I had considered buying one, but decided against it. The reason being is that, with my bedroom set up the way it currently is, there'd be nowhere to put it. Plus, if it sat on my TV stand, it would basically be seeing mattress, as my bed frame is rather tall (due to it having drawers for storage), and the mattress is pretty tall/thick as well; plus, the foot of my bed is only about a foot and a half (a little less than half a meter for the people who use the metric system; sorry that the United States never adopted it) away from my TV stand.
I'm one of those people who bought one. After my experiences with stick drift for the Joy-Cons on the original Switch a year into buying the system (and I bought it on launch day), I've almost only ever played with a Pro Controller since then. It is just now only beginning to show signs of stick drift itself, although using rubbing alcohol and a Q-Tip are temporary fixes. I would open up the controller and do a deeper cleaning of it, but one of the screws is stuck, and I dare not attempt to force it lest I strip the screw.
I figured I'd do the same with the Switch 2, once I got the system. Now that I have one, the next thing I did was go out and buy a Pro Controller at Best Buy. Yes, it cost me a pretty penny, but I don't want to have to deal with stick drift on the Switch 2's Joy-Cons.
But I might also get the GameCube controller for the Switch 2 as well, considering that playing GameCube games with the Pro Controller can be a little weird (especially The Wind Waker, which I am playing as I type this; just beat the Earth Temple, in fact). I'm so used to the Y-Button being up top and the X-Button being on the right for the A/B/X/Y buttons on a GameCube controller, that I mistakenly press the wrong button when playing with a Pro Controller. So getting the GameCube controller will fix that.
Frankly, I take all leaks and rumors regarding Nintendo with a grain of salt these days. Gotten my hopes up and then let down way too many times, such as a rumored crossover between Metroid and Star Fox, or this or that character being playable in Super Smash Bros. Better to keep my expectations low going forward.
@OrtadragoonX I would usually do a stealth archer build in Skyrim. I also tended to either one-shot enemies or take a significant chunk of health off of them. But this time, I wanted to do something different, and max out all of my skill trees.
I think I got a bit dizzy at one point, but I haven’t played the game enough to really know for certain if it’s going to be an issue for me. I mean, the last game I got really sick from playing was the original Spyro trilogy (not the Reignited version) on my PS3; because I got motion sickness so bad from those games, it took me FOREVER to beat them. The Reignited Trilogy didn’t give me the same problem, so I was able to breeze through the games.
@OrtadragoonX Well, to each their own, of course. I mean, I've sunken hundreds of hours into Skyrim across multiple consoles, but I will always start new save files anyway to try out new gameplay styles. Currently trying to do what I call a God Run, where I max out every skill tree, before even progressing with the main questline.
But I haven't gotten very far in Oblivion, so I would like to try and get back into it. It'd also be nice if they could do something similar with Morrowind and especially Arena and Daggerfall, the latter two being games that could DEFINITELY use an overhaul, both in graphics and gameplay.
From what I have heard, the gameplay engine is still the same as the original version, Gamebryo. The remastered version was basically just given a prettier coat of paint using Unreal Engine 5. Ergo, the Oblivion Remaster runs on two game engines: one for the gameplay, the other for the graphics.
So you're still getting all the jank and gameplay bugs from the original version, but with 4K resolution, 60 frames per second, ray tracing, and all the bells and whistles of modern game graphics. If you've never played the original version of Oblivion, it will feel like a bad game to you, but if you have played and liked the original Oblivion, then you'll feel right at home.
Other than doing my dailies and taking care of the latest event in Genshin Impact, definitely Donkey Kong Bananza. I played a bit of it last night, but I don't think I got very far.
I actually managed to order one (specifically the Mario Kart World bundle) through Target a few days ago; was lucky enough that they had some in stock. Finally picked it up at work today, as they allow personal packages to be delivered to our workplace.
Sadly haven't played it yet, as Mario Kart World took FOREVER to download, and by the time it was ready to play, the Joy-Cons needed to be charged. So no game time for me yet.
But it's okay; I plan on getting a Pro Controller, plus Donkey Kong Bananza and Cyberpunk 2077 (and maybe any other games that catch my fancy) after work tomorrow.
Well, I guess everyone can disregard my previous comment. As of today, I finally have a Switch 2. So once this bundle drops, I am definitely buying it!
@Yoshi3 Well, if Nintendo allows me to publish the Legend of Zelda webnovel that I am trying to write, I plan on it becoming a light novel, a manga, and finally an anime someday. In fact, I already have the perfect intro theme for it: “Power of the Triforce” by Dragonforce!
Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the game tomorrow. I didn't preorder it, since I didn't have a Switch 2 at the time. But now that I finally have a Switch 2 (although it is currently sitting on my supervisor's desk at work, waiting to be picked up by me), I'll try to snag a copy at Best Buy or something when it finally launches.
Well, once I pick up my Switch 2 on Wednesday (it's supposed to be delivered to my workplace tomorrow morning, but I am still on a five-day weekend tomorrow, with my first day back to work being Wednesday), I'll be sure to update it once I get home and get it set up!
Once my Switch 2 arrives (managed to snag one via Target's website a couple days ago), this is going to be one of the first games I am going to get for it. While I kind of like the Donkey Kong games, they were never my favorite nor my first choice (especially compared to Metroid, Star Fox, Zelda, and Super Smash Bros.); but this one looks fun! So I am definitely looking forward to it!
Well, provided that Target doesn't cancel my order, I should have my Switch 2 by this upcoming Wednesday. I've been checking their website multiple times a day for the past week for the off-chance that they had some in stock, and they finally managed to get some in.
But since the nearest location that had some in stock was a bit too far away for me to drive, I instead opted to have it shipped to work (since the expected arrival date is the day I go back to work, ending a five-day weekend, and I don't want it sitting on my front porch all day long and risk having it stolen).
So hopefully I'll be able to play a brand new Switch 2 very soon! And if I get an e-mail from Nintendo inviting me to order directly through them, I'll buy it and give it as a gift to my girlfriend (since she also loves video games, especially Nintendo).
Other than Genshin Impact, I'll probably get further in Xenoblade Chronicles X. I finally managed to clear Chapter 9 of the Story Missions and got the flight module for my Skells, and my characters are almost to Level 50, which is the required level to complete Chapter 11 (the final Story Mission in the original version of the game).
Speaking of mechas like Skells, I also might try out that new Mecha Break game that recently dropped. For a game that good-looking, I'm surprised that it's free to play; I saw the VTuber Matara Kan playing it last night, along with her former VShojo costars GEEGA and Zentreya (who are now both indie along with Matara, with Zentreya's last day in VShojo being yesterday), and she was saying that it was a free-to-play game. Personally, I hope it will come to the Switch 2 someday; speaking of which, I managed to snag one (specifically, the Mario Kart bundle) via Target just a little bit ago! It's set to arrive on Wednesday; I just hope Target doesn't cancel the order on me.
I've always been interested in playing Atelier Ryza. Having it as one bundle would be remarkably convenient. But I gotta share this meme that I just made here:
Kind of reminds me of the time when MatPat (from the Game Theorists YouTube channel) when he visited Pope Francis and gifted him a copy of Undertale for Steam. Given that a big part of Francis' message was about love and mercy during his reign as pontiff, and the only way to achieve the true ending for Undertale is to show mercy to your opponents, MatPat felt it appropriate to give him a copy of that game, because it kept with the theme of showing love and mercy. I wonder if Pope Francis ever got the opportunity to play it?
