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Good morning Podunkers! It's been a while since the last time I was here and bunch of things have happened (got married, went on several trips with my wife, changed jobs a few time etc...) Gaming wise? Bought the Switch on the first day (I was one of those 5am people at Target) The Legend of Zelda BotW? Amazing! Only complain? There are very long distances to walk in the game and not a lot of to distract yourself with expect sightseeing and the occasional Jiga Clan guy. Currently playing? Mario Odessey, I am liking it so far... complain? some parts of the game feel very lazy (i.e the developers did not want to do that much work). And that's it! I wanted to post a status but for some reason I can't, hence this post. On another note, I am working on a small passion project to make Nintendo themed t-shirts but these aren't like anything you've seen before. How would you like to wear Mario leaf power-up for a day? Or Link's first 8bit green garments? I would love to tell you more and I need a favor from all of you podunkers! Can you take 1 minute and 17 seconds of your lives to answer the following survey? It will definitely help me understand more about where I am going and I also welcome feedback, so please feel free to drop in knowledge. Thanks and game on! https://carlos836.typeform.com/to/pXykKJ

Today's Nintendo Switch was quite a doozy. For 45 minutes, we watched as Nintendo announced game after game that would be coming to 3DS and Switch, and they definitely had their share of surprises, even if there may not have been a megaton. Here's a quick look at the biggest news coming out of the event if you missed it. Kirby Battle Royale announced for 3DS in 2018 Remember at the start of the year when Nintendo announced a multiplayer-focused Kirby game that would be coming later? Turns out it was delayed a tiny bit, and will instead be one of the first new 3DS games out in 2018 when it hits on January 19. Titled 'Kirby Battle Royale,' it's a single- and multiplayer-focused fighter that sees Kirby battling it out alongside other Kirbys (Kirbies?) in various modes. Mario Party: The Top 100 surprise announced for release in November on 3DS This was one that sort of came out of left field. Technically, it's not a full-fledged new Mario Party, but it does contain some of the series' best minigames to play through. And while it doesn't support online play, it does offer local download play, so you can play with three other friends on just one game cart. Mario Party: The Top 100 launches on Nov. 10 on 3DS. Minecraft is coming to 3DS too?? Okay, this one was legit surprising, especially considering that 3DS is in its twilight right now. Yes, Minecraft is coming to the handheld, but only the New Nintendo 3DS, not the original. This version features Survival and Creative modes, five skin packs, and two texture packs. Also surprising: the game actually released today, but only the digital version. A physical version is releasing at a later date. Atlus bringing the heat with four upcoming 3DS games When all is said and done with the 3DS, let everyone remember that Atlus was by far one of the biggest and most productive publishers on the handheld. Even in its late hour, the 3DS is getting four more RPGs from the Persona publisher, and they are as follows: The Alliance Alive Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux We've actually known about all four, and two of them are remakes/remixes of previous games, but it's still nice to know they're coming. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 finally has a confirmed release date, and it's coming before year's end And you thought it wouldn't make it this year! To be fair, I was iffy on whether it would release as well, but Nintendo assured as that all was good and well with the game as it will officially make landfall on the Switch on December. Also, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be getting a special edition that includes a sound selection CD, a special metal game case, and a 220-page hardbound art book all for $99.99. A Nintendo Switch Pro Controller themed around the game will also be available for $74.99, and boy does it look snazzy. The Kirby Switch game is revealed as Kirby Star Allies Remember that Kirby game that was in development for Switch? It's now called Kirby Star Allies, and you'll be able to recruit up to three enemies as allies (with either friends playing or CPU) and mix abilities to create new powers. Did I mention that it looks like a continuation of Kirby's Return to Dreamland? Because it does, and that can only be a good thing. Anyhow, the game is coming to Switch in the Spring. BETHESDA IS BRINGING 'WHAT' TO SWITCH??? Easily one of the biggest surprises of the Direct, bar none, was the announcement that Bethesda would be bringing both DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus to the Switch. You heard that right, this is not a drill! DOOM will be arriving first this Fall, while Wolfenstein II will be releasing in 2018. Square Enix reveals more about Project Octopath Traveler Another game that got way too little screentime in the Nintendo Direct from earlier this year was Project Octopath Traveler, a curious yet beautiful game from the same developer that brought us Bravely Default. And, with a brand new video showcasing what the game is about, Square Enix dropped a bomb on everyone, revealing that the game looks pretty darn amazing. The developers have utilized a mix of 2D and 3D