@SmaggTheSmug Would you say the timeframe given by Atlus in the linked information JaxonH posted is fairly accurate? Or changed or different at this point, or at least from a Polish perspective?
The first site has the abridged version of the post on the Atlus forums:
Atlus, publisher of fine niche games, has laid out a concise explanation of localization, answering the question: "Why does it take so long?" Atlus Editor Nich Maragos covers all the major steps, with timetables and explanations of each stop in the process. Our refined version goes like this:
Step 1: Familiarization (1-3 weeks) — Play the game and understand context of written material.
Step 2: Localization (1-8 weeks) — Depends on amount of text and if voice acting is required.
Step 3: Programming (4-6 weeks) — All implemented by original developers.
Step 4: Quality Assurance (5-8 weeks) — Bugs are natural side effect of localization, along with "test issues."
Step 5: Manufacturer Approval (3-8 weeks) — "Internal testers go over the submitted master candidate."
Step 6: Manufacturing (3-5 weeks) — Print, box and ship.
Even taking the most optimistic approach, it appears that localization takes a minimum of four and a half months. Hopefully that'll clear up the process for those who think it's as simple as switching a Word document with translated text.
So according to Nich Maragos, the Editor for the Atlus Production Diaries at the time, it takes a minimum of about 17 weeks for a small job, up to potentially 38 weeks for a more significant project. I would suspect Monster Hunter XX would be somewhere in the middle range, since it's not nearly as text heavy as many RPG's are. Especially in this case, since XX/GU has no real story to speak of, it's mostly just menus, UI, and equipment/item lists to be worked on. To be generous, it would probably take in the ballpark of no more than about 6-7 months to complete the localization of XX from Japanese to English.
The Switch version of Monster Hunter XX released in Japan back on 8/25/17. If Capcom had been prioritizing localization of XX into GU since then (not even before then), that allows about 8 and a 1/2 months to date, which according to the scale used by Nich Maragos, is in the upper range of time typically required for localization. That should be more than enough time for the likes of MH XX. Thus, Capcom likely delayed production of MH GU for other reasons, and the localization timeframe was almost certainly not a priority.
If Capcom had desired it, they could have had MH GU ready for release much earlier than a full year after the Japanese release. They could have potentially released it by now, if they were actually prioritizing it. I think they were just putting their focus into World in the West... although that released back on January 26th, and Capcom could have potentially released GU in April or this month, about 3-4 months after World, to avoid any chance of cannibalization. The Switch market is different from the PS4/XB1 market, anyways. So yes, releasing GU in August is definitely very late.
There's some actual footage of the Switch version of PixelJunk Monsters 2 in action. It is playable, but the animation is janky compared to PS4/PC versions, which is especially noticeable when the camera is zoomed in to the micro level. There are also many brief moments of freezing/stuttering, although I don't know if that's normal or not.
@RupeeClock Yeah, that's the only downside, a modern potato can run Fortnite, and doesn't need a subscription. Making people pay money just to be able to access Fortnite on Switch probably won't turn out well...
@Joeynator3000 All jokes aside, I actually think Fortnite could work better than, say, Player Unknown's Battlegrounds. The minimum specs requirements are a lot lower, in the Core i3 CPU and (newer) integrated graphics range. The Switch could handle that. There are building elements of Fortnite in addition to the combat aspects, which don't require precise aim. The Joycons could be used to good effect, either way.
@gatorboi352 I'm really amazed at the mental gymnastics required to come up with statements like Faruko's "Considering just 3 people in the world actually bought a Wii U, I consider these games as new, tbh." ... Any insights on that?
Good. 3DS should be kept around as a budget option, at least until Switch gets an inevitable hardware upgrade, probably by 2020 or 2021. (Every handheld Nintendo console after OG GB has gotten some type of significant hardware upgrade SKU within about 4 years after launch.) Then the OG Switch SKU can be the budget option, and newer Switch SKU be the modern option.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this means online support for 3DS titles will continue for longer than if 3DS support was being discontinued right away. Remember when Wii and DS online support was discontinued? Yeah, it would be a bad thing to do that to 3DS so soon.
@Yorumi I think it's unfortunately only a matter of time until Nintendo brings loot boxes onto full price console titles. I still remember back when NL users despised microtransactions for content that previously had no additional price tag, until Nintendo started releasing titles that liberally employed them. Two titles that really stand out are Pokemon Shuffle and Smash Bros. 4 Wii U/3DS. There was little to no resistance to their business tactics by the core audience here.
It reminds me of propaganda. Once the authority figure of choice approves it, the subordinates (mostly) may even obey that which was once reviled. The only reasonable (but still feeble) response to this from members here seems to be, "vote with your wallet." Which is exactly what I've done- I'm nowhere near as enthusiastic about Nintendo as I once was, now that they've proven to be no more moral than other companies. But once any and all dissident discourse is cordoned off into the territory of being seen as a mere opinion with no real consequence, instead of being a vital discussion point, I can't help but feel there's uncanny zeitgeist which is guiding it...
Gambling laws should apply to any game with a loot box system. They should be inaccessible to minors, unless they have adult permission, and generally should be frowned upon regardless.
Just look at games like Pokemon Shuffle, Nintendo has already brought some of the more unsavory elements of modern gaming onto consoles for years now. It's naive to think they would not eventually bring loot box systems from mobile titles to console titles, once gamers give it a pass. This is a slippery slope, and it's only a matter of time.
Probably the main reason the service was this good was because it was in Japan. I think NoJ is better with direct responses and feedback than NoA and NoE. That's the case with many Japanese companies, too, which I understand.
That said, I've had only good experiences with NoA customer service. My O3DS had a virtually unknown critical issue. At some point while I was playing Devil Survivor Overclocked, after I fused Sarasvati early on in the game, an inexplicable system error suddenly occurred where the system suddenly stopped accepting multiple types of inputs, including touchscreen and face buttons. (Power button worked, and I think L/R and Start/Select buttons still worked, though... Never encountered anyone else who had heard of the issue I encountered.) This was on an official firmware circa 2011, and no physical damage had been done to the 3DS. It was within warranty, so I sent it in... Whatever Nintendo's repair techs did to reset the motherboard or other components, it worked, and the system was back to normal. No charge, all expenses paid. I would have liked to know what caused the issue, but I guess only Nintendo knows...
Other than that, I once tripped and fell onto wood tile flooring with the edge of my left hip. I was completely uninjured, because my O3DS had broken my fall. The shell and inner components were okay, but the screens were totally smashed. It was out of warranty, so I did have to pay for them, but Nintendo's repair service replaced the screens with no issues. The O3DS still works to this day. (Although I've since replaced the main battery myself, since the original one expanded/blew up and became unusable, but thankfully didn't leak or explode.)
I can't say how good/bad Nintendo's repair service is otherwise, because none of their other systems have failed on me over the years. (Minus the NES, which just needs it's 72-pin connector replaced.) Both the Wii and Wii U both still work perfectly fine, too. Going to need to replace the Wii Upad battery while they're still available, though... Unfortunately, someday, no one will be able to use their Wii U, since all the Upad batteries will eventually die, and I doubt any more would be made for such an unpopular, then decades old system. Even some of the older NES consoles will probably outlast all of the Upad batteries, in the end...
