Hrm, I thought Tank Troopers was going to be a full $40. Glad to see the price is better than I expected, may have to check it out earlier than anticipated.
Big question is, is it single cart multiplayer, or multi cart?
@LegendOfPokemon
"You can do 90% of these minigames without Joy-Cons!"
True, but with the game you have the 'aid' of a computer and motion sensors to actually enforce win / lose conditions and give information you wouldn't have otherwise (via feedback from rumble / HD rumble), whereas otherwise, you could debate endlessly on who actually 'won' or whether you 'actually' caught the sword. Here, if the tech is precise enough, it can give a fair estimate (angle of sword to timing of hand clap) to gamify it.
Plus, it's kind of like Just Dance. Sure anyone can do a crazy jig, but a lot of people won't do it spontaneously, but with Just Dance you get the aid of music and silly on-screen choreography to help people get started. This could be a similar party game type aid.
Definitely has a mini-game feel to it, and some games look better / more interesting than others, but.... with the right group I could see it being quite entertaining the watch. More games than I expected to, so that's always a plus.
Some games (like Shaver) it'd be interesting if the Switch displayed the progress of the two people (and if you could port it to the TV) as extra information for the audience), though I know they are trying to put the focus on the players moreso.
At least per the video, it looks like you can get some pretty good range on the wireless controllers there, which would be important to have that space as well as maintain accuracy as much as possible.
Surprised by how solid the gameplay is, a lot of clever abilities have been added on the characters, and the artwork is fantastic.
I don't mind the smaller map sizes (I thought I would), but they're larger than I expected and large enough, and works best for keeping the action on hand on one screen.
The transition of Fire Emblem to mobile is much more solid than I anticipated per gameplay, things are streamlined, it maintains the feel of fire emblem while simplifying things, yet also maintaining a lot of unique character/weapon combinations. Some of the abilities here are very interesting, and I feel like the strategy here surpasses that of the mainstream games.
Not sure if there's official, real-time PVP (player vs player), but if not that really needs to happen, cause it'd be a fantastic addition especially with the shorter battles and ability / character combos that can be pulled off.
Unfortunately, while I feel it has a ton of potential, the biggest gripes come back to the mobile free-to-play elements. There is a fair amount of generous items given for free, to start, but I can see trying to create the best or even a few five star heroes being a very tedious/grindy effort. An example is trying to get a good assortment of characters, the orbs you accrue you accrue very slowly, and while they have hundreds of characters, you'll probably only summon 2-3 dozen of them before running dry. When you do summon for a hero, the random nature of it makes it all that much harder to get any specific hero you want (and even if you do get one you like, it most likely will not be five star so it will involve grinding in some fashion to make them great).
The rate to upgrade a 3 star hero to a 4 star is decent, 2000 hero feathers (very do-able if you do battle arena well, can get 6-8k for 5-6 low level wins).
The rate to upgrade a 4 star hero to 5 is...20,000 hero feathers?! Unless the battle arena starts kicking it up a couple of gears I anticipate giving up on the game before getting to upgrade many heroes this way.
I see a lot of potential with the game, but it's ruined and makes me despise all the more the standard mobile free to play paywalls. I'd much rather have paid a flat rate for the game, once ($10-20), with a steady daily influx of orbs and materials for use of leveling a character up daily. That'd be fair imo and then I'd get to experience / enjoy the game more fully. As is, I'd probably get to experience about 10-20% of the characters as a free user, and any serious investment or attempt to collect a good % beyond that or max a team or two would either take a drastic level of effort or money, as in several hundreds of dollars, which just isn't reasonable or feasible to the average gamer, and makes the company look greedy. It's a shame that they finally make a good game on mobile, but the majority will be locked out of it.
If the game is good, I wouldn't mind paying a bit to support, but when the prices are this high, I tend to avoid paying to discourage such pricing schemes.
Ah well. Console gaming takes the cake, forever, I suppose.
Like many here, thought it'd be more traditional escape room-ish, those usually have a group trying to solve a puzzle (in a room) under a time limit, where the challenge is solving the puzzle but also exploring the room.
So, lower than my expectations, but it makes sense given the number of attendees (it'd take several days to block off that much time for that many groups, even with multiple rooms). For their part, it'd probably help if they had explained it prior to help temper expectations. Neat to see they did have different areas to visit to gain clues, so that helps keep some of the interactivity while being able to host several groups at a time.
I agree that the main thing is the asking price. It does seem like there's a fair number of games and they implement them in good ways, so kudos to the devs for that, but in general I feel like console gaming's pricing are too expensive. The starting $50-60 price tag, or even $30-40 for portable, seems a bit heavy on the wallet when competition from Steam (does tend to start at those prices, but) within a year (or 2) drops to $20-30 or cheaper. Usually they have some pretty heavy sales from start to finish, as well.
Now, some games, particularly the mainline Nintendo games, I'm more than happy to pay the price and I think it's worth it (i.e. Zelda, Splatoon, Super Mario Odyssey, Smash), but comparatively it doesn't seem like many other games should be at that level unless they have the same level of polish / effort put into the game.
I'd say most people are looking in the $15-30 price range for a game like this (reasonably speaking, maybe it can be more $20-35, or maybe $40). Granted, console development is more expensive (it seems) than regular PC games, and the audience is smaller, so a higher price is expected, but not to the degree it's been in previous years. And perhaps there is a whole lot of polish and content, greater than I imagine, if so I don't see it though (that is, the initial perception is that it won't, and hence I'm hesitant to buy in).
I definitely am interested in trying it out someday, though, as I'd want to see the Switch features used in unique ways, and potentially showcase that to friends. I'm on the side though of wanting/thinking it'd be better off with a price drop.
At least to start, though, excitement may push people / initial adopters/supporters to spend a bit more, I know I was on the fence about Arms at full price, but decided I'd just pay the extra cost, as it looks fun and gameplay polished enough to eventually get it, and I'd be up for the early adoption/support of the game. With Best Buy gaming membership I ended up getting ARMS around $50, though I was originally hoping for an end price of ~$40, but really that extra $10 isn't too much (as long as it doesn't happen on every game).
My opinion of rogue-likes is mixed, but it's unique and different, and the more variety the better.
The art style is nice and reminds me of Guacamelee, albeit a little hard to tell what is happening, at first. The music absolutely rocks and I love that.
