HAL Laboratory working on some non-Kirby projects
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 4 Comments
Over the past few generations, HAL Laboratory has primarily worked on Kirby games. We’ve seen a few non-Kirby titles here and there (most recently with BoxBoy!), but that character is certainly the studio’s bread and butter. Interestingly, BoxBoy! director Yasuhiro Mukae recently informed Kotaku that “several” projects are in the works that are unrelated to the character.
Mukae mentioned:
Certainly, as you say, the Kirby series is HAL Laboratory’s main development focus, but we actually have several other projects proceeding along in parallel (not that I can give details on them right now, of course). We also have a few experimental projects in the works with smaller teams, so there certainly isn’t any rule that we must be involved with Kirby projects. Like I discussed in the first question, BoxBoy got its start as an experimental project along those lines.
I was involved in the development of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, but I was also working on the BoxBoy experiment at the same time. Handling both projects simultaneously presented some big challenges, but creating a game with a new character like Qbby made me feel happier than I’ve ever felt before.
Once Kirby: Triple Deluxe development wrapped up, I was able to devote myself fully to BoxBoy. This happened right when it went from an experiment to an official development project, and full-on development began at that point. Some of the Kirby: Triple Deluxe team also joined the BoxBoy project right about then.
As I wrote earlier, our development efforts may be chiefly devoted to Kirby, but there’s no hard-and-fast rule that everything has to be related to Kirby titles. I’m getting the chance to be involved a lot more often with non-Kirby things, such as this BoxBoy project—though, again, I can’t give details quite yet.
Below are some other noteworthy tidbits shared in Kotaku’s interview:
More: BOXBOY!, HAL Laboratory, interview, Kirby, top, Yasuhiro Mukae
Princess PreCure: Sugar Kingdom and the Six Princesses boxart
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Images | 0 comments
HMV has posted the boxart for Princess PreCure: Sugar Kingdom and the Six Princesses. We’ve attached it above.
BoxBoy! was originally going to have larger stages, less story
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News | 0 comments
Like most projects, BoxBoy! underwent some changes throughout development. The core idea of “creating boxes in order to make your way through puzzle landscapes” remained the same, according to director Yasuhiro Mukae. But there were a couple of things that changed in the final game.
Originally, HAL Laboratory was planning on creating “large stages that you could really sit down and spend a great deal of time playing.” The team also added “story elements in a move to encourage players to enjoy the game all the way through to the end.”
Mukae told Engadget:
More: BOXBOY!, interview, Yasuhiro Mukae
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven screenshots
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Screenshots | 0 comments
Take a look at the latest screenshots from Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven below. The game launches early next month.
First 90 minutes of Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Videos | 0 comments
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is out today in North America. For an extensive look at the game in video form, check out the large amount of footage below.
Our Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker review went live yesterday. Be sure to give it a read if you’re curious about how the game turned out!
Funk of Titans hitting the North American Wii U eShop next week, Europe in early June
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U eShop | 2 Comments
EnjoyUp Games added a new Funk of Titans trailer to its YouTube account a couple of days ago, confirming that the game is in the works for Wii U. The publisher has since sent out an official information with more details.
Funk of Titans is a platformer developed by A Crowd Of Monsters, though EnjoyUp has been handling the Wii U port. In the game, players take on the role of Perseus and are tasked with defeating Music Titans. Funk of Titans contains over 40 levels across the worlds of Pop, Rap, and Rock. It’s also possible to experiment with different weapons/helmets, and collect golden records throughout your journey.
Funk of Titans launches on the North American Wii U eShop on May 14 for $8.99. The European version is planned for early June.
Source: EnjoyUp Games PR
3DS eShop charts (5/4/15)
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News | 0 comments
This week’s 3DS eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Cube Creator 3D
2. Super Mario Bros. 3
3. Mario Kart 7
4. Animal Crossing: New Leaf
5. BoxBoy!
6. Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
7. Zelda: Oracle of Ages
8. Shovel Knight
9. Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
10. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
11. Yoshi’s New Island
12. The Legend of Zelda
13. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
14. Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
15. Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
16. New Super Mario Bros. 2
17. Fairune
18. Story of Seasons
19. Super Mario Bros.
20. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Videos
1. Pokemon Rumble World Trailer
2. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition Trailer
3. Cube Creator 3D Trailer
4. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Mewtwo Strikes Back
5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Launch Trailer
6. The World of Xenoblade Chronicles X
7. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Lucas Comes out of Nowhere
8. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition Trailer 2
9. DOOORS Trailer
10. Upcoming Fire Emblem Teaser Trailer
11. Super Smash Bros. Mii Fighters Suit Up for Wave One
12. New 3DS XL Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
13. New 3DS XL Trailer
14. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate April DLC Pack Trailer
15. Photos with Mario Trailer
16. Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D Launch Trailer
17. LEGO Dimensions Announce Video
18. Mario Kart 7 Video
19. Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire E3 2014 Trailer
20. Story of Seasons Launch Trailer
Source: 3DS eShop
More: charts
Scandinavian retailer listing appears for Splatoon Wii U bundle, but with Basic Pack
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 13 Comments
We don’t hear much about the Wii U Basic Set/Pack these days. That being said, it looks like Nintendo is still trying to offload some stock that never cleared out.
A Scandinavian listing has popped up for a new Wii U Basic Pack bundle, which comes with a physical copy of Splatoon. This is different than the recently-announced Premium Pack bundle.
Thanks to Andre P for the tip.
Another round of High Strangeness footage
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U eShop | 2 Comments
More footage from High Strageness has come in ahead of its release on the Wii U eShop this Wednesday. View it below.
More: High Strangeness, Midnight City
SEGA won’t have a booth at E3 2015
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 11 Comments
SEGA will not have a booth at this year’s E3, the company confirmed to Game Informer. An official statement reads:
Over the next months, SEGA of America will be focusing on the restructure and relocation to Southern California, and we have decided to not attend E3 with our own booth this year,” a representative told us via email. “With the majority of our bigger titles launching later in 2015/2016, particularly those from our AAA studios Relic Entertainment, Sports Interactive and Creative Assembly, we are concentrating our efforts for some of these major announcements after our relocation. Instead, we will be collaborating with our various business partners for this year’s E3 show.
This shouldn’t have too big of an impact on Wii U and 3DS owners. The only upcoming Nintendo games SEGA has confirmed for North America and Europe are Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX (which will be out later this month) and a few 3D Classics. Still, it’s a tiny bit sad that SEGA won’t be appearing at E3!
