Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Dated for North America in Flashy New Trailer, amiibo Support Also Confirmed

I just hope the Shulk Amiibo is available to buy since it's currently impossible to find.

So we just have to get the really hard to find Shulk to access the bonus stuff. Jumping Jesus on a pogo-stick.
I am becoming increasingly annoyed with NOA.

The Amiibo stuff looks more and more like in-app purchases, rather than ways to enhance a game...

Honestly, at the rate the amiibo are being handled (particularly in NA), the Shulk amiibo will mean nothing unless he gets a reprint in the same manner that Marth is for Codename S.T.E.A.M given the Fire Emblem characters are usable in that game.....

Xcited for Xenoblade !!!

@Tsurii897 It's such a small thing though, just a bit of extra currency for those who own the Shulk Amiibo. It's not intrusive at all, just a nice bonus for those who want the figure.

I pre-ordered the Shulk Amiibo within the first few days of it being available for pre-order, and mine is in backordered status. It'll be rare, peeps.

@gspro15198

It's not out yet.

I predict Gamespot selling "second hand" Shulk Amiibos that end up being MIB

Err Mer Gerrrrrrrd, Xerrnoblerrrd! Finally, a release date haha.

"We hope that the Shulk amiibo will be widely available."

LMAO.

More Amiibo in-game content for an Amiibo that most will not see.

This is the first time I've heard the english voices in this game and it just makes me appreciate the game all that much more because I have the choice to listen to it how I prefer.

There is no reason why all games cannot be present the game in the original language with subtitles. Kudos to Nintendo for keeping it up with this series!

As for the amiibo support, I was surprised there is any amiibo support for this game, but it is a pleasant surprise. I hope there will be some in the new game as well.

@Spoony - Well that sums it up nicely, but it's even worse I think.

Nintendo is making a game that is ONLY playable on new 3DS XL in the US, and the new XL has amiibo support, and the game has amiibo support, but the one amiibo that the game supports is ONLY available at Gamestop.

That is just about the stupidest worst business decision I have ever seen a company make. Might as well make the game itself a Gamestop exclusive as well. And the new 3DS XL while their at it. Stupid stupid stupid.

FYI - I am not interested in getting this game on 3DS, still haven't played my $50 used copy from Gamestop, nor do I want the Shulk amiibo, but Shulk amiibo Gamestop exclusivity is just a really stupid decision from a marketing standpoint when the game is already a "new" 3DS exclusive and a Wii port.

@TossedLlama It's pretty much a port of the Wii game, so the story will be exactly the same. No need to play the Wii game first. And it's not related to any of the Xeno games on other consoles either. The name is just a reference to those games.

I would love a Xenoblade 3DS bundle, I think I may finally get a 3DS to play this gem again.

And now here come the complaints about amiibo's... First they were stupid, then they didn't do enough, now complaints about the little bonuses in other games besides Smash (their orignal purpose) and lastly people are made because they didn't preorder one from Gamestop when it was available for at least a month.

@WingedSnagret

Seriously. Is it a Mario character other than Toad? Then it's available. If it's not a Mario character, other than Toad, unavailable everywhere.

wow, the trailer looks intense! never played Xenoblade Chronicles, the prices for wii version on ebay for way too high... most probably will get it for my japanese new 3ds but first need to polish my Japanese >_< unless Nintendo releases it as download for Wii U

Shulk amiibo reprint in time for this game's release, please.
Nintendo should reprint all amiibo until near enough every fan who wants a character can get that character.
Save these tiny manufacture quantities for variations only. That way nobody misses out on their favourite characters. (Why can't I have Pit and Captain Falcon?? )

I knew Nintendo had some dodgy scheme going on with Gamestop for this but I didn't expect this bad. Is the game at least purchasable on the eshop or is it too a Gamestop exclusive?

It's cool they added amiibo support, but I'm glad it's not something that is an exclusive unlockable or something. It's actually pretty much impossible to get a Shulk amiibo in NA anyway. I can't even get a darn Shiek, Toon Link, or some others.

@Tsurii897 I feel the same tbh.

@Tsurii897
I'm with you. I hope main series like LoZ, Super Mario, DKC, Metroid won't use amiibo. They can slap amiibo on spin offs and party games all they want.

@rjejr
Let's not forget, GameStop exclusivity didn't hamper sales of the original on Wii, which basically outsold every other region. And let's also not forget, the game can't run on normal hardware. So they're not limiting the game, the game was already limited by how complex and demanding it is.

As for the Shulk amiibo, it was available on their website for weeks before selling out. Anyone who truly wanted one had every opportunity to pre order, unlike the later waves. So although it may be GS exclusive, it was in stock and available to preorder 100x longer than most non-exclusive amiibos. So I really don't see how that exclusivity hindered the game.

I have Shulk on pre-order so I'm good!

Even though I have the Wii version of XC, I stopped playing about 40 hours in because lack of time at home. I was excited about the portable version being announced since most of my free gaming time is during lunch breaks at work. Would be great to have a way to transfer old saves to the N3DS version, as one poster suggested here, but doubtful that'll happen. Kinda glad I didn't complete the game then - would have little incentive to get this version other than for sheer want.

