It can be interesting to see how Nintendo's marketing varies across different titles, with concepts - or lack of concept as the case may be - drawn up to play to a game's strengths. On that score Nintendo's clearly got very different ideas of how to tempt players to pick up Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash and Level 5's Yo-Kai Watch in North America.
Starting off with the upcoming tennis shenanigans on Wii U, Nintendo's keeping it simple with brief trailers to show off new cast members strutting their stuff. On this occasion we get a look at Toadette, though due to her height she probably isn't a great option for those intent on dominating from the net.
With Yo-Kai Watch, though, there's another TV commercial following on from the zany approach of its predecessor.
We're not convinced yet that Yo-Kai Watch will be the 'next Pokémon' as Viz Media hopes, but are certainly curious to see whether the anime, game and this marketing will pay off for the imminent North American release; it's out on 6th November. As for Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, we reckon its hopes lie in securing a spot as a fun multiplayer game for the Holidays, though Nintendo will also be aiming for that market with Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival on Wii U.
So, are you looking forward to these games, and do you think they'll sell well in the next couple of months?
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I highly doubt Yo-kai Watch will be as popular as Pokemon, but that advert was amusing, although incredibly strange (but Cheeksqueek, really, that's the name they went with?!), and it certainly looks like a good game.
Toadette... eh, the game doesn't bother me, and Toadette less so. I don't dislike her, I certainly prefer her to the generic Toad character. She's way better.
Toadette, since when did you jump like that?!?
I've seen several posts on here now about Mario Tennis, which comes out Nov 20th, but only just now checked to find out AC:aF is out next Friday the 13th. Is Nintendo just ignoring it and all it's potential amiibo and amiibo card sales? I know it's a board game and doesn't have online, but that's about it. For a game coming out in 11 days that's not much. And if both aF adn HDD use the same cards you would think Ntineod would really be pushing the cards and their dual use. I didn't even know aF used the cards.
And wasn't there rumours of it being a free download? We purchased Disney Infinity 3.0 for $20 and have been buying toys and playsets since. A free aF download could get people on the hunt for the amiibo accessorizes.
It's like they're finally getting a game out on time, but the marketing department assumed it was delayed.
Too many unknowns for their big holiday game releasing next week.
Anybody in the US interested in AC:aF Amazon has it w/ 2 amiibo and 3 cards for $60
http://smile.amazon.com/Animal-Crossing-amiibo-Festival-Bundle-Wii/dp/B00ZSHRPN0/ref=pd_sim_63_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51aW2WopRRL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR132%2C160&refRID=0GT2APRZEA2HZ9WQQ4Z2
And the cards are $6 for a 6-pack, which makes them about 15x cheaper than amiibo toys. Funny how the card pack doesn't mention AS:aF though.
Hey @Captain_Gonru you think maybe Target discontinued Series 1 to put AS:aF on the package for series 2, 3 and 4?
Yokai wont be as big as Pokemon in the States, but it has potential for being a big seller this holiday season and beyond. I liked the demo.
@rjejr
I guess we are not the target market for AF so we won't see lots of articles here. Maybe, just maybe, they will announce it for families to buy it, with in store exclusive amiibo to piss us off Jax and me.
NintendoLife is here. Yokai is Why
(Sorry i had to.)
I'm really happy to see Toadette in the game! She has always been my favorite Super Mario character alongside Wiggler, and hopefully her inclusion hints at a possible amiibo for her? Besides that, I'm actually relatively excited for the new Mario Tennis. Even though it does seem a bit light on single-player content, the ability to train an amiibo partner sounds really neat, especially since you can play online duo matches with it.
@sinalefa in store exclusive amiibo
Going forward all amiibo will be hidden throughout the land and the only way to purchase them will be to find them w/ an "amiibo Go" phone app.
Maybe I should delete that before Nintendo likes the idea.
You and Jax aren't getting the AC line are you? 400 cards in blind packs is going to take forever.
Enjoying your PS4? If it weren't for XCX I think I'd be getting one this Christmas myself, but I continue to hold out for U4, FFXV and R&C. Almost certainly by my next birthday. I spent 3 months hyping up my big birthday and I never did get myself anything except that silver Mario amiibo. $195 just sitting in the bank collecting 1/4% interest.
@rjejr
Jax got the first 100 cards, not sure if he will get the rest. I just got 4 to say I have some. The toys are a must though.
PS4 was bittersweet since when I first got it fan was not working and it turned the system off within 3 minutes. Jax suggested updating to latest firmware and that fixed it. Crazy how Sony ship their new system with a firmware that breaks the system. Can imagine returns skyrocketing if that is the norm.
