Comments 302

Re: Nintendo Infographic Outlines Switch and 3DS Games for 2017

JunkRabbit

@Anti-Matter
I wouldn't blow those rumors out of proportion. Capcom will have had their own resons for their decision not to bring MHXX (neither 3DS nor Switch version) to the West for the time being. I think it is unlikely that Sony even would offer a sum to outshine potential profits from sales outside Japan. And MHW is apparently relying on a certain graphics fidelity again, which may be difficult to pull off on Switch in any convincing way. I'm not saying that I am not disappointed, because I had really been looking forward to MH on Switch myself, but then again, who says that it is NEVER going to happen?

Sure, there may have been some sort of exclusive deal (timed exclusive perhaps), everybody does that and we're happy if Nintendo does (so don't blame others...), but suppose it is a one-year exclusive, which is not so unusual, Capcom may just push a decision to a later date (or maybe they just think that by that time it's just too late for something like an updated Generations). I still believe that as the install-base grows the publishers will think twice about their strategies. Capcom might still realize that MHXX is already translated at least 50% (Generations) if not more, so it should be possible to get the thing to the West with little effort. I choose to be cautiously optimistic.

Beyond Capcom and MH: in my post I talked mainly about the absence of current generation ports. Ports of past generations the Switch could probably easily handle, and I say bring them on. The more the merrier, and I am a big fan of revisiting fond memories with updated graphics. But when all is said and done it's a business decision: Do the prospected profits justify the effort involved? And consider if you want a careful port with additional features like HD Rumble and so forth, or just an identical version as on other systems? I'd say that most would only buy the former, but this again would require so much more effort, so I wouldn't get my hopes up too much, because the number of people who would purchase or re-purchase those versions would be relatively small. That's what I would think at least.

By the way, I don't have the first clue about the gaming business per se. To me that realization and how I thought it through was all just common sense...

Re: Nintendo Infographic Outlines Switch and 3DS Games for 2017

JunkRabbit

EDIT: tl;dr: Seeing no 3rd-party games just yet is a good sign, as it could mean that with increasing success of the platform they focus on new and unique games for the Switch rather than scaled-down ports of existing mainline-franchise games, which could be produced faster, but which nobody wants really...

Strangely I only just realized that seeing little 3rd-party support AT THIS TIME can also be viewed as reassuring. Why?

Firstly let me reiterate that it is understandable that the big blockbuster-producing companies have taken a waiting stance on the Switch, because their Wii U efforts didn't pay off and no-one knew for a long time what the NX was going to be really (features? power?), much less if it could be a success.

Producing a new game for any platform - especially so-called AAA games - or even only porting them to a new and unknown system with very unique properties, can take much more than just a couple of months, so I cannot see how I could blame the 3rd parties not being there for the first few laps around the course.

But if the Switch continues to be successful, they cannot afford leaving the system out I believe. They'll want to have their slice of the cake either way. And this leads me to the point I'm trying to make:

Most would not have invested anything in individual games for the Switch (for being understandably cautious and probably because there has been little time to assess the system really), and given the graphic fidelity of other blockbuster titles out there would probably have their doubts how well they could make them run on the Switch hardware, especially undocked. I realized that I really don't need scaled-down ports of the CoDs and Assassin's Creeds out there, as for their success they really rely heavily on awesome graphics, less on awesome gameplay (in many cases). If I want to play those games, I would actually prefer to play them on other platforms, One X has piqued my interest for that (otherwise PC), so I can actually enjoy what makes them great.

I think the route that the big publishers will take (and in my opinion also should take) once the install-base is too big for them to ignore, is producing fresh games and individual spin-offs of their franchises, specifically catered to this very special hardware, not only in terms of graphics but also gameplay-wise. That way we'll get not only more games, but also games unique to Switch. I think it's win-win. Core gamers most likely have another console or a PC to play the graphics powerhouses on anyway, and those who don't are probably not interested in those kinds of games anyway, or don't just care ENOUGH (otherwise they would already have a platform to play them on).

