Considering you can't view game videos and trailers in the Wii Shop channel, I would really hate to see the Nintendo Channel disappear. I've held on to my Wii console even after buying a WiiU. I have it hooked up in a different room. With some of my Club Nintendo coins expiring soon, I plan to use them on a game purchase for the Wii. The point is that I, and likely many others, still use the Wii quite a bit... and while I don't mind seeing the News and Forecast Channels bite the dust, I think abandoning the Nintendo Channel is a huge insult, especially considering Wii systems are still being sold at retail. Nintendo could maintain support until the launch of the NEXT home console with little effort. After all, they put little effort into it in the first place, right?
@SheldonRandoms I was going to point out the same thing. When I saw the thumbnail, I said "Oh, cool!" out loud. After seeing the full image, I'm not as enthusiastic. The Mewtwo design was so sleek. This is a little cluttered... but since I like the character, it's still good to see something new regarding it.
Design-wise... I'm just thinking out loud as an artist right now... With the head, it seems like it's just too much. You have the devil horns and angel halo rolled into one... and that's kind of clever.... but the head-tail is kind of distracting. Ah, look at this. There's already fan art. I like the way this person drew it:
I have a suspicion that Nintendo isn't confident in their ability to stay afloat in the video game market. Hence the peripherals. They want to create an image of a Nintendo system being a multi-functional tool that no family can live without. Miyamoto himself says it's about more than just games, but right now it's almost about anything BUT games.
The WiiU does function well as an internet browsing device. That much is true. I can play YouTube videos for an entire room of people to watch. That's useful. I can also use the WiiU for Netflix streaming, but the Wii could do that as well. The TVii service is absolutely useless for me, my family and friends. It's just impractical, and it will continue to be so until there can be more communication between the WiiU, the TV, and the cable box. Switching inputs is already a bit of a nuisance, but the WiiU makes the process more tedious — at least for me and my Samsung.
So then there's the Wii Street U, or whatever it's called. Cute software. Mostly useless. There may be a time here and there over the course of a year where I might want to check it out, but right now it's rather limited. It also crashed twice on me last night.
When a family member came over, she wanted to show photos using the WiiU. Turns out there's no photo channel, as there was on the Wii. How frustrating! There's also nothing really like the Nintendo Channel, which is something I would check frequently for entertainment purposes on the Wii. So in some ways the WiiU is actually LESS USEFUL than the previous console.
If Nintendo really wants an all-in-one system that a family will become addicted to, they need to focus on small, clever and useful apps — sort of like what people have access to on smartphones. But that's a problem in iteself. Nintendo has been chasing after Apple's style and success for too many years now. If the best they can offer is a stationary Apple-wannabe that doesn't make phone calls, people will continue to just buy an iPhone, or some other equivalent device.
(Oh, I forgot about the video chat on WiiU. Yeah... that's been pretty useless so far as well. Sigh)
So in the end, I think Nintendo is sort of failing in the game department, AND failing in the smart-device department. They need to make up their minds and put together something solid. When Miyamoto asks for patience, it sounds like he wants me to wait until they can figure out something the Gamepad is really good for — as if they haven't figured it out yet. They focused so hard on the Gamepad gimmick, but where's the support for it? Time for Nintendo to ditch the secrecy and big reveals, and open the doors for mass brainstorming to make their console better. Otherwise, the DustCollectorU will continue to be just that.
@Five-seveN Nintendo had plenty of time to develop software and organize third parties to develop software before the system launch. If for some reason there wasn't enough time, then it would seem the WiiU was launched prematurely.
Ubisoft was extremely vocal about their support for the WiiU, but they haven't really fulfilled their promises. They missed a great chance to capitalize on the WiiU launch and the following launch window. Releasing the demo so early was probably a mistake. I'm bored now, and my excitement over Rayman Legends has gone stale. Now I'm looking for other games to spend my money on. I suppose Ubisoft is fortunate, considering there are so few WiiU games to be purchased. Maybe the delay won't hurt them after all. Sigh. What a sorry situation.
While playing the demo, I was under the impression the feet were somehow in the ground. It seemed like everyone had been cut off at the ankles. Very odd. I thought it was just a quirk of the demo, but apparently not.
The sad thing is that it seems to me that we're stuck in a style-OR-substance situation. Nintendo now has a track record of overlooking the importance of graphics in favor of focusing on the play experience. Meanwhile, the "other guys" often tend to focus primarily on graphics while many games deliver somewhat boring or repetitive experiences. There obviously has to be a balance. Maybe there's too much "snobbery" on both sides that will continue to get in the way.
There are many angles from which disappointment is coming. Nintendo did brag about third-party support, and seemed to relax on the first-party end of things. Now that third-party support is failing (in a sense), there's not much to fill in the gaps. I'm personally more interested in new Nintendo IPs, and I hope they can deliver something new in the near future... but to start creating something now would takes years to produce. I'm afraid Nintendo has just been too lazy about the WiiU, and the fans are suffering as a result.
@dartmonkey I definitely agree on the point of franchise overload. Mario is overexposed.
@MasterWario Well, the movies naturally have things like character development and exposition in between the action scenes that you're not going to have in a game for kids. Have you seen the Ghostbusters cartoon? It was one of my favorite shows as I was growing up, and there was a great toy line to go with it. Busting ghosts was the name of the game. The whole process of wearing a special backpack and holding the gun, and subsequently sucking the ghost into a trap has been copied by Nintendo for Luigi's Mansion. As crude as it was, there was an NES Ghostbusters game back in 1988.
