@BrazillianCara The criticism has often struck me as "I don't know what I want, but I know I want something different." Which is fair, but it sets people up for disappointment when everyone and their mother becomes armchair devs for a franchise that clearly has a design philosophy focused on the competitive (and co-op) scene at the end of the day.
I've often said that The Pokemon Company could help placate the vocal minority by investing in more console spin-offs that aren't beholden to the over-familiar formula, which is something they used to do more frequently... But until that happens, I think it's great that indie devs are kinda filling that niche.
I just wish folks who are tired of the mainline Pokemon games could enjoy these alternatives more for what they were, rather than for what Pokemon isn't. I feel like the constant, direct comparisons to Pokemon winds up hurting their potential branding in the long run.
@nessisonett Yeah, some of song choices and sound designs did a lot to set the first Luigi's Mansion apart from its contemporaries (especially the bit of funk in some of its songs).
And while I respect and enjoy 2 and 3, I wasnt all that crazy about the series' turn towards a more conventional, wacky haunted mansion style of tone and, especially, music.
I'm forever grateful I took the leap to fulfill the childhood dream when I went back in 2017, and was lucky enough to attend for a day in 2019 (on Nintendo's dime, no less!). Weird to know there officially wont be anymore...
Also, the irony that digital events are part of what killed it. Cause when Nintendo first started doing Directs instead of keynotes, they were looked at as the crazy ones (even though they still had a major presence with the Treehouse feed + floor demos). Turns out they were ahead of the game.
I'm definitely eating my words though, as I thought folks jumped the gun saying E3 was dead back in 2020. Just hope this doesnt become one of those "You dont know what you got til it's gone" situations. The public has one less bargaining chip that forced publishers onto the same playing field.
@Eggolor That's not exactly the rebuttal you think it is. TotK clearly listened to the "better dungeons and bosses" criticism and tried to address that. But that just becomes a matter of them deciding the design philosophy to a problem with multiple correct answers. And the more I think about it, they follow both Zelda 1's and OoT's dungeon style:
The "unique items" were unironically the friends you make along the way, which you have to work for
You had to go through their quests to access their dungeons
You had to use their unique skills to clear certain puzzles (with a bit of wiggle room for creative problem solving)
You fought the unique boss with the skills you picked up along the way (also creatively if you wanted)
You get to keep those skills to use in the overworld map
What Zelda conventions were truly missing that arent debatably arbitrary? Even on the grounds of "linearity", one could just beeline to the next recommended destination to consume majority of the story. Only thing you'd tuly be missing is the subtext/context from the dragon tears that would be relegated to a manual back on the NES, or obligatory cutscenes in the case of OoT to SW.
@SalvorHardin Yeah, I dont really hold anything against the folks who legitimately miss the OoT style (not everyone is keen on open-world, and that's okay), but it's so frustrating in gaming discourse when some camps treat not being primarily catered to like a personal attack or a messy breakup to the point of forgetting/rewriting history.
Everyone has been in the position of being in the minority with the direction a franchise takes, but gaming (and other media) has been around long enough to understand the pendulum inevitably swings the other way. And if nothing else, there always devs looking to fill that niche themselves til then.
Aonuma's kiiiiinda right. For as much as folks claim to miss the OoT style (which is valid), we cant be so quick to forget just how much that ran its course by the time we got to Skyward Sword, over the course of 13 years.
It would be cool if the team found a way to placate that crowd in some way without losing the sense of freedom and exploration (which was always at the root of Zelda since the original NES game), but camps of gamers can be a notoriously fickle bunch who primarily demand more of what they're familiar with, and HATE any pushback against those demands (even though, sometimes that pushback results in new favorites).
Also, totally loving the whole reductive argument that BotW and TotK arent "real" Zelda games. Really helps make one's criticisms worth taking seriously...
People thinking it's because of expiring licenses are being generous (though, not unreasonable). Cynically, I believe it's an attempt to nudge folks towards Rhythm Festival and its subscription service.
The DLC still being around for D'n'F comes off as keeping a revenue stream open for the FOMO crowd who aren't gonna be as quick to jump ship.
And I say this as someone who loves the Taiko series and thinks the subscription model isn't a bad idea for this type of game series (could be a tad cheaper, though...).
@-wc- I cant speak for others, by my personal hang-up comes from expecting a linear experience with a steady flow, and "roguelike/lite" means the challenge is gonna come from RNG and/or replaying the same levels until the game gives you the kit that finally lets you progress. And this assumes it's not throwing any arbitrary curveballs to pad out the playthrough.
Becoming an arcade game wouldnt exactly fix that unless I was expecting or desiring an arcade game. And I'm sometimes down for both arcade games and rogues, but I far prefer a curated expetience that gives me an excuse to replay, rather than being forced to replay to progress.
@Jiggies To be fair, Martinet was "just a guy" early on. His barks in 64 did help to make the game as iconic as it was, but I'd argue that his legacy only became established once he became a mainstay, rather than a one-off. Additionally, once folks started to care more about the person behind the voice. Heck, Lou Albano was just as much Mario before Martinet took up the role.
