The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes Dated, Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water to Have Free and Limited Edition Versions

So basically NoA/NoE isn't confident that the game will sell well, making it "Limited" and an F2P eShop game. Oh brother...

@Zyph It's basically just a demo. You get to try the prologue and the first two chapters for free. If you want the full game, you just buy the full game.

Definitely getting the LE!

@Zyph This an extremely niche series, they have every right to not have confidence in its selling ability.

I love Project Zero. My favourite survival horror. Played the hell out of the Wii game and lost many night's sleep. I will be buying the physical limited edition!

I've just realised I've never bought a game after playing the free demo. Isn't that weird?

@Octane Yeah that's one way to interpret it. But of course, considering the retail versions will just be LEs, we can't deny the possibility that they just wanted to lessen the impact if the game tanked sales-wise. And making it into 'try before you buy' eShop title which in Japan isn't like this. Of course, don't get me wrong, I'll still buy the retail version and play the heck out of it. It just seems quite strange overall if you think about it. We don't even know how Devil's Third will be distributed in the Americas.

@Jazzer94 True.

Not really a fan of big LE boxes or steel books so I'll probably go with the shop version. Hope it's not more expensive than what shops sell the physical version for as that's what usually happens.

@Zyph This game will have trouble selling 500,000 copies regardless of how they distribute it. It's an extremely niche series. Providing a ''free demo'', might convince more people to get the game. The limited edition is probably just fan service to the few people that are going to buy the game regardless. I'll admit, it's a little weird that there's no regular version. I only hope the limited edition is reasonably priced. I'm interested in this game, and I love to get the physical copy if possible, but I'm not forking out more than €60, because the physical distribution of this game is limited to a limited edition.

As for Devil's Third, rumour has it that the game is garbage, I can understand the hesitation to publish a game like that if the rumours are true.

@Peach64 Don't worry, there's a regular case included as well!

@Octane Even if it sold 100,000 it would be a success considering the series.

in my time these "free-to-plays" were called demos... ... ... ...

It's not free-to -play, It's Free-to-start http://www.slashgear.com/nintendo-to-aim-for-a-free-to-start-mobile-gaming-model-06391767/

Okay, so for us in the UK and the EU, it's called Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water. I've got to remember that name, I keep referring to it as Fatal Frame still.

I do find it a bit odd that the only retail version of this game is going to be the limited edition version, though admittedly it would have been the version I'd have gone for regardless. I've been a fan of Temco Koei as of late and I like this game's usage of the Gamepad, so I'm looking forward to trying out Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water.

An October 30th release date was about what I expected, and I do love the inclusion of a poster and artbook. Those will be appreciated. Now if only I had a part of my room to which my cat can't get to; it makes putting posters up very difficult.

As for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, I'm interested in it, but probably wouldn't be compelled to get it unless my brothers also get it. That said, my younger brother will be wanting the game regardless, Four Swords Adventure is his favourite Zelda game after all and I'm pretty sure he'd be just as content playing through Tri Force Heroes on his own.

@Jazzer94 I just looked up the sales of the franchise and I knew the series didn't have any million sellers, but it's even worse than I expected.

They should have called it Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water.Project Zero doesn't sound very horror like and The Black Haired Shrine Maiden just sounds daft.

I hope that by being a limited edition retail version, it won't be on a first come first serve basis, I have no intention of buying a digital copy of a retail game but I do want Project Zero even if it is a terrible name.

That's a smart move and it's more than the usual "demo". The problem with games like this on the WiiU so far has been that players didn't care enough about them. If Nintendo once manages to get them playing – like in the case of Splatoon – it could sell quite well.
LE sounds alright, could be cool. What I find most surprising in the video though: The game is rated 18+ from both PEGI and USK. That's new for the series! o.O

Try b4 buy - what's not to like?

@Octane Yep extremely niche series which is why I'm surprised so many users are showing such interest but that could be down to how barren Wii U 3rd party games are.

Thanks Nintendolife, you lied to me about getting a game for free. I thought it was a reward for my loyalty from Nintendo. You should have said free to start as someone has already stated!

It's just a demo. Free to play is something completely different.

Free to play would be where you could go through the whole game technically, but certain things would locked behind a pay wall.

Stop being such pansies Nintendo. You show weakness with every 3rd party and mature release. Just release it everywhere, with the demo and call it a day. geez such a struggle when it's not mario half the time.

So, where can I pre-order a copy of 'Project Zero LE' online and have posted to Ireland? Anywhere yet? Kinda don't want to miss out of a physical copy of this at launch like all the other project zero games I missed.

Anybody know yet?

Why can't they just call it Fatal Frame here, isn't it a game about taking photos of ghosts anyway?