Can we post links on here? If so, here's a link to the Ghostbusters cartoon intro. Great animation. By the way, it's technically called "The REAL Ghostbusters," because people were ripping it off even back in the 80's.
I don't know. The whole Ghostbusters thing just bothers me. I've always liked Luigi, but I feel he needs a title that doesn't feel like a ripoff of an established franchise. Maybe it's different in Japan or even Europe, but I think a great deal of people are aware of Ghostbusters in the USA, and that prompts the predictable response "What is that? A Ghostbusters ripoff?" ...and the answer is "Yes."
Luigi needs his own world to adventure in. Better yet, how about Luigi repelling a Koopa invasion in the real world, while Mario's off in the Mushroom Kingdom? That would work for me.
This was a nice, fun game. I'm glad I bought it. I like that it was bite-sized, and priced accordingly. I'd like to see more games that follow that model. I don't need hundred-hour games anymore, so this sort of thing is right up my alley.
It's mentioned in the above comments that some people don't even know about the WiiU, and I think that's correct. Part of the problem is the branding. "Wii U" is an odd name that carries the potential for confusion among consumers. Not only is the name 75% identical to the Wii, but the system's appearance (sans Gamepad) is nearly identical. There should always be some buzz surrounding a new Nintendo system, but the WiiU comes across as a Wii 1.5 or something like that, even if that's not really the case. Some people may still not realize the Gamepad isn't just a peripheral for the Wii.
As for the pricing, though, it really does come down to the games. If there was even just one game that everyone HAD to try, I think that would drive sales tremendously. The Wii U launch lineup was really reserved, though. Where's the punch?
Another thing Nintendo's not doing is advertising eShop games. I'm not sure what the best way to do it would be, but Nano Assault Neo for the WiiU is amazing, and Nintendo could use that to help sell their system.
I have to say, though, that the "collect 'em all" craze can't last for too much longer. With the Disneylanders and next Skylanders installment, and Pokelanders on top of that... To put it simply, parents are going to draw the line somewhere. That's my guess, anyway.
Still, this looks good. The HD graphics with nice shiny toy Pokemon will be fun.
I'm not surprised by the dip. When you look at the WiiU section in any game store, it's... well, almost non-existent. I realize it takes time to build a game library, but the WiiU seems very light, very early on. We're at the tail end of the fourth month since the launch, and there's just not much to play. It's good that some new games are about to be released, but it bothers me that Monster Hunter 3 is essentially an upgraded Wii game... and that the first big Zelda game we're getting is an upgrade Gamecube game... and that Pikmin and Rayman have been pushed back...
I just need more games to play on my expensive piece of hardware.
The wireless portal adapter actually interfered with my Wii's wireless connection. Unplugging the adapter was the only way to access Netflix, the Wii Shop, Nintendo Channel, etc... I prefer the idea of a wireless portal, though.
Seems like I'm always being negative these days, but I was really disappointed by the demo. I was prepared for something different, but this felt like a step backward, somehow. The graphics are ok. The combat is kind of uncomfortable, and the character moves so slowly. I don't know. It just wasn't a lot of fun. Plus, the style is more than a bit weird. It's kind of over-stylized, which takes away from the somewhat classy feel of previous Castlevania games. Oh well. I guess everything changes over time. Except Mario, that is.
What he's saying sounds good, but it's the same complaint I had when playing Kid Icarus: Uprising!
Perhaps it's just certain types of stories the guy is complaining about, because Uprising was full of moments that cut off the action, or held you back from taking action until the story and script allowed you to finally gain control over Pitt.
The tricky thing is that different people experience these games at different points in their lives. Someone who's played games for 20+ years may get tired of certain trends, while newer gamers will be totally enthralled. Gamers can be fickle, too. Not everyone enjoys all types of games all the time. Moods change. Tastes change.
Sakurai's main point is valid, though. Too often the player is restricted from just playing the game.
I'll play the new Castlevania before deciding whether or not this is a good idea But in general, I think outside ideas would be great for Zelda. I loved the Minish Cap, and I feel like Nintendo's home-grown stuff has been sort of weak lately, once you get past the gimmicks.
I'm so cynical these days that I suspect this was done on purpose so as not to alienate WiiU owners from buying the game. "Sure, we're on your side. Really."
Of course, the sentiment may be genuine. Either way, it's an interesting bit of news.
@Rinslowe There's been a steady accumulation of disappointment surrounding the Wii U post-launch. My comment refers to more than just this news item. I'm pretty pleased with the 3DS now, but I feel fully justified in expressing concern about the Wii U, based on its performance thus far and all the new info coming in.
Your comment was a bit like a personal attack. Maybe you can reflect on that over that warm milk and cookie you suggested. You know what I mean?
I find the whole thing discouraging. I went all in on the WiiU at launch, which is a first for me. I gambled, and now I'm wondering if it didn't pay off. By the time some really good exclusive games come out, we'll probably have a price drop on the system, and I'm going to feel like an idiot. Out of the early third party downloadable games, only Trine 2: Director's Cut really grabbed me. NintendoLand is getting old. The system isn't being used, except for the occasional Netflix viewing. Come on, Nintendo. Wii U is supposed you be your baby. Show it some love. Give us something good.
Wow, this is big news. WiiU exclusivity is going out the window, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bayonetta 2 is no longer exclusive (is that old news I've forgotten?). With Nintendo relying so heavily on old formulas for its core franchises, the WiiU is starting to look more and more like a useless brick.