visuals to create a new aesthetic that they're referring to as HD 2D (huh), and you'll be able to choose one of eight different characters and play through their own unique story. Oh, and there's a demo on the eShop as we speak, so be sure to check it out and see what the fuss is all about. And it's coming in 2018. Yes, we know, Super Mario Odyssey still looks amazing (and why isn't it out yet?) At this point, if you're not convinced Super Mario Odyssey looks amazing, I'm not sure what else I can do. And I'm pretty sure I don't have to convince anyone else that's already looking forward to it, so I'll say that what they showed was -- once again -- pretty fantastic stuff, showcasing a few new worlds that you can expect to see, story details, and more. Be sure to check it out in the Nintendo Direct video above. Oh, and a Super Mario Odyssey-themed Switch bundle is in the works for this Fall, featuring special Mario-themed red Joy-Con controllers, a special carrying-case, a Switch console, and a download code for the game all for a cool $379.99. Other news revealed Yeah, there was something other stuff announced too that wasn't quite as big as the stuff above, but if you want to hear about it, here we go: Splatoon 2 is getting new DLC soon, including the returning Kelp Dome stage, a new stage called Snapper Canal, and an extra-large Brella weapon. ARMS is adding new playable fighter Lola Pop by way of a new update today. Fire Emblem Warriors is getting a new character in the form of Lyndis (or 'Lyn'), the protagonist from Fire Emblem on GBA. Snipperclips Plus was announced as an expanded version of the original game, and it includes more than 30 new stages, new challenges, and new features. Existing owners can purchase the new content as DLC for $9.99. It's all coming on Nov. 10, and a physical version is in the works as well. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is arriving on Switch on Nov. 17. Dragon Quest Builders is coming to Switch in Spring 2018. NBA 2K18 is coming to Switch on Sept. 15. EA Sports FIFA 18 is coming to Switch on Sept. 29. WWE 2K18 is coming to Switch sometime soon. Square Enix's Lost Sphear is coming to Switch on Jan. 23. Flip Wars is getting a new update that adds a new stage, new mechanics, local wireless multiplayer, class matches, and a new online battle mode. Morphies Law, a new multiplayer shooter is launching first on Switch as a console exclusive this Fall. Arena of Valor, a free-to-start MOBA with a roster of more than 35 heroes, will be available for beta test this Winter on Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Champion amiibo are all set to release on Nov. 10. Each character will unlock a special headgear for Link based on their Divine Beast. Further functionality will be detailed later. Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millonaire's Conspiracy is set to release on Oct. 6 on 3DS. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is set to release on 3DS in November. To watch the Nintendo Direct in full, check out the source link below. Source: Nintendo Direct What are your thoughts on the news from this Nintendo Direct?

Developer: Good Feel Publisher: Nintendo Platform: 3DS Release Date: February 3, 2017 ESRB: E for Everyone Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is the latest in a string of games that have been ported down from Wii U to 3DS by Nintendo over the last few years. It began with Hyrule Warriors (which gained a "Legends" suffix for the handheld port), then Super Mario Maker (which gained a "3DS" suffix), and now we've come down to Yoshi's Woolly World, which has gained a prefix this time around with the addition of 'Poochy' to the title. Developer Good Feel has also added a number of new additions and modes this time around, keeping this from being merely a direct port, but is it enough to convince fans of the Wii U version to double dip? Despite the addition of the yarn pooch's name to the title, this still remains Yoshi's game though it does emphasize Poochy's increased appearance through several new and exclusive modes. The most notable of these is Poochy Dash, in which you race through auto-runner stages as the yarn pooch, collecting yarn beads and Poochy Pups along the way. They offer a nice break from the normal Yoshi levels and even offer a few objectives to clear in each level, but they're over fairly quickly. Also new to this version is Mellow Mode, which essentially makes the game as painless as possible by giving Yoshi an infinite hover jump and three Poochy Pups that can be tossed instead of eggs (and will always return to you) as well as sniff out secrets and assist in subduing certain enemies. Additionally, there's a mode that allows you to knit a whole new look for Yoshi that gives the game a nice, extra bit of customization, as well as Yoshi Theater, which houses 31 short, stop-motion videos that feature Yarn Yoshi and Poochy in real-world environments doing, uh... cute things and being generally adorable. They unlock one day at a time, however, which can get a little frustrating if you want to see all of them. Good Feel even made some optimizations to the game's overworld, which is now laid out in a traditional side-scrolling view (a la classic Yoshi's Island) instead of using the Wii U version's sprawling, open, birds-eye-view mode to navigate to each area. You can also use the new Poochy amiibo to bring Poochy into stages alongside Yoshi for extra assistance, which is a neat new wrinkle to the game. Of course, the original