@Damo I agree. Bespoke things like this are always interesting, and like you say, they can't just use Blu ray pressing firms everyone else does! (with all the unique logstics that goes with having their own lines too). A lot of this manufacturing stuff will remain a trade secret long after the Switch has gone, so it's good to see even a little glimpse of it.
@Damo Ah yes, I can see now you've said! Taking a look on a proper screen rather than my phone, looks like they are held by a vaccum gripper (the black cups over the carts), which is on a gantry system (the robot) on the left of the image, held via an arm (sticking out parallel to the conveyor with the blue carriers on).
On closer inspection the machine in the background that the carts are being taken from-or-to is covered is slots with ribbon cables looking very much like the cartridge inputs on the manual testing machine in the second image (which is certainly manual, didn't see the pic with the side off until I look at the tweet directly). Could be this is an automated version of that? Wonder how the carts go in/out? Is enough of the contacts sticking out to jsut push it in with the vaccum end-effector? It could have carriers, but its a bit blurry even on a proper laptop screen....
Also the wording (while translated) of the manual one been "developed by Nintendo themselves"...could they mean that Nintendo made a manual one and a integrator at the factory copied the workings to make this automated one?
Enjoying the minor-league detective work of poring over the image XD !
Interesting (to me, I’m an engineer in manufacturing!). But can’t tell much, the first image doesn’t seem to show any carts, should they be in the blue carriers? And is it a camera inspection? I can’t see anything else around for testing it in na device, few moving parts it looks like, which I guess is the robotic aspect (no articulated arm I can see)?
Image 2 looks more what I’d expect for testing of the contacts/data transfer etc. But it looks quite manual, with the cart slots and the little legs. Does someone have to load it up? Do they pick at random from each batch to go in that machine?
The lack of cross save is a real shame, can’t imagine it’s technically that hard, but maybe they don’t want to cost/effort of keeping a cloud save transferring server up and running? Just feels like a missed opportunity given Witcher 3 has it!
More shovelware, even the eShop text is full of grammatical errors! Wish Nintendo would have a modicum of quality control on the eShop, it’s a Steam-esque pile of malicious rip offs and half-baked rubbish with the few quality indie titles buried in there at the moment.
What on Earth is that monstrosity!? And who would pay to walk up a hill? Sheffield is all hills, I’d pay for flatness in hot weather!
Top tourist tip, see Marble Arch, and then just jump on a train 99% of the UK and walk up a real hill for free (and if it has caves inside they will look more like SM64s Hazy Maze Cave and less like a bunch of scaffolds Bond would fight Scaramanga among!)
Trying the MH Stories 2 demo, as well as continuing some Witcher 3 (even after 25 hours, doesn’t feel that far in!) and Mario 3D All Stars (completed 64, now 40 shines into Sunshine) when the mood takes me!
@Liam_Doolan ah nice! It sparked a bell when I saw it on Twitter as it looked so good! I’m pretty content with the Pro Controller myself (and all the amazing battery life, HD rumble, motion control etc that comes with it); but for the (much lower) price these Power A ones seem decent quality. Got my sis a charging Pikachu wired PowerA one, and as well as a gorgeous case (like this Zelda one), the build was robust and it’s worked fine so far.
This is already on sale in the UK? GAME Sheffield tweeted out a pic of a Link plush, Skyward Sword HD and this exact controller yesterday (with price stickers on and everything). Maybe only new to the US?
I have it and I liked it! Not my favourite, but I loved the motion controls, really felt new and exciting. That said, while I don’t dislike it as strongly as everyone else I know, I’ve not much interest in replaying it on Switch. If I did I’d boot up the Wii. For me it’s so tied to that console, controller and point-in-time (got to streetpass at the concert in London, play the E3 demos at the ignored booth at GAMEFest, enjoy the game with sibling over Christmas…good times!) That said hope new players enjoy the remaster!
I’ve had some many great memories with the series, up to and including Breath of the Wild. But for me Ocarina hit at the perfect time, the 3D looked incredible, I was sucked into the world, and the scope and feel we’re mind-blowing everytime the game revealed something new!
That Witcher Con inspired me to go back to my long, slow journey through Geralt’s adventure. Really enjoying it, but feels infinitely long right now as new quests keep popping up and the map is covered in ? Symbols!