@Hero-of-WiiU For me, I wish they would do a version for smartwatches (like Apple Watch) and/or a browser version (like Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora). Since I work in a secure facility, I can't have my phone on me while I am on the clock, so I can't listen to the app. Having a smartwatch or browser version would fix that.
I don't have a Switch 2 yet, so I naturally don't have Mario Kart World yet, either. I had the opportunity to get a Switch 2 yesterday, however, at a Target roughly 40 minutes away from my house; it was the only Target in the Chicago area that had any in stock. But according to a store employee, it was only one, and it was likely a return. However, there was someone else also looking to get one, so I said he could take it.
Now there are no stores (Target, Best Buy, GameStop, etc.) in my area that are selling Switch 2s, and I refuse to shop at Walmart, not only due to how they treat their employees, but also because they are price gouging the Switch 2: at the very least, they are selling the base model for over $600, which is $100 more than the MSRP, and the Mario Kart World bundle for over $700; although I've seen some bundles as high as over $800.
Really hoping karma exists for the good deed that I did yesterday in letting that other guy buy the Switch 2 and that I am able to get my hands on one soon, either by happening across one in the stores or Nintendo finally sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them.
It might not happen, but the way I see it, all of these people who have been laid off across the video game and tech industry should band together, pool their resources, and make a new company to rival that of the big firms.
If they do, they should take care to not repeat the same mistakes that their former employers made when it comes to making business decisions. And they should absolutely NOT sell out to any of those big firms.
Of course, I think the only way this will be possible is if they were an employee-owned business, so the employees get a say in how the company is run, like a grocery store chain in my area (the northeast Illinois/southeast Wisconsin area) called Woodman's.
Still waiting for my GBA copy to ship. They said it was supposed to arrive sometime next month. Can't wait to play it! Shantae is my favorite indie game series, and I hope to see the franchise be expanded into other mediums, such as movies and TV cartoons. Heck, I'm even trying to write a script for an episode to pitch to WayForward and see if they'd be interested!
@MoldyPasta And believe me, I do get it: just like how Super Smash Bros. is basically a fighting game for kids and adults who are kids at heart, Mario Kart is the same way. But if there was to ever be a competitive scene for Mario Kart, they should definitely do what Super Smash Bros. does with item selection.
Even then, though, I would not say I am the best at racing games. Back in the day, I used to go for speed as my main stat, but nowadays, I go for handling. The more control I have over my racer, the less likely I am to bump into things, go off the track, etc.
Speaking of racing games, one game I would love to see come to the Nintendo Classics GameCube service on the Switch 2 is Freekstyle. While we still have that game on our GameCube, it'd be nice to see it come to the Switch 2.
@MoldyPasta Items are also an essential part of Super Smash Bros., but we still have the option to turn them off anyway. Likewise, Super Smash Bros. also has the ability to have Ω versions of stages, basically Final Destination-ing most of them, since Final Destination is the go-to stage for competitive tournaments.
Frankly, any competitive game should rely on your skill first and foremost instead of some item that gives you a leg up over the competition. Mario Kart should be no different. Maybe make the tracks more wild and complex, with multiple different routes and other hazards that could then allow you to rely on that skill instead of an item. That's just the way I see it.
@HammerKirby Admittedly, I don't have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart 7 kinda ruined the whole Mario Kart experience for me with how often I had to race to grind for coins to unlock parts, so I skipped Mario Kart 8 (both on Wii U and Switch).
I have considered getting Mario Kart World, since I do like the open world concept, but since I don't have a Switch 2 yet (none of the stores in my area have any in stock, and I still have yet to receive an e-mail from Nintendo themselves sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them), it's just one other game I have to hold off on purchasing. Besides, I'm waiting for Metroid Prime 4 and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment before I consider getting a Switch 2.
Well, as I have always said, if Mario Kart simply added the ability to turn specific items off like Super Smash Bros. does, we wouldn't have to worry about Blue Shells. As it is, there are plenty of racing games out there where you have to try to get ahead based on skill alone, no items needed.
And speaking of Super Smash Bros., both fan and official tournaments ban the use of items, forcing players to rely on skill instead of an item that can turn the tide of the battle. So why can't we have an option in Mario Kart where we have to try to win based on skill alone instead of using items to get ahead?
@RupeeClock It's kind of like how I view the whole debate surrounding AI and art. The way I see it, AI can be used to help conceptualize something, such an environment or a character, but developing that concept further and bringing it to life can and should be left up to humans.
For example, I created a couple of characters using Apple's new Playground app, which uses generative AI to produce images. One of them was an attempt to recreate Krystal from Star Fox. Mind you, this was all just for fun; I have no intention of commercializing the characters I created. But if I wanted to flesh these characters out further, I'd have to rely on a human to do so.
In fact, when I spoke about this very issue to my cousin, who is a professional artist, a week ago at a family reunion, she surprisingly agreed with me about how AI can be used as a tool to conceptualize things in artwork, just like how Adobe programs like Photoshop and Illustrator became a vital tool for artists (despite being a computer program instead of relying on traditional tools and methods; in fact, there was and still is a debate about whether art created in programs like those are considered "real art," given its digital nature).
Basically, AI should not entirely replace humans in the creative process, but instead supplement the tools that humans have at their disposal to be creative, just like Photoshop has been for the last several decades. People are, of course, free to disagree with this opinion. I always welcome debate on the subject.
Personally, I have always considered the Donkey Kong franchise to be part of the Mario universe (along with Wario's and Yoshi's franchises), so I would count Donkey Kong Bananza as a 3D Mario game, in a manner of speaking. Just like Luigi's Mansion, Super Princess Peach, and Princess Peach: Showtime!, it may not star Mario, but it takes place in the same shared universe, therefore it is technically a Mario game. But that is just my opinion, of course.
@Yalloo Yeah, again, it's not a bad game, but it had a lot of unrealized potential. And it's on PC now, so if you have a PC powerful enough to play it, or a Steam Deck, you can play it that way (assuming a Switch 2 version doesn't come out after all).
And I will admit, I was probably one of the few people who actually liked Metroid: Other M. Not only did I like the gameplay, it was the deepest look into Samus' backstory and personality yet. As a writer myself, that made me happy in so many ways, learning more about the main character of the franchise and what makes her tick. It was also the first time in the Metroid series that Samus had voiced dialogue; the only other time we heard her speak at that point was in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
@BLAZINOAH Eh, I dunno. I still say Jason Momoa, especially since he has more experience acting in high fantasy films, like Conan the Barbarian and Game of Thrones. Plus, when he glares, his eyes shoot daggers, which I think should be a vital trait for Ganondorf.
@Yalloo Having played Stellar Blade myself, there are also some RPG elements to it (namely unlocking new abilities and finding and upgrading equipment that can give you stat boosts). But the core gameplay is predominantly hack & slash, with the main character, EVE, defeating Naytibas with her sword; although, she can get an upgrade to the drone that follows her and use it as a gun or a rocket launcher, and she can even acquire a fishing pole and go fishing in certain bodies of water.