This game really should be motion/gyro-scope controlled (or at least have that option), I don't know see it mentioned in the article, but from what I see of the gameplay that makes the most sense and would be the most interesting to have that as the default control scheme
Preordered Zelda, and (I know I'll get them eventually so) Splatoon2, Arms, and Super Mario Odyssey. Assuming these don't have special editions, in which case I may have to consider Switching to those instead if they do.
A few others I'm interested in, but I'm watching pricing, reviews, release date info for the time being.
Oh, and I'm more and more thinking of adding RIME to the list, whenever that comes out. Looks good and is a nice price if it does release at $30
Trailer actually looks pretty good (aesthetically), though it stutters a fair amount, which gives it a feeling of lack of polish, though the general concept / design is looking good (the character design could be more interesting, but eh, I can comment more later if it gets that far).
That all said, I think this is an ambitious project, probably too much so based on the rough edges I see, I'd recommend the dev aim for smaller projects. Shoot too high and the game risks not releasing, or cutting corners.
Sounds like they're making some smart online decisions.
The Arcade Standby Feature will be really handy, giving you a way to practice moves and optionally accept challenges as you feel ready. Filter options are also a must when the levels of skill can vary a lot, so that people can play / grow/ learn with similar skilled players or where they feel comfortable.
I hope there are ban options as well, as some people can get vicious online per trolling.
Checked out the mobile version lately, and thought there'd be a lot of fun if you could PvP. Glad that the option at least exists now (in this 3DS version), though I think most people would need Online battling to really find a good assortment of opponents (unless you had a good 3DS local multiplayer group, or maybe siblings 3DS owners).
Glad they are experimenting and adding new options/modes though
@Monkeyofthefunk As a note, I'd say the joycon charger grip is pretty optional (as the joycons will charge if they are connected to the Switch device when docked), and the joycons should last 20hrs on a charge.
@Tsusasi From this point it's like comparing Desktop Computers to Laptops. The more portable system is going to be more expensive, less powerful, with less memory space (and more expensive to improve these specs) to include the more energy efficient and smaller tech. Not exactly a fair comparison if trying to match or make comparable specs.
The question now is, how much is the portable factor worth? That can't be given a definitive $ value, so it's up to consumers to vote with their wallets.
That said, your statements make it sound like Nintendo Switch will be $700 out the gate (or that that is the price needed to get a 'good' value with it), and I disagree with that. You don't need comparable levels of memory, especially not at launch. Maybe a year or three from now, in which time memory will likely have gotten a fair deal cheaper. You can make do with Switch + Breath of the wild for $360, and that's a decent starting price for a new console and great game, and can get a fair amount of fun from that. Or if two players and ARMS, $420, which is more expensive and I agree that some peripherals could stand to be cheaper, but again that's 52~60% of your claimed $700, with the only difference being that you're buying uber pricey memory which you wouldn't even be able to use as there's not that many Switch games out to warrant that level of memory usage.
Summary, your scenario isn't feasible to the average gamer, who'd pay closer to around $360, $420, or $480 (pre-tax) as opposed to $700. If it's too pricey or the portability has less value to you, could always wait for a bundle or a price drop.
Didn't use it much, aside from posting the occasional game screenshot / witty remark, and review of some indie games.
I know a lot of creative people made some fantastic art on it though. When Splatoon first arrived, there was a bounty of fun fan art. Takes dedication to draw that well, and on the gamepad to boot, gives me an extra appreciation for it.
I actually compiled some of that Splatoon art near the beginning, from those I could get permission from (note, DeviantArt is a bit weird, have to click the + magnifying glass in this case to actually see the pic, maybe cause it's so tall vertically): http://nintendofanyes.deviantart.com/art/Splatoon-Miiverse-Compilation-01-539125468
I do like the integration between some games (Miiverse and Splatoon). The need more moderation is important though, as the Smash - Miiverse integration tended to have questionable art displaying on the Miiverse stage, and any such social avenue is bound to generate lots of content (that is, I can understand the desire to not have to babysit Miiverse against the ppl who are crude and make it not family friendly for all). Unfortunate, but understandable.
@Tsusasi I think your math is wonky:
Switch = $300
extra controller= $80
new Zelda game = $60
is $440. Are you spending $260 on a micro SD card? If you don't go for the latest and greatest, can get 64GB for $20, or 128 GB for $40, 200 GB for $80, or well I do see 256GB for $200, but the price per value is obviously not in that item. Memory gets cheaper over time, and Nintendo tends to compress games well, so you shouldn't need that level of storage, especially at the beginning. We're talking the costs of ~2 player entry level gaming, here. It is pricey, but not nearly as inflated as you make the costs out to be.
Plus, with Switch controllers you have the capability for 2 players per control, so it's 2-4 players as opposed to PS4's 2 controllers= 2 players. Or you could potentially skip the extra joycon set for a time if needed, the only main reason for it now would be either large multi (bomberman) or Arms.
@Xaessya DANG. I hope the pro controller is not $70. I know they add some motion sensing tech in it, but I don't think it's worth that much. I perceive ps3 $50 controllers as too expensive as is. What is the dock set for $90? I thought the dock was supposed to be inexpensive/lightweight (in terms of tech and hence, cheap)?
All said, though, I like the innovative hardware. I intend to make use of all game modes, and think the idea of detachable and motion sensors controls are fantastic. The system seems pretty powerful as well
Hopefully they'll reveal more or kickstart a stronger Virtual Console start. And or allow porting of existing VC libraries.
Still hoping for Melee HD (or just a smooth running Melee port), Smash 4 with Inklings. Hoping the sales are good enough to entice indie devs into the fray.
Hardware looks fantastic, I thought the reveal trailer was fun. Had a number of great looking games, particularly Splatoon 2, Mario Odysey look fantastic. Curious to know more about Arms, FE Warriors, and Octopath Traveller. 1 2 Switch could be fun, but really should be lower priced as it looks like a collection of mini games (the videogame industry could stand to break the $50-60 new mold, not all games are deserving of this level of pricing, plus it's not competitive to Steam PC gaming). Per the pricing, $300 is fine for me and is a decent deal, but I don't think that pricing is going to appeal to a lot of casual gamers. Too close to the competition. Though arguably, the controller set is $80 and you get a number of accessories, which help add value. People more readily equate value to pack-in games, though, so it's unfortunate that they don't offer a little something more.