I hope XCX doesnt uses the shulk amiibo. It probably will though :/

@JaxonH - "Anyone who TRULY wanted one had every opportunity to pre order, unlike the later waves."

But was amiibo support for Shulk in this game announced before pre-orders sold out? What if people only recently made up their mind to even buy a "new" 3DS XL? Not everybody is as well read as we are. I know somebody who just got a 3DS XL for Christmas, had no idea at all a new version was coming out.

So TRULY no, not everybody who wants this game, a "new 3DS XL" and the Shulk amiibo has had the opportunity to buy it before it sold out. Where have you seen the "new 3DS XL" even advertised in the US in store yet? I don't think I've ever seen it.

@rjejr
It's got posters all over GameStop (so brick and mortar) and also has ads running on sites like N4G (so online too). That's just 2 examples, and I'm sure there's more.

And sure, some people may have only now decided they wanted the amiibo, but let's be honest here, it unlocks a few tokens you can get from Streetpass anyways. That's not gonna hold back sales of the game.

Funny how US gets the game later even though it's being developed in Minnesota.

I figured that there would be some kind of amiibo support. That's really the only reason I preordered the Shulk amiibo, since I knew I wanted to try Xenoblade when it came out on N3DS.

@JaxonH - "That's not gonna hold back sales of the game."

No, the game will sell, new 3DS XL will sell, and Shulk is probably already sold out. But it's still a boneheaded decision in my book. BONE-headed. You release a new console, a game - as far as I know still the 1 and only game - that only plays on that 1 console (in US) - not 2DS, not "new" 3DS which US isn't getting - and 1 of the first games that will support amiibo on the "new" 3DS XL - and then you limit that amiibo to only being sold in 1 store? That's not a head-scratching decision to you? Don't you want "new 3DS XL" posters in every store to show the console, game and Shulk amiibo being activated and all 3 of those things on sale in every store? Don't you think Ntinedo could make more money that way selling all of those things than signing an exclusivity agreement w/ Gamestop for the Shulk amibo?

Sorry, don't see how that decision makes sense. Couple it w/ everything else a little "off" lately that seems to be happening w/ Nintendo and I really doubt they know what they are doing anymore.

im going to look up a wii trailer, because that dosnt look very good.

I wonder if they will make the Cartridge look different so that it can't be put into the Current 3DS line...

So pumped for this game!

I think making the Shulk Amiibo equivalent to streetpass is a huge misstep though. It doesn't really incentivize me to go out and buy one, especially considering how rare they are

I will probably hold off on this, at least initially. I don't make it too far in the wii version and I've found that I get more mileage out of console versions of an RPG then I do from a handheld. That might change though with the XL screen size.

@rjejr
Idk, to me the system, the game and the Shulk amiibo are all aimed at core fans. I really don't think anyone else is gonna be buying em, posters or not.

But if anyone else does, the system and game can be obtained anywhere. Don't think the amiibo really has any weight to it whatsoever.

I think we sit back and judge from our limited 1% knowledge of what we can tangibly observe, and criticize Nintendo's every move. Meanwhile I think they just laugh at those of us who think the company is run by a cage full of trained monkeys. For example, the entire time people were complaining about wanting Majoras Mask remake, they had it in development. The whole time people were complaining about wanting Star Fox, and they knew it was gonna be announced at E3. Theres one thing I've learned and that is Nintendo is not stupid. We just don't understand their methods, we can't make sense of them, but there's a master plan we don't see, of that I am confident

This video made my day. Now i actually want this game... I got CHIIIIILLS!!!!

Here's an idea - release a game/Shulk amiibo combo pack.

Little odd to see European release first, but it`s not that uncommon atleast, personally they should (like any company) release games same times. I wish there will be Japanese voices available like in wii version. It`s nice to have choise.

So glad I preordered Shulk. Can't wait for this. Although the New 3DS, Amiibos (Amiibi?), and all these games are just burning a hole in my pocket.

@rjejr

Unless we know the details of the contract Gamestop paid for exclusivity then that is a moot point.

@rjejr I'm with @JaxonH on this one (and not because of his good taste in avatars ) concerning the examples he gave. Xenoblade Chronicals is such a niche title, that the people who are getting it are the ones that are more well versed (i.e. folks like us) we probably already have our amiibos on lock. Besides, since Shulk was a part of a game that was a GS exclusive in the first place, it makes sense that his amiibo was exclusive as well.

Though at the same time with their overall amiibo strategy and some of their other questionable decisions you'd think that Nintendo HQ has this big ol wall in their boardroom with every possible scenario that they throw monkey feces at and roll with wherever sticks.

Ummmm only one thing the Shulk Amiibo is going to be a nightmare to get for people as it's sold out pre-orders all ready and people want £55 $67 for it on eBay. Shulk is going to be one of the hardest amigo's to get.

@mateq Nah, we almost definately won't get it on the Wii U eshop. That would mean less sales for the New 3DS version.

