While I appreciate all of the information that Nintendo gave us about upcoming titles, I feel that the Direct came off a little lacking. Before you get the pitchforks out, hear me out. I feel a big issue was the big elephant in the room or as in this case not in the room. That would be NX.
We all knew NX was not going to be discussed, and I understand that. The same holds true for mobile, but am I the only one who feels so-so about the Wii U portion of the Direct? Please understand this isn't me downing Nintendo.
The Wii U is obviously in its Twilight, no pun intended. It is difficult to get excited for a game like Star Fox or Paper Mario knowing that there is NX hanging out there on the horizon. We all know Nintendo and their three pillars only go as far as people moving to the NX.
I think the 3DS still has teeth. They had some decent stuff from this direct, but knowing that Pokemon is coming up, you still get the feeling that this will be supported.
I know it seems a bit contradictory because we still have Zelda U, but Wii U is playing out just like GameCube and Wii did. One last Zelda game before we sign off. It just really took away from the Direct to me.
As ridiculous as the whole concept sounds, I will likely get this game Day One. I can't for the life of me explain why other than the fact it's from Game Freak and solitare. Let's just hope in the localization process they do not remove the breeding aspect (nudge to all of you Fire Emblem Players).
@Onion Well, that I can't argue about. Metroid just doesn't sell well enough on platforms with twice the install base as the Wii U. Most of that falls on Nintendo's marketing team. If they could just get that part of this thing right, there is no telling what the company could become.
I know that is a bit negative, and I try not to be. However, it kills me to see great games getting ignored in this generation. I truly hope there is some sort of backwards compatibility to the NX so many of the Wii U games won't be forgotten.
@IchiroB30 Actually, there are a ton of companies pulling out of E3 this year. Activision is out. EA is out. Disney Interactive is out. I'm not sure what the reasoning for this is, but it is interesting to see what is going to happen with the show
i thought this was a pretty good Direct. I think it would have been a lot better had we not had the NX out there. I know people knock the Wii U, but I really have enjoyed the system. However, it is difficult to get excited about any game announcement outside of Zelda Wii U knowing a supposed more powerful system is out there.
The 3DS stuff was good. The announcements on it should show many that they are expecting to support a dedicated handheld for some time especially knowing that Sun and Moon will be here. Kirby looks pretty good, but I haven't been able to ever get into Kirby.
I did get my Nintendo Select of Ocarina of Time ordered at GameStop. So, In case you didn't know they are now excepting preorders.
I would say the biggest disappointment of the Direct for me was the My Nintendo Account. Why even mention it if you are not giving us new information.
Is it bad that I am looking forward to Pocket Jockey? I mean it's Game Freak, and I like most of their stuff even if mating horses seems a little strange.
I thought it was pretty good overall. The only half surprise I'd say was the Kirby announcement. However, the voice actor had tweeted earlier so we knew something was up.
Paper Mario is something we had all heard about. This along with the Pokemon Direct leak about Sun and Moon has me thinking a lot about NX. There are a lot of people getting a lot of Nintendo rumors right.
Do you think this lends more credence to some of the NX speculation that has been going on? Just a thought.
The dislikes were going to be mounting on this title no matter what. Unfortunately, we are in the age of Internet trolls. Outside of this game magically becoming Metroid Prime 4 with the visuals they wanted, this was going to happen.
It would be nice if people would save judgement until after they have a more in depth look at the game. They won't. It seems to be about the knee jerk reaction.
I don't see why the creator can't try to flesh out the universe more. Why people get up in arms because you can't play as Samus is beyond me. I mean one knock a lot of people give Nintendo is the lack of story surrounding games. A guy tries to give us one, and "fans" turn on him.
All of this said, this game is going to have a tough time because it looks to be a New 3DS exclusive. It is not a system seller. I think it has been proven no Metroid game is. Xenoblade, Binding of Issac, Federation Force , and the SNES alone are not going to move many systems.
We will get the Selects information. They will update Twilight Princess and Pokken. Hopefully, they won't tell us Star Fix is delayed. We haven't heard much about Shin Megami so that's a probable. I guess there is an outside shot we get the surprise Wii U game.
3DS wise will bring us Dragon Quest. We will probably get an update on Federation Force. I think this was supposed to be a summer release.
They will throw an Indie sizzle reel in. I'm not sure if they will say anything about MyNintendo.
If I was going to guess a surprise, I'd say it will be a game dedicated to Amiibo.
@candy94 Yeah, I'm saying part of the reason we are getting this now is because the leak kind of ruined are surprise. They are trying to appease us. Which I can appreciate.
Outside of Shen Gami, we have seen Directs that had substantial footage of everything that is coming to Wii U. After that game, the surprise game better be there tomorrow, or the Wii U will be a little disappointing unless they pull a shocker with Zelda.
I guess Mother 3 would be okay, but we have already seen hints of that.
Well, I am not sure if this guy is right when it comes to a game like Mario Kart. We all say we want it, but at the end of the day we might need to be careful about what we ask for.
My least favorite game in the Mario Kart series was the Wii version if you have to use motion controls. You would pretty much be locked into that control with mobile. Sonic tried their game on mobile, and I hated it.
Mobile gaming is a different animal than console and I would contend even the traditional handheld. I play mobile in about 5 to 10 minute bursts while I am waiting for something. Handheld is what I play on planes or long trips.
Just because Nintendo has led in the handheld market doesn't mean those games are going to translate to smartphones, but I think they know that. With a deliberate strategy, mobile can be great for them, but giving a blanket statement saying they sell billions if we get Mario Kart mobile seems a little premature especially coming from a supposed gaming consultant.