Internal memory-wise, they really should've at least had 64GB. Same issue as with WiiU. It is easier to expand with with the micro SD card, but it may be a turn off or prevent newcomers from impulse buying digital.
Quite surprised they're able to release early March instead of later, but at this time, most games don't appear like they'll be released until later. I think pre-orders at this time are primarily for the folks who must have the new Zelda game.
That latest Zelda trailer really piqued my interest in the game, but I typically don't like open world games, and so I feel I liked the fast pacing, action, story presented in the trailer, but at the same time I expect that most of the game will probably be slower paced exploration.
Not a huge fan of the Dynasty Warriors style gameplay, or of DQ, but, I much appreciate the value presented in this package. Might just pick it up on a sale.
Glad the gyroscope controls remain. I was worried about the first trailer as it looked a bit laggy, but everything shown in this second video looked very smooth.
Interesting concept, but it does sound like motion sickness could be more of a problem than other 3D fps. Will have to check out some footage of the gameplay
Appreciate that ~SwapNote is ~back, free, and with core online message sending functionality, though...
Upon further review the DLC is overpriced, as it essentially amounts to buying different color pens (which takes practically 0 programming effort to include).
The colors offerings per package are also a bit bland, sometimes offering the ~same color as one you already have and not a good variety. Why not offer a pack of just pens in basic colors (i.e. blue, yellow, and green)? Increasing ink limits and message limits are nice, but they should not be tied to a specific package, but rather, it should've increased based on total money spent, so that buying any lesson would bump it up to at least some degree. I'd like to support Swapnote but I'm having a hard time justifying the prices for the offerings, as I don't want to support bad DLC practices.
It can be hard to tell real demand from people just claiming they want or will buy an item.
That all said, there's still better options to anticipate demand. Nintendo could host a poll for 'preorders'. Or maybe even having some official way to get pre-order numbers from all the major retailers.
Not officially to fill them (since they send their stock to stores), but if they did a poll with who plans to buy / preorder, they can at least make enough to satisfy pre-orders (+ x ten or hundred thousand for those who don't do pre-orders) to meet demand.
At that point, if you didn't preorder and you don't get one, then they can't really complain as the fault lies on the consumer and can be explained as such. This would have to be polled early to actually have time to manufacture, but it seems the most solid way to anticipate demand, imo
$10-15 is my price range on GC titles. Extra for Melee if it runs well.
I don't think a flat rate for VC titles is a good idea (i.e. $10 N64, $20 wii, etc) as not all games are equally good. They should, in general, bring the prices down, and from there, the less popular / quality games should be discounted further
Hmm, seems like it could be a fun party game to try and watch other people (attempt to) do. Presuming it isn't too frustrating if you crash a few times ;p
If the price is right, I may put a few of my custom chars in and get a nice little figure for them
They should be clear on how they use any creative IP that users import, though, I wouldn't want my designs being ripped off and used elsewhere without my permission / knowledge
I think if this is true, I like that the battle system is different (strategy RPG), and the focus on minor characters is a good idea. In fact, that should be a primary focus. Don't include mario, wario, peach, etc (other than cameos to move the story along), maybe not even luigi (in spite of his reputation to play second fiddle, he's still popular and story developed often enough). Explore and use and develop the other characters. Tell us what these characters do while mario is out saving the world/galaxy. This would enable more creativity and enable them to stray from the standard 'mario' kind of way of doing things (and would make more sense in this kind of wacky crossover, and it could make 'sense' story timeline-wise).
Smash Bros is a big hit, and I hear Project X zone was pretty big, so crossovers like this have potential to be received well I think, granted that the underlying game is good enough (though the hook is interesting enough where that may not matter as much, though of course I hope it excels and is polished).
I'm not a huge fan of rabbids (don't dislike, but don't hugely like), but I think they're a good fit for a wacky crossover. Like the Despicable Me minions, they're mischievous nature is charming, and the story from there could write itself practically. Though, they're primarily known for slapstick humor, so I'm curious as to whether or how they might convey that humor in a videogame setting.
if this is true, they should officially have announced it to at least some degree (that it is on Switch with higher res graphics) prior to Sun and Moon releasing, so as not to upset fans (again, if it is true). Some may not care to buy multiple versions of a game, but I prefer knowing the details ahead of time and buying just the 1 I most care about, if there are major differences such as this.
That all said, the idea of a main pokemon game on TV is appealing. I like the theme of Alola, and the idea of creating official (non stupid rare shiny) pokemon is appealing, particularly since many are of the original 150 from what I can tell. I didn't care much for the demo though. The pokemon formula feels a bit tired, and I don't really like questing so the poke trials weren't to my taste, and I don't like that the type advantages/effectiveness is shown on the moves (makes it too simple. Part of the fun, imo, is trying to guess what type a pokemon is and what moves work well against it, and makes chars like sudowudo interesting choices to put in a team. Gives some advantage to knowing what pokemon are what. The casual players may not care, so they won't learn the types and won't do as well [not that it'll hurt them all that much], and it then rewards those who try to put in a bit of effort).
However, if I can play it on the big screen, may be a fun to have a 'group' or shared game save for anyone who wants to play or just adventure a bit from time to time. And the beauty of the Switch is that it opens up the possibilities for traditional single player experiences (like RPG's) to be enjoyed locally by a group via the large screen, like watching a movie, almost. Is how I envision / hope it can be like.
I just downloaded it. Not a fan of DLC pricing schemes in general, and the system here seems a bit pricey as the lessons seem fairly basic.
I appreciate that the main part is free though, and that's important so that you can send your messages regardless of if the receiving party has paid anything. Would be nice if some things, like message storage, increased even if you buy some of the smaller packs. The initial 300'll last for a bit, but I don't think I'll need to jump +3000 messages when the need does arise (by buying one of the premium packs, that is, it'd be nice to have an intermediate / cheaper option). Offhand, I personally prefer just buying a couple of the smaller packs instead, in which case it'd be nice if more of the core stuff (storage, ink usage) unlocked based on total amount spent on the app, not necessarily buying a specific pack.
I'm primarily just glad Swapnote is essentially back (w/ online so you can actually send and share messages). It was a part of the reason I bought a 3DS a couple years back, and I've been hoping for it's return.