It did spend the best part of a year doing nothing after only a few uses, but I have finally cracked it out again to try and burn off some of these lockdown pounds! Only played the adventure, not tried out the mini-games yet...
Graphically that outshines Super Mario 64 DS by quite a bit! The Mario model is much more detailed/high poly, as is the environment, the textures look quite high res for DS and it is running at a high framerate despite all that is going on. Would love to know how they got it running so well!
This is mildly amusing, but the lack of moderation on all these App Stores is appalling. Tons of illegal stuff, but also potentially dangerous stuff. And these store running companies (Microsoft, Apple, Google) are huge, make insane profits, and are pretty hot on any breach of their copyright!
Would love a review, particularly to know if it's of the quality of Transport/Railroad Tycoon (looks more like the highly focused management of Railroad Tycoon series than the more holistic Transport?). Also would like to know if it's any good or just some mobile-quality fare (there is a lot of subpar transport management games on phone app stores!)
@Damo "Is that an original Game Boy in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?"
To be fair to @nhSnork, the late 80s/early 90's did have baggier trousers! (Personally I lacked the pocket size to keep an OG Game Boy in a pocket safely, never mind the Game Gear with all those AAs inside!)
On topic, this little thing is both mighty impressive in terms of how much is squeezed in, and looks like a hand-cramp nightmare I never want to use!
Got a full 4 player Mon Hun Rise team on the go, working through low ranks learning the game, toying with equipment sets. Also playing some Command and Conquer Remastered on PC, which is a blast from the past (and a step-up control wise from the N64 controls I played it with back in the 90s!)
Sounds about as convincing as when Bond said it at the end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service sadly! But I would like to see it return to the Nintendo fold at some point.
I'm in a similar boat, and the Switch Lite we got our Mum isn't in great nick. Problem is not having an idea of when the much rumoured Switch Pro will arrive. If it's over a year away I might live with a replacement, but if it's post E3 then of course I would rather wait! Give us some heads up Ninty, please!
Interesting to see Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ahead of Animal Crossing: New Horizon. I still think ACNH will overtake it in overall sales soon, but MK8 still keeps selling great guns!
@Balladeer I'm with you, really like that NL has done these, makes this site feel a bit more fun, brings back some of the personality of gaming mags. Perhaps some of the commenters are a bit to young to remember Back Pages? Regardless, this was a great send up of those dreary tabloid interviews, and all worth it for that punchline gag: top work @kategray !
Spirit Tracks to me was a more polished Phantom Hourglass. The same great looking (...for DS) engine and sublime touch controls, but with a more interesting central dungeon, the Zelda mechanics and a more linear (but busy) overworld. For all its faults I really enjoyed it, the train riding was something unique (and the harder dungeon bits were satisfyingly puzzly!). Some great tunes too...
Kate, don’t stop bringing this game mag energy to the website, because I miss videogame magazines greatly, and your recent articles have really spiced up reading this site: well done!
As many have said (and should probably be in article) it’s still widely available new in stores with no mark up. In the UK GAME still have it new for its regular price.
@Minecraft_Master ...apologies if I'm not getting a sarcastic joke, but you couldn't get MH Rise as you bought two copies of Mario 3D All Stars? Why not just buy...one copy of each?
Comments 337
Re: Back Page: "My Uncle Works At Nintendo" - The Man, The Myth, And The Mendacity
Woah NintendoLife! You’re just gonna out Samus Hunter’s main source like that 😂
Re: Nintendo's Giving Away A Set Of Awesome N64 Posters (Europe)
I don't have enough platinum point
Re: Back Page: After Spending $70B On Activision Blizzard... What If Microsoft Buys Nintendo Next?
Love it! The caption “ A screenshot of Phil Spencer's PowerPoint presentation entitled "nintendo_xbox_xbendo_final_final2.pptx"” cracked me up no end!
Re: Kingdom Hearts Cloud Collection Arrives On Switch In February, Pricing Revealed
These could easily run natively. Even native that would be a steep price, but for cloud hosted games? Not touching this with a barge pole.
Re: Random: Here's How Nintendo Makes Sure Switch Game Cards Are Fit For Purpose
@Damo I agree. Bespoke things like this are always interesting, and like you say, they can't just use Blu ray pressing firms everyone else does! (with all the unique logstics that goes with having their own lines too).
A lot of this manufacturing stuff will remain a trade secret long after the Switch has gone, so it's good to see even a little glimpse of it.