Love and sex is good, violence and murder is bad. The USA as a whole glorifies the latter and is terrified of the former because we're run by Puritans and psychopathic maniacs to this day. To be fair l, though, a lot of societies are somewhat like that. I guess it would be more accurate to say it's a common trait of patriarchal societies.
@XenoShaun @Agramonte AMD driver updates started fixing critical issues for the Nier: Automata PC version back in June. Only NVIDIA has done little to nothing about it. I would blame NVIDIA more than SE, it's supposed to be on the GPU company's software to fix critical issues through driver updates. NVIDIA doesn't have a good back and forth developer relations program, AMD does. To be honest, I would also blame consumers for continuing to believe the "AMD has bad drivers/performance" mythology which persists to this day, even when instances like the Nier:Automata PC version (and really, just about every new/remade title SE releases on PC recently) proves that NVIDIA drivers are more commonly the ones with issues, especially if you don't have the newest hardware. NVIDIA is all about planned obsolescence nowadays.
Similar story happened with Final Fantasy XV- crashes and issues on NVIDIA hardware at launch, meanwhile AMD pre-emptively released an optional driver update which included fixes for FF XV issues. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo is working overtime on quality control behind the scenes, to prevent NVIDIA's crappy customer service decisions from affecting Switch titles. Also wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing is one of the reasons why DQ XI is being released later on Switch than PS4. The PS4 uses AMD hardware, they don't need to worry about this.
Uh oh, Dom let the cat out of the bag that the NS is a handheld console! (Which is technically correct, it just happens to have a TV out signal device to take the under clocked Tegra X1 back up to stock clock.) Sounds like NL's Editor knows the truth, and accidentally didn't follow the hybrid propaganda... I mean, marketing line.
Understandable that 3DS DQXI wouldn't make it over at this point. All the focus is on NS in the West by now. Also understandable that PC/PS4 are getting it first, since that's what it's originally intended to be specced out for this time around. NS version is probably going to be a downgraded version, although I would expect it to become the best selling version in Japan. Interesting that the platform it will likely sell more on in the West will be released first.
The Banner Saga Trilogy is the most notable one here, and is definitely worth consideration. However, if I wanted it, I'd get it on PC during a sale, instead of paying what will probably be full price on Nintendo's platform...
As far as I'm concerned, the Toys R' Us I knew was wiped out long ago by management restructuring. Classic Toys R' Us had one of the simplest, yet most effective purchasing methods: tickets signifying stock of each item. Take ticket to register, pay for it, trade ticket for game at game storage counter. Combines security, quick availability check for store staff or customers' perusal, and proper stock tallying, all in one. Why they got rid of the ticket system, I will never know. I suppose chalk it up to poor management.
The real tragedy here is over 30,000 jobs lost. Not all of those people are going to have a safety net to catch them. Those people will suffer. There is no real safety net for most people in the United States anymore, and there hasn't been for years. Just pure greed and cruelty for tax evading big business interests to steer and bribe the government towards falling into a state where it does not necessarily account for people who get shafted when a bigwig loses at the game of Monopoly. Too bad most people keep picking representatives who are bought out that go along with this, but more people are finally realizing the public can't win unless you get corporate money out of election campaigns. That will have to be the first step to ensure when big job losses like this happen, as few people suffer as possible, preferably no one.
If you're extrapolating 20 years into the future, then console modding is the only real answer. Once support for the Switch someday ends (and it WILL, eventually), the only way to get updates for a base game copy once Nintendo stops offering support for Switch titles through the current iteration of the eShop will be through unofficial means. All of the updates will likely be eventually be compiled for use through modding the Switch. I know that's not the answer most people like to hear on here, but how else is it going to happen?
@justin233 Good to know! That's too bad, though, because it means that if anything is bought on sale, then the benefit of coins (and 5% off digital purchases?) is calculated after the sale discount, not before... That's disappointing.
@Yorumi Fair points about the concept of "scheduled #% off" sales not exactly translating into similar benefits as a "cash back" program. Although, considering the scheduled sales can easily provide a net positive benefit to the prospective customer's wallet over a "cash back" program... The latter only really sees benefit on rare occasions, e.g. the Ducktales deal justin233 mentioned. I'd rather have regularly scheduled major sales events, occasions, and seasons over a "cash back" program which very sparingly makes any significant difference in a marketplace with irregular and rare % off sales. (Or mere 30% off opportunities for old games like Kid Icarus: Uprising.)
Depending on the timing, one hundred PC titles/bundles bought on sale can easily run into several $100's or even over $1000 saved over time. Even a mere 20% discount on average for one hundred titles with an initial MSRP of $50+ would add up to at least $1000 saved. (And that's a conservative amount, it's easy to save more during sales seasons.) Whereas with My Nintendo, even if one hundred digital Switch titles with an initial MSRP of $50+ were purchased over time, unless you get really lucky and the sales you're interested in actually occurs (who knows when), that's only guaranteeing up to around $250 saved. Realistically, the amount spent/saved will usually be lower in each case. However, there are notable extreme cases to prove this point, like JaxonH only getting up to potentially $100-150 on the new exchange rate for the potentially $1000's worth of games he's bought, considering he likely often buys new. This really shows off how poorly My Nintendo fares by comparison to the PC digital marketplace.
So yeah... I feel that "cash back" programs like My Nintendo are designed to initially seem appealing... But in reality, just focusing on regularly scheduled discount opportunities and events, with the onus for their success placed on the business instead of the customer, is ultimately a better deal for the customer.
@justin233 Well, at least certain examples like that Ducktales deal you mentioned are diamonds in the rough, you're definitely making the most of the system that's in place!
@justin233 That's potentially a very long wait, and there's no guarantee it will happen for everything. In some cases, it may happen only once or twice. (e.g. the Humble Nindie Bundle) No regular schedule is no good.
@Grawlog The user must register physical games within a limited timeframe or purchase applicable digital games through the eShop to collect coins, maintain a certain level of purchasing activity to maintain those coins, periodically keep track of their coins to use them strategically so they don't go to waste, and potentially plan out purchases or take actions with the collection of coins in mind. (e.g. playing mobile titles not associated with Nintendo's hardware) Whereas anywhere in the PC digital marketplace, just log on and shop during a scheduled discount period or opportunity. No bells or whistles, no keeping track of an imaginary currency which can actually be taken away from you as punishment for inactivity. Much more straightforward than the My Nintendo program.
@Yorumi I don't get the "flat out free money, anyone whining is entitled" reasoning. PC digital markets regularly have 10, 20, 50, even 80% off sales on select products and bundles. And that's without any effort spent by the user on a rewards program! They're always accessible to anyone just for using the storefront's service, as part of a normal schedule. A mere 5% discount for a rewards program that requires effort on the user's part is a laughing stock. Only in the console market does it seem anyone thinks this makes any sort of sense. In truth, it's totally nonsensical.
