Category: Nintendo

New Nintendo eShop Releases: Separation Anxiety

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This week's set of eShop games marks the release of the first (and to date, only) New Nintendo 3DS exclusive, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. While the New 3DS isn't the first instance of Nintendo choosing to introduce a 1.5 upgrade version to an existing hardware line (see the Nintendo DSi), Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be the first Nintendo published retail release that is exclusive to an upgraded system. There weren't any for the DSi.

There are sure to be fans clamoring for the game. Likewise, there are certainly Nintendo fans who are excited about the new upgrades and features that the New 3DS offers. But personally, I have to question Nintendo's wisdom in regard to separating their userbase with this release. I can't imagine that sales of this game will be that high. Far fewer people own the New 3DS than the original and XL models. Moreover, the very existence of the New 3DS and its own exclusive game(s) can only lead to further market confusion and animosity from uninformed consumers.

It just seems ill-advised to have made this game an exclusive when they could have just as easily made it playable on all 3DS systems. After all, Nintendo has already released 3DS games that took advantage of the New 3DS features but were still universally playable. But the decision is made, the die is cast, and now I suppose only time (and sales) will tell. In any case, Xenoblade Chronicles is but one of several new games this week. Joining last week's initial Wii U Nintendo DS Virtual Console release is WarioWare: Touched! and Yoshi Touch & Go. Head past the break to be reunited with the complete list of new releases.

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New 3DS

3DS

[Image: Nintendo]

Andrew J Amideo
[Source: Business Wire]

3DS not smart enough for Professor Layton?

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Fan of the Layton games and/or Fantasy Life? I hope you own a smartphone (of course you do, who doesn’t by now?).
Level-5 announced during their “Vision” event, that both Fantasy Life 2 and Professor Layton 7 will be coming out for Android and iOS, but no mentions about 3DS versions.

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Fantasy Life 2 will look pretty much like the first one (so processing power shouldn’t be the reason for the switch), offer 12 “lives” (or jobs) and has a stronger focus on building your city. Japan release will be this summer, no word yet on other regions.
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Layton 7, which doesn’t come with a Professor prefix, is pretty much a mystery still. There was a confusing video of a dog running around in a city and a screenshot of a card game.

Especially the Layton series was a staple of Nintendo’s handhelds and originally announced for the 3DS. CEO Akihiro Hino is also quoted saying, that he would like to bring Layton 7 to the Wii U.
So what could have led to that change? Could it have to do with the Ninteno NX? Is Level-5 as pissed about that stupid C-Nob as I am? Are they supporting the YouTubers struggle against Nintendo’s copyright claims? Will those games now be f2p?
Probably not (though microtransactions are now pretty much guaranteed), but for the fun of it: Write your own conspiracy theories in the comments.
Source: Destructoid

Famous Metroid Code is in Axiom Verge

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The code that allowed players to remove Samus' armor in the original Metroid also works in Axiom Verge! Check out the video showing the results after the break.
In an homage to the influential title, entering the code "JUSTIN-BAILEY" allows you to activate a palette swap for your character that uses Samus-like colors in Axiom Verge.
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Source: YouTube

New Nintendo eShop Releases: Nintendo DS Wii U 64 Edition!

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Nintendo 64 games have come to the Wii U! Or game, rather. N̶̶̶̵i̶̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶o̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶D̶̵S̶! N̶̶̵i̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶o̶ ̶D̶̵S̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶! Nintendo DS also! Super Mario 64 and Yoshi's Island DS are both now available on the Wii U Virtual Console. I never thought it could be true. Nintendo DOES listen! Now we just need some GameCube games on there and we're good to go.

Also new this week, HAL Laboratory puzzle platformer Boxboy! Head past the break to see the full list of this week's releases.