As TotalHenshin just said, the delay is a huge problem as well. My friend was frustrated over the long wait for Luigi's Mansion on 3DS — a game he bought the system for. It seems this is happening more and more. Too many delays, plus loss of exclusivity... the WiiU is becoming redundant.
I love NintendoLand. I think it's great fun, but it's not enough. WindWaker HD isn't for me. I actually find that release to be kind of insulting. It's like Nintendo only cares about its hype machine, and not about what kind of content it's actually offering. That may truly be the case, which makes all of us idiots for buying their machines.
It's cool, but as others have said, it's too much. A new portal, plus new figures... and the price of figures has gone up since the first game. I can only imagine the swappable figures will be over $10, and that's just not fun anymore. I'll see what happens later in the year, but this may be something I can hold off on until there's a sale.
I can't imagine there's a need for games in another platform other than home and portable. Nintendo Bathtime - Waterproof Game Console? The only thing that makes sense would be the Nintendo Phone, but would that take the place of a standard portable? Maybe not. I suppose the portable would be less expensive. The phone would be smaller but would have phone capabilities, etc, and the home console... well, yeah.
Yes I have Game & Watch Donkey Kong II. What a fancy little machine it is. It really is funny to go back and look at those, realizing they're the original DS systems.
@sweetiepiejonus I understand that, and I've been patient... but yesterday's ND was just painful. After watching Iwata's style, though, I understand why Reggie got his job. What wonderful gesticulation.
What a painfully long presentation. Iwata is out of touch, and these Nintendo Direct presentations are becoming ridiculous. Just give us the info without making us suffer through 36 minutes of broken English. Sigh...
There was some good information sprinkled in there. Plenty of the games look like fun. Personally, I don't understand the WindWaker HD thing. The original looks great. Sure, HD would be nice if it just means a perfectly smooth picture, but they've gone and changed the entire look of the game by eliminating the cell-shaded style. I think Zelda is in trouble, and I suspect the WiiU Zelda game will be generic and disappointing. Of course, I hope I'm wrong.
The Xeno-whatever game looks great. Outstanding graphics. It's funny how now Nintendo makes a big deal out of Monolithsoft, when Xenoblade was originally treated as almost undesirable. The fans spoke, I guess.
Overall, it looks like there will be some fun games, but I'm starting to feel that the extras like Miiverse and TVii are ultimately going to be flops. Miiverse has a chance to survive as long as people are enthusiastic about the concept, but I really don't find myself spending much time on there at all. In fact, I haven't used my WiiU in weeks. Something's just missing.
Sigh. The Yoshi game looks like fun. Kirby's Epic Yarn was good, so I'm looking forward to this... though I have to wonder why it's not a new Kirby game, such as Epic Yarn 2. Eh, whatever.
@MagicEmperor It was more of an observation, and in hindsight I probably should have kept it to myself. As you suggest, there's no reason to be surprised. I just wonder if anyone would be interested in she had a more portly physique. The interview almost elevates this person to a sort of celebrity status based solely on these photos, but doesn't really ask anything about the actual craftsmanship involved in creating the costumes. How does she choose materials that will elevate the quality of the costume? Who takes the photos? What type of digital alterations have been made to the photos?
I respect the effort that goes into producing the costumes, makeup and photography. I wish I could dig up a particular image of a group dressed as the barkeep and bar patrons from Twilight Princess. That was some really impressive stuff that has essentially gone unnoticed, and it's a shame. In the end, I guess the prettiest people with the fanciest photos get the attention, and that was really my original point.
@Zodiak13 I think you're inflating what I said quite a bit. As I said above, I respect the invested effort.
The woman admits to only being into cosplay seriously for the last year or so, which is kind of insulting to people who are more serious about it. Of course, NintendoLife can interview anyone they want. I just found myself wondering "Why THIS particular person? Why not a general showcase of Zelda cosplay?"
Of course, NintendoLife could decide to turn this topic into a monthly feature, interviewing a different Nintendo-themed cosplayer every month. That would be interesting.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who are equally or more talented than someone like this, but don't get the recognition because they're considered less attractive. I guess humans can't help but worship beauty.
I just had a similar discussion about this. It's basically the same thing. In some cases, the "DLC" is really just unlocking content that's already on the disc. That's exactly how Skylanders works. You buy a Battle Pack, but the data is actually on the original game disc. Does that make it wrong? Unethical? Not really. It's just just companies trying to make more money. The thing with Skylanders is that you DO get a figure to display when you're not playing the game. If you're fortunate enough to find a well-painted one, you've got a nice little item. With straight-up DLC or whatever, you get nothing extra. It's up to the individual as to whether it's worth it or not. The ridiculous thing, though, is the idea that you buy a game at full retail price, and it's essentially an incomplete game. I find that insulting. So I guess it's all insulting If you're into toy collecting, Skylanders at least gives you something extra, but in general... DLC means your original game purchase is a ripoff.
I guess it's technically correct. If they just add "On certain games only," that would probably do the trick. I have to admit, though, I've been annoyed at how the few games I have don't necessarily play on the Gamepad alone. It was a major selling point, but it really is just something that works here and there. For example, I can't shift all the on-screen info to the Gamepad in NintendoLand, like when I hunt for Miis, or the double coins notification.