Like all VAs who voice legacy characters (Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Sonic, etc.), they'll often come into their own with enough time [and good direction].
Of course, none of what I said means these people arent allowed to be criticized.
I'd argue that it's a necessity if they dont want to scare dedicated and casual players into the PC gaming market, which is only becoming more affordable and accessible by the year.
Like, between the more frequent game discounts, an evergreen purchase library, no subscription fee to play most online games, and the rise of handheld gaming PCs, more and more folks are gonna turn to PC gaming for the smallest reasons the Big 3 dissappoints them.
@LillianC14 Oh, I'm sure there's a lot of value in the IP without any additional footwork. It's odd how much of an outlier he is to other "Nicktoons". Especially compared to other acquisitions like Alvin & the Chipmunks and TMNT
Garfield is still one of the more baffling Nick acquisitions, because they treat him like a Nicktoon, yet he doesnt officially have a Nickelodeon cartoon to call his own yet.
The funny thing about the letter saying "We should've gotten more feedback from you guys before implementing the new policy" is that there was nothing stopping them from doing that in the first place. Public Relations is ALWAYS in consideration of any business decision; especially external policies that affect your customers and clientele.
So either folks lower on the food chain were too afraid to speak up (doubtful) or those at the top heard internal criticism and powered through anyways. It's difficult to attribute incompetency to this, because there HAD to have been a ton of calculations, number-crunching, and scheduling to even land on the original runtime fees in the first place.
@HeadPirate "So you just have a "gut felling" that MS are the bad guys and Sony /Nintendo are the good guys, and you are going with your gut?"
My guy, where did I say any of them are good guys or bad guys?? Just because I have frustrations with M$ on this particular topic doesnt mean I think they're bad guys, evil, or out to destroy the gaming; I just wish they prioritized a different approach to achieving that desired growth. It also doesnt mean I dont have anything to say about Sony or anyone else, but they're not the focus of the thread (and I already said acquisitions solely for the sake of market share growth sucks, no matter the company).
I usually try to be patient with folks and hope they're arguing in good faith, but your assertions of what you think I'm arguing - rather than what I'm actually arguing - are high-key ticking me off...
And I can tell from the rest of this thread that you think a bit too highly of yourself ("intelligent and thinking" people dont have to advertise that) and try to make people defend positions they never took.
The irony of accusing everyone else of basically being blindly loyal fanboys only makes you come off as one yourself in the way you're batting for one of the biggest tech companies in the world, just because they're in 3rd place with a 10% market share in the video game industry.
@HeadPirate "Both of them making aggressive moves towards monopoly is perfectly fine, but MS is a greedy evil company that wants to destroy gaming because they are trying to increase their current 10% market share?
That ... just seems like a very odd position to me, and one that is very hard to justify."
Maybe it's odd because that's not the position I was taking? That's 100% your own inference, for lord knows what reason...
My overall point was that acquisitions (especially in creative/entertainment industries) solely for the sake of becoming a bigger fish in the pond usually suck, no matter which company is doing it... BUT I have especially less faith in M$ because it doesn't feel like they're emotionally invested in the industry in the way they were during the XBox and 360 era.
They just seem like they're compelled to hang around in order to maintain their seat at the table, which doesn't gel well with an industry built around creativity and innovation. I'm sure there's many inside the XBox group that are passionate about gaming, but M$'s approach to stay relevant is frustrating when you KNOW they have the money and manpower to be a powerhouse of an 1st party company if they really wanted to be.
@HeadPirate For me, it's not so much the loyalty to Nintendo, but what their place in the gaming industry means as a whole. Of the Big 3, Nintendo seems to care the most that video games remain capital-F "Fun".
Great that Phil doesnt support a hostile takeover of Nintendo, but the rhetoric that primarily looks at them as an "asset" to assist in M$'s growth first and foremost is rather unfortunate. Also the precedent of acquisitions in gaming (and entertainment in general) has left a bad taste in my mouth.
They rarely ever feel like they're a boon for the industry or medium, and more just a way to increase a parent company's catalogue and bottom line.
Cynically, prominent companies might be out of touch, but they're not stupid... When they're pushing policies that any PR person worth their weight in salt could've predicted the backlash to, these are often just calculated risks.
They know the internet is gonna freak out and that they're gonna take a few hits in the short-term, but the hope is to ride out the storm and come out the other side with whatever they were hoping to get out of it (increased profits, bargaining power, etc.).
It's only when they dont get the results they were hoping for, when they course correct.
A lot of fun games like usual, but you can really feel that they're biding for time and keeping the far more ambitious games close to their chests.
As exciting as it is to play TTYD on a modern console, it says a lot when your "One last thing" is a remake of a game that could've honestly just been a spruced up port announced in the middle of the Direct. Still, a massive W for classic Paper Mario fans.
Diddy and Funky felt almost guaranteed. Peachette didnt really feel that deserving since she was literally just a one-off mechanic that's really just a re-skin in a port of a decade old game (Captain Falcon would've been the perfect closer, IMO).
I feel like Pauline is most exciting, given her history, but at the same time the surprise is diminishing because they also did this with Aces, Super Rush, and Strikers. I get that it cant be helped with MK8D's spontaneous roadmap, but I hope she's part of initial rosters going forward.
