There's a digital bundle for all the extra ships etc that go with the starter pack. Can't find any UK pricing, but it doesn't look that great compared to the US. I don't think I'm going to want the extra stuff, but does feel like the whole pricing scheme is intended to fudge over the fact that we're actually paying more for what would traditionally be included.
"If you already own a physical starter pack, you can purchase a Digital Collection bundle that includes:
4 Ships (Neptune, Pulse, Lance, Nadir) 8 Pilots (Judge, Chase, Hunter, Shaid, Levi, Kharl, Eli, Razor) 12 Weapons (Levitator, Volcano, Imploder, Iron Fist, Nullifier, Hailstorm, Meteor MK.2, Freeze Ray Mk.2, Crusher, Shredder Mk.2, Shockwave, and Gauss Gun Mk.2) The Nintendo Switch Digital Collection 1 Pack also includes pilot Fox McCloud, Fox Story Missions, and the Arwing starship
The Digital Collection 1 Pack retails for $59.99.
You may purchase additional starship, weapon, and pilot packs digitally in the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Market Place.
Digital starship packs retail for $12.99, weapon packs for $4.99, and pilot packs for $3.99."
If I have a digital version and a physical version on the same Switch, do both versions use the same save file or do they have separate save files? And is their any way to transfer saves between versions on the Switch?
"If you already own a physical starter pack, you can purchase a Digital Collection bundle that includes:
4 Ships (Neptune, Pulse, Lance, Nadir) 8 Pilots (Judge, Chase, Hunter, Shaid, Levi, Kharl, Eli, Razor) 12 Weapons (Levitator, Volcano, Imploder, Iron Fist, Nullifier, Hailstorm, Meteor MK.2, Freeze Ray Mk.2, Crusher, Shredder Mk.2, Shockwave, and Gauss Gun Mk.2) The Nintendo Switch Digital Collection 1 Pack also includes pilot Fox McCloud, Fox Story Missions, and the Arwing starship
The Digital Collection 1 Pack retails for $59.99.
You may purchase additional starship, weapon, and pilot packs digitally in the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Market Place.
Digital starship packs retail for $12.99, weapon packs for $4.99, and pilot packs for $3.99. "
Starlink digital is £89.99 for ALL the ships, pilots and weapons? Still more expensive than a traditional game, but quite a bit better than other toys-to-life. Only £20 more than RRP for all extra content. Now, is there a digital only pack that goes with the physical starter pack?
Edit: I don't know how I feel about this. Does seem a bit like a fudge to get us to pay more for a game because it could easily just be all in-game content with no extra transactions.
Human Resource Machine was tough, really tough. On a couple of levels I had to look up the answer online, but I was satisfied to just understand how someone else got to the answer. Really enjoyed it, though, so up for the sequel.
@jhewitt3476 That must be on the minds of Microsoft and Sony and it will be interesting to see what happens. They do have ecosystems that bind people to their brands and they are much more plug and play than PCs, though it's not that hard to configure settings. The one thing that puts me off PC gaming is the forced updates in Windows 10. They nearly always break some of my software and I need to wait a week or more for patches, which creates a drop in productivity and potential earning. I try deferring but the PC just slows to an unworkable speed. I have a mostly offline back-up PC to get round the issue, but it really does drive me nuts. I just don't want to give anything more to Microsoft than I absolutely have to.
With games becoming increasingly more expensive to make, I've been wondering whether PS5 and Xbox Whatever will set any limit on parts of the tech. We've seen a few studios go under lately and cost of game production is undoubtedly fueling the unfortunate craze for microtransactions.
I'm thinking about how feasible it is for consoles to keep becoming increasingly powerful and whether we will reach a threshold. Nintendo must surely be aware, so it will be very interesting to see what they do. I'd like them to make a more powerful console, perhaps a dock only. But I think they will probably go for the mini because that is their niche. They could do both, I suppose, but that would definitely fragment the user base. Would a more powerful system sell enough units to warrant publishers sending their games to it? Especially if it still lags behind the competition?
For now, I think they need to add apps and folders, but they don't need a revision for that.
The Switch will be 2 1/2 years old by then and that's an age in terms of this type of tech, so a revision is more likely than not. Plus, Nintendo definitely have a precedent of upgrading/diversifying hardware.
I still think E3 this year went a long way to slowing momentum. Not showing much of what is coming doesn't make sense when the world's eyes are on you. Online needs improvement too, going by the backlash.
Syberia 3 and Town of Light are also out soon for Switch. Cheaper on PS4, though. Asterix and Obelix XXL2 and Toki Retrocollector too. Might be a bit niche. Bite me.
It could be a modern manifestation of the evolutionary drive to plan ahead. Taking a container (probably a skin) of water with us allowed our ancestors to stay alive as we traveled across our environment looking for other resources. We also stored food, materials, tools to come back to at a later point. Other animals do this too, but humans were able to work out much more sophisticated strategies like taking a flint and tinder with us so that we could light a fire easily and not depending exclusively on what might happen to be at the location we travel to. Planning ahead ensures survival. It's obviously more abstracted now, but hoarding/storing for later could be seen essentially as an evolutionary drive. Long live the Cognitive Revolution.
Still playing and loving my 3DS. I wonder if Nintendo decided a long time ago to hedge their bets and continue supporting 3DS in case the Switch went the way of the Wii U. A few ports was quite smart; most of the work done already so low production costs. Perhaps a shame that they are not on Switch too, but a proportion of the 3DS install base will likely be very pleased to have continued support.
