It's neat but it would cost more to make one of these than the NES Mini costs to buy. It'd also cost more for Nintendo to make one of these especially if they're charging for the ROMS. So it's not really "putting it to shame".
@Azooooz Well the Camera bit I wouldn't worry about. You don't have to use the camera and truth be told the game works better without it. And for the other stuff? It's nothing Google and Facebook don't do already. And those sites know who you are! Not to mention your service provider who has always known where your phone is and literally has your ID. Really, it's no less of an issue than your mobile phone already was.
"So Pokemon Go is a big hit. The people writing news about Nintendo stuff are literally walking around parks reporting on Pokemon Go. You know what? Now that everyone is looking somewhere else we should announce another thing. Not sure if it's the best way to announce things but.... it'll be fun to watch the chaos"
It has been interesting watching the change in tone from the news. On the first night they covered it here they treated it as if it was almost a gaming convention or something. With the added benefit of getting people walking. So very positive.
But they've got to the point now where they're trying to find some kind of hidden danger. Last night it was the risk of billshock if your kid buys all the coins and plays for hours on end chewing up your data. Before that it was trespassing and not looking where you're going
@gatorboi352 I know you're saying that Pokemon Go is somehow proof that their traditional games could work on mobile. That's the only point I'm disagreeing with. I think you're being way to quick to jump to that conclusion.
A free-to-play, mobile friendly game with Nintendo IP has done well. This is good news for Nintendo's mobile strategy. But I don't think it means the end of their largely single player focused, more technical, full retail products. If anything giving their IP greater exposure on mobile will probably help their other product tiers. As I said earlier, it's not a zero-sum game.
@gatorboi352
Pokemon Go is great but it's not the same game you'd get on the 3DS. Very different than the GBA/DS dynamic where the DS had all of the same content and some. They've been saying that was the plan and now we see the first example of how that can work.
If Sun & Moon flop? Then you can jump around saying you were right. But until then there is no proof this will kill the 3DS. And if you ask me I think it'll help Sun & Moon. This is free advertising for Pokemon
@Kirk
There's a reason why Nintendo announced the NX at the same time as the DeNA partnership. There's a reason why Nintendo has made a point of saying that they're not going to damage their other business by simply porting games over to mobile. Nintendo's business is not a zero-sum-game.
So don't let people like @gatorboi352 and other keyboard warriors get you worried. Because Pokemon Go is not the new Pokemon. Pokemon Sun & Moon are still coming out, Zelda is still coming out, the NX is still coming out. Shareholders don't want Nintendo to crash through, they want Nintendo to make money by being all things to all people. Killing their profitable venture in full retail experiences to go chasing the mobile game lottery would be suicide. Being part of the mobile game lottery while still getting people hyped about grass in Zelda? Now that's a different story.
@Henmii @Kirk
Well, as much as the @gatorboi352's of the world seem to be convinced otherwise. I don't think this has changed much of anything. The sky is not falling we just now know how strong Nintendo's IP can be on mobile. But if everyone is so convinced it has then maybe we should just wait and see.
@gatorboi352
The game is always online and GPS heavy, two things the 3DS literally doesn't have. So you're not really saying something profound here. Nintendo has never bothered trying to add those sorts of features to their portables. Which is sensible given that most people only want to pay for one mobile plan. Even the iPad, the WiFi only SKU outsells the mobile one by something like 5:1.
At the same time I doubt that a lengthy single-player focused game that costs $40US would have done well on mobile. I doubt it would have moved over 10mill units. Mostly because those sort of experiences aren't fit for mobile. Also because that price wouldn't work on mobile.
Of the top 50 best selling mobile apps on Google Play in my region? Only one is above $10AU (it's a boating app). If you scroll through the top grossing apps? There's only one app in the top 300 that's not free. So no, Pokemon Go couldn't have worked on the 3DS. But Pokemon Sun/Moon wouldn't work on mobile.
@gatorboi352
I understand your point I just don't agree. Pokemon Go is nothing like the other games in the series. It's a well thought out spin-off that's going to generate on-going revenue from micro-transactions. With friends gathering around a Pokestop dropping a few dollars to get a lure.
If you think that means something for the main series games? A game series that has consistently sold >10mill units for each main release. Full retail games that are built around long solo play sessions at home rather than quick glances while on a walk. Well you can think that. But I think you're making a huge leap. It'd be like saying that Blizzard should put the next Starcraft on mobile because Hearthstone has done well....
@gatorboi352
But they're not the same thing. In the case of Pokemon in particular the 3DS games are story driven RPGs with a fairly large competitive scene. Pokemon Go on the other hand is a GPS based AR game where three teams walk around trying to win control points. It's two entirely different ways to consume the same IP. I expect the same to be true when they do the Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games.
As for your second point. You are correct to say that Nintendo and their shareholders want to make money. That goes without saying. But how does picking one cash cow over a second cash cow do that? Surely the goal is to have two cash cows that feed into each other. Smart companies do multiple things so that if one thing fails they have a fallback. So again, why does it have to be one or the other?
@gatorboi352
Nonsense. I don't see this destroying Pokemon sales because it's an entirely different thing. I also don't see this as the end of Nintendo's portables for the same reasons. Why do people have to assume that it's one or the other?
The way I see it this is closer to one of those movie series that was built around a popular series of books. People who were into the book series go and watch the movie just to see what it's all about. And people who liked the movie go back and read the books to see what happens next. When the Hunger Games movie was a hit the books sales skyrocketed, they didn't crash.
