Seems pretty harmless, but yeah was going to say the same thing about replacing the optional item graphics. It's a bit disconcerting to see the "heroine" taking a few moments to go grab her purse and umbrella before saving the victim...
At least this guy has a claim that sounds like it could potentially be infringement. It'd be different if he had no relationship with Nintendo prior to the lawsuit, but it sounds like both sides are admitting that they met with the intention of creating a 3D system. Still, it sounds like they didn't opt to go with his specific technology so he might just be looking for a quick buck. I'm sure if Nintendo had chosen his design they would have given him the appropriate compensation.
@sak904 It doesn't make sense to you. It makes a whole lot of sense to the people trying to make a fair return on the product they made with their time, money and effort. Region locking may be a necessary evil, but the key word is necessary. The world is a large and complex place, and economies vary heavily. If every consumer in the US could choose between going to Walmart to drop $60 on a game or import it from China for $20 and shipping, which option do you think they'd take? Yeah, it sucks when you just can't play a local version of a game you'd like to try, but the blame there lies firmly at the feet of the developer and/or publisher, who usually aren't Nintendo.
The best (legal) way to play a game that's not released in your region is to let them know you're interested. It's risky to release in a market where you're unsure your product will sell, and if they know there's more interest that can only help your cause.
This is a dangerous area to tread as trying to be too heavy-handed can lead to a PR backlash, but I have always approved with Nintendo's efforts. They continue to provide great games at outstanding prices, avoid the types of products that people just WANT to steal because of ridiculous and self-serving "features" like DLC, anti-reselling measures and overbearing copy protection schemes. But they also have an active legal department that keeps a watch out for websites hosting their IP and gets them to remove it. This is the type of action that a responsible IP holder should do while avoiding stepping on the toes of their loyal paying customers. They might end up losing some more money by not going the RIAA route and litigating their own customers into oblivion, but they'll also continue to be respected by their fans, and I firmly believe that can only help them in the long run.
@McHaggis
As a consumer, which trade-off would you rather have? Complex copy-protection schemes that cause a hassle only to the paying customers and have the potential to brick systems, or more hands-off protection that can be slipped through easier, but coupled with a responsible company that keeps a close watch out for illegal distributors? I know which I'd choose, and it's nothing the MPAA or RIAA would approve of.
I have a long-standing love affair with all things Roller Coaster, so I'll probably grab Coaster Creator 3D if it's not revealed to be a complete turd. The screenshots and previews I've seen so far look promising, so here's hoping.
Naturally, I'll also pick up that one running game at some point, but.... yeah... COASTERS!
Dag, yo. 35,000 units is nothing to shake a stick at. This product may seem baffling and pointless to you and me, but apparently there is at least a tacit market for it, and given the tiny investment, manufacturing and distribution costs Nintendo must be spending on it, it sounds to me like they made a smart business decision.
Nice work, guys. It takes courage to stand up to people who have direct influence over your career, and I'm glad to see that at least the dev team responsible for the game doesn't approve of the delay and is willing to let their voices be heard.
I doubt Ubisoft will let this sway their decision at all since Microsoft and/or Sony is probably padding their pockets with spare cash, but it was worth a shot all the same.
I don't normally put any stock into what "insiders" or "analysts" say, as these people seem to be wrong more often than they're right. However, the evidence of cancelled and delayed games, and games going multiplatform which were originally going to be exclusive, that evidence speaks for itself. The Wii U's start is rockier than anticipated, third parties are either bailing or hedging their bets, and Nintendo needs to fix that situation now.
For an example of how to turn this around successfully, Nintendo doesn't need to look any further than Netflix. When Netflix's instant streaming feature seemed in jeopardy because the content owners were preparing to pull out, Netflix started writing checks that kept the movies on there long enough for the subscriber base to grow, then started a huge marketing campaign to tell the world how they could stream content directly from devices they all had at home (ironically focusing mostly on the Wii's huge install base). It worked perfectly, and today it'd be difficult to agree with an "analyst" who says Netflix instant streaming feature isn't successful.
I don't think I'm quite to the $400 mark but I do have at least hundreds put into VC games on the Wii that have now been transferred to the Wii U. When I got my Wii U, I pulled my old Wii out of storage (I had a new one, but the original had all the VC titles on it) to transfer the games. I found out it would no longer turn on. I called Nintendo support and they confirmed that the system had to power on to complete the transfer, so I was SOL with a broken system.
The options I had were basically to lose all those purchases, or to send the Wii in for repair. I was told the standard repair fee was $80 plus shipping. Given the circumstances, the technician cut that in half and I paid $40 plus shipping to repair the system and I did eventually get my games transferred.