So yes, the way I see it the big publishers could at this time only offer watered-down versions of existing games, which nobody wants anyway, so it's a good sign that they do not try to go down that easy road with quick ports no one would ultimately buy, which in turn could discourage them. But the way interest in the Switch develops they're probably already thinking hard what they could do with this specific hardware to profit from its prospective success, too (we keep hearing from all directions how the developers love the Switch and its concept...). I for one am exited to see what they will come up with in the future, and I have no doubt that the games WILL come. If it's individual entries it's all for the better. There's enough ways to play the mainline games of those publishers already, so it's good if they focus on something else.

Re: Ubisoft's Starlink: Battle For Atlas Isn't Just For Kids, You Know

JunkRabbit

@Tibob
Count me in the "Senile Daddy" group, minus the kids. My inner child is loose and intrigued (though not quite going in hoops yet), and the senile part watches silently from the sidelines, smiling indulgently. Perhaps drooling a bit, lost in thought, but that's probably for other reasons and has nothing to do with this game...

Re: Review: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Switch eShop)

JunkRabbit

@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Thanks, glad to hear that.
And yes, I get that port is probably not the alcoholic beverage of choice for most people, but the poor "port" joke just lay there, orphaned, and I just had to pick it up...

"Beer. Beer. Beer." may have been a more elegant reply, but I really don't drink beer myself, and "Coke. Coke. Coke." could again have been taken the wrong way...

Re: Review: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Switch eShop)

JunkRabbit

@617Sqn
I sincerely apologize if anyone took this the wrong way. No offence was intended in any way whatsoever. Despite existing stereotypes I personally do not view this specific one as particularly negative (if anything I have always been under the impression that most Irish are actually proud how they can hold their liquor), though I see from your comment how others may in fact do so and stand corrected. Last but not least I want to point out that I have nothing against the Irish in general, nor any one Irish person in particular. I would go as far as to say that the contrary is true.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Please accept my apologies to you personally if you did indeed feel offended by either of the two sentences. I didn't mean anything by it, it was just the first thing that came to mind, and I couldn't help but smile at the ambiguity. The second sentence was redundant and not PC however, I see that now.

Re: Review: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Switch eShop)

JunkRabbit

(But seriously... getting pissed so openly this early in the day... will no one think of the poor children who read this??? At least put a brown paper bag over the post for heaven's sake... and that goes for you, too @Frosty_09 for crying for more!)

Re: Ubisoft España‏ Tweet States Beyond Good & Evil is Coming to Nintendo Switch

JunkRabbit

@TruenoGT
Suppose they just don't know yet (potentially early in development) if they can pull it off, or what hardware will enable them to fully realize their vision. They may have to opt to drop one system or the other (or move to follow-up hardware...) so the grand scale doesn't suffer. Keep in mind that the release may still be a long time off, and the game must look stunning at the time of release... Then imagine they had already announced some systems it would come to, but can't make it happen. You know how the fans react to such news. Hence the secrecy as long as such things are still under consideration and not concrete, at least by companies who know what's good for them...

Edit: Think No Man's Sky. Now we know we didn't miss much, but I remember all hell breaking loose when they said they couldn't make it work on Wii U after all...

Re: Battle Chasers And Sine Mora EX Are Getting Physical Releases On Switch, At A Cost

JunkRabbit

It's still cheaper than having to buy the same game twice, once for at home and once for on the go (like we've had to do with MH3U if we wanted to play it both ways)... Not saying that $10 doesn't seem too much for cartridge costs alone, and the above is of course no excuse (or nothing BUT an excuse, depending on how you look at it), but this perspective does help me live a lot better with this reality (which I can't change, so it makes no sense whatsoever to whine and complain about it). Like I always say: Change what you can't accept and accept what you can't change. (Though there is of course a third option in this case: never mind, don't buy, and move on).

Re: Want to Know The Real Reason Star Fox Was Renamed in Europe?

