Nintendo-commissioned Bandai Namco project cancelled
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
According to a report from Bloomberg, Bandai Namco is cutting back on its workforce, which also ties into Nintendo.
The outlet reports that “lackluster demand” has caused the company to cancel several games and scale back on its employee count. Bandai Namco also adopted a common Japanese approach to reducing staff known as oidashi beya, which involves having workers sit in rooms where they’re given nothing to do to encourage them to leave voluntarily. When that happens, many take that time to search for other jobs. Bloomberg notes that 200 or so of its 1,300 staffers have been in these rooms and close to 100 have resigned. Even more could be departing in the months ahead.
Game Freak acknowledges leak, was a server breach, statement released
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Game Freak, the studio that handles the mainline Pokemon games, has now issued a statement about the company’s leak / hack.
Yesterday, tons of information about Pokemon started pouring out, revealing details about certain plans, beta creature designs, and more. That has since continued today with details concerning movie and movie projects.
Game Freak has now come forward acknowledging the leak with an official statement. The company says that last month, a third party gained unauthorized access to a server. Unfortunately, personal employee data is a part of the leak – Game Freak says names and email addresses were on that server.
Below is the statement in full from Game Freak:
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Former Nintendo employees share insight into the Mario Switch teaser photo
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Switch | 0 comments
If you were paying attention to Nintendo news just before Switch was announced, the image above with Mario might look familiar to you. The photo was shared alongside a message on social media telling fans to tune in the following day for a first look at the console. Mario is peeking behind a curtain, and it’s kind of become a meme with some even joking about how it looks like he’s in the shower.
Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, a pair of former employees at Nintendo of America, shared some behind-the-scenes information about the shot in a recent podcast episode. They confirmed that it was a new photo led by the company’s former head of social, and a photoshoot was done in large part because there weren’t any assets that could be used. Internally, it was “controversial” and Nintendo apparently wasn’t happy due to concerns about potentially mismanaging expectations.
Pokemon developer Game Freak hit with hack, internal info leaking
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Game Freak, the main developer of Pokemon, appears to have been hit with a significant hack. As a result, source code for various games, behind-the-scenes information, and more has started to leak online.
Thus far we know that source code for Pokemon Heart Gold / Soul Silver and Black 2 / White 2 have surfaced. A few codenames are also popping up, including “Gaia” – which is apparently what Gen 10 is going by internally. Speaking of which, the new gen is apparently being developed for “Ounce”, which supposedly confirms Switch 2’s codename. And for those curious, “Ikkaku” is the codename for Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
More: Game Freak, Pokemon, top
[Let’s Talk] Will you be picking up Nintendo Clock: Alarmo?
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 0 comments
Leave it to Nintendo to throw out a curveball. Rather than unveiling its next console which is what many fans are anticipating, this week the company instead announced something that pretty much has nothing to do with gaming. Nintendo Clock: Alarmo was not only revealed, but given an initial, limited release as well.
Nintendo Clock: Alarmo is an interactive alarm clock with themes based on a few different games, including Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. The device uses a motion sensor to detect when you’ve woken up and have gotten out of bed. Records are also included to track how much you move around in your sleep and more. We’ve got it all covered a bit more here.
What are your thoughts on Nintendo Clock: Alarmo? Have you already ordered a unit or will you be picking it up at some point? Let us know in the comments below.
Satoru Iwata helped come up with the Super Smash Bros. name
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
In a new video from Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai, he spoke about Satoru Iwata and shared a tidbit of information that the late Nintendo president helped come up with the name.
Iwata is the one that felt that “Brothers” would be a good fit. That part of the name is a suggestion that the characters “were friends who were settling a little disagreement” rather than having a hardcore fight.
Sakurai said the following about Iwata and his involvement with the Super Smash Bros. name:
More: Masahiro Sakurai, Satoru Iwata, top
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo update out now (version 2.0.0), patch notes
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
It’s been a big day for Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, as the device was not only revealed and released (in a limited way), but it turns out that a version 2.0.0 update is already available.
If you’re one of the few that happened to pick up the device already, you’ll want to make sure to download the patch. New features are included – specifically “Moderate Mode” and “Movement Record”. A new bed distance option also makes it more compatible with Queen and King size beds.
Here’s the full rundown of the update:
More: title update
Nintendo explains why it made an alarm clock
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Today’s announcement of Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo came a bit out of left field, but in a new interview today, we get to hear about how the whole thing came together.
A discussion was posted on Nintendo’s website featuring producer Yosuke Tamori and director Tetsuya Akama. Tamori revealed that the project began with research into motion sensor technology. However, making an alarm clock wasn’t the first thing decided – rather, Tamori said Nintendo was looking to “support people during their sleep, and we were looking for a way to achieve this.”
Tamori and Akama shared the following:
More: interview, Tetsuya Akama, top, Yosuke Tamori
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo revealed
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo has just been revealed. The device will launch worldwide in early 2025, but Nintendo Switch Online members can get their hands on it early.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo is an interactive alarm clock with motion sensor technology that responds to your movements. 35 scenes inspired by five Nintendo titles are included – specifically Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 3, Pikmin 4 and Ring Fit Adventure. In the future, scenes from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be made available via free updates, which can be accessed with a Nintendo Account.
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Monolith Soft sets up new R&D division, expanding its game engine
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
As shared in a new interview published today, Xenoblade developer Monolith Soft has not only set up a new R&D division, but is also expanding its game engine.
CCO and director Tetsuya Takahashi has been in charge of overseeing the R&D team for roughly a year. Xenoblade lead programmer Michihiko Inaba is the group’s producer and director.
Speaking about the need for an R&D team with CGWorld, Takashi shared the following (rough translation):