Nintendo is trying to do the same thing here with mobile. Across a wide range of their IP. Which is why these games are not the same thing as the traditional games at all. They're entirely different experiences that leverage Nintendo's IP. You think this is the end of portables? I think this is a great advertisement for their IP that happens to generate a bit of extra revenue.
@kobashi100 Tablets were basically just a bunch of failed experiments before the iPad. The iPad launched in 2010. The Wii U launched in late 2012 but was announced in early 2011 with rumours starting in 2010. So I think it's not a stretch to say that these comments could have easily been made before the success of the iPad was fully known.
@MetaSmasher I think it's amusing that people have for a long time made a song and dance about Nintendo not doing enough marketing. But then they come out and say they want to expose more people to their IP and the response is "well that won't work, everyone already knows what Nintendo does"......
@Minotaurgamer I think you've got it backwards. Them wanting to get more people to play games is shorter term. They expanded the market with the Wii and DS but those people didn't come for Nintendo's IP. Are they still gamers? Yeah, probably. But not necessarily on Nintendo's platforms.
If they instead try to get people exposed to Nintendo's IP? Well I doubt it's going to get people running through the gates like the Wii and DS did. But on the other hand you can't get Zelda, Mario, Pikmin, Pokemon or Metroid anywhere else. So it's a long term plan.
@Dezzy
Markets don't like uncertainty, the fact that there wasn't an immediately clear result would have shaken things. The fact that the result was to leave has shaken things even more because now there's even less certainty.
I'll put it this way. Lets imagine that today Nintendo said they were going to make an announcement regarding hardware next month. Lets also imagine that you had planned to buy a New 3DS tomorrow. Would you still buy the New 3DS? Or would you wait and see what their announcement was first? Ask that of 1000 people in that position and I reckon quite a number would choose to wait.
That's basically what stock markets do. They approach uncertainty with caution. It's not necessarily a reflection on whether the expected result is good or bad. It's just a reflection of the fact that they don't know what's going to happen.
It's expensive and it's an isolating experience. Two things that Nintendo are traditionally not particularly keen on. So it doesn't at all surprise me that Nintendo aren't interested. Yet.
Not all of the floor space at E3 is "public" space. A lot of stuff happens at E3 behind closed doors. Meetings and discussions that are off the record and so on. For all we know the NX could be at E3 but as a back room, no cameras and probably NDA-protected demo. Just as a thing to try and win over indies, third parties, retailers and so on.
Asking people to vote for the most useless is flawed. Obviously popular starters will tend to get more votes Which kinda goes against what the poll is trying to do.
A better poll would also ask the same people which is the best or most useful starter. Then rank them based on the difference between the two results.
@Lizuka If it was to happen in any of the ways people are suggesting I don't think it'd be doom for either tier. Especially if it's more a case of significant overlap with content rather than identical libraries.
Just stand back for a second and look at what has already happened. The Wii U and 3DS both have Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, New SMB, Hyrule Warriors. The DS and Wii both had Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and New SMB. Even the ones that are different didn't really have to be. Nintendo is effectively wasting development time by having to develop these games twice.
Why are "united platform" and "separate devices" two different options? iPhone, iPad and Apple TV are a "united platform" but they're physically different products.
I have thought for a long while that they will still have separate home console and portable products. With different specs and all of that. But that they will build development tools such that they can more easily develop for both in parallel. And from our end it'll look exactly like what they did with Smash Bros
"You know that Nintendo will bring their amazing games and franchises in a big way, and if they can get decent third-party support rolling then the games will be there as well. Things can change quickly"
I hope @Project_Dolphin actually read this article....
@Popful @Sean_Aaron The thing about review aggregates is that all of that noise is filtered out. That's the entire point. The more reviews you have the less impact "trolls" will have on the score. Ontop of that the best review aggregate algorithms will weigh reviewers based on various factors. Metacritic does it based on how big the publication is. I know some user-review sites that do similar things like discount ratings from people who only ever give 5 or 1 stars. Or ignore ratings from in-active accounts, new accounts and accounts with less than a certain number of reviews.
It's not a perfect system by any means and there's no accounting for taste. There are all sorts of biases at play. But as a quick measure of whether or not something is good? It's not bad.
As long as it's not for product reviews. Product reviews are pretty useless given that most people don't review a product unless it's fantastic or broken. People review music, movies and games across the board. It's not the same for headphones and toasters.
I'm not sure if this says something about Nintendo or E3. I mean sure it's easy to say "oh noes, Nintendo has nothing to show!" but the NX is a thing. If they don't have any content to show then forget the "Wii U is doomed", the 3DS and NX are also doomed if that's the case.
But what if, just maybe, E3 doesn't mean the same thing it used to. Maybe Nintendo want to take their "Nintendo Direct" approach even further. It's not like they're the only company scaling back their presence at E3. Face it guys, E3 isn't what it used to be.
@-DEMISE- Ok, lets just agree to that then. In the context of mid-generation upgrades the New 3DS is a significant upgrade. Outside of that context? It's a 3DS with less bottlenecks.
@CHET_SWINGLINE
Nothing they said I've disagreed with. As others have said it's more of a DSi or GBC level upgrade and the article you linked to says the same. It's not nothing but certainly not significant compared to a "real" upgrade. If they want to call it "significant" they can, I just don't agree with them.
The jump from the GB to the GBA was like going from the NES to the SNES. The jump from the GB to the GBC was pretty trivial by comparison. Ignoring the obvious improvements to the screen. Look at the port of DKC on the GBC, it's looks a lot more like DKL than it does the DKC port on the GBA. It's the same deal with the New 3DS.