@Allspice I've mainly just heard about the fake checks (I haven't received them), but that is tricky because when you try to deposit it, your account might add the balance right away, but the actual check has to be processed before the money transfer is finalized. From my understanding, if it is fake, it takes a bit of time to process ( and therein lies a part of the problem for people who think it is legit), then the check bounces , the amount is removed from the account, and the person who tried to cash the check in is usually charged a fee.
I think in recent years this process has improved in banks (so that they do not state you have the value in your account until the check is actually approved, and they list that it is pending processing), and so hopefully it would not be harder to be tricked by a fake check.
I did not know about the IRS scammers being busted. That's good to hear. Particularly for when scams come from designated sources, like specific phone numbers, I'd assume there should be some way to trace and track down the scammers doing it (the issue may be privacy laws and the like). When it's clearly cases where people are trying to bait/trap others, though, it makes sense or perhaps could be a good change to enable local law enforcement to be able to track and forcibly shut down those operations (whether it be sending a warning and disabling phone numbers, closing/freezing suspicious bank accounts, etc).
If Splatoon requires that each Switch system have a copy of the game to run multiplayer (which is likely since it's multi is the core of the experience), then it makes a lot of sense to make it the pack-in game with the system. Hopefully multiple Switches can run on the same internet connection so that you can get local pairs/ teams playing online together, easier.
I'm all for this as I love Splatoon, I know some people that the game isn't their style. Hopefully they'll have a different pack-in game option available.
@Allspice Another thing to watch out per scammers, sometimes they'll say they'll give you money if you pay them first (and they will give you a larger check in the mail, to trick you into paying them a smaller amount as a 'fee' to transfer the rest of the money from their country to yours), but that check is a fake. It'll bounce or otherwise be invalid.
If you get a call scam (i.e. the IRS thing), you can usually type the phone number into Google, and there are some sites that report suspicious numbers. You can usually see that that number had been used to give the same scammer story to other people.
Good price! Anyone who doesn't have a 3DS at this point, should insta-buy for this price imo.
I did buy this last year for ~$200, which is kind of a bummer, but I think overall it's a good thing for Nintendo (hopefully they make this a trend). Dedicated gaming has been an expensive hobby, but if Nintendo wants to reach the masses and casual audiences they need to be price savvy, and this is a leap in the right direction (after all, you can't have massive hits and numbers like Pokemon Go unless there are that many people who are able to play/buy the games. Expanding the audience increases potential for the software sales).
Hoping this also indicates that the Switch will be an affordable / eye-catching price (seeing as how they are making the older hardware cheaper).
Good price! Anyone who doesn't have a 3DS at this point, should insta-buy for this price imo.
I did buy this last year for ~$200, which is kind of a bummer, but I think overall it's a good thing for Nintendo (hopefully they make this a trend). Dedicated gaming has been an expensive hobby, but if Nintendo wants to reach the masses and casual audiences they need to be price savvy, and this is a leap in the right direction (after all, you can't have massive hits and numbers like Pokemon Go unless there are that many people who are able to play/buy the games. Expanding the audience increases potential for the software sales).
Hoping this also indicates that the Switch will be an affordable / eye-catching price (seeing as how they are making the older hardware cheaper).
Blaster Master is an interesting game. Haven't beaten it, but I enjoyed my time playing it as a kid.
I agree with some points mentioned prior (keep the boss room dark, add a save feature). I'll add that it could be handy to be more straight-forward, there's a ton of mini areas but really only the boss room is important. Having a navigation system of some kind, or making the other rooms relevant (via permanent upgrades or beneficial collectibles) could be something. Hopefully they maintain the music, as the original was quite catchy. Interested to see what becomes of this.
Comments 638
Re: Nintendo Download: 16th February (Europe)
Hrm, I thought Tank Troopers was going to be a full $40. Glad to see the price is better than I expected, may have to check it out earlier than anticipated.
Big question is, is it single cart multiplayer, or multi cart?
Re: Video: More 1-2-Switch Mini-Games Shown Off In New Series Of Trailers
@LegendOfPokemon
"You can do 90% of these minigames without Joy-Cons!"
True, but with the game you have the 'aid' of a computer and motion sensors to actually enforce win / lose conditions and give information you wouldn't have otherwise (via feedback from rumble / HD rumble), whereas otherwise, you could debate endlessly on who actually 'won' or whether you 'actually' caught the sword. Here, if the tech is precise enough, it can give a fair estimate (angle of sword to timing of hand clap) to gamify it.
Plus, it's kind of like Just Dance. Sure anyone can do a crazy jig, but a lot of people won't do it spontaneously, but with Just Dance you get the aid of music and silly on-screen choreography to help people get started. This could be a similar party game type aid.
Re: Video: More 1-2-Switch Mini-Games Shown Off In New Series Of Trailers
Definitely has a mini-game feel to it, and some games look better / more interesting than others, but.... with the right group I could see it being quite entertaining the watch. More games than I expected to, so that's always a plus.
Some games (like Shaver) it'd be interesting if the Switch displayed the progress of the two people (and if you could port it to the TV) as extra information for the audience), though I know they are trying to put the focus on the players moreso.
At least per the video, it looks like you can get some pretty good range on the wireless controllers there, which would be important to have that space as well as maintain accuracy as much as possible.
Re: Review: Fire Emblem Heroes (Mobile)
Surprised by how solid the gameplay is, a lot of clever abilities have been added on the characters, and the artwork is fantastic.
I don't mind the smaller map sizes (I thought I would), but they're larger than I expected and large enough, and works best for keeping the action on hand on one screen.
The transition of Fire Emblem to mobile is much more solid than I anticipated per gameplay, things are streamlined, it maintains the feel of fire emblem while simplifying things, yet also maintaining a lot of unique character/weapon combinations. Some of the abilities here are very interesting, and I feel like the strategy here surpasses that of the mainstream games.
Not sure if there's official, real-time PVP (player vs player), but if not that really needs to happen, cause it'd be a fantastic addition especially with the shorter battles and ability / character combos that can be pulled off.
Unfortunately, while I feel it has a ton of potential, the biggest gripes come back to the mobile free-to-play elements. There is a fair amount of generous items given for free, to start, but I can see trying to create the best or even a few five star heroes being a very tedious/grindy effort. An example is trying to get a good assortment of characters, the orbs you accrue you accrue very slowly, and while they have hundreds of characters, you'll probably only summon 2-3 dozen of them before running dry. When you do summon for a hero, the random nature of it makes it all that much harder to get any specific hero you want (and even if you do get one you like, it most likely will not be five star so it will involve grinding in some fashion to make them great).