At least the Club Nintendo program, along with predecessors like the Super Power Supplies program and catalog, offered interesting physical rewards in exchange for the user's efforts... Or they could be purchased. But the way those programs worked were in a completely different ballpark from the My Nintendo program.
@KIREEK has the right of it, any effort and resources spent maintaining this poorly conceived program would be better spent elsewhere. Not having the My Nintendo program at all would be a net positive over having it in it's current form. I guess it's not too surprising- a "rewards" program originally based on trying to take advantage of the mobile market to draw in more interest to Switch wasn't going to end well. If Nintendo's rewards program is not based around their own system, then it's ultimately not going to serve the users well.
@sword_9mm D3 is an old game, even an XB360 can run it @ 60 FPS during light action. The Switch shouldn't have any major problems running it, although it remains to be seen if graphical tearing/frame drops during heavy action would be fixed, which was an issue for the 360/PS3 versions, moreso for PS3. Docked, probably little to no slowdown, but undocked/portable, possibly some slowdown during heavy action.
Jokes aside, if the Eurogamer source is correct, then that means the Switch version is in fact on the way, and the official Blizzard statement was a cop-out because they somehow posted the night light allegory too soon. I would say that is worth writing about.
@NintendoFan4Lyf Laptops are portable, but they're not handheld portable. They need to be sat down somewhere to use effectively- essentially in the same manner as a stationary PC. Not to mention the Tegra X1 would struggle with Overwatch in it's underclocked state while portable/undocked. Overwatch is very competitive, it would need the Switch's stock clocks to run smoothly. That kind of defeats the purpose of the Switch, though, if it only works well while docked...
Also, if the Eurogamer source is correct, then the official statement response was just a cop-out, and Blizzard does in fact have plans to announce a Switch version in the future. If they are in fact working on it, then they revealed the night light allegory too early. (Which the source themselves was confused about- perhaps it got internally leaked through miscommunication?)
@NEStalgia I have to agree with you on the game design and UI of D3 being greatly simplified for use on consoles. From a PC gaming perspective, the game design and UI clearly suffer from consolitis when compared to D2/LoD. Combined with things like the poorly conceived AH that Blizzard tried to use to circumvent RMT on the PC version, subsequent to removing it for consoles, it's painfully obvious that D3 was not designed with PC gamers in mind. (Not to mention the horrible online-only decision for the PC version, which contributed to no one being able to play the game on launch day, and many other days.) My longtime friend and I quit D3 after a week. Didn't take long to see that PC gamers got screwed- the real Blizzard North Diablo III had truly been canned.
In case you haven't seen it, here's a glimpse of what could have been:
Even at a glance, it was very clearly designed with PC in mind, no comparison to the D3 which exists today. (And personally, I preferred the Blizzard North aesthetics as well.)
@Rika_Yoshitake Technically, Overwatch could be run on the Switch, since it's so well-optimized... However, it's an always-online title, and would need the Switch's stock clock settings while docked to run smoothly, so portable/undocked mode would be out of the question- which kind of defeats the purpose of the Switch. Whereas Diablo 3 could be played in single player while portable/undocked, or perhaps even with local multiplayer, while online multiplayer could be accessed while docked. So D3 would lend itself moreso to the Switch than Overwatch.
@Menchi187 WOOPS, that was dumb of me, I should have checked that they're Iron Galaxy Studios, not Panic Button! Point still stands about technical issues preventing a smooth transition, though.
Apparently it was originally going to be called MH5, but the developers changed it to MH:World since they liked the "World" subtitle. (As in World of Monster Hunter.) So the official "Monster Hunter 5" title is still open for use, of which will likely be the one developed specifically for Switch. (It would just be unofficially recognized as MH6.)
I think the Panic Button Iron Galaxy Studio devs are being just a little too overconfident here. Skyrim is an old game, and DOOM 2016 was made to have highly scalable detail settings in the first place. Even the $100 Ryzen 3 2200G CPU/APU using Vulkan is perfectly capable of running DOOM 2016 @ 1080p low detail (which is still better than the Switch's version of low detail) with 35+ FPS, no discrete GPU needed. (Runs the game smoother than the Tegra X1, I might add!) MH World is a whole other beast, the decision makers at Capcom aren't holding it back from the Switch for no reason. The technical barriers are too high.
That said, the Switch will inevitably get MH5, or whatever it'll be called. People should just wait for that.
Yep, definitely another good reason to get a Switch for RPG fans! I'm still going to wait on SMT5 and such, though... library should be nice and bulky by then.
@MagicEmperor That's actually a pretty accurate description! VC2 was really... not so good, which made VC3 not be released in the West. Which is unfortunate, because it is a FAR better series entry in every way. At least VC4 is finally making a return for the series!
@reali-tglitch The daily active user population has gone down to almost 5 million players. Compared to mid-July 2016's peak of nearly 28.5* million daily active users, and even compared to August 2016 when about 15 million daily active users had dropped out, that's a colossally monumental drop. Turns out Pokémon GO was a global fad after all- perhaps the biggest rise and fall in gaming history.
Niantic is way too late on adding trading and PvP, those should have been implemented back in late Summer / early Autumn 2016 at the latest, if not at launch. It also doesn't help that the AR+ feature is only compatible with iPhone 6S or newer, or a 5th generation iPad or newer- no Androids. Most smartphones are Androids, so a huge segment of the population aren't even able to use this crucial update.
Pokémon GO will keep going with a relatively small, dedicated audience, but it's doubtful that it will ever return to being the phenomenon it once was. Well... 5 million worldwide players isn't a small number of people. But you need to know where to go to find them.
And one could just keep going down the list. It's absolutely undeniable that the diversity of winners this year has dropped remarkably from all previous years- even though 2017 had no shortage of excellent titles. Nintendo related titles accounted for nearly half of all awards this year. That's never happened before, not even for the 1999 awards, which featured classics like Pokemon, F-Zero X, Banjo-Kazooie, and Ocarina of Time. There's never before been a year where a single title was given four different awards, either. I was wrong, Ocarina of Time got 6 awards back in 1999... But that didn't stop a lot of other games from getting awards, since there were more to go around back then.
It's a valid remark to bring up corporate membership, since it implies some kind of business relationship going on in the background; especially considering the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is a nonprofit organization, and thus cannot necessarily fund the event themselves. Some organization(s) must surely be providing funding for them. Who? Mainly their corporate members. So it stands to reason the corporate members (including Nintendo) would be favored. By itself, that doesn't explain why there's almost no diversity this year compared to the past... But it's a fair line of reasoning to begin investigating what's up with that.
(Granted, Cuphead also took a couple too many awards for itself, but StudioMDHR is a small indie studio, with most of the work on Cuphead having been done by two brothers. So it's highly unlikely for them to be involved with whatever happened behind the scenes this time.)
@NinNin I understand where you're coming from, FFT was THE game that made me want a PS1 back in the day. (Well, other than FF7, but yeah!) I changed my opinion on the importance of time spent after Warcraft 3, I put some number of thousands of hours into that one... I think that was around the time more people started expecting ridiculous amounts of time to be possibly spent.