A divisive announcement, to be sure... But at the very least, this is proof that Nintendo still values F-Zero outside of Smash Bros. and re-releasing the original SNES game.
And this is a far better outcome than what happens to other long-dormant IPs, cause at least it's still F-Zero at its core.
For whatever reason, this game being the "One last thing" of the Direct really cements the public sentiment that the Switch is ABSOLUTELY in its final year before the successor releases. The 3DS was getting quite a few remakes and layups on its way out as well.
That said, this is still a moral victory for old fans and gaming in general. What many consider to be the best Paper Mario (and one of the best Mario RPGs in general) is finally free from the GCN vault!
We all knew this day would come eventually, but glad it's at least not on sad terms like other VAs who have to leave their roles due to drama or because they passed away. All in all, it's been a good run, and props to Charles for representing Mario for all these years.
Additionally, godspeed to the VA who's gonna have to fill those shoes.
@RareFan People are free to like/dislike whatever art styles they want, but speaking as an artist and animation fanatic myself, I dont think it does your opinion any favors by casually tossing around overused terms and comparisons that are often found around reactionary circles.
@nessisonett The one silver lining to these grifts hitting back-to-back and overlapping with certain types of people is that they become increasingly easy to spot.
Especially in light of how we're now realizing that some types of convenience we've adopted haven't come without sacrifice of bargaining power, people are thankfully becoming more critical of tech bros showing up to "disrupt the market" while hand-waving logistical and ethical concerns.
@IronMan30 People love to harp on the jank, but the games are honestly fun in spite of it.
And I get folk's cynicism that TPC wont have any incentive to "make better games" so long as the sales remain good, but I'd be willing to bet people on the inside are well aware that their release schedule is hitting points of unsustainability.
While a brand new Smash is inevitable, I still think they can get away with just adding more to Ultimate's package in the same way Nintendo did for Mario Kart 8.
Away from that, I feel like the next Smash should take a step away from the platform fighting genre and try a different style. I'd be down for a traditional 2D fighter, but an arena fighter would be more likely to maintain that broad appeal.
I'm high-key hoping for a physical release. I wouldn't mind having a copy for posterity's sake (and if it's actually a good game, then that's a bonus).
Side note: Anyone not already watching the show is really missing out. Despite the pre-school target demographic, Bluey is something special in a way that other cartoons (whether for kids or adults) could only dream of being.
While I am nostalgic for an internet that isnt consolidated to a handful of websites, I cant imagine the kind of bravery it takes to see the insanity of social media spaces in 2023 and think, "Yeah, let's throw our hat into the ring."
@Yosher Geez, amiibo would be the worst way to go about it, but it would unfortunately be the most likely option if they can't technically (or legally) add online functions post-launch.
@MrGawain I feel like a lot of the licensed games jumped to smartphones with the rise of the mobile gaming market, but have since realized there's still a market out there for console games.
@Zavijah I'm not too sure if PC is a great argument here, since there's no real 1st party that maintains that space and demands exclusivity in the same way Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo do.
Like, you'll occasionally have companies like Epic or Steam trying to incentivize purchasing games through their storefronts before others (or consoles), but what winds up being ported from PC to consoles tends to be at the discretion of 3rd party devs and publishers.
Okay... I was giving this game the benefit of the doubt upon reveal, but it feels way too disjointed with additional context.
From the bigger part smartphones seem to play, to how much more physically active the games are, to the lack of much of any advertised HD Rumble functionality, it feels like anything but a sequel to the original.
Not to be too mean about it, but this really feels like it'd be more attractive if it was a free download, included with NSO subs, or was way cheaper than current MSRP.
Better than a cloud version, at least (still salty about Kingdom Hearts), but what's even the point of a physical version if so much has to be downloaded anyways?
As much as I hate the Switch Tax and the growing trend of $70 games, I'm almost willing to pay that if that's what it'll take for companies to stop forcing us to subsidize game space of physical purchases onto our microSD cards.
I love how this is effectively their response to the NSMB criticism. That franchise's biggest problem was that it felt so simple and sanitized by NSMB2 (3DS), and especially, U. They were competent and fun, but they hardly lived up to what "New" could've been.
It feels like they finally figured it out here, though! On top of the colors and aesthetics, I can't get enough of the character animations! The more extreme poses, the smear frames in Mario's run cycle and Yoshi's flutter, and the speed lines from fast actions add so much to it.
It really feels like if we can't get the 2D Mario game with the "hand drawn" style" Nintendo likes to use, this is the next best thing~ (Though, with how "weird" the game is leaning towards, a guy can dream!)
Man, what a way to start off a trailer for this game. I suspect it was their intention, but I sincerely thought, "Okay, cool, Mario RPG for the SNES NSO." And then they hit you with the glow up!
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about translating everyone's "toyetic" proportions into HD, but I appreciate the art direction aiming for that feeling where our minds filled in the gaps of antiquated graphics back in the day.
I was sold on the game before even hearing it was being made by Sonic Mania devs. It has such a Sega Saturn/Dreamcast energy to it, that I can't help but be drawn to it.
