UmbreonsPapa

I love the song titles for each point in this piece by the way, lol.

For me, it used to be based on the starter I didn't pick from the previous few titles. So if I went water and grass the last couple of times, then fire would be my next choice.

I've also gone with what I think looks cool.

With all that being said, I think my reasons for originally choosing starters have kind of gone out the window the last few games. I don't really remember most before X and Y. So here is where my last handful of choices stand

Y: Froakie
Alpha Saphire: Torchic
Moon: Rowlett
Ultra Sun: Litten
Let's Go Eevee: Squirtle
Shield: Scorbunny
Brilliant Diamond: Chimchar
PLA: Rowlett

The final evolution rarely ever plays into my decision. Unless it's egregiously bad

I had already told my wife I was getting one with part of our tax refund. She went out to try and find one on March 3rd at Target and had no luck. She did manage to grab me Breath of the Wild just so I'd have a game ready. Fast forward maybe three or four days later and she picks me up to go home from work. Before I get in the car, she tells me to go grab something in the trunk. I open it up and sitting right there is a Nintendo Switch box. I don't particularly care for surprises. So I rather get my gifts now. But that was a pleasant surprise. One of her coworkers husband had pre-ordered like three or four of them and she manage to buy one off of him. So yeah, that's my Nintendo Switch story

Had my Switch since pretty close to day 1. Some dings and scuffs. I've dropped it a few times. I'm sure the battery isn't as good as it used to be. But I get pretty good time with it. The only game that has historically been a battery drainer is Animal Crossing.

Also, my original joy cons are in rough shape. But they still kind of work. I have replaced the right one. So that fine.

Easily, the Switch has been far and away my most used console, probably with the 3DS and Wii the next two behind it. So for as much as I've used the thing pretty much everyday and probably 75% undocked, it's in pretty good shape

@Davzilla As excited as I was to see the Gen 9 reveal, I initially said to myself this might be too much too soon. And part of me still feels that way.

But then I had this same realization that you bring up. I, or anyone for that matter, don't necessarily have to buy these games the day they come out. It's entirely possible to wait and space out your purchases. So you make a great point there.

I just went and watched a bunch of reaction videos on YouTube. I still can't believe this is happening. I mean, I suspected we would get news on Gen 9. But I didn't expect that level of footage, game names and starters.

I've gotta say, I think all of the starters are pretty darn cute, with equally cute names to boot

Was definitely a shock. But I also had a great big chuckle considering all the folks (here and elsewhere) who was so sure this wasn't going to be revealed

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they at least tease Gen 9. It doesn't have to (and should not) come out this year. But I would take a tease.

And yes, some Legends DLC would be nice to hear and maybe some GB/GBA/DS/3DS games ported to the Switch in some fashion as well.

After playing some of the online test, I actually like the new avatars. In fact, I had always wished Nintendo had evolved the Miis beyond what they were.

I can't believe the whole brewhaha over this.

@Half-ShellHero Sure.

@Zuljaras There was one in development, with questions about whether it was gonna be a spinoff of the Ducktales reboot or its own thing completely. I believe Seth Rogan was involved in that as well. Last I heard, the project got cancelled

@Half-ShellHero Sounds like you were looking for an opportunity to throw that word out. Of all things, you picked an article about Chip & Dale? Seriously?

WTF?!!!! And I mean that in a "I hope this is as funny and wacky good" as the trailer looks

Doesn't look horrible. But it is the Switch, so the visuals are what they are.

For me, if it's a MK 11 situation in which the visuals are passable, but the game plays well, that's enough for me

This was a pleasant surprise for me (along with the Portal games). I loved Wii Sports. My kids have been playing Wii Sports on my old Wii U and they love the tennis and bowling. So this is gonna be a treat for them

Complaints are fair. Or I guess to be more adult about it, the criticisms are fair.

But at the end of the day, I think everyone has their line in the sand for what is or isn't a deal breaker. Having been disappointed by the last couple of games, I was hesitant to get PLA. It was on sale and couldn't pass up the deal. Plus the word of mouth had been overwhelmingly positive. So I took the plunge. It's a really fun game. A real breath of fresh air for the franchise. The graphics could definitely be better. But they aren't that bad or detracting enough to make the game unenjoyable

Can't help but be hyped. But also aware that it might not measure up to any hype myself or others might build and mature enough to not throw a fit afterwards

Filled it out

If true and decent to good ports (and not cloud versions), would be a day 1(or close to) buy for me.