Wii U

3DS

[Image: Nintendo]

Andrew J Amideo
[Source: Business Wire]

This Amiibo situation is way out of hand…

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Hey everyone. I've got a story to tell you about Amiibo Wave 4, my local GameStop, and why Nintendo needs to do a much better job serving their EXTREMELY loyal customers. Curious about my experience? Read on. 
I received a soul crushing blow yesterday. Ness is going to be a GameStop exclusive... Now, I've got no beef with GameStop. I like my local store and I buy many of my games from there. The Wave 3 store exclusive Amiibo set a disappointing precedent though. I failed to obtain a Meta Knight Amiibo when the wave launched and I've never seen one in a Best Buy. I've had no luck with Rosalina either. These Amiibo have become unobtainable at their MSRP. I can, of course, import them or pay obscene scalper rates but why should I do that when the product is officially available to me?

So... I set out today with solid goal in mind. Pre-order Wave 4 before it is too late. My retailer of choice, GameStop, was to open Wave 4 Amiibo pre-sales (not pre-orders, I'll explain shortly) at 3 PM in my time-zone. I arrived shortly before 2 PM to confirm that the pre-sales would be possible. I returned to my vehicle and proceeded to wait until 2:45 to begin my final wait and payment process. This is where things get dicey.

At 3 PM sharp, the clerks began to process the pre-sales, They are pre-sales because they must be paid in full at that moment, not the usual $5 down and see you later. Orders began to process and... well... that didn't happen. The website wouldn't load. Another essential detail, these pre-sales occurred through the GameStop website from within the GameStop system. This was necessary because of the limited nature of the products. This was explained to me by the employees as such: store based pre-sales cannot be cut off. Essentially, this method is used to prevent GameStop from receiving more pre-orders than they have product available. This has happened at other retailers with Amiibo in the past and I can understand the precaution. That precaution, however, backfired really hard. I was in GameStop waiting for my pre-sale to happen for just over an hour. As you might imagine, this was likely the result of a server overload that GameStop wasn't expecting.

Now, I give a round of applause for the GameStop employees. They handled this mess with grace. A slowly waning mob of very loyal Nintendo fans stood in line patiently as regular customers were served and went on with their day. The gears eventually began to turn and (being second in line) I too was on my way. $130 worth of Amiibo (I got the Splatoon set too) are to be delivered to my doorstep at some point in May. I don't blame the store employees. I don't really blame GameStop (this particular sin is very common). I will blame Nintendo though. I don't speak for myself here (I'm an outlier and a bit eccentric). I'm saying this for the other six or seven people standing in line with me. I say it for the girl who just wanted Ness. I say it for the loyal girlfriend (I assume) who was there for someone else. These products are not available to your fans. I'm a slacker and I've got time to peruse game stores at odd hours. Your other fans don't have the luxury of scouting countless stores and smashing F5 to refresh over-trafficked sites . I don't understand the minutiae of toy manufacturing and I won't spout off like I do. People want these things and you (Nintendo of America) are letting them down. The message is crystal clear. Bill Trenin said this about the Marth Amiibo during the Nintendo Direct yesterday: "Don't miss your second chance". Amiibo should be built and priced accordingly if they are a limited run luxury line of merchandise. They aren't though. They are $13 statues with piss-colored stands... I love Nintendo but this is painful to watch.  

Upcoming Nintendo Indies

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Lots of indie love during the Nintendo Direct.

First off: Adventures of Pip, a puzzle platformer about a shape-shifting pixel. And it even has a skeleton queen. (May)

Octodad gets ported to the WiiU. No word on exclusive features. (Summer)

Mutant Mudds gets Super Challenge(ing), will be cross-buy between Wii U and 3DS (didn’t even knew Nintendo does this) and if you already own the previous version of the game, you get a loyalty discount. (June)

Don’t Starve also gets a port to the Wii U, offering exclusive gamepad features (Map and fast access to your inventory). Not sold? Then how about the fact, that every purchase gets a second copy that can be gifted to a friend? (May)

Other upcoming Wii U indies in one unformatted, uninformative and hard to read list:
forma.8, Dementium: Remastered, Affordable Space Adventures, Starwhal, Never Alone, Ninja Pizza Girl, Antipole DX, Life of Pixel, Badland: GOTY Edition, Slain!, Runbow, Back to Bed, Space Hulk, Race the Sun, Dooors, Dot Arcade, Swords & Soldiers 2, Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails, Toto Temple Deluxe, The Bridge, Shutshimi, Nova-111, Windup Knight 2