@TossedLlama Xenogears, Xenosaga I-III, Xenoblade Chronicles, & Xenoblade Chronicles X are all unrelated story wise and are more spiritual successors.

Amazing. I will rebuy.

Can't wait to play! HYPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

@rjejr

I will side with you on this one. Since only GS has that amiibo, that means that since I don't live in the US I cannot preorder it, thus missing this. And of course this will only incentive the scalpers to charge even more and to swoop any new stock we may get right away.

It is in cases like this where I am grateful that amiibo only unlocks meager stuff. I don't want that stuff, but a Shulk amiibo would be nice to have without giving an arm in exchange.

I wish "I'LL KILL YOU!!!!" Were one of Shulk's Smash taunts.

Any word if Nintendo will have a limited xenoblade new 3ds system? I'm still holding out hope.

@TossedLlama this article is about the 3DS Xenoblade Chronicles which is a remake of the Wii Version. You asked if you have to play the Wii game to know the story. This game is the Wii version. Just remade for the New 3DS. The new Wii U sequel called X will prolly have a diff story.

Will probably buy this, as I've been wanting to play the game for some time now, and I much prefer playing games on my 3DS if possible (call me crazy, but its just so dang convenient!).

I hope my Shulk doesn't get backorderd now! Not that I'd open it

@Luna-Harmony

Amigo's are pretty hard to find, aren't they?

@B3ND3R

Yeah, unfortunately "preorders" seem to be a lot less secure nowadays. This is coming from a guy who had his MM N3DS order cancelled, and his amiibos backordered on multiple occasions, so yeah.

But GameStop definitely has proven to be the best at handling preorders thus far (amiibos, and MM N3DS's) So here's hoping!

@rjejr

Its not like the amiibo is even that useful in game. Besides, I'd assume that at this point, most people who have a Shulk amiibo on order in the first place, won't be opening it! Lol!

I'm upset about the scarcity of Ike personally, because I want to use him in Code Name Steam. That is the sort of bonus an amiibo SHOULD bring to your games IMO.

@JaxonH - Well, you may see a company w/ a master plan, I see a company that sold 120mil Wii in 5 years and has now sold only 9mil Wii U in 2 years, a company that complelly and utterly lost it's domination of the home console market. Maybe they have plans, but they seem to be more ineffective than effective these days. Sure, the company has enough cash stock piled away to endure years of losses, but having even a 1 year loss after the Wii and DS dominance means they obviously screwed something up. Miscalculated, misjudged, errored, whatever you want to call it, they haveso many dominate brands in Mario adn Link yet they struggle to sell consoles. That tells me their plan isn't working, whatever that plan may be. Making the best games in the world doesn't matter if nobody owns the console to play them on.

3DS is crushing Vita, I'll give them that.

@Sir_JBizzle - Well you may agree w/ Jax about the Shulk amiibo, but that second paragraph seems more like what I've been saying the past few months. Just b/c a company is great at making games doesn't mean they are all geniuses in marketing, advertising and predicting the proper quantity of amiibo to manufacture. Nintneod fans believe the company is immune to the Peter Principle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

@sinalefa - I thought it was only Gamestop exclusive in the US though, wouldn't other stores have it were you live? Seems like none of the amiibo have been exclusives in the EU/UK.

Store exclusives are bad, unless it's some weird thing, like that Zelda scarf, but for amiibo, w/ all their bad pres about limited quantities, store exclusives don't seem necessary. Though I'm still ok w/ "re-skins" if you can still get the functionality - say if boy Link is in 1 store, teen Link in another store, adult Link in another, but they all work the same in game. Or those insane $25 Skylanders. Everybody should be able to buy Shulk in some functioning form, even if he looks different.

W/ the overall amiibo scarcity they should just patch in that any amiibo works in any game to unlock stuff until they get this all sorted out. My amiibo resentment is growing, and I don't even collect the things. Thinking ahead to some type of future amiiboland game where I will need them but they will all be hard to find. I'd bet on 1 being unveiled at E3 for the holiday.

@rjejr
Very true.

But I think the Wii was unsustainable. No way to keep all those people interested in consoles. But if you ask the question, "should they have still done it" I'd say yes every time. Why pass up on that opportunity, even if short lived. I don't think that reflects stupidity, I think it reflects taking advantage of an opportunity while it lasts, and now trying to make the best of it.

Of course, mistakes will happen. But to think the average Joe knows more than they do is unrealistic imo. Not saying they're all geniuses, just saying they're not stupid.

EDIT: I've actually managed to get every Amiibo so far. Just curious what Amiibo you're looking for that you can't find. Maybe I can help you track one down- I seem to be pretty lucky in that regard

@Ryno - I've personally written at least 3 replies in this thread about each of those. Well except the first, I've never thought they were stupid, they were always a good idea, just implemented as poorly as could possibly be managed.

@JellySplat - Its not like the amiibo is even that useful in game

I've been complaining about this for 2 days, and I don't even know what the Shulk amiibo does in this game, just that many people buying the game may never have the opportunity to find out. If it's as lame as Captain Toad then I guess it doesn't matter, a failure on 2 fronts then.

