The Splatoon Testfire Demo is Coming Back for a Summer Fling

If Nitneod wants to push Splatoon so badly, then why make the Splat-Smash bundle a holiday limited edition? Why not keep that one going, and make a fortune on SSB DLC? That's a good deal for $249.

Why?

To give splat splatoon a second wind:

Release more content... duh....

Same could be done with Mario kart 8

Also when is the Wii U price drop coming?

Maybe they want to see how much interest is still out there from old and new players alike?

SplaTWOon hype!

Ooh, what is this Splatoon? Is it a new IP? I might get the demo and...HEY WAIT A MINUTE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?!

They should just continue to cycle through the previous splatfest.

I haven't got the game yet, but I think I'm missing out a lot from the splat fests.

Maybe they're doing it because they've got naff-all else to release? I don't mind, if it gets a few more people online (which I don't think it will) then great for those of us who still give it a go now and again.

@Gridatttack Do yourself a favor and buy this game ASAP

@Gridatttack The splatfests were cool but they are no deal breaker. They were just a fun distraction that came out every now and then.

Why? There won't be any more Splatfests!

Uh...why?

It's pretty weird that they'd stop Splatfests, and then promote the game with a demo. The game is still great without Splatfests, of course, but they were reasons for people to come back and play every now and again. Now that they're done, it feels like the game is winding down, and that's when Nintendo chooses to "invite" new players with a repeat demo? "Come try the game that won't get anymore content or events!" Maybe they're planning to announce Splatoon 2 for the NX in September, and they want to remind people who didn't buy it what it is.

a.k.a. what you do when you have no new games coming out on your latest home console available to the public.

There will probably be more Splatoon veterans than newbies playing the Testfire. This is not a good way to promote your game, especially when there's no more content coming!

One of the best games on the Wii U and a must own, would love too a Splatoon 2 on the NX at some point.

Change 'Surprising,' to 'Surprisingly'.

I don't charge for edits. You're welcome

I am still in shock at the announcement of no more Splat Fests

@TrueWiiMaster there is 1 more update planned for splatoon thats after shelldon's new weapons but thats it from what ik nor do ik what its gunna be.

@rjejr They might want to make Smash NX more enticing by avoiding such bundles, if that turns out to be a thing.

@Danrenfroe2016 Never. They're not selling either way, especially with a replacement on the horizon. Might as well squeeze every penny out of those willing to buy one.

@Ninten-san: Who cares about Splatfests?
@TrueWiiMaster: I feel like you're overestimating the importance of Splatfests. They were just a tiny side aspect of the game, literally their only purpose was getting sea snails. Now you can just get the snails by winning games.
It was never the Splatfests that kept people playing, it was the game itself, the endless fun and of course, improving your game and improving your rank. Unless you've reached S+99, there's always a reason to play Splatoon if you ask me.
Another aspect, which still had a bigger effect than Splatfests was developing your gear. Even after more than 600h I still haven't levelled up all pieces of gear and there are still some rerolls to make. Because play styles and preferences change over time + the various Splatoon patches changed a lot and made uninteresting gear interesting again.

There might be people who only came back because of the Splatfests, of course, but those people are casuals. Nothing can get those people to play a game regularly and constantly unless it's some cheap addictive smartphone game that you can play on the go (this may sound more hateful than it actually is, I don't have anything against casuals per se, they're absolutely needed - I just don't like how they get exploited by the gaming business - the same way some hardcore gamers get exploited).

@Gridatttack: Forget the Splatfests, but yeah you have been missing out on a lot! So much has been added and change over the course of a year, if you pick it up now, you'll "only" get the end product. Which is still great, you've just missed out the game's development, the "story" if you will. But hey, that doesn't take anything away from the fun to be had with this game. If you should get it, make sure to drop by the Splatoon thread.
@GrailUK: If you weren't joking I would tell you the same thing.

But why on earth a third Global Testfire? I don't get it.

@rjejr Don't be silly, you're asking Nintendo to be logical; I'm pretty sure every decision at their HQ is decided by a coin flip or rolling a dice

@rjejr What the heck is a Nitneod

@MetaRyan It's the name for the next Nintendo Handheld

@MarcelRguez good call. I feel pretty confident that they're will be a smash "definitive edition" with all DLC and maybe 1 or 2 more NX exclusive "surprises" thrown in.

Should be a no-brainer. Game is WAYYY too good to have sold as little as it did (only at the fault of a small Wii U gamer base, I know it had a high attach rate). It needs a large gaming base, and needs to be truly appreciated for the masterpiece it is.

i dont see the point of this...

@HeroOfTime32 It's a delicate issue. The fans that have already bought all the DLC in the Wii U version might feel a bit cheated with a "definitive edition", all the more so if it includes exclusive content. There's also the argument that if Smash 4 didn't bring that many people to the Wii U, it will probably only attract the most hardcore players to the NX. I am of the opinion that everything helps, but I can see that point as well.

And I agree about your second paragraph. It really deserves more sales, and I'm confident about Nintendo promoting the game aggressively though eSports and future competitions. It will probably be a good while before we see Smash 5, so they need to keep the game fresh in people's minds.