Also, it seems like most of the time, you're required to have the game running on the big screen to start off, and then switch the action to the smaller screen. I find I can't always start a game on the Gamepad while someone else is watching TV. Makes it seem like the WiiU wasn't entirely well thought out. There's time to improve on this, though, as these are mainly software issues.
It's a tricky situation, but my local GameStop is always busy. I do buy games from Walmart on occasion, and even BestBuy. The problem is just that you can buy video games almost anywhere. Heck, you can order some games directly from the distributor.
Never played Fire Emblem. I'm actually kind of down on RPGs at the moment, but I'm going to give the demo a try. At the very least, I know the art will be nice.
So it's potentially a $40 cleaning cloth. I know this whole thing has been discussed before. The freebies are nice, but this is a bit insulting. The rewards I have are the reversible pouch (which I carry my 3DS in) and the 3DS game case. Those are GREAT rewards, and reasonably priced! This just makes no sense.... and where the heck is the Zelda merchandise?
@DarkCoolEdge I love the fact that it's not an RPG. I've had quite enough of those. We need more Japanese games that aren't RPGs, but share the quality of design and execution.
Just read this on Facebook. It's quite belated, since we already have the WiiU, but I'm glad I'll get a chance to play this. I really hope XSEED will include an artbook and soundtrack in a preorder bundle. The artbook is what I'm really interested in.
When I finally got around to playing Epic Mickey, I was sorely disappointed. Much like Bill Goldberg's WWF run, Epic Mickey just didn't live up to the hype. As I've grown older, I've realized that Disney isn't really all that amazing, and its characters and stories are actually pretty weak. Mickey Mouse, for example, isn't even really a Disney creation. He's just another iteration of the generic cartoon mice seen in other cartoons, such as Felix the Cat.
The actual Epic Mickey game was super-hyped, but it didn't deliver. It felt different than what had been described, somehow. It had no real depth. It felt cheap. It's really just a "meh" game for me, and though I'm sure some people really enjoyed it, I'd venture to say most people were disappointed by the experience. Sometimes an experience doesn't warrant a sequel. Epic Mickey is such an experience.
As some have said above, the 3DS demo was a huge turnoff. It felt so cheap to me. It was almost insulting. I think Disney thought it would be easy to create a blockbuster game. They got lucky with Epic Mickey, thanks to their hype machine. They phoned in the sequel and 3DS versions, though, and this is the result.
I can understand people being against actual hunting... but I don't understand why SIMULATED hunting upsets so many people. Why is digital death suddenly offensive when it's deer and geese, when nobody complains about slaughtering purple deer and rainbow geese in, say, a Final Fantasy game? That's to say nothing about games involving the slaughter of human beings and other humanoid creatures. Hunting games are just that — games. I played through a similar game recently with a friend. The gameplay is essentially like a House of the Dead game, except the setting and targets are different. Should I feel guilty over shooting the innocent, flying goldfish in Sin & Punishment: Star Successor? I murdered them, all in the name of raising my multiplier. It's a game. A simple, target shooting game. Morals need not come into the equation.
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Re: Play Wii U From The Comfort Of The Passenger Seat With MaxPlay
Now imagine if there were actually some games to play on the WiiU.
Re: Nintendo to Pull the Plug on Several Online Wii Channels
Considering you can't view game videos and trailers in the Wii Shop channel, I would really hate to see the Nintendo Channel disappear. I've held on to my Wii console even after buying a WiiU. I have it hooked up in a different room. With some of my Club Nintendo coins expiring soon, I plan to use them on a game purchase for the Wii. The point is that I, and likely many others, still use the Wii quite a bit... and while I don't mind seeing the News and Forecast Channels bite the dust, I think abandoning the Nintendo Channel is a huge insult, especially considering Wii systems are still being sold at retail. Nintendo could maintain support until the launch of the NEXT home console with little effort. After all, they put little effort into it in the first place, right?
Re: New Mewtwo Form Revealed For Pokémon X & Y
@SheldonRandoms I was going to point out the same thing. When I saw the thumbnail, I said "Oh, cool!" out loud. After seeing the full image, I'm not as enthusiastic. The Mewtwo design was so sleek. This is a little cluttered... but since I like the character, it's still good to see something new regarding it.
Design-wise... I'm just thinking out loud as an artist right now... With the head, it seems like it's just too much. You have the devil horns and angel halo rolled into one... and that's kind of clever.... but the head-tail is kind of distracting. Ah, look at this. There's already fan art. I like the way this person drew it:
http://xous54.deviantart.com/art/Pre-Reveal-Art-of-Mewtwo-Forme-363733429
I'll have to take a stab at this character sometime this week.
Re: Shigeru Miyamoto: People Need To Be Patient With Wii U
Miyamoto is deluded.
I have a suspicion that Nintendo isn't confident in their ability to stay afloat in the video game market. Hence the peripherals. They want to create an image of a Nintendo system being a multi-functional tool that no family can live without. Miyamoto himself says it's about more than just games, but right now it's almost about anything BUT games.
The WiiU does function well as an internet browsing device. That much is true. I can play YouTube videos for an entire room of people to watch. That's useful. I can also use the WiiU for Netflix streaming, but the Wii could do that as well. The TVii service is absolutely useless for me, my family and friends. It's just impractical, and it will continue to be so until there can be more communication between the WiiU, the TV, and the cable box. Switching inputs is already a bit of a nuisance, but the WiiU makes the process more tedious — at least for me and my Samsung.