The rate to upgrade a 3 star hero to a 4 star is decent, 2000 hero feathers (very do-able if you do battle arena well, can get 6-8k for 5-6 low level wins).
The rate to upgrade a 4 star hero to 5 is...20,000 hero feathers?! Unless the battle arena starts kicking it up a couple of gears I anticipate giving up on the game before getting to upgrade many heroes this way.
I see a lot of potential with the game, but it's ruined and makes me despise all the more the standard mobile free to play paywalls. I'd much rather have paid a flat rate for the game, once ($10-20), with a steady daily influx of orbs and materials for use of leveling a character up daily. That'd be fair imo and then I'd get to experience / enjoy the game more fully. As is, I'd probably get to experience about 10-20% of the characters as a free user, and any serious investment or attempt to collect a good % beyond that or max a team or two would either take a drastic level of effort or money, as in several hundreds of dollars, which just isn't reasonable or feasible to the average gamer, and makes the company look greedy. It's a shame that they finally make a good game on mobile, but the majority will be locked out of it.
If the game is good, I wouldn't mind paying a bit to support, but when the prices are this high, I tend to avoid paying to discourage such pricing schemes.
Ah well. Console gaming takes the cake, forever, I suppose.
Re: Video: Nintendo Minute Tests Out the Defenders of the Triforce Experience
Like many here, thought it'd be more traditional escape room-ish, those usually have a group trying to solve a puzzle (in a room) under a time limit, where the challenge is solving the puzzle but also exploring the room.
So, lower than my expectations, but it makes sense given the number of attendees (it'd take several days to block off that much time for that many groups, even with multiple rooms). For their part, it'd probably help if they had explained it prior to help temper expectations. Neat to see they did have different areas to visit to gain clues, so that helps keep some of the interactivity while being able to host several groups at a time.
Re: Soapbox: Think of 1-2-Switch as Less of a "Video Game" and Suddenly It Gets Better
I agree that the main thing is the asking price. It does seem like there's a fair number of games and they implement them in good ways, so kudos to the devs for that, but in general I feel like console gaming's pricing are too expensive. The starting $50-60 price tag, or even $30-40 for portable, seems a bit heavy on the wallet when competition from Steam (does tend to start at those prices, but) within a year (or 2) drops to $20-30 or cheaper. Usually they have some pretty heavy sales from start to finish, as well.
Now, some games, particularly the mainline Nintendo games, I'm more than happy to pay the price and I think it's worth it (i.e. Zelda, Splatoon, Super Mario Odyssey, Smash), but comparatively it doesn't seem like many other games should be at that level unless they have the same level of polish / effort put into the game.
I'd say most people are looking in the $15-30 price range for a game like this (reasonably speaking, maybe it can be more $20-35, or maybe $40). Granted, console development is more expensive (it seems) than regular PC games, and the audience is smaller, so a higher price is expected, but not to the degree it's been in previous years. And perhaps there is a whole lot of polish and content, greater than I imagine, if so I don't see it though (that is, the initial perception is that it won't, and hence I'm hesitant to buy in).
I definitely am interested in trying it out someday, though, as I'd want to see the Switch features used in unique ways, and potentially showcase that to friends. I'm on the side though of wanting/thinking it'd be better off with a price drop.
At least to start, though, excitement may push people / initial adopters/supporters to spend a bit more, I know I was on the fence about Arms at full price, but decided I'd just pay the extra cost, as it looks fun and gameplay polished enough to eventually get it, and I'd be up for the early adoption/support of the game. With Best Buy gaming membership I ended up getting ARMS around $50, though I was originally hoping for an end price of ~$40, but really that extra $10 isn't too much (as long as it doesn't happen on every game).
Re: Rolly Roguelike TumbleSeed Confirmed For Nintendo Switch
My opinion of rogue-likes is mixed, but it's unique and different, and the more variety the better.
The art style is nice and reminds me of Guacamelee, albeit a little hard to tell what is happening, at first. The music absolutely rocks and I love that.
This game really should be motion/gyro-scope controlled (or at least have that option), I don't know see it mentioned in the article, but from what I see of the gameplay that makes the most sense and would be the most interesting to have that as the default control scheme
Re: The Jackbox Party Pack 3 Announced For Nintendo Switch
Recently bought and enjoy Fibbage XL from Jackbox games, so I'll be keeping an eye out for this
Re: New My Nintendo Rewards Try to Show The Love for Valentine's Day
Possibly MegaMix, but waiting to see what the Switch future holds.
Re: Zoink Teases Its New Game for Nintendo Switch
Indeed....what IS it?
Re: Poll: What Are Your Nintendo Switch Pre-Order and Launch Day Plans?
Preordered Zelda, and (I know I'll get them eventually so) Splatoon2, Arms, and Super Mario Odyssey. Assuming these don't have special editions, in which case I may have to consider Switching to those instead if they do.
A few others I'm interested in, but I'm watching pricing, reviews, release date info for the time being.
Oh, and I'm more and more thinking of adding RIME to the list, whenever that comes out. Looks good and is a nice price if it does release at $30
Re: Unity-Made RPG Moon Child Could Be Coming To Nintendo Switch
Trailer actually looks pretty good (aesthetically), though it stutters a fair amount, which gives it a feeling of lack of polish, though the general concept / design is looking good (the character design could be more interesting, but eh, I can comment more later if it gets that far).
That all said, I think this is an ambitious project, probably too much so based on the rough edges I see, I'd recommend the dev aim for smaller projects. Shoot too high and the game risks not releasing, or cutting corners.
Re: Ultra Street Fighter II's Online And Ranked Modes Get Detailed
Sounds like they're making some smart online decisions.
The Arcade Standby Feature will be really handy, giving you a way to practice moves and optionally accept challenges as you feel ready. Filter options are also a must when the levels of skill can vary a lot, so that people can play / grow/ learn with similar skilled players or where they feel comfortable.
I hope there are ban options as well, as some people can get vicious online per trolling.
Re: Review: The Battle Cats POP! (3DS eShop)
Checked out the mobile version lately, and thought there'd be a lot of fun if you could PvP. Glad that the option at least exists now (in this 3DS version), though I think most people would need Online battling to really find a good assortment of opponents (unless you had a good 3DS local multiplayer group, or maybe siblings 3DS owners).