That's not a horrible outcome (certainly not as bad as Jon's example above), and I did appreciate the technician being very friendly and ready to give me a 50% discount because of the inconvenience, but things like this just shouldn't be happening today. If Nintendo had a unified online account that my stuff was tied to, and their systems respected that, none of this bad PR would be happening to them. You'd think they would fix the system rather than lose business to their competitors who implemented better models years ago.
Strange. I was sure I was getting this game. Now I get this weird feeling like my pocket book is going to feel differently in another 7 months. Too bad for Ubisoft, huh?
This doesn't really affect me. Most classic games I'm interested in don't have such long campaigns that losing save data would be that big of deal, and if it is something I can't stand replaying from scratch, I probably just won't rebuy that game.
I know some people get up in arms over this type of "controversy". (Waaah, don't change my beloved game!) but guys, this isn't Star Wars and Nintendo is not George Lucas. They are not going to actively seek to prevent you from playing the original, insisting that this new form is a replacement and that you all must partake of it.
I would personally LOVE to see Nintendo lavish major changes on this title. I don't care one bit if they have to cut the Triforce-gathering quest entirely out if it means I get one or more new dungeons to explore instead. I would love to see them reinstate some of the dungeons they didn't get a chance to use the first time around, and I wouldn't at all care if they made other major gameplay changes that some "purists" would squak at.
One idea: When you use the grappling hook to grab treasure underwater, show us what's going on instead of just a top-down view of Link staring at the ocean. Maybe this could go to a short minigame on the gamepad screen where you see the rope from the side and have to direct the hook to the treasure while dodging various obstacles as it climbs back up to your boat. Such sequences could be used to show more of the hidden underwater world in the background, allowing Nintendo to further show off some of the beautiful scenes the Wii U is capable of showing without them having to create a whole other game worth of content for you to explore in the meantime.
While they're developing it, I hope they start with the original cel-shaded flavor of the original, and then improve on it in every way possible. If they decide that adding more sharp edges would make the characters pop a bit more and it fits the improved scenery, they have my blessing. People who want to whine all day about Nintendo changing things on them, they already have what they want. It comes on a small Gamecube disc and plays on your Wii console natively. For the rest of us, I can't wait to see how Nintendo can provide something new and different that is worth some rupees to play on their shiny new console. Bring on the upgrade!
Glad to see Nintendo getting recognized. I haven't had to deal directly with Nintendo's customer service a whole lot (which is a testament to the quality of their products), but when I've had to, the service has always been top notch and they've gone out of their way to help me resolve issues quickly. I also love Nintendo's willingness to bend over backwards to keep customers and investors happy, even if it involves the execs taking pay cuts or spending millions to upgrade everybody's Wiimote straps.
All of these are nice and I'll probably get them all when they come out since 30 cents is so cheap as to not even be money...
However, what I'm really looking forward to is specific announcements of what GBA titles they are going to release. I'd love to see Metroid Zero Mission since I never had a GBA and the only way I've been able to play it to this point is shoddy emulation.
Good info all around, really excited about the Wind Waker rerelease as it's one of my favorite Zelda titles and the HD looks great. Hopefully when they say they'll "tune up the gameplay" they will make the right changes (shorten the Triforce farming quest, maybe?) while leaving most of the gameplay untouched.
The new Zelda announcement is what really got to me though. A Zelda game without a linear storyline and multiplayer? Can't wait to see what they do with those ideas...
What a load of horse pucky. NONE of the features shown in that commercial can be done in every game you can play on the system, so why aren't they calling those out? Why is it obvious that not every game will let you "pick out clues and investigate your surroundings" using the gamepad but it's not obvious that some games might be made in a way that can't be taken off the TV entirely? Simply ridiculous.
And now the controller weighs three times more too!!! Yay!
Oh, wait.
@Stuffgamer1 It's already been reported that the battery case has room for a bigger battery. Most likely because one of Nintendo's main concerns when designing the pad was making sure it was light enough to use for long periods. If it was too uncomfortable, it would kill the system before it had a chance to get off the ground. The battery compartment most likely was made bigger on purpose to accommodate batteries with more charge but with similar weight that might come out over the next few years.
The virtual console needs some love. Here is what I want:
1) Virtual console games should be launchable from the Wii U menu, or at least a sub-menu or dedicated app, not through the Wii menu. 2) Virtual console games should be displayed at their original aspect ratio, rather than stretched horizontally to fit the 16:9 screen. 3) VC games should be transferable to the pad for off-screen play. (And of course the pad should be usable as an input device) 4) While not using the pad screen to play the VC title itself, secondary apps like the web browser and Miiverse should be available on it, so you can pull up a guide or see comments about the game you're playing while you're playing it.