JunkRabbit

Not disputing that what the developers say is true, but it would really have been quite the overreaction then. Because while it is true that "V" in German is in most cases pronounced like the English "F", this is not necessarily the case if the origin of the word is foreign in nature.

For example: "Vokal", the German word for "vowel", is derived from Latin (just like the "-Vox" part), and therefore not pronunced with an "F" sound, but with what in English would sound like "V" (basically in English transcription it would be "Vo-kaal"). The company name "StarVox" would in fact have been pronounced exactly the same way in Germany as it would in be in English-speaking territories, and I really cannot see the risk of the two having been confused there... But of course the fear of a confusion may have run deeper in those days.

Re: Editorial: Monster Hunter and Nintendo Switch Are a Match Made in Heaven

JunkRabbit

MH3U was in fact the reason why I got the Wii U, and foreshadowed a desire to play the same (big) game on the go and on the TV: I had bought Tri for Wii, but didn't get it. For an MH noob expecting some sort of RPG (the false expectations were not the fault of the game, mind you; I am aware of that) it was so different, and I didn't want to spend the time necessary to grasp it then. So I never really played that.

Then came the 3DS version and a demo with it. I played the demo. I still didn't get it, but I wanted to beat the Lagombi in the 20 minutes you got. I still had some pride left after all. I tried again, and failed again. I tried a third time and I noticed I was getting faster, better at aiming in the right direction, knew when to attack and when to dodge (somewhat), and finally beat it. That's when I suddenly understood the game, and why the controls are as clunky and sometimes unintuitive as they are (no target lock for example): They want to force you to evolve as a player, to make each victory a celebration of skill (not of XP).

120 hours game time later I thought "Man, it would be nice to play this not only on the go and in 3D, but also on the big screen", and I got a Wii U, specifically for that game, and for the possibility to continue the same save game on the go and at home and share it between systems. Of course the Wii U library only got larger after that, and it is still a beloved system, but I can't help but smile at the fact that today I have this experience I once bought an additional home console and second version of the game for (in addition to the 3DS and game I already owned) on my Switch every day with every title! Considering this I could never say that the asking price for the Switch and her games are too high...

I have played MH4 and Generations after that and will certainly look forward to any further title in the series, especially one that I can play both ways...

Re: Unreal Engine Adds Full Native Support For Nintendo Switch

JunkRabbit

I wonder what that means on a development level, but it sounds like it should be quite easy to port UE4 games to Switch. But does it also include the dual resolution (docked/undocked) by default, or is this soimething left to the individual developers to work out. HD Rumble support might also be an issue if the developers are unimaginative as to how to best implement it (though I believe Nintendo might be able to provide a library of standard HD rumble events that can be utilized if you can't think of anything original).

On a side note: I almost expected somone to bash Unity again, as was the case in an earlier post's comment section, and was prepared to say "Haven't you seen Layers of Fear?" which I believe to look and function (with the constant changes in environment) absolutly amazing... So I couldn't share any negativity in regard to Unity from my own experience. Then again, I haven't played many Unity games yet (Setsuna being another, and it also looks fine for what it wants to do), so...

Re: RiME On Switch Will Run At 720p In Both Docked And Portable Modes

JunkRabbit

@SCAssassin
Time, money, technical issues or just priorities (view distance, LOD, frame rate, etc.). Take your pick (or just use your own imagination... ). Actually, we just don't know, but there's certainly a good enough reason (Tantalus knows for sure). Maybe the extra oomph from increased clock speeds just isn't enough for a resolution upgrade while maintaing the same level of detail and effects at the same frame rate, which they would prefer... That's my guess at least (for this title).

That's not to say that I am not disappointed, too. Switch has one advantage: it's portable. The more drawbacks a Switch version has however, the harder the decision to spend extra moolah will be. I am now more undecided about this game than ever, especially together with the rumor that it's supposed to be quite short. Will now wait for a review...