So then there's the Wii Street U, or whatever it's called. Cute software. Mostly useless. There may be a time here and there over the course of a year where I might want to check it out, but right now it's rather limited. It also crashed twice on me last night.
When a family member came over, she wanted to show photos using the WiiU. Turns out there's no photo channel, as there was on the Wii. How frustrating! There's also nothing really like the Nintendo Channel, which is something I would check frequently for entertainment purposes on the Wii. So in some ways the WiiU is actually LESS USEFUL than the previous console.
If Nintendo really wants an all-in-one system that a family will become addicted to, they need to focus on small, clever and useful apps — sort of like what people have access to on smartphones. But that's a problem in iteself. Nintendo has been chasing after Apple's style and success for too many years now. If the best they can offer is a stationary Apple-wannabe that doesn't make phone calls, people will continue to just buy an iPhone, or some other equivalent device.
(Oh, I forgot about the video chat on WiiU. Yeah... that's been pretty useless so far as well. Sigh)
So in the end, I think Nintendo is sort of failing in the game department, AND failing in the smart-device department. They need to make up their minds and put together something solid. When Miyamoto asks for patience, it sounds like he wants me to wait until they can figure out something the Gamepad is really good for — as if they haven't figured it out yet. They focused so hard on the Gamepad gimmick, but where's the support for it? Time for Nintendo to ditch the secrecy and big reveals, and open the doors for mass brainstorming to make their console better. Otherwise, the DustCollectorU will continue to be just that.
Re: Talking Point: The Downside to Delayed Releases on Wii U
@Five-seveN Nintendo had plenty of time to develop software and organize third parties to develop software before the system launch. If for some reason there wasn't enough time, then it would seem the WiiU was launched prematurely.
Re: Talking Point: The Downside to Delayed Releases on Wii U
Ubisoft was extremely vocal about their support for the WiiU, but they haven't really fulfilled their promises. They missed a great chance to capitalize on the WiiU launch and the following launch window. Releasing the demo so early was probably a mistake. I'm bored now, and my excitement over Rayman Legends has gone stale. Now I'm looking for other games to spend my money on. I suppose Ubisoft is fortunate, considering there are so few WiiU games to be purchased. Maybe the delay won't hurt them after all. Sigh. What a sorry situation.
Re: Rumour: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Is Taking Flight To The West
I'm really looking forward to this, if it actually comes true.
Re: Weirdness: Fire Emblem Devs Answer That Burning Question: What Happened To Everyone's Feet?
While playing the demo, I was under the impression the feet were somehow in the ground. It seemed like everyone had been cut off at the ankles. Very odd. I thought it was just a quirk of the demo, but apparently not.
Re: Talking Point: The Unreal Engine 4 Gaffe Exposes Graphical Snobbery, Again
The sad thing is that it seems to me that we're stuck in a style-OR-substance situation. Nintendo now has a track record of overlooking the importance of graphics in favor of focusing on the play experience. Meanwhile, the "other guys" often tend to focus primarily on graphics while many games deliver somewhat boring or repetitive experiences. There obviously has to be a balance. Maybe there's too much "snobbery" on both sides that will continue to get in the way.
Re: Talking Point: An Open Letter To Nintendo
There are many angles from which disappointment is coming. Nintendo did brag about third-party support, and seemed to relax on the first-party end of things. Now that third-party support is failing (in a sense), there's not much to fill in the gaps. I'm personally more interested in new Nintendo IPs, and I hope they can deliver something new in the near future... but to start creating something now would takes years to produce. I'm afraid Nintendo has just been too lazy about the WiiU, and the fans are suffering as a result.
Re: Feature: A Short History of Luigi
@Five-seveN Well, I guess I can't argue with that
Re: Feature: A Short History of Luigi
@dartmonkey I definitely agree on the point of franchise overload. Mario is overexposed.
@MasterWario Well, the movies naturally have things like character development and exposition in between the action scenes that you're not going to have in a game for kids. Have you seen the Ghostbusters cartoon? It was one of my favorite shows as I was growing up, and there was a great toy line to go with it. Busting ghosts was the name of the game. The whole process of wearing a special backpack and holding the gun, and subsequently sucking the ghost into a trap has been copied by Nintendo for Luigi's Mansion. As crude as it was, there was an NES Ghostbusters game back in 1988.
Can we post links on here? If so, here's a link to the Ghostbusters cartoon intro. Great animation. By the way, it's technically called "The REAL Ghostbusters," because people were ripping it off even back in the 80's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4te3wN6fxM
Re: Feature: A Short History of Luigi
I don't know. The whole Ghostbusters thing just bothers me. I've always liked Luigi, but I feel he needs a title that doesn't feel like a ripoff of an established franchise. Maybe it's different in Japan or even Europe, but I think a great deal of people are aware of Ghostbusters in the USA, and that prompts the predictable response "What is that? A Ghostbusters ripoff?" ...and the answer is "Yes."
Luigi needs his own world to adventure in. Better yet, how about Luigi repelling a Koopa invasion in the real world, while Mario's off in the Mushroom Kingdom? That would work for me.
Re: Gunman Clive eShop Sales Surpass Combined Totals on iOS and Android
This was a nice, fun game. I'm glad I bought it. I like that it was bite-sized, and priced accordingly. I'd like to see more games that follow that model. I don't need hundred-hour games anymore, so this sort of thing is right up my alley.
