii u spring stuff, and dlc thats coming out in the spring.... all the other stuff we will find out at e3
Oh right, Nintendo IS in the green right now whereas Sega was ready to crumble. Thanks for the heads up
Also, if I'm not mistaken, Sega's management was far worse than Nintendo's is right now. There's hardly a comparison.
@dumedum
"every Wii U title seems to be amazing, unlike the crap on the other consoles "
(falls off chair laughing)
@BensonUii OH MY BODY IS READY
GO MAJORA'S MASK 3D
I'm pretty sure they'll talk about Majora's Mask 3D and possibly announce the release date at last.
I look forward to whatever else it'll bring.
Would love to see some Mario Kart DLC as well as the other things mentioned above. I'm really excited for the new 3DS launch and hope we get a street date and that Majoras Mask will be available day one and soon.
My prediction is that Iwata will be in the direct...........
NAILED IT!
@Quorthon
I've never seen the business case for Nintendo going third-party. Personally I wouldn't mind as long as they could keep the same quality level. I could just buy one console with Nintendo stuff and all the third-party goodness. But it isn't going to happen. If the Wii U, 3DS and their next hardware turns a profit they will keep on making it.
If they go third-party they would lose....money they make on hardware, money they make on peripherals, cost-savings from knowing the intricacies of their own hardware, third-party licensing revenue and the chance that their next gimmick could be a runaway success like the Wii. They would have to shut down their hardware making facilities. They would have to give up a slice of every game sale to Sony/MS.
Parallels with Sega are there but they stop at the big comparisons-profit and debt. Nintendo have a heck of a lot of work to do, they've made a complete mess of the Wii U. I believe they face the prospect of a dwindling fanbase. However, going third-party is not the solution and isn't likely to be for a long time.
@sketchturner A third person Metroid game from Retro Studios would be very nice to see and of course play.
@Lloyd_Wolven Intelligent Systems said development was going fine so if we don't see SMTXFE tomorrow, expect it at E3.
Hopefully we will learn when Majoras Mask comes out in North America. It would cool but highly up likely, news that they are going to strengthen the Wii U Virtual Console with many more titles. One can always hope.
Where is it? I can't find it.
@Quorthon
Stop being a cynic. Oh look! Your favorite word.
@JasonAnArgoNOT64
Actually, my favorite word is "skeptic."
@electrolite77
I think the only thing Nintendo would lose would be revenue on consoles--and as we've seen, they aren't really making any on the Wii U these days anyway, after, what, two, three years of losses?
They could still make their own peripherals--as Activision does, as any number of companies do. And the money they miss out on by not selling hardware is also an expenditure they no longer have. Beyond that, especially if they supported both MS and Sony (but I would bank on them signing an exclusivity contract with whichever company offers them the best deal), they'd be selling their games to way more consumers than their hardware alone could ever do.
At this point, the smart ploy may be for them to go third party, except with portables.
Nintendo clearly has little problem cobbling together more hardware and has little reason to actually close the hardware division, just shrink it or move those people around. They're going to have to do some serious restructuring anyway as they can't have another generation that goes as badly as this one.
Here's the problem with the dwindling fanbase: Games cost a lot more money to develop and produce and market now than ever before. Without revenue from 3rd parties, and with such a small fanbase, the likelihood of them making money back on all of these games starts running out. Sega famously spent around (a then-unprecedented) $70,000,000 on Shenmue, and at the time an estimate indicated that every single Dreamcast owner would have to buy the game--twice for it to turn a profit.
Now look at the massive size and scale of Xenoblade Chronicles X, which has likely been in development for 3-4 years already, and clearly carries a hefty price tag. I am highly doubtful that game will turn a profit, especially considering that it's predecessor sold less than a million copies worldwide.
There is a very good case for them going third party--something I was adamantly against a few years ago. Correct, they don't have the massive debts that Sega and Atari had, but quite literally every other parallel is there, and as a reminder, the Wii U is selling below the GameCube and Dreamcast. However, they shouldn't wait until they enter serious debts territory of Sega. The sooner they go third party, the better, and if they play their cards right on that front, they will be the hottest commodity in gaming.
