The only reason why this announcement doesnt hurt more for me is because Elden Ring has been scratching that itch pretty well atm (if only it was on Switch...).
Also, conspiracy theories:
#1 - They probably took note of Elden Ring's reception and are doubling back on some design decisions.
#2 - Timing the release around the Switch's 6th year anniversary and mayyyyybe a console revision that lets BotW2 shine in the same way the OLED did for Metroid Dread.
@ramu-chan This is kind of a surprising take between the version. I always assumed most Ouendan die-hards had a fair amount of love for EBA (even if they preferred one over the other).
It's such a shame the series had to live and die with the DS. OSU! keeps the gameplay alive, which I'm grateful for... but what's the point without agents/cheerleaders hyping up ordinary people to overcome over-the-top scenarios?
@victordamazio Agreed. Turning a F2P game into a one-time purchase would not just be good for posterity, but it'd arguably attract a new player base that otherwise passed on (or fell off of) the original model.
This would also instill faith that time put into these games wouldnt just evaporate when the next Nintendo-published mobile game comes around and inevitably shuts down.
A bit more hoop-jumpy than expected to set up, but great once it's actually done.
What would probably make it better is if groups could show at the top, while "all games" could show below. If I'm going through the trouble of organizing things, I'd like to get to my "folders" in as few steps as possible.
At the risk of instigating, it seems especially dubious that the two names they originally left out were two women. Yeah, the guys are "bigger names", but it kinda makes the point of a couple of perpetual problems in Hollywood.
Good that they listened to the fans here, though. How wild would it be if these Sonic movies were the thing to start fixing some of the rougher parts of Hollywood business decisions?
@ArchRex Can definitely agree with the music variety criticism. OST is very good, but for how long the stages can be (and then doing the time trials), one stage song per world just isn't enough.
Time or budget notwithstanding, it'd have been nice if they did like the Sonic games and had an Act 2 or B-Side song to mix things up a bit.
I'm still baffled that they went so far as to have this series playable on Switch, but went the way of the cloud rather than physical or even digitally a la carte...
I'll concede that 2.8 and 3 would've been a big ask, but there's little reason 1.5+2.5 (and DDD) couldn't have had an option for ownership. I wish we could find out what went through SE's mind with this.
Gotta love the marketing speak, making it feel like it's for the culture or the sake of art.
Heaven forbid they do any practical preservation methods like making more of their old games affordably accessible via modern consoles or an online archive.
I'm sure folks were expecting more Shovel Knight, but you know what? A new IP is a smart move!
Get that diverse catalog of characters and worlds going nice and early so you're not sitting on the laurels of one well-earned success. (I say "early", but Shovel Knight is almost 10 years old if you start with the Kickstarter...)
@nhSnork If Nintendo or Hasbro did something you stood against, and then they doubled down on their business decisions saying, "Whatever. You guys are gonna give us money anyway!" I'm sure you'd question your moral/financial support of them for at least a moment, wouldn't you?
Good will isn't some mythical concept, it's Public Relations 101. If it didn't/shouldn't matter, why would any of these companies put up with social media at all?
There is something to say about social media and how the removal of degrees of separation does create a dubious relationship/connection between people and the companies/talent they like, but again, they can't have it both ways. If Troy wanted to continue on with his business venture, he would've been free to do so, just as everyone else is free not to support it.
@SakuraHaruka I think you're misconstruing what "drama" is. Like, I'm not even saying to boycott. Whether you do or don't is all up to your own personal choice. I'm more taking the stance that we should voice our disapproval and wariness early on, because as far as corporate greed goes, silence (and, especially profit) equals approval to a lot of these guys.
And there's already been countless people out there who've calmly and non-dramatically explained why NFTs aren't great for the current moment or the long term (if they gain a foothold). But if you're asking in good faith for someone who can "objectively" explain to you this whole rigamarole, here's a guy who pretty much covers every part of it, including how it may even affect gaming in the future: https://youtu.be/YQ_xWvX1n9g
@SakuraHaruka I see where you're coming from, but "ignoring the problem" doesnt always mean it eventually goes away. There is such a thing as "The Paradox of Tolerance": Where acceptance (or indifference) towards something dubious, just because it doesnt negatively and directly affect you personally, tends to lead things to a point where by the time it finally does, it's too late to do anything about it. That's where we're at with the state of mobile gaming (F2P models, premium currency, loot boxes, low-effort games, etc.). And DLC isnt anyworse thanks to people "losing their minds" over how EA handled that Star Wars Battlefront game.
The reality is that you're predicting this NFT arms race to be a passing fad, so it's not worth worrying about... but this ignores how there is a precedent of big players putting their hands on the scale to get their way.
If there is a future for crypto and NFTs, it sure would be nice if these companies could figure a lot of it out first, rather than shout into the ether trying to sell us on a promise. If you want to abstain from the discourse, by all means. But dont be that person who thinks everyone else is crazy for caring.
@SakuraHaruka That's just whataboutism, though. Sure, there's things worse than NFTs, just as getting punched is worse than getting slapped... But why do we have to put up with getting slapped at all?
Ironically, those worse examples make the case for consumers to be wary of companies going on this gold rush. Those same groups tried to convince us that DLC, DRMs, loot boxes, "Games as a service", etc. were explicitly for our benefit. So why are NFTs suddenly the one area where they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
@Scapetti If it's about re-selling your digital purchases, a digital marketplace that keeps track of your account's purchases and sales could do that easily, and without NFTs. If it's about collecting "a digital version of amiibo", that, ironically, requires a centralized entity to create that value (like Steam and their trading cards), and still wouldn't need NFTs.
Also, saying "Artwork is the simplest to understand" (really patronizing to us artists btw) kinda ignores the fact that 1) Most artists aren't seeing a return on investment trying to get in on NFTs, 2) Has only resulted in a new wave of art theft, and 3) Hasn't created much value on any art that wasn't sold on the initial novelty/investment of NFTs.
As NFTs for art are just digital receipts saying "X paid for this!", that more assigns their value to the purchaser, not the product that was purchased. If the product can be infinitely purchased... where's the value?
"NFTs have a lot of use cases, and we're just scratching the surface," is not a satisfying response to people asking why they should care right now. If there's only investment incentive, but no practical use that isn't made redundant by other means, that's a scam.