Finishing off L.A. Noire. It's an unusual foray for me into something more gritty than I usually choose to spend time on. I want to escape from the more scummy aspects of mankind, not get reinforcement of it. It has still been a decent game and though I wasn't put off by murdered naked women in the early cases, the sight of the children's corpses in the arson cases really did elicit uncomfortable emotions. It's good to have a broad range of games, including mature, but they're really not my bag. I'm looking forward to the tamer experiences of Luigi's Mansion, Yoshi and the like.
@rjejr I wouldn't be surprised if they are gauging interest based on pre-orders and initial sales to inform future direction. It's a bold move to go for toys-to-life when everyone else has essentially dumped the idea, presumably for being unprofitable.
@rjejr It says somewhere (I forget where) that all the parts in the starter pack are unlocked permanently digitally, so in that case, the game doesn't need any toys at all. What kind of experience that gets you is still up for question.
I don't like not hearing any news on digital pricing for the toys; it makes me suspect it's going to be a bad deal. There aren't that many weapon types, though, so if they can be upgraded, it might all be fine. Ubisoft is doing a Nintendo, leaving all the details for after launch.
@rjejr I was surprised to find those codes. They must be a recent addition because they weren't there the last time I looked.
The FAQ mentions co-op but not in great detail.
Can I play Starlink: Battle for Atlas co-op? A. Yes! Starlink: Battle for Atlas features drop-in/drop-out split-screen co-op, which you can start playing right away. Each physical toy unlocks a digital copy when connected to a controller mount. You and a friend can play with the same starship, one physical and one digital, from the moment you buy a Starlink: Battle for Atlas starter pack. Additional starships, pilots, and weapons unlock more creative ways to play together.
I'm hoping that this game is going to be better than I think it will be. I can't shake the disappointment of toys-to-life as a mechanic. If it flops, we might see huge discounts for Black Friday/New Year. I don't really want it to flop, but also don't want to encourage the artificial over-valuation of games with Toys-to-life/microtransactions. Over £200 is simply too much to unlock everything. I'm sticking with the starter set, but it will be interesting to see how this works out for Ubisoft.
@Joker13z While all the physical components are available digitally, it's definitely all purchasable content. There is some upgrading of ships, weapons and pilot abilities rpg-style, but it isn't yet clear if further purchase is necessary to enjoy the game to its fullest or whether you can have a great time with the base items alone thanks to the upgrading.
@gaga64 There are now download codes for all versions on Amazon so presumably you don't even need to buy a starter pack. All the starter pack contents are permanently unlocked digitally in all versions (including the Star Fox content for Switch), so looks like you can play the whole thing digitally without any toys.
It's to be expected, I suppose, but I'm a bit disappointed to hear that swapping out weapons makes a huge difference. I hope the upgrades we can make to ships etc will also help so that we don't need to buy them all. I know games are becoming more expensive to make and toys to life and microtransactions are ways to increase consumer spending, but I'm not up for investing hundreds into a single game.
For anyone still not sure about needing or not needing the toys or that the digital versions of said toys are purchasable content, this comes from Ubisoft's own FAQ:
Q. Do I need the modular toys to play Starlink: Battle for Atlas? A. No. Each starship, pilot, and weapon in Starlink: Battle for Atlas is available for purchase in physical and digital formats. All Starter Pack physical starships, weapons, and pilots are permanently unlocked digitally as well.
Additionally, all physical toys unlock their digital counterparts for a period of time when connected via the controller mount, letting you play how you want, when you want.
@RadioHedgeFund I'm just getting the starter set to begin with. I won't get anything else unless the game is truly amazing. There's an opportunity to price it right digitally, but I doubt it will be taken, at least not to begin with
I also went with Coolshop and also don't really want the toys. It seems a bit clunky to swap things out on a controller while you're actually playing, though the way the ship appears on screen is very good. Mixed feelings on the whole thing.
@RadioHedgeFund There isn't a standalone version of the game available, unless it's just on the eShop and they haven't announced it yet. You can use all the toys in a digital version, but you do have to pay to unlock them.
For all that I want this game to be good, it is still toys to life and that always means expensive. We'll have to see what the digital only parts cost. That they haven't announced pricing yet indicates to me that it isn't going to be great for the consumer. It's a fine line Ubisoft is walking. If the toys/parts add nothing substantial to the gameplay, then what is the point of them existing at all? If too much is locked behind further purchase, then it becomes another grubby cash grab.
@Matthew010 Sometimes we do, but not always on MyNintendo. The Octopath covers are on MyNintendo, but Wolfenstein 2 covers were available through the bonus section of the Nintendo website (actually they're still there). They were made available a little while after the covers appeared for the US. Torna might still come.
I suppose this kind of game must be profitable enough for Ubisoft to keep them coming. Sports multiplayer party game is a hard pass from me, but they must have a market.
I will get the 2020 Tokyo Mario and Sonic Olympics game that has to be coming, though.
I've already played this, but double-dipping for Switch because I love this genre and handheld is my preferred gameplay style because I don't need my glasses for that.
I really enjoyed learning a little about Catharism too as I'd only had vague notions about it before and this game prompted me to find out a little more. Never hurts, eh?
Reviews of about 6 are common for this genre and I'm not surprised. As long as a review tells me what to expect and points out any running issues, the score doesn't bother me. For me, this will be more like an 7/8. For comparison, I found Odyssey to be more of a 6. That might sound crazy because Odyssey is clearly a well-made game. It just wasn't as much fun for me. Different strokes.
I'm also looking forward to Syberia 3, though waiting for a sale. I know it's been panned on other systems, but again, it's more my kind of thing so I'll still enjoy it. Anyone remember using the file/folder on the gates in Mystery of the Druids? Ridiculous puzzles are part of the charm.
Reggie said in 2017 that they were looking into dedicated servers and investment was needed for that.