We, as Nintendo fans need to face facts: The company we like or love is largely seen as irrelevant in modern gaming, and Nintendo themselves clearly do not know how to adapt to this changing industry. They are a commodity no one cares about, and no amount of rehashed Mario or continuous Zelda games is going to convince the general gaming public to pick up a Wii U. They want to play these games, but to them, the console isn't worth it.
Nintendo going third party means all those who didn't want to buy the hardware can finally get it. Frustrated Nintendo fans (like me) who also want third party games can finally get both in one place, and they'll appeal to and reach a far wider audience. Sega and Activision's revenue is within about a billion dollars annually of Nintendo, EA's revenue within about a billion dollars annually of Sega. They are already, financially, at the same level as other major third party companies.
Look at the power and sway EA and Activision hold over MS and Sony. That could be Nintendo. The company the rest of the industry cares little for would be the single hottest commodity if they were 3rd party. Their sway and influence would be magnitudes above where they are now.
As a Nintendo fan, what I want from them is the power and influence they once had, so that what Nintendo does matters to the industry. They aren't doing that by making consoles no one is buying. Hell, they weren't even doing that with the Wii. But as a third party (and new management)? I don't care if they aren't making consoles. I want Nintendo to actually matter again, and outside of this small cluster of dedicated Nintendo fans, they don't.
@Ootfan98 Same.
Looking forward to this. Everything was lining up over the course of the month, so not having a Direct now would be a missed opportunity.
Keeping my expectations in check. I wouldn't mind there being a few surprises though.
@electrolite77 careful not to fall on these big paperweights of consoles and break your neck Also, check metacritic and weep http://nintendoeverything.com/image-nintendo-shares-metacritic-infographic/
Its been said a few times already, but I want a new Metroid, BADLY. Side-scroller on the 3DS, preferably. But Prime 4 on Wii U is more likely.
Or maybe... just maybe... both of those games with some sort of connectivity features, like the GameCube/GBA versions.
A boy can dream...........
.
I honestly just wanna see a release date for the new 3ds in America/Europe and MM3d. I would also like to see more of the exclusive N3DS games but I doubt that we would.
Cannot wait!!!!!! So glad I do not work tomorrow!!!!!
19 hours and counting down.........ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN!
One thing is usually guaranteed, crushing disappointment for us F Zero and Metroid fans!
Yes! Can't Wait!
@Desrever Totally on the same page mate
The current release schedule for Nintendo is looking incredibly sparse so some newly announced games would be nice.
I hope they don't spend a ridiculous amount of time showing off stuff people already know about like the Majora's Mask remake.
Non-Specific Action Figure Amiibo
Nintendo is not going on any Bro Dude console. What dream world are these people in? If you want a Nintendo game buy the console and get over yourself for such blasphemy. Yes I have 3ds, Wii u, Vita, and PS4. I love games so stop straying from the topic.( like I just did) I want the xenoblade on the New 3DS on the direct. I would also love to see a new IP and Metroid wherefore art thou.
@dumedum
That's not checking Metacritic, that's checking one platform providers carefully selected angle on Metacritic, which can also be used the opposite way to make Wii U look pretty bad....
@Quorthon
Like I say, it would suit me down to the ground if they went third-party, I think deep down it would be fine for Nintendo zealots as they could carry on ignoring everyone else's games, but they've got plenty of cards to play before we get to that point
@electrolite77
Oh indeed, they totally have cards left to play, particularly in the portable front. My primary points of concern are simply how drastically they are falling behind their competitors, and how long they continue to convince themselves they can maintain this charade without drastic changes.
This sparked my curiosity and I re-read much of Sega's downfall, and in a sense, they lucked out. A single man held most of their debts and he forgave Sega their debts on his death bed. That's insane luck on Sega's part, as it was noted that him forgiving those debts allowed them successfully transition to third party/software only development otherwise the debts may well have simply ended the company or, at least, caused irreparable harm. Instead, they went third party and turned a profit by 2003.
In that regard, Nintendo should make the transition (to third party) while they still have the money and sway to have complete control of it. The Wii U has some parallels to the Dreamcast, but it is not Nintendo's Dreamcast. It is their Saturn. Their decisions over the rest of this generation will determine if the next console is their Dreamcast, and their parting console.