@SakuraHaruka But who's to say it wont eventually affect those other aspects? When NFTs are generally solutions in search of problems, who's to say they wont be used as an excuse to "fix" other problems?
Just the other day, Ubisoft was trying to justify their use under the guise of a digital marketplace. But that can already be done without NFTs.
@Scapetti Be careful of stopping at "just a thought." It's far better to think critically.
A bunch of companies being involved doesn't mean it's not a scam. That just means multiple private groups see a money-making opportunity. It's important to ask what that opportunity means for the consumer. If there's no substantial benefit to the consumer-end... it's likely a scam.
@nhSnork Celebs and entertainment talent can't have it both ways. They can stand by their convictions, but they can't, then, get mad when fans and peers don't want anything to do with them over decisions/actions made.
Ironically, you calling it a "fanbrained backlash over the teacup storm of the month" perfectly encapsulates why we keep seeing harebrained decisions like these from celebs and companies: They take calculated risks based on the potential good will lost Vs. money gained.
Troy wasn't ignorant to the discourse. He, like all the other NFT prospectors, thought he could power though the backlash and still get his way. He bet wrong, but at least he's trying to course correct (even if it might just be to save face).
@BloodNinja The venue literally doesn't matter. You and I were giving thoughts and opinions on different sides of the same subject. Whatever politically correct definition you want to use, that's a debate, man...
And I'm trying not to be rude about this, but it's wild to me that you keep trying to pin your inability to argue a point you stood by of your own volition on me as if I don't understand where you're coming from (when I very much do, I just don't agree with it), and then tell me not to take it seriously?? I'd have even begrudgingly accepted "Agree to disagree", but you're really gonna be this petty and childish? I don't think that's very Ninja Approved of you...
@BloodNinja My dude, I've been learning other points of views, but I'm not obliged to be convinced by them if you don't have solid enough data or estimates to back them up. It'd be one thing if you actually had the numbers/data to prove me wrong... but how are you gonna call me lazy for not wanting to look up information that you can't seem to find yourself??
It's a step in the right direction that you have the humility to acknowledge that you lack the means to produce the data relevant to your argument, but then the next logical step is to admit that maybe your stance isn't as grounded as you once thought. Debates are a two-way street.
Trying to put the onus on me to prove you right, and then try and make me look like the inconsiderate one for not accepting your flawed opinions at face value, is [thematically fitting] a rhetorical smoke bomb.
@BloodNinja My bad about the late response. I asked the question about how much money is saved against pirates because YOU raised the point that "DRMs are good for everyone, because companies save money against pirates." That's the metaphorical hill in question.
Not to be too hard on you, but the burden of proof was yours to back up your claim, and if you couldn't provide even a reasonable ballpark estimate to those claims, then your point doesn't stand (cuz I'm not doing your homework for you). But this kinda goes into into the crux of all of this:
The devil doesn't need any more advocates regarding NFTs, because tech and crypto bros have been putting the cart before the horse for the past year at least. So many practical examples listed that NFTs can provide are made redundant by preexisting and/or more efficient means, and every flaw/vulnerability raised seems to be hand-waved (like how art-based NFTs were supposed to help artists, but they've only incentivized art theft, while most artists who went in on good faith have seen negligible return on investment).
When so much push for NFTs is based on profit motive, and vested interest for them is exclusively among companies and early investors... consumers who clearly have little to gain while it's being push on us have every right to be wary, if not annoyed. That's hardly an "extremist" position...
@BloodNinja Just to note: a piracy site wouldn't be the end-all-be-all, because access to APKs, ISOs, Rom, and other files on hand could easily be transferred and distributed via torrents, cloud sites, or just peer to peer (not even considering all the respective sites out there). At best I could get a loose estimate, but... why do I have to crunch numbers if you're the one arguing that DRMs are saving companies and devs from bankruptcy?
And my GOG point is that there's a viable business that can operate and make bank without relying on DRMs. And that devs/publishers have no issue doing business with them despite the lack of DRMs. Your use of revenue numbers doesn't disprove that, and really only makes the case that Steam is -at the very least- the more popular PC platform (like how majority uses Google over Bing, Ask, DuckDuckGo, etc.)
Lastly, if I cared to "do my own research" on loose data that may not even exist, I would've done that by now. But again, I'm not the one making claims that would have to be backed up by numbers. My initial comment to you was about how consumers didn't swoon over DRMs over time, and how it mostly benefits companies; not unlike this NFT gold rush we're seeing now. No one forced you to choose the hill you picked to die on, with all due respect.
@BloodNinja I know the pandemic isnt the sole reason, but my point was that the data you shared wasnt enough to go off of.
How much Denuvo and Steam charge does give some perspective on how much companies are willing to pay, but how much they're saving against piracy per their investment eventually becomes nebulous the further you get away from the investment cost.
And a counterargument to this is that GOG sells games ranging from AAA to indie (games you can also find on Steam), and their entire gimmick is being DRM-free.
@BloodNinja OK, but what I was asking was if there was proof of how much companies were saving thanks to DRMs.
Gaming booming due to the pandemic (per your quote) could equally be attributed to people being inclined to pay for products, regardless, than their inability to pirate. Any inference beyond what's being presented is just appealing to one's confirmation bias.
And this ignores that it's hard to measure just how many folks are pirating to begin with.
@BloodNinja I get the argument that it adds an extra layer of defense against piracy, but has there been much proof of how much money it's actually saved companies and studios?
Anyone who cares to jump through the hoops to consume paid media for free (and/or lacks the funds to begin with) is still doing it, while everyone willing to pay already do.
@BloodNinja To be fair with DRMs, consumers didnt learn to love them, because they still dont provide any substantial benefits to the consumer (it's almost exclusively beneficial to businesses). They only became less of a problem because internet access has improved. But when you have no internet, you're out of luck.
The internet, on the other hand, has shown its use over time. But it also wasnt "everyone" who doubted it. It stuck pretty well by the time it hit mainstream.
NFTs feel more like DRMs, where companies are hoping we get worn down by their push and just accept things. But it's having trouble sticking because Crypto bros and the like already gave the game away. So now we're all just tired of hearing about it until it can actually prove its use.