Re: Pikmin is the Theme in This Week's European My Nintendo Updates

JunkRabbit

Hey, good news. I had some mild interest in the movies, too, but couldn't decide to spend money on them. So, perfect opportunity. And I always planned to pick up additional Picross entries (only have the first for 3DS and the Twilight Princess one), but never got around to get 'em. So all in all a perfect update for me.

Re: WRC 7 Studio "Looking Into" Nintendo Switch Development

JunkRabbit

@SpacemanSpiff
For me it did indeed always work perfectly. If I remember correctly the first DualShock controller for PSOne didn't even have analogue shoulder buttons. It did come out alongside GT1, and they offered a control option for gas and brake with the right stick. What makes it so precise in my experience: To find the sweet spot you need for a particular corner you don't need to hold it only on the Y-axis and with nothing but air to guide you. Just keep pushing straight up, but veer a bit to the right or the left: this will move the stick downwards slightly due to the round edge of the stick opening acting as a guide, and because you'rte still pushing against the edge you can hold the position much better and edge it by the smallest amounts with great control... Has always worked so much better for me than analogue triggers (that came later). Back then it was either that for me or the Ne-G-Con (which was perfect for Ridge Racer and especially WipeOut by the way, but not so much for Gran Turismo).

Re: WRC 7 Studio "Looking Into" Nintendo Switch Development

JunkRabbit

@AcridSkull
Yes, especially a Rally game would need carefully adjusting the gas, I'd say. No other option than the right stick then I believe. This will of course alway be a matter of personal preference. So far I haven't missed analogue triggers on the switch at all though.

Re: WRC 7 Studio "Looking Into" Nintendo Switch Development

JunkRabbit

@AcridSkull
In Gran Turismo (from part one through six) I have always preferred using the right stick for acceleration and braking, mostly due to the fact that I found it more precise and easier to hold a thumb stick in the exact position I wanted as opposed to trying to do so with analogue triggers, which are thus not a must for me. True, headlook will not be an option for the right stick then, but then I only ever use that while standing still, because I felt it confused my steering when doing it in the middle of the race...

Re: Piczle Lines DX Announced for the Nintendo Switch eShop

JunkRabbit

@PanurgeJr
You couldn't have picked a more distinctive image... even in such a small size it's instantly recognizable if you've been there

And I did in fact seize the day (or rather the night where I am) and immediately continued it for an hour or so. Will play some more tomorrow. It's such a lovely game (so far). My only excuse for not seeing it through the last two times (the save games told me that my first try was 2010, the second one was this January) is my otherwise huge backlog on all systems, and new games that interest me coming out all the time (and that's not even a good one in regard to Fragile Dreams, I'm beginning to think). Well, hopefully Lady Switch will not feel too neglected.

Should Wii Virtual Console come to Switch, I don't believe this game would be part of the selection though. It's a bit too special I would think, and didn't do too well in terms of sales the first time round I believe.

Sorry for the off-topic everyone!

Re: Piczle Lines DX Announced for the Nintendo Switch eShop

JunkRabbit

@PanurgeJr
Your Avatar... it painfully reminds me that I need to fire up my Wii (U) again and continue the game at that exact spot, which I have reached twice already now and then other games were more important and I forgot about it (despite the fact that I loved it up to that point)... lol. I will not start again from the beginning though. I think I remember enough this time (I believe the last thing I did was try out the cat's toy for the first time...).

So keep posting. I swear it will make me finally continue this gem sooner or later... (well, right after Zelda... maybe)

Re: Poll: How Do You Play the Nintendo Switch - As A Portable, Home Console or Hybrid?

JunkRabbit

@Kanbei
People playing Flappy Bird on a $700 Android device should be the ones to get funny looks (or concerned ones), and yet...

Enjoying good quality digital entertainment anywhere is nothing to be ashamed of, I think. Not in this day and age. And no, I don't think that playing games (of any sort) is just for kids. Our daily, grown-up lives are drab enough as it is. It's good to have a little color and enjoyment in there every once in a while. We should all allow ourselves to be more "childish" now and then (though I prefer the term "child-like", as in "happy", "imaginative", "appreciative of the smallest things"....). It would make for a happier world. Heck, most people feeling oh so mature and dismissing video games (or Nintendo in particular) as "meh, kid's stuff", don't see the irony of then going crazy like an infant over their favorite sports team's next match, despite the fact that most sports terminoligy makes it very clear what it is: They, too, are only games... and games are for all ages, I say! It keeps us young, and that's a good thing.