Re: Random: Here's How Nintendo Makes Sure Switch Game Cards Are Fit For Purpose
@Damo Ah yes, I can see now you've said! Taking a look on a proper screen rather than my phone, looks like they are held by a vaccum gripper (the black cups over the carts), which is on a gantry system (the robot) on the left of the image, held via an arm (sticking out parallel to the conveyor with the blue carriers on).
On closer inspection the machine in the background that the carts are being taken from-or-to is covered is slots with ribbon cables looking very much like the cartridge inputs on the manual testing machine in the second image (which is certainly manual, didn't see the pic with the side off until I look at the tweet directly). Could be this is an automated version of that? Wonder how the carts go in/out? Is enough of the contacts sticking out to jsut push it in with the vaccum end-effector? It could have carriers, but its a bit blurry even on a proper laptop screen....
Also the wording (while translated) of the manual one been "developed by Nintendo themselves"...could they mean that Nintendo made a manual one and a integrator at the factory copied the workings to make this automated one?
Enjoying the minor-league detective work of poring over the image XD !
Re: Random: Here's How Nintendo Makes Sure Switch Game Cards Are Fit For Purpose
Interesting (to me, I’m an engineer in manufacturing!). But can’t tell much, the first image doesn’t seem to show any carts, should they be in the blue carriers? And is it a camera inspection? I can’t see anything else around for testing it in na device, few moving parts it looks like, which I guess is the robotic aspect (no articulated arm I can see)?
Image 2 looks more what I’d expect for testing of the contacts/data transfer etc. But it looks quite manual, with the cart slots and the little legs. Does someone have to load it up? Do they pick at random from each batch to go in that machine?
Wish we had a bit for info than one tweet!
Re: Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 'Second Wind' Expansion Mod Adds Brand New Octo Boss Battle
Octo Exapnsion?
Re: Capcom Is Adding Screen Filters To The PC Version Of Monster Hunter Rise
The lack of cross save is a real shame, can’t imagine it’s technically that hard, but maybe they don’t want to cost/effort of keeping a cloud save transferring server up and running? Just feels like a missed opportunity given Witcher 3 has it!
Re: Mario Golf: Super Rush Adds Iconic NES Open Outfit As Ranked Reward
@John_Deacon I was wondering this, is it a get it now or never deal; or can you get it later on? (Don’t own the game yet!)
Re: Random: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players Are Building Iconic Zelda Locations In The Game
As everyone else had said: they all look incredible! Amazing what people can do with this game!
Re: Feature: 14 Wii Games That Deserve Switch Ports
Little King’s Story
Re: Soapbox: Let's Get Happy Home Designer Into Animal Crossing: New Horizons
I came back to this article to compliment its prescience, but good to see everyone else is already at it!
Re: Random: Uh-Oh, Nintendo's Switch Online 'Expansion Pack - Overview Trailer' Is Generating A Lot Of Dislikes
Removed
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 9th)
Hoping to save Dread for November when I have time, bought a pre-owned Luigi’s Mansion 3 for October!
Re: Talking Point: What's Your Switch Game Of 2021 So Far?
I voted New Pokemon Snap, but it was a tough call, could have gone to MonHun Rise. Both excellent games I think I will keep returning too!
Re: Random: Hey, The Switch Is Also Getting A Flight Simulator Game This Week
More shovelware, even the eShop text is full of grammatical errors! Wish Nintendo would have a modicum of quality control on the eShop, it’s a Steam-esque pile of malicious rip offs and half-baked rubbish with the few quality indie titles buried in there at the moment.
Re: Random: There's A New Hill In London, And People Think It Looks Like Super Mario 64
What on Earth is that monstrosity!? And who would pay to walk up a hill? Sheffield is all hills, I’d pay for flatness in hot weather!
Top tourist tip, see Marble Arch, and then just jump on a train 99% of the UK and walk up a real hill for free (and if it has caves inside they will look more like SM64s Hazy Maze Cave and less like a bunch of scaffolds Bond would fight Scaramanga among!)
Re: Random: Nintendo Keeps Making Fancams Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Characters
Amusing marketing, but that music, urgh! Groose’s short needs Groose’s theme at the very least!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 17th)
Trying the MH Stories 2 demo, as well as continuing some Witcher 3 (even after 25 hours, doesn’t feel that far in!) and Mario 3D All Stars (completed 64, now 40 shines into Sunshine) when the mood takes me!