I mean, it's not a terrible game, but it is generic. The gameplay is mostly solid, the post-apocalyptic setting and atmosphere is interesting, the graphics are beautiful, the music is phenomenal (and was a contender for the Best Score and Music category at The Game Awards last December, but lost to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth), and there's a wealth of outfits and accessories to find and wear, a main draw for the game (although some of them can be a bit revealing).
But the story lacks depth and borrows many tropes from other sci-fi stories, such as a rogue AI that tried to destroy humanity (which has been done to death), an Earth overrun by monsters, with the last remnants of humanity gathering in a sanctuary city, and a botched invasion at the beginning of the game in a failed attempt to cleanse the planet of the monsters (think the Battle of Klendathu in Starship Troopers).
Plus, the characters are dull, with very little personality. Think about how Samus Aran was criticized in Metroid: Other M for showing a relative lack of emotion (minus the part where Adam Malkovich sacrificed himself, or when she saw a resurrected Ridley). EVE from Stellar Blade makes Samus Aran from Metroid: Other M look emotional in comparison. And Adam (EVE's main partner in the game) is equally dull. Lily is a bit better, being more chipper and excitable, but beyond that, she's not THE main character of the game like EVE is.
As it is, the most interesting characters in the game are an android singer named Enya that you have to help rebuild (as well as Su, the bartender who found her, whom Enya falls in love with), as well as a small robot named D1G-g2r (pronounced "Digger") that gained sentience and pondered the meaning of its own existence.
But that being said, the world, story, and characters have potential; it just wasn't fully realized in this game. Fortunately, a sequel is already in the works, set to release in 2027, and is said to address the lack of story from the first game. Personally, I hope they ask more existential questions, such as what it means to be human, and the implications of evolution versus technological advancement. If they can do that, plus give the main characters' personalities more depth, we could have a real winner on our hands.
So yeah, I hope it and the sequel come to the Switch 2. But if you can't wait that long, the game has recently been released on PC, over a year after being a PS5 exclusive. So if you have a decent laptop that can run games like Stellar Blade, definitely check it out if you can, if only to experience the world and especially the music.
Nice. One of the rare occasions when I will not be working that weekend.
I don't know which team I would pick, though. It all depends on what I am traveling for and where to. If I am traveling to another country, I really have no choice but to travel by air, since ocean liners have basically been rendered obsolete due to the advent of long-distance airplanes.
If it is within my home country, provided that there are railways near where I want to go, I'll take a train. Then again, I live in the United States, and our passenger railway system is nowhere near as robust as a country like Japan.
@Yalloo From what I have heard, it’s more like Nier: Automata, both in storyline and gameplay. Granted, I never played Nier: Automata myself, but when I was explaining the premise of Stellar Blade (a post-apocalyptic setting where human-like androids called Andro-Eidos are trying to liberate the Earth from monstrous creatures called Naytibas, and you find yourself in the last bastion of humanity and help to restore it) to him, he said it sounded like Nier: Automata. In fact, the two games even did crossover DLC where you could purchase 2B’s outfit for EVE and a Pod 042 skin for the drone that follows her around.
Hopefully it will be. I have it for the PS5, and it would be really neat to take it on the go and not have to use PlayStation Remote Play (which requires a stable Internet connection). Plus, the game was made in Unreal Engine 4, which the original Switch could run. With the Switch 2 being more powerful than a PS4, and can run PS5 games like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, it should have very few problems running this game. Here’s hoping we’ll get some Nintendo-specific outfits, such as Samus’ Zero Suit.
I don't even have a Switch 2 yet, so I don't think there's any way for me to use the app to begin with, not even on the original versions for the first-generation Switch.
I don’t know who will play Link or Zelda, but Ganondorf HAS to be played by Jason Momoa. He’s about the right age for the character, tall, muscular, has a fierce gaze, and can draw upon his experience playing Conan the Barbarian and Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones when it comes to being intimidating and when it comes to the combat scenes. Based on those traits, he would make a perfect Ganondorf!
I feel their pain. Back in 2016, I started a new save file on Pokémon FireRed, completely forgetting that my old save file had Mew on it; Mew was only available through a special event at Toys "R" Us back in 2006. So, it was over a decade's worth of save data, gone in an instant. Why, oh why did they program the game to have only one save file at a time, even when there are two slots on the save file screen? Even the original Legend of Zelda (arguably a more primitive game on a more primitive console) could have three save files at a time!
Yeesh, it's probably a good thing that I didn't go out of my way to get a Switch 2 early on; I still don't have one yet. Granted, lithium-ion batteries swelling is practically inevitable, but you would think that would happen after a certain period of time. As it is, it took over a decade for the battery in my old MacBook Pro to swell. Hopefully the batteries swelling in these Switch 2s is just the result of a defect or something. And hopefully Nintendo can get it fixed at the source before they roll out the next batch of consoles.
Well, I’m going to be on the road for a family reunion for most of the weekend, so I will be playing Xenoblade Chronicles X on my Switch, as well as playing Stellar Blade on my PS5 via the PlayStation Remote Play feature (I’ll also be doing my dailies in Genshin Impact the same way). What’s also nice is that I finally bought a headrest mount for my Switch and iPhone to put into my mother’s car, so I can play those games with a regular controller, instead of fighting with touchscreen controls or tiny little Joy-Cons.
@dskatter My employer is also quite generous with PTO (more so with vacation time than sick time, oddly enough), but I still prefer to use it only when I really need to. For example, I had to take a weeklong vacation last year to take care of my mother as she was recovering from heart surgery. I also had four weddings to attend as well, all of which required me to put in PTO requests. And tomorrow, I have a family function to go to, meaning I had to put in another PTO request for that as well.
And again, it's not like I NEED a Switch 2 right now. I'm still fine with my Switch, OLED Switch, and Switch Lite. As it is, the only game really worth getting for the Switch 2 right now is Mario Kart World, and I am not necessarily a big fan of the Mario Kart series to begin with. Mario Kart 7 kind of ruined the experience for me with all the grinding I had to do to get the coins necessary to unlock all of the parts for the karts. Besides, F-Zero was more my jam than Mario Kart ever was, especially since it built a world ripe for expansion and exploration.
Ergo, unless I get that invite from Nintendo beforehand, I might just wait until Metroid Prime 4 comes out, like I said earlier. Time will tell.
@dskatter See, I've been busy with work (and work for me starts at 6:00 in the morning and ends at 4:30 in the late afternoon), so I didn't have the time to go on launch day. Plus, since it was a work night for me, there was no way I was going to go to the midnight release; and my personal work ethic doesn't allow me to take time off of work just so I can buy a video game console. So unless I get an invite from Nintendo at some point, it's going to be a while until I can get my hands on a Switch 2 from a retailer.
@StewdaMegaManNerd Yeah, it was just recently reported; legit the other day. But trying to order directly from them, it still says that it's invite only. So when they decide to open it up to everyone is anyone's guess.
@Michael0916 Apple was more willing to pay through the nose for semiconductors during the chip shortage than most other companies, so it's no surprise that they were able to get their hands on computer chips for their phones. But I remember how difficult it was for people to get their hands on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S for a while due to these supply chain issues; the only people who seemed to have any to sell were the scalpers. Even Nintendo was affected to a degree (only manufacturing 24 million Switches instead of the projected 30 million), but since there were already plenty of Switches out in the wild and readily available, they were able to weather the storm a lot better than their competitors.