game still remains as charming and fun as ever. However, the visuals do take a hit on the smaller screen, with all of the sharp detail of the Wii U version gone and looking a bit more muddy on the 3DS. The scenery and backgrounds in each level are still discernible as yarn creations, but the detail and threads on Yoshi are a lot less noticeable here; it looks more like Yoshi has low resolution yarn pattern laid out on his low-poly model. That said, it's impressive that Good Feel were able to make it look as good as they did on a less powerful device, and those that never played the original game won't notice the difference anyhow. If you haven't played the original Yoshi's Woolly World, the experience is largely modeled after the gameplay of previous Yoshi's Island games in which you run, jump and solve minor platforming puzzles throughout side-scrolling levels. Woolly World's additional spin on the experience, in which the entire world and its characters are all made out of yarn, means that you can manipulate levels' terrain in various ways, such as tugging on a string that's been tied into a bow on a wall to unravel the entire area and reveal secrets within. Instead of eggs, Yoshi acquires balls of yarn that he can throw at enemies and create platforms out of. Certain areas might look a little bent out of shape, meaning you can push against and bunch up the wall so that you can see what's hiding behind it. It all amounts to the most creative Yoshi game since the original Yoshi's Island, and though not every single level is memorable, each one does attempt a new gameplay idea that keeps the game feeling fresh all along. Additionally, there are a ton of collectibles in each level to discover and to go back to if you missed them the first time around, and there's even impetus of additional content you can play if you collect it all. Also, did I mention the music is insanely good in this game? There's a wide variety of different musical styles employed here, from guitar and piano melodies to more jazzy and experimental synth songs; it's one of the most varied and experimental soundtracks I've heard from a Nintendo game in a while and it's incredibly catchy to boot. So is Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World worth your time? If you've never played the original, I'd say absolutely, though I still think the original is the best way to experience it thanks to its enhanced visuals. But if you have played the Wii U version, it largely depends on whether the new material matters to you. None of it is particularly makes this a more engaging version, but Yoshi die-hards will appreciate and lap up all of the new content (especially the stuff featuring Poochy). At the end of the day, Poochy and Yoshi's Woolly World is yet another great way to play what is easily one of the best new classic games released in recent years. If you've not played the original and prefer to play it on the go, it's not to be missed. Pros + Great, inspired game design that is tied to its visual style + Amazing soundtrack + Solid amount of content to play through, plus extra content that is unlocked after seeking out collectibles Cons - While the visuals are still impressive for what the 3DS can do, they're scaled down quite a bit here and yarn details are a lot more blurry here - Your mileage may vary when it comes to whether you find the new Poochy content worth buying this version specifically for Overall Score: 8 (out of 10) Great Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World is a solid port of a great game that shouldn't be missed, though its visuals suffer a downgrade in the process, and the added content doesn't quite merit a purchase if you're buying it for that alone. Disclosure: This game was reviewed using downloadable code provided by the publisher

This week I'll be discussing something that's long been on my mind -- a topic that's especially relevant given that Nintendo's Switch launches in less than a month now. Of course, I'm referring to Nintendo's relationship with third parties (especially western publishers) and how they were quick to abandon the Wii U, but how Nintendo could begin to win them back. How do they do such a thing? Is it even possible? I think it's definitely feasible, but a lot of it relies on Nintendo themselves. Hit the break to keep reading. Okay. So. If you've regularly followed Nintendo news and trends regarding their consoles, you know very well that Nintendo's third-party support has been diminishing for years. The decline of third parties really started with the Nintendo 64, but surprisingly the Gamecube had more support than most probably remember, at least for the first 3 or 4 years. Wii had good support for the first four years or so (the games that weren't shovelware), but things really dried up for the Wii U after its first year on the market. We've had countless articles from different writers across varying outlets with their opinions on how Nintendo could "win back" third-parties for years now -- everything from focusing more on hardcore gamers to making hardware that's on par with what Sony and Microsoft are offering and so on and so forth. You've likely heard almost everything in the book at this point. And to put it bluntly, none of that is likely to work. Or at least not without tons of money behind it and possibly a generation or two of great reception from fans. But really, Nintendo doesn't have the luxury of waiting that long. The real answer is actually laying right in front of them. That