Gameplay will always hold higher priority over graphics, but aesthetics can do a lot to make a mechanically solid game that much better~
A lot of the usual gamers are gonna clown on this hard, but it does seem like that kind of game that'll have a time and a place with the right crowd.
Not that it'll make up for that many sales, but I can absolutely see this finding a niche at conventions, like Rock Band, Just Dance, Jack Box games, and that musical Joust game played with those Playstation Move controllers. Though, those have a much lower barrier of entry in selling people a concept.
I feel like "Really Mad" is kinda overselling this... There are a few aspects that people passionate about them would've liked to see done a bit better, but I don't see how any of the examples given are people fuming over them.
These all sound like reasonable criticisms character designers, UX/UI designers, audiophiles, emulation junkies, and even some game reviewers would make, were it on a different platform than the site stereotyped to be "the one with people yelling at each other" (as if that doesn't happen on other sites).
@Magician While I'm sure that quote means well, it also feels like one of those "grindset" sayings that doesn't do much service to the discourse or criticism.
Granted, we as consumers should have some expectations and standards for companies that demand our money, but creatively, that quote isn't the healthiest mentality for creatives to adhere to.
In one part because of how useful it was to find the last handful of Shrines I needed, but also because it feels like something that should've clicked way sooner than when I only had a handful of Shrines left to go (plus a fully uncovered Depths).
I hate how cynical I feel about the idea that if literally everything about this reveal was the same, save for music choice and the character's hairstyle (not even his personality or rest of his design), it wouldn't be getting anywhere as much of a negative reception...
Personally, I hope the tone of the game stays within the same realm as the trailer (there's not enough mainstream gaming OSTs that dare to break from what works), but what personally bugs me is that I wish they just pushed the visual aesthetics a bit more. It all looks nice, but still a bit too sanitized.
@Arawn93 The issue isn't inherently the existence of Green Hill in a Sonic game, but the use of it. Around the Adventure/Advance era, Green Hill was a neat callback or ambitious remix. Post-Generations, it started to feel way too safe, as if riding off of nostalgia in a cheap way.
Ironically, with your Mario comparison, people were getting exhausted with NSMB's overall aesthetic. It was cool at first because there hadn't been a new 2D Mario in about a decade, but by the 4th entry, the entire series just felt so safe.
@Arawn93 Honestly, even if they dotted their i's and crossed their t's, trying to put an emulator on a mainstream storefront still feels like flying too close to the sun.
Was Steam integration really worth the risk, or was there something else they were hoping to achieve?
There must be some kind of unique benefit to having Dolphin on the Steam storefront when the app was always available for download from their official site.
The trouble is, legal and ethical gray areas aside, posting up on a mainstream storefront feels like trying to fly too close to the sun. What makes the attempt worth it?
Comments 966
Re: Soapbox: Cassette Beasts Is The Monster-Catching RPG For A Disillusioned Pokémon Fan
@BrazillianCara The criticism has often struck me as "I don't know what I want, but I know I want something different." Which is fair, but it sets people up for disappointment when everyone and their mother becomes armchair devs for a franchise that clearly has a design philosophy focused on the competitive (and co-op) scene at the end of the day.
I've often said that The Pokemon Company could help placate the vocal minority by investing in more console spin-offs that aren't beholden to the over-familiar formula, which is something they used to do more frequently... But until that happens, I think it's great that indie devs are kinda filling that niche.
I just wish folks who are tired of the mainline Pokemon games could enjoy these alternatives more for what they were, rather than for what Pokemon isn't. I feel like the constant, direct comparisons to Pokemon winds up hurting their potential branding in the long run.
Re: Random: Luigi's Mansion 2 Was Inspired By The British Sitcom 'Mr. Bean'
@nessisonett Yeah, some of song choices and sound designs did a lot to set the first Luigi's Mansion apart from its contemporaries (especially the bit of funk in some of its songs).
And while I respect and enjoy 2 and 3, I wasnt all that crazy about the series' turn towards a more conventional, wacky haunted mansion style of tone and, especially, music.
Re: E3 Has Been Cancelled, Permanently
I'm forever grateful I took the leap to fulfill the childhood dream when I went back in 2017, and was lucky enough to attend for a day in 2019 (on Nintendo's dime, no less!). Weird to know there officially wont be anymore...
Also, the irony that digital events are part of what killed it. Cause when Nintendo first started doing Directs instead of keynotes, they were looked at as the crazy ones (even though they still had a major presence with the Treehouse feed + floor demos). Turns out they were ahead of the game.
I'm definitely eating my words though, as I thought folks jumped the gun saying E3 was dead back in 2020. Just hope this doesnt become one of those "You dont know what you got til it's gone" situations. The public has one less bargaining chip that forced publishers onto the same playing field.
Re: Zelda Producer Responds To Fans Who Want A More "Traditional Linear" Adventure
@Eggolor That's not exactly the rebuttal you think it is. TotK clearly listened to the "better dungeons and bosses" criticism and tried to address that. But that just becomes a matter of them deciding the design philosophy to a problem with multiple correct answers. And the more I think about it, they follow both Zelda 1's and OoT's dungeon style:
What Zelda conventions were truly missing that arent debatably arbitrary? Even on the grounds of "linearity", one could just beeline to the next recommended destination to consume majority of the story. Only thing you'd tuly be missing is the subtext/context from the dragon tears that would be relegated to a manual back on the NES, or obligatory cutscenes in the case of OoT to SW.
