micronean

@Gumbo1995 Actually, it's not a new idea. Like I mentioned, the idea of a driving video game where the cars are tiny and run on courses made up of everyday objects is not new. They did this on the NES. But that's not what I'm arguing about. When I mean by 'no new ideas' is that the programmers aren't thinking up of tracks or themes from their own imaginations (they're leaving that task to the public). But, as mentioned in other posts, this isn't a "real" mariokart. Which makes me relieved. It's a nice R/C + video game blend. It'll probably get old really quick for anyone who is older than 10 yrs old, who have parents that don't want clutter all over the floor of their house. I hope it's possible to take the whole thing outside and make courses out in the backyard, or neighbourhood, etc. that would be more interesting.

I really hope this isn't going to be switch's "real" mariokart...it looks utterly ridiculous! It's definitely not for me, as I've got a tiny apartment and barely any space to do fancy tracks--never mind start putting cardboard gates and junk all over the floor! Also, how portable is this game going to be when you need to have an R/C car running around to play it? it's an interesting idea, a modern take on the "micro machines" racing game on the NES, but I really hope this is not the real mariokart. If it is, then Mariokart has officially jumped the shark; they got no new ideas...

1990.
Actually, the years 88-91. I know many readers weren't alive during this time, but the overall buzz in pop culture about Nintendo was something impressive. There were clothes, toys, cartoons, there was even a mario-themed Kraft Dinner and Nintendo cereal. There were pinball games, posters, Nintendo Power. Absolutely everything was nintendo, and they even made a movie in the midst of the hype. The stores had entire sections just for nintendo stuff, demos, it was incredible; a child's wonderland. And its siginficance was that it was the 1st time it happened. All the upturns in Nintendo's success that happened in the future--and in terms of overall numbers, probably greater than 1990--came as an already established brand. those 88-91 years were the ones that turned Nintendo into a worldwide behemoth.

There is no game on this list that justifies buying a Virtual Boy--at least not when it came out. I remember it cost about $200 for a system that wasn't much better or portable than a SNES. It made so much more sense to buy the $100 Yoshi's Island cartridge than a $200 virtual boy. Also, it looked bad that all-around that Nintendo was coming out with this system as their response to the Sony Playstation. At school, when we talked about the new videogames it felt pathetic to bring up the new virtual boy when talking about the new Playstation. I think that timing also soured the value of the Virtual Boy.

The WiiU had a lot of potential at the beginning, but i think it fell apart because: (1) it didn't differentiate itself enough from the Wii at launch. Had it come out with a totally different game--not mario bros. that looked like the wii version--maybe that would've helped. (2) the 3rd party launch games did not sell well enough to keep them on board with Nintendo. (3) the lengthy dry spells between releases made Nintendo look like they didn't know what they were doing with the Wii U.

But it was those first 9 months after launch that killed the Wii U.

I have it on Wii U. Good game, if you haven't picked it up. I like that it will come with more rumble patterns. The game had quite a bit of rumble.

Don't be fooled.

If the 3ds were progressing strongly into the future, they'd be ADDING bells and whistles, not REMOVING them.

removing features is always a telltale sign of decline in video games.

I just want all the VC games I have to carry over to the new system

I think this inventor didn't read his history books--particularly the chapter on Sega's 32X.

Nobody buys hardware add-ons, and not on a system that starts getting two or three years old. Heck, there were people who didn't buy a Wii U because they thought it was just an enhanced Wii.

It's too late for minecraft. It only has 6 months before the software and the Wii U get forgotten for the NX.

I don't like how gamestop is also joining in the hoarding/scalping game...
...hucksters.

Europe, you're really not missing much. TVii is little more than a channel listings guide on the gamepad. And it's kind of laggy.

I find it weird that you can get such high value/demand with this stuff, yet the Wii U collects dust on the shelves. I wonder why Nintendo doesn't market with more special editions.

If they bring the toys then they have to bring the game. Merchandizing is all about the tie-ins.

Sports games are as old as gaming itself, since the 70s up until today. It's the competitive element that keeps them popular. Multiplayer at its most classic.

@ikki5 most collective human behaviour is in danger of collapsing on itself. It is our natural contradictory behavior. It's why we need variety, or a variety of systems. Capitalism isn't something bad to have. What's bad is the thirst for money and power that turns some of us greedy. It's what makes executives knowingly release broken games to the public before they are ready. I wish there was a stronger system of values to make us responsible for others, and to be more open to variety, so it can keep us from going too extreme in any direction, be it capitalism or socialism.

I really hope the lack of figures is because Nintendo doesn't want to overwork their chinese production plant.

I'll have no problem with rez unless the aspect ratio is also 4:3 (640x480). Then definitely not.

It seems that if Nintendo wants its games to sell in the UK, they need to get them licensed by FIFA.

Nintendo should wait until a $199.99 price point is viable. Hopefully for late 2015.

My guess is the Wii U version will be ready about 6 months after the x86 versions.

Smash Bros. will fix the problem in Japan. But it's a band-aid solution, really. Home consoles are simply not popular. People (in Japan) seem to be satisfied enough with what they have in the last gen, because PS4 software isn't moving either, and xbox one is D.O.A.

I don't believe them.
It's not like it's Namco's first game. They know that October/November is the busiest time for releases, and when the highest profile games come out. And it sure never kept them from releasing "Ridge Racer" at this time of year either. The game is simply unfinished--and far from finished. And since the PS4 takes priority, the Wii U version may not even see a 2015 release. From now, if they say a 2015 release for the Wii U, I will have to consider it released on December 31st 2015 at the earliest.