I also wanted to wait for U4 but Jax found a good deal. Uncharted bundle with $50 gift card that I used on 2 games that I am waiting on still. Right now I am surviving on PSN games.
And get yourself something nice for your half century! My offer to send you a $20 eShop card code to get you SnS 2 still stands, you know?
@sinalefa Yeah, there were a bunch of good deals on PS4 once the price dropped, somebody should tell Nintendo. But I've already played the Uncharted trilogy enough. Well maybe I'd replay 2, but not 1 or 3. And I've thought that maybe a retailer might throw it in free w/ a U4 bundle as an incentive. I think my 13 year old is almost old enough, think it was T for teen and not M.
My 13 year old got a $20 eShop card for his birthday and he might get S&S2 but I think the tone of my voice at the $15.99 sale price may have turned him off of it. He also spent $150 on videogames for a children's hospital in the Bronx via ChildsPlay.org. the company from the Humble Nindie Bundle I bought for $10. It was a charitable donation from his bar mitzvah money. I thought it was very generous of him, he's a good kid.
Good luck w/ the amibo collecting. Though if you're a part of Jax's squad of mercenary amiibo hunters I don't think you need luck, those guys are relentless.
I still honestly can't believe the sheer lack of content in Mario Tennis right now. They'd better have some good free updates planned. As for Yo-Kai Watch... come on, they made 'Blazion'? That's not even trying to differentiate itself from Pokémon! (Don't worry, Blaziken, you're still my fave!) I may pick up the game one day from curiosity, but certainly not at full price. I'll go in with low expectations, that's for sure.
I cracked a couple ribs at "Cheeksqueek". Lol, really?
@rjejr
It's Toadette, your fave! At least I thought that was you raving about Toadette back when Capt Toad released.
After Smash line wraps up with Falco, Roy, Ryu and Lucas, I'm going open box only. I have a fully sealed, ultra mint Smash amiibo set boxed up in the closet and no space for them. I do have my open set displayed nicely on my wall with custom amiibo shelving, which is even better IMO.
But ya, I do intend to keep collecting, just, not sealed anymore. Unless they release a really good line like for Fire Emblem or something.
Sina bout had a heart attack with that PS4 not working. So did I tbh. But it's working now (thing was he's in Costa Rica so it would be $40 shipping back, wait for me to contact Sony for repair since return period would be expired, then $40 to ship again- not cool).
I still say there's so much more out there than Uncharted for you, as we discussed the other day. Way I approach it is, can I afford it now? Yes? Then buy now. The longer I wait, the more games I'm missing and the less Im getting for my money once I do finally buy one. If I wait 3 years, that means I only get 5 years use out of it before next console releases. Better to buy now and use for 8 years. Even if it does cost an extra $50. Besides, there's a $299 deal going on at several places right now, game included (check BestBuy).
Hopefully Yo Kai pushes Gamefreak to embrace us westerners more when they see we wont replace them so easily. I imagine its gonna be somewhat popular but if there are more of these "Cheeksqueek" styled/named monsters I'm going to say it will be received as more of a childrens game, pokemon has never used toilet humor to appeal.
I'm still figuring out exactly how this game is gonna feel but so far I'm not impressed, I'm wondering if any of the creatures will actually have roots with traditional mysticism. If they are all basic elemental+animals and weakly inspired creatures (anusmonster) I can't imagine any of them would get to be Pikachu-iconic in this day and age. The main creatures we've seen (like that gumpy-looking cat) don't look like designs westerners will particularly enjoy, at least not those of us aged in double digits.
It's great to see Toadette in a tennis game, but man her dive is crazy lol.
Toadette is my favorite character to play online. Nothing pisses off n00b's like a pink toad running laps around them in Mario Kart 8 - pink pipeframe, cushion tires and flower parachute in tow.
Happy to see Toadette confirmed for this game so it's guaranteed me buying the game now.
I'm getting AC:af in Europe and I'm buying 3 amiibos with it from the Nintendo store. Already started collecting the series one cards and we have the album. I don't like how Nintendo store have limited the cards to one per customers because they are by far the cheapest for them.
I'm super excited for Yokai Watch even more so than I'd be for a new Pokemon game!! Cheeksqueek?? What! XD
I'm fairly certain that I'm buying Yokai Watch on Friday. My sons and I each downloaded the demo and ever since, we've been catching up on the TV cartoon and replaying the demo. It's also really cool because it has 3 save slots from what I hear....I only need to buy one copy. Unlike rjejr, I only netted about $75 for my birthday and I've already spent some on necessities!