@inenai Fair enough in trying to quell the energy consumption concerns. Still, that's a moot point when a company is struggling to properly justify new tech at the same time they're implementing it.
Because crypto/blockchain/NFTs started under the idea that it's a money-making opportunity ("Get in on this new money before it takes off!"), the PR shift to "But think of what good it'll do for society! [Citation Needed]" feels like an ends to justify the means.
Also, IDK where you got the idea where I said/implied that being able to resell digital content would be a bad thing. It's just that you can do that without NFTs.
@inenai Getting past the energy consumption issue doesnt really solve its redundancy and dubiousness. So many "amazing" ways it can be used can already be done in more pragmatic ways.
Their example is that players can resell their digital items and games... but they could just make a digital buy-back program, peer-to-peer marketplace, or auction house.
With that in mind, it raises the question of what Ubi gets out of trying to impose NFTs into the equation? Given their track record, I doubt they're doing all this just for our sakes...
@popey1980 It'd be nice for New Horizons to get anywhere near as much long-term support, but both games have different design philosophies and profit incentives.
A console game getting the perks of a mobile game is like wishing on a monkey's paw, because you just arent likely to get the cool stuff that people want from a F2P game without the crappy stuff people despise about those same games.
@Spiders In the vein of trying to be respectful and transparent, I'll just say... duly noted.
I tried to avoid getting into the weeds when I was originally responding to you (mainly staying around rhetoric and pragmatism), and the other guy injected his initial tirade into our conversation, which I intended to wash my hands of this conversation after I responded to him (dude's invoking Jesus and referring to the Nuremburg Code, and there's no helping that).
It's not even about being a "vaccine fanboy." The initial frustration was seeing people find every excuse and conspiracy theory to disregard precautions that would've helped starve the virus (as this isnt our first pandemic rodeo). It's kinda too late for that now, but at least we can minimize deaths and illnesses to relieve pressure from various industries (including the healthcare sector) if enough folks get vaccinated and/or adhere to precautions... but expectations were too high there too.
I try to be sympathetic and empathetic where I can (I too would rather not go back to lockdowns), but having known folks who either died from Covid or are under occupational stress due to the pandemic, because we cant band together and get this over with, has me emotionally tapped out for those who care more about being what they perceive to be right (fighting against "controlled"), rather than doing what's pragmatically right (assuring as few people get sick and die as possible).
With all due respect, I'm ejecting myself out of this thread because I dont like getting too deep into matters that become removed from gaming on a site about Nintnedo gaming news. This was a rare exception, and I already regret it.
On one hand, it does seem weird they'd devote any such development time to a game that only stuck around for less than a year.
On the other hand, I kiiiiiinda respect their commitment? Like, it's 1000% a stupid move (especially as it added a net positive value to the NSO subscription), but dang it, if they're not sticking by that for the time being.
@shoeses I don't think there's much room to cry about a trading card game being P2W considering the entire nature of building your deck is to buy blind booster packs, and trade cards you don't want.
Unless things have changed since I last remembered, and you can buy buffs and the like in these games...
Geez, might be time to bring back the "Micro$oft" moniker. Optimistically, Microsoft has been pretty decent for gaming posterity in ways of backwards compatibility, cloud gaming, Game Pass value, and generally playing nicely with their competitors... But cynically, they have a history of underutilizing some acquisitions to a near-criminal degree (Rare in particular).
It's not like Acti-Blizz can get any worse, but I'm not crazy about the potential monopolization of Western gaming (in NA). EA and Take-Two are kinda the only other big fish left over here, and that's, uhhh... not ideal.
Normally I'm kinda nonplussed about paying the Switch Tax for ports, but $90-$140 for compilations you can neither play portably, much less own physically, is a big ask when the All-in-One package is less than 1/3 the price on PS4 (and the standalone packages are also dirt cheap).
I'm morbidly curious to give the demos a shot, but there's really no reason to jump on these unless you really dont have access by any other means.
@InsideOutsideUpside I'm sorry for your loss of job and mother's life, but you're hiding behind a lot of bad faith reasons to be anti-vaxx.
1) Considering you can supposedly get Covid more than once (due to variants and on top of other illnesses), it's recommended to get vaccinated because people younger and healthier than you have either died or are stuck dealing with "Long Covid." Vaccination among the earlier variants helped reduce the spread, and keeps you out of the hospital with recent. Getting immunized is pragmatic as it lessens the strain on the healthcare sector, and is no more "symbolic" than any other shot you got in your life (tetanus, measles, etc.).
2) Supposedly, that "Less than 1% death rate" statistic isnt even accurate 2+ years into this thing. Even humoring that stat, that's roughly 1 out of 100 people dying to this thing. Considering how less of a chance you have to be taken out in other ways (or win any contest), those are terrible odds.
3) I get the skepticism, considering past aggressions (I, too, am familiar with the Tuskeegee experiments, etc.), but that doesnt give you a blanket excuse to ignore basic health and science that is both available, and dumbed down in the most simplest of terms.
4) Viruses are egalitarian in the worst ways possible. They dont care how you feel about "big pharma", your politics, your conspiracy theories, your skepticism, nor your ethics/morals. Logic and science are the only ways to deal with it.
It's insulting that you're assuming my ignorance when I want to get back to a true normal as badly as anyone else. I feel for your personal circumstance, and even understand where you're coming from... but it says a lot that you cant extend the same amount of empathy towards everyone else also impacted by this pandemic. Multiplied by so many others who carry the same line of thinking is why it feels like we're no closer to getting out of this.
The 2+ years of this has worn down my patience for people who hide their own ignorance, paranoia, and selfishness under the guise of skepticism and a misplaced sense of ethics/morality.
I only have room left for loved ones, the immunocompromised, kids too young to get the shot, and all the professionals stuck dealing with anti-vaxxers/anti-mandate folks. Best of luck everyone else. (I cant believe I had to get into the weeds about a pandemic on a Nintendo site...)