@MarcelRguez Well it's about time they embraced E-sports. That's another one of those things I was talking to you about earlier in a prior article, about Nintendo finally loosening the reigns a bit on their IPs. They're still not consistent on how they choose to manage 3rd-party usage and promotion however.

Yes, I can see how gamers would feel burned if a "definitive edition" came out that included exclusive content, but hey, you gotta try and sell this new system.

It will be A LONG while till Smash 5 arrives, so I agree about finding a way to keep Smash 4 relevant somehow. If it dies with Wii U, it would really be a shame to see it go. That's such a short time, and it would have never had it's time in the sun...like, at all.

@shani
You're clearly a more hardcore Splatoon fan than me, but I wouldn't call myself a casual just because I don't play regularly. I'm level 34, A- rank, and what brought me back time and again were the Splatfests. I'd play until I was burnt out, and do it again at the next Splatfest (and the preceding/following days). Like I said, the game is still great without the Splatfests, but it now lacks that incentive to come back and get sucked in again. There are those who play continuously (all those level 50's that are always on the opposing team...), but many like myself like to have a reason to come back, and leveling/ranking up without any unlocks isn't always enough. I'll still play it at random (I'll probably play after I post this, actually), but outside of playing on a whim, I'm not sure how often Splatoon will be in my Wii U.

@TrueWiiMaster Ok, that definitely doesn't sound casual, then I probably misjudged (A- and a lvl > 30 doesn't qualify as casual anymore, no matter if you play regularly or not). Maybe there is something in between (or the boundaries are just blurred).
I guess you're right, my longest gap of not playing was 22 days and that was in June, I think... still, it's a bit odd for me because it's the first time an online game fascinates me that much. I was sure at some point I would lose interest, but that didn't happen. I still look into Splatnet on a daily basis and I still feel the urge to play (like in the upcoming RM rotation in 4 hours).
What kept the game fresh for me was switching weapons (= more gear adjustment) a lot after mastering them - I have at least 8 mains, probably more, and I don't even use some of them anymore. Plus plus those game-changing patches in 2016 + Sheldon's Picks.

So... when the Splatfests brought you back, did you play because of the sea snails or just because of the Splatfest itself?
For me, it was definitely the former.
Splatfests had a certain nice 'vibe' to them, in that there were two teams and everyone (all Splatfests should be global IMHO) was doing the same thing simultaneously, but it the 'Splatfest athmosphere" wasn't really palpable. Maybe if there was a way to communicate more directly with squids or have some fun together in the plaza, it would've felt more special. They should flesh them out in the sequel.
I liked the night mode and all those illuminated Splatfest messages in the plaza looked beautiful though.

I was only interested in this game before I found out there would be no good split screen multiplayer (like Mario Kart). I don't like online shooters at all, this is no different. I haven't bought it, I doubt I ever will. Maybe Splatoon 2 will have what I want.

I just don't understand how this game isn't a Nintendo select would totally buy if it was $20

I have the game but im problay just going to come on this to screw over all the plebs

@shani
I would say I fall in between the casual and hardcore Splatoon players, between the people who very rarely play and the people who play every week. This is the first time I've played an online game so much, too. I played a fair amount of Black Ops 2 on the Wii U, but I've played Splatoon at least 3-4x as much, and unlike BO2, I'm not bored of it.

I typically stick to just one gun (the N-Zap '89), because I always end up disliking other weapons when I switch. I like to play fast and on the offensive, and I haven't found a better gun for it. Most other "classes" (not sure if that's the proper Splatoon word) feel too slow for my taste.

I actually never used any of my sea snails. I played during Splatfests because they gave me a reason to, even when there was nothing left to unlock in the game, and because I enjoyed the idea that everyone was playing at once. Now that Splatfests are over, the only goals in the game are leveling/ranking up, which don't interest me much. When I play, as I'm playing now, I'll probably work towards them anyway, but when I'm not playing, the desire to level/rank up probably won't make me want to play.

@TrueWiiMaster I can totally relate to that! In other games, these little things like levelling up your gear bore me to death, I still can't figure out why it's different with Splatoon.
And I was also a very offensive and risky player for most of my Splatoon 'career', the N-Zap '89 was/is also one of my most favourite weapons (together with Dual Squelcher). But I eventually switched to the Custom Jet Squelcher because of its range and that changed my play style. I'm much more cautious now (though still not a Ninja Squid) and focus a bit more on map/ink control - that really helped me improve my game and rank further up (still not done though, only A+). But occasionally I still fall back into old habits and play too risky (mostly when I'm not paying attention, like a 'revert to default' mode).

BTW, if the other weapons don't feel agile enough (which was the same for me), you can fix this with Run Speed Up. If you slap two main Run Speed Up (or their equivalent) onto your gear, even a Splattershot Pro (usually very slow) doesn't feel that sluggish anymore. But that weapon is still too high-maintenance to the point where it gets annoying.
Custom Jet Squelcher with a lot of Run Speed Up works like a charm though, almost feels like a mid-range weapon minus the high fire rate.

