FAA is relaxing electronics guidelines on planes; you can now play 3DS during takeoff and landing
Posted on 10 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in 3DS, DS, GBA, General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
As long as your device can’t transmit or receive wireless signals like texts or phone-calls, the FAA is soon to let you play with it during the takeoff and landing portions of any particular airplane flight. This means 3DS and Vita, phones and tablets (if ‘Airplane Mode’ is turned on), etc etc can all be used to calm your nerves or supplement the visceral experience of being forced into the air above earth at 400 miles an hour starting “soon”, according to the FAA.
Why the change of heart? It turns out that devices that aren’t transmitting or receiving things wirelessly can’t interfere with most planes’ computer systems.
Footage from the cancelled Shantae GBA game
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GBA, Videos | 0 comments
Many, many years ago, WayForward was working on a Shantae sequel for the Game Boy Advance. Sadly, it was cancelled due to a lack of publisher interest.
While Shantae GBA never saw the day of light, WayForward did show a demo of the project during a stream last night as a means of promoting the final hours of its Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Kickstarter. You can find footage above.
Sakurai thought about bringing Smash Bros. to Nintendo handhelds previously
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GBA, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 1 Comment
Even though Super Smash Bros. has been around since the N64 era, Nintendo is just now bringing the franchise to a portable. In addition to Wii U, a unique version of the series’ next entry will be released for the 3DS.
But has creator Masahiro Sakurai considered making Smash Bros. for a Nintendo handheld in the past? As it turns out, the answer is yes.
Sakurai told GamesTM this month that he “thought about it”, but “we purely didn’t have the opportunity, it just never came up.” He also explained that it may not have been possible to realize Smash Bros. on any Nintendo handheld before the GBA.
“It’s not that I haven’t wanted to – I thought about it, I did. To be honest, we purely didn’t have the opportunity, it just never came up. And also, to speak freely, if you look at a handheld device preceding anything before the GBA, I don’t know that it would have the capabilities to fully realize Smash Bros.”
Thanks to joclo for sending this information our way.
Nintendo at E3 – a look back – E3 2002 and E3 2003
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Features, GameCube, GBA, General Nintendo, Videos | 0 comments
Two videos for the price of one tonight!
Unfortunately, there isn’t much footage from Nintendo’s E3 2002 conference. That leads to more trailers rather than content directly from the briefing. We did end up with one of the first clips from F-Zero GX, as well as new looks at titles such as Super Mario Sunshine and Zelda: The Wind Waker.
E3 2003 was certainly more exciting from the perspective of available footage, but it is sort of known as one of Nintendo’s duds. Two big aspects were highlighted during the conference: GameCube to Game Boy Advance connectivity and partnerships. Zelda: Four Swords and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes were arguably the two biggest announcements. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles was made public as well. Shigeru Miyamoto popped up on stage to reveal that he was working on a Pac-Man title for the GameCube… which was kind of Nintendo’s main announcement for the show.
Check back tomorrow as we take a look at Nintendo’s E3 2004 conference, featuring the unveil of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Nintendo still has interest in Advance Wars
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, GBA, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 0 comments
The 3DS has yet to see a new game in the Advance Wars series. In fact, there hasn’t been an entry since Days of Ruin’s release in 2008.
Although there haven’t been any new Advance Wars developments in a few years, there still is quite a bit of interest in the franchise.
In the Fire Emblem: Awakening 8-4 interview published today, Nintendo director Genki Yokota said:
“Well, whether it’s Fire Emblem or the Advance Wars, we never want to put an end to any series we’re involved with. We always want to make games that provide a lot of fun to gamers, so if we have the chance, we’d certainly like to make another [Advance Wars] title.”
Nintendo Power ranks the top 285 Nintendo games of all time
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, 3DS eShop, DS, DSiWare, GameCube, GBA, News, Podcast Stories, Wii, Wii Shop Channel | 6 Comments
As part of its send-off festivities, Nintendo Power compiled a list of the top 285 Nintendo games of all time. The magazine specifically chose the number since 285 issues were produced since its inception in 1988.