Re: Zelda Producer Responds To Fans Who Want A More "Traditional Linear" Adventure
@SalvorHardin Yeah, I dont really hold anything against the folks who legitimately miss the OoT style (not everyone is keen on open-world, and that's okay), but it's so frustrating in gaming discourse when some camps treat not being primarily catered to like a personal attack or a messy breakup to the point of forgetting/rewriting history.
Everyone has been in the position of being in the minority with the direction a franchise takes, but gaming (and other media) has been around long enough to understand the pendulum inevitably swings the other way. And if nothing else, there always devs looking to fill that niche themselves til then.
Re: Zelda Producer Responds To Fans Who Want A More "Traditional Linear" Adventure
Aonuma's kiiiiinda right. For as much as folks claim to miss the OoT style (which is valid), we cant be so quick to forget just how much that ran its course by the time we got to Skyward Sword, over the course of 13 years.
It would be cool if the team found a way to placate that crowd in some way without losing the sense of freedom and exploration (which was always at the root of Zelda since the original NES game), but camps of gamers can be a notoriously fickle bunch who primarily demand more of what they're familiar with, and HATE any pushback against those demands (even though, sometimes that pushback results in new favorites).
Also, totally loving the whole reductive argument that BotW and TotK arent "real" Zelda games. Really helps make one's criticisms worth taking seriously...
Re: Bandai Namco Ending Sales Of Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! Later This Month
People thinking it's because of expiring licenses are being generous (though, not unreasonable). Cynically, I believe it's an attempt to nudge folks towards Rhythm Festival and its subscription service.
The DLC still being around for D'n'F comes off as keeping a revenue stream open for the FOMO crowd who aren't gonna be as quick to jump ship.
And I say this as someone who loves the Taiko series and thinks the subscription model isn't a bad idea for this type of game series (could be a tad cheaper, though...).
Re: 'Ninja Or Die' Is One Of The Most Stylish Retro Games On Switch, And It's Out Now
@-wc- I cant speak for others, by my personal hang-up comes from expecting a linear experience with a steady flow, and "roguelike/lite" means the challenge is gonna come from RNG and/or replaying the same levels until the game gives you the kit that finally lets you progress. And this assumes it's not throwing any arbitrary curveballs to pad out the playthrough.
Becoming an arcade game wouldnt exactly fix that unless I was expecting or desiring an arcade game. And I'm sometimes down for both arcade games and rogues, but I far prefer a curated expetience that gives me an excuse to replay, rather than being forced to replay to progress.
Re: Wario's New Voice Actor Seems To Be Confirmed
@Jiggies To be fair, Martinet was "just a guy" early on. His barks in 64 did help to make the game as iconic as it was, but I'd argue that his legacy only became established once he became a mainstay, rather than a one-off. Additionally, once folks started to care more about the person behind the voice. Heck, Lou Albano was just as much Mario before Martinet took up the role.
Like all VAs who voice legacy characters (Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Sonic, etc.), they'll often come into their own with enough time [and good direction].
Of course, none of what I said means these people arent allowed to be criticized.
Re: Soapbox: 'Switch 2' Doesn't Really Need Backwards Compatibility
I'd argue that it's a necessity if they dont want to scare dedicated and casual players into the PC gaming market, which is only becoming more affordable and accessible by the year.
Like, between the more frequent game discounts, an evergreen purchase library, no subscription fee to play most online games, and the rise of handheld gaming PCs, more and more folks are gonna turn to PC gaming for the smallest reasons the Big 3 dissappoints them.
Re: Netflix Expands Its Animation Line-Up With Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, More
I feel like Scott Pilgrim and DMC are slam dunks, but I didn't expect to be legit intrigued by Captain Laserhawk.
Spotting Rayman in the trailer was my on ramp, and the controlled chaos the series is set to deliver has me fully on board.
Re: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Spotlights The "Lazy, Orange Superstar" Garfield
@Paulo It's very possible. It wouldn't be the first time Nick introduced a new series following a theatrical release (or short).
Re: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Spotlights The "Lazy, Orange Superstar" Garfield
@LillianC14 Oh, I'm sure there's a lot of value in the IP without any additional footwork. It's odd how much of an outlier he is to other "Nicktoons". Especially compared to other acquisitions like Alvin & the Chipmunks and TMNT
Re: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Spotlights The "Lazy, Orange Superstar" Garfield
Garfield is still one of the more baffling Nick acquisitions, because they treat him like a Nicktoon, yet he doesnt officially have a Nickelodeon cartoon to call his own yet.
Re: Unity Reveals New Pricing Model For Runtime Fee Policy
The funny thing about the letter saying "We should've gotten more feedback from you guys before implementing the new policy" is that there was nothing stopping them from doing that in the first place. Public Relations is ALWAYS in consideration of any business decision; especially external policies that affect your customers and clientele.