@Dev-N Well, considering that Nintendo likely won't have to deal with the same production issues that plagued Sony and Microsoft with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, respectively, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nintendo should theoretically be able to manufacture more without many problems. The real question is how the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States are going to affect the supply chain, especially when it comes to importing Switch 2s to the country.
Well, I am glad for those who managed to get their hands on one here in the United States. I still have yet to get one. I registered my interest with Nintendo a while ago, and they sent me an e-mail a couple weeks ago that I was in the queue to receive an invitation, but I have yet to receive any further e-mail to order directly from them.
Furthermore, I recently read that Nintendo has stopped allowing people to register interest to buy directly from them and are only providing links to retailers like GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, none of which currently have any in stock. I don't know if that also includes sending out more e-mails letting people order directly from them; I would certainly hope that's not the case, but it doesn't look good.
Besides, the only major first-party game out for it right now that is entirely brand new is Mario Kart World. I am going to sound like a freak for this, but I am not really a big fan of the Mario Kart series, so I am not exactly chomping at the bit to get one. I might wait until Metroid Prime 4, the game that I REALLY want, comes out, assuming I don't get an invite from Nintendo before then.
As tempting as it is, I'll have to pass on this. I'm trying to significantly cut back on my carb and sugar intake under the assumption that I might be diabetic. When I was in the ER a few weeks ago, my bloodwork showed that my blood glucose level was 101; I hadn't eaten in several hours, so for it to be that high really worried me.
So I've been trying to watch what I eat since then, cutting out sweets almost entirely and doing fruits and vegetables. But as it turns out, the fruits and vegetables I have been eating (carrots, bananas, and apples) are also high in carbs. Diabetics can only have 10% of their daily caloric intake from carbohydrates, so I need to cut back even further. It's going to mainly be leafy greens like spinach, garlic, and watermelon for me going forward, as those are low in carbs.
I won't know anything more until August when I go see my doctor for my annual physical. Once I get bloodwork done again and they can see my A1C levels (which, for those who don't know, is a measure of your blood glucose level over time), I'll have a better idea of whether I have diabetes or not.
But for the time being, I am treating myself as if I am, if only so I can prevent it in the future if I am actually not. And if I am, I will gladly sign up for clinical trials for the CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy treatment in an attempt to reverse it, even if I have to go to another country to do so.
I don't want my life to be governed by this disease like it governs everyone on my father's side of the family, so anything I can do to prevent or reverse it, I am all for.
What I'd love to see is them remake the Swordquest games. Even if they don't do a contest this time around, I'd love for them to remake the game, making sure to integrate the story from the tie-in comic book, and finishing the story as originally intended (since the fourth game was never released). And with gaming technology being more advanced today compared to the early 1980s, they could have the entire story's plotline in one game instead of four. I think that is the one set of games from Atari that I think is the most deserving of a revisit.
Since this was originally a PS5 game, I have to wonder if other third-party PS5 games will eventually make their way to the Switch 2, such as Stellar Blade. That's one game I would love to take with me on the go without having to rely on PlayStation Remote Play.
Genshin Impact and Xenoblade Chronicles X, mainly. And I’ll be showing my girlfriend the PlayStation Remote Play feature on my iPhone, which allows me to play my PS5 while on the go. So I’ll demonstrate it by playing some Stellar Blade (which she is interested in playing after I showed her the opening cutscene for it a few weeks ago).
I mean, it won't be THAT big of a deal if I can't get my hands on one on or around launch day.
As it is, I'm currently working my way through Xenoblade Chronicles X on my Switch 1, and that will take me a while, especially since I am trying to grind for levels by completing Basic Missions, Affinity Missions, and such.
And if I get tired of playing that, I recently downloaded the PlayStation Remote Play app onto my iPhone 15 Pro, so I can play my PS5 games while on the go (as few as I have), as long as I have a stable Internet connection.
Ergo, I have options when it comes to entertainment for this road trip that I have coming up in less than two weeks. It doesn't necessarily have to be the shiny new console, as neat as it would be to get one. I can wait for a bit longer.
I wasn't able to preorder to begin with, and I am still waiting for an e-mail from Nintendo to get my hands on one. So I have no idea when I will even get my hands on a Switch 2. I hope it's soon, but I just don't know exactly when. But I do feel sorry for those who apparently got lucky, only to have the rug pulled out from under them at the last minute.
@Res462 Relationships are built on trust. Even business transactions are a form of relationship. It boils down to, "I trust that you will supply me with a good or service in exchange for a certain amount of money."
In cancelling preorders for the Switch 2 at the 11th hour, the retailer is indicating that they are untrustworthy in being able to provide adequate supply of the product. The result is that the customer who ordered from them will then be more likely to take their business elsewhere, meaning that the retailer the customer originally did business with will lose a sale, thus leading to them losing revenue and therefore profit. They may even go so far as to lose a customer for life.
That's what the article means by playing with fire: break your customers' trust to provide a good or service, and you lose their business, possibly for good, resulting in less money being made for your business.
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Re: Nintendo's Official Camera "Attach Rate" With Switch 2 Revealed For US
I had considered buying one, but decided against it. The reason being is that, with my bedroom set up the way it currently is, there'd be nowhere to put it. Plus, if it sat on my TV stand, it would basically be seeing mattress, as my bed frame is rather tall (due to it having drawers for storage), and the mattress is pretty tall/thick as well; plus, the foot of my bed is only about a foot and a half (a little less than half a meter for the people who use the metric system; sorry that the United States never adopted it) away from my TV stand.
Re: Around 1 In 3 Switch 2 Owners Bought New Pro Controller Despite High Price Point (US)
I'm one of those people who bought one. After my experiences with stick drift for the Joy-Cons on the original Switch a year into buying the system (and I bought it on launch day), I've almost only ever played with a Pro Controller since then. It is just now only beginning to show signs of stick drift itself, although using rubbing alcohol and a Q-Tip are temporary fixes. I would open up the controller and do a deeper cleaning of it, but one of the screws is stuck, and I dare not attempt to force it lest I strip the screw.
I figured I'd do the same with the Switch 2, once I got the system. Now that I have one, the next thing I did was go out and buy a Pro Controller at Best Buy. Yes, it cost me a pretty penny, but I don't want to have to deal with stick drift on the Switch 2's Joy-Cons.
But I might also get the GameCube controller for the Switch 2 as well, considering that playing GameCube games with the Pro Controller can be a little weird (especially The Wind Waker, which I am playing as I type this; just beat the Earth Temple, in fact). I'm so used to the Y-Button being up top and the X-Button being on the right for the A/B/X/Y buttons on a GameCube controller, that I mistakenly press the wrong button when playing with a Pro Controller. So getting the GameCube controller will fix that.
Re: Prominent YouTuber Doubles Down On Belief That A Nintendo Direct Is Due This Month
Frankly, I take all leaks and rumors regarding Nintendo with a grain of salt these days. Gotten my hopes up and then let down way too many times, such as a rumored crossover between Metroid and Star Fox, or this or that character being playable in Super Smash Bros. Better to keep my expectations low going forward.