What sets XCOM2:WotC apart from others last year was the sheer number of different mission types, the different challenges associated with different enemy types, and team member development. Also mods, mods, and more mods.
Valkyria Chronicles was what got me into the concept of 3rd person controlled micromanaged units, and XCOM2:WotC has several elements which expand upon that concept. It's not just about keeping units close to each other, having bits of dialogue, and maybe adding some supporting abilities or stat boosts. The units develop alongside each other without being put in the backseat by the storyline. They can even be pushed too far psychologically, and leave a lasting impact if killed. The "I want to reset" feeling kicks in if someone dies, but that messes with the flow of the game- each playthrough is going to be a bit different depending on what happens, so the player should keep going.
The mission types aren't all just about "capture this, kill that." One may also need to covertly acquire some information, rescue teammates, or provide an escort without being caught. Or not, if the team can handle it... But probably not on the highest difficulty levels. The overall difficulty is steep but fair, rewarding careful planning, being prepared for enemy types that may counter your group setup, and using enemy positions, weaknesses, and dispositions against them. There's even a set of assassins who hound not just you, but the XCOM organization, and learn from battling you- for example, they may show up with immunities to weaponry/abilities that were used previously, which means doing the same thing over and over won't always work, you have to change up your loadout sometimes to deal with them.
There are some crucial issues, though. The endgame is generally not as interesting as the early and midgame, especially the final mission. Battle actions taken are not always conveyed properly, such as an ailment perhaps wearing off sooner than indicated, or accurately indicating what actions will keep you concealed when using double movement. There are also some glitches, like enemies teleporting to spots they shouldn't be able to get to so quickly, or your unit not having properly increased sight when positioned on high ground.
However, there's fixes available for just about everything, mods to improve and add onto existing gameplay content, add missing indicators and useful commands, change unit and gear appearances, introduce more backstories for team members, and of course, Long War 2 for the vanilla version. Some say the additions in War of the Chosen made XCOM2 too easy, but it's mainly just easy compared to Long War 2. Lots to go through between the two of them.
I think that about covers it... Granted, I still prefer FFT's story and direction, but philosophically constructed stories and characters of that nature are rather rare, and less often executed well.
@NinNin I know you asked shellcore, but if you ask me, XCOM2: War of the Chosen.
Why? It took a title which was relatively lackluster and made it great, plus the vast availability of free mods further enhance the experience. Mario + Rabbids is great while it lasts, but it's done within 10s of hours, while XCOM 2:WotC can eat 100's of hours. The hallmark of any GOTY-worthy strategy title is that it can be replayed, revisited and revamped for 100s of hours and still have new content and strategies to look forward to.
And yes, expansions can be counted. If a port like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can be counted, expansions which actually add tons more content and improves the base title significantly can be counted.
@NinNin "Inferior" is highly subjective in this case. I think Super Mario Oddysey's sound design is categorically inferior to Nier: Automata's. I also think Divinity: Original Sin II's design is filled with more true breadth than BotW when mods are taken into account- I feel BotW has more illusory breadth than true breadth. And finally, I think Danganronpa V3's direction completely ecplises BotW's rather minimalistic (lackluster) brand of storytelling. That said, I feel BotW deserves either the Adventure GOTY award or Overall GOTY award, but I don't think it's good enough to hog both. I would lean towards just the Adventure GOTY, myself.
Does that make it all true, though? I'd like to think so... But that's not based on any objective criteria. I doubt the votes made here involve any objective criteria, either.
So I suppose this is all to be taken with a mountain of salt, anyways. Yet it nevertheless makes the gaming landscape look quite barren when so many people are only looking in so few directions.
@Shellcore Uh oh. Looks like you somehow took the red pill. Now you're going to be given labels like "conspiracy theorist" by everyone who took the blue pill to smear and discredit anything you say on the matter, to protect the corporate oligarchy.
Don't you worry though, there's a very easy phrase you can say to reverse your compromised reputation. Just repeat after me:
"There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business. There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business. There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business."
Nier: Automata should have easily gotten Best Sound Design award. Has anyone here listened to it's OST? Hauntingly beautiful. The voice acting and sound effects were on point, too. Oddysey's sound design is great and all, but Nier's is just out of this world.
That said, I would have thought Persona 5 would win best RPG of 2017. Nier winning is quite an upset, but still very well deserved.
Personally, I think they should limit the awards a single game title can earn to one award in a specific achievement category and one award in either the overall GOTY category or "Best in Genre of the Year" category. Way too much BOTW and Nintendo representation here. It sends the wrong message about 2017, there was a lot of awesome stuff going on outside Nintendo Land.
I was wondering how a specific issue Pokémon GO article had over 30 comments when the interest level in the game is now dead as a doornail. Necrothread. Just look at other article threads on Pokemon GO now, less than 10 comments in many. The horse is dead, let it rest.
Comments 5,813
Re: Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Hits Switch This August
@SmaggTheSmug Would you say the timeframe given by Atlus in the linked information JaxonH posted is fairly accurate? Or changed or different at this point, or at least from a Polish perspective?
Re: Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Hits Switch This August
@Heavyarms55 @JaxonH Here you are:
https://web.archive.org/web/20090726105127/https://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/atlus-explains-why-it-takes-so-long-to-localize-a-game/
https://web.archive.org/web/20090726092406/http://www.atlus.com:80/forum/showthread.php?t=4016
The first site has the abridged version of the post on the Atlus forums:
Atlus, publisher of fine niche games, has laid out a concise explanation of localization, answering the question: "Why does it take so long?" Atlus Editor Nich Maragos covers all the major steps, with timetables and explanations of each stop in the process. Our refined version goes like this:
Step 1: Familiarization (1-3 weeks) — Play the game and understand context of written material.
Step 2: Localization (1-8 weeks) — Depends on amount of text and if voice acting is required.
Step 3: Programming (4-6 weeks) — All implemented by original developers.
Step 4: Quality Assurance (5-8 weeks) — Bugs are natural side effect of localization, along with "test issues."
Step 5: Manufacturer Approval (3-8 weeks) — "Internal testers go over the submitted master candidate."
Step 6: Manufacturing (3-5 weeks) — Print, box and ship.
Even taking the most optimistic approach, it appears that localization takes a minimum of four and a half months. Hopefully that'll clear up the process for those who think it's as simple as switching a Word document with translated text.
So according to Nich Maragos, the Editor for the Atlus Production Diaries at the time, it takes a minimum of about 17 weeks for a small job, up to potentially 38 weeks for a more significant project. I would suspect Monster Hunter XX would be somewhere in the middle range, since it's not nearly as text heavy as many RPG's are. Especially in this case, since XX/GU has no real story to speak of, it's mostly just menus, UI, and equipment/item lists to be worked on. To be generous, it would probably take in the ballpark of no more than about 6-7 months to complete the localization of XX from Japanese to English.
The Switch version of Monster Hunter XX released in Japan back on 8/25/17. If Capcom had been prioritizing localization of XX into GU since then (not even before then), that allows about 8 and a 1/2 months to date, which according to the scale used by Nich Maragos, is in the upper range of time typically required for localization. That should be more than enough time for the likes of MH XX. Thus, Capcom likely delayed production of MH GU for other reasons, and the localization timeframe was almost certainly not a priority.