I'd forgotten where it was from, but Spawnwave tweeted about it: "The reality is, the way that online experiences have progressed, it's an expensive proposition," Fils-Aime said. The amount of servers we need to support Smash Brothers or Mario Kart - these big multiplayer games - is not a small investment."
So, that's what I thought should be coming. I mean, I don't play online, but am paying for cloud saves and would have liked to see servers developed alongside to help modernise Nintendo's infrastructure, That's the main reason I see the whole online as disappointing. I can give them time, but they've had 18 months already... He could have meant just improving the matching-making servers, I guess. As much as I appreciate Nintendo for their games, I can't wholeheartedly support this when to me it feels less than, perhaps not exactly what was promised, but what was implied.
I want the cloud saves so I have to pay and it is cheap and yes that makes a difference. Can't shake the disappointment, though.
I'll update tonight. Still not sure about Online. I just want the cloud saves, so I'd definitely be paying for features I won't use - the main feature, online play, for sure I won't use. Guess I'll be subsidising others , which is okay I suppose given it's so cheap, but I also have concerns over the lack of dedicated servers and not all games being compatible with cloud saves (Animal Crossing? Not competitive as such, but item sharing might be an issue they want to prevent, so I can see that having no cloud save).
Looked into hacking for save backup, but it's too much of a hassle and messing with pins seems like I'd risk frying the Joy-con, so nope. Don't want to go down that road anyway. Hacking is 99% for piracy as far as I can see.
Looked at PS4's online offerings too to compare a little with the Switch. Don't want that either, but did work out that the multiplat titles were at least half as expensive on PS4 than they are on Switch. I like handheld play, but I could get more games on PS4 so maybe I'll switch to there for multiplats. Hmm. I do play at home anyway.
I wouldn't trust anyone enough, but good for families and perhaps trying out games that friends have bought (if you trust them enough).
Also, if you can change the primary console without deactivating once per year, then that could be really useful for mechanical failure/loss/theft when you fire up a replacement. Do you still need to contact Nintendo in that case?
Great that they're being optimised. I'm still holding out, though not holding my breath, for other offerings, but great to know that these will be good versions for anyone looking forward to them.
@Darknyht I see your point, but I don't like Prime either and don't subscribe, so... I have the same valid criticism of that service in terms of there being a charge for things you don't necessarily want and won't necessarily use. All extras do is inflate cost if you don't use them. Being common practice doesn't mean that it is a consumer-friendly tactic that I endure without noticing. It's like having to pay for a landline for broadband, even though I never use the landline.
All I'm saying is I'd like to not be burdened with the cost of a service that I don't want. I don't expect to be exempted in any way by options being provided and I've already said I will pay because I want the cloud saves. I will still be paying for a service I don't want, though. I actually don't want online either because I don't play online. This was never going to be a great deal for me, but there's no other way, so I'm locked to it. I am disappointed by the lack of dedicated servers, still. I'm not really understanding the costs involved because peer-to-peer doesn't cost Nintendo. I'll give them some leeway and say that it helps with overall online infrastructure, including the eShop. That's a lot of leeway since the cost of games is already supposed to cover the cost of distribution. I think anti-piracy might be where the money is going. I'm fine with that, which is why I'll pay for a service that I largely won't use.
Yes, perhaps more will be added. I still remember Wii U, though, and the initial promise of that console was ditched hard. There is no guarantee and I trust no company at all (and very few people), so I am at least consistent in that regard.
I will pay but I am definitely aware that I'm paying solely to ensure that at least some of my games are backed up to the cloud. That's the way it is for me.
Nintendo is providing no dedicated servers for online play, which will still use peer-to-peer connections that have none to little cost to Nintendo.
They will do matchmaking, cloud saves and NES games so they will have some dedicated servers, just not for the main point of the service. If it truly costs them to provide this, then fine. That's not how this is being billed, though. It is billed as the service needed for online play, which is not being provided by Nintendo. It is exactly the same and therefore cannot be said to provide any improvement. This is the biggest bugbear.
Another issue is that the package is all or nothing. Yes, NES games have value. But, not if you don't want to play them. There is no option to just select the part of the service you want. That is not great for consumers.
Then, cloud saves are not comprehensive because not all games will be backed up. That is a limit to the service which could be remedied by having dedicated servers for games where cheating/rolling back saves may be a problem. Nintendo has chosen not to do that, despite being able to at least try - that's what they are doing with the NES part of the service, after all.
I probably will pay because the value for me is that at least some of my games will be backed up. I will do so begrudgingly, though, because the service is a bad deal, no matter how cheap it is.
It may be good to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they will improve and actually get some dedicated servers. I can't say I have great faith in that idea. This is not what they have stated and not the direction they seem to be taking at the moment.
Ultimately, an online service ought to have dedicated servers, especially as that would also eliminate cheating and provide a cloud back up. Even if it were only for Splatoon 2 at this point, I would still consider that a legitimate cost and I don't even play online.
A lot to look forward to and, as always, a little to confound (online). That's Nintendo. Take it or leave it, I guess.
I really hope Starlink is good. Toys-to-life is not a great model for consumers. I'd love the digital pricing to be announced. I should really wait for reviews and wikis on how to get the most out of the game from the lowest cost, but I probably won't.
Yoshi and LM3 are definite buys. I liked the Megaman demo too and I've never played that before so may jump in there.
I would be genuinely interested to see what Nintendo's online games cost them to run. I know that they will need some server space for cloud saves and there is also match-making, but how much will that actually cost? Running the online NES games will also cost them, though how much will depend on popularity.
Our account info has to be stored somewhere too, so that must have a cost. If I'm paying towards that, then that is easier to take than paying for online that I won't use and NES games that I won't play and cloud saves that do not include my entire game library.