The pessimist in me says the only reason we are getting this is because of the Pokemon Sun and Moon leak. I mean we were going to get it some time, and right before two Wii U releases in March is as good of time as any. I'll take it.
I imagine we will get a little on Pokken and Twilight Princess. I hope this is not to announce another delay to Star Fox. Shin Megami Tensei would seem to be a given considering the success of Fates. The surprise Wii U game I'm hoping for, but not expecting.
The 3DS has a lot to talk about. I'm sure the Dragon Quests will be in there. Speculation among some of the podcasters that follow this a little more closely is that Federation Force is a summer release. Maybe we hear something on that.
Outside of that, we probably get some Indie Sizzle Reel.
I'm thinking Zelda and Pikmin 3. As much as I would like to get Animal Crossing, in holding out for the Ultimate NX version. Woolly Worrkd makes me want to get New Island, but I've heard I might regret that.
I don't see the HDMI dongle being legit. I can't imagine them putting that on a handheld. Can you imagine having to go behind the TV every time you wanted to play? That would be mind numbing for people with entertainment centers.
Some of the other stuff I can see. However, I'm not sure if Nintendo is going to make their hardware that easy to develop on. That would be a complete turnaround. If it was true, it would make for an interesting launch line up. Any third party could have their library of next gen titles available on eShop.
I'm still interested to see if the patent that was leaked with the upgradable power is something that Nintendo will use for NX.
I'm not sure I like the idea of Amiibo Cards for the next Pokemon main game. Those cards are expensive. I just wonder if there would be a push back from customers.
@Nin-Stream Not AAA in quality. AAA in size. They are still a large publisher. Under the right management, they have the IP to be great. However, great management and Vivendi are antonyms.
Vivendi did is a poorly managed company. Activision had to buy back a majority of their shares so Vivendi wouldn't pillage the cash Activision had made. The last thing anyone should want is Vivendi to buy a AAA game company. It's like the kiss of death. They are bad for business.
@wazlon At first, I thought the announcement as a 3DS title was saying no NX for this year. Then, Nintendo lowers the expectations for 3DS, this year. Considering a new Pokemon main game, there will certainly be a special edition 3DS. Seems like there is a possibility it could end up on NX.
I enjoyed it okay considering we all knew what it was about. They could have given us an update on GO and Pokken. Then they could have finished with the PokeBank announcement followed by Sun and Moon. They would have been more of a Direct.
I'll take it. I really was delighted with the PokeBank support. It gives me a reason to download it as if I needed one.
I think this announcement was the best news of the whole Direct. I mean the leak of Sun and Moon spoiled it a little, but I was on the fence about getting Red, Blue, or Yellow. The first thing I am going to do now is go and pick up Yellow.
Well, that was quick, and we knew about it. It was still a nice bone to throw everyone. I find it hard to believe knowing this announcement was about to come out that they revised the sales numbers down for the 3DS this year. You know there will be a special edition 3DS that goes with it.
After the initial revision was announced, I had thought this might confirm the Sun and Moon for the NX, but I don't think that is the case. Still would have liked to see something on GO and Pokken. I am surprised that they left those out.
Well, I have a decision to make. I recently acquired the Retron Freak. If the 3DS had the ability to transfer to PokeBank, the system version would be a definite, but I'm not sure.
There has been tension with third parties for years. This includes Nintendo as a company and Nintendo fans. Honestly, both sides have done a pretty terrible job of trying to find the happy medium.
In the early days of the NES and SNES, Nintendo kept a pretty tight noose around a lot of third parties. There are horror stories surrounding the Nintendo seal of quality. However, we were on the brink of the death of video game systems so they had to do something.
The N64 went a long way to alienating third parties. I really do not blame them for abandoning Nintendo. The Big N was demanding too much. One could contend, they never have had a healthy relationship since then.
However, the third parties haven't done a great job of what they have been releasing. During the Wii days, most EA stuff was crap on the sports side of things. I will never forget how awful that All Play NCAA College Football game was.
On the other hand, fans have not done a real great job of supporting third parties. Zack and Wiki from Capcom was a great Wii game that most ignored. No More Heroes was a pretty good game as well that most didn't purchase. I thought ZombiU was a real good launch game that showed a ton of potential on how to use the game pad.
At the end of the day, it certainly has me wondering what to expect from NX. I don't think EA Sports is the answer. I will agree the marketing department could do a lot more to get the word out. The marketing behind the Wii U was just awful.
@FragRed Agreed. Kicking off The NX with the next official generation of Pokemon would be the equivalent of printing money especially if it is the hybrid system.
I'm not saying the Pokemon Company didn't have something to do with it. They very well could have, but YouTube did just announce the Pokemon Super Bowl commercial was the most watched. What if their system takes that information and starts going after anything, in this case Pokemon Reorchestrated, that has to do with Pokemon that is not "official."
@LegendOfPokemon I completely agree on the marketing arm of the company. Their marketing is so much worse now, at least NOA, than it was when I was a kid. I'd kill for another "Now Your Playing With Power!" push.
This was a well put together article. He started out sounding like the typical analyst, but his insights were very valuable as you read on. This is a lot better analysis than the previous one this week. He did not mention the billions of dollars Nintendo has in cash on hand.
It could be difficult for any company to purchase Nintendo for that reason alone. I'm not sure there are any Japanese companies that could do that, and Nintendo would not sell to someone outside of Japan. Also, with that much cash on hand, there is no possible way for any hostile take over, not that it would be likely to begin with.