We have the entire lineup of games below – yes, all 285 games! Head past the break for the listing.
WayForward on future Wii U and Miiverse support… past e-Reader interest
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GBA, News, Wii U | 0 comments
Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition likely won’t be WayForward’s last Wii U game.
WayForward creative director Matt Bozon explained how the studio could approach the console going forward:
“If it’s anything like DSiWare, we’ll test the waters a bit and then try to roll out something a bit heftier. That’s a prediction, not a reveal of some secret project. I just see a lot of patterns in the way we work. Multiple Wii U retail titles for sure, and Wii U eShop exclusives are very likely too. From my own experience, the system is a game changer.”
Hyper Drive Edition director Austin Ivansmith also showed great interest in support Miiverse going forward:
“We’re definitely supporting it. We’d also like to try some innovative ideas with Miiverse, since there could be options for sharing data of some sort.”
One final, random tidbit from Bozon. He revealed that WayForward had hoped to get involved with GBA’s e-Reader, but “that’s the one that got away.”
“Heck, we even tried to get on the card e-Reader back in 2002 and got – as far as I know – the only external US dev kit. But alas, that’s the one that got away.”
Miyamoto: “very likely” he’ll return to unrealized GCN-GBA link ideas with Wii U
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GameCube, GBA, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
In an interview with GamesMaster this month, Shigeru Miyamoto said that it’s “very likely” he’ll return to ideas that weren’t realized with the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link system.
Nintendo originally revealed the functionality at E3 2002. It allowed players to unlock modes, extras, and other content. One of the first games announced to support the functionality was Pac-Man Versus. Miyamoto noted that it was “a really interesting game”, but “it was rather hard for everyone to own four GBAs at the same time.”
Miyamoto told GamesMaster:
“I think it is very likely. I cannot tell specifically what ideas I used to have at the time which might be realized this time around. But as you might recall, at one of the E3 shows several years ago we showcased a game of Pac-Man Versus, which was a really interesting game. Unfortunately however it was rather hard for everyone to own four GBAs at the same time.
“But at that time still it was not very easy or accepted. [Now, with Wii U], it’s not just creators outside the company are finding fascinating possibilities to be able to realize a game dream come true.”
Thanks to joclo for the tip.
Blizzard considered “Diablo Junior” for GBC/GBA
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GBA, General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Blizzard’s Diablo series could have come to a Nintendo handheld.
According to author David Craddock, who is about to release a book about Blizzard North, reveals that a small team made a proposal for “Diablo Junior” following the release of Diablo II.
Junior would have been a prequel created for the Game Boy Color and/or Game Boy Advance as a single-player title. There were plans to release three cartridges, much like Pokemon. Each would feature a unique hero and items that could be traded across the different versions.
Craddock notes that the project was ultimately shelved “because of the steep production costs associated with developing handheld games.”
“Following Diablo 2’s release, Blizzard North split into two teams … kind of. One team immediately started in on D2’s expansion set, Lord of Destruction. The other team went into spitball mode, kicking around ideas for a new IP. But several other developers ventured into groups of two or three and put together proposals for smaller projects. One of those was given the working title Diablo Junior, a game tentatively planned for the Game Boy Color and/or the Game Boy Advance, depending on market share and other business-y factors. Diablo Junior was intended as a single-player-only prequel to the original game. Taking a page from Pokémon’s book, the team wanted to release three cartridges, each packing a different hero in the warrior-rogue-sorcerer vein as well as items that players would have to trade for in order to collect. Heroes started in a unique town before heading into dungeons and wilderness zones. Diablo Junior was ultimately put out to pasture (absent of cow levels, I’m sure) because of the steep production costs associated with developing handheld games.”
Iwata talks all about handheld gaming, threat of smartphones, and more
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, GBA, General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has fielded a number of questions relating to handheld gaming – competition in particular. Head past the break for his comments on what it would take for his company to stop making dedicated gaming handhelds, the threat of smartphones, how the two platforms differ, and more.