I love to speculate, but I'm very busy and that makes the wait so much easier. I'm pretty excited to see anything, though, so I'll be subconsciously finding ways to shorten my class that I teach during the Nintendo Minute broadcast, I'm sure. subconsciously.
@Quorthon Wii U is not the Saturn. Its the Saturn if Nintendo dropped it early, which they aren't. Again I say, Nintendo does not care about their competitors at all, they care about their fans. Thats why we get Directs. They have enough money to survive several failures, but the Wii U is not one of them.
@Quorthon Yeah I see what you mean.
Also, Kirby>Zelda? Dang, those are some fighting words, especially on here.
Anyways though, I feel like this discussion over Nintendo's future in the grand scheme of things is honestly just beating a dead horse at this point.
What things are you hoping for from the Direct?
@electrolite77 one platform providers carefully selected angle aka truth in this case. Anyway, looking at this silly discussion.. Nintendo has no reason to ever go third party. Sega's market cap as a third party is 3.32B. Nintendo at its worst arguably is now 14.42B. Going third party would be suicide.
@IceClimbers
I was hoping for a dead horse beater where Kirby lays down the law on a dead Epona. Ah haaa!!
(I actually don't think this is beating a dead horse as an evolving topic. Two years ago, I would've been on the side of "Nintendo's doing just fine," but now I'm rethinking that outlook, and am disappointed there are so many "OH YEAHH??! THEY'RE DOING FINE!!" retorts instead of intelligent conversation on it. Exceptionally lame comments like "they can fail forever"--another view I foolishly held until I thought about what that actually implied--are the opposite of thoughtful conversation. I'm a Nintendo fan, but not a blind sheep. I actually had a very wonderful and detailed back and forth on this with a guy on another site that I think he's planning on turning into a blog. There's a lot worth discussing.)
Anyway, and on a more serious note, I just want a release date for Splatoon, and a collector's edition with some squid girl statue. I would like some new game reveals, as this time period was about when Nintendo revealed Xenoblade Chronicles X and several others the first time in 2013. Unfortunately, I'm losing confidence that I'll see Xenoblade Chronicles X (XC being my favorite Wii game) this year as I recalled that it took a year to get to Europe, then for no reason at all, another year to get to the US. We don't even have a Japanese release date. Ugh.
Right now, my eyes are on Splatoon and Codename STEAM. Maybe they'll finally show gameplay for Shin Megami x Fire Emblem...
@justlink
I have previously explained why "they have money to keep failing" is a stupid outlook for the company. I stopped using it, and so should anyone else.
@Quorthon Has anyone one ever told you that you are a joke on this site?
You think that making "essays" about your opinions on nintendo failing and trying to turn them into facts make you smart, but its only showing that you are a troll that is always looking for the negative aspects to rant about.
@electrolite77 Ignoring what, all the broken and disappointing games that came out in 2014.
Honestly, Nintendo may not be at its best as of now, but at least with their games you know what you're getting yourself into as opposed to lying and pr spinning like the other companies.
Nintendo directs should be streamed through wii u and 3ds consoles live, we don't all have a pc at home (nor do I want one).
@Quorthon Would love a Splatoon release date, but I don't think we'll get anything more than "May 2015" or something like that (honestly do think it will come out in May... comparing the 2015 schedule to the 2014 schedule there's places where you can fill things in, with Zelda being the big November game in place of Smash and Splatoon being the big 1st half game in May in place of MK8).
With Splatoon, if it is coming in May, then there should be at least one more general Nintendo Direct before then (March) and the game will likely get its own game-specific Direct (April), which is when they'd give the release date. I think we'll definitely see a Yoshi's Woolly World release date in this Direct though. I feel ya on Xenoblade Chronicles X though.
For me personally, I'd like to see more 3DS games announced. Interested in Majora's Mask 3D (never played that game, so yeah) and potentially Codename STEAM (hasn't grabbed my attention as well as Splatoon did), but I honestly would like to see what else is coming. On the other hand, I do have a growing backlog for the system and there's games that I missed previously like Kirby Triple Deluxe and Fantasy Life to pick up as well.