Getting back to the comments he made on China, I think that is why the NX will have software distribution model similar to a mobile device. I still maintain that there is a possibility the NX could be an Apple TV-type set top box with mobile phone integrated-type technology.
I signed up on a tablet, and I didn't have any issues. I was able to link other social accounts easy enough, and Miitomo loaded in pretty fast. Overall, I thought the experience went just find.
I find it a little strange that Nintendo is not saying anything about it on the official website. There is no mention of it on the front page. If this is a landmark addition, I would think you would want everyone that visits your website to sign up.
I think that comics is a great way to expand the IP. Mario is actually a great character to put into comics. They could do it like IDW does the Disney comics.
I hope they give us some actual characters in Spltoon besides Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl. It would be great to get a little depth in the characters of the game. Of course, we won't get it in the states anyways, but here's hoping our friend across the Pacific can update us.
I think it is imperative they give us something in February. I can't imagine that not happening. March brings Twilight Princess HD, Pokken Tournament, Miitomo, and MyNintendo.
I know none of that is new news, but with the year of RPGs in full swing on the 3DS, it wouldn't take a lot of new news to satisfy people.
The game looks good, but I think the fighter list is too small. I assumed announcing a Shadow Mewtwo Amiibo card meant we had more cards to look forward to in the future. Revealing no DLC makes me rethink purchasing this or maybe just waiting for something else.
Nintendo shares fell because the dollar strengthened against the yen, and Nintendo was holding almost $5 billion in cash. That kind of depreciation in the yen would allow some investors to sell off.
I think it makes it all the more important that Nintendo needs to communicate where they are with the NX. lets face it. With all of the NX talk and Wii U shortages, who is going to buy a Wii U if production is stepped up.
They have three games coming out in the next two months (assuming Star Fox isn't pushed back). Why would you buy a system just for that if they are releasing a system a few months later? If NX is truly a 'third pillar,' one might consider a Wii U.
I know I'm setting myself up to get hammered for this, but what if the NX is a third pillar? What if the NX is a set top box that has a handheld element that uses the same principles as mobile technology?
The technology already exists that could keep costs down. The ability to move from handheld to console would exist. The integrated account would make sense in this format.
As far as power, they have the patent that was circulating where a console would get a boost from other consoles on the network.
Amazon and Apple already feels this sector is worth looking into.
A good portion of the drop for Nintendo is due to the weakening of the dollar. A lot of the market issues around the world can be blamed on the same thing. Nintendo is particularly hit hard because they have a larger than normal portion of cash. Investors know this so there has been a sell off.
As much as some people would like to attribute this to no news on NX, Star Fox Zero possibly being delayed, or Mario Tennis Ultra Smash not having enough Amiibo support, that is simply not the case.
It seems that the lack of physical rewards might be more of a Nintendo of America thing than a Nintendo Corporate thing. I have seen slide that has physical rewards attached to these points. If I'm not mistaken, I thin NoA is the reason we didn't get the Club Nintendo rewards other people did.
@aaronsullivan I understand where you are coming from, but investors want specifics as far as when to expect and some time soon isn't specific enough. Shares are currently down 2% coming out of the meeting. They have to give a better window than some time soon.
Again, I love Nintendo. I just don't understand their thought process. It is so hard to keep a secret, and whatever news that comes out, leaked or otherwise, always is best said from those in charge. If not, speculation takes over, and no one wants that.
From the vague comments, NX could slip to 2017. Do l think that will happen? No. I think that would kill the stock unless they have something major up their sleeve. Again, I love'em. I just don't understand them.
I think the biggest takeaway from the information we were apprised to today was no real information. Nothing new. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I have got to wonder what they are waiting for. Tells me NX will most likely not hit until next year.
What in the world does not too far in to the year suggest? We won't get another financial until end of June or July. If they wait that long to give us anything on NX, I don't see how it's ready before the end of the year.
I will be the first to tell you that I'm a Nintendo apologist. I am one of the 10 million who will by the next system no matter what it is. However in today's society, it would be nice to get info straight from the horses mouth. We literally have to wait for leaks from others to get any information of any kind.
It's difficult to compare Sony and Microsoft to Nintendo. Sony is a massively large company that had a new album by Adele and a new James Bond movie to help their profits. However, their mobile market is bleeding money. Did PS4 help? You bet. Of course a lot of their profit can be attributed to a favorable exchange rate.
Don't get me wrong, Nintendo's success dollar wise can also be attributed to exchange rate.
Microsoft's profits, I would imagine, do not come from XBOX. In fact as late as last year, rumors bounced around that Microsoft would actually prefer to sell that division of the company.
It is difficult to compare media conglomerates to a niche sector company like Nintendo. That said Nintendo has an extremely large amount of cash on hand compared to the size of the company. They have very little debt.
@PlywoodStick I really enjoyed your comments and the history behind the "hardcore" and "casual" gamer. It really is amazing to me how groups want to be mainstream. They want to be recognized, but when it finally starts happening, they immediately want to set themselves apart.
I feel I can say this because I'd consider myself a "gamer." Now, life and responsibility doesn't allow me to play games as much as I want. As a matter of fact, I feel like more of a game collector than a game player most of the time, but I digress.
The "gamer" community is dangerously close to being like the comic community (which I feel l also belong to). For years, comic book readers wanted to be recognized for the artistic aspect and great stories. Fast forward to 2016, we (me as much as any) piss and moan that they are getting it all wrong, or we don't recognize someone who follows the Marvel movies as a true Marvel fan.