Re: Switch Port Specialist Virtuos Confirms 270 Layoffs
@OrtadragoonX I would usually do a stealth archer build in Skyrim. I also tended to either one-shot enemies or take a significant chunk of health off of them. But this time, I wanted to do something different, and max out all of my skill trees.
Re: Poll: Has Donkey Kong Bananza Made You Feel Ill?
I think I got a bit dizzy at one point, but I haven’t played the game enough to really know for certain if it’s going to be an issue for me. I mean, the last game I got really sick from playing was the original Spyro trilogy (not the Reignited version) on my PS3; because I got motion sickness so bad from those games, it took me FOREVER to beat them. The Reignited Trilogy didn’t give me the same problem, so I was able to breeze through the games.
Re: Switch Port Specialist Virtuos Confirms 270 Layoffs
@OrtadragoonX Well, to each their own, of course. I mean, I've sunken hundreds of hours into Skyrim across multiple consoles, but I will always start new save files anyway to try out new gameplay styles. Currently trying to do what I call a God Run, where I max out every skill tree, before even progressing with the main questline.
But I haven't gotten very far in Oblivion, so I would like to try and get back into it. It'd also be nice if they could do something similar with Morrowind and especially Arena and Daggerfall, the latter two being games that could DEFINITELY use an overhaul, both in graphics and gameplay.
Re: Switch Port Specialist Virtuos Confirms 270 Layoffs
@Overzeal @OrtadragoonX @MattmanForever
From what I have heard, the gameplay engine is still the same as the original version, Gamebryo. The remastered version was basically just given a prettier coat of paint using Unreal Engine 5. Ergo, the Oblivion Remaster runs on two game engines: one for the gameplay, the other for the graphics.
So you're still getting all the jank and gameplay bugs from the original version, but with 4K resolution, 60 frames per second, ray tracing, and all the bells and whistles of modern game graphics. If you've never played the original version of Oblivion, it will feel like a bad game to you, but if you have played and liked the original Oblivion, then you'll feel right at home.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (19th July)
Other than doing my dailies and taking care of the latest event in Genshin Impact, definitely Donkey Kong Bananza. I played a bit of it last night, but I don't think I got very far.
Re: Nintendo's Switch Online Playtest Program Returning, Includes Switch 2 Support
Well, now that I've got a Switch 2, I'll try to get in on this! Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky few selected!
Re: Switch 2 In-Store Restocks Arrive Alongside Donkey Kong Bananza (US)
I actually managed to order one (specifically the Mario Kart World bundle) through Target a few days ago; was lucky enough that they had some in stock. Finally picked it up at work today, as they allow personal packages to be delivered to our workplace.
Sadly haven't played it yet, as Mario Kart World took FOREVER to download, and by the time it was ready to play, the Joy-Cons needed to be charged. So no game time for me yet.
But it's okay; I plan on getting a Pro Controller, plus Donkey Kong Bananza and Cyberpunk 2077 (and maybe any other games that catch my fancy) after work tomorrow.
Re: Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack Announced For Switch 2 And Switch
Well, I guess everyone can disregard my previous comment. As of today, I finally have a Switch 2. So once this bundle drops, I am definitely buying it!
Re: Nintendo Announces First Cast Members For The Legend Of Zelda Movie
@Yoshi3 Well, if Nintendo allows me to publish the Legend of Zelda webnovel that I am trying to write, I plan on it becoming a light novel, a manga, and finally an anime someday. In fact, I already have the perfect intro theme for it: “Power of the Triforce” by Dragonforce!
Re: The First Review For Donkey Kong Bananza Is In
Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the game tomorrow. I didn't preorder it, since I didn't have a Switch 2 at the time. But now that I finally have a Switch 2 (although it is currently sitting on my supervisor's desk at work, waiting to be picked up by me), I'll try to snag a copy at Best Buy or something when it finally launches.
Re: Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 20.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Well, once I pick up my Switch 2 on Wednesday (it's supposed to be delivered to my workplace tomorrow morning, but I am still on a five-day weekend tomorrow, with my first day back to work being Wednesday), I'll be sure to update it once I get home and get it set up!
Re: Uh-Oh! It Looks Like Donkey Kong Bananza Is Already Out In The Wild
Once my Switch 2 arrives (managed to snag one via Target's website a couple days ago), this is going to be one of the first games I am going to get for it. While I kind of like the Donkey Kong games, they were never my favorite nor my first choice (especially compared to Metroid, Star Fox, Zelda, and Super Smash Bros.); but this one looks fun! So I am definitely looking forward to it!
Re: Feature: 33 Games With 'Secret' Performance Bumps You Should Revisit On Switch 2
Well, provided that Target doesn't cancel my order, I should have my Switch 2 by this upcoming Wednesday. I've been checking their website multiple times a day for the past week for the off-chance that they had some in stock, and they finally managed to get some in.
But since the nearest location that had some in stock was a bit too far away for me to drive, I instead opted to have it shipped to work (since the expected arrival date is the day I go back to work, ending a five-day weekend, and I don't want it sitting on my front porch all day long and risk having it stolen).
So hopefully I'll be able to play a brand new Switch 2 very soon! And if I get an e-mail from Nintendo inviting me to order directly through them, I'll buy it and give it as a gift to my girlfriend (since she also loves video games, especially Nintendo).
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (12th July)
Other than Genshin Impact, I'll probably get further in Xenoblade Chronicles X. I finally managed to clear Chapter 9 of the Story Missions and got the flight module for my Skells, and my characters are almost to Level 50, which is the required level to complete Chapter 11 (the final Story Mission in the original version of the game).
Speaking of mechas like Skells, I also might try out that new Mecha Break game that recently dropped. For a game that good-looking, I'm surprised that it's free to play; I saw the VTuber Matara Kan playing it last night, along with her former VShojo costars GEEGA and Zentreya (who are now both indie along with Matara, with Zentreya's last day in VShojo being yesterday), and she was saying that it was a free-to-play game. Personally, I hope it will come to the Switch 2 someday; speaking of which, I managed to snag one (specifically, the Mario Kart bundle) via Target just a little bit ago! It's set to arrive on Wednesday; I just hope Target doesn't cancel the order on me.
Re: Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack Announced For Switch 2 And Switch
I've always been interested in playing Atelier Ryza. Having it as one bundle would be remarkably convenient. But I gotta share this meme that I just made here:
Re: Random: Yes, Pope Leo Really Did Sign A Popplio Pokémon Card
Kind of reminds me of the time when MatPat (from the Game Theorists YouTube channel) when he visited Pope Francis and gifted him a copy of Undertale for Steam. Given that a big part of Francis' message was about love and mercy during his reign as pontiff, and the only way to achieve the true ending for Undertale is to show mercy to your opponents, MatPat felt it appropriate to give him a copy of that game, because it kept with the theme of showing love and mercy. I wonder if Pope Francis ever got the opportunity to play it?
Re: 'Nintendo Music' Adds Another Legendary Zelda Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
@Hero-of-WiiU For me, I wish they would do a version for smartwatches (like Apple Watch) and/or a browser version (like Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora). Since I work in a secure facility, I can't have my phone on me while I am on the clock, so I can't listen to the app. Having a smartwatch or browser version would fix that.
Re: Poll: How Many Hours Have You Spent In Mario Kart World So Far?