I don't recall anti-vaxxers being considered racists, but there has been a lot of overlap with them being Trump supporters and anti-science as (at least in the US) Trump himself was effectively "patient zero" of doubting professionals, followed by his ilk echoing that sentiment long after the fact. And the reason why anti-mandate crowds get looped in with anti-vaxxers, is because it results in the same problem. If people were willing to get vaccinated from the jump, mandates wouldn't be necessary. But if they want to make the personal choice to not get vaxxed, then others have the right to put up with the health risk or liability.
And the BLM person who was calling the mandates problematic definitely misses the point and intention of the mandates, which is to push back against a virus that doesn't racially discriminate. I don't blame their initial concern considering other legitimately ongoing systemic issues that still need addressing (and their suspicion considering NY's mixed history), but pragmatically, getting vaccinated would make this a non-issue while also have the added benefit of protecting a lot of people.
I'd say it's less "boy who cried wolf" and more "selective ignorance fueled by political bias and/or lack of empathy [until a situation personally affects them]". Yes, there is a problem with people taking issues over the littlest things (not exclusive to the left), but that doesn't justify willful ignorance or malice in way of becoming a reactionary. Critical thinking - and especially empathy - is crucial in cutting through the noise, not being taken advantage of by bad actors and grifters, and not pigeonholing one's self into a position that might ultimately cause harm to one's self or others around them.
@Spiders I think your last sentence has effectively made the point that "the left" nor "wokeness" has little to do with any of this, and more that reactionaries are more than capable of creating noise and divisiveness without any external influence.
Like, just look at invictus4000's initial comment: Completely unprovoked, he reveled in the idea that "wokesters" and "big brother" were behind this, despite that making absolutely no sense given the context of the last 2 years.
This also isn't getting into how "cancel culture" and the like isn't exclusive to left-leaning folks, but that's getting too in the weeds for what should be a site talking about video game-related stuff...
@montrayjak The decentralization talking point is probably one of the more frustrating justifications in all of this. Because it sounds ideal on paper, but there's open acknowledgement that such a system can be abused.
And then, because of this desperate race of everyone trying to stake their claim, it begs the question how guaranteed will it be that things wont inevitably just be consolidated into different, fewer hands?
Honestly, good for them! I know these moves have that initial "Are you serious?..." reaction for IPs where the memes become bigger than the IP itself, but this actually allows them a chance to break through that.
Kinda like how "Sans Undertale" started eclipsing Undertale itself until Deltarune course corrected that. Still a lot of memes, but the variety staves off the derivativeness.
@Tobiaku Without spoiling things, I promise you that the people who dislike the story or twist arent doing so because it's "politically incorrect" or whatever you're hoping it is.
It's more like, "I thought they warned not to do this stuff in Creative Writing 102..."
@NEStalgia Oh geez, I didnt even know things were that bad in Halo. But I think there is a limit to how much people are willing to spend on something.
There'll always be a market for games subsidized by whales (usually F2P), but games with a higher barrier of entry may struggle. It's partially why I think $70 games are gonna be a flash in the pan. We already pay for that via DLC.
@NEStalgia In defense of Nintendo Badge Arcade, a lot of the fun of crane games is the thrill to potentially win a prize. At the very least the prizes could be used, even if simply cosmetically. And if you didnt spend a dime, it was kind of a generous F2P game.
The bigger problem was how stingy it all was on the money front. $2 for 10 plays for digital prizes was undeniably greedy. If they bring it back, they need to seriously rebalance that.
@JayJ I'd argue the time when they still allowed EB Games to be its own brand was the last time it generally felt alright to shop there. But I definitely agree that the eventual monopoly has done serious harm to the brick and motar gaming market.
I'm fortunate to have a couple of "mom 'n pop" gaming stores in my area, but not everyone's so lucky. And because the market is so unlikely to expand, it's why I hope GS stops screwing around and does better before it's too late.
@Browny It's ironic because their loss of relevancy is likely due to trying too hard to please investors first, and gamers second.
Had they leaned into improving customer experiences, eased up on trying to hit quotas, and dipped their toes into more honest endeavors, they might be in a better position right now.
Probably not making all the money, but losing them would be like losing Toys R Us; there's so few dedicated stores like that these days (in North America, at least).
@NinChocolate Personally, this felt more like a "Schrodinger's Cat" situation. The name "Madden" has been associated with the games for so long, that it never crossed my mind whether the person who the games were named after was still with us or not.
Personal thoughts aside, RIP to the guy. Even just seeing some of the comments around here, he seems like he meant a lot to many American football fans.
Comments 943
Re: Talking Point: If Breath Of The Wild 2 Launched Alongside New Switch Hardware, Would You Upgrade?
The Switch is practically the only gaming console I use these days, so I'd definitely jump on another upgrade if it comes to that.
But what would really seal the deal for me is if past games got a nice resolution/frame rate boost as well.
Re: The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 Delayed To Spring 2023
The only reason why this announcement doesnt hurt more for me is because Elden Ring has been scratching that itch pretty well atm (if only it was on Switch...).
Also, conspiracy theories:
#1 - They probably took note of Elden Ring's reception and are doubling back on some design decisions.
#2 - Timing the release around the Switch's 6th year anniversary and mayyyyybe a console revision that lets BotW2 shine in the same way the OLED did for Metroid Dread.
Re: Former Elite Beat Agents Devs Confirm Next Title, 'Backbeat', To Debut On Switch
@ramu-chan This is kind of a surprising take between the version. I always assumed most Ouendan die-hards had a fair amount of love for EBA (even if they preferred one over the other).
It's such a shame the series had to live and die with the DS. OSU! keeps the gameplay alive, which I'm grateful for... but what's the point without agents/cheerleaders hyping up ordinary people to overcome over-the-top scenarios?
Re: Dragalia Lost To End Service Later This Year
@victordamazio Agreed. Turning a F2P game into a one-time purchase would not just be good for posterity, but it'd arguably attract a new player base that otherwise passed on (or fell off of) the original model.
This would also instill faith that time put into these games wouldnt just evaporate when the next Nintendo-published mobile game comes around and inevitably shuts down.
Re: Nintendo Switch System Update 14.0.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
A bit more hoop-jumpy than expected to set up, but great once it's actually done.
What would probably make it better is if groups could show at the top, while "all games" could show below. If I'm going through the trouble of organizing things, I'd like to get to my "folders" in as few steps as possible.