Gaming is dangerously close to fitting into the same category. When I was a kid, video games rotted your brain. When I was a teenager, video games caused violence among youth. Now, creators are getting accepted as the artists and storytellers we've known them to be, and they deserve every bit of the credit they get.
So what do we as a community do with the new found recognition? We immediately compartmentalize people in to "hardcore" and "casual." It's amazing how we sometimes get in the way of our own progress.
It's interesting to read the speculation. Seems there are a few people who are on here that want this to fail, and I guess that is their prerogative. I don't think it is wise to look from Wii to Wii U and say only 10% stayed with Nintendo. The Wii sold 4 to 5 times what the GameCube sold.
Did Nintendo get some things wrong with the Wii U? Sure. Was it because the Wii U is a bad system? Definitely not. I would put there first party games up against either the Microsoft or the Sony system.
I agree with most that they need to do better with the online structure. They need to make it easier to find friends. Voice chat is needed.
I'm not convinced though that Nintendo has to go for the "hardcore" gamer. To say that the NX will be a better system because it has the latest version of Assassin's Creed seems short sighted.
I love Nintendo. I appreciate the simple fact that they do think about families. I think if anything they need to invest a little more into their marketing efforts. I think that has been a contributor to the perceived failure that the Wii U has endured.
Actually, i don't think you can look at the Wii to Wii U sales numbers and determine how many will buy the NX. I'd hold off on being a Doomsday Advocate until they announce what this is.
If it has a portable aspect to it, then why not use the portable numbers. That said what if it can pull competition from mobile. I just think it is way to early to speculate.
I think the Smash NX is a definitive version of the Wii U, and that's okay. It gives them one more launch title. Sony did the same thing with the Last of Us, and I think Microsoft did It with Tomb Raider. I'm sure the Zelda will release for NX along side the U version. That's two games at launch that they didn't have to spend a whole lot of extra time on.
Maybe that should free them up to get up a few good original titles. I'm saying a Mario 3D is in there. Maybe they can surprise us then with a Metroid, Animal Crossing. Kirby, etc. That give us four or five first party launch titles.
Maybe we could get the new Dragon Quest from, Square. Yacht Club could give the complete Shovel Knight with the last round of DLC. Bandai could give us a title. Sega could give us the Sonic title, and Maybe they could find one or two more third party games to come out for it at launch. COD, Infinity, and Skylanders.
@Mr_Action I love the Animal Crossing idea. A Day One with the launch may pull a few people in who might not normally get the game. I know I would. Great idea!
If they were to launch the next generation of Pokemon on Day One, they'd sell out of as many pieces of hardware as they could make especially if this is the hybrid system that everyone seems to think it is.
Those two games and a Mario should leave enough room for third parties to get their stuff in there.
Of course, this is my third different scenario so I'm probably not someone to be listening to.
Comments 571
Re: Talking Point: The Latest Nintendo Direct Showed a Renewed - Albeit Temporary - Focus on the Current Generation
While I appreciate all of the information that Nintendo gave us about upcoming titles, I feel that the Direct came off a little lacking. Before you get the pitchforks out, hear me out. I feel a big issue was the big elephant in the room or as in this case not in the room. That would be NX.
We all knew NX was not going to be discussed, and I understand that. The same holds true for mobile, but am I the only one who feels so-so about the Wii U portion of the Direct? Please understand this isn't me downing Nintendo.
The Wii U is obviously in its Twilight, no pun intended. It is difficult to get excited for a game like Star Fox or Paper Mario knowing that there is NX hanging out there on the horizon. We all know Nintendo and their three pillars only go as far as people moving to the NX.
I think the 3DS still has teeth. They had some decent stuff from this direct, but knowing that Pokemon is coming up, you still get the feeling that this will be supported.
I know it seems a bit contradictory because we still have Zelda U, but Wii U is playing out just like GameCube and Wii did. One last Zelda game before we sign off. It just really took away from the Direct to me.
Re: Feature: Exciting Wii U and 3DS Games to Play in Spring and Summer 2016
@thehoppypoppy No, you are not. I can't explain why I want Pocket Jockey, but I'll pick it up day one.
Re: Pocket Card Jockey Comes to the 3DS This May
As ridiculous as the whole concept sounds, I will likely get this game Day One. I can't for the life of me explain why other than the fact it's from Game Freak and solitare. Let's just hope in the localization process they do not remove the breeding aspect (nudge to all of you Fire Emblem Players).
Re: Metroid Prime: Federation Force is Coming Sooner Than Expected
@Onion Well, that I can't argue about. Metroid just doesn't sell well enough on platforms with twice the install base as the Wii U. Most of that falls on Nintendo's marketing team. If they could just get that part of this thing right, there is no telling what the company could become.
I know that is a bit negative, and I try not to be. However, it kills me to see great games getting ignored in this generation. I truly hope there is some sort of backwards compatibility to the NX so many of the Wii U games won't be forgotten.
Re: Poll: Did the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Kickstart 2016?
@IchiroB30 Actually, there are a ton of companies pulling out of E3 this year. Activision is out. EA is out. Disney Interactive is out. I'm not sure what the reasoning for this is, but it is interesting to see what is going to happen with the show
Re: Poll: Did the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Kickstart 2016?
i thought this was a pretty good Direct. I think it would have been a lot better had we not had the NX out there. I know people knock the Wii U, but I really have enjoyed the system. However, it is difficult to get excited about any game announcement outside of Zelda Wii U knowing a supposed more powerful system is out there.