answer is two-fold. First, before anything else, the Switch needs to sell. If it doesn't sell well, nothing else really matters. But despite a meager launch lineup, things are looking promising for the Switch in the longterm. It already has a better and clearer message behind what it is and what it does -- much more so than the confusion the Wii U's messaging generated. The year one game lineup is looking pretty strong, starting with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and leading into an enhanced Mario Kart 8 port followed by Splatoon 2, ARMS, Fire Emblem Warriors, Super Mario Odyssey, and maybe even Xenoblade Chronicles 2. And that's what we know of; there might be even more announced at E3. Anyways. Let's say the Switch takes off. It's on track to sell... at least 8 million units this year. The next thing that needs to be addressed is the reason behind Wii U third-party games selling poorly. Let's look some of them below. - They didn't sell on Wii U because they were late releases of games released on better consoles - Some gamers didn't like the gamepad controls and preferred Sony and Microsoft's controllers more - Online multiplayer was largely gimped compared to Xbox and PlayStation - Many game ports were not great ports, leading to them being the worst ports - No trophy/achievement support - People want to play games on the consoles that look best Unfortunately, the only one that is largely out of Nintendo's power to address at this point is the last one. Some people want the best-looking experience. There's little Nintendo can do about that now. The rest, however? They can all be addressed one way or another. But as long as most of those bullet points remain unaddressed, expect them not to sell anything like their competitors' versions. And expect third-parties not to fully care or put any real effort into anything they put out on Switch that isn't exclusive or built exactly for it. So. What does Nintendo do? They could pull strings behind the curtains with third-party publishers and work out some business deals by either offering greater ad support or higher revenue share of games. But realistically, that probably won't happen and we've yet to see it happen. If Nintendo wants to show third-parties that their games have an audience and can sell on their console, they need to show proof. And what better way to show proof than creating it themselves? Here's what I propose - if Nintendo wants to show publishers how serious they are about getting games to sell on the Switch, they need to make deals and do whatever they need to do to create great Switch ports of these games on their own, even if that means paying out of their own pocket to make it happen. But I'm not talking about paying EA to get their devs to make a Switch port. That's counter-intuitive for a number of reasons. No. I'm saying Nintendo should largely take control of the Switch port, give it to one of their partners like Tantalus, and make sure it gets the quality port it needs. This would require working closely both with the publisher as well as the developer who's creating the game. But Nintendo would be footing the majority or the entirety of the bill for the port. They depend on their port studio to deliver something excellent and right on par with what the core developer is putting out, as good as the Switch can handle. The publisher then gets a revenue share in the port's sales, as they normally would. Ideally, there's little risk to them throughout the whole endeavor; the heavy lifting mostly falls on Nintendo to get it done. But even more so, they get proof of concept. What happens when you remove that bullet list of why third party games supposedly don't sell on Nintendo platforms? Show them what happens. Address those points, grab the bull by the horns, and give them reason to believe there's worth in putting games out on Switch. It won't be easy. And the results probably won't be immediate. But if Nintendo could do this experiment for a year or two, it's possible they could eventually reap the results they're looking for. People could see that Nintendo is serious about getting the best of the best third-party games on Switch and that they do have a chance of selling well when the playing field is more even, even if they would have a lower resolution and visual effects and such. Imagine having Mass Effect Andromeda release day and date on Switch. Sure, if you want the best visuals and performance, you'll play on PC. But imagine being able to play a version that's maybe a medium quality compared to the ultra high setting on PC. Except that you can play it anywhere, and it still looks great despite being on a tinier screen. Imagine what the reaction would be to seeing people playing games like that on the subway. You'll always have your traditional gamers wanting to play at home, but don't think for a second that such a feature wouldn't be intriguing, even to those gamers. Such an approach to acquiring third-party titles is definitely bullish and very unlike the Nintendo of now. Would they recoup their costs on such an endeavor? The odds point to no, at least not on the initial investment. But imagine if they stuck with it, if people began to see Nintendo platforms as being on parity with other platforms in terms of the selection of third-party games, if not in terms of visuals. Imagine if that restored confidence in third-parties, and they began to flock back to Nintendo over time. Something tells me that might be an idea well worth investing in.