Oh, and while I don't have a gif of Kirby beating Epona, I do have this:
@markybbop Saying that those games destroy Nintendo games is just a hilarious claim. I used to be like you back then I would buy sports games along with others but I realized it was nothing new plus the fact that EA's servers are freaking annoying I was being disconnected from almost all the online matches I was in plus paying a ridiculous amount of money just to play online they offered nothing new and its was starting to add up and become really expensive for me. One of the reasons I like Nintendo's First party offerings is they are really fun and I actually enjoy playing them. Even when I beat their games I always comeback to them because you know THEY ARE FUN. Ever since I got WW HD and beat it twice I still go back to it and play it. Near the end of last gen I got myself a PS3 but total I have only tow games for it has opposed to 10 to 15 games on Wii before I jumped to Wii U. I have not even bought myself a PS4 because there is literally nothing new for me to play and nothing really exciting for me even my brother agrees with me he told me why doesnt MS and Sony offer with what Nintendo is doing with Wii U with the gamepad and he is a PS fan. Both Nintendo's First party games and what the others guys offer are all great dont say that one is superior to the other because that is just ridiculous. Have a Nice day.
@reasonnotwhine Why do you pay attention to him!? If you ignore what he is saying,it will not bother you. Plus you are wasting your time and energy trying to argue with him. Especially with one so arrogant.
@Nintendobro the wiiu would be the superior console if it had a margin of third party games and I agree with you about sport games etc. But you can't deny these games are what make money and sell consoles. Nintendo would love the ps4 console sales but it will not happen. And Nintendo have no titles that will make you buy there console alone. Smash Bros proved that.
I love my wiiu and have truley enjoyed games like pikmin3. Donkey Kong. Mario kart and a few of the early third party games. The controller is by far the best. But the fact remains. How many people out there buy the same console so that they can play together as a clan in cod or to play in a league in football. Not many of those people buy the wiiu for that. If PES 15 was out and destiny they would and then follow through and see the exclusive titles on the system and purchase.
I can't understand why Nintendo hasnt bought some companies for releasing there games like a prepurchase of money to them. Why they haven't paid capcom for the likes of resident evil HD. Revalation2. Street fighter5 and a monster hunter4 port over from the 3ds makes me mad. Those titles would sell on this system. A football game would always move units regardless what you think of them.
Only releasing 4/5 games is not good for business. Some third party support would massively fill in the gaps between releasing there exclusive titles. Fact
How bout some virtual console surprises??
DS? N64?? Would be nice finally!
well it was a surprise when i seen the new ui for youtube, didnt see any news about it (yesterday, mostly because i was watching an lp of fallout new vegas, commentator was SSoHPCK)
@ericwithcheese2
yea mine was too. it was pretty fun. and i got a bunch of game guides, like luigis mansion and a few others, for free. it was cool.
Its rough having info on this and not being able to share it with anyone you know.
But teasing people about that info is fun.
All I want is a trailer! Pretty please!
Bring back Flipnote you rascals!
@markybbop Well I remember when the GC had good Third party support but that didnt help the gamecube nor the sales for the games. I only got like 5 games from the batch of Third party games for the GC one of them being Rayman and Sonic adventure 2 and the Mega man collection lastly glitch in the system along with spy hunter the rest didnt look pleasing to me. I am a sports fan and ended up getting Fifa 10-12 and Madden NFL 12 when they released FIFA 13 and NFL 25 they looked the same for the previous versions of those games they only made the newer ones prettier adding some new in games engines without improving much in terms of online which was kind of terrible. From the 9 games in my Wii U library I only have 1 third party game and its Sonic lost world which is one of my favorite Sonic games I will be getting Rayman Legends later on but that is it probably by the end of the Wii U's lifespan I will probably only have like 5 Third party games. I would love to have both Third party along with Nintendo's First Party offerings like in the SNES but that will only be just a dream because that probably will never happen (especially the way third parties are treating Nintendo fans and blaming them for their poor sales as well as poking at Nintendo) Outside of the SNES I really dont think that third party games have made a huge impact on the sales of Nintendo's consoles.