If they are using the NES service as a tester to see whether streaming can be made to work properly in the West, then I can see some use in that.
At the moment, though, the only thing Switch Online offers me is the ability to back up at least some of my games to the cloud. The value just isn't really there, despite it being cheap. And it's all-in or all-out, no picking which services to get.
I really think that Online was always going to disappoint.
Nintendo wants to charge us for what we have had for free up to now. That's a hard sell that the sweeteners don't help much with because they are limited offerings - only NES games at present and not all games cloud-save enabled, prominent online games among those that miss out. Cheap it may be, but you get what you pay for, or more apt for Switch Online, you pay for what you get now with little improvement to the service.
The rest of the Direct was very good. A lot of announcements, a lot of variety, well-paced. Even those who are saying it was meh, are still listing games that they are happy about. I loved the trolling of the Animal Crossing announcement.
@NerdyBoutKirby Animal Crossing plays a bit like that at times. It did kind of fit. And it made the troll possible too. Couldn't have done it if they'd focused on the Smash reveal.
It would be nice to see Spyro announced for the Switch.
I've resigned myself to online not being much, so would be nice if there was something good to come from that too. Will we ever get Switch rewards on MyNintendo? We were waiting for Switch Online to kickstart some goodness on MyNintendo. I'm not getting my hopes up.
Well, at least now it's clear why Nintendo has been so tight-lipped about online. They were aware of the controversy it would cause. Awareness of an issue without doing anything about it is difficult to stomach. They're going to do it anyway. Will they ever work towards a better solution?
The question for me now is simply whether I will pay for a system that can backup the majority of saves because that is all the value it has for me at present. Personally, I'd rather they implement a better service, even at higher cost.
It is cheap and I do value some game saves so will probably pay anyway, but I am torn because I don't really want to support a mediocre service. I do consider it mediocre because it is still p2p and there is no way to backup all saves. The games mentioned don't affect me, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with it.
It didn't sound like the user had much control over when cloud back-ups were made, so I'm not sure how useful it would be to rewind. It would be nice to know how often back-ups are made.
I thought this was mainly referring to game saves that aren't saved on Nintendo's servers, like Fortnite. I think Rocket League has their own servers too. Might be part of it.
I don't mind scores as a general indication of a game's quality, but I respectfully take no notice, read the review, subjectively consider whether I think a game's for me and find more reviews if I'm not sure.
I like to decide for myself and I'm quite rebellious in that regard. I'd really not like anything too prescriptive like "recommend, avoid" etc. Such a scoring scheme would most likely not tally with my subjective experience enough for me to trust it.
Comments 1,900
Re: Starlink: Battle For Atlas Switch File Size Revealed, Almost As Large As Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
There's a digital bundle for all the extra ships etc that go with the starter pack. Can't find any UK pricing, but it doesn't look that great compared to the US. I don't think I'm going to want the extra stuff, but does feel like the whole pricing scheme is intended to fudge over the fact that we're actually paying more for what would traditionally be included.
"If you already own a physical starter pack, you can purchase a Digital Collection bundle that includes:
4 Ships (Neptune, Pulse, Lance, Nadir)
8 Pilots (Judge, Chase, Hunter, Shaid, Levi, Kharl, Eli, Razor)
12 Weapons (Levitator, Volcano, Imploder, Iron Fist, Nullifier, Hailstorm, Meteor MK.2, Freeze Ray Mk.2, Crusher, Shredder Mk.2, Shockwave, and Gauss Gun Mk.2)
The Nintendo Switch Digital Collection 1 Pack also includes pilot Fox McCloud, Fox Story Missions, and the Arwing starship
The Digital Collection 1 Pack retails for $59.99.
You may purchase additional starship, weapon, and pilot packs digitally in the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Market Place.
Digital starship packs retail for $12.99, weapon packs for $4.99, and pilot packs for $3.99."
Re: Reminder: Snake Pass Limited Edition Physical Pre-Orders Go Live Today
Not really related, but...
If I have a digital version and a physical version on the same Switch, do both versions use the same save file or do they have separate save files? And is their any way to transfer saves between versions on the Switch?
Re: Nintendo Download: 11th October (Europe)
For anyone interested, the digital add on pack for Starlink to go with the starter pack is listed as $60.
https://starlink.ubisoft.com/game/en-us/faq
Can only find US pricing :/
"If you already own a physical starter pack, you can purchase a Digital Collection bundle that includes:
4 Ships (Neptune, Pulse, Lance, Nadir)
8 Pilots (Judge, Chase, Hunter, Shaid, Levi, Kharl, Eli, Razor)
12 Weapons (Levitator, Volcano, Imploder, Iron Fist, Nullifier, Hailstorm, Meteor MK.2, Freeze Ray Mk.2, Crusher, Shredder Mk.2, Shockwave, and Gauss Gun Mk.2)
The Nintendo Switch Digital Collection 1 Pack also includes pilot Fox McCloud, Fox Story Missions, and the Arwing starship
The Digital Collection 1 Pack retails for $59.99.
You may purchase additional starship, weapon, and pilot packs digitally in the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Market Place.
Digital starship packs retail for $12.99, weapon packs for $4.99, and pilot packs for $3.99. "
Re: Nintendo Download: 11th October (Europe)
Starlink digital is £89.99 for ALL the ships, pilots and weapons? Still more expensive than a traditional game, but quite a bit better than other toys-to-life. Only £20 more than RRP for all extra content. Now, is there a digital only pack that goes with the physical starter pack?
Edit: I don't know how I feel about this. Does seem a bit like a fudge to get us to pay more for a game because it could easily just be all in-game content with no extra transactions.