@rjejr Oh yea. That's what I was hammering at. I can see both points. I see nothing paticularly wrong with the Shulk situation, but agree with your overall point that the bone headed decisions Nintendo makes isn't doing them any favors, as I share those same views. To be fair, I do see your side of the argument as it pertains to the whole Shulk situation. And if @sinalefa can't get one abroad, then that actually does add fuel to your argument.

Though in general, I hate exclusives. From a business standpoint, I understand. Nintendo gets money from that. Overall, it's been a mess when you add in the the frustrations of procuring those exclusive amiibo whether or not you pre-ordered (or were able to in the first place). I ended up having to import Lucario at a $10 premium.

@JaxonH - Not interested in any amiibo right now. I wonder if the Manhattan store gets more than most? I suppose they can't sell them there if they are retail store exclusive, which makes exclusives make even less sense in their case. A Nintendo store that doesn't sell Nintendo amibo?

"But to think the average Joe knows more than they do is unrealistic imo. Not saying they're all geniuses, just saying they're not stupid."

Not saying they're stupid, just that their expertise is in other areas. Or maybe they were very good when the company was doing fairly consistent w/ N64 and Gamecube but they didn't know how to handle the success of the Wii? Or maybe they don't know how to handle to failure of the Wii U? Maybe there is excessive in-fighting among management about what to do? Do they go conservative to stop the bleeding, do they go all in to either save the day or burn the company to the ground? Lots of different management decisions and directions to take a company. And I think right now they are having difficulty dealing w/ stockholder pressure and entering what is a new market for them w/ amiibo.

So yeah, a bit of Monday morning QBing on my part. Pete Caroll got his team to back to back Superbowls and believe me, he has been questioned a lot more this past week than Ntinedo over 1 play call. People want the guy fired for 1 call after 2 stellar seasons. Fan is short for fanatic. Most people would say Caroll made a bad call, and most people would say Nitneod has messed up amiibo distribution. Doesn't make any of them idiots, just in hindsight makes them bad calls.

@JaxonH I've gotta say in hindsight, besides all the gas I've spent driving around, I've been pretty fortunate in getting my hands on all the amiibo. The only real snags I ran into was was Fit Trainer (which I ended up getting lucky on ebay for $30 bundled with another amiibo I had yet to get) and Lucario, in which I had to import from Germany.

@sinalefa if you want a Shulk, I may have two on the way, barring anything crazy happening (one sent to my house, the other pre-ordered in store I did it that way as a fail safe in case something went awry) If I'm able to get the extra one, I'd be willing to just send it to you free of charge, as I'm not looking to personally profit from the things, I just want to collect.

@Sir_JBizzle - My brain must be frozen on the Shulk amiibo thing, b/c I'm usually pretty good at seeing both sides of an argument, but I'm just stuck on this one.

Twitter seems to mostly agree w/ me, though it's Twtitter, so that might not be a good thing.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/563718765456932865

It is kind of representative of NoA overall though that the original tweet by them said "New Nintendo #3DS", like NoA themselves are oblivious to the fact that the US isn't even getting the "new 3DS", we are only getting the XL. Maybe an oversite, or maybe they'll drop the XL suffix entirely and we'll just have 2DS and "new 3DS" w/o the XL. Who knows what they are thinking.

@Sir_JBizzle
Nice. Yeah the first wave was available for nearly a month, so I made sure to get all my preorders in back before the craze started. Even wave 2 and 3 were available for pre order for at least a week on BB website. But once they sold out that's when people started realizing they were going to be hard to find. But I had already pre-ordered every single Amiibo.

My issue was with Lucario. They cancelled it, then sent me an email letting me re-preorder, and I just got them yesterday. Ordered an extra and thank goodness I did because my brother's got permanently canceled. Oh, and Rosalina. I just wasn't able to preorder that one. It sold out before I even knew it was listed. But I got one from ebay for just $17.99 + shipping, not a bad deal if you ask me.

Already have the Mario Party line pre ordered, I'm just waiting for wave 4 to go live. I GOTTA have Robin and Lucina join Ike and Marth in Code Name STEAM. I gotta.

The one real bad luck scenario I ran into was with the MM new3DS. I saw it listed on game stops website but decided to pass in favor of the Monster Hunter LE, since I'm big into MH. Later I was perusingi Best Buy's website and saw the MM LE listed, so I decided to go ahead and order. I figured I could cancel if anything. Then I got the dreaded email canceling my order. Not that I really needed it (have the MH LE on the way) and they did give me $50 for the cancellation, but it would've been nice to have since I did secure the MM LE and MH4U LE. It would've been nice to have both LE handhelds with their LE games. Oh well. Can't win em all, right?

@rjejr
I think the Wii U is gaining good ground winning gamers back actually. If they can muster 20 million sales this gen (and they're already halfway there), I think they'll sell 25-30 million next gen. The reason I believe that, is my own personal satisfaction with the games, and I think there's a general feeling of satisfaction with Wii U relative to the Wii. It's much more gamer focused than the Wii was.