Last Thursday was a day of unbridled excitement for Nintendo fans and heightened curiosity for mostly everyone else. It's been quite some time since I've last seen anticipation from people who were previously down on Nintendo due to its more casual-oriented focus with Wii and the failure of its successor. But leading up to Thursday's event, even people who were staunch critics of Nintendo for the last 10 years or so were pretty bullish on the Switch's prospects. Would this be the console that would turn things around for them and their outlook on Nintendo? I remember distinctly listening to an episode of the Kinda Funny Gamecast sometime in the last month, and both Greg Miller and Colin Moriarty were talking about how interested and excited they were for the Switch, but Colin made a mention of something about how it all seemed too good to be true and that he was "waiting for the other shoe to drop." And he was right. Thursday's Nintendo Switch Presentation was not perfect by any means, and it was a pertinent reminder as to why the company is now opting for Nintendo Direct videos instead, and -- frankly -- why they're much better off doing the latter. For starters, let's start off with what went wrong- Lost in Translation There's a reason why international press conferences aren't done a whole lot in the game industry, or at least not in Japanese -- essentially, the rest of the world (that doesn't know Japanese) were left to watch a presentation that was awkwardly translated and paced. Beyond that, the first two games that were shown displayed a Wii-like casual focus, something that was a bit scary to see for many that were watching. I remember one person on Twitter saying that it was like they were focusing on the Wii concept all over again, and I kind of had a similar dread about that as well. Waggle is definitely not the way to go (in the case of ARMS), but I was happy to learn that it wouldn't be the only method of control in that game. Failure to Launch? No doubt about it -- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be a great game to have at launch, not to mention the key reason people will be buying a Switch at all on day one. But one game will not carry an entire launch (and in the rare case that it does, it's because it has exceptional word of mouth, such as Wii Sports). At the very minimum, there needs to be at least one big game to get people excited and 2-4 noteworthy supporting games that may not be quite as big but still get people interested in playing. Let's compare this to PlayStation 4's launch for a minute. Now, PS4's launch lineup wasn't amazing (no launch usually is) but it did roughly meet those fundamental requirements. Depending on your interest, Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack were interchangeable as the big game in the lineup, with one or the other also serving as the next best thing in addition to Resogun and third-party games that were launching day and date with other platforms such as Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, and a few others. It was a solid lineup, if unremarkable for many, yet it got the job done. Think about it this way -- in a football game, a successful play is pulled off when the quarterback is well-supported by the linemen, running backs, and wide receivers. Let's say the quarterback represents the console (or the console manufacturer, in a sense) and the wide receiver represents the launch lineup's best game. The killer app, in a sense, which in this case represents Breath of the Wild. Since that title is largely the only notable game in the launch lineup, it's almost as if this figurative football game is being played just with the quarterback and wide receiver. So when the play begins, quarterback Switch has no choice but to throw to the wide receiver (Breath of the Wild) and hope beyond hopes that he can break through the other team's defensive line and -- at the very least -- score a first-down, if not a touch down (which, in this case is a successful launch with great sales, great momentum beyond just the first month, people buzzing, etc.). Now, if there were at least 2-5 other notable games launching beside Breath of the Wild, they would be able to help support the play and make sure the wide receiver can get as far as he needs to go. The chances of success increase. But without them, the wide receiver's chances of success are greatly reduced. This is exactly where Switch is at with its launch at the moment. The other shoe drops - Price Inconsistencies The launch lineup, as dismal as it is right now, is just one part of the equation. The part where "the other shoe drops" is with the price of extra controllers and such. Namely, a Switch Pro controller will run you $70. Two extra Joy-Cons will run you a cool $80. If you opt for just one Joy-Con? Not $40, but $50 (what??). Now, I can understand why the Joy-Cons cost as much as they do, especially with the new HD Rumble functionality that's probably not too cheap to implement; there's a decent amount of tech in those controllers. Still, that isn't much of a comfort to anyone who has to spend close to one third of the price of the console just for extra controllers. So why is the Switch Pro controller $70? I can only imagine it's because they want to profit heavily on people wanting a traditional controller, much like how Sony wanted to profit on Vita memory cards by charging much higher than other companies would for similar cards (like SDHC). I mean, the Wii U Pro Controller was $50 initially (even less now) -- what is it about the Switch version that merits an extra $20? Western third-parties are still very much a question mark One important thing that I was hoping would be addressed that totally wasn't is the acceptance of Western third-parties. Nintendo had all of two Western third parties say