Glad they are experimenting and adding new options/modes though
Re: Poll: A Week On, How Do You Feel About the Nintendo Switch?
@Monkeyofthefunk As a note, I'd say the joycon charger grip is pretty optional (as the joycons will charge if they are connected to the Switch device when docked), and the joycons should last 20hrs on a charge.
Re: Editorial: Pricing Blunders Have Distorted The Narrative Around Nintendo Switch
@Tsusasi From this point it's like comparing Desktop Computers to Laptops. The more portable system is going to be more expensive, less powerful, with less memory space (and more expensive to improve these specs) to include the more energy efficient and smaller tech. Not exactly a fair comparison if trying to match or make comparable specs.
The question now is, how much is the portable factor worth? That can't be given a definitive $ value, so it's up to consumers to vote with their wallets.
That said, your statements make it sound like Nintendo Switch will be $700 out the gate (or that that is the price needed to get a 'good' value with it), and I disagree with that. You don't need comparable levels of memory, especially not at launch. Maybe a year or three from now, in which time memory will likely have gotten a fair deal cheaper. You can make do with Switch + Breath of the wild for $360, and that's a decent starting price for a new console and great game, and can get a fair amount of fun from that. Or if two players and ARMS, $420, which is more expensive and I agree that some peripherals could stand to be cheaper, but again that's 52~60% of your claimed $700, with the only difference being that you're buying uber pricey memory which you wouldn't even be able to use as there's not that many Switch games out to warrant that level of memory usage.
Summary, your scenario isn't feasible to the average gamer, who'd pay closer to around $360, $420, or $480 (pre-tax) as opposed to $700. If it's too pricey or the portability has less value to you, could always wait for a bundle or a price drop.
Re: It's Nintendo Switch Petition Time, With Miiverse on the Agenda
Didn't use it much, aside from posting the occasional game screenshot / witty remark, and review of some indie games.
I know a lot of creative people made some fantastic art on it though. When Splatoon first arrived, there was a bounty of fun fan art. Takes dedication to draw that well, and on the gamepad to boot, gives me an extra appreciation for it.
I actually compiled some of that Splatoon art near the beginning, from those I could get permission from (note, DeviantArt is a bit weird, have to click the + magnifying glass in this case to actually see the pic, maybe cause it's so tall vertically):
http://nintendofanyes.deviantart.com/art/Splatoon-Miiverse-Compilation-01-539125468
http://nintendofanyes.deviantart.com/art/Splatoon-Miiverse-Compilation-02-545772835
I do like the integration between some games (Miiverse and Splatoon). The need more moderation is important though, as the Smash - Miiverse integration tended to have questionable art displaying on the Miiverse stage, and any such social avenue is bound to generate lots of content (that is, I can understand the desire to not have to babysit Miiverse against the ppl who are crude and make it not family friendly for all). Unfortunate, but understandable.
Re: Editorial: Pricing Blunders Have Distorted The Narrative Around Nintendo Switch
@Tsusasi I think your math is wonky:
Switch = $300
extra controller= $80
new Zelda game = $60
is $440. Are you spending $260 on a micro SD card? If you don't go for the latest and greatest, can get 64GB for $20, or 128 GB for $40, 200 GB for $80, or well I do see 256GB for $200, but the price per value is obviously not in that item. Memory gets cheaper over time, and Nintendo tends to compress games well, so you shouldn't need that level of storage, especially at the beginning. We're talking the costs of ~2 player entry level gaming, here. It is pricey, but not nearly as inflated as you make the costs out to be.
Plus, with Switch controllers you have the capability for 2 players per control, so it's 2-4 players as opposed to PS4's 2 controllers= 2 players. Or you could potentially skip the extra joycon set for a time if needed, the only main reason for it now would be either large multi (bomberman) or Arms.
Re: Nicalis Seemingly Confirms 1001 Spikes And Cave Story For Switch, Then Deletes Post
1001 Spikes and Cave Story are both awesome games. Here's hoping they make it over!
Re: Hands On: Putting the Nintendo Switch Hardware Through Its Paces
@Xaessya DANG. I hope the pro controller is not $70. I know they add some motion sensing tech in it, but I don't think it's worth that much. I perceive ps3 $50 controllers as too expensive as is. What is the dock set for $90? I thought the dock was supposed to be inexpensive/lightweight (in terms of tech and hence, cheap)?
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of the Nintendo Switch Presentation?
All said, though, I like the innovative hardware. I intend to make use of all game modes, and think the idea of detachable and motion sensors controls are fantastic. The system seems pretty powerful as well
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of the Nintendo Switch Presentation?
Hopefully they'll reveal more or kickstart a stronger Virtual Console start. And or allow porting of existing VC libraries.
Still hoping for Melee HD (or just a smooth running Melee port), Smash 4 with Inklings. Hoping the sales are good enough to entice indie devs into the fray.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of the Nintendo Switch Presentation?
Hardware looks fantastic, I thought the reveal trailer was fun. Had a number of great looking games, particularly Splatoon 2, Mario Odysey look fantastic. Curious to know more about Arms, FE Warriors, and Octopath Traveller. 1 2 Switch could be fun, but really should be lower priced as it looks like a collection of mini games (the videogame industry could stand to break the $50-60 new mold, not all games are deserving of this level of pricing, plus it's not competitive to Steam PC gaming). Per the pricing, $300 is fine for me and is a decent deal, but I don't think that pricing is going to appeal to a lot of casual gamers. Too close to the competition. Though arguably, the controller set is $80 and you get a number of accessories, which help add value. People more readily equate value to pack-in games, though, so it's unfortunate that they don't offer a little something more.
Internal memory-wise, they really should've at least had 64GB. Same issue as with WiiU. It is easier to expand with with the micro SD card, but it may be a turn off or prevent newcomers from impulse buying digital.
Quite surprised they're able to release early March instead of later, but at this time, most games don't appear like they'll be released until later. I think pre-orders at this time are primarily for the folks who must have the new Zelda game.
That latest Zelda trailer really piqued my interest in the game, but I typically don't like open world games, and so I feel I liked the fast pacing, action, story presented in the trailer, but at the same time I expect that most of the game will probably be slower paced exploration.