If Capcom had desired it, they could have had MH GU ready for release much earlier than a full year after the Japanese release. They could have potentially released it by now, if they were actually prioritizing it. I think they were just putting their focus into World in the West... although that released back on January 26th, and Capcom could have potentially released GU in April or this month, about 3-4 months after World, to avoid any chance of cannibalization. The Switch market is different from the PS4/XB1 market, anyways. So yes, releasing GU in August is definitely very late.
Re: Nintendo Reveals a Feast of Nindies Coming to the Japanese Switch eShop
@moroboshi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOKPDUnauF4
There's some actual footage of the Switch version of PixelJunk Monsters 2 in action. It is playable, but the animation is janky compared to PS4/PC versions, which is especially noticeable when the camera is zoomed in to the micro level. There are also many brief moments of freezing/stuttering, although I don't know if that's normal or not.
Re: Video: Examining the Likelihood of Fortnite Battle Royale on Nintendo Switch
@Indielink Considering Nintendo's general trend in their policies, what is the likelihood of actually doing that on their end?
Re: Video: Examining the Likelihood of Fortnite Battle Royale on Nintendo Switch
@RupeeClock Yeah, that's the only downside, a modern potato can run Fortnite, and doesn't need a subscription. Making people pay money just to be able to access Fortnite on Switch probably won't turn out well...
Re: Video: Examining the Likelihood of Fortnite Battle Royale on Nintendo Switch
@Joeynator3000
All jokes aside, I actually think Fortnite could work better than, say, Player Unknown's Battlegrounds. The minimum specs requirements are a lot lower, in the Core i3 CPU and (newer) integrated graphics range. The Switch could handle that. There are building elements of Fortnite in addition to the combat aspects, which don't require precise aim. The Joycons could be used to good effect, either way.
Re: Video: Here Are 10 New Switch Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In May
@Faruko True, true. I was fishing for a response from gator... they caught on, I didn't get one.
Re: Video: Here Are 10 New Switch Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In May
@gatorboi352 I'm really amazed at the mental gymnastics required to come up with statements like Faruko's "Considering just 3 people in the world actually bought a Wii U, I consider these games as new, tbh." ... Any insights on that?
Re: Kimishima Says Nintendo Has Plans For The 3DS In 2019 And Beyond
Good. 3DS should be kept around as a budget option, at least until Switch gets an inevitable hardware upgrade, probably by 2020 or 2021. (Every handheld Nintendo console after OG GB has gotten some type of significant hardware upgrade SKU within about 4 years after launch.) Then the OG Switch SKU can be the budget option, and newer Switch SKU be the modern option.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this means online support for 3DS titles will continue for longer than if 3DS support was being discontinued right away. Remember when Wii and DS online support was discontinued? Yeah, it would be a bad thing to do that to 3DS so soon.
Re: There's Trouble In Paradise As Nintendo Adds Loot Boxes To Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
@Yorumi I think it's unfortunately only a matter of time until Nintendo brings loot boxes onto full price console titles. I still remember back when NL users despised microtransactions for content that previously had no additional price tag, until Nintendo started releasing titles that liberally employed them. Two titles that really stand out are Pokemon Shuffle and Smash Bros. 4 Wii U/3DS. There was little to no resistance to their business tactics by the core audience here.
It reminds me of propaganda. Once the authority figure of choice approves it, the subordinates (mostly) may even obey that which was once reviled. The only reasonable (but still feeble) response to this from members here seems to be, "vote with your wallet." Which is exactly what I've done- I'm nowhere near as enthusiastic about Nintendo as I once was, now that they've proven to be no more moral than other companies. But once any and all dissident discourse is cordoned off into the territory of being seen as a mere opinion with no real consequence, instead of being a vital discussion point, I can't help but feel there's uncanny zeitgeist which is guiding it...
Re: There's Trouble In Paradise As Nintendo Adds Loot Boxes To Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Gambling laws should apply to any game with a loot box system. They should be inaccessible to minors, unless they have adult permission, and generally should be frowned upon regardless.
Just look at games like Pokemon Shuffle, Nintendo has already brought some of the more unsavory elements of modern gaming onto consoles for years now. It's naive to think they would not eventually bring loot box systems from mobile titles to console titles, once gamers give it a pass. This is a slippery slope, and it's only a matter of time.
Re: Random: Nintendo Fixed One Man's Out Of Warranty, First-Gen 3DS For Next To Nothing
Probably the main reason the service was this good was because it was in Japan. I think NoJ is better with direct responses and feedback than NoA and NoE. That's the case with many Japanese companies, too, which I understand.
That said, I've had only good experiences with NoA customer service. My O3DS had a virtually unknown critical issue. At some point while I was playing Devil Survivor Overclocked, after I fused Sarasvati early on in the game, an inexplicable system error suddenly occurred where the system suddenly stopped accepting multiple types of inputs, including touchscreen and face buttons. (Power button worked, and I think L/R and Start/Select buttons still worked, though... Never encountered anyone else who had heard of the issue I encountered.) This was on an official firmware circa 2011, and no physical damage had been done to the 3DS. It was within warranty, so I sent it in... Whatever Nintendo's repair techs did to reset the motherboard or other components, it worked, and the system was back to normal. No charge, all expenses paid. I would have liked to know what caused the issue, but I guess only Nintendo knows...
Other than that, I once tripped and fell onto wood tile flooring with the edge of my left hip. I was completely uninjured, because my O3DS had broken my fall. The shell and inner components were okay, but the screens were totally smashed. It was out of warranty, so I did have to pay for them, but Nintendo's repair service replaced the screens with no issues. The O3DS still works to this day. (Although I've since replaced the main battery myself, since the original one expanded/blew up and became unusable, but thankfully didn't leak or explode.)
I can't say how good/bad Nintendo's repair service is otherwise, because none of their other systems have failed on me over the years. (Minus the NES, which just needs it's 72-pin connector replaced.) Both the Wii and Wii U both still work perfectly fine, too. Going to need to replace the Wii Upad battery while they're still available, though... Unfortunately, someday, no one will be able to use their Wii U, since all the Upad batteries will eventually die, and I doubt any more would be made for such an unpopular, then decades old system. Even some of the older NES consoles will probably outlast all of the Upad batteries, in the end...
Re: Random: There's A New Game On The Japanese Switch eShop That's Definitely NSFW
Love and sex is good, violence and murder is bad. The USA as a whole glorifies the latter and is terrified of the former because we're run by Puritans and psychopathic maniacs to this day. To be fair l, though, a lot of societies are somewhat like that. I guess it would be more accurate to say it's a common trait of patriarchal societies.
Re: Dragon Quest XI On Switch Will Arrive "Much Later" Than Other Versions
@Agramonte Good choices! Which brand of RX480 was it? I tend to go with Sapphire myself. I'm waiting on Navi to upgrade from my current R9 380X.
Re: Dragon Quest XI On Switch Will Arrive "Much Later" Than Other Versions
@FinalFrog Only if you mod your 3DS using custom firmware, if you have system version 11.6 or below. There are guides out there.