Re: Talking Point: The Pros and Cons of a Wii U Price War
It's mentioned in the above comments that some people don't even know about the WiiU, and I think that's correct. Part of the problem is the branding. "Wii U" is an odd name that carries the potential for confusion among consumers. Not only is the name 75% identical to the Wii, but the system's appearance (sans Gamepad) is nearly identical. There should always be some buzz surrounding a new Nintendo system, but the WiiU comes across as a Wii 1.5 or something like that, even if that's not really the case. Some people may still not realize the Gamepad isn't just a peripheral for the Wii.
As for the pricing, though, it really does come down to the games. If there was even just one game that everyone HAD to try, I think that would drive sales tremendously. The Wii U launch lineup was really reserved, though. Where's the punch?
Another thing Nintendo's not doing is advertising eShop games. I'm not sure what the best way to do it would be, but Nano Assault Neo for the WiiU is amazing, and Nintendo could use that to help sell their system.
Re: Pokémon Rumble U Trailer Shows NFC in Action
I'm looking forward to this quite a bit.
I have to say, though, that the "collect 'em all" craze can't last for too much longer. With the Disneylanders and next Skylanders installment, and Pokelanders on top of that... To put it simply, parents are going to draw the line somewhere. That's my guess, anyway.
Still, this looks good. The HD graphics with nice shiny toy Pokemon will be fun.
Re: U.S. February Sales Figures Make Grim Reading for Wii U and Wider Industry
I'm not surprised by the dip. When you look at the WiiU section in any game store, it's... well, almost non-existent. I realize it takes time to build a game library, but the WiiU seems very light, very early on. We're at the tail end of the fourth month since the launch, and there's just not much to play. It's good that some new games are about to be released, but it bothers me that Monster Hunter 3 is essentially an upgraded Wii game... and that the first big Zelda game we're getting is an upgrade Gamecube game... and that Pikmin and Rayman have been pushed back...
I just need more games to play on my expensive piece of hardware.
Re: Nano Assault EX Also Goes Virus Hunting In North America on 7th March
I just bought the original 3DS game at Gamestop for $20. Oops.
Re: Wireless Wii Portal Inspires Skylanders Chess Invention
The wireless portal adapter actually interfered with my Wii's wireless connection. Unplugging the adapter was the only way to access Netflix, the Wii Shop, Nintendo Channel, etc... I prefer the idea of a wireless portal, though.
Re: Interview: Reinventing Castlevania For A New Handheld Generation
Seems like I'm always being negative these days, but I was really disappointed by the demo. I was prepared for something different, but this felt like a step backward, somehow. The graphics are ok. The combat is kind of uncomfortable, and the character moves so slowly. I don't know. It just wasn't a lot of fun. Plus, the style is more than a bit weird. It's kind of over-stylized, which takes away from the somewhat classy feel of previous Castlevania games. Oh well. I guess everything changes over time. Except Mario, that is.
Re: Nintendo - "Innovation is Important" for the 2D Mario Series
If they would at least come up with a new villain or story... but they won't. It's the same thing over and over and over again.
Re: Side-Scrolling Fighter Dusty Raging Fist Is Punching Its Way To The Wii U eShop This Year
Looks cool. Very much like Code of Princess. I'll probably download this when the time comes.
Re: Masahiro Sakurai: Stories in Video Games Can be "Irksome"
What he's saying sounds good, but it's the same complaint I had when playing Kid Icarus: Uprising!
Perhaps it's just certain types of stories the guy is complaining about, because Uprising was full of moments that cut off the action, or held you back from taking action until the story and script allowed you to finally gain control over Pitt.
The tricky thing is that different people experience these games at different points in their lives. Someone who's played games for 20+ years may get tired of certain trends, while newer gamers will be totally enthralled. Gamers can be fickle, too. Not everyone enjoys all types of games all the time. Moods change. Tastes change.
Sakurai's main point is valid, though. Too often the player is restricted from just playing the game.
Re: Castlevania Producer Would Love To Work With Nintendo On Zelda
I'll play the new Castlevania before deciding whether or not this is a good idea But in general, I think outside ideas would be great for Zelda. I loved the Minish Cap, and I feel like Nintendo's home-grown stuff has been sort of weak lately, once you get past the gimmicks.
Re: Rayman Legends Boss and Dev Team Protest Wii U Release Delay
I'm so cynical these days that I suspect this was done on purpose so as not to alienate WiiU owners from buying the game. "Sure, we're on your side. Really."
Of course, the sentiment may be genuine. Either way, it's an interesting bit of news.
Re: Wind Waker Lookalike A Hat In Time Could Be Coming To The Wii U
Looks interesting. I agree the camera is nuts, and I hope that's only for demo purposes. There seem to be a lot of rough edges, but it's a good start.
Though it does resemble WindWaker in style, I wouldn't quite call that cel shading. It's an interesting style, though.
Re: Developer States That Wii U Woes Were a Focus At DICE
@Rinslowe There's been a steady accumulation of disappointment surrounding the Wii U post-launch. My comment refers to more than just this news item. I'm pretty pleased with the 3DS now, but I feel fully justified in expressing concern about the Wii U, based on its performance thus far and all the new info coming in.
Your comment was a bit like a personal attack. Maybe you can reflect on that over that warm milk and cookie you suggested. You know what I mean?