It's kind of like Nintendo is starting at the bottom and having to work their way up again, but I think they're doing a pretty good job so far as far as great games are concerned. Cause in the end, that's what's gonna make the difference of whether more people buy a Nintendo home console next gen.

@JellySplat you see, I'm kinda in the know when things are first available to be preordered (friend with manager), so I typically get things preordered at gamestop as soon as possible.. So I know my Monster Hunter New 3DS and Shulk Amiibo are safe.

@JaxonH - Wii U has enough great games to sell as a $199 2nd system, just as Wii did. $299 is too expensive for a console w/o COD, Madden, FIFA, Batman, AC and Destiny. Sure the exclusives are great, thats why we bought ours, but after spending $350 to $400 to play those other games many gamers are tapped out. Wii U won't sell many more at $299. The sooner it drops the better. I'm not sure it will even sell much better at $249. MK8 and SSBU are already out, Zelda is 11 months off. Splatoon and Mario vs DK won't sell a $299 console. So basically no Wii U sales between now and Christmas until a price drop happens.

The sooner the price drops, and the more it drops, the more likely it is to make it to 20m, the longer it takes, the less likely it happens.

Though I suppose some day it will hit $99 like Wii Mini and reach 20mil when people will pick it up for MK8 and SSBU, but that's 4 or 5 years from now when the was is over and the new console it out.

Bigger question - if Wi U can't muster sales quick, and it never gets any of those FPS or sports games, will people be quick to buy it's successor, or will they switch to Sony and MS? Wii U started off well w/ Batman Armored Ed and AC and Mas Effect 3 and Zombie U, lots and lots 3rd party support, not sure gamers will be fooled again though and quick to buy whatever home console hardware is next from Nintnedo.

@rjejr
That's where I disagree. If $400 is worth it to play CoD and Madden, certainly $300 + 2 games is worth it to play even better and funner games. People act like AAA games are the best, and if a console doesn't have those it's inferior or should cost less. But imo AAA games are inferior. Nothing more than commercialized pop-games aimed at the unknowledgable and casual. There are some gems to be sure, but certainly not enough to be considered the golden standard.

It shouldn't be a 2nd console, it should be an alternative for those who like different types of games. 7 billion people on this planet, why would everyone wanna play the same commercialized games? Surely there's room for other kinds of games than the mass marketed.

@rjejr I get the basic logic of the whole thing, Particularly from a business standpoint. Shulk = Xenoblade Chronicles, a Gamestop exclusive initally. So it's a natural fit that his amiibo would be exclusive to GS. Gamestop paid for that exclusivity, so Nintendo isn't passing up extra money, which probably outweighs what they would have made in amiibo sales being they're being under produced as it is. On the the other hand (and I think to your earlier point) If they are pushing XC for N3DS, then it looks like a bad decision being that the re-release will be widely available, so why should Shulk be locked to exclusivity? Which that's the part that sucks. I'm not the guy in the suit or the guy throwing the monkey feces at the board, so there's that...

I don't even want to touch the whole New Nintendo 3DS situation. That's another Pete Carroll right there. Ha. Even the pic embedded in the tweet has the 'XL' branding dropped from it. So who knows what's going on...

@Sir_JBizzle

Thank you very much for your generous offer. I can send you an Amazon gift card if necessary, at least to cover for the hassle.

As you did, I ended up getting Wii Fit Trainer, Ike and Lucario on Amazon Germany and Meta Knight from Japan.

Little Mac and Shulk have been impossible to find and Rosalina is awfully expensive, plus I would need an extra for a friend who loves her. For the Mario collection I already preordered from Amazon UK.

@JaxonH

I feel this is the Michael Bay conundrum. A ton of people hate and make fun of his movies, yet they sell and sell. Whether it is advertising, special effects or just mindless action that entertains.

Average Joe does not have time or money for two consoles, and he will more likely get the one their avg Joe friends have. He knows they will troll him if he goes the Nintendo route so he may avoid it unless it is 'for the wife and the kids'.

I know he should not care about trash talking but the peer pressure can be too much for him.

For me as long as Nintendo keeps posting profits and releasing great titles I could not care less about units sold or the AAA games (read Western non-indie companies) that will never appear regardless of install base or hardware.

@rjejr

I have been to every local store and I could barely find some wave 1 amiibo. Have been to every amazon website with little to no luck of getting stock or a reasonable price.

I read a blog about Carroll where the author stated that Carroll just called that play because he thought everyone expected 'the logical thing' from him so he went the other way, doing what no one expected,but it just did not work. It was a gamble that did not pay off.

@sinalefa
Right. Nintendo isn't for the average Joe. Never has been (aside from Wii era, which was the one time they went for it). Nintendo was for the gaming nerds back in the 80's and 90's, and they're for the gaming nerds now. And gaming nerds have never been popular, never been the majority, and have always been mocked for the games they enjoy. Just like now. More and more the "cool and popular" gamers tell us how we shouldn't be enjoying Nintendo games without having "cool and popular" games on the system. Just like they mock Nintendo for not having "cool and popular" games on the system. Nothing has changed.