@CHET_SWINGLINE I wasn't "offended" by what you said I was just laying out the facts. You were the one who got all worked up when the article said the New 3DS was a "mildly upgraded" 3DS. Which it is.
2x the system RAM, 60% more VRAM and a quad core 268Mhz arm chip rather than a dual core one. Same GPU, same screen resolution, same everything else. So I think the article is right to call it a "mild" upgrade.
The framerate is pretty horrible by the looks of it. I hate to think about how much lag this would introduce. Really, this is neat but only as a novelty, not as something you'd want. Maybe their next portable will have significantly improved wireless and maybe then we can talk about this being an official thing.
@CHET_SWINGLINE Umm, no. The New 3DS isn't "4x" more powerful than the original. It just has twice the number of CPU cores which removes the CPU as a bottleneck for some titles. For a lot of other titles it's still the GPU that's holding it back which they didn't upgrade.
I'm not at all a pro player by any stretch of the imagination. I do like playing as Bayonetta though. The way I see it she's kinda of like a more agile version of Little Mac. Powerful and quick but hard to control. The difference is that Little Mac is easy to predict and useless in the air. Two areas where Bayonetta is pretty fantastic.
Again, I don't play competitively so I don't care. But they've been pretty good with releasing patches and balancing the game. If she is an issue? She'll get nerfed.
@Pahvi
That's basically what this is, it's just a more compact version of it. Google uses a similar sort of thing to create the images for Google Street View. It's not a new idea but obviously Nintendo are trying to patent a few ideas around how it could be used for games.
@TheRealThanos
I'm pretty damn sure they weren't using the smartphone camera. The camera is in the device itself. The smartphone was just there as an example of a "device" that could display what was being captured. And it was just an example of how it could be used not a description of what it was.
Explaining the idea itself a bit more. If you had two of these in different locations plus the custom curved display? You could effectively make a 360 degree video call. It's actually a pretty neat concept when you think about it.
@TheRealThanos They show a list of different use cases. The first image above is them showing how it could be used with a custom flexible display. The second shows the render being displayed through a more standard device. The third shows the sort of usable range the device would have.
If you click the link they also have an example that shows someone controlling a game by interacting with something printed on some paper. There's another one showing someone using a physical steering wheel that the device would then detect.
This has nothing to do with Amiibo from what I can tell. To me it looks like a kind of portable Lidar (google it). Basically what they're talking about is a 360 degree version of the Kinect. Pretty cool.... and the way they're describing it it wouldn't cos that much either.
Why are people always so surprised when Nintendo spends a lot of money on R&D? Especially when it peaks early on. They're literally in the business of R&D.
When Nintendo is spending more on R&D? It's not like the basement of Wayne Enterprises. It's literally them paying the wages of the guys who make games. People to build game engines, developer tools and so on. People creating assets for the next big AAA title they're working on. And yes there is also hardware R&D some ideas that don't make it to market. But at the end of the day it's all about making games.
So when you say "Nintendo should spend less money on R&D and more on marketing". Well. You're literally saying they should make less games and more ads.
@Olmectron I already made that point. I for one would be fine with an upgrade fee or some other cost to stop me "abusing" the system. Something like having me spend some rewards points to move my games across would be even better.
That's less than what others do. Plenty of other companies with multi-device ecosystems have your purchases carry. But I'd be fine with just an upgrade fee. I'm just not going to pay full price again for something I've already brought. I'm also less likely to buy stuff if it's going to be tied to a platform that will eventually become obsolete.
@orravan85 "Owning GTA 3 for the Xbox doesn't mean you get to download it free on the App Store for your tablet. Why should it be the same with good old Ice Climbers?"
Because Apple has no way of knowing that you brought GTA3 on the XBox. Also because a large % of your original purchase was a platform royalty paid to Microsoft. Basically you didn't pay Apple anything and they have no way of knowing you own it. With a VC game brought on one of the eShops? You paid Nintendo directly, they've got their cut. They know you've purchased it. So it's not at all like your example.
If anything cross-buy on the VC is closer to backwards compatibility. Infact it's almost identical to how backwards compatibility works on the XBOne. Do you think people would have not made a fuss if XBOne BC literally involved you having to buy the game again at full price? I didn't think so.
@orravan85 Windows, Linux and Mac are not the same. PS3, PS4 and Vita are not the same. 360 and XBOne are not the same. Need I go on? Nintendo are not in a unique position here.
And again, I'm not saying I want the game for free. I'm saying I want my purchases to mean something. I don't see why I should have to buy VC games again and again. If Nintendo would make it clear that these purchase would carry? Even if it's just a discount on the other side. Then I'd be more than happy to buy more of them. As it is I don't see the point.
The next generation will come out and anything I buy on the VC now won't be on it. Those VC games I brought will be on a shelf with my old system. There's no reason for that because now they have the infrastructure to do better.
@orravan85
How am I asking for freebies? I've already paid full price for the content.
I don't have to buy music again when I upgrade my phone. I don't have to buy a separate copies of a movie for my TV, PC and tablet. If I buy an app on my phone I can use it on my phone, tablet and even my TV. If I buy an indie game on Steam for Windows I don't have to buy it again if I want to play on Linux.
.... yet when I have Wii U VC game I paid for it's somehow different. Hell, some of them I have the cartridge for. Most of them I also owned on the Wii VC and paid the upgrade fee for Wii U VC. Some are games I've effectively paid full price for twice and a bit! In response to that? You say I'm asking for "freebies" when I say it'd be nice if the New 3DS copy was at least not full retail. What a load!