I'm happy that Zelda Tri-Force Heroes arrives that early I was sure it'd be late November like everything else usually. Now I'll have some time to play it with my friends.

@readyletsgo I've been looking for somewhere to pre order too, and I live in England. I worry it'll be in short supply due to lack of potential demand and I won't get one either if ore ordered.

I hate free-to-play, they could had just called it a demo. Calling it free-to-play sounds almost like if you have to buy the game chunk after chunk which I hate.

@FragRed argh! I know, I bet there will only be a run of 50,000 copies for all of Europe and it will sell out in no time because of people like me and you, and most likely we will miss out on a copy lol.

Have to keep a hawk eye out.

@readyletsgo It's a shame, I won't go near a digital download for a retail game especially at Nintendo’s prices. And I can see people buying multiple copies for flogging on eBay. If Nintendo ever had brains they would know to make enough to meet pre order demands. But alas, they don't when it comes to this kind of thing.

@garthvader They are releasing it everywhere. What's the problem?

@readyletsgo You're quite generous if you think that the game will sell 50,000 copies in Europe alone in just a couple of days. I don't think pre-orders will sell out, unless it's really limited, as in a couple of thousand copies. Just keep an eye out and you should be fine.

All these stories suggest Nintendo have foregone doing a Direct this month due to the passing of Iwata.

I would of thought Zelda Tri Force Heroes would have been Ninty's Christmas game- apparently there isn't a 3DS Christmas game this year.
Also it does seem Nintendo is firing most of it's big guns in the September to October apart from Starfox and Xenoblade.

(And no, AC amiibo festival and Mario Tennis aren't big guns).

@FragRed Yeah, same, I'm not a fan of paying €60 for a digital copy of anything when you can get a physical copy for the same price or even cheaper at launch. Sometimes I wonder who pays full price for a game our a year or longer on the eshop.

@Octane ah yeah I'm just over exaggerating a bit. Just really want to get my pre-order in as soon as.

@Octane It's just their half assed un-confident attitude about most of these games is half the reason they don't sell. If they put some back bone behind it and advertised for them like Sony and Microsoft do, they could sell a piece of poo in a gum wrapper like Sony and Microsoft do. Sony sold the crap out of The Order and it was an assey game. Surely Nintendo could do the same with this.

To me this makes sense. I'll likely try the F2P model, having never played fatal frame, and to be honest......I'm real chicken when it comes to suspense games.

It's actually known as "Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water" in North America. Not sure where that other name came from

Take my money

@garthvader Look at the sales of the Fatal Frame franchise, no matter who published and advertised the game, this isn't going to become a million seller. If this sells 200,000 worldwide, that would make it the best selling entry in the franchise. They have every reason to be cautious. It's an extremely niche series. Advertising is also really expensive. I think they're better off letting gaming sites like NL do the advertising for them. TV ads probably won't make a difference for this game anyway.

@garthvader Did the Order sell that well? I didn't think Sony gave official figures, just that it was on its way to meeting expectations looking at a fairly recent interview. Also the fact the studio behind it seems to have split ways with Sony suggests all is not well.

@FragRed For being a first in a new IP and having low scores I know it sold over 1 million pretty early off. I don't know how well it's sales sustained but I did see it in the top 10 best sellers on Amazon yesterday which says to me it must still be selling. Sony may have put that studio together just for that game. I don't really know the facts on that. 1 Million does not sound like a lot, but I assume it will have lifetime sales of over 2 mil probably, and for a badly made and received game that is a new IP it is certainly not bad.

@ALinkttPresent The name of the series is Zero in Japan and Project Zero in Europe, it's called Fatal Frame only in North America.

Demos tend to hurt Franchises that Sell off the reputation of their predessors, Dead Space 3 springs to mind where the Demo put fans of the first two games 'Off'. In this case however, sales expectations are very low (100,000 maybe?) so I doubt very much a demo could hurt this franchise in any serious way. If people dig the demo an don't like it, no loss, if there's people interested but have never played a game in the series (which is exceptionally likely) the Demo will give them enough to go on to take the plunge. If it gets discounted in January sales afterward, that will likely be the opening to 'push' any on the fencers. Either way it makes perfect sense to release the game with a trial, it means the people that do buy it will be happy with what they are getting regardless.

That's technically a demo, but whatever. Getting both of these.

That's technically a demo, but whatever. Getting both of these.

That's technically a demo, but whatever. Getting both of these.

I guess the physical version will be quite the collector's item, meaning those Amiibo scalpers will have something else to eye.

If you any intention of buying this physically, I'd strongly recommend preordering the game ASAP...

@Zyph thats actually a very good approach to make the game sell better

This has to be the worst summer in Nintendo's history, the drought of games is unbearable.