@JaxonH - That's just the way the world works I guess. "People" willing to spend money on games and consoles want those games, good, bad or otherwise. People who want Ntineod games are either far fewer or far less interested in spending the money to play them. Or they still don't know the Wii U exists as a separate console from Wii yet

And it's not just the video game industry. I bet the 5 biggest money making movies from last year will win fewer Oscars than the lower money makers. though I suppose Guardians of the Galaxy could do ok. And all the horrible singers and musicians in the world like 1D and Biber, surely there are more talented people on this planet. South Korea probably has more talented people than Psy.

But Sony has sold 2x as many consoles in half the time. I don't know why, surely not Knack.

@rjejr
The power of social acceptance. The Wii sold FAR more than it deserved, but it was the cool new thing to have at the time. PS/Xbox are now the new cool thing to have. Just the way it is.

But like @sinalefa said, as long as Nintendo keeps making games I enjoy, I couldn't care less about the rest. I wouldn't care how many went to see a movie at the box office I liked, neither do I care how many purchase the console and games I enjoy. Let the world do what it wants, all I know is I really like Nintendo consoles and games and that's what I'ma keep playing.

@Sir_JBizzle - Hey (Mega) man, thanks for taking the time to spell that all out for me. Still think it's stupid, but I can see how that may have played out.

Guess NoA won't be re-tweeting this Zelda tweet.

https://twitter.com/ZeldaOfficialJP/status/563698511896526848

@sinalefa - Man, sorry abut your amiibo troubles, seems worst than most.

Ya the thing about the Carroll situation is, had they caught the pass scored a touchdown and won the guy would have been viewed as a genius. It's always about the results. Had Wii U sold as well as Wii we would all have been talking about how great the name and Gamepad are.

History is written by the victors.

@JaxonH - "social acceptance"

But it's more than that. Wii never had social acceptance really. It's a stupid name - sounds like taking a pee - and the controls were constantly ridiculed as "waggle". But it was the thing to have due to word of mouth, massive mainline news coverage and ease of accessibility - once you tried one at a friends house you had to buy 1, and it was cheap enough that you could, and it came w/ Wii Sports, the only game some people would probably ever own.

PS4 I think actually has a price advantage over Wii U in that PS3 launched at $600, PS4 at $400, so people bought it thinking it was cheap, and the games will come. Wii launched w/ Sports at $250, Wii U at $349 w/ Nintendo Land, so it looked expensive at launch. I know the Gamepad is the reason, but the prices are still there, regardless of reason.

And sales matter, more sales = more 3rd party games. If Wii U doesn't get enough 3rd party support then people just keep playing Mk Wii and SSBB on their Wii and buy PS4 or X1. I know you'll buy any console that has a game you want, but you're still more the exception than rule.

And when Nintneod's next home console launches, who buys it? I won't. Not until it's $99 anyway.

@sinalefa @JaxonH @Sir_JBizzle

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102401666

Wii U, amiibo stock, "new" as a name, no regular size "new" 3DS in the US.

Maybe not a long list, but it's a list, of what looks to be questionable decisions by management. And who knows what QOL is taking away from the companies game focus?

Lots of companies, and individuals, make mistakes. Doesn't mean I think they are all idiots, but I do think a "mea culpa" is due. And "please understand" doesn't cut it anymore.

@rjejr
Really, you won't buy their next console until it's $100? Might as well just say you're not buying it then cause that'll never happen. Even the Wii is still retailing for more than that, unless you find the no Gamecube, no internet, no SD card slot mini version. Playing games costs money. If you wanna play its a couple hundred bucks price of entry, on any system. The other two consoles cost $400. Wii U costs $300 and comes with 2 games. That's not a bad deal. I mean, you bought one at $350 with only 1 game, did you not? Which means you weighed the cost and found owing the system to be worth that price of entry. How much more then at $50 less and 2 games vs 1?

As for sales matter, I don't think they matter as much as people think they do. Look at 3DS. Over 50 million sold, and look at how little third-party support it has. RE Revelations sold best on 3DS, yet it's the one platform the sequel isn't coming to. Look at Wii, 100 million sold, and yet there's only a couple dozen worthwhile third-party games that made it over the course of the entire generation. Same for GameCube.

I know the common thinking is, sales = more games, but I don't think that really applies as much to Nintendo as it does to other consoles. With Nintendo they can have the best sales in the world and yet their third-party support still resembles that of the Vita. Sales mean little to 3rd parties when it comes to Nintendo, because all sales means to 3rd parties is more people who aren't going to buy their game. Their games don't sell well on Nintendo. I mean it takes 100 million install base just for Call of Duty to break 1 million sold.

I don't think people keep playing Smash and MK because there's no third-party support, I think they'd be playing those games regardless. Because if they wanted those third-party games they would've never bought the system to begin with. Just like a person who wants to play Pikmin, Zelda and Fire Emblem aren't gonna buy a PS4 to begin with.