Re: 7 Billion Humans Arrives On The Switch eShop Later This Month
Human Resource Machine was tough, really tough. On a couple of levels I had to look up the answer online, but I was satisfied to just understand how someone else got to the answer. Really enjoyed it, though, so up for the sequel.
Re: Celebrate Super Mario Party's Release With This Free My Nintendo Wallpaper In Europe
At least Nintendo is consistent. MyNintendo and Switch Online are on a par with each other; kind of adequate, but disappointing on many levels.
Re: Feature: What Do You Want From A New Nintendo Switch?
@jhewitt3476 That must be on the minds of Microsoft and Sony and it will be interesting to see what happens. They do have ecosystems that bind people to their brands and they are much more plug and play than PCs, though it's not that hard to configure settings. The one thing that puts me off PC gaming is the forced updates in Windows 10. They nearly always break some of my software and I need to wait a week or more for patches, which creates a drop in productivity and potential earning. I try deferring but the PC just slows to an unworkable speed. I have a mostly offline back-up PC to get round the issue, but it really does drive me nuts. I just don't want to give anything more to Microsoft than I absolutely have to.
Re: Feature: What Do You Want From A New Nintendo Switch?
@DanteSolablood So greed prevails. I'm not that surprised. I do find it interesting that consumers still spend vast amounts on micro-transactions.
Re: Feature: What Do You Want From A New Nintendo Switch?
With games becoming increasingly more expensive to make, I've been wondering whether PS5 and Xbox Whatever will set any limit on parts of the tech. We've seen a few studios go under lately and cost of game production is undoubtedly fueling the unfortunate craze for microtransactions.
I'm thinking about how feasible it is for consoles to keep becoming increasingly powerful and whether we will reach a threshold. Nintendo must surely be aware, so it will be very interesting to see what they do. I'd like them to make a more powerful console, perhaps a dock only. But I think they will probably go for the mini because that is their niche. They could do both, I suppose, but that would definitely fragment the user base. Would a more powerful system sell enough units to warrant publishers sending their games to it? Especially if it still lags behind the competition?
For now, I think they need to add apps and folders, but they don't need a revision for that.
Re: Rumour: New Nintendo Switch SKU Planned For Late 2019
The Switch will be 2 1/2 years old by then and that's an age in terms of this type of tech, so a revision is more likely than not. Plus, Nintendo definitely have a precedent of upgrading/diversifying hardware.
I still think E3 this year went a long way to slowing momentum. Not showing much of what is coming doesn't make sense when the world's eyes are on you. Online needs improvement too, going by the backlash.
Re: Guide: Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For October And November
Syberia 3 and Town of Light are also out soon for Switch. Cheaper on PS4, though. Asterix and Obelix XXL2 and Toki Retrocollector too. Might be a bit niche. Bite me.
Re: Soapbox: Why Do We Want More Games When We've Already Got Too Many?
It could be a modern manifestation of the evolutionary drive to plan ahead. Taking a container (probably a skin) of water with us allowed our ancestors to stay alive as we traveled across our environment looking for other resources. We also stored food, materials, tools to come back to at a later point. Other animals do this too, but humans were able to work out much more sophisticated strategies like taking a flint and tinder with us so that we could light a fire easily and not depending exclusively on what might happen to be at the location we travel to. Planning ahead ensures survival. It's obviously more abstracted now, but hoarding/storing for later could be seen essentially as an evolutionary drive. Long live the Cognitive Revolution.
Re: Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn Is Actually Compatible With All 3DS Systems
Still playing and loving my 3DS. I wonder if Nintendo decided a long time ago to hedge their bets and continue supporting 3DS in case the Switch went the way of the Wii U. A few ports was quite smart; most of the work done already so low production costs. Perhaps a shame that they are not on Switch too, but a proportion of the 3DS install base will likely be very pleased to have continued support.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 29th)
Finishing off L.A. Noire. It's an unusual foray for me into something more gritty than I usually choose to spend time on. I want to escape from the more scummy aspects of mankind, not get reinforcement of it. It has still been a decent game and though I wasn't put off by murdered naked women in the early cases, the sight of the children's corpses in the arson cases really did elicit uncomfortable emotions. It's good to have a broad range of games, including mature, but they're really not my bag. I'm looking forward to the tamer experiences of Luigi's Mansion, Yoshi and the like.
Re: Hands On: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Feels More Like A Star Fox Game Every Time We Play It
@rjejr I wouldn't be surprised if they are gauging interest based on pre-orders and initial sales to inform future direction. It's a bold move to go for toys-to-life when everyone else has essentially dumped the idea, presumably for being unprofitable.
Re: Deals: Get Crazy Savings On 400GB, 256GB And 200GB MicroSD Cards For Your Switch
@OorWullie Plus a handling fee of £8-12 (or more?) on top of the % value in import tax. I think that's a sliding scale dependent on the value too.
Re: Hands On: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Feels More Like A Star Fox Game Every Time We Play It
@rjejr It says somewhere (I forget where) that all the parts in the starter pack are unlocked permanently digitally, so in that case, the game doesn't need any toys at all. What kind of experience that gets you is still up for question.
I don't like not hearing any news on digital pricing for the toys; it makes me suspect it's going to be a bad deal. There aren't that many weapon types, though, so if they can be upgraded, it might all be fine. Ubisoft is doing a Nintendo, leaving all the details for after launch.
Re: Starlink: Battle For Atlas And Additional Packs Available To Pre-Order From Nintendo UK Store
@Crillan That's my hope. I'm still looking forward to it.
Re: Hands On: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Feels More Like A Star Fox Game Every Time We Play It
@rjejr I was surprised to find those codes. They must be a recent addition because they weren't there the last time I looked.
