Pokémon Shuffle Available to Download Right Now, for Free

I'll try it for free but I certainly won't be buying any gems.

Pokemon Crush Saga

Pokémon Shuffle: on a smart device near you very soon!
Anyway, i'll likely give it a try some day, but no way spending money on items.

Cool. Downloading now. I want the badge game they got in Japan.

I'll try it, but I certainly won't be spending a dime. I'd much sooner give my money to the IronFall multiplayer and that's not really for sure either.

At the time I beat around 500 levels of Candy Crush rather quickly without investing a penny, so as long as the game is fair it should be an okay side entertainment.

I have never purchased anything from these type of games and I am not about to start now. They are throw away games that can be played for a while and then ignored.
Clash of Clans, Candy Crush, Farmville etc... can end up costing people more than an average off-the-shelf game.
In short, they're a rip off.

Everyone who downloads it (its ok if you just want to get the club nintendo bonus) is part of the problem. This game is wht everyone hates about gaming on smartphones. We can't let this get a foothold on Handhelds.

I really hope that Nintendo will lose money on this game. But i doubt it.

It won't let me download. I'm getting error code 005-4270
EDIT Downloading Now.

I'm 100% done with f2p. I thought there are ways to still enjoy it with no or little money but it just doesn't work. You enjoy the game and at some point the frustration sets in. For a while I tried to convince myself that "well, this game is worth 3€ to me and I got it for free" but it just feels terrible if you feel like you have to pay to win and eventually it always does.

@Monsti So frustrated you posted it 4 times?

Anyway I won't be getting this game. I was not impressed with pokemon link battle and this will probably be an even worse experience with the whole hearts system.
Edit: Also interesting that there even is an option to spend €48 at once. Who are they expecting to shelf out that kind of money for a silly puzzle game.

That 75 jewels deal is a steal!

@BensonUii

Best Value!

@ShanaUnite They are expecting children to shell out €48, because a lot of children wouldn't know any better. And I find it quite manipulative that they would do that.

It's actually pretty fun but I would never spend money on this game. Time will tell how weather it is the good kind of free to play or the bad kind. I have yet to play the good kind of free to play game... Nothing worse than a pay to win game.

The gem prices are too high, but I have no idea how it compares to the pricing structure of Candy Crush Saga. Are the coins streetpass coins? Also, how does this game compare, gameplay wise, to Pokemon Link Battle?

@mookysam Coins are not streetpass coins but rather ingame cash to purchase things such as higher catch rate balls.

Why is there even a fifty bucks OPTION?!

I mean, I'll download it when it comes to North America, but I already own Trozei, and I've spent a grand total of maybe 3 dollars in games, so I have zero intention of ever paying for jewels.

@Ahsanawan4 hey man don't spam in this blog... Hey man don't spam in this blog.

My impression is i like it but i think that while the Asian market may he prepared to cough up money for it, i think Nintendo will see that the West will not. NO WAY am i paying for ANYTHING in this game. It's not worth it. I think, while it's cute and does help those like myself who have no idea about Pokemon types, it should have been a paid game. I do like the odd match three game and like the strategy involved here but i don't like how much they charge for them. Prices are too high.

This would fit better on a smartphone imo, but if I do download it I'm not going to spend any money on the micro-transactions.

Good for everyone giving the game a try! It's free and no one is forcing anyone to buy more jewels. I can't wait until it's in NA.

They don't give you your heart back after you beat a level, so basically, you lose a life no matter whether you beat the level or not, that's stupid and seriously needs fixing...

Is this a waterdown Trozi/Link battle or is it just the same with a different pricing model?

I'll totally give it a go but I certainly won't be buying 'lives'.

EDIT: €4.99 should unlock the whole game in my eyes.

Guys, I beg you not to spend money on this! I really do not want this to become a trend in Nintendo games!

is this basically Pokemon Battle Link but with micro transactions?

No thanks.

Microtransactions you say? nope, nope. I am a big fan of Pokemon, but you lost me at that.

Also the oblitory waiting to play the game that plagued games like Angry Birds Go? For shame Nintendo. for shame.

@gspro15198 Not at all. It is a slow paced match 3 game rather than a match 4 action game. Graphically it looks similar but there are lots of gameplay changes.