EDIT: Also, naming a product something you don't think is a good name seems to me to be nitpicking reasons to complain. I mean, who gives a hoot if it's a good name or not? Right? If they wanna call their new handheld the NEW whatever, let em do it. What difference does it make when it plays games all the same? I mean, if we're going to bust out a notepad and try to list every wrong decision we can feasibly observe the company make, I must ask to what end?

@rjejr

Some of these I am not sure how much will matter in the end, specially the last two.

As with Carroll, people look at 10 mil Wii U as a failure and forget that the Wii, DS and 3DS sold a lot more than their competitors. 3 systems in a row.

I still feel Western AAA devs resent how Nintendo dares to make new systems without their consent or tailored to their needs and know how. Couple that with most gamers buying those games in other consoles or not at all and third party support is not coming back.

But Nintendo makes games, tons of great games, so they make the systems with their needs covered first, not third parties'.

@JaxonH - I think Wii didn't get many games b/c of it's SD resolution. You may be right though about companies having their minds made up about not supporting Nintedo home consoles going forward regardless. Means I may not even buy 1 for $100.

As for 3DS, do you really see that getting no 3rd party support? Yokai Watch, Monster Hunter, Shin Megami Tensei, Bravely Second, Ace Combat, PAD? It's not getting Destiny or COD, but it's a handheld, it's not supposed to get those home console games, which some people see as part of Vita's problem, too many home console games, not enough games of it's own. Considering all the smart phones and tablets in the world, I'd say any 3rd party support for 3DS is something, and it always seems to have games coming out and it's 4 years old. I don't see a problem there at all.

I know it didn't sell as well as DS, but compared to Vita, and in the face of the overwhelming "smart" onslaught, I'd say it's doing much better than could reasonably be expected, both in hardware sales and 3rd party game support.

@rjejr
I never knew you only liked to buy consoles with 3rd party games. I had always thought you preferred Nintendo games.

I'll pay up to $500 for a console that only plays Nintendo games, and I'll pay up to another $500 for a console that only plays 3rd party games. And I've never had a console that did both in 20 years. All I know is, I buy Nintendo, I end up with 30-50 awesome, amazing games over the generation. I buy 3rd party console, I end up with 30-50 awesome, amazing games over the generation.

So to me, it's six in one, half a dozen the other. Only difference is I like the Nintendo half more.

@sinalefa - "tons of great games"

Not sure if that will be enough going forward. And "tons" is relative. Compared to "Exclusives" on other systems Wii U kicks butt, hands down. Sports games, online multiplayer, FPS, not so much. There are "tons" of games on smart devices, There are a dozen great games on Wii U - Pikmin 3, Lego City U, Zombie U, W101, B2, MK8, SSBU, DKCTF, Hyrule Warriors. (Sure I'm missing a few)

I guess Nintedo will always sell 20mil home consoles and make great games, and maybe that's enough for them as long as they turn a profit. Just seems like they squandered Wii dominance and could have been so much more.

@JaxonH - My favorite game genres are 3D platformers - Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank - and offshoots like inFamous and Uncharted. Basically 3rd person view and melee combat, swords not guns, the Onimusha series was great, Genji 1, not 2 and it's giant crabs. Though before that I was all about the JRPGs - Final Fantasy, Lunar, Chrono, Grandia and offshoots like Parasite Eve, though I've never liked the RE series, not into horror.

So Playstation consoles have always been my go to. I bought a Gamecube for Starfox Adventures, Luigi's Mansion and Super Mario Sunshine and they did not disappoint. Bought Wii for Sports like everyone else. Elebits is probably the most underrated game I've ever played. Pikmin is much better on Wii. Arc Rise Fantaisa is a fantastic JRPG but FFCCTCB is the 2nd worst JRPG I have ever played, I finished the entire game in 12 hours, just a miserable experience. FFX-2 was worse though, but after X its kind of unfair. Bought Wii U for Pikmin 3 and W101, both excellent. Zelda U looks good. Will buy a PS4 for Uncharted 4, FFXV and Kingdom Hearts 3 if the price and timing is right.

Then I think I'm retiring from gaming. I'll be 50 in July, seems like a good time., though I sitll want a 3DS XL for Kid Icarus Uprising and fire Emblem Awakening. The Last Guardian as my last game would be fitting. There are dozens of tv shows I'd like to watch - 24, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, Mad Men - and at least another dozen video games I'd like to finish up - Skyrim, DA:Inquistion. So if I don't buy another Ntinedo home console it's not b/c I'm playing favorites or choosing sides, it's just b/c I'm growing old. Maybe I'll play again w/ my grandkids someday, in the holodeck.

@rjejr

Idk if I could ever retire from gaming. Well, I could probably give up the PS/Xbox side of things (though that would suck missing out on FF and Bioware games) and probably even give up a lot of Nintendo franchises. But certain Nintendo games- Fire Emblem, Xenoblade, Donkey Kong Country, Metroid, Zelda (even Pikmin I dare say)... No... No I don't think I could. Those 5 right there I could never give up. If there's 5 franchises I MUST play each generation, those would be them.