Re: Run-And-Gun Game 'Spidersaurs' From The Developers Of Contra 4 Is Coming To Switch
I mean, if Konami ain't gonna do it...
Re: Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Movie Updates Promotional Poster After Fan Feedback
At the risk of instigating, it seems especially dubious that the two names they originally left out were two women. Yeah, the guys are "bigger names", but it kinda makes the point of a couple of perpetual problems in Hollywood.
Good that they listened to the fans here, though. How wild would it be if these Sonic movies were the thing to start fixing some of the rougher parts of Hollywood business decisions?
Re: Mini Review: Grapple Dog - A Cracking GBA-Style Platformer, With Echoes Of Go! Go! Beckham!
@ArchRex Can definitely agree with the music variety criticism. OST is very good, but for how long the stages can be (and then doing the time trials), one stage song per world just isn't enough.
Time or budget notwithstanding, it'd have been nice if they did like the Sonic games and had an Act 2 or B-Side song to mix things up a bit.
Re: Square Enix Releases "Day 1 Patch" For Kingdom Hearts' Cloud Versions On Switch
I'm still baffled that they went so far as to have this series playable on Switch, but went the way of the cloud rather than physical or even digitally a la carte...
I'll concede that 2.8 and 3 would've been a big ask, but there's little reason 1.5+2.5 (and DDD) couldn't have had an option for ownership. I wish we could find out what went through SE's mind with this.
Re: Konami Is Committed To NFTs In Order To Preserve Beloved Content As "Commemorative Art"
Gotta love the marketing speak, making it feel like it's for the culture or the sake of art.
Heaven forbid they do any practical preservation methods like making more of their old games affordably accessible via modern consoles or an online archive.
Re: Shovel Knight Dev Reveals 'Mina The Follower', A Top-Down Adventure With Zelda And Castlevania Vibes
I'm sure folks were expecting more Shovel Knight, but you know what? A new IP is a smart move!
Get that diverse catalog of characters and worlds going nice and early so you're not sitting on the laurels of one well-earned success. (I say "early", but Shovel Knight is almost 10 years old if you start with the Kickstarter...)
Re: Troy Baker Backtracks On NFT Plans And Issues Apology
@nhSnork If Nintendo or Hasbro did something you stood against, and then they doubled down on their business decisions saying, "Whatever. You guys are gonna give us money anyway!" I'm sure you'd question your moral/financial support of them for at least a moment, wouldn't you?
Good will isn't some mythical concept, it's Public Relations 101. If it didn't/shouldn't matter, why would any of these companies put up with social media at all?
There is something to say about social media and how the removal of degrees of separation does create a dubious relationship/connection between people and the companies/talent they like, but again, they can't have it both ways. If Troy wanted to continue on with his business venture, he would've been free to do so, just as everyone else is free not to support it.
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@SakuraHaruka I think you're misconstruing what "drama" is. Like, I'm not even saying to boycott. Whether you do or don't is all up to your own personal choice. I'm more taking the stance that we should voice our disapproval and wariness early on, because as far as corporate greed goes, silence (and, especially profit) equals approval to a lot of these guys.
And there's already been countless people out there who've calmly and non-dramatically explained why NFTs aren't great for the current moment or the long term (if they gain a foothold). But if you're asking in good faith for someone who can "objectively" explain to you this whole rigamarole, here's a guy who pretty much covers every part of it, including how it may even affect gaming in the future: https://youtu.be/YQ_xWvX1n9g
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@SakuraHaruka I see where you're coming from, but "ignoring the problem" doesnt always mean it eventually goes away. There is such a thing as "The Paradox of Tolerance": Where acceptance (or indifference) towards something dubious, just because it doesnt negatively and directly affect you personally, tends to lead things to a point where by the time it finally does, it's too late to do anything about it. That's where we're at with the state of mobile gaming (F2P models, premium currency, loot boxes, low-effort games, etc.). And DLC isnt anyworse thanks to people "losing their minds" over how EA handled that Star Wars Battlefront game.
The reality is that you're predicting this NFT arms race to be a passing fad, so it's not worth worrying about... but this ignores how there is a precedent of big players putting their hands on the scale to get their way.
If there is a future for crypto and NFTs, it sure would be nice if these companies could figure a lot of it out first, rather than shout into the ether trying to sell us on a promise. If you want to abstain from the discourse, by all means. But dont be that person who thinks everyone else is crazy for caring.
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@SakuraHaruka That's just whataboutism, though. Sure, there's things worse than NFTs, just as getting punched is worse than getting slapped... But why do we have to put up with getting slapped at all?
Ironically, those worse examples make the case for consumers to be wary of companies going on this gold rush. Those same groups tried to convince us that DLC, DRMs, loot boxes, "Games as a service", etc. were explicitly for our benefit. So why are NFTs suddenly the one area where they deserve the benefit of the doubt?
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@Scapetti If it's about re-selling your digital purchases, a digital marketplace that keeps track of your account's purchases and sales could do that easily, and without NFTs. If it's about collecting "a digital version of amiibo", that, ironically, requires a centralized entity to create that value (like Steam and their trading cards), and still wouldn't need NFTs.
Also, saying "Artwork is the simplest to understand" (really patronizing to us artists btw) kinda ignores the fact that 1) Most artists aren't seeing a return on investment trying to get in on NFTs, 2) Has only resulted in a new wave of art theft, and 3) Hasn't created much value on any art that wasn't sold on the initial novelty/investment of NFTs.
As NFTs for art are just digital receipts saying "X paid for this!", that more assigns their value to the purchaser, not the product that was purchased. If the product can be infinitely purchased... where's the value?
"NFTs have a lot of use cases, and we're just scratching the surface," is not a satisfying response to people asking why they should care right now. If there's only investment incentive, but no practical use that isn't made redundant by other means, that's a scam.
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@SakuraHaruka But who's to say it wont eventually affect those other aspects? When NFTs are generally solutions in search of problems, who's to say they wont be used as an excuse to "fix" other problems?
Just the other day, Ubisoft was trying to justify their use under the guise of a digital marketplace. But that can already be done without NFTs.
Re: Team17 Is Jumping On The NFT Train With 'MetaWorms'
@Scapetti Be careful of stopping at "just a thought." It's far better to think critically.
