Gallery: Splatoon Development Updates Show Off Perks, Weapons and Quirky Shop Clerks

Arriving in May, Splatoon is certainly set to be a vital release for the Wii U before the summer season - Nintendo doesn't release many third-person shooters with a territorial twist. Its brand of chaotic but fun online multiplayer - with local and single player also included - will also try to make the most of the Wii U's GamePad.

We've enjoyed our limited play time with it to date, but the official Tumblr page continues to be an intriguing source of information; notably this week also brought some interesting information from a Famitsu feature article. Since our last summary from the Tumblr page there have been a host of official updates, meanwhile, covering the quirky store clerks and the goodies they sell - we're given more visual indicators of how equipment perks work, for example. A couple of weapons and defensive tools are introduced, too, and the ink missile looks like it could be rather fun.

Without further pre-amble the relevant posts are below.

This is the shop where squid fighters buy new weapons to use in battle. Apparently this place is known for excellent customer service, but word on the street is that they won't sell you certain weapons if you aren't ready to use them. Sounds like racking up experience in battle is the key to earning the shopkeeper's approval!

We've just confirmed that this horseshoe crab dude is the owner of the weapons shop. He's reportedly obsessed with all types of military gear. This love has come at a cost, though, as cleaning and polishing his gear all day every day has apparently made him extremely nearsighted. No wonder his glasses are so thick. What a nerd!

Check this out! Squid fighters can take a set of three weapons into battle: a main weapon, a sub weapon, and a special weapon. Turf wars are considered a serious sport in the squid world, and as such, the weapon manufacturers are constantly competing to outdo one another with new innovations to help these athletes gain the upper hand…er, tentacle.

New report! We've just received intel on a sub weapon that appears to be some sort of ink shield. Activating it apparently blocks enemy attacks and progress for a short time. This is a great example of how sub weapons can be used not only for attacking purposes, but for defense and team support as well.

Breaking news! One of our interns just texted over this new image of one of the special weapons. Apparently when this thing is ready to use, if you tap a location on the GamePad, you'll launch a missile to that spot, creating a veritable swirling maelstrom of ink when it hits. Apparently it's not super difficult to dodge, but we're hearing that there's no finer way to scatter opponents and drive them back.

New intel just in! We've identified this shop as the place where squid fighters come for all of their headgear needs: hats, helmets, glasses, goggles…you name it! Sounds like this is definitely the place to visit if you want to get ahead of your competition.

Check it out! We've identified this sea anemone gal as the clerk who works at the headgear shop. We hear that she's pretty shy and mostly keeps to herself, which sort of makes you wonder why she'd even want a job in the service industry. Oh, and see that little fish dude hanging out in her hair? He apparently talks tough but never does anything on his own. Maybe these two actually have a lot in common?

New report! We've learned that headgear, clothing, and shoes all have different attributes that benefit those who wear them into battle. For example,this item comes equipped with "Ink Saver (Main)," which cuts down on the ink needed to fire your main weapon. There are apparently a whole lot more perks like this!

Here comes a follow-up to the previous report! Each piece of gear comes with one perk, but can gain new ones the more it's used. Each item also contains one top-class perk, just waiting to be unlocked! I guess practice really does make perfect!

This store in the plaza is a one-stop shop for all your clothing needs. If our intel is reliable, it offers a wide selection of threads that are both functional and fashionable. Although, they never seem to have any pants in stock. Probably because jellyfish prefer to go au naturel.

This is Jelonzo, the charismatic clerk that runs the clothing shop. With his uncanny sense for the hottest trends, he's viewed as a fashion god of sorts by all the young squids in town. He hails from distant waters and has a strange way of speaking that can make it difficult to understand him, but that may be one of the secrets of his success.

That's it for this summary - which of these Splatoon screens and details grab your attention?