Link Battle had a fairly low skill celling but the game never gave impossible to clear boards (as in there will always be a way to enter link mode and an even number of what is left plus it will throw a few Ditto at you for mercy) while here you are at the mercy of the RNG giving you a good layout or generating enough things off-screen to do things in the move limit (let alone in few enough moves to make captures have a high chance). With character levels in the game I'm worried that you will have to grind later on.

The spam is real with this one...

I will be downloading and playing it, but I will not be spend a dime in doing so.

I have never spent a cent on any micro-transactions and I don't plan to start anytime soon.

This seems super shady, and I'm surprised Nintendo allowed something like this to come out on 3DS. Not touching it with a ten-foot pole.

Yikes, wasn't expecting this game to come out so suddenly. I'm downloading it right now, I probably won't play it much though if I can't play it when disconnected from the internet as I play my 3ds a lot when on break at work.

If the game is free to download and you have self control to ignore the micro transactions and can still enjoy the game then I don't see anything wrong with games like this. I don't see this becoming a trend with Nintendo especially as the majority on here are dead against F2P games, they are just trying new things that are clearly popular on smartphones, can't blame them for testing the waters can you?

ill give it a shot, im not spending 50$ on something like 75 Jewels , if i were get thoese i spend less of it, but think goodness there is,

Any chance someone at NL can give us a rundown on how the micro transactions are processed?

1 of the biggest problems on smart devices has always been the simple to buy feature. then 15 minute "open" periods were created which does seem to have cut down on the lawsuits but articles still occasionally pop up.

Does it ask for a credit card number or will it simply charge to your Wallet balance if you have one? Guess I'm asking how seamless - as in tricking kids into doing things they shouldn't be doing- the proces is or has Nitneod made it so these purchases don't happen by accident?

Everyone should just download it and then ignore the microtransactions. That can teach them a lesson.

This is Nintendo experimenting. People, kill it now before it lays eggs and becomes a trend.

If we don't buy the gems, Nintendo will abandon this mobile phone approach. So, you know what to do, right?

At least it's still more of a Pokemon Company thing, then a Nintendo thing.

Even the most repulsed of gamers must be able to see that this stigma and bias they see towards the game is rooted in a love of past pricing structures, (which leave alot to be desired in these modern days of on demand services) and also a distinct hatred of the f2p model, as if it has no advantages!
F2p continues to be a contentious issue with libraries of books and seminars each year at GDC. The industry is well aware that they haven't worked all the kinks out in this model, but are trying their hardest to rectify it.

From my perspective, I have a free game, content is being added to the game for free in the lifetime I play it. In the totally free model, the game stops me playing after 20 mins (which I probably should!) and put it down for a few hours. If I choose to spend money on the game, then it has elevated it's importance to something that I would trade the currency I use for food, clothing, books (the tipping point). I also reach this tipping point with cookies or a snickers bar as I walk around the corner shop.

In the standard old model of paying for a game beforehand. A demo was supposed to help me reach this tipping point. Now, it is actual full gameplay.
Ironfall's pricing structure is very intuitive and seems to be a more involved demo, almost to the level of a new hybrid structure. So I was wondering, (for anyone still reading this drivel) if a game fit for the f2p model, with micro-transactions, had the option to buy the game classically (removing said micro-transactions) once the tipping point is reached, would that be of interest to people, or more amicable for the mob!!

Yeah I downloaded it, but won't be paying for any gems. Terrible idea. Hope this doesn't become a standard in Nintendo games, or even Pokémon games. Just imagine what the main Pokémon games would look like...
''Oh dear, you're almost defeated by the CHAMPION! Would you like to buy an item to heal your POKéMON?''
.... I shudder at the thought!

looks like a worse version of link battle to v me still. don't think I'm interested

There are free to play models I'll support, but time gating is not one of them. I refuse to play a game that tells me I have to take a time out unless I give it money. It'd be different if there were convenience items only bought with gems. Maybe you'd gain experience faster or unlock cool bonuses, but it won't get my money like this. That's for sure.