@arronishere touché

I'm excited I can buy the game. October is obviously a perfect fit, but zelda triforce heroes comes out at the around the same time as the 3DS dragon ball z game if I'm not mistaken, and with the new season airing, I've got back to a little dragon ball craze , I'll be picking up extreme butoden first

Better to get a limited release than no release at all!

Europe gets all the good stuff

I've never played Fatal Frame so this approach is very enticing to me.

I'm excited for Fatal Frame, I just hope they announce some details here in NA soon. I also don't want it to be a download only title.

Been waiting so long for the next chapter in the Fatal Frame series. Hope they've made it as good as Crimson Butterfly.

Nice! Didn't expect to see Zelda in October (it seems like a November release), I hope that it'll come out in October for the US as well (anything after Fallout 4....god for bid...my backlog is going to be a monster)
UPDATE! Looks like TriForce Heroes is hitting the US the same day! http://www.gonintendo.com/stories/239918-the-legend-of-zelda-tri-force-heroes-launches-october-23-press
^_^

Triforce Heroes is my one of my favorite games I am looking forward to for the remainder of this year, as for Fatal Frame, I doubt I'll buy it unless of some big sale.

@Zyph
Why would they? It sold like 7,000 copies in Japan it's debut week. Worst selling Nintendo published game to date this generation as far as I'm aware.

I can't wait for Fatal Frame!

This limited Edition better come to America! We already missed out on Fatal Frame II . I really would love the steel book and poster! Really hoping I don't have to buy it off ebay UK with the other LE.

Cool, I love demos!.......who am I kidding, day 1 limited edition for me!

for me this is great news because i am not sure yet if fatal frame is my type of game so now i can try it first.verry nice.its looks amazing,i like the artsyle,the coulers,...but i just dont know if i will enjoy running around in a forrest,taking pictures...lets find out!

thinking what game should i get as physical ! LOZ:TFH or PZ:MOBW or other game? so much deciding for me!

@MrGawain I think they're forgoing a Direct this month in favor of having one next month to coincide with Tokyo Game Show.

Also, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon will likely be the late November game for the 3DS. Having that big late November holiday release is more important for the US in order to take advantage of Black Friday.

I hope Fatal Frame will have a retail release as well. It's a game I would rather have a CD for. It's cool that it looks like you basically get Avery sizable demo then can download the rest. Who knows maybe after playing the first two chapters you might want to download it only.

I wish Nintendo would start to take this approach with more titles. The Wii U needs games, so holding back anything at this point is silly. Put it on the eShop and see what happens. Heck they could have just kept the Japanese voices and only translated the text for all I care.

@JaxonH
That dubious honor would go to Codenam STEAM, which sold less than 2,000 copies during its Japanese launch. NA and EU sales were better, but that's not saying much at all.

Project Zero having a demo is a good idea,It may convince people on the fence to get it, and its just in time for Halloween.With Mario Maker next month StarFox and Xenoblade X November/December it shaping up to be a great Autumn after a barren Summer.

Surprising but sensible approach. The series wouldn't usually attract many sales outside its core fan base, so make an attractive retail version with larger profit margins to satisfy this fanbase, with a free to start eShop model to attract new fans.
Free to play/start is definitely a good choice for Nintendo when releasing games in its more niche exclusive series. (Steel Diver as another example).

At least we get a physical release. I can see the logic behind Nintendo's decision, but regular physical release and limited edition in addition would make more sense, like Nintendo has done in the past: Pandora's Tower, The Last Story, Xenoblade, Skyward's Sword...

It's not a free to play game, so bad headlines, Thomas, you are confusing people. Pokemon Shuffle is free to play, but this is an eShop demo. Quite different.

By the way, I can't wait for the limited edition! I believe this is one of the best survival horror franchises ever (if not the best)!

@Zyph Well you gotta accept this game has a niche market (especially since it's for Wii U) but hey！
At least they are releasing it right？
And the approach they went for is very smart for both fans of the series and newcomers

Oh how I hate trailers that don't show any gameplay. How am I supposed to get interested if I can't see what the game is about?
Must be a really boring game...

I won't touch any of the 'free' (trial) episodes, I'd rather just play it all from start to finish when the full game is released, as it's a day one buy for me. That special edition physical copy looks awesome.

If I was nintendo I would pull a power move here, buy the rights to the fan translation of fatal frame 4 and give codes for it to all purchasers of fatal frame 5, and then release it on the virtual console naturally to make some extra dolla.

@arronishere Wonder if it'll be like the "Siren" title that was on PS3? They'd released it episodically.

@tysonfury I'm the same, i skip demos because of that, well that and the fact that I can find most of what I need about a game without a demo...

Stop moping about Nintendo's 'lack of faith' in Fatal Frame and just be happy that you get to try it for free!