So either folks lower on the food chain were too afraid to speak up (doubtful) or those at the top heard internal criticism and powered through anyways. It's difficult to attribute incompetency to this, because there HAD to have been a ton of calculations, number-crunching, and scheduling to even land on the original runtime fees in the first place.
Re: Internal Xbox Email Details Desire To Acquire Nintendo
@HeadPirate "So you just have a "gut felling" that MS are the bad guys and Sony /Nintendo are the good guys, and you are going with your gut?"
My guy, where did I say any of them are good guys or bad guys?? Just because I have frustrations with M$ on this particular topic doesnt mean I think they're bad guys, evil, or out to destroy the gaming; I just wish they prioritized a different approach to achieving that desired growth. It also doesnt mean I dont have anything to say about Sony or anyone else, but they're not the focus of the thread (and I already said acquisitions solely for the sake of market share growth sucks, no matter the company).
I usually try to be patient with folks and hope they're arguing in good faith, but your assertions of what you think I'm arguing - rather than what I'm actually arguing - are high-key ticking me off...
And I can tell from the rest of this thread that you think a bit too highly of yourself ("intelligent and thinking" people dont have to advertise that) and try to make people defend positions they never took.
The irony of accusing everyone else of basically being blindly loyal fanboys only makes you come off as one yourself in the way you're batting for one of the biggest tech companies in the world, just because they're in 3rd place with a 10% market share in the video game industry.
Re: Bluey Makes Her Video Game Debut On Switch This November
Regardless of how good of a game this will actually be, I'm definitely gonna pick it up for my gaming library.
And if the writing is on par with the show's, we're gonna be in for a fun time.
Re: Internal Xbox Email Details Desire To Acquire Nintendo
@HeadPirate "Both of them making aggressive moves towards monopoly is perfectly fine, but MS is a greedy evil company that wants to destroy gaming because they are trying to increase their current 10% market share?
That ... just seems like a very odd position to me, and one that is very hard to justify."
Maybe it's odd because that's not the position I was taking? That's 100% your own inference, for lord knows what reason...
My overall point was that acquisitions (especially in creative/entertainment industries) solely for the sake of becoming a bigger fish in the pond usually suck, no matter which company is doing it... BUT I have especially less faith in M$ because it doesn't feel like they're emotionally invested in the industry in the way they were during the XBox and 360 era.
They just seem like they're compelled to hang around in order to maintain their seat at the table, which doesn't gel well with an industry built around creativity and innovation. I'm sure there's many inside the XBox group that are passionate about gaming, but M$'s approach to stay relevant is frustrating when you KNOW they have the money and manpower to be a powerhouse of an 1st party company if they really wanted to be.
Re: Internal Xbox Email Details Desire To Acquire Nintendo
@HeadPirate For me, it's not so much the loyalty to Nintendo, but what their place in the gaming industry means as a whole. Of the Big 3, Nintendo seems to care the most that video games remain capital-F "Fun".
Great that Phil doesnt support a hostile takeover of Nintendo, but the rhetoric that primarily looks at them as an "asset" to assist in M$'s growth first and foremost is rather unfortunate. Also the precedent of acquisitions in gaming (and entertainment in general) has left a bad taste in my mouth.
They rarely ever feel like they're a boon for the industry or medium, and more just a way to increase a parent company's catalogue and bottom line.
Re: Unity Apologies For Its 'Runtime Fee' Policy, Promises To Make 'Changes'
Cynically, prominent companies might be out of touch, but they're not stupid... When they're pushing policies that any PR person worth their weight in salt could've predicted the backlash to, these are often just calculated risks.
They know the internet is gonna freak out and that they're gonna take a few hits in the short-term, but the hope is to ride out the storm and come out the other side with whatever they were hoping to get out of it (increased profits, bargaining power, etc.).
It's only when they dont get the results they were hoping for, when they course correct.
Re: Poll: What Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 6 DLC Racer Are You Most Excited About?
@Sequel But seriously, how amazing would it be if, after MK8D's development is wrapped up, we actually did get a DKR Remake?
Re: Poll: What Did You Think Of The Nintendo Direct, Then?
A lot of fun games like usual, but you can really feel that they're biding for time and keeping the far more ambitious games close to their chests.
As exciting as it is to play TTYD on a modern console, it says a lot when your "One last thing" is a remake of a game that could've honestly just been a spruced up port announced in the middle of the Direct. Still, a massive W for classic Paper Mario fans.
Re: Poll: What Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 6 DLC Racer Are You Most Excited About?
Diddy and Funky felt almost guaranteed. Peachette didnt really feel that deserving since she was literally just a one-off mechanic that's really just a re-skin in a port of a decade old game (Captain Falcon would've been the perfect closer, IMO).
I feel like Pauline is most exciting, given her history, but at the same time the surprise is diminishing because they also did this with Aces, Super Rush, and Strikers. I get that it cant be helped with MK8D's spontaneous roadmap, but I hope she's part of initial rosters going forward.
Re: F-ZERO 99 Turns The Classic Racer Into A 99-Player Battle Royale, On NSO Today
A divisive announcement, to be sure... But at the very least, this is proof that Nintendo still values F-Zero outside of Smash Bros. and re-releasing the original SNES game.
