Ratalaika Games Teases "Surprise" For Switch In Upcoming Nintendo Direct-Style Presentation

My eyes were drawn to "Nintendo Direct" in the title, but was then disappointed to read the headline properly... It has been a stupidly long time since the last proper Direct; close to 180 days worth if I am not mistaken.

@MS7000 My guess is that Nintendo are waiting to see if certain (unknown)games can be ready in time for a 2020 release before the Direct hits.

@nmanifold Possibly, but it is just weird that Nintendo have been so quiet lately. Wouldn't surprise me if Covid-19 is a factor influencing this as well at this point with possible delays to games due to staff being infected. If that is the case, that would be understandable, but otherwise I am not sure what is with the radio silence.

Nintendo is refusing to do a Direct to reveal anything new so game developers are taking it upon themselves to reveal their upcoming games for Switch

TIL, Nintendo Life can’t count to 59.

At least someone is doing a Direct! Even media outlets in the UK are printing stories suggesting Nintendo are being very complacent. The way for Nintendo to fend off the new consoles is simple - plenty of quality games and keep advertising like there is no tomorrow.
What are Nintendo doing? Animal Crossing it appears and bugger all else.
It’s a strange strategy from Nintendo. It seems like they are just ignoring the new consoles all together - I get that they don’t feel the new consoles will affect them much as Switch is a different proposition but if they don’t deliver directs and create excitement for new games they are going to find, once again that their complacency could cost them - an ungraded `switch has to come at some stage but if they put people off now they will struggle to get that support back from fans and third parties.
Risky strategy Nintendo.

I've bought a bunch of games by Ratalaika and had fun with almost all of them. Considering what is promised, they deliver it. Let's see what comes up

Yeah, yeah, I know it's not a proper direct. I know that

@MS7000 Japan hasn't really been infected by COVD-19, so don't think that's the reason. Chinese production has been severely hit but that doesn't effect actual game development (only physical Switch Units). It may effect Switch Cart production but Chinese factories are now coming back to work (I deal with them in my job) so I doubt it really would have. And we're talking about future game cart production here, not current.

@MS7000 But we had an Indie Direct on the 10th December, a Pokemon Direct on the 9th January & then more recently Smash & AC directs... what more can you possibly want?! Be patient... It's only another 3 & a bit months to e3 anyway.
Oh glob, I can't take it anymore, give me Ninty Direct now! I want it 'directly' into my veins via an IV drip!

@nmanifold It is more a possibility than a definite for sure. But my idea regarding gamedev was that some of the games they were planning on showing might not of necessarily been first-party games that are developed by Nintendo's R&D, but other games developed by other studios. I have no proof for this, it is just speculation on my part.

@sikthvash Surprise! Not everyone likes Animal Crossing, Pokemon, or Smash (me personally, I could not care less for Pokemon and Animal Crossing doesn't really grab me). I don't personally have a problem with single-game focused directs, but we know nothing beyond Animal Crossing and that is my gripe. 2020 is looking barren.

Yes, we are less than 100 days away from E3; we are close to double that amount of time since the last general Direct in Sept 2019. Nintendo's silence is frustrating.

First Yacht Club and now this?
"This is getting out of hand! Now there are two of them!"

"Gee Ratalaika, how come you get to release TWO THOUSAND games on Switch eShop?"

Still lining up with my theory of Nintendo dropping to only 1-2 Directs a year (outside of game specific Directs, Nindie Directs, and the E3 one). People can deny it all they want but Nintendo clearly aren’t planning to drop Directs as frequently as they used to. Heck, they might even wean off them entirely within the next couple years. They don’t need Directs to drop news.

@MS7000 I'm not entirely sure how the directs are made, but I'm pretty certain they'd have them prepared weeks in advance. And if game delays were to occur because of the virus, then the developers
would have announced that they were (assuming the dates were announced already)

I'm guesssing it will be a very average game with pixel art and retailing for about 4.99

Don't really like most of their games but they still release games for the Vita. Maximum respect 👍