Hello. Everyone. (say this like Iwata does in the Nintendo Directs)

Nintendo was very kind to send us a pre-release build of Splatoon for review, and Brian and I wanted to try and get some video content about the game up before its release in a couple weeks. We were going to do a simple Q&A about the game, but since GameXplain already covered a ton of the more common desired information (as comprehensively and eloquently as they always do), we thought we’d ask first: is there anything more detailed you want to ask about the game? How mechanics interplay? How it feels to only have two maps in rotation? Something very specific about online play or whatever?

If you’ve got anything you want to ask, post a comment below, send us an email with the subject “Splatoon Question”, or tweet at us with the tweet beginning with “Splatoon Q:”.

Thanks everyone! We’ll look at the questions soon and decide if there’s reason enough for our own Splatoon Q&A video. Either way, we’ll have a video review when the embargo lifts and more video content before launch as well.

~Austin

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A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to interview the developer behind Legend of Kay Anniversary. One of the things Peter Thierolf from Kaiko confirmed to us at the time was that it was running at 720p on Wii U. But with some extra development, the game’s resolution has increased.

Thierolf has informed Nintendo Everything that Kaiko was able to upgrade Legend of Kay Anniversary’s rendering with some optimizations and fine-tuning. Currently, it “renders the scene in 1600*900 and outputs in 1080p with extra crisp UI”. Of course, Legend of Kay Anniversary still runs at 60 frames per second, and features full screen anti-aliasing.

Legend of Kay Anniversary launches this summer.

More: Kaiko, Legend of Kay Anniversary, Nordic Games, Peter Thierolf

Amazon and GameStop both have unique pre-order bonuses for Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition.

On Amazon, those who reserve the 3DS package will receive the retailer’s exclusive Vampire Lord unlock bonus. This unlocks the ability to earn the Vampire Lord character. Amazon’s description notes, “The Vampire Lord is a dark yet noble monster. Rumor has it that its bite has the power to turn others into vampires.”

GameStop’s bonus is slightly different. By pre-ordering Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition there, you’ll be able to obtain an exclusive Relic that will help you evolve the Apocalypse Monster.

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More: Amazon, GameStop, GungHo Online Entertainment, pre-order, Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

A new Japanese trailer for Splatoon came out yesterday, highlighting one of the game’s weapons. You can now watch a new version of the video below that comes with English subtitles.

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Bear Box Media has a couple of new Wii U eShop games in the works. The first is StarLight, which was revealed at the end of April.

Bear Box shared an update on the project with Pure Nintendo, with the studio’s Andy Ford stating:

Although designed to be addictive… StarLight is hard… very hard. It’s composed of 75 standard levels, 5 secret levels, and 3 modes to choose from. Pure, Easier, and Hardcore. Pure is the way the game was designed to be played. It’s all about reactions and timing. Once players complete Pure Mode, they unlock Mirror mode. Each level has been carefully designed to create an entirely different puzzle both forwards and backwards, so in this mode you effectively have 150 levels to work your way through.StarLight gameplay 2There’s no mirror mode for easier players. Hardcore is the tough one. As soon as a player collides with a single barrier, they must start all over again… from the very beginning. It’s a pretty big challenge, so we felt it deserved a worthwhile reward. We’ll be running a competition from the game’s launch stating that the first player to post an image of the final screen of Hardcore mode on Miiverse will win $100 worth of eShop vouchers. The highest I’ve personally been able to get in this mode is level 56… So it’ll be interesting to see who manages it first.

You may recall that along with StarLight, Bear Box is also working on UHost. The original plan was to have it out towards the end of last year, but the team is now targeting Q4 2015.

Here’s the latest from Ford:

Regarding UHost, our original plan was to release the game in Q4 of 2014 at a low price, and then increase the price each time an update was created, bringing in new content. This would have been great, but unfortunately we missed our window. It was then decided that the additional content would be added to the game, aiming for a release this year, Q4. It’s given us time to add in some great new mini-games, even more questions, and a lot of extra polish.

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More: Andy Ford, Bear Box Media, indie, interview, StarLight, UHost

GameStop has updated its Splatoon product page with information about the Smash Bros. costumes offer. Those who pre-order Splatoon will receive codes for three costumes to use in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

The offer is valid both in-store and online. Orders can be placed here.

More: GameStop, pre-order, Splatoon, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Disc art isn’t major news, but that doesn’t make them any less nice to look at! You can get a look at Splatoon’s disc art above.

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Despite having come out with a new Nintendo Minute yesterday, we’re treated to yet another episode today. This one has Kit and Krysta talking documenting their experiences at yesterday’s Splatoon Mess Fest. Check out the new Nintendo Minute below.

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Ronimo Games released the twelfth “Daily Duel” video for Swords & Soldiers II. In today’s video, the battle is 2 Spearthrowers, 4 Desert Stalkers and 1 Ooga Booga spell versus 5 Shamshir soldiers, 5 Berserkers, 4 Axethrowers and 1 Corpse Explode spell. Check it out below.

More: indie, Ronimo Games, Swords & Soldiers II

Last night, we posted a few photos from the Splatoon Mess Fest. You can now get a look at the event in video form below.

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