Re: Dragon Quest XI On Switch Will Arrive "Much Later" Than Other Versions
@XenoShaun @Agramonte AMD driver updates started fixing critical issues for the Nier: Automata PC version back in June. Only NVIDIA has done little to nothing about it. I would blame NVIDIA more than SE, it's supposed to be on the GPU company's software to fix critical issues through driver updates. NVIDIA doesn't have a good back and forth developer relations program, AMD does. To be honest, I would also blame consumers for continuing to believe the "AMD has bad drivers/performance" mythology which persists to this day, even when instances like the Nier:Automata PC version (and really, just about every new/remade title SE releases on PC recently) proves that NVIDIA drivers are more commonly the ones with issues, especially if you don't have the newest hardware. NVIDIA is all about planned obsolescence nowadays.
Similar story happened with Final Fantasy XV- crashes and issues on NVIDIA hardware at launch, meanwhile AMD pre-emptively released an optional driver update which included fixes for FF XV issues. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo is working overtime on quality control behind the scenes, to prevent NVIDIA's crappy customer service decisions from affecting Switch titles. Also wouldn't be surprised if this sort of thing is one of the reasons why DQ XI is being released later on Switch than PS4. The PS4 uses AMD hardware, they don't need to worry about this.
Re: Dragon Quest XI On Switch Will Arrive "Much Later" Than Other Versions
Uh oh, Dom let the cat out of the bag that the NS is a handheld console! (Which is technically correct, it just happens to have a TV out signal device to take the under clocked Tegra X1 back up to stock clock.) Sounds like NL's Editor knows the truth, and accidentally didn't follow the hybrid propaganda... I mean, marketing line.
Understandable that 3DS DQXI wouldn't make it over at this point. All the focus is on NS in the West by now. Also understandable that PC/PS4 are getting it first, since that's what it's originally intended to be specced out for this time around. NS version is probably going to be a downgraded version, although I would expect it to become the best selling version in Japan. Interesting that the platform it will likely sell more on in the West will be released first.
Re: Reaction: What Did You Think Of The Nindies Spring Showcase 2018?
The Banner Saga Trilogy is the most notable one here, and is definitely worth consideration. However, if I wanted it, I'd get it on PC during a sale, instead of paying what will probably be full price on Nintendo's platform...
Re: Toys R Us Is Closing All Of Its US And UK Stores
As far as I'm concerned, the Toys R' Us I knew was wiped out long ago by management restructuring. Classic Toys R' Us had one of the simplest, yet most effective purchasing methods: tickets signifying stock of each item. Take ticket to register, pay for it, trade ticket for game at game storage counter. Combines security, quick availability check for store staff or customers' perusal, and proper stock tallying, all in one. Why they got rid of the ticket system, I will never know. I suppose chalk it up to poor management.
The real tragedy here is over 30,000 jobs lost. Not all of those people are going to have a safety net to catch them. Those people will suffer. There is no real safety net for most people in the United States anymore, and there hasn't been for years. Just pure greed and cruelty for tax evading big business interests to steer and bribe the government towards falling into a state where it does not necessarily account for people who get shafted when a bigwig loses at the game of Monopoly. Too bad most people keep picking representatives who are bought out that go along with this, but more people are finally realizing the public can't win unless you get corporate money out of election campaigns. That will have to be the first step to ensure when big job losses like this happen, as few people suffer as possible, preferably no one.
Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future
If you're extrapolating 20 years into the future, then console modding is the only real answer. Once support for the Switch someday ends (and it WILL, eventually), the only way to get updates for a base game copy once Nintendo stops offering support for Switch titles through the current iteration of the eShop will be through unofficial means. All of the updates will likely be eventually be compiled for use through modding the Switch. I know that's not the answer most people like to hear on here, but how else is it going to happen?
Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future
@foobarbaz PC games can be backed up legally. Console games... not so easily from a legal standpoint. But it is the answer, I think.
Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future
@RedMageLanakyn YOU'RE BACK! I thought you said you were leaving for good back in September? Drawn back in by the irresistible drama?
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@justin233 Good to know! That's too bad, though, because it means that if anything is bought on sale, then the benefit of coins (and 5% off digital purchases?) is calculated after the sale discount, not before... That's disappointing.
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@Yorumi Fair points about the concept of "scheduled #% off" sales not exactly translating into similar benefits as a "cash back" program. Although, considering the scheduled sales can easily provide a net positive benefit to the prospective customer's wallet over a "cash back" program... The latter only really sees benefit on rare occasions, e.g. the Ducktales deal justin233 mentioned. I'd rather have regularly scheduled major sales events, occasions, and seasons over a "cash back" program which very sparingly makes any significant difference in a marketplace with irregular and rare % off sales. (Or mere 30% off opportunities for old games like Kid Icarus: Uprising.)
Depending on the timing, one hundred PC titles/bundles bought on sale can easily run into several $100's or even over $1000 saved over time. Even a mere 20% discount on average for one hundred titles with an initial MSRP of $50+ would add up to at least $1000 saved. (And that's a conservative amount, it's easy to save more during sales seasons.) Whereas with My Nintendo, even if one hundred digital Switch titles with an initial MSRP of $50+ were purchased over time, unless you get really lucky and the sales you're interested in actually occurs (who knows when), that's only guaranteeing up to around $250 saved. Realistically, the amount spent/saved will usually be lower in each case. However, there are notable extreme cases to prove this point, like JaxonH only getting up to potentially $100-150 on the new exchange rate for the potentially $1000's worth of games he's bought, considering he likely often buys new. This really shows off how poorly My Nintendo fares by comparison to the PC digital marketplace.
So yeah... I feel that "cash back" programs like My Nintendo are designed to initially seem appealing... But in reality, just focusing on regularly scheduled discount opportunities and events, with the onus for their success placed on the business instead of the customer, is ultimately a better deal for the customer.
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@justin233 Well, at least certain examples like that Ducktales deal you mentioned are diamonds in the rough, you're definitely making the most of the system that's in place!
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@justin233 That's potentially a very long wait, and there's no guarantee it will happen for everything. In some cases, it may happen only once or twice. (e.g. the Humble Nindie Bundle) No regular schedule is no good.
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@Grawlog The user must register physical games within a limited timeframe or purchase applicable digital games through the eShop to collect coins, maintain a certain level of purchasing activity to maintain those coins, periodically keep track of their coins to use them strategically so they don't go to waste, and potentially plan out purchases or take actions with the collection of coins in mind. (e.g. playing mobile titles not associated with Nintendo's hardware) Whereas anywhere in the PC digital marketplace, just log on and shop during a scheduled discount period or opportunity. No bells or whistles, no keeping track of an imaginary currency which can actually be taken away from you as punishment for inactivity. Much more straightforward than the My Nintendo program.
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@Yorumi I don't get the "flat out free money, anyone whining is entitled" reasoning. PC digital markets regularly have 10, 20, 50, even 80% off sales on select products and bundles. And that's without any effort spent by the user on a rewards program! They're always accessible to anyone just for using the storefront's service, as part of a normal schedule. A mere 5% discount for a rewards program that requires effort on the user's part is a laughing stock. Only in the console market does it seem anyone thinks this makes any sort of sense. In truth, it's totally nonsensical.