And this is a far better outcome than what happens to other long-dormant IPs, cause at least it's still F-Zero at its core.
Re: GameCube Classic Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Is Heading To Switch
For whatever reason, this game being the "One last thing" of the Direct really cements the public sentiment that the Switch is ABSOLUTELY in its final year before the successor releases. The 3DS was getting quite a few remakes and layups on its way out as well.
That said, this is still a moral victory for old fans and gaming in general. What many consider to be the best Paper Mario (and one of the best Mario RPGs in general) is finally free from the GCN vault!
Re: Charles Martinet Will No Longer Be The Voice Of Mario
We all knew this day would come eventually, but glad it's at least not on sad terms like other VAs who have to leave their roles due to drama or because they passed away. All in all, it's been a good run, and props to Charles for representing Mario for all these years.
Additionally, godspeed to the VA who's gonna have to fill those shoes.
Re: Pokémon: Path To The Peak Episode One Is Now Available On YouTube
@RareFan People are free to like/dislike whatever art styles they want, but speaking as an artist and animation fanatic myself, I dont think it does your opinion any favors by casually tossing around overused terms and comparisons that are often found around reactionary circles.
Re: Kickstarter Is Cracking Down On AI And Promoting Human Creativity
@nessisonett The one silver lining to these grifts hitting back-to-back and overlapping with certain types of people is that they become increasingly easy to spot.
Especially in light of how we're now realizing that some types of convenience we've adopted haven't come without sacrifice of bargaining power, people are thankfully becoming more critical of tech bros showing up to "disrupt the market" while hand-waving logistical and ethical concerns.
Re: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Has Now Sold Over 22 Million Copies, Closing In On Gold & Silver's Sales
@IronMan30 People love to harp on the jank, but the games are honestly fun in spite of it.
And I get folk's cynicism that TPC wont have any incentive to "make better games" so long as the sales remain good, but I'd be willing to bet people on the inside are well aware that their release schedule is hitting points of unsustainability.
Re: Sakurai Can't Imagine Future Super Smash Bros. Games Without His Involvement
While a brand new Smash is inevitable, I still think they can get away with just adding more to Ultimate's package in the same way Nintendo did for Mario Kart 8.
Away from that, I feel like the next Smash should take a step away from the platform fighting genre and try a different style. I'd be down for a traditional 2D fighter, but an arena fighter would be more likely to maintain that broad appeal.
Re: Bluey: The Videogame Has Been Rated By The Australian Classification Board
I'm high-key hoping for a physical release. I wouldn't mind having a copy for posterity's sake (and if it's actually a good game, then that's a bonus).
Side note: Anyone not already watching the show is really missing out. Despite the pre-school target demographic, Bluey is something special in a way that other cartoons (whether for kids or adults) could only dream of being.
Re: Pokémon Launches Official Community Forums And It's Already A Disaster
While I am nostalgic for an internet that isnt consolidated to a handful of websites, I cant imagine the kind of bravery it takes to see the insanity of social media spaces in 2023 and think, "Yeah, let's throw our hat into the ring."
Re: Zelda: TOTK Player Creates The Perfect Master Hand From Super Smash Bros
@Yosher Geez, amiibo would be the worst way to go about it, but it would unfortunately be the most likely option if they can't technically (or legally) add online functions post-launch.
Re: Zelda: TOTK Player Creates The Perfect Master Hand From Super Smash Bros
This makes me realize it would've been amazing if Nintendo included a system to share Auto Build schematics with players.
Re: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest For Balance Is Finally Announced, Coming To Switch This Year
@MrGawain I feel like a lot of the licensed games jumped to smartphones with the rise of the mobile gaming market, but have since realized there's still a market out there for console games.
Re: Microsoft CEO Says He Would "Love To Get Rid Of" Exclusives On Consoles
@Zavijah I'm not too sure if PC is a great argument here, since there's no real 1st party that maintains that space and demands exclusivity in the same way Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo do.
Like, you'll occasionally have companies like Epic or Steam trying to incentivize purchasing games through their storefronts before others (or consoles), but what winds up being ported from PC to consoles tends to be at the discretion of 3rd party devs and publishers.
Re: Hip-Thrusting Is Just One Of The Weird Minigames In Everybody 1-2-Switch!
Okay... I was giving this game the benefit of the doubt upon reveal, but it feels way too disjointed with additional context.
From the bigger part smartphones seem to play, to how much more physically active the games are, to the lack of much of any advertised HD Rumble functionality, it feels like anything but a sequel to the original.
Not to be too mean about it, but this really feels like it'd be more attractive if it was a free download, included with NSO subs, or was way cheaper than current MSRP.
Re: Random: Artists Are Already Creating Elephant Mario Fan Art And It's Brilliant
You know, if Mario was to have a fursona, an elephant surprisingly makes the most sense.
A portly plumber who's claim to fame is growing bigger and more powerful? Of course he'd lean into that.
Re: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Switch Physical Version Requires Downloads
Better than a cloud version, at least (still salty about Kingdom Hearts), but what's even the point of a physical version if so much has to be downloaded anyways?
