koffing

I hope that the inevitable Switch successor (1) iterates and refines the existing Switch (2) finds a way to interact with more toys/be more of a toy. Nintendo clearly still wants to make weird hardware and I am all for it.

One of the neatest games from this generation was Labo, and I still think there is a lot of untapped potential in the detachable controller concept.

So Nintendo, please bring me back to the early 2000s with DDR dance pads, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Samba de Amigo drums, lightguns, virtual pets, bluetooth wearables, Streetpass, etc. Just keep the base system simple and then make the accessories weird.

Golden Sun
Chrono Trigger
Skies of Arcadia

And I want Guitar Hero and DDR!

They should be concerned. They are successful and the competition is fierce.

1. The Switch form factor was successful and is being emulated by Steam Deck and others.
2. They can’t compete on power. Mobile devices that are common cost way more $600-800 than they can charge for a gaming only device.
3. Other hardware platforms like Playdate and VR devices are emerging.
4. Other gaming cost models like Netflix and of course MS Game Pass are emerging.

Gaming is an over saturated market and it will be harder to differentiate their product and compete. They can’t do it just on gimmicks (gyroscope, waggle, 3d screens).

This round I bought a ton of Nintendo hardware but next round I would probably get just one Nintendo system and then a Steam Deck. For me that means functional controllers and cheaper games with free cloud saves that persist for generations. For Nintendo it means lost revenue. I recognize, that even in my situation they still make money. Maybe people like me are a small percent of the market. But it’s enough to worry. The real news would be if they were unconcerned.

Always will regret not getting this for my Dreamcast. Would love an updated version. My preference would to stay away from doing a remake a la FF7 and just add some QoL and accessibility improvements and resolution and texture updates,

I kinda wish instead of removing Ash they would pull a Doctor Who and have different variations of an Ash. I just don’t see how Ash was a limiting factor for whatever their artistic vision or business goals may be. But whatevs. Disney swore they would never do hand drawn animation again. I doubt this is really the last we will hear from Ash Ketchum.

I will buy digital because it’s the only option. And then, if enough people do that fangamer or someone will do a limited release physical and I will buy that.

New Title: “Nintendo execs contemplate raising cost of aging Switch hardware to pad investor pockets.”

Subtitle: Company won’t yet but is “monitoring the market” to see if they can get away with it.

@Ralizah yes! Nintendo just didn’t want to invest money to continue developing it but it has so much potential. A little painful to see Disney’s take on it.

Sigh. Nintendo Selects. Where are you?

I would never buy a Pokemon game at launch because the company rushes their products or makes too many. I don’t see why NintendoLife or anyone would expect in a couple of weeks performance is going to significantly improve if they are demoing it as-is to the press. Maybe I am too cynical here but imo this is just about getting the worst of the negative reaction out of the way before launch so the reviews will say “sadly, the performance issues while mildly improved are still present” rather than a complete take down.

We already have a Zelda cartoon and need no other!

Terrible marketing for an anniversary. But then again Zelda 35 was pretty bad.

Having spent 300 hours in P5R (ps5) and 150 on P4G (pc) I am still excited. Probably picking up the Switch versions — Steam is the only competitor. These games should run amazing on all platforms & portable is probably the best way to play. I wish there were save transfer options, but… these are amazing games. I look forward to finally having a way to play P3.

To those asking about order, I am going in reverse and so far it hasn’t been an issue. In some sense the brevity of P4G is a relief. And I found I like its dungeons more than p5. All have great stories. P5 is the snazziest.

Where is the everywhere option?

Getting it Day 1. Thanks for the review!

@Fabraz If the games uses dynamic resolution scaling then no one has to do anything.

Ignoring cost & supply chain issues, the Switch is on a 16-20nm manufacturing process, whereas new mobile chips are 3-8nm. Moore’s Law isn’t dead. That’s potentially a massive power savings. Add in newer hardware-supported software techniques like DLSS/FSR 2 and new Switch could be a real thing. I am doubtful though given the pandemic that anything is actually happening next year. My bet is 2024-2025. There is no market incentive to rush it.