@Specter_of-the_OLED I understand their stance on preferring to work with partners rather than acquiring them. I'm also aware of many of their best games having been developed with those partners. But in reference to what's going on now, they aren't outright against the idea of acquisitions. They make the point that it must fit into their current philosophy and culture. But it looks like they are leaving themselves some wiggle room in case the perfect opportunity arises. I doubt it would be any of the major developers in question. I guess I am just pointing that out just in case they do make a move and folks start bellyaching about Nintendo flip flopping on their word

I do think, for as much as Nintendo likes to appear to be above such kind of ruckus, I'm not holding my breath on something not ever happening. If you really look at their language on the matter, they aren't outright saying they are opposed to acquiring an outside studio. Just that it has to make sense for the brand. So it looks like they are leaving themselves some wiggle room just in case.

I've been playing Pokémon since the beginning and I am gonna be completely honest. The one and only time I have ever traded Pokémon with another individual (that I actually knew) were as recently as Sword and Shield. Before the GTS and wireless trading, I would always somehow procure another console and game (be it a GB/GBC, GBA) and just basically trade with myself.

@blindsquarel In the grand scheme of things, no. But for the sake of the article, it's fun to discuss.

@Slownenberg I wouldn't say it's obvious if there's evidence to suggest GF themselves are calling it a main series game. And I'm pretty sure Let's Go are considered mainline games as well.

I guess in the end, it really only matters what GF says. Joe Merrick says they consider it a mainline game. So it is a mainline game.

Not to champion or support folks getting early copies of the game. But I have read some early impressions and most seem to be positive. Not just this is a fun game kind of praise. But that this is the shake up the series needed kind of positive. That has reignited my excitement for this game. Especially after the disappointment that was SwSh and BDSP (which is a treat to rediscover. But wish it could have been more). Luckily, I didn't pay for Brilliant Diamond (got it from eShop gift cards). So I won't feel too put out if PLA is as good as some are saying it is and I decide to splurge

I've sold games and consoles that, in hindsight, I wish I hadn't only because I would like to play them again. But then I think about 20 years ago, trading in my N64 and games. If I didn't do it, I wouldn't have been able to buy my GameCube. So when I look at it in that context, I don't necessarily have any regrets.

But there is one situation that I do have regrets about and still haunts me to this day. Back when Pokèmon Yellow had come out, my grandmother was babysitting a kid from the neighborhood while his mom went to work. I was about 15, 16 at the time. Phillip couldn't have been no older than 7, 8. Anyways, I had the game and a Game Boy Color (which was gifted to me) and had gotten to the point where I managed to pretty much finish the Pokedex outside of Mew. I really don't know what I was thinking and he lived just around the corner. But he had begged me to let him borrow my GBC and Yellow.

Again, I still to this day don't know why I said yes. Maybe because he didn't have much in the way of video games or things like that. But I let him borrow it and told him he had to bring it back the next day. To make a long story short, I never got it or Pokèmon Yellow back. He claimed he lost it. He was an 8 year old kid. His mom was really sweet and I didn't really want to make a big stink about it. But it sucked big time. Fortunately, I was working at the time and ended up being able to buy another Game Boy Color and the game again. But yeah, my biggest gaming regret

I do have a "my uncle" story. But it doesn't involve Nintendo. While my girlfriend at the time (now.my wife) and I were waiting in line to get into the theater for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, some kid was going on about how his uncle was a producer on the movie. He just kept telling everyone that would pay attention this story. And how he refused to get special treatment to see the movie and wanted to wait in line with everyone else. This was at a theater in Western Massachusetts in the United States. My assumption is that the entire crew was probably English and nothing about this kid screamed having any family that was English. Plus it just seemed so far fetched. No way anyone with that kind of access was waiting in a line like this.

@CharlieGirl The comment was made a good decade-plus (and two console generations) before the Switch. Again, I don't know what his involvement was in whatever plans were made for the Switch. But it's quite possible how things played out (good or bad) with the Wii and Wii U led him to change his mind on things. Again, there is no way to know what those internal discussions were prior to its release and where he ultimately fell on those decisions

@Gauchorino @CharlieGirl I can't speak for Kirby or Captain Toad as I don't own them and outside of demos, have not really played them. But as for AC and Smash, I have to disagree that those games were incomplete before any updates. I mean, I guess its really a matter of how you look at things, and certainly, if one feels the games aren't providing something they want, I guess it's more than their right to feel the games aren't complete. I personally felt both were well before their updates and if I didn't play another lick of them before the additional content, feel I would have gotten my $60 worth

But on another note, I would be careful in implying or suggesting what someone, who isn't here to speak for themselves. would or wouldn't have done or felt over decisions that we don't necessarily agree with. It may be a case that Iwata wouldn't be entirely on board with some of the decisions made since the Switch was announced. It also may be the case that before his passing, he was well involved in some of the decisions that were made. None of us really know.