The sunken analog controls look like they may be uncomfortable, and your fingers might get in the way of the screen. Obviously hard to say for sure without the controller in your hands, so we'll see what happens there. The touch screen sounds nifty but because it's the only screen it can't be used as effectively as the 3DS second screen for certain types of games.
I'm also curious about the main selling points of the device. Is it just a souped-up Droid device for playing Fruit Ninja on or can it natively output beefier titles like those shown in the shot above? Is it just a portable screen for streaming games locally? If so, that doesn't sound like a great selling point to me. With a little effort, I can get my PC output to my HD home theater setup and use a 360 controller to play on a full-size TV. This gives you another option for off-screen play I guess (like the Wii U gamepad) but on a smaller screen with more cramped controls and requiring a large chunk of your network to make it happen. Not being able to take those games on the road kills its potential as a true handheld competitor.
I see this being a flash in the pan that probably won't be able to move as many units as the Vita, let alone 3DS. Time will tell.
So Nintendo has completely lied about downloads being tied to Network ID? That's pretty underhanded and ridiculous. It was forgivable during the Wii's lifespan, but it is intolerable now to have no record of downloads that goes beyond the hardware. I've come to expect a lot of things from Nintendo. Bold-faced lies weren't one of them.
@Pikachupwnage Usually it's like a popularity contest? I'd say it's always a popularity contest, given that this is a list of games that was most popular among the Nintendo Life staff. Do you also enjoy walking into strip clubs and complaining about the naked women there?
In my opinion, KI:U was a good game but it wasn't great. It's too repetitive, the item and power system is extremely deep but not very well thought out and confusing to use, and most of all the controls make playing the game for any length of time uncomfortable. NSMB2 has much more play time on my system and is my number 1 for that category, followed by Paper Mario. KI:U doesn't even make my top 3.
Methinks that peach wants Santa to do more plowing than she's letting on...
In fairness, though, her boyfriend's a fat guy who wears red, has facial hair and hangs around with flying animals. I'd imagine she'd see a lot of similarities when it comes to Santa Claus. And since Santa's presumably been happily married for hundreds of years, perhaps she figures that he knows more about taking care of a woman than occassionally cleaning her pipes for her.
Wait, that sounded more dirty than I meant it to be....
Fantastic special effects, it's hard to believe those pots aren't real in some of the shots. The behind-the-scenes video was pretty cool too. I spent way too much time in that room....
I challenge anyone complaining about Nintendo's current model to come up with an alternative that solves this problem:
I have an XBox 360 and two children who play games on it. I am not made of money and do not want to purchase Live. I have had it in the past and have purchased some downloadable games for it on my account. Now, my kids have their own accounts and they want to play the games with them. They can't. Even if I got Live for them, they wouldn't be able to play online without logging into my profile. That's broken and stupid. I know there is a more expensive family package out there now that might solve the problem, but given that Live costs money to play online in any form, I want no part of that.
While the Microsoft system doesn't lock your profile to one system, it does lock your purchases to one profile. Nintendo has opted to go with a model that says, if the content is on the system everyone can play it regardless of which profile they want to use. I like this better, even if it means I can't take the games with me to another console. (Turns out I can pick up the console and take it somewhere else anyway)
I would love for Nintendo to open it up to where I could play my games on another console, but if doing so would mean that a single person could buy a game and then go around installing it on an unlimited number of consoles where an unlimited number of users had access to play it... well, you see the problem.
That sucks, one of the nicest things about the browsing experience on the Wii U was being able to watch videos without having to leave the browser to do it. The Youtube app they put on the system is a complete joke and is obviously nothing more than a ported mobile version. Basic "no-duh" features like touch screen support and the on-screen keyboard actually typing on the screen you're looking at are missing for no good reason. The Netflix app meanwhile is slick, responsive and easy to use. Youtube needs to get their act together.
Well at least Nintendo's not making up complete lies and BS about why the browser won't support Flash by claiming it would reduce the battery life or anything ridiculous like that... cough cough
@moomoo No, Capcom's strategy was to promise awesome things, release the world's crappiest Megaman port, and then let a fan create something awesome for them. The best that can be said of Capcom here is that they didn't stand in his way.
Can't wait until next E3 when we get to hear all about Sony's original idea of their new Playverse as well as their optional touchscreen accessory for the PS3, and Microsoft's plans for a new console which links up with the Surface Pro (MSRP $800) to provide those casual gamers everything they want to play for a mere $3000 or so.
I am floored by the fact that I have been active in Miiverse since the day the console came out (yes, even despite the initial issues it had) and the most offensive post I've seen is someone who hand-wrote the word "Fart" into a message. I don't know what immortal creature Nintendo made a pact with to get the only online forum in the world with no flamewars or trolls, but it's working great so far.