I know I will not be purchasing Mario Tennis but there's always a chance that one of my sons will want it come Christmas time. They both played tennis over the summer and they love anything Mario so who knows?
@Captain_Gonru I spent about 15 minutes on the eShop last night looking for autoFail and it was very difficult to find. Under "Coming soon" there were 2 vids from back at E3, and that was it. When I "Searched" for Animal Crossing there were about 100 vids for New Leaf and City Folk and just those same 2 for aF.
And that's for a game due out in a week to 10 days (automated robo voice).
That's just crazy. I'd fire Reggie for negligence on that one. Even if it isn't downloadable - which it very well should be it's their game, even Skylanders was a DL Day 1 for $50. I suppose they'll do something on Thursday when it updates, but for a game that exists solely to sell amiibo and cards it should have been up there by now. Not the game, just a coming soon picture. XCX has been up there for a month I think.
@JaxonH I really wanted a Captain Toad amiibo to tie in w/ the Captain Toad game, they just released a generic Toad amiibo instead. Chibi got one. SMM got a pixelated one. Yoshi got yarn. I might have said something nice about Toadette, she's cute, but I was ranting a bit about no Captain Toad amiibo, that I do remember.
Glad sina got it fixed, that would have been a major pain. I'm still waiting on mine though. I think it might almost be less about the money and more about the regret later on. I bought my Wii U a week before they announced the WW HD bundle and price cut. The $540 didn't matter that much, Target gave me a $50GC, but that Gamepad might still be the only Wii U modification after all these years. And I could have had WW HD. If I buy a PS4 now, then a U4 bundle comes out w/ 1TB for $350, and Best Buy is giving away a free copy of the trilogy w/ PS4 purchase, I'll be annoyed. Plus XCX comes first anyway, and I'm sure I'm looking at 150 hours. It even has online multiplayer.
Of course the week after I buy it they'll announce the redesigned slim. I think PS3 slim came out months after I bought the gimped 80GB phat.
@rjejr
We'll that's unavoidable. They're always going to keep releasing newer bundles and lower price. But if you let that keep you from jumping in, you'll never buy anything.
The Yo-kai commercial is why Nintendo lost 4 billion.
@Captain_Gonru "will happen by June for NMS"
Good luck w/ that. Even Jax doubted that release date over on PS and he's the most optimistic person I know. My time will come.
Just got back form Target. Have you noticed the big back wall of swag behind the books and DVDs? Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Walking Dead and Peanuts. It's the kind of thing I've been talking about w/ the lack of Nintendo merchandising. Not that Nintendo needs a whole wall, no movie out at the moment, but the amount of stupid stuff their is to put your logo on like beach towels,shot glasses, tumbler glasses, backpacks, wall clocks, all that stuff. It wouldn't surprise me to see a Pokemon section, they are almost everywhere, but "The Mushroom Kindgom" as a whole should have an equivalent marketing plan to Disney's Princesses I think. It's all about getting noticed. Also, 4 blue yarn Yoshi and 2 copies of Chibi Robo amiibo game bundle. I think the amiibo shortages are growing rarer. Not done, there will always be that 1 everybody wants, but seems like more in stock in general.
@JaxonH Price cuts, new models, and new bundles are unavoidable, the trick is to buy right after something you want comes out. But the have to wait for the right moment. It will come, I will own a PS4. Cant say the same about NX yet. I'm really not feeling it.
I also don't know where to put the PS4. Already have a PS3, Wii U and Dreamcast hooked up in the basement, and a PS3 I just bought last Christmas and have hardly even used yet in my bedroom. It's basically just a streaming DVD player. Yes, I still watch DVDS. PS4 will be nice once Wii U has run it's course w/ Zelda U. I'm not that into Pokken tournament, that FExotherthing or Starfox Zero. We bought th elast Sonic vs Mario Olypmic game and played it 3x so I'm nto too excited about the next one.
Not sure if I've ever told you this but I always stagger my consoles by a few years - PS1, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, PS3, Wii U, PS4. Basically Sony Sega/Nintendo. I don't have console conflicts, I have staggered entertainment. It would have been a tough call if U4 were out this holiday as originally planned. And I think R&C was ready for fall 2015 as well but they delayed it for the movie. Guess I'm a Sony fanboi, their delays work in my favor while I give Nintendo heck. Thats a joke, if I owned a PS4 I'd be livid and disgruntled, and waiting for a Wii U sale if I didn't own one yet. It's a matter of console ownership perspective.