something at the press conference: Bethesda's Todd Howard confirming Skyrim on Switch, and EA's Patrick Soderlund confirming FIFA. What other western publishers that were previously announced seemed to be showing token support so far, with Take-Two and 2K bringing only NBA 2K17, Activision bringing Skylanders Imaginators, and Ubisoft with Just Dance 2017 for now (though the latter has other rumored stuff in the works). I can understand why any Western third party would be cautious about working with Nintendo after the Wii U, but so far the future does not look good for Switch and Western AAA games -- something that many hoped would change with this new generation. It's too early to say for sure, though, but the early outlook isn't promising. I'm more optimistic than I was with Wii U because Nintendo getting Todd Howard aboard isn't an easy feat and it at least shows that they're trying this time around. However, it does look like most third-party support will be from Japanese publishers unless the install base really takes off, along with support from indies. But here's the good news... First-Party Lineup is incredibly promising Despite an auspicious start, the Switch's first party lineup from now until the end of the year and beyond is looking incredibly good. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe Edition may be a port, but it will sell and people will want it especially as a multiplayer experience when there will be few others available at that time. Xenoblade Chronicles 2, if it makes 2017 as planned, will be a welcome title for RPG fans and hardcore gamers alike. Super Mario Odyssey looks like it could be the most influential Mario game since Super Mario Galaxy, and it's the game people are most excited about other than Breath of the Wild. I've seen many people on Twitter and elsewhere who haven't been into Nintendo for a while that are pretty excited for this one and have voiced their interest in getting a Switch to play it. We'll hear more about Fire Emblem Warriors in just a few days, but it is also another big reason to be excited about this year's lineup, especially after how well Hyrule Warriors turned out. ARMS looks like goofy fun yet could be a deeper experience with how the mechanics work, leading to a game that could potentially be a new, breakout hit. And Splatoon 2 looks like it'll help kick off Switch's multiplayer in a big way. There are also a number of big games that have already been leaked but haven't been talked about officially just yet. Pikmin 4, the Mario x Rabbids RPG by Ubisoft, rumblings of a Metroid game which may be Retro's next project or even an internal Nintendo team, and even the upcoming Super Smash Bros. port, which will likely contain extra content. And that's not counting other games we don't know about that might also be announced at E3. It'll be a fairly good first year for Switch as far as first-party games go once we pass through the dull launch period. Virtual Console and eShop news is still coming Easily one of my most anticipated features that will still have yet to hear about is the Switch eShop and rumored Gamecube Virtual Console games. Fans have been wanting Gamecube VC games for the longest time now, and the mere thought that we'll be able to play those games on the go is incredibly exciting. But even excluding the Gamecube, it's exciting to think we'll be able to take any VC game on the go now (aside from Game Boy/NES/SNES with New 3DS). And hopefully they'll begin putting various SEGA titles back on the eShop this time around; we'll see. The Tech is intriguing Despite the overall horsepower being purportedly lower than a PS4 and Xbox One, I'm looking forward to seeing what developers do with the Switch overall. While it may have sounded uninteresting or gimmicky at first, the HD motion capabilities do seem pretty clever after dwelling on some of the possibilities. Someone on Twitter gave a great example, saying that a new Metroid Prime game could benefit from this by providing different sensations as you select different types of beams -- the sound/sensation of ice tensing up with the ice beam, a sort of pulse sensation as you fire off the wave beam, and so on. I'm also interested to try the Joy-Cons as individual controllers and see if the 2-player holds up with them. While it probably won't be a preferred way of playing, I could see myself casually playing with one or more people on the Switch tablet at certain times, provided that the game works with the multiplayer feature. And like I mentioned in the section above, playing console games on the go is going to be a fantastic choice to have. Switching things Up In any case, I would have to sum up my thoughts by saying that Switch has a rough short-term and a potentially great long-term ahead of it. We'll know a lot more about to what to expect in regards to third-party support and how often it'll get games by E3, but in the meantime, I'm looking forward to the few main games that will be coming out beforehand. Nintendo definitely has some kinks to work out in regards to the pricing of various things (and the decision not to bundle in a game), but I'm hoping they'll come their senses and fix what's not working over time. If anything, I'll probably be mostly lost in the splendor of Breath of the Wild instead of getting upset at why there aren't more games out in the first month or two anyhow. What do you guys think about the Switch, both in the short-term and long-term?

Yooo, everybody looking forward to the Switch conference later tonight? If you haven't seen it already, this is when it's airing: 8pm PT/11pm ET You can watch the whole thing here: http://www.nintendo.com/switch OR you can even watch it here on GP (via the Youtube embed)! https://www.youtube.com/embed/uuC4YLLkqME That said, anyone got any good predictions for tonight?