I don't have a Switch 2 yet, so I naturally don't have Mario Kart World yet, either. I had the opportunity to get a Switch 2 yesterday, however, at a Target roughly 40 minutes away from my house; it was the only Target in the Chicago area that had any in stock. But according to a store employee, it was only one, and it was likely a return. However, there was someone else also looking to get one, so I said he could take it.
Now there are no stores (Target, Best Buy, GameStop, etc.) in my area that are selling Switch 2s, and I refuse to shop at Walmart, not only due to how they treat their employees, but also because they are price gouging the Switch 2: at the very least, they are selling the base model for over $600, which is $100 more than the MSRP, and the Mario Kart World bundle for over $700; although I've seen some bundles as high as over $800.
Really hoping karma exists for the good deed that I did yesterday in letting that other guy buy the Switch 2 and that I am able to get my hands on one soon, either by happening across one in the stores or Nintendo finally sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them.
Re: Microsoft Announces Second Wave Of Layoffs, Over 9,000 Jobs Affected
It might not happen, but the way I see it, all of these people who have been laid off across the video game and tech industry should band together, pool their resources, and make a new company to rival that of the big firms.
If they do, they should take care to not repeat the same mistakes that their former employers made when it comes to making business decisions. And they should absolutely NOT sell out to any of those big firms.
Of course, I think the only way this will be possible is if they were an employee-owned business, so the employees get a say in how the company is run, like a grocery store chain in my area (the northeast Illinois/southeast Wisconsin area) called Woodman's.
Re: Video: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Extended Gameplay Trailer Revealed
Still waiting for my GBA copy to ship. They said it was supposed to arrive sometime next month. Can't wait to play it! Shantae is my favorite indie game series, and I hope to see the franchise be expanded into other mediums, such as movies and TV cartoons. Heck, I'm even trying to write a script for an episode to pitch to WayForward and see if they'd be interested!
Re: Sega Knows You Hate Mario Kart's Blue Shells
@MoldyPasta And believe me, I do get it: just like how Super Smash Bros. is basically a fighting game for kids and adults who are kids at heart, Mario Kart is the same way. But if there was to ever be a competitive scene for Mario Kart, they should definitely do what Super Smash Bros. does with item selection.
Even then, though, I would not say I am the best at racing games. Back in the day, I used to go for speed as my main stat, but nowadays, I go for handling. The more control I have over my racer, the less likely I am to bump into things, go off the track, etc.
Speaking of racing games, one game I would love to see come to the Nintendo Classics GameCube service on the Switch 2 is Freekstyle. While we still have that game on our GameCube, it'd be nice to see it come to the Switch 2.
Re: Sega Knows You Hate Mario Kart's Blue Shells
@MoldyPasta Items are also an essential part of Super Smash Bros., but we still have the option to turn them off anyway. Likewise, Super Smash Bros. also has the ability to have Ω versions of stages, basically Final Destination-ing most of them, since Final Destination is the go-to stage for competitive tournaments.
Frankly, any competitive game should rely on your skill first and foremost instead of some item that gives you a leg up over the competition. Mario Kart should be no different. Maybe make the tracks more wild and complex, with multiple different routes and other hazards that could then allow you to rely on that skill instead of an item. That's just the way I see it.
Re: Sega Knows You Hate Mario Kart's Blue Shells
@HammerKirby Admittedly, I don't have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart 7 kinda ruined the whole Mario Kart experience for me with how often I had to race to grind for coins to unlock parts, so I skipped Mario Kart 8 (both on Wii U and Switch).
I have considered getting Mario Kart World, since I do like the open world concept, but since I don't have a Switch 2 yet (none of the stores in my area have any in stock, and I still have yet to receive an e-mail from Nintendo themselves sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them), it's just one other game I have to hold off on purchasing. Besides, I'm waiting for Metroid Prime 4 and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment before I consider getting a Switch 2.
Re: Sega Knows You Hate Mario Kart's Blue Shells
Well, as I have always said, if Mario Kart simply added the ability to turn specific items off like Super Smash Bros. does, we wouldn't have to worry about Blue Shells. As it is, there are plenty of racing games out there where you have to try to get ahead based on skill alone, no items needed.
And speaking of Super Smash Bros., both fan and official tournaments ban the use of items, forcing players to rely on skill instead of an item that can turn the tide of the battle. So why can't we have an option in Mario Kart where we have to try to win based on skill alone instead of using items to get ahead?
Re: Smash Bros. Director Sakurai Laments 'Unsustainable' AAA Game Dev, Discusses AI And Uncertainty
@RupeeClock It's kind of like how I view the whole debate surrounding AI and art. The way I see it, AI can be used to help conceptualize something, such an environment or a character, but developing that concept further and bringing it to life can and should be left up to humans.
For example, I created a couple of characters using Apple's new Playground app, which uses generative AI to produce images. One of them was an attempt to recreate Krystal from Star Fox. Mind you, this was all just for fun; I have no intention of commercializing the characters I created. But if I wanted to flesh these characters out further, I'd have to rely on a human to do so.
In fact, when I spoke about this very issue to my cousin, who is a professional artist, a week ago at a family reunion, she surprisingly agreed with me about how AI can be used as a tool to conceptualize things in artwork, just like how Adobe programs like Photoshop and Illustrator became a vital tool for artists (despite being a computer program instead of relying on traditional tools and methods; in fact, there was and still is a debate about whether art created in programs like those are considered "real art," given its digital nature).
Basically, AI should not entirely replace humans in the creative process, but instead supplement the tools that humans have at their disposal to be creative, just like Photoshop has been for the last several decades. People are, of course, free to disagree with this opinion. I always welcome debate on the subject.
Re: Former Nintendo Execs Fear We Might Be Waiting A While For A 3D Mario On Switch 2, Thanks To Donkey Kong
Personally, I have always considered the Donkey Kong franchise to be part of the Mario universe (along with Wario's and Yoshi's franchises), so I would count Donkey Kong Bananza as a 3D Mario game, in a manner of speaking. Just like Luigi's Mansion, Super Princess Peach, and Princess Peach: Showtime!, it may not star Mario, but it takes place in the same shared universe, therefore it is technically a Mario game. But that is just my opinion, of course.
Re: PS5 Hit 'Stellar Blade' Is Reportedly In Consideration For The Switch 2
@Yalloo Yeah, again, it's not a bad game, but it had a lot of unrealized potential. And it's on PC now, so if you have a PC powerful enough to play it, or a Steam Deck, you can play it that way (assuming a Switch 2 version doesn't come out after all).
And I will admit, I was probably one of the few people who actually liked Metroid: Other M. Not only did I like the gameplay, it was the deepest look into Samus' backstory and personality yet. As a writer myself, that made me happy in so many ways, learning more about the main character of the franchise and what makes her tick. It was also the first time in the Metroid series that Samus had voiced dialogue; the only other time we heard her speak at that point was in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Re: Rumour: The Search For The Zelda Movie's Link & Zelda Has Begun, Apparently Seeking Actors 16-23
@BLAZINOAH Eh, I dunno. I still say Jason Momoa, especially since he has more experience acting in high fantasy films, like Conan the Barbarian and Game of Thrones. Plus, when he glares, his eyes shoot daggers, which I think should be a vital trait for Ganondorf.