@rjejr
I guess that's the difference between us. I already know I'm buying NX day one, no questions asked.
I just love games too much to let anything sneak past. Maybe if there were a new brand of console releasing and I had no idea what games it would have, then I'd wait and see. But as far as the main 3 go, I have beloved games on all of them now and just couldn't suffer missing out on the next [insert any number of games here] while everyone else is playing and enjoying it. There will never be a Nintendo/Sony/MS console that isn't a justified purchase anyways.
I'm actually surprised you're not hyped for SMT x Fire Emblem. You're an RPG guy after all, and this game looks right on par with Persona 5. That's really saying something.
Maybe if you played a Persona game, or a Fire Emblem game, you would understand just how mind-blowingly exciting this is for me. Until then, I can only sit here and continue to pester you about how you need to play them
@JaxonH Persona means nothing to me.
It does amaze even me that there is an entire genre of JRPG that I've never played. I think starting w/ FF7 made me only want to play games w/ parties of 3 that were turned based. It took Kingdom Hearts to make me play action games. I've never really liked any game that had movement elements - Rainbow Moon being the only one I've ever played even though I own several on PS2, I think the Arc the Lad series. And despite my interest in anime over the years - Akira is still the one of the best movies ever made, not just anime, any movie - I never liked the anime look in games.
Here's what I've played and liked, maybe you know if there is a category they belong to:
FF1-13, minus 11, I don't play online
Chrono Trigger and Cross.
Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
Grandia 1, 2 and 3 but not Extreme as I heard it was light on story
Xenogears, Xenosaga 1-3, Xenoblade
Legend of Dragoon
several Star Ocean games
Arc Rise Fantasia
White Knight Chronicles - finished 1, just started 2 then quit playing
Basically turned based, story driven, between 3 and a dozen characters, I don't like more than that, permadeath is a non-starter, no weird ghost stuff
I hope you can maintain your enthusiasm. I do think age is a factor. I'm tired. There are a lot of tv series I want to watch. And sports. And movies. I really didn't even want a PS4 but I need to play U4, FFXV, R&C and TLG, even though I don't have high hopes. And if I live long enough FF7 remastbooted4k. Maybe 2097 on PS18 for that one.
Plus a back catalog that includes Skyrim, the Mass Effect Trilogy, Witcher 3 looks awesome.
What do you know about Fallout 4? I've never played 1 but that stupid music and color has me hooked. It's a FPS right, I don't play those either, but I really want to. Marketing at it's best.
@rjejr
Fallout has both first and 3rd person, and kinda fits into multiple genres, technically defined as an "action RPG" though.
No video game means anything to anyone until they play it. But I'm here to help you (since I play far more games and of more diverse genres) and Persona is maybe a little different than what you're used to, but something you'd definitely like.
You have a team (just like in FF), and basics of the plot are you're in high school with friends, and there's a video that plays on TV at midnight, or so rumor has it, which ultimately takes them into the TV world. You fight shadows, or the darker side of ones self. Your own shadows you find in the TV world and test your strength as they reveal all your worst qualities to each other.
Anyways, you can summon your "persona" which is like this personification of your inner self or mind and fight with it. The personas are these crazy looking beings, really cool though.
You own a PS3, you could grab the latest Persona game on the cheap and try it out. Persona 4 is one of the highest rated RPG's to date though. That's what I'm playing now actually. One of the games I'm playing now anyways
@Captain_Gonru
@rjejr
Well, Persona may "technically" be a Shin Megami Tensei spinoff (only from the high school setting of an early entry, that's it) but it's a completely different game through and through.
If it weren't for the fact it was originally spun off from the high school setting of the (was it first or second entry?) you would never think the two had anything in common.
So don't think you have to like SMT to like Persona. Totally different games.
@Captain_Gonru
You already know I'm a Fire Emblem fanatic. I bought the smaller New 3DS Animal Crossing bundle just so I could swap out the plates with my imported Fire Emblem Fates cover plates. I couldn't wait for a Fates bundle. No way
You should really try Persona though. I don't play games unless they're really good, and while I did like SMT4 (I thought it was very well done) it just wasn't my kind of game really. My bro swears by it and I do wanna give it a fair shake again, but with my ever increasing backlog I'll probably just try the sequel when it's localized.
With Persona, I had started Persona 4 Golden on Vita but didn't get very far before being distracted by other games. Then Persona 4 Dancing All Night just released and I LOVED it. I mean, all out loved that game. So much in fact, I just 100% the game for my first ever platinum trophy. And I usually don't milk games to the last drop like that.