@Socar
You keep saying we're making a big deal about this. But the question is why are you so against the idea? You say that there's no reason why I should want it on both but ignore the fact that Nintendo is expecting me to pay full price for the second!
Surely cross-buy is going to only make the VC more appealing. I can say as someone who has an old-3DS the SNES VC didn't tempt me. If Nintendo had cross-buy and I could download the SNES games I've already purchased? I'd be very tempted. $270AU for a New 3DS and 5x SNES games I already have? Hard sell. $220? A bit less so and I'd probably buy a few more SNES VC games while I was at it.
@burninmylight
And TBH I'd be fine if it was just a decent discount. That's how the Wii -> Wii U transfer worked and I have "upgraded" quite a few of those. I think either way I'd end up buying more content.
@Socar
How is are the 3DS and Wii U so different from the other examples I gave? I have Steam games I can download on Windows, Linux or Mac. I've brought Blu-Rays where they've given me iTunes/Google Play codes. I've brought physical copies of music online and been emailed a digital copy so I can listen to it then and there. I pay for an app on my phone and I can download it on my tablet.
But if I buy a NES VC game on the Wii U that's also on the 3DS? I have to pay full price for the 3DS version if I want to play it there. There's literally no extra work on Nintendo's part to make the other copy available to me. Other digital stores are even doing things that allow you to create a shared family account. Nintendo won't even give me a discount on the same game on my own account.
@Socar When you buy a Blu-Ray they often give you a code for a downloadable copy. When you buy a CD they'll let you rip a copy so you can put it on your phone. If I buy a game on Steam on my desktop PC I can still play it on my laptop. If I buy an app on my phone I can play it on my tablet.
Yet if I buy Super Mario Bros for the 100th time on my 3DS? Nope, have to pay full price to play it on the Wii U. And now they have a shop that knows I own one version and not the other. A shop that will automatically download the game once I've purchased it.
I don't think it's unreasonable to say that Nintendo should catch up with cross-buy. They are literally the only company left that don't do it. And now the excuse that the stores are entirely separate is gone.
@Socar If the game exists on both platforms and they know I own it on one. Why should I have to pay full price for the second? With VC titles especially.
This is pretty great. Although it makes the lack of cross buy just that little bit more annoying. I don't look forward to scrolling through the VC and having Nintendo show me I own some games on 3DS but not Wii U.......
Of all of the things that companies have tried to claim ownership of I think this is one where it's fair enough. There aren't many things that are more "Nintendo" than the sounds of Mario. It's like the wilhelm scream or lightsaber buzz of gaming.
I hope the people argue that Nintendo needs to replace the Wii U but not the 3DS watch this. Case and point for the argument that the 3DS is starting to show its age.
People always focus on the "waggle" and they're right to say that it was just a button press. A button press that was sometimes more natural (i.e. fishing) but still a button. But the thing that was great about the WiiMote in Twilight Princess were the pointer controls.
Now the GamePad can do a better job for map and inventory. It can even do a decent replacement of the waggle controls. But it's nowhere near the pointer controls even with the gyro. Not even close.
Comments 694
Re: Video: This Raspberry Pi-Powered, 3D Printed NES Mini Puts Nintendo's Effort To Shame
It's neat but it would cost more to make one of these than the NES Mini costs to buy. It'd also cost more for Nintendo to make one of these especially if they're charging for the ROMS. So it's not really "putting it to shame".
Re: Pokémon GO Now Available In Italy, Spain and Portugal
@Azooooz
Well the Camera bit I wouldn't worry about. You don't have to use the camera and truth be told the game works better without it. And for the other stuff? It's nothing Google and Facebook don't do already. And those sites know who you are! Not to mention your service provider who has always known where your phone is and literally has your ID. Really, it's no less of an issue than your mobile phone already was.
Re: Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition Coming This November, Ships With 30 Games
Nintendo's announcement strategy meeting:
"So Pokemon Go is a big hit. The people writing news about Nintendo stuff are literally walking around parks reporting on Pokemon Go. You know what? Now that everyone is looking somewhere else we should announce another thing. Not sure if it's the best way to announce things but.... it'll be fun to watch the chaos"
Re: NSPCC Believes Pokémon GO is "Susceptible To Being Hijacked" By Those That Could Harm Young Players
It has been interesting watching the change in tone from the news. On the first night they covered it here they treated it as if it was almost a gaming convention or something. With the added benefit of getting people walking. So very positive.
But they've got to the point now where they're trying to find some kind of hidden danger. Last night it was the risk of billshock if your kid buys all the coins and plays for hours on end chewing up your data. Before that it was trespassing and not looking where you're going
Re: Pokémon GO Now Competing With Twitter In Terms Of Daily Active Users
@gatorboi352
I know you're saying that Pokemon Go is somehow proof that their traditional games could work on mobile. That's the only point I'm disagreeing with. I think you're being way to quick to jump to that conclusion.
A free-to-play, mobile friendly game with Nintendo IP has done well. This is good news for Nintendo's mobile strategy. But I don't think it means the end of their largely single player focused, more technical, full retail products. If anything giving their IP greater exposure on mobile will probably help their other product tiers. As I said earlier, it's not a zero-sum game.
Re: Pokémon GO Now Competing With Twitter In Terms Of Daily Active Users
@gatorboi352
Pokemon Go is great but it's not the same game you'd get on the 3DS. Very different than the GBA/DS dynamic where the DS had all of the same content and some. They've been saying that was the plan and now we see the first example of how that can work.