@Mercy_Lost I think that if one had the ability to outright purchase the game after a certain point then most people would choose to do so, however this is probably not that desirable to the developers as they would make no where near as much money out of this structure. Also on similar mobile games I've played where a 'buy outright' option has been included they have been selling the game for upwards of £50 which I think is very steep for games like these!

oh man I thought the headline read Sonic Shuffle! Loved that game on Dreamcast. So did my kids. **facepalm** of course I will try this but that will more than likely be about it. Monster Hunter has taken over!

@daggdroppen I don't know why, but so do i. I hope we get it or something similiar.

I'm going to download and play this comes state side, hopefully later today. I'm not a video game activist and I have nothing against freemium that recovers playtime since I normally don't play the same game non-stop for a extent amount of time.

Nintendo did said they were experimenting with different online fields, so I can't hate them for adding this to their checklist, especially with those investors on their back demanding mobile games.

I see the block count! You guys did listen!

The game gives you a free jewel just as soon as your initial hearts run out, obviously intending for you to use it to continue. They underestimate my ability to waste time.

Is it still a micro transaction when it cost more than a full retail game to buy in game content?... I'm really surprised that this even exist as a Nintendo game. I guess you don't have to spend any money but those options are far too steep.

Out in America too.

@InnerSpirit Yeah, you don't have to pay anything, you can have fun without money. But I really don't like the "spend lives even winning", other freemium games don't do it like this. But, meh. Free game, play it in short bursts and it's more than enough.

Worth a DL I guess. Shan't spend any money myself.

I'm guessing it won't come out until tomorrow for us in NA. :<

Welp, NVM, it's here now! I even checked earlier this morning, but it's here now!!

75 Jewels - $47.99 / €47.99 / £42.99

Even my apathy and bias can't find anything in favor of this price

A lot of people are complaining how expensive this game is micro-transaction wise, but I think the opposite. Is it a little ridiculous that there is an option to pay $48.00? Yes, but only because who needs to buy 498 lives at a time? Each gem is a minimum of 5 hearts, or 2:30 of downtime. This hardly seems the kind of game one would attempt to speed through, playing for hours at a time anyway.

I already have Pokémon Link Battle, and I personally like that one better. In this one, you move the Pokémon, and the game immediately removes the row, or puts it back in its original position. I think it was more fun in Pokémon Link Battle, where you had a little more control over your combos. Not to mention, it's only €8. I'm not going to complain too much about the microtransactions, I just think it's silly when fans of the game can just buy Pokémon Link Battle for €8 and get a complete game

buy games, not gems

I download it but doubt ill play it as i own trozei

No way in hell I'm going to download this. I rather just buy Trozei and not support this crap that the devs doing so we don't have to get anymore of shovelware.

Bleh, tried it. This is harmless. (Unless you plan to get more gems. Muahahahahaha.) 6 levels in and no gun to the head saying give up your wallets!

I will likely try it out but seeing as match 3 games usually aren't my thing I doubt it will be my cup of tea, especially since it is free-to-play.

If it comes to Europe I'll be getting it, mainly to boost my Club Nintendo stars - before a final splurge!

I'll download it later, but won't spend any money.

I would download it to play entirely for free and never spend a cent, but equally I'd just assume NOT download it to show Nintendo that I'd much rather pay them up-front for a game than get tricked into spending upwards of more than the console I'm playing it on costs!

@noctowl I know, but they still make their own decisions and they've been using smarthphone approaches for quite a while now.

I've tried the game without buying any gems, of course. It worries me how cute and aimed to the children the game is, it's not even 3D capable. According to the manual, children under 16 years old are able to spend up to €100 per month in this game. It's crazy! There should be an option for owning and unlocking the game for €44.99, you know what every major 3DS release costs. Nintendo has disappointed me, this is dangerous for young Pokemon fans.

@ricklongo

It's not that Nintendo "allowed" it to come out--they actively created it.

@Mercy_Lost

I think the bigger problem is that this is a predatory pricing and publication structure. Deliver an addictive experience, make people pay in small chunks, essentially for "time," and keep them hooked in that regard.

It's a structure that targets people with issues with addiction or self-control, and a stark contrast to Nintendo's normal "mommying" and censorship-heavy "protection" of their audience.

You can't talk to other people in Splatoon because someone might hear a swear, but by all means, swallow this steady crack addiction with your wallet open.

I have played it and found it to be BORING.....