The 3DS stuff was good. The announcements on it should show many that they are expecting to support a dedicated handheld for some time especially knowing that Sun and Moon will be here. Kirby looks pretty good, but I haven't been able to ever get into Kirby.
I did get my Nintendo Select of Ocarina of Time ordered at GameStop. So, In case you didn't know they are now excepting preorders.
I would say the biggest disappointment of the Direct for me was the My Nintendo Account. Why even mention it if you are not giving us new information.
Re: Poll: Did the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Kickstart 2016?
Is it bad that I am looking forward to Pocket Jockey? I mean it's Game Freak, and I like most of their stuff even if mating horses seems a little strange.
Re: This Massive Snorlax Plush Doubles As The Perfect Pokémon Bed
If this was anything south of $200, it would be a given, but $430 is way iut of my price range. I'm not even showing my kid that this exists.
Re: Pokémon Go is All Set for a March 'Field Test' in Japan
That's a rhetorical question, right?😀
Re: Feature: The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 3rd March
I thought it was pretty good overall. The only half surprise I'd say was the Kirby announcement. However, the voice actor had tweeted earlier so we knew something was up.
Paper Mario is something we had all heard about. This along with the Pokemon Direct leak about Sun and Moon has me thinking a lot about NX. There are a lot of people getting a lot of Nintendo rumors right.
Do you think this lends more credence to some of the NX speculation that has been going on? Just a thought.
Re: Metroid Prime: Federation Force is Coming Sooner Than Expected
The dislikes were going to be mounting on this title no matter what. Unfortunately, we are in the age of Internet trolls. Outside of this game magically becoming Metroid Prime 4 with the visuals they wanted, this was going to happen.
It would be nice if people would save judgement until after they have a more in depth look at the game. They won't. It seems to be about the knee jerk reaction.
I don't see why the creator can't try to flesh out the universe more. Why people get up in arms because you can't play as Samus is beyond me. I mean one knock a lot of people give Nintendo is the lack of story surrounding games. A guy tries to give us one, and "fans" turn on him.
All of this said, this game is going to have a tough time because it looks to be a New 3DS exclusive. It is not a system seller. I think it has been proven no Metroid game is. Xenoblade, Binding of Issac, Federation Force , and the SNES alone are not going to move many systems.
Re: Talking Point: It's Catch-Up Time for Nintendo Direct, With North America and Europe Having Different Priorities
We will get the Selects information. They will update Twilight Princess and Pokken. Hopefully, they won't tell us Star Fix is delayed. We haven't heard much about Shin Megami so that's a probable. I guess there is an outside shot we get the surprise Wii U game.
3DS wise will bring us Dragon Quest. We will probably get an update on Federation Force. I think this was supposed to be a summer release.
They will throw an Indie sizzle reel in. I'm not sure if they will say anything about MyNintendo.
If I was going to guess a surprise, I'd say it will be a game dedicated to Amiibo.
Re: No Disney Infinity 4.0 In 2016, But Support For 3.0 Will Continue Via New Play Sets
@MrGawain You are correct about Lego Dimensions. In fact, Lego is the reason they are going to this model.
It has been quite frustrating having to buy a portal pack every year if you wanted to play Day 1.
I have admit. I've tired on this game. The play sets themselves are just okay, and Toy Box doesn't hold my interest.
Re: A Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Is On the Way
@candy94 Yeah, I'm saying part of the reason we are getting this now is because the leak kind of ruined are surprise. They are trying to appease us. Which I can appreciate.
Outside of Shen Gami, we have seen Directs that had substantial footage of everything that is coming to Wii U. After that game, the surprise game better be there tomorrow, or the Wii U will be a little disappointing unless they pull a shocker with Zelda.
I guess Mother 3 would be okay, but we have already seen hints of that.
Re: Nintendo Will Do Well On Mobile Because That's Where Its Core Audience Is Now, Claims Analyst
Well, I am not sure if this guy is right when it comes to a game like Mario Kart. We all say we want it, but at the end of the day we might need to be careful about what we ask for.
My least favorite game in the Mario Kart series was the Wii version if you have to use motion controls. You would pretty much be locked into that control with mobile. Sonic tried their game on mobile, and I hated it.
Mobile gaming is a different animal than console and I would contend even the traditional handheld. I play mobile in about 5 to 10 minute bursts while I am waiting for something. Handheld is what I play on planes or long trips.
Just because Nintendo has led in the handheld market doesn't mean those games are going to translate to smartphones, but I think they know that. With a deliberate strategy, mobile can be great for them, but giving a blanket statement saying they sell billions if we get Mario Kart mobile seems a little premature especially coming from a supposed gaming consultant.
Re: A Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Is On the Way
The pessimist in me says the only reason we are getting this is because of the Pokemon Sun and Moon leak. I mean we were going to get it some time, and right before two Wii U releases in March is as good of time as any. I'll take it.
I imagine we will get a little on Pokken and Twilight Princess. I hope this is not to announce another delay to Star Fox. Shin Megami Tensei would seem to be a given considering the success of Fates. The surprise Wii U game I'm hoping for, but not expecting.
The 3DS has a lot to talk about. I'm sure the Dragon Quests will be in there. Speculation among some of the podcasters that follow this a little more closely is that Federation Force is a summer release. Maybe we hear something on that.
Outside of that, we probably get some Indie Sizzle Reel.
Re: Nintendo of America Confirms New Wii U, 3DS and Wii Nintendo Selects Titles for 11th March
I'm thinking Zelda and Pikmin 3. As much as I would like to get Animal Crossing, in holding out for the Ultimate NX version. Woolly Worrkd makes me want to get New Island, but I've heard I might regret that.