Bayonetta 2 may not have done well, but I couldn't expect different. In Japan, video game fans don't usually go for mature games. Mature titles are well below their demands for RPGs and Anime-based rhythm games. Also, "M" rated games (and I don't know exactly how Bayonetta 2 is rated in Japan) are not placed in the front shelves of Japanese retailers. They are usually at the back, locked up, near the cashier. Most game shops' front floor space is dedicated to the 3ds and PSVita games/accessories, then there's a smaller section for promoted home console hardware (usually Sony). I expect Bayonetta 2 not to be anywhere the front floor space, and therefore far away from any casual fan who would even give it a try.

In North America, this is not a problem. The more violent a game, the more shelf-space it gets. I can definitely see Bayonetta 2 get more success outside Japan.

I care more about the tracks than I do about the cars or characters. I think there's already enough variations of cars/characters in the game for me to learn.

Nintendo doesn't even do the Tokyo Game Show!! Toronto's fan expo would be even farther from their radar.

It doesn't matter what Ubisoft says anymore. They are dead to Nintendo, they are dead to me.

I had a great time playing it in 1990. I remember the helicopter level when I learned you could get sucked out whenever the door opened. I had a blast drawing all the enemies to the door and seeing them get sucked out. Those are the little details that make a game memorable.

I'm just glad RETRO is getting busy with another game. The timing makes it look like it will be ready in late 2016 (if it's a new game, 2015 if it's a remaster) though, so, more likely Wii U??

@8BitSamurai
Back in the NES days, a player was considered "baddonkey" when he could get through those platforms without losing a life. The way the buttons and the platforms were designed, it was next to impossible for the average joe to have the dexterity and reflexes to do it. It took a lot of dedication, and thus, those that could do it were looked upon with great admiration. That part of gaming has since gone away, or at least shifted to other aspects of gameplay, which may be why traditional platformers don't seem to be so popular in the overall world of gaming.

@River3636
It's called CONTEXT, little grasshopper.

PS: another platformer game that came out around the same time--and everyone seems to like--is Ducktales. The platforming aspect is 100x more difficult than Double Dragon 2. in the NES you had to press A + B + down at the same time, and then direct scrooge to the left and right as well. You had to press 4 buttons at the same time and still get to the next platform!!

Reviewers don't seem to complain about that, or that it's just as short a game as a DD II.

I don't think it deserves a 4/10. The jump mechanic of pressing A and B at the same time is what makes it challenging, not frustrating. This is the type of challenge that makes the "old school" gamers look down at the new gamers--and I'm including the NL reviewer for complaining--because every NES player could do it. Back in the day, platformers were popular BECAUSE it was challenging to get to the next platform. The music in this game is not as complex as other later NES games like Kirby, but the composition is top-notch! Those games that came out in 1989-1990 had great composers who really did masterpieces with the limitations of the sound (The first Ninja Turtles also comes to mind). Of course, games have evolved considerably from 1990 and DD II feels very primitive now in every aspect (except the music). There are more complex/robust games that had since replaced it. It's pretty easy for anyone nowadays to get to the 3/4 mark of the game in 20 minutes, but it's a very enjoyable way to spend them and I think it's perfect for 5 bucks. Remember: this game is $5!! kinda harsh 4 out of 10 for a game that costs so cheap.

If by now they are still not showing Wii U screenshots, then either a: development is disappointingly early, delayed, or non-existent. or B: the release window is really far into 2015.

It doesn't really seem like a 'console war'. It looks more like a bunch of guys having a personal grudge on another bunch of guys. The names Nintendo and Sega being coincidental.

Anyway, without the real tragic hero of this game (The late Dana Plato) this game will never garner the interest to get off the ground.

Great trailer, and totally Nintendo. I wonder though, what would happen to their software if they suddenly went to a more realistic color palette. or if PS4 games suddenly went to a colourful, animated, colour palette? I think they'd be the same thing.

...and suddenly kids will ask their parents for more "bus pass" money...

Very happy for DD II. I'll be picking that one up. I'm not sure about Life Force. I know the sound/music is great--and it's also 2 player--but I've moved on from space shooters.

Damn. I only have PASMO

All their base are belong to me

The most ironic thing about this situation is that most video game systems are being sold in the markets where derivative shooters thrive. So whatever Yoshida says (and I agree with him, mind you) about shooters is counter to Sony's business plan. The Japanese are not stepping up to save home consoles in their home market.

Just Dance doesn't count.

But also, I wonder if this guy is also worried about the sales of the other platforms. None of them are really performing to their maximum, both on software or hardware.

I never had a Wii. I went from PS3 to Nintendo.

seems very promising. I hope it adds new (very much needed) life to the shooter genre.

I have the GBA game. It's a solid title...at least for what it is (a 4-game compilation with very set limits and boundaries).

Perhaps the problem is that the gamepad is being forced to fit into the established conventions of the software, rather than creating new concepts to fit into the gamepad.

Personally, this is the perfect time to go on a completely radical tangent instead of making the gamepad fit into a "controller's world".

This is a great game. One of my favourite games ever! Too bad it's not on the Wii U (especially since DD 1 is in the Wii U eshop).

People shouldn't worry. One hour later, it will be available on ebay.

The SNES Version of mortal kombat was better. It's just that it didn't have blood or gory finishers. Though, it can be argued that was 90% of the first game anyway.

Whatever the case, it really bugs me that all these decisions are based only on politics.

in 1992, Donkey Kong jr. made more sense because the original Donkey Kong game was so far from kids' consciousness (i.e. no internet to refresh everyone's memory). After Rare's DKC in 1994, all of that changed and that's what we have now.