A bunch of companies being involved doesn't mean it's not a scam. That just means multiple private groups see a money-making opportunity. It's important to ask what that opportunity means for the consumer. If there's no substantial benefit to the consumer-end... it's likely a scam.
Re: Troy Baker Backtracks On NFT Plans And Issues Apology
@nhSnork Celebs and entertainment talent can't have it both ways. They can stand by their convictions, but they can't, then, get mad when fans and peers don't want anything to do with them over decisions/actions made.
Ironically, you calling it a "fanbrained backlash over the teacup storm of the month" perfectly encapsulates why we keep seeing harebrained decisions like these from celebs and companies: They take calculated risks based on the potential good will lost Vs. money gained.
Troy wasn't ignorant to the discourse. He, like all the other NFT prospectors, thought he could power though the backlash and still get his way. He bet wrong, but at least he's trying to course correct (even if it might just be to save face).
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja The venue literally doesn't matter. You and I were giving thoughts and opinions on different sides of the same subject. Whatever politically correct definition you want to use, that's a debate, man...
And I'm trying not to be rude about this, but it's wild to me that you keep trying to pin your inability to argue a point you stood by of your own volition on me as if I don't understand where you're coming from (when I very much do, I just don't agree with it), and then tell me not to take it seriously?? I'd have even begrudgingly accepted "Agree to disagree", but you're really gonna be this petty and childish? I don't think that's very Ninja Approved of you...
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja My dude, I've been learning other points of views, but I'm not obliged to be convinced by them if you don't have solid enough data or estimates to back them up. It'd be one thing if you actually had the numbers/data to prove me wrong... but how are you gonna call me lazy for not wanting to look up information that you can't seem to find yourself??
It's a step in the right direction that you have the humility to acknowledge that you lack the means to produce the data relevant to your argument, but then the next logical step is to admit that maybe your stance isn't as grounded as you once thought. Debates are a two-way street.
Trying to put the onus on me to prove you right, and then try and make me look like the inconsiderate one for not accepting your flawed opinions at face value, is [thematically fitting] a rhetorical smoke bomb.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja My bad about the late response. I asked the question about how much money is saved against pirates because YOU raised the point that "DRMs are good for everyone, because companies save money against pirates." That's the metaphorical hill in question.
Not to be too hard on you, but the burden of proof was yours to back up your claim, and if you couldn't provide even a reasonable ballpark estimate to those claims, then your point doesn't stand (cuz I'm not doing your homework for you). But this kinda goes into into the crux of all of this:
The devil doesn't need any more advocates regarding NFTs, because tech and crypto bros have been putting the cart before the horse for the past year at least. So many practical examples listed that NFTs can provide are made redundant by preexisting and/or more efficient means, and every flaw/vulnerability raised seems to be hand-waved (like how art-based NFTs were supposed to help artists, but they've only incentivized art theft, while most artists who went in on good faith have seen negligible return on investment).
When so much push for NFTs is based on profit motive, and vested interest for them is exclusively among companies and early investors... consumers who clearly have little to gain while it's being push on us have every right to be wary, if not annoyed. That's hardly an "extremist" position...
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja Just to note: a piracy site wouldn't be the end-all-be-all, because access to APKs, ISOs, Rom, and other files on hand could easily be transferred and distributed via torrents, cloud sites, or just peer to peer (not even considering all the respective sites out there). At best I could get a loose estimate, but... why do I have to crunch numbers if you're the one arguing that DRMs are saving companies and devs from bankruptcy?
And my GOG point is that there's a viable business that can operate and make bank without relying on DRMs. And that devs/publishers have no issue doing business with them despite the lack of DRMs. Your use of revenue numbers doesn't disprove that, and really only makes the case that Steam is -at the very least- the more popular PC platform (like how majority uses Google over Bing, Ask, DuckDuckGo, etc.)
Lastly, if I cared to "do my own research" on loose data that may not even exist, I would've done that by now. But again, I'm not the one making claims that would have to be backed up by numbers. My initial comment to you was about how consumers didn't swoon over DRMs over time, and how it mostly benefits companies; not unlike this NFT gold rush we're seeing now. No one forced you to choose the hill you picked to die on, with all due respect.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja I know the pandemic isnt the sole reason, but my point was that the data you shared wasnt enough to go off of.
How much Denuvo and Steam charge does give some perspective on how much companies are willing to pay, but how much they're saving against piracy per their investment eventually becomes nebulous the further you get away from the investment cost.
And a counterargument to this is that GOG sells games ranging from AAA to indie (games you can also find on Steam), and their entire gimmick is being DRM-free.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja OK, but what I was asking was if there was proof of how much companies were saving thanks to DRMs.
Gaming booming due to the pandemic (per your quote) could equally be attributed to people being inclined to pay for products, regardless, than their inability to pirate. Any inference beyond what's being presented is just appealing to one's confirmation bias.
And this ignores that it's hard to measure just how many folks are pirating to begin with.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja I get the argument that it adds an extra layer of defense against piracy, but has there been much proof of how much money it's actually saved companies and studios?
Anyone who cares to jump through the hoops to consume paid media for free (and/or lacks the funds to begin with) is still doing it, while everyone willing to pay already do.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@BloodNinja To be fair with DRMs, consumers didnt learn to love them, because they still dont provide any substantial benefits to the consumer (it's almost exclusively beneficial to businesses). They only became less of a problem because internet access has improved. But when you have no internet, you're out of luck.
The internet, on the other hand, has shown its use over time. But it also wasnt "everyone" who doubted it. It stuck pretty well by the time it hit mainstream.
NFTs feel more like DRMs, where companies are hoping we get worn down by their push and just accept things. But it's having trouble sticking because Crypto bros and the like already gave the game away. So now we're all just tired of hearing about it until it can actually prove its use.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@inenai Fair enough in trying to quell the energy consumption concerns. Still, that's a moot point when a company is struggling to properly justify new tech at the same time they're implementing it.
Because crypto/blockchain/NFTs started under the idea that it's a money-making opportunity ("Get in on this new money before it takes off!"), the PR shift to "But think of what good it'll do for society! [Citation Needed]" feels like an ends to justify the means.