Re: Rumour Buster: Let's Clarify Some Issues With Those Recent Nintendo NX Predictions
I don't see the HDMI dongle being legit. I can't imagine them putting that on a handheld. Can you imagine having to go behind the TV every time you wanted to play? That would be mind numbing for people with entertainment centers.
Some of the other stuff I can see. However, I'm not sure if Nintendo is going to make their hardware that easy to develop on. That would be a complete turnaround. If it was true, it would make for an interesting launch line up. Any third party could have their library of next gen titles available on eShop.
I'm still interested to see if the patent that was leaked with the upgradable power is something that Nintendo will use for NX.
Re: Talking Point: The New 3DS Can Revive the Portable Family With Help From Pokémon and amiibo
I'm not sure I like the idea of Amiibo Cards for the next Pokemon main game. Those cards are expensive. I just wonder if there would be a push back from customers.
Re: Ubisoft Battling To Resist Hostile Takeover From Media Giant Vivendi
@Nin-Stream Not AAA in quality. AAA in size. They are still a large publisher. Under the right management, they have the IP to be great. However, great management and Vivendi are antonyms.
Re: Ubisoft Battling To Resist Hostile Takeover From Media Giant Vivendi
Vivendi did is a poorly managed company. Activision had to buy back a majority of their shares so Vivendi wouldn't pillage the cash Activision had made. The last thing anyone should want is Vivendi to buy a AAA game company. It's like the kiss of death. They are bad for business.
Re: Reaction: The Pokémon Direct Was Short and Slick, But Had a Blunted Impact
@wazlon At first, I thought the announcement as a 3DS title was saying no NX for this year. Then, Nintendo lowers the expectations for 3DS, this year. Considering a new Pokemon main game, there will certainly be a special edition 3DS. Seems like there is a possibility it could end up on NX.
Re: Reaction: The Pokémon Direct Was Short and Slick, But Had a Blunted Impact
I enjoyed it okay considering we all knew what it was about. They could have given us an update on GO and Pokken. Then they could have finished with the PokeBank announcement followed by Sun and Moon. They would have been more of a Direct.
I'll take it. I really was delighted with the PokeBank support. It gives me a reason to download it as if I needed one.
Re: Pokémon Bank Support Confirmed for Virtual Console Releases of Red, Blue and Yellow
I think this announcement was the best news of the whole Direct. I mean the leak of Sun and Moon spoiled it a little, but I was on the fence about getting Red, Blue, or Yellow. The first thing I am going to do now is go and pick up Yellow.
Re: Pokémon Sun And Moon Confirmed For 3DS Release This Holiday Season
Well, that was quick, and we knew about it. It was still a nice bone to throw everyone. I find it hard to believe knowing this announcement was about to come out that they revised the sales numbers down for the 3DS this year. You know there will be a special edition 3DS that goes with it.
After the initial revision was announced, I had thought this might confirm the Sun and Moon for the NX, but I don't think that is the case. Still would have liked to see something on GO and Pokken. I am surprised that they left those out.
Re: Trademarks And Logos For The Next Pokémon Game Surface Online Ahead Of Tomorrow's Nintendo Direct
Any news coming from the Nintendo camp is fine with me. A new generation could be fun to explore. I don't understand the problem.
Re: Video: See How Pokémon on the 3DS Virtual Console Compares to an Original Cartridge on a Retron 5
Well, I have a decision to make. I recently acquired the Retron Freak. If the 3DS had the ability to transfer to PokeBank, the system version would be a definite, but I'm not sure.
Re: Editorial: Triple-A Third Party Games Will Need Creativity as Well as Marketing for NX Success
There has been tension with third parties for years. This includes Nintendo as a company and Nintendo fans. Honestly, both sides have done a pretty terrible job of trying to find the happy medium.
In the early days of the NES and SNES, Nintendo kept a pretty tight noose around a lot of third parties. There are horror stories surrounding the Nintendo seal of quality. However, we were on the brink of the death of video game systems so they had to do something.
The N64 went a long way to alienating third parties. I really do not blame them for abandoning Nintendo. The Big N was demanding too much. One could contend, they never have had a healthy relationship since then.
However, the third parties haven't done a great job of what they have been releasing. During the Wii days, most EA stuff was crap on the sports side of things. I will never forget how awful that All Play NCAA College Football game was.
On the other hand, fans have not done a real great job of supporting third parties. Zack and Wiki from Capcom was a great Wii game that most ignored. No More Heroes was a pretty good game as well that most didn't purchase. I thought ZombiU was a real good launch game that showed a ton of potential on how to use the game pad.
At the end of the day, it certainly has me wondering what to expect from NX. I don't think EA Sports is the answer. I will agree the marketing department could do a lot more to get the word out. The marketing behind the Wii U was just awful.
Re: Pokémon Company CEO Reveals Pokémon GO Rollout Details, Teases Another "Big" Project
@FragRed Agreed. Kicking off The NX with the next official generation of Pokemon would be the equivalent of printing money especially if it is the hybrid system.
Re: Pokémon Reorchestrated Has Its YouTube Channel Taken Down Due to Third Copyright Strike
I'm not saying the Pokemon Company didn't have something to do with it. They very well could have, but YouTube did just announce the Pokemon Super Bowl commercial was the most watched. What if their system takes that information and starts going after anything, in this case Pokemon Reorchestrated, that has to do with Pokemon that is not "official."