Re: PowerA Has Released A Blood Moon Zelda Controller For Switch
@Liam_Doolan ah nice! It sparked a bell when I saw it on Twitter as it looked so good! I’m pretty content with the Pro Controller myself (and all the amazing battery life, HD rumble, motion control etc that comes with it); but for the (much lower) price these Power A ones seem decent quality. Got my sis a charging Pikachu wired PowerA one, and as well as a gorgeous case (like this Zelda one), the build was robust and it’s worked fine so far.
Re: Zelda & Loftwing amiibo Impacted By "Unforeseen Shipping Delays" In America
Hope scalpers end up getting squeezed and losing out, hehehe! (Feel bad for real customers who do though, hope it’s not too long).
Re: PowerA Is Releasing A Blood Moon Zelda Controller For Switch
This is already on sale in the UK? GAME Sheffield tweeted out a pic of a Link plush, Skyward Sword HD and this exact controller yesterday (with price stickers on and everything). Maybe only new to the US?
https://twitter.com/gamesheffield/status/1415959812660158464?s=21
Re: Poll: Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Is Out Today On Switch, Are You Getting It?
I have it and I liked it! Not my favourite, but I loved the motion controls, really felt new and exciting. That said, while I don’t dislike it as strongly as everyone else I know, I’ve not much interest in replaying it on Switch. If I did I’d boot up the Wii. For me it’s so tied to that console, controller and point-in-time (got to streetpass at the concert in London, play the E3 demos at the ignored booth at GAMEFest, enjoy the game with sibling over Christmas…good times!)
That said hope new players enjoy the remaster!
Re: Feature: Our Most Treasured Zelda Memories
I’ve had some many great memories with the series, up to and including Breath of the Wild. But for me Ocarina hit at the perfect time, the 3D looked incredible, I was sucked into the world, and the scope and feel we’re mind-blowing everytime the game revealed something new!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 10th)
That Witcher Con inspired me to go back to my long, slow journey through Geralt’s adventure. Really enjoying it, but feels infinitely long right now as new quests keep popping up and the map is covered in ? Symbols!
Re: New Ring Fit Adventure Trailer Reminds Us Of That Dusty Ring-Con Of Shame
It did spend the best part of a year doing nothing after only a few uses, but I have finally cracked it out again to try and burn off some of these lockdown pounds! Only played the adventure, not tried out the mini-games yet...
Re: Random: Fan Project Is Making Super Mario Galaxy DS A Reality
Graphically that outshines Super Mario 64 DS by quite a bit! The Mario model is much more detailed/high poly, as is the environment, the textures look quite high res for DS and it is running at a high framerate despite all that is going on. Would love to know how they got it running so well!
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Expansion Pass Appears For Free, Thanks To An eShop Exploit
Dang, they pulled that item so it doesn’t work! Worth a shot!
Re: Talking Point: When Was The Last Time A Game Cracked Your Top Five?
100% guilty of nostalgia for how older game made me feel biasing my top titles…but BotW was a exception that pieced through that to enter my top 5.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl #84 - Pokémon Snap
For once the European on is far more lovely I think, no nonsense icons, clear, and higher quality models.
Re: Random: You Can Buy A Fake "Animal Crossing New Horizons" Game On The Microsoft Store For Just $2.99
This is mildly amusing, but the lack of moderation on all these App Stores is appalling. Tons of illegal stuff, but also potentially dangerous stuff. And these store running companies (Microsoft, Apple, Google) are huge, make insane profits, and are pretty hot on any breach of their copyright!
Re: Review: New Pokémon Snap - The Best-Looking Pokémon Game Yet, And A Joyous Revival
Massively looking forward to this. Sorry Monster Hunter, but I predict this will be all my free time for a while!
Re: Railway Empire Is Expanding With New Japan DLC
Would love a review, particularly to know if it's of the quality of Transport/Railroad Tycoon (looks more like the highly focused management of Railroad Tycoon series than the more holistic Transport?). Also would like to know if it's any good or just some mobile-quality fare (there is a lot of subpar transport management games on phone app stores!)
Re: Random: What Is This, A Game Boy For Ants?
@Damo "Is that an original Game Boy in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?"