When I heard that Miiverse was basically Twitter with communities relating to the games, I wasn't all that excited, but now that I've seen it in action I'm having a lot of fun reading people's comments, checking out the amazing artwork that some of the more talented players have shared, and posting my own thoughts from time to time.
I hope that this feature will be seen as an important part of the experience going forward. The integration into the Mario game was sheer genius, but it's not as easy to see them doing something like that for Zelda or Metroid, let alone some of the more serious 3rd-party games. Can't wait to see how it's used in future titles.
Sounds interesting, especially since it's free. Unfortunately I don't have any Ubisoft games yet, but guess that's just one more reason to pick up ZombiU.
Pass. The Playstation controller is awful, from the bad analog stick placement to the cheap feel and non-existant heft. This would be a huge step down for me.
I will not get any accessory that increases the weight or changes the balance of the pad, even only a little. The pad is perfect in those areas as it is and changing it will likely make it less comfortable to use. If that comes at the cost of a somewhat short battery life, so be it.
I have been playing my Wii U heavily since day 1 and I don't find the battery life too limiting. Having the Deluxe set's charging cradle handy helps of course.
Ouch. Sorry if you were bit by this one, but I'm sure Nintendo and/or the retailer will sort things out to everyone's satisfaction soon enough. It's not cool if you were expecting to play the game immediately and had this surprise waiting for you, though.
That's good news and I think the most likely explanation is Nintendo putting restrictions on what they can do. My only worry is that may drive potential games away from the platform if they're not careful, as we've certainly seen in the past.
I personally would love it if all the console manufacturers would get together on this one point and lay down the law regarding how 3rd parties can treat their customer base. If they were all signed on, no one console would suffer and the 3rd party companies would be forced to play by the rules. Unfortunately I don't see Sony or Microsoft taking that kind of risk anytime soon.
Comments 628
Re: Nintendo Loses 3D Patent Case Against Former Sony Inventor
This is round one guys. Nintendo will be appealing.
Re: Nintendo Download: 14th March 2013 (North America)
So... Zen Pinball? No? OK.....
Re: Dad Hacks Donkey Kong So His Daughter Can Play As Pauline
Seems pretty harmless, but yeah was going to say the same thing about replacing the optional item graphics. It's a bit disconcerting to see the "heroine" taking a few moments to go grab her purse and umbrella before saving the victim...
Re: Coaster Creator 3D
Does anyone else have the problem where the game crashes often, requiring your 3DS to be restarted, when selecting to do a Quick Ride in Sandbox mode?
Re: Vblank Entertainment: Retro City Rampage on WiiWare is a "$20,000 Gift to the Fans"
Hmmm, I wasn't sure about this one, but I might buy it just to support this man.
Re: Nintendo Facing Lawsuit Over 3D Technology On The 3DS
At least this guy has a claim that sounds like it could potentially be infringement. It'd be different if he had no relationship with Nintendo prior to the lawsuit, but it sounds like both sides are admitting that they met with the intention of creating a 3D system. Still, it sounds like they didn't opt to go with his specific technology so he might just be looking for a quick buck. I'm sure if Nintendo had chosen his design they would have given him the appropriate compensation.
Re: Nintendo Gives US Government Recommendations on Tackling Piracy Abroad
@sak904
It doesn't make sense to you. It makes a whole lot of sense to the people trying to make a fair return on the product they made with their time, money and effort. Region locking may be a necessary evil, but the key word is necessary. The world is a large and complex place, and economies vary heavily. If every consumer in the US could choose between going to Walmart to drop $60 on a game or import it from China for $20 and shipping, which option do you think they'd take? Yeah, it sucks when you just can't play a local version of a game you'd like to try, but the blame there lies firmly at the feet of the developer and/or publisher, who usually aren't Nintendo.
The best (legal) way to play a game that's not released in your region is to let them know you're interested. It's risky to release in a market where you're unsure your product will sell, and if they know there's more interest that can only help your cause.
Re: Nintendo Gives US Government Recommendations on Tackling Piracy Abroad
This is a dangerous area to tread as trying to be too heavy-handed can lead to a PR backlash, but I have always approved with Nintendo's efforts. They continue to provide great games at outstanding prices, avoid the types of products that people just WANT to steal because of ridiculous and self-serving "features" like DLC, anti-reselling measures and overbearing copy protection schemes. But they also have an active legal department that keeps a watch out for websites hosting their IP and gets them to remove it. This is the type of action that a responsible IP holder should do while avoiding stepping on the toes of their loyal paying customers. They might end up losing some more money by not going the RIAA route and litigating their own customers into oblivion, but they'll also continue to be respected by their fans, and I firmly believe that can only help them in the long run.