Re: Investment Expert Talks Nintendo's Yo-Yo Share Value, Potential Acquisitions And NX's Chances Of Success
@LegendOfPokemon I completely agree on the marketing arm of the company. Their marketing is so much worse now, at least NOA, than it was when I was a kid. I'd kill for another "Now Your Playing With Power!" push.
Re: Investment Expert Talks Nintendo's Yo-Yo Share Value, Potential Acquisitions And NX's Chances Of Success
This was a well put together article. He started out sounding like the typical analyst, but his insights were very valuable as you read on. This is a lot better analysis than the previous one this week. He did not mention the billions of dollars Nintendo has in cash on hand.
It could be difficult for any company to purchase Nintendo for that reason alone. I'm not sure there are any Japanese companies that could do that, and Nintendo would not sell to someone outside of Japan. Also, with that much cash on hand, there is no possible way for any hostile take over, not that it would be likely to begin with.
Getting back to the comments he made on China, I think that is why the NX will have software distribution model similar to a mobile device. I still maintain that there is a possibility the NX could be an Apple TV-type set top box with mobile phone integrated-type technology.
Re: Guide: Setup and Key Facts for Nintendo Account and Miitomo Preregistration
I signed up on a tablet, and I didn't have any issues. I was able to link other social accounts easy enough, and Miitomo loaded in pretty fast. Overall, I thought the experience went just find.
I find it a little strange that Nintendo is not saying anything about it on the official website. There is no mention of it on the front page. If this is a landmark addition, I would think you would want everyone that visits your website to sign up.
Re: You Can Now Register for a Nintendo Account
Well, I managed to register my account and register for Miitomo without a hitch. I did it all on an iPad as well. My how far Nintendo has come.
Re: New Splatoon Manga Series Coming to Bessatsu CoroCoro in Japan
I think that comics is a great way to expand the IP. Mario is actually a great character to put into comics. They could do it like IDW does the Disney comics.
I hope they give us some actual characters in Spltoon besides Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl. It would be great to get a little depth in the characters of the game. Of course, we won't get it in the states anyways, but here's hoping our friend across the Pacific can update us.
Re: Talking Point: The Time is Right for a Nintendo Direct
I think it is imperative they give us something in February. I can't imagine that not happening. March brings Twilight Princess HD, Pokken Tournament, Miitomo, and MyNintendo.
I know none of that is new news, but with the year of RPGs in full swing on the 3DS, it wouldn't take a lot of new news to satisfy people.
Re: Exclusive Content and Modes Outlined for Pokkén Tournament, No DLC Currently Planned
The game looks good, but I think the fighter list is too small. I assumed announcing a Shadow Mewtwo Amiibo card meant we had more cards to look forward to in the future. Revealing no DLC makes me rethink purchasing this or maybe just waiting for something else.
Re: Nintendo Share Value Drops Over 17% in One Week as Global Economic Panic Bites
Nintendo shares fell because the dollar strengthened against the yen, and Nintendo was holding almost $5 billion in cash. That kind of depreciation in the yen would allow some investors to sell off.
Re: Nintendo Drops Behind Sony in Japan as Wii U Sales Tumble
I think it makes it all the more important that Nintendo needs to communicate where they are with the NX. lets face it. With all of the NX talk and Wii U shortages, who is going to buy a Wii U if production is stepped up.
They have three games coming out in the next two months (assuming Star Fox isn't pushed back). Why would you buy a system just for that if they are releasing a system a few months later? If NX is truly a 'third pillar,' one might consider a Wii U.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Pinpoints NX and Mobile as Key Areas to Deliver 'Nintendo-Like' Profits
I know I'm setting myself up to get hammered for this, but what if the NX is a third pillar? What if the NX is a set top box that has a handheld element that uses the same principles as mobile technology?
The technology already exists that could keep costs down. The ability to move from handheld to console would exist. The integrated account would make sense in this format.
As far as power, they have the patent that was circulating where a console would get a boost from other consoles on the network.
Amazon and Apple already feels this sector is worth looking into.
Re: Nintendo's Share Value is Hit Hard by Stock Market Panic
A good portion of the drop for Nintendo is due to the weakening of the dollar. A lot of the market issues around the world can be blamed on the same thing. Nintendo is particularly hit hard because they have a larger than normal portion of cash. Investors know this so there has been a sell off.
As much as some people would like to attribute this to no news on NX, Star Fox Zero possibly being delayed, or Mario Tennis Ultra Smash not having enough Amiibo support, that is simply not the case.
Re: Talking Point: My Nintendo Can Be a Tipping Point in Nintendo's Approach To User Accounts
It seems that the lack of physical rewards might be more of a Nintendo of America thing than a Nintendo Corporate thing. I have seen slide that has physical rewards attached to these points. If I'm not mistaken, I thin NoA is the reason we didn't get the Club Nintendo rewards other people did.
Re: Nintendo Is "Looking At" Virtual Reality, But Don't Expect Details Any Time Soon
@aaronsullivan I understand where you are coming from, but investors want specifics as far as when to expect and some time soon isn't specific enough. Shares are currently down 2% coming out of the meeting. They have to give a better window than some time soon.
Again, I love Nintendo. I just don't understand their thought process. It is so hard to keep a secret, and whatever news that comes out, leaked or otherwise, always is best said from those in charge. If not, speculation takes over, and no one wants that.
From the vague comments, NX could slip to 2017. Do l think that will happen? No. I think that would kill the stock unless they have something major up their sleeve. Again, I love'em. I just don't understand them.