If Sun & Moon flop? Then you can jump around saying you were right. But until then there is no proof this will kill the 3DS. And if you ask me I think it'll help Sun & Moon. This is free advertising for Pokemon
Re: Pokémon GO Now Competing With Twitter In Terms Of Daily Active Users
@Kirk
There's a reason why Nintendo announced the NX at the same time as the DeNA partnership. There's a reason why Nintendo has made a point of saying that they're not going to damage their other business by simply porting games over to mobile. Nintendo's business is not a zero-sum-game.
So don't let people like @gatorboi352 and other keyboard warriors get you worried. Because Pokemon Go is not the new Pokemon. Pokemon Sun & Moon are still coming out, Zelda is still coming out, the NX is still coming out. Shareholders don't want Nintendo to crash through, they want Nintendo to make money by being all things to all people. Killing their profitable venture in full retail experiences to go chasing the mobile game lottery would be suicide. Being part of the mobile game lottery while still getting people hyped about grass in Zelda? Now that's a different story.
Re: Pokémon GO Now Competing With Twitter In Terms Of Daily Active Users
@Henmii @Kirk
Well, as much as the @gatorboi352's of the world seem to be convinced otherwise. I don't think this has changed much of anything. The sky is not falling we just now know how strong Nintendo's IP can be on mobile. But if everyone is so convinced it has then maybe we should just wait and see.
Because I think you're all forgetting something..... https://youtu.be/Kn25hijDL7c
Re: Pokémon GO Now Competing With Twitter In Terms Of Daily Active Users
@gatorboi352
The game is always online and GPS heavy, two things the 3DS literally doesn't have. So you're not really saying something profound here. Nintendo has never bothered trying to add those sorts of features to their portables. Which is sensible given that most people only want to pay for one mobile plan. Even the iPad, the WiFi only SKU outsells the mobile one by something like 5:1.
At the same time I doubt that a lengthy single-player focused game that costs $40US would have done well on mobile. I doubt it would have moved over 10mill units. Mostly because those sort of experiences aren't fit for mobile. Also because that price wouldn't work on mobile.
Of the top 50 best selling mobile apps on Google Play in my region? Only one is above $10AU (it's a boating app). If you scroll through the top grossing apps? There's only one app in the top 300 that's not free. So no, Pokemon Go couldn't have worked on the 3DS. But Pokemon Sun/Moon wouldn't work on mobile.
Re: Pokemon GO Isn't Just Leading in Downloads, It's the Top Grossing App at Launch
@gatorboi352
I understand your point I just don't agree. Pokemon Go is nothing like the other games in the series. It's a well thought out spin-off that's going to generate on-going revenue from micro-transactions. With friends gathering around a Pokestop dropping a few dollars to get a lure.
If you think that means something for the main series games? A game series that has consistently sold >10mill units for each main release. Full retail games that are built around long solo play sessions at home rather than quick glances while on a walk. Well you can think that. But I think you're making a huge leap. It'd be like saying that Blizzard should put the next Starcraft on mobile because Hearthstone has done well....
Re: Pokemon GO Isn't Just Leading in Downloads, It's the Top Grossing App at Launch
@gatorboi352
But they're not the same thing. In the case of Pokemon in particular the 3DS games are story driven RPGs with a fairly large competitive scene. Pokemon Go on the other hand is a GPS based AR game where three teams walk around trying to win control points. It's two entirely different ways to consume the same IP. I expect the same to be true when they do the Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games.
As for your second point. You are correct to say that Nintendo and their shareholders want to make money. That goes without saying. But how does picking one cash cow over a second cash cow do that? Surely the goal is to have two cash cows that feed into each other. Smart companies do multiple things so that if one thing fails they have a fallback. So again, why does it have to be one or the other?
Re: Pokemon GO Isn't Just Leading in Downloads, It's the Top Grossing App at Launch
@gatorboi352
Nonsense. I don't see this destroying Pokemon sales because it's an entirely different thing. I also don't see this as the end of Nintendo's portables for the same reasons. Why do people have to assume that it's one or the other?
The way I see it this is closer to one of those movie series that was built around a popular series of books. People who were into the book series go and watch the movie just to see what it's all about. And people who liked the movie go back and read the books to see what happens next. When the Hunger Games movie was a hit the books sales skyrocketed, they didn't crash.
Nintendo is trying to do the same thing here with mobile. Across a wide range of their IP. Which is why these games are not the same thing as the traditional games at all. They're entirely different experiences that leverage Nintendo's IP. You think this is the end of portables? I think this is a great advertisement for their IP that happens to generate a bit of extra revenue.
Re: Someone At Nintendo Expected The Wii U To Shift 100 Million Units
@kobashi100
Tablets were basically just a bunch of failed experiments before the iPad. The iPad launched in 2010. The Wii U launched in late 2012 but was announced in early 2011 with rumours starting in 2010. So I think it's not a stretch to say that these comments could have easily been made before the success of the iPad was fully known.
Re: Someone At Nintendo Expected The Wii U To Shift 100 Million Units
Nintendo sales exec possibly before the iPad launched:
"I reckon this Wii U thing will do well"
Armchair analyst in 2016 with full hindsight:
"how delusional were they?"
Re: Nintendo is Making a Subtle Shift in Company Focus
@MetaSmasher
I think it's amusing that people have for a long time made a song and dance about Nintendo not doing enough marketing. But then they come out and say they want to expose more people to their IP and the response is "well that won't work, everyone already knows what Nintendo does"......