@McHaggis
As a consumer, which trade-off would you rather have? Complex copy-protection schemes that cause a hassle only to the paying customers and have the potential to brick systems, or more hands-off protection that can be slipped through easier, but coupled with a responsible company that keeps a close watch out for illegal distributors? I know which I'd choose, and it's nothing the MPAA or RIAA would approve of.
Re: Nintendo Download: 28th February 2013 (North America)
I have a long-standing love affair with all things Roller Coaster, so I'll probably grab Coaster Creator 3D if it's not revealed to be a complete turd. The screenshots and previews I've seen so far look promising, so here's hoping.
Naturally, I'll also pick up that one running game at some point, but.... yeah... COASTERS!
Re: Wii Mini Shifts 35,700 Units in Canada
Dag, yo. 35,000 units is nothing to shake a stick at. This product may seem baffling and pointless to you and me, but apparently there is at least a tacit market for it, and given the tiny investment, manufacturing and distribution costs Nintendo must be spending on it, it sounds to me like they made a smart business decision.
Re: Monster Hunter 3 G on 3DS to Go Online Via Wii U Adapter
What the...? Since when is the 3DS's wireless capability not enough to get online by itself? This is just bizarre.
Re: It Doesn't Look Like Bungie's Next Epic Is Coming To Wii U
Oh thank God. Halo is really the steamiest pile of FPS garbage to ever come out. Please, Bungee, keep your junk away from Nintendo's systems.
Re: Sony Trolls Nintendo Ahead of PlayStation 4 Announcement
Oh yay, another "insert successful-first-party-franchise-on-a-Sony-platform,-oh-wait-there's-no-such-thing-crap-never-mind here" game.
Re: Nintendo of America Offering Free Retail Game To New 3DS XL Buyers
I've been wanting an XL for awhile, and I'll almost certainly buy Luigi's Mansion so I might go for this to get the free copy of Layton.
Re: Nintendo Download: 14th February 2013 (North America)
Seriously where's Zen Pinball 2?
Re: Rayman Legends Boss and Dev Team Protest Wii U Release Delay
Nice work, guys. It takes courage to stand up to people who have direct influence over your career, and I'm glad to see that at least the dev team responsible for the game doesn't approve of the delay and is willing to let their voices be heard.
I doubt Ubisoft will let this sway their decision at all since Microsoft and/or Sony is probably padding their pockets with spare cash, but it was worth a shot all the same.
Re: Developer States That Wii U Woes Were a Focus At DICE
I don't normally put any stock into what "insiders" or "analysts" say, as these people seem to be wrong more often than they're right. However, the evidence of cancelled and delayed games, and games going multiplatform which were originally going to be exclusive, that evidence speaks for itself. The Wii U's start is rockier than anticipated, third parties are either bailing or hedging their bets, and Nintendo needs to fix that situation now.
For an example of how to turn this around successfully, Nintendo doesn't need to look any further than Netflix. When Netflix's instant streaming feature seemed in jeopardy because the content owners were preparing to pull out, Netflix started writing checks that kept the movies on there long enough for the subscriber base to grow, then started a huge marketing campaign to tell the world how they could stream content directly from devices they all had at home (ironically focusing mostly on the Wii's huge install base). It worked perfectly, and today it'd be difficult to agree with an "analyst" who says Netflix instant streaming feature isn't successful.
Re: Talking Point: This Fan's Tragic Tale Highlights The Problem With Nintendo's Approach To Download Purchases
I don't think I'm quite to the $400 mark but I do have at least hundreds put into VC games on the Wii that have now been transferred to the Wii U. When I got my Wii U, I pulled my old Wii out of storage (I had a new one, but the original had all the VC titles on it) to transfer the games. I found out it would no longer turn on. I called Nintendo support and they confirmed that the system had to power on to complete the transfer, so I was SOL with a broken system.
The options I had were basically to lose all those purchases, or to send the Wii in for repair. I was told the standard repair fee was $80 plus shipping. Given the circumstances, the technician cut that in half and I paid $40 plus shipping to repair the system and I did eventually get my games transferred.
That's not a horrible outcome (certainly not as bad as Jon's example above), and I did appreciate the technician being very friendly and ready to give me a 50% discount because of the inconvenience, but things like this just shouldn't be happening today. If Nintendo had a unified online account that my stuff was tied to, and their systems respected that, none of this bad PR would be happening to them. You'd think they would fix the system rather than lose business to their competitors who implemented better models years ago.