The FAQ mentions co-op but not in great detail.
Can I play Starlink: Battle for Atlas co-op?
A.
Yes! Starlink: Battle for Atlas features drop-in/drop-out split-screen co-op, which you can start playing right away. Each physical toy unlocks a digital copy when connected to a controller mount. You and a friend can play with the same starship, one physical and one digital, from the moment you buy a Starlink: Battle for Atlas starter pack. Additional starships, pilots, and weapons unlock more creative ways to play together.
https://starlink.ubisoft.com/game/en-gb/faq
I'm hoping that this game is going to be better than I think it will be. I can't shake the disappointment of toys-to-life as a mechanic. If it flops, we might see huge discounts for Black Friday/New Year. I don't really want it to flop, but also don't want to encourage the artificial over-valuation of games with Toys-to-life/microtransactions. Over £200 is simply too much to unlock everything. I'm sticking with the starter set, but it will be interesting to see how this works out for Ubisoft.
Re: Hands On: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Feels More Like A Star Fox Game Every Time We Play It
@Joker13z While all the physical components are available digitally, it's definitely all purchasable content. There is some upgrading of ships, weapons and pilot abilities rpg-style, but it isn't yet clear if further purchase is necessary to enjoy the game to its fullest or whether you can have a great time with the base items alone thanks to the upgrading.
Re: Hands On: Starlink: Battle for Atlas Feels More Like A Star Fox Game Every Time We Play It
@gaga64 There are now download codes for all versions on Amazon so presumably you don't even need to buy a starter pack. All the starter pack contents are permanently unlocked digitally in all versions (including the Star Fox content for Switch), so looks like you can play the whole thing digitally without any toys.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starlink-Battle-Atlas-Switch-Download/dp/B072MQ2YPB/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1537965403&sr=8-9&keywords=starlink
Re: Starlink: Battle For Atlas And Additional Packs Available To Pre-Order From Nintendo UK Store
@Crillan That's good to know, cheers.
It's to be expected, I suppose, but I'm a bit disappointed to hear that swapping out weapons makes a huge difference. I hope the upgrades we can make to ships etc will also help so that we don't need to buy them all. I know games are becoming more expensive to make and toys to life and microtransactions are ways to increase consumer spending, but I'm not up for investing hundreds into a single game.
For anyone still not sure about needing or not needing the toys or that the digital versions of said toys are purchasable content, this comes from Ubisoft's own FAQ:
Q. Do I need the modular toys to play Starlink: Battle for Atlas?
A.
No. Each starship, pilot, and weapon in Starlink: Battle for Atlas is available for purchase in physical and digital formats. All Starter Pack physical starships, weapons, and pilots are permanently unlocked digitally as well.
Additionally, all physical toys unlock their digital counterparts for a period of time when connected via the controller mount, letting you play how you want, when you want.
https://starlink.ubisoft.com/game/en-gb/faq
Re: Starlink: Battle For Atlas And Additional Packs Available To Pre-Order From Nintendo UK Store
@RadioHedgeFund I'm just getting the starter set to begin with. I won't get anything else unless the game is truly amazing. There's an opportunity to price it right digitally, but I doubt it will be taken, at least not to begin with
I also went with Coolshop and also don't really want the toys. It seems a bit clunky to swap things out on a controller while you're actually playing, though the way the ship appears on screen is very good. Mixed feelings on the whole thing.
Re: Starlink: Battle For Atlas And Additional Packs Available To Pre-Order From Nintendo UK Store
@RadioHedgeFund There isn't a standalone version of the game available, unless it's just on the eShop and they haven't announced it yet. You can use all the toys in a digital version, but you do have to pay to unlock them.
For all that I want this game to be good, it is still toys to life and that always means expensive. We'll have to see what the digital only parts cost. That they haven't announced pricing yet indicates to me that it isn't going to be great for the consumer. It's a fine line Ubisoft is walking. If the toys/parts add nothing substantial to the gameplay, then what is the point of them existing at all? If too much is locked behind further purchase, then it becomes another grubby cash grab.
But, Fox...hmmm
Re: My Nintendo Is Giving Away Printable Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch Case Covers And Wallpapers
@Matthew010 Sometimes we do, but not always on MyNintendo. The Octopath covers are on MyNintendo, but Wolfenstein 2 covers were available through the bonus section of the Nintendo website (actually they're still there). They were made available a little while after the covers appeared for the US. Torna might still come.
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch/Wolfenstein-II-The-New-Colossus-1276093.html#Extras
Odd that the pictures of the covers don't feature on that page. There are 2 decent covers in the zip. And no white banner.
Re: Ubisoft Officially Reveals Sports Party Exclusively For Switch, Available 30th October
I suppose this kind of game must be profitable enough for Ubisoft to keep them coming. Sports multiplayer party game is a hard pass from me, but they must have a market.
I will get the 2020 Tokyo Mario and Sonic Olympics game that has to be coming, though.
Re: Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse - An Old-School Point-And-Click Adventure In Every Sense
I've already played this, but double-dipping for Switch because I love this genre and handheld is my preferred gameplay style because I don't need my glasses for that.
I really enjoyed learning a little about Catharism too as I'd only had vague notions about it before and this game prompted me to find out a little more. Never hurts, eh?
Reviews of about 6 are common for this genre and I'm not surprised. As long as a review tells me what to expect and points out any running issues, the score doesn't bother me. For me, this will be more like an 7/8. For comparison, I found Odyssey to be more of a 6. That might sound crazy because Odyssey is clearly a well-made game. It just wasn't as much fun for me. Different strokes.