In case you missed it, CAG has a fantastic Black Friday Master List for all gaming related deals. They've even compiled a Google Sheet that highlights where each game is the best price! What are you planning on buying? Anything you're on the fence about? My List DOOM Telltale's Batman Battleborn Assassin's Creed Syndicate The Witcher 3: Complete Edition Maybe List Lego Dimensions Starter Pack Titanfall 2 Battlefield 1 Bioshock: The Collection The maybe list consists of games that could possibly go cheaper by the time I have a chance to play them. My definite buys are the games that are the lowest price I can realistically see them going.

If you haven't seen this yet, you're in for a treat. It's another Star Wars parody that's made by the same guy who did the Smash Wars series of videos in which Nintendo characters act out the Star Wars films. This time he's doing The Force Awakens! It's crazy just how many references he managed to pack in there, and both Daisy and Kirby are perfect fits for Rey and BB-8, respectively. "Shy"-ro Ren (based on Shy Guy) and Captain "Phanto" (a parody of Captain Phasma, based on Phanto from Super Mario 2) were also clever naming conventions as well. What'd you guys think of it?

Nintendo is famously (or infamously) making only one game playable at their booth at E3 this year -- that being the currently unnamed The Legend of Zelda title in development for Wii U and NX -- but that doesn't mean it'll be the only game they talk about at the show. Today, the Big N has announced plans for their Treehouse Live segment -- a recurring feature of the last two years where members of the Treehouse localization team play and commentate on the games they're showing off in front of a live audience. This year, Treehouse Live will occur over two days, starting at 9 a.m. PT on June 14 and then on the next day (June 15) at 10 a.m. PT. Day 1 will focus on the The Legend of Zelda for Wii U and the very first look at Pokemon Sun and Moon. Day 2 will start with a Pokemon GO developer Q&A and then continue with Monster Hunter Generations, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. Nintendo has not announced an E3-focused Nintendo Direct at this time, making this possibly the first E3 ever for the company to not have a press conference or Direct to showcase new info. We'll keep you updated if this changes. Source: Press Release What are your thoughts on the Treehouse Live plans? Will you be watching?

With E3 coming nearing under a month, we all wonder what to expect and what surprises will come to us. Who's going to have a good conference, average, worst, best. etc. Anything can happen. What are your predictions of what you like to see and what rumors you've heard that might show up at this year's biggest gaming event. _________________________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my thoughts/predictions: I think Square-Enix will show plenty of development footage of Kingdom Hearts and FFVII Remake and I don't expect a release date this year and possibly release late next year or 2018. Sony will definitely show more of the VR stuff, PSNeo, Price Drop, and more gameplay footage from the developed games that will be released this year. If they want to wow us they'd have to make an awesome announcement like getting the Crash Bandicoot rights back and announcing a PS4. I expect a Shenmue III trailer at the end of Sony's conference as surprise or somehwere along the show. Another surprise is teaser to Last of Us 2 I heard that Nintendo isn't doing a conference? Not sure though, but NX isn't showing up this year and the new Zelda game is their main focus. Other than that most of their showing is at their digital event Microsoft doesn't feel like they have much to show, but I think their biggest game to reveal is Gears of War 4. They did show their VR stuff last year and I guess they could show more and possibly a release date. I am definitely looking forward to Kojima's next game since he has his own studio working with Sony and with Norman Reedus I think. There's a lot more to say, but I don't want hog all the info lol. So what are you guys thoughts and predictions?

Lol just wanted to share this trailer it's funny. I can't wait for the new Star Fox game. I played the N64 game a bazillion times for an awesome ride and that epic music at the end.