@electrolite77 Well there is little to none that interest me on the other consoles its also because those games are not my cup of tea. Even my older brother who likes PS a lot also agrees he hasnt even got himself a PS4 and probably wont buy one probably like in 4 years because outside of Final Fantasy 15 there is literally nothing that is interesting for him and for me that makes us want to go out and get a PS4. He plays on his PS3 along with my Wii U more because again outside of Final Fantasy 15 there is nothing interesting to play. Maybe if they had another Mega man collection maybe but other than that there is like little to nothing.
@Obito_Sigma Luckily, I can watch it — if I wake up at 5 AM to get ready for school earlier. I might as well set my alarm clock.
For once, I don't have many things I really want them to show. I'd prefer to just go in with no expectations. However, Nintendo, you wanna know what will really make my day?
Starts with "Shin Megami Tensei" and ends with "x Fire Emblem".
@Nintendobro
That's cool, its call opinions. I don't want an XB1, but I wouldn't dismiss it as 'Crap', that would be silly....
@Quorthon This is by far the best argument I've ever read that supports Nintendo going third-party. I was completely on the other side of the fence, but you convinced me it's a far better idea for them to go third party.
The Wii was a confusing departure from Nintendo's hard-core fan base, and I don't think Nintendo has ever recovered from that. Nintendo made a ton of money off of the console, but the long-term effects of the Wii's brand identity are a tremendous problem for the company. Not only has their target audience (the casuals who have never played a game before) moved on to smart devices and the like, but the Wii drove away much of the hardcore fans that made Nintendo a presence in the industry in the first place. They now face a problem of brand identity and relevance, and that is what will kill them if they're not careful.
Very solid argument. Thanks for the interesting read.
@IceClimbers
I highly recommend Fantasy Life. I'm a big fan of the WRPG formula, which is why I loved Xenoblade Chronicles so much as it was a JRPG that dropped everything about JRPGs that is dated or boring in favor of a mostly WRPG design to the core, missions, freedom, and gameplay. Fantasy Life is in a similar vein--it's as close to a WRPG as we're likely to get on the 3DS. Some of the "lives" are repetitive and mundane, but once the game opens up a bit (after sampling a few lives), it's wonderfully enticing, even if it feels as though they stopped before taking the game to it's natural development conclusion (it should be "more" of everything it does).
That gif will have to do. The guy may not look like Kirby, but I can still pretend the horse is Epona. I'm still disappointed that Yarn Kirby wasn't in Smash.
@FlaygletheBagel
I appreciate that. I know I can come off harsh, but it's an incredible (perhaps ridiculous) passion for gaming that drives me. This industry is infinitely fascinating (well that, and my interest in having accurate information and my interest in scientific skepticism).
To be fair, I was also completely on the other side of the fence for a long time--frankly, I think the industry needs to move to a unified platform format that combines the ideas of DVD/Blu-Ray players and Set-top boxes that works a la Android, but with many shops instead of just, you know, Google Play.
But the more I examined Nintendo's current situation, the harder it was to deny the similarities they currently face with Atari and Sega before. As I read more on Sega's movement to third-party status, the more I came to understand that this is very likely in Nintendo's future, and the more I think Nintendo should do it sooner, while they still have the money and clout to control the transition completely. It's either that, or a partnership with Sony where Sony makes the home console, Nintendo the portable, and they both support both platforms equally.
It's apparently very hard to understand, and perhaps a tad unintuitive, but you're absolutely right, even with the high sales of the Wii (and to an extent, the DS), they ultimately damaged Nintendo in a lot of ways--important ones, like appealing to general gamers, and there was almost nothing there to aid in longevity or maintaining the new Blue Ocean crowd.
My biggest, let's go with fear, is that Nintendo will try "the Wii concept" (appealing to some amorphic Blue Ocean crowd) again and end up in this situation all over again. I find it rather disturbing that there is, evidently, a depressingly large core of Nintendo fans that want nothing more than "more Zelda, Mario, Pokemon" and little else, and so long as Nintendo keeps doing exactly that, they don't care about the actual state of the company.
I don't want a new console if it's not going to benefit them within the industry, and they and this strange core fanbase can pretend they're "not competing" with MS and Sony until they're blue in the face. At the end of the day, the average consumer sees them as competing, and failing in that competition. It's time to compete directly, and going 3rd party would give them unimaginable power over MS and Sony if they play the cards right.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...