Re: Nintendo Is "Looking At" Virtual Reality, But Don't Expect Details Any Time Soon
I think the biggest takeaway from the information we were apprised to today was no real information. Nothing new. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I have got to wonder what they are waiting for. Tells me NX will most likely not hit until next year.
What in the world does not too far in to the year suggest? We won't get another financial until end of June or July. If they wait that long to give us anything on NX, I don't see how it's ready before the end of the year.
I will be the first to tell you that I'm a Nintendo apologist. I am one of the 10 million who will by the next system no matter what it is. However in today's society, it would be nice to get info straight from the horses mouth. We literally have to wait for leaks from others to get any information of any kind.
Re: Nintendo Profits Dip as amiibo Hits Over 40 Million Sales in Nine Months
It's difficult to compare Sony and Microsoft to Nintendo. Sony is a massively large company that had a new album by Adele and a new James Bond movie to help their profits. However, their mobile market is bleeding money. Did PS4 help? You bet. Of course a lot of their profit can be attributed to a favorable exchange rate.
Don't get me wrong, Nintendo's success dollar wise can also be attributed to exchange rate.
Microsoft's profits, I would imagine, do not come from XBOX. In fact as late as last year, rumors bounced around that Microsoft would actually prefer to sell that division of the company.
It is difficult to compare media conglomerates to a niche sector company like Nintendo. That said Nintendo has an extremely large amount of cash on hand compared to the size of the company. They have very little debt.
Re: Talking Point: Learning Lessons From the Past Can Define Nintendo's NX Launch
@PlywoodStick I really enjoyed your comments and the history behind the "hardcore" and "casual" gamer. It really is amazing to me how groups want to be mainstream. They want to be recognized, but when it finally starts happening, they immediately want to set themselves apart.
I feel I can say this because I'd consider myself a "gamer." Now, life and responsibility doesn't allow me to play games as much as I want. As a matter of fact, I feel like more of a game collector than a game player most of the time, but I digress.
The "gamer" community is dangerously close to being like the comic community (which I feel l also belong to). For years, comic book readers wanted to be recognized for the artistic aspect and great stories. Fast forward to 2016, we (me as much as any) piss and moan that they are getting it all wrong, or we don't recognize someone who follows the Marvel movies as a true Marvel fan.
Gaming is dangerously close to fitting into the same category. When I was a kid, video games rotted your brain. When I was a teenager, video games caused violence among youth. Now, creators are getting accepted as the artists and storytellers we've known them to be, and they deserve every bit of the credit they get.
So what do we as a community do with the new found recognition? We immediately compartmentalize people in to "hardcore" and "casual." It's amazing how we sometimes get in the way of our own progress.
Re: Talking Point: Learning Lessons From the Past Can Define Nintendo's NX Launch
It's interesting to read the speculation. Seems there are a few people who are on here that want this to fail, and I guess that is their prerogative. I don't think it is wise to look from Wii to Wii U and say only 10% stayed with Nintendo. The Wii sold 4 to 5 times what the GameCube sold.
Did Nintendo get some things wrong with the Wii U? Sure. Was it because the Wii U is a bad system? Definitely not. I would put there first party games up against either the Microsoft or the Sony system.
I agree with most that they need to do better with the online structure. They need to make it easier to find friends. Voice chat is needed.
I'm not convinced though that Nintendo has to go for the "hardcore" gamer. To say that the NX will be a better system because it has the latest version of Assassin's Creed seems short sighted.
I love Nintendo. I appreciate the simple fact that they do think about families. I think if anything they need to invest a little more into their marketing efforts. I think that has been a contributor to the perceived failure that the Wii U has endured.
Re: Nintendo Life Weekly: Super Smash Bros. Rumoured as NX Launch Title, Shovel Knight amiibo Embarrassment & More
Actually, i don't think you can look at the Wii to Wii U sales numbers and determine how many will buy the NX. I'd hold off on being a Doomsday Advocate until they announce what this is.
If it has a portable aspect to it, then why not use the portable numbers. That said what if it can pull competition from mobile. I just think it is way to early to speculate.
Re: Nintendo Life Weekly: Super Smash Bros. Rumoured as NX Launch Title, Shovel Knight amiibo Embarrassment & More
I think the Smash NX is a definitive version of the Wii U, and that's okay. It gives them one more launch title. Sony did the same thing with the Last of Us, and I think Microsoft did It with Tomb Raider. I'm sure the Zelda will release for NX along side the U version. That's two games at launch that they didn't have to spend a whole lot of extra time on.
Maybe that should free them up to get up a few good original titles. I'm saying a Mario 3D is in there. Maybe they can surprise us then with a Metroid, Animal Crossing. Kirby, etc. That give us four or five first party launch titles.
Maybe we could get the new Dragon Quest from, Square. Yacht Club could give the complete Shovel Knight with the last round of DLC. Bandai could give us a title. Sega could give us the Sonic title, and Maybe they could find one or two more third party games to come out for it at launch. COD, Infinity, and Skylanders.
Re: Poll: Which Nintendo Franchises Do You Most Want to See With the NX Launch?
@Mr_Action I love the Animal Crossing idea. A Day One with the launch may pull a few people in who might not normally get the game. I know I would. Great idea!
If they were to launch the next generation of Pokemon on Day One, they'd sell out of as many pieces of hardware as they could make especially if this is the hybrid system that everyone seems to think it is.
Those two games and a Mario should leave enough room for third parties to get their stuff in there.
Of course, this is my third different scenario so I'm probably not someone to be listening to.