Re: Rayman Legends No Longer a Wii U Exclusive, Delayed to September
Strange. I was sure I was getting this game. Now I get this weird feeling like my pocket book is going to feel differently in another 7 months. Too bad for Ubisoft, huh?
Re: You Can't Use Your Wii Virtual Console Saves With the Wii U Virtual Console
This doesn't really affect me. Most classic games I'm interested in don't have such long campaigns that losing save data would be that big of deal, and if it is something I can't stand replaying from scratch, I probably just won't rebuy that game.
Re: Feature: Reimagining The Wind Waker on Wii U
I know some people get up in arms over this type of "controversy". (Waaah, don't change my beloved game!) but guys, this isn't Star Wars and Nintendo is not George Lucas. They are not going to actively seek to prevent you from playing the original, insisting that this new form is a replacement and that you all must partake of it.
I would personally LOVE to see Nintendo lavish major changes on this title. I don't care one bit if they have to cut the Triforce-gathering quest entirely out if it means I get one or more new dungeons to explore instead. I would love to see them reinstate some of the dungeons they didn't get a chance to use the first time around, and I wouldn't at all care if they made other major gameplay changes that some "purists" would squak at.
One idea: When you use the grappling hook to grab treasure underwater, show us what's going on instead of just a top-down view of Link staring at the ocean. Maybe this could go to a short minigame on the gamepad screen where you see the rope from the side and have to direct the hook to the treasure while dodging various obstacles as it climbs back up to your boat. Such sequences could be used to show more of the hidden underwater world in the background, allowing Nintendo to further show off some of the beautiful scenes the Wii U is capable of showing without them having to create a whole other game worth of content for you to explore in the meantime.
While they're developing it, I hope they start with the original cel-shaded flavor of the original, and then improve on it in every way possible. If they decide that adding more sharp edges would make the characters pop a bit more and it fits the improved scenery, they have my blessing. People who want to whine all day about Nintendo changing things on them, they already have what they want. It comes on a small Gamecube disc and plays on your Wii console natively. For the rest of us, I can't wait to see how Nintendo can provide something new and different that is worth some rupees to play on their shiny new console. Bring on the upgrade!
Re: Rumour: New Sonic Title Dashing To Wii U And 3DS
yawn Nothing to see here. Another crappy game from Sega. Move along.
Re: Nintendo Comes Out On Top In Consumer Experience Poll
Glad to see Nintendo getting recognized. I haven't had to deal directly with Nintendo's customer service a whole lot (which is a testament to the quality of their products), but when I've had to, the service has always been top notch and they've gone out of their way to help me resolve issues quickly. I also love Nintendo's willingness to bend over backwards to keep customers and investors happy, even if it involves the execs taking pay cuts or spending millions to upgrade everybody's Wiimote straps.
Well done, Nintendo!
Re: Nintendo Reveals Specific Dates For Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign
All of these are nice and I'll probably get them all when they come out since 30 cents is so cheap as to not even be money...
However, what I'm really looking forward to is specific announcements of what GBA titles they are going to release. I'd love to see Metroid Zero Mission since I never had a GBA and the only way I've been able to play it to this point is shoddy emulation.
Re: Talking Point: Wii U Direct - Tell Us What You Thought
Good info all around, really excited about the Wind Waker rerelease as it's one of my favorite Zelda titles and the HD looks great. Hopefully when they say they'll "tune up the gameplay" they will make the right changes (shorten the Triforce farming quest, maybe?) while leaving most of the gameplay untouched.
The new Zelda announcement is what really got to me though. A Zelda game without a linear storyline and multiplayer? Can't wait to see what they do with those ideas...
Re: Wii U Advert Banned In The UK
What a load of horse pucky. NONE of the features shown in that commercial can be done in every game you can play on the system, so why aren't they calling those out? Why is it obvious that not every game will let you "pick out clues and investigate your surroundings" using the gamepad but it's not obvious that some games might be made in a way that can't be taken off the TV entirely? Simply ridiculous.
Re: Nyko Power Pak Boosts Wii U GamePad Stamina By Three Times
And now the controller weighs three times more too!!! Yay!
Oh, wait.
@Stuffgamer1 It's already been reported that the battery case has room for a bigger battery. Most likely because one of Nintendo's main concerns when designing the pad was making sure it was light enough to use for long periods. If it was too uncomfortable, it would kill the system before it had a chance to get off the ground. The battery compartment most likely was made bigger on purpose to accommodate batteries with more charge but with similar weight that might come out over the next few years.
Re: This Trio Of New Games Proves That The NES Is Alive And Kicking
Battle Kid TWO!!! Finally!!! Can't wait to see the sequel to the... greatest... game of......... OK, I give. What the crap is Battle Kid?