I'm also looking forward to Syberia 3, though waiting for a sale. I know it's been panned on other systems, but again, it's more my kind of thing so I'll still enjoy it. Anyone remember using the file/folder on the gates in Mystery of the Druids? Ridiculous puzzles are part of the charm.
Re: Soapbox: We Like To Grumble, But Nintendo Switch Online Is Actually A Very Generous Offer
Reggie said in 2017 that they were looking into dedicated servers and investment was needed for that.
I'd forgotten where it was from, but Spawnwave tweeted about it:
"The reality is, the way that online experiences have progressed, it's an expensive proposition," Fils-Aime said. The amount of servers we need to support Smash Brothers or Mario Kart - these big multiplayer games - is not a small investment."
So, that's what I thought should be coming. I mean, I don't play online, but am paying for cloud saves and would have liked to see servers developed alongside to help modernise Nintendo's infrastructure, That's the main reason I see the whole online as disappointing. I can give them time, but they've had 18 months already... He could have meant just improving the matching-making servers, I guess. As much as I appreciate Nintendo for their games, I can't wholeheartedly support this when to me it feels less than, perhaps not exactly what was promised, but what was implied.
I want the cloud saves so I have to pay and it is cheap and yes that makes a difference. Can't shake the disappointment, though.
Re: Nintendo Switch System Update 6.0.0 Is Now Live
I'll update tonight. Still not sure about Online. I just want the cloud saves, so I'd definitely be paying for features I won't use - the main feature, online play, for sure I won't use. Guess I'll be subsidising others , which is okay I suppose given it's so cheap, but I also have concerns over the lack of dedicated servers and not all games being compatible with cloud saves (Animal Crossing? Not competitive as such, but item sharing might be an issue they want to prevent, so I can see that having no cloud save).
Looked into hacking for save backup, but it's too much of a hassle and messing with pins seems like I'd risk frying the Joy-con, so nope. Don't want to go down that road anyway. Hacking is 99% for piracy as far as I can see.
Looked at PS4's online offerings too to compare a little with the Switch. Don't want that either, but did work out that the multiplat titles were at least half as expensive on PS4 than they are on Switch. I like handheld play, but I could get more games on PS4 so maybe I'll switch to there for multiplats. Hmm. I do play at home anyway.
Re: Nintendo Switch Now Supports Digital Game Sharing, But There's A Catch
I wouldn't trust anyone enough, but good for families and perhaps trying out games that friends have bought (if you trust them enough).
Also, if you can change the primary console without deactivating once per year, then that could be really useful for mechanical failure/loss/theft when you fire up a replacement. Do you still need to contact Nintendo in that case?
Re: Switch NES Games Will Enhance Retro Experience With HD Resolution, Filters And Save States
Great that they're being optimised. I'm still holding out, though not holding my breath, for other offerings, but great to know that these will be good versions for anyone looking forward to them.
Re: My Nintendo Gold Points Can Be Used Towards Your Nintendo Switch Online Subscription
That's a good thing. Just make a note of the renewal date.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Free-To-Play Games Can Be Played Without Switch Online Membership
@Darknyht I see your point, but I don't like Prime either and don't subscribe, so... I have the same valid criticism of that service in terms of there being a charge for things you don't necessarily want and won't necessarily use. All extras do is inflate cost if you don't use them. Being common practice doesn't mean that it is a consumer-friendly tactic that I endure without noticing. It's like having to pay for a landline for broadband, even though I never use the landline.
All I'm saying is I'd like to not be burdened with the cost of a service that I don't want. I don't expect to be exempted in any way by options being provided and I've already said I will pay because I want the cloud saves. I will still be paying for a service I don't want, though. I actually don't want online either because I don't play online. This was never going to be a great deal for me, but there's no other way, so I'm locked to it. I am disappointed by the lack of dedicated servers, still. I'm not really understanding the costs involved because peer-to-peer doesn't cost Nintendo. I'll give them some leeway and say that it helps with overall online infrastructure, including the eShop. That's a lot of leeway since the cost of games is already supposed to cover the cost of distribution. I think anti-piracy might be where the money is going. I'm fine with that, which is why I'll pay for a service that I largely won't use.
Yes, perhaps more will be added. I still remember Wii U, though, and the initial promise of that console was ditched hard. There is no guarantee and I trust no company at all (and very few people), so I am at least consistent in that regard.
I will pay but I am definitely aware that I'm paying solely to ensure that at least some of my games are backed up to the cloud. That's the way it is for me.
Re: Nintendo Confirms Free-To-Play Games Can Be Played Without Switch Online Membership
Nintendo is providing no dedicated servers for online play, which will still use peer-to-peer connections that have none to little cost to Nintendo.
They will do matchmaking, cloud saves and NES games so they will have some dedicated servers, just not for the main point of the service. If it truly costs them to provide this, then fine. That's not how this is being billed, though. It is billed as the service needed for online play, which is not being provided by Nintendo. It is exactly the same and therefore cannot be said to provide any improvement. This is the biggest bugbear.
Another issue is that the package is all or nothing. Yes, NES games have value. But, not if you don't want to play them. There is no option to just select the part of the service you want. That is not great for consumers.
Then, cloud saves are not comprehensive because not all games will be backed up. That is a limit to the service which could be remedied by having dedicated servers for games where cheating/rolling back saves may be a problem. Nintendo has chosen not to do that, despite being able to at least try - that's what they are doing with the NES part of the service, after all.
I probably will pay because the value for me is that at least some of my games will be backed up. I will do so begrudgingly, though, because the service is a bad deal, no matter how cheap it is.
It may be good to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they will improve and actually get some dedicated servers. I can't say I have great faith in that idea. This is not what they have stated and not the direction they seem to be taking at the moment.