...........
Re: Nintendo is Making a Subtle Shift in Company Focus
@Minotaurgamer
I think you've got it backwards. Them wanting to get more people to play games is shorter term. They expanded the market with the Wii and DS but those people didn't come for Nintendo's IP. Are they still gamers? Yeah, probably. But not necessarily on Nintendo's platforms.
If they instead try to get people exposed to Nintendo's IP? Well I doubt it's going to get people running through the gates like the Wii and DS did. But on the other hand you can't get Zelda, Mario, Pikmin, Pokemon or Metroid anywhere else. So it's a long term plan.
Re: Nintendo Share Price Falls to Lowest Point in Over a Year as Global Markets React to 'Brexit'
@Dezzy
Markets don't like uncertainty, the fact that there wasn't an immediately clear result would have shaken things. The fact that the result was to leave has shaken things even more because now there's even less certainty.
I'll put it this way. Lets imagine that today Nintendo said they were going to make an announcement regarding hardware next month. Lets also imagine that you had planned to buy a New 3DS tomorrow. Would you still buy the New 3DS? Or would you wait and see what their announcement was first? Ask that of 1000 people in that position and I reckon quite a number would choose to wait.
That's basically what stock markets do. They approach uncertainty with caution. It's not necessarily a reflection on whether the expected result is good or bad. It's just a reflection of the fact that they don't know what's going to happen.
Re: E3 2016: Reggie Says VR "Needs to be Mainstream" For Nintendo To Get Involved
It's expensive and it's an isolating experience. Two things that Nintendo are traditionally not particularly keen on. So it doesn't at all surprise me that Nintendo aren't interested. Yet.
Re: Nintendo Sure Has Booked A Lot Of Floor Space For E3 2016
Not all of the floor space at E3 is "public" space. A lot of stuff happens at E3 behind closed doors. Meetings and discussions that are off the record and so on. For all we know the NX could be at E3 but as a back room, no cameras and probably NDA-protected demo. Just as a thing to try and win over indies, third parties, retailers and so on.
Re: Random: Japanese Gamers Decide Which Starter Pokémon Is The Most "Seriously Useless"
Asking people to vote for the most useless is flawed. Obviously popular starters will tend to get more votes Which kinda goes against what the poll is trying to do.
A better poll would also ask the same people which is the best or most useful starter. Then rank them based on the difference between the two results.
Re: Poll: Do You Want The Rumoured 'MH' Next Generation Portable to be Separate from NX?
@Lizuka
If it was to happen in any of the ways people are suggesting I don't think it'd be doom for either tier. Especially if it's more a case of significant overlap with content rather than identical libraries.
Just stand back for a second and look at what has already happened. The Wii U and 3DS both have Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, New SMB, Hyrule Warriors. The DS and Wii both had Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and New SMB. Even the ones that are different didn't really have to be. Nintendo is effectively wasting development time by having to develop these games twice.
Re: Poll: Do You Want The Rumoured 'MH' Next Generation Portable to be Separate from NX?
Why are "united platform" and "separate devices" two different options? iPhone, iPad and Apple TV are a "united platform" but they're physically different products.
I have thought for a long while that they will still have separate home console and portable products. With different specs and all of that. But that they will build development tools such that they can more easily develop for both in parallel. And from our end it'll look exactly like what they did with Smash Bros
Re: Third Party Developers Share Their Hopes For Nintendo NX
"You know that Nintendo will bring their amazing games and franchises in a big way, and if they can get decent third-party support rolling then the games will be there as well. Things can change quickly"
I hope @Project_Dolphin actually read this article....
Re: Soapbox: Why Websites Don’t Need to Give a Game a Review Score (and Probably Shouldn’t)
@Popful @Sean_Aaron
The thing about review aggregates is that all of that noise is filtered out. That's the entire point. The more reviews you have the less impact "trolls" will have on the score. Ontop of that the best review aggregate algorithms will weigh reviewers based on various factors. Metacritic does it based on how big the publication is. I know some user-review sites that do similar things like discount ratings from people who only ever give 5 or 1 stars. Or ignore ratings from in-active accounts, new accounts and accounts with less than a certain number of reviews.
It's not a perfect system by any means and there's no accounting for taste. There are all sorts of biases at play. But as a quick measure of whether or not something is good? It's not bad.
As long as it's not for product reviews. Product reviews are pretty useless given that most people don't review a product unless it's fantastic or broken. People review music, movies and games across the board. It's not the same for headphones and toasters.
Re: Soapbox: Why Websites Don’t Need to Give a Game a Review Score (and Probably Shouldn’t)
I don't see an issue with the scale. I have always read the scale as this.
5 star - Once a generation amazing
4 star - Very good
3 star - Not bad, ok
2 star - Not good, avoid
1 star - Once in a generation awful
4 = 7/10 - 9/10, it's no surprise most games worth reviewing are in that range.
Re: The Legend of Zelda for Wii U Will Be The Only Playable Nintendo Game at E3
I'm not sure if this says something about Nintendo or E3. I mean sure it's easy to say "oh noes, Nintendo has nothing to show!" but the NX is a thing. If they don't have any content to show then forget the "Wii U is doomed", the 3DS and NX are also doomed if that's the case.
But what if, just maybe, E3 doesn't mean the same thing it used to. Maybe Nintendo want to take their "Nintendo Direct" approach even further. It's not like they're the only company scaling back their presence at E3. Face it guys, E3 isn't what it used to be.