Re: Square Enix Confirms Nintendo Switch Release For I Am Setsuna
I like the look of Octopath Traveler a lot more. Nevertheless, the more games the better.
Re: Dragon Quest Heroes 1 And 2 Are Brawling Their Way To Nintendo Switch In Japan
Not a huge fan of the Dynasty Warriors style gameplay, or of DQ, but, I much appreciate the value presented in this package. Might just pick it up on a sale.
Re: Video: Did Ultra Street Fighter II's Trailer Just Reveal Its New Mode?
Good idea, the Switch is practically made for couch competitive / 'duel' games like this
Re: Fire Emblem Warriors Has Been Announced For the Nintendo Switch
I like FE but I'm not a huge fan of Dynasty Warriors gameplay...so, it's a maybe or sale game for me if they don't switch it up.
The crossover works very well per theme, though
Re: Nintendo Introduces ARMS, a New Boxing IP
Looks interesting, and the pacing looked nice and quick
Re: Splatoon 2 Hits Nintendo Switch This Summer With New Weapons And Stages
Glad the gyroscope controls remain. I was worried about the first trailer as it looked a bit laggy, but everything shown in this second video looked very smooth.
Re: Review: Swap Fire (Wii U eShop)
Interesting concept, but it does sound like motion sickness could be more of a problem than other 3D fps. Will have to check out some footage of the gameplay
Re: Here's a Breakdown of All That Swapdoodle DLC
Appreciate that ~SwapNote is ~back, free, and with core online message sending functionality, though...
Upon further review the DLC is overpriced, as it essentially amounts to buying different color pens (which takes practically 0 programming effort to include).
The colors offerings per package are also a bit bland, sometimes offering the ~same color as one you already have and not a good variety. Why not offer a pack of just pens in basic colors (i.e. blue, yellow, and green)? Increasing ink limits and message limits are nice, but they should not be tied to a specific package, but rather, it should've increased based on total money spent, so that buying any lesson would bump it up to at least some degree. I'd like to support Swapnote but I'm having a hard time justifying the prices for the offerings, as I don't want to support bad DLC practices.
Re: NES Classic Mini Demand "Greater Than We Anticipated," Admits Reggie Fils-Aime
It can be hard to tell real demand from people just claiming they want or will buy an item.
That all said, there's still better options to anticipate demand. Nintendo could host a poll for 'preorders'. Or maybe even having some official way to get pre-order numbers from all the major retailers.
Not officially to fill them (since they send their stock to stores), but if they did a poll with who plans to buy / preorder, they can at least make enough to satisfy pre-orders (+ x ten or hundred thousand for those who don't do pre-orders) to meet demand.
At that point, if you didn't preorder and you don't get one, then they can't really complain as the fault lies on the consumer and can be explained as such. This would have to be polled early to actually have time to manufacture, but it seems the most solid way to anticipate demand, imo
Re: Random: Shigeru Miyamoto's Samurai Mario Shirt Gets Excitable Speculation Up and Running
Wait.... waaaaaait............
I got it!
.....that guy....Miyamoto.....
...he's a fan of Mario's?!
Re: Poll: How Important is the Virtual Console, and GameCube, for the Nintendo Switch?
$10-15 is my price range on GC titles. Extra for Melee if it runs well.
I don't think a flat rate for VC titles is a good idea (i.e. $10 N64, $20 wii, etc) as not all games are equally good. They should, in general, bring the prices down, and from there, the less popular / quality games should be discounted further
Re: Rumour: GameCube Virtual Console Coming To Nintendo Switch
But yes, give me a smooth running Melee on the go with solid wireless controller options, and my friends and I will be happy campers...er, smashers.
Re: Rumour: GameCube Virtual Console Coming To Nintendo Switch
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Someone promised GC virtual console games on WiiU? I thought it was just fan want
Re: Review: Octocopter: Super Sub Squid Escape (Wii U eShop)
Hmm, seems like it could be a fun party game to try and watch other people (attempt to) do. Presuming it isn't too frustrating if you crash a few times ;p
Re: Sonic And Tails Are Spin-Dashing To Build-A-Bear Workshop
Agree, Sonic looks kind of diproportioned, the Tails looks good (and a nice price, too!). I may have to investigate this matter further...
Re: 3D-Printed Toys-To-Life Title Inchvilles Coming To Nintendo 3DS
If the price is right, I may put a few of my custom chars in and get a nice little figure for them
They should be clear on how they use any creative IP that users import, though, I wouldn't want my designs being ripped off and used elsewhere without my permission / knowledge
Re: Random: You Can High-Five Your Pokémon in Sun and Moon
This is...cuter than I expected.
Hrm.
Can you high five an handless pokemon, like Gyarados (presuming he's in this iteration)?
Re: Rumour: Super Mario And Rabbids Crossover In Development For Nintendo Switch
Sounds like an interesting idea/rumor.
I think if this is true, I like that the battle system is different (strategy RPG), and the focus on minor characters is a good idea. In fact, that should be a primary focus. Don't include mario, wario, peach, etc (other than cameos to move the story along), maybe not even luigi (in spite of his reputation to play second fiddle, he's still popular and story developed often enough). Explore and use and develop the other characters. Tell us what these characters do while mario is out saving the world/galaxy. This would enable more creativity and enable them to stray from the standard 'mario' kind of way of doing things (and would make more sense in this kind of wacky crossover, and it could make 'sense' story timeline-wise).
Smash Bros is a big hit, and I hear Project X zone was pretty big, so crossovers like this have potential to be received well I think, granted that the underlying game is good enough (though the hook is interesting enough where that may not matter as much, though of course I hope it excels and is polished).
I'm not a huge fan of rabbids (don't dislike, but don't hugely like), but I think they're a good fit for a wacky crossover. Like the Despicable Me minions, they're mischievous nature is charming, and the story from there could write itself practically. Though, they're primarily known for slapstick humor, so I'm curious as to whether or how they might convey that humor in a videogame setting.
Re: Rumour: New Version of Pokémon Sun And Moon, Pokémon Stars, Is Coming to the Nintendo Switch
if this is true, they should officially have announced it to at least some degree (that it is on Switch with higher res graphics) prior to Sun and Moon releasing, so as not to upset fans (again, if it is true). Some may not care to buy multiple versions of a game, but I prefer knowing the details ahead of time and buying just the 1 I most care about, if there are major differences such as this.