At least the Club Nintendo program, along with predecessors like the Super Power Supplies program and catalog, offered interesting physical rewards in exchange for the user's efforts... Or they could be purchased. But the way those programs worked were in a completely different ballpark from the My Nintendo program.
Re: Soapbox: My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
@KIREEK has the right of it, any effort and resources spent maintaining this poorly conceived program would be better spent elsewhere. Not having the My Nintendo program at all would be a net positive over having it in it's current form. I guess it's not too surprising- a "rewards" program originally based on trying to take advantage of the mobile market to draw in more interest to Switch wasn't going to end well. If Nintendo's rewards program is not based around their own system, then it's ultimately not going to serve the users well.
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@sword_9mm D3 is an old game, even an XB360 can run it @ 60 FPS during light action. The Switch shouldn't have any major problems running it, although it remains to be seen if graphical tearing/frame drops during heavy action would be fixed, which was an issue for the 360/PS3 versions, moreso for PS3. Docked, probably little to no slowdown, but undocked/portable, possibly some slowdown during heavy action.
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@Syntaxkita Yes. Gotta get those hits and clicks!
Jokes aside, if the Eurogamer source is correct, then that means the Switch version is in fact on the way, and the official Blizzard statement was a cop-out because they somehow posted the night light allegory too soon. I would say that is worth writing about.
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@NintendoFan4Lyf Laptops are portable, but they're not handheld portable. They need to be sat down somewhere to use effectively- essentially in the same manner as a stationary PC. Not to mention the Tegra X1 would struggle with Overwatch in it's underclocked state while portable/undocked. Overwatch is very competitive, it would need the Switch's stock clocks to run smoothly. That kind of defeats the purpose of the Switch, though, if it only works well while docked...
Also, if the Eurogamer source is correct, then the official statement response was just a cop-out, and Blizzard does in fact have plans to announce a Switch version in the future. If they are in fact working on it, then they revealed the night light allegory too early. (Which the source themselves was confused about- perhaps it got internally leaked through miscommunication?)
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@SnarkyJay The console versions don't have the always online requirement, only the PC version got stuck with that horrible decision.
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@NEStalgia I have to agree with you on the game design and UI of D3 being greatly simplified for use on consoles. From a PC gaming perspective, the game design and UI clearly suffer from consolitis when compared to D2/LoD. Combined with things like the poorly conceived AH that Blizzard tried to use to circumvent RMT on the PC version, subsequent to removing it for consoles, it's painfully obvious that D3 was not designed with PC gamers in mind. (Not to mention the horrible online-only decision for the PC version, which contributed to no one being able to play the game on launch day, and many other days.) My longtime friend and I quit D3 after a week. Didn't take long to see that PC gamers got screwed- the real Blizzard North Diablo III had truly been canned.
In case you haven't seen it, here's a glimpse of what could have been:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nmE5t1EvM8
https://www.diablowiki.net/Diablo_III:_Blizzard_North_version
Even at a glance, it was very clearly designed with PC in mind, no comparison to the D3 which exists today. (And personally, I preferred the Blizzard North aesthetics as well.)
Re: Sounds Like Blizzard Really Is Porting Diablo 3 To Switch (Even Though It Said It Wasn't)
@Rika_Yoshitake Technically, Overwatch could be run on the Switch, since it's so well-optimized... However, it's an always-online title, and would need the Switch's stock clock settings while docked to run smoothly, so portable/undocked mode would be out of the question- which kind of defeats the purpose of the Switch. Whereas Diablo 3 could be played in single player while portable/undocked, or perhaps even with local multiplayer, while online multiplayer could be accessed while docked. So D3 would lend itself moreso to the Switch than Overwatch.
Re: The Studio That Ported Skyrim To Switch Wants To Tackle Monster Hunter World Next
@Menchi187 MH:W is unofficially MH5, yes, but officially, no. Naming history not always coinciding with numbers and all that jazz, nothing new.
Re: The Studio That Ported Skyrim To Switch Wants To Tackle Monster Hunter World Next
@Menchi187 WOOPS, that was dumb of me, I should have checked that they're Iron Galaxy Studios, not Panic Button! Point still stands about technical issues preventing a smooth transition, though.
As for World being Monster Hunter 5:
http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/001/538/1538583/
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdengekionline.com%2Felem%2F000%2F001%2F538%2F1538583%2F
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1spuvtg
Apparently it was originally going to be called MH5, but the developers changed it to MH:World since they liked the "World" subtitle. (As in World of Monster Hunter.) So the official "Monster Hunter 5" title is still open for use, of which will likely be the one developed specifically for Switch. (It would just be unofficially recognized as MH6.)
Re: The Studio That Ported Skyrim To Switch Wants To Tackle Monster Hunter World Next
I think the
Panic ButtonIron Galaxy Studio devs are being just a little too overconfident here. Skyrim is an old game, and DOOM 2016 was made to have highly scalable detail settings in the first place. Even the $100 Ryzen 3 2200G CPU/APU using Vulkan is perfectly capable of running DOOM 2016 @ 1080p low detail (which is still better than the Switch's version of low detail) with 35+ FPS, no discrete GPU needed. (Runs the game smoother than the Tegra X1, I might add!) MH World is a whole other beast, the decision makers at Capcom aren't holding it back from the Switch for no reason. The technical barriers are too high.That said, the Switch will inevitably get MH5, or whatever it'll be called. People should just wait for that.
Re: Valkyria Chronicles 4 Combat Trailer Shows Off Larger Maps And New Features
Yep, definitely another good reason to get a Switch for RPG fans! I'm still going to wait on SMT5 and such, though... library should be nice and bulky by then.
Re: Valkyria Chronicles 4 Combat Trailer Shows Off Larger Maps And New Features
@MagicEmperor That's actually a pretty accurate description! VC2 was really... not so good, which made VC3 not be released in the West. Which is unfortunate, because it is a FAR better series entry in every way. At least VC4 is finally making a return for the series!
Re: Guide: Pokémon GO Eevee Evolution Names: How To Evolve Eevee Into Umbreon, Espeon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, And Flareon
@reali-tglitch The daily active user population has gone down to almost 5 million players. Compared to mid-July 2016's peak of nearly 28.5* million daily active users, and even compared to August 2016 when about 15 million daily active users had dropped out, that's a colossally monumental drop. Turns out Pokémon GO was a global fad after all- perhaps the biggest rise and fall in gaming history.
Niantic is way too late on adding trading and PvP, those should have been implemented back in late Summer / early Autumn 2016 at the latest, if not at launch. It also doesn't help that the AR+ feature is only compatible with iPhone 6S or newer, or a 5th generation iPad or newer- no Androids. Most smartphones are Androids, so a huge segment of the population aren't even able to use this crucial update.