Re: Video: This New 3DS Hack Allows You to Wirelessly Stream Video to PC
@-DEMISE-
Ok, lets just agree to that then. In the context of mid-generation upgrades the New 3DS is a significant upgrade. Outside of that context? It's a 3DS with less bottlenecks.
Re: Video: This New 3DS Hack Allows You to Wirelessly Stream Video to PC
@CHET_SWINGLINE
Nothing they said I've disagreed with. As others have said it's more of a DSi or GBC level upgrade and the article you linked to says the same. It's not nothing but certainly not significant compared to a "real" upgrade. If they want to call it "significant" they can, I just don't agree with them.
The jump from the GB to the GBA was like going from the NES to the SNES. The jump from the GB to the GBC was pretty trivial by comparison. Ignoring the obvious improvements to the screen. Look at the port of DKC on the GBC, it's looks a lot more like DKL than it does the DKC port on the GBA. It's the same deal with the New 3DS.
Re: Video: This New 3DS Hack Allows You to Wirelessly Stream Video to PC
@CHET_SWINGLINE
I wasn't "offended" by what you said I was just laying out the facts. You were the one who got all worked up when the article said the New 3DS was a "mildly upgraded" 3DS. Which it is.
2x the system RAM, 60% more VRAM and a quad core 268Mhz arm chip rather than a dual core one. Same GPU, same screen resolution, same everything else. So I think the article is right to call it a "mild" upgrade.
Re: Video: This New 3DS Hack Allows You to Wirelessly Stream Video to PC
The framerate is pretty horrible by the looks of it. I hate to think about how much lag this would introduce. Really, this is neat but only as a novelty, not as something you'd want. Maybe their next portable will have significantly improved wireless and maybe then we can talk about this being an official thing.
@CHET_SWINGLINE
Umm, no. The New 3DS isn't "4x" more powerful than the original. It just has twice the number of CPU cores which removes the CPU as a bottleneck for some titles. For a lot of other titles it's still the GPU that's holding it back which they didn't upgrade.
Re: Competitive Super Smash Bros. Scene in Spain Prepares to Ban Bayonetta
I'm not at all a pro player by any stretch of the imagination. I do like playing as Bayonetta though. The way I see it she's kinda of like a more agile version of Little Mac. Powerful and quick but hard to control. The difference is that Little Mac is easy to predict and useless in the air. Two areas where Bayonetta is pretty fantastic.
Again, I don't play competitively so I don't care. But they've been pretty good with releasing patches and balancing the game. If she is an issue? She'll get nerfed.
Re: Nintendo Files a New Patent for a Fancy Object Detection Device
@Pahvi
That's basically what this is, it's just a more compact version of it. Google uses a similar sort of thing to create the images for Google Street View. It's not a new idea but obviously Nintendo are trying to patent a few ideas around how it could be used for games.
Re: Nintendo Files a New Patent for a Fancy Object Detection Device
@TheRealThanos
I'm pretty damn sure they weren't using the smartphone camera. The camera is in the device itself. The smartphone was just there as an example of a "device" that could display what was being captured. And it was just an example of how it could be used not a description of what it was.
Explaining the idea itself a bit more. If you had two of these in different locations plus the custom curved display? You could effectively make a 360 degree video call. It's actually a pretty neat concept when you think about it.
Re: Nintendo Files a New Patent for a Fancy Object Detection Device
@TheRealThanos
They show a list of different use cases. The first image above is them showing how it could be used with a custom flexible display. The second shows the render being displayed through a more standard device. The third shows the sort of usable range the device would have.
If you click the link they also have an example that shows someone controlling a game by interacting with something printed on some paper. There's another one showing someone using a physical steering wheel that the device would then detect.
So yeah, it's basically a 360 degree kinect.
Re: Nintendo Files a New Patent for a Fancy Object Detection Device
This has nothing to do with Amiibo from what I can tell. To me it looks like a kind of portable Lidar (google it). Basically what they're talking about is a 360 degree version of the Kinect. Pretty cool.... and the way they're describing it it wouldn't cos that much either.
Re: Research Firm Reckons Nintendo's Spent Nearly $527 Million on Research and Development This Fiscal Year
Why are people always so surprised when Nintendo spends a lot of money on R&D? Especially when it peaks early on. They're literally in the business of R&D.
When Nintendo is spending more on R&D? It's not like the basement of Wayne Enterprises. It's literally them paying the wages of the guys who make games. People to build game engines, developer tools and so on. People creating assets for the next big AAA title they're working on. And yes there is also hardware R&D some ideas that don't make it to market. But at the end of the day it's all about making games.
So when you say "Nintendo should spend less money on R&D and more on marketing". Well. You're literally saying they should make less games and more ads.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@Olmectron
I already made that point. I for one would be fine with an upgrade fee or some other cost to stop me "abusing" the system. Something like having me spend some rewards points to move my games across would be even better.
That's less than what others do. Plenty of other companies with multi-device ecosystems have your purchases carry. But I'd be fine with just an upgrade fee. I'm just not going to pay full price again for something I've already brought. I'm also less likely to buy stuff if it's going to be tied to a platform that will eventually become obsolete.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@orravan85 "Owning GTA 3 for the Xbox doesn't mean you get to download it free on the App Store for your tablet. Why should it be the same with good old Ice Climbers?"
Because Apple has no way of knowing that you brought GTA3 on the XBox. Also because a large % of your original purchase was a platform royalty paid to Microsoft. Basically you didn't pay Apple anything and they have no way of knowing you own it. With a VC game brought on one of the eShops? You paid Nintendo directly, they've got their cut. They know you've purchased it. So it's not at all like your example.