That all said, the idea of a main pokemon game on TV is appealing. I like the theme of Alola, and the idea of creating official (non stupid rare shiny) pokemon is appealing, particularly since many are of the original 150 from what I can tell. I didn't care much for the demo though. The pokemon formula feels a bit tired, and I don't really like questing so the poke trials weren't to my taste, and I don't like that the type advantages/effectiveness is shown on the moves (makes it too simple. Part of the fun, imo, is trying to guess what type a pokemon is and what moves work well against it, and makes chars like sudowudo interesting choices to put in a team. Gives some advantage to knowing what pokemon are what. The casual players may not care, so they won't learn the types and won't do as well [not that it'll hurt them all that much], and it then rewards those who try to put in a bit of effort).
However, if I can play it on the big screen, may be a fun to have a 'group' or shared game save for anyone who wants to play or just adventure a bit from time to time. And the beauty of the Switch is that it opens up the possibilities for traditional single player experiences (like RPG's) to be enjoyed locally by a group via the large screen, like watching a movie, almost. Is how I envision / hope it can be like.
Re: Here's a Breakdown of All That Swapdoodle DLC
I just downloaded it. Not a fan of DLC pricing schemes in general, and the system here seems a bit pricey as the lessons seem fairly basic.
I appreciate that the main part is free though, and that's important so that you can send your messages regardless of if the receiving party has paid anything. Would be nice if some things, like message storage, increased even if you buy some of the smaller packs. The initial 300'll last for a bit, but I don't think I'll need to jump +3000 messages when the need does arise (by buying one of the premium packs, that is, it'd be nice to have an intermediate / cheaper option). Offhand, I personally prefer just buying a couple of the smaller packs instead, in which case it'd be nice if more of the core stuff (storage, ink usage) unlocked based on total amount spent on the app, not necessarily buying a specific pack.
I'm primarily just glad Swapnote is essentially back (w/ online so you can actually send and share messages). It was a part of the reason I bought a 3DS a couple years back, and I've been hoping for it's return.
Re: No, There Isn't A Nintendo Switch Beta Program
@Allspice I've mainly just heard about the fake checks (I haven't received them), but that is tricky because when you try to deposit it, your account might add the balance right away, but the actual check has to be processed before the money transfer is finalized. From my understanding, if it is fake, it takes a bit of time to process ( and therein lies a part of the problem for people who think it is legit), then the check bounces , the amount is removed from the account, and the person who tried to cash the check in is usually charged a fee.
I think in recent years this process has improved in banks (so that they do not state you have the value in your account until the check is actually approved, and they list that it is pending processing), and so hopefully it would not be harder to be tricked by a fake check.
I did not know about the IRS scammers being busted. That's good to hear. Particularly for when scams come from designated sources, like specific phone numbers, I'd assume there should be some way to trace and track down the scammers doing it (the issue may be privacy laws and the like). When it's clearly cases where people are trying to bait/trap others, though, it makes sense or perhaps could be a good change to enable local law enforcement to be able to track and forcibly shut down those operations (whether it be sending a warning and disabling phone numbers, closing/freezing suspicious bank accounts, etc).
Re: Rumour: Nintendo Switch Will Have Super Mario And Skyrim At Launch, Splatoon Coming As Pack-In
If Splatoon requires that each Switch system have a copy of the game to run multiplayer (which is likely since it's multi is the core of the experience), then it makes a lot of sense to make it the pack-in game with the system. Hopefully multiple Switches can run on the same internet connection so that you can get local pairs/ teams playing online together, easier.
I'm all for this as I love Splatoon, I know some people that the game isn't their style. Hopefully they'll have a different pack-in game option available.
Re: No, There Isn't A Nintendo Switch Beta Program
@Allspice Another thing to watch out per scammers, sometimes they'll say they'll give you money if you pay them first (and they will give you a larger check in the mail, to trick you into paying them a smaller amount as a 'fee' to transfer the rest of the money from their country to yours), but that check is a fake. It'll bounce or otherwise be invalid.
If you get a call scam (i.e. the IRS thing), you can usually type the phone number into Google, and there are some sites that report suspicious numbers. You can usually see that that number had been used to give the same scammer story to other people.
Re: No, There Isn't A Nintendo Switch Beta Program
So would you say this was a....
Bait and Switch?
Oh wait, no, just bait
Re: Budget New Nintendo 3DS Models Announced for North America
Good price! Anyone who doesn't have a 3DS at this point, should insta-buy for this price imo.
I did buy this last year for ~$200, which is kind of a bummer, but I think overall it's a good thing for Nintendo (hopefully they make this a trend). Dedicated gaming has been an expensive hobby, but if Nintendo wants to reach the masses and casual audiences they need to be price savvy, and this is a leap in the right direction (after all, you can't have massive hits and numbers like Pokemon Go unless there are that many people who are able to play/buy the games. Expanding the audience increases potential for the software sales).
Hoping this also indicates that the Switch will be an affordable / eye-catching price (seeing as how they are making the older hardware cheaper).
Re: Talking Point: A New Nintendo 3DS Price Drop Can Prolong the Portable's Lifespan
Good price! Anyone who doesn't have a 3DS at this point, should insta-buy for this price imo.
I did buy this last year for ~$200, which is kind of a bummer, but I think overall it's a good thing for Nintendo (hopefully they make this a trend). Dedicated gaming has been an expensive hobby, but if Nintendo wants to reach the masses and casual audiences they need to be price savvy, and this is a leap in the right direction (after all, you can't have massive hits and numbers like Pokemon Go unless there are that many people who are able to play/buy the games. Expanding the audience increases potential for the software sales).
Hoping this also indicates that the Switch will be an affordable / eye-catching price (seeing as how they are making the older hardware cheaper).
Re: Gallery: Check Out Blaster Master Zero, The Inti Creates Revival of a Classic
Blaster Master is an interesting game. Haven't beaten it, but I enjoyed my time playing it as a kid.
I agree with some points mentioned prior (keep the boss room dark, add a save feature). I'll add that it could be handy to be more straight-forward, there's a ton of mini areas but really only the boss room is important. Having a navigation system of some kind, or making the other rooms relevant (via permanent upgrades or beneficial collectibles) could be something. Hopefully they maintain the music, as the original was quite catchy. Interested to see what becomes of this.