Nintendo Museum has unseen hardware prototypes on display
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, GameCube, GBA, General Nintendo, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
In what has come as a surprise to many, a number of hardware prototypes were added to the Nintendo Museum just days before the official opening date.
One of the key complaints brought up with the location prior to its opening was that based on what was shown in the Direct and to the press, Nintendo didn’t delve much into its history here. However, this has been rectified a bit. Now that the museum has just started to open, fans have discovered that many prototypes are on display, including the earlier times with the Super Famicom and Virtual Boy, extending into the Wii U era. Some have been shown publicly before, but many have not.
More: Nintendo Museum, top
Mario Kart tracks that never returned after debut
Posted on 1 month ago by Ethan in 3DS, Features, General Nintendo, Wii | 0 comments
The Mario Kart series is home to many, many different courses, and each new game in the series adds even more to that big number. A ton of old tracks were remade for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass, but a select few of them didn’t make the cut. Not just that, but some Mario Kart courses have never reappeared after their initial debut.
Today, we’re listing off all the Mario Kart tracks that never returned to future entries in the series. Do keep in mind that we won’t count Mario Kart Tour here – eventually, its service will end and the tracks in it will presumably become inaccessible. In case that happens, we’re sticking to courses that haven’t appeared in any main series games since their debut.
Epic Mickey pitch video discovered
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii | 0 comments
Over the past few days, a pitch video has been making the rounds for an internal pitch made to Disney which would end up being Epic Mickey. Twitter / X account Epic Mickey Wiki circulated the news.
Thomas Heimann actually shared the clip towards the start of the year. Heimann says he “personally animated all the shots from the beginning to when Mickey goes down the hole, then everything after he starts to fly”. Animators Jessie Slate and Mike Boyce also worked on the piece.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Switch vs. Wii graphics comparison
Posted on 5 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos, Wii | 0 comments
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was just announced for Switch today, and a new video offers a graphics comparison that puts it up against the original Wii version. 3DS is technically included here as well, as that was essentially the Wii version at a lower resolution.
As far as we know, Donkey Kong Country Returns will now run in full HD on Switch, but otherwise it’s largely the same. One bonus is that the new levels made for the 3DS version will be included in the latest version.
Nintendo of America never planned on bringing Xenoblade to North America despite announcing it at E3
Posted on 6 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii | 0 comments
These days Xenoblade is one of Nintendo’s bigger franchises – at least when it comes to RPGs – but that wasn’t always the case. The first entry came out in English more than a year after its Japanese launch, and that was for European fans only. It wasn’t until the “Operation Rainfall” fan campaign that Nintendo brought it to North America in 2012.
Those unfamiliar with the early days of Xenoblade may not know that it was originally titled Monado: Beginning of the World. The game was actually announced at E3 2009 with an under-the-radar reveal. Yet even though the reveal took place during what was the biggest gaming show of the year in the states, it seems Nintendo of America knew right away it wouldn’t be bringing the RPG stateside.
More: Monolith Soft, top, Xenoblade Chronicles
Epic Mickey Rebrushed graphics comparison (Switch vs. Wii)
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos, Wii | 0 comments
Epic Mickey Rebrushed, a remake of the series’ first game, was announced today and a new graphics comparison from GameXplain gives us a better idea as to how it’s shaping up.
The footage used is here is only based on the opening intro instead of gameplay. However, that alone is enough to show what’s been updated. Mickey’s look is slightly adjusted, along with textures, colors, and more. Of course, the Switch version will be higher resolution as well. Also, while we don’t have the full details just yet, we know that there’ll be gameplay improvements.
More: Epic Mickey, graphics comparison
Major Minor’s Majestic March designer critical of Nintendo during early Wii development
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii | 0 comments
You may recall a bit of a niche music game that released on Wii titled Major Minor’s Majestic March. Masaya Matsuura, who worked on games like Vib-Ribbon and PaRappa the Rapper, was one of the main designers involved with the project.
Matsuura reflected on Major Minor’s Majestic March in a recent issue of EDGE and had some criticisms for Nintendo. He said that the company didn’t do a good job at explaining the Wii Remote’s functionality and said “there was a lack of transparency that hurt developers like us.” Along with “adding new and subtle features” Nintendo was also “amending the design as time went on, which changed the scope for us.”
Epic Mickey director says “gamers didn’t get it”, but “proud” of the title
Posted on 11 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Warren Spector acted as director on Epic Mickey – as well as its sequel. As a huge Disney fan, it was a big passion project for him.
Spector reflected on Epic Mickey and its initial reception while speaking with Venturebeat. As someone who worked on immersive sims before like Deus Ex, this was a big change in terms of what fans came to know him for. Specter said “gamers didn’t get it”, but he’s still “proud of Epic Mickey”.
More: Epic Mickey, interview, Warren Spector
Hideki Kamiya again mentions interest in working with Viewtiful Joe, Okami
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GameCube, News, Switch, Wii | 0 comments
Hideki Kamiya has again expressed interest in working on Viewtiful Joe as well as Okami. Kamiya – who recently left PlatinumGames and was director on both projects – made a few brief remarks about both IPs in a new video published on his YouTube channel today.
As for Viewtiful Joe, Kamiya said that he “actually had the story for a third Viewtiful Joe all thought out.” He also feels that he left Okami “unfinished”.
More: Capcom, Okami, top, Viewtiful Joe
Retro Studios made Portal-esque Wii pitch “Adept”, details on scrapped “The Blob Game” for DS
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, GameCube, News, Wii | 0 comments
Thanks to Did You Know Gaming, we have insight into a couple of short-lived Retro Studios projects – specifically Adept and “The Blob Game”.
Adept was playable in a rough state, but was ultimately just a pitch that Nintendo turned out. It was running in the Metroid Prime 3 engine and was intended to show off mechanics. In late 2007 and into early 2008, Retro was working on Adept that took inspiration from Portal while evolving on the premise – primarily by introducing combat.