Re: PS5 Hit 'Stellar Blade' Is Reportedly In Consideration For The Switch 2
@Yalloo Having played Stellar Blade myself, there are also some RPG elements to it (namely unlocking new abilities and finding and upgrading equipment that can give you stat boosts). But the core gameplay is predominantly hack & slash, with the main character, EVE, defeating Naytibas with her sword; although, she can get an upgrade to the drone that follows her and use it as a gun or a rocket launcher, and she can even acquire a fishing pole and go fishing in certain bodies of water.
I mean, it's not a terrible game, but it is generic. The gameplay is mostly solid, the post-apocalyptic setting and atmosphere is interesting, the graphics are beautiful, the music is phenomenal (and was a contender for the Best Score and Music category at The Game Awards last December, but lost to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth), and there's a wealth of outfits and accessories to find and wear, a main draw for the game (although some of them can be a bit revealing).
But the story lacks depth and borrows many tropes from other sci-fi stories, such as a rogue AI that tried to destroy humanity (which has been done to death), an Earth overrun by monsters, with the last remnants of humanity gathering in a sanctuary city, and a botched invasion at the beginning of the game in a failed attempt to cleanse the planet of the monsters (think the Battle of Klendathu in Starship Troopers).
Plus, the characters are dull, with very little personality. Think about how Samus Aran was criticized in Metroid: Other M for showing a relative lack of emotion (minus the part where Adam Malkovich sacrificed himself, or when she saw a resurrected Ridley). EVE from Stellar Blade makes Samus Aran from Metroid: Other M look emotional in comparison. And Adam (EVE's main partner in the game) is equally dull. Lily is a bit better, being more chipper and excitable, but beyond that, she's not THE main character of the game like EVE is.
As it is, the most interesting characters in the game are an android singer named Enya that you have to help rebuild (as well as Su, the bartender who found her, whom Enya falls in love with), as well as a small robot named D1G-g2r (pronounced "Digger") that gained sentience and pondered the meaning of its own existence.
But that being said, the world, story, and characters have potential; it just wasn't fully realized in this game. Fortunately, a sequel is already in the works, set to release in 2027, and is said to address the lack of story from the first game. Personally, I hope they ask more existential questions, such as what it means to be human, and the implications of evolution versus technological advancement. If they can do that, plus give the main characters' personalities more depth, we could have a real winner on our hands.
So yeah, I hope it and the sequel come to the Switch 2. But if you can't wait that long, the game has recently been released on PC, over a year after being a PS5 exclusive. So if you have a decent laptop that can run games like Stellar Blade, definitely check it out if you can, if only to experience the world and especially the music.
Re: Splatoon 3's Summer Nights Event Returns Next Month With A New Splatfest & Free Items
Nice. One of the rare occasions when I will not be working that weekend.
I don't know which team I would pick, though. It all depends on what I am traveling for and where to. If I am traveling to another country, I really have no choice but to travel by air, since ocean liners have basically been rendered obsolete due to the advent of long-distance airplanes.
If it is within my home country, provided that there are railways near where I want to go, I'll take a train. Then again, I live in the United States, and our passenger railway system is nowhere near as robust as a country like Japan.
If it's a local commute, I'll drive.
Re: PS5 Hit 'Stellar Blade' Is Reportedly In Consideration For The Switch 2
@Yalloo From what I have heard, it’s more like Nier: Automata, both in storyline and gameplay. Granted, I never played Nier: Automata myself, but when I was explaining the premise of Stellar Blade (a post-apocalyptic setting where human-like androids called Andro-Eidos are trying to liberate the Earth from monstrous creatures called Naytibas, and you find yourself in the last bastion of humanity and help to restore it) to him, he said it sounded like Nier: Automata. In fact, the two games even did crossover DLC where you could purchase 2B’s outfit for EVE and a Pod 042 skin for the drone that follows her around.
Re: PS5 Hit 'Stellar Blade' Is Reportedly In Consideration For The Switch 2
Hopefully it will be. I have it for the PS5, and it would be really neat to take it on the go and not have to use PlayStation Remote Play (which requires a stable Internet connection). Plus, the game was made in Unreal Engine 4, which the original Switch could run. With the Switch 2 being more powerful than a PS4, and can run PS5 games like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, it should have very few problems running this game. Here’s hoping we’ll get some Nintendo-specific outfits, such as Samus’ Zero Suit.
Now we just need Genshin Impact on the Switch 2!
Re: Poll: So, Have You Used Zelda Notes Yet?
I don't even have a Switch 2 yet, so I don't think there's any way for me to use the app to begin with, not even on the original versions for the first-generation Switch.
Re: Rumour: The Search For The Zelda Movie's Link & Zelda Has Begun, Apparently Seeking Actors 16-23
I don’t know who will play Link or Zelda, but Ganondorf HAS to be played by Jason Momoa. He’s about the right age for the character, tall, muscular, has a fierce gaze, and can draw upon his experience playing Conan the Barbarian and Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones when it comes to being intimidating and when it comes to the combat scenes. Based on those traits, he would make a perfect Ganondorf!
Re: Pokémon Fan Loses "20 Years Worth Of Data" After Performing Switch 2 Transfer
I feel their pain. Back in 2016, I started a new save file on Pokémon FireRed, completely forgetting that my old save file had Mew on it; Mew was only available through a special event at Toys "R" Us back in 2006. So, it was over a decade's worth of save data, gone in an instant. Why, oh why did they program the game to have only one save file at a time, even when there are two slots on the save file screen? Even the original Legend of Zelda (arguably a more primitive game on a more primitive console) could have three save files at a time!
Re: Nintendo Supposedly Investigating Possible "Swollen Battery" Issue With Switch 2
Yeesh, it's probably a good thing that I didn't go out of my way to get a Switch 2 early on; I still don't have one yet. Granted, lithium-ion batteries swelling is practically inevitable, but you would think that would happen after a certain period of time. As it is, it took over a decade for the battery in my old MacBook Pro to swell. Hopefully the batteries swelling in these Switch 2s is just the result of a defect or something. And hopefully Nintendo can get it fixed at the source before they roll out the next batch of consoles.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th June)
Well, I’m going to be on the road for a family reunion for most of the weekend, so I will be playing Xenoblade Chronicles X on my Switch, as well as playing Stellar Blade on my PS5 via the PlayStation Remote Play feature (I’ll also be doing my dailies in Genshin Impact the same way). What’s also nice is that I finally bought a headrest mount for my Switch and iPhone to put into my mother’s car, so I can play those games with a regular controller, instead of fighting with touchscreen controls or tiny little Joy-Cons.
Re: Switch 2 Is Officially The "Fastest-Selling Nintendo Hardware" Ever In The US
@dskatter My employer is also quite generous with PTO (more so with vacation time than sick time, oddly enough), but I still prefer to use it only when I really need to. For example, I had to take a weeklong vacation last year to take care of my mother as she was recovering from heart surgery. I also had four weddings to attend as well, all of which required me to put in PTO requests. And tomorrow, I have a family function to go to, meaning I had to put in another PTO request for that as well.