Re: Developer States That Wii U Woes Were a Focus At DICE
I find the whole thing discouraging. I went all in on the WiiU at launch, which is a first for me. I gambled, and now I'm wondering if it didn't pay off. By the time some really good exclusive games come out, we'll probably have a price drop on the system, and I'm going to feel like an idiot. Out of the early third party downloadable games, only Trine 2: Director's Cut really grabbed me. NintendoLand is getting old. The system isn't being used, except for the occasional Netflix viewing. Come on, Nintendo. Wii U is supposed you be your baby. Show it some love. Give us something good.
Re: Rayman Legends No Longer a Wii U Exclusive, Delayed to September
Wow, this is big news. WiiU exclusivity is going out the window, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bayonetta 2 is no longer exclusive (is that old news I've forgotten?). With Nintendo relying so heavily on old formulas for its core franchises, the WiiU is starting to look more and more like a useless brick.
As TotalHenshin just said, the delay is a huge problem as well. My friend was frustrated over the long wait for Luigi's Mansion on 3DS — a game he bought the system for. It seems this is happening more and more. Too many delays, plus loss of exclusivity... the WiiU is becoming redundant.
I love NintendoLand. I think it's great fun, but it's not enough. WindWaker HD isn't for me. I actually find that release to be kind of insulting. It's like Nintendo only cares about its hype machine, and not about what kind of content it's actually offering. That may truly be the case, which makes all of us idiots for buying their machines.
Re: Activision Announces Skylanders Swap Force For Wii U, Wii And 3DS
It's cool, but as others have said, it's too much. A new portal, plus new figures... and the price of figures has gone up since the first game. I can only imagine the swappable figures will be over $10, and that's just not fun anymore. I'll see what happens later in the year, but this may be something I can hold off on until there's a sale.
Re: Nintendo Hints At An Additional Platform In The Future
I can't imagine there's a need for games in another platform other than home and portable. Nintendo Bathtime - Waterproof Game Console? The only thing that makes sense would be the Nintendo Phone, but would that take the place of a standard portable? Maybe not. I suppose the portable would be less expensive. The phone would be smaller but would have phone capabilities, etc, and the home console... well, yeah.
Re: Paper Mario: Sticker Star Advert Gets Literal
The problem is that the ad looks so much better than the game. It's almost misleading, if you haven't seen gameplay or the making-of videos before.
Re: Hardware Classics: Game & Watch JR-55 - Donkey Kong II
Yes I have Game & Watch Donkey Kong II. What a fancy little machine it is. It really is funny to go back and look at those, realizing they're the original DS systems.
Re: Talking Point: Wii U Direct - Tell Us What You Thought
@jaymacx Nintendo needs our money to survive. It's their job to meet our expectations and live up to their own self-generated hype.
Re: Talking Point: Wii U Direct - Tell Us What You Thought
@sweetiepiejonus I understand that, and I've been patient... but yesterday's ND was just painful. After watching Iwata's style, though, I understand why Reggie got his job. What wonderful gesticulation.
Re: Talking Point: Wii U Direct - Tell Us What You Thought
What a painfully long presentation. Iwata is out of touch, and these Nintendo Direct presentations are becoming ridiculous. Just give us the info without making us suffer through 36 minutes of broken English. Sigh...
There was some good information sprinkled in there. Plenty of the games look like fun. Personally, I don't understand the WindWaker HD thing. The original looks great. Sure, HD would be nice if it just means a perfectly smooth picture, but they've gone and changed the entire look of the game by eliminating the cell-shaded style. I think Zelda is in trouble, and I suspect the WiiU Zelda game will be generic and disappointing. Of course, I hope I'm wrong.
The Xeno-whatever game looks great. Outstanding graphics. It's funny how now Nintendo makes a big deal out of Monolithsoft, when Xenoblade was originally treated as almost undesirable. The fans spoke, I guess.
Overall, it looks like there will be some fun games, but I'm starting to feel that the extras like Miiverse and TVii are ultimately going to be flops. Miiverse has a chance to survive as long as people are enthusiastic about the concept, but I really don't find myself spending much time on there at all. In fact, I haven't used my WiiU in weeks. Something's just missing.
Sigh. The Yoshi game looks like fun. Kirby's Epic Yarn was good, so I'm looking forward to this... though I have to wonder why it's not a new Kirby game, such as Epic Yarn 2. Eh, whatever.
Re: Ninterview: Cosplayer Regina "RikkuGrape" Marie
@MagicEmperor It was more of an observation, and in hindsight I probably should have kept it to myself. As you suggest, there's no reason to be surprised. I just wonder if anyone would be interested in she had a more portly physique. The interview almost elevates this person to a sort of celebrity status based solely on these photos, but doesn't really ask anything about the actual craftsmanship involved in creating the costumes. How does she choose materials that will elevate the quality of the costume? Who takes the photos? What type of digital alterations have been made to the photos?
I respect the effort that goes into producing the costumes, makeup and photography. I wish I could dig up a particular image of a group dressed as the barkeep and bar patrons from Twilight Princess. That was some really impressive stuff that has essentially gone unnoticed, and it's a shame. In the end, I guess the prettiest people with the fanciest photos get the attention, and that was really my original point.
@Zodiak13 I think you're inflating what I said quite a bit. As I said above, I respect the invested effort.
The woman admits to only being into cosplay seriously for the last year or so, which is kind of insulting to people who are more serious about it. Of course, NintendoLife can interview anyone they want. I just found myself wondering "Why THIS particular person? Why not a general showcase of Zelda cosplay?"
Of course, NintendoLife could decide to turn this topic into a monthly feature, interviewing a different Nintendo-themed cosplayer every month. That would be interesting.