Also, IDK where you got the idea where I said/implied that being able to resell digital content would be a bad thing. It's just that you can do that without NFTs.
Re: Ubisoft: Players "Don't Get" What Makes NFTs So Beneficial
@inenai Getting past the energy consumption issue doesnt really solve its redundancy and dubiousness. So many "amazing" ways it can be used can already be done in more pragmatic ways.
Their example is that players can resell their digital items and games... but they could just make a digital buy-back program, peer-to-peer marketplace, or auction house.
With that in mind, it raises the question of what Ubi gets out of trying to impose NFTs into the equation? Given their track record, I doubt they're doing all this just for our sakes...
Re: Major Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Update Doubles Visitors And Adds New 'Membership'
@popey1980 It'd be nice for New Horizons to get anywhere near as much long-term support, but both games have different design philosophies and profit incentives.
A console game getting the perks of a mobile game is like wishing on a monkey's paw, because you just arent likely to get the cool stuff that people want from a F2P game without the crappy stuff people despise about those same games.
Re: 'Pandemic' Will Apparently Be Removed From The Switch eShop This July
@Spiders In the vein of trying to be respectful and transparent, I'll just say... duly noted.
I tried to avoid getting into the weeds when I was originally responding to you (mainly staying around rhetoric and pragmatism), and the other guy injected his initial tirade into our conversation, which I intended to wash my hands of this conversation after I responded to him (dude's invoking Jesus and referring to the Nuremburg Code, and there's no helping that).
It's not even about being a "vaccine fanboy." The initial frustration was seeing people find every excuse and conspiracy theory to disregard precautions that would've helped starve the virus (as this isnt our first pandemic rodeo). It's kinda too late for that now, but at least we can minimize deaths and illnesses to relieve pressure from various industries (including the healthcare sector) if enough folks get vaccinated and/or adhere to precautions... but expectations were too high there too.
I try to be sympathetic and empathetic where I can (I too would rather not go back to lockdowns), but having known folks who either died from Covid or are under occupational stress due to the pandemic, because we cant band together and get this over with, has me emotionally tapped out for those who care more about being what they perceive to be right (fighting against "controlled"), rather than doing what's pragmatically right (assuring as few people get sick and die as possible).
With all due respect, I'm ejecting myself out of this thread because I dont like getting too deep into matters that become removed from gaming on a site about Nintnedo gaming news. This was a rare exception, and I already regret it.
Re: Random: Nintendo Shows Switch Owners How To Delete Games, Uses Super Mario Bros. 35 As An Example
On one hand, it does seem weird they'd devote any such development time to a game that only stuck around for less than a year.
On the other hand, I kiiiiiinda respect their commitment? Like, it's 1000% a stupid move (especially as it added a net positive value to the NSO subscription), but dang it, if they're not sticking by that for the time being.
Re: Surprise! Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Is Now Available On The Switch eShop
@Jeronan My bad about the late comment, but I appreciate the clarification!
Re: Surprise! Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Is Now Available On The Switch eShop
@shoeses I don't think there's much room to cry about a trading card game being P2W considering the entire nature of building your deck is to buy blind booster packs, and trade cards you don't want.
Unless things have changed since I last remembered, and you can buy buffs and the like in these games...
Re: Banjo-Kazooie Joins Switch Online's Expansion Pack This Week
Slow rollout aside, good on Nintendo for not hoarding this one for an overly-long time.
Feels like there's a strong possibility that Diddy Kong Racing is just a matter of time now.
Re: Microsoft Buys Activision Blizzard, Now Owns Call Of Duty And Crash Bandicoot
@NatiaAdamo I went and added "in NA" because while Ubi still exists, they're originally European publishers.
But heck, that kinda speaks of the state of gaming over there, as well.
Re: Microsoft Buys Activision Blizzard, Now Owns Call Of Duty And Crash Bandicoot
Geez, might be time to bring back the "Micro$oft" moniker. Optimistically, Microsoft has been pretty decent for gaming posterity in ways of backwards compatibility, cloud gaming, Game Pass value, and generally playing nicely with their competitors... But cynically, they have a history of underutilizing some acquisitions to a near-criminal degree (Rare in particular).
It's not like Acti-Blizz can get any worse, but I'm not crazy about the potential monopolization of Western gaming (in NA). EA and Take-Two are kinda the only other big fish left over here, and that's, uhhh... not ideal.
Re: Kingdom Hearts Cloud Collection Arrives On Switch In February, Pricing Revealed
Normally I'm kinda nonplussed about paying the Switch Tax for ports, but $90-$140 for compilations you can neither play portably, much less own physically, is a big ask when the All-in-One package is less than 1/3 the price on PS4 (and the standalone packages are also dirt cheap).
I'm morbidly curious to give the demos a shot, but there's really no reason to jump on these unless you really dont have access by any other means.
Re: 'Pandemic' Will Apparently Be Removed From The Switch eShop This July
@InsideOutsideUpside I'm sorry for your loss of job and mother's life, but you're hiding behind a lot of bad faith reasons to be anti-vaxx.
1) Considering you can supposedly get Covid more than once (due to variants and on top of other illnesses), it's recommended to get vaccinated because people younger and healthier than you have either died or are stuck dealing with "Long Covid." Vaccination among the earlier variants helped reduce the spread, and keeps you out of the hospital with recent. Getting immunized is pragmatic as it lessens the strain on the healthcare sector, and is no more "symbolic" than any other shot you got in your life (tetanus, measles, etc.).
2) Supposedly, that "Less than 1% death rate" statistic isnt even accurate 2+ years into this thing. Even humoring that stat, that's roughly 1 out of 100 people dying to this thing. Considering how less of a chance you have to be taken out in other ways (or win any contest), those are terrible odds.
3) I get the skepticism, considering past aggressions (I, too, am familiar with the Tuskeegee experiments, etc.), but that doesnt give you a blanket excuse to ignore basic health and science that is both available, and dumbed down in the most simplest of terms.
4) Viruses are egalitarian in the worst ways possible. They dont care how you feel about "big pharma", your politics, your conspiracy theories, your skepticism, nor your ethics/morals. Logic and science are the only ways to deal with it.