Pokémon GO will keep going with a relatively small, dedicated audience, but it's doubtful that it will ever return to being the phenomenon it once was. Well... 5 million worldwide players isn't a small number of people. But you need to know where to go to find them.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@gortsi That was all just a tongue-in-cheek response to calling shellcore a conspiracy theorist.
Check out the diversity of the winners even just from last year's awards:
http://www.interactive.org/awards/2017_20th_awards.asp
And one could just keep going down the list. It's absolutely undeniable that the diversity of winners this year has dropped remarkably from all previous years- even though 2017 had no shortage of excellent titles. Nintendo related titles accounted for nearly half of all awards this year. That's never happened before, not even for the 1999 awards, which featured classics like Pokemon, F-Zero X, Banjo-Kazooie, and Ocarina of Time.
There's never before been a year where a single title was given four different awards, either.I was wrong, Ocarina of Time got 6 awards back in 1999... But that didn't stop a lot of other games from getting awards, since there were more to go around back then.
It's a valid remark to bring up corporate membership, since it implies some kind of business relationship going on in the background; especially considering the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is a nonprofit organization, and thus cannot necessarily fund the event themselves. Some organization(s) must surely be providing funding for them. Who? Mainly their corporate members. So it stands to reason the corporate members (including Nintendo) would be favored. By itself, that doesn't explain why there's almost no diversity this year compared to the past... But it's a fair line of reasoning to begin investigating what's up with that.
(Granted, Cuphead also took a couple too many awards for itself, but StudioMDHR is a small indie studio, with most of the work on Cuphead having been done by two brothers. So it's highly unlikely for them to be involved with whatever happened behind the scenes this time.)
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@NinNin I understand where you're coming from, FFT was THE game that made me want a PS1 back in the day. (Well, other than FF7, but yeah!) I changed my opinion on the importance of time spent after Warcraft 3, I put some number of thousands of hours into that one... I think that was around the time more people started expecting ridiculous amounts of time to be possibly spent.
What sets XCOM2:WotC apart from others last year was the sheer number of different mission types, the different challenges associated with different enemy types, and team member development. Also mods, mods, and more mods.
Valkyria Chronicles was what got me into the concept of 3rd person controlled micromanaged units, and XCOM2:WotC has several elements which expand upon that concept. It's not just about keeping units close to each other, having bits of dialogue, and maybe adding some supporting abilities or stat boosts. The units develop alongside each other without being put in the backseat by the storyline. They can even be pushed too far psychologically, and leave a lasting impact if killed. The "I want to reset" feeling kicks in if someone dies, but that messes with the flow of the game- each playthrough is going to be a bit different depending on what happens, so the player should keep going.
The mission types aren't all just about "capture this, kill that." One may also need to covertly acquire some information, rescue teammates, or provide an escort without being caught. Or not, if the team can handle it... But probably not on the highest difficulty levels. The overall difficulty is steep but fair, rewarding careful planning, being prepared for enemy types that may counter your group setup, and using enemy positions, weaknesses, and dispositions against them. There's even a set of assassins who hound not just you, but the XCOM organization, and learn from battling you- for example, they may show up with immunities to weaponry/abilities that were used previously, which means doing the same thing over and over won't always work, you have to change up your loadout sometimes to deal with them.
There are some crucial issues, though. The endgame is generally not as interesting as the early and midgame, especially the final mission. Battle actions taken are not always conveyed properly, such as an ailment perhaps wearing off sooner than indicated, or accurately indicating what actions will keep you concealed when using double movement. There are also some glitches, like enemies teleporting to spots they shouldn't be able to get to so quickly, or your unit not having properly increased sight when positioned on high ground.
However, there's fixes available for just about everything, mods to improve and add onto existing gameplay content, add missing indicators and useful commands, change unit and gear appearances, introduce more backstories for team members, and of course, Long War 2 for the vanilla version. Some say the additions in War of the Chosen made XCOM2 too easy, but it's mainly just easy compared to Long War 2. Lots to go through between the two of them.
I think that about covers it... Granted, I still prefer FFT's story and direction, but philosophically constructed stories and characters of that nature are rather rare, and less often executed well.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@NinNin I know you asked shellcore, but if you ask me, XCOM2: War of the Chosen.
Why? It took a title which was relatively lackluster and made it great, plus the vast availability of free mods further enhance the experience. Mario + Rabbids is great while it lasts, but it's done within 10s of hours, while XCOM 2:WotC can eat 100's of hours. The hallmark of any GOTY-worthy strategy title is that it can be replayed, revisited and revamped for 100s of hours and still have new content and strategies to look forward to.
And yes, expansions can be counted. If a port like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can be counted, expansions which actually add tons more content and improves the base title significantly can be counted.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@NinNin "Inferior" is highly subjective in this case. I think Super Mario Oddysey's sound design is categorically inferior to Nier: Automata's. I also think Divinity: Original Sin II's design is filled with more true breadth than BotW when mods are taken into account- I feel BotW has more illusory breadth than true breadth. And finally, I think Danganronpa V3's direction completely ecplises BotW's rather minimalistic (lackluster) brand of storytelling. That said, I feel BotW deserves either the Adventure GOTY award or Overall GOTY award, but I don't think it's good enough to hog both. I would lean towards just the Adventure GOTY, myself.
Does that make it all true, though? I'd like to think so... But that's not based on any objective criteria. I doubt the votes made here involve any objective criteria, either.
So I suppose this is all to be taken with a mountain of salt, anyways. Yet it nevertheless makes the gaming landscape look quite barren when so many people are only looking in so few directions.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@gortsi Doubleplusgood, citizen. You perform duty against crimethink. You help minitrue. But always remember: bb always watching. Always, always.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@Shellcore Uh oh. Looks like you somehow took the red pill. Now you're going to be given labels like "conspiracy theorist" by everyone who took the blue pill to smear and discredit anything you say on the matter, to protect the corporate oligarchy.
Don't you worry though, there's a very easy phrase you can say to reverse your compromised reputation. Just repeat after me:
"There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business. There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business. There's no such thing as a conflict of interest in business."
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
@Yasaal Keep reading, Horizon won the Outstanding Technical Achievement and Outstanding Achievement in Story awards.
Re: Zelda And Nintendo Win Big At The 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards
Nier: Automata should have easily gotten Best Sound Design award. Has anyone here listened to it's OST? Hauntingly beautiful. The voice acting and sound effects were on point, too. Oddysey's sound design is great and all, but Nier's is just out of this world.
That said, I would have thought Persona 5 would win best RPG of 2017. Nier winning is quite an upset, but still very well deserved.
Personally, I think they should limit the awards a single game title can earn to one award in a specific achievement category and one award in either the overall GOTY category or "Best in Genre of the Year" category. Way too much BOTW and Nintendo representation here. It sends the wrong message about 2017, there was a lot of awesome stuff going on outside Nintendo Land.
Re: Guide: Pokémon GO Eevee Evolution Names: How To Evolve Eevee Into Umbreon, Espeon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, And Flareon
I was wondering how a specific issue Pokémon GO article had over 30 comments when the interest level in the game is now dead as a doornail. Necrothread. Just look at other article threads on Pokemon GO now, less than 10 comments in many. The horse is dead, let it rest.