Re: The Big Wii U Survey
The virtual console needs some love. Here is what I want:
1) Virtual console games should be launchable from the Wii U menu, or at least a sub-menu or dedicated app, not through the Wii menu.
2) Virtual console games should be displayed at their original aspect ratio, rather than stretched horizontally to fit the 16:9 screen.
3) VC games should be transferable to the pad for off-screen play. (And of course the pad should be usable as an input device)
4) While not using the pad screen to play the VC title itself, secondary apps like the web browser and Miiverse should be available on it, so you can pull up a guide or see comments about the game you're playing while you're playing it.
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
The sunken analog controls look like they may be uncomfortable, and your fingers might get in the way of the screen. Obviously hard to say for sure without the controller in your hands, so we'll see what happens there. The touch screen sounds nifty but because it's the only screen it can't be used as effectively as the 3DS second screen for certain types of games.
I'm also curious about the main selling points of the device. Is it just a souped-up Droid device for playing Fruit Ninja on or can it natively output beefier titles like those shown in the shot above? Is it just a portable screen for streaming games locally? If so, that doesn't sound like a great selling point to me. With a little effort, I can get my PC output to my HD home theater setup and use a 360 controller to play on a full-size TV. This gives you another option for off-screen play I guess (like the Wii U gamepad) but on a smaller screen with more cramped controls and requiring a large chunk of your network to make it happen. Not being able to take those games on the road kills its potential as a true handheld competitor.
I see this being a flash in the pan that probably won't be able to move as many units as the Vita, let alone 3DS. Time will tell.
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
So Nintendo has completely lied about downloads being tied to Network ID? That's pretty underhanded and ridiculous. It was forgivable during the Wii's lifespan, but it is intolerable now to have no record of downloads that goes beyond the hardware. I've come to expect a lot of things from Nintendo. Bold-faced lies weren't one of them.
Re: Castlevania: Mirror Of Fate Contains Eye-Stabbing, Werewolf Appendages And Topless Action
@TheDreamingHawk Because some of us gamers are adults who are not embarrassed by natural bodily features. (or unnatural, as the case may be here.)
Re: Game of the Year: Nintendo Life's Staff Awards 2012
@Pikachupwnage
Usually it's like a popularity contest? I'd say it's always a popularity contest, given that this is a list of games that was most popular among the Nintendo Life staff. Do you also enjoy walking into strip clubs and complaining about the naked women there?
In my opinion, KI:U was a good game but it wasn't great. It's too repetitive, the item and power system is extremely deep but not very well thought out and confusing to use, and most of all the controls make playing the game for any length of time uncomfortable. NSMB2 has much more play time on my system and is my number 1 for that category, followed by Paper Mario. KI:U doesn't even make my top 3.
Re: Feature: The Mushroom Kingdom's Letters to Santa
Methinks that peach wants Santa to do more plowing than she's letting on...
In fairness, though, her boyfriend's a fat guy who wears red, has facial hair and hangs around with flying animals. I'd imagine she'd see a lot of similarities when it comes to Santa Claus. And since Santa's presumably been happily married for hundreds of years, perhaps she figures that he knows more about taking care of a woman than occassionally cleaning her pipes for her.
Wait, that sounded more dirty than I meant it to be....
Re: Rumour: Ubisoft Looking To Buy THQ's Assets
Yeah, Ubisoft getting those assets would undoubtedly be good news for Nintendo fans.
Re: Review: Chuck E. Cheese's Alien Defense Force (DSiWare)
"It'd be a lot cheaper and exactly as much fun to tap the touch screen with your system off."
Yeouch.
Re: Amazing Fan-Made Video Explores Link's Obsession With Smashing Pots
Fantastic special effects, it's hard to believe those pots aren't real in some of the shots. The behind-the-scenes video was pretty cool too. I spent way too much time in that room....
Re: Operation Friidom Petitions Nintendo For Greater Control Over Network ID Accounts
I challenge anyone complaining about Nintendo's current model to come up with an alternative that solves this problem:
I have an XBox 360 and two children who play games on it. I am not made of money and do not want to purchase Live. I have had it in the past and have purchased some downloadable games for it on my account. Now, my kids have their own accounts and they want to play the games with them. They can't. Even if I got Live for them, they wouldn't be able to play online without logging into my profile. That's broken and stupid. I know there is a more expensive family package out there now that might solve the problem, but given that Live costs money to play online in any form, I want no part of that.