What do you want to see from the Splatoon 3 Direct? Yes. All of the above.

Just don’t whiff this game please Nintendo.

Oh! And I really want a multiplayer family pass. Some way to buy multiple copies that is discounted in some meaningful way.

“So, should we be worried? Well, no, not really.”

Better a hardware revision to make it cheaper to manufacture than raise the price.

I agree with Arlo that at this point there is usually info or there really is nothing else there. I am expecting Splatoon 3 to be mediocre and a 6-7 out of 10. I loved 2 and I have 3 copies so I hope I am wrong.

I hope they are good ports with physical versions. Might have to buy Steam, PS, and Switch versions. Atlus take my money.

I didn’t like it initially but it grew on me and was a joy to play.

I think I didn’t like it because Zelda was Nintendo’s more grown up series and it wasn’t clear to me where Nintendo was heading. Were they just going to target children?

In retrospect, many of the games from that time were just brown and blurry and all looked the same.

Any journalists ask Nintendo of America or Europe for comment?

Nintendo is not smart. They attack their most loyal fans. They should cultivate their fanbase. They could learn some lessons from other companies that do that like LEGO but they are too busy doing whatever the hell they want to do.

Reminder to people who say it already came out on previous consoles so Nintendo shouldn’t release it:

(1) There are many many tens of millions of people who did not get a Wii U. Many because they were not BORN yet.
(2) https://xkcd.com/1053/
(3) The Switch is portable.

Golly, I would love the Switch to have more Zelda games. I want all of them. Let’s get the GB/DS Zelda games too while we are at it.

To be successful Nintendo needs to release good games.

To be competitive Nintendo needs to address the Steam Deck and GamePass which will be iterating over the few years and be even more polished.

It’s Reggie’s book so I am a little skeptical, but it does sound like classic Nintendo. “We have been doing bundles since the mid 80s with ROB but we also have never been doing bundles and how dare you suggest it!” Like they never raised the price of the Wii to include software development costs… yeah right.

Better headline: “Another gaming CEO shows they don’t understand blockchain”

To sell an Animal Crossing island you would need an (1) in-game implementation that supported that and (2) a storefront that allowed players to buy and sell existing save files. That’s it. You don’t need a public, distributed, and irreversible accounting system that has a ton of overhead (electricity and transaction costs).

And I am about to send more in! Get ready Nintendo!

@thiob Hoa is sad and depressing.

My 5 year old loves Goose Game, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Yoshi, and Stardew Valley. I think those have been some of the better games for them to play on their own.

We also play Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, Labo, Ring Fit, Splatoon, Cruisin Blast, Minecraft, A Short Hike, Pokemon Snap, Luigi’s Mansion, and Kirby. Many of those require more supervision and support.

Maybe? I spent hundreds on Splatoon 2 for the family. I am interested in 3, but I am hoping for things they haven’t addressed. More stable servers/better match resolutions, longer support window for Splatfests, and making Grizzco coop a first tier experience. I would also love them to pilot a discounted family digital pass.

The Legend of Zelda: The Zelda of Legend (saw it on Twitter and rotfl)

@Dogorilla I don’t think order matters. They are almost two separate series. I love CT with all my heart. It’s fantastic. I have weird nostalgia for CC, especially the music, but will never replay it.

I am amazed how small the list is. Switch really has most of the Wii U content. I’d like to see Paper Mario 1000 year door in HD and the Zelda HD remakes. But it seems like Nintendo really needs to focus in producing new games for the Switch. Nintendo has been producing very few games since Covid started. I don’t blame them for that, but it means 3 years with a small number of games and updates and there is a lot of competition.

@NintendoWife I think I struggle with it because (1) I wonder about the translation quality (2) if it bleeds it ledes. Does this comment actually signal a change in strategy? i mean what are the major titles coming out this year? splatoon 3. Advance Wars. Botw 2. Actions speak more than words.