It's insulting that you're assuming my ignorance when I want to get back to a true normal as badly as anyone else. I feel for your personal circumstance, and even understand where you're coming from... but it says a lot that you cant extend the same amount of empathy towards everyone else also impacted by this pandemic. Multiplied by so many others who carry the same line of thinking is why it feels like we're no closer to getting out of this.
The 2+ years of this has worn down my patience for people who hide their own ignorance, paranoia, and selfishness under the guise of skepticism and a misplaced sense of ethics/morality.
I only have room left for loved ones, the immunocompromised, kids too young to get the shot, and all the professionals stuck dealing with anti-vaxxers/anti-mandate folks. Best of luck everyone else. (I cant believe I had to get into the weeds about a pandemic on a Nintendo site...)
Re: 'Pandemic' Will Apparently Be Removed From The Switch eShop This July
I don't recall anti-vaxxers being considered racists, but there has been a lot of overlap with them being Trump supporters and anti-science as (at least in the US) Trump himself was effectively "patient zero" of doubting professionals, followed by his ilk echoing that sentiment long after the fact. And the reason why anti-mandate crowds get looped in with anti-vaxxers, is because it results in the same problem. If people were willing to get vaccinated from the jump, mandates wouldn't be necessary. But if they want to make the personal choice to not get vaxxed, then others have the right to put up with the health risk or liability.
And the BLM person who was calling the mandates problematic definitely misses the point and intention of the mandates, which is to push back against a virus that doesn't racially discriminate. I don't blame their initial concern considering other legitimately ongoing systemic issues that still need addressing (and their suspicion considering NY's mixed history), but pragmatically, getting vaccinated would make this a non-issue while also have the added benefit of protecting a lot of people.
I'd say it's less "boy who cried wolf" and more "selective ignorance fueled by political bias and/or lack of empathy [until a situation personally affects them]". Yes, there is a problem with people taking issues over the littlest things (not exclusive to the left), but that doesn't justify willful ignorance or malice in way of becoming a reactionary. Critical thinking - and especially empathy - is crucial in cutting through the noise, not being taken advantage of by bad actors and grifters, and not pigeonholing one's self into a position that might ultimately cause harm to one's self or others around them.
Re: 'Pandemic' Will Apparently Be Removed From The Switch eShop This July
@Spiders I think your last sentence has effectively made the point that "the left" nor "wokeness" has little to do with any of this, and more that reactionaries are more than capable of creating noise and divisiveness without any external influence.
Like, just look at invictus4000's initial comment: Completely unprovoked, he reveled in the idea that "wokesters" and "big brother" were behind this, despite that making absolutely no sense given the context of the last 2 years.
This also isn't getting into how "cancel culture" and the like isn't exclusive to left-leaning folks, but that's getting too in the weeds for what should be a site talking about video game-related stuff...
Re: Talking Point: What Could NFTs Mean For Gaming, And Why Are They So Divisive?
@montrayjak The decentralization talking point is probably one of the more frustrating justifications in all of this. Because it sounds ideal on paper, but there's open acknowledgement that such a system can be abused.
And then, because of this desperate race of everyone trying to stake their claim, it begs the question how guaranteed will it be that things wont inevitably just be consolidated into different, fewer hands?
Re: Among Us Is Getting Turned Into A Manga
Honestly, good for them! I know these moves have that initial "Are you serious?..." reaction for IPs where the memes become bigger than the IP itself, but this actually allows them a chance to break through that.
Kinda like how "Sans Undertale" started eclipsing Undertale itself until Deltarune course corrected that. Still a lot of memes, but the variety staves off the derivativeness.
Re: Mini Review: Twelve Minutes - A Tedious Time Loop That Squanders Its Potential
@Tobiaku Without spoiling things, I promise you that the people who dislike the story or twist arent doing so because it's "politically incorrect" or whatever you're hoping it is.
It's more like, "I thought they warned not to do this stuff in Creative Writing 102..."
Re: GameStop Is Betting The Farm On NFTs, And Investors Are All For It
@NEStalgia Oh geez, I didnt even know things were that bad in Halo. But I think there is a limit to how much people are willing to spend on something.
There'll always be a market for games subsidized by whales (usually F2P), but games with a higher barrier of entry may struggle. It's partially why I think $70 games are gonna be a flash in the pan. We already pay for that via DLC.
Re: GameStop Is Betting The Farm On NFTs, And Investors Are All For It
@NEStalgia In defense of Nintendo Badge Arcade, a lot of the fun of crane games is the thrill to potentially win a prize. At the very least the prizes could be used, even if simply cosmetically. And if you didnt spend a dime, it was kind of a generous F2P game.
The bigger problem was how stingy it all was on the money front. $2 for 10 plays for digital prizes was undeniably greedy. If they bring it back, they need to seriously rebalance that.
Re: GameStop Is Betting The Farm On NFTs, And Investors Are All For It
@JayJ I'd argue the time when they still allowed EB Games to be its own brand was the last time it generally felt alright to shop there. But I definitely agree that the eventual monopoly has done serious harm to the brick and motar gaming market.
I'm fortunate to have a couple of "mom 'n pop" gaming stores in my area, but not everyone's so lucky. And because the market is so unlikely to expand, it's why I hope GS stops screwing around and does better before it's too late.
Re: GameStop Is Betting The Farm On NFTs, And Investors Are All For It
@Browny It's ironic because their loss of relevancy is likely due to trying too hard to please investors first, and gamers second.
Had they leaned into improving customer experiences, eased up on trying to hit quotas, and dipped their toes into more honest endeavors, they might be in a better position right now.
Probably not making all the money, but losing them would be like losing Toys R Us; there's so few dedicated stores like that these days (in North America, at least).
Re: NFL Coach, Broadcaster And Video Game Icon John Madden Passes Away At 85
@NinChocolate Personally, this felt more like a "Schrodinger's Cat" situation. The name "Madden" has been associated with the games for so long, that it never crossed my mind whether the person who the games were named after was still with us or not.
Personal thoughts aside, RIP to the guy. Even just seeing some of the comments around here, he seems like he meant a lot to many American football fans.
Re: Capcom Will Reveal More About Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak In Spring 2022
@CharlieGirl That would be cool, but wonder if they'd allow people with a near year head start to play with people starting fresh?