Re: Ninterview: Cosplayer Regina "RikkuGrape" Marie
Unfortunately, there are people out there who are equally or more talented than someone like this, but don't get the recognition because they're considered less attractive. I guess humans can't help but worship beauty.
Re: Talking Point: The Blurred Lines of "Collectables" and On-Disc DLC
I just had a similar discussion about this. It's basically the same thing. In some cases, the "DLC" is really just unlocking content that's already on the disc. That's exactly how Skylanders works. You buy a Battle Pack, but the data is actually on the original game disc. Does that make it wrong? Unethical? Not really. It's just just companies trying to make more money. The thing with Skylanders is that you DO get a figure to display when you're not playing the game. If you're fortunate enough to find a well-painted one, you've got a nice little item. With straight-up DLC or whatever, you get nothing extra. It's up to the individual as to whether it's worth it or not. The ridiculous thing, though, is the idea that you buy a game at full retail price, and it's essentially an incomplete game. I find that insulting. So I guess it's all insulting If you're into toy collecting, Skylanders at least gives you something extra, but in general... DLC means your original game purchase is a ripoff.
Re: Wii U Advert Banned In The UK
I guess it's technically correct. If they just add "On certain games only," that would probably do the trick. I have to admit, though, I've been annoyed at how the few games I have don't necessarily play on the Gamepad alone. It was a major selling point, but it really is just something that works here and there. For example, I can't shift all the on-screen info to the Gamepad in NintendoLand, like when I hunt for Miis, or the double coins notification.
Also, it seems like most of the time, you're required to have the game running on the big screen to start off, and then switch the action to the smaller screen. I find I can't always start a game on the Gamepad while someone else is watching TV. Makes it seem like the WiiU wasn't entirely well thought out. There's time to improve on this, though, as these are mainly software issues.
Re: Talking Point: The Future Role of High Street Games Retailers
It's a tricky situation, but my local GameStop is always busy. I do buy games from Walmart on occasion, and even BestBuy. The problem is just that you can buy video games almost anywhere. Heck, you can order some games directly from the distributor.
Re: Nintendo Download: 17th January 2013 (North America)
Never played Fire Emblem. I'm actually kind of down on RPGs at the moment, but I'm going to give the demo a try. At the very least, I know the art will be nice.
Re: New Club Nintendo Reward In The Form Of A Yoshi Cleaning Cloth
So it's potentially a $40 cleaning cloth. I know this whole thing has been discussed before. The freebies are nice, but this is a bit insulting. The rewards I have are the reversible pouch (which I carry my 3DS in) and the 3DS game case. Those are GREAT rewards, and reasonably priced! This just makes no sense.... and where the heck is the Zelda merchandise?
Re: Pandora's Tower Finally Heading To North America
@DarkCoolEdge I love the fact that it's not an RPG. I've had quite enough of those. We need more Japanese games that aren't RPGs, but share the quality of design and execution.
Re: Pandora's Tower Finally Heading To North America
Just read this on Facebook. It's quite belated, since we already have the WiiU, but I'm glad I'll get a chance to play this. I really hope XSEED will include an artbook and soundtrack in a preorder bundle. The artbook is what I'm really interested in.
Re: Feature: A Tour of the Two Tribes HQ
I love seeing artwork and unique items in these studio tours. The Pixiv office is pretty cool, if anyone is into that stuff:
http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/26592/Pixiv+Office+Tour.html
Re: Epic Mickey Future In Doubt After Sequel Falls Short In Sales
When I finally got around to playing Epic Mickey, I was sorely disappointed. Much like Bill Goldberg's WWF run, Epic Mickey just didn't live up to the hype. As I've grown older, I've realized that Disney isn't really all that amazing, and its characters and stories are actually pretty weak. Mickey Mouse, for example, isn't even really a Disney creation. He's just another iteration of the generic cartoon mice seen in other cartoons, such as Felix the Cat.
The actual Epic Mickey game was super-hyped, but it didn't deliver. It felt different than what had been described, somehow. It had no real depth. It felt cheap. It's really just a "meh" game for me, and though I'm sure some people really enjoyed it, I'd venture to say most people were disappointed by the experience. Sometimes an experience doesn't warrant a sequel. Epic Mickey is such an experience.
As some have said above, the 3DS demo was a huge turnoff. It felt so cheap to me. It was almost insulting. I think Disney thought it would be easy to create a blockbuster game. They got lucky with Epic Mickey, thanks to their hype machine. They phoned in the sequel and 3DS versions, though, and this is the result.
Re: Review: Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 (Wii U)
I can understand people being against actual hunting... but I don't understand why SIMULATED hunting upsets so many people. Why is digital death suddenly offensive when it's deer and geese, when nobody complains about slaughtering purple deer and rainbow geese in, say, a Final Fantasy game? That's to say nothing about games involving the slaughter of human beings and other humanoid creatures. Hunting games are just that — games. I played through a similar game recently with a friend. The gameplay is essentially like a House of the Dead game, except the setting and targets are different. Should I feel guilty over shooting the innocent, flying goldfish in Sin & Punishment: Star Successor? I murdered them, all in the name of raising my multiplier. It's a game. A simple, target shooting game. Morals need not come into the equation.
Re: Chasing Aurora Demo Soaring Into Wii U eShop Soon
I wish I'd waited for the demo. The game didn't live up to expectations for me.
Re: New Sonic Fan Film Receives Mixed Reception, But At Least Yuji Naka Likes It
Steve Urkel...