While the Microsoft system doesn't lock your profile to one system, it does lock your purchases to one profile. Nintendo has opted to go with a model that says, if the content is on the system everyone can play it regardless of which profile they want to use. I like this better, even if it means I can't take the games with me to another console. (Turns out I can pick up the console and take it somewhere else anyway)
I would love for Nintendo to open it up to where I could play my games on another console, but if doing so would mean that a single person could buy a game and then go around installing it on an unlimited number of consoles where an unlimited number of users had access to play it... well, you see the problem.
Re: YouTube Workaround Now Needed For Wii U Web Browser
That sucks, one of the nicest things about the browsing experience on the Wii U was being able to watch videos without having to leave the browser to do it. The Youtube app they put on the system is a complete joke and is obviously nothing more than a ported mobile version. Basic "no-duh" features like touch screen support and the on-screen keyboard actually typing on the screen you're looking at are missing for no good reason. The Netflix app meanwhile is slick, responsive and easy to use. Youtube needs to get their act together.
Re: Web Developer Puts HTML5 Games to the Test on Wii U Browser
Well at least Nintendo's not making up complete lies and BS about why the browser won't support Flash by claiming it would reduce the battery life or anything ridiculous like that... cough cough
Re: Capcom Announce Street Fighter X Mega Man
@moomoo No, Capcom's strategy was to promise awesome things, release the world's crappiest Megaman port, and then let a fan create something awesome for them. The best that can be said of Capcom here is that they didn't stand in his way.
Re: Conker's Bad Fur Day Creator Could End Up Making Wii U eShop Games
Conker's BFD in HD graphics and without any editing (unlike the 360 version) would be an instant buy for me.
Re: Here's How PlayStation Boss Shuhei Yoshida Lovingly Trolled Nintendo
Can't wait until next E3 when we get to hear all about Sony's original idea of their new Playverse as well as their optional touchscreen accessory for the PS3, and Microsoft's plans for a new console which links up with the Surface Pro (MSRP $800) to provide those casual gamers everything they want to play for a mere $3000 or so.
Re: Little Inferno Developer Looking Into Enabling User-Created Content
I've been wanting more content for this game ever since I completed it. User-made content that could be shared and downloaded is a great idea.
Re: Feature: Taking Off to the Miiverse
I am floored by the fact that I have been active in Miiverse since the day the console came out (yes, even despite the initial issues it had) and the most offensive post I've seen is someone who hand-wrote the word "Fart" into a message. I don't know what immortal creature Nintendo made a pact with to get the only online forum in the world with no flamewars or trolls, but it's working great so far.
When I heard that Miiverse was basically Twitter with communities relating to the games, I wasn't all that excited, but now that I've seen it in action I'm having a lot of fun reading people's comments, checking out the amazing artwork that some of the more talented players have shared, and posting my own thoughts from time to time.
I hope that this feature will be seen as an important part of the experience going forward. The integration into the Mario game was sheer genius, but it's not as easy to see them doing something like that for Zelda or Metroid, let alone some of the more serious 3rd-party games. Can't wait to see how it's used in future titles.
Re: uPlay App Now Available on Wii U eShop
Sounds interesting, especially since it's free. Unfortunately I don't have any Ubisoft games yet, but guess that's just one more reason to pick up ZombiU.
Re: You Can Use PlayStation 2 Pads On Your Wii U, Should You Want To
Pass. The Playstation controller is awful, from the bad analog stick placement to the cheap feel and non-existant heft. This would be a huge step down for me.
Re: Sick Of The Wii U GamePad's Weak Battery Life? Nyko Is Your Friend
I will not get any accessory that increases the weight or changes the balance of the pad, even only a little. The pad is perfect in those areas as it is and changing it will likely make it less comfortable to use. If that comes at the cost of a somewhat short battery life, so be it.
I have been playing my Wii U heavily since day 1 and I don't find the battery life too limiting. Having the Deluxe set's charging cradle handy helps of course.
Re: Some Euro Wii U Buyers Reporting A Distinct Lack Of Nintendo Land In Their Premium Bundle
Ouch. Sorry if you were bit by this one, but I'm sure Nintendo and/or the retailer will sort things out to everyone's satisfaction soon enough. It's not cool if you were expecting to play the game immediately and had this surprise waiting for you, though.
Re: Assassins Creed III, FIFA 13 And Mass Effect 3 All Come Without Online Passes On Wii U
That's good news and I think the most likely explanation is Nintendo putting restrictions on what they can do. My only worry is that may drive potential games away from the platform if they're not careful, as we've certainly seen in the past.
I personally would love it if all the console manufacturers would get together on this one point and lay down the law regarding how 3rd parties can treat their customer base. If they were all signed on, no one console would suffer and the 3rd party companies would be forced to play by the rules. Unfortunately I don't see Sony or Microsoft taking that kind of risk anytime soon.