Today's headlines involve some big news on the Nintendo front for Wii U owners and prospective buyers as well as news about some studio closures and downsizing going on. And of course, Tuesday means new releases on the PlayStation Store. Read on about it all below- Report indicates Nintendo will cease Wii U production in 2016 According to a Japanese report from Nikkei, Nintendo plans to end production of the Wii U by the end of 2016. The report notes that the company has already stopped making certain Wii U accessories. If true, then the claims of the Wii U successor, NX, coming out at the end of 2016 have gotten a lot more credible. However, the report also indicates that an NX release in 2016 isn't a sure thing just yet. At any rate, Nintendo likely still has plenty of Wii U stock in circulation, and the current sell-through rate (along with past holiday sales) may indicate that they can sail through this year (and perhaps part of 2017) with whatever stock they generate before stopping production. Source: IGN Sony shuttering Evolution Studios Sad news for fans of Evolution Studios, the developer behind the Motorstorm franchise and DriveClub, as Sony has announced that they have closed down the studio after a recent evaluation of their Worldwide Studios. The news comes after the disastrous launch of DriveClub and the subsequent issues with its online play and such, which ultimately saw 55 members of the staff cut last year alone. Source: GamesIndustry.biz 5th Cell undergoing massive layoffs but not closed at this time In other redundancy news, it's been reported that 5th Cell has had to lay off 45 people after their latest Scribblenauts game had been cancelled by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It was originally thought that the studio had been closed altogether after animator Tim Borrelli tweeted that he had been laid off and "RIP 5th Cell." However, 5th Cell CEO Jeremiah Slaczka has set the record straight, saying that the company is not shutting down but is 100% committed to helping those affected by layoffs to find new jobs. 5th Cell is currently working on Anchors in the Drift, a free-to-play RPG that is being crowdfunded on investing platform Fig. Source: GamesIndustry.biz Toki Tori developer Two Tribes is retiring from game development after their next game releases This one was pretty surprising to me. Out of seemingly nowhere, Two Tribes made the announcement that they would be retiring after their upcoming game Rive finally releases. No, they didn't run out of money. Nor is there behind-the-scene drama that's causing things to go amuck. They simply decided that it's time to hang up their coats as far as developing new games go. Co-founder Collin van Grinkel mentions that it partially has to do with them feeling like "dinosaurs" (they originally started in 2000) in an age where the indie development scene is more crowded than ever. There's no word on what van Grinkel and the remainder of Two Tribes will be doing afterward just yet, but he does mention that the studio will still support their current releases and publishers; whether or not that includes ports of their existing games to new platforms remains to be seen. Their final game, RIVE, is set to release soon, and Van Grinkel calls it the best game they've ever done. If fans and the media agree with the sentiment, it'll be good to see a developer go out on top for once. Source: Press Release PlayStation Store New Releases 3/22/16 This week brings yet another surprising amount of games to the PlayStation Store, with 12 games for PS4 and two for Vita (including one surprising entry). Check out the full list below! PS4 101 Ways to Die - $14.99 Bully (PS2 Classic) - $14.99 Catlateral Damage - $9.99 Day of the Tentacle Remastered - $14.99 Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice - $9.99 Manhunt (PS2 Classic) - $14.99 Okage: Shadow King (PS2 Classic) - $9.99 Republique - $24.99 Sebastién Loeb Rally EVO - $59.99 Smite - Free-to-Play Trackmania Turbo - $39.99 Warheads - $4.99 PS Vita Day of the Tentacle Remastered - $14.99 X-Com: Enemy Unknown Plus - $19.99 For games on sale, see the the full list at the source link below. Source: PlayStation Blog What are your thoughts on Nintendo possibly pulling the plug on Wii U this year? And Evolution Studios' closure and 5th Cell's downsizing?

As I'm trying to clean up the forum a bit, I decided to gather some of the most noteworthy threads here so everyone would have easy access to a lot of them. I'll mostly try to keep track of threads that are informative/resources as well as any notable discussions that can be continued at any time. Game resource threads Stretchmo QR codes mega thread! The Official Super Mario Maker "Play My Level!" Thread Tomodachi Life Discussion and QR Code Sharing Informative threads Redownloading on eShop Recommendation threads What are some must own Wii games? Notable discussion threads Do you use the 3D on 3DS? Game Boy is 25 Years Old Today! What are your favorite GB Games? Let's Discuss: Fire Emblem What classic SNES RPG needs a remake? Would You Be In Favor of Disney Buying Nintendo? Interesting threads A fan is trying to remake Super Mario 64 Awesome Amiibo Mods Fans Rebuilding Ocarina of Time as a 16-Bit Game The new Sequelitis video tackles Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time Weird Donkey Kong Country 2 Bootleg De-Make on NES Funny threads A Romantic Tragedy on Miiverse Super Smash Wars 2: The Empire Smashes Back

If you haven't seen it yet, this Iwata tribute video has been making the rounds on Twitter and other social media today. Check it out; it's pretty touching. Kind of amazing how most of us never realized how much Iwata contributed to Nintendo and gaming in general until it was too late.