As much as I hate the Switch Tax and the growing trend of $70 games, I'm almost willing to pay that if that's what it'll take for companies to stop forcing us to subsidize game space of physical purchases onto our microSD cards.
Re: Super Mario Bros. Wonder, A Brand New 2D Mario Game, Is Coming To Switch
I love how this is effectively their response to the NSMB criticism. That franchise's biggest problem was that it felt so simple and sanitized by NSMB2 (3DS), and especially, U. They were competent and fun, but they hardly lived up to what "New" could've been.
It feels like they finally figured it out here, though! On top of the colors and aesthetics, I can't get enough of the character animations! The more extreme poses, the smear frames in Mario's run cycle and Yoshi's flutter, and the speed lines from fast actions add so much to it.
It really feels like if we can't get the 2D Mario game with the "hand drawn" style" Nintendo likes to use, this is the next best thing~ (Though, with how "weird" the game is leaning towards, a guy can dream!)
Re: Super Mario RPG Is Getting A Remake This November, And It Looks Amazing
Man, what a way to start off a trailer for this game. I suspect it was their intention, but I sincerely thought, "Okay, cool, Mario RPG for the SNES NSO." And then they hit you with the glow up!
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about translating everyone's "toyetic" proportions into HD, but I appreciate the art direction aiming for that feeling where our minds filled in the gaps of antiquated graphics back in the day.
Re: Penny's Big Breakaway Is A Gorgeous 3D Platformer From The Sonic Mania Team
I was sold on the game before even hearing it was being made by Sonic Mania devs. It has such a Sega Saturn/Dreamcast energy to it, that I can't help but be drawn to it.
Gameplay will always hold higher priority over graphics, but aesthetics can do a lot to make a mechanically solid game that much better~
Re: Nintendo's Upcoming Party Game Everybody 1-2-Switch! Showcases "100 Players At Once"
A lot of the usual gamers are gonna clown on this hard, but it does seem like that kind of game that'll have a time and a place with the right crowd.
Not that it'll make up for that many sales, but I can absolutely see this finding a niche at conventions, like Rock Band, Just Dance, Jack Box games, and that musical Joust game played with those Playstation Move controllers. Though, those have a much lower barrier of entry in selling people a concept.
Re: Sonic Fans Are Already Really Mad About Sonic Origins Plus
I feel like "Really Mad" is kinda overselling this... There are a few aspects that people passionate about them would've liked to see done a bit better, but I don't see how any of the examples given are people fuming over them.
These all sound like reasonable criticisms character designers, UX/UI designers, audiophiles, emulation junkies, and even some game reviewers would make, were it on a different platform than the site stereotyped to be "the one with people yelling at each other" (as if that doesn't happen on other sites).
Re: Sonic Mania Dev Confirms Superstars Translates 'Retro Engine' Physics Into 3D
@Magician While I'm sure that quote means well, it also feels like one of those "grindset" sayings that doesn't do much service to the discourse or criticism.
Granted, we as consumers should have some expectations and standards for companies that demand our money, but creatively, that quote isn't the healthiest mentality for creatives to adhere to.
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Wish You Knew Sooner In Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?
Definitely the Shrine/Lightroot correlation.
In one part because of how useful it was to find the last handful of Shrines I needed, but also because it feels like something that should've clicked way sooner than when I only had a handful of Shrines left to go (plus a fully uncovered Depths).
Re: Poll: Are You Excited About Ubisoft's Metroidvania "Inspired" Prince Of Persia Platformer?
I hate how cynical I feel about the idea that if literally everything about this reveal was the same, save for music choice and the character's hairstyle (not even his personality or rest of his design), it wouldn't be getting anywhere as much of a negative reception...
Personally, I hope the tone of the game stays within the same realm as the trailer (there's not enough mainstream gaming OSTs that dare to break from what works), but what personally bugs me is that I wish they just pushed the visual aesthetics a bit more. It all looks nice, but still a bit too sanitized.
Re: Sonic Superstars Won't Recycle Locations Like Green Hill Zone
@Arawn93 The issue isn't inherently the existence of Green Hill in a Sonic game, but the use of it. Around the Adventure/Advance era, Green Hill was a neat callback or ambitious remix. Post-Generations, it started to feel way too safe, as if riding off of nostalgia in a cheap way.
Ironically, with your Mario comparison, people were getting exhausted with NSMB's overall aesthetic. It was cool at first because there hadn't been a new 2D Mario in about a decade, but by the 4th entry, the entire series just felt so safe.
Re: Dolphin Emulator Steam Release "Indefinitely Postponed"
@Arawn93 Honestly, even if they dotted their i's and crossed their t's, trying to put an emulator on a mainstream storefront still feels like flying too close to the sun.
Was Steam integration really worth the risk, or was there something else they were hoping to achieve?
Re: Dolphin Emulator Steam Release "Indefinitely Postponed"
There must be some kind of unique benefit to having Dolphin on the Steam storefront when the app was always available for download from their official site.
The trouble is, legal and ethical gray areas aside, posting up on a mainstream storefront feels like trying to fly too close to the sun. What makes the attempt worth it?