And again, it's not like I NEED a Switch 2 right now. I'm still fine with my Switch, OLED Switch, and Switch Lite. As it is, the only game really worth getting for the Switch 2 right now is Mario Kart World, and I am not necessarily a big fan of the Mario Kart series to begin with. Mario Kart 7 kind of ruined the experience for me with all the grinding I had to do to get the coins necessary to unlock all of the parts for the karts. Besides, F-Zero was more my jam than Mario Kart ever was, especially since it built a world ripe for expansion and exploration.
Ergo, unless I get that invite from Nintendo beforehand, I might just wait until Metroid Prime 4 comes out, like I said earlier. Time will tell.
Re: Switch 2 Is Officially The "Fastest-Selling Nintendo Hardware" Ever In The US
@dskatter See, I've been busy with work (and work for me starts at 6:00 in the morning and ends at 4:30 in the late afternoon), so I didn't have the time to go on launch day. Plus, since it was a work night for me, there was no way I was going to go to the midnight release; and my personal work ethic doesn't allow me to take time off of work just so I can buy a video game console. So unless I get an invite from Nintendo at some point, it's going to be a while until I can get my hands on a Switch 2 from a retailer.
@StewdaMegaManNerd Yeah, it was just recently reported; legit the other day. But trying to order directly from them, it still says that it's invite only. So when they decide to open it up to everyone is anyone's guess.
@Michael0916 Apple was more willing to pay through the nose for semiconductors during the chip shortage than most other companies, so it's no surprise that they were able to get their hands on computer chips for their phones. But I remember how difficult it was for people to get their hands on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X/S for a while due to these supply chain issues; the only people who seemed to have any to sell were the scalpers. Even Nintendo was affected to a degree (only manufacturing 24 million Switches instead of the projected 30 million), but since there were already plenty of Switches out in the wild and readily available, they were able to weather the storm a lot better than their competitors.
Re: Switch 2 Is Officially The "Fastest-Selling Nintendo Hardware" Ever In The US
@Dev-N Well, considering that Nintendo likely won't have to deal with the same production issues that plagued Sony and Microsoft with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, respectively, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nintendo should theoretically be able to manufacture more without many problems. The real question is how the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States are going to affect the supply chain, especially when it comes to importing Switch 2s to the country.
Re: Switch 2 Is Officially The "Fastest-Selling Nintendo Hardware" Ever In The US
Well, I am glad for those who managed to get their hands on one here in the United States. I still have yet to get one. I registered my interest with Nintendo a while ago, and they sent me an e-mail a couple weeks ago that I was in the queue to receive an invitation, but I have yet to receive any further e-mail to order directly from them.
Furthermore, I recently read that Nintendo has stopped allowing people to register interest to buy directly from them and are only providing links to retailers like GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, none of which currently have any in stock. I don't know if that also includes sending out more e-mails letting people order directly from them; I would certainly hope that's not the case, but it doesn't look good.
Besides, the only major first-party game out for it right now that is entirely brand new is Mario Kart World. I am going to sound like a freak for this, but I am not really a big fan of the Mario Kart series, so I am not exactly chomping at the bit to get one. I might wait until Metroid Prime 4, the game that I REALLY want, comes out, assuming I don't get an invite from Nintendo before then.
Re: Hershey Teams Up With Pokémon For New Collectable Chocolates
As tempting as it is, I'll have to pass on this. I'm trying to significantly cut back on my carb and sugar intake under the assumption that I might be diabetic. When I was in the ER a few weeks ago, my bloodwork showed that my blood glucose level was 101; I hadn't eaten in several hours, so for it to be that high really worried me.
So I've been trying to watch what I eat since then, cutting out sweets almost entirely and doing fruits and vegetables. But as it turns out, the fruits and vegetables I have been eating (carrots, bananas, and apples) are also high in carbs. Diabetics can only have 10% of their daily caloric intake from carbohydrates, so I need to cut back even further. It's going to mainly be leafy greens like spinach, garlic, and watermelon for me going forward, as those are low in carbs.
I won't know anything more until August when I go see my doctor for my annual physical. Once I get bloodwork done again and they can see my A1C levels (which, for those who don't know, is a measure of your blood glucose level over time), I'll have a better idea of whether I have diabetes or not.
But for the time being, I am treating myself as if I am, if only so I can prevent it in the future if I am actually not. And if I am, I will gladly sign up for clinical trials for the CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy treatment in an attempt to reverse it, even if I have to go to another country to do so.
I don't want my life to be governed by this disease like it governs everyone on my father's side of the family, so anything I can do to prevent or reverse it, I am all for.
Re: Classic Atari 2600 Title 'Adventure' Is Being Revived As A Metroidvania
What I'd love to see is them remake the Swordquest games. Even if they don't do a contest this time around, I'd love for them to remake the game, making sure to integrate the story from the tie-in comic book, and finishing the story as originally intended (since the fourth game was never released). And with gaming technology being more advanced today compared to the early 1980s, they could have the entire story's plotline in one game instead of four. I think that is the one set of games from Atari that I think is the most deserving of a revisit.
Re: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Scores Switch 2 Release Window
Since this was originally a PS5 game, I have to wonder if other third-party PS5 games will eventually make their way to the Switch 2, such as Stellar Blade. That's one game I would love to take with me on the go without having to rely on PlayStation Remote Play.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (7th June)
Genshin Impact and Xenoblade Chronicles X, mainly. And I’ll be showing my girlfriend the PlayStation Remote Play feature on my iPhone, which allows me to play my PS5 while on the go. So I’ll demonstrate it by playing some Stellar Blade (which she is interested in playing after I showed her the opening cutscene for it a few weeks ago).
Re: Nintendo Prepping For All Switch 2 Eventualities With 'Out Of Stock' Signs
I mean, it won't be THAT big of a deal if I can't get my hands on one on or around launch day.
As it is, I'm currently working my way through Xenoblade Chronicles X on my Switch 1, and that will take me a while, especially since I am trying to grind for levels by completing Basic Missions, Affinity Missions, and such.
And if I get tired of playing that, I recently downloaded the PlayStation Remote Play app onto my iPhone 15 Pro, so I can play my PS5 games while on the go (as few as I have), as long as I have a stable Internet connection.
Ergo, I have options when it comes to entertainment for this road trip that I have coming up in less than two weeks. It doesn't necessarily have to be the shiny new console, as neat as it would be to get one. I can wait for a bit longer.
Re: US Retailers Are Playing With Fire With More Switch 2 Cancellations
I wasn't able to preorder to begin with, and I am still waiting for an e-mail from Nintendo to get my hands on one. So I have no idea when I will even get my hands on a Switch 2. I hope it's soon, but I just don't know exactly when. But I do feel sorry for those who apparently got lucky, only to have the rug pulled out from under them at the last minute.
@Res462 Relationships are built on trust. Even business transactions are a form of relationship. It boils down to, "I trust that you will supply me with a good or service in exchange for a certain amount of money."
In cancelling preorders for the Switch 2 at the 11th hour, the retailer is indicating that they are untrustworthy in being able to provide adequate supply of the product. The result is that the customer who ordered from them will then be more likely to take their business elsewhere, meaning that the retailer the customer originally did business with will lose a sale, thus leading to them losing revenue and therefore profit. They may even go so far as to lose a customer for life.
That's what the article means by playing with fire: break your customers' trust to provide a good or service, and you lose their business, possibly for good, resulting in less money being made for your business.