Zen Studios showed solid support for the Wii U eShop with games like Zen Pinball 2, and will be opening its account on the Nintendo Switch this week with Infinite Minigolf. Due out on 25th July, some have been worried by its change to 'TBD' in the European eShop; the developer has stated in a Reddit AMA that it is "looking into this. Not sure what is going on." It is still listed for 25th July in North America, so it may just be a temporary listing error on the European eShop.
In any case the AMA makes for interesting reading. The developer outlines key features around the game, including some of the filters that'll help players find courses to play; as previously announced there'll be cross-platform sharing of user-created courses.
Much of the AMA was taken up by Switch owners quizzing the studio about support for the system, in particular with its pinball platforms. The company didn't announce any games but was positive, with the following exchange summing it up.
GamingYeti: Traditional question - any unannounced games for the Switch in production?
ZenStudios-Mel: YES!
GamingYeti: Hope you say something soon - I am a fan of pretty much all your games. Castlestorm.
johnazoidberg: Here's a hint: Every time they've been asked about pinball, they say they haven't "announced" any pinball games for Switch, not that they're "not planning" one!
ZenStudios-Mel: HINT!
When asked about developing for the Switch the studio was positive, once again.
With the Switch Nintendo has taken a big step ahead in the quality and accessibility of their development tools, and the system has really decent specs, so I would say it was never easier to develop for a Nintendo platform.
In any case we'll soon see how Infinite Minigolf shapes up on the Nintendo Switch, with more evidently to come from Zen Studios.
[source reddit.com]
Comments 23
All I really need from them is Zen Pinball 3 and I will be a happy camper!
I also really hope they implement hd rumble to their pinball to further immerse us!
Oh and if you actually read the whole thing Zen talks about wanting to do exclusive Nintendo tables! I wanted this for years! Really hope Nintendo allows this!
They did make the best pinball games I've heard.
Would be great if you could turn the switch sideways to have a long view of the table.
@rhaydeo I wonder if they could somehow make that work? After all there is a controller down there but that would be awkward to hold.
@Spoony_Tech might be awkward to hold but would work if you just put the thing down and use unattached controller
That view would also be good for shmups.
Zen Studios weren't exactly falling over themselves with praise for the Switch, calling it "decent" in terms of specs. For them, a small studio saying that, you can only imagine what big 3rd parties think.
They're a good indie developer, mind you, I have several of their pinball tables and Castlestorm on Wii U.
Castlestorm on the Wii U was great. Played through most of it and the DLC...would love to see more!
It was listed for release today in Europe up until yesterday then it changed to TBD this morning so I don't hold out much hope of seeing it this week
@SLIGEACH_EIRE but the system IS only "decent" in the specs dept. Would've been weird if they lied and said it has amazing or incredible specs. And yes, if you read through the AMA they were very positive about the system. Specs aren't everything, and just saying they are decent doesn't instantly mean Zen is criticizing the system.
@Spoony_Tech It would be just as awesome if Farsight Studios got to use the old Mario Mushroom World pinball table for The Pinball Arcade!
Am I gonna have to rebuy all my Wii U pinball tables again?? Please no....
@Spoony_Tech I must've mentioned that a few years ago- that would be awesome! A Zelda table, F-Zero, Metroid, Donkey King, Kirby etc etc! Fingers crossed!!
CastleStorm port on Switch would be great. That's a surprisingly high-quality game.
They can keep their golf game, can download loads on mobile for free
@joey302
Have to? No...
But if you want them portably on the cool little Switch... yes.
@JaxonH yea true & it seems like that's the way it will go down....very rare does a 3rd party offer that kind of thing except Nintendo. Perhaps I compared it too much to the VC service. But knowing we're able to cross buy tables on PS4,PS3 & Vita built up a sense of some expectation I suppose. Oh well will see.
@DavidH I noticed that. Hopefully it is just a day delay as Zen themselves announced that it was coming out on the 25th and not the 24th as the eshop listed it as having.
I know we're probably trying to get away from having too many plastic accessories lying around, but who else would buy a pinball joycon that doubles as a play-stand to hold the Switch at an angle and position that resembles an actual table, and has buttons on the sides and even a little plunger at the front. Overkill maybe, but fun if you've got Zen and/or Pinball Arcade.
EDIT: Seems the same thing's been done for iPads before...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duo-Pinball-Controller-for-iPad/dp/B008M0NDRM
Zen Pinball 2 is one of my favourite games for Vita. It is perfect for quick play sessions on a handheld. The Switch's bigger and prettier screen would be absolutely perfect for it.
The two games I have played to death on other formats but would happily buy again on Switch are ZP2 and Pacman Championship Edition DX. The Switch would be the definitive home for these two games.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I dunno man, as mentioned above the rest of the interview was way more positive, but also "decent" is actually the best compliment for specs I've ever heard any dev say about any Nintendo console.
I'd love Zen pinball on Switch. But i refuse to rebuy all the tables I own on PSN
Would be nice if they released Star Wars Pinball and Pinball FX, possibly with some sorta package of all tables at a discount since we might have already bought them all on WiiU (or other systems before)
"the system has really decent specs" anyway, while i havent played any of their Zen pinball games, Castlestorm was pretty cool.
Worth spending 50 gold coins from mynintendo, on Zenpinball for the 3DS?
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