Ultimately, an online service ought to have dedicated servers, especially as that would also eliminate cheating and provide a cloud back up. Even if it were only for Splatoon 2 at this point, I would still consider that a legitimate cost and I don't even play online.
Re: Random: The 'N' Returns To The Logo At Nintendo's Kyoto Headquarters
But is it the original N or a new one? I assume original because it hasn't taken long to fix. What happened to it? Where did it land? Who found it?
Re: Guide: Everything Announced In Yesterday's Nintendo Direct
A lot to look forward to and, as always, a little to confound (online). That's Nintendo. Take it or leave it, I guess.
I really hope Starlink is good. Toys-to-life is not a great model for consumers. I'd love the digital pricing to be announced. I should really wait for reviews and wikis on how to get the most out of the game from the lowest cost, but I probably won't.
Yoshi and LM3 are definite buys. I liked the Megaman demo too and I've never played that before so may jump in there.
Re: Video: Five Features Included With The Nintendo Switch Online Membership
I would be genuinely interested to see what Nintendo's online games cost them to run. I know that they will need some server space for cloud saves and there is also match-making, but how much will that actually cost? Running the online NES games will also cost them, though how much will depend on popularity.
Our account info has to be stored somewhere too, so that must have a cost. If I'm paying towards that, then that is easier to take than paying for online that I won't use and NES games that I won't play and cloud saves that do not include my entire game library.
If they are using the NES service as a tester to see whether streaming can be made to work properly in the West, then I can see some use in that.
At the moment, though, the only thing Switch Online offers me is the ability to back up at least some of my games to the cloud. The value just isn't really there, despite it being cheap. And it's all-in or all-out, no picking which services to get.
Re: Opinion: What Did You Think Of Today's Nintendo Direct?
I really think that Online was always going to disappoint.
Nintendo wants to charge us for what we have had for free up to now. That's a hard sell that the sweeteners don't help much with because they are limited offerings - only NES games at present and not all games cloud-save enabled, prominent online games among those that miss out. Cheap it may be, but you get what you pay for, or more apt for Switch Online, you pay for what you get now with little improvement to the service.
The rest of the Direct was very good. A lot of announcements, a lot of variety, well-paced. Even those who are saying it was meh, are still listing games that they are happy about. I loved the trolling of the Animal Crossing announcement.
Re: Yoshi’s Crafted World Is Coming To The Switch In Spring 2019
@ImagineerNik Looked to be more like papercraft.
Re: Animal Crossing's Isabelle Joins The Fight In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
@NerdyBoutKirby Animal Crossing plays a bit like that at times. It did kind of fit. And it made the troll possible too. Couldn't have done it if they'd focused on the Smash reveal.
Re: Japan's Nintendo Labo Contest Winners Include Amazing Luigi's Mansion AR And Toilet Paper Game
This is brilliant stuff and the main draw for LABO. I love it.
Re: Nintendo Direct Officially Rescheduled For Tomorrow, Thursday 13th September
It would be nice to see Spyro announced for the Switch.
I've resigned myself to online not being much, so would be nice if there was something good to come from that too. Will we ever get Switch rewards on MyNintendo? We were waiting for Switch Online to kickstart some goodness on MyNintendo. I'm not getting my hopes up.
Re: Two Limited Edition Pokémon Let's Go Switch Consoles Arrive This November
I like the back of the Switch and I like the way the Joy-con blend with the pictures on the dock to almost look like tails. I can appreciate that.
Not keen on the colour scheme, though. It's giving me slight 1970s' vibes and flashbacks of flocked wallpaper.
Re: Nintendo Website Suggests Multiple Switch Games Will Not Support Cloud Saves
Well, at least now it's clear why Nintendo has been so tight-lipped about online. They were aware of the controversy it would cause. Awareness of an issue without doing anything about it is difficult to stomach. They're going to do it anyway. Will they ever work towards a better solution?
The question for me now is simply whether I will pay for a system that can backup the majority of saves because that is all the value it has for me at present. Personally, I'd rather they implement a better service, even at higher cost.
It is cheap and I do value some game saves so will probably pay anyway, but I am torn because I don't really want to support a mediocre service. I do consider it mediocre because it is still p2p and there is no way to backup all saves. The games mentioned don't affect me, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with it.
Re: Ubisoft CEO Says Sticking With Nintendo In "Difficult" Times Has Helped Their Relationship
Seems like we've gone from lamenting the lack of 3rd party games to just lamenting the lack of 3rd party exclusives. Is that progress?
Re: Rumour: Cloud Saves Will Be Supported On All Existing Switch Games By Default
It didn't sound like the user had much control over when cloud back-ups were made, so I'm not sure how useful it would be to rewind. It would be nice to know how often back-ups are made.
Re: Nintendo Direct Delayed Due To Powerful Earthquake in Hokkaido, Japan
I hope everyone gets the help they need. A delay in broadcast of the Direct is not important in the scheme of things.
Re: Switch Game Cases Will State Whether Or Not Cloud Saves Are Supported
I thought this was mainly referring to game saves that aren't saved on Nintendo's servers, like Fortnite. I think Rocket League has their own servers too. Might be part of it.
Re: Nintendo Direct Airing Tomorrow To Showcase Upcoming Switch And 3DS Titles
I just remembered Spyro. It would be great to have that.
Re: Talking Point: Do We Still Need Review Scores?
I don't mind scores as a general indication of a game's quality, but I respectfully take no notice, read the review, subjectively consider whether I think a game's for me and find more reviews if I'm not sure.
I like to decide for myself and I'm quite rebellious in that regard. I'd really not like anything too prescriptive like "recommend, avoid" etc. Such a scoring scheme would most likely not tally with my subjective experience enough for me to trust it.