The characters were SO good, and SO well written with such witty banter (similar to the support conversations that made me fall in love with Awakening) that I was super hyped to get back to Persona 4 Golden. Dancing All Night was a rhythm game yes, but it had a length, narrative driven story mode that really let you know the characters.
Anyways, point I'm making is I think you should give it a go. Everyone kept telling me how good Persona 4 was (highest rated Vita game on Metacritic, sitting at like a 93 or something), but now I understand why. The game really is spectacular. Give it a chance. I think you'll be glad you did
@Captain_Gonru
Oh ya, stark contrast to the Devil Survivor series.
I loved the voice actors for Persona 4. Top class all the way. Like really, REALLY good.
@JaxonH "One of the games I'm playing now anyways"
What aren't you playing now? Well besides toys-to-life as you spend your money and fill up your house w/ amiibo.
I don't know why Persona has always put me off, I've never even tried one, but something about it always kept me away. Don't see that changing though, no matter how hard you try.
@Captain_Gonru DQ I always leave of my JRPG lists b/c only played 1,and the title is too long to remember - Journey of the Cracked Mirror and the Cursed King - something like that, but yes it is squarely on that list, back in the glory of my PS2 JRPG days. But it's the only 1 I've played. Was glad to see all the main fighters showing up in DW Heroes so I could know somebody. Oh, and Rogue Galaxy was back then as well. Rogue Galaxy was great. And then Level 5 made Yokai Watch and I cry a little inside each day. Level 5 was my new Squaresoft when they were rolling on consoles. Now it's Monolith Soft. Rogue Galaxy 2 on next gen hardware even a spiritual successor, would be awesome.
That list wasn't complete, just a quick off the top of my head thing, mostly series I like. Skies of Arcadia should be on there as well. Skis of Arcadia and Grandia 2 justified my Dreamcast purchase. Another game that needs a sequel. Or an HD remaster. Maybe w/ less often random battles.
@Captain_Gonru @JaxonH "So don't think you have to like SMT to like Persona. Totally different games."
You guys are making me just want to go back and watch Akira. I wonder how many times I would have to watch it to get all the versions at this point? At least 3 I know of - japanese voices, original english, new english which I don't like. I only own a very old VHS edition though.
My wife and I were discussing w/ the kids last night how many "editions" of Star Wars (original movie) there are. I still only call it Star Wars and all those trips to the theater in 1977 have burned into my brain that way. We know he added CG, but we coudlnt' decide if "New Hope" and "4" came at the same time. And I think Laserdisc has something different. Not sure what Lucas may have done w/ DVD and bluray. WE do own the 1995 VHS of that as well, time for my kids to see Han shoot first.
Edit: I do want to play FE:A. I played the demo and I was blown away by what they were able to achieve on the 3DS. Even though I knew 3DS always got the best games when Kid Icarus: Uprising came out. And multiplayer Luigi's Mansion 2. But 3DS XL has been $199 since it launched over 3 years ago. I know the tech has been updated, but over 3 years w/ no price cut isn't working for me. I'm still waiting for a Wii U 3DS Player - see Gamecube Gameboy Player - to play on my big screen tv. But I will play FE:A, Luigi 2 and KI:U some day when Nintendo and I come closer to seeing eye-to-eye. .
@Captain_Gonru "And a coffeemaker, because why not."
Don't need one in NX, I'm pretty sure Alexa will have that covered soon enough. Right before she gains self awareness and takes over the world. Are there voice activated coffee makers yet? Seems like a no brainer.
I did play the beginning of Golden Sun on a GameBoy Advance. But when I decided to take some time off to remodel our new (to us, 50 years otherwise) home before the kid was born I sold them both. Had I known no job for 13 years I probably would have just hired a contractor.
And yes, DQ8. I wonder if I still own it? Nope, that's kinda depressing. Still have Rogue Galaxy. No PS2 though. Maybe PS5 will play them?
@Captain_Gonru You should get your wife this AC wall calendar for Christmas. Putting on the stickers may be more interactive than the game.
I'm not exactly sure how I came across it, just popped up, you know Amazon.
http://smile.amazon.com/Animal-Crossing-2016-Wall-Calendar/dp/1419716891/ref=pd_rhf_cr_s_cp_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TW5Z679YBVKB7HG0E6A
@Captain_Gonru Oh yeah, sorry, forgot your Amazon allergy.
Barnes and Noble OK? It says it's available for in store pick up.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/animal-crossing-2016-wall-calendar-nintendo/1120345691?ean=9781419716898&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Home+Gift_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP1018&k_clickid=3x1018
@Captain_Gonru Happy to help.
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