I'm actually digging in to the niche underworld of fan-translated Japanese games. Started Soma Bringer (DS), a DS game developed by Monolith Soft (Xenoblade and Baten Kaitos devs). And I'm playing all the Fire Emblems that never made it to the west. You must play Fire Emblem, you simply must. You can get the GBA release of FE on Wii U VC.

EDIT: Oh dear, I've made a grave mistake. I left out Monster Hunter. That is THE number one game I can't give up, next to maybe Fire Emblem. And the only non-Nintendo game in the list.

@B3ND3R

That's nice! I'm typically pretty savvy about preorders myself, but that's nice that you've got a manager friend.

@JaxonH - I can't play Fire Emblem for the same reason I couldn't play FF Tactics all those years ago, perma-death. I just can't have anything die. Just playing Pikmin was crippling enough. I read FE:A has a casual mode w/o it so that's why I want to play it, all the fun, none of the guilt.

Oh man, time to go start diner, did we really spend an entire day on this

@rjejr

It basically just unlocks "play coin" type things for you in game, without you having to street pass someone. Not exactly a new character or weapon or anything! Honestly though, I prefer it that way. Then I won't feel like I HAVE to have the figure to optimize my gameplay experience, its just a cool figure that happens to do a little something extra.

Not like Skylanders, where more figures = more character options. You end up losing money fast on those buggers I'd imagine.

@rjejr
Two words for you- virtual saves. You don't have to worry about death when you can revert back to right before. Save liberally and you have nothing to fear

"♫ Have no fear, virtual saves are here ♫"

@rjejr

Lol. Though it sounds like you're just considering semi retirement. I don't think I could retire gaming... Unless my hands fell off or something. But yeah to @JaxonH point, certain franchises I'd have to play each gen. Most of them being on the Nintendo side of things.

But man that Zelda tweet you posted. That's a thing of beauty. I gave up on trying to get a MM 3DS, as I didn't care for the color, but I'd pay a king's ransom for that 3DS.

@rjejr

Thankfully you chose a vaporware title as your last one

@JellySplat - "It basically just unlocks "play coin" type things for you in game"

Thats it? No wonder nobody cares but me.

We have over 60 Skylanders and a dozen Disney Infinity characters, and 2 amiibo, so I guess I'm kind of thankful amiibo do basically nothing.

@JaxonH - Nice singing, but are you even old enough to know who Underdog is?

If Wonderflick ever gets released in the west this will be my new avatar

@Sir_JBizzle - I doubt it's possible for me to have just 1 post about anything, but if you are talking about the Zelda 3DS I'm pretty sure thats not a 3DS, it's a new 3DS w/ 2 choices of faceplates, hence the little #s 55 and 56 or what ever it was. I think Nintneod is just trolling the US again. Reggie hates us.

Oh, that GoT photo was epic enough, but closing w/ "kings ransom" you out did yourself.

@sinalefa - Yeah, makes it hard to actually go thru w/ the retirement that way

And its not vaporware, it's a probably PS5 launch title. Half Life 3 may be vaporware though, I'm not waiting for that one to retire.

@rjejr

They vary from game to game. I collect them for the figures mainly, the only amiibos I plan on opening are the four fire emblem characters, because they actually unlock their respective characters in Codename S.T.E.A.M.

I also opened my Pikachu, just because I wanted to.

@Sir_JBizzle

Which 3DS are you talking about, The one you'd pay a kings ransom for? I'm curious.

@rjejr

Lord of the Rings, not Game of Thrones! lol!

@JellySplat it wasn't a XL, it was a faceplate for the standard N3DS, the one we're not getting. Though the way I worded it made it sound like I was implying a XL model. If they made a XL model like that, I'd be all over it. (I may have to import one just to have the faceplate though. Haha)

https://twitter.com/ZeldaOfficialJP/status/563698511896526848

@Sir_JBizzle

Those are both quite smexy indeed! I personally love the way the MM XL looks, so I bought that one. This does look very cool though, I'd be tempted to buy it if it was in the US.

@JellySplat - Ya know, I thought that was Lord of the Rings, well first I thought it was GoT and then I looked at it again and thought it was LotR, but I coudlnt figure out who it was in LotR so I decided it was Ned Stark even though it didn't look like him.

@rjejr

IDK, Sean Bean will always be Boromir to me.

How do you post pictures anyway? Whenever I try to copy past one, it says the option is not available.

@JellySplat - to embed a picture, or whatever the kids are calling it these days, copy the url and paste it between

Don't think the case matters, just the letters "i" "m" "g" which I'd guess is short for "image" inside square brackets w/ the "/" before the 2nd last img.

To get the photo url I always right click on whatever photo I want and then click on "Open image in a new tab". I'm using Chrome, I think IE and Opera may be different.

Weak amiibo use is weak.

@rjejr

So like this?

@JellySplat - The 2nd end [ i m g ] needs a / after [ and before i =[/img]

@rjejr

Got it!

Thanks a bazillion!