If anything cross-buy on the VC is closer to backwards compatibility. Infact it's almost identical to how backwards compatibility works on the XBOne. Do you think people would have not made a fuss if XBOne BC literally involved you having to buy the game again at full price? I didn't think so.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@orravan85
Windows, Linux and Mac are not the same. PS3, PS4 and Vita are not the same. 360 and XBOne are not the same. Need I go on? Nintendo are not in a unique position here.
And again, I'm not saying I want the game for free. I'm saying I want my purchases to mean something. I don't see why I should have to buy VC games again and again. If Nintendo would make it clear that these purchase would carry? Even if it's just a discount on the other side. Then I'd be more than happy to buy more of them. As it is I don't see the point.
The next generation will come out and anything I buy on the VC now won't be on it. Those VC games I brought will be on a shelf with my old system. There's no reason for that because now they have the infrastructure to do better.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@orravan85
How am I asking for freebies? I've already paid full price for the content.
I don't have to buy music again when I upgrade my phone. I don't have to buy a separate copies of a movie for my TV, PC and tablet. If I buy an app on my phone I can use it on my phone, tablet and even my TV. If I buy an indie game on Steam for Windows I don't have to buy it again if I want to play on Linux.
.... yet when I have Wii U VC game I paid for it's somehow different. Hell, some of them I have the cartridge for. Most of them I also owned on the Wii VC and paid the upgrade fee for Wii U VC. Some are games I've effectively paid full price for twice and a bit! In response to that? You say I'm asking for "freebies" when I say it'd be nice if the New 3DS copy was at least not full retail. What a load!
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@Socar
You keep saying we're making a big deal about this. But the question is why are you so against the idea? You say that there's no reason why I should want it on both but ignore the fact that Nintendo is expecting me to pay full price for the second!
Surely cross-buy is going to only make the VC more appealing. I can say as someone who has an old-3DS the SNES VC didn't tempt me. If Nintendo had cross-buy and I could download the SNES games I've already purchased? I'd be very tempted. $270AU for a New 3DS and 5x SNES games I already have? Hard sell. $220? A bit less so and I'd probably buy a few more SNES VC games while I was at it.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@burninmylight
And TBH I'd be fine if it was just a decent discount. That's how the Wii -> Wii U transfer worked and I have "upgraded" quite a few of those. I think either way I'd end up buying more content.
@Socar
How is are the 3DS and Wii U so different from the other examples I gave? I have Steam games I can download on Windows, Linux or Mac. I've brought Blu-Rays where they've given me iTunes/Google Play codes. I've brought physical copies of music online and been emailed a digital copy so I can listen to it then and there. I pay for an app on my phone and I can download it on my tablet.
But if I buy a NES VC game on the Wii U that's also on the 3DS? I have to pay full price for the 3DS version if I want to play it there. There's literally no extra work on Nintendo's part to make the other copy available to me. Other digital stores are even doing things that allow you to create a shared family account. Nintendo won't even give me a discount on the same game on my own account.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@Socar
When you buy a Blu-Ray they often give you a code for a downloadable copy. When you buy a CD they'll let you rip a copy so you can put it on your phone. If I buy a game on Steam on my desktop PC I can still play it on my laptop. If I buy an app on my phone I can play it on my tablet.
Yet if I buy Super Mario Bros for the 100th time on my 3DS? Nope, have to pay full price to play it on the Wii U. And now they have a shop that knows I own one version and not the other. A shop that will automatically download the game once I've purchased it.
I don't think it's unreasonable to say that Nintendo should catch up with cross-buy. They are literally the only company left that don't do it. And now the excuse that the stores are entirely separate is gone.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
@Socar
If the game exists on both platforms and they know I own it on one. Why should I have to pay full price for the second? With VC titles especially.
Re: Enhanced Digital Store With Over 2,000 Games Launching Alongside My Nintendo This Week
This is pretty great. Although it makes the lack of cross buy just that little bit more annoying. I don't look forward to scrolling through the VC and having Nintendo show me I own some games on 3DS but not Wii U.......
Re: Digital Foundry Breaks Down The Improved Performance of New 3DS
So it's basically like the jump from the Gamecube to the Wii. Minus the improvements in game size or GPU spec.... or any major changes in I/O
Re: Nintendo Seeks a Trademark for Mario Coin Sound
Of all of the things that companies have tried to claim ownership of I think this is one where it's fair enough. There aren't many things that are more "Nintendo" than the sounds of Mario. It's like the wilhelm scream or lightsaber buzz of gaming.
Re: Video: See How Hyrule Warriors Legends on the Original 3DS Compares to the Wii U
I hope the people argue that Nintendo needs to replace the Wii U but not the 3DS watch this. Case and point for the argument that the 3DS is starting to show its age.
Re: Twilight Princess HD Nearly Had Wii Remote Controls
People always focus on the "waggle" and they're right to say that it was just a button press. A button press that was sometimes more natural (i.e. fishing) but still a button. But the thing that was great about the WiiMote in Twilight Princess were the pointer controls.
Now the GamePad can do a better job for map and inventory. It can even do a decent replacement of the waggle controls. But it's nowhere near the pointer controls even with the gyro. Not even close.
Re: Video: See How Pokémon on the 3DS Virtual Console Compares to an Original Cartridge on a Retron 5
Gameboy: 144p
3DS: 240p
Retron5: 1080p
240/144 = 1.6667
1080/144 = 7.5
/discussion /whine