Martinet.jpg

When the Nintendo Switch was unveiled, there was hope. Perhaps the speculation was behind us. Nintendo gave us a sneak peak and a timeline for more details, all we needed was patience and a strong will. We could do it, we could all hold firm.

No, that's not how things work, especially in the Wild West of the internet, where employees flirting with unemployment leak details, and when meaning and detail can be found anywhere. Another peril is that wishful thinking can become 'real', as the free-for-all of the web makes it possible.

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One example is on IMDB. The site is essentially a wiki for entertainers of various types, showcasing their careers and history, and is also open to be edited by anyone in the online community. Moderators do check details and react to any mistaken information appearing, however, so some information appears and then disappears rather quickly.

The cached page of Charles Martinet's profile (the voice of Mario and a range of Nintendo characters) is a case in point, dated 8th November. The current page's 'filmography' stops at a sensible point, 2017 3DS title Mario Sports Superstars, but there've been recent removals, as the cached page also has the following entries.

  • Super Mario Maker Deluxe (2017)
  • Super Mario Sunshine HD (2017)
  • Super Mario Galaxy 3 (post-production, 2016)
  • Untitled Mario Golf Game for Wii U (pre-production)

A bucketload of salt is required, for the very reason that the information appeared and was then pulled very quickly. Obvious red flags include the Mario Golf game for Wii U (we doubt Wii U will see any major first-party releases next year beyond The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and the clear wish-fulfilment at work.

All three Super Mario games are possible on some level, but that doesn't mean they'll all happen. Whispers from those with reputable sources do indeed point to an all-new 3D Mario game, and footage (real or conceptual) was prominent in the Switch unveiling. The list above, however, reads a little too much like a fan's wishlist.

January will bring a substantial Switch reveal and details on early games. That point can't come soon enough!

With thanks to GCUnit and masterpad for the spot.

[source cc.bingj.com]