@Spider-Kev It most certainly was announced before the Switch came out

https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/12/14057166/nintendo-switch-paid-online-service

I obviously need to expand my video game sites I follow. Or maybe it's because I only game on the Switch. Never heard of this game and it seems to be the case for a lot of these smaller games that make their way to the Switch from other platforms..

@Strictlystyles I don't disagree. It is a slippery slope. I guess, as it stands, it's up to the industry to try and police itself on multiple different fronts so companies don't need to be in a position to sell and/or be acquired.

@Strictlystyles Or it might be the plan for the time being until they work out an exit strategy.

I'm not gonna argue whether or not this is good for the industry or not. I think we can all agree it's probably not great for one company to wield all of these IPs. But at the same time, I can't fault Microsoft for making a sound business deal (at least in terms of acquiring some great and iconic IPs) or Activision for choosing to go with Microsoft.

I also don't know how it works or what the perception of monopolies are in regards to video games and companies acquiring developers. The Disney/Fox argument, I get. But this doesn't necessarily feel the same to me. Especially when this doesn't really result in a lack of choices out there in terms of content on other platforms

Was not expecting that news this morning.

Again, if the price was right and there's a guarantee you'd get many, many years out of these, I'd see these as viable options.

@Not_Soos Possibly regarding Bruno. But I think you'll still enjoy the movie and still find it really touching

Really cool tidbit. As someone said, many sports teams already use Mario sound effects during games. So this connection to Zelda and a NBA player isn't too surprising.

By the way, does anyone know where that image of Link is from. I feel like I've seen it before, but can't really place where. Maybe from one of the old game manuals? A Nintendo Power comic?

Probably gonna play some Brilliant Diamond and some Great Ace Attorney Chronicles.

I also just bought Tetris Effect the other day. So far, it's really fun. So I might play a little of that.

I got a Grumalow. Which looks like parts of Manaphy and parts of Crabrawler.

While I'm never inspired to go this elaborate, I appreciate the creativity behind it. Just really ingenious ways people use items that I would have never imagined

Started playing Wordle the other day. I like the simplicity and terseness of how it plays. Hope it remains that way

Only thing that shocked me about the story is that it seriously involved Pokèmon. Otherwise, kind of on brand for the LAPD and police in general

I've always thought a LoZ taking placing a futuristic setting would be really cool. You can approach the story in a way where the world of Zelda as we (gamers) know it is nothing but myths and folktales in Hyrule's present (kind of how we have Greek or Roman mythology or the Loch Ness Monster in our culture). Magic may or may not exist. But when it appears, no one really believes it's magic and chalk it up to scientific phenomenas.

Same way we have Egyptian pyramids or Mayan ruins, the temples from Hyrule's past would serve as this games historical sites. The Triforce could be this mythical object, like the Holy Grail, that only exist in movies or fiction of the day. As far as the story goes, Ganondorf ends up reborn, which then leads the Link and Zelda of this period to slowly start experiencing moments of awakenings to the lands past and the legend of their previous incarnations.

I could go on and on. But it could be really cool

Got a bunch of gift cards for Christmas. So I ended up finally buying one of the Gen 4 remakes (Brilliant Diamond). Besides the Exp Share always on, it's pretty much the same game. So I'm glad I waited for others to buy it for me 😂. Love Pokèmon. But I wish there were more of effort to had make these games much more.

After this and SwSh, I'm gonna give PLA some time after release before plunging in. Whereas Pokèmon mainline games use to be day one purchases, I'm happy to wait and see now

First, I doubt this is the direction Nintendo is going with MK9. But you never really know. So I won't act as if it's a definite

Second, I've seen quite a few arguments against the series going in this direction. And many of the arguments are fair. I will say to those who think Nintendo would just be putting Smash Bros on wheels is seriously and egregiously not giving Nintendo the credit they deserve. They're smarter and much more creative than that.

Again, I don't think the series is going in this direction. But I think if it does, Nintendo would obviously take great care and attention in making it work and keeping the spirit of Mario Kart intact

Really interesting read. Gives a bit of a clearer picture of some of the decision-making that goes into the games.

Admittedly, I still don't really grasp the concept behind blockchaining and NFTs. So it might be something I'd have to see in action to probably understand.

However, this commentary on the matter just sounds highly condescending, patronizing, and completely dismissive of player concerns