So no, I don't have any issues with playing the Switch on the train or on the bus almost every day while commuting. If anything, I feel pride...

Re: Review: TumbleSeed (Switch eShop)

JunkRabbit

For some reason the game feels calming and relaxing to me, despite the harsh difficulty. probably due to the slow speed and careful balancing required. I don't know if this will change further up the mountain, but so far it has been an enjoyable experience, despite the little progress and frequent restarts at the bottom. Even though after reading the review I feel I might never see any other section than the first, I currently still like this gem a lot.

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@rjejr
Bah, now you're just teasing/mocking me ("what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this..."). But since I have a habit of taking people seriously and politely answer anyway (it's a reflex):

I wouldn't have to look very far. Like I said, the DQ Edition is seriously cool. But no 3D just kills it for me. So there's really no danger for my wallet from that side, I can safely relax.

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@NEStalgia
Another valid argument. Though my main point was probably (tl;dr):

Nobody's perfect, but they have proven track record, and I believe everything will turn out right in the end.

Especially considering that this is (only) GAMING we're talking about. It's certainly my favorite pastime, and one I spent a lot of time on, but I will always have enough to play (even as it is already), everything else is just a bonus now...

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@rjejr
Nah, three's a crowd... can't divide my time between all the systems that demand my attention as it is... (thinking of it this way makes me realize it's actually quite the harem... )

And to put it into perspective: I didn't get both at the same time of course. Got the smaller one first, because I liked the crispness of the smaller display better (and the faceplates) AND also because I thought then I could some day still upgrade to the XL when I find a Special Edition I like (it would become the Hyrule Edition that came out along Hyrule Warriors Legends)... For some reason that made a lot of sense to me on both occasions.

EDIT: minor corrections for clarity; spelling

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@NEStalgia
Oh well, who will ever make only right choices in life, no matter how educated. Nintendo (or rather the deciders at Nintendo) have of course made decisions and choices in the past decades that in hindsight appear questionable, especially from the outside), but I choose to believe that they will most certainly have always had their reasons (founded on the facts and numbers they have insight in) (some powerplay might have played a role at some points, but I don't think that matters much). In contrast to what some other people might say, they're certainly not stupid...

It may not alway play out as intended, and sometimes they might have gotten carried away with overly creative and imaginative ideas, which the masses then couldn't wrap their heads around. But I think we agree that this creativity and imagination, the innovation (and the risk involved) is and will always be what we love about them. I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to be in their position when it comes to such descisions.

And despite agreeing that not all of their decisions have proven to be as fruitful as one could have hoped (which imho does not make them "stupid" or "unacceptable" btw), I think they certainly have an above average track record.

I'll opt for putting my trust in them. They want we want after all: To be successful with what they do, and they will always make the best decision they can. What more can you ask of anyone?

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@NEStalgia
Point taken, it's well-made. I'm still thinking though that dropping the 3DS (and software) too soon might be potentially suicidal. The Switch is not properly established yet (though the smarter part of this community surely hopes it will be soon... ). I don't think Nintendo should rush these things, and I find this decision OK (-ish) at least. Variety is usually good. It's plausible and probably even the prudent thing to do. That said, here's to the Switch's success not being hindered by giving the consumer variety!

Re: Poll: What Do You Think of the New Nintendo 2DS XL?

JunkRabbit

@NEStalgia
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I wouldn't worry that 3DS/2DS will take too many customers away from Switch. The systems are too different imo. In fact, I believe that discontinuing the 3DS too early would do more harm than it would do good - for Nintendo as a whole, not related to Switch only. The Switch still needs to seriosuly take off and get a larger install base before they can focus solely on that.