To be fair to @nhSnork, the late 80s/early 90's did have baggier trousers! (Personally I lacked the pocket size to keep an OG Game Boy in a pocket safely, never mind the Game Gear with all those AAs inside!)
On topic, this little thing is both mighty impressive in terms of how much is squeezed in, and looks like a hand-cramp nightmare I never want to use!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 16th)
Got a full 4 player Mon Hun Rise team on the go, working through low ranks learning the game, toying with equipment sets. Also playing some Command and Conquer Remastered on PC, which is a blast from the past (and a step-up control wise from the N64 controls I played it with back in the 90s!)
Re: F-Zero Isn't Dead - It's Just Sleeping, Says Nintendo Legend Takaya Imamura
Sounds about as convincing as when Bond said it at the end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service sadly! But I would like to see it return to the Nintendo fold at some point.
Re: Soapbox: Hurry Up And Release The Switch Pro Already, My Switch Is Dying
I'm in a similar boat, and the Switch Lite we got our Mum isn't in great nick. Problem is not having an idea of when the much rumoured Switch Pro will arrive. If it's over a year away I might live with a replacement, but if it's post E3 then of course I would rather wait! Give us some heads up Ninty, please!
Re: Nintendo Unveils A New Blue Switch Lite Console
Oooh, it looks lovely! But I need to know if there will be a switch pro or not first. Come on Nintendo, fill us in!
Re: Nintendo Reveals The Top 15 Most-Downloaded Switch Games In March 2021 (Europe)
Interesting to see Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ahead of Animal Crossing: New Horizon. I still think ACNH will overtake it in overall sales soon, but MK8 still keeps selling great guns!
Re: Rumour: Smash Ultimate Fans Think Fighters Pass Vol. 2 Might Get A Bonus Seventh Character
I have a uncle who works in Nintendo, and I can tell you for sure it will be a playable Sgt. Al Powell from Die Hard.
Re: UK Charts: Super Mario 3D All-Stars Remains In Top Ten Despite Being Discontinued
Mario still in plentiful supply, unsurprisingly! Proof, if-proof-be-need-be, that scalpers and their customers are not the brightest!
Re: Back Page: An Interview With Luigi, The Late Mario's Brother And Business Partner
@Balladeer I'm with you, really like that NL has done these, makes this site feel a bit more fun, brings back some of the personality of gaming mags. Perhaps some of the commenters are a bit to young to remember Back Pages? Regardless, this was a great send up of those dreary tabloid interviews, and all worth it for that punchline gag: top work @kategray !
Re: Monster Hunter Rise Has Already Shipped Five Million Units Worldwide
Well deserved, a great MonHun game so far!
Re: Feature: Zelda: Spirit Tracks Finally Gave The Princess A Crucial Role To Play
Spirit Tracks to me was a more polished Phantom Hourglass. The same great looking (...for DS) engine and sublime touch controls, but with a more interesting central dungeon, the Zelda mechanics and a more linear (but busy) overworld. For all its faults I really enjoyed it, the train riding was something unique (and the harder dungeon bits were satisfyingly puzzly!). Some great tunes too...
Re: Back Page: Our Sneak Peek At The (Definitely Real) Early Draft Of Ubisoft’s Female Game Reviewer Movie
Kate, don’t stop bringing this game mag energy to the website, because I miss videogame magazines greatly, and your recent articles have really spiced up reading this site: well done!
Re: Surprise, Surprise! Super Mario 3D All-Stars Prices Skyrocket As Scalpers Set Up Shop
As many have said (and should probably be in article) it’s still widely available new in stores with no mark up. In the UK GAME still have it new for its regular price.
Re: UK Charts: Super Mario 3D All-Stars Sees Huge Sales Spike Ahead Of Its Removal From Stores This Week
@TheFullAndy It did seem a bit ridonkulous! Hard to tell on the internet these days though...
Re: A 1999 Holo Charizard Pokémon Card Just Sold For Over $300,000 On eBay
@1ofUs Same!
That said, on balance, I think a home is a slighty better use of one's money than a shiny Charizard card!
Re: UK Charts: Super Mario 3D All-Stars Sees Huge Sales Spike Ahead Of Its Removal From Stores This Week
@Minecraft_Master ...apologies if I'm not getting a sarcastic joke, but you couldn't get MH Rise as you bought two copies of Mario 3D All Stars? Why not just buy...one copy of each?