I swear this whole article just baits me. I don’t know what evergreen means and I am not sure Nintendo does either.

One big question I have is: how does Nintendo’s production compare to the past? I really thought we’d see 1-2 Nintendo made games per month but it seems like we are getting fewer games than ever.

The trailer was clearly made for existing Splatoon 2 coop players. Which is weird given how little support that mode got. It was always treated as inferior to the other modes. I found the trailer fun — I am the target audience —but their marketing dept needs to get it together. The question they need to address — cause I agree with others here — is what about this makes it an all new game? I have to buy 3 copies and I already bought 3 of Splatoon 2. So for me it’s why should I pay $150-180 for this. My big questions are Is coop getting treated as a peer with competitive modes so there aren’t regular sustained times when you cannot play as happens for Splatoon 2? Are the monthly Splatfest events going to end after a year? What’s the full package look like? In 3 minutes Nintendo did a better job of explaining the value of the Mario Kart DLC. The Splatoon team has time till launch (June 21 I hope) but they need better answers.

@jayronc spot on. They need a family sharing option AND to eliminate their stupid online only time checks for digital content. Even when I have a cartridge with free DLC it wants to check every few hours or kick me off which sucks when flying — the exact time I want my kids occupied.

I need to buy 3 copies of Splatoon 3 this year. It would be nice if Nintendo let me buy a family pass or something. Just sayin’ …

Played on gamepass and it was a great visual novel.

If this game was $20-40 I would be more interested. I am having cognitive dissonance with such positive reviews with such shoddy visuals. I grew up with 8 and 16bit games and I get that even ugly games can be fun. But in 2022 I can have both fun and beautiful. How does this game have a better metacritic score than Kena? I think reviewers are grading on a curve.

I look forward to a new story mode.

I look forward to Splatfests and I hope they can use modern cloud infrastructure for this game and just keep iterating on the game. I don’t think it should have Battle Passes, but I would like to see Nintendo experiment with long term development for something. Honestly if in mid 2020 they had rolled out $5/month for regular significant Animal Crossing updates they would have a lot more money and players right now. Splatoon 2 got axed way too soon. It should be selling for <$30 including DLC given that it is 4 years old and Splatfests are over.

Also, I think it’s unlikely but I will hope for a first class coop mode(s). Salmon Run is my favorite. I like playing with, not against people unless I know them or the balancing is really tight. Grizzco weapons all the way.

@GrailUK Bugsnax is basically an open world Pokemon game only replacing Pokemon with food animal creatures and add puzzles and more story.

I mean the entire Nintendo back-catalog and things that might make the Switch more competitive with Steam Deck.

More Trails games (eg Trails of Cold Steel 1&2), The Wild at Heart, Paper Mario Thousand Year Door, Zelda Gamecube and DS titles, Golden Sun,

@themightyant haha! I would but Nintendo’s lawyers would eat us alive. I am almost amazed they haven’t taken down fan and pro gaming sites for having the audacity to discuss Nintendo products and franchises. They really need to go study with the Lego company for how to have a healthy relationship with your fanbase.

@themightyant hah, that’s what I want. A full size functioning LoZ chest with sound. I could keep all my game stuff there and it would be a joy to open.

I think the “win the war” framing is getting kinda long in the tooth in 2021. Gaming monies are everywhere. Nintendo is still selling Mario Kart 8 like gangbusters.

So for 2001, maybe FFX? I don’t know though, in terms of art direction I was totally blown away flying through Bespin with volumetric fog and the high poly counts. It was stunning.

Switch only needs a constant release of good first party titles. That’s it. What’s weird to me is despite having fewer systems we don’t seem to be getting that many more games.

if they had made a $5/mo subscription service in mid 2020 and kept updates flowing my family would probably all still be there. But, we out. Onto other games. AC you were fun and helped me with the pandemic.