But even if you're not planning on learning a new main weapon, it's still useful to try out other things get a new perspective and/or understand the perspective of other players better. Anyway, this enriched my Splatoon experience a lot.
My favourite weapon right now is the N-Zap '83 and - apart from Point Sensors, which replace the Echolocator for me - that's probably because I got used to the Kraken (I hated it before) through the Custom Jet Squelcher...

But the good things is - and that's how it was intended by the developers - depending on the map/mode combination, I can choose between a wide range of weapons.

@Alexmo which is the exact reason people end up not buying a game.

@shani
I do pretty well with my N-Zap. My biggest problem is usually teammates in ranked mode (seemingly) not understanding the mode we're playing. Some players seem to think every mode is Turf War.

I was mostly referring to shooting speed. Anything that needs a charge feels terrible to me. I like to shoot as I react. The "perks" I stick with are usually Stealth Jump (always), and then a combination of swim speed up (if I'm moving, I'm usually swimming), special saver, quick respawn, and special up. Right now I'm finding 4 special savers, 2 special ups, and tenacity pretty fun.

@TrueWiiMaster: Sounds good! Yeah I also don't like chargers, that's why I stick with the Squelchers when I'm not using the N-Zaps. And I just reached a new high, A+ 77!
Don't know if I should push my luck and play till the end of this rotation... one should know when to stop, that's very important.

@shani
Congratulations on your new high! My Gamepad usually decides when I stop, but maybe that's not a good thing. I almost made it to A, but then had a bad streak and ended about where I started (50). If I had ended at a different time, I would have been in the 80's, but it's hard to stop when you only need 1-2 more wins.

@TrueWiiMaster Hehe I know that feeling. I ruined my rank several times just by being too stubborn and being convinced to get out of a losing streak again. But usually it gets worse when become frustrated (by teammates or myself). So sometimes, instead of ranking up, I actually ranked down (for example: A long time ago, when I reached A+ for the first time, I continued playing, ranked down to A and subsequently ranked down to A-, all in one session). ^^
I've been near ranking up so many times and lost points so often in that position that I almost made a rule out of it to stop playing when I'm in the 70's, 80's or even 90's. Seemed to have worked, last time I ranked up starting with A 97.

Before that (and some weapon switching and play style adjustments), I was stuck between B+ and A- for a long time, so I think that little rule did help a bit.

@SanderEvers
No.

@shani
Almost everyone cares about Splatfests, including me.

@shani
I didn't know you could rank down. That's good to know. I can relate, though. In truth, last night I actually went up to 80's, down to 0, back up to 70's, and stopped at 50's. Ranked mode is a lot like gambling. When you win, you want to keep winning, and when you lose, you want to win it back.

"Nintendo and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Timing"

@Octane "or rolling a dice"

When there's 63 bad choices, it's hard to be right very often.

@TrueWiiMaster: What do you mean you didn't you could rank down? Remember, between 80 and 99, you get less points for winning and lose more points for losing. At the same time, between 20 and 0, you get more points for winning and lose less points for losing.

@Ninten-san I highly doubt that almost everyone does. Some people might care about sea snails though.

@shani
I didn't know you could actually drop down a rank, like from A back to A-. I thought, for no real reason, that you were locked in when you ranked up.

@TrueWiiMaster Haha okay, that thought never occured to me. So you never ranked down? Wow, that's an achievement in itself!
I did so much ranking up and down right from the start (or more precisely, after reaching the B ranks, I think - the C ranks were fairly easy).
I think in the example I mentioned before, I actually managed to rank down from A+ to B+. Down to A- in one session and down to B+ in the next session after that. But that was only a one-off, due to me being frustrated, blaming everything on teammates and losing concentration (but still wanting to continue playing).

So no, the ranks are not locked. But it's amazing that you never ranked down, almost everyone that I know in the Splatoon thread experienced this dance, even the best ones occasionally ranked down after ranking up.

@shani
Apparently I came very close last night, when I was at zero, but so far I've never ranked down. Whenever I got close I'd win a few matches and be safe. I might try again to rank up to A tonight, while simultaneously earning "money" to buy the rest of the weapons (I need about 150k).

I tried some other weapons, including the Dual Squelcher, and I still just prefer the speed and low ink use of my N-Zap. I might rotate between the '83 and '89 though.

@TrueWiiMaster Yeah the low ink consumption of the N-Zap really comes in handy, it's a great allround weapon, it only lacks range on certain maps (the main reason why I adapted to other weapons). Still one of my favourites and probably my deadliest weapon.

It was very hard for me to get used to the lower firerate of the Squelchers (and other weapons), because my Splatoon 'upbringing' consisted mostly of the Aerosprays + Splattershot and N-Zaps. But eventually it worked, now I'm even comfortable with the Jet Squelcher (firerate: 50). The Dual has at least 55 firerate, which isn't that much less than the 75 than the N-Zap's got. But the Squelchers definitely need Inksaver (main), otherwise it's too painful to play with them (don't get me started on the ridiculous ink consumption of the Splattershot Pro ).

I hit zero one or two times myself and I was surprised it was possible at all. ^^ Now I'm one win away from finally reaching S and... I'm almost scared.